13 July 2014

Ashar 29, 1421 Ramadan 14, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 103

SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

20 pages | Price: Tk12

7 | WHAT BRAZIL CHEERS FOR

12 | TALIBAN HIDEOUTS REVEALED

15 | MESSI ONE STEP FROM GLORY

B1 | DOUBLE COMPENSATION

Depositors’ money unsafe with BASIC Over last few years the state-run bank’s capital has been fully eaten away by unrealised loss Reza Chowdhury, n Kamran Asif Showkat Kallol and Tahmidur Rahman Scam-hit BASIC Bank’s “- 0.66%” capital adequacy ratio may sound too technical; but what it means for depositors is that the bank is not capable of returning their money at this moment.

Capital adequacy ratio (CAR) measures the soundness of a bank and reflects the level of protection its depositors enjoy. It is a measure of the amount of a bank’s core capital expressed as a percentage of its risk-weighted asset.

Two types of capital are measured: tier one capital, which can absorb losses without a bank being required to cease trading, and tier two capital, which can absorb losses in the event of a winding-up and so provides a lesser degree of protection to depositors.

The central bank’s idea of an ideal CAR is 11% and the international standard is 10%. Clearly, the state-run BASIC Bank is nowhere near the level considered sound by the country’s banking watchdog.

In recent years, the state-owned specialised bank has seen its capital completely eaten away by excess unrealised losses – mostly classified loans – leaving it insolvent.

In layman’s terms, this insolvency means that if all the depositors are to ask the bank to return their money right

now, the bank will not be able to do it.

In that case, the government will have to pump in a substantial amount of money into the bank’s veins, to bail it out of the crisis and secure the deposits, bankers said.

As on December 2013, the total deposits at the bank stood at Tk13,449 crore, of which 12,797 or 95% are in fixed deposits.

According to professionals, this percentage is unprecedented in the country’s banking sector.

Among different kinds, fixed deposits carry the highest rate of return.

A 95% fixed deposit ratio means that BASIC’s cost of capital is way above any other scheduled bank in the country.

Generally, a bank’s income is the difference between the rate at which it accepts deposits and the higher rate at which it gives out loans.

In December 2013, BASIC’s capital adequacy stood at “-1.66%.” In its latest annual report too, the bank said it had “negative capital.”

Interestingly, it put up satisfactory capital adequacy in 2011 and 2012, registering figures of 10.13% and 10.05% respectively, according to the Bangladesh Bank.

Banking regulators in most countries define and monitor CAR to protect depositors, thereby maintaining confidence in the banking system.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Children form a human chain in front of the National Press Club in the capital yesterday protesting the death of Palestinians in Israeli air attack on Gaza Strip

More Palestinians die in Israeli attack n Agencies Israel strengthened air assault against the Gaza Strip’s Hamas rulers on Saturday, hitting a mosque it said was hiding rockets and a disabled centre nearby, pushing death tolls in the five-day offensive to over 133.

On Saturday, two nephews of Hamas ex-PM Ismail Haniyeh were among those killed in the multiple strikes, BBC

quoted Palestinian officials as saying.

The AFP reported on Saturday that two people had been killed in an explosion at a charitable association for the disabled in Beit Lahiya, three deaths in the eastern Tufah area of Gaza City, and three others killed in western Gaza City.

Three patients and a nurse were killed in the explosion on Saturday in Jabaliya, the sources told Al Jazeera.

They were among a dozen people

killed in overnight raids.

A mosque in al-Nusarirat, central Gaza, was also destroyed in the overnight raids, which Israel claimed had been storing weapons for Hamas.

While there have been no fatalities in Israel, Gaza health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Kidra said overnight attacks raised the death toll and wounded more than 930 people.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Defences set to dominate tight cagey final China wants Bangladesh to n import gas from Myanmar Reuters

It might not be the way Brazilians wanted the World Cup to end but Sunday’s final between Argentina and Germany will provide a nerve-jangling climax to the best tournament in history - even though the goals that have lit it up may not flow.

While the the hosts are still coming to terms with their 7-1 semi-final humiliation by Germany and are preparing for the third-place playoff against the Netherlands, Argentina and Germany are gearing up to settle old scores.

According to his agent, this will be Argentine coach Alejandro Sabella’s last match in charge – win or lose – and he will leave the job a national hero if his team triumph in the third final between the European and South American heavyweights.

But whether this match is a high-scor-

n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

German Charge d’vAffaires Ferdinand von Weyhe presents a Brazuka to Amzad Hossain in Magura yesterday for making the biggest German flag ever DHAKA TRIBUNE ing thriller like their 1986 showdown in Mexico City which Argentina won 3-2, or more resembles the dire spectacle of

INSIDE B1 | Business

Apparel export to non-traditional markets increased by over 21% during the financial year 2013-14. The new markets include Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and Turkey.

4 | News

Banned Islamist militant outfit Hizb-ut-Tahrir has recently been trying to rejuvenate itself by cashing in on the Ramadan religious fervour.

5 | News

Traffic congestion has become a serious problem in the capital as most residents face unabated hardship in commuting through the city roads due to widespread indiscipline in the city’s transportation and traffic management.

6 | Nation

In order to save the endangered golden tortoise

from extinction, the Centre for Advanced Research in Natural Resource and Management is conducting a research by installing Radio Transmitter in its body.

8 | World

A rights group has said Iraqi security forces and Shia militia have been involved in executing at least 255 prisoners including in six cities and villages.

11 | Op-Ed

The Hague-based United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has recently declared the verdict on the delimitation of maritime boundary between Bangladesh and India.

12 | Entertainment

A new play titled “Bandh” adapted from Shawkat Osman’s acclaimed short story “Oi Bandhe” premiered on Friday at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy

West Germany’s 1-0 1990 win in 1990 in Rome is difficult to predict.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

China has supported a Bangladesh initiative to import gas from the Shwe gas field in Rakhine state of Myanmar to meet the growing demand in the country.

“The issue has been discussed during the visit of the prime minister [Sheikh Hasina] to China and Beijing has extended its support,” a senior official of the Foreign Ministry told the Dhaka Tribune.

A consortium of China, India, Myanmar and Daewoo of South Korea has developed the gas field and about 800km long pipeline was installed to supply gas from Rakhine state to Kunming in China in 2013.

Dhaka is now preparing to negotiate

with other stakeholders like Myanmar, India and Daewoo for importing gas, the official said.

Energy adviser to the prime minister Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury and Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque had a meeting on the issue at the PMO recently.

At present, Bangladesh has the capacity to generate over 2,300 mmcf per day while its demand ranges between 2,700 mmcf to 2,800 mmcf per day, leaving a gas shortage of about 500 mmcfd.

When contacted, Bangladesh Ambassador to Myanmar Anup Kumar Chakma said a foreign secretary level meeting between the two countries will be held in the last week of August and the issue might be discussed.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

2nd Round

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Details on page-13

SEHRI & IFTAR TIME Day

Sehri

Iftar

Ramadan 14/July 13

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6.53pm

Ramadan 15/July 14 3.49am

6.53pm

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Fakhrul calls Ershad to apologise n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla BNP Acting Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has asked Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad to seek apology for making false claims over BNP’s founder Ziaur Rahman.

The BNP spokesperson made the call while addressing a discussion at the National Press Club demanding release of city BNP leader Nasiruddin Ahmed Pintu.

“Ershad has said Ziaur Rahman assumed the office walking over blood.

Ershad has made such a claim by writing an open letter in the newspaper.

Ziaur Rahman did not occupy power; rather he was given the charge to govern the country through a military-civil revolution,” said Fakhrul.

Highly condemning the remark, Fakhrul asked Ershad to apologise before the nation.

He alleged that Ershad ousted a democratic government from the office and occupied the state power.

“Ershad is the main culprit of today’s polluted image of politics,” said the spokesperson of the party.

Criticising the Awami League leaders and government’s ministers for their different statements, Fakhrul said the way they have been making statements does not belong to any political norms.

“They are used to talk like this because they believe Bangladesh is their forefather’s property,” said Fakhrul.

Calling upon the government to hold election under a non-partisan government, the former minister said: “They fear to hold election because they know they would not get even 20 seats if a free and fair election was held.

They are not holding the city corporation elections either.”

Demanding immediate release of Pintu, Fakhrul said: “Pintu is a dedicated leader. He knows how to wage movement against any illegal activity and that is why he became the victim of government’s vengeance.” l

Sunday, July 13, 2014

THE HIDDEN CAM!

CC cameras have been installed in many places in the capital to ensure security ahead of the Eid but the one in the capital's Moghbazar area has been shrouded in leaves with the authorities taking no notice of it MEHEDI HASAN

'Containing population growth a must' Proposal sent for increasing JSC form fill-up fee by Tk 20

Gold bars seized at Dhaka airport n BSS n Kailash Sarkar Speakers In separate drives, members from the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) yesterday seized nine gold bars weighing around 1.5kg at Hajarat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital.

The customs officials also arrested one Elmon Hossain, 40, for possessing the gold, worth around Tk70 lakh.

“Elmon was arrested with the gold at around 12:30pm when he was crossing the Green Channel immediate after arriving at Dhaka airport on a Malaysian Airlines flight of from Dubai in the afternoon,” said CIID Director General Moinul Khan.

He further added that the detained person, who hid the nine gold bars inside his underwear, has been handed over to the Airport Police Station following the filing of a case in this connection. l

News

at separate discussions in Rangpur division said yesterday population growth rate has become a must for attaining sustainable development for building a developed nation.

They were addressing the discussions organised while observing the World Population Day- 2014 with the theme of 'Invest in Young People' yesterday by the Family Planning Departments (FPD) in all district and upazila headquarters of Rangpur division.

The FPDs, Mother and Children Welfare Centres, Merry Stopes, Surjer Hashi Clinic (SHC), Family Planning Association of Bangladesh, Help Ailing Mothers and different NGOs and voluntary organizations chalked out elaborate programmes on the occasion.

The programmes included colourful rallies, discussions, mothers' and couples' gatherings, slide and documentary film shows, prize giving ceremo-

nies, special health care services to the new mothers and babies in the district, upazila and union levels.

In Rangpur city, a colourful rally led

by Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Narayan Chandra Barma and participated by the officials, employees, professionals, educationists and commoners with banners, festoons and placards bearing different slogans, paraded the streets.

With Deputy Director of the FPD Shafikul Haque in the chair, the Additional Divisional Commissioner attended the main discussion meeting arranged at Sadar Hospital auditorium as the chief guest.

Sadar Upazila Family Planning Officer Dewan Murshed,Medical Officer of the Family Planning Department Dr Saidul Islam, Project Director of Surjer Hashi Clinic Monwara Sultana and Family Welfare Assistant Nazmun Nahar addressed as the special guests.

The speakers termed the present

population growth rate as still higher and said that development plans of the government might not be successful unless all able couples adopted short and long-term as well as permanent methods of family planning.

Expansion of the family planning programmes, among the able couples from all walks in the society in both urban and rural areas through creating mass social awareness, has become an essence of the time, they said.

Later, the chief guest distributed prizes among the best district, upazila and union level family planning service providing organisations, family planning assistants and female family planning visitors for their best contributions in population control programme.

Similar reports of observing the day were received here from the district and upazila headquarters of Lalmonirhat,Kurigram, Nilphamari, Gaibandha, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon and Dinajpur districts in Rangpur division. l

China wants More Palestinians die in Israeli attack Bangladesh to import gas from Myanmar  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

“Building a gas pipeline is very capital intensive project and takes long-term planning,” he said.

After the maritime boundary verdict by ITLOS in 2012, Myanmar has awarded several blocks to international oil companies and if gas is discovered, they need to export it and Bangladesh is a good market for that, Chakma said.

“We must start constructive negotiation right now as it will take a long time to reach a conclusion,” he said.

About 10 years back, there was an initiative to channel gas from Myanmar to India through Bangladesh under a tri-nation pipeline, but it was not materialised as Dhaka did not agree on it, he added.

“Had Bangladesh agreed, we would have been getting gas now from Myanmar,” Chakma said.

In the deal, Bangladesh would have received a certain amount of gas if it agreed to allow gas supply through its territory.

Failing to export gas to India through Bangladesh, the consortium had taken initiative to export gas to China and subsequently struck a deal in 2008.

The Shwe natural gas field is located in the Andaman Sea and it was discovered in 2004 and developed by Daewoo.

It started production in 2013 and produces natural gas and condensates and exports to China through the pipeline.

The total proven reserves of the Shwe gas field are around 9.1 trillion cubic feet and production is slated to be around 700 million cubic feet per day.

Bangladesh extracted about 11 trillion cubic feet of gas in the last 60 years with total reserve of 27 tcf and it has now 16 tcf left to be depleted in the next 15 to 20 years. l

Since then, militants have fired approximately 520 mortar rounds and rockets that struck Israel, while another 140 rockets were intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defence system, an Israeli army statement said late Friday.

Israel is adamant it will continue its campaign, which is says is to stop Hamas missile attacks on Israel.

“No international pressure will prevent us acting with all our force against a terror organisation that is calling for our destruction. We will continue to forcefully attack anyone who is trying

to hurt us. No terrorist target in Gaza is immune.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday.

Israel said on Saturday that 680 rockets had been fired from Gaza into Israel since Tuesday, injuring nine Israelis.

The army said they struck a total of 1,160 targets since the beginning of their operation.

Thousands of Israeli troops have massed along the border with Gaza amid warnings by Israel that it is prepared to launch a ground offensive.

On Friday in a statement from the

Pentagon, Washington affirmed Israel’s right to defend itself, but defence secretary Chuck Hagel told Israeli defence minister Moshe Ya’alon he was concerned “about the risk of further escalation and emphasised the need for all sides to do everything they can to protect civilian lives and restore calm.”

It is the deadliest violence since November 2012, with a growing number of rockets fired at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and even as far north as Haifa.

A rocket seriously wounded one person and injured another seven Israelis when a fuel tanker was hit at a

Depositors’ money unsafe with BASIC  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

The negative value demonstrated that the risk-adjusted capital of the bank is below zero, making the bank insolvent despite having enough liquidity to prevent a bank run, according to banking sector analyst.

“The negative capital adequacy ratio puts the depositors at massive risk unless the government bails out the bank,” said Md Moniruzzaman, a former banker.

“The problem is that depositors in Bangladesh are not familiar with credit ratings and do not keep money judging which bank would be able to provide the best security to their money,” he said.

He also said: “If the government takes a step backwards and lets a bank fail, then depositors would start valuing a bank based on its financial statement.”

On Thursday, the Bank and Financial Institution Division of the Finance Ministry placed its report and Bangladesh Bank’s data on BASIC Bank before the parliamentary standing committee on public undertakings.

M Aslam Alam, secretary of the bank division, told the Dhaka Tribune: “BASIC Bank has run without monitoring for a long time. But it has now been brought under strong monitoring. So, the capital adequacy ratio will increase

in the coming days.”

He also said: “Sonali Bank is now on the right track after struggling with the Hall-Mark scam. Internal auditing and monitoring are strong now...

BASIC Bank’s financial conditions will be good again if it can maintain local standards.”

In 2013, the central bank at first put a 10% loan-growth ceiling for BASIC which was later increased to 20.63% upon its request.

But the troubled bank failed to keep it within the stipulated limits; eventually registering a 25.26% growth in December last year.

Subsequently, the central bank, as

n Mushfique Wadud

“The fee will go up by Tk 20 from the upcoming exams to be held in November this year if the ministry approves our proposal,” SM Wahiduzzaman,

controller of cxaminations of Dhaka Education Board, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

He said the form fill up fee for the JSC exams is currently fixed at Tk 80.

Once the proposal is approved, the fee will be increased to Tk 100.

He elaborated that students will take the examination on the Information and Communication Technology in the JSC exams for the first time from this year and so it needs extra money and time to hold the exams.

The Dhaka Board chairman was asked whether this hike would be a burden for the students especially, those who are living in the rural areas, he said it would not be any problem. l

service station in Ashdod, 30 km (20 miles) north of Gaza. Palestinian militants warned international airlines they would fire rockets at Tel Aviv’s main airport.

Two soldiers were wounded along the border with Gaza when Palestinians fired an anti-tank missile.

And an elderly woman was injured when a rocket hit her home in the southern city of Beersheva.

Israel has authorised the call-up of 40,000 reservist troops, and threatened a ground operation to stamp out the rocket fire.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas urged the United Nations Security Council to order an immediate truce.

Israel’s military commander, Lieutenant-General Benny Gantz, said his forces were ready to act as needed an indication of a readiness to send in tanks and other ground troops, as Israel last did for two weeks in early 2009.

“We are in the midst of an assault and we are prepared to expand it as much as is required, to wherever is required, with whatever force will be required and for as long as will be required,” Gantz told reporters. l

per the Bank Company Act, enforced a penalty of Tk10.02 crore on BASIC. The bank, however, maintains that its loan growth in 2013 was 18.5% percent, and has appealed for the withdrawal of the fine.

The poor financial performance has also hit the bank from another side.

The Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh (CRAB) recently downgraded the ailing bank’s rating, which means that it needed a financial lifeline and carried a very high credit risk.

The bank’s non-performing loans at the end of May 2014 was over Tk4,157 crore while its 2013 annual losses after taxes stood at Tk53.1 crore.

Former banker Mamunur Rashid said: “The figures of BASIC Bank’s classified loans are not drawing the true picture of its financial health, which would get even worse when all the defaulted loans are shown in its balance sheet.”

On July 7, the government formed a new board of directors for the Bank in the wake of Bangladesh Bank investigations detecting massive financial irregularities involving around Tk4,500 crore of loans between 2009 and 2013.

Two months ago, the bank’s managing director Kazi Faqurul Islam was fired for presiding over the period of serious irregularities. l

Satisfactory so far

gal, now has five goals, but their total of 17 has been spread around the side.

Miroslav Klose, now the top scorer of all time in the World Cup with 16 goals, has two, Andre Schuerrle three, defender Hummels and Toni Kroos two, while, Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira and Mario Goetze have also found the net.

But they have yet to come up against a defence as formidadle as Argentina’s.

Lothar Matthaus, the last German skipper to lift the World Cup in 1990, said this week: “There is an old saying in Germany that defences win titles, while the attack wins the glory.”

Those words could yet be borne out in Sunday’s intriguing finale. l

The Education Ministry has been proposed to increase the form fill-up fee, for the addition of a new subject to the list of Junior School Certificate (JSC) examinations from this year.

Once the proposal is approved, the fee will be increased to Tk 100.

Defences set to dominate tight cagey final  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

The trend in recent finals has been for tight, cagey, defensive games with narrow, low-scoring victories and those finals of 1986 and 1990 reflect the dividing line in the finals story.

The six finals up to and including 1986 produced 27 goals, the six since 1990, when Argentina became the first team to fail to score in the final, have produced nine.

And there is every indication that, paradoxically, this goal-laded World Cup – which has produced 167 goals so far and could beat the all-time record of 171 set in France’98 – will be won by defensive steel rather than attacking brilliance.

Top keepers

Both teams have goalkeepers in the form of their lives with Germany’s Manuel Neuer, probably the best in the world, and Argentina’s Sergio Romero, putting aside his season on the bench at AS Monaco with some impressive displays, not least his two stops in the penalty shootout win over the Dutch on Wednesday.

In front of Neuer, Benedict Hoewedes has played every minute of the competition at left-back and Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng have looked impressive in the centre of defence. And since coach Joachim Loew re-positioned skipper Philipp Lahm at right-back rather than midfield, the defence has been even tighter.

Argentina’s rearguard though has been even more impressive.

They have not conceded a goal for three successive matches since a 3-2 win over Nigeria in their last Group F match on June 25, and Sabella can also call on a solid, well-established formation.

Romero has gained in confidence and stature as the tournament has progressed while right-back Pablo Zabaleta, centre-back Ezequiel Garay and defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano have all been impressive as they have played every minute of every match.

There is of course, another Argentine player who has played every minute for his country – Lionel Messi.

the world’s number one player has enjoyed a satisfactory rather than scintilating tournament so far, scoring four times in Argentina’s three group wins against Bosnia, Iran and Nigeria but failing to find the net against Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands in the knockout stages.

And while Argentina have struggled for goals since qualifying with one against Switzerland from Angel di Maria and one against Belgium from Gonzalo Higuain, Germany have flourished, with 10 in the last three games.

Thomas Mueller, who scored a hattrick in the group stage against Portu-

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Solar panel rule for new connection to go The money collected instead will be used for generating renewable power for off-grid people stallation requirement. holdings for getting new connections. issue a new order for taking applications out solar panels for certain periods. n Aminur Rahman Rasel REHAB leaders claimed Considering these circumstancIn current market prices, the mini- for new electricity connections [against The government is nearly ready to withdraw the stipulation binding consumers to install solar panels for getting new connections above two kilowatts.

Instead, consumers, while applying for new connections, will have to deposit a certain amount of money to a government fund, which will be used to generate power from renewable sources for people outside the national grid.

According to a guideline that the government is contemplating, consumers will have to deposit Tk2,000 for each kilowatt above 2KW. On that count, anyone applying for a 4KW connection will have to pay Tk4,000 in total.

The existing solar panel rule made it mandatory for consumers to install permanent rooftop panels at their

mum cost of setting up such a panel is Tk50,000.

The idea was to make sure that consumers generated at least 3% of their demand on their own from the renewable source before they are awarded fresh connections.

In that way, the government wanted to promote the use of renewable sources of energy and ease pressure on the traditional non-renewable sources.

“We held a meeting with the stakeholders including the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission to make a final decision,” said Mohammad Hossain, director general of the government’s Power Cell.

“We will send a proposal to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina [also the minister in-charge of the Power Ministry] for approval,” he said.

“After approval, the Power Division will

payment of the fees],” he added.

A few months ago, the Dhaka Tribune published a report, which elaborated various kinds of irregularities that consumers, a section of government employees and solar panel sellers had been resorting to.

Instead of installing power-generating permanent panels, many consumers set up rented panels on rooftops without laying the distribution lines.

These window dressing panels, rented for small durations, were used to convince a section of government employees that they had actually installed the panels.

A section of those government inspectors, upon payment of bribes, allegedly awarded clearance to these consumers.

Many solar panel traders have also been doing healthy business by renting

3

Sunday, July 13, 2014

es, the Power Cell recommended the ministry to collect the money that the consumers were supposed to spend on installing solar panels as a precondition for getting new connections.

The money has to be deposited to the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda), which will use the fund to implement renewable energy-based projects for the deprived people living in the offgrid areas.

The “mini solar off grid” is said to be one such project to be undertaken in various places. One such project could be used for lighting up one or two villages at a time.

On January 21, the Real Estate and Housing Association of Bangladesh (REHAB) urged State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid to scrap the solar panel in-

that the regulation had complicated things for their businesses because none of the owners were interested in bearing the financial burden of setting up solar panels.

Nasrul also hinted before that the government might scrap the rule. Although never on record to media, the junior minister had admitted in official meetings that the solar panel regulation did not work out.

Since its formation in December 2012, Sreda has reportedly made little progress, despite its ambitious plans for producing 800MW of electricity sustainably by 2015.

According to sources, reasons for Sreda’s slow kick start were delay in finalising the organogram and a lack of interest from the ministry side.

Bangladesh currently produces about 100MW from renewable sources. l

Youth killed in road crush in capital n Kailash Sarkar A youth was crushed under the wheel of a bus in front of the City College in the capital yesterday night.

Identified as Delwar Hossain, the 25-year-old was run over by a bus of Moitree Paribahan while he was crossing the road by a bicycle around 9pm.

Police said the reckless passenger bus first hit the youth from behind and then ran over him.

Inspector Abu Bakkar Siddiqi, officer-in-charge of Dhanmondi police station, said police and locals took the injured young man to nearby Popular Medical College and Hospital and later to Dhaka Medical College Hospital where the doctors declared him dead.

The OC said the deceased stayed in Rasulbagh area, but they could not collect any more detail of the victim immediately.

The body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue. l

COUNTDOWN TO 2015

Bangladesh betters in lowering child, maternal mortality n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Bangladesh is advancing rapidly in reducing under-5 child and maternal mortality, 18 months ahead of deadline for the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 2015.

At present, the under-5 child mortality per 1,000 live births has come down to 41 when the MDG target is 48.

On the other hand, maternal mortality rate per 1,00,000 live births now stands at 170. The MDG target is set at 140.

The latest information on the MDG progress of 75 countries – provided by Geneva-based Countdown to 2015 – was released in end June.

In 1990, under-5 and maternal mortality rates in Bangladesh were 144 and 550.

Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad, additional director general at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are trying our best to meet the MDG targets.”

The maternal mortality rate was 194 per 1,00,000 live births as per Bangladesh Maternal Mortality 2010.

On the other hand, according to Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS) 2011, the under-5 child mortality rate was 53 per 1,000 live births.

The last findings titled “Fulfilling the Health Agenda for Women and Children: The 2014 Report” was launched at the meeting of Partnership for Maternal, New Born and Child Health (PMNCH) in Johannesburg, South Africa.

It contains the latest available health data on key maternal and child health indicators of Bangladesh.

The report presents together the best and latest evidence to enable an

assessment of progress in improving reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) and achieving MDGs 4 and 5.

Bangladesh’s country profile presents the most recent available information at the time it was published on selected demographic measures, coverage rates for priority interventions across the continuum of care, and indicators of equity, policy support, human resources and financial flows.

According to the latest statistics, only 26% Bangladeshis took all the four antenatal checkups during pregnancy, 32% got the service from skilled attendant during births while the rate of postnatal care is 27%. The rate of exclusive breastfeeding is 64%, says the report.

The survey also found socio-economic inequities in health service coverage. “The poor people do not get access same as the rich compared to antenatal care, delivery by skill birth attendants and care seeking for pneumonia.”

The latest report says the rate of early initiation of breastfeeding is almost same. The trend of vaccination (such as DPT, Measles and vitamin) between rich and poor is almost close.

Dr Abu Zafor Md Musa, director (primary health care) of DGHS, told the Dhaka Tribune that the latest figure was prepared in line with a UN survey.

While asked about fulfilling the MDG target of maternal mortality, he said they were conducting evidence-based intervention to reduce the rate.

He mentioned that there were around 35% indirect reasons behind maternal deaths like heart and kidney complications and hypertension. “We are very much hopeful to achieve the target.” l

A physically challenged man is seen coming down the foot over steps while the able-bodied avoid using footbridges at their own sweet will. The picture was taken from Paribagh area in the capital yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Khaleda calls upon UN to stop attacks in Gaza n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has called upon the international community including the United Nations to stop attacks on Palestinians in Gaza.

“The attacks by the Israeli force are the cruelest military drive held in recent history. I am calling upon the international community including the United Nations to take initiatives to put pressure on Israel to stop military drives on the Palestinian people,” she

The Hindu devotees assemble near Buriganga to float candles yesterday following worship aimed to propitiate demonic forces

MUMIT M

Missing GCC female ward councilor rescue n UNB Police rescued female ward councilor Pervin Akhter of Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) from Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj district yesterday night, a day after she went missing from Gazipur city.

Assistant police super Nazmul

Hasan of Habiganj (North) said local people found Pervin Akhter in senseless condition at Aouskandi beside Dhaka-Sylhet Highway around 9:15pm and informed police.

Later, sub-inspector Mizanur Rahman of Nabiganj Police Station rushed to the spot and took her to the police station.

Pervin, councilor of ward-no 1 of Gazipur City Corporation, went missing on her way to arbitration from her village home Panisail in Gazipur city on Friday morning.

Later, her husband Minhaz Uddin filed a general diary with Joydebpur Police station on Friday night. l

tions and the peace loving states to take effective steps to stop the brutal attacks and genocide on the Palestinian citizens of the Gaza strip. Israel is continuing the attacks paying no heed to the world community’s objection,” he said.

The fugitive Jamaat leader said the humanitarian people of Bangladesh have taken stance against the Israeli invasion, however, the rogue Israeli government is not taking the views into consideration. l

said in a statement yesterday.

The former premier said if Israel held on to its aggressive attitude then peace would not return in the Middle East.

She said the Palestinian people were not being spared from the attacks even during the holy month of Ramadan.

“By confiding the Palestinian people in the Gaza valley for years, humanity is in dire straits,” she said.

The BNP chief said the Gaza valley had been turned into a deserted area and thousands of its people were searching

for shelters to save themselves.

Khaleda said she believed that the military drive was carried to destroy the logical demands of the Palestinians.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed while more than 600 were severely injured in the repeated attacks held recently.

Meanwhile, acting Ameer of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Maqbul Ahmed has condemned the attacks in Palestinian Gaza strip.

“I am calling upon the United Na-

3 punished for producing unhygienic food, fake cosmetics n Tribune Report

US chapter AL leader killed in New York

A mobile court yesterday sealed off three factories in Old Dhaka for making substandard food and cosmetic products.

Three people were sent to jail and fined by the mobile court conducted by elite force Rapid Action Battalion from 9:30pm to 3pm. The drive in Champatoli, Swarighat and Chhoto Katara areas was led by Executive Magistrate AHM Anwar Pasha.

Manager of a factory Md Abdul Hye, 22, was jailed for a year and fined Tk1 lakh for producing, preserving and selling unhygienic foods and labelling them with names of renowned companies, said a press release issued by RAB. Owners of two other factories Kazi Sumon, 24, and Mohammad Hossain, 32, were given the same punishment.

They both were sentenced to jail for the same offence last year.

Hossain was jailed for producing fake cosmetics using dangerous chemicals. He had been running the factory for the last 12 years which produced hair oil using eatable oil, colours, perfume and paraffin.

In his statement, Hossain said he did not allow his family members to use the hair oil since a user might lose hair. l

n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman A senior Awami League leader of US chapter was strangled to death in New York city in the wee hours of Wednesday.

The deceased was Nazmul Islam, vice-president of US chapter Awami League.

Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Abdul Momen told the Dhaka Tribune over telephone that Nazmul visited Bangladesh about 10 days ago and met Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“I saw his body that bore injury marks to forehead, below eyes and above nose,” Momen said.

“Nazmul’s mother told us that he re-

ceived a phone call around 11 Tuesday night and was speaking in Bangla and having a political conversation.”

He left the house hastily after receiving the phone call and his body was found four hours later, two blocks from his home, Momen said.

“Police recovered his cellphone and are investigating the murder.”

He made two emergency phone calls to 911 before he was killed, Momen said.

His Namaz-e-Janaza was held Friday and he was buried in a New York.

Nazmul, a divorcee, lived with his mother and sister in New York. He also had one son and one daughter.

He left Bangladesh in 1981 and since then he had been living in the USA. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Hizb-ut-Tahrir trying to cash in on Ramadan spirits Activists targeting private university, college students and Rohingya refugees

n Mohammad Jamil Khan Banned Islamist militant outfit Hizbut-Tahrir has recently been trying to rejuvenate itself by cashing in on the Ramadan religious fervour, intelligence sources have said.

According to sources in the outfit, at least 10,000 Hizb-ut members, divided in small groups, are currently active around the country. Their activities are mainly concentrated in Dhaka and Chittagong.

These members are reportedly doing public relations by organising small Islamic discussions and programmes that are common during the fasting month.

Intelligence sources said the members had been extending invitation to people to join the outfit and organise “subversive” activities.

They are mainly focusing on the dormitories of various educational institutions, away from the law enforcement radar.

Police have found that Tahrir members, divided in small groups, have also been contacting Muslim refugees from Myanmar, known as Rohingyas, in the coastal districts. They have been providing food, housing, job and education to these refugees.

“The militant group has been carrying on with its activities by dividing into small groups because they do not have any leader. Most of them have been arrested by RAB in massive crackdowns,” said Lt Col Abul Kalam Azad, director of the RAB intelligence wing.

The group was formed in 2001 with an aim to establish an Islamic state in Bangladesh. In 2009, the group and all its activities were banned.

Since then, Tahrir members had been keeping their network alive by being active on social media such as Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Google and Yahoo.

They have been mainly targeting private university and college students and the children of high profile politicians.

In a recent drive in Chittagong city, Kotowali police detained seven alleged Tahrir activists when they were trying to bring out a procession.

Since the beginning of the fasting month, many activists of the group could be seen distributing leaflets containing anti-state messages at various mosques in the port city, especially in the remote areas which police do not patrol regularly.

In the capital, law enforcers rounded up three supporters of Hizb-utTahrir from the Badda area while they were distributing similar leaflets after the Jumma prayers last Friday.

MA Jalil, OC of Badda police station, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Many people [dressed in traditional Islamic attire] gather at the mosques for Jumma prayers on the Fridays during the holy month of Ramadan. They [Tahrir men] took this opportunity to do public relations staying under cover.”

Sanowar Hossain, additional deputy commissioner of the Detective Branch of Police, who has been dealing with the militant group for many years, said: “Learning from their past activities, we are keeping a close watch on them. DB police have recently arrested some coordinators and leaders of the banned outfit. It will continue because some leaders and activists have recently come out by securing bail from court.” l

Displaced by erosion of Padma river in Khanpur and Khidirpur, inhabitants of those localities move to different areas in Rajshahi with many taking shelter in their relatives’ houses. The picture was taken from Dasmari yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Government to set up LNG firm n Aminur Rahman Rasel

The government is to establish a company for importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) and distribute it through a terminal.

The company is likely to be named LNG Company Limited while the purpose of importing LNG is to avoid an energy crisis in the country which could affect supply in the future.

“It will be the country’s first-ever land-based LNG terminal which is to be built in Chittagong’s Anwara or Moheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar. To maintain the terminal and to import LNG, we have made a decision in principle to set up the company,” Director General of Power Cell, a state-owned entity under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Mohammad Hossain

told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

On July 9, a meeting was held at the Power Ministry in this regard.

The onshore terminal would be the country’s second LNG terminal, with the other planned to be built offshore.

Power Cell floated a tender seeking EOIs (Expressions of Interest) from global companies in mid-April to build the terminal, with a handling capacity of 3.5 million tonnes a year.

“The terminal will be set up on a build-own-operate basis. LNG from the terminal will be supplied to gas-based power plants,” said Hossain.

“For constructing the company under the Power Ministry, the legal infrastructure is being prepared,” he said, adding that it will be registered with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms.

Hossain said the company would

Police yesterday recovered a firearm from a residence of a person accused in a murder case at Satkania upazila in Chittagong. However, no one was arrested in this connection.

Sub-Inspector Osman Gani of Satkania police station said a police team conducted a drive at the residence of one Md Sagir, who allegedly killed his brother Faruk with sharp weapon on July 9 over a family dispute.

“Police raided the house of Sagir at Pancharti area under Charoti union of the upazila and recovered a light gun (LG) hidden under a mattress at around 2:30am”, he added. Sensing the presence of police, the accused managed to escape from the scene. l

Proper support for flourishing abilities of autistic children stressed

Bangladesh wins silver and bronze at 55th Mathematics Olympiad n Mushfique Wadud

n BSS

Bangladesh has won a silver medal and a bronze at the 55th Mathematics Olympiad in South Africa.

Dhaka College student Nur Muhammad Shafiullah won the silver medal while Adib Hasan from Mymensing Zila School won the Bronze.

Four other students who got an honourable mention award are Sanzeed Anwar, Asif E Elahi, Sazid Akhter Turzo and Mutasim Mim. The result, which was announced by International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) yesterday, is also available on the organisation’s site.

Confirming the feat of Bangladeshi students to the Dhaka Tribune, President of Bangladesh Mathematical Olympiad president Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury said the team’s total score is 84 and Bangladesh’s rank is 53 among 101 team.

He termed the result best Bangladesh team has made in the last 10 years.

“The most encouraging thing is that comparatively new and young members of the team did well in the Olympiad,” he told Dhaka Tribune. “We hope that we will get more medals in the coming years.” l

Speakers at the launching ceremony of a school for the intellectually disabled and autistic children have stressed for mainstreaming them through extending proper supports in flourishing their talents and abilities.

They were addressing launching ceremony of Ghoraghat Branch of the School for the intellectually disabled children at Khodadatpur Jubo Samaj Kallyn Samity premises in Ghoraghat pourashava town of Dinajpur on Friday afternoon.

Society for Welfare of the Intellectually Disabled (SWID) in Bangladesh extended assistances in establishing the school for educating the mentally retarded children of the area to make them able and worthy citizens.

Member of the Parliament from Dionajour-6 constituency Md Sibley Sadik attended the ceremony as the chief guest with Chairman of Ghoraghat Branch of the School for the Intellectually Disabled Children Samiul Islam in the chair.

President of SWID Bangladesh Zaoaherul Islam Mamun inaugurated the newly established school.

General Secretary of Ghora-

Quader: Roads must be fit for transportation by July 20

ghat upazila Awami League Abdur Rouf Khandker Shahanshah, Mayor of Ghoraghat pourashava Abdus Sattar Milan, social worker Ali Ferdous Khokan, Officer-in-Charge of Ghoraghat Thana Farhad Imrul Kayes, attended as the special guests.

Appreciating the authorities of SWID Bangladesh for is assistance in launching of the school in Ghoraghat, the speakers said the school would definitely play vital role in turning the autistic and mentally retarded children into worthy citizens for the nation.

The chief guest stressed for ensuring congenial environment for the autistic children to flourish their latent talents and abilities with an ultimate goal of mainstreaming them with the process of building a developed Bangladesh.

The intellectually retarded children must be treated as integral part of the society as many of them have already been proving their ability and talent in education, sports and other extra curricular activities like the common children, he said.

Later, he committed for building two class rooms with necessary facilities in the school and the pourashava Mayor committed for donating Taka 20,000 for development of the institution. l

Palli Bidyut office ransacked

n Tribune Report

Communications Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday asked the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) authority to make all the major roads and highways of the country fit for transportation by July 20.

“No excuse will be tolerated and none will go unpunished if they fail to carry out their duty appropriately.

Work order of the contractors will be cancelled if negligence found in their works. Three teams have been formed by the ministry and they are inspecting the current state of the roads and highways of the country,” the minister said.

Obaidul Quader came up with the observations after inspecting Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Mograpara area in Sonargaon and upazila sadar road this morning. l

function independently, ensuring transparency and competency in human resources. Meanwhile, 15 international firms have so far submitted EOIs. Hossain said the Power Cell was planning to set up the terminal to feed a proposed 1,000MW combined cycle power plant, as well as the existing power plants in Raujan and Sikalbaha, by one or more high-pressure gas transmission pipelines to be connected to it.

The Energy and Mineral Resources Division has decided to set up the country’s first floating storage and re-gasification unit, also known as LNG terminal, in Moheshkhali of Cox’s Bazar.

The country has been facing an acute gas crisis as the daily production recently stood at around 2,300 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) against a demand of 3,000mmcfd. l

Firearm recovered in Chittagong n CU Correspondent

n Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

Arches built especially by political parties on different occasions in the capital are very often not removed for days narrowing the road that contributes to traffic congestion MEHEDI HASAN

Hundreds of students and locals ransacked the Palli Bidyut office in Austagram upazila of Kishoreganj yesterday protesting the ongoing power outage.

They also blockaded, staged demonstrations and besieged the office demanding uninterrupted power supply.

According to locals, frequent power crisis prompted the students and local people to stage demonstrations, lay siege of office and vandalise Palli Bidyut office (Rural Electrification Office).

According to locals, the scenario of load shedding in the rural areas is worse than earlier. Power crisis is so acute that people hardly get electricity even for a couple of hours a day.

Most of the day and night they have

to pass without power and they cannot watch the World Cup football matches, alleged the sufferers.

Under the circumstances, several hundred students along with locals staged demonstration in front of the Palli Bidyut office about 10:30am and besieged it protesting the frequent blackouts in the upazila.

They also pelted stones towards the office protesting the frequent load shedding.

At one stage, the students of Austagram Pilot High School vandalised the complain centre of Palli Bidyut office.

Chowdhury Mizanuzzaman, Officer-in-Charge of Austagram police station, said on information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Traffic congestion: A constant headache for city dwellers DMP traffic division sees no way to reduce the problem of rising population and vehicles intersection of the capital, especially ing facilities, bus stations, passenger n Abu Hayat Mahmud at Elephant Road, Kalabagan, New sheds and public vehicles alongside the Traffic congestion has become a serious problem in the capital as most residents face unabated hardship in commuting through the city roads due to widespread indiscipline in the city’s transportation and traffic management.

Office goers, students and even patients continue to suffer from the intense traffic deadlocks, especially during the morning and evening peak hours, to reach their destinations.

This correspondent yesterday found a CNG-run auto rickshaw, carrying a patient with burn injuries, stuck on the Mirpur road at Kalabangan area for more than two hour.

Azharul Islam, who was attending the emergency patient, said they were on their way to Dhaka Medical College from Kallayanpur for treatment.

“It took us more than half-anhour for us to reach Kalabagan from Kallayanpur due to immense traffic congestion. I don’t know when we will reach the hospital,” added Azharul is frustrated voice.

Farida Akhter, a resident of Moghbazar who came to Elephant Road for shopping, said: “It took around an hour to reach from Mogbazar to Elephant Road just because of this traffic jam.”

She also claimed that traffic congestion in the capital hikes during Ramadan every year but the but the government never took any steps to improve it.

This correspondent also found traffic gridlocks at almost every

Market, Shahbagh, Mothsa Bhaban, Purana Paltan, Kakrail, Moghbazar, Mouchak, Malibagh, Saat Rasta, among others.

While talking to the Dhaka Tribune, most residents blamed the lack of responsibility and other irregularities of authority concerned for the daily hardship of commuters traveling in the capital. They also claimed huge number of paddled rickshaws, auto rickshaws and footpath and road encroachment have also also contributed much to the daily hassle.

Although urban planners and even a Rajuk study had claimed that the traffic congestion in the capital occurs due to unplanned urbanisation and indiscipline in the city’s traffic management system, however, authorities concerned have rejected the allegations and blamed the rising number of residents and vehicles in the capital for the traffic deadlocks.

Urban Planner Prof Nazrul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune: “Unplanned urbanisation and traffic mismanagement in the capital are the main reason to increase traffic congestion. It may also increase in future if the government does not to take strict steps in decentralisation and traffic systems.”

According to a Rajuk study – Regional Development Planning (RDP) – city dwellers waste 11 minutes on an average at every major intersection and bus corridors around the capital.

The survey also observed that the city lacked adequate sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, foot over-bridges, park-

traffic mismanagement.

Although the government implemented a few mega projects, including construction of a number of flyovers across the city, the city’s traffic movement had not improved significantly.

At the same time, traffic signals and countdown timers installed in the capital have been of no use as the traffic police continue to regulate traffic flows manually. Manual traffic controls usually encourages drivers and commuters to disobey rules.

Moreover, BRTA data shows a total of 87,795 unfit motor vehicles plying across the roads of Dhaka, posing threat to road safety and contributing to traffic congestion.

DMP Joint Commissioner (Traffic) Mosleh Uddin Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune: “There are mainly three reasons are now the reasons for the traffic jam.”

“The construction of Mogbazar-Mouchak flyover has congested the roads in the area, reasoning the effect has stretched all over the city. Moreover, during Ramadan most of the markets and shopping malls has filled with Eid shoppers.”

“Another reason is the raising number of vehicles in the capital. Every year, around 36,000 new motor vehicles join the city roads. However, the road had not been expanded.”

He also said the number of traffic police in the capital have been increased to maintain the system in Ramadan, but it would be difficult to reduce the jam completely. l

A birds-eye view shows long tailback of vehicles on all sides of the Karwan Bazar intersection in the capital yesterday

Crimes increase on Dhaka University campus

Gold trader commits suicide n CU Correspondent

n DU Correspondent

A gold trader allegedly committed suicide yesterday by hanging himself in his residence in Chittagong city’s Anderkilla area.

The deceased was identified as Somir Dash, 48, son of Suresh Dash, from Homna of Comilla district, said police sources.

Sub-Inspector Nazrul Islam of Kotwali police station said the gold trader committed suicide by hanging himself from a ceiling fan with a scarf in bedroom of his house on Friday night and family members found his body hanging in the morning and informed police.

Police recovered his body at around 10:00 am and sent it to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) morgue for autopsy, said SI Nazrul.

Quoting family members, SI Nazrul Islam said Somir was mentally stressed as had huge debt, which could the possible reason of suicide incident.

No case was filed till filing this report in this regard. l

Crimes on the campus of Dhaka University have been on the rise for the past few months and the situation has turned worse ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr amid lax security arrangements.

Vehicles that are not allowed on the campus, including buses, trucks and motorcycles, run recklessly in violation of the rule, often leading to accidents.

Mugging and extortion also take place frequently.

Students and teachers say these incidents happen because of negligence of the university authorities and on-duty law enforcers.

Although the university has eight entrances, there is no facility to monitor entry and exit of people and vehicles.

In the last one year, 35 motorbikes and 40 bicycles were either lost or snatched on the campus while theft took place in at least 10 residential facilities of teachers and university officials.

More than a hundred mobile phones and laptops of students were lost but none of those could be recovered even after filing general diaries with Shahbagh police station, sources said.

Areas adjacent to the campus, including Palashi, Kataban, Doyel Chhatar, Shishu Academy, Bangla Academy, Shahbagh, and Chankharpool turn into hotbed of mugging when the sun sets.

Students, teachers and even foreign teachers became victims of mugging.

In the last two years, at least three foreign guests and teachers fell prey to theft and mugging.

Mashahiko Tohaga, a professor at Hiroshima University of Japan, lost some valuables, including $2,000, a laptop, a digital camera and some important documents, in 2011 while taking lunch in the TSC cafeteria.

On June 20, 2012, Siddiqur Rahman Khan, a teacher of Islamic history and culture, had had his car missing, which was parked in front of the arts building around 11:45am. He entered the build-

ing and did not find his car after returning an hour later.

In May 2012, two Indian citizens were mugged near Doyel Chattar and their laptops, cell phones, money, passports and documents were taken away.

Two cases were filed in this connection but no stuff could recovered and none was arrested either.

Students and the university’s acting proctor Amzad Ali said a syndicate was responsible for the crimes on the campus.

Amzad said some outsiders were involved in the incidents.

“We are trying our best, with the cooperation of police and proctorial body, to check such crimes,” he said.

“We do not have adequate checkposts on the entrances which is why the perpetrators can flee easily after committing crimes,” said Amzad.

The acting proctor denied involvement of students in such incidents.

Meanwhile, some leaders of Chhatra League have been alleged to be involved in camps crimes.

PARTLY CLOUDY

SUNDAY, JULY 13

n CU Correspondent

DHAKA

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:20AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

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Chittagong

32

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Rajshahi

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Rangpur

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Khulna

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Barisal

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Sylhet

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Cox’s Bazar

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YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

36.2ºC Comilla

25.6ºC Chittagong

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

UP member accused of arson attack by rival n Our Correspondent, Barisal A member of Chandpura union parishad under Barisal Sadar upazila was accused of setting fire to the house and shop of his rival in Kundial Para village of the union early yesterday.

Yusuf Ali Mridha alleged that rival UP member Mainul Islam Mamun and his associates set fire to his shop and house around 2am, resulting in damage worth of Tk10 lakh.

Yusuf said he and Mamun were in a dispute over land issues and also lodged cases against Mamun, accusing him of demanding extortion and other crimes.

“After police submitted charge sheet against Mamun, he planned to kill me and my family members by setting my house on fire,” said Yusuf.

Mamun, however, denied the allegation and said Yusuf himself set fire to his house and shop to blame others. l

Two abducted Chittagong students rescued from Bandarban, one held

WEATHER

TODAY SUN SETS 6:49PM

Seeking anonymity, a sub-inspector of Shahbagh police station told the Dhaka Tribune around 50% of the crimes were committed by students, especially Chhatra League men.

These men frequently engage themselves in such acts as police are forced to leave them for their political identity, he said.

“Although we arrested several students for their alleged involvement in crimes, we had to release them soon as we faced pressure from the higher authorities,” he added.

Shahbagh police station officer-in-charge Shirajul Islam said: “Sometimes we have to free the perpetrators even after catching them red-handed when they showed their university identity cards and also mentioned their political identity”.

Vice-chancellor Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique urged law enforcement agencies to beef up security measures on the campus to check such unexpected events. l

RAJIB DHAR

3:52am 5:18am 12:04am 4:44pm 6:49pm 8:16pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

Activists of Bangladesh Workers Party form a human chain in front of the National Press Club demanding safe foods and payment of workers' salaries and festival bonuses before Eid-ul-Fitr, in the capital yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Police yesterday rescued two madrasha students, who were abducted on Friday night, from the hill tracts area in Naikhalchari upazila in Bandarban.

The rescued school boys were Abdullah al Hasan alias Nazmul, 16, son of Golam Mostafa, a police constable in Comilla and Sahidul Islam Babu, 15, son of Abdul Jalil, a small trader, said police station sources.

They are the students of class eight at Hafiza Ulum Dhakil Madrasha in the city.

“Police arrested Md golam Mostafa Emran, 23, son of Sultan Khalifa, from Bandarban in this connection,” con-

firmed Sub-Inspector Rubel Hawlader of Baizid police station.

He also informed the two students were abducted from Sher Shah Colony area in city, and later the abductors placed a demand for Tk15 lakh from the victim’s family as ransom over phone.

Later, the victim’s family lodged a case with Baizid police in this regard.

Police rescued the two students from the hill tracts by tracing the mobile phone location at around 9:30 Friday night and held Emran in this connection.

Emran is the members of professional terrorist outfit, numbering 15 to 20 members, in Bandarban and is wanted in several other cases. l

Locals observe strike for Friday bus accident n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Tension ran high at Ichhladi under Wajirpur police station of Barisal district following an accident on Friday that killed 11 people.

Locals at Ichhladi market observed a strike yesterday demanding the punishment to staff and owner of the bus that ploughed through the market.

Anwar Hossain, Officer-in-Charge

(OC) of Wazirpur police station, said the number of death was 11.

Gournadi highway police station filed a case in Wazirpur police station against the unnamed driver of Hanif Paribahan for killing and injuring people by reckless driving.

The OC of Wajirpur police station also said police is trying to nab the accused driver. Shops at Ichhladi bazaar were closed till 2:00 PM observing strike.

Highway was opened under police protection from about 10pm on Friday, but vehicular movement was limited due to the tensed situation in that area.

Jasimuddin, president of the Ichhladi bazaar businessmen association, demanded construction of more speed breakers, compensations for the dead and injured in the accident, and punishment of the driver, staffs, and owners of the bus.

Per head Tk 5,000 for injured, and Tk 10,000 for each of the dead victims were sanctioned by the district administration for treatment and burial costing, said Sadikur Rahman, nejarat deputy collector of Barisal.

Sources from Barisal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital said 5 critically injured patients were referred to Dhaka for better treatment. Among the 11 dead men two died on the spot,

Seven died at SBMCH, and two died at Wazirpur upazila health complex.

A coach of Hanif Paribahon, plying on Dhaka-Barisal route, plunged into roadside bazaar due to a break-failure and smashed shops, small vehicles, pedestrians before stopping at a roadside slope near Ichhladi toll plaza around 6pm on Friday Police with the help of local people ran the rescue operation. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Research on golden tortoise extinction n Our Correspondent, Moulvibazar In order to save the endangered golden tortoise from extinction, the Centre for Advanced Research in Natural Resource and Management is conducting a research by installing Radio Transmitter in its body.

The wild life research organisation in association with the Ministry of Environment launched the research programme under Bangladesh Tortoise Project at Lawachhara National Park in Moulvibazar district to gather information about golden tortoises.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature marked the golden tortoise as the extremely endangered animal of the world.

In Bangladesh, the main habitat of the golden tortoises is the evergreen forests of Moulvibazar, Habiganj, Sylhet and Chittagong Hill Tract regions.

Sources said Zoologists in the country did not have any data on the life and habitat of these rare species.

After the installation of the transmitter in the body of three gold tortoises, the tortoises were released into the Lawachhara National Park.

Of the three, one was released in the jungle on June 13, and the other two were released on June 14.

The female tortoise was collected from Lawachhara forest and another female and a male were caught from Lama forest of Bandarban district.

According to the project sources, the three were moving well in the jungle.

The transmitter installation and tortoise release programme was attended

by Chief Researcher of the Bangladesh

1,030 bottles of Phensidyl recovered n Our Correspondent, Chapainawabganj

Border Guard Bangladesh recovered 1,030 bottles of Indian Phensidyl syrup and 16 bottles of liquor in Masudpur and Baker Ali border points of the district yesterday.

BGB sources said on a tip-off, a team of the BGB 9 battalion conducted a drive at Thotar Para in Masudpur bordering area and recovered 180 bottles of Indian Phensidyl syrup and 16 bottles of liquor in an abandoned condition.

On the otherhand, another team of the BGB recovered 850 bottles of Phensidyl from a boat in the Padma River in Baker Ali bordering area around 3:30am. l

A radio transmitter has recently been set up on the hard shell of the nearly extinct golden tortoise for research. The rare species was later released into the Lawachhara National Park in Moulvibazar to observe its life DHAKA TRIBUNE Python Project Shahrier Cisure Rahman, Range Officer of the Lawachhara National Park Martuz Ali, Amphibious Animal Researcher Animesh Ghose, Researcher Farzana Taskin, Wild Life Researcher of USA Sfot Tregsar and Researcher Erin Tregsar.

Chief Researcher of the Bangladesh Python Project Shahrier Cisure Rahman told the journalists the golden tortoise was considered to be the most endangered animal in the world.

The tendency of people to eat the tortoises as a delicacy was the main rea-

son why these reptiles are on the brink of extinction, added the researcher.

Locals said earlier they used to come across seven to eight golden tortoises daily in Lawachhara forest area, but nowadays, the animal was rarely seen, maybe only once or twice a year.

Being amphibious reptiles, people living in the hills could easily catch and eat them, while the ones they don’t eat, they sell, they added.

An NGO, Orion Society, gave financial assistance to the research programme. l

Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

People have been going through severe drinking water crisis as excessive iron, arsenic and salt in water has made it undrinkable at all five upazilas in Gopalganj.

There is hardly any source of safe drinking water which they can rely on during the dry season and so their woes continue.

Locals say they cannot drink water from just any source like deep tubewell or anything else as it is naturally laced with a high level of iron, arsenic and salt. They mostly depend on bottled water in the district.

The correspondent yesterday visited Manikhar village at Gopalganj Sadar upazila's Urfi Union Parishad and found people living in dire straits from the lack of drinking water there.

A housewife, Konika Basu, 26, from this village, says: “Salinity is going up day by day at Azizul Gazi's deep tubewell and so nobody nowadays fetch drinking water any more. Moreover, that water smells bad.

"The Public Health and Engineering department has asked us not to drink water from red-marked deep tubewells because it posea a hazard to our health,” she says, lamentably adding,” but what we can do when we do not have any other alternative source of water.”

Urfi Union Parishad Chairman Monir Gazi says: “There is no arsenic-free deep tube-well in the union and so people are suffering a lot due to lack of drinking water here. Compelled, they are having to drink arsenic water despite knowing its bad effects on health.”

The correspondent also visited Kolakoir village at the same upazila's Korpara Union Parishad and found swamps, ponds and canals and other water bodies to have gone dry for quite a long time.

Women are walking miles to fetch drinking water. Many women are unable to walk afar and so they are drinking arsenic water.

Villagers Bashar Molla, 45, says: “Our area goes under water during the rainy season but now there is not a drop of water for drinking here. Such a situation has been appearing during the dry season for five to seven years.

“When our deep tube-well was installed, its water was fresh, but the level of salinity has increased in the water day by day, making it undrinkable for us. Shallow tube-well water has arsenic and iron and so people are being at-

tacked with various diseases for drinking it.”

A senior officer at NGO Forum For Drinking Water, Dipok Kumar, says: “There has taken place a saline water intrusion in the ground level water and so tube-well water has become saline, making it undrinkable for people in the district.

“People however can get rid of this crisis if they hold rain water through pond or by digging water bodies in the district.”

Deputy Commissioner Khalilur Rahman says: “We are trying to tide over this drinking water crisis. Deep tubewells are already being installed at every union parishad under Local Governance Support Project.

Different NGOs are also helping harvest rain water. And so we hope to solve it soon.” l

Female councillor goes missing in Gazipur n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

The Eid shopping gains momentum in Bogra. The shopping malls are making a vibrant sale throughout the day. The picture was taken from a shop in the district town DHAKA TRIBUNE

A female councilor of Gazipur City Corporation reportedly went missing on Friday.

According to sources, Perveen Akhter, councilor from reserved seat (GCC wards 1, 2 and 3), left her house in the morning for attending an arbitration.

Perveen’s husband Minhajul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune: “Perveen left the house at 8am to join an arbitration in Jirani Bazar area. She left her mobile phone in the house and did not tell us about any specific address.”

“We started searching for her as she did not return home till noon. After failing to find her, I filed a general diary with Joydebpur police station at 11:30pm.”

He alleged that Dulal Hazari, the accused of Perveen’s father freedom fighter Chan Mia murder case, had threatened to kidnap her three months ago.

“But we did not file any GD on the

Fortunes change as farmers discover peanut gold n BSS

The vines when uprooted reveal bunches of peanuts. Like gold sunk under the earth. The output of untiring efforts shines brightly under the mid-day sun. This cash crop has brought happiness to the lives of farmers.

For some years now shoals have accreted on the River Padma at Daulatpur upazila where peanut is being cultivated in a big way.

Once upon a time the area comprising Ramkrishnapur, Chilmari, Philipnagar and Maricha unions were the most productive in the region. Every year

the sediments deposited by the floods made the land fertile. But for the last couple of decades misfortune befell the area as the Padma changed course and vast areas particularly of Chilmari and Ramkrishnapur went under. Thousands of people became paupers over night.

But about a decade back the river, once again, changed track. Shoals started emerging. Initially there was little interest in the newly accreted land.

But for the last half-a- dozen years or so, people started cultivating peanuts there. Building on the early success, other farmers followed.

The Agriculture Department estimates that at least one thousand hectares of land in the upazila is under peanut cultivation now. Farmers say that because of a dry monsoon this year the yields have been low between 6 to 7 maunds, per bigha. The market value of the produce would be 13 to 15 thousand takas.

Rahman Mondal of Chilmari of Rajmura, Chilmari union, said that the Padma had devoured 20 bighas of his land. Recently almost the entire land has cropped up. Now he cultivates peanuts on all 20 bighas. He is expecting a yield of 120 maunds, worth around

three lakh taka.

The district agriculture extension deputy director Lutfur Rahman told BSS in the early stages the personnel at the agriculture department did not keep track of peanut cultivation in the area. But once it spread, the department took up the job of supervision.

But problems remain. Local influential set their herds on the fields to destroy the mature crop.

The chairman of Chilmari Union Parishad, Syed Ali, said that his union was an erosion-prone area. In the winter, hundreds of acres of land emerge on the Padma. The fertile land is suit-

matter,” he said.

Joydebpur police station Officer-inCharge SM Kamruzzaman said: “The police have started searching for the ward councilor immediately after the GD was filed. We are hopeful that she will be rescued soon.”

On Saturday morning, a person introducing him as a local journalist in Chirirbandar of Dinajpur claimed that the missing councilor was with him.

Later, police found the information to be false, Chirirbandar police station Inspector (investigation) Sumon Das Gupta told the Dhaka Tribune.

On the other hand, the locals staged a human chain in the city demanding immediate rescue of the ward councilor. The agitated locals also blocked Kaliakoir-Nabinagar Highway around 10:30am.

Joydebpur police station Sub-Inspector Mijanur Rahman said: “The locals staged a human chain. But, the news of road blockade is not true. The situation is under control.” l

Two killed in gunfight n Our Correspondent, Jhenaidah Two people were killed in separate incidents of gunfight with the police in Jhenaidah's Harinakunda and Kotchandpur upazilas yesterday.

Of the deceased, one was identified as Abdur Rashid. The police claimed that Rashid was a cadre of the outlawed Purbo Bangla Communist party (PBCP-Janajuddho). They failed to confirm the identity of another deceased.

The district Police Super, Altaf Hossain, said acting on a tip-off, the police conducted two separate drives in Harinakunda and Kotchandpur upazilas.

A team of Kotchandpur police raided Doragram area around 3am. Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the outlawed party members opened fire on them, forcing the police to fire back, leaving Rashid dead. The police recovered a pipe-gun and three rounds of bullet from the spot.

Two police constables sustained injuries during the gunfight, added Altaf Hossain.

Meanwhile, a gang of suspected terrorists hurled a crude bomb on a team of Harinakunda police in Hrishkhali Ambagan area around 2:30am when law enforcement was on patrol.

In retaliation, police fired back which triggered a “gunfight,” leaving the unidentified terrorist dead, said the police super.

“Later, the police recovered one LG, two bullets and six hand bombs from the spot. l

30 hurt as police, RMG workers clash n Our Correspondent, Savar At least 30 people were injured in a clash between police and garment workers in the Narsighapur area of Ashulia in Savar yesterday.

The clash erupted when police attempted to disperse the demonstrating workers of Surma Textile from the road in Savar Municipality area in the morning.

The workers demonstrated to press home their demand for payment of wages and Eid bonuses.

Police lobbed several rounds of tear-shells and also charged batons to disperse the workers, leaving 30 workers injured. The workers, in reply, also threw bricks.

In the mean time, the workers of two other garment factories-MD Garments and Baxter Brenton-- took to the street in order to press home the same demand.

Police also engaged in a chase and counter chase with them. However, no report of injuries has been filed.

Mostafizur Rahman, director of industrial police, said police have brought the situation under control. Additional forces have been deployed in the area in order to avert further unrest. l

30 injured in clash n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj At least 20 people, including some women and the elderly, were injured on Friday night in a clash between supporters of Brazil and Argentina football teams in Gopalganj.

The incident took place around 11pm in Uttarpara village in Kotalipara upazila.

Among the injured Idris Sheikh, 45, Tota Shikdar, 50, Bachchu Shikdar, 28, Montaj Uddin, 70, Sufia Begum, 65, Hasina Begum, 50, and Forhazul Shikdar, 48, were admitted into Kotalipara Upazila Health Complex in critical condition.

Other five or six men returned home after receiving first aid from the health complex.

Officer-in-Charge of Kotalipara police station said after the Tarabi prayer Mizan Shikdar, supporter of Argentina football team, made some derogatory remarks addressing another supporter of Brazilian football team, Idris Sheikh.

Later, an altercation broke out and two groups got involved in a brawl. l

3 sacks of 'VGF rice' retrieved from UP member's house n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj Three sacks of rice, supposedly provided for Vulnerable Group Feeding (VGF) programme, were retrieved from a union parishad member's house in Saatpara union in Sadar upazila in Gopalganj and kept in charge of the chairman of the union.

Those sacks were recovered on Friday evening from the house of Nirpona Rani Bala, a member of that union parishad. She was not at her home when those were retrieved.

Locals complained that the three sacks, which were supposed to be distributed under the VGF programme, were brought to Nirpona's house by a van. Later they recovered those bags of rice and handed them over to the project officer of the progarmme in that upazila.

Nirpona's mother-in-law said the van puller told her that those sacks were sent by the chairman of the union, Dhanindronath Bala.

Dhanindronath claimed the sacks were not sent by him. Someone might have had sent those to trap him. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

Sunday, July 13, 2014

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What Brazil cheers for More than a trophy, results were expected to bring back hope to the population

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n Scheila Farias Silveira lenty of expectations came into play this Tuesday. No matter how many goals German strikers scored – although no one hoped there would be this many – they were sufficient to bring down spirits and, like cold water, bring Brazilians back to reality.

Since the beginning, Brazil had an overwhelming amount of stakes riding on every match. More than a trophy, results were expected to bring back hope to the population, interfering in the results of the upcoming elections, defining stock market behaviour and magnifying or appeasing protests. In times of speculation, even sporting results strain pre-existing dichotomies.

When the formal announcement that Brazil would host the tournament came in 2007, none of the country’s neighbours had doubts about it. True to its underdog mind-set, the country was the only one to apply for the role after Fifa’s president Joseph Blatter publically announced that the next host should come from South America, four years before.

The then President Luiz Inacio da Silva kept his promises to promote the country as a major nation, applying for (and getting) two of the world’s major sporting events – World Cup and Olympics.

Brazilian soccer fans apply face paint inside their home as riot policemen follow a demonstration against the 2014 World Cup Cup General Act, a bill that granted the Executive a Differential Outsourcing Scheme, less rigorous than the standard procurement bidding system. “If it

Every time Brazilian team entered the pitch, national holidays were declared after 1pm.

The industry was pulled to a halt

“In these eleven years, few voices questioned such attitude or it’s possible backlash,” evaluates university professor Carlos Eduardo Lins da Silva, previous deputy director of Folha de São Paulo, the most influential newspaper in the country.

Even previous experience with the Pan-American Games, which estimated costs 793% larger than originally planned according to the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) wasn’t enough to motivate tougher press coverage on whether the event really benefits local population.

Successor Dilma Rousseff picked up the bill. Congress learned from the experience. Under almost full omission of the press, the government came up with a unique approach: the World

weren’t for demonstrations last year, perhaps journalistic inattention would have persisted until today,” Silva completes.

The sudden media awakening, as from June 2013, means that Brazilian politics, economy and society have been put under the magnifying glass.

Despite slight distortions in the representation of stakeholder interests, old social issues are finally undergoing discussion in the international sphere.

Now there are two things to look out for: national elections, in October, and stock market behaviour.

For the vast majority of Brazilians, football is a fundamental part of personal and social identity. The choice of a football team is closely linked to colonial heritage, social class, personal

Riots broke out in the streets after Brazil’s colossal defeat to Germany last Tuesday

home address and family background.

Fan behaviour can be predicted, to certain extent, by which organised supporting group he or she belongs to.

Football associations own community cultural centres and samba schools, as well as the swimming pools that will be used every summer. With game transmissions two to three nights a week, plus daily news programmes, contact with the sport is unavoidable. These taken into account, championship results have social impact.

Now, more may be riding on the next match for the third place than on the previous one. Another humiliation may mean Brazilians losing the little national pride left untainted. Chances are supporters might leave mundane pleasures and join those in the streets – small riots had already broken on Tuesday night. Outside Mineirão, there were fights, confusion and complaining after the defeat.

On a positive note, results might have been worse if Brazil made it to the final. Elitists feared ecstatic crowds might have outshined the few accomplishments protesters have conquered since last year, allowing Congress to back up on fundamental issues. Even proposals considered bizarre, such as the “gay cure” project, have been brought under vote again, despite popular demand for egalitarian treatment for all citizens.

The country mourns the likely fourth place in football, but still

REUTERS

needs to mobilise itself to improve its position in other lists. In the Human Development Index (HDI), Brazil is the 85th among 106 countries. In the classification of global education, made

by UNESCO, the country occupies the 88th place among 127 countries.

In a student assessment made by the Organization for Cooperation and Economic Development (OECS), Brazil is the 58th of 65 countries.

These are the results that took youth to the streets in 2013, and are sure to influence polls later this year.

It is no wonder the statement made by defender David Luiz, after the 7-1 defeat against Germany, struck a chord.

He apologised and said he wanted to make the Brazilian people “smile at least in football.”

In response, Senator Cristovam Buarque (Democratic Workers’ Party – PDT) declared feeling uneasy to be part of a government that doesn’t fulfil the country’s need. Recognised for his activism on behalf of education, he stated this morning that it is parliamentarians, ministers and heads of executive power who should apologise to the Brazilian people, since “they cannot take the country even to fourth place in more important areas.”

REUTERS

Maybe this extra dose of pressure justifies the players tearing up each time the national anthem was played.

It certainly explains the number of times the current president has been booed and collectively swore at during the tournament.

Money matters Specialists emphasise that this calendar alignment isn’t new to Brazilians.

It is true that the championship will take place in the middle of party convention period, which officially define nominations and alliances. But the presidential term lasts four years; therefore both events usually coincide, although not in home turf.

The difference in relation to previous years is that the pre-announced protests and strikes can impact the polls, in case they return within the next days. Regarding market, business magazine Exame makes it clear: if Brazil is able to look cheerfully at the success of the event, Dilma is re-elected, but stock markets plummet.

Judging by previous market moves, shares reach higher values when the president’s poll performance is not fa-

around for some time: and not in the shape of stadiums or mobility.

On a side note, FIFA finds itself in troubled waters. Idealism gave way. At least at the state level, more criticality is expected from the more than 138 million voters. For those who wanted to project a positive image of Brazil, the dream of an ideal audience for the World Cup has been run aground, with the population taking on the leading role of the media agenda. In the alignment of the World Cup with Brazilian elections, nerves are becoming more sensitive. And FIFA struggles in public relations initiatives.

With the first news from Qatar, there are now two derailments on the horizon. Although the Federation has expressed heat as the main threat to the 2022 games, the estimated death of 1200 workers already puts into question what role, after all, the competition has in developing spirits of good sportsmanship and solidarity. l Scheila Farias Silveira is a Brazilian journalist, currently based in Denmark. She is a public affairs specialist working with sustainability, corporate social responsibility and social management.

Political backlash No-one waits more anxiously for the next developments than presidential candidates. Fernando Gabeira, one of the most respected Brazilian journalists, summed up better than anyone the real focus of the Brazilian national team in 2014. “Dilma, with ‘the World Cup of World Cups’, wants to face the biggest election of all by placing her hopes in the feet of athletes.”

So far, positive results and consequent popular optimism have kept her ahead in the polls. Research institutes Sensus and Datafolha believe in victory in the first turn. IBOPE does not seal the possibility of a second, but still predicts re-election. She owns 34% of voting intentions.

Seleção’s role became particularly important considering former president Lula’s unpopular comments regarding preparations in infrastructure. His support, which was the main asset on her first candidacy, can now be seen as a disservice to Dilma. In May, the former president spared no humour to rebut criticism of delays in the construction of subways. On the occasion, he recommended the public go barefoot, on bicycles or even use donkeys to see World Cup matches.

Problem was in his choice of words.

“The fools”, as he referred, “who want to get to the stadium straight off the subway”, may also be the ones demanding government cleansing, consistent fight against corruption, and utilities that work.

The sudden media awakening, as from June 2013, means that Brazilian politics, economy and society have been put under the magnifying glass

vourable. In case of re-election, trend is another downfall of BM&FBovespa.

So when Brazil loses, the economy wins. Question is, at what cost?

A report published by Santander a week before the World Cup had already announced the event would be an own goal for the financial services industry. Two analysts, Henrique Navarro and Renata Cabral, explained that “the expected reduction in the activities on match days affect financial services firms, since the results are directly linked to economic activity.”

Every time Brazilian team entered the pitch, national holidays were declared after 1 pm. The industry was pulled to a halt. Among banks, Itaú Unibanco, Bradesco and Banco do Brasil also suffered losses as transaction numbers went down.

Guesses are the performance of the country’s economy will be much more relevant to voters than winning the sixth title. The polls will replace the streets. Soon enough, the tournament will be over, but its heritage will stick

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Sunday, July 13, 2014

D AY 5 : I S R A E L’ S A S S A U LT O N G A Z A 2

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Why I’m on the brink of burning my Israeli passport n Mira Bar Hillel

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(1) Israeli soldiers from the Nahal Infantry Brigade walk at an Israeli army deployment area near Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip. (2) An Israeli mobile artillery unit fires towards Gaza from outside the central Gaza Strip. (3) A Palestinian woman cries after a neighboring building to her family home was targeted in an Israeli military strike. (4) Palestinian mourners carry the body of Mahmud al-Sewati during his funeral in Gaza. Story on Page 1 AFP

Iraqi security executing prisoners n Tribune Desk

A rights group has said Iraqi security forces and Shia militia have been involved in executing at least 255 prisoners including in six cities and villages.

The Human Rights Watch said yesterday that Sunni prisoners were killed as Shia fighters and Iraqi soldiers fled advancing Islamic State rebels. At least eight of those who were killed were boys under age 18, the group says.

According to HRW, five massacres of prisoners were documented between June 9 and 21 in Mosul, Tal Afar in northern Nineveh province, in Baquba and Jumarkhe in Diyala province, and in Rawa in Anbar province.

The group’s report cited evidence from witnesses, accounts of the attacks from anonymous police sources and interviews with family members of some of the victims.

“The mass extrajudicial killings may

Kenya’s coastal killings pose insurgency risk for Kenyatta n Reuters, Nairobi Kenya may face a full-blown insurgency on its coast unless President Uhuru Kenyatta can douse a combustible mix of ethnic rivalries, land rows and Islamist militancy.

Gunmen have killed about 100 people since mid-June, exposing festering problems that could test Kenyatta’s ability to reassure a nation fretting about wider security a little more than a year into his first term. Despite dozens of arrests, the government has yet to identify the culprits.

Political opponents accuse the government of relying on heavyhanded police tactics and playing politics instead of addressing the real causes “We have a serious radicalisation threat,” said Rashid Abdi, a specialist on Kenya and the Horn of Africa, who sees the “beginning of a coastal insurgency” supported by regional Islamists and other groups playing on local grievances.

Investors have so far been unperturbed, piling into Kenya’s debut Eurobond last month even as bodies were counted on the coast. But if the government fails to stop those driving the attacks and address local grievances, Kenyatta’s promise to lift already stuttering growth may start to look empty.

The chilling message scrawled on a wall in Lamu town, an old Arab trading port near where attacks erupted, reads “Boko Haram ndio njia” in Swahili, or “Boko Haram is the way,” referring to an Islamist insurgency that is the scourge of northeastern Nigeria.

Kenyatta’s administration, already facing criticism for mishandling an Islamist attack on a Nairobi shopping

mall last year that left 67 dead, says it is chasing down the culprits of recent assaults and has security under control.

Political opponents accuse the government of relying on heavy-handed police tactics and playing politics instead of addressing the real causes.

“The situation on security is worrying and that adds to the impression that he may not be in charge, in control of the whole thing,” said Macharia Munene, a professor at Nairobi’s United States International University.

Munene said the failure to stop the attacks built on a growing list of unfulfilled promises from the government that range from handing out laptops to school kids to sacking officials who fail in their jobs.

Kenyatta, 52, son of Kenya’s first president, has already had a challenging time in office, and faces trial in October in the International Criminal Court on allegations he orchestrated ethnic violence after the disputed 2007 election.

“I think he needs to take a deep breath, stop talking too much, and be seen to take action,” said Munene.

The president’s initial public response to the first attacks last month, when gunmen killed 65 people in an area around Mpeketoni in Lamu County, which lies near the Somali border, baffled and angered many Kenyans in equal measure.

Somalia’s al Shabaab Islamists said they were behind the attacks, a group Kenya has routinely blamed for a spate of violence on the coast and in Nairobi in recent months. Al Shabaab says such attacks are revenge for Kenya’s deployment of troops against its forces in neighboring Somalia.

But Kenyatta swiftly dismissed the claim this time and blamed local political networks instead in what his critics say was an attempt to implicate his presidential rival Raila Odinga.

Officials have echoed the line as more attacks followed. Experts, diplomats and police suggest a confluence of factors at work, which did not preclude Somali-linked Islamists with help from disgruntled local players. l

be evidence of war crimes or crimes against humanity,” HRW said in its report, adding that it appeared the executions were to avenge “atrocities” by the Islamic State.

“Gunning down prisoners is an outrageous violation of international law,” said Joe Stork, the deputy Middle East director at HRW. “While the world rightly denounces the atrocious acts of IS, it should not turn a blind eye to sectarian killing sprees by government

and pro-government forces.”

In most cases the prisoners were shot dead. In two cases, grenades were thrown inside prison cells of the victims, and in another case dozens of prisoners were set on fire.

The HRW quoted a Reuters news agency report that in a sixth attack, on June 23 in central Babil province, police executed 69 prisoners in their cells in the city of Hilla before transferring their bodies to Baghdad later that day. l

She is young. She is pretty. She is a university graduate and a computer engineer.

She is also an Israeli Parliamentarian - and the reason why I am on the brink of burning my Israeli passport. Because behind that wide-eyed innocent face lurks the Angel of Death.

Ayelet Shaked represents the far-right Jewish Home party in the Knesset. This means she is well to the right of Benyamin Netanyahu, just in case you thought such a thing was not possible. Last Monday, she quoted this on her Facebook page: “Behind every terrorist stand dozens of men and women, without whom he could not engage in terrorism. They are all enemy combatants, and their blood shall be on all their heads. Now this also includes the mothers of the martyrs, who send them to hell with flowers and kisses. They should follow their sons, nothing would be more just. They should go, as should the physical homes in which they raised the snakes. Otherwise, more little snakes will be raised there.”

A week earlier, just before 17-year-old Mohammed Abu Khudair was snatched and burned alive, Shaked wrote: “This is not a war against terror, and not a war against extremists, and not even a war against the Palestinian Authority. The reality is that this is a war between two people. Who is the enemy? The Palestinian people. Why? Ask them, they started it.”

So even before the boy died horribly she declared him to be the enemy, and afterwards, without any apparent hint of guilt or remorse, she was calling for the deaths of innocent women and their unborn babies.

She made me think about my mother’s sister Klara and her three small children who were living in Krakow in 1939 when the Germans invaded. They decided that the Jews – all Jews – were the enemy and had to be eliminated, not least the women and the little snakes they were raising.

“Why? Ask them – they started it,” as the Nazis would say if asked.

I never met Klara or her children who had perished by 1942. I did meet my uncle Romek, who survived by working in Oskar Schindler’s factory, and his wife Yetti who survived because she spoke good German and was able to pretend she was a fine

German woman who had kicked out her Polish Jewish husband, as she smiled prettily at every Nazi she came across.

My father’s brother Shmuel and his young family also perished before I was born, taken in Holland, to where they had escaped from Berlin, to the same camp Anne Frank died in.

I know what it is to have been helpless victims, living and dying under racist oppressors’ boots, and I know that today’s Israelis are no longer the victims but the perpetrators of the current crisis. Yes, Hamas are dreadful hate-filled killers and woe betide Israel had they had the wherewithal to carry out their intentions.

But the fact remains that it is Israel which has the tanks, bombers, artillery, nuclear warheads and missile defences of Goliath, while ordinary Gazans had nothing a week ago and even less today, as even hospitals, schools and mosques were bombed.

Shaked got what she wanted: the death toll in Gaza is nearing 100 (now topping 120), one in four being children. Hundreds more have serious injuries in a place where hospitals have also been bombed and medical essentials are running out.

In Israel, in spite of Hamas’s best efforts, not one death has been recorded, nor any serious injuries, although a wedding party was disrupted and got on the television news. And, as the bombs rain on Gaza, Israeli teens have taken to tweeting scantily-clad selfies alongside their political sentiments. In two now deleted tweets, one wrote “Death to all of you Arabs you transfag,” while another proclaimed “Arabs may you be paralyzed & die with great suffering!” Another teen simply tweeted “Death to these f****** Arabs,” and attached a photo of themselves pouting alongside it.

Seeing these angelic faces of evil spouting such genocidal rhetoric, I pick up my Israeli passport and a box of matches. “Not in my name, people. Not in my name!” I can no longer stand by while Israeli politicians like Ayelet Shaked condone the deaths of innocent Palestinian women and children. l Mira Bar-Hillel is Property and Planning correspondent of the Evening Standard.

The article was first published in The Independent on July 11.

Ukraine scrambles fighter jets above rebel positions as missile attack resumes n Reuters, Kiev Ukraine scrambled jet fighters to strike at rebel positions early yesterday, after separatists resumed missile attacks on government forces near the frontier with Russia, the border guard service said.

In a night of violence in several areas of eastern Ukraine following a missile strike by separatists on Friday that killed at least 23 government servicemen, Ukrainian forces also used artillery to respond to rebel fire, the military said.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko had pledged to “find and destroy” the pro-Russian rebels responsible for the missile attack at Zelenopillya, which also wounded nearly 100.

At least two more Ukrainian soldiers were killed and about 20 injured on Saturday in a mortar and missile bombardment by the rebels of army checkpoints at Dyakove and Nyzhnoderevechka near Luhansk, the government’s “anti-terrorist” operation said.

Luhansk, like the main industrial city of Donetsk, is controlled by pro-Russian separatists who set up ‘people’s republics’ in Russian-speaking areas and declared a wish to join Russia in response to a pro-Western revolt in the capital Kiev.

Rebel fighters meanwhile said that Ukrainian fighter planes had carried out air strikes on Saturday in the eastern town of Horlivka.

“There were a series of powerful ex-

plosions. Details are being clarified,” a separatist representative, Konstantin Knyrik, was quoted as saying by Russia’s interfax news agency.

The Grad missile strike on Friday on a motorised brigade at Zelenopillya was one of the deadliest against government forces in three months of fighting since the separatist rebellions erupted following Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

Poroshenko, whose forces had recently seemed to be prevailing over the rebels, said they would pay for the strike in their “scores and hundreds.”

The border guard service in a statement said army and border guard units had again come under missile attack in several areas near the border just after midnight.

However, Friday’s military setback at Zelenopillya took the gloss off the government’s recapture of the rebel stronghold of Slaviansk last weekend, and seemed likely to add a new sense of urgency to diplomatic attempts to end the worst crisis between Russia and the West since the Cold War. The Ukrainian military, following the Slaviansk victory, says it has readied a plan to oust the rebels now from Donetsk, a city of 900,000 people where separatist forces are dug in.

Poroshenko has said the military plan will be aimed at protecting civilians there and has appeared to rule out the use of air strikes and artillery to crush the rebels. l

A house destroyed after daily bombardments carried out by Ukrainian armed forces in the village of Stanitsa Luganskaya, 15 Km Northeast of Lugansk AFP

Woman Yahoo executive sued for sexual harassment n Reuters, California A high-level female Yahoo Inc executive has been sued in California by a woman who worked under her and is accusing her former boss of sexual harassment and wrongful termination.

Maria Zhang, a senior director of engineering at Yahoo Mobile, has been sued by Nan Shi, who worked as a principal software engineer in Yahoo from February 2013, according to a complaint filed on July 8 in Santa Clara Superior Court in San Jose, California.

The complaint alleges that Zhang

coerced Shi to have oral and digital sex with her on multiple occasions in Sunnyvale, California, and told her she would have a “bright future” at Yahoo if she had sex with Zhang.

Shi is seeking monetary as well as punitive damages. The lawsuit also names Yahoo as a defendant.

“There is absolutely no basis or truth to the allegations against Maria Zhang.

Maria is an exemplary Yahoo executive and we intend to fight vigorously to clear her name,” a Yahoo representative said in an email.

Zhang founded her own mobile company, Alike, which was acquired by

Yahoo in 2013. She also worked at Microsoft and Zillow before joining Yahoo, according to her LinkedIn profile.

In the complaint, Shi accuses Zhang of unfairly downgrading her performance reviews for the second and third quarters of 2013.

The lawsuit alleges that the company’s human resources personnel refused to conduct an investigation when Shi complained about her direct supervisor’s advances.

Instead, according to the complaint, Shi was put on unpaid leave and eventually terminated from her position in the company. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

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Sunday, July 13, 2014

Kerry pushes for a deal in second day of talks on Afghan vote crisis n Reuters, Kabul US Secretary of State John Kerry scrambled to produce a deal by the end of yesterday to end Afghanistan’s election crisis, meeting for the second day with the country’s two presidential candidates and incumbent President Hamid Karzai.

The deadlock over the June 14 election run-off between the leading contenders, Abdullah Abdullah and Ashraf Ghani, has raised concerns in Washington about a smooth transition of power in Afghanistan just as US troops are withdrawing.

Kerry and his aides met throughout the night, following talks on Friday with both Abdullah and Ghani, as well as with Karzai and UN special envoy to Afghanistan Jan Kubis.

He met again with Abdullah and Ghani at the US compound on Saturday and will meet Karzai at the presidential palace later.

A news conference is scheduled for Saturday afternoon before Kerry flies to Vienna for talks between world powers and Iran on Tehran’s nuclear program.

Preliminary results from the runoff vote put Ghani, a former World Bank official, in the lead by almost one million votes. Abdullah rejected the result,

Roadside bomb kills eight in Afghanistan n Reuters, Kandahar Eight civilians including five women were killed when a roadside bomb blew up their vehicle in southern Afghanistan, local officials said yesterday.

The United Nations said this week that the Afghan war was inflicting an increasingly devastating toll on civilians, with the number of casualties rising by almost a quarter in the first half of this year.

“They were travellling from Pajwai district to Kandahar city to visit a doctor and do some shopping for the upcoming Eid al-Fitr (Muslim holiday),” said Dawa Khan Minapal, a spokesman for provincial governor.

“But their vehicle was targeted by a roadside bomb freshly planted by the Taliban and this tragedy happened.”

He added: “Their dead bodies are still in the area and police have already transferred two wounded children from the incident to a provincial hospital.”

The incident took place days after the Taliban ordered their men to avoid targeting civilians. l

claiming widespread fraud and calling the outcome a “coup” against the Afghan people.

The United States has urged the Independent Electoral Commision not to release the final vote tally until a thorough review of the votes. It also urged the camps of both Ghani and Abdullah not to declare victory.

As talks unfolded behind closed doors, the rival camps were tightlipped on the progress.

“In this meeting they both exchanged ideas,” said Mahmoud Saikal, a key member of Abdullah’s camp, speaking about the Friday meeting.

“John Kerry wanted more information about all electoral problems.”

Discussions between Kerry and the Afghan parties have so far focused on the technical details of the election process and the scope of an audit of the votes that would be acceptable to both sides. It has also looked at ways in which Afghanistan could set up an inclusive and broad-based government.

US officials declined to elaborate on the possibility of a unity government, an idea both candidates have rejected, according to a US official.

“This is a divided nation along many lines and it’s very important at this stage in this society to ensure that we

build as inclusive and as broad-based and as unified a national government as possible,” a senior administration official.

“It was a close election, regardless of what happens and what the audit comes back and finds.”

“We need to ensure that all communities and constituencies identify themselves in the government and feel represented in the government that ultimately takes over,” the official added.

In comments to reporters on Friday, Kerry said the transition to a self-reliant state hung in the balance unless the legitimacy of the election could be restored.

US officials said several ideas were being discussed and that an overall proposal had not yet been presented by the Americans. Kerry cautioned both sides against abandoning efforts to reach a compromise, the US official said.

Washington has warned of repercussions if either side declares victory and tries to grab power.

The United States is in the process of withdrawing its forces from Afghanistan after 12 years of fighting Taliban insurgents, but the country remains dependent on foreign aid. The US is Afghanistan’s biggest foreign donor. l

Strong quake and minor tsunami hit east Japan n Tribune Desk A minor tsunami has hit large swaths of northeastern Japan, including in a city near the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, after a strong 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck off the country’s Pacific coast. There were no immediate reports of damage following the quake and tsunami early yesterday, however, with authorities lifting all advisories roughly two hours later.

Much of the coastline covered by the advisories is still recovering from the 2011 quake and tsunami disaster that killed more than 18,000 people and triggered a meltdown at Fukushima.

A minor tsunami of 20 centimetres (7.8 inches) was observed in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, and Ofunato, Iwate prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Waves of 10 centimetres were also monitored in the city of Soma, roughly 40 kilometres (25 miles) north of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, the agency said. The city suffered severe damage in the 2011 disaster.

Nuclear plant

At least three people were injured by the quake in Fukushima, according to Japan’s public broadcaster NHK, including a 68-year-old woman who suffered a broken leg.

Sea levels can not be gauged near the nuclear plant as the tsunami monitoring system was destroyed by the 2011 disaster.

“We have not seen any damage or any change in radiation gauges after the quake,” said TEPCO spokesman Masahiro Asaoka. “Today’s operation has yet to start but we ordered workers to evacuate to high places.”

“Our temporary breakwater that was newly built at the plant is high enough to block a one-metre tsunami,” he added.

The local government in Kamaishi, Iwate prefecture, issued an evacuation advisory to some 12,000 residents, while other authorities in the region issued similar advisories, officials said.

All the evacuation advisories were later lifted. l

Pakistani soldiers look at a house which was destroyed during a military operation against Taliban militants, in the of town of Miranshah, North Waziristan. The Pakistani military has seized control of 80% of Miranshah, the capital of the remote North Waziristan tribal region where the military launched an operation against Islamist militants last month REUTERS

Taliban hideouts revealed as Pakistan army seizes militant redoubt n Reuters, Miranshah The Pakistani Taliban have abandoned their last key stronghold and booby traps and explosives littering their hideouts now present the main danger to the soldiers who control the territory, military officials say.

Instead of black-clad militants, uniformed men and the odd lone donkey wander the streets of Miranshah, the capital of Pakistan’s northwestern region of North Waziristan.

For years, Pakistan’s allies urged the South Asian nation to strike against militant strongholds on the Afghan border. Now, as Nato troops withdraw from neighbouring Afghanistan, the army launched a campaign last month to push out the militants.

A rare visit last week to Miranshah, organised by the military, showed how tightly the Taliban had held the frontier town in its grip.

“It is a city waiting to blow up, that’s how much explosive there is here, in homes, in shops, buried under the ground,” said senior commander Brigadier Tahir Malik, standing outside one of 11 bomb making plants the army says it has seized.

The explosives factory is piled high with hundreds of metal cylinders and other containers the militants used to make bombs.

Ghost town

Apart from soldiers, the city is a ghost town. The army ordered residents out before the offensive; some left food on their tables as they fled.

Entire neighbourhoods are rubble after caches of explosives detonated and jets pounded suspected militant hideouts.

The militants used to leave bodies to rot on the road, as a grim warning of the movement’s justice.

Former residents of the town confirmed the account Under the destruction lies a sophisticated network of tunnels used to smuggle militants and weapons out of the view of hovering drones.

At the Gulpakhel mosque, subterranean corridors snaked past rooms dotted with prayer mats and blankets before ending at a secret door hidden by a bookshelf. Behind lay rooms that had housed senior Taliban commanders, the military said.

Sleeping mats were scattered before freshly painted walls fitted with an air-conditioner and a sound system and lit by a six-bulb chandelier.

“Even I don’t get to live like this here, with all these comforts,” said a colonel accompanying the visitors.

Cannibal market

In an area nicknamed Cannibal Market,

a purple sheet shrouding a small wooden platform was the site of the Taliban’s public beheadings, the military said.

The militants used to leave bodies to rot on the road, as a grim warning of the movement’s justice. Former residents of the town confirmed the account.

Before the offensive, the Pakistan army confined itself to its sprawling headquarters in Miranshah, only making weekly supply runs.

But after almost a month of air strikes by fighter jets and a ground offensive using tanks and heavily armed soldiers to search from house to house, the military says it controls 80% of the town.

So far, the military says it has killed 400 militants, but has not followed its usual custom of releasing names or displaying bodies.

“This is not a swordfight, where one cuts off the head and presents it as evidence,” said General Zafarullah Khan, commander of the operation.

With the region sealed off by the military, there is no way to verify the casualty figures.

The army won’t say when it might wrap up the operation, and let residents return home.

But the generals are confident they will succeed.

“The challenges we are facing in these areas are huge and we are deliberately being very slow,” General Asim Bajwa, the head of the military’s media wing, told Reuters.

“Our goal is to establish the writ of the state and to never let these terrorists ever come back here again.” l

Could Sri Lankan Muslims go radical? time bomb, the way things are happening.

This is what we are really worried about. We don’t want to go that far. We have to be as restrained as possible.”

‘Islamophobia’

Muslim boys stand next to a burnt house after clashes between Buddhists and Muslims in Aluthgama on June 16. Sri Lanka’s justice minister has warned that the country’s Muslim minority could become radicalised and turn to foreign Islamic groups for support because of violent attacks on them by Buddhist hardliners REUTERS

n Reuters, Colombo Sri Lanka’s Muslim minority could become radicalised and turn to foreign Islamic groups for support because of violent attacks on them by Buddhist hardliners, the island nation’s main Muslim leader and justice minister has said.

Last month, at least three people were killed and 75 seriously injured in violence

between Buddhists and Muslims in two southern Sri Lankan coastal towns best known as tourist draws, with Muslim homes set ablaze.

Increasing violence over the past two years against Muslims, who make up about 10% of Sri Lanka’s population, mirror events in Myanmar, which has also seen a surge of attacks by members of its majority Buddhist community against Muslims.

More than 70% of Sri Lanka’s 20 million people are Buddhists.

“A community pushed against the wall like this will suddenly become a fertile ground for outside forces,” Sri Lanka’s Justice Minister Rauf Hakeem, who is also leader of the country’s main Muslim party, told foreign journalists.

He did not elaborate on what he meant by “outside forces” but added: “It’s a real

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government faced international criticism for not responding more vigorously to the violence in the towns of Aluthgama and Beruwela, a charge echoed by Hakeem.

“The government’s so called ‘enforced inhibition’ is something we can’t accept ...

They have to apply the law even- handedly when it comes to these issues,” Hakeem said.

“Islamophobia in the West is copied and edited to suit the local context” to unleash violence against Muslims, he said.

The United States recently cancelled a visa given to the Buddhist monk who heads a hardline group accused of involvement in the June 15 clashes. The group, Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) or “Buddhist Power Force,” says Sri Lanka faces a threat from Muslim extremists using the island nation as a safe haven - a charge denied by the country’s police and armed forces.

The monk, Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara, has said the authorities are trying to conceal the Muslim extremist threat for reasons of national security, five years after the end of a 30-year bloody war against Tamil Tiger rebels.

Mosques and Muslim-owned businesses have come under attack and women have been forced to remove their head scarves in some parts of the country, local media and police have said.

Many independent analysts say well-coordinated violence against Sri Lanka’s Muslims and Christians appears to have tacit state backing as those involved in previous attacks have yet to be punished. The government denies any collusion. l

China’s popular journalist taken by prosecutors n AP, Beijing A top business journalist at China’s state broadcaster was taken away by prosecutors, abruptly absent from his nightly newscast he was anchoring, China’s financial news magazine Caixin reported yesterday.

The sudden removal of celebrity journalist Rui Chenggang came less than two months after his boss was detained on suspicion of taking bribes during an ongoing investigation into high-level corruption at China’s biggest state-run network.

Quoting an unnamed insider, Caixin.com said on its website that prosecutors took Rui away directly from the workplace without notifying the news program. Caixin said Rui had been scheduled to appear on the nightly newscast Friday, and his absence was

conspicuous, as a second microphone remained on the set. The show is usually anchored by two people.

In May, CCTV’s financial news director Guo Zhenxi was detained. A few months earlier, a former CCTV vice president also has come under corruption investigation.

Rui has interviewed many world leaders and business magnates and is known for his nationalistic streak. He has more than 10 million followers on his Twitter-like microblog page.

In 2007, he protested the presence of a Starbucks shop at Beijing’s Forbidden City and helped start a grassroots movement that eventually kicked the US brand out of the historic site.

He raised eyebrows in 2009 when he claimed he could represent the entire Asia at a news conference for President Barack Obama. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Sunday, July 13, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Ease the Eid traffic

W

e agree with Communication Minister Obaidul Quader’s call to reduce traffic jams before Eid. The minister recently asked the deputy commissioners to take the necessary steps to solve this problem, and also directed the authorities concerned to stop digging roads before Eid to minimise traffic congestion.

Traffic ahead of Eid has become unbearable not only in the capital, but also in the major highways. During the rush hours before and after Eid, the traffic condition tends to worsen each year. Hordes of people head home from Dhaka as Eid nears, and their suffering begins from the bus terminals and the exit points of Dhaka because of the traffic condition. Later, the vacationers end up stuck in tailbacks for hours or even days in Dhaka-Mawa, Dhaka-Chittagong, Dhaka-Sylhet, and other major highways.

The pre-Eid traffic is a serious headache for commuters who only want to observe the holy festival with their families. Valuable time is wasted in these gridlocks. To solve this problem, unauthorised parking and the stacking of construction materials beside the roads needs to stopped.

The roads need to be widened, and damaged highways need to be renovated. We should make sure any repair work is done in an efficient manner and does not exacerbate the traffic problem.

It is past time the authorities took steps to improve the agonising traffic congestions created during the Eid rush. Immediate steps should be taken to make this happy journey a less agonising one.

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

BNP is not the way forward July 9

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Vacationers end up stuck in tailbacks for hours or even days

Bring thugs under control

W

hen it comes to the transgressions of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, for too long AL leaders have looked the other way. It is high time the government took stringent measures against the thuggish activities of BCL leaders and activists.

In the past four years, BCL activists have been booked for murdering at least 26 people. In May alone, not only did eight BCL activists allegedly assault a political leader who was visiting the Chittagong University campus, they also attacked a Chhatra Dal supporter at Dhaka University, whom they suspected of being a Shibir activist. In another incident, BCL members confined and assaulted eight reporters who had gone to Jagannath University to collect information about an attack on that campus.

Just this week on the Rajshahi University campus, a BCL leader assaulted a young woman for refusing his proposal. This trend is disturbing to say the least, and we hope the investigation underway is accompanied by swift disciplinary action.

This is not to say that other cadres have not been innocent of any wrongdoing. Indeed, reports of such attacks over the years reveal otherwise. Until we see party leaders bringing their activists under control, such attacks will continue.

No one should be exempt from the laws that govern this nation.

Neither BCL activists nor any member of any other group should be allowed to dole out street justice at will, violating our basic rights and flouting our laws.

Neither BCL nor any other group should be allowed to dole out street justice at will

Mohammad Munshi The reason the BNP is not a convincing alternative is that it has begun to adopt the same pro-Indian policies of the AL, which the majority of Bangladeshis resent and distrust.

Tangled Abstract Fallacy A magnificently crafted, thought-provoking, and splendidly-argued piece. The author is absolutely spot-on in pinpointing the bankrupt and kleptocratic policies of BNP, and has quite correctly made the lucid inference that BNP, as a political platform, is an abject failure.

Faysal Kabir Shuvo “There is no reason to believe or advocate that BNP is a valid alternative to the current government of our polity.” So, the author is advocating AL as the only alternative of AL. Rodders Faysal Kabir Shuvo: Here is the thing. Do you think the BNP, on the basis of the evidence we have, is any better than AL regarding how the country is to be run? And why? nds BNP needs a total overhaul; patchwork will not help. It is good that they have gone the extra mile to convince the Indian FM they are not hostile to that country. They need to go not the extra one but the millions of extra miles to convince the minorities of this country that they are not communal to the core, and have to go an extra trillion miles to convince everyone that they are not the protectors of Jamaat and of war criminals; to top it all, they should bid farewell to their party leaders of the feudal variety.

Rodders The problem with BNP is that all the shots are called by the chairperson, a woman whose judgment I deeply suspect, and her son, who has spent the last seven years holed up in the UK. Any shrewd politician would have ruthlessly exposed the deep flaws with the way AL is managing the country, without

Giving credit where credit’s due

July 9 nahiyan_dhaka1 “Everyone knows from before the World Cup began that Shakib is a passionate Selecao fan. … He is the one person who can shine a positive light on both the Samba and Albeceleste fandoms in Bangladesh.”

Wrong. Shakib is an Albiceleste fan.

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 8 represents A so fill A every time the figure 8 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.

resorting to petty personal point scoring, and making it seem as if they were actually on the country’s side. Alas, the BNP has failed miserably in this test.

I still find it incredulous that the chairperson is droning on about mass movements after Eid to remove the AL from power, like some sort of coup. As long as that mindset remains within BNP, I personally find no reason to support them whatsoever. This sort of political leadership Bangladesh is better off without, no matter how bad the alternative may be.

Talking about mass movements, its overt longterm dependence on Jamaat has hurt it dearly in that regard. Sure, the party might have helped it win a term in power, but as the last two years have shown, the dependence has grown to such a degree that it seems as if they are incapable of doing anything without resorting to the help of Shibir cadres, or senior Jamaat politicians. The Jamaatis might have sown the seeds of direct confrontation within the BNP, but the BNP, for all intents and purposes, is deeply incapable of going in that style on its own.

Richard Parker I cannot argue against the points raised by the author. However, by castigating BNP for its myriad failures, isn’t he implying that AL is a better alternative?

The answer, for any sceptic out there, is a resounding no. In fact, judging by their performance, or lack thereof, during their several terms in government, the two parties are of the same ilk – incompetent and corrupt. Devoid of intra-party democracy, they are essentially run as family business, headed by an autocrat. All said, the modicum of democracy we have (or crave for) can only be sustained by having a credible opposition, warts and all. And who knows, given a workable polity, we might even see new entrants.

Sheikh Tanjeb Islam Thank you for this fantastic write-up. I do believe that the author was not trying to promote AL as a better alternative but rather highlight why many of us find it difficult to support BNP. The alliance with Jamaat and the lack of ideas from BNP to promote themselves as a viable alternative are points rightly raised by the author.

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.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Fly trap (3) 3 Avoid (4) 6 Cicatrix (4) 7 Fermentation vessel (3) 9 Unwanted plant (4) 10 Choler (3) 11 Scoff (4) 13 Be monarch (5) 16 Degrade (5) 18 Worry (4) 19 Spirit (3) 20 Outer covering (4) 21 Greek letter (3) 23 Egyptian goddess (4) 24 Excuse (4) 25 Golf mound (3)

DOWN 1 Falter (5) 2 Period of time (3) 4 Part of a shoe (4) 5 Indicate assent (3) 6 Move (5) 8 Clan (5) 9 Has a victory (4) 12 Variety of quartz (5) 14 Deserve (4) 15 Domesticates (5) 17 Efface (5) 18 Discharge (4) 20 Undermine (3) 22 Neckwear (3)

Leaders of tomorrow, today July 5

Alyson Excellent piece, particularly as we approach World Population Day. Investing in young people for the future we want.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

NBR to impose 1% surcharge on mobile phone uses

CROSSWORD

July 9

PEANUTS

RW Would anyone be surprised if the money finds its way into the pockets of the PM’s ICT adviser? I wouldn’t.

Facts and fallacies July 9

Reza Shams One of the most articulate and thorough columns I have ever read from DT. The way the author detailed the consequence of pungent and politically-aligned intellectuals is alarming.

We may benefit for the short time, but the nation will remain permanently paraplegic and on life support if we let our civil society be politicised. The intellectuals should have the guts to tell the truth, as described most eloquently in this column.

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Mad about the World Cup n Mehrin Chowdhury

E

REUTERS

Point of no return

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n Aaqib Md Shatil

n 1895, Theodor Herzl, a correspondent for a French newspaper, closely observed the trial of Captain Alfred Dreyfus, a Jewish military officer of the French Army, for his alleged collaboration with the German Embassy in Paris. Herzl witnessed the wrath of the French people who were chanting “death to the Jews” all the time during the trial. He realised that there should be a separate state only for the Jewish population. He is known as the father of political Zionism.

Herzl’s idea came to light when the foreign secretary of the United Kingdom, Arthur James Balfour, was convinced with the idea and took steps to establish a “national home” for the Jewish people in Palestine. On September 11, 1922, the British government proclaimed a mandate in Palestine. During the days of Mandatory Palestine, with the help of the British government, the Jewish population from different corners of the world took shelter in the land of Palestine.

In 1947, the United Nation formally partitioned Palestine and allotted 55% of Palestine’s land to the Zionists.

Within a year Zionists captured more than 76% of the land. On May14, 1948, the state of Israel was declared. Minutes after the declaration, the United States recognised Israel. Since then, Israel has continued its hegemonic attitude towards the Palestinians as well as the Arabs.

In the summer of 1967, Israel occupied the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Settlers were offered state subsidies and development aid to move into occupied territories. Almost every day, more Palestinian families are forced off their land and driven into refugee camps. Palestinians who continue to live in Israel do not have the same rights as Israelis and live as second-class citizens in their former homeland.

Every story has three sides to

it – yours, mine, and the facts. It has always been a Herculean task to find out the facts from the other two stories.

But in the case of Palestine, only the Israeli version of the story had been found to read since the Arab-Israel war of 1948. The international media, being completely controlled by the Israeli sympathisers, have never dared to utter the truth of Israeli atrocities in Palestine.

The Palestinians had never taken it so easily, and sometimes reciprocated violently. The Munich massacre is considered one of the most formidable responses to the Israeli atrocities. Later on, some armed groups like Black September, Hamas, etc, tried to fight the battle for the Palestinians. But the rebuttals to all these actions were crueler than that of the Palestinians.

have been the largest refugee population in the world. Around 5 million Palestinians are living in the refugee camps of Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon. They have been living there for decades. Every day, this population is getting larger than ever.

These refugees are provided with no basic rights. Almost no education, limited healthcare, and extensive malnutrition are leading this Arab population to endless troubles. The luxuries of the modern world are more than a dream to them. While Israeli Jews are investing in their companies and building better futures for their children, Palestinians are passing days with almost no future and leading their descendants to catastrophic consequences.

And the others who still dare to live

They have no future, no present, and no past. They do not have any home to return to

After the Munich massacre, Prime Minister Golda Meir launched “Operation Wrath of God” to uproot Black September and hunted down almost all the masterminds of the massacre, including Ali Hassan Salameh, who was the founder of Black September and had led an assassination attempt on Golda Meir. Golda Meir used to say that the Palestinians do not exist.

During the first Arab-Israeli War of 1948, around 700,000 Palestinians had to leave their homeland and reside in the neighbouring Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan. After the annex of West Bank and Gaza strip in 1967, the number of Palestinian refugees increased.

Since World War II, Palestinians

in Palestine are settled into a routine of frequent airstrikes, being killed by the Israeli soldiers in the bordering area of their state. Millions of Palestinians have died since 1947 due to the conflict with Israel. After every event that caused any harm to the Israelis, Israel launched air assaults upon the Palestinians. They were slaughtered en masse, their houses were demolished, and more than a hundred habitations were dismantled.

According to recent developments, almost a hundred Palestinians were killed while many more were injured.

Amid pressure from the international community, the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, ruled out any possibility of ceasefire and firmly

declared to continue his campaign.

The Israeli defence minister, Moshe Yaalon, proclaimed that they will continue this drive until they realise that the terrorist groups of Palestine have learnt a good lesson.

This time Israel is using the iron dome missile system. This system can determine whether the rocket soaring through the sky is likely to land in an open field or crash into a building in a city. In case of the latter, a counter-missile will be deployed to intercept it and will destroy the rocket in the sky. Israel has installed seven such missile batteries around the land.

After the installation of such missile batteries, the question that arises is whether there is any necessity to continue airstrikes to save the lives of Israelis from the rockets of Hamas.

More than a hundred years back, Theodor Herzl, the father of the state of Israel, felt the agony of stateless people. Herzl did his best to give his people a land where they can reside forever, a land that will be a home to them. But now Israelis are responsible for making Palestinians the world’s largest refugee population. Today, Palestinians have to flee every single day to save themselves from the Israeli assaults, just like Jews in Germany during the World War II. They have no future, no present, and no past. They do not have any home to return to, and the paupers’ graves where their predecessors were buried were either annexed by the Israeli settlers or bombed.

Evil falls suddenly, no one can say when. Israel has driven the Palestinians to the point of no return, where they either have to fight or become a part of the statistics. Slaughtering the entire Palestinian population will not only hamper the peace process of the Middle East, it will also create potential threats for all of mankind. l

We all feel as one, or to be more specific, as one of the two teams competing The regular housewife who likes to watch sitcoms after housework now watches the games, the children leave their cartoons to wave flags and stand by their parents’ teams, the working population leave their offices early, the grandmas stop knitting. All eyes are set on the little black box in the middle of the living room, and silent whispers to God continue till the end of the game. The screams and shouts after a win can be heard from miles away, while the sadness and devastation of a loss can be felt for a long time.

This is the magic of football, the magic of unity, the magic of competitiveness, the magic of winning and losing. Every game resembles episodes from our own lives, only in a shorter duration and with more people involved. This is football, this is magic. l Mehrin Chowdhury is a freelance contributor.

MUMIT M

Living without a future

very four years, the living rooms in our homes become scorching hot from the enlivening enthusiasm of football fans. Every four years, we are reminded that wars are not fought with guns only. Our deeply induced affinity towards combat rises and we feel our blood boiling. Our urge to prevail and stand triumphant rises from its deep-seated roots and our lives become more meaningful with this very urge. Like our ancestors who were warriors or combatants devising detailed attack plans, we also carry out strong discussions on various ploys of the teams, into the wee hours of the night.

Anger is what leads to endurance.

Many of us think that anger is the root cause of all ruin, but that is not always true. This very unprophetic rage forced the human race to move out of their secure caves and into the dangerous world outside, fighting the harshness of nature, unknown tribes, animals, etc, for survival and conquest.

This constant and continuous need for conquest is one of the major reasons behind us surviving and thriving.

Small amounts of our survival instincts are exposed during our massive support for the various teams in the World Cup. We dedicate our time and our emotions on a massive scale. It’s as if this war is our own, and losing is not an option. All our frustrations are catapulted into a 90 minute continuum that unites the entire world. We all feel as one, or to be more specific, as one of the two teams competing. It is either us or them.

This manic, quizzical, and competitive nature exists in us Bangladeshis too, we are not fighting for our own country since it did not qualify, but the strangest part is that we swear by

teams like Argentina and Brazil as if they were our own.

Surely, during the World Cup, all of the battered houses and skyscrapers in our cities look like they are located in these foreign countries with innumerous international flags waving about.

People wear jerseys of the teams they support instead of their regular clothes. They scuffle in the streets with the supporters of the opposing, television channels broadcast the games, shedding off their standard shows.

Aaqib Md Shatil is a blogger and member of Dhaka University Model United Nations Association.

Safe at sea n Abdulla Al Imran

T

he Hague-based United Nations Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has recently declared the verdict on the delimitation of maritime boundary between Bangladesh and India. The verdict has come largely in favour of Bangladesh, as it provided the country a substantial share of the extended continental shelf, beyond 200 nautical miles.

The tribunal awarded Bangladesh 19,467 sq-km of area out of the disputed 25,602 sq-km. It is the final judgment, and binding on both the states as neither Bangladesh nor India are allowed to appeal against the verdict.

Both states have already warmly accepted the verdict, calling it a win-win solution as it will not worsen bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India.

Now we will be able to attract international oil companies to explore the deep sea for oil and gas. In the past, international companies didn’t

show any interest as a maritime dispute was going on between My.anmar and India. The International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) issued its judgment in the dispute, concerning delimitation of the maritime boundary between Bangladesh and Myanmar on March 14, 2012. The dispute concerned the delimitation of territorial seas, exclusive economic zones, and the continental shelf of these two states in the Bay of Bengal.

The first obstacle in uninterrupted economic use of sea resources is over.

The next step concerns how to best utilise and protect the resources at sea. The Bay of Bengal is chock-full of resources. Various kinds of fishes and natural resources like gas, oil, and many mineral resources can be found there. Besides, 90% of our trade is carried though the Bay of Bengal. We can produce energy from the bay using the water currents and wind. So the Bay of Bengal is economically and strategically important for us.

But there are some threats and challenges which prompt us to ensure maritime security of Bangladesh. Maritime security challenges of the 21st century include: Maritime territorial disputes, interstate conflicts, piracy, maritime terrorism, illegal weapons trade, human trafficking, maritime pollution, protection of sea lines of communication, sea-borne trade, drug trafficking, gun-running, accidents, mining by non-state actors, maritime cooperation, preservation of living and non-living resources, maritime search and rescue (SAR), natural disasters, climate change, and more.

Maritime security means ensuring full control over our sea areas and the activities carried out there. We need a strong navy to protect our maritime boundary, but our navy is not currently capable of accomplishing this.

Sometimes we see fishermen getting tortured or killed and looted of their fish by pirates. There are many pirate groups operating in the Bay of Bengal.

They prove to be problematic for fishermen. There are local pirate groups as well as international ones. Our navy does not have the adequate capacity and manpower to stop them. Additionally, fishing vessels from Myanmar often come by and catch fish. Because of them, our fishermen are deprived of their trade.

the sea. For this, we depend on foreign companies. Because of these threats and challenges, maritime boundary may be a point of vulnerability for Bangladesh. We need to take proper steps to ensure maritime security of Bangladesh.

Our navy needs to be upgraded and modernised post haste. We cannot

Maritime security means ensuring full control over our sea areas and the activities carried out there

We have no submarines with which to ensure the security of the maritime boundary. We do not have enough sea experts, because of which, we are unable to launch any research projects in

allow international poachers to come into our exclusive economic zones and steal our fish and marine life. The coast guard should also be brought up-to-date and marine research

institutes need to be established for research activities. We also need bilateral cooperation with both Myanmar and India. And last but not least, we should consider setting up a Bay of Bengal maritime commission under the aegis of our ministry of defense, to provide our government policy options in protecting and promoting our maritime resources.

We need to take urgent steps to ensure maritime security for Bangladesh and reap the benefits of the ITLOS and PCA verdict.

Maritime security goes hand-inhand with our national security. We just received a large area in the Bay of Bengal. But if we can’t ensure security in this area, we will not be able to utilise its natural resources, and at the same time, it will ultimately affect our national security. To make effective use of our natural resources, and for the sake of national interest, we must ensure maritime security. l Abdullah Al Imran is a freelance contributor.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Shawkat Osman’s story of solidarity staged n Hasan Mansoor Chatak A new play titled “Bandh” adapted from Shawkat Osman’s acclaimed short story “Oi Bandhe” premiered on Friday at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy The production is an outcome of an initiative by BSA which is producing plays adapted from different elements of Bangla literature like poetry, short stories, novellas etc. BSA came up with the project marking theatre activists’ frustration over the scarcity of good stories.

Through the programme, a total of 64 plays from 64 districts of the country have been staged and “Bandh” was the last production that wrapped up the project.

In “Bandh” the playwright Mohammad Bari pays his sincere honour towards the great writer as he tried to keep the essence of the original work.

The audience experienced a tight and vivid performance in the new theatre production featuring ten acts.

The play start with a horrifying portrayal of flood on the outskirts of a village named Niyamotnagar. The people take shelter at the embankment beside the locality. But a hideous age old rivalry between the people from northern side and southern side arise again when the people from south seek shelter on the other north side as the embankment in the south faces erosion. Subsequently they start fighting and the situation gets worse through bloodshed. As the erosion of the embankment increases and threatens everyone, they come to realise that the age old rivalry would not help them to

Peya to romance Emon in US and South Africa n Shadma Malik A scene from new play ‘Bandh’

SADIA MARIUM

save their lives. They rather become united to tackle the situation.

The director, Mohammad Bari, successfully portrayed the incidents and the characters in a very authentic way.

With minimum use of props and maximum utilisation of acting skill, the play brings alive the age old moral story unity is strength.”

The sequences are often enriched

by folk songs performed by a character of fakir, a sufi ascetic. His songs narrate the strength of humanity, core philosophy of life and the conscience of the story.

Background music of the play is derived from popular folk tunes blended and inspired by essence of fiction.

Toufiqul Islam Emon, A K Azad Setu, Ehsanur Rahman, Hasnat Ripon and

Afzal Hossain meets a mysterious Aupee at midnight n Entertainment Desk

Scarlett Johansson pays tribute to Monroe n Entertainment Desk

Play “Moddho Rater Golpo” featuring Afzal Hossain and Aupee Karim in the lead roles will be aired on NTV tonight at 9pm.

Here, a loner Afzal Hossain sets off in his car to have long drive during midnight. On the Mohakhali flyover his car gets slightly hit by another car from the back. He gets off from the car and discovers a pretty lady sitting on the driving seat of the other car. The lady introduc-

es herself as a leading film star.

Having no interest in showbiz, Afzal does not recogniose her but they continue a friendly chat on the flyover and start liking each other. Suddenly, Aupee asks him to act like her husband who is chasing his wife who is rushing to suicide. A confused Afzal agrees to do so and they again run with their cars. They head towards a mysterious game in the middle of the night.

Written by Pantha Shahriar and directed by Noyeem Imtiaz. l

Last year she was described as the “modern Marilyn Monroe” by Harper’s Bazaar, and now Scarlett Johansson is channelling the iconic actor . The 29-year-old star looks like a classic Hollywood beauty in a recently released behind-the-scenes video from her new Dolce & Gabbana make-up campaign.

She said of the experience to People: “The shoot was great, sort of like working on a little movie, which was unexpected but really fun, sort of our tribute to Marilyn.”

The shoot, which paid a subtle salute to icon Monroe, is for the Italian fashion label’s new fall collection featuring the debut of Perfect Mono Intense Cream Eye Colour, which hits stores in September.

The short clip is a compilation of scenes which include the star getting primped, pampered, and posing for pictures.

Scarlett dons a black polka dot retro-styled frock in the video as she displayed her sultriest looks to the camera. l

Salman Khan pairs with Kareena Kapoor in Bajrangi Bhaijaan n Entertainment Desk Kareena Kapoor Khan will be seen once again with her Bodyguard co-star Salman Khan in a film being directed by Kabir Khan titled “Bajrangi Bhaijaan.”

The film that will release on Eid 2015 will be presented by Salman himself under his own company Salman Khan Ventures and will have him play the role of the title character “Bajrangi Bhaijaan.”

Confirming the news director Kabir Khan said, “The film is unique for both Salman and me and has a larger-than-life background with a human story. It’s a very important story in today’s day and age and we are both very excited to start shooting it.

While I have done three films with Katrina Kaif, I have always also admired Kareena and wanted to work with her. The film will be shot across many parts of India and we start shooting this November.” l

Monjur Mithu donned the vital role of the play.

Earlier of the play, son of Shawkat Osman, Yafes Osman, also the minister of state for Science and Information and Communication Technology, veteran theatre personality Ramendu Mazumder and Liaquat Ali Lucky, director general of BSA, gave speeches on the occasion. l

Former Miss Bangladesh 2007 Jannatul Ferdoush Peya, who made her Dhallywood debut with “Chorabali” in 2012, is gearing up with a number of projects opposite the leading heroes of the industry. The drop-dead gorgeous Peya has recently signed for two films with Emon.

The films are titled “Prothom Dekha” and “Romance in America” which are both directed by Ahmed Ali Mondol. The shooting of these films will start at the end of this year.

In a conversation with the Dhaka Tribune, Peya said: “Film ‘Prothom Dekha’ will be shot in the scenic beauty of South Africa and ‘Romance in America’ will be shot in Las Vegas. Though both the films are romantic, but the stories are completely different.”

She added: “In the film ‘Romance in America’ I am playing the role as Nisha who is a socialite who does not want to get married. On the other hand, ‘Prothom Dekha’ revolves around a girl who falls in love with a boy, but her brother does not approve the relationship.” l

FROM AKHRA TO FUSION: TRANSFORMATION OF BAUL MUSIC (PART-11)

Baul music – from acceptability to respectability and Khoda Buksh Shah Jr n Maqsoodul Haque The history of Bauls as a pacifist, humane and secular movement has traditionally wavered and treaded on the fate and fortune of prevailing socio-political climate of Bengal at any given time. It is the consistency of their belief system and their remarkably progressive thoughts while living in the economic hardship of rural backwaters of Bangladesh that has constantly endeared then to common people regardless of faith, belief or religion. While the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 was a watershed year in our destiny as a nation, it was also a turning point in assimilation and acceptance of Bauls into our cultural life. When millions of urban Bengalis fled townships and cities to escape brutalities of the Pakistan Army, their shelter were in villages, where for many it was a first time experience to share meals, and live on and off with the poorest of the poor – with Bauls being no exception to the rule.

Bauls played a very significant role in inspiring Mukti Bahini guerrillas in their training camps. Together with songs of Tagore and Kazi Nazrul, those of Lalon and hundreds of other rural bards were effectively used for the war efforts and there were good reasons. Almost 85 percent of our valiant freedom fighters were from villages and Baul music as much as palli geeti as an art form is one they identified with instinctively, and perhaps genetically. Other than music, Bauls provided refugees and fighters spiritual guidance and psychological counseling in what were very traumatic times.

It was therefore not unusual that many displaced urban residents got their first clear views and understanding about the Bauls during the war, and this in turn assuaged their curiosity and made Baul music not just a culture one could pass by, but importantly learn lessons on how to build a pragmatic, liberal, tolerant and exploitation free society. As the history of modern Bangladesh will surely attest, Bauls have been at the vanguard of any socio-political upheavals. Their music that has transformed from Akharas was by now a new force worth reckoning, and its strength emanated from an ability to adjust to demands of contemporary times, yet staying true to the rich tradition they have inherited and still actively live with. Bauls with twentieth century vision had arrived on the

scene and set about dramatic new improvement and improvisations to the status quo.

Among the outstanding Baul luminaries of the new times, who created waves in preserving, archiving and documenting, the contributions made by Khoda Buksh Shah Jr, (192714th January 1990 – no relation of Khoda Buksh Shah Sr) is noteworthy. Born in village Jahapur, under Alamdanga in Chuadanga district he developed a keen interest towards music at a very young age, joined a Kirtan choir and dropped out of school permanently. He soon became went under the tutelage of his

the historical trends of Baul music of over 200 years at his thumbnail.

Khoda Buksh Shah Jr is remembered as a Baul poet, singer, writer, philosopher and composer of extraordinarily high standard and great acumen, leaving behind an archive of over 800 songs penned and composed to his credit. He served with the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy from 1983 to 1987 as an expert on Lalon Shah’s music. In 1983 the Bangla Academy awarded him with a fellowship for his skill and mastery on Lalon music. It was during his stint with Shilpakala that he introduced artist from the Akhara tradition such

Khoda Buksh Shah Jr was awarded the 'Ekushey Padak' in 1990 for his outstanding contribution to Baul music and Philosophy famed Guru Shukchand Shah. Discarding his usual attire, he donned the saffron robe of a Vaishnavite Fakir to mark his transformation, while taking in the rigors of the Lalon school of thoughts as his prime focus of musical and spiritual discipline.

Also, other than Shukchand Shah he spent 36 years of his living life under the tutelage of Guru Bihal Shah.

Where he surpassed his contemporaries; not only was he an exponent of Lalon, he also held phenomenal command on works of notable “podokorta” (poets, bards) of the past such as Ramchandra Khyepa, Ramlal Pal, Rabi Shyam, Guruchand Gosai, Gopal Kashem Shah, Ekram Shah, Mofizuddin Shah – nearly 74 prolific Baul Masters of our times.

Khoda Buksh was indeed a walking, and living archive with clear idea of

as Kiron Chandra Roy, Kanonbala Sarkar, Indramohan Rajbangshi, Dil Afroz Reba, Chandana Majumnder etc to the mainstream. Other than that he took initiatives of recording hundreds of song of all the great masters post Lalon until the 1980’s and they are preserved at the Transcription Services of Bangladesh Betar.

In 1990 the Government of Bangladesh, posthumously awarded him with the prestigious National Award “Ekushey Padak” for his outstanding contribution to Lalon Music and Philosophy as also his own works, being the first among two Bauls Gurus to have received this honor thus far. l Maqsoodul Haque is a jazz-rock fusion musician and cultural researcher who is writing a series on the transformation of Baul music.

Sp rt DHAKA TRIBUNE Sunday, July 13, 2014

Rojo leaves training early but should be fit for final n Reuters, Rio de Janeiro

Five classic Germany-Argentina clashes

Mexico City, June 29, 1986. World Cup final Argentina 3 West Germany 2 Argentina claimed their second World Cup in what is remembered as Diego Maradona’s competition in one of the most thrilling finals of all time.

Goals from Jose Luis Brown and Jorge Valdano either side of half-time seemed to have the Argentines well on course for victory, but two goals in seven minutes from Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Rudi Voeller brought Germany level. However, despite not scoring in the final himself, Maradona made a vital contribution as his pass set Jorge Burruchaga clear to slot home the winner four minutes from time.

Rome, July 8, 1990. World Cup final West Germany 1 Argentina 0 Four years later it was the same two sides in the final, but far less of a spectacle as the Germans got their revenge with a 1-0 win thanks to Andreas Brehme’s controversial penalty five minutes from time.

In an ill-tempered game, Argentina ended with nine men after Pedro Monzon and Gustavo Dezotti received the first ever red cards in a World Cup final.

Hosts’ party atmosphere fades away from Brasilia, Brazil With the hosts out of the running for the World Cup title, the normal level of enthusiasm towards the final has been drastically lesser in Brazil and now it is nothing more than a football tournament to the mass Brazilians. The tempo is long gone and the reflection of the World Cup has gone under the radar.

Usually the Friday and Saturday nights are party nights for the party-loving Brazilians. I have seen the Brazilians dancing even before a group stage match and also after a highly competitive affair against a bigger side.

However, after the shameful semifinal exit, nothing is happening in the streets now. The World Cup is, quite frankly, over for all the Brazilians.

The frequent selling of Brazilian jerseys has stopped as the yellow and green jerseys were available everywhere. A number of jerseys in the roadside markets and posh malls now lay untouched and were left around in the corners. The flags in the cars have vanished and several pubs have minimised their flashy decorations. Overall the spirit has dimmed.

Although the Argentines are dubbed as “Hermanos” or brothers in Portuguese, it is more than true that most of the Brazilians will not support Argentina in the final. I have seen many Brazilians witnessing Argentina’s matches

Feni keep alive hopes of safety n Tribune Desk

wearing the shirts of their rivals and chanting support for them and it has greatly offended their neighbours.

However there are also sections of the home crowd who will support Argentina in the final and chief among them is Neymar. The prodigious son of Brazil recently said he would be cheering for them out of loyalty to his club teammates Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano.

The reception of President Dilma Rousseff in today’s final in Rio de Janeiro will certainly be interesting to observe. It has already been discussed that the debacle of the Brazilian football team is all set to have a direct impact upon the impending presidential election in October when Dilma will contest in the elections for a second consecutive tenure. However she is already facing huge criticism over the high cost of hosting the World Cup, estimated at $14bn and it might have big consequences on the result of the elections. Brazil’s humiliating elimination also raises apprehensions of a mass upsurge and protests that disrupted the proceedings before the World Cup kicked off.

Jogo Bonito, the beautiful game, and the rhythm of Samba football has been shattered into small pieces.

The football-mad country will never forget the trauma that took place against Germany. It seems that Brazil are not Brazil, it is just another football nation. l

Berlin, June 30, 2006. World Cup quarter-final Germany 1 Argentina 1 (Germany win 4-2 on penalties) In 2006 Germany surpassed measured expectations as hosts by reaching the semi-finals after coming from behind to beat Jose Pekerman’s well-fancied Argentinian side.

Roberto Ayala had headed the South Americans’ into an early second-half lead, but the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer Miroslav Klose equalised 10 minutes from time. Germany then extended their perfect record in World Cup penalty shootouts to four from four as Jens Lehmann saved from Ayala and Esteban Cambiasso.

Shakib can appeal without letter n Minhaz Uddin Khan Star cricketer Shakib al Hasan can appeal anytime to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) in order to reduce his suspension on the basis of the media release, if he wishes, the board’s acting CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury told the media yesterday.

“Media release of the BCB can be considered as an universal document in this regard,” said Nizamuddin.

This has raised the eyebrows of many as the BCB is not following a simple and official procedure which is to serve a letter to an employee who has been suspended. According to regulations Shakib needs a formal letter from the BCB before he can appeal, but according to Nizamuddin, the all-rounder requires no official letter.

It has been five days since BCB president Nazmul Hasan announced the punishment through a media briefing.

Cricket’s governing body slapped the left-arm all-rounder with a six-month suspension from all forms of cricket activities and barred him from taking part in any overseas leagues until the end of next year.

Meanwhile, according to BCB’s media committee chairman Jalal Yunus, head coach Chandika Hathurusingha will set a training schedule for Shakib as he is on their payroll. Shakib will only receive 50 percent of his salary as per BCB rules despite being suspended for the next six months from all sorts of cricketing activities. l

WORLD CUP IN BANGLADESH PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

Send us your photographs to WorldCupBD@dhakatribune.com

DAY’S WATCH BTV, Gazi TV, Maasranga TV Fifa World Cup 2014 Final 1:00AM Argentina v Germany 4:00PM India tour of England 1st Test, Day 5

BEST PHOTO OF JULY 12 MIR MOHAMMAD ALI (BIPU) Dhaka

Germany’s young guns counter-attacked to perfection after Thomas Mueller’s early opener in the last eight in 2010 as they nullified the threat of an unbalanced Argentina side unde Maradona’s tutelage with all of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain and Carlos Tevez in attack. The Germans scored three times in the final quarter as Klose added two more to his tally, whilst veteran defender Arne Friedrich also got on the scoresheet.

The last meeting between the two ended in victory for Argentina, though, after Germany were left to play an hour with 10 men after goalkeeper Ron-Robert Zieler was sent-off for tripping Jose Sosa.

Messi’s resulting penalty was saved by new Barcelona teammate Marc-Andre ter Stegen, but the four-time World Player of the Year made amends to double Argentina’s lead after Sami Khedira’s own goal had put the visitors in front. Angel di Maria’s wonder strike made it 3-0 before Benedikt Hoewedes restored some pride for the Germans nine minutes from time.

Argentina defender Marcos Rojo cut short training on Friday with pains in his left shin and right ankle but should still be fine for the World Cup final, Argentine sports newspaper Ole reported.

The squad were holding a final training session at their base in Belo Horizonte before flying to Rio de Janeiro on Saturday for the World Cup final against Germany the next day.

Rojo, 24, who has been a key component of Argentina’s miserly defence and also grabbed a goal off his knee against Nigeria, left his team mates early, the newspaper said. Friday’s training session was closed-door, and there was no word from Argentina’s team spokesmen of a scare for Rojo.

Ole said he was probably being protected by cautious coaches and would hopefully not be at risk of missing Sunday’s game at the Maracana stadium. “He wouldn’t miss the final for anything ... it’s not the case of a ‘red alert’,” it said, in a play on Rojo’s name which means red. l

De Kock, De Villiers star in South Africa’s series win

Feni Soccer Club salvaged a vital point to keep alive their hopes of staying in the top flight after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Brothers Union in the Nitol-Tata Bangladesh Premier Football League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Nigerian forward Simon Ezeodika put the Oranges ahead in the 21st minute before Feni striker Chuka Charles cancelled out the lead in the 55th minute of the game.

With the draw, Soccer Club now have 15 points from 24 matches, three ahead of bottom-placed Uttar Baridhara. Only the bottom club will be relegated to the second tier. Brothers on the other hand are now at fifth position with 37 points from the same number of outings. l

Star Sports 1, 3, HD1

Frankfurt, August 15, 2012. Friendly Germany 1 Argentina 3 Cape Town, July 3, 2010. World Cup quarter-final Germany 4 Argentina 0

13

For more info visit our FB event page ‘World Cup in Bangladesh’ Photography Contest

n AFP, Hambantota

South Africa rode on aggressive hundreds from Quinton de Kock and AB de Villiers to beat Sri Lanka by 82 runs in the third and final one-day international on Saturday.

Left-hander De Kock smashed a 127ball 128 while skipper De Villiers hit a fiery 71-ball 108, making a century off just 66 balls, as South Africa posted their highest total against Sri Lanka of 339-5 in windy conditions at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota.

The Proteas then restricted the hosts to 257 in 44.3 overs for their first-ever one-day series win on the island by 2-1.

South Africa had won the first oneday in Colombo by 75 runs while Sri Lanka claimed the second by 87 at Pallekele.

Sri Lanka, who needed their record one-day chase, had promised a positive chase by smacking 57 in the sixth over with Kusal Perera (37) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (30) but a middle order slump saw them lose Dilshan, Kumara Sangakkara (36) and Mahela Jayawardene (two) in the space of just six runs.

When Lahiru Thirimanne went for 22 to make it 151-5, Angelo Mathews (58) and Ashan Priyanjan (30) put up some resistance during their 83-run stand but the target proved too much for the hosts.

For South Africa paceman Ryan McLaren took 3-37 while Jean-Paul Duminy and Morne Morkel grabbed two wickets apiece.

De Villiers, who lost a one-day series in Sri Lanka 4-1 last year, was delighted with the victory.

“I am very happy over the win,” he said. “It’s our first series win here so we will celebrate it tonight.”

Wijetunge, Campbell offered new Tigers roles n Minhaz Uddin Khan Former Sri Lanka cricketer Piyal Wijetunge is all set to take up the role of the spin bowling coach of the Bangladesh team. According to sources within the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), the 42-year old will reach Dhaka tomorrow and join the ongoing national camp a day later.

Wijetunge comes in as the successor of former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq who previously worked as the Bangladesh spin consultant on a 100day contract.

A left-arm orthodox slow bowler in his playing days, Wijetunge had formed a lethal partnership with Muttiah Muralidaran, frightening the batsmen in the school leagues of Sri Lanka.

However, unlike his fellow teammates, Wijetunge did not go on to have a distinguished international career, having played in only one Test, against South Africa in 1993. On his Test debut, Wijetunge bowled tidily picking up two wickets.

Meanwhile, the BCB is also in talks with former Australian cricketer Alan Campbell. BCB development committee chairman Khaled Mahmud told Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the board is in discussions with the Australian for the job as the high performance coach of the BCB Academy. l

Sri Lanka skipper Mathews was left to rue missed chances.

“It was very depressing,” said Mathews. “We were pretty flat on the field, let go a few chances and didn’t

BRIEF SCORE South Africa 339/5 in 50 overs (Q de Kock 128, AB de Villiers 108; Herath 2-48) Sri Lanka 257 all out in 44.3 overs (A Mathews 58, Perera 37; Mclaren 3-37)

South Africa won by 82 runs and clinch ODI series 2-1

bowl well so we didn’t deserve to win.”

Earlier De Kock put on 118 for the first wicket with Hashim Amla (48) and another 116 for the second with De Villiers as South Africa improved on their previous highest total of 317-6 against Sri Lanka at Centurion in 2002.

De Kock, dropped at 38 off Sachithra Senanayake, reached his fifth one-day hundred with a sharp single off 108 balls.

The talented left-hander holed out at mid-off in the 41st over but not before bettering South Africa’s highest individual one-day score against Sri Lanka made by Boeta Dippenaar (125 not out) at Adelaide in 2006.

In all De Kock hit 12 fours and three sixes but was overshadowed by his skipper who smashed 11 boundaries and four sixes.

De Villiers was in a punishing mood, dancing and moving at the pitch with consummate ease to stroke his way to the third fastest one-day century by a South African behind Mark Boucher’s 44-ball effort and his own 58-ball century in the past.

De Villiers hit two boundaries and then took a single off Mathews to complete his 17th one-day hundred.

In between Jacques Kallis missed out, trapped leg-before for just four to end a disappointing series with five runs, leaving a big question mark on his survival until next year’s World Cup. Sri Lanka had packed the side with five spinners, bringing in Rangana Herath but De Villiers and De Kock negated that spin factor with sublime batting.

Ace home paceman Lasith Malinga went for 85 runs in his 10 wicket-less overs.

The teams now play a two-Test series starting at Galle from July 16. l

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Sp rt DHAKA TRIBUNE Sunday, July 13, 2014

Different policy pays off for Germans

from Sao Paulo, Brazil

Germany coach Joachim Loew and the team management inserted a totally different strategy and philosophy to gel the players into a cohesive unit in their path to the final of the World Cup. Loew ensured that his players remained within the perfect team spirit and kept the momentum high.

Instead of hotels and enclosed bedrooms, the Germans lived in a complex of homes and common areas and spent their day-to-day activities as if they were in a community. The players requested for a miniature golf course and a makeshift room for playing video games. As a result the players were rarely isolated in their rooms and bonding grew amongst all of them.

On the third day of their arrival in Brazil, the German Football Association called on renowned South African-born Swiss explorer and adventurer Mike Horn to give a prep-talk to the players. The motivational conversation took place in a yacht. At that time the Germans were cruising in Bahia near St. Andrews in Sao Paulo. The players themselves acted as crew members.

The intention was to encourage fellowship and having an idea about the limits of the human body. “The lecture touched me, impressed me, left me in-

Bavarian boy-next-door out to take WC home n AFP, Rio de Janeiro Thomas Mueller could leave Brazil with another Golden Boot, but all the Bavarian boy-next-door really cares about is winning Sunday’s final to take the World Cup home to Germany.

The 24-year-old h a s come a long way since Diego Maradona famously mistook him for a ball boy after his Germany debut in a 1-0 defeat to Argentina in Munich in 2010.

Mueller had the last laugh in Cape Town four months later when Germany romped to a 4-0 win over Maradona’s Argentina in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Germany finished third at the last World Cup and Mueller left South Africa with both the Golden Boot and the best young player award.

Four years on, Maradona dubbed Mueller ‘El Flaco’ -- the Skinny One -after the German’s hat-trick in the 4-0 win over Portugal in the opening group match.

But unlike the controversial Maradona, Mueller is not a complicated character.

So is he a striker or a midfielder?

“No idea,” was his simple reply.

It does not really matter to him, just like the prospect of leaving Brazil with another Golden Boot after claiming five goals and three assists, his exact same tally from four years ago.

“It’s only relevant in that the more goals I score for Germany, the higher our chance of winning the title,” he said.

Mueller’s strength is his running.

In his 562 World Cup minutes, he has covered 68.8kilometres -- the most in the German squad -- but off the field, he is regarded as the squad’s clown.

Mueller becomes deadly serious when asked how Sunday’s final will compare to his three Champions League final appearances with Bayern.

“A World Cup final is the biggest game that a footballer can experience,” he said.

“It comes only every four years and stands head and shoulders over a Champions League final.

“Just as large is the anticipation before it.”l

spired. He gave us an idea of what you can create out of any situation and bear it. A key message was how we need to help each other in difficult situations and how to help our companions,” said defender Per Mertesacker.

The technical committee of the German team innovated different physical, technical and tactical training that saw the players taking on each other in rugby matches, foot-volley (like volleyball but where feet are used instead of hands) and even basketball. On one such occasion, Loew distributed clipboards, paper and pens and divided the players into two groups, led by Thomas Müller and Philipp Lahm. They acted as a coach and had to discuss the tactical issues. In another interesting session the players had to make their own marking while playing rugby but had to score goals like football. Before the quarterfinal against France, the Germans played basketball with a football and there was a session where they had to shoot into trash cans.

A toga teacher was made available for the players to do yoga on a daily basis. The gaps between the matches were fully used for the recovery of the players with perfect regenerative workouts.

Days after the World Cup matches, the German players received family visits at Camp Bahia. Some players were also allowed to go out of the camp while some players chose to go to the beach and had contacts with their fans. Others simply met with family members in a hotel next door. Moreover, the German Association allowed Bastian Schweinsteiger to take a trip to a church in Recife, hours before the match against the United States. Mueller went out for a walk in Porto Alegre with Gremio midfielder Ze Roberto, who was once his teammate at Bayern Munich, on the eve of their round of 16 clash against Algeria.

Keeping the entire family happy and inspiring the very best out of the players seems to be the German policy and it has proved to be a highly successful one. l

Loew saves Germany’s best for 2014 Germany’s ‘perfect-mix’ n ripe for title, says Lahm AFP, Rio De Janeiro

Joachim Loew has again saved Germany’s best until the World Cup finals with the 54-year-old poised to finally claim his first major title in Brazil.

Having been appointed Jurgen Klinsmann’s assistant in 2004 before becoming head coach in 2006, Germany have reached at least the semi-finals of all five major tournaments during his decade involved.

“Everyone changes over ten years, you gain exeriences, you have triumph and defeats, but what he has preserved is a clear-cut philosophy,” said his captain Philipp Lahm, who has been with Loew every step of the way.

“He addresses issues which need looking at early on and leaves nothing to chance.”

Third-place at the 2006 World Cup heralded Germany’s return to the international stage after failing to reach the knock-out stages of Euro 2004.

Loew took the Germans to the Euro 2008 final where they lost to a Spanish side at the start of a golden era.

Despite fielding one of the youngest squads at the 2010 World Cup, Loew’s young guns hammered Australia, England and Argentina in South Africa.

Spain again ended the Germans run to the final, but this time a third-place finish failed to satisfy a title-hungry nation.

Despite steering Germany to a perfect set of 10 wins to qualify for Euro 2012, Loew started being criticised after losing to Italy in the semi-finals.

The charges levied at him by the German media piled up.

Too hard. Too soft. Too stubborn.

Too loyal. Doesn’t listen to the public.

Depends too much on aging striker Miroslav Klose. Must drop Mesut Ozil.

More grumblings followed when Loew copied Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola in switching captain Philipp Lahm from right-back to midfield this season.

Germany qualified for Brazil with nine wins from ten matches, only a stunning fight-back by Sweden, who drew 4-4 in Berlin, blotted another perfect record.

The mutterings grew louder when Germany’s final World Cup squad was announced.

Injury-prone 36-year-old Klose was the only recognised striker.

Captain Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Manuel Neuer all arrived at the training camp carrying injuries.

Sami Khedira arrived from Real Madrid unfit after six months on the sidelines with a knee injury.

‘Home before the semi-finals’ was the general verdict from disgruntled fans.

Fast forward five weeks and only Argentina stands in the way of Loew winning the World Cup title at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium on Sunday.l

n AFP, Santo André Captain Philipp Lahm says Germany must use their experience on the big stage to beat Argentina and finally lift a major title in Sunday’s World Cup final.

Having finished third at both South Africa 2010 and on home soil in 2006 the Germans can finally end their 24year wait for a fourth World Cup title at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium.

Lahm, who has twice lost World Cup semi-finals and the Euro 2008 final, says Germany’s Class of 2014 have the necessary maturity to bring the title home.

Six of Germany’s starting line-up won the 2013 Champions League title with Bayern Munich and all have experience in the competition’s later stages, which Lahm says is key.

“We have a generation of players

GERMANY PROBABLE XI GOALKEEPERS: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) Age 28; 51 caps Has confirmed his position as the undisputed number one in the team and among the best in the world with a string of outstanding performances. Played almost like a sweeper at times in their round of 16 game against Algeria, denied a last-gasp goal for France in their quarter-final and again stopped three Brazil chances in the semi-final’s second half as the hosts launched a desperate attempt for an early comeback.

DEFENDERS: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich) Age 25; 45 caps Started the tournament as right-back to replace captain Philipp Lahm who moved into midfield but has shone as centre back after a change of

plans by coach Joachim Loew. Has finally found his form alongside central defender Mats Hummels. Has played in every game.

Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund) Age 25; 35 caps Rose to the occasion and has become the stalwart in the team’s central defence. Has been equally effective up front thanks to his aerial prowess, scoring two goals in the tournament.

Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke 04 Age 26; 27 caps Versatile and strong, the trained central defender needed some time to find his footing as the team’s left back. But despite initial criticism from back home he completely shut out any Brazil attack down his wing in the semi-final. Offers little in terms of going forward, although strong in the air from set pieces.

Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich) Age 30; 112 caps Among the world’s best right backs, he attempted a short-lived move to the central midfield that almost backfired during the tournament. It was only after his switch back to his old position that Lahm proved he is in a class of his own.

MIDFIELDERS: Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich) Age 24; 43 caps Has shone brightly at the World Cup with his smooth passing and powerful shots. Was man-of-thematch in the semi-final demolition of Brazil, scoring two goals and orchestrating their attacking game with exceptional maturity.

Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich) Age 24; 55 caps Another stellar World Cup for Mueller,

who has led the German attack with five goals in six games. Arguably their most valuable possession so far in the tournament as he can rip open defences with darting runs and cutbacks.

Bastian Schweinsteiger (B Munich) Age 29; 107 caps Was left on the bench for their opening group game against Portugal but the holding midfielder made a spectacular comeback to his very best form, combining perfectly with Sami Khedira to launch Germany’s offensive game from the back.

Sami Khedira (Real Madrid) Age 27; 51 caps Doubtful for the tournament following a cruciate ligament tear in November, Khedira has repaid

his coach for trusting in him with outstanding performances. He added much needed spark from the holding midfield position .

Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) Age 25; 61 caps Played in every game so far despite at times lacklustre performances.

Loew kept faith in his creative midfielder and was paid back with his best game against Brazil.

FORWARD: Miroslav Klose (Lazio) Age 36; 136 caps After being benched at the start, veteran Klose has scored two goals as substitue to become the WC’s all time top scorer with 16 goals. He looks indefatigable in what is his last tournament. Expect the forward to do everything possible to crown his Germany career with his first title.

who are well versed. We have matured and developed together,” the 30-yearold Bayern star said on Friday.

“The squad is full of players who are key pillars for big club sides in the Champions League. Confidence is very high and we have the perfect mix. The national team has shown we are good at preparing, but it remains to be seen if we can now reap the rewards.

“We have the chance to take the title back to Germany and are determined to repeat our semi-final performance.”

Germany forward Thomas Mueller has five World Cup goals to his credit, one short of Colombia’s top-scorer James Rodriguez, but retaining the Golden Boot is not his priority.

“It’s only relevant in that the more goals I score for Germany, the higher our chance of winning the title,” said the 24-year-old.l

Bierhoff wants no repeat of 2006 fight n AFP, Santo André German team manager Oliver Bierhoff warned his players on Friday to avoid a repeat in the World Cup final with Argentina of the ugly scenes that marred the end of the two sides last eight clash in the 2006 finals.

Bierhoff, who has been in the post since 2004, found himself in the thick of it when punches were thrown after Argentina lost a tense penalty shootout to Germany.

Of the three players punished for the punch up just Maxi Rodriguez remains.

“The Argentinians are very warm people and great hosts, but on the pitch they have a bit of a personality change and get fired up,” said Bierhoff.

“They have fire in their eyes, which we will have to be ready for and not provoke them. They play hard, aggressive physical football, which means we can’t steer away from our football philosophy and must focus on what we have to do,” added the 46-year-old. l

Sp rt DHAKA TRIBUNE Sunday, July 13, 2014

15

Messi one step from undisputed greatness

Grondona tactics divide world football

n AFP, Rio De Janeiro

Julio Grondona is a powerful, divisive figure in global football who will take a front row seat at Sunday’s World Cup final as the long time head of the Argentine Football Association.

He will no doubt see a victory over Germany as another crowning achievement in a four-decade rule over Argentinian football during which he has never strayed far from controversy.

The 83-year-old has been repeatedly linked to scandals, but shrugs off criticism and has been easily re-elected as AFA president every four years since 1979.

Grondona lists “sports management” as one of his hobbies on his FIFA biography.

But as a senior vice-president of the world governing body and head of its key finance committee, he has full time implication in FIFA’s multi-billion dollar empire.

With Argentina in the grip of a military dictatorship that ruled from 1976 to 1983, Grondona was named AFA head by Vice Admiral Carlos Lacoste who headed the organizing committee of the World Cup staged in the country and triumphantly won by the home side in 1978.

He has survived since through democratically elected governments of all shades. All have been forced to negotiate with ‘Don Julio’ who enjoys the massive and unconditional support of a football network based on the 22,000 clubs.

Grondona has in turn reformed the country’s football to maintain its powerhouse status. The Albiceleste won the World Cup again in 1986 against West Germany, the Olympics gold medal in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008 as well as the Copa America in 1991 and 1993.l

Argentina’s Lionel Messi will never have a better opportunity to prove he is one of the greatest players of all time than in Sunday’s World Cup final against Germany.

For all the breath-taking goals and teeming towers of silverware he has accumulated with Barcelona, it is in the World Cup final that the true greats confirm their legacies.

From a 17-year-old Pele in 1958 to Andres Iniesta in 2010, via Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, and Ronaldo, football’s biggest personalities have bent the sport’s biggest occasion to their will.

Messi’s record-breaking brilliance over the last six seasons at Camp Nou cannot be understated, but until he wins the World Cup, he will never fully stand the comparisons.

In the words of Roberto Rivellino, one of the stars of Brazil’s 1970 World Cup-winning side: “If Argentina win, he’ll be up there with Pele and Maradona, no doubt.”

Maradona, in particular, was defined by his World Cup performances and at 27, Messi could not ask for a more perfect chance to emulate his predecessor in the sky-blue and white number 10 shirt.

Maradona was almost marked out of the 1986 final by West Germany, only to create the winning goal for Jorge Burruchaga, but while he had already dominated the tournament, Messi needs a signature display.

Whereas Maradona scored decisive braces against England and Belgium in the knockout phase -- each featuring a memorable solo goal -- Messi has not

added to the four goals he scored in the first round. And while he remains Argentina’s most important player, his performances have waned.

Decisive against Switzerland in the last 16, where he created Angel di Maria’s extra-time winner, he showed flashes of brilliance against Belgium, but was a peripheral figure in the semi-final against the Netherlands.

His appearance against the Dutch took him to 92 caps, which is one more than Maradona obtained, and yet his achievements currently pale by comparison.

In his 91 appearances, Maradona played at four World Cups and carried Argentina to two finals, turning the 1986 tournament into his own one-man show.

In contrast, Messi, as Holland coach Louis van Gaal observed, “hasn’t always pulled it off ” at international level.

So should he drift through the final, as he did the semi-final, but still end up a champion, can he be said to have matched Maradona?

Judged against the lofty standards that Messi’s talent demands, the trophy alone may not suffice.

- Sporting immortality Despite Germany’s pedigree -- unequivocally demonstrated in their 7-1 annihilation of Brazil -- the conditions could otherwise scarcely be more favourable.

Messi is fully fit, wears the captain’s armband, and is the creative hub of a team specifically calibrated to make him shine.

After Argentina laboured to beat Bosnia-Hercegovina in their first game, Messi successfully petitioned coach Alejandro Sabella to ditch his experiment with a 5-3-2 formation and revert to the 4-3-3 shape used during qualify-

n AFP, Buenos Aires

ing.

Sabella has also granted him the freedom to develop a new low-intensity style, whereby he ambles around the pitch at walking pace before suddenly and devastatingly sparking into life.

Both of Messi’s previous World Cups ended at Germany’s hands, with a penalty shootout defeat in the 2006 quarter-finals followed by a chastening 4-0 drubbing at the same stage four years later.

Personal vendettas, however, do not appear to motivate the softly spoken forward, who declared after winning his third Ballon d’Or in 2012 that all he wanted was for “people (to) remember my football”. l

Messi, Mueller, Rodriguez among contenders for World Cup’s best

Humble Sabella leads Argentina to the promised land

n Reuters, Rio De Janeiro

From Bramall Lane in Sheffield to a World Cup final in Brazil, Argentina boss Alejandro Sabella’s path to the most important game in world football wasn’t always paved with gold.

Sabella the player, much like the manager, was a modest professional and after an early career breakthrough at River Plate found himself in the unusual surrounds for an Argentinian in the late 1970s of the English lower leagues with Sheffield United.

Legend has it that the Blades had tried to sign a teenage Diego Maradona but found his asking price too high and opted for the cheaper option in Sabella instead.

However, whilst the 59-year-old might have been unable to emulate Maradona’s genius on the field, he has done a much better job of leading his country to the brink of a third World Cup triumph from the bench than Maradona managed four years ago.

Sabella’s agent Eugenio Lopez confirmed on Friday that Sunday’s final against Germany will almost certainly be his last game in charge of Argentina

Four Germans, three Argentines, and one player each from Brazil, Colombia and the Netherlands were short-listed on Friday for the “Golden Ball” award to the World Cup’s best player.

The top ten list included World Cup finalists Germany’s defender Mats Hummels, right back Philipp Lahm, midfielder Toni Kroos and forward Thomas Mueller who has scored five goals.

For their opponents in Sunday’s final, Argentina, winger Angel Di Maria, midfielder Javier Mascherano and - inevitably - four-goal striker and captain Lionel Messi made the list.

Also included was Colombia’s attacking midfielder James Rodriguez, widely considered to be the revelation of the tournament and top scorer so far with six goals in his team’s run to the quarter-final where they were beaten

by Brazil.

The other two players short-listed were Dutch forward Arjen Robben

who tormented defences throughout and scored three in the Netherlands’ progress to the semi-final, and Brazil’s Neymar who had played superbly and bagged four goals before being injured.

World governing body FIFA will announce the winner after Sunday’s final. Uruguay striker Diego Forlan was named best player of the South African tournament four years ago.

Up for the “Golden Glove” award for best goalkeeper are Germany’s Manuel Neuer, Argentina’s Sergio Romero and Costa Rica’s Keylor Navas who underpinned the Central Americans’ fairytale run into a first ever World Cup quarter-final.

The award for best young player is between France’s Paul Pogba and Raphael Varane, and the Netherlands’ Memphis Depay.

Past winners of the Golden Ball award for the best player include Uruguyay’s Diego Forlan (2010), Zindeine Zidane (2006), German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn (2002) and Argentine legend Diego Maradona (1986). l

n AFP, Rio De Janeiro

no matter the outcome. His final task to succeed where Maradona failed in a 4-0 thrashing by the Germans in the quarter-finals in South Africa.

Buenos Aires sports daily Ole once described him as the antithesis to Maradona. An understated and humble coach with a meticulous eye for tactical details.

After 15 years as assistant to Daniel Passarella in a variety of jobs including the Argentine and Uruguayan national teams, Sabella stepped out on his own two feet for the first time at Estudiantes in 2009 with almost instant success.

In his first year the club from La Plata won the Copa Libertadores for the first time in 39 years in a not too dissimilar manner to the way La Albiceleste have battled their way to the World Cup final.

Estudiantes conceded just two times in eight knockout round ties during their triumphant Libertadores campaign.

Far form the free-flowing attacking force in qualifying that Sabella admitted made him “close my eyes and pray” whenever they had to defend, Argen-

tina have kept four clean sheets in six games on route to the final and have yet to concede at all in 330 minutes of football in the knockout phase.

At the start of the tournament he was looked upon as merely a facilitator for the squad’s leading players, most notably Lionel Messi, after bowing to the demands of the four-time World Player of the Year to drop a 5-3-2 formation after just 45 minutes of the opening game against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

However, he has still managed to impose the control that he craves. He has admitted to preferring smart, hard working players to those with more technical ability but little game intelligence.

That has been shown in his preference for Lucas Biglia over Fernando Gago in the last two games and his decision to leave the creative talents of Ever Banega and Jose Sosa out of the 23-man squad altogether.

Those decisions weren’t the ones that caused controversy in Argentina, though, as it was national hero Carlos Tevez’s exclusion that dominated debate for months leading up to the World Cup. l

ARGENTINA PROBABLE XI GOALKEEPER Sergio Romero (Monaco) Age 27; 53 caps The 1.92 metres tall goalkeeper was the hero of Argentina’s semi-final penalty shootout win against the Netherlands, saving two and celebrating wildly in what will be an abiding image of their run to the final.

Argentina’s first choice since the late stages of qualification for the 2010 tournament but struggling for games at Monaco, Romero has let in just three goals in Argentina’s six matches in Brazil. Two of those came in the 3-2 win over Nigeria in the group stage.

Romero has had some other crucial moments in the tournament, including several superb saves against Iran that stopped the Asians taking a shock lead when they were drawing 0-0.

DEFENDERS Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City) Age 29; 42 caps After a highly successful youth career, Zabaleta had to wait for his first taste of a World Cup and has been one of Argentina’s best performers

in Brazil. The ever-present right back’s marauding runs have been integral to Argentina’s attacks, but he has not neglected duties at the back either, doing particularly well to contain Arjen Robben in the semi-final against the Dutch.

Ezequiel Garay (Benfica) Age 27; 24 caps The strong and speedy centre back, who comes from Lionel Messi’s home town of Rosario, has become a favourite of coach Alejandro Sabella. A leader on the pitch who never shirks a tackle or header, Garay’s reliability is perhaps exemplified by his impressive 88 percent pass success rate so far in Brazil.

Marcos Rojo (Sporting Lisbon) Age 24; 27 caps A product of Estudiantes club’s youth scheme, the left back grabbed a goal off his knee in the 3-2 win over Nigeria during the group stage. Having impressed in the early games and won over detractors at home, Rojo was disappointed to miss the quarter-final against Belgium due to suspension but came back to hold the line against the

Netherlands’ much-vaunted strike force in the semi.

Martin Demichelis (Manchester City) Age 33; 40 caps The tall centre back, who is a veteran of the 2010 World Cup under then coach Diego Maradona, has got his chance in the latter stage of the tournament, playing in both Argentina’s quarter-final and semi-final. In both games, he gave assured performances both in the air and on the floor.

MIDFIELDERS Javier Mascherano (Barcelona) Age 30, 104 caps The “Little Chief” captained Argentina at the 2010 finals in South Africa but lost that position to Barcelona team mate Lionel Messi for Brazil. Nevertheless, he has shown great leadership skills on and off the pitch, and has the respect of the whole squad. A fine ball winner and distributor who provides solidity in midfield as a platform for Argentina’s flair attackers, his World Cup was typified in the semi-final

against the Netherlands when he flung himself full length to block an Arjen Robben shot on goal. “It was Mascherano and 10 others,” Maradona said. Mascherano has played all 600 minutes of Argentina’s six matches.

Lucas Biglia (Lazio) Age 28; 25 caps Normally a stand-in for Mascherano or Gago, the battling Biglia came into the starting lineup for the quarter-final and semi-final as Sabella sought more bite to stop more skilful opponents.

Enzo Perez (Benfica) Age 28; 10 caps A fast midfielder who can play on either flank or in the middle, Perez has only figured in two games, coming on to replacing the injured Di Maria against Belgium then starting against the Netherlands. In those games, Perez has been able to maintain some of the spark down Argentina’s flanks lost by Di Maria’s absence. Perez was in Sabella’s Estudiantes side that won the Libertadores Cup in Brazil, beating Cruzeiro

in Belo Horizonte in 2009, along with reserve goalkeeper Andujar.

FORWARDS Lionel Messi (Barcelona) Age 27; 92 caps The world’s best player has lived up to his billing and been Argentina’s star performer. Messi’s four goals in the first stage helped Argentina top their group, while as team captain he also showed passion and authority on the pitch. His brilliant left-foot curling winner against Iran is one of the goals of the World Cup. And though not scoring since the first round, he was the provider of a late goal to beat the Swiss in the last 16, and has been at the heart of all Argentina’s best play. Belgium and the Netherlands sought to swarm him in the quarter-final and semi-final respectively, forcing Messi to go deeper but still taking pressure of teammates. Argentines may have sometimes doubted his patriotism in the past, given he left for Spain at an early age to join Barcelona’s youth setup and had been quiet in two previous World Cups, but they will never do so again. Now the stage is set for Messi to emulate Diego Maradona, with whom he is so often compared, and bring the World Cup home.

Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli) Age 26; 42 caps After a relatively quiet tournament until then, Higuain finally showed his brilliant finishing in the quarter-final with an instinctive shot against Belgium that they never recovered from. An intelligent player who prefers to run onto passes but can also do a good job with his back to goal holding the ball up, Higuain will be hoping to repeat the trick on Sunday.

Ezequiel Lavezzi (Paris St Germain) Age 29; 36 caps “Pocho” (chubby one) is a temperamental, skilled forward who has at times got on the wrong side of officials but at others thrilled fans with his skills and speed. Used as a substitute in the group stages, Lavezzi has then been in the starting lineup doing an important job tracking back into defensive positions but had little chance to shine in attack though he put across a couple of dangerous crosses. A joker in the squad, he may be best remembered in Brazil for squirting water over Alejandro Sabella on the pitchside looking to ease the coach’s nerves.

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE Sunday, July 13, 2014 DHAKA TRIBUNE Monday, June 16, 2014

13 Shakib can appeal without letter

14 Bavarian boy-nextdoor out to take WC

Sport

15 Messi one step from greatness

Germany, Argentina plot World Cup final tactics FINAL

V GERMANY

World Cups won

World Cups won

FINAL Rio de Janeiro

Germany and Argentina plotted battle tactics for the World Cup final Friday as Brazil prepared for an unwanted third place play-off with the Netherlands.

With two days to the Maracana Stadium showpiece, both finalists were at their respective base camps seeking to keep the lid on mounting tensions and skyrocketing expectations.

The final is the latest in a series of World Cup encounters between Germany and Argentina which includes the 1986 and 1990 finals.

Memories of the two sides’ stormy 2006 meeting -- which ended in a brawl after Germany’s victory on penalties -were revived Friday.

German team manager Oliver Bierhoff said he had warned players to keep cool if tempers fray in the Maracana.

“The Argentinians are very warm people and great hosts, but on the pitch they have a bit of a personality change and get fired up,” said Bierhoff.

“They have fire in their eyes, which we will have to be ready for and not provoke them.

“They play hard, aggressive physical football, which means we can’t steer away from our football philosophy and must focus on what we have to do.”

Bierhoff said the Germans were preparing for a tougher challenge than their 7-1 thrashing of Brazil in the semi-finals.

“They defend deep, leave little

4

Germany

2

Germany

0

USA

Germany

0

Brazil

1

2

0

Argentina Iran

Ghana

1

3

2

Germany

Nigeria Argentina Second round

Thomas Mueller 24 5 goals

1 Algeria

Lionel Messi 27 4 goals

1

Germany

Germany

1

Argentina Bosnia

Portugal

Semi finals

1

Group stage

2

Quarter finals

France

How they got there

capacity

0

Second round

2

1978 1986

25°C 13°C

Sunday July 13, 1900 GMT

Maracana

How they got there Group stage

AFP, Rio De Janeiro

HEAD-TO-HEAD

ARGENTINA

BRASILIA

1954 1974 1990

ARGENTINA

Estadio do Maracana, Rio De Janeiro 13 JUL 2014 - 16:00 Local (1:00AM BST)

n

GERMANY

0

1

Argentina Switzerland Quarter finals

0

1

Argentina Belgium Semi finals

0 0

7

(Penalty shoot-out: 4-2)

Argentina Netherlands

The statistics Coach Joachim Loew

17 Manuel Neuer Philipp Lahm

6

Goals scored

8

4

Goals conceded

3

4

Yellow cards

6

Coach Alejandro Sabella Gonzalo Higuain

20 previous games...

5 drawn 9 wins

wins

Sergio Romero

... 2 in World Cup finals

Mexico

1986

Miroslav Klose Bastian Schweinsteiger

3 2 Closely marked by the German defence, Maradona nevertheless made the key pass to Burruchaga for the winning goal

Rome

1990

0 1

Javier Mascherano

Pablo Zabaleta

Germany won the final thanks to a controversial penalty

Source : FIFA

space to run into and wait for (Lionel) Messi to show a moment of magic,” said Bierhoff.

“We have to play our own game, run the extra mile and not give them the

space they need.”

FIFA meanwhile announced that Italy’s Nicola Rizzoli would referee Sunday’s final.

Rizzoli, 42, had been seen as an out-

side bet as he comes from Europe. His previous assignments include the 2013 UEFA Champions League final between Germany’s Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund. The World Cup finalists

meanwhile provided seven of the 10 players on FIFA’s shortlist for player of the tournament.

Lionel Messi, Javier Mascherano and Angel Di Maria were included from

Total matches played Argentina won Germany won Drawn

21 9 7 5

KEY STATS Germany v Argentina is the most frequently contested World Cup final, with Sunday’s game marking their third clash for the biggest prize in football.

Twice champions Argentina are returning to the final for the first time since losing 1-0 to West Germany in 1990.

The South Americans won their first title in 1978, beating the Netherlands in the final, and their second in 1986 with a 3-2 win over West Germany.

The Germans have won the world title three times, though all three triumphs were as West Germany (1954, 1974, 1990).

Argentina with Germany represented by skipper Phillip Lahm, five-goal scorer Thomas Mueller, Toni Kroos, and Mats Hummels.

Germany’s Manuel Neuer and Argentine counterpart Sergio Romero both made the shortlist for best goalkeeper along with Costa Rica’s Keylor Navas.

Argentina trained behind closed doors as they readied to head for Rio, where an estimated army of 100,000 Argentine fans have travelled ahead of Sunday’s clash.

A vast security blanket comprising some 26,000 police, soldiers and private security guards will be deployed across the city and in the Maracana, Brazil’s justice minister said. l

Brazil’s failed football project from Sao Paulo, Brazil Seven years ago the Brazilian Football Confederation took up the project of forming a dream team for the World Cup that would take place in their country for the second time after 1950. The project marked out a number of young players who will be matured enough to don the coveted yellow and green jersey by the time the World Cup comes around in 2014. But unfortunately none of the players, dubbed extremely talented, lived up to their reputation as the hosts were humiliated 7-1 by Germany in the semifinals.

Bruno Fernandes de Souza, better known as Bruno the goalkeeper, arrived as a promising 20-year old Brazilian goalkeeper with superb saving skills back in 2005, when he was play-

ing for Atletico Mineiro. Bruno went on to play for Corinthians and Flamengo and was well and truly on his way to wearing the number 1 shirt. But in July 2010, along with several other charges, he was convicted for the murder of Eliza Samudio, the mother of his youngest child. He was subsequently sentenced to a 22-year jail term and for the best part of the last four years he was and still is behind bars.

Breno Borges was touted as a potentially great defender and his entrance in the national football team was ensured in 2007 at the young age of 17. He was one of the major players at Sao Paulo FC and went to Bayern Munich and earned a lot of money and fame. After a few years in Germany Breno was lost under the radar due to injuries and accusations of burning down his own house as a result of which he was arrested and spent several days in jail.

Brazil also pinned their hopes on the Da Silva twins, Rafael and Fabio. Both of them displayed admira-

ble splashes of talents while playing for the Brazilian youth teams. Even though rightback Rafael signed for Manchester United, he has never managed to establish himself as the first choice in Brazil while fullback Fabio has gradually lost his touch after a couple of appearances for the national side. Fabio is currently playing for English Championship side Cardiff City.

Anderson was dubbed as the new Ronaldinho and was initially looking good at Manchester United. But he too lost his touch and is employed at Fiorentina on loan although he has only played seven games.

Midfielder Diego was an efficient forward and featured for major clubs in Europe such as Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Porto and was starting to curve out a successful career in Germany with Wolfsburg and Werder Bremen but never achieved great results with the national team.

Daniel Carvalho was also a bright prospect and was a candidate for the number 10 shirt for his superb

Now is not the time to hate Even Manchester United

Given the state of the world right now, it just does not seem appropriate to invest a lot of thought into football. So it is perhaps fitting that tonight’s match is so irrelevant that Louis Van Gaal doesn’t even want his team to play in it. Though Louis being Louis, that could just be the latest chapter in his long book on gamesmanship. Still the third place match is not the kind of stuff that one wants to bite into with word processor fangs. So I will talk about Cristiano Ronaldo instead.

First of all let me say that I have never been a big fan of CR7. He tormented me during his stint with Manchester United, causing endless pain for Liverpool and having perfect hair while doing so. Then he thankfully left for Spain, but the coiffeur and bombast remained.

The constant remonstrations with the ref and legs akimbo pose prior to lethal free kicks only added to my annoyance.

Contrasted with Messi’s no nonsense approach to football, Ronaldo often seemed like a grandstanding chimpanzee, albeit an immensely talented and good looking one. I have reveled in his rare failures, and rarely missed the opportunity to make dandruff jokes when he flopped. Then the latest tragedy in Gaza happened.

While reading up on Gaza and football, I came across several credible news items about Ronaldo’s involvement with the territory. Over the last two years, the man has donated close to three million dollars for schools in Gaza. What a stud! It does not end there. Ronaldo donates not only blood but also bone marrow on a regular basis. Underneath the perfect pecs apparently beats a heart of pure gold.

I wrote about Ronaldo’s magnanimity on my Facebook page so that it might provide some measure of inspiration during these dark times. Most people took the news in the right spirit and saluted the great footballer. Much to my dismay, however, some used it as an opportunity to falsely cast Messi in a bad

scoring skills but indiscipline and problems with weight saw the player lose his ground. Nowadays he plays futsal after saying goodbye to professional football.

Adriano, the successor to Ronaldo, had shone brief moments of brilliance. In 2006 he was considered one of the best strikers in the world but has since changed five clubs, undergone several disciplinary problems, completely lost his form and is now unemployed.

For the last five years Alexandre Pato has been playing in Europe but was astonishingly below par as per his ability. After sustaining countless injuries he had to return to Brazil.

Now refused by Corinthians, he is trying to rebuild his career at Sao Paulo.

It is also said that Ronaldinho, Kaka and Robinho did not fulfill their promises like Andrea Pirlo, Miroslav Klose and Frank Lampard, who are all older than the Brazilian trio but have kept themselves fit and committed to the cause. l

light as a Zionist sympathizer. I think now more than ever, we as football fans need to realize that despite our differences in footballing preference, there is much more that unite us than divide us. We must remember that, more than anything else, we love the sport and love our fellow human beings.

Otherwise, we will be doing the memory of the child in Gaza, who went to bed with a heart full of anticipation for the next World Cup game and never woke up, grievous disservice. The streets of heaven are too crowded with angels these days. For now, they deserve nothing less than our best spirits.

Make no mistake. I still plan on devoting inordinate time and energy in hating Manchester United. But for tonight I will remember my nemesis as the glorious club that once featured a gentleman named Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro, in the number 7 jersey. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

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B3 Portugal bank crisis

B4 BRICS to launch bank,

shakes investor confidence

tighten Latin America ties

SUNDAY, JULY 13, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

RMG exports to non-traditional markets rose 21% in FY14 n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

RMG EXPORT TREND TO NON-TRADITIONAL MARKETS IN FY14

Apparel export to non-traditional markets increased by over 21% during the financial year 2013-14.

The new markets include Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and Turkey.

Bangladesh’s traditional markets for garment exports are Europe and the United States. Export Promotion Bureau data showed the country earned a total of $3.6bn in last fiscal year exporting garment products to these newly discovered markets.

In the FY2012-13, the earnings from these destinations totalled $2.97bn.

Among the non-traditional markets, Turkey was the highest importer of Bangladeshi garments with $622m in the FY14, followed by Japan with $572m.

Australia imported $430m, China $241m and Brazil $170m, EPB data said.

The government and private sector took some special initiatives in last fiscal to diversify market of the readymade garment (RMG) products and reduce dependency on the traditional big destinations.

“Significant growth in apparel exports is the reflection of efforts undertaken by the government and private sectors including BGMEA and BKMEA to explore new destinations for RMG products,” said Finance Secretary Mahbub Ahmed.

2974.04m or 14%

18541.69m or 86%

Figures in million dollars

FY13 428.44 Australia 171.84 Brazil 28.31 Chile 139.14 China 75.21 India 478.48 Japan 114.39 Korea Rep 110.21 Mexico 139.55 Russia 57.66 South Africa 415.31 Turkey 815.5 Other Countries

Mahbub Ahmed was Commerce Secretary when the initiatives were taken.

“In the last fiscal year, we went to Russia and Latin America with a team in search of new destinations,” he said.

Vice-president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Shahidullah Azim said export to non-traditional markets increased as the suppliers to those markets faced “no trouble” with

Yunus: Unemployment should be unemployed n

Tribune Report

Poverty should not belong to any human society, it should only be seen in museums, said Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus at an FAO Partnerships Dialogue on the concept of “Social Business for Sustainable Solutions” in Rome on Thursday, says a FAO press release.

“I share many beliefs with FAO Director-General. He wants to achieve the Zero Hunger challenge and I want to bring poverty to zero,” Dr Yunus said, noting that “they are two sides of the same coin.”

“Every time I see a problem I try to solve it in a creative way, and I have always found that the best way is to create a business,” he added.

“You start a simple thing, it works for people and it grows,” the Nobel Laureate said. “Then you replicate it and that is how it becomes a social business.”

Yunus said his aim is to create a world without poverty and without unemployment, “where unemployment should be itself unemployed”.

Founder of the Graamen Bank, the Bangladeshi economist is said to have pioneered the concepts of micro-credit and micro-finance. In 2006, Professor Yunus and the Grameen Bank were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize “for their efforts through micro-credit to create economic and social develop-

FY14 430.76 170.24 33.01 241.37 96.25 572.27 135.6 124.63 207.74 48.55 622.37 920.36

Accord and Alliance inspections as “it happened to the European, US and Canadian markets.”

The apparel exports to the major EU countries also rose to $14.74bn in the year, which is 17.35% higher compared to previous year.

Exports to the USA totalled $5.14bn with 2.9% growth from one year ago.

RMG products fetched $1bn from Canada, posting 2.22% rise in the market.

The country’s export earnings rose

3603.15m or 15%

20888.73m or 85% Traditional Markets Non-Traditional Markets

by 11.65% to over $30bn in the last financial year, riding on the RMG sector despite political turmoil and labour unrest.

Apparel exports have seen 13.83% growth to $24.49bn in the year.

Knitwear products earned $12.03bn with 15% rise in FY14 from $10.47bn in FY13, while Woven garments export totalled $12.44bn posting 12.70% growth compared to the previous year’s $11.03bn. l

Failure in eTIN registration Taxpayers may face trouble n Tribune Report Taxpayers will face a number of troubles, instead of penalty, if they do not get registered with the electronic Taxpayers Identification Number (eTIN).

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has, however, backtracked from its previous stance to penalise them for failure in getting eTIN. The government was scheduled to incorporate a provision with the finance bill 2014 to penalise the taxpayers if they do not register with the eTIN, but it is now planning to bring the taxpayers under the voluntary system, and therefore, refrained from including the provision with the bill, said NBR officials.

They said the board was compelled to extend the deadline till June 2014 as there was no such provision in the Income Tax Ordinance 1984 to take any action against taxpayers if he/she does not take eTIN. The board has extended the deadline twice due to lack of expected response and the legal loopholes.

“We were informed that there will be a new provision with the income tax act to penalise the taxpayers for not complying with the mandatory eTIN system, but the provision has not been incorporated,” said a high official of NBR. “The government is now thinking the taxpayers will register with the system voluntarily because they will

face trouble unless comply with the system.”

Currently, provision for penalising the taxpayers is absent at the income tax law as the NBR did not consider including a provision in the income tax ordinance about the punishment while introducing the eTIN in July last year.

“Taxpayers will now face troubles as they will not be able to get a number of services without eTIN. So, they will automatically register with the system to get the benefits,” the official added.

With the passage of finance bill 2014, the government has barred 10 digit TIN holders from getting a number of services including registration and fitness renewal of vehicles, opening letters of credits, getting loans and credit cards, ISD telephone line and application for utility services including gas and electricity connection.

The services, which the TIN holders cannot be subscribed also includes registration for purchase of land, building or an apartment, issuance of practicing licence to doctor, chartered accountant, cost and management accountant, lawyers or an income tax practitioner, Currently, there are 17.52lakh valid individual TIN holders and 50,000 companies in the country. Among them, the NBR was able to net some 12.50lakh taxpayers within the eTIN system during the last one year. l

Alliance to double compensation for RMG workers n Tribune Report

ment from below.”

This system was responsible for giving means and tools to poor communities to access financial products and services.

“Social entrepreneurs view the world’s poorest people as comprising the world’s largest under-served market, a massive opportunity and a moral imperative,” FAO DirectorGeneral José Graziano da Silva said at the event.

The concept of “social business” is based on what Yunus calls a “non-loss, non-dividend” business model that has the ultimate goal of creating widely-shared social benefits.

This concept supersedes the idea of mere corporate social responsibility, as it aims to change an entire system and provide solutions to pressing social problems such as poverty and malnutrition.

In 2013, FAO and the Grameen Foundation established a partnership to enhance small-holder farmers’ access to knowledge and technologies for sustainable production and food security through the use of mobile agriculture supported services.

The collaboration has had a positive impact in countries like Uganda and Colombia, where it has improved farming innovation exchanges and strengthened small-holder households by allowing them to gaining better access to rural financial services. l

The Alliance for Bangladesh Workers Safety, a platform of North American brands, has decided to double the compensation benefits for workers who are displaced due to factory remediation.

“The Alliance will extend compensation benefits to workers from two months to up to four months’ wages for workers displaced as a result of factory remediation, effective immediately,” said a statement of Alliance released on Thursday.

“Ensuring that no garment worker has to put herself at risk to earn a living is our top priority, but we believe protecting and supporting workers must go hand in hand,” said Ellen Tauscher, Alliance Independent Chair and former US Congresswoman.

“We are committed to ensuring, as factory safety improvements are made, the workers are not expected to pay the price,” she added.

For structural repairs when necessary, worker’s wages should be protected as per law of the Land, said Wajedul Islam Khan, General Secretary of Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra.

While compensation, whatever the amount, is not more valuable than a life, we applaud the Alliance for taking this critical step to protect and respond to the needs of the workers and their families, he added.

In May, the Alliance has paid 50% wages to over 1,000 workers in partnership with factory owners to workers displaced as a result of factory clo-

sures. The benefits are made possible through a $5 million Worker Support Fund established by the Alliance and its member brands.

The Alliance had completed safety assessment of 601 RMG units, from which they source products and three factories have been shut for remediation as per their recommendations as it

found serious structural faults.

The experts of Alliance referred a total of nine factories to the review panel comprised of representatives from the government, Accord, Alliance, BUET, BGMEA and BKMEA and suggested evacuation as per their critical findings.

Out of nine, the review committee

has suspended production at three units, partially suspended operation at four factories and the decisions on rest two factories remained pending.

The issue of fire, electrical and structural safety came under spotlight following the deadly collapse of Rana Plaza last year, which killed 1,135 workers and injured over 2,500. l

280 RMG factories unable to pay wages and bonus before Eid n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

Around 280 apparel factory owners are unable to pay the wages and festival bonus to the workers as per their demand before the upcoming Eid-Ul-Fitr.

The factories have been identified and brought under close monitoring as those are not capable to meet the expenditure before Eid, according to BGMEA and BKMEA executives.

However, labour leaders accused the garment owners of the dilly-dally in paying the workers’ wages and festival bonus due to their “unwillingness.”

Although the government has already disbursed Tk734 core as cash export subsidies for the RMG sector, the sector has reportedly been suffering from fund shortage.

Among the troubled factories, 93 are located in the Chittagong district

while 137 are located in Dhaka, Naryangong, Savar, Gazipur and Ashulia, a BGMEA high official told the Dhaka Tribune on condition anonymity.

Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA) has also found 50 factories, which are seemingly vulnerable to paying the salaries and bonus to their workers. BKMEA is closely monitoring those factories.

There are some factories, which may face fund shortage to pay bonus and wages, but we are still trying hard to resolve any possible crisis, so all the workers can get their dues to celebrate the Eid festival with their near and dear ones, BGMEA vice-presient Shahidullah Azim, told the Dhaka Tribune.

The crisis depends further on less work orders flow as some factories are now facing order crisis. That’s why,

Bangladesh to host blue economy seminar in September n Tribune Business Desk Bangladesh will host a two-day international workshop on “Blue Economy” in September this year to discuss ways to better explore the untapped resources of the Bay of Bengal, a foreign ministry official said yesterday.

The workshop to be held on September 1-2 is expected help generate more awareness and broaden hori-

zons towards utilizing resources of the sea and thus bring about socioeconomic changes in the lives of people of Bangladesh, reports UNB. Bangladesh government seeks growth of blue economy related to resources of the ocean, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said addressing the “Global Oceans Action Summit for Food Security and Blue Growth” held at the World Forum in the Dutch capital recently.

He called for good governance for conventional fisheries management, establishment of marine protected areas, transfer of technology, promotion and protection of traditional knowledge, reducing marine pollution, capacity building for fish stock assessment and sustainable management of small scale fisheries.

Some 30 million people of Bangladesh have had direct livelihood

dependence on oceanic economic activities like fisheries and commercial transportation.

Despite such dependence countries like Bangladesh do not possess the critically required resources, capabilities and technologies for leveraging their marine resources.

The total collection of fish from the Bay is around 6 million tonnes annually. Of this, Bangladesh’s share is only 0.29 million tones. l

they do not have enough fund to pay the workers before the Eid, Azim explained.

In this regard, he also said: We have urged the banks to provide funds for paying the wages and bonus to the workers and it would be adjusted with the bills of letter of credits (LCs) bills.

Meanwhile, workers leaders claimed that there is no fund shortage but lack of willingness of factory own-

ers is the key reason for not being able to pay the salaries, bonus and other dues before Eid. “We have seen over the years that the factory owners normally don’t want to pay the dues of the workers but they are to pay when they are compelled to pay,” Sirajul Islam Rony, President, Bangladesh National Garment Workers Employees League (BNGWEL), told the Dhaka Tribune. l

B2

Stock markets stay bearish last week n Tribune Report

ly in the past week, as investors preferred to stay on the sidelines and participated cautiously.

The week’s daily average turnover at DSE was Tk192 crore, which was almost nine months low and more than 40% lower over the previous week.

“Turnover has come down to a very minimal level. This low level of turnover is indicating a falling interest to sell at this level of prices,” said Lanka Bangla Securities, in its weekly analysis.

It said buyers are also staying on the sidelines. “They are probably waiting for second quarter earnings to hit on the screen. From next week, second quarter earnings figures will start coming.”

IDLC Investments said revived tone of expected half-yearly and yearly declarations and upcoming monetary policy statement (MPS) for July-December period could not stand ahead of prolonged shaky market sentiment.

“This was frequently taking a toll in market movements and putting investors mostly in indecisive arena,” it said.

Losers took a strong lead over the gainers as out of 305 issues traded during the past week, 243 declined, 49 advanced and 13 remained unchanged on the DSE trading floor.

The most traded stocks were Beximco, Grameenphone, Far Chemical Industries, Appollo Ispat Complex, Lafarge Surma Cement and Olympic Industries. l

Stock markets witnessed bearish sentiment in the past week, after two weeks of modest rally, with low participation as investors were cautious ahead of second quarter results to be poured in the market next week.

During the past week ended Thursday, the DSEX gained 73 points or 1.7% to 4,363.

Revived tone of expected half-yearly and yearly declarations and upcoming monetary policy statement (MPS) for July-December period could not stand ahead of prolonged shaky market sentiment The blue chips comprising DS30 moved up 17 points or 1% to close at 1,604. The DSE Shariah Index DSES inched 6 points or 0.7% higher to 997.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, lost 136 points or 1.6% to 8,327.

All the major sectors suffered except telecommunications and, food and allied which edged higher.

Trading activities declined sharp-

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS Company Midas Financing-Z AIBL 1st Is. M. F.-A LR Global BD MF1-A FAR Chemical-N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A BD. Thai Alum -B BD Fixed Income MF-A Rahima Food -Z MBL 1st M. F.-A Stylecraft -A

Closing (% change) -8.76 -6.56 -6.06 -5.84 -5.77 -5.26 -5.00 -4.90 -3.85 -3.58

CSE LOSERS Company

Closing (% change)

Rahima Food -Z Republic Insu.-A Sonargaon Tex -Z FAR Chemical-N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A H.R. Textile -A Eastland Insur -A BD. Thai Alum -B MBL 1st M. F.-A Meghna Life Ins. -A

-9.27 -6.05 -5.49 -5.49 -5.45 -4.90 -4.47 -4.26 -3.77 -3.75

4363.08797

(-) 0.18%

1604.39652

(+) 0.03%

13457.84610

(-) 0.001%

11163.14330

(+) 0.32%

8327.12790

(+) 0.05%

Average (% change) -10.26 -6.04 -3.33 -5.95 -5.86 -3.75 -5.00 -4.38 -3.61 -3.54 Average (% change) -8.17 -6.30 -1.21 -5.43 -6.05 -4.93 -4.61 -4.26 -3.40 -3.78

ANALYST

Closing average 25.10 5.76 6.38 47.75 29.89 27.69 7.60 43.03 5.08 1090.00

Closing average 41.56 26.33 8.99 47.57 29.82 27.20 34.15 27.45 5.11 97.47

Weekly closing 25.00 5.70 6.20 46.80 29.40 27.00 7.60 42.70 5.00 1090.00

Weekly 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 171.67 69.84 30.08 122.22 167.80 108.57 0.60 186.01 291.97 0.06 12.36 14.80 4.43 181.97 7.45 42.21 31.07 134.86 50.49 143.44 0.31

▼ ▲ ▼ ▲ ▲ Weekly high 25.10 6.10 6.60 49.10 31.40 29.00 7.60 43.80 5.20 1090.00

Weekly high

41.10 26.40 8.60 46.50 29.50 27.20 34.20 27.00 5.10 97.50

43.70 26.40 9.20 49.00 31.50 27.20 34.20 28.30 5.20 98.10

DSE GAINERS

DSE key features Jujy 6-10, 2014

Company

Turnover (Million Taka)

1,772.18

Turnover (Volume)

45,954,448

Number of Contract

48,316

Traded Issues

298

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

87

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

207 4

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,278.22

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.61

CSE key features Jujy 6-10, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

135.10

Turnover (Volume)

4,668,564

Number of Contract

6,818

Traded Issues

196

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

76

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

114

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,191.17

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

26.56

Turnover in million

25.00 5.70 6.20 46.20 28.20 26.60 7.60 42.40 4.90 1090.00

Weekly low 40.80 25.50 8.40 45.90 29.10 27.20 34.10 26.70 5.00 97.00

Latest EPS

0.364 4.315 0.351 95.928 108.545 7.940 0.019 0.753 3.678 0.109

Turnover in million

Savar Refractories-Z B I F C -A Kay & Que (BD) -Z I P D C -A Olympic Ind. -A ICB AMCL IslamicMF-A Fareast Finance-Z FAS Fin. & Inv. Ltd-B Popular Life Insu. -A Imam Button -Z

Closing (% change) 9.07 6.57 4.62 3.38 3.32 3.19 3.13 3.07 2.88 2.67

CSE GAINERS

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

Weekly low

Sunday, July 13, 2014

-6.91 -0.56 0.64 3.92 1.12 0.84 0.56 -1.01 -0.36 26.16

Latest EPS

1.434 0.014 0.135 11.749 12.032 0.068 0.041 0.316 0.304 0.190

-1.01 2.45 -0.92 3.92 1.12 1.62 4.24 0.84 -0.36 6.45

Latest PE -ve -ve 10.0 12.2 26.7 33.0 13.6 -ve -ve 41.7

Latest PE -ve 10.7 -ve 12.1 26.6 16.8 8.1 32.7 -ve 15.1

Company Midas Financing-Z Rupali Bank - A B I F C -A Premier Leasing-Z I P D C -A Fareast Finance-Z Titas Gas TDCLA FAS Fin. & Inv. Ltd-B Hakkani P& Paper -B HeidelbergCement -A

Closing (% change) 9.86 8.12 7.30 7.14 6.80 5.26 4.69 3.75 3.66 2.50

Average (% change) 11.11 9.48 3.74 5.68 0.92 3.35 3.87 2.45 0.64 2.67 Average (% change) 9.86 17.62 9.43 6.56 8.45 4.53 5.55 10.53 3.66 2.77

Closing average 60.00 14.90 13.60 15.64 231.44 19.43 9.94 16.72 170.71 7.70

Closing average 23.40 63.67 14.97 7.47 15.66 9.93 75.29 16.58 28.30 513.90

Weekly closing 58.90 14.60 13.60 15.30 233.70 19.40 9.90 16.80 175.00 7.70

Weekly closing 23.40 63.90 14.70 7.50 15.70 10.00 75.90 16.60 28.30 513.20

Weekly high 59.00 15.00 14.00 16.00 234.40 19.50 10.00 17.00 175.10 7.70

Weekly high 23.40 63.90 15.00 7.50 16.10 9.90 75.90 16.70 28.30 518.00

Weekly low 58.80 12.80 13.30 13.40 225.00 19.30 9.50 15.00 155.00 7.70

Weekly low 23.40 63.50 14.50 7.40 15.30 10.00 73.00 16.50 28.30 508.00

Turnover in million

Latest EPS

0.018 11.009 0.034 2.593 139.508 0.136 3.047 0.382 0.218 0.004

Turnover in million

Latest PE

0.52 0.24 -0.92 0.64 7.21 2.33 0.12 0.48 17.00 -1.85

115.4 62.1 -ve 24.4 32.1 8.3 82.8 34.8 10.0 -ve

Latest EPS

0.023 0.045 1.607 0.049 0.112 1.187 0.414 0.033 0.198 4.394

Latest PE

-6.91 3.96 0.24 0.12 0.64 0.12 8.29 0.48 0.28 28.64

-ve 16.1 62.4 62.3 24.5 82.8 9.1 34.5 101.1 17.9

Weekly news from trade server LRGLOBMF1: (Q3): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 3rd quarter ended on 30th June 2014 (Apr'14 to June'14), the fund has reported net profit/(loss) of Tk. (93.54) million with earnings per unit of Tk. (0.30) as against Tk. 291.53 million and Tk. 0.94 respectively for the same period of the previous year. Whereas net profit was Tk. 148.19 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.48 for the period of nine months (Oct'13 to June'14) ended on 30.06.2014 as against Tk. 110.42 million and Tk. 0.35 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

AIBL1STIMF: (Q1): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 1st quarter ended on 30th June 2014 (Apr'14 to June'14), the fund has reported net profit/(loss) of Tk. (14.29) million with earnings per unit of Tk. (0.14) as against Tk. 84.25 million and Tk. 0.84 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

MBL1STMF: (Q1): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 1st quarter ended on 30th June 2014 (Apr'14 to June'14), the fund has reported net profit/(loss) of Tk. (8.79) million with earnings per unit of Tk. (0.09) as against Tk. 96.82 million and Tk. 0.97 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

official activities of Dhaka Stock Exchange Ltd. will revert to its previous time schedule from August 03, 2014 (after Eid-ul-Fitr holidays) which is as follows: Trading hours: 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM (continuous session); and Office hours: 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. IPO Subscription: Saif Powertec Limited subscription date 06-10 July 2014, NRB upto 19 July 2014. @ taka 30, face value taka 10 and market lot 200. Ratanpur Steel Re-Rolling Mills Limited subscription date 1317 July 2014, NRB upto 26 July 2014. @ taka 40, face value taka 10 and market lot 200.

Khan Brothers PP Woven Bag Industries Ltd. subscription date 24-28 August 2014, NRB upto 06 September 2014. @ taka 10, face value taka 10 and market lot 500.

Western Marine Shipyard Limited subscription date 10-14 August 2014, NRB upto 23 August 2014. @ taka 35, face value taka 10 and market lot 100.

Right Share: MIDASFIN: Subscription period for rights issue will be from 01.09.2014 to 30.09.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 03.08.2014.

Dividend/AGM SANDHANINS: 25.50% stock, EGM and AGM: 06.09.2014, Record Date for EGM and AGM: 16.07.2014.

DSE NEWS: The trading and official activities of Dhaka Stock Exchange Ltd. will remain closed from July 27, 2014 to July 31, 2014 for holidays of "Eid-ul-Fitr". Trading and

RECKITTBEN: Interim cash @ 275% , Record date for entitlement of interim dividend: 07.07.2014.

BDSERVICE: 15% stock, AGM: 25.08.2014,

Record Date: 14.07.2014.

NATLIFEINS: 20% cash and 38% stock, AGM: 21.07.2014, Record Date: 03.07.2014.

MEGHNALIFE: 20% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 17.07.2014, Record Date: 30.06.2014.

DELTALIFE: 11% cash and 25% stock, AGM and EGM: 20.07.2014, Record date for AGM and EGM: 25.06.2014.

LAFSURCEML: 5% interim cash, Record date for entitlement of interim dividend: 30.06.2014.

ASIAINS: 15% cash and 5% stock, AGM: 16.07.2014, Record Date: 19.06.2014.

SALVOCHEM: 10% stock, AGM: 27.08.2014, Record date: 25.06.2014.

CMCKAMAL: 12.50% stock, AGM: 30.06.2014. Record Date: 29.05.2014.

ISLAMIINS: 15% stock, AGM: 09.07.2014, RD: 12.05.2014.

JMISMDL: 15% cash, AGM: 24.07.2014, RD: 22.05.2014.

SUMITPOWER: 15% stock, AGM: 30.06.2014. RD: 18.05.2014.

SPPCL: 10% cash & 10% stock, AGM: 30.06.2014. RD: 18.05.2014.

MARICO: 50% final cash, AGM: 19.08.2014, RD: 02.07.2014.

Turnover has come down to a very minimal level. This low level of turnover is indicating a falling interest to sell at this level of prices

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

% change 9.69 3.94 1.70 6.90 9.47 6.13 0.03 10.50 16.47 0.70 0.84 0.25 10.27 0.42 2.38 1.75 7.61 2.85 8.09 0.02

Million Taka 12.33 8.50 2.87 10.49 7.20 9.02 15.80 22.05 4.75 1.11 4.71 0.32 9.27 0.56 0.46 1.50 8.82 13.18 15.80 0.02

CSE

% change 8.29 5.71 1.93 7.05 4.84 6.07 0.00 10.62 14.82 3.19 0.74 3.17 0.22 6.23 0.38 0.31 1.01 5.93 8.86 10.62 0.01

Million Taka 184.00 78.33 32.94 132.71 175.00 117.59 0.60 201.80 314.01 4.81 13.47 19.51 4.76 191.24 8.01 42.66 32.57 143.68 63.67 159.24 0.32

Total

% change 9.58 4.08 1.71 6.91 9.11 6.12 0.03 10.51 16.35 0.25 0.70 1.02 0.25 9.96 0.42 2.22 1.70 7.48 3.31 8.29 0.02

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Olympic Ind. -A Grameenphone-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A HeidelbergCement -A FAR Chemical-N LafargeS Cement-Z Envoy Textiles Ltd-N Square Pharma -A Appollo Ispat CL -N Brac Bank -A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BEXIMCO Ltd. -A FAR Chemical-N The Peninsula CTG.-N Grameenphone-A Appollo Ispat CL -N UNITED AIR-A Envoy Textiles Ltd-N HeidelbergCement -A BSC-A Square Pharma -A

Volume shares 602,785 370,219 3,630,877 209,100 2,009,000 799,500 1,087,588 182,589 1,538,800 1,413,562

Volume shares 403,475 247,000 223,200 20,800 210,200 451,596 93,630 8,550 7,100 13,060

Value in million 139.51 110.36 108.55 107.70 95.93 62.77 56.23 50.74 43.11 36.72

Value in million 12.03 11.75 7.47 6.22 5.89 5.44 4.81 4.39 3.66 3.63

% of total turnover 7.87 6.23 6.12 6.08 5.41 3.54 3.17 2.86 2.43 2.07

% of total turnover 9.06 8.85 5.62 4.68 4.44 4.09 3.62 3.31 2.75 2.73

Weekly closing 233.70 297.30 29.40 512.00 46.80 78.60 51.90 278.60 27.90 26.00

Weekly closing 29.50 46.50 33.40 299.30 28.00 12.00 51.40 513.20 514.00 279.00

Price change 3.32 -0.10 -5.77 1.61 -5.84 -0.76 1.96 0.47 -0.36 1.96

Weekly opening 226.20 297.60 31.20 503.90 49.70 79.20 50.90 277.30 28.00 25.50

Weekly high 234.40 300.10 31.40 521.00 49.10 79.20 52.00 279.80 28.40 27.00

Weekly low 225.00 295.60 28.20 503.40 46.20 77.40 46.30 262.00 27.70 23.00

Weekly average 231.44 298.10 29.89 515.07 47.75 78.52 51.70 277.91 28.01 25.98

Price change -5.45 -5.49 -0.89 0.77 0.00 -0.83 1.18 2.50 -1.12 0.61

Weekly opening 31.20 49.20 33.70 297.00 28.00 12.10 50.80 500.70 519.80 277.30

Weekly high 31.50 49.00 33.90 300.00 28.40 12.30 51.70 518.00 519.80 280.00

Weekly low 29.10 45.90 33.30 297.00 27.70 11.90 50.00 508.00 512.00 276.80

Weekly average 29.82 47.57 33.46 299.08 28.04 12.04 51.39 513.90 514.82 278.14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Portugal bank crisis shakes investor confidence n AFP, Lisbon Fears over the health of Portugal’s largest listed bank, Banco Espirito Santo, sent its shares into freefall Thursday, shaking stock markets in Lisbon and across Europe and even the Atlantic.

Lisbon stock market regulators suspended trade in Banco Espirito Santo (BES), the country’s biggest lender by capitalisation, after its shares had plummeted by 17.24% to 0.50 euros.

Trading was halted ahead of “important information” to be published by BES, the market regulator said.

Concerns about the lender, erupting less than two months after Portugal exited a three-year, 78bn euro ($106bn) international bailout, sent shockwaves through Lisbon and other fragile southern European markets.

When stock markets closed, Portugal’s PSI index had lost by 4.18%, Spain’s IBEX-35 index had dropped 1.98%, and Italy’s FTSE MIB had skidded 1.9%.

Major markets across Europe also fell back, and stocks opened lower in New York as well.

could have on the whole country,” said Renaud Murail, manager at Francebased stock brokerage Barclays Bourse.

BES shares were suspended from trade just hours after its main shareholder Espirito Santo Financial Group voluntarily withdrew its own shares from the market, citing “difficulties” at ESI. Espirito Santo Financial Group said it was “assessing the financial impact of its exposure” to the troubled ESI, which is under investigation by Luxembourg authorities and is reportedly seeking to restructure debts estimated at more than seven billion euros.

“No doubt BES is making the main headlines today and is widely blamed for the hefty fall in Portuguese shares and some other periphery countries like Italy and Spain,” said analyst Markus Huber at London brokerage Peregrine & Black.

“However there is nothing at this stage that would be indicating that the material irregularities which were found at ESI are extending to the entire Portuguese banking system,” he added.

Solvability concerns

Peripheral bank worries

The Portuguese bank has been hit in particular by suspicion that a holding company, Espirito Santo International (ESI), covered up a 1.3bn euro hole in the accounts.

“Investors are concerned about the solvability of BES and the impact it

Portugal’s central bank, which has ordered an audit of ESI, is believed to have taken discreet action to prevent any problems from damaging the country’s banking system during the eurozone’s financial crisis.

Shares in Espirito Santo Financial

A man uses an automated teller machine of Portuguese bank Banco Espirito Santo in downtown Lisbon Group have halved in value since a June 20 announcement that chief executive Ricardo Salgado will leave his job at the end of the month.

Moody’s ratings agency has down-

graded its outlook on the group’s longterm debt to Caa2, its third-lowest rating, due to concerns about ESFG’s financial position.

Deutsche Bank macro strategist Jim

India’s sugar policy, world prices, hinge on delayed monsoon n Reuters, London Uncertainty over progress of the delayed monsoon is complicating India’s sugar policy, raising the risk it will halt sugar export subsidies in a move that would buoy world prices.

A poor monsoon season cuts exports, stokes food inflation and leads to lower demand for industries ranging from automobiles to consumer goods, while even a slow start can delay exports of some crops and increase the need for imports.

The government will prefer to see the impact of monsoon rains before extending current incentives for raw sugar exports.

Removing the incentives would be bullish for international prices because exports from India would drop.

“If the monsoon is bad, the government won’t want to see exports and will want to keep sugar in the country,” said Robin Shaw, sugar analyst with Londonbased broker Marex Spectron.

“If the monsoon is okay, the government will not feel the need to prevent exports.”

Analysts and dealers noted, however, that much of Indian sugar production was irrigated, and that although mon-

Unilever targets young people to generate sustainable living ideas n Tribune Business Desk Unilever has initiated Unilever Sustainable Living Young Entrepreneurs Awards, which will be given to the young people who will come up with practical and innovative solutions to some of the world’s biggest sustainability challenges.

The awards of offering young entrepreneurs over €200,000 in financial and mentoring support are in partnership with Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership and in collaboration with Ashoka, according to a press release.

The duration of submitting applications ends as of July 2014. The submission can be done online at www. changemakers.com/sustliving2014. l

soon rains were below average, reservoir levels were adequate for now.

Weak rainfall in India since the start last month of the monsoon season has raised concerns of a first drought in five years, although weather experts are hopeful rains will revive in the next week.

“In my opinion the government will wait to see how monsoon rains pan out and how it impacts the cane crop before extending incentives for raw sugar production for exports,” said Mukesh Kuvadia, secretary general of the Bombay Sugar Merchants Association.

“It does not make sense to prop up exports and then import.”

Current domestic sugar prices are lower than global prices, making imports unattractive. Raw sugar exports are not taking place as mills have already sold most of their raw sugar stocks.

“On both the import and the export front, it’s status quo, so there will not be a major impact even if the government issues an official order to increase the import tax to 40 percent from the current 15 percent,” Kuvadia said, referring to a recent announcement to raise the duty.

“In a way, everything hinges on this year’s monsoon rains.”

According to the latest shipping data from Williams this month, Brazilian raw sugar is flowing briskly to India, before implementation of the planned sugar import duty increase.

Analysts said the bulk raw sugar lined up at Brazil’s main sugar port Santos, bound for Kandla port in western India, will be for refining, presumably by Shree Renuka Sugars Ltd, and re-exported from India.

Refining and re-export activity, or tolling, is exempt from the import duty.

An Indian press report has referred to moves by Indian authorities to wind up raw sugar export incentives in September, a year earlier than expected.

Traders said it did not make sense to prop up exports in the 2014/15 season, then trawl the global market the following year.

Stock drawdown

Large-scale exports early next season could lead to shortages the following year because of patchy monsoon rains, Dharmender Bhayana, partner at Sugrain Trading LP, a Delhi-based trader, said.

“If a drought ravages the cane fields, sugar production will drop in the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons. The current year

Amazon launches document collaboration service n AFP, San Francisco Amazon on Thursday launched an online service for collaborating on work projects in a challenge to tech titan Google.

Zocalo is being billed as a secure, managed venue for storing, sharing and amassing feedback on documents, spreadsheets, presentations, Web pages, and other digital tools typically used to get modern day jobs done.

The Internet retail giant added Zocalo to its menu of Amazon Web Services (AWS).

“Customers have told us that they’re fed up with the cost, complexity, and performance of their existing old guard enterprise document and collaboration management tools,” Zocalo general manager Noah Eisner said in a release.

Amazon’s cloud-based Web Services

Union Bank Ltd has recently opened its Agrabad Branch at CDA in Agrabad Commercial Area, Agrabad, Chittagong. The president of Chittagong Chamber of Commerce, Mahbubul Alam inaugurated the branch at the presence of the bank’s vice-chair Belal Ahmed and managing director Md Abdul Hamid Miah

“was increasingly being asked to provide an enterprise storage and sharing tool that was easy to use, allowed users to quickly collaborate with others, and met the strict security needs of their organizations,” Eisner added.

Zocalo is tailored to work with a gamut of mobile devices including laptops and tablet computers powered by Apple or Android software, according to Amazon.

The service has a monthly fee of $5 per user and comes with 200 gigabytes of data storage.

Zocalo will compete with a suite of Google Docs software hosted as a service in the Internet “cloud.”

It will also challenge companies such as Dropbox which provide online storage for documents, photos and other digital belongings in the Internet age. l

began with a large surplus or carryover stocks from the previous year, but we are going to see the drawdown now.”

Sugar stocks at the start of the current season were 8.8 million tonnes, up from 6.1 million tonnes in the previous year.

Trade officials say stocks are expected to fall by a million tonnes by Oct. 1, 2014, sufficient for nearly 3-1/2 months of consumption.

The announcement to raise the import duty was an attempt by the authorities to help cash-strapped mills in India to reduce their huge payment arrears to cane farmers.

Weak world sugar prices, due to years of surpluses, have eroded mills’ revenues, while Indian cane farmers receive protected prices.

Increased export sales by mills, aided by the incentives, would also boost mills’ revenues to help them clear some of their $1.84 billion arrears.

“We are going to see some jump in (domestic) sugar prices and it is going to improve mills’ financial condition, necessary to clear huge cane dues,” Bhayana said.

"It is in the interest of all stakeholders – mills, farmers and the government - to let sugar go up slightly, as prices have been depressed for a very long time." l

REUTERS

Reid expressed concern that delayed payments on ESI short-term securities were troubling European markets.

“Espirito’s stresses have brought questions over the underlying health

of peripheral banks and the still evolving mechanisms for dealing with struggling institutions back into the spotlight,” he said.

Spanish lender Banco Popular, whose shares fell 1.95% on Thursday, postponed plans for a 750m euro contingent convertible bond issue Thursday, a spokesman said, citing “adverse market conditions”.

Spanish construction group ACS postponed a five-year, 500m euro issue, and in Italy, the pharmaceutical company Rottapharm cancelled its share listing, citing “an unfavourable situation” on financial markets.

In Greece, the government managed to sell just 1.5bn euros in three-year bonds at a rate of 3.5% on Thursday, about half what it was believed to be targeting.

On secondary bond markets meanwhile, the yield on Greece’s 10-year debt jumped to 6.298% from 6.092% at the close on Wednesday.

The comparable rate for Spain rose to 2.825% from 2.755%, while that for Italy ended the day at 2.945%, up from 2.881% on Wednesday.

Portugal’s 10-year debt traded at 3.985%, up from 3.771%.

“The problems at BES are affecting Portuguese bonds in particular, but there is also a contagion effect in other southern European countries,” commented Patrick Jacq, a trader at BNP Paribas. l

Euro dips in Asia on Portuguese bank woes n AFP, Tokyo Investors shifted out of the euro Friday and into the safety of the dollar and yen as a crisis at Portugal’s largest listed bank revived fears about European debt.

The euro fetched $1.3600 in Tokyo morning trade Friday, slightly down from $1.3609 late in New York and well down from 1.3640 earlier Thursday The common currency also dipped to 137.84 yen from 137.88 yen in New York and 138.50 yen Thursday in Asia.

The dollar was changing hands at 101.35 yen, against 101.32 yen.

Markets across Europe and on Wall Street were rattled Thursday after it emerged that the parent of Banco Espirito Santo (BES) had covered up a $1.8bn hole in its accounts and failed to make payments on some short-term debt.

All three main indexes in New York ended lower, while London, Frankfurt and Paris also saw hefty losses as the news brought back memories of the eurozone sovereign and banking debt crisis of 2011 that saw a number of nations go to the wall. Shares in Lisbon

dived more than four percent.

Tokyo stocks were 0.26% lower by the break Friday.

“Markets are left torn between viewing this news as BES-specific or something more systematic,” National Australia Bank said in a statement.

“At one point during the night ... the US dollar attracted a traditional safe haven bid” alongside an equally traditional drop in the dollar-yen exchange rate, it said.

The dollar fell as low as 101.06 yen in New York as traders shifted into what is considered a safer bet in times of economic and political uncertainty.

However, in the near term the scope for the Japanese currency to rally on the back of risk-off sentiment could be limited, said Yunosuke Ikeda, head of FX strategy at Nomura Securities.

Factors favouring a yen sell-off remain in place, including expectations of a rise in US interest rates, a shift in investment strategy by Japan’s pension funds into riskier assets, and Japanese commercial demand for selling the unit, he added. l

Fed fears risks posed by exit tools n Reuters

Federal Reserve officials are cautiously nearing completion of a new plan for managing interest rates, concerned that some of the new tools they are likely to rely on could pose unintended risks in a crisis.

The central bank has devoted extensive debate to the matter over the past two months and officials “have made a lot of progress” on a strategy to return monetary policy to a more normal footing after years of coping with crisis, Chicago Federal Reserve Bank President Charles Evans said on the sidelines of an economic conference here.

However, the sheer magnitude of the amounts of money used to combat the crisis - $2.6tn sitting at the Fed as bank reserves and $4.2 trillion held by the Fed in various securities - may complicate the U.S. central bank’s ability to control its target interest rate once the decision is made that it should be raised. A decision to begin increasing

Choudhury Atiur Rasul, director (accounts) of PRAN-RFL Group recently received the highest VAT payer’s award in service sector for the fiscal year 2012-13 from Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed at a convention center in Dhaka

interest rates is expected in the middle of next year.

In recent weeks, the Fed has neared consensus that its workhorse tool will be the interest it pays banks on excess reserves on deposit at the Fed - giving the central bank a direct way to encourage banks to either take money out of circulation and leave it at the Fed, or lend it elsewhere.

Another tool would have a similar impact but apply more broadly, using overnight repurchase agreements that would let money market funds and other institutions as well as banks essentially make short-term deposits at the Fed. The worry is that if financial conditions tighten, those large funds of money would flee to the repo facility as a safe haven, depriving the economy of credit and making a potential crisis even worse.

“The broad concern is whether we want to facilitate what could be a period of financial stress by providing in a large or unlimited way that refuge, and whether that would tend to exacerbate

a financially stressful situation,” said Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart.

The concern is apparently widespread at the central bank. Minutes of the Fed’s June policy committee meeting said that “most participants” shared worries about the “unintended consequences” of the repo facility and its potential to be used as a shelter from risk.

Still, the repo tool, which is being tested by the New York Fed, is expected to form part of the new exit strategy, although it is likely to be in what Lockhart described as a “supporting role.” The minutes from the Fed’s June meeting said that restrictions could be placed on the use of the repo tool to limit the potential risks.

Lockhart said a completed exit policy could be formally announced as early as this fall. The federal funds rate, which is the rate that banks charge each other for overnight loans, will remain part of the central bank’s tool kit. l

Fortis Escorts Heart Institute (FEHI), a world-renowned dedicated cardiac care facility in India and AFC Health Limited, Bangladesh have announced to setup a Cardiac Care Center in Khulna, Bangladesh. Sunil Kapoor, Regional Director of FEHI and managing director of AFC Health Limited, SM Saifur Rahman have recently signed an agreement on this regard at a ceremony held at a hotel in Dhaka

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Sunday, July 13, 2014

BRICS to launch bank, tighten Latin America ties n AFP, Brasilia The BRICS group of emerging powers will launch its own development bank at a summit next week, using its growing influence to establish a counterweight to Western-dominated financial organizations.

Fresh from the World Cup final, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff hosts the leaders of Russia, India, China and South Africa in Fortaleza on Tuesday before an unprecedented meeting with South American leaders the next day in Brasilia.

On the diplomatic front, the summit will mark the first face-to-face meeting between India’s new Hindu nationalist Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese President Xi Jiping.

For Russian President Vladimir Putin, who traveled to Cuba this week, the trip comes amid newly frayed relations with the West over the crisis in Ukraine.

The leaders, including South African President Jacob Zuma, will establish two new financial organizations: a development bank to fund infrastructure projects and a reserve fund to fend off currency and balance of payments crises.

The BRICS are “countries with enormous potential that can gain many benefits for themselves but also for a new economic and international political order,” said senior Brazilian foreign ministry official Jose Alfredo Graca Lima.

Graca Lima said the bank and the reserve would “complement” the Washington-based World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

The bank will have capital of $50bn with each country contributing $10bn, while the reserve, which has been described as a “mini-IMF,” will have $100bn at its disposal, Graca Lima told reporters.

For the fund, China will make the biggest contribution, $41bn, followed

Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) and his Cuban counterpart Raul Castro (right) are seen during an official meeting at Revolution Palace in Havana, on July 11. Putin arrived in Cuba Friday on the first stop of a tour of Latin America that will also take him to Argentina and Brazil AFP by $18 billion from Brazil, India and Russia and $5bn from South Africa.

Opposed interests

“The BRICS want to create alternatives, a type of global monetary policy more in tune with the realities of emerging countries,” Andre Perfeito, chief economist at Gradual Investimentos consultancy, told AFP. Despite their agreement on the need for a bank, the five countries are split on where it should be headquartered.

Graca Lima said Shanghai was the frontrunner to host the bank but South Africa’s Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said Johannesburg was still in the running. New Delhi and Moscow

are the other candidates.

The five nations are also negotiating who should hold the bank’s rotating presidency first. And the membership of the board of directors has yet to be decided.

The BRICS were created after economist Jim O’Neill used the acronym in 2001 to describe the growing powers.

They are now seeking to break the European, US and Japanese domination of financial institutions.

“The BRICS unite a group of nations with different, even opposed, interests,” said Oliver Stuenkel, author of “BRICS and the Future of Global Order” and professor at the Getulio Vargas Foundation.

IEA cuts 2014 oil demand outlook owing to weaker growth n AFP, Paris The International Energy Agency on Friday cut its 2014 forecast for oil demand to 92.7 million barrels a day owing to weaker than expected global economic growth.

The revised forecast was 130,000 barrels a day lower than the IEA’s estimate a month earlier.

It reflects the “growing realisation that macroeconomic conditions, although still likely to strengthen in the second half of the year, will probably now do so at a less dramatic pace than previously forecast,” a statement said.

International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde suggested last week that the IMF’s 3.6% global growth forecast for 2014 might have to be trimmed back.

Her warning that the global economic recovery could be “less robust than expected” appears to have been borne out by recently released economic data.

Europe’s biggest economies this week reported slumping industrial production -- a key indicator of economic health.

And the United States said late last month that business activity had de-

clined by a steep 2.9 percent in the first quarter of the year, its biggest quarterly contraction in five years.

On the supply side, members of the OPEC cartel pumped out 40,000 barrels a day less in June to 30.03 million on a daily basis, with a decline in Iraqi output partly offset by small increases from Saudi Arabia, Iran, Nigeria and Angola.

The IEA said that an offensive by jihadists in northern Iraq had cut output by 260,000 barrels a day in June to 3.17 million, after fighting forced the closure of the country’s biggest refinery and slashed production from the giant Kirkuk field.

The prized oil fields have been protected physically from the fighting so far, but the IEA warned there were still risks that the militants could damage oil installations.

“Should ISIS militants strike the southern oil network - now churning out nearly all of Iraq’s supply to world markets and generating most of Baghdad’s revenue -- Asia, which takes roughly 60% of Basra Light shipments, would be most vulnerable,” it said.

China is the biggest buyer of Iraqi oil while India is the second biggest, the IEA noted.

In Baghdad, the government accused Kurdish peshmerga fighters on Friday of seizing two key northern oil fields near the disputed city of Kirkuk, as relations between Baghdad and the autonomous Kurdistan regional government (KRG) hit a new low.

“The oil ministry strongly condemns the seizure and control of crude oil (wells) in the Kirkuk and Bey Hassan oil fields this morning by groups of Kurdish peshmerga forces,” a statement said.

The fields have a combined daily output capacity of 400,000 barrels per day, a ministry spokesman said.

Both fields have been offline since March.

Another development on the supply side is an agreement between Libyan rebels and officials in Tripoli to lift a blockade of vital shipment terminals at the ports of Ras Lanuf and Al-Sidra.

That could add about 500,000 barrels of crude per day to global energy markets, analysts say.

The IEA nonetheless cautioned that “a significant sustained increase in exports may be weeks away as terminals and oil fields must be inspected for damage and necessary repairs completed.” l

Mozilla kicks off global ‘digital literacy’ programme n AFP, Washington The Mozilla Foundation is expecting more than 100,000 people to participate in a series of events worldwide over the next two months teaching basic Internet use and other digital skills.

The “Webmaker” events which run through September 15 aim to boost so-called digital literacy skills, including computer coding, designing Web pages, and creation of apps and videos.

The kickoff begins this weekend in Kampala, Uganda, and includes events in at least 368 locations, from New York and San Francisco to cities in India, Indonesia and several African countries.

DILBERT

“Digital literacy is as important as reading, writing and math in modern society,” Mozilla Foundation executive director Mark Surman told AFP in a telephone interview.

“We set out with these parties to teach the world how the Web works.”

Surman said the effort is part of a broader goal to help get more people around the world connected to the Internet, and to help them use it in more active ways.

The events tie in with the “maker movement,” which according to Surman “is the idea that technology should be something we all can take control of, not something that is given

to us by companies.”

This is the third year of the campaign, Surman, said, and he hopes to double the participation level of last year of around 60,000 people. The maker parties are mostly locally organized with volunteers, with some technical help from Mozilla.

This campaign is bigger and broader than efforts by other organizations to teach children to code. And it is based on the premise that most of the world’s population will be online soon, with traditional computers or mobile devices like smartphones.

“In the end the broad majority of people are going to have a computer in their hands or in their pockets in the next few years, Surman said.

“We need to make sure those five billion people understand what the Web is now.”

Surman was on his way to Kampala for “a 500-person teach-in” to launch the program. Mozilla promotes them as parties which help explain the mechanics of making websites and addresses issues such as privacy and data protection. l

But they have given developing nations the ability to use a “platform” strong enough to challenge world order, he said.

Marathon summits

The talks in Fortaleza will open a series of marathon summits and bilateral meetings that will bring the BRICS group to Latin America.

After the BRICS meet with South American presidents in Brasilia on Wednesday, Xi will launch the ChinaLatin America forum, highlighting Beijing’s growing interests in a region historically tied economically to the United States.

Xi will then travel to Argentina, Ven-

ezuela and Cuba.

Before the summit, Putin will be in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday to attend the World Cup’s Argentina-Germany final at the Maracana Stadium. Russia is hosting the next tournament in 2018.

There, Putin will hold talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The summits come as the economies of some BRICS countries, which together represent 18 percent of the world economy, are cooling down.

Russia and Brazil are expected to see growth of just one percent this year.

“They may not be the stars that they once were,” Perfeito said. “But the BRICS have two important things: They are organized and large economies.” l

Yahoo buys video streaming startup RayV n AFP, San Francisco Yahoo announced Friday it has bought an Israel-based startup specializing in streaming high-quality video to computers and mobile devices.

Yahoo did not disclose financial terms of the deal to acquire RayV, which will become part of the California company’s research and development team in Tel Aviv.

“The (RayV) team lives and breathes video, and have become industry pioneers,” Yahoo said in a Tumblr post.

“This deal demonstrates our dedication to accelerating our video strategy and boosting our underlying technology infrastructure in the space.”

Yahoo is focusing on ramping up its offerings for streaming video live or on demand.

News of Yahoo’s latest acquisition came on the same day that it unveiled a lineup of free streaming concerts by music stars such as Usher, Michael Franti and The Dave Matthews Band.

A Live Nation Channel on Yahoo Screen promised to serve up a new live concert daily beginning on July 15, when The Dave Matthews Band performs two sets.

“In today’s on-demand entertainment environment, live experiences are the only ones that we all share together, at the same time,” Yahoo chief

marketing officer Kathy Savitt said in a statement.

“Together with Live Nation, we are excited to bring millions of fans together to share these moments through the new Yahoo Live experience.”

A glimpse of the schedule for the first month at yahoo.com/live promised performances by John Legend, Justin Timberlake, OneRepublic, Everclear, Airborne Toxic Event and other music stars.

“This channel will create a powerful new way for artists to continue to grow their global fan base,” Live Nation chief executive Michael Rapino said.

Concerts can be streamed through Yahoo Screen on a wide array of Internet-linked devices including Roku, Xbox 360 consoles, AppleTV, desktop computers and mobile devices powered by Apple or Android software, according to the Sunnyvale, Californiabased technology firm.

Yahoo has been shedding its online search engine past in favor of a future as a venue for premier digital content and services, particularly aimed at smartphones and tablet computers.

It has also been investing in original programming.

The company has enlisted news, music and television stars for online magazines focused on technology, film and food. l

Oil prices down in Asian trade n AFP, Singapore Oil prices edged lower in Asia Friday as fears recede about major supply disruptions in the Middle East, analysts said.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for August delivery eased 21 cents to $102.72 while Brent crude was down 13 cents at $108.54 in afternoon trade.

Sanjeev Gupta, head of the Asia-Pacific oil and gas practice at consultancy firm EY, said oil prices were weighed down by the imminent return of disrupted Libyan exports into a global market already flush with supply.

Brent crude has fallen more than $3 since July 3 after Libya’s interim Prime Minister Abdullah Al-Thani declared that authorities had regained control of two export terminals blockaded by rebels.

The ports at Ras Lanuf and Al-Sidra could add about 500,000 barrels of crude per day to global energy markets, analysts say.

Output in Sharara, the site of Libya’s largest oil field, is reaching its maximum production capacity of 340,000 barrels just days after it was reopened following the deal between rebels and the government, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Unaffected production in violencehit Iraq has also had a bearish impact on oil prices, Gupta said.

“Indications that Iraqi oil exports from the southern part of the country remained insulated from the sectarian violence that has swept the north in recent weeks also weighed down prices,” he said.

Iraq is the second biggest producer in the 12-nation OPEC oil cartel, pumping 3.4 million barrels a day and possessing more than 11% of the world’s proven reserves. l

Apple iPhone ‘threat to national security’ n AFP, Beijing Chinese state broadcaster CCTV has accused US technology giant Apple of threatening national security through its iPhone’s ability to track and timestamp a user’s location.

The “frequent locations” function, which can be switched on or off by users, could be used to gather “extremely sensitive data”, and even state secrets, said Ma Ding, director of the Institute for Security of the Internet at People’s Public Security University in Beijing.

The tool gathers information about the areas a user visits most often, partly to improve travel advice.

In an interview broadcast Friday, Ma gave the example of a journalist being tracked by the software as a demonstration of her fears over privacy.

“One can deduce places he visited, the sites where he conducted interviews, and you can even see the topics which he is working on: political and economic,” she said.

The frequent locations function is available on iOS 7, the operating system used by the current generation of iPhones released in September 2013.

“CCTV has only just discovered this?” said one incredulous Chinese microblogger.

The dispute is not the first time Apple has been embroiled in controversy in China, where its products are growing in popularity in a marketplace dominated by smartphones running Google’s Android operating system.

Apple lost a lawsuit against a Chinese state regulator over patent rights to voice recognition software such as the iPhone’s “Siri” just this week. l

A Mercedes Benz Japan employee cleans the engine of the company's new C-class sedan during its press preview in Tokyo on July 11. Mercedes Benz Japan started selling the new C-class sedans – the C180, C180 Avantgarde, C200 Avantgarde and C250 Sports since Friday AFP