04 Aug, 2014

Shraban 20, 1421 Shawal 7, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 122

MONDAY, AUGUST 4, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

20 pages | Price: Tk12

7 | LONG FORM

8 | WORLD

11 | OP-ED

13 | SPORT

THE AUDACITY OF HOPE

EGYPT AND PALESTINE: FRIENDS OR FOES?

PUT ON THE RED LIGHT

SALAHUDDIN IN EMOTIONAL PLEA TO FOOTBALLERS

Under pressure, BGMEA to pay dues of Tuba

BASIC Bank now fears mass withdrawal of deposits n Asif Showkat Kallol

Agitating workers say they will not accept anything other than full payment of all their dues Hossain Ovi and n Ibrahim Syed Samiul Basher Anik Garment exporters’ association BGMEA has agreed to pay two months’ wages to more than 1,600 workers of the Tuba Group, but not before the prime minister’s intervention.

However, the agitating workers have rejected the proposal demanding all their dues be paid altogether.

At least 1,200 workers of five factories of the Tuba Group have been

The well-off BGMEA members will contribute to a fund that will be used to pay the workers fasting for seven days at the Hossain Market in the capital’s Badda area, demanding payment of three months’ wages, overtime and Eid bonuses.

Around 90 workers have fallen sick from days of fasting and 15 of them, in critical conditions, have been admitted to various hospitals in the city.

The fateful Tazreen Fashions, where a factory fire killed more than a hundred people in November 2012, belonged to this group. The group’s Managing Director Delowar Hossain was arrested last year on charges of showing “negligence” which led to the factory fire.

The group’s management has been saying that it could not pay the dues for

Government to challenge Delowar’s bail

May, June and July and the Eid bonuses as the banks would not give them the fund unless their owner was freed.

However, the group paid all the dues to the workers of two of its factories before Eid. The fact that the managing director was in jail did not prevent them from getting the funds out of banks.

“At 10am on Wednesday, the BGMEA will pay the workers their wages for May and June at the BGMEA Building in the capital. On August 10, the factory authorities will clear the workers’ July wages. The other dues will also be cleared soon,” said Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan at a press conference after a meeting with BGMEA and labour leaders yesterday.

State Minister for Labour Mujibul Haque Chunnu told the Dhaka Tribune that he and the shipping minister went to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to discuss a way out of the situation.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed was also present during the meeting.

Chunnu quoted the premier as saying: “Go to the BGMEA and tell them what I told you. No matter what it takes, solve the crisis.”

He also said: “We have put pressure on the BGMEA to pay the workers’ dues. We asked them to manage by hook or by crook.”

Later in the day, the BGMEA announced at a press conference that it was going to pay the dues for the month May and June to the workers of the five factories.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Workers of five Tuba Group factories continue their fasting-unto-death for the seventh consecutive day yesterday at the Hossain Market in the capital’s Badda area MEHEDI HASAN

BHAWAL RAJA’S RESIDENCE

Now authorities come to senses n Abid Azad

n Ahmed Zayeef The government will appeal with the Supreme Court against a recent High Court order that granted bail to imprisoned Delowar Hossain, the owner of Tuba Group which also owns Tazreen Fashions, where a fire killed at least 112 workers in 2012.

Deputy Attorney General Shafiul Bashar Bhandary yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune: “The appeal against Delowar Hossain’s bail is under process. A decision has been made to file the petition seeking a stay order on the High Court’s bail order.”

Bhandary had opposed the bail prayer by Delowar’s counsel during a hearing on July 24 when the High Court bench of Justice Syed AB Mahmudul Huq and Justice Md Nazrul Islam Talukder granted him two month’s ad interim bail in a case filed regarding the tragic factory fire.

It was the last working day of the Supreme Court before its month-long vacation began. During the vacation,  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

NOTICE The weekly T-Mag supplement will come out on Thursday from now instead of Tuesday.

The recent photograph shows remains of Bhawal Raja’s residence in Old Dhaka which the authorities say will be recovered from lessees, who are gradually demolishing the historical site MEHEDI HASAN

INSIDE B1 | Business

Bangladesh may continue to break record in rice crop production in the next 10 years, said Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in its latest forecast.

4 | News

The government is set to create two new post for secretaries in the Cabinet Division and the Ministry of Home Affairs, the two most vital wings of the government to supervise activities of the civil administration and the police, in order to ease the workload.

5 | News

The Public Service Commission, for the first time, is going to introduce a ‘detailed’ syllabus for the preliminary test of the Bangladesh Civil Service examinations, incorporating three new subjects along with the present six disciplines.

9 | World

A strong earthquake jolted southern China’s Yunnan province yesterday, toppling thousands of homes and killing at least 150.

The historic Bhawal Raja’s residence in Old Dhaka could be turned into a beautiful heritage site if it was enlisted as a protected archaeological site at the soonest, officials said yesterday after examining the site.

Following a report published yesterday in the Dhaka Tribune titled “Govt blamed for destruction of Bhawal Raja’s residence,” both the Department of Archaeology and the Court of Wards under the Land Ministry on Bhawal Raj Estate sent separate teams to the site.

The archaeology team visited the site – situated at Nalgola, Imamganj near Mitford Hospital – to verify whether it could be eligible to be enlisted in line with the Antiquity Act, 1968.

On the other hand, Manager SM Roisuddin Ahmed at the Court of  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

The new management of BASIC Bank have expressed concerns that some of its biggest clients might withdraw their deposits of around Tk9,126 crore from the bank fearing possible harassment from the Anti-Corruption Commission and audit objections.

In letters to Finance Secretary Mahbub Ahmed and Bank Division Secretary Aslam Alam last week, BASIC Bank’s acting managing director Kanok Kumar Purkayastha sought directives on how to persuade 46 government and semi-government organisations against withdrawing their funds from the scam-hit bank.

The letter says there is a lack of confidence among depositors because of the bank’s weak financial status and negative media coverage prompting some depositors to attempt to withdraw funds from the state-owned bank. Besides, some of the depositors had already withdrawn funds from the bank during the last three months.

The acting MD also expressed concerns that BASIC Bank would face severe liquidity crisis because of the large amounts of money being withdrawn, especially at the three branches in Dhaka city.

Earlier, the Bangladesh Bank had advised the clients of BASIC Bank to withdraw their deposits on their own judgement.

A total of 46 government and semi-government organisations each have more than Tk50 crore deposited in the trouble-riddled bank, with their total deposit standing at Tk9,125.68 crore.

Of the total deposited amount, Tk642 crore belongs to Bangladesh Export Processing Zone Authority (Bepza), Tk631 crore belongs to Jamuna Fertiliser Company, Tk595 crore to National Housing Authority, Tk501 crore  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Deaths in attack on UN school in Gaza n Reuters An Israeli air strike yesterday killed 10 people and wounded about 30 others in a UN-run school in the southern Gaza Strip, a Palestinian official said, the second Israeli attack to hit a UN-run school in less than a week.

Elsewhere in Gaza, Israeli shelling killed at least 30 people in Gaza on the twenty-seventh day of fighting.

The fighting yesterday pushed the Gaza death toll given by Palestinian officials to 1,772, most of them civilians.

Israel has confirmed that 64 soldiers have died in combat, while Palestinian rockets have also killed three civilians in Israel.

In the town of Rafah, a missile from an Israeli aircraft struck the school where Palestinians who had fled their

homes were sheltering, witnesses and medics said.

Ashraf Al-Qidra, spokesman for the Gaza health ministry, said 10 people were killed and 30 wounded.

Robert Serry, UN Middle East Special Coordinator, said the school had been sheltering 3,000 displaced persons and the strike caused multiple deaths and injuries.

“It is simply intolerable that another school has come under fire while designated to provide shelter for civilians fleeing the hostilities,” he said.

Last Wednesday, at least 15 Palestinians who sought refuge in a UN-run school in Jabalya refugee camp were killed during fighting, and the UN said Israeli artillery had apparently hit the building. The Israeli military  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

2 ASK presses government to ensure Tuba workers are paid n Tribune Report The Bangladeshi NGO Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) expressed concern that Tuba Group garment workers remained unpaid and that the government had not done enough to ensure that they were paid their arrears, in a press release issued yesterday.

Unpaid workers of five garment factories operated by the group have been observing a hunger strike since July 28 to demand three months’ pay, overtime dues and Eid bonuses. At least 92 workers fell sick during demonstrations and nine were admitted to hospital for treatment.

Workers said that their employer would need to pay out Tk4.13cr to meet outstanding payroll dues.

The ASK press release said media sources estimated Tuba Group’s export earnings from January to June 2014 to be TK39cr, prompting the NGO to ask why wages and dues had not been paid.

ASK stated that it was the RMG workers’ democratic right to demonstrate to be paid their dues.

The humanitarian organisation said that factory owners who flouted the rules were ultimately responsible for labourers’ protests demanding fair and lawful treatment.

In its press release, the NGO called on the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association and the government to take initiatives to ensure workers were paid their dues, stressing the importance of good management practices in this critical sector of the economy. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, August 4, 2014

Case filed against Nur Hossain’s brother-in-law n Tribune Report Police have filed a case against two persons, including the brother-in-law of Narayanganj seven murders’ prime suspect Nur Hossain, in connection with the recovery of Nur’s pistol from a private car that collided with a train in the capital’s Malibagh area on Friday.

Nur-e-Alam Khan, Nur Hossain’s brother-in-law, is also the secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League’s Sonargaon unit. MA Rahman, alias Ansar Ali, the other accused, is a close associate of Alam’s and a businessman.

The case was filed by Rafiqul Islam,

operation officer of Dhaka Railway police station, who told the Dhaka Tribune that the two had been accused of possessing illegal arms.

Ansar, who sustained injuries in the accident, is under treatment at Apollo Hospital in the capital under police custody. Police have yet to arrest Alam.

A police source said they had already traced Alam’s hiding place and would arrest him anytime.

According to Narayanganj police, following the seven murders in Narayanganj, the district administration cancelled the 11 arms licences of

Nur Hossain and his relatives.

Police seized nine of thee firearms, but the other two, which were licensed under Nur’s name, were not surrendered to Siddhirganj police station.

Alam allegedly has been using one of those guns.

On Friday, the private car carrying three passengers, including Ansar Ali, collided with a train while trying to cross the rail line.

Later, Railway Police recovered a foreign pistol and 12 rounds of bullets from the wrecked car.

Police arrested Ansar from hospital, but the other two fled the scene. l

Cabinet likely to clear broadcast policy today n Mohosinul Karim The cabinet is likely to finally clear the draft of National Broadcasting Policy, which was prepared to control radios and television channels, that had earlier sent back recommendations for the inclusion of their observations in the draft policy.

Information Secretary Mortuza Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the policy would be brought into effect with the immediate issuance of a gazette notification after the cabinet clears it today.

The draft policy provides for establishing an “Independent Broadcast Commission” to monitor the activities of the television channels and radios.

The commission would formulate a code of guidance or programme code for the broadcasting institutions and regulatory authority comprising four specific criteria into the code.

Information Joint Secretary (Broadcast) Abul Hossain said they would be preparing a draft ‘Independent Broadcast Commission Act’ to establish the commission once the policy is approved by the cabinet.

Earlier, the cabinet sent the draft policy back, recommending the inclusion of its observations in the policy.

Relevant ministry officials said they had included the observations in the policy. It would ensure accountability and protect the interests of the owners, employees and people.

ASK Statement

The Ain-o-Shalish Kendra (ASK) yesterday expressed deep concerns over the proposed draft of the broadcast policy which might curb the freedom of the mass media.

In an official statement released yesterday, the human rights body also said the new policy, which comes with clauses empowering the Information Ministry to punish any media for unauthorised broadcasting, may hamper the freedom of the media in the country.

The statement also added that Information Ministry had recently taken initiatives to revise “Printing Presses and Publication Act 1973” to gain the power to cancel the publication rights of print and electronic media. l

BGMEA to pay dues of Tuba  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

BASIC Bank now fears mass withdrawal of deposits  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

to Sylhet Gas Fields Limited, Tk488 crore to Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company, Tk457 crore to Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), and Tk422 crore to Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company.

Seeking anonymity, a top official of the Bangladesh Bank recently told the Dhaka Tribune that the financial situation of BASIC Bank might not have become so bad had the ACC taken action against the bank’s former MD and chairman a year ago when the central bank sent its financial corruption report recommending legal action against the duo.

Now the specialised bank might face bankruptcy and collapse as the Lehman Brothers Bank in the US did in 2008, he said, adding: “Eight years ago, Oriental Bank collapsed because most of its clients withdrew money from the bank.”

In June, Bangladesh Steel and Engineering Corporation (BSEC) Chairman

Md Imtiaz Hossain Chowdhury sought advice from both the Finance Division and Bangladesh Bank on withdrawing its fixed deposit return (FDR) from the BASIC Bank.

“We are worried about saving the corporation’s FDR fund in the wake of misappropriation of a large amount of money at BASIC Bank,” reads a letter from the BSEC chief.

The BSEC also expressed concerns that its officials might be harassed during ACC’s investigations because of the corporation’s large FDR fund at the bank.

According to a Finance Ministry report, deposits at BASIC Bank declined by Tk997.56 crore in the first six months this year as depositors gave the state-owned bank the cold shoulder after the Bangladesh Bank had detected huge irregularities at the bank.

Bankers said the depositors lost confidence in the BASIC Bank after the central bank unearthed that it disbursed more than Tk4,500 crore in

Now authorities come to senses  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

Wards said he sent a team to the spot after the report had been published.

“Our team informed me that the lessees are violating the conditions of the lease agreement. We will take necessary steps soon. If needed, we will cancel the lease agreement.”

The one-acre area, leased out to some 70 people in 2011 for commercial use, has gradually being damaged and demolished by the lessees who have constructed new tin-shed houses on the compound.

The archaeology department also questioned why the Land Ministry had leased the land without acquiring any clearance certificate from it and ignoring the Antiquity Act. Roisuddin said: “This place was neither enlisted in the protected list of archaeological sites nor the list of Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk).

Hence, our office permitted the lease appeal since we have no adequate manpower to verify whether the lease appeal is applicable for this place.”

He said they would investigate the matter whether any official had been involved in the lease process without

any inspection or proper examination.

Earlier, Director General of the Department of Archaeology Shirin Akhter said: “Actually, I have no idea that there is a historic building. We will soon send a team to verify the place whether it should be protected or not in line with the Antiquity Act.” After the inspection, field officer Nasima Shaheen told the Dhaka Tribune that the historic site had not been enlisted due to lack of coordination and proper survey around the Dhaka city.

“If preserved, the residence has the potentialities and historic values to be turned into a beautiful heritage site. It will attract many tourists since it is situated just beside the Buriganga River.”

When contacted yesterday, the DG said she would comment on the matter after getting the inspection report.

According to the authorities concerned and the Chawkbazar police, now no construction activities are taking place at the site.

On July 28, architect Taimur Islam, the CEO of Urban Study Group, filed a general diary with Chawkbazar police station against one of the lessees

loans in the last few years, violating rules and regulations.

The ministry report, submitted to the parliamentary standing committee on public undertakings last month, shows that deposits at BASIC Bank dropped to Tk12,451.78 crore as of June 30 from Tk13,449.34 crore in December 31, 2013.

Bank Division Secretary Aslam Alam, however, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the clients of BASIC Bank had regained confidence in the bank after the dissolution of its board of directors and the removal of the chairman and MD and there was no concern about clients withdrawing their funds at the moment.

The secretary also claimed that the bank’s capital shortfall would be raised from the existing amount of around Tk1,400 crore after auditing by the central bank.

Last month, BASIC Bank again sought Tk1,372 crore from the Finance Division to meet its capital shortfall,

which the bank said was “severely impeding regular activities” of the bank.

The BASIC Bank’s capital shortfall stood at Tk1,037 crore at the end of March this year. At the end of last year it was Tk1,372 crore, of which the provision shortfall and reserve was Tk1,176 and the rest was reserve capital.

In 2012, BASIC Bank’s shortfall was only Tk3.34 crore.

A letter from the bank’s acting MD to the Bank Division secretary reads that if the bank had followed Bangladesh Bank guidelines for risk-based capital adequacy, the capital shortfall would have crossed Tk2,000 crore.

After the dissolution of the BASIC Bank board, the first meeting of the newly appointed board on July 14 revealed that the bank was now facing difficulty in foreign trade, suffering poor CAMELS rating – a supervisory rating system to classify a bank’s overall condition – and credit rating, which have resulted in sinking the clients’ confidence to the lowest level. l

Alauddin Sarkar to stop demolition of the house.

He mentioned that as the protected heritage list was not updated yet, any kind of construction on this 100-yearold historic residence would be a clear violation of the interim period of a Supreme Court order.

The Supreme Court in an order in October 2012 asked the government to update the list of protected heritage sites. It also questioned why the Urban Development Committee had been lying idle for years.

On the other hand, the officials of archaeology department are worried whether they would be able to protect the residence after learning that the lessees had connection with some musclemen who are blessed by the government.

Asking not to be named, an officer said: “We are yet to acquire the historic Ruplal House in Old Dhaka since several police cases are pending.

We are very much weak to fight in protecting the country’s historic places and structures.”

The official said: “The Bhawal Raja’s residence is not out of such fear.

We have to work tactfully as we have found strong connection of some influential people with the lessees. There are also possibilities of facing cases which will create huge obstacles to protect the land.”

Earlier, when this reporter visited the spot it was found that the main gate could not be recognised as the walls were reconstructed, while a number of small and big tin-shed houses, shops and storage rooms were seen on the premises, constructed by the lessee. The compound also houses recycling factories.

Though some parts of the walls are damaged, still there are signs of some rickety steel columns, huge wooden doors, marble tiles and well-curved arches to bear the testimony of the history.

According to the officials of archaeology department, they found the existence of several government offices including land registry office and councillor’s office on the compound. They said it would be tough for them to remove those offices from the site unless people of different strata raised voice to protect this historic residence. l

Deaths in attack on UN school in Gaza  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

said gunmen had fired mortar bombs from near the school and it shot back in response.

In Rafah, Fatah faction leader and local resident Ashraf Goma said locals were unable to deal with the casualties.

“Bodies of the wounded are bleeding in the streets and corpses are laid on the road with no one able to recover them.”

“I saw a man on a donkey cart bringing seven bodies into the hospital. Bodies are being kept in ice-cream refrigerators, in flower and vegetable coolers,” Goma told Reuters.

Truce efforts

In Cairo, efforts to find a new truce were scheduled to resume yesterday.

A delegation from Palestinian militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad arrived in the Egyptian capital, but a quick breakthrough seemed unlikely in the absence of Israeli representatives.

After accusing Hamas of breaching a US and UN-brokered ceasefire on Friday, Israel said it would not send envoys as scheduled.

The Israeli government said that the destruction of a network of tunnels underneath Israel’s walled frontier they say were built by Hamas to deliver fighters into Israeli territory is the

main objective of the army’s current operation.

The Israeli Ambassador to the United States, Ron Dermer, said three dozen tunnels had been unearthed and destroyed and “we are finishing up de-commissioning these tunnels.”

“We hope that that job will be completed in a matter of hours, not days,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

Israel began its offensive against Gaza on July 8 following a surge of cross-border rocket salvoes by Hamas and other guerrillas.

Cairo talks

The talks in Cairo, without Israeli participation, were unlikely to produce

any breakthrough, as Israel’s and Hamas’ positions remain far apart.

Israel says it wants Gaza demilitarized under any long-term arrangement. Hamas demands Israel withdraw its troops and a lifting of Israeli and Egyptian blockades that have choked Gaza’s economy.

Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, a member of Netanyahu’s decision-making security cabinet, said any agreement on the issue was still far off.

“You want to talk about lifting the blockade? Not with us, and not now,” she told the news website Ynet.

The United Nations said 460,000 people had been displaced by the fighting - a quarter of Gaza’s population. l

Until yesterday, the BGMEA had been saying that paying the dues of individual groups was not their job. It had also been echoing Tuba Group management’s indirect demand for Delowar’s release.

“The BGMEA has agreed to pay the wages for May and June on humanitarian grounds, especially considering the sufferings that the workers have been going through,” said BGMEA Vice-President Shahidullah Azim.

“The well-off members of BGMEA will contribute to the fund that will be used to pay the workers of the Tuba Group. The contributions will be considered as loans and the factory owners will repay the money after resolving the crisis,” Azim said.

When asked why the arrangement was not made before the Eid when the workers needed the money most, he said: “The BGMEA members were busy paying the due wages at their own factories.”

Regarding the release of Delowar, who has reportedly secured ad interim bail from the High Court, Azim said: “We will pay the workers. His [Delowar’s] freedom will not make a difference.”

Seeking anonymity, a meeting source told the Dhaka Tribune: “The BGMEA leaders first agreed to pay one month’s wage; but later on, in the face of pressure from the labour leaders and the ministers, they agreed to pay two months’ wages.”

Delowar’s bail  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

only special courts sit to deal with urgent cases.

Bhandary, however, could not confirm when they would submit the appeal to the Supreme Court’s chamber judge’s court.

The chamber judge’s vacation court sat on July 31. It will sit again tomorrow and on August 12, 19 and 25, according to the official website of the apex court.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam is currently abroad.

Additional Attorney General Murad Reza, who is now working as the acting attorney general, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Deputy Attorney General [Shafiul Bashar Bhandary] has sent me a note regarding the appeal. We will make a decision regarding the issue after seeing the note.”

When asked how long it may take to file the petition, Murad Reza said: “The process is underway. It will take two or three days.” In response to another question, he said: “If the accused [Delowar] is released from jail by this time, we will pray to the court to issue a directive for his surrender.”

However, Delowar’s counsel at Dhaka’s lower court Golam Gaus told the Dhaka Tribune over the phone that the bail order had yet to reach the court, adding, “So, his release from jail will take time because of legal procedures at the court and other offices concerned.”

In the meantime, Delowar’s relatives have been busy tackling the ongoing crisis over the dues of around 1,600 workers of Tuba Group’s five garments factories.

Around 1,200 workers of the units

The labour leader said there was still some uncertainty over the payment of the July dues and Eid bonuses because there had been no clear directive.

Meanwhile, Moshrefa Mishu, president of the Garment Workers’ Unity Forum, said: “We will withdraw only when the authorities pay us full three months’ dues.”

The forum has expressed solidarity with the agitating workers and Mishu has been working as their spokesperson since the beginning of the fasting.

Before the BGMEA reached the decision to pay their dues, the workers of Tuba Group announced a programme to lay siege to the BGMEA building on Tuesday. They also made an announcement to lay siege to the Labour Ministry today.

“We will not accept any proposal until the BGMEA or the government comes here with our all dues,” said Md Faruq Hossain, one of the agitating workers.

There are allegations that most labour leaders, who attended the meeting with BGMEA and the ministers yesterday, were seldom seen at the place where the labourers were fasting; neither do they have any proper link with the factories.

The five units of Tuba Group, whose workers have not got their dues, are Tuba Fashion, Tuba Textile, Mita Design, Taif Design and Bughsan Garments.

The group requires around Tk4.13 crore to pay all the outstanding amounts to the workers. l

have been on a fast-unto-death for the last seven consecutive days in the factory building at the capital’s Badda.

Gaus said: “So the family members could not give much time for the procedures regarding Delowar’s bail. They may take time to get involved with this issue.”

A government probe report submitted a month after the Tazreen fire incident blamed owner Delowar saying, criminal charges for “unpardonable negligence” should be brought against the owner. The government probe report suggested that the owner of the factory could not be indemnified from the death of large numbers of workers from the fire incident at Tazreen Fashions on November 24, 2012.

However, Delowar remained free from criminal charges for a long time and there was no move to arrest him, which surprised many.

Finally, on December 22 last year, the CID pressed charges in the case of the Tazreen fire against 13 persons including Delowar and his wife Mahmuda Akhter Mita. A Dhaka court also issued arrest warrants against Delowar and five others on December 31.

The accused were absconding in the eyes of the law when the charges were submitted to the court. Delowar and Mahmuda surrendered before a Dhaka court on February 24.

The accused were all charged under the penal code with culpable homicide and unplanned construction of the building. If the charges are proved, the accused may be punished by maximum life imprisonment or minimum seven years’ rigorous imprisonment. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Solar power projects on the cards to rein in electricity crisis n Aminur Rahman Rasel The government is going to install solar panel-based power projects with 152 megawatt production capacity to supply power to the national grid.

The projects will mitigate the reeling power crisis by enhancing the generation of renewable energy in the public and private sectors.

“We have taken initiatives to reduce dependency on fossil fuel-based electricity generation by developing seven grid-tied solar park projects in the government-owned non-agricultural land,” said Power Division Joint secretary Siddique Zobair on July 26.

The power generated from the solar park will be directly fed into the grid on commercial basis, he said, adding that no battery backup will be required for this.

The grid-connected solar panel-based electricity generation would help mitigate carbon emission and these projects could be expected to be operational by 2018, added Siddique.

The state-owned Power Development Board (PDB) under the Power Division will implement the projects.

The projects are namely Dhorola 30mw Solar Park in Kurigram, Rangunia 60mw in Chittagong, Sarishabari 3mw in Jamalpur, Irshadi 2mw in Pabna, Aricha 1.5MW in Manikganj, Sirajgang 1mw and Gonggachara 55MW in Rangpur.

“We are going to implement the projects as part of our renewable energy programme and we hope the power generated from there will help the green energy initiative,” PDB Director (renewable energy and research and development) Md Shafique Uddin told

the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“Dhorola Solar Park proposal will be placed before the next cabinet committee meeting on the government purchase while the PDB will sign a contract about the Sarishabari 3MW Solar Park in Jamalpur soon,” he said.

“We are now conducting a pre-feasibility study to determine the overall cost of Raozan project and its power tariff,” Shafique said.

He said the pre-feasibility study was scheduled to be completed by October and a tender would be invited subsequently to select a private sponsor for the project.

The other works for the projects include land requisition and development of project proposal followed by the signing of the contract.

The PDB director said initially the cost of each unit solar power would

3

Monday, August 4, 2014

stand at about Tk30, but it would come down after the implementation of the large-scale projects.

Once implemented, the PDB will purchase electricity from the private sector solar parks.

The projects would require around Tk4,000 crore to install solar panel-based electricity parks, he said.

The Asian development Bank has already assured us that they will provide financial support, said Shafique.

As part of the efforts to cut down carbon emissions under a green energy initiative, the PDB has decided to set up a 7.5mw solar power plant in Rangamati’s Kaptai Hydro Power Station area.

The PDB is currently producing 2MW power from solar panels installed on the rooftops of many of its buildings. l

Abducted man’s body recovered in Rangamati n Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

The decomposed body of a man, who was allegedly abducted last Monday, was recovered from Naniachar Betchhari area in Rangamati yesterday.

Chandan Kumar Tripura, a resident of Khagrapur in Khagrachhari, went missing on Monday after he and two others set off for Mahalchhari on his motorbike around 8pm. He could not be reached over the phone.

On Saturday, the abductors went to Naniachar Betchhari to sell the motorcycle but managed to flee before police and locals arrived there. Police arrested the buyer.

Chandan’s father Puja Kumar Tripura and brother, Rubel Tripura, combed the area where the motorcycle was seized yesterday, with the help of the locals, and discovered the body within a thousand yards.

Officer-in-Charge of Khagrachhari police station Md Mizanur Rahman confirmed the recovery of the body.

Chandan’s father said he received an anonymous call last Tuesday, where the caller demanded a ransom of Tk50,000 and also threatened dire consequences.

Family members suspect he was kidnapped and was killed when the ransom was not paid.

In a separate incident, a woman was stabbed to death on Saturday night at her house in Gachhban Amrito Para in Bhaibonchhara union of Khagrachhari Sadar upazila.

Rachana Debi Tripura, 56, was the wife of Sambhonath Roaja, who married twice. He was with his second wife in Madhubazar when the incident happened.

She went to bed in her room at midnight and her son discovered the body yesterday morning when he went into the room to charge his mobile phone.

He found a knife stuck in her throat.

Resident doctor of Khagrachhari Adhunik Sadar Hospital Sanjib Tripura said the woman bore injury marks on her throat and elsewhere. l

Political approval alleged for 6 new med schools n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Academic classes for undergraduate course (MBBS and BDS) at the six newly-approved public medical colleges are scheduled to begin from January 10 next year, amid allegations that all six institutions received approval on political consideration.

The medical colleges are Shaheed M Mansoor Ali Medical College in Sirajganj, Manikganj Medical College, Jamalpur Medical College, Patuakhali Medical College, Tangail Medical College and Rangamati Medical College.

Most of the new institutions allegedly do not have appropriate infrastructure, manpower or medical facilities In a press release issued yesterday, the Health Ministry said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has approved the date for commencement of classes.

Political reasons have been said to have played a key role in granting approval to the medical colleges. Sirajganj is the constituency of Health Minister Md Nasim while Manikganj is that of State Minister for Health Zahid Maleque.

In February, the ministry approved the medical colleges in Tangail, Jamalpur, Manikganj, Patuakhali and Sirajganj while Rangamati Medical College received the nod of approval on April 10.

The ministry approved admission of 50 students for MBBS courses at each of the new institutions for the upcoming 2014-15 academic session.

The approval reportedly was given without proper planning on the part of the ministry, while most of the new institutions allegedly do not have appropriate infrastructure, manpower or medical facilities.

According to the existing medical and dental council act, both public and private medical colleges have to meet similar requirements in order to obtain

approval from the Health Ministry and operate.

The ministry has recently criticised public medical colleges for ignoring the existing requirements, said several medical education specialists seeking anonymity.

The country had eight public medical colleges in 1971 and six more colleges were set up over the next 34 years. Of those, five came into operation in Comilla, Khulna, Bogra, Faridpur and Dinajpur in 1992, and Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College in 2005.

Since 2005, the ministry, however, has approved an additional 15 public medical colleges.

A couple of months ago, Dr Rashide-Mahbub, president of Health Rights Movement of Bangladesh and also former president of Bangladesh Medical Association, told the Dhaka Tribune that the government’s practice of granting approval without proper planning was detrimental to the country’s medical education.

Claiming that opening of new public medical colleges means better opportunities for students to study at lower costs, Mahbub said it was essential that the government made plans before opening new institutions in order to ensure quality medical education.

Dr Abu Shafi Ahmed Amin, president of Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council, echoed Mahbub, saying rampant increase in the number of public medical colleges was not good, but added that the newly-approved institutions were better than private medical colleges.

Admitting that the public medical colleges have their own limitations, Amin said it was possible to overcome the problems if the government addressed the issue in a serious manner.

Moazzem Hossain, president of Bangladesh Private Medical College Association, told the Dhaka Tribune that the government should publish details on the flaws of medical colleges.

It is not right to blame only the public sector as there are many good medical colleges both in public and private sectors, he added. l

The sanctity of the Martyred Intellectuals’ Graveyard in Mirpur is being violated as Dhaka North City Corporation authorities dump garbage in these waste containers, located only a couple of feet away from the wall of the graveyard. The photo was taken yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

Public Servants Act approved by secretary’s committee n Mohosinul Karim The draft of the Public Servants Act got the nod of approval from the Secretary’s Committee on Administrative Reform yesterday with a few suggestions, including provisions for a permanent pay commission for public servants, reward for good performance, disciplines and punishments.

The draft was approved at a meeting of the committee led by Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan in the cabinet room of the Secretariat in the capital.

Refusing to comment on the issue,

Police officials escort a gang leader named Rabbi alias Tiger Rabbi, wearing the checkered shirt in front, and his cohorts inside the Chawkbazar police station yesterday RAJIB DHAR

place it before the cabinet again.

State Minister for Public Administration Ismat Ara Sadique told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the provisions of the three acts had been included in the latest draft to make it a comprehensive law.

“The provisions of establishing a permanent pay commission, disciplinary systems of the administration, recruiting, posting and promotion policy, reward for good performance and punishments for violation of rules, entry and retirement from service, service benefits were described in details in the draft,” she added. l

the cabinet secretary said: “It is the Public Administration Ministry’s business, not ours. I chaired the meeting as the committee’s chairman.”

Public Administration Ministry’s Senior Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury said: “The meeting approved the proposed draft with some observations. It will be sent to the prime minister for her approval and will be finalised for tabling at the cabinet meeting after her consent.”

He also refused to disclose any recommendations or provisions regarding the act saying: “We have given our suggestions to the

government. It may be corrected again. The prime minister may make changes. So, the provisions of the draft should not be made public before she approves it.”

The senior secretary said the draft had been discussed and analysed, keeping relevant laws of and developed and neighbouring countries in consideration.

Earlier, the cabinet rejected three different drafts of the act and sent them back to the ministry on June 30.

The ministry officials were instructed to prepare a comprehensive act compiling the three drafts and

Gang leader held after gunfight n Kailash Sarkar

ICT summons Sangram editor

A gang leader was held along with his four associates yesterday at the capital’s Islambagh following a gunfight with law enforcers.

Local people and police said Arman Hossain alias Dano, 22, Rubel Hossain alias Pichchhi Rubel, 22, Al Amin, 23, and Rabbi, 19, were members of a gang in Islambagh, Chawkbazar, Shgahidbagh and different places in the capital.

The group leader Rabbi owned a shop of scraps goods at a slum in Islambagh in front of Ershad Colony.

Azizul Islam, officer-in-charge of Chawkbazar police station, said the police went to arrest the criminals at the colony when they hurled several bombs at them, causing the police to retaliate.

Rabbi sustained bullet injury during the fight and police arrested him. Three cops were also injured at that time. The OC said they had arrested the other youths as they tried to snatch the detained.

The detained were accused in several cases including killing, mugging and extortion. On July 18, they allegedly killed one of their gang members named Roni, 20, following an internal feud over the sharing of snatched materials. l

n Tribune Report International Crimes Tribunal 1 has served a contempt notice upon four persons, including the editor of the daily Sangram, for making comments on a subjudice matter about Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam’s war crimes trial.

The tribunal also ordered them yesterday to appear before it on August 20.

Apart from Sangram Editor Abul Asad, the other three are the daily’s Rangpur correspondent, former unit commander of Badarganj Thana Muktijoddha Sangsad Ekramul Haque

Dulu, and former president of Chhatra League Rangpur district unit Azizur Rahman Ranga.

A three-member panel of ICT 1 chaired by Justice M Enayetur Rahim issued the notice as the counsel of Jamaat leader ATM Azharul Islam tried to exhibit photocopies of reports carried out by the Sangram, a mouthpiece of Jamaat.

The two reports – made on interviews of Dulu and Ranga, in which they talked openly in support of the accused – were published on December 27 last year and January 26 this year. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, August 4, 2014

Cabinet, Home Ministry to get two new posts of secretaries n Mohosinul Karim The government is set to create two new post for secretaries in the Cabinet Division and the Ministry of Home Affairs, the two most vital wings of the government to supervise activities of the civil administration and the police, in order to ease the workload.

The Ministry of Public Administration has already finalised the procedure of creating the two new posts as per a recommendation from the secretary’s committee on administrative reform.

The Ministry of Finance has already approved the proposal of creating the post of secretary for the cabinet division and was now considering the proposal of creating a post for the home ministry, the officials of the public administration

ministry confirmed the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The government already has 71 secretary posts and some 20 posts equivalent to the status of secretaries. Of the 20 posts, there is one cabinet secretary, one principal secretary to the prime minister and 10 senior secretaries.

Among the senior secretaries, Dr Mohammad Tareque and Iqbal Mahmood have been working in abroad on lien.

Confirming the government’s decision to create the two new posts, State Minister for Public Administration Ismat Ara Sadique told the Dhaka Tribune that these two new posts will help ease the workload of the two big ministries and lessen the pressure on the cabinet secretary and home ministry’s senior secretary.

The junior minister also said that

the decision was taken following a recommendation from the secretary’s committee on administrative reform and a high-power committee formed according to the decision of the cabinet meeting, led by the cabinet secretary, to create new posts and fill up the vacancies of the administration.

“The ministry has already got approval of the finance ministry to create a post of secretary for the cabinet division. Other procedures are also about to be completed. We will assign a secretary-level officer for the post shortly. But, it may take some time to create the post of secretary for the home ministry,” Ismat Ara said.

Terming the post of cabinet secretary as the most important post in the administration, she noted that the cabinet secretary faces a lot of workload everyday as he takes care of the

division and had to attend numerous meetings as a member or as its chief.

The home secretary has to face same pressure as he also looks after alot of divisions and departments.

“So, the government has taken the decision to assign two secretaries for the two important ministries to ease the workload on the cabinet secretary and senior secretary to the home ministry. We hope that it will reduce the pressure of the two top-level bureaucrats,” Ismat added.

Asked about the recommendation of the high power committee formed to create new posts and fill up the vacancies of the administration, the junior minister said, “As far as I know, they have met several times to find out the vacancies and suggested to the government to create new posts. But, we are yet to get any full recommendation.” l

EC likely to extend time for submitting audit reports n Mohammad Zakaria The Election Commission will decide soon on giving the political parties more time to submit audit reports for the year 2013 as 14 registered political parties including the ruling Awami League appealed for extension of the deadline.

By the stipulated time frame ended on July 31, only 26 small parties out of 40 turned in their audit reports.

The commission sent letters to the parties on June 16 asking them to submit the audit reports by July 31. But recently the Awami League sought time until September 1, BNP until August 14 while main opposition Jatiya Party until August 30.

The EC will make a decision on the matter in a full commission meeting, Commissioner Md Shah Newaz said yesterday. “The commission is now examining the applications,” he added.

According to the Representation of the People Order, the registered political parties have to submit their annual audit reports – certified by a registered chartered accountant firm – by July 31 every year.

The RPO states that registration of a party will be cancelled if it fails to submit the audit reports for three consecutive years.

The EC, however, does not consider Jamaat-e-Islami as a registered political party since the High Court on August 1 last year declared its registration illegal.

An appeal against the verdict remains pending with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. l

A farmer tends to his betel plants yesterday trying to save them from a disease that has recently been causing betel plant stems to rot in Mougachhi at Rajshahi’s Mohanpur upazila AZAHAR UDDIN

EC to bring greater Chittagong under scrutiny to exclude Rohingya voters n Mohammad Zakaria The Election Commission is planning to expand the area it designates as “Rohingya-inhabited special area” to stop the inclusion of Rohingyas as voters.

In order to do so, it has asked its field-level officers to bring Khagracharri and Chittagong under the area and send detailed reports on voter’s enrolment from all upazilas under these two districts.

The commission wants to bring greater Chittagong under scrutiny as Rohingyas continue to become voters. Previously the EC marked three districts situated along the border area of Myanmar – Cox’s Ba-

zar, Rangamati and Bandarban – as the special area and identified 14 localities as Rohingya majoriity areas.

The commission circulated special forms there to exclude Rohingyas from the voter list.

However, Senior Assistant Secretary of EC Mahfuza Akter said people of greater Chittagong, Cox’s Bazaar, Bandarban and Rangamati frequently keep changing their location because of geographic and economic reasons. Therefore, there was a chance of illegal Rohingyas enrolling on the voter list.

The commission yesterday sent letters to the district election officers in Chittagong, Cox’s Bazar, Rangamati, Khagrachhari and

Bandarban, stating that Rohingyas might manage accommodation in the greater Chittagong.

Last year, while updating the electoral rolls, the EC identified 17,000 people as Rohingyas and expunged them .

Meanwhile, the commission has sought assistance from Women and Children Affairs Ministry for organising a campaign in order to enrol more women in the voter list as the number of women voters have been very low.

The Election Commission started updating the voter list from May 15 across the country. EC officials said the voter list updating would continue until November. l

Legal notice seeks ban on Indian TV channels n Ahmed Zayeef

A grand iftar table was hosted by Unilever on July 24 as part of its campaign to uphold the spirit of Ramadan, raising awareness on food wastage, unhygienic food habit, unhygienic water consumption and excessive gifts exchange. Pureit, Knorr, Lifebuoy and Taaza ran an online campaign to spark the conversation with the youth; while around 200 consumers, invited through the online campaign, and 1,600 underprivileged children shared iftaar at the programme COURTESY

A lawyer sent a legal notice to the government yesterday, seeking a stop to the airing of all Indian TV channels in Bangladesh within 24 hours.

Advocate Aklas Uddin Bhuiyan sent the legal notice through registry post to the information minister, secretary of information and BTRC chairman.

He sent the notice quoting news published in a national daily about the suicides of two young Bangladeshi girls for “Pakhi dress,” a dress worn by a popular

character in a drama serial telecast on an Indian television channel.

Aklas Uddin told the Dhaka Tribune: “The impact of the Indian channels on our society is not positive. It has become one of the major causes for the degradation of our society.”

“On the other hand, India does not telecast any Bangladeshi channels in their country. So there is no logic in permitting Indian channels in our country,” he added.

Aklas said: “If the government does not ban the channels within 24 hours, a writ petition will be filed in public interest.” l

Stephen Rapp begins his visit today n UNB US Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues Stephen J Rapp starts his three-day visit today, said an official source.

Rapp, head of the Office of Global Criminal Justice, will visit the Liberation War Museum today in the afternoon.

During his visit, he will attend meetings with senior government officials, political leaders and civil society groups.

Rapp is likely to meet Law Minister Anisul Huq and Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque. He will also meet the press before leaving Dhaka.

Rapp visited Bangladesh several times in the last few years and during his last trip in 2013, he expressed satisfaction over the progress in war crimes trial but voiced concern over the death penalty of the accused. l

Dhaka Tribune

Wednesday,

July 23, 2014

Volume 2, Issue

13

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Monday, August 4, 2014

PSC plans to introduce detailed syllabus for BCS n Kamran Reza Chowdhury The Public Service Commission, for the first time, is going to introduce a 'detailed' syllabus for the preliminary test of the Bangladesh Civil Service examinations, incorporating three new subjects along with the present six disciplines.

The authorities will publicise the new syllabus for the preliminary test ahead of the upcoming 35th BCS examination.

They hope that the new 'up-to-date' syllabus will help the commission select suitable candidates for civil services.

The new subjects set to be incorporated into the syllabus are geography

(Bangladesh and the world) plus environment and disaster management, computer and information technology and morality, values and good governance, said a PSC statement submitted to the Public Administration Ministry.

According to the statement, the result of the written examination of the 34th BCS is likely to be published by October and viva may start by November.

At present, the PSC selects candidates for the written examination through a 100-mark preliminary test with multiple choice questions (MCQs).

“Earlier, there was no syllabus for the preliminary tests. The MCQ type questions are set from Bangla, English, general knowledge and Bangladesh af-

fairs, international affairs, science and technology, and mathematical logic and psychological capabilities,” said the statement that was placed in parliament last month.

“For the first time, detailed syllabuses for each of the subjects will be set for the preliminary tests,” it said.

“In the 35th BCS preliminary exams, three new subjects will be incorporated. These are geography (Bangladesh and the world) plus environment and disaster management, computer and information technology and morality, values and good governance.”

For the general cadres, the candidates passing the preliminary examination must sit for 900-mark written

tests on six subjects such as Bangla (200), English (200), Bangladesh affairs (200), international affairs (100), mathematics and psychological capabilities (100) and general science and technology (100).

“We have adopted some measures to update the BCS syllabus and you all will come to know about it at the right time,” Ekram Ahmed, the PSC chairman, told the Dhaka Tribune in reply to a question on when the commission would make the syllabus public.

The cabinet committee had already recommended raising the preliminary test mark to 200 instead of 100.

The PSC gives the preliminary tests to shortlist the candidates for the written

examinations as the number of applicants has been on the rise.

The PSC, a constitutional body, has the authority not to accept the government recommendations on the examination methods.

The commission had already formed committees to recommend changes to the written examinations.

According to the official figures, 221,575 applicants applied for 2,052 posts in the last 34th BCS. Of the total, 46,250 candidates passed the preliminary exam.

In the 33rd BCS, 193,059 applicants applied for 9,008 posts and a total of 28,917 candidates sat for the written examinations. l

RMG workers take to the street for overtime remuneration n Our Correspondent, Gazipur Hundreds of workers of Hatchong BD Limited, a sweater factory in Baroipara area under Kaliakoir upazila in Gazipur, staged a demonstration and observed work abstension yesterday morning demanding arears.

Workers said the factory authority had recently stopped proving the overtime remuneration to them.

In the morning, the workers went to the factory and demanded the authority to include overtime remuneration into their salary.

As the authority refused to pay overtime's salary, the workers left their working place and started a peacefull demonstration in front of the factory Earlier, the garment authority pledged that it would provide overtime remunartion to those workers who stay at factory after 5pm, according labour law.

As the authority refused to pay overtime's salary, the workers left their working place and started a peacefull demonstration in front of the factory.

Confirming the incident, officer in charge of Gazipur industrial police -2 Mohammed Zakir Hossain said the workers of different sweater factories were forced to work through a contractual basis.

Workers of Hatchong BD Limited has been working under the same rules.

However, the factory authority had to pay the workers extra duty before few months. But it contradicts with other sweater factories accordance with the government policy for overtime remuniration.

To harmonize with the other factories, Hatchong BD Limited has stopped the payment of overtime money since June.

Zakir Hossain added that additional police had been deployed near the factory to avoid any untoward situation. l

WEATHER

THUNDERSHOWER

MONDAY, AUGUST 4 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 6:40PM SUN RISES 5:29AM FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

33

27

Chittagong

30

26

Rajshahi

32

26

Rangpur

34

27

Khulna

31

26

Barisal

31

26

Sylhet

33

25

Cox’s Bazar

28

26

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

34.8ºC Sayedpur

24.4ºC Teknaf

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:07am 5:28am 12:05am 4:42pm 6:40pm 8:02pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

A human chain was formed in front of the National Press Club yesterday, protesting attacks on civilians in Gaza of Palestine

NASHIRUL ISLAM

Bangladesh 2nd among South Asian countries to ensure breastfeeding n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Bangladesh with a rate of 64%, has emerged second among the South Asian countries in achieving the global target of Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) to children up to the age of six months.

World Health Organization (WHO) has set a global target of 50% for EBF. The rate is 46.8% in India, 37% in Pakistan, 50.5% Maldives, 53% in Nepal, 59.5% in Bhutan and 75.8% in Srilanka.

Promotion of EBF for the first six months of life has been estimated to be the most effective preventive strategy for saving the lives of young children in low-income families, and can contribute towards the Millennium Development Goal 4 of reducing child mortality.

According to Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey 2011, currently, the breastfeeding rate is 47% within the first hour of birth while 92% among the children aged from zero to two.

WHO recommends to start exclusive breastfeeding within one hour of birth and continue until a baby is six months old. The survey also shows that one in every 19 child in the country die before reaching the age of five and 20% of these deaths can be prevented if EBF is ensured.

Dr SK Roy, chairperson of Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation (BBF), told the Dhaka Tribune that although Bangladesh has surpassed the global target of EBF, it is still far behind in terms of ensuring Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF).

IYCF is the introduction of nutritionally-adequate and safe complementary (solid) foods at six months together with continued breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond, a right that currently around 80% children of the country are deprived of.

As a result, the number of children withstunted growth in the country was on the rise.

The survey indicates that 41% of the children aged under five were underdeveloped because of malnutrition. Among them 15.3% were found to be severely underdeveloped. The rate stands 18% among the 6 months old while 52% children aged from 18-23 months and 42% children aged between 48-59 months have been found with stunted growth.

Compared to the urban children, the rural children have been found to be more prone to underdevelopment while the rate of children with stunted growth is the lowest in Khulna and Rajshahi divisions.

According to WHO experts, malnutrition is responsible, directly or indirectly for about one third of deaths among children aged under five. Above two thirds of these deaths occur because of inappropriate feeding practices during the first year of life. Breastfeeding is the best way to provide infants with the nutrients they need, suggest the experts.

World Breastfeeding Week

Like rest of the world, Bangladesh is celebrating the current week (first week of August) as the World Breastfeeding Week with this year's slogan “Breastfeeding: A winning goal for life.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate a special programme on Wednesday at the capital’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium.

On the occasion, the Health Ministry, directorate of family planning, community clinics, Institute of Public Health and Nutrition and Bangladesh Breastfeeding Foundation have chalked out elaborate programmes including processions, rallies, training programmes on nutrition, to create awareness regarding breastfeeding and IYCF. Dr Roy told the Dhaka Tribune that the BBF would place a proposal to establish an International Centre for Infant and Young Child Feeding and Maternal Nutrition to ensure health services of the child and mother. l

Obaidul Quader: Ershad should get rid of two-faced mentality n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Referring to Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday morning said Ershad’s announcement to launch anti-government movement was self-contradictory when his party was a part of the government.

The minister said this at an awareness campaign by Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) in Chittagong to reduce road accidents and bring order to public transport sector in the city’s Agrabad area.

He said: “The opposition party has the right to wage movement against the government. But being a part of the government, Ershad cannot do so.”

The minister also said Ershad should get rid of his “two-faced” mentality.

Ershad, special envoy to the prime minister, said the Sheikh Hasina-led government had failed to rule the country and declared to launch anti-government movement during a meeting with party members at the party office in Banani on Sunday.

While addressing the awareness campaign, Obaidul Quader said coordinated efforts as well as raising awareness were required to bring discipline in mass transport.

He said: “Chittagong has become uninhabitable today. There are heaps of garbage all around the city. There is no discipline in public transport system. The city streets are in dilapidated condition.

“It will take three days to repair the streets of the port city if the responsibility is given to me,” the minister said, urging the authority concerned to work with commitment in this regard.

He ordered BRTA officials to take action against unlicensed motorcycles, CNG-run auto rickshaws and battery-run rickshaws.

During the campaign, the minister also distributed awareness-raising leaflets to the pedestrians and passengers and drivers of public vehicles. l

Dipu bahini kingpin held after gunfight n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi Dipu, the leader of the Dipu bahini, was arrested from Duttapara area in the district after a gunfight yesterday.

According to sources, a team of police led by SP Shahnewaz Khaled, on a tip-off, raided the area while the terrorist was holding a secret meeting with his cohorts.

Sensing the presence of police, Dipu and his cohorts opened fire which caused the police to retaliate.

Dipu sustained bullet injuries and three cops were also injured during the gunfight.

The police arrested Dipu who was in a critical condition and sent him to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital. From there he was shifted to Orthopedic Hospital in Dhaka when his condition deteriorated further.

Shahnewaz said Dipu was accused in several cases including murder and robbery.

The police recovered three bullets and a firearm from the area.

Dipu’s cohorts, however, managed to flee the scene. l

9 killed in road accidents n Tribune Report

At least nine people were killed in road accidents in Mymensingh, Tangail and Barisal districts yesterday.

According to Mymensingh correspondent, four people were killed and two others injured in two road accidents in Bhaluka and Nandail upazilas.

Two women-Saleha, 28, and Lota Begum, 45, of Shariatpur district-were killed when a bus hit them on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in Master Bari area of Bhaluka in the morning.

Officer-in-charge of Bhaluka Model police station Abul Kalam Azad said the Dhaka-bound bus knocked down the two women while they were crossing the road around 7am, leaving them dead on the spot.

In Nandail upazila, a man and his grandson were killed and two others injured when a bus crashed into their motorcycle on Mymensingh-Kishoreganj highway in the morning.

The deceased were identified as Abu Siddique, 55, and his grandson Abu Raihan, 5, of Darila village in the upazila.

Police and witnesses said the speeding bus hit the motorbike while Siddique along with his daughter-in-law and her two children in Kanarampur area around 11:30am, leaving Siddique and Raihan dead on the spot and two others

injured. Officer-in-charge of Nandail Police Station Saiful Islam said they seized the bus and arrested the driver.

Tangail correspondent said three people were killed and nine others injured in separate road accidents in Delduar and Mirzapur upaizlas under the district.

One of the deceased was identified as Montu Miah,70, while the other could not be identified immediately.

Md Chan Miah, officer-in-charge of Delduar police station said, two CNG run auto rickshaws collided head on near Laouhati bridge at noon leaving six injured.

Jobaidul Alam, officer-in-charge of Goari highway police station, said a Dhaka bound private car collided head on with a Tangail bound truck in Dulla Monsur area on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway under Mirzapur upaizla leaving two passengers of the car dead on the spot and four others injured. The injured were sent to local hospital.

In Barisal, two persons were killed after a passenger bus hit their motorcycle near zero-point in Timirkathi area of Nalchhiti police station under Jhalakathi district.

Of the deceased, one unidentified person is believed to be driver of the motorcycle while another was identified as Arifur Rahman Tarek, 20, from Charkawa of Barisal. l

Local people gather in the Timirkathi area of Nalchhiti police station in Jhalakathi where a bus turned turtle after hitting a motorcycle yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

7

Monday, August 4, 2014

The audacity of hope

Making the next Ramadan much more memorable for the Muslim world. This is the first part which concentrates mainly on Palestine. The concluding part will be published tomorrow

In the Israel-Palestine conflict, or rather the Israel-Hamas conflict, the common man in Gaza paid a price as Israel and Hamas tossed the ping-pong on who started it

S

n Sourajit Aiyer

eeing the recent events across some of the Muslim countries during this holy month and imagining how these events might impact their future, one is tempted to use the phrase of Barack Obama – “the audacity of hope” (made famous during his Boston Convention speech in 2004).

It is said humans remember good things. But more humans remember the bad things, and recent events made this Ramadan memorable for the wrong reasons. It might be opportune to see if one can hope for their future to be better than their present and how so – ie hoping if the next Ramadan might be a better memory.

In the Israel-Palestine conflict, or rather the Israel-Hamas conflict, the common man in Gaza paid a price as Israel and Hamas tossed the ping-pong on who started it – Hamas for firing rockets, or Israel for its Gaza blockade and not releasing some prisoners.

Israel justified with its right to defend itself. Hamas alleged that Israel’s exit from Gaza in 2005 under Ariel Sharon was a practical sham, as Israel still maintained restrictions around Gaza’s borders.

The Muslim world may not agree and may defend Hamas, but the current conflict seems more to do with Hamas, rather then Palestine

To this Israel cited examples of weapon-smuggling tunnels, or IDF apprehending a Gaza-bound Iranian ship carrying missiles as evidence of Hamas’s murkier objective. All is not well within Palestine either.

Internal bickering, with a violent confrontation between Fatah and Hamas in 2007, left them “divided” by Palestinians themselves – Hamas in Gaza and Fatah (and Palestine Authority) in West Bank.

Where does this leave Gaza’s common man? The lives of Palestinians in West Bank might not be perfect (be it in Area A, B or C) due to limited jobs, education and movement difficulties.

However, violence has been relatively lower in West Bank recently.

Salman Fayyad as prime minister (though his appointment by Mahmoud Abbas was debatable) won kudos due to his focus on economics, infrastructure and building institutions for governance.

While Israel is partly to blame for its offensive against Gaza’s innocents, somewhere Hamas’ way of working also seems a reason aggravating

violence which made basic survival for Gaza’s residents difficult.

At least the Palestinians in West Bank do not live in constant fear for daily survival. The Muslim world may not agree and may defend Hamas, but the current conflict seems more to do with Hamas, rather than Palestine.

After Hamas fought Fatah and seized control of Gaza in 2007, it was not just Israel that upped its ante.

Even Egypt closed its Rafah-border at various times since 2007 as secret tunnels smuggling weapons were discovered, except during when Hamas’ ally, the Muslim Brotherhood, ruled Egypt.

It is alleged that Hamas still does not see eye-to-eye on many aspects with Fatah (and Palestine Authority), and doubts persist on who is Palestine’s legitimate leader.

How does one make the next Ramadan a better memory for Palestinians?

I have no right or authority to opine on the posturing of Hamas or IDF. Each side has its rationale for its actions.

But it is high time the common-people of Gaza decide what is good for their future.

They need to resolve their own internal politics first. Either they see a progressive future under Hamas which won the 2007 elections (the years from 2007 to 2014 should give some idea, especially after Israel eased its blockade for non-military goods in 2010).

Otherwise, if they want to relocate to West Bank, then the authorities should facilitate it. However, allegations surfaced that Hamas forbid residents from fleeing Gaza, effectively putting them in the path of death.

While images of corpses would be excellent public-relations for Hamas to defend its ideology and elicit sympathy, it would be sheer injustice on the very people they are supposed to govern.

This does not paint a positive picture of Hamas – and Hamas might be as much to blame as Israel for the current suffering of Gaza’s innocents.

Such a comment on Hamas sounds controversial and the Muslim world may not agree.

However, incidents since 2007 do put question marks on Hamas’ intentions. Allegations that Ismail Haniyeh, Hamas’ Palestinian Prime Minister, made a fortune taking 20% unofficial tax on goods coming through Rafah’s secret tunnels and built palatial homes for himself and his thirteen children around Rimal area, tarnishing Hamas’s intentions to govern in a proper, institutionalised manner.

Palestinians need to put their own house in order and stabilise Fatah-Hamas relations, or else its internal politics would be disastrous. As the whole world rightly sympathises with Gaza, sympathisers need to decide if their sympathy is for Hamas, or for Gaza’s common people or for Gaza’s identity within a united Palestine (which the

Hamas-Fatah bickering is overshadowing).

Even amongst regional powers, Gaza seems just a pawn. As per media reports, Iran and Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood are alleged to support Hamas, while Saudi Arabia seems opposed as it remains watchful of its rival – Iran.

Even oil-rich Qatar finds itself in this tussle for influence over Hamas, as it tries to garner a bigger role in regional politics as a key mediator.

Hamas’ Khaled Mashaal is already in residence in Doha.

Next, an equally critical aspect is enhancing economic opportunities for Palestinian people so that their quality of life improves. Most Palestinians are uneducated and unskilled, and capable only for blue-collar jobs.

Many are shop assistants in handicraft/garment/trinket/food stalls, as per Christian pilgrim tourists who visit the historical towns of Bethlehem, Hebron and Jericho in southern West Bank.

The world should understand that, despite all their sympathies, till the time all Palestinians are able to access secondary, university or vocational education, they will never progress.

They will remain economically backward and may be susceptible to radical groups due to the lack of adequate education and income opportunities.

The only way out is if they get access to education and better jobs. One solution is night schools for working adults, as it can make them capable for higher paying work by developing skills related to communication, arithmetic and vocations.

College enrolment for the students through scholarships to universities abroad is another alternative. This would make them capable for a higher level of work than their parents – albeit in other countries for now, until opportunities pick up in Palestine’s economy.

Even then, remittance from foreign workers can be a key source of revenue – case in point being Bangladesh, India, Philippines and Pakistan. Its neighbours can offer practical support.

India itself has been a destination for university students from many conflict-ridden Asian and African countries, including Palestinian students.

A criticism to these suggestions is that even if Palestinians become capable for better jobs or set up own businesses, Israeli control over West Bank’s Area A, B and C means opportunities for Palestinian commerce to flow freely would be severely restricted.

However, a practical guess is that any effort towards economic development might be welcomed by all concerned, as this would mean gainful employment for Palestinians and steady income for its government. This would make its establishment more stable and less susceptible to internal disturbances and regional influences.

REUTERS

Such a situation might be encouraged by the world, including Israel, as it would make the region more peaceful. Economics and commerce is often the best solution, and can achieve what politics and military cannot!

Moving to economic opportunities for the government itself, income opportunities for Palestine are few.

Tax receipts from Israel have been a key source – ie custom duties on Palestine-bound imports into Israel and taxes from Palestinians who work in Israel.

tinians in Israel remained neglected.

They make up 20% of Israel’s population, but still remain marginalised. It might be in Israel’s interests to assimilate them even more inclusively within their society – be it in schools, colleges, markets, offices, etc.

This might help improve their standard of living and well-being, and “content people make peaceful nations!” Jews have a paranoia that their community is reducing, while Palestinians have a higher reproduction rate (common in poverty-stricken

Even amongst regional powers, Gaza seems just a pawn. Iran and Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood are alleged to support Hamas, while Saudi Arabia seems opposed as it remains watchful of its rival – Iran

But this is susceptible to sanctions, which depends on incidents of violence. Ismail Haniyeh had in the past ignored such sanctions, which raises questions if Hamas had illegitimate income due to which the loss of tax income did not matter to him.

This again raises doubts on Hamas’ intentions to govern properly. Another vital source of income for Palestine is foreign aid. According to Global Humanitarian Assistance, Palestine was amongst the top five recipients of global aid in 2011, along with Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia and Ethiopia.

In fact, the Muslim world is partly to blame for Palestine’s plight here.

Despite their sympathy due to the religion factor, actual aid from Muslim countries has been far less than Western nations.

For instance, during the 2007 Donor Conference in Paris, Europe led with over 50% of the pledges, and USA-Canada about 11%. The Arab countries together made 20% of the pledges. Even if the West acted due to its own selfish interests, it is also true that many Arab nations in the GCC are enormously prosperous on a “per capita basis” due to their oil spoils.

Higher commitments from them would show their solidarity for Palestine in more practical terms. Higher assistance to development projects can win goodwill, in the same way US assistance to Egypt is believed to have helped normalise Israel-Egypt relations in 1979.

Lastly, Israel needs to concentrate more on the Palestinians in Israel-Proper. The Palestinian cause has often centred around those in the Occupied Territories and abroad, and the Pales-

communities globally where families earn lower income with inadequate healthcare, hence an ill-placed perception that larger families mean more working hands).

However, as families grow prosperous and expenses increase to maintain higher standard of living, education tuition, medical care, etc, the family size reduces due to affordability concerns.

One hopes the experience of Palestinians in Israel might be the same if they do become prosperous, and this might help quell the fear of population numbers that Jews have. It would also create an incentive for Palestinians and Jews to regard each other with lesser hostility. In conclusion, one cannot say if the One-State or TwoState dilemma for Israel-Palestine will ever be resolved. Tenders for Jewish housing development in West Bank settlements have increased in Benjamin Netanyahu’s current term, as compared to his earlier term or those of Sharon and Olmert earlier.

But seeing the Israel-Hamas events, it must be understood that improvement in education and income opportunities as well as resolution of internal politics is absolutely imperative for Palestine to avoid unrest and make their future brighter.

Just sympathies will not do. Otherwise, they continue to stare at a bleak future, and some might become easy poaching for radical groups in case such groups are the only avenue offering them a source of income. l Sourajit Aiyer is a finance professional based in India. This article was previously published in slideshare.net.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Monday, August 4, 2014

Israel-Palestine conflict: Basic facts n Tribune Desk In case you find yourself less clear on the hows and the whys of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine, here are some basic facts presented by Vox Magazine. This is not a definitive account of Israel-Palestine’s history or the present-day conflict.

Today goes the first part:

What are Israel and Palestine?

When the Egyptian army trucks recently rolled towards the Rafah border, they carried a message on the side: “A gift from the Egyptian people.” Five hundred tonnes of aid were sent to the Gaza Strip on the orders of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, as dozens of Palestinians from Gaza passed in the opposite direction for much-needed medical treatment in Egyptian hospitals.

For some, it looked like a reaffirmation of Egypt’s historic pan-Arabist commitment to the Palestinian cause. But amid Israel’s current military operation in Gaza, wrangling over a possible ceasefire deal and growing anti-Hamas sentiments back in Egypt, some have doubted that commitment. Although Egypt noticeably turned against Hamas after the overthrow of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, the strained relationship has simmered for decades, Zack Gold, an adjunct fellow at the American Security Project, told Al Jazeera.

Israel ‘spied on Kerry during peace talks’ n AFP, Berlin Israel eavesdropped on US Secretary of State John Kerry during doomed peace talks with the Palestinians last year, German news weekly Der Spiegel reported yesterday.

The article said the Israelis and at least one other secret service listened in on Kerry’s conversations as he tried to mediate, in a development that Der Spiegel said was likely to further strain ties between Israel and the United States.

Kerry regularly spoke by telephone with high-ranking officials throughout the Middle East during the negotiations that finally collapsed earlier this year.

Spiegel, which cited “several sources among secret services,” said that he used not only secure lines but also normal telephones with satellite connections which were vulnerable to tapping.

“The government in Jerusalem used this information in the negotiations on a diplomatic solution in the Middle East,” it said.

Spiegel said Kerry’s office and the Israeli government declined to comment on its report.

Kerry made reviving Middle East diplomacy a central priority at the start of his term and coaxed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas back to the negotiating table in July 2013.

But in April this year, Israel made a surprise announcement of plans for 700 new settlements and refused to free a last batch of Palestinian prisoners after earlier releases. Abbas in turn sought Palestinian membership in 15 UN conventions and the peace drive eventually broke down.

Kerry has attempted to mediate during the current Israeli military offensive in Gaza and flew to Israel last week.

But he has failed to bring about a lasting truce in the 26-day confrontation that has claimed more than 1,700 lives. l

“Beginning in February 2013, the Egyptian government took a hard turn, framing the tunnels between Sinai and Gaza - and by extension Gaza - as a national security threat,” Gold explained.

“The policy changes and associated military actions happened quite suddenly, but they built on suspicion that the Salafi-jihadi attackers that killed 16 Egyptian soldiers [in Rafah] in August 2012 came from, or were at least aided by operatives in, Gaza.”

The alleged connections between Hamas, violence in Sinai and armed groups such as Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis have never been verified. Some analysts say Hamas allows Gaza-based Salafist groups to collaborate with Sinai fighters, allegedly giving groups the green-light to train them, subject to conditions such as taking their operations outside Gaza.

Hamas has repeatedly and adamantly denied interfering in Egyptian internal affairs. However, Egyptian security officials maintain Hamas has a more hands-

on approach, helping to coordinate attacks on Egyptian soil. The view that Hamas, which is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, helped to destabilise Egypt grew after Morsi’s ouster - along with incitement against Palestinians.

“The anti-Hamas and anti-Palestinian sentiment certainly further developed after Morsi’s ouster, with Hamas being seen as an arm of the Brotherhood and being accused of numerous attacks and plots throughout Egypt,” Gold said. “However, it should be remembered that the ‘Gaza threatens Egypt’ rhetoric began during Morsi’s rule, at a time of general xenophobia throughout the country.”

Oroub el-Abed, an academic, says tensions date back to the 1978 assassination of Egyptian Culture Minister Youssef el-Sebai, allegedly by Palestinian extremists. President Anwar Sadat subsequently passed administrative regulations 47 and 48, determining that regulations treating Palestinians as nationals should be revoked. Palestinians’

ability to work or receive an education in Egypt were particularly affected. That same year, the Camp David Accords were signed between Israel and Egypt.

“According to the politics run by the state ever since the late 1970s, Palestinians are made to seem either like terrorists or as an unthankful group,” Abed told Al Jazeera. “The space for sympathy with the Palestinians, particularly for those living in Egypt, has really been toned down since then.”

H A Hellyer, a nonresident fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, said while the Egyptian population is still generally pro-Palestinian, anti-Muslim-Brotherhood sentiment has complicated the relationship. “The Palestinian cause is not a subject of dispute among the broad population; Egyptians are generally very pro-Palestinian in that regard, and quite antipathetic to Israel,” Hellyer told Al Jazeera. “But the fact that Gaza is partially governed by Hamas has caused at least some portions of the Egyptian intelligentsia to pause.” l

This is not, despite what you may have heard, primarily about religion. On the surface at least, it’s very simple: the conflict is over who gets what land and how it is controlled. In execution, though, that gets into a lot of really thorny issues, like: Where are the borders? Can Palestinian refugees return to their former homes in present-day Israel?

Palestinians killed

Israelis killed

800

600

400

200

2014.07

n Al Jazeera, Cairo

Why are Israelis and Palestinians fighting?

2000.09 2000.12 2001.03 2001.06 2001.09 2001.12 2002.03 2002.06 2002.09 2002.12 2003.03 2003.06 2003.09 2003.12 2004.03 2004.06 2004.09 2004.12 2005.03 2005.06 2005.09 2005.12 2006.03 2006.06 2006.09 2006.12 2007.03 2007.06 2007.09 2007.12 2008.03 2008.06 2008.09 2008.12 2009.03 2009.06 2009.09 2009.12 2010.03 2010.06 2010.09 2010.12 2011.03 2011.06 2011.09 2011.12 2012.03 2012.06 2012.09 2012.12 2013.03 2013.06 2013.09 2013.12 2014.03

Egypt and Palestine: Friends or foes?

Source: B’Tselem, OCHA

Palestinian children affected by the war attend a group class as part of the UN community mental health programmes in the Gaza Strip. ‘To prevent children from processing and AFP thinking about all these issues we try to distract them, to help them live some joy, to have a little fun inside the shelter,’ said Dr Iyad Zaqout, who manages the programme

That sounds like a very basic question but, in a sense, it’s at the center of the conflict.

Israel is an officially Jewish country located in the Middle East. Palestine is a set of two physically separate, ethnically Arab and mostly Muslim territories alongside Israel: the West Bank, named for the western shore of the Jordan River, and Gaza.

Those territories are not independent.

All together, Israel and the Palestinian territories are about as populous as Illinois and about half its size.

Officially, there is no internationally recognized line between Israel and Palestine; the borders are considered to be disputed, and have been for decades. So is the status of Palestine: some countries consider Palestine to be an independent state, while others (like the US) consider Palestine to be territories under Israeli occupation.

Both Israelis and Palestinians have claims to the land going back centuries, but the present-day states are relatively new.

The decades-long process of resolving that conflict has created another, overlapping conflict: managing the very unpleasant Israeli-Palestinian coexistence, in which Israel has put the Palestinians under suffocating military occupation and Palestinian militant groups terrorize Israelis.

Those two dimensions of the conflict are made even worse by the long, bitter, violent history between these two peoples. It’s not just that there are lots of resentment and distrust; Israelis and Palestinians have such widely divergent narratives of the last 70-plus years, of what has happened and why, that even reconciling their two realities is extremely difficult. All of this makes it easier for extremists, who oppose any compromise and want to destroy or subjugate the other side entirely, to control the conversation and derail the peace process.

The peace process, by the way, has been going on for decades, but it hasn’t looked at all hopeful since the breakthrough 1993 and 1995 Oslo Accords produced a glimmer of hope that has since dissipated. The conflict has settled into a terrible cycle and peace looks less possible all the time.

Something you often hear is that “both sides” are to blame for perpetuating the conflict, and there’s plenty of truth to that. There has always been and remains plenty of culpability to go around, plenty of individuals and groups on both sides that squandered peace and perpetuated conflict many times over. Still, perhaps the most essential truth of the Israel-Palestine conflict today is that the conflict predominantly matters for the human suffering it causes. And while Israelis certainly suffer deeply and in great numbers, the vast majority of the conflict’s toll is incurred

by Palestinian civilians. Just above, as one metric of that, are the Israeli and Palestinian conflict-related deaths every month since late 2000. l

No vaccine for Ebola because it’s killing only Africans? n Tribune Desk

The deadly Ebola virus One of the most dangerous viruses known to man First identified in 1976 in DR Congo and Sudan

Also documented in...

Fruit bats of the Pteropodidae family considered the natural host of the virus

Named after the Ebola river in DR Congo

Five known species of the virus, 3 are particularly dangerous

The most severe strains have a 90 percent fatality rate in humans

In humans

Major outbreaks 318 cases 280 deaths

1976 DRCongo 1976

Sudan*

1994

Gabon

151 52 31

284 *Outbreak in South Sudan

1995 DRCongo 1996

Gabon

2000

Uganda

254

2001-02 Congo

59 44

2003

2012 DRCongo

Chimpanzees

Porcupines

Antelope

143 128

Congo

Uganda

425

Exposure - From direct contact with infected blood, faeces, sweat - Sexual contact with infected person - Unprotected handling of contaminated corpses - Handling of contaminated objects No vaccine or cure

Confirmed human outbreaks since 1979 Virus detected, including imported animals

2007 DRCongo 2007

315

224 65 53

Early stage Sudden onset of fever, intense weakness, muscle pain, headache, sore throat Followed by...

Vomiting, diarrhoea, rash, impaired kidney and liver, internal and external bleeding

60 45

2001-02 Gabon

Gorillas

187 37

264

149

57 29

Guinea Liberia Sierra Leone

2014 outbreak 1,323 729

Britain’s leading public health doctor has blamed the failure to find a vaccine against the Ebola virus on the “moral bankruptcy” of the pharmaceutical industry to invest in a disease, because it has so far only affected people in Africa – despite hundreds of deaths.

Professor John Ashton, the president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, said the West needs to treat the deadly virus as if it were taking hold in the wealthiest parts of London rather than just Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia.

Writing in The Independent yesterday, Professor Ashton compared the international response to Ebola to that of Aids, which was killing people in Africa for years before treatments were developed once it had spread to the US and UK in the 1980s.

He writes: “In both cases [Aids and Ebola], it seems that the involvement of powerless minority groups has contributed to a tardiness of response and a failure to mobilise an adequately resourced international medical response.

“In the case of Aids, it took years for proper research funding to be put in place and it was only when so-called ‘innocent’ groups were involved (women and children, haemophiliac patients and straight men) that the media, politicians, scientific community and funding bodies stood up and took notice.”

The Ebola outbreak has so far claimed the lives of at least 729 people across Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, according to the latest figures from

the World Health Organisation (WHO), although the number is likely to be far higher.

On Saturday, a US relief organisation confirmed that two US aid workers who contracted the disease in Liberia had left the country.

Dr Kent Brantly was being treated in a specialised hospital unit in Atlanta, Georgia, after becoming the first person with the disease to arrive on US soil yesterday evening. The second aid worker, Nancy Writebol, was due to land on a separate private flight.

On Friday, the WHO warned that the outbreak in West Africa was “moving faster than our efforts to control it.”

The organisation’s director general, Dr Margaret Chan, warned that if the situation continued to deteriorate, the consequences would be “catastrophic” to human life. Professor Ashton believes that more money must be funnelled into research for treatment.

“We must respond to this emergency as if it was in Kensington, Chelsea and Westminster. We must also tackle the scandal of the unwillingness of the pharmaceutical industry to invest in research [on] treatments and vaccines, something they refuse to do because the numbers involved are, in their terms, so small and don’t justify the investment. This is the moral bankruptcy of capitalism acting in the absence of a moral and social framework.”

Development of a vaccine is in the early stages in the US, but this is on a small scale and there is little hope of one being ready to treat the current outbreak in West Africa. l

Sources: WHO/WHO Africa/USCDCP

Islamic State seizes two Iraqi towns, ‘Russia sanctions will oil field, defeating Kurds hurt German economy’ n Reuters, Baghdad Islamic State Sunni insurgents have captured two northern Iraqi towns and an oil field in their first major victory over Kurdish fighters, witnesses said yesterday. The al-Qaeda offshoot, which swept through northern Iraq in June almost unopposed by Iraq’s US-trained army, poses the biggest challenge to the stability of the country since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003.

After thousands of Iraqi soldiers fled the Islamic State offensive, Shi’ite militias and Kurdish fighters have emerged

as a key line of defence against the militants, who have threatened to march on Baghdad. Kurdish forces poured in reinforcements, including special forces, to the town of Zumar this weekend to battle Islamic State fighters who had arrived from three directions on pickup trucks mounted with weapons, residents said.

The militants later hoisted their black flag over buildings in Zumar, a ritual that has in the past been followed by the mass execution of captured opponents and the violent imposition of an ideology that even al-Qaeda finds excessive.

The Islamic State later also seized the town of Sinjar, where witnesses said residents had fled after Kurdish fighters put up little resistance against the militants.

Islamic State has stalled in its drive to reach Baghdad, halting just north of the town of Samarra, 100 km (62 miles) north of the capital.

The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) changed its name earlier this year and declared a caliphate in parts of Iraq and Syria. The group has already seized four oil fields, which help fund its operations. l

n Reuters, Berlin Tough new economic sanctions against Russia will hurt Germany’s economy but they are necessary for the sake of peace in Europe, Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel said in a television interview yesterday. The European Union imposed sanctions that took effect on Friday targeting Russia’s banking, defence and energy sectors because of Moscow’s support for pro-Russian separatist rebels battling Kiev’s forces in eastern Ukraine.

Germany, the EU’s largest economy, has extensive trade ties with Russia but

Chancellor Angela Merkel became a firm advocate of the tougher measures against Moscow after the downing of an airliner last month over an area of eastern Ukraine controlled by the rebels. All 298 people on board the plane were killed.

“What would happen if the European Union didn’t react?” said Gabriel, who is also Germany’s economy minister and head of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), on Germany’s ZDF channel. He also said that economic setbacks as a result of the Ukraine crisis were unavoidable. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

9

Monday, August 4, 2014

Indian media fret as Reliance buys news channel Quake kills at n least 150 in China Reuters, New Delhi/Mumbai

In this photo taken by cellphone, men at rubbles of buildings look for survivors after an earthquake in Ludian County of Zhaotong City in southwest China’s Yunnan Province. The quake killed at least 150 people AP

n AP, Beijing A strong earthquake jolted southern China’s Yunnan province yesterday, toppling thousands of homes and killing at least 150 people.

The magnitude-6.1 quake struck at 4:30pm at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles), according to the US Geological Survey. Its epicenter was in Longtoushan township, 23 kilometers (14 miles) southwest of the city of Zhaotong, the Ludian county seat.

China’s official Xinhua News Agency said at least 150 people were killed in the quake.

Ma Liya, a resident of Zhaotong, told Xinhua that the streets there were like “battlefield after bombardment.” She added that her neighbor’s house, a new two-story building, had toppled.

At least 120 of the dead were in densely populated Ludian county, with another 180 missing and 1,300 people injured there, Yunnan’s information bureau reported. The province’s seismological bureau said another 24

people died and more than 100 were injured in Qiaojia county.

Xinhua said about 12,000 homes were toppled in Ludian, a county of 429,000 people located around 366 kilometers (277 miles) northeast of Yunnan province’s capital, Kunming.

Chen Guoyong, the head of Longtoushan township, told Xinhua that many houses there had collapsed.

Photos on the Chinese social media site Weibo showed several people apparently injured amid toppled bricks.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said the quake was the strongest to hit Yunnan in 14 years. It reported that the quake loosened rocks that blocked a road near the city of Zhaotong and broadcast an image of a car apparently damaged by debris from the temblor.

In 1970, a magnitude-7.7 earthquake in Yunnan killed at least 15,000 people, and a magnitude-7.1 quake in the province killed more than 1,400 in 1974. In September 2012, 81 people died and 821 were injured in a series of quakes in the Yunnan region. l

Just before Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries Ltd completed a deal to take control of media group Network18 Media & Investments Ltd in early July, two top editors stepped down.

In farewell letters to staff, both mentioned press freedoms.

Neither linked their decision to the change in ownership, but news of their resignation prompted heated debate over the significance of one of India’s most powerful companies buying up some of the country’s leading newsrooms.

On July 7, the Independent Media Trust, of which Reliance is sole beneficiary, completed the acquisition of control of Network18, home to news channels CNN-IBN and CNBC-TV18, Forbes India and firstpost.com, among others.

“Editorial independence and integrity have been articles of faith in (my) 26 years in journalism and maybe I am too old now to change!” wrote one of the two, Rajdeep Sardesai, who was editor-in-chief of IBN 18 News Network, including CNN-IBN, a respected English-language news channel.

On July 21 another editor, Nikhil Wagle, of regional channel IBN-Lokmat which is part of the same group, also resigned, complaining to Reuters of persistent editorial interference by the new owners.

“Every day you can find some example of interference by Reliance - direct interference in news,” Wagle said.

“They don’t send any mail. They give oral instructions. They give hints.”

Reliance said it did not interfere

in editorial decisions.

“There has never been contact between Reliance and journalists of Network18,” a spokesman said in an email.

The two other editors declined to comment for this article.

Reliance looms large

The hand of big business in India’s media, as in other parts of the world, is nothing new.

p Reliance buys up Network18, which is home to CNN-IBN among other news channels p Conglomerate denies meddling in editorial affairs p Tensions re-surface during election-related coverage

But few private firms loom as large as Reliance, India’s third biggest company by market value and an industrial juggernaut owned by the nation’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani.

Ambani, like other prominent members of India’s business community, has been a supporter of Narendra Modi, India’s recently elected prime minister who stormed to power on the back of promises to kickstart economic growth.

Reliance’s takeover of Network18 raised concerns that the new ownership might result in a bias towards Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party

n Reuters, Beijing Masked militants attacked civilians, police and officials last week in China’s far western region of Xinjiang leading to almost 100 deaths, the government said yesterday, giving fresh details on one of the worst incidents of unrest in years.

The Xinjiang government said 59 “terrorists” were gunned down by security forces in Shache county in Xinjiang’s far south, while 37 civilians were killed in the attacks on July 28.

Authorities reported the incident a day later, saying dozens of people had been killed when knife-wielding attackers had staged assaults in two towns in the region.

It is unclear why the government waited so long to announce detailed casualties, though bad news has some-

times been covered up or delayed in the past. Due to tight security, visits by foreign journalists are very difficult, making an independent assessment of the situation almost impossible.

“This was a serious terrorist attack incident which has links to domestic and overseas terrorist organisations and was organised, premeditated, carefully planned and evil,” the Xinjiang government said on its official news website (www.ts.cn) in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The militants attacked a police station and government offices in Elixku town, before moving on to the nearby town of Huangdi, targeting civilians and smashing vehicles as they went, it added. They also set up roadblocks on a main road and stopped vehicles, attacking passengers and threatening

Members of Kpop group ‘Billion’ pose for a photo at their rehearsal studio in Seoul. K-pop glamour has conquered much of Asia and beyond, but for every headlining boy and girl band, there are many more like ‘Billion’ struggling for a break AFP

“Time to get up girls!” The call comes at 6:00 am as it does every morning, pulling Ray from her bunk bed at the start of another 16-hour day in search of stardom.

Ray and the five other young women sharing a small Seoul apartment make up the K-pop band “Billion” – which at times can feel like the number of miles they are from achieving their goal.

K-pop glamour has conquered much of Asia and beyond, but for every headlining boy and girl band, there are many more like “Billion” struggling for a break on the margins of South Korea’s best-known cultural export.

And that means gruelling days packed with travelling, training, rehearsing, grooming and performing under the watchful eyes of record label minders who push an

Instructions from management

Days after the deal, when Amit Shah, a close ally of Modi, was appointed head of the BJP, instructions from Network18’s new management to steer coverage away from criminal charges pending against him passed between senior members of the network’s newsrooms, two sources said.

Reuters could not independently verify the instructions or precisely how they were communicated.

Shah has denied charges of murder in connection with the 2005 killing of a man police said was an Islamic militant on a mission to assassinate Modi, as well as the deaths of his wife and a witness.

Umesh Upadhyay, recently appointed president of news at Network18, strongly denied suggestions that the group’s journalists are pressured to act against their own judgment.

A veteran journalist who has worked at several major news outlets in India, Upadhyay’s last job was a short stint as media director at Reliance.

“What happens in a newsroom is a sacrosanct editorial function,” he told Reuters. “Network18 is a very solid news organization. I am very proud of the teams that are working there.”

Some former staffers said they saw the company’s hand in decisions on news coverage as far back as 2012, when Reliance invested in Network18. l

‘Bit groggy in the morning’ “They usually go to bed after midnight, so you can see why they are a bit groggy in the morning,” explained Lee Hyo-Jin, as she moved from bed to bed, gently but firmly enforcing the wake-up call. Lee, 31, is one of a trio of managers running Billion’s career and scheduling the daily lives of its members. The band share two spartan bedrooms – each with a bunk bed and a third mattress on the floor. There’s a makeup cabinet and not much else. A piece of paper pinned to the wall carries the hand-written message: “We’ll make it!

We’ll be the best! We’ll never get tired!”

There is little time for relationships and none of the six has a current boyfriend, while several say they haven’t dated for years. The only break is given for South Korea’s two main holidays, the Lunar New Year and the Chuseok harvest festival, when they can visit their families. l

others with knives and axes into joining their attack, the statement said, citing police.

Police confiscated long knives, axes as well as banners calling for jihad, the government said.

Xinjiang, home to the Muslim Uighur people, who speak a Turkic language, has been beset for years by violence that the government blames on Islamist militants or separatists who it says want an independent state called East Turkestan.

Exiled Uighur groups and human rights activists say the government’s repressive policies in Xinjiang, including controls on Islam, have provoked unrest, a claim Beijing denies.

The attack took place at the end of the holy month of Ramadan, which officials had tried to get Muslims in Xin-

jiang to ignore in an indication of what rights groups say is discrimination targeting the Uighurs.

The Xinjiang government named a man with a Uighur sounding name as the ringleader, Nuramat Sawut, who it said had close ties with militant East Turkestan Islamic Movement and had been involved in Islamist separatist activities since last year.

“Since the beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, the group had had multiple gatherings in remote places during which they made attack plans and prepared tools for their violent acts,” the government added.

The dead included 35 Han Chinese civilians and two ethnic Uighurs who held senior local government positions, it said, while 215 suspected attackers were detained. l

‘No chance’ of finding 159 Nepal landslide victims n AP, Katmandu

almost military-like dawn-to-dusk regimen.

The sacrifice is substantial. Holidays are rare, and most live with other band mates in dorm-like apartments provided by their agencies, who decide when they wake up, what they do, when and what they eat and when they go to bed.

“It’s really not what it looks like on TV. You have to work incredibly hard just to make a debut,” said Ray. “We’re extremely lucky to have made it this far.” the 23-yearold rapper told AFP. “This far” means a debut album released in March, nearly two years after the group was formed.

Even on a day without a booking, they wake up at six, work out for several hours and spend the rest of the day rehearsing dance steps and honing singing skills, with a 10 pm lights-out considered an early night.

and lively press.

They now share the challenge faced by news organizations around the world that cover large companies or powerful individuals who own them.

Such acquisitions do not necessarily hamper journalistic independence, some experts argue.

“The US media is in a small number of hands, and still produces the best journalism,” said Nikhil Moro, outgoing associate journalism professor at University of North Texas.

In an email to Reuters, a Reliance spokesman said the firm will seek to

protect “the credibility of all news networks.” But some former and current Network18 journalists say Reliance’s influence in the newsroom has already been felt.

Almost 100 killed during attacks in China’s Xinjiang last week

Chasing the K-pop dream

n AFP, Seoul

(BJP) in its news outlets’ coverage.

The company’s track record of issuing legal notices related to defamatory content to the media amplified broader unease that reporters were being exposed to powerful backers’ whims and that self-censorship was on the rise.

CNN-IBN and other Network18 outlets remain among the most esteemed news brands in a country with a vast

There is no chance of finding any of the more than 150 people who are believed to have been buried by a massive landslide in northern Nepal, an official said yesterday, as rescuers struggled to dig through piles of rock, mud and trees.

Rescuers have so far recovered only eight bodies since the landslide early Saturday blocked a mountain river, causing the water to form a lake that was threatening to burst and sweep several villages. Fresh rainfall yesterday hampered search attempts.

“We have no chance of finding any of the missing people alive under this pile of debris,” said Yadav Prasad Koirala, who heads the government’s Department of Natural Disaster Management.

“We have names of 159 people who are believed to be missing and buried, but there could be even more people.”

Koirala said it was even difficult for bulldozers and heavy equipment to move the debris that crushed dozens of houses in the village of Mankha, about 120 kilometers (75 miles) east of Katmandu, Nepal’s capital.

Gopal Parajuli, the chief government administrator in the area, said the water level and mud was making the rescue work very difficult, and that army troops used explosives to try to alleviate a dangerous buildup of water.

The controlled explosions managed to knock down part of an earth wall that had blocked a river and created a temporary dam, allowing some water to flow out, but much of it still remained trapped, posing an immediate threat to downstream villages as far away as India, Parajuli said.

He said the amount of water flowing out of the dam and pouring in was almost the same Sunday morning as the previous day, keeping the water level stable.

A Mankha resident who was among the dozens of people injured by the landslide said he feared his entire village had been wiped out.

“There are nearly 100 people in the 60 houses in my village and 20 more people in the neighboring village who were buried by the landslide. All of them are likely dead,” Durga Lal Shrestha said Saturday from his hospital bed in Katmandu, where he was flown by helicopter.

Shrestha, who suffered bruises on his face and arms, said he and his family heard a rumbling sound and the ground shook like an earthquake.

“The walls in my house caved in, but the roof was fine and that is how we were able to survive,” he said. “When we came out, it was dark and muddy.

Everyone was screaming and it was a chaotic situation.”

About 40 people were injured. Besides Shrestha, 10 others were flown

to Katmandu for hospital treatment, including a Belgian man.

The Arniko highway, which connects Nepal to Tibet, remained closed on Sunday.

In neighboring India’s Bihar state, authorities evacuated thousands of villagers after flood warnings were issued in eight districts at risk of flash floods.

Indian army soldiers and air force helicopters and jets were being readied to launch relief and rescue operations, said Anirudh Prasad, a top official in Patna, Bihar’s capital.

Landslides are common in mostly mountainous Nepal during the rainy season, which runs from June through September.

A landslide in May 2012 killed at least 26 people when an avalanche blocked the Seti river in northwestern Nepal. The walls burst, causing a flash flood that swept several downstream villages. l

Nepalese security personnel gather for rescue work at the site of a landslide in Sindhupalchowk area, about 120km (75 miles) east of Katmandu AP

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Monday, August 4, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Make the most of our waterways

P

rime Minister Sheikh Hasina has given directives to make all the rivers surrounding Dhaka navigable in order to establish a circular river route around the capital.

This is a long overdue but welcome step. Dhaka’s waterways have been a vital traffic route over the centuries, but due to unscrupulous land- grabbing and pollution, they have been made un-navigable.

We must revitalise this invaluable resource by cleaning up and connecting the city’s rivers and canals. This can help improve the capital’s livability by improving connectivity in a cheap and environmentally friendly manner and becoming an attraction in its own right.

However, in order for the waterways to work as successful transportation routes, the authorities need to ensure that they are run well. Previous attempts at using the circular river route failed because the waterbuses were not able to maintain a timely schedule. Public campaigns should be run to raise awareness among commuters about the availability of the routes.

Efforts should be also made to integrate the waterway routes with on-land public transportation routes. We can learn from cities such as Bangkok, which has created a highly successful public transportation system by integrating their waterways.

Most importantly, the quality of the waterways needs to improved so as to make it likely to encourage passengers to make it part of their daily commute.

A well-functioning public transportation system will go a long way towards improving the quality of life of the capital’s residents. Renewing Dhaka’s circular river route is an essential step to take in improving transportation in the city.

A circular river route around Dhaka can help improve the capital’s livability

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

#ThePowerOfAHashtag July 28

Shahzeb Mahmood Insightful!

SA Well done, dear writer.

Chowdhury Tanzim Karim The lady agrees with me: “But support from people outside the war zone makes no difference to them really, particularly because they know that this support shows in hashtags and that does nothing to stop their drones from falling. To me, a plain and empty I Support Gaza has no tangible function in doing anything now, even if it is a collective demonstration of solidarity.” Ie A simple hashtag status is BS. She goes on to state the utility of hashtags in the Gaza crisis as: “But there will be this – a

July 28

Integrate sustainability goals to make businesses more competitive

SUDOKU

Staving off disasters together July 31

Panuel Prince Insightful!

Set higher goals for sustainability

A

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

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.

All roads lead home

UN working group has agreed 17 Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) which are scheduled to replace the Millennium Development Goals that expire in 2015.

It is good news that policy makers at the FBCCI and Centre for Policy Dialogue are encouraging business and government to take notice of these goals. It is essential for both the private and public sectors to adopt these types of target.

The SDGs list 170 targets on matters such as reducing pollution while increasing innovation and improving working conditions and productivity. These reflect emerging global norms about what is expected of business practices.

Bangladesh urgently needs to integrate sustainability goals within business practices. This is vital not only to improve social and environmental impacts within the country, but also to make the country’s businesses more competitive internationally.

Meeting global standards is an increasingly important part of doing business, particularly for export industries. The tannery sector is a case in point. Pollution of water by many factories in the industry releasing toxic chemicals into rivers, not only harms our environment, including precious fisheries, but harms the sector’s ability to meet the compliance standards expected by buyers.

We need business to adopt improved sustainability goals to help drive improvements in how we use our natural and human resources.

The benefits of encouraging innovation and technology can pay for itself through improved productivity and job creation.

barrage of Gaza Under Attack tagged posts that carried truth out of the warzone when various mainstream media didn’t. Social media makes a difference now in saying what could be concealed in history, and therefore lost from mankind.” Ie Hashtags with information on what is going in Gaza is what she advocates for.

The history of nuclear bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki survived without hashtags, Twitter or Facebook. US occupation of Afganistan and Iraq in recent times survived history re-writing of the “victors” as she puts it. Even the history of Gaza itself survived, ie the past attacks and oppression of Palestinians by Israelis has not been erased from history, even though they took place at a time when hashtags didnt exist.

But at the end of the day... #ignoranceisbliss I guess.

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

AN Hayes Cross-sectoral collaboration is the only way to fully address a world that is increasingly complex.

AA A festival of endless stupidity. Desperation should also have some boundaries.

Tanim Huq I see a spider man going up. :D Md Robeul Hossain Is this man crazy?

Fahad Khan He should get on the bus properly.

Israel to investigate UN school shelling

Greece acquits farmers who shot 28 Bangladeshis July 31

Hasinul Choudhury Scandalous! A mockery of justice!

Sabina Islam Oh, was not even aware of this. :( Surashree Shome It’s a shame.

BGMEA: Tuba workers’ payment within 7 days July 31

July 31 Rashid Zaman It’s like a fox is examining why it didn’t devour its prey in a more civilised way.

Shiblee Rehman Joke of the year.

Decriminalising same-sex relations July 29

Arch Bishop Frankly, sexual relations between consenting adults of any orientation should be none of the criminal justice system’s business!

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Spurious (5) 4 Sibilate (4) 7 Beginner (6) 8 Month (5) 10 Camera part (4) 11 Coral isle (5) 12 Fairy (3) 14 Hurried (4) 17 Decays (4) 19 Do wrong (3) 20 Examine searchingly (5) 23 Destiny (4) 25 Pierced with horns (5) 26 Lime tree (6) 27 Curved (4) 28 Bring out (5)

DOWN 1 Garment (6) 2 Single entity (4) 3 Alone (4) 4 Natural elevations (5) 5 Frozen treat (3) 6 Transmitter (6) 9 Floating structure (4) 13 Scene of an event (6) 15 Look narrowly (4) 16 Slave (6) 18 Used up (5) 21 S-shaped moulding (4) 22 Ligament (4) 24 Metal (3)

Mahboobul Alam Let’s see how they do it.

Bangladesh airliner catches fire on landing in Nepal July 29 Mashrur Mobin Close call but thank God for no fatalities.

CALVIN AND HOBBES ‘We cannot depend on ready-made garment sector alone’

July 27 Imran Nazmul Kopol The leather sector can be the next best one.

Most visited countries worldwide July 30

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

Rifat Adnan Maybe we are not being visited by foreigners because of reasons such as lack of hygiene, dense population, hartals, and violence on the streets, and dangerous roads.

Quader warns BNP of “befitting reply” July 31

Anon I will repeat what I have said in previous comments. How can a minister, a government employee, ask people like BAL workers to resist BNP violence? That is inciting civil war. He can use police, RAB, or even the army, but not BAL workers. The latter have no legal status to fight back.

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Monday, August 4, 2014

Turning sand into land n Faruque Hasan

T

he Awami League government, during its immediate previous term, was frantically looking for land to build a new airport. Wherever it chose to build that airport, it faced tough resistance from locals, and the government had to back out every time.

It is impossible to find a big piece of land to build a new airport in an extremely overpopulated country like ours. So our only alternative to build a new airport is to reclaim land from the sea and build the airport on that land.

A high speed train may connect that airport with the capital.

Forcing sex workers out leaves them vulnerable

SADIA MARIUM

Put on the red light

I

n Towheed Feroze

n late July, there was a procession in front of the city’s Press Club, protesting the eviction of sex workers from a brothel in Tangail. Lines of women, possibly ousted sex workers, stood with placards demanding to be rehabilitated first before being made victims of sudden surges of morality within specific sections of society.

This is not the first time so-called puritanical guardians of the community have stormed into brothels, using the moral rhetoric to dismantle centuries-old institutions, and drive out sex workers onto the streets. A few years ago, a similar incident happened where women working in such an establishment had to flee, leaving their possessions behind.

The drive, ostensibly motivated by the desire to uphold values of society, had an ulterior motive – occupying the land on which the brothel was established. The whole move was carefully crafted, never letting go of the “noble” objective of making social life better by getting rid of “evil influence.”

In the Tangail incident recently, the same rationale of making the community safer by getting rid of red light areas was used. One gets a bit perplexed. Will breaking down brothels, forcing out sex workers, and delivering emotionally-charged declarations to restrain physical instincts give us the “chaste” label?

The issue of the brothel and the moral debates surrounding it are as old as civilisation itself. From a very rigid standpoint, they cannot be condoned.

However, evolution of the human race has shown us numerous times that human history is hardly about defending what is right all the time; in many cases, it’s about making subtle

amalgamations between two opposing entities. Red light areas are an integral part of the city structure. Ok, agreed that some fully conservative countries do not permit commercial sex, but it’s also true that in these religiously rigid states, women working as household help often become victims of relentless sexual torture.

In fact, many Bangladeshi women working in Gulf countries have come back with harrowing tales of physical abuse within their workplace. I would say putting up a flimsy façade of moral cleanliness while perpetrating inhuman sexual practices within closed doors is more harmful since in these settings, the woman in question cannot speak up for her rights and nor can she protest deviant physical demands.

We can limit conflicts but can never end them for good. Wars take lives, but at the same time, they result in the end of one great civilisation to trigger the rise of another while giving us an array of new innovations.

As conscious people, one can never want someone to earn a living by selling her body, though it’s always better to adopt a practical outlook rather than a utopian one. Once brothels feature counselling on health, medication, education, and other relevant issues, a sex worker can have an improved life. Surely much better than being enslaved in homes in a foreign land?

Forcing out sex workers is never the solution. On the contrary, it adds to the problem because floating sex

It’s outrageous that when women in brothels are evicted, they are not given an alternative mode of earning Coming back to Bangladesh, brothels are not new additions to our social structure, and neither have they been forced on us as part of some devious imperialistic/colonial plan. They emerged to fulfill the need of a society, and more crucially, to curb crimes like rape and sexual assault.

The role of the red light area is simple – provide the chance for men to relieve themselves of sexual tension and thus contain sex-related crimes.

Now, it’s definitely unfortunate that many women become sex workers, but human society was never totally ideal and never can it be perfect.

It’s a bit like trying to end warfare.

workers are vulnerable to diseases, extortion, and crime. It’s outrageous that when women in brothels are evicted, they are not given an alternative mode of earning.

Several years ago, Taanbazar in Narayanganj and English Road in Dhaka were dismantled, allowing the sex workers to spread out across the country. As far as statistics are concerned, two closed brothels can earn some moral points for those who proudly declare themselves stern advocates of righteousness, though the reckless spread of sex workers without any institution to look after their welfare is hardly a matter of concern.

The erosion of values is emphatically underlined when such establishments are shut down. Well, if that’s the case, then are we to believe that rampant corruption, the rise of crime with collusion from law enforcers, widespread cronyism, and nepotism plaguing our system solidify values?

What most hesitate to acknowledge is that we live within a credo that reeks of hypocrisy. Here, any man who visits a red light area is forcefully denounced as being depraved, the sex worker is termed kharap meye (tainted woman), and the brothel deemed the den of the Devil.

Well, definitions change with the social settings of course. The common man’s brothel is all vice and needs to be torn apart, meanwhile sex wrapped in appetising opulence in the five star hotels is something to marvel and secretly desire. Oh, don’t be fooled – at the up-market establishments in Dhaka, everything is allowed. This time the law is outside, assiduously guarding the games within.

In one of these places, where thousands, often lakhs, are spent after realising a few hours of unrestrained, hedonistic dreams, moral guardians do not dare enter. After all, powerful, rich people have the right to some “enjoyment.”

The ordinary person and his shortterm companion, whose next meal depends on a client, are the scum of society – they are ugly, smelly, their trysts happen in dimly-lit, small rooms. Why bother improving these establishments with healthcare and other facilities?

Oscar Wilde war right – beautiful sins, like beautiful things, are the privilege of the rich. l Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.

The Pied Piper of Texas? n Abdul Matin

T

hey are coming at the US-Mexican border in the thousands.

They are not afraid to face the border security forces. They voluntarily surrender to them. Exhausted after having travelled hundreds of miles, they are entering the United States without any legal documents.

They are all teenaged children, mostly unaccompanied by parents or guardians, from Guatemala, El Salvador, or Honduras. Many have reportedly died or were abused en route. More than 52,000 have already arrived. The total number may exceed 90,000 by the end of the year.

The US administration, unprepared to tackle the influx, is in a difficult situation. They are unable to deport the youngsters under existing laws. Instead, unaccompanied minors are being provided with legal protection under the US anti-human-trafficking laws. They are placed in the care of relatives. Many do not show up for their court hearings, which are routinely delayed for more than a year because of backlogs.

President Obama called it a hu-

manitarian crisis and requested the Congress for $3.7bn to expedite the processing of the traumatised children sitting in detention centres and to beef up border security among other steps, including helping the countries create more favourable conditions at home so that the children are not tempted to leave.

Many Republicans in both houses of Congress are unlikely to approve emergency funding without changes to a 2008 anti-human-trafficking law. They want federal authorities to be able to more easily deport children who enter the United States illegally from Central America.

President Obama is contemplating on acting on his own if he does not get the approval of the Congress for funding. The Republicans, on the other hand, have threatened to either impeach President Obama or file a lawsuit against him if he oversteps his constitutional authority by signing executive orders.

Why this influx at the US border? There is a widespread rumour that the Obama administration has reREUTERS laxed the barriers against children and

their mothers if the children are very young. Some Hondurans are spreading stories that America is preparing for war and for this reason is letting more youngsters in.

It is alleged that unscrupulous people are doing brisk business by trafficking the children into the States.

Many children claim they are leaving their homes because of domestic violence and abuse. Insurgent groups in several Central American countries often force the youngsters to join their groups or face death.

On June 20th, Vice President Joe Biden was dispatched to Central America to squash the rumours. He stressed that there was no “open-arms” policy.

His efforts bore no fruit.

Protective and supportive actions by the US administration may provide increased incentives to other youngsters to move to the US border.

This is likely to further aggravate the situation. Deportation on arrival of unaccompanied children will be difficult under existing US laws. What can the administration do under such circumstances? Neither force nor lengthy legal procedures will solve this

problem unless the causes of migration are addressed urgently.

President Obama is due to meet the presidents of Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador soon, seeking their help in stemming the wave of border crossers. The task is not that easy.

Domestic violence, poverty, and insurgency have been chronic problems for Central America for a long time, and it is not possible for the United States to solve these problems overnight.

On the other hand, the crisis at the US-Mexico border has reached a point where the US administration cannot wait indefinitely for a solution of the internal problems of Central America.

Under such circumstances, what can the US administration do except perhaps desperately look for a Pied Piper of Hamelin-type figure who would lure the youngsters with his “wonderful music” to go back to their homes with “small feet... pattering, wooden shoes clattering, little hands clapping and little tongues chattering”? But where can he be found? l Abdul Matin is a former chief engineer of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.

We can reclaim land from the Bay to build cities and replenish our fast-dwindling agricultural lands Many airports around the world have been built on reclaimed lands. The Kansai International Airport in Japan is located on an artificial island in the middle of earthquake and typhoon prone Osaka Bay. The Incheon International Airport is the largest airport in South Korea. Officially opened in March 2001, this airport has been built on a reclaimed land in the Yellow Sea. Hong Kong International Airport is located on the island of Chek Lap Kok, which largely comprises land reclaimed for the construction of the airport itself. These are only a few examples.

To build the airport in the Bay of Bengal, we need sand to facilitate the reclamation process. Not only for airports, we can also reclaim land from the Bay to build cities and to replenish our fast-dwindling agricultural lands.

We need more and more sand.

I remember hearing that Singapore gave our government, not the present government, a proposal to build another Chittagong city in the Bay, reclaiming land from it. Whatever happened to that proposal?

27% of the total land area of the Netherlands is reclaimed land. A large part of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, a part of Dublin in Ireland, the majority part of Helsinki city centre in Finland, Barceloneta of Barcelona, Spain are built on reclaimed lands. Again, these are only a few examples.

Singapore has reclaimed 20% of its original size from the sea. In its early years, Singapore cut down its hills to collect the fill material to use for filling the reclamation areas. From an environmental point of view, it was a great mistake.

In recent years, the country uses sea sand obtained from the seabed as the main source of fill material to be used for reclamation. It also imports the sea sand from its neighbouring countries, Malaysia and Indonesia.

To reclaim land from the Bay of Bengal, we do not need to import sand. The Himalayas give us 1.6 billion to 2 billion tons of sediment every year. The Ganges and Brahmaputra bring down this sediment for us from the Himalayas. The sediment transported by these rivers consists chiefly of medium to fine sand and silt.

In fact, Bangladesh was born of this sediment. About 250 million years

ago, Earth’s land was a single super continent called Pangaea, which was surrounded by a large ocean. Around 200 million years ago, Pangaea began to gradually split up into different land masses known as plates. The plates started to move apart in different directions – their movements are known as the continental drift.

Close to 50 million years ago, the India plate slammed into the Eurasia plate due to the continental drift. As the two plates pushed up against each other, the land was pushed up, forming the Himalayas mountain range.

As another result of that collision, a part of the Indian plate in the east broke off and submerged in the sea.

The Ganges and the Brahmaputra started flowing from the Himalayas towards that broken-off part to meet the sea while carrying billions of tons of sediment from the mountain.

They started pouring down this huge amount of sediment on that submerged land. As a result, about ten thousand years ago, a new land emerged from the womb of the sea.

And this new land is our Bangladesh.

Bangladesh was not as big as it is now during its early days. Through the natural process of sedimentation, the country has been getting bigger in area along its coasts by 120sq-km a year on average, while its land is rising by 0.5mm a year on average.

We also lose land to the sea to the tune of 100 sq-km a year on average through erosion. About 3,000 years ago, Gopalganj was the seaport of the country.

Accretion of land along the Sathkhira, Bagerhat, and Khulna coasts has almost stopped due to the presence of the undersea canyon known as the “Swatch of No-Ground” stretching from a few kilometres off these coasts to Sri Lanka. The average depth of this canyon is 200 fathoms. All the sediment brought to these coasts by the rivers is devoured by this canyon.

Along our other coasts, we can get more land, besides the natural process, through reclamation using the enormous amounts of sand we get from the Himalayas. The sea is shallow at Kuakata.

I have been told by some fishermen that a big shoal is forming about 30km off Kuakata beach. Can’t we reclaim land from the Bay between that shoal and the coast by using our sand, instead of thinking of exporting sand to Singapore or to any other country for a few bucks? We desperately need more and more land for our ever-increasing population.

We can get more land through reclamation using the enormous amounts of sand we get from the Himalayas Our friendly neighbour has been withdrawing water in the upstream which is causing the silting of many of our rivers. Their river-linking project will make the situation worse for our rivers. The reclamation of lands from the Bay will serve us through two purposes: It will give us more land, and, at the same time, will keep our rivers navigable. l Faruque Hasan is a freelance contributor.

WIKIMEDIA

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Monday, August 4, 2014

Apurbo, Mou and Urmila in love triangle n Entertainment Desk

Featuring a love triangle, single-episode play “Black Coffee” will be aired today on NTV at 8:10pm. Written by Rudro Mahfuz and directed by Shakhawat Manik, the drama features Mou, Apurbo, Urmila and others.

A creative guy, Ovik graduates from the Faculty of Fine Arts. After completing his study, he does not get any suitable job. He becomes very frustrated and his girlfriend Eram thoroughly supports him during the hard times. While desperately searching for job, Ovik meets Moumita who offers him a respectable job in her company.

Sharing a good professional relation, Ovik and Moumita also become good friends. Moreover, Ovik cannot restrain his attraction towards Moumita’s beauty and gracefulness. On the other

hand, Moumita is also impressed by Ovik’s good look and charming personality. Gradually, they become more close and that creates an emotional impact on Ovik, hence he becomes distant from Eram.

Ovik and Eram fall in a conflict over their relationship. Ovik falls in a dilemma whether to choose his love or his infatuation. l

Comedy ‘Barota Tirishe Bhoot’ on Channel i n Entertainment Desk

BAMBA’s Eid celebration concert ended with a blast on August 2 at the Jamuna Future Park. Leading bands such as Warfaze, Maqsood O Dhaka, Reneissance, Nemesis and Mechanix rocked the concert with their flaming performances. Moreover, the final band of the show, LRB treated the audience with a surprise as Ayub Bachchu’s son Ahnaf Tazoar Ayub debuted on the stage and demonstrated his talent on guitar. The show wrapped up with LRB’s patroitic number ‘Bangladesh’ SOHAN SALEK

Paul Walker’s death affected my acting: Vin Diesel

Ali Asgar’s artworks talk about harmony of nature

n Entertainment Desk A solo art exhibition titled “Through the Eyes of Artist Ali Asgar” is going on at the Café M in Mohammadpur in the capital. The works in display in the café wall are from his early student life and considered as brilliant display of artworks skilfully done using water

n Entertainment Desk Actor Vin Diesel struggled to control his emotions on camera when he returned to work on the new “Fast and Furious” film following Paul Walker’s car crash death last November.

The production on the film was put on hold to allow the cast and crew time to mourn the actor’s death, and for Diesel, dealing with Walker’s death was a “heavy thing.”

He said: “I grew up in the bouncing world and we lost people bouncing, but the brotherhood in Paul Walker was something completely different.

“We grew up in the business together and we became famous together and we represented the biggest franchise together and he was my partner and it’s a strange thing…I’ve been acting all my life and they don’t teach you in acting how to mourn someone and simultaneously pretend they’re in a scene with you. It’s one of the darker moments in my journey.”

The actor also explained that Walker’s death made him rethink shooting dangerous action scenes in films.

“A lot of people don’t realise when you do these action movies you put your life on the line more than you should.

When you go into these action sequences, you put yourself in harm’s way in kind of an unfair fashion,” he said. l

A comedy “Barota Tirishe Bhoot” will be aired today at 7:50pm on Channel i. Directed by Robin Khan, the play features Chanchal Chowdhury, Hasin, A Kh M Hasan, Tania Bristi, Shams Shumon, Alamin Shobuj, Shahnur and others.

It is a story about an affluent village man, Jabbar Mia and his two sisters Fabia and Lamisa. The two sisters are very outgoing and most of the time they occupy themselves playing boardgames or outdoor games. To keep an eye on them, Jabbar Mia assigns a man named Khokon. However, the girls play many tricks to teach Khokon a lesson.

The newly–appointed guy discovers that Fabia and Lamisa are in love with Swapan and Li-

colour and print media.

Expressing optimism about the success of this show, the artist said that the visitors in Café M would find tranquility seeing the artworks.

His works showcase the freedom, the harmony and the coexistence of all beings. The theme thus celebrates the virgin nature in its purest form.

Eva Green’s Sin City 2 trailer banned n Entertainment Desk The trailer of actor Eva Green’s “Sin City: A Dame To Kill” has been deemed too sexy for television by ABC network.

The channel rejected it from airing on its stations as it believes the sheer white robe worn by the actor in movie trailers and teaser posters makes her “appear to be naked” in two quick scenes, reports E! Online.

Their decision comes after the Motion Picture Association of America decried a similar poster featuring Green’s sexy look. The actor, who plays Ava Lord in the Sin City sequel, is seen in the redband trailer naked.

Following the poster controversy in May, Green, 34, told Vanity Fair she doesn’t understand the uproar and pointed out she isn’t, in fact, naked. “I find the poster really sexy, actually,” the Frenchborn actor said. “It’s kind of beautiful. But if it shocks people, I don’t know what to do about it. I don’t want to upset anybody.” l

The artwork portrays a space where the spectators can find peace in the still life. Through the brush strokes he has created harmony and symphony and an ambience of still life.

One of the visitor of the show said: “The artist has talked about nature in the simplest possible way. He has a very clear understanding of colour and space as evidenced in the works.”

To discover the inner beauty of natural objects, print media is considered to be one of the best mediums. As he had chosen printmaking as his major in his university days, he had a natural obsession for it.

The artist was born on 1991, Dhaka.

He is a honours final year student of the Faculty of Fine Arts, Dhaka University. He was an exchange student of Millikin University Illinois under NESA Undergraduate Program Scholarship.

In 2011 he won Media Best Award in pencil sketch in the annual art exhibition of Faculty of Aine Arts, University of Dhaka. The exhibition will be open to all until August 18, every day from 12 noon to 10pm. l

ton respectively. He soon informs it to the father of the girls and he hurriedly fixes their marriage with his friend’s sons. Hearing the news, the four of them decide to commit suicide together at 12:30am. Through Khokon, Jabbar Mia also comes to know about the dangerous plan and the story moves on with several funny incidents. l

Ranbir-Deepika’s Tamasha n Entertainment Desk Bollywood actors Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone shot a quirky dance number choroegraphed by Bosco-Ceasar in the quaint little town of Bonifacio, Corsica an island in the south of France for “Tamasha.”

A far cry from the neat look in his earlier films, Ranbir sports a stubble and a mohawk hairstyle, and is seen dancing to the lively tunes of a carnival number along with Deepika on the streets of Bonifacio.

The director, Imtiaz Ali, also canned some scenes in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore besides The Bastion and the staircase of the King of Aragon. According to fans who were present at the shoot, a few sequences suggested that the character played by Deepika is a fan of the comic book hero Asterix and after reading a particular story of Asterix in Corsica, she decides to follow the footsteps of the Gauls. The unit plans to shoot till the end of August, post which Kapoor will start shooting for “Roy.” l

Ranbir Kapoor and Deepika Padukone dance on the streets of Bonifacio

Kangana Ranaut offered an Italian film n Entertainment Desk After signing a French film opposite Irrfan Khan, now Italy is on the radar for Kangana Ranaut.

According to a source close to the actor, she was recently approached by director Edoardo De Angelis to play the lead role in an Italian film

opposite Massimiliano Gallo. Although excited at the prospect, she is yet to decide on whether she will accept the offer.

The source adds that Kangana will begin Nikhil Advani’s film in September, followed by the “Tanu Weds Manu” (2011) sequel and the film with Irrfan. Thus, she is unable to decide whether she should take up this film.

Kangana said she considered it unethical to reveal the name of the film, but she confirmed the development, saying, “I was offered the lead role opposite Massimiliano. I am still contemplating it because I have almost six projects lined up, and that has me booked till the beginning of 2016.” l

Did you know?

James Anderson is the fourth bowler after McGrath, Walsh and Donald to take 100 Test wickets caught by a wicket-keeper

Sport

Monday, August 4, 2014

14 Bolt steals

Glasgow show with relay gold

15 Real beaten

again, Liverpool down Milan

DHAKA TRIBUNE

15 Captain, coach

target top Test spot for Pakistan

Bangladesh’s Dutch head coach Lodewijk de Kruif briefs the national Under-23 footballers at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday

Salahuddin in emotional plea to footballers n Raihan Mahmood Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin, in an emotionally charged statement, urged the national footballers to step up for the sake of the country’s football.

Salahuddin was addressing the national Under-23 football team in the presence of the Dutch national coaches, Lodewijk de Kruif and Rene Koster, at the BFF House yesterday.

The U-23 side will take part in the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea next month. “I am here not to give any good news to you. Football is going through a crucial time. We have tried hard for the last six years to keep the league rolling and it is you, the players, who have benefited. You have received

payments for appearing in the field for your respective clubs. Now you have to perform for the success of football. You people can turn the scenario around,” said Salahuddin.

The BFF boss though was realistic with his appeal. “I just want you to be more responsible. Now it is time to draw the attention of the government and the people. You are the ambassadors of the country. You have to bring success. I am not asking you to bring the sun or the moon. I am asking for performances that are filled with commitment, 100 percent commitment which reflects your ability,” he said.

In the middle of his emotional speech, Salahuddin presented two instances that spoke volumes of his character. “I see that national captain Ma-

munul Islam is absent here. His uncle passed away two days ago. With all the sympathy towards him I want to say I wanted to see him here. That would be the commitment. I want to say I put

my father in the grave in the afternoon but in the late afternoon, I was in the practice field, that was back in 1994,” he added.

“The other instance was when I was shocked to hear that some of the national footballers declined to receive Tk5000 as pocket money before the team’s departure to Nepal for the SAFF Championship. Yes, the federation promised Tk10,000 but due to some constraints we said the rest of the money will be handed over after reaching Nepal. I predicted that the team will not succeed. I was proven right because this is not team spirit,” said Salahuddin.

The BFF supremo said the players should realise how the federation operates. “The donation we receive from

Fifa is not even enough to pay the two good coaches who are sitting beside me. Before the SAFF Championship, the federation tried everything, foreign tours and others. With limited resources it was a big task but we did not get the expected result. My sincere appeal to you is if you feel you are unable to give your hundred percent then quit the national team. You are free to do it because the national duty requires commitment and passion,” opined Salahuddin.

Salahuddin urged the players to work hard in order to cement their places. “If you do not work hard, you will be lost. The football will be in demise. You work hard for ten years and the fortunes will turn around,” concluded Salahuddin. l

Kruif urges all not to expect much, hopes for a bit of luck fantastic. So the preparation we take is always of a lower standard than those of the other countries. So we need a little bit luck too.”

However, the Dutch coach expressed his satisfaction over taking the squad to BKSP for a month-long training camp. A total of 23 players out of 25 reported to the team Manager Amirul Islam Babu yesterday with national team captain and midfielder Mamunul Islam, and forward Mithun Chowdhury failing to report in time due to family problem and sickness respectively.

Four extra players joined the camp.

They are - Atiqur Rahman Farhad (Chittagong Abahani), Aminul Islam Sajib (BJMC), Abdul Malek (Brothers) and Mezbah Uddin (Brothers).

A practice match was held dividing the players in two groups named Red team and Green team. The game ended in a 1-1 draw with Jewel Rana and Yousuf Sifat scoring the goals for their respective side. However, Kruif sounded upbeat after the first training session and had this to say after joining the boys after around four months: “It’s tough because you always have to face new things. Some things were irritating, like the pitch was not up to the mark. All little things are irritating. I know everybody needs a kick-start and wake up from winter sleep to focus on

need that time because we have to a do lot of work.”

The Dutchman also talked about the formation. “I gave them tactical session inside and I told them something about the Dutch team. They played with 4-3-3 formation for 100 years and they played with 5-3-2 formation in Brazil. One team played with that formation today and the other team followed 4-4-2 as we will be facing this from 90% of our opponents in Korea.

We need to focus on what fits the players the best and we will find our best eleven from there.”

Kruif, however, denied to make any comment regarding Mamunul’s absence yesterday. “I can’t say anything because it’s a private thing of family and I don’t want to step over there. The best situation for me as a coach is when my best players are always on the pitch.

Mamun is one of the best players in the country and he is the captain of the senior team. I wish he was on the pitch.”

Kruif also urged the federation to hold more international friendlies. “I have a request to the president and the vice president to take the team outside the country in places like Doha or Thailand, and play one or two or three international games. They promised me to work on it. It is the best when you play in good level.” l

MUMIT M

Brazil offers training to local coaches n Tribune Desk The Brazilian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Wanja Campos da Nobrega, has offered training to the Bangladesh coaches as a part of the bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking in the Brazil Lecture at the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies yesterday, the Ambassador said Bangladesh’s football coaches can go to Brazil for training. “We are very glad to offer training for Bangladesh coaches in Brazil. It has been done in the past and it’s an open offer,” Nobrega said. “It’s going to be a very interesting aspect of our cooperation.”

The Ambassador noted that both countries share mutual interests in several social programmes like climate change and the fight against HIV. l

Australian Sports Psychologist Dr Phil Jauncey speaks to reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday

The Dutchman moans lack of time, money and facilities one player plays outside. The facilities their mission which is to do well in Kon Shishir Hoque and money here are not very rea. We have 45 days to prepare and we Citing the lack of money and facilities for the preparation compared to the other countries, Bangladesh national football team head coach Lodewijk de Kruif urged all not to harbor high expectations from the national team ahead of the 17th Asian Games which is scheduled to take place in South Korea next month.

The Dutchman along with his assistant and compatriot Rene Koster conducted the first training session of the U-23 national team yesterday afternoon at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.

While speaking to the media after the training session which was followed by a practice match, Kruif, however, pledged to give hundred percent from his side and hoped for a bit of luck to achieve success in Incheon, Korea.

“Our fellow countries around us had already started their preparation three or four weeks ago. So we are little bit behind,” said Kruif before adding, “Every country around us has more money, more facilities. Even India set their training camp in Europe. So let’s keep both feet on the ground and not expect too much.

I will give everything to train the team for the win but still we can’t hide from the fact that this is Bangladesh where players play in a league which is not of much high standard. Only

13

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Dr Phil bids to bring back the best n Reazur Rahman Rohan

The Bangladesh cricket team are probably aware by now what a sports psychologist does as they had faced a few in the years gone by. However, after conducting his first day’s session with the Bangladesh lads, Australian sports psychologist Dr Phil Jauncey claimed that his way of doing the job is a bit different.

The Tigers have experienced a horrible year so far and Dr Phil has mainly been appointed keeping the World Cup next year in mind and to recover the players’ minds from the shock of the recent events.

“I am known as a performance psychologist, we don’t try to get people’s minds right. What we do is that we make people feel that they can perform,” Dr Phil explained his method of bringing out the best.

“What happens in cricket or any sport is that you need to perform even if you don’t feel like it. What I teach is that you don’t need to feel good to act good

but when you act good you feel good.

“Say if I am a batsman, when I feel good I tend to lean towards the bowler, when I feel bad I lean towards the keeper, so what I need to do is when I feel bad, keep leaning towards the bowler. The brain - we want to keep it in a computer mode,” he elaborated. “My goal is when they finally get to the competition, the worst thing they do is not play their best.”

After the day’s work, Phil admitted that language is a problem as most players needed to be translated, but he also put up the bright side as it made the players discuss among themselves in order to understand.

Dr Phil also shed some light on his success as he said, “With Queensland Bulls (cricket team in Australia), I just sit there. I don’t need to do much which shows that I am successful. What I am trying to do is give the players a livelihood so that I don’t need to come here repeatedly.”

Meanwhile, chief selector Faruk Ahmed said bringing Dr Phil was a pos-

itive move ahead of the World Cup in Australia-New Zealand next year and the players should follow the instructions given by the psychologist for better results.

He also thought, “It will be better if a Bangladeshi doctor is tagged alongside him.”

Dr Phil, fourth such recruitment for the national side, is the third psychologist the Bangladesh Cricket Board has hired in the last four years over different periods of time, mainly before any major tournament.

In 2006, BCB appointed Dr Salahuddin Kausar, an assistant professor of the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University back then, who held short stints round the year with the national players. Just before the 2011 ICC World Cup, a senior lecturer in the field of Exercise & Sports Science, Dr Soumendra Saha from India, worked with the team while this April, Bangladeshi-born Canadian Azhar Ali tried his best prior to the ICC World Twenty20. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Monday, August 4, 2014

Bolt steals Glasgow show n AFP, Glasgow Sprint superstar Usain Bolt anchored the Jamaican team to victory in the Commonwealth Games men’s 4x100m relay on Saturday as England topped the medals table for the first time in 28 years.

In a fitting end to the track and field programme at Hampden Park, Jason Livermore, 100m gold medallist Kemar Bailey-Cole and bronze medallist Nickel Ashmeade all safely negotiated their legs before the baton was passed on to the towering figure of Bolt.

The 27-year-old, who has won six Olympic gold medals and eight world titles but was making his Commonwealth Games debut, made no mistake with his anchor run in light drizzle on a soaked track, charging through the line in a Games record of 37.58 seconds.

“It means a lot. Commonwealth gold is the only medal missing from my collection,” said Bolt, who did not race the 100 or 200m events after a nagging foot injury forced him out of the Jamaican national championships, which served as a trial for these Games.

“I’m happy to be here and sorry I didn’t manage to run the individual events because the energy out here is wonderful.”

In the women’s 4x100m relay, Jamaica were also triumphant courtesy of Kerron Stewart, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Schillonie Calvert and double Olympic 100m champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

Kenya’s middle- and long-distance team continued their amazing form.

Mercy Cherono and Janet Kisa won gold and silver in the women’s 5,000m, the bronze going to England’s 40-yearold Jo Pavey.

Cherono and Kisa’s double feat was then replicated in the men’s 1500m by James Magut and Ronald Kwemoi.

Magut’s gold was the men’s third after those in the 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase. Kenyan Julius Yego then claimed victory in the men’s javelin.

With just one day left at the Games, England are top of the medals table with 165 of which 56 are gold while Australia have 132 in total with 45 in gold.

Only 11 titles are left to be decided on Sunday leaving England to nudge Australia off the top of the medals table for the first time since 1986 in Edinburgh.

The Games, however, were rocked Saturday when it was announced that former women’s world 400m champion Amantle Montsho had failed a drugs test.

The Botswanan, who won the world title in 2011, tested positive for the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine after the final of the 400 metres.

On Friday, Nigerian teenage weightlifter Chika Amalaha was stripped of her women’s 53kg gold medal after also failing a drugs test.

England’s boxing team brought home a glut of five golds from 13 finals thanks to Nicola Adams, Joseph Joyce, Savannah Marshall, Scott Fitzgerald and team captain Antony Fowler.

Olympic champion Adams started the gold rush after winning by the narrowest of margins in the women’s flyweight final, beating Northern Ireland’s Michaela Walsh to become the first female Commonwealth boxing champion.

Australia won their fourth successive women’s hockey gold medal with a 3-1 shoot-out win over England.

But the English came agonisingly close to a shock win when they led 1-0 with just seconds left of normal time.

England’s Tom Daley won a second successive 10m platform diving gold with Australia’s Esther Qin taking the women’s 3m springboard title. l

MEDAL TALLY Total

1 ENGLAND 2 AUSTRALIA 3 CANADA 4 SCOTLAND 5 INDIA 6 NEW ZEALAND 7 SOUTH AFRICA 8 NIGERIA 9 KENYA 10 JAMAICA 11 SINGAPORE 12 MALAYSIA 13 WALES 14 CYPRUS 15 N IRELAND 16 PNG 17 CAMEROON 18 UGANDA 19 GRENADA 20 BOTSWANA 20 KIRIBATI 22 T&T 23 PAKISTAN 24 BAHRAIN 24 SAMOA 26 NAMIBIA 27 MOZAMBIQUE 27 MAURITIUS 29 BANGLADESH 29 ISLE OF MAN 29 NAURU 29 SRI LANKA 33 GHANA 33 ZAMBIA 35 BARBADOS 35 FIJI 35 SAINT LUCIA

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt poses after winning the men’s 4 x 100m relay athletics event at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on Saturday AFP

58 49 32 19 15 14 13 11 10 10 8 6 5 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

59 42 16 15 30 14 10 11 10 4 5 7 11 4 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0

Real beaten again, Liverpool down Milan

n Reuters

Ashley Young struck twice Saturday to help Manchester United to a 3-1 friendly win over Real Madrid in front of the biggest crowd ever to watch a football match in America.

Manchester United defenders have impressed new coach Louis van Gaal in their unbeaten pre-season tour with the Dutchman lauding the backline for adapting well to the new formation he has introduced since arriving at the club last month.

United defeated European champions Real Madrid 3-1 in the International Champions Cup match on Saturday to advance to Monday’s final of the eightteam tournament against Liverpool in Miami.

The 20-times English champions have produced encouraging displays in the States, also beating Roma and Inter Milan, as they prepare for the start of the season under the 62-year-old coach.

United have played their tour matches with three centre backs and it will probably be the former Netherlands coach’s preferred formation this season.

“It’s amazing that they have picked up a new system like that, because it’s not new for (Juan) Mata, for example - he plays in his position. Neither for

174 137 82 53 64 45 40 36 25 22 17 19 36 8 12 2 7 5 2 1 1 8 4 3 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1

Final Medal tally

Man United defenders impress Van Gaal (Wayne) Rooney, (Danny) Welbeck nor the two midfielders,” Van Gaal said in the post-match press conference.

“The greatest impact with this new system is on the back line. But we only conceded one chance in the first half and two in the second.”

Van Gaal said Keane and fellow defender Tyler Blackett would grow better with experience.

“You saw them play today and they can do the job but not for a lot of matches - they can do it for one match.

“Maybe when you give them more matches, their experience shall increase.

“But today the penalty was not so smart. He (Keane) has to learn from these errors.

“It’s the same for Tyler - he can also play at this level but can he play match after match? That is the question and I cannot answer that at the moment.”

Van Gaal said the victory will boost the confidence of the team, which finished a lowly seventh in the league last season and also missed out on qualification for the European tournaments under the then coach David Moyes. l

57 46 34 19 19 17 17 14 5 8 4 6 20 2 7 0 3 4 1 0 0 5 1 1 1 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 2 1 1 1

n AFP, Ann Arbor

RESULTS AS Roma

0 2

Inter Milan

2 2

Olympiakos

3 1

Real Madrid

2 0

AC Milan

Vidic 45, Nagatomo 69

Man City

Jovetic 35, Diamantakos 37, 66 Kolarov 53-P Olympiakos win 5-4 on penalties

Man United Young 21, 37, Hernandez 80

Liverpool Allen 17, Suso 90

Barcelona Xavi 68-P

1 1

Bale 27-P

Nice D. Cvitanich 21

Javier “Chicharito” Hernandez also scored for Manchester United, whose lone goal was Gareth Bale’s spot kick.

Madrid trailed 2-1 in the second half when manager Carlo Ancelotti introduced former United star Cristiano Ronaldo off the bench.

The move did little for the Europe-

an champions’ quest for an equalizer, but it delighted the crowd of 109,318 at Michigan Stadium, home of the University of Michigan Wolverines that is fondly known as “The Big House.”

The attendance surpassed the prior record 101,799 who watched the 1984 Olympic final between Brazil and France at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl.

Real Madrid pulled level six minutes later after Bale was fouled by Michael Keane and converted the penalty.

Louis van Gaal’s side went ahead again in the 37th as Young curled a ball into the net, Wayne Rooney coming close to getting the final touch.

Hernandez sealed the result in the 80th when he headed in a cross from Shinji Kagawa.

The victory sends Manchester United into Monday’s final of the International Champions Cup, a series of friendlies involving eight European clubs all preparing for their domestic campaigns.

They’ll face Premier League rivals Liverpool, who had already booked their berth before their 2-0 victory over AC Milan in Charlotte on Saturday.

In Charlotte, Joe Allen in the first half and Spanish striker Suso in the

second scored for Liverpool, as AC Milan finished the exhibition tournament without a point.

In addition to enduring another demoralizing defeat, AC Milan saw defender Mattia De Sciglio laid out flat

Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney (L) goes for the ball against Real Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa at Michigan Stadium yesterday REUTERS

No Arsenal bid for Khedira: Wenger n AFP, London

Sanogo upstages Sanchez in Arsenal romp

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Saturday that his side have not made an offer for rumoured transfer target Sami Khedira, the Real Madrid midfielder.

Khedira, a member of Germany’s World Cup-winning side, faces renewed competition for a first-team place at Madrid following the arrival of Colombia star James Rodriguez and Arsenal have been linked with a move for him.

But Wenger kept his cards close to his chest when he was asked about his club’s reported interest in the 27-yearold after Arsenal’s emphatic 5-1 win over Benfica in the Emirates Cup friendly tournament.

Asked if Arsenal had submitted a bid for Khedira, he replied: “No.” When pressed as to whether Wenger had enquired about the midfielder’s availability, he said: “What is enquired?

I don’t know. If I read the (British) newspapers, (they say) he’s available!” l

n AFP, London

Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, front, runs with the ball past Benfica’s Bebe during the Emirates Cup match at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium in London on Saturday AP

French striker Yaya Sanogo scored four times as Arsenal crushed Portuguese champions Benfica 5-1 at the Emirates Cup friendly tournament in London on Saturday.

The 21-year-old, who has never scored a competitive goal for the club, claimed a first-half hat-trick and added another goal in the second half to upstage star signing Alexis Sanchez, who made his first appearance as a late substitute.

Costa Rica forward Joel Campbell, back at Arsenal after three seasons out on loan, scored the hosts’ other goal, with Nicolas Gaitan replying for Europa League runners-up Benfica.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed Sanogo and Campbell, 22, for their displays and said that he did not intend to send either of them out on loan this season.

Wenger added: “It’s very difficult to draw any conclusions after a game like

by a collision with his own goalkeeper Gabriel in the second half.

Gabriel was able to continue in goal, but De Sciglio had to leave the contest.

In an all-Italian clash, Inter Milan defeated AS Roma 2-0 in Philadelphia.l

that. But for long spells we played the way we want to play football, and that’s the most positive thing.”

The game at the Emirates Stadium followed the 2-2 draw between Valencia and Monaco in the first match of the four-team friendly competition, which concludes on Sunday.

Wenger used the occasion to cast his eye over some fringe players, with new signing Calum Chambers, starting in an unfamiliar position at centre-back alongside fellow full-back Nacho Monreal.

Sanogo broke the deadlock in the 26th minute with a clever back-heeled finish from Ramsey’s right-wing cross.

The adventurous Bellerin then teed up Campbell to bludgeon home a leftfoot volley in the 40th minute.

There was time for Sanogo to complete his hat-trick before the interval.

He tucked away a volleyed cross from Campbell in the 44th minute and then flicked in a centre from Kieran Gibbs at the second attempt in stoppage time. l

Xavi on target as new-look Barcelona draw n AFP, Nice A familiar face came on and helped new-look Barcelona draw 1-1 with Nice in a friendly in southern France on Saturday.

The veteran Xavi Hernandez was introduced at half-time with the Catalans trailing 1-0 to the Ligue 1 club at the Allianz Riviera stadium.

And he equalised from the penalty spot midway through the second half after Romain Genevois was adjudged to have fouled young forward Munir El Haddadi.

Earlier, Argentine striker Dario Cvitanich had put Nice in front from the spot after he himself had been brought down by Gerard Pique.

New Barcelona coach Luis Enrique handed starts to summer signings Marc-Andre ter Stegen and Jeremy Mathieu, while Ivan Rakitic and Alen Halilovic were among a raft of players brought on as substitutes. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Misbah wants Pakistan to spoil Jayawardene’s farewell party

QUICK BYTES

BCB declares women’s team for Asian Games Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced a 20-member women’s preliminary squad yesterday for the upcoming 17th Asian Games. The camp for this preliminary squad is expected to begin at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on August 6. The camp of the preliminary squad will be held under the supervision of the Bangladesh national women team assistant coach Ashikur Rahman Mazumder. However, BCB is yet to appoint a coach for the women’s national team. According to a board official, negotiation with Sri Lankan coach Janak Champika Gamage has already begun and a deal will be finalised soon. Bangladesh women’s cricket team bagged silver medals after losing the final to Pakistan by 10 wickets in the inaugural women’s cricket tournament at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.

SQUAD: Rumana Ahmed, Shaila Sharmin, Lata Mondol, Khadiza-tul Kubra, Fargana Hoque Pinky, Salma Khatun, Panna Ghosh, Lily Rani Biswas, Ritu Moni, Nuzhat Tasnia, Jahanara Alam, Ayasha Rahman, Fahima Khatun, Tithy Rani Sarkar, Sanjida Islam, Sharmin Akhter Supta, Ayesha Akhter, Sohaly Akhter, Shahnaz Parvin, Shamima Sultana –Tribune Desk

Falcao returns for Monaco after six months out

Monaco striker Radamel Falcao made his first appearance for over six months as a second-half substitute in his side’s 2-2 friendly draw against Valencia in London on Saturday. The 28-year-old Colombia international had not played since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a French Cup game against amateur side Chasselay on January 22. The injury cut short his debut season at the big-spending Ligue 1 club and prevented him from appearing at the World Cup, where Colombia reached the quarter-finals.

Falcao replaced Dimitar Berbatov with 18 minutes to play at the Emirates Stadium, taking up a central role alongside Valere Germain in a 4-4-2 system, but did not manage any attempts on goal.

–AFP

Ecclestone ‘heading for $100-million deal’ in F1 bribe case

Formula One tycoon Bernie Ecclestone is heading for a $100 million settlement to halt his bribery trial in Germany, local media reported at the weekend. The 83-year-old Briton upped his offer to secure a deal, according to reports which said if it goes ahead it would the biggest of its kind. The Munich court where the trial is due to resume on Tuesday has told witnesses scheduled to give testimony this week not to bother to turn up. Ecclestone went on trial in April on charges of paying a $44-million (33-million-euro) bribe to a BayernLB bank executive for help in maintaining his four-decade grip on Formula One. –AFP

Pellegrini confirms Lampard’s loan move Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has confirmed former Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard’s move to the Premier League champions on loan from his new club, New York City FC. The 36-year-old, who spent 13 years at Chelsea, recently signed for New York, but as the next Major League Soccer season does not start until next year, he has opted to return to England to maintain fitness. New York are one of Manchester City’s two sister clubs, the other being Australian side Melbourne City. “As you know, Frank has signed a contract with New York City and will start working here (the United States) in January as the season starts in March,” Pellegrini told a press conference. “From next Wednesday he will start working with our team and will play for us until then.”

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 4 9:00PM Tennis: Rogers Cup Star Sports 1, 2 Pro Kabaddi League 8:15PM Mumbai V Pune 9:30PM Delhi v Patna Sony Six HD 6:00AM Guinness Int’l Cup 2014 Final: Liverpool v Man United

15

Monday, August 4, 2014

n Reuters, Karachi

Pakistan cricket team captain Misbah-ul-Haq (C) and Junaid Khan (2R) arrive at a hotel in Galle on Saturday. Pakistan will play three ODIs and two Test Series in Sri Lanka between August 6 to August 30. The first Test between Pakistan and Sri Lanka will be played on August 6 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle AFP

Pakistan will do whatever it takes to win the two-test series in Sri Lanka even if it means spoiling senior batsman Mahela Jayawardene’s farewell party, captain Misbah-ul-Haq said on Saturday.

Former Sri Lanka captain Jayawardene, who has scored 11,671 runs in 147 tests averaging over 50, announced last month he would retire from test cricket after the home series against Pakistan starting at Galle on Wednesday.

“If we are to win the series in Sri Lanka, we have to ensure that their top batsmen, particularly Jayawardene, is not allowed to get many runs,” Misbah told a news conference on the eve of the team’s departure for Sri Lanka.

“I have a lot of respect for what he has achieved but we are going to Sri Lanka to win the two-test series and we know how important it is for us to not allow their senior players to score.”

Jayawardene, 37, has also scored 11681 runs in 420 one-dayers and with stalwart Kumar Sangakkara is the mainstay of the Sri Lankan batting.

Misbah predicted a tough series against the Sri Lankans who have a strong home record.

“It is going to be a tough series because Sri Lanka have been playing lot of test and other cricket. But we have prepared hard and I have confidence in our bowlers,” said Misbah.

“Our spinners have traditionally done well in Sri Lanka but we are banking on our pace bowlers as well.” l

Malik, Aamir back Captain, coach target top Banned prison terms for match fixers n Test spot for Pakistan Reuters, Karachi

n AFP, Karachi Skipper Misbah-ul Haq and head coach Waqar Younis Saturday said they were aiming for Pakistan to claim the top Test spot as they left for a Test and oneday series against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan, currently third in the Test rankings, briefly attained world number two in 2006 but have never been number one.

Misbah said Pakistan could take the top spot if they won in Sri Lanka and against Australia in October.

“We have a very good chance and it’s a big motivation for us to become top Test team,” Misbah told reporters as the team departed for Colombo.

Pakistan open the tour with the first of two Tests in Galle starting from Au-

gust 6. They also play three one-day matches.

“We will do our best to grab this as we have a very good opportunity to reach the top,” said Misbah.

Misbah said playing Tests after a gap of more than six months since their last series in January had mixed effects.

“I think everything has its advantages and disadvantages and playing a Test after a gap too has its good and bad effects,” he said.

“We got a gap so we worked on our fitness and worked on some tactical issues but the disadvantage is that we need time to return to the Test format but we have the first Test at Galle in our focus and will have to be up to the mark,” said Misbah.

Misbah predicted a close series with

Sri Lanka, who last month lost to South Africa 1-0 in a two-Test series.

“Both teams know each other well,” said Misbah of Sri Lanka, who Pakistan have played in five series in as many years.

“I think both the teams have good combinations and it will be a close Test series,” said Misbah.

“The main target is the World Cup but we have very important series in Sri Lanka and then two more against Australia and New Zealand so we have to focus on all these events and try our best to win them,” said Waqar, appointed for two years in May. Waqar said Pakistan can take inspiration from their last Test win over Sri Lanka in Sharjah when they chased 302 on the last day. l

Pakistan’s banned cricketers, Salim Malik and Muhammad Aamir have backed moves by New Zealand’s government to enforce prison sentences for players found guilty of spot or match fixing.

Malik, who is serving a life ban for match fixing and Aamir who is in the fourth year of a five year ban for spot fixing, said prison terms would help curb the menace of corruption.

“I think it is a good move by New Zealand’s government and other cricket playing nations should also follow it,” Malik, who has pleaded innocence since being banned in 2000, told Reuters.

“I know how much I have suffered because of this match fixing stigma. I think it is time similar law was also enacted in Pakistan so that cricket players can be clean of such allegations once and for all,” Malik said.

Good start for Bangladesh in World Chess n Tribune Desk Both the Bangladesh open and women’s teams made a flying start in the 41st World Chess Olympiad registering comfortable victories in the opening round in Tromso, Norway on Saturday.

The Bangladesh open team defeated Zimbabwe by 3-1 points while the women’s team outplayed Ghana by 4-0 points. In the open section, Grandmaster Abdullah Al Rakib defeated IM Mandizha Farai; IM Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar beat Masango Spencer while GM Niaz Murshed beat Mushore Emarald Takudzwa of Zimbabwe. The only defeat was suffered by GM Enamul Hossain Razib against IM Makoto Rodwell.

In the women’s section, WIM Shamima Akter Liza beat Sena Sarah, WFM Nazrana Khan beat Allotey Dorcas, WIM Rani Hamid beat Ayiku Angela Naa Amerley and WFM Zakia Sultana beat Ashley Christiana of Ghana. l

Zimbabwe A to tour Bangladesh n Tribune Desk

(L-R) Jamaica’s Schillonie Calvert, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Stewart Kerron and Veronica Campbell-Brown celebrate after winning the final of the women’s 4 x 100m relay at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on Saturday AFP

Serena storms into Stanford final n AFP, Stanford

Serena Williams stormed into the final of the WTA hardcourt tournament at Stanford on Saturday, winning the last eight games of a 7-5, 6-0 victory over Andrea Petkovic.

The world number one and top seed, playing her first tournament since a disappointing Wimbledon campaign in which she was slowed by a virus, will face third-seeded German Angelique Kerber in Sunday’s final.

Kerber, ranked eighth in the world, saved a match point on the way to a 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 victory over 59thranked American Varvara Lepchenko.

Aamir, 22, was banned for spot fixing in 2010 and believes the threat of going to prison would deter players from being tempted to get involved with match fixing.

“It is a reality that some people try to lure players down the wrong path,” he said on the Geo Super channel. “I have experienced it.

“I think such laws will definitely make players think twice about what they are doing. What I did was wrong and it has been hard going without cricket for all these years.

“But I think more anti-corruption steps are required to clean up the sport,” he said.

Aamir also adviced the PCB to set up a committee of senior players who could guide young players at domestic and international level and educate them about the pitfalls of modern day cricket. l

Petkovic, 26, who ousted 34 year-old Venus Williams in the quarter-finals on Friday, pushed 32 year-old Serena hard in the opening set as they battled through the first 11 games without a break of serve.

After holding for a 6-5 lead, Williams turned the tide in the 12th game, although she needed a fifth set point against Petkovic’s serve to gain the break and the set.

There was no stopping the 17-time Grand Slam champion from there. After a first set lasting 50 minutes Williams polished off the second in 27, breaking Petkovic a fourth time when the German sent a forehand long on match point.

Williams saved the only break point she faced in the match, showing no sign of fatigue despite a quick turnaround from her tough, three-set victory over former world number one Ana Ivanovic on Friday night.

“I’m really excited,” said Williams.

“Andrea and I both had really long matches yesterday, so I was just hoping to come out again today with fresh legs, and just try to do the best I could out there. My body feels great.”

Petkovic was trying to become just the eighth player to beat both Williams sisters in the same tournament, and the first since Jelena Jankovic did so at Rome in 2010.l

The Zimbabwe A team are scheduled to reach Dhaka on September 10 to play two four-day and three one-day matches against the Bangladesh A team.

Ahead of the senior team’s visit to the country for a full series against the Bangladesh national side in October-November, the second-string Zimbabwean team’s tour of Bangladesh will be vital as far as adapting with the conditions is concerned.

The Zimbabwe A side are likely to feature several senior players from the national team.

The venues for the series between the two second-string sides are yet to be decided although the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium at Fatullah may host the two four-dayers.

During the visiting Zimbabwe A side’s tour of Bangladesh, the Tigers will have already embarked on their tour of the West Indies which is scheduled to run for 38 days. l

Indian hockey team arrives tomorrow n Raihan Mahmood A 21-member Indian select hockey team comprising 18 players arrives in Dhaka tomorrow to play three practice matches with the Bangladesh hockey team currently preparing for the Asian Games.

The team will be led by midfielder Vikramkanth who has played 70 international matches for India. The team also includes Yuvraj Walmiki with 44 international caps, Kushallappa Uthappa with 54 international caps

and Nithin Thimmiah who has played 36 matches wearing the Indian jersey. Tushar Khadker, a familiar name in Bangladesh’s hockey arena, is the coach of the visiting team.

All the three matches will be played on 6th August, 7th August and 8th August at BKSP where Bangladesh team is based for its residential camp.

It is worth mentioning here in this regard that this is the first time any Indian team will be arriving in Bangladesh after accepting the invitation of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Monday, August 4, 2014

Rampant extortion Government's inconsistent action backfires n leads to drivers’ woes in Khulna CHECKING TOBACCO FARMING

Abu Bakar Siddique

Extortionists say they operate under the local MP’s authority; the MP denies “He [Mizan] looks after all our probn Mohammad Jamil Khan lems,” he added. back from Khulna

Drivers operating public transport from Khulna to nearby districts face rampant extortion on the street every day, and they say this has become the bane of their life.

During Eid, the amount is said to have gone up by 1.5 to 2 times, compounding the misery of drivers.

In the name of different organisations such as Bus Welfare Parishad, Sramik Union and Sramik Welfare Trust, a group of people extort money from the drivers. These people sit in small huts set up on the side of roads.

“Apart from the regular expenses and cost of oil, we have to spend an additional Tk1,800-2,000 for a trip from Khulna to Satkhira. In the end, we find that the total expense crosses Tk5,000, including all charges,” a minibus driver, who drive on Khulna-Satkhira route, told the Dhaka Tribune seeking anonymity.

“We only get money if there is anything left after paying these toll collectors and the regular deposit to be paid to the bus owner. In recent days, it has become very hard to save money for us as we have to pay a lot on road. We are in a miserable situation,” he said.

Several drivers alleged that they were dragged out of the bus and beaten up if they refused to pay toll. They are even prevented from driving to the destination in extreme cases.

The people who are collecting the toll have no lucid explanation under whose authority they are doing this. Some of them mention names of the ruling party leaders when it comes to authority.

Sohel Howladar, a toll collector who has a small hut just a few metres from Sonadanga bus terminal, told the Dhaka Tribune that the money was a tip for them from bus staff.

He said he did it under the authority of Mizanur Rahman Mizan, secretary of district Awami League and lawmaker of Khulna 2 constituency.

Mizan, however, denied Sohel’s assertion, saying he was not aware of any such activity and that action would certainly be taken if this was really happening out there.

A toll collection hut was also seen in front of the office of the assistant commissioner of police in Khulna.

Other such huts were seen at Gollamari intersection – on both sides of the Gollamari bridge, just before the Khulna University entrance and at Zero Point in Khulna city.

Abul Kamal Azad Babu, president of the Intercity Minibus Owners’ Association, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had complained to the authority about this in the past but to no avail.

“As a form of protest, transport workers have often enforced strikes on 18 routes in Khulna but a few days later, everything got settled and the extortion continued,” he added.

Additional Commissioner of Khulna Metropolitan Police Mahbub Hakim said in case of such problems, the victims should lodge a report with the police.

“We will definitely take action based on the report,” he said.

However, there are not many who want to report such extortion as they think that would cost them more than what they can spend to keep the toll collectors satisfied.

A minibus driver operating on Khulna-Paikgachha route alleged involvement of police in extortion, saying: “If they [police] have no involvement, why do they overlook such matters and take no action even if it happens in front of them?”

Superintendent of Police of Khulna division Habibur Rahman, however, claimed that the rate of extortion had gone down compared to the past.

“We will definitely take action if we receive specific complaints. Besides, law enforcers are on regular patrol to prevent extortion,” he added. l

The government’s contradictory attitude towards reducing tobacco farming and its uses is resulting in more and more land being used for that very purpose.

In the budget for the present fiscal year, the government imposed a 1% health development surcharge on all imported and domestically produced tobacco products with an aim to cut down the use of tobacco.

On June 5, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith said in his budget speech that tobacco and tobacco products are injurious to health.

“Nearly 60,000 people die and another four lakh become crippled every year in Bangladesh because of smoking. Treatment for tobacco-related diseases is also very expensive,” he said.

The Department of Agricultural

Extension (DAE), on the other hand, claimed that it always shows indifference to whether a farmer will use his land for tobacco farming or not in order to retain his trust, especially since the department mostly works with farmers.

“Despite instructions for reducing tobacco farming, we continue to regard this as a matter of indifference. We neither discourage farmers nor encourage them.” said Md Musleh Uddin Faruque, deputy director (tobacco) of DAE. “Farmers tend to grow something that is economically beneficial to them and tobacco is a plant that brings them heavy profits. So why would they pay heed to the DAE if they are discouraged from tobacco farming?” he said.

According to the DAE, tobacco was cultivated in more than one lakh hectares of land last season, while it was around 70,000 hectares in the previous year.

Of the vast tracts of land, about

40,000 hectares are in Kushtia, about 28,000 hectares in Bandarban, 30,000 hectares in Lalmonirhat and 10,000 hectares in Nilphamari. However, in Rangpur, a region well-known for tobacco farming, tobacco farming showed a downward trend.

Despite maintaining an indifferent approach, the DAE says it is concerned that tobacco cultivation is growing, since this would reduce the amount of land which would otherwise have been used for growing Boro and some seasonal crops such as wheat, maize and pulse.

“We have already taken a number of initiatives, including creating awareness about the negative impacts of tobacco among the farmers, to check the rising trends of tobacco cultivation.

This will help farmers shift their focus from cash crops, though its effectiveness is questionable,” said Faruque.

The government’s weak initiatives for

Although holidaymakers continue their return to Dhaka in large numbers, the city streets are yet to return to their usual gridlocked state. Only a light volume of traffic can be seen at the Shabagh intersection yesterday afternoon MEHEDI HASAN

Asaduzzaman: The blueprint of the Tangail brothel eviction Jailhouse wedding Abid Azad and Afrose Jahan ing in place against eviction, he had to gail Kabarsthan Jaame Masjid, especially lice Chief Saleh Mohammad Tanvir. But n Chaity with our Tangail nothing happened on that day. move tactfully. Instead of direct eviction, on Fridays after the Jumma prayers. conformed with The next day, July 12, Mayor Mukti According to sources, Mayor Mukti athe wanted the incident to look as if the correspondent sex workers had left the place voluntarily. tended most of those meetings and spoke arranged a “grand” iftar gathering at the code The first step was forming a new com- openly about the “ill-effects” that the municipality office in which, reportedly, Around 200 years ago, the Kandapar brothel in Tangail used to be the private mittee that was not tasked with directly brothel had been spreading over the area. at least 10,000 people participated.

Rabiul Islam n “The mayor arranges iftar parties The mayor and his three brothers are brothel of local zamindar Santosh. As the evicting the sex workers; instead, the State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday said the wedding of HM Biplob, who was serving sentences for two murders, in jail had been conducted lawfully.

The incarcerated groom, who is the son of Lakshmipur municipality Mayor Abu Taher, is serving a 10-year jail sentence for two murder cases after a life-term sentence was reduced on the granting of mercy.

The bride, Sanjida Akter Peu, an honours second-year student of Lakshmipur Government College, is the daughter of the late advocate Abul Khayer, a nephew of late Jamaat MP Shafiqul Islam.

The wedding faced criticism from various quarters.

Asked if a criminal could be married in luxurious style inside a jail, Asaduzzaman told reporters in his office at the secretariat that the marriage conformed to the jail code.

“The inspector general for prisons as well as the district magistrate confirmed to me that the wedding had taken place,” he said.

Because a signature was required to register a marriage, the bride had visited the jail, the minister said, adding: “I do not know of any singing or other ceremonies having taken place inside the jail.”

Asaduzzaman said the government would not tolerate violence under the guise of the BNP’s anticipated political movement.

“The administration would take necessary steps to deal with violence,” he said.

Before Eid-ul-Fitr, the BNP declared that it would launch a tougher movement against the government to hold fresh elections under a neutral non-party caretaker government after the holidays were over. l

years went by, Santosh's successors sold off of the land to those who lived there.

That was how the brothel, from where sex workers have recently been evicted, came into existence.

According to the local land office, the entire 302 decimal land is now privately owned. Among the owners, 39 are sex workers and the remaining 10 are all men.

There are all kinds of houses - tinshed, concrete roofed, one-storied and multi-storied. These houses have small chambers where sex workers operate.

After the brothel in Taanbazar in Narayanganj was evicted in 1999, the one in Tangail became the biggest in the country. In October 2006, a section of local residents and clerics tried to evict the Tangail brothel. A local citizen committee opposed he move saying they could not be evicted without rehabilitation. 14 people were injured in clashes that ensued.

The then Tangail Municipality chairman Jamilur Rahman led the committee named “Brothel Eviction Committee.”

A few days later, responding to a public interest lawsuit, the High Court prohibited eviction without proper rehabilitation.

In another ruling in 2000, the HC gave legality to the trade.

In 2010 and 2013, the committee again tried to remove the sex workers from the area but failed to succeed. Just like this year, those two eviction drives were also made in the month of Ramadan.

However, according to the sex workers, the committee that worked to stage the eviction this year was much more organised and worked with a much better plan.

The Dhaka Tribune has found that current Municipality Mayor Shahidur Rahman Khan Mukti was the mastermind who orchestrated the eviction.

There are allegations that Mukti had been trying to get hold of the land because he wanted to build a market there.

But since the place was fully privately owned and because there was a HC rul-

keeping farmers interested in growing other crops, such as ensuring fair prices and a good marketing strategies, is the result of the rise in tobacco farming, according to Farida Akhter, executive director of Ubinig, a Dhaka-based NGO. “This has also led to soil infertility, scarcity of food and loss of crop diversity in the country,” she said.

Many farmers have been engaged in tobacco farming to earn more money as the produce comes with the certainty of post-production sales at reasonable prices, and also because they are supplied farming materials by tobacco firms.

Supporting Farida's view, Faruque said the tobacco companies provide the farmers with all sorts of materials, like fertilisers and pesticides, in advance.

“The farmers also know that they can sell the produce to the companies at reasonable prices, which works as an extra incentive,” he added. l

committee was tasked with building a local public opinion against the centuries old brothel.

The committee itself was cleverly named and formed. This time the name did not include either the word brothel or the word eviction. In Bangla it was called Oshamajik Karjokolap Protirodh Committee which translates to “the unsocial activities prevention committee.”

‘The mayor arranges iftar parties every year. But this year it was unusual. I have never seen such a huge number of people take part in the iftar... The entire town was empty when the party was going on’ Maulana Ashrafuzzaman Kashemi, imam of the Tangail Kabarsthan Jaame Masjid, was made the vice-president of the committee. He is a respected cleric in the area and his inclusion readily brought a large section of the local Muslims into the committee's confidence.

The 205-member committee, formed on June 30, also the first day of the month of Ramadan, incorporated representatives from the local Hindus, Buddhists and Christians, the local puja celebration committee, lawyers from the bar association, doctors and trade bodies such as the local chamber of commerce.

According to sources, Mayor Mukti has always had a lot of influence over the local businessmen, lawyers and doctors. One of his brothers Jahidur Rahman Khan Kakon is the president of the Tangail Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Over the next few days, the committee held several meetings, mainly at the Tan-

known as godfathers, and there are very few people in Tangail town who dare to speak on record against them.

After the Jumma prayers on July 4, the committee distributed leaflets containing messages against what they said were “unsocial activities” that were going on inside the brothel, the imams of a number of mosques in the area told the Dhaka Tribune.

On July 6, Aklima Akter Akhi, a leader of the sex workers' association Nari Mukti Sangha (NMS), accompanied by officials from non-government organisation Care Bangladesh, went to meet Mizanur Rahman Khan, chairman of the National Human Rights Commission.

Upon her return, referring to her discussion with the NHRC boss, Akhi assured her fellow sex workers that nothing was going to happen to them.

On the same day, the unsocial activities prevention committee submitted a memorandum to Mayor Mukti detailing the need for evicting the brothel.

On July 9, the NMS sat in a meeting with the owners of the brothel houses and tried to convince them to bribe local influential people including the mayor, journalists and police to prevent the looming eviction.

Akhi, who reportedly attended that meeting, was never seen again in the area. Evicted sex workers alleged that she had fled with Tk80 lakh of their savings.

On July 11, in a meeting at the kabarsthan mosque, a final decision to evict the brothel was made by the mayor and local MP Md Sanowar Hossain. According to sources, local influential people, the members of the committee and the owners of the brothel houses were present at that meeting.

As news spread that a mob might come and evict the sex workers after the Jumma prayers, three platoons of police were deployed in the area to prevent any possible eviction, said Tangail po-

every year. But this year it was unusual.

I have never seen such a huge number of people take part in the iftar... The entire town was empty when the party was going on,” said an NGO worker, requesting not to be named.

In the meantime, a group of several armed young men started gathering in front of the brothel. They were led by Mayor Mukti's brother Kakon. Local Jubo League Joint Secretary Sanowar Hossain and Swechchhasebak League Joint Convenor Nasiruddin Nuru – both known as close associates of the mayor – were part of the group.

Interestingly, the group did not have anyone from the unsocial activities prevention committee. The committee members were all reportedly attending the mayor's iftar gathering.

Around 6pm, about an hour before iftar, some members of the group brought two drums of petrol on a van, witnesses said. A sex worker said during the entire time they were gathering in the area, the members of the group kept on threatening the sex workers with dire consequences unless they evacuated.

“As night fell, there was a power outage for about two hours. In the darkness, the members of the group went inside the brothel and raped and tortured some of us,” she said.

“We did not know what to do and started running to and fro. Our leader Akhi's mobile phone was switched off.

She had with her the Tk80 lakh that we had saved with the NMS. Then I left the brothel and could not take any of my belongings with me,” she added.

Most of the sex workers had left the brothel after iftar on July 12 and the remaining few by the next afternoon.

Maulana Kashemi, vice-president of the eviction committee, claimed that they did not know anything about the attack.

He told the Dhaka Tribune: “We were pleasantly surprised to see the sex work-

‘The people of Tangail wanted the brothel to be removed and as their representative, I only supported their cause. That does not mean I evicted them’ ers leave the area on their own, sparing us any action. It is nothing but Allah's blessings in the holy month of Ramadan. We are now happy that Tangail is free from the brothel.”

When asked about the High Court ruling against eviction without rehabilitation, Kashemi said he had no knowledge about it. “This brothel does not have any registration and they did not pay taxes,” he said.

When asked whether they would accept the brothel if it got proper registration, Kashemi cleverly responded with: “We are against all kinds of brothel and unsocial activities.”

Regarding the mayor's role, he said: “We were never influenced by anyone.

The mayor and the general people cooperated with us in fulfilling our demand.”

About the HC ruling, Abdul Latif, secretary of the committee, said: “The state says and does many things. But that does not mean that the Shariah [Islamic law] will agree with them.”

Snuffing out all allegations, Mayor Mukti told the Dhaka Tribune: “I am not the kind of person who would evict them from the brothel without ensuring some sort of rehabilitation. It is true that they left the brothel voluntarily. Their organisation [NMS] never discussed their problems with me.”

He also said: “The house owners ordered them to leave the brothel. Forced eviction is a violation of laws. As an elected representative, how could I force them out of their homes and make them destitute?

“The people of Tangail wanted the brothel to be removed and as their representative, I only supported their cause. That does not mean I evicted them,” he said. 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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FAO: Bangladesh may see record breaking rice output in 10 years n Kayes Sohel

PRODUCTION FORECAST OF WHEAT AND RICE BY FAO

Bangladesh may continue to break record in rice crop production in the next 10 years, said Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in its latest forecast.

Production of rice, the main crop of Bangladesh, was estimated at 34.8 million metric tonnes in 2014, up from 34.4 million metric tonnes in the previous year, according to the Agricultural Outlook 2014-2023 released recently.

The FAO of the United Nations and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in the joint report said rice output may reach to 38.6 million metric tonnes by 2023.

The report provides a 10-year forward looking assessment of trends and prospects in the major temperate-zone agricultural commodity markets of cereals, cotton, oilseeds, sugar, meat, fish and dairy products.

It is published annually, in the middle of the second quarter, as part of a continuing effort to promote informed discussion of emerging market and policy issues.

“Domestic rice prices decreased slightly in May with the start of the 2014 Boro season harvest and were higher than a year earlier,” the UN agency said.

It said rice prices are expected to decline further in the coming months when the bulk of the harvest will enter the markets.

Similarly, wheat flour prices weakened in May, as a result of the record 2014 harvest and continuing distributions by the government through open market sales.

However, the ongoing procurement programme, which ended in June, offset further price declines.

1300

39000

Power Division has stepped to extend another costly dual-fuel power plant having 110 megawatt capacity near Dhaka by one year as the project expired on October 7, 2013.

Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) requested the Power Division to extend the project tenure by a year from June 23, 2014 considering the country’s electricity demand.

The Division will place a proposal regarding this before the cabinet committee on public purchase soon, according to official sources.

Malaysia-based NEPC Consortium Power Ltd is implementing the project. It has been supplying electricity to Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) since October 10, 2000 under an unsolicited deal.

The government will pay Tk1,224 crore including fuel cost to procure electricity from the power plant during the extended period, the proposal said, adding that the government would be able to save Tk172 crore subject to extension of the project tenure.

The project was gas-fired till 2010 and was later converted to HFO-fired.

After expiry of the power purchase deal with the power plant sponsor in October last year, the government requested the plant authority to continue power generation.

The government will purchase per unit of electricity from the power project at Tk15.8591, excluding fuel cost at Tk13.6625.

In 1997 it made a deal to procure per unit of electricity from the project at Tk18.0958 that also included fuel cost at Tk15.3249.

Meanwhile, the representatives of several rental power companies alleged that the NEPC would get more government favour than other HFOfired projects.

The Power Division earlier tried to purchase per unit of electricity from NEPC at Tk15.15 but now it agreed on buying electricity as per the company’s proposal.

BPDB recently proposed to extend

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34000

1050 1000

33000

2013*

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

32000

*Figures in thousand metric tones. RHS - Right hand side. LHS - Left hand side

The growth in production was achieved by fast adoption of highyielding crop varieties supported by rapid expansion of irrigation which helped booming rice production According to the central bank of Bangladesh, the year-on-year CPI in April 2014 was recorded at 7.5% relative to the same period last year.

The FAO also expected production of wheat crop might decline to 1.1 million metric tonnes this year, down

Another costly power plant may get extension n Tribune Report

Wheat (RHS)

Rice (LHS) 1250

the tenure of 53MW United Ashuganj Rental Power Project by five years and agreed to purchase electricity from it at Tk3.2848 per unit.

The tenure of the project expired on June 21, 2014. BPDB had signed a power purchase deal with the company on December 23, 2010.

During its previous tenure, the gasfired rental power project supplied electricity to the BPDB at Tk5.012 per unit, which was Tk 1.7272 higher than its present revised rate.

The gas-fired power project consumes 12 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) gas, the BPDB said.

The extension of rental and quick rental power projects has resulted in an increase in power subsidy to Tk7,000 crore this fiscal from Tk6,000 crore last fiscal.

The government in mid of June 2014 allowed a tariff discount of $2.5m for two gas-fired rental power plants owned by Aggreko International Limited and is also approved to increase electricity generation capacity by 30MW. The cabinet committee on public purchase extended the tenure of the power projects for four years.

The government in February extended tenures of two rental power projects having capacity to generate 128.5MW of electricity by five years each. The projects are 50MW DAP power and 78.5MW Max power.

The tenures of nine rental power projects were extended during the previous tenure of the Awami League government.

The Power Division claimed that they could save Tk2635.28 crore by extending the tenures of nine rental and quick rental power projects by five years as the power purchase r ates were adjusted downward from the producers.

The Power Division favoured the costly rental and quick rental power projects considering the delay of based load power projects, concerned officials said.

The BPDB proposal said it would face power crisis during FY2019-20 if the government would not allow it. l

from 1.3 million metric tonnes in 2013.

Total output by 2013 may stand at 1.2 million metric tonnes.

Planting of the 2014 Aus season rice crop was completed by mid-May. According to remote-sensed data, rainfall from early March to early June over the main rice-producing areas has been above-average, facilitating land preparation and early crop development, said FAO. FAO’s initial forecasts put this season’s rice output at 3.6 million tonnes, 3% above the corresponding season of last year.

Assuming a good monsoon season and continued government support to the rice sector, FAO tentatively forecasts the 2014 aggregate rice production (including the ongoing Aus, Aman and Boro seasons) at 52 million tonnes,

BSEC seeks income tax exemption n Asif Showkat Kallol Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has sought tax exemption from its income arguing that it has not enough fund to pay tax as it is developing infrastructure without any financial assistance from the government.

Internal resources division of the finance ministry issued a circular on June 26, saying all income by the government autonomous bodies is under income tax ordinance, barring income from capital.

The circular also mentioned 39 regulatory bodies, including the BSEC. In the current budget, the payable income tax rate for the autonomous firms has reduced to 25% from earlier rate of 37.5%.

After reviving the circular, the securities regulator wrote to the finance ministry two weeks ago and said currently the BSEC is financially solvent and operating without any monetary support from the budget allocation.

Before being financially solvent, it had operated and met its expenses from the budgetary allocation.

The letter said the BSEC has enhanced its infrastructure with establishing clearing corporation, derivative and commodity market under its 10year master plan.

It has also planned to raise commission human resources from 164 persons to 620 and started constructing the BSEC building with its own resources, it said.

“A huge fund is needed to implement the BSEC’s master plan. So, such tax imposition like other autonomous bodies might hamper the commission’s development activities,” said an official at the BSEC. In response to the BSEC’s appeal, Finance Minister AMA Muhith wrote on the letter the government would re-examine matter regarding the regulatory bodies.

The latest budget cut corporate tax for non-publicly traded companies by 2.5 percentage points to 35% for fiscal 2014-15.

The tax rates for other types of companies remain unchanged at 42.5% for banks, insurers and non-bank financial institutions, 37.5% for merchant banks, 40% for publicly traded cigarette manufacturers, which is 45% for non-listed cigarette manufacturers. l

similar to last year’s record output.

On average, Aus, Aman and Boro seasons account for 7%, 38% and 55%, respectively of annual paddy production.

Earlier in 2011, the country produced a record 34.25 million tonnes of rice as against the total known demand for about 31 million tonnes to feed its people.

Officials at the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) attributed continued favourable weather conditions, use of high yielding variety seeds and government support to increasing food grain production in the country.

“The growth in production was achieved by fast adoption of high-yielding crop varieties supported by rapid expansion of irrigation which helped booming rice production,” said a scientist working in the DAE. l

Official team to visit Ankara soon for FTA talks n Asif Showkat Kallol A five-member government delegation will visit Ankara in the last week of this month for holding negotiation to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with Turkey, official sources said.

The team, headed by additional secretary Monoj Kumar Roy, during the tour on August 26-27 is expected to hold talks with the commerce ministry of Turkey to be apprised of the demands associated with the prospective deal.

Other members of the team would include representatives of the Prime Minister’s Office, Bangladesh Tariff Commission, and ministries of foreign affairs and commerce.

“We have already sent our pamphlet to the commerce ministry of Turkey to facilitate negotiation,” a senior official said yesterday.

He said the bilateral trade between the two countries is expected to grow further with the signing of the FTA from the current level of $1bn annually.

During Sheikh Hasina’s Turkey visit in 2012, the Turkish government had proposed signing of the agreement with Bangladesh.

“The negotiation for signing the FTA may continue for next three years,” additional secretary Roy said.

“We will take a decision on the proposed FTA after considering its impact on the local businesses.”

Meanwhile, another official of the commerce ministry said the government is also holding talks with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman and Bahrain for signing bilateral agreements on investment, avoidance of double taxation and visa exemption.

The country has also focused on improving relations with the Islamic states, sources in the commerce ministry said.

However, the FTA talks between Bangladesh and Malaysia remained suspended due to the labour issue for last three years. l

Atiur for honest members in state bank boards n Tribune Report

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman yesterday urged the government to appoint professional, honest, skilled and experienced people to the boards of the state-owned banks to help ensure discipline in the financial sector of the country.

At the same time, he stressing the need for strengthening the central bank’s monitoring to check financial irregularities as its special supervision had helped detect some scams in the banking sector.

“Such financial irregularities have been possible to unearth, because of

timely measures … otherwise, these scams would have remained uncovered,” he told the closing ceremony of a foundation training course 2014 for the newly recruited Bangladesh Bank officers.

Atiur said some people are terming these as financial indiscipline in the banking sector. “But Bangladesh Bank thinks that unveiling of such irregularities is helping to restore discipline in the banking sector as well as in the financial sector.” He said the core banking solution undertaken by the central bank and the finance ministry as part of the automation of the state-owned banks must be expedited. l

HALF YEARLY INCREASE OF ACTIVE SIMS (IN LAKH) 90.21

86.65 77.89

75.5

87.33

83.33

78.71

33.92 27.69

2010 H1

2010 H2

2011 H1

2011 H2

2012 H1

2012 H2

2013 H1

2013 H2

2014 H1

Cell phone subscribers’ growth drops n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

The country’s cell phone industry has witnessed a negative growth in the first half of this year, with only 27.69 lakh new subscribers having active SIMs. Although half of the mobile phone operators had earlier used to register more than 75 lakh new subscribers in the first half of the previous years, a recent report of telecom regulatory body revealed the total number of new subscribers declined by over 68% in the first six months of 2014.

According to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) statistics, the country’s cell phone industry added 6.14 crore new active SIMs in the last four years with an average industry growth of 76.69 lakh active SIMs every six months.

During that period, the industry did not witness any single half (six month

unit) where SIMs growth was less than 33.92 lakh, says the BTRC report.

“May be, both the World Cup Football and the Ramadan month have pushed us in a challenging situation, but still we are very hopeful that the industry will be bounced back shortly,” Mohiuddin Babar, vice-president of Robi told the Dhaka Tribune.

In July-December 2012 period, the industry had witnessed 33.92 lakh active SIMs increasing as BTRC, for the first time, had introduced post activation but all on a sudden selling of new SIMs comes to a nearly halt.

Before second half of 2012, the industry had acquired 83.33 lakh active SIM users in first half. The industry added 90.21 lakh in 2011, 77.89 lakh in 2010.

The mobile industry was also able to increase its subscriber’s numbers to 78.71 lakh and 87.33 lakh in both half of 2013.

Robi, the only operator, which could not increase any active SIMs, loses more than 13 lakh active numbers in the first six months of current year. It started the year with 2.53 crore active subscribers but the numbers came down to 2.40 crore at the end of June, this year.

Second largest operator, in terms of revenue collection, Robi had lost 16.75 lakh active subscribers only in March, which also affected the whole industry as a whole, market sources informed.

But the leading operator Grameenphone was able to add 21.23 lakh more active SIMs on their network against such a backdrop.

Banglalink could manage to register 9.13 lakh active SIMs while stateowned Teletalk added 7.73 lakh, Airtel 2.71 lakh and the oldest operator Citycell also added 51,000 active SIMs from January to June, this year. l

Export, import through Hili Land Port resumes n Tribune Business Desk

Normal import and export activities through the Hili Land Port (HLP) in Dinajpur resumed yesterday after sixdays of suspension due to Eid vacation, official sources said.

According to the sources in Customs, importers, clearing and forwarding agents association (C&FAA) at HLP, all

sort of export-import activities remained suspended through the land port from July 27 to August 1, reports BSS. General Secretary of C&FAA of HLP Abdur Rahman Litan said all activities including imports, exports, customs clearance, loading and unloading of the goods resumed yesterday.

“Twenty-four goods-laden trucks from India have already reached Ban-

gladesh through the HLP from 12 noon to 4 pm yesterday and the process continues,” Litan said.

However, movement of passport and visa holder Bangladeshi and Indian nationals remained normal through the Immigration Check Post at the HLP during the period despite closure of export-import activities, the sources said. l

B2

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Post-vacation trade begin on flat note n Tribune Report

Company

Turnover (Million Taka)

4,287.10 100,520,174

Number of Contract

Textile sector performed well spurred by the news of increased export in USA and EU. In the financial sector, non-banking financial institution edged higher and banks lower.

Declined earnings increased sale pressure of Beximco, the flagship company of the Industrial conglomerate Beximco Group. The scrip was down by 8.64% to secure worst position in top ten losers’ list.

Lanka Bangla Securities said the Matijheel street opened with mixed participation in trading floor. “Investors were sent on a wild ride all day, as benchmark index zigzagged up and down.”

It said the Index lost as few large cap stocks butchered by heavy selloff, which gained earlier before market closed on vacation. However, some other stocks gained owing to positive return in quarterly earnings.

“Buying spree was also present actively among the investors keeping the market breadth on flat note.”

The market saw similar number of gainers and losers as out of 206 issues traded, 128 lost, 128 gained and 39 remained unchanged.

IDLC Investments said volatility surged from the very beginning of trading with 57 scrips changing more than 3% of their respective price.

Eventually, the bourse ended flat, it said. l

Stocks ended flat amid choppy trading on the first trading day after a nine-day Eid vacation.

The market opened with red in the morning as few large cap stocks butchered by heavy sell-offs, which gained earlier before market closed on vacation.

However, some other stocks gained owing to positive return in quarterly earnings, sending the market in the negative territory.

The benchmark DSEX was down over 6 points or 0.2% to end at 4,420.

It closed higher just a day before the vacation begun on July 25. The Shariah index, however, marginally gained 3 points or 0.4% to 1,008. The comprising blue chips DS30 inched 4 points or 0.3% higher to 1,631.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, fell 10 points to 8,371.

Flow of fresh funds has helped the DSE turnover to cross Tk400-crore mark after seven weeks. It stood at Tk428 crore, a sharp increase of 26% over the previous session and highest since June 11 this year.

Backed by the heavy-weight scrips, cement led the market with 3.3% gain, followed by fuel and power 1.5%, textile 1.8% and telecommunication 1.7%.

DSE GAINERS

DSE key features August 3, 2014

Turnover (Volume)

Weekly capital market highlights

91,915

Traded Issues

297

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

140

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

152

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,324.84

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

28.18

CSE key features August 3, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

319.23

Turnover (Volume)

8,887,531

Number of Contract

12,606

Traded Issues

210

4420.61503

(-) 0.15%

▼

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

97

DSE - 30 Index :

1631.09925

(+) 0.28%

▲

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

100

CSE All Share Index:

13611.4230

(+) 0.11%

▲

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

12

CSE - 30 Index :

11147.9077

(-) 0.29%

▼

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,232.61

8371.2049

(-) 0.12%

▼

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.06

DSE LOSERS Company BEXIMCO Ltd. -A BD. Thai Alum -B CVO PetroChem RL-A Shinepukur Cera-Z PragatiLife Insu. -A R. N. Spinning-Z Shahjalal Islami -A Islami Ins.BD-A Wata Chemicals -A SonarBangla Insu. -A

Closing (% change) -9.39 -6.06 -5.44 -5.34 -4.98 -4.63 -4.55 -4.50 -4.44 -4.07

CSE LOSERS Company BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Premier Leasing-Z Shahjalal Islami -A LR Global BD MF1-A National Life I -A Miracle Industries -B Monno Ceramic -B Rupali Life Insur.-A Shinepukur Cera-Z BD. Thai Alum -B

Closing (% change) -8.89 -6.41 -5.36 -5.36 -5.08 -4.73 -4.33 -3.88 -3.85 -3.82

Average (% change) -7.47 -3.44 -3.59 -3.18 -1.55 -2.19 -3.80 -4.06 -3.03 -4.69 Average (% change) -7.41 -5.39 -2.36 -6.25 -2.18 -4.79 -1.92 -3.83 -2.85 -3.09

ANALYST

Closing average 32.94 25.24 614.79 12.49 118.44 24.99 10.62 21.26 207.38 16.27

Closing average 32.98 7.37 10.74 5.25 229.28 16.10 26.50 49.53 12.62 25.44

Weekly closing 32.80 24.80 606.80 12.40 118.30 24.70 10.50 21.20 204.50 16.50

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 284.60 83.25 49.75 324.20 135.15 617.62 0.46 532.37 718.46 0.17 59.34 33.09 5.30 255.76 16.45 31.80 48.53 323.85 197.51 569.23 0.21

36.00 26.40 637.20 13.00 121.50 25.80 11.30 22.00 219.00 17.10

Weekly high

32.80 7.30 10.60 5.30 222.50 16.10 26.50 49.50 12.50 25.20

35.10 7.60 11.00 5.30 245.00 16.40 26.60 49.60 13.00 26.00

Weekly low

Turnover in million

32.40 24.60 602.30 12.30 115.00 24.20 9.90 19.90 200.00 16.00

Weekly low

527.450 13.368 10.728 0.853 0.533 9.560 7.983 2.228 6.549 2.004

Turnover in million

32.40 7.20 10.10 5.20 222.50 16.00 26.50 49.50 11.70 24.50

50.951 0.037 0.856 0.011 0.321 0.032 0.032 0.099 0.032 0.302

11.49 9.88 9.63 9.31 9.06 8.94 8.89 6.21 5.81 5.60

Latest EPS 1.12 0.84 -3.16 0.64 2.38 3.12 -0.88 1.92 6.24 1.52

Latest EPS 1.12 0.12 -0.88 0.64 12.46 0.19 0.28 5.33 0.64 0.84

Latest PE 29.4 30.0 -ve 19.5 49.8 8.0 -ve 11.1 33.2 10.7

Latest PE 29.4 61.4 -ve 8.2 18.4 84.7 94.6 9.3 19.7 30.3

Company Hwa Well Textiles-N Mozaffar H.Spinning-N B I F C -A Delta SpinnersA ACI Limited- A ACI Formulations-A Matin Spinning-N The Peninsula CTG.-N Safko Spinning-A LafargeS Cement-Z

Closing (% change) 9.90 9.85 9.77 9.57 8.73 6.54 6.45 5.81 5.58 5.50

Average (% change) 7.90 11.35 6.94 8.33 6.42 8.10 9.23 5.23 4.23 5.78 Average (% change) 9.31 7.86 9.77 7.03 7.93 8.02 5.68 4.35 3.64 4.27

Closing average 316.49 63.37 20.04 43.72 28.16 285.94 14.68 45.51 35.69 408.33

Closing average 43.92 28.41 14.60 20.10 285.19 89.27 45.60 35.71 20.52 88.66

Weekly closing 321.10 64.50 20.50 44.60 28.90 289.90 14.70 46.20 36.40 407.60

Weekly closing 44.40 29.00 14.60 20.60 290.30 88.00 46.20 36.40 20.80 90.10

Weekly high 323.00 64.50 20.50 44.60 29.00 289.90 14.70 47.00 36.80 409.00

Weekly high 44.40 29.00 14.60 20.60 290.30 90.80 47.00 36.60 20.90 90.40

Weekly low 296.00 60.00 18.90 40.80 27.00 250.00 13.00 43.20 34.20 405.00

Weekly low 41.30 27.20 14.60 19.30 277.90 87.90 44.00 34.20 19.00 85.00

Turnover in million 1.804 103.688 40.835 102.621 29.036 252.596 3.910 86.757 161.592 0.245

Turnover in million 3.514 2.912 0.117 5.428 4.915 0.643 4.852 26.348 0.152 12.147

Latest EPS 33.24 3.04 0.55 3.99 2.27 5.28 0.24 2.99 1.32 4.20

Latest EPS 3.99 2.27 0.24 0.55 5.28 6.28 2.99 1.32 1.08 2.42

Latest PE 9.5 20.8 36.4 11.0 12.4 54.2 61.2 15.2 27.0 97.2

Latest PE 11.0 12.5 60.8 36.5 54.0 14.2 15.3 27.1 19.0 36.6

News, analysis and recent disclosers Dividend: 8THICB: 120% cash, 7THICB: 130% cash, 12.08.2014, 6THICB: 110% cash, 5THICB: 225% cash , 4THICB: 250% cash, 3RDICB: 250% cash, 2NDICB: 400% cash, 1STICB: 800% cash. Record date: 12.08.2014.

METROSPIN: Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh Limited (CRAB) has announced the entity rating (surveillance) of the Company as "BBB3" based on audited financial statements up to June 30, 2013; unaudited financial statement up to 31 March 2014, bank liability position as on June 30, 2014 and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

STANCERAM: National Credit Ratings Limited (NCR) has announced the rating of the Company as "BBB+" in the long term and "ST-3" in the short term based on audited financial statements of the Company of June 30, 2013.

Un-Audited Financials: ABBANK: (H/Y): NPAT=Tk. 809.55 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 1.52 as against Tk. 394.70 million and Tk. 0.74 respectively*.

CITYBANK: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 742.08 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 0.89 as against Tk. 400.52 million and Tk. 0.48 respectively*.

ALARABANK: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 1,179.42 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 1.25 as against Tk. 688.34 million and Tk. 0.73 respectively*.

PRIMEBANK: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 1,011.99 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 0.98 as against Tk. (650.11) million and Tk. (0.63) respectively.*

DHAKABANK: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 500.98 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 0.88 as against Tk. 401.45 million and Tk. 0.71 respectively*.

NCCBANK: (H/Y): NPAT=Tk. 349.96 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 0.44 as against Tk. 279.47 million and Tk. 0.35 (restated) respectively*.

SOUTHEASTB: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 1,542.51 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 1.68 as against Tk. 1,187.10 million and Tk. 1.30 respectively*.

ONEBANKLTD: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 436.71 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 0.83 as against Tk. 479.64 million and Tk. 0.91 respectively*.

PLFSL: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 105.24 million with EPS of Tk. 0.41 as against Tk. 147.08 million and Tk. 0.57 respectively*.

PREMIERLEA: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 5.87 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 0.05 as against Tk. 33.46 million and Tk. 0.31 respectively*.

BIFC: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 47.45 million with EPS of Tk. 0.71 as against Tk. (62.82) million and Tk. (0.94) respectively*.

BRACBANK: (H/Y): NPAT=Tk. 959.24 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 1.77 as against Tk. 970.44 million and Tk. 1.99 respectively*.

PHOENIXFIN: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 188.27 million with EPS of Tk. 1.55 as against Tk. 183.43 million and Tk. 1.51 respectively*.

SHAHJABANK: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. (594.12) million with consolidated basic EPS of Tk. -0.89 (restated –0.81) as against Tk. 206.87 million and Tk. 0.31(restated 0.28) respectively*.

MERCANBANK:; (H/Y): NPAT=Tk.

430.39 million with consolidated basic EPS of Tk. 0.65 ( restated 0.58) as against Tk. 227.88 million and Tk. 0.35 ( restated 0.31) respectively*.

KAY&QUE: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. (3.05) million with EPS of Tk. (0.62) as against Tk. (2.83) million and Tk. (0.59) respectively*.

BSRMSTEEL: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 818.59 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 2.40 as against Tk. 947.45 million and Tk. 2.77 respectively*.

BDWELDING: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 7.08 million with EPS of Tk. 0.17 as against Tk. 11.95 million and Tk. 0.29 respectively*.

KPCL: (H/Y): NPAT=Tk. 1,158.80 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 3.21 as against Tk. 1,074.13 million and Tk. 2.97 respectively*.

ORIONPHARM: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 709.64 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 3.03 as against Tk. 542.31 million and Tk. 2.32 respectively*.

ACIFORMULA: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 75.82 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 1.68 as against Tk. 5.17 million and Tk. 0.11 respectively*.

ACI: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 158.31 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 4.61 as against Tk. 24.22 million and Tk. 0.71 respectively*.

GHCL: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 88.05 million with EPS of Tk. 1.22 as against Tk. 78.96 million and Tk. 1.10 respectively*.

SONARGAON: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. (12.78) million with EPS of Tk. (0.48) as against Tk. (10.30) million and Tk. (0.39) respectively*.

ARGONDENIM: (H/Y): NPAT= Tk. 159.47 million with EPS of Tk. 1.93 as against Tk. 110.63 million and Tk. 1.34 (restated) respectively*.

Investors were sent on a wild ride all day, as benchmark index zigzagged up and down

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Weekly high

2nd ICB M F -A Shahjibazar Power-N Delta SpinnersA Hwa Well Textiles-N Mozaffar H.Spinning-N ACI Limited- A B I F C -A Matin Spinning-N The Peninsula CTG.-N Libra Infusions-A

Closing (% change)

CSE GAINERS

DSE Broad Index :

CSE Selected Index :

Monday, August 4, 2014

% change 6.64 1.94 1.16 7.56 3.15 14.41 0.01 12.42 16.76 1.38 0.77 0.12 5.97 0.38 0.74 1.13 7.55 4.61 13.28 0.00

Million Taka 15.70 6.49 1.95 25.11 15.65 37.25 49.55 47.14 22.49 5.38 24.68 1.09 17.94 1.35 1.41 3.00 22.67 33.00 54.82 0.00

CSE

% change 4.06 1.68 0.50 6.49 4.05 9.63 0.00 12.81 12.19 5.82 1.39 6.38 0.28 4.64 0.35 0.37 0.78 5.86 8.53 14.18 0.00

Million Taka 300.30 89.74 51.70 349.31 150.81 654.88 0.46 581.93 765.60 22.66 64.72 57.78 6.39 273.70 17.80 33.21 51.53 346.52 230.51 624.06 0.21

Total

% change 6.43 1.92 1.11 7.47 3.23 14.01 0.01 12.45 16.38 0.48 1.38 1.24 0.14 5.86 0.38 0.71 1.10 7.41 4.93 13.35 0.00

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Grameenphone-A ACI Limited- A Padma Oil Co. -A The Peninsula CTG.-N LafargeS Cement-Z Meghna Petroleum -A FAR Chemical-N Shahjibazar Power-N Hwa Well Textiles-N CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BEXIMCO Ltd. -A The Peninsula CTG.-N Grameenphone-A FAR Chemical-N LafargeS Cement-Z Padma Oil Co. -A Appollo Ispat CL -N Square Pharma -A BD Submarine Cable-A G Next Fashions-A

Volume shares 16,013,352 895,239 883,383 523,237 4,527,800 1,825,000 543,418 1,844,500 1,636,200 2,347,500

Volume shares 1,544,925 737,800 49,800 233,500 137,000 25,100 272,400 30,440 39,603 391,028

Value in million 527.45 279.07 252.60 179.28 161.59 160.40 153.54 109.94 103.69 102.62

Value in million 50.95 26.35 15.52 13.89 12.15 8.63 7.96 7.71 7.15 7.05

% of total turnover 12.30 6.51 5.89 4.18 3.77 3.74 3.58 2.56 2.42 2.39

% of total turnover 16.54 8.56 5.04 4.51 3.94 2.80 2.58 2.50 2.32 2.29

Weekly closing 32.80 313.10 289.90 347.30 36.40 89.90 284.40 59.20 64.50 44.60

Weekly closing 32.80 36.40 313.20 59.00 90.10 348.30 29.40 252.50 180.00 18.00

Price change -9.39 1.69 8.94 4.29 5.81 5.15 3.04 5.15 9.88 9.31

Weekly opening 36.20 307.90 266.10 333.00 34.40 85.50 276.00 56.30 58.70 40.80

Weekly high 36.00 320.00 289.90 348.00 36.80 90.00 285.30 61.00 64.50 44.60

Weekly low 32.40 305.00 250.00 320.00 34.20 85.10 270.00 57.50 60.00 40.80

Weekly average 32.94 311.72 285.94 342.63 35.69 87.89 282.54 59.60 63.37 43.72

Price change -8.89 5.81 1.79 5.36 5.50 5.10 3.16 -0.82 -0.39 1.12

Weekly opening 36.00 34.40 307.70 56.00 85.40 331.40 28.50 254.60 180.70 17.80

Weekly high 35.10 36.60 314.00 61.20 90.40 349.00 29.80 255.00 182.00 19.50

Weekly low 32.40 34.20 305.10 56.80 85.00 332.00 28.50 251.70 164.00 16.40

Weekly average 32.98 35.71 311.69 59.49 88.66 343.97 29.21 253.30 180.52 18.02

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

China, Asian factory growth gathers pace n Reuters, Bangalore Manufacturing activity in China and most of Asia gathered pace in July as firms responded to burgeoning new orders by raising output, hinting at a revival in global trade, although euro zone factories barely managed to chug along.

China’s official manufacturing purchasing managers’ index (PMI) rose to 51.7 in July - the strongest since April 2012 - beating expectations for 51.4 and up from 51 in June. The HSBC/Markit measure also rose to 51.7, an 18-month peak.

A comparable survey in the euro zone disappointed, however, as factories there grew less than expected, with the PMI at 51.8, matching June’s reading and below a flash estimate.

A reading above 50 separates growth from contraction.

While the China PMI suggests Beijing’s stimulus measures were gaining traction in the world’s second largest economy, the lull in euro zone factories and firms’ inability to increase prices underscored the fragility of Europe’s recovery.

“There are clear disparities between Europe and Asia in the PMIs but ... exports should pick up reasonably well globally and the euro zone’s largest economy, Germany, should benefit from it,” Commerzbank economist Peter Dixon said.

The latest CIPS/Markit data for Britain showed the weakest factory growth in a year along with modest price rises.

The PMI fell sharply to 55.4 in July from 57.2 in June. Markit said the index was still well above its long-term average.

The lull in continental Europe comes despite data this week showing US economic growth rebounded in April-June after a winter slump. A survey due later

at its fastest pace in 17 months in July, driven by a surge in new orders and output, while Taiwanese manufacturers also reported a robust improvement in overall business conditions on rising export demand.

Input prices rose sharply for Indian factories, however, indicating inflation may remain elevated as firms seek to pass on the higher costs to consumers, limiting chances of a rate cut from the Reserve Bank of India at next week’s meeting.

South Korea also reported exports to the United States expanded by over 19% in July, although subdued inflation and weakness in shipments to China kept alive the prospect of an interest rate cut at this month’s central bank policy review.

But no pricing power in euro zone

Workers look at machines moving newly made raw bricks at a factory in Huaibei, Anhui province on Friday is likely to show US factory activity expanding at its fastest pace this year.

The Institute for Supply Management (ISM) index is expected to rise to 56 from 55.3 in June, according to a Reuters poll.

Much will also depend on US jobs data due on Friday. US employers are expected to have added 233,000 new jobs in July, fewer than the 288,000 created in June, but still considered a healthy rate, required for faster economic growth.

That should keep the Federal Reserve on track to wean the economy off stimulus by October and begin raising interest rates from record lows in the first half of next year.

Swelling asian order books

Major Asian economies that have long thrived on exports to the West slowed in recent years as faltering economic recoveries in the United States, Britain and other industrialised nations hurt demand for their products.

But with export orders flooding fac-

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REUTERS

tories in China, India and Taiwan, according to the latest PMI reports, and with brighter signs of an economic revival in the United States and Britain, that is set to change.

Analysts said the strong China numbers point to better economic growth than the 7.5% seen in the second quarter.

“Taken literally, these PMIs signal an exceptionally strong start for thirdquarter growth in China,” said Annette Beacher, head of Asia-Pacific research at TD Securities in Singapore.

India’s factory activity expanded

Worryingly for euro zone policymakers, however, still-feeble growth in output and new business meant factories in the 18-country bloc were barely able to increase prices in July.

The latest PMI data came a day after news that euro zone inflation dropped to 0.4% last month, its lowest since the depths of the financial crisis nearly five years ago.

The European Central Bank announced a raft of measures in June to counter the threat of deflation, including cutting the deposit rate below zero to compel banks to lend. It will also offer hundreds of billions of euros more of long-term cash to banks later this year, tied to lending to businesses.

But the rising deflationary risks suggested by the survey could hamper its efforts to spur growth, if companies defer spending on expectations that prices may fall further. l

Oil prices mixed in Asia n AFP, Singapore

Oil prices were mixed in Asia Friday, coming under pressure following a selloff on Wall Street and concerns about unplanned refinery shutdowns in the US midwest, analysts said.

US benchmark West Texas (WTI) Intermediate for September delivery eased nine cents to $98.08 while Brent crude for September gained six cents to $106.08 in afternoon trade.

WTI fell $2.10 in New York trade and Brent declined 49 cents in London on Thursday.

“Oil prices are under pressure at the moment after heavy selling on Wall Street,” Michael McCarthy, market strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney, told AFP. The equities sell-off has been attributed to a range of factors, including weak European inflation data, the Argentine default and softer US corporate earnings.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 1.88 percent to 16,563.30, erasing all its gains since the end of 2013.

Analysts said oil prices were also pressured by reports that a number of oil refineries in the US midwest were experiencing outages.

The concern is that crude inventories will build at the closely-watched Cushing, Oklahoma oil-trading hub where WTI is priced, with the supply glut dampening prices.

The outages come ahead of planned maintenance in September at many refineries as the summer travel season ends.

The outages are seen to have a greater impact on WTI prices. Brent crude is more leveraged to the international oil market. l

P&G to sell up to 100 brands to revive sales, cut costs

India plans $1.5bn Dollar holds firm ahead cellphone airwaves of jobs data auction board was quite dovish on the labour n AFP, Tokyo n Reuters n Reuters, Mumbai market after a meeting this week, NaIndia plans to hold an auction of airwaves for mobile phone network operators in February next year and aims to raise an initial $1.5bn, according to a draft government plan seen by Reuters.

The Department of Telecommunications plans to sell radio wave frequencies in the 800, 900 and 1800 megahertz bands in the auction that is planned to open on Feb. 3, according to the memorandum.

The government is expecting to raise 93.55bn rupees ($1.53bn) from the auction during the current fiscal year ending March 2015 although total revenues from the auction would be much higher as carriers are required to pay up to a third of the winning price initially and the remainder in instalments over a number of years. l

The dollar inched up against other major currencies in Asia on Friday as market players expected upcoming US jobs data would be solid.

The dollar was at 102.93 yen in Tokyo afternoon trade, compared with 102.80 yen in New York Thursday afternoon.

The euro stayed weak after data showed eurozone inflation slowed to 0.4% in July, its lowest level since late 2009 in the aftermath of the global financial crisis.

The common currency bought $1.3384 against $1.3390 in US trade while firming to 137.79 yen from 137.65 yen.

Investors were waiting for US payrolls data to be released later Friday.

Attention was especially high after the Federal Reserve’s policy-setting

tional Australia Bank (NAB) said.

Jobs creation will have stayed solid in July even if some easing, NAB said, forecasting an increase of 230,000 in nonfarm payrolls after the 288,000 gain in June.

Strong jobs data could fuel speculation that Federal Reserve would raise its benchmark rate sooner than the earlier expected second half of 2015.

Capital Economics said Argentina’s default was likely to have limited impact on other emerging markets and US nonfarm payrolls were set to rise.

“Most of the evidence suggests that labour market conditions remained strong in July,” it said in a note, projecting non-farm payroll employment had increased by around 225,000 in July.

The dollar also went up against other Asia-Pacific currencies. l

Procter & Gamble Co, the world’s largest household products maker, said it could sell about half of its brands in the next two years and cut jobs to revive sales growth and save costs, sending its shares up as much as 4.3%.

The maker of Gillette razors and Tide detergent said it would consider selling about 90 to 100 brands whose sales have been declining for the past three years.

P&G said the 70 to 80 “core” brands it will focus on accounted for 90% of sales and more than 95% of profit over the past three years. Twenty-three of the brands have sales of between $1bn and $10bn.

“Less will be much more,” Chief Executive AG Lafley said. P&G did not name the brands it planned to sell, keep or discontinue, but Lafley told Reuters

the company’s family, feminine and baby care business would lose fewer brands than its other four businesses.

The business, which houses brands such as Pampers diapers and Always sanitary napkins, is P&G’s fastestgrowing and was the company’s second-biggest revenue contributor in the year ended June 30.

P&G’s top 80 brands had sales of about $84.1bn in 2013 while the other roughly 100 brands had sales of just $2.4bn, according to Sanford Bernstein

analyst Ali Dibadj.

Dibadj expects the company to sell laundry brands Fab and Trojan, Perma Sharp shaving blades and Fekkai hair products among others. P&G is unlikely to sell its Gillette, Tide, Pantene, Oral B, Olay and Old Spice brands, he said.

P&G said it would have fewer but larger distribution centers in North America and would focus on strengthening its presence in emerging markets, or what Lafley called the company’s “engines of growth”.

Lafley told Reuters he expects the moves to result in fewer job cuts than the near 10,000 the company cut in 2002.

Sluggish sales

P&G’s revenue growth has been sluggish, with sales missing Wall Street’s estimates in nine of the last 13 quarters. l

IMF: China should set less ambitious 2015 growth target, refrain from stimulus n Reuters, Beijing China should set an economic growth target of 6.5-7% for 2015 and refrain from stimulus measures unless the economy threatens to slow sharply from that level, the International Monetary Fund said on Thursday.

Most of its directors hold that view, though some feel that an even-lower growth target is appropriate, the IMF said in the conclusion of its annual Article IV economic consultation with China.

“Regarding the growth target for 2015, while most directors concurred that a range of 6.5-7% would be consistent with the goal of transitioning to a safer and more sustainable growth path, a few other directors considered a lower target more appropriate,” the IMF said.

The IMF repeated its projection that the economic growth would dip to 7.4% this year, and decelerate further to 7.1% next year.

The IMF cut its 2014 and 2015 economic growth forecasts for China last week. It had projected in April that the world’s second-largest economy would grow 7.5% this year, in line with Beijing’s official target, and 7.3% next year.

Most Chinese government economists, however, doubt Beijing would slash its growth target to below 7% next year for fear of undermining financial stability and market confidence.

Zhu Baoliang, chief economist at State Information Centre, a top government think-tank in Beijing, said he expected the 2015 growth target to

be around 7%.

“We should set a target of around 7 percent for next year and maintain the target for a number of years,” he told Reuters.

“But we cannot cut the target by one percentage point next year, that may have a big impact,” he said, warning that a sharp lowdown could hit fiscal revenues and the financial sector.

A key uncertainty remains in the real estate sector, some further weakness could be building and because of the very large direct and indirect importance of this sector, this still poses a risk to the near-term outlook Beijing is not expected to announce its 2015 target until early next year, though some government economists have suggested a lower level to help create more room to pursue structural changes.

The Politburo, a top decision-making body of the ruling Communist Party, said earlier this week that China must maintain a “certain speed” in its development over the long term to

help resolve problems in the economy.

Reforms urged

China fixed its annual economic growth target for this year at around 7.5%, suggesting for the first time in years that there is room for growth to come in slightly under the desired level.

But after a weak start to the year, the government announced a flurry of stimulus measures to offset the drag from weak exports and a cooling property market.

Some analysts have criticised the 2014 target as one that is still too high to give China enough room to overhaul its economy to produce slower but better-quality growth.

To that end, the IMF repeated an earlier recommendation that China should not deploy any economic stimulus unless GDP growth is in danger of falling “significantly” below the target level.

Weakness in China’s real estate sector posed near-term risks for the economy despite signs of steadying, Markus Rodlauer, deputy director of the IMF’s Asia Pacific Department and the fund’s mission chief for China, told reporters.

“A key uncertainty remains in the real estate sector, some further weakness could be building and because of the very large direct and indirect importance of this sector, this still poses a risk to the near-term outlook,” he said.

Such near-term risks in the economy remained manageable due to the government’s policy buffers, but Beijing must push reforms as the current path of growth is unsustainable, he added.

The fund urged authorities to free up bank deposit interest rates, remove implicit guarantees in the financial and corporate sectors, and open more industries up for competition.

Yuan remains undervalued

In line with the modest economic cooldown, the IMF estimated that annual inflation in China may ease to 2% this year, a good way under the government’s 3.5% target.

The fund also repeated its assessment that the yuan is “moderately undervalued”, and said it supported China’s attempt to move towards a more flexible exchange rate that is not subjected to “sustained, large and asymmetric intervention”.

The IMF stuck with its assessment that the yuan is between 5 and 10 percent undervalued, based on China’s current account surplus relative to gross domestic product, Rodlauer said.

“But again this is not an assessment that the exchange rate should be revalued or appreciated in the next few months by 5% to 10%,” he said.

The central bank is widely suspected of engineering a sharp drop in the currency earlier this year to punish speculators, though most economists expect it will eventually allow the yuan to resume a trend of gradual appreciation.

At the same time, the IMF noted that previous appreciation in the yuan’s real effective exchange rate had helped to narrow China’s external imbalances its current account surplus dropped to 1.9% of GDP last year. l

Muhammed Ali, managing director of United Commercial Bank Limited (UCB) has recently been awarded as “CEO of the Year” at the Global Brand Excellence Awards hosted by World Brand Congress on July 31, 2014 at Pan Pacific Singapore. He has 36 years of multi-dimensional experience in banking and other fields of management said a press release.

The bank’s mobile financial service named UCash has also been given an award named “Effective Use of Marketing Communication Award’.

Major Genernal Humayan Khaled recently got two years extensions for continuing being the chairperson of Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC). He had joined BJMC on July 30, 2012 after being retired from army after his 32 years of service in Army

Modhumoti Bank Limited has recently handed over a cheque to Shomi Kaiser, managing director of Dhanshiri Communication to popularise its women entrepreneur’s loan product named Modhumoti Labonnyo. Abdullah Al Islam Jakob, Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Environment and Forests who attended the programme as chief guest, presented the cheque. The programme was presided over by the bank’s MD and CEO, Md Mizanur Rahman

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Monday, August 4, 2014

India’s demands block $1tn WTO deal on customs rules

Nine reasons why India’s WTO veto shocked the world

n Reuters, Geneva

n Reuters, Geneva

The World Trade Organisation failed on Thursday to reach a deal to standardise customs rules, which would have been the first global trade reform in two decades but was blocked by India’s demands for concessions on agricultural stockpiling.

“We have not been able to find a solution that would allow us to bridge that gap,” WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo told trade diplomats in Geneva just two hours before the final deadline for a deal.

“Of course it is true that everything remains in play until midnight, but at present there is no workable solution on the table, and I have no indication that one will be forthcoming.”

The deadline passed without a breakthrough. WTO ministers had already agreed the global reform of customs procedures known as “trade facilitation” last December, but it needed to be put into the WTO rule book by July 31.

Most diplomats saw that as rubber-stamping a unique success in the WTO’s 19 year history, which according to some estimates would add $1tn and 21 million jobs to the world economy, so they were shocked when India unveiled its veto.

Trade experts say Thursday’s failure is likely to end the era of trying to cobble together global trade agreements and to accelerate efforts by smaller groups of like-minded nations to liberalise trade among themselves. India has been vocal in opposing such moves, making its veto even more surprising.

“Today’s developments suggest that there is little hope for truly global trade talks to take place,” said Jake Colvin at the National Foreign Trade Council, a leading US business group.

“The vast majority of countries who understand the importance of modernizing trade rules and keeping their promises will have to pick up the pieces and figure out how to move forward.”

Some nations have already discussed a plan to exclude India from the agreement and push ahead regardless, and the International Chamber of Commerce urged officials to “make it happen.”

“Our message is clear. Get back to the table, save this deal and get the multilateral trade agenda back on the

India’s tough diplomacy blocked a landmark world trade treaty late on Thursday, despite last-ditch talks to rescue what would have been the first global trade reform since the creation of the World Trade Organization 19 years ago.

Trade diplomats in Geneva have said they are “flabbergasted”, “astonished” and “dismayed” and described India’s position as “hostage-taking” and “suicidal”. Here are nine reasons why they say India’s stance made no sense.

1. India has been a vocal backer of world trade reform. It has criticised the small clubs of countries, led by the United States and European Union, that lost patience with the slow pace of global reforms and started to discuss faster liberalising of trade in certain areas, such as services and information technology products. India is not in any of these groups. But Thursday’s veto is likely to give them even more momentum as hope of a global trade pact, long in doubt, appears to be over.

2. India’s veto may be the beginning of the end for the WTO. Trade experts say that if the WTO’s 20-year-old rulebook does not evolve, more and more trade will be governed by new regional agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which will have their own rules and systems of resolving disputes. That could lead to a fragmented world of separate trade blocs.

3. India’s new government was widely seen as being pro-business. And yet it blocked a deal on “trade facilitation”, a worldwide streamlining of customs rules that would cut container handling times, guarantee standard procedures for getting goods to and from their destinations and kill off vast amounts of paperwork at borders around the world.

Some estimates said it would add $1 trillion to the world economy as well as 21 million jobs, 18 million of them in developing countries.

4. Nobody else was negotiating.

Thursday’s meeting was simply supposed to formally adopt the final trade negotiation text into the WTO rulebook, following its agreement by ministers at a meeting in Bali last December. India’s then Trade Minister Anand Sharma hailed the Bali deal as a landmark in the history of the WTO.

A labourer speaks on a mobile phone while lying on sacks filled with rice at the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) market yard, on the outskirts of Ahmedabad REUTERS road to completion sooner rather than later,” ICC Secretary General John Danilovich said.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, on a visit to New Delhi, had earlier said he was hopeful that differences between India and much of the rest of the world could be resolved.

But after Azevedo’s speech, US Ambassador to the WTO Michael Punke was downbeat.

“We’re obviously sad and disappointed that a very small handful of countries were unwilling to keep their commitments from the December conference in Bali, and we agree with the Director-General that that action has put this institution on very uncertain new ground,” Punke told reporters.

India had insisted that, in exchange for signing the trade facilitation agreement, it must see more progress on a parallel pact giving it more freedom to subsidise and stockpile food grains than is allowed by WTO rules. It got support from Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia.

India’s new nationalist government has insisted that a permanent agreement on its subsidised food stockpiling must be in place at the same time as the trade facilitation deal, well ahead of a 2017 target set last December in Bali.

Kerry, whose visit to India was aimed at revitalising bilateral ties but was overshadowed by the standoff, said the United States understood India’s position that it needs to provide food security for its poor but India would lose out if it refused to maintained its veto.

Deal without india?

Diplomats say India could technically attract a trade dispute if it caused the deal to collapse, although nobody wanted to threaten legal action at this stage. The summer break will give diplomats time to mull options, including moving ahead without India.

Technical details would still have to be ironed out, but there was a “credible core group” that would be ready to start talking about a such a deal in September, a source involved in the discussions said.

“What began as a murmur has become a much more active discussion in Geneva and I think that there are a lot of members in town right now that have reached the reluctant conclusion that that may be the only way to go,” he said.

An Australian trade official with knowledge of the talks said a group of countries including the United States, European Union, Australia, Japan,

IMF warns of potential risks to global growth n Reuters, Washington Sharply higher interest rates around the world could combine with weaker growth in emerging markets to slice as much as 2 percentage points off global growth in the next five years, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday.

In a report assessing how individual national policies could interact to undermine the world economy, the IMF also warned the conflict between Russia and Ukraine could reverberate to the rest of the region if sanctions against Russia escalate, hitting natural gas supplies to Europe and weakening European banks.

The resulting impact could prompt further gyrations in financial markets, in contrast to the recent period of market calm, the IMF said in its ‘spillovers’ report.

In its worst-case scenario, the IMF said the United States and United Kingdom could tighten monetary policy sooner than expected, leading to higher borrowing costs worldwide, even as key emerging market growth slows a further 0.5 percentage point over the next three years.

The two developments would reinforce each other, prompting slower growth and hurting in particular those emerging markets with large economic imbalances, such as Argentina, Brazil, Russia and Turkey.

As in past reports, the IMF said monetary tightening in rich nations would have limited negative impact on the rest of the world if it was well-communicated and prompted by better growth prospects. The

impact could also be muted if higher U.S. and UK rates come as the euro zone and Japan continue monetary easing, though this “asynchronous” tightening could cause more global exchange rate volatility.

Central banks in the United States, Japan, the euro zone and Britain sharply lowered rates to boost growth in the wake of the global financial crisis, but Britain and the United States are now preparing to reverse course.

The IMF said the more sluggish expansion in the developing world, long the engine of the global recovery, was increasingly likely due to structural, not cyclical, factors.

The IMF has downgraded growth projections for emerging markets by a cumulative 2 percentage points over the last four years. It now expects their annual

growth to slow to a 5% rate over the next five years, from an average of 7% growth from 2003 to 2008.

“Given the significant and rising contribution of (emerging markets) to the global economy over the past few decades, their recent slowdown could have far-reaching implications,” the IMF said.

Emerging markets affect the rest of the world largely through trade and financial channels; a 1 percentage point slowdown in emerging markets leads to a quarter of a percentage point loss in advanced economies, the IMF said.

But a slowdown in key emerging markets, especially Brazil, Russia, China and Venezuela, would also have a big impact on their immediate regions through avenues like oil prices and remittances. l

Canada and Norway began discussing the possibility in Geneva on Wednesday afternoon.

New Delhi cannot be deliberately excluded, since that would mean other countries slowing down containers destined for India, but if it becomes a “free-rider” it will add another nail in the coffin of attempts to hammer out global trade reform.

Trade diplomats had previously said they were reluctant to consider the idea of the all-but-India option, but momentum behind the trade facilitation pace means it may be hard to stop.

Many countries, including China and Brazil, have already notified the WTO of steps they plan to take to implement the customs accord immediately.

Other nations have begun bringing the rules into domestic law, and the WTO has set up a funding mechanism to assist. But WTO head Azevedo said he feared that while major economies had options open to them, the poorest would be left behind.

“If the system fails to function properly then the smallest nations will be the biggest losers,” he said. “It would be a tragic outcome for those economies — and therefore a tragic outcome for us all.” l

“We were able to arrive at a balanced outcome which secures our supreme national interest,” Sharma said at the time. India did not hint at any further objection until days before it wielded its veto, and even then it made no concrete demands until the WTO meeting to adopt the new rules was in progress.

5. India did not object to the deal it vetoed. Its objections were unconnected to trade facilitation. It blocked the trade facilitation deal to try to get what it wanted on something else: food security.

6. India had already got what it wanted on food security. At Bali, it forced a big concession from the United States and European Union, which initially strongly opposed its demands, but agreed that India could stockpile food at subsidised prices, reversing the trend of trying to reduce and remove trade-distorting food subsidies globally. The arrangement was temporary, but the WTO agreed to work towards a permanent solution within four years, by the end of 2017.

7. India’s demands reversed its previous position. India blocked the trade facilitation deal because it wanted the WTO to move to a permanent solution more quickly than the four-year timeline. But diplomats say that India was offered a two-year timeframe before Bali but it insisted on four.

8. India’s veto could put it in legal danger. As part of the Bali deal, India won a pledge that nobody would bring a trade dispute to challenge its food stockpiling programme, which is widely thought to have broken the WTO rules. However, diplomats say that Bali was a “package” of 10 agreements, and the only legally binding part was trade facilitation. If that fails, the package unravels, and India may lose its protection.

9. India was isolated. Cuba, Venezuela and Bolivia voiced support, but diplomats say other big developing countries such as Russia, China and Brazil, as well as India’s neighbour Pakistan, were among the chief opponents of its veto. Poorer countries stand to lose most, WTO chief Roberto Azevedo told the WTO meeting after the deal collapsed. “They’re the ones with fewer options, who are at risk of being left behind. They’re the ones that may no longer have a seat at the table.” l

Japan PM tells Brazil ‘Abenomics’ working, time to do more business n Reuters, Brasilia Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe touted the success of his economic policies on a visit to Brazil on Friday and said it was time for the two nations to expand their trade and investment partnership.

On the first visit to Brazil in a decade by a Japanese prime minister, Japanese banks extended $700m in loans to boost Brazilian soy and corn exports to Japan and help finance oil platform construction for Brazil’s growing offshore oil industry.

Abe told Brazilian business leaders that Japan has closed a 15-year deflation cycle since his stimulus policies began to kick in and there is great potential to expand trade and investment with Latin America’s biggest economy.

“With Japan growing again, we can grow with other nations,” he said in comments to executives translated by an interpreter.

“Japanese companies are eyeing Bra-

zil with great expectations,” he said later at a deal-signing meeting with President Dilma Rousseff. Brazil’s state-run oil company Petroleo Brasileiro SA signed up for a $500m loan from Mizuho Bank Ltd to build eight hulls that will be converted into floating oil platforms for deep-water oil production.

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp (SMBC), the main banking unit of Tokyo-based Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, agreed to loan Brazilian agribusiness company Amaggi $200m for soy and corn projects that will improve shipments to Japan. Brazil’s state development bank BNDES agreed to join forces with Japan’s bank for international cooperation, JBIC, to look for areas to promote investment by small and medium-sized Japanese companies in Brazil.

Besides shipbuilding, Japanese companies are interested in investing in the infrastructure Brazil needs to continue growing, Brazilian and Japanese officials said. A plan to build a high-speed

train between Brazil’s two largest cities, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, is particularly promising, they said.

Japan is Brazil’s sixth largest trading partner, with two-way trade of $15.7bn in 2012. Brazilian agribusiness is the secondlargest supplier of corn and soybeans to Japan. Japan’s enthusiasm for Abe’s economic stimulus policies has waned this year after the country’s growth sagged and investors grew impatient for more drastic structural reforms.

Rousseff thanked Japan for opening its market to Brazilian pork last year, but she asked for the lifting of a ban on Brazilian beef that Japan and a few other countries still have in place due to a mad cow scare.

Brazil’s Vale SA, the world’s largest iron ore miner, inked an agreement with Japan Oil, Gas and Metals Corp (JOGMEC) to strengthen cooperation in coal mining in Mozambique. Vale also renewed ties with JBIC for financing iron ore, coal and other mining projects. l

DILBERT

A Kenyan man shows a pair of sandals locally known as "Akalas" made from recycled tyres in the outskirts of Nairobi on July 30, 2014.

Akala sandals have soles that are crafted from car tyres and are cushioned by rubber padding. They cost ten times less (between 2 and 5 US dollars) and last ten times longer than the average footwear in local shops AFP