12 Aug, 2014

Shraban 28, 1421 Shawal 15, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 130

TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

20 pages | Price: Tk12

7 | LONG FORM

8 | WORLD

11 | OP-ED

13 | SPORT

IS THIS A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD?

ISLAMIC STATE BEHEADS, CRUCIFIES IN PUSH FOR SYRIA’S EAST

BOUND FOR RETREAT

LRB BUYS CLUB, ROPES TAMIM, WANTS SHAKIB

Unwittingly poisoning next generation

Ivy: Godfathers were behind the Study finds staggering levels of poisonous metals in toys; most parents unaware of health hazards N’ganj killings

n Tribune Desk In her most strongly worded criticism yet of the US president’s foreign policy, Barak Obama’s first-term secretary of state and potential 2016 presidential candidate, Hilary Clinton said in an interview that the US decision not to intervene early in the Syrian civil war was a “failure.”

She joined Republican critics and observers who blamed the US president for failing to do enough to support Syrians who rebelled against President Bashar al-Assad. The ensuing civil war has been raging for three years now, with Assad still in power and an increasingly well-organised Islamic fringe gaining ground, The Guardian reported.

“The failure to help build up a credible fighting force of the people who were the originators of the protests against Assad – there were Islamists, there were secularists, there was everything in the middle – the failure to do that left a big vacuum, which the jihadists have now filled,” Clinton said in an interview with The Atlantic on Sunday.

The first phase of the Syrian uprising had taken place on Clinton’s watch, during her term as secretary of state during Obama’s first term in office; she declined to serve a second term and stepped down in early 2013. Clinton is considered by many a strong contender for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination, after losing her bid to Obama in 2008.

“Great nations need organizing principles, and ‘Don’t do stupid stuff ’ is not an organising principle,” Clinton said  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

AWARE OF UN

70%

BODY PARTS AFFECTED BY TOXIC MATERIALS IN TOYS Body parts Pb Hg Cd Br Skin Lungs Kidney Bones Pancreas Blood Brain Reproductive System Eyes Stomach Heart Intestine Liver Pb=Lead • Hg=Mercury • Cd=Cadmium • Br=Bromine • Cr=Chromium

Toxic metals

ents of the survey that accompanied the study, are unaware of the threats that these toxic toys can pose to the health of children and also the environment.

More disturbing is that reputed global toy brands such as Barbie and Lego are no different. The levels of lead, chromium and cadmium found in some tested Barbie and Lego toys were higher than European standards.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Average verage Range Concentration (ppm) (ppm)

Lowest Highest Lowest Cadmium Highest Lowest Bromine Highest Lowest Chromium Highest

21.4 8,305.8 16.2 490.5 5.6 3923 9.6 2052.2

Lead

Children run the highest risks of getting exposed, not only because they are the predominant users, but also because chances of contamination escalate at the early stages of cerebral and physical development. Another reason why the risks climb higher is that kids often tend of put the toys in their mouths.

According to the survey conducted by the Eco-Social Development Organ-

INTL. STANDARD STANDAR

EU

US

401.78

13.5

90

18.48

1.9

75

311.97 330.44

Data Deficient III 37.5 60 IV 0.02

CONTENT OF TOXIC MATERIALS IN SAMPLES TESTED

75%

62.5%

27.5%

20%

Bromine

Lead

Chromium

Cadmium

SOURCE: ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (ESDO)

SOURCE: ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION (ESDO)

or regulation to monitor the quality of the toys.

“Any sort of heavy metal is hazardous to health and it is highly risky for the children. Toys should be brought into regulation soon considering child health,” he said.

Apart from cancer, presence of high levels of heavy metals may also lead to children developing learning disabilities and hormonal problems.

Cr

Narayanganj City Corporation Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy yesterday said the “godfathers of Narayanganj” were behind the murders of seven people.

“They were directly and indirectly involved in the seven murders,” she said.

Asked who the godfathers were, Ivy gave a vague reply: “The whole country knows who these godfathers of Narayanganj are. There is no need to mention their names here. They are still there and the people of Narayanganj are not in peace.”

Ivy Rahman demanded that the main accused Nur Hossain be brought back from India immediately and questioned.

She made the remarks while addressing a media briefing after giving a deposition before the seven-member official probe body.

On May 6, in line with a High Court directive, the Public Administration Ministry formed the probe committee.

Ivy said: “The committee asked me about Nur Hossain and slain Nazrul Islam as they were councillors of Narayanganj City Corporation. I told them how much I knew about them.”

Hinting at the phone conversation between Nur Hossain and Narayanganj MP Shamim Osman, Ivy said: “Nur Hossain should be brought back for questioning about all these.”

When reminded that her political arch rival Shamim Osman had said her relatives were involved with the murders, the mayor said; “Bring us to the trial process...I have no objection...

TOXINS FOUND IN LOCAL TOYS

isation (ESDO), a non-government entity, around 97% of toys, tested for the purpose of the study, contained high concentration of lead, cadmium, bromine and chromium.

“High concentration” of toxic metals means that the levels are significantly above the ceilings recommended by the European Union and the United States.

Disturbingly, 70% of the respond-

S LATIF HOSSAIN/DT INFOGRAPHICS

ALARMING POINTS TO PONDER • Toys imported and locally-made, contain high levels of toxic heavy metals which may result in deadly diseases such as cancer • there is no specific guideline in place that may govern the import and distribution of such toys • BSTI – is not known for checking if imported toys are healthy for children • Around 58% of the respondents said their children put toys in their mouths. 20% of the surveyed parents said they had noticed their children face health problems after using the toys.

97%

ENTS A PAR RE

A TOXIC STORY

HLY TOX IC HIG

HREATS ET TH

Hillary blames Obama for rise of Jihadists

TOYS

N

TERIALS MA

It is normal for toys to contain plastics, small motors, miniature wheels; but toxic metals such as lead, chromium, cadmium – not so normal. Most parents, oblivious to the fact, expose their kids to the imminent health hazards associated with using such toxic toys.

A recent study has revealed that the toys – both imported and locally made – that Bangladeshi kids play with every day, contain high levels of some very toxic heavy metals which may result in deadly diseases such as cancer, replacing the joy of playing with toys.

What is more alarming is that there is no specific guideline in place that may govern the import and distribution of such toys, although Bangladeshi toy manufacturers have to go through strict monitoring procedures for getting their products into the US and European markets.

Rayhan Kabir, operations manager of Pebble Child BD Ltd, said: “When we export toys to the EU markets, we have to follow the EU Toy Safety law, which ensures that there is nothing harmful for the children. In the United States and Australia, we cannot export toys without certification.”

Even the Bangladesh Standards Testing Institute (BSTI) – the authority in charge of looking after the quality of products – is not known for checking whether these imported toys are healthy for Bangladeshi children.

BSTI Director Kamal Prashad Das said they had not examined toys in their laboratories and there was no law

n Mohosinul Karim

SC TOY ONTA I

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

Authorities call off salvage operation PCJSS man ‘tortured to n death’ in army custody Ashif Islam Shaon from Mawa and Mohammad Jamil Khan in Dhaka

The authorities yesterday called off the eight-day operation in search of Pinak 6 that sank in the Padma with 300 passengers, after having failed to even locate the position of the launch.

Saiful Hasan Badal, deputy commissioner (DC) of Munshiganj, said: “Considering the reality, the river and weather conditions, we believe there is no scope of continuing the operation.

No positive outcome is possible if we continue the search.”

He also said: “At present, Padma wave is 5-6 nautical miles per hour strong and cautionary signal three is on for all sea stations; it is quite impossible to continue the operation in this weather.”

At a briefing at the Mawa Rest House yesterday morning, the DC also told reporters: “The government, administration and the public have done everything possible. Unfortunately, we have not found the launch and so we are calling off the operation.”

The DC said most of the victims’ bodies had decomposed with around 18 unidentified already buried. “Con-

n Our Correspondent, Khagrachhari

Locals near the Mawa launch terminal continued their efforts at finding the capsized Pinak 6 launch by using traditional method of dragging a heavy object at the bottom of the river. Although the locals suspected of finally finding the location of the sunken vessel on Sunday, they called off their search operation yesterday MEHEDI HASAN sidering all these things, we have decided that until further orders, administration and police in all districts in downstream Padma and the Coast Guard will be on the lookout for more bodies,” he said.

“If we find even one body, it will be

sent to Madaripur. We will try to identify the body and hand it over to the family.” He also said the salvage ship Rustom would stand by at Mawa as long as needed.

According to the latest official  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

An upazila-level leader of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samity’s (PCJSS) MN Larma faction has been killed allegedly following torture by the members of Bangladesh Army in Guimara of Khagrachhari.

It is also alleged that the victim was cremated amid high security arrangement by both the army and the local police without carrying out any post-mortem examination.

The victim Duran Chakma Babu, 52, was an organiser for Matiranga upazila.

He hailed from Bhoirofa under Dighinala in the district.

The PCJSS faction and its student fronts staged demonstrations protesting the killing and the arrest of three other members. They also threatened to announce tougher programmes.

Duran was held along with three of his fellows from the PCJSS faction in a sudden raid conducted by the army men around 4:30am Saturday in the house of Nishi Moni Chakma at Indra-

n Udisa Islam

The government has decided not to change its stance regarding trying Jamaat-e-Islami for its alleged crimes against humanity during 1971, despite US Ambassador-at-Large Stephen J Rapp’s recent suggestions against trying a political party for such crimes.

Sparing Jamaat from the war crimes trial was a personal view of the US am-

bassador-at-large, Law Minister Anisul Huq said, adding that the government would move forward on its own way regarding the trial.

As far as Bangladesh was concerned, the government’s first priority was to respect its people’s wishes, the minister told the Dhaka Tribune on Sunday.

During his visit to Dhaka last week, Rapp, the US ambassador-at-large on war crimes issue, said no political party

should be tried for crimes against humanity, and the focus should be given on individuals who committed the crime.

Without mentioning the name of Jamaat-e-Islami, Rapp also said the crimes in 1971 were committed by individuals and not everybody in a political party.

In his reaction to Rapp’s comment about using “the criminal process to prosecute a political party or a large group,” the law minister reiterated that

the government had launched initiatives to further amend the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 to specify the punishment against organisations for their crimes against humanity.

The existing ICT Act includes a provision for trying an organisation for its alleged crimes against humanity, but does not specify what punishment would be handed to the organisation if it is found guilty.

5 | News

6 | Nation

12 | Entertainment

14 | Sport

3 | News

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the law minister to finalise shortly the draft of constitution amendment proposals, allowing parliament to impeach Supreme Court judges for misconduct and violation of law.

Canada’s envoy to Bangladesh said she hoped the upcoming BNP movement would not be violent, at a press briefing yesterday, reiterating a call for dialogue between the two major parties.

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Government sticking to its decision on trying Jamaat-e-Islami

INSIDE

4 | News

moni Karbari Para of Guimara. The raid was led by Maj Mobin of Guimara Regional Camp.

The arrestees are Nishi Moni Chakma, 40, Amar Kanti Chakma, 18, and Rimel Tripura, 34. They were handed over to Guimara police on Saturday night.

According to the army, they recovered two pairs of military boots and an army trouser, and organisational documents, receipts of collecting party funds, and cash worth Tk3,557 from their possessions.

Guimara OC Mohammad Abu Yusuf Mia said the raid had been conducted by the army on a tip-off that there was a meeting underway in that house to launch subversive activities. The trio was held red-handed.

Sub-Inspector Md Idris Mia has been given the charge to investigate the matter. Moreover, the OC said an extortion case had been filed against the three.

Maj Mobin said Duran Chakma had died at Matiranga Health Complex from breathing problem.

A children’s park has been occupied illegally in Khulna City. Sadly, three installations have been set up inside it upon the clearance from the city corporation authorities.

Bananas produced in the hill district Bandarban have a great demand across the country, as growers do not mix any chemicals to ripen and preserve the fruit.

Theatre troupe Natnandan made its debut through an experimental play titled “Chandrabatee.” Four shows of the play on four consecutive days began on August 8.

Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who capped a record-breaking career with the national team by winning the World Cup last month, has retired from international football.

Sources told the Dhaka Tribune that the drafting section of the Law Ministry had almost completed preparing the draft.

Meanwhile, asked about the US diplomat’s recent remarks, prosecutor Tureen Afroz said: “Ambassador Rapp has expressed his views on the matter of the trial of organisation. It could be his personal or official position, but the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Parliament to sit Sept 1, bill on impeaching Supreme Court judges likely n Kamran Reza Chowdhury The third session of the 10th Jatiya Sangsad will commence September 1, two weeks after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said she favoured amending the constitution to enable the legislature to remove judges from office.

President Abdul Hamid yesterday convened the third session of parliament.

In order to restore a provision giving parliament the authority to remove judges, contained in the 1972 constitution and later dropped by the Ziaur Rahman regime, the government must place a bill in parliament.

INDIGENOUS PEOPLE

Political unwillingness blamed for discrimination n Abu Bakar Siddique

The political unwillingness of successive governments has caused the country’s indigenous people to stay far behind in achieving their political rights, speakers said at a discussion yesterday.

They also urged the government to ensure all kinds of rights for the indigenous people by recognising them in the constitution.

“The achievements of the country’s indigenous people over the last two decades are very few. Regarding the political rights, the achievement is none because of the political unwillingness,” said former information commissioner Sadeka Halim.

Addressing the programme at the city’s National Museum Auditorium, she said it was “unexpected” that the country was yet to constitutionally recognise the indigenous people.

Fazle Hossain Badsha, president of the Parliamentary Caucus on Indigenous Affairs, also called for constitutional recognition and urged the government to implement the CHT Peace Accord, signed between the government and Parbattya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti on December 2, 1997.

He also expressed the need for a properly functioning CHT Land Commission for solving the landrelated disputes in the region.

The indigenous people living on plain land would continue to be evicted from their own land by influential people, unless the government formed a separate land commission, he added.

Even though Bangladesh is a country of diversity with its different types of culture, none of the government had so far taken any initiative to sustain the harmony, claimed Sanjeeb Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum.

“Like women, the indigenous communities have also been the victim of discrimination regarding their rights because of the different cultural identity,” he said, adding that the government should promote diversity to make the country really secular.

Blaming the government for not implementing the CHT Peace Accord, Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma, chairman of Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council, said the government was not even ensuring the fundamental rights of the indigenous people.

The discussion, titled “Second international decade of world’s indigenous peoples and situation of indigenous people in Bangladesh,” was organised by Kapaeeng Foundation with the support of European Union and Oxfam. l

Monday’s cabinet meeting informally discussed the preparation of a bill to restore the original article 96 of the constitution. Law minister Anisul Huq told the cabinet meeting that the bill was being drafted, sources at the meeting said.

“The House will sit at 5pm on September 1,” Speaker of the House Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury told the Dhaka Tribune Monday.

In line with parliamentary tradition, the highest body of parliament, the Business Advisory Committee, which determines the length of every session of the house, will likely sit the same day to fix the tenure of the third session.

The Business Advisory Committee is headed by the speaker of the house and includes the Leader of the House and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the leader of the opposition, the chief whip, senior ministers and members of parliament as members.

The speaker of the house said the upcoming session would likely be of short duration unless emergent issues surfaced.

According to the constitution, the gap between parliamentary sessions cannot exceed sixty days. The last session ended on July 3.

The House sat for 59 days since January. l

BNP-led alliance opts for soft programmes, for now n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

Shifting from its previous stance to announce tougher programmes after Eid to unseat the government, the 20-party alliance led by the BNP yesterday decided to reorganise the parties in the first place.

“We will not go for any large-scale programme right now. We have decided to reorganise our parties and involve people with our movement.

Then we will go for big programmes,” an alliance leader, seeking anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune.

The alliance has decided to organise

silent processions holding black flags in the capital and across the country on August 16 protesting Israeli invasion in Gaza. They will also hold a rally on August 19 in protest against the National Broadcasting Policy.

The alliance leaders would start visiting different districts from August 21.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on several occasions had threatened to declare tougher programmes after Eid to oust the government. Her alliance did not take part in the January 5 election.

Safiul Alam Prodhan, president of Jagpa, said the decisions would be dis-

Hillary blames Obama  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

referring to Obama’s slogan describing his foreign policy thinking.

“I think Israel did what it had to do to respond to the [Hamas] rockets.

Israel has a right to defend itself. The steps Hamas has taken to embed rockets and command and control facilities and tunnel entrances in civilian areas, this makes a response by Israel difficult,” Clinton said referring to the recent Israel-Gaza conflict.

Israel has been widely criticised for the deaths of Palestinian non-combatants, including hundreds of children, and the destruction of UN schools, hospitals and thousands of homes during its month-long war in Gaza. The

Obama administration, also criticised for not speaking out enough against civilian deaths rebuked Israel at least once over the civilian death toll.

When asked whether Israel had taken the necessary steps to prevent the deaths of civilians, Clinton said that mistakes were made in war and that even the US, which took great care to avoid civilian casualties, was not able to avoid it entirely.

“We’ve made them. I don’t know a nation, no matter what its values are – and I think that democratic nations have demonstrably better values in a conflict position – that hasn’t made errors, but ultimately the responsibility rests with Hamas.” l

PCJSS man ‘tortured to death’  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

He said, on information given by the four detainees, they had taken Duran to Bailyachhari rubber grove to recover hidden arms around 9:15am on Sunday. The operation was led by Matiranga Zone’s Captain Kauser Badal.

Duran tried to flee the scene as the army men had found a light machine-gun and two rounds of ammunition, and jumped off the hill. “He fell on a tree and hurt his chest. As he started to face breathing problem, the team took him to Matiranga Health Complex around 10:30am. He died there around 1:30pm. Doctors told us that Duran had breathing problems from before.”

Matiranga police OC Mohammad Moin Uddin Khan said the body was taken to Khagrachhari Sadar Hospital to conduct a post-mortem examination and that no one from the victim’s family had contacted the police.

Other versions differ Locals and several police personnel, seeking anonymity, claimed that after the raid early Saturday, the four PCJSS members had been taken to the Guimara Regional Camp and tortured severely until night. Duran fell sick at

that time, and so he was not handed over to the police.

Locals also say the activists had gone to the house of Nishi Moni to hold a regular organisational meeting and that it was an informal one.

Police say the trio, who were sued for extortion, had no cases filed against them.

Sources in police also confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune that the body Duran had not been taken to Khagrachhari Hospital for post-mortem examination and had been kept somewhere unknown until the night.

Witnesses said the body was taken to Matiranga Mohajan Para cremation ground around 11:30pm on Sunday amid tight security.

Members of the army and the police cordoned the area, entered the ground breaking the gate and cremated Duran’s body by putting petrol on it. The cremation ground authorities were not informed about the issue either.

Locals suspect that the army was behind the death of Duran since the body had not been examined and was cremated hurriedly. l

Ivy: Godfathers were behind the N’ganj killings  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

But, you will have to prove it first... I think the probe committee has already got the message about who are behind the killings.”

The committee interrogated Ivy for about an hour and a half at the secretariat office of probe committee chief Shahjahan Ali Molla, also an additional secretary. Asked whether the mayor had given any crucial information, Shahjahan said: “We have told you everything we can.”

When asked whether the committee would go to India to interrogate Nur Hossain, he said: “Wait and see. You will be informed if we go.”

Mollah also said: “We have also summoned Narayanganj MP Shamim Osman to give his statement before the probe committee. He is expected to at-

Bereaved relatives wait on the bank of the Brahmaputra for the dead bodies of their dear ones who drowned in a boat capsize near Korai Char in Gaibandha yesterday FOCUS BANGLA

tend the interrogation at 11.30am tomorrow [Tuesday].”

Apart from Mollah, the committee comprises of three other officials from the Public Administration ministry, two from the Home Ministry and two from the Law Ministry.

Earlier, the probe body interrogated former deputy commissioner of Narayanganj Monoj Kanti Boral and Superintendent of Police Nurul Islam in connection with the case. Sources in the committee said the investigation was almost over and they hoped to submit report to the High Court by the end of next month.

On April 27, Narayanganj panel mayor Nazrul Islam, three of his associates and chauffeur, and district court practitioner Chandan Kumar Sarker and his chauffeur were abducted from the Fatul-

lah area in the city.

Three days later, the bodies of the six people was found floating in Shitalakkhya River, while another body was recovered the next day.

On June 6, Lt Commander (retd) MM Rana, a former RAB 11 official from the Navy who lost his job after the seven murders, revealed in his confessional statement that the crime had been committed following instructions from a high official of the force named Zia. Rana confessed to his involvement in the killings. Two other former RAB 11 officials Lt Col (retd) Tarek Sayeed Mohammad and Major (retd) Arif Hossain, also confessed to their involvement in the killings. The seven-member probe body also interrogated Additional Director General of RAB Ziaul Ahsan in connection with the murders. l

closed to the media today after holding a secretary general-level meeting of the alliance at the BNP’s Nayapaltan office.

“Madam [Khaleda Zia] will not visit any district right now. First, we will visit different districts. Fixture of the tour is yet to be finalised,” he added.

These issues were discussed in the BNP’s Standing Committee meeting on Sunday night and finalised at yesterday’s alliance meeting held at Khaleda’s Gulshan office.

Jatiya Party (Zafar) chief Kazi Zafar Ahmed and Liberal Democratic Party President Oli Ahmed did not join the meeting for illness. l

Nilu relieved for joining PM’s iftar n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

National People’s Party Chairman Sawkat Hossain Nilu was dropped from the BNP-led 20 party alliance yesterday as he had joined the prime minister’s iftar programme.

“As per the BNP’s statement, Nilu joined the prime minister’s programme violating the alliance’s policy. This is why the meeting has decided to exclude him from the alliance,” Safiul Alam Prodhan, president of BNP ally Jagpa, told the Dhaka Tribune.

In his place, Fariduzzaman Farhad, general secretary of the NPP, was in-

cluded in the alliance. Earlier, Nilu and Farhad expelled each other and the duo tried their best to attend the alliance meeting.

The decision was made at a meeting of the alliance chaired by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia at her Gulshan office. Nilu was absent in the meeting.

Farhad said: “I wanted to know the reason of his joining the event. Therefore, he expelled me from the party.

Then the party leaders expelled him.”

The NPP is a political party registered with the Election Commission.

Nilu was not available on phone for comments. l

Government sticking to its decision  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

ICT law does not depend upon what he or the USA or in that matter, any other country will think.

"At the tribunal, we are having the trial under our own law,” she added.

Conducting prosecutors had been claiming that it was possible to try Jamaat based on the existing law.

Tureen said: “Section 20 (2) of the ICT Act suggests that the judges can mete out any punishment to a person, if convicted, ranging from death penalty to a ban. Jamaat can be punished under the ICT act as a legal person.”

Commenting on the government initiative to amend the act, she expressed hopes that the amendment would clarify on the punishment of

organisations.

On the other hand, war crimes campaigner Shahriar Kabir said Rapp was not the authority to say anything on Bangladesh’s war crime trials, adding that Jamaat must face trial.

He said the Foreign Ministry needed to maintain a strong policy for having a good understanding with “powerful countries.” He added that there was a need for advocacy to create a better image of the war crimes trial, while the other countries also needed to know that the war crimes trial was an internal issue of Bangladesh.

“The US considers Jamaat as a moderate Islamist party; and knowing about all its terrorist activities, the US wants continuation of terrorism to keep the opportunity of military

intervention. The US is doing all these to maintain their double-standard character,” Shahriar Kabir claimed.

During his fifth visit to Dhaka, Rapp did not make any comment regarding Jamaat’s trial when he met with the prosecution team at their office and paid a courtesy visit to the tribunal.

He only expressed his observations on trial against political parties during his meeting with the law minister and at a press conference in the American Centre.

On February 25, the tribuna's probe team submitted report on Jamaat, bringing charges of crimes against humanity, genocide, war crimes any other crimes under international law and attempt, abatement or conspiracy to commit any such crimes. l

Authorities call off salvage operation  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

count, 45 dead bodies have been recovered of which 18 remained unidentified and were buried yesterday afternoon.

The number of missing people stood at 62 on final count. Of them, 17 are male, 24 female and 21 are children.

Of the rescued bodies, 27 were handed over to their families. A total of 15 of them were male, 15 women and 15 children. At least 110 people have been rescued alive so far.

On August 4, Pinak 6 capsized in Padma River near the Mawa Terminal with nearly 300 passengers on board. Soon after, local people using boats, sea-boats and trawlers launched rescue operation.

Later, Fire Service and Civil Defense, Coast Guard, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Bangladesh Navy and the Chittagong Port Authority employed their latest technology-equipped vessels in search

of the launch.

On Saturday, survey vessel Kanadari 2 that belongs to the Chittagong Port Authority, traced a metallic object in the riverbed; but it was not Pinak 6, said DC Saiful.

During the media briefing, he also said the traditional search, however, would continue. If any local found any trace of the launch, then Rustom would pull it up.

Private rescuer Mohammad Hassan, who started operation on Sunday, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were quite sure that they had found Pinak 6 some 150 feet under water.

He said four of their divers tried to look for the vessel yesterday but the strong wave damaged their oxygen masks and they had to come back up.

The divers however left a drum at the spot on the riverbed where they thought the launch could be at.

“When the waves become normal in a few days, we will again dive in search of the vessel,” he said.

The control rooms that were set up for the salvage operation and collecting dead bodies on either sides of Padma were closed yesterday.

People from the administration and the relatives of missing people, who had gathered on the banks of Padma, have also started leaving the area.

The Dhaka Tribune talked to Ali Jobbar, who lost his daughters Halima, 20 and Tanzima, 14, and wife Jahanara Begum in the launch accident.

He said he hired a boat and tried to look for the dead bodies from Mawa to Chandpur but found nothing.

“If the authority continued the drive with boats, they could find more bodies.

I do not know what to do... I will continue looking for them for as long as I can,” said Jobbar with tears in his eyes. l

Unwittingly poisoning next generation  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

Out of the samples tested, 75% were contaminated with bromine, 62.5% with lead, 27.5% with chromium and 20% with cadmium.

The study has found high levels of lead and chromium in locally-made clay and wooden toys as well.

Lead is known as a neurotoxin with no safe level of exposure. Even small concentrations of lead can give rise to anaemia, difficulties in learning, attention, coordination, vision and speech.

Cadmium has disastrous impacts on lungs, kidneys, bones, pancreas and blood.

Toxic effects of bromine has been observed on skin, lungs, blood, eyes, stomach and heart. Chromium has toxic effects on skin, lungs, kidneys, the reproductive system and liver.

Results of the awareness survey showed that 74% of the respondent parents buy their kids foreign toys and 64% respondents do not have any idea

whether the toys they buy are safe or not. Some 88% parents said they did not have any knowledge about the presence of toxic metals in toys.

Around 58% of the respondents said their offspring put toys in their mouths.

Interestingly, 20% of the surveyed parents said they had noticed their children face health problems after using the toys.

The study also found that a lack of mass awareness and zero enforcement of law about proper disposal of discarded toys are also raising the level of danger. More than two-third of the respondent parents admitted that they dump the used toys in their regular garbage cans along with other everyday wastes.

The discarded toys end up in the landfill, in the water bodies and the drainage systems. Experts say these toxic materials can remain in the environment for extended periods before degrading and getting carried long dis-

tances into the sea.

“Lead is simply poisonous for public health. Children play with toys and most of the time they chew the toys. If there is lead in the toys, children may suffer mental disorder and anaemia.

Their behavioural pattern could also change. In the long run, their kidneys might malfunction and red blood cell count may go down,” Abid Hossain Molla, professor of paediatrics at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, told the Dhaka Tribune.

There is no published data that may give a comprehensive picture of the toy industry in Bangladesh. With only a fifth of the domestic demand met by local manufacturers, Bangladeshi toy industry is considered “emerging” in the global perspective.

More than 70% of the imported toys are brought from China.

Plastic and earthen toys constitute 38.3% and 18.1% of the domestic toy market respectively. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

PM for quick inclusion of impeachment provision n Mohosinul Karim Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the law minister to finalise shortly the draft of constitution amendment proposals, allowing parliament to impeach Supreme Court judges for misconduct and violation of law.

In reply, the minister said the proposals might be placed in cabinet soon and later in parliament for its passage, several cabinet members attended the meeting at the Secretariat told the Dhaka Tribune.

The premier also expressed discontent over the recent comments made

by Social Welfare Minister Syed Mohsin Ali about journalists and asked him to refrain from making comments in the future.

During informal discussions after the regular meeting, the council of ministers also talked about the Mawa launch capsize and unrest over dues at Tuba Group garment units, several ministers told the Dhaka Tribune.

Condemning the Israeli attack on Gaza, the prime minister ordered the Foreign Ministry to take diplomatic initiatives to stop the atrocities against Palestinians, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told re-

porters after the meeting.

The cabinet once again discussed a condemn motion yesterday. On July 15, it accepted a condemn motion and urged the international community to stop the Israeli atrocities.

When contacted, a senior official of the Foreign Ministry said Bangladesh would intensify its diplomatic efforts collectively and use the UN, the OIC, the NAM or any other international platform to raise its voice to stop atrocities in Gaza and support the cause of Palestine and its people.

The cabinet also approved an agreement titled “Intergovernmental Agreement on Dry Ports” prepared by the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) under the UN. The Shipping Ministry would sign the agreement shortly, the cabinet secretary said.

Impeachment a priority

At present, parliament has no authority to impeach or remove the top court judges. But according to the 1972 constitution, parliament could impeach the judges for violating the constitution or for misconduct.

BNP founder Ziaur Rahman, after the assassination of Bangabandhu in 1975, amended Article 96 of the first

constitution, curtailing the authority of the legislature over the judiciary. He also introduced the new mechanism of Supreme Judicial Council. The chief justice heads the three-member council. The provision still exists in the constitution.

After the regular cabinet meeting, several ministers said, the premier had enquired the law minister about the progress of preparing of the draft of constitution amendment.

“Law Minister Anisul Huq informed the premier that the draft was already finalised. It will be placed in the cabinet meeting immediately after getting the official consent of the prime minister,” a senior minister told the Dhaka Tribune.

Hasina remained silent for some time hearing about the development and said nothing further on the matter.

The ministers talked to the Dhaka Tribune think that the draft proposal would be placed in the next parliament session.

State Minister for Labour and Employment Mojibul Haque Chunnu admitted that the premier and the law minister had discussed the issue after the formal meeting. He, however, denied making any further comment.

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Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Labour Law needs revision

Chunnu told the Dhaka Tribune that he had raised in the meeting the issue of further amendment to the Labour Law. “I have requested the prime minister to give verbal nod to initiate further amendment to the Labour Law. It is needed to set a time-frame for concluding trial of cases filed in the labour courts. At present, thousands of cases are pending with the court, but the plaintiffs are not getting justice as it takes a long time to dispose of the cases,” he added.

The junior minister said it should be made mandatory for the court to complete the trials in a stipulated timeframe, possibly two to three months.

“It will help the plaintiffs realising compensations from the accused immediately.

“Though the prime minister said nothing regarding my proposal, I have instructed the labour secretary to amend sections 123 and 307 of the Labour Law. It will hopefully be completed shortly.”

Mohsin Ali defends remarks

Hasina came down heavily on the social welfare minister for his bitter comments regarding the journalists.

A senior minister told the Dhaka Tri-

bune: “After the meeting, the premier enquired the senior minister about the matter. She asked, ‘How did you make comments on journalists which created agitation in the media?’”

Explaining his stance, Mohsin said: “I could not control myself when some of the journalists were making unwanted comments regarding the prime minister and the finance minister. I commented on the journalists who made such comments only, not all the journalists.”

The premier heard Mohsin and asked him not to make such comments further which might create tension in any community.

Another senior minister said the capsize of Pinak 6 launch and the labour unrest in Tuba Group had also come up for the informal discussion.

The premier enquired about progress of the issues.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said the government had handled the troubles during the Eid-ul-Fitr excellently. But, it had to face critical situation and criticisms regarding the launch capsize and the labour unrest over Tuba Groups workers’ hunger strike for three months’ dues. “The situation is now under control,” he said. l

BNP: National Broadcast Policy part of conspiracy n Tribune Report The BNP yesterday alleged that the National Broadcast Policy was a part of the government’s conspiracy to establish one-party rule in the country.

“The Awami League is advancing towards the one-party system, wearing the mask of democracy. The party never believed in democracy. It has assumed office, using democracy and then later exposed its real face,” Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of the party, said.

Addressing a programme organised

by Jatiyatabadi Muktijoddher Projonmo at the National Press Club, he said television talk shows had been controlled before formulating the broadcast policy. “What the newspapers will focus have also been controlled.”

The party spokesperson said after formulating the policy, the government would establish its full control over television channels. “Whether the BNP will assume office is not a question; rather the question is whether democracy will be restored in the country.”

Fakhrul said the people would finalise the strategy for the ongoing movement. l

Inu: Broadcast policy not for controlling media n Mohosinul Karim Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu yesterday said the government prepared and issued the new national broadcast policy for the welfare of the media, not to suppress them.

He also said policy had no scope for the government to control media.

The minister made the remarks while briefing media about the national broadcast policy at the PID conference room at the Secretariat in the afternoon, in an effort to dispel the criticism regarding the recently approved policy.

Stating that the broadcast policy is a democratic wish of the government, he said: “The policy, however, is not a law, it is a guideline only and there are no punitive measures in it. So, the claim that the policy intends to repress the media is completely baseless and imaginary.”

“One cannot say the 1971 Liberation War was a war between India and Pakistan, so it is important to enact a system to publish or broadcast information which is parallel with our spirit of the Liberation War.” Inu claimed that the broadcast policy was pro-journalist and the sections were beneficial for media. He said:

“There is a charter of duties, every media house should follow the charter as journalists have the right to express themselves while working and have a right to media policy and no extravagant pressure is tolerable.”

“The policy was followed in line with the provisions of the constitution guaranteeing the freedom of speech and almost everybody concerned about the matter was consulted,” the minister added.

The policy suggested the government to form an Independent Broadcast Commission which would regulate the media and both public and private media would be taken under the commission, he said.

“The commission will be formed under a law which will be enacted shortly and a draft will also be prepared. Until the commission is formed, the ministry will look after the matters like before.”

The cabinet on August 4 approved the broadcast policy which prohibits television and radio from broadcasting any news that may “taint the image of the country’s law keepers and the armed forces.”

A gazette was issued on August 8 to promulgate the new policy and put it into effect. l

Locals and fire officials inspect the debris of a cosmetics factory which burned down yesterday in the capital’s Chawkbazar area

Tribunal warns Qaisar’s lawyer n Tribune Report

The International Crimes Tribunal 2 yesterday cautioned Abdus Sobhan Tarafder, counsel for war crimes accused Syed Mohammad Qaisar, for passing comments during the trial proceedings.

When another defence counsel SM Shahjahan was giving his submission before the court, Sobhan made a comment though he was a non-conducting counsel on the day.

Chairman of the tribunal 2 Justice Obaidul Hassan warned him saying: “This is highly contemptuous..Do not do this or we will throw you out of the courtroom.”

Qaisar, a former state minister for agriculture during HM Ershad’s regime, was indicted on February 2 on 16

charges of crimes against humanity. A total of 32 prosecution witnesses testified against the accused. The defence did not place any witness.

During his submission on the closing arguments for the third day, Shahjahan reiterated his claim that there had been no “Qaisar Bahini” operational in Habiganj during the 1971 Liberation War. Most of the prosecution witnesses said they had seen the killings from hideouts. The counsel doubted whether the witnesses had seen the incidents properly. They also said Qaisar’s men had been present at the scenes, but not “Qaisar Bahini,” Shahjahan said.

He also mentioned a book titled “Muktijudhhe Habiganj” and said the reference of the book had contradicted

with some of the prosecution submissions.

Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah then asked him: “When the witnesses say they saw the incidents, what should the tribunal consider? Witness or documents or books?”

Shahjahan failed to give any specific answer. The tribunal chairman then asked him to give a straight answer.

Justice Obaidul also asked the defence to end their argument by today.

According to the prosecution, Qaisar, 30/35 years’ old during the war, had formed “Qaisar Bahini” comprising 500-700 men and committed crimes against humanity in Habiganj and Brahmanbaria areas. “Qaisar Bahini” had acted like the notorious razakar force that collaborated with the Pakistani occupation forces. l

‘Some AL leaders behind Jahangir killing’ n Tribune Report The relatives of the murdered Jahangir Kabir, who was a presidential candidate for ward no 41 unit Awami League in the capital, have been blaming some local senior leaders for the killing.

Jahangir’s younger brother Masum told the Dhaka Tribune: “Acting president of the ward unit AL Nanna, acting general secretary Mamun, organisational secretary Forkan and one president candidate named Anwar Hossain Mintu have killed his brother with hired goons.”

Masum also said: “My brother was a presidential candidate for the ward. It is a political collusion. They (the leaders) were envious of my brother as lo-

cal people used to give more priority to him than the aforesaid men.”

The victim’s continued: “Mamun, Nanna and Furkan leased two cattle markets in Agargaon area last year and my brother this year was trying his best to take the lease because he was the president of Momota Bohumukhi Somobay Samity and people used to obey him.”

Sher-E-Bangla Nagar police station SI Raju Ahmed said no relatives of Jahangir came to them to file a case in this connection. On Saturday night, unknown assailants shot Jahangir, 45, in front of his residence, leaving him critically injured.

Later, he was whisked off to a nearby hospital where on duty doctors declared him dead. l

BOMB BLAST CASE

Hearing against Fakhrul, Moudud deferred n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday deferred the charge framing hearing in a case against 29 BNP men, including acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir until October 30.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ali Masud Sheikh passed the order after hearing on a petition filed by defence counsel seeking time in the case.

Twenty of the accused including Mirza Fakhrul appeared before the court.

On March 2 last year, police filed the case with Ramna police station on charges of detonating explosives, attempting to kill police personnel and preventing the police from discharging their duties.

On May 22, Detective Branch Inspector Fazlur Rahman, also the case investigation officer, submitted a charge sheet in the case to the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court.

Others accused in the case includes Standing Committee members Gayeshwar Chandra Roy and Mirza Abbas; joint secretaries general Barakatullah Bulu and Amanullah Aman; and Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman.

BNP leaders Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie, Sultan Salahuddin Tuku, Azizul Bari Helal, Juba Dal President Moazzam Hossain Alal, Shecchashebok Dal President Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel and Secretary Mir Sarafat Ali Safu and Chhatra Dal president Abdul Quader were also accused in the case. l

During an unannounced drive at the Barisal river port yesterday, BIWTA officials cancel the journey of a passenger launch as well as issuing warnings to seven other vessels to take measures for avoiding accidents DHAKA TRIBUNE

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Police searching for head of woman’s body n Tazlina Zamila Khan Police from two different police stations started searching for the head of an unidentified woman’s body yesterday, a day after it was recovered in 13 dismembered body parts in the capital.

Turag police recovered five body parts of the woman, aged around 35, in a bag from the south-eastern part of Chandalbhog bridge on the Turag river around midnight and Uttara west police recovered seven other parts wrapped in a bed sheet in front of a house at Sector 5, Uttara.

‘We are searching for the head because the identity of the woman cannot be confirmed unless we can recover the head’ The body parts have been sent to DMCH for a DNA test to be confirm whether the body parts belong to the same person.

However, even though the body parts are of the same person, she cannot be identified unless the head of the body is recovered prompting the police from two relevant stations to search for it.

Sub Inspector of Turag police station Ashraful Alam told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are now searching for the head because the identity of the woman, who belongs to the body, cannot be confirmed unless we can recover the head.”

Officer-in-Charge of Uttara west police station Mohammad Rafiqul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune: “The parts may be owned by the same woman.

Details however can be revealed after getting the DNA test results.” l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

DGHS to formulate Ebola prevention guidelines n Moniruzzaman Uzzal The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has decided to prepare a series of standard operating procedures (SOP) and guidelines, which will include early detection of Ebola infection in patients, taking them to hospital, healthcare management and infection control.

Professor Dr Be-Nazir Ahmed, director of the Communicable Disease Control at the health directorate, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that Ebola is a highly infectious disease and formulation of 10-15 separate guidelines is necessary to prevent it.

“To ensure protection of people including medical teams who will remain engaged in healthcare management activities, the health directorate will provide them with PPE (Personal Protection Equipment).

This kit has already been supplied to Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport and Kurmitola General Hospital,” he said.

A PPE set contains specialised N 95 mask, gloves, cap, apron, shoe cover and eye cover.

Complying with a direction of the Health Ministry, the health

directorate has asked all seven divisional health directors to form medical teams on an urgent basis for 20 land ports, three airports and two seaports.

Professor Dr ABM Abdul Hannan, director (hospital and clinic), told the Dhaka Tribune he had issued letters yesterday to the divisional directors asking them to form medical teams for screening suspected Ebola patients, and all of them were asked to submit the list with names and phone numbers shortly.

“A medical team will include medical officer, nurse and sanitation officer.

Hopefully, we will get the lists by today,” he said.

The Health Ministry issued a 90day Ebola alert across the country on Sunday following an inter-ministerial meeting.

Dr Be-Nazir said airlines and immigration officials were asked to closely monitor passengers arriving from Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Liberia.

“All the passengers would be brought under official record. If necessary, medical teams would interview them and would also perform a checkup,” he added. l

Municipality authorities pile garbage on the dried-up bed of Karatoya River in Bogra’s Dutta-Bari area. Local influential people often encroach upon the river, while such landfills are the primary step before land-grabbing. The photo was taken on Sunday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Bashundhara chairman, Bangladesh observes International son acquitted in fraud case Youth Day

Robber gang leader shot in gunfight n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

Police arrested three robbers of a gang, including the ring leader, following a gunfight at Satkania upazila in Chittagong on Sunday night.

The law enforcers also recovered two firearms, eight rounds of bullets, and two machetes from their possession.

Satkania police station OC Khaled Hossain said police raided Babunagar Ashrayan project area acting on a tipoff when ring leader Dakat Shahid along with his accomplices were planning a robbery around 11pm.

The robbers, sensing the presence of police, opened fire at the law enforcers, triggering a gunfight. The robbers fired around 20 gunshots and the police fired around 10 shots in retaliation, leaving Dakat Shahid shot in his left leg, the OC added.

Following the 10-minute gunfight, police detained injured Dakat Shahid and his associates Borhan and Sayem.

Shahid was accused in 11 cases lodged with Satkania police station. l

A Dhaka court yesterday acquitted Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmad Akbar Sobhan, his son Sadat Sobhan, and an employee in a fraud case filed against them over a land and flat transfer.

Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Erfan Ullah framed charges against two of the accused and ordered to start the trial.

The accused were Vice Chairman Mahbub Morshed Hasan and Deputy Managing Director Md Towhidul Islam of East West Property Development Private Limited.

All of the accused, except for Sadat Sobhan, were present before the court during the order.

On the other hand, the court acquitted East West Property Development Private Limited chief Ahmad Akbar Sobhan, his son and director of the company Sadat Sobhan, and Assistant

General Manager MA Hasan.

The court also granted an extension of their bails on the basis of a bail extenuation petition.

Court also fixed next date for witness testimony on December 10.

Plaintiff ’s counsel Habibur Rahman said they would appeal to the Higher Court for a review of the acquittals.

According to the case, filed in 2011

by Jalal Ahamed Spinning Mill Limited chief Selim Ahmed, the plaintiff accused the defendants of misappropriating Tk3.95 crore deposited as a payment for three plots in the Bashundhara Housing.

Following an investigation by the Tejgaon police, the court issued arrest warrants against the accused on May 27 2012.

Except for Sadat Sobhan, all the others secured bail from the court and later appealed to the High Court against the case. The High Court rejected the plea on September 16 last year. l

n Moniruzzman Uzzal Bangladesh is observing the International Youth Day today, along with the rest of the world, to highlight the issues affecting young people in the country as well as around the world.

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Mental health matters.”

To commemorate the day, Bangladesh Protibondhi Foundation (BPF), in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), United Nations Information Centres (UNIC), and United Nations Volunteers (UNV), will host an art exhibition and cultural programme on today at 10pm at the BPF auditorium, in the capital’s Mirpur area.

There are no exact statistics available on the mental disorders of the Bangladeshi youth. However, it is estimated that around 0.7-0.8% of young people are affected by autism.

3 JU-expelled students take exams n JU Correspondent

Three female students, who were expelled for life on charges of ragging and physically harassing two junior female students, sat for their third semester examinations yesterday.

Of them, Sabrina Akhter Nitu and Rafia Mahzuba were allowed to appear for the examinations because they had secured a court order.

However, Sami Rezwana was allowed to sit for the examinations only upon the “special” permission of the university authority.

The trio were dismissed from the university for life at a syndicate meeting on July 23 as authorities found

them guilty of ragging and harassing two junior female students at Sheikh Hasina Hall.

The trio were dismissed for life after they were found guilty of ragging and harassing two junior female students at Sheikh Hasina Hall After that, Sabrina and Rafia filed a writ petition with the High Court regarding their life-time expulsion from the university.

Upon the petition, Justices Naima Haider and Akram Hossain Chowdhury ordered the university authorities to take their third semester examinations until the petition is settled.

Administrative Officer (legal) Md Mahtab Uz-Jahid said the examinations had been taken upon the court’s order issued on Sunday.

Chairman of the Department of Marketing Nigar Sultana said: “The examinations have been taken with the permission of the university authorities.”

While contacted, Registrar Abu Bakr Siddique was not available for comment despite several attempts to reach him over the phone. l

To show how mental health matters, the UNFPA, UNIC and UNV have paired up with the BPF to showcase the creative talents of many autistic children who participate in the BPF programmes.

One exceptional participant of the exhibition is Imran Rashid Emon, 26, who has been active in the BPF since 1993. Diagnosed with hearing impairment and low cognitive abilities, Emon overcame these challenges and can now read, speak and count, and is an active Boy Scout and BPF staff member.

His gift for painting was recognised by the prime minister, and one of his artwork was chosen for the cover of the Bangla New Year card last year.

Ahead of the celebration, UNFPA Executive Director Babatunde Osotimehin issued a statement, where he said safe and healthy passage from adolescence into adulthood was the right of every child.

“Being healthy means not merely the absence of illness, but complete physical, mental and social well-being... Yet, mental health of young people is largely ignored and, as a result, depression is the largest cause of disability, and suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young people worldwide.”

Argentina Matavel Piccin, UNFPA representative in Bangladesh and chairperson of the United Nations Youth and Adolescent Theme Group, will speak at the event to express support for mental health matters in Bangladesh.

The theme group brings together all UN agencies in Bangladesh to strengthen the efforts to put young people at the top of the development agenda. It supports the government in improving the lives of young Bangladeshis by promoting their rights – especially those with a mental health condition – eliminate discrimination, and support stigma-free health services and information. l

Two in Habiganj testify against 5 militants n Our Correspondent, Habiganj Two people yesterday testified in court against five militants, including JMB chief Saidur Rahman, in the Habiganj simultaneous bomb attack case.

Rawshan Ali and Salauddin Chowdhury testified in the court of Md Hasanul Islam, additional district sessions judge.

All five militants were brought in and produced before the court amid high security. The court also adjourned the case till September 18 and said proceedings would resume on

September 19.

Faruk said two witnesses testified against the five JMB men. “In their testimony, the witnesses said they rushed to the scene after hearing the sound of a massive explosion, and saw a variety of papers, including leaflets, littered everywhere. However, they said they saw none there,” he added.

On August 17 in 2005, there were blasts in five key places of Habiganj city in a series as part of a massive attack that saw simultaneous explosions in 63 districts across the country. l

Canadian envoy lauds trade growth but wary of political violence n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Canada’s envoy to Bangladesh said she hoped the upcoming BNP movement would not be violent, at a press briefing yesterday, reiterating a call for dialogue between the two major parties.

“Everybody is relieved that violence has ceased. I don’t think it [violence] is good for Bangladesh, I don’t think it is good for the people of Bangladesh,” Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Heather Cruden, said.

She was speaking at a talk organised by the Diplomatic Correspondents Association, Bangladesh (DCAB) at the National Press Club yesterday.

“We hope, at some point, the two parties will sit down and talk to each other - not just about the next election, whenever that might be, but to put in place a process and a framework for elections for the next five years,” she said.

She said elections had not been particularly good for Bangladesh because GDP suffered, people got hurt, some died and people can’t get to work because of violence during election campaigns.

Canadian High Commissioner Heather Cruden addresses a discussion on peace, prosperity and freedom at the National Press Club yesterday RAJIB DHAR “So we need to end that cycle.”

The Canadian high commissioner

said there was a serious, inherent lack of trust between the two major political

parties and there needed to be a shift in the political culture.

The ambassador said she hoped she hadn’t breached diplomatic norms during her stay in Bangladesh over the last three years.

“Obviously governments don’t like to be told to what to do by outsiders,” she said in response to a question about why foreign diplomats commented on domestic politics and whether it violated diplomatic norms.

She said Canada engaged with the world on three principles - peace, prosperity and freedom.

“When we see our friends taking action that we think may not be consistent with these fundamental principles, sometimes we engage privately, sometimes we speak out publicly - depending on the issue,” she said.

The ambassador said growth in twoway trade had increased substantially during her tenure as high commissioner, growing to C$1.85bn from C$1.6bn in 2012.

The envoy encouraged Bangladesh to diversify its export products because

it was currently dependent on readymade garment exports.

Speaking about Canada’s foreign aid commitment, Cruden said Canada had decreased its aid outlay due to the economic downturn.

Bangladesh is one of Canada’s development countries of focus in Asia.

The diplomat said Bangladesh’s human resources were its biggest resource.

“Right now you are exporting primarily entry-level workers, low skilled workers. If you can start to export medium skilled to higher skilled workers, whether nurses, teachers, or whatever - your remittances will go up,” she said.

In response to a question about the repatriation of convicted killer Noor Chowdhury, she said: “Regarding the repatriation of Noor Chowdhury, Canada understands Bangladesh’s interest in repatriating individuals convicted of crimes under Bangladesh law.”

She said the case was being dealt with under Canadian law and privacy laws restricted her from making specific comments about the case. l

Roundtable on broadcast policy n Tribune Report A round table discussion on the recently approved Broadcasting Policy 2014 will take place today at 9:30am at the Lakeshore Hotel in the capital’s Gulshan area. Titled “Broadcasting Policy 2014: Challenges and Way Forward,” the discussion has been organised by Bangladesh Copyright and IP Forum (BCIPF), in association with the Dhaka Tribune and the Bangla Tribune.

Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu will join the discussion as chief guest. Prominent media personalities, legal representatives and members of the civil society will attend the event as well, discussing the pros and cons of the policy. l

Housewife hurt in crude bomb blast, two bombs recovered n Tribune report A housewife sustained injuries in an abandoned crude bomb blast in Narikel Tola area of Kustia yesterday.

The victim is Muslima Khatun, 35, wife of Aminur Rahman.

Kushtia police station Officer-in-Charge Rabiul Islam said: “A child found three wrapped objects under a coconut tree in front of his house in the morning. Thinking of them as play objects, the child started playing with them.

While playing, a bomb blasted near Muslima’s leg.

Residents of the house admitted Muslima to Kustia General Hospital immediately after the incident.

Upon receiving information, police went to the spot and recovered two other crude bombs, said the OC. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

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Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Golokmoni children’s park in Khulna city under illegal occupation Some installations, including political party office and small shops, have been erected in the park

n Our Correspondent, Khulna A children’s park has been illegally occupied in Khulna city. Sadly, three installations have been set up inside Golokmoni Children’s Park upon the clearance from the city corporation authority.

The installations are Awami League Ward no 23 office, Theatre Stage and Urban Primary Healthcare Centre.

Apart from the three authorised installations, some installations like small shops have also been erected in the park.

Though there are some recreation facility for children in the park they are unfortunately out of order.

The authorities are not active enough to fixing the out-of-order facilities, making it harder for children to play there for several years.

An illegal water pump was also set up inside the park which is situated on 63 decimals of land in December 1984.

Efforts are also on to grab the park in the name of Sheikh Russel Memorial Council as a plaque has already been set up there.

Sources say, nowadays drug addicts gather inside the park making it a bad environment for city dwellers and especially children.

A construction agency has however

been assigned to do some construction work inside the park.

But eight months have gone by with no sign of the construction being completed in the near future.

Construction firm Bijli Agency rented a little space inside the park for building their makeshift office.

Besides, it has kept sand, brick chips, stones and rods and other construction materials across the park.

Bijli Agency Proprietor Sheikh Nafaul Arefin Tito said they had built their office on permission by the city corporation. And construction materials have been kept across the park to keep the drug addicts away from here.

The tenure of the space they have rented for their office would end by July 31, but they applied for increasing the tenure as they were hoping to complete their construction by October, the deadline set by the Khulna City Corporation.

Mayor Mohammad Moniruzzaman however said they been installed inside the park taking in view the interests of the city dwellers. However, the installations that have been illegally built inside the park would be demolished soon.

He added that they had a plan to make the park perfect for children and for that, steps would be taken soon. l

Golokmoni Children’s Park in Khulna city lies in sorry state for lack of maintenance

Obaidul Quader: Cattle markets along roads won’t be allowed

CU committee to probe vandalism of students of English department n Our Correspondent, Narayanganj n CU Correspondent Communications Minister Obaidul Chittagong University authorities formed two probe committees yesterday over the vandalism of the Department of English on Sunday.

Pro-VC Iftekhar Uddin Chowdury was made the head of one of the committees which would investigate into session jam and test result debacle while another probe committee, headed by Dr Imran Hossain, dean of Arts and Humanities faculty, would investigate the vandalism incident, Proctor Siraj-Ud-Dowla said.

Around 37 students of 2011-2012 session of the department who failed to sit for the year end final exam, vandalised the departmental office demanding to be allowed to appear for the examination.

The students also placed a memorandum to the VC demanding seven points including a special examination for the failed students.

Azmeri Ara, chiarman of the department said the examinations of different years would be held on time.

The VC also said that they would take initiative after receiving the reports. Proctor Siraj-Ud-Dowla said the committees had been asked to submit the reports soon.

Quader asked traders not to set up cattle markets along road and highways in order to make roads across the country jam-free ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

“Nobody would be allowed to set up cattle markets along roads and highways,” the minister said while visiting the four-lane upgrading work on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway at Siddhirganj in Narayanganj yesterday.

Claiming that journey of people during Eid-ul-Fitr was smooth, he said people had been able to travel this time with a lot of ease and this had been possible due to a coordinated efforts by all.

The coordinated effort will continue

to ensure that the travelling for people gets easier ahead of the upcoming Durga Puja and Eid-ul-Azha, he said.

Besides implementing traffic rules on the roads, the minister said, there is a need for making the passengers and the drivers of vehicles more aware of the rules so that the traffic situation comes under control.

Quader said the traffic situation eased a lot during the recent Eid-ulFitr due to the team work by the police, administration, transport owners and workers.

He also said that the construction of Kachpur, Meghna and Meghna-Gomti 2nd Bridges founded by Japan International Cooperative Agency will begin in January next.

Cattle market tender procedure begins in Dhaka n Abu Hayat Mahmud

The work on the new Sitalakkhya Birdge will also begin very soon with the assistance from the Saudi government.

Asked about the Social Welfare Minister Syed Mohsin Ali’s comment over journalists, he said what the minister said about newsmen was his personal view.

He also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had appointed him as a minister, so she could question him about his statement.

Deputy Comissioner, Narayanganj Anisur Rahman Mia, Police Super Khandaka Mohiuudin and Chief Executive Engineer of Roads and Highway Department Aftab Hossain Khan accompanied the minister during the visit. l

n Tribune Report

DRIZZLE TUESDAY, AUGUST 12 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 6:35PM SUN RISES 5:32AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 32

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Chittagong

30

26

Rajshahi

33

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Rangpur

33

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Khulna

32

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Barisal

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Sylhet

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Cox’s Bazar

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YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

34.5ºC Sylhet

25.7ºC Rangamati

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:13am 5:32am 12:04am 4:30pm 6:35pm 7:55pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

The two city corporations of Dhaka have started the tender procedures for 20 cattle markets in the capital ahead of the Eid-ul-Azha – Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) opened its tender box for 8 makeshift markets yesterday and Dhaka South City Corporation will open today.

Chief Estate Officer of the DNCC Aminul Islam opened the tender box at Banani Community Centre in the presence of the bidders. For a total of 8 makeshift cattle markets under the DNCC, a total of 23 bidders submitted applications.

Under the DNCC, the markets will be set up at Uttara Azampur Government Primary School field, open space of Khilkhet Banorupa Residential Project, open space of Agargaon Slum,

open space of Eastern Housing at Mirpur, Dhaka Polytechnic Institute playground, open space of Baridhara Block J, open space near Janapath at Uttara Sector 11 and 13 and open space near Kakoli railway station. Besides, Gabtali cattle market has been given lease separately.

No time schedule was given for the Dhaka Polytechnic Institute playground, while the Agargaon-Taltala cattle market will not be set up this year.

“Hasil” – the amount of charge that buyers pay on the purchasing price of cattle – will remain the same as previous year: Tk50 per Tk1,000.

Official sources of both the city corporation said a section of the ruling party men creates syndicates to lease the cattle markets at lower prices, and claimed that section is also active this year. l

Protest continues over minister’s remarks against journalists

WEATHER

Dhaka

DHAKA TRIBUNE

A human chain was formed in Sylhet city yesterday, demanding removal of social welfare minister

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Journalists yesterday demanded removal of Social Welfare Minister Syed Mohsin Ali for making derogatory comment against reporters.

The newsmen also vowed to wage tougher movement if the government would not take stern action against the minister.

They came up with the demand while speaking at a protest rally at the Sylhet Press Club. The rally was presided over by Iqbal Siddique, president of Sylhet Press Club.

At the rally, journalists announced that they would refrain themselves from work for an hour during the day to protest the remark.

General Secretary of Sylhet Press Club Mohammad Sirajul Islam and Vice-President of the press club Azul Haque Manik, among others, addressed the rally.

In Hobiganj, journalists also held a protest rally at Nimtola and demanded removal of the minister within

RMG workers demonstrate, vandalise factory in Gazipur n Our Correspondent, Gazipur Demanding to find a missing colleague, workers of Multifab Ltd, a ready-made garment factory in Gazipur’s Kashimpur Nayapara area, imposed a work abstention and staged a demonstration yesterday, vandalising the factory in the process.

The workers clashed with police when the law enforcers charged baton to remove the crowd from the factory premises around 11am.

Bibhuti Heera, administrative officer at the factory, said the missing

worker, Mehedi Hasan, 24, employed at the factory’s cutting section, was last seen leaving the factory to pray around 4:50pm on Saturday, as he told his colleagues, after collecting his pay.

Mehedi’s uncle Amirul Islam said Mehedi last spoke to his wife Mitu around 4pm, saying he would be home around 7pm. But his whereabouts could not be traced until yesterday afternoon.

Heera said Mehedi had an altercation with Nazim Uddin, cutting manager, and a few others over workload earlier on Wednesday.

Following the dispute, Mehedi

placed a complaint against Nazim to the authorities, who fired Nazim upon finding him guilty. Leaving the factory premises, Nazim threatened Mehedi to kill or maim him, said Nadeem, one of Mehedi’s colleagues.

Mehedi’s uncle claimed that Nazim had killed his nephew and concealed the body. He, along with the workers, also alleged that Mehedi was killed on the factory’s roof, and there were blood spots there to prove it.

However, Heera, the administrative officer, dismissed it as a rumour and said the spots were of red colour, not blood.

He also said workers frequently went absent without leave every month after getting paid.

Inspector Nazrul Islam of Gazipur Industrial Police said the workers went to work around 7:30am yesterday, but instead of starting the day’s work, they staged a demonstration around 8am demanding to find Mehedi.

At one point, the angry workers started vandalising the factory. When police intervened, the workers clashed with them and police charged baton to remove them from the area, said the inspector. l

48 hours. They said the government should take prompt measures against the minister as he frequently made derogatory comments against reporters.

The minister while addressing a discussion in Sylhet Municipality auditorium on Saturday afternoon termed journalists “Khobish” which roughly means “disgusting” or “dirty” in Bangla.

As soon as the minister made the comment, journalists boycotted the programme.

In his 40-minute speech, the minister also termed journalists non-educated and characterless.

Witnesses said the minister Mohosin hurled disparaging words at journalists from the very beginning of his speech.

Terming journalists stupid, the angry minister said: “All are filthy, corrupt and stupid. You all know my in-law’s house is in Sylhet and on my order people of Sylhet will chase you out.”

“I will see how much you can do after the formation of an independent broadcast commission,” Mohsin threatened journalists at the event. l

One held with 400 Yaba tablets n Our Correspondent, Gazipur Police has arrested one person with 400 Yaba tablets and two forged notes of Tk1,000 in Gazipur’s Tongi early yesterday.

SI Mizanur Rahman of Tongi police station said Afir Uddin, 50, from Gazipur’s Haydrabad area, was searched because of his suspicious movement in Morkun Masterpara area around 5am.

After searching his body, the recovery was made, the SI said, adding that the detainee was sent to court. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Bandarban formalin-free bananas making a name

Custodial torture damages Ramganj Jubo Dal man’s eyes

n Our Correspondent, Bandarban Bananas produced in the hill district Bandarban have a great demand across the country, as growers do not mix any chemicals to ripen and preserve the fruit.

According to local sources, growers of seven upazilas of the district usually cultivate bananas on the hillside.

As the hilly land is very fertile, farmers do not need to use any fertiliser to boost production of the sweet fruit, which are excellent sources of vitamin B, soluble fibre, and contain moderate amounts of vitamin C, manganese and potassium.

Farmers of Bandarban produce various kinds of bananas, including Champa, Anaji, Sobri, Sagar and Suryamukhi.

Sumon Patowari, a farmer in Matiranga area, said they did not mix any chemicals to preserve bananas as they did not need to stockpile the fruit because of huge demand.

Afzal Hossain, a wholesaler at Bandarban Bazar, said: “As farmers do not use any fertilser and pesticide to grow bananas, the production cost of the fruits is less than any others crops.

“And for this reason, farmers can sell the fruits at lower prices.”

He said bananas had huge demand among tourists, and most of the travellers buy the hilly bananas while going back to their homes after visiting the district.

Normally, a bunch of bananas is sold for Tk50 to Tk100 by growers, he said, adding that a trader can make a prof-

Husband kills wife for dowry n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj A housewife was beaten to death yesterday by her husband over dowry at Dharla village in Kashiani upazila of the district.

Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kashiani upazila said Nasrin, daughter of Enamul Haque Sikder of Sitarampur village, had been married to Farid Molla for three years.

After the marriage, Farid used to torture her to bring money from her parents. On the fateful day, he beat her up inhumanly over the issue, leaving critically injured.

Locals rescued Nasrin and admitted to Kashiani Upazila Hospital from where she was shifted to Gopalganj Hospital as her condition deteriorated.

She died in the hospital.

Police recovered the body and sent it to the hospital morgue. Farid fled the scene after the incident.

SI Sayed Imarat Ali said the police were trying to nab Farid. l

n Our Correspondent, Lakshmipur

Growers stockpile banana at Bandarban kitchen market to sell those to wholesale traders. The photo was taken recently it of Tk200 to Tk300 by selling them.

Growers mainly sell bananas twice in a week.

During a recent visit to Bandarban Bazaar, this correspondent found that workers were loading bananas on trucks to take those to different parts of the country.

Saiful Mahmud, a tourist who came from the capital, said he along with his family had visited the hill district and enjoyed its panoramic beauty.

“During the visit, we ate hilly bananas and liked them very much,” he said, adding that as he was leaving the district, he came to the kitchen market to buy banana.

According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, a total of 750 hectares of land have been brought under banana cultivation this year. Production per hectare of land has been fixed at 20 tonnes.

The DAE sources said the produc-

DHAKA TRIBUNE

tion target had been exceeded this time, and that encouraged banana growers a lot.

The sources said if farmers use modern methods instead of traditional methods, production of the fruit would increase tremendously.

Dr Bimol Kuman Pramanik, upazila agriculture officer, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had undertaken massive programmes to encourage farmers to cultivate bananas on their land. l

An attempt to conceal rape-news item n Our Correspondent, Sirajganj Unidentified miscreants looted 700 copies of five national dailies from Belkuchi upazila of Sirajganj district yesterday so that local people could not read a news item on a rape incident.

They looted the copies while they were being carried to Belkuchi upazila from Sayedabad area near Bangabandhu Bridge on a Nosimon (locally made shallow-engine driven human-haulier), said Daulat Sarker, newspaper agent of the upazila.

The miscreants stopped the nosimon on Belkuchi-Enayetpur Road around 4:30am and asked the driver which newspapers contained the news of a teen domestic help being raped by former Jubo Dal leader Mo-

stafizur Rahman. They forcefully looted the newspapers, said Daulat.

A former Jubo Dal leader allegedly raped his teenage domestic help on Saturday at Jidhuri village of the upazila The newspaper agents and locals in the area suspect that the miscreants looted the issues of the five newspapers – Prothom Alo, Jay Jay Din, Samakal, Ekusher Sangbad and Sangram – before distribution, as all of them contained the news.

Belkuchi police station Officer-

in-Charge Anis Ahmed said: “I have heard the news but no hawker or agent has filed a written complain in this regard yet.”

Former Jubo Dal leader Mostafizur Rahman allegedly raped his teenage domestic help on Saturday at Jidhuri village of the upazila.

The five newspapers published the news yesterday.

A month ago, the victim, who was Mostafizur’s neighbour, was appointed as a domestic help at his house to look after his pregnant wife. On Saturday, while the wife was out for a medical check-up, Mostafizur had raped her, alleged the victim to journalists.

The victim is currently undergoing treatment at the Sirajganj Sadar Hospital. l

Three go missing as boat capsizes n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha At least three people including a woman went missing as a boat capsized yesterday in the Brahmaputra River under Sadar upazila.

Raziur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Sadar upazila, said Taslima Begum, 30, Aitulla Miah, 45, and Sohrab Hossain, 50, of Nungola village went missing as the boat sank in the river around 12.30 pm when they were coming from Kunderpara Ghat by it.

UNO Ashraful Momin Khan confirmed the incident. l

2 Jamaat men held n Our Correspondent, Barisal Barisal police arrested two Jamaat-e-Islami activists after an anti-Israel procession in Natunbazaar area in Barisal yesterday.

The detained are Siddikur Rahman and Jahirul Islam Kalam.

Sub-Inspector Shahabuddin said the activists brought out a procession in the area under the banner of Jamaat-e-Islami without taking any permission from the law enforcers.

The detained were sent to Kotwali police station, said the SI. However, Golam Kabir, second officer of Kotwali police station, said the Jamaat activists were not arrested for participating in the protest procession against Israili attacks in Gaza, rather for torching and vandalising vehicles during hartal.

Jamaat city unit Ameer Advocate Moajjem Hossain Helal said arresting the Jamaat activists from the anti-Israel procession and later indicting them in an old case of violence during hartal proved Awami League government’s association with the Israeli Jews. l

State Minister for Water Resources Nazrul Islam visits Sirajganj town protection embankment which has been eroded by the Jamuna River for the last couple of days DHAKA TRIBUNE

Eight killed in road accidents across 3 districts n Tribune Report At least eight people were killed in road accidents in Gopalganj, Kushtia and Madaripur districts yesterday.

Our Gopalganj correspondent reports: Four people were killed and 15 injured at Maksudpur upazila in the district as a passenger bus plunged into roadside ditch.

SI Abdus Salam said Abbas, 35, of Taparkandi village, Sohrab Sheikh,30, son of Osman Sheikh in Sibrampur village, Abejan Begum, 55, and Ali Asraf, 40, were killed as the bus plunged into the ditch when its driver lost control over the steering. he injured were sent to local hospitals and clinics.

Kushtia correspondent said a phsician was killed after a bus collided with a private car in Baromail area of Veramara upazila.

Seven others were also injured in

the accident.

The deceased was Ameerul Islam, 48, son of Dr Abul Hossain from Customs Mor area of Veramara upazila.

He was resident doctor of Veramara Health Complex.

Witnesses said a Dhaka bound passenger bus collided head-on with Ameerul’s private car near Baro Mile area around 10am.

The gas cylinder of the private car exploded at the collision, leaving Ameerul dead on the spot. The injured were sent to Kushtia General Hospita Faridpur correspondent said three people were killed and 25 injured in an accident on the Dhaka-Barisal Highway in Tekerhat Port area.

Local sources said a passenger bus of Shah Farid Copany Ltd plunged into road side ditch leaving its passengers Russel, Ali Akbar, Abezan Begum dead on the spot. l

BGB recovers arms, drugs n Our Correspondent, Chapainawabganj

The Border Guard Bangladesh recovered three Indian pistols, one revolver, five rounds of bullets and a large amount of drugs in Monkosha and Ajmotpur border areas in Chapainawabganj’s Shibganj upazila early, yesterday. Commander of 9 BGB Battalion Sheikh Mizanur Rahman said the recovery was made during separate drives in Monkosha, Azmotpur and Masudpur BOP areas. The recovered items include 423 bottle Phensedyl syrup and 12 bottle liquor, he said, adding that no one was arrested in this connection. l

Three policemen have been accused of causing serious damage to the eyes of a Jubo Dal worker in Ramganj of Lakshmipur by torturing him for two days while in custody.

The victim is Saiful Islam Sumon, 32, son of Shamsul Islam Patwary of Changirga village under Ichhapur union, while the alleged lawmen are Md Lokman Hossain, officer-in-charge of Ramganj police station, Sharif Hossain and Mohiuddin. Sharif and Mohiuddin are assistant sub-inspectors.

Sumon was arrested on August 7 but no relative or journalist was allowed to meet him. He was brought to court in a police van the following afternoon, but was unable to fully open his eyes and see clearly. He also bore marks of injury in several parts of his body.

Sharif, Mohiuddin and Lokman have done this to me and they damaged my eyes with needle, Sumon told reporters.

“I was tortured for two days as I did not work for the local lawmaker in the last election and also because I am a Jubo Dal activist,” he claimed.

Earlier on April 19 and 21, police allegedly sent both of Sumon’s sons Rafiqul Islam Robin and Md Sujon to jail by implicating them in four false cases.

“Soon after his appointment, Lokman began making attempts to detain my son. He also harassed me and threatened me several times having

failed to nab Sumon. Robin and Sujon were named accused in four false cases and were sent behind bars,” Shamsur said.

“I work as an imam at a mosque.

I urged the local lawmaker, upazila chairman and other influential figures in the area to help me secure the release of my grandchildren but to no avail. Now they have damaged the eyes of my son. I demand justice,” he added.

My husband is involved in printing press and jhut (garment waste) trades in Dhaka, said Sumon’s wife Simu Aktar.

“He came home from Dhaka on the night of August 6. The following noon, Jubo League worker Liton Hazari invited him to his [Liton] place, made him take sedatives with food, put a firearm in his hand and called police,” she said.

“They [police] beat Sumon there mercilessly, took him to police station and resumed the beating. They also inflicted severe damage on both his eyes.

We went to police station but could not meet him. He had to endure this as he did not work in favour of the local parliamentarian in the last election,” she added.

The victim’s wife demanded judicial inquiry into the incident.

Wishing anonymity, several local journalists said Sumon was kept in the investigation room of the police station, and they were barred from talking to him.

Lokman, however, denied all the allegations, terming them false. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

7

Is this a level playing field?

Hopes and sighs of the National Broadcasting Policy 2014

T

n ABM Hamidul Mishbah he National Broadcasting Policy 2014 received the Cabinet’s consent on August 04, 2014. The government’s initiative in this regard deserves to be applauded for the fact that the government felt the necessity to streamline and develop the broadcasting sector in Bangladesh, through fostering creativity and diversification, ensuring freedom of expression, neutrality and accountability in the said sector.

The attempt however notably reflects the present government’s emphasis on strengthening democratic practice, ensuring free flow of information and informed decision making by the citizens at large.

Stakeholders too, on the other hand, asked for an instrument which they believe could play the critical role in establishing a level playing field, bring regulatory certainty, help increase dignity of the media professionals, proliferate technological advancement and develop the broadcasting sector in Bangladesh as a whole.

Nevertheless, the policy, which is alleged to have been drafted in isolation of all the key stakeholders, appears to have fallen short in living up to the stakeholders’ expectations.

The policy starting off with outlining the background and defining broadcasting, had managed to set out the objectives in the first chapter quite comprehensively. It spans up to chapter seven to ponder on matters of news and programme broadcasting, advertising, formation of the broadcasting committee, and then reflects upon certain miscellaneous issues in chapter seven.

Appearing to acknowledge the existing license holders as “licensee,” it indicates that the yet to be formed Broadcasting Committee, upon consultation with the stakeholders, will forward its recommendations to the government for adopting a “Broadcasting Licensing Policy” and for awarding broadcasting licenses based on the guidelines laid down by the Broadcasting Licensing Policy.

However, ample efforts have been made in configuring the clauses to ensure that the history of our liberation war, language movement, national idealism, culture, citizens’ religious beliefs and political views, agricultural and educational development, child and women rights, etc, receive appropriate weight and significance from the broadcasters.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu speaking in a press conference on the National Broadcasting Policy 2014 Nevertheless, the number of the provisions in the policy is found inconsistent with some of the existing laws and some appear to be in conflict with the spirit of Article 39 of the Constitution or “Freedom of Speech.”

The policy, provision in 4.2.2, bars advertisers from showing comparative advertisements and claiming superiority over the competitors’ products, even in cases where the advertisers products are superior and better in quality or characteristics than the competitors’ products.

If the comparison shown is true, then it is legal to broadcast it. If the advertisers’ products are better than their competitors’, the law permits that the advertisers can tell the whole world about it, and there are ample decided case laws available in this regard.

Provisions 4.2.8, 4.3.4 and 4.4.4 are vague, unjustified and are likely to restrain the advertisers’ Freedom of Expression to a great extent. Provision 4.5.4 of the policy further prohibits broadcasting advertisements without prior permission in “applicable matters” but the policy has failed to define or give clarification on the phrase “applicable matters” it has referred to.

The same provision, in addition, requires the advertisers to obtain prior permission and pass the same to the relevant broadcasters. This is likely to

One of the significant features of the policy is that it prescribes the formation of an independent “broadcasting commission” through a bill, which will be headed by a chairman and necessary number of members set by the relevant act.

The chairman and members will be appointed by the president upon their nomination by a search committee yet to be formed by the government. The commission, once formed, will be entrusted with the function of awarding broadcasting licenses, determining the license fee, ensure fairness and monitor infringement of privacy by the broadcasters.

The commission, in addition, will receive and adjudicate public complaints, exercise Suo Moto power to issue show cause notice, conduct inquiry, take disciplinary action and forward recommendations to the government for taking necessary action.

This, at the very outset, appears to violate the principles of natural justice to the extent that the commission will perform the duty of a complainant, investigator and judge simultaneously.

With such diverse role and excessive power, the commission is likely to cease executing its function as an impartial decision maker and ensure procedural fairness. Therefore, the right or legitimate expectations of an individual

The policy appears more like a guideline for regulating content than a concrete policy that is usually adopted keeping flexibility and neutrality

BIGSTOCK

cause inconvenience to the advertisers in marketing their products or services and incur further costs that might drive the price of the product or service high, in prejudice to the consumers’ interest. This provision (4.5.4), could also be used by corrupt officials as a tool for bribery.

The policy contains provisions that tend to safeguard the government officials and members of the law enforcement agencies. Some of the provisions are construed in such a manner that they can be used to punish or limit broadcasters intending to expose corruption or unlawful steps taken by the law enforcement agencies and government officials.

This not only strangles the Freedom of Speech but also defeats the purpose of the Right to Information Act (RTI) 2009. It may be pertinent to mention that section 32 (2) and (3) of the RTI Act 2009 allows broadcasting or publishing reports on the eight exempted law enforcement and security agencies on issues related to corruption and violation of human rights.

or entity might be impaired by the decisions taken by the commission.

In addition to the mentioned inconsistencies, the policy appears to be inadequate in terms of establishing a nexus between the Ministry of Information, Ministry of ICT and BTRC (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission).

The draftsmen would have done better had they considered the dynamics of the broadcasting industry, which cannot broadcast without obtaining the required frequency assigned by BTRC. Needless to mention that Broadcasters are subject to the Telecommunication laws, rules and regulations set by BTRC in this regard. Prior to the introduction of the Broadcasting Policy, Broadcasters were required to obtain NOC (No Objection Certificate) from the Ministry of Information and upon obtaining the NOC the Broadcasters had to apply to BTRC for assigning frequency to import Earth Station and other related equipment.

BTRC assigns frequency or spectrum to the Broadcasters as per the

NFAP (National Frequency Allocation Plan) subject to certain terms and conditions, which the Broadcasters need to comply with at all times. It may be noted that violation or non-compliance of such terms and conditions stated in the frequency license can result in cancellation of the assignment of frequency.

BSS

It may be asserted that, instead of introducing the policy, it would have been better had the government first formed a committee comprising all relevant stakeholders, and the committee could then have given the mandate to come up with appropriate recommendations for the government to reform and streamline the broad-

The policy contains provisions that tend to safeguard the government officials and members of the law enforcement agencies

Nevertheless with this new policy, new entrants will now have to obtain license from the Broadcasting Commission while the existing ones have been made exempted from the same.

The licensing conditions will however equally apply to both existing and new entrants, while new entrants will also be required to pay an upfront license fee to the government.

It may be pondered that the introduction of the Broadcasting Commission, will now give birth to an additional regulator for the broadcasting industry to indulge, in addition to obliging to the BTRC. This will not only bring regulatory uncertainty to the broadcasting sector but also pose serious threat in terms of ensuring smooth and efficient operation of the sector players. Numerous suggestions have been made by citing Ofcom, which regulates the broadcasting, telecommunication, postal, consumer rights and competition sectors in the United Kingdom. But replicating the Ofcom model within our system would just be a far cry now.

However, the nexus between the regulators is crucial for ensuring coordination within the given sector. What if, the new entrants manage to obtain license from the Ministry of Information upon investing a hefty amount of money, but do not end up in securing the frequency from BTRC or face delay?

Provided that frequency is considered a scarce resource and can be assigned to certain number of entities only, determining the number of broadcasting licenses that may be awarded remains a concern. This may have an impact on preserving competition within the sector.

Besides, too many licensees operating in the same sector might result in market exit and loss of investment.

The condition on the new entrants to pay upfront license fee will create entry barriers and on top of that, may imbalance the level playing field.

It may be noted that the existing broadcasting licensees were not required to pay up front license fees to the Ministry of Information for obtaining NOCs.

casting industry in Bangladesh.

SAARC member nation Nepal had followed this approach back in 2006 wherein a commission popularly known as the “Adhikari Commission” was constituted. Radheshyam Adhikari, a Senior Advocate and a leading activist for free media in Nepal, chaired the commission while all major media related organisations were included as members in the said commission.

The Broadcasting Policy 2014, by and large, appears more like a guideline for regulating content than a concrete policy that is usually adopted keeping flexibility, neutrality and room for accommodating technological advancement.

Critical matters like addressing the licensing issues involved in IP TV/ broadcasting, removal of the anti media laws otherwise labelled as the “Black Law,” and qualitative, professional and institutional development of the broadcasting sector, have largely been ignored.

Inclusion of relevant stakeholders, ie BTRC, BASIS, A2I, at the initial stage could have helped in shaping the policy with a holistic approach. Nevertheless, the government may remain positive and endure the criticism that has surfaced.

It may show empathy to the concerns raised, and may however accommodate the recommendations poured from the relevant sections of the citizens, to convert the initiative into a remarkable success. l ABM Hamidul Mishbah is an Intellectual Property lawyer, practising at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. He can be reached at mishbah@oldbaileybd.com.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Israelis, Palestinians begin new talks to end Gaza war

New 72-hour ceasefire holds hours after coming into effect last chance” for an agreement. Israeli Israel has resisted easing access to n Reuters, Gaza/Jerusalem representatives are not meeting face- Gaza, suspecting Hamas could then reIsraeli and Palestinian negotiators resumed indirect talks mediated by Egypt yesterday on ending a month-old Gaza war, Egypt’s state news agency said, after a new 72-hour truce appeared to be holding.

The Israeli military said one rocket was launched at the Tel Aviv area, in Israel’s commercial heartland, before the ceasefire began at 2100 GMT on Sunday and may have landed in the sea. Gaza’s dominant Hamas group said it fired the missile.

A senior Israeli government official had said on Sunday Israeli negotiators, who had left Cairo on Friday hours before a previous three-day ceasefire expired, would return to Egypt to resume the talks only if the new truce held.

Hamas is demanding an end to Israeli and Egyptian blockades of the Gaza Strip and the opening of a seaport in the enclave - a project Israel says should be dealt with only in any future talks on a permanent peace deal with the Palestinians.

A month of war has killed 1,938 Palestinians and 67 Israelis while devastating wide tracts of densely populated Gaza, and Egypt’s Foreign Ministry has urged both sides to work towards “a comprehensive and lasting ceasefire agreement.”

Gaza hospital officials say the Palestinian death toll has been mainly civilian since the July 8 launch of Israel’s military campaign to quell Gaza rocket fire.

Israel has lost 64 soldiers and three civilians, while heavy losses among civilians and the destruction of thousands of homes in Gaza have drawn international condemnation.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the new negotiations would be “the

to-face with the Palestinian delegation because it includes Hamas, which Israel regards as a terrorist organisation.

Long-term truce

Israeli Strategic Affairs Minister Yuval Steinitz said in a radio interview on Monday that disarming Gaza militants was crucial to sustain a long-term truce and he hoped this could be done by diplomacy rather than force.

Israeli representatives are not meeting face-to-face with the Palestinian delegation because it includes Hamas, which Israel regards as a terrorist organisation “I certainly hope that there will be a diplomatic solution. If there will not be a diplomatic solution, I am convinced that sooner or later we will have to opt for a military solution of taking temporary control of Gaza to demilitarise it again,” he told Israel Radio.

Another sticking points in the Cairo talks has been Israel’s demand for guarantees that Hamas would not use any reconstruction supplies sent to Gaza to build tunnels of the sort Palestinian fighters have used to infiltrate Israel.

Hamas has demanded an end to the economically stifling blockade of the enclave imposed by both Israel and Egypt, which also sees the Islamist movement as a security threat.

stock with weapons from abroad.

According to the United Nations, at least 425,000 displaced people in the Gaza Strip are in emergency shelters or staying with host families. Nearly 12,000 homes have been destroyed or severely damaged by Israeli attacks.

Turkish ships

The new three-day ceasefire won praise from United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, who hoped it might lead to a durable ceasefire.

Israeli air strikes and shelling on Sunday killed nine Palestinians in Gaza, medics said, in a third day of renewed fighting since the last truce ended.

One air strike destroyed the home of Gaza City’s mayor, Nezar Hijazi, across the street from the Reuters bureau where reporters and cameramen took cover as the explosion occurred.

There were no casualties in the attack because Israel telephoned warnings to residents in the house and neighbouring buildings.

The Israeli military said it targeted 11 “terror squads” in Gaza, among them gunmen involved in or preparing to fire rockets.

Since the previous ceasefire expired, Palestinian rocket and mortar salvoes have focused on Israeli towns and communities near the Gaza frontier in what seemed a strategy of sapping morale without triggering another ground invasion of Gaza.

A Turkish aid group said it would send ships again to challenge the Israeli blockade of Gaza, four years after Israeli commandos stormed its flotilla bound for the Palestinian territory and killed 10 people in fighting with activists on board. l

A displaced child from minority Yazidi sect, fleeing violence from forces loyal to Islamic State in Sinjar town, rests as she makes her way, on the outskirts of Sinjar mountain, near the Syrian border town of Elierbeh of Al-Hasakah Governorate REUTERS

Islamic State beheads, crucifies in push for Syria’s east n Reuters, Beirut Islamic State has crushed a pocket of resistance to its control in eastern Syria, crucifying two people and executing 23 others in the past five days, a monitoring group said yesterday.

The insurgents, who are also making rapid advances in Iraq, are tightening their grip in Syria, of which they now controls roughly a third, mostly rural areas in the north and east.

The group, an al Qaeda offshoot, has fought the Syrian army, Kurdish militias and Sunni Muslim tribal forces.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring or-

ganization, and residents in Syria’s east said that fighters from the al-Sheitaat tribe in eastern Deir al-Zor had tried to resist Islamic State’s advance this month.

In al-Shaafa, a town on the banks of the Euphrates river, Islamic State beheaded two men from the al-Sheitaat clan on Sunday, the Observatory said, and gave residents a 12-hour deadline on Monday to hand over members of the tribe.

In other parts of Deir al-Zor province, the militants crucified two men for the crime of “dealing with apostates” in the city of Mayadin, and two others for blasphemy in the nearby town of al-Bulel, the Observatory said.

Islamic State has made rapid gains in Syria since it seized northern Iraq’s largest city, Mosul, on June 10, and declared an Islamic caliphate on territory it controls in Syria and Iraq.

The Observatory said a further 19 men from the al-Sheitaat tribe were executed on Thursday, 18 shot dead and one beheaded, on the outskirts of Deir al-Zor city. It said the men worked at an oil installation.

“No one will now dare from the other tribes to move against Islamic State after the defeat of the al-Sheitaat,” said Ahmad Ziyada al-Qaissi, an Islamic State sympathizer contacted by Skype from Mayadin. l

Iraqi Kurds ‘being armed by various sources’ n AFP, Sydney

Iraqis hold placards reading in Arabic ‘Maliki is our choice’ during a demonstration to support Iraq’s prime minister in Baghdad’s central Saadoun Street after Nuri al-Maliki said he was filing a complaint against the country’s president for violating the constitution. Story on page 1 AFP

Kenyans fleeing to avoid forced circumcisions n AP, Nairobi The circumcision season among Kenya’s Bukusu ethnic group brings a festive atmosphere: music, food and free-flowing beer. For the uncircumcised men from other tribes in the area, however, it is not time to party, it’s time to flee.

At least 12 men from other tribes have been forcibly circumcised since the start of the circumcisions in August, according to police and local authorities. Others have sought refuge in police stations to avoid the knife’s cut.

The Bukusu ethnic group prefers traditional circumcisions using simple tools and no anesthesia. But tradition can be disastrous. A 13-year-old boy lost his penis this month after it was chopped off by a circumciser, according to local press reports quoting his parents.

Adult male members of the Turkana community living in the Bukusu-dominated town of Moi’s Bridge are the majority of the victims of the forced circumcisions,

according to local administrator Moses Okumu. A group of Turkana men wielding swords, bows and clubs held protests last week over the spate of forced procedures.

Michael Ngilimo said a family member was forcibly cut by a group moving house to house in search of uncircumcised men.

“They pounced on my uncle and circumcised him and left him there bleeding without treatment. I spent a sleepless nights as my uncle was bleeding,” he said.

To avoid becoming victims, many other Turkana men in the area sleep in the corn fields and others seek refuge in the police station, he said. The Turkana will fight back if the trend continues, Mkai warned.

Traditionally the Turkana, a Nilotic tribe whose cultural practices and way of life has not been diluted by modern influences, do not engage in circumcision as a rite of passage into adulthood. But members of the Bukusu community say since the Turkana are living among them they should adopt their most celebrated custom. l

Spanish Ebola patient gets experimental drug n AP, Madrid Spain has imported a US-made experimental Ebola drug to treat a Spanish missionary priest evacuated from Liberia last week after testing positive for the killer virus. The Health Ministry announced yesterday that the ZMapp drug, made by Mapp Biopharmaceutical Inc. of San Diego, was obtained in Geneva this weekend and brought to Madrid to treat Miguel Pajares. The 75-year-old priest was placed in isolation Thursday at Madrid’s Carlos III Hospital. Two Americans diagnosed with Ebola in Liberia have also been treated with the drug.

There is no known cure or licensed treatment for Ebola, which has killed more than 1,000 people in the current outbreak in West Africa. The World Health Organization has called the Ebola outbreak — which emerged in Guinea in March and has since spread to Liberia, Sierra Leone and possibly Nigeria — an international health emergency and urged nations worldwide to donate resources to battle the disease. l

Iraqi Kurds are “being armed by various sources” in the fight against Islamic State jihadists, a US State Department official said yesterday.

The official added that “they are getting something rapidly” after the IS militants’ strong gains in Kurdish regions in northern Iraq.

“They (Kurds) are getting some arms from various sources, they are being armed by various sources,” said the official, who refused to name which countries were involved.

Asked if the United States was supplying weapons, he replied: “I can’t go into that.

“There are a lot of discussions taking place between a lot of countries,” he added.

“They are getting something rapidly.”

The comments came as US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Sydney for annual military talks with Australia.

Security sources said Monday that IS fighters had defeated Kurdish troops in the flashpoint Iraqi town of Jalawla, killing at least 10 in a fierce two-day battle.

On Sunday France’s Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said that in consul-

tation with its EU partners Paris was looking at supplying arms to the Kurds.

“One way or another, they must receive, in a sure way, equipment that will allow them to defend themselves and to counterattack,” Fabius told France 2 television from Arbil, the capital of the autonomous Kurdistan region in northern Iraq.

“We will look into that over the coming days but in liaison with the Europeans,” he said from the city, which is not far from the IS frontline.

France and Britain have pledged support for a US-led operation helping Iraqi civilians – many of them from the Yazidi minority – who are fleeing a murderous advance by IS militants.

While all three Western countries are providing emergency aid for the besieged civilians, the United States has also been conducting air strikes on IS positions.

Earlier Monday, Kerry threw his weight behind Iraq’s newly-elected President Fuad Masum, a Kurdish politician, to help fight the militants and warned Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki not to stir up trouble.

Many Iraqis see Maliki as partly responsible for the recent conflict in northern Iraq, saying he has institutionalised sectarianism. l

Erdogan’s presidential win starts race for new Turkish government n Reuters, Ankara Turkey’s ruling party has begun deliberations on the shape of the next government after Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan secured his place in history by winning the nation’s first direct presidential election.

Erdogan’s victory in Sunday’s vote takes him a step closer to the executive presidency he has long coveted for Turkey. But it is an outcome which his opponents fear will herald an increasingly authoritarian rule.

In the coming weeks, Erdogan will for the last time chair meetings of the ruling AK Party he founded and oversee the selection of a new party leader, likely to be a staunch loyalist and his future prime minister.

He will be inaugurated on Aug. 28.

“Today is a new day, a milestone for Turkey, the birthday of Turkey, of its rebirth from the ashes,” Erdogan, 60, told thousands of supporters in a victory speech from the balcony of the AK Party

headquarters in Ankara late on Sunday.

Supporters honking car horns and waving flags took to the streets in Ankara after results on Turkish television said Erdogan, the prime minister for more than a decade, had won 52% of the vote. The celebratory mood filled the front pages of pro-government newspapers.

“The People’s Revolution,” said a banner headline in the Aksam daily above a picture of Erdogan waving to the crowds overnight. Other headlines spelled out: “Erdogan’s historic triumph,” “The People’s President.”

Investors initially welcomed the result on hopes that it would ensure political stability, after nearly 12 years of AK Party rule. The lira rallied to 2.1385 against the dollar from 2.1601 late on Friday. However, some said the market reaction could be short-lived.

“We expect the market will refocus on the composition of the cabinet,” said Phoenix Kalen, a London-based strategist at Societe Generale, warning

there could be “investor concern over the future trajectory of economic policy-making.”

It was a narrower margin of victory than polls had suggested but still 13 points more than Erdogan’s closest rival, and comfortable enough to avoid the need for a second round runoff.

The chairman of the High Election Board confirmed Erdogan had a majority, with more than 99% of votes counted, and said full provisional figures would be released later on Monday.

Erdogan has vowed to exercise the full powers granted to the presidency under current laws, unlike predecessors who played a mainly ceremonial role. But he has made no secret of his plans to change the constitution and forge an executive presidency.

“I want to underline that I will be the president of all 77 million people, not only those who voted for me. I will be a president who works for the flag, for the country, for the people,” he said in his victory speech. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Amnesty slams US over Afghan civilian deaths n AP, Kabul The US failed to properly investigate civilian killings, including possible war crimes, which occurred during its military operations in Afghanistan, the international rights group Amnesty International said yesterday. Nato said it would review the report.

A toughly-worded report by the group focused on 10 incidents between 2009 and 2013 that it said saw 140 civilians killed during US military operations. Amnesty said the vast majority of family members it interviewed said they had never been interviewed by US military investigators.

Most of the incidents involved airstrikes and night raids carried out by US forces. Both tactics have sparked heated criticism from Afghan civilians and the government who say the US doesn’t take enough care to prevent civilian deaths.

Two of the cases — one in Paktia province in 2010 and another in Wardak province from November 2012 to February 2013 — involved “abundant and compelling evidence of war crimes,” the report said.

“None of the cases that we looked into — involving more than 140 civilian deaths — were prosecuted by the US military,” Richard Bennett, Amnesty International’s Asia Pacific Director, said in a statement. “Evidence of pos-

sible war crimes and unlawful killings has seemingly been ignored.”

A spokesman for Nato forces in Afghanistan, Lt Col Chris Belcher, said authorities were reviewing the report and would respond later. He stressed that they take allegations of civilian casualties seriously and thoroughly investigate all such reports.

Afghan civilians increasingly find themselves under fire as the 2001 USled war draws to a close, as Afghan forces take the lead in operations targeting the Taliban. The civilian death toll in the war in Afghanistan rose 17% for the first half of this year, the United Nations reported in July. The UN said 1,564 civilians were killed from January through June, compared with 1,342 in the first six months of 2013.

However, the UN found that Taliban fighters and other militants have been responsible for the majority of the civilian killings. Insurgents were responsible for 74% of the casualties, the UN said, while pro-government forces were responsible for 9%, government forces 8% and foreign troops just 1%. The rest could not be attributed to any group.

In its report, Amnesty International said US and Nato forces have made significant strides toward preventing civilian casualties, though lingering questions over the 10 incidents it cited casts a pall over their efforts. l

World

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Access not a must for Sri Lanka war crimes probe n Reuters, New Delhi

The United Nations can conduct an effective investigation into reports of war crimes in Sri Lanka without visiting the country, said UN Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay, reacting to a government decision to deny investigators entry.

Sri Lankan government forces have been accused of widespread human rights violations in the final stages of a 26-year civil war against ethnic Tamil separatists which ended in May 2009.

The United Nations estimated in a 2011 report that about 40,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the final weeks of the war, mostly by the army. Sri Lanka has rejected the allegation.

In March, the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) voted to investigate reports of abuses during the war, during which 100,000 people were killed, saying the Sri Lankan government had failed to investigate properly.

The vote angered the government, which says it will not cooperate or grant visas to UN investigators.

“There is a wealth of information outside of Sri Lanka which can be tapped into,” Pillay told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an email response to questions.

“The credibility of the report will depend on it reflecting proper standards of corroboration of evidence, whether the team is allowed into the country or not.” Pillay cited Syria and North Korea as examples where, despite no access, investigations were carried out.

“Hardly anyone, apart from the Syrian and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea governments, are questioning the credibility of these two inquiries, so I don’t see why it should be any different in the case of Sri Lanka,” she said.

A Sri Lankan soldier walks past burnt vehicles, May 17, 2009 The Sri Lanka investigation, which began on July 1, has increased tension between the government and the United Nations. Some non-government groups have accused authorities of trying to discourage war survivors from giving evidence. President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s government says an external investigation is unnecessary and Sri Lanka can conduct its own. Last month, Rajapaksa appointed three foreign experts to a commission investigating disappearances during the war.

Misinformation, personal attacks

Pillay - a South African of Tamil descent who has been accused of bias in favor of Tamils by the Sri Lankan media and government - said false information was being spread to discredit the inquiry. “Regrettably, there has been some serious misinformation and distortion,” she said.

Media reports that investigators were denied visas by India and Thailand were false, said Pillay, adding that no one had applied for a visa for Sri

n AP, Tokyo

South Korean college students march along a barbed-wire fence as part of their campaign to promote national reunification in Gimpo, South Korea. South Korea yesterday proposed high-level talks with rival North Korea next week to discuss resuming reunions of Korean War-divided families, a proposal that could lead to the easing of tensions after months of North Korean missile tests and heated rhetoric from both countries AP

Former Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has returned home from a trip overseas, putting an end to speculation she would stay away from Thailand as prosecutors decide whether to indict her for mismanaging a state rice-buying scheme.

Yingluck arrived at Bangkok’s Don Muang airport close to midnight on Sunday, her aide, Wim Roongwattanajinda, told Reuters, adding that her lawyers were ready to fight the case.

Yingluck was forced by a court to step down on May 7 for abusing her power by transferring a top state official. The military ousted her government in a coup on May 22.

She faces jail and a political ban if the rice case goes to court and she is convicted of dereliction of duty.

The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) says the rice-buying scheme, the flagship policy that brought her to power in 2011, had incurred billions of dollars in losses that she failed to stem. She has rejected the allegations.

The scheme effectively priced Thai rice out of the export market and Yingluck’s government found few buyers for the millions of tonnes that ended up in state stockpiles. l

New package being worked out for Kashmiri migrants n Agencies Keeping “past experience” in mind, a new package for return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants is being “carefully” finalised in consultation with the state government and the representatives of the displaced people, Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh said yesterday.

He noted that the Centre had earmarked Rs 500 crore in this year’s budget for the purpose, but a revised proposal had been subsequently received

from the state government envisaging financial implication of Rs 5,820 crore.

Singh asserted that the government will not rest till it ensures return and rehabilitation of the Kashmiri migrants and urged parliament to adopt a resolution to endorse this commitment.

“Whenever we make a commitment, we do so after giving a full thought and strong conviction. Be it Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Parsi, no one will be a refugee in his own land,” he said.

“In view of the past experience, it has been felt that the new package for

AFP

Lanka or any other country.

The investigation’s coordinator and members of the advisory board had been “subjected to personal attacks in some Sri Lankan media that were both distorted and inaccurate,” she said.

The 12-member team is based in Geneva but will travel to other countries when necessary. They will collect information, including testimonies, and verify allegations of atrocities.

The findings will be presented to the UNHRC in March. l

Japan architects sell a lifestyle on global stage

DIVIDED BY BARBED WIRE: WILL THE KOREANS REUNITE?

Yingluck returns home as legal threat lingers n Reuters, Bangkok

9

return and rehabilitation of Kashmiri migrants should be carefully finalised in consultation with the state government and the representatives of the migrants. Our government has already started the process of drawing the contours of the scheme.”

He, however, did not elaborate on his contention about the “past experience.” At present, a total of 60,452 families of Kashmiri migrants are registered in the country, of which 38,119 are in Jammu, 19,338 in Delhi and 1,995 in other states. l

A new generation of Japanese architects is scoring success by reinterpreting the past.

Unlike their predecessors, who modernized Japan with Western-style edifices, they talk of fluidly defining space with screens, innovatively blending with nature, taking advantage of earthy materials and incorporating natural light, all trademarks of Japanese design.

And their sensibility that speaks to a human-oriented yet innovative everyday life is proving a hit abroad, said Erez Golani Solomon, professor of architecture at Waseda University in Tokyo.

“Food and architecture,” said Solomon, stressing how the two are Japan’s most potent brands. “They are powerful — Japan’s strongest cultural identity.”

Kengo Kuma, one of the star architects, finds he is in demand not only in Japan and in the West but also in places such as China.

Among the major China projects for Kuma are the recent Xinjin Zhi Museum, whose sloping angles and repeated tile motifs are characteristically Kuma, and the still ongoing Yunnan Sales Center, a sprawling complex of shops, housing and a theater, where a wooden lattice decorates the main structure overlooking a pond.

He also designs private homes for affluent Chinese who admire Zen philosophy and want to incorporate that stark aesthetic into their daily lives, he said.

Japanese architecture offers warmth and kindness as it is adept in the use of natural light and artisanal craftsmanship, such as bamboo and paper. It is “working together like music,” to create a comfortable and luxurious spot even in a cramped space, the basic principle of a Japanese tea house, Kuma said.

“It’s part of our genetic makeup,” Kuma told The Associated Press, sitting in his Tokyo studio among elegant chairs designed by himself and others by by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, and pointing with disgust at the vaulting skyscrapers visible from his window.

“People all over the world are sick and tired of modern monuments,” he said.

“The desire for the human and the gentle is a backlash to the globalization that brought all these monster skyscrapers.”

Sou Fujimoto, another rising Japanese architect, is also working all over the world. His beachside cultural center in Serbia is a giant spiral, while a bungalow in southern Japan is a cube of wooden blocks. His Serpentine Pavilion in London of metal lattice has been compared to a floating cloud. In Montpellier, France, construction begins next year for a housing complex he has designed with balconies sprouting precariously at all angles from a tower.

With Japanese architecture, a slight change of approach transforms a roof into something more than just a roof “This understanding of the connection between nature and the man-made is Japanese. The Japanese garden utilizes nature while also being finely crafted. You go back and forth between those two points,” Fujimoto said.

In a telling sign of their rising stature, four of the winners of the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize in the last six years have been Japanese: Kazuyo Sejima, Ryue Nishizawa, Toyo Ito and Shigeru Ban. In the past, the winners were few and far between. Kenzo Tange, known for his statuesque, curvaceous Tokyo Olympic stadium, won the Chicago-based Pritzker in 1987; Fumihiko Maki, who infused an Eastern sensibility into his floating forms of glass, metal and concrete, won in 1993; and the self-taught and idiosyncratic Tadao Ando was the third Japanese to win, nine years after Tange. l

Hindutva – Cultural identity of all Indians! n Tribune Desk If the inhabitants of England are English, Germany are Germans, and the USA Americans, then all inhabitants of Hindustan are Hindus, said the chief of controversial Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Mohan Bhagwat.

“The cultural identity of all Indians is Hindutva, and the present inhabitants of the country are descendants of this great culture,” Bhagwat said while speaking at the function in Cuttack on

Sunday, Press Trust of India reported.

RSS is one of the main votaries of Hindutva, which advocates Hindu fundamentalism in a country of multiple faiths and ethnic groups, and promotes the idea that the natives of India share a common culture, history and ancestry.

In his speech, the RSS chief further went on to say that Hindutva is a way of life and Hindus could be of any religion, worshipping any God or not worshipping at all. Referring to Vivekananda, he said anyone not worshipping God is not necessarily an atheist, rather

one who doesn’t have faith in ‘self’ is an atheist.

He said the world has now realised that Hindutva has been the only basis to keep India united since ancient days despite having plenty of diversities. He, however, expressed concern that some people in India are not realising this fact.

Speaking on the current world scenario, the RSS leader said there is darkness everywhere and the world at large is looking at India for solace because India still marches on the path of righteousness. l

Architect Yui Tezuka speaks with a model of a building she designed during an interview at her office in Tokyo. Yui and her husband Takaharu Tezuka designed Fuji Kindergarten which illustrates the idea of fusing the outside with the inside AP

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Show accountability for Pinak 6 capsize

W

ith many bodies still unfound, there has been little or no public accountability for the Pinak 6 tragedy.

Even though promises were made before Eid, that monitoring of waterway safety would be a high priority, it is clear gross negligence played a large part in the sinking of this vessel over Eid. Reports indicate its operators had only been given temporary permission to operate, on condition the launch was only allowed to carry a maximum of 85 passengers.

Yet, when it capsized, it was carrying well over 200 passengers Official sources have claimed that officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority did not properly discharge their duty to coordinate the checking of vessels. The BITWA chief meanwhile has claimed that blame cannot be attached to officials because the accident was a ‘’natural disaster.’’

Such finger pointing and passing of the buck does nothing to reassure the public or console the families of victims.

As the Met Office had issued a cautionary signal 3 for the Padma River when the Pinak 6 capsized, it is apparent the vessel was breaching rules barring launches smaller than 24 metres in length, from travel in such conditions.

While one case has now been filed against the launch owner, past experience of investigations into launch accidents gives little confidence that officials and launch owners will be fully held to account.

This must change. The public needs proper accountability if the litany of accidents on our rivers is to be ended. The minister and officials involved should take responsibility for this tragedy.

If the litany of accidents on our rivers is to be ended, the minister and officials involved should take responsibility

Railways need more vision

I

t is good news that the ADB has signed its agreement to provide the third $100m tranche of its total $430m assistance to the country’s Railway Sector Investment Programme.

Bangladesh’s railways badly need an overhaul to improve their capacity and efficiency. New investment can help improve safety and overcome some of the systemic problems holding back railway transport.

However, the current programme, which will help fund newer carriages and rolling stock, and is forecast to increase capacity by around 10% is nowhere near ambitious enough.

While any improvement will be welcome, it barely keeps pace with the expected growth of our economy and population, and does little to tap the potential of railways.

In a country of our size, modern railways offer the cheapest, safest and most fuel efficient to move large numbers of people and goods around the nation. Efficient and speedier railways would bring many benefits by helping to spread development and economic opportunity around the country.

Years of neglect and poor management have however held back the railways from fulfilling their proper role. We need a bolder vision to bring them up to scratch.

One core problem is that as a nation, we spend only around 3% of GDP on infrastructure, or less than a fifth the proportion (15%) invested

by China. This needs to change.

Railways already cover much of the country, so modernising them is not so dependent on finding new land. We should invest in them further to build a modern integrated transport system that would benefit the whole country.

We need a bolder vision to build a modern integrated transport system

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

Natural water purification August 7

Engr SA Mansoor An article on this topic published on August 7 provided information on a possible new source for potable water in the rural areas of Bangladesh.

As far as I could follow, it mentions some marshy plants that thrive in polluted water and remove the high levels of industrial impurities from the water, making it fit for drinking!

BARI and the University of Dhaka jointly, along with BCSIR, should seriously study this matter, and if needed set up a pilot project near the industrial area of Dhaka or Chittagong, where polluted wastewater from plants flows into open natural drains and then through canals and streams to the

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 4 represents O so fill O every time the figure 4 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

As you get the letters, fill in the other squares with the same number in the main grid, and the control grid. Check off the list of alphabetical letters as you identify them.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

rivers. If they can, they should also set up a similar project, as proposed in the article, to study natural purification levels, using natural water plants that can remove detrimental organic and inorganic chemicals polluting wastewater.

By adopting this process, that may be modified to suit our local availability of such filtering plants and the levels and types of impurities, we may succeed in having drinkable water from our plentiful rivers and other water-bodies.

This is important, as our water table is sinking, and accessing our sources of fresh, drinkable, underground water will be a major problem in as little as 10 years.

SUDOKU ISIS in Bangladesh?

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

August 7 Riaz Osmani The Bangladesh government must immediately declare local chapters of ISIS illegal and arrest these converts. ISIS is the latest and biggest threat to the world. Not to mention, they kill more Muslims in Iraq in one day than Israel has killed Palestinians in one week.

Tuba owner Delowar’s freedom was not necessary to pay workers August 7 Fahad Salahuddin Saber No, his freedom was not at all necessary.

Nazmul Khair It was just a plan. If the government wants to, it can form a committee and pay the due wages to the workers. Just as it was possible for the Tazreen victims. But surely, the Tuba owner was paid a handsome amount, within a certain limit, of course, and freed. What I expect to see though is a year later, some journalist writes an article and we recall what was done in the past. Rather than making any impact, it will help make our gossip more fruitful.

Fahad Muzaffar ISIS is an Israeli propaganda weapon. Hope RAB gets ‘em quick.

The plight of tea plantation workers August 7 Rubaiya Ehsan Karishma A very impressive article. :-)

Mir Raisa Rakiba Thanks to the author for this article.

Bad day for Bangladesh in World Chess Olympiad

August 7 Anirban Bhowmik I am surprised that the sports reporter has such limited understanding of the game. I seriously don’t understand how the day can be a bad day for the men’s chess team, when two of the Bangladeshi grandmasters drew with two of the best chess players in the world. It’s a great individual achievement by Zia and Rakib and should be appreciated.

Israel offers to extend truce August 7

Wikipedia refuses to delete ‘monkey selfie’ August 7 Shondhaya Tara Monfie!!

Anon Reminded me of Darwin’s Totto!

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Mahabub Hossain “The Western mantra is that Israel seeks negotiations without preconditions, while the Palestinians refuse. The opposite is more accurate.” This Noam Chomsky quote is most apt for this situation.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Deceive (4) 3 Monkeys (4) 7 Tool (3) 8 Plain cake (5) 11 Concreted blood (4) 12 Bitumen (5) 13 Field of conflict (5) 15 Date of death (4) 18 Bait (4) 19 Vestige (5) 20 Fish (5) 21 Remain (4) 23 Chemical compound (5) 24 Everyone (3) 25 Fly traps (4) 26 Expensive (4)

DOWN 1 Gloomy (6) 2 Appropriate (6) 4 Close friend (3) 5 Foreign-looking (6) 6 Become firm (3) 9 Advanced age (6) 10 Greek letter (3) 11 Part of a song (6) 14 Steal livestock (6) 16 Fight (6) 17 Extreme fear (6) 19 Digit (3) 21 Tool (3) 22 Vestment (3)

Joy Bangla, Joy Palestine August 7 Farid Wakeel Great article. Keep it coming.

Writ seeks ban on Indian TV channels August 7

Sheikh Jinat Mahmid I am sure there will be another demonstration by lovers of Hindi serials.

Truth be told, I am worried about my mother-in-law and aunty!

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

Women’s leadership August 10

PEANUTS

Azmeri Islam East West University A leader is someone who brings to the situation a clear and complete sense of the future, as well as an understanding of the actions needed to get there successfully.

Gender inequality is widespread within Bangladesh, as evidenced by genderaggregated development indicators and levels of violence against women. Women are under-represented in every sphere and have poorer access to health, education, living wages, and assets.

Oxfam works to address three different aspects of inequality by addressing violence against women, the lack of female leadership, and control over sexual and reproductive rights. Oxfam will work through partners and with civil society to transform ideas, attitudes and beliefs about the roles of women and men to achieve gender justice.

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Bound for retreat

T

n Maj Gen Md Abdur Rashid (Retd) he ethical world has been shocked and morally humiliated by Israeli military actions against Gaza, killing hundreds of innocent people. In the pretext of “right to defend,” Israeli Defence Force (IDF) is trying to justify the genocide and war crimes committed by them.

The intense and indiscriminate Israeli bombardment from air, sea, and land on Gaza is an arrogant, brutal, and absolute violation of international conventions and law of war. Israel has not only been bombarding civilian populations but has also targeted UN-run schools sheltering refugees and hospitals, causing enormous and unprecedented casualties which have infuriated the world.

Cautious attempts at rationalising Israeli military actions against Hamas and militants by the United States and United Nations received vehement criticism. The United States, under popular pressure, responded with sturdy remarks.

“The shelling of a UN facility that is housing innocent civilians who are fleeing violence is totally unacceptable and totally indefensible,” Barack Obama’s spokesman said. “It is clear that we need our allies in Israel to do more to live up to the high standards they have set themselves.”

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon termed it “a moral outrage and a criminal act” and “gross violation of international law.” But the UN Security Council remained a silent onlooker of the Israeli aggression.

The Israeli offensive, Operation Protective Edge, was unleashed with the objective of ending cross-border rocket fire from Gaza as well as destroying tunnels used by Palestinian militants to infiltrate Israel. But Israel could not achieve much of its stated aims other than killing more than 1,800 innocent civilians of Gaza.

The tunnel system which was put in place under the surface is carefully designed, deliberately excavated and fortified. Owing to multiple shafts and deeper locations, its complete destruction is quite impossible under the present conflicting situation. Limiting rocket attacks could not be made

possible by IDF as no such significant gains have been achieved through military actions.

Hamas’ adoption of the rocket strategy replacing suicide bombing in fact proved more devastating to Israel’s security, which first began in 2001. Israel had sought military solutions against Hamas in Gaza almost every two years.

But rocket attacks from Gaza never stopped. Instead, its intensity as well as range increased over the period.

Israel’s perception of security is based on an unfounded military concept and is likely to lead to an inconclusive outcome and repeated failure.

Since 1948, military solutions to the political problem had been sought with no resolution except grabbing Arab land. The second Intifada of Palestine compelled Israel to withdraw from Gaza in 2005. But Israel never lifted the siege of Gaza as promised.

Israel is gaining ground in Gaza, but losing in the strategic battlefield of world opinion

Gaza is a small strip of land on the Mediterranean Sea coast with only an 11km-long border with Egypt on the southwest and a 51km-long border with Israel on the north and east.

Crossings through Egypt are monitored by the UN and going through Israel is totally prohibited.

Its territorial water and airspace are controlled by Israel. Gaza’s people have been forced to live in an openair prison, being denied every facility and freedom. Firing of rockets against Israel is the only option available to Gazans as a means of protest seeking a free and dignified life, which Israel has denied them ever since.

Israel’s sense of insecurity is based on un-classical military thinking. Israel’s “right to defend itself” has atrociously undermined the Gazan’s “right to live.” Finding no other plausible option, people of Gaza rallied behind

Is Israel’s military aggression all that is needed?

Hamas and other Militants who fight Israel for establishing their rights.

Gaza has no capacity to import weapons of their own choice. A school science teacher developed a technology of making rockets which changed the security architecture of Israel.

Locally produced rockets named Qassam could cruise a range of 11km, an improved version Qassam 3 attained a range of 20km, carrying 20kg of warhead.

Highly inaccurate, but these had a tremendously scary effect on the Israeli population living in towns bordering Gaza and disrupted freedom of movement and daily life. Soon after, a standard military version of Russian Grad Type Katyusha was seen flying over Israel with an extended range of 45km carrying 50kg of explosives.

The massive 6m-long Iranian-made Fajr 5 rocket which carried 90kg of explosives up to a distance of 90km was first fired at Tel Aviv in 2012. About one-third of the Israeli people were

now living under the range of rockets and all the Israeli cities would come under it soon.

Although Israel has developed an anti-rocket system called the “Iron Dome,” which is believed to have intercepted a number of Hamas rockets, still a few could escape through. The complex tunnel system with multiple shafts makes the Israeli military’s task difficult to identify the magnitude and direction of the attacks.

Fear psychosis is driving Israeli military to resort to speculative bombardment on suspected weapon locations in spite of knowing the consequence of civilian casualties. Israel has already lost more than 68 soldiers and three civilians in the conflict and the figure will certainly increase if the battle is taken into built-up areas of Gaza.

Israel’s sensitivity to its own casualty figures is very well known to Hamas and other militants in Gaza.

Suffering casualties with no significant strategic and tactical gains would

REUTERS

put the Israeli prime minister under pressure for fighting an unlawful and unjust war.

The military objectives of IDF were to destroy hidden tunnels and degrade the capacity of rocket attacks and also kill militants. But the outcome of the offensive has been nothing significant, other than the number of dead bodies piled up. This endless conflict is compelling the entry of more sophisticated arsenals in the theatre and is putting more Israelis under the risk of rocket fire.

Establishing Palestinians’ right to live with dignity and sovereignty is a prerequisite to peace in the region and the security of Israel. The Palestine Liberation Organisation’s diplomatic representative to the US Maen Areikat said it is difficult to talk about an end result to the conflict, such as disarming factions in Gaza and preventing attacks, “without really addressing the political issues that have led to this confrontation in the first place.”

The foundation stone

Bad parents?

n Md Ashraful Alam Sagar

n Natasha Sabrin Khan

E

ducation is globally acknowledged as both a fundamental human right and the foundation stone for all kinds of development. It is the prime driving force of transformation towards sustainable development by intensifying the capacities of people to materialise their visions for society into reality.

It is an essential tool for improving a nation’s ability to develop and achieve sustainability targets, and making the world more livable for the future generation.

Furthermore, education is a key to achieve many different development goals. It helps people to develop attitudes, skills, and knowledge to make precise decisions for the benefit of themselves and others, for the future, and to execute those decisions.

A country that provides compulsory and free access to quality education for all of its citizens is obviously on the way to reduce poverty, promote economic growth, control population growth, lower child and maternal mortality, enhance women empowerment, ensure gender equality, and achieve social inclusion which ultimately paves the way for sustainable development.

Education plays a positive role to enhance human capacity for productivity. Evidence shows that development activities and plans for sustainable future are hindered in countries which have low basic education rates.

If the education level is low, the economy of that country is focused on extraction of resources from nature, which ultimately leads to environmental degradation and poses threats for the future generation. Higher education is required to create jobs and industries that are “greener” and more sustainable.

Education has a crucial role in increasing the agricultural production of a country. Literate farmers know the scientific and effective ways of cultivating lands and growing crops.

They can easily adapt to new methods of agriculture, prepare and use natural manure, and effectively utilise chemical fertiliser and pesticides in fewer amounts.

They know the appropriate timing and techniques for sowing seeds, cleaning weeds, using manures, controlling pests, and harvesting and processing crops. They know the strategies of preventing food losses, and storing and marketing them.

They are well aware of the techniques of preserving seeds for the next season. Women are also major contributors to agricultural production, especially food production, and women who receive education play a significant role in this context.

Controlling population growth is badly needed for the move toward sustainability. Without educating people, the birth rate can’t be controlled. Educated parents can easily understand the benefit of a planned family.

BIGSTOCK

An educated girl is aware of the drawback of marriage before gaining physical maturity. She also partakes in the decision of having children and the number of children, and keeping the family size small.

A literate mother ensures necessary healthcare services and education for both of her son and daughter.

Education, thus, reduces fertility rates, controls population growth, and ceases the threat of overpopulation.

It is education that can transform the population of a country into an asset through training and skills development. Vocational education is very effective in this case. Skilled manpower can accelerate the productivity of any country in many ways.

The need for skilled manpower can be felt all over the world. If a country invests adequate money in quality education – especially vocational and technical education – the population of that country will obviously be transformed into resources, and the country will never lag behind.

These skilled and trained human resources will find jobs either in the country or beyond the border of the country, which will boost up the economy of their country, and the country will step ahead towards sustainability.

Education plays a significant role in ensuring the personal growth of a child. It develops a sense of understanding and community among the children, which transforms them into socially-concerned citizens. It enhances their knowledge, skills, and social responsibility that make them the caregivers of the Earth for the future generation.

It develops the sense and capacity in the children to love their mother planet, to utilise the world’s resources responsibly, and it makes them realise that the world’s opportunities and resources are not infinite.

So, it is essential to ensure that all the children of the world are provided with learning opportunities and have access to quality education to ensure a sustainable future for the world. l Md Ashraful Alam Sagar is Senior Assistant Coordinator at Eminence Associates for Social Development.

A

two-year-old girl is playing alone and singing unmindfully “bojhe naa she bojhe na”— the title song of an Indian Bangla soap opera. This girl has a stay-at-home mom.

A six-year-old girl is visiting a relative – its 11pm, but she does not want to leave now. She insists on watching the Star Plus soap opera “Veera” at the host’s place and wants to leave afterwards, since she’ll be missing an episode otherwise. This girl has a working mom.

I witnessed both of the abovementioned incidents and not long after did I read the news about girls committing suicide because they were not getting a “Pakhi dress” soon enough.

The first question that came to my mind was: Is parenting being done the right way?

The mind of a child is like soft clay, which molds exactly the way it is handled. So if a child starts singing soap opera themes at age two, and starts following late night episodes at age six, then there is definitely something wrong with how the parents are handling the child.

Often, the finger is pointed towards a working mother when a child behaves the way s/he should not, but in the present Bangladesh, I see children of both working and stay-athome moms being addicted to soap operas. So this is not really an issue of whether the mother stays at home to watch over every step the child takes or if the mother leaves home at 8am and returns at 8pm, it’s really about the morals a child is being brought up with.

If a child – in particular a girl – is encouraged to dance to the latest Hindi songs at a gaye holud program, or is encouraged to pose like models by putting a hand on her waist for her parents’ Facebook posts, then it’s not really the child’s fault if she commits suicide over a dress when she is a teenager.

I am focusing on girls, as this issue of watching soap operas meant for adults is more prominent within them than in boys. This is another indication of how mothers play a greater role in

preventing their children from behaving erratically. Adult males are usually more into sports or news. I don’t want to discuss what an adult should or should not watch, what I want to say is that they should not watch everything in the presence of children.

Now, the question might arise that it’s not only the mother, but the other females of the house who also watch these programs. The thing is, how a child grows up is no one’s responsibility but the parents’.

The mother has to take the child away from the television when others are watching it

When the mom is the homemaker, keeping a child away from watching age-inappropriate programs should be easy. The mother has to stay away from watching the programs herself while the child is awake and has to take the child away from the television when others are watching it.

For a working mom, this definitely will prove to be a bit trickier as she can’t supervise the child during every hour of the day. But then again, there must be some regulations for the child’s nanny about not turning the TV on while the child is awake. Involving the child in extracurricular activities on weekdays could be a helpful endeavour in this regard.

But the mother too needs some time off. That’s where the dad comes in. The mother is not the only parent, the dad should shoulder some of the responsibilities too. When the mother takes some free time and watches her favourite soap operas, the father can spend time with the children away from the TV. As far as I have observed, the most popular Star Plus serials are aired after

The pattern of the military operations clearly displays Israeli pursuance of a violent strategy to instil fear in the minds of Gazans by brutally killing civilians and forcing them to embrace subjugation. Thousands of tons of explosives delivered against innocent Gazans while fighting a few Hamas militants exceeds all the limits and liabilities of every international convention and law of war in every count.

Without attempting to reach a permanent peaceful solution, Israeli military can never ensure the security Israel is dreaming of. Israel is gaining ground in Gaza, but losing in the strategic battlefield of world opinion.

The strategy of making Israel secure through military proved futile and is bound for strategic retreat. l Maj Gen Md Abdur Rashid (retd) is a strategic and security analyst, and Executive Director of Institute of Conflict, Law and Development Studies (ICLDS).

9pm. Why is a five-year-old child staying up that late? If the parents insist on a healthy bedtime routine for children – going to bed by 8pm – then they can watch what they want on TV late at night without the risk of imparting any bad influences on the child.

I am not saying that in Bangladesh the only problem children face is watching age-inappropriate programs on TV, but we can’t deny that watching such programs is indeed a big problem for us. We may not realise the consequences today, but when this generation grows up, society as a whole will have to face the consequences.

Situations are different within each household. But one fact remains constant: A child is the parents’ responsibility. Parents, particularly mothers, need to make a few things clear to themselves. What does she want her daughter to become like? Does she want her daughter to always doll herself up, run after rich hunks, get married after becoming pregnant, and start conspiring against her in-laws at all times?

Does she want her son to become a snob and a playboy and have affairs and ask girlfriends to get an abortion so that they do not need to marry?

These are the tropes that Indian soap operas exhibit, and if children are allowed to watch anything on TV, we leave an entire generation at stake.

This is not only about Indian channels; most English or Bangladeshi programs are also not appropriate for children. Indian programs have made the situation much worse.

Napoleon said: “Give me an educated mother and I will give you an educated nation.” As is the unfortunate culture in Bangladesh, we often read but do not learn. Napoleon wasn’t just referring to a university degree. Sending children to prestigious schools does not end a parent’s responsibility.

There is a lot more left that needs to be taught at home.

Parenting requires sacrifices, not just monetary ones, but smaller sacrifices like not watching one’s favourite program, if that means it could have a bad influence on the child. l Natasha Sabrin Khan is a full time mom.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

'Chhuye Dile Mon' is in its postproduction phase and is expected to be completed next month. A romantic film set in a small town, it tells the story of a young couple and how they fall in love.

The hero and heroine are none other than Arefin Shuvo and Momo. This is the first time the duo have paired up and the audience can expect a good onscreen chemistry. Shihab Shaheen is quite excited to cast them together and promises that the movie will be heartwarming and romantic. This is the debut film of the director and the songs have been directed by Habib Waheed and Sajeed

n Entertainment Desk A new coming-of-age drama serial titled “Cholo Hariye Jai” focuses on the lifestyle of a group of young boys and girls from affluent families. It will be premiered today on NTV at 11:30pm. The story follows the group who are yet to come across the harsh realities of life and suffers from the “starvation among plenty” syndrome. Their daily routine includes tennis session in the afternoon, enjoying at parties and dining at posh restaurants. They do not have time for the members of their families and care little about their parent’s opinion on their lifestyle. A few of the individuals are not as well-off as the others but they conceal the fact as they are ashamed of their social status. It shows how the group suffers from the lack of variation in life, how they make a big deal out of unimportant matters and how they run after the unknown.

Written and directed by Saiful Islam Mannu, popular faces of the small screen Mamunur Rashid, Dolly Johur, Azizul Hakim, Shams Shumon, Kumkum Hasan and others acted in the serial which will be aired every Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11:30pm. l

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Chandrabatee urges for salvation of women n Hasan Mansoor Chatak Theatre troupe Natnandan made its debut through an experimental play titled “Chandrabatee.” With four shows of the play on four consecutive days starting from August 8 at the EMK Centre, Natnandan made a buzz in the theatre arena. Written and directed by Asma Akhtar Liza, the production is named after the historic figure Chandrabatee who is widely considered as the first poetess in Bengali literature.

The fiction laments the suffering of women in a male dominated society where the female protagonist is forced to take up prostitution as her profession by the men around her.

In the comparatively brief play of forty five minutes, the other characters like Madhablal and Chand Sawdagar are taken from the medieval Bangla folk literature. The story shows a poverty stricken rural society and the truth of what extreme hunger can do to people.

Chandrabatee and Madhablal are married and live by whatever they can get. One day Madhablal leaves home and does not return for many days. When she could not stand the ache of hunger, Chandrabatee is forced to sell her body to the rich men of the village. The character Chand Sawdagar is an admirer of Chandrabatee but denies the fact and marries the daughter of a rich

man for the sake of business. In the absence of her husband, he visits Chandrabatee and proposes her to work for him as a sex worker.

The central theme of the play was expressed through the dialogue of Madhablal when he addresses the Creator: “Why have you created me as a man? Why have you given me sexual desires whereas I don’t have the ability to have food?”

The minimalistic set design and relatively small stage lead the audience to concentrate more on the acting. Several folk songs were used to compliment the mood and tension.

With the creation of some illusionary scenes in the play, the director made the view worth it.

Hasan Jahid and Sandhan Chakraborty played the characters of Madhablal and Chand Sawdagar respectively, while Asma Akhtar Liza herself played Chandrabatee. Ahsan Hibib Shovon did a great job as the in-charge of the music department. l

Kim Kardashian to publish book of selfies n Entertainment Desk Reality TV star Kim Kardashian is set to publish a photography book compiled entirely from her selfie collection.

The 33-year-old socialite has turned her hand to photography after apparently being inspired by a book of polaroid photos she gave husband Kanye West for his birthday, reported E! online.

“It ended up turning out so cool that we came up with this idea to do a book, a selfie book,” she said in a recent episode of “Keeping Up With The Kardashians.”

The book will be titled “Selfish” and will be published in April 2015 by renowned art publishers Rizzoli.

A shot of the cover has already been released, featuring a selfie of Kim lying in bed looking sultry. l

Wanted HBO

9:30pm James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman Common in an action packed movie where an officer gets to know that he is the son of a professional assassin. He realizes that he has his father's superhuman killing abilities.

A scene from Cholo Hariye Jai

TODAY IN DHAKA Memorial event Tareque Masud

Nigella Bites TLC

n Entertainment Desk

Discussion and film screening Time: 3pm Music and Dance Auditorium Shilpakala Academy Shegun Bagicha

It was supposed to be a light-hearted programme for the Kolkata Police – a day to remember the valour of brave police officers who keep Kolkata’s streets safe throughout the year. Brand ambassador of Bengal, actor Shahrukh Khan as well as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee were present to honour them. But SRK grooving to the tracks of the song Jab Tak Hain Jaan with a woman cop at the function has sparked off a major controversy. Since the officer was in her formal uniform at the time, questions have been raised if the uniform was disrespected in the midst of all the fun and frolic.

While no one is openly voicing their dissent fearing the ire of the state government, media reports suggest that the issue has created quite a flutter in the police ranks. Police officers have cited past incidents when strong action was taken against staff who indulged in dancing while wearing their formal uniform at a social function. In the Left regime, former Finance Minister Ashim Dasgupta once took action against a cop for smoking inside the Writers building.

But looks like this time the matter is most likely to be hushed up as evident from quotes by top police officers. Joint Commissioner of Kolkata Police has told media outlets that it was a social event and that the entire matter should be seen in that perspective. l

Film

Most Welcome 2 Maleficent Transformers: Age of Extinction (3D) X-Men: Days of Future Past (3D) Edge of Tomorrow (3D) Star Cineplex, Level 8 Bashundhara City Panthopath Tejgaon Hercules 3D Most Welcome 2 The Fault in Our Stars Hero Honeymoon Noah 3D Godzilla 3D Blockbuster Cinemas Ka- 244 Pragati Avenue Kuril

Exhibition

Jolchhobi

By Shahnoor Mamun Time: 12pm – 8pm Alliance Francaise Mirpur Road

Shatabdi and Mou together for the first time

n Entertainment Desk Shatabdi Wadud and Mou are working in a drama titled “Gum.” This is the first time the duo will share screen space and they have chosen a great story to make their debut as a couple.

The writer and director Mahmud Didar has attempted to showcase the burning issue of abduction of civilians and the growing number of such incidents. It shows the concern and agitation of the common people and what happens when a loved one is the victim of such a harrowing experience.

Shatabdi is an ignorant husband and a father who wants to become a film ac-

tor. All of a sudden, he gets the chance of working in a film and is paid a large amount of money.

The story takes a turn when he is kidnapped and his abductors demand money.

About working with Mou for the first time, Shatabdi said: “Working with Mou was a learning experience. I am a fan of the diva and her working style is quite inspiring.”

Mou said: “The script is well-written and I loved portraying such a role. The entire team made an effort to make this drama as real as possible.”

The drama is scheduled to be aired during Eid-al-Adha. l

In this episode, Nigella shows you that some food is at its best when cooked small scale – perfect for when you're home alone.

Naari

Maasranga TV

8pm Featuring Hasin Rowshan, Sumaiaya Shimu and Shatabdi Wadud in lead roles drama series Naari is about the struggle of women in a patriarchal society.

Did you know?

Arsenal have won their 2nd trophy in 85 days after going 3283 days without silverware prior to that

Sport

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

14 Miroslav Klose

quits Germany duty

14 Rodriguez set

for Real bow in Super Cup

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Saeed Ajmal

reported for suspect action

A combo of photos showing Sohag Gazi (L) buying a transfer token with his own money after not being able to get a team while Robiul Islam, Abdur Razzak and Shamsur Rahman (R) address the media during the second and final day of the players’ transfer of the national cricketers held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

LRB buys club, ropes Tamim, wants Shakib Spinners Sohag Gazi and Arafat Sunny unable to find new team n Mazhar Uddin One cannot simply subtract the element of surprise in the Dhaka Premier League transfer window as though the new pool-quota system benefited most national players, it backfired for last season’s highest wicket-taker Arafat Sunny and off-spinner Sohag Gazi.

The two-day transfer window for the pool enlisted cricketers, in other words players who played for the national team in the past one year, came to an end at the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM) office at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday with Tamim Iqbal, the big name on the day signing for the defending champions Gazi Tank CC. Under special arrangement Tamim

signed for Lutfur Rahman Badal’s club at the owner’s Kawran Bazar office and the Chittagong opener will find Rubel Hossain and Shakib al Hasan (if permitted by the cricket board to play) alongside him.

“I along with Shakib have been playing for his (Lutfar Rahman Badal) club for the last few years and I enjoy playing for his team. Every team’s success is depended on both players and officials and if you see his records he is very successful and he knows how to manage the team very well and he also gives the freedom to the cricketers,” said Tamim after completing the formalities.

Shakib’s inclusion in the side knowing that he is banned from cricket for six months ending in December, is a gamble that Badal is taking and he informed if Shakib is not allowed to play

the league they will play with two pool cricketers as a protest.

The owner also bragged about the salaries of his prime cricketers Tamim and Shakib and flagged them as the highest paid cricketers this season, ahead of Mushfiqur Rahim who has been reported by a local daily of getting Tk5m (50 lac) from Prime Doleshwar.

However, to much shock left-arm spinner Sunny, who bagged highest 29 wickets last season and also impressed for the Tigers, and Gazi were left in no man’s land.

Sunny, an integral part of the league champions Gazi Tank CC previous season, had no confirm deal till the transfer window closed yesterday at 8pm.

Meanwhile, Gazi was seen at the CCDM premises and he bought a trans-

fer token (needed while signing for a new club) of his own money before leaving without signing for any club.

Last season he played for runners-up Prime Doleshwar who already filled their three-man pool quota with Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque and Shafiul Islam.

Back to Lutfar Rahman Badal, aka LRB and the person who earlier run clubs like Mohammedan SC and Victoria SC and currently runs Gazi Tank CC, has bought another premier league club - Kalabagan Cricket Academy, who were promoted to the top flight in the second-last season.

As his pool signings, Badal roped in Anamul Haque and Sabbir Rahman for his new club Kalabagan CA. On the other hand, Abdur Razzak surprised many by inking a deal with

WHO TO WHERE Gazi Tank Tamim Iqbal, Rubel Hossain, Shakib al Hasan Kalabagan KC Abdur Razzak, Shamsur Rahman, Robiul Islam Prime Doleshwar Mushfiqur Rahim, Mominul Haque, Shafiul Islam Abahani Limited Nasir Hossain, Al-Amin Hossain, Ziaur Rahman Kalabagan KC as till yesterday it was known the left-arm spinner will be retained by Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, who apparently have no pool players at the moment.

Mohammedan Sporting Club Mashrafe Mortaza, Naeem Islam, Mithun Ali Prime Bank CC Mahmudullah, Taskin Ahmed, Farhad Reza Kalabagan CA Sabbir Rahman, Anamul Haque Victoria Sporting Club Imrul Kayes, Marshal Ayub Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, Brothers Union, Partex and Old DOHS have not registered a single national pool cricketer Shamsur Rahman and pace bowler Robiul Islam filled the quota for Kalabagan KC as Imrul Kayes and Marshal Ayub were roped in by Victoria Sporting Club. l

Khulna braced for Test after two-year hiatus n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Bangladesh Olympic Association general secretary Syed Shahed Reza (C) speaks at a press conference held at the Dutch-Bangla Bank Olympic auditorium yesterday COURTESY

A five-member Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) delegation reached Khulna yesterday evening in order to inspect the south-western city’s international cricket venue, Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium (SANS).

The venue was awarded international status on November 21, 2012 through the Test match between Bangladesh and the West Indies. So far it is

the only Test match that has been hosted by SANS. Later on December 2 in the same year, an ODI between the two teams was played in the venue. However, the venue did not stage any international cricket in the last two years despite the fact that Bangladesh participated in several international games at home during that period, including Asia Cup 2014 and the ICC World Twenty20 2014.

The long wait, however, is likely to

end for the inhabitants of Khulna as BCB plans to hold a Test match at SANS when Bangladesh entertains Zimbabwe in a home series in October this year.

The BCB delegation’s visit to Khulna is in relation to the Bangladesh-Zimbabwe Test.

Rabeed Imam, one of the members of the delegation and also the BCB media manager, informed Dhaka Tribune that they will explore all the necessary requirements required to hold an inter-

BOA hopeful about archery, shooting BFF hopeful of practice n Shishir Hoque

The Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) is optimistic about archery and shooting disciplines ahead of the 2nd Summer Youth Olympic Games 2014 which will be held from August 16-28 in Nanjing, China. BOA secretary general Syed Shahed Reza also praised the young hockey team for qualifying in the competition.

A 23-man Bangladesh contingent including 13 athletes and 10 officials will fly to China on August 15. Among the 13 participants, 10 of them are currently studying at the Bangladesh Krira Shikkha Protishthan (BKSP), included 11 male athletes and two females. The participants will take part in five disciplines - archery, hockey, shooting, swimming and weightlifting.

Only the hockey team earned the right to play in the tournament through qualifiers - first time for Bangladesh - while the athletes will participate in the other disciplines through the wild-card category.

The hockey competition will be played in a five-a-side system. “I am proud of the hockey team. They are the only team who will be going to China after qualifiers. This is the first time in the history of Bangladesh. I am hopeful that the hockey team will put up a good performance,” said Shahed Reza in a press conference at the BOA auditorium yesterday.

The archery team contains only one athlete, Prennoy Murong, and is the only contingent which has already left the country last Friday to take part in the 2nd Asian Archery Grand Prix. Prennoy will fly to Nanjing after the meet. The archery team has gone through a special training camp under a foreign coach since January 7 this year. Prennoy will take part in the individual recurve event in Nanjing.

Only shooter Sharmin Akter will represent Bangladesh in shooting in the Summer Youth Olympics and she will be accompanied by official Abdus Salam Khan. Sharmin will fight for the medal in the 10m air-rifle event.

“The archery team already went to Chinese Taipei and is participating in a tournament while the shooting team has been training for the last seven months. I hope they will deliver a decent result for us,” added the BOA chief.

Meanwhile in the other disciplines, Md. Asif Reza and Jahura Akhter Reshma will represent Bangladesh in swimming (50m freestyle) and weightlifting (48kg) respectively.

Rezaul Karim Babu, captain of the Bangladesh youth hockey team, will carry the national flag in the opening ceremony of the Summer Youth Olympics while BOA vice president Rafia Akhter Dolly will be the Chef de Mission.

A total of 3600 young athletes from 204 countries will take part in 28 disciplines in the tournament. The first edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games was held four years ago in Singapore where an 11-member Bangladesh team took part in archery, shooting and swimming. l

match against Nepal n Raihan Mahmood

Bangladesh Football Federation is looking forward to bringing Nepal to Dhaka for a practice match ahead of the Asian Games.

BFF general secretary Abu Naeem Shohag confirmed the news saying, “We have started the communication process and we hope to bring Nepal in the last week of the current month. The match will be played at the Bangabandhu National Stadium and we are hopeful of hosting the match,” said Shohag.

Shohag further added that on their way to Incheon, Bangladesh team will play another practice match against Malaysia. The proposal has already been sent to Malaysian Football Federation.

Bangladesh U-23 team is currently at BKSP preparing for the Asian Games under Dutch coach Lodewijk de Kruif

and his assistant Rene Koster. There are 27 players in the camp and Bangladesh has to finalise the squad within August 18 of this year. The draw of the tournament will be held on August 21.

We have started the communication process and we hope to bring Nepal in the last week of the current month The football matches of the Asian Games is scheduled to be held in Incheon, South Korea from September 14 to October 3, 2014. The opening match will be played five days prior to the opening ceremony. 24 teams will play in male section while eight teams will participate in women’s competition. l

national game. The requirements include logistical support, accommodation, facilities, operations and security.

“We will try to find out the lackings and then mend those in order to successfully hold the Test match between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe,” informed Rabeed yesterday.

After reaching Khulna yesterday, the delegation will look into the necessities of accommodation before visiting the venue today. l

Open chess team draw with Philippines n Tribune Desk Bangladesh Open chess team registered a draw while the women’s team tasted their second consecutive defeat after the end of round 8 in the 41st World Chess Olympiad at Tromso, Norway on Sunday.

The Open chess team drew 2-2 with Philippines as Grandmaster Enamul Hossain bagged the only win beating GM Eugenio Torre. GM Abdullah al Rakib and GM Niaz Murshed drew against GM Gomez Jhon Paul and GM Gonzales Jayson respectively while GM Ziaur Rahman suffered the only defeat to GM Sadorra Julio Catalino of Philippines.

The Bangladesh Open team how have eight match points and 17.5 game points under their belt after the 8th round. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Klose quits Germany duty n Reuters Germany striker Miroslav Klose, who capped a record-breaking career with the national team by winning the World Cup last month, has retired from international football.

Poland-born Klose, who scored twice in the tournament in Brazil to become the competition’s record goal scorer of all time with 16 goals, said the time was right to end a 13-year career with the German national team.

He is the second member of the German team to quit after the tournament following captain Philipp Lahm last month.

“Winning the title in Brazil was a childhood dream come true,” the 36-year-old Lazio striker said in a statement released by the German football Association.

“I am happy and proud to have contributed to this big success for German football. For me there could be no better moment to complete the national team chapter.”

Germany’s second most-capped player behind Lothar Matthaeus made the first of his 137 international appearances in 2001 and went on to become the top German scorer of all time with 71 international goals. He broke Gerd Mueller’s 40-year-old record of 68 goals in June.

Germany’s only out-and-out striker in the World Cup squad, Klose was initially benched in the tournament but earned back his starting spot and scored once against Ghana in the group stage and then again in their 7-1 semi-final demolition of hosts Brazil in the semi-final.

The latter goal also meant he overtook former Brazil striker Ronaldo on the World Cup scorers list.

PERSONAL RECORDS FIFA World Cup all-time top scorer: 16 goals (five in 2002, Five in 2006, four in 2010 and two in 2014) Only player to have had four FIFA World Cup medals Only player to have had 17 wins in FIFA World Cups

“When I met up with Miro last week he told he me he had thought long about it and talked to his family,” Germany coach Joachim Loew said. “I immediately sensed that his decision was irreversible and that I cannot convince him otherwise.

Only player to have appeared in four or more semifinals in FIFA World Cups Only player to have scored at least four goals in three FIFA World Cups

PROFILE Full name: Date of birth: Height: Playing position: Germany Debut: Last Match: Total caps: Goals:

Scored in 11 World Cup matches, record shared with Ronaldo

Miroslav Josef Klose 9 June 1978 (age 36) in Opole, Poland 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in) Striker 24 March 2001 against Albania 13 July 2014 against Argentina 137 71

One of only three players, along with Pelé and Uwe Seeler, to score in four FIFA World Cup editions.

Scored at least five goals in two FIFA World Cups, record shared only with Teófilo Cubillas and Thomas Mueller.

Germany Honours FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup Euro FIFA World Cup FIFA World Cup

2002 2006 2008 2010 2014

Record for scoring most goals from headers in a single edition of the World Cups

Runner-up Third Runner-up Third Champion

Only player to have participated in six Euro and World Cup semifinals

Individual Honours German Footballer of the Year: 2006 FIFA World Cup Silver Shoe: 2002 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe: 2006 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 2002, 2006

Top goalscorer in World Cup & Euro competitions combined with 19 goals Germany’s all-time scorer with 71 goals

“You can always count on Miro to keep his word and that was the case in Brazil as well. I have a lot of respect for Miro’s decision as well as for his unbelievable national team career that is all but impossible to trump.

“As player and a human being, we will be missing Miro and I am happy and grateful to have been allowed to work with Miroslav Klose.” l

Germany’s second most capped player behind Lothar Matthäus FIFA World Cup’s second most capped player behind Lothar Matthäus

Rodriguez set for Real bow in Super Cup n AFP, London

Real Madrid’s new Colombian recruit James Rodriguez is all set to depart for Cardiff, Wales along with the rest of the squad for the UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla today

Man City snap up Mangala from Porto n

AFP, Manchester

Manchester City on Monday announced the signing of France central defender Eliaquim Mangala from FC Porto.

The 23-year-old Paris-born Mangala becomes the sixth signing of the summer, and will quickly re-join his old Porto teammate Fernando at the Etihad Stadium.

“City is a top club in Europe. For me, it was an important step to leave Porto and join Manchester City in order to continue my progress. I want to win titles and I believe I can do this. I am ambitious and this is why I am here,” Mangala said.

“I’m very happy to come to England because for me, the Premier League is the best league in the world. It is a very intense and very aggressive competition. There are plenty of goals, so it is also really nice to watch and I can’t wait to get started!

“The fact that Fernando is here is better because I played with him at Porto but there is also other players that I know like (Bacary) Sagna, (Gael) Clichy and (Samir) Nasri.”

City manager Manuel Pellegrini added: “I’m delighted to have added a player of Eliaquim’s quality in the squad ahead of the new season. l

World Cup sensation James Rodriguez is in line to make his Real Madrid debut when the European champions tackle Europa League winners Sevilla in Tuesday’s all-Spanish UEFA Super Cup in Cardiff.

Madrid’s 4-1 extra-time win over city rivals Atletico Madrid in Lisbon in May ended their 12-year wait for a 10th European Cup and they now look even stronger after a characteristically extravagant close-season recruitment drive.

Rodriguez, Toni Kroos and Keylor Navas arrived at the Bernabeu after impressing at the World Cup and all are in line to feature at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The first glimpse of 80-million-euro ($108 million) playmaker Rodriguez in a Madrid shirt is keenly anticipated after he dazzled for Colombia in Brazil, scoring six goals to win the Golden Boot.

With the 23-year-old former Monaco playmaker joining Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in the Spanish capital, Madrid now possess three of the four most expensive players of all-time.

The trio could grace a pitch together for the first time in Cardiff, but like Kro-

os, who arrived from Bayern Munich after starring in Germany’s World Cup triumph, Rodriguez is short of fitness and unlikely to start.

Along with Costa Rican goalkeeper Navas, the pair only returned to training last week and coach Carlo Ancelotti has admitted that his players are some way short of peak condition.

“We had to give holidays to some players until August 5,” said the Italian.

“Therefore, we haven’t had much time to prepare for the game. We need to try our hardest in August to prepare the players in the best way possible for the new season.”

The Super Cup is one of six trophies that Madrid could win this season, but they are still searching for their first pre-season victory after two defeats and a draw on their tour of the United States.

One player who seems certain to start is Welsh forward Bale, who was born and raised in Cardiff and went to school just four miles (6.4 kilometres) from Tuesday’s match venue.

Scorer of the decisive second goal in the Champions League final, the 25-year-old found the net twice in the US and is relishing the prospect of play-

ing in front of his home crowd.

“I knew the Super Cup would be played in Cardiff a good 18 months ago,” Bale told Spanish newspaper Marca.

“When I came to Real Madrid it was always a dream of mine that if we could win the Champions League, we could play in Cardiff. Now that dream has come true.”

Tuesday’s opponents will carry special significance for Bale, for it was against Sevilla last October that he scored a brace in a 7-3 win that truly launched his Madrid career.

Ancelotti’s side enjoyed less success in the return fixture, going down 2-1 in March in a game that fatally undermined their league title bid, so the reunion in the Welsh capital will also offer an opportunity for revenge.

Sevilla beat Benfica on penalties in the Europa League final in Turin to win the competition for the third time in nine seasons.

They have lost influential Croatian playmaker Ivan Rakitic to Barcelona, while Stephane Mbia -- scorer of a decisive injury-time goal against Valencia in the Europa League semi-finals -- has returned to parent club Queens Park Rangers. l

Ten-man Monaco lose home opener, Lyon win n Reuters, Paris Last season’s runners-up Monaco made a disappointing start to the new Ligue 1 campaign with a 2-1 defeat at home to Lorient on Sunday with the absence of the sold James Rodriguez all too obvious.

Lorient opened the scoring through Vincent Aboubakar’s ninth minute penalty and although Radamel Falcao hit back with a spot kick of his own on 78 minutes, Valentin Lavigne grabbed the winner three minutes from time.

Monaco also had defender Ricardo Carvalho sent off in the 67th minute for a second yellow card.

The principality club, who under Russian billionaire Dmitry Rybolovlev splashed out more than 100 million euros ($134 million) on transfers last year, finished last season nine points adrift of Paris St Germain but still qualified automatically for this term’s Champions League.

Despite their bank balance and relative success in their first campaign

RESULTS Monaco Falcao 78-pen

Lyon Malbranque 64, Lacazette 73-pen

1 2 2 0

Lorient Aboubakar 9-pen, Lavigne 87

Rennes

back in the top flight, Monaco sold World Cup top scorer Rodriguez to Real Madrid in the close season and fellow Colombian Falcao is constantly linked in the media with a move.

Portuguese Leonardo Jardim was appointed as Monaco coach in June after the club replaced Italian Claudio Ranieri in a bid for a “new dynamic”.

Olympique Lyonnais won 2-0 at home to Stade Rennes in their season opener, midfielder Steed Malbranque putting them ahead in the 64th minute and Alexandre Lacazette adding a penalty.

Big-spending champions PSG drew their first league match of the new campaign on Friday when they were held 2-2 at Stade de Reims with Zlatan Ibrahimovic scoring twice but missing a penalty. l

Beaming Wenger all set for new season to start n Reuters, London

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger gave the impression of a man who cannot wait for the new season to begin after praising his side following their 3-0 demolition of Premier League champions Manchester City in the Community Shield on Sunday.

“It was a complete performance in the first half, we defended well and kept the spirit and organisation in the second half and the win today provides a very positive platform to prepare from,” Wenger told reporters.

“Now we have to start well against Crystal Palace at home in the league (Saturday 1630 GMT) and that won’t be easy, that’s a London derby and it will be a different type of game.”

The Community Shield is not the most important trophy in English football but securing it 85 days after winning the FA Cup, which ended a nineyear trophy drought, brought a smile to Wenger’s face.

“I’d like to win a trophy every week,” he beamed. “But it was very important to win today.

“You not only want to win the game and take the trophy but you want a good performance and we produced quality for long spells today.”

He also singled out 19-year-old de-

fender Calum Chambers for special praise, saying that the teenager he has just signed from Southampton gave “an outstanding performance” and would challenge Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny for a central defensive place following the sale of Thomas Vermaelen to Barcelona.

“For a 19-year-old who does not have a long history in that position, he was outstanding. He can challenge both centre backs, play at right back or in midfield. Even if Thomas did not leave I would have bought him anyway.”

Vermaelen’s departure means Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta is the new club skipper with Wenger saying Mertesacker will be vice-captain.

Wenger has come under pressure from many Arsenal fans over the last few seasons as the trophies dried up but the FA Cup final win and his team’s performance on Sunday appears to have rejuvenated the 64-year-old Frenchman, who will mark 18 years as Arsenal manager in October.

One reason is that he now feels he is close to having enough quality in attack to launch a real challenge for the Premier League title Arsenal last won in 2004.

“With Alexis Sanchez coming, we have more attacking options than we have had for a long time.” l

Benfica’s Brazilian defender and captain Luisao Silva holds the trophy as he celebrates with his teammates after winning the Portuguese Super Cup match against FC Rio Ave at the Aveiro City stadium in Aveiro on Sunday AFP

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QUICK BYTES

Ramires, Fabregas fire Chelsea to win Second-half goals from Ramires and Cesc Fabregas gave Chelsea a 2-1 win at Ferencvaros in a game to mark the opening of the Hungarian side’s new stadium in Budapest. Former West Brom and Fulham player Zoltan Gera had scored the first goal at the new ground on the quarter-hour mark but Jose Mourinho’s side hit back after the interval. Ramires volleyed in on 50 minutes and Fabregas hit the winner with a fine individual goal 10 minutes from time. Chelsea complete their pre-season at home to Real Sociedad on Tuesday before opening their Premier League campaign at promoted Burnley on Monday, August 18.

–AFP

Ajax coach hopes Eto’o will be signed Ajax Amsterdam coach Frank de Boer said he was hopeful the Dutch champions would offer Samuel Eto’o a contract after talks between the Cameroon international and the club last week. “If you can get a player with his qualities and he still has ambition to show what he can do, then it is an opportunity not to be missed,” De Boer told Fox Sport television on Sunday ahead of his team’s 4-1 win over Vitesse Arnhem in their opening game of the new Dutch season. De Boer said he had received the suggestion from the club’s technical director Marc Overmars via an SMS that said: “Eto’o?”. “I texted him back: ‘If you can get him, that would be top. As far as I’m concerned you can try’. He (Eto’o) has been in the game for 20 years so he can naturally take a leadership role. He can teach our own players about professional football,” De Boer added.

–Reuters

Vermaelen not ready to train: Barcelona Barcelona’s new signing Thomas Vermaelen has an injured right hamstring and is not yet ready to start training, the Spanish club said Monday. The 28-year-old Belgium international defender, who completed his move to Barcelona from Arsenal on Sunday, picked up the injury during the World Cup in Brazil, the club said in a statement. Vermaelen will undergo physiotherapy, it added. “His presence in training sessions will depend on how his recovery progresses,” Barcelona said. Vermaelen, who had been at Arsenal for five years, and captain for the past two seasons, said during his presentation at the Nou Camp on Sunday that he wanted to draw a line under an injury-plagued spell.“I want to put the injuries I have had behind me and look to the future. My aim is to play in lots of games and help the team,” he said. “Last year was tough, but I want to start from zero and I am sure I’ll have a fantastic season here at Barcelona.”

Vermaelen made only 21 appearances last season as niggling injuries and the form of Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker limited his impact.

–AFP

Scolari makes losing return to Gremio Former Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari made a losing return to Gremio when they were beaten 2-0 at arch-rivals Internacional on Sunday in his first game since he was re-appointed by the club where he made his name. Felipao (Big Phil) took charge of his first club game almost exactly a month after his Brazil team were humiliated 7-1 by Germany in their World Cup semi-final. Chile midfielder Charles Aranguiz headed Internacional in front from Fabricio’s cross in the 62nd minute, just as Gremio appeared to be taking charge of the game at the Beira-Rio. Claudio Winck added the second with a breakaway goal as Internacional extended their unbeaten run against Gremio to nine matches. Scolari made his name as a coach with Gremio when he won the Libertadores Cup, Brazilian championship and Copa Brasil with the Porto Alegre club between 1993 and 1996. He also had a brief spell in charge in 1987. The volatile 65-year-old went on to lead Brazil to their fifth World Cup title in 2002 and then took Portugal to the Euro 2004 final and the World Cup semi-final two years later.

–Reuters

DAY’S WATCH Ten Action 2:00PM South Africa Tour of Zimbabwe 1st Test, Day 4 12:00AM UEFA Super Cup 2014 Real Madrid v Sevilla Star Sports 1, 2 8:15PM Pro Kabaddi League Pune v Vizag

Sport

Ajmal reported to ICC for illegal bowling action n AFP, Colombo Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, the world’s top-ranked bowler in one-day cricket, has been reported for a suspect action, the world governing body said Monday, the second such incident in his career.

Match officials at the just-ended first Test between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Galle “cited concerns over a number of deliveries that were considered to be suspect and concluded that the bowler’s action needed to be tested”, the International Cricket Council said in a statement.

“Ajmal’s bowling action will now be scrutinised further under the ICC process relating to suspected illegal bowling actions reported in Tests, ODIs and T20s.”

As per ICC regulations, Ajmal will have to undergo tests of his action within 21 days, but is allowed to play on until the results of the test are known, the statement added.

Ajmal claimed five wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings. The hosts won the game by seven wickets on Sunday to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

The second Test starts on Thursday in Colombo.

“This has come as a surprise to us,” Pakistan manager Moin Khan said in Colombo.

“But there is no panic. We support him and he will play in the next Test.”

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it would react after the testing was over.

“Once such a report has been made, the ICC rules take over and the entire process is controlled and regulated by these rules,” the PCB said in a statement.

“The PCB has no choice but to wait for the outcome of the process before proceeding further in the matter.”

The first Test was umpired by Ian Gould of England and Bruce Oxenford of Australia, while Zimbabwe’s Andy Py-

Proteas lead Zimbabwe by 113 n AP, Harare

South Africa made 357 in its first innings and led Zimbabwe by 113 at the end of the third day of the one-off test at Harare Sports Club on Monday.

The Zimbabweans were 28-1 in their second innings after posting 256 in the first, and were facing an expected uphill battle against the top-ranked team.

South Africa’s 141-run first-innings lead was built on scores of 98 by Faf du Plessis and 81 from Quinton de Kock, who combined for a 119-run partnership for the fifth wicket to put South Africa in control. Still, South Africa’s run-scoring was slow at 2 ½ runs per over as the visitors ground their way in front on a lifeless pitch where batsmen worked hard for their runs.

Offspinner John Nyumbu took 5-157 on debut for Zimbabwe, making use of a surface that favored the slow bowlers to claim the important wickets of Du Plessis and JP Duminy, who made 55, among his haul.

Vusi Sibanda (8 not out) and nightwatchman Donald Tiripano (1 not out) took Zimbabwe to the close in its second innings.

With South Africa continuing on 201-4 in the morning, Du Plessis and De Kock put together the best stand of the match to give the tourists a clear advantage.

Du Plessis batted for nearly six hours and faced 264 balls, but fell two short of his fourth test hundred when he clipped a catch to a close fielder off Nyumbu. He hit 11 fours. De Kock had to restrain his normally attacking game to hit only five fours and a six, and he also fell to spin when he miscued a drive off Sean Williams to Sibanda.

Duminy made his sixth test half-century and Dale Steyn briefly raised the tempo with two sixes off Nyumbu before the spinner struck back to remove him for 19. l

croft was the match referee.

The 36-year-old Ajmal has taken 174 wickets in 34 Tests and 182 wickets in 110 ODIs since he made his international debut in 2008.

As well as heading the ICC’s bowling rankings in 50-over cricket, Ajmal is also in the top 10 of Test and Twenty20 bowlers.

He was previously reported in April 2009 but was cleared to play after testing.

In May while playing for Worcestershire in English county cricket, Ajmal was angered by a tweet from England fast bowler Stuart Broad which suggested that the Pakistani used a different action during testing.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan had posted a photograph of Ajmal’s action on Twitter and wrote: “You are allowed 15 degrees of flex in your delivery swing.. #justsaying.”

Broad replied with the comment “This has to be a fake photo?!” before a further tweet stated: “Bowlers can bowl very differently in a lab while being tested compared to needing wickets in the middle.”

Ajmal said at the time that Broad’s comments were disappointing.

“Broad’s dig hurt me the most,” Ajmal told the pakpassion.net website.

“Former players will sit in the commentary box or wherever else and say some things for attention, but you don’t expect such things from a fellow professional cricketer who is still playing cricket.

“It was disappointing to read Broad’s comments.”

After the tour of Sri Lanka, Pakistan will play a two-Test series and three ODIs against Australia in October and November in the United Arab Emirates.

Ajmal is seen as the key to the hopes of former champions Pakistan in next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. l

BRIEF SCORE, DAY 3 Zimbabwe 256 (B. Taylor 93; D. Steyn 5-46, D. Piedt 4-90) & 28-1 in 13 overs South Africa 397 (F. Du Plessis 98, Q. De Kock 81, D. Elgar 61, JP Duminy 55; J. Nyumbu 5-157)

Fired-up Tsonga stuns Federer to win Toronto Masters n AFP, Toronto

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga won the Toronto Masters with a win over Roger Federer, two years after injuring himself at the same event in a freak collision with a fire hydrant.

French 13th seed Tsonga hit 11 aces and 26 winners to win Sunday’s final 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) while Federer, two days after his 33rd birthday, was undone by 37 unforced errors.

“If you believe in something it can happen,” said Tsonga. “I’m proud of what I’ve achieved this week.

“I played well all this week. I beat many good guys.”

The 29-year-old Tsonga dropped just one set all week as he knocked out world number one Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray en route to the final.

It was Tsonga’s second career Masters 1000 title, coming almost six years after his first at Paris Bercy in 2008.

He is just the second French player after Guy Forget to win two titles at the Masters level.

Tsonga spent just over one and three-quarter hours in constructing his upset over the man who had beat-

15

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

en him in both of their previous finals played in 2011.

Tsonga dealt with injuries for much of 2013 but is now fit and brimming with confidence.

The French player said his win Sunday had special significance because of his experience two years earlier.

Fresh off winning an Olympic silver medal in doubles in the 2012 London Games, Tsonga injured his right knee in Toronto after walking into a fire hydrant as he was out for a stroll. He had lost in the opening round of the Masters 1000 event in Toronto to Jeremy Chardy. l

McIlroy wins dramatic shootout to take PGA title n AFP, Louisville

Rory McIlroy put himself among golf’s greatest legends Sunday by winning his fourth major title in dramatic fashion, capturing the PGA Championship in a shotmakers’ showdown at rain-softened Valhalla.

Three weeks after winning the British Open, the 25-year-old from Northern Ireland rallied on the back nine to take his second major victory in a row and third consecutive triumph overall in impressive fashion.

“Amazing. Incredible. I’m not sure I’ll ever have another summer like

this,” McIlroy said. “I’ve got a lot of golf left to play this year, but I have to enjoy what I’ve just done.”

McIlroy fired a three-under par 68 in the final round to finish 72 holes on 16-under par 268 and edge five-time major winner Phil Mickelson by one shot with Sweden’s fourth-ranked Henrik Stenson and American Rickie Fowler two adrift.

McIlroy’s hat-trick of victories after the British Open and a World Golf Championships event last week give him the longest win streak since Tiger Woods completed a run of five in a row in 2008. l

Radwanska lifts Montreal title n AFP, Montreal

Agnieszka Radwanska poses with the winner’s trophy after the final of the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Uniprix Stadium on Sunday REUTERS

Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska toppled former world number one Venus Williams in straight sets Sunday at the WTA Montreal tournament to clinch her first title of the season.

Poland’s Radwanska rolled to a comfortable 6-4, 6-2 victory over the American in just 81 minutes as she claimed her 14th career singles title.

“I am very, very happy,” said Radwanska, who earned $467,000 for the win. “Everything was working for me today.”

The 25-year-old’s last win was in Seoul in September. She reached the final at Indian Wells earlier this year, losing to Italian Flavia Pennetta.

Radwanska fired three aces, had two double faults and won 65 percent of her

Cook’s resolve impresses Moores n AFP, Manchester

England coach Peter Moores insisted Sunday he was always confident captain Alastair Cook had it in him to lead the team out of their lengthy slump.

When India beat England by 95 runs to win the second Test at Lord’s and go 1-0 up in the five-match series, Cook had presided over a run of 10 Tests without a win, including seven defeats.

Several former England skippers called on him to resign the captaincy and some even went so far as to suggest the opener take a break from the game after

a run of low scores.

But two fifties, including a first-innings 95 where he was dropped on 15, saw Cook return to form in the third Test at Southampton which England won by 266 runs.

With their confidence restored, England thrashed India by an innings and 54 runs inside three days to win the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Saturday and now they lead 2-1 ahead of next week’s finale at The Oval.

Moores, in his second spell as England coach after being summoned from Old Trafford-based Lancashire following the

team’s 5-0 Ashes thrashing in Australia, had made it clear from the moment of his return that he wanted to support Cook.

And the 29-year-old’s mental resilience has impressed Moores.

“I think the significant point was when he came out and said he was in it for the long haul,” Moores explained.

“If people didn’t want him, that was fine, he would move on -- but he made pretty public his desire to captain England.

“He is very determined. The more people have had a go at him, the more he has said he is totally in for it. l

first serves in the hardcourt match on centre court.

The 2012 Wimbledon runner-up dropped the opening game of the first set, but then ran off four straight games to take control. Williams broke back and drew within 4-3 only to see Radwanska win the set 6-4.

The former world number two then broke Williams to open the second set, but the Florida resident got back into it with a fourth-game break to even the set at 2-2. Radwanska broke back in the fifth game to regain control.

“I was just trying to use my chances,” Radwanska said. “Whenever I could really go for it, that’s what I tried to do.

“On a couple of her serves I really had no chance. But if I had any chance, I took it and that’s why I could break her.”

Radwanska has now won 11 of her 14

crowns on hardcourt.

“I had an amazing week,” she said.

“I was playing much better with each match. I didn’t start that well from my first match but every match was much better. That is why I am sitting right here.”

Williams, who beat her sister Serena in the semi-finals, had six double faults and won just 26 percent of her second serves in the loss.

The 34-year-old American had played three straight three-set matches.

“I fell a little short. I didn’t have as much to give as I would have liked,” Williams said.

“It has been a really long week. I would love to play six matches again next week but it is a lot.

“I ran out of energy because I was winning too many matches. I haven’t had that problem in a long time.” l

Marquez makes it 10 out of 10 n AFP, Indianapolis World champion Marc Marquez became the first man in 17 years to win 10 successive races as the Spaniard claimed victory at the Indianapolis Grand Prix on Sunday.

Honda rider Marquez, 21, finished ahead of Yamaha pair, Jorge Lorenzo of Spain and Italian Valentino Rossi. The last man to win 10 races in a row was Australian Mick Doohan in 1997. Marquez also won this race in 2013 when he was making his maiden appearance in the elite class.

Seven-time MotoGP world champi-

on Rossi grabbed an early lead from the Spanish pole-sitter and stayed ahead of fellow Italian, Andrea Dovizioso and Marquez. Marquez moved into second place with 21 laps to go, with Lorenzo third before the champion snatched the lead with 16 laps remaining.

Marquez crossed the line in 42min 07.041sec, followed by Lorenzo, who slipped past Rossi with 12 laps left.

“The start I got today was not so good,” said Marquez. “But then the track temperature was higher and that changed the feeling a little bit, especially with the front tire. l

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Tuesday, August 12, 2014

JaPa breaks rules for Feroz Rashid Ershad-Rawshan conflict spreads to parliament

n Kamran Reza Chowdhury The main opposition, Jatiya Party, has allegedly violated parliamentary rules by making its proposal to appoint Kazi Feroz Rashid as the deputy leader of the opposition, delaying the decision of the speaker.

According to the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Remuneration and Privileges) Ordinance 1979, the deputy leader of the opposition is the MP, in the opinion of the speaker, acting as the deputy leader of the opposition party or group with greatest numerical strength in the legislature.

Ershad’s letter reads that the appointment of the deputy leader of the opposition was the discretion of the party chief, not the leader of the opposition Opposition Leader Rawshan Ershad on July 27 sent a letter to Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, requesting her to appoint Kazi Feroz Rashid as the deputy leader of the opposition of the 10th parliament. The speaker has the authority for the appointment.

But JaPa Chairman HM Ershad sent another letter to the speaker last week, opposing the selection of Feroz Rashid by his wife. Ershad, also the former president, had not proposed anyone’s name.

The deposed president, however, removed him from the city unit of JaPa. Feroz Rashid attends parliament sittings regularly while Rawshan, in most cases, leaves the chamber after Magrib prayers. JaPa leaders say Rawshan has chosen him for his critical role of the government in the last budget session.

Besides, Kazi Feroz, once enjoying blessing of party chief HM Ershad, has gained confidence of Rawshan Ershad.

“I have got letters from the opposition leader and the party chief (HM Ershad). As the opinion is contradictory, I need the resolution of the meeting of the Jatiya Party’s parliamentary team,” Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury told the

Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“I must make my decision as per the law. I have not got any copy of the resolution of the parliamentary party meeting. How will I understand that he (Feroz Rashid) enjoys the support of the majority of the party MPs unless I get a copy of the parliamentary party meeting?,” she asked.

The Dhaka Tribune has accessed Rawshan’s letter which referred the JaPa parliamentary party unanimously picked Feroz as the deputy leader of the opposition with no mention of the date of the parliamentary party meeting.

“I have forgot the date of the parliamentary meeting; Madam (Rawshan) knows about it. I am not aware of the law on the appointment of the deputy leader of the opposition,” Kazi Feroz told the Dhaka Tribune.

But the officials of the parliament secretariat, which provides all necessary logistics for all parliamentary meetings, says they have no information on parliamentary party meeting in the last two months.

Usually, meetings of parliamentary parties of the treasury and the opposition benches coincide with the sessions that take place after every two months. Parliament’s public relations wing, which issues press statements on every such meetings, had not sent any press release on the JaPa parliamentary party meeting.

Ershad’s letter reads that the appointment of the deputy leader of the opposition was the discretion of the party chief, not the leader of the opposition.

“Sir [Ershad] opposed my appointment as he wants to appoint someone he likes now. I am really embarrassed for such circumstances,” Kazi Feroz told the Dhaka Tribune.

Ershad and his wife were in the opposite direction over participation in the January 5 polls. Ershad first announced intention to contest the elections and then made a U-turn.

But Rawshan with the support of a strong faction of the party defied Ershad’s boycott decision and participated in the elections as the interim government, led by the Awami League, put Ershad in confinement on ‘health grounds’.

Ershad came out of jail after the 10th general elections. l

Artistes perform a traditional Monipuri dance at a programme marking the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples at the National Museum Auditorium yesterday

RAJIB DHAR

Iraq president names new PM but Maliki hangs tough n Reuters, Baghdad Iraq’s president named a new prime minister to replace Nuri al-Maliki yesterday, urging him to form a broad government that can stem communal bloodshed, but it was unclear whether Maliki would bow to US and Iranian pressure to step aside.

A Shi’ite Muslim blamed by erstwhile allies in Washington and Tehran as well as Baghdad for driving the alienated Sunni minority into revolt, Maliki deployed loyal militias and special forces in the capital yesterday after making a defiant speech accusing the head of state of abusing the constitution.

Militants from the Islamic State, who routed Maliki’s army in the north in June, made new gains over Kurdish forces despite three days of US air strikes and Baghdad.

There was no immediate reaction from Maliki to the naming of Haider al-Abadi as prime minister. However, Maliki’s son-in-law, a close political

ally, told Reuters that he would seek to overturn the nomination in the courts.

President Fouad Masoum asked Abadi, a leader of Maliki’s Islamic Dawa Party, to lead an administration that can win the support of a parliament elected in April. In remarks broadcast on television, Masoum, an ethnic Kurd, urged him to “form a broader-based government” over the next month.

Abadi, who spent decades in exile in Britain during the rule of Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein, urged national unity against the “barbaric” Islamic State.

“We all have to cooperate to stand against this terrorist campaign launched on Iraq and to stop all terrorist groups,” he said in broadcast remarks after meeting Masoum.

Maliki, 60, who emerged from obscurity to become PM in 2006 under US occupation, may not go quietly.

“We will not stay silent,” his son-in-law Hussein al-Maliki said. “The nomination is illegal and a breach of the constitution.

We will go to the federal court to object.”

US warning

After Washington endorsed Masoum’s attempts to break three months of post-election political deadlock that have hamstrung Baghdad’s response to the Islamic State, Secretary of State John Kerry called on Maliki not to resort to force or “stir the waters” when Iraqis were seeking a change of leader.

In pointed remarks, he said: “The government formation process is critical in terms of sustaining stability and calm in Iraq and our hope is that Mr. Maliki will not stir those waters.”

As police and elite armed units, many equipped and trained by the United States, locked down the capital’s streets, Kerry added: “There should be no use of force, no introduction of troops or militias in this moment of democracy for Iraq.”

Serving in a caretaker capacity since the inconclusive election on April 30, Maliki has defied calls by Sunnis, Kurds, fellow Shi’ites, regional power

broker Iran and Iraq’s top Shi’ite cleric to step aside for a less polarising figure.

Washington is losing patience with Maliki, who has placed Shi’ite political loyalists in key positions in the army and military and drawn comparisons with Saddam, the man he plotted against from Iranian exile for decades.

Military aid

US President Barack Obama has urged Iraqi politicians to form a more inclusive government that can counter the growing threat from the Islamic State, though he has rejected calls in some quarters for a return of US troops other than in the form of several hundred military advisers sent in June.

Washington and its European allies are considering requests for more direct military aid from the Kurds, who have themselves differed with Maliki over the division of oil resources and took advantage of the Islamists’ advance to expand their territory. l

China urges Bangladesh to press on with 4-nation economic corridor n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

Hundreds of people live in perilous conditions inside illegal tin-made structures, such as the ones pictured, at the capital’s Islambagh Beribadh area. No housing regulation is followed in constructing these frail and rusted structures, while living standards are minimal inside the houses. The picture was taken yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has urged Bangladesh to press ahead with the building of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor.

He made the call at a meeting with his Bangladesh counterpart Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali on the sidelines of the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting on East Asia cooperation in Myanmar’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw, on Sunday.

The four countries have joined hands to build the BCIM Economic Corridor to improve the socio-economic condition of the region.

The first joint working group meeting of BCIM was held in Kunming last December. The second meeting is scheduled to be held in Bangladesh in October.

Wang Yi said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had a successful visit to China last June, during which the leaders of the two countries achieved extensive consensus on economy, trade and con-

nectivity, and made important plans for the next step in the development of bilateral relations.

During Hasina’s visit in June, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed raising relationship with Bangladesh to the strategic level “The two sides should translate the consensus reached by the two leaders into concrete results,” he said.

He stressed intensifying exchanges at various levels and deepening practical cooperation in trade, agriculture and industrial parks.

Mahmood said Bangladesh and China stood ready to take Sino-Bangladesh relations to new heights, said a Chinese Foreign Ministry press release.

During Hasina’s visit to Beijing in June, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed raising China’s relationship with Bangladesh to the strategic level. At the moment, China only has strategic partnership with Pakistan.

Dhaka and Beijing currently share a Closer Comprehensive Partnership of Cooperation relationship.

The Chinese government agreed, during the prime minister’s visit, to construct a tunnel under the Karnaphuli River at an estimated cost of $700mn.

The two countries agreed that Chinese financial institutions would help finance six projects including the Eastern Refinery Unit-II and the Single Point Mooring (SPM) project with an approximate assistance of $5bn at an interest rate of 2% with a long repayment period.

In addition to this $5 billion, China will provide an additional $1.4bn to build a 1320 megawatt coal-based power plant. l

Study: Land conflicts remain a serious issue in Bangladesh n Abu Hayat Mahmud

A recent study on property disputes in Bangladesh has estimated that one in every five households in the country suffer from land disputes and one in every four household with land disputes had bribed arbitrators.

The study – Socio-Economic Costs of Property Disputes: An Empirical Examination from Bangladesh – conducted by BRAC Human Rights and Legal Services and Policy Research Institute (PRI) also pointed out that the estimates indicate that roughly four million households in the country might be facing land disputes at present.

“The descriptive evidence also casts Dhaka division as the most land conflict prone region of the country, closely followed by Sylhet. The findings are indicative of land conflict being a serious issue in Bangladesh, and a considerable share of the population is suffering from this phenomenon,” Dr Ashikur Rahman, a senior economist for PRI, told a seminar at BRAC Centre in the capital yesterday.

The findings also estimated that approximately 6.6% of all households fear a future conflict regarding land properties and indicated that are around two million land-related litigations have landed in the formal judiciary, sum-

ming up to 70% of all litigations in the judiciary.

“A total of 1,050 households were surveyed during the study. Subsequently, 25 random households with land ownership were selected from each mouza of selected two districts from each of seven divisions in the country,” he added.

The study pinpoints that in almost half of the samples, nearly 45.2% were maintained through unregistered documents, especially in cases of inherited land parcels. It also suggested that households with registered land percels experience lower pending disputes or fear of future disputes.

This study also reveals that 18.3% households with pending or resolve land dispute on average paid Tk22,270 as bribe to police, making one in five households with land conflicts exposed to illegal activities.

The findings observes that 7.5% households with past or present land conflicts have experienced physical assaults on themselves or their household members. Additionally, approximately 19% of them fear physical violence in future At the same time, the study also suggested that matriarchal households were prone to more violence and repression during land conflicts while le-

gal consultancy consumed 56% of the total cost that a household has to bear during a land dispute.

“Social changes in different periods, mostly in 1947 and 1971, has been the major reason for the land conflict and problems. Due to these social changes, it was not possible to make land records and registrations of lands,” said Prime Minister’s Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Mashiur Rahman while addressing the seminar as chief guest.

He also suggested that now the government should take strict steps to control land recording and registration.

Meanwhile, Land Ministry Senior Secretary Mohammad Shafiul Alam

said: “We have taken step to introduce a digitised system for mutation and registration of land. The system will be completed in four and half years. All the process will also be controlled with Global Satellite System (GSS).”

“We hope that after the introduction of the digitised system, the land conflict will be solved,” he added.

Chaired by BRAC Vice Chairperson Dr Ahmed Mushtaque Raza Chowdhury, the seminar was also addressed

by Directorate of Land Record and Survey Director General Ahsan H Mansur, Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, among others. l

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Microsoft’s emerging markets problem

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Manufacturing regains momentum Producers making efforts to cover up output losses n Kayes Sohel Manufacturing activities have regained momentum though not in full swing in the recent times thanks to apparently calm political situation, which earlier had affected badly the production.

Local manufacturers reported the recent development as they were making desperate efforts in getting back on increasing the output and covering up the production losses as soon as the political situation becomes normal, following the January 5 election.

They were, however, passing through fears whether major political party BNP mounts anti-government agitation as threatened.

The political unrest before and after the election caused a setback in industrial production as reflected in the official figures (provisional) for the last fiscal year, most part of which went through the turmoil.

Also due to disruptions in supplies of energy and manufacturing input, the manufacturing contribution to GDP fell substantially to 8.68% in 2013-14 as compared to previous fiscal year’s 10.31%.

“Production activities improved a lot at present compared to the past,” said Md Jashim Uddin, a plastic goods producer, who also described the nightmare how the manufacturing activities were affected during the days of political unrest.

“But perennial problems like gas and electricity still put a damper on the production,” he said.

Rice miller Abdul Quddus said though mills run in full swing now, past nightmarish days still haunt us as we are still bearing the interests against bank loans taken at that time.

Plastic goods manufacturer Jashim had to cut his production to almost half as he failed to feed his factory with raw materials due to transport scarcity caused by the then political violence in the run up to the general election.

“Production suffered badly at that time,” said Jashim. Plastic industry was the worst sufferer as it is entirely dependent on imported raw material, he pointed out.

His Bengal Plastic industry at Savar processed raw materials only half the capacity of more than 3,000 tonnes per month throughout the second half of last year due to hartals and blockades enforced by the opposition across the country.

For rice miller Quddus, the situation was much worse than Jashim. As a small scale industry, he had no other option but to close down his rice mill.

Strong remittance may boost consumption and GDP growth: Moody’s n Kayes Sohel The increased inflow of remittance is expected to push up consumption and thus helping the economic growth of Bangladesh to exceed 6% in the current fiscal year.

Global rating agency Moody’s yesterday forecast the country’s GDP based on the recent strong rebound of remittance inflow.

Last Monday, the central bank of Bangladesh released data showing that remittances from migrant workers overseas grew 19.7% to a record high of $1.4bn in July.

This is the third consecutive month of double-digit growth and marks a significant turnaround from the contraction in remittance during fiscal 201314, which ended on 30 June.

“The rebound in remittance inflows helps consumption and will enable Bangladesh to maintain its relatively strong economic growth performance this year,” said Moody’s Credit Outlook on Bangladesh.

“The improvement is credit positive for Bangladesh (Ba3 stable) because it suggests a bolstering of the sovereign’s external payments position, a key strength of its credit profile.”

On a year-over-year basis, the growth in remittances in July indicates a strong recovery from the 8.3% average contraction seen during the first half of fiscal 2014 and the 1% contraction for the full year, it said.

It noted that one factor behind the contraction was a decline in the number of workers obtaining jobs overseas after Gulf nations (a major source of remittances from Bangladeshi workers) imposed restrictions on migrants. The sharp rise in remittances in July points to a reversal of this trend, it said.

“We project that their recent remittance rebound will help boost real GDP growth back above a 6% pace this fiscal year from 5.8% GDP growth last fiscal year,” said Moody’s.

In sharp contrast, the government set the target of GDP growth rate of 7.3% for this fiscal year.

However, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) came up with a GDP growth rate of 6.12% for FY2013-14 despite political turbulence that caused some serious disruption in economic activities for a prolonged period last year. Both local and foreign economic analysts questioned credibility of GDP growth figure provided by the BBS. The growth figure of last fiscal year

presented by Moody’s is from the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects (GEP) report released in June last year. The report had said Bangladesh’s annual GDP growth will not cross the 5.8% for 2013-14 fiscal year.

The rating agency said cumulative remittances to Bangladesh were $14.2bn in fiscal 2014, making it the eighth largest remittance-recipient country in the world.

At 8.2% of GDP, remittances have more than offset the trade deficit, counterbalanced the lack of diversification in the export base (which primarily relies on textiles) and are a major contributor to the country’s surplus current account position.

The improvement is credit positive for Bangladesh (Ba3 stable) because it suggests a bolstering of the sovereign’s external payments position, a key strength of its credit profile Factoring in the contraction in remittances, the central bank estimates that the current account surplus narrowed to $1.8bn in fiscal 2014, from $2.5bn a year earlier, it said.

It said a continuation of the recent uptick trend would help return Bangladesh to a stronger current account position in fiscal 2015, which would further bolster its foreign reserve position, which as of June was at a record high of $21.5bn. Also, remittances support household incomes and are a key driver behind consumption expenditure, which comprises nearly 80% of the country’s GDP, it said.

It said more broadly, the uptick in remittances signals an alleviation of some of the pressures that hit Bangladesh’s credit profile in the first half of fiscal 2014.

These included political tensions following elections in early calendar 2014 that resulted in outbreaks of strikes and incidents of violence, and slowing export growth owing to labor unrest and infrastructure constraints in the garment sector last year, according to Moody’s. l

he said.

The small-scale industries has performed worst as their growth declined to 6.6% in FY2014 to the GDP, 2.21 percentage points lower than that in FY2013, according to the BBS. The large and medium scale industries fell to 9.16% from 10.65% during the period.

The data underscores the large, medium and small scale manufacturing had under-performed, leading to drop in the annual target of economic growth of 7% in the last fiscal year. In FY14, the GDP growth rose marginally to 6.12% from 6.01% a year earlier.

Zaid Bakht, research director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, said there has been no significant private investment in the industrial sector last year to increase the productivity as it was evident in declining import of capital machinery.

He said most medium to large scale manufacturers have somehow man-

aged to keep production during political violence, but small industry found it difficult to cope with the situation.

Performance of glass and glass product, carpet and rugs, petroleum refinery, industrial chemicals, leather products, transport equipments, tobacco, pharmaceuticals, wood products, ceramic, cement and electronic goods also showed slow growth.

Small scale manufacturing industries like rice milling, dairy products, knitwear, leather products, footwear, embroidery, wooden furniture and non-metallic mineral products show downward growth during the period.

“The slowdown in the industrial output was inevitable because of the cut in industrial productivity due to power and gas shortage,” said Jahangir Alamin, president of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association.

Political unrest was the additional pain for the industry, he added. l

Workplace safety stressed to rebuild RMG image globally

Shahjibazar share trading suspended n Tribune Report

NBR misses revenue target again

Exports fall 1.37% in July n Tribune Report

n Tribune Report

Dhaka Stock Exchange Limited (DSE) yesterday suspended share trading of newly listed Shahjibazar Power Company for an indefinite period with immediate effect due its unusual share price hike.

Since its debut on July 15, its share price skyrocketed more than 144% to Tk89. The abnormal rise also forced the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) last week to form a two-member panel to probe into the matter.

“Pursuant to BSEC’s investigation and recent unusual upward price movement of the company, DSE, in the greater interest of investors and the capital market, has decided to suspend the trading of shares of Shahjibazar with effect from today (Monday) until further decision,” said the DSE in a statement.

Market analysts attributed lower free float ratio of the company’s shares as a major cause to the spiraling rise in its prices despite the regulatory probe.

Only 1.26 crore shares of the 12.68 crore Shahjibazar Power shares are free floating or tradable.

“It is easy to manipulate share price with lower free float stocks,” said an analyst.

Small quantity of shares brings an opportunity for fishing in the troubled water for some market players, he said.

Located in Habiganj, Shahjibazar Power raised Tk31.7crore through initial public offering in January. The company issued 1.26 crore ordinary shares of Tk10 each at an offer price of Tk25, including Tk15 as premium. l

n Syed Samiul Basher Anik

The country earned $2.98bn from exports in first month of current fiscal year with 1.37% decline compared to the same month last year as earnings from key products including garment and leather fell.

The figure also fell short of strategic target set for July, according to Export Promotion Bureau data released yesterday. Knitwear fetched $1.3bn with 4.32% growth while woven garments earned $1.2bn declining 4.14%.

Home textiles, jute and jute products, leather, vegetables and fruits also marked decline during the month.

However, exports of frozen foods and dry foods increased. Leather footwear exports earned $48.85m, primary commodities $114.61m, frozen foods $65.19m and agricultural products $49.42m.

Leather and leather products and plastic products continued to grow in July. The country received $37.36m from leather exports, $22.93m from leather products, $8.88m from cotton and cotton products and $7.97m from plastic products.

Tea exports jumped 1700% earning $0.18m. Cosmetics export earned $0.24m with 1100% growth and golf shaft achieved 154.79% growth with $1.86m total earning. Exports of jute and jute goods in July totaled $60.98m declining 23.92%. Raw jute exports fetched $6.91m with 11.41% fall. Jute yarn and twine earned $39.66m and jute sacks and bags $9.36m.

Iron and steel, bicycle and electronic products exports totaled $28.93m while export of man-made filaments and staple fibers received $6.76m. l

Speakers at a workshop in Dhaka yesterday stressed the need for ensuring safe workplace for rebuilding image of the country’s readymade garments sector abroad.

Improved occupational safety and health is a must for maintaining the sustainability of the highest export earning sector, they told the inaugural session of the four-day workshop titled “Train the Trainers workshop for Senior Master Trainers on the Essentials of Occupational Safety and Health.”

The International Labour Organization (ILO) in collaboration with the International Training Centre (ITC) of ILO and Bangladesh Employers Federation (BEF) is conducting the workshop aimed at enhancing knowledge and capacity on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) among

He usually collects paddy from Naogaon and Dinajpur districts to run his mill located at Modina area in Joypurhat town. But he failed to continue operations due to transport crisis.

“Those hard days I have never seen in my 10 years of business life,” said Quddus. “Still, I have to bear the brunt of that.”

Production losses of Jashim and Quddus were well reflected in the dismal manufacturing data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

Center for Policy Dialogue Executive Director Mustafizur Rahman said the political turmoil and massive violence hit the manufacturing sector, resulting in lower than estimated growth in the concluding fiscal year.

“Political uncertainty is the new additional element along with perennial problem of energy crisis and under developed infrastructure behind slowdown of the manufacturing growth,”

the employers and management and mid-level management in the RMG sector.

Building the capacity of OSH systems in the sector would play a key role towards the manifestation of better working conditions by incorporating the capacity building of workers, supervisors and managers, said Gerben Sjoerd De Jong, ambassador of the Netherlands.

“Ensuring OSH, implementation of amended labor law, prioritising remediation resurrects, recognition of trade union is needed for sustainable development in the RMG sector and also for building image,” said Heather Cruden, Canadian High Commissioner.

“The government is firmly committed to improve the workers’ safety in the sector as it is having due consultation with the stakeholders,” said Mujibul Haque Chunnu, state minister for labour and employment. l

National Board of Revenue (NBR) has failed to reach revenue collection target for the second consecutive year as the overall collection fell short of around Tk4,487 crore from the revised target of Tk1,25,000 crore in fiscal year 2013-14.

Only customs wing of the Board has witnessed surplus in collection while the two main wings - income tax and value added tax - and also other taxes wings fell short of targets in last fiscal.

According to NBR data released yesterday, the board has managed to collect Tk1,20,513 crore revenue from its downsized target of Tk1,25,000 crore.

NBR officials blamed political unrest for missing the target. They said the board suffered failure as the taxpayers could not pay taxes properly due to political turmoil which badly hit the country’s business sector.

They said collection from the Large Taxpayers Unit which contributes major part of the revenue was also not up to the mark as big companies failed to pay taxes in several cases.

Private banks also contribute a major portion of the revenue. But they also failed to pay taxes to the expected level. The slash in tax at source on exports was also responsible for the revenue shortfall, the officials said.

The government had earlier revised down the revenue target from Tk1,36,090 crore on apprehension that the target would not be achieved as the collection faced setback due to political turmoil.

NBR Chairman Md Ghulam Hussain

was, however, confident about achieving the target. But he failed twice to reach targets since he took charge of the NBR. In FY2012-13 the Board missed its revenue collection target by Tk3,644 crore although the collection exceeded targets in the previous three fiscal years.

According to the NBR data, VAT wing missed target by Tk3,124 crore as it was able to collect Tk43,726 crore against its target of Tk46,850 crore during the year.

Income tax wing target was missed

by Tk1,444.50 crore as it has collected Tk42,915.5 crore against the target of Tk44,360 crore. Target from other taxes including travel tax could not be reached as the collection was Tk640.31 crore against the target of Tk920 crore.

Only the customs wing exceeded its target by Tk361 crore. The collection was Tk33,231 crore when the target was Tk32,870 crore. For the current fiscal year, the government has finalised revenue collection target for the NBR at Tk1,49,720 crore while income tax wing will have to collect Tk57,500 crore, VAT wing Tk55,580 crore and customs wing Tk36,680 crore. The NBR recently held a meeting with all its commissioners to finalise strategic plan to achieve the revenue collection target.

The meeting has discussed strategies for proper revenue collection that include collection strategy of advance income tax from various sectors including registration of land and apartments, house rent, surcharge from different sectors, settling disputes that have long been pending etc. l

B2

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

DSE GAINER

DSEX climbs to 3-month high

DSE key features August 11-2014

n Tribune Report

Traded Issues

301

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

122

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

173

Stocks continued to rally for the 6th consecutive session yesterday with benchmark DSEX hitting more than three-month high.

Continued flow of fresh fund helped reach the turnover nearly Tk800 crore on the day, after crossing Tk700 crore-mark in the previous day. It stood at Tk790 crore yesterday - an increase of 3.4% over the previous session.

The benchmark DSEX gained 34 points or 0.8% to end at 4,565 – highest since May 7 this year.

The Shariah index rose 13 points or 1.2% to 10,607. The comprising blue chips DS30 was up 22 points or 1.4% to 1,701.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, closed at 8,629 with a rise of 54 points.

Among the large cap sector, banks still remained down. However, all other sectors landed in green.

Engineering sector gave the highest return with 3.8% gain followed by cement 2.8%, telco 1.8%, tannery 1.3%, power 1% and pharmaceuticals 0.8% respectively.

Non-banking financial institutions,

MON 11-Aug

food and allied also edged higher.

Lanka Bangla Securities said market showed up green on strong ground yesterday as large cap manufacturing stocks have continued to lead the market riding on investors buying interest.

IDLC Investments said strong buy pressure sustained and prolonged the upbeat tone across the broad to sixth session.

Besides, spikes in large cap stocks like Lafarge Surma Cement, Square Pharmaceuticals and Grameenphone extended further, creating optimism among investors, it said.

Square Pharmaceuticals was the most traded stocks with shares worth over Tk52 crore changing hands. It was followed by Mobil Jamuna, Grameenphone, Active Fine, Appollo Ispat and Lafarge Surma Cement. l

Daily capital market highlights

7,901.87 164,834,629

Number of Contract

152,815

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

6

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,424.67

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

29.39

DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSER Company Renwick Jajneswar-A EXIM Bank 1 MF-A JMI Syringes MDL-A Paramount Insur-A FAR Chemical-N Standard Insurance-A Fareast Finance-Z Phoenix Insur -A GeminiSeaFood-Z Al-Haj Textile -A

Closing (% Change) -6.59 -5.81 -5.71 -5.41 -5.39 -5.38 -4.59 -4.25 -4.21 -4.19

CSE LOSER Company Midas Financing-Z Daffodil Computers -Z Prime Islami Life -A FAR Chemical-N Eastern InsurA Safko Spinning-A JMI Syringes MDL-A Monno Ceramic -B Fareast Finance-Z Shinepukur Cera-Z

Closing (% Change) -9.66 -7.41 -6.01 -5.70 -5.59 -5.48 -4.91 -4.65 -4.63 -4.17

Average (% Change) -6.54 -11.09 -4.49 -5.17 -6.41 -5.19 -2.40 -3.12 -3.92 -5.29 Average (% Change) -9.66 -7.34 -6.05 -6.65 -5.59 -4.18 -4.77 -4.21 -3.45 -4.08

(+) 0.76%

1701.46354

(+) 1.36%

14057.96490

(+) 0.75%

▲ ▲ ▲

11543.26670

(+) 0.99%

▲

8629.56870

(+) 0.63%

▲

ClosingAvg. 269.90 8.10 173.33 17.60 57.37 24.65 10.59 33.87 130.00 169.94

ClosingAvg. 15.90 12.50 86.00 57.14 32.10 20.84 171.31 28.89 10.37 11.52

Closing

DHIGH

263.50 8.10 170.20 17.50 56.20 24.60 10.40 33.80 129.60 166.90

Closing

284.00 8.10 182.00 19.00 59.60 28.60 11.00 34.40 130.00 175.70

DHIGH

15.90 12.50 86.00 56.30 32.10 20.70 168.50 28.70 10.30 11.50

15.90 12.50 86.00 60.00 32.10 21.00 175.00 29.20 10.50 11.90

12.19 10.00 8.39 8.04 6.55 6.24 5.57 5.40 5.03 4.95

Average (% Change) 10.83 9.38 8.92 5.48 6.29 5.52 6.34 3.26 5.04 5.39

Closing (% Change)

Company Apex Tannery -A Samata LeatheR -Z Summit Purbanchol Power-N BSRM Steels-A S. Alam CR Steel -A GBB Power Ltd-A Khulna Power-A Eastern Housing -A Sun Life Insurance-N Appollo Ispat CL -N

12.66 10.00 9.96 7.43 7.32 6.96 6.68 5.36 5.31 5.24

ClosingAvg.

Closing

157.05 50.66 33.40 85.04 24.26 49.04 30.13 955.00 107.32 48.46

DHIGH

160.10 51.70 33.60 87.30 24.40 49.40 30.30 957.00 108.50 48.80

ClosingAvg.

Closing

157.37 26.25 50.94 84.45 33.29 24.27 49.30 59.89 51.51 30.09

DHIGH

160.20 26.40 51.90 86.70 33.70 24.60 49.50 60.90 51.60 30.10

540.58 12,927,006 17,962

Traded Issues

233

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

108

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

121

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

3

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,320.62

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

28.13

262.00 8.10 169.10 17.50 55.80 23.90 10.40 32.00 129.50 165.00

14.089 0.008 20.366 0.566 76.815 0.299 1.038 0.982 0.065 48.295

Turnover in Million

DLOW 15.90 12.50 86.00 56.00 32.10 19.80 168.00 28.20 10.30 11.30

Latest EPS 3.92 0.71 4.50 1.18 3.92 3.00 0.78 4.30 -1.80 2.00

Latest EPS

0.008 0.019 0.009 7.457 0.006 0.053 1.370 0.098 0.135 0.281

-6.91 0.68 4.95 3.92 2.42 1.06 4.50 0.28 0.78 0.50

Turnover in Million

146.00 25.50 47.90 75.20 32.20 22.10 41.80 57.90 50.10 28.80

Latest PE

5.51 4.52 2.08 4.80 1.54 6.42 1.69 26.16 2.99 2.92

Latest EPS

8.986 0.079 20.039 13.865 3.063 9.101 2.215 2.284 0.180 35.846

28.5 11.2 16.1 17.7 15.8 7.6 17.8 36.5 35.9 16.6

Latest PE

5.51 0.09 4.52 4.80 2.08 1.54 6.42 3.19 0.00 1.69

28.6 291.7 11.3 17.6 16.0 15.8 7.7 18.8 17.8

MON 11-Aug

10-Aug

WED 06-Aug

CSE key features August 11-2014

Turnover in Million

96.672 100.280 33.356 194.764 87.253 23.736 278.693 0.191 27.582 128.406

DLOW

162.00 26.40 51.90 87.00 34.00 24.80 50.00 61.30 52.00 30.70

Latest EPS

THU 07-Aug

MON 04-Aug

DLOW

147.90 42.50 30.00 75.00 20.90 42.00 28.80 955.00 103.00 46.80

SUN

TUE 05-Aug

Number of Contract

Turnover in Million

DLOW

162.60 51.70 34.10 88.20 25.10 50.00 30.90 959.00 109.50 49.90

Capital Market Highlights:

Turnover (Million Taka)

4565.13726

Apex Tannery -A Summit Purbanchol Power-N S. Alam CR Steel -A BSRM Steels-A GBB Power Ltd-A Khulna Power-A Appollo Ispat CL -N Stylecraft -A Apex Foods -A Emerald Oil Ind. -N CSE GAINER

Turnover (Volume)

DSE Broad Index :

Average (% Change) 10.49 8.83 7.64 6.27 5.62 5.60 5.46 5.23 3.55 4.28

Closing (% Change)

Company

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Latest PE 68.9 11.4 38.5 14.9 14.6 8.2 13.6 7.9 -ve 85.0

Latest PE -ve 18.4 17.4 14.6 13.3 19.7 38.1 103.2 13.3 23.0

News from trade servers APEXFOODS: The Board of Directors has recommended 20% cash dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2014. Date of AGM: 28.09.2014, Time: 11:00 AM, Venue: Trust Milonayaton, 545, Puraton Biman Bandar Sarak (Adjacent to Shahid Bir Shresta Jahangir Gate), Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka-1206. Record date: 21.08.2014. The Company has also reported net profit after tax of Tk. 17.04 million, EPS with fair valuation surplus/(deficit) of Investment of Tk. 9.55, EPS without fair valuation surplus/ (deficit) of Investment of Tk. 2.99, NAV per share of Tk. 98.56 and NOCFPS of Tk. 19.66 for the year ended on June 30, 2014 as against Tk. 14.49 million, Tk. (4.11), Tk. 2.54, Tk. 90.81 and Tk. (14.54) respectively for the year ended on June 30, 2013.

APEXTANRY: The Board of Directors has recommended 45% cash dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2014. Date of AGM: 23.09.2014, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: Dhaka Ladies Club, 36, Eskaton Garden. Record date: 27.08.2014. The Company has also reported EPS without fair valuation surplus of Tk. 5.51, NAV per share of Tk. 71.67 and NOCFPS of Tk. 4.97 for the year ended on June 30, 2014.

NLI1STMF: The Trustee Committee of the Fund has declared 12% cash dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2014. Record date: 25.08.2014. The Fund has reported net profit of Tk. 70.89 million and earnings per unit of Tk. 1.41 for the year ended on June 30, 2014 as against Tk. 59.00 million and Tk. 1.17 (restated) respectively for the same period of the previous year.

SEBL1STMF: The Trustee Committee of the Fund has declared 12% cash dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2014. Record date:

25.08.2014. The Fund has reported net profit of Tk. 141.24 million and earnings per unit of Tk. 1.42 for the year ended on June 30, 2014 as against Tk. 93.62 million and Tk. 0.94 (restated) respectively for the same period of the previous year.

APEXSPINN: (Q1): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 1st quarter ended on 30th June 2014 (Apr’14 to June’14), the Company has reported net profit after tax of Tk. 5.04 million with EPS of Tk. 0.60 as against Tk. 4.62 million and Tk. 0.55 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

STYLECRAFT: (Q1): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 1st quarter ended on 30th June 2014 (Apr’14 to June’14), the Company has reported net profit after tax of Tk. 7.76 million with EPS of Tk. 14.11 as against Tk. 6.53 million and Tk. 11.88 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

LIBRAINFU: Credit Rating Information and Services Limited (CRISL) has rated the Company as “BBB-” in the long term and “ST-4” in the short term in consideration of audited financials of the Company up to June 2013, unaudited financials of 3rd quarter up to March 2014 and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

SPCL: Pursuant to BSEC’s investigation and recent unusual upward price movement of the company, Dhaka Stock Exchange Limited (DSE), in the greater interest of investors and the capital market, has decided to suspend the trading of shares of Shahjibazar Power Co. Ltd. with effect from today (11.08.2014) until further decision.

IPO Subscription: Khan Brothers PP Woven Bag Industries Ltd. subscription date 24-28 August

2014, NRB upto 06 September 2014. @ taka 10, face value taka 10 and market lot 500. Western Marine Shipyard Limited subscription date 1014 August 2014, NRB upto 23 August 2014. @ taka 35, face value taka 10 and market lot 100.

Right Share: MIDASFIN: Subscription period for rights issue will be from 01.09.2014 to 30.09.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 03.08.2014.

Dividend/AGM Dividend of ICB AMCL Managed MFs: ICBSONALI1 10% cash, IFILISLMF1 10% cash, ICB3RDNRB 5% cash, PF1STMF 5% cash, PRIME1ICBA 5% cash, ICBEPMF1S1 5% cash, ICBAMCL2ND 5% cash, ICB2NDNRB 10% cash, ICB1STNRB 30% cash, ICBISLAMIC 20% cash. Record Date: 20.08.2014.

DELTASPINN: 10% cash, AGM: 30.08.2014, Record date: 14.08.2014.

ICB MF 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.

NAVANACNG: 15% cash, AGM: 25.09.2014, Record Date: 10.08.2014.

SUNLIFEINS: 5% stock, AGM: 15.09.2014, Record Date: 07.08.2014.

SQURPHARMA: 30% cash and 15% stock, AGM: 25.09.2014, Record Date: 26.08.2014.

NAV of Tk. 22,277.52 million, EPS of Tk. 8.36.

APEXSPINN: 20% cash, AGM: 28.09.2014, Record date: 07.08.2014. EPS Tk. 2.24, NAV per share of Tk. 49.75.

RUPALILIFE: 5% stock, AGM: 21.08.2014, Record Date: 04.08.2014.

Change of DSE Broad Index vs Sectoral Index FuelPowerIndex 3%

DSE BroadIndex

2% 1%

07

31

24

17

10

03

26

19

12

05

29

22

15

08

01

24

17

10

03

27

20

13

06

27

20

06

13

0%

Strong buy pressure sustained and prolonged the upbeat tone across the broad to sixth session

- 1% - 2% - 3%

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector 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 444.78 241.13 150.74 1174.74 306.76 1315.59 1.56 875.48 1516.90 0.85 162.22 118.63 27.95 402.64 56.12 59.07 97.27 524.31 138.26 286.51 0.37

% change 5.63 3.05 1.91 14.87 3.88 16.65 0.02 11.08 19.20 2.05 1.50 0.35 5.10 0.71 0.75 1.23 6.64 1.75 3.63 0.00

Million Taka 29.49 17.22 6.07 85.39 20.19 85.22 60.48 82.73 20.63 4.37 31.81 2.61 45.02 6.23 1.80 6.73 45.29 26.42 24.27 0.01

CSE

% change 4.90 2.86 1.01 14.18 3.35 14.16 0.00 10.05 13.74 3.43 0.73 5.28 0.43 7.48 1.04 0.30 1.12 7.52 4.39 4.03 0.00

Million Taka 474.27 258.34 156.81 1260.13 326.94 1400.81 1.56 935.96 1599.63 21.48 166.59 150.44 30.55 447.66 62.35 60.87 103.99 569.59 164.68 310.79 0.37

Total

% change 5.58 3.04 1.84 14.82 3.84 16.47 0.02 11.01 18.81 0.25 1.96 1.77 0.36 5.26 0.73 0.72 1.22 6.70 1.94 3.65 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 Square Pharma -A MJL BD Ltd.-A Grameenphone-A Active Fine Chem.-A Appollo Ispat CL -N LafargeS Cement-Z BSRM Steels-A ACI Limited- A Meghna Petroleum -A Hwa Well Textiles-N CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Grameenphone-A Appollo Ispat CL -N LafargeS Cement-Z Square Pharma -A Summit Purbanchol Power-N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A The Peninsula CTG.-N BSRM Steels-A Active Fine Chem.-A MJL BD Ltd.-A

VolumeShares 1,844,111 4,402,690 1,325,706 4,342,994 9,249,800 2,465,000 2,290,378 601,604 610,539 3,109,500

Value in Million 523.25 455.37 446.27 314.81 278.69 241.24 194.76 191.65 172.12 167.24

% of TotalTurnover 6.62 5.76 5.65 3.98 3.53 3.05 2.46 2.43 2.18 2.12

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

111,600 1,191,400 333,000 97,730 393,417 520,505 497,800 164,190 185,834 121,006

37.65 35.85 32.50 27.73 20.04 17.79 17.65 13.87 13.52 12.58

7.10 6.76 6.13 5.23 3.78 3.35 3.33 2.61 2.55 2.37

ClosingP 285.10 102.50 340.00 72.10 30.30 98.80 87.30 316.80 280.10 54.90

ClosingP

339.50 30.10 98.30 285.20 51.90 34.10 35.30 86.70 72.80 102.50

Change % 1.93 -1.63 1.83 1.55 5.57 3.67 8.04 -0.44 -0.18 1.29

Change %

1.89 5.24 3.58 2.19 9.96 1.79 0.57 7.43 2.25 -1.54

ClosingY 279.70 104.20 333.90 71.00 28.70 95.30 80.80 318.20 280.60 54.20

ClosingY

333.20 28.60 94.90 279.10 47.20 33.50 35.10 80.70 71.20 104.10

DHIGH

DLOW

286.00 107.00 346.90 74.00 30.90 99.00 88.20 322.00 285.00 57.20

256.00 93.80 315.00 64.10 28.80 96.70 75.00 291.00 270.00 51.60

DHIGH

DLOW

346.00 30.70 98.90 286.00 51.90 35.00 35.90 87.00 74.70 107.00

326.10 28.80 95.10 279.00 47.90 31.00 35.10 75.20 65.00 93.70

AvgPrice 283.74 103.43 336.63 72.49 30.13 97.87 85.04 318.57 281.91 53.78

AvgPrice

337.35 30.09 97.60 283.69 50.94 34.17 35.45 84.45 72.76 104.00

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

'Naked PCs’ lay bare Microsoft’s emerging markets problem n Reuters On a trip to Beijing a decade ago, Bill Gates was asked by a senior government official how much money Microsoft Corp made in China. The official asked the interpreter to double check Gates’ reply as he couldn’t believe the figure was so low.

It’s a problem that hasn’t gone away.

Indeed, Microsoft’s current issues in China conceal a deeper problem for the US software giant - despite the popularity of its Windows operating system and Office suite, few people in emerging markets are willing to pay for legitimate copies.

This not only costs Microsoft in lost revenue, but is also holding back the spread of its newest Windows 8 version - analysts say even buyers of pirate software prefer older versions. According to StatCounter, a website that tracks what software is loaded on Internet-connected computers, more than 90% of PCs in China - now the world’s biggest market - are running pre-8 versions of Windows.

Microsoft is trying to tackle this. This year it’s offering Windows 8 at a discount to PC manufacturers who install its Bing search engine as the default.

And it’s giving away versions of Windows 8 for phones and some tablets.

But, as the industry shifts from desktop to mobile, the cloud and free or cheap software, China sums up both the old and new challenges Microsoft faces in making money in emerging markets - and, increasingly, in developed ones.

“The great danger for the company is that what has happened to them in emerging markets - basically no revenue from new PCs because of piracy - is not far off what’s happening everywhere,” said Ben Thompson, the Taiwan-based author of stratechery.com, a popular technology blog.

Core cost

For sure, China is a major, and unique, headache for Microsoft. Many of the problems are tied to a broader push by the Chinese government to limit foreign firms’ dominance and encourage local technology firms to become viable competitors.

After years of healthy relations with Beijing, Microsoft last month was suddenly targeted by anti-monopoly regulators who raided its China offices as part of a price-fixing investigation.

But the spats mask the fact that Microsoft has never really cracked how to get people in emerging markets to pay for its software. The company rarely

in 2004 to stop shipping naked PCs, but the Chinese firm countered that its margins were too low, a person familiar with the negotiations said. Two years later - just days before then-President Hu Jintao visited Gates’ US home - China announced a new law requiring PCs to be shipped with operating systems.

That merely dented piracy rates, which fell to 79% in 2009 from 92% in 2004, according to the BSA. Lenovo said it reached an agreement with Microsoft in June of this year to ensure that Lenovo PCs sold in China would come pre-installed with a genuine Windows operating system.

'Mobile also-ran'

A shadow of a man using his mobile phone is cast near Microsoft logo at the 2014 Computex exhibition in Taipei breaks out revenues by geography, but it has provided clues about the size of the problem.

In 2011, then CEO Steve Ballmer reportedly told employees that, because of piracy, Microsoft earned less revenue in China than in the Netherlands with 1% of its population - even though China bought as many computers as the United States.

According to the BSA anti-piracy lobby group that Microsoft co-founded, emerging markets account for 56% of all PCs in use, and 73% of software piracy. Of the $77.8bn revenue Microsoft generated in its 2013 financial year, China, Brazil and Russia each “exceeded” $1bn, according to a Microsoft presentation. For comparison, Apple Inc generated $27bn in Greater China, which includes Hong Kong and Taiwan, in its 2013 financial year.

For Microsoft, that’s a lot of lost revenue from the heart of its business.

Asian markets rebound as Iraq fears wane n APF, Hong Kong Asian markets rose yesterday following widespread falls last week, after Wall Street shrugged off fears over instability in Iraq and Ukraine.

Tokyo rebounded 2.38%, closing up 352.15 points at 15,130.52 and making up much of the 2.98% dip it suffered Friday after US President Barack Obama’s announcement that he had authorised air strikes in Iraq.

Hong Kong closed up 1.29%, or 314.61 points, at 24,646.02 while Shanghai gained 1.38%, or 30.22 points, to 2,224.65.

'On an interim-term view, geopolitics remain at the forefront of investors’ decisionmaking' Other regional markets saw more modest gains. Sydney rose 0.40%, or 21.7 points, to 5,457 while Seoul was up 0.41%, or 8.27 points, to close at 2,039.37.

The dollar also rallied against the yen and euro after the unit plunged last week as investors snapped up the Japanese currency, seen as a safe haven in times of uncertainty and turmoil.

Last week ended on a sour note for most Asian markets as worried investors took fright from a ramping up of instability in Iraq, where the US has been launching air strikes against extremist militants besieging ethnic minorities in the country’s north.

But US markets shrugged off the escalation of violence, ending the week in the black with a rally Friday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.37%, or 60.56 points to end at 16,553.93. The tech-rich Nasdaq Com-

posite Index added 0.42%, or 18.26 points to 4,370.90.

‘Conflicts cooling’

Analysts said Asian market players were still keeping a close eye on the global geopolitical situation, but investors were beginning to feel both the Ukraine and Iraq conflicts were de-escalating.

“On an interim-term view, geopolitics remain at the forefront of investors’ decision-making,” wrote Evan Lucas at Melbourne-based IG Ltd in a note.

The conclusions from the weekend “are that conflicts are cooling”, he said.

But risks remain. Over the weekend Ukraine’s army shelled the main rebel bastion of Donetsk, as Russia called for a humanitarian ceasefire which the West warned could be a pretext by Moscow to send in troops.

In the week ahead, investors will be watching economic health indicators from China. The world’s second largest economy is due to release its latest industrial output, retail sales and fixed-asset investment figures on Wednesday.

US retail sales and industrial production for July will also be released later this week.

In forex trade the dollar strengthened to 102.13 yen in Tokyo afternoon trade, against 102.06 yen in New York late Friday and 101.81 yen in Asia.

The euro was quoted at $1.3401 and 136.87 yen, slipping from $1.3416 and 136.93 yen in New York.

Oil prices were mixed. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for September delivery rose 15 cents to $97.80 while Brent crude for September fell six cents to $104.96.

Gold slumped to 1,306.60 an ounce by 0650 GMT compared to its threeweek high of $1,322.92 an ounce on Friday. l

“Windows and Office are still very much the core of Microsoft,” says Sameer Singh, an India-based analyst.

The most recent breakdown by Microsoft of its results by product line - for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 shows that 56% of its global revenue and 78% of operating profit came from Windows and Office.

Microsoft doesn’t just lose the revenue from pirate copies, it also loses access to customers who might buy other Microsoft products that work with or on top of Windows and Office.

Across most markets, Windows and Office account for more than half of revenues, says Andrew Pickup, Microsoft’s Asia PR chief. This, analysts say, is because many of Microsoft’s other products, such as Exchange and Windows servers, depend on customers already using Windows and Office.

“The Microsoft ecosystem is obviously pretty interconnected,” says Jan

Dawson of U.S.-based Jackdaw Research. “So it makes sense that the proportion of revenue would be similar in emerging markets.”

Naked PCS

Part of the intractability of piracy in emerging markets is that each part of the chain poses a problem.

For PC makers working on waferthin margins the operating system is one of the costliest parts of the machine, while mom-and-pop shops which form the bulk of retailers in such markets can’t afford to turn away pricesensitive customers who are comfortable buying pirate software.

The problem, therefore, starts with computer makers, Singh says, since “convincing them to ship every PC with Windows pre-installed is difficult.” Margins on PCs for a company like Lenovo Group Ltd are “near single digits,” says Bryan Wang, an analyst at Gartner.

REUTERS

The result is that up to 60 percent of PCs shipped in the emerging markets of Asia, says IDC research manager Handoko Andi, have no Windows operating system pre-installed - so-called ‘naked PCs’, which usually instead carry some free, open source operating system like Linux. That compares with about 25 percent in the region’s developed markets like Japan and Australia.

A quick scan of Taobao, the popular Chinese e-commerce site operated by Alibaba, shows a vast selection of PCs shipped with Linux rather than Windows. Once the machines hit the retailers, it’s hard to tell where legitimate software stops and piracy begins.

On a recent morning in Zhongguancun, a teeming electronics hub in north Beijing, shopkeepers offered to bundle what they said were legitimate versions of Windows with a new laptop, either for free or the equivalent of about $30.

Microsoft began lobbying Lenovo

Microsoft’s new approach is to push the price of Windows low enough to make it worth a PC maker’s while. The cost of a Windows licence has fallen to below $50 from as high as $150, said IDC’s Andi, taking Microsoft down to “levels where they’ve never competed before.”

Microsoft’s Pickup said it was too early to gauge take-up.

In any case, making Windows cheaper for PCs is just part of a broader response to deeper shifts in the industry. The rise of mobile, tablets, cloudbased services and free operating systems has marginalised Microsoft and challenged its business model.

While Windows is on more than 90% of traditional computers - according to data compiled by analyst Ben Bajarin - that figure drops to below 14% once mobile devices such as phones and tablets are factored in, estimates Gartner.

More than half those devices run Google’s Android mobile OS, which is effectively free to handset and tablet makers. Apple, a key player in all types of devices, gives away upgrades to its operating systems for free.

Pickup says Microsoft has listened to phone makers’ complaints and relaxed what hardware they need to install the mobile version of Windows. It has also made the operating system free on any mobile device of 9 inches or less.

Taken together, the moves are “about bringing down the cost as more and more of the populations in these emerging markets are having their first computing experience,” Pickup said.

These are significant concessions, analysts say, but Microsoft will have to learn to be a bit player, where its software and services run on other people’s operating systems.

“The biggest threat to Microsoft,” Dawson said, “is the shift from a PCbased world where Microsoft dominated to a mobile world where Microsoft is an also-ran.” l

Dollar bounces back in Asia n AFP, Tokyo The dollar rallied against the yen and euro yesterday after the unit plunged in the wake of last week’s announcement that Washington had authorised air strikes in Iraq.

The dollar strengthened to 102.13 yen in Tokyo afternoon trade, against 102.06 yen in New York late Friday and 101.81 yen in Asia.

The euro was quoted at $1.3401 and 136.87 yen, slipping from $1.3416 and 136.93 yen in New York.

“Players bought back the dollar after the market factored in the situations in Iraq and Ukraine,” said Yosuke Hosokawa, head of forex sales at Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank.

“The dollar is expected to be steady in a limited range, but players still need to keep watching geopolitical factors,” he added.

The yen surged on Friday after US President Barack Obama said he had authorised the air strikes on Iraq and humanitarian supply drops to prevent a “genocide” by Islamist extremists

against minorities.

Investors tend to buy the yen in times of uncertainty and turmoil.

But Obama, who was an outspoken critic of his predecessor George W. Bush’s 2003 invasion of Iraq, said he was not sending back ground forces.

On Sunday, Ukraine’s army shelled the main rebel bastion of Donetsk as Russia called for a humanitarian ceasefire, which the West warned could be a pretext by Moscow to send in troops.

The dollar weakened against other Asia-Pacific currencies.

It eased to Sg$1.2493 from Sg$1.2537 on Friday, to 1,030.35 South Korean won from 1,035.70 won, to 11,667.50 Indonesian rupiah from 11,812.50 rupiah and to 43.91 Philippine pesos from 44.25 pesos.

The dollar also weakened to 61.09 Indian rupees from 61.61 rupees, to Tw$29.98 from Tw$30.02 and to 32.12 Thai baht from 32.21 baht.

The Australian dollar rose to 92.82 US cents from 92.45 cents, while the Chinese yuan changed hands at 16.59 yen against 16.53 yen. l

Amazon stops some Disney movie preorders n Reuter, New York

Amazon.com Inc has halted pre-orders of some Disney movies, the Wall Street Journal reported, in what appears to be another contract dispute after the online retailer began a protracted spat with publisher Hachette Book Group this year.

Physical copies of titles such as “Maleficent” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” were unavailable for order on Amazon.com on Sunday. Digital copies of some of the movies in question were still available for pre-order.

Amazon.com did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment on the report. A Disney spokesman had no comment.

Amazon has been waging a battle against Hachette, the fourth-largest US book publisher, over the price the online retailer can charge for e-books. Hachette is owned by France’s Lagardere.

A group called Authors United ran a two-page ad in the New York Times on Sunday, criticizing Amazon for halting pre-orders from some Hachette authors and slowing delivery of books by Hachette authors. The ad was signed by more than 900 writers, including Stephen King and Donna Tartt.

In response, Amazon.com’s Books Team ran a message on a website (www.readersunited.com/) on Friday

The entrance gate to The Walt Disney Co is pictured in Burbank, California evening reiterating its arguments for cheaper ebooks, and suggested people email Hachette CEO Michael Pietsch.

The company published Pietsch’s email address and listed key points people might want to make.

Pietsch replied to every individual who emailed him saying that the dispute started because Amazon is seeking a lot more profit and even more

market share at the expense of authors, bookstores and Hachette.

“Both Hachette and Amazon are big businesses and neither should claim a monopoly on enlightenment, but we do believe in a book industry where talent is respected and choice continues to be offered to the reading public,” Pietsch wrote on Sunday, a copy of which was emailed to Reuters.

REUTERS

“Once again, we call on Amazon to withdraw the sanctions against Hachette’s authors that they have unilaterally imposed, and restore their books to normal levels of availability.”

Amazon says pricing e-books at $14.99 or $19.99 is too expensive. It argues that cheaper e-books sell more copies and so ultimately generate more revenue and more royalties for authors. l

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Traders brace for research crackdown as easy money dries up n Reuters, London Regulatory pressure to undo the traditional way brokers sell research alongside share dealing is alarming traders in Europe, who fear a further drop in business and more cost-cutting in an already tough environment.

At stake is the lucrative but opaque system under which fund managers pay brokers an all-in commission on every trade, charged to the fund’s clients, which covers not only the execution of the deal but research and other services.

Total spending is estimated at 2bn pounds ($3.4bn) in the UK and about $10bn in the US. The asset managers are already reining in spending in the wake of new UK curbs on charging clients for research sometimes deemed “questionable” and company visits, traders say. A ban proposed by European markets watchdog ESMA on charging clients for research - though not yet final - is also seen eating into brokers’ profits, pushing them to merge or cut costs.

Advocates of new rules say such changes will lead to a healthier and more transparent financial market, though for the industry it means another hit to trading profits in a postcrisis world where bank risk-taking has been curbed and trading activity has yet to recover fully.

“Brokers have already cut enormously, even the big ones, but equity markets have been difficult,” said Neil Scarth, a principal at Frost Consulting. “We think that (new) research budgeting is going to cause them to cut further.”

Traders say the bundled commission system helps grease the wheels of equity trading and allows brokers to be more than just “dumb pipes” into the stock market, but critics argue that there is no price transparency for clients and that a culture of one-payment-fits-all has led to excess spending and little scrutiny.

“In no other industry do you see such a bizarre way of delivering and paying for a service,” said Richard

Advocates of unbundling argue that fears are overdone, accusing the brokerage industry of supplying too much research of too little value that is paid for by the end client.

One assessment from Morgan Stanley analysts is that the financial sector could cut up to $2 billion of excess costs from research. “The industry is spending more on research than investors are willing to pay for,” they wrote in a 2014 report.

While detractors say this will unfairly harm coverage of small companies, some see constant demand for good research.

“Firms will have to make a choice as to whether they are a pure trading business or whether they are providing research... This will affect the big investment banks too,” said Balarkas. “But quality ideas in overlooked companies will always be in demand.”

Cosy relationships

Traders work on a trading floor in London Balarkas, consultant and former head of electronic trading at Credit Suisse.

Cost pressure

Both brokers and asset managers are likely to be under pressure to restructure operations or cut costs, analysts and investors say, as trading houses will find it much harder to fund large

OECD sees stable momentum among major economies n

Reuters

Growth momentum in most major developed economies is stable although Germany and Japan both show signs of losing steam, the OECD said yesterday, as it flagged a turnaround in growth prospects for India.

The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said its leading indicator covering 33 member countries was unchanged in June at 100.5, above its long-term average of 100.

The indicator, designed to flag turning points in the economic cycle, suggested there was “stable growth momentum” in

the bloc of mostly wealthy developed nations, the OECD said. The indicator has been unchanged at 100.5 since February.

However, growth was losing momentum in Germany, where the indicator had dropped to 100.2 in June from 100.4 in May, and Japan, where it fell to 100.1 from 100.4 the previous month.

Italy’s growth momentum improved, to 101.7 from 101.6 in May. Among major emerging economies, the indicator for China was unchanged while India and Russia had seen slightly improving prospects for expansion.

The outlook was stable in the United States, with a 100.5 reading unchanged since May. l

REUTERS

research desks while asset-management firms will struggle to persuade clients to pay much higher fees.

“The trend is clearly going towards an increasing amount of research being paid for out of the asset manager’s profits,” said Arnaud Cosserat, fund manager at Comgest in Paris. “For us it will not dramatically change things as we

have developed in-house research...But those in the middle will be squeezed.”

Industry associations are lobbying against the ESMA proposals and have warned that trading volumes and market stability are at risk; investmentfund body ICI Global said at a recent hearing that unbundling would be a “major challenge”.

“It is inevitable that there will be a decline in equity market volumes and a rise in price volatility (if unbundling goes ahead),” said Robert Buller, a spokesman for Paris-based broker Kepler Cheuvreux. “Less availability of research will mean less transparency on the correct pricing of stocks.”

Traders worry that traditional relationships built up between broker and fund manager may fall apart without the incentive of access to research and other services.

“It’s a big preoccupation for us,” said a London-based trader who declined to be named. “If clients have to pay a check to access bank research regardless of how much trading volume goes to that bank, why will they trade with that bank?”

The head of trading at a global asset manager, who declined to be named, said he had already begun discussing with one of his brokers about how unbundling might lower trading business.

For advocates of more transparency, this is an important step that will in the end benefit the client even if it skims some of the frothy profit from broker relationships.

“Asset managers are going to have to choose the things they want and only buy those,” said Frost Consulting’s Scarth. “It will take probably some of the excess profitability out of the relationship.” l

With PlayStation network, Sony goes back to the future in search of revival n Reuters, Tokyo Japan’s Sony Corp is hammering out plans to rise from the ashes of nearly $10bn lost in six years by building a future around its last consumer electronics blockbuster - the PlayStation.

Sony plans to reposition the video console warhorse as a hub for a network of streamed services, according to three senior officials, offering social media, movies and music as well as games. The executives spoke to Reuters on condition they not be named because the matters are still in early stages of discussion.

The plans to coax more revenue from the PlayStation’s network of users are being developed by a new breed of managers brought in by Chief Execu-

tive Kazuo Hirai. Analysts say if Sony gets it right, the game and network business could earn about $1bn in the fiscal year from April 2016 - making it the most profitable part of the company bar a financial services unit.

“Network services have been a longrunning issue for Sony,” said Atsushi Osanai, associate professor at Waseda University’s business school. It’s a field Apple Inc has dominated with iTunes, while established movie and music services like Netflix Inc and Spotify are expanding fast.

“In the past there was a time when they (Sony) were all over the place and went after everything, but zeroing in first on game users is effective,” said Osanai. The company’s next progress report will come with its first-quarter

earnings on July 31.

At 200 billion yen ($1.96bn) last fiscal year, some 90% of it from games, Sony Entertainment Network’s revenue is small compared with the 5tn yen at the company’s broader electronics business. The division lost 10bn yen last year and more losses are expected this year as it spends on servers and systems for a surge in users, but the executives - and analysts - expect it to ramp up quickly after that to doubledigit margins.

The new thinking is far from Sony’s first effort to kickstart a revival. Yet the company that was once the symbol of Japan’s technology prowess has often failed in attempts to deliver innovative hits to match successes of old, like the Walkman music player.

The managers lining up Sony’s new strategy know a PlayStation network won’t fix mainstream loss-making businesses, like its TV division - “a grim electronics portfolio”, according to brokerage Jefferies. It’s also not the first time Sony has tried to develop networked content services.

But under plain-speaking Kenichiro Yoshida, a former head of Sony’s Internet services unit now leading the charge as chief financial officer since April, managers believe focusing on PlayStation to develop a network is potentially Sony’s best chance of securing a money-making springboard for revival.

“These are crucial assets that offer the greatest potential upside,” said one of the senior officials. l

Oil prices higher as eyes on Iraq n AFP, Singapore

Amazon launches 3D printing store

Oil prices rose in Asia yesterday as dealers monitor sustained US air strikes on extremist militants in Iraq who are threatening the crude-rich Kurdish region, analysts said.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for September delivery rose 25 cents to $97.90 while Brent crude for September gained six cents to $105.08 in afternoon trade.

Iraq’s Kurdish peshmerga forces on Sunday reclaimed two towns from Islamic State fighters, buoyed by three days of US air strikes to stem the jihadist advance.

US President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered his country’s warplanes back into Iraqi skies to prevent genocide by the jihadists against besieged religious minority groups and prevent an advance on the Kurdish capital Arbil where US personnel are stationed.

“Investors take comfort in the knowledge that insurgents will be contained in northern Iraq, away from the oil fields in Kurdistan,” said Desmond Chua, market analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore.

The so-called Islamic State group controls large swathes of Iraq’s north and west, and have declared a “caliphate” in those areas.

The sweeping offensive began on June 9, preventing Baghdad from exporting oil via a pipeline to Turkey and by road to Jordan. l

n AFP, San Francisco

This handout picture released by Japan's electronics ginat Toshiba on August 11, 2014 shows a wristband style wearable fitness tracker 'Weram 1100' which can run for two weeks without recharging. The Weram 1100 has function of accelerometer which enables it to estimate physical activities such as steps taken, distance traveled and calories burned and it also measure sleep states, patterns and hour of sleep per day AFP

Sri Lanka slams US over travel warning n AFP, Colombo

Sri Lanka accused the United States yesterday of creating a “false and alarmist view” after Washington warned of possible violence on the island and said anti-Western sentiment was rising.

The travel warning was issued after an opposition party staged a peaceful protest outside the US embassy in Colombo over Israeli actions in Gaza.

It said there was increased pressure on anyone linked to US projects, warning that “even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence”.

Sri Lanka, which is banking on tourists to revive its economy after ending nearly four decades of ethnic war in May

2009, said the claims were misleading.

The warning “regrettably creates a false and alarmist view of the conditions prevalent in Sri Lanka”, said the foreign ministry.

Colombo has repeatedly locked horns with Western nations over rights issues, notably allegations its forces killed at least 40,000 Tamil civilians in the final months of the war between the military and rebels fighting for a Tamil homeland.

Colombo has long denied the charge.

Last week the foreign ministry accused Western diplomats of favouring Sri Lanka’s ethnic Tamil minority by attending a meeting in Colombo between envoys and families who lost loved ones in the war.

Pro-government mobs led by Buddhist monks broke up the meeting, attended by Western diplomats, and prompted the US embassy to demand Sri Lanka enforce its own laws on freedom of speech and association.

The US embassy had accused police of supporting the mobs whom it said “behaved threateningly” towards the families from the former northern war zone.

France, Germany, Britain and Switzerland also issued a statement last week backing the US demand for the rule of law.

Critics have recently accused President Mahinda Rajapakse’s government of a renewed crackdown on dissent, after it last month banned civil society groups from holding press conferences. l

Amazon announced Monday the launch of an online store for 3D printed items to allow consumers to customize and personalize items like earrings, pendants, dolls and other objects.

The store offers more than 200 items including nylon wallets, wax seals, cookie cutters and bobbleheads.

“The introduction of our 3D printed products store suggests the beginnings of a shift in online retail -- that manufacturing can be more nimble to provide an immersive customer experience. Sellers, in alignment with designers and manufacturers, can offer more dynamic inventory for customers to personalize and truly make their own,” said Amazon’s Petra SchindlerCarter in a statement The store “allows us to help sellers, designers and manufacturers reach millions of customers while providing a fun and creative customer experi-

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ence to personalize a potentially infinite number of products at great prices across many product categories.”

The new store also allows designer the opportunity to offer new items that can be customized. Consumers will be able to view the item from any angle with a 360 degree rotate view.

Amazon will work with companies that make 3D printed items including Mixee Labs and the French-based Sculpteo.

“The online customer shopping experience will be redefined through 3D printing. When you take into consideration the investment needed for manufacturing products, 3D printing offers a cost effective alternative that benefits customers by limitless product options,” said Sculpteo co-founder and chief executive Clement Moreau.

“With 3D printing, a customer’s wants are no longer limited to what is in stock but instead by what they can imagine.” l