13 Aug, 2014

Shraban 29, 1421 Shawal 16, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 2, No 131

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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7 | LONG FORM

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NOUVEAUX ÉRUDITS: THE INTELLECTUAL CATASTROPHE

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MSC WOMEN SEAL FINAL BERTH

Giant coal power project approved Bribe-land registered Ecnec approves Tk35,984cr to set up coal-based 1,200MW plant at Matarbari n Kayes Sohel The government yesterday approved the country’s first and largest coal-fired power project at a cost of Tk35,984.46 crore to boost electricity generation, which is currently far short of meeting the demand annually growing at an average rate of 10%.

The project titled Matarbari 2x600 MW Ultra Super Critical Coal-Fired Power Plant is the biggest in the history of the country’s power sector – bigger than any other development projects of the country, including the Padma bridge.

It would be Bangladesh’s first plant to use sea surface water for cooling and steam generation.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the project at a meeting at the NEC conference room in the city with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

Bangladesh has long been suffering from power shortage, forcing the government to go for expensive fuel oilbased contingency plans to urgently meet the fast growing demand.

At the same time, the government has undertaken a massive plan to set up high-capacity imported coal-based power plants to meet the demand through providing less expensive electricity.

The Matarbari project is one of the projects undertaken by the government.

The government has a plan to generate around 20,000MW of coal-fired

FACT SHEET: MATARBARI COALBASED POWER PLANT

PLAN FOR COAL-BASED POWER PLANTS IN BANGLADESH

Costing Tk35,984 crore 42% Plant Efficiency Thermal efficiency 41.3%

Funding CPGCBL JICA

Tk4,926 crore Tk28,939 crore

The plant will:

• be the country's first plant to use sea surface water for cooling and steam generation • have highest thermal efficiency in the world compared to 35% in USA, 29% in India, UK and Germany, 38% in France while it is 40% in Japan.

• Higher than the average efficiency (34%) of other coal-based power plants in Bangladesh electricity by 2030 to meet the demand.

As of now, plans have already been taken to generate around 15,000MW of coal-fired electricity, according to Power Cell sources.

At present, the country’s daily average production is around 7,000MW against a demand for around 7,500MW. The Matarbari plant will be an Ultra

PROJECT NAME

CAPACITY AGENCY

PROJECT STATUS

Barapukuria (EPC)

250MW

BPDB

Khulna (IPP Orion)

565MW

BPDB

Maowa (IPP Orion)

522MW

BPDB

Char Balakia (IPP Orion) Char Balakia (IPP Orion) Chittagong Gohira, Anowara (IPP Orion) Chittagong Baskhali (S.Alam Group) Chittagong (S.Alam Group) Bashkhali (Military Tools Factory) Chittagong CPP (BSRM)

635MW 282MW 282MW 612MW 612MW 600MW 150MW

BPDB BPDB BPDB BPDB BPDB BPDB BPDB

Rampal JV Bangladesh-India

1320MW

BPDB

Malaysia JV Bangladesh, Moheskhali China Bangladesh JV, Moheskhali Korea Bangladesh JV, Moheskhali

1320MW 1320MW 1320MW

BPDB BPDB BPDB

Financial closing not completed Financial closing completed expected COD 2016 Financial closing completed expected COD 2016 Contract not signed Contract not signed Contract not signed Contract not signed Contract not signed Under discussion Contract not signed Project cost $1.6b expected COD 2018 Under discussion MOU signed with CHHPCL Under discussion

Matarbari Govt. Cox’s Moheskhali project

1200MW

CPGCL

Loan agreement signed with JICA

750MW 1320MW 600MW 1320MW 14,980MW

BPDB BPDB EGCB NWPGCL

Anowara LNG JV Middle East Moheskhali Munshigonj Patuakhlai Total

Super Critical Technology, 42% more efficiency than the average 34% of other coal-based plants in Bangladesh.

The plant will have the highest thermal efficiency in the world with 41.3% compared to 35% in the USA, 29% in India, the UK and Germany, 38% in France and 40% in Japan.

“There will be two plants each hav-

Under planning stage Called for RFP Under planning stage MOU signed with CMC, China SOURCE: POWER CELL

ing a generation capacity of 600MW. The entire project is scheduled to complete by June 2023,” Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told reporters after yesterday’s meeting. He expected the first one to complete by 2018.

He said the plant would be the country’s largest development project, even  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

in PM’s name n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi In 2011, local Awami League leaders and the governing body of a school in Rajshahi’s Bagmara took one decimal land from a woman as a bribe for appointing her as an assistant teacher.

The land was later registered in the prime minister’s name without taking permission from the Prime Minister’s Office – an act considered an offence by Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sadiqul Islam. A party office has been built on that land.

AL President of Ganipur union unit in Bagmara Harun-or-Rashid, however, does not see any offence in the process as “money is taken everywhere while recruiting teachers. Sultana Parveen’s father-in-law has given the prime minister one decimal land. We did not register it in our names, but in the prime minister’s. There is nothing unfair [in the process].”

President of Mohanganj High School governing body Insan Ali said the land had been taken from the teacher to construct an office for the local Awami League.

Local AL leader Insan is also an assistant public prosecutor of Rajshahi court.

Sub-Registrar Azharul Islam of Bhabaniganj registered the piece of land illegally while Mozammel Huq, president of ward 4 unit under Ganipur union AL, signed the document as receiver in favour of the premier.

Mozammel was also contacted for

Shamim: Ivy trying to protect someone n Mohosinul Karim Narayanganj Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy is trying to conceal something to save somebody by putting the blame on “godfathers” for seven murders, said Narayanganj 4 lawmaker Shamim Osman.

Shamim Osman gave his statement to the probe body formed under the directives of the High Court yesterday.

He blamed Ivy only a day after her statement given to the same probe body.

Criticising Ivy for her comment which indicated Shamim as godfather the ruling party MP wondered: “How could she relate me with the incident terming me godfather after the confessional statements of RAB-11 members?”

Already RAB-11 members including two or three senior officials have given confessional statement to the courts admitting their involvement in the incident, he said.

He made the statement to the media after around three hours interrogation of seven-member probe body over the seven-murder incident of Narayanganj.

The probe body led by Shahjahan Ali Mollah, additional secretary to the public administration ministry, quizzed Shamim at the secretariat from 11.30am to 2.20pm.

“My statement given within only 30 minutes of the incident proved to be correct. I gave the information to the RAB officials, superintendent of police, deputy commissioner and high officials of the Prime Minister’s Office about the incident as people informed me about the real fact immediately as a public representative. People did not go to law enforcing agency members as they have turned into “predator from protector?”

Shamim termed Ivy ill mannered and corrupt saying that she is still

INSIDE B1 | Business

6 | Nation

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman has warned non-bank financial institutions that it would show zero tolerance to any financial irregularity.

Locals struggle to carry out their daily activities and businesses, as the Baishari Bridge at Bandarban’s Naikkangchhari upazila is yet to be repaired or rebuilt, since it tilted a year ago.

3 | News

US Secretary of State John Kerry has expressed a desire to visit Bangladesh at a meeting with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali in Myanmar’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw.

4 | News

The Hydrocarbon Unit under the Energy and Mineral Resources Division has been without any activities for the past eight months and the government is also undecided about its future.

5 | News

A workshop titled ‘Missing Child Alert,’ held in the capital yesterday, highlighted that 200,000 missing children cases are recorded in South-Asia every year and around 20,000 of that number are children from Bangladesh, most of whom are trafficked into India.

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

comments on the issue, but could not speak because he was undergoing medical treatment.

Sultana said after the authorities had demanded Tk2 lakh from her, she paid them Tk1 lakh. It was agreed that she would pay the remaining amount in phases once she started drawing a salary.

‘It is a crime not to take the approval of the PMO before registering land in the name of the premier’ “But [as the governing body demanded], my father-in-law registered one decimal of land in the name of the prime minister for the job,” she added.

Assistant Teacher Lutfar Rahman said after being given the task of acting headmaster of the school, he investigated the appointments of four teachers, including Sultana, and found that they had submitted fake index documents (of teachers’ registration) during recruitment.

Lutfar then lodged a written compliant with the director general of secondary and higher secondary directorate.

The charge of investigation was later handed over to the deputy-director of Rajshahi zone.

The probe found the allegation of  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Fear and hope regarding the broadcast policy n Tribune Report

A fire broke out in a plastic factory at Swarighat in the old part of the capital yesterday night. Story on page 2

A round table discussion on the recently approved National Broadcast Policy 2014 at a hotel in the capital yesterday triggered fear and hope among the participants regarding the policy’s effects on broadcast media.

Titled “Broadcasting Policy 2014: Challenges and Way Forward,” the discussion was attended by members of the policy formulating committee, journalists, teachers, a lawyer and other professionals.

Organised by Bangladesh Copyright and IP Forum (BCIPF), the Dhaka Tribune and Bangla Tribune, in association with Kazi Farms Limited, the event was moderated by Robaet Ferdous, associate professor at the department of mass communication and journalism of Dhaka University.

Some speakers, including professional journalists, expressed their fear MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Court summons Hall-Mark chair, MD n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday summoned Hall-Mark Group chairman and its managing director and ordered them to appear before the court on August 28 in connection with a compensation case filed by Sonali Bank.

First Joint District Court Judge Fazlay Elahi Bhuyan took the case into cognisance and passed the order.

Sonali Bank’s Rupashi Bangla Branch Deputy Manager Md Abul Hashem filed the case against the bank’s former managing director and 33 others.

According to the case, the plaintiff said Hall-Mark Group and its sister concern Max Spinning Mills took over Tk755 crore in loans through different vouchers.

It also said Max Spinning Mills took over Tk525 crore loans through 176

vouchers of different types between December 28, 2011 and March 28, 2012 through a mutual understanding with bank officials, in violation of the bank rules.

The other defendants include Max Spinning Mills proprietor Meer Zakariah, Hall Mark Managing Director Tanvir Mahmud, Hall Mark Chairman Jesmin Islam, Sonali Bank Ruposhi Bangla branch Deputy General Manager AKM Azizu Rahman, Assistant General Manager Md Saiful Islam, General Manager Noni Gopal Nath, Executive Officer Md Abdul Matin, former senior executive officer Meherun Nesa, Sonali Bank Chief Operating Officer Md Humayun Kabir, former managing director of Sonali Bank head office Atiqur Rahman, former deputy managing director Sonali Bank head office Moinul Haque and others. l

Free medical treatment on August 15 n Moniruzzaman Uzzal

Outdoor department patients will be given free treatment at all the public medical colleges, specialised and district hospitals and upazila health complexes on August 15, the National Mourning Day. The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Directorate of Health instructed the hospitals about this.

In two separate circulars, they said that although 15 August is a government and weekly holiday [Friday], all public health institutes must remain open for two hours from 8am till 10am to provide the poor with free tickets with healthcare and treatments.

Director (hospital and clinic) of the Directorate of Health ABM Abdul Hannan told the Dhaka Tribune: ‘’We have

already circulated the health ministry’s instructions to all medical college, specialised and district hospitals and upazila health complexes. Free medicine will be given to the patients.”

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) will provide free treatment with its professors, associate and assistant professors (specialised).

The BSMMU authority has also asked all the departmental heads to see the outdoor patients without tickets from 8:30am till 12:30am.

It had the same arrangement for the National Mourning Day last year.

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim has asked the private hospitals and clinics to provide free service on 15 August.

As per the minister’s request, several private hospitals and clinics will give free health care service that day. l

PHOTOJOURNALIST AFTAB MURDER CASE

4 witnesses give depositions n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Dhaka court yesterday recorded the depositions of four witnesses in the much-talked-about case of the murder of veteran photojournalist Aftab Ahmed.

Dhaka’s Third Additional Metropolitan Session’s Judge KM Imrul Kayes recorded the depositions and fixed September 17 for recording the depositions of prosecution witnesses.

The four witnesses are the deceased’s son Monwar Ahmed Sagar, also the complainant of the case, two landlords of the building where Aftab used to reside – Shamima Alam and Shahana Begum – and Nasima Begum, Aftab’s domestic help.

Earlier, on July 24, the court indicted six people including Humayun Kabir, the slain journalist’s driver, in the case.

The other accused were Habib Haw-

lader, Sabuj Khan, Belal Hossain, Raju Munshi and Md Rasel.

Of them, Rasel has been absconding since the filing of the case while the rest are in jail.

On March 25, RAB-3 Sub-Inspector Md Ashik Iqbal submitted charge sheets against the six accused to the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court.

Four of the accused made confessional statements and admitted to committing the murder.

Prominent photojournalist Aftab Ahmed, who had been honoured with the “Ekushey Padak” in 2006, was killed at his Wapda Road residence in the capital’s Rampura area on December 25 last year.

The body of the 80-year-old journalist was recovered from his house in the morning. His hands and legs had been tied with ropes. l

Bribe-land registered  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

fake index cards to be true and unearthed the issue of the exchange of land for Sultana’s job.

Lutfar said he had been suspended by the governing body for filing the complaint.

He has been replaced by Roksana Parveen, who is the daughter-in-law of Insan, the governing body president.

The school’s students have been boycotting classes for the last one week while the guardians padlocked the school gate, protesting Lutfar’s suspension.

Deputy Director Dr Sharmin Ferdous Chowdhury of secondary and higher secondary directorate said a report had been submitted to the director general after conducting the investigation. She confirmed that the index cards of the four teachers had been forged.

Sadiqul Islam, who is also serving as the Bagmara assistant commissioner (land), said the salaries of the four teachers had been withheld.

“It is a crime not to take the approval of the Prime Minister’s Office before registering land in the name of the premier. The person who conducted the registration committed an offence.

I will recommend that the authorities take punitive actions against the sub-registrar,” he added.

Bhabaniganj Sub-Registrar Azharul first asked this correspondent not to report the matter in the media.

He, however, said: “They came to the office under the [ruling] party’s banner; I just registered the land. It was not on my mind that I needed to take permission from the Prime Minister’s Office.” l

Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu speaks as the chief guest at a roundtable discussion titled 'Broadcast Policy 2014: Challenges and Way Forward.' Bangladesh Copyright & IP Forum, the Dhaka Tribune and the Bangla Tribune jointly organised the event at the capital’s Lakeshore Hotel yesterday SADIA MARIUM

No headway in cases filed 5 hurt in fire in Old Dhaka for Tareque, Misuk deaths n Tribune Report

n

Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique and Sanaul Islam Tipu

Three years have passed after two cases were filed in connection with an accident that killed internationally acclaimed film director Tareque Masud and renowned journalist and photography director Misuk Munier but still there was no tangible headway.

The accident took place on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway in Ghior area of Manikganj on August 13, 2011.

Driver Jamir Uddin responsible for the accident was arrested in the face of huge outcry from the civil society and media.

The arrestee regularly appears before the court, advocate Clerk Gurudas

Mandal of Manikganj court said.

Of the two cases, police lodged one with the district and session judge’s court soon after the accident.

While the other one was filed by by Mishuk’s wife Monjuly Kazi case against the driver and the bus owner with the district court for compensation. This case is now under trial, said Gurudas.

After the arrest, bus driver Jamir, however, claimed himself to be innocent and blamed the driver of the micro-bus that was carrying Tareque and Misuk, for the accident.

The rest three killed in the accident are Tareque’s production crew Wasim, Jamal and micro-bus driver Mostafizur Rahman.

At least five fire fighters sustained critical burn injuries when they tried to extinguish a devastating fire broke out in a chemical warehouse at Champatuli of Soarighat area of Old Dhaka in the city last night.

All injured were admitted to Burn and Plastic Surgery Unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

According to the witness and the Fire Service and Civil Defense (FSCD) officials, the fire originated from an unknown source in the tin-shed chemical warehouse located at 5/3 Champatuli Das Lane around 9:45pm.

The fire immediately engulfed the whole warehouse stocked with different flammable chemicals and petroleum products used in plastic factories.

On information, nine fire-fighting units from Sadarghat, Lalbagh and its headquarters rushed to the scene and managed to extinguish the fire after more than two hours of frantic efforts.

The injured Fire Service and Civil Defense personnel were identified as Al Amin, 42, Atiq, 38, Osman, 35, Mizan, 32 and Daud, 30 – all are members of Lalbagh Fire Station.

Officials at the Fire Service and Civil Defense said the cause of fire and its extent could not be ascertained. Local people said there were several chemical-loaded drums that exploded during the fire.

Ataur Rahman, in-charge of the Fire Service and Civil Defense headquarters, told the Dhaka Tribune that the fire was under control but they were yet to ascertain the reason behind the fire." l

Primary and Mass Education Ministry challenges HC verdict n Ahmed Zayeef The Appellate Division has fixed September 7 for the hearing of an appeal challenging a High Court verdict that asked the government to shift a primary school built on the land of Bangladesh Girl Guides Association.

Appellate Division’s vacation chamber Judge Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana

passed the order yesterday following an appeal filed by the Primary and Mass Education Ministry.

The primary school named Samajik Shikhkha Kendro was set up by the volunteers of the Girl Guides Association in 1962 on 5.58 decimals of its land in the capital’s Bailey Road area.

On February 20, the HC declared illegal a notice issued by the Primary

and Mass Education Ministry in 2008, saying the property on Bailey Road belonged to the Girl Guides.

Following the HC verdict, the Bangladesh Girl Guides Association demolished the school building during Eid-ul-Fitr vacation, forcing the school’s students to sit outside in the open for their classes.

On July 24, 2002, the Primary and Mass Education Department issued

a letter to shift the school and merge it with the nearby Nidhusriti Primary School at Ramna.

However, in February 2008, the ministry cancelled the notice.

“We will continue our legal fight and will not let go of this land. Children from poor families from the nearby areas study here,” said Nadim Chowdhury, former chairman of the school. l

Giant coal power project approved  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

bigger than the Padma bridge project.

Due to the use of higher work efficiency technology, the plants will witness less coal consumption. As a result, Mustafa Kamal said, there would be emission of less carbon dioxide.

The minister assured that the government would show zero tolerance about environment pollution during the implementation of the project as it was cost-efficient while incorporating best technology.

He said the Coal Power Generation

Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) will provide Tk4,926 crore from its own fund for the project while Tk28,939 crore will come from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

Two more power plants will be set up at the project site in future along with an LNG terminal while Moheshkhali would be turned into a complete township, said the minister.

The CPGCBL under the Power Division will implement the project at Matarbari and Dhalghata union of Moheshkhali upazila in Cox’s Bazar.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would request her Japanese counterpart during his visit to Bangladesh next month to facilitate completion of the first unit of the plant by 2018, a senior official quoted the PM saying at the meeting.

Ecnec approves four more projects

Ecnec yesterday approved a total of five development projects, including the Matarbari project, with a total outlay of Tk37,339.83 crore.

Of the total cost, the government will provide Tk5,685.33 crore from the

exchequer, Tk2,118.77 crore will come from the organisation’s own fund and Tk29,535.73 crore as project assistance.

The other projects approved are Flood Management and Livelihood Development of Haor Region at a cost of Tk880 crore, establishment of Jessore Software Technology Park at Tk240.74 crore, cluster village (Climate Victims Rehabilitation Project, revised for third time) at Tk187.29 crore and self-employment generation and poverty alleviation through expansion of BITAC activities at Tk47.33 crore. l

Shamim: Ivy trying to protect someone  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

giving such statement against him with an ill motive. She is trying to save somebody. “I have lots of proofs in my hands against her but I don’t want to disclose those to the media.”

Citing the name of Abu Sufian as Ivy’s business partner the MP said he was sure that Sufian was involved in the seven murders. Ivy had a disagreement with councillor Nazrul Islam earlier over a tender which the mayor awarded Sufian in the area of Nazrul.

About the involvement of Nur Hossain, Shamim said: “I think he is somehow involved in the seven murders. But,

I am unaware about the matter. I had a conversation with him a day before the dead bodies were recovered. I had given him suggestions as our party leader.”

He also termed the incident of seven murders a conspiracy of those who were trying to create a 1/11 like situation.

“And Ivy has a good relation with those people.”

“How all of the dead bodies were identified and recovered from a same place and at the same time?” he questioned. “Nur Hussain must be quizzed. I would bring Nur Hossian back if if I had the power.”

He said: “Everybody is saying Nur was my follower and killed the seven

people on my order. But nobody has the proof. Why had Ivy given him important charges of the corporation, if he was to be my follower?”

“The person who leaked the phone conversation between me and Nur must be a member of the law enforcing agency. I can say they were fully aware of Nur’s whereabouts. My question is despite knowing about Nur’s position why did not they arrest him while he was in Gulshan or Dhanmondi?,” he threw a question to the law enforcers.

He said he told everyone that the law enforcing agency members were involved in the abduction within an

Fear and hope regarding the broadcast policy  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

of the broadcast media being controlled by the policy, while some others criticised parts of it but expressed hopes that the government would incorporate suggestions to make it better.

Muhammad Jahangir, a columnist and former official of the Press Institute of Bangladesh, claimed the policy was confusing and aimed to control the media, oppressing the freedom of expression.

He said it was not a mere policy, but a reflection of a long-term goal of the incumbent government to shield its misdeeds as it had faced criticism at home and abroad regarding the January 5 election, and the media had exposed its faults.

“The government might have thought oppressing the freedom of expression, in whatever way they could, would help it to stay in power for five years,” he said.

Probhash Amin, associate head of news at ATN News, vehemently opposed the policy, saying he would not

accept any broadcast policy formulated by the government.

“I rejected the policy at the beginning, and I am rejecting it now, again,” he said.

However, he said he liked the content of the policy.

Samia Zaman, chief executive officer of Ekattor TV, expressed concern over whether the broadcast commission would be able to work independently and whether the committee would be formed with acceptable people.

She said before formulating the law, every stakeholder related to this policy should be consulted.

Abu Jafar Md Shafiul Alam Bhuiyan, chairman of the department of television and film studies at Dhaka University, said the document’s language created some confusion, but it could be modified.

Abul Mansur Ahmed, professor at the journalism department, said formulating a broadcast policy was a positive thing, and there was room for changes and amendments in the policy.

In reply to all the remarks, Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu said the ministry did not want to act as police, and it had formulated the policy to hand over its responsibility to the future broadcast commission.

He said the policy would be a document of principles as guidelines to formulate the law.

Inu, whose office is responsible for formulating the policy, assured that the policy was not for controlling the media, but for its betterment.

He also assured that all confusions over the policy would be gone when the law was formulated in line with the policy.

“We can improve it further when we formulate the law in this regard,” he said, urging all political parties, especially the BNP, to give their suggestions for improvement.

He also said there would be scope to correct the language where necessary.

Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul, president of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, said the information minis-

hour of the incident. “However, I did not tell anything about the killing.”

“I have met Nazrul’s wife and fatherin-law and told them the truth and also informed the higher authorities of the local administration about my ideas.”

Shahjahan Ali Mollah told media that they are expecting to submit their probe report within September 9 following the directives of the court. The probe into the incident is now about to end. But the committee may quiz the persons related to the incident, if needed.

He said the probe body might also visit India to quiz Nur Hossain, the prime accused of the incident. l

ter’s explanation that the policy was a guideline and there was room for improvement, cleared up much of the confusion.

“We appreciate the goodwill of the minister and will be with him to formulate a good law,” he said.

When asked whether he would create a similar policy and commission to take steps if any politician provided false information while addressing political rallies or meetings, the minister replied: “You (media) will broadcast those false statements and also will mention that they lied.”

Shahriar Karim, executive editor of the Dhaka Tribune, gave the welcome speech, while Kazi Zahin Hasan, director of Kazi Farms Ltd and chairman of BCIPF, gave the vote of thanks, hoping that the policy would uphold people’s freedom of expression and improve broadcast media.

Among others, ABM Hamidul Mishbah, founder of BCIPF, and Abu Naser Rajib, teacher at the California State University, spoke at the event. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

New doctors lobby to get postings near Dhaka n Moniruzzman Uzzal Thousands of newly appointed doctors have joined a lobbying war to get a chance to be posted at locations that are either in or near Dhaka city.

The lobbying competition to secure a spot in or around the capital has become intensified as there are only 500 vacant spots available in Dhaka division, compared to around 2,000 new doctors who reportedly have their native homes in the division.

Both the prime minister and the health minister had earlier promised that the new doctors would get postings at their respective home districts.

Over 6,000 doctors have recently been appointed through the 33rd BCS. Doctors from outside the Dhaka region were also reportedly trying to get postings at different districts in Dhaka division.

Several senior health officials told the Dhaka Tribune that they were facing an embarrassing situation while preparing the list of posting for the doctors.

Influential people like cabinet

members, lawmakers, and leaders from political parties and doctors’ organisations were trying to influence the posting process of the new doctors, they said, adding that most of the recommendations were made for postings at locations in or around Dhaka city.

‘It is not an easy job to give postings to thousands of doctors at a time. We are working round the clock to keep the health minister’s promise’ Meanwhile, Habibur Rahman, a joint secretary (personnel) of the Health Ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that they have completed scrutinising over 2,500 doctors until Sunday. Additional manpower have been engaged to ensure the posting of the doctors within the scheduled time.

“It is not an easy job to give postings to thousands of doctors at a time. We are working round the clock to keep the health minister’s promise. We will be able to complete all the procedures and issue posting orders by Thursday,” Habibur said.

Asked how the extra doctors would be accommodated in the limited number of seats in Dhaka, he said the ministry was now considering to provide the postings based on the merit list.

The rest of the doctors would have to join workplaces at other districts and remain there for two years, he added.

Top health officials, on the other hand, have said most doctors would get postings at or near their native upazila.

On August 7, Health Minister Mohammed Nasim announced that doctors would be posted at their own home districts within a week.

According to the Health Ministry and health directorate, a total of 8,619 doctors have been appointed over the last five years. Moreover, 4,133 assistant and dental surgeons had also been appointed on ad hoc basis.l

Two alleged razakars arrested in Netrakona n

3

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Udisa Islam

The law enforcers at Netrakona yesterday arrested two war crimes accused for their alleged involvement in atrocities in the district during the 1971 Liberation War. The arrests were made only hours after the International Crimes Tribunal 1 issued warrants against them.

Accused in a war crimes case, Obaidul Huq alias Abu Taher and Ataur Rahman alias Noni were arrested from separate locations of the town around 1pm. Md Zakir Hossain Khan, the district police superintendent, said the law men arrested the duo quickly since they had been under surveillance.

The investigation officer of the case also confirmed the arrests saying that they had been under watch when they started the probe.

Designated prosecutor Sabina Yasmin said they avoided media before the arrest since in the recent times some suspects had fled after the issuance of arrest warrants.

She said both were named in the list of razakars prepared by the district administration. However, witnesses

claimed that one of them was a razakar commander.

Noni was involved with Muslim League in 1971 while Taher is the son of Monjurul Huq, then a leader of Nezam-e-Islam – one of the Islamist parties that opposed the birth of Bangladesh.

They were involved in the killing of over 500 unarmed civilians, arson attacks and looting in different locations of Netrakona, according to the investigation agency members who are now working at field level.

The warrants were issued by the tribunal from its chamber yesterday morning following a prosecution petition. It also asked the law enforcers to produce the duo before it immediately after their arrest.

Moreover, the tribunal asked the investigation agency to submit a progress report of the case by September 4.

There was no scheduled case at the tribunal 1 yesterday.

Another designated prosecutor Mukhlesur Rahman submitted the petition, mentioning that the duo, who are very influential in the locality, might flee to avoid trial and try to influence the witnesses. l

‘BNP a platform of evil forces’ n Emran Hossain Shaikh LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday called BNP a platform of extremely evil forces. ‘’BNP is not a political party. It is a platform of extremely evil forces. All the evil forces and miscreants of society have joined this platform. The freedom and sovereignty of Bangladesh will be not secure unless these forces are stopped,’’ he said.

Ashraf, general secretary of the Awami League (AL), was speaking at the start of a mourning procession organised by Jubo League, an AL youth front, at Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital.

“Khaleda Zia celebrates August 15, the day when Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and most of his family members were killed in 1975, as her birthday. That means she does not accept Bangladesh and will never do so in the future,” he said. ‘’Were it her real birthday, she should celebrate it on August 16 or 17 as we requested, but she would not do it,’’ he said angrily. He also called the birthday celebration a facet of western culture. ‘’There is no scope for holding any talks with those who celebrate the mourning day by cutting cakes and expressing utter hatred towards the Father of the Nation,’’ he vowed. l

Qaisar’s defence argues for fourth day n Udisa Islam The counsel for Syed Mohammad Qaisar yesterday argued that the war crimes accused had not been present at the crime scenes during the 1971 Liberation War, as has been alleged.

On Sunday, the same lawyer claimed that the accused never maintained any force titled “Qaisar Bahini” as the prosecution claimed.

While placing arguments at the International Crimes Tribunal 2 for the fourth day, SM Shahjahan continuously stated that his client was not responsible for the charges brought against him as he had not been present at the crime scenes.

The tribunal said whoever had helped the Pakistan Army to commit any crimes during the war was responsible since the intention of the occupation forces was clear.

Mentioning charge nine, which is related to atrocities in Habiganj Sadar, the tribunal said: “The Pakistan Army targeted some political leaders’ houses and set those on fire. The witnesses claimed that they had seen Qaisar with them. In this situation there is no need to be at the crime scene.”

Since the defence lawyer tried to stick to his position, the tribunal intervened again and said Shahjahan was facing problems in placing the arguments since he had not cross examined

3 Viqarunnisa teachers testify against Parimal n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu Three teachers testified before a Dhaka court yesterday in connection with the rape of a student by a teacher of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College’s Bashundhara branch in the capital.

Judge Md Arifur Rahman of the Women and Children Repression (Prevention) Tribunal 4 recorded the depositions of Jagadish Chandra Paul, Babul Kumer Karmaker and Jannatun Nesa.

During the deposition, Babul Kumar told the court: “I am not sure about the incident, but I have heard that the student filed a petition against Parimal.”

After his deposition, public prosecutor Md Forkan Miah declared witness Babul as “hostile.”

According to the case, on May 28, 2011, Parimal sexually assaulted the girl at his private coaching centre and recorded the incident with his mobile phone.

He then threatened the girl, saying he would post the video and the photos on the internet if she told anyone about the assault. Parimal allegedly abused her again on June 17.

Later, the girl made a written complaint to the school authorities, but former principal Hosne Ara Begum, along with some teachers, tried to save the accused. However, after days of protests by the students, on July 5, 2011, the school’s governing body sacked Parimal.

On the same day, the victim’s father filed a case with Badda police station, accusing Parimal, Hosne Ara and Lutfur Rahman, the head of the school’s Bashundhara branch. l

the witnesses properly.

The counsel also claimed that the prosecution documents had not mentioned his client’s name. Then the tribunal asked him to check page one where Qaisar’s name was number eight.

Before the lunch break, when the counsel was arguing charge eight, which was related to the rape of Hiramoni Santal, the tribunal asked him whether he wanted to raise questions about the incident. Shahjahan could not give any proper answer. He then apologised and submitted on charge seven.

The counsel questioned how the accused had burnt his cousin’s house, stating, “Can it really happen?”

The tribunal said: “Listen, when a father betrayed his child, who was a freedom fighter, the son killed his father.”

The defence also showed incompetency in submitting on the charges properly. After completing submission on two charges, the counsel jumped to charge eight.

In the second session, after the tribunal came to the court, Shahjahan sought time saying that they were facing some technical difficulties. Allowing the verbal plea, the tribunal left the courtroom at 2:30pm keeping the closing arguments incomplete.

The defence will have to end their part of arguments today. l

Farida, centre, from Dholaipar, was taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday, as she fell ill after eating poisonous Potka fish. Her two sons and two brothers died at the hospital on Monday while her husband fell ill as well MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

ACC to launch probe against ex-district judge Faruk n Adil Sakhawat The Anti-Corruption Commission is going to launch an inquiry into against former special court judge Faruk Ahmed, against whom allegation of acquitting 11 persons, including 7 foreigners, in exchange for bribe in three drug smuggling case was raised.

The commission in its regular meeting yesterday decided to conduct the investigation into the allegation against the recently-retired judge, ACC spokesperson Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya told the Dhaka Tribune.

As part of the move, the ACC has already formed a two-member probe

committee headed by Deputy Director Joton Kumar Ray, he also stated, adding that the commission was going to run the inquiry following an instruction from Ministry of Law. The ACC official, however, also said the commission had begun the initial process of inquiry some time before the instruction.

On Monday, the ministry made the instruction following the order from acting chief justice SK Sinha to take legal action against judge Faruk Ahmed on August 7.

When contacted, Law Minister Anisul Haq told this correspondent over phone: “We have sent the matter to

the ACC for inquiry following the jurisdiction. Besides, we has requested the home ministry to put a ban on the judge’s immigrations so that he cannot leave the country.”

According to the allegation received by the ACC recently, the judge allegedly acquitted 11 persons, who were accused in three drug cases, within three months before his retirement and he did not give the prosecution time to place the witnesses.

Court sources said the judge has acquitted the accused of 12 more sensational cases involving smuggling of narcotics in last six months before he went to retirement.l

‘Kerry keen to come to Bangladesh’ n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

US Secretary of State John Kerry has expressed a desire to visit Bangladesh at a meeting with Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali in Myanmar’s capital, Nay Pyi Taw. “US Secretary of State, Mr Kerry, during the meeting, expressed his desire to visit Bangladesh at the earliest possible time,” said a foreign ministry press release.

Bangladesh’s foreign minister went to Myanmar on August 8 on a three-day visit to attend the 21st ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Meeting.

Mahmood Ali also had an informal meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in Myanmar where she reiterated New Delhi’s will to improve the bilateral relations between the two friendly neighbours.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi assured Mahmood Ali of China’s full support for Bangladesh’s candidature for the Human Rights Council and Inter-Parliamentary Union, in an exchange on the sidelines of the ARF meeting.

Mahmood Ali stressed the importance of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to Bangladesh next year to celebrate 40 years of Bangladesh-China

diplomatic relations.

The Chinese foreign minister said Beijing would invite Bangladesh’s agriculture minister for discussions on importing super hybrid rice seeds and to establish a hybrid rice laboratory in Bangladesh.

Wang confirmed that China would send an expert-level delegation to the International Conference on the Blue Economy to be held in Dhaka in September.

The foreign ministers of Bangladesh and China discussed the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM-EC).l

Four-storey building tilts in Old Dhaka Jamil Khan and Abu n Mohammad Hayat Mahmud

Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha, the city development authority, sealed off a four-storey building in the capital’s Bangshal area yesterday as it had tilted.

The Rajuk officials also partially locked three more buildings in the area and cut the gas, electricity and water supply of these buildings.

Sources said a Rajuk technical committee would inspect the buildings and a final decision in this regard would be taken after getting the report.

After visiting the area, it was found that just beside the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters in Siddiqbazar area, the buildings holding number 99, 99/1, 99/2, 100 and 100/2 were constructed without leaving any space between them.

Of them, the building holding number 99/2 tilted and developed a crack on its wall. As the building is situated in between three other buildings, it had affected the buildings holding number 99/1, 100 and 100/2. The building holding number 100 was badly affected as it was constructed close to 99/2.

Locals said the owner of the building (99/2) sold it to one Walid for Tk33 lakh, six years ago. At that time, it was a three-storey building, but Walid later made it a four-storeyed one.

Jalal, the owner of the next building (99/1), sold it to Mohsin for Tk1.30 crore. Mohsin, a chemical trader in Mitford area, bought a two-storey building, but later made it seven-storeys.

Locals said the buildings 100 and 100/2 were constructed in accordance with the rules, but these were affected due to the “faulty” construction of 99/1 and 99/2. As cracks developed on 100 and 100/2, owners Bilal Hossain and Anisur Rahman left the buildings yesterday.

Besides, there were four families in 99/2 and they were evacuated as it was not deemed safe. Abdul Halim, senior station officer of the fire service, was present on the spot and told the Dhaka Tribune that the building tiled around 2:30 am. “On receiving information, we rushed to the spot and evacuated people from the buildings,” he said.

Officials from Titas Gas, Desco and Wasa also came to the spot and cut the gas, power and water supply. Shahidul Islam Bhuiyan, a Rajuk magistrate, said they had sealed off the building after inspection.

“We have filed a general diary with Bangshal police station against Walid and police are trying to hunt him down,” said Shahidul. After getting the final report from the technical committee, they would take decision whether the building would be demolished or not, he added.

When contacted, Abdul Kuddus Fakir, officer-in-charge of Bangshal police said police launched a hunt for the building owner who went into hiding soon after the incident.

Earlier, Rajuk had made a list of risky buildings in Dhaka. According to the list, there are at least 5,000 risky buildings in the capital and 60% of them are in Old Dhaka. l

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News

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Hydrocarbon Unit inactive since December 2013 n Aminur Rahman Rasel An organisation named Hydrocarbon Unit under the Energy and Mineral Resources Division has been without any activities for the past eight months and the government is also undecided about its future.

A total of Tk3 lakh is spent every month for the organisation, which was formed to act as a think tank of the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry.

“Our fate has been dwindling since the second phase of a project expired in December 2013,” Director General of Hydrocarbon Unit Mohammad Mosaddeque Ali told the Dhaka Tribune.

“I joined the organisation recently.

But we have no work at this moment and we have a total of 11 staff members,” he said.

Mosaddeque said they were planning to meet the energy division sec-

JU BCL demands Bangabandhu killers’ punishment n JU Correspondent The Jahangirnagar University unit Bangladesh Chhatra League yesterday formed a human chain demanding death-by-hanging for the killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Hundreds of Chhatra League leaders and activists of JU formed the human chain in front of the Amor Ekhushey sculpture and thanked the prime minister for the execution of some of the killers.

Speakers st the programme urged the government to bring rest of the killers back to the country and ensure due punishment as soon as possible.

Terming the murder of Bangabandhu They said the killing of Bangabandhu seemed to be a curse on the nation and people would not be rid of this curse if the killers remained unpunished. l

retary to discuss how to re-activate the organisation.

“We have sent a proposal through the Energy and Mineral Resources Division to the Bangladesh Public Service Commission to recruit manpower,” he said.

“We need to appoint new hands to keep the unit alive,” he added.

On May 28, 2008, the government introduced an organogram of 26-strong manpower to give Hydrocarbon Unit a permanent shape. On July 22 last year, the Energy Division introduced a set of rules for recruitment for the organisation.

The Hydrocarbon Unit is responsible for assessing undiscovered resources at regular intervals, managing data on oil and gas sectors, observing activities of production-sharing contracts (PSCs), analysing internal and regional gas markets, formulating exploration and depletion policies, establishing con-

tact forums for the private sector, and working as the technical arm of the ministry.

In its capacity of an organ of the Energy and Mineral Resources Division, it has provided necessary opinion, analyses and information on issues like the PSC, gas demand and supply, gas field development, pricing, future planning, legal issues, energy policy and privatisation.

DG Mosaddeque Ali said: “We do not even have a permanent office. The temporary office that we have is not sufficient.”

Ijaz Hossain, a professor of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The government should activate the unit as soon as possible for helping develop the hydrocarbon sector.”

When contacted, Nasrul Hamid, state minister for power, energy and mineral resources, said: “We will make

Calls for $1m healthcare innovation award n Tribune Report Pharmaceutical giant GSK and UKbased NGO Save the Children are calling for applications for this year’s $1m Healthcare Innovation Award, the winners of which would help improve survival rates of newborns and children under five in developing countries.

A press release yesterday read that organisations from across the developing world can now apply for this year’s Healthcare Innovation Award. Applications must be for innovative healthcare approaches that have resulted in tangible improvements to survival rates of children under five, and which are sustainable and have the potential to be scaled-up and replicated. This year, special interest and attention will be

given to work that aims to increase the quality of, or access to, healthcare for newborns.

Five organisations based in developing countries – who each received a share of the 2013 Healthcare Innovation Award – are now helping shape national health agendas and influencing approaches to healthcare for children and newborns, the press release added.

The top-prize winner from 2013 was a low cost Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) kit, developed by Friends of Sick Children (FOSC) in Malawi. This device helps premature and newborn babies who are suffering from breathing related issues to breathe more easily, and has the potential to save the lives of 178,000 African children each year if implemented continent-wide. l

the unit functional very soon.”

The Hydrocarbon Unit was established in July 1999 in the form of a project aimed at strengthening the Hydrocarbon Unit under a grant from the Norwegian government.

An institutional cooperation contract was also signed between the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate and the Hydrocarbon Unit.

The work of the first phase continued until March 2006, and the second phase started in April 2006 and continued until December last year.

The Hydrocarbon Unit institutionalised the resource and reserve estimation process in the country by developing a group of expert professionals who are now capable of doing the job on their own.

Its mini data bank, which contains gas production reserve and resource database, has been used to generate monthly reports. l

Workshop on nutrition n Tribune Report Harvest Plus, a part of the CGIAR Research Programme on Agriculture for Nutrition and Health, arranged a workshop on nutrition yesterday at the Azimur Rahman Conference Hall of The Daily Star office in the city.

60 government officials, donor agencies, national and international NGOs and representatives from the private sector took part in the workshop.

Among others, Dr Khairul Bashar, country manager of HarvestPlus, Dr Alamgir Hossain, PDF Harvest Plus and CSO BRRI and Dr Paul Fox, IRRI representative for Bangladesh, spoke on the occasion, said a press release.

Howarth E Bouis, director of HarvestPlus, was the key presenter while its Global Advisory Committee Member Dr Mahabub Hossain presided over the function. l

JU admission test from September 13

State University of Bangladesh celebrates 3rd convocation

The admission test for Jahangirnagar University Honours First Year programme, under the 2014-15 academic session, will be held from September 13-25.

The decision was made at a meeting on Monday with VC Farzana Islam in the chair, Deputy Registrar (Education) Mohammad Alim told the Dhaka Tribune.

Admission seekers can register for the test for each unit through mobile operator Tele-talk from August 17-31. Tk450 was fixed for each registration with the faculties of arts, biological sciences and mathematics and Tk350 for law, business studies, Institute of Business Administration and Institute of Information Technology.

Details about the admission tests, schedule, registration procedures, fees and eligibility will be available on the university’s website: http://www.juniv.edu.l

n Tribune Report

n JU Correspondent

AMMS being used globally

n Tribune Report The ASA Microfinance Management System (AMMS) is being used in 10 countries across the world: Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

The ASA, a non-government organisation, developed the AMMS in 2007 to make its microfinance management more efficient.

Since then, the microfinance programme is being supervised through the AMMS. Efficiency and transparency of the ASA microfinance programme has been increased remarkably as a result of the AMMS that spur better growth of the organisation as well, officials said. l

State University of Bangladesh (SUB) celebrated its third convocation on Monday by conferring degrees to the graduating students of 10 departments, both at undergraduate and graduate levels.

Four students were awarded with the Chancellor’s Gold Medal while six received the Vice Chancellor’s Award.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid was the chief guest while Chairman of the University Grants Commission Professor AK Azad Chowdhury attended as the convocation speaker.

Nurul Islam Nahid said: “Graduating opens the door to many opportunities and challenges. Graduates must embrace these challenges. Their willingness to struggle will lead to successful careers.”

Convocation speaker Dr AK Azad Chowdhury said: “Irrespective of changes in methods of teaching and course curriculums, there is something very fundamental at the core of teaching.

“This includes inquisitiveness, in-

satiable thirst for knowledge, relentless efforts to understand and internalise that knowledge, self-confidence and interest in the subject of study.”

Registrar of SUB, Professor AYM Ekram-ud-Daulah, conducted the ceremony.

Addressing the graduates, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Iftekhar Ghani Chowdhury said: “I consider this certificate a birthmark that links you to the alma mater as you embark on careers that I am sure will take you to newer heights.” l

Free Bird’s Club, a Gendaria based club, brought out a bicycle procession in the capital on the occasion of International Youth Day, yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

2 held with 1,200 yaba n Tribune Report

Police arrested two people from the capital yesterday and recovered around 1,200 pieces of yaba from their possession.

Acting on a tip-off, police arrested 41-year-old Shawkat Hayat Khan with 400 pieces of yaba from near Lab Aid Hospital in Dhanmondi. Based on the information extracted from him during interrogation, police later arrested 50-year-old Abdur Razzak with 800 pieces of yaba from al-Faruq Residential Hotel in Motijheel.

Ramna Division Deputy Commissioner Iqbal Hossain said: “Shawkat is from Sylhet and Razzak is an Indian citizen... Both of them are involved in the yaba business. They used to carry yaba to India through Teknaf, as well as carrying it back to Bangladesh.”

After checking Razzak’s passport, police noticed that he had visited Bangladesh many times during the last two months.

The detained are now being interrogated, while the police are preparing to file a case against the criminals under the Narcotics Control Act, the DC said. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Around 20,000 children from Bangladesh go missing every year n Afrose Jahan Chaity A national workshop titled “Missing Child Alert (MCA),” which was held in the capital yesterday, highlighted that 200,000 missing children cases are recorded in South-Asia every year and around 20,000 of that number are children from Bangladesh, most of whom are trafficked into India.

Aiming to strengthen governmental efforts to track and rescue the trafficked children, South Asian Initiative to End Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC) Bangladesh organised the workshop at capital’s the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel.

MCA is a coordinated project of three countries – Bangladesh, India, Nepal – that aims to build a technologically sound regional system to facilitate prevention, rescue and repartition of trafficked children.

The project underscores the need for creative use of technology and a “uniformed case management” system to handle relevant issues such as tracing, rescuing and repatriation in a coordinated manner.

In her welcome speech, Sian Platt,

Notorious sea robber Baishya Dakat held n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Infamous terrorist Abdul Hakim alias Baishya Dakat, 42, was arrested from a house in Khudukhali village under Chanua union of Banshkhali upazila around 8pm on Monday.

Assistant Superintendent of Police AKM Emran Bhuiyan of Satkania circle of Chittagong said they nabbed the notorious sea robber acting on a tip-off.

Local fishermen from Banshkhali upazila said Baishya Dakat was influential both in the coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal and in the deep sea and used to rob fishing boats. After robbing each boat, he used to kill the fishermen on board and dump their bodies in the sea to destroy the evidence and eliminate witnesses to his crimes. The fishermen also think that no one can accurately number the murders committed by the Baishya Bahini.

According to police sources, on April 2, 2013, Baishya Dakat and his gang killed 31 fishermen at the sea near Jahajkhali area of Kutubdia Island in Cox’s Bazar after robbing their boats.

His gang had also killed 11 other fishermen in the Bay near Shekherkhil area of Banshkhali upazila in Chittagong a few days earlier.

Baishya was accused in 16 cases lodged with police stations. l

acting country director of Plan International Bangladesh, highlighted the need for government initiatives in curbing cross-border child trafficking.

Additional DIG (Organised Crime) of Criminal Investigation Department Shah Alam, urged for a system that can notify the seven police control rooms, based in the six divisional districts and the capital, and also 600 police stations across the country.

“We need to find ways to restore the rescued children to their families if we want to achieve sustainability,” Mohammad Mamun Bakaul, a child member of SAIEVAC suggested.

The speakers discussed forming an 11-member technical advisory group with representatives from different ministries, including the women and children affairs ministry, home ministry, information ministry, social welfare ministry, local government, UN agencies, and international NGOs. Additional Secretary (Political) to Ministry of Home Affairs Dr Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Settasak Akanimart, officer-in-charge of Child Protection, UNICEF Bangladesh, attended the workshop, among others. l

Residents were evacuated from a four-storey building located at Siddique Bazar in old Dhaka after the structure tilted yesterday

TIB urges the youth to prevent corruption

BIWTA asks launch owners to maintain safe vessel, routes

n DU Correspondent

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) yesterday called upon the country’s young generation to raise their voices against all sorts of corruption in order to help build a peaceful world.

“You, the youth, can contribute to developing a peaceful society, free from corruption, injustice, repression and inequality, and create a non-violent world for all,” said TIB Deputy Executive Director Sumaya Khayer.

Sumaya made the observation while addressing a human chain organised by Dhaka Youth Engagement and Support (DhakaYES) and TIB on the Dhaka University campus, marking the Interna-

tional Youth Day. “The government should increase the young generation’s social involvement. Tougher laws should be framed to stop drug addiction, pornography, frustration and mental disorders,” she continued.

Besides, DU Pro-VC Nasreen Ahmed (Academic) said: “The youth can give us a better life, break every obstacle and make a corruption free country.”

She urged the government to take the initiatives necessary to properly develop the mental health of the country’s youth.

Among others, TIB Programme Manager Zahidul Islam and senior members of “Dhaka YES” were present. l

Officials of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), together with law enforcers and bureaucrats, traded concerns with the launch owners’ association representatives yesterday, highlighting the long road ahead to ensure passenger safety.

The meeting, held at a conference room of the Barisal river port building, was addressed by BIWTA Deputy Director for Ports and Transportation Md Shahidullah, BIWTA Deputy Director Abul Bashar Majumdar, BIWTA Assistant Director for River Safety and Traffic Khaza Sadikur Rahman, leaders

n Tribune Report

DRIZZLE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 6:34PM SUN RISES 5:33AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 32

28

Chittagong

30

26

Rajshahi

32

27

Rangpur

31

26

Khulna

32

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Barisal

31

26

Sylhet

29

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Cox’s Bazar

28

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YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

34.6ºC Jessore

24.3ºC 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

of the launch owners’ association and coast guard officers.

The deputy director for ports and communications said launch operators were asked to operate fit vessels according to the directions of the survey certificate and route permits, and to carry radios to keep track of weather forecasts.

Launch and ferry owners were asked to maintain up-to-date documentations of route permits, fitness and survey certificates. They were asked to adequately equip their vessels with buoys and fire extinguishers.

Officials said vessels must be manned by trained, licensed, and uniformed crews. Launch owners were

told that vessels must not be overloaded, Majumdar said.

Azizul Huq Akkas, a vessel owner’s association leader, asked authorities to ensure the safe navigability of river routes. He asked them to set proper depth markings, highlight water shoals and danger points, and broadcast regional weather reports. He asked authorities to keep river routes free of drag nets, to arrange safe berthing facilities and to clear pontoons of hawkers and shopping stalls.

In reply, BIWTA and law enforcers said they would try their best to clean up the pontoons, arrange safe berthing and provide proper safety markings on river routes. l

Ashulia RMG workers unrest continues

WEATHER

Dhaka

DHAKA TRIBUNE

The Transparency International Bangladesh holds a human chain at the TSC in the capital yesterday with a call to build corruption-free society MEHEDI HASAN

Khulna city Jubo League in trouble n Our Correspondent, Khulna

The youth front of ruling Awami League’s Khulna Mohanagar unit has been facing an acute crisis ahead of the triennial council of Khulna Mohanagar Awami League scheduled to be held on September 27.

The council, first in last 10 years, is expected to form a new central committee of the Mohanagar Awami League. Tension beefed up between the two wings of the ruling party – Mohanagar Awami League and Mohanagar Jubo League – as top leaders of both wings were very keen and desperate to secure important posts in the new committee, sources said.

Anisur Rahman Poplu, convener of Khulna Mohanagar Jubo League, has publicly expressed his strong will to contest for general secretary post of the Mohanagar Awami League against current General Secretary Mizanur Rah-

man, also a lawmaker, who had been in the post for last 10 years.

The announcement was followed by submission of a supplementary charge sheet in Jubo League leader Bithar murder case against Poplu on July 31. However, his name was not in the accused list when the first charge sheet was submitted last year. Poplu’s name replaced the name of central Jubo League leader Mezbah Hossain Buruj, sources said.

Besides, many Jubo League leaders and activists, following the incident, were arrested in different allegations, including assault, vandalism, tender manipulation, land grabbing and drug business, leaving the ruling party youth front in acute crisis.

In the latest development, police arrested Taj Nabi and Suj, two joint conveners of Khulna Mahanagar Ward 13, in connection with an assault and vandalism case in Khalishpur, which

was filed by local Awami League leader Wasiur Rahman Mithu on Sunday.

On the other hand, police arrested Jubo League leaders Ibrahim Marshal and Ibad Morol in connection with a mugging case in Dumuria area on June 4, while another Jubo League leader Sayeed was arrested in a murder case.

Meanwhile, Anisur Rahman Poplu was nominated as the convener of Khulna Mohanagar Jubo League on January 6, 2009 to form a full form a full committee after holding a council within a short time. However, the convener committee has been running the Mohanagar Jubo League since then.

When asked regarding his stance to contest for the Mohanagar Awami League general secretary post, Poplu told the Dhaka Tribune that party activists wanted him to contest for the post, adding that no crisis would be created, if he stepped down from Jubo League. l

The workers of ready-made garment (RMG) factory Yagi Bangladesh Garments Ltd, located in the capital’s Ashulia area, continued their demonstration protesting worker layoffs for the second day yesterday, our Savar correspondent reports.

Sources among the workers and police said the workers carried on their work abstention and demonstrated in protest of both the factory authorities’ reluctance to pay wages and the sudden layoff of 26 workers on Monday.

The wage was supposed to be paid on Sunday, but the authorities were unable to do so, said the sources.

However, what fuelled the fire was the notice announcing the termination of employment of 26 workers, seeing which the workers halted the production at the factory and imposed work abstention on Monday morning.

Mostafizur Rahman, director of Ashulia Industrial Police, confirmed the workers’ unrest and said additional police troops had been deployed to avoid any untoward incidents.

Meanwhile, police rescued the miss-

ing RMG worker of Gazipur-based Multifab Ltd, Mehedi Hasan, from the city’s Chowrasta area early yesterday, our Gazipur correspondent reports.

Nazmul Huda, sub-inspector at Joydebpur police station, said after Mehedi’s father filed a general diary with the police station regarding his son’s disappearance, police and family members started searching for him at different places.

Around 2:30am yesterday, police found Mehedi at a bus stop near Joydebpur Chowrasta, waiting for transport, the sub-inspector said.

Police did not disclose further information about the case as it was still under investigation.

It is worth mentioning that Mehedi’s disappearance spurred unrest among his colleagues at the factory who stopped production and staged a demonstration demanding to find his whereabouts.

They also engaged in a clash with police when the law enforcers intervened, causing the factory authorities to shut down the factory for the day.

Bibhuti Heera, administrative officer at Multifab, said the factory would resume operations today. l

Minister suspends 4 BIWTA officials in Ctg n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan yesterday suspended four officials of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), Chittagong, on charge of breach of duty.

The suspended officials are Executive Engineer Sajedur Rahman, Deputy Director (Port) Alamgir Hossain, Assistant Director Nayan Shil and another

Assistant Director Mohammad Selim, said Joint Director (Conservancy and Pilotage) Akkas Ali of the BIWTA Chittagong office.

During a visit there around 9am, the minister gave the suspension order to the four as he found that the officials were absent as per the instruction of being present at the time of the minister’s visit.

Afterwards, the Shipping Minister visited the Western Marine Shipyard. l

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Nation

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Baishari bridge remains barely useable n Our Correspondent, Bandarban

Correspondent, n Our Khagrachhari

Locals have been struggling to smoothly carry out their daily activities and businesses, since the Baishari Bridge at Naikkangchhari upazila of the hilly district has yet to be repaired or rebuilt, despite one year having passed since it tilted.

Many potholes have developed on the both sides of the road on which the bridge is situated, and vehicles are getting damaged from the continuous jolts received while plying on the road.

A local Juba League leader was arrested in Khagrachhari yesterday on a rape charge.

The arrested was Md Belal Hossain, 28, from the Gachchhabil area under Manikchhari upazila in Khagrachhari.

He is the organising secretary of ward 2 unit of Juba League in the upazila.

Police sources said Belal raped a woman from Hathazari upazila in Chittagong on Monday night at his house.

He brought the victim to his house by tempting her with the possibility of a job and by promising marriage. Earlier, Belal threatened his wives Asma Begum and Rasheda Begum that he would divorce them and sent them away to their parents’ houses.

When the locals learned of the rape and informed the police yesterday morning, police arrested Belal and rescued the victim form Belal’s house.

Shafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Manikchhari police station, said police arrested Belal since the victim had lodged a case against him with the police station. l

Transport cost of products has become double as traders can no longer bring their goods directly to their factory for unstable condition of the road While visiting the area, this correspondent found that the bridge, which is only means of connecting Baishari bazar and Naikkanchhari Sadar as well as Garjania, a bordering area of Cox’s Bazar, has tilted over the course of time. This places at risk the lives of the one lakh people, a number which increases during the weekly haat days, who use the bridge daily.

Owing to the sorry state of the bridge, heavy vehicles laden with goods can no longer use it and so traders are forced to carry their products to other side of the bridge using extra workforce, thereby limiting their prof-

A road connecting Baishari bridge in Bandarban lies in a sorry state, causing risks as well as sufferings to commuters . The photo was taken yesterday its, and in some cases, incurring losses.

Baishari Nazma Khatun Rubber Garden Manager Al-Amin said the carrying cost of their products has become double as they can no longer bring their goods directly to their factory due to

the unstable condition of the bridge.

Sources said the residents of three unions who are wholly dependent on the 12-feet long bridge are most affected and they apprehend that the bridge may collapse at any time.

Protest over death of PCJSS man in army custody continues Correspondent, n Our Khagrachhari The Parbatya Chattagram Pahari Chhatra Parishad staged a demonstration in Khagrachhari town yesterday, protesting the death of a leader of the Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samity (PSJSS) MN Larma faction at a Bangladesh Army camp in Guimara.

Members of the students’ organisation held a protest rally in front of Khagrachhari Government College.

Speakers at the rally demanded the arrest and trial of the army personnel who allegedly tortured Duran Chakma Babu, 52, an organiser for Matiranga upazila, to death.

They also demanded the release of three leaders who were arrested

Juba League man arrested for rape in Khagrachhari

along with Duran on Saturday night.

They also threatened to wage tougher movements if the army personnel involved in the killing were not arrested immediately.

Duran, who was from Bhoirofa under Dighinala in the district, was held along with three of his fellows during a raid conducted by the army men around 4:30am on Saturday in Guimara area. The raid was led by Major Mobin of Guimara Regional Camp.

The arrested are Nishi Moni Chakma, 40, Amar Kanti Chakma, 18, and Rimel Tripura, 34.

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

Guimara OC Mohammad Abu Yusuf Mia said the raid had been conducted by the army based on a tip-off that a meeting to launch subversive activities was underway at that house.

Following the arrest, an extortion case was filed against them.

Army sources said Duran was injured severely when he jumped from a hill while being taken to Bailyachhari rubber grove to recover hidden arms around 9:15am on Sunday. He later died at Matiranga Upazila Health Complex.

However, locals and several police personnel, seeking anonymity, said the four PCJSS members had been taken to the Guimara Regional Camp and tortured severely, thereby causing his death. l

Baishari Bazar Traders’ Samity President Jahangir Alam Bahadur said they were incurring huge losses continuously and they urged the district administration to build a new bridge immediately.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

In this regard, Baishari UP chairman Manirul Hoque said he presented the sorry state of the bridge before the authorities concerned at the monthly coordination meeting and repair work would start as soon as possible. l

8-year-old domestic help held for abducting child n Our correspondent, Sylhet The police have held an eight-year-old domestic help for allegedly abducting a 17-month-old child from her South Surma house in Sylhet city on Monday night.

The police have picked the demestichelp, Nilu, her mother Rahima Begum and 11-year-old sister Rujina up on the basis of the allegation of the parents of the child, Raisa.

Raisa’s family members said Liton Mia, an officer at Jalalabad Gas, stayed with his wife and daughter at a house beside Jalalabad Motors in South Surma

Area. His wife is a nurse by profession.

“As they both are busy with their works, they appinted Nilu for taking care of their daughter. Nilu took the baby outside from her South Surma area in absence of her parents on Monday morning.

“After getting back home in the afternoon, the parents noticed that Nilu and Raisa were not in the home. Later, they informed the police about the incident.”

Sub-Inspector Shafiqul Islam Khan of South Surma Terminal police outpost said: “Being informed, the police raided the Railway Station area and rescued Raisa on Monday night.” l

Ward councillor held for extortion in Comilla n Our Correspondent, Comilla Police arrested a ward councillor on Monday night on charges of extortion in Comilla city.

Billal Hossain, the ward councillor, was arrested around 9pm from his house in the city’s Chhotora area.

Officer-in-Charge of Comilla Kotowali model police station Khorshed Alam said Bilal was arrested in connection with a case filed by Saiful Islam, the son of Advocate Abdur Razzak, from the same area.

Abdur Razzak said when Saiful refused to give him money, Billal erected some pillars on the way to Saiful’s warehouse to bar the transportation of goods to the go-down.

Razzak also said Billal had earlier attacked one Advocate Jamal at his house when he refused to pay Billal the amount of money he demanded.

Billal was harassing Razzak and his family members as the latter was a witness in the case filed by Jamal against Billal, he added. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

7

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Nouveaux érudits: The intellectual catastrophe About the psyche of the intellectuals who have been exposed to the development of the West and elsewhere, and not the experiences and realities that led to it

N

n Ibn Thawra ouveau riche is a French expression used in sociological discourses to describe individuals who have moved up the economic strata from a lower socioeconomic status. The English translation of this Gallic phrase might be “new rich” but a rather meaningful translation would be “new money.”

People who have gathered enough wealth within his or her lifetime to climb up the class hierarchy, which the missionaries of the church of Marx and Lenin are futilely trying to eradicate to this day, and are classified as members of the richer class vis-à-vis their prior status, are at times pejoratively referred to as the nouveaux riches (plural of nouveau riche).

Those from the privileged class, disgusted by the poverty of the country, went to foreign universities and brought back ideas, styles and philosophy they were exposed to abroad

The term might have sprung up from the sociological shifts and drifts that were taking place in Europe in the postindustrial era and is still in use due to the many factual and fictional anecdotes of slumdog millionaires known in our societies. The usage and references of this expression are matters of economics – philosophers and theoreticians of socioeconomics may juice out any theory they want.

This article is not about the nouveaux riches nor is it a piece on scholarly literature. This is merely an expression of thoughts regarding the intellectual decadence that have rusted the intellect of our nation as a whole. Critics may castigate this in whatever manner they want.

The French, with their sublime language, have come up with expressions conveying delicate nuances of social stratifications, perfumes, musical terminologies, female undergarments and passionate kisses.

Despite that, even the French with their articulate language may not conceptualise the intellectual framework of the majority of the intelligentsia of Bangladesh. It takes a non-French, a Bangalee, the writer, to coin a word to express this phenomenon.

After all, the French can be referred to as the Bangalee of the West due to the prevalence of the vowel “o” in the phonologies, the repute of being

intelligentsia of the country.

There may not be any debate with the claim of “being mainstream” as it is a very relative and monopolised concept in this country like those of “spirit of 71,” “history of the liberation war,” “religion” and “democracy.”

Depending on which side one is on, and the degree of power that side holds in the parliament, these concepts act the chameleon. The intellectuals of our country have taken shelter under the tents of the influential political dogmas sustained in this country and have exercised their intellect likewise.

The misfortune would have been sufficient if it ended here but the situation is worse when these indemnified intellectuals spelled by the Western civilisation, who are technically above criticism and if subjected to thus the critic is labelled as “collaborator,” “fundamentalist” or “spy,” try to contextualise and impose the Western experience and occidental sociological theories upon the Bangladeshi society, which is very different from the West regardless of how good we speak English, how open we are to bacchanalian New Year’s eve and how hard we try to be less prudish to public display of affection and bosom exposure.

The fascination with the Western society and its practices and the dire urge to impose them on our society in the name of modernism and enlightenment reflects the inferiority complex the intellectuals suffer from as being citizens of Bangladesh, a country which is ethnically and culturally subservient to the Eastern ethos, and this fascination may bring hostile repercussions for us. These intellectuals are thus nouveaux érudits or newly intellectualised.

Just like their socioeconomic counterparts, the nouveaux riches, they constantly display their gathering and fail to use it in the proper way despite the superficial glamour and appreciation by the naïve lower strata of the economy and the commoners in case of the nouveaux riches and nouveaux érudits respectively.

To understand the nouveau érudit phenomenon, it is essential to glance at the rear view mirror of our history.

The racist Pakistani occupiers massacred the intellectuals of our nation vindictively.

This left the nation without intellectual guidance. One has to risk being labelled a member of the anti-liberation force to comment that those who were not active participants in the armed struggle of liberation held the helm of governing the country.

Thus, to expect sincerity and honesty from them was beyond realism. It is no wonder that corruption ensued rendering the country to famine, totalitarianism and being nicknamed “the bottomless basket.” A bourgeoisie and affluent class emerged lacking education but made no concession in shoe licking the regime.

Such classes, however, have emerged throughout the regimes in our country’s history – state sponsored marriage ceremonies with gold adorned crown during a period when poverty

As a nation we have our own values and ethos. Any attempt to substitute those with imported ideologies will only fracture our already divided society

the lingua franca of the cultural élite of the respective regions and the rich poetic heritage of the literatures of the two languages.

A large segment of the intellectuals of Bangladesh, both deceased and living, accorded with flattering titles like “anti-traditionalist,” “courageous” and “modern,” are projected to be representing the mainstream

stripped women to wearing fishing nets and eat banana trunks cooked in poison to spare the misery of life and sons with a father possessing a mere broken suitcase turned lords of acres of land are such instances rarely discussed.

It may be rightly said that the post independence education system hardly had intellectual merit to it, but political favours determined

The nouveaux érudits hardly try to unite the nation and subliminally serve the interests of the foreign powers through their intellectual exercise which is indoctrinated with a largely non-Bangladeshi experience WIKIMEDIA the educationists. The poverty that ensued and the development that was taking place in the West and Westernised countries may have imbued this obsession with everything foreign in our national psyche.

The poor made fortunes as unskilled labourers in foreign lands and brought back stories of wealth and glamour, while those from the privileged class, disgusted by the poverty of the country, went to foreign universities and brought back ideas, styles and philosophy they were exposed to abroad.

The nouveaux érudits are essentially these intellectuals who have been exposed to the result, which is the development of the West and elsewhere, and not the experiences and realities that led to it. Hence, the textbook theories that they have absorbed have restricted them and provokes them to impose those on our society.

In Europe, for example, the oppression of the Church, Renaissance and the World Wars have created different contexts and spawned new political beliefs, which however are being questioned ever since.

Moreover, it is a fact that winners write history. Had the Nazis won the war, the world would have known about many of the atrocities the Allies had committed and perhaps everyone would not have believed that the fate of Nagasaki and Hiroshima was the only way to end the war. Had the victors been different the history of holocaust would have been different to a much less exaggerated degree.

Humayun Azad, the controversial writer of Bangladesh, once said in an interview in New York that people should be “modern” and at one point he insinuated “modernism” as an antithesis of girls wearing “hijab.”

The writer in an exhibitionist manner puffed a cigarette to display his anti-traditionalist demeanour during the televised interview. Azad advocated the adoption of attitudes the West incurred after the sex revolution in one of his books.

Although Azad expresses his adoration for the Bangla language through

The fascination with the Western society and its practices and the dire urge to impose them on our society in the name of modernism and Enlightenment reflects the inferiority complex the intellectuals suffer from

his diction, choice of words, works and writings, he is quite obsessed with Western practices. The Iranian scholar of the twentieth century, Jalal Al-e-Ahmad, once referred to the obsession of the then Iranian society with the West as a form of sickness where national cultural heritage and orientations were ignored only because they were not Western.

Jalal termed it as “Occidentosis.” It may be fairly stated that Humayun Azad was afflicted with Occidentosis.

Various secular European politicians advocate anti-immigration policies and espouse Europe’s attachment to Judaeo-Christian values. Many secular Western countries incorporated the Protestant work ethic in driving their economies.

Although many European intellectuals were fascinated with Eastern and oriental philosophies, for instance the case of Nietzsche with Zarathustra, Europe as a whole never preached to get rid of its European identity.

Azad, coming off the rusticity of his village of Rarhikhal may have become a nouveau érudit once he was exposed to Western scholarship and European academia. Many intellectuals of Bangladesh like him who are proclaimed as the voice of the intelligentsia of the country are no exceptions.

As a nation we have our own values and ethos. Any attempt to substi-

tute those with imported ideologies will only fracture our already divided society. The instance of Afghanistan where the Afghan communists and royalists attempted to impose their nouvau éruditic principles of Marxism and European modernism respectively have pushed the country to civil turmoil.

The result was Russian invasion which gave rise to a reactionary regime. Bangladesh has its own social, religious and moral identities.

Its culture is different. Nouveau érudits, who are politically sheltered, are polished wannabes who hardly understand the masses but attempt to elucidate Western philosophy and experience.

Their hypocrisy and political redemption are exposed when they do not write a pencil on the Zionist genocides and expulsion endeavours of the Modi administration of Taslima Nasreen but go on fictionalising and citing fundamentalism in novels and poetry. The nouveaux érudits are indeed a catastrophe who hardly try to unite the nation and subliminally serve the interests of the foreign powers through their intellectual exercise which is indoctrinated with a largely non-Bangladeshi experience.

Ibn thawra is a freelance contributor.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Ebola outbreak claims first European victim

WHO backs use of experimental Ebola drugs on patients

n AFP, Madrid

It is ethical to offer unproven drugs or vaccines to people infected or at risk in West Africa’s deadly Ebola outbreak, a World Health Organisation panel of medical ethics experts ruled yesterday, but cautioned supplies will be limited.

The panel said any provision of experimental Ebola medicines would require “informed consent, freedom of choice, confidentiality, respect for the person, preservation of dignity and involvement of the community.” The drugs should also be properly tested in the best possible clinical trials, it said.

The West Africa Ebola virus epidemic - the world’s largest and most deadly so far - has killed at least 1,013 of the more than 1,848 people it has infected in Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria. The WHO has declared it an international health emergency.

“Ebola outbreaks can be contained using available interventions like early detection and isolation, contact tracing and monitoring, and adherence to rigorous procedures of infection control,” the panel said. “However, a specific treatment or vaccine would be a potent asset to counter the virus.”

The ethics panel met to discuss whether various experimental drugs and vaccines being developed for Ebola might be used in the outbreak, despite not having been fully tested or licensed.

“A number of interventions have been through the laboratory and animal study phases of development,” it said in a statement issued by the WHO. It said it was likely that so-called “first in man” trials - the first tests of a drug in humans - would be conducted over the next two to four months, but cautioned that even after that and if the trials proved successful, supplies would be limited.

“It is ... likely that the number of doses available for further study and/ or deployment from end 2014 onwards will remain insufficient to meet demand,” the statement said.

The ethics meeting was called after

An elderly Spanish priest became the first European to die from a fast-spreading Ebola outbreak yesterday, succumbing to the virus in a Madrid hospital five days after being evacuated from Liberia.

The 75-year-old Roman Catholic priest, Miguel Pajares, had been treated in Spain with an experimental US serum, ZMapp, after being flown to Madrid on August 7.

He was the first patient to be evacuated to Europe from the African outbreak, which has claimed 1,013 lives since early this year, according to the World Health OrganiZation.

The Spanish priest contracted Ebola at the Saint Joseph Hospital in the Liberian capital Monrovia where he worked with infected patients.

“It is confirmed. He died at 9:28 am (0728 GMT),” said a spokeswoman for the Spanish capital’s La Paz-Carlos III hospital, confirming that he had been treated with ZMapp.

A few days before the Spaniard’s evacuation, two US missionary workers with Ebola were repatriated from Monrovia. They are being treated with ZMapp at an isolation unit at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.

The unproven medicine arrived at Madrid’s La Paz-Carlos III hospital on Saturday after Spain’s drug safety agency exceptionally cleared its import to treat the missionary.

‘The wolf is Ebola’

“We hoped he would be able to overcome the disease but it was not to be. It is as God wished,” the priest’s sister-inlaw Carmen Romo told Spanish radio

station COPE. The Ebola outbreak was similar to the fable of the boy who cried wolf, said a spokeswoman for the priest’s family, his cousin Begona Martin.

“The wolf arrived when no-one expected and it ate everyone. The wolf in this case is Ebola and they were all helpless,” she told Cadena Ser radio.

Ebola has claimed four lives in 10 days among the staff at Saint Joseph Hospital in Monrovia, including its director, Cameroon-born Patrick Nshamdze. The hospital was closed on August 1.

A Roman Catholic order that set up the charity running the hospital has said it fears inadequate safety precautions were put in place.

The hospital is run by the Juan Ciudad ONGD charity, established by a Spanish Roman Catholic order, the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God. l

Q&A about an unproven drug n AP, Washington

promising in those animal studies.

An experimental Ebola drug has been used to treat two American aid workers and a Spanish missionary priest, the latter dying yesterday. Some questions and answers about the Ebola drug:

Why isn’t ZMapp being tested more widely to find out if it works in people?

What is this drug?

Called ZMapp, it is a cocktail of specially engineered antibodies designed to target and inactivate the Ebola virus.

What do we know about whether it works?

Very little. Various antibodies have been tested in small numbers of monkeys, but not people. In one study, 43 percent of treated monkeys survived when the drug was given after the animals showed symptoms. The manufacturer, Mapp Biopharmaceutical, is developing a combination of three antibodies that seemed most

There’s not enough available. The antibodies are grown inside tobacco plants, and then extracted and purified, a slow process.

US officials have estimated that only a modest amount could be produced in two or three months, unless some way to speed production is found.

How were the Americans and Spanish priest chosen to get some of those limited doses, rather than Africans?

The international relief organization Samaritan’s Purse and Emory University Hospital requested that the manufacturer provide some of the drug for the two Americans, and the manufacturer agreed. As for the Spanish missionary priest, it wasn’t clear exactly how Spanish officials obtained a

The US behind IS?

dose that apparently was in Geneva. The priest also was infected in Liberia and died at a Madrid hospital.

Typically, the Food and Drug Administration doesn’t regulate shipments of unapproved drugs for emergency use in individual patients outside the US

Are any other drugs in the pipeline?

Canada’s Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp. is developing a drug that targets Ebola’s genetic material. The FDA had halted a small safety study with questions about a reaction in healthy volunteers. Last week, Tekmira announced that FDA had modified its restriction, clearing a roadblock to possible experimental use in infected patients; the company said at the time that it was “carefully evaluating options.”

A handful of other companies are in earlier stages of drug development; a possible vaccine to prevent the disease is expected to begin firststage safety studies sometime in the fall. l

Russia sends big aid convoy to Ukraine

n Reuters, Moscow

Conspiracy theorists in Lebanon refer to Hillary Clinton’s book to push their argument that the US created IS AP

n Tribune Desk “In the Middle East, conspiracy theories are in our blood,” one former Lebanese official said over lunch with a BBC reporter in a restaurant in central Beirut.

He was referring to the latest talk of the town: the United States is behind the creation of the Islamic State group (formerly known as Isis, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) and Hillary Clinton admitted it in her book “Hard Choices.”

As Islamic State (IS) militants advanced into Lebanon last week - spreading terror into the village of Arsal, bordering Syria, and driving hundreds out of their homes - whispers pinned the blame for their actions on the US. Horrific videos of IS atrocities against Lebanese Armed Forces circulated on the internet. So did the theory that America is behind the existence and emboldening of the group. To back up their claim, conspiracy theorists online pointed to a powerful piece of “proof”: the word of Hillary Clinton - the former US secretary of state widely expected to make a bid for the presidency.

Dispelling rumours

Screenshots of supposed “excerpts” from her book spread far and wide on social media in Lebanon, claiming the US created IS to instil instability in the region for American gain.

The rumour even prompted the Lebanese foreign ministry to summon US Ambassador to Lebanon David Hale.

Furthermore, to try and quash the gossip, the US embassy in Beirut issued a statement on Facebook: “Any suggestion that the United States ever considered recognising the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant as anything

other than a terrorist organization, or had any role in its creation, is patently false. Allegations circulating in Lebanon to the contrary are a fabrication.”

Instead, what Hillary Clinton has said is that the failure to help Syrian rebels led to the rise of IS. It’s not completely shocking that such a theory may have started, given America’s history of supporting militant and guerrilla groups; the mujahideen in Afghanistan, from which al-Qaeda emerged, quickly comes to mind. The fact that US allies in the Gulf are accused of supporting IS also doesn’t help their case.

“Such theories abound, largely because Washington has shown a propensity for outsourcing regime change.

Support for insurgent groups in that context is certainly not a new practice,” says Octavius Pinkard, a Brussels-based specialist in foreign policy analysis.

A Russian convoy carrying food, water and other aid set off yesterday for eastern Ukraine, where government forces are closing in on pro-Russian rebels, but Kiev said it would not allow the vehicles to cross onto its territory.

Kiev and Western governments warned Moscow against any attempt to turn the operation into a military intervention by stealth in a region facing a humanitarian crisis after four months of warfare. “This cargo will be reloaded onto other transport vehicles (at the border) by the Red Cross,” Ukrainian presidential aide Valery Chaly said. “We will not allow any escort by the emergencies ministry of Russia or by the military (onto Ukrainian territory).”

Russian media said the column of 280 trucks had left from near Moscow and it would take a couple of days for it to make the 1,000 km (620 mile) journey to Ukraine’s eastern regions where rebel fighters seek union with Russia.

Western countries believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin might be spurred to fresh action. l

n Reuters, London

Ebola death toll tops 1,000 Latest WHO toll

SENEGAL

MALI

GUINEABISSAU

G UINE A 506

CONAKRY

373 FREETOWN

730 100 km

S IE RRA LE O NE

315

MONROVIA

N IG E R IA

13 2

ATLANTIC OCEAN

IVORY COAST

LIBE RIA 599 323

Provinces with confirmed or suspected cases

Source: WHO, Centers for Disease Control experimental Ebola drug ZMapp, made

by US biotech company Mapp Biopharmaceutical, was given to two American health workers infected with Ebola in Liberia.

Drugs Scarce

The scarce experimental drug, of which a WHO spokeswoman said only 12 doses had been made, was due to be given to two Liberian doctors after US authorities approved its export, Monrovia’s information minister said on Tuesday.

This would be the first time the treat-

ment has been used on Africans.

A 75-year-old priest in Spain who also received ZMapp has since died. He contracted Ebola in Liberia.

“In the particular circumstances of this outbreak, and provided certain conditions are met, the panel reached consensus that it is ethical to offer unproven interventions with as yet unknown efficacy and adverse effects, as potential treatment or prevention,” the panel’s statement said.

There are no licensed treatments or vaccines for Ebola. l

US ready to help new Iraq leader, Iran welcomes choice n Reuters, Baghdad Iraq’s new prime minister-designate won swift endorsements from both the United States and Iran yesterday as he called on political leaders to end crippling feuds that have let jihadists seize a third of the country.

Haider al-Abadi still faces a threat closer to home, where his Shi’ite party colleague Nuri al-Maliki has refused to step aside after eight years as premier that have alienated Iraq’s once dominant Sunni minority and irked Washington and Tehran.

However, a senior government official said commanders of military forces that Maliki deployed around Baghdad on Monday had pledged loyalty to President Fouad Masoum and to respect the head of state’s decision to ask Abadi to form a new government.

As Western powers and international aid agencies considered further help for tens of thousands of people driven from their homes and under threat from the Sunni militants of the Islamic State near

the Syrian border, Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States would consider requests for military and other assistance once Abadi forms a government to unite the country.

Underscoring the convergence of interest in Iraq that marks the normally hostile relationship between Washington and Iran, the head of Tehran’s National Security Council congratulated Abadi on his nomination. Like Western powers, Iran has been alarmed by the rise of Sunni militants across Syria and Iraq.

Abadi himself, long exiled in Britain, is seen as far less polarising, sectarian figure than Maliki, who is also from the Shi’ite Islamic Dawa party. Abadi appears to have the blessing of Iraq’s powerful Shi’ite clergy.

Iraqi state television said Abadi “called on all political powers who believe in the constitution and democracy to unite efforts and close ranks to respond to Iraq’s great challenges.”

One politician close to Abadi told Reuters that the prime minister-designate had begun contacting leaders

LO O K I N G AT A N U N C E R TA I N F U T U R E

Tarnished image

Rumours like these risk harming US interests in Lebanon - a nation where they have a keen interest in maintaining soft power. Symbolic confrontation and proxy battles for clout with another group also seeking to win over the Lebanese people, Hezbollah, are nothing new.

But a theory that America is to blame for beheadings and the barbaric acts attributed to IS can be severely damaging to the US image - leaving them at risk of losing support and the tide turning against them.

“Most people here believe the US and Saudi are one and when it comes strictly down to oil money, the ultimate benefactor from the whole IS debacle is Saudi/the US. As history has taught us, it is usually the benefactors who are the instigators,” says Amer Murad, a native of Beirut. l

1,848 cases 1,013 deaths

A Palestinian family looks at the remains of homes that were destroyed when fighting broke out between Israel military and Hamas a little over 4 weeks ago. Talks to end a month-long war between Israel and Gaza militants are ‘difficult,’ Palestinian delegates said yesterday, while an Israeli official said no progress had been made so far AFP

of major groups to sound them out on forming a new cabinet. The president said on Monday he hoped he would succeed within the next month.

Maliki angrily dismissed Abadi’s nomination on Monday as illegal. But there was no further sign of opposition on Tuesday.

US offer

While US officials have been at pains not to appear to be imposing a new leadership on Iraq, three years after US troops left the country, President Barack Obama was quick to welcome the appointment. Wrangling over a new government since Iraqis elected a new parliament in April has been exploited by the Islamic State to seize much of the north and west.

Obama has sent hundreds of US military advisers and last week launched air strikes on the militants after they made dramatic gains against the Peshmerga forces of Iraq’s autonomous ethnic Kurdish region, an ally of the Baghdad authorities. l

Israel apologises for calling Brazil ‘diplomatic dwarf’ n AFP, Brasília Israeli President Reuven Rivlin apologized to his Brazilian counterpart for a remark by a foreign ministry spokesman calling the Latin American powerhouse a “diplomatic dwarf.” The comment in July was made by spokesman Yigal Palmor after Brazil criticized Israel’s military campaign in Gaza as excessive and recalled its envoy in Tel Aviv.

In a phone call Monday, Rivlin assured Brazil President Dilma Rousseff that Palmor’s comments “do not correspond to the sentiments of the population” of Israel, Rousseff ’s office said in a statement. Rousseff had criticized Palmor’s remarks, saying “Words, including the spokesman’s, sometimes create a very bad climate. In this case, we have to be very careful.”

In the phone call, her office said, Rousseff “condemned the attacks on Israel” by Hamas, and “reiterated Brazil’s historic position ... defending the co-existence between Israel and Palestine as sovereign, economically viable and, above all, safe states.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

9

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Iraq, Syria, Ukraine and Gaza are falling apart Modi accuses Pakistan of waging and John Kerry’s not helping ‘proxy war’ n Reuters, Srinagar Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused Pakistan yesterday of waging “proxy war” by sending militants to attack India and used a trip to the disputed Kashmir region to stress that reconciliation between the nuclear-armed neighbours needs peace.

Making his second visit since his election triumph in May to the northern region - whose territory has been divided since a war between India and Pakistan that followed their independence in 1947 - Modi vowed to strengthen India’s armed forces.

“The neighbouring country has lost the strength to fight a conventional war but continues to engage in the proxy war of terrorism,” Modi told officers and men from the army and air force in the Himalayan region of Leh. The Hindu nationalist politician was elected by a landslide on promises to restore India’s economic and military prowess and meet the security challenge posed by a rising China and long-running tension with Pakistan.

Yet he surprised many observers by inviting South Asian leaders - including Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif - to his inauguration in a bid to bolster neglected regional ties.

There are regular clashes on the Line of Control that divides Indian- and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, however, and Modi has made clear that bilateral dialogue depends on the guns falling silent.

Modi, whose speech to troops in Leh was televised, gave no details of Pakistan’s “proxy war,” but India has for years complained that Pakistan backs sepa-

ratist militants who slip in from Pakistani-controlled Kashmir to stage attacks.

Both Pakistan’s foreign ministry and its military declined to make any immediate comment on Modi’s speeches.

Pakistan has said in the past it gives only political support to the Muslim people of Kashmir who it says face human rights abuses at the hands of Indian troops. India denies this.

More defence spending

India also wants faster prosecution of Pakistan-based militants accused of plotting the 2008 attacks on its financial capital, Mumbai, in which 166 people were killed. Pakistan says it is doing all it can to bring to book those against whom there is evidence.

In a second speaking stop, Modi went to Kargil, the scene of an undeclared war in 1999 when Pakistani troops infiltrated Indian-controlled Kashmir without the knowledge of Sharif, who was prime minister at the time.

“The patriotism of the people of Kargil inspires the people of India. I bow to this land and to the people,” Modi said, paying homage to his political mentor Atal Bihari Vajpayee who was premier during the Kargil conflict.

In his government’s maiden budget last month, Modi boosted defence spending by 12 percent in 2014-15 over the previous year, when it was held at 2.04 trillion rupees ($33.4 billion dollar).

Sharif has made improving relations with India a cornerstone of his policy, yet Pakistan’s powerful military and security establishment is less keen to do so, also seeking to assert its primacy in external affairs. l

US Secretary of State John Kerry speaks to US embassy and consular staff based in Australia

n Peter Van Buren In what is almost certainly his last job in public service, Secretary of State John Kerry is bumbling his way around the world, ricocheting from crisis to crisis.

The idea of the last chapter of his biography portraying him as a punch line can’t sit well. But is it Kerry’s fault, or is he simply being swept up in an American foreign policy in historic disarray?

America lashed out after the September 11, 2001 attacks, and a decade later has substituted strategic incoherence for idiotic decisiveness. A common meme is that Kerry is at worst a bad actor stuck in an even worse movie, contributing little to lift it up but at the same time not baring any real re-

sponsibility for the flick’s failure.

There’s truth in that, but it misses Kerry’s genuine capacity for haplessness. Over decades, this kind of serial failure just did not happen to previous secretaries of state. Not Schultz, not Baker, not Powell, not Albright, not Clinton.

To understand John Kerry’s nearunique failures as secretary of state, it is important to look at how a secretary’s trips abroad are conducted, and how secretaries in the past have used the State Department to accomplish their goals. I know, because during my own 24-year career at the State Department, I was on the receiving end of many of these visits.

A secretary of state visit is planned in excruciating detail, both by Wash-

REUTERS

ington staff (known to insiders as “The Line”) and by the embassy on the ground. Short notice just means more people stay up later to prepare. Senior people at State doing this work have likely been in government since the Reagan administration, as Foreign Service Officers are not political appointees, and serve both Democratic and Republican administrations over their careers. “Use the building,” the rankand-file always say to incoming secretaries, “take advantage of the expertise of the six floors below your office.” Nobody can know everything.

“Talking points” are a key planning item used to pull in all that expertise. The points ensure a tired and busy secretary does not need to know everything, and

neither leaves out something important nor strays from policy. When a superpower’s interests - never mind world markets and the possibility of war - are on the line, precision of speech is critical.

An example of Kerry’s unintended consequences? An offhand remark by the secretary, less than a year ago, saying that Syria could avoid US airstrikes if they turned in their chemical weapons propelled Vladimir Putin into the role of unlikely peacemaker. He failed to do what most need to be done in a crucial situation - just read the cards.

Another Kerry failing is not using his many deputies to set the stage for his visits. In the spring, Kerry flew out on what was intended to be his signature diplomatic achievement, a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. Israel’s announcement a few months later canceling a release of prisoners ended that; didn’t anyone arrange ahead of time for Israel’s acquiescence? The use of deputies not only lays the groundwork for a triumphant secretarial visit, it prevents such equalscaled secretarial failures.

Kerry seems to confuse effort for outcome; the State Department obsessively tracks his travel time as if it was billable hours. His frantic diplomacy (the last two weeks for example, India for 72 hours; Africa Civil Society Forum in Washington, August 4-6; an unannounced trip to Afghanistan; a six-day trip to Myanmar, Australia, the Solomon Islands and Hawaii) leaves him little time to follow-up on past efforts. As the United States finds itself playing catch-up to Putin in the Ukraine and the Islamic State in Iraq, Kerry is literally adrift mid-Pacific. l Peter Van Buren spent 24 years as a US foreign service officer. The column was first published by Reuters.

Nato chief: Will decide on Afghan pullout soon

N E PA L E S E B U D D H I ST D E VOT E E S C L A D I N M A S K S

n Reuters, Brussels

Nepalese Buddhist devotees clad in masks take part in the Neku Jatra-Mataya festival in Patan on the outskirts of Kathmandu on August 12. The Buddhist festival marks the victory of Sakyamuni Buddha over Mara, where devotees pray for the souls of departed family members and hold parades throughout the city AFP

Nato will soon be forced to take a decision on a total pullout from Afghanistan unless a deadlock over the country’s election ends and a new president signs an agreement allowing foreign forces to stay, the head of the alliance said.

Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen told Reuters the Sept. 4-5 Nato summit in Wales would be very close to a deadline for taking that decision.

“Soon we will have to take tough decisions because if there isn’t a legal basis for our continued presence in Afghanistan, we will have to withdraw everything by the end of this year and to do that we will have to start planning ... very soon,” he said, without giving a firm date.

Nato will end its combat mission in Afghanistan by the end of this year but plans to leave behind a smaller force to train and advise Afghan security forces in their fight against Taliban insurgents.

To stay beyond 2014, Nato says it needs the Afghan government to sign agreements with the United States and Nato providing a legal basis for foreign troops to stay.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai has refused to sign the agreement with the United States. The candidates to succeed him - Ashraf Ghani and Abdullah Abdullah - say they would sign the

agreements but they dispute the result of a run-off vote held in June and it could be weeks before a new president is installed.

The delays in signing the accords have sharply reduced the time available for detailed planning of the post2014 mission, causing anxiety at Nato headquarters, and Rasmussen indicated that the situation was now becoming critical.

“Time is now of the essence and that is why we urge the Afghans to find a rapid conclusion of the presidential election process and we urge the new president to sign the legal arrangements as soon as possible after inauguration,” he said.

With Afghanistan recounting some 8 million ballots cast in the June runoff vote, and amid allegations by Abdullah of widespread fraud, there have been fears that the formation of a proposed unity government could drag on for months.

However, both candidates have now signed an agreement stating that they will agree to a timeline for the electoral process and an inauguration date for the next president by the end of August.

The Nato-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan currently numbers around 44,000 troops, including more than 30,000 Americans, according to the ISAF website. l

China cracking down on State leadership crisis to split Malaysia’s opposition?

Christian groups along n N Korea border Reuters, Kuala Lumpur

n Reuters, Tumen China is cracking down on Christian charity groups near its border with North Korea, missionaries and aid groups say, with hundreds of members of the community forced to leave the country and some who remain describing an atmosphere of fear.

The sweep along the frontier is believed to be aimed at closing off support to North Koreans who flee persecution and poverty in their homeland and illegally enter China before going on to other nations, usually ending up in South Korea.

The South says the number of such defections is showing signs of a slight slowdown this year.

Beijing has not charged anyone with any crime, but two sources with direct knowledge say a Korean-American man who ran a vocational school in the

border town of Tumen was being investigated by Chinese authorities.

Earlier this month, China said it was investigating a Canadian couple who ran a coffee shop in Dandong city on suspicion of stealing state secrets.

As many as one third of the 3,000 South Korean missionaries working in China, largely near the North Korean border, have been forced out, most by having their visas refused, said Simon Suh, a Christian pastor who runs an orphanage in Yanji, a city near Tumen.

Many South Korean churches have been shut down, he said, quoting information he had received from several Christian groups in the region.

The missionaries in the remote and mountainous region are usually reserved, but during a recent visit by a Reuters reporter, they seemed especially fearful of speaking to outsiders. l

Malaysia’s opposition alliance, which has taken strides towards national power in recent elections, is embroiled in a crisis over the leadership of the country’s richest state that is tarnishing its image and could break it apart.

The infighting that has gripped the multi-ethnic opposition bloc, led by former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim, is an unexpected boon for Malaysia’s 57-year-old ruling coalition, which has been struggling to retain its appeal among voters.

The opposition’s three-party Pakatan Rakyat (People’s Alliance) was forged in 2008 after the ethnic Malay dominated ruling coalition suffered its biggest ever electoral setback.

The opposition made smaller gains in national elections last May, pledging to bring more transparency to government and phase out policies favoring majority Malays that have underpinned the government’s rule.

But the alliance has been dogged by divisions between the secular ethnic Chinese component party, Anwar’s

party, and the Islamist PAS party.

Those differences have now burst into the open over the leadership of Selangor state, an industrial hub neighboring Kuala Lumpur, which the opposition won control of in 2008 in a huge setback for the government and then retained in 2013.

The infighting that has gripped the multiethnic opposition bloc, led by former finance minister Anwar Ibrahim, is an unexpected boon for Malaysia’s 57-yearold ruling coalition Selangor Chief Minister Khalid Ibrahim has been accused of corruption and incompetence by Anwar’s Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) and the mostly Chinese Democratic Action Party (DAP), who have agreed he should be replaced by

Anwar’s politician wife.

But Khalid has dug his heels in, refusing to step down even after he was formally fired by his party, PKR, last week. Leaders of the Islamist PAS party have refused to join calls for his dismissal.

If the Islamist party continues to resist Khalid’s dismissal, it could herald the end of the six-year alliance and reshape the Southeast Asian nation’s political landscape.

Lim Guan Eng, a leader of the ethnic Chinese party, said on Tuesday that if the PAS did not agree to back Anwar’s wife “this will immediately lead to a break up of both Pakatan Rakyat in the state and nationally.”

A prized state

A prized win for the opposition, Selangor had a gross domestic product of about $55 billion in 2012, amounting to 23 percent of Malaysia’s economy, and is a hub for multinationals. It has been seen as a testing ground for the opposition to prove its competence to take over power at the national level.

“This is by far the biggest hurdle Pa-

katan has had to face,” said Wan Saiful Wan Jan, a political analyst at the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs.

“The difference this time is that the problem is created by Anwar’s party. It is showing to the public that even Anwar cannot manage his own party.”

The ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) has criticized Khalid’s leadership, particularly over his management of chronic water supply problems, but now says its state assembly representatives will back him to stay.

The leadership of the Islamist party is due to meet on Aug. 17 to decide its stance on Khalid.

It has not made clear why it opposes Khalid’s dismissal, though some in the alliance have said it is because it does not want a woman as state boss. Khalid has the right to remain pending a no-confidence vote in the state assembly.

Cracks within the opposition have been widening since it failed to win power in the 2013 general election, despite winning a majority of the national vote. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Investigate suspicious death of PCJSS man

W

e are concerned by reports that Duran Chakma Babu, an upazila organiser of the (PCJSS) MN Larma faction in Guimara, Khagrachhari, was killed after allegedly being tortured by members of the army.

The lack of a post-mortem examination before his body was cremated is a concerning feature of this suspicious death.

A full and open investigation is needed urgently. There is no justification for torture under any circumstances and any people found responsible for it should be brought before the courts.

Members of the army have reported that the deceased was one of four PCJSS members held in a raid carried out on Saturday following a tip-off they were involved in extortion activities.

According to the army, the victim died the next morning on Sunday after he had been taken by officers to help locate an arms dump. It is claimed that during the search, he tried to escape custody and hurt his chest after falling on a tree, leading to breathing complications from which he died shortly afterwards.

Local sources including police personnel however, claim that after the raid on Saturday, the four PCJSS members had been taken to the Guimara Regional Camp and tortured severely for many hours. They attribute Duran’s death to this torture and allege his body was not handed over to police to allow a story to be concocted.

An open inquiry should be held into these serious allegations. The army and police must ensure that any people found responsible for irregularities and torture are held to account.

There is no justification for torture. Hold anyone found responsible to account

Uphold the right to play

P

arents, teachers, and government must do more to ensure proper recreation facilities for the nation’s children. It is a cause for shame and concern that so many parks and play areas for children are badly maintained and routinely encroached upon.

The Golokmoni children’s park in Khulna is just the latest such example. Headlines have highlighted that parts of the park are occupied by illegally-leased shops and offices, including that of the local AL ward, but the bigger problem is that those play areas remaining, are out of order and the park is poorly safeguarded.

In principle the presence of shops would not be bad in itself if it meant other facilities were looked after better. However, in most cases such as this, conditions for ordinary park users are worsened.

Such neglect is common in neighbourhoods across the country.

It is especially harmful to children. If public facilities are kept in an unfit state and parents are not re-assured that play areas are safe, it is no surprise that many children are denied the opportunity to play outdoors.

This can only be harmful for our children’s health. If outdoor play and physical well-being is not encouraged, it can only make them more sedentary and exacerbate problems such as obesity.

All citizens should share in the responsibility of ensuring more safe and welcoming outdoor areas in which children can play. People of all ages need more green public spaces in which to relax. We must all pressure authorities to give higher priority to parks and recreation.

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

ISIS: Bangladeshi group takes oath to organise Muslims under Abu Bakr al Bagdadi

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 11 represents M so fill M every time the figure 11 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

August 8

Ashraful Islam Siam This is Bangladesh.

Azad Sonia All my prayers, duas, and admiration are there

Single digit loans August 7

SAM This pragmatic and reasonable idea, proposed by the SME Foundation, was published in your business page. If implemented, I believe it will be of great help for small retailers and shop-owners, operating across Bangladesh. These traders usually take loans from local “loan sharks” at high interest rates in order to buy their products to sell on retail.

If such traders are provided with small, singledigit cash loans, it might help in reducing prices to some extent at the retail level. Depending on their average transaction volumes, these loans should be in limited amounts, say Tk5,000 for fresh vegetable and fruit sellers and up to Tk50,000, for established small shops and grocery stores. The repayment period may vary from one to five years, depending on their average volume of stocks and transactions, as well as the background and reputation of the trader. These could be guaranteed or supported by recognised village elders and other rural persons, known to the local bank branches.

The SME Foundation and our government should take it up and implement it over the next three to five years at most, wherever there are local scheduled bank branches nearby. The sooner it’s started, the better, as it can help our overall economic development.

Launch deaths: Does anyone care?

August 8

for you, my Bangladeshi brothers!! May Allah (SWT) protect you from all the propaganda, lies, and deceit of this world, and raise you above all in adoration in this world! All of our bay’ah, insha’Allah, will reach you soon. Ameen.

Batted after one-and-a-half months: Shakib August 8

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

Md Rashed Iqbal Very good article.

Oshadee Weerasinghe I hope Shakib can come back soon. As the best of Shakib is yet to come and the world wants to see him play again.

Give your emails a professional do over August 4 Nabeed Salman Very useful article.

Massive anti-formalin drives to begin in September August 7 Firoj Alam Good to know. Thanks.

Ensure more welcoming outdoor areas for children

Russia bans Western food import Fahmida Sultana Nobody cares. One should give out extra life jackets as needed, and keep one with oneself whenever travelling by launch.

BCL men vandalise estate office at CU August 8

AR This happens because they have government support. Those people in authority do not take measures out of fear or out of desire. It should be noted that these incidents of vandalism don’t happen when teachers and staff are not corrupt.

August 7 Parvez Islam Russia has enough capability to feed itself, but Western countries will have a problem selling their products.

PM criticises global community over Gaza issue

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Gnawing animal (6) 6 Cover (3) 9 Silly (5) 10 Vocal sound (4) 11 Sells (5) 12 Lyric poem (3) 13 Stifled laugh (6) 15 Swarm (4) 18 Ill-mannered (4) 21 Social standing (6) 24 Helpful hint (3) 25 Words spoken in undertone (5) 28 Decorated a cake (4) 29 Ancient tongue (5) 30 Colour (3) 31 Regret (6)

DOWN 1 Fastener (5) 2 United (3) 3 Social event (5) 4 Conclude (3) 5 Cosy retreat (4) 6 Plunder (4) 7 In truth (6) 8 Horned ruminant (4) 14 Sailor (3) 16 Tempt (6) 17 Encountered (3) 19 Combine (5) 20 Happening (5) 21 Agitate (4) 22 Copied (4) 23 Auction (4) 26 Plant juice (3) 27 Loud noise (3)

August 8

Depressed Town It’s really annoying to watch OIC member countries silent over this grave matter. On the other hand, we should praise our present electoral government for at least raising its voice against those oppressors. It’s quite fascinating to watch that a country like ours is all in for Gaza.

Let sleeping dogs lie

CALVIN AND HOBBES

August 7

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

Golam Mostafa Nice article! A good effort has been made towards saving innocent animals that are very loyal to human beings. Mankind should not be cruel to animals.

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

What corporate non-payment of wages really means August 8

Tanjib Rashid Khan Good work. Keep it going.

Home in one piece August 10

Ekram Kabir Good to see you writing Op-eds. Keep writing.

44 killed in China tour bus accident August 10

Sazzad Ali Very sad :(

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Hajj economics n Rabiul Islam

D

Walking into traps?

NASHIRUL ISLAM

Massacre or suicide?

J

n Mohammad Ali Sattar ust prior to Eid, things were relatively calm in the commuting sector. We saw the communication minister sweating it out to ensure a relatively comfortable journey for the homebound commuters.

The halting of construction work, speedy repairs of the rough patches, the stopping of inter-district trucks a few days before the Eid rush, and the continued verbal instructions worked well. There weren’t many complaints.

Nevertheless, we had the usual rush and overloading of passengers by trains and steamers. Business for road transporters wasn’t brisk.

Over and above, things wore a cooler picture than many times in the past.

By now, we have learned to live with the fact that the crazy rush for home has become part and parcel of our annual festival. People would go to any length to secure a seat or standing (or hanging) space in any vehicle that will carry them to their destinations.

They find it amusing and don’t fear the looming disasters.

They would even dare to climb any height onto the roof of a train or a bus, or undertake the hazardous journey on an overloaded launch through the rough waters of the mighty rivers, that too, in the most perilous weather conditions.

They don’t care if they live or perish. This loose mindset and dangerously bent attitude towards life is fanaticism at its worse.

The scenario changed after Eid. Suddenly, there was a surge of

accidents all around the country.

There were continued reports of dreadful train-car collisions, a bridal party bus being rammed by a train, a three-wheeler run over by a train, a car destroyed by a train … it kept on happening, killing people at will.

And then, there were the ghastly (but usual) road accidents – head-on collisions between buses, trucks, and cars.

tion of the owners and launch drivers reached such an extent that they not only overcrowded the launch at the starting point, they went on to stop at a non-designated point and took a further 50 to 60 people on-board, thus taking the passengers’ tally to some 250 plus. The actual capacity was only 85. The reason: Making a fast buck.

The outcome: Deaths. But so what?

The footage, taken on a cell phone,

We have learned to live with the fact that the crazy rush for home has become part and parcel of our annual festival

People were charred alive, a truck-bus crash left many mutilated, car crashes with all four family members met a painful end, and so on.

Reckless acts will go on, you can bet. Because we don’t care, life is only secondary. Money has become the first God (forgive me Lord, but I can’t help saying so).

Then came the Pinak 6 disaster. I, for one, wasn’t surprised at all. Wasn’t this another misfortune that could have been averted had we worked on time? All previous accidents could have been avoided if we cared for ourselves.

The Pinak 6 story reveals the old sordid tale of overloading, fake papers, unfit vessels, and so on. The despera-

showed the tragic sight and the size of the launch. Even under normal circumstances, with such a load, the launch wouldn’t have made its way to the shore.

The search goes on till today. What would the authorities gain by salvaging the ill-fated vessel from under the water? Who would be interested in seeing the bloated, disfigured, and putrid bodies of the victims? This will only further damage the dismayed psyche of the nation.

Prevention is better than cure, so they say. What’s the damn problem with us? What’s stopping the authorities from arresting the trend at starting points of the terminals, be it road, rail, or water? Why should the owners

enjoy butter on both sides of their breads? Why are some people made the scapegoats?

Finally, the people should also take responsibility for themselves.

Why must they fall into traps laid by the cash-hungry devils? By now it’s clear that the authorities will not do anything to prevent such acts. The rule of law has been long abandoned by a quarter.

The common man has also been inflicted by Ebola of ignorance and desperation. In these incidents, you will find instances of thoughtless laxity on the part of private owners and government authorities, and on the other hand, the commuters are caught in sheer desperation.

In the process, it has become a daily practice of death in a cold mode – each time bringing a disastrous end to hopes of a family. We go through trials and tribulations after each death game. And the list of enquiry committees keeps getting larger.

People responsible for the “killings” are kept afloat. The owners and authorities are committing murder by flouting rules and cheating people, while the people are committing mass suicide by acting ridiculously.

Dear readers, watch out for the next news scroll on your mini screen, it could be your dear one “finished” in a tragic accident, anywhere.

The solution? Awareness. People need to campaign throughout the year against corrupt owners, authorities, and law enforcers. l

r Bilal Philips, a renowned Islamic preacher, quotes from the Holy Qur’an: “And, pilgrimage to the House is duty on mankind to Allah for those who can find a way there (Holy Qur’an 3:97).”

He further explains: “Similar statements of the Prophet define ability as being sufficient provisions and transportation. Hence, a Muslim has to be economically able to make the trip.

If he has to borrow the money to make the journey, Hajj is not compulsory for him. In the case when one’s family is left in debt or with insufficient funds, it is recommended that such an individual stay home until he is financially able.

Muslims with physical disabilities are also not obliged to make Hajj unless they have the economic ability to pay others to carry them. Therefore, only those who are economically and physically able to perform the rigorous rites of Hajj are obliged to do so.”

In Bangladesh, a lot of people feel compelled to go for performing Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Why? There are many social pressures that at first influence and later on force people to perform pilgrimage. There is this “Haji” title-seeking competition – whoever goes to perform Hajj is later on called a Haji. Haji is a very respectable title for anyone in the community.

Then there is peer pressure. When someone from a similar social status goes for pilgrimage, other members psychologically feel that it is necessary for them to go as well. There are even incidences when people come and ask them to prepare for their Hajj, saying that it is high time they did it.

Lastly, there is the uncertainty of death. Most of the time, our eldest members of society tend to think that they are going to die really soon. In order to make their life worthwhile, they plan to die either in Mecca while performing Hajj, or after returning home as a Haji.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka Tribune reports: “Bangladesh government has finalised packages for Hajj 2014.

The first packages will cost Tk354,316 while the second will cost Tk295,776 (except additional charge of Tk10,500 for sacrificing animals). A total of 101,758 Bangladeshi Hajis are expected

Mohammad Ali Sattar is a journalist and a DT columnist.

to perform Hajj this year as the Saudi Arabian authorities allowed Bangladesh to send pilgrims equivalent to this number.”

If we calculate the total number then we will see that this year people of Bangladesh are going to spend over Tk1,605cr or Tk3,009cr or somewhere in between. In 2014, we have an approximately Tk61,346cr budget deficit.

A Muslim has to be economically able to make the trip

On the other hand, Arabnews.com reports: “Economists have estimated the Kingdom’s (Saudi Arabia) revenues from Hajj and Umrah services in 2012 at more than SR62bn ($16.5bn), 10% up from 2011 figures. They also said Hajj revenue accounted for 3% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP).”

Al-miftah.com mentions some Hadith-based advice about deeds that equal the reward of Hajj: Wudhu (ablution) at home before proceeding for Salaah (prayer) with Jamaat (group), Salatul Ishraaq (prayers after sunrise), going to the mosque to acquire or impart knowledge, serving one’s parents, attending the Jumu’ah Salaah, attending the Eid Salaah, Esha Salaah in congregation, and fulfilling the needs of a fellow Muslim.

Some of our people just remember and remind us that Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam, and it must be performed hastily. They seem to have forgotten the verse (Holy Qur’an 3:97) that clearly states who is obliged to perform pilgrimage.

Bangladesh is a developing country where the majority of the people are poor and underprivileged. When you take such decisions out of social anxiety, peer pressure, or just for show, our country loses huge amounts of money that could have been used in other ways to help those in need. l Rabiul Islam is a freelance contributor.

BIGSTOCK

Stealing a march n Aaqib Md Shatil

T

he year 2011 can be considered one of the most eventful years in the history of mankind because of the hectic Arab Spring that was kicked off in Tunisia, which then submerged many other Arab nations including Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, Jordan, and Syria. The Arab Spring, allegedly backed by Western countries, compelled rulers like Ben Ali, Gaddafi, and Hosni Mubarak, as well as the elected President Mohamed Morsi, to back off.

The anti-establishment movements in Arab were of diverse nature. Demonstrators were largely democratic in some countries; in Egypt it was both violent and non-violent, while the rebels had to engage themselves in armed conflicts intensifying civil war in Syria and Libya.

Western countries, the European Union, and members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation have consistently provided diplomatic support as well as lethal or non-lethal aid to the renegades of the Arab world to establish their supremacy over the oil fields of the war ravaged nations.

The United States was the first to fall victim to the monster they have created in Libya. The first blow from the militants, once empowered by the western countries, was the attack on the US embassy of Benghazi that claimed the life of the US ambassador to Libya after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.

Nevertheless, western countries had a prolonged rivalry with Gaddafi.

They once used to exploit the oil fields of the Middle East. But after the rise of Gaddafi as the ruler of Libya, they were compelled to change their policy and had to pay more for oil.

During the summer of 2011, when Gaddafi was struggling in his country, NATO started backing the rebels.

France and Turkey raided the sky of Libya in support of the rebels after Libyan Army defied the no-fly zone call of the UN. The continuous air assault helped the rebels to topple Gaddafi within a month. Gaddafi was killed minutes after he was captured.

After the fall of Gaddafi, only chaos was evident in Libya. This turmoil helped the al-Qaeda-backed extremists to organise themselves for fresh operations in Libya. Their first formidable

offense was the US embassy attack that left four people dead.

On the other hand, random supply of arms to the Libyan rebels also endangered the entire region. During the Northern Mali conflict, the Islamic militants were seen carrying modern guns that were provided to the Libyan rebels.

Pits in the deserts of Iraq and Syria are turning into mass graves

The Northern Mali conflict eventually turned deadly. The militants linked to al-Qaeda took over a huge area of the country including a strategically significant oil field. France had to send their troops to halt the advance.

Not only the militants of Mali, but

also organisations like Boko Haram managed to acquire some modern equipment provided to the Libyan rebels. Libya was like a sieve suspended in some Arab and African nations.

However, it seemed that the Western backers had learnt absolutely nothing from Libya or Afghanistan.

Since 2011 Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was facing trouble created by the rebels within the country.

Western countries decided to assist the rebels to topple the ally of Iran and Russia. They kept baking the rebels of Syria under the banner of “Free Syrian Army,” to topple Assad.

Assad has always been a headache to the US and their allies in the Middle East. In Syria, most of the citizens are Sunni Muslims while Assad himself and his followers are of the Shi’ite community.

It has always been a difficult task for the Saudi rulers to bear a Shi’ite ruler in a Sunni-populated country like Syria. Saudi Arabia also started providing financial as well as military support to the rebels of Syria.

Western countries also held a meeting with a Syrian opposition leader, who was allegedly chosen by them.

The leader made his call to intrude into the Syrian crisis. However, amid fresh calls from the Syrian rebels, the world leaders were at loggerheads creating prolonged chaos. The chaos gave birth to Islamic State, an extremist insurgent group formerly known as ISIL, advancing towards Damascus.

World leaders, who have allegedly backed the Syrian rebels with bags of money and arms, are observing, with great surprise, how one of the cruelest hordes in the history of the world has outpaced their Free Syrian Army and winning almost all the battles in the Middle East with the help of the weapons they have provided them with.

After achieving “horrifying” success in Iraq last month, the al-Qaeda linked insurgents of IS are currently driving a large-scale carnage in the strategically important Syrian city of Raqqa. According to some predictions, Islamic State personnel have killed almost 2,000 people in only two weeks in Syria. Prior to Eid-ul-Fitr, they massacred at least 270 people in a gas field of Homs, a strategically significant province of Syria.

In the meantime, they are consolidating their control in Iraq by

blowing up mosques, shrines, and executing pro-government people as a part of creating fear among the citizens. Pits in the deserts of Iraq and Syria are turning into mass graves while the world leaders have apparently turned a deaf ear. Already, the United Kingdom and Nato officials have proclaimed that they are not thinking of any action against the IS militants amid terrifying acts by those brutal insurgents.

ISIL at first declared a goal of establishing an Islamic state in the territories of Iraq and Eastern Mediterranean.

After attaining tremendous success in Iraq, they changed the name of their organisation to Islamic State and started advancing towards Damascus.

It seems that they are dreaming of something larger than before, something more terrible than ever. It is high time for the Western powers and the world leaders to realise that the IS militants are not bearing their torch, rather they have stolen a march from them. l Aaqib Md Shatil is a blogger and member of Dhaka University Model United Nations Association.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

‘I would have asked him to live a little longer’ Kamar Ahmed Simon in memory of Tareque Masud

Tributes pour in for comedy legend Robin Williams n Entertainment Desk

After the news broke that comedian and actor Robin Williams had been found dead at his California home, tributes began to pour in from friends and colleagues. Across the social media spectrum a wide range of high-profile personalities and entertainers expressed their condolences.

President Barack Obama issued a statement on the “one of a kind” actor in Twitter: “Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny ... and everything in between. But he was one of a kind.”

Steven Spielberg, who was a friend of Williams and worked with him on “Hook,” issued a statement: “Robin was a lightning storm of comic genius and our laughter was the thunder that sustained him. He was a pal and I can’t believe he’s gone.”

Photo : Catherine Masud

n Shadma Malik

Aspiring young filmmaker Kamar Ahmad Simon quit his flourishing career in the advertisement industry when Tareque Masud invited him to join his megaproject “Kagojer Phul.” Tareque could not finish the film but he paved the way for Kamar to be one of the most promising film directors of the recent times.

With a number of international acclaims including “Grand Prix” from Paris and “Golden-Conch,” the director of “Shunte Ki Pao!” (Are You Listening) feels that the void created by the death of Tareque can never be filled up.

Paying homage to the legend on his third death anniversary, Dhaka Tribune caught up with Kamar who shared some of his golden memories with Tareque.

When and how did you meet Tareque Masud?

The hum of the violin was filling up the theatre, the end credit of “Matir Moina” was scrolling down, audience was in rush to leave the theatre, but I couldn’t move, I was nailed to the seat. I told Sara, (Kamar’s wife and producer of his projects): “Who is this director? This much of sensibility and restrain! Where is this coming from! This doesn’t seem like a Bangladeshi work at all! I need to see him, I want to meet him.” I went up straight; he greeted me without any inhibition. A friendship began out of respect, and was maintained till his last breathe.

How did you join “Kagojer Phul?”

TODAY IN DHAKA Memorial event

Tareque Masud Discussion and film screening Time: 4pm Music and Dance Auditorium Shilpakala Academy Shegun Bagicha

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 Khamosh Paani As a part of Nations and Notions: Partition Week Time: 1.30pm NAC Room 205, North South University

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

Well, I knew Tareque was working on this script (Kagojer Phul) for a long time. One day he asked me to read the script. I went to his place and we had lunch together.

It took me two hours and Tareque started telling the details afterwards.

One day, Tareque asked me: “I need talented people for this project, would you consider being the ‘chief assisstant director’ of ‘Kagojer Phul’?” I long aspired to witness the creative process of Tareque closely; I was intrigued by his ambition and said: “Yes.” What is the best lesson you learnt from Tareque?

“No matter where you are, whatever the situation is, there is always a way out if you look for it. There is always a ‘path not taken’ until you walk through it.”

appear very flat to many, but once you realise the content that he is delivering, you feel challenged and provoked!

Your best moment with him?

We have been through many. But to remember one, I would say “Padma.”

Once in a while Tareque took me to the river Padma on the way to his village.

We used to take a speedboat for the twenty-minute ride. With the changing panorama, engrossing sky, crossing waves, fishing boats, chars beaming with Kashful, the shared moments remain speechless, cinematic...

Tell us about one of his undisclosed talent.

For me, I remember Tareque as a gourmet cook, but not in a traditional “Bangalee” way! He loved to cook with great care and with precision. In fact this obsessive taste for perfection was reflected in all his works and made him Tareque Masud.

When do you miss Tareque the most?

When I don’t see our generation of filmmakers taking up the “path not taken” that Tareque walked through.

When I see the chaos in the film industry and the lack of “leadership in shaping the opinion.” When I see opportunist ruling the industry, and when the buzz mostly remains around the budget or the profit of the film as if it is only a money-making/ money-driven-industry, and there is no need to question the worthiness of “cinema.”

Was Tareque a better director or a good human being?

He was both! To understand Tareque as a human being, one really needs to give time and effort. At first glance, he is a tough person and he was challenging to work with. But once you get to read the inner layer and can sync with him, it is a great way to live. As a director, he may

If you were given the chance to say one last word to him, what would you say?

Tareque left us at the age of 55, and it took him 25 years or more to become what he was. I would have asked him to live a little longer, especially when he was ready to give more in a time when we are failing to differentiate between a “successful film” and a “meaningful film.” l

Prova, Mili and Aporna in TV thriller n Entertainment Desk

Farhana Mili, Prova and Aporna, the tree talented artistes of television acted together for the first time in a drama serial. Alvi Ahmed is using an alternative storyline in this production. The drama serial titled “Shunno Theke Shuru” is written

by Alvi Ahmed himself and till date, 52 episodes of the serial has been completed. The director confirmed that the serial will be premiered this month on RTV. The play will see Prova in the character of a baddie, a mafia leader named Apola, while Mili and Aporna will play the roles of Deepa and Urmi, two of Apola’s close friends.

About the unusual character, Prova said: “I always enjoy working with Farhana Mili. Previously we worked together in ‘It Kather Khacha’ several years ago and it was a nice experience.

Aporna is doing really good in the industry. I think the audience will love the story.”

About acting in a thriller, Farhana Mili said: “Earlier, I have worked with Alvi Ahmed on some

Nojir Bihin Nojor Ali Rtv 9:50pm

Starring Zahid Hasan, who plays a BA graduate from Avirampur village, the drama series is about a man who returns home after struggling to find a lodging house in town. However, all his friends and relatives take advantage of his naivety. Annoyed by the exploitation, Nojor eventually leaves home and heads towards Dhaka, where he comes across a different sort of trouble. l

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

and friend. I will miss him beyond measure.”

Sesame Street remembered Williams as the actor who always made others smile, tweeted: “We mourn the loss of our friend Robin Williams, who always made us laugh and smile.”

Mara Wilson, who played Williams’ onscreen daughter in “Mrs. Doubtfire,” wrote: “Very sad, very upset, very glad I did not have to hear about this though Twitter. Probably going to be taking some time off it for a while.”

as a legend. RIP” Lindsay Lohan: “Mr. Williams visited me the first day of filming The Parent Trap. I will never forget his kindness. What an enormous loss. My condolences.”

Miley Ray Cyrus: “I can’t take the Robin Williams news. I’ve never cried over someone I’ve never met but I can’t stop” Steve Carell, star of “The 40-year-old Virgin” and the US version of “The Office,” said: “Robin Williams made the world a little bit better. RIP.” l

Amitabh Bachchan wrote on Twitter: “Lost in person Robin Williams .. his versatility extraordinary, his best though to me was his stage standup solo performances !!”

Williams’ co-actor in “Night at the Musem,” Ben Stiller twitted: “A tweet cannot begin to describe the hugeness of Robin Williams’ heart and soul and talent. This is so sad.”

Jessica Chastain wrote: “Robin Williams changed my life. He was a great actor and a generous person. Through a scholarship, he made it possible for me to graduate college. His generous spirit will forever inspire me to support others as he supported me. He will forever be missed.”

In an emotional post in Twitter, Cavin Spacey, who starred in the 2009 film “Shrink” with Williams, said his friend “made the world laugh and think.” He wrote: “I will remember and honor that. A great man, artist

Ellen DeGenres took to Twitter: “Very sad to hear about Robin Williams. He brought so much laughter and joy into this world.

You will always be remembered

10 of Robin Williams’ most iconic roles The versatile comedian that was Robin Williams took on many forms during his illustrious career. Funny as Robin Williams was, we will remember him not just for the laughs. Few comedians were ever able to cross between comedy and other genres like he did. He had a way of sincerely connecting with the audience on a deeper emotional level – as seen in both “Dead Poets Society” and “Good Will Hunting” - a performance that won him the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. More than that, films like “One Hour Photo” and “Insomnia” forced audiences to completely change the way they perceived him.

Here are 10 of Williams’ most distinctive roles — and the list could be much longer: Dead Poets Society (1989) Movie that many consider to be the best of Robin Williams’ career. Williams stars as John Keating, a new English teacher at an elite prep school who fights against authority and inspires his students to “seize the day.” While this eventually leads Keating to be fired, it is the respect of his students that leads them all to stand on their desks and proclaim, “O captain, my captain.”

Good Will Hunting (1997) A rare but welcome serious role for Williams, who played the stubborn yet empathetic therapist who was somehow able to help math prodigy Will Hunting (Matt Damon) figure out how to handle his life. Won a supporting actor Oscar.

Mrs Doubtfire (1991) Who couldn’t love a bumbling dad who dressed up as a portly nanny — with a latex mask, a wig and a Scottish accent — in order to spend time with his young kids? (A sequel was in the works.)

Aladdin (1992) Will it ever be possible to see a cartoon genie and not think of Williams? Remember him shooting out of that bottle: “Ten thousand years will give you such a crick in the neck!”

Good Morning Vietnam(1987) Williams’ fasttalking style was perfect for the role of a DJ on Armed Forces Radio during the Vietnam War. (First Oscar nomination.)

projects, and this time, I am really impressed with the storytelling and making. Besides, I really enjoyed working with Prova and Aporna.”

Aporna said: “I always prefer a drama with a good storyline and I did not think twice before signing with Alvi Ahmed. I have faith in his abilities as a director.” l

The Avengers Zee Studio 9:30pm

Starring Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner in The Avengers. Nick Fury is director of S.H.I.E.L.D, an international peace keeping agency. The agency is a who’s who of Marvel Super Heroes, with Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When global security is threatened by Loki and his cohorts, Nick Fury and his team will need all their powers to save the world from disaster. l

One Hour Photo (2002) Another serious role, and it was a creepy one: Williams played a photo counter worker at a huge suburban store who got a little too involved in the lives of his customers when he realized one of them was having an affair.

The Fisher King (1991) Williams played a half-mad homeless man, convinced that the Holy Grail was sitting in the Fifth Avenue abode of a billionaire. (Third Oscar nomination).

Insomnia (2002) After years of taking on jovial and avuncular characters, Williams played against type to chilling effect in the Christopher Nolan psychological thriller “Insomnia.” In the snowbound suspense tale, Williams starred as a crime novelist with a dark secret who’s hunted by Al Pacino’s unraveling detective. In a review for The Times, Kenneth Turan said “Insomnia” represented “perhaps the most compelling of [Williams’] noncomic performances, noticeable for the way the character’s unflappable calmness leads to greater and greater complexity.”

Moscow on the Hudson (1984) Williams played a Russian - and quite credibly, too - in this film about a comically lovable circus saxophonist, Vladimir, who defects while touring New York (turning himself in at Bloomingdale’s, naturally).

Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad zoo (2011) Appearing on Broadway, Williams gave an admirably thoughtful performance in the role of a tiger - actually, the ghost of a dead tiger - locked up at the Baghdad Zoo at the time of the US invasion in 2003. l

Did you know?

David Silva has created 367 chances in the Premier League since joining Man City in 2010, more than any other player

Sport

14 Fabregas can fill

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

15 Lochte holds off

15 Kaneria loses final

Phelps in thrilling 200 IM duel

Sunny, Gazi see the opposite side of the coin n Mazhar Uddin A hat-trick and a hundred for Bangladesh in the same Test match against New Zealand, and just a year later Sohag Gazi could not find a club in the Dhaka Premier League along with leftarm spinner Arafat Sunny who was apparently the highest wicket taker in the previous season playing for the champion side.

The two-day transfer window for the BCB selected 23 national pool cricketers closed on Monday where 21 cricketers committed for various clubs, except Gazi and Sunny.

Gazi’s rise to the top was nothing short of a fairy tale. A perfect season for Barisal in the National Cricket League 2011/12 saw him become the first off-spinner to top the wicket takers’ chart, followed by equally fabulous performance for the BCB Academy side which ultimately helped Gazi to make his international debut in 2012 across all three formats of cricket.

However, it is the 23-year old’s off the field body language and attitude which have caused his downfall so soon, thought most club officials.

Gazi bought a DPL transfer token off his own money on Monday and complained, “How can you play if a club offers you so little money?” It was quite an unusual scene for not only journalists but for other cricketers as well because it is not often seen that a national cricketer who will be touring with Bangladesh team to the West Indies after two days, is failing to secure a club and paying for the token himself.

“I have just come to take my token of the league and going back to my

home,” said Gazi in the final hour at the Bangabandhu National stadium.

Meanwhile, Sunny, a regular performer in the domestic circuit for half a decade now, suffered a similar fate as he too is struggling to find a club for the first time in his career although he has always been a first choice player for any club.

The role of the pool quota system has played its role too as BCB made it mandatory for clubs to take at least one pace bowler from the pool to fill their three-man quota. Having taken a pacer, the clubs naturally opted for all-rounders rather than spinners.

“I received offers from Mohammedan, Abahani and Gazi Tank. Both Mohammedan and Abahani refused to

Gazi bought a DPL transfer token off his own money on Monday and complained, ‘How can you play if a club offers you so little money?’ pay 80 percent of my salary in advance while Gazi Tank showed interest, but they will not take me under the national pool quota,” said Sunny.

The 27-year old, however, informed few other clubs have shown interest in him, “Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Brothers Union Club have shown interest to take me in their side as both the clubs have not picked any national pool cricketer during the players’ transfer.

They said they will be in touch with me after their club president, who is out of the country at the moment, returns.” l

n Minhaz Uddin Khan

The victorious Mohammedan cricket team celebrate their victory over Gulshan Youth in the semifinal of the Metropolitan Women’s Cricket League at the SBNS yesterday MUMIT M

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is on the brink of facing uproar over the planned U-18 tournament due to the evasive role of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club Ltd who are unwilling to play.

BFF made it mandatory for all the Bangladesh Premier Football League clubs to form an U-18 team and all the clubs agreed to play the tournament after the completion of the league.

It is worth mentioning here in this regard that it was in fact Sheikh Jamal who proposed to the U-18 tournament in the first place as they thought scouting future prospects will be easier for the top flight clubs.

But It was learned Sheikh Jamal, who won the league title, is now unwilling to play in the tournament and is yet to start their preparations. Abdul Gaffar, the former national team player

Mohammedan emerged as the first finalists of the Metropolitan Women’s Cricket League 2014 yesterday. The legendary club defeated Gulshan Youth Club by 99 runs (D/L method) to confirm a berth in the final of the 50-over tournament.

Winning the toss, Mohammedan decided to take first strike at Mirpur.

However, following a rain interruption after the first over, the innings was curtailed to 33 overs as Mohammedan posted 146 runs losing six wickets.

Opening batters Ayesha Rahman and Sathira Jakir scored 42 and 43 runs respectively. Bristi Roy picked up two wickets for Gulshan.

Another stoppage due to rain meant Gulshan’s target was revised. They had to chase 159 runs in 30 overs which they failed to do so. Gulshan managed to score only 59 runs before losing all of their wickets in just 10 overs.

Mohammedan will now face the winner of the second semifinal between Abahani and Khelaghar Samaj Kalyan which takes place tomorrow. l

Mominul awaits challenge in West Indies n Minhaz Uddin Khan Top-order batsman Mominul Haque believes Bangladesh’s tour of the West Indies will be a challenge given the circumstances the team have gone through this year so far. The Tigers will embark on a 38-day long tour of the Caribbean tonight.

While talking to the media at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday, Mominul echoed the sentiments of his captain Mushfiqur Rahim.

In the pre-tour press conference on Monday, Mushfiq had stated that they were not raising their level of expectation as the tour will not be an easy one.

Jamal’s reluctance puts U-18 tournament in limbo and also an official of Sheikh Jamal acknowledged this saying, “We are yet to start the preparations. The club president is abroad. He earlier was reluctant to form the U-18 team, but I am hopeful that we can convince him and hopefully Jamal will play in the U-18 tournament,” said Gaffar.

However, all the other big names have almost completed their preparations and some reacted angrily over the reluctance of Sheikh Jamal. “If Jamal decides not to play, we may also decide to skip the meet. It’s BFF’s duty to ensure that all the teams take the field.

The rule should remain same for all.

It should not be discriminatory,” said Amer Khan, the manager of Brothers Union. Amer also added that they are ready to play in the tournament.

Satyajit Das Rupu, the manager of Abahani Ltd said BFF must keep the playing ground level. “If one team

legal challenge against life ban

MSC women seal final berth

Walton handed over the practice kits to players preparing for the Asian Games at the kabaddi stadium yesterday. Walton additional director F.M. Iqbal bin Anwar Dawn and federation secretary Nazrul Islam were present on the occasion COURTESY

n Raihan Mahmood

13

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

plays and one team decides to skip then there is no harmony. It is also an act of overruling the BFF instruction and the moral agreement as all the teams agreed to play in the tournament,” said Rupu, also an executive committee member of BFF. Sarwar Hossain, a director of Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club Ltd said they have called about hundred players and will start a two-day trial today. “We are taking preparation in full swing for the tournament and if BFF can’t ensure the presence of all the clubs, it’s their failure,” said Sarwar Hossain.

Muktijoddha SKS has selected 37 players from a trial of around 300 players. “I was surprised to see the number of players who came from across the country. We will continue to train and trim the team in due time,” said Shafikul Islam Manik, the Muktijoddha coach. l

Mominul’s height has always been an interesting aspect in world cricket and he has already made his way into the list of the ‘Top 10 Shortest Cricketers in History’. However, for Mominul it is a challenge being a little shorter than 5 feet 4 inches, especially in an away series.

“An away tour is always challenging for me due to my height,” he said.

“The wickets outside Bangladesh are mostly bouncy so naturally it becomes a challenge for me to bat well. So, no matter what the situation is, I will have to bat well for the team and score runs.

I have been working hard since I came back from the A team’s tour of the West Indies,” added Mominul. l

The diminutive Mominul repeated his skipper’s words yesterday. “This tour is really important for the team and also the players. The players are yet to achieve good results this year so it is a vital tour for us,” said Mominul.

When queried why the tour is important to him Mominul said, “Because I have been performing for some time now so there will be expectations on me. Everyone will want me to hold onto what I have done in the recent past.”

Bangladesh will begin their monthlong tour with the three-match ODI series followed by a solitary Twenty20 international and two Test matches. Although the Tigers have played several

one-day internationals and T20Is, the first Test match against the Windies will only be their third five-day game this year. The last time Bangladesh participated in a Test series was against Sri Lanka in January-February this year at home. The Tigers lost the first Test before drawing the second with Mominul scoring his third Test century in the second five-dayer.

Despite the long gap between Tests, the 22-year old left-handed batsman said the hiatus has its pros and cons.

“The positive is we were allowed some time to work on ourselves and the negative is we are getting less Test matches compared to the other teams,” he said.

Bangladesh athletes told to improve n Shishir Hoque

Thumbs up Khulna awaits BCB nod

The unsuccessful Bangladesh athletes are unlikely to get the chance to take part in future international events if they continue to display poor performances like they had done in the recently concluded Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

After spending around Tk20m for 10 disciplines, the 30 athletes from Bangladesh could only manage to clinch one silver medal in the Commonwealth Games. Along with 30 athletes, there were 39 officials in the contingent that went to Scotland. The output of 69 members of the Bangladesh team is just a solitary silver medal. The below-par performance attracted severe criticism in the local sports arena.

Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) president Gen. Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, who is also the chief-of-staff of Bangladesh Army, did not take it positively. The BOA supremo called on the top officials of the association at his office yesterday and tipped them off to go through a solid selection process before sending the athletes to the Asian Games.

The 17th Asian Games will be held in Incheon, South Korea and will begin on September 19. A 222-member Bangladesh team drafted for 21 disciplines have been preparing for their visit next month but the number is likely to decrease following the disastrous display in the Commonwealth Games.

An emergency meeting of the BOA’s executive committee will be held today where the contingent of the Asian Games will be finalised. Those disciplines that do not stand a chance of producing a win or a medal will be cut off from the list.

The boxing and cycling disciplines were also discussed in yesterday’s meeting. The cycles brought by the Bangladesh athletes in the Commonwealth Games were not appropriate for the tournament. A coach from the Ukraine arrived in Bangladesh earlier this year to train the boxers but the output was disappointing. l

n Khulna Correspondent

A five-member Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) delegation inspected the facilities at the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna yesterday morning.

The venue in the south-western city of Khulna is slated to host a Test match during the home series between Bangladesh and Zimbabwe in October-November this year.

The five-member delegation reached Khulna earlier on Monday night and stayed at the Hotel City Inn where they checked the available accommodation and living conditions.

Yesterday morning the BCB team inspected the ground, its galleries, the digital scorecard, the giant screen and the floodlights.

The delegation also examined the media box, players’ dressing rooms,

the telecast compartment and the area surrounding the stadium.

However, the major concern is the road leading upto the city. The main highway linking Jessore with Khulna is in a dilapidated state. The 3km route stretching from Noapara Bazar in Jessore is still in a precarious situation as construction work only covered half the area. Carpetting work in the other half is yet to be completed.

Manager of the BCB’s media committee, Rabeed Imam, informed the media yesterday that following their visit, they will submit a report. Cricket’s governing body in the country will then take a final decision on the venue.

Zimbabwe will arrive in October for three Tests and five one-day internationals. If things fall into place, Khulna will host the second Test from November 3. l

BCB officials talk with Khulna cricket officials during the inspection of the SANS yesterday

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Silva injured as Luiz celebrates PSG debut with victory n AFP, Naples Brazil centreback David Luiz began life with his new club French champions Paris Saint Germain with a 2-1 win in a friendly against Italian side Napoli on Monday in Naples.

The 27-year-old - who cost the French side a reported 50million euros (£39.9m, $67.1m) when he signed from Chelsea in June - fared better than his national and club captain Thiago Silva, who had to go off in the 13th minute and trudged to the dressingroom with his right thigh strapped with ice.

RESULT Napoli (ITA) Higuain 51

1 2

PSG (FRA) Ibrahimovic 55, Pastore 77

Two others who also only recently returned Argentinian Ezequiel Lavezzi and Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani received different reactions from the home crowd for whom they were heroes until they left in 2012 and 2013 respectively.

Lavezzi - who impressed at the World Cup and was arguably Argentina’s most effective player till he went off at half-time of the 1-0 defeat to Germany in the final - went off to a standing ovation but Cavani weas booed and jeered throughout.

Lavezzi’s compatriot Gonzalo Higuain gave Rafael Benitez’s side the lead six minutes into the second-half only for PSG’s Swedish star Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who had come on at the beginning of the second-half, to level four minutes later. Luiz went close to opening his account for PSG with a thunderous header from a corner in the 76th minute but it went over the bar.

The visitors secured victory with a superb solo effort by Javier Pastore, the Argentinian outfoxing several Napoli defenders before slotting home 13 minutes from time. l

Paris Saint-Germain’s Argentinian midfielder Javier Pastore (C) celebrates with Italian teammate and midfielder Marco Verratti next to French teammate and forward Jean-Christophe Bahebeck (R) and Napoli’s Algerian defender Faouzi Ghoulam (L), after scoring during their friendly match as part of the 2014 Acqua Lete Cup, at the San Paolo Stadium, in Naples on Monday AFP

Predators circle Man City in Premier League n AFP, London With Manchester United resurgent and big-name signings at Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, Manchester City will face a battle to hold onto their Premier League crown in the 2014-15 season.

Liverpool’s late-season collapse enabled City to power to the title in May, but the campaign that gets under way on Saturday will look very different to the one that preceded it.

Luis Suarez, last season’s outstanding player, has left Liverpool for Barcelona after creating yet another biting storm by sinking his teeth into the shoulder of Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. After a wretched 2013-14, United have a new manager at the helm in the straight-talking Louis van Gaal, who quickly won over the club’s fans during a successful pre-season tour of the United States.

Didier Drogba is back at Chelsea.

Cesc Fabregas is back in the Premier League, at Chelsea rather than his former club Arsenal whom he left for Barcelona. Frank Lampard, who left Chelsea last season, is now a Manchester City player.

Arsenal, meanwhile, will start the season with three World Cup-winners in their ranks and having pulled off another transfer coup with a £30 million ($50.5 million, 37.8 million euros) swoop for Chile forward Alexis Sanchez.

City have signed six new players, but it was not until Monday, when the £32 million capture of French centre-back Eliaquim Mangala from Porto was finally confirmed, that they truly flexed their muscles.

With key players such as Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta and Sergio Aguero short of fitness after taking time off after the World Cup, Manuel Pellegrini’s side are unlikely to be firing on all cylinders for some time.

“Five or six teams have the chance to win, but we have a stronger squad than last year,” said Pellegrini.

“We hope we can repeat it, but we

have to demonstrate that on the pitch.”

Chelsea seem likely to provide the strongest threat to City, with manager Jose Mourinho having bolstered his side in every department.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois returns from his long-term loan at Atletico Madrid to challenge Petr Cech for the number-one jersey, while Filipe Luis, Fabregas, £32 million striker Diego Costa and Drogba all add quality and experience.

The loss of Suarez was a bitter blow for Liverpool, but their squad now looks better-equipped for the twin rigours of domestic and European football thanks to a £90 million splurge partly financed by the Uruguayan’s sale.

Sanchez’s arrival should give Arsenal greater cutting edge and last season’s FA Cup success means that they must no longer bear the burden of a nine-year trophy drought.

United have also invested heavily, signing Luke Shaw and Ander Herrera for a combined fee of around £60 million, but Van Gaal is likely to prove their most important acquisition.

Buoyed by having guided the Netherlands to the World Cup semi-finals, the 63-year-old Dutchman blew into the club like a whirlwind and his new 3-4-1-2 system yielded instant results on the tour of the US. The money lavished on new players by the leading sides means it will be even more difficult for clubs like Everton and Tottenham Hotspur to close the gap on the division’s elite.

Tottenham will hope that new coach Mauricio Pochettino can work some of the magic that saw Southampton achieve a surprise eighth-place finish under his stewardship last season.

Pochettino was succeeded at Southampton by former Netherlands defender Ronald Koeman, while West Bromwich Albion also have a new head coach in former Everton academy manager Alan Irvine.

Of the promoted teams, although it was Leicester City who romped to the Championship title ahead of Burnley last season, play-off victors Queens Park Rangers perhaps look bestequipped for survival. l

Silva signs new 5-year deal at City n AFP, London David Silva has signed a new five-year contract with Manchester City, the English Premier League champions announced Tuesday.

Spain playmaker Silva, who has won two Premier League titles with City, is now set to stay with the north-west side until the end of the 2018/19 season.

Silva, 28, has been a central figure at Eastlands since joining the club from Spanish side Valencia in 2010.

“From the moment I joined the club four years ago it has felt like a second home to me,” Silva, who has also won the FA Cup and League Cup with City, told the club’s website on Tuesday.

“On and off the pitch, I feel incredibly content and fulfilled professionally and personally, so why wouldn’t I want to stay and keep winning trophies with this fantastic team?

“It was a straightforward decision to extend my stay here and spend my peak years at Manchester City, a club with unbelievable fans who have always supported me.”l

No more signings for Bayern, says coach Guardiola n Reuters, Berlin

Legia Warsaw appeal against CL exit n AFP, Geneva

Fabregas can fill Lampard’s boots: Mourinho

Bayern Munich will not sign any more players during the current transfer window despite a series of injury setbacks as they prepare for Wednesday’s German Super Cup against Borussia Dortmund.

Last season’s domestic double winners, seeking revenge for last year’s defeat by Dortmund in the same game, will be without injured defender Rafinha and winger Franck Ribery is doubtful.

Long-time absentee Thiago Alcantara’s comeback will also have to wait with coach Pep Guardiola refusing to pin down a date for his return.

“No, no new players,” Guardiola told reporters in Munich. “Thiago will be back and Rafa will be back and Franck will be back so I am happy about this squad.”

Defender Rafinha suffered torn ankle ligaments on Saturday and will be out for some time.

Spain international Thiago Alcantara sustained knee ligament damage in May and was ruled out of the World Cup. “Thiago will be back soon. He really wants to come back as soon as possible but for these issues we have a doctor and you should ask him,” Guardiola said.l

Legia Warsaw have filed an appeal against their dramatic axing from the Champions League in favour of Celtic, UEFA said on Tuesday.

In a statement, European football’s governing body said that the last-ditch attempt by the Polish powerhouses to recover their berth would be on the table at a UEFA appeals hearing on August 13.

Scottish giants Celtic were mauled 6-1 on aggregate by Legia in the qualifying third round, but the Poles were kicked out of the competition because they had fielded an illegible player in the August 6 second leg in Edinburgh.

As a result, the match was declared a 3-0 forfeit, making the aggregate score 4-4, and giving Celtic the edge because they scored more away goals.

The UEFA sanction was related to Legia’s decision to field defender Bartosz Bereszynski.

Bereszynski, who only played four minutes at the end of the second leg against Celtic, had been sent off in Legia’s concluding Europa League match last season. He was suspended for violent conduct for the club’s two matches against Ireland’s St Patrick’s in the second qualifying round and also missed the 4-1 first-leg victory over Celtic last week.l

Cesc Fabregas is the future of Chelsea and ideally suited to stepping into Frank Lampard’s central midfield boots, manager Jose Mourinho said Monday.

Former Arsenal captain Fabregas, 27, signed for Chelsea from Barcelona in June after the London club’s record goalscorer Lampard left under freedom of contract at the end of last season.

Fabregas scored in Chelsea’s 2-1 win over Ferencvaros in Budapest on Sunday - on a day when Lampard was sitting in the stands for Manchester City after signing on loan from New York City FC - in the Blues’ penultimate pre-season friendly before next Monday’s Premier League opening contest at Burnley.

Mourinho said on chelseafc.com: “Frank is the history of the club, history nobody can forget.

“Fabregas is the future; history is history but the future is more important at the moment.

“My opinion, and the opinion of my players, is that Fabregas is the right player to occupy that central position in midfield.”

Chelsea returned from Hungary late Sunday ahead of their match with Real Sociedad on Tuesday.

The newly elected president of the Italian Football Federation (FIGC), Carlo Tavecchio looks on in Rome on Monday REUTERS

Tavecchio elected Italian chief amid racism row n Reuters, Rome Carlo Tavecchio was elected president of the Italian football federation (FIGC) on Monday, less than one month after he caused an outcry by referring to African players as “banana eaters”.

The head of the Italian Amateur Leagues’ Association (LDN) overcame his opponent, former Italy and AC Milan midfielder Demetrio Albertini, by winning 63.33 percent of the 278 votes.

The 71-year-old’s election will be hugely uncomfortable for world soc-

cer’s ruling body FIFA and European equivalent UEFA who have both made the fight against racism a priority and sanction teams whose fans are found guilty of racist abuse.

Tavecchio, who later apologised for his remark on African players, also faces a host of other problems including Serie A decline, falling attendances, match-fixing and a failure to find new talent.

“I will be everyone’s president,” he told the FIGC assembly in a Rome hotel after being elected. “I ask everyone to forget their differences and get to work.”l

n AFP, London

It is still too soon to know the full extent of the ankle injury which forced Didier Drogba off during the first half against Ferencvaros.

Drogba was quoted as saying on the club’s website: “I twisted my ankle and I couldn’t continue.

“In the next few days we are going to do some treatment and I hope everything will be better.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

QUICK BYTES

SCORECARD Zimbabwe first innings 256 (B. Taylor 93, H. Masakadza 45, D. Steyn 5-46, D. Piedt 4-90) South Africa first innings 397 all out (F. du Plessis 97, Q. de Kock 81, J. Duminy 55, J. Nyumbu 5-157, D. Tiripano 2-65) Zimbabwe second innings H Masakadza c de Villiers b Morkel 19 V Sibanda c and b Piedt 45 D Tiripano b Piedt 5 M Vermeulen lbw b Steyn 21 B Taylor c Elgar b Piedt 5 R Chakabva b Morkel 15 S Williams c Duminy b Morkel 3 R Mutumbami c de Kock b Steyn 43 J Nyumbu c and b Piedt 13 T Chatara not out 0 T Panyangara b Steyn 2 Extras (b2, lb7l nb1) 10 Total (76.2 overs, 338 mins) 181

Winning day for BD in World Chess The Bangladesh open and women’s chess teams on Monday registered victories in their respective ninth round matches of the 41st World Chess Olympiad which is being held in Tromso, Norway. Bangladesh earned a comfortable victory over Sri Lanka by 3-1 points in the open section. International Master Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar beat Perera WCC while Grandmaster Niaz Murshed defeated Alahakoon Isuru of Sri Lanka. GM Abdullah al Rakib drew with Kurukulasuriya Prasanna and GM Enamul Hossain Razib drew with Galapaththi Chinthaka Anuruddh. After the end of the ninth round, the Bangladesh open team earned 10 match points and 20.5 game points. Meanwhile in the women’s section, Bangladesh outplayed Honduras by 4-0 points. WIM Shamima Akter Liza beat Ortiz Katherine Berenice, WFM Nazrana Khan Eva beat Ortiz Rosa Daniela, WIM Rani Hamid beat Fernandez Mirna Graciela and WFM Zakia Sultana beat Ramos Donaire Maria Pradi of Honduras. The Bangladesh women now have eight match points and 19 game points out of nine matches.

–Tribune Desk

Indian parliament grants Tendulkar leave of absence

India’s parliament on Monday granted cricketing great Sachin Tendulkar a leave of absence after he was criticised for failing to attend a single session this year. The former batsman had asked to be given leave from the House, citing work and family pressures, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

Tendulkar, revered by Indians as a cricketing god, promised to be a vocal supporter of sport when he was sworn in as a member of the upper house of parliament in June 2012. But parliamentary records show he has the worst attendance record of all members, with just three percent attendance last year and zero this year. His poor showing was criticised last week in the House and on Monday some lawmakers objected to his request for leave.

–AFP

Smith named director of T20 tournament Former Proteas captain Graeme Smith has been appointed tournament director for the country’s domestic Twenty20 competition, Cricket South Africa (CSA) said on Tuesday. The 33-year-old Smith retired from international cricket in March and also prematurely ended a three-year stint with English county Surrey due to a knee injury that required surgery in June. One of Smith’s major requirements in his new role will be to recruit international players to the Ram Slam T20 Challenge which starts in November. “I am excited by this opportunity and looking forward to putting something back into the game,” Smith said in a press release issued by CSA on Tuesday.

–Reuters

Bordeaux sign Contento from Bayern Bordeaux have signed defender Diego Contento from German champions Bayern Munich on a four-year contract, the French club announced on Monday.

Contento, 24, had spent his entire career at Bayern having coming up through the club’s youth system before making his first-team debut in 2010. During his time at Bayern Contento, primarily a left-back, was part of a squad that won the Bundesliga three times as well as the German Cup on three occasions and the 2013 Champions League. He found himself stuck behind Philipp Lahm, David Alaba and Rafinha in the pecking order at Bayern though and made just 49 league appearances over the past five seasons at the Allianz Arena.

–AFP

Hoddle joins QPR as first-team coach Former England manager Glenn Hoddle has been appointed first-team coach at Queens Park Rangers, the Premier League club said on Tuesday.

The 56-year-old, who took charge of England at the 1998 World Cup, has not coached since leaving Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2006 and has been working as a television pundit.

–Reuters

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 1, 2 8:15PM Pro Kabaddi League Mumbai v Bengaluru 9:30PM Kolkata v Pune

Bowling Steyn 21.2-9-38-3, Philander 10-3-250, Morkel 15-9-15-3, Piedt 25-3-62-4, Duminy 2-1-12-0, Elgar 3-0-20-0 South Africa second innings D. Elgar b Chatara 21 A. Petersen not out 17 F. du Plessis not out 5 Extras (l1b) 1 Total (1 wkt, 10.4 overs, 40 mins) 44

South Africa spinner Dane Piedt (C) appeals for a wicket on day four of the one-off Test match against hosts Zimbabwe at Harare Sports Club yesterday

Piedt leads Proteas to big win n Reuters, Harare Dane Piedt produced the best performance by a debutant South African spinner as the Proteas thumped Zimbabwe by nine wickets to retain their number one status following the one-off contest at the Harare Sports Club on Tuesday.

After bowling Zimbabwe out for 181 in the second innings, the visitors knocked off their target of 41 for the loss of opener Dean Elgar, who was bowled by Tendai Chatara for 21.

The 24-year-old Piedt finished with match figures of eight for 152 on a helpful wicket having been drafted into the side for leg-spinner Imran Tahir, beat-

ing the previous best debut figures of seven for 189 by Ian Smith against England in 1947.

Fast bowler Dale Steyn finished with eight for 84 in the match to move level with Ian Botham on 383 careers test scalps, 13th on the list of most wicket takers.

A South African victory was always likely at the start of the day, but Zimbabwe can take heart from the fight they showed in delaying the Proteas’ celebrations until the final hour of day four.

Resuming on 28 for one, they lost only nightwatchman Donald Tiripano (five) before lunch after he had a wild slog at a Piedt delivery and was bowled.

It was the middle session that set up

the win for the visitors though as they ripped through the heart of the Zimbabwe batting line-up.

Mark Vermeulen, who scored 21, was the first to go as he was trapped plumb leg before wicket by Steyn.

From there it was a procession as Piedt had Vusi Sibanda caught and bowled for 45, before he snagged the big wicket of home captain Brendan Taylor, caught at short leg by Elgar for five.

Morne Morkel (three for 15) entered into the attack and bowled Regis Chakabva for 15 after the batsman offered no stroke, while Sean Williams (3) was brilliantly caught at point by JP Duminy off the lanky paceman.

AFP

Then followed an entertaining 54-run eighth wicket stand between Richmond Mutumbami (43) and John Nyumbu (13) that briefly threatened to force the game into day five.

It was ended when Steyn had Mutumbami caught by wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock and just four balls later Nyumbu was caught and bowled by Piedt.

The innings was ended when Steyn collected his third wicket, sending the off-stump of Tinashe Panyangara (two) out the ground.

The teams will now contest a threematch one-day series in Bulawayo starting on Sunday, before Australia arrive for a triangular tournament that gets underway on Aug. 25. l

Bowling Nyumbu 4-0-24-0, Panyangara 3-1-5-0, Chatara 2-1-5-1, Williams 1.4-0-9-0

Gavaskar, Nicholas escape unhurt in road accident n Cricinfo Sunil Gavaskar, the former India captain, and Mark Nicholas, the former Hampshire player, have been in a road accident while travelling from Manchester to London between the fourth and fifth Investec Tests, but went unhurt.

According to Mid-Day, Gavaskar and Nicholas, fellow Channel 5 commentators, were being driven in a Jaguar to London with a friend, when their car collided with a car coming from the opposite direction. Reportedly, the Jaguar’s driver was slow to react on a wet road, but managed to pull off a late manoeuvre to avoid a head-on collision. l

Bullish Federer aiming for Lochte holds off Phelps in 200 IM duel more hard court success n Reuters

n

AFP, Cincinnati

A weekend title defeat in Canada did not dent the hopes of a resurgent Roger Federer as the world number three keeps to a steady pace in his buildup to the US Open.

The Swiss, who turned 33 last week, said that his 7-5, 7-6 (7/2) finals loss in Toronto to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was a disappointment but also a huge chance to gather more information on the current state of his game, which is bolstered by a new racquet.

While the Swiss missed out on his third title of the season after playing in seven finals, he did start putting the pieces in place as he begins as second seed at this week’s final US Open tuneup, the Cincinnati Masters.

“I’m overall pretty happy that I made the finals in my first tournament back on hard courts,” Federer said after going down to Tsonga. “I had a few tough matches which clearly gave me a lot of information.

“I know what I need to work on the

next few days and next few weeks, which is good to know what I need to do other than feeling lost. I wish I could have played a bit better in the final, but the facts were that it was tough for me.

“There were things I could have done better, but overall it was a positive week. I go away from this feeling good about my chances and also at the US Open and for the rest of the season.

“It’s another good tournament for me, which I’m happy about.”

Federer will be bidding to win his sixth trophy in Cincinnati - where the women are also competing. After a first-round bye he starts in the second round with the winner from Canadian Vasek Pospisil and Czech veteran Radek Stepanek.

Toronto protagonists made their way quickly to Cincinnati for the week of polish on the hardcourt, with Tsonga flying out of Canada on Sunday night with his team to be ready for Monday practice in Ohio. Federer also had a late afternoon session in the steamy heat which always characterises the week in the midwest. l

Ryan Lochte held off a fast-finishing Michael Phelps to win the 200 meters individual medley at the U.S. National Championships in Irvine, California on Sunday.

Trailing by almost a second and a half at one point, Phelps displayed his famous finishing kick and nearly made up the deficit in the final 50 meters to bring the crowd to its feet.

Lochte, the world record holder in the event, touched first in a time of 1:56.50, just ahead of Phelps in 1:56.55.

For Phelps, the result was a positive sign that his comeback from retirement is on the right track.

In the most significant meet since Phelps launched his comeback in May, the 18-times Olympic champion finished seventh in the 100m freestyle on Wednesday and second in the 100m butterfly on Friday.

The meet is also serving as a qualifier for the Pan Pac Championships in Australia later this month.

Phelps was slow out of the blocks and ceded control to Lochte, who was on world record pace over the first 50.

But Phelps turned on the afterburners down the stretch of his finishing freestyle, bringing back memories of previous dramatic wins during his storied career.

Five-time Olympic gold medalist Lochte earned his first medal

of the meet.

The face of U.S. men’s swimming after Phelps retired, Lochte has been working on a comeback of his own. He was competing in his second meet since tearing his MCL earlier in the year. l

Michael Phelps swims in a 200m individual medley heat to advance to the final in the 2014 USA National Championships at William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Complex REUTERS

Kaneria loses final legal challenge Collapse led Farah to miss Commonwealth Games against life ban n AFP, London Former Pakistan international Danish Kaneria has lost his final legal challenge in an English court against a life ban imposed by the England and Wales Cricket Board for spot-fixing while playing for county side Essex, it was announced Tuesday.

Judge Stanley Burton, sitting in England’s Court of Appeal, said an application by Kaneria to appeal against a life ban imposed by the ECB in June 2012, was “totally without merit”.

Burton also decided Kaneria, who has made several attempts to get his ban overturned, could not request the decision be reconsidered at an oral hearing.

His rulings mean Kaneria has exhausted all the legal options available to him in England to appeal a life ban which, under reciprocal arrangements between all members of the International Cricket Council, means the 33-year-old leg-spinner is barred from playing cricket worldwide.

ECB chairman Giles Clarke, responding to the Court of Appeal’s announcement, said in a statement: “ECB welcomes today’s decision to dismiss the application by Mr Kaneria to appeal the

life ban imposed for his corrupt activity.

“Mr Kaneria acted as a recruiter of potential ‘spot-fixers’ and used his seniority and international experience to target and corrupt a young and vulnerable player.”

Clarke added: “It is high time that Mr Kaneria came clean about his involvement in these corrupt activities and stopped misleading the Pakistan cricket fans and wider public with his empty protestations of innocence.

“We once again urge him to apologise publicly for his past actions and to start the process of redeeming himself by supporting the Pakistan Cricket Board’s anti-corruption initiatives and assisting the police and law enforcement bodies in the Asian sub-continent with the vital job of exposing and cutting off the primary source of cricket corruption.”

In May, Britain’s High Court rejected Kaneria’s bid to overturn the ban imposed by ECB for encouraging a teammate to bowl badly on purpose as part of a spot-fixing scam.l

n AFP, Zurich

Mo Farah, the reigning world and Olympic 5,000m and 10,000m champion, missed the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow because he collapsed and knocked himself out on a bathroom floor and spent four days in hospital.

The 31-year-old British runner explained the full reason for his absence from Glasgow after arriving in Zurich for the European Athletics Championships, where he will contest the 10,000m on Wednesday and the 5,000m on Friday.

He had originally withdrawn from the England team for the Commonwealth Games citing a lack of fitness after suffering from illness in the wake of his disappointing eighth-placed finish on his marathon debut in London in April.

“I basically had a tooth taken out because it was chipped and it got infected,” said Farah, in an interview with BBC television.

“I was in a bit of pain, but went for a run, and when I came back I literally collapsed on the bathroom floor, completely knocked out.

“I had my phone in my pocket, so when I woke up and became conscious I called Cam Levins, my training partner - the Canadian guy who came third in the 10,00m at the Commonwealth Games - and he came round and got me onto my bed.

“I was in so much pain from my stomach, and so he called an ambulance and it took me to hospital. I then had to be airlifted to the main hospital as they thought something was going on with my heart.

“It was just crazy. I was in hospital for four days and it was scary, but these things happen.

“I missed quite a lot of running. I would have loved to have come back and continued the road to the Commonwealth Games. I didn’t want to disappoint my fans and all those who had bought tickets, but I just wasn’t ready. I was nowhere near ready.”l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Substandard pharmaceuticals to be inspected again Probe committee members unhappy about cat-and-mouse game with their reports erations after filing writs with courts. n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Some of the companies whose licences The government has issued directives for the re-inspection of 46 pharmaceuticals, including 29 companies that allegedly posed “high risk” to public health, that were earlier identified as manufacturers of substandard drugs.

In a meeting chaired by lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim on Sunday, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health Ministry directed a probe committee of drug specialists to reinspect the companies and submit a report within four months.

Dhaka University’s pharmacy department Professor ABM Faruque, who heads the probe committee and was present at Sunday’s meeting, told the Dhaka Tribune that the previous inspection reports were also discussed at the meeting at great lengths.

However, seeking anonymity, a member of the probe committee told the Dhaka Tribune that the move was a “laughable decision,” adding that the “cat-and-mouse game” of inspections and re-inspections have been going on for the past three years.

He also questioned the need for a re-inspection when two more inspections had already been carried out by the probe body.

When asked about the discontent among probe committee members, Prof Faruque admitted that it was true that some members were unhappy regarding the re-inspection, but added that the team would carry out the directive for the welfare of the people and the country.

Asked about the consequences of the past inspections, Health Secretary MM Niazuddin said actions have already been taken against some companies, but they were now continuing op-

were previously scrapped were now claiming to have improved their infrastructure, he added.

Echoing the secretary, Selim Barami, director at the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), said recent inspections by the DGDA have found that some of the accused companies have improved over the past few years. These companies urged the parliamentary body to carry out a fresh inspection to reassess their status, Barami added.

However, there are allegations that the accused pharmaceuticals have spent millions to bribe politicians and bureaucrats to delay the procedure of punitive action against them.

The eight-member probe committee, led by ABM Faruque, was formed following the deaths of at least 24 children who died after consuming paracetamol syrup of the Rid Pharmaceuticals Ltd in 2009.

The pool of drug specialists visited around 200 pharmaceuticals and submitted its first inspection report in 2011, identifying 62 companies as producers of fake medicines and suspending the licence of 19 companies.

Later in January 2013, the parliamentary body again directed the drug experts to re-inquire on the 62 companies and submit a fresh report in three months.

During its fresh round of investigations, the committee identified 29 companies as manufacturers of drugs that posed high risk to public health.

Recently, the drug directorate issued show-cause explanation notice to the accused pharmaceuticals as well as submitting the latest probe report at Sunday’s meeting. l

HSC results today

BNP backtracks from tough movement strategy

n Tribune Report

The results for this year’s Higher Secondary Certificate examinations will be published today.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid is expected to ceremonially hand over the results to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the morning and then formally announce the results at the Secretariat at 1pm.

Following the formal announcement, the results will be made available at colleges.

This year, a total of 1,141,374 students from 8,104 colleges took part in the examinations held between April, May and June.

However, the education board had to postpone the English Second Paper examination because of a widespread allegation that there had been a question paper leak.

The results will also be available at education board’s website and through SMS service from mobile operators. l

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

Despite repeated announcements of waging vigorous anti-government movements after Eid-ul-Fitr, the BNP has apparently backtracked from its stance as the party is not prepared to do so right now.

Before Eid, the BNP had tried to establish the idea that it was going to launch a tough anti-government movement. But the reality is that the party has not made any preparations whatsoever towards that end.

Even if there are issues, it has not been able to create an environment for a strong movement over the past few months.

One reason behind this is that the process to reorganise the party is taking much longer than expected. As a result, the party has not been able to come up with a comprehensive plan. Therefore, after the Eid vacations, it resumed activities by pegging the international issue of the Israeli offensive in Gaza instead of trying to push any national issue.

In an apparent violation of an order from the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, plainclothes policemen carry out a drive in the capital’s Karwan Bazar slum yesterday

United Air flight escapes mid-air collision n Tribune Report

A United Airways flight headed to Dhaka from Muscat with 148 on board averted a mid-air collision with a Saudi Arabian flight inside Kolkata airspace yesterday.

Although the Kolkata Traffic Air Control refused to comment on the matter, the Indian Airports Authority is believed to have ordered an enquiry into the incident, reported Indian television NDTV. Captain Ariful Islam of Bangladesh’s United Airways said his plane came within “visual distance” of an aircraft flying towards him.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and her senior party colleagues warned of a so-called tough movement after Eid if the government did not discuss the issue of letting a non-partisan government oversee future national elections with them.

Khaleda said on several occasions that her party would first finish the reorganisation process and then go for a tough movement.

People witnessed violent street protests before the January 5 election when the capital remained virtually isolated from the rest of the country for about a month.

The BNP-led 20-party alliance yesterday announced a 13-day programme, including a black flag procession, demonstrations and district tours starting August 16.

The alliance will kick off its programmes with a black-flag procession protesting Israel’s recent attacks on Gaza.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the

He said that the sky was clear and he “had a visual” of the approaching flight, believed to be a Saudi Airlines cargo plane.

When the United Airways flight was about 270 miles from Dhaka and flying at 33,000 feet, Kolkata Air Traffic Control instructed Captain Ariful to descend to 29,000 feet.

However, when the plane began to descend as instructed, the on-board warning system – Traffic Collision Avoidance System – went off and alerted that a flight was approaching directly at 32,000 feet.

l Black-flag procession on August 16

l Protest rallies on August 19

l Alliance leaders tour

districts August 21-31

agitation plan at the party’s Nayapaltan headquarters at a press briefing.

The processions will be brought out across the country on August 16. Protest rallies will be staged on August 19 against the new broadcast policy at the capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan, where Khaleda may be present as the chief guest.

The alliance leaders will go for mass contact programmes around the country during August 21-31.

When asked why the BNP was opting for a soft programme, a senior leader said the party was focusing more on

He immediately alerted the Kolkata Air Traffic Control and ascended to 33,000 feet again.

“There had been some mistake. All conversations have been recorded and can be checked,” Captain Islam told NDTV. Normally, there has to be a height difference of at least 1,000 feet between flight routes.

The Saudi Airlines flight was possibly a cargo flight from Hong Kong to Jeddah.

However, the details of the flight have yet to be confirmed. l

its reorganising process in order to rejuvenate the leaders at all levels.

“There are many political strategies which can be used to mount pressure on the government. It is one of our strategies to put pressure on the government and also simultaneously rejuvenate the grassroots. There is no chance of waging any movement right now. Our movement may pick up pace after Eid-ul-Azha and in the meantime the reorganising process would be completed. A comprehensive plan will be finalised by this time.”

He also said if they waged any movement now, the party leaders and activists would be arrested and the movement would fail. “So we are thinking of a comprehensive plan before waging any vigorous movement.”

Safiul Alam Prodhan, president of Jagpa, a partner in the 20-party alliance, said: “We are now announcing soft programmes. The tough programmes will come gradually. In the meantime, the alliance partners will reorganise their parties.” l

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Bodies of 13 migrants not to be brought back n Rabiul Islam Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Secretary Khondaker Showkat Hossain has said the bodies of 13 Bangladesh migrant workers, who were recently killed in war-torn Libya, will not be brought back home since airports in the country are closed.

“Both the airports at Tripoli and Benghazi are now closed, and it is not possible to bring back the dead bodies,” he said while talking to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. He also noted that it was difficult to preserve the dead bodies in such conditions.

“We have been in contact with the relatives of the deceased migrants and if we get their consent, we will bury the bodies in Libya,” the expat secretary added.

A senior official at the ministry claimed that relatives of five of the dead migrants had given their consent to bury the bodies in Libya.

Of the 13 Bangladeshi workers, five were killed in a missile attack in Tripoli on August 5. They were Monir Mia from Narsinghdi, Milon Hossain from Jenaidah, Moshiur Rahman from Gopalganj, Sheikh Mohammad Milon and Murad, both from Madaripur.

Four other Bangladeshis died from cardiac arrests. They were Md Mokbul Hossain from Comilla, Md Jamal Mia from Kishoreganj, Md Belaet Hossain from Jamalpur and Md Mojid Ali from Manikganj.

Another, Md Selim Ahmed from Moulobhibazar, died a normal death, while Mafuzur Rahman from Noakhali was shot dead, according to a report from the Bangladesh mission in Libya.

However, the particulars of two others, Kamal Bhiyan from Bhramanbaria and Arman Gazi were not available. l

Robin Williams dies in apparent suicide n Tribune Desk

Students of Bailey Road’s Samajik Shikkha Kendro Government Primary School, whose school building was recently demolished, sit for an exam on a footpath in the area yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

Famed American actor and comedian Robin Williams was found dead at his home in California, US, on Monday.

The actor, aged 63, was found unresponsive in his house when an emergency medical team was called in around noon, and was pronounced dead a few minutes later.

The coroner division of Marin County, California suspected that the actor had committed suicide due to asphyxia, according to a statement by Marin County Sheriff’s office.

The legendary actor had been battling depression and addiction for decades. He had two stints in rehab for addiction treatment, and had an open-heart surgery in 2009.

The depression had gotten worse recently, according to Williams’ publicist Mara Buxbaum.

Widely acclaimed as one of the funniest people of all time, Williams rose to fame by playing the role of alien Mork in hit TV series Mork & Mindy in late ’70s. But he garnered a much wider fan base through stand-up comedy, something he had opted to do to overcome his shyness in childhood.

But most of his acting career was devoted to films, although he did appear on stage as well. He was best known for his roles in films like Mrs Doubtfire, Good Morning, Vietnam, Aladdin, Happy Feet 2, Dead Poets Society, Good Will Hunting, and Awakenings.

Nominated for Academy Awards several times, he won an Academy Award in the Best Supporting Actor category for Good Will Hunting. He also won Emmy, Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Grammy awards throughout his career.

Tributes for Williams have been pouring in on social media, with actors, musicians, politicians, fans remembering Williams’ life

and work.

US President Barack Obama issued a statement, saying: The White House released a statement by Barack Obama, who said: “Robin Williams was an airman, a doctor, a genie, a nanny, a president, a professor, a bangarang Peter Pan, and everything in between. But he was one of a kind. He arrived in our lives as an alien - but ending up touching every element of the human spirit.

“He made us laugh. He made us cry, He gave his immeasurable talent freely and generously to those who needed it most.”

The actor’s third and current wife Susan Schneider issued a statement on Monday, saying she had lost her husband and best friend, while the world had lost one of its most beloved artists.

“As he is remembered, it is our hope that the focus will not be on Robin’s death, but on the countless memories of joy and laughter he gave to millions,” she said Zelda Williams, the second among Robin’s three children, took to social media to grieve as well.

“I love you. I miss you. I’ll try to keep looking up,” she wrote, remembering her father. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com

B3 Australia wants India

to be its ‘best partner in business’

B4 US watchdog calls

bitcoin ‘Wild West’ of finance

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

BB: Zero tolerance to financial anomalies by NBFIs

Non-food price soars as July inflation rises to 7.04%

n Tribune Report

Bangladesh Bank has warned nonbank financial institutions (NBFIs) that it would show zero tolerance to any financial irregularity.

Governor Atiur Rahman issued the warning at a meeting with managing directors of NBFIs at the central bank headquarters yesterday.

Deputy Governor SK Sur Chowdhury was also present at the meeting.

Coming out of the meeting, he told the journalists that NBFIs would not get any more consideration from the central bank in case of financial irregularities.

He said the central bank had denied a proposal of increasing documentation fee as it would worsen credit burden on the clients.

Bangladesh Bank also rejected the proposal of not receiving feedback from clients during post-loan-disbursement period and revising the policy on buying luxury cars through lease financing, SK Sur said.

On January 16 Bangladesh Bank had imposed a restriction on spending by the commercial banks to purchase motor vehicles, apparently to prevent buying spree of luxury cars by taking lease financing facility from other banks and financial institutions.

The NBFIs, however, urged the central bank to relax the restriction as it affected their business badly.

The central bank advised the NBFIs to continue their existing lower non-performing loan rate as their current bad loans have decreased through relaxing loan rescheduling

n Kayes Sohel

Bangladesh Bank holds a meeting with non-bank financial institutions at its conference room yesterday facility, said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank who was present at the meeting.

The non-performing loan rate rose to 5.49% in June from 5.45% in March, according to the central bank data.

The total classified loan stood at Tk1,866 crore in June against the total outstanding loan of Tk34,042 crore.

Of the financial institutions, Midas Finance holds the highest classified loans of 32.86%, followed by Premier Leasing 22.43% and FAS Finance and

Investment Ltd 45.45%.

Governor expressed annoyance at three financial institutions for not complying with the capital requirement of Tk100 crore, said Shah Alam, General Manager of Department of Financial Institutions and Markets at the central bank.

They include Midas Finance, GSP Finance and Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company Ltd (BIFC). Of them, Midas Finance already exceeded its scheduled time in April to increase

BB

capital base to Tk100 crore. Other two FIs, however, have time till September to comply with the capital requirement.

Midas Finance already got approval of Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) to issue right shares in order to increase capital.

GSP Finance is in the process of issuing right shares while BIFC will increase its capital through injecting fresh fund, the central bank official said. l

Inflation rose to 7.04% in July, fuelled by soaring non-food prices, after a slight fall in the previous month.

It had eased slightly to 6.97% in June, the final month of the immediate past fiscal year, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

Wage rate also witnessed marginal rise of 0.73% to 8,563.49 points from 8,501.22 points during the period with highest wage increase in Agriculture sector, followed by manufacturing, construction and fishery, the data showed.

“Consumption increased in July due to the Eid festival and Ramadan, pushing up the inflation,” said Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal as he released the data at his office in Dhaka yesterday.

He said it is quite natural for rising inflation in the last month when people were in festive mood.

Food inflation has been recorded at 7.94% in July, a 0.06 percentage points down from that of 8% in the previous month, BBS data showed.

During the period, non-food inflation rose to 5.71% from that of 5.45%.

The planning ministry statement said price of vegetables, fish, flattened rice, meat, spices, milk and other essentials increased.

Increase in prices was also seen in non-food items like clothing, house rent, utensils, health service, transport, education materials and other services in the last month, making impact on the inflation, it said.

New IPO subscription system begins next month

IPO and rights offer approved

n Tribune Report

Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission has approved IPO of Hamid Fabrics and rights offer of stateowned financial institution ICB (Investment Corporation of Bangladesh).

The securities regulator also approved the proposal for raising paid up capital of Active Fine Chemical Industries by selling shares through private placement.

The commission gave nod to the IPO of Hamid Fabrics Ltd that will issue three crore ordinary shares to raise Tk105 crore from the share market, said BSEC in a statement yesterday.

Its offer value of each share is Tk35, including premium of Tk25 per share.

The company’s earnings per share is Tk5.3 and net asset value Tk41.14, according to financial statement ended on June 30, 2013.

The BSEC has also approved the rights offer of ICB for 2.2 crore ordinary shares of Tk100 each at an issue price of Tk500 per share (including a premium of Tk400 per share) totaling Tk105.5 crore.

It will issue one rights share for two

New IPO subscription system through which investors will be able to apply through their respective brokerage firms will begin from September, the securities regulator said yesterday.

To this end, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has asked the twin stock exchanges to take necessary measures to implement the new method, according to a BSEC statement.

Those brokerage firms or depository participants, which are by now ready to adopt the new IPO (initial public offering) subscription method, will begin to take subscription money of an IPO from September on a pilot basis, it said.

Presently, 66 stockbrokers of Dhaka Stock Exchange, 36 of Chittagong Stock Exchange and 16 merchant banks are ready to use the new system, according to the BSEC. The regulator approved the new method of IPO subscription in May and

asked stockbrokers, merchant banks and banks to take preparations to implement the new system.

According to the new IPO application system, IPO subscription will be done through stockbrokers.

The regulator will receive the amount in the investors’ bank accounts and keep the money blocked for the subscription period to remove hassles of handling cheques and reduce IPO subscription time.

The money will then be transferred from the investors’ accounts to the issuer company’s escrow account if the investors get share allotment after IPO lottery.

As per the present procedure, investors need to submit cash or cheques with their applications for IPO shares to their bank accounts where hours wasted standing in queues.

DP is the link between the investor and Central Depository of Bangladesh Ltd (CDBL) that maintains all the account and records. An investor who opens a BO account with a DP can utilise the services offered by CDBL. l

n Tribune Report

FBCCI board tenure extended by three months n

Tribune Report

The incumbent FBCCI board has obtained a government permission to continue office three more months beyond its tenure to complete “organisational works.”

Department of Trade Orgainstions at commerce ministry issued a circular

yesterday extending tenure till February 2015. The two-year term of the board was supposed to end in November 2014.

The apex trade body had, however, appealed for a two-year extension as it has “failed to complete substantial works of construction of its own building including basement,” said com-

merce ministry sources.

When contacted, President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed admitted that the tenure had been extended by three months.

“We get three more months beyond our regular term to make progress in construction works of new FBCCI building at Hatkhola road,” said Kazi Akram.

A commerce ministry official said it has become a trend of FBCCI board to extend tenure as another election nears.

The previous board led by AK Azad also had the tenure extended at the end of their term.

Annisul Huq, Chairman of Mohammadi Group, Abdul Matlub Ahmed, Chairman of Nitol-Niloy Group, AK Azad, Chairman of Hameem Group, and Jasim Uddin, Chairman of Bengal Group, are said to be potential candidates in next FBCCI election. l

existing shares.

Active Fine will issue two crore ordinary shares to raise Tk120 crore from institutional investors. The offer value of such shares is Tk60, including premium of Tk50 a share. Such share will be locked-in for three years.

BSEC asks DSE to suspend executive

Meanwhile, the securities regulator directed Dhaka Stock Exchange to suspend its general manager Khandaker Asad Ullah immediately from his post and take departmental action.

Assad withdrew around Tk6.90 crore from the capital market by managing three accounts in different merchant banks in the name of his wife The commission made the decision after conducting a probe against Asad based on a complain which found evidences of share trading in the name

of him and his wife violating securities rules as well as the DSE service rules, BSEC said.

The BSEC investigation on Asad undoubtedly proved the alleged irregularities against them.

Following the BSEC finding and for the greater interest of the capital market, the commission decided to ask the DSE to suspend Asad from his post and take departmental actions based on the finding, BSEC said.

As per the complain filed with the BSEC in 2013, Assad withdrew around Tk6.90 crore from the capital market by managing three accounts in different merchant banks in the name of his wife.

The accounts of his wife were in the AB Investment, Prime Bank Investment and NCC Securities and Financial Services Limited, it said.

Following the complain, the commission in October last year, formed a three member inquiry committee regarding the allegation on Asad. As per the DSE service rules, none of the employee of the organisation is allowed to trade shares, not even any family member of him. l

Govt to seek opinions before approving Destiny license n Asif Showkat Kallol The government has decided to seek opinion from the stakeholders before giving license to the controversial Multi Level Marketing (MLM) company Destiny 2000 Ltd. We have decided to seek opinion from bankers, stock specialists, businessmen and even the journalists over the advantages and disadvantages in giving the licenses to the controversial MLM companies, said a high official of the commerce ministry.

Registrar of the Joint Stock Companies and Firms (RJSCF), rejected the company’s appeal for license on March 9, this year along with 16 others companies.

Earlier, the ministry’s appellant committee did not allow the Destiny to run its operation as the matter is still pending in court after the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had filed several cases against the activities of the high-ups of the Destiny.

According to the MLM Activities (Control) Ordinance–2003, the govern-

ment will have to give its clarification within seven days from 90 days of the license cancellation of the MLM firms.

After 97 days, the potential MLM firms can take legal steps for obtaining court directives in getting their licenses A 90-day time frame has already been over in case of the license cancellation of the controversial Destiny by RJSCF, according to a commerce ministry source.

The government is now examining the proposal for giving licenses to the MLM company Destiny, senior secretary of the commerce ministry Hedayetullah Al Mamun told Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The commerce ministry had issued a gazette notification on the MLM activities (Control) Ordinance-2003, which went into effect as an ordinance in September 2, 2013. The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) filed two cases in July 2012 against 22 Destiny officials on charge of laundering Tk4,200 crore.

The ACC pressed charges against the Destiny Group Managing Director, Destiny 2000 President Lt. General (retd.)

Harun-Ar-Rashid and 49 others in the two cases on May 4 this year. l

During the period, the rural area hit hard as overall inflation stood at 6.93%, which was 6.73%. But inflationary pressure eased slightly in the urban areas, as it was 7.24% in July from June’s 7.42%.

Bangladesh Bank, in its policy statement (July-December) released last month, said the FY15 inflation target announced in the budget is 6%.

Reducing average inflation from its current 7.4% level may prove to be challenging especially as aggregate demand is likely to pick up in first half of this fiscal and in general twelve-month average inflation, by definition, only changes in an incremental manner, it said.

It said the central bank will continue to focus on achieving its inflation targets while providing sufficient space in its monetary program for lending to activities which support broad-based investment and inclusive growth objectives.

The persisting inflationary pressures over the past few months with the risks ahead related to the inflation outlook imply that achieving the FY15 inflation target of 6.5% will be challenging, it said.

As such BB has decided to keep policy rates unchanged. The Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) was raised in June 2014 by 50 basis points to absorb part of the excess liquidity and help contain inflation – this remains unchanged.

In June, there was a slight uptick in non-food inflation as it rose to 5.45%, perhaps due to increased consumer demand as Eid-ul-Fitr approaches, the monetary policy said. l

Muhith may sit today to appoint MDs of Agrani, BASIC, Grameen n Asif Showkat Kallol Finance Minister AMA Muhith is expected to sit today at his secretariat office in the city to appoint the managing directors of the two state-owned banks and also micro-lender Grameen Bank.

According to the official concerned, the finance minister AMA Muhith will select the managing directors of the two state-owned banks Agrani, specialised BASIC and Grameen Bank.

The meeting will also discuss about the status of a case filed against the search committee of the Grameen Bank as the government now wants quick settlement of the case, they said.

Some of the existing managing directors and ex-managing directors of the state-owned banks including the MD of Agrani Bank SM Aminul Rahman, whose second tenure expired on July 27, have intensified their lobbying to get back the jobs again, said a high official of the Banking Division.

Other existing Managing Directors (MDs) of the state-owned banks are-MD of the state-owned Rupali Bank Farid Uddin, MD of the state-owned Bangladesh Development Bank Limited Dr Md Zillur Rahman, MD of Managing Director of Bangladesh Krishi Bank Md Abdus Salam, and MD of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank Md Mofazzal Husain.

Banking division wants to keep SM Aminul Rahman for another tenure as MD of the state-owned bank Agrani.

He has also intensified his lobbying to the government’s high ups for appointing him MD of the Agrani Bank for sixmonth, before going on retirement.

The board of director of Agrani Bank recently sent a file with the proposed name of SM Aminul Rahman, which will be placed at today’s meeting for getting the consent of the minister, according to Bangladesh Bank sources.

After corporatisation the stateowned banks, only board of directors of the state-owned banks will appoint the Managing Directors after getting consent from the Bangladesh Bank.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) removed the MD of BASIC Bank Limited Kazi Faqurul Islam on May 24 and Fazlus Sobhan was appointed as new MD (in-charge) of the bank.

During today’s meeting, the minister will also discuss the current status of Fazlus Sobhan, who might also be appointed as the MD of the BASIC Bank. l

B2

Profit taking ends six-day rally n Tribune Report Stocks fell yesterday, snapping up the rally for 6th consecutive session, as investors went for booking profits.

The market began with a gain in the morning but started declining on profit booking mainly on telecommunication, pharmaceuticals and food.

Investors seemed to book some profits as they witnessed returns in last few trading sessions The benchmark DSEX fell 38 points or 0.8% to end at 4,565, scaling back from its three month high in the previous session.

The Shariah index shed 13 points or 1.2% to 1,048. The comprising blue chips DS30 was down 13 points or 0.8% to 1,688.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, closed at 8,566 with a drop of 63 points.

Trading at DSE remained sluggish with total turnover falling to Tk680 crore from its previous session’s six-month high of Tk790 crore.

Telecommunications was the

worst sufferer with a loss of more than 2%, followed by pharmaceuticals 1.2% and, food and allied 0.6% respectively. The financial sectors – banks and non-banking financial institutions – edged lower.

Among the large cap sectors only power appreciated by 0.2% while all the other sectors closed in red. Mutual funds were in demand, even though the whole market was going in another direction due to their corporate declarations.

Lanka Bangla Securities said the bull-run took a break after witnessing winning streak in past six consecutive days.

“Investors seemed to book some profits as they witnessed returns in last few trading sessions,” it said.

However, growth in earnings of multinational companies and other manufacturing stocks remains as the biggest trigger in the market, it said.

Zenith Investments said the indices trimmed gains and hit fresh low in late afternoon trade. The stock prices slumped due to profit taking, after steadily rising for the last one week, it said.

MJL Bangladesh Limited topped the liquidity chart once again with Tk36 crore changing hands.

It was followed by Grameenphone, Square Pharmaceuticals, Lafarge Surma Cement, Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company and Active Fine. l

Daily capital market highlights DSE Broad Index :

4526.49573

(-) 0.85%

▼

DSE - 30 Index :

1688.44234

(-) 0.77%

▼

CSE All Share Index:

13953.0212

(-) 0.75%

▼

CSE - 30 Index :

11497.3302

(-) 0.40%

8566.8124

(-) 0.73%

CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSER Company Libra Infusions-A EXIM Bank 1 MF-A Mozaffar H.Spinning-N Active Fine Chem.-A National Tea -A S. Alam CR Steel -A AFC AgroBiotech-A H.R. Textile -A Golden Harvest Agro-N PragatiLife Insu. -A

Closing (% Change) -7.49 -6.17 -5.90 -5.27 -4.76 -4.46 -4.46 -4.40 -4.35 -4.32

CSE LOSER Company Active Fine Chem.-A Marico BD Ltd-A Prime Insur -A Mozaffar H.Spinning-N ICB -A SummitAlliancePort.-A RAK Ceramics-A IDLC Finance -A Sun Life Insurance-N S. Alam CR Steel -A

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Closing (% Change) -6.32 -6.20 -5.85 -5.28 -4.90 -4.61 -4.42 -4.35 -4.26 -4.15

Average (% Change) -7.49 -6.17 -5.36 -3.99 -4.76 -1.92 -3.60 -1.40 -3.77 -4.42 Average (% Change) -4.73 -5.25 -5.85 -3.99 -4.90 -5.25 -3.31 -3.24 -2.39 -1.89

ClosingAvg. 434.80 7.60 31.05 69.60 800.00 32.76 54.33 31.01 31.40 135.05

Closing 434.80 7.60 30.30 68.30 800.00 32.10 53.50 30.40 30.80 135.00

DSE GAINER

DSE key features August 12-2014 6,813.73 151,216,133

Number of Contract

133,334

Traded Issues

293

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

113

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

172

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

8

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,400.46

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

29.10

9.62 6.43 6.25 5.88 5.30 5.17 5.03 4.36 4.08 4.08

Average (% Change) 10.00 9.43 10.36 5.99 6.45 4.58 2.40 4.08 4.10 2.58

Closing (% Change)

Company Mercantile Insur -A Midas Financing-Z AIMS First -A Grameen M F One-A PrimeFin. 1st MF-A IFIC 1st MF-A ICB Sonali Bank 1 MF-A NLI 1st M F-A BSC-A Green Delta M.F.-A

10.00 9.43 8.27 6.92 6.02 5.08 4.65 4.35 4.04 4.00

ClosingAvg.

Closing

42.76 41.37 5.09 5.44 59.65 6.09 20.56 79.23 5.05 5.14

DHIGH

43.30 41.40 5.10 5.40 59.60 6.10 20.90 79.00 5.10 5.10

ClosingAvg.

Closing

18.70 17.40 43.13 41.42 17.67 6.17 8.95 9.43 578.06 5.16

43.40 42.40 5.20 5.50 60.00 6.20 21.20 81.50 5.20 5.20

38.00 37.00 4.90 5.30 55.50 5.30 18.90 68.50 4.90 5.00

DHIGH

18.70 17.40 43.20 41.70 17.60 6.20 9.00 9.60 573.50 5.20

Turnover in Million

DLOW

Turnover in Million

DLOW

18.70 17.40 43.80 42.40 18.00 6.20 9.00 9.60 589.00 5.20

60.690 23.558 0.753 0.664 0.244 2.337 2.960 113.837 2.759 4.594

18.70 17.40 40.90 40.00 17.40 6.10 8.70 9.00 565.00 4.90

0.075 0.009 3.235 1.243 0.477 0.009 0.273 0.222 15.035 0.116

Latest EPS

Latest EPS

8.6 12.2 6.1 -ve 12.7 12.4 13.5 9.6 6.9 8.0

Latest PE

2.00 -6.91 5.00 3.40 1.64 0.49 1.60 1.41 23.48 0.83

9.4 -ve 8.6 12.2 10.8 12.6 5.6 6.7 24.6 6.2

12-Aug

MON 11-Aug

10-Aug

SUN

Latest PE

5.00 3.40 0.83 -0.56 4.68 0.49 1.52 8.29 0.73 0.64

TUE

Capital Market Highlights: THU 07-Aug

TUE 05-Aug WED 06-Aug

CSE key features August 12-2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

467.22

Turnover (Volume)

11,464,467

Number of Contract

16,601

Traded Issues

227

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

88

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

133 5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,295.87

▼ ▼

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.83

434.80 8.00 32.70 72.00 800.00 35.00 61.00 31.90 32.60 139.00

AIMS First -A Grameen M F One-A Green Delta M.F.-A AIBL 1st Is. M. F.-A Reliance Insur -A IFIC 1st MF-A Provati Insur.-A Titas Gas TDCLA Prime Bank 1st MF-A ICB AMCL3rd NRB MF-A CSE GAINER

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

DHIGH

Average (% Change) 10.92 5.75 2.41 4.21 4.47 2.35 2.54 4.98 1.61 2.19

Closing (% Change)

Company

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Turnover in Million

DLOW 434.80 7.40 30.10 65.00 800.00 32.00 51.00 29.50 29.00 133.10

0.522 0.114 26.288 237.328 0.040 6.545 33.769 5.759 15.677 1.418

Turnover in Million

ClosingAvg.

Closing

DHIGH

DLOW

69.32 1,013.71 19.30 31.30 1,900.00 27.27 43.58 52.90 50.28 32.66

68.20 1,010.00 19.30 30.50 1,900.00 26.90 43.20 52.80 49.40 32.30

71.00 1,018.00 19.30 32.20 1,900.00 28.30 45.10 55.20 51.00 33.30

67.60 1,010.00 19.30 30.40 1,900.00 26.50 42.90 52.30 49.40 32.10

13.392 0.355 0.005 1.675 0.095 2.012 2.423 3.576 0.126 1.519

Latest EPS 4.20 0.71 2.27 3.30 -27.68 2.08 2.84 1.75 1.55 2.38

Latest EPS 3.30 59.28 1.28 2.27 53.53 0.96 1.76 3.04 0.00 2.08

Latest PE 103.5 10.7 13.7 21.1 -ve 15.8 19.1 17.7 20.3 56.7

Latest PE 21.0 17.1 15.1 13.8 35.5 28.4 24.8 17.4 15.7

News from trade servers ACTIVEFINE: (H/Y): As per un-audited half yearly accounts as on 30.06.2014 (Jan'14 to June'14), the Company has reported net profit after tax of Tk. 136.63 million with EPS of Tk. 1.65 as against Tk. 181.97 million and Tk. 2.20 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

Whereas net profit after tax was Tk. 59.72 million with EPS of Tk. 0.72 for the period of 3 months (Apr'14 to June'14) ended on 30.06.2014 as against Tk. 91.43 million and Tk. 1.10 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

SOUTHEASTB: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors has decided to increase Authorized Capital of the Company from Tk. 1,000.00 crore to Tk. 1,500.00 crore subject to approval of the shareholders in the EGM and Regulatory Authorities. Date of EGM: 18.09.2014, Time of EGM: 11:00 AM, Venue: Jalsha Ghar, Hotel Purbani International, 1, Dilkusha C/A, Dhaka-1000. Record Date for EGM: 24.08.2014.

COMPANY NEWS: Khulna Printing & Packaging Limited: Trading of the shares of Khulna Printing & Packaging Limited will commence at DSE from August 18, 2014 under 'N' category. DSE Trading Code for Khulna Printing & Packaging Limited is "KPPL" and DSE Company Code is 19511.

EBL1STMF, TRUSTB1MF, IFIC1STMF, 1JANATAMF, FBFIF, EXIM1STMF: As per regulation 30 of DSE Listing Regulations, the

Asset Manager of the Fund has informed that a meeting of the Trustees Committee of the Fund will be held on August 13, 2014 at 2:30 PM to consider, among others, audited financial statements of the Fund for the year ended on June 30, 2014.

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 10-14 August 2014, NRB upto 23 August 2014. @ taka 35, face value taka 10 and market lot 100.

Right Share: MIDASFIN: Subscription period for rights issue will be from 01.09.2014 to 30.09.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 03.08.2014.

Dividend/AGM APEXFOODS: 20% cash, AGM: 28.09.2014, Record date: 21.08.2014.

APEXTANRY: 45% cash, AGM: 23.09.2014, Record date: 27.08.2014.

NLI1STMF: 12% cash, Record date: 25.08.2014.

SEBL1STMF: 12% cash, Record date: 25.08.2014.

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.

SANDHANINS: 25.50% stock, EGM and AGM: 06.09.2014, Record Date for EGM and AGM: 16.07.2014.

BDSERVICE: 15% stock, AGM: 25.08.2014, Record Date: 14.07.2014.

SALVOCHEM: 10% stock, AGM: 27.08.2014, Record date: 25.06.2014.

MARICO: 50% final cash, AGM: 19.08.2014, RD: 02.07.2014.

ASIAPACINS: 12% cash, AGM: 14.08.2014, RD: 08.05.2014.

Change of DSE Broad Index vs Sectoral Index

DSE BroadIndex

FuelPowerIndex

3% 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%

The stock prices slumped due to profit taking, after steadily rising for the last one week

- 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 500.98 184.32 278.18 795.32 245.48 1070.77 1.98 619.71 1061.88 0.63 81.27 77.71 29.69 510.68 39.36 69.66 75.60 625.98 110.52 433.63 0.38

% change 7.35 2.71 4.08 11.67 3.60 15.71 0.03 9.10 15.58 1.19 1.14 0.44 7.49 0.58 1.02 1.11 9.19 1.62 6.36 0.01

Million Taka 25.46 11.61 14.51 52.34 14.20 63.58 43.52 59.69 13.03 3.47 18.01 3.88 43.13 4.80 1.21 4.83 62.23 21.34 44.15 0.00

CSE

% change 5.04 2.30 2.87 10.36 2.81 12.59 0.00 8.62 11.82 2.58 0.69 3.57 0.77 8.54 0.95 0.24 0.96 12.32 4.23 8.74 0.00

Million Taka 526.43 195.93 292.69 847.66 259.68 1134.35 1.98 663.23 1121.57 13.66 84.74 95.72 33.57 553.81 44.16 70.87 80.43 688.21 131.85 477.78 0.38

Total

% change 7.19 2.68 4.00 11.58 3.55 15.50 0.03 9.06 15.32 0.19 1.16 1.31 0.46 7.57 0.60 0.97 1.10 9.40 1.80 6.53 0.01

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company MJL BD Ltd.-A Grameenphone-A Square Pharma -A LafargeS Cement-Z BD Submarine Cable-A Active Fine Chem.-A BSC-A Appollo Ispat CL -N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Golden Son -A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BD Submarine Cable-A LafargeS Cement-Z BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Grameenphone-A Appollo Ispat CL -N BSC-A Square Pharma -A Active Fine Chem.-A MJL BD Ltd.-A Padma Oil Co. -A

VolumeShares 3,625,766 1,039,992 1,194,738 2,892,500 1,457,463 3,409,834 367,715 6,873,800 5,548,939 2,836,485

Value in Million 361.02 349.56 336.12 288.01 276.42 237.33 212.78 209.62 194.07 135.51

% of TotalTurnover 5.30 5.13 4.93 4.23 4.06 3.48 3.12 3.08 2.85 1.99

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

187,400 321,000 795,784 79,200 631,000 26,010 50,507 193,200 132,586 34,520

35.57 31.98 27.81 26.66 19.27 15.04 14.22 13.39 13.20 11.93

7.72 6.94 6.03 5.78 4.18 3.26 3.09 2.91 2.86 2.59

ClosingP 98.60 330.90 278.90 96.80 187.60 68.30 571.75 29.80 34.50 47.00

ClosingP

188.40 96.90 34.60 331.40 29.80 573.50 280.30 68.20 98.50 342.10

Change % -3.80 -2.68 -2.17 -2.02 3.59 -5.27 3.25 -1.65 1.47 -0.63

Change %

3.80 -1.42 1.47 -2.39 -1.00 4.04 -1.72 -6.32 -3.90 0.35

ClosingY 102.50 340.00 285.10 98.80 181.10 72.10 553.75 30.30 34.00 47.30

ClosingY

181.50 98.30 34.10 339.50 30.10 551.25 285.20 72.80 102.50 340.90

DHIGH

DLOW

103.00 344.90 287.50 102.20 194.40 72.00 584.50 31.40 37.00 48.80

92.30 329.00 265.00 96.30 163.70 65.00 560.00 29.60 30.60 42.80

DHIGH

DLOW

194.00 99.90 35.70 341.00 31.30 589.00 285.40 71.00 99.90 350.00

182.00 100.00 34.30 330.00 29.70 565.00 278.50 67.60 100.00 340.70

AvgPrice 99.57 336.12 281.34 99.57 189.66 69.60 578.66 30.50 34.97 47.77

AvgPrice

189.83 99.63 34.95 336.60 30.53 578.06 281.62 69.32 99.53 345.51

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

Australia wants India to be its ‘best partner in business’ n BSS

Describing India as “natural partner”, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has said that her country was seeking to elevate its status with India to ‘Best partner in business’ from business partners.

“Australia and India are most certainly ‘Partners in Business’ but natural partners across the board. The Coalition Government is seeking to elevate Australia to the status of India’s ‘best partner in business’,” Bishop told a gathering of high-profile business leaders and attendees at Australia India Business Council (AIBC) in Sydney recently.

“Sure, we have a healthy trade relationship - two-way trade was valued at more than 15bn dollars last year - but we can do better than that. At the end of last year, Indian investment in Australia was about 11bn dollars but this Government is determined to make it easier for India to investors to invest in this country,” she said.

Lauding the AIBC for its commitment to forge and foster ties between the two sides, Bishop said: “one of the common refrains about the bilateral relationship is that it is one of great potential but never quite realized.”

However, she said the relationship was now on move which was unstoppable with the two new governments which were both committed to economic reform and open for business.

Bishop said that Australian government was looking forward to the two major meetings between the two Prime Ministers - Tony Abbot and Narendra Modi - later this year.

Abbott is said to visit India next month while Modi is expected to attend G20 meet this November in Brisbane.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop seen in New York “We’re going to see our two action men, our two action Prime Ministers together on the world stage very shortly. They both have ambitious infrastructure agendas and with so much in common between our two leaders, we recognise the opportunity to broaden and deepen what is a strong relationship but could be far stronger,” Bishop said.

“A surging Indian economy, Australia as a provider of resources and energy and the services that a dynamic India will require, we are natural partners,” she said while reiterating that her government was hoping to take the ties with India to a new and higher level.

“While Australia has traditionally defined our place in the world, as the Asia Pacific, this Government now looks west to encompass India as a crucial part of our region,” she said.

REUTERS

Bishop is set to visit India to attend the next Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue later this year.

“These high-level contacts and visits just underscores that we recognise that India is not only our neighbour, a major trading partner, a key strategic ally but a friend,” Bishop said.

“Australia and India already have a solid base of trust and mutual respect from which we can take this relationship to greater heights. We already work together in the G20, the East Asia Summit and we are the troika along with Indonesia of the Indian Ocean Rim Association.

“We are negotiating a closer Economic Partnership Agreement. We hope to conclude a civilian nuclear cooperation agreement to supply Australian uranium for India’s energy needs.

We have closer defence and military co-operation.”

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Wednesday, August 13, 2014

She also elaborated on the large presence of Indian diaspora in Australia and said while nearly half a million Australians were of Indian origin and some 10,000 Australians called India home, India was the largest source of skilled migrants.

She said the government’s new signature initiative - The New Colombo Plan - is expected to see young Australia to engage with India.

Referring to Indian firm Adani’s Mining Company project into developing the Carmichael coal deposit in Queensland, Bishop said, “This project is planned as a 60 million tonne a year mine, which will rank it as one of the largest in the world. Other companies including GVK Hancock, Jindal Steel, Bhushan Steel and Mahindra Aerospace have already discovered the benefits of investing in Australia. And there are good opportunities for further investment in resources, energy, research and technology.”

“It’s not all one way. Australia invests in India - with resource and infrastructure projects of around 10 billion dollars. Australian companies are very keen to partner with Indian companies to take advantage of their local knowledge and reputation, to forge markets in India. BlueScope - a name synonymous with the genesis of steel making in Australia - is partnering with Tata Steel in what has been called a union of equals,” she said.

Australia is also helping to address India’s need for food security through Australian expertise in areas such as fodder management and cool chain logistics.

Other dignitaries present during the occasion were New South wales Premier Mike Baird, Indian High Commissioner Biren Nanda and AIBC National Chair Dipen Rughani. l

Japan to invest $1.78m in Comilla EPZ n Tribune Business Desk Fully Papanese owned JB Networks Company Limited will invest US$1.78 million to establish a leather products plant in Comilla EPZ. A 2350 square meter standard factory building has been allotted by BEPZA to this company in accordance with the reflection of MoU between BEPZA and JETRO which was signed in presence of Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina in Tokyo, reports BSS. At least 1,078 Bangladeshi nationals will produce annually 1 million pieces of different types of leather products in this factory. Mentionable products are Leather Strap, Grip, Camera Bags, Camera lens Case, Leather Leash and different type of bags and collar etc.

An agreement to this effect was signed between Mr. Sayed Nurul Islam, Member (Investment Promotion) of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority and Mr. Fujikawa Masaru, Managing Director of JB Networks Co. Ltd. at BEPZA Complex in Dhaka on

Monday.

Major General Mohd. Habibur Rahman Khan, ndc,psc, Executive Chairman and Mr. Kei Kawano, Country Representative, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Bangladesh attended the signing ceremony.

At least 1,078 Bangladeshi nationals will produce annually 1 million pieces of different types of leather products in this factory Among others, Mr. Md. Shawkat Nabi, Secretary, Mr, AZM Azizur Rahman, General Manager (Investment Promotion), Mrs. Nazma Binte Alamgir, General Manager (Public Relations) of BEPZA and Mr. Suzuki Mikio, Chief Executive Officer of JB Networks were present there. l

Gold down slightly on stronger U.S. equities n CHICAGO, Xinhua Gold futures on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange fell slightly yesterday as U.S. equities strengthened.

The most active gold contract for December delivery lost US$0.5 or 0.04% to settle at $1,310.5 per ounce.

Gold was almost unchanged on Monday with the main benchmarks of U.S. stocks bouncing off their recent lows, as geopolitical tensions in Ukraine and Middle East somewhat eased.

The supporting factor for gold was remarks by Federal Reserve Vice Chairman Stanley Fischer that the global recovery was disappointing. Analysts say his speech suggest interest rates may stay lower for longer.

With no major economic data due Monday, investors are looking ahead to U.S. July retail sales scheduled for release on Wednesday.

Silver for September delivery gained 15.4 cents, or 0.77%, to close at $20.095 per ounce. Platinum for October delivery lost $6.7, or 0.45%, to close at $1,471.6 per ounce. l

Dollar extends gains in Asia Oil prices down on ebbing supply fears n AFP, Tokyo The dollar extended its gains in Asia yesterday, recovering from a sharp fall last week fuelled by Washington’s announcement that it had authorised air strikes in Iraq.

The dollar strengthened to 102.29 yen in afternoon Tokyo trade, against 102.21 yen in New York.

The euro was quoted at $1.3375 and 136.81 yen, from $1.3383 and 136.79 yen in New York as concerns persisted over a possible Russian military incursion into eastern Ukraine.

“As the geopolitical factors have been factored in, the market continues to see a retreat in risk-off moves, which supported dollar-buying sentiment against the yen,” said Yasuaki Amatatsu, analyst at the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ. “The prospect for a steady recovery of the US economy is also behind the dollar-buying sentiment.”

Investors tend to buy the yen in times of uncertainty and turmoil.

The dollar rallied Monday after plunging last week on President Barack Obama’s announcement that he had authorised air strikes on Iraq along with humanitarian supply drops to prevent a “genocide” by Islamist extremists.

Dealers are now moving their focus to an annual economics conference in the United States later this month to be attended by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen.

The dollar was mixed against other Asia-Pacific currencies.

It rose to Sg$1.2503 from Sg$1.2493 on Tuesday, to 11,681.30 Indonesian rupiah from 11,667.50 rupiah, to 61.12 Indian rupees from 61.09 rupees and to Tw$30.02 from Tw$29.98.

The dollar weakened to 32.08 Thai baht from 32.12 baht, to 1,027.15 South Korean won from 1,035.35 won and to 43.86 Philippine pesos from 43.91 pesos.

The Australian dollar slipped to 92.61 US cents from 92.82 cents, while the Chinese yuan was higher at 16.61 yen against 16.59 yen. l

n AFP, Singapore Oil prices fell in Asia yesterday on easing concerns about supply disruptions arising out of conflicts in Ukraine and Iraq, analysts said.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for September delivery eased 33 cents to $97.75 while Brent crude for September was down 38 cents to $104.30 in afternoon trade.

Singapore’s United Overseas Bank said investors are taking “a more optimistic view on Ukraine and Iraq al-

though developments in these troubled regions remain on their radar”.

In Iraq, the OPEC cartel’s numbertwo producer, US air strikes that began last week have buoyed Kurdish forces who are battling to turn the tide on two months of expansion in the north by Islamic State extremists.

Investors also cheered President Fuad Masum’s acceptance of Haidar alAbadi as the embattled country’s next prime minister, in place of the muchcriticised Nuri al-Maliki.

The jihadists have overrun forces

controlled by al-Maliki’s government in the country’s north and west, and have declared a “caliphate” in those areas.

Disruptions in supply to neighbouring Turkey and Jordan have hit Iraq hard as it is heavily dependent on oil revenues while spending more to battle the Islamic State.

In Ukraine, concerns have eased about a Russian invasion into east Ukraine. Moscow said Monday a humanitarian convoy it is dispatching into the conflict-torn zone will not involve its military.

Western nations have warned that the mission could be a cover for sending in troops into the area, which is controlled by pro-Russian militia.

Ukraine is a key conduit of Russian gas exports to Europe, and there are fears a full-blown conflict will disrupt supplies.

Desmond Chua, market analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore, said markets were buoyed by the “uncanny coincidences of de-escalating crises in the trifecta hotspots,” referring to east Ukraine, Iraq and the Gaza Strip. l

Intel sees lighter, cooler laptops with new chip n AFP, San Francisco

Intel on Monday unveiled a new line of microprocessors aimed at powering thinner and cooler personal computers and other devices.

The chip code-named Broadwell “will be used to manufacture a wide range of

high-performance to low-power products including servers, personal computing devices and Internet of Things.”

One of the advantages of the chip is its small form factor, allowing for PCs that may not need cooling fans which take up space and create noise.

It uses a 14-nanometer fabrication

process that allows more circuits to be placed on the chip than its predecessors.

“The combination of the new microarchitecture and manufacturing process will usher in a wave of innovation in new form factors, experiences and systems that are thinner and run silent and cool,” Intel said in a statement.

Intel remains the world’s biggest producer of chips for personal computers but has been lagging in the surging mobile marketplace of tablets and smartphones.

It has been working to get a bigger slice of the mobile market, and its new chip offers a promise of lighter PCs that can better compete with tablets. l

Bangladesh Commerce Bank Training Institute has recently organised a training workshop on business development and customer care. Abu Sadek Md. Sohel, CEO and MD of Bangladesh Commerce Bank has inaugurated the course as chief guest

National Bank Ltd has recently signed an agreement with Dnet, a project-implementing organisation on Infolady project financing. Salima Akther, the bank’s head of CRM-V and Dr Ananya Raihan, executive director of Dnet have signed the agreement at the bank’s board room

Farmer Query System, a mobile-based agro advisory service developed by mPower Social Enterprises Ltd has recently won the mBillionth award 2014 in mAgriculture category.

Mridul Chowdhury, founder and CEO of mPower has received the award at a ceremony held in India JB Networks Company Limited, a Japanese company has announced to invest $1.78m for establishing a plant for leather products in Comilla EPZ. An agreement on this regard was signed between Sayed Nurul Islam, member (investment promotion) of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority and Fujikawa Masaru, managing director of JB Networks Co Ltd in Dhaka on August 11

Pubali Bank Training Institute has recently held a workshop on core risk in banking for 29 officers and executives of Pubali Bank. The bank MD and CEO, Helal Ahmed Chowdhury attended the workshop as chief guest

Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) and bKash recently launched a pilot phase of mobile financial services at a ceremony held in Mirpur. The bank’s managing director Md Abdus Salam FCA and Kamal Quadir, CEO of bKash inaugurated the pilot phase jointly

Standard Bank Limited’s training institute has recently held an induction course for its newly recruited trainee assistant officers. The bank’s MD and CEO, Md Nazmus Salehin was present on the occasion

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

US watchdog calls bitcoin ‘Wild West’ of finance n Reuters, Washington Virtual currencies such as bitcoin are the “Wild West” of financial products because of risks including huge swings in exchange rates, the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said on Monday.

“Virtual currencies are not backed by any government or central bank, and at this point consumers are stepping into the Wild West when they engage in the market,” CFPB Director Richard Cordray said in a statement.

In a consumer advisory, the agency noted that bitcoin fell as much 80% against the US dollar in a single day this year, exposing investors to massive potential losses.

Other risks include the fact that online or virtual currencies have been a target for hackers while some virtual currency companies have provided little help in cases where funds were

Google and Asian firms laying US-Japan underwater cable n AFP, Tokyo Google is partnering with five Asian telecom firms to build a $300m underwater cable across the Pacific Ocean in a bid to meet surging Internet use.

The project, named FASTER, would see the 9,000-kilometre (5,600 mile) fibre-optic cable stretch from two points in Japan to the United States, with extensions to other Asian locations later on, the companies said.

In the US, the cable would be extended to link major cities on the west coast including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle, they said.

There are several hundred underwater telecom cables that connect various points in the world.

But “the FASTER cable system has the largest design capacity ever built on the Trans-Pacific route, which is one of the longest routes in the world”, Woohyong Choi, chairman of the project’s executive committee, said in the statement.

Also involved in the project are Japanese mobile carrier KDDI, China Mobile International, China Telecom Global, Malaysia’s Global Transit, and Singapore’s SingTel, the statement said.

Japan’s NEC would build the system, which is expected to come into service in the first half of 2016, the firms said.

Google has been involved in similar projects before, including a 2008 deal to build an ultra-high-speed submarine cable to carry Internet and other traffic between Japan and the United States. l

Lavazza to exit coffee shop business in India with Barista sale n Reuters Italy’s Lavazza said it would wrap its coffee shop business in India by selling the Barista chain, a move aimed at freeing the company to focus on its core coffee business.

Lavazza, which bought the cafe brand Barista in 2007, has sold the coffee shop chain to Carnation Hospitality Pvt Ltd, owned by packaging company Rollatainers Ltd, it said in a statement on Tuesday. The company did not disclose the deal value.

The move comes at a time when the world’s No 7 coffee maker by sales is aiming to boost revenue by almost 50% in the next 10 years as it fights to remain independent.

“The decision to move out of Barista has been taken accordingly with the global business guidelines of the group to no longer manage directly the coffee shop business,” Lavazza Chief Executive Antonio Baravalle said in a statement.

The family-owned company, founded by Luigi Lavazza in 1895, will continue to supply Lavazza Coffee to Barista coffee chains as part of a long-term supply agreement, he added. Barista has over 190 outlets.

In India, Western style coffee shops are growing in popularity and competition heats up with the entry of international brands like Gloria Jean’s Coffees and Starbucks Corp competing with local players like Cafe Coffee Day. l

lost or stolen, the CFPB said.

Bitcoin, the best-known virtual currency, started circulating in 2009. Incidents that have brought the currency under new regulatory scrutiny include the failure of Mt Gox, a Tokyo-based exchange that filed for bankruptcy after losing an estimated $650m worth of customer bitcoins.

Unlike conventional money, bitcoin is generated by computers and is independent of control or backing by any government. That is something its proponents like, but it has led to calls for more oversight and guidance on issues including US tax treatment.

The US Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network last year classified administrators or exchangers of bitcoin as money transmitters, which puts them under the remit of state regulators.

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a federal regulator, is

studying whether it has jurisdiction, given that some firms are considering offering bitcoin derivatives.

And the U.S. Internal Revenue Service has designated bitcoin and other virtual currencies as property, not currency, for tax purposes, a decision that made it less attractive to for investors to hold much value in bitcoins.

But the CFPB, a federal agency set up after the 2007-09 financial crisis, had so far been mum on the issue, causing a rebuke from the Government Accountability Office, which said last month the CFPB should step up its role in overseeing bitcoin.

The GAO’s report had been requested by Senator Tom Carper, a Democrat from Delaware, and the head of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs. Carper is conducting his own investigation into bitcoin. l

Dana Byerlee, 33, of Santa Monica, buys bitcoins at one of Southern California's first two bitcoin-to-cash ATMs , in Locali Conscious Convenience store in Venice REUTERS

WTO: Failure to clinch global customs IMF cautions Sri Lanka over mounting foreign debt deal could affect other talks n Reuters, Mexico City

n AFP, Colombo

Failure to reach a global customs rules deal could have a “considerable impact” on other areas of global trade negotiation, World Trade Organization Director-General Roberto Azevedo said on Monday during a visit to Mexico.

Late last month, India torpedoed a deal to simplify, standardize and streamline the rules for shipping goods across borders, know as “trade facilitation”, after it demanded concessions on agricultural stockpiling.

“If we don’t find a solution for this issue, we could see a considerable impact on other areas of world negotiation,” Azevedo said in a speech in Mexico City, referring to WTO negotiations.

“I think that we have an opportunity in September to restart talks and see if a bridge is possible,” he added.

India insisted that, in exchange for signing the trade facilitation agreement, it must see more progress on a parallel pact giving it more freedom to subsidize and stockpile food grains than is allowed by WTO rules.

Sri Lanka’s economy was among the fastest growing in Asia, but it was vulnerable to sudden external shocks due to high levels of foreign commercial borrowings, the IMF said Wednesday.

The International Monetary Fund warned that the Indian Ocean island remained vulnerable despite economic gains after ending decades of ethnic war in May 2009.

“Recent improvements in the trade and current account balances notwithstanding, Sri Lanka remains vulnerable to external shocks,” the IMF said after its latest consultations with Sri Lankan authorities.

“The (IMF) staff urges caution with respect to external borrowing (of Sri Lanka) through the banking system.”

Sri Lanka’s foreign borrowings were

WTO_World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Roberto Azevedo gives a speech in Mexico City REUTERS India’s government said last week it believed it could convince other members that its need for more freedom on

food subsidies was legitimate, and has said it could sign a deal as early as September if its concerns are addressed. l

India central bank governor warns on crony capitalism n AFP, Mumbai India’s central bank governor Raghuram Rajan has said crony capitalism is emerging as a “real concern” in India and a major threat to competition and economic growth.

The term describes instances when governments give firms or individuals favourable treatment and allow conglomerates undue political influence.

“One of the greatest dangers to the growth of developing countries is ... crony capitalism (which) creates oligarchies that slow down growth,” Rajan said in a lecture late Monday in Mumbai.

During the recent Indian elections that brought the right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party to power, crony capitalism emerged as “a very real concern of the public”, Rajan added.

The issue has come to the fore in

Asia’s third-largest economy where critics allege many business houses have benefited from political favours - accusations strongly denied by the companies.

The upstart Aam Aadmi (Common Man) party accused India’s hugely profitable Reliance Industries of wielding undue political backroom power during this year’s campaign.

India’s Supreme Court has also waged a vigorous fight against instances of government contracts being awarded to various companies on the basis of possible collusion.

Rajan, a former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, is known for his outspoken nature, breaking the mould of central bankers globally who are generally extremely guarded.

“By killing transparency and competition, crony capitalism is harmful to free enterprise, opportunity, and economic

growth,” Rajan said.

The phenomenon also harmed democracy, he added, as companies placed special interests ahead of the public good.

Rajan noted in India there was a widely held view that the country “suffers from want of a ‘few good men’ in politics”. But groups of politicians with the intent of cleaning up the system lost badly at election time, possibly because their corrupt rivals promised more help to the underprivileged, he said.

To avoid this trap, and to strengthen India’s democracy, the country must improve public services, Rajan added, especially those targeted at the country’s hundreds of millions of poor.

Earlier this month, Rajan, who famously predicted the 2008 world financial crisis, caused waves by warning of another global markets crash as asset prices surge. l

Ukraine hits German investor confidence n AFP, Frankfurt Investment sentiment in Germany fell to the lowest level for nearly two years in August amid concern about the economic fallout from crises such as the tension over Russia-Ukraine, data showed yesterday.

The widely watched investor confidence index calculated by the ZEW economic institute fell by 18.5 points to 8.6 points in August, its lowest level since December 2012, it said in a statement.

It was eighth monthly decline in a row and the sharpest since June 2012.

Analysts had been projecting a much shallower drop to 18 points.

“The decline in economic sentiment is likely connected to the ongoing geopolitical tensions that have affected the German economy by now,” ZEW said.

The institute did not name the trouble spots specifically, but the German economy ministry said in a report earlier that the Russia-Ukraine crisis is hurting Europe’s top economy, as well as the turmoil in the Middle East.

“In particular, current figures on industrial production and incoming orders suggest markedly reduced investment activities on the part of German firms against the backdrop of uncertain sales prospects,” the statement continued.

“Since the economy in the eurozone is not gaining momentum either, the signs are that economic growth in Germany will be weaker in 2014 than expected.”

For the survey, ZEW questions analysts and institutional investors about their current assessment of the economic situation in Germany, as well as their expectations for the coming months.

The sub-index measuring financial market players’ view of the current economic situation in Germany fell by 17.5 points to 44.3 points in August, its lowest level since January.

DILBERT

French high-tech venture Parrot's Japanese PR staff demonstrate a mini-drone 'Rolling Spider', equipped with four propellers, a camera and detachable wheel protector in Tokyo on yesterday AFP

currently $42.4bn, up from 39.7bn at the end of last year, the IMF said noting that it was high.

The IMF said there should be a “more ambitious” debt reduction target and also asked Sri Lanka to improve its tax collection.

Last year, Sri Lanka dropped plans to seek a fresh $1bn loan from the IMF following disagreements over how the money should be spent. However, Sri Lanka later raised the same amount through a bond issue.

Sri Lanka had sought a $2.6bn bailout at the height of fighting with Tamil separatists in 2009, but the country’s economy grew by a blistering 8.0 percent for two years soon after the war.

It has since moderated with the IMF forecasting a growth rate of 7% this year, lower than the government’s target of 7.8%. l

Stagnating growth

“The fact that the index is now barely positive means that only a very small majority of investors see economic conditions improving rather than deteriorating over the next six months,” said Capital Economics economist Jennifer McKeown.

“Admittedly, the recent decline in sentiment probably largely reflects fears about the effects of the Ukraine crisis, which could prove short-lived,” she said.

“But the more that confidence is damaged by geopolitical risks, the greater the threat to actual activity as businesses and consumers become reluctant to spend.”

Official gross domestic product (GDP) data for the second quarter are scheduled to be released on Thursday.

And following growth of 0.8% in the first three months, the new data “seem set to reveal that German GDP stagnated at best in the second quarter,” said McKeown.

Shakier recovery

The ZEW data “show that recovery of the German economy is on shakier legs that people would have thought until very recently,” said Postbank economist Heinrich Bayer.

“But as long as the current geopolitical tensions don’t escalate further, we predict that the German economy will continue to develop positively against in the near future.”

“The ZEW index is good at predicting turning points of the economic trajectory and the uninterrupted decline since the end of last year has well flagged the loss of momentum of the economy in the second quarter.

“However, the index is less good at gauging the extent of the subsequent economic swing,” said Berenberg Bank economist Christian Schulz. l