31 aug, 2014

Bhadro 16, 1421 Zilqad 4, 1435 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 149

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

20 pages | Price: Tk12

B1 | BUSINESS

9 | WORLD

11 | OP-ED

15 | SPORT

ACCORD NOW DICTATES FIRE SAFETY EQUIPMENT SOURCES

TALIBAN SUICIDE BOMBERS HIT AFGHAN INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, SIX KILLED

LOVE YOU, DHAKA

SHARAPOVA SURVIVES AS UPSETS ROCK US OPEN

Father’s quest for disappeared son

Many victims, one story, one demand n Abid Azad and Adil Sakhawat

30-month search for man missing from RAB custody continues n Abid Azad and Adil Sakhawat Two and a half years after his son’s disappearance, Ruhul Amin still clings to the hope that his son might be alive.

Imam Hossain, 24, disappeared on March 16, 2012, from Dhaka while in RAB custody.

The 45-year-old father who lives in South Rajnagar of Panchagarah district, 450 kilometres away from the capital, has spent two years knocking on the doors of law enforcement agencies, the civil administration, human rights organisations and the judiciary in Dhaka, in the hope of getting news of his son.

“I paid a RAB 2 official Tk40,000 to get my son back but nothing has happened. Everybody is hiding the truth.

Who will give me justice?” Ruhul asked

as he described his two and a half year travail to the Dhaka Tribune.

Ruhul attended a programme on the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances yesterday at the National Press Club. The event, organised by the Committee for the Protection of Fundamental Rights, was attended by hundreds of family members of the disappeared. Imam is one of 215 persons who remain missing after being victims of forced disappearance between 2007 and 2014.

The father of the missing man comes to Dhaka several times a month from Panchagarh to query authorities about his son. He has not recovered his son, dead or alive, nor has he been able to file a kidnapping case.

Like any other day, Kawsar Hossain (28), who was a private car driver, returned to his home at the capital’s Nakhalpara area from his workplace on December 4 in 2013.

After taking dinner, he along with his wife and a five-year-old daughter retired to sleep.

At midnight, some 7-10 Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) members in uniform suddenly knocked on their door.

When Kawsar opened the door, the RAB members asked for Kawsar.

As Kawsar identified himself the RAB personnel started to beat him and then took him outside the house.

“We are taking him for interrogation.

We will release him when the interrogation is over,” said Kawsar’s wife Minu Begum quoting the RAB members.

“The next morning, on December 5, I went to the RAB 1 office as I identified them by the sticker on the vehicle. But the RAB officials denied taking anyone

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‘Mystery woman’ in Faruqi murder held

MOGHBAZAR TRIPLE MURDER

Three FIR-listed criminals held, two placed on remand Jamil Khan and n Mohammad Ashif Islam Shaon

War criminal Alim dies in prison n Tribune Report

Convicted war criminal Abdul Alim, who was the chairman of Peace Committee in Joypurhat during the 1971 Liberation War, died yesterday.

The former BNP minister died at the Intensive Care Unit of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University around 1:15pm, hospital Director Brig Gen Abdul Majid Bhuiyan told the Dhaka Tribune.

“Alim had lung cancer and had been receiving treatment since October last year. He was sent to the ICU on August 26. A medical board was formed to ensure his treatment. But it was not possible to give him chemotherapy since cancer spread severely in his body,” Majid said.

Considering his old age, the International Crimes Tribunal on October 9 last year sentenced him to imprisonment until death for the crimes he had committed in Joypurhat during the war.

Alim was arrested on March 27, 2011 and secured bail on health grounds on March 31.

He was a former minister in military strongman Gen Ziaur Rahman’s cabinet.

Forman Ali, senior superintendent of Dhaka Central Jail, told the Dhaka Tribune that Alim had first been under treatment at the United Hospital. Later he was shifted to the BSMMU prison cell.

He was taken to the ICU on August 26 as his condition deteriorated. After autopsy the body would be handed over to the family members, Forman said.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Police yesterday arrested three First Information Report-listed accused in the case filed in connection with the triple murder at Moghbazar in the capital.

“Based on information, a team of Ramna police station conducted drives at Nayatola and Ambagan in Moghbazar area around 3:45 am and arrested Sohel Khan, 28. After getting information from him, police arrested Faruk Shamim Hossain, 32, from Malibagh area around 4:15 am,” Selim Mia, inspector (investigation) of Ramna police station, told the Dhaka Tribune.

In the meantime, Detective Branch of police picked up Jony, 25, from in front of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s emergency gate around 8:00 pm yesterday.

Following the arrest, the investigation officer produced Faruk and Sohel

before the Metropolitan Magistrate’s court, seeking a 10-day remand. But Magistrate Erfan Ullah granted a fiveday remand for each.

Earlier on Friday night, Shamim Hossain alias Kala Chand, brother of victim Ranu Akhter Brishti, filed a case with the Ramna police station, men-

Rumour spreads about arrest of ‘Kaila’ Babu tioning the names of Faruk and Sohel.

Soon after filing the case, police arrested the duo.

Moshiur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Ramna police station, told the Dhaka Tribune that during primary interrogation, the duo had confessed that they were the associates of prime suspect Shah Alam alias ‘Kaila’ Babu. “Police are trying to hunt him down, but yet to arrest him,” he added.

Krishna Pada Roy, deputy commissioner of DB police, told the Dhaka Tribune that DB police were trying to trace all the criminals involved in the triple murder that took place over a land dispute and establishing supremacy. “We are hopeful about their arrest,” he added.

Even though the police officials said they were still trying to arrest Babu, his relatives claimed that the members of Rapid Action Battalion arrested him (Babu) on Friday.

One of his relatives said Babu took shelter in his paternal aunty’s house located in the capital’s Basabo area. Babu’s paternal aunty has been living in the area for last three years.

However, the high officials of RAB3, including Director of Legal and Media Wing Commander Mufti Mahmud Khan, denied the claims, saying that several RAB teams were hunting  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Zamila Khan and n Tazlina Manik Miazee Law enforcers yesterday detained the “mystery woman,” who had visited the house of Shaikh Nurul Islam Faruqi only hours before his murder on Wednesday.

Police also arrested two others – one from Murapara area of Narayanganj’s Rupganj while the other from Comilla.

The detainees are Mahmuda Khatun (50), Shariful Islam (35) and Yusuf. Of them, Mahmuda and Shariful were kept at the Minto Road DB office for further questioning.

Investigation Officer of the case Munshi Sabbir Ahmed of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar thana told the Dhaka Tribune: “Chouddagram police has arrested a youth named Yusuf from Nayapara area of Comilla for his alleged involvement in the Faruqi murder. We will take him back to Dhaka.”

“During interrogation, the woman admitted that she visited Faruqi’s house

President Abdul Hamid yesterday called for making highest effort to bring home the six condemned fugitive killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to execute their death sentence.

n Moniruzzman Uzzal

Around 100 cleaners are working at Matuail Waste Dumping Ground on the outskirts of the capital without any precautions or protective gear, exposing themselves to germs and other toxic chemicals. This picture was taken yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

“Who are you looking for? Do you want to meet the parents of the twins?” Rabbi, a five-year old Mohammadpur boy asked this Dhaka Tribune reporter as he was asking a shopkeeper for directions.

The parents of the twins, who consider themselves ordinary folk, have become overnight celebrities after one of the twin boys was kidnapped from hospital and then recovered 170 hours later.

For Babu and Runa, the parents, the harrowing episode has come with a silver lining. The trying tale, highlighting the combined powers of an active law enforcement effort and an outspoken press, could have gone the way of so many newspaper stories and ended in tragedy.

But for this family and their neighbours in Johuri Moholla, the media at-

3 | News

Terming BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia a killer and a pervert, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the defeated force of 1971 will not be able to rise again in Bangladesh.

4 | News

The gazette of much-awaited ‘The National Shrimp Policy, 2014’ has been published with keeping the provisions of some restrictive measures like entering saline water illegally, protecting mangrove forest and ecological biodiversity.

4 | News

The owners of battery-run auto-rickshaws yesterday gave 48-hour ultimatum to the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Mayor M Monjur Alam to resign from his post.

6 | Nation

About one lakh people living in Chanda Beel, of the district have been experiencing untold suffering because of not having necessary number of bridge, culvert and road to maintain communication with the mainland.

P16  HARTAL TODAY Faruqi’s second wife Lubna earlier said a mysterious woman had visited the house on Wednesday saying that she was from Barisal. But later she said she had been from the Sundarbans, and again, Rupganj of Narayanganj. Her comments and activities were suspicious.

Lubna and Faruqi’s nephew Maruf had seen the woman that day. But the police are yet to communicate with Faruqi’s family to identify Mahmuda.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Baby theft parents: Media made us celebrities

L I V I N G D A N G E R O U S LY

INSIDE 2 | News

a couple of hours before the killing. We are yet to identify the relation of Shariful with her. But it seems that Shariful is close to Mahmuda,” Sabbir added.

He said the motive of Mahmuda’s visit was yet to be confirmed.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of DB (West) Md Saiful told the Dhaka Tribune: “Primarily, the woman said she visited the house only to take blessings of Faruqi. The motive is not clear yet.”

7 | Career

The rise of various new organisations and corporations highly dependent on technology has prompted greater focus and importance on being adept in the use of technology.

12 | Entertainment

A single episode TV play ‘Tumi Ki Akhono Amar Tumi’ will be aired tonight at 9pm on NTV. The plot revolves around Nayeem, a music lover who thinks music is his life. He opens a store in Nepal where he sells musical instruments.

tention of the last few days has allowed them to bask in the after-glow of an ordeal that ended well.

Kawser Hossain Babu, the twins’ father, said while shopping Friday morning at Mohammadpur Krishibazar Market to buy a small fan and oil cloth for the infants, shopkeepers ran up to him to congratulate him and to say they had prayed for the recovery of the missing child.

On the Shyamoli Road, he said, a man stopped his car to inquire about the twins’ health.

“I have not been to work for 10 days. Journalists have been visiting the house non-stop. I thank them again and again. It is only because of the media that I got back my son. I want them to grow up to be journalists, God-willing,” Babu said.

The family home, on the 2nd floor of a Johuri Moholla house in Mohammad  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, August 31, 2014

President for extradition of Bangabandhu's killers n UNB

Dhaka Central Jail on January 27 in 2010.

Six killers have remained fugitives abroad. They were Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim, Nur Chowdhury, Rashed Chowdhury, Abdul Mazed and Moslehuddin Khan. Another fugitive convict Aziz Pasha died in 2001 in Zimbabwe.

The president was addressing a discussion titled “Bangabandhu and Bangladesh” organised by Gopalganj Zilla Samity at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the city marking the National

President Abdul Hamid yesterday called for making highest effort to bring home the six condemned fugitive killers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to execute their death sentence.

The president said the trial of the cruel killing of Father of the nation and most of his family members was completed in 2010 after long 35 years.

“The nation is almost free from stigma. Highest efforts have to be put to

bring back the fugitive killers for implementing the verdict,” he said.

He said there is no place for the killers in the world.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence of 12 killers on November 19, 2009 completing the trial of Bangabandhu’s assassination on August 15, 1975.

Five of the convicts, Syed Farooq Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Bazlul Huda, AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed and Mohiuddin Ahmed, were executed in

Baby theft

War criminal Alim dies in prison

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pur, is a small, one-room rental unit that costs them Tk4000 a month.

The room is simple; there is no bed in it. The family sleeps on the floor. Despite the cramped conditions and the family’s tight finances, Babu and Runa are a happy couple who say they are blessed to have their twin boys safely at home. Runa smiled and said she and her husband want the twins to become journalists.

The mother of the twins was breast feeding her sons. At least four neighbours were there to give her a hand.

Two packets of baby milk formula lay on the floor next to her. When asked why they had bought formula, Runa said the DMCH doctors had suggested buying one and RAB officials gave her the other. Her husband spent Tk565 on it.

This advice was given despite the government’s multi-million Taka effort, since the passing of a law in 2013, to promote breastfeeding.

DMCH doctors advised Runa to use powdered milk while in hospital although she was producing milk. “Without you journalists, we would never have gotten back our son. The DMCH authorities and RAB also did a lot,” she said.

Despite everything that had gone wrong, Babu and Runa were happy with how things turned out. Babu says he feels like a celebrity. “When we came home, hundreds of people came to see us. Before all this happened, our neighbours did not know us. But because of the media, people all across the country know who we are.” l

Faruqi murder  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Rupganj OC Md Mahmud told the Dhaka Tribune: “A joint team of Shere-Bangla Nagar and Rupganj police raided a house in Murapara area and detained the duo.

“Earlier in the day, a team of Sher-eBangla Nagar police reached Rupganj and sought our help in order to detain the woman. She was picked up around 10:30am. The Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police team left Rupganj with the detainees.”

Additional Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Haque said: “We have already made a list of suspects.

Mahmuda is one of the suspects.”

Earlier, the law enforcers picked up Maruf and five visitors who were present at the house during the murder for questioning. Meanwhile, the police chief and a senior official of RAB 2 visited Faruqi’s house early yesterday.

Another Mahmuda, wife of Faruqi’s younger brother Abdur Rouf, yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune: “Only Lubna and Maruf saw the face of that woman.

Police should bring her to our house in order to identify her. But, we did not get any call from the law enforcers.”

She claimed that an unidentified youth sent a massage to her husband’s Facebook account saying that Faruqi had been killed as he was doing shirk and bid’ah. He even did not deserve namaz-e-janaza.

However, the family did not get any threats after the murder, Lubna told the Dhaka Tribune.

Maruf, eyewitness of the murder, told the Dhaka Tribune: “While killing, the murderers told my uncle ‘see what happens after doing shirk and bid’ah.’”

On Thursday, son of the deceased Faysal Faruqi filed a case with Sher-eBangla Nagar police station accusing 10 unnamed people.

Faruqi was a Presidium member of the front. He was also the international affairs secretary of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat – an organisation known for opposing the views of Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam. He was also the imam of Supreme Court mosque.

Faruqi buried

The body of Faruqi reached Panchagar around 4am yesterday and the last janaza was held around 10:50am.

He was buried at his family graveyard at Nautari Nababganj village under Boroshoshi union of Boda.

Meanwhile, Islamic Front Bangladesh and its student body Islami Chhatra Sena have jointly called a half-day hartal for today since the government had failed to arrest the killers within the 48-hour deadline set by the groups. l

While pronouncing verdict in the war crimes cases against former BNP minister Abdul Alim, the International Crimes Tribunal observed that he had deserved the highest punishment.

But, eventually, because of old age, he was given jail until death for the crimes that he had committed against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. In 1971, Alim encroached upon the Gadi Ghar in Joypurhat to set up an army camp, an office of the peace committee and arranged accommodation for Maj Afzal of the Pakistan Army.

He was only 41 years old when he trained razakars and orchestrated the genocide in Joypurhat as a leader of the local peace committee and the commander of razakar forces.

The tribunal said its verdict: “[Alim] acted as an atrocious and potential leader of Joypurhat Peace Committee to the actual accomplishment of the crimes proved and he was visibly asso-

ciated with the [Pakistan] army which is a fair indicative of his high level of culpability.”

Once before in 1974, Alim was being tried under the Collaborators Act for his offences during the Liberation war. He was on bail when that trial was going on.

However, after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the trial was closed and he lived as a free man until March 2011 when he was arrested again for those offences.

Alim served as an elected chairman of the Jaipurhat municipality, the Jaipurhat sadar upazila and president of the Jaipurhat Bar Association.

He was elected member of parliament three times from the BNP. According to documents placed by the prosecution, he was born in West Bengal on November 1, 1930. He migrated to Joypurhat between 1950 and 1951. In 1958 he joined the Muslim League and went on to become an influential leader of the Convention

Mourning Day. “Bangabandhu upheld non-communal spirit and flourishing of democracy in heart and soul,” he said.

The president said: “Our duty will be to fulfill the dream of Bangabandhu of establishing a happy and prosperous country by completing his unfinished tasks.”

Abdul Hamid said the purpose of the killers was not only to kill a statesman but also to erase the ideals of the Liberation War and to reestablish the de-

Muslim League. In 1971, he was the vice-chairman of the erstwhile Bogra district council.

Evidence placed before the court shows that as a student, Alim was involved with the All India Muslim Student League.

On March 15, 2011, the prosecution placed formal charges against Alim before the first International Crimes Tribunal which accepted the charges and transferred the case to the second tribunal for quick disposal.

After taking his crimes into congnisance, the tribunal issued arrest warrant against Alim, following which he was arrested in his Joypurhat residence on March 27, 2011. He however immediately secured bail because of ill health.

The prosecution and the defence completed closing arguments on September 22 of that year and the tribunal kept the case waiting for a verdict sending Alim to jail after cancelling his bail.

Since then Alim had been in jail. l

feated forces.

He said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, following the spirit of her father, is trying her best to make the poor happy.

Referring to Sheikh Hasina’s Vision 2021 and Vision 2041, the President said: “We have to continue our concerted effort to implement the programmes.”

Awami League International Affairs Secretary Muhammad Faruk Khan MP, Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI)

President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed, Awami League Religious Affairs Secretary Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, Awami Swechhasebak League President Molla Md Abu Kawsar addressed the function.

It was presided over by Gopalganj Zilla Samity President Sheikh Kabir Hossain.

University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Prof AK Azad Chowdhury presented keynote paper in the discussion. l

Three FIR-listed criminals held  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

for Babu, but yet to catch him.

Armed assailants, led by local terror Babu alias Kaila Babu, shot dead Ranu Akhter Brishti, 30, her tenants Munna, 20, and Billal Hossain, 22, and injured her brother Ridoy, 22, around 7:45 pm on Thursday following a dispute over a piece of railway land and establishing supremacy.

A competent source said the triple murder was orchestrated by ‘Kaila’ Babu. Shovon, another top criminal in Moghbazar area, supplied the arms to kill Kala Chand. Babu just hired the arms from him. Besides, a motorbike that belongs to Shovon was used in the killing mission.

Locals said just at the entry point of Sonalibagh lane, three motorbikes were parked. The killers made a getaway in the motorbikes within a couple of minutes just after committing the crime.

It was learnt that centring cable TV business, a conflict arose between Kala

Chand and Shovon. For this reason, Shovon supported Kaila Babu in the killing mission. However, the victim’s family members did not mention the name of Shovon in the FIR while filing the case.

Kala Chand said they filed the case after discussing the issues with their close ones.

People in Moghbazar area said Shovon got support from a presidium member of Jubo League Committee in establishing supremacy.

Abdul Khaleq, president of 36 ward railway unit, prepared the FIR on the triple murder as per the instructions from the top leader. So, Shovon’s name was dropped from the FIR, they said.

A number of cases including murder were filed against Shovon. He was released from jail recently and got support from Kaila Babu .

Tanviruzzaman Rony, a top criminal who is now hiding in India, said over cell phone that he was not involved i the triple murder. l

He threatened me saying if I told anyone about this, I would lose my son and they would also kill me,” he said.

Ruhul said he nearly went mad with worry and did not know what to do to save his son.

He then managed to see his son in person.

Some RAB men allowed Ruhul to see Imam, at night only, and on condition that he not talk to his son but look at him from a distance.

Ruhul agreed because he had no other choice. He saw his blindfolded son in a RAB vehicle at night in different places of the Farmgate area from March 13 to March 16.

“On March 16, I saw him for the last time. Since then I have not seen him nor have I had any news of his whereabouts. He has disappeared,” Ruhul said.

On March 19, Ruhul submitted a letter from the Panchagarh 2 Member of Parliament Nurul Islam Sujan to the RAB 2 office asking RAB 2 to take necessary legal action.

The next day, March 20, Ruhul said personnel at the RAB office said his son had been killed.

“Raju was still bluffing me, saying that high officials would return my son,” Ruhul said.

On April 30, 2012, Ruhul submitted a written complaint to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

“But the NHRC is the type of organisation that will do nothing if it is not knocked,” he said about his bitter expe-

rience with the commission.

“They repeatedly told me they sent letters to the home ministry but that the ministry had lost the letters,” said.

He sought legal aid from the government but to no avail.

On November 13, 2012, Supreme Court Advocate Adilur Rahman Khan, on behalf of Ruhul, submitted a writ petition to the High Court (HC). The HC ruled upon it and asked the government and law enforcement agencies to reply within a week.

Ruhul said he faced police harassment throughout 2013, as the investigation into the disappearance of his son began.

He said: “I was continuously harassed and threatened by the then Tejgaon police officials including the officer-in-charge.”

He sent letters several times to the prime minister’s office and to the president’s office but did not receive a reply.

He submitted letters to the home ministry and was then summoned by the ministry on February 28, 2014.

The ministry instructed RAB 2 to investigate the matter.

Ruhul was summoned by the ministry for a second time on June 18.

Two days before that, on June 16, he was interviewed by the Anti Corruption Commission about the bribe he had paid to the RAB official.

“I want my son back. I will not stop.

I will see this through to the end,” Ruhul said to the Dhaka Tribune, crying. l

day at the first-ever convention of Moulik Odhikar Shurokkha Committee (Committee for the Protection of Fundamental Rights) on the occasion of the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances, introduced in 2011.

Uzma told the programme: “My family is lucky that we got the body of my father. But there are many family members present here who have no idea about their missing relatives.”

According to rights body Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK), at least 330 people, including activists of the ruling Awami League, BNP, job holders, farmers and businessmen, have disappeared since 2007.

There was something common to what every family member of the victims of enforced disappearances demanded: they wanted to get back their dear ones. At the convention, many of the victims’ families demanded the prime minister’s intervention.

Mashrufa Islam, daughter of BNP’s former Laksham lawmaker Saiful Islam, said: “Honourable prime minister, you also lost your family members.

So you better understand how we feel after losing our family members. So please give my father back.”

Many rights activists were present at the convention which they said was not a platform of political victims but a common one for those who wanted to get back their family members.

Rights activist Nur Khan said: “If legal actions were taken against those responsible for the previous incidents of enforced disappearances, then such crimes would not have escalated this far.

“We have proof and facts that disappearances were carried out by members of law enforcement agencies. So, the government should think immediately about this heinous crime committed by the law enforcement agencies and form a commission to ensure punishment of the officials who were behind these incidents.”

Slamming the government, senior lawyer Dr Kamal Hossain said: “If the governance system, judiciary and law enforcement agencies were transparent in their activities, then there would be fair investigations into those incidents and such heinous activities would have ended.”

He spoke at the event on behalf of Khusi Kabir, coordinator of Nijera Kori; Sara Hossain of BLAST; CR Abrar and Asif Nazrul of Dhaka University; columnist Syed Abul Moksud; Mahmudur Rahman Manna, convener of Nagorik Oikko; and Nasir Uddin Elan, director of ODHIKAR. Presiding over the event, lawyer Shahdin Malik said in a column in 2006 he had warned BNP chief Khaleda Zia mentioning that the way RAB was operating, it would become a matter of concern for her in the future. “Khaleda Zia can realise this after so many years.

But the present government is doing the same mistake,” he said.

“We demand that the government bring every enforced disappearances under trial. Until then, we will not go back home. If the trials fail in this country, we will go to international courts to ensure justice,” he said. l

Father’s quest for disappeared son  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

Ruhul’s son, Imam, was first abducted by miscreants on the night of March 5, 2012, from the capital’s Farmgate area while returning home from his work in Tejgaon.

Around the time Imam was being abducted his father, Ruhul, received a phone call from his son’s cell phone which was later switched off, in which the caller said Imam had been abducted by some miscreants.

Ruhul immediately started calling law enforcement agencies.

He informed Rapid Action Battalion 2 of the phone call about his son’s abduction as well as the officers-in-charge of both Sher-e-Bangla Nagar and Tejgaon police stations, personnel at the police control room and duty officers and intelligence division of police in Dhaka.

On the morning of March 6, an alleged kidnapper who called himself Sohag, telephoned Ruhul and said Imam had been kidnapped in revenge for some earlier misconduct.

Later on the same day, RAB 2 said they had rescued his son from in front of Sher-e-Bangla Agriculture University around 10:30pm and arrested two of his abductors, Jahid and Babul. RAB 2 told him the other gang members evaded capture, Ruhul said.

He said: “The then duty officer of RAB 2, Sub-Inspector Raju, told me my son had been rescued. He told me to come up with Tk1 lakh to get him back.”

Ruhul arrived in Dhaka on March 12

together with Tk40,000 in bribe money in order to free his son from RAB. “Don’t worry. You will get your son back. Some paperwork is being taken care of and you will get your son when it is done,” Ruhul quoted RAB duty officer, SI Solaiman, as saying.

eral diary of the incident later that day.

On March 13, 2012, Ruhul reached the RAB 2 office around 4pm with Tk40,000 – money he had saved up for his younger son’s medical operation.

“Then Raju took my signature on a document that said I got my son back

The RAB officer told Ruhul to file a case at a police station and bring the case document to RAB offices to get his son released. On March 12, Ruhul tried but could not get the Tejgaon police station to file a kidnapping case. The police station finally agreed to register a gen-

after the abduction. As soon as he got the Tk40,000, he said, ‘Bring Tk1 lakh in cash otherwise your son will be killed,’” Ruhul said.

“Raju told me they would not accept half the amount. ‘Bring the full amount and that is final,’ he said to me.

Many victims, one story, one demand  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

by the name of Kawsar. The day I went to the RAB 1 office since then my husband has been missing,” she said.

She was speaking at the convention organised by Moulik Odhikar Shurokkha Committee (Committee to protect the Fundamental Rights) to mark the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances in the capital’s Press Club auditorium where hundreds of victims shared their experience of how their near and dear one had become the victims of enforced disappearance.

Minu also said: “I do not understand why my husband was taken by RAB personnel as he had never involved in any kind of crimes and there had been no case against him with any police station.”

Another victim’s father, Kazi Abdul Matin, a freedom fighter, retired army sergeant and who comes from Comilla, described his son’s disappearance on March 29 in 2014 at the programme where hundreds of victims’ families were present.

His son Rakibul Islam Shaon was a Comilla Juba League leader and former organising secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League of Comilla Victoria Government College unit.

“On March 29, early in morning Shaon was taken from home by some 15-20 RAB members along with another team of plain-clothes police who traced my son’s whereabouts from one Anwar detained by RAB earlier. They entered the house forcefully and start-

ed assaulting my son and his wife with a hammer” Matin said.

“They took my son on a microbus along with two RAB vehicles towards Bishnupur. Afterwards, I went to the RAB-11 office at Shaktola and informed them about my son’s abduction. But they replied that they did not take anyone named Shaon,” he added.

Then Matin informed the matter to the Railway Minister Muzibul Haque but he also failed to trace my son’s whereabouts from RAB officials.

Since then his son has been missing while Matin.

“I fought for the liberation war of this country and also served as a bodyguard for Bangabandhu Sheikh Muzibur Rahman. Now I wonder why the hell did I fight for the country where there is no justice?” said Matin.

Later on March 31 this year, Shaon’s wife Farzana Akter filed a general diary with Kotowali police station in Comilla but they failed to file any case.

BNP leader Khaled Hasan Sohel, along with four others, went to meet some of their friends at the gate of Dhaka Central Jail on November 28 last year.

But he never came back home. Eleven days later, three of them came back but Sohel, who was the president of a local unit of BNP in Sutrapur area in Old Dhaka, was never found again.

Yesterday at the first ever convention of the Moulik Odhikar Shurokkha Committee, Sohel’s wife Shammi Sultana described how her husband Khaled Hasan Sohel had been picked

up.

“My husband’s only fault was that he was involved with the BNP. He was the president of ward 79 unit of Sutrapur area. He went to the jail gate to meet a friend in jail. From there, he went missing with four others. After 11 days, three of them came back but I still do not know where my husband is. My son Sadman asks me every day about his father. I cannot take this any more,” Shammi said.

The event was held at the National Press Club auditorium in the capital where many victims and their family members shared their experiences about forced disappearances and killings by members of law enforcement agencies.

When many political activists of Lakshmipur district were injured in political clashes ahead of the January 5 election, Dr Foyez Ahmed took the responsibility on his shoulder to treat them at his chamber.

“May be that was my father’s fault.

On December 13 last year, my father was shot dead by the members of RAB. The RAB personnel tied my father with rope and then threw him off the rooftop of our house. Then they shot my father to confirm his death,” said Uzma Kawsar, daughter of the physician.

Dr Foyez’s body was later handed over to his family. Members of the family still cannot visit their home district out of fear. The physician was the district unit nayeb-e-ameer of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Uzma shared her experience yester-

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Prime Minister: Khaleda should go to Pakistan

Ershad: Rule of law absent from country

n Emran Hossain Sheikh

There is no rule of law in the country, which is why people are being exposed to the mercy of criminals every day, said Jatiya Party (JaPa) Chairman HM Ershad yesterday.

“People are being killed every day.

There were 35 murders last month, but no steps have yet been taken about those incidents” he claimed at a rally in Narayanganj city.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday advised her political rival Khaleda Zia to go to Pakistan as the former premier did not believe in Bangladesh’s independence.

“Khaleda Zia is one of those who still want to serve Pakistan. Those, who want to be Pakistan’s slaves, may leave the country. Why are they troubling the countrymen?” Hasina said while speaking as the chief guest at an Awami League rally in the capital.

Dhaka city unit of ruling Awami League organised the rally marking the 39th anniversary of the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Hasina, also Awami League president, termed former president Gen Ziaur Rahman an agent because he had maintained relation with Pakistan during the Liberation War. “Pakistan army official Mirza Aslam Beg’s letter proves that Zia had links with Pakistan during the Liberation War,” she said.

She claimed that Zia had politically rehabilitated the collaborators by bringing them back to the country.

“Zia wanted to turn Bangladesh into

a province of Pakistan by rewarding the collaborators,” she said.

“In an interview with the BBC, Faruk and Rashid said before the killing [of Bangabandhu], they met Zia. He then said he would be with them if they were successful,” the PM said.

She said the force that had suffered defeat in 1971 would not be allowed to rise again in Bangladesh.

About the war crimes trials, she said: “We have begun the trail of war criminals and executed a verdict. The verdict against the rest will also be executed.”

Describing BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, the premier said: “If she was not a pervert, she would not have made merry on August 15.”

She also said: “Despite killing hundreds of people, her thirst for blood is not quenched... Just like the way the Pakistanis killed Bangladeshis during the war of independence, they killed the people of the country in the name of resisting election.”

Remembering the days of her homecoming, Hasina said: “When killers and collaborators were in power, I came back to the country, risking my life.” l

3

Sunday, August 31, 2014

n Manik Miazee

‘In fact, people want a change and that change is seeing the Jatiya Party in State power’ “This government has no right to stay in power even for a single day,” said Ershad, who holds the post of the special envoy to the prime minister.

“The country has turned into a country of enforced disappearance and killings and, to get the figure of the disappeared and murdered people, one needs a calculator,” he said.

The former autocrat added: “Neither the BNP nor the Awami League is thinking of the people in the country.

Both of them have become busy gaining their interests. On the other hand, Jatiya Party has been active in parliament as well as in the streets.

“The administrative system has become unstable because of grouping in each and every sector of the government. If it continues, the total administrative system will collapse.”

Taking a swipe at the BNP’s Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman, Ershad said: “People get irritated at hearing the name of Tarique [Rahman], but he will be the prime minister in the country providing that the BNP comes to power.

“In fact, people want a change and that change is seeing the Jatiya Party in State power.’

“In 2007, Tarique threatened to put me behind bars by tying a rope around my waist, but I am not in jail. Of course, people have seen the dire consequence of Tarique,” he recalled.

The JaPa chief pointed out that illegal gas lines were being cut off in Narayanganj and said the government should in fact legalise the gaslines lines, instead of cutting off them.

JaPa Secretary General Ziauddin Ahemd Bablu also spoke there, with party’s MP for Narayanganj 3 Liyakot Hossain Khoka in the chair. l

Sheikh Selim terms Khaleda ‘a barbarian’ n Tribune Report Awami League Presidium Member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim yesterday termed BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia a barbarian reasoning that if she had a conscience, she would have never celebrated her birthday on August 15.

He made the remarks while addressing a rally at the capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan, organised to mark the 39th death anniversary of Bangabandhu, who along with most of his family members were brutally murdered on August 15, 1975. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was the rally as chief guest.

Like previous years, Khaleda Zia celebrated her 69th birthday on August 15 despite objections from the ruling Awami League, who mark the day as a National Mourning Day. Terming BNP Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman as the black sheep, Selim also added that after failing to kill Sheikh Hasina in a grenades attack, he was now criticising Bangabandhu after fleeing abroad.

Calling Tarique an agent of Pakistan’s intelligence agency ISI, the AL leader also challenged Tarique to come back and face the law.

“He is conspiring against the country from abroad,” he added. l

Awami League rally causes gridlocks in capital Zayeef and n Ahmed Abu Hayat Mahmud Though a weekly holiday, city dwellers faced immense traffic gridlocks yesterday as the ruling Awami League held a mass rally at Suhrawardy Udyan in the heart of the capital.

Most commuters, specially students, were helpless in reaching their destinations on time as traffic gridlocks appeared and lasted for several hours at different points of the capital.

Shamjm Ahmed, a student of Dhaka University who was waiting at Shahbagh for a bus, said: “I have waiting for a bus more than 20 minutes, but have not been able to find one.”

Apart from that, the traffic department of police also held traffic on several roads forcing many commuters to walk to their destinations.

“The situation has been like this since the afternoon. This has become a regular sight for city dwellers on a day when political programmes are held at Suhrawarthy Udyan,” he added.

Like Shamim, many others were seen waiting for vehicles for hours at different bus stops in the city.

The Awami League rally, which scheduled to begin from 3:00pm, saw a huge influx of leaders and activists arriving at the venue since morning

through all adjoining roads.

At the same time, police also halted traffic flow from Shahbagh to Matshya Bhaban due to huge flow of activists joining the rally.

When contacted, a traffic police official admitted about close of the Shahbagh to Matshya road.

“Though the road was closed, many vehicles rerouted and used the Curzon Hall road or the Hare road in front of Ruposi Bangla Hotel to reach their destinations. Due extra pressure on the two roads, traffic jam occurred those roads temporarily in the afternoon,” said a traffic police official while talking to the Dhaka Tribune.

However, the gridlocks at the two vital thoroughfares in the capital spread to all adjoining roads causing huge tailbacks in different areas, such as the National Press Club, Purana Paltan, Bijoy Sarani, Mohakhali, Gulshan, Kakoli, Bishaw Road, Motijheel, Bijoynagar, Kakrail, Bangla Motor, Karwan Bazar and Farmgate, among others.

Meanwhile, the ruling party’s student wing Chhatra League is expected to hold another rally at the same venue today, which might cause another round of traffic gridlocks in the capital. l Activists of several organisations form a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday, protesting the killing of Islamist leader Faruqi

BNP shifts its programme to September 2 n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

‘Code of conduct better than broadcast policy’

The BNP-led 20-party alliance postponed the human chain programme supposed to be held yesterday after being failed to secure permission to hold it and fixed September 2 anew for the event.

The party sources said the programme was announced in protest of the nationwide killing and abduction.

“The government has adopted the abduction policy to repress the opposition leaders and activists to stop the criticism of the government. We (BNP) wanted to form a peaceful human

A comprehensive “code of conduct” could be of better use for the media than a regressive broadcast policy, said noted journalists.

Addressing a discussion in the capital yesterday, they did not completely deny the necessity of an appropriate broadcast policy but said any new regulation should be carefully prepared so that it does not hinder the progress of the industry which came so far without a policy.

Editors’ Council organised the discussion titled “Challenges before the media” at Cirdap auditorium. The Daily Samakal editor Golam Sarwar chaired the programme which was attended by hundreds of journalists.

Sarwar said the media should enjoy freedom but it has responsibility at the same time.

“We have some flaws and we have to correct it. Let us all come forward to form a code of conduct for all forms of media,” he said.

“Without formulating such a policy, the information minister could have said the private television channels should be run like BTV,” he added.

With the term “code of conduct”, the speakers referred to a comprehensive set of standards and ideal practices. They said the authorities of the media outlets in the country would formulate the code following discussions among themselves, and take utmost care to ensure that it is followed by every organisation of the industry.

In his keynote speech, the Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam said: “If the exist-

‘We always want to avoid confrontation and that is why we will hold the programme on September 2’ chain programme protesting killing and abduction but police did not give us permission.” Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, acting secretary general of the party, said in a press briefing held in its Nayapaltan office yesterday.

Fakhrul also said: “We always want to avoid confrontation and that is why we will hold the programme on September 2.”

Chiding the government, Fakhrul alleged that its 310 leaders and activists were killed and 25 were abducted in last one year while a total of 32 people were abducted after the government assumed power for second time. l

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

ing rules and guidelines helped create the TV and radio revolutions then why go for a new policy, especially when it could thwart the growth? A new policy can only be justified if it can ensure more growth for the broadcast media.”

“If such a policy is adopted, our broadcast media runs the risk of becoming dull and boring. It will also lose its freedom and the chance to deliver creative and entertaining programmes.

The policy will not only cause viewers to switch but the advertisers will also switch. Such a shift will virtually cause an alarming drop in the number of audience and advertising,” he added.

Professor Sirajul Islam Chowdhury said the broadcast policy is unexpected in the sense that there is no emergency or martial law currently in effect in the country.

“Why make such a dangerous attempt to muzzle the media?” he said.

“The media already faces intervention from the owners and the advertisers. It is also controlled by government policies and self-censorship. We all have to protest against the broadcast policy,” said the educationist.

President of a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists Monjurul Ahsan Bulbul briefly discussed why the broadcast policy is needed and how it was formulated.

Bulbul, also a member of the committee that formulated the policy, expressed his concern over the policy, saying: “Where will be the scope for showing diversity if all the media outlets become the same in terms of how and which programmes they air?”

“We have examples of good journalism as well as bad journalism. So we want a policy which will uphold professional and bright journalism,” he said.

Association of Television Channel Owners (ATCO) General Secretary Shykh Seraj said recommendations were made when the policy was formulated but many of those were ignored.

“The question of formulating a policy would not have arisen if competent individuals got television licences. We wanted a broadcast policy which would help flourish the media but this policy is like someone hands and legs were tied before he was asked to swim,” he said.

Senior lawyer Amirul Islam blamed the people who formulated the policy, alleging those who did it actually embarrassed the government, which even the media people could not have done.

He also asked the media people to formulate a policy on their own and also form a commission.

Senior journalist Sawkat Mahmud said: “We do not want this policy. We will formulate a policy and a commission by ourselves.”

Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh, said the policy would put a negative impact not only on the media people but also on the general people.

“This also contradicts many existing laws and provisions of the constitution,” he said.

Mozammel Babu, chief editor of Ekattor TV, said he is against all sorts of broadcast policy and licencing policy.

“Attempt to control the media is unnecessary,” he said. l

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

DRAFT OF CHILD MARRIAGE

Ministry finalises Restraint Act n Mohosinul Karim The draft of the Child Marriage Restraint Act has been finalised with the provision of a maximum two-year jail sentence and Tk50,000 fine for violation of the law.

The Women and Children Affairs Ministry has prepared the draft after consulting with all stakeholders concerned. It will be sent to the cabinet division soon and be placed in the cabinet meeting later for vetting.

“The draft will be corrected as per the directions of the cabinet, if needed,” Information Officer Mohammad Abul Khayer told the Dhaka Tribune on Thursday. The Dhaka Tribune correspondent has obtained a copy of the draft act.

According to the proposed law, anyone under 18 would be considered as child and a male person under 21 or a female person under 18 will be considered as minor.

It stipulates that the marriage with a male under 21 or a female under 18 or minor male or female with adult male or female will be considered as child marriage.

The offence also carries a minimum sentence of six months with Tk10,000 fine or both for violation of the law.

As per the law, adult persons, both male or female, who will marry a minor boy or girl, the persons who will register child marriage, the parents or guardians who will force their children or fail to prevent child marriage and the

officials who will issue false certificates will be brought to justice.

Any kinds of affidavits to prove the age would not be acceptable for marriage registration, the draft law said.

The marriage would be cancelled if it’s proved that it was a child marriage. The victims of child marriage would get compensation from other parties. The court would settle the compensation issue.

According to the law, the upazila level administrators like upazila nirbahi officers, executive magistrates, upazila women affairs officers, upazila social welfare officers, upazila secondary education officers or officers-in- charge of local police stations will inform the courts about child marriage immediately after they get information.

The courts will have the authority to impose a ban on child marriage after getting any complaint or information from any other sources. The courts will also have the authority to withdraw the ban if they are satisfied with the statements of the authorities concerned.

The law also keeps the provision of giving back the assets or the gifts that would be given to the parties in case of cancellation of the marriage.

The law has proposed forming a child marriage prevention committee comprising public servants, local public representatives, representatives of non-governmental organisations and civil society members. The committee will launch campaign to create awareness among the people to prevent child marriage. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, August 31, 2014

National Shrimp Policy gazette published Government to form two committees led by fisheries minister to oversee the implementation of the policy the researchers as well. n Mohosinul Karim In this regard, Cabinet Secretary M The gazette of much-awaited ‘The National Shrimp Policy, 2014’ has been published with keeping the provisions of some restrictive measures like entering saline water illegally, protecting mangrove forest and ecological biodiversity and fixing the limit of shrimp enclosures to ensure improvement of the sector.

Confirming it, Fisheries and Livestock Ministry Senior Assistant Secretary Mohibuzzaman said his ministry had earlier made the policy’s draft, and published the gazette on Wednesday after securing approval from the cabinet on August 18.

A shrimp enclosure can not be bigger than 30 acres and it will have to follow the land zoning system of the government According to the policy, the government will form two committees led by the minister and the secretary concerned to oversee the implementation of the policy to ensure the interests of the shrimp cultivators and the process industry owners along with the exporters, which will also give necessary suggestion to the government for the sake of the sector.

Of them, the minister will be head of the national coordination committee and the secretary will lead the executive committee while the other members will come from the different ministries and divisions.

There will have representatives of shrimp farmers, business leaders and

Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said the country’s shrimp production will increase in line with with maintaining standard by the policy that will create job, eliminate poverty, increase export earnings and finally it will meet up the nutrition demand of the countrymen.

He also stated that the sector, the second largest export sector of the country, is very important to us while around 1.50 crore people, including a mentionable number of women, are employed in the sector which export earning stood at Tk3,376 crore in last fiscal year.

The main motto of the policy is maintaining environmental and ecological balance, protecting biodiversity and job create as well as shrimp production, processing, marketing and export market expansion, the secretary continued.

As per the policy, the shrimp cultivators, producers and all related sides involved in the sector will have to being registered to run their business while the government will collect data of shrimp and shrimp products in every steps of cultivation and oversee it to ensure quality of products.

Besides, the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) policy, Bio-Terrorism Act, Anti-Dumping Act of USA, EU Sanitary Regulations and Sanitary and Phytosanitary system of World Trade Organisation must be followed.

A shrimp enclosure can not be bigger than 30 acres and it will have to follow the land zoning system of the government so that it may not hamper the arable lands.

In case of setting up enclosure destroying mangrove forest, the authorities concerned can impose ban on it, of which owners or producers at first will have to ensure clearance from of the Department of Environment (DoE). l

RESTRICTED AREA? Although designated as a restricted area, locals and visitors roam around freely inside the middle point runway of Shahjalal International Airport in the capital in presence of Ansar personnel guarding the entry points RAJIB DHAR

Uncontrolled expenditure on medical services bar poverty elimination

Bhola-Lakshmipur ferry services under threat

Indefinite transport strike from Monday

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

n Our Correspondent, Bhola

District Motor Workers’ Union called for a transport strike for indefinite period of time from Monday in all routes of Joypurhat district, starting 6am.

According to sources, the organization will observe the strike demanding a ban on plying of shallow engine-run vehicles including locally-made Nasiman, Kariman, Votvoti and battery-run auto rickshaw on the routes.

Plying of all private-owned vehicles including bus, minibus, coach, truck, tank-lorry, baby taxi, and CNG-run auto rickshaw will remain stopped during the strike.

The union President Sardar Abdul Hafiz said: “We have long been demanding to stop plying of all unapproved vehicles.” Hafiz added. l

Participants in a dialogue on universal health coverage in field-level reality stressed that uncontrolled expenditure and questionable quality of medical services were creating new obstacles in eliminating poverty in Bangladesh.

While average private expenditure for health sector in the outer world remains within thirty-five percent, it is about sixty-six percent in Bangladesh.

Due to this, 4-5 million families in Bangladesh are running the risk of freshly adding to the number of poor people annually, they said.

They added that quality medical services are yet to be rendered properly to avoid such risks. However, it will get much importance in the next decade.

Expanding coordinated professional service quality and initiatives can fulfill that importance now. For that, there needs new dimensions and attitudes in health sector.

The second dialogue over this issue

was organised by Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) supported

by Rockefeller Foundation and collaborated with Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College (SBMC) and BRAC Institute of Global Health at the auditorium of SBMC. AMM Nasiruddin, former secretary of health ministry, Prof Sabbir Ahmed, principal, SBMC, Tahmina Banu, head of child-surgery department of Chittagong Medical College, Masud of BRAC University of Global Health, Shadab Mahamud, advisor PPRC, also participated and spoke at the programme.

The speakers and participants agreed that Bangladesh had already received worldwide appreciation in terms of reducing neonatal, maternity, post-disaster mortality rates. Bangladesh had also succeeded in supplying safe water and controlling birth-rates and was praised for that too.

They however observed that the situation of uncontrolled expenditure and questionable quality and standard of medical services were creating new ob-

stacles against fulfilling the dreams of eliminating poverty in Bangladesh. In previous days infectious diseases like diarrohea, pneumonia used to cause most deaths. But now World Health Organisation observed fifty-nine percent deaths in Bangladesh were taking place due to the non-contagious diseases, like heart-stroke, cancer, diabetics.

They suggested introducing easily accessible, less costly but standard health services to prevent such deaths.

They further observed that efficiency, easy access to proper and quality health services standard health education and training, less-costly medical facilities and sufficient investment are key to sustainable universal health services.

Lack of service attitude was spawning the tendency of making profits only, deteriorating the health services every day, they pointed out, suggesting that the evaluation of the country’s health service by stakeholders might ensure more accountability and transparency in the medical services. l

Ferry services between Bhola and Lakshmipur are feared to be snapped any time as authorities are yet to take any step about the eroding approach road of Elisha Ferry Ghat and the submerging of its gangway in Bhola district.

Moreover, there are shoals in the Meghna River, onto which ferries often get stuck and so they are operated depending on high and low tides of the river.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA)’s Bhola-Lakshmipur Ferry Services Manager (commerce) Abu Alam said: “The ghat that includes its gangway too is to be overseen by the BIWTA and the approach road by the RHD. “The BIWTA can prevent the submerging of the gangway by dumping some bricks there, but they are sitting idle instead of doing anything about this. They have been repeatedly noti-

fied about this, though.”

He added: “The maximum part of the ghat’s approach road has already eroded and the rest might disappear into the river any time disrupting the ferry services, but even the RHD, that is supposed to deal with it, are yet to take any step about this as well.”

When Bhola RHD Executive Engineer Shahin Chowdhury was asked about this, he however said: “We are not authorised to prevent any river erosion. As much as we are to do, we have already done.”

BIWTA’s Bhola-Lakshmipur Ferry Services Manager (commerce) Abu Alam said: There are only two ferries in service along this route because another ferry, which recently went out of order after getting stuck into a shoal in the river, is now being repaired.”

He added that this route called for another ferry on the emrgency basis.

Otherwise, there would be trouble during Eid-ul-Azha to be celebrate in October. l

NGO official stabbed to International Conference on Social Science and Humanities concludes at IUB death in Noakhali n Our correspondent, Noakhali: An NGO official was stabbed to death at Chaprashirhat Purba Bajar under Companigonj upazila in Noakhali yesterday.

Locals detained the killer when he was trying to run away and handed him over to the police after beating him up.

The victim was identified as Tapan Chandra Bhowmic, 35, the son of Kumod Chandra Bhowmic from Upadi Lamsi village of Chaprashirhat union under Kabirhat upazila of the district.

He was a project director of a local non government organisation named Basoti. , from Chaprashirhat.

Mahabubur Rahaman, officer-in-charge of Kabirhat police sta-

tion, said , Abu Sayed Hukku, the murderer and his accomplices entered the Basoti office around 1pm and stabbed Tapan in his chest.

When Tapan cried for help, locals came to the office and saw him bleeding. The locals rushed him to the Noakhali Abdul Malek Ukil Medical College, where the doctors on duty declared him dead.

Meanwhile Abu Sayed Hukku tried to flee the scene with his associates, but shop owners near the NGO office caught him and handed him over to the police with the knife used for murder. Rest of his associates managed to escape.

A case was filed with the police station in this connection. l

n Tribune Report

A three-day long International Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities focusing on the theme “Identity in the Globalized World: Dimensions, Transformations and Challenges” concluded at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) campus in Bashundhara yesterday.

The Centre for Social Science Research (CSSR) at IUB organised the conference.

Professor Dr AK Azad Chowdhury, chairman of University Grants Commission Bangladesh attended the programme as the Chief Guest. In his speech Prof Chowdhury said in higher education there is no difference between public and private universities.

He further added several private univer-

sities, including IUB, were doing even better than some public universities.

Among others, IUB Vice Chancellor Prof M Omar Rahman also spoke on the occasion.

Professor Zakir Hossain Raju, chair of Conference Organizing Committee

and director of CSSR and Dean of School of Liberal Arts and Social Science, IUB, delivered the concluding remarks.

Renowned social science researcher from home and abroad presented a total of 64 research papers in this three day-long conference. l

n Our Correspondent, Joypurhat

Curtain falls on RobiDrishti debating competition

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong The 10-day Robi-Dristi National Debate Competition, which began in university, college and school categories in Chittagong on August 21, ended yesterday.

Dhaka University became the champions in the university category, Chittagong Cantonment Public School and College in the college category and Motijhil Government Boys’ High School in the school category.

Thirty six schools from Chittagong city, 12 colleges from Dhaka and Chittagong and 24 universities from across the country had joined the competition.

State Minister for Land Saifuzzaman Chowdhury Javed attended and spoke as chief guest at the finals and prize-giving ceremony held at the auditorium of Theatre Institute of Chittagong.

President Masud Bakul of Drishti, Chittagong in the chair, Chief Operating Officer Mahtab Uddin Ahmed of Robi Axiata Limited and Vice President Saif Chowdhury of Dristi, Chittagong also were in attendance. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

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Sunday, August 31, 2014

Eviction drive against battery-run 260 garment workers sued for vandalism auto-rickshaws starts in Ctg today n Our Correspondent, Savar

Owners issued 48-hour ultimatum to mayor n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong The owners of battery-run auto-rickshaws yesterday gave 48-hour ultimatum to the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) Mayor M Monjur Alam to resign from his post.

Under the banner of “Chittagong Rickshaw and Battery-run Rickshaw Malik Sangram Parishad,” they staged a demonstration and hold a press conference at the Chittagong Press Club.

President of the parishad Abdul Quader Majumder said they would besiege the CCC Office on September 3 if their seven-point demands were not met by next 48 hours.

“The battery-run auto-rickshaws were banned without holding any prior meeting us. We would be compelled to go for tougher programmes like hunger strikes and calling general strike if our demands are not fulfilled,” he said.

The seven-point demands include providing license to the battery-run rickshaw-owners who filed petitions with the High Court, seeking expert opinion from Buet regarding the batter-run rickshaws, providing driving licenses free of cost, ban CNG-run auto-rickshaws and tempo to ease traffic congestion.

Around one lakh battery-run rickshaws are currently plying on the

streets of Chittagong under 13 different associations. Apart from these, 70,000 manual rickshaws licensed under CCC ply the city roads.

The owners and drivers of battery-run rickshaws were instructed to remove batteries and motors from their vehicles within August 30 following High Court's latest order.

According to a meeting held on August 25 among Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP), Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA), Chittagong City Corporation and Chittagong district administration, an eviction drive against battery-run auto-rickshaws in Chittagong starts from today.

Any battery-run auto-rickshaw found plying after the deadline would be seized and legal actions would be taken, the authorities instructed.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Faruk Ahmed of CMP Traffic Division (North Zone) said: “Law enforcers including traffic inspectors and sergeants would remain deployed at 26 points in the city while 10 trucks will be there to carry the illegal rickshaws.”

Seized rickshaws and batteries would be dumped into dumping stations nearby police stations, he added.

A very few number of battery-run auto-rickshaws were seen plying on the streets in the port city yesterday. l

The authorities of a readymade garment factory in Jamgora of Ashulia lodged a case yesterday against 260 of its workers on charges of vandalism and looting.

Administrative official of Designer Jeans Sharif Hossain filed the case with Ashulia police station against 110 named and another 150 unnamed workers.

“On Tuesday, the factory authorities temporarily fired line chief Jahangir and operator Jahangir for violating rules. But the factory had to be shut for an indefinite period the following day as workers of the factory staged protests demanding that the two be reinstated in their posts,” said Sharif.

He said the notice put up on the factory gate enraged workers who came to join work on Thursday morning.

“They engaged in vandalism inside

DU syndicate election Thursday n Du Correspondent

5 injured as football fans lose control n Our Correspondent, Sylhet

WEATHER

LIGHT RAIN SUNDAY, AUGUST 31 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 6:18PM SUN RISES 5:40AM FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

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Chittagong

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Rajshahi

31

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Rangpur

30

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Khulna

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Barisal

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Sylhet

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Cox’s Bazar

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YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

36.4ºC Rajshahi

23.2ºC Rangamati

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:23am 5:39am 11:59am 4:30pm 6:18pm 7:35pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

'They engaged in vandalism inside the factory and were dispersed by industrial police shortly' She threatened to stage tougher protests unless the factory authorities withdrew the case within 24 hours.

Director of Ashulia industrial police Mostafizur Rahman said additional police were deployed outside the factory to avert any untoward situation. l

Janasasthya Odhikar Rokkha demands separate medical university n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Elections to the Dhaka University Syndicate, the academic council and the finance committee will be held on September 4 (Thursday) at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban in between 9:00am and 1:00pm.

DU Treasurer Prof Mohammad Kamal Uddin will conduct the election where mainly two panels, the pro-Awami League Blue panel and pro-BNP White panel, will be contesting.

The syndicate elections will be held under five categories – hall provosts, professors, associate professors, assistant professors and lecturers. The academic council polls will be under two categories – associate professors and assistant professors.

Three representatives will be elected from associate professors and assistant professors each while one representative from the finance committee. l

Five including two female constables were injured while a huge crowd tried to enter the Sylhet District Stadium by breaking its main gate on Friday.

The injured constables – Zulekha and Shirin – are receiving treatment at the Osmani Medical College Hospital while rest of the three took first aid, said Dr Tanmoy Bhattacharya, Deputy Director of the hospital.

On Friday, Sylhet District Stadium host the second friendly football match between Bangladesh Under-23 and Nepal Under-23 teams which attracted thousands of football fans in the city.

More than 40,000 spectators entered the stadium that has the seating capacity of not more than 25,000.

Because of the mismanagement in handling the crowd the match also started one hour late than schedule. l

the factory and were dispersed by industrial police shortly,” added the factory official.

Executive Director of Bangladesh Centre for Worker Solidarity Kalpona Akter termed the case false and said it was filed to harass the workers.

Hundreds of commuters wait for public transports at Farmgate bus stop yesterday as traffic deadlocks appeared on all major roads of the capital due to an Awami League rally at Suhrawardi Udyan RAJIB DHAR

A public health rights organisation in a press conference protested the transition of Chittagong Medical College Hospital into a university and demanded the establishment of a separate medical university in the port city.

The demand was made by Janasasthya Odhikar Rokkha Committee yesterday at Chittagong Press Club.

Convener of the organisation, Mahfuzur Rahman, said they received a draft of university law of 2012 recently which mentioned that all the establishments under Chittagong Medical College would be given to the university.

But, government in a gazette published in April 30 said the hospital would remain as a government organisation. The gazette was published after demonstrations were staged against the decision of the government on April 15.

Member Secretary Sushanta Barua of the organisation said if CMCH was converted into a university then patients who were receiving health services at minimal cost would be denied such service.

He said they were not against establishing the medical university but it should be a separate establishment for better heath services for the poor. l

Four held with 9,000 yaba Poverty elimination obstacles linked to uncontrolled expenses on medical services pills in Chittagong n Our Correspondent, Barisal Participants in a dialogue on universal health coverage in field-level reality opined that uncontrolled expenditure and questionable quality of medical services are creating new obstacles in eliminating poverty in Bangladesh.

While average private expenditure for health sector in the outer world remains within thirty-five percent, it is about sixty-six percent in Bangladesh.

Due to this, 4-5 million families in Bangladesh are running the risk of freshly adding to the number of poor people annually, they said.

They added that quality medical services are yet to be rendered properly to avoid such risks. However, it will get much importance in the next decade.

Expanding coordinated professional service quality and initiatives can fulfill that importance now. For that, there needs new dimensions and attitudes in health sector.

The second dialogue over this issue

was organised by Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) supported

by Rockefeller Foundation and collaborated with Barisal Sher-e-Bangla Medical College (SBMC) and Brac Institute of Global Health at the auditorium of SBMC. PPRC Executive Chairman and former caretaker government advisor Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman conducted the programme.

AMM Nasiruddin, former secretary of health ministry, Prof Sabbir Ahmed, principal, SBMC, Tahmina Banu, head of child-surgery department of Chittagong Medical College, Masud of BRAC University of Global Health, Shadab Mahamud, advisor PPRC, also participated and spoke at the programme.

The speakers and participants agreed that Bangladesh had already received worldwide appreciation in terms of reducing neonatal, maternity, post-disaster mortality rates. Bangladesh had also succeeded in supplying safe water and controlling birth-rates

and was praised for that too.

They however observed that the situation of uncontrolled expenditure and questionable quality and standard of medical services were creating new obstacles against fulfilling the dreams of eliminating poverty in Bangladesh. In previous days infectious diseases like diarrohea, pneumonia used to cause most deaths. But now World Health Organisation observed fifty-nine percent deaths in Bangladesh were taking place due to the non-contagious diseases, like heart-stroke, cancer, diabetics.

They suggested introducing easily accessible, less costly but standard health services to prevent such deaths.

Lack of service attitude was spawning the tendency of making profits only, deteriorating the health services every day, they pointed out, also suggesting that the evaluation of the country’s health service by stakeholders might ensure more accountability and transparency in the medical services. l

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Police arrested four with 9,000 pieces of yaba pills from Shah Amanat Bridge area in Chittagong yesterday.

The arrested are Syed Nura alias Kala, 28, Md Ishaq, 20, Abdur Shukkur, 26, and Manjurul Islam, 25, all hailing from Teknaf.

They were arrested around 3pm while carrying the items from Taknaf hiding inside a dry fish laden truck, said Bakalia police station Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Mohsin.

A case was lodged with Bakalia Police Station in this connection, he said.

The four were carrying the pills to another peddler at a Shutkipolli (dry fish producing area) in Chamrar Gudam area in the city.

“The arrested have mentioned two names whom we are trying to nab through drives and if they are caught we can nab the entire ring,” the OC said.

The trend of using goods-laden trucks for smuggling yaba from Chittagong to other parts of the country has

increased recently.

Police said the yaba peddlers, particularly those who are running the illegal business from Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong, use goods-laden vehicles to dodge the law enforcers as it is hard to find the pills amid the piles.

Moreover, thousands of goods-laden trucks ply on the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar and Dhaka-Chittagong routes daily. Therefore it is difficult to trace the trucks carrying the items without having any specific information, said sources in Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP).

According to Department of Narcotics Control, 90% of the smuggled items that enter the country are produced in around 50 yaba factories based in Mongdu town of Myanmar. The yaba consignments enter through the Naf River.

CMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and Prevention) Banaz Kumar Majumdar said they had increased surveillance over the trucks entering the city from northern parts of the division. l

DU suspends 7 BCL activists for attacking on a student n Du Correspondent Authorities at Dhaka University yesterday suspended seven activists of Bangladesh Chhtra League for an indefinite period for their alleged involvement in attacking a first year student.

The suspended BCL men were Shaheen from philosophy department, Shakil from Urdu department, Ashik and Mamun from English department, Mehedi from public administration department, Liton from tourism & hospitality management Mamun and Jafar.

They were all are second year students.

Confirming the decision, DU acting proctor Professor AM Amjad Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune: “The students were suspended on Friday night. A case has also been filed against them.”

“A probe committee will soon be formed to investigate the matter. After getting probe report, the suspension period will be fixed.” he added.

'The students were suspended on Friday night. A case has also been filed against them' Earlier on Thursday night, the seven accused allegedly attacked a first year student, Al-Amin, over trifle matter leaving him critically injured.

Later, he was admitted at Dhaka Medical College Hospital with severe head injury. l

Teachers and staff of Rajshahi University bring out a procession on the campus yesterday protesting the attack on the university's Chief Engineer Md Sirajul Munir and two others AZAHAR UDDIN

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Hindu Kalyan Trust money embezzled n Our Correspondent, Bandarban

The road constructed in 2000 lies in a sorry state causing suffering to the people of Chanda Beel in Gopalganj

DHAKA TRIBUNE

100,000 suffer due to lack of communication facilities

The locals are being deprived of medical services and education

n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj About one lakh people living in Chanda Beel, second largest water body of the country, of the district have been experiencing untold suffering because of not having necessary number of bridge, culvert and road to maintain communication with the mainland.

During the summer season when the Beel losses navigability, they have to wade through mud to go the nearby upazila or district towns for various purpose while boat and trawlers are lone ways of communication during the rainy season.

On the other hand, the residents of the 90-hector Beel, stretched in Sadar, Kashiani and Muksudpur upazilas, do not get due price in locally produced products and fish owing to not having proper communication facility.

Besides, the locals are being deprived of medical services and education due to the problem.

Sources at Gopalganj Roads and

Highways Department (RHD) said a road stretching from Satpar to Ramdia area via the Beel was constructed several years ago to ensure smooth movement of the residents while many development projects were in the pipeline.

In this regard, Praful Biswas, housewife Anjana Mandal, and learner Chandrima Bala, of Singa village under Kashiani upazila, said the road has been out of usage owing to developing sporadic potholes.

Unavailability of approach roads, the bridges already erected there have remained out of service as well, resulting the locals have been facing severe problem in movement and bringing their products to nearby markets, they opined.

At Ujani village of Muksudpur upazila, a farmer named Shaymal Sarker and fisherman Susanto Sarker said they are compelled to sell their agri-products and fish at comparatively cheap price because of the tattered communication

system and many times their products get rotten on the way to markets due to delay in transport.

The problem exacerbates particularly during the winter season and their children experience serious suffering to go to their schools, they continued.

Gopalganj RHD Executive Engineer Somiran Rai acknowledged the suffering of the Beel people, saying the government has earlier given necessary allocation to build bridges, culverts and roads there to improve the communication, works of which was going on in full swing.

Since most of the works have been stopped for the time being in the rainy season, they were hopeful of improving the situation by two years, the engineer also stated.

When contacted, DC Md Khalilur Rahman echoed the Somiran’s voice, telling that the local RHD, WDB and LGED in a union have already started their works to pull out the Beel people from the suffering. l

Members of Central Temple Committee in Bandarban accused the trusty of Hindu Kalyan Trust of embezzling funds allocated for the observation of National Mourning Day and Janmashtami.

Sources said the Ministry of Religious Affairs directed the Central Temple Committee to observe the occasions with help from the district administration. To help the trust, Tk5,000 for National Mourning Day and Tk8,000 for Janmashtami were allocated by the government.

Source from the Central Temple Committee said they observed the two days with due solemnity where the

State Minister of Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Bir Bahadur, also a member of parliament, District Magistrate KM Tarikul Islam and Superintendent of Police Devdas Bhattacharya were present.

Nikhil Das, the committee’s president, said when they went to withdraw the money, they found that it was already withdrawn by the Trusty Surajit Narayan Tripura. Then the committee sent a letter to the district magistrate accusing the trusty of misappropriation of the money.

The Trusty Surajit Narayan Tripura could not be contacted as his cell phone number was found inactive.

The district magistrate said he sent letters inquiring about the embezzlement to ministry officials concerned. l

Five women rescued from traffickers n Our Correspondent Satkhira, Police rescued five women while being trafficked to India and arrested three suspected traffickers from a farm house in Bhomra port area in Sadar upazila yesterday.

SI Mominur Rahman of Sadar police station said on a tip-off, a drive was conducted in a farm house in the area where the women were kept.

The police arrested Zakir Hossain, 35, son of Mozammel Haque of Srirampur village in Debhata upazila, Abdul Gaffar, 50, son of Rupchand Biswas and Saiful Mollah, son of Abul Bashar of Gopalganj district.

They rescued the women and arrested the suspected human traffickers from the spot around 10:30am. l

BAU STUDENT MURDER CASE

BCL men snatch one accused from police n BAU Correspondent A group of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) unit Bangladesh Chhatra League activists snatched away one of the accused in BAU student Saad murder case from police custody on Friday night.

Eyewitnesses said a team of Kotwali police, led by Sub-Inspector Amber Hossain, arrested Foysal Islam Joy, a former member of BAU central Chhatra League committee, at a fast food shop

on the campus around 8pm.

As Joy informed his associates about the incident over phone, a group of 1520 Chhatra League activists chased the police van and snatched away Joy. Later, another group of Chhatra League activists chased the police van and compelled them to leave the campus, eyewitnesses added.

SI Amber confirmed the incident to the Dhaka Tribune.

Meanwhile, BAU Proctor Professor

UP member held with yaba n Our Correspondent, Faridpur Members of Rapid Action Battalion arrested an alleged drug peddler in possession of 1,010 pieces of yaba tablets and other goods from a house at Shibpur village in Boalmari upazila on Friday night.

The arrested was identified as Ekhlas Uddin Molla alias Tutul, a member of Chatul union of the upazila and son of Abdur Rauf Molla, a resident of Banchaki village.

Major Mokammel, commander of RAB-8, said on a tip-off, a team of the elite force conducted a drive in the area and arrested Tutul at night.

The force also recovered 1,010 pieces of yaba tablet, Tk 65,900 cash, 10 SIM (subscriber identity module) cards of different mobile phone operators and nine mobile phone sets from his possession. The arrested is a dealer of the highly amphetamine tablet, yaba, the RAB official said. l

Dr Md Harun-ur-Rashid said police did not take any prior permission for arresting a student on the campus.

Earlier in last month, police submitted the charge sheet of Saad murder case, accusing 14 students, including Joy, for their alleged involvement in the murder.

Saad Ibne Momtaz, a final year student of the university, was beaten to death allegedly by a group of BAU Chhatra League activists five months back.l

Abducted mother and son rescued n Our Correspondent, Sylhet Police has rescued the mother and her son, who were abducted from Madaripur on August 28, in Sylhet on Friday night.

Police said a joint force of Madaripur and South Surma police conducted a drive at Lalabazar under South Surma police station in Sylhet around 8pm and rescued Yeasmin Akhter, 25, and her son Sifat, 5. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Career

7

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Bangladeshis in industrial production engineering

Expert presentations n Career Desk

Rahman and n Ishaqur Naiian Yazdani

T

he rise of various new organisations and corporations highly dependent on technology has prompted greater focus and importance on being adept in the use of technology. In this highly competitive society it is also vital to strive to be better than our competition and that can be executed through various methods.

One example is process optimisation, in which the processes are continually improved in such a manner that the output is greater than at any time before. Optimisation not only focuses on the speed at which a process could generate an output but also on the accuracy of the results. The more accurate the results and the faster they are generated, the more efficient a process becomes.

For example, this may mean creating less waste and reducing costs, thereby allowing a manufacturer to price their products below those of competitors.

The optimisation of complex processes or systems forms a specific branch of engineering that deals with only that, Industrial Production Engineering (IPE). Wikipedia sheds a little more light and describes that “it is concerned with the development, improvement, implementation and evaluation of integrated systems of people, money, knowledge, information, equipment, energy, materials, analysis and synthesis, as well as the mathematical, physical and social sciences together with the principles and methods of engineering design to specify, predict, and evaluate the results to be obtained from such systems or processes.”

One of the main reasons why this subject is in such high demand is that it encompasses quite a few fields together, thus turning the student of this subject into essentially a “Jack of all Trades.”

This particular field is a pivotal aspect for the development of any manufacturing organisation such as apparel, electronics, automobiles, pharmaceuticals,

Audience rapport (noun) – relationship of presenter with audience, especially when good BIZ Body language VOCAB (noun) – non-verbal communication through facial expressions, body movements etc.

Finally . . . – Typical word used to signal the last of several points or subjects Flip chart (noun) – a pad of large paper sheets on a stand for presenting information For example . . . – Typical phrase used to signal an illustration or sample of a particular point Handout (noun) – anything (report, sample etc.) handed or given to people at a presentation In conclusion . . . – Typical phrase used to signal the summing up or final part of a presentation OHT (abbreviation) – overhead transparency; sheet of film with image for an overhead projector Overhead projector (noun) – device that projects an OHT onto a screen Pointer (noun) – device (rod or electric torch etc.) for indicating things on a map, screen etc.

Screen (noun) – large, flat, reflective white surface on which films, slides etc. are projected Signal (verb) – to help the audience understand where one is in a presentation Slide (noun) – small (usually 35mm) photographic transparency To start with . . . – Typical phrase used to signal the beginning of a particular subject or topic Turning now to . . . – Typical phrase used to signal a change from one subject or topic to another Visual aids (noun) – things that one can look at in a presentation, like films, maps, charts etc.

Whiteboard (noun) – large, flat, white surface or board on which to write or draw with markers

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chemicals, processed food products etc.

The expertise is in demand as manufacturing of each of those products is quite competitive and organisations seek any advantage they can obtain.

IPE not only introduces newer and more optimal methods for production but it also facilitates in evaluating current methods of production. In particular it identifies specific tasks, materials and equipment which can be enhanced.

IPE deals with the use of mathematical means to predict results and comparing processes, the use of physical means to improve current processes.

Furthermore, it utilises social sciences to ensure more efficient productivity through the variety of employees working in the organisation, by instilling not only proper teamwork but also a well-defined hierarchy and structure

that can be utilised by the employees to maximise efficiency.

Mr Ahsan Akhter Hasin, former departmental head of IPE-BUET, states that: “The purpose of IPE is to create those who are capable of viewing machines or processes as production resources and plan to manage and run those processes or machines adeptly for maximum output.”

There is clear demand for those who have ascertained this skill set.

“It's been a problem for our country that we are unable to produce the maximum possible number of products in spite of having adequate equipment. It is clear we lack the required managerial skills. IP Engineers are now filling this void.

“Any kind of production industry is suitable for IP Engineers. An industry

can be based on chemical engineering, electronics engineering, computer engineering or other fields of engineering.

Haque, Beximco, Kohinoor Chemicals, Unilever, PRAN are just some of the names of companies willing to hire IP engineers.

“It is worth noting that all kinds of industries require IPE, even hospitals such as Red Crescent, Merry Stopes and 'Paribar Parikalpana Samity Hospital's where I have personally consulted.”

Md Ahsan Habib, a lecturer of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management at Khulna University of Engineering & Technology (KUET) added: “Unilever Bangladesh, Bangladesh Oxygen Corporation, Chevron Bangladesh and some other big companies have a distinct section called "IE." They are recruiting only the IE engineers in

this section. Other than these, industrial and production engineers have a great demand in garments sector. ” An exciting overall picture emerges of an industry which will play a crucial role, particularly as Bangladesh pursues global manufacturing opportunities. It is clear that the popularity of this subject will continue to soar as more and more organisations try to enter the market and compete with one another for the best talent. It can be argued that IPE is not only here to stay but also to facilitate a long and rewarding career. l Naiian Yazdani is the Co-founder and Director, GradConnect, an international career intelligence firm. Ishaqur Rahman is a Content Writer for GradConnect. For any questions, send an email to hello@gradconnect.com visit www.grad-connect.com

Brainwriting for ideas n Ahsan Sajid

l

W

e have all participated in brainstorming sessions, but in a group brainstorming session, for various reasons only a few key players express their ideas and the rest of the room simply follows suit and expounds and rehashes the same ideas until it is spread very thin. The final consensus is reached without considering ideas that never materialised because the whole team never had the opportunity to speak up.

Some team members may simply be shy, or afraid. Some may fear that their ideas are too bold while conservatives may only stick to safe alternatives.

Stronger personality types may push

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It allows equal participation from all without inhibition It reduces the likelihood of conflict as people focus on the problem at hand and the solutions

How does it work?

1.

2.

3.

There is no need for facilitation during the process, but a facilitator should prepare papers or cards with the brainwriting template for each participant. Refer to the figure for how this template should look.

Six to eight participants should sit in a circle facing inward.

Each participant at this point needs to think of an actual problem to be addressed, and write it down on the top of the page.

Problem / Question: How can we get more young adults to seek library membership?

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We buy more couches and make comfortable sitting arrangements instead of only sticking to wooden chairs and tables.

We need faster internet.

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The comfortable sitting idea is fine, but we have to find a way to make sure that people are not lounging on them all day. One way to do this would be to give library visitors time blocks, and once their time is up, they must let others have the spot.

We must introduce time blocks for internet use as well. Currently, a big problem is that some members occupy the computers for so long that many are not table to use them at all.

their own agendas.

These drawbacks are addressed by the brainwriting technique, an idea generation process that ensures participation from every team member. This approach generates far more ideas than brainstorming.

How does it address the issue?

Traditional brainstorming allows one person to speak at a time. Hypothetically speaking, by the time your chance to speak comes at the end of the table, you have already edited, rejected or forgotten your original idea. This reduces spontaneity, creativity, and productivity of brainstorming sessions. Brainwriting effectively eliminates this problem by giving everyone an equal opportunity in a non-threatening scenario.

Why use it? l

Brainwriting is simple and doesn’t require any preparation

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We have to revise our fine policy. A big deterrent for young adults who are our potential library members is that we charge too high a fine for late returns.

Not only do we need faster internet, but also we need to make the switch to Wi-Fi as most young adults these are aren’t reliant on our computer lab and would rather use their own device to access the internet.

4. Each participant hands their sheet of paper to the person sitting on their left for them to write a suggestion or answer to the problem proposed.

5. Once all the participants are done writing an answer or suggestion on the paper, they hand it to the person sitting on their left again.

6. This person may choose to do one of the following or both – write an entirely new suggestion below the original suggestion, or improve on the first one. Once done, participants must pass the paper to their left again.

7. The session continues like this till each participant has seen each paper and answered problems posed on every one of them.

8. In a debriefing period at the end of the process, participants may choose to discuss and select the best solutions for each of the original problems posed. l

Golden rules to set yourself up for success n Career Desk

W

hat do you expect to get out of your work? What do you hope to accomplish today? What would you like to have done by the end of this year? If you want any of these expectations and wishes to succeed, you need to set yourself goals. Goal setting not only establishes focus and direction in your life, it also provides you with a benchmark to determine whether you are succeeding the way you want to or just wasting time.

Goal setting isn’t as simple as making a list of things you want to do. It starts with careful meditation on what it is that you want to achieve and is followed by a lot of hard work to actually make it happen. Following are five golden rules of goal setting.

yourself up for failure because the likelihood is that you will frequently put off necessary work for day to day priorities.

Set SMART goals

In order to give your goals the best chance at success, they need to be designed to be SMART. While there are a few different versions of what SMART stands for, it is essentially what a good goal should be: specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound.

Goal setting is entails a lot more than simply saying you want something to happen in your life

Find motivation

Motivation is crucial to achieving goals.

When you are setting goals, make sure they are important to you and that their achievement will give you value.

When the outcome seems irrelevant to the bigger picture of your life from the get go, you will be less inclined to putting in the work required to make it happen. Goal achievement requires devotion and commitment; in order to increase the chances of success you need to feel the urgency and necessity of the achievement.

A sure path to disappointment and frustration is setting yourself goals that are not related to the big priorities in your life – you are basically setting

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Specific goals: Your goal has to be clear and well defined – vague goals lack in focus and direction, which is contrary to the point of goal setting.

Goals need to reflect the path you need to take, make sure you don’t end up getting lost along the way.

Measurable goals: One needs to measure their goals to assess their degree of success. This is why you need to include exact amounts and dates in your goals. For example: if you are planning to save more money this month, how will you know if

you have achieved your goal unless you have a specific amount that you aim to save?

Attainable goals: If you set farfetched unattainable goals, you will only demoralise yourself and lose your confidence when you fail to achieve them. Set yourself realistic goals. However, setting goals that are easy is also not recommended.

A 2006 study called New Directions in Goal-Setting Theory suggests that ambitious goals lead to a higher level of performance than easy or general goals.

Relevant goals: Setting yourself lots of different kinds of goals that have little to do with the direction you want your life and career to ultimately take will only derail you on your path. Keep your goals aligned with the direction you want to take, and you will develop focus along the way.

Time-bound goals: This is another benchmark to gauge the degree of success of your goal. Your goals should always have a deadline.

Working under a deadline will help you develop a sense of urgency and accelerate a goal’s achievement.

Put it in writing

Put your goals in writing – make it a tangible thing you see everyday instead of something at the back of your head.

Write them in firm and positive language such as “will” instead of “would like to.” A goal such as “I will meet all my deadlines this week” is more moti-

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vating than “I will not miss deadlines this week.”

Make an action plan

This is a step often missed in goal setting – most people are prone to getting so obsessed with the ultimate goal that they miss planning a step by step process to achieving the goal. It’s not necessary for the small day to day goals, but it is especially important for demanding and long-term goals. If you have a step by step plan, you will be aware of your progress along the way to your ultimate goal.

Stay focused

Goal setting is an on-going process and not a onetime activity. For higher chances of success, review your goals regularly; ask yourself if you are happy with the progress and course that you are taking. The end game remains the same but the action plan to get there may have to adapt to circumstances or change entirely for definite chances of achieving the goal.

Goal setting entails a lot more than simply saying you want something to happen in your life. If you do not visibly identify exactly what you want and understand why you want it the first place, your likelihood of succeeding at achieving them are significantly reduced. By following the five golden rules of goal setting you can set goals with conviction and ultimately enjoy the pleasure of knowing that you have successfully achieved what you set out to achieve. l

8 ‘West will be jihadists’ next target’ n AFP, Jeddah King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has warned that the West will be the next target of the jihadists sweeping through Syria and Iraq, unless there is “rapid” action. “If we ignore them, I am sure they will reach Europe in a month and America in another month,” he said in remarks quoted yesterday by Asharq al-Awsat daily.

“Terrorism knows no border and its danger could affect several countries outside the Middle East,” said the king who was speaking at a welcoming ceremony on Friday for new ambassadors, including a new envoy from Saudi ally the United States.

The Islamic State (IS) jihadist group has prompted widespread concern as it advances in both Syria and Iraq, killing hundreds of people, including in gruesome beheadings and mass executions.

Lack of action would be “unacceptable” in the face of the phenomenon, King Abdullah said. “You see how they (jihadists) carry out beheadings and make children show the severed heads in the street,” he said, condemning the “cruelty” of such acts. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Obama: World is messy, US leadership necessary n Agencies US President Barack Obama has said American leadership was never more necessary in the world than now and there is no competition to it from countries like China and Russia.

“The truth of the matter is that the world has always been messy. In part, we’re just noticing now because of social media and our capacity to see in intimate detail the hardships that people are going through,” Obama said at a Democratic Party fund raiser in New York.

“The good news is that American leadership has never been more necessary, and there’s really no competition out there for the ideas and the values that can create the sort of order that we need in this world,” he said, adding that countries like China and Russia are nowhere near the US. “I hear people sometimes saying, well, I don’t know, China is advancing.

But I tell you what, if you look at our cards and you look at China’s cards, I promise you, you would rather have ours,” he said amidst applause.

Obama said some people may say Russia looks pretty aggressive right now but the question to be asked is “are there long lines of people trying to emigrate into Russia?”

“I don’t think so,” the US President said amidst laughter.

Obama conceded that the Middle East poses a challenge, which is not comparable to the challenges of the Cold War or the World War. “The Middle East is challenging, but the truth is it’s been challenging for quite a while. Our values, our leadership, our military power but also our diplomatic power, the power of our culture is one that means we will get through these challenging times just like we have in the past. I promise you things are much less dangerous now than they were 20 years ago, 25 years ago or 30 years ago,” he said.

Highlighting that the current situation is not comparable to the challenges faced by the US during the Cold War, Obama said, “This is something we can handle, because we are Americans and that’s what we do.”

Noting that the situation is not comparable to the challenges faced when the US had an entire block of Communist countries against it, Obama said, “Around the world, when you travel to Asia, or you travel to Europe, or you travel to Latin America, or you travel to Africa, what you find is, among ordinary people, they are still looking to America as a beacon of hope and opportunity. And we should not forget that.”

Obama said people are feeling anxious these days “if you watch” the nightly news. “It feels like the world is falling apart. We are living through some extraordinarily challenging times. A lot of it has to do with changes that are taking place in the Middle East in which an old order that had been in place for 50 years, 60 years, 100 years was unsustainable, and was going to break up at some point.”

“And now, what we are seeing is the old order not working, but the new order not being born yet; and it is a rocky road through that process, and a dangerous time through that process,” the US President explained. l

THE APPROACHING VOLCANO

Smoke and ash fills the air as Mount Tavurvur erupts in Rabaul in eastern Papua New Guinea on August 30. A volcano which has erupted in Papua New Guinea was yesterday spewing fragments from its crater and rumbling loudly, but its activity appeared to be subsiding, a seismologist said. Mount Tavurvur, which destroyed the town of Rabaul when it erupted simultaneously with nearby Mount Vulcan in 1994, came to life again early Friday, with rocks and ash erupting from its centre AFP

Ukraine seeks to join Nato, Putin compares Kiev to Nazis n Reuters, Lake Seliger, Kiev Ukraine has called for full membership in Nato, its strongest plea yet for Western military help, after accusing Russia of sending in armoured columns that have driven back its forces on behalf of pro-Moscow rebels.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin compared Kiev’s drive to regain control of its rebellious eastern cities to the Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in World War Two. He announced that rebels had succeeded in halting it, and proposed that they now permit surrounded Ukrainian troops to retreat.

Speaking to young people at a summer camp, Putin told his countrymen they must be “ready to repel any aggression towards Russia.” He described Ukrainians and Russians as “practically one people,” language that Ukrainians say dismisses the very existence of their thousand-year-old nation.

The past 72 hours have seen pro-Russian rebels suddenly open a new front and push Ukrainian troops out of a key town in strategic coastal territory along the Sea of Azov. Kiev and Western countries say the reversal was the result of the arrival of armoured columns of Russian troops, sent by Putin to prop up a rebellion that would otherwise have been near collapse.

Rebels said they would accept Putin’s proposal to allow Kiev forces, who they say are surrounded, to retreat, provided the government forces turn over weapons and armour. Kiev said that only proved that the fighters were doing Moscow’s bidding.

Russia drew a fresh rebuke from French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who told French television station France 24 that Russia could face more sanctions from the European Union.

“When one country sends military forces into another country without the agreement and against the will of another country, that is called an intervention and is clearly unacceptable,” he said.

In Berlin, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said after speaking with his Ukrainian counterpart: “The border violations we are seeing - yesterday and even more so the day before yesterday - make us fear that the situation is increasingly getting out of control.”

In Washington, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Russia’s footprint was undeniable in Ukraine.

“We have regularly marshalled evidence to indicate what exactly is happening, despite the protestations of the Russian government that for some reason would have us all believe otherwise,” he said. “The fact is, those denials are completely without any credibility, and, you know, we’ve been pretty candid about that.”

Full Ukrainian membership of Nato, complete with the protection of a mutual defence pact with the United States, is still an unlikely prospect. But by announcing it is now seeking to join the alliance, Kiev has put more pressure on the West to find ways to protect it. Nato holds a summit next week in Wales.

In 2008 Nato denied Ukraine and Georgia a fast track towards membership. Russia invaded Georgia a few months later. l

Lady al-Qa’ida: World’s most wanted prisoner n Tribune Desk The message from the militants was revealing.

“You were given many chances to negotiate the release of your people via cash transactions as other governments have accepted,” it said. “We have also offered prisoner exchanges to free the Muslims currently in your detention, like our sister Dr Aafia Siddiqui. However, you proved very quickly to us that this is not what you are interested in.”

This message, sent to the employers of American journalist James Foley by fighters belonging to the Islamic State (IS), highlighted an audacious gambit: they had sought to exchange Foley for a Pakistani woman who has been dubbed Lady alQa’ida and who was once described as the world’s most wanted woman, but whom her family insist is an innocent victim. The IS also wanted £80m.

According a report by The Independent, the Obama administration declined to consider either option and the 40-yearold American journalist was subsequently beheaded, a video recording of the execution being posted on the internet.

Amid the outrage and horror over the stark, shuddering murder of Foley, the offer made by the militants for Siddiqui has also led to fresh questions about the curious case of the 42-year-old mother-ofthree, whose release from US custody the IS fighters were seeking. Who is she and why were the IS fighters interested in her?

Aafia Siddiqui was born in Karachi and grew up in an upper middle class family before travelling to the US to study.

Siddiqui, whose mother once served in Pakistan’s parliament and whose father trained in the UK to be a doctor, began her studies at the University of Houston in Texas before moving to Massachusetts and earning a PhD in neuroscience from Brandeis University.

She and her first husband, Amjad Mohammed Khan, an anaesthesiologist whom she wed in an arranged marriage, left the US after the attacks of September 2001, eventually returning to the Karachi in the summer of 2002. While still in the US, the FBI questioned Siddiqui and her husband regarding their purchase over the internet of £6,000 worth of night vision equipment and body armour. They said it was for hunting.

Siddiqui and her husband divorced in late 2002. He would later claim she had become too abusive and that he was concerned about her increasingly extremist views.

Shortly after the divorce, Siddiqui allegedly married Ammar al-Baluchi, the nephew of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the man accused of plotting the al-Qa’ida attacks on New York and Washington.

To this day, her family deny this marriage happened and say this was a story invented by the Western media.

In March 2003, Siddiqui and her three children disappeared, after the FBI an-

20 years to rebuild Gaza n AP, Gaza City

An international organization involved in assessing post-conflict reconstruction said it will take 20 years for Gaza’s battered and neglected housing stock to be rebuilt following the war between Hamas and Israel.

The assessment by Shelter Cluster, co-chaired by the UN refugee agency and the Red Cross, underscores the complexities involved in an overall reconstruction program for the Gaza Strip, which some Palestinian officials have estimated could cost in excess of $6bn.

Any effort to rebuild Gaza will be hindered by a blockade imposed by Egypt and Israel since the Islamic militant group Hamas seized power in 2007. Israel has severely restricted the import of concrete and other building materials into Gaza, fearing that militants will use them to build rockets and reinforce cross-border attack tunnels.

Egypt and Norway have raised the possibility of convening a Gaza donors’ conference at some point next month, but no firm arrangements have been made.

With a population of 1.8 million, Gaza is a densely populated coastal

strip of urban warrens and agricultural land that still bears the scars of previous rounds of fighting.

In its report issued late Friday, Shelter Cluster said 17,000 Gaza housing units were destroyed or severely damaged during this summer’s war and 5,000 units still need work after damage sustained in the previous military campaigns. In addition, it says, Gaza has a housing deficit of 75,000 units.

Shelter Cluster said its 20-year assessment is based on the capacity of the main Israel-Gaza cargo crossing to handle 100 trucks of construction materials daily. l

CHILDREN UNCARED-FOR

Syrian refugee children beg for money in the Lebanese capital, Beirut. The number of refugees from the conflict in Syria now tops three million, the UN said, as US President Barack Obama admitted he has no strategy to tackle advancing jihadists AFP

Dr Aafia Siddiqui nounced a global “wanted for questioning” alert for her and her first husband. [Khan was questioned over alleged terror links and released without charge.] It is believed her name as a possible al-Qa’ida operative was mentioned by Khalid Sheikh Mohammed who was repeatedly questioned and tortured by the US after he was arrested in Rawalpindi at the beginning of March 2003.

There remains an intense and ongoing debate about what happened to them during the next five years. Some believe Siddiqui and her children were held by the Pakistani authorities, while her family say she was a “ghost prisoner” of the US and kept in a secret prison at Bagram airbase.

Her ex-husband believes she and her children spent those years at large in Pakistan, under the eye of the Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI).

The next confirmed sighting of her was in the summer of 2008 when she was detained in Afghanistan after being discovered close to the home of a senior official in Ghazni province. On her possession were documents describing the production of explosives, chemical weapons and the Ebola virus, and hand-written notes referring to a “mass casualty attack” in the US. The diminutive Siddiqui was eventually convicted in the US, not on terror-related charges, but on counts of attempted murder – charges resulting from the claim, denied by her, that she tried to shoot her US questioners while in Afghanistan. She was sentenced to 86 years in jail and is currently being held at the Federal Medical Centre in Carswell, Texas, which houses female prisoners with mental health issues. Prisoner number 90279-054 is not due for release until 2083.

Since the release of the IS email that referred to Siddiqui, there has been much speculation among experts about what it may signify.

Dr Farzana Shaikh, a Pakistan scholar at Chatham House in London, said IS may have been prompted by one of several militant groups in Pakistan who have called for Siddiqui’s release in exchange for Shakil Afridi. The case of Afridi, a doctor who was recruited by the CIA to try and locate Osama bin Laden and later charged with treason by Pakistan, is due to be reviewed again shortly. l

Ebola outbreak reaches Senegal, riots break out in Guinea n Reuters, Dakar/Conakry The West African state of Senegal became the fifth country to be hit by the world›s worst Ebola outbreak on Friday, while riots broke out in neighbouring Guinea’s remote southeast where infection rates are rising fast.

In the latest sign that the outbreak of the virus, which has already killed at least 1,550 people, is spinning out of control, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said thatEbola cases rose last week at the fastest pace since the epidemic began in West Africa in March.

The epidemic has defied efforts by governments to control it, prompting the leading charity fighting the outbreak, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), to call for the UN Security Council to take charge of efforts to stop it.

Including the fatalities, more than 3,000 have been infected since the virus was detected in the remote jungles of southeastern Guinea in March and quickly spread across the border to Liberia and Sierra Leone. It has also touched Nigeria, where six people have died.

Sierra Leone’s President Ernest Bai Koroma dismissed his Health Minister Miatta Kargbo on Friday over her handling of the epidemic, which has killed more than 400 people in the former British colony.

Scientists on Friday also reported that ZMapp, the drug that last week cured two American aid workers who contracted the disease in Liberia, had cured all 18 lab monkeys infected with the virus in laboratory tests.

Senegal’s first case is a student from Guinea. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

9

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Sharif tries to distance himself from Pak army as crisis drags on Army intervenes in conflict between opposition, prime minister day, Sharif said he had nothing to do Thursday heralded hopes that the crin Reuters, Islamabad with the army’s decision to step into sis would soon be over, but as of Friday Pakistan’s prime minister, weakened by weeks of opposition protests calling for him to resign, distanced himself from an army move to intervene in the crisis, saying he was not turning to the military for help to defuse the stand-off.

But in an embarrassing twist for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the army quickly denied this, saying it had been specifically instructed by the government to step in to help mediate with the opposition.

Despite the army’s intervention, the crisis appeared far from being resolved, with thousands of protesters still massing outside key government installations in centrail Islamabad late on Friday demanding Sharif’s resignation.

Sharif’s efforts to end the conflict have failed in recent days, undermining his clout in a country prone to army coups.

The protests have been led by opposition leaders Imran Khan, a hero cricket player turned politician, and Tahir ul-Qadri, a firebrand cleric, who have both announced they would now directly negotiate with army chief General Raheel Sharif.

Sharif has emerged much weakened from the crisis, his already uneasy relationship with the military hitting new lows. He was toppled in a military coup in 1999 during a previous stint in office.

Addressing parliament on Fri-

the conflict.

“The army did not ask to play the role of mediator, neither have we requested them to play such a role,” he told the assembly where he enjoys a strong majority.

Sharif added that he had not object-

Despite the army’s intervention, the crisis appeared far from being resolved, with thousands of protesters still massing outside key government installations in centrail Islamabad ed to both Khan and Qadri meeting the army chief. “If ... they want to meet the army chief then they should certainly meet,” he said.

However, the army’s press wing tweeted afterwards: “(The army chief) was asked by the Govt to play facilitative role for resolution of current impasse, in yesterday’s meeting, at (Sharif’s) House.”

The army’s intervention late on

night, protest leaders showed no signs of abandoning their call for Sharif to resign, with Khan announcing he would organise more protests around the country.

“I am fighting a war,” Khan told supporters. “I don’t trust Nawaz (Sharif). He is a liar and he is not true to his words.”

Officials in Sharif’s camp have accused the army of backing the protesters, though the army has so far been expressly neutral.

Pakistan has been gripped by mass protests for more than two weeks, with thousands of protesters occupying the centre of the capital. Late on Friday night, up to 8,000 protesters, some armed with clubs and shouting slogans, had again gathered outside parliament, with police on standby to prevent any trouble.

Pakistan, a nuclear-armed nation of 180 million, has been ruled by the military for half of its entire history and has repeatedly oscillated between civilian and military rule.

Army’s role

Although the army’s role is key to how the crisis unfolds, few believe the army is bent on seizing power again.

Nevertheless, its public intervention has demonstrated just how fragile Pakistan’s democracy still is more than a year

since Sharif swept to office in the country’s first democratic transition of power.

“This is the end of democracy, the constitution and supremacy of the parliament in the country,” retired Justice Tariq Mehmood was quoted as saying by the respected Dawn daily.

Sharif has displeased the army by trying to strengthen civilian rule and improve relations with India and Afghanistan, and the latest conflict has given the military an opportunity to sideline him on security and foreign policy issues.

Sharif also angered the military by putting the former army chief, Pervez Musharraf, on trial for treason. Musharraf ousted Sharif in the 1999 coup.

The army’s involvement is likely to unnerve some Pakistanis but it also offers Khan and Qadri a face-saving solution to end their deadlocked protest as both are seen as close to the military.

In a bid to appease the protesters on Thursday, the authorities registered a murder case to investigate the killing of 14 Qadri supporters during clashes with police at a protest in the city of Lahore in June.

The legal case names Sharif and his powerful brother Shahbaz Sharif – Punjab’s chief minister – among those responsible. Although it is not a legal indictment, the move could lead to Shahbaz’s resignation and put further pressure on the prime minister. l

Qadri issues new deadline for Sharif to resign n Agencies Amid Pakistan army’s mediation efforts, protesters have stepped up pressure on the embattled government with cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri setting yet another deadline of 24 hours for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to quit.

In a late night development, Qadri’s camp was visited by a delegation of Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PAT) led by vice chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi, who convinced the Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) chief to delay his next move. Following the meeting, according to a report by PTI, the first direct contact between the two groups since they together started the march on August 14, Qadri set a 24-hour deadline for the prime minister to step down.

Qadri has set a number of deadlines

since camping outside the Parliament about two weeks ago.

After their meeting, Qureshi also addressed the PAT crowd and reiterated his party’s request to postpone further action, which the protesters did not agree to. At this, Qadri asked his followers to give their assent to the proposal.

He said PAT and had a number of views in common and shared the same struggle, cautioning supporters that the government intended to create a split between the two.

Meanwhile, in his late night address, Khan announced that his party would expand their sit-in to rallies in Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad and Multan. Qadri asked his supporters to join Khan’s protests. Speaking to his supporters, Khan said he would announce his next step on Sunday. l

Taliban suicide bombers hit Afghan intelligence agency, six killed n Reuters, Jalalabad

An Afghan soldier holds a rocket propelled grenade launcher following a Taliban attack on the Afghan intelligence service office

AFP

Taliban suicide bombs hit an office of the Afghan intelligence agency in an eastern city yesterday, killing six people, and insurgents shot dead another 11 in the west, in an upsurge of violence as foreign combat troops prepare to withdraw from the country.

Seven militants were also killed during several hours of heavy fighting with Afghan security forces at the Jalalabad headquarters of the National Directorate of Security (NDS), said Ahmad Zeya Abdulzai, a spokesman for the governor of eastern Nangarhar province near the border with Pakistan.

Abdulzai said four NDS agents and two civilians were killed when a truck and a smaller car, both loaded with explosives, were driven into the compound and a gunfight broke out between Afghan forces and the insurgents.

Reuters was not able to reach the

NDS immediately for comment. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack, in which dozens were wounded.

A pattern of bold offensives by militants has emerged across Afghanistan in recent weeks during the summer “fighting season.”

It coincides with political deadlock in the capital, Kabul, where rival presidential candidates have failed to resolve months-long disputes over an election meant to mark the first democratic transfer of power in Afghan history.

Most foreign combat troops are due to leave by the end of 2014 but the election dispute has meant a prolonged delay in signing a security pact with the United States governing how many troops would remain.

On Saturday, the insurgents struck in the western province of Farah, stopping a truck carrying workers to a construction site near the Iranian border and killing 11 of them. Authorities were trying to

find out why the workers were targeted.

“They were innocent Afghan workers. They did not have any connection to the government, so we don’t know the reason for the attack,” said Jawad Afghan, a spokesman for the provincial governor.

As the political impasse drags on, the Taliban-led insurgency has focused on important tactical and symbolic targets as a challenge to the Afghan security forces who are taking over from their Nato-led counterparts.

Afghan forces have struggled to fight off large numbers of insurgent fighters in provinces to the east, north and south of Kabul.

“This is part of an alarming trend across the country,” said Graeme Smith, a senior analyst at the International Crisis Group in Kabul. Taliban offensives “are longer in duration, bigger in size and against more ambitious targets than we’ve seen previously.” l

China warns foreign Modi meets Abe as India, Japan sign MoU to powers not to use Hong give Varanasi a facelift Kong as a ‘bridgehead’ n Agencies

n Reuters, Beijing China yesterday warned against any foreign interference ahead of a crucial ruling on the city’s political future on Sunday, saying Beijing will not tolerate the use of Hong Kong “as a bridgehead to subvert and infiltrate the mainland.”

China’s largely rubber-stamp parliament is set to meet on Sunday, when it is expected to limit 2017 elections for Hong Kong’s leader to a handful of pro-Beijing candidates, a move likely to escalate plans by pro-democracy activists to blockade the city’s Central business district on Sunday.

According to state media, an unidentified spokesman from the Chinese foreign ministry’s Department of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Affairs said China would promptly “make solemn representations” to any “external force” that interfered in Hong Kong’s internal affairs.

Hong Kong is a special administrative region (SAR) of China, administered by what is known as the Basic Law. In an interview with state news agency Xinhua on Friday, the unidentified spokesman said “some people” ignored the long-term interests of Hong Kong and the provisions of the Basic Law “to collude with external forces in an attempt to interfere the SAR government administration.”

This was done “not only to undermine the stability and development of Hong Kong but also to attempt to use Hong Kong as a bridgehead to subvert and infiltrate the mainland,” the

spokesman said. “This will absolutely not be tolerated.”

The spokesman did not identify any outside countries. In 2013, US envoy to Hong Kong Clifford Hart said Washington would continue to back “genuine universal suffrage” there.

Such a strongly worded statement from the ministry signals increasing anxiety among Chinese leaders about the outcome of Sunday’s decision, which will be watched closely by diplomats and international human rights groups.

The expected decision to limit the number of candidates for the 2017 elections could trigger a showdown with pro-democracy demonstrators who are planning an “Occupy Central” campaign.

The Hong Kong government will deploy 5,000 police for the expected protest on Sunday night, Hong Kong’s official media RTHK said, citing an unidentified source.

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 and there have been fierce debates in the past year over how its next leader is chosen in 2017 - by universal suffrage, as the democrats would like, or from a list of pro-Beijing candidates.

It returned under a principle of “one country, two systems” allowing it broad autonomy and far more freedom of speech, assembly and religion than exists on the mainland.

However, China has made it plain that Beijing’s sovereignty cannot be questioned. Beijing has ratcheted up its control despite promises to grant the city a high degree of autonomy and eventual universal suffrage. l

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made the unprecedented gesture of travelling to Kyoto to meet his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi yesterday, flagging the importance of the growing relationship between Asia’s second and third-largest economies.

Abe normally meets dignitaries in the capital Tokyo, and travelling 500 kilometres to Kyoto clearly means that the Japanese are going out of

their way to honour the Indian PM, local observers said.

“Japanese leaders have hosted get-togethers in Kyoto before but this is the first time I can recall that the prime minister went to meet a visiting dignitary and thereby honour his arrival,” said Jeff Kingston, director of Asian Studies at Temple University in Tokyo.

Ahead of the dinner, the two leaders witnessed the signing of a “partner city affiliate” agreement for Kyoto and Varanasi covering city modernisation and

conservation intended to be a framework for smart heritage cities.

The Kyoto leg of the trip, kept secret until close to the date of Modi’s arrival, has interesting resonances. The city is the old imperial capital of Japan, something an ardent nationalist like Abe is bound to cherish.

That it is a prime example of how to develop a heritage city without losing its character chimes nicely with Modi’s plans for his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi.

“The choice of venue is significant because it is a chance to highlight to Modi Japan’s most attractive urbanscape where tradition and modernity have been balanced and highlight the common cultural roots in Buddhism,” said Kingston.

Takashi Shimada, president of the Indo Business Centre consultancy, called the Abe initiative unprecedented, adding that it was “a clear message to our neighbours,” a reference to China. l

Ethnic strife blurs Myanmar’s first census in 30 years n Reuters, Yangon

Volunteers attend a census training course at a school in Yangon March 23

REUTERS

Following an incomplete count due to ethnic conflicts in parts of the country, Myanmar said yesterday that its first census in 30 years shows the population to be 51.4 million, some ten million less than expected. The provisional findings of the census, taken between March-April with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), was released by Minister of Immigration and Population U Khin Yi. The census was mired in controversy from the outset, as the government and UNFPA were criticized for basing the counting on 135 officially recognized ethnic groups, a classification that critics say is outdated and inaccurate.

Ethnic groups said their political representation and claims to ethnicity would be compromised if they were undercounted.

The estimated population included some 1.2 million people who were not counted in three areas affected by ethnic

conflicts - northern Rakhine, and Kachin and Kayin states.

The government said that the estimate of 1.09 million uncounted people in northern Rakhine state was based on pre-census mapping of households by immigration officers.

Much of the controversy surrounded the counting of the Rohingya - Muslims who live in western Rakhine state and who are often described by the United Nations as one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.

The government had promised international sponsors that ethnic groups could choose their classification. But a day before the census kicked off, presidential spokesman Ye Htut indicated that use of the term Rohingya would be prohibited, so those who wanted to identify themselves as Rohingya were excluded from the count.

The government describes the Rohingya as Bengalis, a term that implies they are illegal immigrants from neighboring Bangladesh. However, most have lived in Myanmar for centuries. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Sunday, August 31, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Speed up road repairs

T

here is no excuse for the miserable state of the country’s roads.

Large amounts of public money are allocated for maintenance, but a combination of delays, incompetent administration and negligent contractors condemns many roads to a constant state of disrepair.

The costs to the public of congestion and inconvenience being exacerbated by potholes and damaged highways are enormous. These increased hugely during the rainy season with disrepair causing roads to be flooded unnecessarily.

Despite occasional government promises to ensure major maintenance is undertaken ahead of busy holiday periods and the rainy season, deadlines are constantly missed and renovations delayed, leaving road users in the lurch.

Funds for routine maintenance of city roads are regularly misspent, with little or no improvements to show for taxpayer funds spent.

The use of sub-standard materials means that even when projects are progressed in a timely manner, roads may soon return to previous states of disrepair because the work was carried out shoddily.

It is particularly egregious that major renovation works are sometimes left uncompleted despite monies being paid to contractors. Less than half the required repair works on the Jirabo-Bishmail and C&D-Ashulia roads have been completed despite payments for fixing the dilapidated roads being made to contractors for over a year.

The government must improve co-ordination and planning to ensure funds for road maintenance and renovations are spent properly and effectively.

We cannot afford to allow the nation’s arteries to be constantly clogged. Repairs must be undertaken to strict deadlines to minimise inconvenience and speed traffic flows.

We cannot afford to allow the nation’s arteries to be constantly clogged

Knowledge industries with ICT parks

T

here is much to be said for the government’s talks with Japan to work together on building 10 information and communications technology parks across the country.

It is encouraging to see our governments show more initiative in this direction. The ICT parks can add a lot of value to the economy.

The planned high tech zones are budgeted to cost around Tk300cr per ICT park. The proposals are designed to attract more knowledge intensive companies to set up businesses in Bangladesh, by developing facilities to support among other things ICT, engineering, telecommunications and biotechnology industries.

We need to invest in more such initiatives to create knowledge based jobs that add value to the economy and which can spur more Bangladeshi companies to develop technology-led businesses.

It is imperative for Bangladesh to invest in technology industries on a larger scale in order to be on the same page as the rest of the world.

These sizeable investments are key to helping the country create new jobs, and to improve its efficiency and business relationship with the rest of the world.

The planned ICT parks may potentially provide a bold and concrete step towards the goal of “Digital Bangladesh.” However, we must make sure that internet and communication freedoms are coupled with technological growth, otherwise such investments may be hollow.

Ensuring more investment in higher education and integrating research facilities and skills training into these ICT parks will be key components to make them a success.

It is imperative for Bangladesh to invest in technology industries on a larger scale

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

Partition of India: A historical imperative August 27

Kanak Dasgupta Justifying a historical misfit. The community was Hindustani by race and culture. Suddenly members of that community found an Arabic identical linkage and brought it into their culture.

Till today, Indian Muslims (including from three countries) have not been able to come out from that Utopian dogma.

The long struggle for freedom was initiated by Samrat Bahadur Shah Zafar from 1857, and we all knew he was deported to Yangon.

It is rather shameful that his community felt awkward and bargained in such a harsh communal line.

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 13 represents C so fill C every time the figure 13 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

Qaaiyum Alam Kanak Dasgupta: This was a rather foolish comment. I would request you to go through history and get your facts straight before making any more such pointless comments. Thank you.

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.

Cabinet extends tenure of quick power act August 25

Nazmul Khair “The government has extended tenures of rental and quick rental power plants to four more years.”

Only because we are paying for it with our taxes.

Rendezvous of underground bands August 25

Music Theater Live “‘Last Revolution’ held at the Institute of Engineers Bangladesh Auditorium.”

Thank you for the support, DT. Regiment-The Band “Regiment, a band established with the aim to raise voice against injustice and massacre occurred in the Liberation War performed an original track with such lyrics and music. They also covered a few songs including Dream Theatre’s “Pull Me Under” and System Of A Down’s “Toxicity.”

We didn’t perform Toxicity though. :p

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Biman to resume domestic flights August 26

Waliul Haque Khondker Biman would only be able to sustain the domestic routes, if it is allowed to raise the fares to the level of that of the private carriers. But in the past, Biman has always been compelled to maintain lower fares. If the same thing is repeated, Biman will pile up losses and the private carriers will go out of business. The concept of national service, like gas, electricity and railway, is a misplaced notion for an airline’s commercial operation.

CROSSWORD ACROSS

DOWN

1 Waterway (5)

1 Swift (5)

4 Strange (3)

2 Stanza (5)

6 Augury (4)

3 Flowers (5)

8 Skin openings (5)

4 Burden (4)

9 Trick (4)

5 Exploit (4)

Md Mahbubul Haq Khan Waliul Haque Khondker: Sir, who will tell Biman this? Has Biman ever taken any good advice and followed it? Rather, Biman runs on whims.

11 Second-hand (4)

7 Break out (5)

12 Useless remains (5)

10 Cult (4)

15 Condition (5)

13 Highway (4)

18 Circle of light (4)

14 Garden ornament (5)

Stop wasteful energy subsidies

20 Dutch cheese (4)

15 Fragment (5)

21 Mechanical man (5)

16 Scope (5)

22 Table-shaped hill (4)

17 Eulogise (5)

23 Mild explosion (3)

18 Aid (4)

24 Corolla leaf (5)

19 Source of light (4)

August 25

Ray Del Colle Global clean energy investment hit a record $260 billion in 2011. That’s five times as much as 2004.

The shift to clean energy is already happening.

Passport offices in all districts in a month August 25

Sheikh Jinat Mahmid Good initiative, but will it be possible in one month?

Motivate farmers to cultivate Chinese variety ginger

PEANUTS

August 25 Md Ashraf Hossain A few years ago, the retail price per kilogram for ginger was Tk40; it is now Tk180, since the price of ginger has increased in China owing to a very low harvest in the current season. Bangladesh has been importing huge quantities of the Chinese variety of ginger every year to cater to the local demand. While ginger is produced in our nation, it cannot fulfill the need.

An initiative by the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) can ensure adequate ginger production in Bangladesh within a couple of years. Agriculturul and commercial banks have come forward to get re-financing from Bangladesh Bank to provide very low-interest bearing loans to aid in increasing spice farms. The DAE has to motivate farmers to cultivate Chinese ginger, as it is very large in size, and per hector yield is high as well relative to the local variety of ginger.

The DAE has to provide inputs and advise farmers to cultivate the Chinese variety of ginger at different stages of cultivation. I would like to urge the DAE authorities to take a project to motivate ginger farmers to cultivate Chinese ginger and arrange for inputs and the know-how to cultivate them.

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Cowards against the brave n Garga Chatterjee

C

Serenity at Dhanmondi lake

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Love you, Dhaka

I

n Shakoor Majid

have a mind like a bird and thus, I frequently take off from the airport, roam around different places and cities in the world. It is obvious that whenever I see a new city, I always try to compare it with my Dhaka. Most of the time, I am amazed with the civic facilities of the cities that I travel, and find how liveable they made their cities.

For the last 400 years, Dhaka has been ruled by different rulers like sultans, Mughals, the British, and Pakistanis, who were of different political ideologies. Even after four decades of its independence, it could not attain any specific character.

Neither has the city adopted an international style, nor does it embank its own tradition.

Whenever I visit cities around the world, I always prefer to travel to old parts of the city where I find that ancient parts of their cities are well preserved, either by themselves or by Unesco. The conserved portion of the city is their most valuable ornament, like an old chair of someone’s great grandfather.

I feel excited thinking that when our Lalbagh Fort was built, the United States had not started to build any two-storeyed building. On the other hand, I feel bad when I walk through the Gamla stan of Stockholm, or the

old town square of Prague, as it reminds me of the poor condition of our old part of Dhaka city.

I understand that it is our poverty that supersedes our emotion to preserve and conserve them. When someone raises any comparison between cities in terms of liveability, I find no room to hide my face from my friend in Vienna.

If I had an expatriate relative at my home, and if they wish to go out for a while, I suggest them to leave their wristwatch or ornaments at home, and not to take much money in their purse.

I also advice them that a distance of a 10-minute walk may take more than an hour to reach by any private transportation, and I forbid them to take any public transportation.

If I am asked which city I would like to live in permanently, my answer would be Dhaka, my own city

I know well that the safety of the civilians, international connectivity, climatic condition, quality of architecture, public transportation, tolerance, environmental issues, and access to nature, urban design, business conditions, pro-active policy developments, and medical care are the common criteria for a city to be categorised and ranked in global position, and in these aspects, our city is still far behind in many ways.

Sometimes, I found that my relatives had common stomach problems with any outdoor food, and they ask me why we have to take mineral water all the time. I can hardly explain the reasons to them.

The political unrest in my city is a normal phenomenon in my day to day life. Every day we overcome the difficulties of our lives, like that fisherman of a coastal area. We know well how to tackle our daily routines

like a rickshaw-puller, who knows how to go faster even overtaking from the wrong side.

We are habituated to this. We are adjusted to the hustle and bustle of the city; feel fine with the loud voices of the hawkers who sing along with the morning birds to sell his vegetables. We have no proper urban space to gather at every afternoon, but we have Shahbagh, we have Ramna and Sahrawardi Udyan, where we get together to celebrate our occasions, to express our emotions.

We have class one human beings in our city, and 95% of them are very simple in their ways of living and beliefs.

We have a corrupted class of people like many others in the world. Our corruption comes from the politicians and from rotten intellectuals. The quantity of these people is very few in number, the rest of our people are very nice, humble and honest.

In the last 10 years, I have travelled around 50 big cities of the world, and unfortunately all of the cities were ranked higher than my city of Dhaka, in terms of liveability.

If I am asked which city I would like to live in permanently, my answer would be Dhaka, my own city. If you ask me why, my answer is very simple.

I love this city, and love does not require an explanation. l

H

ow will the government of Sheikh Hasina survive the disease of acute deficiency in legitimacy by crucifying opponents and through raising hullabaloo over issues devoid of public interest? And how many days, months, or years?

Sorry if that sounds outspoken, but perhaps it’s better to cut the euphemisms.

Haunted by fear of losing the throne, the prime minister, her cabinet, and party colleagues are firing salvos of criticism at BNP chief Khaleda Zia and her family members. Civil society critics are not spared either.

The ruling party, in its hostile attitude, is showing that it doesn’t deserve to govern the country. We need and expect some moderation, even if not from this regime.

There was talk in town recently that one of its strategies to divert public attention from the seven murder case in Narayanganj and some other disturbing incidents was to delay the recovery of a capsized launch that claimed over 100 lives.

Whether or not Ziaur Rahman was involved in the August 15, 1975 coup is not an issue. The allegation is being raised to defame the founder of BNP and thus deflate the morale of the BNP leaders and supporters. When opportunists called Zia – a valiant and recorded freedom fighter – a spy of Pakistan in 1971, one has to marvel at the extent to which a smear campaign

can be taken.

A breaking news item read former premier Khaleda Zia had a hand in the August 21 grenade attack on an AL rally, according to accusations by Sheikh Hasina, who, however, escaped death at that time. Just to recall, late Palestine president Yasser Arafat had objected to the expression “escaping death” as he told CNN in 1993 that what had not happened was not destined to happen.

If the prime minister is so sure of her predecessor’s involvement, why didn’t her government make Khaleda Zia the number one accused in the case?

If there is no substantial proof, then we can safely assume that nasty politics is being perpetrated just to harass the BNP chief and prevent her from leading a potential movement against the illegitimate regime.

A few AL stalwarts and a bunch of political parasites, who have emerged as trusted comrades to the head of the government, are giving lectures on history, criminology, financial crimes of old days, militancy and counterterrorism, genocide, ethnicity, theories of Nobel Prize, aesthetics of the saree, defamation, and propaganda.

The list goes on and on but excludes what they are supposed to do lawfully and politically to ensure that the country and various institutions function like a pluralist democratic nation.

Look at some of the (mis)deeds – swindling of bank money, share market scams, the Padma Bridge

corruption scandal, extra-judicial killings, abductions and disappearances of political leaders, presidential clemency to murderers, campus violence, crackdown on Hefazat-e-Islam, politicisation of the administration and the police, question paper leakage, manipulation of tenders and recruitment tests, an A-Z manipulated ballot, and making parliament a farce.

This administration has nothing better to do than demean the opposition to justify their clinging to power

Many of us wonder how dogged they are in their pursuit: They are also not ashamed of amassing vast wealth and grabbing public and private lands by ruling party men including the vocals.

Against such a long list of “achievements,” there are the unfulfilled promises of wealth statements by the ministers and members of parliament, combating corruption, creation of massive jobs, improving governance and promotion of democracy. Have the voters really forgotten everything? No sane person would say yes, seeing the results of

It is not accidental that there are four lions staring down at anyone who might take the Satyamev at face value

Shakoor Majid is an architect.

An offensive defence n Khawaza Main Uddin

ertain truths are always hidden from public attention. Hence, beyond the affected victims, they do not form a part of public memory. In the year 1966, when the Indian Air Force was bombing large parts of Mizoram, including the present capital city of Aizawl, many Mizos were desperately trying to seek refuge to save their life. The sanitised term “collateral damage” was not in vogue back then.

Those were not the days of precision bombing. That there is no such thing called precision bombing even now is evident from Gaza to Baghdad, where those who claim precision in targeting undesirables provide a rich harvest of dead non-combatants.

When the Mizos were getting bombed with the kind of discrimination and precision using incendiary bombs that only an Air Force raised on Gandhian ideology can provide, many of the bombed people must have had a lot of thoughts rushing through their heads. It is my suspicion that some of thoughts were not exactly ones of affection towards the Union of India.

Legally, sedition involves incitement of disaffection towards the state.

It is not entirely impossible that some Mizo fathers and mothers incited their daughters and sons to be disaffected towards the powers that were bombing them. And in doing so, they became serious criminals under the law of the Indian Union’s land.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi had famously proclaimed that affection for the state (the Union of India in the Mizo case) could not be manufactured or regulated by law. However it is quite possible to create a situation where the grandchildren of bombed people are made to turn out in smart saffron, white, and green uniforms for August 15 festivities in Aizawl.

School children under the watch of armed personnel seem to be a favourite setting for affection manufacturing activities. Smiling children. Happy nation. Waving flags. Zero sedition.

No one is a bigger criminal than a state that uses its armed might against civilians it considers to be its own citizens.

Incidentally, Mizoram shares a border with the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Some things don’t change – the name of the aggressor and the victim may change.

any fair election in recent years?

The premier, well-equipped with information and strategies to attack her key political rival, is not, unfortunately, aware of the exact number of unemployed youths, or homeless people, or cancer patients suffering without treatment.

This administration has nothing better to do than constantly demean the opposition to justify their clinging to power against the will of the people.

But these followers of Goebbelsian tradition don’t ask their conscience how theirs could be considered a representative government in the slightest sense of democratic norms.

So, offence, in the manner of a barking dog, is widely believed to be the best defence.

History has plenty of instances where power went to one’s head, creating a state of delusion, where a section of people resort to waves of rhetoric, saying things that have very little meaning in actual terms.

Many current leaders are in that state, firing off platitudes without thinking properly.

Lest they forget, no position is fortified for eternity, and in the universal rule of history, all powers have to face a day of reckoning. It’s a pity that ruling politicians fail to recognise that the Bangladesh society, a dormant volcano today, can and will erupt tomorrow or the day after. l Khawaza Main Uddin is Executive Editor at ICE Business Times.

Like most black laws that an anxious nation-state uses to curb anything that tries to puncture its mythology and glorious creation story, the axe is typically used to shut up those who try to adhere to the official Hindustani slogan “Satyamev Jayate” (truth alone prevails). It is not accidental that there are four lions staring down at anyone who might want to take the Satyamev pronouncement at face value.

Very often, the lions go out to hunt in packs. Too many undesirable people, whose remains will never be found, know this well. That is how much of the instant justice for sedition is meted out. It is only when a relatively powerful person breaks the silence that the lions seem unsure what to do.

They roar, but don’t bite.

Recently, there has been uproar

against a member of the Indian Union parliament, and said member’s comments are said to have been “seditious.” Kalvakuntla Kavitha, a Telengana Rashtria Samithi member of parliament, allegedly said: “Jammu and Kashmir, and Telangana were both forcefully, and at the same time, annexed to the Indian Union. When I say I feel strongly, it’s because we were both separate countries, but were merged with the Indian Union after Independence. In 1947, we were not a part of India.”

The hunted have always outnumbered the hunters

Her father is the elected chief minister of Telengana, a newly established state whose contours resemble in a large way the Nizam of Hyderabad’s erstwhile dominion. Her father’s stature, her MP status, and the reading down of the sedition law in 1962 will ensure that no harm comes to her as far as the sedition case is concerned.

The hunted have always outnumbered the hunters, and anything that puts the focus back on the hunted expands liberty. There is no space for naiveté at the level of a parliamentarian, but even with its cynical calculation and political intent, whatever opening is provided, ought to be cherished and celebrated. Only rarely do the contradictions between the powerful come to the fore – when it comes to the origin myths of a nation-state like the Indian Union.

What is left unsaid in the slogan “truth alone prevails” is “when.” Does truth prevail by its own merit as if my magic, is it allowed to prevail strategically to earn points for openness so that more damaging truths can be suppressed?

Section 124(A) of the Indian penal code deals with sedition. Sedition is a law for the powerful against the powerless, of the anxious against the confident, of fiction against fact, of the rulebook against dreams, of the coward against the brave.

An anxious nation-state fears plebiscites. A humane state embraces the people’s will. People who expose origin myths as well as the crimes of the government under whose jurisdiction they live are typically targeted as seditious. They disrupt the long lullaby of the non-violent creation of India and Indians. To consider a nation-state and its political mythology holy is a slur to the sacred – the kind that predates all man-written books, laws, and constitutions.

We must all be fearful of lions because a beast that has tasted blood does not rest even when it is not in the jungle. The shrillness with which K Kavitha has been demonised only shows the weak and tense foundations of the India-making project. And she hasn’t even gone halfway down the path of the parliamentarian, the departed GG Swell, who showed bomb-covers in the Lok Sabha when patriotic tricoloured lions refused to own up to their aerial hunt in Mizoram. Lions love Section 124(A). As long as the hunter holds sway about the story of the hunt, sedition laws will remain. The browns are an unfortunate people. l Garga Chatterjee is a freelance contributor.

He can be followed on twitter @gargac.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

BHABNA AND PARAMBRATA PAIR UP FOR UPCOMING FLICK ZED

Chhayanaut observes Nazrul’s death anniversary

n Shadma Malik

The shooting for Animesh Aich’s woman centric film “Zved” will start from October. The announcement was made by the cast and crew at the film’s Muharat held on August 28 at the capital.

The film will see debutant Bhabna as the female lead and her counterpart will be played

by Indian Bangalee actor/director Parambrata Chatterjee. Tariq Anam Khan, Soumitra Chatterjee, Faruque Ahmed, Allen Shuvro and others form the rest of the cast.

When asked about her experience of being a central character, Bhabna said: “I don’t want to play roles that will portray me as eyecandy for the audience. I prefer powerful characters that has an impact on the society and people. Nayantara is exactly the kind of character that I had in mind for my debut.

“I was offered many films before. However, I do not want to be a regular face on screen. I am conscious about scripts,” she added.

Nayantara is a girl who grew up in the city. One day while she was bringing water, she got harassed by some eve-teasers and lost her mental balance. And after the incident, she collects water in everything she can get her hands on. She never goes out to bring water anymore.

Suddenly there is a water crisis in the city and everyone goes running to Nayantara for water.

The film has been produced by Impress Telefilm Limited. l

Sunday, August 31, 2014

KHAN HASAN MUHAMMAD RAFI

n Shadma Malik Marking the 38th death anniversary of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Chhayanaut organised an elaborate cultural programme on August 29 at its main auditorium. Reminiscing his immense contribution to Bangla literature, his zest for life and his protest against tyranny and injustice during the

British rule, the programme was an array of performances on Nazrul’s remarkable works.

The event started with a group dance and song titled “Hey Partho Sharothi” by the students and teachers of the cultural organisation. The presentation was followed

by Khairul Anam Shakil and Kolpona Anam rendering a poem of Nazrul. Several artistes dressed in white and blue performed soulful

Nazrul songs after which dancer Warda Rihab and her students Aniditara and Pushpo took to the stage and performed on “Khele Nander Anginay.”

The presentation was very impressive with the dancers playing the roles of young Krisha, Mother Yashoda and Noni Churi portraying the tale of the mischievous Krishna stealing butter. l

Shahin Badar works with Russian trance DJ Bobina Aeon Flux HBO 7:39pm

In the year 2415, more than half the human beings have been destroyed and one last city called Bregna is still safe and is ruled

by Trevor Goodchild. Aeon Flux is a mysterious assassin who has a job to do – to kill Trevor.

Iron Man 3

a

Bobin

Star Movies 7:00pm

n Entertainment Desk

“Iron Man 3” pits brash-butbrilliant industrialist Tony Stark against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds.

track is simply awesome.

“I was excited when the head of company Arny Bink got in touch with me. Black Hole recordings is one of the biggest dance labels and it was an honour. He asked if I would be interested to work with Bobina, they had me in mind for a while. We were introduced, I was then sent a working demo which Bobina put together, immediately loved the tune,” she added.

Bobina hosts a popular radio show called “Russia Goes Clubbing” and has releases works with top record labels in the world including Ministry of Sound, Perfecto, Armada, and Nebula.

The MTV video music award winning singer/ songwriter Shahin Badar is one of the most distinctive crossover commercial female Asian artist in the UK music scene. She has two fantastic creditable albums to her name “Laila” and “Destiny.” Bringing innovation to all her tracks, she has teamed up with mainstream and Bollywood producers such as Oscar winner AR Rahman. She worked with electronic big beat giants, The Prodigy on 3 UK No1 albums, including her entrancing and bold “Alaap Chants” on controversial international smash hit “Smack My Bitch Up” followed by the Prodigy track “Get Up, Get off.”

“Delusional” is available for downloading on all music platforms including iTunes, Beatport and Spotify. l

Glamorous British-Bangladeshi songstress Shahin Badar well known for her smash hit single “Smack My Bitch Up” of Prodigy has collaborated with Bobina, a Russian trance DJ, record producer and radio host. Their new single “Delusional” is a more uplifting and rhythmic trance track made more mysterious with Shahin’s enchanting vocals. The number is a

unique release and a definite musthave for trance music lovers.

About the working with Bobina, Shahin said to the Dhaka Tribune: “Bobina is a great producer, one of the most respected Dj’s who is rocking the dance music scene in Russia and around the globe. I have always been a fan of trance music, I heard many top trance Djs like Tiesto on their live set. To work on a solo collaboration with Bobina on a trance

Chitra Singh demands Bharat Ratna for late Jagjit Singh n Entertainment Desk The ghazal maestro’s widow, herself a renowned ghazal singer in the 1970s and 1980s, had been persuading Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi for many years to award the Bharat Ratna to her husband. “They gave Jagjit-ji the Padma Bhushan in 2003. Eleven years have passed since. Every year we expected him to get the Bharat Ratna,” she said.

In 2012, for a function in Delhi on Jagjit Singh’s first death anniversary, Chitra had met Sonia Gandhi to invite her. But she couldn’t help with the Bharat Ratna. “Sonia-ji was extremely gracious. I was told I wouldn’t be given more than five to seven minutes. But she spent 40 minutes with me. I raised the subject of the Bharat Ratna for my husband. But it didn’t go any further.

“I raised the issue with Manmohan Singh-ji who was very close to Jagjit-ji. He too was very gracious. He said he’d try his best. But nothing happened,” she said.

Chitra feels Jagjit’s fans should begin an online campaign for him to get a Bharat Ratna. “When I meet his admirers and fans they all say he should get the Bharat Ratna.

But that’s it. It never goes beyond that. If his fans really feel

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

Ode to Beauty

By Shama Shaiom Time: 3pm – 9pm Alliance Francaise de Dhaka 26 Mirpur Road Show: Yourself Time: 18, 10am – 8pm Athena Gallery of Fine Arts Progoti Shoroni, Uttar Badda

he should get the Bharat Ratna, then they need to hammer it into the new government.”

She feels the new Bharatiya Janata Party government would do the needful. “Narendra Modi-ji had said on Jagjitji’s death that not only had we lost a great musician but Gujarat had lost a friend. My husband had a soft corner for Gujaratis. He had also met Modi-ji,” she said.

Jagjit, known as much for his ghazals and bhajans as for his work in Hindi cinema, had died following a brain haemorrhage. He was 70. l

Existence Delineated

By Fahmida Urmi Hossain Time: 3pm – 8pm Dhaka Art Centre Rd No 7, Dhanmondi Threads of Testimony

By Dilara Begum Joly Time: 12pm-8pm Bengal Art Lounge 60, Gulshan Avenue

Mosharraf Karim in search of his wife n Entertainment Desk A single episode TV play “Tumi Ki Akhono Amar Tumi” will be aired tonight at 9pm on NTV. The plot revolves around Nayeem, a music lover who thinks music is his life. He opens a store in Nepal where he sells musical instruments. Through an incident, he meets Bangladeshi tour-

ist Jui. After closing his shop, everyday Nayeem spends time with Jui and they start liking one another. On the other hand, Mosharraf Karim is roaming the streets of Nepal in search of his wife. No one knows or understands his quest. One day, when he was about to give up on his search, he rings the bell of a house and his estranged wife Jui answers the door. l

Joan Rivers in critical condition n Entertainment Desk

Comedian Joan Rivers’ condition is serious and she continues to remain in a medically-induced coma after suffering cardiac and respiratory failure during throat surgery.

Her daughter, Melissa, updated on the condition of the 81-year-old artiste, who was getting her vocal cords checked at a clinic in New York when she started fighting for breath.

She was rushed to Mount Sinai Hospital and placed in a coma as members of her family were alerted to her condition.

It was earlier said that Joan was unconscious but stable, reportedly.

“My mother would be so touched by the tributes and prayers that we have received from around the world. Her condition remains serious but she is receiving the best treatment and care possible. We ask that you continue to keep her in your thoughts as we pray for her recovery,” said Melissa in a statement. l

Did you know?

Manchester United have gone four Premier League away games without a win for the first time since October 2010

Sport

Sunday, August 31, 2014

14 Di Maria shines

but Burnley frustrate United

15 Sri Lanka

rout Pakistan in ODIs

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Sharapova

survives as upsets rock US Open

BCB development projects progressing at snail’s pace n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Gemcon Group players and officials celebrate winning the 9th Ascent Corporate Indoor 5-a-side Football Cup at the STM Hall, Scholastica yesterday

Ahead of the 2014-15 season, it was expected that the two latest cricket venues of the country – the Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium (SKICS) in Cox’s Bazar and the Sylhet Stadium – will be unavailable. The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s (BCB) grounds and facilities department had plans to renovate the two venues keeping cricket activities off for the season.

However, the plan went offtrack as the budget needed for the project, Tk1.54bn, is yet to get the nod from the Ministry of Youth and Sports, after which the approval of the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) is also needed.

The project was estimated to take at least three years before completion but with no implementation of the plan left BCB with no other option but to use the venues as the board scheduled a fourday game between Bangladesh A and Zimbabwe A on September 15 at SKICS. Earlier in April, BCB proposed the budget to the National Sports Council (NSC) who later forwarded it to the Youth and Sports Ministry. The Youth and Sports Ministry will grant the budget and then pass it on to ECNEC. ECNEC is the highest authority for approving of development activities reMUMIT M

Gemcon lifts Ascent Cup in style RESULTS

n Arsalan Quddus

Cup Semi Finals

2-3 4-1

HRC Group Gemcon

Bando Design Beximco Pharma

Plate Semi Finals Beximco Textiles Rahimafrooze

0-6 3-2

Magnito Digital Accenture

Bowl Semi Finals BAT Vizrt

2-1 0-2

Westin

2-2

Ascent

5-0

Rahimafrooze

4-8

Gemcon

Ascent

Bowl Final BAT (Won 3-2 In Penalties)

Plate Final Magnito

Cup Final Bando Design

In a thrilling 12-goal final Gemcon Group lifted the 9th Ascent Corporate Indoor 5-a-side Fooball Cup beating Bando Design 8-4 at the STM Hall yesterday.

Gemcon led the first-half 3-0 but Bando threatened a comeback through their sensational skipper Imranur Rahman, the golden boot winner with 22 goals, who pulled back two goals for his side. However, Gemcon never seemed to lose the grip in the match as they eventually secured their first Ascent title with utmost pleasure.

The final day of the Ascent Cup saw all the usual suspects and tournament favorites fighting tooth & nail for the respective trophies. The first Semi Finals of the cup was a testy affair HRC

MSC lift women’s league title n Minhaz Uddin Khan Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited rode on a brilliant century from Rumana Ahmed to lift their fourth consecutive Metropolitan Women’s Cricket League title after beating arch-rivals Abahani Limited by 77 runs in the final at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium yesterday.

The decision to bowl first in the pressure final paid the Sky Blues with dividend as they were given a flying start by their new-ball bowlers Jahanara Alam and Khadiza Tul Kobra.

But Abahani failed to capitalise on the early success as Mohammedan crawled back in the game from 26/3 to score 204 courtesy of Rumana’s third century in domestic cricket which came off 90 balls and included 15 fours.

“From the onset of the match I was confident of doing better for the team. Finally I did it. It will inspire me to do well in future,” said Rumana after their win.

“I made my place in the Bangladesh squad for the upcoming Asian Games and the century will morally boost me and make me more confident to do well for the country in Incheon,” added Rumana who was later adjudged as the Player of the Final.

Chasing the staggering 205-run target, Abahani experienced a slow start managing 41/2 in 18 overs.

Lata Mondal, the highest run scorer of the tournament (311) and also the most wicket taker (18), shared a 45-run third wicket partnership with Sharmin Akhter.

But with overs running out in the 40over game, Lata’s 54 was not enough to lift the run-rate for Abahani as they were eventually restricted to 127 for 7.

For Mohammedan, the task of keeping the runs under control was evenly carried out by Salma Khatun and Eti Mondal as the duo shared six wickets between them giving away 18 and 32 runs respectively. l

Mohammedan’s Rumana Ahmed attempts a paddle sweep against Abahani Limited in the final of the Women’s Metropolitan Cricket League at Mirpur yesterday MUMIT M

Group take on informs Bando Design.

It was obvious that the HRC Group had a game plan, which was to man mark Bando’s captain Imran. In doing so they found themselves a goal up at the break. But Bando came back with renewed energy and played their special brand of free flowing football. In the last 3 minutes of the game Captain Fantastic, Imran of Bando put the game beyond reach with one of his trade mark back heal flick, winning the match 3-2.

The second semi-final of the cup saw Gemcon continue their winning ways by beating tournament favorites Beximco Pharma in a 4-1 trashing. It should be mentioned the pharmaceutical giants were missing their strike duo Mukul & Sunny. Gemcon capitalized on the chink of Beximco’s armor & romped in the finals were they face a mouthwatering encounter with Bando.

The plate semi final saw Magnito Dig-

ital make short work of Beximco Textiles, in a 6-0 bashing. It seems like a bad day for the Beximco Group in the tournament, were they normally do so well.

The second semi final of the plate saw Accenture’s brilliant run in this tournament come to a sad end. As Rahimafrooz Storage neatly dispatch them in 3-2 encounter. Fayez, Hafizul & Barkat all converting for the storage company, while Accenture replied with 2 goals from Mashfiq & Mahbub, which only served as a consolation. The scene is set for Magnito vs Rahimafrooz Storage plate final.

BAT won a hard fought battle against Westin in a 2-1 thriller. Nafees & Shish both converting for the tobacconist, while Rony pulled one back for the hotel chain.

Rupom of HRC was awarded a Runner motorbike for becoming the most valuable player while Gemcon’s custodian Rana was named the best goalkeeper. l

flective of long-term national policies and objectives.

NSC’s planning and development director SM Rezaul Mostafa Kamal told Dhaka Tribune yesterday, “NSC received the budget and forwarded it to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Pending approval, ECNEC will have the final say. This sort of initiative to renovate a venue is good and should be encouraged more.”

The development project aims to turn SKICS into a complete international cricket venue with state-of-the-art facilities. The major task in the project will be to construct a two-tier stand with a capacity of at least 12,000 seats.

The other renovation works of SKICS that were planned are the installation of floodlights, an academy complex with bed accommodation, indoor facilities, a swimming pool and an international standard media center.

However, NSC wants to lease the stadium to BCB for 30 years but the cricket board is holing out for 99 years.

Given the high cost of the budget, BCB in all likelihood will not go ahead with the renovation work if they are only entitled to the venue for 30 years.

The project also aims to install a proper drainage system at the Sylhet Stadium as the BCB earlier, in a hurry to complete the venue for the ICC World T20 in March, was unable to install it. l

Shakib to replace Gazi in Asian Games n Minhaz Uddin Khan Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan is all set to make his return to his familiar Tigers’ den through the upcoming 17th Asian Games 2014 in Incheon, South Korea.

The left-arm all-rounder became eligible for selection for Bangladesh’s Asiad campaign after Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) reduced his six-month suspension to three months and allowed him to participate in Dhaka Premier League. According to the reconsidered sanction, Shakib’s three-month suspension will end on September 15.

It was learned from BCB sources that the selection panel started considering Shakib for the 15-member squad for the Asian Games right after BCB had reduced the imposed suspension. The selectors’ thought received a stronger impetus when national spinner Sohag Gazi was ruled out of competitive cricket after being report-

ed for illegal bowling action during the Tigers’ ODI series in West Indies. However, the selection panel is yet to announce Shakib’s inclusion as he still has around two-weeks of suspension to serve.

Chairman of the BCB media committee Jalal Younus confirmed Shakib’s intense chances of playing in the Asian Games yesterday.

“Shakib has very good chance of replacing Gazi for the Asian Games as his (Shakib’s) suspension expires on September 15,” said Jalal.

Shakib’s impending inclusion means Bangladesh will have a full strength squad for their Asiad campaign which surely bodes well for the defending champions to defend the gold medal they won in the previous edition of the games.

The only key member Bangladesh will miss is skipper Mushfiqur Rahim who is getting married in September and will enjoy official leave from his duty. l

Van Gaal angry over Hodgson’s Shaw criticism n AFP, London Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has blasted Roy Hodgson after the England coach questioned the fitness of Luke Shaw.

Shaw has endured a difficult start to life at Old Trafford since his move from Southampton in the close-season.

Van Gaal made the 19-year-old train on his own during the tour of the United States because he felt the defender had turned up to pre-season out of shape after playing for England at the World Cup. However, the Dutchman was happy with the way Shaw battled his way back to full fitness, and had it not been for a hamstring injury he picked up just before the start of the season, the England left-back would have played in the club’s opening two Premier League games.

Given that Shaw has been out for a fortnight, it was a surprise to Van Gaal when Hodgson spoke about the defender’s fitness during a press conference on Thursday.

“If Louis thinks that he can get him fitter then I’m sure he will certainly have our approval,” said Hodgson, who also claimed he told the player his fitness was not up to scratch at the World Cup. The comments irked Van Gaal, who told the England boss not to get involved in United’s business.

“He is not fit now because he is injured,” Van Gaal said.

“Roy Hodgson cannot judge at this moment. He cannot judge him because I have never seen him here at a (United) training session. l

Bangladesh cricketer Shakib al Hasan (2L) participated in an exhibition match in the 9th Ascent Corporate Indoor Football Cup at the STM Hall, Scholastica, yesterday. The match involved CEOs/MDs/Heads of different organisations MUMIT M

Gymnastics added to Asiad contingent n Shishir Hoque Bangladesh Olympic Association (BOA) has included gymnastic in the contingent of 17th Asian Games which is scheduled to begin in Incheon, South Korea from September 19.

This latest addition of the discipline means US-born Bnagladeshi artistic gymnast Syque Caesar will get another chance to prove his worth for the country after his below-par display in the Commonwealth Games.

Earlier the Olympic association excluded nine disciplines from among the initial 21 selected disciplines to take

part in the Asiad after severe criticism over Bangladesh’s performance in the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

It was learnt that the State Minister for Sports and Youth Biren Sikder recommended the BOA to include gymnastic in the Asian contingent. Member of BOA training and development committee Rafiqul Islam confirmed this, “The honourable Minister wanted to know the reason behind Syque Caesar’s (gymnastic) exclusion from the Asian Games. He also talked about adding gymnast in the Asiad contingent and we obliged,” said the wing commander of Bangladesh Air Force.

Syque Caesar represented Bangladesh in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and 2014 Commonwealth Games with his only achievement for Bangladesh being the gold medal in the parallel bars event in the Middle and South Asia Artistic Gymnastic tournament in 2011.

Caesar was a member of the Michigan Wolverines men’s gymnastics team from 2009 to 2012. The 24-yearold helped Michigan to the NCAA team championship as a sophomore in 2010 and was elected co-captain of the Michigan men’s gymnastic team. He also won the Big Ten Conference championship in the parallel bars as a junior in 2011. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Sunday, August 31, 2014

It’s not all about you Mario, insists Rodgers n AFP, London

RESULTS Burnley Man City Newcastle

0-0 0-1

Man United

3-3

Crystal Palace

Janmaat 37, Aarons 73, Williamson 88

QPR Austin 45

Swansea

Stoke Diouf 58

Gayle 1, Puncheon 48, Zaha 90+5

1-0

Sunderland

3-0

West Brom

Dyer 2, 71, Routledge 24

West Ham Noble 27

Everton Mirallas 45, Naismith 69, Eto’o 76

1-3

Southampton Schneiderlin 45, 68, Pelle 83

3-6

Chelsea

Costa 1, 90, Ivanovic 3, Coleman 67-og, Matic 74, Ramires 77

Manchester United’s Argentinian midfielder Angel di Maria (R) vies with Burnley’s English midfielder Dean Marney during their English Premier League match against Burnley at Turf Moor in Burnley, north west England yesterday AFP

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers insists he won’t build his team around Mario Balotelli as the maverick Italy striker prepares to make his return to the Premier League at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Balotelli is in contention to make his Liverpool debut at White Hart Lane following his £16 million ($26 million) move from AC Milan earlier this week.

The 24-year-old has already impressed his new team-mates in training and his potent combination of power and poise make him an intriguing addition as Rodgers looks to reinvigorate his forward line following Luis Suarez’s move to Barcelona.

But, while Rodgers trusted Suarez enough to make him the focal point of Liverpool’s attack, he doesn’t plan to let the gifted but psychologically fragile Balotelli carry the same burden.

“This is not the Mario Balotelli show.

He is a good player, a talented player.

But he has got a lot of work to do here.

“We have a number of top-class players and the star of this team will always be the team. We are looking to bring him in and he can play with Daniel Sturridge, he can play up there on his own or play off the side.”

But Tottenham could easily ruin the Liverpool new-boys’ maiden appear-

Chelsea beat Everton in goalfest, City crash Di Maria shines on debut but Burnley frustrate United as Swansea, Saints, QPR post wins n AFP, London Chelsea overpowered Everton 6-3 in a remarkable game on Saturday to preserve their 100 percent record in the Premier League, after Manchester City were stunned by Stoke City.

Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea led 2-0, 3-1, and 4-2, but Everton kept coming back at them and it was not until Diego Costa made it 6-3 with his second goal in the last minute that the home side finally admitted defeat at an enraptured Goodison Park.

Chelsea were 2-0 up inside three minutes, with Diego Costa tucking

away a pass from Cesc Fabregas after only 36 seconds before Ramires teed up Branislav Ivanovic to drill a low shot past Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard.

But Kevin Mirallas reduced the arrears with a fine header on the stroke of half-time and when Everton right-back Seamus Coleman slid an Eden Hazard cross into his own goal in the 67th minute, it heralded a flurry of five goals in 10 minutes.

Two minutes later Steven Naismith hit back for the hosts to make it 3-2 and although Nemanja Matic then restored the visitors’ two-goal cushion, Samuel Eto’o marked his first Everton appearance since leaving Chelsea by heading home.

Ramires gathered a pass from Matic

Lewandowski scores but Bayern held at Schalke n Reuters, Berlin Last season’s Bundesliga top scorer Robert Lewandowski scored his first competitive goal for new club Bayern Munich but the champions had to settle for a 1-1 draw at Schalke 04 on Saturday.

Despite having new signing Xabi Alonso in the Bayern team 24 hours after he joined on a two-year deal from Real Madrid, they looked far from their best as Schalke got their first point to snap a two-game losing run with a gutsy second-half performance.

Lewandowski opened his account when he flicked in a pass from Sebastian Rode in the 10th minute as Bayern dominated.

The visitors, despite missing half a dozen players through injury, overran their opponents in the first half with World Cup winner Alonso, who had more touches than any other Bayern

player, confidently dictating their game from the back.

However, Bayern took their foot off the gas in the second half, with Schalke pressing higher and earning a deserved equaliser when captain Benedikt Hoewedes bundled the ball over the line to leave Bayern with four points from two games.

Bayer Leverkusen are top on six points after conceding an own goal and twice coming from behind to beat Hertha Berlin 4-2 and make it two wins out of two games. It was a terrible afternoon for former European champions Hamburg SV, who were crushed 3-0 at home by newcomers Paderborn and are still looking for their first win of the season.

Another promoted side Cologne also enjoyed the afternoon by snatching a 2-0 win at VfB Stuttgart while VfL Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt shared the points in a 2-2 draw.

Borussia Dortmund edged Augsburg 3-2 on Friday. l

Bayern Munich’s newly recruited midfielder Xabi Alonso (C) vies for the ball during their German Bundesliga match against Schalke 04 in Gelsenkirchen yesterday AFP

and toed the ball past Howard to make it 5-3, and after Mirallas had hit the post, Costa exploited an error from Everton substitute Muhamed Besic to complete the scoring with a classy finish.

Senegalese striker Mame Biram Diouf scored a memorable solo goal as Stoke condemned defending champions Manchester City to their first defeat of the season with a shock 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.

The former Manchester United forward struck in the 58th minute, picking up the ball in his own half and powering past Aleksandar Kolarov and Vincent Kompany before squeezing a shot between the legs of goalkeeper Joe Hart.

It was only the second time City had failed to score at home in 71 league

matches and only their second home defeat since May 2013.

“It’s a surprising defeat because we don’t expect to lose against Stoke, but these games sometimes happen,” said City manager Manuel Pellegrini.

“We tried from everywhere. We are not very creative, we did not find the space, and that is credit to Stoke.”

British-record signing Angel di Maria made his Manchester United debut earlier on Saturday, but was unable to inspire his new side to victory as they drew 0-0 at promoted Burnley.

A £59.7 million ($98 million, 75 million euros) acquisition from Real Madrid, Di Maria started the game and produced some probing passes and darting runs, but he could not illumi-

nate United’s path to goal against Sean Dyche’s side.

After a loss to Swansea, a draw at Sunderland and a 4-0 humiliation by third-tier Milton Keynes Dons in the League Cup, new United manager Louis van Gaal has now gone four competitive games without recording a win.

“We created chances, but you have to score,” Van Gaal told BT Sport. “A club like Manchester United has to win. We have two points from nine and that’s disappointing.”

Swansea finished the day level on nine points with Chelsea after extending their 100 percent record by beating West Bromwich Albion 3-0 at the Liberty Stadium, where Nathan Dyer claimed a brace. l

I’m one of world’s best at number 10, says Ozil n AFP, London

ances on the evidence of their strong start to the season.

Under the leadership of new manager Mauricio Pochettino, the north London side have reeled off four successive wins in all competitions to climb to the top of the Premier League and advance to the group stages of the Europa League.

Especially impressive was their 4-0 demolition of Queen’s Park Rangers last weekend and Pochettino sees no reason to fear Liverpool even with Balotelli and Lallana in the mix.

FIXTURES Aston Villa v Hull Leicester v Arsenal Tottenham v Liverpool Arsenal’s trip to face Leicester City on Sunday will provide another test of Arsene Wenger’s belief his squad is strong enough to cope without Olivier Giroud.

The Frenchman suffered a broken leg in last weekend’s 2-2 draw at Everton and is expected to be out until January.

But Wenger insists the Chile international Alexis Sanchez is just one of a number of players who can fill the role.

“The squad we have, we have enough to be successful. Why not?

(Yaya) Sanogo, Sanchez, (Theo) Walcott, (Lukas) Podolski, Giroud. (Joel) Campbell. Of course we can be successful,” Wenger said. l

United agree deal for Ajax’s Blind n Reuters, London Manchester United continued their overhaul of an under-performing squad by agreeing a 17.5 million Euros ($23 million) fee with Ajax Amsterdam for versatile Dutch international Daley Blind on Saturday.

“Manchester United is delighted to announce it has reached agreement with Ajax to sign Daley Blind, subject to a medical and personal terms,” United said in a statement on Saturday.

The 24-year-old Dutch international was left out of the Ajax squad to play Groningen so he could negotiate with United. Blind, whose father Danny also played at Ajax and is the assistant coach of the Dutch national side, can play at left back or as a defensive midfielder and is a product of the famed Ajax academy.l

Monaco held with Falcao absent n AFP, Paris

Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil has reacted to criticism of his performances by declaring that he is one of the world’s best number 10s, but is being played out of position.

Ozil, 25, joined Arsenal from Real Madrid a year ago in a club-record £42 million ($69.7 million, 31.1 million euros) transfer, believes that if he is yet to impose himself in the Premier League, it is because manager Arsene Wenger plays him on the left flank.

“I’m one of the best players in the world in that number 10 position. Fans, coaches, players and everyone knows that my best position is playmaker. It’s different playing on the left,” he told Saturday’s edition of the Daily Telegraph.

“When I was in Madrid, I often played on the right. I enjoyed that because I’m left-footed and I was able to cut inside to give assists and get shots on target.

On the left, it’s more difficult.l

Juventus’ Martin Caceres (C), Arturo Vidal (L) and Kwadwo Asamoah celebrate a goal against Chievo Verona at the Bentegodi stadium in Verona yesterday. Juve, the defending champions start their new Serie A season with 1-0 win REUTERS

With Radamel Falcao left out of their side, Monaco continued their stuttering start to the Ligue 1 season on Saturday as they drew 1-1 with Lille at the Stade Louis II. The day started in chaotic fashion for Monaco as Falcao, who had been named in the squad, was withdrawn from the matchday list at the last minute amid increasing speculation that he will leave the principality before the summer transfer window slams shut on Monday.

Falcao’s replacement in the starting line-up was Dimitar Berbatov and the Bulgarian earned his side a point with a 61st-minute equaliser to cancel out Nolan Roux’s first-half opener for the visitors.

Leonardo Jardim’s side were unable to find a winner and have managed just one victory, and four points, from the first month of the new campaign. l

Torres set to join Milan on loan n AFP, London

Barca welcome back Neymar, lose Iniesta

Liverpool’s Agger returns to Brondby n AFP, London

Chelsea striker Fernando Torres is set to end his miserable spell at Stamford Bridge by joining AC Milan on loan for the next two seasons.

Torres has endured a difficult time with the Blues since his then-British record £50 million (63m euros, $82.9m) move from Liverpool in January 2011.

The 30-year-old Spain international scored just 45 goals in 172 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea.

“Chelsea Football Club and AC Milan have agreed terms for the two-year loan deal of Fernando Torres to the Italian club,” a statement on Chelsea’s website announced. Milan made their move for the former Atletico Madrid star after selling Mario Balotelli to Liverpool earlier this week.l

n AFP, Madrid Brazilian star Neymar will make his first appearance of the season when Barcelona travel to face Villarreal on Sunday, but the Catalans will have to do without the injured Andres Iniesta.

Neymar missed Barca’s opening day 3-0 over Elche last weekend due to a sprained ankle, having only just recovered from the broken vertebra in his back which prematurely ended his World Cup. Iniesta, though, has been sidelined by a knee injury.

The performance of 18-year-old Munir El Haddadi on debut against Elche

may mean Nemyar will start only from the bench at El Madrigal.

World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo has not been included in Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti’s squad

FIXTURES Villarreal Deportivo Real Sociedad Elche

v v v v

Barcelona Rayo Vallecano Real Madrid Granada

for their trip to Real Sociedad on Sunday due to ongoing injury problems.

The Portuguese was hampered by patellar tendinosis in his left knee towards the end of last season and during a disappointing World Cup.l

Liverpool announced on Saturday that they have sold Denmark international defender Daniel Agger to his former club Brondby for an undisclosed fee.

The 29-year-old centre-back joined Liverpool from Brondby in 2006 and made 232 appearances for the club, scoring 14 goals and winning the League Cup in 2012, but his spell at Anfield was frequently disrupted by injuries.

“Liverpool have been such a big part of my life and my family’s lives for so long, that leaving is extremely difficult,” Agger told the Liverpool website.

“The opportunity arose for me to return home to Brondby and at this stage of my career, it felt like the right decision for me. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

QUICK BYTES

Montpellier sell Stambouli to Spurs French Ligue 1 club Montpellier on Friday announced that they had reached an agreement with Tottenham Hotspur to sell midfielder Benjamin Stambouli to the London outfit. “MHSC and Tottenham Hotspur FC have reached an agreement concerning the transfer of Benjamin Stambouli. He will go to London in the coming hours to undergo a medical and finalise his contract,” read a statement on Montpellier’s official website. Stambouli, 24, had been mulling over an offer to join Marseille, who had agreed to pay Montpellier five million euros ($6.6m) for the player.

However, Stambouli had not been keen on the idea of being used in defence at the Stade Velodrome. He had also been a target for Swansea City and Fiorentina. Stambouli was a regular in the Montpellier team that won the Ligue 1 title in 2012 and is tipped to break into the France side ahead of Euro 2016.

–AFP

Sport

SL rout Pakistan in ODIs

Barca’s Song joins West Ham on loan Cameroonian midfielder Alex Song has left Barcelona to join West Ham on a season-long loan. Song joined the Catalans two years ago from Arsenal for a fee of £15 million, but has since struggled to hold down a regular place in the first team. The 26-year-old made 65 appearances in total for Barca scoring just the one goal. Song was paraded in front of the West Ham fans ahead of their Premier League match at home to Southampton on Saturday but hadn’t been registered in time to play.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Ten Cricket 1:30PM Tri-Nation Series Zimbabwe v Australia Sony Six 6:30PM World Kabaddi League 2014 Delhi: Day 8 Major League Soccer 2014 12:45AM Dc United v NY Red Bulls 6:00AM Chivas USA v LA Galaxy Star Sports HD1 4:00PM MotoGP Championship Main Race Star Sports 1 English Premier League 6:15PM Tottenham v Liverpool 9:00PM Leicester City Star Sports 2 8:15PM Pro Kabaddi League 12:45AM Italian Serie A Genoa v Napoli 3:00AM Spanish La Liga Deportivo v Rayo Vallecano Star Sports 4 Spanish La Liga 11:00PM Villarreal v Barcelona 1:00AM Real Sociedad v Real Madrid 3:00AM Elche v Granada Ten Action French Ligue 1 2014/15 6:00PM De Bordeaux v SC Bastiais 9:00PM FCDe Metz v Olympic Lyon 1:00AM PSG v AS Saint-Etienne

SCORECARD Pakistan Ahmed Shehzad c Perera b Prasad 10 Sharjeel Khan c Jayawardene b Prasad 0 Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Malinga 1 Misbah-ul Haq run out 18 Fawad Alam not out 38 Umar Akmal c Malinga b Perera 7 Sohaib Maqsood c Sangakkara b Perera 7 Shahid Afridi c Perera b Prasanna 2 Wahab Riaz c Sangakkara b Perera 0 Saeed Ajmal c Jayawardene b Perera 6 Mohammad Irfan b Herath 5 Extras: (lb1, w6, nb1) 8 Total (all out, 32.1 overs) 102 Fall of wickets 1-4 (Sharjeel), 2-14 (Shehzad), 3-14 (Hafeez), 4-47 (Misbah), 5-55 (Akmal), 6-73 (Maqsood), 7-76 (Afridi), 8-77 (Riaz), 9-88 (Ajmal), 10-102 (Irfan).

Bowling Prasad 6-0-25-2 (nb1, w3), Malinga 7-217-1 (w1), Mathews 5-0-11-0, Herath 2.10-6-1, Perera 8-1-34-4 (w2), Prasanna 4-1-8-1.

Sri Lanka U Tharanga b Irfan 14 T Dilshan not out 50 K Sangakkara c Hafeez b Riaz 2 M Jayawardene c Hafeez b Ajmal 26 A Mathews not out 0 Extras: (lb7, w5) 12 Total (for three wickets, 18.2 overs) 104

Baggies land Argentina winger Blanco West Bromwich Albion signed Argentina winger Sebastian Blanco from Ukrainian side Metalist Kharkiv for an undisclosed fee on Saturday. The 26-year-old agreed a two-year contract with the Premier League club and becomes the Baggies’ 11th new arrival since the end of last season. “He’s an Argentina international who joined Metalist for a lot of money.

Unfortunately, he suffered an injury not long after the move, which held up his progress,” Albion manager Alan Irvine said. “Since then, he’s shown his quality. He’s adept with both feet, is a nice crosser of the ball, creates chances and also scores goals. Blanco, who has two caps for Argentina, helped Metalist finish as runners-up in the Ukrainian top-flight in 2012-13, scoring 10 goals in 68 league appearances during his three and a half years in Kharkiv.

–AFP

15

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Members of the Sri Lanka cricket team celebrate their victory with the ODI series trophy against Pakistan after their third and final One Day International (ODI) at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium in Dambulla yesterday AFP

n Reuters Sri Lanka clinched the one-day international series against Pakistan after their bowlers, led by Thisara Perera, routed the tourists to secure a seven-wicket victory in the deciding third and final match on Saturday.

Paceman Perera (4-34) used short deliveries to good effect to wreck the middle and lower order as Pakistan folded for 102 in 32.1 overs.

Fawad Alam’s unbeaten 38 was the highest score in their embarrassing bat-

ting capitulation that saw only three batsmen reach double digits.

Set a revised 101-run victory target in 48 overs following a rain-intervention, Sri Lanka lost three wickets before romping home with Tillakaratne Dilshan (50 not out) scoring with the kind of fluency none of the Pakistani batsmen could display.

Earlier, Pakistan captain Misbah-ulHaq was left to rue his decision to bat first at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium as his team lost the top half of their batting order to reach 55 in

the 19th over.

Dhammika Prasad dismissed openers Sharjeel Khan and Ahmed Shehzad cheaply to deny Pakistan a strong start and Lasith Malinga trapped Mohammad Hafeez leg before to further wreck the top order.

Hafeez was not convinced by the umpire’s call and asked for a review but could not get the decision overturned and the visitors slumped to 14-3 in the eighth over.

Their innings never got any momentum but Misbah and Alam at least

offered some resistance which was broken by Dilshan’s accurate throw from point that sent back the Pakistan captain.

Umar Akmal hit Perera for a six but the bowler exacted revenge with the next delivery which the batsman could only top edge to perish.

Perera destroyed Pakistan’s middle order with his four-wicket burst while also taking a smart running catch to send back Shahid Afridi, who had stepped out to hit leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna.

Fall of wickets 1-46 (Tharanga), 2-59 (Sangakkara), 3-100 (Jayawardene).

Bowling Irfan 7-0-37-1 (w2), Riaz 6-1-42-1 (w2), Ajmal 4-0-10-1 (w1), Afridi 1.2-0-8-0 Sri Lanka won by seven wickets (D/L of 101 in 48 overs) Reeling at 81-8 from 26 overs, the respite for Pakistan finally came in the form of rain which forced the players off.

Their resistance, however, did not last long once play resumed and spinner Rangana Herath rearranged Mohammad Irfan’s stumps with a flighted delivery to end their innings.

The defeat marked the end of Pakistan’s disappointing tour of Sri Lanka where they lost both the tests preceding the one-day series. l

Mercedes punish Rosberg for Hamilton crash n AFP, London The Mercedes Formula One team disciplined Nico Rosberg on Friday after he accepted responsibility and apologised for a crash with teammate Lewis Hamilton.

The action was announced in a statement after a clear-the-air encounter between the rival teammates at the boardroom of the Mercedes racing headquarters in Brackley, near London.

“During this meeting, Nico acknowledged his responsibility for the contact that occurred on lap two of the Belgian Grand Prix and apologised for this error of judgement,” said a statement.

“Suitable disciplinary measures have been taken for the incident.”

Hamilton said after that both drivers had accepted they had made mistakes.

With tensions high after Hamilton refused to let Rosberg pass him at the Hungarian Grand Prix this month, Rosberg clipped Hamilton’s car on lap two in Belgium.

The Briton suffered a puncture which effectively ended his race. He retired be-

fore the end and is now 29 points behind Rosberg with seven races to go.

Hamilton reacted with fury after the crash which took bitterness between the two to a new peak. Team leaders Toto Wolff and Paddy Lowe were at Friday’s meeting.

Mercedes did not say what action it ordered, but it did say Rosberg and Hamilton would remain in contention for the 2014 world title.

“Mercedes-Benz remains committed to hard, fair racing because this is the right way to win world championships,” said the statement.

“Lewis and Nico understand and accept the team’s number one rule: there must be no contact between the team’s cars on track. After a team meeting at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit on Sunday, Hamilton said Rosberg had said he hit him ‘to prove a point’.

“It looked quite clear to me, but we just had a meeting about it and he basically said he did it on purpose.”

Rosberg, 29, later denied he had made the confession. l

Sharapova survives n AFP, New York

World number two Simona Halep and two-time champion Venus Williams tumbled out of the US Open on Friday, but Maria Sharapova bucked the upset trend that rocked the women’s draw.

Croatian Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, a former phenom now a 32-year-old veteran who had to fight through qualifying, shocked second-seeded Halep, the French Open runner-up, 7-6 (8/6), 6-2.

The reward for the 121st-ranked Lucic-Baroni is a fourth-round meeting with 13th-seeded Italian Sara Errani, who thwarted Williams 6-0, 0-6, 7-6 (7/5).

At the other end of the age spectrum, Swiss 17-year-old Belinda Bencic toppled sixth-seeded German Angelique Kerber 6-1, 7-5.

Bencic, the 2013 Wimbledon and French Open junior champion, now ranked 58th in the world, earned a meeting with former world number one Jelena Jankovic, a 6-1, 6-0 winner over Sweden’s Johanna Larsson.

After dropping the lopsided first set, Kerber appeared poised to knot the match, but she couldn’t convert three

set points.

Williams twice came back from a break down in the third, then broke Errani to serve for the match at 5-3.

She couldn’t hang on, however, surrendering her serve as they battled to the tiebreaker, in which Errani took a 5-2 lead only for Williams to battle back to 5-5 before at last succumbing.

Sharapova also found herself in a power struggle, but emerged with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over German 26th seed Sabine Lisicki in a match which finished after midnight. l

England’s Joe Root (R) is stumped out by India’s MS Dhoni (L) during the third one-day international cricket match between England and India at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, central England yesterday AFP

SCORECARD England A Cook st Dhoni b Rayudu A Hales c Dhoni b Raina I Bell run out (Sharma) J Root st Dhoni b Jadeja E Morgan c Dhoni b Ashwin J Buttler b Ashwin B Stokes c Raina b Ashwin C Woakes c Sharma b Shami J Tredwell c and b Kumar S Finn run out (Rayudu/Dhoni) J Anderson not out Extras (lb3, w2, nb1) Total (all out, 50 overs)

44 42 28 2 10 42 2 15 30 6 0 6

227

Bowling Kumar 8-0-45-1; Sharma 3-0-17-0; Shami 9-0-40-1; Ashwin 10-0-39-3; Raina 8-037-1; Rayudu 2-0-8-1; Jadeja 10-0-38-1; India A Rahane c Buttler b Finn S Dhawan c Morgan b Woakes V Kohli c Tredwell b Stokes A Rayudu not out S Raina c Woakes b Tredwell R Jadeja not out Extras (lb2, w7) Total (4 wkts, 43 overs)

45 16 40 64 42 12 9

228

Bowling Anderson 7-0-29-0; Woakes 8-1-431; Tredwell 10-1-46-1; Finn 8-0-50-1; Stokes 6-0-31-1; Root 4-0-27-0 Result: India won by six wickets

India spin down England n AFP, Nottingham

India’s spinners again proved England’s undoing as the tourists won the third one-day international at Trent Bridge on Saturday by six wickets to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

World champions India, chasing a modest 228 for victory, cruised to 228 for four with seven overs to spare.

Ambati Rayudu, only playing because of Rohit Sharma’s tour-ending finger injury, was an ODI-best 64 not out.

Together with Suresh Raina, who followed up his 100 in India’s equally dominant 133-run victory in Cardiff on Wednesday with a run-a-ball 42, Rayudu put on 87 for the fourth wicket.

But it was the first innings that decided the course of the match, with England dismissed for a meagre 227 after losing the toss.

They were 82 without loss thanks to under-fire captain Alastair Cook (44) and Alex Hales (42).

But England, as happened in Cardiff, again succumbed to spin as they lost three wickets for 15 runs in six overs to be 97 for three.

Ravichandran Ashwin, thr man-ofthe-match, took three for 39, with only Jos Buttler (42), apart from Cook and Hales, passing 40 in the innings.

England managed just one four in 26 overs midway through their innings and didn’t hit a six until the last over.

Cook and Hales posted their second fifty partnership, off 64 balls, in as many matches.

But their stand ended when Hales, on his Nottinghamshire home ground, top-edged a sweep off spin-bowling all-rounder Raina’s sixth ball and was caught by India captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

It was the second time in as many matches that Hales, who made 40 on ODI debut in Cardiff, had fallen to the sweep shot. His exit was the cue for England to once more get bogged down against slow bowling.

Occasional spinner Rayudu took his first international wicket when he speared one down the legside to have Cook stumped by Dhoni.

Cook, whom former England teammate Graeme Swann suggested this week should quit one-day cricket because he scores too slowly, took 65 balls to get his runs on Saturday.

Dhoni was involved again when he stumped Joe Root (two) after the batsman lunged forward to left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja.

The series continues at Birmingham’s Edgbaston ground on Tuesday. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Flood devours more villages, arable land People suffering from acute crisis of drinking water, food, shelter and medicine n Tribune Report The overall flood situation in the country is still remains at an alarming level with river water inundating fresh villages in the northern districts.

Our Bogra correspondent reports that the river water entering through the broken embankment of Sariakandi upazila, inundating 30 more fresh villages there. However, water level did not increase in the Jamuna River.

The flood-hit people in these areas were suffering mostly from the acute crisis of potable water, baby food and fodder. Many people have been living under the open sky with almost no food.

Arifuzzman, officer of disaster management and relief division in the district, said a total of Tk1,75,000 and 95 tonnes rice had already been distributed among the affected people, while more Tk3 lakh were allocated last night.

A tube well was also being installed and water purification tablets were being distributed to ensure supply of potable water, he added.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme had already distributed dry food in the area and intended to continue doing so, said district administration sources.

Our Sherpur correspondent reports that the flood situation in the district was worsening as the water level in the Brahmaputra River had increased further in last few days.

River bank erosion continued in the district, devouring new homesteads everyday and inundating arable lands and villages.

Locals said though water was flowing few inches below the danger level in the Brahmaputra, water was entering into the villages through the damaged embankment near sadar upazila.

Many villages of Char Mucharia, Kamarer Char and Char Pokkhimari unions were already inundated, while more villages would go under water soon, if water level went on increasing at the current rate, they added.

If the embankment was not repaired soon, the diversion of the Sherpur-Jamalpur road would go under water in two days that would leave the district detached from northern districts and Dhaka.

Teachers and students catch up with their studies on a high ground near their Karband Government Primary School yesterday after their classroom was submerged by flood waters at Matlab in Chadpur DHAKA TRIBUNE In Chandpur, hundreds of families in the lowlands of the district were marooned as water level increased in the Meghna River in last 4-5 days.

Households of several thousand families went under water in Haimchar upazila, while water was flowing 20cm above the danger level near Chandpur in the Meghna, our Chandpur correspondent reported.

Five No Haimchar Union Parishad Chairman Ishak Khokon told the Dhaka Tribune that around 5-6 thousand families of his union were marooned in flood water.

Haimchar Upazila Chairman Shahjahan Mia said as flood water was receding through the Meghna, the lowlands of the district were inundated, adding that most of the people of those areas were marooned.

Meanwhile, Chandpur Water Development Board Executive Engineer Md

Pilgrims face mishap at Saudi airport n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Having arrived in Saudi Arabia, some pilgrims allegedly faced hitches at the airport as at least seven were said to have failed to show bus tickets to Mecca to airport officials.

Mizanur Rahman, director of hajj office under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, said a handful of Bangladeshi pilgrims invited trouble after losing their bus tickets.

“Each pilgrim should be very careful when it comes to keeping their bus tickets in a safe place. We are now suggesting the pilgrims, who are yet to fly, to affix the tickets to their passports,” he said.

According to the new hajj rules, the pilgrims are required to collect bus tickets from officials of their home countries before catching the flight to Saudi Arabia. In the past, they would be given the tickets once they landed in the kingdom.

Rafikul told the Dhaka Tribune that water level had been crossing the danger level during tide, but it became normal during ebb.

Flood situation in Gaibandha remained unchanged, though the water level in the Teesta, Brahmaputra, Karotoa and Ghaghot rivers receded a little.

Water Development Board Engineer Abdul Aowal said water was flowing 62cm and 19cm above the danger level in the Ghaghot and Brahmaputra rivers respectively.

Abdul Matin, chairman of Erendabari union parishad under Fulchhari upazila, said river bank erosion was at its worst in Algar Char, Paglar Char and Uriar Singria areas. Many families from those areas took shelter on the embankments after their houses were eaten up by the river. The flood affected people were suffering terribly for

two weeks because of the shortage of potable water, food and fuel.

Although the flood situation in Kurigram remained unchanged, nearly three lakh people were suffering heavily as flood water was not receding in a satisfactory rate.

The Brahmaputra River at Chilmari point flew 40cm above the danger level, and the Dharla River 8cm, yesterday.

The flood-hit people are facing an acute shortage of drinking water, food and medicine. Those from low-lying areas are living in shelters built on high land.

They said they were discontented at the lack of coordination in distribution of relief materials, with many alleging they did not get anything.

Deputy Commissioner ABM Azad said there was no shortage of relief goods.

“We have already distributed 800 tonnes of rice and Tk11 lakh among

the victims, and have also sought another 500 tonnes of rice and Tk5 lakh,” he added.

The overall flood situation in Jamalpur remain unchanged despite the water level in Jamuna river falling a bit.

The water level at Bahadurabad point fell by 4cm and the river was flowing 67cm above the danger level yesterday morning.

More than 2.5 lakh people in 38 unions of seven upazilas remain marooned for two weeks. People from the low-income group are living without jobs and are leading a miserable life as floodwater inundated vast tracts of arable lands.

The outbreak of water-borne diseases has also been reported.

141 tonnes of rice and dry food worth Tk11 lakh have so far been distributed by the district administration among the flood victims. l

Faruqi followers call half-day hartal today n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Sena and Bangladesh Islami Front called a half-day Hartal (general strike) today across the country protesting the killing of their Ahle Sunnat leader Shaikh Nurul Islam Faruqi.

The announcement came at a press conference at Chittagong Press Club yesterday afternoon.

“The half-day hartal will be inforced as the government failed to arrest the killers of Faruqi by the deadline they set,” Bangladesh

Islami Chhatra Sena General Secretary Jamaluddun Rabbani and Bangladesh Islami Front Secretary General Maulana MA Matin said in separate statements.

The Islamist alliance called half-day shutdown instead of daylong considering the hardship of Hajj pilgrims and the present flood situation across the country. However, the flood-hit areas will be kept outside of the hartal purview.

Meanwhile, Islami Chhtra Sena President Nurul Haq Chisti has announced the countrywide half-

day hartal its party headquarters in the capital’s Fakirapool.

Earlier, Chhatra Sena and Islami Front threatened to enforce a day-long hartal today if the killers of Faruqi were not arrested by 48 hours. On Wednesday night, unidentified armed assailants slaughtered Faruqi, a presenter of religious programmes on Channel i, at his residence in the capital’s East Rajabazar area.

The deceased was the presidium member and international affairs secretary of Ahle Sunnat Wal

Jamaat – an organisation known for opposing the views of Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam.

Apart from anchoring the “Shantir Pothe” and “Kafela” programmes on Channel i, he owned Faruqi Tours and Travels Private Ltd, a Hajj travel agency, and served as the imam of the Supreme Court Mosque.

Soon after the murder, madrasa students and different Islamists organisations began demonstrating in the port city and adjoining upazilas. l

Dhaka to seek specific time-frame for Rohingya repatriation n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Dhaka will seek a specific deadline from Nay Pyi Taw at foreign secretary-level talks to repatriate stranded Myanmar nationals in Bangladesh.

“Over 30,000 Myanmar nationals have been stranded at two camps in Cox’s Bazar for years. Bangladesh wants them to go back to their own country as soon as possible,” said an official of the Foreign Ministry.

The Rohingya repatriation issue will be discussed at the eighth foreign secretary-level talks between Bangladesh and Myanmar to be held at the Foreign Ministry today.

“The Myanmar side agreed about taking the Myanmar refugees located in the two camps. Now we will ask them to give us a specific time-frame,” said a senior official of the Foreign Ministry.

In addition to that it is estimated that 0.3 million to 0.5 million undocumented Myanmar nationals living in Bangladesh and their repatriation will be also discussed, he said.

“Bangladesh and Myanmar have an understanding gap about the undocumented Myanmar nationals and we will try to remove them,” he added.

Dhaka is well aware of the human rights situation in Rakhine state, but Bangladesh is a small country and it cannot allow Myanmar nationals to be pushed into its territory, said the official.

At foreign secretary-level talks, the Bangladesh side will be led by Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque while the Myanmar side by Deputy Foreign Minister U Thant Kyaw.

The Myanmar delegation arrived in Dhaka on Thursday and visited Sylhet.

Both the parties will mainly discuss security dialogue, border management, Rohingya repatriation, trade, connectivity, gas import and other issues, foreign office sources said.

Bangladesh proposed making an arrangement to hold security dialogue at least once a year as confidence building measure. Dhaka has already handed over the draft of the memorandum of understanding on the security dialogue to the Myanmar government and would discuss the issue at the meeting to finalise it, he added.

Bangladesh and Myanmar have about 300km borders and they have agreed to control it jointly to tackle drug and human trafficking, arms smuggling and illegal movement of people.

The Myanmar side proposed setting up border liaison office which would coordinate the border management.

Bangladesh and Myanmar are the members of BCIM initiative and the issue would be discussed at official level talks.

Meanwhile, Myanmar has released provisional census data which show that the country has a population of 51.4 million people.

However, estimated 1.09 million people in northern Rakhine state are uncounted for and most of those who wanted to self-identify their ethnicity as Rohingya were not enumerated. l

30,000 visas issued by Saudi embassy till yesterday against 70,000 applications The ministry has submitted around 70,000 online hajj visa applications with valid documents to the embassy of Saudi Arabia in Bangladesh.

The embassy issued 30,000 visas till yesterday, sources said.

Mizanur told the Dhaka Tribune that the overall hajj visa processing was running smoothly.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines flew to Saudi Arabia carrying hajj pilgrims according to the schedule. Hajj flight was inaugurated on August 27.

“From August 27-30, a total of 7,280 pilgrims left for Saudi Arabia. Of them, 1,425 flew under government arrangements and 5,855 under private arrangements,” said Mizanur.

The return flights will carry passengers back home from October 9 to November 7, he said.

A total of 98,762 pilgrims would perform hajj this year.

Of them, 1,505 will go under government arrangements and the rest under private arrangements.

Some 835 agents will send pilgrims to Saudi Arabia this year. Mizanur said 50% of the pilgrims will take Biman Bangladesh Airlines while Saudi Airlines will carry the remaining 50%.

Saudi Airlines flights are scheduled to take off from tomorrow. l

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B4 Twitter to set up shop in social-media-mad Indonesia

SUNDAY, AUGUST 31, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Accord now dictates fire safety equipment sources n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi The Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh – a platform of buyers – has named 22 suppliers for import of fire safety equipment for the country’s readymade garment sector.

Rob Wayss, Accord Bangladesh chapter Executive Director, in response to the BGMEA and the factory owners, the buyers’ platform provided the list of companies through which the RMG factory owners could import safety equipment to install in their factories.

Usually, apparel buyers determine that the manufacturers use raw materials for their products from the companies they choose, but in this case, the buyers’ platform dictated the RMG manufacturers to procure safety equipment from the list of companies it provided.

BGMEA Vice-President Shahidullah Azim echoed the same as Rob, saying the factory owners could avail themselves of the safety appliances from the list of vendors provided.

He said Accord would see to it that the equipment are certified by underwriter laboratories, a safety consulting and certification company.

Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association first Vice-President Mohammad Hatem said the selected companies might cash in on the situation and set higher prices.

“I have opened a letter of credit (LC) for self-import of fire equipment worth $64,000 from a US-based manufacturer,” he said.

Accord can suggest the names of any companies and there is nothing wrong in it, said Nur Nabi, sales executive of Bengal International Agencies, also a supplier of fire equipment.

Former BGMEA President Abdus Salam Murshedy said the room for price negotiations has been shrunk due to the selective method.

He said Accord could fix up a stan-

The fire-safety equipment is on display at a recent expo in Sonargaon Hotel in the capital. The RMG owners have to install such safety appliances in their factories upon the Accord’s approval FILE PHOTO dard certification of fire safety products rather than a mere selection of the companies.

Seeking anonymity, a factory owner told the Dhaka Tribune, “We do not want to run the risk since we have to get approval from the buyers platform finally for installation of fire safety equipment.”

It is just passing the responsibility on to the Accord as there is possibility of rejection, he added.

On the other hand Labour and Employment Secretary Mikail Shipar told the Dhaka Tribune: “I think there is nothing unethical to suggest the names of safety equipment supplier by the Accord.”

He said if it suggested the name of a single company it could be doubted that there was something fishy about floating a single naming.

That is why the names of a good number of companies have been suggested, added the secretary.

The government in the budget has also allowed duty-free imports of fire safety equipment.

CEO Ziaul Islam of Tri-Zone, a safety equipment supplier, said the selection has been made considering the company profile, equipment standard and their origin.

According to an estimate of BGMEA, the country’s readymade garment sector needs to spend over Tk2,410 crore for importing fire equipment – sprinklers and fire-rated doors – to comply with fire safety conditions set by the two retailers’ platforms, Accord and Alliance.

Both Accord and Alliance had launched their inspection of the country’s RMG factories and suggested cor-

rective measures such as installing firerated doors, sprinklers, fire hydrant etc.

Accord has so far completed inspection of over 1,000 RMG units and found less than 2% factories flaw in all the three areas. The Accord’s inspection led full or partial closure of 10 factories.

The inspection by the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, a platform for the North American buyers, has resulted in full or partial closure of 10 of 587 RMG units.

The issue of fire, electrical and building safety came under the spotlight last year following the collapse of Rana Plaza that killed over 1,100 workers and the Tazreen Fashions fire.

Since the catastrophes, Accord and Alliance had been committed to improving safety standard, including fire, electrical and structural safety, in the apparel sector. l

Shipping industry in deep trouble n Asif Showkat Kallol The shipping ministry has pledged to provide financial incentives for ship owners who are now facing serious financial difficulty.

The number of ocean-ferrying ships has declined mainly due to the high interest on bank loans as owners of these ships are unable to procure newer ones for their business, said a letter sent recently to Finance Secretary Mahbub Ahmed.

According to the letter signed by Assistant Deputy Secretary Mohammad Muniruzzaman, the Shipping Ministry wants to sit with the Finance Ministry to devise a favourable policy for local ocean-ferrying ship operators.

The Shipping Ministry in the first week of this month held a meeting with vessel owners against a backdrop of decline in the number of ships. Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan presided over the meeting.

The number of ocean ferrying vessels came down to 63 from 75 in last one year. Of them, 12 remain inoperative while 20 others were declared unfit for plying on international routes.

The letter said the ship industry is shrinking as sea freight prices have plummeted drastically paired with the global financial crisis.

Other reasons are the rise in fuel prices, increase in salaries and allowances of sailors and the hike in other costs, according to the letter.

The owners of the ships said high duties on purchase of vessels and 3.0% cut in freight earnings were a major barrier to the growth of the industry.

They said freight incomes had dropped globally and the industry required government support to survive.

“Local ship owners take loan from commercial banks with 15% interest while in foreign countries, the owners of ocean-going ships take credit from their commercial banks with only 3%4% interest,” the letter said.

The government should withdraw

SANEI conference begins PM approves proposal to halve n international call termination rate Tribune Report

Regional integrated efforts, plus political stability are key to attaining inclusive growth in the South Asian countries, experts said at a conference in the capital yesterday.

They also observed that regional connectivity is also important to ensure food security, job creation, better nutrition, education, skill development, sanitation and so on.

The observation of a galaxy of economists, academicians, policymakers came at the 13th annual South Asia Network of Economic Research Institute (SANEI) conference at a city hotel.

Members of SANEI are Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka), with the objective of fostering strong research inter-linkages. The theme of the two-day conference is “Regional integration in South Asia”.

Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) organised the conference with the financial support of the Bangladesh Bank and The Ford Foundation.

While inaugurating the event, Finance Minister AMA Muhith urged the South Asian countries to put forth coordinated efforts for the regional economic development.

“It is important for regional integration to reap economic benefits,” he said, adding that Bangladesh is now experiencing peace over the last eight months.

He put importance on the success in the development of communication sector and in openness of economy to facilitate regional economic integration.

He said. “One country alone cannot

ensure peace. If anarchy prevails in a country, impact of this spells into the neighboring country as well. That’s why it demands mutual cooperation among the regional block for the economic prosperity.”

Emeritus Professor at Yale University TN Srinivasan presided over the conference which was also attended by Mashiur Rahman, economic affairs adviser to the prime minister, Global Development Network Deputy Director Annie Soriot and Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies Director General and Coordinator of SANEI Mustfa K Mujeri also attending.

A book on “Adjusting to Global economic volatility: the case of south Asia” published by the Academic Foundation, New Dellhi in association with SANEI. Mujeri said the regional initiative aims to establish strong interlink between the South Asian countries.

Annie underscored the need for building research capacity and global better governance for regional economic development. “Research will not solve problem but can show the right path to the policymakers.”

Professor Srinivasan said knowledge integration has no regional boundary.

Multilateral integration is also necessary with the regional integration,” he said.

The two-day conference would have series of sessions including public lecture on “Regional integration for inclusive growth in South Asia”, panel discussion on its key policy issues, technical session on intra-regional trade in South Asia, SAFTA, cross border trade in South Asia etc. l

n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has approved a proposal from BTRC to reduce international incoming call termination rate by 50% from 3 US cents to 1.5 cents per minute.

The approval was given Thursday on a test basis for next six months to discourage illegal call trafficking, said government sources.

The proposal also included cutting down the government share in the international call termination earnings from 51.75% to 40%, meaning the government will get 40% of 1.5 cents per minute.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) sent the proposal to Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) through telecommunication ministry.

Earlier, it was dispatched to finance ministry for PM approval, but the ministry sent back the proposal twice for review arguing that if it was approved, the government would lose a huge sum of revenue.

Then the BTRC sent it to the telecom ministry which was allegedly convinced by influential groups including senior cabinet members to clear the way.

A senior telecom ministry official said the proposal received PM approval without any change.

As per the proposal, the government will get 40%, Interconnection Exchange operators 18%, mobile or landline operators 22% and International Gateway (IGW) operators 20%.

In July last year, BTRC said the gov-

ernment earned around Tk1,800 crore from international call termination and it might reduce to only around Tk777 crore if the proposal was accepted.

Then it sent the proposal to finance ministry which later asked for review in March this year.

After such instruction from the ministry, the BTRC changed its earlier estimates of revenue loss and made a new proposal in May claiming that slashing call termination rate would allow the government to earn an additional Tk162 crore.

It includes cutting down government share in international call termination earnings to 40% But the finance ministry didn’t sway from its stance. The telecom ministry argued that it led to crores of taka revenue loss in the beginning, but “the matter will be stable.”

Currently there are around 6 crore minutes of incoming international calls every day and BTRC expects it will increase up to 9 crore minutes.

Market sources said some service providers carry international calls through gray channels using voice over internet protocol (VoIP) technology.

On January 30, the Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) wrote a letter to the telecom ministry to cut the rate from

3 cents to 1.5 cents as most illegal VoIP calls are between 1.5 and 2 cents.

The situation would be more challenging if the termination rate is slashed reduced, AMTOB said.

Currently, there are 29 IGW operators in the country while nine of them are inactive or stopped doing business after they evaded payment of revenue of around Tk500 crore to the government.

The regulator is now in a process to cancel licences of four to five IGW companies.

As of 2008, the state-owned Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd (BTCL) was the only institution for international call transmission. But during the last caretaker government, BTRC liberalised the gateways and issued three more IGW licences. In 2012 the Awami League government also issued a total of 25 such licences.

Though Bangladesh reduced its inbound international call termination rate but VoIP Service Providers Association (VSPA) said the call termination rates in neighbouring countries are three to eight times higher than Bangladesh.

VSPA Convener Rabiul Karim said per minute international call termination rate in Sri Lanka is 9 US cents, 9.5 cents in Nepal, 8.8 cents in Pakistan and 25 cents in Maldives, which is the highest.

Market sources also said though the government reduced the termination rate, the IGW operators can terminate the call at much higher price but they will not share it to the government. l

Fitch rates Bangladesh ‘BB-’, outlook stable n Tribune Report

The New-York based global rating agency, Fitch Ratings, has assigned Bangladesh long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at ‘BB-’.

The outlooks on the long-term IDRs are stable. Fitch has also assigned a short-term foreign currency IDRsat ‘B’ and a coun-

try ceiling at ‘BB-’, according to a Fitch statement released on Friday.

This is for the first time Fitch rated Bangladesh after the government allowed the central bank to sign an agreement with the rating agency in February this year.

Two other global rating agencies – Standard &Poor’s and Moody’s –are also providing the

ratings for Bangladesh since 2010.

Standard and Poor’s and Moody’s in their latest reviews on Bangladesh rated BB- and Ba3 respectively and kept its “stable outlook” for the fifth consecutive year.

The key rating drivers for Bangladesh’s rating reflects a balance between high, stable real GDP growth and strong external bal-

ances and weak structural features indicating significant political and banking sector risk, the statement said.

More specifically, it said Bangladesh’s real GDP growth at 6.2% over the past five years was strong compared with the median 4% growth rate for its ‘BB’ category peers.  B3 COLUMN 4

3% tax on freight charges, it said, adding that the government would sign agreements on double taxation with all the countries. “As a result, owners of these ships will get 100% income tax waiver from visiting countries.”

President of Ocean-going Ship Owners Association Shah Alam told the Dhaka Tribune that without financial assistance and policy support, the ship industry would not survive.

The shipping minister said the problems faced by the ship industry could be resolved through a joint effort.

“Otherwise financial crisis will deepen,” he added.

The government agencies were asked to use local ships to import goods, but they were not carrying out the orders. Only 40% of local ocean-going ships were used by the government agencies, the letter said.

Indonesian ships now carry 98.8% of goods while it was only 55.5% in 2005.

The number of Indonesian ships now stands at 11,628 from 6,041 in 2005.

According to the letter, ship owners were not getting the permission to open accounts with commercial banks.

So, they were facing difficulties in paying salaries to captains, sailors and engineers as well as PNI club fees, insurance premium and port dues.

The government should introduce one-stop services to register the ocean-going ships as the registration process delays getting frequency, call sign and ship station licences from Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, the letter said.

Like India and Singapore, the government would introduce different types of financial incentives, the letter said. “National Board of Revenue will introduce five-year tax holiday for new ocean-going ships and withdraw 5% advance tax for registration of ocean-going ships.”

Shipping Directorate will withdraw the provision for import of ships within six months under provisional registry, it said. l

Tung Hai Knitting and Dyeing debuts today n Tribune Report Share trading of Tung Hai Knitting and Dyeing will begin on the stock exchanges today.

It is the 35th listed firm in the textile sector that accounts for around 4% of the total market capitalisation of Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).

The textile company got Tk35 crore from the stock market by floating 3.5 crore ordinary shares of Tk10 each to meet the need of working capital, purchasing machinery and repaying term loans of banks.

Its earnings per share stood at Tk1.15 and net asset value per share at Tk13.73 as of December 2012. Tung Hai Knitting is a subsidiary of Tung Hai Group, a leading manufacturer and exporter of knitted sweaters and jerseys, according to the group’s website. The group’s annual turnover is around $50m.

Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission approved the IPO on February 18 while DSE okayed the listing of the company on August 14. l

FBCCI urges calling off today’s hartal n Tribune Report The Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) has urged the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat and its student wing Islami Chaatra Sena to call off their today’s dawn-to-dusk countrywide hartal for the sake of maintaining the country’s overall economic development.

Country’s highest business apex body came up with the plea in a statement released yesterday.

As an atmosphere congenial for doing business and investment is now prevailing in the country, foreign investors from various countries like China and Japan are keen to invest in Bangladesh.

It also urged the government to arrest the killers of Nurul Islam Faruqui as soon for assuring the highest punishment of the culprits. l

B2

Stocks trading resumes after a flat week n

Trading at stock exchanges resumes today following a flat week as investors opted for booking profits and re-balanced portfolio after a marginal fall in the previous week.

Mainly profit booking on heavyweight telecommunication stocks led the market to close flat, as rally in power and pharmaceuticals offset losses in the past week.

The benchmark DSEX stayed hovered over the “psychological” threshold of 4,500 points for the last three weeks and ended at 4,578, gaining 31% or 0.7% respectively.

The comprising blue chips DS30 index witnessed fractional gain of only 0.04 points to 1,726. The DSE Shariah Index edged 4 points or 0.5% higher to 1,066.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index - CSCX – gained 99 points or 1% to close at 8,658.

The week’s daily average turnover stood at Tk690 crore, registering an increase of almost 5% over the previous week.

Sectors—particularly pharmaceuticals, fuel and power, engineering and textile – attracted investors in the past week, accounting for 16%, 15%, 14% and 9% respectively of the week’s total turnover.

IDLC Investments said fresh fund injections, especially in large cap stocks aided further spike in market activities and kept market sentiment upbeat.

Despite the negative start of the week, the bourse vibrated over investors’ strong turnover and active

DSE LOSERS

PragatiLife Insu. -Z Khulna Printing-N S.B. 1st M. F.-A IFIL Islamic M.F.1-A NLI 1st M F-A Square Pharma -A GPH Ispat Ltd-A BD Submarine Cable-A Progressive Life-A Provati Insur.-A

Closing (% change) -26.69 -22.27 -19.54 -17.46 -16.85 -13.06 -12.69 -11.79 -9.42 -9.13

CSE LOSERS Company PragatiLife Insu. -Z Khulna Printing-N S.B. 1st M. F.-A ICB Sonali Bank 1 MF-A IFIL Islamic M.F.1-A Kay & Que (BD) -Z NLI 1st M F-A GPH Ispat Ltd-A Square Pharma -A BD Submarine Cable-A

Closing (% change) -43.64 -22.09 -19.32 -17.44 -17.19 -16.30 -14.44 -13.51 -12.79 -12.41

4577.99730

(+) 0.68%

1726.47583

(+) 0.00%

14167.7211

(+) 0.83%

11649.7741

(+) 1.28%

8658.3803

(+) 1.16%

Average (% change) -28.73 -18.83 -20.85 -16.83 -15.88 -12.61 -12.49 -11.21 -9.67 -8.56 Average (% change) -37.37 -18.65 -19.52 -17.08 -17.50 -16.30 -14.11 -12.78 -12.55 -11.48

ANALYST

Closing average 90.13 34.26 7.10 5.24 7.52 241.23 46.37 151.47 96.73 20.93

Closing average 85.11 34.19 7.09 7.09 5.28 11.30 7.73 46.75 241.27 151.42

Weekly closing

Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

DSE Million Taka 1952.77 1451.88 441.93 4610.32 1177.10 5033.96 6.32 3300.55 5418.12 1005.96 603.26 229.32 152.53 1569.39 1032.42 362.78 350.38 1454.37 974.03 3377.61 5.69

Weekly high 132.00 43.90 8.90 5.80 9.00 279.00 53.70 175.00 114.00 23.80

Weekly high

85.10 33.50 7.10 7.10 5.30 11.30 7.70 46.10 240.10 150.40

Turnover (Million Taka)

Agni Systems -A Beximco Pharma -A Salvo Chemicals-B Golden Harvest Agro-N Fu-wang Ceramic-A SummitAlliancePort.-A Barakatullah E. D.-A Rangpur Dairy-N Golden Son -A UNITED AIR-A

86.10 44.00 9.00 7.80 5.90 13.00 8.30 53.00 283.00 170.50

Company

34,510.70 809,182,449 718,684

Traded Issues

307

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

139

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

164 4

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,399.75

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

29.09

CSE key features August 24-28, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

2,542.27

Turnover (Volume)

70,862,529

Number of Contract

99,108

Traded Issues

253

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

123

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

124

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

6

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,303.81

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.92

Turnover in million

80.20 33.30 6.70 5.20 7.40 223.00 42.00 110.00 88.00 19.00

Weekly low

27.279 1004.132 23.667 21.899 11.811 951.778 162.036 382.037 15.245 4.899

Turnover in million

85.00 33.40 7.00 6.90 5.20 11.30 7.70 45.60 239.60 149.00

0.426 168.049 0.517 0.268 0.654 0.031 2.334 7.632 61.351 75.810

Closing (% change) 38.61 22.57 20.32 17.51 16.43 13.69 13.49 12.50 12.47 12.39

CSE GAINERS

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

Weekly low

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Latest EPS 2.38 1.31 1.42 1.07 1.41 10.04 2.35 2.42 2.30 1.52

Latest EPS 2.38 1.31 1.42 1.60 1.07 -1.24 1.41 2.35 10.04 2.42

Latest PE 37.9 26.2 5.0 4.9 5.3 24.0 19.7 62.6 42.1 13.8

Latest PE 35.8 26.1 5.0 4.4 4.9 -ve 5.5 19.9 24.0 62.6

Company Agni Systems -A Beximco Pharma -A Salvo Chemicals-B Golden Harvest Agro-N Fu-wang Ceramic-A SummitAlliancePort.-A Barakatullah E. D.-A Paramount Insur-A In Tech Online -A Orion Pharma-N

Closing (% change) 38.61 22.62 20.74 17.91 17.73 14.94 13.68 12.78 12.61 11.95

Average (% change) 39.97 22.75 16.75 14.60 14.03 12.03 11.99 11.46 10.79 11.08 Average (% change) 40.64 23.00 17.82 14.45 15.09 13.72 12.25 12.78 13.43 10.83

Closing average 28.33 57.95 22.03 34.23 16.09 29.80 34.36 18.87 50.21 12.63

Closing average 28.31 58.07 22.22 34.06 16.32 30.00 34.45 20.30 13.51 50.65

Weekly closing 28.00 58.10 22.50 34.90 16.30 29.90 34.50 18.90 50.50 12.70

Weekly closing 28.00 58.00 22.70 34.90 16.60 30.00 34.90 20.30 13.40 50.60

Weekly high 29.50 60.00 22.60 34.90 16.40 31.40 35.20 19.50 50.90 13.50

Weekly high 29.00 59.80 22.70 34.90 16.80 31.10 35.20 20.30 14.10 52.20

Weekly low 18.40 42.70 17.50 26.80 12.80 23.70 27.40 15.10 40.60 10.00

Weekly low 20.90 48.00 18.60 27.00 13.20 26.10 29.70 18.10 11.00 46.00

Turnover in million

Latest EPS

414.974 1329.136 187.607 154.645 64.303 239.118 326.943 119.215 898.136 391.040

Turnover in million

1.27 3.94 1.10 1.55 0.49 0.96 1.69 1.16 3.40 0.77

Latest EPS

27.823 64.954 20.476 15.849 7.733 14.193 17.084 0.323 3.486 47.299

1.27 3.94 1.10 1.55 0.49 0.96 1.69 1.18 -0.88 6.06

Latest PE 22.3 14.7 20.0 22.1 32.8 31.0 20.3 16.3 14.8 16.4

Latest PE 22.3 14.7 20.2 22.0 33.3 31.3 20.4 17.2 -ve 8.4

Weekly news from trade server AGM/Dividend GPHISPAT: The Board of Directors has recommended 15% cash dividend and 5% stock dividend for the year ended on April 30, 2014. Date of AGM: 10.11.2014, Time: 11:00 AM, Venue: Ichamoti Hall, Hotel Agrabad, Chittagong. Record date: 22.09.2014. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 2.35, NAV per share of Tk. 16.25 and NOCFPS of Tk. 2.77 for the year ended on April 30, 2014.

BSCCL: The Board of Directors has recommended 10% cash dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2014. Date of AGM: 12.10.2014, Time: 11:00 AM, Venue: Hotel 'Ocean Paradise', Cox'sbazar. Record date: 04.09.2014. The Company has also reported EPS (without fair valuation surplus) of Tk. 2.42, NAV per share of Tk. 27.05 and NOCFPS of Tk. 0.90 for the year ended on June 30, 2014.

PRAGATILIF: The Board of Directors did not recommend any dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 16.09.2014, Time: 12:30 PM, Venue: Jamuna Resort Ltd. Bhuapur, Tangail. Record date: 14.09.2014. A fresh AGM date will be announced later on in compliance with relevant law.

Audited/unaudited Financial Reports: POPULARLIF: (H/Y): As per un-audited half yearly accounts as on 30.06.2014 (Jan'14 to June'14), the Company has reported an increase in life insurance fund of Tk. 1,480.03 million with total life insurance fund of Tk. 26,274.17 million as against Tk. 1,996.69 million and Tk. 22,709.31 million

respectively for the same period of the previous year. Whereas increase in life insurance fund was Tk. 434.60 million for the period of 3 months (Apr'14 to June'14) ended on 30.06.2014 as against Tk. 692.30 million for the same period of the previous year.

FEKDIL: (Q3): The Company has reported its profit after tax Tk. 107.44 million and basic EPS of Tk. 1.18 for the 3 (three) months ended on 31 March 2014 (Jan 2014-March 2014) as against profit after tax of Tk. 56.28 million and basic EPS of Tk. 0.62 for the same period of the previous year. It is to be noted that basic EPS has been calculated based on weighted average Pre-IPO paid-up number of shares i.e. 91,030,800 shares for both periods. However, considering Post-IPO 116,030,800 number of shares the Company's basic EPS for the 3 (three) months ended on 31 March 2014 would be Tk. 0.93 For the period of 9 (nine) months (July 2013 to March 2014) ended on 31 March 2014 profit after tax was Tk. 186.03 million and basic EPS was Tk. 2.04 as against profit after tax of Tk. 183.52 million and basic EPS of Tk. 2.02 for the same period of the previous year. It is to be noted that the said EPS has been calculated based on weighted average Pre-IPO paid-up number of shares i.e. 91,030,800 shares for both periods. However, considering Post-IPO 116,030,800 number of shares, Company's basic EPS would be Tk. 1.60 for 9 (nine) months ended on 31 March 2014 (July 2013 to March 2014) and NAV per share would be Tk. 22.39 as on 31 March 2014.

Fixed Assets/Right/Investment: RAKCERAMIC: The Company has informed that due to the compulsory maintenance of power plant of R.A.K. Power Pvt. Ltd. [a subsidiary and power supplier of RAK Ceramics (Bangladesh) Limited] the production of RAK Ceramics (Bangladesh) Limited will be stopped for 15 to 20 days as follows: Tiles plant # 2: from 24th August 2014 and Tiles plant # 3: from 24th August 2014.

SIBL: BSEC has given consent under the provisions of the Securities and Exchange Commission (Private Placement of Debt Securities) Rules, 2012, for raising of capital

by Social Islami Bank Limited amounting to Tk. 300.00 crore only through issuance of Mudaraba Subordinated Bond. The consent has been accorded subject to the condition that the Company shall comply with the relevant laws and regulatory requirements, and also shall adhere to the conditions imposed by BSEC under Section-2CC of the Securities and Exchange Ordinance, 1969.

BDSERVICE: The Company has informed that as per management agreement signed between Bangladesh Services Limited and InterContinental Hotels Group (Asia Pacific) Pte Ltd (IHG) on 19 February 2012, Ruposhi Bangla Hotel (the "Hotel") will have to be renovated as per brand standard of IHG. Accordingly, the renovation is going to start from 1st September 2014. Therefore, the Hotel will be closed to the guests from 31 August 2014 till rebranding. The renovation is scheduled to be completed by December 2015. The Hotel will be rebranded as 'InterContinental Dhaka' after completion of renovation.

Lanka Bangla Securities said the benchmark index of DSE was still hovering around 4,600 level, which it was trying to break for the last couple of weeks

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

92.30 33.50 7.00 5.20 7.40 239.70 46.10 150.40 97.10 20.90

Weekly closing

DSE GAINERS

Number of Contract

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index :

DSE key features August 24-28, 2014

Turnover (Volume)

investors participation, it said adding that the overall market observed investors’ favourable response to investment scenario.

Lanka Bangla Securities said the benchmark index of DSE was still hovering around 4,600 level, which it was trying to break for the last couple of weeks.

Some of the small cap stocks grabbed hefty return during the past week as investors went for bottom hunting, it said.

Losers outpaced gainers as out of 307 issues traded, 152 declined, 136 gained and 19 remained unchanged on DSE. Among the sectors, IT sector registered a stunning over 10% return during the past week with average turnover up by 165%.

Cement sector lost its ground as it shed almost 5% during the past week as investors went for profit booking after two weeks of bull-run.

Travel and leisure gained 7%, service and real estate 6.5% and food and allied 5.6%. The top losing sectors were paper and printing that dropped nearly 9%, telecommunication 3% and mutual fund 2%.

Beximco dominated the week’s top turnover chart with shares worth Tk24.8 crore changing hands followed by Mobil Jamuna Limited Bangladesh, BSRM Steels, Beximco Pharma and Grameenphone.

Far East Knitting and Dyeing Industries made debut in the past week.

The shares of the company traded between Tk48.5 and Tk39 each before closing at Tk45.4, gaining more than 68% on its face value. l

Tribune Report

Company

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

% change 5.66 4.21 1.28 13.36 3.41 14.59 0.02 9.56 15.70 2.91 1.75 0.66 0.44 4.55 2.99 1.05 1.02 4.21 2.82 9.79 0.02

Million Taka 103.22 106.24 30.58 256.99 88.52 274.48 0.00 319.71 299.23 206.07 34.57 51.08 16.94 106.40 231.32 35.57 12.34 160.44 160.49 329.41 0.11

CSE

% change 3.66 3.76 1.08 9.10 3.13 9.72 0.00 11.32 10.60 7.30 1.22 1.81 0.60 3.77 8.19 1.26 0.44 5.68 5.68 11.67 0.00

Million Taka 2056.00 1558.12 472.51 4867.32 1265.62 5308.44 6.32 3620.26 5717.35 1212.03 637.83 280.40 169.47 1675.79 1263.75 398.36 362.72 1614.81 1134.53 3707.02 5.80

Total

% change 5.51 4.17 1.27 13.04 3.39 14.22 0.02 9.70 15.31 3.25 1.71 0.75 0.45 4.49 3.38 1.07 0.97 4.33 3.04 9.93 0.02

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BEXIMCO Ltd. -A MJL BD Ltd.-A BSRM Steels-A Beximco Pharma -A Grameenphone-A Khulna Printing-N LafargeS Cement-Z Square Pharma -A Golden Son -A ACI Limited- A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Khulna Printing-N FarEast Knitting -N UNITED AIR-A MJL BD Ltd.-A Grameenphone-A BD Submarine Cable-A Beximco Pharma -A BSRM Steels-A LafargeS Cement-Z

Volume shares 58,544,023 14,244,099 13,638,604 24,247,513 3,314,016 26,037,500 9,000,500 3,709,202 18,486,225 2,176,297

Volume shares 6,543,582 4,410,500 2,091,400 7,541,927 774,937 259,000 484,366 1,180,227 635,495 566,500

Value in million 2485.43 1665.29 1356.55 1329.14 1072.33 1004.13 972.24 951.78 898.14 767.49

Value in million 277.52 168.05 95.30 94.08 91.60 84.63 75.81 64.95 63.28 61.38

% of total turnover 7.20 4.83 3.93 3.85 3.11 2.91 2.82 2.76 2.60 2.22

% of total turnover 10.31 6.24 3.54 3.50 3.40 3.14 2.82 2.41 2.35 2.28

Weekly closing 43.10 110.90 94.70 58.10 321.10 33.50 106.40 239.70 50.50 339.40

Weekly closing 43.50 33.50 45.10 12.60 110.40 320.00 150.40 58.00 94.80 107.60

Price change 9.95 -5.29 -2.87 22.57 -2.79 -22.27 -5.67 -13.06 12.47 -0.47

Weekly opening 39.20 117.10 97.50 47.40 330.30 43.10 112.80 275.70 44.90 341.00

Weekly high 47.00 124.90 105.00 60.00 335.00 43.90 113.00 279.00 50.90 370.00

Weekly low 35.30 102.40 89.00 42.70 302.00 33.30 103.70 223.00 40.60 311.20

Weekly average 42.80 112.37 95.06 57.95 321.35 34.26 106.54 241.23 50.21 342.13

Price change 10.97 -22.09 0.00 11.50 -5.72 -3.15 -12.41 22.62 -2.67 -4.78

Weekly opening 39.20 43.00 0.00 11.30 117.10 330.40 171.70 47.30 97.40 113.00

Weekly high 44.80 44.00 48.50 13.60 124.90 334.70 170.50 59.80 99.90 113.50

Weekly low 39.00 33.40 42.10 11.00 109.60 313.00 149.00 48.00 93.70 103.20

Weekly average 42.03 38.91 332.03 112.09 171.05 30.91 111.37 95.94 35.08 275.91

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

Brazil falls into recession as election looms n AFP, Brasilia Brazil, Latin America’s largest economy, has slid into recession, further weakening President Dilma Rousseff, who faces a tough re-election battle on October 5.

Brazil’s national statistics institute said Friday that GDP shrank 0.6% in the second quarter and revised its formerly positive growth estimate for the first quarter down to -0.2%.

Coming ahead of October presidential and general elections, those figures will damage already low industrial and consumer confidence in what once was a fast-growing regional powerhouse.

The contraction comes with Rousseff locked in a tough fight to win another term in office, with latest polls showing a major surge in support for Marina Silva, challenging her from the left.

Silva, a former environment minister under Rousseff ’s predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, shot to prominence after Socialist candidate Eduardo Campos died a plane crash on August 13.

She had been Campos’ running mate and took the reins of his campaign.

Polls this week show her defeating Rousseff in an October 26 run-off, although the latter remains favorite to top first round voting.

“Technically, we are in recession ... and this is very worrying,” Silva said.

“Brazil must regain credibility - that is the only way it will return to growth.”

Rousseff shrugged off the latest data, saying it was in part due to a slew of public holidays which the government granted during the month-long World Cup football extravaganza in June and July.

Citizens enjoyed an afternoon off on Brazilian match days and host cities

Oil prices up on Ukraine tensions, rosy US data n AFP, Singapore Oil prices rose in Asia Friday supported by renewed Russia-Ukraine tensions and upbeat US economic data, analysts said.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for October delivery was up 27 cents at $94.82 while Brent crude for October advanced 33 cents to $102.79 in afternoon trade.

Ukraine and the West said Thursday that Russian troops are actively involved supporting pro-Kremlin separatists who have been fighting against Kiev’s rule since April.

NATO said at least 1,000 Russian troops were on the ground in east Ukraine but Moscow insisted none of its soldiers were in the country.

The United States warned it was considering new sanctions against Russia over the latest development.

Desmond Chua, market analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore, said fresh sanctions “may then trigger further retaliatory measures that would weigh on the euro bloc”.

The intensified standoff between the neighbours, seen as the worst East-West crisis since the end of the Cold War, has sparked fears of a full-fledged war.

Such a development could cause energy prices to surge as Russia is the world’s number-two oil producer, and Ukraine is a key conduit for Moscow’s gas exports to Europe. l

2015 would be tough.

“Brazilian growth has been slowing since 2011 owing to the great uncertainty surrounding economic policy and large degree of state intervention,” Gutierrez told AFP. “This year brings additional uncertainties - the elections, the risk of electricity rationing and adjustments which will have to be made in 2015,” she said.

Forecasts for 2014 are for GDP to rise just 0.7%, for a fourth straight year of sluggish growth which had raced ahead by 7.5% in 2010.

‘Growth pangs’

Employees inspect newly-made dolls of Fuleco the Armadillo, the official mascot of the FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil, at a factory in Ganyu county, Jiangsu province April 26, 2013 REUTERS also enjoyed a holiday every time they hosted a game, dampening economic activity.

“I think this result is just a blip. Brazil has every chance of a resumption” of growth later in the year, Rousseff insisted.

While most eyes were on the football, industrial activity dipped 1.5% in April-June and second quarter investment slumped 5.3%, the IGBE national statistics agency figures showed.

Rousseff ’s administration has cut growth forecasts for the year to 1.8%,

primarily blaming the global crisis.

But Silva’s rise in the polls has put her on the back foot.

‘Poor record’

“The data are likely to be seized upon

by Dilma Rousseff ’s challengers in the presidential race to attack her poor record on growth and inflation,” said Robert Wood, Brazil analyst for the Economist Intelligence Unit.

The Sao Paulo stock market took Friday’s data in its stride with the main Bovespa index ending the final August

B3

Sunday, August 31, 2014

session 1.65 higher for a 9.63% rise across the month as a whole.

The market welcomed the weak growth data and Dilma’s current poll woes as positives which suggest her tenure may be coming to a close, the website of Valor financial daily reported.

Traders also welcomed Silva’s pledge as she fleshed out her policies Friday by promising to “develop capital markets” and foster a healthy investment environment.

Margarida Gutierrez, an economics professor at Rio University, warned

Analyst Andre Perfeito of consultancy Gradual Investments said: “This is very much going to affect Dilma.”

But he added: “Brazil is not broke.”

Many commentators forecast a return to growth in the second half of the year.

In a note to investors, BNP Paribas said: “Some observers may hesitate to characterize Brazil’s current situation as a ‘recession’ on the grounds that Q1 growth was not sufficiently negative.

“Beyond the semantics, though, one thing is clear: Brazil is seeing poor growth and high inflation at the same time.”

Economist Caio Megale told the Valor financial daily that “the fall is in large part temporary and linked to the effects of the World Cup - though part of this slowdown is more structural, owing to higher interest rates (currently 11%) and a tail-off in confidence.”

Perfeito said he did not believe that the economy was broken and many forecasters and the government predict a return to growth for June-December.

He concluded: “Brazil is going to continue growing - it is currently enduring growth pangs.” l

Dollar claws back losses in Asia n AFP, Tokyo The dollar edged up in Asian afternoon trade Friday recovering from losses in the morning that were fanned by fears of a possible Russia-Ukraine military conflict and offset upbeat US economic growth data.

The greenback rose to 103.82 yen, up from 103.70 yen earlier in the day and 103.75 yen in New York late Thursday.

The euro was at 136.74 yen from 136.75 yen, while it bought $1.3171 from $1.3181.

The dollar’s gains against the yen were partly driven by Japanese importers buying the currency before month end, dealers said.

Some market participants also bought back the greenback as Russian President Vladimir Putin called on proMoscow separatists in Ukraine to allow Ukrainian troops to escape from the rebel-held eastern town of Novoazovsk.

Investors had shifted into the yen, seen as a safe-haven currency during times of turmoil and uncertainty, following reports that more than 1,000 Russian troops entered Ukraine, supporting pro-Moscow separatist rebels fighting Kiev.

Despite denials from Moscow, the news brought fresh warnings from NATO and Washington, and fanned worries of an escalation in the fighting and possible war.

“Similar headlines would have caused the dollar to fall more steeply against the yen before,” Daisaku Ueno, chief foreign exchange strategist at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley, told Dow Jones Newswires.

The troubles in eastern Europe overshadowed data Thursday showing the US economy expanded at a 4.2% annualised rate in April-June, up from a preliminary 4% estimate. l

Fitch rates Bangladesh ‘BB-’; outlook stable Intel hires senior Qualcomm exec to boost mobile business  B1 COLUMN 5

n Reuters, San Francisco Chipmaker Intel Corp has hired Amir Faintuch, a senior executive at rival Qualcomm Inc, to step up efforts in mobile and Internet-connected gadgets.

Hiring a senior executive from a major competitor is rare for Intel, which is known in Silicon Valley for its insular culture, and it reflects the eagerness of the Santa Clara, California, chipmaker to improve its struggling mobile business.

Faintuch, who previously oversaw Qualcomm’s networking and connectivity businesses as president of Qualcomm Atheros, is joining Intel as a senior vice president and co-general manager of the Platform Engineering Group, Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy said on Friday.

He will be among Intel’s dozen or so most senior executives and will co-manage the Platform Engineering Group with Josh Walden, a manufacturing technology expert who previously led the group.

Mulloy told Reuters that in addition to strong network skills, Faintuch brings experience designing “system on chips,” or SoCs, which combine features like modems, Wi-Fi and memory.

While Intel excels at developing processors for laptops and desktop com-

puters, it has less experience designing SoCs, which are widely used in smartphones and tablets.

“We want to accelerate our success rate with SoCs and get the designs aligned and the roadmaps aligned to do that,” Mulloy said. “We’ve made good progress but there’s more to be done.

Amir has extensive management experience and a strong resume.”

A Qualcomm spokesman had no comment beyond confirming Faintuch’s departure. Bringing in Faintuch, which was announced in an email to Intel employees on Friday, is the latest move by the company to accelerate progress in mobile gadgets, where it trails Qualcomm.

Since taking over in 2013, CEO Brian Krzanich has made a number of sweeping changes designed to counteract a slump in PC sales, including opening Intel’s cutting-edge factories to other chipmakers willing to pay for access to them.

In May, Intel reached an agreement with Chinese SoC specialist Rockchip to make chips for inexpensive tablets running Google Inc’s Android platform.

As Intel struggles with declining PC sales and slow progress in mobile, Qualcomm, whose smartphone chips lead the industry, has been viewed by many engineers in recent years as a potentially more attractive place to work. l

The Fitch expects growth to remain around 6.3% for the financial year ending June 30 of 2015 and FY16.

The inflation, however, averaged 8.1% over the past five years and was 7.3% over the 12 months ended in July 2014, it said.

This is higher than the ‘BB’ peer category median of 4.6% and above the central bank’s target of 6.5% by the end of FY15.

“Political tensions and violence that marked the run-up to the parliamentary elections in January 2014 had a moderately negative impact on economic growth, but did not paralyse the economy,” said the agency.

This most recent episode in Bangladesh’s political history highlights prolonged high political risk levels, it said, adding that the continued political polarisation and uncertainty may impact economic activity through long-term investment decisions.

According to the Fitch, the banking sector is vulnerable to shocks, especially the state-owned banks, as both asset quality and governance are weak.

The gross non-performing loans ratio of the sector increased to 10.5% in 1Q of calendar year 2014 from 8.9% in 4Q13, while the ratio for state-owned banks only was 21.9% in 1Q14.

The global rating agency expects that the state-owned banks would need additional capital in the medium term, which would imply crystallisation of contingent liabilities for the sovereign.

rating action are the governance reforms that would lead to a strengthened business environment.

The rating agency also stressed substantial strengthening of the balance sheets and governance in the banking sector.

The main factors that individually, or collectively, could trigger negative rating action are protracted substantial disruption of economic activity as

'A disappointing government revenue intake has led to a higher fiscal deficit of 5% of GDP than the targeted 4.6%'

a result of materialising political risk, greater than expected deterioration in the banking sector’s asset quality and prompting substantial government support.

The Fitch, however, felt that both Bangladesh’s ready-made garment exports and remittance from workers abroad continue to be strong, supporting the relatively favourable current account balance levels compared with the peers. l

COO of MediaVest Group arrives in Dhaka

A delegation of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA), UK consisting of regional director Bradly Emerson and country manager Zarina Matin have recently met office bearers of the Institute Cost and Management and Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) headed by its president Mohamed Salim, FCMA at ICMA Bhaban, Nilkhet in Dhaka for exchanging views on bilateral matters

n Tribune Business Desk

NCC Bank Limited has recently signed an agreement with Bangladesh Bank for availing its refinance facilities under a refinance scheme worth Tk2bn for Tk10 account holders.

Managing director of NCC Bank, Golam Hafiz Ahmed and general manager of green banking and CSR departments of Bangladesh Bank Abul Mansur Ahmed signed the agreement

BDBL Investment Services Ltd (BISL) has recently held its board’s first meeting at BDBL Bhaban in Dhaka. The company’s chairperson Quazi Murshed Hossain Kamal attended the meeting

Bangladesh’s ratings are constrained by a low level of development. The country scores poorly on a broad range of governance indicators and ranks low on the United Nations’ human development indicators, with a GDP per capita of $1,023 in 2013, well below the ‘BB’ peer category median of $4,696.

A disappointing government revenue intake has led to a higher fiscal deficit of 5% of GDP than the targeted 4.6%, the Fitch said.

It adds that the budget for FY15 targets the fiscal deficit to remain at 5% of GDP, suggesting that no fiscal consolidation efforts can be expected of this government anytime soon.

Bangladesh’s current account surplus (1.7% in calendar 2013) and low and falling net external debt (to 1.3% of GDP in calendar 2014 from 1.6% in 2013) compare favourably with peers.

“The current account is supported by the continued strong ready-made garment exports and remittance from workers overseas.

This shows a comparative advantage of Bangladesh’s large unskilled population,according to the Fitch.

Limited diversification implies a risk in case the ready-made garment sector or remittance face an external shock, it added.

However, the Fitch states that the stable outlook reflects Fitch’s assessment that upside and downside risks to the ratings are well-balanced.

The main factors that individually, or collectively, could trigger positive

Standard Bank Limited has recently held the 117th meeting of its executive committee.

The committee’s chairperson Mohammad Shamsul Alam presided over the meeting

Ranganathan Somanathan, COO of Starcom MediaVest Group (SMG), a global media communications agency, has arrived in Dhaka yesterday for a two-day visit. Ranganathan will meet colleagues from Bangladesh and a number of Key clients and stakeholders during the visit.

Prior to his current designation, Ranga led VivaKi Malaysia, which includes SMG and Optimedia Malaysia, as CEO – a position he held since July 2009.

Ranga was also managing director of SMG’s Indonesian operations which grew by 40% under his leadership.

He headed the Research & Strategic Planning function at SMG Malaysia and was recognized by Campaign AsiaPacific as one of the Top 10 Suits for his work on Microsoft in 2005. l

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Sunday, August 31, 2014

India’s Modi heads to Japan with trade and China in mind n AFP, New Delhi India’s new Prime Minister Narendra Modi headed to Japan yesterday seeking to capitalise on a close relationship with his like-minded counterpart Shinzo Abe to boost trade between Asia’s second and third largest economies.

The two leaders, both right-wing nationalists elected on a pledge to revive their countries’ economies, also share an interest in shoring up regional alliances to counter an increasingly assertive China.

It will be Modi’s first bilateral visit outside South Asia since taking office, signalling the importance of a nation he said offered “immense scope for cooperation”.

“Japan’s friendship with India is time tested. We are 2 vibrant democracies committed to advancing peace and democracy in the world,” Modi tweeted on Thursday in both English and Japanese.

Modi and Abe, who will meet privately in the historic city of Kyoto on Saturday before holding official talks in Tokyo, enjoy an unusually warm relationship.

Modi visited Japan twice when he was chief minister of India’s prosperous Gujarat state, and met Abe on both occasions.

The Indian leader was only the third person that Abe followed on Twitter, after his wife and a Japanese politician.

Both men are seen as strong leaders who have championed deregulation to kickstart their countries’ flagging economies.

“The common ground of their policies is expected to benefit both the Japanese and Indian economies,” said Takehiko Yamamoto, an international politics expert at Waseda University.

Both are also leaders of countries embroiled in territorial disputes with China, the dominant regional power.

The United States, Japan’s key ally, is concerned about Beijing’s growing economic and military clout, and would welcome a closer relationship between New Delhi and Tokyo, which geographically bookend China.

“The visit by Modi would offer an opportunity for the leaders to confirm a long-term cooperation in their effort to softly contain China,” said Yamamoto.

Energy and trade

Indian foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said Modi’s focus would be to boost Indian exports - he is reportedly travelling with a large business delegation - and seek Japanese support in

infrastructural developments.

This could include Japanese investment in new high-speed train networks after the new government said the country’s dilapidated railways needed an “immediate course correction”.

India’s new government has increased limits on foreign direct investment in defence and did away with them altogether for the railway industry.

Modi is seeking to build the country’s first bullet train line to run between the nation’s financial capital Mumbai and commercial hub Ahmedabad in his home state of Gujarat, as well as a network of high-speed railways.

Japan is famous for its “Shinkansen” bullet and magnetic train system, but rival China has had more success exporting its technology at lower prices.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss restarting negotiations on nuclear energy, suspended since Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011.

India suffers crippling power shortages and desperately needs to buy in more energy.

Trade between India and Japan has steadily increased over the last decade, and the two countries signed a free trade pact in 2011.

Japan is India’s fourth-largest investor, with Japanese firms involved in infrastructure projects including building the Delhi Metro, while Japanese automakers have long been churning out cars in India.

Next week the two countries will reportedly sign an agreement that will see Japan import around 2,000 tons of rare earths from India, as Tokyo looks to diversify supply away from China.

Modi was initially scheduled to travel to Tokyo in early July, but altered his plans to be in India for his new government’s first budget session since its landslide election victory in May. On Monday, he will meet Japan’s Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera as the two countries seek to counter China’s increasing regional assertiveness.

A Japanese official who asked not to be named said India had expressed interest in buying amphibious searchand-rescue planes for its defence forces.

But that would require Japan to change its self-imposed ban on military exports, which Abe has proposed but not yet done.

“Defence talks will be symbolic, nothing concrete,” said Srikanth Kondapalli, head of East Asian Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi. l

All new 2015 Ford Mustangs go through the assembly line at the Ford Flat Rock Assembly Plant August 28 in Flat Rock, Michigan. Ford's all-new Mustang goes on sale this fall in the US and for the first time in its 50-year history globally in more than 120 countries AFP

Tablet sales slow as PCs find footing n AFP, San Francisco

Tablets won’t eclipse personal computers as fast as once thought, according to studies by market tracker International Data Corporation (IDC).

IDC on Friday cut its forecast for shipments of tablets and “two-in-one” devices combining tablet and laptop features to 233.1 million, saying growth would be about half of what was originally predicted.

“When we look at the global picture, it would be easy to say that the tablet market is slowing down,” said IDC research director for tablets Jean Philippe Bouchard.

“But, when we start digging into the regional dynamics, we realize that there is still a good appetite for this product category.”

While shipments in mature markets such as North America and Western Europe were forecast to remain flat, those in emerging regions were expected to climb overall by 12 percent.

Meanwhile, the outlook for personal computer (PC) shipments was less dreary than originally envisioned, due in part to businesses replacing machines powered by outdated

Twitter to set up shop in socialmedia-mad Indonesia n AFP, Jakarta Twitter plans to open an office in Indonesia over the coming months as it seeks to boost revenues in the socialmedia-addicted nation, the company announced Friday.

Several market monitors have declared Jakarta as the world’s most active city of tweeters. Twitter does not publicise official user numbers by country or city.

“This is of great importance to Twitter because Indonesia loves Twitter and Twitter loves Indonesia,” the company’s president of global revenue and partnerships, Adam Bain, told reporters in Jakarta as he made the announcement.

“In fact, when we think about the market overall, Indonesia is one of the biggest countries that are active on Twitter,” Bain said.

Like many social networking platforms, Twitter is yet to turn a profit, but the San Francisco-based company’s second-quarter revenues more than doubled on-year to $312 million.

The number of monthly active users surged 24% to 271 million globally in the same period.

Indonesia is a major market for Twitter - it is the world’s fourth most populous country with some 250 million people, and smartphone sales are surging as the middle class grows rapidly.

Millions access the Internet primarily through smartphones and tablets, and surveys show social media is the primary reason for using mobile devices.

Twitter president of global revenue and partnership Adam Bain speaks at a press conference in Jakarta on August 29. Twitter plans to open an office in Indonesia over the coming months as it seeks to boost revenues in the social-media-addicted nation, the company announce August 29 AFP Tweets about Indonesia’s presidential election alone clocked some 95 million tweets, from January 1 until election day on July 9.

Twitter’s main revenue source is advertising, with big brands like CocaCola and Intel having promoted their products on the platform to Indonesian users.

Indonesian consumer engagement on Twitter is “extremely high”, Bain said, and had “gotten the attention of the entire team back at headquarters”.

Other foreign tech companies, such as BlackBerry, have rubbed up against Indonesian officials over infrastructure

issues and content.

Bain said he was hopeful that Indonesia’s incoming government would be welcoming, pointing to president-elect Joko Widodo’s avid use of Twitter as a positive sign.

Before Widodo’s run for president, he was elected Jakarta governor in 2012, a victory largely attributable to social media - Widodo built a wildly popular online profile as a man of the people and diehard heavy metal fan.

Twitter’s Jakarta office will be its sixth in the region, following set-ups in Tokyo, Mumbai, Sydney, Singapore and Seoul. l

Windows XP software.

IDC forecast that worldwide PC shipments would fall by 3.7% this year instead of by six percent as it had predicted earlier.

Programs to reduce PC prices, such as Windows 8.1 with Bing, have helped to improve PC shipments in some segments

Growth in shipments of desktop and laptop computers in mature markets would be more than offset by reduction in emerging markets such as Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, according to IDC. “Programs to reduce PC prices, such as Windows 8.1 with Bing, have helped to improve PC shipments in some seg-

ments,” said IDC senior research analyst Jay Chou.

“Nevertheless, the prospects for significant PC growth in the long term remain tenuous, as users increasingly see PCs as only one of several computing devices.”

People seem to be waiting longer to replace PCs and are increasingly tempted by alternate computing platforms, according to IDC. A separate IDC report this week estimated that more that 1.25 billion smartphones would ship worldwide this year in a jump of nearly 24% from the 1.01 billion shipped last year.

The number of smartphones shipped was expected by IDC to climb to 1.8 billion annually during the next four years.

“The smartphone market, which has experienced runaway growth over the last several years, is starting to slow,” said IDC research manager Ramon Llamas.

“The key for vendors now is to maintain a presence in the highermargin mature markets, while establishing a sustainable presence within the fast-growing emerging markets.” l

Facebook tuning mobile search at social network n AFP, San Francisco Facebook on Friday said it is dabbling with letting members using smartphones or tablets search for past posts of friends at the leading online social network.

Facebook is testing using keywords to find old posts, the California-based company said in an email response to an AFP inquiry.

Search results remain true to sharing settings used when posts were made, meaning people are only shown content they are permitted to see, according to Facebook.

Facebook early last year launched “Graph Search” that helps members using desktop computers or laptops better navigate the vast amount of information at the social network, which is not available on Web search engines such as Google.

The feature was introduced as a work-in-progress and has yet to spread to all of the social networks 1.3 billion users. l

IMF board stands behind Lagarde over French probe n Reuters, Washington

Google tests using drones to deliver goods

The International Monetary Fund’s board on Friday stood behind the global lender’s leader Christine Lagarde, who is facing a criminal investigation in France tied to a political corruption probe dating from 2008.

French magistrates earlier this week put Lagarde under formal investigation for “negligence” after questioning her in Paris for a fourth time. The long-running saga concerns allegations that tycoon Bernard Tapie won a large arbitration payout due to political connections when Lagarde was French finance minister.

“The Executive Board has been briefed on recent developments related to this matter, and continues to express its confidence in the Managing Director’s ability to effectively carry out her duties,” the board said in a statement.

The 24-member board, which has the power to hire and fire the IMF’s managing director, discussed the French corruption probe after the first three times Lagarde was questioned under her previous status as a witness, and also considered the case’s implications when it decided to hire her in 2011.

Three sources told Reuters on Thursday the board would likely stand behind Lagarde this time, as well.

Lagarde’s lawyer said he would appeal the decision to move to an investigation, and the legal appeals process would likely last beyond the end of Lagarde’s first five-year IMF term, which ends in July 2016.

In the case, Lagarde is accused of “negligence” for not blocking the arbitration that won Tapie a huge pay-out. She has said the case is “without merit.” l

Google on Thursday said it is testing using drones to deliver items bought online, putting its own spin on similar efforts by Internet retail titan Amazon. com.

Two years of research into what Google referred to as “Project Wing” was capped this month with test flights delivering candy, water, medicine, dog treats and other items to two farmers in Queensland, Australia.

“Self-flying vehicles could open up entirely new approaches to moving goods,” California-based Google said in a blog post disclosing the project.

“Throughout history, major changes in how we move goods from place to place have led to new opportunities for economic growth and generally made consumers’ lives easier.”

Project Wing drones were described as having more in common with Google’s self-driving car than remotecontrolled aircraft used by hobbyists.

Delivery drones and autonomous vehicles are both being worked on in Google X lab devoted to innovative new technologies.

Google expected it to be several

n AFP, San Francisco

DILBERT

years before a delivery drone system is ready.

Last month, Amazon sought permission for drone test flights in the United States, saying it is moving forward on plans for deliveries using unmanned aircraft.

In a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration, Amazon said that because of restrictions on drones in US airspace, it has been conducting test flights indoors and in other countries.

Amazon said an exemption to FAA rules would be “in the public interest” and “is a necessary step towards realizing the consumer benefits of Amazon Prime Air,” which company founder Jeff Bezos has described as a plan for drone delivery to consumers.

Bezos unveiled his idea for drone deliveries last December, and said the company would be ready to launch Amazon Prime Air as early as 2015 if FAA regulations allowed.

The letter said that over the past five months, “we have made advancements toward the development of highly-automated aerial vehicles for Prime Air,” which travel at over 50 miles (80 kilometers) per hour and can carry loads up to five pounds (2.2 kilos). l