03 Sep, 2014

Bhadro 19, 1421 Zilqad 7, 1435 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 152

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION MOVEMENT OF LENDING RATES

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A major disaster looms over head Lack of awareness and policy about e-waste result in health and environmental hazards

Muhith rejects proposal for EC conducting Grameen election

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

n Asif Showkat Kallol

Sources of e-waste and yearly growth rate

Estimated e-waste (million tonnes/year) 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014

(2012-2013 and 2013-2014)

4.7 0.35 0.0167 0.006 0.002 0.002 0.0007 0.014 0.09 5.1814

Ship breaking yards

37%

Television sets

57%

Computers

31% - 41% Mobile phone

87%

CFL bulbs

25% - 29% Mercury bulbs

21% - 23% What is e-waste?

E-waste means electronic waste comprising valuable metals, heavy metals, hazardous chemicals, such as acids, and other environmentally damaging contaminants Some of the main components of e-waste are: Lead (Pb), Mercury (Hg), Cadmium (Cd), Nickel (Ni), Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

two years, the policy has still been waiting to get the Law Ministry’s nod.

Seeking anonymity, a deputy director of the DoE told the Dhaka Tribune that the draft policy had been lying in the ministry’s deep freezer because of a serious lack in political will.

A recent study has brought up an alarming figure that around 50,000

6.47 0.55 0.0218 0.0112 0.0025 0.00242 0.0009 0.0233 0.1602 7.24232

8.86 0.8 0.0307 0.0211 0.0032 0.00297 0.0014 0.0395 0.2867 10.10557

MAJOR E-WASTE PRODUCERS IN 2013-2014

Thermometers

34% - 39%

TELEVISION SETS

Medical and dental waste

67% - 69%

7.96% 2.85% HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND SWITCHES

Household electrical appliances and switches

78% - 79%

88.20%

Total

children in Bangladesh are involved with the process of informal collection and recycling of e-wastes and exposure to toxic materials have led to death and various illnesses among a significant number of these children. Around 40% of these children work at various ship-breaking yards.

In Bangladesh, more than 15% of

SHIP BREAKING YARDS

child workers die every year as a result of e-waste recycling and more than 83% are exposed to toxic substances and are forced to live with long-term illnesses.

E-waste comprise of stuff that contain valuable and heavy metals, hazardous chemicals such as acids, and other environmentally damaging contaminants.

Arms found in Satchhari again

Pakistan parliament backs embattled PM as crisis Islam Shaon, from Habiganj n Ashif and Mohammad Jamil Khan deepens in Dhaka Rapid Action Battalion once again n Reuters, Islamabad found a large cache of arms and amPakistan’s parliament threw its weight behind embattled Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif yesterday as a deepening crisis over violent protests demanding his resignation prompted fears of an army intervention.

Signalling a possible softening of his position, protest leader Imran Khan said he would meet a conservative Islamist politician who has been trying to mediate between Khan and the government since the start of the confrontation.

Sharif, who enjoys a solid majority in parliament, convened a joint session of the assembly as he sought to reaffirm that he is fully in control more than two weeks after protests seeking to bring down his government erupted in the coup-prone nation.

Convening the week-long parliamentary session appears to be part of Sharif’s attempt to divert attention from the streets and shift the conflict into the political arena.

“This is not a protest, a sit-in or a political gathering. This is a rebellion. It is a rebellion against state institutions. It is a rebellion against the state of Pakistan,” Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar told parliament.

“Clear guidance from this parliament would give strength to the police.

They are not revolutionaries, they are intruders and terrorists,” he said of the protesters.

Aitzaz Ahsan from the opposition Pakistan People’s Party said: “As you have said, you will not resign, no one can force you to resign. The entire parliament is with you.”  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

munition from the bordering Satchhari forest in Chunarughat of Habiganj yesterday with police having failed to unearth the mystery behind the two massive hauls at the same place in June.

The weaponry commonly used in war was found to be in good condition, say RAB officials.

Asked about the two cases filed over the previous recoveries, OC Amullo Ku-

mar Chowdhury of Chunarughat police told the Dhaka Tribune that they were investigating the incidents and hopeful to solve those.

After yesterday’s recovery, RAB 9 arranged a media briefing at the Crime Prevention Camp at Srimangal of Moulvibazar. It invited journalists from Dhaka and arranged a visit to the spot of the recovery too.

Mufti Mahmud Khan, director of RAB’s legal and media wing, said; “Acting on a tip-off, RAB personnel conducted a drive on the west side of the forest. We recovered two light machine guns, nine sub-machine gun, six

self-loading rifles, one boat gun, an SMC, one 7.62mm bore automatic rifle, a sniper telescope 5 rifle and 2,400 bullets.”

Those were found wrapped in polythene inside two containers kept hidden in two holes of the deep forest. Each of the holes was eight feet deep and six feet wide and at 15 minutes’ walking distance. The second hole was near the Tripura border area, Mahmud said.

He, however, could not confirm the origin of the arms and the suspects.

“Although we traced the arms today  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

Elite force RAB displays the arms and ammunitions recovered yesterday at a forest in Habiganj

DHAKA TRIBUNE

HEALTH HAZARDS

• • • •

At the molecular level, e-waste components are lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Some of them are as hazardous for the environment and human health as their names sound.

The study, conducted by the

A new crisis has come to the surface over the election of the board of directors of Grameen Bank as the Bangladesh Bank has expressed its inability to conduct the polls.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday rejected the proposal made by senior advocate Ajmalul Hossain, also a member of the Grameen Bank Commission, to conduct the election of board of directors by the Election Commission.

“I cannot ask the Election Commission to conduct the election of Grameen Bank board of directors as they are busy with different types of elections,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

“We are now examining the matter.

Within two or three days, the ministry will select a government agency which will conduct the election of board of directors of Grameen Bank,” he added.

Sources in the ministry said the banking division was now examining the possibility of conducting the election by forming a commission which would comprise state-owned banks’ managing directors.

After a meeting with the outgoing Chinese ambassador Li Jun at the secretariat yesterday, the finance minister told reporters that a slight change would be brought to the rules for the election of Grameen Bank’s board of directors as the Bangladesh Bank expressed inability to conduct the election.

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

High blood pressure Fragility of bones Lung damage Mental retardation

IMPACTS ON CHILDREN

Because they take in more air, water and food compared to adults

• Irreversible damage to central nervous, immune, reproductive, digestive systems • Development may be hampered Need specific protection

IMPACTS ON PREGNANT WOMEN AND NEWBORN • • • • • • • •

Foetal loss Prematurity Low birth weight Congenital malformations Abnormal thyroid function Abnormal thyroid development Neurobehavioural disturbances Genotoxicity

S L H / DT I N FOG R A P H I C

Even five years ago, most households and offices that could afford a personal computer, had giant television-like CRT monitors. But, over the last few years, sleek and convenient LCD and LED monitors have replaced hundreds of thousands of these CRT monitors.

Interestingly, most people, who have switched from cathode ray tube (CRT) to liquid crystal display (LCD) and light emitting diode (LED) technologies, have very little idea about what happened to the monitors they have discarded.

Neither are they aware of the environmental and health hazards that electronic wastes or e-wastes, including these CRT monitors, could cause if they are not properly managed.

Not just home users, even most government and non-government organisations and business entities, do not know much about what might happen if tube lights, CFL bulbs, mobile phones, TV sets and other household electronic goods that they use and throw away carelessly every day, are not properly managed as waste.

What makes the e-waste scenario even more frightening is the fact that there is no binding regulation regarding the management of these toxic throwaways.

In 2012, the government’s Department of Environment (DoE) prepared a draft E-waste Control Policy. After about

E-WASTE: MAJOR THREAT FOR ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH

SOURCE: ESDO

Bangladesh and India agree on prisoner repatriation n Rabiul Islam Bangladesh and India have agreed to address a number of outstanding issues including transfer of prisoners. The new Indian government is also positive about ratifying Land Boundary Agreement.

Under the Extradition Treaty, Bangladesh have placed requests for a number of Bangladeshi people imprisoned in India including Nur Hossain, prime accused of the Narayanganj seven murders. India, on the other hand, have also sent some extradition requests of its own.

The two sides have reached an agreement at a meeting of the Bangladesh-India Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting at a city hotel yesterday.

As part of the bilateral home secretary-level meeting, Bangladesh Home Ministry Additional Secretary Kamal Uddin Ahmed led a 12-member Bangladesh delegation at the JWG meeting while Indian Joint Secretary Shambhu Singh led the Indian side.

The two-day 15th home secretary-level meeting is scheduled to be held today and tomorrow.

While briefing journalists after the three-hour meeting that began at 3:30pm, Kamal said it had been very fruitful.

“We have discussed various security related issues, and reached agreements on a number of outstanding issues including handing over sentenced persons,” the additional secretary said.

He also said: “We have sought back sentenced persons and India have given us a list of 12 people imprisoned in

INSIDE 3 | News

Law enforcers have claimed that controversial religious ideology of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat leader Shaikh Nurul Islam Faruqi was the reason behind his death.

4 | News

Partex Group Chairman MA Hashem and his two sons yesterday skipped the AntiCorruption Commission’s interrogation over the misappropriation of Tk150 crore public money from state-owned Sonali Bank by Partex Sugar Mills Limited.

5 | Nation

Roads in and around the capital’s Moghbazar-Mouchak area have become nightmare for vehicles as authorities concerned and entities responsible for constructing a flyover there are yet to repair the dilapidated thoroughfares.

8 | World

Russia will update its military doctrine this year to take account of new threats including the Ukraine crisis, a Kremlin security aide said yesterday in forceful comments that highlighted a deepening Cold War-style standoff with Nato.

12 | Entertainment

Ever since the exciting news broke that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had tied the knot, celebrity fans around the globe have been waiting for the first glimpse of the couple on their day of days.

13 | Sport

The first part of ‘Chittagong – The dysfunctional hub of cricket’ reported on the glorious past, a fully functional organisation, its output and the reasons behind the decline of a system used to be admired by country’s cricketing arena.

Bangladesh. Both sides have agreed on the handover.”

Yesterday, the Indian side has also provided a list of 879 Bangladeshi nationals imprisoned in India. Kamal said: “We wanted to know specific information [about them].”

About repatriation of Nur Hossain, Kamal said: “We will see some positive results.” Asked about the extradition of Ulfa leader Anup Chetia, he said it had also been discussed and that there would be more discussions.

Additional secretary: We have told them that the Bangladesh government will not allow insurgent groups to use our territory against any other country Kamal Uddin said: “We have also reached an agreement on the Land Boundary Agreement. We were told that the new Indian government was positive in this regard.”

He said the LBA had been signed between two countries in 1972 and for various reasons, India have not ratified it. As a result, the agreement had never been effective. Bangladesh ratified the agreement in 1974.

Kamal said of the issue was bilaterally settle, the tension at the borders would calm down. “We have discussed border killings. We have agreed that it has come down in comparison to earlier times.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

JS condemns Israel, PM offers to treat wounded Gazans Reza Chowdhury and n Kamran Emran Hossain Shaikh Parliament yesterday adopted a resolution condemning Israeli military attacks on Palestinians and demanding that Benjamin Netanyahu be tried in the International Court of Justice for crimes against humanity.

Over 200 of the 350 MPs from both the treasury and opposition benches adopted the resolution moved by senior lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim.

During a discussion following the adoption of the resolution condemning the Israeli military operation, the prime minister reiterated Bangladesh’s support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

“We have been with our Palestinian brothers. We will do everything possible for them. If necessary we will bring them to Bangladesh for treatment.

We will provide medicine and tents for them,” said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, amid table-thumping from attending MPs irrespective of party affil-

iation.

She demanded that Tel Aviv quit occupied Palestinian land and called Israel’s attacks an “extreme violation of human rights.”

“What is the fault of the children?” an emotionally charged prime minister asked, showing photos of children and women who were victims of Israeli attacks.

“Bangladesh will stand by them, no matter who else does so,” she said.

The prime minister criticised the global powers including those in the Arab world for their silence.

“I do not know why the world conscience is not moved,” she said.

The Israeli aggression is similar to the one endured by Bangladesh in 1971 and the massacre of 1975, Hasina said, breaking into tears.

Pin-drop silence prevailed in the House for several minutes.

“What torture! We see a hue and cry for human rights over trifling matters.

Letters upon letters arrive over a single murder. Does the world’s conscience not move for this?” she said, not specif-

ically referring to letters sent by the US calling for the investigation of the murder of garment leader Aminul Islam.

Sheikh Hasina said Hamas should be tried if it committed wrongdoing.

“But this [Hamas attack] does not justify the murder of innocent people,” she said.

Hasina said the UN secretary general and the US secretary of state had earlier telephoned her to save some of those convicted for crimes against humanity.

“Where are they now?” she asked, while also questioning the role of the Islamic world.

“If the Muslim Ummah was united, Israel would not dare to launch such an attack,” she said.

“We ask them [Israel] to leave Palestinian land. The Palestinian state must be established. We censure Israel, we condemn them,” she said reiterating Bangladesh’s unflinching support for the Palestinian state.

MPs criticised the US government for backing and arming Israel, flouting its own advocacy of human rights across the globe. l

PM for strong coordination among Asia-Pac intelligence agencies n BSS Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday stressed the need for better coordination among the intelligence units of Asia and the Pacific region to tackle the security challenges.

“The security challenges that confront the mankind today can not be faced by any single country. The world will has to work in a unison to face the threat,” she said.

The PM made the remarks while inaugurating the 7th Asia-Pacific Intelligence Chiefs Conference (APICC) at Hotel Redison in the capital, where heads of 27 countries’ intelligence bodies took part and Director of Defence Intelligence Agencies (DIA) Douglas H Wise and Director General of Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI) Major General Akbar Hossain also spoke on the occasion.

Hasina said the terrorists and extremists have been changing their tactics for their very existence. Whenever intelligences unearth some of their strategies and techniques, they switch to newer one.

“So, it is really a very tough mission,” she continued adding that: “These terrorist groups are posing a threat to the life and property of the ordinary people alongside the world peace.”

She continued that the Greatest Bangalee of all time and the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a staunch believer of non-violent policy and that’s why soon after the independence, he adopt-

Communication Ministry renamed n Mohosinul Karim From now on the Ministry of Communication will be known as the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges, as the government decided to change its name.

A proposal from the Cabinet Division to change the name of the ministry was approved by the president and the prime minister yesterday.

Confirming the change, Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters that the Cabinet Division would issue a gazette notification today after the completion of all due procedures. l

3 female MPs join Awami League n Kamran Reza Chowdhury Ruling Awami League, which in January discouraged some independent lawmakers from joining the party and to play the role of opposition in parliament, has got three more MPs raising the number of the party strength to 279 in the 350-strong legislature.

Three independent lawmakers elected from the women’s reserved seats – Quazi Rosy, Nurjahan Begum and Ummey Razia Kajol – have joined the Awami League. On August 31, the Parliament Secretariat sent a letter to the Election Commission confirming their joining.

“We sent the letter to the Election Commission mainly to inform them [about the development],” Ashraful Maqbul, the parliament secretary, told the Dhaka Tribune. l

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Pakistan parliament

Arms, ammo found

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

Pakistan has been in turmoil since mid-August when tens of thousands of protesters led by Khan, a former hero cricket player, and outspoken cleric Tahir ul-Qadri flooded into the capital Islamabad, refusing to leave unless Sharif resigns. Although the military had stepped in to attempt a mediation between Sharif and his opponents, few believe that they want to take power again.

The protesters accuse the government of corruption and Sharif of rigging last year’s election. They have categorically refused any talks. Sharif denies their accusations and has urged them to come to the negotiating table.

Speaking outside parliament, Khan told supporters he would meet Siraj-ulHaq, head of the Islamist Jamaat-i-Islami party, later in the day to discuss the situation. But he stopped short of saying he was ready for talks with the government.

He added that lawmakers from his party, who had earlier quit their seats in parliament, would attend Wednesday’s session in the legislature to present their views - another move possibly taking the violent confrontation a step closer to the field of political dialogue.

The capital was quiet yesterday, with no reports of violence, after the situation had turned deadly over the weekend leaving three dead and hundreds wounded. As deputies made

ed his foreign policy with the theme of ‘Friendship to all and malice to none’.

Reaffirming her government’s zero tolerance policy towards terrorism, Hasina said Bangladesh is an active partner of all international pacts, conventions and initiatives dealing with terrorism and militancy. “In line with, the country itself framed necessary laws and took measures to face terrorism.”

Underlining importance on action against terrorist financing, she said financing plays an important role in spreading militancy while Bangladesh Bank has taken effective steps to curb it.

In this regard, she also stated that

Bangladesh in 2013 secured membership of Egmont group, a global body of 131 member nations to combat money laundering, financing of terrorism and other financial crimes, as well as the country became a member of the 41-member Asia Pacific Group on money laundering.

Pacific Command of the USA and Directorate General of Forces Intelligence of Bangladesh jointly organised the conference where Cabinet members, the PM’s advisers, chiefs of three services, ambassadors of different countries and participating defence intelligence chiefs of the Asia-Pacific region were present among others. l

Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Zillar quizzed over Narayanganj killing n Mohosinul Karim A probe body, formed by the government as per a High Court directive, yesterday quizzed Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Zillar Rahman over the Narayanganj seven murders.

Besides, the probe body will also interrogate five members of Rapid Action Battalion, arrested recently in connection with the case, at the Jail Gate after police concludes their eight-day remand.

According to the investigators, Zillar was quizzed at the probe body chief’s Secretariat office from 10:30am to 11:45pm over the sensational killing occurred in April this year.

The seven-member committee, led

by Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Public Administration Shahjahan Ali Mollah, comprises of representatives from home, law and public administration ministry.

After the interrogation, Zillar told reporters that the probe team asked him of what actions or directives he gave to his subordinates during the time of the incident as the supervising officer.

“I have no relation with law and order issues. So, I told the committee what I knew about the incident,” he added.

Meanwhile, Shahjahan Ali Mollah

said: “We wanted to know what he knew about the incident. He has given his statement. We will examine the information that he has given.”

“We have got enough information quizzing around 400 people until Tuesday. But, we will need more times to conclude the probe and submit the report to the court as we are getting new information in every steps of interrogation. So, we will sought four weeks more after submitting our progress report on September 9.”

Earlier, Narayanganj Mayor Selina Hayat Ivy, local parliamentarian Shamim Osman, Dhaka Range Police DIG Mahufuzul Haque Nuruzzaman and RAB Additional Director General Ziaul Ahsan had been quizzed by the probe committee.

On May 6, as per the High Court directive, the public administration ministry formed a seven-member probe body to investigate the abductions and killings incident of seven people in Narayanganj.

Narayanganj City Corporation panel mayor Nazrul Islam and noted lawyer Chandan Sarker, along with five others, were abducted on April 27. Later, their bodies were found floating in River Shitalakkhya on April 30. Nazrul’s wife filed an abduction case against Nur and four others on April 28. l

Divisions

Seriously denting Khan’s support among his ranks, the head of his own Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party said that Khan was effectively acting on the orders of the army, suggesting that the crisis was akin to a soft coup.

Javed Hashmi, Khan’s right-hand man and a veteran politician, has fallen out with his leader and condemned protesters’ attempt to storm Sharif’s house over the weekend.

During his speech in parliament, Hashmi criticised Sharif’s policies but stopped short of calling on him to quit.

Sharif, who was ousted in an army coup in 1999, has been at odds with the army since he swept to power last year in Pakistan’s first democratic transition of power.

He has displeased the top brass by calling for better diplomatic and trade relations with India and Afghanistan as well as resisting the army’s plan to mount an offensive against Islamist Taliban insurgents in Pakistan’s northwest.

The treason trial of a former army chief and president, Pervez Musharraf, who launched the 1999 coup against Sharif, has also angered the military. l

Muhith rejects proposal  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks at the 7th Asia-Pacific Intelligence Chiefs' Conference in the captial yesterday BSS

their impassioned speeches, a crowd of a few thousand protesters massed peacefully just outside in the so-called Red Zone - a central area where Sharif’s office, ministries and many embassies are located.

“Now someone will be given the responsibility to carry out the task,” he said, adding that the central bank refused to do the task saying, “There would be a conflict of interests.”

Muhith was of the opinion that the central bank could not say so. “The government will give the responsibility to some other public body after bringing about change in rules,” he said.

The government in April, 2013 for the first time prepared the guidelines in which the central bank was given the responsibility to conduct the election to elect directors in the board of the micro-credit institution within six months since the gazette notification.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Bank gave its negative opinion about conducting the election of board of directors after it received the recommendation from an influential member of the Grameen Bank Commission.

Advocate Ajmalul Hossain in his three-page recommendations said, “If the Bangladesh Bank conducts

the election of directors, it will raise a serious conflict of interests which will bring the BB officials concerned and the BB as an organisation into serious controversy.”

“This will undermine the BB in its ability to exercise its statutory powers and carry out its statutory duties under the Bangladesh Bank Ordinance.”

He said articles 118 and 119(2) of the constitution state that the Election Commission shall perform such functions in addition to those specified in the foregoing clause as may be prescribed by this constitution or by any law.

“In my opinion, the Election Commission is admirably placed to deal with the elections to the position of directors of GB since it has manpower, resources and expertise to conduct the elections. The Election Commission is an independent body and has the national reach that is required to conduct the elections of GB.” He suggested that the rules be amended immediately and the BB be replaced by another body which can conduct the election for the directors of GB. l

[yesterday], our intelligence team has been on alert since August 29,” the official said.

These heavy arms – similar to those recovered earlier – were basically used in war, he said.

On June 3, some 220 pieces of 40m rocket shells, 248 rocket launcher charges and other warheads were recovered from the Satchhari forest.

In another separate drive on June 9, RAB officials recovered 663 rounds of 7.62mm bullets, 54 rounds of 12.54mm bullets and a 37-inch long barrel of machine gun from the forest.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, CPC 2 Commander ANA Mosabbir, who led the drive, said: “We have conducted drives in the area for the past couple of days. We followed manual system to find the arms as metal detectors cannot trace arms below two feet.”

During the operation period, the RAB members found cookware and biscuit packets around the spots. “Maybe there were people to guard the arms who left the spot sensing the presence of the law enforcers,” said an official, requesting anonymity. l

Prisoner repatriation  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

“We have pressed that not a single person should be killed if they cross the border and the Indian side assured that they would cooperate fully,” he said.

“We have agreed to set up an immigration point at Banglabanda and Fulbaria for the promotion of trade and tourism. The people of both countries would be benefited from it,” he said adding that an MoU for stopping trafficking and smuggling would also be signed.

“Drugs have been affecting our youth. But these are not produced here. India have assured us that they will take steps in this regard,” Kamal said.

He also said the meeting between deputy commissioners and Indian district magistrates would start in October in nine clusters.

“We have discussed the insurgent issue as well. We have told them that the Bangladesh government will not allow insurgent groups to use our territory against any other country,” Kamal said.

He also said all these issues would be discussed at the secretary-level meeting today and tomorrow.

At the meeting, Bangladesh Home Secretary Mozammel Haque Khan will lead the 13-member Bangladesh delegation and Indian Union Home Secretary Anil Goswami will lead their 12-member team.

On September 4, the two sides will sign an Agreed Minutes of the secretary-level meeting. l

A major disaster hangs overhead  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

Environment and Social Development Organisation (Esdo), also shows that the generation of e-waste has increased significantly in recent years. At present Bangladesh generates roughly 10.019 million tonnes of e-waste every year.

Documents show that in 2013, more than 23.5 million mobile handsets were imported in the country. The figure was 13.1m in 2012 and 9.8m in 2011.

According to Mostafa Jabbar, former president of Bangladesh Computer Samity, more than 500,000 personal computers are imported in the country every year.

“Basically there is no policy. I have repeatedly written about the issue but no one has paid any heed,” he said.

“At present, a total of 120 million mobile phone SIM cards are active in the country. Which means there are at least 50 million mobile phone sets.

Each of these sets have their own batteries and chargers. Just imagine how hazardous they can be if the unused ones are not dumped properly. These alone are enough to cause a massive environmental disaster, even if we do not consider the wastes generated from personal computers,” he said.

The study was done among six groups comprising 997 individual households, 143 commercial institutions, seven importers, 512 retailers, 120 repairers and 20 non-formal recyclers from various areas in Bangladesh.

It found that the developed nations dump e-waste in the “developing” Asian countries such as India, Bangladesh, China and Pakistan through illegal trade routes. Some of the electronic waste is reused, broken down for parts or thrown away completely.

When people were asked if they faced problems because of e-wastes, 83% said they did not; 3% said they were always facing problems because of e-waste; 5% said they had headaches; 5% said they had skin problems; and 4% said they had eye-related problems.

Interestingly, the institutions are also in the dark about the threat of

e-wastes. A staggering 81% of the surveyed institutions think that there is no problem associated with e-waste.

Only 12% institutions know about the environmental pollution caused by e-wastes.

The study shows that much of the recycling are done informally, at homes where women and children are engaged in unsafe practices without having any knowledge about exposure-minimising technologies and protective equipment.

Computer wastes that are dumped in landfills, produce contaminated “lactates” which pollute groundwater. Burning of e-wastes can emit toxic fumes and gases, polluting the air. Be-

62% institutions have no idea about harmful effects of e-wastes while 8% said there were no such effects cause there are many rivers in Bangladesh, pollutants may reach underground via river water and rainwater.

“The more dangerous thing is that these electronic wastes are being dumped alongside the regular household wastes. The level of risk is extremely high. Every country has their own e-waste recycling mechanisms except Bangladesh,” Mostafa Jabbar said.

According to the study, some of the very common diseases caused by e-wastes are: high blood pressure, fragility of bones, lung damage and mental illness.

Children are especially vulnerable to the health risks and therefore need specific protection. Exposure to toxic substances may cause irreversible damage to their developing central nervous system, immunity, reproductive and digestive systems and hamper further development.

Pregnant women are also one of the major vulnerable groups. Complications that might affect pregnant

women are: miscarriage, prematurity, low birth weight, congenital malformations, abnormal thyroid function, thyroid development, neurobehavioural disturbances and genetoxicity.

“As electronic wastes are not biodegradable, they are very dangerous to health, especially for children and pregnant women. Children can even die from over-exposure. For adults, there are long-term effects. People can have cancer, kidney problems and other deadly diseases from exposure to e-wastes,” Mustak Hossain, chief scientific officer of the Institute of Epidemiology, Diseases Control and Research (IEDCR), told the Dhaka Tribune.

The Esdo study report said most of the generated and imported e-wastes are collected and disintegrated in the backyards of the non-formal recyclers that do not follow any safety measure.

Some 23% people throw away damaged electrical equipment and 77% dispose their wastes in the municipal bin, where e-wastes are not managed properly.

Around 42% of the surveyed institutions do not take any step to minimise e-waste, 28% have no idea about the minimisation process, 20% sell it to vendors and 10% sell their e-wastes to repair shops.

Asked about the harmful effects of e-wastes on health, a significant majority 62% of the institutional responders said they had no idea about it, 30% said they knew about the harmful effects and 8% said there were no harmful effects.

“E-waste is not categorised as a waste. Although the issues is very alarming, it is yet to be addressed. That is why we do not have any e-waste management mechanism,” Bipon Kumar Saha, chief waste management officer of Dhaka North City Corporation, told the Dhaka Tribune.

“It has become a major concern as more or less every house has television and mobile sets, refrigerators, microwave ovens and other home appliances. These are dumped along with other household wastes,” Bipon said. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Police claim extremists killed Faruqi Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat seeks ban on Peace TV for instigating militancy Zamila Khan and n Tazlina Tarek Mahmud Law enforcers have claimed that controversial religious ideology of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat leader Shaikh Nurul Islam Faruqi was the reason behind his death.

Earlier they highlighted four issues behind the murder – political, family feud, business conflict and religious ideology. But now they claim to have found proofs, which indicate that the murder occurred due to Faruqi's preaching controversial religious ideology.

Meanwhile, Ahle Sunnat at a programme yesterday demanded ban on Peace TV and some other religious programmes in private TV channels claiming that those were instigating militancy. Leaders of the organisation also alleged that Faruqi was killed because of his ideology.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Tejgaon Division Wahidul Islam told

the Dhaka Tribune: “The proofs indicate that Faruqi was killed for his religious ideology. We are working on it and will disclose our findings officially after confirmation.”

He earlier said the police had prepared a list of 20 suspects.

An official, seeking anonymity, said: “It seems that some radical Islamist groups murdered him. Those who oppose Faruqi's ideology killed him.”

He said the law enforcers had found some names of suspects after interrogating Yusuf Majumder, who was detained in Narayanganj along with one Mahmuda Khatun.

Munshi Sabbir Ahmed, inspector of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The Detective Branch of Police did not find proof on Yusuf's involvement in the killing.”

Faruqi's daughter Tuba said: “There was no family conflict or land-related feud.

“Many people opposed his religious views. He was killed for that reason since

we were threatened earlier too. Many people opposed doing Milad Mahfils.”

About Faruqi's several marriages, Tuba said: “Many people are talking about the three marriages of my father.

Soon we will arrange a press conference to answer the queries of journalists.”

‘It seems that some radical Islamist groups who oppose Faruqi’s views killed him’ Faruqi was slaughtered by a group of around six people at his house on August 24.

He used to earn through his Hajj agency business, TV shows, as imam of the Supreme Court mosque and conducting Mahfils.

He was the international affairs secretary of Ahle Sunnat – a Chit-

tagong-based organisation which is known for opposing Jamaat-e-Islami and Hefazat-e-Islam.

Faruqi was also a Presidium member of Islamic Front Bangladesh – a platform of Islamist groups.

In the FIR, Faruqi's son Faysal mentioned that the killers were using different languages. He filed the case accusing some 10 unnamed people.

'Ban on Peace TV'

Ahle Sunnat leaders at a protest rally in Chittagong City yesterday alleged that Faruqi had been killed over conflicts on beliefs and ideologies. They also threatened to go on tougher movement if the killers were not nabbed within September 14.

They demanded that the government impose ban on Peace TV and some other religious programmes claiming that those were inciting militant activities.

Hundreds of leaders and activists of Ahle Sunnat, Islamic Front Bangladesh,

Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Sena and other Sunni-belief organisations took part in the rally that held on Laldighi ground in the afternoon.

MA Matin, coordinator of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat Coordinating Committee, announced that they would form a human chain in front of National Press Club on September 13 with the participation of the country’s Islamic scholars and leaders and activists of the Sunni organisations.

They will hold a grand representative conference in Dhaka on September 14 from where they will declare their next programme if the killers of Faruqi were not nabbed by then.

The organisation will also arrange views exchange meetings and take opinion of Islamic scholars and Sunni organisations across the country from September 4 to September 12.

Since the killing took place, Ahle Sunnat has been claiming that Wahabi and Moududi followers killed their leader. l

Tribunal asks defence to concise arguments n Udisa Islam After the end of the third day’s argument, the International Crimes Tribunal 1 yesterday asked the defence for ATM Azharul Islam, alleged al-Badr commander of Rangpur, to concise their closing arguments in the case.

The tribunal heard the defence arguing on many settled issues, Lawyer Abdus Sobhan Tarafder questioned whether the tribunal could impose fines on any war crimes convict – an urge placed by the prosecution.

As Sobhan wanted to place legal arguments on the matter, the tribunal said it was not the right place to do that.

He then placed arguments on the investigation process. Sobhan also criticised the investigation officer as the latter kept his case diary open after submitting the probe report.

The tribunal heard the issue for over 30 minutes and expressed discontent since it did not matter. The defence lawyer also agreed with the observation.

Sobhan claimed that the investigation officer had initiated the case against his client with an ill intention and conducted a “half-hearted investigation.”

According to the prosecution case, Azhar had been involved in the killing of more than 1,200 unarmed civilians in Rangpur during the 1971 Liberation War. He was indicted on November 12 last year. l

Banani murdersuicide probably linked to business woes n Mohammad Jamil Khan The shooting on Monday of a wife by her husband before he turned the gun on himself may have occurred due to a row over the sale of property to recover business losses, investigators said.

The autopsy report of Roksana Parvin, 49, who is believed to have been shot dead by her husband Afsar Group Chairman Abdur Rauf, said the gun was used at close range. Rauf, 53, is believed to have killed himself after shooting his wife.

The report of the autopsy conducted at Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue was made by Sakhawat Hossain, sub-inspector of Cantonment police station. He is the investigating officer of the unnatural death case filed.

Police recovered the bodies of industrialist Rauf and his wife from their home at 60/2/A, Road 5, Banani DOHS in the capital on Monday night.

A .32-calibre Italian pistol was recovered from the crime scene. Police sent seven bullet rounds recovered from the scene for forensic testing.

SI Sakhawat told the Dhaka Tribune that Rauf was reportedly depressed over business losses and he might have murdered his wife and then killed himself.

Although an unnatural death case was filed in this regard, police were still analysing his business, personal and family conflicts, the investigator said.

DMCH morgue handed the bodies over to the family after the autopsy.

They were buried at Banani graveyard yesterday evening.

The couple’s elder son, Nafis Ahmed, told reporters that a conflict was going on between his mother and father over the sale of a parcel of land to recover losses in his father’s business. l

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Wednesday, September 3, 2014

ACC may seek cancellation of FF certificates of five secretaries n Tribune Report The Anti-Corruption Commission is likely to recommend cancellation of freedom fighter certificates and departmental action against four secretaries and a joint secretary.

During an inquiry it has found that these five public servants obtained the certificates through forgery to extend their retirement age. They did not participate in the 1971 Liberation War. The officials are Health Secretary Niaz Uddin, former Liberation War affairs secretary KH Masud Siddiqui, former science and technology affairs secretary AKM Amir Hossain (now acting chairman at Public Service Commission), Housing and Public Works Affairs Secretary Khandaker Shawkat Hossain, PM’s former secretary Mollah Waheduzzaman and former Liberation War affairs joint secretary Abul Kashem Talukdar.

Of them, Masud Siddiqui and Abul Kashem have been made officers on special duty (OSD).

ACC Deputy Director Julfikar Ali submitted the probe report to the commission on Thursday for consideration.

In May, the five secretaries agreed to the government rules that their children would never take any benefit using the certificates.

According to the rules, freedom fighters, their children and grandchildren enjoy 30% quota in government jobs. They also get special quota benefits during admissions to public schools, colleges and universities.

According to a circular issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, one has to declare himself or herself as a freedom fighter at the time of joining any service to avail the benefits. Such claims may not be considered later.

The probe report was prepared based on documents of the Public Administration Ministry, the Liberation War Affairs Ministry and the Cabinet Division, the official said. l

Medical board formed for Ghulam Azam n Moniruzzman Uzzal

A group of young passengers assault a bus conductor for asking Tk2 more in fares from them at the capital’s Jatrabari yesterday. The attackers identified themselves as members of an influential political party and asked this photographer not to take pictures RAJIB DHAR

Tarique: Political parties should not be based on religion

Army officer gives deposition in August 21 grenade attack case

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

Although a number of religion-based political parties are part of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, the party’s Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman has taken a contrary position, saying politics should not be based on religion.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, Khelafat-e-Majlish, Islami Oikyo Jote, Bangladesh Islamic Party and other religion-based political parties are partners of the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

Jamaat opposed the Liberation War and many of its top leaders have been convicted by the International Crimes Tribunal for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. Progressive political parties have been demanding a ban on Jamaat but BNP leaders have said political parties should not be banned.

“Ziaur Rahman always said religion cannot be the ideology of politics. Religion can have its contribution to politics, but it cannot be the basis of politics,” Tarique Rahman said at a programme in London to mark the party’s 36th founding anniversary on September 1.

Tarique, the elder son of BNP founder Ziaur Rahman and its Chairperson Khaleda Zia, said while Zia was president he told a workshop in September 1980 that political ideals cannot be based on religion.

“We have learned from experience that politics of that kind does not work; it did not during the Pakistan era,” Tarique said.

Religion-based political parties had been banned in the country until Zia allowed them to return to politics in the name of multi-party democracy.

The present ruling party leaders have repeatedly asked the BNP to cut ties with Jamaat but it has not done so.

The BNP formed a coalition with Jamaat before the 2001 elections when Ghulam Azam, who was later convicted of war crimes, was the leader of the Islamist party. The BNP and Jamaat formed a government in 2001 with twothirds majority in parliament. Tarique is widely regarded to have played the role of a major power broker during that period from his headquarters called Hawa Bhaban.

Tarique claimed that the Awami League, unable to deny Zia’s role in the Liberation War, was trying to implicate him in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s assassination.

Tarique said: “They [Awami League] want to make controversies against Ziaur Rahman by implicating him in Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s assassination as they cannot deny his role in our Liberation War.” Tarique once again claimed that Zia was the first democratically elected president of the country.

He said after his father’s death, almost all state leaders in their condolence messages regarded him as a great humanitarian leader.

“A leader like Ziaur Rahman is rare in the history of the world,” Tarique said. l

An army officer yesterday told a speedy tribunal trying the August 21 grenade attack case that four ‘Arges’ hand grenades, which were recovered and later defused by the authorities in 2004, could be preserved for future.

The 101st prosecution witness, Major Abul Mafur Ashraful Kabir, also said the four olive-coloured explosives were ‘Arges’ grenades.

Shahed Nuruddin, judge of Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal 1, recorded the statement and adjourned the trial proceedings till September 8.

The prosecution witness, who was ammunition technical officer, said the army-led technical committee had recovered four unexploded ‘Arges’ grenades — three from Bangabandhu Avenue and one from Dhaka Central Jail area.

Of the four, two were defused at Suhrawardy Udyan and two others were taken to Dhaka Cantonment where those were displayed and later defused technically, according to the prosecution.

The prosecution brought charges against the then police officials for destroying evidences.

The prosecution witness said the technical committee later had submitted to the government the report on the explosives and grenades used in the deadly attack on August 21.

Major Shamsuddin Chowdhury, a member of the technical committee

who was demoted to the rank of captain in 2005 and later sent on retirement in 2010, had submitted the report.

Major Abul Mafur denied the allegation brought by defence counsel TM Akbar that the officer (Maruf) had not mentioned in their report that the grenades could be preserved.

Chief Prosecutor Syed Rejaur Rahman said the prosecution witnesses had not mentioned the source of origin of the grenades.

The attack on an Awami League rally allegedly carried out by the extremist group left 24 party leaders killed and injured scores.

Awami League President Sheikh Hasina, now the prime minister, escaped the attack, but the explosions caused her hearing damage.

A number of BNP leaders and some militancy suspects are facing the trial.

The court yesterday summoned then army signal unit official Rafiqul Islam to give deposition in the cases.

It also summoned Jamal Ahmed, known as Joj Miah, who was arrested in the case, but later his name was dropped amid huge criticism, his mother Jobeda Khatun, sister Khorsheda Begum and brother Babul Hossain to give depositions.

Joj Miah, who was arrested on June 10, 2005 from Sattola Bosti, a slum at Mohakhali, made confessional statement before a magistrate court on June 25, 2004 in the August 21 grenade attack cases. l

Convicted war criminal Ghulam Azam yesterday was shifted to CCU from the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) as his health deteriorated.

For his better treatment, the authorities have formed a seven-member medical board headed by Prof Dr ABM Abdullah, dean of medicine faculty.

The kingpin of Jamaat-e-Islami has been staying at the BSMMU since January 2012.

Another convicted war criminal Abdul Alim died of cancer at the ICU of the BSMMU on August 30. The former BNP minister was sentenced to imprisonment until death on October 9 last year.

Ghulam Azam, 92, was shifted to the Coronary Care Unit following breathing problems around 10:30am. He was suffering from high blood pressure and other old-age complications.

The appeals case of Ghulam Azam is pending with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court Hospital Director Brig Gen (retd) Abdul Majid Bhuiyan told the Dhaka Tribune at 5:30pm that condition of the patient was stable. “He is fully conscious.”

On July 15 last year, top collaborator Ghulam Azam was sentenced to 90 years in prison for incitement, conspiracy, planning, complicity and inaction to prevent murder during the 1971 Liberation War. The tribunal said: “His [Ghulam Azam’s] crimes are punishable by the maximum sentence, which mean the death sentence. But he is now 91 years old and under regular medical care. So taking his age and health under consideration, he is being imprisoned.”

The appeals case of Ghulam Azam is pending with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court.

Yesterday, the medical board conducted an x-ray and was assessing whether he had developed pneumonia.

“More tests will be conducted to confirm his complications,” Majid said.

The other members of the committee are Prof Dr Mynuzzaman, chairman of physical medicine; Prof Dr Rafiqul Alam, head of nefrology department; Prof Dr Ashiqur Rahman of chest disease department; and Prof AKM Fazlur Rahman, Prof Dr Md Chowdhury Meshkat Ahmmed and Associate Professor Dr AKM Mustafa Zaman of cardiology department. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Partex Group boss skips ACC interrogation The group’s GM said Hashem will appear after he returns on Sept 11

n Adil Sakhawat Partex Group Chairman MA Hashem and his two sons yesterday skipped the Anti-Corruption Commission’s interrogation over the misappropriation of Tk150 crore public money from stateowned Sonali Bank.

Hashem and Shawkat Aziz, the managing director of Partex Sugar Mills Limited, and Rubel Aziz, its director, did not appear before the inquiry team in line with the ACC notice. They sought time citing Hashem’s illness.

The group’s General Manager Muhammad Anisur Rahman went to the ACC headquarters with a lawyer who requested the commission to extend

the time. They said Hashem was undergoing treatment in Singapore, an ACC official told the Dhaka Tribune.

One of the sons was also abroad.

“The general manager said Hashem and his two sons will appear before the ACC after they return on September 11.

As the commission needs their statements together, it may consider the time petition following the law,” the official, who is not authorised to speak to media, added.

The ACC is conducting an inquiry into the embezzlement from Bangabandhu Avenue branch of Sonali Bank through import of unrefined sugar by Partex Sugar Mills, a concern of Partex Group.

The commission has already questioned some high officials of Sonali Bank and has reviewed documents received from the bank.

According to the allegation, Sonali Bank’s former deputy general manager of Bangabandhu Avenue branch Mejbah Uddin (now DGM, international trade finance department), in connivance with some other people allegedly misappropriated Tk150 crore by importing unrefined sugar in 2011.

It is alleged that Partex Sugar Mills imported the sugar through opening a letters of credit (LC) in the bank, but did not deposit any money against the LC, even after importing and selling the sugar. l

Hawkers occupy almost half of the space of a foot-over bridge at Shimrail on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway, making it difficult for pedestrians to pass freely. The picture was taken yesterday RAJIB DHAR

Abul Mansur Ahmad’s 116th birth anniversary today

BCL sues 17 railway staff over ticket dispute in Chittagong

Court denies Tipu bail, postpones remand hearing

Today is the 116th birth anniversary of Abul Mansur Ahmad, a renowned litterateur, journalist and statesman of the sub-continent.

A press release was published in this regard yesterday.

His family members have arranged special prayers for the departed soul in Dhaka and Mymensingh. Abul Mansur was the editor of Daily Krishak, Nabajug and Ittehad in undivided Bengal and a pioneer in progressive journalism.

He was the provincial education minister in the United Front cabinet under Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Huq in 1954 and the central commerce and industries minister in the Awami League government of Prime Minister Hossain Shaheed Suhrawardy in 1957. He also contributed to the Language Movement as the editor of the Ittehad in 1952. l

n Tarek Mahmud from Chittagong

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

n Tribune Report

NDB Capital wins Euromoney award

n Tribune Report NDB Capital Limited has won Euromoney’s Awards for Excellence 2014 as the Best Investment Bank in Bangladesh, said a press release yesterday.

This is the first time that the Euromoney has recognised and accredited an investment bank from Bangladesh.

The bank’s Head of Structured Finance Mahbub Jamil and Head of Operations Sharawwat Islam received the award in Hong Kong on behalf of the NDB Capital team.

NDB Capital’s sister company in Sri Lanka, NDB Investment Bank, has also been awarded the Best Investment Bank in Sri Lanka for 2014. This has resulted in NDB becoming the only Asian investment bank to have won the Euromoney award in two countries. l

Fisherman killed

Correspondent, n Our Barisal A fisherman was killed and another injured when their boat was hit by a trawler near a fishing station on the Meghna river in Hizla upazila of Barisal early yesterday.

The dead was Abdur Rob Boyati, 45, and the injured was Ziauddin Akon, 40.

OC Shawkat Anwar of Hizla police station said a trawler hit the boat when the fishermen were fishing on Meghna River near Ghat-7 on Monday night.

Both the fishermen were rescued immediately and admitted to Hizla Upazila Health Complex. l

Bangladesh Chhatra League sued 17 law enforcers, including the officer-in-charge (OC) of Railway Police’s outpost at Chittagong railway station and its station master, on charge of beating Chhatra League men and not providing them with train tickets.

Ashraf Uddin, assistant office secretary of the Chittagong city unit of Chhatra League, filed the case yesterday before the court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Md Moshiur Rahman, against Yasin Faruk, the OC, his bodyguard Emran, and Sub-Inspector Wahid at the Railway Police outpost, and Station Master Jafar Ahmed, Booking Clerk Mohsin Ali, and Railway Security Force personnel Mohammad Rasel, Saiful Islam, Md Shamusddin, Imrul Khan, Md Kuddus, Mohammad Ullah, Habildar Rabiul Haque, Delwar Hossain, Habibur Rahman, Munir Hossain, Habibur Rahman Habib and Mohammad Sabbir.

The case was filed under Sections 326, 324, 307 and 34 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Bangladesh Railway (East Zone) authorities suspended the station master, booking clerk, and three security force members on the day of the incident Taking the complaint into cognizance, the court ordered AKM Mohiuddin, OC of Kotwali police station, to file the complaint as First Information Report, said Fakhruddin Chowdhury, public prosecutor of the court.

Sources said Chhatra League applied for tickets for 380 seats at the Dhaka-bound Subarna Express to attend attend the party’s central meeting

on Sunday.

But when they went to the railway station to collect the tickets on August 27, the railway officials said they were unable to give so many tickets at once.

This caused an altercation between the Chhatra League men and the railway officials, and at one point the Railway Police and Railway Security Force members allegedly beat and injured four Chhatra League activists.

Following the clash, the Chhatra League activists started a demonstration at the railway station and vandalised properties on the station premises.

Amid the protests, Bangladesh Railway (East Zone) authorities suspended the station master, booking clerk, and three security force members on the day of the incident. The Railway Police OC was forced to go on leave.

They also formed a five-member probe body headed by Divisional Traffic Officer Firoz Iftekhar to look into the matter, sources said. l

MILKY MURDER CASE

A Dhaka court yesterday denied the bail plea of Awami League leader Zahidul Islam Tipu, accused in the murder of Jubo League leader Reazul Haque Khan Milky, and sent him to prison.

The court also postponed the hearing of remand petition by the investigating officer of the case.

Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Anwar Sadat issued the orders after hearing both the bail and remand petitions.

However, the court asked police to interrogate Tipu at the jail gate within the next five working days.

Earlier on August 20, Tipu, general secretary of Awami League’s Motijheel unit, surrendered before the court and sought bail in the case.

On the same day, ABM Siddiqur Rahman, assistant superintendent of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) who is also investigating the case, filed a plea before the court seeking a

10-day remand for Tipu.

After hearing the petitioners, the court denied the bail and fixed yesterday for the remand petition’s hearing, which was also denied by the court.

On June 17, a Dhaka court ordered the CID to re-investigate the case following a no-confidence petition filed

by Milky’s brother Major Rashedul Haq Khan, also the complainant of the case.

In the petition, he mentioned that the investigation officer had intentionally dropped names of several accused to divert the course of investigation.

Milky, organising secretary of Dhaka City (South) Jubo League, was gunned down on the night of July 30 last year in front of a shopping mall in the capital’s Gulshan area. Soon after the murder, the Rapid Action Battalion arrested prime accused Tarek from a hospital in Uttara, hours after the murder took place.

However, he was killed in a “shootout” with the RAB members on August 1 last year. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

teachers’ bus Moghbazar-Mouchak road in unserviceable mess CU vandalised, four

students held on campus n CU Correspondent

Obaidul announces 10-day deadline to repair roads for smooth traffic flow

n Abu Hayat Mahmud Roads in and around the capital’s Moghbazar-Mouchak area have become nightmare for vehicles as authorities concerned and entities responsible for constructing a flyover there are yet to repair the dilapidated thoroughfares.

As the construction of the integrated Moghbazar-Mouchak Flyover now faces further delay due to the unplanned installation of underground utility lines in the area, the procrastination in the project has been adding to the woes of locals who commute regularly through the area.

Since the beginning of the construction, roads along the project site had formed deep potholes and turns muddy even after a little rainfall. Vehicles, including padded rickshaws, repeatedly get stuck or topples in these potholes, causing accidents and injuring commuters and pedestrians.

Commuters have to wait for hours to find a bus here due to the traffic jam caused by these dilapidated roads After a long wait for a government intervention into the problem, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said that directions have been given to authorities concerned to repair the dilapidated roads within 10 days.

“I would like to ask for a 10-day time period from city dwellers to repair the roads. I have already directed the authorities concerned of the under construction Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover to repair the roads for minimum usablility of vehicles by the time,” he told the media after a visit of the dilapidated from Moghbazar Rainbow crossing to Moghbazar intersection.

He also directed the authorities concerned to clear wastes dumped on both sides of the roads within the deadline.

“If the authority is unable to meet the deadline, I will go to the prime minister with a complain against the flyover authorities,” he added.

During the minister’s visit, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Benozir Ahmed and the flyover’s Project Director Nazmul Alam, among others, were also present.

Meanwhile, commuters face unbearable misery while travelling through roads connecting Moghbazar, Mouchak, Malibagh, Shantinagar Eska-

visit our website @

www.dhakatribune.com WEATHER LIGHT RAIN OR THUNDERSHOWER

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 6:15PM SUN RISES 5:41AM FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

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Chittagong

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26 26

Rajshahi

33

26

Rangpur

33

26

Khulna

31

24

Barisal

31

25

Sylhet

34

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Cox’s Bazar

29

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YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

34.5ºC Rajshahi

23.5ºC Rangamati

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:24am 5:40am 11:58am 4:28pm 6:15pm 7:32pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

ton, Dilu Road, Siddeswari, FDC intersection, Shatrasta and Rampura due to its condition.

As vehicles are forced to move slowly along these roads to avoid an accident, it takes hours for a commuter just to get out of the area.

Locals, commuters and pedestrians blamed the contractors responsible for building the flyover for the poor state of the thoroughfares alleging that they never took any steps to repair or fill the potholes or clear a portion of the Mouchak-Moghbazar road for traffic flow.

“Due to these potholes, vehicles cannot move easily. Paddled rickshaw and CNG-run auto rickshaw get stuck up in potholes and also topple over on the road when rain water clogs the roads. For this reason, commuters sometimes get seriously injured,” said Zahirul Alam, resident of Moghbazar, while talking to the Dhaka Tribune.

“Not only rickshaws, but buses also lose their balance and topple over on the road,” he added.

Tahmida Akhter, resident of Mouchak, said: “Commuters have to wait for hours to find a bus here due to the traffic jam caused by these dilapidated roads, which has become a daily hassle for the residents in this area.

“The contractors have put construction materials on the road, making the road even narrower.” she added.

During a recent visit to the area, this Dhaka Tribune correspondent also found that the road from Malibagh intersection towards Moghbazar had been damaged greatly and half of the road had submerged in rainwater, making it impossible for commuters and vehicles to locate and avoid deep potholes there.

The Moghbazar-Mouchak flyover project is being implemented by the Local Government Engineering Department (LGED) under the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) and Cooperatives. The estimated cost of the four-lane flyover is around Tk 7.73 billion.

The Danish and Bangladesh joint venture firms M/S Simplex-Navana JV and Bangladesh-India joint venture firm, MCCC-4 ACL-ODC, will complete the construction of the flyover, and MCCC (No. 4)-SEL-UDC JV. Toma Constructions carries out construction work on a sub-contract.

Earlier when contacted, Sanjay Kumar, project manager of Toma Constructions, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have continuously filled up the potholes, but it re-emerges as the repairs are temporary.” l

Vehicular movement shrinks as roads have become narrow in capital’s Moghbazar area because of the ongoing construction work of the Moghbazar–Mouchak flyover RAJIB DHAR

Unidentified miscreants vandalised a teachers’ bus of Chittagong University (CU) in the Chowdhuryhat area of Hathazari upazila in Chittagong yesterday, the third day of ongoing students’ strike on campus.

Following the incident, the transport department of CU stopped the operation by suspending bus communication between the campus and the city.

Robiul Islam, acting director of CU transport department, said miscreants vandalised a teacher’s bus at Chowdhury Hat area on the city route around 6am while three buses were on way to fetch teachers from different areas of the city.

Following the attack, the authority had suspended other university buses on different routes for the sake of security of staff and properties, he said.

The two buses that managed to evade the attack carried the teachers to campus escorted by police, said Robiul Islam.

On Sunday, a section of students of Suhrawardi Hall and Shah Amanat Hall called a strike for indefinite period on campus under the banner of “General Students of CU,” demanding reopening of the halls.

On the other hand, police detained four students from the campus on suspicion and recovered a number of organisational books of Islami Chhatra Shibir and a list of shibir activists of CU from their possession.

The arrested are Redwan and Tarek, students of forestry and environmental science departments respectively, Rahim Ullah Muniri, a third year student of public administration and Moslehuddin, a final year student of political science.

Hathazari police station Officer-inCharge (Investigation) Abul Kashem said police arrested Moslehuddin and Muniri from in front of the AF Rahman Hall around 10am along with the books and the list while other two were held from the forestry department around 9:30am.

Moslehuddin and Muiniri were nabbed in connection with a gunfight incident that took place between Islami Chhatra Shibir and Chhatra League at the Suhrawardi Hall on August 26, said the OC. Islami Chhatra Shibir CU unit is extending its moral support to the ongoing strike while the CU authority and ruling party’s student wing Bangladesh Chhatra League claimed that the shibir men enforced the strike in disguise of general students.

Following a bomb attack on Monday, demo train service on the university route was also suspended yesterday. l

Chittagong commuters suffer from extra fares

Banned poly bags plague port city

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Outlawed polythene bags are ubiquitous in Chittagong city where they are clogging up the drains and canals because authorities are doing little to enforce the ban on them.

Despite the prohibition, poly bags are part and parcel of life in the port city where they are available in every market and shop.

Department of Environment (DoE) sources said they cannot conduct drives against the use of the banned item because of a manpower shortage.

But the rampant use of the environmentally unfriendly item has cost Chittagong city residents widespread flooding during the monsoon season because of blocked drains and water channels.

The government, in 2001, slapped a ban on the use of 40 to 50 microgram

Taking the advantage of fewer transport on the streets, rickshaw pullers as well as CNG-run auto-rickshaw drivers are charging higher than normal fares from commuters.

The number of vehicles have declined to a great extent because of ban on battery-run rickshaws on the port city’s roads since August 31 and dilapidated state of roads.

During a visit to different parts of the city this correspondent found that drivers of rickshaw and CNG-run auto-rickshaws were charging more from passengers.

According to the Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Traffic division and Bangladesh Roads and Transport Authority (BRTA) in Chittagong, a total 1,025 minibuses are plying city roads on 11 routes while there are 2,330 human haulers on 32 routes to provide transport for about seven million city dwellers.

But, different transport organisations said one third of the vehicles have remained off the city streets for the last couple of months because of the bad shape of the city roads.

A total of 100,000 battery-run rickshaws plied city road. But most battery-run auto-rickshaw remained off the road since August 31.

On July3, the High Court banned battery-run auto-rickshaws on the roads of the port city.

A number of townspeople alleged that they were charged two or three times higher for their commute.

They said the situation got worse during peak hours. They said they could not get transport even after offering extra fare.

A ride from Dewanhat to New Market should cost around Tk50 in a CNGrun auto-rickshaw, but the drivers are charging up to Tk100 to Tk120, said Nur Mohammad, a computer engineer of Flora Computers.

Abdul Mannan, a schoolteacher, said he had gone to Agrabad from Baluchara on Monday and paid Tk300.

“Three days ago I traveled the same distance with Tk150,” he said.

CNG drivers said they were charging extra fare from passengers because of the sorry state of roads.

A CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver Md Anwar said he paid Tk800 to the owner of the three-wheeler every day while he could not get passengers for dilapidated state of roads.

He said the price of gas had shot up and he needed around Tk 200 per day to fill up the cylinder.

“So we have no other way but to charge higher fare for our survival,” he said.

According to fare structure set by the government in January 2011, commuters have to pay Tk25 for the first two kilometres and Tk7 for each subsequent kilometre. The waiting charge is Tk1.35 for per minute.

A rickshaw puller Faruk Hossain said they were charging extra from passengers as they had to put extra energy while driving rickshaw as most city roads are in a run down state.

Engineer Suvash Chandra Barua, a transport researcher, said the government should ensure alternative transport system before putting a ban on battery-run auto-rickshaw.

Additional Commissioner (administration, traffic and finance) of the Chittagong Metropolitan police AKM Shahidur Rahman said they had informed the BRTA about transport crisis in the port city.

The said they had also requested the BRTA to set the fare of CNG-run auto-rickshaw.

He also said the CMP had already instructed transport workers’ organisations to charge the actual fare.

“The CMP will deploy policemen, in guise of passengers, for checking irregularities in charging extra fares soon,” he said. l

Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong

polythene bags after it was determined that the bags were a major contributor to the 1988 and 1998 floods that submerged two-thirds of the country. The law did not apply to export-oriented polythene production.

Rampant use of the environmentally unfriendly item has cost Chittagong city residents widespread flooding during the monsoon season The banned bags were seen in retail shops, at kitchen markets and groceries, and in the city’s wholesale markets, in short everywhere people traded goods.

DoE sources said poly bags were brought into Chittagong from factories in Dhaka and Chandpur on covered vans and by boat, before being distributed to the city’s traders and retailers in the dead of night.

Furthermore, factories that produced poly bags for the readymade garment (RMG) industry were also illegally supplying poly bags to Chittagong wholesale and retail businesses, sources added.

Businesspeople in the city told the Dhaka Tribune that one pound of poly bags – they are priced by weight - sold at Tk75 to Tk80. They said consumer preference for polythene packaging drove demand for the bags.

Md Zafor Alam, director of the Department of Environment, told the Dhaka Tribune at least two mobile courts conducted drives each month under a deputy commissioner. l

Underground electrification of Sylhet city this month n Our Correspondent, Sylhet An underground power transmission system will be installed in the Sylhet city, with the work starting by the end of September, said Mahbubur Rahman, superintendent engineer at Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB).

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Mahbub said: “We have already finalised the contractor for the work, and we have the required equipment. We hope to start the work as soon as the recruitment process is finished.”

The project is part of the Central Zone Power Distribution Project (CZPDP), of which Mahbub is also the project director.

The CZPDP is aimed at ensuring stable power supply in the country’s central region, which includes the greater

Sylhet and Mymensigh areas.

The underground power transmission system is also a part of Tk200crore power development project in the city, said the BPDB official.

“It is not yet clear how much this project will cost, but it is part of the larger project worth Tk200-crore,” he said, adding that Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury was also keen about the project.

“We hope to finish the work within two months,” he said. “The project will cover 1km between the city’s Court Point and Chouhatta areas. Implementing the project will help ease the city’s traffic congestion.”

Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury also said the underground electrification would help with the traffic congestion, adding that it would also help in the city’s beautification.

“Traffic congestion is a big problem in Sylhet city, and we have taken many initiatives to ease the traffic jam,” the mayor told the Dhaka Tribune. “There are electricity poles on the city’s streets, especially at the key points of Sylhet, such as the Court Point, Zindabazar, and Chouhatta. These poles disrupt smooth vehicular movement on the streets, which causes traffic jam.

“We requested the Public Works Department (PWD) to build an underground electricity transmission system, and they agreed. This way, the electricity poles will be removed and the vehicles will be able to move smoothly. Moreover, it will help in the city’s beautification,” he said.

The mayor also thanked the PWD chairman and the CZPDP director in this regard. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Pen culture fish farming proves lucrative in Faridpur region 15,000 poor benefit along with land owners These fries grow along with jibur Rahman Howladar, who benefitn Our Correspondent, Gopalganj released. natural fishes but are not required to ted from pen culture, said the project The pen culture fish farming has brought fortune to 15,000 poor people in five districts of greater Faridpur as the Tk8 lakh project has produced fish worth at Tk45 lakh.

In fiscal year of 2009-2010, a pen culture exhibition was held under the district fisheries development project, which saw the inclusion of land owners and local people. The beneficiaries made a big profit the first year, which resulted in the expansion of pen culture in five districts.

The marshes in Gopalganj, Madaripur, Faridpur, Shariatpur and Rajbari go under three to 10 feet of water during the monsoon. Rice cannot be grown in most of the marshes as it becomes unsuitable for rice production.

The problem led to the beginning of social fish farming, also known as pen culture, where land owners and the impoverished people teamed up.

Under the project, marshes are enclosed with nets before carp fries are

be fed externally except aquatic plants.

All the expenses are paid by the government fund.

The fish are netted and sold in November and the profit is equally distributed among the beneficiaries. The amount taken from the government fund is deposited in a bank to arrange fish farming the following year.

Project sources say from the fiscal year 2009-2010 to the present, 21,775 tonnes of fish were produced in 76 pen cultures in Gopalganj, 4,650 tonnes in 26 pen cultures in Madaripur, 5,210 tonnes in 24 pen cultures in Faridpur, 1,330 tonnes in 22 pen cultures in Rajbari, and 190 tonnes in three pen cultures in Shariatpur. The produce benefitted 5,000 land owners and 10,000 impoverished people.

Tk8,10,740 was spent in the farming in 3,000 hectares of land in five districts while the fish produce was worth Tk45 crore.

Kotalipara upazila Chairman Mu-

was initiated with the financial and technical assistance as well as training from the Fisheries Department.

“We made a huge sum of money in profit in the first year. As we learned the ins and outs of pen culture, we now implement such projects socially without project assistance,” he said.

The chairman said the poor work really hard to implement pen culture projects.

“Each of the beneficiaries made a profit of at least Tk15,000. They easily accepted the project and are now reaping the rewards,” added Mujibur.

Nondo Lal Biswas, a land owner in Gopalpur under Tungipara upazila, said: “During the rainy season, the lands become inundated and we cannot grow anything then. That is when we initiate the pen culture project which really turned out to be very profitable.”

Khokon Bala, an ultra-poor man in Shuagram, said he supplies aquatic moss in pen culture projects in the

rainy season, a period when he usually remains unemployed.

“The effort is small on my part but I get the amount that the initiators get,” he said.

Kotalipara Upazila Fisheries Officer Prashanta Kumar Sarkar said the government has created employment through the pen culture project.

“We provided them with hands-on training, financial assistance and suggestions, and they used it to make big profits,” he said.

“As they are now implementing similar projects on their own, we can say the project has succeeded,” he added.

Director of the greater Faridpur fisheries development project Dr Abdul Quadir said the government, after assuming power in 2009, undertook fisheries development project in five districts at a cost of Tk784.89 crore.

“Two to 2.5 tonnes of fish can be produced in each hectare of land. Besides, the project helped grow the production of fish through a number of other initiatives,” he added. l

Road accidents kill five across the country n Tribune Report At least five people died in separate road accidents across the country yesterday.

A retired army officer, Abu Bakkar Siddique, 45, was killed on the Naogaon-Rajshahi Highway yesterday.

Locals said around 11am, a Rajshahi-bound truck hit the van carrying Abu Bakkar from the opposite direction near Hapaniya bus stand leaving Abu Bakkar dead on spot.

Mamun Miya, 35, a local factory worker died in a road accident on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway near Noyonpur area in Sripur upazila of Gazipur. The dead was a sanitary supervisor at the RAK ceramic factory.

Maona Highway police station Officer-in-Charge Sanoar Hossain said around 9:45am, Mamun was ran over by a Dhaka-bound passenger bus Ena Paribahan while crossing the road.

Following his death, the fellow workers blocked the highway and vandalised 10 vehicles. They set fire to Ena Paribahan creating long tailback on both sides of the highway, said the OC. A freedom fighter died while two others sustained serious injuries as a Nosimon (locally made shallow-engine driven human-haulier) skidded off in

Madhukhali area of Tungipara upazila under Gopalganj district yesterday.

The dead is Moslem Uddin Dariya, 65, son of late Abdul Hakim Dariya of Penakhali village while the injured are Charab Ali, 40, driver of the nosimon and another passenger Jahangir Dariya, 85.

Tungipara police station Officer-inCharge Monirul Islam said the Modhukhali-bound nosimon carrying the victims skidded off the road while trying to over take an engine-run van and fell into a roadside ditch leaving the freedom fighter dead on spot. The injured were admitted to Tungipara Health Complex.

Two people were killed and one was injured in a road accident in Ghatail upazila under Tangail district yesterday.

The dead were identified as Shukur Mahmud, 45, and Abdul Barek, 60, hailing from East Pakutia village of the upazila.

Ghatail police station Officer-inCharge Fazlul Kabir said a Dhaka-bound passenger bus hit a rickshaw van from behind in Pakutia Deulibari area on the Tangail-Mymensingh Highway leaving Barek dead on the spot and another passenger of the van injured.

The injured van puller Shukur was admitted to Ghatail upazila health complex where he succumbed to his injuries around 2:30pm. l

Robbers kill woman, loot home n Our Correspondent, Noakhali

Juba League leader hacked to death

Robbers looted a house after tying up the owner and killing his wife at Maijchara village in Underchar union under Sadar upazila of the district yesterday.

Police said the robbers numbering 20 to 25 entered the house of Ahmed Patowary around 1am and tied them by ropes and kept them locket in a room.

At one stage, the robbers stabbed Bibi Hajera ,wife of Patowary as she tried to protest them. She died on the spot.

The robbers looted 15tolas gold ornaments, Tk70,000 and 3 mobile sets.

Mosharaf Hossain Tarafder, officerin-charge of Sudharam police station confirmed the incident. l

n Our Correspondent, Pabna

Students of Khayertola High School form a human chain in Jessore district town yesterday, demanding initiatives from authorities concerned to trace out Shakibuzzaman Munna, a student of class X of the school. Munna went missing five days ago DHAKA TRIBUNE

A Juba League leader was hacked to death by a gang of assailants in Ishwardi upazila yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Rafiqul Islam Lablu, 37, general secretary of Pakshi union parishad unit of Juba League, son of late Jhoru Mondal of Ruppur village of the upazila.

According to sources, Lablu was returning home riding motorcycle at 12am after finishing his contractor’s work at Ruppur Nuclear Power Project.

Miscreants indiscriminately chopped him tying with rope on the road near Pakshi Railway Station and

took the bike, leaving Lablu critically injured, the sources added. On information, relatives rescued Lablu and rushed him to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment.

Confirming the matter, Ishwardi police station Officer-In-Charge Biman Kumar Das said:“Police visited the spot.”

Hearing the incident, agitated people put barricade on the Ishwardi-Khustia highway in Ruppur Pakar Mor area bringing a halt to the communication between Southern and Northern regions.

They withdrew the barricade after five hours. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

7

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Understanding the public pulse

SYED LATIF HOSSAIN

L

n Ifti Rashid

ast year, Bangladesh witnessed unprecedented violence and disorder in the lead up to the January 2014 elections. Though political confrontation is nothing new in Bangladesh, violence took the form of terrorism with random but premeditated bomb explosions, derailment of railway tracks and arson attacks carried out by the opposition.

Over 507 people were killed, 22,407 injured and dozens burned to death amid political violence. The victims included political rivals, security forces personnel and general population.

In many cases, innocent bystanders, such as rickshaw pullers, were killed in bomb explosions.

The people were able to finally heave a sigh of relief following the January 5 elections. After a brief period of post-election violence, the country has experienced considerable peace and calm in the political arena.

• 69.4% believe the country is heading in the right direction • 53% want the current government to complete its term • 60% believe the government’s economic performance has been successful • 63.8% are more or less satisfied with the government’s law and order performance • 63.3% people identified infrastructure, electricity or economic development as a major success of the government • As for challenges, 21.5% identified law and order, 16.2% price hike and 13.8% retrieving democracy Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP): • 51.8% people are dissatisfied with the BNP • 55.5% people believe BNP should leave Jamaat

There is no doubt that the latest opinion poll indicates a major shift in public pulse over the last six months

• 77.9% people are opposed to any anti-government agitation by the opposition Dialogue: • 71.5% people want a dialogue between AL and BNP

Making sense: ‘Feel good’

The government, in its second term, has given a thrust to infrastructure development and economic growth, while keeping the law and order situation more or less under control.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) led by the prime minister has approved dozens of development projects, ranging from rural electricity to metro rail.

In this backdrop, Dhaka Tribune’s opinion poll on politics and governance has been the talk of the town on Monday. This is the first major opinion poll conducted by an independent newspaper to understand the public pulse and sentiment in the last six months.

The results show a significant turnaround compared to similar polls undertaken by the same newspaper in January and February 2014.

The verdict Awami League (AL)/Government: • 75.3% are satisfied with the AL government’s performance in the last six months

There is no doubt that the latest opinion poll indicates a major shift in public pulse over the last six months. 69.4% of respondents believe the country is heading in the right direction and 53% of voters want the current government to complete its term in the latest poll, compared to 71% stating the country is moving in the wrong direction and 72% seeking fresh elections in the January and February 2014 respectively. The opinion poll indicates a significant “feel-good” mood in the country.

How do we make sense of the latest opinion poll results?

Stability, growth and development Foremost, the overwhelmingly positive approval ratings for the government show that voters have by and large prioritises stability, growth and development. The majority of people want to simply get on with their lives and the government has so far been successful in providing a favourable economic climate for business, investment and livelihoods.

It is evident the voters also recognise there has been a considerable improvement in the law and order situation compared to last year.

Electoral legitimacy Though the January 5 election was

boycotted by the main opposition coalition, the opinion poll indicates majority of voters consider it legal and valid.

The lack of participation by the BNP-Jamaat alliance have not undermined the legitimacy of the government in the eyes of most people, unlikely the perception of the civil society.

The fact is, the political, social and economic character of our country has changed over the years. Though our people are politically conscious, there is no appetite for violence in the name of political activism. The first priority is development

Given the public pulse, the BNP will have no choice but to go for a constructive engagement with the government instead of an agitation movement

Constitutional continuity It is evident from the opinion poll that majority of voters are in favour of constitutional continuity and the present government to complete its term till 2019, firmly rejecting any form of agitation violence by the opposition.

Quite simply, people want to see a continuation of peace and stability instead of a return to unrest and bloodshed witnessed last year.

Dialogue vs election The opinion poll indicates majority of voters prefer a dialogue between the AL and BNP instead of a new election at this stage. This is not surprising as the political impasse and confrontation between the AL and BNP have less to do with general elections and more to do with the overall zero-sum political culture over the last two decades.

There is no reason to believe that a fresh election will lead to better outcomes for the nation, in fact it may be argued that it may plunge the country into another unpredictable cycle of violence, instability and retribution undermining development.

AL: Avoiding complacency The AL has reason to be contented with the overall opinion poll results, but there is no room for complacency.

It appears majority of voters realise they are not spoilt for choices and the status-quo may be the best option available to them. Given the two-party system in the country, the government is benefiting from the lack of public confidence in the opposition at this stage.

However, the opinion poll indicates a fraction of voters remain concerned with law and order, corruption and price hike in the country. Though a relatively small group currently holds these concerns, AL must be responsive and proactive in addressing them to prevent potential escalation of discontent in the future.

The government must strive to ensure good governance for the remainder four and half years of its term.

BNP: Rethinking jamaat The opinion poll indicates the BNP in its current form with Jamaat as an alliance partner is not a credible

alternative for majority of voters.

There is strong public rejection of the BNP’s partnership with Jamaat, a fringe party discredited for its links to war crimes, violence and terrorism. This is one of the major factors contributing to the widespread dissatisfaction with the BNP revealed in the opinion poll.

However, the BNP remains the main opposition party despite its lack of representation in the Parliament.

The party needs to play a responsible role by rethinking its alliance with Jamaat and other Islamist groups linked to Hefazat-e-Islam. The future of the party will depend on its ability to start afresh as a centre-right party untainted by radical groups.

Given the public pulse, the BNP will have no choice but to go for a constructive engagement with the government instead of an agitation movement rejected by the people in order to ensure a fully participatory generally election in 2019.

The ‘Civil’ gap The opinion poll reveals a wide gap between the perceptions of the civil society vs the common people of the country. It appears that a section of the civil society, particularly its Dhaka-based elite component, is increasingly out of touch and far removed from the ground realities affecting the public.

The prime concerns of voters are not necessarily shaped by lofty log frames discussed in five star hotel circuits, but the need of a favourable economic climate and law and order situation in order to improve their day-to-day lives. In this respect, the opinion poll reveals the government has delivered so far.

The ‘Mahathir model?’

After two terms each of the AL and BNP governments with the 1/11 interval over the last two decades, majority of voters are more pragmatic and realistic in terms of their expectations from the government.

The turnaround in the government’s approval ratings indicate Bangladesh may move moving

towards the Malaysian Dr Mahathir developmental model of peace, stability and continuity for national progress.

At this juncture of history, majority of people want to see development as the top priority. If the AL can articulate Bangladesh’s Vision 2021 and Perspective 2041 as overarching national developmental programs like Malaysia’s Vision 2020, public support for the government may strengthen further.

The last word The ball is in the AL court as far as the short-term and medium-term political future of the country is concerned. However, there is no room for complacency as the overall swing in the pendulum in the last six months shows the unpredictable nature of public sentiment. It is the undecided or floating voters beyond the core vote banks of the respective parties that make the difference.

If the AL can continue to deliver a strong economy supported by improved law and order, infrastructure development and at least a reasonable level of anticorruption crackdown, it will be able to sustain the “feel good” mood and complete its term with sustained public support.

The government stands to benefit the most by taking the first step to initiate a broad national dialogue for political reforms to ensure peace and stability prevails in order to pursue its development agenda.

The AL has a unique opportunity to pursue a long-term reform, growth and development program amidst political continuity and consensus in its second consecutive term, unprecedented in our history of parliamentary democracy.

Will there be a paradigm shift for the AL from the “lesser of two evils” to the “better choice?” Only time will tell. l Ifti Rashid is a political and security analyst, currently a doctoral researcher in the School of Social Sciences, Monash University, based in the National Centre for South Asian Studies.

He is a columnist for the Dhaka Tribune.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Russia reviews military doctrine, reflecting chill with Nato Aide says Russia is targeted of unprecedented propaganda war; ‘unacceptable’ for Nato to expand any closer to Russia In comments published two days to rescue the pro-Russian separatists n Reuters, Moscow before Nato holds a summit that will be from the brink of defeat and help them Russia will update its military doctrine this year to take account of new threats including the Ukraine crisis, a Kremlin security aide said yesterday in forceful comments that highlighted a deepening Cold War-style standoff with Nato.

Mikhail Popov, deputy head of the Kremlin’s advisory Security Council, told RIA news agency that changes were being drafted in the light of risks connected with the Arab Spring, the Syrian civil war and the conflict between the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine.

The doctrine was last updated in 2010, when Russia identified Nato enlargement as a national threat and reaffirmed its right to use nuclear weapons if its existence was endangered.

Back then, Popov said, “a number of top officials accused the leadership of our country of old thinking and declared that Nato is not Russia’s enemy and will never attack Russia.

“But is that the case? They assured us of their good intentions, but the actions of recent years show something completely different.”

dominated by the Ukraine crisis, Popov said Russia was the target of an unprecedented propaganda war.

“Russia is being deliberately painted as the enemy, and its political course is seen as new threat to Nato,” he said.

‘Hollow denials’

Cold War foes for more than 40 years, Russia and Nato tried to build closer ties through a partnership programme in the thaw that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

But relations later soured with the alliance’s gradual eastward expansion, taking in three former Soviet republics and a clutch of countries that were once Moscow’s allies in the communist Warsaw Pact.

Since the outbreak of the Ukraine crisis, Russia has beefed up its forces and stepped up exercises near the Ukrainian border, while Nato has conducted manoeuvres in eastern Europe.

Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen last week described as “hollow” Moscow’s denials that it has sent troops and weaponry into Ukraine

UK’s fate in the balance as poll shows record support for Scottish independence n Reuters, Edinburgh A poll showing support for Scottish independence at its highest ever level threw the fate of the United Kingdom into question yesterday, just two weeks before Scots vote on whether to secede.

The poll by YouGov showed the unionist lead had shrunk to 6 percentage points from 22 a month ago as support for independence jumped to 47 percent in August, suggesting a major shift in opinion ahead of the Sept. 18 referendum.

After months of polls showing nationalists heading for defeat in the vote, the YouGov poll for the first time raises the real prospect that secessionists could achieve their goal of breaking the 307-year-old union with England.

“A ‘Yes’ victory is now a real possibility,” YouGov President Peter Kellner, one of Britain’s most respected pollsters, said. “A close finish looks likely.”

Polls show different levels of support for the unionist campaign and although none have shown the independence camp in the lead, the sudden surge indicated by the poll electrified Britain’s political class after its summer break.

A vote to breakaway would be followed by negotiations with London on what to do about sterling, the national debt, North Sea oil and the future of Britain’s nuclear submarine base in Scotland ahead of independence pencilled in for March 24, 2016.

If Scots voted to leave the United Kingdom, Prime Minister David Cameron would face calls to resign ahead of a national election in May 2015 while Labour’s chances of gaining a majority

could be scuppered if it lost its Scottish lawmakers.

Sterling fell to near a five-month low against the dollar and also slipped versus a generally weak euro on Tuesday, while the cost of hedging against sharp swings in the pound rose as investors sought to insure against the risk of secession.

Traders saw further losses as the vote approaches.

“A Scottish ‘Yes’ to independence poses far more questions than it answers but my best guess is that a ‘Yes’ would trigger a 3-5 percent fall by sterling as an initial reaction,” said Kit Juckes, currency analyst at Societe Generale.

YouGov’s Kellner, 67, said the poll data was so astounding that when he first saw it, he double checked to see if there had been a sampling error. But he said that after checking the data, he was certain a real movement had taken place.

“When I first saw our data, I wanted to make sure the movement was real,” he said. “I am certain it is.”

The poll was carried out on Aug. 28-Sept. 1 and 1,063 people were questioned. When respondents were asked how they would vote in the referendum, 42 percent said they would vote for independence while 48 percent said they would vote against. Eight percent said they did not know and 2 percent did not intend to vote.

It was the first time YouGov has showed support for “Yes” above 40 percent and support for “No” below 50 percent. About 4 million Scottish residents have a vote in the referendum, so the poll indicates 320,000 voters are still undecided. l

open a new front.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Ukraine’s announcement last week that it would seek Nato membership was aimed at undermining efforts to end the conflict in the east of the former Soviet republic.

In a further development certain to upset Moscow, the Baltic state of Estonia, which borders Russia, said it wanted Nato to set up permanent bases on its territory.

RIA quoted Popov as saying: “We consider that the defining factor in relations with Nato remains the unacceptability for Russia of plans to move the military infrastructure of the alliance towards our borders, including via enlargement of the bloc.”

He cited US missile defence plans in Europe as a further danger to Russia’s security. Washington says the aim is to defend against threats from countries like Iran, but Moscow says a US missile shield could be used to neutralise its own missiles, upsetting the nuclear balance. l

Pro-Russian separatists sit on a tank at a position outside the town of Olenivka near the city of Donetsk, eastern Ukraine

US targets al-Shabab leader in Somalia n AP, Mogadishu Al-Shabab’s top leader was traveling in one of two vehicles hit Monday night in a US military strike, a member of the Somali Islamic extremist group said yesterday. The spokesman would not say whether al-Shabab leader Ahmed Abdi Godane was among the six militants killed.

The two vehicles were heading toward the coastal town of Barawe, al-Shabab’s main base, when they were hit, Abu Mohammed told The Associated Press.

US military forces attacked the extremist al-Shabab network in Somalia Monday, the Pentagon said. A witness in Somalia described ground-shaking explosions in a strike that reportedly targeted the group’s leader.

Al-Shabab attacked the upscale West-

gate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, killing at least 67 people a year ago this month and the US targeted planners of the bloody assault. US commanders were waiting to determine the attack’s outcome.

“US military forces conducted an operation in Somalia today against the al-Shabaab network. We are assessing the results of the operation and will provide additional information as and when appropriate,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Rear Adm. John Kirby.

After the US strike in a forest south of Mogadishu, masked Islamic militants in the area arrested dozens of residents they suspected of spying for the US and searched nearby homes, a resident said.

“Mass arrests just started, everyone is being detained,” said Mohamed Ali, who lives in Sablale district. “They

even searched nearby jungles and stopped the nomads transporting milk and grass to the towns for questioning.”

A senior Somali intelligence official said a US drone targeted Godane as he left a meeting of the group’s top leaders.

Godane, also known as Mukhtar Abu Zubeyr, is the group’s spiritual leader under whose direction the Somali militants forged an alliance with al-Qaida.

In 2012 the US offered a reward of up to $7 million for information leading to his arrest. The Somali official, speaking on condition of anonymity since he was not authorized to speak to the media, said intelligence indicated Godane “might have been killed along with other militants.” The official said the attack took place 105 miles (170 kilometers) south of Mogadishu, where al-Shabab trains its fighters. l

World Bank: Poor response to Ebola causing needless deaths n Reuters, Dakar The world’s “disastrously inadequate response” to West Africa’s Ebola outbreak means many people are dying needlessly, the head of the World Bank has said, as Nigeria confirmed another case of the virus.

In a newspaper editorial, World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said Western healthcare facilities would easily be able to contain the disease, and urged wealthy nations to share the knowledge and resources to help African countries tackle it.

“The crisis we are watching unfold derives less from the virus itself and more from deadly and misinformed

biases that have led to a disastrously inadequate response to the outbreak,” Kim wrote in the Washington Post.

“Many are dying needlessly,” read the editorial, co-written by Harvard University professor Paul Farmer, with whom Kim founded Partners In Health, a charity that works for better healthcare in poorer countries.

In a vivid sign of the danger posed by inadequate health provision, a man escaped from an Ebola quarantine centre in Monrovia on Monday and sent people fleeing in fear as he walked through a market in search of food, a Reuters witness said.

The patient, who wore a tag showing he had tested positive for Ebola, held a

stick and threw stones at a doctor from the centre in the Paynesville neighbourhood who stood at a distance and tried to persuade him to give himself up.

At one point, he stumbled and fell, apparently weakened by illness.

Healthcare workers wearing protective clothing forced him into a medical vehicle and returned him to the facility.

“We told the Liberian government from the beginning that we do not want an Ebola camp here. Today makes it the fifth Ebola patient coming outside vomiting,” said a man who watched the scene. Another witness said patients at the treatment centre did not receive enough food. l

REUTERS

France bans Muslim worker from nuclear sites n AFP, France A French court has upheld a ban on a Muslim engineer from accessing nuclear sites, citing his links with what it termed as “jihadist networks,” but his lawyer called it a case of Islamophobia.

Lawyer Sefen Guez Guez has told AFP news agency that he was looking at launching an appeal.

The 29-year-old working for a firm subcontracted by energy giant EDF had been granted access to nuclear installations as part of his job throughout 2012 and 2013.

But in March this year, the man who cannot be named according to French law, had his pass to enter the Nogent-sur-Seine nuclear power station revoked.

Officials said he had links with a violent armed group and that he was in touch with an imam involved in recruiting people to fight in Iraq.

A court in the north-eastern town of Chalons-en-Champagne upheld the ban saying the management could prevent those “undergoing a process of political and religious radicalisation” from accessing sensitive sites.

The lawyer for the man cried foul and argued that his client had no police record. “There is no proof of these supposed links,” Guez Guez said.

In June 2014, Guez Guez successfully had the ban revoked by an appeals court. But when the engineer turned up for work, he found he was once again refused access - this time by EDF - to his place of work, and his lawyer appealed again.

France is home to some five million Muslims - the largest Muslim population in western Europe. l

End of Gaza war doesn’t translate into peace n Reuters, Jerusalem

Israelis swim in an ancient water pool near the Ein Zivan settlement in the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights near the border with Syria. More than 2 million Israeli children went back to school on after a summer spent by many in bomb shelters or far away from homes near the Gaza border AFP

A week after the guns fell silent in the Gaza war, Israel and the Palestinians seem to have little appetite or incentive for a return to US-sponsored peace and statehood talks that collapsed five months ago.

With conflicts raging in Ukraine, Iraq and Syria - and the future of the Gaza Strip largely uncharted by a broadbrush Egyptian-mediated ceasefire deal - world powers also are not rushing headlong into the Israeli-Palestinian stalemate.

The parties themselves, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bickering governing coalition and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, are on a collision course over threatened Palestinian unilateral moves toward statehood and exploration of war crimes prosecution against Israel in the absence of direct talks.

Israel drew Palestinian and international criticism on Sunday by announcing a major appropriation of occupied land in the West Bank, the most significant such move in 30 years.

As head of a governing coalition divided over trading territory for peace, Netanyahu is now speaking, in amorphous terms, of an alternative route towards ending decades of conflict - a “new horizon” - or possible regional

alliance with moderate Arab countries alarmed, like Israel, by radical Islam.

Closer to home and with the Gaza situation still in flux, there is nothing on the immediate horizon as far as peacemaking with Abbas is concerned, Israeli government sources said.

Under the Egyptian-brokered truce agreement, Israel and the Palestinians agreed to address complex issues such as Hamas’s demands for a Gaza seaport and the release of Palestinian prisoners via indirect talks starting within a month.

With the start of those negotiations still up in the air, Netanyahu wants to see whether Abbas takes over responsibility from Hamas for administering Gaza’s borders and that measures are taken to prevent the group from smuggling in weaponry.

Netanyahu, who appears to be weathering an approval rating plunge after the Gaza war ended without a clear victor, took a swipe at Abbas last week, summing up a conflict which the Palestinian leader persistently tried to bring to an end.

“Abu Mazen has to choose which side he is on,” Netanyahu told a news conference, using Abbas’s nickname.

The comment harked back to Israel’s decision in April to cut off peace talks with Abbas after he clinched a unity deal with Hamas, a bitter rival that had seized the Gaza Strip from his Fatah forces in 2007. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Afghan turmoil threatens Nato’s ‘mission accomplished’ plans

‘Muslims around the world are thirsty for an Islamic caliphate’

Nato to declare job done at summit; deadlock casts doubt on post-2014 training mission

n Reuters, Brussels Nato will declare “mission accomplished” this week as it winds down more than a decade of operations in Afghanistan but departing combat troops look likely to leave behind political turmoil and an emboldened insurgency.

The embattled country is also suffering a sharp economic slowdown.

Nato had hoped its summit in Wales on Thursday and Friday would herald a smooth handover of security at the end of this year from the Nato-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) to Afghan forces. It then plans to cut back its role to a smaller mission to train and advise Afghan troops.

The 28-nation alliance had also hoped to celebrate Afghanistan’s first democratic transfer of power by inviting a new president to share the spotlight with US President Barack Obama and the other 27 allied leaders.

Instead, Nato diplomats privately admit that the backdrop to the summit is the “worst case scenario.”

A dispute over a presidential election marred by alleged fraud has creat-

ed a political vacuum which has sown doubts over whether Nato will have a legal basis for leaving any troops in Afghanistan at all after this year.

Nato diplomats were left guessing for weeks about who would represent Afghanistan at the summit. In the absence of a new president, outgoing President Hamid Karzai is staying away, leaving Defence Minister Bismillah Khan Mohammadi to represent Afghanistan.

Sending a lower-level representative rather than a new president will undermine Afghanistan’s ability to argue for future Western financial assistance, a US official said.

Security

Nato Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen put a brave face on the situation at a Brussels news conference on Monday, declaring Nato had achieved its goals in Afghanistan.

“We have done what we set out to do. We have denied safe haven to international terrorists. We have built up capable Afghan forces of 350,000 troops and police. So our nations are safer,

and Afghanistan is stronger,” he said.

But despite suffering heavy casualties and spending vast sums in Afghanistan, Nato has failed in its key goal of bringing security to the country, some analysts say.

Nato diplomats privately admit that the backdrop to the summit is the ‘worst case scenario’ On Nato’s watch, there has been a “marked and measurable deterioration of security,” said Graeme Smith, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank in Kabul.

Nato has also faced criticism over civilians killed in air strikes or night raids.

Kabul residents nonetheless worry that the departure of foreign forces could lead to worse violence or the return of the Taliban, ousted from power by a US-led invasion in 2001.

“We need foreign forces in our country for more years,” said Sayed Najibullah Hashimi, a hotel owner in Kabul. “There are lots of improvements since they are in Afghanistan but, as Afghanistan is not on its feet yet, we need them for longer. Their departure means a start of another civil war, more emigration, and economic collapse.”

Mohammad Rabih, 27, a student in Bakhtar university in Kabul, said the Nato-led mission had been successful at first but ultimately failed due to the lack of a plan and friction between Afghan and US officials.

“If international forces leave this country, it will turn to a stronghold for Taliban and warlords and not only Afghanistan but the world will pay for that,” he said.

Afghan army Brigadier-General Asif Bromand, who heads a busy military hospital in the restive eastern province of Paktia, told Reuters last month it was too early to transfer security responsibilities to Afghan forces. “In each and every aspect, the Afghan army isn’t ready,” he said. l

R E A DY F O R B AT T L E

A police officer speaks to a gathering of policemen brought to the capital Islamabad as reinforcements during Revolution March. Pakistan’s parliament has thrown its weight behind embattled Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif as a deepening crisis over violent protests demanding his resignation prompted fears of an army intervention. Story on page 1 REUTERS

British parliament rejects China’s call to halt Hong Kong inquiry n Reuters, London The British parliament has rejected Chinese government calls to halt an inquiry into Britain’s relationship with Hong Kong, a senior lawmaker said yesterday, as diplomatic tensions over the former UK colony worsened.

Both the Chinese ambassador to Britain and the National People’s Congress Foreign Affairs committee have expressed their concerns to Britain over the inquiry.

But Richard Ottaway, the chairman of the British parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, said members of parliament wouldn’t be heeding the Chinese calls.

“We are not stopping the inquiry.

We met yesterday afternoon and decid-

ed to continue,” Ottaway told Reuters.

His committee launched an inquiry in July to examine how China and Britain’s joint declaration on the transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong to China was being implemented.

Britain handed Hong Kong back to China in 1997 under a 1984 agreement that provided for Hong Kong to keep its wide-ranging freedoms and autonomy under the “one country, two systems” model. The city had never been fully democratic during 150 years of British colonial rule.

On Sunday, China’s parliament rejected demands for Hong Kong’s next leader to be freely chosen in 2017, leading scores of protesters to take to the streets.

“My job is to see if Britain is living up

to its side of the undertakings and secondly if China isn’t living up to their undertakings then what is the British government doing about it,” said Ottaway.

“This is not interfering in the internal affairs of China, that would be completely inappropriate.”

When asked about the matter, a spokesman for China’s Foreign Ministry made it clear on Tuesday that Beijing was unhappy about the British inquiry.

“Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. On the matter of political reform, it is an internal affair of the Hong Kong special administrative region, it is China’s internal affair.

(We) will not allow foreign forces to intervene,” the spokesman told a daily news briefing. l

Thai junta blocks rights meeting n Reuters, Bangkok

Thailand’s ruling junta ordered that a rights talk at a journalists’ club in Bangkok be shut down yesterday, further stoking concerns over freedom of expression in the country since a military power grab in May. Police, armed with orders from the junta, turned up at the Foreign Correspondent’s Club of Thailand as an event, entitled “Access to Justice in Thailand: Currently Unavailable” and organised by Thai rights groups and Amnesty International Thailand, was about to take place.

In the order the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO), as the junta

is formally known, asked organisers to cancel the event in order to “follow the policy of the NCPO.” The military says it took power in May to avert further bloodshed and restore stability after six months of street protests pitting supporters of ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra against Bangkok-based royalist opponents.

Rights activists say the junta has worked systematically to snuff out all challenges to its authority, including through the detention of hundreds of activists, academics and journalists in the weeks following the coup.

Tuesday’s panel discussion was to have included a presentation on the

rights situation in Thailand 100 days after the army seized power.

Martial law, which bans gatherings of more than five people, has been in place since May 20. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the army chief who led the coup, said the law was still needed to maintain order.

“The event was organised to report the human rights situation in Thailand ... which has to do with access to justice after the coup. It is not a political gathering,” Amnesty Thailand said in an emailed statement.

“The NCPO has always said it would respect human rights. Asking to stop activities is a violation of freedom.” l

9

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

– Commander Mirwais

Afghan militants ‘may join Islamic State’ n BBC Fighters from a militant Islamic group in Afghanistan, allied to the Taliban, have told the BBC they are considering joining forces with Islamic State (IS).

Their commander also said they would still fight the Afghan government, even after Nato forces leave in 2014.

Commander Mirwais said that if IS, which he called by its Arabic acronym Daish, proved a true Islamic caliphate, they would link up with it.

The news comes amid an ongoing row over Afghanistan’s presidential poll. The June election remains disputed, with no declared winner, while an audit of votes is taking place.

“We know Daish and we have links with some Daish members. We are waiting to see if they meet the requirements for an Islamic caliphate,” Commander Mirwais said.

“If we find they do, we are sure that our leadership will announce their allegiance to them. They are great mujahideen. We pray for them, and if we don’t see a problem in the way they operate, we will join them.”

The threat is a disturbing one. If the Taliban do link up with IS, it would add an entirely new dimension to the struggle. Across Afghanistan, there are currently 14 different front lines where the Taliban are fighting government forces.

One of them is around Pul-e-Khumri, the capital of Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan. It is less than 200km (120 miles) from Kabul, but it takes seven hours to drive there, across the mountains and through the Salang Pass.

The roads are often atrocious thanks to the web of local corruption, despite the huge amounts of Western money that have been lavished on them.

Through an intermediary, we had made contact with Commander Mirais, whose group is fighting on the outskirts of Pul-e-Khumri.

Commander Mirwais has moved from group to group in the past, but now he belongs to Hezb-e-Islami, a group with a good deal of blood on its hands.

Over the years, Hezb-e-Islami has become famous for its ferocity, which

Since 1990, billions more have access to clean water n Agencies Over the past couple of decades, easier access to clean water has become a reality for a huge portion of the world’s population, according to a report by The Christian Science Monitor.

According to a publication released by the World Health Organization, an arm of the United Nations that monitors the health and well-being of people around the world, more than 2 billion people have gained access to an improved source of drinking water since 1990.

An “improved” water source is a water source that is likely not to be susceptible to outside contamination, especially by human waste, according to the UN’s WHO/ UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program.

In addition to improved water sources, about 4 billion people have achieved the gold standard in clean water access: clean water piped directly into their homes.

That’s well over half the world’s population.

This extraordinary step toward providing universal access to clean water has been the result of a massive global effort on behalf of governments, philanthropists, and nongovernmental organizations.

Bruce Gordon, acting coordiNator of water, sanitation, hygiene, and health for the WHO, says that the increase in improved water sources has been largely due to accountability. He notes that “countries understand that progress is monitored and the results are available for all to see.” He adds that one of the most important parts of

moving forward has been the acknowledgment of a fundamental human right to clean water by most of the world’s countries.

One of the most important steps toward fulfilling that right came in 1990, when the UN instituted its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a collection of objectives to meet over a 25-year period (see Points of Progress, July 21). One of the goals the UN hoped to achieve was 88 percent improved drinking water coverage by 2015. This objective was met far ahead of schedule, in 2010, and has been steadily exceeded since then.

Much remains to be done. Even if a water source is free of contaminants, there’s still a high risk of contamination – especially from human excrement – after the water has been collected. While most of the world now has access to an improved water source, improved sanitation facilities are still needed in case collected water later becomes contaminated. The MDG target of 75 percent improved sanitation facilities – for actually separating contaminants from drinking water – will likely not be met by the deadline next year. That leaves 2.4 billion people still completely without access to such a facility by 2015.

While governments are largely supportive of efforts to improve sanitation and water availability, many of them rely on NGOs such as Water.org to coordinate and help provide funding for water sanitation and access, especially in poorer countries.

Development workers say most of the obstacles NGOs face in developing countries are matters of distribution. l

has sometimes alienated even the Taliban themselves.

Among Western journalists, the group has had a bad reputation ever since the 1980s, when it invited a freelance cameraman working for the BBC to join one of its operations, then killed him during the night in order to sell his equipment.

Now, though, a reliable intermediary told us that Commander Mirwais would meet us and would guarantee our safety. We decided that we could trust these assurances - and it turned out that we were right.

For a front-line town, Pul-e-Khumri is prosperous and reasonably secure.

Local people can hear the shooting at night time, and they know that the Taliban are present on three sides of them.

The threat is a disturbing one. If the Taliban do link up with IS, it would add an entirely new dimension to the struggle But the shops are full of goods, the streets are thronged with people, and the tea houses and kebab shops are doing good business.

We established ourselves in a small upstairs hotel in one of the main streets. It was uncomfortable and not overly clean, but it was run by a relative of our driver, which meant we were safe there.

In the end our Afghan cameraman had to go and see Commander Mirwais on his own.

At the appointed spot on a side road off the main northbound road out of Pul-e-Khumri, the commander emerged from the darkness, accompanied by a group of heavily armed bodyguards.

He turned out to be a rational figure, frank about his ideas and aims. But they were uncomfortable to Western ears. l

Himachal court bans animal sacrifice n Agencies A court in remote northern India has banned a long tradition of sacrificing animals for religious reasons, deeming the practice cruel and barbaric. The high court in Himachal Pradesh asked police and other officials to enforce its ban on the slaughter, mainly of goats in Hindu temples throughout the state.

“No person will sacrifice any animal in any place of worship. It includes adjoining lands and buildings,” the twojudge bench of the court ruled late on Monday. “A startling revelation has been made … thousands of animals are sacrificed every year in the name of worship,” the court said.

“Sacrifice causes immense pain and suffering to innocent animals. They cannot be permitted to be sacrificed to appease a god or deity in a barbaric manner,” it said.

The court also questioned the reasons for animal sacrifices, saying such rituals “must change in the modern era.” The court was ruling on a petition brought by animal rights activists, who applauded the move on Tuesday as long overdue.

“We welcome this ban on animal sacrifice as it will end centuries of cruelty to animals in the name of religion,” local activist Rajeshwar Negi told AFP. But state lawmaker Maheshwar Singh defended the practice, saying: “This judgment is against the age-old beliefs and customs of many people.”

Goats and sometimes sheep are often sacrificed at the start of winter in temples across Himachal Pradesh with the aim of pleasing Hindu deities. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Change mindset on capital flows

P

olicy-makers who have expressed concern that Bangladesh Bank’s relaxation of rules for repatriation of foreign investment in unlisted companies, may increase capital flight, are missing the big picture.

Controls on the flow of capital in and out of the country are far too tight and need to be liberalised.

Even though an estimated 60% of the country’s $137bn economy is related to global trade and investment, the government is stuck in an outdated mindset which seeks to restrict flows of capital.

Bangladesh’s entrepreneurs have to endure interminable hurdles to meet legitimate business expenses abroad. Existing rules needlessly hamper payments for essential business materials and services as well as important educational and medical expenses for individuals.

Far from serving a helpful purpose, the rigidity of capital controls increases the scope for bureaucratic corruption and encourages foreign exchange payments via informal and illegal channels, contrary to the aims of anti-money laundering laws.

It also puts Bangladeshi businesses at a huge disadvantage to competitors from other countries if they are seeking to invest overseas.

The country’s success in growing remittances and trade are helping to create record foreign exchange reserves. We must abolish any regulations which prevent these flows from being put to productive use.

Changing the mindset to allow people and companies to easily buy and use foreign exchange via the banking system is the best way to eliminate the flaws in the present system. If transactions are taxed at a small rate, this can also benefit government finances.

We need to stop obstructing opportunities and deregulate foreign exchange rules to encourage dynamism and attract new investment.

Stop obstructing opportunities.

Deregulate foreign exchange rules

Turn down the volume

W

e are disturbed by the defamation complaint filed against the BNP acting secretary general for remarks in which he termed the prime minister “a killer” and called the AL “a party of killers.”

It is not acceptable for the law to be called upon in this way while senior leaders of both the AL and BNP constantly indulge in abuse and mud-slinging.

Only this week, the PM herself made exactly the same type of comments about Khaleda Zia and the BNP and publicly called into question the former prime minister’s state of mind and loyalty to the nation.

The public has no appetite for such destructive rhetoric. A vast majority has repeatedly made clear in opinion polls that it wants to see peaceful dialogue between the country’s two largest political parties.

It is harmful for the nation that instead of toning down their mutual mud-slinging, both sides should regularly revert to hard-line rhetoric and abuse which only has appeal to their most hardcore supporters.

This defamation case goes beyond a simple war of words. The law should not be brought in to adjudicate instances of vulgar abuse. At a time when many BNP leaders face serious legal cases, it also adds to an atmosphere of intimidation of political opponents by the ruling party.

Both sides need to pay heed to the over 71.5% of the public who wish to see constructive dialogue between the AL and BNP. They should turn down their abusive language accordingly.

Defamation case is a step too far. Both sides need to stop mud-slinging

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

Development of our human capital August 29

Engr SA Mansoor This critical issue deserves serious attention at our topmost government level. The challenge to properly develop our human capital through appropriate educational and language skills in order to effectively sustain our global presence cannot be ignored. Unfortunately, because of their poor political outlook, our political parties ignore this issue.

Our education system is totally based in Bangla, which holds students back and limits their capabilities. The divorcing of English from the curriculum is the result of a short-sighted policy that has directly led to a decreasing level of competence in all professional subjects and is bound

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 21 represents K so fill K every time the figure 21 appears.

You have one letter in the control grid to start you off. Enter it 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

to erode our participation in the global developed economies. It has produce thousands of graduates who have little to no scope to be useful or make a worthwhile impact beyond our borders.

Also, our education here is based on the precept of “commit and vomit,” which limits the objective and wider scope of inputs needed to hone each particular skill or profession.

This problem will compound in the coming years, and we just may end up with thousands of so-called graduates as cheap and unskilled employees in the developed world. Have our political leaders who will be managing the country ever thought about this possibility?

SUDOKU Shah Rukh Khan gets police protection August 27 Chowdhury Aktaruzzaman But why? Thanks.

Nazmul Khair He has an army as his bodyguard, so why does he need police protection? Simple, it is propaganda, and I am sure it is movie related.

Sheikh Jinat Mahmid Chowdhury Aktaruzzaman: SRK got a threatening call from the underworld gangster Ravi Pujari.

Earlier, SRK’s good friend Ali Morani’s house was under attack, following a similar call from the mobster.

Chowdhury Aktaruzzaman Sheikh Jinat Mahmid: Thanks for the information.

100 students fall sick having snacks in Natore August 27 SM What did they give the students? I wonder.

Tanzia Islam This is scary.

Biman domestic flights resume August 27

Tehzeeb Ahmed Rafin “The national flag carrier, Biman, is set to resume operations on all domestic routes in the next two months, officials of the airline told a parliamentary watchdog Monday.”

Next two months!! Seriously?? How will they do it?? They will get small aircrafts, and complete all CAAB formalities and train pilots within 2 months?? What a joke!!

Ice bucket challenge goes wrong, teen dies August 27 Anon So sorry to hear this news. People who are going for the ice-bucket challenge should be more careful.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Navy ship catches fire in Chittagong

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

August 27

Daijhi Daijhi “The Bangladesh Navy Ship (BNS) Umar Farooq is a Salisbury class frigate, built in Britain; it served with the Royal Navy for 18 years, before being sold to Bangladesh, and joined with BNS in 1977.”

Does anyone know her original name?

David Jackson Her original name, while in the Royal Navy, was HMS Llandaff.

Des(h)i progressives’ nightmare August 28

Shafiqur Rahman “Bangladesh is full of self-proclaimed progressives who choose to reject democracy.”

Democracy for Bangladeshi progressives is a highly discriminating political process. Only those with certain beliefs (chetona) are eligible for the rule of the people. Progressives would sing pain for democracy and yet say Bangladesh is not fit for democracy in the same breath.

Jahid Iqbal Kudos to Jyoti Rahman. Self-inflicted intellectual blind spot most aptly applicable for the Bangladeshi shushil.

Young, restless, ready August 28

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Prejudice (4) 4 Precipitous (5) 8 Spruce (6) 9 Boast (4) 11 Wrath (5) 12 Gem (4) 14 Floor covering (3) 15 White herons (6) 19 Flag (6) 21 Expressing negation (3) 22 Offensive to sight (4) 24 Sacrificial table (5) 27 Speech defect (4) 29 Makes up for (6) 30 Incited (5) 31 Superior English college (4)

DOWN 1 Clothes protector (3) 2 Makes suitable (6) 3 Long, detailed story (4) 4 Mineral spring (3) 5 Singer (5) 6 Work unit (3) 7 Most chaste (6) 10 Soft sheepskin leather (4) 13 Limb (3) 14 Threat (6) 16 Wildebeest (3) 17 Join the army (6) 18 Playthings (4) 20 Angry (5) 23 Merriment (4) 25 Tie-on label (3) 26 Slender stick (3) 28 Play on words (3)

Herbert Tjossem “We need to encourage and embrace new models, and try things a bit differently from how we tried them yesterday.”

A good argument. Persuasively thought out.

Who takes the first step?

Over 200 villages inundated in Bogra August 30

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD Rosa Lopes Lord, have mercy on Your children.

PEANUTS Partition of India August 27

Mahir Hossain “Why the partition of India was inevitable, necessary and timely for India’s Muslims.”

One of the most logical and most in-depth articles on the Partition. A lot of our “pro-liberation intellectuals” are firmly of the opinion that splitting from India was a tragedy, while shamelessly accusing others of being Razakars. When trying to refute this man, please come up with something better than accusing him of being communal.

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Energy revolution now

A

n Risalat Khan little boy takes his mother to the doctor. The doctor says: “I have bad news.

Your mother is in the early stages of paralysis. She will slowly get worse and ultimately be unable to function if this continues.”

The little boy says: “So how much income are we going to lose now?”

It sounds ridiculous, yet we are just like that little boy when it comes to climate change. For decades, scientists have been telling us, cautioning us, warning us of the slow paralysis of the Earth’s oceans, rainforests, and other vital organisms that sustain not only her, but us too. They have written us the prescription, largely pro bono, assuring insignificant side effects, but we argued that our present income loss is not that great. But like soil in drought, this argument simply does not hold much water anymore.

A 2012 report estimated that the world has already lost more than $1.2tn annually, roughly 1.6% of global GDP, from climate change-caused damages. But the scarier and still surprisingly unrecognised economic threat is the looming collapse of the “carbon bubble.” The Carbon Tracker Initiative reported that humans can burn another 565 gigatons of carbon, and still have a reasonable chance of keeping global warming within the internationally agreed limit of 2˚C.

But, these trillions of dollars worth of assets are already factored into stock values of companies, credit ratings, etc. When the market realises that they are indeed unburnable, the invisible hand will smite them worthless, and slice off an oily chunk of global GDP with it.

On the flip side, however, economic potential for key renewables such as solar and wind is rising fast, projected to become more favourable than fossil fuels by as early as the end of this decade. And this is without much in the way of handouts. A tax on carbon dioxide emissions – a policy now widely advocated for, will make renewable sources cheaper in many places right now.

China added 3.3 gigawatts of solar power in just the first six months of this year. These changes do not bode very well for coal – the most polluting fossil fuel. Coal plants are barely making a profit in Australia. China plans to ban coal use in Beijing by 2020, and the Obama administration proposed cutting coal emissions 30% by 2030, making the fate of already struggling power plants even more uncertain.

Yet, our domestic energy policy has seen a new unprecedented focus on coal, with a projected sharp rise in coal-powered electricity to 50% by 2030, up from 2% presently. The most controversial among the current projects is of course the Rampal Plant.

Disregarding the grim findings of the Let’s not wait for this day

The world listens to Bangladesh because we represent so many people whose lives are increasingly affected by a fast-changing climate

However, known fossil fuel reserves exceeded 2,795 gigatons, and fossil fuel companies have continued spending billions of dollars annually drilling for more.

The Carbon Tracker Initiative warned investors of the risks of “wasted capital” and “stranded assets” that arise from the fact that 60-80% of known reserves have to remain underground to check global warming to (hopefully) non-catastrophic levels.

only independent Environmental Impact Assessment and the widespread protests, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently requested the Indian foreign minister Sushma Swaraj to speed up construction on the plant!

The government has also failed to respond timely to the concerns of the World Heritage Committee, charging forward on construction brazenly. All of this to slowly poison the lifeblood of the Sundarbans, killing our best de-

fense against fast-rising seas and more intense cyclones funneling in from the Bay of Bengal.

But even without considering Rampal, such a coal-intensive energy strategy is disastrous on multiple fronts.

The enormous impact of coal pollution on public health is well documented.

In Northern China alone, a pro-coal policy cost its 500 million people 5.52 years of reduced average life expectancy – an unfathomable 2.5 billion human life years in total – from elevated rates of cardiorespiratory diseases. In addition, rigid coal infrastructure will become outdated and expensive very fast as renewables become cheaper and carbon pollution gets increasingly regulated globally as efforts to combat climate change strengthen.

And there is no reason they will not.

Climate change politics is now a very

BIGSTOCK

fast moving sphere, and gaining momentum in the run-up to the all-important UNFCCC conference in Paris at the end of 2015, where a treaty will be signed to replace the Kyoto protocol.

It is a climacteric time for human civilisation as a whole, as scientists have said we are at the very last stages of being able to prevent irreversible and catastrophic climate change.

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is hosting the UN Climate Summit on September 23 in New York to highlight this urgency to world leaders.

Thousands of activist and advocacy organisations are taking this opportunity to jointly organise the People’s Climate March on September 21, demanding “Action, Not Words” in the largest global mobilisation on climate change to date.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

will attend the summit, and like these organisations, she will likely be an impassioned voice calling for much-needed justice in international negotiations. The world listens to Bangladesh because we represent so many people whose lives are increasingly affected by a fast-changing climate.

But, if we are not responsible in our domestic energy policy and if we do not make judicious and transparent use of adaptation funding, it will be very hypocritical, and thereby ineffective, for us to demand stronger action and greater funding. We ourselves have failed to include climate change funding in our most recent national budget. Then, how can we make the case to the world that this is a priority for our national development?

Sheikh Hasina and her Minister

of Forestry and Environment Anwar Hossain Manju have a momentous responsibility on their shoulders at this incredibly critical time to set the direction for the ultimate fate of our country.

However, this can and should be seen as a great opportunity – an opportunity to grow our economy in a way that does not harm public health or condemn our treasured Sundarbans to trample under special interests – but rather protects the interests of our people and environment, as the fates of the two have always been and will continue to be deeply interconnected. l Risalat Khan is a social activist and entrepreneur specialising in sustainable paradigms. He is a co-founder of NogorBagan – an initiative to cultivate Dhaka’s rooftops and provide safe food to urban communities.

Paying heed to the public

Where will they go?

n Mohammad Ali Sattar

n Shafia Arifin

T

he survey report carried by the Dhaka Tribune in its Monday issue was an interesting read, in that it almost perfectly reflected the mindset of the people interviewed.

The interviews were held over the phone on a set of questionnaires between August 10 and 22.

Telephone-based interviews are now accepted worldwide as a modern methodology of seeking public opinion.

Complete responses were received from 1,217 respondents. Even if the method and the operation were not flawless, it has done a great good to the readers and the people who are genuinely concerned about the present state of things.

Amidst the ongoing hullabaloo, killings, and conflict, the report brings about food for thought for many. The suffocation caused by the current environment has reached such extremes that we need to try and turn things around to guarantee peaceful living for all.

More than half of the respondents (53%) have expressed their wish that the government complete its full term in office. We should not spray the wishes of the majority with Awami League colour. This is exactly what the common people want because they want peace.

Interestingly, the demand for a fresh election following the January 5 polls (highly controversial) has taken a backseat. It appears that the main opposition BNP and its allies have failed to generate the right kind of momentum to press home their demand for fresh polls. The spirit and wishes are both dead.

The proportion of people demanding a fully participatory election within the year or as early as possible has declined to around 25% from 77%.

However, the report brings to focus more interesting aspects.

Although the people expressed their willingness to see the

continuation of the present government, they came out strongly to say that they want the government to start dialogue with the BNP and other oppositions.

They felt that the PM’s strong stance against any talks with the main opposition is not good. Some 71.5% of the public disagree or strongly disagree with the PM’s no dialogue stance.

The expression of satisfaction over the law and order climate has surprised many. I don’t understand what parameters were in place to gauge the law and order situation.

We need radical measures for effective improvement in law and order.

It is no better than before. In fact, it is taking a turn for the worse.

The economy is definitely on a better plane. So it seems. But just how far it will be sustainable remains to be seen. We can’t be very hopeful about the sustainability of the economic rise.

The opposition needs to come up with a mature and civilised way of thinking

Apart from all this, the people expressed their opinions in favour of a fully participatory democratic process.

The government may be happy to read the report, but it should not be complacent.

There is always the other side of the coin. In addition to a stable economy, we also need to have the right democratic processes in place.

The opinion poll has brought forth a number of areas that reflect our thoughts. It has also helped clear the cloud for many who are still groping in the dark or are frustrated about peo-

ple’s subdued role in the social mainframe. Given the opportunity to speak up and express themselves without fear, they have done just that. Their expressions reflect a genuine yearning for a peaceful democratic process, a friendly political atmosphere, sound economic advancement, and peaceful social conditions.

Over 77.9% of the respondents indicated that they do not want any agitation movement by the BNP. The survey further informs us of the sincere wishes of the public for a peaceful dialogue between the two largest political parties in the country.

This again shows that the AL government alone cannot guarantee peace or development. It needs backing from all, including the opposition.

The public wish for dialogue is a clear sign of the support BNP has among the people. It also brings to the fore the feelings of the people who are frustrated with the conflicting and divisive nature of our politics. Another important desire from the people is that the BNP should sever ties with Jamaat. Around 56% want the BNP to cut ties with this controversial party for obvious reasons.

The opinion chart published by the DT was a timely move, and ought to be taken seriously by all parties concerned. The government should take heed.

There is little room for complacency in the matter, because the survey is not made up. It is an authentic indication of the people’s will. So, both parties must pay attention to the results of the survey.

In simple terms, the government ought to handle things with the utmost care and respect towards all, and the opposition needs to come up with a mature and civilised way of thinking.

The school of democracy is not easy to build. It is the people’s will that should be taken into consideration. If not, nothing’s going to work. l Mohammad Ali Sattar is a journalist and a DT columnist.

T

here is no protest in our society against the eviction and repression of sex workers. The government is as usual acting blind, while the intellectuals are silent. The media, human rights organisations, and other leftist organisations are avoiding the incident of eviction, as if nothing has happened.

When garment labourers of Tuba Group were on hunger strike demanding their due salary and Eid bonuses, leftist and cultural organisations were with them to help. The intellectuals wrote about the crisis. I don’t understand why they are silent now. Are they ashamed of talking about sex workers?

Do the girls choose this profession willingly? Of course not. Due to oppression, sexual harassment, and poverty in our society, many girls are forced to do this kind of work. As an example, when the jute mill in Khulna city was closed, girls from families of victims started to get prostitution licenses from various police stations in the city.

Many people think that prostitution is illegal. In the second chapter of the constitution, titled “Three principles to govern the state,” it is stated: “The state will take effective action to stop prostitution and gambling.”

However, it is not clear what kind of action the state would take. And, I would like to know if the eviction was part of this process of “taking effective action.”

It is not clear how the state is supposed to deal with this business.

Sex work is not banned by any law in Bangladesh. In this context, the High Court said in a verdict, if a sex worker gives her consent to have sexual intercourse, then she is allowed to do so.

Even though sex work is not permitted by society, it’s not illegal by the law.

Our society is unwilling to accept sex work as a profession. Girls who are in this profession unwillingly are the ones who suffer from this attitude.

Men who go to them don’t have to face society’s wrath. Sex workers themselves have the same opinion about sex work as society.

They don’t want their children to get engaged in this profession. Most sex workers send their children away from brothels to study, and also try to hide their true identity. It is because people blame their children and other family member as well, and treat them very badly.

Girls who live in sex work villages are completely helpless. Society does not accept them and give them the chance to change their profession.

There is a great deal of misery in these villages. Incidents like homicide and rape in these villages have become very common.

Leaders and activists of the ruling party, and even the police, extort them. The girls are not assured of their own security. On top of that, the tendency to evict them is increasing.

On July 12, 2014, the sex worker village of Tangail was evicted by the dominant locals. For a long time, they were threatening the girls. On that day, the local dominant people threatened them to leave the place immediately; otherwise they would attack the village and burn them to death. Approximately 739 girls were evicted that day.

The main goal of the eviction was to take possession of that place. If you inquire about the recently evicted sex worker villages, you will get to know who owns the place now and how much power they have in the society. The daily newspapers also tell us who have made huge profits after the evictions.

I wonder where these girls will go, and how will they live their lives after the evictions. Many people say they can work in garment factories.

In reality, the owners of the garment factories don’t accept them. So, are they and their children going to die of starvation? Will their dreams about their children’s futures fall apart?

Many mini brothels have sprung up after the eviction of the big ones.

What’s the point of evicting sex workers if the desire to use them doesn’t lessen? After the eviction of Tanbazar and Kandupatti, many mini brothels were established throughout Dhaka and Narayanganj city.

The state must stop any kind of illegal eviction attacks and must not take possession of the land of the sex workers

Evicted prostitutes are spreading out in flats, hotels, end even parks. It was easier to give them medical treatment for venereal and other diseases in the big brothels.

Now, it will be a very tough task to provide them with health services in these mini brothels. The result of this will be dangerous. The scattered sex workers are increasing health risks for the people as well.

It seems like we have no time to think about “unimportant” matters like the eviction of sex workers. Political unrest, murders, sinking ships, and incidents at garment factories seem like the only serious matters to think about.

Already, a long time has passed in neglect. Sex workers are human beings too. They have the right to live. The state has the responsibility to assure their security and provide them with healthcare.

The state must stop any kind of illegal eviction attacks and must not take possession of the land of the sex workers. If this profession is banned on the grounds of being improper, the state should give them a chance to live honourably in another profession. l Shafia Arifin is a women’s rights activist.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

PITT-JOLIE’S wedding photographs revealed

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Ong Bak HBO 5:45pm

n Shadma Malik Bangla hip hop is an emerging genre of Bangladeshi music. At present, online social networks such as Facebook and Myspace are playing an important role in bringing different underground Bangladeshi rappers together in sharing their music. Perhaps the genre is gaining rapid popularity because of its familiarity with the current street lingo which is popular among the trend savvy youngsters nowadays.

To know about the current scenar-

original African American rap to our own style. We know the history and we know how to make it work. We cannot set ourselves apart from our culture or pretend to be what we are not. We need to connect with our audience in order to be accepted as one of them.”

Although the genre is yet to meet popularity, the hip hop musicians are hopeful as music has become global.

With much confidence Uptown Lokolz states that things have changed and it will change more. Bangladeshi immigrants abroad have invited Uptown

The sacred Buddha of a village is stolen. It’s known as the head of Ong-Bak and was the centre of the festivities in the drought-ridden village to bring rains. Now the young Ting is chosen to be the savior of the artifact and is asked to travel all the way to the seedy city of Bangkok to bring it back.

Air Force One Zee Studio 11:15am

n Entertainment Desk Ever since the exciting news broke that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie had tied the knot, celebrity fans around the globe have been waiting for the first glimpse of the couple on their day of days.

Holly wood’s golden couple have shared their gorgeous wedding album with HELLO!, in

conjunction with US publication People.

The photographs portray joyous celebration – a family affair, which took place at the f a m i l y ’s magical French home, Château

Miraval.

As the incredibly natural photos show, the pair chose to marry in a ceremony on August 23 that was as simple as it was intimate. Jolie’s wedding gown was designed by Luigi Massi of Atelier Versace, the veil covered with artwork by her and Brad’s six children.

Each child had a key role to play: Eldest sons Maddox, 13, and Pax, 10, walked their mom down the aisle; flower girls Zahara, 9, and Vivienne, 6, tossed petals gathered from the garden; and Shiloh, 8, and Knox, 6, served as ring bearers. The kids also helped write their parents’ vows. And Pax baked the cake!

“It was such a special day to share with our children and a very happy time for our family,” Jolie said to People.

“It was important to us that the day was relaxed and full of laughter. It was such a special day to share with our children and a very happy time for our family,” Pitt told HELLO!. l

io of hip hop, Dhaka Tribune caught up with the crew Uptown Lokolz who made quite an impression with their popular number “Ai Mama Ai” from their first album. They also have music videos which on the first glance show the heavy influence of American Hip Hop as the youngsters are seen in sporting clothes and accessories like that of Jay-Z, King Los and others. The crew features Asiful Islam Sohan and Asif Ifteza better known as Black Zang and Bigg Spade, streetwise rappers who connect with the crowd through their stylish rendition of rap in colloquial urban Bangla.

Uptown Lokolz recently released their second album “VIP-Vol 1” after five years. About the album, Bigg Spade said: “We have released six songs, the title song ‘Uptown’ has created a hype and we are hopeful that it will be as popular as ‘Ai Mama Ai.’ The title of the album VIP actually stands for ‘Vari Izzoti Polapan.’ In our country, VIP usually means important or rich people of the society, through our album we have given our own definition of VIP to the listeners.”

About Bangla rap, Black Zang said: “We have incorporated the essence of

Lokolz to collaborate with foreign musicians to set up a multicultural relationship, said Black Zang.

About the dying audio industry and the position of hip hop, the crew said: “We are trying to promote our songs in TV commercials, Telecom advertisements and in dramas with urban themes.

Our tracks are usually interesting as it addresses situations and social issues.”

About using slang in their lyrics, Black Zang said: “We do not believe in using slang in our songs in order to maintain the essence of hip hop. A child should not be exposed to slang through songs and yes, once we did use slang, but stopped due to the lack of acceptance.”

Uptown Lokolz is influenced by the lifestyle of Dr Dre, an American record producer, rapper and entrepreneur.

The theme of the crew is dominated by passion and commitment. Coming from a middle class family, Black Zang saw the reality of life, therefore there is sadness in his words.

On the other hand, Bigg Spade said: “Before, there was aggression in my style but as time went by, I started focusing on expressing deeper thoughts.” l

Sarika vows to return after Eid

James Marshall, a onetime combat hero in the Vietnam War is now President of the United States. While visiting the former Soviet Union, Marshall gives a speech in which he supports zero tolerance against both terrorists and a right-wing general and war criminal from Kazakhstan imprisoned in Moscow. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Concert

The Bodhisattwa Trio Time: 7:30pm – 9:30pm EMK Center, MIDAS Center, 5 Road No 16

Theatre

Rai-Krishno Podaboli Time; 7pm – 9pm National Theatre Hall Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy

Film

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes Lucy Most Welcome 2 Maleficent Transformers: Age of Extinction Time: 10am – 10pm Star Cineplex, Level 8, Bashundhara City 13/3 Ka, Panthopath

Alia Bhatt excited to romance Shahid Kapoor

n Entertainment Desk

n Entertainment Desk

Amid speculation that Sarika might have called off her career after her marriage to businessman Mahim Karim, the model-turned-actor has revealed that she is actually planning to make a comeback post Eid-ul-Azha.

While talking to Dhaka Tribune, the actor, who stayed in relative obscurity with a break from acting spanning nearly two years, said she is “determined” to revive her career. “I am determined to come back. I’ve got several TV scripts at hand. I am reading them new. If any of these attracts me, my fans will hopefully see me back on air after Eid.” Sarika hasn’t been in the news for a quite a while now, and the few times she made headlines were all for the wrong reasons, including her alleged drug addiction and problems in personal life.

“Before my marriage, there were many rumours and now all that have proved false. I am grateful to the Almighty that I’ve found someone in my life who really understands me.

I seek everyone’s blessings that we can be happy together.”

Sarika further said she plans to be regular in acting but will be selective while choosing roles and will work only with high-profile television directors. “But my first priority is my family, and everything else comes next.”

Asked about her interest expressed about two years ago in acting in a film, she said, “I have no such plan as of now. If the overall condition of the film industry improves a bit, then maybe I will think about it again.” l

Student of the Year actor Alia Bhatt is acting in a film based on the theme of destination wedding. The project has been named “Shaandaar,” and it is being helmed by the Queen director Vikas Bahl.

Shahid Kapoor will be seen opposite her in the film.

Alia Bhatt took to Twitter

THE POWER OF LENSES n Shadma Malik The ninth international inter-university photography exhibition by North South University is under way at the National Art Gallery of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, featuring entries selected through a contest in which students from 66 universities and colleges from across the world participated.

The eight-day exhibition, being hosted by the photography club of NSU (NSUPC), began on August 29 with 150 single entries and 10 photo-stories.

Thirty-five of them have received awards under two broad categories marked as colour and blackand-white media, subsequently divided into subcatagories such as action, portrait, life, architecture, nature, still life, landscape and photo-story.

The participants, through their photographic works, sought to capture the many colours of life strewn across the length and breadth of their individual countries. They looked for the magic in real-life moments and tried to bring it to the foreground.

The photo winning the first prize in Action cat-

egory shows a young percussionist playing dhol in a festival. The face of the musician is subtly visible alongside a red-coloured background. Titled “Coming Back to Life,” it was taken by Dhrubo Paul of Bangladesh University of Engineering Technology (BUET).

The third position in the Architecture category (black-and-white media) was obtained by Tom Price from Blackpool and the Fylde College, who depicted the subtlety of a multi-layered apartment.

“Portrait Colour” by Rachael Darcie Nellist of Manchester Metropolitan University has been crowned the first prize in Portrait category. It shows a woman with an expressive face against the background of sun.

Artur Gutowski from Polish National Film School won the third prize in the category of conceptual colour for his “Alone.” The photographer captures a densely-fogged landscape with a man taking morning strolls. “A Refuge For Light”

by Shadman Shahid from Pathshala South Asian Media Academy tries to portray life behind busy parks, streets and intersections. l

to announce the beginning of the first day shoot for Shaandaar. She wrote, “Today is day 1 of #Shaandaar !!!!

Wish me luckkkkkk :D start of a new beautiful journey!!!

Wohooooo.”

Apart from Alia and Shahid in lead roles, ‘Shandaar’ also stars Pankaj Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor in pivotal roles. l

Did you know?

Alvaro Negredo failed to score in any of his last 16 appearances for Man City, after a run of 9 goals in the 5 games before that

Sport

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

14 Batigoal ‘asked

doctor to cut off his legs’

14 Schweini named

captain before WC final rematch

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Oldest former

Test cricketer Gordon dies

NATIONAL AGE-LEVEL SWIMMING

Records galore on second day n Shishir Hoque

BKSP’s Ariful Islam participates in the 100m butterfly event in the 30th National Age-Level Swimming and Diving Competition at the National Swimming Complex, Mirpur yesterday.

Ariful clinched gold in the event along with nine other gold medals in the competition MUMIT M

SCORECARD

Australia A Finch c Duminy b McLaren P Hughes c Miller b Phangiso S Smith c de Kock b Imran Tahir G Maxwell c de Kock b Steyn G Bailey st de Kock b Phangiso M Marsh not out B Haddin c Phangiso b Morkel M Johnson run out M Starc not out Extras (6lb, 3w, 2nb) Total (7 wkts, 50 overs)

16 85 36 2 32 86 11 2 1 11 282

Bowling Steyn 9-0-64-1, Duminy 4-0-24-0, Morkel 9-1-51-1, McLaren 8-0-56-1, Imran Tahir 10-0-42-1, Phangiso 10-0-39-2.

South Africa H Amla c Haddin b Marsh 17 Q de Kock c Smith b Maxwell 1 F du Plessis hit wicket b Richardson 126 AB de Villiers c Bailey b Lyon 6 JP Duminy c sub (Cutting) b Marsh 16 D Miller b Johnson 3 R McLaren c Smith b Richardson 24 D Steyn run out 5 A Phangiso not out 3 M Morkel b Johnson 0 Imran Tahir c Marsh b Maxwell 2 Extras (7lb, 10w) 17 Total (all out, 44 overs) 220 Bowling Johnson 9-1-30-2, Maxwell 4-0-22-2, Richardson 8-0-38-2, Starc 8-1-47-0, Marsh 5-0-23-2, Lyon 10-0-53-1.

Australia won by 62 runs

Australia beat Proteas, reach tri-series final n AFP, Harare An eye-catching all-round performance

by Mitchell Marsh carried Australia to a 62-run victory over South Africa on Tuesday to secure their place in the triangular series final.

Marsh struck a brutal 86 not out from 51 balls to boost the Australian total to 282 for seven, and then took two key wickets as South Africa were bowled out for 220 in 44 overs.

Faf du Plessis’ brilliant 126 went in vain as none of his team-mates crossed 25, with Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell and Kane Richardson joining Marsh with two wickets apiece.

Victory secured Australia’s participation in Saturday’s final, where they should meet South Africa again.

The Proteas would need to be heavily beaten by Zimbabwe in Thursday’s final round robin game to miss out on qualifying.

Earlier, Mitchell Marsh hit a brutal unbeaten 86 as Australia posted 282

for seven. Australia were battling to increase their scoring rate when Marsh arrived at the crease, but the all rounder struck seven sixes in a 51-ball innings to help his side take 94 runs from the last eight overs.

Marsh’s big hitting included three successive sixes off the bowling of Dale Steyn - the first time that the fast bowler had conceded that many sixes in a single ODI over. Australia’s innings had been pedestrian up until that point, with Phil Hughes rarely getting into his full stride in the course of his 85 from 92 balls.

South Africa picked up regular wickets after winning the toss and electing to bowl, which sucked the momentum out of the Australian innings. Although Hughes put on 85 for the second wicket with Steve Smith, who returned to the Australian side and batted at No. 3 in the absence of the injured Michael Clarke, the spin duo of Imran Tahir and Aaron Phangiso picked up three cheap wickets.l

A total of eight new national records were set on the second day of the Cotton Group 30th National Age-Level Swimming and Diving Competition at the National Swimming Complex at Mirpur yesterday.

BKSP continued their domination on the second day as well by picking up a total 48 gold, 40 silver and 27 bronze medals while second-placed Bangladesh Ansar could only bag 12 gold, 12 silver and 15 bronze.

After six national records on the opening day, yesterday’s 34 events produced eight more new records. Therefore the total number national records from this competition now stands at 14 with BKSP swimmer Ariful Islam alone breaking three national records on his way to winning 10 gold medals.

Ariful set two more national records yesterday, but the swimmer whose performance on the pool stands out is Marium Khatun who has so far broken a total of five records with three of them coming yesterday. The girl from Bogra Swimming Complex has so far

McGrath to train India’s fast bowlers n AFP, New Delhi Australian great Glenn McGrath said on Tuesday he had signed up to guide India’s current and future fast bowlers for the next five years, giving a boost to the country’s young talent.

McGrath will train the likes of Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron alongside promising youngsters at the MRF Pace Foundation in the southern city of Chennai, which he has headed since 2012 after replacing countryman Dennis Lillee.

“It has been a wonderful couple of years for me at the MRF Pace Foundation,” said McGrath, 44, who retired in 2007 with 563 Test and 381 one-day wickets.

“I now eagerly look forward to working with India’s best at the Foundation.

Our facilities compare favourably with the best in the world and I am eagerly looking forward to this challenge,” the Australian said in a statement.

India, beaten 3-1 in the recent Test series in England, are due to tour Australia later in the year for Tests and one-day cricket ahead of the World Cup Down Under in February-March. l

Bangladesh A team’s Ziaur Rahman (L) and Naeem Islam run for a single during their practice game against Bangladesh Under-19 at the SBNS yesterday. Batting first Bangladesh A posted 254-6 with Naeem and Zia scoring 61 and 47 respectively. U-19 were later bundled out for 166 as the second string national side won by 88 runs MUMIT M

Chittagong – The dysfunctional hub of cricket n Minhaz Uddin Khan The first part of ‘Chittagong – The dysfunctional hub of cricket’ reported on the glorious past, a fully functional organisation, its output and then the reasons behind the decline of a system which used to be admired by the country’s cricketing arena.

In the second and final part of the series, this reporter tried to explore down into the core of the issue, this time with versions from a cricketer and one of the leading coaches of the port city.

The youngsters are hardly interested in learning new things and are often happy with minute achievements – lets say scoring 20-odd runs or picking up a wicket Discarded national opener Nafees Iqbal hails from a family which has contributed immensely for cricket in Chittagong. Although his father, late Iqbal Khan, was a professional footballer their family – the Khan family – was passionate for the game of cricket.

Not only the country but the whole world has seen the contributions of the family that were borne out of devotion for the game – Nafees, former national skipper Akram Khan and current national opening batsman Tamim Iqbal.

“Being so close to sports always helped us keep motivated and stick to the aim of

flourishing in this arena,” said Nafees. Many people have put a tag on Nafees and Tamim in that they have been lucky to belong to a sporting family – this advantage made things easier for them. To brand the Iqbal brothers lucky would be a gross injustice towards the port city which also produced Aftab Ahmed and Nazimuddin, cricketers whose families had no relation whatsoever to the game or any other sports.

Nafees echoed the same sentiment to that of Chittagong Divisional Sports Association (CDSA) vice president Ali Abbas - the system has gone faulty and hardly anything is in place. Nafees thinks the biggest hurdle cricketers from Chittagong encounter is a lack of facilities. Cricket in the country has flourished over the years but only to the point of being more Dhaka-centric.

“It is true that cricket has expanded in many ways over the years but you also have to understand what the cricketers from Chittagong are getting in regards to facilities compared to that of Dhaka,” Nafees went on to explain, “The best facilities are in Dhaka and then Rajshahi at the moment, so zonal-wise the cricketers there are in an advantageous position in the Under-18 and 19 levels, the A team or even those who are discarded from the national side. Whereas in Chittagong we have nothing at the moment – we do not even have a proper turf wicket to practice on.”

Nafees complained that a dearth of professional tournaments is also a reason behind the division’s failure to produce

cricketers as well as attracting new ones.

The 29-year old right-handed batsman, whose century against Zimbabwe sealed Bangladesh’s maiden Test series victory, recalled the U-19 days, “Me, Aftab, Nazim used to rule the U-19 team and were the key players but at the end of the day only talent

bagged eight gold and two silver medals after the end of second day.

Marium broke the records in girls’ (age 18-20) 200m breaststroke event where she clocked 3:1.87m while the other two records were set in the 200m backstroke (3:0.96m) and 100m butterfly (1:17.74m) event. The previous record in the 100m butterfly was set by Doly Akter in 2003.

Ariful set a new national record in the boys’ (age 18-20) 100m freestyle event clocking 0:57.11m, therefore breaking the previous record set by BKSP’s Nazmul Hoq who clocked 0:57.20m in 2006. Ariful’s other record came in the 200m breaststroke event where he touched the finishing line in 2:35.79m.

BKSP’s Mithu Mia set new record in boys’ (age 13-14) 200m backstroke event after 16 years as he timed 2:30.26m. the last record was set by Wasiul Islam of BKSP in 1998.

Suraiya Akter Chumki of BKSP set a record in the girls’ (age 13-14) 200m backstroke while her teammate Ria Akter Moni set a new record in girls’ 50m freestyle event.

The three-day competition ends today with 30 more events to play. l

is not enough to survive. One also requires proper facilities for development.”

Nafees concluded by saying the senior players of the division alongside the concerned authorities should be lauded for an initiative to field eight debutants in the last edition of the National Cricket League,

PART-2

something that will encourage and inspire the youngsters in the future.

Now to get the version of Mominul Haque, one of Chittagong’s best coaches, and his reasons behind the drought in producing more cricketers from the division.

Momin has been coaching the divisional

Cricketers of an academy practise at the outer section of the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

team for the last four years. He is also coach of Brothers Union, a premier cricket club of the country. The major issue Momin, who also operates a cricket academy, has to face as a coach is a lack of passion amongst some youngsters. One reason he pointed out is the families pressing the young ones more into studies than anything else, let alone sports.

“Another thing that I have personally observed is that the young cricketers do not follow the seniors. The youngsters are hardly interested in learning new things and are often happy with minute achievements – lets say scoring 20-odd runs or picking up a wicket,” said Momin.

Like Nafees, Momin also pointed out that a lack of tournaments was hampering the growth of the division’s cricketers.

“We were the immediate batch after Akram bhai. To be honest we had the potential but most of the players had to leave the game because there were no tournaments at all and only a few could get the chance to play for clubs in Dhaka. I played my first premier league in Chittagong after playing three seasons in Dhaka, so you can imagine how bad the situation here was,” Momin explained.

The Chittagong-based coach informed that initiatives are being taken to amend the situation and that CDSA has implemented a few long-term plans to bring back the glory days of the past but reaping the results of the system might take a few more years to see the light of the day. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Gunners seal late Welback move

MATCH FOR PEACE

Valencia rope in City’s Negredo on loan Mane to the club from Red Bull Salzburg. n AFP On a busy day, Hull City paid a

Legendary footballer Diego Maradona (L) runs to the ball during a special interreligious ‘Match for Peace’ at the Olympic stadium in Rome on Monday. The ‘Match for Peace’ featured current and former football stars representing various religious faiths REUTERS

CR7 unimpressed by Real transfer dealings n AFP, Madrid World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo has said he wouldn’t have sanctioned the sales of Angel di Maria and Xabi Alonso if he was in charge of Real Madrid.

The European champions sorely missed both departed midfielders and the injured Ronaldo as they succumbed to a shock 4-2 defeat at Real Sociedad on Sunday.

“If I was in charge, I would not do it like this, but everyone has their opinion and is free to say what they think,”

Ronaldo said at a sponsor’s event on Monday.

“If the president thinks it is best for the team to sign some players and let others go then we have to respect and support his decision.”

Mexican international Javier Hernandez became Madrid’s fourth summer signing on Monday after agreeing to a season-long loan deal from Manchester United.

However, despite the arrivals of World Cup stars James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos and Keylor Navas, there was severe criticism of the club in the Spanish

press for letting two of their most consistent performers in their run to the record 10th European Cup leave.

Di Maria was man-of-the-match in the Champions League final victory over Atletico Madrid, but was sold for a British transfer record £59.7 million ($98 million) last week.

Alonso, meanwhile, asked to leave the club, citing a need for a new challenge at 32 years of age.

However, Ronaldo also insisted that the new players should be given time to settle in having not had much of a pre-season due to the World Cup. l

Arsenal have announced the signing of England international striker Danny Welbeck from Premier League rivals Manchester United on a long-term deal for a reported fee of around £16 million.

“Danny Welbeck has joined Arsenal for an undisclosed fee on a long-term deal,” Arsenal announced on their website two hours after the transfer window closed on Monday.

Meanwhile, Valencia have completed the signing of Spanish international Alvaro Negredo on loan from Manchester City.

Youth-team graduate Richards joined Fiorentina on a season-long loan with an option to buy, ending a 13-year association with the club. Negredo moved in a similar deal, only a year after arriving from Sevilla in a £20 million transfer.

City rivals United made a sensational double swoop on transfer deadline day to sign Colombia striker Radamel Falcao on loan from Monaco and Holland international Daley Blind from Ajax.

With Falcao in line to form a star-studded attack alongside Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie, Welbeck and Javier Hernandez were both allowed to leave Old Trafford.

Mexico striker Hernandez, nicknamed ‘Chicharito’, was loaned to Real Madrid after scoring 59 goals in 154 appearances for United.

Meanwhile, youngsters Nick Powell and Tom Lawrence joined Leicester City - Powell on loan, Lawrence on a permanent deal - and defender Michael Keane was loaned to Burnley.

United’s dealings dominated the headlines on a day when English clubs took their close-season spending soaring past £800 million - a Premier League record.

Southampton signed Belgium defender Toby Alderweireld from Atletico Madrid on loan and also paid around £10 million to bring Senegalese winger Sadio

club-record fee of around £9.5 million to buy Uruguay striker Abel Hernandez from Palermo, signed Mohamed Diame from West Ham United, and completed loan moves for Southampton playmaker Gaston Ramirez, and Newcastle United winger Hatem Ben Arfa.

Tottenham Hotspur signed France Under-21 midfielder Benjamin Stambouli from Montpellier for around £4.7 million, sold Sandro to Queens Park Rangers for around £10 million, and loaned Lewis Holtby to Hamburg.

Brazilian midfielder Sandro’s move to Loftus Road reunited him with former Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, who also brought in Niko Kranjcar on loan but saw a move for Lassana Diarra collapse.

Crystal Palace broke their transfer record to sign Scotland midfielder James McArthur from Wigan Athletic and also signed defender Zeki Fryers from Spurs and striker Kevin Doyle on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Meanwhile, Sunderland completed loan moves for Liverpool centre-back Sebastian Coates and Inter Milan midfielder Ricardo Alvarez. l

Karim El Ahmadi (Feyenoord)

Burnley George Boyd (Hull City) Nathaniel Chalobah (Chelsea) Loan Michael Keane (Man United) Loan

Chelsea Marco Van Ginkel (AC Milan) Loan Nathaniel Chalobah (Burnley) Loan Jamal Blackman (Middlesbrough) Loan

Crystal Palace Kevin Doyle (Wolverhampton) Loan James McArthur (Wigan Athletic) Zeki Fryers (Tottenham Hotspur) Glenn Murray (Reading) Loan

Everton Shane Duffy (Blackburn Rovers)

Hull City Abel Hernandez (Palermo) Hatem Ben Arfa (Newcastle) Loan Mohamed Diame (West Ham United) Gaston Ramirez (Southampton) Loan Brian Lenihan (Cork City) George Boyd (Burnley)

Leicester City Kris Scott (Swansea City) Nick Powell (Man United) Loan Ryan Watson (Northampton) Loan

Liverpool Sebastian Coates (Sunderland) Loan Oussama Assaidi (Stoke City) Loan

Daley Blind (Ajax Amsterdam) Radamel Falcao (Monaco) Loan Danny Welbeck (Arsenal) Javier Hernandez (Real Madrid) Loan

Newcastle United Hatem Ben Arfa (Hull City) Loan Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (Roma) Loan

Queens Park Rangers Danny Welbeck has joined Arsenal for an undisclosed fee on a long-term deal

n AFP

Argentina legend Gabriel Batistuta begged a doctor to amputate his legs due to the excruciating pain he felt after retiring in 2005.

The former striker, who netted 56 times in 78 international caps and terrorised defences in Serie A for years, suffered terribly from the stress he had put on his body during a 17-year career.

And the former Fiorentina and Roma striker felt in so much pain at the age of 36 that he longed to have his legs removed, just like South African athlete Oscar Pistorius.

The now 45-year-old told TyC Sports: ‘I left football and overnight I couldn’t walk.

‘I wet the bed even though the bathroom was only three metres away. It was 4am and I knew if I stood my ankle would kill me.

‘I went to see Doctor Avanzi (an Or-

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger was on Tuesday named the new captain of Germany by manager Joachim Loew.

Loew appointed the 30-year-old to succeed Philipp Lahm, who stepped down from international duty after skippering Germany to the World Cup title in July.

“Bastian will be a great and dignified captain of our national team,” said Loew.

Schweinsteiger is currently injured with a knee problem, leaving goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to lead Germany out on Wednesday in an international friendly in Dusseldorf against Argentina in a rematch 50 days after the Maracana showdown in Rio de Janeiro.

Schweinsteiger became a symbol of Germany’s charge to a fourth world trophy, battling on through the final victo-

ANGEL DI MARIA

Aston Villa

Manchester United

n Dailymail.co.uk

TOP

Danny Welbeck (Man United) Ignasi Miquel (Norwich City) Ryo Miyaichi (Twente Enschede) Loan

Alvaro Negredo (Valencia) Loan Micah Richards (Fiorentina) Loan Emyr Huws (Wigan Athletic)

Injured Schweini named Germany captain before WC final rematch

thopaedics specialist) and told him to cut off my legs. He looked at me and told me I was crazy.

‘I couldn’t bear it any longer. I can’t put in to words just how bad the pain was. I looked at Oscar Pistorius and said, “That’s my solution”.l

Arsenal

Manchester City

Batigoal ‘asked doctor to cut off his legs’

ry over Argentina despite taking an elbow in the face that left blood pouring from a cut.

Around 45,000 people watched the World Cup-winners train on Monday and Wednesday’s game at the Espirit Arena will attract a sell-out crowd.

On Sunday, Joachim Loew’s side host Scotland in Dortmund in their first qualifier for Euro 2016. For a German team still taking in the World Cup triumph, the two games have come around quickly.

“I think it’s not easy for us - that’s clear,” Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said on Monday.

“For Scotland it’s the game of the year to start against us. We have to play well against Argentina with regard to the weekend and to be fully prepared for it.”

Germany will be without Philipp Lahm, Per Mertesacker and Miroslav Klose, all of whom retired from inter-

PREMIER LEAGUE DEADLINE DAY TRANSFERS

Sandro (Tottenham) Niko Kranjcar (Dynamo Kiev) Loan

Southampton Toby Alderweireld (Atletico) Loan Sadio Mane (Salzburg) Saphir Taider (Inter Milan) Loan Jake Sinclair (Hibernian) Loan Gaston Ramirez (Hull City) Loan Jack Stephens (Swindon Town) Loan Jos Hooiveld (Norwich) Loan

Stoke City

national football after this summer’s tournament.

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Marco Reus, who missed the World Cup through injury, is back in the squad along with Fiorentina striker Mario Gomez. Highly-rated VfB Stuttgart centre-back Antonio Ruediger is also included.

Mesut Ozil has an ankle injury but Bierhoff said he hoped the Arsenal midfielder would be fit for the Scotland game. Schweinsteiger, however, will miss both matches through injury.

Argentina changed manager after the World Cup, with former Barcelona boss Gerardo Martino taking over after Alejandro Sabella stepped down.

Martino must cope without captain Lionel Messi for his first match in charge. The Barcelona attacker played in a 1-0 win over Villarreal on Sunday but a groin injury has prevented the 27-yearold from travelling to Germany.l

Oussama Assaidi (Liverpool) Loan

Sunderland Sebastian Coates (Liverpool) Loan Ricardo Alvarez (Inter Milan) Loan Modibo Diakite Released Valentin Roberge (Stade Reims) Loan

Swansea City Modou Barrow (Ostersunds FK) Jose Canas (Espanyol) Kris Scott (Leicester City) Alex Bray (Plymouth Argyle) Loan

Tottenham Hotspur Benjamin Stambouli (Montpellier) Zeki Fryers (Crystal Palace) Jonathan Obika (Swindon Town) Sandro (Queens Park Rangers) Lewis Holtby (Hamburg SV) Loan Tomislav Gomelt (Bari) Loan Souleymane Coulibaly (Bari)

West Ham United Morgan Amalfitano (Olympic Marseille) Mohamed Diame (Hull City)

PREMIER LEAGUE TRANSFER WINDOW DEALS 0 1

DIEGO COSTA

Real Madrid (ESP) to Man United; £59.7 million

Atletico Madrid (ESP) to Chelsea; £32 million*

Desperate to halt the slide that saw them finish seventh in the Premier League last season, United signed Di Maria for a British-record fee of almost £60 million.

The skilful Argentina winger, voted man of the match in May’s Champions League final, made his debut in United’s 0-0 draw at Burnley on Saturday.

Bruising Brazil-born striker Costa, 25, joined Chelsea after firing Atletico Madrid to the La Liga title last season with 27 goals. Had a chastening experience at the World Cup with adopted country Spain, but has scored four goals in his first three appearances for Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.

ELIAQUIM MANGALA Porto (POR) to Manchester City; £32 million* Despite a spending cap imposed on them by UEFA for contravening Financial Fair Play regulations, Manchester City found the funds to bring France centre-back Mangala to the Etihad Stadium. The 23-year-old spent three years at Porto, winning two league titles, and has played three times for France.

ALEXIS SANCHEZ

CESC FABREGAS

Barcelona (ESP) to Arsenal; £30 million*

Barcelona (ESP) to Chelsea; £30 million*

Twelve months after smashing their transfer record to sign Mesut Ozil, Arsenal flexed their financial muscles again with a move for Chile’s star forward Sanchez. The 25-year-old provided the first return on the investment when he scored the goal against Besiktas that took Arsenal into the Champions League group phase.

After a mixed three years with Barcelona, 27-year-old former Arsenal captain Fabregas has returned to the Premier League with Chelsea. The Spain midfielder has been quick to settle, notably producing an exquisite assist for Andre Schuerrle in Chelsea’s opening 3-1 victory at Burnley.

ROMELU LUKAKU

LUKE SHAW

ADAM LALLANA

MARIO BALOTELLI

RADAMEL FALCAO

Chelsea to Everton; £28 million

Southampton to Man United; £31 million*

Southampton to Liverpool; £25 million*

AC Milan (ITA) to Liverpool; £16 million*

Monaco (FRA) to Man United; £6 million* loan

Another Southampton player who sought pastures new after breaking into the England squad, attacking midfielder Lallana left St Mary’s after eight years of service. The versatile, two-footed 26-year-old is yet to make his debut after injuring his knee in preseason.

Following a challenging two-year spell in Milan, maverick striker Balotelli returned to England, where he previously played for Manchester City. Renowned as much for his erratic off-pitch behaviour as for his footballing ability, the 24-year old Italy striker has been signed to help fill the void created by the departure of Luis Suarez.

United pulled off a stunning coup on the last day of the transfer window by signing prolific Colombia striker Falcao on a season-long loan with an option for a permanent £43 million transfer. The 28-year-old could form a devastating three-pronged attack alongside Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie.

Amid renewed competition for places at Chelsea, 21-year-old Belgium striker Lukaku elected to join Everton on a permanent basis, having scored 16 goals while on loan at Goodison Park last season. Everton broke their club record to sign him, but manager Roberto Martinez said he was “worth every penny”.

After a fine 2013-14 campaign, which saw him supplant Ashley Cole in the England squad, 19-year-old left-back Shaw joined United in a move that made him become the fourth-most expensive defender in history. Currently sidelined by a hamstring injury.

(* Denotes transfer fee as reported by British media)

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

YUVI v BOLT

Bolt could have been cricketer except for dad n AFP, Bangalore

Clockwise from left - Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh watches Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt bowl, Yuvraj jokingly pushes Bolt to win the 100m friendly race and Bolt hits a six during a friendly cricket match between their teams in Bangalore, India yesterday.

Bolt, on his first ever visit to India, took part in an exhibition cricket match with some of India’s top players AFP/AP

QUICK BYTES Josephites reach semis in VH Basketball Four-time champions Josephites maintained their domination in the VH Basketball tournament after they crushed Renegades 60-27 in their last group game to cruise into the semi finals at the Dhanmondi Basketball Gymnasium yesterday. Meanwhile, Vertical Horizon shrugged off the disappointments from their previous match as they also displayed a killer mentality to beat Renegades 55-34 to seal a semifinal slot. GYC kept their heads cool to beat Kainan’s 55-49 in a closely fought affair.

However, GYC in their second match on the day bit the dust as a spirited Mavericks, a team formed by junior players in the basketball circuit, overpowered them 62-48.

–Raihan Mahmood

Kabir Khan resigns as Afghanistan coach Afghanistan’s cricket coach resigned Tuesday, saying the job was putting too much strain on his family, dealing the side a major blow in its preparations for next year’s World Cup. Kabir Khan, who played four Tests and 10 one-day internationals for Pakistan, led minnows Afghanistan to qualification for the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

In his first stint as coach, starting in 2007, Khan took Afghanistan from international division five to one and helped them gain full one-day status from the International Cricket Council.

“I have resigned from coach’s post,” the 40-year-old told AFP by phone from the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar.

–AFP

Israeli, Palestinian boys pitch up for football friendly

After a traumatic summer of war and death, Israeli and Palestinian children squared off on Monday for games of football, just kilometres (miles) away from the devastated Gaza Strip. Some 80 boys aged between 6 and 16 met for the tournament at the playing fields of the Dorot kibbutz in southern Israel, which had been struck by rockets from Gaza during the 50-day war. The Israeli children came from villages surrounding the besieged Palestinian enclave while the Palestinians were bused in from Yatta in the southern West Bank.

The tournament was part of an initiative launched 12 years ago and aimed at bringing together Palestinians from Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem and disaffected Israeli youths.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Ten Sports 9:00PM US Open 2014 Day 10: Men and Women QFs Sony Six 12:45AM International Friendly Germany v Argentina Star Sports 4 1:00AM International Friendly England v Norway

India reply back with ODI series n Reuters, London

India’s Shikhar Dhawan smashed a six to seal a crushing nine-wicket victory over hapless England in the fourth one-day international in Birmingham yesterday.

The touring side cruised to a win that gave them an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series after another feeble England batting display in which the hosts were bowled out for a paltry 206 at Edgbaston.

India’s Mohammed Shami took three for 28 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each, with Moeen Ali’s fluent 67 the only positive for England.

The Indian batsmen made light work of their chase with Ajinkya Ra-

hane (106) and Dhawan sharing a 183rin opening partnership and the latter smashed the last ball over the ropes to reach the target with more than 19 overs remaining.

India won the toss and England struggled from the start, the top three back in the pavilion with just 23 runs on the scoreboard.

Joe Root (44) and Eoin Morgan (32) patiently rebuilt with a fourth-wicket stand of 80 before both fell to spin, Morgan turning Jadeja to leg-slip and Root playing a reverse sweep straight to Dhawal Kulkarni at backward square off Suresh Raina.

Moeen took England up towards 200, the all-rounder hitting four fours and three sixes before he was bowled

by Ravichandran Ashwin. l

SCORECARD England A Cook c Raina b Kumar A Hales b Kumar G Ballance c Rahane b Shami J Root c Kulkarni b Raina E Morgan c Raina b Jadeja J Buttler lbw b Shami M Ali b Ashwin C Woakes run out (Raina) S Finn b Jadeja J Anderson not out H Gurney b Shami Extras (lb5, w9) Total (all out, 49.3 overs)

9 6 7 44 32 11 67 10 2 1 3 14 206

Bowling Kumar 8-3-14-2; Kulkarni 7-0-35-0; Shami 7.3-1-28-3; Ashwin 10-0-48-1; Jadeja 10-0-40-2; Raina 7-0-36-1 India A Rahane c Cook b Gurney 106 S Dhawan not out 97 V Kohli not out 1 Extras (lb5, w2, nb1) 8 Total (1 wkt, 30.3 overs) 212 Bowling Anderson 6-1-38-0; Gurney 6.3-0-51-1; Finn 7-0-38-0; Woakes 4-0-40-0; Ali 7-0-40-0; India won by nine wickets to lead five-match series 3-0

English clubs lead the way in summer spending spree

Misbah accepts blame for SL disaster

n Reuters, London

Pakistan’s cricket captain Misbah-ul Haq on Tuesday admitted his failure with the bat was a “big factor” in his team’s disastrous tour of Sri Lanka.

Pakistan were beaten 2-0 in the Tests and lost the three match one-day series 2-1 in August.

“If I take pressure it won’t solve the problem, my contribution as a batsman was not there and it was a big factor,” he said.

“I should do more work on my basics and try to come back in form as soon as possible because when you play as a senior batsman in the team your contribution is very important,” he added.

He added that lack of match practice -- the tour was Pakistan’s first since the Asia Cup and World Twenty20 in February-March this year -- had also played a role in the defeats.l

English Premier League soccer clubs spent a record 835 million pounds ($1.4 billion) on hiring players during the summer transfer window as they reinvested cash from the latest round of broadcast deals.

That total was almost double the 425 million paid out by teams in Spain’s La Liga, the next highest spending country, according to figures released by business services group Deloitte on Tuesday.

The Premier League generates more money than any domestic soccer competition while Spain is home to Real Madrid and Barcelona, the two clubs who enjoy the highest revenues thanks to the way television cash is distributed.

Manchester United, English cham-

pions a record 20 times, spent around 150 million pounds as new manager Louis van Gaal tries to ensure there is no repeat of last season’s disappointing seventh place finish.

Teams in Europe’s main leagues had until late on Monday to finalise their squads for the next few months, leading to frenzied trading in the final few hours of the transfer window. Clubs cannot buy new players again until January.

“We continue to see the increased resources that Premier League clubs enjoy, as a result of improved broadcast deals, translate into investment in players,” said Deloitte’s Dan Jones.

He warned clubs of the need to ensure they did not overspend in the quest for a place in the European Champions League or to retain their spot in the Premier League.l

n AFP, Lahore

India opener Ajinkya Rahane celebrates reaching his century during their fourth ODI match against England at Edgbaston in Birmingham yesterday AFP

Oldest former Test cricketer Gordon dies n AFP, Johannesburg South African Norman Gordon, who was the oldest former Test cricketer, died Tuesday aged 103 in Johannesburg.

“Norman died peacefully this morning in the flat where he lived for 60 years,” friend and former South Africa Test skipper Ali Bacher told reporters.

He played in the famous ‘timeless’ 1939 Durban Test, which lasted 10 days before being drawn because England had to catch a boat home.

England were 42 runs short of victory when play was abandoned in a Test where Gordon bowled 92.2 eight-ball overs.

That marathon spell remains a record for balls bowled by a fast bowler in a Test.

Gordon played only five Tests - all

Djoker, Murray book blockbuster QF n AFP, New York Former champions Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray booked a tantalizing US Open quarter-final duel on Monday with straight-sets fourth-round victories.

World number one and top seed Djokovic didn’t let Philipp Kohlschreiber stand in the way of another

Grand Slam last-eight appearance, defeating the 22nd seed from Germany 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 on another oppressively muggy New York day.

Eighth-seeded Scot Murray advanced with a hard-fought 7-5, 7-5, 6-4 victory over ninth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, avenging a loss to the Frenchman in the Toronto Masters last month.

I hurt my foot, I didn’t die: Azarenka “suffered” during her five-month layn AFP, New York off earlier this year, he was admonVictoria Azarenka lost patience with questions over her season-disrupting foot injury on Monday, telling reporters to stop treating it like a neardeath experience.

The former world number one hit out after reaching the US Open quarter-finals with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win against Serb qualifier Krunic.

But after one reporter wanted to know the extent to which she had

Sprint superstar Usain Bolt said Tuesday he wanted to play cricket for Jamaica as a youngster but his father convinced him to take up track and field instead.

Bolt, the world’s fastest man, could have followed in the footsteps of Jamaican speedsters Michael Holding and Courtney Walsh, who struck fear into the hearts of batsmen while playing for the West Indies in the 1980s and 90s.

Asked on a promotional visit to India why he did not pursue his love of cricket, the six-time Olympic gold medallist replied: “Blame it on my dad.”

“My father is a huge cricket fan, but when I got to higher secondary, I had two options - cricket or athletics,” he said.

“My dad said because of the system in Jamaica, it would be better to take up athletics. He said, ‘You just have to run fast in athletics while it’s tougher to get into the national (cricket) team’.”

Bolt, an ardent cricket fan, was in Bangalore to captain a seven-a-side team against one led by India’s cricket World Cup hero Yuvraj Singh.

The exhibition match, organised by both men’s sponsors, was staged in a stadium in the southern city of Bangalore.

Bolt, the world record holder in both 100m and 200m, said his records at this stage were “pretty much out of reach”.l

ished for a lack of perspective.

“You’re making it sound like I almost died and there was 10 sharks and I got attacked and I survived. And, you know, I saved a dolphin, as well,” said the 25-yearold Azarenka, the runner-up in New York for the last two years.

“It’s not that complicated. What I enjoy is to play tennis. To be talking about what happened with my injuries, it’s useless already.”l

Djokovic reached his 22nd straight Grand Slam quarter-final, a run that stretches back to Kohlschreiber’s victory over him in the third round of the 2009 French Open. Murray broke Tsonga in the final game of each set en route to his victory, first recovering an early break in both the second and third.

Nishikori, the 10th seed, defeated the fifth-seeded Canadian 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (6/8), 7-5, 6-4 to set up a meeting with Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka.

But Nishikori gained the only break of the fourth set in the 11th game and held to force a decisive fifth frame in which he gained the upper hand with a break for a 3-2 lead -- aided by a Raonic double fault for break point.

He’ll have little time to rest before a Wednesday meeting with third-seeded Wawrinka, who beat 16th-seeded Spaniard Robredo 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-2.

Wawrinka fired 18 aces and 75 winners - to Robredo’s 19 - saving two set points in the third-set tiebreaker and dominating the fourth set. l

against England during the 1938-1939 season - because his career coincided with World War II. “Norman lived a full life. His passions were cricket and golf and always felt privileged and appreciative of the wonderful people he met,” said Bacher.

A highlight for then 99-year-oldGordon was a surprise visit by West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara. l

Srinivasan in limbo as IPL probe extended

n AFP, New Delhi India’s Supreme Court Monday gave investigators another two months to probe allegations of corruption in cricket as they blocked a bid by ICC president N. Srinivasan to resume his role as head of the national board.

Srinivasan, who was forced by the court in March to stand aside as chief of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) pending investigations, now heads the International Cricket Council - the game’s world governing body.

The panel of investigators, led by former judge Mukul Mudgal, had submitted an initial report into the allegations surrounding the Indian Premier League (IPL) to the Supreme Court on Friday but had asked for more time to wrap up their inquiries.

In Monday’s hearing in New Delhi, a two-judge bench gave the panel until November 10 when the court will meet again.l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Blue economy to require partnerships The Bay of Bengal has been becoming strategically important for progress

n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Technological and financial partnerships are set to grow as Bangladesh adopts a blue economy outlook.

The geopolitical and strategic importance of the Bay of Bengal is also growing.

“I think the Bay of Bengal and its 1.4 billion people are experiencing a transformation – not only in their ideas and thought but also in terms of their geopolitical and geostrategic importance,” Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque said yesterday.

‘Let us move ahead with a partnership to secure sustainable development’ He was speaking at the concluding session of the two-day International Workshop On Blue Economy arranged by the foreign affairs ministry in the city where 32 experts from 19 countries took part.

“The Bay of Bengal of today certainly is not the same as it used to be 400 or 500 years ago. It has certainly gained a lot of strategic importance,” the foreign secretary said.

Bangladesh won more than 118,813 sq-km of waters altogether comprising territorial sea and an exclusive economic zone extending out to 200 nautical miles (370km).

It also has undeniable sovereign rights in the seabed extending as far as 354 nautical miles [around 656km] from Chittagong coast in the Bay of Bengal with all the living and non-living resources.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali in his concluding remarks said everybody was aware of the potential of the blue economy but also recognised the challenges and space for further invest-

DMCH BABY-STEALING

Two women confess before a Dhaka court n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

Two women gave confessional statements in a case filed with the capital’s Shahbagh police station in connection with the stealing of a baby boy from the Dhaka Medical College Hospital earlier this month.

The two accused are Rasheda Khanom alias Parvin, 48, and Belly Akter alias Rahima, 45.

On August 29, a Dhaka court placed the duo on three days’ remand in the case after they had been arrested by RAB in Gazipur’s Board Bazar area with the stole baby.

Yesterday, Sub-Inspector Ferdous Alam, also investigation officer of the case, produced them before the court after the remand was over and filed a petition before the court to record their confessional statements.

Following the pleas, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ali Masud Sheikh recorded Parvin’s statement and Metropolitan Gagistrate Sabrina Ali recorded Rahima’s. The respective judges then sent the women to jail.

On August 28, a team of Rapid Action Battalion rescued the stolen baby from and detained the two women.

After rescuing the baby, RAB at a briefing said Parvin was a professional midwife. She came to the DMCH on August 21 to visit one of her relatives. The same day Runa gave birth to the twins.

Parvin managed to get acquainted with Runa and took one of her babies into her lap. At on stage, she took the baby away from the gynecology ward and fled the hospital.

Acting on secret information, RAB members conducted a raid at Parvin’s residence at Borad Bazar around 3am and arrested her, RAB said.

Later, on the basis of information given by Parvin, RAB raided Rahima’s house and found the baby there. l

ment and exploration.

He summarised the workshop’s discussions and spelled out a course of action to move forward to tap into the resources of the Bay of Bengal.

The minister said the blue economy must be inclusive and people-centric and awareness about maritime prospects must be created among the people, communities, and policymakers in the legislative and executive branches of government.

“The generation of knowledge and data – horizontally and vertically – is crucial,” Mahmood said.

Data must be relevant to the greater benefit of the lives and livelihoods of the population and developing countries must have access to contemporary and critical data from across the world, he said.

The development of adaptive technology and transfer of critical technology to developing littoral states needs to be considered by the developed world, he said.

“Finance, including innovative financing, securing Blue Growth, has to be facilitated – not just left to market mechanisms,” the minister said.

About the role of private sector, he said the government needs to steer or create policy frameworks to attract critical private investment for the blue economy.

He stressed the need for effective governance in terms of policy and strategy for the maritime and related sectors, and the need for robust institutional frameworks.

He said: “Let us move together ahead with a ‘Bay of Bengal partnership for Blue Economy’ to secure sustainable development among the coastal and littoral states.”

The Bay of Bengal is the largest of 64 bays in the world and 1.4 billion people live along its coastline in Bangladesh, India, Thailand and Myanmar. l

Hundreds of people in Dohar near Dhaka are becoming destitute every day as eroding Padma River keep gobbling up their belongings. Labourers demolish a building, nearly eaten up

by Padma, on the riverbank yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

Flood state improving as downpour comes to a halt n Tribune Report The flood condition has started improving in most of the northern districts except one as incessant downpour came to an end.

Apart from Jamalpur, Gaibanda, Munshiganj, Kurigram Water Development Boards yesterday recorded a mentionable decrease in the water flow of rivers concerned.

On the other hand, there was outbreak of many water-borne diseases like Diarrhoea and Dysentery in line with the improvement because of scarcity in drinkable water when all tubewells still remained submerged in the flood water.

In Gaibanda, flood situation improved in accordance as water in local Ghagat, Brahmaputra, Teesta and Karotua rivers had lessened.

Confirming it, Gaibanda WDB Executive Engineer Abdul Awal said the improvement appeared a great relief for about 17,074 flood-hit families in

Sundarganj, Saghata, Phulchhari and Sadar upazilas.

Local agriculture extension office said about 3429 hectors of crop land have been damaged in the flood while about 250 families lost their homesteads in the river erosion.

The victims under Sundarganj and Saghata upazilas alleged that the local health department has yet to take any move despite outbreak of water-borne diseases, but Gaibanda Civil Surgeon Ahad Ali said 50 medical teams were working there.

Local DC Ahsan Elahi said his administration continued the relief distribution to the marooned people as usual.

Our Munshiganj correspondent reports: The overall flood state improved there as the water of the Padma River started flowing under the danger level although more than 100 villages still remained submerged, leaving the untold suffering of the marooned people continued.

But, there was an outbreak of many diseases in the flood-affected nine villages of Srinagar upazila, three villages in Tongibari upazila and two villages under Sadar upazila.

Sources at the DC office said at least 49 homesteads fell victim of the Padma erosion.

The local administration has already distributed Tk5,000 and 30kg of relief rice to each flood victim, the sources continued.

Local DC Saiful Hasan Badal said they were trying best to tackle the problems appearing.

Our Kurigram correspondent adds: Flood in the low-laying areas has improved as the water flow of local 16 rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Dharala, Teesta, decreased although it was not enough for the marooned people who took shelter on the embankments to return back their homesteads.

The district WDB confirmed it, saying the decrease was about 16cm on different points of the rivers.

Sources said like other districts, there was outbreak of water-borne diseases due to potable water crisis as well as the presence of excessive pest, which added more suffering to the flood-affected people while yesterday was 19th days of their trouble.

The flood victims alleged that the relief being distributed by the local administration was very poor than the demand.

In Jamalpur, despite having a decrease in the upstream water from India, the flood situation has remained static in the district.

The river of the Jamuna river was flowing above the danger level and the marooned people were passing their days amid great suffering as usual.

There was reported an outbreak of water-borne diseases as well as severe fodder crisis for cattle and other livestocks.

Local DC Md Shahabuddin Khan said they continued the relief distribution activities as usual. l

FBI probing leak of nude photos of celebrities

B A B Y- S T E A L E R S !

n Agencies

As soon as a woman reaches the Sayedabad terminal in the capital yesterday, several bus helpers converge on her. One of them virtually snatches the baby boy from her lap in order to make sure that she has no other option but to ride their bus SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the hacking and leaking of celebrity nude photos including those of Academy Award winner Jennifer Lawrence.

Images of more than 100 actors, singers and celebrities, including what appear to be nude photos and videos, have been exposed by a hacker using the internet forum 4chan.

The hacker posted a list of targeted celebrities on Sunday, as well as a number of nude photos including those of Lawrence, who was in The Hunger Games, and others, some of which may be fake.

Lawrence and others affected by the leak have contacted law enforcement, causing an investigation by the FBI, The Guardian reported.

“The FBI is aware of the allegations concerning computer intrusions and

the unlawful release of material involving high profile individuals and is addressing the matter,” said a statement from the Los Angeles FBI. “Any further comment would be inappropriate at this time,” it said.

“This is a flagrant violation of privacy. The authorities have been contacted and will prosecute anyone who posts the stolen photos of Jennifer Lawrence,” said Liz Mahoney, publicist for Lawrence, in a statement.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead, an actor, and Kate Upton, a Sports Illustrated model, also confirmed that images of them had been stolen and leaked online.

Kirsten Dunst hit out at Apple and iCloud, which have been the focus of theories about where the photos came from. Apple is currently probing the theory, although other alternatives including phishing and exposure of details through agents have been posited.l

BNP and allies protest disappearances at a human chain n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

They were brothers, fathers, sons, uncles, husbands and their absence was acutely felt. Standing with tearful eyes in a human chain in the capital, their loved ones asked the government where they had gone?

Many cried loudly, some wept silently, others stared off into the distance.

The people at the human chain were not certain whether their loved ones were dead, or whether they were alive.

The relatives of the disappeared knew this much: their family members had been abducted, and were never seen or heard from again.

Most of the participants at the peaceful event did not want to speak with the media.

The hope of finding their relatives alive is waning, but the desire to find closure and bury them if they are dead remains a potent desire among family members.

“There was no general diary against my son. But law enforcers abducted him. I request the government, even if I have to risk my life, to return my son to my embrace. If you cannot, then give me his body so I can put it on my shoulder,” Mohammad Shamsuddin, father of Nizamuddin, a Chhatra Dal leader said.

He said: “If you cannot return the body, then please let me know where you have put him…so that we can offer prayers for him.”

“Please return my brother. He is very young. RAB told us they would free my brother after asking him some

questions but nine months have passed and he has not come home,” said Farhana Sultana, sister of Tejgaon Swechchhasebak Dal leader, Adnan.

Missing BNP leader M Ilyas Ali’s elder son Abrar Ilyas Ornob said: “We are waiting to know what became of my father. Twenty eight months have passed.”

BNP leader Khaleda Hasan’s wife, Shammi Sultana; Khalid Hossain’s wife, Sharmin Sultana; Samrat Mollah’s sister, Kanij Fatema Rita; Sohel Sarkar’s father, Shamsur Rahman; Tarikul Islam’s father, Nurul Islam; Moinul Hasan’s father, Safaruddin; Nizamudddin’s father, Shamsuddin Ahmed; Jahirul Islam’s mother, Hosne Ara Begum; Sajedul Islam’s sister, Marufa Islam Ferdousi; and Adnan’s sister,

Farhana Sultana; attended the human chain programme.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said killings and abductions would no longer be tolerated and called upon the people to mount a strong resistance against disappearances and killings.

The BNP-led 20-party alliance formed a human chain marking the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances yesterday. Party leaders and activists formed a human chain for one-hour stretching from Fakirapul to Bijoynagar via Nayapaltan at 11am.

“The government has caused fear to spread in the country. Democracy is being destroyed by killings and abductions. The government is oppressing opposition leaders and activists using

state forces,” Fakhrul said.

The spokesperson of the party said the human chain showed that people would not accept any more killings and abductions.

“Stop it. I ask people of the country not to sit idle and let this continue. We have to be united against this,” he said.

Thousands of party leaders and activists formed the human chain carrying pictures of the missing and demanding to know what happened to them.

Apart from BNP supporters, Jamaat-Shibir supporters also formed a human chain calling for all abducted opposition leaders and activists to be freed.

Mirza Abbas, the BNP Dhaka city unit convener, said people were being abducted everyday. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

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B3 Japan’s ‘Abenomics’ feared in trouble as challenges build

B4 Basel III deposit

challenge looms over Islamic banks

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Lending rate dips below 13% after 2 years Islami bond to hit market soon

This is due to lack of loan demand and increased inflow of low-cost foreign credit n Jebun Nesa Alo MOVEMENT OF LENDING RATES 14.7 14.5 14.1 13.9 13.6 13.3 13.0 12.8 12.5

reached highest at 13.9%. The country's banks maintained higher interest rate during the year 2012-13 when the banking sector witnessed crowded credit demands. Banks also showed aggressive lending approach, causing several loan scams during the period.

Under the circumstance, Bangladesh Bank opened the door of entering short term foreign loan into the country at lower rate to rein in the aggressive lending at higher interest rates and to bring discipline in the banking sector.

“We have allowed the short-term foreign financing to facilitate local

NBR eyes Tk1,500cr revenue in forthcoming tax fair The National Board of Revenue has set a target of Tk1,500 crore revenue collection from the weeklong income tax fair scheduled to begin on September 16.

We are expecting to collect Tk1,500 crore from the fair as the last year's collection exceeded Tk1,100 crore target.

The fair is expected to help widen the tax net as well as ensure increased revenue collection,” an NBR official said.

The board has already formed a convening committee led by its member Chowdhury Amir Hossain to observe the fair properly, he said, adding that a press conference will be organised on September 14 to disclose the details of the programme.

The Income Tax Fair has been a core interest to taxpayers for submission of their returns as they can file them through one stop services.

It is alleged that the tax authority's field officials harass the taxpayers while filing the returns, and so the taxpayers wait for the fair which undertakes a huge preparation to satisfy the

needs of taxpayers.

This year, the nationwide fair will be held for four days simultaneously in all 64 district headquarters while the divisional headquarters will observe it for seven days.

The revenue authority is hoping that the fair would help face the challenge of achieving the revenue target of Tk1.49 crore for the FY 2014-15.

The fair will offer Electronic Taxpayers Identification Number (E-TIN) registration, income tax payment, submission of income tax returns by taxpayers etc.

There will be booths of Sonali Bank and Janata Bank to facilitate tax-related transactions and some booths will also be set up to facilitate E-TIN registration.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith is likely to inaugurate the fair on September 16.

On September 15, the board will also award tax cards to the entrepreneurs considering their contribution to the national exchequer.

The fair will remain open for visitors from 10am to 6pm. Last year, the revenue body collected Tk1,117 crore in income tax from the fair, surpassing its target of Tk1,100crore.

A total of 5.10 lakh people received services from the fair and the board had received tax returns from around 1.32lakh taxpayers. l

Jul-14

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Nov-13

Sep-13

Jul-13

May-13

Mar-13

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Sep-12

Jul-12

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12.0

Jan-12

12.2

The file photo shows taxpayers gather at an income tax fair in Dhaka last year. The NBR will begin this year’s fair on September 16 DHAKA TRIBUNE

n Tribune Report

Interest-free new debt instrument in the form of Islami bond will hit in the market soon, as the government recently revised the Islamic bond rules for allowing Shariah-based banks and financial institutions to opt for alternative investment options.

The revised rules will pave the way for Shariah based banks and financial institutions, which failed to invest their surplus funds in treasury bills and other interest bearing government bonds, to invest in such bond, officials said yesterday.

15.0

Nov-11

Average interest rate on bank loans and advances has come down to as low as 12% in July this year, breaking a steady trend of over 13% in last 30 months.

This is due to lack of loan demand in the industrial sector and increased inflow of low-cost foreign loans, bankers said.

The lending rate stood at 12.84% in July from 13.1% in the previous month.

It ranged between 13.9% and 13.1% for the last two and half years, according to the central bank data.

Earlier, the rate came below 13% in December 2011 to stand at 12.9%.

The interest rate on deposit also fell to 7.71% in July from 7.79% in the previous month. It came down to as low as 7% in June, breaking a steady trend over 8% in last two years.

The credit growth got momentum recently, remaining far below the expected growth in the last one year due to the lending rate cut, said a senior banker.

It rose to 10% in the second week of June this year, which was in between 7% and 8% in the last one year, according to the central bank data.

In the decade of 1980's, lending rate was in the territory of 13% and went up to 15% in the decade of 1990's. The rate came down to the level of 13% in the year 1994 and continued till the year 2000.

The lending rate was lowest in between 10% and 11% during the year 2004-09. Then, it witnessed a steady trend between 11% and 12% from the year 2010-11.

The average interest rate started to grow up abnormally in 2012 and

n Kayes Sohel

The central bank will issue auction notice date of Islami investment bonds before 10 days from date of issuance of Islami bond On August 18, the government through a circular announced the amended to Bangladesh Government Islami Investment Bond Rules-2004 aimed at widening the borrowing opportunity to finance large projects, including Padma Bridge.

In line with the revised rules, Bangladesh Bank issued a circular asking all scheduled banks and non-banking financial institutions to take necessary measures based on the revised rules.

In accordance with the features, Islami bond titled Bangladesh Government Investment Bond will be traded in line with the Islamic rules and regulations (Shariah). Sharia-based banks,

manufacturers to become competitive in the global market by reducing their business cost,” said Bangladesh Bank senior adviser Allah Malik Kazemi.

He said the foreign fund inflow, however, put pressure on the banks to cut lending rates and the rate coming down slowly.

The local banks will be forced to reduce the lending rate more in the near future to compete in the market and to achieve credit growth, he said.

“We have suggested the banks to focus their lending in the SMEs and agriculture sectors instead of industrial sector to

increase the credit growth,” he said.

Local banks are now competing with the foreign loan inflow into the country at lower interest rate and struggling to get big borrowers.

They are now focusing on the SMEs and agriculture sector instead of industrial sector to increase their credit growth following the advise of the central bank, said a senior executive of a private bank.

During the FY 2013-14, banks have disbursed agricultural and rural credit of Tk16,037 crore – 110% of the target, according to the central bank data. l

NBR posts 8.54% growth in revenue collection in July n Tribune Report

Now Deutsche Bank to offer fund raising assistance

The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has collected Tk7988crore as revenue in July, first month of the current fiscal posting 8.54% growth from the same time of the last fiscal.

Though the revenue collection in first two months of any fiscal goes slow, but NBR officials said they has witnessed Tk629crore rise in revenue collection as it has collected Tk7988crore in July 2014 which was Tk7359 in the July of 2013, according to NBR data released recently.

The data reads that the board has collected Tk2774crore as customs duty, posting a growth of 7.76% or Tk200 crore increase from the last years collection of Tk2574crore.

Deutsche Bank AG, a German global bank and financial services company, is likely to offer Bangladesh to raise $1bn by floating sovereign bonds, according to official sources.

After Goldman Sachs, the German Bank would come up with the offer today as some other US and UK-based leading companies are also likely to express their interest in assisting Bangladesh to raise dollars from international market.

Deutsche Bank's Bangladesh representative Dr Hasan Imam recently sent a letter to Finance Secretary Mahbub Ahmed in this regard.

Herman Bake, management head of fixed income capital market of the German Bank, will meet finance secretary today where the interest is likely to be placed.

Deutsche Bank opened its Dhaka office two years ago with an intent to become a partner of Bangladesh's financial sector development initiatives.

Meanwhile, during a visit last week, Goldman Sachs officials also expressed such willingness to raise funds for Bangladesh from international bond market as the government is toying with the idea for last several years to implement development projects amid shrinking foreign aids.

They placed the willingness to become issue manager of bonds at a meeting with Finance Minister AMA Muhith at his office.

The officials assured finance min-

In regards to other taxes, the board was able to collect Tk58.4crore with a growth of Tk47.41crore The Value Added Tax wing has witnessed a 8.02% growth or increase of Tk233 crore from the previous fiscal by collection Tk3131crore in July 2014.

In the first month, the income tax wing has collected Tk2024crore with highest 10.09% growth in the mainstream taxes from the last year's July.

In regards to other taxes, the board was able to collect Tk58.4crore with a growth of Tk47.41crore.

NBR officials said that they are expecting to witness a rise in revenue collection as a huge number of taxpayers usually files their returns in the income tax fair, which is scheduled to be held this year from September 16 to September 22. This year, the board is expecting to collect Tk1500crore as income tax from the fair.

The NBR set a revenue collection target of Tk 1,49,720 crore for the FY 2014-2015, including Tk57500 crore as income tax, Tk55,580 crore as VAT and Tk36,680 crore as customs duties.

In the last 2013-14 fiscal, the board has witnessed a Tk4,487 crore shortfall from the revised target of Tk1,25,000 crore.

The NBR has decided to collect advance income tax from various sectors including registration of land and apartments, house rent, surcharge from different sectors, settling disputes that have long been pending etc to cover up the revenue collection target for the current fiscal. l

n Asif Showkat Kallol

ister of raising $2-3bn in just three months. Bangladesh is one of “Next 11” countries identified by Goldman Sachs in 2005 as fast growing economies.

After the meeting, AMA Muhith said the interest rate of the bond will be minimum 7% with a minimum maturity period of five years. He, however, said there was scope for bargaining on maturity period.

In 2011 the government took a move to issue sovereign bonds to raise $500m from the international market to implement development projects because of poor availability of soft loans from the donors.

But it backtracked after a committee led by Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor SK Sur Chowdhury identified the risks including appreciation of local currency against dollar and fall in soft loans from donor agencies in last year.

World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency suspended around $2bn loans to Padma Bridge project in 2012 following corruption allegations in tender process.

Muhith told the reporters that the government was yet to make any final decision on the offer by Goldman Sachs which could open avenues for implementing mega projects in transport and power sectors.

He said the government was again planning to raise funds from the international market this year after the decision of constructing Padma Bridge with own fund. l

A van puller carrying green bananas in Dhaka to a kitchen market

financial institutions, any organisations, any individual and non-resident Bangladeshis will also be able to buy the bond.

The redemption periods has been fixed at three and six months, the guideline said adding that each bond will be worth at least Tk1,00,000. This Islamic investment bond will be auctioned on profit sharing ratio instead of interest.

Investment by the banks and financial institutions on Islami bonds will be considered as fulfillment of statutory liquidity requirement.

Under the existing rules, Islamic banks maintain only 10% statutory liquidity requirement (SLR) instead of 16% as shariah rules cannot permit payment or receipt of interest by any individual or institution.

According to the guideline, the Shariah-based banks and non-financial institutions (NBFIs) will also be allowed to take loans from the central bank and other Islami banks and NBFIs through repurchase agreement by using such bonds.

The central bank will issue auction notice date of Islami investment bonds before 10 days from date of issuance of Islami bond.

Currently, six private commercial banks out of 30 and a foreign bank are operating in Bangladesh under the Islamic shariah. The banks have their own Shariah Councils to fix the terms and conditions of banking services under the Islamic rules and regulations.

The banks are Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd., Al-Arafah Islami Bank Ltd., the Oriental Bank Ltd., the Export Import Bank of Bangladesh Ltd. (EXIM), Social Investment Bank Ltd., Shahjalal Islami Bank Ltd. and Shamil Bank of Bahrain. l

BB to take 5-year strategic plan for banking sector n Tribune Report

Bangladesh Bank would take a fiveyear strategic plan with an aim to ensure transparency, corporate governance and accountability in the banking sector.

Governor Atiur Rahman made the disclosure while speaking on retreat achievement of last five years (20102014) and announcing the new strategic plan for next five years at a press conference at its headquarters yesterday.

There will be maximum use of technology to implement the next five years strategic plan, said the governor.

“We have also planned to build new leaderships in the banking sector by providing right direction to improve human resource,” he said.

He also disclosed that the central bank will build a leadership excellence center in Chittagong where CEO, Chairman and Director of the banks will be trained up on financial institution management. “We will finalise our next strategic plan soon discussing on retreat.''

The press conference was addressed, among others, by Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Abu Hena Mohd. Razee Hassan, SK Sur Chowdhury, Nazneen Sultana, Executive Director Ahsan Ullah and Senior Adviser Allah Malik Kazemi.

SK Sur observed: “Fraud-forgery was seen around the world and our banking sector are also facing some forgery related problems. After getting lesson from these anomalies, we are now trying to establish good governance in the financial sector.” l

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

B2

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Stocks gain for second day

DSE key features September 2-2014

n Tribune Report

Traded Issues

305

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

179

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

120

3.6% and non-baking financial institutions 3.4%.

Notably, most of the mutual funds secured worst positions in top ten losers' list due to post-record date adjustment.

The newly listed shares declined as Khulna Printing and Packaging Ltd lost 5%, Far East Knitting and Dyeing Industries Limited 6.6% and Tung Hai Knitting and Dyeing Limited 6.9%.

The gainers took a strong lead over the losers as out of 304 issues traded, 207 gained, 67 declined and 30 remained unchanged.

Lanka Bangla Securities said market roared hitting the day’s close crossing over the psychological level 4,600.

IDLC Investments said clienteles still were assessing valuation level of the market and re-positioning in lucrative blue chip scrips.

Zenith Investments said DSE indexes extended gains, as investors simultaneously gathered to inject more funds into the stock market.

“Majority of the sectors were elected as gainers - with a few exceptions – were receiving huge support from buyers. Investors, however, turned their backs on the newly issued shares.”

Beximco Limited has again become the most traded stocks with shares worth nearly Tk25 crore changing hands, followed by Grameenphone, Lafarge Surma Cement Ltd Bangladesh, Mobil Jamuna Limited Bangladesh, Beximco Pharma and Bangladesh Shipping Corporation. l

Stocks gained for the second straight session yesterday with increased trading activities. The rally was led

by IT, cement and non-banking financial institutions.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange benchmark index, DSEX, rose 47 points or 1% to 4,602.

The Shariah index, DSES, was up over 18 points or 2% to 1,083.

The comprising blue chips DS30 closed at 1,746 with a rise of 23 points or 1%.

The newly listed shares declined as Khulna Printing and Packaging Ltd lost 5%, Far East Knitting and Dyeing Industries Limited 6.6% and Tung Hai Knitting and Dyeing Limited 6.9% Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, was up 78 points to 8,675.

Trading activities still remained sluggish as turnover at DSE stood at Tk551-crore mark, an increase of more than 10% over the previous session.

Except food and allied that shed 3%, all the major sectors performed robustly, with IT rising 5%, cement

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSER Company AIMS First -A Grameen M F One-A Popular Life 1st M.F.-A EBL First M F-A Reliance1 M.F.-A 1st Janata Bank MF-A Trust Bank 1st MF-A AB Bank 1st Mutual Fund-A PHP 1st M. F.-A EXIM Bank 1 MF-A

Closing (% Change) -26.77 -15.69 -11.86 -10.00 -9.88 -8.33 -8.20 -7.81 -7.69 -7.58

CSE LOSER Company AIMS First -A Grameen M F One-A MBL 1st M. F.-A PHP 1st M. F.-A AB Bank 1st Mutual Fund-A IFIC 1st MF-A Popular Life 1st M.F.-A Phoenix Fin. 1st MF-A EBL First M F-A 1st Janata Bank MF-A

Closing (% Change) -27.58 -15.41 -12.00 -11.11 -10.45 -10.34 -10.17 -10.00 -9.52 -8.33

4602.43867

(+) 1.04%

1745.99569

(+) 1.35%

14249.27580

(+) 1.19%

11497.42650

(+) 1.46%

8675.05080

(+) 0.91%

Average (% Change) -27.05 -16.31 -9.93 -9.44 -9.88 -7.93 -7.28 -6.79 -10.02 -7.58 Average (% Change) -26.94 -15.42 -1.56 -9.74 -9.45 -9.42 -10.02 -0.88 -8.95 -6.97

ANALYST

ClosingAvg. 27.73 29.91 5.35 5.47 7.30 5.57 5.60 5.90 4.76 6.10

ClosingAvg. 28.13 30.11 4.43 4.82 6.04 5.19 5.30 4.50 5.70 5.61

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 206.23 157.80 101.01 623.60 348.14 580.66 1.80 879.76 844.57 91.02 70.84 41.75 62.83 308.46 242.72 52.39 72.51 259.02 151.30 419.91 0.31

DHIGH

27.90 30.10 5.20 5.40 7.30 5.50 5.60 5.90 4.80 6.10

Closing

27.90 30.10 5.50 5.60 7.40 5.70 5.80 6.10 4.90 6.10

DHIGH

28.10 30.20 4.40 4.80 6.00 5.20 5.30 4.50 5.70 5.50

28.40 30.20 4.50 4.90 6.10 5.30 5.40 4.50 5.70 5.70

DSE GAINER Company

5,516.63

Turnover (Volume)

148,079,446

Number of Contract

131,655

6

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,433.80

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

29.50

CSE key features September 2-2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

410.69

Turnover (Volume)

13,603,558

Number of Contract

18,198

Traded Issues

226

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

146

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

74

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,352.51

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

28.52

DLOW 26.60 29.00 5.10 5.40 7.30 5.30 5.20 5.80 4.60 6.10

27.70 29.90 4.40 4.70 6.00 4.90 5.20 4.50 5.70 5.40

Latest EPS

17.242 10.260 2.457 3.376 3.888 3.123 3.911 0.817 3.881 0.009

Turnover in Million

DLOW

9.62 9.14 8.84 8.70 8.54 7.89 7.08 7.04 6.82 5.92

CSE GAINER

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

Turnover in Million

Agni Systems -A Rangpur Dairy-N Modern Dyeing -Z In Tech Online -A Nitol Insurance -A Deshbandhu Polymer-A R. N. Spinning-Z Popular Life Insu. -A Legacy Footwear -A ICB -A

Closing (% Change)

Latest PE

4.71 3.40 1.68 0.65 1.38 1.76 0.91 0.64 1.12 1.28

Latest EPS

0.991 0.452 0.044 0.627 0.015 0.012 0.090 0.032 0.197 0.236

5.9 8.8 3.2 8.4 5.3 3.2 6.2 9.2 4.3 4.8

Latest PE

4.71 3.40 -0.36 1.12 0.64 0.72 1.68 0.71 0.65 1.76

Company Miracle Industries -B Agni Systems -A In Tech Online -A R. N. Spinning-Z Rangpur Dairy-N Legacy Footwear -A Deshbandhu Polymer-A Fine Foods A Hakkani P& Paper -B Keya Cosmetics -A

Closing (% Change) 10.00 8.97 8.57 7.92 7.00 6.92 6.84 6.47 6.40 6.25

Average (% Change) 9.97 10.52 7.66 7.87 5.11 7.42 8.94 6.84 6.72 5.63 Average (% Change) 8.20 9.07 8.78 9.69 10.26 6.65 6.64 7.82 6.50 5.61

ClosingAvg. 31.78 21.23 81.82 14.81 25.94 20.40 25.96 147.35 28.27 1,765.12

ClosingAvg. 17.69 31.40 14.99 26.15 21.17 28.08 20.24 18.21 26.55 25.24

Closing 31.90 21.50 82.50 15.00 26.70 20.50 25.70 147.50 28.20 1,770.75

Closing

DHIGH 32.00 21.60 82.60 15.10 26.90 20.80 26.40 151.50 28.80 1,771.50

DHIGH

17.60 31.60 15.20 25.90 21.40 27.80 20.30 18.10 26.60 25.50

17.90 31.90 15.30 26.50 21.40 28.50 20.60 18.60 26.90 25.80

DLOW 27.60 17.80 81.90 12.80 23.00 17.10 24.00 137.00 25.00 1,605.00

DLOW 16.00 26.80 13.50 23.00 18.00 26.90 17.30 17.50 26.10 21.70

Turnover in Million 121.954 114.491 0.045 12.106 3.313 50.365 31.694 2.029 14.291 42.017

Turnover in Million 1.584 4.699 1.909 6.372 6.576 5.322 5.076 2.030 0.106 15.430

Latest EPS

Latest PE

1.27 1.16 1.61 -0.88 2.58 0.81 2.74 17.00 0.28 53.53

Latest EPS

25.0 18.3 50.8 -ve 10.1 25.2 9.5 8.7 101.0 33.0

Latest PE

0.19 1.27 -0.88 2.74 1.16 0.28 0.81 -1.01 0.28 1.93

93.1 24.7 -ve 9.5 18.3 100.3 25.0 -ve 94.8 13.1

News, analysis and recent disclosers From TradeServers:

FARCHEM: The Board of Directors has recommended 20% stock dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2014. Date of AGM: 09.10.2014, Time: 11:30 AM, Venue: Bir Chandra Nagar Gono Pathagar and Nagar Milaynayatan (Town Hall) Kandirpar, Comilla. Record date: 11.09.2014.

The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 3.45, NAV per share of Tk. 17.91 and NOCFPS of Tk. 2.08 for the year ended on June 30, 2014.

units. AIMS1STMF: 50% 'Re-Investment' Units as dividend, RELIANCE1: 11% cash dividend . Record date. Record date: 01.09.2014.

APEXFOODS: 20% cash, AGM: 28.09.2014, Record date: 21.08.2014.

Dividend/AGM

APEXTANRY: 45% cash, AGM: 23.09.2014, Record date: 27.08.2014.

SAIHAMCOT: 10% cash, AGM: 23.10.2014, Record date: 17.09.2014.

BSCCL: 10% cash, AGM: 12.10.2014, Record date: 04.09.2014.

Paid up shares Increased :- ABB1STMF: 13,253,108; EBLNRBMF: 14,929,673; PHPMF1: 18,744,142 ; POPULAR1MF: 21,418,110; EXIM1STMF: 10,452,961; FBFIF: 48,536,079 ; 1JANATAMF: 22,123,893; IFIC1STMF: 10,589,770 ; TRUSTB1MF: 19,432,708; GRAMEENS2: 20,625,000; GRAMEEN1: 7,650,000; AIMS1STMF: 20,725,000

PRAGATILIF: No dividend, AGM: 30.09.2014, Record date: 14.09.2014.

GPHISPAT: 15% cash and 5% stock, AGM: 10.11.2014, Record date: 22.09.2014.

IPO Subscription: Khan Brothers PP Woven Bag Industries Ltd. subscription date 24-28 August 2014, NRB upto 06 September 2014. @ taka 10, face value taka 10 and market lot 500. Western Marine Shipyard Limited subscription date 10-14 August 2014, NRB upto 23 August 2014. @ taka 35, face value taka 10 and market lot 100.

Right Share: MIDASFIN: Subscription period for rights issue will be from

01.09.2014 to 30.09.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 03.08.2014.

ICB: Subscription period for rights issue will be from 07.12.2014 to 30.12.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 09.09.2014.

Dividend of Mutual Funds: 1JANATAMF: 12.50% 'Re-Investment' Units.

EXIM1STMF: 12% 'Re-Investment' Units.

IFIC1STMF: 9% 'Re-Investment' Units.

FBFIF: 10% 'Re-Investment' Units.

TRUSTB1MF: 10% Re-Investment Units.

EBL1STMF: 7% cash dividend. PHPMF1: 10% Re-Investment Units. EBLNRBMF: 10% Re-Investment Units. ABB1STMF: 10% Re-Investment Units. POPULAR1MF: 12% Re-Investment Units. DBH1STMF: 0.60% cash dividend. GREENDELMF: No dividend. GRAMEENS2: 15% reinvestment units, GRAMEEN1: 30% reinvestment

DELTASPINN: 10% cash, AGM: 30.08.2014, Record date: 14.08.2014.

NAVANACNG: 15% cash, AGM: 25.09.2014, Record Date: 10.08.2014.

SUNLIFEINS: 5% stock, AGM: 15.09.2014, Record Date: 07.08.2014.

SQURPHARMA: 30% cash and 15% stock, AGM: 25.09.2014, Record Date: 26.08.2014. NAV of Tk. 22,277.52 million, EPS of Tk. 8.36.

APEXSPINN: 20% cash, AGM: 28.09.2014, Record date: 07.08.2014. EPS Tk. 2.24, NAV per share of Tk. 49.75.

SANDHANINS: 25.50% stock, EGM and AGM: 06.09.2014, Record Date for EGM and AGM: 16.07.2014.

SALVOCHEM: 10% stock, AGM: 27.08.2014, Record date: 25.06.2014.

6.0 8.9 -ve 4.3 9.4 7.2 3.2 6.3 8.8 3.2

Majority of the sectors were elected as gainers - with a few exceptions – were receiving huge support from buyers.

Investors, however, turned their backs on the newly issued shares

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

Turnover (Million Taka)

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

% change 3.74 2.86 1.83 11.30 6.31 10.53 0.03 15.95 15.31 1.28 0.76 1.14 5.59 4.40 0.95 1.31 4.70 2.74 7.61 0.01

Million Taka 16.66 7.64 7.11 36.55 27.14 24.46 69.54 49.78 23.35 2.88 10.77 4.86 26.44 28.17 3.78 2.76 16.00 27.56 40.80 0.01

CSE

% change 3.91 1.79 1.67 8.58 6.37 5.74 0.00 16.31 11.68 5.48 0.67 2.53 1.14 6.20 6.61 0.89 0.65 3.75 6.46 9.57 0.00

Million Taka 222.89 165.44 108.12 660.15 375.27 605.12 1.80 949.30 894.34 114.37 73.72 52.52 67.69 334.89 270.89 56.17 75.27 275.02 178.86 460.72 0.32

Total

% change 3.75 2.78 1.82 11.11 6.31 10.18 0.03 15.97 15.05 1.92 1.24 0.88 1.14 5.64 4.56 0.95 1.27 4.63 3.01 7.75 0.01

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Grameenphone-A LafargeS Cement-Z MJL BD Ltd.-A Beximco Pharma -A BSC-A Keya Cosmetics -A Agni Systems -A Rangpur Dairy-N BSRM Steels-A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BEXIMCO Ltd. -A LafargeS Cement-Z UNITED AIR-A Khulna Printing-N Keya Cosmetics -A FarEast Knitting -N BSC-A Grameenphone-A Square Pharma -A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A

VolumeShares 5,976,673 669,362 2,003,000 1,358,943 2,689,374 214,545 4,977,130 3,837,858 5,393,366 1,136,083

Value in Million 249.55 226.19 226.11 151.72 149.42 133.96 126.28 121.95 114.49 107.77

% of TotalTurnover 4.52 4.10 4.10 2.75 2.71 2.43 2.29 2.21 2.08 1.95

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

655,475 198,500 1,470,460 543,500 611,310 339,800 16,425 28,000 33,810 332,000

27.40 22.43 18.75 17.95 15.43 13.33 10.28 9.44 7.99 7.79

7.03 5.75 4.81 4.61 3.96 3.42 2.64 2.42 2.05 2.00

ClosingP 42.20 338.90 114.70 111.00 56.60 631.00 25.40 31.90 21.50 94.90

ClosingP

42.20 114.90 12.80 32.30 25.50 38.20 631.00 338.60 237.80 23.20

Change % 1.93 0.44 5.42 -1.60 3.47 3.91 5.83 9.62 9.14 -0.21

Change %

0.48 5.41 6.67 -5.00 6.25 -6.83 4.13 0.77 2.94 5.45

ClosingY 41.40 337.40 108.80 112.80 54.70 607.25 24.00 29.10 19.70 95.10

ClosingY

42.00 109.00 12.00 34.00 24.00 41.00 606.00 336.00 231.00 22.00

DHIGH

DLOW

43.00 340.20 115.10 115.30 60.00 634.25 25.90 32.00 21.60 96.90

37.70 329.00 110.00 102.00 49.30 613.00 21.60 27.60 17.80 85.70

DHIGH

DLOW

43.00 116.00 13.00 34.70 25.80 41.80 634.00 340.00 239.00 23.90

37.50 110.00 11.50 32.00 21.70 37.70 617.00 332.00 230.00 22.40

AvgPrice 41.75 337.92 112.89 111.65 55.56 624.38 25.37 31.78 21.23 94.86

AvgPrice

41.80 113.00 12.75 33.03 25.24 39.24 625.69 337.01 236.47 23.45

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

B3

Japan's 'Abenomics' feared in trouble as challenges build n Reuters, Tokyo Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's plan for Japan's economy to generate self-sustained growth on the back of his three policy "arrows" of massive monetary easing, spending and reform appears to be faltering - but no magic solution is in sight.

Abe's aides and advisers are promising to forge ahead with painful structural reforms, while spreading the benefits of "Abenomics" to regional areas and drafting a long-term vision for addressing Japan's shrinking population.

But gloomy economic data suggests the plan is not succeeding as hoped and the only short-term contingency plans appear to be further central bank stimulus or delaying a second rise in the sales tax set for October 2015.

"Abenomics is in trouble - because it's not happening fast enough," said Robert Feldman, head of research at Morgan Stanley MUFG in Tokyo, who like many others says Abe must move faster on steps such as labour market reform to boost productivity.

Failure could leave Japan's economy stuck in a low-growth mode or worse, unable to begin to curb public debt already more than twice the size of a $5tn economy, the biggest burden in the industrialized world.

Abe's public support, now hovering around 50%, depends heavily on the economy. Most voters favor delaying next year's sales tax rise to 10% after an initial hike in April to 8% from 5% dented a fragile recovery.

"Will raising the sales tax a second time just when the economy is moving toward recovery really be a plus for the people's livelihoods?" Koichi Hagiuda, an aide to Abe in his Liberal Democratic Party, said in an interview.

"But there is also a risk to postpon-

ing it. Might not Japan lose the confidence of international society?" Hagiuda added.

The two-stage rise in the consumption tax is Japan's boldest move in nearly two decades to rein in government debt.

Abe will formally launch stage two of his administration on Wednesday when he reshuffles his cabinet, although key members are expected to stay on.

In a sense, the first arrow of monetary policy easing was a way of buying time The new cabinet will take over after a slew of troubling data including an annualized 6.8% drop in GDP in the April-June quarter. Potentially more worrisome, real wages have fallen for 13 straight months as wage growth lags price rises, data yesterday showed.

That drop is casting doubt on a central tenet of Abenomics - that stimulus and higher prices would lift company profits and lead to higher wages, spurring consumption and making growth self-sustaining.

"In order for income effects to work, wages must increase," Etsuro Honda, a key architect of Abe's reflationary policies, told Reuters.

Honda said the sales tax rise should be delayed until 2017 and only imposed then if wage rises catch up with inflation and the BOJ's 2% inflation target has been met.

Policymakers say that, unlike the initial round of Abenomics, when the

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attends a memorial service ceremony marking the 69th anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War Two, at Budokan Hall in Tokyo REUTERS Bank of Japan unleashed an intense burst of stimulus followed by public works and other government spending, the "third arrow" of deregulation and other structural reforms will take both time and political will.

"The growth strategy is not a single arrow. There are many things that must be done that were put off during 20 years of deflation," said one private economist who advises Abe's government on policies.

Abe's aides have made clear they want companies to play a bigger role in the revival, and not just rely on the benefits of a weak yen born of the Bank of Japan's easy money policy.

"In a sense, the first arrow of mon-

etary policy easing was a way of buying time," Vice Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told Reuters. "I want companies themselves, led by shareholders, to exit unprofitable businesses and shift to new growth areas."

Private economists say for that to happen, the government must step up the pace of deregulation and other changes such as reform of labour laws.

For now, though, the political calendar looks likely to dictate a focus on persuading voters outside the capital they have not been left out of a program that has so far benefited mostly big companies and Tokyo.

Abe's LDP faces several elections for local governors in October and November as well as nationwide polls for local assemblies next April. A poor showing could affect Abe's chances of winning a second three-year term in party leadership race a year from now.

That has some Abe advisers worried politicians may revert to old-style wooing of voters with spending, rather than reform.

"I think they should opt for tough reforms, but politicians may not see it that way," Heizo Takenaka, an economist and member of an advisory panel on regulatory reform, told Reuters.

Policymakers are also pledging to draft a vision of how to keep Japan's ageing population from shrinking into oblivion, holding the line at 100 million in 2060, a 20 percent drop from now. While such long-term thinking would be welcome, economists said Abe needs to speed up efforts to boost productivity.

"Abe must work harder to follow through his 'Third Arrow' by implementing labour market and other reforms that may prove painful near-term," said Masamichi Adachi, senior economist at JPMorgan Securities Japan. l

Dollar, euro surge against Gold imports, premiums to jump on festive demand n yen in Asian trading Reuters, Mumbai

n

AFP, Tokyo

The dollar and euro rallied against the yen in Asia yesterday as Japanese central bank policymakers prepared to meet, under pressure to launch more economic stimulus as the economy falters.

In afternoon Tokyo trade the dollar jumped to 104.82 yen, its highest level since January, and up from 104.27 yen in Europe. The euro surged to 137.55 yen against 136.94 yen.

US markets were closed Monday for the Labour Day holiday.

The greenback also added to recent gains against the euro as the European Central bank heads into a policy meeting this week. The single currency was at $1.3122 in Tokyo, down from $1.3133 in Europe.

Japan and the eurozone have both recorded poor economic data recently, boosting expectations of further monetary easing which would tend to weaken their respective currencies.

At the same time the US Federal Reserve is being urged in some quarters to raise interest rates - which would lift the dollar - as the economy shows regu-

lar signs of getting back on track. Eyes are on the release Friday of US jobs data expected to show further improvement.

Osamu Takashima, chief FX strategist at Citigroup Global Markets Japan, said in a note that recent weakness in the yen suggests dealers "have quietly started factoring in the BoJ's additional monetary easing".

Japan's central bank kicks off a twoday meeting on Wednesday. Yosuke Hosokawa, head of Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank's forex sales team, acknowledged that speculation over BoJ easing was a factor in the dollar-yen rate's moves, although he added that it was "not the main factor behind today's trade".

"Selling pressure on the euro ahead of the ECB meeting pushed up the dollar, which maintained its strength against other currencies, including the yen," Hosokawa said.

Dealers were also tracking media reports that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's expected cabinet shuffle Wednesday would see Yasuhisa Shiozaki put in charge of the health, labour and welfare ministry, which oversees Japan's massive public pension fund. l

Indian gold imports and premiums are likely to surge during the rest of the year as buying picks up for the wedding and festival season, the head of the country's biggest gold refiner said yesterday.

Premiums could jump to $10-$12 an ounce over the global benchmark from the current levels of $4-$5, said MMTCPAMP Managing Director Rajesh Khosla.

Imports could climb to 60-70 tonnes per month for the rest of the year from about 40 tonnes in July, Khosla said, adding that August imports were probably around 63 tonnes. India has not yet released its trade figures for August.

"Demand is expected to increase in the coming months as people start buying from September because of the festive season," Khosla said.

India, the second biggest buyer of gold after China, will soon celebrate Dhanteras and Diwali festivals, when it is considered auspicious to buy gold.

The wedding season is also boosting demand for the bullion. The precious metal forms an essential part of a bride's dowry in India, and is considered auspicious as a gift or offering at religious festivals. l

Employees wait for customers inside a gold jewellery showroom in New Delhi

Factory activity in Europe, Asia cools n Reuters

Al-Arafah Islami Bank Ltd has recently opened its 118th branch at Alipur Bazar, Kuakata in Patuakhali. The bank’s director, Alhajj Abdul Malek Mollah inaugurated the branch as chief guest while its managing director, Md Habibur Rahman presided over the ceremony

South Bangla Agriculture & Commerce (SBAC) Bank and Jamuna Bank has recently signed an agreement on remittance service at SBAC’s head office. Md Rafiqul Islam, managing director & CEO of SBAC Bank and Shafiqul Alam, managing director & CEO of Jamuna Bank signed the agreement

Factory activity in Europe and Asia cooled in August after a strong July, as new orders dwindled in the face of escalating tensions in Ukraine and a patchy recovery in China, purchasing managers indexes showed.

Despite euro zone manufacturers barely raising their prices, growth in the region slowed slightly more than initially thought, and activity in China's vast factory sector slackened on weak foreign and domestic demand, stoking speculation that further policy stimulus would be needed.

"A concerted slowdown in the China, euro zone and UK manufacturing PMIs as the second quarter gets under way raises alarm bells about global demand conditions," said Lena Komileva, chief economist at G+ Economics in London.

"This raises serious questions about the ability of major economies such as the U.S. and the UK, to weather higher interest rates, or in the case of the euro zone to withstand deflationary pressures without further stimulus."

Euro zone factories stumbled with the final August PMI at 50.7, the lowest in over a year, as new orders slowed amidst rising tensions over Ukraine that have triggered sanctions from the West and countermeasures from Russia.

Still, that was the 14th month the index has been above the 50 line that separates growth from contraction.

The factory PMI for Germany, Russia's biggest trade partner in the European Union, fell to an 11-month low while in the bloc's second-largest economy France it dropped further below the breakeven mark.

The drop in euro zone manufacturing activity came despite factories barely increasing prices and, with inflation dropping to a fresh five year low of 0.3% in August, that raises risks of the region slipping into deflation.

China's official manufacturing PMI fell from a 27-month high to 51.1 in August, while the HSBC/Markit PMI eased to 50.2 Both data come just days ahead of a European Central Bank meeting. Although fresh policy action is thought unlikely, the slowdown in growth coupled with rising risks of deflation will increase the pressure for more stimulus.

"It reinforces the case for the ECB to keep policy easy. The ECB will likely maintain a dovish tone at this meeting without any action but we expect some details on its plans to implement an asset purchase program in the coming months," said Philip Shaw, economist at Investec.

In contrast, the Bank of England and US Federal Reserve are widely expect-

ed to begin raising interest rates next year with Britain tipped by analysts as the first mover. But slowing economic activity, smaller price rises and weak pay growth mean those plans are not cast in stone.

The latest CIPS/Markit data for Britain showed factory activity grew at its slowest pace in 14 months despite muted price pressures.

"The survey provided a worrying sign that the manufacturing sector's recovery is struggling to maintain its momentum," wrote Paul Hollingsworth, UK economist at Capital Economics.

"In addition, the output balance, which has a fairly good relationship with the official measure of manufacturing output, fell."

Britain's main manufacturing trade body on Monday cut its growth forecast for 2014 after its members reported a big drop in export orders.

A survey due on Tuesday is likely to show US factory activity also cooled in August but much will also depend on jobs data due on Friday. U.S. employers are expected to have added 220,000 new jobs in August, 11,000 more than in July.

China's official manufacturing PMI fell from a 27-month high to 51.1 in August, while the HSBC/Markit PMI eased to 50.2.

The fall in overall activity was also driven by job cuts for the 24th consecutive month and highlights the still patchy recovery, increasing speculation of further policy easing. l

REUTERS

WB keen to develop Chittagong port n Tribune Report The World Bank is keen to help Bangladesh in enhancing operational efficiency of the Chittagong Port.

The offer came in a meeting between Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal and the World Bank Country Director Johannes Zutt at the planning commission yesterday, says a press release of the commission.

“The World Bank is really interested to invest in Bangladesh's infrastructure sector,” Zutt told the minister.

The proposed help is intended to improve the efficiency of the country’s largest sea port in handling increasing volume of cargo.

The Planning Minister said it is important to enhance the cargo handling capacity of Chittagong as the country’s economy is expanding.

The economy, Mustafa Kamal said, is now growing at an average 6% a year and will exceed 7% soon. “The country's economy might fall in problem unless the efficiency of Chittagong port is increased.”

He asked the global lender to consider investment in building a deep sea port in Kutubdia as planned by the government.

In response to the Minister's proposal on Kutubdia, Zutt said the World Bank will give specific proposal about the deep sea port after completing feasibility study. l

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Basel III deposit challenge looms over Islamic banks n Reuters As banks around the world gear up to meet tough Basel III regulatory standards, Islamic lenders face a source of uncertainty that could prove expensive for them: how regulators will treat their deposits.

In most ways, Islamic banks look well-placed to cope with Basel III, which will be phased in across the globe over the next few years. Most of the banks are from the Gulf and southeast Asia, where economies are strong.

Since Islamic finance frowns on monetary speculation, their balance sheets are largely clear of the derivatives and complex, risky assets that sunk some of their conventional peers during the global financial crisis. They should therefore have little trouble in meeting Basel III's minimum capital standards.

But their deposit bases could become a headache. Because interest payments are not allowed by sharia principles, Islamic banks obtain deposits mostly through profit-sharing investment accounts (PSIAs), which are generally considered to be more volatile than conventional deposits.

Islamic banks are expected to be required to offset that volatility under Basel III by increasing the amount of high-quality liquid assets (HQLAs) which they hold.

But Islamic securities markets are much younger, shallower and less developed than conventional markets, so sharia-compliant HQLAs are in short supply - squeezing Islamic banks on two fronts.

"These are two of the more important challenges that Basel III is introducing to the Islamic finance industry," said Paris-based Mohamed Damak, primary credit analyst at credit rating agency Standard & Poor's.

Weights

Islamic commercial banks held about $1.2tn worth of assets at the end of last

year, according to a study by Thomson Reuters. They account for roughly a quarter of deposits in Gulf Arab countries and over a fifth in Malaysia.

Basel III requires banks to hold enough HQLAs to cover net cash outflows for a 30-day period under a highstress scenario. Outflows are calculated by applying different weights to funding sources, including PSIAs. The riskier the funding source, the larger the amount of HQLAs needed to cover it.

So a lot will depend on the weights or "run-off rates" which national regulators around the world, who will im-

These are two of the more important challenges that Basel III is introducing to the Islamic finance industry plement Basel III in their own jurisdictions, choose to assign to PSIAs. Regulators have yet to give an indication of the likely weights. They are keen to develop their Islamic banking sectors, so they are unlikely to assign punitive weights. But they may not be able to treat PSIAs as benignly as conventional bank deposits. For instance, PSIAs held by Islamic banks tend to have relatively short maturities, according to an S&P report.

The treatment of PSIAs will also depend on factors specific to the Islamic banking industry in each country, such as how it behaved in past stress situations, and the track record of Islamic banks in passing losses on to deposit holders under their contracts, Damak said.

The uncertainty looks unlikely to be cleared up at least until early next year, when the Malaysia-based Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), a global standard-setting body, is expected to release a guidance note on the subject.

"Ultimately it is the regulator in each country that will decide what will

A general view shows the tower of the headquarters of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in Basel REUTERS

be the treatment of PSIAs, and here the IFSB guidance note will be of significant value to help regulators decide how to treat PSIAs," Damak said.

The note will deal with issues such as the contractual rights of depositors, for example whether they can withdraw money in fewer than 30 days without a significant penalty, said a source familiar with the IFSB's deliberations.

Malaysia's central bank has issued some guidance on PSIAs, saying it will classify them as two types: general PSIAs, broadly equivalent to conven-

tional retail deposits, and specific or restricted PSIAs, deemed similar to managed investment accounts. It has given Islamic banks a two-year transition period to differentiate between those types.

But while the central bank has already spelled out ratios and weights for Basel III capital adequacy rules, it has not yet announced run-off rates or HQLA requirements for PSIAs. Commercial bankers think these might be revealed early next year, after the IFSB guidance.

Basel III says national regulators around the world could assign run-off

rates of 3% or higher to stable, conventional bank deposits, and as much as 10% to less stable deposits, according to S&P. Most Islamic banks may end up being assigned numbers within that range; given the size of the deposits at stake, a variation of several percentage points could make a big difference to how much HQLAs the banks are forced to hold.

Assets

The PSIA issue may increase pressure on central banks and governments around the Islamic world to address

some longstanding problems in Islamic finance.

One is the small supply of HQLAs. With the exception of Malaysia and Bahrain, few central banks actively issue instruments which qualify as HQLAs, Damak said.

Government-issued sukuk qualify, but most sovereign sukuk are either not listed on developed markets or are not actively traded, making it very hard for Islamic banks to obtain them. This contrasts with conventional banks' access to huge markets in high-quality government debt such as US Treasuries and German Bunds.

Alternatives such as the short-term sukuk issued by the Malaysia-based International Islamic Liquidity Management Corp, which was established to promote a cross-border market in Islamic instruments, remain small compared with the overall size of the industry, Damak noted.

As part of its efforts to develop as an Islamic financial centre, Dubai is actively trying to list sukuk on its exchanges and encouraging its state-linked firms to issue tradeable sukuk, but it may be years before supply begins to meet demand.

Another problem is deposit insurance. For bank deposits to be deemed stable they need to be protected by an insurance scheme, but sharia-compliant schemes are rare, partly because government support for domestic banks is considered implicit in many Gulf countries.

Bahrain introduced Islamic deposit insurance in 1993. In May this year, Qatar said it would develop an Islamic deposit insurance scheme. In June, Bangladesh said Islamic deposits would be covered under an existing scheme managed by the central bank.

"It will be harder for Islamic banks, in respect of run-off factors for PSIA, but there are solutions or mitigants as the example of Qatar illustrates," said the source familiar with the IFSB's deliberations. l

Inflation in leading economies slows in July n AFP, Paris

Oil prices down after weak China, Europe data

Inflation in advanced democracies slowed in the year to July but was well above the eurozone level now flirting with deflation, OECD data showed yesterday.

Inflation across the OECD 34 members was 1.9% in the year to July from 2.1% in June.

This is a sharp fall from one month to the next, but still leaves inflation around the level of 2%, which central banks in advanced economies consider to be appropriate for ensuring reasonable price stability.

"This slowdown in the annual rate of inflation was mainly driven by lower energy prices," the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said in a monthly estimate.

Oil prices fell in Asia yesterday following disappointing manufacturing data out of top energy consumer China as well as Europe and as dealers await fresh US economic figures, analysts said.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for October delivery eased 21 cents to $95.75 while Brent crude for October was down three cents to $102.76 in afternoon trade.

"Below-consensus manufacturing surveys in China and the eurozone did not help risk appetite," French bank Credit Agricole said in a note.

China on Monday said its official purchasing managers' index (PMI) of manufacturing activity slipped to 51.1 last month. That is down from 51.7 in July - a more than two-year high - and the first decline since February.

Inflation in the United States eased to 2% from 2.1%, in Britain to 1.6% from 1.9%, and in Japan to 3.4% from 3.6%, the OECD calculated The assessment comes as the ECB and the Bank of England hold meetings on monetary policy this week.

In the eurozone, the European Central Bank is believed to moving slowly towards a further relaxation of monetary conditions. The latest official data shows that eurozone inflation has fallen to just 0.3%.

The Bank of England meanwhile is expected to tighten monetary conditions sometimes next year, although a recent easing of price pressures in Britain has delayed this prospect.

The eurozone, however, is now perilously close to deflation, a climate of falling prices which can cause businesses and consumers to delay purchases, further reducing demand, pushing up unemployment and therefore holding down prices.

With the exception of France - where growth was stable at 0.5% - "annual inflation slowed in all major OECD economies in July 2014," the OECD said.

Inflation in the United States eased to 2% from 2.1%, in Britain to 1.6% from 1.9%, and in Japan to 3.4% from 3.6%, the OECD calculated. l

n AFP, Singapore

Apples are displayed at a fruit and vegetables market in Warsaw

Anything above 50 indicates growth and anything below suggests contraction.

In Europe, Markit's PMI of output in the 18-nation eurozone's manufacturing sector fell to 50.7 in August from 51.8 in July.

Investors are awaiting the US Institute for Supply Management's August PMI for the US manufacturing sector later yesterday. Credit Agricole said the figure "likely edged down to 56.2", from 57.1 in July. US markets were closed on Monday for the Labor Day public holiday.

Latest US construction spending data, another key indicator of the health of the world's biggest economy, is also set for release on Tuesday. Simmering insurgencies in major crude producers Libya and Iraq, as well as in Ukraine, a key conduit for Russian gas exports to Europe, continue to provide support to oil prices, analysts said. l

Draghi 'supports' Central European PMIs point to slowdown as sanctions hit sentiment France's call to boost European demand n Reuters, Prague

Polish manufacturing activity shrank for a second straight month in August and Czech expansion slowed more than expected, adding to signs weaker euro zone economies and crisis in Ukraine are cooling growth in the EU's east.

Economies in central Europe have rebounded strongly from a sharp slowdown or even contraction in the past year but are starting to slow, and analysts expect that to continue for the rest of the year even while a longerterm recovery stays on track.

In Poland, the region's largest economy the HSBC manufacturing PMI index (PMI) fell to 49 last month, the lowest reading in 15 months, from 49.4 in July, bolstering calls for interest rate cuts.

The Czech PMI fell to 54.3 from 56.5, staying above the breakeven 50 mark dividing expansion from contraction.

Hungary's seasonally-adjusted PMI, calculated using a different methodology, dropped to 51 from 56.6.

Central Europe's economies, which share trade links with Russia, are only just beginning to feel the impact of titfor-tat sanctions between the European Union and Russia over pro-Moscow separatists fighting in Ukraine.

EU leaders have threatened Russia with further trade sanctions. Russian President Vladimir Putin denies his

forces are involved.

"The biggest driver on sentiment has been the worsening of the RussiaUkraine crisis," said Per Hammarlund, chief emerging markets strategist at SEB. "Obviously the weakness in Germany and the euro zone has also not helped.

We are definitely going to see a slowdown in growth (in the coming quarters)."

On top of the crisis in Ukraine, Germany, the region's top export market, contracted in the second quarter, contributing to Polish growth slowing to 3.3% year-on-year.

Analysts said the weak PMI reading will strengthen chances of a cut in Polish interest rates, among the highest in Europe with a base rate of 2.5%, in the coming months. Czech rates are expected to stay near zero until 2016 and the bank has also pledged to keep the currency weak in that time. Helped by revived domestic demand, the economy expanded by 2.7% last quarter, although some harder-hit sectors are still feeling pinched.

"We could see some small signals from the second and third quarters that the market is slightly - and I highlight slightly - recovering," said Jan Rafaj, a board member with steelmaker ArcelorMittal Ostrava in the Czech industrial northeast.

"There are signals the Ukraine crisis can have some negative impact ... We can see that cheap Ukraininan and Rus-

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sian steel products are coming to the region" after their currencies depreciated, he said. The company also sources ore from Ukraine and Russia, among other countries.

A Russian ban on many EU food imports came into effect last month and will likely cut into growth somewhat.

Sharp divisions among EU leaders make the timing of new measures against Russia uncertain. Apart from Poland, which has pushed for tougher action, central European countries are wary of sanctions.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has called them "meaningless and counter-productive" and threatened to veto any new measures that harmed Slovakia's interests. Austria, Hungary and the Czech Republic are also more cautious.

Hungary paced the region with 3.9% annual economic growth in the last quarter, thanks to its car sector. But analysts said that, too, will be pulled down.

"What you see in Hungary is visible around Europe and the region, namely that the geopolitical conflicts have sapped demand in Europe," said Eszter Gargyan, a Citibank economist.

"This (Hungarian) PMI figure, although it is volatile, still reflects the fact that Hungary too will be unable to break free from the general trend for the longer term." l

n AFP, Paris French President Francois Hollande and Mario Draghi the head of the European Central Bank (ECB) have agreed that European demand must be lifted to head off a risk of deflation, French officials said. The two men, who met on Monday in Paris for talks, share the same "worry about growth and inflation" in Europe and believe that demand must be boosted, officials added.

The central bank chief welcomed France's willingness to raise its growth through structural reforms as part of a reform package worked out with employers, according to the Elysee. The meeting comes as Draghi is under pressure with inflation in the eurozone continuing to fall to 0.3% in August, setting off alarming bells ahead of a major ECB meeting

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on Thursday. Draghi had earlier talked by telephone with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, her spokesman confirmed.

The German weekly Der Spiegel claimed that she wanted to know "what he meant" when he told a meeting in Jackson Hole in the US that he was ready to "further adjust" monetary policy.

Berlin later denied that Draghi had been dressed down by the chancellor. Some interpreted his comments as a hint of Europe easing curbs on public spending, but Germany, which is wedded to monetary orthodoxy, tried to play this down, with Finance Minister Wolfgang Sch채uble saying the speech had been "over-interpreted".

In France, which has long pushed for a growth-led approach to drag Europe out of crisis, the comments came at sensitive time in the middle of a major political debate around austerity. l