10 Sep, 2014

Bhadro 26, 1421 Zilqad 14, 1435 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 159

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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7 | LONG FORM

11 | OP-ED

15 | SPORT

THE ISLAMIST NARRATIVE

SCOTLAND’S DREAMING

AJMAL BANNED OVER ILLEGAL BOWLING ACTION

AG, defence face A light goes out SC wrath for slack preparation

n Tribune Report Legendary singer Firoza Begum who played an instrumental role in popularising national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam’s songs in South Asia died at the age of 84 in the capital’s Apollo Hospitals last night.

Her family said she had been suffering from kidney and heart complications for some time.

Chinmoy Bhattacharya, duty manager at the hospital, confirmed that she passed away around 8:30pm.

President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and JaPa Chairman HM Ershad expressed their grief at the demise of Firoza Begum.

Three days ago she was admitted to the hospital with kidney complications. On Monday, Firoza was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit as her condition deteriorated.

The prolific artiste was born in Ratail Ghonarpara of Gopalganj on July 28,

Appellate Division hears Kamaruzzaman appeal case for the 13th day

n Ahmed Zayeef Two judges of a four-member bench of the Appellate Division yesterday reprimanded the attorney general and defence counsel of convicted war criminal Muhammad Kamaruzzaman as they were not prepared for the hearing.

The court sat at 9am on the 13th day of hearing in the appeal case, which

‘You can bag more than three-fourths vote, but you cannot collect a few lawyers. This is a pathetic situation’ appealed the International Crimes Tribunal verdict handing down a death sentence to the Jamaat-e-Islami leader.

The defence commenced arguments on the fourth and seventh charges in the case around 9:30am before the bench headed by Justice Sunrendra Kumar Sinha.

During the hearing, defence counsel SM Shahjahan failed to properly present his case. He was stumbling when

the judges queried on different issues of his argument.

In charge four, Kamaruzzaman was handed a death sentence for killing Golam Mustofa of Sherpur during the 1971 Liberation War. He was given a life sentence for killing Dara Mia of Mymensingh in charge seven.

Shahjahan finished presenting arguments around noon. The court then asked Attorney General Mahbubey Alam to present the state’s side.

As Mahbubey sought adjournment for hearings yesterday and today, Justice SK Sinha said: “If we adjourn the argument session, we will forget it later. Our head is not a computer.”

The attorney general then looked for his assistant who was not present in the court at the time. The judge then wanted to know the name of his assistant.

As Mahbubey replied that it was Deputy Attorney General Bashir Ahmed, another judge Md Abdul Wahhab Miah said he had seen Bashir earlier sitting idle on the prosecution bench.

Terming Mahbubey an “all-rounder,” Justice Sinha said: “Writ, civil, company, crime...you conduct everything.

The Bangladesh government finds  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

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JS watchdog replaces ‘shall’ with ‘may’ in draft bill n Kamran Reza Chowdhury A parliamentary body has replaced a key word in the draft of the proposed 16th amendment to the constitution, which if passed might give the legislature a kind of flexibility in case it considers impeaching an apex court judge.

The proposed 16th Constitution Amendment Bill 2014 says the legis-

28 people commit JUDGES’ IMPEACHMENT BILL suicide everyday Kamal-led body fumbles n Moniruzzaman Uzzal joint conveners. n Rafe Sadnan Adel Speaking at the programme, Dr KaAbout 28 people commit suicide each day in Bangladesh, mostly young females between 15 and 29 years. The number of incidents has grown over the last four years.

According to the Bangladesh Police the number of suicide deaths was 9,663; 9,642; 10,108 and 10,129 each year from 2010 to 2013 respectively. In the last seven months of this year, the number recorded was 6503.

Health experts said the materials used in certain suicide cases are easy to obtain therefore the increase in numbers. Parents, family members and friends should be sensitive and pay attention if one expresses the desire to commit suicide.

Dr Helaluddin, assistant professor of the National Institute of Mental Health  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday formed a committee of lawyers to protest the government move to amend the constitution for restoring the parliament’s power on removing judges; however, pro-Awami League lawyers Barrister Amir-Ul Islam and Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud, who were announced as joint conveners, declined to join the committee.

The committee was announced by BNP leader Barrister Mahbub Hossain following a discussion organised by Bangladesh Gonotantrik Ainjibi Samity at the Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium.

Barrister Amir-Ul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that he had recommended against protesting the bill like political activists, but urged all lawyers to go for a constructive protest by preparing a charter where all the clauses would be present. It was “absurd” to join the committee as the announcement came from Barrister Mahbub, he added.

The views were also echoed by Barrister Rokanuddin, who said it was not the forum to form a committee, adding that they were not informed about the committee beforehand.

After the two senior lawyers declined to join the committee, former adviser to the caretaker government Barrister Moinul Hossain and Dr Shahdeen Malik were announced as the

mal strongly criticised the proposed bill, claiming that the government was passing the bill in a hurried manner and without discussing it with stakeholders and lawyers. Terming the bill “totally wrong” and full of wrong constitutional statements, Dr Kamal, who led the first constitution framing committee, said the bill was mistreating the seventh article of the constitution.

Dr Kamal criticised the proposed bill, claiming that the government was passing the bill in a hurried manner Also present there, lawyer Dr Shahdeen Malik claimed that the bill was nothing but a “fraud” to the nation.

Pointing out wrong information in the proposed bill, he said for Article 96, the revival of the 1972 constitution would not be possible as the latest amendment to the constitution extended the age limit for judges to 67, which was only 62 in the first constitution.

If the bill is passed by claiming that it would revive the 1972 constitution, it would be committing fraud with the constitution, he added.

According to the proposed bill,  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

INSIDE 3 | News

The Anti-Corruption Commission has exonerated three former chairmen, deputy managing director and secretary of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation from the allegations of embezzlement of Tk474 crore along with six other officials.

4 | News

A five-month delay in extraction at the country’s lone coal mine in Dinajpur due to uncontrolled water levels inside the coal field, could hamper energy production at a nearby coal-driven power station.

5 | News

At least 270 people were killed and 1,219 injured in 306 road accidents that occurred from January to August this year in Chittagong city and 14 upazilas under the district.

9 | World

idated by stars and don’t approach them, which leaves actors lonely, reported Contact music.

6 | Nation Death toll from floods in Pakistan and India reached 400 yesterday. Armies in both countries scrambled to help victims. Islamabad authorities warned people to be prepared to flee expecting more floods.

The main roads have reached such a bad condition in Bandarban’s Naikhangchhari upazila town that travelling along them is nothing but a nightmare for people because these roads have been fraught with potholes as a result of no maintenance for a few years.

12 | Entertainment

13 | Sport

‘Twilight’ star Kristen Stewart says acting moves a person into isolation.

The 24-year-old actress says that people get intim-

West Indies overcame their own atrocious catching and a defiant hundred by Mushfiqur Rahim to defeat Bangladesh by ten wickets before lunch on the fifth and final day of the first Test at the Arnos Vale Stadium in St Vincent on Tuesday.

lature “shall” enact a law in case an investigation has to be launched into alleged “incapacity or misconduct” by a Supreme Court judge.

However, yesterday the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Law Ministry, which is now scrutinising the bill, replaced the word “shall” with “may.” The word “shall” is considered equivalent to “must” in legal contexts.

After a meeting of the committee, its Chairman Suranjit Sengupta told reporters: “We recommended replacing the word ‘shall’ with ‘may’ because the original article 96 of the constitution uses ‘may’.”

The draft of the amendment bill was tabled by Law Minister Anisul Huq on Sunday.

The 10-member all-party watchdog

is entitled to recommend any changes to a bill placed in the legislature, but it is up to the ruling party and the House to decide on the recommendations.

“We have also recommended that the long preamble of the [proposed] bill should be omitted,” said Suranjit.

The preamble said Gen Ziaur Rahman, through a military order, curtailed  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Police yet to arrest Jubok officials sued for swindling Tk2,588 crore n Asif Showkat Kallol The law enforcement agencies are yet to arrest eight senior members of Jubo Karmasangsthan Society (Jubok) who have been accused in a case filed on charge of embezzling Tk2,588 crore.

Sub-Inspector Amirul Islam on June 15 filed the case with Paltan model police station against Jubok Chairman Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, Executive Director Hossain Al Masum and directors Md Muniruddin, Syed Rashidul Huda Chowdhury, Rahima Khatun, Tahmina Sultana, Mahmuda Begum Mina and Habibullah Miah.

An official of the Home Ministry said no headway in the probe into the case had been made as the police filed the case, but the Anti-Corruption Commission was carrying out the investigation.

Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Commission M Badiuzzaman on Monday said, “The investigation into the case has been delayed because we are now dealing with a huge number of cases.”

“The ACC will take tough stance against eight Jubok members who were allegedly involved with swindling people’s money,” he said.

A source in bank and financial intuitions division said some of the accused were still attending the office, but the police did not take legal action against them.

The Jubok Commission in March last year submitted a report to the Ministry of Finance and suggested taking legal action against the officials of Jubok, a multilevel marketing company, and appointing an administrator for its

BangladeshiAmerican lawyer sues NYPD n Tribune Report Chaumtoli Haq, a former top Muslim lawyer of New York, filed a lawsuit against the NY Police Department for alleged police brutality.

The Bangladeshi-origin lawyer was arrested by the NY police in Times Square after leaving a pro-Palestinian rally in July and without any legal basis, the police grabbed Ms Huq, turned her and pushed her against the wall.

What happened, according to Huq’s lawsuit, was “unreasonable and wholly unprovoked force” on the part of the police. In addition to the lawsuit, Huq filed a complaint with the NYPD Civilian Complaint Review Board, according to DNAinfo.

A federal lawsuit against the NYPD for targeting Muslims may be next. l

better management.

Former Chairman of the Jubok Commission Rafiqul Islam said a criminal case was filed against Jubok members as per the recommendations put forward by the committee.

“Another major suggestion was made to appoint an administrator to protect the assets of Jubok,” he added.

Jubok’s operations were suspended and bank accounts frozen in 2006 on charges of illegal banking. Jubok took deposits worth around Tk3,000 crore from thousands of its members, offering hefty returns.

Jubok set up over a dozen subsidiaries, including Jubok Medical Service Ltd, Unique Boot and Tarpaulin Industry Ltd, Jubok Agrobiotic Ltd, Unique Stock Management Ltd, Eastern University, Swift Capital Management Ltd, Crown Leather Complex Ltd and Lama Rubber Industry Ltd. Besides, out of 91 land development projects, 59 projects had no land and 18 land projects were in trouble.

A total of 33.52 acres of land with multi-storey buildings was sold from the rest of 18 projects and five buildings were occupied by different owners. It also bought shares of IFIC Bank and RTV. According to the report, none of the clients, who were lured by Jubok into depositing their money for big returns, received any fund even after a government commission recommended returning about Tk2,588 crore by selling Jubok assets, but the firm has Tk47 lakh in its accounts in different banks.

Last month the Commerce Ministry formed a seven-member committee,

headed by Joint Secretary Abdul Mannan, and asked the committee to submit its report by September 30.

The committee would review the recommendations of the two commissions formed earlier to investigate the forgery by Jubok.

Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, senior commerce secretary, told the Dhaka Tribune, “We will take action as per the recommendations of the committee.”

It is not possible to turn Jubok into an MLM company as it was formed before formulation of MLM law last year, he said. “So, the clients should get their money back.”

The government formed two commissions, one in 2010 and another in 2011, headed by former governor of Bangladesh Bank Mohammad Farashuddin and former joint secretary Rafiqul Islam to return the money.

Nearly one year ago, the Finance Ministry rejected an application submitted by Jubok for soft loans of Tk1,000 crore to repay the liabilities of its members, a top official said. Jubok sent the letter to the finance minister on October 2, 2013.

Hossain Al Masum, executive director of Jubok, claimed that they had paid liabilities of 225,000 members worth Tk700 crore. Of which, Tk200 crore was paid in cash and the remaining amount was cleared in return for plots and lands.

“We have sought Tk1,000 crore soft loans from the government to return all liabilities of our members by next year. The government can take out mortgage of our assets across the country against the loans,” he said. l

A BRTC bus rams a rickshaw in Paltan area of the capital injuring two rickshaw passengers yesterday

India and Pakistan floods: Death toll rises n BBC The death toll from floods in India and Pakistan has passed 375 as authorities continue efforts to rescue hundreds of thousands of stranded people.

More than 200 people are now thought to have died in Pakistan, where flood waters have destroyed thousands of homes and large areas of farmland.

In Indian-administered Kashmir some 175 people have been killed, many of them swept away by surging

Kamal-led body fumbles  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

the section 2 says a judge shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the president passed pursuant to a resolution of parliament supported by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the total number of members of parliament, on the ground of proved misconduct or incapacity.

According to section 3, the parliament shall by law regulate the procedure in relation to a resolution under clause 2 and for investigation and proof of the misconduct or incapacity of a Judge.

Mentioning these clauses, Barrister Rokon said the bill was not clear on how a government would be able to impeach any judge who is accused of misconduct, if the government did not have two-thirds majority in the parliament. He also quoted sources telling him that the judicial inquiry committee would be led by some former judges, a move he claimed

was not good. Following the 15th amendment, it was impossible to bring back the constitution of 1972, Barrister Rokon added.

Barrister Amir, on the other hand, said the government should form a proper constitutional body to resolve the problem. Claiming that lawyers would not allow any extrajudicial methods where the issue was the judiciary and the constitution, he suggested the government to work on the Article 95 Section 2 (c), which has directives on making a law for judicial recruitment process. Barrister Amir also recommended all the lawyers to prepare a written paper on the existing article 95 and 96 as a charter for the independence of the judiciary.

Former adviser to the caretaker government, Barrister Moinul Hossain, accused the government of trying to “kill” democracy for the second time in Bangladesh’s history, adding that

and Research (NIMHR) told the Dhaka Tribune that suicide trends in Bangladesh were different from developed countries.

In developed countries older people and males are more prone to committing suicide due to their loneliness, he said. But in Bangladesh it is mostly young women who take their own lives.

He said the lack of a proper relationship with family members was the prime cause of suicide.

In addition, domestic violence, stalking, eve-teasing, physical and sexual assault, demands for dowry, failures in examinations and romantic frustrations were major causes of suicide, he said.

On 4th September, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a report

titled Suicide in the World.

More than 800,000 people die by suicide every year – around one person every 40 seconds, according to WHO’s first global report on suicide prevention, published yesterday.

Some 75% of suicides occur in low and middle-income countries.

Pesticide poisoning, hanging and firearms are globally among the most common methods of suicide.

The chief chemical examiner of the Central Chemical Examination Office in Mohakhali, Dr Dilip Kumar Saha, told the Dhaka Tribune that most toxicological deaths were caused by ingesting organophosphorous compounds, commonly used in pesticides.

On average, 60% of poisoning victims were female and 40% male. The highest number of toxicological death case samples were sent from Shailaku-

pa Upazila of Jhenaidah district, he said.

Evidence from Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the United States and a number of European countries revealed that limiting access to these means of committing suicide can prevent such deaths.

Another key to reducing deaths by suicide is a commitment by national governments to establish and implement a coordinated plan of action.

Currently, only 28 countries are known to have national suicide prevention strategies.

“This report is a call for action to address a large public health problem which has been shrouded in taboo for far too long,” WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan said.

Suicide occurs all over the world and can take place at almost any age.

the government should be announced illegal and unconstitutional as they were not elected in a “proper way.”

President of Supreme Court Bar Association Advocate Khandakar Mahbub Hossain requested all to protest the bill for the sake of the independence of the judiciary and announced plans for holding rallies and processions to protest the judges’ impeachment bill.

The bill has already been sent to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law Ministry for its report within a week after scrutiny. If the bill is passed, the parliament would also be able to remove the chief election commissioner and commissioners of the Election Commission, the chairman and the members of the Public Service Commission, chairman and the commissioners of the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Comptroller and Auditor General on similar grounds. l

Globally, suicide rates are highest among people aged 70 and over. In some countries, however, the highest rates are found among the young.

Notably, suicide is the second leading cause of deaths among 15 to 29 year-olds globally.

In wealthier countries, three times as many men die by suicide than women. Men aged 50 years and over are particularly vulnerable.

In low and middle-income countries, young adults and elderly women have higher rates of suicide than their counterparts in high-income countries.

Women over 70 years are more than twice as likely to die by suicide than women aged 15-29 years.

WHO member states have committed to the global target of reducing the suicide rate in their countries by 10% by 2020. l

AG, defence face SC wrath for slack preparation  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

you as the only lawyer who knows everything. You can bag more than three-fourths vote, but you cannot collect a few lawyers. This is a pathetic situation.”

“Previously, we conducted many sensational cases where we found lots of good lawyers. But they are all keeping aloof with the passage of time. We only have one [the attorney general].

This is not a good sign.”

The judge then told defence lawyer Shahjahan: “You must submit written arguments by tomorrow [today]. I asked for it before. I am personally I am not satisfied with your argument.”

The defence lawyer replied that he would submit the documents by today.

Justice Wahhab Miah told Shahjahan: “In the eyes of the law, 100 ac-

cused may be acquitted, but one innocent person should not be punished.

Maybe he [Kamaruzzaman] is charged for very heinous crimes, but when you come [to the court] to defend him, you should be fully prepared.”

He also said as per the law, the defence was supposed to prove that the tribunal judgement was wrong. “But you could not do so.”

Addressing both Shahjahan and Mahbubey, the judge said: “Do you want to put all the burden on us? Do we have to do everything for you?”

Bashir arrived at the court just then.

The attorney general at 12:26pm started hearing on charge one where Kamaruzzaman was given lifetime imprisonment. It is related to the abduction and killing of Bodiuzzaman of Nalitabari in Sherpur.

Mahbubey too stumbled in his arguments, failing to answer properly the queries posed by the court.

Before his arguments began, Justice Sinha expressed frustration over the war crimes tribunals’ activities. “There is no court in Bangladesh where so much money is spent. Why then is your condition so dismal?

“You have utilised six judges of the High Court [to the tribunal] of whom M Enayetur Rahim and [Obaidul Hassan] Shahin are very brilliant. I know them personally.”

The court said that the absence of these judges have caused a set back to the High Court.

Justice Sinha said: “When the [tribunal] prosecutors are on television, they talk a lot...they even tilt their heads to ensure that they are seen on

rivers.

Leaders of both countries have offered to help each other provide relief.

Over the weekend Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote to his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, offering help to flood-hit victims on that side of the border.

Late on Monday, Mr Sharif thanked Mr Modi for his offer and said Pakistan was “prepared to extend a helping hand, in whatever way possible”.

Correspondents say it is unlikely

that either side will accept the other’s offer of help, given that Kashmir is one of the most heavily militarised regions in the world.

Meanwhile, authorities in both countries are engaged in relief operations. In Pakistan, officials said most of those killed were in Punjab province.

Landslides have damaged roads and power lines, leaving many people without electricity and drinking water in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. l

JS watchdog replaces ‘shall’

28 people commit suicide everyday  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

MEHEDI HASAN

screen. But when it comes to paper, there are no similarities [with their speech on TV]. We can now see what they actually do.”

The court adjourned for the day at 1pm.

Justice Sinha told the attorney general: “The hearing will start tomorrow [today] again. Be well-prepared when you come to court.”

Mahbubey again sought adjournment for one more day, but the judges turned down his plea and left the court.

The tribunal 2 on May 9 last year sentenced Kamaruzzaman, one of the key organisers of infamous al-Badr force, to death after finding him guilty of committing crimes against humanity. The Jamaat leader filed the appeal on June 6 last year seeking acquittal.l

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the legislature’s authority by introducing the provision for Supreme Judicial Council for removing apex court judges for misconduct or incapacity.

On the contrary, it was actually the Bangabandhu-led Awami League government that, through the fourth amendment to the constitution, stripped the legislature off the power and vested it unto the country’s president. However, while tabling the bill in parliament on Sunday, Law Minister Anisul Huq corrected the factual error in the preamble.

Suranjit said he had also recommended that the law minister should talk to the prime minister about drop-

ping the long preamble.

He also told reporters that the members of his committee would hold meetings with political parties, the Supreme Court, the bar council and other stakeholders before finalising recommendations.

“The BNP can also give their opinion,” he said.

Before the 15th amendment to the constitution in 2011, the then parliamentary committee held talks with all stakeholders, but their suggestions were hardly reflected in the final bill that had been passed. The standing committee will meet again tomorrow to discuss the 16th amendment bill. l

A light goes out  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

1930 to zamindar father Khan Bahadur Mohammad Ismail and mother Begum Kaokabunnesa.

In 1955, she married famous composer Kamal Dasgupta, a renowned singer, music director and composer of many Nazrul’s songs. Their sons Hameen Ahmed and Shafeen Ahmed are popular rock artistes, while Tahsin Ahmed lives abroad.

Firoza won the Independence Day Award among many other acclaims. The prominent Nazrul Sangeet exponent was born on July 30 in 1939 to an aristocratic Muslim family in the Faridpur district.

Her dead body will be kept at Central Shaheed Minar from 2pm to 4pm for people to pay their respects.

Shamsuzzaman Khan. director general, Bangla Academy, said: “Demise of this legendary figure is bad news for the sub-continent and its music industry.”

“She will be remembered forever with the memories she leaves behind.

This loss cannot be compensated,” he stressed.

Firoza, who was drawn to music from her childhood, was considered the most prominent Nazrul Sangeet singer in the subcontinent. She is particularly given credit for successfully reviving the popularity of the music genre at a time when it was losing popularity. Her unique presentation contributed to it.

Her Namaz-e-Janaza will be held after Asr at Azad Mosque in the capital’s Gulshan area. She will be buried at Banani graveyard.

“Whenever I hear the name of Nazrul the second name comes into my mind is Firoza Begum. It’s impossible to think Nazrul Geeti without her,” said Fatema Tuz Zohra, another eminent Nazrul Sangeet singer.

Firoza, who involved herself in the music industry in this subcontinent for more than six decades, became an institution from an individual personality.

Since her childhood she had had craving for music side by side with her studies, paintings, acting and dancing.

Although her family was not a very conservative family there was no music practice in her family. But her family made a great contribution to her love for music. There are many old records of

music in their home.

Once she performed a song in the presence of many famous people and achieved appraisal from the listeners.

On returning home, her maternal uncle asked her: “Do you know where you played music?”

Firoza replied: “How do I know? Have I seen anyone before?”

Her uncle then told her: “Did you see the man who wore a tupi? He had long hair, sat in the middle of the audience and also brought you cordially to sit with him. He was none other than the famous poet Kazi Nazrul Islam.”

Later she found the famous poet as her teacher from who she learned Nazrul Sangeet. The flamboyant personality was known for her mesmerising singing style and lovely voice, said Nazrul exponent, researcher and Chairman of the Nazrul Institute Trustee Board, Professor Rafiqul Islam.

Sharing her memories, Rafiqul Islam said: “She was an unbelievable singer who had the power of taking someone with the emotion of the song into the world of music. It is a matter of great sadness that we lost her. She can never be replaced.”

In 1942 when she was a 12-year-old girl her first recorded song titled “Morur buke jibon dhara ke bohalo” was released. In 1949 “Ami gagone gahone shondha tara”, a Nazrul Sangeet, was recorded by Gramophone company while in 1960 during Durgapuja two of her most popular songs “Dur Dipo Bashini and Momero Putul” were released.

Her “Shawono Rate Jodi” was released in 1968 and had sold out more than 2 lakh copies. She was then awarded the Gold Disc Award by the CBS company of Sony Corporation in Japan.

About 1600 of her songs had been recorded, while she rendered many both in India and Pakistan.

She received many awards in her lifetime in Bangladesh and Pakistan, the most significant being Shadhinata, Shilpakala Academy, best Television Singer awards along with the Nasiruddin, Sir Salimullah and Satyajit Ray gold medal awards. But her contribution to the field of music in the subcontinent is most outstanding of the awards she had received. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

3

ACC gives clean chit to 11 ex and present BPC officials n Adil Sakhawat The Anti-Corruption Commission has exonerated three former chairmen, deputy managing director and secretary of the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) from the allegations of embezzlement of Tk474 crore along with six other officials.

The commission at a regular meeting yesterday approved its final report, clearing these eleven officials from three cases filed on October 16 last year for their alleged involvement with financial irregularities. Of the total, six officials were accused in the three cases and others were suspects.

As the commission has not found any merit in those cases, it will soon submit the final report clearing all the accused from the cases The suspected officials were incumbent energy secretary Abu Bakar Siddique (former BPC chairman), additional secretary Anwarul Karim (now OSD, also former BPC secretary), retired BPC secretary AKM Zafrullah (former BPC chairman), Maj (retd) Muktadir Ali (former BPC chairman) and former DMD Mohammad Abdul Awal (also former member of Chittagong WASA).

The accused officials were deputy general managers Monilal Das and Jahangir Hossain, senior officer Nurul Islam, general manager Gias Uddin Ansari, deputy general manager Kazi

Sahidur Rahman and deputy manager Jakir Hossain.

“As the commission has not found any merit in those cases, it will soon submit the final report clearing all the accused from the cases,” ACC Commissioner M Shahabuddin Chuppu told reporters.

The commissioner also said: “We received allegations against those officials that they embezzled around Tk474 crore. After primary inquiry, the commission found evidence of embezzlement of around Tk152 crore.”

“During the final investigation, the ACC found that the oil surveyor has measured the right measurement so that the officials have no involvement with the measurement system,” he said.

As the commission had not found their involvement, the commission cleared them of the cases, the commissioner mentioned.

Earlier, ACC deputy assistant director Akbar Ali Khan filed three cases with Chittagong port police station on October 16, 2013 against the officials after having evidences of irregularities during primary inquiry during 20092012.

Later on June 29 this year, ACC deputy director Jatan Kumar Roy submitted a probe report, accusing the five officials.

However, the accused officials appealed to the ACC, seeking personal hearing to prove their innocence.

The commission then approved their appeal as the ACC law allows it and then the investigation officer recorded their deposition on August 24.

After examining their deposition, the commission decided to exonerate them from the allegations. l

Children watch their steps while crossing an ally filled with toxic waste from nearby tanneries at the capital’s Hazaribaag area yesterday

Muhith denies seeking money from Janata Bank CSR fund n

Tribune Report

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has rejected allegations against him of seeking allocations from the Janata Bank’s CSR fund to organise a boat race in the haors of Sunamganj.

Muhith made the remark to reporters yesterday following a meeting at the secretariat on raising multi-level funds for arranging cultural and sport-

ing events across the country.

At a seminar on Monday, outgoing Janata Bank Chairman Abul Barkat claimed that the finance minister had requested allocation from Janata Bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund to organise a boat race. The Janata Bank CSR fund was suspended when the request was denied, the outgoing chairman also alleged on his final day at office. However, he added that the bank would still be able to disburse

Tk10 crore from the CSR fund.

However, Muhith said: “I have recommended a number of appeals, but I can recall that I had not recommended a request for funds for such type of an appeal like a boat race.”

Frustration stemming from not being renewed as the Janata Bank chairman had led Barkat to make the allegations, claimed the finance minister.

The Awami League has many “giant intellectuals,” Muhith said, adding that

Policemen’s non-compliance with warrants stalls trials

Witness says Subhan made list of 175 civilians

Jamil Khan and Md n Mohammad Sanaul Islam Tipu

n Udisa Islam

From 2001 to 2012, a little more than a thousand police officials refused to act on warrants asking them to appear in court to testify as key witnesses in cases they had investigated.

Trials of many cases had stalled because of the absence of respective police officials but the non-compliance with the warrants had not affected their jobs at all.

The trial of a case can only proceed if the key witness has testified and a policeman investigating the case is considered a key witness. Besides, the court also needs the presence of the official who prepared the autopsy report or the FIR (first information report).

According to sources, warrants have been issued against over 250 policemen in Dhaka, 516 in Chittagong and 250 in other parts of the country in the 12-year period. The number is also rising gradually, stalling more trials.

Abdullah Abu, public prosecutor at Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court, said the warrants are usually sent to the inspector general of police, police commissioners and deputy commissioners are asked to forward them to the policemen concerned.

“We issue a warrant when a police official is issued notices repeatedly to appear in court but he refuses to act accordingly. A warrant contains the name of the policeman, his designation, ID number and the place he worked when the case in question was filed,” he said.

Trials of a large number of cases are pending just because the policemen have not showed up in court and we have nothing to do in such cases, the prosecutor said.

SM Shahjahan, former inspector general of police, said it is the moral duty of a police official to appear in court if he is a witness in a case. “It is sad if he does not do that,” he said.

Sources said charge sheets of cases do not contain the permanent address of the investigating officers, compelling the inspector general of police, police commissioners and deputy commissioners to send the warrants to police stations concerned. Officials at the police stations then send them to the police departments concerned from where the warrants are handed to the officers. The process is quite lengthy and often the case date is over when an officer receives the warrant.

The Dhaka Tribune obtained details of two cases where the majority of the witnesses belong to the police depart-

MEHEDI HASAN

ment. Among the 13 witnesses of expatriate Yunus murder case in 2000, eight are policemen. They were sent several notices to appear in court but warrants were issued against them as they did not respond to the notices.

Of the eight, the court issued a non-bailable warrant against investigating officer Rafiqul Islam in 2001 and the trial of the case is still pending.

Nurjahan Begum was killed by unknown assailants on March 27, 2007, but Sub-Inspector Ekram Hossain, the plaintiff in the case, never appeared in the court since the incident took place.

Sub-Inspector Rakib Hossain, the investigating officer in the case, did not appear in court either. Warrants were then issued against the two, along with six other police officials who also were key witnesses in the case.

Ansiur Rahman, additional deputy commissioner of Crime, Information and Prosecution at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, said police officials failed to appear in court for a variety of reasons.

“Some were transferred, some did not get the notice in time and some retired. Officials concerned are, however, looking into the matter to ensure that the policemen get the notice and appear in court afterwards,” he added. l

A new prosecution witness yesterday pleaded to the war crimes tribunal for justice for the killing of many unarmed civilians in Satbaria of Pabna during the 1971 Liberation War upon the order of Jamaat-e-Islami leader Maulana Abdus Subhan.

On May 12, attacks were launched in different villages of Satbaria Md Fazlul Haque, the founder principal of Satbaria College and head of Satbaria Sangram Parishad, said they had prepared a list of 175 martyrs after the atrocities in five villages on May 12, 1971.

The International Crimes Tribunal 2 recorded his testimony and adjourned the proceedings keeping his cross-examination incomplete.

The witness said Subhan had been

‘India trying to reach internal political consensus on Teesta Treaty’ n Emran Hossain Shaikh

Chhatra League men lock the main entrance of Titumir College and vandalise establishments, centring a dispute over its newly-formed committee, in the capital’s Mohakhali area yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

made secretary of the local Peace Committee formed in the first week of May at a meeting held at the DC office. The accused later became vice-chairman of the collaborators’ group since he had intimate relation with the Pakistani Army men.

After the Pakistani occupation forces had taken hold of Pabna on April 11, the witness said, Subhan with the help of supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami started continuous attack on the Awami League supporters and unarmed civilians.

“On May 12, attacks were launched in different villages of Satbaria with at least 300 army men.” Witness Fazlul mentioned the names of SM Shamsul Alam, Khorshed Alam, Abu Bakar and Monsur Rahman who had helped him to prepare the list of martyrs.

He also told the tribunal about the killing of Awami League leader Mohiuddin at Gupinpur in the hands of Subhan and his cohorts. The collaborators also looted and burnt his house, Fazlul added. l

The Indian government was trying to reach an internal political consensus regarding the signing of Teesta Water Sharing Agreement, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Sheikh Shahriar Alam told the parliament yesterday.

During a question answer session in the parliament yesterday, Shahriar Alam, in absence of Foreign Minister AH Mahmud Ali, read out a written document of the foreign minister.

He said the new Indian government was considering the Teesta treaty sincerely, and expressed hopes: “The overwhelming majority of the new Indian government may bring a positive result.”

The state minister claimed that Bangladesh had been reminding India about the treaty at every bilateral meetings held with the new Indian government.

To quicken the signing, Awami League government had requested the BJP government to fix the date for next meeting of the Joint River Commission

in this regard. Earlier yesterday, Indian External Affair Minister Sushma Swaraj told a press conference in India that her government was positive regarding the Teesta treaty.

“We are trying to reach a consensus with the West Bengal government in this regard,” she said.

However, sources said the previous Indian government, led by the Congress, was also very sincere to sign the treaty, but the outcome was not satisfactory. And the ruling BJP was apparently not in favour of the treaty when they were in opposition during that time. l

the party would not look after only a single individual for their whole life. Abul Barkat’s stay as the Janata Bank chairman for the past five years had been enough for him, the minister claimed.

Claiming that Janata Bank’s financial situation had deteriorated since Awami League came to power in its previous tenure in 2009, Muhith said the bank’s outgoing board of directors was responsible for the rise in capital deficit and the rate of loan default. l

Tribunal gives defence one hour to complete argument n Udisa Islam The defence in the trial against Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam has been given one hour today to conclude their arguments.

Defence counsel Abdus Subhan Tarafder yesterday argued on charges five and six. Later the International Crimes Tribunal 1 set today for placing arguments on legal points by Shishir Monir.

Tarafder placed arguments on the Rangpur Town Hall concentration camp and contradictions of the evidence placed by a rape victim. He first tried to say that the witness had not been credible. But later the lawyer said: “We are not saying that rapes did not take place during the Liberation War. But the accused was not involved with the incident [mentioned in the charge sheet].”

The prosecution concluded their part of arguments on August 26 seeking death for Azhar for his war time offences.

Meanwhile, state appointed defence counsel Abul Hasan cross examined the prosecution’s second witness in the case of fugitive accused Abdul Jabbar, a former Jatiya Party lawmaker.

Abdul Kuddus Matobbor, 59, testified at the tribunal on Monday.

After the end of cross-examination, defence lawyer Hasan pleaded for adjournment mentioning some “personal difficulties.” Prosecutor Jahid Imam tried to place objection since they had five more witnesses. The tribunal allowing the plea adjourned the trial until Monday. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Delays at Barapukuria mine could hamper power production n Aminur Rahman Rasel A five-month delay in extraction at the country’s lone coal mine in Dinajpur due to uncontrolled water levels inside the coal field, could hamper energy production at a nearby coal-driven power station.

The Power Development Board (PDB), Barapukuria coal mine’s largest customer, procures 80% of the extracted coal for use at the country’s sole coalfired power plant.

Barapukuria power station, with a production capacity of 250MW, requires around 2,500 tonnes of coal every day.

It currently has more than 100,000 tonnes, or roughly 40 days’ reserve, in its stockyard.

“We have started coal extraction from the new 1205 face at the end of March this year after completing extraction from the 1206 face. The work, however, was halted in the first week of May as water broke on the new face,”

Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd (BCMCL) Managing Director Md Aminuzzaman told the Dhaka tribune yesterday.

A BCMCL official said the water level of the mine increased soon after a new method named Long Wall Top Coal Caving (LTCC) was applied to double the existing coal production from the mine.

Under the new method, the daily production would stand at around 5,000 tonnes per day.

The mine’s operators said they were trying to begin extraction from a new face within three months.

Aminuzzaman said the company had to do abandon the 1205 face because the underground water level could not be controlled. It is now preparing to extract coal from the 1212 face.

“We are not sure that we will be able to solve the problem of the 1205 face.

But we hope that we can start production from the 1212 face within three

months,” he said.

The Chinese company XMC, together with another consortium led by China National Import and Export Corporation (CMC), has been producing coal from the mine since 2005.

After the expiry of a previous maintenance and production contract on August 10, 2011 a new management, production, maintenance and provisioning services (MPMP) contract was signed between BCMCL and the XMCCMC consortium at a value of Tk2314.55 crore to produce 5.5 million tonnes of coal over 72 months.

Some steel mills, heavy industries, and brickfields also buy coal from the BCMCL, with brick kiln owners purchasing coal between August and December every year.

The mine has a reserve of 390 million tonnes stretching over 6.68 square kilometres of Barapukuria under Parbatipur upazila, according to a 1985 study by the Geological Survey of Bangladesh. l

Sewerage water leaks out of a gas line in the capital’s Hajaribagh area yesterday. Locals alleged that they had been suffering from the problem for last eight months MEHEDI HASAN

City Bank wins Best Commercial Bank Award

Government to BGC Trust University’s Drug peddler dies in custody main campus closed n Our Correspondent, was brought to the hospital around 4pm create fund to on Monday, when he was given some

n Tribune Report

BGC Trust University, a private institution, yesterday closed its main campus at Chandanish upazila in Chittagong for five days until September 15.

The authority came up with such a move following a few days of protests by the campus’s law students demanding their participation in the Bar Council Advocate-ship Enrolment Examination.

BGC Trust University’s Assistant Registrar Aktaruzzaman Kaysar they were keeping the main campus closed to tackle the situation. However, two other campus units--- one at at Baizid and another at Probartak intersection in the city, would remain open.

The main campus’s law students had been staging demonstrations since a newspaper ran a report a few days ago that the Bar Council had declared them illegal in its advocate-ship entry test.

They vandalised the main campus on Saturday, and on Monday blockaded Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar highway in front of the campus for nearly one hour. They later withdrew their road blockade as the authority assured them of meeting their demand. l

City Bank has been awarded ‘Best Commercial Bank in Bangladesh 2014’ by FinanceAsia, a leading financial publication in the Asia-Pacific region, for the second time, says a media release of the bank.

For the first time, the bank got the prestigious award in 2012.

The announcement came from an award ceremony programme held in Singapore recently, where more than 300 leading bankers from across the Asia Pacific region were present.

City Bank’s Director and immediate past chairman Aziz Al Kaiser and Deputy Managing Director & COO Mashrur Arefin received the award on behalf of the Bank.

In citation of the award, FinanceAsia said: “Political unrest and subdued economic activity made life difficult for the banks in Bangladesh during 2013.

City Bank responded with sound management and succeeded in improving asset quality and liquidity, while cutting its cost of funds and maintaining adequate capital.”

In his speech, Aziz Al Kaiser said: “We are quite excited to receive this award for the second time. This recognition shows our strong commitment to the valued customers.”

Besides, the bank received the ‘Best Bank in Bangladesh’ award in 2014 from Euromoney; ‘Best Online Initiative of the Year- Bangladesh’ in 2014 from Asian Banking & Finance; and ‘Strongest Bank in Bangladesh’ award in 2010 from Asian Banker. l

n Tribune Report

Jaypee to publish Sakur’s book on Paediatrics DU ‘C’ unit result on on Wednesday, where National Professor published n Tribune Report Prof Dr MR Khan was present as the chief n DU Correspondent Leading Indian medical books publication guest, says a media release. organisation Jaypee Publishers (P) Ltd has secured the permission to publish and marketing the book named ‘Illustrated Textbook of Paediatrics’ authored by Professor Dr Salim Shakur of Bangladesh.

In this regard, a programme was held at auditorium of Central Hospital in the capital

In his speech, MR Khan said the 1000page book, which was first published in February this year and there are 1,045 attractive coloured illustrations, will provide vast knowledge of the child health and diseases to the doctors as well as ordinary people. l

Admission test result of Dhaka University “Ga (C) unit” under academic year 2014-15 has been published.

A total number of 48,057 students took the exam for only 1,170 available seats, out of which 9,906 (20.61%) were successful.

Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique announced the result around 11am.

The result is also available at the university websitewww.admission.eis. du.ac.bd.

Candidates may know results through SMS service from all mobile operators.

Just type “DU” <space> “GA” <space> “roll number” and send it to the number 16321. l

Online registration for medical admission begins today

n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Online registration for admission in public and private medical and dental colleges for 2014-15 session begins from 10am today.

Candidates will be able to fill-up the necessary forms online on the website of the Directorate General of Health Services – www.dghs.gov.bd Students will have pay Tk650 as registration fee through Teletalk balance transfer.

The registration process will remain open till September 29 and the admission test will be held on October 24. Questions will be set and marks will be allocated in the following order: physics 20, chemistry 25, biology 30, English 15 and general knowledge 10. l

Chapainawabganj

A youth died in police custody in Chapainawabganj yesterday. The member of the deceased’s family said he was tortured to death by police.

The deceased was identified as Yousuf Ali, 24, the son of late Tariqul Islam, from Chapainawabganj township’s Namoshankarbati area.

Locals said Yousuf was arrested from the Bottala Haat area on Monday afternoona, and members of police started beating Yousuf right after detaining him.

Recident Medical Officer of Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital said Yousuf

first aids. Later, around 7pm, he was admitted to the hospital, where he died around 10am yesterday. The cause of victim’s death could be confirmed only after the postmortem examination, but there were several injury marks on different parts of his body, he added.

SI Monirul Islam, the officer who led the drive to arrest Yousuf, restrained from commenting on Yousuf’s death.

OC of Chapainawabganj Sadar police station Sarowar Hossain said Yousuf was an associate of the local drug dealer Suman and there were three cases against him in the local police stations. l

BSF picks up youth in Kurigram n Our correspondent, Kurigram

Border Security Force (BSF) India has picked up a Bangladeshi youth Sri Prafulla Chandra, 32, at Fulbari border in Kurigram yesterday.

He is the son of Abodh Chadra of Kutichandrakhana village of the upazilla.

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) sources said a week ago Prafulla Chandra went to Dhaprahaat in India to visit

his relative. Yesterday, he was returning to Bangladesh through Nakharjan border number 941 main pillar, when patrolling guards of Indian BSF of Sheuti-2 camp captured him.

BSF informed BGB that the captured youth has already been transferred to a local Indian police station.

BGB’s 45 Kashipur Company Commander Subedar Imran Nizami has confirmed the incident. l

arrange sport events

n Tribune Report

Finance Minister AMA Muhith said the government was contemplating creating a fund for arranging national and international cultural and sport events.

“We have already allocated budget to arrange these types of events and the government will take financial assistance from private sector,” he said this while talking to reporters after a meeting over creating fund.

He said the government had been asking for money from private business entities to run the local and international event in the country for the last couple of years.

“We have taken decision that we will build a fund for the purpose to run cultural and sports event smoothly.”

Finance ministry will immediately take decision about how much fund will be collected for arranging those event.

In March, the government collected Tk100 crore from the private sector for the ICC T20 World Cup and an event to set the world record for singing of national anthem by the highest number of people. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Road accidents kill 270 in Ctg this year so far Traffic mismanagement, careless driving, unfit vehicles claimed to be major reasons n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong At least 270 people were killed and 1,219 injured in 306 road accidents that occurred from January to August this year in Chittagong city and 14 upazilas under the district, according to a report by the Passenger Welfare Association of Bangladesh (PWAB).

Monitoring news on road accidents published in the country’s national dailies, the organisation’s road accident monitoring cell published the report on Saturday, pointing out poor traffic management, reckless driving, unfit vehicles plying the roads, and the lack of awareness of the commuters and passers-by’s to be the main reasons behind these accidents.

Illegal establishments beside the roads, markets, and small vehicles on larger roads also contribute to these accidents, said Mojammel Haque Chow-

dhury, president of the PWAB’s Chittagong regional committee.

According to the report, at least 74 children, 96 pedestrians, 110 women, 5 physicians, 7 teachers, 32 leaders of different political organisations, 74 students, 101 drivers and transport workers, 27 police members, and 15 army and BGB personnel were among the road accident victims in the district in the past eight months.

The highest number of road accidents occurred in August – 52 accidents killed 58 people and injured 219 others.

Most of these accidents took place on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, while the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar highway was the second risky road. Sitakunda and Mirsarai at the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, and Potiya, Chandanaish, Lohagora and Chokoria at the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar highway are the most vulnerable areas for accidents, the report said.

Road accidents and their victims in January-August 2014 Month No of accidents Deaths January 39 34 February 28 13 March 27 19 April 39 41 May 46 39 June 35 31 July 40 35 August

52

58

Injured 134 56 142 109 158 194 207 219

Bigger vehicles like trucks and covered vans cause the accidents on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway, while micro buses, easybikes, Nasiman-Karimans,

auto-rickshaws and battery-run rickshaws are more accident-prone on the Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar highway, it added.

Mojammel, the regional head of the PWAB in Chittagong, said the numbers of road accidents were less in the city than in any other parts of the district.

“At least 25-30 accidents were caused by battery-run rickshaws in the city everyday, which stopped after the vehicle was banned in a High Court ruling on August 31,” he said.

Morshedul Alam Kaderi, president of Chittagong Zilla Sarak Paribahan Malik Group, said unskilled drivers were also a major reason, while some drivers let their helpers drive their vehicles, which resulted in road accidents sometimes.

“The competitive tendency in the drivers on the streets also causes these accidents,” he said.

However, Belayet Hossain Sikdar,

assistant superintendent of Highway Police (East) in Chittagong Zone, claimed that traffic management was related to traffic congestion, not road accidents.

“We have manpower and logistical shortages, which make it difficult for us to manage the entire highway’s traffic,” he said.

“Dilapidated conditions of the roads and the increasing number of vehicles with unskilled drivers are the reasons behind these road accidents,” the police official said.

Engineer Suvash Barua, a traffic specialist in Chittagong, told the Dhaka Tribune that most of the roads had not been designed and constructed appropriately, and many roads had no traffic lights.

“The government should look into road safety to help reduce the frequency of road accidents,” he said. l

Two gets death penalty for killing rural electrification official n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong A Chittagong court yesterday gave death sentence to two persons for killing a rural electrification official at Chandanaish upazila in Chittagong in 2006.

The court also acquitted three others as the charges brought against them could not be proved.

Judge of Public Safety Tribune of Chittagong Md Moniullah yesterday gave the verdict, said Special Public Prosecutor Jahangir Alam of the tribunal.

The convicts are Zakir Hossain, 50, and Didarul Alam Jasim, 55, while the acquitted are Kaosara Begum, Mojaffar and Taher.

Of the convicts, Zakir was tried in absentia while Jasim was present during the procedure.

According to the case documents, Zakir and Jasim stabbed ShShariful Alam, a rural electrification official in Chandanaish of Jhenaidah, to death at Satkania on December 24.

Satkania police filed a case in this connection the following day.

During investigation, police found that Jasim and Zakir’s wife Kaosara Begum were colleagues of Shariful and they borrowed Tk2 lakh each from Shariful for business purpose.

When Shariful gave pressure on them to repay the money, Jasim and Jakir planned to kill him, said the prosecution.

On September 30, 2011, the court framed charges against the five accused after submitting the chargesheet. The court sentenced the verdict after testifying 16 witnesses. l

WEATHER

LIGHT RAIN WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10 DHAKA TODAY

TOMORROW

SUN SETS 6:08PM

SUN RISES 5:43AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

33

26

Chittagong

31

26

Rajshahi

32

25

Rangpur

31

25

Khulna

32

24

Barisal

31

24

Sylhet

32

24

Cox’s Bazar

30

25

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

35.7ºC Rajshahi

23.5ºC Rangamati

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:28am 5:43am 11:56am 4:23pm 6:08pm 7:24pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

5

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Mild earthquake jolts Chittagong city n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

An earthquake jolted Chittagong city and district’s some areas yesterday.

However, no casualty or damage was reported in this regard.

Asadur Rahman, duty assistant of meteorological office in Chittagong, told the Dhaka Tribune that the earthquake had occurred at 3:28:41pm and magnitude of the quake was 5.3 in richter scale.”

The epicentre was located in India-Myanmar border and the distance of the epicentre was about 335 km southeast from Agargaon Seismic Observatory in Dhaka, he said.

The US Geological Survey Earthquake Information Centre said the earthquake originated from on 22.160°N 93.141°E of India-Myanmar border which is 40km south south-east of Saiha, India and 90km south southeast of Lunglei under Mizoram state in India. It is 94km east of Bandarban and 112km east of Satkania upazila of Chittagong.

The depth of the earthquake is 10km from ground level while the site mentioned that the magnitude of the earthquake was 5.4 in Richter scale.

Due to earthquake, the city dwellers became panicked while city dwellers coming down from buildings.

Partha Sarathee Sikdar said, “I came out from the 10-storied building along with others feeling earthquake.”

However, the tremor was not reported to be felt in Dhaka, the met office said. l

Islamic University gets new proctor

following students protest n Our Correspondent, Kushtia

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other dignitaries of the World Health Organisation attend the opening ceremony of the Thirty-second Meeting of Ministers of Health and the Sixty-seventh Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia in the capital yesterday BSS

Five south-east Asian countries vow to work in collaboration to eliminate kala-azar n Moniruzzaman Uzzal Health ministers of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Thailand vowed to work together to eliminate Visceral Leishmaniasis (kala-azar) from their countries.

The ministers of South East Asia Region (SEAR) made the pledge at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the capital yesterday.

The MoU was signed on the after the inauguration of the Thirty-second Meeting of Ministers of Health and the Sixty-seventh Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the four-day programme as chief guest.

Bangladesh Health Minister Mohammed Nasim, Bhutanese Health Minister Lyonpo Tandin Wangchuk, Indian Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan,

Nepalese Health Minister Khaga Raj Adhikari and Thailand Inspector-General of Public Health Dr Suriya Wongkongkathep were present at the signing ceremony.

We now have fieldfriendly diagnostic tools and effective medicines for its treatment. WHO has negotiated for an assured free supply of the treatment drug to endemic countries till end-2016 Speakers at the event said over 147 million people in the South-East Asia region are at risk of contracting this life-threatening disease, mainly in Bangladesh, India and Nepal.

CEC: DCC poll within three months after demarcation n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi The chief election commissioner yesterday said they would announce poll schedules for Dhaka’s two city corporations after the Local Government Ministry solved the demarcation issue.

“As soon as the Local Government Ministry completes demarcation of the two city corporations, we will go for selection of voters at the wardlevel, and announce schedules within three to four months,” Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed told reporters after a workshop in Rajshahi city.

The Election Commission began updating the voter list of Dhaka’s north and south city corporations on September 1. It is set to continue until today.

The EC on April 9, 2012 announced the election schedules for the split DCCs, fixing 24 May as date for voting.

But, a writ petition stalled the election process halfway through. The High Court stayed the election for three months asking the Local Government

Ministry to demarcate the DCC wards and the EC to update voter lists of the two city corporations.

The stay order was extended on three occasions. Later, the court quashed the legal bar to the election on May 13 last year.

However, the complexities regarding demarcation of wards 55, 56 and 57, and some parts of Uttara remained unresolved. For this, the EC did not declare fresh schedules and asked the ministry to complete the process quickly.

In response to reporters’ queries whether the EC had preparations for holding snap polls if the government quits in the face of BNP-led movement after the Eid-ul-Azha, the CEC yesterday said: “The Election Commission is ready to hold elections anytime.”

At the workshop, he said: “Fake voter has become extinct these days.

The Election Commission is now much improved in terms of technological facilities but we need skilled manpower to use those.” l

As over 50% of the cases in the three main affected countries occur in areas close to international borders, besides strong national efforts, countries also need close collaboration to control and eliminate this disease.

Kala-azar is debilitating and often fatal if left untreated. It is transmitted by sand flies which breed in moist soil, caves, cracks in mud walls and rodent burrows, they said.

Associated with malnutrition, poor housing and illiteracy, kala-azar prolongs the cycle of poverty as people cannot afford treatment and therefore cannot work.

Elimination of kala-azar means reducing the cases to a level where it is no longer a public health problem.

The target is to achieve less than one kala-azar case per 10,000 population annually at district or sub-district level.

“Kala-azar elimination is within our reach and WHO is committed to it”,

said Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, WHO regional director for South-East Asia.

“We now have field- friendly diagnostic tools and effective medicines for its treatment. WHO has negotiated for an assured free supply of the treatment drug to endemic countries till end2016, with a likelihood of this arrangement being extended for another five years.”she added.

The elimination strategy will include access to early diagnosis and treatment, particularly of the most vulnerable populations together with stronger disease and vector surveillance and integrated vector management with emphasis on improvement of the environment, social mobilisation, research and networking.

Elimination of kala-azar will contribute to mitigation of poverty and strengthen health and development efforts in the affected countries, she further added. l

Ministry orders countrywide anti-adulteration drive n Tribune Report Now district magistrates along with executive magistrates will conduct countrywide special drives on secret informations against much-talkedabout food adulterating, home ministry issued a circular in this regard yesterday.

The circular issued on Tuesday after a meeting on law and order situation at the home ministry on July 21, 2014.

The ministry named the drive as ‘Anti-food adulterating drive’.

According to the circular, the anti food adulteration special drive will be conducted by district magistrate through mobile court magistrates drives against those who are involved in adulteration of food by taking advantage of the existing Mobile Court Act, Pure Food Ordinance, Consumer Protect Act and the Food Act. The drives will be conducted based on secret informations by executive magistrates working in the DC and UNO offices. They will mete out serious punishments to unscrupulous

businessmen engaged in adulterating foodstuff.

The deputy commissioners (DCs) and upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) to immediately form district and upazila-level monitoring committees to conduct the special drives properly.

The ministry circular ordered a working guideline in this regard in both district and upazila level as the special drive will be supervised by a 29-member committee with local lawmakers as advisor and District Magistrate as President.

In Upazila level, a 19-member committee headed by Upazila Parishad chairman and local MP as advisor will supervise the drive.

The responsible committee also asked to hold monthly review meetings about the special drives.

The Home ministry also ordered the field-level officers to form each monitoring committee with members.

The members should come from from law enforcement and intelligence agencies, local business associations, civil society and the press. l

Following two weeks of student protests, authorities at the Islamic University (IU) finally gave in to the demands of the demonstrators and relieved university proctor Mahabubur Rahman from his duties yesterday.

The university’s Vice-Chancellor Abdul Hakim Sarker called an academic council meeting yesterday afternoon, where Prof Lokman Hakim, a teacher of the Islamic history and culture department, was appointed as the new IU proctor.

BCL activists allegedly vandalised five university buses on Monday night, protesting the suspension of two of their leaders Students under the banner of Chhatra Sangram Parishad launched their demonstrations following a clash between the police and Bangladesh Chhatra League activists on August 24; they demanded the withdrawal of the proctor claiming that he had ordered the police to shoot at a BCL procession.

The violence also prompted the IU authorities to shut down the university until September 8.

Although the university officially reopened yesterday, no class or exam took place. The students continued to demonstrate by blocking the Kushtia-Khulna highway in the morning, ignoring a previous IU directive that banned all kinds of political activities on the campus for an indefinite period.

Meanwhile, BCL activists allegedly vandalised five university buses on Monday night, protesting the suspension of two of their leaders. The buses were vandalised at the university bus depot at around 10pm.

The BCL’s IU unit Joint Convener Shajibul Islam Sajib and activist Salauddin were suspended on Monday evening, after several media published pictures that showed them carrying arms.

Following an administrative meeting of the university, Mahbubur Rahman, the immediate past proctor, had said: “Several media published the pictures of Sajib and Salauddin with arms.

So they have been suspended.

“A disciplinary committee was formed to investigate the incident.

Permanent measures will be taken regarding the matter once the committee submits its report,” he said.

The two suspended BCL members have reportedly gone into hiding after their photos were published.

Kushtia Police Superintendent Proloy Shichim said: “No one is above the law. The arms in the pictures published in media is illegal for sure and whoever possesses illegal arms will be brought to trial even if they are at large.” l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Main roads in desperate need of repairs in Bandarban’s Naikhangchhari n Our Correspondent, Bandarban The main roads have reached such a bad condition in Bandarban’s Naikhangchhari upazila town that travelling along them is nothing but a nightmare for people because these roads have been fraught with potholes as a result of no maintenance for a few years.

One of the roads is Naikhangchhari Canal Bridge-Chakdala Link Road. This road plays a vital role in communications in the upazila. It is connected with the VIP road and five other unions in the upazila; around nine-kilometre of which is totally unusable. Yet, people use it because they do not have any alternative.

Thousands of people, including students and teachers fall into a miserable state when they travel along this road.

Their sufferings know no bounds particularly during or after rains because the potholes remain invisible then, they said.

They pointed out that the noticeable importance of this road came up for the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) recently when tension arose on Bangladesh-Myanmar border. This road was then used for regular communications

with Chakdhala Border Observation Post (BOP), Ashartoli BOP and Fultoli BOP. They added that there are over 50 roads riddled with potholes, which are in desperate need of repairs for a few years, in the upazila town.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Naikhangchhari Upazila Awami League leader Imran said: “The upazila office of the local government and engineering department (LGED) often gauge this road, but they never come up with a move to repair it.”

Local police say policing has slowed down in the district because of the miserable condition of this road.

Naikhagchhari police station Officer-in-Charge Rafiqul Islam said: “It is quite difficult for us to patrol, let alone move from one place to another due to the miserable condition of this vital road in the upazila.”

Bandarban Roads and Highway Department’s Executive Engineer Fazlul Haq was asked about the miserable conditions of the roads in the upazila, he said: “We are failing to begin road maintenance in the upazila due to rain.

However, the road repairs will be started soon after the rains recedes.” l

SL leader found dead in Noakhali n Our correspondent, Noakhali

Social afforestation a boon for rural people in Tangail

Sramik League leader found dead at West Rajarampur village of Mohammadpur union under Senbag upazila on early Tuesday night.

The victim was identified as Ajijul Hoque Saiful 32, and also joint convener of Yakubpur union SL of Dhagonbhuyan upazila in Feni district, son of Mominul Hoque of village Chondipur under Yakubpur union of Feni district.

Md. Zakir Hossain, officer- in- charge of Senbag Police Station, quoting the locals said that, they found a body was lying beside the road in west Rajarampur village 12:30am.

On information, police went to the spot and recovered the body. They found a minor injury on his right leg at the time of inquest. They also suspect that he might be killed by suffocation.

Md. Fazlu, younger brother of the victim, after hearing the recovery of a body, came to the Senbag Police Station and identified the body as his elder brother who was missing from Sunday night. l

n Our Correspondent, Tangail Social afforestation programme is gaining popularity as beneficiary groups have got their share on time which helped them to improve their livelihood.

Tangail Forest department have brought a total of 122,000 hectares of land under the programme in Madhupur, Ghatail, Sakhipur and Mirzapur upaizlas.

At least 17,116 beneficiaries have already got a total of Tk99.71crore in two rotations (ten years long rotation) from 1989-1990 to 1999-2000 and 2002-2003 to 2012-2013.

The beneficiaries of social afforestation got 45% of the total sale value of the trees grown on 2.5 acres of land.

At the very beginning of the afforestation programme, most people had no faith in the project about their benefit sharing. As a result, participants did not take care of the plants which were planted on the land allocated for them,

Five killed in road accidents in two districts n Tribune Report At least five people were killed in road accidents in Faridpur and Sirajganj districts yesterday.

Our Faridpur correspondent reports: Three people were killed and five others injured as cow-laden truck turned turtle in Piarpur area under Sadar upazila.

The dead were identified as Thandu Sheikh, 32, Shawkat Bepari and Litu Matabber, 40. Police said a Dhaka-bound cow-laden truck fell into road side ditch hit an electric poll when the driver of the truck lost control over the steering around 11:30pm, leaving its driver and helper dead on the spot.

Later, local people Litu

electrocuted when he was trying to rescue the other people.

Seven cows were also killed.

Sirajganj correspondent said two fish traders were crushed under the wheels a truck at Bus Stand area in Belkuchi upazila.

The deceased were identified as Gurupad Hawlader, 43, and Prakash Hawlader, 37.

Police and local people said, a Enayetpur-bound good-laden truck run over them when they were gossiping beside the road around 6:45am in the area.

Both of them died on the spot.

Anisur Rahman, officer-incharge of Belkuchi police station confirmed the incident. l

3 policemen hurt in gunfight Bypass Road in the district n Tribune Report town.

At least four people, including three policemen, have received injuries in a gunfight between police and Yaba smugglers in the district town early Tuesday.

Of the injured, Sub-inspector Titu Datta of the district Detective Branch (DB) of police and Yaba trader Nazrul Islam, 31, son of Abul Hossain of Teknaf, were admitted to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital.

Officer-in-charge of DB Manjurul Alam said they had secret information that some smugglers were selling Yaba in the district jail area on the

A team of plainclothes police launched a drive in the area around 3am. When the police team challenged the Yaba traders, the criminals opened fire on the law enforcers, promoting the law enforces to fire back leaving three policemen, including SI Titu and Yaba smuggler Nazrul, injured.

Nazrul was undergoing treatment with bullet injuries under police custody. The DB team also recovered 2,050 pieces of Yaba tablet, one LG and two rounds of cartridge from the spot. l

The recent picture shows that the Naikhangchhari Canal Bridge-Chakdala Link road lies in sorry state. The road plays a vital role in communication as it is connected with the VIP road and five other unions DHAKA TRIBUNE

local sources said.

They did not protect their trees from being stolen even some participants used to steal trees form their own plots, said the sources, adding that after getting money from the first rotation they became conscious of benefit of the plants.

Tk99.71crore have been disbursed among participants in two phases The participants are happy as they are getting their cheques in time.

Officials of forest department are trying hard to create awareness among the participants about how they can increase their profits by taking care of their plants.

Now a day participants of the programme are more passionate to in taking care of their plants to increase the benefit sharing money as they are get-

ting the money of their benefit of share from second rotation.

Rowshan-Ara-Begum, a resident of Chaitar Baid village under Ghatail upaizla, got Tk127,125 from second rotation.

She said: “In the beginning, we thought that the forest department will not give us what they are offering. We were afraid that we may not collect our shearing money from the department.

But now we are seeing that they are giving our shearing money properly.”

Baseron Bibi, a resident of Kalikapur village in the same upaizla, got Tk202,500 two months.

She said: “I have bought three bighas of land with the money.”

Expressing regret, she said: “If I took care of my plants properly from the very beginning I could collect more money”.

Tangail Divisional Forest Officer Abu Naser Khan said: “Social forestry got momentum and government is keen to use social forestry as a tool for poverty reduction.” l

One hacked to death in Satkhira n Our Correspondent, Satkhira

A person was hacked to death by unidentified assailants at his residence in Godaghata village under sadar upzila in Satkhira.

Abu Hassan, 43, son of late Yusuf Ali Delowar of Godaghata village.

Abu Hassan was chopped to death by unidentified assailants at his residence early Tuesday.

Locals said Hassan’s wife Sufia Khatun got into an extramarital affair with a man from Protabnagar area during the treatment of their children at Satkhira sadar hospital.

They claimed that Hassan was killed for the affair.

Satkhira sadar police station Officerin-Charge Golam Rahman said: “Police went to the spot and sent the body to sadar morgue for autopsy.”

“He might have been killed sometime in the early hours of the day,” he said.

The OC said: “Sufia was slightly injured in the incident and has been admitted to sadar hospital.”

“She might have been injure while trying to stop the assailants from killing Hassan. The incident might have taken place over the feud of the affair.

We are trying to arrest Sufia’s lover,” he said.

Meanwhile, a school bag filled with clothes and a chopper were recovered from the spot. l

NEWS IN BRIEF Firearm recovered Police in a drive recovered a local made firearm from Peerpur village under Sadar upazila yesterday. On a tip-off, the police conducted a drive in the village while the terrorists were holding a secrete meeting near the Mathabhanga river. The police recovered the gun and some cartridges from the spot. Asaduzzaman, officer-in-charge of Sadar police station confirmed the incident.

-Our Correspondent, Chuadanga

Jammat leader arrested A Jamaat-e-Islami leader was arrested in Burchang upazila in the district yesterday.

According to sources, police arrested Saiful Alam, the upazila vice-chairman of Jammat at night from his house in Racecourse area.

He was wanted in a forgery case. Khorshed Alam, officer-in-charge of Kotwali model police station confirmed the incident.

-Our Correspondent, Comilla

Nine robbers arrested Members of Rapid Action Battalion arrested nine inter-district robbers of a

gang from Durgapur area in Chhagalnaiya upazila yesterday. RAB sources said, on tip-off, a team of elite force conducted a drive in the area around 3am when they were preparing to commit robbery. Police arrested the nine members from the spot.

Five foreign rifles, two pipe guns, two local guns and 40 bullets were seized from their dispossession. -Our Correspondent, Feni

Drug-addict son handed over to police by mother Son of Shah Alam of Syedpur upazilla at Charshuvi village, Mosharaf, 20, was handed over to police by his mother Shepu Begum for drug addiction. Later, Mosharaf was transferred to mobile court, where he was found guilty and sentenced to a two-year rigorous imprisonment by Mobile Court Magistrate and Doulatkhan Upazilla Nirbahi Offier (UNO) Md Mostafizur Rahman at 1:30pm yesterday.

Locals said Mosharaf has been smoking marijuana and taking other drugs for a long time despite being forbidden numerous times by his parents. Mosharaf’s mother Shepu Begum became frustrated by her son’s activities and was forced to hand him over to police.

– Our Correspondent, Bhola

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

7

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

The Islamist narrative Part 2: The alchemy of artificial values The concluding part of a series on the Wahabbi influence coming out of Saudi Arabia – the Salafist agenda has merged almost seamlessly with notions of what it means to be a good Muslim, making it difficult if not impossible for many sincere Muslims to tell the difference between Islam and Islamism A Shi’ite volunteer, who has joined the Iraqi army to fight against militants of the Islamic State stands during a graduation ceremony after completing their field training in Najaf, August 16, 2014. The Wahabbi division throughout the Muslim world is so severe that even such senior citizens are compelled to raise arms against the extremist force REUTERS

T

n Zeeshan Khan his mixing of religion, revolution and resistance has caused the Islamist narrative to become even more convoluted over the years. For example, the struggle in Syria and Iraq has invariably added to sectarian hatred because of their respective political configurations, and anti-Sufi sentiments were, among other reasons, stirred by the belief that Sufi views softened Muslims and curbed their appetite for revolt (a fact that is entirely untrue when one looks at the number of Sufis that have both led and fought in revolts).

Anti-Semitism is a reaction to Israeli aggression. The Brotherhood’s reaction to the Egyptian establishment is a result of political persecution and is as much a class struggle as it is a religious one. But there are also doctrinal inconsistencies that are much more discomfiting.

The Muslim Brotherhood was inspired by men like Muhammed Abduh who was pluralistic and rational. Abduh was also comfortable with the followers of the Baha’i faith, considered heretical by the Muslim orthodoxy, and may have even been a Freemason.

ent-day subscribers to this ideology – al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and the Islamic State – violate Islamic principles on civil liberties, justice, other religions, the rules of engagements and the sanctity of life, (among many others) at almost every turn.

Qutb’s book “Milestones” became the seminal text for all subsequent jihadist movements in the region and contains xenophobic, reactionary rhetoric along with revolutionary solutions for problems facing Muslim countries.

Sayyid Qutb’s intellectual inspiration was none other than Abul Al’a Maududi, the fountainhead of modern Islamism and founder of Jamaat-e-Islami. Maududi’s writings and his advocating for a clerical “Islamic State” forms the foundation for today’s IS and have also, in some ways, influenced the Iranian Revolution – perhaps explaining why certain theological distortions are common to both.

Ayatollah Khomeini and Maududi knew each other and exchanged notes on their respective ideas for an Islamic revival, with some of Maududi’s suggestions making their way into the Iranian Revolution’s policies.

Maududi grew up in an India under British domination and much of his writing was the expression of his

What is needed is a robust political solution that can provide a viable blueprint for responsible statecraft, guided by the values and principles that are promoted in the Quran

On the other hand, Rashed Rida, who was also a founding influence, was strict about his Salafism, yet suspicious of dogma. Both these men influenced Hassan al Banna, founder of the “Ikhwan al Muslimun” or Muslim Brotherhood, who was already heavily influenced by Sufism. But Banna’s and Rida’s successors were more zealous in their approach to the Islamic revival and strayed far from anything remotely Sufi, with the Brotherhood’s Sayyid Qutb eventually becoming Bin Laden’s and Zarqawi’s ideological guru.

Qutb possessed a particular disdain for Western civilisation and promoted the concept of an Islamic vanguard, sworn to struggle against the nonMuslim’s “jahili (ignorant) society, jahili concepts, jahili traditions and jahili leadership.”

Yet, for all his hatred of the west, Qutb incorporated numerous socialist and fascist principles into his ideology, which are of course of western origin, and pitted a heavily Islamised political philosophy against virtually everything else, even against Islam itself.

This is evidenced by how pres-

longing for emancipation, sought in an Islamic utopia. He blamed Muslim weakness in the face of European ascendancy on what he believed was a dilution of Islamic values, and sought to infuse it with a puritanical zeal that could unlock the revolutionary “Islamic” energies of lore.

In this regard he was not unlike the Wahabbis who had wanted to do the same thing a century earlier. His influences included Ibn Taymiyyah, Shah Waliullah, Syed Ahmad Barelvi and Haji Shariatullah, many of whom tried to establish an Islamic State governed by the principles of Salafism – the latter in Bengal in fact, under the Faraizi Movement.

In his quest for the perfect country, he was not unlike many other thinkers of his time who were trying on the various grand narratives of idealism, like communism, fascism and socialism, to combat what they collectively viewed as decadent and exploitative imperialism. And like nearly all Salafists, he linked him revolutionary rhetoric to religious doctrine, polluting the stream of spiritual guidance

by blurring the lines between political objectives and the duties of faith.

Maududi’s influence on the religious discourse across the world, but particularly in South Asia, has been both wide and deep. At least three generations have grown up in a religious atmosphere spiked with his reactionary grand narrative, which has made its way into sermons at mosques, religious instruction, religious schools (Madrassas) and religious programming on television.

It has been exported and adopted by thinkers, writers and influencers in various parts of the Muslim world, who have in turn had it incorporated into the religious curriculum in their respective countries.

Coupled with the Wahabbi influence coming out of Saudi Arabia, the Salafist agenda has merged almost seamlessly with notions of what it means to be a good Muslim, making it difficult if not impossible for many sincere Muslims to tell the difference between Islam and Islamism.

What is to be done?

This linking of Islam with Islamism has turned Islam from a religion into an ideology, and is largely responsible for the fascist-like demands for conformity that have become one of its hallmarks. It has become a political movement with a religious face, and is increasingly comfortable with its militant orientation.

Many ordinary Muslims subscribe to these tenets because they have become convinced that their faith requires them to, and while the vast majority will never join the ranks of jihadists, many will, and this trend is growing.

A full investigation of how Muslims go from being secular and liberal to becoming Islamists is beyond the scope of this article but it bears remembering that men like Sayyid Qutb were not Islamists to begin with.

His observation of injustices, prejudice and the ethical laxity of secular governments of his time convinced him that the answers lay in Islam, in particular in Islamic government.

This is the same impulse that drives most Islamists towards revolution today, both violent and non-violent.

Like idealists anywhere, they believe they can change the world for the better and will do whatever it takes to try and achieve this aim.

The indoctrination process, which is prolific, is also a crucial ingredient and each new generation had been adept at using the tools available to them. The IS is active on Twitter, Facebook, the blogosphere and Youtube, and has been able to attract a large number of recruits from western, secular backgrounds – converts who have rushed headlong into battle and in many cases lost their lives.

The broadness of the IS’s appeal and its support base, in terms of nationalities, is an indication of how far the Islamist message has spread and the sort of universal appeal it is able to rely on.

Obscure news reports have suggested that IS maybe have been created

by Western forces in collusion with Bashar Al Assad, like the Taliban and al-Qaeda were (for which there is actual evidence of involvement), to make finger-pointing more believable and to create a “hornet’s nest” of terrorists in one place. Its highly unlikely, but even if it were true it still serves the purpose of polluting the narrative, making both Muslims and people that hate Muslims even more determinedly bigoted.

Any counter-narrative to the current Salafi one therefore, will have to speak to takers in a language that they can understand, if it is intended to have any effect on them at all. The best to expect is to be able to wean potential adherents and the more naive ones away from the monolithic, distorted version on offer, by presenting them with alternative, indeed actual, Islamic ways to express their idealism.

Pointing to esoteric Sufi treatises about Divine Love and mystical disengagement will not suffice, nor will it do to build up secular liberalism or the concept of “moderate Muslims” as the enlightened option – in fact it will make it worse, since Islamism exists, arguably, as a reaction to both of those sets of values.

What is needed is a robust political solution that can provide a viable blueprint for responsible statecraft, guided by the values and principles that are promoted in the Quran. For example, any state that is governed by consultation and a popular mandate, has a welfare system for the less fortunate, patronises learning, ethics and enlightenment, acknowledges both a man and a woman’s rights upon each other, allows a principled economy to flourish, weeds out corruption, adulteration and nepotism and has a reliable justice system is adhering to core Islamic principles.

Similarly, a society that eschews vulgarity, encourages virtuousness, mercy, peace and kindness, and allows freedoms of worship and expression, is reflecting the basic values of a Muslim.

Deductive reasoning like this was the original source of fiqh, or Islamic jurisprudence until the Sharia was developed (nearly a century and a half after the life of the Prophet) following Imam Malik’s and Imam Shafi’i’s efforts at codifying the Sunnah and promulgating the duties of Muslims across an expanding territory (it was never binding upon non-Muslims), and to limit the arbitrary powers of a sovereign.

It was commissioned by the Caliph of the time, who instructed Imam Malik to develop a code that would neither be extreme nor excessively ad hoc. It was to adhere to the Muslim principles of balance and middle paths, and was, if anything, a systematic attempt at building institutions and structures that would rely on sober and rational decision making in matters of law, ethics and governance – much like any other attempt at responsible statehood.

So the answer to a medieval under-

standing of Islamic jurisprudence is having an educated and progressive set of thinkers, be willing to engage with the Islamic discourse. Otherwise we will be leaving our economic and political emancipation (which is a common goal) to the Islamist, which is mostly what we have done so far.

But breaking Islamism’s stranglehold on the Islamic narrative is not going to be easy. Attempts will be met with allegations of blasphemy or “bida,” and a slew of “authentic” daleels, or evidences, will be presented alongside the list of “scholars” that will be trotted out to prove that Islam is indeed as bigoted and regimental as they believe it is.

also rejected the hadith as sources of law and jurisprudence, as did the Egyptian Taha Hussein, who lived alongside Sayyid Qutb.

Pakistan’s Ghulam Ahmed Pervez was among the more prominent advocates of “Quranism,” and was also Muhammed Ali Jinnah’s right hand man. In the present day, Turkish theologian and lawyer Yasar Nuri Ozturk has started a “back to the Quran” movement, and in Nigeria Kalo Kato which means “a mere man said it” is a Quran-only movement led by Islamic scholar Malam Isiyaka Salisu.

Javed Ahmed Ghamidi is a Pakistani theologian who used to belong to the Jamaat-e-Islami and worked closely

Many ordinary Muslims subscribe to these tenets because they have become convinced that their faith requires them to, and while the vast majority will never join the ranks of jihadists, many will, and this trend is growing

Most of these evidences will be hadith-based, the questioning of which will be considered a sacrilegious act, even though hadiths are the product of human agency and are therefore necessarily fallible. There is nothing new about this approach. Generations of people who challenged the Islamist construct met with the same and in certain unfortunate circumstances, much, much worse.

It should be remembered that the current narrative is only one stream of thought among many others that have existed alongside it. As early as the eighth century, while Imam Shafi’i, “defender of the Sunnah” was systemising the study of prophetic traditions, the theologian Ibrahim an Nazzam was simultaneously challenging their legal validity and asserting that only the Quran and “aql” or reason, were valid sources of Islamic law.

His student Al Jahiz, the famous writer and one of the earliest in a long line of renowned Islamic scholars and thinkers, also believed this, but made certain allowances for the Sunnah in it’s capacity as historical record. Shortly afterwards, in Nishapur, As Imam Bukhari and his student Muslim Hajjaj were compiling their Sahih volumes, the ecstatic Sufis Bayazid Bastami and Mansur Hallaj were preaching mystic exegesis and encouraging an experiential relationship with the Divine.

In more contemporary times, at the beginning of the Islamic revival, 19th century Indian Professors, Aslam Jairajpuri, of Aligarh Muslim University and Maulvi Abdullah Chakralawi

with Maududi before splitting with him on ideological grounds as well on Ghamidi’s refusal to accept the hadith as sacrosanct. Ghamidi founded the al-Mawrid Institute of Islamic Sciences, which works to spread what they believe is the true nature of Islam.

There is nothing new about this struggle to control the narrative.

Throughout Muslim history, it’s ebbs and flows have created periods of enlightenment followed by periods of constricting narrowness. Its unlikely that Islamism will ever be taken out of the equation completely; it appeals to swathes of Muslims all around the world and does, in its own reactionary way, serve a purpose in the struggle against colonial aggression and the attacks on sovereignty.

The thing that has changed significantly is the rate at which ideas are able to spread across the world using information and communication technologies. To keep abreast of it, challenges and contradictions to a Salafi view of reality have to be stepped up and sustained if other ways of being Muslim are to enjoy their legitimate place at the table where, by many accounts Salafism should not have one.

In the coming days, this will become all the more crucial if Muslims in Darul Islam (The house of Islam) are to be salvaged from the train wreck their civilisation and its historical credibility is speeding towards, with no view to an imminent end. l Zeeshan Khan is a senior sub-editor at Dhaka Tribune.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Cameron implores Scots not to vote for independence New poll shows surge in ‘Yes’ vote

n Reuters, Edinburgh, London British Prime Minister David Cameron implored Scots yesterday not to vote for independence in next week’s referendum after an opinion poll showed a surge in support for a break from the United Kingdom.

Cameron pledged to do everything he could to keep the United Kingdom together and said he would head north to Scotland to join the fray.

“In the end, it is for the Scottish people to decide, but I want them to know that the rest of the United Kingdom - and I speak as prime minister - want them to stay.”

A split would have huge ramifications beyond Scotland’s borders, given Britain’s current status as an economic, diplomatic and military power Cameron’s move made clear that the break-up of the United Kingdom - previously thought to be a pipedream - was now a distinct possibility. His spokesman said Scotland’s blue and white flag would be flown over Cameron’s London residence in Downing Street on Tuesday.

Nationalist leader Alex Salmond said in Edinburgh that the TNS poll showed the campaign opposing independence had “fallen apart at the seams”.

Britain’s main political parties also scrambled to shore up the 307-year union by pledging more autonomy to Scotland, with former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, a Scot, making

NEWS BITES

WHO: Liberia to see huge Ebola surge

n Agencies The World Health Organization has warned that Liberia is set to see a huge spike in infections from the Ebola epidemic ravaging west Africa, with thousands of new cases imminent, AFP reported. The UN agency on Monday said the country, worst-hit in the outbreak with almost 1,100 deaths, faced “many thousands” of new infections in the next three weeks.

“WHO and its director-general will continue to advocate for more Ebola treatment beds in Liberia and elsewhere, and will hold the world accountable for responding to this dire emergency with its unprecedented dimensions of human suffering,” it said in a statement.

The deadliest Ebola epidemic the world has ever seen is spreading across west Africa, with Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone the countries worst affected.

The death toll has topped 2,000, out of nearly 4,000 people infected. Liberia already accounts for about half of all cases and deaths, and “the number of new cases is increasing exponentially”, the WHO warned. l

HRW: Israel illegally coerces Africa migrants to leave

n

AFP, Jerusalem

Israel has illegally coerced almost 7,000 African migrants into returning to their home countries, where some face persecution, Human Rights Watch said in a report published yesterday.

“Israel’s convoluted legal rules thwart Eritrean and Sudanese asylum seekers’ attempts to secure protection under Israeli and international law,” New Yorkbased HRW said in a statement. “Israeli authorities have... denied them access to fair and efficient asylum procedures, and used the resulting insecure legal status as a pretext to unlawfully detain or threaten to detain them indefinitely, coercing thousands into leaving.”

Israel has come under fierce criticism from rights groups for its immigration policy and treatment of African asylum seekers, particularly over its Holot detention centre where illegal immigrants can be held for up to a year. In response to the HRW report, a spokeswoman for Israel’s population and migration authority defended its policy as “proportionate.” l

an impassioned appeal to Labour Party supporters in central Scotland in support of staying together.

The latest opinion poll showed the referendum scheduled for Sept. 18 was now “too close to call”, TNS head Tom Costley said.

The number of people saying they would vote “No” to independence dropped to 39 percent, down from 45 percent a month ago. “Yes” support was slightly behind at 38 percent but had made a dramatic surge from 32 percent a month ago.

It followed a YouGov poll in the Sunday Times that put the proindependence camp slightly ahead for the first time this year, prompting a fall in the pound and British shares that reflected concerns that an independent Scotland would struggle economically.

Money questions

In a renewed blow to nationalist hopes of keeping the pound sterling, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said a currency union between an independent Scotland and the remainder of the United Kingdom would be incompatible with sovereignty.

Britain’s three main political parties have already ruled out a currency union with an independent Scotland, raising questions over what money Scots would use.

A split would also have huge ramifications beyond Scotland’s borders, given Britain’s current status as an economic, diplomatic and military power, a leading NATO and EU country, and a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

Salmond, who heads the Scottish National Party, the ruling party in Scotland, exulted in the poll news on Tuesday morning. l

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond (C) poses for pictures with pro-independence supporters and European citizens to celebrate European citizenship and Scotland's continued EU membership with a Yes vote, during a photocall in Edinburgh, Scotland AFP

What if? Scotland considers steps to independence n AFP, London

With polls ahead of Scotland’s independence referendum now showing the two sides neck and neck, Britain is starting to seriously consider the implications of a “Yes” victory.

A pro-independence vote would be a worldwide sensation but would change little immediately, except perhaps boost calls for the resignation of British Prime Minister David Cameron.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has already set the date of March 24, 2016 -- the 309th anniversary of the Acts of Union between England and Scotland -- for a formal division that would cut the United Kingdom’s landmass by a third.

Here are the main practical steps that could lead up to the break away of Scotland:

Oil and gas

Scotland’s treasure, the North Sea offshore fields, would likely be divided up geographically and the government in Edinburgh would want to move quickly to assert control.

Eighty-five percent of known reserves in the area are in what would be Scottish territory and the sector would make up around 15 percent of the new Scotland’s economy.

Sharing debt, currency?

A key economic question will be how to share out Britain’s £1.4 billion (1.8 billion euros, $2.3 billion) debt. The Scottish government has said this could be divided on the basis of population share or of Scotland’s historic contribution to Britain’s public finances.

Scotland would continue using the pound in the coming months but what

Ukraine death toll edges up despite ceasefire

Brotherhood leader, cleric sentenced to 20 years in jail

n Reuters, Ukraine

An Egyptian court sentenced a leader of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood and an Islamist cleric to 20 years in prison yesterday for attempting to kill two policemen, part of a government crackdown that has severely weakened the group.

Mohamed El-Beltagy and cleric Safwat Hegazy were convicted of detaining and attempting to kill the policemen during protests against the military’s overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi on July 3, 2013.

The demonstrations at Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya were crushed by security forces, who killed hundreds of people.

Egyptian officials, who call the Brotherhood a terrorist group, have repeatedly said that some protesters were armed and fired at police and soldiers.

Two doctors who treated wounded protesters at a field hospital during the clashes, Mohammed Zenati and Azim Mohammed, were sentenced to 15 years each on the same charges. Like many Brotherhood leaders, Beltagy faces several legal cases. l

Five Ukrainian servicemen have been killed in the past four days, the military said yesterday, underscoring the strains in a ceasefire between government forces and pro-Russian separatists that officials insist is still broadly holding.

The ceasefire, agreed on Friday, is part of a peace plan meant to end a five-month conflict that has killed more than 3,000 people and caused the sharpest confrontation between Russia and the West since the Cold War. Russia, accused by Kiev and the West of sending troops into eastern Ukraine and arming the rebels, urged the two sides in the conflict to begin talks soon on the region’s final political status. It denies accusations of intervening in the conflict.

Under the terms of the ceasefire, Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko said the rebels had so far released 648 prisoners-of-war to the government side. He said the Ukrainian side was working to secure the release

of a further 500 POWs. A rebel leader, Andrei Purgin, told Interfax news agency he expected an exchange of 36 more POWs on Tuesday.

The ceasefire largely held overnight into Tuesday despite sporadic violations, including in rebel-held Donetsk, the region’s largest city, where government forces hold the airport. A woman was wounded in Donetsk overnight.

Lysenko said the death toll among servicemen since the start of the ceasefire now stood at five, with 33 wounded.

At the weekend, one woman was killed and at least four other civilians were wounded when government forces came under heavy shelling near the port of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov.

Both sides say they are observing the ceasefire and blame each other for any violations.

“Russian troops and terrorists are continuing their brazen violations of the conditions of the ceasefire, shooting at the positions of the Ukrainian forces,” defense analyst Dmytro Tymchuk said in a statement. l

Russia’s arrest of an Estonian policeman has sparked fears that Moscow is using the incident to test NATO’s resolve to defend its small Baltic allies as the crisis in eastern Ukraine rumbles on.

Moscow detained officer Eston Kohver on Saturday in what Russia claims is a spying probe. Prosecutors say he was arrested in possession of a pistol, ammunition, 5,000 euros ($6,500) and “special equipment to carry out covert recordings”.

But Tallinn alleges Russia kidnapped Kohver from Estonia at gunpoint as he was investigating cross-border crime.

A source close to the probe in Moscow quoted on Monday by Russia’s Interfax news agency said Kohver had denied being a spy or smuggling a firearm into the country.

Many in Estonia believe the timing of Kohver’s arrest is deliberate, coming just two days after US President Barack Obama visited Tallinn to trumpet Baltic security following Russia’s role in the Ukraine crisis.

“The operation was obviously carefully

planned and prepared,” Kaarel Kaas, an analyst with Estonia’s International Centre for Defence Studie, told AFP. “The kidnapping on Estonian soil was a conscious choice to demonstrate that the FSB (Russian intelligence service) can operate in spite of all obstacles,” he said.

“It’s hard to tell if it was done to show NATO, Estonia or the KAPO (Estonian intelligence police) their place, but certainly it was a demonstration of power and deterrence.”

Eerik-Niiles Kross, a former Estonian intelligence chief and diplomat, told AFP Kohver’s arrest was unprecedented “during the entire post-Cold War era”.

“In my opinion, it is not only an extraordinary event in Estonia but also much wider in the relationship between Russia and NATO,” he added.

Obama reassured NATO’s Baltic allies last week that the alliance and the US would guarantee their independence and protection in any fight with Russia. NATO itself also announced a new rapid reaction force aimed at countering any threat to its members at a key summit last week in Wales.

A constitution

The Scottish government has also said it wants a convention bringing together businesses, civil society and trade unions to come up with a written constitution along European lines -- something that Britain lacks.

It has said this should include a constitutional ban on nuclear weapons being based in Scotland and wants take steps to order out the Trident nuclear submarines currently based at the Faslane naval base near Glasgow by 2020.

Border

The pro-independence camp have said the existing border would remain

only on paper under but the issue is a complex one as Scotland’s plan to ease immigration rules might prompt the rest of Britain to set up barriers and checks.

The SNP also says that no passports would be required for visitors from the rest of the UK to Scotland and vice versa -- much like the current arrangement with Ireland -- although that will depend on whether Scotland is in the European Union.

Keep the queen

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has said it wants the new Scotland to be a constitutional monarchy with Queen Elizabeth II as its sovereign -- much like Australia or Canada -- and has said it would join the Commonwealth. The queen herself is staying neutral in the debate. l

n Reuters, Cairo

Is Putin’s next target Estonia? n AFP, Tallinn

happens after full independence is in doubt as the British government has excluded sharing the currency.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania emerged from nearly five decades of Soviet occupation in the early 1990s and joined NATO and the European Union in 2004 in a bid to shore up their security amid tense relations with Moscow.

Speculation According to President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, the “abduction occurred in the course of a cross-border corruption investigation on Estonian soil. Russia admitted this was the work of their special services.”

Russia’s FSB claims it detained Kohver in northwestern Russia close to the Estonian border as he attempted to carry out an “undercover operation”.

Moscow has so far failed to officially update Estonian authorities on the incident and diplomats has been unable to see Kohver, according to foreign minister Urmas Paet.

The incident has Estonian press and social media brimming with speculation.

“The kidnapping was aimed at undermining Estonia’s sense of security,” Postimees, the country’s leading broadsheet daily, said in a Monday editorial. l

A plate with text, hearts and airline tags is displayed at a memorial site for the victims of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 air disaster at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam AP

Flight 17 likely downed by outside impacts n AP, Netherlands Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 was likely struck by multiple “high-energy objects from outside the aircraft,” causing it to break up over eastern Ukraine, a preliminary report into the deadly aviation disaster concluded yesterday.

The report by the Dutch Safety Board stopped short of saying the Boeing 777 was shot down by a missile but its findings point to that conclusion. It also did not say who might have been responsible.

The Boeing 777 suddenly plunged out of the sky July 17 over territory held by pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine, killing all 298 passengers and crew on board.

“The damage observed in the forward section of the aircraft appears to indicate that the aircraft was penetrated by a large number of high-energy objects from outside the aircraft,” the report said. “It is likely that this damage resulted in a loss of structural integrity of the aircraft, leading to an inflight break up.”

The board is leading the international investigation into the cause of the disaster. Its full report is expected within a year. “The initial results of the investigation point toward an external cause of the MH17 crash,” the board’s chairman, Tjibbe Joustra, said in a statement.

“More research will be necessary to determine the cause with greater precision. The Safety Board believes that additional evidence will become available

for investigation in the period ahead.”

Christopher Yates, an aviation safety specialist at Yates Consulting, told The Associated Press the report “is extremely consistent with damage from a missile for the simple reason there are penetration marks.

“It must have been moving at very high velocity to create the damage,” he said. “It could only be a missile of the type that would reach the altitude that would have struck the aircraft” — potentially a Buk missile.

He said the report gave no indication whether the missile had been fired from the ground or from another aircraft, but it likely came from the ground as there were no military aircraft known to have been flying at the time.

The missile could not have been shoulder-fired because it would not have reached the necessary altitude, Yates added.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak welcomed the report, saying in a statement that its key conclusion “leads to the strong suspicion that a surface-to-air missile brought MH17 down, but further investigative work is needed before we can be certain.”

Because of fighting between the Russian-backed rebels and Ukrainian forces, investigators from the board have not visited the fields in eastern Ukraine where the wreckage of Flight 17 plunged to the ground. That likely contributed to the board’s cautious assessment of what happened. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

9

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Death toll in India, Pakistan floods reaches 400 n AP, Jhang, Pakistan The death toll from floods in Pakistan and India reached 400 yesterday as armies in both countries scrambled to help the victims and authorities in Islamabad warned hundreds of thousands to be prepared to flee more flooding in the days ahead.

The flash floods, which began on Sept. 3, have put more than 1.5 million people in peril and left thousands of families homeless in the two neighboring states. Pakistan’s minister for water and power, Khwaja Mohammad Asif, warned parliament that some 700,000 people have been told to leave their homes, which could be inundated in the next four days.

Pakistani and Indian troops have been using boats and helicopters to drop food supplies for stranded families and evacuate victims.

Environmental experts in India said extensive deforestation of Kashmir’s mountains has aggravated the damage due to the floods The floods have also triggered landslides in both sections of the divided Kashmir region, split between the two arch rivals, and caused much devastation in northern and eastern Pakistan.

The rains washed away houses, bridges, communication equipment and crops. Pakistani and Indian troops have evacuated more than 60,000 people to safer places, according to the statements from Indian and Pakistani armies.

In a bid to escape the floods, people in several cities, towns and villages waded through waist-deep water, as women carried household items and children on their shoulders as others dragged their livestock. On roadsides, families set up makeshift camps. Hundreds of others were stranded on the rooftops, waving for help to every passing helicopter.

On Tuesday, thousands awaited rescue teams and searched for missing loved ones.

On a road near the village of Jamia Abad in the eastern Pakistani district of Jhang, Naseem Akhtar, 41, said she had gone from one government office to another, trying to get someone to help her husband and other family members who had stayed back in their now-sub-

merged village.

Last time she talked to her husband by phone was on Monday night, when he told her that they were sitting on the roof waiting to be rescued, she said.

“I went to the police, I tried to find a private boat, but nothing, there is no help,” she said, adding she had been on the road for two days after taking her three children to a safer place.

Jhang’s Deputy Commissioner Khurram Shahzad said that nearly 400,000 people in the district’s urban areas had been put on alert to be ready to leave anytime.

So far, 205 have died in Pakistan while 200 perished in India, while nearly 700 people have been injured, officials said.

According to Ahmad Kamal, spokesman for Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority, the floods were now moving toward Pakistan’s south. Evacuations were already under way in several southern districts which could soon be inundated, said Kamal.

The Kashmir region in the northern Himalayas is divided between India and Pakistan and claimed by both. Two of the three wars the countries have fought since their independence from Britain in 1947 have been over control of Kashmir.

The Indian army late Monday airlifted communication equipment to restore telephone and mobile phone links that were snapped after large areas of Kashmir were submerged under flood water. Army engineers were working Tuesday to restore communication links, the Indian army said in a statement.

The relief packages the armies were dropping in the affected areas include blankets, food supplies, medicine and drinking water to thousands of people who had been moved to safer places.

Although the rains have stopped, the flood waters are likely to submerge hundreds of more villages. Pakistani authorities were bracing for worsening conditions as water levels in the Chenab and Indus rivers were rising, said Kamal, the disaster management officer.

Meanwhile, environmental experts in India said extensive deforestation of Kashmir’s mountains has aggravated the damage due to the floods.

With the Himalayan hills in Kashmir stripped off their green cover, fast flowing streams were causing soil erosion and flash floods, said Krishnaswamy Srinivas of the Vasudha Foundation, a New Delhi-based environmental advocacy group. l

Clockwise from top left: Kashmiri men make their way on a makeshift raft through flooded streets in Srinagar. An Indian air-force helicopter rescues a stranded man from his submerged house during floods in Srinagar. A Pakistani woman carries a rubber ring as she stands beside a flooded field following heavy rain in Cheniot, Punjab Province. Indian Kashmiri people look at houses submerged in floodwaters in Srinagar AFP/REUTERS

Hong Kong democracy activists shave heads in protest n Agencies Pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong have shaved their heads in a protest over what they see as China’s growing political control over the city.

Forty people, including the founders of the Occupy Central movement, had their hair cut off in a church hall, BBC reported.

A minor scuffle reportedly broke out when China supporters showed up.

The activists were protesting against Beijing’s recent announcement that open nomination will be ruled out for Hong Kong’s next leadership election.

On Tuesday, dozens of campaigners packed the church hall to witness the head-shaving.

Among them were the three founders of civil disobedience movement Occupy Central - Benny Tai, Chu Yiu-ming and Chan Kin-man.

Tai told reporters the act was meant to symbolise that the movement would

make no concessions to Beijing’s ruling.

“It is our determination to show we can give something up in order to fight for something more important,” he said.

Meanwhile, news agencies reported that a small scuffle broke out when several pro-Beijing supporters arrived and

heckled the activists.

Reuters said about five people wearing caps, medical masks and sunglasses charged into the hall, chanting slogans denouncing Occupy Central.

One person was sent to the hospital following the scuffle. The police arrested at least one person. l

The three founders of Occupy Central - Chan Kin-man, Benny Tai and Chu Yiu-ming - had their heads shaved BBC

Imran in ‘battle of nerves’ with Nawaz Sharif

Neo-Nazi photos embarrass Japan PM

n AFP, Islamabad

n Agencies

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Imran Khan says he will not be the first to blink in his “battle of nerves” with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif even as crowds dwindle almost a month into his sit-in outside parliament.

It has been 27 days since former cricket hero Khan along with populist cleric Tahirul Qadri and thousands of supporters began protesting in the capital, seeking the resignation of Sharif over what they claim was massive rigging of the 2013 election.

The protest movement has lost momentum since August following clashes with police that left three dead.

Speculation that the army may step in to intervene, as it has in the past, reached fever pitch when protesters stormed state broadcaster PTV. Since then, opposition parties inside parliament have backed Sharif, lowering political temperatures as negotiations with the protesters were restarted

and attention shifted to the devastation wrought by monsoon floods.

Only a few hundred protesters, dressed in the green and red shawls and hats of PTI are now permanently camped at the site while the two sides attempt to negotiate a settlement to the impasse.

By night however, their numbers swell to thousands as men, women and children dance to patriotic songs between the 61-year-old’s speeches in an atmosphere similar to a rock concert.

In a interview with AFP from inside a shipping container converted into a makeshift room he vowed to fight on until he toppled parliament — which he called a “coalition of crooks”.

“I’ve got a feeling it’s not that far (to go). I think it’s a battle of nerves. It’s a matter of who buckles under the pressure first. I’ve got a feeling we’ll win it,” he said, dressed in a white tunic and rain-drenched after a speech.

“The sticking point is always going to be Nawaz Sharif. We have no confidence in him.” l

US and China discuss avoiding military incidents n AP, Beijing

U.S. National Security Adviser Susan Rice repeatedly raised concerns about risky Chinese fighter intercepts of U.S. surveillance flights in meetings this week with Chinese leaders in Beijing, senior administration officials said yesterday.

The matter appeared to be one of a relatively few contentious issues raised during a visit intended to lay the groundwork for President Barack Obama’s trip to Beijing in November.

Overall, the talks “helped lay a really great foundation” for Obama’s trip, said a senior administration official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity. Obama is to attend the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation forum leaders’ summit and meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Rice’s comments on fighter intercepts mark the second time the U.S. has raised the issue with China in the past two weeks, underscoring U.S. concerns about the danger of a collision and the effect such an incident could have on bilateral relations.

Washington has said that a Chinese pilot acted recklessly on Aug. 19 during close passes of a U.S. plane about 135 miles (220 kilometers) south of Hainan island, which is home to Chinese naval airfields and a submarine base. China denied any reckless flying and said it would continue responding to U.S. surveillance flights off its coast, which Beijing believes are a threat to its security.

In a meeting Tuesday with China’s top general, Fan Changlong, Rice said their two countries “face challenges and we certainly need to avoid any incidents

that could complicate the relationship.”

“Military-to-military ties between the United States and China have grown and strengthened. And it is an area of cooperation that the United States values,” Rice said in her opening remarks.

Administration officials declined to characterize the Chinese officials’ response, but said they appeared to understand U.S. concerns. The officials said the two sides agreed to work on confidence building measures to reduce suspicions, but offered no details.

“I’d say we had a constructive conversation with the Chinese” on the issue, said a U.S. official, who added that Rice raised the issue both with Fan and in a meeting Monday with Xi’s senior foreign policy adviser, Yang Jiechi.

“The general perception is that they

took our concerns very seriously,” the official said.

U.S. officials are most concerned about the possibility of a collision such as that in 2001 between a Chinese fighter and a U.S. Navy EP-3 on a surveillance flight about 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Hainan. The Chinese jet crashed, killing the pilot, and the U.S. plane was forced to make an emergency landing on Hainan, where the 24 crew members were detained and interrogated by Chinese authorities.

Relations between the sides remained frosty for months afterward.

Despite occasional tensions, China and the U.S. have increased friendly engagement between their militaries in recent years. China’s navy took part this year for the first time in multinational naval drills hosted by the U.S. off

the coast of Hawaii.

U.S. officials said Rice discussed a wide range of issues including economic ties, democracy in Hong Kong and the rise of the radical group calling itself the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

They said Washington hopes to enlist Beijing’s help in opposing the group but offered no details.

Xi referenced the breadth of the challenges in his meeting with Rice, and said it was important to face them together through a strong bilateral relationship based on “mutual respect and win-win cooperation.”

“Right now the international situation continues to undergo profound and complex changes. So it has become even more important than ever for China and the United States to work together,” Xi said. l

NEWS BITES

Barely a week after Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, overhauled his administration amid flagging popularity, two of his senior colleagues have been forced to distance themselves from rightwing extremism after photographs emerged of them posing with the country’s leading neo-Nazi. Sanae Takaichi, the internal affairs minister, was among a record-equalling five women selected

by Abe as he attempts to make his cabinet more female voter-friendly and to increase women’s presence in the workplace, The Guardian reported.

Takaichi, an Abe ally on the right of the governing Liberal Democratic party (LDP), was pictured posing alongside Kazunari Yamada, the 52-year-old leader of the National Socialist Japanese Workers party, on the neo-Nazi party’s website.

A smiling Takaichi and Yamada appear together standing in front of a Japanese flag. Yamada has voiced praise for Adolf Hitler and the September 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre. l

Pakistan mosque collapses on worshippers

n AFP, Lahore

At least nine people have been killed in a roof collapse at a mosque in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, with officials saying the death toll may rise.

The roof collapse happened in Daroghawala, a low-income neighbourhood in the outer city with narrow and congested streets. “The bodies of at least nine worshippers have been pulled out from the rubble of the roof, while an unknown number of people are still buried,” rescue official Jam Sajjad told the AFP news agency.

There were up to 30 people at the daily afternoon prayer. “We fear that the death toll might rise. The roads there are very crowded,” Sajjad said. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Government must punish BCL thugs

W

e strongly condemn the Chhatra League members who vandalised more than 50 vehicles around Mohakhali on Monday evening.

Police reports say that traffic was disrupted along the GulshanMohakhali road for at least an hour after groups of BCL members from Titumir College went on the rampage.

This violence apparently arose from factional disputes over committee places. For appalling acts of mindless vandalism to occur over such a simple matter highlights something deeply wrong at the heart of what passes for student politics in our country.

Unfortunately, this is far from a one-off incident. Bangladesh Chhatra League members have been involved in numerous similar incidents in campuses across the nation.

Only last week, a journalist and third-year student had to be taken to a hospital after being beaten up by a large group of BCL activists in front of the Fine Arts Institute of Dhaka University. In that case, the proctor has issued assurances that action will be taken against those involved if they are found guilty.

The widespread prevalence of such lawlessness among student activists, including those from different political parties, points to a belief that they can act with impunity.

As the party represented by the BCL, the government has a special responsibility to combat this scourge. It must make sure those involved in Monday’s vandalism are brought before the law and that the victims are duly compensated.

The AL and all other parties must act together to disown any of their activists who act lawlessly and intimidate others.

Bring them before the law, compensate victims and disown lawless actions

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

Bangladesh cannot entertain any more Myanmar refugees: FM September 2

rohingya of world Why would we want freedom from Burma? If you’ve read anything about us, you should be able to understand something at least. Yes, Arakan is our motherland, but the Burmese forces have occupied the Rohingya state of Arakan in the name of Burma. Rohingya citizens do not belong to Burma nor do they belong to Bangladesh.

The Rohingya have their own state in Arakan and they need their own citizenship issued by the Rohingya safe zone of Arakan.

We need our own Rohingya administrator in this safe zone, in all departments and directo-

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 6 represents L so fill L every time the figure 6 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

rates, including education – in our own Rohingya language – as well as health, justice department, security forces, transport department, roads, sea and air, and telecommunication. Rohingya citizens need free internet in this safe zone to be fully connected to and gain full knowledge of the world community.

Student Rohingya of world: Garbage. You don’t know your history. The Buddhists in Arakan are just as badly treated. The Burmese government treats both equally.

SUDOKU Ruposhi Bangla shuts to be reborn as InterContinental September 2

Vandalism: Chhatra League sues Chittagong GRP OC September 2

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.

PD How come?! It was the Chhatra League that vandalised the station!!

Plan properly to develop successfully

A

master plan is being prepared for the conversion of 430 industrial plots which currently occupy around 500 acres in the Tejgaon industrial area.

Being centrally located, it is marked for redevelopment as a commercial and residential area.

If, as the government is promising, new roads and sewerage systems will be incorporated, and proper use of detailed area plan rules will be ensured for waste management, Tejgaon has great potential to both provide new housing and attract new, highvalue jobs in, for example, ICT parks.

As the plan includes relocating the Tejgaon truck terminal, it could also ease traffic congestion at a key crunch point of the capital.

Care must be taken to balance the other side of the equation.

Tejgaon has been home to many successful industries. Adequate land, which is well served by transport links and utilities, must be ensured for a successful relocation.

The government should consult widely on the best options for relocation and development.

Dispersing large industries from the middle of the city is useful to reduce pressure on congested central land areas. Such redevelopment can only work properly, however, if it is part of a strategic overall plan that adds new transport capacity and public spaces.

Too much of Dhaka’s growth has taken a slash-and-burn approach, encouraging investment to be concentrated in new areas, without adequate efforts being made to rejuvenate Dhaka’s core. The government must not repeat the same mistake and should plan ahead properly.

Communications Ministry renamed September 3 Danial Mohammad “The government is spending $47m solely for the interior renovation of the hotel before handing over its operations to InterContinental.” Over 300cr taka for just the interior renovation of a hotel?!

Rana Ghosh Danial Mohammad: Nothing but a money-making scam!

Flood stays, misery compounds September 3

Tejgaon redevelopment has potential but must be planned strategically

Chowdhury Aktaruzzaman “Five shops and a 25sq-ft area of Mawa launch terminal in Munshiganj were eroded by Padma yesterday but launch communication was not disrupted. In this photo, residents of Chandanbaisha in Bogra’s Sariakandi upazila try to salvage as much of their personal belongings onto boats as they can before seeking shelter from floodwaters.”

Someone should write an essay on floods and flood management in Bangladesh.

Md Nayem Gazi Allah, please protect Bangladesh.

SM Md Nayem Gazi: May God grant your prayers.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

humayun hyder I think changing the name of the communication ministry to road, transport and bridges division would be suitable for the ministry. This is because the communication ministry could have also meant it oversees communications as in telephone and telegraphs. I hope the new name of the ministry will do better in the future.

Personal staff of MPs and bureaucrats on statesponsored Hajj lists September 2

Shammi Huda “Islam has made Hajj mandatory for the rich and economically solvent people, not for the poor.

Therefore, Hajj with government funding is not acceptable.”

Typical of this government to understand only style, gestures, and outwardly appearances, rather than substance, content, and spirit. To understand this, simply take a walk around Hatirjheel in daytime.

Only a matter of time before some genius decides to sell raffle tickets with Hajj being first prize.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Halt (4) 5 Sleeveless garment (4) 10 Kind of cheese (4) 11 Female swan (3) 12 Drive (5) 13 Sorrowful (3) 14 Trembling poplar (5) 16 Slave to a habit (6) 18 Builds (6) 21 American elk (5) 23 Wet, soft earth (3) 24 Separated (5) 26 Metal-bearing rock (3) 27 Prayer ending (4) 28 Direction (4) 29 Slender support (4)

DOWN 2 Lukewarm (5) 3 Lyric poem (3) 4 Monarchs’ residences (7) 6 Church recess (4) 7 Groundnut (6) 8 Finish (3) 9 Peruvian capital (4) 15 Brooks (7) 17 Affectedly modest (6) 19 Bird (5) 20 Location (4) 22 Lyric poems (4) 23 Cut grass (3) 25 Domestic animal (3)

Turn down the volume September 3

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

Nicely put. It takes two to defame.

Idols, valuables looted

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

September 2

Sheikh Jinat Mahmid “Robbers have looted three idols of a Hindu goddesses, gold ornaments and furniture from Lemua Jaladash para temple in Feni.”

Shame on them!

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

‘Permanent ceasefire’ in Ukraine’s Donbass region September 3

SUDOKU

Doom Sternz Obama is a disgrace. The US administration is made up of psychopaths.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Op-Ed

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11

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

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Scotland’s dreaming

T

n Niaz Alam here may be 50 ways to leave your lover. But, there’s only way that Scotland can leave the United Kingdom.

If a majority of voters living in Scotland say “Yes” in the referendum on September 18, then March 26, 2016 is the target date to conclude negotiations on Scotland’s emergence as an independent country.

To the delight of opinion-mongers everywhere, the outcome is now too close to call, thanks to a late surge by the independence camp. Perhaps this should not be a surprise. After all, it seems churlish to say “No” to such an enticing question as “Should Scotland be an independent country?”

Of course, it shouldn’t really matter.

A yes vote in that part of this world will only bring about the sort of orderly transition seen when Czechoslovakia dissolved in 1992.

month. The heart of Scottish nationalism has recognised a golden opportunity to rule the head and seize the day. For followers of democracy, the referendum heralds the prospect of a plethora of unforeseen consequences and intriguing debates about the UK’s standing and role in the world.

The big economic questions do not hold decisive sway. Scotland’s geography entitles its 5.3 million residents to the lion’s share of Britain’s North sea oil revenues, but throw in its populations’ share of UK national debt, and these figures start to cancel each other out. Undoubtedly, disputes between an independent Scotland committed to going non-nuclear and reducing its armed forces, would cause some horse trading, but whichever way such negotiations could go, per capita GDP is unlikely to immediately change more than 1% either way on both sides of the potential new border.

For all the yes camp’s talk about building a socially just, economically

As a politician who once campaigned on the phrase ‘broken Britain,’ Cameron must now be dreading the phrase coming back to haunt him Tea at the border

Yet, this vote wasn’t expected to be at all close. The shared cultures, common economies, and intermingled ruling classes of England and Scotland long predate the 1707 Act of Union between the two major nations of Britain. For every historian citing Robert the Bruce and Braveheart, there are more recalling many Scots were enthusiastic participants in Britain’s imperial history.

Take the jute trade’s links to Dundee, for instance. Trivia buffs may add that the Royal Navy Vice-Admiral who suggested attacking Washington DC to avenge US attacks on Canada, when the British burned the White House in August 1814, was the younger son of the Scottish Earl of Dundonald.

However, recent opinion polls indicate that it might not be shared ties and economics that are in play this

strong “Nordic” Scotland, it is more likely that a divorced Scotland may be forced to increase taxes and depend on shrewd economic management of its undoubted resources, to manage the novelty of independence.

Constitutional concerns have largely been neutralised by Alex Salmond, the Scottish first minister promising to keep the Queen as head of state and to remain in the EU with its open market and borders.

As Scotland has always maintained its own educational and legal systems and issues its own banknotes, independence would not then necessarily result in sudden differences for people living within Scotland.

The biggest impact will be political and felt far more outside Scotland.

With apologies to the people of Wales

(population 3.7 million) and Northern Ireland (1.8 million), the 53 million people living in England will feel the most political reverberations. The chances of political challenges and splits will increase and regardless of the result, calls for devolution of powers will grow across the rest of the UK. Further afield, the example set to the far more strongly rooted secessionist movements of economically powerful regions such as Catalonia could prove highly uncomfortable for the Spanish government.

When the referendum option was first offered by the UK’s conservativeled coalition, it was probably regarded as a win-win scenario by PM David Cameron. He would have anticipated credit for defending the Union, but in the less probable event of a yes vote, his party would be the overwhelming

REUTERS

beneficiary of the loss of Scotland’s 59 predominantly Labour seats from the UK parliament.

In the light of what the polls now suggest, hiding such an apparently cunning tactic in plain sight, now seems less than Machiavellian. As a politician who once campaigned on the phrase “broken Britain,” albeit within a different context, Cameron must now be dreading the phrase coming back to haunt him.

Mind you, independence will not automatically mean continued political success for Alex Salmond either. His nationalist party may have transcended old sectarian divides, but could easily become beset by currency and EU wrangles if it gains independence.

Salmond’s past missteps include standing by Donald Trump in the billionaire’s controversial plans for an unpopular golf resort development,

which descended into full-blown farce and failure. An independent Scottish electorate may well see fit then to put its future in the hands of politicians who campaigned against independence.

So sit back and enjoy. There will be plenty of debates about flags and passports to add to life’s rich tapestry.

Mostly these will be silly to the point of futility. Take a look at the flag of Hawaii if you hear anyone saying Scottish independence will “force” the UK to drop the Union Flag.

Have a look at the Nepalese in the British Army if someone suggests it won’t be able to recruit Scottish soldiers. And have a good, long think about the open borders between Britain and Ireland that are far older than the EU, if anyone brings up border controls.

Much as I admire John Lydon’s lyric

that there is no future in Englands’s dreaming, I can’t quite bring myself to say the same about Scotland dreaming.

No doubt Scottish nationalists include among their ranks the sort of one-track minds who harp on about the Scottish roots of AC/DC, and who put false nostalgia and sentiment above reason and precedent.

But dreams persist. And the chance to vote for one in the knowledge that the peoples of the UK have a knack for pragmatism and muddling through, may well prove irresistible.

On the day, it is the democratically expressed opinions of people living within Scotland that will count.

Whichever way they swing, there will, be fireworks. l Niaz Alam has worked on ethical business issues since 1992 and is a former vice-chair of War on Want.

Learning beyond 2015

Intolerance is pathetic

n Syeda Samara Mortada

n Mohammad Ali Sattar

I

n this day and age, where everything else is substantial, education is possibly one of the most valuable intangible assets. In developing countries, where food and shelter still remain (unachievable) top priorities in some cases for the majority of the population, education is a luxury few can afford or spare time for.

According to Unicef, the gross enrolment ratio of boys in pre-primary school from the year 2008-2012 was 26.8% and girls’ enrolment was 26.1% in Bangladesh. However, in the cases in which they continue their education, the literacy rate of male youth within 15-24 years from 2008-2012 is 77.1% and that of women under the same demographics is 80.4%.

Various local and international NGOs are working on increasing the rate of literacy in Bangladesh, and some unique initiatives have been taken by Brac in this respect. The pre-primary schools are an entity to guide underprivileged students to formal education, whereas the non-formal primary schools are targeted towards children who drop out of school due to unavoidable circumstances.

Inclusive education is dedicated to children with special needs and ethnic children. The Adolescent Development

Program (ADP) has an adolescent club functioning under it, whereby children enjoy an open space where they can relax, sing, and dance, without worrying about being judged.

Following the model of boat schools for children in the flood-affected areas of Bangladesh, floating learning centres were started in Philippines in May 2014. This was done to reach the disadvantaged communities of Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), in Sulu, Basilan, and Tawi-Tawi. The initiative was taken in partnership with the Department of Education in ARMM and the Australian government. A total of seven Brac floating learning centres were formally launched on June 16. However, unlike those in Bangladesh, the floating schools are fixed in one place only.

One of the (eight) Millennium Development Goals (MDG) is to provide universal primary education to all by 2015. However, when one thinks of MDG in terms of education, it is necessary to ensure quality education and skills development for work purposes other than simply focusing on mere numbers. How can this be ensured?

In a blog written by Luis Linares and Julio Prado at post2015.org, this can be done by improving the curricula, increasing the hours of study (to reach a minimum of 180 days of school

BIGSTOCK

a year), and improving the educational infrastructure. The piece also mentions a dual training system in Germany, which combines theoretical training in school and real-life practice at the workplace, thus putting the knowledge to good (practical) use.

One may cite STAR (Skills Training for Advancing Resources), a project under the education program in Brac, as an example of a successful initiative which is dedicated to helping school dropouts generate a decent income by giving them vocational education and training.

During my interview at my recent job I was asked: “What do you think will happen after 2015, the end of the MDG?” Let’s not get into my answer.

According to the Poverty Matters Blog

by The Guardian, a lot of discussion is currently going on about the same topic – more specifically what will happen if all eight targets are not met?

Beyond 2015 is an “international campaign aiming to make such a contribution, by ensuring that the process of developing a framework is participatory, inclusive, and responsive to those directly affected by poverty and injustice.” One of the options is to simply extend the deadline. But whatever happens, it is essential to develop a paradigm that includes developing nations but also is inclusive of the global agenda.

Perhaps Sir Fazle Hasan Abed’s words are apt in this situation: “We need to put the child student where she belongs, at the centre of the learning process, where she can harness her skills and look forward to a prosperous adulthood.” This can be the guiding force when we think of our way forward from the MDG goals. Whether we set new goals, improve upon the ones we have, or simply find a replacement for the MDGs, ensuring quality education (whether it is vocational or formal) for all is the first step to a poverty-free world. l Syeda Samara Mortada is working in the Communications Department of Brac International.

T

he political front, or for that matter, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has fallen quiet, thanks to the policies of the Awami League government. There has been a continuous process of legal forces applied on the BNP leaders. They found it tough to meet political commitments and handle legal matters at the same time. The stress had been a bit too much.

Of late, Tarique Rahman, who also happens to be second-in-command of BNP, has been saying lots of things. In less than a week, he has come out with a lot of interesting information and political thoughts.

He informs us that Ziaur Rahman had no hand in the killing stratagem of the Mujib family; he did not play any part in the Mushtaque government that took the reins following the killing of Bangabandhu; the subsequent constitutional acts and regulations that were passed by the Mushtaque and Sayem governments were also independent of Zia’s influence and power.

Only at a later stage did he become the chief martial law administrator and then the president of the country.

Following this, the AL sprang to its feet. The pro-AL writers at once came up with historical data and facts taunting Tarique. But they acknowledged that Zia was indeed not the president during those times when major changes were brought about in the post-1975 promulgations.

Till today, many are of the opinion that Ziaur Rahman may not have been involved in the conspiracy and killing of Mujib and others. But Zia found himself enjoying the ultimate benefits of the crises that followed during post-1975 August. Maybe he never harboured anything against Sheikh Mujib, but was an ambitious person in his own way.

History is plain about Zia’s rise and fall. The beneficiary was the general, who was then popular with a section of the army. He was also a smart soldier who handled things with deft. When

he started speaking publicly, he did not say a word against anybody. He concentrated on his power and programs.

He talked about economic reforms and the perseverance of the people.

Inside his political sphere, he had to negotiate mostly scary situations.

Mutinies had to be tackled – some ruthlessly, others calmly. Compromise and power-wielding processes were applied to bring peace to the sociopolitical front. BNP was formed to make things customary. Almost immediately, it became a household name.

Why the AL reacts to everything in this manner is hard to conceive

So, however hard one tries to expunge Zia from history, perhaps it won’t be possible. Rather, the anti-Zia households would do well to concentrate building their homes with politics.

Whenever there is any challenge to our history that is at odds with the AL’s beliefs, they should come up with well-intended and authentic information to counter those. When we witness AL stalwarts jump like young bloods and cast aspersions on Tarique and his family for any statement they make, we find it to be a pathetic rejoinder. AL should commit itself in responding prudently and in a convincing manner.

Tarique Rahman is not the only disconcerting ingredient for the government and the AL. Now the party has its own members putting the government and the party in a

tongue-tied situation. AK Khandaker, who was second-in-command of forces during the liberation war, and one of the revered ministers of the last AL government, has come up with his account of Bangladesh’s history.

His book, which is now in its second edition, informs us that Bangabandhu ended the March 7 speech by saying “Joi Pakistan” after “Joi Bangla.” This claim has been strongly refuted by the AL and its allies and a section of the media.

Instantaneously, all hell broke loose in parliament. The leaders called for his head. They demanded that AK Khandaker be charged with sedition for distorting history. They demanded proscription of the book. One minister even burnt a copy. The rage continues.

However, as a natural reaction, the BNP is happy to grab the opportunity to tease the AL over – as they call it – unwarranted claim over everything that was pre- and post-1971.

Why the AL reacts to everything in this manner is hard to conceive. One wonders why their temper is sparked so easily. Even if the claim made by AK Khandaker is wrong, let the party come up with an authentic response and clear the clouds. Let them prove him wrong.

Writing something that is not right cannot be termed as treason.

It is rather the AL incitement that is creating unnecessary confusion over the issue and a natural compassion for the writer.

The finance minister has expressed surprise over the bedlam raised on the issue. He said the demand for banning the book is not correct. Rather, they should come up with their information to counter the claim. Muhith said he was not in favour of outlawing books.

With time, the government is speeding towards absolutism. Recent steps to empower the parliament to impeach judges, the broadcasting policy, and the irrational outburst of intolerance towards any opposition to its standing and policies are sure signs of constitutional despotism. l Mohammad Ali Sattar is a journalist and a DT columnist.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Cholo Hariye Jai NTV 11:30pm

Mohakal Natyo Sampradaya staged Prometheus on the last day of Ganga Jamuna Theatre Festival at Shilpakala Academy on Monday KHAN HASAN MUHAMMAD RAFI

Orlando Bloom back to Pirates of the Caribbean 5 n Entertainment Desk

PRIOTY to debut on sliver screen n Shadma Malik Bangladeshi-born model Maksuda Akter Prioty, who rose to prominence after winning the “Ms Ireland Beauty Pageant 2014” title, is going to make her motion picture acting debut in Noman Robin’s next directorial venture “Premoi Khoda, Khodai Prem.”

While talking to Dhaka Tribune, Dallywood’s new dusky beauty explained how the film came her way. “I watched Noman’s ‘Common Gender’ and was totally amazed by it. I loved his unique style and creative ingenuity, which is the reason why I agreed to do this film,” she said.

“It’s a challenging job and I am really looking forward to it. The story is lovely.”

About her role in the film, she said, “Noman has cast me in the lead role.

The movie will be an attempt to portray discriminations and biases faced

by women in their everyday life. The way Noman described the whole idea of it to me, I just couldn’t say no.”

“Currently, I am in Ireland. Shooting will start next month.”

It has been learnt that “Premoi Khoda, Khodai Prem” is still in its pre-production stage, with no male lead cast yet. It is being produced by Aurora International in cooperation with NR Films and will be shot in both Bangladesh and London.

Prioty, mother of two, has been residing in Ireland for the past 14 years, and is currently studying business management as well as preparing to be a pilot. Asked how she plans to manage between her passions for acting and aviation, she replied, “I will continue both simultaneously.”

Prioty was the only Asian participant in the beauty pageant and bested about 700 participants. l

90 Days Fiance TLC 10:30pm

Russ take Paola to a tailgate; later the couple’s wedding plan are put into jeoprady. Alan is concerned as Kirlyam gets a big opportunity.

TETE-À-TETE WITH ASHES

“Twilight” star Kristen Stewart says acting moves a person into isolation.

The 24-year-old actress says that people get intimidated by stars and don’t approach them, which leaves actors lonely, reported Contactmusic.

“Actors become super-isolated. Again, I’m not complaining about it, it’s just that you have a very unique perspective on things because people don’t talk to you, they feel like they are not allowed to come up to you and say ‘hi’.

“So suddenly you’re incredibly lonely and people hire friends to have and what happens is the lines get blurred between co-workers and friends,” she said. l

Band Ashes came third in the ReverbNation’s country rock chart and garnered the attention of rock buffs after the release of their first album “Chharpoka” on July 11 with their fresh sound and distinctive lyrics.

Dhaka Tribune caught up with the band’s founding member, song-writer, vocalist and frontman Zunayed Evan to know about their debut album, band’s philosophy and more.

Tell us about your debut album

As our listeners are scattered all over the country, we decided to go for online release and now we are getting numerous hits. The copies form the first production are nearly finished.

What is the band’s philosophy?

Our first priority is the lyrics. We portray our themes through lyrics, that revolve around loneliness, sadness of a broken heart or the feelings of drinking tea in a small “tong” while puffing cigarettes. We tried to avoid the metaphysical themes in our lyrics, keeping the audience in mind.

Which genre do you want to stick with?

Robert Downey Jr has denied reports that “Iron Man 4” is on works. The 49-year-old actor shot down speculation of a fourth outing for Marvel’s most bankable character, reported Contactmusic.

“There isn’t one in the pipe. No, there’s no plan for a fourth ‘Iron Man’,” he said on the sidelines of the Toronto Film Festival.

Downey Jr has been on the publicity trail for his new comedy-drama “The Judge” and he seems to becoming comfortable working outside of the superhero bubble.

Despite signing on for two “Avengers” sequel, Downey Jr has been reluctant to commit to superhero film after that. l

Mark Wahlberg, Michael Pena, Danny Glover starrer action film Shooter is about a marksman who is framed for an assassination he was trying to prevent.

When Gru, the world’s most super-bad turned super-dad has been recruited by a team of officials to stop lethal muscle and a host of Gru’s own, He has to fight back with new gadgetry, cars, and more minion madness.

n Hasan Mansoor Chatak

n Entertainment Desk

HBO 11:25pm

Star Movies 3pm

Orlando Bloom has revealed he may join Johnny Depp and Geoffrey Rush in the fifth Pirates of the Caribbean movie “Dead Men Tell No Tales.”

The British actor played blacksmith-turned-pirate Will Turner in the first three installments of the swashbuckling franchise, but wasn’t a part of the fourth movie, “On Stranger Tides.”

But now he says he may well take up the cutlass once more in “Dead Men Tell No Tales,” which is heavily tipped to be filmed in Australia.

During a discussion panel at Oz Comic Con over the weekend, the 37-year-old revealed he had been considering reprising his role alongside Depp and Rush. “There have certainly been some discussions about it and I’m open to it,” he said.

“That whole experience working with Depp and director Gore Verbinski was really amazing for me.”

Bloom, who was appearing at Oz Comic-Con in Brisbane, said he was tempted by the opportunity to again work with his great mate and fellow actor Depp who was nominated for an Oscar in the iconic role of Captain Jack Sparrow.

“I had a great time working with Depp; one of the reasons I jumped at the opportunity was because Depp was involved.” “Dead Men Tell No Tales” is a step closer to being filmed in Australia after the federal government approved a $20m tax break for the Hollywood production.

Bloom, who is visiting Australia for the first time since his split from Miranda Kerr, has hosed down rumours of a budding romance with Erica Packer, insisting he had been friends with James Packer’s Aussie ex-wife since before they were married. l

n Entertainment Desk

IRONMAN4

Shooter

Despicable Me 2

Being an actress is lonely: KRISTEN STEWART

Robert Downey Jr: No plans for

A new coming-of-age drama serial titled “Cholo Hariye Jai” focuses on the lifestyle of a group of young boys and girls from affluent families. The story follows the group who are yet to come across the harsh realities of life and suffers from the “starvation among plenty” syndrome.

We prefer psychedelic rock. Sometimes we go for experimental rock or alternative rock but we want to stick with psychedelic rock.

Your inspiration?

Nagar Baul and Shironamhin from Bangladesh while Anjan Dutta, U2, Pink Floyd and Moheener Ghoraguli from abroad.

Is the industry welcoming to new bands?

Well, forming bands and practising music has become much easier as bands nowadays do not have to manage a producer or record label to work with them. Rather, if a musician has calibre then he/she will be in

the limelight as the listeners have the freedom to choose from various mediums.

Ashes commenced its journey in 2006 with vocalist Zunayed Evan and lead guitarist Rafsan. They got more involved with new ideas and produced some new tunes and lyrics when drummer Bijoy, a close friend of Rafsan, joined the band. Their first single “Hin” was released in a mixed album titled “The 69” on November 5, 2010, followed by another single “Pobitro Pap” in mixed album “Hatiar” on October 2, 2012. l

Did you know?

Since his international debut in July 2008, Saeed Ajmal is the top wicket-taker (446) across all formats

Sport

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

14 Welbeck gives

improved England winning start

14 Cilic crushes

Nishikori in US Open final

Bangladesh suffer humiliating defeat despite Mushfiq ton n AFP, Kingstown West Indies overcame their own atrocious catching and a defiant hundred by Mushfiqur Rahim to defeat Bangladesh by ten wickets before lunch on the fifth and final day of the first Test at the Arnos Vale Stadium in St Vincent on Tuesday.

After missing a succession of chances on the fourth day, the home side’s fielders continued with their sloppy work before Musfiqur was last out for 116.

The tourists’ captain was the prime beneficiary of the butter-fingered Caribbean cricketers in lifting his side to a second innings total of 314.

Needing just 13 runs for victory and a 1-0 lead in the two-match series, Chris Gayle and Kraigg Brathwaite, the “Man of the Match” for his first innings 212, knocked off the runs 40 minutes before the scheduled lunch interval.

Fast bowler Kemar Roach finished with four for 64, making the critical breakthrough on the final morning when Nasir Hossain spooned a catch to Shannon Gabriel running in from midon after he and his captain resumed with the total on 256 for five, still needing 46 runs to avoid an innings defeat.

That was effectively the end of the low-

er-order resistance with Roach trapping Shuvagata Hom leg-before and Gabriel dismissing Taijul Islam and Rubel Hossain for ducks in the space of three balls.

However Mushfiqur was able to reach his third Test century, a straight six off Roach taking him to the coveted landmark and an edged boundary between the wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin and first slip Gayle allowing the visitors to avoid the humiliation of yet another innings defeat.

Bangladesh’s skipper, who was dropped twice off straightforward chances on the fourth day, was also missed at slip by Gayle and an even simpler opportunity to Jerome Taylor at mid-on before Taylor himself ended the innings when Mushfiqur swung to deep-midwicket where Darren Bravo held his sixth catch of the match.

“This was our first Test match for quite a while and we looked a bid ragged in the first innings, but we showed some character the second time around so that is a positive sign,” said Mushfiqur after the match.

There is the possibility that he may play in the second and final Test starting on Saturday in St Lucia purely as a frontline batsman as the finger injury he sustained while batting on the fourth day may prevent him from doing the job of wicketkeeper. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

15 Ajmal banned

over illegal bowling action

SCORECARD, DAY 5 West Indies 1st innings 484/7 (Brathwaite 212, Chanderpaul 85*, Taijul 5/135) Bangladesh 1st innings 182 all out (Mominul 51, Mushfiq 48*, Benn 5/39) Bangladesh 2nd innings (Following on) Tamim Iqbal b Benn 53 Shamsur Rahman c Ramdin b Roach 4 Imrul Kayes c Edwards b Gayle 25 Mominul Haque c Ramdin b Benn 12 Mahmudullah c Ramdin b Roach 66 Mushfiqur Rahim c Bravo b Taylor 116 Nasir Hossain c Gabriel b Roach 19 Shuvagata Hom lbw b Roach 0 Taijul Islam b Gabriel 0 Rubel Hossain b Gabriel 0 Al-Amin Hossain not out 0 Extras (b 12, lb 4, w 2, nb 1) 19 Total (all out; 113.3 overs) 314 Fall of wickets 1-11, 2-81, 3-104, 4-107, 5-237, 6-279, 7-291, 8-292, 9-292, 10-314 Bowling Taylor 17.3-3-64-1, Roach 22-6-64-4, Gabriel 17-9-25-2, Blackwood 12-1-51-0, Benn 28-8-44-2, Gayle 17-3-50-1 West Indies 2nd innings (target: 13 runs) CH Gayle not out KC Brathwaite not out Total (0 wickets; 2.4 overs)

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim plays his trademark slog sweep over mid-wicket in their second innings on the fourth day of the first Test match against West Indies at St Vincent on Monday. The wicketkeeper-batsman, after remaining unbeaten on 48 in the first innings, scored 116 in the second innings to help Bangladesh avoid an innings defeat WICB

West Indies won by 10 wickets Series West Indies lead the 2-match series 1-0

n Mazhar Uddin The First Division Twenty20 cricket tournament organised by the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis will get underway at four venues in Dhaka today. 20 teams divided into four groups will take part in the competition.

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan will inaugurate the tournament at the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium with Surjo Tarun Club facing Talent Hunt Academy in the opening fixture.

Besides the Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium, matches will also take place at the BKSP 3 and 4 grounds alongside the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah. Each venue will host two matches everyday.

Surjo Tarun, Talent Hunt, Cricket Coaching School, Agrani Bank Cricket Club and BKSP are in Group A while Group B comprises of City Club, Bangladesh Boys Club, Eskaton Sabuj Sangha, Rapid Foundation and Azad Sporting Club.

Young Cricketers, Indira Road Krira Chakra, Magnum Cricketers, Dhanmondi Pragati Sangha and Baridhara Dazzlers are placed in Group C while Khelaghar Samaj Kalyan Samity, Young Pegasus Club, Dhaka Wonderers Club, Orient Sporting Club and Uttara Sporting Club will compete against each other in Group D. The second round games will begin from Friday. l

It was yet another agonising exhibition by the Bangladesh cricket team, especially the batting department, against the West Indies in the first Test at St. Vincent. Even though most of the Bangladesh batsmen got themselves in either in the first or the second innings, the visitors failed to gel collectively as the home side cantered to a 10-wicket victory yesterday on the final day of the first Test.

Despite the defeat, the majority of the Bangladesh batsmen will console themselves believing that they have contributed something for the team and that their place is safe for the second Test. However, as the Bangladesh batsmen were unable to play as a team and convert starts into big ones, especially in the first innings when they were bundled out for 182, the visitors could not halt the hosts from romping to a convincing victory.

It was an all-too-familiar scenario.

Ever since the Tigers’ inception in Test cricket, the Bangladesh batsmen have fared well in one innings only to come up short in the next. This was also evident in the first Test against the West Indies.

The first and second innings of Bangladesh in the St. Vincent Test match were contrasting to each other. After being dismissed for 182 in the first innings, the visitors regained some measure of respectability in the second innings as they posted 314 before losing all of

Mazhar Uddin

9 4 13

Bowling Al-Amin 1.4-0-9-0, Taijul 1-0-4-0

20-30 enough for a place in the XI? Blue turf for hockey to arrive early n

1st Division T20 begins today

13

their wickets to give the West Indies a target of just 13 runs. However, Bangladesh will be content knowing that they avoided another innings defeat.

In the first innings, middle-order batsman Mominul Haque registered a fifty while skipper Mushfiqur Rahim was unbeaten on 48, two short of his 14th Test half-century. Opener Shamsur Rahman made 35 but was not able to prolong his innings. In the comparatively better second innings display, Mushfiq blasted his third Test century, Mahmudullah scored a much-needed 66 while opening batsman Tamim Iqbal made 53.

Three batsmen – Imrul Kayes (nine and 25), Nasir Hossain (two and 19) and debutant Shuvagata Hom (16 and nought) – were not among the runs.

Hence, although some of the batsmen got runs, the major concern for Bangladesh is that they failed to do it all together in an innings which would have made one of their two innings a significant one and helped to save the Test match. Even though Bangladesh lost the Test match, most of the batsmen will feel that their place is ‘safe’ and that they have contributed something for the team. Therein lies the worry and the team is suffering as a result of the batsmen blowing hot and cold in both the innings.

Tamim, one of the visitors’ most experienced batsmen, might have scored 53 but he played a casual shot whilst being clean bowled by spinner Sulieman Benn.

He was out for one in the first innings.

The other opener, Shamsur, who made a century in the Tigers’ previous Test match against Sri Lanka at home earlier this year, started well in the first innings but soon perished for 35. A loose shot in the second innings led to his downfall as he made four.

The diminutive Mominul is unlikely to come in for criticism as he was extremely unlucky with both of his dismissals tinged with a considerable amount of doubt.

Kayes and Nasir will be targeting vast improvement with the former guilty of going for extravagant strokes when the situation demanded a calm approach.

Mushfiq and Mahmudullah though should be lauded for their contributions in the Test match. Mushfiq continues his development as a dependable batsman in Test cricket but it was actually Mahmudullah who required a significant score after a barren spell recently.

Mahmudullah, inarguably, played the innings of his life as he made a patient 66 off 151 balls and shared a 130-run partnership for the fifth wicket with Mushfiq in the second innings which went a long way in ensuring Bangladesh did not go down to an innings defeat.

The morale of the story is that the approach and attitude of the Bangladeshi batsmen towards the game needs to change. They have to come out of their mentality of securing their place in the side as it is the team which suffers the most. l

n Shishir Hoque A source from the Bangladesh Hockey Federation revealed the blue turf for the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium is likely to arrive in the country in the middle of this month, almost a month before the scheduled date.

The hockey turf was expected to arrive in Bangladesh in October, but instead the turf will be arriving at the Chittagong port on September 12.

“The turf manufacturing company Sports Technology International informed us earlier that the turf will arrive in Chittagong on October 3. But a shipping company named Hanjin Shipping informed us that the turf will land at Chittagong port on September

FM Iqbal bin Anwar Dawn (2L), the additional director of Walton, speaks during a press conference of the National Rugby Championship at BNS yesterday COURTESY

St Gregory’s, Viqarunnisa lift school handball n Shishir Hoque

St Gregory’s High School players pose with the champions trophy with the guests after winning the Polar Ice Cream 22nd School Handball Tournament boys section at the M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

St Gregory’s High School ended their 29year title drought by beating Dhanmondi Tutorial in the final of the Polar Ice Cream 22nd School Handball Tournament boys section at the M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium yesterday.

Meanwhile in the girls section, Viqarunnisa Noon School & College emerged as the champions by overcoming the defending champions Sunnydale.

St Gregory’s didn’t have to foil hard as they comfortably defeated Dhanmondi Tutorial by 18-7 in the boy’s final. The victors led the first-half 10-2.

Ikramul and Sujan netted eight and six goals respectively for the Gregs.

St Gregory’s won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1985, but failed to win any more silverware since

12,” said Wing Commander Rafiul Hauque, spokesperson of BHF president Air Marshal Enamul Bari. A sand turf along with the blue turf will also arrive which will be used for practice and is likely to be installed at BAF Shaheen School.

Meanwhile, the federation has not yet decided when the installation process of the blue turf will begin. Earlier, BHF planned to set up the blue turf in December, following the end of the Under-19 Junior AHF Cup hockey tournament organised by Asian Hockey Federation in November. However, the turf will only be installed at the playing area as the practice area beside the field will still have the existing green turf.

The budget of laying out the turf at the hockey stadium is more than Tk30m. l

then. They reached the final last year but had to remain content with the second position after Narinda Govt High School beat them. On the other hand, it was the first final for Dhanmondi Tutorial in their school’s handball history.

Viqarunnisa retained its glory after five seasons as they handed Sunnydale a 7-1 defeat in the girls final yesterday noon. This is Viqarunnisa’s 14th school handball title, the most by any team. The champions led the first-half 5-1. Fatema netted four goals for the winners.

Ikramul of St Gregory’s was adjudged the player of the tournament in boys section while Ayesha of Viqarunnisa became best player in the girls section.

Benazir Ahmed, police commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, distributed the prizes among the winners as chief guest. l

Nat’l Rugby begins tomorrow n Raihan Mahmood The Walton Motorcycle 4th National Rugby Championship starts at the Paltan Ground and the Physical Education College ground from Thursday with the participation of 12 teams.

In a press conference held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday, Mousum Ali, the general secretary of the Bangladesh Rugby Union said the champions will get Tk20000 and the runners-up team will receive Tk10000.

The Rugby union will also provide the jerseys and accommodation.

As the sponsors Walton has provided Tk300000. FM Iqbal bin Anwar Dawn, the additional director of Walton hoped rugby gradually increases its popularity in the country.

Tournament secretary Saeed Ahmed and Rugby Union vice president Abdullah al Zahir were also present on the occasion. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Welbeck gives improved England winning start n Reuters, Basel Danny Welbeck scored twice, the first with his shin, as England began their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a lively 2-0 win away to Switzerland, their toughest rivals in the group, on Monday.

Raheem Sterling was involved in both goals as England gave a vastly-improved performance on their World Cup outings, where they went out in the group stage, and their lumbering 1-0 friendly win over Norway on Wednesday.

Switzerland, playing their first match under new coach Vladimir Petkovic, showed few flashes of the form which took them to the last 16 in Brazil, a campaign which ended with a heartbreaking last-gasp 1-0 defeat by Argentina.

The Swiss fielded eight members of the team who started that game in Sao Paulo as they suffered their first competitive home defeat for four years, when they lost 3-1 to the same opponents.

Welbeck broke the deadlock when he met Sterling’s low cross in his stride and the ball flew into the net off his shin after Gokhan Inler lost possession in midfield in the 58th minute.

Welbeck then made England’s opening Group E game safe in stoppage time when he produced the finishing touch to a counter-attack, started by Sterling and continued by Rickie Lambert, as the Swiss were pressing for an equaliser.

With the top two reaching the finals from a group which contains Slovenia, Estonia, San Marino and Lithuania, and the third-placed team either qualifying directly or going into a playoff, England already seem to be halfway to France and even the defeated Swiss still have little cause for concern.

“Switzerland don’t lose at home and

we had to work hard for it because we missed our chances earlier,” Hodgson, who coached the Swiss at the 1994 World Cup, told reporters.

“When we can counter-attack against teams, the pace, energy and the youth of the team is shown to good effect.

“We adopted a reasonably bold approach because I know if it’s going to work in the future, if this group of players is going to become any good, we have to do it from the start. Luckily, we got the result which will help us.”

Former Lazio coach Petkovic said his Switzerland team paid for two mistakes. “It was a shame to lose the first game,” he told reporters. “We were a bit nervous, we made two mistakes as a result of insecurity.”

England should have gone ahead in the 29th minute when Welbeck cleverly flicked the ball away from Steve von Bergen and broke down the right, but then undid his good work by failing to pick out Sterling or Rooney with the Swiss defence all at sea.

Rooney forced Yann Sommer to scoop the ball away with a curling shot on the turn and there was nobody to pick up the rebound before the goalkeeper, brought in after Diego Benaglio’s international retirement, made a superb one-handed save to turn away a Phil Jones header from the resulting corner.

Switzerland went close when Jones gave the ball away on the edge of the area to Xherdan Shaqiri, who slipped it to Haris Seferovic and England keeper Joe Hart saved his left-footed effort with his outstretched leg.

Switzerland made a bright start to the second half as Stephan Lichtsteiner sent Ricardo Rodriguez’s low cross over the bar and Hart denied Seferovic, this time from a half volley. l

England’s forward Danny Welbeck celebrates after scoring the first goal, during their Euro 2016 qualifying match against Switzerland, at the St Jakob-Park stadium, in Basel, Switzerland, on Monday AP

Five-goal Spain turn on style n Reuters, Valencia

Spain’s Paco Alcacer (L) celebrates after scoring against Macedonia during a Euro 2016 Group C qualifying round match, at Ciutat de Valencia stadium on Monday AP

Holders Spain kicked off their European Championship title defence in style after a cheeky Sergio Ramos penalty set up a 5-1 victory over Macedonia in their opening Group C qualifier on Monday.

Looking to bounce back from their 2014 World Cup debacle in Brazil, Spain were much too strong for the 76thranked Macedonians as Paco Alcacer, Sergio Busquets, David Silva and Pedro also scored in La Roja’s biggest win since they beat Tahiti 10-0 at last year’s Confederations Cup. Ramos’s dinked spot kick down the middle came in the 15th minute and Alcacer, making his competitive debut, volleyed home from close range two minutes later before Macedonia pulled

Thai footballers offered $1.7m win bonus n AFP, Bangkok

Blatter not to get our vote, says strident Dutch

Thailand’s footballers will share a $1.7 million bonus if they take gold in the upcoming Asian Games in South Korea, the head of the kingdom’s football association said Tuesday.

The generous cash incentive has been offered for the men’s team by a Thai sports magazine publisher who is a big football fan, according to Worawi Makudi, president of the Football Association of Thailand.

“If they are champions at the Asian Games, they will get 55 million baht ($1.7 million),” he told AFP. “The association has tried our best to find something that will encourage and motivate them.”l

The Dutch football association (KNVB) has said it will not be voting for Sepp Blatter, who has confirmed his candidature for a fifth term as FIFA president.

Outspoken KNVB president Michael van Praag told reporters about the association’s stand on Monday but admitted he saw no chance of the Swiss incumbent being swept from power.

“I realised this in Brazil, even after we in Europe had sought to discuss the impact of Blatter on the good name of FIFA,” van Praag said.

The Dutch have been a rare dissenting voice against the 78-year-old Blatter, who took over FIFA’s reins from

n Reuters, Amsterdam

Joao Havelange in 1998.

At the FIFA Congress in Brazil just before the World Cup, the KNVB told Blatter he should retire as he must take much of the blame for the crumbling reputation of soccer’s world governing body.

But Blatter looks likely to extend his reign until 2019, past his 83rd birthday, after UEFA president Michel Platini made clear last week he would not be standing.

“We are very sorry that Michel is not standing. He is the only one who could have stood against Blatter,” van Praag told reporters.

“Now Blatter’s path to another term is open and that is not good for football.” l

Algeria fans told to behave n AFP, Algiers

Italy’s players attend a training session at Ullevaal Stadium in Oslo on Monday. Italy were scheduled to play Norway in their Euro 2016 qualifying match yesterday REUTERS

Algeria risk playing their upcoming home games behind closed doors if their supporters misbehave at Wednesday’s 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mali.

Their behaviour is very much under the spotlight after the throwing of a piece of slate at a club match hit and killed JS Kabylie’s Cameroon striker Albert Ebosse on August 23.

The threat of a home ban on fans came from the Algerian Football Federation (FAF) president Mohamed Raouraoua.

“The FAF has already taken the blame from FIFA over the anti-sporting behaviour of our fans,” he said on Monday. l

a goal back with a 28th-minute penalty from Agim Ibraimi.

Busquets struck with a deflected effort in first-half added time, Silva made it 4-1 five minutes after the break and after numerous chances, including a Cesc Fabregas effort that struck the frame of the goal, Pedro scored the fifth with a cute chip in stoppage time.

“This team has a lot of quality and excellent players and it was just a matter of time before we scored,” Valencia player Alcacer told the television broadcaster TVE. “I am very pleased with the match, above all for my competitive debut here at home in Valencia, and the goal and victory.”

Spain were missing injured playmaker Andres Iniesta at Levante’s Ciu-

tat de Valencia stadium and coach Vicente del Bosque handed Fabregas his job instead.

Alcacer started in a three-pronged attack with Pedro and Silva while Busquets and Koke completed a threeman midfield in the absence of Xavi and Xabi Alonso who both retired after the World Cup. Fabregas went close with a curling effort from the edge of the area in the ninth minute before Daniel Mosjov felled Silva and Ramos stepped up to take the spot kick.

The Real Madrid defender’s clever chip, which fooled Macedonia goalkeeper and captain Tome Pacovski, was almost identical to his successful effort against Portugal in a shootout in the semi-finals of Euro 2012.l

RESULTS Luxembourg Gerson 42

1-1

Belarus Dragun 78

5-1

Macedonia

Ramos 15-P, Alcacer 17, Busquets 45+3, Silva 50, Pedro 90+1

Ibraimi 28-P

0-1

Slovakia

1-0

Slovenia

0-2

Lithuania

Spain

Ukraine Estonia Purje 86

San Marino

Mak 17

Matulevicius 5, Novikovas 36

Switzerland Russia

0-2 4-0

England Welbeck 58, 90+4

Liechtenstein

Buchel 4-og, Burgmeier 50-og, Kombarov 54-P, Dzyuba 65

Austria Alaba 7-P

Montenegro

1-1 2-0

Sweden Zengin 12

Moldova

Vucinic 45+3, Tomasevic 73

Marin Cilic of Croatia celebrates his victory over Kei Nishikori of Japan in their US Open 2014 men’s singles finals match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Center in New York on Monday AFP

Cilic crushes Nishikori in final n Reuters, New York

Croatia’s Marin Cilic swept past Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-3 6-3 to win the U.S. Open on Monday and reach the pinnacle of the sport one year after a doping ban kept him out of the year’s final grand slam.

The big-serving Croatian overwhelmed a weary Nishikori in one hour, 54 minutes to clinch a ruthless victory and deny his 10th-seeded opponent’s bid to become the first Asian man to win a grand slam.

With the win, 14th seed Cilic becomes the first Croatian to win one of the sport’s four grand slam championships since his coach Goran Ivanisevic celebrated a Wimbledon victory in 2001.

“This is all hard work in these last several years and especially this last

year,” said Cilic. “My team has brought something special to me, especially Goran, we were working really hard but the most important thing he brought to me was enjoying tennis and always having fun.”

“I enjoyed my best tennis over here and played the best ever in my life.”

The final marked the first time since the 2005 Australian Open that at least one of tennis’s big three of Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer was not playing for the title.

The two players walked onto the Arthur Ashe Stadium court under overcast skies and much more forgiving conditions than the sweltering heat they faced through much of the fortnight.

While both men were playing in their first grand slam final it was Nishikori who displayed more jitters as Cilic quickly found his range and unloaded on his helpless opponent by blasting 17

aces to Nishikori’s two.

Nishikori had his opportunities with nine break chances but could convert just one while Cilic was five of 11 and enjoyed a 38-19 edge in winners.

“It’s a really tough loss but I’m really happy coming to my first final,” said Nishikori, who appeared to run out of gas after beating three consecutive top10 opponents and having to endure a pair of five-setters. “Sorry I couldn’t get a trophy today but for sure next time.

“It was a really fun two weeks here.

I hope I can be coming back next year.”

Cilic had Nishikori on the back foot from start to finish, speeding through the opening set in 33 minutes.

The 14th seed, using his huge wingspan to reach out and bash forehands across court and a booming serve to score easy points, again had an early break in the second and added another to go up 5-2.l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

QUICK BYTES

U23 to play Asiad warm-up against Vietnam today The Bangladesh U-23 national football team will play a practice match against Vietnam U-23 at the Munhak Football Field in Incheon, South Korea today. A 20-man Bangladesh squad led by Dutch head coach Lodewijk de Kruif reached South Korea on Monday and enjoyed their first practice session there yesterday afternoon. It will be Bangladesh’s seventh practice match after playing against BFF XI, Bangladesh Army, Nepal U-23 national team and Bangladesh Police at home.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh will begin their 17th Asian Games campaign on September 15 with the match against Afghanistan before facing Uzbekistan and Hong Kong in the remaining two group matches.

–Shishir Hoque

Sunbeams, St Joseph clinch basketball titles Sunbeams School and St Joseph High School clinched the title of the girls and boys section of the Citycell Inter-School Basketball Tournament 2014 respectively at the Dhanmondi Basketball Gymnasium yesterday. Tasfia caged 10 points as Sunbeams defeated St Francis Xavier’s Girls High School by 22-16 points in the final while St Joseph earned a comfortable victory of 55-30 points against St Gregory’s in the boys final. Shamsul scored 19 points for Josephites while Rafiul caged 15 for the losing side. Tasfia and Fahim were adjudged the best players of the event in the boys and girls events respectively.

–Tribune Desk

‘Blade Runner’ Pistorius faces murder verdict - Advancer The Oscar Pistorius trial, which live television broadcasts have turned into a blend of international soap-opera and tragic TV reality show, will finally reach judgement day this week. Viewers around the world will learn whether the star South African sprinter known as the “Blade Runner” is guilty or not guilty of murdering his model girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day 2013. The judge will begin delivering her verdict on Thursday, six months after the celebrity athlete first wept and vomited when the court heard that Steenkamp’s head had “exploded” like a watermelon under the impact of a hollow-point bullet. At its heart, the trial is simple. Pistorius killed the blonde law graduate when he fired four shots through a locked toilet door in his upmarket Pretoria home after screaming “Get the fuck out of my house!” The double-amputee athlete doesn’t deny this. The only question is why he did it.

–AFP

Three dead as car smashes into crowd at Portugal rally Three people, including two boys aged eight and 13, were killed when a car ploughed into spectators at a rally event in northern Portugal on Sunday, firefighters said. The third victim was a 48-year-old woman who died when the car veered off the track following a sharp bend, after it had crossed the finishing line at the race in Guimaraes. Eight people were injured and two of them are in a critical condition, emergency services said: a 40-year-old man with head trauma and a woman of 18 with leg fractures. They were rushed to a hospital in Braga. The driver of the car has been taken to hospital suffering from shock.

The accident happened shortly after the start of the first stage of the rally at a part of the track that was not protected by barriers.

The event was suspended after the tragedy.

–AFP

Schumacher moved home from hospital Former Formula One champion Michael Schumacher has left a Swiss hospital and will continue his treatment at home after a devastating ski accident in December, his family said Tuesday. In a surprise announcement, a spokeswoman for the family of the retired German racing star said he was being moved from a top-notch hospital in the Swiss city of Lausanne to his home in nearby Gland.

“Henceforth Michael’s rehabilitation will take place at his home,” Sabine Kehm said stressing that “considering the severe injuries he suffered, progress has been made in the past weeks and months” –AFP

Sport

Ajmal banned over illegal bowling action n AFP, Karachi Top-ranked Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was suspended indefinitely from international cricket for an illegal bowling action Tuesday but he vowed to return in time for next year’s World Cup. The world’s leading one-day international bowler blamed the International Cricket Council (ICC) ruling on his “not usual” right elbow and said he would appeal.

Ajmal, speaking to reporters in his home city of Faisalabad shortly after the announcement, shrugged off the ICC announcement as “not an issue.”

But the ban could cause serious problems for Pakistan, firstly in their upcoming series with Australia and also in the World Cup, which they won in 1992.

It comes as part of a crackdown on illegal bowling actions -- where the arm is bent more than 15 degrees -- in international cricket by the ICC. “My elbow is not usual so that’s why it seems that I bend it more than normal 15 degree allowed,” said Ajmal, who was cleared on medical grounds when his action was first reported in 2009.

“We will go into appeal soon... I will be in action in the World Cup next year, that’s my resolve,” he added.

The ICC earlier said Ajmal, 36, had been suspended with immediate effect following tests by specialists carried out at Australia’s National Cricket Centre in Brisbane.

Ajmal was reported for a suspect action after last month’s first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. He can apply for a re-assessment once he has modified his action.

Ajmal vows to return with clean action

The ICC regulations allow a bowler to flex his bowling arm upto 15 degrees

n Reuters, Karachi

Banned Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has vowed to correct his illegal bowling action and return to cricket before next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

“The ban is not a problem for me right now. The ICC has stopped me from bowling because my elbow is bending beyond the 15 degrees allowed by the ICC and I know I can correct that,” Ajmal told Reuters.

“It is very disappointing to know the results of the tests but I am a fighter and I know what I have to do to get back into international cricket before the World Cup,” he said.

Ajmal, who turns 37 next month, said he was open to approaching former players to help him correct his action which was first reported in 2009.

“Playing in the World Cup and doing well for Pakistan is a dream for me and I am not going to give up on that,” said Ajmal, who has been Pakistan’s top spinner in all formats. Ajmal has about five months to correct his action and appeal for a reassessment in order to play in the World Cup. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan conceded it was a big jolt coming less than six months before next year’s 50-over marquee event.

“Obviously it is a big shock for us when we are preparing for the World Cup. But we are waiting for the final report and we can appeal in two weeks time against the ICC decision.”

He said the ban followed change in ICC protocol on testing bowlers with suspect actions.

“Other bowlers from other countries are also being reported but what is surprising is most of them are off-spinners like Saeed,” he said.

“We have to see what is the best we can do for Saeed and what is best for Pakistan cricket.” l

“The analysis revealed that all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations,” the ICC said in a statement.

Ajmal is Pakistan’s key bowler, with 178 wickets in 35 Tests and 183 in 111 ODIs. He is also the leading wicket-taker in all Twenty20 matches with 85 in 63 matches.

He will now undergo remedial work on his bowling action in the Western Australian University at Perth, where human movement expert Daryl Foster will work on his action.

The ICC said Ajmal can be tested again once the remedial work report is satisfactory. Even if he is cleared, he faces a ban of 12 months if he is reported again within two years.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said it was a “big jolt” to lose a player with a total of more than 350 Test and one-day wickets.

“It’s a big jolt for us. It’s not easy to replace a player like Ajmal who is a match-winner, and we will appeal against the ICC decision,” said a PCB spokesman.

Ajmal became the seventh Pakistani to be reported for a suspect action, joining Shabbir Ahmed, Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Hafeez, Shahid Afridi, Riaz Afridi and Shoaib Malik.

The West Indies’ Shane Shillingford was also banned for a year after his action was reported twice in 2013.

The ICC has recently come down hard on suspect actions after its cricket committee decided no bowler should be allowed to play at international level without remedial work.l

BOWLERS SUSPENDED FOR ILLEGAL ACTIONS (SINCE 1999) SHOAIB AKHTAR, December 1999

JAMES KIRTLEY, September 2005

MARLON SAMUELS, February 2008

SHANE SHILLINGFORD, December 2010

KANE WILLIAMSON, July 2014

The Pakistan speedster was banned after he was reported during a Test series against Australia, but the suspension was quickly overturned on appeal. The Rawalpindi Express was reported several times following his short ban and ordered to undergo remedial work, but was never officially suspended again.

Having been reported several times, the rightarm quick was suspended by the England and Wales Cricket Board and ordered to undergo remedial work after it determined he had an illegal action. He was later cleared to return, but his action regularly came under heavy scrutiny until he retired in 2010.

The West Indies all-rounder was banned from bowling after he was reported during a Test against South Africa. He continued to play as a batsman and later returned to bowling after having his re-modelled action cleared by the ICC. However, in December 2013, he was banned from bowling his quicker deliveries.

The West Indies off-spinner was suspended after his first Test match, against South Africa. His re-modelled action was cleared by the ICC in May 2011. He was banned a second time in December 2013 and was only allowed to return to international cricket in March on the condition that he didn’t bowl his doosra.

The New Zealand batsman and part-time off-spinner was banned after he was reported during a Test match in the West Indies. He will continue playing as a batsman only and will undergo remedial work on his action in the hope he can return to the bowling crease.

SHABBIR AHMED, December 2005

JOHAN BOTHA, February 2006

ABDUR RAZZAK, December 2008

SACHITHRA SENANAYAKE, July 2014

SAEED AJMAL, September 2014

Having been reported multiple times in his short career, the Pakistan fast bowler was banned for 12 months after he was reported during a Test match against England. Shabbir never played Test cricket again, however he returned to Pakistan domestic cricket after his ban ended.

The Proteas off-spinner was suspended after he was cited during South Africa’s tour of Australia.

Having returned to international cricket in 2007 after working on his action, Botha again came under the spotlight in May 2009 when his doosra was banned for falling outside the legal limits.

The Bangladesh left-armer was suspended after tests determined he bowled with an arm bend of between 22 and 28 degrees.

He returned to international cricket in July 2009 after the ICC determined his re-modelled action was legal.

The Sri Lanka off-spinner was banned after the ICC determined four deliveries he sent down in the fourth ODI at Lord’s breached the 15- degree guideline. He was then sent to Perth to undergo remedial work hoping his re-modelled action will be cleared. He is targeting a return in the ODI series against England in November.

The Pakistan off-spinner was banned with immediate effect after the ICC’s Human Movement Specialists found all his deliveries exceeded the 15 degrees level of tolerance permitted under the regulations.

Source: Cricket Australia

Japan savours Nishikori This 12-toed Indian athlete knows where the shoe pinches fairytale run n Reuters, Tokyo

Japanese fans responded with groans and tears when Kei Nishikori was beaten in the final of the U.S. Open on Monday, but took some consolation from the fact he became the first Japanese player to reach a grand slam singles final.

Croatian Marin Cilic swept past Nishikori 6-3 6-3 6-3 in under two hours at New York’s Flushing Meadows stadium in a match that got many Japanese out of bed early on Tuesday to cheer for Nishikori before heading out to work and school.

Bleary-eyed fans packed into an event viewing space in the trendy Shibuya area of downtown Tokyo in the rainy dawn to watch the match,

chanting “Kei, Kei, Kei” and clapping whenever Nishikori won a point.

“It was really too bad he ended up losing,” said Kazuya Hirata, 46. “But you can say that history was made.”

“Cilic was just too incredible, that’s all you can say,” said Hirotsugu Harada, 22. “But it was a proud sight to have Nishikori out there as a representative of Japan.”

“Previously it was unimaginable that a Japanese player could make it onto the court for finals,” Abe told reporters. “Nishikori is still young. I hope he keeps on doing his best.”

Many hoped Nishikori’s performance would lead to new interest in the sport in his homeland. l

n Reuters, New Delhi

Pursuing a largely unrewarding Olympic sport in a cricket-obsessed country requires adjustments but Indian heptathlete Swapna Barman has taken it to a new level - squeezing six toes in each shoe designed for five.

Born with six toes in each foot, the 18-year-old from a poor family in Jalpaiguri in the east Indian state of West Bengal has been forced to run, jump and throw wearing shoes that have affected more than aiding her performance.

“Even after all these years, it still hurts every time I put my shoes on,” Barman told Reuters in an interview.

“It’s worse during the running events.

I try to adjust but my toes curl under pressure.”

Her lamentation sounds almost an anachronism in an era when athletes are trying to get the best out of modern sports science and would not compromise on the sports equipments they use.

She paused when asked if she tried

customised shoes.

“I did try a pair from a local manufacturer. It did not last two days.”

Coach Subhash Sarkar, who discovered her and remains her greatest motivation, explains what a reticent Barman would not.

“She is not a star athlete for whom Adidas or Nike will design special shoes with precise pressure points, perfect grip and other specifications,” Sarkar said. “They’ll do that for a star who will tweet a picture and sales would immediately soar.

“We did try some local manufacturers but those were really substandard.

The grip was poor and the pressure points were all wrong.” l

INCHEON 2014 BY THE NUMBERS 2,000,000,000

Media personnel registered

61,000

Security guards on site

30,000

Staff working at the event, which finishes on October 4

Ten Action

13,000

Kei Nishikori of Japan holds his runner up trophy as he looks at the winner’s trophy after being defeated in the men’s singles final match by Marin Cilic in New York on Monday REUTERS

9,296

Approximate cost in US dollars roughly one-tenth of what China spent on the 2010 Games

Capacity of Incheon Asiad Main Stadium, venue for the opening and closing ceremonies

DAY’S WATCH 7:00AM International Friendly Brazil v Ecuador

15

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Athletes and officials taking part, similar to the Summer Olympics

6,800 900

Chinese athletes taking part, nearly one-tenth of the total number of athletes

439

Gold medals up for grabs, down from 477 four years ago at Guangzhou 2010

267

36 North Korean athletes and officials, one of the biggest delegations Different sports contested, to South Korea since the end of including the full Olympic proKorean War hostilities in 1953 gramme plus regional favourites like wushu and kabbadi 49 Sports venues to be used, ranging from the glittering main stadium to squash courts and the Chungju Tangeum Lake International Rowing Center

45

Countries and territories taking part, encompassing the Middle East, Central Asia and South, Southeast and East Asia

15

Days of full competition, starting on September 20 and finishing on October 4

3

Harbour seals, named Barame, Vichuon and Chumuro, who are the official Incheon Asian Games mascots

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

RAB nabs smugglers with satellite phone Tk5.29 lakh, 9,000 yaba pills, 13 phone sets also recovered jahan, 35, from South Halishohor, Chit- communicate at a high range of fren Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong tagong city, and Manjurul Hossain, 28, quencies and is non-traceable.

A team of Rapid Action Battalion 7 (RAB 7) recovered a satellite phone along with 9,000 yaba pills, Tk5.29 lakh in cash, and 13 phone sets from a residential building in Chittagong city’s Box Ali Munshi Road in Bandartila area on Sunday night.

The team, led by Mohammad Mobassher and Shaheda Sultana, both assistant superintendents of police (ASP), conducted the raid around 9pm following a tip-off.

They arrested Syed Alam, 50, from Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, Mohammad Shah-

and found the contraband items in their possession, as well as a voice recorder and a machete.

Lt Col Mifta Uddin, commanding officer of RAB 7, said this was the first time that a satellite phone had been found in possession of smugglers.

“This is the first time that law enforcers have found smugglers in Bangladesh using satellite phone to communicate with their cohorts, as far as I know,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

He said it is a US-made Iridium 9505A satellite phone that is used to

“Bangladesh does not have the technology to trace the frequencies that are used by this brand of satellite phones for communication. Only countries like the US and the UK have the equipment to trace the calls made by this phone,” he said.

“This brand is usually used by militant groups. We think the smugglers were using this phone as a safe and quick means to communicate with their dealers and carriers, dodging the strong vigilance by the law enforcement agencies.

He said the arrested were currently being interrogated about how they acquired the phone.

ASP Shaheda said the arrested admitted to using the phone to run their business without any hazard.

“We are trying to find out how the smugglers got a hold of this phone,” she said.

She added that the phone had been assembled in Malaysia.

The arrested were handed over to the EPZ police station in the port city, and a case was filed in this regard.

Lt Col Mifta Uddin said Syed Alam, one of the arrested, collected yaba pills

from Teknaf, where the product was brought in from Myanmar via the Naf River. Shahjahan peddled the drugs, and Manjurul stored them in the building the trio were arrested in, also where he used to live.

According to the Department of Narcotics Control, there are around 50 yaba factories in Maynmar’s Mongdu town, which is the closest to Teknaf.

Around 90% of the yaba smuggled into the country are entering through the Naf, and Chittagong city is used as the transit point by the peddlers to smuggle the drug to other parts of the country, they said. l

5 witnesses testify against Oishee n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu Five more prosecution witnesses gave depositions yesterday in the case filed over the killings of SB Inspector Mahfuzur Rahman and his wife Swapna Rahman last year. SI Shahidullah Prodhan and SI Abu Taher, ASI Tabibur Rahman and constables Mahbub Alam and Maleka Begom, who made the seizure list and prepared inquest report of the deceased, testified before the Dhaka’s Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md Jahrul Haque.

They produced kitchen knife, gold ornaments, one luggage and blooded clothes before the court as exhibits.

After recording their depositions, the court fixed September 11 for the next prosecution witnesses in the case. l

Ritu’s seat kept vacant Jamil Khan and n Mohammad Syed Zakir Hossain

Umme Kulsum Ritu’s seat at East Point Education Home in the Nandipara area of Dhaka remains empty since she took her life on Saturday after being harassed by stalkers. Her classmate Shahana Akhtar says the other students feel bad about occupying her seat. This picture was taken yesterday. Story on Page 1 SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Although the room for class-nine students was packed yesterday at Khilgaon’s East Point Education School and College, only one seat on the front row stayed empty. It was the place where Umme Kulsum Ritu, who killed herself on Saturday in the face of continuous sexual harassment by a stalker, usually took her seat every day.

To honour the memory of Ritu, her classmates had decided to keep the seat vacant.

“We do not want to sit there and want to keep the seat vacant in honour of the memory of the second girl [in order of merit] of our class,” Sahana Akhter, a classmate and a close friend to Ritu, told the Dhaka Tribune. She added that no one wanted to take the seat of their classmate who sat beside them only a few days ago.

Ritu, the 15-year-old victim, was the eldest among three children of Mohammad Ashiq and Sathi Begum – both garment workers in the capital’s Demra area. The family resides at a house in Khilgaon’s Nandipara area.

However, since her demise, the family was living at a relative’s house nearby.

Ritu’s father Ashiq said: “My daughter dreamt of being a good teacher to make a good society, but a storm had destroyed everything.”

Ritu loved to read books and go to school, but continuous harassment by a local stalker had forced her to stop going to school for several days before the incident, Ashiq said.

However, that did not stop the stalker from harassing Ritu. On the day of

Juvenile domestic helps claim to be abused at judge’s house

Housewife killed for giving birth to ‘a dark-skinned girl’

n Tazlina Zamila Khan

n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

Household workers rescued Monday from the flat of an additional district judge have spoken to law enforcement officials about the ordeal they claim to have endured at the hands of their employer and his wife.

The three children, Fatema Akhter, 13, Kulsum Begum, 12, and Mohammad Shamim, 11, are all related to one another and come from Mymensingh.

Fatema told the Dhaka Tribune: “My employer beat me for simple mistakes.

Whenever she found dust on the furniture or clothes, she beat me with an iron rod. She poured hot water on me twice and I have injury marks on my hands.”

“I started working a year ago. She beat me everyday. She did not allow me to talk to my parents. When my parents visited, she allowed me to meet them but stayed with us, so that I could not tell them about the beatings. She threatened me, saying if I told anyone about it she would not allow me to eat for two days.”

“On Sunday, she beat me with an iron rod. Is being a domestic help a sin?” Fatema asked.

Law enforcers rescued the three domestic helpers, who worked for Additional District Judge of Narayanganj Niazi Shahidul Alam Chowdhury and his wife Shamima Shahid, from the capital’s Shantinagar area.

Moshiur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge of Ramna police station said: “The employer has denied the allegations.”

The trio were rescued by fire service and police personnel around 3pm from a sun shed outside a third-floor flat of the multi-storey building.

The three children had climbed down a drain-pipe from the sixth-floor of the building.

Kulsum Begum said: “My employer did not provide us with food regularly.

She gave us food once or sometimes twice a day but it was not palatable.

She gave us rotten food to eat.”

Kulsum said: “She verbally abused us along with our parents. She did not

send us to our parents during the Eid vacation. She gave us new dresses at Eid and then took them away from us.”

The rescued domestic workers were taken to the Victim Support Centre (VSC) after receiving treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Later, they were taken by officials of the Bangladesh National Woman Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA). Officials of the VSC said their parents had been contacted but had not yet come to collect them.

Sub-Inspector Monjur Alam said: “Mohammad Shamim was taken yesterday by Aparajeyo Bangladesh, an NGO. No case was filed in this regard.”

Salma Ali, executive director of BNWLA said: “After bringing them here, if we consider that they need medical support, then we admit them to the one-stop crisis centre. Most often, family members do not want to file cases against the offenders so they are not punished. Sometimes the offenders and the victims come to a mutual understanding and avoid filing cases.” l

For giving birth to a girl with dark complexion, a housewife was allegedly killed by her husband in Gobindaganj upazila of Gaibandha.

The victim is Shakila Begum, 20.

A case has been filed with Gobindaganj police station in this regard.

According to the case statement, Shakila got married to Al Amin, 30, resident of Betgara village in the upazila, two years ago. Al Amin used to beat her over petty issues since the marriage.

Expecting situation to improve, Shakila conceived without Al Amin’s consent.

On August 30, with help of her sister, Shakila got admitted at a local clinic and gave birth to a girl. Hearing the news, Al Amin got infuriated and did not go to the clinic to meet the mother and the child.

On September 5, Shakila returned home with the new born.

Seeing the baby Al Amin started

beating Shakila for giving birth to “a dark skinned girl.”

At one point, Shakila fell sick and Al Amin poured poison in her mouth and left her on the premises outside the house. He locked the house and fled away.

On Tuesday, seeing the dead body lying on the premises, the neighbours called police.

Police has sent the body to Gaibandha sadar hospital morgue for autopsy.

Al Amin and his family members have been fugitive since Monday, said Gobindaganj police station Officer-inCharge (OC) ABM Jahidul Islam.

Shakila’s brother Jahidul Islam has filed a case in this connection.

Quoting Al Amin’s family members, the OC said Shakila killed herself by drinking poison after her husband and others called her names for giving birth to a dark skinned child.

The child is currently under the custody of Shakila’s brothers, said the OC. l

‘Labour attachés failing to serve country’s top forex earners’ n Rabiul Islam Labour attachés, the first line of defence in protecting the rights of Bangladeshis working abroad, are failing to provide quality service to the 8,000,000 migrants who remit vast amounts of foreign currency to the country.

This was the finding of a study by a Dhaka University (DU) affiliated research group, the Refugee and Migratory Movements Research Unit (RMMRU).

The RMMRU’s findings were revealed at a workshop on “Institutional Strengthening of the Office of Labour Attaché: Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka” at the Senate Bhaban of Dhaka University yesterday.

The report was prepared by interviewing Bangladeshi heads of mission, labour attachés and migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Malaysia, said research coordinator CR Abrar. He said the Indian and Sri Lankan experience in dealing with migrant labour issues was also analysed.

According to the study, Bangladesh’s recruitment process and training for labour attachés was flawed. Sri Lanka allows only those who work in the ministry of labour or in a concerned line agency to serve in the role at foreign missions.

By contrast, Bangladesh openly advertises the post among cadre and non-cadre officials of various ministries, and officials with neither field ex-

perience nor proper awareness of the issues get posted.

Moreover, while talking to this correspondent on various occasions, officials at the expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment ministry alleged that high-level political lobbying dominated the posting process.

Tensions between the labour wing and other wings of embassies were often a problem. High handedness of those representing the ministry of foreign affairs undermined the morale of those staffing the labour wings.

Physical distances in large countries such as Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, a lack of qualified personnel and resources, the absence of laws pertaining to domes-

tic workers in the Gulf states, the high cost of legal assistance and the presence of migrants with irregular and undocumented status were some of the major challenges identified by labour attachés.

Labour attaché performance in country were subject to delays, indecision and actions by line agency or ministry officials back home, the report found.

Often, the physical movement of labour attachés was constrained due to a lack of vehicles or fuel. The study revealed that migrant workers had to go to labour attaché offices an average of four times to receive a particular service.

Speaking as chief guest, expat ministry additional secretary Hazrat Ali said the mindset of officers had to be changed

if they are to provide services to migrants who are contributing to the economy.

Speaking as a panelist, the joint secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) Selim Reja, said there should be a requirement of two years’ field experience in order to be posted as a labour attaché.

Reja, who worked as a labour attaché in Kuwait, said officers have to be pro-active to deliver services to migrant workers.

Expat ministry deputy secretary Kazi Kalam said there were 16 labour wings in 14 countries looking after migrant worker issues. Twelve more labour wings have been created, and another two are slated to be added. l

the incident, the accused entered the family’s house and tried to physically assault her, the father said, adding that Ritu killed herself as she could not accept such a humiliation.

Following the death of Ritu, her mother filed a case with Khilgaon police station accusing five people including Shimul Chandra Mandal – the prime accused – and four others – Sentu Chandra Mandal, Joy Gopal Mandal, Shimul’s father Ranjan Chandra Mandal and mother Maloti Rana Mondol.

Mostafiz Bhuiyan, officer-in-charge of Khilgaon police station, told the Dhaka Tribune that the police were trying their best to locate and apprehend the accused persons who had all gone into hiding soon after the incident.

Monday nigh police arrested 22-yearold Jiat, a friend of Shimul.

Sources said Shimul and his father were already accused in a murder case that took place in 2011. However, they are currently out on bail in the case.

Shimul is a known drug addict in the area who had been harassing Ritu for a long time.

Ritu’s friend Sahana said she came to know about the harassment around two months ago, but since then, Ritu had kept the sufferings from the continuing harassment all to herself.

Meanwhile, the school authority has chalked out a condolence programme on Thursday to commemorate Ritu.

Jahirul Islam, the school’s headmaster, told the Dhaka Tribune that Ritu in her last appeal had asked him to ensure the punishment of the stalker. All the teachers, staffs and students of the school wanted exemplary punishment for the stalkers, he added. l

Flood devours properties worth Tk 550 crore in Bogra n Our Correspondent, Bogra According to the assessments by the government offices properties worth over Tk550 crore have been destroyed in Bogra in the recent flood.

Additional District Commissioner Md Khorshed Alam said properties worth Tk150 crore were destroyed in Sariakandi upazila alone.

Chandidas Kundu, assistant director of district’s Department of Agricultural Extension office, said crops in 24 thousand hectares of land were destroyed, which cost Tk243 crore.

He also informed that information about 120,000 farmers from the district were sent to the ministry concerned for their rehabilitation.

Arifuzzaman, an official of the district’s Relief and Rehabilitation office told the Dhaka Tribune thataround 22,000 houses and 179 educational institutions were damaged by the flood, which would require Tk50 crore to be restored.

Executive Engineer of the Water Development Board Nurul Islam Sarkar informed that a 10km stretch of the embankment in Sariakandi was damaged by the flood and Tk43 crore would be needed to repair it.

Executive Engineer of Local Government Engineering Department Md Naimuddin Mia told the Dhaka Tribune that a stretch of 436km of rural roads were damaged by the flood, and Tk40 crore would be required to repair them.

Khirod Kumar Paul, an official from the Fisheries Department told the Dhaka Tribune fishes worth around Tk5 crore were washed away by the flood water. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com

B3

SAFA conference: Speakers put stress on accounting for business growth

B4 India to revise GDP

measurement next year, economy may be larger

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Not yet ready for LTE market Handsets are still very costly and adoption of such devices are also poor, say experts n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Bangladesh market is not yet ready for the latest mobile phone technology called Long Term Evolution (LTE) as the country is still far away from creating a business environment congenial for introducing the technology in the country.

Global Telecom experts, who are attending a three-day Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation (CTO) forum that began in the city on Monday, came up with the view yesterday.

Long Term Evolution (LTE) is the name given to a project within the Third Generation Partnership Project to improve the UMTS mobile phone standard to cope with future requirements.

Attending the 2nd day meet, the experts from home and abroad said as the LTE handsets are very costly and the penetration of this kind of sets is still very thin while relevant application or contents are also not yet easily available for using the high speed mobile technology in Bangladesh.

According to the director general of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), who attended a seminar styled “4G LTE or is Too Soon” said, “Only 3% of Bangladeshi mobile users use high-end handsets and only around 10% handsets are 3G enabled.”

Although the government of Bangladesh had earlier issued LTE licenses to the three WiMax operators last year, they could not launch the service in the country as yet.

Describing about the readiness of business ecosystem for the LTE service in Bangladesh, BTRC director general Brig. General Md Wahid-Uz-Zaman categorically noted that only 6% revenue comes from the data business though there are 37 million internet users in Bangladesh.

“The market needs to be more matured for introducing LTE services. We need to sit with the government, stakeholders including the central bank and National Board of Revenue (NBR) to

create an environment suitable for LTE technology in the country.”

He also said the quality broadband in Bangladesh still costs around Tk1,000 for 1 megabits-per-second speed, which is far less than the average revenue per users (ARPU) for voice services.

While attending an inaugural session on Monday, BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose also notably mentioned that the government had a target that there would be 60% internet penetration by the year of 2021 and out this number, 35% would be broadband users.

Currently less than 4% users use high speed internet service.

At the yesterday’s discussion, Monir Hasan, a director of Grameenphone, focused on the scarcity of the contents or applications for the users.

He said the local content developers are interested in Android or Apple Stores, instead of the local market.

The government should sit with all the stakeholders to go for a solution on this problem.

The price of LTE compatible devices was around US$500 during last year but the price has been reduced to around $250 this year, said Harish Bhatt, a Mobile Broadband Network consultant of Huawei Technologies Bangladesh Ltd. Huawei is a Chinese vendor that produces mobile equipments and devices.

Bhatt added the handset price will be slashed further when more operators will launch the service. Operators of the world’s two biggest mobile markets China and India have already launched LTE, so handsets price will be slashed in the coming years, he, however, hoped.

The LTE goals include improving efficiency, lowering costs, improving services, making use of new spectrum opportunities, and better integration with other open standards. The LTE project is not a standard, but it will result in the new evolved release 8 of the UMTS standard, including mostly or wholly extensions and modifications of the UMTS system. l

Discussants at a seminar on ‘Investing in Bangladesh : Practical Information and Key Constraints’ in Dhaka yesterday

Top Dutch ICT companies keen to outsource services from Bangladesh n Muhammad Zahidul Islam A total of five top Information and Communication Technology-related companies from the Netherlands attended their first business-to-business meeting with the local ICT business entrepreneurs in the capital yesterday.

The business delegation will also attend its second day meeting with Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) companies at BASIS office today.

Bangladesh has been regarded as one of the promising investment destinations of ICT world because of the government’s Digital Bangladesh initiative, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam told a seminar before the B2B meeting.

“And we found that the renowned IT companies of the world are extending their services by investing and setting up branches in Bangladesh … this gives us pleasure,” he said. The junior minister also requested the Dutch ICT entrepreneurs to invest more in Bangladesh.

He said Bangladesh is a potential destination to invest in ICT sector as the government has been giving emphasis on the ICT for more than five years with a view to transforming the

country into a digitised state.

“The infrastructure of ICT sector has changed a lot. For this reason, the dream of digitising Bangladesh has come true. The mass people of our country are now getting ICT services.”

BASIS President Shameem Ahsan presided over the programme which was also attended by the Director General of International Cooperation from

‘The infrastructure of ICT sector has changed a lot. For this reason, the dream of digitising Bangladesh has come true’ the Netherlands Foreign Affairs Ministry, Christian Rebergen, and Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Bangladesh, Gerben Sjoerd de Jong.

At the seminar, the Netherlands officials said they have come to Bangladesh to invest and build business relationship.

To fulfill this target, a two-day business-to-business (B2B) meeting

is going on at BASIS where hundreds of meetings are supposed to be held between five Dutch and more than 50 Bangladeshi Companies.

BASIS hopes that this meeting will build business collaboration and open up opportunity for joint venture investment in ICT business between Bangladesh the Netherlands.

In their address, Russell T Ahmed, senior vice-president of BASIS, delivered his inaugural speech and its Executive Director Sami Ahmed clarified different aspects of ICT sector of Bangladesh.

Earlier on September 8, a high-level trade delegation from the Netherlands representing different sectors including Information and Communication Technology, food security, logistics, technology, waste management, water management and shipping arrived in Dhaka to explore potential areas for collaboration.

BASIS said the Netherlands wants to make Bangladesh a hub for their IT outsourcing, apart from extending technological support and collaboration in the areas of flood and water management.

Nyenrode Business University and Dutch Embassy in Dhaka have arranged the business programme. l

Tuba Group estimates Tk2.7cr as workers’ compensation

Call for level playing field in mobile banking business

Karim and Ibrahim n Mohosinul Hossain Ovi

n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

Tuba Group Managing Director Delowar Hossain, also owner of five closed RMG units, has submitted an estimated cost of around Tk2.7 crore to the ministry of Labour and Employment, for paying the workers’ termination and service benefits of his closed factories in line with the labour laws.

The owner of the Tuba Group has placed an estimated figure of around Tk2.7 crore, which is needed for him to pay the workers of the five closed RMG factories, a high official of the Labour and Employment Ministry told the Dhaka Tribune on condition of anonymity.

The Dhaka Tribune also obtained a copy of the estimate submitted to the ministry as per an instruction.

According to the estimate, the group needs Tk46 lakh to pay workers’ termination and service benefits of Tuba Textile, Tk35 lakh for Tuba Fashion, Tk46 lakh for Bugshan Garments, Tk70 lakh for Taif Design and Tk18 lakh for

Mita Designs.

“I will be able to pay the dues of the workers only when the insurance company pays me my insurance claims of Tk18 crore,” Delowar told the Dhaka Tribune.

He has also sought government’s interference in realising his insurance claims from the Karnafuli Insurance Company. He had fire insurance with the same insurance company over his Tazreen Fashions, which was also burnt down in 2012.

On August 26, the ministry of Labour and Employment asked Delowar Hossain to submit an estimate on the dues of the workers as per the labour laws within four days.

On August 18, the Tuba Group owner announced the shut-down of the five factories in line with article 13(1) of Labour Act 2006. The closure of five RMG units had made around 1,500 workers jobless.

According to Labour Act 2006, the employers may, in the event of an illegal strike by any section or department of any establishment, close down either

totally or partly such section or department and the striking workers shall not be paid any wages for such closure.

The declaration of factory closures were not in accordance of the laws as the workers were staging demonstration and demanding their dues.

Consequently, the government called for a meeting with the factory owners and the workers’ leaders, when the ministry directed the owner to place the estimated cost for the factory closure.

On July 28, at least 1,200 workers of the five factories went on an indefinite hunger strike at Hossain Market in Badda area, demanding payment of three months’ wages, overtime and Eid bonuses.

Following the demonstrations, BGMEA under the government pressure paid two months’ wages to more than 1,600 workers of Tuba Group.

Later on August 10, the Tuba Group management paid the workers’ wages for the month of July and overtime dues, but the workers were yet to get Eid bonuses. l

Speakers at CTO conference said there should be a level playing field for all stakeholders in mobile financial service business as maintained in the international level.

The central bank has to ensure it, they said while participating in a session on the second day of Commonwealth Telecommunication Organisation conference in Dhaka yesterday.

They said security of the mobile financial service (MFS) also remains a concern demanding steps to ensure protection of both clients’ and service providers’ money.

BASIS President Shameem Ahsan, Banglalink CEO Ziad Shatara, bKash CEO Kamal Quadir and BB Deputy Governor Nazneen Sultana, among others, addressed the session on the “mobile commerce revolution.”

“In Bangladesh though we are running a bank-led model m-commerce services but there are so many debates about the issue of mobile operators – an integral part of the service,” said

Shameem Ahsan.

“While global m-commerce service providers are providing MFS, we are still engaged in debating that what approach we should take for MFS,” he lamented.

Shameem stressed: “There should be a level playing field for all the service providers and they should get equal business opportunities from their respective roles.”

Ziad Shatara said the mobile operators want to get more engaged with MFS as the network platform and distribution channel used for the service is provided by them.

Kamal Quadir was concerned about the security issue. He said the extensive concern about the security of MFS cannot be ignored.

Nazneen Sultana who also moderated the session said the debate about whether the MFS should be a bank-led model or telco-led model has just started.

She believes there will be a solution to this debate in near future as mobile banking is still a new concept in Bangladesh. l

COURTESY

Tofail: Dutch govt to support development projects n Tribune Report Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday said the Netherlands government will provide Bangladesh with 30 million Euro for different development projects across the country.

“If the Bangladesh government seeks financial assistance to construct deep seaport, the government of Netherlands would respond with positive approach,” he said.

The investors of the Netherlands showed keen interest in developing deep seaport in the country, said the minister.

Tofail came up with the disclosure at a media briefing at his secretariat office after a meeting with a 15-member delegation of the Netherlands.

Christiaan Rebergen, director general of International Cooperation, led the team while the Netherlands Ambassador to Bangladesh, Gerben de Jong, was present during the courtesy call.

The Dutch government has conducted a study over erosion-affected area of the Bhola district and decided to provide financial and technical support to protect the area from the river erosion, Tofail said.

He added Bhola is economically very important as there is a reserve of about 1 trillion cubic feet of gas. The drilling for the fourth well would soon start as third one has already been completed.

“We are trying to save Bhola with our own funds. If the Dutch government takes the responsibility, we will be able to protect the area from river erosion.”

Commenting on the recent visit of Japan prime minister, the minister said the visit has opened up a new era of bilateral trade and investment opportunity for Bangladesh.

Earlier, the Japan government funded $12 to Bangladesh and during the recent visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Japan government made promise to give a fund of $46 billion.

He added that the government has decided in principle to allocate a certain areas of land to establish Especial Economic Zone to facilitate Japanese investment.

The Japanese investors are now relocating their business from different countries and have chosen Bangladesh as their first choice for investment, he added.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data, Bangladesh earned $858 million from the Netherlands by exporting goods and imported products and machinery worth $189 million. l

17 development goals proposed for post-MDG era n Tribune Report Politics has to be taken into consideration for setting sustainable development goals as the country’s social factors are highly politicised, said discussants at a seminar yesterday.

They suggested that the development goals are set to be imple-

mented for a period of 15 years starting from January 2016 to 2030.

The suggestion came at a seminar titled “Post-2015 sustainable development agenda: global and national perspective”.

Palli Karmo-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) hosted the seminar at its auditorium yesterday.

Economist Qazi Kholiquzzam-

an Ahmed presided over the seminar which was also addressed by Shahidul Haque, secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nojibur Rahman, secretary to the Ministry of Environment and Forest, and Pauline Tamesis, country director, UNDP. In their discussion, the speakers underscored the need for negotia-

tion among the political parties for stability in the country.

In his address, Kholiquzzaman identified the climate change as a big challenge to sustainable development, which he said the global community must bear the brunt of.

The differences have been acknowledged in the sustainable goals which were not in the MDGs, he said.

The proposed 17 development goals include poverty and hunger alleviation, achievement of food security, promotion of sustainable agriculture, ensuring healthy lives for all, ensuring availability of sustainable management of water and sanitation, sustainable economic growth, productive employment and decent work for all. l

B2

Stocks rebound after two-day losses n Tribune Report

Turnover (Million Taka)

Sustaining dominance of multinational companies (MNCs), especially due to dividend expectations finally pulled up the market The Shariah Index DSES was up 15 points or over 1% to 1,091. The comprising blue chips DS30 gained 25 points or 1.5% to 1,763.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, ended at 8,716 with a rise of 40 points.

Turnover at DSE has remained sluggish in the last two weeks as the average turnover hovered around Tk500-crore mark. Total turnover stood at Tk520 crore, an increase of 4% over the previous session.

DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSER Closing (% Change)

Kay & Que (BD) -Z Standard Ceramic -A PragatiLife Insu. -Z Nitol Insurance -A Legacy Footwear -A Anlima Yarn -A Trust Bank-A Golden Harvest Agro-N Argon Denims Limited-A Meghna Con. Milk -B

-5.88 -5.19 -4.06 -3.90 -3.58 -3.56 -3.55 -3.49 -3.33 -3.23

CSE LOSER Company

Closing (% Change)

6th ICB M F-A Republic Insu.-A Samata LeatheR -Z Northern G Insur-A Sun Life Insurance-N Peoples Insur -A Golden Harvest Agro-N Legacy Footwear -A Paramount Insur-A Hakkani P& Paper -B

-9.12 -7.85 -7.69 -5.59 -4.62 -4.29 -4.29 -4.25 -3.88 -3.57

4647.43373

(+) 0.83%

1763.33828

(+) 1.44%

14354.92150

(+) 0.73%

11542.92540

(+) 0.81%

8716.05850

(+) 0.47%

Average (% Change) -6.29 -4.83 -3.55 -1.66 -2.42 -2.21 -4.50 -4.13 -2.86 1.00 Average (% Change) -9.16 -6.08 -7.69 -1.35 -4.64 -4.13 -4.61 -3.27 -4.90 -3.67

ANALYST

ClosingAvg. 12.82 44.16 85.84 27.31 30.23 24.75 13.80 33.67 47.47 9.13

ClosingAvg. 51.76 27.02 24.00 33.56 43.37 22.30 33.90 29.85 19.59 27.00

Closing

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 227.34 275.01 60.15 754.64 197.95 607.91 0.52 672.59 909.38 89.91 42.85 75.49 37.54 492.10 109.22 57.40 59.77 197.05 105.09 252.52 0.15

DHIGH 13.30 46.00 87.50 29.00 31.50 25.50 14.20 35.20 48.90 9.30

DHIGH

51.80 27.00 24.00 32.10 43.40 22.30 33.50 29.30 19.80 27.00

52.40 27.10 24.00 34.70 43.60 22.30 34.70 31.00 20.10 27.00

117,510

Traded Issues

296

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

117

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

174

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,465.49

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

29.88

CSE key features September 9-2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

383.38

Turnover (Volume)

10,892,111

Number of Contract

15,214

Traded Issues

226

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

81

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

140

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,3678.8

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

28.70

Turnover in Million

DLOW 12.30 42.00 83.00 25.50 28.00 24.30 12.70 31.00 44.00 9.00

51.70 27.00 24.00 32.10 43.20 22.30 33.10 29.20 18.60 27.00

Latest EPS

0.141 0.102 2.146 0.592 10.124 3.131 4.848 22.891 33.169 0.607

Turnover in Million

DLOW

% change 4.35 5.26 1.15 14.44 3.79 11.64 0.01 12.87 17.41 0.82 1.44 0.72 9.42 2.09 1.10 1.14 3.77 2.01 4.83 0.00

Million Taka 17.68 16.16 7.72 57.72 9.90 35.54 71.73 42.15 19.57 1.90 10.34 2.19 33.30 21.06 2.02 2.82 13.83 17.58 29.88 0.01

CSE

% change 4.28 3.91 1.87 13.97 2.40 8.60 0.00 17.36 10.20 4.74 0.46 2.50 0.53 8.06 5.10 0.49 0.68 3.35 4.26 7.23 0.00

-1.24 1.32 2.38 2.58 0.28 0.80 1.82 1.55 3.86 -4.85

Latest EPS

0.057 0.081 0.516 0.235 0.065 0.007 2.232 1.952 0.274 0.054

Million Taka 245.01 291.17 67.86 812.36 207.85 643.45 0.52 744.32 951.53 109.48 44.75 85.83 39.73 525.40 130.27 59.42 62.59 210.89 122.67 282.39 0.16

Shurwid Ind. -N ACI Formulations-A Tung Hai Knitting -N Khulna Printing-N Apex Foods -A FarEast Knitting -N DESCO Ltd. -A CVO PetroChem RL-A 8th ICB M F-A Power Grid Co. -A

Closing (% Change) 11.20 10.00 9.92 9.90 7.77 7.63 7.51 7.49 7.43 7.24

CSE GAINER

6.47 3.26 0.09 4.14 0.00 2.42 1.55 0.28 1.18 0.28

Latest PE -ve 33.5 36.1 10.6 108.0 30.9 7.6 21.7 12.3 -ve

Company ACI Formulations-A Khulna Printing-N Tung Hai Knitting -N Mercantile Insur -A Shurwid Ind. -N Power Grid Co. -A DESCO Ltd. -A Shahjibazar Power-N Singer BD -A Apex Foods -A

9.92 9.90 9.88 8.79 8.60 8.43 8.21 8.18 8.13 7.82

Average (% Change) 9.98 6.30 8.58 8.55 35.40 6.97 6.57 5.88 7.54 8.96

ClosingAvg.

Closing

55.31 113.16 26.08 32.81 105.81 40.85 59.27 708.78 61.85 45.29

ClosingAvg.

53.60 113.30 26.60 33.30 106.80 40.90 60.10 720.20 62.20 45.90

Closing

111.90 32.72 26.31 19.80 54.73 45.42 59.65 710.16 237.38 106.88

111.90 33.30 26.70 19.80 51.80 46.30 60.60 714.00 243.40 106.20

DHIGH 59.80 113.30 26.60 33.30 109.00 41.80 60.90 720.20 62.90 46.50

DHIGH 111.90 33.30 26.70 19.80 59.00 46.90 61.60 714.00 244.70 108.30

DLOW 50.00 96.00 24.40 30.40 101.00 38.60 52.00 664.50 59.00 38.90

DLOW 111.90 30.20 24.70 19.80 48.00 43.90 57.90 683.00 230.00 104.00

Turnover in Million 102.768 175.241 49.332 89.628 18.728 109.304 52.146 45.270 1.237 33.465

Turnover in Million 0.996 14.413 17.533 0.040 23.121 1.226 2.289 10.652 10.684 0.310

Latest EPS 0.75 3.36 0.60 1.31 2.99 2.13 0.95 -3.16 7.96 2.13

Latest EPS 3.36 1.31 0.60 2.00 0.75 2.13 0.95 3.04 6.28 2.99

Latest PE 73.7 33.7 43.5 25.0 35.4 19.2 62.4 -ve 7.8 21.3

Latest PE 33.3 25.0 43.9 9.9 73.0 21.3 62.8 233.6 37.8 35.7

News, analysis and recent disclosers From TradeServers: CVOPRL: The Company has informed that in pursuance of the NOC dated October 03, 2011 accorded by the Energy & Mineral Resources Division under the Ministry of Power Energy & Mineral Resources of the Govt., the Company is to sign a buy/sell agreement with Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) which is scheduled to be held on 15th September 2014.

IPO Subscription: Hamid Fabrics Limited subscription date 28 September to 02 October 2014, NRB upto 11 October 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/AGM DESHBANDHU: 10% stock, EGM & AGM: 19.10.2014, Record date for AGM & EGM: 21.09.2014.

SINGERBD: 160% interim cash, Record

date for entitlement of interim dividend: 17.09.2014.

MHSML: 25% stock, AGM: 30.10.2014, Record date: 25.09.2014.

FARCHEM: 20% stock, AGM: 09.10.2014, Record date: 11.09.2014.

SAIHAMCOT: 10% cash, AGM: 23.10.2014, Record date: 17.09.2014.

BSCCL: 10% cash, AGM: 12.10.2014, Record date: 04.09.2014.

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.

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 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.

APEXTANRY: 45% cash, AGM: 23.09.2014, Record date: 27.08.2014.

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.

8.0 8.3 266.7 8.1 9.2 21.9 106.6 16.6 96.4

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company

Total

Closing (% Change)

Average (% Change) 38.52 9.89 7.81 6.35 6.46 6.35 5.90 5.27 6.79 5.69

Latest PE

After consolidating for few past trading sessions, large cap picky stocks have showed up the positive momentum pushing up the index to green zone

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

12.80 43.80 85.00 27.10 29.60 24.40 13.60 33.20 46.50 9.00

111,482,497

Number of Contract

Weekly capital market highlights

Company

5,224.55

Turnover (Volume)

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

DSE GAINER

DSE key features September 9-2014

The market bellwether banks edged lower, extending its losing streak for the second straight session.

However, all the other sectors have performed well with cement rallying highest 4.6%, followed by cement tannery 3%, power 2.5%, telco 1.6% and pharmaceuticals 1.4%.

In its second trading day, Shurwid Industries Ltd continued to rally with a gain of over 11% to close at Tk53 a share even after abnormal rise of 382% on its offer price of Tk10 in the previous day.

Lanka Bangla Securities said after consolidating for few past trading sessions, large cap picky stocks have showed up the positive momentum pushing up the index to green zone.

IDLC Investments said sustaining dominance of multinational companies (MNCs), especially due to dividend expectations finally pulled up the market.

The average price increase in MNCs by 3.4% from last day and investors’ interest in newly listed scrips, including Shurwid and Khulna Paper Printing and Packaging helped gain the market.

Zenith Investments said after two days of losses, bulls came back with a blast to finish the third day of the week with a positive note.

Heidelberg Cement has topped the liquidity chart with turnover worth Tk20.8 crore, followed by Singer Bangladesh, Lafarge Surma Cement, ACI Ltd, ACI Formulation and Beximco Ltd. l

Stocks rebounded yesterday after two days of profit-booking losses.

The rally was led by multinational companies, power, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, cement and textile issues.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange benchmark index DSEX gained 38 points or 0.9% to 4,647.

Company

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

% change 4.35 5.16 1.20 14.41 3.69 11.41 0.01 13.20 16.88 1.94 0.79 1.52 0.70 9.32 2.31 1.05 1.11 3.74 2.18 5.01 0.00

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

HeidelbergCement -A Singer BD -A LafargeS Cement-Z ACI Limited- A ACI Formulations-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Grameenphone-A MJL BD Ltd.-A FarEast Knitting -N BSRM Steels-A

Shurwid Ind. -N Khulna Printing-N Titas Gas TDCLA IDLC Finance -A Beximco Pharma -A

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Shurwid Ind. -N LafargeS Cement-Z Tung Hai Knitting -N FarEast Knitting -N Khulna Printing-N ACI Limited- A Singer BD -A Shahjibazar Power-N The Peninsula CTG.-N

BD Submarine Cable-A UNITED AIR-A Grameenphone-A BSC-A Beximco Pharma -A

VolumeShares 397,341 858,626 1,589,000 487,321 1,548,550 4,153,000 489,899 1,154,401 2,675,600 1,104,924

Value in Million 207.21 203.18 190.23 177.83 175.24 168.49 165.87 130.09 109.30 103.75

% of TotalTurnover 3.97 3.89 3.64 3.40 3.35 3.22 3.17 2.49 2.09 1.99

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

1,858,000 2,732,000 1,070,657 1,362,264 1,511,616

585,431 422,500 156,000 666,500 417,000 440,500 33,228 45,009 15,000 288,800

48,500 569,885 20,000 9,170 101,979

102.77 89.63 86.43 86.30 81.25

23.84 23.12 18.68 17.53 17.04 14.41 12.14 10.68 10.65 9.87

7.07 7.06 6.76 5.55 5.47

1.97 1.72 1.65 1.65 1.56

6.26 6.07 4.91 4.60 4.48 3.78 3.19 2.81 2.80 2.59

1.86 1.85 1.78 1.46 1.44

ClosingP 529.90 240.90 120.70 364.60 113.30 40.10 338.90 112.40 40.90 93.50

53.60 33.30 80.70 64.20 53.40

ClosingP

40.30 51.80 121.10 26.70 40.60 33.30 364.10 243.40 714.00 33.90

145.60 12.30 337.60 603.30 53.30

Change % 6.73 6.59 4.68 2.10 10.00 -1.23 1.71 1.26 7.63 0.43

11.20 9.90 2.67 4.73 -0.19

Change %

-0.98 8.60 5.30 9.88 6.84 9.90 1.45 8.13 8.18 2.42

0.00 -0.81 1.56 0.55 -0.37

ClosingY 496.50 226.00 115.30 357.10 103.00 40.60 333.20 111.00 38.00 93.10

48.20 30.30 78.60 61.30 53.50

ClosingY

40.70 47.70 115.00 24.30 38.00 30.30 358.90 225.10 660.00 33.10

145.60 12.40 332.40 600.00 53.50

DHIGH

DLOW

533.10 242.90 121.00 368.50 113.30 42.00 341.10 115.00 41.80 95.00

480.00 210.00 116.00 335.00 96.00 36.60 326.00 100.00 38.60 83.80

DHIGH

DLOW

41.40 59.00 121.50 26.70 41.80 33.30 370.00 244.70 714.00 34.80

40.10 48.00 117.70 24.70 37.80 30.20 363.50 230.00 683.00 33.10

59.80 33.30 81.20 65.00 54.50

147.90 12.60 340.00 615.00 54.30

50.00 30.40 73.00 56.00 48.20

144.80 12.30 336.00 600.00 53.00

AvgPrice 521.48 236.63 119.71 364.91 113.16 40.57 338.59 112.69 40.85 93.90

55.31 32.81 80.72 63.35 53.75

AvgPrice

40.72 54.73 119.75 26.31 40.87 32.72 365.44 237.38 710.16 34.17

145.84 12.39 338.01 605.72 53.68

DHAKA TRIBUNE

CEO commits series share transaction BSEC fines First Securities, two other firms Tk55 lakh for share price manipulation tember 1, 2013 the board of Banagas had n Tribune Report decided to offer five rights shares against

Business

SAFA conference: Speakers put stress on accounting for business growth n Tribune Report Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday stressed the accountants’ effective role to contribute to business and economic growth.

He said accountants’ job is not limited to only keeping accounts or auditing, but they have an extended role.

Tofail Ahmed was speaking at the inaugural session of a day-long South Asian conference of accountants in Dhaka yesterday.

Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has unearthed series share trading committed by a chief executive of a brokerage firms through violating securities rules.

It fined Tk55 lakh to chief executive officer of First Securities and Services Limited Kazi Saifur Rahman and two firms for involvement in share prices manipulation by making series share transactions of Banagas Ltd and Tallu Spinning Mills Ltd, said a BSEC statement yesterday.

“Kazi Saifur Rahman has clearly violated securities rules by directly involving himself with share trade holding of the post of chief executive officer (CEO),” said the statement.

The commission investigation found that Kazi Saifur Rahman made unusual profits of 42.3% by making series trade of Banagas shares between the period of April 8, 2013 and July 28, 2013.

He also made profits of 4.3%, making another series share transaction of Tallu Spinning Mills Ltd from April 8, 2013 and September 10, 2013.

These series share transaction were made using accounts of his own First Securities and Services and Heritage Capital Management Ltd. Kazi Saifur Rahman was fined Tk15 lakh, First Securities and Services Tk15 lakh and Heritage Capital Management Ltd Tk25 lakh.

First Securities acted as an issue manger of rights offer of Banagas Ltd. On Sep-

one existing share. Shahana Tasmin Lopa, wife of Saifur Rahman, is the vice chairman of Heritage Capital Management.

Apex Investment Limited and Phoenix Securities Ltd have also faced penalty of Tk5lakh each for breaching securities rules.

Apex Investment Limited was fined as it withdrew money from its clients’ accounts and Phoenix Securities Ltd for providing margin loan to the nonmarginable securities and accepting cash instead of cheque.

FAR Chemical Industries and its IPO issue manger First Securities and Services have also fined Tk5 lakh each for providing false financial statement in the IPO prospectus.

Insurance exhibition starts on Sept 18

ECNEC approves Tk1,763cr projects

n Tribune Report A three-day Bangladesh Insurance Exhibition will be held in the capital from September 18 to emphasise the importance and different policies as regards insurance, said a press release yesterday.

The exhibition titled “Bangladesh Insurance Exhibition 2014” will continue from September 18 to September 20 at the Institutions of Diploma Engineers at Kakrail in the capital.

Redcarpet 365, an event management company, will host the show.

The press release termed the importance of insurance policy increasing in the country. It said considering population growth and economic situation of the country, people are having a changing outlook towards insurance policy.

The three-day programme includes seminar and a wide range of discussion on awareness of general insurance, life insurance, analysis of pros and cons of National Insurance Guidelines, enterprises risk management and digitisation of insurance industry, according to the release. l

Hamid Fabrics first to embark on new IPO method

The BSEC also said Hamid Fabrics will be the first company to collect its initial public offering subscription fees through brokerage houses and merchant banks, using new IPO subscription method.

Merchant banks and brokerage houses will start to collect IPO subscription money of Hamid Fabrics from September 28 to October 2.

As many as 285 institutions, including 174 brokerage houses of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, 73 of the Chittagong Stock Exchange and 37 merchant banks, will be allowed to collect the IPO subscription money in the pilot project. l

n Tribune Report The Executive Committee on National Economic Council (ECNEC) yesterday approved four projects worth Tk1,762.94 crore.

Of the total amount, Tk1736.86 crore will be provided from the government exchequer and Tk36.8 crore from the agencies concerned. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting at the NEC conference room in the capital.

Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal briefed reporters after the meeting.

The government allocated Tk1,99.7 crore for implementing the project tilted Chittagong Zone Power Distribution System Development. The project will be implemented by June, 2018, aiming to provide new connections to five lakh subscribers.

The panel also allocated Tk564.11 crore for Rural Infrastructure Improvement Project. The government will complete the project by June 2019.

Standard Bank Limited has recently opened its 91st branch at Khan Jahan Ali Road in Khulna. The bank’s chairperson and president of FBCCI, Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed inaugurated the branch

Chartered Accountants should come to the front to ensure responsibility and transparency in presenting quality financial statements so as to earn investors’ confidence Titled as SAFA International Conference 2014, the event was organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

Hundreds of accountants from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal took part at the event.

This year’s theme of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) event is “Accountants for Growth: Perspective South Asia.”

Commerce minister believes integrity, transparency, accountability and good governance should come first in the business process and preparing reports.

“Chartered Accountants should come to the front to ensure responsibility and transparency in presenting quality financial statements so as to earn investors’ confidence,” he contin-

The meeting also approved Tk73 crore for ensuring nutrition and food security through coordinated agriculture development. The project will be completed by June 2016.

Another approved project titled construction of 140-meter bridge and 140-meter viaduct on River Chitra adjacent to the old Ferryghat under sadar upazila of Narail involving Tk36.13 crore. The government will complete the project by June, 2016.

Another project titled “Construction of double rail line from Akhaura to Laksam and improvement of the existing line” at an estimated cost of Tk5,833.70 crore was placed at the meeting, but failed to get the approval.

The Prime Minister directed the Railways Ministry to come up with a fresh project proposal within two weeks incorporating dual gauge line instead of meter gauge line. She said there would be no more meter gauge rail lines from now in the country. l

Guests at the inaugural session of the day-long SAFA International Conference 2014 in Dhaka yesterday ued.

SAFA President Subodh Kumar Agrawal said accountancy profession is constantly being challenged to meet the demand for quality information and transparency, as “these are vital to build investors’ confidence.”

The growth in all sectors of the economies demands of higher level of professional ethics and better corporate governance, he said.

Ex-chairman of National Board of Revenue Abdul Majid presented the keynote paper on behalf of Director General of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies Mustafa K Mujeri.

The paper said as South Asia is rap-

idly globalising, financial information has to be produced in a constant and uniform manner.

And to this purpose, the accountants will have to work with the highest professional standards, which requires upgrading of professional skills and knowledge.

The ability of state to provide effective regulatory institutions is an important determinant of how well the market and the economy will perform, the paper said.

Thus the impact of regulatory institutions on economic growth will depend on efficiency of the regulatory policies.

NASHIRUL ISLAM

It said to ensure effectiveness of the works, accounting professional bodies should have a direct and strong working relation with government.

In South Asian context, the government’s role should be more of nurturing the accounting professional bodies, particularly in the formative years, paper added.

Former ICAB president and SAFA conference committee chairman Abbas Uddin Khan and conference committee co-chairman Showkat Hossain also spoke on the occasion.

SAFA was formed in August 1984 to promote accounting profession in both regional and international levels. l

Oil prices mixed after Brent drop n AFP, London

Mortein’s anti-dengue campaign kicks off n Tribune Business Desk Reckitt Benckiser (RB) Bangladesh has recently signed an agreement with International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) to fund a research project that aims at identifying the primary symptoms of dengue in its early stages and enable physicians to better fight the disease.

Mortein will make a 10% donation from the 3-month sales proceeds of its selected pest control products in Agora, Meenabazar and Shwapno to fund the research project under the agreement.

Mahbub Baset, marketing director of RB and Professor John D Clemens, executive director of icddr,b led the sign-off ceremony. l

The oil market diverged yesterday as traders paused for breath, one day after Brent crude hit a 16-month low under $100 on the back of ample supplies.

Brent North Sea crude for October dropped 14 cents to $100.06 per barrel nearing midday deals.

The contract had plunged on Monday under the psychological barrier of $100 to strike an intra-day low of $99.36 - a level last seen on May 1, 2013.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for October delivery rose 79 cents to $93.45 a barrel.

“Brent is continuing on the downward trajectory that it has followed since mid-June despite the geopolitical unrest - after all, so far these risks have had little impact on the short-term supply situation,” said Commerzbank analysts in a note.

“Indeed, the once again fragile ceasefire appears to be giving rise for the first time in months to some sense of calm in the conflict in Ukraine. l

Junior Chamber International Bangladesh, led by its president Amzad Hussain has recently visited the US ambassador to Bangladesh, Dan Mozena to discuss about the opportunities of youth development in Bangladesh Walton has recently opened a showroom named Walton Plaza (St) at Mirpur Kalsi Road. lias Kanchan, film actor and the company’s executive director has inaugurated the showroom

Standard Chartered Bank has been named the best foreign commercial bank in Bangladesh for the 6th consecutive year by FianaceAsia, a leading financial publication in the region. Jim McCabe, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Bangladesh received the award on behalf of the bank recently

Modhumoti Bank Ltd has recently conducted a training session on credit proposal processing and green banking for its officers. The bank’s deputy managing director, Md Touhidul Alam Khan has distributed the certificates to the participants as chief guest

B3

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

KSRM, a steel brand has recently inaugurated its new working premises, the Land View Commercial Centre in Gulshan-2, Dhaka. The IEB chairperson Prof Dr Eng Shamim Z Basunia, Concord Group’s managing director SK Lala and DMD of KSRM Shahriar Jahan Rahat, among others, attended the ceremony

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

India to revise GDP measurement next year, economy may be larger

Gold hovers near threemonth low as dollar strength hurts

n Reuters, New Delhi

n Reuters, London

India will soon revise the way it measures gross domestic product to reflect under-represented and informal economic sectors, two government sources said, in an initiative that is expected to show the economy is larger than previously thought.

India usually revises the method of calculating national accounts and other macro data every five years, bringing in a newer base year and adjusting for changes in the economy.

The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which is committed to raising economic growth and slashing the fiscal deficit, plans to adjust the measurement early in 2015, a senior official at the Ministry of Statistics said.

“We plan to release GDP data based on the 2011/12 base year by early next year, that could theoretically revise up the growth estimates,” the official said, requesting anonymity as he was not authorised to speak to media.

The ministry currently takes 2004/5 as the base.

India’s informal economy and service sector accounts for over threefifths of its $1.8tn economy. But precise data is unavailable for these segments and the government relies on surveys and samples to calculate their growth.

This is combined with actual output numbers for mainstream industry to produce the GDP data.

In March 2010, when India last revised the national accounts, annual economic growth estimates were upwardly adjusted by 0.8 to 1.7 percentage points for four years, allowing the previous government to take credit for the country’s highest-ever stretch of economic growth.

Pronab Sen, India’s former chief statistician and current chair of the Na-

Gold hovered near its lowest in three months yesterday as the dollar traded at a 14-month high following a Federal Reserve study that caused investors to reassess prospects for higher US interest rates.

Spot gold was up 0.1% at $1,256.63 an ounce by 1021 GMT. The metal closed down 1 percent on Monday, after hitting its lowest since June 10 at $1,251.24. US gold futures rose $3.20 an ounce to $1,257.50.

“There are all the reasons why gold should be under pressure, you’ve got significant dollar strength, US interest rate hike expectations, abating geopolitical tensions,” Citi analyst David Wilson said.

Gold has risen more than four percent since the beginning of the year, helped by risk aversion during periods of high political tension in Ukraine and the Middle East and uncertainty over the tightening of the US interest rates cycle.

“Gold is being doing better than a lot of people thought because investors think that the interest rate rise in the US will be slower than the Fed thinks, but it will be more bearish for gold if interest rates actually increase sooner rather than later,” Wilson said.

The dollar was near July 2013 highs versus a basket of leading currencies, tracking rising US yields after a San Francisco Fed study noted investors are pricing in a lower trajectory for interest rates rises than members of the central bank.

A stronger greenback makes dollardenominated gold more expensive for holders of foreign currencies, while returns from US bonds are closely watched by the gold market, given that the metal pays no interest.

“Momentum indicators highlight

Construction workers erect scaffolding at the site of metro station as an aircraft flies past in Chennai tional Statistics Commission, said the planned adjustment would likely reveal that Asia’s third-largest economy is bigger that previously reckoned in absolute numbers.

“Basically, we have an upward revision because some sectors are not included in the current data,” he said, mentioning higher productivity among informal manufacturing and services firms as well as the advent of new sectors.

Sen predicts that India’s economy, which grew by a stronger-than-expected 5.7% in the quarter ending in June,

will grow 6% this fiscal year even without the planned revision.

The 2010 revision almost doubled the estimated contribution to the economy made by coaching and tuition and gave substantially more weight to the construction, trade and hotel industries. The importance of beauty salons, communication and railways declined.

Any upward revision this time will be a big boost for Modi and his Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who is trying to meet a fiscal deficit target of 4.1% of GDP and convince global rating agen-

REUTERS

cies like Standard & Poor to upgrade India’s sovereign ratings.

Economic growth has almost halved below 5% in the past two years, too slow a rate to provide jobs for the large numbers entering India’s labour force.

Officials said the revision would not be on the scale of a similar exercise in Nigeria this year, which almost doubled the measured size of the African nation’s economy.

Several European economies have also made revisions to their growth measures, resulting in substantially higher estimates of economic activity. l

Canadian retailers bet on technology OECD warns crisis in fight with US giants hit poorly educated n hardest Reuters, Toronto

Canadian retailers, scrambling to keep pace with the likes of Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Amazon.com Inc in an increasingly crowded market, are investing heavily in high-tech tools to lure shoppers.

Companies have ramped up their efforts to address consumers’ evolving shopping habits and to compete with rivals such as Wal-Mart, which is pouring more than C$30m ($27.4m) into Canadian e-commerce projects this year.

Canadian Tire Corp, Hudson’s Bay Co and Metro Inc are among those making technology investments.

The tools, which include data analytics, mobile apps and online stores, have long been used by US retailers in their home market. Now, Canadian companies are recognizing them as essential.

“There is now a real, ‘Oh, my God, we have to play catch-up really fast,’ because there’s this threat of all these U.S. retailers increasing their dominance in the Canadian market,” said Forrester Research analyst Peter Sheldon.

He said Canadian retailers were in a “dire state,” with little e-commerce presence until about a year ago, but the landscape has improved dramatically.

Canadian shoppers spend an average of C$954 annually online, according to market researcher Ipsos. Eight in 10 Internet users will make an online purchase this year, Ipsos said.

Online retail sales in Canada are expected to reach C$34bn by 2018, according to Forrester, representing about 10% of retail transactions, up from 7% in 2013.

“Retailers have understood that they will have revenue taken from them if they don’t have a mobile strategy,” said Douglas Lusted, co-founder of Waterloo, Ontario, startup Linkett.

Linkett’s devices and software use “near-field-communication chips” to interact with consumers as they shop.

Its software analyzes shopping behavior and helps retailers increase targeted sales.

Lusted said Linkett was working with three big-box Canadian retailers

DILBERT

n AFP, Paris

A man holds a smartphone in this photo illustration showing the Canadian Tire app in Toronto REUTERS but declined to name them.

Canadian Tire, which sells automotive, household and leisure products, has set up a team in Waterloo to work on tools and apps like one that maps aisles to help shoppers find items when they enter a physical store.

“One thing we do is ... give (customers) the ability to take the five things that they have on their list and do that as quickly and easily as possible – that is vital to the in-store experience,” said Craig Haney, who runs the team.

Department store operator Hudson’s Bay is spending about C$40m this year to boost digital growth. It said it is working to make its online and in-store experiences seamless, both for shoppers and behind the scenes.

Grocer Metro has added features to its iPhone app that let customers scan the product code on, say, a packet of pasta in their pantry and add it to their shopping list for the next trip to the store.

Metro declined to provide details about how the changes have affected sales. A spokeswoman said the company is considering an Android version of the app.

Us edge

Analysts say that even with these investments it will be tough for Canadian

retailers to keep up.

“Having honed their skills in the uber-competitive US market, US retailers ... have launched better Canadian sites and offer better digital marketing programs,” said Jenn Markey, vicepresident of data analytics firm 360pi.

Walmart Canada shoppers, for example, can browse through more than 150,000 products on their phones, tablets or home computers on a website optimized for each device. And customers can create shopping lists and let others edit the lists on the go.

The company, which offers no-minimum free shipping, recently launched a pilot project in Toronto that allows packages to be delivered to lockers at several locations for those who want more delivery alternatives.

Wal-Mart and Amazon’s use of data analytics allows them to price “surgically,” cutting prices to beat rivals while charging more for other items, said IDC’s Greg Girard.

Best Buy Co Inc in Canada uses an in-store app, developed by 360pi, that gives store associates real-time views of competitors’ prices and availability.

Its mobile app lets customers shop on the go and reserve items en route to a store.

That feature represents a quarter of Best Buy Canada’s Web revenue. Sales through the program have more than doubled, year-over-year.

Canadian retailers have little choice but to try to compete with their deeppocketed U.S. counterparts.

“The onus has to sit on the retailer for figuring out how we can be efficient,” said Simon Rodrigue, senior vice president for e-commerce at Walmart Canada. “Canadians are very digitally savvy. I think retailers are just waking up to the demand.” l

The economic crisis has not slowed access to education in rich-world countries but has hit young, badly educated adults hardest, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said yesterday.

“A first glance at the evidence shows that in OECD countries, access to education continues to expand,” the organisation’s head Angel Gurria said.

Nearly 40% of people in the 25-34 age bracket have been educated at university, 15 percentage points higher than the 55-64 age range.

“Importantly, the crisis did not slow this process of expansion; on the contrary, when scanty labour markets didn’t provide much of an alternative, many individuals used the low opportunity costs to invest in their education with the aim of improving their chances for a better life,” said Gurria.

Moreover, in emerging economies, rates of education are expanding faster

than in the rich world.

This should imply a more skilled workforce with resulting benefits to society but in fact “we find that socioeconomic divisions are deepening.”

People with lower education levels have been hit proportionately harder by the rise in unemployment that battered countries during the economic crisis.

Across the 34 OECD advanced economies, the unemployment rate for people with a university education stood at 5% (but 7.4% for people aged 25-34).

However, the unemployment rate for 25-34 year-olds without an upper secondary education reached 19.8% in 2012, the report said.

“Our data reconfirm that the economic crisis hit young, low-educated adults hardest,” Gurria said.

There is also evidence of a “widening gap between the educational ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’,” Gurria noted, with a yawning gap in earnings between those who hold a university education and those who left school at 16. l

an accelerated pace of decline, and we maintain our expectations for further weakness toward the June low of $1,240,” said analysts at ScotiaMocatta.

Investors were also eyeing geopolitical tensions over Ukraine. A ceasefire between Ukraine and pro-Russian rebels last week has weakened safe-haven bids for gold, though each side accused the other of sporadic shelling.

Russia signalled on Monday it might ban Western airlines from flying over its territory as part of an “asymmetrical” response to new European Union sanctions.

'Momentum indicators highlight an accelerated pace of decline, and we maintain our expectations for further weakness toward the June low of $1,240' Top buyer China returned from a holiday on Tuesday but failed to provide any significant support to prices.

Premiums on the Shanghai Gold Exchange were steady at $4-$5 an ounce, higher than the $2-$3 seen early last week, in a sign that buying has picked up in recent days as prices drop to multi-month lows.

Demand from the world’s secondlargest gold buyer India remained subdued ahead of the Indian wedding and festival season, which typically falls in October and November, when it’s considered auspicious to buy the metal.

Platinum rose 0.2% to $1,391.25 an ounce, but still hovering around its lowest since April reached in earlier trade and palladium was up 0.2% to $879.00 an ounce. Spot silver gained 0.2% to $19.01 an ounce. l

British economic data paints mixed picture n AFP, London Britain’s trade deficit worsened in July from the level in June, but industrial output rebounded, mixed official data showed yesterday.

The country’s deficit in goods trade with the rest of the world grew to £10.2bn ($16.4bn, 12.8bn euros) in July.

That was up from £9.4bn in June, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said in a statement.

In a separate data release, the ONS said that British industrial output rose 0.5% in July from the level of activity in June, helped by higher energy production. Over a 12-month period, industrial output climbed by 1.7% in July.

“Mixed overall news on the UK economy for July with a slightly larger-than-expected increase in industrial production being countered by a larger-than-expected trade deficit,” said IHS Global Insight economist Howard Archer.

The ONS data also showed that manufacturing output - which excludes mining and quarrying, electricity, gas and water supply - increased by 0.3% in July compared with June. It grew 2.2% year-on-year. l

A Sony employee displays the new smartphone 'Xperia Z3' with a PlayStation4 video game controler at the company's headquarters in Tokyo on September 9, 2014. The smartphone can connect with Sony Computer Entertainment's latest video game console PlayStation4 and provides remote gaming AFP