14 Sep, 2014

Bhadro 30, 1421 Zilqad 18, 1435 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 163

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

20 pages | Price: Tk12

B1 | BUSINESS

9 | WORLD

11 | OP-ED

15 | SPORT

DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS TAKEN TO REVIVE UAE LABOUR MARKET

ANGER MOUNTS IN KASHMIR AFTER WORST FLOOD IN OVER CENTURY

WHAT TRAFFIC RULES?

AJMAL’S ELBOW EXTENSION BEYOND 400: PCB CHIEF

DSCC: A hub of irregularity and corruption

Moudud: Her two sons were Khaleda’s only concern n Abu Hayat Mahmud

drive along the rail tracks would continue from Karwan Bazar to Tejgaon area. However, after evicting many makeshift shops in Karwan Bazar on Friday, they took a new drive at Malibagh from yesterday instead of continuing their drive to evict some 300 illegal shanties along the line in Tejgaon.

On Friday, authorities removed some makeshift shops along Karwa

BNP standing committee member Barrister Moudud Ahmed in his new book said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was only concerned about the release of her two sons during the emergency period in 2007-08.

At that time she was very much a mother rather than a political leader, said the book, Bangladesh Emergency and the Aftermath (2007-2008).

During the emergency period Khaleda Zia was under pressure from the army-backed caretaker government to leave the country but she did not agree to sit across the table without the release of her two sons –Tarique Rahman and Arafat Rahman Koko.

She even did not go abroad for treatment because of her concern for her two sons.

Senior Lawyer Moudud’s book was inaugurated in the Supreme Court Bar Association Auditorium in the city yesterday.

In the book-launching ceremony academics, politicians and media professionals were present.

Moudud wrote the book while he was in jail during the army-backed caretaker government in 2007-2008.

Emajuddin Ahmed, former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University, said: “The caretaker government was a completely military takeover and the then chief of army staff Moin Uddin Ahmed was the key policymaker.”

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ACC starts probing allegations against officials and employees n Abu Hayat Mahmud Public funds continue to be wasted every year as irregularities and corruption had infested the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and a large number of its employees over the years.

For a long time, a section of unscrupulous DSCC officials have been showing a large portion of their annual budget as expenditures for various development projects on papers, such as renovation or improving roads and traffic systems, surface drains, playgrounds and open spaces, markets, staff accommodations, social welfare and others, although in reality most of such projects were never taken care of, sources said.

Most of these irregularities take place during allocation of city corporation-owned free spaces, footpaths, market positions (shops), and tenders.

Back in July 2013, the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) also launched a probe into the allegations of irregularities and corruptions in development projects and other sectors of DSCC. An official of the city corporation,

seeking anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune that most of the officials and employees of DSCC were employed by the then Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) and the new high officials have been appointed on deputation for a certain period.

“That is why the high officials have been acting on a whim to operate the city corporation along with different groups of unscrupulous permanent officials of the corporation.

“Many of the high officials in the city corporation are also involved with corruption. After a certain period, these officials get transferred to other government departments or divisions.

For this reason, city dwellers are not getting adequate service from the corporation.” the official alleged.

Every year at the corporation’s budget announcement programme, DSCC high-ups claim of undertaking huge development works and what services they provided using crores in taka from its budget in the previous fiscal year.

However, city people have not been  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Throngs of onlookers watch as an oncoming train passes the eviction site at Karwan Bazar rail crossing yesterday, where a bulldozer demolishes illegal structures following the death of four people in a train accident on Thursday MEHEDI HASAN

New eviction drive at Malibagh n Ashif Islam Shaon Railway authorities yesterday evicted illegal shops and establishments from the capital’s Malibagh to Khilgaon flyover as part of a new drive to remove illegal structures set up along rail tracks in the capital.

The fresh eviction started at the area although eviction of all illegal establishments along the rail tracks at the

‘Saradha’s Jamaat Hasina-Modi meeting funding allegation likely September 27 under probe’ ka, her first stand alone trip, in June. n Tribune Report n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman In the letter, the Indian premier India’s Home Minister Rajnath Singh yesterday said the allegation that Trinamool Congress parliamentarian Ahmed Hassan Imran had used Saradha Group funds to create unrest in Bangladesh was under investigation, reported Anandabazar Patrika.

“The law will take its own course and we will not intervene in it,” he said while addressing a programme at the ministry.

The minister’s comments will add to the embarrassment of the Trinamool leadership, the report said.

Indian home ministry sources said  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi are set to meet on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 27.

“Both the prime ministers are expected to meet during the UNGA and discuss issues of mutual interest,” Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haq said.

It is considered to be very significant since the two leaders will meet for the first time.

Preceding this, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali and his Indian counterpart will have a joint consultative commission meeting in New Delhi on September 20. This will be Mahmood’s first official visit to India after the Modi government assumed power in May following a landslide victory.

Teesta water sharing, ratification of the Land Boundary Agreement, border killings, trade, connectivity and other issues will dominate the talks.

Modi in a letter to Hasina in June expressed his interest to further accelerating the bilateral engagement and strengthening the framework of the relationships.

Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj handed over the letter to Hasina when the former came to Dha-

hoped for a new era of cooperation and connectivity across South Asia.

Modi said he was convinced that the well-being of each nation is linked to its neighbourhood and places special emphasis on India’s engagement with its neighbours.

Teesta water sharing, Land Boundary Agreement issue, border killings, trade and connectivity will dominate the talks “I sincerely hope we can all work together to foster a new era of cooperation and connectivity across the South Asian region which will ignite our collective surge to prosperity,” Modi wrote.

The Indian premier stressed that for India, Bangladesh is “not merely a neighbour, but a nation with which it shares history, culture, civilisation, and enduring links between people,”adding “The ideals of democracy, secularism, pluralism and the rule of law also serve as a link between India and Bangladesh.” l

INSIDE 2 | News

The Election Commission has approved the inspection manual for ensuring dynamism, transparency and accountability at its all field-level offices in the country.

3 | News

The chief of Swechchhasebak League Shyampur union unit was shot dead by gunmen in the capital’s Jurain area on Wednesday night centring extortion and intra-party feud, police and family members said.

4 | News

Construction worker Harun, went for work to Avenue Traders at 215 Tejkunipara of Tejgaon area in the capital on Wednesday.

5 | News

Police arrested seven activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir Chittagong University (CU) unit yesterday in connection with the bomb attack on teachers’ buses.

6 | Nation

12 | Entertainment

7 | Career

13 | Sport

A police report shows the number of crimes against women and children on the rise in the city and district of Khulna from January to August of this year. The report was presented before the monthly meeting of the District Law and Order Committee yesterday.

Businesses today are more international than ever before and as they move forward they do their best to recruit employees who can adapt themselves to the implied changes with ease

8 | World

On the south side of Glasgow, in the heartland of Scotland’s Asian community, support for independence from United Kingdom is strong as Thursday’s referendum nears.

Waqeel won the most prestigious MTV Chart Attack Platinum Disc Award, with a prize money of TK150,000, for the music video integrating his ‘Amrito Megher Bari’ song that topped MTV Bangladesh’s chart for 12 consecutive weeks.

BCB media committee chairman Jalal Younus assured the board’s support to the offspinner Sohag Gazi and pacer Al Amin Hossain, who were reported to have illegal bowling actions in the past one week of their Caribbean tour.

14 | Sport

Manchester United will give debuts to a posse of new players, including Radamel Falcao, when they attempt to kickstart their flatlining Premier League season against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.

capital’s Karwan Bazar area are yet to be completed.

Rail authorities started the drive Friday morning after four people were killed when a train rammed into an illegal fish market set up on railway lines in Karwan Bazar on Thursday. Five others were seriously injured in the accident.

Following the incident, rail authorities told the media that an eviction

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, September 14, 2014

EC approves manual for field-level dynamism n Mohammad Zakaria The Election Commission has approved the inspection manual for ensuring dynamism, transparency and accountability at its all field-level offices in the country.

Seeking anonymity, an Election Commission official confirmed this to the Dhaka Tribune and said that the manual was approved at the commission’s meeting last week.

Under the manual, a special team will be working to ensure dynamism, transparency and accountability at all

field-level election offices.

They will pay surprise visits to any election office of their own accord and will have no need to notify the relevant election office beforehand.

Many offenses were reported at a number of election offices in the past but they could not be dealt with because of jurisdiction problems.

The manual however ensured that the EC would not face any jurisdiction problem in dealing with any field-level election office offense.

The country accounts for 588 EC offices, including its National Identity

Body formed to oversee CRVS activities n Mohosinul Karim The government has formed a steering committee, which will be led by Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, to oversee the activities of CRVS on recording and preparing documents of vital information of the people, to provide better services and for policy-making.

The committee will prepare and analyse strategic papers and master plan, look after the recorded data, document preparation activities and give suggestions and instructions to the officials of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS).

The Cabinet Division formed the 15 member committee, comprising secretary and senior secretaries of separate ministries and divisions, directors general of different offices and senior bureaucrats, including experts in different sectors, last Thursday.

The senior secretary of Local Government Division and secretaries of Finance Division, Economic Relations Division, Education Ministry, Statistics and Informatics Division, Information and Communication Technology Division, Planning Division, Health and Family Welfare Ministry, Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation

Division and Election Commission Secretariat and Cabinet Division’s Secretary (coordination and reform), director generals of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics and Directorate General of Health Services and project director of Birth and Death Registration Project will also be its member.

Additional Director of DGHS General Dr Abul Kalam Azad and Policy Advisor of a2i Anir Chowdhury will be authorised to attend the meetings of the committee, though they are not members of the committee, the gazette from the cabinet division said.

According to the Cabinet Division, Bangladesh has planned to develop a new national electronic database titled Civil Registration and Vital Statistics from next year to record and document vital information of the people, including health data, to provide better services and for policy-making.

The CRVS system will record information on births, deaths, marriage, poverty, migration and even social problems like early marriage.

The CRVS system will also incorporate all existing data, including electoral rolls and death and birth registration data, maintained by various agencies.

Khaleda’s only concern  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

“I did not write the book out of malice.

I did it so that we never forget history,” Moudud said in his book-launching ceremony.

Moudud claimed that a group of army officers told him, during an interrogation, that they wanted to make Moin Uddin Ahmed the president of the country.

The book Bangladesh Emergency and the Aftermath 2007-2008 also says elections in Bangladesh are invariably tainted by different forms of rigging.

In 1991, the concept of a caretaker government was adopted by the parliament with the consent of all major political parties and they were mandated to help the Election Commission to conduct general elections within three months, reads the book.

He said the caretaker government in 2007-2008 was a break in the democratic system resulting in an uncommon regime – a combination of few individu-

als, civil and military, taking over the institutions in the country for the months before the general elections of 2008.

This volume captures images of the important political incidents in Bangladesh during this period. The effect of the regime on the economy, judiciary, human rights situation has been discussed by the author, who was imprisoned during this period.

The book deals with the event at the University of Dhaka that stalled the election process. It analyses the conspiracy theories and negotiations that were taking place in the changed political climate during the days leading to the elections in December 2008.

At the launching ceremony Jurist Rafique-ul Huq, the daily News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed, the daily New Age Editor Nurul Kabir, BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Abdul Awal Mintoo and the proprietor of University Press Limited, which published the book, were also present. l

Card Wing, Election Training Institute.

The manual provides the EC chief and his or her deputies provision to visit any of its office suddenly.

A regional election office chief must pay a visit to every district election office and upazila election office every month. The visits are categorised as regular, special and sudden to all the election offices.

Any district or upazila election official must write to the relevant officials and the EC secretariat in the event of finding any irregularity at an election office. l

International military conference kicks off today n Tribune Report Senior land forces military officials from the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region is set to meet at a four day-long international seminar today to share views on contemporary issues of common concerns, mainly the non-traditional security matters.

Nearly 120 delegates from 25 countries are set to participate at the 38th Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS) at Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel in the capital.

The Bangladesh Army, in cooperation with US Army Pacific (USARPAC) is hosting the event for the second time.

The senior military officials ranked between Lieutenant Colonel and Lieutenant General will discuss different issues with the theme – A New Focus on the Asia-Pacific Region: Opportunities and Challenges for Land Forces.

The seminar is expected to contribute to regional security and stability through cooperative approaches including the exchange of information on four key topics. The participating countries include are Afghanistan, Australia and Bangladesh. l

‘Saradha’s Jamaat funding allegation under probe’  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

the matter was very sensitive as a member of parliament had been accused of treason.

India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating the Saradha

able to agree with these claims as most city services remain in poor state over the years.

Irregularities in development

The DSCC Engineering Department spent Tk256 crore on maintaining roads, surface drains and traffic systems over the last two fiscal years, but most of roads, streets and drains under the corporation’s jurisdiction were not found to be working properly.

Despite expending large sums of public money, DSCC engineering department officials said they were not bound to answer questions from the media, while the corporation’s highups said repair work of dilapidated roads and drains were being been delayed due to a lack in sufficient funds.

The DSCC officials also claim to have spent around Tk9 crore for the development of playgrounds and parks in the past two fiscal years, however, existing condition of public recreational places such as playgrounds, parks and open spaces under its jurisdiction show no significant reflection of such claims.

Locals in different areas of DSCC jurisdiction have alleged that most of the open spaces under the DSCC have virtually gone off-limits to children and youngsters due to illegal occupations and lack of monitoring, development and maintenance.

Besides, few officials of DSCC and Arkay Group have allegedly been rampantly plundering the capital’s Panthakunja park for over a decade.

Sources said, corrupt officials of Arkay Multimedia and DSCC revenue department have been jointly using the public park for the last 11 years and have already chopped down several trees and dismantled lamp posts inside the park premises.

The old Dhaka’s English Road park also lies in the same condition as it has been kept occupied by a group of local truck owners for several years.

Tender fraud of a development project

A syndicate of few DSCC officials have allegedly embezzled a large sum of public money through illegally awarding tenders for nominal repairs of roads and surface drains under a project of the city corporation in 2012.

The Dhaka Tribune found a copy of an invitation for tender, which came with a reference number 46.207.016.24.02.001.2012 and without a logo, asking proposals for repairing damaged roads and drains in Mothertek, Basabo, Kadamtola, Rajarbagh, Mugdha, Motijheel and Kamlapur area of the capital.

Sources said former executive engineer of DSCC Zone-2 (Khilgaon) Kazi Borhan Uddin, who was assigned for the project, and DSCC Public Relations

gence report, said the Saradha Group had extended considerable financial assistance to Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh to help the party create unrest after Sheikh Hasina’s government began trying its top leaders for war crimes.

The intelligence report accused Imran of playing the key role in sending the money to Jamaat, and added that the Bangladeshi authorities had officially complained to the Indian government about this. l

Asked about the unfinished drive along the Karwan Bazar-Tejgaon area, Bangladesh Railway Divisional Estate Officer Nurun Nabi Kabir said the illegal slum at Karwan Bazar will be evicted in future after giving some time to slum dwellers to relocate themselves.

‘Situation will not change that much’ Slum dwellers along with the train line at Karwan Bazar think that the ongoing drive will not change the situation there for long except bringing hazards to their daily life.

“It is nothing new for us. They [rail authority] come here now as some people went under wheels of a train. After a few days, everything will be back to

normal. Perhaps the ‘shanty-owners’ will increase the rent in future. That’s all,” said Khodeja Bagum, a 45-year-old slum dweller at Karwan Bazar.

Visiting the area in the afternoon, it was found that no railway police or rail official were present at the scene.

Locals said after every such incident, police come and evict the illegal market on the rail track and demolish some shanties. After some days everything is rebuilt at its old place.

Several hundred of shanties were found untouched from FDC rail crossing and the Tejgaon rail station during the visit. The dwellers are busy with their cooking and everyday chores on

the track while many people were seen walking on the track.

Asked if the railway officials have asked them to move elsewhere leaving the railway land, locals said they will not move anywhere as they do not afford living anywhere except this slums.

Talking with the Dhaka Tribune, Minara Begum, whose house was knocked down on Friday’s drive said she would build a new house at that place within three or four days.

“I will just have to pay some money to some people,” she said. When asked, she refused to disclose names of those who she would pay to get the ‘permission’ to rebuild her shanty. l

corruption in this regard. The Anti Corruption Commission has also lodged a case against Khoka.

Other accused in the same case were former chief estate officer of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC), former estate officer Mohsin Uddin Morol and DCC employees Shahab Uddin Shabu, Mohammad Ali, Md Bachchu Miah, Faruq Hossain and Motaleb Hossain.

Cleaners’ colony scandal

ly ordered LGD high officials to take action against the project director.

Surprisingly, Mesbah has now been attached to the DNCC. When contacted, DSCC Chief Engineer Md Zahangir Alam refused to answer questions put by the Dhaka Tribune regarding the issue.

On many occasions, city corporation officials refuse to answer queries of the media saying that anyone seeking information has to file an application under the Rights to Information Act after discussing the issue with the public relations officer.

Such formal processes of seeking information are usually a month-long procedure.

When asked, DSCC PRO Uttam Kumar Roy asked: “What is the use of writing such reports? Has anything ever happened to anyone after a report?”

Rejecting the allegations, DSCC Chief Executive Officer Md Ansar Ali Khan said: “It is not true that all of the departments of the corporation were involve with corruption.”

“All the activities of tender fraud and shops allocations were done before my joining, so I do not know anything in this regard,” he said.

DSCC Administrator Md Ibraheem Hosein Khan was not found available to comment over the allegations despite repeated attempts were made to reach him over the phone. l

scam and the agency works under the prime minister, which is why Rajnath avoided giving a more detailed explanation yesterday, the report said.

In a report on Friday, Anandabazar Patrika, quoting a Bangladeshi intelli-

New eviction drive at Malibagh  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

Bazar’s rail track. In the four -hour drive, almost all illegal shops from the Film Development Corporation (FDC) gate to Tejgaon Railway Station were knocked down.

“The fresh eviction drive started around 9:00am and continued till 1:30pm,” said Abdul Majid, officer-incharge of Dhaka Railway Police Station told the Dhaka Tribune.

He said around 2000 makeshift small shops and establishments have been removed in the drive.

“We will also keep an eye in future so that new shops can not be installed there following the drive,” he added.

DSCC: A hub of irregularity and corruption  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

Bangladesh Nareemukti Kendra stages a demonstration in Azimpur area yesterday demanding punishment to killers of Sumaiya Akter, a student of Halima Sadia Mohila Madrasa in Lalbagh MEHEDI HASAN

Officer (PRO) Uttam Kumar Roy made a fake tender notice and awarded the work to an unknown construction company on their own without actually publishing the tender in any national daily.

The syndicate also reportedly embezzled a large sum from DSCC’s funds by showing various bills even before the work of the project even began.

Sources said many other officials related to the project also received a share of the embezzled amount.

When asked, DSCC PRO Uttam Kumar Roy told the Dhaka Tribune: “We are not concerned over media reports.

You can write whatever drama you can think of.”

He also claimed that the tender was published in two national dailies, although the Dhaka Tribune found that no such proof on the said date.

Markets’ possessions occupied

Possession of over seven hundred newly-built shops in different DSCC markets, such as Jaker Super Market, Phulbaria Super Market 1 and 2, Kaptanbazar Market, among others, had been kept occupied by ruling party men in collaboration with few corrupted DSCC officials and employees, sources said.

Earlier former DCC mayor and BNP leader Sadek Sadek Hossain Khoka has also been accused for irregularities and

Illegally footpath leasing

In 2013, DSCC violated rules to allocate footpath space on the city’s Kazi Alauddin Road in the Phulbaria area to leaders from the ruling party. Former officials of estate department of the city corporation had illegally allotted space on the road in front of Central Veterinary Hospital and west side of Fire Brigade Office of Phulbaria in the capital, city corporation sources said.

Besides, in collaboration with DSCC former chief estate officer Jamal Hussain, another group of ruling party men had built business establishments after grabbing footpath space near the Ramna Telephone Exchange building in Gulistan, violating a High Court order.

Earlier in 2012, the HC asked the DSCC to take steps against any encroachment on the footpath from the capital’s Zero point towards Sadarghat.

The notice also said any business would not be allowed to run on public walkways in future.

The DSCC’s cleaners’ colony construction project could be a unique example of how a government official callously built buildings, which was to accommodate 8,500 people, and have been enjoying impunity year after year after huge flaws were found in the construction following a disaster.

In 2005, DCC launched a Tk209 million project for constructing cleaners’ colony in three separate areas of the capital comprising a total 12 buildings, four-storey each. The assigned project director had started construction work of nine buildings simultaneously in 2006. But in May 2007, one of the under-construction buildings collapsed suddenly.

Later, the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) decided that the fate of the project would depend on a verification report from the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED). According to IMED, Tk122 million from the state funds was lost in the project.

Sources said, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at an Ecnec meeting expressed her dissatisfaction as strict action was not taken against the accused project director, Mesbah-ul Karim, who was also the then executive engineer of Dhaka City Corporation.

In the meeting, the premier strict-

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Sunday, September 14, 2014

did not Concern expressed over Saradha’s Jamaat funding Mamata summon envoy, Anti Terrorism Act should be implemented soon to punish or ban militant organisations n Abid Azad Expressing deep concern over India’s Saradha Group’s financial assistance to Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh, speakers at a programme yesterday demanded immediate implementation of the Anti Terrorism Act 2009.

They also called for building social resistance to protect the country from militant network and urged the government to assist the people in this endeavour.

The remarks were made at a discussion on Jamaat in Bangladesh and militancy network in South Asia as well as around the globe. Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee and Forum for Secular Bangladesh and Trial of War Criminals of 1971 jointly organised the meeting at Women’s Voluntary Association’s auditorium in the capital.

Nirmul Committee leader Shahriar Kabir said: “We are very much worried

about the militant network in Bangladesh and their recent activities. Most alarmingly, now we see that Jamaat got financial assistance from one of India’s mafia groups.

“On the other hand, we are anxious as al-Qaeda chief Ayman al Zawahiri in his recent video clip tells about his plan to establish the flag of jihad in Bangladesh, India and Myanmar. In another development, the Rapid Action Battalion has recovered huge cache of arms and ammunitions from Chunarughat in Habiganj.”

He said if the people did not stand against Jamaat and militants, they would destroy the country.

“Our security forces often claim that if they agree with the allegation of al-Qaeda activities in the country then the US will interfere leading to the NATO forces coming to our land. I will rather say since the US is behind all such militant activities in the world, we should

not think about what the US will do.

Rather we need to think how to build resistance against such militant networks and their activities in the country.”

He suggested that a strong coordinated scheme is initiated among Bangladesh, India and Myanmar.

Maj Gen Abdur Rashid, a security analyst, said the general people were subjected to victim of the militant activities, carried out in the name of jihad or protecting Islam.

“Radical speech has been given in the mosques while a one-sided education system persist in the country. On the other hand, funding for the militancy groups will threaten the development of the country” he said.

Barrister Tania Amir thinks that people do not need to build resistance against militants since the country has the Anti Terrorism Act 2009 in place. It is a legal framework to ensure punishment or ban any organisation for any

terrorist activities or their involvement in any such involvement.

Quoting section 17 of the Act, she said: “Why is not the government implementing the Act and bringing the terrorists under the law, punishing them or banning their organisations?”

The section reads: “For the purpose of furthering the objectives of this Act, any organisation shall be held to be involved in terrorist activities, if it – (a) operates terrorist activities or participates in it; (b) take preparation for terrorist activities; (c) abets or incites terrorist activities; (d) supports and cooperates organisations involved in terrorist activities; (e) otherwise involves in terrorist activities.”

Moreover, section 18 says: “For the purpose of this Act the government shall have the power to prohibit by order or incorporating in schedule, any organisation on reasonable basis of involvement in terrorist activities.”

Quoting from these two sections, Tania said: “The ATA has given the government more power than the Special Powers Act. Why is not it followed?”

Four militant organisations were banned during the BNP-Jamaat rule while the Awami League-led government banned one and blacklisted seven other organisations in 2009. However, most of the groups have been operating defying the government ban and vigilance of the law enforcement agencies.

Chief guest and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Hoque said: “It is true that we are passing a very critical period. Al-Qaeda’s video clip gives a new indication which is alarming. Therefore, we need to raise public opinion and fight together against militant activities in the country.”

The programme was presided over journalist Kamal Lohani when Prof Muntassir Mamoon and Barrister Turin Afroze were also present. l

PDB: Power production faltering on gas supply shortfalls n Aminur Rahman Rasel Shortfalls in the supply of gas have caused severe load shedding across the country, the head of the main staterun electricity generation and supply body said.

Power failures strike four or five times a day for up to two hours each time, disrupting manufacturing and educational institutions, and inconveniencing just about everybody.

An official of the Power Development Board (PDB) said load shedding yesterday was 500MW. Due to a gas supply shortfall, power plants under the PDB could not generate 1500 MW electricity.

“This situation could have been better if only we could ensure adequate gas supplies to the power plants,” PDB Chairman Abduhu Ruhullah told the Dhaka Tribune.

The Rural Electrification Board (REB) was getting only an average of 3,200MW against its peak demand of 3,700MW The PDB fears that load shedding levels will continue to worsen due to continued gas supply shortages this year.

The country is likely to experience around 700 to 900MW of load shedding, with power demand reaching 7,000MW. Currently, the production of 1,900MW of power is reportedly suspended because of mechanical problems, along with a further suspension of around 1500MW of power production because of gas shortages.

Load shedding is a more serious problem in the towns and villages than in the cities. It has affected production at mills and factories and caused disruptions at schools in the countryside.

At a recent meeting, Petrobangla, the state-owned oil, gas and mineral corporation, suggested to PDB that it reduce its gas consumption to generate electricity because of gas shortages.

Yet Petrobangla increased gas supplies to fertiliser factories and garment industries by around 200 mmcfd.

On the other hand, Petrobangla reduced the gas supply for power generation to 800mmcfd from 1000mmcfd.

Power consumers expressed anguish over repeated power failures.

Some Dhaka residents reportedly experienced load shedding of up to three hours daily, while the situation is far worse outside the capital, where consumers claim to be experiencing eight hours of load shedding every day.

Abdul Halim, a resident of Dhaka’s Mohammadpur area, said his neighbourhood was experiencing midnight load shedding.

“I deal with four hours of load shedding during the day and night-time.

There does not seem to be any improvement in the situation,” he said.

On the other hand, Mohammad Jamil, a villager in Barisal who is also the teacher of a primary school, told the Dhaka Tribune that farmers, examinees and children were suffering because of frequent load shedding during the ongoing heat wave.

The crisis has intensified as imports of electricity from India have come down to 350MW a day, officials said.

Power supply companies across the country are failing to meet demand.

Sources said the Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) – which covers Dhanmondi, Mohammadpur, Tejgaon, Moghbazar, Dhaka (south) and Narayanganj – had a demand of 1,100MW, against which it gets only 850MW. The Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (Desco) covers the areas of Mirpur, Shyamoli, Gulshan, Badda, Dhaka (north) and Tongi. Against a daily demand of around 850MW in these areas, average supply was only 700MW. The PDB supplies electricity both to rural and urban areas except Dhaka, Barisal and Khulna metropolitan areas. PDB was getting an average of 1,300MW supply against its demand of 1,400MW. The West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd covers 21 districts including Barisal and Khulna City in the south-western region of the country.

Against a daily demand of about 850MW, the average supply was only 800MW. The Rural Electrification Board (REB) was getting only an average of 3,200MW against its peak demand of 3,700MW. l

Unknown miscreants physically assaulted former Dhaka University (DU) Prof Mahbub Ullah yesterday while he was on his way to attend a function of pro-BNP engineers at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.

Clad in a torn shirt, the injured professor arrived at the programme when BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia was speaking as the chief guest.

Seeing him, Khaleda said to the audience: “Can you see what they have done to a professor? I want to tell Sheikh Hasina to take responsibility for these attacks.”

“If those who launched attacks on Prof Mahbub Ullah today are not arrested, it means that the attacks have been carried out at the behest of Sheikh Hasina,” she said.

Condemning the incident the BNP chief demanded immediate arrest of

n Tribune Report

Deputy High Commissioner Abida Islam is scheduled to meet the West Bengal chief minister on Monday, amid tensions following the publication of a report in an Indian newspaper that hinted at links between a member of her party and the Jamaat-e-Islami.

Quoting Bangladesh foreign ministry sources, leading Indian newspaper, The Hindu, reported that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had summoned the Bangladesh envoy in Kolkata to discuss the allegation.

However, the foreign ministry yesterday issued a press release that said: “Attention has been drawn to some media reports about the summoning of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner by the Honourable Chief Minister of West Bengal today. The news is not based on fact.”

“This is to clarify that upon request from the Deputy High Commissioner, the Honourable Chief Minister of West Bengal has given her time to pay a courtesy call on the Chief Minister on 15 September 2014,” the press release said.

Citing a Bangladesh intelligence report, Kolkata-based Bangla daily Anandabazar Patrika ran a report on Friday that said India’s Saradha Group paid Jamaat-e-Islami in Bangladesh to destabilise the Awami League-led government.

The Anandabazar news piece also said the intelligence report accused Ahmed Hassan Imran, a parliamentarian of Trinamool Congress, of playing the key role in sending the money to Jamaat.

The Hindu yesterday reported that a senior leader of the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) had said Banerjee would give a “piece of her mind” to the deputy high commissioner for “selective leaks in media violating protocol” against a ruling party in the state.

The Anandabazar report is yet to be verified independently. l

Wrong treatment claims one n Our Correspondent, Chuadanga Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina exchanges greetings with representatives of BIMSTEC member countries at the inaugural ceremony of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation Secretariat in the capital yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

BIMSTEC Secretariat opens in Dhaka n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged the BIMSTEC member states to take pragmatic and realistic approaches to setting its targets which are attainable.

“Poverty alleviation should remain as an overarching goal as all economic gains will be meaningless without it,” she said, addressing the inaugural ceremony of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation [BIMSTEC] Secretariat yesterday.

This is the first headquarters of any inter-governmental organisation in Dhaka.

About food security and employment, Hasina said a large segment of the region’s population depended on agriculture and fisheries.

“A key element of our engagement should focus on intensified cooperation in this area.”

The prime minister lamented that although the framework agreement on BIMSTEC free trade area was signed in 2004, it was yet to be operational.

“It would be a significant step to-

wards a meaningful economic integration of our region,” she said.

Connectivity was critical for economic integration and improved road and railway linkage would substantially contribute to greater trade and facilitate the movement of people, she added.

The premier said the region had huge hydro-power potential in the Himalayan basin and hydrocarbon potential in the Bay and Bengal.

“It is unacceptable that we should continue facing energy shortages,” she said.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali said improved connectivity could transform the regional bloc into a dynamic body.

He said Bangladesh initiated the blue economy outlook and BIMSTEC member states could bilaterally or multilaterally tap resources in the Bay of Bengal.

BIMSTEC Secretary General Sumith Nakandala said political will from the member states was a must to make the organisation successful.

Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand are

the members of the bloc.

BIMSTEC started its journey in 1997 with only four participating members and six areas of cooperation, but now it had expanded to seven members and fourteen areas of cooperation.

The first summit of the BIMSTEC was held in Bangkok in 2004 while the second summit in New Delhi in 2008 and the third one was held in Nay Pyi Taw this year.

The forum had established a platform for intra-cooperation between SAARC and ASEAN members.

During the 13th BIMSTEC ministerial meeting held in Nay Pyi Taw in 2011, it was unanimously decided that the secretariat would be set up in Bangladesh and the first secretary general would be appointed from Sri Lanka.

Eventually, the government allocated a residential house in Gulshan area and proper restructuring and reorganising had been done to give it an official shape.

The secretariat has been in operation since July this year.

First Secretary General Nakandala joined the secretariat in late July and assumed office in August. l

Former DU Prof Mahbub Ullah assaulted Plaintiff accused of n Abu Hayat Mahmud

courtesy call is scheduled

the attackers.

“This incident proves that there is people in the country have no security.

Life and properties of none are secured now,” she added.

Mahbub was later admitted to the Labaid Hospital in the capital.

The professor came under the attack after attending a book publication ceremony at the Supreme Court.

He said four to five youths had pushed him to the ground and started beating when he came out of the ceremony.

The attackers had fled the scene when others came to his rescue, he said.

“I am a teacher. I have no enemies.

I talk only as much as is necessary.

Today I want a neutral probe into these attacks. I demand that the attackers be punished,” said the former DU faculty. l

filing false case n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong A father-in-law has dismissed as fabrication, his son-in-law’s legal action against an assistant commissioner of police, her husband, and three others, at a press conference at Chittagong Press Club yesterday Mahbub Morshed, managing director of Royal Agricultural Food Industries Ltd, Thursday filed a case before the court of Chittagong Metropolitan Session Judge Obaidus Sobhan accusing Assistant Commissioner (AC) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Mahmuda Begum, her husband Jalaluddin Sagor, a correspondent of Dainik Bhorer Pata and online news portal ctgnews.com, Chandgaon police station Sub-Inspectors (SI) Khaled Uddin and Hafizul Islam, and Ibrahim Masud.

The plaintiff alleged AC Mahmuda and her husband, in collaboration with the others, took his three children to Chandgaon police station and kept them confined there for two days.

Mahbub’s father-in-law, Ahmad Safa, disputed this account and disparaged the lawsuit as a concocted case.

He also said Mahbub had misappropriated the company’s money.

“When I wanted to get back the money Mahbub had embezzled, he began to abuse my daughter and confined my three grandchildren at a residence in the Chandgaon area,” he said. The family home is in Pahartoli.

Safa said his daughter lodged a case on April 23 and by court order police brought back his three grandchildren from the Chandgaon residence on August 3. l

A housewife died allegedly being victim of wrong treatment in one private hospital named ‘Desh Clinics’ in the district town on Friday. In the incident, the angered kith and kin of the woman vandalised the hospital around 11am yesterday.

The ill-fated woman is Sathi Khatun, 25, wife of Abul Kalam Azad, of Jugirhuda village of Alamdanga upazila.

Chuadanga Sadar police station OC Asaduzzaman Munshi said the hospital’s one surgeon named Shafiqul Islam conducted a tonsil operation on Sathi who died soon after the operation.

Later, the hospital authorities hiding the news of the death referred her to the nearby district hospital. However, her family members sensed her demise on the way and vandalised the hospital the next day, the OC continued.

Being informed, police rushed to the spot and quelled the violent situation. l

One held for sexual assault on a child n Our Correspondent, Mymensingh A College student, Saifuddin Shishir, 18, was arrested on Friday, September 12, was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a five-years-old child.

The alleged culprit is the son of Nazimuddin Badal of Doluabil area in Mymensingh and a grade-12 student of Shaheed Shriti Govt College.

Muktagacha police station’s Officer in Charge said the alleged perpetrator is under police arrest. l

Asia Foundation donates 6,500 books to 37 schools n Tribune Report The Asia Foundation donated 6,500 books to 37 local schools located in Ashulia yesterday.

The donation was made as part of the celebrations of International Literacy Day, 2014 observed on September 8.

The Asia Foundation also organised a book fair in the playground of Ashulia School and College featuring 20 publication houses, to promote the reading habit which is essential for building a literate and skilled society in order to achieve sustainable development, said a press release.

Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Greg Wilcock attended the event as the chief guest. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Extortionists target bank managers across country Sources say police has been analysing the list in which names of AL, Jubo League, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders were included

n Mohammad Jamil Khan Construction worker Harun, 50, as usual, went for work to Avenue Traders at 215 Tejkunipara of Tejgaon area in the capital on Wednesday.

Around 8:30am, two youths between 25 and 28 years came to spot looking for the site engineer who was not present. When the youths realized this, they began shooting rounds and shot at Harun’s legs twice, leaving him critically injured.

The victim related this while he was taken to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment. Police, in this regard said a local criminal named Ashique was demanding extortion from Ali Asgar the site owner, and the incident was the outcome not meeting the demand.

Recently, extortionists for the first time have started demanding money over phone from some managers of state-run banks in six districts - Jessore, Barisal, Narshingdi, Bagerhat, Sirajganj and Rajshahi. General diaries have also

DU to sue admission test defaulters

n DU Correspondent The Dhaka University authorities have filed separate cases against 13 admission seekers and two others who were arrested for cheating in examination halls during the admission test of ‘Ka’ unit on Friday.

Dhaka University acting proctor Amzad Ali confirmed the information to the Dhaka Tribune.

He said DU Chief Security Officer Sheikh Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan filed the cases with Lalbagh, Shahbagh, Motijheel, Mohammadpur, and Kalabagan police stations on Friday midnight.

Two detained members of the forgery syndicate are Imdadul Haque Kokhon, an officer of Chawkbazar branch of Janata Bank and Mohammad Abdur Rahim, staff of Dhanmondi Ideal College.

On Friday, 15 admission seekers and two others were held on charge of adopting unfair means in the admission test for Science faculty of DU. Two were released after primary query. l

been filed in regard to these incidents.

According to police sources, such calls were made to 19 branch managers of Sonali Bank, 17 of Janata, 40 of Agrani Bank of Narshingdi Districts in last couple of months.

Sheikh Rafiqul Islam, Police Superintendent of Narshingdi, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were doing their best to locate the culprits involved in the extortion.

In Barisal, such calls were reported by 8 managers of Janata Bank. In this regard, Mohammad Shamsuddin, Commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police (BMP), said they already spotted the location of SIM cards though most of them were not registered.

Intelligence officials said they have made a list of 1500 high profile people who received such extortion calls and special raids would be operated shortly to track down the culprits.

On the other hand, the Home Ministry has given special instructions to the police headquarters to take

Police finally take journo Akhil Poddar’s case n Our Correspondent, Kushtia Following a High Court order, the Kumarkhali police has registered a case over the assault on ETV journalist Akhil Poddar.

Kumarkhali OC Lutfor Rahman recorded the case against ASI Abul Kalam of the same station on Friday night.

Police earlier refused to register the case when the victim along with local journalists had gone to the police station to file a case over the incident that took place on August 27.

Upon a writ petition, the High Court on September 7 ordered the OC to register an FIR over the issue within 24 hours. The court also directed the home secretary to submit a report within four weeks after forming a probe committee to look into the incident.

The Kumarkhali OC has been asked to submit a compliance report by September 17.

Witnesses say Akhil was returning home at Khoksha from Kushtia town with Manirul Islam of Mohana TV on a motorcycle on August 27. They were stopped by ASI Kalam in Batikamara area of Kumarkhali, who first assaulted Manirul for not having proper documents. As Akhil protested, the officer handcuffed him and beat up mercilessly.

Following this, local journalists besieged the police station demanding justice. Later senior officials including the deputy commissioner visited the police station and calmed the agitators.

ASI Kalam was withdrawn immediately.

Doctors say Akhil has several injury marks on his head. His ears and eyes have been badly affected. l

A group of young men take part in the traditional Bosila Boat Race on the Buriganga River in the capital yesterday

Khaleda: BNP to launch tougher movement for a midterm election

Orientation held for new undergrad students at NSU n Abu Hayat Mahmud n Tribune Report The North South University (NSU) orientation programme for the newly admitted undergraduate students was the beginning of a new chapter.

Speakers at the Fall 2014 semester orientation ceremony made the comment while addressing the freshers at NSU’s own campus in the capital’s Bashundhara yesterday.

They also said 10 highly skilled American faculty members had recently joined the NSU to nurture the undergraduate level students. Moreover, a foreign accreditation consultant had also joined in aiming to attain the NSU the first full American Accreditation.

Benajir Ahmed, NSU Board of Trustees chairman, was present there as chief guest, while Dr Amin U Sarkar, NSU VC, chaired the ceremony.

Heads of the respective departments, senior officials, students and guardians were also present in the occasion. l

immediate action.

Sources also said that police headquarters has been analysing the list where names of AL, Jubo League, BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders were included and team of police and Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) would jointly conduct special operations across the country to nab the masterminds of the extortion gangs.

The Prime Minster Office also gave direction to stop the ongoing extortion, killing, mugging and criminal activities visible in different districts of the country during the last few months.

In this regard, IGP Hassan Mahmood Khandker said they would talk about the list once it is received.

About the telephonic extortion threats, he said, they were investigating into all cases giving maximum priority and necessary action will be taken.

He further said, “The Prime Minister has already directed us to arrest the extortionists, and we are doing our best to nab them.” l

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday again threatened to launch a tougher movement against the government if it does not arrange a midterm election.

She, however, did not announce a deadline in this regard.

Khaleda made the warning while addressing a grand rally of her party at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the capital.

Saying that extremism and terrorism in country might be fueled by the anarchy and muscle flexing of the ruling party’s one party regime, she added that majority of the countrymen were in favor of her party. The former premier once again called upon the government to arrange a dialogue for an election where all political parties will participate.

She also claimed: “BNP is a moder-

ate democratic party. In general we do want to go for a movement, conflict with government, illegal agitation or anarchy. But, now the illegal Awami League government has forced us to launch tougher moments.

The AL party leaders have ruled out the possibility of a dialogue with BNP for an early election now “We are still urging the government to arrange open talks with political parties for an all-party inclusive election. This is the most appropriate time for talks.

Before the January 5 election, the prime minister said they will arrange a midterm election basis on dialogue. But, she

had refused to hold the dialogue now and paid no heed to our requests.

“I am, however, warning the government that the public will not wait forever. If the government does not arrange an election now, we will be forced to start tougher movements as per the public demand,” Khaleda said.

The Awami League came to power for a second consecutive term after the January 5 general elections this year, while the BNP-led alliance boycotted.

The AL party leaders have ruled out the possibility of a dialogue with BNP for an early election now. Amid growing threats from BNP to oust the government, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has dismissed the possibility of any dialogue between her and the BNP chief.

Khaleda Zia said the country is now moving abnormally and the value of democracy and law has been lost. l

Fake notes distributed

by Islami Bank n Our correspondent, Bandarban Garments company Lumbini Ltd withdrew Tk50 crores to pay its employee-salary from Bandarban Islami Bank on Thursday September 11 in which thousands of bank notes were found to be fakes.

The company paid employee salary to its 24 sections, out of which the Finishing Section received 500k sixty three thousand where the most number of notes were found to be fakes.

On Saturday, after joining work, the employees complained about the fake bank notes which prompted the company to recover 1,000 fake notes from its 26 employees. Later, those 26 employees were repaid with genuine notes.

The latest news is that police is seizing all the paid salary. They believe,

more fakes may be recovered once the seizing process is completed. Police has tightened security around the garments.

The incident is brewing anger and distrust among that bank’s subscribers.

Islami Bank Bandarban branch Manager Nurul Hossain Kauser has denied any allegation of distributing fake bank notes. Among Bandarban Hill Tracts’ 7 upazillas, there is only one of Islami Bank branch at Bandarban town’s Masjid building.

Many other Islami Bank subscribers are coming out saying they also received fake notes from the bank before.

Police officer in charge of the town police station Imtiaz Ahmed said: “We can only tell the number of fake notes once the seizing process is done and then proper investigation and action will be taken. l

Govt to seek expert opinion on judges’ impeachment

ANUB urges govt to implement Accreditation Council soon

n Mohosinul Karim

n Tribune Report

Leaders of the Association of Non–Government Universities of Bangladesh (ANUB) had urged the government to implement the “Accreditation Council” as early as possible.

During a get together programme, organised by the ANUB, of the chairmen of the non-government universities of Bangladesh on September 11 at a city hotel, speakers made the comment.

The chairmen of different universities also participated in a brief discussion and reached a consensus to maintain the quality of higher education in the universities for ensuring overall growth and enrichment of the country.

All the participants in the programme had agreed, in accordance with TIB recommendations, to strengthen the ANUB for better contributions in the higher education sector. l

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia speaks at a grand rally of her party at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the capital yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Law Minister Anisul Haq yesterday said even though the government had not sought any expert opinion while finalising the draft of the constitution amendment bill, it would do so while preparing the draft of judges’ impeachment act.

“It is not necessary to have a discussion on the draft of the constitution amendment bill. We need to get expert opinion while preparing the draft of judges’ impeachment act. Opinions from experts, lawyers and civil society members will be sought at that time,” he told reporters after attending a national conference held at a city hotel yesterday.

The National Legal Aid Services Organisation, Bangladesh and Community Legal Service jointly organised the conference on legal aid services.

Anisul said, “Judiciary is not for any individual section. It’s for all. Everyone has the right to get justice. The poor too have the right to get aid from the state.

It is the state’s responsibility to provide aid to the people.”

It was a challenge to ensure legal services, he said, adding that special training programmes had been taken to ensure standard legal services. “The fees of panel lawyers have been increased and a reward for them announced to motivate the lawyers.”

An initiative to use the district legal aid offices as alternative dispute resolution (ADR) centres was taken to get rid of a backlog of cases. Some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were also providing legal assistance for the poor along with the government, he added.

DFID’s Senior Governance Adviser Richard Butterworth, Community Legal Services Project’s Team Leader Hector Diaz Soliman, Law and Justice Division Secretary Abu Saleh Sk Md Zahirul Haque and Project Director of National Legal Aid Services Organisation Syed Aminul Islam also spoke at the conference. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Bomb attack on CU teachers’ buses Seven Shibir men held, CUTA observes one-hour work-abstention activities of the Shibir activists on camn CU Correspondent pus, he said.

Of them, Iman Hossain is the Baitul Mal (finance) secretary while Mostafa is a “shathi” (official member) of Shibir at the Alawal Hall of CU, said Md Ismail Hossain, officer-in-charge (OC) of Hathazari police station.

Police conducted separate drives in Shibir-run dormitories in Hathazari and adjacent areas inside campus during the early hours of yesterday and held them on charges of bomb attack on teachers’ buses, vandalism and possessing arms illegally, said OC Ismail During primary interrogation, Iman and Mostafa confessed their involvement with the bomb attack and provided vital information about subversive

The Shibir men went into hiding in Hathazari, Fatikchhari and adjoining areas after the bomb attack, said the OC. Iman and Mostafa were shown arrested in four cases. Shamimul Alam, Md Rasel and Rezaul Karim were taken under the custody of police for verifying identities.

Police recovered a petrol bomb and wooden weapons from Dip Manjil, a student mess, in the afternoon yesterday. None was arrested in this regard, said the OC Meanwhile, the Chittagong University Teachers’ Association (CUTA) went for one hour work abstention yesterday demanding exemplary punishment to the attackers.

CUTA President Prof Benu Kumar Dey told the Dhaka Tribune that CUTA members had observed one-hour work-abstention, however, the examinations of different departments were held.

“We will announce our next course of action on September 17 by holding a rally on the campus,” said Prof Kumar.

On Thursday, CUTA General Secretary Prof Mustafizur Rahman called for a one-hour work-abstention programme from September 13-16 demanding immediate arrest of the Shibir men involved in the bomb attack on teachers.

Yesterday, on the 14th day of the strike called by Islami Chhatra Shibir, the presence of students was thin on campus compared to other days.

Islami Chhatra Shibir, under the banner of “general students,” allegedly called the strike for indefinite period on August 31 demanding reopening of the Shah Amanat Hall and Suhrawardi Hall, two student dormitories dominated by Islami Chhatra Shibir CU unit.

Both the halls were closed down following clashes between Shibir and Chhatra League men. l

Hajj pilgrim dies at Chittagong airport n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

World First Aid Day observed in city

Fisherman's body found in Kirtankhola River another still missing

A 62-year-old Hajj pilgrim died of cardiac arrest at the Shah Amanat International Airport in Chittagong yesterday.

The dead is Mohammad Yunus, resident of Najirpara of South Patenga area in the port city.

Officer-in-Charge of Airport Immigration Police Nurul Huda told Dhaka Tribune that Yunus, along with his wife, was scheduled to fly for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia through a Biman Bangladesh flight at 3:15am.

He fell sick at the airport around 2am after completing immigration procedures.

“He was immediately taken under treatment of a physician at the airport, however, he died around 3:15am,” said the OC. l

n UNB

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Police arrested seven activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir Chittagong University (CU) unit yesterday in connection with the bomb attack on teachers’ buses.

At least 14 people including 10 teachers were injured in the bomb attack on teachers’ buses in Chharpool area of Patayabad under Hathazari upazila on Wednesday.

The arrested are Iman Hossian and Mostafa Kamal, master’s students of communication and journalism department, Nurul Amin of Arabic department, Shamimul Alam of Bangla department, university’s staff Ansarul Haque, Md Rasel, a university aspirant and Rezaul Karim.

On Thursday, CUTA general secretary called for a one-hour workabstention programme from September 13-16 demanding immediate arrest of the Shibir men involved in the bomb attack

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Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS), International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRCS) yesterday observed World First Aid Day amid festivity.

This year’s theme of the day was “Be a Hero, Save Lives! First Aid is for Everyone, Everywhere.”

BMM Mozharul Huq, secretary general, Bangladesh Red Crescent Society, was present as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony held in the morning.

He announced the daylong event and addressed volunteers, officials, movement partners and guests with a brief speech highlighting the importance of the day.

Members of managing committee of BDRCS, head of delegation of the ICRC, representatives from IFRCS, and partner national societies were also present.

The daylong programmes included street shows and road dramas at six key points in Dhaka city, leaflet distribution, talk-show and first aid compe-

Members of Dohar-Nawabganj Citizens Forum form a human chain in front of the National Press Club, demanding a permanent solution to erosion along the bank of Padma River in the area SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

High Speed Wi-Fi at Dhaka University Madhur Canteen n DU Correspondent A high speed Wi-Fi network was inaugurated at Dhaka University’s Madhur Canteen yesterday.

State Minister for Post, Telecommunications & Information Zunaid Ahmed Palak along with DU Vice-Chancellor Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique inaugurated the network with 10mbps internet speed that is open for all.

The Dhaka University IT Society (DUITS) and multinational electronic company Ericson jointly sponsored the internet service.

Speaking at the inauguration programme, Palak said students of the top

tition involving Red Crescent youth to sensitise people about the importance of providing first aid.

Besides, 68 district and city units have also observed the day with rally, discussion meeting and first aid competition.

Hundreds of thousands of people are hurt or killed due to injuries every year due to inadequate response or lack of timely assistance.

Taking immediate action and applying the appropriate techniques while waiting for professional help, it is possible to considerably reduce deaths and injuries, and the impact of disasters and everyday emergencies.

Currently, BDRCS has nearly 85,000 trained Red Crescent members who are trained in first aid. BDRCS has also been conducting basic first aid training regularly to help people in need during emergency situation.

Since October 2013, BDRCS volunteers with the support of ICRC have been providing basic first aid and medical evacuation services in hospitals to the people injured during politically motivated violence. l

prestigious institution (Dhaka University) will be benefited by it.

“They [DU students] will propagate the ideology and inspiration of the liberation war and progressive activities as well through using social networking sites. Such WiFi networks will also the research and educational purposes,” Palak expressed hopes.

Earlier in the day at DU Teacher-Student Centre (TSC), the state minister also addressed a press meeting on arranging the national Campus IT Festival 2014 jointly by the DUITS and the Information and Communication Technology Division.

Body of a fisherman was recovered floating on Kirtankhola River yesterday morning.

The deceased was identified as Alamin Hossain, 26, son of Tayyab Ali, from Kadamtala area of Lamchhari under Charbaria union of Barisal Sadar upazila.

Alamin reportedly went missing when his boat capsized after being hit

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

The Detective Branch (DB) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) yesterday nabbed one person from an Ayurvedic medicine factory from the city’s Muradpur area.

A huge quantity of poor quality medicines were also seized from the factory at that time.

CMP Assistant Commissioner (North Zone) Md Mainuddin said, acting on a

PRAYER TIMES

SourceL IslamicFinder.org

tip off, a team of DB men conducted the drive at Desh Laboratories Ayurvedic, owned by one Fazlul Quader and his son Foyzul Hasan, and found that the factory was producing substandard Ayurvedic medicines in unhygienic environment.

The team seized huge amount of different kinds of Ayurvedic medicines contained in 10 drums and 60 cartons and also 14 different medicine making equipment, worth Tk10 lakh, from the factory.

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

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4:28am 5:43am 11:55am 4:21pm 6:05pm 7:21pm

crews of MV Bangali with Kawnia police station in this connection, he added.

Kazi Mahbubur Rahman, Kawnia police station officer in charge, said they had gone to the house of the victim upon hearing the news and sent the body to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.

When contacted, Lutfar Rahman, captain of the vessel and officials of BIWTA and BIWTC denied any such incident. l

Sub-Inspector Santosh Kumar Chakma said, the DB team initially detained four persons - Fazlul, Foyzul, factory staff Nasir and chemist Jagdish – but later released the three and handed over Foyzul to the mobile court. Executive Magistrate Rakib Hasan, who was also with the DB team, sentenced Foyzul to one year imprisonment.

The factory was subsequently sealed off by the mobile court as it had no license. l

Jute fair ends on upbeat note in Barisal

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Fajar Sunrise Zuhr Asr Magrib Esha

by BIWTC passenger steamer MV Bangali on Kirtankhola River near Lamchhari area of Barisal city skirt on Friday.

Another missing fisherman Saidul Islam, 17, son of Badsha Chaprashi of the same area, is yet to be found.

Md. Nasir Hossain, brother of Alamin, said, the body was found floating at Charkaua area, about 4 kilometres down stream of Kirtankhola River, after extensive search.

A case would be lodged against the

Police yesterday arrested a person with three lighter guns (LG) from Shah Amanat Third Karnaphuli Bridge area in the afternoon.

The arrestee Mostak Ahmed, 50, was a resident of Eidgah area of Cox’s Bazar district. He was in the custody of Bakalia police till the filing of this report while an arms case was lodged with the police station, said police sources.

Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Mohsin of Bakalia police station said they arrested Mostak from the area around 2:40pm and confiscated three LGs found from his body.

Police were interrogating Mostak to gather knowledge of the source of the arms and where he would have peddled the three LGs, the offcial added. l

1 held with substandard medicines

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

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Addressing the programme, Palak stressed on ensuring digital campuses to build a digital Bangladesh by engaging youth leadership in the field of information & technology.

The IT Fest is scheduled to begin today at the TSC. Around 1500 technology lovers from 70 educational institutions across the country are expected to participate in the programme.

Information Minister Abdul Latif Siddique is scheduled to inaugurate the programme at Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building on the campus today. Two seminars, a workshop and a discussion will be held during the twoday long festival. l

1 held with 3 LGs n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee acting president Shahriar Kabir speaks at a discussion on Jamaat and militant network in South Asia, in the capital yesterday RAJIB DHAR

A three-day jute fair ended on upbeat note at Barisal Ashwini Kumar Hall yesterday night.

The fair was organised by Jute Diversification Promotion Center (JDPC) in collaboration of the district administration for reviving the golden fibre’s past glory.

JDPC Monitoring and Extension Executive Mozahidul Islam they had succeeded in holding the fair because it had created huge interest among the public.

Moreover, diversified jute products were sold up to the mark, he said.

Mozahid noted that geo-textile products have earned international recognition and demand.

R and F Jute and Handicrafts was one of the organisations that had put up a stall for displaying and selling its goods at the fair.

Private sector entrepreneurs could substantially contribute to uplifting the economy through promotion and extension of diversified jute products, said its proprietor Noor Aktar Banu Ritu.

Rebeka Sultana, one of the organisers of Bangladesh Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Barisal, said jute plays a crucial role in promoting the culture of Bangladesh and the millions of people involved in this trade.

One Begum Faizun Nahar, who visited the fair yesterday, said this fair could be more attractive to consumers if jute products are diversified on larger scale and they are made sustainable and cheap.

Organisers of the fair also said jute is a versatile, environment-friendly and it maintains an excellent harmony with the ecosystem. Acting divisional commissioner Md Ibrahim inaugurated the fair, which houses 17 stalls, on Thursday. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Khulna sees rise in crimes against women, children

14 Jamaat-Shibir men held n Our Correspondent Police arrested 14 leaders and activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir from Senbag upazila on Friday night.

Among 14, three are identified as—Damurua union Jamaat president Maulana Abu Bakr Siddique (1), vice-president Maulana Abu Bakr Siddique (2) and secretary Main Uddin.

Maminul Islam, officer-in-charge of Senbag Police Station said, acting on secret information, a team of police raided the house of Maulana Abu Bakr Siddique (2) around 9pm and arrested them. l

415 fell victim to rape, trafficking, abduction in last eight months

n Our Correspondent, Khulna A police report shows the number of crimes against women and children on the rise in the city and district of Khulna from January to August of this year.

The report was presented before the monthly meeting of the District Law and Order Committee yesterday.

It revealed that 415 women and children fell victim to rape, trafficking, abduction and other types of crimes over the last eight months. Of them, 54 women and children were raped, 20 trafficked and eight abducted.

The month-wise crime data is 43 in January, 28 in February, 50 in March, 58 in April, 38 in May, 69 in June, 72 in July and 55 in August.

All 17 police stations, including those in the city, have the records of all these crimes.

In 2013, 476 women and children were subjected to violence. Of them, 75 were raped. In 2012, 543 women and children fell prey to violence. Of them, 80 were raped.

In 2011, 378 women and children fell victim to violence. Of them, 55 were raped. In 2010, 321 women and children were subjected to violence. Of them 65 were raped.

In 2009, 288 women and children fell victim to violence. Of them, 45 were raped.

Manabadhikar Bastobayon Sangstha’s Khulna chapter Coordinator Advocate Mominul Islam however said he number of crimes against women and children was much more than those stated in the police report.

The victims and their relatives do not go to police, considering it disgraceful, being apprehensive of not getting justice and being again subjected by the criminals to reprisals, he explained.

He added that the crimes were increasing in the city and district because of pressure from influential quarters linked to criminals, procrastination of case or trial proceedings and lack of awareness and so on.

Special Public Prosecutor at Khulna Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Alokananda Das said: “These crimes were resulting from the things such as social unrest, decline of social values, drugs addiction.”

Blaming police for the getaway of rapists from punishment, he said: “Police often press final charges before court, damaging the cases merit in rape cases and so criminals get away.” l

The picture shows the people of Kalai upazila in Joypurhat repair a dam beside the half kilometre stretch of Chandail-Jhamutpur road which has recently been damaged DHAKA TRIBUNE

Absconding accused held n Our Correspondent, Bagerhat

Dhaka-Barisal road link suspended for two days

Police arrested an absconding accused in a case for killing a housewife after rape from bus stand area in Morelganj upazila yesterday.

Aslam Khan, officer-in-charge of Morelganj police station, said Mizanur Rahman Mallik,35, son of Nurul of Purba Saralia village of the upazila raped housewife Sabi Begum, a resident of Baroikhali area and killed her four years ago. l

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

NEWS IN BRIEF Girl drowns as picnic bus sinks

Man held for killing wife

A 12-year old girl died as the boat sank in the Baniyachang river in Habiganj yesterday while they were going on a picnic. The deceased Mukta Akter is the daugter of Moinuddin of village Matikata under the same upazila. Locals said she boarded on a picnic boat from Kumri under the upazila along with other people. On the way the boat capsised. While the others could manage to get to land by swimming across, Mukta couldn’t. Hours later the locals rescued her body, which floating on water and rushed her to Habiganj Sadar Hospital where the doctors declared her dead. Mukta was a class-5 student in a local school. Resident Medical Officer at Habiganj Sadar Hospital, Mohsin Ahmed, said she was already dead when she was brought to the hospital. Her death appears to have occured while she was in the water, he added.

– Our Correspondent, Habiganj

Police arrested a 45-year-old man on charges of killing his wife at Ashukathi village in Barisal’s Gournadi upazila yesterday. Quoting family members, Gauranadi police station Officer-in-Charge Abul Kalam said Abdur Rahman had hacked his wife Mukuli Begum to death after a feud ensued between them while he was chopping wood and his wife stacking it in the kitehen room in the morning.

– Our Correspondent, Barisal

Fake chewing tobacco factory busted Police in a drive recovered a phony chewing tobacco factory at Shikalia village in Faridganj upazila on Friday night. Chandpur OC Md Anjum Ferdouse said Manik Chandra Gosh, 22, son of Dilip Chandra Gosh has long been making spurious chewing tobacco in his house.

– Our Correspondent, Chandpur

Road communication between Dhaka and Barisal has been suspended for last two days after a Bailey bridge at Rajoir upazila of Madaripur on Dhaka-Barisal Highway partially collapsed.

A transom beam of the bridge collapsed after four goods laden trucks weighing 45 tonnes crossed it around 6am on Thursday, said locals and sources at the Madaripur Roads and Highways Department (RHD).

Hearing the news, the Madaripur RHD authorities halted vehicular movement on the bridge and started repair work from Friday morning.

However, more than half of the repair work was yet to be completed.

More than 500 vehicles including goods laden trucks have been stranded creating around 10km long tailbacks on both sides of the highway.

The tailbacks are causing untold sufferings to the passengers and Dhaka-bound goods laden vehicles particularly those carrying perishable items.

Assistant Engineer of Madaripur Roads and Highway Department Tanimul Haque said the heavy equipment needed for repairing the bridge were not available in Madaripur. The authority was trying to contact in Barisal, Patuakhali, Pirojpur, and Faridpur in this regard, he said. l

Abducted schoolboy rescued from Dhaka n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi Police rescued a schoolboy yesterday from Khilgaon area of the capital who was abducted from Belabo upazila of Narshingdi two days ago.

The rescued schoolboy was Jahid, 12, the son of Haris Mia from Belabo upazila.

Jahid is a student of class six in Narayanpur Sarafatullah High School. The arrested were Shahin Mia, 30, Rashedul Islam Suman, 32, and Masud Mia, 22.

Superintendent of Police Sheikh Rafiqul Islam confirm the incident. l

AL leader killed in road accident n Our Correspondent, Sirajganj A Swechhasebak League leader was killed in a road accident in Sirajganj Sadar upazila yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Monirul Islam, 43, son of Ainal Hossain of Kodda Krishnapur union, member of district Swechhasebak League. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Career

7

Sunday, September 14, 2014

The value of cross-cultural experiences

A

n Naiian Yazdani and Nakibul Hoq

few days back I was reading an article titled “Why You Absolutely Should Date A Girl Who Travels.” Ironically, my revelation after going through the pleasantly-crafted writing was not regarding the appeal of women travellers, rather how global experience mould one’s outlook and ability as an employee. Travelling affects the workplace environment perceived by employees and this is why employers today look for employees with wide-ranging cultural experiences.

One of the buzzwords used by Bangladeshi business school professors and also by their peers in the rest of the world is “Cross-cultural Intelligence.” The term refers to the understanding and ingratiating of different cultures with today’s corporate world. The implication is that young professionals who possess diverse cultural perspectives in their armory have a significant advantage over others.

This has come as no surprise since the world we live in has transformed into a global village, and its residents must therefore appreciate the need to understand cultures beyond their own.

Undoubtedly, the spread of multinational corporations has been a major force in highlighting the benefits of cross-cultural intelligence. Each global market, whether the United States, Europe or the Middle East, has its own unique set of requirements and this changes product types, marketing campaigns and internal company strategies. For example an advertisement featuring Shakib Al Hasan would have as much relevance in the United States as one featuring the Manning brothers would have in Bangladesh. It is exactly this diversity and exposure to various circumstances which makes those with global experience so highly valued.

Bangladeshi multinational companies and international organisations operating in Bangladesh often send employees abroad for training or for a promotion.

British American Tobacco (BAT) regularly posts Bangladeshi employees to different countries in Asia and also to its London headquarters. The initiative reflects the high esteem in which cross cultural experience is held in Bangladesh. It has traditionally been a scarce resource but is changing with many of those who have studied and worked abroad finding their way back to Bangladesh.

Employees who have spent a relevant time abroad for education or work

Businesses today are more international than ever before and as they move forward they do their best to recruit employees who can adapt themselves to the implied changes with ease understand and appreciate the subtle differences in culture present everywhere. They bring in global methods of doing things and are a source of experiences beyond borders, which definitely define their heterogeneous perspectives and creative outlook.

The diversity of experience is important not only internationally but also domestically. It may appear for those from the outside looking in that our cities and towns are alike and that the same beliefs are exuded. However, the population is far from homogenous with differences stemming from the

BIGSTOCK

locations one is raised in, the level of education attained and family wealth.

In this context there is also a need to understand and recognise each other’s individual perspectives and needs, and to appreciate what the other party has to say. This ability to empathise and work with those with contrasting perspectives allows the proliferation of ideas and methods which help corpo-

rations optimise their talent base.

Businesses today are more international than ever before and as they move forward they do their best to recruit employees who can adapt themselves to the implied changes with ease. And cross-cultural intelligence is one of those qualities developed through travelling experiences that can distinguish young professionals in the face of intense com-

Are you a ‘type?’

Possible career paths: scientist, engineer, professor or teacher, doctor, corporate strategist, organisation builder, business administrator or manager, military leader, lawyer, computer programmer.

The Visionary

You have the ability to be good at anything that captures your interest. Since you have a lot of options open to you, you will be happiest picking a profession which allows personal freedom and the use of your creativity to generate new ideas and solve problems. You cannot be happy in regimented or confined spaces.

Possible career paths: lawyer, psychologist, entrepreneur, photographer, consultant, engineer, scientist, actor, sales representative, marking personnel, computer programmer.

The Giver

BIGSTOCK

n Career Desk

T

here are a number of distinct career choices for every distinct personality type there is. Everybody is equipped with their unique set of skills, strengths and personality; while the former two on this list may be learnt, honed and practiced different personality types are compatible with different careers. Career choices that are inspired by one’s personality type are sure to lead to fulfillment.

All personality types can optimise their outlook and learn to focus on their unique strengths and challenges which are more aligned to their natural preferences. Following are a few general personality types, followed by suggestions for possible career paths. The personality types discussed are based on www.personalitypage.com, a website about psychological type inspired primarily by the works of Carl Jung.

The Duty Fulfillers

You are stable and down to earth; you value tradition, and are loyal. Because of your work ethic, you are a natural leader, but you prefer working alone. People think of you as somebody to count on.

You appreciate order and structure, and hate abstract theories and plans that don’t make practical sense. You’re likely to stick to the same company for years.

You strength is perseverance.

Possible career paths: business ad-

ministrator or manager, accountant or financial officer, police, lawyer, doctor, military leader, computer programmer.

The Nurturer

You are interested in how other people are feeling and you enjoy creating structure and order. You would be ideal in a career where you can use your exceptional people-observation skills to determine what others want or need, and use your organisational abilities to create a plan and see it through.

Possible career paths: interior decorator, designer, nurse, administrator or manager, childcare worker, social worker, front desk executive.

The Analyser

You are introverted and your thinking preferences give you the ability to concentrate and work through problems which makes you good at a number of tasks. However, you need to work at your own pace and dislike external enforcement of structure. You would do best working for yourself, and your natural strength lies in applying your reasoning skills against known facts, and questioning the status quo.

Possible career paths: police, forensic pathologist, computer programmer, engineer, pilot, athlete, entrepreneur.

The Doer

Your observational skills make you good at correctly analysing and assess-

ing other people’s motives and perspectives, and using this to your advantage while interacting with them. You have the ability to react quickly in crisis situations. You prefer an action-oriented career dealing with people rather than being confined in a regimented environment.

Possible career paths: sales representative, marketing personnel, police, paramedic, computer technical support, entrepreneur.

The Artist

You need to have a career which is more than just a job. Middle of the road is not where you like being, and since you enjoy savouring the current moment, fast-paced jobs are not for you.

You need freedom to function in your natural realm of acute sensory awareness. You are aware of people’s feelings and reactions and are driven by an inner value to help people.

Possible career paths: artist, musician, designer, writer, childcare worker, social worker, teacher, psychologist, veterinarian, pediatrician.

The Scientist

You are brilliant at grasping complex theories and applying them to problems and coming up with long-term strategies. Unlike any other personality type you are excellent at strategising and seeing through objectively to your long-term plans.

You derive pleasure from helping others. You value structure, organisation and harmony and are effective at creating all three. You have exceptional people skills and dislike impersonal logic and theories. You are loyal and honest, and require approval.

Possible career paths: facilitator, consultant, psychologist, social worker, counselor, teacher, human resources manager, events coordinator, politician or diplomat.

The Protector

Like the Artist, you need more than just a job out of your career. You need to feel as if everything you do in your life meets the high standard and ideal that you have set for yourself. You will do best in a profession that allows you to live your daily life in accordance to your principles and that supports your desire to do something “meaningful” with your life.

Because of your intuitive sense and principles, you feel as if you “know” things and do best in leadership positions. However, if an individual shares your direction, you wouldn’t mind following him or her.

Possible career paths: teacher, doctor, alternative health care practitioner, psychologist, psychiatrist, counsellor or social worker, musician, writer, artist, photographer, childcare and early childhood development worker It doesn’t matter whether you’re just about to board your career, or you’re middle-aged and simply reflecting, to find out your place in the world and whether you’re moving along the right path or not, it’s important to understand yourself and your personality traits. Your personality impacts your likeliness to succeed or fail directly.

Once armed with an understanding of your strengths and weaknesses, and your personality type, picking a rewarding career becomes clear and simple. l

petition in the job market. Especially for the multinational firms, employees with diverse cultural experiences and perspectives are highly sought after by recruitment agencies. After all, in order to deal with their colleagues who come from different backgrounds and to form a heterogeneously creative team, their employees must understand that even a simple word like “yes” can have

different meanings in Canadian, Swiss and Japanese customs. l Naiian Yazdani is the Co-Founder and Director of GradInsights, the research service of GradConnect. Nakibul Hoq is the Lead Manager, Content and Analytics of GradInsights, the research service of GradConnect. More articles from the team can be found at www.grad-insights.com.

Getting your name on the shortest list n Career Desk

I

n a city the size of Dhaka, with the amount of universities churning out fresh graduates every couple of months, finding a job in a pond of limited options is no easy feat. However, actually getting a job comes much later, even so much as getting shortlisted for an interview or getting a callback becomes a big challenge.

For small organisations, a single job posting receives hundreds if not thousands of applicants. Larger organisations and MNCs is a whole other story. Can there be a secret behind getting shortlisted? Is it grades, a well organised CV or a pretty picture that will get you a callback?

Maybe it ends up being a matter of luck.

While it is largely out of your hands, there are a number of basic tips that may help you stand out in the crowd, or at least make a good impression through a CV before the actual first meeting.

The following are some basic tips to help increase the probability of being shortlisted for an interview.

Use perfect English

If your language is weak and it shows in your CV, it creates an immediate poor impression; at the very least it presents the idea that you simply did not care enough to fix your incorrect spelling, typos or bad grammar.

Take the time and make the effort to read your CV several times. The potential employer will not notice your perfect language, but will certainly notice if it is anything but. Take the time and polish up all parts of your application.

If you are confused it’s always a good idea to have a fresh pair of eyes check your application.

Know what you are applying to

Before applying to a job posting, make sure that you have read the job description properly and that the responsibility and requirements of the job is actually in line with your skills and exper-

tise. You can also use this information to gear your CV a little bit towards the particular position by highlighting the relevant skills and accomplishments to set yourself apart from others.

A potential employer having to sift through hundreds and thousands of applications cannot be in a great mood to start with, and coming across applications that aren't particularly qualified for a post can be very infuriating.

Use relevant information

A very popular practice in Bangladesh is to include things like religion, hobbies, marital status, parents' names and occupation, information about spouse and children etc. This is completely unnecessary and also makes you look stupid.

All of this information is personal. These details have absolutely zero bearing in you getting the job and such irrelevant information makes you look clumsy.

Do not leave important details out

While many are often guilty of over-sharing, it is often the same people who forget or simply don't share relevant information, such as relevant job experience as regards to the position one is applying to.

Simply stating which positions you have worked at is often not enough, and if there are relevant projects you have tackled in given positions, it is best to include small blurbs about them under the previous experiences section.

The more relevant information you put in, the better the employer gets to know you on a professional level.

Be neat

Ensure that you make your resume neat and quickly scannable by a simple glance through it. It is almost unanimous that bosses like bullet points.

Use bullet points. The neater the resume and the more usage of bullets and breaking up of massive text blocks, the easier it is for busy recruiters and potential employers to take a glance at your application and get the gist.

Always remember, employers have hundreds of resumes to look through, so the easier you make your resume to look through the more likely they are to appreciate it and be drawn to it. l

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Sunday, September 14, 2014

‘Putin wants another frozen conflict’ Ukraine PM slams Putin, ceasefire again under strain in east Ukraine

n Reuters, Kiev/Donetsk Fighting flared near an airport in eastern Ukraine yesterday in breach of a fragile eight-day ceasefire as the prime minister accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of planning to destroy his country.

Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk said only membership of Nato would enable Ukraine to defend itself from external aggression.

Kiev and its Western backers accuse Moscow of sending troops and tanks into eastern Ukraine in support of pro-Russian separatists battling Ukrainian forces in a conflict that has killed more than 3,000 people. Russia denies the accusations.

A ceasefire negotiated by envoys from Ukraine, Russia, the separatists and Europe’s OSCE security watchdog, has been in place in eastern Ukraine since Sept. 5 and is broadly holding despite regular but sporadic violations, especially in key flashpoints such as Donetsk.

NEWS BITES

Foley family ‘threatened with terror charge’

n Agencies

The family of murdered American journalist James Foley said that it was threatened by a US official with terrorism charges if they paid a ransom to his captors in Syria. Foley’s mother Diane told ABC News on Friday that a military officer working for Barack Obama’s National Security Council had told them several times that they could face criminal charges if they paid a ransom.

“We took it as a threat and it was appalling,” she said. “Three times he intimidated us with that message. We were horrified he would say that. He just told us we would be prosecuted.

We knew we had to save our son, we had to try. “We were just told to trust that he would be freed somehow, miraculously,” Foley’s mother said on CNN. “And he wasn’t, was he?” The president’s spokesman refused to discuss conversations that the family had with officials, but said they involved people from different government branches. l

Brotherhood leaders to quit Qatar

n AFP, Cairo Leaders of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood exiled in Qatar will leave the Gulf country after it came under enormous pressure to cut support for the Islamist group, a Brotherhood official said. Amr Darrag, a leader of the Brotherhood’s political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party, said several members were relocating to “spare Qatar embarrassment,” in a statement posted on his Facebook page late Friday.

Two Brotherhood officials in Qatar reached by AFP confirmed Darrag’s statement. Egypt designated the Brotherhood a “terrorist organisation” after the military ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013. Since then, the group’s exiled leaders set up headquarters in several countries including Turkey, where the leadership in Doha may now relocate to. “Some figureheads of the Freedom and Justice Party and the Muslim Brotherhood who have been requested to relocate their headquarters outside of Qatar have agreed (to do so),” Darrag said. l

On Saturday afternoon, a Reuters reporter heard heavy artillery fire in northern districts of Donetsk, the largest city of the region with a pre-war population of about one million. He saw plumes of black smoke above the airport, which is in government hands.

The city is controlled by the rebels.

‘His goal is to take all of Ukraine ... Russia is a threat to the global order and to the security of the whole of Europe’ Speaking at a conference in Kiev attended by Ukrainian and European lawmakers and business leaders on Saturday, Yatseniuk made clear he did not view the ceasefire as the start of a sustainable peace process be-

cause of Putin’s ambitions.

“We are still in a stage of war and the key aggressor is the Russian Federation ... Putin wants another frozen conflict (in eastern Ukraine),” said Yatseniuk, a longtime fierce critic of Moscow and a supporter of Ukraine’s eventual Nato membership.

Yatseniuk said Putin would not be content only with Crimea - annexed by Moscow in March - and with Ukraine’s mainly Russian-speaking eastern region.

“His goal is to take all of Ukraine ...

Russia is a threat to the global order and to the security of the whole of Europe.”

Ukrainian military spokesman Andriy Lysenko told a daily briefing that one soldier and 12 rebels had been killed in the past 24 hours, without specifying where they had died. That would bring the death toll among Ukrainian forces since the start of the ceasefire eight days ago to six.

The rebels have not said how many of their men have died in the same period.

Government forces still hold Donetsk airport, while the city is

in separatist hands.

Putin says Russia has the right to defend its ethnic kin beyond its borders, though Moscow denies arming the rebels and helped broker the current ceasefire with Kiev.

Humanitarian aid

On Saturday, about 100 Russian lorries arrived in the war-ravaged eastern city of Luhansk, part of a convoy sent to deliver 1,800 tonnes of humanitarian aid to residents. It is the second such Russian aid convoy and it passed the border without any major difficulty. The first convoy in August was denounced by Ukraine and its Western allies for crossing the border without Kiev’s permission.

The Ukraine conflict has triggered several waves of Western sanctions against Russia, most recently on Friday.

The new measures, branded by Putin “a bit strange” in view of the ceasefire, target banks and oil companies.

Russia signalled it would respond with further sanctions of its own against Western interests. l

Dozens of Israeli reservists refuse to serve n Agencies Dozens of reservists and former members of an elite Israeli army intelligence unit have condemned alleged “abuses” of Palestinians in the occupied territories.

The forty-three reserve soldiers expressed their condemnation in an open letter addressed to Israel’s prime minister, armed forces chief, head of military intelligence and distributed to media on Thursday.

“We veterans of Unit 8200, reservists past and present, declare that we refuse to take part in activity against Palestinians and refuse to be tools to deepen the military control in the occupied territories,” the soldiers wrote.

“There’s no distinction between Palestinians who are, and are not, involved in violence, we cannot continue to serve this system in good conscience, denying the rights of millions of people” they wrote.

The soldiers went on to express their concern towards human rights abuses and the disruption of Palestinians everyday lives.

They clarified that they will no longer take part in any act that harms innocent people and called upon all soldiers to join their cause and speak out.

“We call for all soldiers serving in the Intelligence Corps, present and future, along with all the citizens of Israel, to speak out against these injustices and to take action to bring them to an end.”

One soldier also told Channel 10 TV he feels most of the work was motivated by “political reasons” to cement Israel’s control over the West Bank and not security concerns.

The letter was published less than three weeks after the military’s fierce offensive against Palestinian fighters in the Gaza Strip killed more than 2,200 people, many of them civilians.

The 8200 army unit is one of Israel’s best and brightest unit , taking care of surveillance and communications monitoring in addition to sharing information with Israel’s civilian intelligence agencies. A former commander of the unit, reserve Brigadier General Hanan Gefen, accused the letter’s authors of a grave breach of trust. l

‘New’ Scots vote crucial to independence result n AP, Glasgow, Scotland

On the south side of Glasgow, in the heartland of Scotland’s Asian community, support for independence from United Kingdom is strong as Thursday’s referendum nears.

Colorful displays of Yes posters outnumber those backing the Better Together campaign. Talk on the street is of opportunity and a chance to create a fairer country more welcoming to immigrants.

Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city, and its most ethnically diverse. Over the last 60 years an influx of Indians, Pakistanis, Bengalis, Chinese, Italians, Poles and others have created new communities which, because of their relative small size, have had to merge with the culture of their adopted country.

Across Scotland, there are some 140,000 people who class themselves as Asian Scots, along with around 30,000 Africans, 7,000 from the Caribbean, 55,000 Poles and over 160,000 other non-British EU Citizens eligible to vote in the landmark referendum.

These “New Scots” represent more than 4% of the population and with the

polls putting both sides of the debate neck-and-neck just days before the September 18 vote, their views could be critical.

Alyas Hamidi, 21, was born in Glasgow and regards himself first and foremost as a Glaswegian. In public, with his friends, he is a Scot but at home — where English is rarely spoken with his parents and grandparents — he is Iranian. He identifies with both places — and wants his adopted homeland to embrace independence.

“I was the only Iranian boy in my class and apart from a few rude comments over the years I’ve never felt my background was a problem for anyone,” he said. “I’m proud to be Scottish.

I’ll be voting yes.”

Research by the Center on Dynamics of Ethnicity recently found that minority groups in Scotland are more likely to claim a Scottish identity when compared to minority groups in England deciding whether to choose an English identity. Overall 94% of those from ethnic communities born in Scotland identify as being Scottish rather than British — likely giving independence forces a boost. l

In this Aug 5, 2012 file photo, gold medalist Andy Murray of Great Britain waves the British flag during the medal ceremony of the men’s singles event at the All England Lawn Tennis Club at Wimbledon, in London, at the 2012 Summer Olympics. Murray’s future status, as well as that of Scottish Olympic athletes, rests on the result of this week’s independence referendum in Scotland AP

US banks on strong Iraq Profit motive big hurdle coalition, allies hesitant for Ebola drugs n Reuters, Paris The United States says it is “comfortable” it can forge an international coalition to fight Islamic State, but with Western and Middle Eastern allies hesitant, it risks finding itself out on a limb.

President Barack Obama last week unveiled a rough plan to fight the Islamist militants simultaneously in Iraq and Syria, thrusting the United States directly into two different wars in which nearly every country in the region has a stake.

The broad concept of a coalition has been accepted in Western capitals and on Thursday 10 Arab states, including rivals Saudi Arabia and Qatar, signed up to a “co-ordinated military campaign.”

“I’m comfortable that this will be

a broad-based coalition with Arab nations, European nations, the United States, others,” US Secretary of State John Kerry said in Ankara on Friday.

But he added it was “premature” to set out what tasks individual coalition partners would shoulder. And the devil could be in the details.

“This coalition has to be efficient and targeted,” said a senior French diplomat. “We have to keep our autonomy.

We don’t want to be the United States’ subcontractor. For the moment they haven’t made their intentions clear to us.”

The US and Britain pulled out of striking Syrian President Bashar al-Assad last year hours before French planes had been due to take off, leaving President Francois Hollande embarrassed and isolated. l

n AFP, Paris For nearly four decades, mention of the Ebola virus has evoked death and terror, yet a simple factor – money – has stood in the way of erasing the curse, experts say. Despite its evil reputation, Ebola breaks out only rarely in brief if murderous spurts in impoverished African countries.

That tiny – and poor – market means the disease has been a very low priority for Big Pharma, given the hundreds of millions of dollars it can take to devise a new drug or vaccine. Today, after years of low-key progress with the Pentagon as main funder, the search for vaccines and drugs for Ebola has been thrown into higher gear and, for now, the profit

factor has been put to one side.

“Until this west African epidemic, Ebola was not a public health problem and (was) a really rare disease,” says Professor Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, who co-discovered the Ebola virus in 1976. “There was very little interest in all quarters, not just pharma.”

Sylvain Baize, in charge of the Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers Reference Centre at France’s Pasteur Institute, said Ebola had claimed fewer than 2,000 lives in almost 40 years, a minute toll compared with other diseases. “If these 2,000 deaths had occurred in industrialised countries, things may have been different, but it was 2,000 dead in the middle of Africa, so nobody cared very much.” l

Pope: Conflicts may amount to ‘third war’

n Reuters, Italy

Pope Francis has said the spate of conflicts around the globe today were effectively a “piecemeal” Third World War, condemning the arms trade and “plotters of terrorism” sowing death and destruction. “Humanity needs to weep and this is the time to weep,” Francis said in the homily of a Mass during a visit to Italy’s largest war memorial, a Fascist-era monument where more than 100,000 soldiers who died in World War One are buried.

The pope began his brief visit to northern Italy on Saturday by first praying in a nearby, separate cemetery for about 15,000 soldiers from five nations of the Austro-Hungarian empire which were on the losing side of the Great War that broke out 100 years ago.

“War is madness,” he said. “Its only plan is to bring destruction: it seeks to grow by destroying.” l

Boko Haram commander killed

IS’s twitter silence raises questions

n Agencies

n AFP, San Francisco

A leading commander of Islamist extremist group Boko Haram has been killed along with 200 other militants in a rare victory for Nigeria’s armed forces, according to reports. One Nigerian army officer said a feared commander known only as Amir was among the dead after a battle on Friday in Konduga town, 35 kilometres from Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state and birthplace of the extremist group. Also killed were a Boko Haram video journalist and a suicide bomber, he said. There were no military casualties, according to the officer and a civilian self-defence group that fights alongside the soldiers. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to speak to reporters.

Boko Haram has captured a string of towns in recent weeks stretching over 320 kilometres alongside Nigeria’s northeast border with Cameroon in a new campaign to create an Islamic caliphate. l

Islamic State’s Twitter users, which have trumpeted the group’s violent acts and worldview on the social media service, have gone abruptly quiet in past days.

Several accounts affiliated with the militant group appear to have gone dormant, according to US government sources, raising questions about whether the government has pressured Twitter to clamp down more aggressively or whether the group has moved to other social media channels.

When contacted, several US officials said on condition of anonymity they were unaware of attempts to quash those Twitter accounts. The sudden silence also came days after reports about Islamic State-linked accounts threatening action against Twitter employees, though there was no evidence to link the two episodes.

Twitter Inc declined to comment on actions the company has taken related to accounts affiliated with the group. But it has suspended several accounts affiliated

Shi’ite fighters from Mahdi Army rehearse their final tactics before advancing into Bo Hassan village in near Tikrit, northern Iraq, to fight Islamic State militants September 12 REUTERS

with IS in recent months, including one user who threatened retaliation against Twitter’s employees. A US official who spoke on condition of anonymity said that as government officials identify people on social media whom they believe to be “terrorists” or “extremists,” they draw them to the attention of companies such as Twitter and Facebook Inc , which act at their own discretion.

“People (in government), but also people outside, are constantly referring these companies to identified terrorists,” the official said. “I wouldn’t say there is a systematic policy that the US government is going around asking (companies like) Twitter to shut these people down. They sprout very fast. They change their handles.”

A second government source familiar with the situation said there was a clear change of social media tactics by Islamic State in the days leading up to President Barack Obama’s Wednesday speech. Obama said then that he had authorized air strikes in Syria and Iraq, in a broad escalation of a campaign against the organization. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

9

Sunday, September 14, 2014

UN threatens to cut Afghanistan aid if election staff harassed n Reuters, Kabul

Flood-affected people commute in the city center of Srinagar, India

AP

Anger mounts in Indian Kashmir after worst flood in over century Many complain that the government has left them to their fate living at a temporary shelter. “Nobody Resentment n Reuters, Srinagar came for us. Nobody in our area was Many residents are deeply resentful Residents of revolt-torn Indian Kashmir turned their wrath on state administrators for failing to provide them with succour after the worst flooding in over a century, angrily dumping food parcels into gutters.

A week into the disaster, large parts of Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, lay under water with many people still trapped atop their homes, and others crowded in relief camps.

Their misery has added to problems of the administration in a Muslim-majority region where a revolt against Indian rule has simmered for nearly a quarter century.

Many complain that the government, which has maintained a heavy presence in the territory to keep a lid on the revolt, has left them to their fate.

Residents stranded for days by the floodwaters said that the army has selectively evacuated tourists and people according to a pre-set priority list, leaving locals to be rescued later by volunteers.

“Helicopters came, and we waved our arms,” said Aasiya Kutoo, who was

rescued by air.”

Outside one mosque-turned-camp in Srinagar, food supplies dropped earlier in the day by a military helicopter were strewn in a gutter, rejected.

“People said we don’t need this government food,” said Nayeem, who lives in the neighbourhood. He said since the state of India occupied Kashmir, they were only providing relief out of duty.

“If another state occupied this land, they would be bound to do the same.”

Both the Indian and Pakistan sides of the disputed Himalayan territory have been hit by extensive flooding since the Jhelum river, swollen by unusually heavy rain, surged last week.

The river flows from Indian Kashmir to the Pakistan side, and then down into Pakistan’s lower Indus river basin.

The Indian government has put the death toll at 200 in the part of Kashmir it controls but there are fears that number will rise as the damage to Srinagar, a city of one million, and villages in southern Kashmir is fully revealed.

On the Pakistani side, officials put the death toll at 264 on Friday.

of what they say has been a complete absence of their local government and police in the wake of the disaster.

Others drew a comparison to the thousands of police the Indian state has deployed in the past to put down public protests against Indian rule, but were now nowhere to be seen.

“If there is a single stone pelted, there are a hundred police out beating one person,” said Megha Dar, a teacher living in a temporary camp. “Where are they now? Where are the ministers?”

Hundreds of thousands of Indian soldiers are deployed in the Kashmir Valley, where the army says it has succeeded in putting down the armed groups that it believes are supported

by Pakistan.

A senior army official said it was unfortunate that the rescue effort had been politicized. “Our air force does not permit selective rescue,” he said. “The population has been affected by a tragedy. This reaction is a reflection of their lack of faith in the civic administration.”

A new generation of young Kashmiris, who have grown up with house

Tense stand-off in Pakistani capital as political crisis drags on n Reuters, Islamabad A court in Pakistan ordered yesterday that 100 opposition activists be sent to jail for holding illegal protests, prompting a tense confrontation between demonstrators and police in the centre of the capital.

Protesters led by Imran Khan, a former cricket star, and Tahir ul-Qadri, a firebrand cleric, have been locked in a bitter stand-off with the government for weeks, refusing to leave their protest camp until Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif resigns.

On Saturday, a crowd of protesters gathered outside a court in Islamabad in a protest against its decision to send 100 activists to jail for two weeks, with some trying to slash the tyres of a police van and shouting “Go, Nawaz, go!”

Although the crowd eventually left peacefully after a two-hour stand-off with police, the episode highlighted just how nervous both sides of the conflict remained after talks to resolve the crisis failed several times.

Protest leaders accuse Sharif of rigging last year’s election which brought him back to power in a landslide and say they will not back down until he resigns a demand Sharif has repeatedly rejected.

“The end of the incumbent government’s rule is near,” Qadri told domestic media on Saturday.

The confrontation turned violent last month, with thousands trying to storm Sharif’s house and briefly taking the state television channel off the air.

Violence in the usually quiet capital has alarmed many people in a nation where power has often changed

hands though military coups rather than elections.

The army, which has ruled Pakistan for more than half of its history, has stayed out of the conflict, urging both sides to find a political solution.

Yet, some ruling party officials have accused the military itself of instigating the unrest as a way of unsettling Sharif and exerting supremacy over him.

The army has denied it was meddling in civilian affairs, saying it is neutral. Late on Friday, an army spokesman once again repeated that the army had nothing to do with the conflict.

Few commentators think the army wants to seize power again but, even if Sharif survives, he would emerge significantly weakened and likely play second-fiddle to the army on key security and foreign policy issues. l

Pakistan diverts rivers to save cities from floods n AP, Islamabad Military specialists blew up dikes in central Pakistan to divert swollen rivers and save cities from raging floods that have killed hundreds of people, authorities said Saturday, as officials stepped up efforts in India’s part of Kashmir to prevent the spread of water-borne diseases there.

In Pakistan, the breaches at the overflowing Chenab River were performed overnight as floodwaters reached Multan, a city famous for its Sufi saints. Pakistani news channels showed pictures of floodwaters gushing through the blown-up dikes.

Civil and military officials have been using helicopters and boats to evacuate marooned people since Sept. 3, when

floods triggered by monsoon rains hit Pakistan and Kashmir, which is divided between Pakistan and neighboring India.

Pakistan’s military said in a statement Saturday that it was still evacuating people and air-dropping food in the districts of Multan, Muzaffargarh and Jhang. It said troops had air-dropped tons of food in flood-affected areas, while the army’s medical teams were also treating patients.

Ahmad Kamal, the spokesman for Pakistan’s National Disaster Management authority, said rains and floods had killed 280 people and injured more than 500 in Pakistan and Pakistani-administered Kashmir. He said more than 2 million people had been affected.

About 200 people have died in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where floodwaters have receded, enabling people to return to their homes.

Medical teams in Srinagar, the main city in Indian-held Kashmir, were stepping up efforts to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases, officials said Saturday.

Elsewhere in Indian-controlled Kashmir, army troops evacuated nearly 150,000 people whose homes were flooded.

Troops and army engineers were working to restore the vital Jammu-Srinagar highway, which links Indian Kashmir to the rest of the country. The highway remained closed for the 10th straight day Saturday due to landslides and fallen rocks. l

raids and army checkpoints, feel increasingly angry at Indian rule and champion street protests rather than the violent militancy that characterized the 1990s.

Infrastructure hit

Several government employees decried that basic needs were not being met in the capital. Two government doctors said public hospitals were understaffed, and short on basic supplies and medicine.

“The local government is totally crippled,” added Riyaz Ahmad, an officer with the labour department, who was volunteering at a civilian-run relief camp. “There has been no communication from my superiors. Every department is totally defunct.”

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the severity of the floods had knocked out his administration in the first few hours itself. But it had since recovered and was trying to do its best to deliver aid.

He said part of the problem was people did not heed flood warnings broadcast from government vehicles and mosques last weekend. l

The United Nations threatened yesterday to cut aid to Afghanistan if its staff are harassed, responding to tensions surrounding its participation in a drawn-out and bitter investigation into fraud in the still-unresolved presidential election.

The warning came a day after dozens of demonstrators gathered outside the Kabul headquarters of the world body and accused it of aiding vote-rigging.

It was another sign of heightened anxiety in the run-up to the release of final election results over the next week. A two-month-long crisis over results of the vote to succeed President Hamid Karzai has been destabilizing Afghanistan just months before most international troops withdraw.

The UN has been monitoring a vote-rigging investigation since both candidates - former Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah and ex-Finance Minister Ashraf Ghani - each claimed victory and accused the other of fraud in early July.

UN workers have frequently been caught up in heated disputes by the rival candidates’ audit observers. After Friday’s small demonstration, which was peaceful but also featured chants

Japan pushes N Korea to resolve abductions n AP, Tokyo Japan’s prime minister turned up the pressure on North Korea yesterday to answer questions over the fate of possibly hundreds of Japanese citizens believed to have been abducted by the North’s agents in the 1970s and ‘80s.

Shinzo Abe told a rally in Tokyo that he will not back down until every abductee is accounted for. Suggesting he believes some are still alive, he said he will not relent until they are allowed to come back to Japan.

Abe’s remarks came as North Korea is preparing to announce the results of a new investigation into the matter following an agreement in May. Japan officially recognizes 17 cases,

India probes identity card for monkey god

The card shows a picture of the monkey god, complete with iris scan and fingerprints

n Agencies Authorities in India are investigating how Hanuman, the monkey god, has been issued a biometric identity card, BBC reported.

The card photo features the character from the Hindu epic Ramayana wearing gold and pearl jewellery and a crown. It emerged when a postman attempted to deliver the card, but could not find a Hanuman at the address.

When he looked at the photograph he realised it was probably a prank. It is not clear who the iris scan and fingerprints on the card belong to.

The card lists Hanuman as “Pawan-ji’s” son (the god was known as son of Pawan in Hindu mythology) and lists a mobile phone number and an address in the western state of Rajasthan.

Hanuman is generally depicted with a human body, a red monkey’s face and a tail. There are temples dedicated to Hanuman all over the country.

Postman Heeralal Saini, who was given the card for delivery, returned it to the post office after he failed to find “Pawan-ji’s son

of “Death to the UN,” the world body apparently decided to draw a line.

“Intimidation and verbal attacks directed at #UN are unacceptable,” said a tweet by the official UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan on Saturday.

A second post continued: “If such abuse continues, #UN will be forced to severely limit its activities, reducing its assistance to #Afghanistan and its people.”

Ari Gaitanis, a UN spokesman in Kabul, declined to elaborate on specific abuse or threats against UN staff.

The threat to cut aid underscored the high stakes in Afghanistan’s election crisis, which marred hopes for a smooth transition of power ahead of the foreign troops’ withdrawal.

Talks between both sides on forming a unity government have broken down in recent weeks.

Final results are expected in the next week, though a specific date has not been set. It is widely believed that Ghani, who was ahead by 1.2 million votes in preliminary results, will be declared the winner even after suspect votes are thrown out.

Abdullah, who has charged that more than 2 million ballots were fraudulent, has vowed he will reject results that give the election to Ghani. l

Hanuman” and the phone number listed on the card did not connect, an official in Rajasthan’s postal department told BBC Hindi.

The card will now be returned to the Bangalore office of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), he said.

The local centre and the operator who issued the card will be identified and punished, deputy director general of UIDAI Ashok Dalwai said.

“This is a deliberate mischief on the part of the operator. He will be removed permanently and the enrolment agency will be penalised.

“The process of identifying the operator and the agency is on. It will not take time for us to identify. But I must also point out that such instances are few given the vast number of cards we process,” he added.

India launched the huge national identity scheme aimed at cutting fraud and improving access to state benefits in 2010.

The scheme aims to issue an ID card with a 12-digit unique number to all of India’s 1.2 billion citizens with details of their biometrics - including an iris scan, fingerprints and photographs. l

but an independent investigative commission and police suggest the number could be as high as 869.

“Resolving the abductions issue is the top priority of my administration,” the prime minister told the crowd. “My mission will not be over until the day all of the abduction victims have been returned to their families.”

North Korea is expected to announce the preliminary results of its new investigation soon, possibly by the end of this month, and some city and town officials in Japan have already begun making preparations to welcome survivors home. But it is by no means clear that the North will come up with the results Tokyo wants, which could lead to even deeper acrimony. l

China’s Hong Kong chief says remarks to lawmakers were misrepresented n Reuters, Hong Kong China’s most senior official in Hong Kong, Zhang Xiaoming, said on Friday that remarks he had made to pro-democracy lawmakers in an August 19 meeting had been misrepresented in media reports.

“I admit that during the conversation, I used the phrase ‘stay alive’,” Zhang wrote in a statement on the website of China’s Liaison Office in Hong Kong.

Zhang made his comments after Reuters published a story on September 11 in which it reported that he had told several pro-democracy lawmakers that “the fact that you are allowed to stay alive, already shows the country’s inclusiveness,” according to two people who attended the August 19 meeting with Zhang and declined to be named.

Zhang’s office did not respond to several faxed requests for comment before the September 11 story was published. The article, which was picked up by other media outlets, focused on the showdown between pro-democracy forces and Beijing over political reform in Hong Kong.

Zhang said in the statement on Friday night that his intended meaning was that Beijing had already shown “great political inclusiveness” in allowing some democrat lawmakers to run for legislative office in Hong Kong. He said media reports of the meeting had a “malicious intention.”

The sources told Reuters in the September 11 story that Zhang had been responding to a question by democratic lawmaker Leung Yiu-chung, who asked whether a democrat like himself could run in an election for the highest office in the city.

The meeting took place before China delivered its decision on August 31 on political reform in Hong Kong, which is governed under the “one country, two systems” arrangement. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Sunday, September 14, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Bimstec’s boost for regional co-operation

T

he inauguration of the Bimstec secretariat in Dhaka is a key step forward in developing the Bay of Bengal Initiative.

As Bangladesh stands at the crossroads of South and Southeast Asia, it is good to see the prime minister take a lead in hoping Bimstec will usher in a more productive era of mutual cooperation.

With ASEAN set to develop as a free trade area and Myanmar’s economy rapidly drawing in massive inward investment, it is more important than ever for Bangladesh to improve our economy’s connections beyond South Asia.

By linking five Saarc nations with two key Southeast Asian countries, Myanmar and Thailand, Bimstec has great potential to improve connectivity and build trade between South and East Asia.

Bimstec’s focus on MultiSectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation will be especially important in fostering progress on key energy and water issues.

Sharing technical skills and resources on core resource issues such as cross border power grids is imperative, if our countries are to collaborate successfully in meeting future challenges.

Bimstec is a logical way to develop co-operation among member states in leveraging the hydroelectric potential of Myanmar, Nepal, Bhutan and the northeast of India for mutual economic advantage.

It is of both practical and symbolic benefit to Bangladesh. The potential of Saarc and SAFTA has been held back by non tariff barriers and slow progress on important issues such as river sharing.

The development of new forums of cross regional collaboration may help reinvigorate our ability to build cooperation on these issues, as well as boosting economic growth and integration.

It is more important than ever for Bangladesh to build regional cooperation

We must invest in decent housing

T

he eviction of makeshift housing and markets around the railway line in Karwan Bazar after four people were killed by an express train on Thursday, is indicative of attitudes which prefer to respond to rather than prevent problems.

It is a sticking plaster approach that comes too late to save lives and does little to guarantee that future tragedies will not re-occur.

According to railway officials, past drives to remove structures along the railway line have been blocked because influential persons extract tolls from makeshift shops.

Locals allege various officials including within the railway authorities and police, as well as politically connected extortionists, have been charging tolls and illegal rents to allow people to trade along the tracks. Dozens of shops are believed to have paid Tk100-Tk150 per day to illegal toll collectors.

Such callous criminality is inexcusable, but it would not fester if policymakers did not abandon a large number of people to live on the streets or in unsafe slums.

In 2014, there is no justification for Bangladeshis to be left homeless and prey to extortionists and other criminals.

This week’s eviction is necessary, but without a coherent plan for relocation, it risks the same type of problem and accidents happening again.

The government needs to invest in low cost public housing and ensure that everyone has a decent place to live. It must provide land and encourage public-private partnerships on which decent housing can be built and the entrepreneurial energy of citizens released free from danger and squalor.

There is no excuse for leaving people homeless and prey to extortionists

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

Kolkata scientists rewrite Earth’s evolutionary history books

September 7 sangram krkreddy I am from Odisha where paleosol was found.

It is time to feel proud to be Indian. The history of life is rewritten by our Indian scientists.

Buddhu It is time to remove the age-old theory of Adam Sangram: I am from India, where Odisha is, where and Eve from all textbooks. paleosol was found.

Buddhu chris krkreddy: The microorganisms ate a lot and turned Buddhu: I’m from Newcastle, and so is my into Adam and Eve!! :D Reconciled. At least these wife. scientists are doing something worthwhile.

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 10 represents P so fill P every time the figure 10 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Bad apples September 7

Evil people politics “If food adulteration continues, a man-made doom will not be too far away.”

I think it’s high time that chemical compounds such as formalin and formaldehyde were made national staples.

Police sergeant stops motorcyclist at checkpost

September 6

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

‘Putin is under Satan’s influence’ September 7

Nazmul Khair “A police sergeant goes through the documents of a motorbike rider at the capital’s Tikatuli intersection on Friday. In a bid to maintain law and order, DMP has set up checkposts at all major points in the city.”

Good decision. The police should charge the motorbike rider a higher fine.

Four arrested for allegedly raping a mentally-challenged girl September 6

NK “After raping the girl, the men left her beside the road of Hazi Camp. The locals rescued her and took her to a hospital.”

Aahh! When will these people ever learn something?! If you need sex, there are thousands who make this their trade. Go to them and enjoy yourselves, but why ruin another life? Every day, two or three incidents of rape are being reported on the news.

RUET students invented firefighting robot September 6

CROSSWORD birbanggali “Patriarch Filaret, who heads the Kiev Patriarchate, a branch of the Orthodox Church that broke away from Moscow in 1992, said in an unusually outspoken statement on Saturday.”

Hilarious!

Quader: 100 new AC minibuses in capital September 7

humayun hyder The minister for road, transport, and bridges has said that he will be importing almost 100 buses very soon to ease the traffic problems in the city.

Well, we like his idea, but without having a clear guide, how he can manage to put so many buses on the road? We would like to see the minister build roads first, and then get the buses to ply on the roads.

ACROSS 1 Rabble (3) 3 Planet (4) 6 Snow vehicle (4) 7 Say further (3) 9 Flying toy (4) 10 Mouse-coloured (3) 11 Water grass (4) 13 Put away (5) 16 Silly (5) 18 Insects (4) 19 By way of (3) 20 Thunder god (4) 21 Greek letter (3) 23 Timber-dressing tool (4) 24 Raw hide (4) 25 United (3)

DOWN 1 Intends (5) 2 Strange (3) 4 Greedy (4) 5 Prosecute (3) 6 Saloon car (5) 8 Male honey-bee (5) 9 Eager (4) 12 Efface (5) 14 Layer (4) 15 Tranquility (5) 17 Dodge (5) 18 Inflamed swelling (4) 20 Faucet (3) 22 Make brown (3)

ACC quizzes MP Enamul September 8 Samad Miraly Awesome engineering!

Dr Ahsan Habib Nothing but a fruitless show of sincerity. Ultimately, nothing will be found.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER Come on over September 7

PEANUTS

Abelard the Greek-Lover “We need a well-orchestrated drive run by competent people.”

We need a drastic overhaul down to the very core if we plan to improve the state of tourism here in Bangladesh.

Osmania I don’t blame the German lady for praying her daughter wouldn’t fall victim to a ferry disaster.

And I’ll bet the claimed figure for Iran’s tourists is at least 95% due to religious pilgrims and expat Iranians.

New dimension in DhakaTokyo ties September 7

SM “Bay of Bengal growth belt at the centre of development strategy for the region.”

Hoping for the best.

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

Sunday, September 14, 2014

11

The Muslim world’s conspiracy theories n Azeem Ibrahim

I

First, we need to agree on what the rules are

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

What traffic rules?

“F n Javeed Ahsan

ollow traffic rules” is the most meaningless campaign in Bangladesh ever. If you want to know why I think so, please read on.

First of all, yes, I will follow the traffic rules. But do I know what they are? Of course, you might be fined, punished, or be forced to offer a bribe if the traffic officer in charge thinks you have violated a traffic rule, because not knowing the law is not an excuse. Traffic rules are quite universal, meaning they are almost the same in any country, except in Bangladesh, for sure, and learning the Bangladeshi traffic rules is a big challenge.

They are not written anywhere, not even on the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority’s (BRTA) website. Yes, there is a page named “traffic signs,” and let me shed some lights on the state of the information presented on this page: Plenty of different traffic signs, though not all, are found on this page.

It also says, only in English, what each sign is, but doesn’t explain what the driver should do upon seeing these signs. For instance, a “roundabout” sign is translated as “there is a roundabout ahead,” but I also need to learn that it means that the car already in the roundabout has the right of way, and I should give way to that car when entering the roundabout. Unfortunately, drivers in Bangladesh have no way to learn about right of way, the understanding and following of which, to me, is actually a large part of following

traffic rules.

Even more ironically, some of the signs on the BRTA’s webpage are also misinterpreted and hence, are misleading (See: http://www.brta.gov. bd/index.php/traffic-signs/36-roadmarkings). The double broken line is interpreted as “vehicles must give way to traffic on the major road or roundabout,” whereas it actually means that vehicles from both lanes or sides can switch lanes, or overtake if it is safe to do so.

which are maybe allowed to drive on the wrong side are ambulances and police cars, provided they are on emergency duty.

To me, following traffic rules means keeping your vehicle fit. How many public transports and police vehicles have you seen which are actually fit to be on the road with all the signal lights still attached and functioning?

Government vehicles are in no better conditions either.

If following traffic rules means

Traffic rules are quite universal, meaning they are almost the same in any country, except in Bangladesh

Even a kid understands that following traffic rules is driving on the right side of the road. But you frequently see army vehicles, government vehicles, cars with press signs, and motorcycles plying on the wrong side of the road as if the wrong side is the right side for them.

Often, if you are driving an expensive SUV on Dhaka roads, the police helplessly watch you drive away on the wrong side as well. Who knows, you might be a relative of some bigshot who knows some big gun in the police department and can put your job at risk. Legally, the only vehicles

wearing seatbelts for drivers and frontseat passengers, show me one bus or minibus, or truck or human hauler in Bangladesh in which the driver has ever worn a seatbelt?

If you tell me that following traffic rules means following the speed limit while driving, then every road in Bangladesh must have speed limit indications. You can literally count the number of speed limit signs in the entire country, and I doubt the number will cross a hundred.

What is the speed limit on the Dhaka-Chittagong expressway? I am a frequent traveller on this road, and

I don’t remember noticing a single speed limit sign along the 272km expressway.

I understand that following traffic rules means following the road marks when driving, but how many roads in the heart of Dhaka actually have road marks? For most roads in the capital, you can’t even find any indications of lanes on them, let alone the roads outside it.

Oh yes, following traffic rules surely means following traffic signals. Can someone tell me what I should do when the signal is green and the traffic police in the junction shows a stick to indicate that I should “stop,” or when the signal is red and the traffic officer waves a “go ahead signal?”

They get really vexed if you don’t notice them and try to act accordingly to the signals. Why can’t they just switch off the signal when they control the traffic manually?

Before we ask people to follow traffic rules, we should agree on what they actually are. The authority should then publish a driver’s handbook with all the rules spelled out both visually and in writing, and definitely in Bangla, if not in both languages, and make it available to drivers and learners.

All roads must have the proper signage and markings and the officials concerned must be trained to understand the interpretations of these signs. Only then will it make sense to ask people to follow traffic rules.

Otherwise, it is a far cry. l Javeed Ahsan is a development communication professional and a columnist.

n the West, there is a saying: “Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.” But stupidity, ignorance, incompetence, and corruption in ourselves are much more difficult to accept than the evil of others who we regard, for whatever reason, as enemies.

And when all is said and done, in the game of Us versus Them, evidence counts for little. We already know that we are good and virtuous and deserve good lives. And we already know that our enemies are evil, and would like nothing better than to deprive us of what we deserve. That is why they are our enemies, after all.

And so, here we are: In the Muslim world, the cultures are rife with conspiracy theories. We are good, decent people, and yet our lives are not often as fulfilled as we think they should be. We are often politically dominated by our governments, as they are by foreign powers. Economic opportunity is often something mythical, from faraway Western lands. And we often feel that we do not have much control over our destinies at all.

And just like primitive peoples who saw evil spirits in thunder, sandstorms, and drought, everything that is wrong in our countries must surely be animated by some evil spirit behind the illusory veil of politics and the media.

These evil spirits bear many frightful names: The West, the CIA, MI6, Israel, Mossad, or just old Hindu India.

But we seem to think that what they want is clear; they want to steal our resources and undermine our way of life.

Imaginative interpretation of the facts

Now this is not to say that Western powers do not have a huge historic responsibility for a lot of our current conditions. Britain and France partitioned the Levant and Iraq after WWI in a way that could only ever have ended in blood and tears. The only surprise is that it took so long for the region to erupt into a crisis like the one we now have with the Islamic State of

Many are certain 9/11 was an inside job

Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Britain and America removed democratically elected Mohammad Mosaddegh in Iran and created a subsequent regime run by Fazlollah Zahedi that had the worst human rights track record in the world throughout the 1970s. And surely by now, there should be no doubt that Iraqi oil was at least a major consideration in the US/British decision to invade Iraq in 2003 – what with all those tax concessions and billion-dollar contracts for US firms to “aid the reconstruction.”

But to go from that to maintaining that 9/11 was an inside job by the US government so that they could launch a new crusade on the Middle East, or that the leader of ISIS is a Mossad agent and the “Caliphate’s” purpose is to further destabilise the region, requires quite an imaginative interpretation of the facts.

Still, this creative approach means that we do not have to face some rather difficult possibilities. One of these possibilities is that in much of the Muslim world, we have abided, if not outright encouraged, the spread of puritanical and divisive strands of Islam. Is it not possible that we have our fair share of responsibility for not standing up and defending the Islam of peace more vigorously in the last few decades?

And now, since it is “obvious” that our old enemies – Israel, the West, and India – are to blame for the turmoil, we are also conveniently absolved of making a stand for our Islam of peace.

After all, what can we, the little people, do when all the world is against us? At least the Islamists are standing up for the Muslim world, no?

And thus, with no actual conspiracy, and to everyone’s despair, hundreds of Muslims die every day at the hands of Muslims. But at least we can sleep well at night. We bear no responsibility for any of this. l Azeem Ibrahim is a Research Professor at the Strategic Studies Institute, US Army War College and an International Security Lecturer at the University of Chicago. This article was previously published in Al Arabia News.

WIKIMEDIA

The end of Great Britain? n Shafiqur Rahman

T

he people of Scotland will vote on September 18 to decide whether they want to stay inside Great Britain, or if they want to go on their own and become an independent country 400 years after England and Scotland became a union by an Act of Parliament in 1603. The “Say Yes to an Independent Scotland” campaign has now strong wind in its sails. If the Scots vote yes, then this will truly be a momentous event of history.

It will draw the final curtain upon the political entity called Great Britain – an entity that had outsized influence in world history for a couple of centuries. The British government has already decided that in the event of Scottish independence, the United Kingdom will simply refer to England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, but the new name has not been decided yet.

The prospect of Scottish independence has sent shockwaves throughout the length and breadth of England.

Although comprising only 9% of British population, Scotland is an integral

part of the national identity known as British. The British government and the people know this, and that’s why they have been putting up with more than 10 billion pounds of subsidy each year to fund the more generous Scottish social welfare system and increasing political power devolution.

But it seems no amount of devolution or money can now buy off the Scottish desire for independence.

To most of the people of the world, Great Britain is an interesting historical entity. Britain will not feature in anyone’s top five most influential countries in the current world – it will barely be in the top 10. So, the final devolution of Britain, if it happens next week, will create barely a ripple in world economy or politics. But Great Britain still has some outsized influence in the world, if not in the physical then in the world of imagination.

To many people in Asia, particularly in British ex-colonies and protectorates, the British Empire was the greatest evil in human history. Because they not only destroyed the economies and cultures of many nations, but also

humiliated proud civilisations and forced them to have permanent servile mentality.

However, for some closet devotees of Kipling’s The White Man’s Burden, who mainly lurk in Britain and America’s politics and academia, the British Empire has been the greatest civilising force in the world since the Roman Empire. The truth probably, as most of the times in history, lies somewhere in between.

Among the European colonial empires, the British Empire probably was the least bad one. Many studies have concluded that Britain built better political institutions and physical infrastructure in their colonies than other powers. The British Empire genuinely had huge civilising influences – ending the Atlantic and Indian ocean slave trades will be one of its proudest achievement. The English-educated people from ex-colonies also faced fewer difficulties in integrating with the globalised economy.

But the legacies of British Empire are no less bloody – the sheer number of people dying in the British colonies

by direct or indirect effects of imperial policy rivals those of Spanish or Belgian colonies. We are also reminded daily of the pernicious cartographical legacy of the British Empire, particularly in the Middle East.

The ex-subjects of the British Empire have every reason to cheer the end of Great Britain

In my opinion, the main hallmark of the British Empire was hypocrisy.

More than the empire, the British people are proud of the legacy of the English (and Scottish) Enlightenment, which gave the world liberal democra-

cy and free trade. The British Empire was built on those ideals.

One can understand that empires cannot be built on political freedom, but the British Empire was also the biggest instrument of economic enslavement in modern history. Particularly the Indian subcontinent has huge reason to look back with anger.

According to Paul Kennedy’s seminal The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers, in 1750 India’s share in global manufacturing output was 25%, China’s 33%, and Britain’s 2%. In 1900, the share of India was 1.7%, Britain 18.5%, and China 7%. While Britain was fighting numerous wars in Europe and America in 18th and 19th century in the name of free trade, it imposed the most prohibitive protectionist regime in India. We essentially could not export anything to the world and had to buy everything from Britain.

India under the British rule experienced one of the slowest economic growth in all modern history. Unlike China, India has always been a vigorously trading nation since antiquity.

One can reasonably speculate that,

sans British yoke, India would have continued to export and import vigorously with the outside world and adopted industrial revolution earlier and with more vigour by using its labour advantage.

The ex-subjects of the British Empire have every reason to cheer the end of Great Britain. But historical milestones are far less important than everyday lives of millions of living human beings. So, we should hope that the Scottish people will deliberate very thoroughly before taking the uncertain plunge to independence. Meanwhile, the prospective demise of Great Britain once again reminds us that the merciless tides of history spares no one, great and small.

As the great English poet Shelly wrote in his poem Ozymandias: “My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings/ Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair! Nothing beside remains. Round the decay/ Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare/ The lone and level sands stretch far away.” l Shafiqur Rahman is a freelance contributor.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Iamsecureanddonotexpectto be in spotlight: DEEPIKA

Fast & Furious 6 Star Movies 9:30pm

n Entertainment Desk

Films are largely mencentric: PROSUN AZAD P

rosun Azad, who shot to fame after she finished third in the “Lux Channel-i Superstar 2012,” has two films in the pipeline ready for release. Her first film, “Ochena Hridoy,” directed by Shafiqul Islam Khan, is awaiting clearance from the censor board while her second, “Sorbonasha Yaba,” directed by Kazi Hayat, will hit cinemas on September 26.

The 20-year-old has also bagged a role in a film titled “Shapnopoka.” Dhaka Tribune caught up with model-cum-actor to know about her recent ventures.

Tell us about your role in “Sorbonasha Yaba”

This is a conventional movie in that its male protagonist plays the central role.

I have a minor role but one that I really enjoyed enacting. I played a police officer named Tisha, a colleague of Maruf.

When Maruf’s sister becomes addicted to drugs, I help her recover.

What was it like to play the role of a cop?

Both my parents are police officers. So playing a cop came naturally to me. But I felt especially proud when I wore the uniform. I felt the weight of it and the responsibility it carries. Its not one of those costumes you feel comfortable moving about wearing.

What about your role in “Ochena Hridoy?”

BradleyCooperand JenniferLawrence reunite

In this film, I played an alzheimer’s patient who loses her memory and confuses her boyfriend with another guy, setting in motion a romantic triangle.

I always cherished this kind of settings where you’ve an important role to play.

Most of the films in our industry are still largely men-centric. Female actors are not so lucky in this respect. For me this film is a special one.

One where there’s a lot of fun and music and dance, and which conveys a message. I want to play roles that I haven’t played before.

Looking back, which one of your works stands out?

It is a tv play titled “Kagojer Camera.”

Acting in the drama was a turning point for me. I remember my relatives saying, once it was aired, that “Prosun, you looked like Suchitra Sen,” or “You looked fantastic in the ‘Keyamot Theke Keyamot’ song.” I am grateful to the director, Gautom Koiri, for giving me the opportunity to work in it.

There are in fact several: Mosharraf Karim, Ahmed Rubel, Bobita and Subarna Mustafa.

Any particular actor you’d like to work with?

Parambrata Chatterjee, Shakib Khan and Arefin Shuvo. l

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes How to Train Your Dragon 2 Most Welcome 2 Guardians of the Galaxy Alpo Alpo Premer Golpo Star Cineplex, Level 8, Bashundhara City Into The Storm, Hercules

Everything is peaceful in Gotham City and Bruce Wyne is planning to revive his romance with Rachel. But all hell breaks loose, when The Joker begins to terrorise the city with his eerie grin and maniacal laughter.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Most Welcome 2, Lucy Godzilla 3D, Olpo Olpo Premer Golp Blockbuster Cimemas, Jamuna Future Park

Exhibition

Montage Time: 12pm – 8pm

Kill Bill: Vol 1 HBO Hits 10:50pm

The Bride wakens from a four-year coma. The child she carried in her womb is gone. Now she must wreak vengeance on the team of assassins who betrayed her - a team she was once part of.

The Conjuring HBO 9:30pm

Based on a true story The Conjuring tells the horrifying tale of how world renowned paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren were called upon to help a family terrorized by a dark presence in a secluded farmhouse.

Colours of Friendship on DAC Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts Road 27, Dhanmondi Solo Art exhibition by Murtaja Basheer Time: 11am – 8pm Galleri Kaya House 20, Road 16, Sector 4, Uttara

n Entertainment Desk Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence could be set to score yet another Oscar nomination with their third big screen collaboration, “Serena.” A new poster for the long delayed depression-era movie has been released, which shows the dynamic duo posing together for the first time. The film is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Ron Rash, which was first published in 2008.

“Serena” boasts a strong supporting cast including Sam Reid, Rhys Ifans, Toby Jones and Sean Harris. Shot in the Czech Republic in the Spring of 2012, the film has been subject to several delays. l

Movies Now 11:35pm

MTV Programme Platform in Bangladesh held its first major awards ceremony yesterday, giving recognition to musicians who won awards at the MTV Chart Attack.

Waqeel won the most prestigious MTV Chart Attack Platinum Disc Award, with a prize money of TK150,000, for the music video integrating his “Amrito Megher Bari” song that topped MTV Bangladesh’s chart for 12 consecutive weeks.

MTV Chart Attack features the most followed songs and videos based on public voting. Bands Oshruto and Shunno, and soloist Miftah, received Silver Disc Awards in the ceremony.

The awards were handed over by Abu Sayeed Zahir, director of Creinse Limited.

The winners expressed their gratitude to the Creinse Team, for bringing MTV in Bangladesh and providing a global platform to take their music careers to the next level.

After receiving the award, Waqeel told Dhaka Tribune: “I’m happy that a Lalon song won the hearts of the new-generation listeners. I’m grateful to MTV and Creinse for inspiring me with such a big honour. My responsibility is even bigger now as a musician.”

MTV Chart Attack airs on Maasranga Television every Sunday at 11:30pm. MTV started its journey in Bangladesh in November 2013 and continues to air programmes on Maasranga’s frequency for two hours every week. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Film

The Dark Knight

n Entertainment Desk

What kind of movies do you usually like?

Who is your favourite actor?

Vin Diesel, Paul Walker and Dwayne Johnson lead the returning cast as the global blockbuster franchise built on speed races to its next continent in “Fast & Furious 6.”

WAQEEL wins MTV Chart Attack Platinum Disc

KHAN HASAN MUHAMMAD RAFI

n Hasan Mansoor Chatak

Deepika Padukone is soaking up all the attention she’s been getting since the first screening of “Finding Fanny.” The actress admits that when she first heard the script a few years ago, on the sets of “Cocktail,” she was hooked to it but wasn’t very convinced of the film being a box-office success.

The response, therefore, is a tad confusing, but pleasantly so, she says. “I initially thought that it would be a very niche film and would only be sent to film festivals.

But the recent screenings have proved that people are not treating it any differently.”

As part of the film’s post-production commitments, Deepika has been making rounds of live shows and events to promote the film. “For a film like ‘Happy New Year,’ one need not go all out to promote it. But for a ‘Finding Fanny,’ one had to do that extra bit because the film is different,” she says, admitting that meeting people outside of the film sets is not her most favourite part of the job.

“Actors in general are the least confident people.

People think we are social, but most actors including me are underconfident. I am socially awkward when I have to attend parties. I’m getting better, but I’m still not as confident as I would like to be. Besides, I know I will lose stardom some day — it’s the reality of life. I am secure and do not expect to be in spotlight all my life.”

Coming to the matter of love, Deepika insists she hasn’t found the perfect man as yet. “I can’t help myself forget helping anybody else find love but it is the most beautiful feeling in the world.” l

Actors from Nattya Teertha perform during the theatre troupe’s premiere show of Kongkal, a play by Rabindranath Tagore, at the Experimental Theatre Hall in Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on September 12. The play is the eleventh production of Nattya Teertha, dramatised by Rabiul Alam and directed by Tapan Hafiz KHAN HASAN MUHAMMAD RAFI

n Entertainment Desk A week-long exhibition of paintings titled “Colours of Friendship” by Indian artists is being held at the Dhaka Art Centre (DAC) and will continue till September 18. The show features about seventy pieces of art.

The exhibition brings together artists from different parts of India, whose works vary from figurative to abstract, line drawings to landscapes and so on. The painters have used a wide variety of media such as

acrylic and oil on canvas and acrylic sheet, mixed media on paper and canvas, water colour, pen and ink.

The event has been organised in a bid to showcase the brilliance of Indian artists, including Jogen Chowdhury, Suhas Roy, Thota Vaikuntam, Lalu Prasad Shaw, Prakash Karmakar, Samir Aich, Subrata Gangopadhyay, Wasim Kapoor, Jayashree Chakravarty, Aditya Basak, Atin Basak, Laxman Aelay, Sanjay Bhattacharya, Laxman Aelay, Sachin Jaltare, Babu Xavier and Kazi Anirban. l

Did you know?

Diego Costa has scored seven goals from just 10 shots on target this season and 14 overall

Sport

14 Villa down

Liverpool, Costa fires Chelsea

13

Sunday, September 14, 2014

DHAKA TRIBUNE

15 Aussies clinch

15 Ajmal’s elbow

World Group playoff

extension beyond 400: PCB chief

West Indies open 500th Test with century stand n Tribune Desk

Bangladesh captain Mushfiqur Rahim chose to bowl first in West Indies’ 500th Test match as the hosts marked the milestone with a calm and composed 143-run opening stand between debutant Leon Johnson and Kraigg Brathwaite.

When this report was filed at tea on the first day of the second Test match at the Gros Islet yesterday, West Indies, despite losing both openers in the space of 18 balls, were in complete control having placed at 153 for two.

West Indies went into the match with a new opening pair, with Johnson making his debut and becoming the 300th West Indian to play Test cricket. Johnson replaced Chris Gayle, who pulled out citing personal reasons.

The new Windies opening pair made sure of zero casualties as they added 61 runs in the first session to make Mushfiqur, who at the toss said that he wanted the advantage of a slightly quicker

and bouncier pitch, regret his decision to bowl first.

The pair resumed after lunch and showed no hurry as both landed their fifties and the 100-run partnership.

Bangladesh made three changes, with Anamul Haque replacing Imrul Kayes, who was ruled out with a skin infection, while Rubel Hossain and Shuvagata Hom were left out for Robiul Islam and Shafiul Islam as the duo formed a three-man pace attack with Al Amin Hossain.

However, the pace attack wore a toothless look yet again as they failed over after over to capitalize the big encouraging swings the wicket provided.

They bowled wides and no-balls to help the host openers settle in.

Brathwaite on 63 was the first success Bangladesh tasted, but that too came off a rubbish delivery from Shafiul Islam. It was short and wide and it was Brathwaite who reached for it, didn’t get over the bounce, and scooped a simple catch to the man at point.

Taijul Islam trapped Johnson (66) plumb in front to bring the visitors back in the game and Bangladesh would have been happier at tea if Taijul held on to the catch of Kirk Edwards, who, on five, drove Shafiul uppishly towards backward point. Taijul dived forward but the ball popped out of his hand after his elbow hit the ground. l

DAY 1, TEA West Indies 1st Innings K Brathwaite c Taijul b Shafiul L Johnson lbw Taijul Islam K Edwards not out D Bravo not out Extras (b8, lb1, w3, nb3)

63 66 5 4 15

Total (57 overs, 2 wickets)

153

To bat S. Chanderpaul, J. Blackwood, D. Ramdin (captain), J. Taylor, K. Roach, S. Benn, S. Gabriel.

Fall of wickets 1-143 (Brathwaite), 2-145 (Johnson).

Bowling Al-Amin Hossain 13-2-24-0, Shafiul Islam 15-6-29-1 (1w), Robiul Islam 11-231-0 (2w, 3nb), Taijul Islam 14-3-48-1, Mahmudullah 4-1-12-0.

Bangladesh Tamim Iqbal, Shamsur Rahman, Anamul Haque, Mominul Haque, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (captain), Nasir Hossain, Shafiul Islam, Taijul Islam, Robiul Islam, Al-Amin Hossain.

Umpires Richard Illingworth (ENG), Steve Davis (AUS) TV Umpire Marais Erasmus (RSA) Match referee Roshan Mahanama (SRI)

BANGLADESH A v ZIMBABWE A, FOUR-DAY GAME

Hosts look to exploit conditions n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Ahead of the seniors taking on each other next month, it will be testing times for the ‘A’ team cricketers of both Bangladesh and Zimbabwe as the two second string national sides take field at the Cox’s Bazar’s Sheikh Kamal International Stadium (SKIS) today for their first four-day game of the twomatch series.

National discarded Naeem Islam will be leading a balanced side that comprises few new faces along with the experience of Marshal Ayub, Rokibul Hasan and Shahadat Hossain. With couple of domestic performers in the spin department at his disposal Naeem eyes a positive start to the longer-version match.

“Though we have only few senior and experienced cricketers, I think the side is well balanced,” said Naeem to Dhaka Tribune yesterday. “Saqlain (Sajib) and Forhad (Hossain) are the two

senior spinners in the side backed by quality youngster like Likhon (Zubaer Hossain), so the line-up is decent and hope it will work.”

The behaviour of SKIS, one of the recently developed cricketing venues in the country, is still unknown to most of the cricketers, but Naeem is not worried as according to him the conditions won’t be any different from the other grounds in Bangladesh.

“We had some good practice sessionsin the last few days here. The practice wickets were typical, similar to any other wickets in the country – which is slow and low and helpful to the spinners. We were told that the match wickets will be similar so it is not a worry for us,” said the 27-year-old right-handed batsman cum offspinner Naeem who played eight Tests, 59 ODIs and 10 T20Is for Bangladesh.

Meanwhile, the series will be a challenge for the visiting Zimbabwe A play-

ers as the conditions are new to most of them.

“Only a few of us have been here before so a good job is to be done by those who are new here. Hope they will get used to with the conditions soon and deliver for the team. And at the same time the venue is new to the Bangladesh side too, so we look to explore that advantage,” said the visiting captain Vusi Sibanda, who is also expected to be a part of his national side’s tour to Bangladesh next month.

Mark Vermeulen, who has been in-and-out of the Zimbabwe team for off-field discipline issues, after 2009, returned to the national grid with a fourday game against Afghanistan in July this year and went onto play a Test for Zimbabwe against South Africa last month.

Sibanda informed the 35-year-old Vermeulen is excited to get on with his batting and score runs to set the platform for a return to the ODI side. l

West Indies captain Dinesh Ramdin (2R) flips the coin as Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (2L) looks on during the toss in their second Test match at the Gros Islet yesterday. Bangladesh won the toss and put the hosts into bat in their 500th Test outing WICB

BCB assures support CHAMPIONS LEAGUE T20 QUALIFIER to Gazi, Al Amin n Minhaz Uddin Khan The Bangladesh Cricket Board media committee chairman Jalal Younus assured the board’s support to the offspinner Sohag Gazi and pacer Al Amin Hossain, who were reported to have illegal bowling actions in the past one week of their Caribbean tour.

“Definitely, we will provide all-out support for them (Gazi and Al Amin).

The board will always stay beside them.

We are waiting for the test results,” said Jalal at SBNS yesterday.

Jalal is hopeful of both the national bowlers coming out clean and said, “I got to know that Al Amin’s problem is not so serious after reading the newspapers. Hopefully both Gazi and Al Amin will come out from the test positively.”

“We think the complaint that was raised against Gazi and Al Amin by ICC will not be as serious as it was in case of Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal. Ajmal’s problem is serious,” said Jalal. l

Lahore bowlers sink listless Mumbai n Cricinfo Mohammad Hafeez had tried to portray Lahore Lions as the underdog, saying he would be content if his team played to potential and enjoyed themselves.

As the match wore on however, it was revealed to be a ruse as a bowling lineup that looked fit for an international team confounded Mumbai Indians.

A target of 136 would not bother most T20 champions and Lahore Lions, who had won the Faysal Bank T-20 in 2014, had Ahmed Shehzad at the top and Umar Akmal during the finish to guide them home and leave the defending champions with a tougher path for their place in the main draw.

Cheema sucked Lendl Simmons was into mid-off ’s hands for 7. Jalaj Saxe-

na, on debut for Mumbai, was on the receiving end of a lovely outswinger and edged to slip the very next ball.

The hat-trick was denied by Ambati Rayudu, but an optimistic single could

BRIEF SCORE

Mumbai Indians 135/7 (Tare 37, M Hueesy 28; Cheema 2-22) Lahore Lions 139/4 (Akmal 38*, Shehzad 34; Ojha 2-18) Lahore Lions won by six wickets have caused problems had Wahab Riaz nailed the throw at the non-strikers’ end. Lions were not hurt badly by that missed opportunity when Rayudu’s swat to midwicket fostered an edge to the keeper. l

Russel deny Ctg Abahani, BJMC win in Airtel U-18 football tournament n Raihan Mahmood

The Bangladesh men and women roll ball team pose for a group photo after finishing third in the Sheikh Russel South Asian Roll Ball Championship at the Abahani ground yesterday COURTESY

India clinch South Asian Roll Ball titles n Raihan Mahmood

India clinched both the titles of the Sheikh Russel South Asian Roll Ball Championship beating Pakistan and Nepal respectively in the men’s and women’s final at the Abahani ground yesterday.

In the men’s final, India beat Pakistan by 5-2 goals while in the Indian women’s triumphed against Nepal with a 7-1 scoreline.

Bangladesh men’s and women’s team lost in their respective semifinals to India by 7-2 and 2-1 goals as the hosts had to remain content with the third place in both sections.

Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, member of parliament of local constituency, distributed the prizes as the chief guest. Walton additional director FM Iqbal bin Anwar Dawn was also present on the occasion. l

Army face Gazipur in rugby semifinal n Raihan Mahmood Bangladesh Army will face Gazipur in the first semifinal of the Walton 4th National Rugby Championship at the Paltan ground today.

In the last group matchday yesterday, Bangladesh Army, Chittagong, Gazipur and Narail confirmed the last four slots by outclassing their respective opponents. Gazipur beat Dhaka by 29-5 points while Sirajganj thrashed Bagerhat 39-0. l

The Airtel Under-18 Football, comprising the youth teams of the Bangladesh Premier League clubs, got underway with an exciting 2-2 draw between Sheikh Russel and Chittagong Abahani at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Chittagong Abahani were almost sure of securing a winning start as they led 2-1 with three minutes of stoppage time to play, but Sheikh Russel forward Masud Rana spoilt their party with a scintillating goal from 35 yards out.

Having the possession from the midfield, Rana unleashed a fierce left footer as the ball kissed the inner edge of the cross post to end up inside the goal.

Earlier, Mohammad Shumon of Chittagong Abahani put his team ahead in the 12the minute with a neat placing only to see Rana restore the scoreline after 10 minutes.

It was Shumon’s second in the 53rd minute that restored the lead for the port city team as a clever chipped through from Munna from the top of the box saw Shumon blast home a cracking left footer.

Team BJMC made a winning start to their campaign as they comfortable beat Muktijoddha SKS 2-0 in the sec-

ond match of the day.

Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports Arif Khan Joy inaugurated the tournament as the chief guest.

The U-18 team of the champions Sheikh Jamal is not playing in the tournament, thus making it a nine-team affair.

However, Bangladesh Football Federation is yet to take any punitive measures against them. BFF, who initially planned an U-16 tournament, is reportedly double minded about taking any step against Sheikh Jamal, the club that urged to hold the U-18 affair instead. l

Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports Arif Khan Joy meets the Chittagong Abahani players during inauguration of the Airtel U-18 Football at the BNS yesterday COURTESY

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Sunday, September 14, 2014

Falcao and co begin new United era against QPR n AFP, London Manchester United will give debuts to a posse of new players, including Radamel Falcao, when they attempt to kickstart their flatlining Premier League season against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.

Falcao was the headline acquisition of United’s £150 million ($244 million, 188 million euros) close-season splurge and is expected to get his first run-out at Old Trafford following his loan move from Monaco.

Fellow new signings Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Luke Shaw are also in line to make their debuts, the latter having overcome a hamstring problem, while record-signing Angel di Maria will make his first home appearance.

United’s need for reinforcements was emphasised by a disappointing start to the season in which they failed to record a win in their first three league games and were bundled out of the League Cup by third-tier Milton Keynes Dons. With players such as Robin van Persie, Juan Mata and captain Wayne Rooney also at his disposal, manager Louis van Gaal now faces a challenge to accommodate all of his star names in his preferred 3-4-1-2 formation.

But he says that the competition for places at Old Trafford is a dilemma that every manager would like to have.

“For a coach, it is always easy because he can decide,” the Dutchman told his weekly press conference on Friday.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa celebrates scoring against Swansea during their English Premier League match at the Stamford Bridge in London yesterday

REUTERS

Villa down Liverpool, Costa fires Chelsea Arsenal denied by late Demichelis header Sterling on, but the closest the hosts n AFP, London came to equalising was a shot from Liverpool crashed to a surprise 1-0 loss at home to Aston Villa on Saturday, after Chelsea beat Swansea City 4-2 to move clear at the Premier League summit.

Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor scored the only goal at Anfield in the ninth minute, hooking home from close range after Philippe Senderos’s header was blocked by Javier Manquillo.

After debutant Adam Lallana and Mario Balotelli shot wide, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers sent Raheem

Philippe Coutinho that hit the post.

While Villa -- who have not lost at Anfield since December 2010 -- remain unbeaten this season, Liverpool have now lost twice, following last month’s 3-1 loss at Manchester City, and trail Chelsea by six points.

Villa climbed to second, two points behind Chelsea, who came from behind to beat Swansea at Stamford Bridge thanks to a hat-trick by Diego Costa.

John Terry’s own goal from Neil Taylor’s left-wing cross gave previously unbeaten Swansea an 11th-minute lead, but Costa equalised on the stroke

“He decides always what he sees.

I don’t have any worries about that because I have done that already, for more than 25 years.

“You always want to buy the best players for the positions. I think we have done very good in the transfer window. Despite not being in the Champions League, the players are coming to United.

There will also be novelty in the QPR ranks, with new signings Sandro, Niko Kranjcar and Eduardo Vargas all in contention to make their debuts.

Like United, Harry Redknapp’s side are without a win after three matches, but with three draws to their name, the West London club go into the game a point above their opponents.

The match will be particularly poignant for QPR centre-back Rio Ferdinand, who moved to Loftus Road on a free transfer in July after a trophy-laden 12-year spell at United.

Asked how he felt about his return to the scene of some of his greatest triumphs, the 35-year-old told the BBC: “Emotional, really.

“I had great years there. I had some really good times there. I never got a chance to say bye when I left, which was unfortunate, so it’ll be a nice opportunity to say bye to a lot of the people who supported me.”

Falcao arrives in England with a fearsome reputation, having scored 200 goals in 305 games during his club career, but Redknapp does not believe Ferdinand will be unduly worried by the prospect of facing the Colombian. l

RESULTS Arsenal Wilshere 63, Sanchez 74

Chelsea of half-time with a header from a rightwing corner. He struck twice in 11 minutes to put Chelsea in control, polishing off a Cesc Fabregas cut-back and a mishit Ramires shot, and Loic Remy made it 4-1 with a debut goal before Jonjo Shelvey replied for Swansea.

Earlier, Martin Demichelis scored an 83rd-minute equaliser as champions Manchester City held Arsenal to a 2-2 draw in an entertaining encounter at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal looked set for victory when Alexis Sanchez slammed home a sumptuous volley in the 74th minute, after Jack Wilshere’s neatly constructed goal had cancelled out Sergio Aguero’s first-

half opener for City.

But Argentina centre-back Demichelis headed in an Aleksandar Kolarov corner to prevent Manuel Pellegrini’s side from slumping to a second consecutive defeat after their shock 1-0 loss at home to Stoke City.

Elsewhere, Everton claimed their first win of the season with a 2-0 success at West Bromwich Albion. Romelu Lukaku opened the scoring in the second minute against his former club, pouncing on a loose clearance from Jonas Olsson and curling home, with Kevin Mirallas sealing victory in the 67th minute.

An own goal by Harry Kane saw Tottenham Hotspur held to a 2-2 draw at

Sunderland. After Nacer Chadli and Adam Johnson had exchanged quick-fire goals, Chadli teed up Christian Eriksen to restore Spurs’ lead, only for Vlad Chiriches’s clearance to hit Kane and bounce in for an own goal in the 82nd minute.

Graziano Pelle scored twice as Southampton sent Newcastle United to the foot of the table with a 4-0 win at St Mary’s. Jack Cork and Morgan Schneiderlin were also on target.

Leicester City secured their first victory since gaining promotion, winning 1-0 at Stoke thanks to a second-half effort from new signing Leonardo Ulloa.

But fellow promoted side Burnley failed to follow suit, with Scott Arfield

Costa 45, 56, 67, Remy 81

2-2 4-2

Man City Aguero 28, Demichelis 83

Swansea Terry 11-og, Shelvey 86

0-0 4-0

Newcastle

Stoke

0-1

Leicester

Sunderland

2-2

Tottenham

Crystal Palace Southampton Pelle 6, 19, Cork 54, Schneiderlin 90

Johnson 4, Kane 82-og

West Brom Liverpool

0-2 0-1

Burnley

Ulloa 64 Chadli 2, Eriksen 48

Everton Lukaku 2, Mirallas 66

Aston Villa Agbonlahor 9

seeing a late penalty saved by Julian Speroni in a 0-0 draw at Crystal Palace. l

Kagawa scores on BVB return, Bayern win

Argentine family given permission to name son Messi n Reuters, Buenos Aires n Reuters, Berlin A couple have named their new-born son Messi after Argentina captain, having been granted permission to circumvent a 45-year-old law banning the use of last names as first names.

Messi may be one of the highest-profile figures in Argentina but due to a 1969 statute in the South American country, proud father Daniel Varela had to petition city authorities to be granted an exception to the law.

“We told the authorities that he was our child and that we would name him as we pleased. (A civil register official) said it wasn’t their problem and that I had to write a letter saying why I wanted to give him that name. We did that and finally (permission) arrived,” Varela said. l

Japan international Shinji Kagawa sparkled on his return to Borussia Dortmund, scoring one goal for the Ruhr Valley club and helping set up another in a 3-1 win over Freiburg on Saturday.

Champions Bayern Munich beat VfB Stuttgart 2-0, with Frenchman Franck Ribery scoring on his season debut as they prepare for their Champions League match against Man City next week.

The 25-year-old Kagawa, who had spent two seasons at Manchester United after winning consecutive Bundesliga titles in 2011 and 2012 with Dortmund, was welcomed back with roaring applause and he instantly re-

Barcelona’s Neymar (L) celebrates his second goal against Athletic with team mate Lionel Messi during their La Liga match at Nou Camp stadium in Barcelona yesterday REUTERS

warded the fans.

Freiburg scored a late consolation goal with Oliver Sorg.

Dortmund have six points from three games, one behind Bayern who never hit top form against Stuttgart. l

RESULTS Bayern Munich Goetze 27, Ribery 85

2-0

VfB Stuttgart

3-1

SC Freiburg

1-1

VfL Wolfsburg

Dortmund Ramos 34, Kagawa 41, Aubameyang 78

Hoffenheim Modeste 55

Hertha Berlin Ronny 86-P

SC Paderborn

1-3 0-0

Sorg 90

Olic 89

Mainz 05 Okazaki 36, 90+1, Allagui 70

FC Cologne

Dortmund’s Japanese midfielder Shinji Kagawa (3L) celebrates with teammates after scoring against SC Freiburg during their Bundesliga match in Dortmund, western Germany yesterday AFP

Barcelona’s Neymar scores twice, creator Messi takes plaudits

Monaco’s woeful start continues n Reuters, Paris

n Reuters, Barcelona

Monaco’s terrible start to the Ligue 1 season continued on Friday as last season’s runners-up slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Olympique Lyonnais.

The principality club, who let 2014 World Cup hero James Rodriguez join Real Madrid and fellow Colombia forward Radamel Falcao depart for Manchester United during the close season, are fifth from bottom with four points from five games.

Lyon, who have also had a rough start to the season, are four places above Monaco on six points.

Lyon went ahead on the half hour when Nabil Fekir, set up by Steed Malbranque, beat keeper Danijel Subasic from inside the box.

Lucas Ocampos levelled nine minutes later with a fine curling shot but Monaco generally lacked inspiration and Dimitar Berbatov, missed a sitter on the stroke of halftime. l

Neymar may have scored both goals in Barcelona’s 2-0 La Liga win at home to Athletic Bilbao on Saturday but it was Lionel Messi who again took the plaudits thanks to a pair of brilliant assists.

Barca were struggling to break down a determined Bilbao side at the Nou Camp until substitute Neymar struck in the 79th minute, running on to a threaded Messi pass and scoring with a precise low shot into the corner.

Four-times World Player of the Year Messi set up the Brazil forward for his second five minutes later, dribbling down the right and squaring for an unmarked Neymar to pick his spot in the same corner.

“Messi is the best in the world, a star,” Neymar, who came on for the final half

an hour to replace teenage Spain forward Munir el Haddadi, told reporters.

“I am improving playing with him,” added the 22-year-old, who started on the bench as he continues his comeback from an ankle injury.

Messi struck twice in Barca’s 3-0 home win against Elche in their opening game of the campaign and set up San-

RESULTS Barcelona Neymar 79, 84

2-0

Athletic Bilbao

dro Ramirez to score in their 1-0 success at Villarreal on their second outing.

Seeking to improve on last season’s second-placed finish to Atletico Madrid, Barcelona have made a fine start and are the only team with a perfect record of three wins in three games.

Barca’s new coach Luis Enrique echoed Neymar’s praise of Argentina

captain Messi and noted his prolific scoring record means the goals he creates for team mates are often eclipsed.

“Messi is the best not only because of his goals but also for his assists,” Luis Enrique told a news conference.

“He does things in training that I have not even seen... on the Playstation,” added the former Barca and Spain midfielder, who took over from Gerardo Martino at the end of last season. “It is a pleasure and a privilege to have him in the team.”

Neymar said he had been feeling the effects of his trip to play for his country in friendlies against Colombia and Ecuador but was delighted with his performance against Bilbao.

His connection with Messi did not always work as smoothly as hoped last term but they linked up well on Saturday and Neymar said he hoped this would be his breakthrough year. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Sunday, September 14, 2014

CL T20 QUALIFIER

QUICK BYTES Ghana sack Appiah, eye Rajevac return

Williamson fifty leads Knights to victory

Ghana’s football association announced on Friday the firing of national team coach Kwesi Appiah, ending months of speculation about the fate of the controversial coach. The announcement came on the heels of Ghana’s disastrous performance at this year’s football World Cup in Brazil in which they failed to advance beyond the group stage. The players’ high-profile dispute with the Ghana Football Association (GFA) over appearance fees and Appiah’s decision to suspend two key players during the tournament made headlines worldwide.

“The GFA wishes to thank Mr Appiah for his diligent service to the country as the coach of the Black Stars for the past two years,” the GFA said in a statement on its website. “We wish him every success for the future.”

–AFP

n Cricinfo

An unflustered Kane Williamson propelled Northern Knights to a convincing seven-wicket win, chasing down Southern Express’ 92 in the rain-hit Champions League T20 opener in Raipur. Williamson’s 52 off 29 kept Knights on track throughout the chase, after the match was reduced to 10-overs-per-side. That Express managed a defendable score came mainly down to their openers, but Williamson’s fifty and cameos from the rest of Knights’ top order made sure they were never in trouble.

Express decided to open the bowling with spinners hoping to trouble the New Zealand side but Williamson found the gaps by using his feet against them, while Anton Devcich rotated the strike regularly and struck a four and six in the first two overs. Williamson targeted Danushka Gunathilaka in the third over, caressing one four through the covers, sweeping one on the leg side, and lofting one over long-on for six, which charged them to 40 for 0 after three overs. l

Yepes set for Argentina return with San Lorenzo Colombia’s 2014 World Cup captain Mario Yepes is set to return to Argentina to sign for San Lorenzo, the South American champions said. “Welcome Mario! Yepes has become a new San Lorenzo player.

Welcome to the champions of (South) America,” the Saints said on their Twitter account (@SanLorenzo) late on Friday.

The 38-year-old central defender, who led Colombia to the World Cup quarter-finals where they lost to Brazil, played for River Plate from 1999-2002 before embarking on an European career.

Media reports said Yepes, who in August turned down an offer from Argentine rivals Independiente, was enticed to join Libertadores Cup winners San Lorenzo to play in the Club World Cup in Morocco in December.

–Reuters

Malouda signs for Metz in France Former French international midfielder Florent Malouda has signed a one-year contract, with an option for a second season, to play for Metz in the French first division. Malouda has been without a club since leaving Turkish side Trabzonspor in August due to a disagreement with manager Vahid Halilhodzic. “Metz is a historic club with a presitigious past,” said Malouda, who was born in Cayenne, French Guiana. “I felt a real ambition at the club, there’s a real coherence in their project.” The 34-year-old left-sided player started his career in 1997 with Chateauroux before joining Brittany side Guincamp.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH BTV, Gazi TV, Ten Cricket 8:00PM Bangladesh tour of West Indies Second Test, Day 2 Sony Six National Football League 2014 11:00 PM Buffalo Bills v Miami Dolphins World Kabaddi League 2014 Ludhiana: DAY 12 Neo Prime 7:30 PM German Bundesliga Eintracht Frankfurt v FC Augsburg 9:30 PM Hannover 96 v Hamburger SV Neo Sports Davis Cup 4:00PM Switzerland v Italy Singles Ten Action French Ligue 1 6:00 PM LOSC Lille Sa v FC Nantes Ten HD French Ligue 1 9:00 PM EA De Guingamp v FC Girondins De Bordeaulive Star sports 1 Champions League T20 4:20PM Northern Knights v Lahore Lions 8:20PM Mumbai Indian v Southern Express

BRIEF SCORE

Afghan cricket captain Mohammad Nabi Eisakhil (CR) and batsman Nawroz Mangal (CL) hold the 2015 Cricket World Cup trophy as team members welcome them at Kabul International Airport yesterday. Afghanistan will play in the 50-overs Cricket World Cup competition for the first time in 2015, which will be hosted by Australia and New Zealand AFP

elbow extension Reeva’s family shocked Ajmal’s beyond 40 : PCB chief at Pistorius verdict 0

n AFP, Karachi

n

AFP, Pretoria

The parents of Reeva Steenkamp have reacted with shock and disbelief after a judge acquitted star athlete Oscar Pistorius of her murder, convicting him of the lesser charge of culpable homicide.

“We were shocked. Shocked. Disappointed,” June Steenkamp told Britain’s ITV News on Friday. “You know your heart drops because you just want the truth,” she said, referring to the death of her daughter.

Earlier Friday, South African Judge Thokozile Masipa acquitted Pistorius of murder, but found he acted “negligently” in killing the blonde law graduate and fashion model by firing at her through a bathroom door.

“Blade Runner” Pistorius walked free on bail ahead of what could still be a stiff prison sentence. He had argued that he shot Steenkamp in the dead of the night after he mistook her for an intruder. The father of the victim said he found it difficult to believe Pistorius’ version of the events.

“There is still something missing,” Barry Steenkamp told ITV News. “I think there was more to the whole story, you know, coming up to the actual shooting, the killing.”

His trial had heard that in the early hours of Valentine’s Day last year Pistorius fired four hollow point pistol rounds into a locked toilet door, hitting Steenkamp and causing her head to “explode” and “amputating” her arm.

Masipa, dismissing swathes of prosecution evidence as inconclusive or irrelevant, ruled that on the charge of murder “the accused is found not guilty and is discharged. Instead he is found guilty of culpable homicide”.

Steenkamp’s father Barry looked at Pistorius and ran his hand over his head while her mother June pursed her lips and shook her head.

“I just don’t feel that this is the right (verdict),” she said in a separate interview with America’s NBC News after the final judgement was handed down in Pretoria.

The mother said her daughter had died a “horrible, painful, terrible death.

And I can’t believe that they believe that it was an accident,” she said. l

Pakistan’s cricket chief Friday revealed that spinner Saeed Ajmal’s arm extension was on average more than double the permitted limit during tests which led to the spinner’s suspension from international cricket.

The 36-year-old was banned on Tuesday after failing tests in an Australian biomechanics lab ordered when umpires reported his bowling action during last month’s Galle Test against Sri Lanka.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan told AFP that Ajmal’s arm had vastly exceeded the permitted 15 degrees of straightening.

“Some of the deliveries had very high elbow extension, over 40 degrees,” Khan said of the 23-page report on the tests.

Under International Cricket Coun-

Prost, Senna start at opposite ends of grid n AFP, Beijing Two of motorsports’ most famous names start the first ever Formula E race for electric cars at opposite ends of the grid in Beijing Saturday, with Nicolas Prost taking pole position in Beijing and Bruno Senna second from last.

Frenchman Prost, the son of fourtime F1 champion Alain, went some way to meeting the heavy expectations on his shoulders by clocking the best lap on the 3.453-kilometre circuit with a time of one minute 42.200 seconds.

But Senna, the nephew of Ayrton Senna, suffered a miserable afternoon after his car failed to start in qualifying, meaning he was to begin the race in

19th position.

Prost was more than a tenth of a second ahead of second-placed Brazilian Lucas Di Grassi, whose fastest lap was one minute 42.306. Di Grassi’s teammate at Audi Sport ABT, Daniel Abt, will be third on the grid after he clocked one minute 42.454 seconds.

Prost, 33, who races for the E.Dams Renault team co-founded by his father, crashed into the barriers on one of his four laps, but said there was no damage to his car. He felt “fantastic” with his qualifying, he said, in his first street race since 2005.

“To be honest I was a bit worried, but in the end it turned out OK,” he added.l

cil (ICC) rules, a bowler is allowed to straighten his elbow by a maximum of 15 degrees while bowling -- any more is deemed to be throwing, or “chucking”.

Khan said it was not just occasional deliveries that were a problem -- the average extension during Ajmal’s deliveries was also very high.

“The mean of Ajmal’s deliveries was 37 degrees which again is high and now we have a challenge to do the remedial work,” said Khan.

When Ajmal was first reported in 2009 for his “doosra” he was cleared on medical grounds -- injuries which were also recorded in the latest report.

The testing process involved 27 cameras, including high speed cinematic cameras for side-on and behind the bowler’s arm and three high-speed mobile video cameras, as well as an overhead standard video camera.l

Lisicki to face Schiavone in Hong Kong last-four n AFP, Hong Kong

Queretaro player Ronaldinho (C) greets fans during their Mexican league championship match against Puebla FC, at Corregidora stadium in Queretaro on Friday REUTERS

Top seed Sabine Lisicki and former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone will meet in the last-four of the WTA Hong Kong Open after winning their quarter-final matches Friday.

Lisicki, from Germany, defeated China’s Zheng Saisai 6-4, 6-3 in rain-interrupted play at the southern Chinese city’s Victoria Park, while Schiavone also triumphed in straight sets. The 2010 Roland Garros winner needed just over an hour to dispatch seventh-seed Jana Cepelova of Slovakia 6-2, 6-2.

Karolina Pliskova, seeded third, will take on world number 91 Alison Van Uytvanck of Belgium in the semi-final. l

Aussies clinch World Group playoff Torres ready to write n new chapter for Milan AFP, Perth

Lleyton Hewitt steered Australia back to the Davis Cup World Group with a dominating performance in the dou-

bles win over Uzbekistan in Perth on Saturday.

The 33-year-old warhorse, continually fending off retirement questions, partnered Chris Guccione to a 6-3, 7-6

Star Sports 2 Spanish La Liga 12:50PM Granada v Villarreal Star Sports 4 Moto GP World Championship 2014 3:00 PM Main Race English Premier League 8:50 PM Manchester United vs QPR 12: 40 AM Serie A Parma v Ac Milan

Southern Express 92 for 5 (Gunathilaka 39, Kusal 37, boult 2-12) Nothern Knights 96 for 3 (Williamson 52, Maharoof 2-14) Southern Express by seven wickets

Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt (R) and Chris Guccione (L) speak with each other in their match against Uzbekistan’s Farrukh Dustov and Denis Istomin during the Davis Cup tennis World Group play-off tie in Perth yesterday AFP

(7/5), 6-2 victory over the Uzbek pair, Denis Istomin and Farrukh Dustov, to clinch the tie.

The 28-time Davis Cup champions were in an impregnable position after Hewitt and youngster Nick Kyrgios won Friday’s opening singles in straight sets.

Hewitt, who took his 15-year career Davis Cup winning tally to 56 matches with 41 singles and 15 doubles, has faced a barrage of enquiries as to what his future holds, but he refuses to say.

The grizzled veteran, who has undergone five painful surgeries in five years in an effort to prolong his career including a knitting of the bone in his troublesome left foot, was his usual ferocious competitive self in Saturday’s doubles.

The Aussie pair took just 100 minutes to roll out their straight sets win in the doubles, shutting the door on Uzbekistan, who were bidding to reach the World Group for the first time. l

n Reuters, Rome Fernando Torres has already impressed AC Milan with his autograph-signing abilities and will attempt to show that he is just as prolific when it comes to scoring goals when he makes his Serie A debut on Sunday.

The Spaniard was signed just before the end of the transfer window after an unhappy spell at Chelsea and, although the idea of a misfiring striker joining a struggling team may seem like a recipe for disaster, Milan are confident it will all work out.

“Torres had a difficult year, but he has great desire to do well,” coach Filippo Inzaghi said during a recent coaching forum at UEFA headquarters.

“I like to see a player who stops to sign autographs for two-and-a-half hours, it’s

a sign of respect towards the fans.

Despite another unimpressive performance in the summer transfer window, chief executive Adriano Galliani believes the seven-times European champions can stage a revival.

“Inzaghi’s new Milan is bringing back the enthusiasm among our supporters and I remain optimistic. You will see that the work I am doing with Pippo (Inzaghi) will bring great satisfaction. l

FIXTURES Sampdoria Cagliari Fiorentina Inter Lazio Napoli Parma Verona

v v v v v v v v

Torino Atalanta Genoa Sassuolo Cesena Chievo Milan Palermo

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Sunday, September 14, 2014

Bangladesh opposes ICPD’s LGBT rights move n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Bangladesh does not support the recommendations of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) to provide rights for lesbian and gay people.

It has also opposed the idea of comprehensive sexuality education programmes put forward by the ICPD. “It goes against our values. Like many other countries including those Muslims and Christian, we opposed it,” Bangladesh Permanent Representative to the UN Abdul Momen told the Dhaka Tribune.

The ICPD proposed to provide rights to lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender (LGBT) and comprehensive sexuality education for 12-13 year-old children.

In the 69th UN General Assembly, there would be an event on the ICPD’s recommendations on September 22 and it is expected to be a new battle ground since China, Russia, India and many other countries opposed it.

Health Minister Mohammad Nasim, Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque and Health Secretary MM Neazuddin will attend the ICPD event.

In the sixth Asian and Pacific Population Conference held in Bangkok last year, Bangladesh expressed its reservations on recommendations on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI).

The ICPD recommends to “work to reduce vulnerability and eliminate discrimination based on sex, gender, age, race, caste, class, migrant status, disability, HIV status, sexual orientation and gender identity, or other status.

It also expresses “grave concern at

acts of violence and discrimination committed against individuals on the grounds of their sexual orientation and gender identity.”

SOGI

Under the SOGI, the ICPD promoted the rights of the LGBT people. But Bangladesh strictly opposed it.

They put the SOGI texts in a sugar-coated manner, Momen said.

“If you look at the texts, they talked about ‘eliminate discrimination’ or ‘acts of violence,’ which sound very good but if read carefully, one can find that it actually preaches rights of the LGBT,” he said.

“It goes against our values and laws, and we cannot it endorse it,” the official added.

The ICPD proposed to provide rights to a person who has sexual relations with a person of the same sex. “But it is unacceptable,” he said.

“Even in the US, out of 50 states, only 16 allow rights of the LGBT.”

SETTING SIGHTS ON SUCCESS Saidul Haque (bottom right), himself a blind person, founded Berdo (Blind Education and Rehabilitation Development Organisation), a private school for sight-impaired students, in 1992.

Sexuality education

The ICPD proposed to provide rights to children aged 12-13 years of comprehensive sexuality education programmes, education and employment opportunities and opportunities to participate in decision-making.

“If we allow comprehensive sexuality education programmes, then we have to teach our school-going children, with video presentation, how to have sex,” Momen said.

Only a few countries and a section of the UN Secretariat support the idea, he said. l

How he completed his bachelor’s and master’s studies at the University of Dhaka is a story of hardship and tenacity.

Saidul’s struggle still continues but it now focuses on enabling his sight-impaired students to excel.

Many of the school’s 20 students receive Tk3,000 each as financial assistance.

The school is located in the Mirpur 11 neighbourhood of the capital.

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

114 hajj pilgrims pay 1,077 Saudi Riyals for new tickets n Moniruzzaman Uzzal

Mizanur yesterday said all the pilgrims of all agencies would hopefully get visas and fly to Saudi in time.

“There is nothing to worry about,” he said.

Till yesterday, more than 50,000 pilgrims reached Saudi to perform hajj likely to be held on October 4. Hajj officials said more and more pilgrims are leaving the country as the largest congregation of the Muslims is approaching.

The first flight left on August 27 and the expected date of departure of the last flight is September 30.

Hajj office sources said only three to five flights left the country every day with 1,000-2,000 passengers at the outset but now the number of flights has risen to 9-10 flight with 4,000-5,000 passengers on an average.

A total of Bangladeshi 98,683 pilgrims would perform hajj this year. Of them, a mere 1,505 would fly under government arrangements and the rest would go via private agencies. l

More than a hundred Bangladeshi hajj pilgrims had to buy fresh bus tickets to Mecca after landing at Jeddah airport as they lost the previous tickets during the journey.

Hajj office sources said the pilgrims, who all travelled under private arrangements by Saudi Airlines, lost their bus tickets, and the majority of them were elderly men.

Mizanur Rahman, director of the hajj office under the Ministry of Religious Affairs, told the Dhaka Tribune a total of 114 pilgrims had to pay 1,077 Saudi Riyals each to buy new tickets.

“As per the direction of the Saudi authorities, all the pilgrims were given their bus tickets but those who are particularly very old lost theirs. Upon landing at the airport, they had to show their tickets and passports but the 114 failed to do so as they forgot where they kept the tickets,” he said.

Mizanur also said the passengers who would take the upcoming flights should carefully carry their tickets with them, adding that they would have to pay 1,077 Saudi Riyals in case they lose it.

Meanwhile, all 835 private hajj agencies eventually received valid bar codes from the Saudi Arabian government to arrange visas for pilgrims.

Just a couple of days ago, uncertainty loomed over more than 100 agencies that were yet to get their bar codes but everything worked out all right in the end.

The Religious Affairs Ministry recently issued an emergency notice asking the agencies to submit passports of the pilgrims along with necessary documents within yesterday at the hajj office as the Saudi embassy had said it would not entertain any visa application after tomorrow.

The Saudi authorities introduced the bar code system this year. To obtain the bar code, an agency was required to submit valid documents of accommodation, food and other arrangements.

Maid’s body recovered in capital n Mohammad Jamil Khan

Police free house help from abusive employers

Police yesterday recovered the body of a 14-year-old housemaid from a doctor’s house in Gulshan in the capital.

She was identified as Reshma, daughter of Khoka Mia from Padmapukur of Mohadebpur in Naogaon.

Reshma worked for two and a half years at Dr Sheikh Moinul’s house at PDB quarters. Moniul, a staff at Dhaka Power Distribution Company, lives there with his wife and two children.

Moinul said he saw Reshma’s body hanging from the ceiling fan in the drawing room when he woke up in the morning and then called the police.

“We did not do anything to her that might have provoked her to take her life but we sometimes found her depressed,” he added.

Shikdar Mohitul, sub-inspector at Gulshan police station, told the Dhaka Tribune there was a black spot on Reshma’s neck when the body was recovered.

“The body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for autopsy to check whether she was raped or tortured in any way,” he said.

“We did not find any sign of injury on her body. We will decide what to do after we get the autopsy report,” added Mohitul. l

n Ashif Islam Shaon Police yesterday rescued a juvenile house help, allegedly brutalised by her employer and her employer’s husband over the last ten months, from the capital’s Badda area.

The victim, Jhumur, 16, was admitted to the One-stop Crisis Centre (OCC) of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) yesterday around 2pm.

The victim’s mother filed a case against her employer, Farzana Akhter Tania, and her employer’s husband, Maksud Parvez, at Badda police station.

Police were able to arrest Farzana but Maksud fled from their apartment at 22/11, East Merul Badda. Police said Farzana had brought Jhumur to the Cholera Hospital in the capital on Thursday with diarrhoea.

“At the hospital, patients and their attendants noticed the mark of injuries on the girl’s body. She told them the scars were caused by her mistress’s abuse,” said Sub-Inspector (SI) Jamal Hossain of Badda police station.

Some of the patients and their attendants informed journalists, the police and the girl’s mother about the scars.

“We went to the hospital and spoke

100 shops along railtracks demolished n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Railway (east zone) authorities yesterday knocked down at least 100 shops that had been erected occupying both sides of rail lines in Sholoshahar area of the port city.

Sources said the authorities con-

ducted a drive on the temporary Dui Number Gate kitchen market in the area near to Sholoshahar Karnaphuli market around noon and evicted the illegal shops from both sides of the railtracks.

Divisional Estate Official Md Jasim Uddin of BR (east zone) acknowledged the three-hour long evicting drive, tell-

ing such type of move would be kept continual in the future.

Since the authorities, however, have turned a blind eye to the matter for long, the higher authorities ordered to remove the illegal occupiers after the capital’s Karwanbazar mishap that claimed four lives. l

with her. She provided her employer’s home address,” the SI said.

Police made the arrest early yesterday, recovered the juvenile domestic worker and brought her to DMCH. SI Jamal said Jhumur, daughter of Hanif Mollah and Nargis Begum of Zianagar in Pirojpur district, started to work in the Badda flat on December 13 last year.

“Farzana and her husband used to torture her. If the child failed at some task, they would beat her with an iron rod or pour hot water on her body,” he said.

Jhumur told police she had been poorly fed. She was given spoiled food to eat. Several times she was beaten up because she stole food to eat. Farzana was admitted to the Cholera Hospital after she fell sick from eating rotten food.

Police yesterday produced Farzana before a Dhaka court seeking a five-day remand. The court scrapped the remand petition and sent her to jail.

Bilkis Begum, coordinator at the OCC, said a preliminary physical examination had been conducted on the rescued house help. “She is suffering from malnutrition. There are also some burn injuries on the body. Perhaps a bone is also broken. We will conduct a detailed examination [today],” she said. l

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India’s love affair with gold may be over, as prices slide

B4 Show us the money: EU

seeks billions of euros to revive economy

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Spending bonanza eats up insurance holders’ bonus n Jebun Nesa Alo Management expense by the country’s insurance companies is growing alarmingly as it exceeded the allowable limit, eventually eating up the policy holders’ bonus.

The Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA) has found 13 life insurance companies spending Tk1,200 crore, exceeding the limit of management cost for last five years.

The companies are National Life Insurance, Meghna Life, Rupali Life, Delta Life, Homeland Life, Popular Life, Fareast Life, Sunlife, Shandhani Life, Progressive Life, Prime Life, Pragati Life and Padma Islami Life insurance.

The management cost started rising abnormally mainly since 2011, according to the IDRA findings.

Only in the year of 2013, the excessive cost of the companies was Tk262 crore.

The excess expenditure goes against the interest of the policy holders, an IDRA senior executive said.

But the IDRA law suggests the policy holders should get 90% of surplus fund as bonus and the shareholders 10%.

IDRA Chairman M Shefaq Ahmed admitted the policy holders are becoming loser due to extravagant spending by the companies.

He said the management of the insurance companies hardly followed the rules and was not aware of the excessive expenses.

The IDRA queried the unlimited spending to the managing directors of the companies, but the latter failed to produce satisfactory explanation for the issue, said a senior executive of the insurance regulatory authority.

It also met with the board of directors of the companies and decided to appoint auditors to check the management expense of all the insurance companies.

The authority will send letter to the 13

companies seeking details of the management cost, M Shefaq Ahmed said.

Of the life insurance companies, Padma Islami Life Insurance had the highest 76.56% excess management cost of the allowable limit in 2013.

The company’s total management cost in the last five years was Tk137.58 crore.

Padma spent Tk9 crore in 2009 which was 12% higher than the allowable limit of Tk73.45 crore, with the excessive expense rising abnormally over the years. The excess cost was Tk24.69 crore in 2010 from the limit, Tk37.31 crore in 2011, Tk33 crore in 2012 and Tk34 crore in 2013.

The second in line in terms of spending is Pragati Life Insurance that spent excess 70.92% of allowable cost in the year 2013. The excess spending of the company was 48% in the year 2012 and 38.49% in 2011.

Prime Islami Life Insurance comes in third with its management cost exceeding the allowable limit from the year 2011. The excess amount stood at Tk29.26 crore in 2013 which was 51.36% higher from the allowable expense.

Popular Life Insurance stands fourth, with its total expense standing at Tk237 crore beyond the limit in the last five years. The excessive amount was 18.49% in the year 2013.

The fifth is Shandhani Life Insurance of which the management cost remained beyond the allowable limit since 2009 and the highest excess cost was Tk33.15 crore in the year 2012 which was 47.98% beyond the limit. The excessive cost was 32.25% or Tk24.30 crore in the last year.

Next to Shandhani is Delta Life Insurance, a leading company in the insurance business that has spent Tk46.6 crore exceeding the limit in last five years.

The company witnessed the highest excess cost of Tk17.87 crore last year. l

State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam addresses the inaugural session of the World Conference Series 2014 in Dhaka yesterday

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Diplomatic efforts taken to revive UAE labour market n Tribune Report The government will send a team to the United Arab Emirates to discuss reopening the labour market there for Bangladeshis, said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shahriar Alam.

“A team will be sent to the UAE soon to resolve the issues,” he told the inaugural session of the World Conference Series 2014 at Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka yesterday.

The Centre of Non-Resident Bangladeshis organised the event. The centre’s chairman Shekil Ahmed presided over the function, attended by representatives from different countries.

Shahriar Alam said the government has given a special focus on manpower export.

“As part of this, online visa process application has started. Other facilities have also been introduced, including sending remittances home faster,” the state minister said.

The UAE has recently stopped issuing visas to the Bangladeshi workers.

The oil-rich country is second largest employer of Bangladeshi workers with over 12 lakh working there.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman also spoke on the occasion.

He said the remittance sent by the expatriate Bangladeshis has a signifi-

cant role towards economic development of the country.

Dr Atiur defended the non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) about the allegation of their spending in unproductive sectors.

“It’s not true that they are spoiling money in unproductive sectors,” the governor said.

He repeated how remittance was developing rural economy, alleviating poverty, improving living standards of the people, making forex reserves healthier and assisting national development efforts.

He provided data that the remittance from Bangladeshis contributes

around 10% to gross domestic product.

Bangladesh received remittance worth around $14.46bn in FY2012-13 with 12.59% growth, the BB chief said.

The remittance accounts for 66% of the country’s total foreign exchange reserves, Atiur Rahman said.

At the function, NRBs put forward 15-point demands, including taking measures to build image of the country in abroad, appointment of skilled officers in the foreign missions, making the investment process easier for NRBs and developing stock market through a close co-ordination between the central bank, securities regulator, finance ministry and the agencies concerned. l

International ADB to ramp up private sector exposure Action plans to resume investors’ forum in n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman partners when it directly invests in the private sector, the senior official of the potato export to Russia Dhaka on Sept 17 Asian lender said.

Asian Development Bank has taken a The committee would advice the agri“The real challenge of co-financing decision to increase its private sector Tribune Business Desk n n Asif Showkat Kallol cultural ministry on ways to prevent the is to come together at an early stage of exposure in Bangladesh as it considers The Board of Investment (BoI) – the apex investment promotion agency of the government – will organise an “International Investors Forum Bangladesh 2014” here on September 17.

According to BoI, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the event at Hotel Sonargaon.

Cabinet members, including Finance Minister AMA Muhith and Advisers to the prime minister and top business leaders, will speak at the programme.

The forum will be a platform for regional and national investors to exchange ideas with a view to increasing intra-regional investment flows from South and East Asia as well as attract new investments to key sectors, reports UNB. The forum will highlight the latest enhancements in Bangladesh’s investment climate and highlight specific investment opportunities in the agribusiness sector, as well economic zones development opportunities.

The meeting will also be held between the local and foreign investors to have successful investment outcomes.

This forum will gather representatives from the relevant public authorities, local and foreign investors, international development organisations, investment promotion agencies, foreign diplomatic missions, international experts, foreign and local media. l

the sector is “the driver of change.”

“Our [private sector] operation in Bangladesh is fairly modest but we want to grow it,” ADB Vice-President Lakshmi Venkatachalam said in an exclusive interview with Dhaka Tribune.

Agro-business, financial sector, small and medium enterprises support through financial intermediaries, skill development and other related areas where ADB wants to have involvement, said Lakshmi who is in-charge of private sector and co-financing operations at the bank.

ADB has, so far, invested $300m directly in Bangladesh’s private sector and last year supported $1.7bn trade financing transaction in partnership with 13 banks.

“The support is very important as Bangladesh is an export-oriented economy,” she said.

Strategy 2020

ADB has adopted Strategy 2020 under which it will increase its private sector exposure to 50% of the total operation of the ADB. This involves two dimensions – one is direct operations which will be 25%, and the other is activity in the public sector for private sector development making another 25%, Lakshmi Venkatachalam said.

“That’s how we get the 50%.”

She said the bank provided about

project planning,” she said.

According to her, ADB has no intention to displace market forces, but it operates to offer more than what the market forces can offer.

“We are not here just to make money. But the funding must have strong developmental impact. That money must be translated into a transaction that will generate development at the ground level.”

ADB has a co-financing arrangement with European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank, German development bank KfW and other development partners.

ADB Vice-President Lakshmi Venkatachalam RAJIB DHAR

$10bn worth of ordinary capital resources and out of that, $1.8bn went to private sector operation.

Challenges

ADB vice-president feels that the real challenge for the bank is to bring timely support for a project.

“The project is a combination of many things - good sponsors, strong development impact while the risk level must be acceptable and bankable,” Lakhsmi said. “Don’t forget, this is non-sovereign operation,” she added.

The bank has limitation to fund 25% of the project costs and that’s why it collaborates with other development

New development partners

The ADB official is of the view that Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and BRICS Bank can be new avenues for co-financing arrangement.

“This is recognised that Asia needs infrastructures while we do need to augment the resources,” Lakhsmi Venkatachalam said.

She said ADB needs more co-financing for sustainable infrastructure development in the region.

“These banks which are now in the making will provide avenue for getting additional resources for the development.”

The idea of AIIB and BRICS Bank has been floated recently with Bangladesh expressing its intention to join the AIIB as a founder member. l

The government has formed an eleven-member committee to restart potato exports to Russia preventing bacteria.

After detection of Brown Ring Rot bacteria in potatoes, the Russian authorities recently imposed embargo on import of potatoes into their market.

The Russian authorities said the potato exporters of all countries must have phytosanitary certificate to get access to the market.

After the decision, the Bangladeshi government has taken a number of action plans to regain the access.

Under the plans, the committee has been formed, which will monitor potato farming in different areas of Bangladesh to make sure that potato produced there is free of the bacteria and can be exported.

“We have already taken several action plans for prevention of bacteria in potato cultivation, including selection of farmland for farmers by the government agencies,” an official said.

An inter-ministerial meeting held recently decided to execute action plans within September 25 to resume the export.

The meeting was presided over by Agriculture Secretary Nazmul Islam.

The meeting also talked about an allegation that unscrupulous businessmen of India and Pakistan export Bangladeshi potatoes to Russian market.

They first import the crop from Bangladesh and then export.

bacteria during production of potato.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said the Russian government has shown an interest to import 1 lakh tonnes of potatoes from Bangladesh.

He also said: “To resolve the bacteria issue, we have talked to the scientists, and hope it will be settled soon.”

The phytosanitary certification is used to attest the consignments meeting phytosanitary requirements and is undertaken by a national plant protection organisation.

The certificate for export or re-export can be issued only by a public officer who is technically qualified and duly authorised by the organisation.

The demand for potatoes has risen as the production in Europe has fallen by about 15% this year due to drought, said Shaikh Abdul Quader, president of Bangladesh Potato Exporters Association.

Russia has a demand of 26m tonnes of potato annually with a shortage of 5m tonnes.

The seed wing of the Department of Agricultural Extension will select cultivable land for production of potatoes in some selected districts under the supervision of the committee.

The selected areas include Rajbari, Dhaka, Tangail, Meherpur, Lalmonirhat, Nilphamari, Kurigram, Sherpur, Kishoreganj and Munshiganj.

Bangladesh annually exports around 1 lakh tonnes of potatoes to different countries including Russia. l

Review meeting on fast-track projects today n Tribune Report The monitoring committee on six fast-track projects holds a meeting today with a host of implementation agencies under different ministries and divisions at the Prime Minister’s Office to review progress.

The projects worth $15.5 billion include the Padma Bridge, Deep Sea-

port, Metro Rail, 1,320mw Rampal Power Plant, 1,000mw Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and LNG Terminal Project for importing liquid gas.

The meeting to be presided over

by Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder would focus on the implementation status of the six projects.

Last January, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the first

meeting of the Fast-Track Project Monitoring Committee at her office.

Officials of the Planning Ministry said the six projects are expected to reshape the country’s economic outlook, improve communications and accelerate GDP growth, but significant progress with these projects is to be made.

The main work of much-talked

about Padma Bridge is yet to kick off though the Chinese Company, Syno-hydro Corporation, has already been entrusted with the river training work. A major part of the Padma Bridge construction has gone to Major Bridge Engineering Company Limited.

In the current fiscal, the government allocated Tk8,100 crore of ADP

for construction of Padma Bridge.

The progress of deep seaport and metro rail constructions is little as the government is yet to decide on the source of funding for the two projects.

Planning commission sources said the Finance Ministry has yet to manage fund for the metro rail project. l

B2

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Modest rally continues at stock markets

CSE key features September 7-11, 2014

DSE GAINERS

Turnover (Million Taka)

Traded Issues

3.8

n Tribune Report

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

132

ACI Formulations-A Singer BD -A Bangladesh Lamps -A Apex SpinningA Rahima Food -Z CVO PetroChem RL-A Libra Infusions-A The Ibn SinaA Meghna Con. Milk -B Safko Spinning-A

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

174

The stock market continued to witness modest rise for the third straight week driven by mainly engineering, pharmaceuticals and power stocks.

The benchmark DSEX gained 33 points or 0.8% to end at 4,675, which is five-month high since April 24.

The comprising blue chips DS30 index hit its historical high at 1,786 with a rise of 28 points. The DSE Shariah Index closed at 1101, soaring 12 points or 2%.

Strong dominance of multinational companies, primarily due to dividend expectation noted last week’s trading pattern

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index CSCX moved up by 32 points or 0.4% to close at 8,758.

The daily turnover for the week averaged Tk5.73 billion, registering an increase of 6.17% over the previous week’s average of Tk5.40 billion.

The investors’ attention was mostly concentrated on engineering, pharmaceuticals and power, which

DSE LOSERS Company ICB -A ISN Ltd. -Z Mozaffar H.Spinning-N Hakkani P& Paper -B Modern Dyeing -Z Rangpur Dairy-N Asia Pasific Insu. -A Deshbandhu Polymer-A Malek Spinning-A AIMS First -A

Closing (% change) -19.11 -12.30 -10.85 -9.86 -9.60 -9.09 -8.77 -8.25 -7.69 -7.45

CSE LOSERS Company ICB -A Mozaffar H.Spinning-N Rangpur Dairy-N Miracle Industries -B Hakkani P& Paper -B AFC AgroBiotech-A Samata LeatheR -Z AIMS First -A Deshbandhu Polymer-A Anwar Galvanizing-B

Closing (% change) -17.91 -10.29 -9.91 -8.94 -8.77 -7.99 -7.69 -7.37 -7.28 -7.19

4675.91852

(+) 0.72%

1786.57691

(+) 1.61%

14451.8977

(+) 0.67%

11591.4923

(+) 0.80%

8757.8562

(+) 0.37%

Average (% change) -19.18 -11.18 -11.78 -10.19 -9.16 -7.30 -7.60 -8.42 -6.15 -7.58 Average (% change) -17.83 -12.21 -8.39 -8.95 -8.87 -6.98 -7.69 -7.67 -7.62 -8.38

ANALYST

Closing average 1440.50 10.80 30.64 25.92 76.67 21.20 20.91 19.04 24.43 26.35

Closing average 1,467.86 30.69 21.06 16.49 26.00 52.48 24.00 26.48 19.03 27.10

Weekly closing 1437.25 10.70 30.40 25.60 76.30 21.00 20.80 18.90 24.00 26.10

Weekly closing 1,466.30 30.50 20.90 16.30 26.00 53.00 24.00 26.40 19.10 27.10

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 1870.33 1516.37 393.26 4520.42 1170.59 3328.82 8.19 3458.99 4699.81 361.48 297.78 287.66 287.49 1761.85 714.70 385.96 547.40 1004.32 525.92 1525.27 1.35

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ Weekly high 1800.00 12.80 34.50 28.30 83.90 23.60 24.70 20.90 26.90 28.70

Weekly high 1,750.00 34.20 23.40 18.20 28.50 55.40 26.00 28.60 21.40 30.10

633,986

2

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,490.85

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.19

CSE key features September 7-11, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

2,215.33

Turnover (Volume)

57,392,233

Number of Contract

81,153

Traded Issues

252

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

98

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

149

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,398.70

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

29.08

Turnover in million

1400.75 10.70 30.10 25.50 76.00 18.60 20.70 17.00 22.50 24.00

Weekly low

111.946 2.098 122.256 3.515 0.230 166.093 17.063 117.498 113.080 50.462

Turnover in million

1,400.00 30.40 19.00 16.20 25.50 49.00 24.00 25.00 17.20 26.50

1.036 10.277 9.531 0.932 0.307 0.991 0.529 4.014 9.809 1.548

60.80 21.24 18.19 16.91 15.80 14.02 12.55 11.70 11.25 11.16

CSE GAINERS

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

Weekly low

Closing (% change)

Latest EPS 35.69 0.20 2.27 0.28 1.61 1.16 2.26 1.05 2.24 4.71

Latest EPS 35.69 2.27 1.16 0.19 0.28 2.84 0.09 4.71 1.05 0.27

Latest PE 40.4 54.0 13.5 92.6 47.6 18.3 9.3 18.1 10.9 5.6

Latest PE 41.1 13.5 18.2 86.8 92.9 18.5 266.7 5.6 18.1 100.4

Company ACI Formulations-A Singer BD -A Bangladesh Lamps -A Apex SpinningA Shahjibazar Power-N The Ibn SinaA Rahima Food -Z Apex Foods -A Rangpur Foundry -A Islami Ins.BD-A

Closing (% change) 59.55 20.71 18.06 16.69 15.56 12.02 11.90 11.56 11.41 10.50

Average (% change) 60.73 19.13 17.22 14.34 17.54 14.88 11.12 11.77 12.88 12.91 Average (% change) 60.69 19.89 18.09 16.69 15.27 11.97 16.31 11.06 7.66 10.55

Closing average 136.56 231.51 134.73 79.32 47.91 742.02 437.08 109.11 8.94 27.81

Closing average 135.30 233.09 134.03 74.80 736.61 108.05 48.85 110.50 106.58 24.21

Weekly closing 137.00 234.60 135.80 79.50 46.90 739.40 442.90 108.80 8.90 27.90

Weekly closing 135.30 233.70 134.00 74.80 739.00 108.10 47.00 111.00 110.30 24.20

Weekly high 137.00 242.90 135.90 79.60 48.60 774.20 443.30 113.00 9.50 29.10

Weekly high 135.30 264.00 134.30 74.80 767.30 115.00 49.10 112.00 105.90 24.30

Weekly low 76.70 188.00 110.00 62.60 40.10 610.00 390.00 91.00 8.10 23.50

Weekly low 88.90 192.00 111.00 68.00 650.00 97.00 40.00 97.70 105.90 20.00

Turnover in million

Latest EPS

553.163 974.249 43.165 22.140 17.449 288.602 4.269 73.916 2.959 146.165

Turnover in million

3.36 6.28 1.12 2.24 -1.01 -3.16 4.20 3.54 -4.85 1.06

Latest EPS

8.768 81.375 2.328 0.029 34.203 3.528 2.768 0.678 0.533 0.549

3.36 6.28 1.12 2.24 3.04 3.54 -1.01 2.99 3.20 1.70

Latest PE 40.6 36.9 120.3 35.4 -ve -ve 104.1 30.8 -ve 26.2

Latest PE 40.3 37.1 119.7 33.4 242.3 30.5 -ve 37.0 33.3 14.2

Weekly news from trade server AGM/Dividend DESHBANDHU: The Board of Directors has recommended 10% stock dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2014. The Board has also decided to issue rights share @1:1 at par on paid up capital after considering bonus shares subject to the approval by the shareholders in EGM and the Regulatory Authorities. The purpose of the Rights Issue is to increase of production capacity by expansion through Product Diversification. The Board has further decided to increase the Authorized Capital of the Company from Tk. 100.00 crore to Tk. 300.00 crore. Date of EGM & AGM: 19.10.2014, Time of EGM and AGM: 10:00 AM & 10:30 AM respectively, Venue: Factory Premises of the Company at Kawadi, Charsindur, Palash, Narshingdi. Record date for AGM & EGM: 21.09.2014. Another record date for entitlement of the proposed rights shares to be notified later after obtaining approval from BSEC. The Company has also reported net profit of Tk. 53.20 million, EPS of Tk. 1.05, NAV per share of Tk. 11.21 and NOCFPS of Tk. (0.54) for the year ended on June 30, 2014 as against Tk. 12.55 million, Tk. 0.25, Tk. 10.67 and Tk. (0.77) respectively for the same period of the previous year.

SINGERBD: The Board of Directors of the Company has declared 160% interim cash dividend for the year ending on 31 December 2014. Record date for entitlement of interim dividend: 17.09.2014.

DBH: The Board of Directors has recommended 25% cash dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2014. Date of AGM:

25.11.2014, Time: 11:00 AM, Venue: Amari, Dhaka, House-47, Road-41, Gulshan-2, Dhaka-1212. Record date: 25.09.2014. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 5.15, NAV per share of Tk. 23.92 and NOCFPS of Tk. (3.82) for the year ended on June 30, 2014.

BRACSCBOND: BRAC Bank Ltd. has informed that the record date for Subordinated 25% Convertible Bonds of BRAC Bank Ltd. will be October 08, 2014 for payment of interest due on October 15, 2014. However, in the case that this date is a trading holiday, the record day will be the previous trading day, i.e. October 02, 2014.

Audited/unaudited Financial Reports: GPHISPAT: (Q1): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 1st quarter ended on 31st July 2014 (May'14 to July'14), the Company has reported profit after tax of Tk. 87.63 million with basic EPS of Tk. 0.74 as against Tk. 77.92 million and Tk. 0.66 respectively for the same period of the previous year. However, considering proposed bonus share @ 5% for the year 2014, restated basic EPS will be Tk. 0.70 as on 31.07.2014 and Tk. 0.62 as on 31.07.2013.

SHURWID: (Q3): The Company has reported its profit after tax Tk. 7.39 million and basic EPS Tk. 0.24 for the 3 (three) months ended on 31 March 2014 (Jan 2014-March 2014) as against profit after tax of Tk. 7.15 million and basic EPS of Tk. 0.23 for the same period of the previous year. It is to be noted that basic EPS has been calculated based on weighted average Pre-IPO paidup number of shares i.e. 31,350,000 shares

for both periods. However, considering Post-IPO 45,350,000 number of shares the Company's basic EPS for the 3 (three) months ended on 31 March 2014 would be Tk. 0.16 For the period of 9 (nine) months (July 2013 to March 2014) ended on 31 March 2014 profit after tax was Tk. 25.48 million and basic EPS was Tk. 0.81 as against profit after tax of Tk. 24.50 million and basic EPS of Tk. 0.78 for the same period of the previous year. It is to be noted that the said EPS has been calculated based on weighted average Pre-IPO paid-up number of shares i.e. 31,350,000 shares for both periods. However, considering Post-IPO 45,350,000 number of shares, Company's basic EPS would be Tk. 0.56 for 9 (nine) months ended on 31 March 2014 (July 2013 to March 2014) and NAV per share would be Tk. 13.40 as on 31 March 2014.

Fixed Assets/Right/Investment: ACIFORMULA: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors of ACI Formulations Limited, a subsidiary of Advanced Chemical Industries Limited has decided to execute a Manufacturing and Support Agreement for production of Paints with Akzo Nobel Paints (Singapore) Pte. Ltd an associate of Akzo Nobel of Netherlands, the world's largest paints manufacturer, for which an Agreement will be signed with Akzo Nobel (Singapore) Pte Ltd. The Project is initially being located within the premises of the factory at Gazipur having necessary infrastructural and production/storage facility.

The investors found interest in most of the multinationals’ stocks in middle part of the week as they were assuming same or better dividend pattern like 2013

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

666,151,761

Number of Contract

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index :

28,667.97

Turnover (Volume)

together account for 17%, 16% and 12% respectively of the week’s total turnover.

The market advanced in three of five sessions. The market opened the week edging down. On the second session, it was in red going down marginally. On the following session, it turned around gaining almost 1%.

In the final two sessions, the market rallied.

IDLC Investments said strong dominance of multinational companies, primarily due to dividend expectation noted last week’s trading pattern.

The investors found interest in most of the multinationals’ stocks in middle part of the week as they were assuming same or better dividend pattern like 2013, it said.

It said the changing preferences to micro-cap along with selective large-cap, especially blue-chip stocks, assisted investors’ growing interest in market.

Lanka Bangla Securities said the market continued its uptrend which started nine weeks earlier on July 14.

The week started with modest correction in the index in first two trading sessions, but the bull got back its rhythm in the last three trading sessions recovering earlier losses, it said.

The week’s biggest gaining sectors included tannery that rose 5%, cement 4.9% and food and allied 3.8% while the week’s worst losers were paper and printing that shed 5.5%, ceramic 3.5% and non-banking financial institutions 3.5%. l

Company

Sunday, September 14, 2014

% change 6.52 5.29 1.37 15.77 4.08 11.61 0.03 12.07 16.39 1.26 1.04 1.00 1.00 6.15 2.49 1.35 1.91 3.50 1.83 5.32 0.00

Million Taka 141.46 87.45 25.41 382.41 201.35 295.14 0.00 431.07 222.81 342.74 12.41 308.42 23.93 168.53 95.85 20.20 27.24 94.76 81.59 165.12 0.48

CSE

% change 4.52 2.80 0.81 12.22 6.44 9.43 0.00 13.78 7.12 10.96 0.40 9.86 0.76 5.39 3.06 0.65 0.87 3.03 2.61 5.28 0.02

Million Taka 2011.79 1603.81 418.67 4902.83 1371.95 3623.97 8.19 3890.06 4922.63 704.22 310.19 596.08 311.42 1930.38 810.55 406.15 574.65 1099.08 607.51 1690.39 1.83

Total

% change 6.33 5.04 1.32 15.42 4.31 11.40 0.03 12.23 15.48 2.21 0.98 1.87 0.98 6.07 2.55 1.28 1.81 3.46 1.91 5.32 0.01

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company MJL BD Ltd.-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Singer BD -A LafargeS Cement-Z ACI Limited- A Grameenphone-A BSRM Steels-A Shurwid Ind. -N ACI Formulations-A Beximco Pharma -A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Shurwid Ind. -N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Singer BD -A LafargeS Cement-Z Tung Hai Knitting -N Square Pharma -A FarEast Knitting -N Raspit Data Mgt -Z Khulna Printing-N Grameenphone-A

Volume shares 10,522,314 24,462,184 4,275,154 7,242,500 2,310,449 2,214,092 7,505,045 14,402,000 4,628,757 9,993,100

Volume shares 2,831,500 3,069,860 355,082 586,500 2,186,000 240,404 1,364,000 1,612,500 1,612,500 151,200

Value in million 1229.17 1010.75 974.25 877.00 851.41 747.52 716.02 670.56 553.16 548.25

Value in million 130.53 126.89 81.37 71.11 56.85 56.74 54.33 51.50 51.50 51.12

% of total turnover 4.29 3.53 3.40 3.06 2.97 2.61 2.50 2.34 1.93 1.91

% of total turnover 6.19 6.01 3.86 3.37 2.69 2.69 2.57 2.44 2.44 2.42

Weekly closing 122.80 41.20 234.60 125.70 379.70 337.80 96.50 47.00 137.00 54.70

Weekly closing 47.10 41.20 233.70 126.20 25.30 233.50 38.60 30.80 30.80 336.00

Price change 5.23 -1.20 21.24 5.45 9.99 -0.09 -2.03 0.00 60.80 -0.55

Weekly opening 116.70 41.70 193.50 119.20 345.20 338.10 98.50 0.00 85.20 55.00

Weekly high 123.10 45.00 242.90 126.80 400.00 342.10 101.00 59.80 137.00 58.00

Weekly low 100.00 36.10 188.00 113.80 325.00 325.00 83.80 33.30 76.70 48.10

Weekly average 120.23 41.89 231.51 125.45 385.14 338.57 96.10 49.45 136.56 55.57

Price change 0.00 -1.44 20.71 6.14 0.00 -1.56 -5.16 0.00 -4.35 -0.50

Weekly opening 0.00 41.80 193.60 118.90 0.00 237.20 40.70 32.20 32.20 337.70

Weekly high 59.00 44.20 264.00 126.90 27.80 240.00 41.80 34.00 34.00 344.90

Weekly low 32.80 37.00 192.00 114.50 23.50 230.00 37.80 30.20 30.20 331.00

Weekly average 49.31 41.90 233.09 125.51 25.56 233.34 38.85 31.19 31.19 340.12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Sunday, September 14, 2014

India’s love affair with gold may be over, as prices slide n Reuters, Vangal Kiran Laxman Salunkhe used to buy jewellery during religious festivals, but sliding gold prices have led the young farmer to break with his family’s traditional investment.

This year Salunkhe has deposited his hard-earned savings at the bank for the first time in a decade and bought farmland.

“I bought jewellery when gold price was 32,000 rupees (per 10 grams) last year. Now jewellers won’t pay me more than 27,000 rupees if I want to sell. Why should I invest in gold,” said Salunkhe, who farms 15 acres of sugar cane in Vangal, a village 250 km (160 miles) south of Mumbai.

“Nowadays it is risky to keep jewellery. Burglaries are rising,” he said.

“With a fixed deposit there is no risk.”

A one-quarter drop in local gold prices over the past year has shaken the confidence of Indians in the precious metal as a store of value and dented demand in the world’s second-biggest buyer.

The main beneficiary has been stocks, which have been clocking up records on hopes that Prime Minister Narendra Modi can deliver on the promise of “better days” ahead that swept him to power in May’s general election.

Beyond short-term sentiment, a major push by Modi for every household to get a bank account, better education and living standards, and falling inflation expectations, could herald a more secular change in investing habits.

“The attachment of Indians to gold will remain,” said Harish Galipelli, head of commodities and currencies at Inditrade Derivatives and Commodities Ltd., referring to gold’s culturally embedded role in dowry gifts or decorating Hindu temples.

“But as the banking network expands and literacy rises, people in rural areas will explore other investment products like mutual funds or bank deposits. The mindset is slowly changing.”

In contrast, turnover on Mumbai’s main NSE bourse is up by 61%, while $50bn has flowed into mutual funds in the financial year starting April 1 - up sixfold from the entire previous year.

Term deposits in banks have also risen but by a more modest $3.6 billion since April, compared to a drop of $2.9bn last year, central bank figures show.

Shifting sentiment

Customers shop inside a gold jewellery showroom in Mumbai If the national obsession with gold does fade that would help curb India’s external deficits - gold is the second biggest item on the import bill after oil - and cap world gold prices that are trading sideways in 2014.

Back to equities

If the crowds selling scrap gold to Kapil Parekh at his shop in Mumbai’s Zaveri

Bazaar are anything to go by, the shift by small-time speculators out of gold is continuing unabated.

“Many investors who came after 2008’s stock market crash were shortterm investors,” said Parekh.

“They came when the stock market wasn’t giving returns. Now, since shares are rallying, they are liquidating gold and going back to equities. They

Yen slides in Asia after BoJ head meets Japan PM n AFP, Tokyo The yen slid in Asia on Friday as speculation over more Bank of Japan monetary easing gathers pace, while the dollar won support from growing confidence in the US economic recovery.

In Tokyo afternoon trading, the greenback jumped to 107.23 yen, from 107.11 yen in New York. The dollar last breached the 107-yen level in September 2008.

The euro also rose to 138.69 yen from 138.39 yen, while it was flat at $1.2921 against $1.2919 in the US. In other trading, the British pound held above $1.62 ahead of a nail-biting referendum next week that could see Scotland break from the United Kingdom. The unit bought $1.6238 in Tokyo, again $1.6232 in New York.

The yen’s slide followed a meeting between BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday.

Japan’s top central banker said he would widen the central bank’s monetary base if necessary as it looks to achieve 2% inflation by next year - a key part of Tokyo’s bid to conquer the deflation that has weighed on Japan’s economy for years.

“If we face difficulty achieving that (inflation) goal, we would adjust monetary policy without hesitation, even if it takes the form of additional easing or anything else,” Kuroda told reporters in Tokyo after meeting with Abe. But Kuroda appeared to roll back those comments on a live television programme later in the day, saying that “there’s no need to discuss additional easing for now since prices are on a steady track to achieving the 2% inflation target”.

The central bank last week held off further stimulus despite a sharp contraction in the economy between April and June largely owing to a sales tax hike, in turn boosting expectations that

the BoJ will act at its October meeting.

“We still do not expect the BoJ to ease any time soon, especially after the strong increase in wages in July,” said Nomura Securities research analyst Yujiro Goto.

“Nonetheless, market expectations for the BoJ may change rapidly over the next few months, which may lead to greater volatility of (the dollar-yen rate).”

Dollar demand from Japanese importers ahead of a three-day weekend was also moving currency markets, as investors await US retail sales data later Friday for further confirmation of a recovery in the world’s number one economy.

The dollar was mixed against other Asia-Pacific currencies.

It edged up to 1,036.40 South Korean won from 1,036.00 won, to Tw$30.00 from Tw$29.99, to Sg$1.2639 from Sg$1.2632, to 32.17 Thai baht from 32.12 baht, and to 43.97 Philippine pesos from 43.91 pesos. l

REUTERS

may come back.”

One customer, Dinesh Jain, said he had sold 64 grams of gold bought since 2011 and was investing the proceeds now worth nearly $3,000 - in information technology stocks.

India’s investment demand for gold slumped by 67% in the June quarter from a year ago to 49.6 tonnes, World Gold Council (WGC) data showed.

Based on industry and WGC estimates, investment demand could nearly halve to 190 tonnes this year.

Investment demand was 37% of total 2013 gold sales.

Indian gold exchange-traded funds, a financial product that sophisticated investors use to gain exposure to the metal, have suffered 15 straight months of outflows.

A decade-long surge in gold prices to 2013 led investment buying of bars and coins to quadruple. Over the same time, sales of traditionally more popular jewellery rose by just a quarter.

But since hitting a record high of 35,074 rupees per 10 grams in August 2013, local gold prices have fallen steadily, tracking weakness in overseas prices and a strengthening rupee.

In the past, such price falls would have attracted bargain hunters. Not now.

“The 11-year rally in gold prices created a perception that they will only go up. This price fall has broken that conviction,” Prithviraj Kothari, vice president of the India Bullion & Jewellers’ Association, told Reuters.

“Now people are diversifying their investments. This trend will increase in the coming years,” added Kothari, cautioning that expectations of a tightening in super-loose U.S. monetary policy would weigh on gold.

“During uncertainly people chase gold. Now, since we have stability, economic growth will revive. It will ultimately push up the stock market and real estate prices.”

But for some India’s love affair with gold will endure.

“Last year, despite a premium of over $100 (per ounce over London prices), buyers were crowding my counter,” said a Mumbai-based dealer at a staterun bank.

“Now, the premium is just $5. The peak festive season is ahead. But I am waiting for customers. There is no hysteria.” l

China bank loans nearly double in August n AFP, Beijing China’s bank lending nearly doubled in August from the previous month, central bank data showed Friday, rebounding towards what analysts described as a normal level.

Chinese banks granted 702.5bn yuan ($114.5bn) in new loans last month, the People’s Bank of China (PBoC) said in a statement, nearly twice July’s 385.2bn yuan. But it was still lower than June’s 1.08tn yuan and 10.3bn yuan less than the amount recorded a year ago, PBoC data showed.

Shen Jianguang, a Hong Kong-based economist, said August’s figure, although still “relatively low” represented a “close-to-standard” monthly level given analysts’ consensus that the government wants to see 10tn yuan lent this year.

“It reflected limited relaxing of monetary policy, which was targeted and not aggressive,” he told AFP. Premier Li Keqiang has said that the government would not seek to boost economic growth by pumping up credit

An employee guides a crane as it transports a roll of steel sheet, at a factory in Handan, Hebei province REUTERS growth.

“There is already a large amount of money in the pool. It’s impossible for us to continue to rely on issuing new bank notes to stimulate economic growth,” Li said this week, according to an earlier report by the state-run Secu-

rities Daily.

Julian Evans-Pritchard, an analyst with research firm Capital Economics, welcomed the slower credit growth.

“It is necessary to put China’s growth on a more sustainable long-run trajectory,” he wrote in a research note. l

Buyers bite big at larger Apple iPhones n AFP, San Francisco

Bangladesh Krishi Bank, Sonali Bank Ltd and Ostagram Upazila Parishad recently organised a banking conference at Ostagram in Kishoregonj. Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman, distributed agricultural credit as chief guest at the conference

LM Ericsson Bangladesh Ltd has recently sponsored WiFi service at Modhur Canteen in Dhaka, a place that has its own significance in the history of University of Dhaka and Bangladesh. Zunaid Ahmed Palak, State Minister of Posts, Telecommunications & Information Technology was present along with the company’s MD Raj during the inaugural of the service

Standard Bank Ltd (SBL) and Trust Bank Ltd (TBL) have recently signed a sub-agency agreement for receiving payment of foreign remittance through Xpress Money, UAE. The MD and CEO of SBL, Md.Nazmus Salehin singed the agreement at the presence of TBL’s director Ishtiaqe Ahmed Chowdhury

Social Islami Bank Limited has announced to launch its mobile financial services named, “SIBL akash”. The bank has recently signed an agreement with Semicon Private Limited on this regard. The bank’s MD, Md Shafiqur Rahman and Rabiul Alam, chairperson of Semicon Private Limited have signed the agreement

Apple’s website was swamped Friday in what appeared to be a record-setting buying binge fueled by smartphone buyers’ desire for large-screen iPhones.

Bigger did indeed seem to be better to the throngs who jockeyed in a virtual scrum to get access to the Apple website to order iPhone 6 and the largersize iPhone 6 Plus models.

Many people took to Twitter with terse tales of frustration and perseverance needed to get through and preorder the new Apple smartphones set for release on September 19.

The delivery date for iPhone 6 Plus steadily crept outward as the morning wore on and word by mid-day here was that pre-orders had sold out for what will be the biggest Apple smartphone.

Apple was promising delivery of the biggest iPhone in three to four weeks.

Those ordering iPhone 6 models or early to order its larger sibling iPhone Plus are still in line to receive them as originally scheduled next Friday.

Technology news website Re/ code quoted an Apple spokesperson as saying “response to iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus has been incredible with a record number of preorders overnight.”

Apple on Tuesday unveiled its first

smartwatch and two large-screen versions of the iPhone, in a move to recapture its role as a trend-setter.

Apple added in a new mobile wallet that will allow consumers to simply tap their phones to pay retailers.

New iPhone 6 models boost screen sizes in what some see as the company catching up to a “phablet” trend combining features of smartphones and tablets.

The frenzy at Apple’s website on Friday indicated that in the eyes of myriad iPhone lovers, bigger is indeed better.

Apple’s main rival Samsung has long had a range of larger handsets and has tried to market a smartwatch of its own.

The iPhone 6 will have a screen of 4.7 inches and the 6-Plus will be 5.5 inches, allowing Apple to adapt to consumers’ apparent preference for bigger displays.

The new iPhone 6 starts at the same price of existing iPhones at $199 for US customers while the iPhone 6 Plus will be at $299 with a two-year contract.

Unlocked or unsubsidized models will start around $650.

Apple’s move, expanding the latest iPhone with a four-inch screen, comes as consumers are switching to handsets with bigger displays to watch videos and browse the Internet. l

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Chinese output growth Show us the money: EU seeks billions of euros to revive economy slows to five-year low in August

n Reuters, Milan The European Union sought ways yesterday to marshal billions of euros into its sluggish economy without getting deeper into debt, casting the net wide to consider options from a pan-European capital market to a huge investment fund.

Finance ministers from the bloc’s 28 countries are fleshing out a host of ideas circulating in European capitals.

With interest rates already at record lows, ministers need radical steps to help growth at a time of near record unemployment.

From Poland’s 700bn euro ($907bn) ‘European Fund for Investments’ to the European Central Bank’s plan to resurrect the EU’s market for asset-backed securities, Europe’s ability to get credit flowing to small companies is central to its economic revival.

“We’re thinking about instruments that facilitate investments,” Italy’s economy minister, Pier Carlo Padoan, said as he arrived for the gathering in Milan.

“Resources (for investments) will come mostly from the private sector but of course public sector resources will be instrumental in leveraging them,” he said.

The European Union’s economy, which generates about a quarter of global output, grew by just 0.1% last year and its jobless rate is almost double that of the United States, with around 25 million people unemployed.

Investment is the new buzz word among ministers, overriding the German mantra of budget cuts. Germany is under growing pressure from partners like France and Italy to loosen the fiscal reins and use its overflowing government coffers to ramp up public investment.

But German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble this week rebuffed calls for Berlin to spend more to boost the euro zone economy which showed no growth in the second quarter as recovery stalls.

In a speech in Milan, ECB President Mario Draghi described business investment as “one of the great casualties” of the financial crisis, saying it has fallen 20 percent since 2008.

“We will not see a sustainable recov-

n AFP, Beijing

Italy's Economy Minister Pier Carlo Padoan attends a news conference after talks with German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble (not pictured), at the finance ministry in Berlin REUTERS ery unless this changes,” he told officials on Thursday night.

The incoming president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, wants a 300bn euro ($410bn) investment programme to revive the European economy.

Unlike in the United States, European companies rely on banks to provide 80% of loans, but banks are reluctant to lend following the worst crisis in a generation.

In Italy, Europe’s fourth-largest economy, credit to companies has shrunk by more than 70bn euros since mid-2011 and is still contracting, central bank data shows.

That problem is mirrored across Europe, holding back the recovery because smaller companies provide two out of every three private-sector jobs in the European Union.

ITALIAN ORGANIC JAM Indebted countries like Italy and France have little public money for

India will oust China as top cotton producer this year n

Reuters, New York

India will be the world’s No 1 cotton grower this year, ousting China from the top spot for the first time in over 30 years, U.S. government said on Thursday, reflecting a dramatic shift in global supplies amid uncertainty over Beijing’s farm policy.

If the projections by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) are accurate, it will mark the end of China’s dominance of the global cotton market just as Beijing scraps its stockpiling program. The state reserve’s purchasing has supported the country’s farmers and boosted global prices for the past three years.

It also comes as the country’s textile industry loses its competitive edge with soaring labor and raw material costs forcing some yarn makers to shift production overseas.

The estimate also marks the first official nod from the USDA, whose crop estimates are often used as a benchmark across global agricultural markets, to an inflection point in world cotton supply and demand.

The switch by the two top growers had been expected after Chinese farmers cut plantings amid uncertainty over the state support program and a planting frenzy in India since August after a late monsoon favored growing conditions.

But shrinking local output will force China’s mills to import more foreign supplies once they have eaten through inventories that have swelled to over 60 million bales.

“We’re at the beginning of this tran-

DILBERT

sition where China will use its stocks, and in four or five years, they may become a big net importer again,” said Peter Egli, director of risk management at British merchant Plexus Cotton Ltd. While China’s acreage is expected by many traders and analysts to be on a long-term downtrend, farmers in India may be protected by government support programs.

In its report on Thursday, the USDA hiked its estimate for India by 1 million bales to 30 million 480-lb bales of cotton for the 2014/15 crop year that began on Aug. 1.

That would be down from the country’s estimated 2013/14 output of 31 million bales, but high enough to propel the country into top spot for the first time since USDA records began in 1966.

China, which has been the largest producer for over 30 years, is projected to cut output for a second straight year with output of 29.5 million bales this year, down from 32 million bales last season.

Output peaked at 37 million bales during the 2007/08 crop year and production has hovered near those high levels since the government in 2011 launched a stockpiling initiative that kept local prices high, drove huge demand for imports, and caused the nation’s inventories to balloon.

India’s output meanwhile took off sharply in the early 2000s. The country surpassed the United States as the world’s second-largest producer in the 2005/06 season.

“It’s not been a question of if India will become No 1. It’s been a question of when,” Egli said. l

businesses. Another hangover of the crisis is the differing cost of financing across the euro zone in a currency area that aimed to create the same financing conditions for all.

At their meeting, ministers have four ideas in front of them: an Italian paper on new financing tools for companies, a Franco-German proposal on how to boost private investments, a Polish proposal on creating a joint EU fund and the Juncker Commission’s call for the 300bn euro programme.

Poland wants a ‘European Fund for Investments’ that would be able to finance, through leveraging its own capital, 700bn euros worth of investment.

The fund could be a special-purpose vehicle under the umbrella of the European Investment Bank, the EU bank owned by European governments.

“The European Investment Bank isn’t short of money. There’s a shortage of projects and if we can match the money with good projects, we’ll

get there,” said Luxembourg’s finance minister, Pierre Gramegna.

Italy’s proposal is a pan-European market, where smaller companies can raise capital, building on its “minibond” legislation in 2012 that allows unlisted companies to issue.

That could be part of a EU capitalmarket union, building on the euro zone’s banking union, but that will need to closely involve London, the leading financial centre in Europe.

Twenty-six Italian family businesses, including one that makes organic jam, issued bonds in the past two months, raising 1 billion euros combined, according to the Italian treasury.

“This is not just about funding small companies per se, it is about funding high growth companies,” said Nicolas Veron, an expert on capital markets at the Bruegel economic think-tank in Brussels. “They start small but the ones you are really interested in are the ones with the high growth potential.” l

China’s industrial production growth slowed sharply in August to its lowest level for more than five years at 6.9%, official data showed yesterday, intensifying concerns for the world’s secondlargest economy.

The key indicator, which measures output at factories, workshops and mines, slumped from a 9% year-onyear expansion in July and was the worst since 5.7% in December 2008, during the global financial crisis.

It also fell far short of the 8.7% median increase in a survey of 15 economists by The Wall Street Journal.

The abrupt slowdown and other data released Saturday are certain to compound growing worries over the strength of China’s economy - a key driver of world commerce - following recent indicators suggesting growth is weakening even after authorities took limited stimulatory measures.

Retail sales, a key indicator of consumer spending, rose 11.9% in the same month on-year, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said - also down from 12.2% in July.

Fixed asset investment, a measure of government spending on infrastructure, expanded 16.5% on-year in the first eight months of 2014. The figure is only released as a cumulative change.

It was below the 17% reading for the first seven months of the year, and also below the 16.9% forecast.

China’s Communist Party government is targeting expansion of about 7.5% in gross domestic product (GDP) this year, the same as last year’s objective, as it tries to steer the country’s growth model towards consumer spending and away from the exportand investment-fuelled double-digit economic expansion regime of the past.

ANZ Bank economists Liu Li-Gang and Zhou Hao said that the August data put the government’s scenario in danger and showed the need for prompt action.

“Past experience suggests that China needs to maintain around 9% industrial production growth to deliver 7.5% GDP growth,” they wrote in an analysis.

“In our view, short of outright policy easing, China will likely miss the 7.5% growth target this year, and a sharp

economic slowdown will endanger the undergoing structural reforms,” they added.

“Chinese authorities should further relax monetary policy as soon as possible to prevent the growth momentum from decelerating further.”

How they will react, however, is unclear. Premier Li Keqiang, addressing a World Economic Forum meeting in China on Wednesday, appeared far from concerned.

“When observing the Chinese economy, one should not just focus on its short-term performance or the performance of a particular sector,” he said.

“Rather, one should look at the overall trend, the bigger picture and the total score.”

Property problems

Since April, authorities have deployed measures to boost growth, including small business tax breaks, targeted infrastructure spending and incentives to spur lending in rural areas and to small companies.

NBS data released Thursday showed that inflation eased to a four-month low of 2.0 percent in August, leaving leaders with room to take further stimulatory steps.

Li stressed that the government has chosen not to adopt “strong economic stimulus or easing monetary policy”, focussing instead on reforms and readjustments. But he also said that authorities have unused ammunition in the form of “a full range of tools of macrocontrol at our disposal”.

He did not elaborate, but possible steps include lowering requirements for how much cash banks must keep on hand, aimed at spurring lending, and cutting interest rates to reduce borrowing costs.

China’s GDP grew at a higher-than-expected 7.5% in the second quarter from 7.4% in the first three months of the year, which was the worst since a similar 7.4% result in July-September 2012.

Recent concerns have centred on fallout for the economy from a potentially damaging knockdown in China’s huge property sector, where new home prices have fallen for four straight months, as well as waning effects from limited doses of government stimulus. l

No need for urgent OPEC meet on lower oil price: Kuwait

Free voice calls merged into Google Hangouts app n AFP, Kuwait City n AFP, San Francisco Google on Wednesday began letting people use its Hangouts message application for mobile devices to make free or low-cost voice calls over the Internet.

“Hangouts already makes it easy to send a quick message, or start a group video chat,” Google product manager Amit Fulay said in a blog post.

“But, sometimes it;s best to just call to say ‘I love you,’ and with the new version of Hangouts you can.”

Google is essentially merging capabilities of its Voice online calling service with Hangouts, which became a hit feature in the technology titan’s Google+ social network because of its free group video chat capabilities.

Calls are free between Hangouts users and to numbers in the United States or Canada, according to Fulay, who described international call rates as “really low.” l

OPEC member Kuwait said Thursday there was no need to call an emergency meeting for the producers’ cartel to discuss sliding oil prices after crude hit a 17-month low.

“We do not believe there is a need to call an emergency OPEC meeting” to discuss the drop in prices, Oil Minister Ali al-Omair told reporters at the end of a regular meeting of the oil ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

“So far, we are confident that prices have not dropped to the extent that makes us call for an emergency meeting,” Omair said.

Oil prices fell in Asia Thursday after coming under pressure due to weak global demand and a supply glut, even as US President Barack Obama vowed

to destroy jihadist militants in Syria and oil-rich Iraq.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for October delivery eased 14 cents to $91.53 while Brent crude for October fell four cents to $98.00 in afternoon trade.

On Wednesday, Brent crude hit a 17-month low below $99 a barrel.

Omair said the fall in oil prices was not on the agenda of the ministers’ meeting.

The minister, whose country pumps around 3.0 million barrels a day, said he did not believe the drop in oil prices was substantial “because the fall was expected as a result of high production especially from the United States.”

“We still believe that oil prices are currently stable despite the slight drop.

Prices are likely to rebound ahead of

the winter season,” Omair said.

Earlier, Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Nuaimi played down the drop in oil prices, saying this was not the first time crude prices slump.

“Prices of oil always go up and down so I really don’t know why the big fuss about it this time,” Nuaimi told reporters.

The drop in Brent crude price below $99 a barrel came amid fears of increased production and lower-thanexpected demand.

OPEC on Wednesday said in a report that demand would grow by 1.05 million barrels per day in 2014 to 91.2 million, trimming 50,000 barrels from the previous outlook.

Demand in 2015 is expected to grow 1.19 million barrels per day, 20,000 barrels a day fewer than before, the cartel said. l

China Aug consumer inflation cools to 2%, below forecasts

n Reuters, Beijing China’s annual consumer inflation slowed more than expected to 2% in August, data showed on Thursday, further evidence that the economy is cooling but giving more room to policymakers for further stimulus measures if needed.

Analysts polled by Reuters had expected consumer inflation to ease slightly to 2.2% in August from 2.3% in July.

On a monthly basis, consumer inflation ran at 0.2% in August, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. That was half of what economists had expected.

The producer price index fell 1.2% for the 30th consecutive month, as weak economic conditions continue to rob Chinese companies of pricing power.

The market had expected a 1.1% decline in producer prices after a drop of 0.9% in July. l

A man plugs his Toyota three-wheeled electric-powered car named the I-Road, on September 12, 2014 in Grenoble, during the presentation of a full electric car-sharing service AFP