15 Sep, 2014

Bhadro 31, 1421 Zilqad 19, 1435 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 164

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

20 pages | Price: Tk12

7 | LONG FORM

8 | WORLD

11 | OP-ED

13 | SPORT

MY RESPONSIBILITIES INCREASED MANIFOLD: SAIMA WAZED

CAMERON RESISTS AIR STRIKES DESPITE UK HOSTAGE KILLING

GREAT SCOT! WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

BANGLADESH LOSE SHAMSUR AFTER WI HALTS AT 380

Jamaat lobbying against war crimes trials again

‘All AL leaders except Sheikh Hasina can be bought’ n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

Mir Kashem’s brother Mir Masum and Nizami’s son Naqibur are pulling the strings in US n Rafe Sadnan Adel Jamaat-e-Islami, many of whose top leaders have been convicted for 1971 crimes, has once again launched a campaign to influence US policymakers against the ongoing trial of war crimes in Bangladesh, spending thousands of dollars.

In March and April this year, two pro-Jamaat organisations based in the USA hired two lobbyist firms to work for engaging the US Congress in condemning the actions of the war crimes tribunal and raise public awareness among the US public.

One of the organisations is called the “Organisation for Peace and Justice.” According to a news report aired

by Bangladeshi private broadcaster

Maasranga Television last week, the Organisation for Peace and Justice is located at 252A Lake Avenue in Staten Island of New York.

The Massranga reporter found that in the same building there are two other firms named Rose Valley and Diganta Media USA. Registration papers show that both these firms are owned by Mir Masum Ali, brother of Jamaat leader and war crimes accused Mir Kashem Ali. From the website of the US justice department’s Foreign Agents Registration Act, the Dhaka Tribune has obtained the registration statements of Cassidy & Associates, a top US lobbying firm, who has been hired by the Organisation for Peace and Justice.

The registration details of Cassidy

with Organisation for Peace and Justice Inc can be accessed at http://www.fara. gov/docs/6214-Exhibit-AB-20140415-2. pdf.

The document reads that Cassidy will “engage members of the US Congress to support a congressional resolution condemning the actions of the ICT [International Crimes Tribunal] and to use best efforts to include anti-ICT legislative language” in the legislative bodies.

Another document available on the website says “sympathisers of the Jamaat-e-Islami political party are directors/employees of the Organisation for Peace and Justice Inc and the mission of the principal benefits the party and its members in Bangladesh.”  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

JAMAAT-SPONSORED ANTI-WAR CRIMES TRIAL LOBBYING Organisation for Peace and Justice Linked with Mir Masum Ali brother of Mir Kashem Ali

Human Rights Development for Bangladesh

n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

Linked with Naqibur Rahman son of Motiur Rahman Nizami

Cassidy & Associates (a top US lobbying firm)

kglobal Lobbying in the US through anti-ICT media campaigh & public relation

Cloakroom Advisors Mainly targeting senate & congress

14 Huji men freshly indicted after revising charges n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court has freshly indicted chief of banned Islamist outfit Huji Mufti Abdul Hannan and 13 others in the explosives case filed over blasting bombs during the Pahela Baishakh celebrations at Ramna Batamul in 2001.

Judge Shahed Nur Uddin of the Speedy Trial Tribunal 1 reframed the charges yesterday following a prosecution petition.

In the petition filed on August 7, special public prosecutor Abu Abdullah Bhuiyan mentioned that the Huji men had earlier been charged in the case under a wrong section of law.

After the framing of charges under sections 3 and 6 of the Explosive Substances Act, the court has fixed September 21 for further trial of the case.

So far, seven witnesses have testified in the case. The court said on September 21 it would decide on whether to recall the seven witnesses or continue deposition of the other witnesses.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Grieboski Global Strategies Especially targeting Religious Independence Commisison of US

Naqibur Rahman: I'm here in front of you because I believe the government of Bangladesh is basically setting the stage to judicially murder my father Motiur Rahman Nizami.

Mamata-Bangladesh envoy meeting today n Tribune Report West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will meet Abida Islam, deputy high commissioner of Bangladesh in Kolkata, Indian daily newspaper The Hindu reported yesterday.

Mamata is going to meet Bangladesh deputy high commissioner amid allegations against her party Trinamool Congress MP of funnelling money from the Saradha chit fund to the Jamaat-e-Islami-Bangladesh.

The Hindu said the chief minister is scheduled to meet Abida Islam at the state secretariat at 4pm today.

An official of the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, however, said the meeting was not related to the ongoing probe into the Saradha Chit Fund scam.

The official, however, said as Abida Islam was leaving the country (India) shortly they had asked for an appointment with the chief minister.

“It is a routine courtesy call,” the official said.

The meeting, however, is significant, in the background of several intelligence and media reports that have indicated that Trinamool Congress MP Ahmed Hassan Imran had given money to the Jamaat-e-Islami to destabilise the Awami League government.

Media reports have also indicated that the money was acquired by Imran from Sudipta Sen, CMD of the Saradha Group.

Imran, who was earlier interrogated by the CBI, for selling his newspaper to Sudipta Sen at an exorbitant amount, denied any involvement in the scam.

“The amount is properly accounted for. No money was handed over to anyone in Bangladesh and it was duly explained to the CBI,” Imran told reporters after he was interrogated by the investigating agency.

Meanwhile, Imran, also one of the founder members of Students’ Islamic Movement of India, an outfit that has been banned since 2001, on Sunday told The Telegraph: “I left Simi in 1984 and I have nothing to do with the Jamaat.” l

INSIDE B1 | Business

Some investors got their fingers burnt from the recent plummeting of stock prices of the most newly listed companies that began trading more than 20 months back.

3 | News

The prosecution has submitted the formal charges against three war crimes suspects of Bagerhat including alleged razakar commander Sirajul Haque alias Siraj Master for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War.

4 | News

Railway authorities yesterday continued to demolish illegal structures along

the rail tracks in the Moghbazar-Malibagh area of the capital for the third consecutive day.

5 | News

A recent study has concluded that the use of different types of steroids for fattening beef should be banned immediately as it can cause kidney or liver diseases in humans and also cause infertility in women and obesity in children.

9 | World

Thousands of pro-democracy activists clad in black marched silently through Hong Kong yesterday, holding banners saying they felt betrayed at Beijing’s refusal to allow fully-democratic elections for the city’s next chief executive in 2017.

15 | Sport

6 | Nation

Jamalpur Municipal Children’s Park is the lone recreation centre for children, but it is no more a place for them to run and jump in a happy way as it has not been repaired and maintained for long.

Rawshan overpowers HM Ershad

France will host Switzerland in the Davis Cup final in November after Roger Federer gave the Swiss the winning point against Italy in Geneva on Sunday.

JaPa Chairman HM Ershad has apparently been put to rout in power tussle with his wife Rawshon Ershad who was able to whip up support of at least 27 of the total 40 lawmakers at the parliamentary party meeting yesterday.

Opposing the former general’s view of stepping down from the cabinet the Jatiya Party (JaPa) parliamentary party meeting decided that it would stay on with the cabinet until the forum reversed this decision, State Minister for Labour Mujibul Haque said.

The parliamentary party meeting

also decided to recommend HM Ershad for reinstatement of Moshiur Rahman Ranga and Tajul Islam Chowdhury in the party presidium.

Earlier, Ershad relieved State Minister for Local Government Moshiur Rahman Ranga and Opposition Chief Whip Tajul Islam Chowdhury for siding with Rawshon.

The parliamentary party upheld the decision of Rawshon Ershad to nominate Kazi Feroz Rashid, whom Ershad also removed from the president of Dhaka city unit of JaPa for siding with his wife, as the deputy leader of the opposition.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday made a frustrating comment about her party, saying all Awami League leaders, except her, can be bought.

She made the comment while leaving parliament after yesterday’s sitting which ended around 8:45pm.

The House adopted the constitutional amendment bill 2014 that would make the judiciary accountable to the legislature.

Just after the deputy speaker Fazle Miah adjourned the House until Monday, Hasan Mahmud, Dabirul Islam, Abdul Matin Khasru and Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu approached the prime minister and raised the issue of the judges’ removal bill. Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Law Minister Anisul Huq and Chief Whip ASM Feroz also joined them.

They referred to the opposition of the 16th constitutional amendment bill by Dr Kamal Hossain and Barrister Amir-Ul-Islam, an Awami Leaguebacked lawyer. The MPs were trying to speculate whether the bill could trigger any difficulty for the party and the government.

“All Awami League leaders can be bought except Sheikh Hasina and that is the problem,” the premier told them and left the House.

Hasina shouts at whip for breaking rule

Around 10 minutes before, the prime minister yelled at Whip Atiur Rahman Atik who sat in the chair of Railway Minister Mazibul Haque violating the Rules of Procedure. She also ordered Atik to take his own seat in the third row.

“Why do you always sit here? Go to your seat,” Hasina told the whip and he immediately returned to his seat.

The Rules of Procedure strictly prohibits the parliamentarians from taking any other seat except their own while  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, September 15, 2014

FF certificates of 5 secretaries cancelled Suranjit feeds JS n Mohosinul Karim The government yesterday decided to cancel the freedom fighters’ certificates of five secretaries as those were proven false in the investigation carried out by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Freedom Fighters Council, widely known as Jatiya Muktijoddha Council or Jamuka, under the Liberation War Affairs Ministry. Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque, and chairman of Jamuka, chaired the meeting at the Jamuka office in the capital’s Moghbazar yesterday.

The five officials are – former senior secretary to the Prime Minister’s Office and incumbent Privatisation Commission Chairman (on state minister status) Molla Waheduzzaman, Health Secretary Neaz Uddin Mia, Public Service Commission Secretary AKM Amir Hossain, former liberation war affairs secretary (now OSD) KH Masud Siddiqui and former joint secretary of Liberation War Affairs Ministry Abul Kashem Talukder.

After the meeting, Mozammel said

the certificates of the five would be cancelled as those were given bypassing the decision of the Jamuka. There is no option of issuing freedom fighters certificates without any prior decision of the council.

The move came after the ACC sent a letter to the Liberation War Affairs Ministry and the Public Administration Ministry last Monday, requesting them to take legal and departmental actions against the five for the offence. The letter reached the ministries on Wednesday.

Although the Liberation War Affairs Ministry reached a decision on the issue yesterday, the Public Administration Ministry was yet to make any visible move as of yesterday.

Refusing to comment in this regard, Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury, Public Administration Ministry’s senior secretary, said: “We received ACC’s letter.

We will take necessary legal steps soon following the rules and regulations.”

Asked when the steps might be taken, he said: “Everything will be transparent when we take the steps.”

On the other hand, while talking to media after the Jamuka meeting, Lib-

eration War Affairs Minister Mozammel said: “The freedom fighter’s certificates of those persons who had got them without the council’s approval, will be cancelled.”

Replying to another query, the minister said: “The service age of the accused officials will end this year. They

Public Administration Ministry will take legal steps against the secretaries following service rules might have got the extension of service for one more year if the certificates were real. But, as it was proven to be fake, they will not get the advantage.

“At the same time, the Public Administration Ministry will take legal steps against them following service rules... We have cancelled their certificates. We have completed our duty.

Now, it is the duty of the Public Administration Ministry to take legal action.”

According to ministry officials, departmental cases might be filed against the officials for violation of service rules and disciplines. Fraud cases might also be filed against them, if it is proved that they were involved with fraudulence.

On a separate note, Mozammel said the ministry has decided to put on hold all the freedom fighters lists except the “Muktibarta red book” and the “Indian training camp list.”

Names of 154,000 freedom fighters were mentioned in the Muktibarta, formed during Awami League’s 19962001 term; while the number of freedom fighters who received training in Indian training camps is 65,000.

Mozammel said the rest of the lists would be put on hold until the fresh scrutinising process is ended. Freedom fighters would get identity cards after a fresh list of freedom fighters is published on March 26 next year, he added.

According to the Liberation War Affairs Ministry, around 11,150 people including several senior officials had taken freedom fighter’s certificates from the Jamuka during the past six years. l

with wrong info n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on law Suranjit Sengupta, yesterday fed the legislature wrong information on the impeachment of the President as enshrined in the constitution.

While tabling the report of the parliamentary standing committee on the 16th constitution amendment bill 2014, which would make the Supreme Court judges accountable to the legislature, Suranjit said the President of the Republic could be removed with a simple majority.

But the article 52 (4) of the constitution stipulates that only a two-third majority in the legislature could either remove the President for incapacity or impeach him for misconduct.

“The speaker and the deputy speaker can be removed with a simple majority. The prime minister’s removal is a matter of a single vote while the President can be removed with a simple majority,” Suranjit told the House while

giving a justification of the bill.

Awami League presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim drew Suranjit’s attention, apparently, to point out the mistake he made while referring to the constitutional provision.

Suranjit, however, raised his hand, asking him to stop.

Sheikh Hasina also looked at Suranjit, but he went on delivering his speech.

“Sheikh Hasina’s government has initiated the bill to make the judiciary more secure, more independent and uphold the dignity of the judiciary,” Suranjit said, adding that no political motive was behind the initiation of the bill.

He said the present instrument, the Supreme Judicial Council headed by the chief justice, could not ensure protection of the judiciary. “The supreme judicial council has two more senior judges.”

According to the rule, any judge of the supreme court facing incapacity and misbehaviour must go on the basis of the opinion of the three-member Supreme Judicial Council. l

Pinak 6 capsize probe report submitted

35% progress achieved in 6 fast-track projects

Supreme Court dismisses Khaleda’s appeals

Arms trader killed in shootout

n Mohosinul Karim

n Tribune Report

n Ahmed Zayeef

The seven-member committee, formed to find out the reasons behind the capsizing of ML Pinak 6, submitted its report to the Shipping Ministry yesterday.

Committee chief Nur-Ur Rahman, also a joint secretary of the ministry, submitted the report, Shipping Ministry Secretary Syed Monjurul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune. Neither the secretary nor the joint secretary who is heading the investigation committee, however disclosed any of the findings in the investigation.

On August 4, Pinak 6 capsized in the Padma River near the Mawa terminal with around 300 passengers on board.

The official data says the bodies of 48 passengers have so far been recovered while 62 passengers are still missing.

The Shipping Ministry formed the seven-member committee to find the causes behind the launch disaster, hours after it took place.

Besides, the Department of Shipping had formed another four-member committee with Engineer and Ship Survey official Nazmul Haque as the convener of the committee. l

The government monitoring committee on six fast-track projects has expressed its satisfaction on the progress of the large-scale projects including the construction of the Padma bridge.

Following a meeting yesterday at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to review the projects’ implementation, the PM’s Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikder told the Dhaka Tribune that a total of 35% progress have been made in all the six fast-track projects.

The six projects worth $15.5bn include the Padma bridge project, deep seaport, metro rail, 1,320MW Rampal Power Plant, 1,000MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant and the LNG terminal project.

Speaking on the Padma Multipurpose Bridge project, he said the committee was “satisfied” with the process of implementation for its construction.

He also mentioned that China Major Bridge Engineering, the company that was awarded the main job of constructing the bridge, has already brought heavy machinery to the Chittagong port and was planning on bringing the machines to the bridge site before floodwater recedes.

He added that there was no bar to

An allegedly illegal arms trader was killed in a “mysterious” shootout with plainclothes Detective Branch members at Mugda in the capital yesterday.

Though the DB claimed that Mesbah Uddin Tarek, 26, was an illegal arms trader, Mugda police could not confirm it.

DMP DC Masudur Rahman said Tarek was arrested from a house at Shyampur and was taken to Green Model Town area in the morning to recover illegal arms there.

After the DB team had reached there, his cohorts launched an attack, triggering a gunfight, he said.

DC Masud said Tarek was caught in the line of fire and was critically injured by a bullet. He later died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 11am.

A pistol and two bullets were recovered from the spot, he said.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Mugda police’s Sub-Inspector Ajmal Hossain had initially identified Mesbah Uddin Tarek as Masud Tarek aged 26.

Mugda police allegedly were unaware of the incident and were informed of the victim only after the shootout.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune on the phone, the victim’s father said: “Around 3am a DB team in plain cloths came to my house and picked up my son. My son said someone has framed him.” l

implementing the metro rail project as disputes between Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkhya (Rajuk) and the metro rail authority had been solved. Compensation would be paid by this week to the people whose land was acquired for the metro rail project, the premier’s principal secretary said.

The implementation of all the six fast-track projects were within the time frame of the project durations, Sikder said.

The committee also noted progress in the construction of the Rampal Power Plant as its main boundary wall had already been constructed and a power plant terminal had also been built at the project site, he added.

Sikder said the next meeting of the monitoring committee would be held at the PMO next month and be presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Although the main work of the much-talked about Padma Bridge was yet to kick off, the government recently decided to award the river training work to Sinohydro Corporation, a Chinese Company.

There has also been reportedly little progress in the deep seaport and metro rail projects as the government was yet to decide on the source of funding for the two projects. l

The Supreme Court yesterday dismissed two petitions filed by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia against a High Court order issued in two corruption cases against her.

The five-member Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Mozammel Hossain passed the order.

On July 7, Khaleda filed the petitions seeking permission to appeal against a High Court verdict that rejected another petition challenging the appointment of Judge Basudev Roy, who was conducting the cases.

Khaleda’s lawyer Zainul Abedin said two more petitions were pending in the Appellate Division for hearing and hence there was no scope to proceed with the trial.

The prosecution said there was no bar to proceeding with the trial as the Supreme Court had dismissed the petitions.

At 9:48 am when Khaleda’s petitions were placed, the chief justice said: “dismissed”.

Barrister Jamir Uddin Sircar, AJ Mohammad Ali, Khandaker Mahbub Hossain and Md Asadujjaman argued for Khaleda; Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, Additional Attorney General Murad Reza and Momtaz Uddin Fakir were in the prosecution.

Zainul Abedin said: “I think there are some important points to be stressed. After consulting with my client and senior lawyers, we might submit review petitions against the order.”

“She would seek adjournment of the hearing till September 17 as her two petitions challenging her indictment in the corruption cases are pending in the Appellate Division,” he added.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said: “There is no bar to running Khaleda’s trial and there is no stay order on her two other petitions.”

On May 12, Khaleda filed the writ petition challenging the legality of appointment of Basudev Roy, who framed charges against her and six others. On June 19, the High Court bench of Justice Kazi Razaul Huq rejected the petition.

On July 7, Khaleda filed two petitions with the Appellate Division challenging the rejection order. She also sought a stay order on the trial proceedings.

On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed Zia Charitable Trust graft case, accusing four people, including Khaleda, for abuse of power in raising funds for the trust. It filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case on July 3, 2008, against Khaleda, her elder son Tarique Rahman and four others for misappropriating over Tk2.10 crore foreign grants. l

n Ashif Islam Shaon

14 Huji men freshly indicted after revising charges Jamaat lobbying against war crimes trial again  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

On April 16, 2009, the then metropolitan sessions judge ANM Bashir Ullah framed the charges under section 26 of the Special Powers Act and section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act. As per the two sections of the Explosive Substances Act, if found guilty, the accused would be handed down death penalty. Of the 14 accused, nine including Mufti Hannan are in jail while the rest on the run.

In the killing case lodged over the same incident, a Dhaka court on June 23 handed down death penalty to eight Huji members, including Hannan, and sen-

tenced six others to life imprisonment.

Later the prosecution filed a petition to reframe the charges upon a Supreme Court directive in the case which was sought in 2009.

Ten people were killed and scores injured in the blast on April 14, 2001 while cultural group Chhayanaut was performing at the Bangla year celebrations. Two cases were filed with the Ramna police – one for murder and the other for possession and use of explosive substances.

The Criminal Investigation Department pressed charges on December 30, 2008 in both the cases. The other accused are Arif Hasan alias Suman alias Ab-

Rawshan overpowers HM Ershad  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

Yesterday’s (Sunday’s) parliamentary party meeting apparently was a face off between party HM Ershad and Rawshon Ershad.

The meeting was supposed to discuss the appointment of the deputy leader of the opposition as Ershad formally opposed Rawshon’s choice, Kazi Feroz Rashid.

Ershad wants his Secretary General Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu to become the deputy leader of the opposition.

The meeting started at 3.45 pm at the chamber of the opposition leader. At the outset, 20 MPs turned up at the meeting.

Then six more MPs joined the meeting.

Ershad did not attend the meeting.

Flanked by Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, he came to his office at 4.35pm on the first floor of the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban. Just one floor above his office in the same block, the parliamentary party meeting was in progress. Mohammad Noman and Abu Hossain Babla were with Ershad.

At the beginning, Rawshan Ershad gave an opening speech referring to the removal of Moshiur Rahman and Tajul Islam Chowdhury from the party’s council of presidium. She urged the MPs not to talk against Ershad as he was the symbol of Japa.

“I would rather request him (Ershad) to grant pardon to Ranga and

Tajul if they caused trouble,” Mujibul Haque, who was designated to brief media, told the Dhaka Tribune quoting Rawshan Ershad.

The attending MPs accepted the move and they focused on discussing the JaPa’s role in the passage of the 16th constitution amendment bill.

Mujibul Haque raised the issue at the meeting saying the Supreme Court judges must be accountable to the legislature to uphold the spirit of parliamentary democracy. The meeting then decided to back the government in the passage of the bill, said the spokesperson.

“We will be in the cabinet until any of the next parliament party meetings scraps the decision,” Tajul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune.

The meeting also decided that the opposition leader’s previous letter favouring nomination of Kazi Feroz Rashid as the deputy leader of the opposition should be valid leaving it to the decision of the speaker.

“You (press) create problem out of nothing. I do not want to make any comment,” Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu said replying to the Dhaka Tribune question why he, Ershad and other MPs skipped the parliamentary party meeting.

Ershad remained until the sitting started at around 5.10 pm. He entered the chamber from his office, stayed

dur Razzak, Maulana Akbar Hossain alias Helal Uddin, Alhaj Maulana Md Tajuddin (absconding), Hafez Jahangir Alam Badar (absconding), Maulana Abu Bakar alias Hafez Selim Hawlader (absconding), Mufti Shafiqur Rahman (absconding), Mufti Abdul Hye (absconding), Hafez Maulana Yahiya, Maulana Shawkat Osman alias Sheikh Farid, Maulana Sabbir alias Abdul Hannan, Maulana Abu Taher, Shahadat Ullah alias Jewel and Maulana Abdur Rouf.

Mufti Hannan is facing charges in 24 other cases. In his statement made on November 19, 2006, he said they had carried out the attack since the programme was “anti-Islamic.” l

there for some times and left the House 10 minutes after the JaPa MPs led by Rawshon Ershad entered the assembly.

Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu and Moshiur Rahman, who on Thursday threatened him, sat next to each other. They were seen discussing in the House before the Maghreb prayer recess. He did not return to the House after recess.

Ershad and Rawshon Ershad had been butting heads since the declaration of the schedules of the January 5 general elections the BNP boycotted. Ershad first announced participating in the polls but later made a u-turn asking the party candidates to withdraw their candidatures.

But her wife and some presidium members stood against his decision and participated in the polls. Ershad was in captivity under the pretext of illness until the general elections were over.

Ershad was elected MP but the party MPs elected Rawshan the opposition leader while he had the post of party chief. Most of the MPs sided with his wife.

Apparently to reestablish his control over the party Ershad first removed Kazi Feroz Rashid from the party post of chief of Dhaka city unit and opposed Rawshon Ershad’s decision to appoint him as the deputy leader of the opposition.

He also removed Moshiur Rahman and Tajul Islam from the party’s presidium council. l

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

Similar registration documents revealed that Cassidy had sub-contracted two other firms named Cloakroom Advisors and Kglobal. Both firms have been appointed to carry out the same tasks as Cassidy; but in addition, they would “conduct outreach to the Department of State (South and Central Asia Bureau and International Operations).”

Service contracts attached with the registration statements show that the Organisation for Peace and Justice will be paying Cassidy & Associates a total of $50,000 over a period of three months as a charge for lobbying.

An extension of the contract paper reads that Cassidy’s initiatives “are intended to cooperate with international partners to pressure the government of Bangladesh to suspend ICT proceedings.”

Once before in 2011, months after the International Crimes Tribunal had launched investigation into allegations of war crimes against top Jamaat leaders, Mir Kashem Ali and his brother Mir Masum Ali hired Cassidy & Associates for $310,000 for influencing US politicians and government officials against the tribunal proceedings.

Cassidy’s website says the fee paid

by Kashem in the first quarter of 2011 was among the largest quarterly fees incurred by any of Cassidy’s 140 clients that year. Only about a dozen clients paid more.

The second pro-Jamaat organisation that is lobbying against the war crimes trial in the USA is called the Human Rights Development for Bangladesh (HRDB).

When contacted over phone by the Maasranga reporter, Mir Masum Ali refused to make any comment and advised to talk to his organisation’s spokesperson Dr Naqibur Rahman, son of another war crimes accused Jamaat leader Motiur Rahman Nizami.

It was later found that Naqibur had links with the HRDB, who in December 2013 organised a media conference at

the National Press Club in Washington DC. During that conference, he told reporters: “I’m here in front of you because I believe the government of Bangladesh is basically setting the stage to judicially murder my father Motiur Rahman Nizami.”

Naqibur has organised several rallies in the USA trying to build a protest against the war crimes trial.

In March this year, just a month before Cassidy was hired, the HRDB appointed another lobbyist firm Just Consulting LLC which was later renamed to Grieboski Global Strategies.

Documents show that Grieboski is tasked with reaching and influencing the independence commission, the foreign ministry and the US Congress against the war crimes trials.

In April 2013, the then Bangladesh law minister Shafique Ahmed told parliament that Jamaat leader Mir Kashem Ali had paid $25m to an American lobbyist firm to make the war crimes trial questionable and controversial. He also claimed that the government had proof of that and documents related to the dealing were to reach their hands soon.

The Maasranga report also said the Bangladesh government had hired a US lobbyist firm named BGR Government Affairs for a monthly fee of $25,000.

On behalf of the Bangladesh government, that firm is supposed to work towards achieving specific political objectives by building connections with the US politicians and the civil society.

Lobbying in the USA describes paid activities in which special interests hire well-connected lawyers to argue for specific legislation and resolutions in decision-making bodies such as the congress.

The US lobbying business, which was worth over $30bn in 2011, has often been highly criticised by journalists and the American public.

In August this year, US Ambassador-at-Large Stephen J Rapp came

to Dhaka and blatantly spoke against the trial of Jamaat, which allegedly committed crimes against humanity as an organisation during the Liberation War. Months ago, the International Crime Tribunal in Bangladesh kept the war crimes cases against both Motiur Rahman Nizami and Mir Kashem Ali waiting for verdict. They have been accused of several counts of crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War. Nizami is the chief of Jamaat-e-Islami and Kashem is an executive council member who also looks after the financial matters of the party.

According to documents that his lawyers have placed with the ICT during trial, Kashem is the chairman of Keari Ltd, a real estate and tourism company, chairman of the managing committee of Diganta Media Corporations that runs Diganta TV and the daily Naya Diganta.

He is also a founding member of Ibn Sina Trust, member secretary of the Islami Bank Foundation and a founding member of the Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited. l

‘All AL leaders except Sheikh Hasina can be bought’  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

the whips are supposed to implement the rules.

The MPs are frequently seen sitting in chairs not designated for them, particularly to be in the focus of TV cameras. Most of the MPs seat themselves beside lawmakers who speak.

Atik sat in Mazibul Haque’s chair to discuss something with the information minister, who was also seated in Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali’s chair. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Monday, September 15, 2014

Charges against 3 including Siraj Kosai submitted

Charge sheet against Moudud accepted

3 held for killing NSU student in Kushtia

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

n Udisa Islam

A Dhaka court yesterday accepted the charge sheet pressed against BNP Standing Committee member Moudud Ahmed and his brother Manjur Ahmed in a case filed on charge of grabbing a government land worth about Tk300 crore in Gulshan area.

After scrutinising the case documents, Dhaka’s Senior Special Judge Md Jahrul Haque took the charges into cognisance in Moudud’s presence.

The judge also issued arrest warrant against Manjur and fixed October 22 for hearing on charge framing in the case filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission.

ACC Deputy Director Md Harun-urRashid submitted the charge sheet on May 26 naming 20 prosecution witnesses.

Members of RAB yesterday arrested three people in connection with the killing of a private university student.

The arrestees are Rakibul Islam Bappy, 22, his step mother Anowara, 38, and Lipu’s uncle Shuvo.

They were arrested for their alleged involvement in killing North South University student Touhidul Islam Lipu in Kushtia.

RAB 12 Captain Ali Hayder Chowdhury said: “The arrestees have confessed to their involvement in the killing.”

“We held Bappi and his step mother in connection with the case. Later, we arrested Lipu’s uncle Shuvo,” he added.

The official said: “The plan was made six months ago in order to snatch Lipu’s expensive motorcycle and for demanding money from his father.” l

The prosecution has submitted the formal charges against three war crimes suspects of Bagerhat including alleged razakar commander Sirajul Haque alias Siraj Master for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. The two other suspects are Abdul Latif Talukder and Khan Md Akram Hossain.

Prosecutors Sayedul Haque Suman and Sheikh Mushfiq Kabir submitted the charges to the registrar office of the International Crimes Tribunal.

They pressed eight charges against the trio that include genocide, abduction, torture and religious conversion.

The tribunal 1 may take the charges into cognisance today and fix a date for a hearing.

Siraj Master, Akram and Latif are now in custody.

Of the three, Siraj Master, also known as Siraj Kosai, was the most brutal as he slit throats of the victims, after they had been shot by the razakars, to confirm their deaths.

According to the investigators, Siraj Master had been a key associate of razakar founder AKM Yusuf during the war. He was the executor of every

Health care hurt by lopsided doctornurse ratio n Moniruzzaman Uzzal A shortage of trained nurses is affecting the quality of health care, as figures show the country has less than a sixth of the number of trained nurses recommended by the World Health Organisation.

The WHO recommends an ideal ratio of 1:3:5 of doctors to nurses to technologists to provide optimum care. But in Bangladesh the ratio is the reverse.

According to the latest figures provided by the Bangladesh Medical and Dental Council (BMDC) and the Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council (BNMC), the number of registered doctors and dentists is around 78,000.

The number of nurses is half the number of doctors at just 36,000, or about a sixth of the WHO optimal number of 234,000.

Allegations that most private hospital clinics and diagnostic centres operate with untrained and unqualified nurses are widespread.

According to the health directorate’s 2013 health bulletin, there were 1,186 public hospitals and 8,203 private clinics and diagnostic centres in Bangladesh. The total number of hospital beds at both public and private sector hospitals numbered 91,106, with 45,621 beds available in public hospitals and 45,485 beds in private hospitals.

At a meeting of the National Health Council on March 11, the prime minister called on private medical schools to offer nursing and health technologist degrees.

In a circular on September 10, the health ministry asked the health directorate to send a list of the private medical colleges that had opened nursing institutes.

Dr Moazzem Hossain, president of Bangladesh Private Medical Colleges Association, said there were a few private medical colleges who operated nursing institutes, but was unable to name them.

Bangladesh Nursing and Midwifery Council Registrar Suraiya Begum said four-year nursing courses were offered

by Kumudini, International, North East, Ragib Rabeya, Prime, TMSS, Tairunessa, East West, Birdem, Khaja Yunus, Anwar Khan, Modern and Green Life medical colleges. The number of seats are limited ranging from just 25 to 60 places. l

Suraiya Morshed dies

n Tribune Desk Suraiya Morshed, the wife of AKH Morshed and the daughter of Late Sayeedur Rahman and Late Salma Rahman passed away at 10:10am yesterday at United Hospital after prolonged illness. She was laid to rest at Banani Graveyard after Asr prayers on the same day.

She is survived by her husband, two siblings and three children – Waleed, Lamiya and Fazeela, four grandchildren as well as a host of relatives, friends and well-wishers. She had been director of studies at Scholastica School for many years. The family seeks prayers for the departed soul. l

Charges

Crimes

Accused

Charge 1

Killing of 50 Hindus at Ranjitpur

Siraj Master

Charge 2

Killing of 600/700 Hindus at Rampal

Siraj Master

Charge 3

Abduction, torture to murder of 19 civilians at Besargati and Kandapara

Siraj Master

Charge 4

Killing of 7 civilians at Chulkathi

Siraj Master

Charge 5

Abduction and torture to killing of 42 civilians at Kochua

Siraj Master, Khan Md Akram Hossain and Abdul Latif Talukder

Charge 6

Conversion of 200 Hindus at Shakharikathi

Akram and Latif

Charge 7

Abduction and torture to kill 5 civilian at Kochua Siraj Master, Akram and Latif

Charge 8

Killing of freedom fighter Fazlur Rahman Shikder Akram and Latif

crime planned by Yusuf, a Jamaat-e-Islami leader who died on February 9 during his trial against him with the tribunal.

The investigation agency submitted report against the trio on August 25. Investigation Officer Helal Uddin started the probe on May 19 last year.

In 2009, a victim named Nimai Chandra Das from Raghuduttakathi village filed a case against some 20-30 men including the three with a Bagerhat court. The case was later transferred to the tribunal and the agency started its investigation.

According to the probe report, the accused trained under the Pakistani occupation forces in Khulna Ansar

Camp and set up razakar camps in Bagerhat.

Siraj Master is the lone accused in four charges of killings – 600-700 Hindus in Rampal, 50 Hindus in Ranjitpur, abduction and killing of 19 people at Besargati and Kandapara, and killing of seven people at Chulkathi.

Along with Akram and Latif, he was also allegedly involved in the abduction and killing of 47 civilians at Kochua.

Akram and Latif are accused together in two charges – conversion of 200 Hindus at Shakharikathi and the killing of freedom fighter Fazlur Rahman Shikder on 13 December, 1971. l

The ACC official, who investigated the allegations, filed the case with Gulshan police on December 17 last year. He later questioned Moudud at Kashimpur jail gate on February 3.

According to the charge sheet, Moudud and his brother, now living in London, were responsible for occupying the property since 1978 through different fake documents and abusing power.

The house at Gulshan belonged to a Pakistani couple who left the country before the 1971 Liberation War. Following their departure, the house was included in the list of government’s abandoned properties on January 21, 1972.

On August 2, 1973, Moudud prepared a fake power of attorney of Flatz to grab the land and has been living in the house showing himself as a tenant. l

n Our Correspondent, Kushtia

Defence argument ends in Azhar case n Udisa Islam After submitting for nine sessions, the defence for Jamaat-e-Islami leader ATM Azharul Islam yesterday concluded placing arguments at the International Crimes Tribunal 1.

The three-member tribunal, led by Justice M Enayetur Rahim, later adjourned the hearing until September 18 accepting a time plea of the prosecution. On September 11, the tribunal asked the prosecution to prepare for placing rebuttal arguments after the end of defence argument.

While arguing on the prosecution plea for compensating a rape victim, defence counsel Shishir Monir claimed that there was no provision of compensation in the penal code.

He said: “I have scrutinised each section of the penal code. There is provision of fines, but not compensation.

It ultimately goes against the tribunal law.”

On charge four, he said one prosecution witness had seen Azhar standing in front of their house.

It does not mean the accused had been involved in abetting the abduction and killing of teachers of Rangpur Carmichael College.

The counsel also submitted on contradictions in testimonies of prosecution witnesses.

On labelling the Rangpur Town Hall as a torture camp, Shishir argued that only one judge among the three knew about it, “which means the use of Rangpur Town Hall as a torture camp is not a matter of common knowledge and cannot be taken into judicial notice.”

The prosecution concluded their part of arguments on August 26, seeking death penalty for Azhar. A total of 19 witnesses testified against the accused.

Of them, the prosecution declared their seventh witness hostile. The defence

produced a relative of Azhar to testify in his favour.

According to the case, Azhar, now 61, was a commander of Rangpur district unit of al-Badr during the war. He was arrested on August 23, 2012. The tribunal indicted him on November 12 last year on six specific charges of crimes against humanity.

Last witness in Subhan case

After the end of deposition of prosecution’s 29th witness yesterday, the prosecution in the case against Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Abdus Subhan said they would place the investigation officer on the next hearing date.

Freedom fighter SK Shahidullah, 68, from Nishchintapur village in Sujanagar of Pabna, told the tribunal 2 that the accused had participated in the atrocities that took place in five villages on May 12, 1971.

“On that day, a combined attack was carried out in five villages in our locality. That morning, I saw the Pakistani Army taking people to Nishchintapur Primary School ground.

When I entered my house my mother said they also took my elder brother Obaidullah.”

The witness went to the spot and saw two army vehicles and one white car parked in front of the school. The car was used by Subhan, then chairman of Peace Committee and acting ameer of Jamaat in Pabna.

After the army had left the area around 3pm, Shahidullah met five people at Fatikpur carrying his wounded brother. He told the tribunal that Obaidullah was still alive. The witness also described the killings of his cousins Moni and Entaz, and another Saken.

Subhan’s lawyer Mizanul Islam later cross examined him and the three-member tribunal led by Justice Obaidul Hassan adjourned the proceedings until today. l

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina receives a plaque at the World Tiger Stocktaking Conference in the capital yesterday for her special contribution to protecting the endangered cats BSS

‘Concerted effort needed to protect tigers’

Injured AL leader dies in hospital n Tazlina Zamila Khan

n Tribune Report

An Awami League leader, who had been injured in a clash between two groups over extortion at Azimpur Chhapra Masjid Bazar in the capital on Friday, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital yesterday.

Sahabuddin Sabu, 45, died around 7am, said DMCH police outpost Incharge Mozammel Haque.

Sub-Inspector of Lalbagh police station Md Mohibullah told the Dhaka Tribune: “Two groups of supporters of Haji Selim and Dr Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin had been involved in a conflict over setting up shops and extortion in the area for long. Mostafa Jalal’s men attacked Sabu, leaving him injured.”

While his body was being taken to his home at Rasulpur, Sabu’s supporters clashed with police and vandalised cars, buses and rickshaws on the road.

Shahjada Saju, Awami League’s ward 23 unit secretary, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The roadside shops and stalls were evicted in the area a few days ago. Sabu led the eviction drive in order to stop extortion.”

Abdul Kadir, a local, said a number of extortionists would collect Tk400 from each of the shops and the extortionists were involved in various crimes under police shelter. Another local Selim said police were there when Sabu was stabbed but they did nothing.

On Saturday, Sabu’s wife Shahin Akhter lodged a case with Lalbagh police station.

Police then arrested seven people.

OC Nurul Muttakin denied the allegation raised by Selim against a police official. l

The tiger range countries should make more concerted efforts to protect tigers from extinction, speakers at the Second Global Tiger Stocktaking Conference said yesterday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the three-day conference at Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.

Speaking at the conference, Hasina urged the tiger range countries to continue their efforts to protect tigers.

“I hope there would be continued efforts from these countries to protect tigers. Let us join hands to save the tigers and save nature,” she said.

She said the tiger range countries would have to renew plans and implementation strategies after reviewing their previous activities.

“For us, it has been more than three years into the Global Tiger Recovery Programme and I believe we have arrived at a turning point to reach our desired goals of protecting tigers,” she said.

The premier urged the world community to join hands in protecting the Sundarbans. “The tigers protect the Sundarbans, while the Sundarbans saves Bangladesh,” she said.

She said no tiger killing was reported in the last two years after the government had taken necessary steps in this regard.

“Earlier, three to four tigers were killed on an average every year and the human casualties have also been re-

duced to four from 25-30 a year,” said Hasina.

The Forest Department under the Ministry of Environment and Forests organised the conference with the assistance of Global Tiger Initiative, Global Tiger Forum and the World Bank.

Chaired by Environment and Forests Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, Deputy Minister for Environment and Forests Abdullah Al Islam Jakob, Secretary of the ministry Md Nojibur Rahman, World Bank Country Director Johannes Zutt, Global Tiger Forum Secretary General Rajesh Gopal, and Global Tiger Initiative Programme Manager Andrey V Kushlin addressed the conference among others.

Senior government officials from 13 tiger range countries participated in the conference to review progress towards their joint goal to double the number of wild tigers by 2022.

The countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Russia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

A total of 140 delegates from 20 countries attended the conference.

Speaking at a press briefing after the inauguration programme, Anwar Hossain Manju said the main objective of the conference was to review the progress towards implementation of the Global Tiger Recovery Programme, to review the status of front-line capacity, resources, and gaps, and to increase international partnership to protect tigers. l

BNP reactions mixed over Moudud book and Mahbub attack n Abu Hayat Mahmud

BNP leaders expressed mixed reactions over standing committee member Moudud Ahmed’s new book, in which the former minister says Khaleda Zia was solely concerned about the release of her two sons during the emergency period in 2007-08.

Adding to the controversy surrounding the book titled “Bangladesh Emergency and the Aftermath (2007-2008)”, pro-BNP academic, Mahbub Ullah, was assaulted as he left its launching ceremony.

A segment of the BNP leadership said Barrister Moudud Ahmed had given a factual account of the tenure of the army-backed caretaker government in 2007-08, while another group disputed the veracity of the account. A third portion of the party’s leadership declined to comment about the book Moudud says he did not intend to insult or criticise anybody.

When contacted, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan Sohel told the Dhaka Tri-

bune: “He [Moudud Ahmed] has described his observations in his new book, so what is the problem? I have not found any fault with the book. I think that he has given an accurate picture of the former illegal caretaker government and its illegal activities.”

“Moudud Ahmed also wrote in his book that the caretaker government had conspired with Sheikh Hasina in prison and cleared the path for the Awami League to take power,” he added.

Maruf Kamal said everyone knew that the Fakhruddin–Moin U Ahmed government had put serious pressure on Khaleda Zia to quit the country along with her two sons, but she did not agree to do so.

“Besides, a mother’s sympathy for her children is natural. What is the problem with that?” he asked.

Maruf Kamal claimed that some media organisations were trying to foment conflict within his party and were keen on publishing accounts about Khaleda Zia but not about Sheikh Hasina, who also features prominently in the book.

Khaleda’s press secretary said: “We have no plan to arrange a press conference. However, madam [Khaleda] will read Moudud’s book, and comment on it later.”

A few BNP leaders declined to comment about the book.

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi Ahmed, joint secretary general of the party, told the Dhaka Tribune: “I have not read the book, I have just heard about it. So, I have no comment. First I will read the book, then I’ll comment on it.”

A segment of the party’s leadership said it was typical of Moudud to make indecent statements and comments.

A BNP senior leader, seeking anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune: “It is not new. He [Moudud] has always been a controversial person. His tendency to court controversy is well known to us, and to madam [Khaleda] too.”

The leader also said Moudud Ahmed had written controversial things about the party’s founder, Ziaur Rahman. The leader, seeking anonymity, claimed Moudud was now doing the same thing with Khaleda Zia and her two sons.

“I have nothing to say about this; madam will decide if any action is to be taken,” he added.

Former Dhaka University (DU) Professor Mahbub Ullah was attacked on Saturday while he was on his way to attend a function of pro-BNP engineers at the Institution of Engineers after attending the book launch.

The injured professor arrived at the engineers’ programme with his shirt torn and dishevelled, while the BNP chairperson was giving the chief guest’s address. Upon seeing him, Khaleda said to the audience: “Do you see what they have done to a professor?

I say Sheikh Hasina must take responsibility for these attacks.”

“If those who attacked Professor Mahbub Ullah today are not arrested, it means that the attacks were carried out at the behest of Sheikh Hasina,” she said.

However, a Chhatra Dal leader, to asked to remain anonymous, said: “The party’s own overzealous activists who are angry about Moudud’s book may have attacked Professor Mahbub.”

He said Mahbub Ullah had spoken against Jamaat at the book launching ceremony, so Jamaat-Shibir activists could also be responsible for the attack.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President and pro-BNP lawyer Khandakar Mahbub Hossain said the attack on former DU Professor Mahbub Ullah could not have happened without the government’s instigation and directives.

He made the allegation in a written statement during a press briefing at the Supreme Court Bar auditorium yesterday.

Mahbub Hossain said: “Professor Mahbub Ullah is an intellectual. He takes part in various talk shows on TV. For this reason, he was physically assaulted according to the government’s instigation and directives.”

He accused law enforcement of playing the role of silent spectators during the assault, and alleged that they had done nothing in regard to the matter despite the filing of a general diary.

Mahbub Ullah could not be reached for a comment. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, September 15, 2014

From left. A group of people try to save a shop during an evcition drive yesterday. The drive, led by railway authorities, demolished hundreds of illegal structures beside the tracks from the capital’s Malibagh to Moghbazar, but left two offices, belonging to pro-ruling party organisations, untouched. Two children scramble in the rubble looking for their belongings SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN/ MEHEDI HASAN

Demolitions at Moghbazar-Malibagh Shipping Ministry to keep sharp eyes on Eid rush spares ruling party structures n Slum dwellers attack eviction team; evicted people allege demolition without warning n Tribune Report Railway authorities yesterday continued to demolish illegal structures along the rail tracks in the Moghbazar-Malibagh area of the capital for the third consecutive day.

The eviction drive, however, ignored several illegal establishments in the area belonging to several bodies associated with the ruling party.

The drive began at 9am and continued until 2pm.

During a visit to the area, it was found that the Dhaka city Chhatra League ward 35 office and an establishment carrying a signboard of the Muktijoddha Sangsad ward 54 was untouched.

The railway eviction team refrained from demolishing the Railway Sramik League’s ward 36 unit office and Muktijoddha Command ward 53 office in the Moghbazar Wireless area.

At Malibagh, Muktijoddha Com-

Viqarunnisa Noon College wins the UNFPA Debate Festival 2014 n Afrose Jahan Chaity Viqarunnisa Noon College won the UNFPA Debate Festival 2014 that ended at the National Academy for Educational Management auditorium yesterday.

Following the parliamentary format, the final was held on the topic “Investing in young people is the only key to developing future” where Holy Cross College and Viqarunnisa Noon College took part as the opposition and government team respectively.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid attended the session as the chief guest while UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) representative to Bangladesh Argentina Matavel Piccin presided over the programme.

Argentina said: “Bangladesh, which is an intellectual society, should invest in the youth.”

Nahid said: “If we want to build a developed and modern nation we have to be concerned about our young generation who are the future leaders of the country. I promise and hope to provide them with education of international standard with knowledge of science and technology.”

Referring to the model parliament, he said: “I dream of a parliament like this where everyone has their logic and patience to listen to others as well.”

Hassan Ahmed Chowdhury Kiron, chairman of Debate for Democracy, moderated the session.

The debate festival highlighted issues like girl child’s rights, female education and empowerment, maternal-death rate, prevention of sexual harassment, investment in the youth etc. l

mand’s Shahjahanpur office and two shrines – Azmeer Sharif and Bhandari Darbar – in the Khilgaon rail crossing area were also spared during the drive.

Meanwhile, slum dwellers in Malibagh launched an attack on the team around 2pm fearing that their slum would be razed to the ground. During the clash, which spread from Malibagh rail crossing to Moghbazar rail crossing, slum dwellers hurled brick bats at the eviction team and vandalised a bulldozer while police chased the attackers to bring the situation under control.

Kamalapur Government Railway Police (GRP) Officer-in-Charge Abdul Majid said the slum dwellers became furious when a rumour spread that the slum would also be evicted by the railway team.

“Later, we convinced them that all illegal structures, except the slum, would be demolished,” he said adding that more than 1,000 establishments

were removed during the drive.

The establishments included some offices, shops and make-shift markets.

This was the third day of the eviction drive along the railway line in the capital, after four people died near the rail crossing at Karwan Bazar kitchen market on Thursday.

On the first day of the drive, around 70 shops by the rail track from the Film Development Corporation (FDC) gate to Tejgaon Railway Station were brought down.

Around 350 makeshift establishments along the rail tracks in the capital’s Malibagh and Khilgaon areas were demolished on the second day of the drive.

During the drive, Bangladesh Railway Divisional Estate Officer Nurunnabi Kabir told the media that the drives would continue until the rail tracks were made “free from land grabbers.”

Asked why they spared some establishments run by the ruling party and

21 more crude bombs recovered from CU hall n CU Correspondent

Police in a drive has recovered 21 crude bombs for the third time from the back portion of AF Rahman Hall of Chittagong University yesterday while none was arrested in this connection.

Inspector (Investigation) Abul Kashem Bhuiyan of Hathazari police station said they, on a tip-off, conducted a search drive behind the hall’s dining room around 1pm and recovered the handmade bombs, abandoned.

“Activists of Chhatra Shibir might have left the bombs in the face of continual drives on campus to nab the attackers of CU teachers’ buses and the accused in different cases,” he also stated.

Meanwhile, police filed a case under the Explosives and Substances Act against 42 people, including 30 Shibir leaders and activists, in connection

with the Saturday’s petrol bomb recovery from a mess named Dip Manjil on the campus, said Hathazari police station OC Md Ismail Hossain.

On the other hand, a Chittagong court sent earlier arrested seven activists of CU unit Shibir in the case on a two-day remand against seven-day remand petition made by police.

The remanded prisoners are Mostafa Kamal, Eman Hossain, Md Yusuf, Towhidul Islam, Kamrul Barakat, Mamun Kazi and Shah Alam.

With the arrest, police have arrested a total of 15 Shibir men for last three days after the heinous bomb attack on the teachers’ buses on Wednesday at Chararhul of the upazila, which left at least 14 persons, including 10 teachers, injured. l Following the attack, the CU authorities and police filed two cases against 92 people, of them 27 Shibir men. l

BSF captures 2 Bangladeshis at Chuadanga border n Our Correspondent, Chuadanga The Border Security Force (BSF) of India captured two Bangladeshi cattle traders at Chuadanga border yesterday.

The two were identified as Nobageju, 40, son of Didar Ali hailing from Damurhuda upazila’s Boroboldia village, and Jhantu Mia, 36, son of Mofiz Uddin hailing from Jibannagar upazila’s Benupur village.

Chuadanga BGB 6 Battalion’s Additional Director Anwar Jahid said some seven Bangladeshi cattle traders, including Nobageju, entered India beside Main Pillar 93 on Munshipur border at around 3am, when a team of Hatkhola

BSF camp spotted and chased them.

Of them, Jhantu was caught while others managed to flee.

In another incident, some six Bangladeshi cattle traders, including Jhantu, entered India S Pillar 61/3 on Benipur border and a team of Nonaganj BSF camp found and chased them at around 5am.

Of them, Jhantu was captured while others fled. The BGB official said they lodged a protest with the BSF soon after the incident. A flag meeting at the company commander level was also held near Main Pillar 93 on Munshipur border at around 11am.

However, he said, neither of the two captured by the BSF were handed over. l

its associates, he said: “We will remove them soon.”

Meanwhile, several poor people, who used to live along the rail track, have alleged that they were evicted without any prior notice.

Sahela Begum, a 60-year-old victim, said: “They could have announced the eviction drive a day earlier. I could have removed my utensils.”

Widowed Sahela, who works as a house help, had a few things in her hut.

Shop owner Rahmat Mia said he could not remove his things from the shop as they were not notified earlier.

When asked, Nurunnabi said the illegal shop and establishment owners had been notified many times.

“But they did not pay heed to the announcement,” he said.

“The drive will continue. We will launch a fresh drive [today] in the Tejgaon area,” he told the Dhaka Tribune last night. l

Abu Hayat Mahmud

To avoid fateful accidents like the Pinak 6 launch capsize just after Eid-ul-Fitr, the Ministry of Shipping is going to set up additional special monitoring cells at every launch terminals and ferry ghats centring Eid-ul-Azha so that the vessels do not carry passengers beyond their limit.

The new move would be start five days before Eid and will continue for ten days at a stretch at the launch terminals and ferry ghats in 21 districts, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan said in a view exchange meeting with the high officials of the ministry and other ministries concerned, the DCs, the SPs, the BIWTA, the BIWTC, the RHD, the DMP, the DCCs and leaders of transport owners, workers in Ramna Restaurant in the capital yesterday.

During the meeting chaired by the minister, the officials discussed pros and cons of the earlier adopted work plan to ensure the safety of homeward bound passengers during Eid. Sources said most of the DCs and SPs opined that the shortage of ferries and launches is the major threat in en-

suring the safe journey as the largest Hindu festival of Durga Puja will also be observed at the same time.

They also stated that it could be quite impossible to maintain ferry service on the Padma River when huge number of buses will throng on both sides of the road.

The officials urged the minister to increase the number of ferries and vessels, particularly at Paturia, Arcicha, Mawa and Kaorakandi The officials urged the minister to increase the number of ferries and vessels, particularly at Paturia, Doulatdia, Arcicha, Mawa and Kaorakandi launch terminals and ferry ghats. However, Shahjahan Khan assured them of trying his best to solve the problem.

Afterwards, the Passengers Welfare Association of Bangladesh has produced a 12-point recommendation paper before the minister. l

Tuba workers set deadline to government for paying compensation n Adil Sakhawat Workers of the Tuba group have set a September 25 deadline for the government to pay the workers their due compensation in accordance with the labour law or face stern demonstrations before Eid. From a rally in front of the National Press Club yesterday under the banner of “Tuba Group Workers Action Committee,” they also called for the group’s five closed factories to be reopened before Eid. Later, they also submitted a memorandum mentioning their demands to State Minister of Labour Mujibul Haque Chunnu.

Addressing the rally, the committee’s convener Moshrefa Mishu said workers of the five shut-down factories were living their lives in inhuman conditions as they were unable to pay their house rent or buy necessary food and daily necessities.

They were constantly being threatened by their creditors, Mishu claimed.

Claiming that Tuba Group owner Delwar victimised 1,600 workers by shutting down the factories illegally, Mishu added that authorities concerned would have to pay the workers with wages for August and September as per the labour law.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Kakoli Akhter, a worker attending the rally, said: “We do not know who to pay first. Should I pay my family in the village so they can buy food, or should I pay the dues to the shopkeeper near

my house for buying my food?”

Shimu, another worker, said: “We are not thinking about celebrating Eid. We have to think about how to live our daily life as we have no job and the wages we got earlier are already finished. So I request the government to take initiatives so that we, the garment workers, can enjoy three meals with our families.”

After the memorandum was placed before Mujibul Haque Chunnu, the state minister spoke to the workers’ representatives for over an hour and assured them that the government would take necessary steps to pay wages, festival bonuses and compensation to the workers before Eid. Moshrefa Mishu told the Dhaka Tribune: “The state minister will talk to the Tuba Group owner and also to the prime minister to take initiatives to ensure salaries, bonuses, and compensation for the workers before Eid.”

The Labour Ministry would also hold talks with stakeholders to settle the issue before Eid-ul-Azha.

Meanwhile, Chunnu said the existing labour law should be amended to make it a pro-labour law and to protect the interest of the workers.

Speaking after the meeting with the workers’ representatives, the state minister for labour said the existing laws do not allow prompt punitive actions against the factory owners including readymade garment industries.

By following the existing labour law, it takes a long time to protect the workers’ interests by filing cases against the owners, he said.

“As a result, it does not protect workers’ interests. The workers leaders should raise voice to amend the law keeping provision of tougher punishment against the owners who violate the law,” the state minister added. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Study: Fattening beef causes infertility in women Lack of knowledge threatens both public health and the rising cattle export while 18% in agriculture, 15% in em- seen in cattle which have been ex- excessive use of steroids in cattle has n Abid Azad ployment and 4.3% in earning foreign cessively administered with steroids, its impact for more than 90 days. It is A recent study has concluded that the use of different types of steroids for fattening beef should be banned immediately as it can cause kidney or liver diseases in humans and also cause infertility in women and obesity in children.

The study, presented by Sher-eBangla Agricultural University’s animal production and management department chairman Associate Professor Dr Jahangir Alam, was revealed at a press conference yesterday at the seminar hall of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine faculty of the university.

“The demand for beef is very high in our country. During Eid-ul-Azha, about eight million cattle are slaughtered every year. Therefore, beef fattening would be a profitable industry in the country if it is regulated in a proper and healthy way.”

He also said cattle farming in the country contributed 3% of the GDP

remittance.

Various diseases are seen in cattle which have been excessively administered with steroids, which also cause sudden deaths among some cattle “Steroids are popularly known as life saving drug. Some of the steroid drugs used are dexamithason, cortisol, Bitamithason, Hydrocortison, Predonisilon, among others. But, the problem is that some people have no knowledge of how to use such drug and they apply 5-10 times more that the acceptable level for beef fattening.”

“As a result, various diseases are

which also cause sudden deaths among some cattle. Besides, such medicine also destroys the quality of cattle’s meat,” he added.

Meanwhile, other speakers at the program also stressed the need to take necessary steps for raising awareness among the people and animal farmers in this regard, otherwise both the rising beef industry in Bangladesh and public health will be put in danger.

Dr KBM Saiful Islam, assistant professor and chairman at university’s medicine and public health department, pointed out: “Some unscrupulous people have been using excessive steroid-type medicines to fatten cattle. The use of such medicines had not been banned in the country but there are certain ways to fatten cattle which will be healthy for consumers.”

Saying that the use of such medicines will affect public health to a large extent, he further added: “The

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Monday, September 15, 2014

so harmful that it cannot be destroyed even after by cooking the meat. When the steroid goes inside the human body, it causes kidney or liver diseases, infertility in women and obesity in children.”

Central Veterinary Hospital’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr ABM Shahid Ullah said: “Animal farmers should follow a scientific and modern method of beef fattening without using injections, tablets or steroids. If scientific and established method is followed, then it is possible to fatten beef within three months without harming the cattle or public health.”

Presided by Professor Dr Anwarul Hoque Beg, dean of animal science and veterinary medicine, the programme was also attended by Associate Professor Dr Abdullahil Baque of agronomy department and Associate Professor Dr Mofazzal Hossain from animal nutrition department. l

'Illegal structures along rivers will be removed' n Tribune Report Water Resources Minister Barrister Anisul Islam Mahmud yesterday said all kinds of illegal structures and establishments around rivers should be removed to protect the water resources in the country.

“There are large number of illegal structures and establishments on river banks. The government must take an initiative to remove all illegal establishment to protect our water resources,” he said while addressing a workshop titled – Assessment of the State of Water Resources – at RAOWA Convention Hall in the capital.

The workshop was jointly organised

by Bangladesh Water Resources and Planning Organisation (WARPO) and the Institute of Water Modelling (IWM).

The minister also said most of the rivers in the country have already lost their water flow as land grabbers have rampantly occupied river banks by constructing illegal establishments.

He further pointed out that unscrupulous people have also constructed several religious establishments, such as mosques, by grabbing rivers so that

the concerned authorities cannot conduct eviction drives to demolish them considering the people’s religious sentiments.

“We have destroyed our rivers by constructing illegal structures which is now harming the environment,” he also said.

Emphasising the need of the Ganges Barrage, the minister said the government has prioratised the construction of the Ganges Barrage as one-third of the country’s population living on the southern belt would benefit from the barrage.

If the barrage is constructed, salinity will be reduced in coastal region and many rivers will get back life and food production will also increase, he added.

The minister underscored the need for conducting assessment on surface and ground waters to know how much water is available in the country and its proper utilization and to identify the vulnerabilities of the water resources.

Among other, Water Resources Secretary Zafar Ahmed Khan, IWM Executive Director Monowar Hossain and WARPO Director General M Salim Bhuiyan also spoke on the occasion. l

Students of Barisal Health Technology Institute stage demonstrations n Our Correspondent, Barisal

15 sustain burn injury after fire breaks out at garment factory n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Students of Institute of Health Technology (HTI), Barisal yesterday boycotted classes and formed a human chain protesting attacks on general students by supporters of Chhatra League factions.

They submitted a memorandum with four-point demands to the principal demanding exemplary punishment to the attackers and ensuring security of the students.

Two factions of Chhatra League led

by Jayed Bin Bashar Adib and Md Sohag respectively engaged in a clash on campus around 10:30pm on Saturday.

During the early hours yesterday, supporters of both the groups joined in from outside with lethal weapons that created panic among students, said Habibur, a student of HTI. Seven were injured in the incident, among whom, four were admitted to the Barisal Sher-E-Bangla Medical College Hospital.

Later, police went to the spot and calmed the situation, said Shakhawat Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station.

In protest to such anarchical incidents on campus the agitated students formed a human chain and held a demonstration yesterday.

They also demanded immediate steps to stop intrusion of outsiders on campus, to address irregularities at the dining hall of the student dormitories and to prevent region based conflicts among students inside the institute. l

At least 15 people sustained burn injury after a fire broke out at a warehouse of a readymade garment factory in the BISIC area in Gazipur city yesterday.

The fire originated at the warehouse of Northern Fabrics Ltd around 2:30pm, said Md Selim, station officer of Tongi Fire Service and Civil Defence.

On receiving information, five units of fire fighters from Joydebpur and Tongi rushed to the spot and extinguished the fire after one and a half hours.

Aktaruzzaman, deputy director of Gazipur fire service, said the fire broke out at about 1:45pm, during lunch on the ground floor. He, however, could not say how the fire erupted.

Pabarul Hossain, fire fighter of Northern Corporation Limited, hearing the news, fire fighters rushed to the spot and rescued workers of the garment factory after breaking a wall.

But, at least 15 workers became sick because of the fumes, he said.

The workers were taken to Tongi Sadar Hospital and a clinic. The amount of loss from the fire was estimated to be at Tk20 lakh. l

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Blacksmiths are seen busy hammering iron bars to turn them into heavy knives to meet the increased demand for those during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha. The picture was taken from Gabtoli area of the capital yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

CPB-BSD rally attackers not Implementation of custodial death arrested even after a year prohibition act stressed n Our Correspondent, Sylhet

Culprits who attacked CPB-BSD rally at Court Point area of Sylhet city on September 15 last year were not arrested and punished even though a whole year has lapsed after the incident that left 25 people injured.

Sub-inspector of Kotwali police station Shahab Uddin lodged a case against five leaders and activists of Chhatra League, including Hiran Mahmud Nipu, who was the president of BCL’s Sylhet unit then. Leader of Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB) Anwar Hossain also filed a case, accusing 11 BCL men, regarding the attack.

Assistant Deputy Commissioner (Media) of Sylhet Metropolitan Police

Rahmat Ullah said he had no knowledge of any progress in those cases.

Sources said the committee of BCL’s district unit was absolved after the attack and Nipu went to London for a while.

He came back and became active in politics again, though he did not hold any post in the organisation. On September 8 this year he became a member of BCL’s central committee.

Coordinator of the district unit of Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (BSD) Abu Zafar said a human chain demanding punishment of the attackers would be formed under the banner of Santrash Protirodh Moncho, a platform to prevent terrorism, in front of the Sylhet Central Shahid Minar at 5pm today. l

n Our Correspondent, Barisal Speakers at a programme underscored the need for formulating rules of procedures to implement the torture and custodial death prohibition act to minimize custodial death.

They said immediate formulation of rules of procedures was urgently needed for the proper implementation of torture and custodial death prohibition act which was passed in the parliament on October 24 last year.

They made the observation while addressing a workshop organised by the Bangladesh Woman Lawyers’ Association (BNWLA), Barisal charter in collaboration with the European Union

n DU Correspondent

24.2ºC Chittagong

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zuhr Asr Magrib Esha

4:30am 5:44am 11:54am 4:21pm 6:03pm 7:19pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

ing rules against false allegation of custodial death because these allegations affected their service records.

In the general discussion, the human rights defenders reaffirming that torture and other cruel, inhuman or punishment should be prohibited as it constitutes violations of rights.

They also urged for the strengthening of the protection of people deprived of their liberty under custody and the full respect for their human rights is a common responsibility shared by all.

Abdur Rauf Khan, deputy commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police and Advocate Munira Begum Barisal divisional head of the BNWLA, among others, addressed the event. l

3rd campus IT fest begins at DU

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

36.7ºC Rajshahi

and the Save the Children. Advocate Hasina Rashid, general secretary of the BNWLA, presided over the programme participated by officials of Barisal Metropolitan Police, lawyers, journalists, human and legal rights activists.

Abdulla Al Hasan, director (projects) and Md Ershaduzzaman, programme manager of the BNWLA, presented the keynote paper at the workshop.

Properly following criminal procedure code and acts, directions of higher court and legal authorities could play a significant role in preventing torture and custodial death, arrest and harassment in the name of law, he said.

Police personnel, who were present at the programme, suggested formulat-

Vehicles stop to let a badling of ducks cross the road in Naogaon. Ajim Uddin, the owner of the group, drives them across 20km every day through different villages where the ducks pick up their food without any cost. The picture was taken yesterday AZAHAR UDDIN

A 2-day long IT festival titled “3rd National Campus IT Festival” was inaugurated at Nawab Nabab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building of Dhaka University yesterday.

Under the theme “IT enabled campus for better education: pathway for digital Bangladesh”, the festival is jointly organized by Dhaka University IT Society (DUITS) and government’s Information and Communication Technology Division in cooperation with Ericsson.

Inaugurating the program, Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Abdul Latif Sid-

dique said, students had a vital role to play in making Bangladesh truly digital.

Special guest at the event, State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Zunaid Ahmed Palak said: “Human resources, if properly utilized with the help of technology, can be a great asset for a country. A digital Bangladesh will only be possible by engaging youth in the field of information and technology.”

The festival features project exhibitions, applications development, gaming and quiz contests, seminar on internet security, outsourcing and entrepreneur conference, IT based debate and business ideas competition. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Monday, September 15, 2014

Jamalpur children park turns wasteland

Swings, sliders and merry-go-rounds are gathering dust in a lot of children. n Our Correspondent, Jamalpur drawing But thanks to their indifference, neiJamalpur Municipal Children’s Park is the lone recreation centre for children, but it is no more a place for them to run and jump in a happy way as it has not been repaired and maintained for long.

The unpruned bushes and unkept grasses have made it quite unsafe for them to play in.

The park’s recreation equipment – swings, sliders and merry-go-rounds -are also not in a good condition as they all are gathering dust.

Most of them have already gone out of order and the rest on the verge of going to ruins.

Parents are no more eager for taking their children to this park. Rather, they are trying to amuse their children in a different way and for that, going elsewhere.

The municipality, established in 1869, achieved a first class status in 1993. The district council later handed over the park to the municipal authorities.

The municipal authorities then equipped the park with swingers, sliders and merry-go-round facilities,

Juba League leader killed in Madaripur

n Our Correspondent, Madaripur Criminals killed a Juba League leader by firing at, hacking him and slitting his throat at Sadar upazila in Madaripur in a broad daylight yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Azizul Choukidar, 36, son of Sultan Choukidar at Madra Bazar area of the upazila’s Jhaudi union. He was a leader of the union Juba League unit.

Confirming this, Assistant Superintendent of Police Abu Bakar Siddique said they were trying to arrest those involved in the murder. l

ther the park nor its equipment were properly maintained, leaving it in such a condition before long.

Seeking anonymity, a municipal official admittedly said the park is now hardly worth being used by children.

Yet some nagging children are seen coming here nowadays only to be met with accidents.

However, the park could be given a facelift for the time being in case locals come up with a move to create pressure on the municipal authorities, he said, adding that the park is also running the risk of being the haven of anti-socials as all the lampposts there have also gone out of order.

When Mayor Advocate Wares Ali Mamun was asked about this park, he sai: “This park needs to be given a facelift immediately. But we cannot do it.

“We invited a tender in the past but we cannot go ahead due to donours’ indecision over funding it. However, we will have our project started as soon as we get donours’ consent to funding it.” l

The recent photo shows the park in a dirty, uncared for, above all, run-down state in Jamalpur district town. Once full of children and their laughter and mirth, it no more draws parents to bring in their children DHAKA TRIBUNE

Lakshmipur coconut market goes on without a permanent place Correspondent, n Our Lakshmipur The coconut market in the Dalal Bazar area of Lakshmipur has no permanent place to hold, which might cause the extinction of one of the largest coconut markets from which dealers collect coconuts to supply them to different plarts of the country.

According to the Agricultur-

Robber killed in shootout n Our Correspondent, Jessore

A local robber was to have killed reportedly in a gunfight between police and his accomplices in Aminpur area of Manirampur upazila early yesterday.

In the incident, two police constables named Nazrul and Prabir were injured as well.

The shootout gunned down Osman Dofadar, 28, who was accused in seven cases filed for robbery.

Manirampur police station OC Mollah Khabir Ahmed said they arrested Osam from Fakirer Rastar moorh on Saturday noon and based on his information, a team of police conducted a raid on the house of one of his cohorts named Babu in the area around 3am and recovered one shutter gun, two rounds of bullet and one crude bomb.

At one stage, Osman’s accomplices attacked the team with firing gun shots and hurling crude bombs while it was on the way of returning back the police station, triggering the fierce gunfight that left him dead and the policemen injured. Osman, son of Azibor Darafdar, a resident of the area, has long been engaged in robbery in the district.

The body was sent to Jessore Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy. l

Journs injured in attack n Our Correspondent, Kushtia

At least three journalists were injured at Bheramara upazila of the district as miscreants attacked them yesterday.

SP Proloy Chisim said the criminals attacked local journalists Faruk Ahmed, Monirul Islam and Monowar Hossain at night in Bakapol area leaving them critically injured.

The SP said police were trying to nab the criminals.

Local journalists protested the attack. l

al Extension Department 9,640 tonnes of coconut were produced in three thousand hectares of land in the five upazilas of the district this year.

According to government estimation the coconuts produced here worth Tk40 crore. There is also a great demand for the coconut fibre and shells, as they are raw materials for the button industry and the mattress industry.

Coconut seller Zakir Hossain said the market price of the coconut fibre produced here was five to seven crore taka. There were around four hundred workers are involved in this business. If the market cannot be continued because of the lack of a permanent place, then the workers here would become jobless. The supply of coconuts to the rest of the country would be hampered too, Zakir added. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

7

Monday, September 15, 2014

My responsibilities increased manifold: Saima Wazed Saima Wazed Hossain, an expert on autism, was recently given the Award for Excellence on Public Health by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the South-East region. She was given this prestigious award for her contributions in preventing autism.

She is the president of NeuroDevelopmental Disorders and Autism, part of the Health and Family Planning Ministry of People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Saima Wazed Hossain is the daughter of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

After receiving the award Saima Wazed gave an interview at the ‘Shikriti’ programme in Channel I. There she talked about her ideas concerning autism. The following is the translation of her Channel I interview

n Tribune desk How do you feel about receiving such an award?

I feel that my responsibility has increased manifold. This is an opportunity as well. An opportunity to talk about those families who have a disabled or autistic member. This credit does not go to me alone. From the very beginning, it was my responsibility to bring their voices under the spotlight. I wanted to focus on their sorrows and their issues. I tried to change the people’s mindset towards those special people.

There is a common trend of straying away from such issues, observed in our health sectors along with WHO and other associations. This issue has also been neglected; the mental health department has been neglected. But in recent times, there is a wave of doing something constructive for mental illness and autism.

Punam Khetrapal, the South-East regional director of WHO said that, in this region, you are playing the role of the driving force to prevent autism.

How does this appreciation inspire you?

That’s what I called the “Second Wave.” Till now, I have been pursuing this goal on my own. But now, WHO has given me the chance to work on autism. I wish, I could change their (WHO) attitude along with that of the other countries towards autism.

“school psychology.” After three to four years of study in that subject, one can conduct research at schools. There are many departments especially in psychology. After some research, one can assess and choose which subject to take.

My subject was very interesting.

My daughter was very young when I was doing my masters degree. The son of one of my closest friends was then diagnosed for autism. When my daughter started talking, the boy was unable to speak.

That incident stood out for my friend, but her husband did not give it much thought. My friend came to realise that her son was facing some sort of problem. You know that, a mother can detect even the tiniest changes in her child. She often talked to me about this concern. Later, the boy appeared to be autistic. The doctors advised to admit the boy in a specialised school.

She became immensely frustrated.

She told me, “My son is so cuddly, is nothing going to happen in his life?

Will I have to concede failure with this son.”

That friend of mine was also a doctor, a professor. She went through an intense research in this subject. Afterwards, her frustrations intensified because she could not find anything that assured her that there will be progress even if he is not admitted into a specialised school. She told me with great grief, “Why could our study on mental health not show me a light of hope! Isn’t there anything written somewhere? Won’t he ever be able to study?”

‘If we start doing things keeping the disabled separate, then we have to formulate a plan by which we can progress separately’

Alongside, we should work to discover a way to fulfill the needs of autistic people. For example, we have to work on their education and other issues.

We know that you studied psychology.

Then you worked on child psychology.

You worked at the school level as well.

How did you get involved with autism?

Mainly I am a psychiatrist. I studied clinical psychology. There I worked with a number of issues regarding mental health. Back then I was in America where you cannot major in child psychology if you want to go for a masters degree in clinical psychology. To study child psychology, one must complete PhD after six to seven years of study. After the masters degree, there was another subject titled

In the last 10 years, there have been several advancements in the research on autism. Many researches have been carried out regarding the brain.

It’s not true that, someone cannot be educated because of his disability of speaking. The fascinating fact is that, the boy is now admitted in a university with Fullbright scholarship. I don’t know his subject, but the scholarship was not awarded whimsically. On top of that, he was a regular player in a baseball team. His parents never told him about his autism. He just knows that, something is wrong with him.

His mother had to fight a lot for him. She had done a tremendous job to get the right service for her son. She worked hard on necessary therapies, such as language therapy, occupational therapy, etc. Almost every kind of

Autism expert Saima Wazed Hossain speaks at a media briefing at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka on Thursday therapy was given to him. She even researched on nutrition; there are some foods which may increase the risk of autism. She was a teacher of chemistry; she can explain that well. I also learned many things from her. She did several researches scientifically and never gave up.

Till today, we are unable to be fully optimistic about autism. This is a complex subject. Autism can be of several types. There are separate types of syndromes observed in each person in the Autism Spectrum Disability case.

There are linguistic and behavioural differences. Autistic children do not show the same pattern of behaviour; this is quite peculiar. For this reason, there is no certain cure for autism.

I worked in a few impoverished areas when I was a private psychologist.

I saw several patients there, who went for higher education with scholarship, but they were not able to meet their medical expenses. I worked for them as well.

We can certainly think of you as our health advocate. From this standpoint, what is your view regarding the future of autism?

There are many autism centres in Bangladesh; there are two research centres as well. Here, many associations are conducting research on autism separately. But we cannot go far if we want to do this alone. If we can bring everyone under the same roof and establish a platform, we can then reach our goal. I advanced with this philosophy, tried to tie it all together.

Sometimes I have taken the leadership role and I have presented this working model of my own to the global sphere. There are also several institutions in several countries where I can set up separate researches. Some countries are ahead in some research areas. Some are doing evidence-based research and some have developed some techniques for early detection.

Some health sectors and some social sectors are doing fine. They are looking for cost-effective and sustainable ways of addressing their task. A workable model can be established by incorporating all of these. We can also share some of our developments with them. If we can establish a network by collaboration then it will all go smoothly.

On anßother note, many think that only autism is a subject of research.

But an access is essential for any type of disability. Various researches have been conducted on physical disability.

A number of things have been done to meet the needs of physically challenged people. But autism is different and my goal is to incorporate all those

relevant issues.

Another topic worth discussing is health related initiatives. Autism related symptoms can be studied simultaneously while doing something for a mother and her child’s health. Several mothers are involved with day-care centres and schools. So, work can be carried out in these institutitons. Here we can discover the cases of autism and create awareness. Mothers can be trained there; then the mothers can identify the factors by which she can detect the problems of her child. If you go to a doctor and fail to explain the problem properly, doctors can’t do anything.

This is not easy. Society is changing rapidly. An education system of one country has been followed by another.

Word is advancing. Competition as it exists today has never existed before.

Back in the day, people who could think differently had a better shot at success. Now the situation has changed completely. One has to write a four page essay, if one is told to do so. No one can pass in mathematics if he/she does not know the multiplication table.

But we have to come up with alternative ideas for those who cannot grasp that multiplication table easily. Primarily we adopt a few easy subjects. But the US has succeeded in developing an education system after several trials and errors. If we can omit their mistakes, then we can determine the best course of action for us.

First of all, implementation is important. Equal rights should also be deep-rooted. Those special children should be given access to every sector just like the people who are not challenged. This is easier said than done. If we start doing things keeping the disabled separate, then we have to formulate a plan by which we can progress separately. If we have to give every opportunity to them separately, then there will be some impact on our families and the economic situation of the country.

In undertaking such an enormous task, did the idea of using the media ever occur to you?

I have been taking the help of the media from the very beginning.

But I am not willing to come out in front of the media. I have given this many interviews after a conference about autism only because I believe everybody should be aware of this. I was hoping for a hype regarding this issue. I mention after every interview that there was no autistic person in my family. So there are certain differences between my own experience and the experience of those families [who

DHAKA TRIBUNE

‘I request you to take interviews of those who have faced that situation; highlight those stories. The media has to be more responsible regarding this’

have autistic members]. I request you to take interviews of those who have faced that situation; highlight those stories. The media has to be more responsible regarding this. If you tell the stories of the people who have suffered, then this will create something good. Facing the truth is difficult but that is the first thing we should do.

On a personal note, our prime minister is a political character to us, but a mother to you. We want to know, how would you define her as a mother?

Actually I have two mothers! My aunt is as much a mother as my biological one. Since my mother was a politician, the duty of taking care of her five children went to our aunt. If one has to take the responsibility of a country, someone else should take the responsibility of the children. We were raised by our aunt from early childhood. Even my mother asked our aunt if she wanted to take any decision involving us.

But I am grateful to my mother; she relied on me and gave me the liberty to begin such an immense task. Perhaps at first, she did not have a clear idea about what I was planning on doing.

But she trusted me and provided me with the opportunity. With her support, I was able to go further.

I can argue with my mother but can never argue with my aunt. My mother often rebuked me. Actually, the question of defining my mother is a bit weird to me. A mother is a mother; she may or may not be the prime minister, but she is like any ordinary mother. Like all mothers, she wanted me to have proper education, be self-dependent, and be part of a happy family.

Various major incidents happened in their lives. As a result, they taught me not to depend on anyone or anything. They will not be here forever.

Mom and aunt used to tell us that they could pass away at any moment.

They say, “All of a sudden you will find that we are not there.” They had

also experienced similar circumstances. They wanted me to be independent, so that I can make the right decision and could do something for our country.

You were brought up in a political family and have witnessed other members of the family getting involve in politics. You are also making an effort for the well-being of the people in a different way. How does your family evaluate your work? And, how do you measure the political engagement of others?

It was very fortunate that I chose psychology. I do not feel any pressure for getting involved in politics and neither am I willing to do so.

In 2010, I refused to give TV interviews. Everybody wanted to know how I felt after my mother was elected as the prime minister. I was not brave enough to face those questions. I am actually quite shy as a person, even when I was a child. However, I am talking now only because I have to speak on the topic related to mental illness.

In 2011, when I first initiated the idea of a conference, being surprised my aunt asked me, “You really want this?” Then she told me, “If you really want to do this, then do it wholeheartedly. Do not let the work be half-done.” In truth, at that moment I did not realise the depth of her words, I was busy with so many things. But my aunt had thought of that in advance. Now, I am astounded that I am doing this. My siblings are also quite amazed.

Tell us about your dream.

I always think that this world belongs to all of us. We have to make space for all with our combined ability. We have to accept everybody in spite of the differences. Thus the country and nation will grow and Bangladesh will create her own place in the world. l

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Monday, September 15, 2014

Cameron resists calls for air strikes despite British hostage killing

Video shows slaying of hostage; Cameron mindful of impact on Scottish breakaway vote ing them before the independence vote. n Reuters, London/Edinburgh Cameron, who returned to London Britain yesterday resisted pressure to join the United States in announcing air strikes against Islamic State after the militant group beheaded David Haines, a British hostage.

Speaking after chairing a meeting of the government’s emergency response committee in London, Prime Minister David Cameron said his government was battling IS on numerous fronts but was not, for now, launching air strikes.

“As this strategy intensifies we are ready to take whatever steps are necessary to deal with this threat and keep our country safe,” he said in a TV statement from his office.

“Step by step, we must drive back, dismantle, and ultimately destroy ISIL (IS) and what it stands for. We will do so in a calm deliberate way, but with an iron determination.”

Britain has in the past often been the first country to join US military action overseas, but war-weary public opinion, parliament’s rejection last year of air strikes on Syria, and sensitivities surrounding Scotland’s independence referendum on Thursday mean Cameron is reticent this time round.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to discuss the aid worker’s beheading with British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond at a meeting in Paris on Monday. “I am sure that will be a topic of discussion,” one senior US State Department official said in Paris on condition of anonymity, referring to the murder.

A still image taken from a purported Islamic State video of British captive David Haines before he is beheaded REUTERS Cameron outlined no plans to recall parliament, which is in recess, in order to seek its authorisation for air strikes against IS, and people familiar with his thinking say he has no immediate plans to do so. His last attempt to get the British parliament to back such air strikes, against Syria last year, failed to win the support of lawmakers.

Video footage of the murder of Haines by IS militants fighting in Iraq and Syria means Cameron, who is also trying to persuade Scotland to reject independence in Thursday’s referen-

dum, is under pressure to get much tougher with IS. He has said he isn’t ruling out any options to degrade IS, with the exception of putting boots on the ground, but is facing increasingly loud calls from some of his own Conservative lawmakers and from former military chiefs to join the United States in launching air strikes.

With Scotland his domestic priority, he is aware that many Scots have traditionally been more sceptical of British military action overseas and that proposing air strikes now could risk alienat-

IS’ war chest is growing daily n AP, Washington

Islamic State militants, who once relied on wealthy Persian Gulf donors for money, have become a self-sustaining financial juggernaut, earning more than $3 million a day from oil smuggling, human trafficking, theft and extortion, according to US intelligence officials and private experts.

The extremist group’s resources exceed that “of any other terrorist group in history,” said a US intelligence official who, like others interviewed, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss classified assessments. Such riches are one reason that American officials are so concerned about the group even while acknowledging they have no evidence it is plotting attacks against the United States.

The Islamic State group has taken over large sections of Syria and Iraq, and controls as many as 11 oil fields in both countries, analysts say. It is selling oil and other goods through generations-old smuggling networks under the noses of some of the same governments it is fighting: Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq, Turkey and Jordan.

While US intelligence does not assess that those governments are complicit in the smuggling, the Obama

administration is pressing them do to more to crack down. The illicit oil is generally transported on tanker trucks, analysts said.

“There’s a lot of money to be made,” said Denise Natali, who worked in Kurdistan as an American aid official and is now a senior research fellow at National Defense University. “The

The price the Islamic State group fetches for its smuggled oil is discounted, but its total profits from oil are exceeding $3m a day Kurds say they have made an attempt to close it down, but you pay off a border guard you pay off somebody else and you get stuff through.”

The price the Islamic State group fetches for its smuggled oil is discounted —$25 to $60 for a barrel of oil that normally sells for more than $100 — but its total profits from oil are exceeding $3 million a day, said Luay al-Khatteeb, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Doha Center in Qatar.

The group also has earned hundreds of millions of dollars from smuggling antiquities out of Iraq to be sold in Turkey, al-Khatteeb said, and millions more from human trafficking by selling women and children as sex slaves.

Other revenue comes from extortion payments, ransom from kidnapped hostages, and outright theft of all manner of materials from the towns the Islamic State group has seized, analysts say.

“It’s cash-raising activities resemble those of a mafia-like organization,” a second US intelligence official said, reflecting the assessment of his agency.

“They are well-organized, systematic and enforced through intimidation and violence.”

Even prior to seizing Mosul in June, for example, the group began to impose “taxes” on nearly every facet of economic activity, threatening death for those unwilling to pay, US intelligence officials say. An analysis by the Council on Foreign Relations estimated the group was reaping $8 million a month from extortion in Mosul alone.

Once the group took over Mosul, in northern Iraq, and other areas, it grabbed millions of dollars in cash from banks, though not the hundreds of millions initially reported, US intelligence officials say. l

ahead of schedule on Saturday night to chair the emergency COBR meeting, called the murder of Haines, a 44 yearold Scottish aid worker, callous and brutal, hailing the murdered man as a “British hero.”

“We will hunt down those responsible and bring them to justice no matter how long it takes,” he said, calling IS “the embodiment of evil.”

“They are not Muslims, they are monsters,” he said.

Britain’s Foreign Office said the Haines video showed “all signs” of being genuine. Reuters could not immediately verify the footage, but the images were consistent with those of the filmed executions of two American journalists, James Foley and Steven Sotloff, in the past month.

Haines’s executioner appears to be the same man who featured in videos with Foley and Sotloff. The man, nicknamed “Jihadi John” by Western media, seems to have a British accent.

At the end of the same video, another hostage is shown and threatened.

Security services in Britain have been trying to identify the executioner. A British security source speaking on condition of anonymity said an investigation was underway into the killings and that senior intelligence officials had attended the meeting of the emergency committee that Cameron chaired. The source declined to go into detail about what progress the investigation had made. l

Gaza children return to school after war n Agencies Children in Gaza made a delayed return to school yesterday after the 50-day war with Israel that killed more than 2,100 Palestinians and damaged hundreds of school buildings, accorting to a report by The Guardian.

Gaza Education Ministry official Ziad Thabet said the opening was for 230,000 pupils attending public schools, 200,000 going to UN-run schools and tens of thousands enrolled in private institutions.

The opening had been delayed for two weeks because of damage to schools and the use of UN school buildings as temporary centres to house displaced people. About 50,000 people are still housed in UN schools, the UN Palestinian refugee agency said.

Early on Sunday Gaza City streets were crowded with children dressed in school uniform, many accompanied by parents or older siblings.

In al-Zaytoun boys elementary school, students pasted stickers with the names of fellow students killed during the war, as teachers struggled to cope with badly damaged facilities, including holes in ceilings and partially collapsed walls.

“I’m not as excited coming to school as I was in the past,” said student Tamar Toutah, 11. “I feel that something is missing. I asked about my fellow students, but some were killed or wounded.”

Thabet said that the first week in government schools would be given over to providing psychological counselling and recreational activities to help the war-weary children return to learning.

“We gave special training to more than 11,000 teachers and 3,000 principals

US raises 5-fold the fee to renounce citizenship n Agencies Each year, millions of people across the world hanker after US visas and green cards for sundry reasons, from perceived economic opportunities and political and social persecution at home, to dreams of a better lifestyle in the US. More than half million immigrants eventually become naturalized US citizens each year, an expanding segment that has pushed the overall immigrant population in US to over 42 million in 2014, a historic 13% high in a country of 313 million.

On the small, miniscule, flip side, there are a few hundred Americans who renounce their citizenship each year. Nearly 4,000 gave up their citizenship between 2001 and 2008. But since then, it has turned to thousands per year (a record 3000 in 2013), which Uncle Sam thinks is enough of a flood to require some serious damming.

Result: Uncle Sam has increased the cost of renouncing US Citizenship five fold, from $450 till recently to $2,350 starting this week, according to a report

by TNN. US officials say the new fee is the actual cost incurred by US agencies

for processing the renunciation; the old figure was subsidized.

In Uncle Sam’s eyes, most people who give up American citizenship are financial renegades skimping on taxes.

For the most past, they are American expats living abroad who find it too taxing to comply with Internal Revenue Service rules that require them to pony up taxes on salaries earned abroad. A new 2010 law called the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (appropriately dubbed FATCA to go after what Washington looks upon as fattened calves) is making it mandatory for foreign banks to report on accounts held by all Americans, making it more difficult to hide money in offshore accounts.

Since 2009, Uncle Sam has squeezed out more than $6bn in taxes, interests and penalties from more than 40,000 taxpayers trying to evade taxes, and evidently, more and more are finding it financially prudent to just give up US citizenship rather than face IRS ire. Most of them are wealthy individuals, including celebrities such as singer Tina Turner, songwriter Denise Rich, and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. l

and administrators about how to address students after the war,” he said.

Thabet said 26 Gaza schools were destroyed during the war, and another 232 sustained damage.

He said government funding for education remained patchy, with no money provided for operational expenses since the formation of a unity government earlier this year between Hamas, the Islamic militant group that runs Gaza, and the western-backed Palestinian Authority based in the West Bank.

Unicef official June Kunugi echoed his concerns: “Investing in education is an investment for the future,” she said. “Without increased support and commitment to their education and protection, an entire generation in Gaza could be lost.”

The UN Palestinian refugee agency says it is providing 130,000 school bags and teaching aids for government schools, and has run training programmes for nearly 12,000 school counsellors, teachers and supervisors.

Despite the assistance, teacher Akram al-Fares, 45, said the mood among his colleagues was dour.

“We are in the same boat with the kids, we lived through the same very difficult days,” he said. “But we are here together to prove that life continues, and not only can we teach, but also our kids can learn.”

The war between Israel and Hamas-led militants stemmed from the abduction and killing of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank in June. Israel blamed the attack on Hamas and carried out a wave of arrests, which was followed by an increase in rocket fire from Gaza that prompted Israeli air strikes and then a ground invasion. l

Ancient flying reptile named after ‘Avatar’ creature n Reuters, Washington Some of the most visually stunning sequences from director James Cameron’s blockbuster movie “Avatar” involved graceful flying creatures that were ridden by blue human-like beings facing ecological destruction on a moon called Pandora. It turns out that an animal very similar to those “Avatar” creatures, called Ikran, actually did exist here on Earth long ago.

Scientists on Thursday announced the discovery of fossils in China of a new species of flying reptile called a pterosaur that lived 120 millions years ago and so closely resembled the creatures from the 2009 film that they named it after them.

It is called Ikrandraco avatar, meaning “Ikran dragon” from “Avatar.” And this pterosaur is noteworthy for more than just its resemblance to a movie creature. The scientists said it appears that Ikrandraco avatar had a throat pouch similar to that of a pelican. It probably fed on small fish from freshwater lakes, flying low over the water and catching prey by skimming its lower jaw into the water, they said. l

Al-Qaida’s Syrian cell alarms United States n AP, Washington While the Islamic State group is getting the most attention now, another band of extremists in Syria — a mix of hardened jihadis from Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria and Europe — poses a more direct and imminent threat to the United States, working with Yemeni bomb-makers to target US aviation, American officials say.

At the center is a cell known as the Khorasan group, a cadre of veteran al-Qaida fighters from Afghanistan and Pakistan who traveled to Syria to link up with the al-Qaida affiliate there, the Nusra Front.

But the Khorasan militants did not go to Syria principally to fight the government of President Bashar Assad, US officials say. Instead, they were sent by al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahiri to recruit Europeans and Americans whose passports allow them to board a US-bound airliner with less scrutiny from security officials.

In addition, according to classified US intelligence assessments, the Khorasan militants have been working with bomb-makers from al-Qaida’s Yemen affiliate to test new ways to slip explosives past airport security. The fear is that the Khorasan militants will provide these sophisticated explosives to their Western recruits who could sneak

them onto US-bound flights.

The Obama administration has said that the Islamic State group, the target of more than 150 US airstrikes in recent weeks, does not pose an imminent threat to the continental US The Khorasan group, which has not been subject to American military action, is considered the more immediate threat.

Because of intelligence about the collaboration among the Khorasan group, al-Qaida’s Yemeni bomb-makers and Western extremists, US officials say, the Transportation Security Administration in July decided to ban uncharged mobile phones and laptops from flights to the US that originated in Europe and the Middle East.

The Khorasan group’s plotting with al-Qaida’s Yemen affiliate shows that, despite the damage that years of drone missile strikes has done to the leadership of core al-Qaida in Pakistan, the movement still can threaten the West.

It has been rejuvenated in the past year as al-Qaida offshoots have grown in strength and numbers, bolstered by a flood of Western extremists to a new terrorist safe haven created by Syria’s civil war.

That Yemen affiliate, al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has been able to place three bombs on US-bound airliners, though none has succeeded in downing the aircraft. l

Hawthi Shiite protesters perform Friday prayers during a funeral procession of fellow protesters who were killed in the recent clashes with Yemeni police in Sanaa, Yemen, September 12. Yemeni officials said that security forces have gone on high alert, fearing that al-Qaida members are streaming into the capital, where a Shiite rebel group’s demonstrations have turned deadly. The reports of al-Qaida infiltration came as the government sought international mediation in reaching a resolution to its conflict with the Hawthis AP

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Activists stage ‘black cloth’ march in Hong Kong

World

S TAT E N I S L A N D S H I P G R AV E YA R D One of the largest marine scrap yards on the East Coast, the Witte Marine Scrap Yard is located on Arthur Kill Road in Rossville, Georgia, United States. Now officially known as the Donjon Iron and Metal Scrap Processing Facility, it was opened in 1964

by J Arnold Witte Sr. The scrap yard is known for its large assortment of obsolete steam tugs, ferries, car floats, and other craft. Witte acquired them faster than he could break them up; the result is dozens of vessels slowly rotting in the muck of the Arthur Kill.

A number of noteworthy vessels, including the New York City Fire Department fireboat Abram S Hewitt, which was involved in the rescue of survivors of the 1904 General Slocum tragedy, can be found here.

Beijing has recently made it clear it will not allow fully-democratic elections

n Reuters, Hong Kong Thousands of pro-democracy activists clad in black marched silently through Hong Kong yesterday, holding banners saying they felt betrayed and angry at Beijing’s refusal to allow fully-democratic elections for the city’s next chief executive in 2017.

The protesters, who carried enormous black cloth ribbons through the streets, also held up signs calling for further civil disobedience and cheering on students planning to boycott classes.

Earlier yesterday, Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying published an open letter to residents of the special administrative region of China, urging them to be ‘pragmatic’ “Occupy Central with Love and Peace!” and “Support students boycotting classes!” read some of the signs. “Beijing has breached our trust! Universal suffrage is hopeless!” read another.

Dozens of pro-establishment protesters gathered nearby waving banners and cursing the democracy activists and students.

“Students should focus on studying!” shouted Pok Chun-chung, an organizer of the pro-establishment “Protect Hong Kong” movement.

“If you adults have guts then you should occupy Central yourself, not use children as cannon fodder!”

Indonesia nabs 4 with suspected Islamic State ties n AP, Jakarta Indonesia’s elite anti-terrorism squad arrested seven suspected militants, including four Turks believed to be planning to join a jihadist group in eastern Indonesia with possible links to the Islamic State group, police said yesterday.

The four Turkish men were captured late Saturday in Parigi Moutong town in Central Sulawesi province on their way to Poso, a neighboring mountainous district considered to be Indonesia’s terrorist hotbed, said national police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar.

Police seized Islamic State symbols and documents in that raid, Amar said.

The government has said some Indonesians have traveled to Syria and Iraq to fight with international jihadists and is concerned about militants returning from there. Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, has seen a spate of deadly attacks by members of the Jemaah Islamiyah network. l

Pilot turns Malaysia Airlines flight around after defect n AFP, Malaysia A Malaysia Airlines flight was forced to turn around due to an auto-pilot defect, landing safely early yesterday, said the carrier already reeling from the loss of two planes this year.

Flight MH198 from Kuala Lumpur to Hyderabad in India departed late Saturday, but the Boeing 737-800 turned back due to an auto-pilot defect. It landed back in Malaysia’s capital almost four hours later after circling to burn fuel in the air.

“The defect did not have any impact on the safety of the aircraft or passengers. However, as a precautionary measure, the operating captain decided to turn back,” the national flag carrier said in a statement.

Malaysia Airlines has had a solid record until this year, when it lost two Boeing 777-200s. Flight MH370 with 239 people aboard inexplicably lost contact on March 8. Another flight, MH17, went down over conflict-torn eastern Ukraine on July 17, killing all 289 people aboard. l

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Monday, September 15, 2014

The protest remained peaceful and police stood by. Organizers estimated there were around 4,000 marchers at the height of the protest. Police estimated 1,860.

Sunday’s march was the latest in a series of confrontations between pro-democracy activists and pro-establishment forces over the extent to which Hong Kong may go ahead with democratic reforms.

A former British colony, Hong Kong was returned to Communist Chinese rule in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” form of government.

It was given wide-ranging autonomy, including an undated promise of “universal suffrage.”

Beijing this summer has made it clear it will not allow fully-democratic elections.

Pro-democracy activists say China’s decision to tightly control who can be nominated for the 2017 vote means Hong Kong risks ending up with a “fake” democracy.

Earlier on Sunday, Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying published an open letter to residents of the special administrative region of China, urging them to be “pragmatic” and to form an “accurate and complete understanding of the constitutional and political context in which we find ourselves.”

He said constitutional reform should move forward whatever the pace, and that there could be additional reforms in the future.

Amid escalating tensions, pro-democracy activists have held an unofficial referendum, mass marches and rallies and an overnight sit-in that lead to hundreds of arrests.

A student boycott of classes is expected later this month, followed by another sit-in in the city’s central business district. l

(WIKIPEDIA/YAHOO NEWS)

BJP MP triggers row, MH370: 58 ‘hard objects’ found in says madarsas impart Indian Ocean, search team says ‘education of terrorism’ n Agencies

n Agencies In a remark likely to create controversy in India, BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj yesterday alleged that madarsas were giving “education of terrorism.”

“Education of terrorism is being given in madrassas. They (madarsas) are making them (students) terrorists and jihadis. It is not in national interest,” the MP from Unnao constituency told reporters in Nademau in Kannauj district, 120 km from Lucknow.

He alleged that students were not being taught about nationalism in the religious schools. “Tell me about one madrassa where tricolour (of Indian flag) is hoisted even on August 15 and January 26,” he said.

The MP said madarasas “which have

no connection with nationalism” are being given government aid. “Most of our schools do not take the aid but it is being given to madarsas having no connection with nationalism,” he said.

The Samajwadi Party denounced Sakshi’s “hate speech,” saying it was an attempt to create division among communities. “Sakshi has given a hate speech which is aimed towards creating differences in the society,” SP spokesman Rajendra Chaurdhary said.

Earlier, during a programme in Etah on September 7, Sakshi had reportedly labelled madrassas as “hubs of terror” and alleged that ‘love jihad’ prospers through such institutions. ‘Love Jihad’ is the term used by right wing Hindu outfits while referring to alleged conversion of Hindu girls through marriage. l

The Australia-led search team for the missing Malaysian flight MH370 has discovered 58 hard objects inconsistent with the Indian Ocean seabed, raising hopes of solving the over six monthslong aviation mystery.

Malaysian Transport Minister Liow Tiong Lai said the Joint Agency Coordination Centre (JACC) which is leading the search for the plane is currently in the midst of retrieving the objects to be analysed.

“We have only discovered 58 solid objects, but yet to learn if they are from (Malaysia Airlines) flight MH370. We have to verify whether the objects are the plane’s wreckage or hard rocks before coming to a conclusion,” he said in a press conference today.

Liow also said Malaysia’s Petronas will be deploying its “Go Phoenix” ves-

P H I L I P P I N E S B R AC E S FO R I M PAC T O F P OW E R F U L T Y P H O O N

sel to assist in the MH370 search mission at the southern Indian Ocean floor.

He said the asset, which is commonly used in oil exploration is expected to arrive in Perth on September 21.

“Go Phoenix will help in the search mission, alongside Australia’s Furgo Discovery ship to map the ocean floor,” Liow was quoted as saying by the New Strait Times.

The Beijing-bound Boeing 777-200 - carrying 239 people, including five Indians, an Indo-Canadian and 154 Chinese nationals - mysteriously vanished on March 8 en route to Beijing from Kuala Lumpur.

Earlier this month, the Australian authority leading the search for the plane said that “hard spots” had been found on the Indian Ocean seabed, but that most would likely be geological features.

Experts are conducting a sonar survey of a remote patch of the southern

US man in N Korea given 6 years of hard labour n AP, Pyongyang, N Korea

Philippine communities prepare for flashfloods, landslides and possible storm surges as Typhoon Kalmaegi rush towards the country, bearing powerful winds and heavy rains. The Philippines is hit by about 20 storms or typhoons each year AFP

Indian Ocean, an area never previously explored in such detail, in preparation for an underwater search for the plane.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau had said the sonar search had provided information on the depth of the water and the composition of the sea floor in the search zone.

Last month Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss said the ongoing mapping of the ocean floor had already uncovered “quite remarkable” geographical features, including the discovery of new volcanoes up to 2,000 metres high.

Six months after the jet disappeared in the Indian Ocean, aviation experts are still clueless over the world’s greatest aviation mystery.

The search operation, described

by Australian officials as the largest in history, has so far turned up no debris from the plane. l

North Korea’s Supreme Court yesterday sentenced a 24-year-old American man to six years of hard labor for entering the country illegally to commit espionage.

At a trial that lasted about 90 minutes, the court said Matthew Miller, of Bakersfield, California, tore up his tourist visa at Pyongyang’s airport upon arrival on April 10 and admitted to having the “wild ambition” of experiencing prison life so that he could secretly investigate North Korea’s human rights situation.

Miller, who looked thin and pale at the trial and was dressed completely in black, is one of three Americans now being held in North Korea. Showing no emotion throughout the proceedings, Miller waived the right to a lawyer and was handcuffed before being led from the courtroom after his sentencing. The court, comprising a chief judge flanked by two “people’s assessors,” ruled it would not hear any appeals to its decision.

Earlier, it had been believed that

Miller had sought asylum when he entered North Korea. During the trial, however, the prosecution argued that was a ruse and that Miller also falsely claimed to have secret information about the US military in South Korea on his iPad and iPod. Miller was charged under Article 64 of the North Korean criminal code, which is for espionage and can carry a sentence of five to 10 years, though harsher punishments can be given for more serious cases.

A trial is expected soon for one of the other Americans being held, Jeffrey Fowle, who entered the North as a tourist but was arrested in May for leaving a Bible at a sailor’s club in the city of Chongjin. The third American, Korean-American missionary Kenneth Bae, is serving out a 15-year sentence for alleged “hostile acts.”

All three have appealed to the US government to send a senior statesman to Pyongyang to intervene on their behalf. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Monday, September 15, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

A chilling attack

T

he assailants who attacked former Dhaka University professor Mahbub Ullah on Saturday must be arrested without delay.

It is disgraceful whenever any assault takes place. However, it is especially worrisome that a distinguished retired academic and prominent critic of the government can be targeted and viciously set upon in a public space, during the middle of the day.

The retired professor had to be taken to hospital, after at least 4 youths attacked him as he was coming out of an auditorium on his way to a BNP meeting at the at the Institution of Engineers.

He was well enough to be able to attend his function, albeit in torn clothes, which was addressed as chief guest by the BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia. Unfortunately, the people who attacked him and viciously kicked him as he lay on the ground, were able to flee the scene.

Professor Mahbub Ullah responded to the attack with commendable dignity. We support his call for a neutral probe into his attackers and for them to be brought to justice as soon as possible.

Speculation about the attackers’ motives is natural given the location and timing of this despicable assault. It creates a highly concerning and chilling atmosphere whenever a critic of the government is harmed for what may be political reasons.

The government must show that it shares the public’s abhorrence for violence by taking steps to assure all people attending political meetings of their safety and supporting the apprehension and punishment of these attackers.

Assure people of safety, investigate and arrest assailants

ACC must root out city corruption

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he ACC needs to make urgent progress with its probe into corruption and irregularities at Dhaka South City Corporation.

Large amounts of taxpayer money reported spent on maintenance and infrastructure such as the Tk256 crore budgeted in the last two years for renovation of roads, are not accounted for properly.

Investigations indicate that the misappropriation of funds in some cases goes so far as to use fake tender notices to embezzle monies meant for spending on important projects.

Corruption among groups of employees is believed to be the main reason why seven hundred newly-built shops in different DSCC markets, have reportedly been kept occupied in the possession of ruling partyconnected individuals.

The damage done to the city by such widespread malpractice is obvious.

It is doubly worrying that even in cases where the prime minster has called for strict action, as with the loss of funds in the city cleaners’ colony construction project, there is no indication of corrective action.

Officials are often merely moved around and city dwellers continue to suffer.

To help root out corruption, the government must hold elections to make the corporations accountable to the public. Otherwise, city officials may continue with the outrageous practice of routinely refusing to answer media enquires about irregularities, under the Rights to Information Act. Just as important, the ACC needs to shine a light on corrupt officials so that wrongdoers can be brought before the law. The government must help it take a lead in ending the theft of public money so that city funds can be properly spent.

End theft of public money so that city funds can be properly spent

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

Judges’ impeachment: Constitution amendment bill placed September 7

humayun hyder The law to impeach a judge by the parliament is legitimately accepted by many countries; hence, doing it in Bangladesh should not raise a hue and cry. If a two-third majority of the parliament

Law on marital rape is imperative

September 7 Masud Rana Thanks!

Nazmul Khair “The government should introduce sex education in the national curriculum for both boys and girls which would help them prepare for conjugal life.”

Are you insane? Sex in education to prepare them. Prepare them for what, to do sex at school or in home on holiday, like the West, or in other so-called developed countries? We are Muslims and we have to show some honour and respect to our religion. I m not saying that sex before marriage is not happening in our country, but making this in education will spread this more.

Also, I don’t think you can find anybody from early youth to children who don’t know what sex is. If we developed our national health and improved counseling, then I think we can develop sufficient awareness. Nothing more is needed.

Eradicating illiteracy by 2014 fails September 8 MH

UGC sounds warning about 12 private universities September 9 Bintu “This was done to caution students and their guardians so that students are not deceived by being admitted to crisis-torn universities.”

We appreciate this action. shimul Good decision by UGC.

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.

Saudi Embassy will not accept Hajj visa applications after Sept 15 September 8 Guest Every person should be careful about timely applying for Hajj.

Putul wins WHO award

September 8 Ekram Kabir Congratulations! We’re really happy for you.

However, I’d love to see the media address you as “Saima Wazed Hossain Putul” rather than “the PM’s daughter.” Have a great one. :-)

September 8 “The latest counts show that around 55 million people – 35% of the population – are still illiterate.”

Maybe the government will succeed if it tries a little harder. :-p

Flood not a problem!

September 7

CALVIN AND HOBBES

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

agrees, then they can remove a judge. Similarly, the parliament can do this to the election commissioner, other commissioners, and the comptroller general of Bangladesh. I think the law will be passed in the parliament.

Sonam Kapoor ‘nervous’ to step into Rekha’s shoes

Nasim Zaman “Children walk across a ramshackle bamboo bridge in a single-file line as they leave Number 18 Ekdala Government Primary School in Natore because the ground floor of their school building has been submerged by flooding.”

No problem! This is how you survive!

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 9 represents K so fill K every time the figure 9 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Mass book (6) 4 Pouring edge (3) 7 Combine (5) 8 Whole (6) 11 Adults (3) 12 Prescribed meals (4) 13 Dutch cheese (4) 15 Short gaiters (5) 16 Ship of the desert (5) 20 Planet (4) 23 Donated (4) 24 Put on (3) 25 Worn away (6) 26 Sun-dried brick (5) 27 Japanese monetary unit (3) 28 Begin again (6)

DOWN 1 Servants (5) 2 Break (7) 3 Old stringed instrument (4) 4 Peruvian capital (4) 5 Article (4) 6 Female swan (3) 9 Pinch (3) 10 Drink (3) 14 Mythical monsters (7) 17 Insane (3) 18 First woman (3) 19 Shelf-like surface (5) 20 Fashion (4) 21 Soon (4) 22 Prophet (4) 24 Period of time (3)

Nahian Asadullah Come to think of it, she does resemble Rekha a lot.

Teaching in trouble September 7

Laguna Vaza The bad rap that teaching gets here in Bangladesh baffles me.

16th amendment bill set to be placed Sunday September 7

PEANUTS

Shammi Huda “If passed, not only the judges, parliament can also remove the chief election commissioner and commissioners of the Election Commission, the chairman and the members of the Public Service Commission, chairmen and the commissioners of the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Comptroller and Auditor General on similar grounds.”

“The articles establishing the Election Commission, Public Service Commission, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the office of the Comptroller and Auditor General stipulate that the holders of constitutional posts would be removed according to the procedures applicable for the removal of the Supreme Court judges.”

Judges and civilian bodies do need oversight, but I question whether it should be by a collection of rogues, miscreants, and criminals, half of whom were uncontested and many of the others even rigged votes to boost voter participation numbers.

Ultimately MPs are answerable only to the PM, and this concentrates all civil power into one person; this is trouble. Remember, an MP can only run for a party with the express OK of the party leader, a fine formula for democracy and putting national interest above leaders’ interests.

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

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Great Scot! What will happen?

Currently, Scotland provides sanctuary to several British military operations along with the rough terrain needed to train for counterterrorism drives in other countries, featuring mountains. Scotland also has a huge oil reserve – at least that is what many reports tell us pointing to the North Sea. However, detractors of the independence movement have cautioned that no reserve is forever.

Many opine that, as a separate nation, she can be a unique tourist spot – something which has never been properly disseminated across the globe, making the country still an unknown territory to many affluent Asian travellers.

From a distant country, we can only hope that whatever happens is for the good

What’s the best course of action for Scotland?

H

n Towheed Feroze ow much does the average person in Bangladesh know about Scotland? I was a bit curious to know ahead of the much-hyped referendum on the independence issue. So, as the BBC was giving different angles to the matter, alongside capturing the feverish division between the pro and the opposing parties, I decided to question a few people here in this city on their views.

For many, at least to several students of Dhaka University, Scotland conjured up the image of Mel Gibson

REUTERS

playing the 13th century never-say-die Scottish warrior William Wallace fighting, of course, the invading English.

One is amazed how opinions can be formed for life by films and popular culture.

Hence, it’s deeply ingrained in the psyche of a lot of the young men here that Scotland should be out of the union and, finally, the dream of an independent nation of a warrior 700 years ago will be realised.

Talking about the Scotland issue, let me give you some personal experiences dating back to the mid 90s. At the London School of Journalism, we had a young lad from Scotland – a

fervent Rangers supporter. One day, while having a chat about football, he spelled it out clearly that even if England played another country other than Scotland, he would blindly support the other team. “But never England!” He said in a firm tone. Well, there you go – I bet, so many years later he is among the vociferous advocates for the independence campaign.

Coming back to Bangladesh, for many, Scotland is a somewhat grey area – some know it to be part of the United Kingdom while others think it’s a separate country. Not surprisingly, when I raised the issue of the referendum, the question from the

students was if it would be easier to go to Scotland to study if she became independent.

There were of course some arguments raised about the Scottish cricket team, which, like the football outfit, plays as a separate entity from England. Some asked if Scotland decides to become separate, would English players be allowed to play for the Scottish side.

The most interesting point raised was an independent Scotland finding a benevolent/constructive role in global issues. Obviously, if a country is born, she cannot be detached from world affairs, both social and political.

The suggestion: Once an independent nation is strategically packaged with its rugged mountains, the lure of the single malt, bagpipers, the kilt, the claymore, and the legend of the Loch, there will be a unique tourism cult. Well, with most tourism-related charms becoming clichéd, a new blend will surely be taken up with enthusiasm.

Who knows, with the declaration of a spy thriller as his next film, we may even have Ananta Jalil making his next movie in the highlands. I am sure he will be “most welcome” to shoot his movie. Leaving the jokes aside, in the end, a person from Bangladesh

cannot really say what will be good or bad – staying within the union or going outside it.

However, as a movie buff, I have always loved English films/TV serials that have used Scotland as a backdrop.

Somehow, an English hero against a Scottish mountainous backdrop did not seem incongruous at all.

Watching Anthony Hopkins in When Eight Bells Toll – a 1971 thriller set almost totally in Scotland – one can see the best of British filmmaking mix with the ravishingly haunting landscape. In The Thirty-Nine Steps, a fugitive is hunted across the Scottish moors, once again, creating perfect gothic entertainment.

Simon Templar, aka “The Saint,” has had several adventures in Scotland, and who can forget the gritty Daniel Craig, playing the role of James Bond, driving along the winding roads cutting through the mesmerising Scottish highlands?

Setting old animosities aside, the Scotland-England blend never seemed unsavoury to most outsiders. But then, it’s the people of Scotland who will decide the best course of action.

From a distant country, we can only hope that whatever happens is for the good.

Noted historian and writer William Dalrymple, who is Scottish, opposes the independence while reportedly, Sean Connery, the man who played 007 and busted celluloid megalomaniacs on behalf of her majesty’s secret service, has supported the split. Does that mean no Scotsman will ever be asked to pick up the Walther PPK and jump into peril for the queen and the country?

Whatever the case, we hope that both the cultural plus the social mixture of England and Scotland will continue in all forms. Meanwhile, with the succulent roast beef, I need a bottle of Laphroaig. l Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.

Practice what you preach Moral hazard on steroids T

he world falls short of answer to the latest spate of violence with an alarming proportion of ferocity on the already volatile scene in the Middle East. The rise of Islamic State (IS) has apparently puzzled the stakeholders of regional and global politics.

So, the belligerents are searching for a shortcut solution to the crisis – defeating the extremist force on the battlefield. But many are yet to properly recognise that the ongoing conflict is not a completely new one, save the transformation of IS into a state actor from Osama bin Laden’s al-Qaeda as a non-state actor.

The concept of Caliphate, being propagated by IS militants, evolved not in the abode of recent civil wars; only the brutality represents a defaced and distorted image of a supposedly ideal state its advocates dream of – the golden age of Muslim rule centuries ago.

Contemporary state actors including Muslim rulers have thoroughly tried to counter the operations of fanatic forces by manoeuvring conventional military strategies. The current crisis proves that both Westerners and moderate Muslim leaders were reluctant to anticipate an extreme possibility: The use of terrorism might appeal to a section of people to embrace it as a strong ideology at one point in history.

Samuel Huntington’s Clash of Civilisations has somehow ignited an inter-faith suspicion. Islam, which literally means peace, is the one which is wrongly presented and perceived here and there, no matter how eloquently the leaders outside of Islam speak of the greatness of one of mankind’s greatest religions.

Now, when Muslims are killing Muslims in Iraq and Syria, the Ummah or the Islamic world has lost a sense of direction, exposing the absence of collective entity. When President Barak Obama said Washington was “yet to have a strategy” on IS in Syria, we can understand the West’s – not solely America’s – lack of focus on divisiveness in Islamic societies and their implications to the extent of beheading journalists who were not party to the conflict.

Historically, subjugation of the natives gave birth to hatred even

among pious people against the aliens, who were often believers of a different faith. Modern Muslims have further ignored the inner crisis over sectarianism and struggle for dominance for centuries, which shaped today’s polarisation among themselves. Many have taken the path of moderation, and some have become escapists. A minor portion has followed the route of derailed Jihadis (crusaders), and a few frustrated ones have metamorphosed into psychopaths.

Islam, which literally means peace, is wrongly presented and perceived

However, the Islamists’ killer instinct reminds us of the likes of Anders Behring Breivik – the Norwegian ultra-Christian mass murderer, Yigal Amir – the Jewish assassin of Israeli premier Yitzhak Rabin, and Nathuram Godse – the Hindu chauvinist killer of India’s independence leader Mahatma Gandhi.

The ascendency to power of groups that once suffered due to exclusionist politics at home may turn dangerous for a society if their members do not abide by social contracts or practice tolerant democracy. IS is such an example.

It’s a horribly unfortunate situation that has left many Muslims as their own enemies, not brothers, unlike the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW). Muslims are neither a united community nor do they have a central command to uphold the spirit of Islam and remove any confusion whatsoever. Followers of Hinduism, Judaism, and Christianity, too, have undergone a similar process of sectarian conflicts.

Maybe Islam, as the newest conformist religion, is in the process of refining its followers, but at a terrible cost. And it’s up to the Muslim leaders to resolve the crisis. The situation

in the Middle East and its ramifications elsewhere have given repeated wake-up calls for a dialogue among the Muslims, especially among leaders of different schools of thought within Islam.

An inter-faith dialogue seems less relevant to Muslims until they find a common face and united voice. The spirit of tolerance, brotherhood, and equal dignity – all intrinsic values of Islam that are appreciated by most outsiders who are knowledgeable about Islamic theology – is missing in the conflict-prone zones where Muslims live.

Divided, aggrieved, and full of suspicion, different sects of Muslims have not yet met each other at a suitable platform to narrow down differences. In a dialogue, Muslims should be reminded by themselves that there is no room for extremist views in Islam, let alone killing innocent human beings. Violence cannot be the means of pursuing goals unless a war is imposed upon the righteous people, and that too by the renegades and evil forces who would avowedly challenge the truth.

Quarrel is rather hated in Islam which supports Ijma or consensus to be reached through consultation (Shura) and deduction of analogy (Qiyas) whenever and wherever a dispute arises. Before holding a series of dialogue with leaders of various faiths, Muslims should initiate the process of reconciliation among themselves.

It’s agonising to see that Muslims are not living in peace in many places from Gibraltar to the Philippines. An intellectual dialogue will not resolve all the conflicts immediately. It shall yet begin a process of defusing tensions and pacifying hawkish minds, a process that may have far-reaching effects on present and future generations to live in peace.

The world deserves peaceful coexistence of peoples of different faiths, and the peace-loving global community expects messages of peace from the protagonists of the Islamic faith.

Today, world peace is hardly possible without harmony in Islamic societies that spread beyond the territories of predominantly Muslim majority countries. l Khawaza Main Uddin is Executive Editor at ICE Business Times.

n William B Milam

I

t should not be a source of pride for Pakistanis that, despite all the other bad news competing for public attention, Pakistan is keeping pace.

The Imran/Qadri march on, and occupation of, downtown Islamabad and the violence that ensued, has drawn frequent reports, and much comment and speculation.

The spectre of a destabilised Pakistan has loomed large in some of the pundits’ minds. More to the point, probably, many of these pundits fear that increased instability will again bring the country, directly or indirectly, under the thumb of the military (and recent revelations that some former army leaders may have inspired the march raise even more alarms).

These fears have galvanised anxiety among Washington’s “whither Pakistan” pessimists who wonder once again whether an already weak state will become weaker and its ability to govern will decline at an increasing rate. These are far-reaching questions, if perhaps a bit hyperbolic.

Of course, a more unstable Pakistan, or one more under the control of the military, would increase concern for a successful denouement in Afghanistan after the drawdown of Nato forces, given the widespread perception, whether true or not, that Pakistani policy toward Afghanistan after the drawdown is inscrutable at best or unreliable at worst. But more

importantly, I suspect that worry about Pakistan derives from the firmly-held belief that it is a geopolitically strategic state in a geopolitically important region, and that instability, or worse, control by hostile elements, would be deleterious to regional and Western interests.

The actions of the PTI and PAT lend weight to this worry. While I would think that the constitutional right to demonstrate peacefully against the current government for its failure to govern seriously over its 15 or so months in power is warranted, both Imran and Qadri seem to have as their only objective its unseating by means that are, at the very least, constitutionally questionable.

If they are indeed just another kind of proxy for some retired and active generals (who may have grown up with the idea of using proxies to do their dirty work), then it has been a shameful-but-deadly farce and should finish their leaders as national political forces.

But the most worrisome aspect of this political bubble in Islamabad to my mind is that having again raised the specter of state failure, the current government will simply double down on the geopolitical significance of the country it governs. Using this significance to avoid hard choices has been the name of the game in Pakistan politics for perhaps 40 years. Civilian governments use it to live beyond their means, avoid economic reform, and

REUTERS

n Khawaza Main Uddin

share the economic rents that power brings. Military governments use it for those reasons, and to get away with their continual choking of real democracy.

It is the same syndrome as the “too big to fail” mindset that gripped the major international banks which verged on failure in the 1980s and were rescued by the Western governments and international financial institutions, and repeated their folly (as did the governments and institutions of the West) when their financial systems crashed in 2008, and in the Eurozone crisis of 2010-2012.

I write here of the phenomenon called, generically, “moral hazard.” It is not new, having been discussed as far back as the 17th century and commonly used by economists from the 19th century on to mean the (probably) unconscious incentive to go beyond prudent limits when it is clear that others will have to foot the bill.

In the cases cited above, the taxpayers of Western developed countries picked up the tab for the banks’ excesses. Thus, there is no immorality in the modern use of the term “moral hazard” as the word “moral” just implies stupidity ... and greed. But in these countries, there is redress through their democratic systems – dissatisfied taxpayers can vote in governments that will (and did) crack down on financial institutions.

But as one of my friends pointed out recently in another journal, moral hazard also goes beyond economics to politics.

When political leaders of any stripe go beyond the limits set by constitutions and law, when they take measures solely to ensure their perpetuation in office, or (in contrast) to get into office by short cuts, and when for the same reasons they override accountability and weaken instead of strengthening the institutions that promote and preserve democracy, they are acting immorally because they are acting consciously, while at the same time, limiting the means of redress by crippling democracy. l William B Milam is a Senior Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington, DC, and former US Ambassador to Pakistan and Bangladesh. This article was first published in The Express Tribune.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Monday, September 15, 2014

Writing and acting simultaneously not difficult: Rawnak

Life of Pi

Star Movies 9:30pm

n Shadma Malik Rawnak Hasan, who started his career as a screenwriter before moving on to become an actor, is back to writing screenplays again. It has been learnt that the actor has put pen to paper for a family-themed dramatic television series being directed by Ashiqur Rahman.

The drama, “Akash Churi,” which also stars Rawnak in a lead role, is being shot currently.

So how was it like to be back to the beginning after four years? “It felt good. I was busy with acting and did not get much time to write. But the director of this play, and one of my best buddies, Ashiqur Rahman inspired me to start writing again,” Rawnak said.

The story of the drama, Rawnak says, revolves around members of an upper-middle-class family and explores their life in many dimensions.

Rawnak plays a disturbed son, Raihan, who is struggling with a post-traumatic stress disorder.

Rawnak Hasan The play addresses social problems and attempts to offer solutions. In this regard, Rawnak said: “See, being a writer also means for me to try to offer solutions. It is up to the audience to accept it or not.”

Asked if the dual role of an actor and a writer was difficult, he said, “It’s not. I understand that acting and directing simultaneously can be quite taxing, but the same cannot be said about writing and acting. It gets easier to act on a script that you’ve written yourself.”

Mir Sabbir and Shoshi will also play important roles in the drama which will be aired on ATN Bangla. l

A Canadian writer visits the Indian storyteller Pi Patel and asks him to tell his life story. Pi tells the story of his childhood in Pondicherry, India, and the origin of his nickname.

Red 2

HBO Hits 10:05pm

Retired C I A agent frank moses reunites his unlikely team of elite operatives for a global quest to track down a missing portable nuclear device.

Warm Bodies

Khaled Khan’s ‘Rupoboti’ hits 50 milestone n Entertainment Desk Paying homage to late theatre icon Khaled Khan, Shubochan Natya Sangsad on Satureday staged his directorial production “Rupoboti” at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. It was the 50th rerun of Rupoboti.

The drama was staged following a discussion where theatre activists, cultural personalities and Khaled Khan’s admirers

talked about the late actor-director’s contribution to the theatre arena of Bangladesh.

Among others, theatre personalities Ramendu Mazumder, Jhuna Chowdhury, Nasrin Jahan, and Dr Kazi Anis Ahmed, vice president of ULAB Board of Trustees talked at the event.

Written by Nasrin Jahan, the play focuses on the threat of poverty in rural areas where people are often forced to leave their kith and kin in search of jobs.

I will not join Pirates of the Caribbean 5 n Entertainment Desk Hollywood actress Keira Knightley, 29, played Elizabeth Swann has confirmed that she is not going to be a part of ‘Pirates of the Caribbean 5.’

After her co-star Orlando Bloom who portrayed Will Turner Jr, in the first three instalments of the Captain Jack Sparrow saga, confirmed his presence in the 5th part, the world media had much speculations whether Keira would join Bloom.

During a visit to Toronto International Film Festival to promote “The Imitation Game,” she said “the ship has sailed” for her to join the fifth “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie, reported Ace Showbiz.

The two characters were not brought back for the fourth entry “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” in 2011 as Sparrow was given a love interest named Angelica (Penelope Cruz).

After several delays, “Pirates of the Caribbean 5” is scheduled for July 7, 2017 release. l

Aditya-Parineeti start their food ride on bike n Entertainment Desk Aditya Roy Kapur and Parineeti Chopra started their Food Yatra on the bike. For the first time ever, two actors have kick started a trip to identify and try delicacies across India.

Aditya and Parineeti rode for about 85 kms from Madras Cafe and were enjoying their ride until rains played havoc. Both the actors were disappointed as they had to shift back to the car. The bike will be trailing along with their entourage and once Aditya and Parineeti find clear weather, they will get back to the

bike. Not many people know that the Aashiqui lad is quite an adventure junkie and as and when he can manage time he takes long rides on his bike.

It was Aditya Roy Kapur‘s idea that they should start the journey on the bike as he finds it very lucky. He is extremely fond of his bike and since this is a road trip he thought it was an appropriate choice. Parineeti Chopra happily sat pillion with him and they rode some kms. Also Aditya is emotionally very attached to his bike and insisted on flagging off the journey with his bike. l

The play’s protagonist is a flutist who reincarnated after 300 years to find out the killer of his wife Rupoboti. Rupoboti was a gifted singer but a victim of destitution that forced her to become a slave at the house of the village zamindar.

Through a symbolic storyline, the play conveys the message that it is poverty which killed Rupoboti. The conflict between love and impoverishment was portrayed in a poetic way. l

HBO 7:35pm

A funny new twist on a classic love story, ‘Warm Bodies’ is a poignant tale about the power of human connection.

AAMIR KHAN ‘thinks’ about joining POLITICS n Entertainment Desk Bollywood actor Aamir Khan said that if he is offered a nomination to the Rajya Sabha, he will “think” about it.

Asked whether he would like to be nominated to the Rajya Sabha like cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and actress Rekha, Aamir said: “I won’t comment on what they are doing. They are my friends. But if such opportunity arises, I will think whether I can contribute to society at that point of time in a better way or not. If that happens, I will be there everyday.”

The 49-year-old “Dhoom 3” star was speaking at the Panchayat AajTak programme organised by the India Today Group.

Asked what he thought about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attempts to centralise power, Aamir said, “I don’t know whether he is doing the right thing. You know better.”

Answering a question about the portrayal of women in Hindi films, Aamir said, “I admit that Hindi films have been irresponsible in terms of portrayal of women.”

“It sends out a very wrong message. Songs like ‘Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast’ (from Mohra) and ‘Khambe Jaisi Khadi Hai’ (from Dil which featured Aamir in the lead role) are not good. We should respect sentiments of women. I accept my own hand in it, but I will try not to do this now. I will take this up with my friends and be sensitive henceforth,” Aamir said. l

Ceramics show ‘Keramos’ on display at Zainul Gallery n Shadma Malik A solo art exhibition “Keramos” by Mohammad Rabiul Hossain Jewel is under way at the Zainul Gallery of Dhaka University’s faculty of fine arts and is scheduled to close today. The show features both installation artworks and sculptural pieces, about thirty of them, through the use of ceramics.

His work “Secret Love” gives form to a couple of wooden dolls symbolising the secret love affair between a couple.

Under the common title “Earth of Heaven,” using different symbols, he brings out two installation artworks dealing with politics, religion and violence. “Through these pieces, I tried to show earth as a heaven that is yet to be made. There is a black figurine at the centre, symbolising the darkness in men generated from the ill-effects of religion.”

“Religion can be put to good use, but it can be a detriment also. It can be a political instrument as well, depending on how you use it,” he added.

“Key of Heaven,” another installation art piece, deals with the problems in life and promises a solution. “There are problems and there are solutions. The key is to find the right solution, the right key,” Jewel said. “Food,” featuring two deformed birds, shows how adulteration can affect even the likes of birds, which take their food from natural sources.

This is the first solo exhibition by Jewel, who did his masters in ceramics. l

TODAY IN DHAKA Film

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

Exhibition

Montage Time: 12pm – 8pm 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 Shreyoshi Time: 12pm – 8pm Gallery Twenty One

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Only Eden Hazard (7) got more EPL assists for Chelsea in 2013-14 than Cesc Fabregas (6) already has in 2014-15 for the Blues

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14 Derby delight

for Atletico over Real Madrid

DHAKA TRIBUNE

15 France to face

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Switzerland in Davis Cup final

Bangladesh lose Shamsur after WI restricted to 380 n Tribune Desk

Visiting Bangladesh side trailed by 355 runs with 9 wickets remaining at tea in the 1st innings on day two of the second and last Test against West Indies at St Lucia yesterday.

Bangladesh replying to the home side’s 380 runs in the first innings scored 25 runs losing the wicket of opening batsman Shamsur Rahman.

Tamim Iqbal was unbeaten on 23 with Anamul Haque who had added a single run to the tally.

Shamsur could score only one run before going back to the dressing room.

The right handed batsman facing Kemar Roach, tried to flick the ball which was sliding down the leg side but only got a little tickle on it.

Earlier, West Indies turned a bad morning into a good afternoon which should have had encouraged their bowlers, after they were bowled out for 380 in the first innings. Shivnarine Chanderpaul made an unbeaten 84, but more crucial were his half-century partnerships with the eighth and ninth wickets.

After West Indies had slipped to 269 for 7 in the early session of the day,

Chanderpaul added a rapid 54 with Jerome Taylor, who hammered 40 with five fours and two sixes. Then, with the No.10 Suleiman Benn, Chanderpaul put up 52, with Benn making 25 before being caught at fine-leg off Al-Amin Hossain. Shannon Gabriel, however, could not stonewall, as he was cleaned up by Robiul Islam.

Bangladesh’s pace attack was miserly to start off with, and they triggered a West Indies collapse which saw four wickets fall for 18 runs in the space of 3.4 overs, before the tail-enders frustrated them. Al-Amin took three wickets while there was two each for Robiul, Shafiul Islam and Taijul Islam. Mahmudullah’s only wicket was that of Kirk Edwards.

Despite their promise shown by the seamers, Bangladesh’s fielding left a lot to be desired. Chanderpaul was dropped on four while Taylor was given a reprieve on 18. Edwards and Leon Johnson, however, could not take advantage of the lives they were gifted on the first day.

Even though the visitors dominated the first session, West Indies did pick up 95 runs in the 23 overs before lunch, as well as another 39 runs in 11 overs before being bowled out. l

False ceiling comes off at SKICS n Minhaz Uddin Khan The false ceiling in the dressing room at Sheikh Kamal International Cricket Stadium (SKICS) crashed down yesterday during the first day of the four-day match between Bangladesh A and Zimbabwe A. However, the accident left no casualties.

The only person near the dressing room was national selector and manager of the Bangladesh A team Minhajul Abedin who was relieved and said, “Thanks to the Almighty I

was left unharmed”.

“I was sitting in the dressing room alone the whole time. For no reason I went out and within a minute the ceiling crashed down,” informed Minhajul to Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Several attempts were made for an official statement from the Bangladesh Cricket Board on the incident, but concerned officials did not respond when this report was filed.

The first match hosted by the venue was the women’s ODI between Bangladesh and Pakistan on March 5, 2014. l

Barrister Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh (4L) distributes prizes to the Nepalese teams on the final day of the 2nd Sheikh Russel Roll Ball Championship at the Abahani ground yesterday COURTESY

‘Honestly I never expected this’ n Mazhar Uddin

The nine-wicket haul is a career defying moment and the Bangladesh A left-arm spinner Saqlain Sajib is over the moon for his achievements at the SKICS yesterday.

The 9 for 82 against the Zimbabwe A on the first day of the first four-day match is his career-best figures and Saqlain told Dhaka Tribune, “I never thought that I will be able to pick nine out of 10 Zimbabwean wickets today (yesterday).

“I was trying to bowl at the right line and length and got the wickets but honestly I never expected something like this,” he added.

The 25-year old broke the steady 43-run opening partnership of Vusi Sibanda and Tino Mawoyo and went on to rattle the visiting line-up as Zimbabwe were bowled out for 206. It was the Rajshahi lad’s friend and teammate Forhad Hossain, another seasoned campaigner, who took the other Zimbabwean wicket to deny Saqlain of a 10-for. His previous best was 7 for 29 in the National Cricket League.

“I did not play well in recent years and I worked hard to improve my bowling.

My coach Jamiur Rahman Saad helped me in the nets in Rajshahi where I used to practice at the Jubo Sangha School ground during the off seasons,” said Saqlain before adding that he is not expecting a national team call-up and just wants to perform consistently wherever he gets the opportunity. The tall left-arm spinner has 229 first class wickets from 52 matches with 14 five-wicket hauls. l

relaunches title bid

U-23 open Asian Games football today n Raihan Mahmood

DAY 2, AT TEA West Indies 1st innings Brathwaite c Taijul Islam b Shafiul 63 LR Johnson lbw b Taijul 66 KA Edwards c Shamsur b Mahmudullah 16 DM Bravo c Mushfiqur b Robiul 46 S Chanderpaul not out 84 J Blackwood c Anamul b Al-Amin 8 D Ramdin c Mushfiqur b Al-Amin 0 KAJ Roach c Mushfiqur b Shafiul 0 JE Taylor c Mahmudullah b Taijul 40 SJ Benn c Shafiul b Al-Amin 25 ST Gabriel b Robiul 4 Extras (b 8, lb 4, w 10, nb 6) 28 Total (all out; 124 overs) 380 Bowling Al-Amin 31-6-80-3, Shafiul 27-7-80-2, Robiul 26-7-63-2, Taijul 224-89-2, Mahmudullah 16-2-49-1, Nasir 2-0-7-0 Bangladesh 1st innings Tamim Iqbal not out 23 Shamsur Rahman c Ramdin b Roach 1 Anamul Haque not out 1 Extras 0 Total (1 wicket; 12 overs) 25 Bowling Taylor 6-1-16-0, Roach 4-2-5-1, Gabriel 2-0-4-0

13

Monday, September 15, 2014

Bangladesh will take the field for their Asian Games U-23 football opener against Afghanistan at 2pm BST at Incheon, Korea today.

Winger Jahid Hossain, called up to replace the injured defender Atikur Rahman Mishu, flew to Korea last night and is scheduled to reach Korea three

De Kruif has been motivating his players for a total teamwork against Afghanistan

Bangladesh pacer Robiul Islam celebrates a wicket with Mahmudullah during the second day of their second and final Test match against West Indies at St Lucia yesterday WICB

BANGLADESH A v ZIMBABWE A, FOUR-DAY MATCH

Saqlain’s nine-wicket haul put hosts in driving seat n Reazur Rahman Rohan Saqlain Sajib pulled a rabbit out of the hat as he bagged his career best nine wickets in an innings to foil the visiting Zimbabwe A side for just over 200 runs on the first day of the four-day match at Cox’s Bazar yesterday. The Bangladesh A side are in complete control of the encounter after they ended the day by scoring 30 without any loss of wickets.

Opting to bat, visiting captain Vusi Sibanda put on 43 for the first wicket with Tino Mawoyo (12) before the latter was removed by left-arm spinner Saqlain. Sibanda added a further 61 runs for the second wicket with Brian Chari (30) as the visitors were cruising along pretty well.

However, Saqlain struck once again to break the partnership and in the space of few overs Zimbabwe were reeling at 122 for seven with Saqlain dismissing six of them.

Sibanda, who made 62, accounted rash strokeplay and that the wicket not behaving up to the standard as the main reason behind their poor show.

Sibanda said the wicket was “not up to standard as it already started to break on the first day.”

“It (wicket) was slow from the very beginning while the ball also kept low apart from the turns the wicket provided. We tried to play too many strokes and ended up gifting our wick-

Saqlain Sajib ets,” Sibanda told Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.

Coming in at No. 5, Regis Chakabva scored a valiant 64 to help Zimbabwe reach 206 before they were bowled out in the last session of the day.

Bangladesh A skipper Naeem Islam must be a very happy captain after day one as his spinning duo Saqlain, 9 for 82, and Forhad Hossain, 1 for 26, did a smooth job before the young home side openers, Liton Kumar (23) and Sadman Islam (4), ensured no casualties. l

hours before the match kicks off. The team management is likely to field Jahid in the playing XI after assessing his fitness. On the other hand, midfielder Omar Faruk Babu will be sidelined due to injury.

The conditions are not alien to Bangladesh booters and the climate is also pleasant. Head coach Lodewij de Kruif has been motivating his players for a total teamwork against Afghanistan whose national team won the Saff Championship last year in Nepal. l

Shakib a free man today n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Shakib al Hasan will be a relieved man as his three-month suspension from competitive cricket ends today. The No. 1 all-rounder in Tests and among the top five all-rounders in the other two formats, the Bangladeshi was initially handed a six-month suspension by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on July 7 citing Shakib has a ‘serious attitude problem’.

His misbehaviour with Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha and an altercation with a spectator during the ODI series against India at home in June this year also saw the board bar Shakib from playing in the overseas domestic competitions till the end of next year.

The board reconsidered the punishment in their meeting on August 7 after Shakib apologised and appealed for reduction on his suspension. Shakib will now be able to participate in the Dhaka Premier League scheduled in October and will be available for selection for the home series against Zimbabwe next month. Shakib will also represent Bangladesh in the Asian Games in Korea this month.

However, the BCB did not lift the ban on his NOC (No Objection Certificate) and as a result he will be missing the Champions League Twenty20 for his IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders.

According to BCB chief Nazmul Hasan, the board could consider lifting the ban on NOC given Shakib shows improvement in his behaviour. l

Maruf, a victim of dirty politics? n Raihan Mahmood AKM Maruful Haque, the rising football coach of the country, submitted his appeal on Saturday in order to reconsider his one-year ban imposed by the Professional Football League Committee (PFLC) of the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) last month. Due to the harsh nature of the punishment, it seems like Maruf has fallen prey of a conspiracy and also a victim of dirty politics.

Former Sheikh Russel coach Maruf had criticised the PFLC and accused the committee of favouring the big clubs while scheduling the fixtures of the top flight. And according to the BFF’s disciplinary code, “Anyone who insults someone in any way, especially by using offensive gesture or language, will be sanctioned with a match suspension. If the perpetrator is an official, he will be suspended for at least four matches. A fine as well as a ban on performing any football-related activity, as referred to in Article 22, may also be pronounced.”

BFF general secretary Abu Naeem Shohag informed the appeal committee will now look into the issue. “We have received Maruful Haque’s appeal for withdrawing his suspension. We will refer this appeal to the Appeal Committee and they will take the final decision.”

However, the suspension dished out by the BFF categorically shows that certain quarters advocated a longer ban. Maruf’s 12-month suspension is indeed extreme and disproportionate to the offence he committed. Temperamental coaches like Jose Mourinho, the now retired Sir Alex Ferguson and Diego Siemone often paid fines for uncontrolled comments and are sometimes banned from the touchline but are never kept out of football.

Surprisingly the suspension notice was delivered when Maruf was attending the second part of his pro-license course in the United Kingdom. The ban was a laughing stock as almost all the local media reported that Maruf will be in the UK during that time. Maybe the

BFF did not know that Maruf was not in the country when they handed out the suspension.

Apparently, a quarter of the federation and club officials were angry with Maruf as he was not in good terms with his former club Russel, who sacked him in the middle of last season. He then joined eventual champions Sheikh Jamal as the technical director.

With Joseph Afusi no more at the helm of Sheikh Jamal as a coach, Maruf was associated with the team as its technical director. Maruf was poised to take on the post of head coach at Sheikh Jamal and the rival club officials played a big role behind the suspension as they wanted to halt the progression in his coaching career. A number of senior coaches were reportedly said to teach him a lesson.

Dubbed as the future national coach for his fresh and methodical approach, Maruf’s one-year ban shows that a professional approach and attitude in Bangladesh football is still missing. l

Winners of different categories in the Citycell Captain Golf Tournament pose for a photo during the presentation ceremony at the Kurmitola Golf Club on Friday COURTESY

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Monday, September 15, 2014

‘Who needs PlayStation when you have Messi’ n AFP, Madrid

Manchester United’s Wayne Rooney (2nd L) celebrates scoring with teammates during their English Premier League match against QPR at Old Trafford in Manchester yesterday

AFP

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique hailed four-time World Player of the Year Lionel Messi as capable of things impossible even on computer game PlayStation after he set up Neymar twice in his side’s 2-0 win over Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.

Messi has looked back to his best after a disappointing end to last season, scoring twice and providing three assists as Barca have propelled themselves to the top of La Liga with three wins from their opening three games.

“It is evident that he is best in the world in any attacking aspect,” he said.

“This version of Messi helps us a lot because he is a game changer. He does things in training that you can’t imagine, things I haven’t even seen on the PlayStation.

“We are used to it now but it is a joy and a privilege to have the best player in the world in your team without a doubt.”

And despite netting his first two goals of the season, Neymar was also quick to praise the part played by Messi in both goals.

“Messi is the best in the world. He is a star and I am improving with him,” Neymar told Canal Plus.

“I am very happy with the game today. It went perfectly with the two goals.

“We knew we would suffer a little bit, but we managed to remain tight at the back and then went onto win the game.”l

Falcao debuts as United crush QPR

Man United

n AFP, Manchester

Arsenal

2-2

Chelsea

4-2

Crystal Palace Southampton

0-0 4-0

Newcastle

Stoke

0-1

Leicester

Sunderland

2-2

Tottenham

West Brom

0-2

Liverpool

0-1

Radamel Falcao made his debut as Manchester United belatedly kickstarted their season with a breezy 4-0 win at home to Queens Park Rangers in the Premier League on Sunday.

The 28-year-old Colombia striker, a loan signing from Monaco, made his entrance as a 67th-minute replacement for Juan Mata, but by then United had already secured an overdue first victory of the season.

Falcao, who squandered a late chance, had been the focus of pre-match

attention, but it was £59.7 million ($98 million, 75 million euros) record signing Angel di Maria who stole the show on his home debut.

The Argentina winger put Louis van Gaal’s side ahead with a 24th-minute free-kick and had a hand in further goals

by Ander Herrera, Wayne Rooney and Mata as United blew off the cobwebs in style.

After two draws and a loss in the league, and a 4-0 humiliation by Milton Keynes Dons in the League Cup, it was United’s first competitive win under Van Gaal and meant they avoided going four league games without winning at the start of a season for the first time

since 1986.

While United climbed to ninth in the table, seven points below leaders Chelsea but only two points shy of the top four, QPR remain 16th, a point above the bottom three.

Falcao began the game on the bench on a mild autumnal afternoon, but fellow signings Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo were both handed starts as Van Gaal abandoned the 3-4-1-2 formation he had introduced in pre-season.

Blind anchored a midfield diamond in front of a flat back four, with Herrera and Di Maria either side of him and Mata supporting strikers Rooney and Robin van Persie.

The sight of former Old Trafford favourite Rio Ferdinand, now of QPR, receiving a memento from United director Bobby Charlton prior to kick-off only reinforced the sense of a changing of the guard.

United quickly took control, with Mata spooning a shot over from Herrera’s cut-back, and mid-way through the first half they went ahead.

Di Maria immediately looked a threat and he supplied the breakthrough, whipping in a free-kick from wide on the right that eluded everyone to creep in at the far post.

Jonny Evans then had to block a shot from Matt Phillips after United goalkeep-

er David de Gea charged from his goal and missed his kick, but 10 minutes before half-time the hosts doubled their advantage.

Di Maria was again the inspiration, driving deep into QPR territory and neatly flicking the ball inside for Rooney.

The United captain’s shot was blocked, but he steered the rebound into the path of Herrera, who drove a firsttime shot into the bottom-left corner.

The game was up a minute before the break. A slick exchange initiated by Di Maria culminated in Herrera teeing up Rooney to drill a low effort past Rob Green’s outstretched right hand from the edge of the box. l

Derby delight for Atletico n AFP, Madrid Atletico Madrid gained some measure of revenge for their heartbreaking Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid by beating the European champions 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday.

A second consecutive La Liga defeat for Real leaves them already six points adrift of leaders Barcelona after just three games as they were 2-0 winners over Athletic Bilbao earlier in the day thanks to a double from Neymar.

Atletico got off to the best possible start as Tiago headed home Koke’s corner, but Real were soon level as Cristiano Ronaldo won and then converted a penalty midway through the first-half.

Real coach Carlo Ancelotti, meanwhile, was at a loss to explain why his side’s performance dipped so alarmingly in the second-half, just as it did in losing 4-2 at Real Sociedad a

RESULTS Rayo Vallecano

2-3

Kakuta 45, Bueno 90-pen

Valencia Piatti 7, Parejo 63, Alcacer 74

3-1

Elche Albacar 37, Jonathas 55, Mosquera 69

Espanyol Sergio Garcia 90-pen

On Saturday Malaga Real Madrid Ronaldo 26-P

Celta Vigo Orellana 28, Larrivey 48

0-0 1-2 2-2

Levante Atletico Madrid Tiago 10, Turan 77

Real Sociedad Agirretxe 69, Castro 90+2-og

fortnight ago.

“It is a problem. We have to analyse it in the next few days and fix it quickly.

“The first-half was good like at Anoeta and the second-half wasn’t. We played with intensity and aggression in the first-half which is what you have to do to beat Atletico, but we didn’t do that in the second-half.”

Atletico went in front with the first clear opening for either side as Koke’s

in-swinging corner was met with a bullet header from Tiago at the near post.

The conceding of the goal led to large swathes of the Bernabeu booing Real captain Iker Casillas when he touched the ball.

However, the hosts responded well to going behind and after Miguel Angel Moya had produced a stunning save to claw away a Gareth Bale free-kick, Ronaldo levelled from the penalty spot after he had been felled by Guilherme Siqueira.

Karim Benzema then had a great chance to put Real in front after a neat one-two with Ronaldo but his first touch let him down and Moya flew out from his goal to smother.

And Moya denied the Frenchman once more with a great low save after Benzema had powered a Ronaldo cross towards goal just before the break.

Real’s momentum towards the end of the first-half petered out after the restart, though, as Atletico began to take control after the introduction of substitutes Turan and Antoine Griezmann. l

Inter rout Sassuolo 7-0 again n AFP, Milan

Icardi celebrates his hattrick yesterday AFP

Mauro Icardi scored a hattrick and Pablo Osvaldo added a brace as Inter routed Sassuolo 7-0 for the second successive season in Serie A on Sunday.

Elsewhere, Napoli suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat to Chievo thanks to Maxi Lopez’s strike, hosts Fiorentina were held to a scoreless draw by Genoa, Lazio routed Cesena 3-0 and Atalanta claimed a precious 2-1 win away at Cagliari. Juventus and Roma top the fledgling table after respective wins over Udinese and Empoli on Saturday left last season’s top two with maximum points.

Inter, who were held to a scoreless draw away at Torino last time out, moved up to third after a one-sided encounter at the San Siro. Early last season Inter handed the ‘Neroverdi’, then in their maiden season in Italy’s top flight, a 7-0 defeat.

Sassuolo, who only saved their topflight status at the 11th hour last season,

were expected to pose a bigger challenge this season having signed Algerian international Saphir Taider, from Inter, and seen striker Simone Zaza score on his competitive debut for Italy in a 2-0 win over Norway last week. l

RESULTS Sampdoria

2-1

Torino

1-2

Atalanta

Gabbiadini 34, Okaka 79

Cagliari Cossu 85-pen

Fiorentina Inter

Estigarribia 4, Boakye 67

0-0 7-0

Genoa Sassuolo

Icardi 3, 30, 53, Kovacic 21, Osvaldo 43, 72, Guarin 74

Lazio

3-0

Cesena

0-1

Chievo

Candreva 19, Parolo 56, Mauri 90

Napoli

Lopez 49

On Saturday Empoli Juventus Tevez 8, Marchisio 75

0-1 2-0

Roma Serpe 45+1-og

Udinese

RESULTS

4-0

QPR

Di Maria 24, Herrera 36, Rooney 44, Mata 58

On Saturday Wilshere 63, Sanchez 74 Costa 45, 56, 67, Remy 81

Pelle 6, 19, Cork 54, Schneiderlin 90

Johnson 4, Kane 82-og

Man City

Aguero 28, Demichelis 83

Swansea

Terry 11-og, Shelvey 86

Burnley

Ulloa 64

Chadli 2, Eriksen 48

Everton

Lukaku 2, Mirallas 66

Aston Villa

Agbonlahor 9

Late tactical ploy pays off for Simeone n Reuters, Madrid

Atletico Madrid’s Tiago (2R) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Real Madrid during their La Liga match at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on Saturday REUTERS

Despite having to watch from the stands due to a touchline ban, Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone got his tactics spot on again as his side claimed another win at city rivals Real Madrid on Saturday.

Atletico’s 2-1 La Liga victory marked the first time they have won two matches in a row at the Bernabeu stadium and followed their 2-1 aggregate triumph over their crosstown rivals in the season-opening Spanish Super Cup. The visitors took a 10th-minute lead thanks to Tiago’s close-range header but surrendered control of the game for the rest of the first half and Cristiano Ronaldo levelled from the penalty spot in the 29th minute. After a tight opening to the second half, Simeone played his hand and brought on Turkey playmaker Arda Turan and France forward Antoine Griezmann and switched Spain midfielder Koke to the middle. l

Mumbai outplay PSG poor run continues goal from defender Zoumana Camara.

Express in qualifier n AFP, Paris But a slip-up by Camara allowed the Paris Saint Germain were hosts get a share of the spoils as CamerPTI n held for the third time oon striker Paul-Georges Ntep got one

Mumbai Indians thrashed Southern Express of Sri Lanka by 9 wickets in the Oppo Champions League Twenty20 qualifier, here today to keep themselves in the hunt for the main draw.

Chasing 162 for a win, the Kieron Pollard-led Mumbai rode a smooth 139run opening stand between Lendl Simmons and Mike Hussey (60) to achieve the target in 16.2 overs.

Earlier put into bat, Southern Express rode Farveez Maharoof’s 22-ball 41 to post 161 for 6 in 20 overs.

Openers Lendl Simmons and Mike Hussey struck commanding fifties to hand Mumbai Indians a resounding 9-wicket win over Sri Lankan outfit Southern Express and keep their team in the hunt for the main draw of the Oppo Champions League Twenty20, here today. l

on their Ligue 1 travels to a 1-1 draw at Rennes on Saturday as Saint Etienne moved second with a 1-0 win against Caen.

Saint Etienne has been hammered at Parc des Princes by PSG before the international break but an own goal by Caen’s Haitian defender Jean-Jacques Pierre allowed them to move second at the expense of the Parisians. Saint Etienne are now equal on ten points with leaders Bordeaux who travel to Guingamp on Sunday, with the two-time defending champions a point behind in third after five games. The capital club were far from the side which demolished Saint-Etienne 5-0 two weeks ago, when Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored a hat-trick.

It was a third draw in three outings for PSG who had opened the scoring two minutes before the break through a rare

past PSG goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu after 55 minutes. l

RESULTS Lille Origi 46,Lopes 49

Guingamp

2-0

Nantes

2-1

Bordeaux

Diallo 26, Mandanne 34-P

Diabate 83

On Saturday Rennes Ntep 55

Montpellier L. Kone 44-og

Bastia Gillet 54

Nice Bosetti 90+4

Reims Ngog 13, Courtet 86

Saint-Etienne Pierre 74-og

1-1 1-0 1-1

PSG Z. Camara 43

Lorient Lens Chavarría 40

1-0

Metz

2-0

Toulouse

1-0

Caen

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

France to face Switzerland in Davis Cup final

QUICK BYTES

Surjo Tarun, Indira Road post easy wins in 1st Div T20 Eight games of round three in the ongoing First Division Twenty20 Tournament were held at different venues yesterday.

In the two matches of Group A, Surjo Tarun defeated Agrani Bank Cricket Club by 87 runs while Cricket Coaching School won by five wickets against Talent Hunt.

In Group B, City Club bagged an 11-run win against Eskaton Sabuj Sangha. In the second game of the group, Azad Sporting Club beat Bangladesh Boys Club by seven wickets. In Group C, Magnum Cricketers won by four wickets against Young Cricketers while Indira Road Krira Chakra picked up an eight-wicket win over Baridhara Dazzlers in the second game. Khelaghar SKS defeated Dhaka Wonderers Club by three wickets in the first Group D game. In the second game of the group, Young Pegasus won by two wickets against Uttara Sporting Club.

–Tribune Desk

n AFP, Geneva

Abahani make winning start in U-18 football Abahani Limited beat Uttar Baridhara 2-1 in their first match of the Airtel U-18 Football at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. Abahani were shocked by Uttar Baridhara’s Milon in the 9th minute before Mohammad Ariful restored the parity in the 44th minute.

In the very next minute Ibrahim Rana’s strike put Abahani ahead as the scoreline remained unchanged for the rest of the match. In the other match of the day, Dhaka Mohammedan and Brothers Union shared points with a goalless draw.

–Raihan Mahmood

Army cruise to rugby final Bangladesh Army reached the final of the Waton Motorcycle 4th National Rugby Championship beating Gazipur by 63-0 in the one sided semifinal at the Paltan Ground yesterday. In the second semifinal today Chittagong will face Narail at the same ground at 4:30pm.

–Raihan Mahmood

Bayern’s Badstuber requires surgery again Bayern Munich defender Holger Badstuber will undergo surgery for a torn thigh muscle tendon only weeks after his comeback from a 20-month break due to consecutive cruciate ligament tears, the club said on Sunday. Badstuber was injured in their 2-0 league win over VfB Stuttgart and his injury was initially seen as not serious. Further tests on Sunday, however, revealed the real extent of his injury as Bayern prepare for Wednesday’s Champions League game against Manchester City. Bayern said on Sunday he had sustained a torn thigh muscle tendon and would undergo surgery, ruling him out for a “longer period of time.”

–Reuters

Bruce critical of Newcastle talk Hull boss Steve Bruce has scoffed at reports saying he could replace under-fire Alan Pardew as manager of Newcastle saying they were “disrespectful” to the current incumbent. Pardew’s position became ever-more precarious following the 4-0 thumping that the Magpies endured on Saturday at Southampton. The 53-year-old coach, who has a contract at Newcastle until 2020, decided to skip the post-match presser at St Mary’s. But Bruce, all too familiar with managerial life in the northeast after a failed spell at Sunderland from ‘09’11, said he had no time for the talk of him taking over at St James’ Park. He told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme: “It isn’t nice - it’s a horrible Sunday morning for him and I find it very, very disrespectful that I’m linked with somebody else’s job when he’s still in a job.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH BTV, Gazi TV, Ten Cricket 8:00PM Bangladesh tour of West Indies Second Test, Day 3 Sony Six 5:30 PM World Kabaddi League 2014 Bhatinda: Day 13 Star Sports 1 12:45AM Italian Serie A Verona v Palermo Star Sports 2 12:45AM Spanish La Liga Eiber v Depotivo La Coruna Star Sports 4 1:00AM English Premier League Hull City v West Ham

15

Monday, September 15, 2014

Switzerland captain Severin Luethi (L) and Stanislas Wawrinka carry their teammate Roger Federer as they celebrate winning the Davis Cup semi-final against Italy in Geneva yesterday AFP

France will host Switzerland in the Davis Cup final in November after Roger Federer gave the Swiss the winning point against Italy in Geneva on Sunday.

Federer reached the first Davis Cup final of his career with a comfortable 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) win over Fabio Fognini in the first of the semi-final’s reverse singles.

That made it 3-1 for the Swiss thus ensuring they would contest the final of the annual team event for the first time since 1992 when they lost to the United States.

France made sure of playing in the final for the first time since 2010 on Saturday when their doubles team of Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga defeated Czechs Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek in four sets.

The final will be played in France from November 21-23, with the northern city of Lille being touted as the likely host.

The last time the two countries met in a Davis Cup tie was in the 2004 quarter-finals when the Swiss won 3-2 at home.

“The most classical match-ups I’ve had have come against France so I’m happy,” said Federer.

“We’ve had some great ties here in Switzerland so we’re very pleased to be in the finals and we’ll see how it’s going to go.”

“It’s nice sharing emotions with your fans and your loved ones. You have to fight with what you’ve got and I’m happy I was able to make a difference.”

Seeking a Davis Cup title to go with his all-time record of 17 Grand Slam vic-

tories, Federer had given the Swiss the opening point of the tie with a straight sets win over Simone Bolleli and he started as a strong favoirite against top Italian Fognini.

Games went with serve until 3-2 for Federer in the opener when the Swiss star made the breakthrough and went on to take the set 6-2 in just 24 minutes.

The second set also saw Federer edge his way ahead with a break in the eighth game, Fognini furious with himself for netting an attempted smash on break point.

The volatile Italian had his chances in the third set against an increasingly edgy Federer, but squandered three break points in the third game and another break point two games later.

He was made to pay the price in the ensuing tie-break which Federer dominated after conceding the first point on his own serve.

The Swiss number worked out three match points and he converted the first of those as Fognini netted a forehand drive.

“For the whole of Switzerland it’s great we’re in the finals now. We couldn’t be happier,” said Swiss captain Severin Luthi.

“Roger didn’t have that much time to get used to the court and conditions and there is a lot of pressure involved.

For me he played again fantastic tennis.”

Over in Paris, the France v Czech Republic tie ended at Roland Garros in a 4-1 win for the French, Jiri Vesely defeating Julien Benneteau 6-4, 6-3 before Gael Monfils beat Lukas Rosol 5-7, 6-4, 7-5 in the two “dead” rubbers.

France last won the Davis Cup in 2001 when they travelled to Australia and won 3-2. l

McIlroy, Horschel level atop Tour Championship

Rossi relaunches title bid

n AFP, Atlanta

Italian great Valentino Rossi led a Yamaha one-two to claim his maiden win of the season at the San Marino Moto GP and launch his bid for a 10th world title on Sunday.

Rossi, a nine-time world champion in all categories, finished the 28-lap race ahead of Spanish teammate Jorge Lorenzo with Dani Pedrosa, on a Honda, in third.

Championship leader Marquez finished 16th after crashing his Honda on the early laps and trailing at the back of the field for most of the contest.

Lorenzo on Saturday had earned the 30th pole position of his career, but first of the season, to top the grid just ahead of Andrea Iannone on a Ducati and Rossi.

But the Spaniard’s bid for a fourth successive win in San Marino was kept in check by a rampant Rossi.

The Italian eclipsed his mercurial form so far this season with a composed and determined performance which he admitted was helped by Marquez’s misfortune.

“I’m very happy. It was a great race,” an ecstatic Rossi told Sky Sports.

“Obviously incidents like the one

World number one Rory McIlroy fired a three-under par 67 Saturday to match Billy Horschel for the lead entering the final round of the US PGA’s season-ending Tour Championship.

Northern Ireland’s McIlroy, this year’s British Open champion and PGA Championship winner, and American Horschel, who shot a third-round 69 for his 11th sub70 round in a row, stood level on nine-under par after 54 holes at East Lake.

A showdown was set not only for the $1.4 million top prize for winning the tournament but also for the $10 million FedEx Cup season points playoff bonus.

McIlroy and Horschel are among the five points leaders who will capture the rich bonus prize simply by winning the tournament. Anyone in the field of 29 can take the bonus but most would need to win and have a major collapse by the co-leaders.

McIlroy, a combined 81-under par since he took the Claret Jug in July, fired Friday’s low round of 65 and battled through hot and humid Saturday conditions to grab a share of the lead.

McIlroy sandwiched birdies at the

first and third holes around a bogey at the second to begin the round.

He two-putted from 55 feet to birdie the par-5 fifth, but missed a 3-foot par putt at 10 to stumble back.

McIlroy’s biggest shot came at the par-5 15th when he put his second shot 27 feet from the hole and curled in the eagle putt to grab a share of the lead.

Horschel, McIlroy’s playing partner in the final duo, birdied the par-3 second and closed the front nine with back-toback birdies but stumbled with bogeys at 10 and 13, opening the door for McIlroy.

Horschel, whose wife is expecting a baby later this month, led after 54 holes on his way to winning last week in Denver.

A victory Sunday would bring Horschel more money in one day, $11.4 million, than he has earned in his entire career so far. That had Horschel nervous and wishing he could start the fourth round just after the third had ended.

Jim Furyk put his approaches within four feet at the 12th and 13th holes to set up birdie putts and followed with a 38-foot birdie putt at the 16th on his way to a 67 to stand third on 203.l

n AFP, Misano Adriatico

affecting Marquez don’t happen very often.

“But today we knew we had a great chance to win this race.

“I really enjoyed the race, so many people, so many fans. It was a perfect day.”

It was Rossi’s 81st win in the sport’s

elite class, allowing the 35-year-old Italian to become the first rider to reach 5000 career points.

With five championship races remaining Marquez remains leader on 289 points but has seen Pedrosa (215) and Rossi (214) close the gap to 74 and 75 points respectively. l

Italian rider Valentino Rossi celebrates as he crosses the finish line to win the Moto GP race yesterday at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli in San Marino AFP

Lisicki fights back to win Hong Kong Open Ferdinand slams Terry n AFP, Hong Kong

Sabine Lisicki justified her top seeding by winning the inaugural WTA Hong Kong Open 7-5, 6-3 against Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic on Sunday.

The German had endured a lean time on tour since losing the Wimbledon final to Marion Bartoli last year, tumbling out of the world’s top 30.

Lisicki only accepted a wildcard into the Hong Kong tournament at the last minute after US Open semi-finalist Peng Shuai and world number seven Eugenie Bouchard pulled out. It proved to be a move that paid off handsomely.

The scoreline may say it was a straight-sets victory, but it was far from straightforward in an error-strewn match at the Victoria Park centre court.

The Czech third seed had seemed destined to avenge her second-round defeat to the German at Wimbledon this year when she raced into a 5-1 lead in the first set, breaking Lisicki’s serve twice.

But Lisicki, who at that point was managing to put only a woeful 40 per cent of her first serves into play, slowly got into her stride to spark a remarkable run in which she broke back twice to level at 5-5.

Asked by reporters if she had thought about letting the set slip away at 1-5, Lisicki gave a robust response Pliskova again had chances to break as Lisicki faltered to 15-40 in the 11th game. But the Czech world number 36 couldn’t take advantage and a loose re-

turn way out into the tramlines on her second break point caused her to slam her racquet down in disgust.

Lisicki served out for her fifth game in a row and squandered one set point on Pliskova’s serve in the next game, but a searing backhand crosscourt pass in the best rally of the match sealed the set 7-5.

It capped an incredible run of six consecutive games for the world number 31.

Lisicki made it seven on the trot by holding serve to open the second set, but Pliskova finally got back on the scoreboard with a service hold of her own.

When Lisicki broke again and strode out to a 4-2 lead the match looked all but over. Pliskova had other ideas and fought back from 40-30 to break when Lisicki double-faulted for the seventh time in the match.

However Pliskova was immediately broken again and Lisicki served out to seal the match, collapsing to the court in joyful celebration after ending a drought of almost three years without a singles title.

“I really enjoyed it here in Hong Kong and I think that’s the reason I played so well,” said Lisicki, who now heads for Tokyo this week.l

over racism row n AFP, London Rio Ferdinand has said he finds it “impossible to forgive” John Terry in a racism row involving his brother Anton.

However, he said he would have been prepared to again play for England alongside former international centre-back partner Terry if given the chance.

The cause of the fall-out between the pair came when Chelsea captain Terry used racist language between Chelsea and QPR in November 2011.

Terry was banned for four matches by the Football Association as a result of the incident, having been cleared of any wrongdoing in an earlier court case.

Rio Ferdinand, in an extract from his new autobiography #2sides, serialised in The Sun on Sunday, criticised Terry for failing to admit to his error and for never apologising directly to him or his brother.

“For me, the biggest idiot will always be John Terry,” he said.

“As England captain and my centreback partner he could have saved everyone a lot of pain by admitting immediately that he had used the words in the heat of the moment, but was no racist.

“I think that’s probably what happened and what the truth is. Anton and I would’ve accepted that - instead he never gave us the chance.

“I’ve never actually spoken to John about the case. I no longer talk to him, but even three years later I find it impossible to forgive or forget the pain he put my family through.”

Ferdinand said the incident led to Anton receiving death threats and to their mother having her windows smashed, receiving bullets in the post and ending up in hospital with a stress-related condition.

“We weren’t best mates, but we were football buddies,” he added of his relationship with Terry prior to the racism incident.

“I shouldn’t have done it, but it’s what I felt at the time,” Ferdinand said.l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Monday, September 15, 2014

Bangladesh ambassador Military conference: Cooperation needed to combat non-traditional risks to Greece found guilty of sexual harassment

n Tribune Report Top-level land forces military officials yesterday sought cooperation from different nations for combating non-traditional threats and challenges, saying no single nation now was able to tackle the contemporary threats alone.

“We are now facing the kinds of threats that transcend the geographical borders. Famine, disease, natural disasters, illegal drug cartels, child and women traffickers, trans-national terrorist organisations and the like do not respect national borders; they affect us all,” General Iqbal Karim Bhuiyan, chief of army staff at Bangladesh Army, said.

Cooperation was needed among nations as no single country had the unique capacity to deal with all these threats, Gen Iqbal told the inauguration ceremony of the 38th Pacific Armies Management Seminar (PAMS) at the capital’s Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel, organised by Bangladesh Army, in cooperation with US Army Pacific (USARPAC).

Regarding the PAMS, the army chief also said: “PAMS 38 offers us the much sought for opportunity to discuss such common issues and explore new areas of cooperation. The seminar is aimed to cast a new look on the security environment of the region in search of emerging opportunities and develop a theoretical construct for collective efforts towards surmounting the prevailing and upcoming challenges.”

Also speaking at the ceremony, the commanding general of the US Army Pacific, Vincent K Brooks, said the multinational seminar has become the pre-

n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

Members of the Bangladesh Army perform a demonstration at the 38th Pacific Armies Management Seminar at the capital’s Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel yesterday BSS mier annual forum in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region for promoting security cooperation enhancing dialogue and cooperation among nations.

“The relationships that are renewed here for some and initiated here for others, will form the channels of communication that will help to avert crisis among us. And that will enhance military cooperation when we find ourselves responding to an international crisis where we find common interests,” he added.

He also opined that the nations should work together to address com-

mon threats such as international terrorism and violent extremism, cyber crime, infectious diseases and environmental changes that threaten the safety of human populations.

Gen Brooks added that the land forces might include working with other government agencies, or with international bodies, or with non-governmental groups who are trying to make a difference.

The four-day-long seminar began yesterday with the theme: “A New Focus on the Asia-Pacific Region: Opportunities and Challenges for Land

Police rescue 21 illegal migrants bound for Malaysia; one held n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Police held twenty-one people attempting to travel to Malaysia illegally Saturday and early yesterday from Chittagong city and its outskirts, and detained one of their handlers.

The illegal migrants were rounded up in Sitakunda upazila, Chittagong and Chittagong city’s Bakalia area in two separate drives, from half-way houses used by traffickers while illegal migrants await transportation.

Law enforcement agencies said calm in the Bay of Bengal after the rainy season and the strong presence of law enforcement officials in Cox’s Bazar and other border areas have caused human traffickers to base their activities in Chittagong city and its environs.

Sub-Inspector (SI) Delwar Hossain of Sitakunda police station said 12 illegal migrants were brought in to custody from a residence in Uttar Daiya Bari in Sitakunda upazila around 2:30am yesterday.

The migrants, hoping to travel abroad illegally in search of work, were from Sirajganj, Jessore, Jhenaidah, Bogra and Chittagong districts.

Traffickers mainly target poor, illiterate and unemployed people from the northern districts and charge them huge amounts of money for the illegal and sometimes risk passage The police SI said the care-taker of the residence, Sona Mia, 26, reportedly involved with human trafficking for two years, was arrested.

He is being interrogated about the traffic in undocumented migrants, the SI said, adding that the residence had been used as a half-way house for the illegal trade.

Earlier, Bakalia police held nine people from the port city’s Bastuhara Colony adjoining Shah Amanat Third Karnaphuli Bridge around 10pm on Saturday on the suspicion that they were attempting to make the passage to Malaysia illegally.

Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mohammad Mohsin of Bakalia police station said a human trafficker named Ashraf had assembled the nine undocumented migrants, all from Magura district, and sent them to the port city. In Chittagong, they were scheduled to contact another trafficker whose job was to get them, by boat and under the cover of darkness, aboard a ship at sea.

The 21 undocumented migrants are be-

ing held at the police stations that conducted the interception raids; they will be sent home after questioning. Two cases were lodged with the respective police stations in these connections, police sources said.

Police sources said four types of syndicates, each involved with a specific stages of the operation, are involved in human trafficking in this country.

The first syndicate targets illiterate people who have the ability to pay for the illegal passage. The second group assembles them and provides half-way houses for them; the third arranges for boats to ferry them to ships at sea; the fourth group accompanies the people abroad and makes sure they are able to enter the foreign country without legal documentation.

Sources said traffickers mainly use the coastal areas of Bashkhali, Maheshkhali, Teknaf and Cox’s Bazar as embarkation points.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Harun-or-Rashid Hajaree of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (Port Zone) told the Dhaka Tribune that traffickers generally use the Teknaf route to move their human cargo.

“But they prefer the Chittagong route after the rainy season because the sea is calm at this time. Traffickers mainly target poor, illiterate and unemployed people from the northern districts and charge them huge amounts of money for the illegal and sometimes risk passage,” he said.

Specialists say the key members of the syndicates are usually expatriate Bangladeshis who have strong networks abroad that enable them to traffic people from Bangladesh.

Professor Dr Zakir Hossain of the Law faculty at Chittagong University said: “Chittagong is not a new route for traffickers. Because Border Guard Bangladesh and Bangladesh Coast Guard have strengthened their vigilance in some of the border areas, Chittagong has become a relatively safe base of operations. These traffickers see to it that illegal migrants are put on board some of the foreign vessels that come to Chittagong port.”

“The sea is vast and it is not possible to keep watch on every corner. The task of traffickers is quite easy,” Zakir explained.

“Compared to other times of the year, more undocumented migrants awaiting transportation are rounded up from the port city after the monsoon than from other places because the sea is clam,” said Lt Colonel Miftah Uddin Ahmed, commanding officer of Rapid Action Battalion 7.

East Zone Commander Captain Shahidul Islam of Bangladesh Coast Guard said traffickers are stuck inland because it is virtually impossible for anyone to travel illegally on the sea because of the Coast Guard’s strong vigilance. l

Forces.” Nearly 120 delegates from 25 countries are participating the seminar to discuss contemporary issues of common concern.

Organisers have said the seminar would emphasise on the need for increased cooperation among the regional land forces towards developing common modalities of countering non-traditional security threats.

The PAMS will also work towards building response capacity of land forces for issues of environmental security through raising awareness within the overall framework of human security. l

Bangladesh Ambassador to Greece Golam Mohammad was found guilty of sexually harassing a Bangladeshi-origin Greek lady who works for International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Greece.

The three-member investigation team led by Maritime Affairs Unit Secretary Khurshed Alam conducted the probe when the lady brought the allegation a couple of months ago.

The team that has recently submitted the report also found that he had indulged in corruption, officials said.

“It is almost sure that he would be called back,” said an official of the ministry. The foreign secretary put forward his recommendation based on the report to the foreign minister for the final decision, according to the officials.

The minister and the secretary are the administrative authorities to determine the magnitude – major or minor – of the wrongdoing of any official.

The government received an allegation from the Bangladeshi-origin Greek lady and took it into cognisance and sent the probe team in August.

The lady alleged that she was sexually harassed when she went to the ambassador’s residence on an invitation.

The victim sent a letter elaborating her ordeals to her IOM mission head in Greece which was forwarded to the ministry for taking appropriate action.

In the letter, the victim said when she repeatedly rejected his indecent

Arrest warrant against Fakhrul n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday issued a warrant for the arrest of BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in a case related to vandalism and assaulting the police dating from December 2012.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Yunus Khan issued the warrant after Mirza Fakhrul and two others— Nasir Hossain and Mohammad Ali— failed to appear before the court on Sunday, the date scheduled for the acceptance of the charge sheet in the case.

The court fixed September 26 for the submission of the execution report of the arrest warrants.

On January 16, Sub-Inspector Zahid Khan of Kadamtali police

station, the investigating officer of the case, submitted a charge sheet against 61 people including Mirza Fakhrul.

According to the case, the charge-sheeted men blocked roads in the Kadamtali area of the capital on the Postagola-Narayanganj Highway in front of Eagle Box factory during a protest programme in December 2012.

The case details say they torched and vandalised vehicles, attacked law enforcement officials with stones and brickbats and set an oil tanker-truck on fire.

Fakhrul was found to have provoked the BNP activists to carry out the violence and vandalism, according to the charge sheet.

After the incident, Sub-Inspector

Mohammad Abu Azif filed a case with Kadamtoli police station accusing 77 people including former MP and BNP leader, Salauddin Ahamed, and his son, Rabin Ahamed, together with 20 to 25 unnamed BNP leaders and activists.

Before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Anisur Rahman, additional deputy commissioner of the police’s information, crime and investigation department, said: “Mirza Fakhrul was not listed on the First Information Report but the investigating officer has named him in the charge sheet as a fugitive accused.”

Fakhrul was not granted bail in the case, so the court issued a warrant for his arrest. l

proposals; the ambassador threatened her with dire consequences.

In recent years, at least four ambassadors have been recalled from their positions, due to massive financial irregularities or allegations of sexual harassment.

In July, the foreign ministry recalled Bangladesh Ambassador to Lebanon AFM Gousul Azam Sarker due to his failure to run the mission properly.

The ministry also recalled several other ambassadors for their gross misconduct like financial irregularities and allegations of sexual harassment in the last couple of years.

Bangladesh withdrew the Bangladesh Ambassador to Japan AKM Majibur Rahman Bhuiyan, when a Japanese woman working at its Tokyo mission alleged that she was sexually harassed by him.

Former Bangladesh Ambassador to Uzbekistan Hasib Aziz was sent into forced retirement when he married a foreign woman without the consent of the president of Bangladesh.

Former Bangladesh Ambassador to the Philippines Majeda Rafiq Unnesa was recalled as the government found massive financial irregularities in the Manila mission. She is facing corruption charges by the Anti-Corruption Commission. She has later been made an OSD (Officer on Special Duty) at the ministry.

Md Shamsul Haque was also involved in financial irregularities while he was the Bangladesh Consul General in New York and is also facing charges brought against him by the ACC. l

Schoolboy stabbed to death in capital n Mohammad Jamil Khan A 14-year-old school boy was stabbed to death by unidentified assailants in the capital’s Mirpur area yesterday night.

The victim was identified as Mohammad Imon Sarker, a student of Class VII of Mirpur Adarsha High School and son of Nazrul Sarker.

Quoting witnesses, Nazrul told the Dhaka Tribune: “When Imon went out of the house around 8:30pm, two other youths stabbed him in the chest with sharp knives and fled. We rushed him to DMCH where doctors declared him dead around 10pm.”

When contacted, Mirpur model police station OC Salahuddin Ahmed said police were now investigating the case.

No case was filed and no one was arrested in this regard as of last night. l

Mentally challenged woman beaten to death n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

A mentally challenged woman in Old Railway Station area in the city was beaten to death yesterday by her next-door neighbours, who accused her of child stealing.

Khaleda Begum, 45, lived at a makeshift house on the station premises with her husband Wahed

Ali, police said.

Her neighbours Jamal and five others swooped on her and beat her up with sticks around 8am accusing her of stealing his three-year-old son, said Assistant Commissioner of Chittagong Metropolitan Police Shah Mohammad Abdur Rouf.

Some local hawkers informed the police and also caught four attackers

including Jamal while the two others fled, he said.

The 45-year-old was pronounced dead at Chittagong Medical College Hospital around 12 at noon and the body was sent to the morgue for autopsy, added Rouf.

“Khaleda took Jamal’s child to somewhere on Saturday night but could not recall where she kept him.

The boy was found in the early hours of the day but Jamal accused her of stealing his boy,” the policeman said.

A case was lodged with Kotwali police station in this connection while four attackers – Jamal, 22, Ferdousi, 40, Yasmin Akhter Tuni, 25, and Paul Deb, 35 - were taken into custody.

“Police are looking into the matter,” said Rouf. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

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B3 China Aug factory

growth slows to near 6-year low

B4 Growing foreign fund influence a risk for emerging markets

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

New stocks cut investors pocket n Kayes Sohel Some investors got their fingers burnt from the recent plummeting of stock prices of the most newly listed companies that began trading more than 20 months back.

The share prices of most companies rose unusually in their first few trading days, but witnessed a free fall in the following days — a trend started since the regulator allowed share credit against the newly listed companies in November 2012.

Around 26 companies, mostly small-cap ones, made debuts after reintroduction of the new margin rules at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE).

Of those, half of the companies’ shares lost more than 100% and the rest declined around or below 50%, according to the DSE data.

Analysts say as these companies are mostly small caps, they can easily manipulate their business in the stock and small investors bear the brunt of it as they bought share prices availing margin loan.

These stocks are underperforming by a wide margin while the investors are increasingly risk averse, they said.

According to the traders, the decision of regulators created opportunities for manipulators to fleece investors who are often blamed for their ignorance about the market, and whim.

Generation Next Fashions was the first company that came under the new margin facilities. Its share prices dropped as low as Tk14 a share, a sharpest fall of 202% from its debut price level.

Shruwid is the latest and glaring example of such case. Its share prices rose 382% to Tk53 in debut day, down 12% from its latest price.

Fareast Knitting and Dyeing Industries Ltd made a debut just before Shruwid. Its share prices fell 16% after skyrocketing in the first trading days.

“These were speculative drive rally but not fundamental,” said VIPB Asset Management Company Chief Execu-

Donors urged to address projectspecific goals n Tribune Business Desk The development partners of the country, including the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), have been urged to address project-specific goals which is expected to be more effective in socio-economic development.

“The development partners, including the UNPD, have been assisting us in many ways in the process of achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The process would be expedited further with more effectiveness should the development partners provide us with more project-specific assistance,” Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told a workshop yesterday.

The General Economic Division (GED) of the Planning Ministry with collaboration of Planning Commission and the UNDP organised the inception workshop on “Support to Sustainable and Inclusive Planning (SSIP) Project,” at the NEC conference room in the capital city, reports BSS. UNDP Country Director Pauline Tamesis, Planning Division secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam and Statistics and Informatics Division secretary Suraiya Begum spoke on project at the inaugural session of the workshop.

Manager of the project Fakhrul Ahsan presented the salient features of the project when GED member Dr Shamsul Alam chaired the session.

The planning minister said Bangladesh had already made impressive progress in the social sectors particularly in achieving some of the major objectives of the MDGs. l

PRICE TREND OF NEWLY LISTED STOCKS Prices per share, Debut in Taka IPO

Companies Familytex Generation Next Fashions Paramount Textile Global Heavy Chemicals Golden Harvest Agro Industries Sunlife Insurance Company Fareast Finance and Investment Argon Denims Orion Pharma Mozaffa Hossain Spinning Mills Appollo Ispat Complex Emerald Oil Industries Premier Cement Mills FAR Chemical Industries Far East Knitting and Dyeing Industries AFC Agro Biotech Shurwid Industries Envoy Textile Peninsula Chittagong Tung Hai Knitting and Dyeing Bengal Windsor Thermoplastics Hwa Well Textiles Matin Spinning Mills Khulna Printing and Packaging Ltd Shahjibazar Chittagong Ltd

tive Officer Shahidul Islam.

He said the company insider who know better than anybody about the fundamental of his company fixed offer price at Tk10, but the outsiders bought it to Tk40 or above.“It does not make any sense.”

10 10 28 20 25 10 10 35 60 10 22 10 22 10 27 10 10 30 30 10 10 10 10 10 25

69 44 50 99.4 76 103 19 82 75 45 38 57 115 53 46 65 52 62 38 28 61 44 42 37 40

Current

22 15.7 18 40 34.8 47.7 10 45 46 30.5 27.7 42.8 89.5 42 37.5 53 43 52.7 32.5 24 59 46.7 45 48.4 89

Such behaviour was also seen in the companies including Golden Harvest Agro Industries, Premier Cement Mills, Global Heavy Chemicals, Argon Denims, Sunlife Insurance Company and Envoy Textiles.

“My money evaporates …,” said

Akter Mohammad, a retailer who put money on Generation Next Fashions. “Its initial rising prices attracted many but at the end of the day, we lost everything,” he said.

Despite earning per share and net asset value per share of the newly listed companies compared with those of other companies of the same sector, the investors were buying shares of the new scrips at higher prices.

Former Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Faruk Ahmed Siddiqi said: “In some cases, ironically in our stock market, price does not increase in line with the fundamentals.”

“Small investors without minimum knowledge fall prey to manipulators,” he said, adding that the investors were squarely responsible for this.

Why did they buy for such a high price? he posed a question.

However, the regulators should observe whether or not any unusual trading occurs, said Siddiqi.

The market operators said some big investors even institutions jacked up the share prices of a particular company by committing series trading from different brokerage firms to woo small investors.

Bangladesh Merchant Bankers Association Vice-President Akter H Sannamat said any lender should not provide loan against any company with weak fundamentals.

On November 28, 2012, the Securities and Exchange Commission lifted margin loan cap on new shares and shares that changed category in a bid to bring dynamism in the ailing market at the cost of small investor money.

A BSEC official said the commission took the decision not to intervene into the margin loan distribution system.

The margin loan is a process that depends on mutual relationship between lender and borrower.

The commission only set a maximum ceiling, but the rest of the responsibilities go to who are dealing with it, he said. l

NATIONAL INCOME TAX DAY 2014

NBR to award tax cards to top 40 taxpayers n Tribune Report The National Board of Revenue is set to award 40 highest top individual taxpayers and companies with the prestigious tax cards for paying the highest income tax at the national level in FY2012-13 and FY2013-14.

A total of 10 individual taxpayers and 10 corporate taxpayers will be awarded for their immense contribution to the national exchequer.

The board will award the taxpayers at a function today at the Sonargaon Hotel marking the National Income Tax Day 2014.

A total of 402 taxpayers from both national and district levels will be awarded, of which 40 will receive national recognition, and the remaining 362 will be regarded for their contributions under the city corporations and district level categories.

The board has already issued a gazette notification publishing the award receivers’ names.

But the top and well-known companies’ name were not found in the list as the board cannot award the tax card to any company or individual who has tax-related dispute, an official said.

According to the list, the US-based Chevron Bangladesh Block 12 tops the highest corporate taxpayers’ category both in FY 2012 and FY 2013 and FY 2013 and FY 2014 though the company does not pay taxes by itself, rather it is the state-owned, Petrobangla, that pays taxes on behalf of the company.

The eight companies that will receive tax cards both for the FY 12-13 and FY 13-14 are Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd, Sylhet Gas Fields Limited, Unilever Bangladesh Ltd, Karnaphuli Fertiliser Ltd, Barapukuria Coal Mining Company Ltd, American Life Insurance Company Ltd, Standard Bank Ltd and Citibank NA. In addition to these companies,

Tullow Bangladesh Ltd will be awarded for FY12-13 while Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd for FY13-14 as one of the top corporate taxpayers.

The tax card receivers will enjoy special privileges to access state functions, transport and medical services.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith will hand over the cards at a function at Hotel Sonargaon in Dhaka.

State Minister for Finance MA Mannan, Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed and the National Board of Revenue Chairman Md Ghulam Hussain will also be present at the programme.

The tax cards will be awarded in line with the National Tax Card Policy 2010.

Meanwhile, the board has also finalised a list of 362 individual taxpayers from the district levels and city corporation areas as the highest and longtime taxpayers.

Among them, 45 taxpayers, including two each as long-time taxpayers and three each as the top taxpayers, will be awarded under the city corporation category for contributing in FY1314. The rest 317 will be awarded under the district categories.

The finance minister will hand over the certificates to the highest and longtime taxpayers from Dhaka district at the function while the rest of the taxpayers will also be awarded in similar fashion in nine city corporation areas.

Meanwhile, the board will also organise a week-long tax fair across the country which will begin tomorrow.

The fair will remain open for visitors from 10am to 6pm.

The visitors would be offered the electronic TIN registration instantly.

There will be booths of Sonali Bank and Janata Bank to facilitate tax-related transactions and some booths will also be set up to facilitate registration of E-TIN services for visitors. l

Trust Bank to provide IT freelancers with laptop loans n Tribune Report The private commercial bank, Trust Bank, has distributed a special loan to four IT freelancers to purchase laptop computers for freelancing at a ceremony in the ICT division yesterday.

The Bank distributed Tk1.49 lakh to four freelancers who are currently engaged in their professions and have received training under the “learning and earning programme” of the ICT Division.

‘Bank will finance 70% of the laptop price while the borrower will need to bear 30%’

Trust Bank and the ICT Division also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the issue.

After signing the MoU, Bangladesh Bank Governor M Atiur Rahman handed over the amount of Tk38,000 to freelancer, Tanjim Bhuyan, Tk25,000 to Maruf Hasan, Tk43,000 to Abu Salhy MD Kaysar and Tk43,000 to Tasfir Hosen Suman.

The ICT Division is the guarantor of these loans to be provided by the Trust

Bank, and any freelancers can take out the loan ranging between Tk20,000 and Tk70,000, said a senior official.

The IT freelancers who trained from the ICT Division will be entitled to the loans.

Sources said the loan will be repaid in 24 months of installments at 14% interest and the ICT Division is the corporate guarantor.

Around 20,000 people participated in the training for freelancing under the ICT Division. Most of them are doing freelancing jobs.

The bank will finance 70% of the laptop price while the borrower will need to bear 30%, said Ishtiaq Ahmed Chowdhury, managing director of Trust Bank Limited, who also present at the ceremony.

The freelancers need to come under a freelancing association and have recommendation from the ICT Division to get the loan facility.

The bank has also plan to offer massive loan scheme outside Dhaka, but before that a feasibility study will be conducted, Ishtiaq Ahmed Chowdhury said.

Earlier, the government planned to introduce this special loan scheme for 80,000 university students to help them buy laptops, but no bank had showed interest.

Though Rupali Bank and Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation had come forward to the offer, they also backtracked later. l

A visitor looking at clothes at a five-day textile fair which began at the Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation in the city yesterday RAJIB DHAR

Ollo braces for LTE network in 27 cities n Tribune Report Ollo, a fast data service operator, has recently signed a contract with ZTE Corporation for a nationwide roll-out of LTE network in Bangladesh also known as “real 4G,” said a press release.

Under the agreement, ZTE will provide all equipment of LTE deployment to Ollo or Bangladesh Internet Exchange Ltd in seven divisional headquarters and 20 other major towns of the country.

BIEL already won No Objection Certificate from the telecommunications regulator early this month, which allows the operator to import equipment and begin the process of the network roll-out.

In Dhaka, the operator started a trial operation of LTE network in April using the ZTE Corporation equipment with the speed of up to 150 mbps.

BIEL said the initiative is a part of building digital Bangladesh programme and expected to help introduce electronic system in government

works, expand mobile banking services and reduce digital divide.

Ollo has been operational in Bangladesh since 2007 with ISP licence, having one of the first and biggest largescale deployments of 3.5GHz WiMAX networks.

Currently, it covers major areas of Dhaka including Uttara, Gulshan, Banani, Mohakhali, Dhanmondi, Motijheel and adjacent places. It offers wireless Internet connection for business and private customers. l

Tofail: Essentials market to remain stable before Eid n Tribune Report Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said the prices of essential commodities will remain stable during the upcoming Eid-ul-Azha as “there are sufficient stock.”

“Compared to the demand, we have sufficient stock of edible oil, onion, garlic, ginger, lentil and sugar.

So the prices will be under control,” he said at a meeting with businessmen in the Secretariat yesterday.

The meeting was held to exchange views with the traders on the situation of essential commodity market ahead of Eid-ul-Azha.

Commerce minister said the government was able to contain the market of essentials throughout last

Ramadan and hoped this would also be possible before the Eid-ul-Azha.

“A lot of imports are in the pipeline, and the government is trying to ensure sufficient supply against the demand,” Tofail Ahmed said.

He urged the business community to help the government keep the prices of essentials stable not only during Eids but also through-

out the year. “We are committed to ensure stable prices of essentials throughout the year,” he asserted.

In response to the minister’s call, the businessmen assured him of all-out cooperation and support to maintain adequate supply and keep the prices stable.

The meeting was attended by, among others, Commerce Secre-

tary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, Director General of the Directorate of National Consumer Rights Protection Md Abul Hossain Mian and Chairman of the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh Brigadier General Sarwar Jahan Talukder.

Representatives from Bangladesh Bank, FBCCI and DCCI were also present. l

B2

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Turnover crosses Tk800 crore after seven months

DSE key features September 14-2014

DSE GAINER

Turnover (Million Taka)

Traded Issues

308

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

green with life insurance moved up highest by 7.3%.

IT came second with a rally of 4.5% followed by cement 3.9%, engineering 2.4% and tannery 1.6%.

Power also soared 1.37%, led by Mobil Jamuna Ltd (MJL) Bangladesh that surged over 7% and Linde Bangladesh 6.8%.

Food and allied, telecommunication and pharmaceuticals also closed in positive territory.

The market breadth remained widely positive as out of 301 issues traded, 125 advanced, 147 declined and 29 remained unchanged.

Lanka Bangla Securities said market registered over 37 points, one of the very high single-day gains, closing above the resistance level of 4700, as investors reassessed some stock values higher.

Investors seemed to be active on both selling and buying side making the putting breadth on strong point, it said. It said pharma and cement stocks saw vast buying interest among the investors.

IDLC Investments said investors’ confidence as well as injection of fresh funds continued the market momentum for the fourth consecutive session.

Engineering and fuel and power together made up the 5%, the highest, of the total DSE turnover.

MJL topped the turnover’s chart with over Tk76 crore changing hands, followed by BSRM Steel, Lafarge Surma Cement, ACI Ltd, Beximco Ltd and Delta Life Insurance. l

The stocks continued to rally for the fourth consecutive session yesterday with turnover crossing Tk800 crore for the first time in more than seven months.

The rally was led by the sectors including multinational companies, power, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, cement and textile issues.

Dhaka Stock Exchange benchmark index DSEX gained almost 38 points or 0.9% to 4,713, which is the highest in last six and half months.

Investors seemed to be active on both selling and buying side making the putting breadth on strong point Shariah Index DSES was up 11 points or over 1% to 1,112. The comprising blue chips DS30 gained 28 points or 1.5% to 1,814.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, ended at 8,809 with a rise of 51 points.

The turnover at the DSE stood at Tk840 crore, which was 22.2% higher than that of the previous session and the highest since January 30 this year.

The financial sectors especially banks and non-banking financial institutions appeared with poor performance with shares edging down.

The other major sectors closed in

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSER 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 LOSER 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

ClosingAvg. 1440.50 10.80 30.64 25.92 76.67 21.20 20.91 19.04 24.43 26.35

ClosingAvg. 1,467.86 30.69 21.06 16.49 26.00 52.48 24.00 26.48 19.03 27.10

Closing 1437.25 10.70 30.40 25.60 76.30 21.00 20.80 18.90 24.00 26.10

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

DHIGH 1800.00 12.80 34.50 28.30 83.90 23.60 24.70 20.90 26.90 28.70

28,667.97

Turnover (Volume)

666,151,761

Number of Contract

633,986

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

2

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,490.85

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.19

CSE key features September 14-2014 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

DLOW 1400.75 10.70 30.10 25.50 76.00 18.60 20.70 17.00 22.50 24.00

111.946 2.098 122.256 3.515 0.230 166.093 17.063 117.498 113.080 50.462

Turnover in Million

DHIGH

DLOW

1,750.00 34.20 23.40 18.20 28.50 55.40 26.00 28.60 21.40 30.10

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

% 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

Closing (% Change) 60.80 21.24 18.19 16.91 15.80 14.02 12.55 11.70 11.25 11.16

CSE GAINER

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

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

59.55 20.71 18.06 16.69 15.56 12.02 11.90 11.56 11.41 10.50

Average (% Change) 60.69 19.89 18.09 16.69 15.27 11.97 16.31 11.06 7.66 10.55

ClosingAvg. 136.56 231.51 134.73 79.32 47.91 742.02 437.08 109.11 8.94 27.81

ClosingAvg. 135.30 233.09 134.03 74.80 736.61 108.05 48.85 110.50 106.58 24.21

Closing 137.00 234.60 135.80 79.50 46.90 739.40 442.90 108.80 8.90 27.90

Closing 135.30 233.70 134.00 74.80 739.00 108.10 47.00 111.00 110.30 24.20

DHIGH 137.00 242.90 135.90 79.60 48.60 774.20 443.30 113.00 9.50 29.10

DHIGH 135.30 264.00 134.30 74.80 767.30 115.00 49.10 112.00 105.90 24.30

DLOW 76.70 188.00 110.00 62.60 40.10 610.00 390.00 91.00 8.10 23.50

DLOW 88.90 192.00 111.00 68.00 650.00 97.00 40.00 97.70 105.90 20.00

Turnover in Million 553.163 974.249 43.165 22.140 17.449 288.602 4.269 73.916 2.959 146.165

Turnover in Million 8.768 81.375 2.328 0.029 34.203 3.528 2.768 0.678 0.533 0.549

Latest EPS 3.36 6.28 1.12 2.24 -1.01 -3.16 4.20 3.54 -4.85 1.06

Latest EPS 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

News, analysis and recent disclosers 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, 14. 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 paid-up 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.

41.1 13.5 18.2 86.8 92.9 18.5 266.7 5.6 18.1 100.4

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company

Total

Closing (% Change)

Average (% Change) 60.73 19.13 17.22 14.34 17.54 14.88 11.12 11.77 12.88 12.91

Latest PE

Investors’ confidence as well as injection of fresh funds continued the market momentum for the fourth consecutive session

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

Company

Monday, September 15, 2014

% 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

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

HeidelbergCement -A Square Pharma -A Renata Ltd. -A BSC-A Saiham Tex.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

HeidelbergCement -A UNITED AIR-A BD Submarine Cable-A BSRM Steels-A MJL BD Ltd.-A

VolumeShares 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

Value in Million 1229.17 1010.75 974.25 877.00 851.41 747.52 716.02 670.56 553.16 548.25

% of TotalTurnover 4.29 3.53 3.40 3.06 2.97 2.61 2.50 2.34 1.93 1.91

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

894,301 1,886,214 428,755 658,145 11,262,750

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

92,800 3,587,192 296,780 406,622 329,712

465.93 441.19 419.90 400.21 377.39

130.53 126.89 81.37 71.11 56.85 56.74 54.33 51.50 51.50 51.12

46.93 44.81 43.64 38.98 38.56

1.63 1.54 1.46 1.40 1.32

6.19 6.01 3.86 3.37 2.69 2.69 2.57 2.44 2.44 2.42

2.22 2.12 2.07 1.85 1.83

ClosingP 122.80 41.20 234.60 125.70 379.70 337.80 96.50 47.00 137.00 54.70

530.80 232.40 1003.00 608.00 32.90

ClosingP

47.10 41.20 233.70 126.20 25.30 233.50 38.60 30.80 30.80 336.00

527.30 12.40 144.70 96.90 122.70

Change % 5.23 -1.20 21.24 5.45 9.99 -0.09 -2.03 0.00 60.80 -0.55

7.41 -2.06 7.11 -0.37 5.45

Change %

0.00 -1.44 20.71 6.14 0.00 -1.56 -5.16 0.00 -4.35 -0.50

6.63 -2.36 0.77 -2.61 5.32

ClosingY 116.70 41.70 193.50 119.20 345.20 338.10 98.50 0.00 85.20 55.00

494.20 237.30 936.40 610.25 31.20

ClosingY

0.00 41.80 193.60 118.90 0.00 237.20 40.70 32.20 32.20 337.70

494.50 12.70 143.60 99.50 116.50

DHIGH

DLOW

123.10 45.00 242.90 126.80 400.00 342.10 101.00 59.80 137.00 58.00

100.00 36.10 188.00 113.80 325.00 325.00 83.80 33.30 76.70 48.10

535.00 239.50 020.00 621.00 34.80

480.00 220.00 886.00 600.00 31.00

DHIGH

DLOW

59.00 44.20 264.00 126.90 27.80 240.00 41.80 34.00 34.00 344.90

32.80 37.00 192.00 114.50 23.50 230.00 37.80 30.20 30.20 331.00

539.00 13.00 153.30 99.70 123.00

493.60 11.50 140.00 84.50 101.00

AvgPrice 120.23 41.89 231.51 125.45 385.14 338.57 96.10 49.45 136.56 55.57

529.16 232.73 999.82 611.28 32.93

AvgPrice

49.31 41.90 233.09 125.51 25.56 233.34 38.85 31.19 31.19 340.12

525.97 12.46 145.35 96.27 120.32

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Monday, September 15, 2014

China Aug factory growth slows to near 6-year low n Reuters, Beijing China’s factory output grew at the weakest pace in nearly six years in August while growth in other key sectors also cooled, raising fears the world’s second-largest economy may be at risk of a sharp slowdown unless Beijing takes fresh stimulus measures.

The output data, combined with weaker readings in retail sales, investment and imports, pointed to a further loss of momentum as the cooling housing market increasingly drags on other sectors from cement to steel and saps consumer confidence.

Industrial output rose 6.9% in August from a year earlier - the lowest since 2008 when the economy was buffeted by the global financial crisis compared with expectations for 8.8% and slowing sharply from 9% in July.

“The August data may point to a hard landing. The extent of the growth slowdown in the third quarter won’t be small,” said Xu Gao, chief economist at Everbright Securities in Beijing.

“The chances of cutting interest rates and bank reserve requirements have increased. I think they are more likely to cut interest rates.”

Some analysts believe annual economic growth may be sliding towards 7% in the third quarter, putting the government’s full-year target of around 7.5% in jeopardy unless it takes more aggressive action. Experts reckon output growth of around 9% would be needed to attain such a goal.

“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,” Liu Li-Gang and Zhou Hao at ANZ wrote in a note.

“As such, we reckon that Chinese authorities should further relax monetary policy as soon as possible to prevent growth momentum from decelerating further.”

Reinforcing the tepid economic activity, China’s power generation declined for the first time in four years,

but import growth unexpectedly fell for the second consecutive month in August, posting its worst performance in over a year.

Steady employment could temper beijing’s response

Labourers work on lifts at a construction site of a new railway station in Hefei, Anhui province falling 2.2% in August from a year earlier, and pointing to slackening demand from major industrial users.

Jiang Yuan, a senior statistician with the bureau, said the dip in August factory growth was due to weak global demand, especially from emerging markets, and the slowdown in the property sector that hit demand for steel, cement and vehicles.

China’s economy got off to a weak start this year as first-quarter growth cooled to an 18-month low of 7.4%. Beijing responded with a flurry of stimulus measures that pushed the pace up slightly to 7.5% in the second quarter, but soft July and August data suggest

the boost from those steps is rapidly waning.

“The government must take forceful policy measures to stabilise growth,” said Li Huiyong, an analyst at Shenyin & Wanguo Securities in Shanghai.

Hard landing?

Other activity indicators for August were also mostly weaker than expected.

Retail sales climbed 11.9%, lagging forecasts of 12.1% and July’s 12.2%, with growth in car sales in particular off sharply, suggesting consumers are more cautious.

Carmaker BYD Co Ltd, backed by billionaire Warren Buffett, recently

warned profit may fall by as much as a fifth in the first nine months of the year.

Fixed-asset investment, an important driver of economic activity, grew 16.5 percent in the first eight months from the same period last year, lower than forecasts. Economists polled by Reuters had expected 16.9 percent growth, slowing from 17% in Jan-July.

Much of the broader decline appears linked to the slowdown in the property market, which is intensifying.

Property investment data also released on Saturday showed further declines in sales and new construction, while growth in sales of housing-related goods such as home appliances, furni-

REUTERS

ture and building materials all slowed.

Mortgage issuance in the first eight months fell 4.5% from a year earlier, worse than a 3.7% drop in JanuaryJuly. Some would-be buyers have complained of long delays in getting loans as banks grow more cautious, while others may be holding off in anticipation of further price declines.

Data on Friday showed that credit levels in China appeared to improve in August after an alarming drop in July, but remained below average. Bad loans are on the rise and banks expect more to go sour as the economy slows.

That followed trade data that showed China’s exports were buoyant

While most analysts expect Beijing to unveil more steps in coming months in order to meet its 2014 growth target, the room for policy loosening is seen as limited after past stimulus programmes left local governments saddled with piles of debt and fueled rampant speculation, especially in the housing market.

Bolder action now, such as an interest rate cut, may only result in more money going into speculative and potentially destabilising activity rather the real economy, some analysts have noted.

The last time China suffered a “hard landing” was during the height of the global crisis, when economic growth tumbled to 6.6 percent in early 2009.

That is far short of the near collapses which loomed over some developed economies, but still threw tens of millions of Chinese out of work, alarming the Communist Party’s stability-obsessed leaders into action.

Despite slower growth, the economy still created 9.7 million new jobs in the first eight months of 2014, a rise of over 100,000 from the same period last year, said Guo Tongxin, another statistician at the bureau, trying to play down the significance of the dismal August indicators.

“It’s normal to see fluctuations in some indicators. Currently, the employment and price situation remains generally stable (and) structural adjustments continue to make progress,” Guo said in a statement.

Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday that China cannot rely on loose credit to lift its economy, and reassured a business forum that Beijing would continue to roll out modest “targeted” measures as policymakers look to shore up growth. l

Swiss watchmakers not watching out for Apple Watch Global carmakers say n AFP, Zurich

Apple may be known for revolutionising the world of music and mobile phones, but Switzerland’s centuriesold luxury watchmakers are unimpressed with the US tech giant’s latest foray into their world.

“I was expecting more. I’m a bit disappointed,” luxury giant LVMH’s watch guru and industry legend Jean-Claude Biver told AFP. The Apple Watch, unveiled last week after months of anticipation, combines the personalised functionality that made the brand famous into a wearable computer that can also connect to iPhones.

Chief Tim Cook said the smartwatch, Apple’s first new product category launch since visionary co-founder Steve Jobs died in 2011, was “the next chapter in Apple’s story”.

But Biver said the gadget, which will be released early next year, is not the “revolutionary product” it claims to be.

The timepiece, with its square

touch-screen face and curved edges, lacks “sex appeal” and is too feminine, he said.

In fact, Biver told German media last week: “It looks like it was designed by a student in their first semester”.

The company has meanwhile been treading on the toes of some top luxury brands, plucking the sales director from Tag Heuer, a Swiss brand in the LVMH stable, in addition to former heads of Burberry and Yves Saint Laurent.

Tag Heuer chief Stephane Linder said he was surprised at Apple’s heavy focus on sport and health monitoring functions, which aren’t even new to the market.

Equipped with pulse sensors, the smartwatch can monitor heart rates and chart activity levels along with the number of calories burned in a day.

“I thought they would go in a less specialised direction,” Linder told AFP, though he added that he would “pay more attention” when new applications for the device begin surfacing.

‘Nothing to fear’

With pricing set to start at $349 (269 euros), Apple’s watch will not be playing in the same league as the Swiss watchmakers who dominate the luxury end of the market.

The sweet spot for a top-end timepiece from Tag Heuer is in the 1,0007,000 Swiss franc ($1,070-7,500, 8255,800 euro) range, with some models costing as much as 200,000 francs.

Other Swiss luxury brands offer pieces priced well into the millions.

Jerome Bloch, who heads the men’s fashion unit at Parisian style agency Nelly Rodi, said Swiss luxury watchmakers had nothing to fear.

“They don’t have the same target,” he told AFP, insisting that comparing Apple’s new device to many Swiss watch offerings was like comparing a Mini Cooper with an Aston Martin.

Biver agreed, insisting Apple would have no impact on the high-end.

“Luxury is eternal, it is perennial. It is not something that becomes worthless after five years,” he said, stressing that

connected watches on the other hand were “doomed to become obsolete”.

The real threat is to the lower end of the scale, analysts say, with entry-level brands owned by the Swatch Group prime targets.

The world leading watchmaker saw its share price dip 1.76% after Apple’s release.

A big player in prestigious timepieces with its luxury brands like Breguet, Omega and Harry Winston, the Swiss group also owns Tissot and is best known for its colourful plastic Swatch watches.

Swatch Group does not break down its earnings by brand, but Vontobel analyst Rene Weber told AFP he estimates the two latter brands account for about 15% of its profits.

But chief Nick Hayek has also dismissed his new rival, telling media he was “not nervous” about Apple diving into time pieces and insisting many of the capabilities offered in the new device were already available in Swiss watches. l

Holcim Cement (Bangladesh) Limited has recently celebrated its 14th founding anniversary in Bangladesh at its plant in Meghnaghat MI Cement Factory Limited has recently distributed prizes to the winners of its competition named, Crown Cement Winner Offer. The company’s senior DGM along with other exclusive dealers handed over the prizes in Naryanganj

Jamuna Bank Foundation has recently distributed 2000 bags as relief to flood affected and river erosion-prone families in Jamalpur. The chairperson of the foundation Al-Haj Nur Mohammed distributed the relief

RFL Plastics Ltd has recently signed an agreement with Enroute International Ltd to introduce improved packaging solution for agriculture sector in Bangladesh. Prodip Kumar Poddar, executive director of Durable Plastic Ltd (RFL) and Mr Abu Daud Khan, MD and CEO of Enroute International Ltd have signed the agreement

India must reform to attract industry n AFP, New Delhi India must urgently improve its infrastructure and reform its tax, land acquisition and labour laws if it is to fulfil its ambition of becoming a leading international automotive manufacturing hub, global carmakers said on Friday.

New right-wing prime minister Narendra Modi invited investors last month to “Come, make in India” as part of a drive to create manufacturing jobs for a ballooning young population.

But automobile executives warned at the annual meeting of the country’s biggest vehicle industry group that India must create a better business climate swiftly or risk losing out to emerging market rivals like China.

“India has an opportunity to build a globally competitive (automotive) industry,” but to realise its full potential, the sector needs “a clear roadmap”, GM International president Stefan Jacoby said.

The country needs to streamline taxes that vary state-to-state, ease rigid hire-and-fire laws and set internationally harmonised fuel-emission, safety and other norms, speakers told the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

India must also modernise its creaking rail, port, road and other infrastructure and ease bureaucratic red tape.

“Logistics and infrastructure are a clear disadvantage of the country,” said Takashi Hata, senior vice-president of Japan’s Nissan Motor Co. “There’s an urgent need to improve the general infrastructure - spanning from roads, harbours, railways to electric power and water supply,” added

Fumihiko Ike, chairman of India’s Honda Motor.

Foreign automakers made a beeline for India in the last two decades, seeking to tap a vast market in the country of 1.25 billion people and leverage its low workforce costs to use the country as an export springboard.

Just 17 out of every 1,000 Indians own a car, compared with 800 out of every 1,000 in the United States, according to industry figures.

But automakers have found India’s infamous red-tape and shabby infrastructure daunting.

Many global firms are keen to establish operations in India but they encounter problems obtaining business permits, acquiring land and getting plant construction clearances.

“There are a number of challenges confronting automakers doing business here,” said Honda’s chairman who is also chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA).

Creating a vibrant automotive sector is key to helping generate new jobs for the estimated 10-12 million Indians who enter the workforce annually.

One automobile manufacturing job creates 20 spinoff jobs, according to industry figures.

SIAM’s meeting came as Indian car sales were expected to clock positive growth this year after two years of contraction as the economy begins to pull out of a sharp economic slowdown.

“After two years of going downhill, things are starting to look up,” SIAM deputy director-general Sugato Sen told AFP. l

AFM Nizamul Islam Chowdhury, deputy managing director and GCS of Standard Bank Limited has recently inaugurated a two weeklong induction course for the bank’s newly recruited assistant officers

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Monday, September 15, 2014

Remember to celebrate n Sigve Brekke

Most companies are far too serious.

They think that since they are doing important and serious things, so they have to be serious all the time – except at that one annual party. I believe in having more parties, more celebration.

One of my earlier rules was about measurement, and how you need to break a big goal down into smaller chunks to get a sense of progress and achievement as you go along. At the end of each milestone, there needs to be recognition and celebration. Celebration is a ritual to tell each other that we’ve done a good job and that we should be proud of ourselves. It is the recognition not only of an achievement, but of our collective efforts in getting there. It’s important, because it is the sum of everyday efforts that produce results. I believe in celebrating often.

My propensity for parties started with my early career as a mobile disco owner. I am from a little village in Telemark County in Norway, and when I grew up in the 1970s there were scarce possibilities for youth to get together.

So I started a small business, travelling around the area with my mobile sound system, lights, and loudspeakers. I travelled around and made parties happen. Later, my focus on creating activities for youth led me into politics. I became a member of my political party at 16, and was elected to the local council when I had turned 18.

Youth politics is seldom about real power and real resources; in fact, it’s about ideas. Young people are politically active for various reasons; some because they are passionate ideologists, some because their friends are there, and some join to meet boyfriends or girlfriends. Many combine all three reasons with a talent for convincing and motivating people, and they often end up with real political power.

Politics is about making people feel that they have made the right choice.

The most successful politicians I know are genuinely nice people and often great storytellers. But one thing that unites them – they are always present.

They have a presence that radiates from them and makes you feel like you’re at the center of their world. To get to the top you have to be tough – but what’s most important is not to fight, it’s to get people to join you.

I like to think that my early exposure

to youth politics taught me something about motivating people, and sustaining that motivation. The key here is paying attention to all levels of people’s everyday work and all types of accomplishments. Of course, we celebrate big, common milestones where everyone’s put in a lot of work – in my mind that’s a no-brainer. But less obvious, and perhaps even more important, is to recognise people and celebrate all the smaller efforts that are being put each step of the way towards that target.

The smart campaign. The successful lottery. The thought-provoking op-ed in a local newspaper. It only takes one break to turn a bad trend, to go from losing to winning. True leaders have the presence to recognise those building-block efforts and give people credit whenever and wherever it’s due. That’s why they very often will work well as leaders in almost any field.

When I recruit leaders to our operations across Asia, I look for that quality.

It is not so easy to spot, but very often it will be combined with a sense of humility. Humble people who meet everyone with respect are often also the ones that have the bandwidth and the emotional capability to recognise and celebrate all the little things that a big win inevitably consists of.

So, how do we celebrate at Telenor? We try to define clear targets, not only the big hairy ones but also the smaller ones, along the way. We measure against them religiously, and we put in place systems which recognise people who perform outstandingly well. But our leaders, because they regularly spend time in the market with employees and with partners, are also able to celebrate the many individuals enabling us to succeed and serve customers to the best of our abilities every single day.

How to do it? The presence you need to truly care, see, and recognise individuals is not a skill, it’s an attitude. I have three pieces of advice for leaders who think they need to celebrate more: Focus on the moment. When someone gets your time, they also deserve your undivided attention. Love the process – it’s not only about reaching the big target; your everyday work, too, is all about the process leading to it. Enjoy the ride. And finally, everyone everywhere seeks and wants recognition and confirmation. People are people. l Sigve Brekke is Head of Telenor Asia

A sign is seen beside the entrance of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) in Basel

Growing foreign fund influence a risk for emerging markets n Reuters, London The global fund management industry is a potential source of risk for emerging markets because of its vast size and herd-like investor behavior that can exacerbate asset price fluctuations, a BIS report said yesterday.

In its quarterly review, the Bank for International Settlements said the selloff that rocked emerging economies last year was a reminder of how “the activity of large asset managers can significantly affect small and illiquid asset markets”.

The presence and influence of asset managers in emerging market economies (EME) has grown significantly in recent years, BIS said, citing data showing emerging bond funds alone had quadrupled assets under management (AUM) between 2007-2017.

The total AUM of emerging market funds tracked by the Boston-based EPFR Global consultancy had risen to

$1.4tn from $900m before the Lehman crisis, it added.

While these amounts are dwarfed by the AUM of funds dedicated to the United States or Europe, they are large relative to emerging stock and bond markets.

“The large size and concentration of AUM of asset managers in relatively small and illiquid EME asset markets are a potentially important source of concern. Any decision by asset managers with large AUM to change portfolio allocation can have a major impact on EME asset markets that are relatively small,” BIS said in its report.

While acknowledging the benefits of foreign investment for developing countries, BIS noted that successive crises over the years had highlighted how investors may destabilize EME asset markets – “accentuating both booms and busts”.

The problem was exacerbated by fund managers’ use of common or sim-

World waits for white smoke from US Fed n Reuters, Frankfurt

The US Federal Reserve may give clearer hints on when it will hike the cost of borrowing in the United States in the coming week, as struggling Europe braces for a tight vote in Scotland on whether to leave the United Kingdom.

As the US economy picks up pace, its central bank is inching closer to raising interest rates, a move that will send ripples across the globe. In the euro zone, however, the European Central Bank is moving in the opposite direction in a desperate bid to rekindle growth and inflation.

The United States is shaking off the hangover from a financial crisis that hammered Europe and even knocked mighty China off its stride.

But the U.S. rebound, thanks in large part to cheap Fed money, now means Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen will have to decide when to pare back this support.

Further hints as to when the first US rate hike in more than eight years will happen could come on Wednesday in a statement after the bank’s governors meet.

“It does seem like a done deal that it is going to increase interest rates,” said Paul Dales of economics consultancy Capital Economics.

“We are going into a new phase where the Fed is trying to bring things back to normal. It can send reverberations around the world economy.”

Choosing when to increase the cost of borrowing in the world’s biggest economy - a move expected next year - is a delicate balancing act.

DILBERT

US Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen testifies before the House of Representatives Financial Services Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington REUTERS Yellen and others will be trying to work out how to keep the economic recovery on a steady keel without stopping it before the effects of the upswing lead to higher wages.

By contrast, the European Central Bank recently cut the cost of borrowing to near zero and pledged to buy repackaged debt in a bid to kick-start lending to small companies. For some, the eventual move in Washington will be good news for Europe.

“This will help to weaken the euro and a weaker euro will help countries like Ireland, Portugal and Spain to sell more to the rest of the world,” said Philip Lane, an economist at Trinity College Dublin.

But for others, the contrast underscores Europe’s weakness.

“America is so much further than

Europe,” said Joerg Kraemer, chief economist of Commerzbank. “Any hope of economic improvement here has disappeared over the Summer.”

Cultural divide

On the same day as central bankers gather in Washington, the euro zone will give further insight into why price inflation, an important yardstick of the recovery, plumbed new lows in August.

On Thursday the ECB will also reveal how much of its first offer of four-year loans banks have taken up on condition that they lend on to businesses, as part of the central bank’s efforts to bolster the flagging economy in the 18-country bloc.

ECB President Mario Draghi says the aim is to get the ECB’s balance sheet back near its 2012 peak via new measures, meaning it is aiming to inject the thick end of 1tn euros into the euro zone economy.

Reuters polling shows that economists expect banks to take up 275bn euros of the 400bn the ECB will offer over time and that they will buy around 400bn euros of asset-backed securities and covered bonds over the next two years under a separate scheme.

Adding to Europe’s woes, the conflict in Ukraine is making investors and companies nervous.

Despite a fragile ceasefire between Ukrainian government forces and Russian-backed rebels, the EU has introduced further sanctions against Moscow. Sanctions are hurting Russia and further signs of that will be seen next week in data such as measures of fresh capital investment - once a major driver of its economy.

The conflict has also hit business confidence in continental Europe, including industrial powerhouse Germany, which publishes the closely watched ZEW survey of investor sentiment on Sept 16.

Unlike the United States, Europe’s patchwork of nations and languages hampers efforts to coordinate economic policy, leaving much of the burden on the ECB. Even within nations there are divisions. On Sept. 18, Scotland will vote on whether or not to stay part of the United Kingdom. Should it choose independence, it would send shockwaves around Europe.

Britain and Scotland would have to start dividing up their $2.5tn economy, North Sea oil and the national debt, while Prime Minister David Cameron would face calls to resign.

Scotland would also have to decide what currency to use. London has said it could not use the pound, while British banks in Edinburgh, Lloyds and RBS (RBS.L), say they would move south.

Rethinking china

In China annual growth has roughly halved since the financial crisis hit demand for its goods, and recent data has offered little to brighten the mainly gloomy global picture.

China’s central bank, like many of its global peers, has been pumping out cash to support the economy, raising the cost of living in cities such as Beijing, where a large two-bedroom flat can cost $1m and a Starbucks coffee up to $6.

The government has been slow to implement reforms to dilute the power of big state-owned enterprises such as China Telecom to make space for smaller start-ups. l

ilar benchmarks, BIS said, referring to stock and bond indexes against which investors measure their performance.

In emerging bond markets for instance, JPMorgan indexes tend to be most widely used, while equity index provider MSCI says $1.4tn is benchmarked to its main emerging equity index.

The BIS report noted the growing popularity of “passive” investing via so-called ETFs that mirror the benchmark index. But even in the case of actively managed funds, the use of common benchmarks or a high degree of correlation between benchmarks may lead fund managers to adopt similar asset allocation strategies, it warned.

“These funds are likely to move in the same direction and react in similar ways when they face EME-related shocks,” the report added, citing the example of 2013 when the prospect of tighter US monetary policy saw tens of billions of dollars flee emerging market funds.

REUTERS

BIS cautioned earlier this year that as regulators clamped down on risk-taking by banks, the role of asset managers in funding lower-rated companies and sovereigns had grown, a potential danger for the global financial system.

This carries risks for emerging markets too.

The latest BIS quarterly report highlighted rising debt issuance by private sector emerging market borrowers.

These have raised debt worth almost $375bn in 2009–12, it said, more than double what was sold in the four years before the crisis. What’s more, much of this is in foreign currency debt.

It added: “There is reason to believe that many EME corporates are unhedged against this exposure. Together with their increase in leverage, this raises the vulnerability of EME corporates to the combined effects of a domestic slowdown, currency depreciation and a global rise in interest rates.” l

BIS: Central banks inflating ‘elevated’ asset prices n Reuters, London Financial asset prices are at “elevated” levels and market volatility remains “exceptionally subdued” thanks to ultra-loose monetary policies being implemented by central banks around the world, the Bank for International Settlements said yesterday.

In its quarterly review, the BIS said financial market volatility spiked higher in August on the back of geopolitical concerns and worries over economic growth, but quickly returned to “exceptional lows” across most asset classes.

“By fostering risk-taking and the search for yield, accommodative monetary policies thus continued to contribute to an environment of elevated asset price valuations and exceptionally subdued volatility,” the BIS said.

The comments echoed the institution’s warning earlier this year that rock-bottom interest rates had led to

“worrying” signs of unsustainable growth in property and credit markets in some countries.

The U.S. Federal Reserve is on course to bring its bond-buying program to an end in October and is expected to begin raising interest rates next year.

But if the Fed is stepping back, the European Central Bank is stepping up.

The ECB has cut key rates, will offer hundreds of billions of euros of liquidity to banks, and purchase hundreds of billions euros of assets to try and ward off deflation and revive flagging growth.

Anticipation of the ECB’s largesse eclipsed concern over geopolitics and pushed credit spreads, bond yields and volatility back down again, the BIS said.

There were several references in the report to the “extraordinarily” and “exceptionally” low levels of volatility, suggesting the BIS feels markets may be getting too complacent and therefore vulnerable - and therefore illequipped to a shock. l

JPMorgan hackers accessed servers but stole no money n Reuters, Boston Hackers accessed dozens of servers at JPMorgan Chase & Co in a cyberattack launched in June, though no money was taken, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the investigation into the case.

“We are confident we have closed any known access points and prevented any future access in the same way,” the paper quoted JPMorgan spokeswoman Kristin Lemkau as saying.

She added that the bank had “not seen any unusual fraud activity” since the intrusion was discovered and said there was no evidence that they have taken any proprietary software or had

a blueprint of the bank’s network, according to the Times.

JPMorgan disclosed late last month that it had been the victim of a cyberattack and was working with U.S. law enforcement authorities to determine its scope. The Times said the attack began in June, was detected in July and that the bank last week briefed financial regulators on the extent of the damage.

The report said that hackers accessed information on about 1 million customer accounts. It cited one source as saying that hackers had not gained access to financial information or Social Security numbers, and may have only been able to review names, addresses and phone numbers. l