28 Sep, 2014

Ashwin 13, 1421 Zilhajj 2, 1435 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 177

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com

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B4 | BUSINESS

7 | CAREER

11 | OP-ED

15 | SPORT

EURO ZONE LENDING DATA UNDERSCORES NEED FOR ECB STIMULUS

ANALYSE YOUR COMPETITORS MORE EFFECTIVELY

RETHINK YOUR REVOLUTIONS

KVITOVA DEFEATS BOUCHARD TO WIN WUHAN OPEN

Kidney trade haunts Kalai upazila again ‘Those involved in the trade recruiting new members to widen their network’ bail and returned to the illicit act n Our Correspondent, Joypurhat tained when vigilance gradually became lax.

Middlemen in at least 10 villages of Kalai upazila are back in the illegal kidney trade as they promise villagers a good amount of money in exchange for kidneys, thanks to the poor vigilance of the local administration.

Villagers cajoled into selling kidneys undergo kidney transplantation at Columbia Asia Hospital and Medica Hospital in India’s Bangalore, and they get Tk2-3 lakh. The middlemen, however, are pocketing a whopping sum in the process.

Gang members tell people that selling a single kidney involves no potential health hazard Ripon of Bairagihat and Aminul Islam of Durgapur recently returned from Columbia Asia Hospital without selling their kidneys as a bargain did not work out.

The middlemen have designated areas where they work but they also maintain contact with other members of the network.

The illegal trade stopped for a while in Kalai upazila when reports in August 2011 said more than 50 people living in 20 villages of the upazila had sold theirs. The local administration took a number of steps, including arresting the middlemen, at the time but they ob-

Four cases have so far been filed with Kalai police station in this connection, with three now under trial. The other suit was disposed of by the police at the police station.

Local middlemen Abdus Sattar, Abdul Mannan, Tareq Azam in Dhaka, Saiful Islam, Mahmudur Rahman Sujon and Nafiz Mahmud were named accused in the three cases. Villagers said those involved in the trade are recruiting new members to widen their networks.

Tempted by the sweet talk of the middlemen, at least 39 men and women in the upazila are believed to have sold kidneys in the last six months. Of them, 21 returned home but the rest 18 have not.

There have been allegations that the middlemen are appointing subordinates, especially locally, to work for them in different areas. They have already had their kidneys sold, which makes it a piece of cake for them to dupe others.

One of the widely used persuasion technique is telling people that selling a single kidney involves no potential health hazard.

“I was deep in debt and when Tajul came up to me and proposed Tk4 lakh, I jumped at it. However, I only got Tk1.5 lakh after the transplantation while the remaining amount went to the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

Newly-wed Bangladesh national cricket captain Mushfiqur Rahim poses for a photograph with his wife Jannatul Kifayet Mondi yesterday

Over Tk1.95 crore looted from Joypurhat Brac Bank n Our Correspondent, Joypurhat

Burglars looted more than Tk1.95 crore from the vault of Brac Bank’s Joypurhat town branch by breaking open its wall on Saturday night.

Customer Relation Officer of SME loan unit Hasanuzzaman and the unit’s Area Manager Feroz Al Mujahid found one of the bank’s walls broken, when they entered the office yesterday morning.

When informed, police visited the bank premises and found the closed

Khaleda: Initiate talks or quit Al-Masum Molla, n Mohammad from Jamalpur

Twenty-party alliance chief Khaleda Zia yesterday again said Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina must sit with the BNP to discuss how an inclusive, free and fair election can be arranged.

At the same time, the BNP chairperson threatened to oust the “illegal, corrupt and killer government” through people’s movement after the Eid festivals to realise the demand.

Claiming that the Awami League had completely failed to run the country, Khaleda also called upon Hasina to quit power.

“There is no use of sitting with socalled parties and thugs. You [PM] must engage in dialogue with the BNP which is the largest and most popular party of Bangladesh,” Khaleda told a mass rally, organised by the 20-party alliance at Jamalpur Zilla School ground, in the afternoon.

Defending her stance against the January 5 poll, the three-time former prime minister said: “We did not make any mistake rather we have proved that the people are not with them [ruling government]. Country’s 95% people are with us as they did not go to cast their votes.”

Before the election, Hasina was positive about holding talks with the

BNP and other parties over a possible mid-term poll, but after the election, she continues to deny holding any poll before 2019 saying that the people have accepted the January 5 election.

In an unprecedented move, Hasina in October last year even phoned Khaleda inviting her to a dialogue. But the BNP chief turned it down on hartal grounds, and the window for discussion has been shut since then.

Khaleda alleged that a deep-rooted conspiracy was on to split the BNP-led alliance. “The government will gain nothing by holding dialogues with Jodu, Modhu, thieves and dishonest people [leaders in the BNP-led alliance].”

6 | Nation

9 | World

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

circuit camera there inactive and the electric wires severed. The hard disk drive connected to the closed circuit camera was also found to be removed.

Police conjectured that a professional group of burglars rented a room adjacent to the bank office and robbed it.

They also suspect the involvement of some locals in the burglary. Two night guards, Faruk Hossain and Helal Uddin, were held by police for interrogation.

The room rented by the burglars is in the building adjacent to Shajahan Man-

sion, the building in which the Brac bank’s branch is accommodated.

Rasel Khan, receptionist of Modern Homeo Centre said some people rented the room on September 11 to start a non-government organisation (NGO).

Two people frequented the so called NGO office, but nobody knew where they were from.

Our Joypurhat corespondent could not contact KM Layek Ali, the owner of the building in which the burglars rented rooms, as his mobile phone was

Hasina: No dialogue, no mid-term poll now n UNB

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has brushed aside the possibility of any midterm election and holding any dialogue with the BNP claiming that the Awami League-led government is performing well after the January 5 election.

“Why there should be a midterm election? What are the problems [created] for which we should go for a midterm election? For whom the midterm election needs to be arranged? Is it needed to put in power the party that was created by power usurper Ziaur

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

A liquefied petroleum gas bottling plant with the capacity of 100,000 million tonnes and a cylinder manufacturing unit will be set up in the country under public-private partnership initiative to meet the growing demand for this particular fuel.

The local Meghna River has been polluted by the Chandpur Municipality authorities who have turned the river into a dumping ground for garbage.

Myanmar’s national government has drafted a plan that will give around a million members of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim ethnic minority a bleak choice.

12 | Entertainment

Celebrities and the world’s media are congregating in Venice for the widely anticipated wedding weekend of a man long considered Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor: George Clooney.

Menon, Inu leave Dhaka for Hajj n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon and Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu leave Dhaka for Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj with their spouses on the Biman flight (DAC1093) this morning.

This year a total of over one lakh Hajj pilgrimages are going to perform Hajj.

This is the first time the two political leaders, who have long been involved in the left politics of the country, are going to offer Hajj.

Rashed Khan Menon, also the president of the Workers Party and Hasanul

3 | News

Bangladesh has reduced the death of rabies patients by 50%. According to Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), the annual number of rabies related death was 167 in 2006.

switched off. Manager of the branch Fazley Rabbi told the Dhaka Tribune that Tk19,553,324 was stolen from the bank’s vault. He also informed that they were preparing to lodge a case with the local police station in connection with the burglary.

Officer-in-Charge of Joypurhat Sadar police station Abdur Rashid said one Abdur Rahman Molla, who rented the room adjacent to the bank office a few days ago, and his accomplices committed the burglary. l

Rahman?” she questioned in response to a volley of questions from Bangladeshi journalists living in New York.

Hasina said she had nothing to do for the party which is outside parliament, as per the parliamentary form of democracy. “What is dialogue? With whom?”

The Bangladesh Permanent Mission to the United Nations organised the press conference at its office on Friday.

BNP chief Khaleda Zia has repeatedly been seeking midterm poll under a non-party caretaker government.

The BNP-led alliance and some small

INSIDE

4 | News

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13 | Sport

Cristiano Ronaldo continued his hot scoring streak as Real Madrid moved up to fourth in the La Liga table with a hard-fought 2-0 win away to Villarreal.

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Sunday, September 28, 2014

United Airways share trading pattern raises eyebrows n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Since its corporate deceleration and later an announcement about flight cancellation for an indefinite period, share trading pattern of United Airways has raised eyebrows.

A large number of the company's shares amounting to Tk29.8 crore were traded on last Thursday following the news that United Airways had cancelled all its flights for an indefinite period due to financial crisis, two days after its founder was forced to step down.

But the company's daily average trade was over Tk5 crore during the month of September just before the private airlines' drama unfolded one after another.

“Share trading on Thursday was more than unusual,” United Airways Deputy General Manager Kamrul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

He said it was a question of survival when a company declared that it would suspend operations, but the following day so many shares were traded and it surprised the management also.

“So far I heard, there was no buyer in the first hour, but suddenly there

were huge transactions.”

When asked any board member or any official of the management bought any share in the last week, Islam said: “I don’t know.”

Ehsanul Hai, a retail investor said, “When I came to know an airlines company is going to suspend its operations I realised that a particular company was going to sink. I have no options but to sell its share.”

On Wednesday, the company declared that it would suspend its flight operations on cash crunch grounds when 6.6m shares were traded. But most surprisingly, a total of about 32.86m shares were traded the following day.

On September 22, Tasbirul Ahmed Choudhury resigned from the post of chairman and managing director and the board was reconstituted.

Mohammad Mahatabur Rahman became the chairman while Shahinoor Alam was made the managing director (acting) and Ferdous Imam chief executive officer (acting).

But in a dramatic move, the company on Friday said it would resume operations from Saturday after a threeday suspension. l

Police nab 111 from Chittagong hotels, slums n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Green Youth Citizens organises a human chain in front of National Press Club urging doctors not to use lead in dental treatment MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Petty leaders ruining AL most n Emran Hossain Shaikh

Awami League Presidium member Obaidul Quader yesterday came down hard on the leaders and activists who are extorting people on many pretexts in the name of the party.

“The commodities have not only been laced with inert ingredients but also our party with fakes. We have to remain alert about them because they are the petty leaders who are harming our party most” he said.

“Form the putting up of so many posters and billboards around us, it seems that this city has turned out to the hub of making leaders,” said Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said at a discussion as chief guest in the capital.

“The misdeeds of some persons of our party are ruining the feats of the government and the party,” he said and suggested: “We have to think why a party gets out of power.”

Referring to BNP Chairperson Khale-

da Zia, the Awami League leader said she had failed to reach the countrymen through her anti-government movement and so “They (she and her party men) have become busy with diplomacy rather than relying on anti-government movement.”

The minister said: “We are grappling with the repairs of the highways because they have suffered extensive damage from heavy rainfall. It is really difficult to repair the highways without working round the clock.” l

Bangladesh to observe World Rivers Day n UNB

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Bangladesh will observe the World Rivers Day yesterday to highlight the importance of protecting the rivers from pollution and encroachment.

The World Rivers Day is a global celebration of the world’s waterways, observed every last Sunday in September.

This year, the theme of the day for Bangladesh is ‘Give back rivers their banks’.

Different organisations will hold programmes in observance of the day. Riverine People, a voluntary organisation, has taken various programmes to observe the day in Rajshahi and Rangpur.

Yesterday, some 36 environmental and rights organisations brought out a procession -- ‘March for River Pro-

any doubt please come to me and directly ask me about it,” Rashed Khan Menon told the Dhaka Tribune.

He also said: “I have never presented myself as a religious leader and I have never been like that and will never ever be like that. I have no desire to become a religious trader.”

Both the leaders confirmed that they are going to attend the holly Hajj for the first time and made sure it would not be their last. The ministers’ Hajj issue came to limelight after BNP Chairperson Khalada Zia mocked at the two ministers in a public meeting on 23 September in Brahmanbaria.

“How does she know about my religious belief and practices? Does she know what I do at night?,” Inu said.

Apart from Menon and Inu, the government is sending a ten-member

representative team to Saudi Arabia to look into the management of food and accommodation facilities for the Bangladeshi pilgrims. Religious Affairs Minister Matiur Rahman will lead the team.

Other members are UGC Chairman Professor AK Azad Chowdhury, Justices Md Faruk (M Faruk) and Sheikh Md Abdullah of the Bangladesh Supreme Court’s High Court Division, Religious Affairs Ministry Secretary Chowdhury Md Babul Hasan, Foreign Ministry Secretary Shahidul Haq, Secretary of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief Mesbah-ul-Alam, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director General (Senior District and Sessions Judge) Md Kamrul Hossain Molla, and Principal of Islamic Foundation Chittagong Moulana Muhammad Jalaluddin Al Quaderi. l

Bangladesh Air Force Museum all ready to be inaugurated today at the capital’s Old Airport

Menon, Inu leave Dhaka for Hajj  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Haq Inu, also the president of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), claimed themselves to be socialist leaders.

Of the two parties, JSD emerged in the political scenario of Bangladesh with the slogan of establishing a society based on “scientific socialism.”

The party strongly opposed the rule of the Awami League led by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and launched a strong campaign to overthrow the government.

It later changed its political stance and Inu participated in 2008 parliamentary election with the Awami League election symbol “boat” and for the first time in his political carrier he became an MP. Later he joined Sheikh Hasina’a cabinet before the January 5 election.

Menon, however, joined the cabinet after the January 5 election. Menon too took part in two elections – in 2008 and 2013 – with the Awami League election symbol “boat”.

In the late 1960s, Menon was the president of the East Pakistan Students Union, student wing of the National Awami Party of Maulana Bhasani.

“I am very surprised that my Hajj issue has become a political issue. Why are people asking me so many questions about Hajj? What’s wrong if I pray for my country and people?,” Hasanul Haq Inu said yesterday over phone yesterday.

Inu said he would perform Hajj at his own expenses.

Both the veteran leftist political leaders in the country will be back in the town on October 13.

“I am a Muslim and if anybody has

Hasina: No dialogue, no mid-term poll now  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

parties boycotted the January 5 election.

When a reporter pointed to initiating dialogue with the opposition party, the premier questioned about the definition of opposition party. “Opposition party! Which is the opposition party?

What does it mean by opposition party in a parliamentary democracy?”

As another journalist mentioned about the BNP, Hasina replied: “The party which is outside parliament is outside parliament; what can I do for that?”

If anyone boycotted the January 5 election, it was their decision, “not mine. What can I do as they decided not to take part in the election?” she said adding that if a party made a mistake, then they would have to pay the price for such a decision.

She also dismissed the allegation of having an entente of her government with Jamaat-e-Islami saying that the judiciary in Bangladesh was completely independent.

The allegation surfaced following the recent Supreme Court verdict commuting Jamaat leader Delwar Hossain Sayedee’s death sentence to imprisonment until death. “If there is any sort of entente, how there will be trial of that person? It is the court that takes the decision whether there will be a capital punishment or not.”

Hasina also said: “We cannot interfere in the judiciary. How could there be an agreement if the independent judiciary gives its verdict? Did I give the verdict? I did not.”

She said it was her government that had put the war criminals on trial. “Did any other party take the initiative?

They rather made these people ministers and allowed them to fly the national flag on their vehicles.

“Let there be trial first of those who rehabilitated these elements and made them minsters. They are the same kind of criminals.”

After the verdict, Hasina told parliament that the judgement had not been desirable to anyone. “People would

have been happy if [the Appellate Division] upheld the death sentence [of Sayedee]. Sayedee was known as a religious preacher. But this verdict will portray him as a rapist, a killer, a looter and a war criminal.”

When her attention was drawn to the recent remarks of BNP chief Khaleda Zia asking the ruling party leaders, including Hasina, to get ready to flee the country, the premier said she had never fled the country.

She said Bangladesh is her birthplace while Khaleda was born in a tea garden of Shiliguri in India. “So I do not need to take visa, rather she needs it.”

Responding to a question regarding corruption, the premier said the present government was always aware about grafts.

She alleged that international vested quarters had tried to label her government as corrupt.

“I am talking about the Padma bridge [corruption conspiracy]. The World Bank stopped funding saying that there was a huge corruption in the

project. But I challenged that there was no corruption.”

The Anti-Corruption Commission earlier this month acquitted all the seven accused from the Padma bridge corruption conspiracy case since it found no evidence against them. The accused include former bridges division secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan.

Former communication minister Syed Abul Hossain and former state minister for foreign affairs Abul Hasan Chowdhury were mentioned as suspects in the ACC case.

Describing advancement in various sectors including economy, power and education during her rule, Hasina said had there been any corruption the country, they would not have been able to march forward. “How have we increased power generation from 3200MW to 11700 MW?” she questioned.

Replying to a question, she said her meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday ended with just exchange of greetings. l

gramme’ -- in the capital marking the day to sensitize people to raise their voice to protect the country’s rivers from pollution and encroachment.

The March for River Programme started from the Jatiya Press Club and ended at Shahbah intersection. About 500 people joined the march.

Launched in 2005, the World Rivers Day highlights the many values of rivers and strives to increase public awareness while encouraging the improved stewardship of rivers around the world.

Rivers in every country face an array of threats, and the World Rivers Day promotes the active involvement of citizens to ensure the health of rivers in the years ahead. l

Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) in a drive nabbed 111 people, including 49 women, on charge of drug peddling and “anti-social activities” from the port city yesterday.

DB Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Engineer Hasan Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune that the 16 CMP police stations conducted drives in residential hotels and the crime-prone spots from 2pm for two hours following on a tip-off and made the arrest.

“During the drive, we also found different kinds of drug from a number of the arrested,” said the ADC who is also spokesman of the CMP. The ADC continued that such type of drive would be kept continual in the city to maintain law and order situation.

Cases were launched against the arrested with the police stations. l

Fake SP arrested in capital n Tribune Report Police arrested a fake Superintendent of Police (SP) from the capital’s Tilpapara under Khilgaon police station yesterday.

The arrested was identified as Imam Sahajada Hossain Bhasani alias Ranak Jahan.

Deputy Commissioner of media and community centre Masudur Rahman said Ranak was threatening and demanding Tk 50k from a local named Kawsar Mia who soon became suspicious of Ranak’s behaviour and called the police.

Initially, Ranak claimed to be an SP and a resident of a flat in Tilpapara when his police identity card was found to be fake. A toy pistol was also found in his possession. l

Kidney trade  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

middleman,” Shahidul, who lately sold his kidney, said.

Khorshed Ali of Barai village and Shafiquddin of Bherend village said they bought CNG-run auto-rickshaws with the money they got from selling kidneys in order to run families.

Officer-in-Charge of Kalai police station Aminul Islam said the upazila is under regular surveillance to prevent new cases and nab the perpetrators.

Chairman of Kalai upazila parishad Minfuzur Rahman Milon said the middlemen are dishonestly persuading villagers to sell kidneys.

“There is poor supervision on the part of the administration and the middlemen are taking advantage of this,” he added. l

Khaleda: Initiate talks or quit  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

She also asked the intelligence agencies to stop fulfilling the government’s political agenda of splitting the BNPled alliance. “Stop these illegal activities. Do not do anything beyond your jurisdiction. Otherwise, you will not be spared. You will be made accountable and have to pay for it.”

Factions of five parties in the 20-party alliance have recently formed a separate group.

The former premier also warned the police forces to not carry out any illegal order of the “illegal” Awami League government. “You [police] can at best arrest people and produce them before the courts. You cannot engage yourself in carrying out killings and force disappearances.”

Blaming the government for misdeeds, corruption and repressive acts against opposition parties, Khaleda asked people to join her movement after the Eid. “We must throw out killer Sheikh Hasina administration by waging movement. It will take place in Dhaka. Convener of the city committee has vowed to do so.”

Khaleda reached Jamalpur town around 2:30pm to join the rally. Several hundred archways were erected on the roads from Dhaka to Jamalpur to welcome her.

This was Khaleda’s fifth rally outside the capital since January 5 election which was boycotted by the BNP-led alliance and most other parties.

Her tour is aimed at mobilising public opinion in favour of the 20-party alliance’s demand for a fresh election under a non-partisan government.

It also meant for mounting pressure on the government to stop extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances and repressive acts, and revoking the broadcast policy and the recent amendment to the constitution.

Branding the Awami League as a party of “killers and muggers,” she said law and order of the country deteri-

orated sharply since the ruling party men had been involved in criminal activities including killing, abduction and mugging.

Khaleda alleged that not only the judiciary but all other institutions including the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Public Service Commission, administration and media had been taken under the control of the prime minister.

Criticising the government move to restore parliament’s power to remove the Supreme Court judges, the BNP chief said: “Now the services of the judges are placed under Sheikh Hasina.

They will be in office as long as Hasina wants. We do not accept such law. No fair trial can be ensured by crippling the judges. They must have full freedom to ensure justice.”

She said the judges would have to deliver verdicts as per the government’s instructions, not considering merit of cases.

Khaleda alleged that because of the new broadcast policy, those who can butter the government were only allowed in the TV talk shows while the critics barred.

She also thanked Finance Minister AMA Muhith for admitting that it was wrong appointing directors at stateowned banks under political consideration. “It means the government has failed to run the country. Now Mr. Muhith should say they will quit office shouldering failure,” Khaleda said.

Regarding controversies over the recent books of Sharmin Ahmed and AK Khandakar, the BNP chief said: “Whenever anyone criticises the Awami League, they are branded as razakars and agents of ISI [Pakistani intelligence agency]. But actually the Awami League is a party of razakars...they are the agent of a country...you all know this, I do not want to mention about it.”

Khaleda and her party men have always branded the Awami League government as pro-India. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

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Sunday, September 28, 2014

LPG bottling plant to be set up in Ctg under PPP n Asif Showkat Kallol A liquefied petroleum gas bottling plant with the capacity of 100,000 million tonnes and a cylinder manufacturing unit will be set up in the country under public-private partnership initiative to meet the growing demand for this particular fuel.

An official of the Energy Ministry said the demand for LPG increased by 60% in last couple of years as the government suspended fresh gas connections to households since July 2010.

However, the government started giving new gas connections for business purposes last year.

The new LPG plant to be installed on 10 acres of land at Kumira in Chittagong will have import facilities and storage tanks. The government has already allocated Tk22.08 crore to acquire land there. Another plant will be set up at Elenga in Tangail to manufacture LPG cylinders and necessary accessories, the official said.

The bottling plant and cylinder manufacturing unit would help ease the country’s energy crisis. A proposal made by the Energy Ministry to set up the bottling plant would be placed at a meeting of the cabinet committee on public purchase in the first week of next month.

Energy Secretary Md Abu Bakkar Siddique said Chinese and Indian firms have showed interest in investing in the project under the PPP initiative. “We hope the project will be launched next year.”

Businessmen said the demand for LPG in the country is nearly 1 million tonnes a year. The existing capacity of the government and private sector manufacturers and importers is only 100,000 tonnes.

Currently, an importer has to pay 5% customs duty, 15% VAT, 5% advance income tax and 4% advance VAT. The state-owned LPG producing companies now supply 20,000 tonnes of LPG or 20% of the total market demand

while private players supply the remaining 80% by importing LPG from abroad.

Total demand for LPG is 500,000 tonnes per year while private sector is importing 100,000 tonnes of LPG from Singapore, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dubai and Kuwait.

The Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation is marketing LPG as the lone company in the country since independence.

With growing demand, the government in mid-90s allowed private sector to import and sell LPG in the local market.

According to the proposal, the government is supposed to allocate Tk284.41 crore to implement the project.

Of the total, Tk181.60 crore will come as foreign currency while the working capital is estimated at Tk78.10 crore.

As Chittagong port has no land of its own for setting up the proposed LPG plant along with construction of CMB bulk LPG receiving jetty, the Energy Ministry will have to purchase land from private sector as per the project proposal. l

A Dhaka North City Corporation bulldozer clears garbage from a open space near Banani Railway Station yesterday, as part of the preparation to establish the annual cattle market ahead of Eid-ul-Azha SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

PM’s birthday today n Emran Hossain Shaikh

49% food samples found adulterated

Today is the 68th birthday of Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina.

Ruling party Awami League and different organisations will observe the day with various programmes, including milad mahfils and the distribution of food and clothing among the destitute.

She has been celebrating her birthday in the USA since 2008. This year is also not an exception.

In 2008, Hasina, released from jail on parole, had gone to the USA to under go treatment for her high blood pressure, eye problems and hearing impairment caused by the grenade attack at a rally she addressed in Dhaka in August 2004, which killed 24 people.

Her birthday then was celebrated while she was in that country.

Since 2009, she however has been celebrating her birthday in the USA because her birthday falls at a time when she has to join the United Nations General Assembly. The party leaders who are accompanying her will accord her a floral reception on behalf of the central working committee wishing her sound health and a long life.

After Asr prayers, the ruling party will organise a milad mahfil and offer a special munajat at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital. The Dhaka city Awami League unit will also organise a milad mahfil at the party’s central office at Bangabandhu Avenue and distribute food among the poor there.

Hasina, the eldest child and elder daughter daughter of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, was born on September 28, 1947 at Tungipara in Gopalganj.

The first child of Bangabandhu, she is lovingly called “Hashu” in the Bangabandhu’s family.

She graduated from Dhaka University in 1973, but was unable to complete his post graduation, MA, from the university because she had to go abroad with her husband, late Dr Wazed Miah.

Hasina was married to him in 1968.

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman along with the other members of his family were killed on August 15, 1971. His daughters Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Rehana survived because they were abroad. She was elected the party’s president in February 1981 while in exile. She returned home on May 17, 1981.

Hasina became prime minister after the party led by her came to power in 1996. She again became prime minister after her party assumed office through the ninth parliamentary election on December 29 in 2009. Now she is holding the post of prime minister for the third time. l

n Moniruzzaman Uzzal In the last five years, 49% of the food samples from more than 28,000 tested in the Institute of Public Health (IPH) laboratories were found to be adulterated on average.

The recently published health bulletin 2014 says from 2009 to 2013, the numbers of food samples tested in the laboratory were 6,338, 5,749, 5,812, 5,322 and 4,967 respectively. Of those, the numbers of adulterated samples were 2,982, 2,990, 3,147, 2,558 and 2,137 respectively.

The highest number of adulterated samples was found in 2011 (54.04%) but the figure fell gradually and reached 43.02% last year.

The Directorate General of Health Services published the bulletin.

Sources said samples of a range of consumer products were tested, including mustard oil, soybean oil, palm oil, milk, powdered milk, juice, fruit syrup, honey, sweetmeat, candy, biscuit, chocolate, cake, yogurt, salt, jelly and dried fish.

Hundred percent of the samples of products such as chocolate, cake, yogurt, pickles, dried fish, fruit syrup and sesame were found adulterated.

Around 80-99% of other items, including ghee, juice, honey, candy, soybean oil and powdered milk were also found to be adulterated.

On the other hand, samples

of products such as mung bean, fenugreek and black pepper contained no adulteration.

Health officials told the Dhaka Tribune food adulteration continues to plague the country despite the government enacting the safe food act 2013 months ago.

In May, the High Court asked the food secretary to explain why he should not be directed to cause the act to take effect through the publication of a gazette notification.

IPH officials said they are not authorised to take legal action against adulterated food manufacturers, adding that their only duty is to submit laboratory test results to officials concerned. l

JCD leader held in Dhaka airport; sent behind bars n Tribune Report The immigration police of Shahjalal International Airport yesterday arrested the BNP's student front Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) General Secretary Habibur Rashid while he was trying fly to the United States.

“Soon after the arrest was made around 3am, the immigration police handed over Habib to Airport police station and later he was shown arrested in a case filed with Shahabagh police station,” Airport police station OC Shah Alam told the Dhaka Tribune.

The OC also stated that police arrested Habib, on whom there was an embargo of travelling abroad, in the

case filed on charge of vandalism during the BNP enforced nationwide hartal on September 22.

Afterwards, Shahabagh police station SI Azimuddin and also the investigation officer of the case placed Habib before a court of Metropolitan Magistrate Anowar Sadat seeking a ten-day remand plea.

However, the court ordered to send the leader to jail and fixed today for hearing on the remand prayer and the charges raised against him.

Habib, a US citizen, is an accused in around 80 cases filed with different police stations in the capital although he later secured bail in those cases.

About two months ago the embargo was imposed on him. l

Five more held over Moghbazar triple murder n Tribune Report

Two joyous participants are seen in picture at a rally yesterday on the occasion of the International Day for the Girl Child SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

61,000 apply for MBBS, BDS admission n Moniruzzman Uzzal More than 61,000 students have submitted online applications till yesterday morning for the admission test of MBBS and BDS courses for the session of 2014-2015.

The registration, which opened on September 10, will continue till September 29. Health directorate officials told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday they were expecting a few more thousand applications by the deadline.

The admission test is scheduled for October 24.

Professor Dr ABM Abdul Hannan, director of medical education and health manpower development, said no stu-

dent would be allowed to carry mobile phones or any other devices including calculator and hand watches to the exam hall.

“Although we have around a month before the exam is held, we have begun taking precautionary measures to ensure that the test is held smoothly,” he added.

The applicants will be competing for 3,162 MBBS seats and 532 BDS seats available at the public universities, and 4,800 seats in medical studies and 1,050 seats in dentistry at the private medical and dental colleges.

Classes at both the government and private medical colleges will begin on January 10 next year. l

Members of the Rapid Action Battalion picked up five more people from different areas in Dhaka and Munshiganj early yesterday for their alleged involvement with the sensational triple murder that took place at Moghbazar in the capital on August 28.

Of the five arrestees, four had been listed in the First Information Report (FIR). They are identified as Raju, 20, Opu, 30, Sohel Khan, 28, and Billal, 24.

Another arrestee named Kamal, 30, was not accused in the case, but he was a close associate of Kailla Babu, the prime suspect in the murder case who was killed in a “gunfight” with Detective Branch of police on September 15.

“Based on information, RAB-3 personnel arrested them after conducting raids in different places of Munshiganj and Moghbazar by mobile tracking for a long time,” Major Mohammad Mohiuddin Ahmed, deputy director of RAB-3, said at a press briefing at the battalion office in the capital's Tikatoli area.

He said during the primary interrogation, the arrestees confessed that they were involved with the killing.

About the arrest of Kamal, he said they had arrested him as he was a close associate of the prime accused and he might give details about the killing and the others involved in it.

A gang of criminals shot dead three people, including a woman, and injured another at a house in Sonalibagh

area of Moghbazar over illegal toll collection and land dispute. The deceased were identified as Mohammad Munna, 18, Billal Hossain, 20, and Ranu Akhter Brishti, 28. Ranu's brother Hridoy, 20, who was shot by the criminals, received treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Kala Chan, brother of Ranu, filed a case with Ramna police station in this regard the following day, accusing 15 people, including Babu.

With the arrest of these five people, a total of 18 people have so far been detained. Soon after the incident, police arrested four people. They also arrested three more people, including Babu, on September 15 and finally, RAB picked up six on September 20. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, September 28, 2014

WORLD RABIES DAY

Bangladesh successfully reduces rabies related death by 50% n Moniruzzaman Ujjal Bangladesh has reduced the death of rabies patients by 50% over the last few years.

According to Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH), the annual number of rabies related death was 167 in 2006 coming down to only 87 in 2013 and 72 till September of 2014. Senior health officials hoped to eliminate deaths caused by rabies by 2020 as per national strategic plan.

A national rabies prevention and control centre, established at IDH, receives about 350 to 450 patients with dog bites daily. Anti rabies vaccines are distributed free of charge from this centre. In addition, there are 65 rabies prevention and control centres at the district level.

However, there are many challenges facing the total eradication of rabies.

YEAR AND NUMBER-WISE RABIES RELATED DEATH AT INFECTIOUS DISEASE HOSPITAL Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Number of Rabies related death 167 166 165 164 58 109 88 87 72 (up to September)

Mass vaccination of 1.2 million dogs has remained as one of them.

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) has been conducting dog vaccination program since 2011. It has so far vaccinated only 100 thousand dogs within the municipality and city corporation area.

According to DGHS, another Tk.100

crore is needed to conduct mass dog vaccination program across the country.

Professor Dr Be-Nazir Ahmed, Director of Communicable Disease Control (CDC) unit of DGHS acknowledged the fund initiative. “We are in good position among other rabies infected countries because we have national strategic action plan, experience of patient’s management and more or less trained manpower.” said Be-Nazir.

“If we get the money, we would be able to implement the mass dog vaccination program by 2016 and eliminate rabies disease from the country before the deadline of 2020.” Dr. Be-Nazir hoped.

Lack of well trained doctor and nurses is another concern. It was learnt that there were only around 350 well trained doctor and nurses to manage around 200,000 patients.

Victims of dog bites also allege that they do not usually get Rabies Immune

Globulin (RIG) vaccine from national rabies centre free of cost.

When asked, Dr. Be-Nazir said: “It is not untrue that there is a shortage of well trained doctors and nurses to assess patients properly and provide necessary treatment. Also, RIG treatment is a specialized and expensive one and we cannot offer it to all.”

According to health bulletin 2014 of health directorate, the annual number of dog bites in Bangladesh varies from 200,000 to 300,000 and 95% of rabies occurs due to dog bites. Other animals that occasionally transmit rabies are cat, fox, monkey, jackal and mongoose.

On this backdrop, World Rabies Day is being observed today with the theme “Together against Rabies”. Bangladesh has chalked out several programmes, including processions, discussions, and awareness raising events across the country to mark the day. l

New JaPa bodies for Rangpur district and city n Tribune Report Jatiya Party (JaPa) Chairman HM Ershad finally announced two fullfledged convening committees – one for Rangpur district and another for Rangpur city corporation yesterday.

The chairman announced the 127-member Rangpur district committee with Mofazzal Hossain as the convener and Hossain Mokbul Shahriar Asif as the member secretary.

He declared 118-member committee for Rangpur city with Mustafizur Rahmam Mustafa as the convenor and SM Yeasin as its member secretary.

Earlier on September 9, Ershad, while sticking to the post of special envoy to the prime minister, had asked his party’s all three cabinet members to resign.

None of the three resigned. Rather, he faced criticism by Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud, State

4 held for cheating in JU admission test n JU Correspondent The Jahangirnagar University (JU) authorities arrested four admission seekers for fraudulence in its C unit admission test under the 2014-15 academic session.

The detainees were identified as Shirajul Ashekin, Shahinur Rahman, Farhad Hossain and Firoz Azam.

Source said the duty teachers of a hall in social science faculty building caught Ashekin and Shahinur during the first shift of the admission test, with the latter helping his friend who sat beside him. According to the seat plan, Shahinur was supposed to sit for the exam at business faculty building.

During questioning, the due acknowledged the misdeed.

On the other hand, Farhad and Firoz were detained from a hall of zoology department during the third shift of admission test for the C unit, on charge of violating the seat plan. Later, they were handed over to Ashulia police station.

Confirming the arrest, JU proctor Dr Tapan Kumar Saha said they were investigating the entire matter. The university authorities will file a case against the culprits in this regard, the stated. l

Election in Brahmanbaria municipality after 15 years n Our Correspondent, Brahmanbaria

Chhayanaut performers mark the beginning of Sharat (Autumn) at the Bokul Tola of Fine Arts Institute, Dhaka University yesterday

BYLC completes leadership workshop n Tribune Report The BYLC hosted the graduation reception of its fifth national workshop “The Art and Practice of Leadership (APL)” on Thursday evening at the EMK Center in the capital, says a press release.

The three-day leadership development workshop was specifically designed for third and fourth year university students from across the nation.

After rigorous screening of the 270 applications received from around the country, 59 students were chosen to participate in the workshop that had them working on developing their leadership, problem solving, teamwork, and communication skills.

Throughout the workshop, dignitar-

ies from different industries were invited to share with the participants, their thoughts and ideas about leadership and how critical good leadership skills are in light of the current times.

Akhter Matin Chaudhury, Governing Board Member, BYLC and Managing Director & Chairman, Nuvista Pharma Ltd, conducted a session where he delivered an inspirational talk on leadership and its application in the workplace. To help participants prepare for the professional world, there was a career panel that comprised of Naveed Mahbub, CEO, Naveed’s Comedy Club, Zara Mahbub, Senior Vice President, Head of Premium Banking at BRAC Bank Limited and Pavel Hoq, Chief Operating Officer at Grameen Intel Social Business Ltd. l

n JU Correspondent A 16-day long vacation will begin from today at Jahangirnagar University on the occasions of Eid-ul-Adha, Durga Puja and Laxmi Puja, and the students were asked to evacuate the university halls for the vacation, which was protested by the general students.

All academic activities of the university, including classes and examinations, will remain suspended till October 14 while the administrative activities of the university will remain closed from October 2 to October 11, said a press release from JU public relation office.

Meanwhile, the university authority

Mannan: Research brings better future for SAARC region n Tribune Report State Minister of Ministry of Finance and Planning MA Mannan yesterday opined that researches could make a better future for the SAARC region, says a media release issued by East West University (EWU).

The minister made the remarks while addressing the concluding ceremony of a ten-day regional research methods course organised by the SAARC and EWU while the latter’s trustee board chairperson Dr Mohammed Farashud-

MEHEDI HASAN

JU goes on 16-day vacation; students protest ‘dorm evacuation’ order

Daffodil University achieves APUCEN membership n Tribune Report Daffodil International University has received membership of Asia-Pacific University-Community Engagement Network (APUCEN) for the first time in the history of the local universities, says a media release.

This honour came from the closing ceremony of the APUCEN summit-2014 Prof Dato’ Dr Omar Kaman, Vice Chancellor of University Sains Malaysia handed over the membership certificate to Prof Dr M Lutfar Rahman, Vice Chancellor of Daffodil International University.

The APUCEN is a regional network of higher education institutions, organisations and corporate bodies that strive to make positive transformation in the community through collaborative efforts.

Among others, P Kamalanathan, Deputy Minister of Education and Higher Learning of Malaysia, was present at the programme. l

Minister for Local Government Mashiur Rahman Ranga and Chief Whip of the Opposition Tajul Islam Chowdhury over such an order.

Only a day after their criticism, Ershad relieved Ranga and Tajul from their presidium duties.

Ranga was also removed from the post of president of JaPa’s Rangpur district and city corporation committees, while Tajul was removed as the president of JaPa’s Kurigram district committee.

This was, however, not the first time the two leaders faced punitive actions from Ershad; they were both expelled

by Ershad on two previous occasions but were later brought back to the party both times.

After removing Tajul and Ranga from the party posts on September 10, Ershad had also announced the dissolution of the party’s Rangpur city and district and Kurigram district committees on the same day. l

din chaired the programme.

MA Mannan urged the researchers to find new innovations for effective utilisation of manpower and natural resources of the region.

The speakers said civilization began to march forward through research and the power of innovative capacity was found through research, and that makes human beings different from other animals.

SAARC Documentation Centre (SDC) New Delhi, India in collaboration with East West University arranged the ten day course. l

The first ever election of Brahmanbaria’s Nabinagar municipality, after its formation 15 years ago, is scheduled to be held on September 29.

A total of 100 candidates are vying for the posts of mayor, councillors and reserved seats for female councillors.

Among them, 15 are competing for mayoral post, 74 for councillors and 11 candidates for the reserved women seats.

Four Awami League backed candidates and 7 from BNP are leading the race for mayoral post. Besides, there is one candidate with the support of Jamaat-e-Islami and 3 independent ones.

Though the election had generated much enthusiasm in Nabinagar, residents of the municipality had criticised the administration for being oblivious to the violation of electoral rules by the candidates. The Nabinagar municipality, formed in 1999, has a total of 30,270 voters in 9 wards. The election will be held in 11 centres. l

3 caught scalping train tickets n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Railway Security Guards (RNB) apprehended an employee of Bangladesh Railway (BR) along with two women for scalping train tickets yesterday in Chittagong.

RNB Chief Inspector Anwar Hossain said the nabbed employee of BR is Mohammad Firoz of East Signal Department. Two women hired to stand in line of the ticket counter were also apprehended but were released after signing a general declaration.

BR (East) authorities will take appropriate action against Firoz, said Anwar.

From Friday, BR opened advance ticket sales to avoid rush for upcoming Eid-ul Adha and Durga Puja holidays and commuters are already coming in numbers to buy tickets. l

has also ordered the students to stay out of the dormitories during the holidays, which was protested by the he general students.

On September 25, a press release signed by JU deputy registrar [administration 1] Rahima Kaniz said: “All dormitories of the university will remain closed from October 3 till October 11 on the occasion of Durga Puja, Eid ul Adha and Laxmi Puja.”

The JU authorities closed the university dormitories in the name of repairing during the last vacation on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr too, sources said.

The residential students of different dormitories and different students’

cultural and political organisations protested the decision and requested JU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Farzana Islam to reconsider it.

JU Chhatra Union president Tanmay Dhar said they have requested the university authority to keep the dormitories open during the v acation considering the residential students who want to stay at their dorms because of the upcoming examinations.

The JU VC assured the protesting students of reconsidering the decision while Professor Md Shahedur Rashid, the president of JU hall committee, said they would take decision regarding this issue today. l

CS festival 2014 at AIUB n Tribune Report

US, Bangladesh navy commence CARAT training

The Computer Club of American International University, Bangladesh (AIUB) has organised its biggest event of one calendar year named CS Fest 2014 on its campus 4 from September 23 to 25, says a media release.

The fest was comprised of “App Concept Presentation, Mobile App Showcasing, System Design & Development Contest, Intra AIUB Programming Contest.”

AIUB Vice Chancellor Dr Carmen Z. Lamagna inaugurated the event, on the occasion of which a rally was brought out from the campus while the AIUB Chairman Ishtiaque Abedin inspected the various activities and exchange views with the faculty members and students.

Vice President (Academic) Prof Dr Tafazzal Hossain, Director Mashiour Rahman, Head of Undergraduate program Dr. Dip Nandi, and Head of Graduate program Dr. Tabin Hasan, Director (Public Relations) Md. Lutfar Rahman were present there among others. l

n Tribune Report The fourth annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Bangladesh exercise commenced with an opening ceremony at Naval Base Issa Khan on September 25, says a press release.

Continuing through September 30, CARAT Bangladesh 2014 consists of six days of shore-based and at-sea training events designed to address shared maritime security priorities, to develop relationships, and to enhance cooperation among participating forces.

In its 20th year, CARAT is a bilateral exercise series between the US Navy and the armed forces of nine partner nations in South and Southeast Asia, including Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Timor-Leste.

“In just a few years, CARAT Bangladesh has become the premier engagement between our navies,” said Rear Admiral Charles Williams, Commander of Task Force 73 and US 7th Fleet’s ex-

ecutive agent for theater security cooperation in South Asia.

This year, the vessel USNS Safeguard, with a mobile diving and salvage unit, will join Bangladesh Navy ships including the former Hamilton-class cutter, BNS Somudro Joy and the frigate BNS Bangabandhu. Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 7 staff will embark Somudro Joy as part of a ship rider exchange.

For the first time, a Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will participate in CARAT Bangladesh alongside the Bangladesh Navy’s Dornier, taking naval aviation training to the next level and enhancing shared maritime domain awareness.

“We are looking forward to going to sea with the Bangladesh Navy this year and training with their ships and aircraft in the Bay of Bengal,” said Captain Fred Kacher, Destroyer Squadron 7 Commodore. “We expect to learn a great deal from them about operating in these vital waters, which connect our navies and our nations.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Sunday, September 28, 2014

All-out preparation taken to celebrate Durga Puja Artisans busy putting the last splash of paint on idols while whole nation await the celebration que Wadud and n Mushfi Ahmed Zayeef For the last 12 days, Ruhidas Pal and his assistants did not get a chance to catch their breath. From 8am to 12pm everyday, they poured all their energy and devotion to finish making the idols as the countdown to the biggest religious festival of the Hindu community begins.

Despite the hard work, there was a glow of satisfaction on the face of Ruhidas as his nimble fingers work to put final touches to Goddess Durga at Dhakeshwari National Temple in the capital.

“There is a feeling of gratification when I think that I am doing something for my religion.” Ruhidas said.

Bolai Pal, another artisan from Banglabazar said: “We started to make the idols three months back. Everything is done and now we are just giving the last touch of our brush to the idol.”

Visiting some temples in the capital yesterday, a cornucopia of colours, sounds and religious fervour was experienced as most temples were abuzz with the last minute decoration.

Not only the Hindu community but the whole nation is waiting to celebrate the Durga Puja, also known as Sharbojanin Durgotshav, meaning universal Durga festival. On September 23, the Hindus celebrated the Mahalaya, the ceremonial invocation of Durga to welcome the advent of the goddess and her children.

Narayan Saha Moni, Purohit of Dhakeshwari temple told the Dhaka Tribune, that the main celebration will begin from September 30 (Shasthi) with the ‘Abahan’ and ‘Bodhon’ (incarnation) of the Goddess Durga at temples.

“The ritual entails ten days of fast, feast and worship, but the last five

BINA scientist gets IAEA-FAO award n BAU Correspondent Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture (BINA) scientist and eminent plant breeder, Dr Mirza Mofazzal Islam, was honoured with the “Outstanding Achievement Awards” during the 58th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna on Wednesday.

The award, jointly conferred by IAEA and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, was one of the five in these categories to appreciate teams of scientists who have contributed to increased food security by using radiation to breed better crop varieties.

IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano handed over the award to the representative of Bangladesh Government during the programme.

Confirming the award, Dr Mofazzel said: “Foreign Ministry source informed me Friday night about the award.”

Dr Islam got the recognition for his success in releasing nine improved mutant varieties of fibre jute, vegetable jute, mung bean and chickpea. He has developed sixteen crop varieties so far using the technique of mutation breeding. l

WEATHER

PARTLY CLOUDY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 5:49PM SUN RISES 5:49AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 33 32 33 31 34 33 32 32

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

25 24 23 23 22 23 22 25

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

33.0ºC Jessore

23.6ºC Srimangal

Source: Accuweather/UNB

With the Hindu religious festival Durga Puja just a couple of days away, idol makers are seen spending busy times to put the finishing touch to idols. The photo was taken yesterday from Banglabazar in the capital SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN days - Shashthi, Shaptami, Ashtami, Navami, and Bijoya Dashami - are celebrated with much gaiety. This year, Maha Navami and Bijoya Dashami will be celebrated on the same day on October 3. That is why the festival will go for 4 days this year.” he added.

Some Hindu community members as well people from all walks of life were seen crowding the temples and Puja mandaps to see the preparation. Nursery student, Ochintradas Priyo came with his father to see the idols of Goddess Durga. Bishwajit Adhikari brought along

his wife to observe the preparation at the temple set up at Kalabagan playground.

“I always love visiting the mandaps during preparation.” Bishwajit said.

Tapan Kanti Sarkar, president of the Dhanmondi Puja Udjapon Committee, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were

Suranjit says constitution’s 16th amendment is beyond debate n

Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

The latest constitutional reforms made by the government were kept in line with the contemporary democratic system of the developed countries.

Suranjit Sengupta, head of parliamentary standing committee on law, justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, made the statement while addressing a roundtable discussion organised

by Forum for People’s Voice (FPV) at Hotel Agrabad in the port city yesterday.

Claiming there was no scope to raise any question over the amendment, he said: “When the country’s existing laws can try the speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad or even the president, so what is the problem with the provision of impeaching a Supreme Court judge?”

The lawmaker urged the country’s major political parties to resist militan-

cy with the support of mass people. He called for a joint effort to foil the plans of radical Islamist groups, especially al Qaeda.

Whimsical amendment to constitutions brings enormous sufferings to the people and makes the credibility of parliamentary questionable Over the issue of January 5 national poll, Suranjit said BNP made a huge mistake by boycotting the election, adding that “If a mistake is committed in politics, it costs a high price.”

“BNP has to be more democratic and BNP will have to wait for the next par-

liamentary election as it will be held as per the constitution,” he said.

Supreme Court Bar Association President Advocate Khondoker Mahbub Hossain expressed his concern that once any ruling party man was convicted by a SC judge, the latter would not be spared by the respective government as now have the right to impeachment.

He said whimsical amendment to constitutions brings enormous sufferings to the people and makes the credibility of parliamentary questionable.

Local government expert Prof Tofail Ahmed said almost every constitutional amendment was a result of personal and partisan interest rather than that of the general people. Prothom Alo Joint Editor Mizanur Rahman Khan presented a keynote paper in the roundtable which was chaired by FPV President Dr Manjurul-Ul-Amin Chowdhury. l

Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:34am 5:48am 11:49am 4:09pm 5:49pm 7:04pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

The physically challenged want their rights respected Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong Physically challenged people formed a human chain yesterday demanding they be allowed to participate in and represent all sectors of the country.

Around 100 phycially challenged, including visually the impaired held placards and banners pressing for their demands in front of Chittagong’s Press Club around 3pm.

Blogger Sabrina Sultana, president of Bangladesh Society for Change and Advocacy Nexus (B-SCAN), presided over the human chain organised by Protibondhi Nagorik Shongothoner Parishad (PNSP). Different organisations which work for the physically challenged also participated in the programme.

Speakers at the programme said the physically challenged should be

allowed to represent the committees launched by the government for them under the act enacted in 2013 for disabled persons rights and safety.

They said a physically challenged person should represent the physically challenged community as they could identify and disclose the exact problems they face in interacting with other communities. They urged the government to ensure their participation in the related committees and policy making bodies which were mentioned in the disabled persons rights act.

Rehabilitation Centre for the Disabled (RCD), Unite Theater for Social Action (UTSA), B-SCAN and Chittagong Autistic Society participated at the human chain.

RCD President Rasheduzzaman Chowdhury and secretaries Md Kamruzzaman and Md Iftekhar Mahmud of PNSP addressed the human chain. l

Rally held in demand of eighth wage board n Tarek Mahmudm, Chittagong The leaders of Chittagong Union of Journalists (CUJ) held a protest rally yesterday at Chittagong Press Club to implement a 10-point demand.

CUJ leaders declared that they will move towards tougher movement from October 15 if the eighth wage board is not implemented soon and if their due salary is not paid within October 15.

The journalists’ body also announced that they would organise stern movement from October 1 if the owners do not pay Eid bonus and salary

by September 30.

Moreover, if any journalist or news organisation employee is fired during the on-going movement of CUJ, journalists of that news organisation will go for work abstention.

The 10-point demand includes- stop attack on journalists, pay due salaries, implementation of eighth wage board,

to introduce separate wage board for TV journalists and others.

Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists (BFUJ) President Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul was the chief guest in the rally which was presided over by the CUJ President Ezaz Yusufi. Both BFUJ and CUJ expressed their solidarity and announced that both parties will work jointly to achieve the rights of journalists.

BFUJ Vice President Abu Taher Mohammad, Joint Secretary General Asif Siraz, CUJ General Secretary Hasan Ferdous, Vice President Ratan Kanti Debashis, former Presidents M Nasirul Haque, Mostaq Ahmed, Shahid Ul Alam, former General Secretaries Reaz Haider, Nazim Uddin Shaymol, Chittagong Press Club General Secretary Mohsin Chowdhury, Photojournalist Association President Didarul Alam and Chittagong University Journalists Association President Humayun Masud spoke in the rally. l

Shoppers throng the New Market area in the capital ahead of the Durga Puja and Eid-ul-Adha festivals

BCL ruining its own image says DU VC PRAYER TIMES

worried about completing the construction in time due to the incessant rain.

'All the preparations are done and its a big relief.” he said. He appreciated the Dhanmondi police for providing support and necessary security.

According to Bangladesh Puja Ud-

japon Parishad, a total of 28,458 Puja mandaps will be set up across the country this year, up by 458 from last year. The highest number of Puja mandap is in Chittagong district, 1577. In Dhaka city, the number is 220 with seven new mandaps.

Kajal Debnath, president of the Parishad said all necessary preparations for a successful holding of the Durga Puja had already been taken. However, he pointed out that there was an insecurity among the community as idols were desecrated in some places in the country.

“In Kishoreganj sadar, four idols were vandalized in one night. This is a matter of concern.” he said. Kajal added that as per his information, so far 23 idols were vandalized across the country.

“The government and law enforcement authority are giving their utmost support but most of these incidents are happening at night. Something has to be done to check this.” he said.

Durga Puja is celebrated every year in the month of Ashwin. In recorded history, the first grand worship of Goddess Durga is said to have been celebrated in the late 1500s.

As per Hindu pantheon, Mahishasura, the son of demon Rambha, unleashed a reign of terror on earth defeating gods and banishing them from heaven. Vanquished, gods, headed by Brahma and Vishnu, sought Lord Shiva's help. As they narrated their woeful tale, Adishakti, re-manifested as Durga, was emerged from the rays of the gods. Armed with celestial weapons of all deities and decked with divine ornaments, Durga rode into the battle field and defeated Mahishasura. Thus the celebration of Durga Puja epitomises the victory of Good over Evil. l

n DU Correspondent Dhaka University (DU) Vice Chancellor (VC) Professor Dr Arefin Siddique yesterday said the Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) leaders and activists who were involved in admission forgery are killing the glorious history of the organization and ruining its good image to the nation.

Dr Siddique also said that the university students who were involved in the forgery were cheating with their careers, their university and the nation.

He delivered the speech at a book-unveiling program titled “Chhattra leager kormi theke rashtro nayok desh ratno Sheikh Hasina”, held at the Nawab Ali Chowdhury senate Bhaban of the University organised by the stu-

dent organization of the ruling Awami League marking the 68th birthday ofPrime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

BCL Senior Vice president Manuar Hossen Masud chaired the event, which was conducted by BCL general secretary Siddique Nazmul Aalm.

Among others, former presidents and general secretaries of BCL were also present at the event. l

RAJIB DHAR

2 held with 2,000 yaba pills n FM Mizanur Rahaman The Detective Branch of Chittagong Metropolitan Police arrested two people, along with 2,000 yaba pills, who were in a truck at Shah Amanat Bridge area yesterday.

The arrestees were driver Md Sagor, 30, son of Abu Taleb and helper Md Jahangir Alam, 18.

Md Hasan Chowdhury, additional deputy commissioner of DB, said police intercepted a Chittagong-bound truck, which was coming from Cox’s Bazar, at Aktaruzzaman intersection on the bridge around 1pm. Around 2,000 yaba tablets were seized from the toolbox of the vehicle and the two were arrested immediately, he said. A case was filed in this connection, he added. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Meghna river polluted with waste, dumped

by Chandpur Municipality

Five people sustained injuries as two rival groups of the Awami League locked into a clash during a programme of Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan at Rajoir Upazila Parishad in Madaripur yesterday.

A motorcycle was also torched during the factional clash that was triggered at 11:30am.

Witnesses said President of Awami League Rajoir Upazila unit Motaleb Molla has a long standing dispute with Local Awami League leader and Bajitpur UP Chairman Sirajul Islam Hawlade over formation of the union unit of the Awami League committee.

The supporters of both the ruling party leaders have already clashed with each other over the issue a few days back.

They locked into a clash again on Saturday morning, immediately after the shipping minister entered the upazila parishad premises to attend “disseminating the fund for Durga Puja” programme, said locals. l

n Our Correspondent, Chandpur The local Meghna River has been polluted by the Chandpur Municipality authorities who have turned the river into a dumping ground for garbage.

Consequently, the ecosystem of the river is on the verge of destruction and the authorities are paying no heed to this situation.

Locals alleged that the municipality authorities for the past one year have been dumping garbage into the Meghna River. Ten vehicles on a daily basis come through the Horisova area, which also includes hazardous materiel disposed off by local public and private hospitals.

'There is no way to dump the waste except for in the Meghna River' Thousands of locals who are dependent on the river allege that they were unable to use the water as the dumping caused the pollution levels to rise very quickly.

On the other hand, the authorities opined that they were maintaining a healthy environment in the municipality by dumping garbage in the river as they had no garbage disposal dumps.

Anisur Rahman, hilsa fellow and senior scientific officer of Chandpur Fisheries Research Institute, said ecological environment of the Meghna River was quickly going out of balance due to this dumping, even the water that will soon become unusable in the near future.

Siddiqur Rahman Dali, Chandpur Municipality Panel Mayor and also its ward no 2 commissioner, told the Dha-

Firearm recovered from bandit leader’s hideout n Our Correspondent, Pirojpur

The recent picture shows garbage being dumped into the Meghna river through the Horisova area in Chandpur threatening environment ka Tribune that: “For the time being there is no way to dump the waste except for in the Meghna River although waste dumping is going on in three other spots. The environment of the town

Hospital attendant BACK TO THE ROOT held for child theft n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj Zakir Mostafiz Milu, Thakurgaon n Police have arrested a female atten-

will be deteriorate if the garbage dumping in the river is stopped.”

About the river pollution, the mayor said he would place the issue in their upcoming meeting and they will try

their best to come up with an alternative way to minimise the problem.

Local Department of Environment (DoE) Assistant Director Md Arefin Badol blamed the municipality authori-

DHAKA TRIBUNE

ties for the pollution, saying it has no right to do so. He had already visited the dumping spots and the DoE in this regard will soon issue a legal notice to the authorities, the AD continued. l

A govt official returns to his village for farming

dant of Gopalganj General Hospital on charges of attempting to steal a newborn baby.

Rehana Parvin, 25, daughter of Aziz Mollah of Gunhar village in Muksudpur upazila, was arrested in the 250-bed hospital around 11am on Friday.

Hospital sources said Rehana attempted to steal a male infant born to a young girl around 2am on Friday and escape unnoticed but was caught red-handed by patients and hospital staff. l

AL factions clash at minister’s programme, 5 hurt n Our Correspondent, Madaripur

In a country where farming is not still considered prestigious, a deputy director at the Department of Agriculture Extension has returned to his ancestral profession after retiring from his occupation that he was in for 37 years in Thakurgaon.

Bijoy Kumar Chattergy scientifically grew sugarcane varieties–Ishwardy 32, 37 and 39, along with short-term crops like potato and lentil, on his ancestral 13 bighas of land under Thakurgaon

Sugar Mills, earning nearly Tk4 lakh last season, while he had to spend only about Tk1.5 lakh.

So much earning from so few bighas of land in one season has made him talk of the town in and around Dhontola-Thumniya village at the district’s Baliadanga upazila.

He is now a role model for others who used to shun sugarcane fearing losses. Agriculture expert Bijoy spoke to the Dhaka Tribune about his farming.

“Sugarcane is a cash crop, and our

sugar industry is completely dependent on it.

That is why I have taken up this profession as a responsibility towards my country,” he says.

He believes that every farmer should resort to sugarcane farming.

He explains that a farmer can earn more money by farming sugarcane along with other short-term crops like potato and lentil, than they can by farming any other crop.

Moreover, at least 20 labourers can be used on 13 acres of sugarcane field

every day, creating employment for the rural people, he adds.

The retired agriculture official will soon campaign for farming sugarcane in the zone under the sugar mills.

He hopes that his campaign will work out bringing more and more farmers under the cane cultivation, thus enabling the mills to get more and more supply of canes for crushing each season.

He dreams of seeing the sugar industry free from its current sorry state one day. l

Police recovered one shutter-gun and five rounds of bullets from the inter-district bandit group-leader Ashraf Ali Sheikh’s hideout yesterday.

Sadar police station Sub Inspector Asadur Rahman said the bandit leader was on remand on an attempted robbery case when he informed the police about the firearm. l

Venom worth Tk 68 crore seized n Our Correspondent, Joypurhat Members of Rapid Action Battalion recovered venom worth about Tk 68 crore following an anonymous tip-off in Joypurhat. The seized venom weighs 12 pounds and is from Red Dragon Company of France.

Rab sources said on Friday night Rab 5 conducted a drive at Abu Dawood’s son Faruk’s home in Baghpara village of Khetlal upazilla and seized the venom and arrested Faruk, Enamul, Tozammel Hossain and Mottasin Billah.

After questioning the arrested men, Rab arrested Motaleb Hossain and AKM Monsur from Boishakhi Hotel in Joypurhat town for allegedly being involved in the matter. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Career

7

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Analyse your competitors more effectively n Career Desk

After identifying your competitors it is time to analyse each of their respective strengths and weaknesses. Ask why customers will choose their product over yours? What is superior about their products; price, quality, brand value or service? Once you are done analysing, draw a chart to list the names of your competitors and for each one, write its strengths and weaknesses in different colored boxes. This will help you select strategies to attract potential customers.

I

t is important to know as much about your competitors as your own company. Small businesses may find it especially helpful to keep a sharp eye on their competitors. Because the market share captured by small businesses is little, it is absolutely necessary for them to be aware of every detail regarding their competitors; giving up even a small part of their market share amounts to a large chunk of their profits.

Being ignorant about competitors can have devastating impacts on these businesses. Some small businesses remain unaware about their competition until a new company sets up close by and starts eating into their profits.

Step 3: Consider opportunities and threats

Knowing your competitors’ strengths and weaknesses will help you identify what set of actions will help you beat them out. But strengths and weaknesses are under the control of firms. External forces existing outside the firms also have an implication on their actions; these are the opportunities and threats.

These are not controlled by the firms.

You need to examine how well your competitors are prepared to deal with these external forces. Technological changes, economic factors, rules and regulations or even the entry of a new competitor are all types of threats and opportunities a company can face.

A garment manufacturing company should analyse how well its competitors can cope with compliance to rules and regulations regarding the safety of its workers. Here again, you may find it useful to list each of your competitor’s threats and opportunities in colored boxes.

Small businesses may find it especially helpful to keep a sharp eye on their competitors An effective competitive analysis helps you identify competitors and their respective strengths and weaknesses.

With knowledge of your competitors’ actions, you will be able to better understand what products or services you should offer; how you can sell your product more effectively; and how you can position your product. Your competitive analysis should be performed in the following way:

Step 4: Determine Your Position

Step 1: Identify your competition

There are competitors in every business and you need to find out who your customers can go to, if they want to procure the products that you sell. No matter how innovative your product is there is always some other product your customer can use as a substitute.

You should be aware of the businesses supplying such products. Competitors are grouped into three categories – primary, secondary and potential.

Your primary competitors are the market leaders in your industry, who

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currently dominate the market. For example if you own a departmental store, other such stores in the same area offering similar products as you are your primary competitors. You are competing with them directly.

Secondary competitors are the ones

who are not in head-to-head competition with you, but are targeting the same general market. If there is a departmental store selling only frozen food whereas you sell a wider range of products then the former is a secondary competitor.

Are you above or beneath all the politicking?

Office politics and you: find out where you rank in all the mudslinging

Office politics

The following are some of the most common types of “politics” we face at work. n Distorting facts behind our back or telling outright lies about us to make us look bad. n Persistent criticism and fault-finding, usually done in public, with a senior present for maximum impact. n Spreading rumours and/or gossiping. n Seemingly “forgetting” to include us in important communications, meetings, social events, trainings and other events. n Attempting to strip our responsibility, under the guise of “lightening the workload.”

If one or more of these seem familiar to what you might be experiencing at work, you are a victim of office politics.

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YOUR SCORE

COMMENTS

1-3

Unfortunately, you seem to have almost no political awareness! Your natural preference seems to be to focus on your work and to avoid problematic people altogether. If you allow this to continue, you could end up being very disappointed in your career: letting others overtake you on the career ladder, leaving you to have the least enjoyable and most poorly paid work.

4-6

You have a little political awareness, but not enough to watch your back.

You may have a reasonable relationship with some of your colleagues at work. However, you are in danger of being marginalised by conniving cutthroats. It is these colleagues who may be tempted to take advantage of you, so look out.

7-9

You have a good deal of political awareness. You have a reasonable relationship with most of your colleagues. However, do not let yourself become complacent. Continue to seek feedback from others and continue to tackle problems that you may have with colleagues as quickly as you can. Nipping a problem in the bud may be cliché, but it will make your life considerably easier.

10

You have an excellent relationship with your colleagues. You keep your ear close to the ground and tackle problems quickly and efficiently. If you continue with your present level of inter-office sensitivity, you should find many opportunities opening up to you at work. However, be careful, there will always be people who may be jealous of your success.

AGREE

I get along with everyone in my department I ask for feedback from the people that I work with on my performance I don’t like to be disturbed by other people when I work I volunteer for work committees and projects outside of the remit of my day-to-day job I try to avoid people who seem to have a problem with me I know many people outside my department I frequently go out with colleagues for lunch or social events Getting a task done on time is more important than people’s feelings I don’t like to interfere when I see colleagues doing poor quality work I have a mentor I can speak to outside my department

DISAGREE

If you hold a managerial position at work or are pursuing a manager role, you can get ahead by adopting a strategic leadership style. A strategic leader is someone who can express the vision for the organisation, or a part of the organisation, is able to motivate and persuade others to espouse that vision.

Despite the rising number of managers worldwide claiming to be leaders, few actually possess the true expertise of a strategic leader. Many people claim the qualities of a leader without really knowing what needs to be done.

One needs to have self-control, ample talent and energy, compassion, social skills and the ability to ingrain one’s vision onto the organisational culture.

Exhibiting traits of a strategic leader is a challenge for most people. Being able to effectively disperse the organisation’s vision to the entire organisation in an amicable manner is more easily said than done. So what does it

The next step is to check how well are you dealing with it.

Measure your politicking

If you are a victim of politicking, analyse your current skills when it comes to fighting it back. Tick whether you agree or disagree with the statements in the table.

Scoring your political skill: Give yourself one point for each time you ticked agree on questions 1, 2, 4, 6, 7 and 10 and give yourself a point for each time you disagreed on the rest of the questions (3, 5, 8, and 9.) l

entering markets. An ice cream vendor should be aware of imported ice creams entering the market and be prepared to compete with them.

Step 2: Analyse strengths and weaknesses

What it takes to be a strategic leader n Career Desk

n Career Desk Most organisations are chock-full of office politics. Some are the harmless kind that we have already experienced during school: such as dealing with teacher's pets, that one guy always bent on reminding the teacher of previously assigned homework, having rumours spread about us etc.

However, some examples of office politics are dirtier than others and one would have expected that most of us would have grow out of it by now. “Office politicians,” because of their unrestricted consciences, are quite cunning at getting ahead of others at work and a fraction of the workforce keep falling prey to their vile tactics.

The final category of competitors you should look out for are your potential competitors. These are companies which might move into your market and who you may need to compete against. Globalisation has increased the number of potential competitors

As soon as you know the condition of your competitors, you should be able to evaluate your business using the same ranking as your competitors. Redo the strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities evaluation for your own business, to know where you stand.

When you have identified your position in the game you will be better able to decide upon your actions. You will know the areas where your strengths lie and where you need improvement.

The strategy is simple; capitalise on the strengths of your company and the weaknesses of your competitors. l

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really take to become a strategic leader?

The following are three simple steps.

Know your mission

Before setting a strategy, develop a sound understanding of your mission.

Instead of getting caught up in the so-

Many people claim the qualities of a leader without really knowing what needs to be done phisticated and jargon-laden it company mission statements, define in simple words: what you do, what your company does and for whom. Remember that only by knowing your purpose can you design the right strategies. A simple mission that is easily understandable is strategically the best mission.

Make sure it’s based on a vision

Once you understand the mission of your organisation, you need to set your goals for the future. These goals are what will set your strategies in place.

When you move from one point of time to another, you will need specific courses of action.

Get it done

After understanding your mission and developing it, you have to plan on setting things in motion. You should ask yourself if you are ready to execute your vision. The strategy will move your plan from one point to another.

Hence if you do not know how to act on your plans, you will not be able to achieve your goals.

Once again, remember that it is the simplest strategies that work best, because they are easy to execute. Before establishing yourself as a strategic leader, ask yourself: why you are here, where you are going and what you need to do to get there. l

8 Erdogan: Turkish troops could be used in Syria n Reuters, Istanbul Turkish troops could be used to help set up a secure zone in Syria, if there was an international agreement to establish such a haven for refugees fleeing Islamic State fighters, President Tayyip Erdogan said in comments published yesterday.

Turkey has so far declined to take a frontline role in the US-led coalition against Islamic State but officials said earlier this week Erdogan has been negotiating on what Turkey’s role might now be.

“The logic that assumes Turkey would not take a position militarily is wrong,” Erdogan said in an interview with the Hurriyet newspaper on his way back from New York, where he attended the United Nations General Assembly meetings.

Erdogan said negotiations are underway to determine how and by which countries the air strikes and a potential ground operation would be undertaken and that Turkey is ready to take part.

“In the distribution of responsibilities, every country will have a certain duty. Whatever is Turkey’s role, Turkey will play it,” he said, adding that an air operation alone was not sufficient.

“You can’t finish off such a terrorist organisation only with air strikes.

Ground forces are complementary ...

You have to look at it as a whole. Obviously I’m not a soldier but the air (operations) are logistical. If there’s no ground force, it would not be permanent,” he said.

Turkey would defend its border if necessary, Erdogan said and added that the necessary steps would be taken once a parliamentary mandate that enables Turkish troops to conduct operations outside its borders would be passed next week. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Air strikes hit IS militants in Syria IS fighters continue advancing on Syrian town; British fighter jets leave Cyprus air base

n Reuters, Beirut Air strikes hit Islamic State and other Islamist groups in eastern Syria early yesterday, a monitoring group said, as a US-led coalition seeks to turn the tide against the militants who have captured swathes of Syria and northern Iraq.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said at least 31 explosions were heard in the province of Raqqa, a stronghold of Islamic State, and casualties were reported.

It said warplanes also struck areas east of the desert town of Palmyra in Homs province and hit several IS checkpoints around the Kurdish town of Kobani close to the Turkish border.

Later on Saturday, a Reuters witness saw two British fighter jets leaving a Royal Air Force base in Cyprus, a day after the British parliament authorised air strikes on Iraq.

The US-led air campaign has yet to stop the advance of the Islamic State fighters on the town of Kobani, also known as Ayn al-Arab, which has been under attack for at least 10 days.

The assault has sent 140,000 refugees across the frontier since last week in the biggest such exodus in three and a half years of civil war. “Today, they (IS fighters) have made advances on the western side of the town,” Rami Abdelrahman of the Observatory said.

The United States is leading a military coalition including some Gulf and European nations to stop the advance of Islamic State, which swept across northern Iraq in June. The group has proclaimed a “caliphate” ruling over all Muslims, slaughtered prisoners and ordered Shi’ites and non-Muslims to convert or die.

The campaign has brought Washington back to the battlefield of Iraq that

People pay tribute to mountain-guide Herve Gourdel, who was beheaded by Jihadists linked to the Islamic State group in Algeria, during a gathering in France. Jund al-Khilifa, or ‘Soldiers of the Caliphate,’ beheaded the 55-year-old Frenchman after he was abducted on September 21 while hiking in a national park that was once a magnet for tourists but later became a sanctuary for Islamists AFP it left in 2011 and into Syria for the first time after avoiding involvement in a war that began the same year.

Militant groups in the region and websites commonly used by their supporters did not immediately mention any attacks on Saturday.

The targets of the air strikes on Saturday included several military bases occupied by IS including Tabqa military airport, where many members of the group were killed, the Observatory said, without giving a figure.

Coalition widens

Syria’s government, which in the past accused its opponents of being Western agents trying to topple President Bashar al-Assad, has not objected to the air strikes that began on Tuesday and said it was informed by Washington before the air campaign began.

It too has carried out air strikes across the country, including in the east and its ground forces have recaptured the town of Adra, northeast of Damascus, tightening Assad’s grip on

WHO sees small-scale use of experimental Ebola vaccines in January n Reuters, Geneva The World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Friday it expected to begin small-scale use of two experimental Ebola vaccines in West Africa early next year and in the meantime transfusions of survivors’ blood may offer the best hope of treatment.

WHO is working with pharmaceutical companies and regulators to accelerate the use of a range of potential treatments to fight the disease, a senior WHO official said. Ebola has no cure and has killed at least 3,091 out of 6,574 people infected in West Africa since an outbreak began in March.

GlaxoSmithKline has begun clini-

cal trials of its vaccine in the United States and Britain, to be followed by a trial starting in Mali next week, while NewLink vaccine trials are about to start in the United States and Germany, said Dr. Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO assistant director-general.

“If everything goes well again we might be able to start to use some of these vaccines in affected countries at the very beginning of next year, in January. This will not be a mass vaccination campaign, let’s be clear about that because the quantity which will be available doesn’t make this possible,” Kieny told a news briefing in Geneva.

She stressed however that the

shots were experimental and had not yet been shown to work against Ebola: “They have given very promising results in monkeys, but monkeys are not humans.

“We could still face a situation where these vaccines would be unsafe in humans or where they would do nothing in terms of protection. So we need to be very prudent.”

Data will be collected from clinical trials when the experimental vaccines are being given to healthy volunteers who are then monitored for adverse side effects and to see if the shot elicits an immune response in their blood.

Regulators at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) said on Friday they

would begin reviewing data on experimental Ebola medicines to support any decisions made on whether to use them for treating patients.

Canada has given 800 vials of the NewLink candidate vaccine to WHO, expected to yield at least 1,500 doses, Kieny said. The US-based firm is “working very hard to produce a few more thousand doses in the coming months,” she added.

GSK has said it hopes to have 10,000 doses of its experimental vaccine by the end of this year.

Kieny said an experimental Ebola vaccine being developed by Johnson & Johnson but not yet ready for trials in humans was also under consideration. l

West Africa Ebola death toll passes 3,000 n Reuters, Dakar

The death toll from an outbreak of Ebola in West Africa has risen to at least 3,091 out of 6,574 probable, suspected and confirmed cases, the World Health Organisation said on Friday.

Liberia has recorded 1,830 deaths, around three times as many as in ei-

ther Guinea or Sierra Leone, the two other most affected countries, according to WHO data received up to September 23.

An outbreak that began in a remote corner of Guinea has taken hold of much of neighbouring Liberia and Sierra Leone, prompting warnings that tens of thousands of people may die

from the worst outbreak of the disease on record.

The WHO update said Liberia had reported six confirmed cases of Ebola and four deaths in the Grand Cru district, which is near the border with Ivory Coast and had not previously recorded any cases of Ebola.

The district of Kindia in Guinea also

reported its first confirmed case, the WHO said, a day after it said the spread of Ebola appeared to have stabilised in that country.

Nigeria and Senegal, the two other nations that have had confirmed cases of Ebola in the region, have not recorded any new cases or deaths in the last few weeks. l

territory around the capital. But Russia questioned the legality of US and Arab air strikes in Syria.

Until this week France was the only Western country to answer President Barack Obama’s call to join the campaign. Since Monday, Australia and the Netherlands have also joined. On Friday, Germany expressed support for the mission, while lawmakers in Britain and Belgium have now approved taking part in the air campaign. l

No breakthrough in Iran nuclear talks, sides agree to keep talking n Reuters, United Nations Iran and six world powers made little progress in overcoming significant disagreements in the most recent round of nuclear talks, including on uranium enrichment, Iranian and Western diplomats close to the negotiations said on Friday.

Officials from Iran and the six countries had cautioned ahead of the talks in New York that a breakthrough was unlikely to end sanctions on Tehran, although they had hoped substantial progress could be made in narrowing disagreements.

A senior State Department official said gaps “are still serious” with just eight weeks to go before a Nov 24 deadline.

“We do not have an understanding on all major issues, we have some understandings that are helpful to move this process forward and we have an enormous number of details still to work through,” the official told reporters.

“We still have some very, very difficult understandings yet to reach, and everyone has to make difficult decisions and we continue to look to Iran to make some of the ones necessary for getting to a comprehensive agreement,” said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Another diplomat said Iran and the United States, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China would likely meet again in the coming weeks, but no date and venue have been set.

Iran President Hassan Rouhani said at a news conference on in New York that the “progress we have witnessed in recent days has been extremely slow.” l

Egypt postpones verdict in case against Mubarak n Reuters, Cairo An Egyptian court postponed to Nov. 29 its verdict on whether former president Hosni Mubarak ordered the killing of protesters during the 2011 uprising that ended his three-decade rule.

Before adjourning the hearing on Saturday, the judge said he and members of the prosecution team had not finished reviewing all the evidence in the case, which amounted to 160,000 pages.

A TV screen in the courtroom showed thousands of documents related to the case piled up in folders and bound with string.

Mubarak, his interior minister Habib al-Adly and six other senior security officers are accused of ordering the killings of more than 800 protesters, sowing chaos and creating a security vacuum during the 18-day revolt. They deny the charges.

The former strongman and Adly were both sentenced to life in prison in 2012 after being convicted in the case but an appeals court subsequently ordered a retrial.

Many Egyptians who lived through his autocracy and crony capitalism considered it a victory to see Mubarak behind bars.

His overthrow led to Egypt’s first free leadership election but the winner, Mohamed Mursi, was ousted last year by the army and some Mubarak-era figures have since been released, raising fears among activists that the old regime was regaining influence.

Mubarak, 86, arrived at the court in a medical helicopter and was wheeled off the back on a stretcher surrounded by police clutching rifles. He appeared with fellow defendants in a courtroom cage, looking pale and glum and wearing sunglasses.

Outside the court at the Cairo police academy, his supporters gathered, carrying pictures of the former airforce commander and chanting slogans demanding his release.

Families of those killed by security forces during the uprising came to protest.

“This delay comes in preparation for the clearing of Mubarak,” said one woman whose son died during the street revolt. “We feel like our rights have been lost.”

Highlighting how polarized Egyptian society has become, fights broke out between Mubarak supporters and relatives of the deceased. Police broke up the fight and arrested two people. l

Catalonian leader orders referendum on independence from Spain n Reuters, Barcelona, Spain

Pro-independence supporters display banners reading ‘Live free or die’ (L) and ‘We are a nation’ (R) in front of the Government Palace, before Catalonia’s President Artur Mas signs a decree calling for an independence referendum, in Barcelona September 27. Mas signed the decree calling an independence referendum on Nov 9, putting him on a collision course with the central government REUTERS

The president of Spain’s Catalonia region signed a decree yesterday calling for a referendum on independence to be held on on November 9, putting the local government on a collision course with Madrid, which says such a vote is illegal.

The wealthy northeastern region, which accounts for around a fifth of Spain’s economy, has its own language and distinct culture and has long fought for self-rule.

A large majority of Catalans want to hold a referendum on independence, polls show, and have been encouraged by the close result in this month’s binding referendum in Scotland.

The region’s president, Artur Mas, signed the decree in a solemn ceremony in the Catalan regional government’s offices in Barcelona - the gothic Generalitat Palace - surrounded by his government and political allies in his campaign for independence.

“Catalonia wants to speak. Wants to be heard. Wants to vote. Now is the right time and we have the right legal framework to do so,” Mas said in a speech in Catalan, Spanish and English immediately after the signing ceremony.

In a section of his speech in English,

Mas said he wanted to convey a message to European leaders and people.

“As all the nations in the world, Catalonia has the right to decide its political future ... We believe that political issues must be resolved by negotiation and civilised attitudes. And we know that democracy is the most civilised way to resolve difficulties between nations.”

Hundreds of people waving the Catalan flag and chanting pro-independence slogans greeted a smiling Mas in the plaza outside the palace after his speech.

“I never voted for him, but he is behaving just perfectly in this process we are going through. It is superb,” a supporter of the separatist movement, Isabel Roca Puig, said in Catalan.

Madrid to block vote

Spanish deputy prime minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria said in a news conference after Mas signed the decree that the albeit non-binding vote would violate the country’s 1978 constitution, drawn up on Spain’s transition to democracy, and vowed to block it.

The cabinet will meet on Monday to formalise the appeal, then the objection will be handed to the Constitution-

al Court which is expected to suspend the vote until a final ruling is made on its legality, which could take years.

“No government, nobody, is above the law because nobody is above the sovereign will of all the Spanish people,” Saenz de Santamaria said.

“We deeply regret this, and believe the Catalan president’s initiative is a mistake. It fractures the Catalan society, divides the Catalan people and distances them from Europe and the spirit of the times.”

Mas has been under pressure from separatist coalition partners to go ahead with the referendum even if it is declared illegal, although he has himself said he would not do anything that is against the law.

Political analysts expect the Catalan leader to call early elections after Madrid blocks the vote. He would then use the elections as a way to give Catalans a chance to vote on independence from Spain.

Madrid’s refusal to allow a vote has angered many Catalans, even those who favour continued union with Spain. Hundreds of thousands of people marched in the streets of Barcelona earlier this month for the right to hold a referendum. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Hefty reward for serving summon to Modi announced n Agencies

The civil rights body behind a lawsuit filed against Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in connection with the 2002 Gujarat riots case has offered a reward of $10,000 to anyone who could serve him with the court summons.

New York-based legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun told reporters

The reward will be given to the person who serves the summons and brings a pictorial and video proof that the summons have been served on Friday that American Justice Centre (AJC) is offering a reward of $10,000 to anyone who will serve the summons on Modi during his various public engagements in the city over the period of next two days, PTI reported.

The reward will be given to the person who serves the summons and brings a pictorial and video proof that the summons have been served. The group has also hired process servers to serve the summons.

The group said that service in the

Indonesia province to punish gay sex by caning n AP, Banda Aceh, Indonesia Lawmakers in a conservative Muslim Indonesian province passed a law yesterday that punishes gay sex by public caning and subjects non-Muslims to the region’s strict interpretation of Islamic sharia law.

Human rights groups have said the law violates international treaties signed

by Indonesia protecting the rights of minorities and women. Gay rights activist King Oey urged the central government’s new moderate leadership to use its influence to overturn the law, or appeal it at the Constitutional Court.

“It’s discriminatory and saddening,” he said. “We urge people who are concerned with human rights will not sit by silently.”

The measure was passed by the 69-member assembly unanimously early Saturday after hours of debate, just days before a new 81-member regional parliament takes over in Aceh province next week, said lawmaker Mahyaruddin Yusuf from the Islamic-based Prosperous Justice Party.

The law says anal sex between men is punishable by up to 100 lashes of the cane. Women found guilty of “rubbing” their body parts against each other for sexual pleasure are also liable for caning.

Some articles deemed too harsh had been revised. An earlier version of the law that called for people to be stoned to death for adultery has been dropped because of complaints from the central government, said lawmaker Moharriadi Syafari.

The law doesn’t mention other sex acts, raising questions over whether the region’s clerics considered them acceptable or even how much thought had gone into the drafting of the law.

The law also applies to non-Muslims in the overwhelmingly Muslim province. Only 1% of Aceh residents are non-Muslims. l

lawsuit in being governed under the New York State laws, which provide that the service can be accomplished from a distance of even 10 feet and “papers can be thrown” over the individual concerned.

The summons to Modi were issued on Thursday by the US federal court for the southern district of New York for his alleged role in 2002 communal riots in Gujarat when he was the chief minister. These have been issued on a civil lawsuit filed against Modi by the AJC along with two survivors of the post-Godhra violence under the Alien Tort Claims Act and the Torture Victim Protection Act. Seeking compensatory and punitive damages, the 28-page complaint charges Modi with committing crimes against humanity, extra-judicial killings, torture and inflicting mental and physical trauma on the victims, mostly from the Muslim community.

Modi’s arrival in the US provides a special opportunity to charge him under the Alien Tort Claims Act and the Torture Victims Protection Act (TVPA).

These laws were enacted to enable victims of human rights abuses to pursue justice against their tormentors even when the crimes were committed outside the US. AJC president Joseph Whittington said that while serving the summons on Modi will not be easy, it will be a symbolic victory for the victims of the 2002 riots. l

World

Afghan villagers hang Taliban fighters as battle for district rages n Reuters, Ghazni, Afghanistan

M T O N TA K E VO LC A N O E R U P T S

Climbers descend Mt Ontake, which straddles Nagano and Gifu prefectures, to evacuate as the volcano erupts in central Japan in this photo taken by a climber and released by Kyodo. The Mt Ontake volcano erupted yesterday, killing one woman and seriously injuring more than 30 people. The Japan Meteorological Agency said the volcano, 200 km west of Tokyo, erupted just before midday and sent ash pouring down the mountain’s south slope for more than three km REUTERS

Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar could face detention under draft plan n Reuters, Yangon/Bangkok Myanmar’s national government has drafted a plan that will give around a million members of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim ethnic minority a bleak choice: accept ethnic reclassification and the prospect of citizenship, or be detained.

Most of Myanmar’s 1.1 million Rohingya already live in apartheid-like conditions in western Rakhine, where deadly clashes with ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in 2012 displaced 140,000 people, mostly Rohingya.

The plan, shared with Reuters by sources who have received copies of the draft, proposes Rakhine authorities “construct temporary camps in required numbers for those who refuse to be registered and those without adequate documents.”

Many Rohingya lost documents in the widespread violence, or have previously refused to register as “Bengalis,” as required by the government under the new plan, because they say the term implies they are illegal immigrants from neighbouring Bangladesh.

Despite winning praise for politi-

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Sunday, September 28, 2014

cal and economic reforms introduced since military rule ended in March 2011, Myanmar has come under international pressure over its treatment of the Rohingya. The plan says one of its aims is to promote peaceful co-existence and prevent sectarian tension and conflict.

It includes sections on resolving statelessness through a citizenship verification programme, as well as promoting economic development.

But rights advocates say it could potentially put thousands of Rohingya, including those living in long-settled villages, at risk of indefinite detention.

Citizenship offer The government will offer citizenship for those that accept the classification and have required documentation.

That may encourage some to consent to identification as Bengali.

Citizenship would offer some legal protection and rights to those Rohingya who attain it. But an official from Rakhine State who is part of the committee overseeing citizenship verification said even that would not resolve the simmering tensions between Buddhists and Muslims in the state, or prevent a recurrence of the inter-community violence that plagued the country in 2012.

“Practically, even after being given citizenship and resettlement and all that, a Bengali with a citizenship card still won’t be able to walk into a Rakhine village,” said Tha Pwint, who also serves on the committee that oversees humanitarian affairs in the Rakhine.

The plan was drafted at the request of the national government, said Tha Pwint and three other sources contacted by Reuters about the plan.

Myanmar government spokesman Ye Htut could not be reached for comment on the plan, despite repeated efforts by Reuters to contact him by telephone and email.

Stateless minority

A child, whose parents belong to the Rohingya community from Myanmar, looks out from a makeshift shelter in a camp in New Delhi September 13. India, despite hosting some 30,000 registered refugees, has no legal recognition of asylum seekers, making it difficult for them to use essential services like schools and hospitals, and the Rohingya community is among the most vulnerable REUTERS

Many Rohingya families have lived in Rakhine for generations and are part of a small minority in the predominately Buddhist Myanmar.

They are stateless because the government does not recognise the existence of the Rohingya ethnicity, and has to date refused to grant the majority of them citizenship.

Accepting the term Bengali could leave the Rohingya vulnerable should authorities in future attempt to send them to Bangladesh as illegal immigrants, said Phil Robertson, deputy director for Asia at Human Rights Watch. l

Afghan villagers hanged four captured Taliban militants from a tree yesterday as security forces battled the insurgents for a sixth day in a district of Ghazni province, an official said.

The hangings were carried out after Taliban fighters had killed more than 100 people in the area in the past week, including more than a dozen who were beheaded, according to Ghazni deputy governor Mohammad Ali Ahmadi.

The battle in the Ajrestan district of Ghazni, southwest of the capital Kabul, is part of an escalation of Taliban attacks around the country as the militants take advantage of dwindling US air support as foreign forces leave.

The assault by an estimated 700 Taliban fighters began about six days ago but Afghan army commando reinforcements and the threat of Nato air strikes have so far prevented the district from falling under Taliban control, said Ahmadi.

Heavy fighting continued on Saturday in Ajrestan, in the far west of the province.

The four captured militants were handed over to residents in Arzakai village, according to Ahmadi, who also uses the name Ahmadullah Ahmadi. It was unclear who handed the men over to the villagers, or why.

Army commandos supported by aircraft from the US-led military coalition arrived on Friday to help local army and police, Ahmadi said. l

Xinjiang unrest: China raises death toll to 50 n Agencies Fifty people died in violence on Sunday in Xinjiang, Chinese state media said, in what police called a “serious terrorist attack.”

Earlier this week state media reported the incident in Luntai county but gave the death toll as two, according to a report by BBC. On Thursday a state news portal said 40 “rioters,” six civilians and four police officers were killed. No reason was given for the delay in reporting.

Violence has been escalating in Xinjiang in recent months.

The region in China’s far west is home to the Muslim Uighur minority group. Tensions exist between the Uighur community and the Han Chinese.

The regional government’s news portal, Tianshan, said that blasts occurred around 17:00 on Sunday at two police stations, an outdoor market and a shop entrance.

The “rioters” either blew themselves up or were shot dead by police, it said. Fifty-four civilians were injured and two “rioters” were captured, it said.

Tianshan named the main suspect as Mamat Tursun, saying he “had been operating as an extremist since 2003.”

Confirming reports about incidents in Xinjiang is difficult, because access is tightly controlled and information flow restricted.

China blames incidents on Uighur extremists inspired and supported by overseas terror groups. Uighur activists say oppressive Chinese rule is fuelling anger and violence in local communities.

There have been high-profile, organised attacks on civilians in Kunming and Urumqi that have left dozens of people dead.

There have been other incidents of which less is known. In July violence left 96 people dead in Xinjiang’s Yarkant. l

Hong Kong police clear protesters from government buildings

New images from MH370 reveal seabed details

n Reuters, Hong Kong

n Agencies

Hong Kong riot police used pepper spray to disperse protesters around government headquarters yesterday, fuelling tension ahead of a planned sitin by pro-democracy activists to oppose Beijing’s tightening grip on the city.

Clashes through the night between police carrying riot shields and scores of demonstrators underscore the challenges China faces in Hong Kong as a restive younger generation challenges its influence in the former British colony. Several people suffered minor injuries.

The protesters got into the city’s main government compound late on

Friday by forcing their way through a police cordon and scaling perimeter fences in the culmination of a weeklong rally to demand free elections.

They were removed one by one, some of them carried away, according to witnesses. On Saturday, hundreds were still sitting near the compound close to Hong Kong’s financial district.

“The police have used disproportionate force to stop the legitimate actions of the students and that should be condemned,” said Benny Tai, one of the three main organizers of the pro-democracy Occupy Central movement.

Police arrested 61 people in the clearance operation, including 48 men

and 13 women.

Several thousand protesters had massed on streets outside the headquarters in the early hours of Saturday in support of those who had stormed inside, shouting “retreat, retreat, retreat” as police advanced and tried to stop them charging.

Many protesters used umbrellas to shield themselves from the pepper spray. Those who got hit used water to rinse their eyes.

“I paid my highest respect to every soldier who defends till the last moment... Civil disobedience - it continues to happen,” said student leader Lester Shum on his Facebook page. l

The team looking for missing flight MH370 has released detailed images of the seabed - revealing features such as extinct volcanoes and 1,400-metre depressions for the first time.

The collection of data from one of the most secret parts of the world is a by-product of the search. Until now there were better maps of Mars than of this bit of the sea floor.

The Malaysian Airlines plane vanished without trace on 8 March with 239 people on board. Twenty-six countries have helped look for the Boeing 777, but nothing has ever been found.

The aircraft was flying from the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, to Beijing.

The team at the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), which is leading the hunt for the plane, is using sonar to map the new “priority” search area, at the bottom of the Southern Indian Ocean.

After that they will deploy two or three deep-sea vehicles to begin the painstaking, inch-by-inch seabed search for wreckage.

The “priority” area is based on the only piece of hard evidence investigators have, which is a series of brief, electronic “hellos” between the Boe-

ing and a satellite.

It is the equivalent of your mobile phone buzzing next to a loud speaker because it is checking in with a ground station, even when you are not making a call.

But those “hellos” don’t give an exact location, just a very rough idea, so the smaller, “priority” area is still 60,000 sq km (23,200 sq miles) - an area roughly the size of Croatia.

However, the data is not designed to pick up the aircraft, as the resolution is too coarse. Simon Boxall from the National Oceanography Centre says that despite this, it does provide a detailed look at the seabed. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Sunday, September 28, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

We need global taxes on fossil fuels

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

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angladesh cannot afford to ignore the magnitude of the threat posed by climate change.

The worst case scenarios of climate change catastrophe predicted by the IPCC show polar icecaps melting and the resultant rise in sea and river levels permanently inundating entire districts of Bangladesh.

There is no way we can hope to adapt to such a scale of climate change. Millions of refugees would be created and the country would face perpetual famine as millions of farmers become landless.

We urgently need the world to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The best way to do this is through taxing fossil fuels to reduce emissions and create funds for investment in renewable alternatives.

Unfortunately, the UN Climate Summit in New York this week did not provide any meaningful progress on the taxation of fossil fuels.

While the worldwide People’s Climate March demonstrated widespread support and the summit made some positive declarations, it did not deliver on taxing fossil fuels. Nor did it bring forth anything like the scale of financial commitments required by the Green Climate Fund established at the 2009 Copenhagen Summit.

Without a worldwide approach to taxing carbon, large emitting companies and countries will not have any incentive to make the investments and changes needed.

The prime minister was right to ask rich countries to reduce carbon emissions, and to support Bangladesh in adapting to climate change.

But unless large and rich industrialised nations are incentivised to reduce their emissions, policy changes in Bangladesh will not be enough to avert catastrophe. We must call on the world to get its act together.

www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune

Quick brown fox

Incentivise large industrialised nations to avert catastrophe

Tackle the causes of violence against women

September 21

Improve attitudes about the role of women

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

had it been an operational army, his skills could have been of immense benefit, especially for Special Operations. But his bohemian attitude toward life and his profession used to agonise me too.

I knew it would be difficult for him to pursue a career in the army, a place of strict, uncompromising discipline, for long. And it happened. After some time, I heard the news that Masood had left the army. Next I saw him at BUET, with a camera with which he was working for BBC. Still, he remains a loving pupil to me.

Shanto Rahman Hmm. A legend all by himself, a talent in the army.

Very fondly we used to call him John Henry. The soldiers used to love him from the core of their hearts. Remember, we always played football in the rain.

We served together!!!

Mesbahuddin Serniabat Thanks to the Dhaka Tribune for being quite vivid in explaining the profile of a once favourite student I tried to train about special operations in infantry school. He seemed to me to be a hidden cache of potentialities, even in the army, but the species of his kind suffers from sustained unrest, especially in their much younger days. Fellow instructors used to be surprised at my special liking of him. But I knew,

Preparing for Durga Puja September 20

Hasan Masood Mesbahuddin Serniabat : You made me cry, sir. :-( It was my fortune that I never served under a good CO. When I needed guidance the way you did during ACCI-9, no one looked at me. Instead most of them were oiling those rotten COs. Masood was always made a scapegoat in every occasion. I’m writing a biography; in fact it’s almost done, with all those funny incidents that happened during my service.

You are right, sir. I’m still fighting the battle against this contaminated society, and it will go on.

Bohemianism is my nature and I can’t help it, sir.

Please keep me in your prayers and thank you very much. I knew you loved me the way I respected you, always. :-)

Osmania Rudy Haugeneder: Now, I hope the march helps bring positive action. But doom-mongering like this rarely helps anything. As for fantasising about cannibalism, well, that’s plain wrong.

Sheikh Jinat Mahmid Durga!!

Minhaz Shanto “An artist is seen sculpting an idol of the Durga at a temple in Bogra on Friday. Preparations of Durga puja, the biggest religious festival of Hindus, are going on in full swing in the district.”

Nice statue.

‘BD will become middle-income nation during AL tenure’ September 20 EL “In order to achieve this goal, there is no alternative to women empowerment, says Muhith.”

I support Muhith’s speech, and believe that men and women are both needed to make a developed country.

Dr Sheikh Farid Ahammod Not possible until the country is politically stable.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

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.

Bangladesh should take a lead on climate change

September 21 Rudy Haugeneder There better be millions of folks participating in the People’s Climate March around the world. Otherwise, once the already accelerating climate change kicks into worldwide overdrive, so does cannibalism.

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he recent case of a teenage girl being publicly tortured by her boyfriend and his family in Barisal, is yet another disturbing illustration of the violence endured by women from all walks of life.

We must not ignore the many social reasons which contribute to cases of violence against women.

One of the core reasons behind the escalation of violence against women is the unhealthy social norms in our country which value men over women.

Urgent changes need to be made to public attitudes about the role of women. Bangladesh’s steadily changing economic landscape is seeing more and more women taking on the role of the household breadwinner, which goes against the traditional male authority figure ingrained deep within our evolving social fabric.

Young men especially need to be better educated about the importance of respecting the rights and choices of girls and women and to treat them as equals.

The speaker of Jatiya Sangsad recently supported suggestions made at a seminar of Asia-Pacific region parliamentarians that MPs need to play a stronger role in tackling the causes which contribute to cycles of violence against women.

It will be welcome to see more people in positions of influence, speak out about the need to not just act against perpetrators of violence committed to women, but to tackle the attitudes which help to bring it about.

Women’s empowerment is a key factor to Bangladesh’s development and growth. We must challenge attitudes which hold it back or which cause abuse and violence against women.

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 3 represents N so fill N every time the figure 3 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.

curtaincall The People’s Climate March is one of those things that, as a society, brings us together on an issue that impacts us all – where we commit to the issue and put our collective heads to look for solutions to tackle the impact. Bangladesh has made great strides in adapting to the impacts.

Denying Bangladesh September 20 Ayan Rahman

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Agitate (4) 4 S-shaped molding (4) 8 Queer (3) 9 Undulate (4) 10 Cicatrix (4) 11 Even (5) 12 Part of a church (4) 14 Ship’s record (3) 15 Limb (3) 17 Sharp blow (3) 19 Headwear (3) 21 Drug-yielding plant (4) 23 Waste (5) 26 Legal document (4) 27 Mountain lion (4) 28 Seek charity (3) 29 Afresh (4) 30 Bellow (4)

DOWN 1 Sibling (6) 2 Modern Persia (4) 3 Bucolic (5) 4 Be indebted (3) 5 Chairperson’s hammer (5) 6 First woman (3) 7 Slippery fish (3) 11 Within the law (5) 13 Oral (5) 16 Musical instrument (6) 18 Best quality (5) 20 Strength (5) 22 Therefore (4) 23 Mineral spring (3) 24 Play on words (3) 25 Jurisprudence (3)

“These are examples of neglect and willful denial, an ignorance that diminishes Bangladesh today.

A tragedy for a nation with so much heritage to boast.” Thank you Tim Steel for educating us on this matter. :)

Legalese: Sharing is caring September 19

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

Minhaz Shanto Hmm. Very nice.

CROSSWORD

Acting JMB chief among 7 arrested September 19

PEANUTS

P Sarker “Huge explosives have been seized from the possessions of the JMB members.”

Just as with the ruling on Sayedee and the improvement of Rab’s image, the government has much more to show us.

Death toll in West Africa Ebola epidemic reaches 2,622 September 20

NA Terrible news! Those poor people and their families!

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Rethink your revolutions

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n Irfan Chowdhury o produce a list of “top x of something” is arduous, but that has never deterred discussion of who has made the list. In the infinite connectivity of social media we see many “top 10s.” Ramachandra Guha, an Indian columnist and historian, has produced a list of modern Asian leaders in his recent book, Makers of Modern Asia.

The 11 luminaries in Mr Guha’s list include obvious names such as Gandhi, Mao, Ho Chi Minh, Sukarno or Lee Kuan Yew, and it omits some otherwise negatively notables: Park Chung-hee, Kim-il Sung, Ayatollah Khomeini, or any of Japan’s nationalist leaders.

In assembling these names, one gets a flavour of what the region was trying to overcome through different leaders and diverse methods, from pacifism to bloodshed – post-colonial imperialism, economic disadvantage, salvation of the peasants, inadequacies on many fronts: Food supply, governance, infrastructure, legislature, but above all, political freedom.

But if those were the aspirations of recent Asian leaders, what do leaders or would-be leaders aspire to now?

Over half a century later, stark similarities remain in their goals, especially their efforts to overhaul political systems.

The region has progressed economically; parts of it have made stellar economic advancement, matching or surpassing developed economies. Still, across the continent, political unrest stemming from quests for power is ubiquitous. For many Asian nations, the pursuit of a true democratic system has been a mirage, and also a disruption of ordinary life.

In the sub-continent, two names threatened to change everything.

Their campaigns were filled with a puritanical urge to cleanse the system of corrupt politicians, and promises to break the unholy nexus between cronies, business, and administration, which perhaps appeal to some young urbanites. But neither Imran Khan nor Arvind Kejriwal has been able to garner the mass support needed to fulfill their promises.

While Imran Khan won provincial government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and secured the second highest votes in the election, he has been leading a month-long protest preferring agitation over governance. Observers think this is undermining the democratic process in the country.

If his claims of massive electoral irregularities and his demand for overhaul of the electoral system may be valid, his decision to quit parliament (although choosing to maintain his party’s governing position by not quitting in KPK) and to take to the streets exposes issues in an immature system: Most importantly, lack of trust in electoral processes.

Thailand has seen extraordinary events, muddling its efforts to continue on a democratic path during the last decade. The streets of Bangkok may be calmer now, but debilitating face-offs forced the military to intervene, perhaps giving them moral underpinning to revise the constitution.

For many Asian nations, the pursuit of a true democratic system has been a mirage

This may be followed by a fresh election and civilian rule but fear remains that this may not happen, or what will be the result if the desired party does not win, once more. This is particularly important given the differences in support among urban and rural Thais, and how the ruling class has been able to annul election results.

The doldrums are likely to leave Thais worse off.

Protesters in Hong Kong have been demanding their democratic rights for years. Strong annual democracy marches and intermittent Occupy movements have not proved successful. Their demand to choose the chief executive through universal suffrage has been deferred until 2017, and

Is there a lesson in Jokowi’s success in Indonesia? negotiations between the Chinese and Hong Kong governments are unpromising.

The recent Chinese proposal insists that the candidates have the endorsement of a “nominating committee,” similar to that which picked the present chief executive. However, such proposals will need to gain a two-thirds support in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council, where half of its 70 members are directly elected, and pro-democracy parties hold 27 seats.

The common theme in these examples (and there are others – eg Malaysia or Myanmar) is that regardless of complex issues, history, culture, and most importantly economic prosperity or struggle, citizens want democratic freedom – they want to be able to choose their governments.

But the events in which they had little role forces them to live under tyranny. For nations to get to a point where elections are conducted on time by an apolitical Election Commission where winners and losers accept the verdict and move on – akin to the

Old enough? n Nafeesa Shamsuddin

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aisy, 12, was not being forced.

Instead, she had insisted to her father to get her married. She told me how poor her parents were, how her brothers and sisters all slept on the floor of their one-room hut.

Her father sold paan, her eldest sister had been abandoned by her husband, and her other sister was in an abusive marriage.

She had known the groom for five years, she claimed. She met his family, who were better off in her eyes: “They had a bed and a fan.” I asked who she would turn to if there was a problem at her in-laws, she said it did not matter, she would prefer to die there. If there was no way for her to get married, she would commit suicide. Her outlook was bleak.

What factors are taken into consideration when determining the age of maturity?

She remained stubborn when I tried to convince her that being unmarried and older was not a problem. When I told her I was 31 and had only just gotten married, she glared at me with big eyes.

There was a gap between us – of opportunities, social status, and mindset. I was privileged to grow up in an environment where I was allowed a secure space to think, grow, and feel like an independent individual. Even though both my younger sisters had gotten married before me, I knew my rights.

The chairman of Pragpur Union in Daulatpur Upazila, and Sufia Begum, a social worker, spoke of why these cases were happening so frequently in their union. The district commissioner

of Kushtia is very concerned regarding the number of cases. He also feels it is positive that recently more people have been calling him directly. There have been increasing reports where the civil administration has been able to intervene and break up several underage marriages. Recently, he started a campaign to make young girls aware.

At a time when the government is celebrating advances in women’s health, education, and economic opportunities, it has taken a step backwards, which is contradictory to the “Vision 2021” plan it had announced to achieve gender equality by addressing the poverty issues, particularly those faced by women.

In her report after her visit to Bangladesh in 2013, the UN Special rapporteur on Violence Against Women pointed out that there had been zero expenditure for the National Women’s Development Policy in 2013-14, despite the allocated budget for this ministry.

The Ministry of Women and Children Affairs is supposed to be responsible for developing laws and policies to ensure the economic empowerment and participation of women.

Instead, the minister is allowing teenagers to marry, instead of introducing measures to improve their lives and opportunities. Does the minister feel that these young girls do not have the right to development, or economic security?

In 2011, the government had committed to the National Women’s Development Policy, which seeks to reduce violence, eliminate discrimination, increase access to education, health, and employment, and address the special needs of older women, women with disabilities, and women from indigenous and marginalised communities.

Why have there been no work plan or initiatives taken since 2011, despite there being a budget for these measures? The number of cases of early marriage in Daulatpur is alarming. Often, those who are working in the civil administration despair at the band-aid solutions they provide in these scenarios. Daisy was given Tk5,000 for her education. How long will that last?

Indian system, which manages this basic step reasonably fairly, given its diversity and the sheer numbers of voters, parties, candidates – seems a very long journey.

The idea that citizens can shape their own destiny should be exhilarating for leaders and their supporters.

Yet, only a few Asian nations have been able to implement it.

To what can this be ascribed? If the nationalistic spirit was a key reason for the economic success of past leaders, their inability to relinquish power – only a few Asian leaders have left office before their death – has delayed or prevented the formation of democratic and transparent succession procedures.

A common but essential feature of past leaders was their ability to quash their rivals. Current leaders seem solely focused on that attribute.

There is great variation in the circumstances where demonstrations have occurred, but they are led by elites, involve the urban middleclass and face the challenge of turning

REUTERS

slogans to reality. Then there are personality clashes in lieu of ideologies or values, simply perpetuating the agony.

Further, economic stability and progress are lethal tools for the incumbents. People want economic prosperity, rather than being concerned about who is at the helm as long as they are not overly-oppressed and being skillfully managed.

Agitations, marches, sit-ins and fasting seem to lose their usual appeal, particularly among the less well-off.

Their immediate priorities are food, clothes, shelter, or jobs – not, for example, freedom of speech or disproportionate defence spending.

This is why aspiring leaders could do worse than demonstrating their ability on the ground; there was one such example this year.

The Indonesian election, like Pakistan’s last year, saw a democratically elected leader making way for another.

The winner brings unprecedented credentials to the job. Jokowi, the president-elect, has not risen through the ranks of the military, nor does he share

a hereditary line with past rulers.

His ascendance adds to testimony for democracy in the country – showing that individuals can work hard with innovative problem-solving skills at the grassroots, win nominations from major political parties, and showcase their governance skills to win votes.

Yet the loosing candidate, Prabowo Subianto, is set to take his revenge using his party’s majority in the parliament. On September 25, 2014, the Associated Press reported that Indonesia’s parliament voted to abolish the direct elections of local officials, the method which has helped aspiring but little-known politicians like Jokowi to show his leadership and governance skills. This bill will take away electoral authority from people to party leadership.

As in Asia, democracy is yet to become entrenched in Indonesia, but is there a lesson for others to learn from Jokowi’s success? l Irfan Chowdhury is an opinion columnist.

A smaller footprint An assistant commissioner (land) for Daulatpur Upazila, spoke about the challenges faced in dealing with such cases, each one distinctly pointing to economic impoverishment as the main reason for parents marrying their daughters off.

Acting as a magistrate, Nahida has run several mobile courts which have resulted in the father or potential suitor being fined, arrested, or jailed.

Nahida feels the recent lowering of the legal age for marriage will only increase the number of cases she has to deal with, as now more 14 or 15-yearolds will look to marriage as an option for their livelihood.

The state should understand the reasons for underage marriage, and draw up practical action plans after conducting proper, district-wide research on possible initiatives.

Unlike other developing countries where parents worry more about the maturity of their 16-year-old daughter wanting to get married, in Bangladesh, daughters are seen as an economic burden or liability. The district commissioner of Kushtia spoke about the anxiety families have for the security of their daughters once they have reached physical maturity.

Recently, a teacher was caught for sexually assaulting 30 teenage girls.

Girls are not safe at school, on the streets, or even their own homes.

Perhaps the government should focus on tackling these issues instead of sending further lambs to the slaughter with such a dangerous policy.

The DC of Kushtia interestingly mentioned that if the government is changing the age for marriage, they should also reconsider the age for youth who commit crimes. In the court of law, those under the age of 18 have to be tried in a juvenile court; their age is considered in deciding their punishment. What factors are taken into consideration when determining the age of maturity? Who in the government is deciding the age limits? Can one be too young to commit a crime, but old enough to marry? l Nafeesa Shamsuddin works as a consultant at Ain o Salish Kendra.

n Mohiuddin Ahmed Shuvo

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arbon, in the intriguing phrase “carbon footprint,” refers to the anthropogenic greenhouse gases released to the atmosphere that contributes to global warming, while footprint indicates the overall impact that something has.

The phrase is a derivation of the best estimate of the impact on climate change that something can impose.

Of course, this “something” could be anything, for instance, an individual, a community, an object, or even the world. Highlighting this aspect of our country, we are heavily challenged by the negative impacts of climate change today, and in the predicted future, notably by sea-level rise, floods, droughts, etc.

Dhaka is one of the most polluted cities in the world, where industrial waste, effluent, highly polluted rivers, depletion of the ozone layer, and rigorous usage of fossil fuels are genuine obstacles for the environment. Regardless, it is our duty to be as eco-friendly as possible. Hence, reducing our carbon footprint can be a first-hand approach for stabilising ourselves to a more environment-friendly Bangladesh.

Reducing the carbon footprint

Every person has an effect on the environment directly and indirectly.

The car we use, the type of food we consume, even the air conditioning at our house increases the carbon footprint for an individual. Of course, it is not expected that everyone should abandon their daily needs to reduce their carbon footprint. Although, it is rather wise to make efficient usage of these needs.

Strategies for reducing one’s carbon footprint may seem like clichéd terms for one to hear. However, it is always necessary to give a reminder regarding this matter to the public, because every little contribution from individuals will help build a better tomorrow.

There are many ways by which a person can reduce his/her footprint.

These include – being accustomed with the idea of RRR (reduce, reuse, recy-

cle), planting more trees, efficient car maintenance, walking to destinations when possible, switching off electrical appliances like fans, lights, air conditioners, etc when not required, efficiently using heating and cooling devices, reducing kitchen wastage, reducing air travel if possible, introducing separate bins for recyclable products, and efficiently using water.

awareness.

Today, there are approximately 800 working NGOs in Bangladesh, which work closely with issues associated with rural development, environmental aspects, literacy, and tackling poverty. These NGOs play a key role in implementing the carbon footprint idea in Bangladesh, in the rural areas at least.

The car we use, the type of food we consume, even the air conditioning at our house increases the carbon footprint for an individual

Simple strategies like these can easily help immediately reduce your carbon footprint. The United Kingdom aims to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 80% below the 1990 levels by 2050.

Also, achieving a low carbon footprint for individuals is part of their strategy. A person not using the bin and throwing litter on the floor is issued a penalty equivalent to Tk8,500 in the UK today.

Why are such measures not taken in Bangladesh? After all, we are living in a country that is least responsible for contributing to global warming, but will be affected by it the most.

The Bangladesh scenario

We cannot accomplish everything with one throw of the die to reduce the carbon footprint of the entire nation to a minimum, but we can rather be on specialist’s terms than generalists by stimulating a commencement to this approach, ie a strategy to reduce the carbon footprint for “individuals” primarily, and then thinking national reduction.

Certainly, actualising this strategy may come with a unique set of challenges in the case of our country, the most distinguished ones being poverty, illiteracy, and lack of public

With the literacy rate at 59.82% currently in Bangladesh, actualising the strategy will surely be a long-term approach. Via non-formal education and practical training, awareness can be raised through communities, businesses, and to the general public.

Nevertheless, governmental pressure is also necessary.

A vast proportion of global organisations have limited their carbon dioxide emissions to what they should. In less developed countries, most companies do not report their carbon footprint, so it is high time that the government decided to put some practical pressure to Bangladeshi companies and industries to limit their emissions to a certain level.

It is also time for us to comprehend the damage we are causing the environment with our daily activities.

As many renowned researchers have explained recently, the environment is slowly moving towards an irreversible state – where global warming cannot be redeemed, ice caps will not stop melting, and sea levels will not stop rising. l Mohiuddin Ahmed Shuvo is a volunteer researcher at the Bangladesh Centre for Advance Studies.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Kistimaat to hit cinemas this Eid

Mission Impossible II Zee Studio, 7:10pm

n Entertainment Desk Director Ashiqur Rahman’s action romantic flick “Kistimaat” will be released in more than a hundred cinemas this Eid, with Arefin Shuvo pairing up for the first time with actress Achol.

The film tells the story of a police officer with a casual attitude to his job, who suddenly changes himself to become dutiful, fighting valiantly against bad guys and putting them behind bars. Achol, who had a brief stint as a model early in her career, finds herself in the familiar zone as she plays the role of a model.

About his role, Shuvo told Dhaka Tribune: “I played the role of a police officer. But its not the typical police officer we’re used to seeing in Bangladeshi films. There are unlikely twists and turns. The audience will love to watch the film.”

The producers have already released a three-minute teaser trailer to a mixed reaction from the viewers. Apart from Shuvo and Achal, the film’s cast also includes Misha Sawdagor, Habib Khan, Afzal Shorif, Rebeka, Sojol, Zadu Azad, Subroto and Robi.

The film’s story, dialogue and screenplay was written by Kashem Ali Dulal. There are a total of five songs, penned by Zahid Hasan Abhi and rendered by Imran, Porshi, Puja, Kona and others. Tiger Media produced the film while Abhi Kathachitra is its distributor.

Meanwhile, Shuvo-starrer “Warning” is also getting released this Eid and currently awaiting approval from the censor board. l

A secret agent is sent to Sydney, to find and destroy a genetically modified disease called Chimera.

Troy

WB, 1:30pm

Stars gather in Venice for George Clooney’s wedding n Entertainment Desk Celebrities and the world’s media are congregating in Venice for the widely anticipated wedding weekend of a man long considered Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor: George Clooney.

The actor and his fiancee, British human rights attorney Amal Alamuddin, were spotted Friday cruising the sun-dappled canals of Venice ahead of their big day.

Clooney, 53, and Alamuddin, 36, looked

happy and impeccably glamorous as they were carried around the city in a motor boat appropriately named “Amore,” or “Love,” passing bemused tourists in gondolas as they went.

The bride-to-be was dressed in a stylish black and white dress, while Clooney wore a sharply tailored gray suit and white shirt with dark sunglasses.

The first celebrity guests to arrive were also caught on camera in the city famed for romance, notably actor Matt Damon, Amer-

ican Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and supermodel Cindy Crawford.

It is not been confirmed exactly how the wedding weekend will play out.

But a notice from the city authorities said that because of George Clooney’s marriage the city hall area will be closed on Monday from 12pm to 2 pm local or later if necessary – presumably for a civil ceremony.

According to British newspaper The Mirror, George and Amal are splashing out at least €2.5m on their nuptials. l

An adaptation of Homer’s great epic, the film follows the assault on Troy by the united Greek forces and chronicles the fates of the men involved.

War of the Worlds

HBO Hits, 8:30pm

As Earth is invaded by alien tripod fighting machines, one family fights for survival.

The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Star Movies, 9:30pm

Film

Guardians of the Galaxy (3D) Transcendence, Rio 2 The Equalizer How to Train Your Dragon 2 (3D) Brihonnola Time: 10am – 10pm Star Cineplex Into The Storm, Hercules 3D Most Welcome 2 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3D

Valkyrie, Olpo Olpo Premer Golpo Time: 12:30pm – 9:30pm Blockbuster Cinemas

Time: 7pm – 8:30pm Experimental Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy

Theatre

Exhibition

Aina Bibir Pala Time: 7pm – 8:30pm National Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Shesh Rokhha

By Natyajon

Shreyoshi Time: 12pm – 8pm Gallery Twenty One Solo Painting Exhibition

By Gopal Ghoshe Time: 12pm – 8pm

Bengal Shilpalaya, H-42, Rd- 27 (old), Dhanmondi Simple Pottery Exposition

By Dr Azharul Islam Sheikh Chanchal Time: 12pm – 8pm Zainul Gallery-1, Dhaka University Essence of Nature

By N S Chowdhury Dancy Time: 11am – 6pm La Galerie, Alliance Francaise

Alabama teenager Sean Boswell becomes a major competitor in the world of drift racing after moving in with his father in Tokyo to avoid a jail sentence in America.

BEST OF THE FEST: Akira Kurosawa Film Week 2014 n Mosabber Rahman

Actors of Loko Natyadal (Banani) perform during the 150th staging of the troupe’s acclaimed production Sonai Madhab, on Friday, at the main theatre hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The play is based on a ballad from Mymensingh Geetika, featuring a deft blend of Padabali Jatra, humour and heart-touching dialogues. It was directed by Eugene Gomez KHAN HASAN MUHAMMAD RAFI

Deepika-Varun in Hindi remake of The Fault in Our Stars n Entertainment Desk After the success of recently released film “Finding Fanny,” director Homi Adajania is all set to team up with Deepika Padukone once again for a mega project. If reports are anything to go by, then the film-maker has roped in the actress and Bollywood’s young sensation Varun Dhawan for the Hindi remake of super-hit Hollywood film “The Fault in Our Stars.”

According to reports, Varun and Deepika have given their consent to be a part of the film. However, as of now there is no official announcement from either the makers of the actors.

This will be the third film for which Homi Adjania and Deepika Padukone will come together. Earlier, the duo has given two super-hit films - “Cocktail” and “Finding Fanny.” Originally a bestseller book by John Green, “The Fault in Our Stars” was adapted into a Hollywood film by the same name. The film will reportedly go on floors in March, 2015. l

We finally got it, an official film festival on Akira Kurosawa. It was a historic event indeed. IAFM organised it, the National Museum provided the venue, and Embassy of Japan via Japan Foundation sent 13 beautiful 35mm prints which, like organic food, is still the best deal. All for free and open for all.

I am now convinced that Kurosawa is the most loved director in our country after Satyajit Ray. It rained on the first day and it rained on the last day; it rained on “Seven Samurai” and it rained on “Throne of Blood”; and it rained on “Rashomon”. We were drenched. Plus there were strikes on two days during the festival. Still a lot of people showed up for each show, ranging from 50 to 100. Now compare that to the European Film Festival a few months back where only 5 to 10 people attended each show.

Many film scholars and institutes have the bad habit of deifying filmmakers and thus ruining their careers.

They are like thankful cannibals, devouring the filmmakers for their own glory and paying tributes from time to time. Kurosawa is both appetite (for filmgoers) and bread (for pundits). But I enjoyed the workshop. It was quite surprising to see over 60 people show-

A scene from Akira Kurosawa’s 1961 film Yojimbo ing up for the 3-day ‘Explore Kurosawa’ workshop. I noticed many unshaven faces with disheveled hair who probably did not have any lunch and were eagerly waiting for the refreshments (milk-less tea with baby-biscuits). Once I looked the same. Even the Japanese ambassador, a die-hard Kurosawa fan, confessed in his speech, “I seriously wanted to be in films but failed a very important interview and changed my mind and became a diplomat”.

Now you might disagree with my list but this is what I feel at the moment.

These are my ranking of all the films exhibited (excluding my least favorite

“Dodes’ka-den”; and “Dersu Uzala” which was a special out-of-festival show screened from a DVD): 12. Idiot; 11. Lower Depths; 10. Madadayo; 9. Sanjuro; 8. Red Beard; 7.

Hidden Fortress; 6. Ikiru; 5. High and Low; 4. Throne of Blood; 3. Rashomon; 2. Seven Samurai; 1. Yojimbo.

Surprisingly, the three masterpieces “Bad Sleep Well”, “Kagemusha” and “Ran” were not included.

My father, who joined Japan Airlines in 1987, told me about the festival and insisted I attend the program. He even paid the registration fee for the workshop. Thanks dad, it was great. l

RANVEER SINGH dances on the road n Entertainment Desk A sporty and enthusiastic Bollywood actor Ranveer Singh took on the BangBangdare given to him by Hrithik Roshan. Hrithik has been giving these dares to several of his Bollywood colleagues, as part of promotions for his upcoming film “Bang Bang.” The actor had dared Raveer Singh through a post on social networking site twitter which said, “Get out of your car and pose on the middle of any main street of Mumbai for your fans!” However Ranveer went a step ahead, and enthusiastically danced to Hrithik’s song “Main Aisa Kyun Hoon.” He danced on a busy Bandra street dressed in the complete superhero Krrish avatar. This spontaneous act of Ranveer attracted crowds too. “Ranveer Singh wins not just our hearts but reaffirms my belief that happiness is about contributing too others! Give it up for the man who is all heart!,” posted Hrithik after the dare was completed. l

Did you know?

17 of Steven Gerrard’s last 18 Premier League goals have been penalties or direct free-kicks

Sport

14 Bayern increase

lead, Schalke win derby

DHAKA TRIBUNE

15 Kvitova defeats

15 Atapattu eyes

Bouchard to win Wuhan Open

Focus shifts to one-day format Bangladesh A team will begin its second and final phase of the home series against Zimbabwe A as the two second string national sides will face off in the first of the three-match oneday series at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium today.

The home side will be brimming in confidence having securing the two-match unofficial Test series 2-0 earlier while six fresh players added for the 50-over format will add to the strength.

National middle-order batsman Mominul Haque is the big name among the six changes as the others are leftarm spinner Elias Sunny, pacer Abul Hasan, top order batsman Saumya Sarkar, all-rounders Farhad Reza and Mosaddek Hossain Saikat.

Marshal Ayub will be leading the second string Bangladesh side and the batsman believes the win in the longer version added with the mixture of experience in the team, a positive outcome is very much possible from the one-day matches.

“Many of the players in the team are in-form so hopefully they will deliver in the matches,” said Marshal to Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Spinners are the back-bone of the team and Saqlain Sajib, who bagged 21 wickets in the two four-day matches, will be a big headache for the visitors. Meanwhile, the home side players will also try to put their best as an outstanding performance can work behind a national call-up for the upcoming home series against Zimbabwe.

However, Marshal, who himself is often seen on and off the national grid due to inconsistent performance, thinks otherwise and said, “The players don’t want to get themselves distracted. Their task at the moment is to perform for the team and not think of other factors. It is true that good performances will create chances ahead, but I believe most of the players are not thinking much about it.”

The second and third one-day matches will be played at the same venue on September 30 and October 1 respectively. l

Tamim to play on Eid for Asia XI n Tribune Desk

Korea add up on Bangladesh misery

Bangladesh opening batsman Tamim Iqbal is all set to wear the Asia XI jersey against Rest of the World XI in a Twenty20 exhibition match at Doha on October 6.

The match will be held at West End Park Cricket Stadium with Sri Lanka legend Sanath Jayasuriya leading the Asian XI. The Rest of the World XI will be led by West Indies legend Brian Lara. Though the full squads are yet to be confirmed, it was learnt that the Asia XI will feature mostly Pakistani cricketers alongside Tamim and another player from India.

This will be the first time Qatar will witness an international standard Twenty20 game. The match is named ‘Eid T20 Cricket Festival’ and organised by an event management company based in Qatar. l

n Raihan Mahmood Bangladesh crashed to a massive 7-0 defeat against South Korea in the 17th Asian Games Hockey at the Sonhok Hockey Stadium, Incheon, Korea yesterday.

The eighth ranked team in the world took the lead in the 4th minute through Kim and three minutes later Man Kyong Kang doubled the margin. The result remained same in the first quarter. In the second quarter Dai Kyun added another to make it 3-0. Bangladesh came close in the 17th minute but forward Pushkor Khisha Mimo’s hit was gloved away by the Korean goalkeeper.

The third quarter saw Bangladesh

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (BottmR) celebrates with Marcelo (Top) and Karim Benzema (L) after scoring during the Spanish league football match against Villarreal CF at El Madrigal stadium in Villareal yesterday AFP

concede another two and fall 5-0 down, while in the fourth and last quarter Zong Yan Zeng and Han U Nam netted two more from the penalty corners to complete the rout.

Bangladesh lost to Japan 8-0 in the first match, 5-1 to Malaysia in the second match, beat Singapore 2-1 in the third before ending the group phase with the thrashing yesterday. Bangladesh now will take on Oman in the 7th8th place decider on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh golf team were placed 9th out of the 20 countries taking part in golf team event. In the Individual section Sajib Ali is in 18th position, Nazim 30th, Ismail 39th and Sagor 54th. A total of 81 players are taking part in the individual section. l

n Shishir Hoque Bangladesh football team is likely to play two international friendly matches against Japan in December, hinted Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president Kazi Salahuddin yesterday.

The arrangement is, however, in preliminary stage as the Japan Football Association gave only their verbal agreement to visit Bangladesh in December and the agreement is expected to be finalised before October 15. The two friendlies are planned to be held in Dhaka and Sylhet.

“The president (Kazi Salahuddin) visited Japan earlier this month and held a meeting with Japan (football federation) to talk about how to use the bond between the two nations in the development of football. They gave their verbal agreement to play friendlies in Bangladesh. It will be officially confirmed in the next two weeks,” said

Zia maintains big lead after round seven

Dhaka Tribune players pose for a “selfie” after winning their semifinal against Somoy TV in the Kool-BSJA Media Cup football at the BFF artificial turf in Motijheel yesterday

n Raihan Mahmood

KOOL-BSJA MEDIA CUP FOOTBALL

Dhaka Tribune face My TV in final today Fazley Rabbi Moon’s lone strike was enough to see Dhaka Tribune beat Somoy TV 1-0 and reach the final of the Kool-BSJA Media Cup Football Tournament yesterday. Dhaka Tribune will face My TV, who beat The Daily Star 1-0 in the other semifinal, in the final of the 25-media house participated tournament at 10am at the Bangladesh Football Federation artificial turf in Motijheel today.

The scoreline of the first semifinal,

however, does not reflect the dominating game played by Dhaka Tribune. Somoy TV’s rough and tough approach from the beginning of the game hardly made Dhaka Tribune sweat as it was the flurry of passes and possession football from the English Daily that eventually earned them their third clean sheet in four games. On the way to the final Dhaka Tribune earlier beat Naya Diganta (4-0) and Channel i (6-1) in the group stage and defending champions RTV (2-0) in the quarterfinals.

In the 7th minute of the game a counter attack saw Reazur Rahman Rohan drill a through pass across the midfield to Moon who hammered in a right-footed strike from the right to beat the goalkeeper at far post. Moon was later adjudged as the man of the match and he received the award from former national footballer Mahbub Hossain Roxy.

Former Bangladesh national football coach Golam Sarwar Tipu will be present as chief guest during the final today.l

Cristiano Ronaldo continued his hot scoring streak as Real Madrid moved up to fourth in the La Liga table with a hard-fought 2-0 win away to Villarreal.

Real survived an early onslaught from Villarreal and won the game with two goals in eight minutes before the break as Luka Modric drilled home the opener before Ronaldo converted from Karim Benzema’s pass to register his eighth goal in a week.

A third consecutive league victory moves the European champions to within two points of the leaders with Barcelona hosting Granada later on Saturday, whilst Sevilla travel to champions Atletico Madrid.

The match started at a high pace with attention from the action on the pitch only momentarily distracted by a banner from a Manchester United fans group begging Ronaldo to return to Old Trafford.

Ronaldo and his teammates had more pressing matters at hand as Villarreal threatened to go in front as Ikechukwu Uche’s low effort was well saved by Iker Casillas, whilst Argentine youngster Luciano Vietto sliced wide when well-positioned inside the box.

However, the hosts’ proligacy in the final third contrasted with Madrid’s killer instinct and Carlo Anclelotti’s men went in front when Modric smashed home his first goal of the season from outside the box on 32 minutes. l

BFF eyes Japan friendlies

BERGER PAINTS NATIONAL CHESS

n Tribune Desk

Sri Lanka World Cup glory

Ronaldo on target again as Madrid down Villarreal n AFP, Madrid

BANGLADESH A v ZIMBABWE A, 1ST ONE-DAY

n Minhaz Uddin Khan

13

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman maintained his solo lead in the Berger Paints National Chess with 6.5 points. He beat Fide Master Rezaul Haque in the seventh round at the media centre of the Bangladesh Olympic Association yesterday.

Zia played with black pieces and won the game in 59 moves.

Grandmaster Enamul Hossain Raziv trailed Zia in the second position with 5.5 points while defending champion Abdullah al Rakib, who beat Golam Mostafa Bhuiyan, and Grandmaster Niaz Murshed shared the third position with five points each. In the duel of the grandmasters Raziv drew with Niaz after 11 moves.

Meanwhiile, Masum Hossain, who earlier stunned Niaz Murshed, failed to build on the success as he lost to Uten.

Fide Master Sheikh Nasir Ahmed beat Candidate Master Mahtahuddin Ahmed and Internnational Master Misnhazuddin Ahmed Sagar beat Candidate Master Sohel Chowdhury in the other matches of the day. l

BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag yesterday.

BFF earlier planned to invite Japan for the Bangabandhu Gold Cup which is still uncertain, but considering the fact that a World Cup playing nation like Japan may not show interest in staying here for two weeks, Salahuddin

The Japan Football Association gave only their verbal agreement to visit Bangladesh in December decided to ask them for friendlies. It is also not sure, if agreed to play friendlies, whether Japan will send their full strength national team or their Olympic team to Bangladesh.

The Bangladesh U-23 team returned home from the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, as Salahuddin met the

Dutch national head coach Lodewijk de Kruif on Friday and discussed about the national team’s performance in the Asiad and their future plan.

As the national team has no duty before October 24, Kruif also requested BFF president for a short leave. The Dutch coach will fly for Netherlands tomorrow morning via Turkish Airlines along with assistant coach Rene Koster.

The Dutch duo is expected back in town on October 8 or 9 and start the preparation camp for the two friendlies against Sri Lanka scheduled on October 24 and 27 in Jessore and Rajshahi respectively.

“Kruif’s father is sick so he wanted the permission to leave as he has very less to do before Eid. The president gave him a condition and asked him to return on October 8 or 9. The national training camp for Sri Lanka friendlies is likely to begin on October 10,” said Shohag. l

FEDERATION CUP TABLE TENNIS

Mahbub, Rumi clinch titles n Raihan Mahmood Mahbub and Rumi emerged as the champions in the men and women sections respectively in the Federation Cup Table Tennis sponsored by Shamsuzzman Ltd at the Shahid Tajuddin Ahmed wooden floor gymnasium yesterday.

Mahbub defeated Parag while Rumi outplayed Rahima in their respective finals. Meanwhile, Palolic Group lifted the title of the men’s team event beating Dhaka Mariner Young’s Club.

Arunima Sports and Biman Bangladesh

finished joint fourth.

Abahani Ltd won the title of the women’s team event beating Dhaka District Sports Association.

The presidnt of the Bangladesh Table Tennis Federation, Abdul Karim distributed the prizes as the chief guest.

Quamrunnahar Dana, the general secretary of Bangladesh Women’s Sports Association was the special guest, while BTTF general secretary Hasan Munir and other federation officials were also present on the occasion. l

Winners of the Federation Cup Table Tennis pose with the chief guest during the prize giving ceremony at the Shahid Tajuddin Woden Floor Gymnasium yesterday COURTESY

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Fifa president Blatter to stand for fifth term n AFP, Zurich Fifa president Sepp Blatter confirmed Friday that he would stand for a fifth term in charge of world football in an election in May next year.

“I have announced to the Executive Committee ... that I will accept the demands of different associations and federations (to stand for election) to serve FIFA for a fifth mandate,” Blatter said.

The 78-year-old has been FIFA’s leader since 1998, but has faced growing criticism from European football chiefs in recent months.

The World Cup, a multi-billion dollar earner for FIFA, is also embroiled in controversy over the way the 2018 and 2022 tournaments were decided.

His path to a virtually automatic re-election was opened up after UEFA leader Michel Platini announced in August that he would not challenge Blatter.

“First of all I’m not running - I’m at their disposal. FIFA is a service and I want to go on serving,” Blatter said, stressing that his fourth term had yet to run its full term and that FIFA was “not at the end of our reform”.

“I have been contacted, I have been asked, just before the (pre-World Cup) congress in Sao Paulo by five of the six confederations saying ‘please stay and be our president’ because, at the time at least, they say we have no other candidate.”

Blatter said after winning his fourth term in 2011 that it would be his last, but made it clear in recent months that he has changed his mind. l

Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard (8) scores against Everton during their English Premier League match at Anfield in Liverpool yesterday

REUTERS

Chelsea preserve lead, Rooney off in United win Gerrard on target before Jagielka wonder goal rocks Liverpool in derby as City, Saints and Palace post wins Manchester City withstood a fight- to level the scores.

Injury problems forced United manWillian, who had seen his initial shot n AFP, London But after Yaya Toure had hit the parried by Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan. ager Louis van Gaal to give a debut to back by Hull City to record a 4-2 win at

Premier League leaders Chelsea conserved their threepoint advantage by beating Aston Villa 3-0 on Saturday, while Wayne Rooney was sent off as Manchester United edged West Ham United.

Having drawn 1-1 at champions Manchester City last weekend, Chelsea continued their unbeaten start to the season with a straightforward win over Villa at Stamford Bridge.

Oscar gave Chelsea the lead in the seventh minute when he steered home a cut-back from Brazilian countryman

Diego Costa added a second goal just before the hour, glancing a header past Guzan from Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross to take his tally to eight goals in his first six Premier League games.

Southampton remain Chelsea’s closest rivals after winning 2-1 at home to Queens Park Rangers, with Ryan Bertrand and Graziano Pelle finding the net either side of a Charlie Austin effort.

United climbed six places to seventh, eight points below Chelsea, after seeing off West Ham 2-1 at Old Trafford, but their victory was overshadowed by the red card shown to captain Rooney for violent conduct.

Robben to build museum dedicated to himself n AFP, Berlin Bayern Munich star Arjen Robben wants to open a private museum in his own home to showcase his trophies

and momentos once he hangs up his boots, the Dutch international said Friday.

“When my wife and I are settled in our house, I dream of collecting all my things and building a private museum.

It will be for me, my family and my close friends,” Robben told Bild.

“I have so many souvenirs -- shirts of other players. I kept the ball from the 2013 Champions League final (Bayern beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 and Robben scored a late winner).

“There are boots that I have worn at European Championships and World Cups.”

Robben, who played for Chelsea and Real Madrid before joining Bayern in 2009, added: “The idea is to pull everything together so that nothing is lost.”l

19-year-old centre-back Paddy McNair, but they took a fifth-minute lead when Rooney swept home from 15 yards after being teed up by Rafael da Silva.

Radamel Falcao set up Robin van Persie to rattle in United’s second goal mid-way through the first half, but Diafra Sakho reduced the arrears for West Ham by nodding in after Enner Valencia’s header hit the bar.

Rooney was shown a straight red card in the 59th minute for kicking out at the fleeing Stewart Downing -- his first club dismissal since March 2009 -but United’s 10 men held on to secure victory.

Prosecutors in Spain have dropped charges against Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu over alleged tax irregularities concerning the signing of Brazil star Neymar, according to a judgement made public on Friday.

The magistrate investigating the case in Madrid agreed with the decision of the public prosecutor to drop charges against Bartomeu and the club’s vice-president Javier Faus, who looks after the club’s finances.

Barcelona initially said that the signing of Neymar had cost them 57.1 million euros ($72.5m, £44.6m).

However, one of Barcelona’s own members, or ‘socios’, Jordi Cases, accused the club’s former president Sandro Rosell of misappropriation for not declaring publicly that 40 million of the figure quoted by Barca was paid to N&N. l

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho reopened his spat with Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini on Friday by accusing the Chilean of hypocrisy and saying he had “killed” referee Mark Clattenburg with comments he made earlier this month.

Mourinho launched his latest broadside when he met the media before Chelsea’s match with Aston Villa at Stamford Bride on Saturday, choosing to attack Pellegrini for lambasting England’s top official. Pellegrini had criticised Clattenburg following his side’s 2-2 draw with Arsenal on Sept. 13, accusing him of costing City points both in that match and against Liverpool last season.

City and Chelsea drew 1-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, after which Pellegrini claimed Chelsea played “like a small team” for choosing to defend

post, David Silva released Dzeko to restore City’s lead in the the 68th minute before substitute Frank Lampard claimed his fourth goal in three games late on.

Earlier, Everton captain Phil Jagielka scored a sensational 92nd-minute equaliser to earn his team a 1-1 draw against derby rivals Liverpool at Anfield.

Steven Gerrard had put Liverpool ahead with a second-half free-kick, but he was upstaged in injury time when his former England colleague Jagielka drove an exquisite half-volley into the top-right corner from 25 yards. l

3-0

Aston Villa

2-0

Leicester

Oscar 7, Costa 59, Willian 79

Crystal Palace

Campbell 51, Jedinak 54

Hull

2-4

Mangala 21-og, Hernandez 32-P

Liverpool

1-1

Gerrard 65

Man United

Bertrand 54, Pelle 68

Everton Jagielka 90

2-1

Rooney 5, Van Persie 22

Southampton

Man City

Aguero 7, Dzeko 11, 68, Lampard 87

2-1

West Ham Sakho 37

QPR Austin 66

Fifa to ban third party ownership of players n Reuters, Zurich Soccer’s governing body FIFA has agreed to ban the third-party ownership (TPO) of players, its president Sepp Blatter said on Friday, seven years after first promising to outlaw the practice.

Blatter said a working group would be set up to implement the ban which would come into effect following “a transitional period”.

“We took a firm decision that TPO should be banned but it cannot be banned immediately there will be a transitional period,” Blatter told a news conference following a meeting of the executive committee. The World Players Association FIFPro said they were “delighted” with the decision but were still waiting for details of its implementation. l

Mourinho accuses Pellegrini of ‘killing’ ref

Charges against Bartomeu dropped in Neymar affair n AFP, Madrid n Reuters, London

the KC Stadium that saw them climb to third place.

With Willy Caballero preferred to Joe Hart in goal by City manager Manuel Pellegrini, the visitors went 2-0 up through a hooked finish from Sergio Aguero and a fine 22-yard strike by Edin Dzeko.

However, a pair of blunders by City’s new centre-back Eliaquim Mangala allowed Hull back into the game.

The France international headed Liam Rosenior’s cross into his own net in the 21st minute and then conceded a penalty with a high boot on Abel Hernandez, who converted from 12 yards

RESULTS Chelsea

their 71st-minute lead, before Frank Lampard scored a late equaliser against his old side.

After initially claiming he would not make any comment about Pellegrini, Mourinho said: “It was not once or two or three times that he told everyone he doesn’t speak about referees, but he killed Clattenburg.

“Three or four times he says he doesn’t speak about me or my teams, he did it once more. It’s for you to comment. When I said I don’t want to speak about him, that’s what I try to do. Don’t speak with me. If you want a story, speak with him not me. I follow my line.

I don’t want to discuss any situation.”

Mourinho’s team are top of the Premier League after four wins and a draw in their opening five matches, also refused to talk about Lampard or Aston Villa, apart from saying Saturday’s opponents had “many qualities”. l

Bayern Munich’s Xabi Alonso (R) and Thomas Mueller celebrate during their German first division Bundesliga match against FC Cologne in Cologne yesterday AFP

Bayern increase lead, Schalke win derby n AFP, Berlin Reigning champions Bayern Munich extended their lead atop the Bundesliga on Saturday after winning at FC Cologne while Schlake 04 won the Ruhr derby against bitter rivals Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern kept a clean sheet for their fourth straight Bundesliga match in a 2-0 victory at Cologne to move to 14 points, two points clear of Borussia Moenchengladbach. Pep Guardiola’s side opened the scoring on 19 minutes as Mario Goetze struck his third goal in the last two matches.

The visitors continued to press Cologne and finally doubled the lead midway through the second half as Daniel Halfar put through his own net.

Meanwhile, Gladbach won 2-1 at Paderborn thanks to early goals from Patrick Herrmann and Raffael, with Jens Wimmer getting one back for the pro-

moted club, who had been top of the table before losing at Bayern in midweek.

Gladbach’s win took them above Leverkusen, who had to play more than an hour with 10 men but held on for a 0-0 draw away at SC Freiburg.

Leverkusen defender Emir Spahic was sent off in the first half, although Freiburg also finished the game a man down after Pavel Krmas was dismissed.

And the visitors might have won it, Karim Bellarabi hammering a shot off

RESULTS Schalke 04

2-1

Matip 10, Choupo-Moting 23

SC Freiburg VfB Stuttgart

Dortmund Aubameyang 26

0-0

Bayer Leverkusen

1-0

Hanover 96

0-2

Bayern Munich

Schwaab 69

FC Cologne

Goetze 19, Halfar 66-og

SC Paderborn Wemmer 70

1-2

M’gladbach

Herrmann 8, Raffael 14

the crossbar in the 73rd minute before Son Heung-Min also struck the woodwork two minutes from time.

In Gelsenkirchen, Schalke picked up their second straight victory with a 2-1 win at home over hated rivals Dortmund.

Dortmund’s recent defensive struggles continued as goals from Joel Matip and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting left them trailing 2-0 by the midway point in the first half.

Jurgen Klopp’s side did reduce the deficit shortly afterwards courtesy of a Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang strike but they could not find an equaliser and have collected only seven points from six games this season, one less than Schalke.

Elsewhere, Hanover 96 went down 1-0 at struggling VfB Stuttgart, Daniel Schwaab scoring his team’s first goal at home this season in the 69th minute.

VfL Wolfsburg host Werder Bremen later on Saturday, while Mainz and Hoffenheim played out a scoreless draw on Friday, the result leaving both teams with 10 points. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

DAY EIGHT HIGHLIGHTS

QUICK BYTES Khulna phase of nat’l school football ends

FIRST TRACK GOLD The UAE’s Ethiopian-born Alia Saeed Mohammed set a new personal best to win the Asian Games’ first track medal in the women’s 10,000 metres.

Amla Sadarpur High School, Khas Mothurapur High School, Shyamnagar Nokhipur HC Pilot High School and Kopothakho High School emerged as the champions from their respective Upazila of Khulna division in the National School Football Championship yesterday. Amla Sadarpur earned a 4-3 win in the final of Mirpur Upazila against Mirpur Primary School while Khas Mothurapur beat Rezoanul Ulum Alim Madrasa 2-0 in the Doulatpur Upazila final. Shyamnagar Nokhipur also beat Jobeda Sorhab Model High School 4-3 in tiebreakers of the Shyamnagar Upazila final while Kopothakho High School edged past Koleya Chad Kathi High School 1-0 in the Tala Upazila final.

–Tribune Desk

ZHANG ON TARGET IN 100M China’s Zhang Peimeng stayed on course to become the first Asian-born athlete to run 100 metres in less than 10 seconds as he reached the semi-finals. Zhang, 27, ran within himself for a 10.27, finishing second in his heat.

LEE SET FOR LIN SHOWDOWN Badminton’s world number one Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia fought back from a game down to set up a crunch semi-final with arch-rival and long-time nemesis Lin Dan of China. Lee was put through his paces by Vietnam’s Nguyen Tien Minh before winning 21-23, 21-16, 21-17.

CHINESE SHOOTERS PILE UP THE GOLDS China extended its domination in shooting by winning four of the six titles on day eight. With 26 shooting gold medals already in the bag, China has easily surpassed its 21 titles at the last Games in Guangzhou, China four years ago. Two more events remain in the 44-gold competition.

MOTHER SELLS GOLD, SON WINS HIS OWN

Nasri faces groin operation, month out Manchester City’s Samir Nasri is expected be sidelined for a month after manager Manuel Pellegrini revealed the French midfielder needs surgery on a groin injury. Nasri missed the Premier League champions’ 7-0 League Cup victory over Sheffield Wednesday in midweek due to the problem. And after confirming the 27-year-old former Arsenal star will not feature in Saturday’s league match at Hull, Pellegrini said: “It’s serious because maybe he will have surgery in the next days. “I’m not a doctor but I think he will be out for around one month. “He was training but he wasn’t 100 per cent. He didn’t feel comfortable with what he was doing so the doctor decided that was the best option. “Of course he’s a very important player for us and it’s not easy for us to play without Samir.

–AFP

Murray makes Shenzhen final after first set scare

Andy Murray powered through his ATP Shenzhen Open semi-final Saturday, and will meet Tommy Robredo in the tournament’s climax as he chases points to make November’s ATP World Tour Finals. The British second seed in Shenzhen is currently ranked 11th in the world and needs to enter the top eight to make the end of season finale in London.

He had an early scare losing the first set of his semi-final against Juan Monaco of Argentina, but took command and eventually won 2-6, 6-3, 6-0. Spain’s Robredo, the fourth seed in Shenzhen beat sixth seed Columbian Santiago Giraldo in his semi-final 6-1, 6-4.

–AFP

Trio battling for world record in Berlin With three of the fastest men in history over the distance in the field, Sunday’s Berlin Marathon has every chance of seeing yet another world record set. Kenyan runners Dennis Kimetto and Emmanuel Mutai, along with Ethiopia’s Tsegaye Kebede are all capable of lowering the world best when they cross the finishing line at the Brandenburg Gate. The 40 editions of the race so far have already seen the last five world records set along the course, the latest being last year’s 2hr 03min 23sec by another Kenyan, Wilson Kipsang. Kimetto, 30, made no bones about his intentions.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Ten Sports 7:00AM Asian Games 2014 Sony Six 1:00PM IEC: Shenzen Open 2014: Finals 5:30PM World Kabaddi League 2014 Amritsar- Day 19 11:00PM NFL2014 Oakland Raiders v Miami Dolphins

An Indian archer whose mother sold her gold ornaments to buy him an imported bow helped win his country’s first ever Asian Games gold medal in the sport. Rajat Chauhan, along with team-mates Sandeep Kumar and Abhishek Verma, stunned hosts and world champions South Korea in the men’s compound team final.

JAPAN SWIMMER CHARGED WITH CAMERA THEFT

Chen Chun Hsiu breaks a bat on a fly out at the second inning during the semifinal baseball match against Japan at the Munhak Baseball Stadium during their 17th Asian Games match in Incheon yesterday REUTERS

A Japanese swimmer has been kicked out of the Asian Games and will have to pay his own way back home after being charged by police for stealing a camera from a South Korean journalist. Naoya Tomita, a gold medallist from Guangzhou in 2010 but outside the medals in Incheon, had been captured by video surveillance putting the 8 million won ($7,600) camera into his bag at the Games swimming venue on Friday.

China again on target in shooting n AFP, Incheon Cao Yifei picked up two rifle gold medals as China extended its domination of the Asian Games shooting on Saturday, winning four of the six titles at the ranges.

Cao teamed up with Zhu Qinan and Kang Hongwei to win the team event in the men’s 50m rifle three positions, before adding the individual title with

a narrow win over Zhu. Both shooters scored 455 points, but Cai claimed the title with a 0.3 advantage on the countback of the inner 10s.

Chain Singh of India won the bronze.

China also picked up the team events in the men’s 10m running target mixed and the women’s skeet, but lost the individual titles in both.

With 26 shooting gold medals already in the bag, China has easily surpassed its 21 titles at the last Games in Guangzhou, China four years ago.

Hosts South Korea have won eight golds, Kazakhstan and Qatar two each, and India, Iran, Mongolia and North Korea on each.

The final two golds in the 44-event competition, the men’s skeet team and individual, will be decided on Tuesday.

China has proved its strength in both the rifle and pistol competitions.

“Its not just the rifle events that we are good at, we do well in pistol also,” he said.

“It just shows we are an all-round team.”

North Korea won its first gold on

the Incheon ranges when Kim Ji-Song clinched the 10m running target with 384 points, one ahead of second-placed Zhai Yujiya of China. Jeong You-Jin of South Korea took the bronze.

The home team’s Kim Min-Ji defeated Zhang Heng of China in a close finish to bag the women’s skeet title. Kim won the shoot-out 4-3 after both finalists were tied at 15 points each.

Sutiya Jiewchaloemmit of Thailand claimed the bronze with a 14-10 win over Lo Pei Yu of Taiwan. l

AFC probing fixing allegations n Reuters, Incheon The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) is looking into reports of possible match-fixing at the Incheon Asian Games, the continental governing body said on Saturday.

An official of the betting-related data provider Sportradar recently told a Singapore newspaper about possible match-fixing in Incheon without revealing which teams were involved.

AFC said it was collaborating with the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). l

Kvitova defeats Bouchard to win Wuhan Open n AFP, Wuhan World number three Petra Kvitova overcame Eugenie Bouchard in straight sets Saturday to win the inaugural $2.4 million WTA Wuhan Open, her third title of the year.

The Wimbledon champion was at her ruthless best, defeating the Canadian 6-3, 6-4 -- a result which confirmed her place in next month’s WTA Finals, the season-ending finale featuring the world’s top eight women players.

The final of the premier-ranking tournament was a rematch between the two players who contested the Wimbledon final, and Kvitova reproduced in Wuhan the determination she displayed in London, where she won 6-3, 6-0.

The Czech player broke the world number nine in the second game and maintained her 3-0 lead to clinch the first set.

Kvitova then took an early lead in the second set, breaking serve in the first game before Bouchard appeared to hurt her middle finger on her left hand which was bandaged later in the game.

The third seed then advanced to 5-2 before Bouchard attempted a comeback.

The 20-year-old sixth seed had three break points against Kvitova in the eighth game, and while her opponent clawed her way back into contention with some powerful serving, Bouchard took the game. The new poster girl for the WTA then took the next game, but Kvitova’s strength at the serve wrapped up the set 6-4.

“It went well for me, for sure. I start(ed) pretty well,” said Kvitova.

“The first game I (broke) her was very important for my confidence. I knew that I had to play a little bit more aggressive than I played the matches before.”l

Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic poses with the trophy outside the center court stadium after her win over Eugenie Bouchard of Canada in the final of the Wuhan Open in Wuhan yesterday AFP

Atapattu eyes Sri Lanka WC glory Nishikori reaches n AFP, Colombo New Sri Lanka coach Marvan Atapattu targeted more success Friday for cricket’s reigning T20 champions in next year’s 50 over World Cup, saying morale was on a high.

In his first press conference since landing the job full-time, Atapattu said there was no danger of complacency

among his players and even star batsman Kumar Sangakkara recognised there was room for improvement ahead of the tournament in New Zealand and Australia.

“It is the World Cup that is our focus.

Our morale is high. We have had a good run in the past six months and obviously the challenge for me is to sustain the success and build on it,” Atapattu told reporters.

Star Sports 1 Champions League T20 4:30PM Barbados v Hobart 8:30PM Punjab v Cape Cobras Star Sports 2 7:00PM Italian Serie A 2014/15 Cesena v Milan Spanish La Liga 9:00PM Deportivo v UD Almeria 11:00PM Real Sociedad v Valencia 1:00AM Cordoba v Espanyol Star Sports 4 9:00PM English Premier League West Brom v Burnley

15

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Former captain Marvan Atapattu speaks during a news conference regarding his new post at Sri Lanka cricket board in Colombo on Friday REUTERS

“I have a team of players who are willing to listen and learn. Even the world’s number one batsman (Sangakkara) always wants to learn something new to add to his game.”

Sri Lankan cricket has been buoyed by its T20 World Cup triumph in April followed by Test series victories against England and Pakistan when Atapattu was interim coach.

Although world number one team South Africa did snatch a 1-0 victory in a two-Test series in July, the 43-yearold Atapattu did enough to impress cricket chiefs who handed him a twoyear contract earlier this week.

“The main challenge obviously is to maintain our recent success,” said the former opening batsman.

“I want to have transparency in what I do so that all players know what our plans are and how and where they fit in,” added Atapattu, who was part of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup winning team.

Sri Lanka will warm up for the World Cup, which runs from February 14 to March 29, with 15 ODI matches against England and the tournament’s co-hosts New Zealand.

Atapattu, a former skipper for the national side, is the island nation’s seventh coach in the last four years but is the first Sri Lankan to hold the post in 15 years.

He replaced Englishman Paul Farbrace who quit in April after just four months in charge to become England’s deputy coach. l

Malaysian Open final n AFP, Kuala Lumpur Top seed Kei Nishikori fought to beat Finland’s Jarkko Nieminen 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 on Saturday to make it into his first Malaysian Open final.

The Japanese hotshot will now face France’s fourth seeded Julien Benneteau, who continued his sterling run in the competition with a 6-4, 6-4 defeat of second seed Ernests Gulbis.

Nishikori, who drew a 5,000 sellout crowd at the Putra Stadium in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, put in a commanding show for most of the game’s 137 minutes.

Using his trademark baseline power-play to rack quick-points, he surged to a 3-1 lead after initial resistance from the world number 57 before holding the advantage with a 6-3 victory.

The world number eight couldn’t keep up the tempo in the second, as Nieminen began to read his game to take a 3-1 lead, before Nishikori level pegged at 3-3.

The rally of the tournament saw both players exchange almost 20 returns, which the Finn won to eventually level at 6-4 and take the tie into the decider.

Cheered on by the majority of supporters -- many of them young women who gushed over Nishikori’s boyish looks -- the 24-year-old snapped back into action as he dictated play with a variation of winners, including one

sublime backhand volley which paved the way to a 6-2 victory.

Nishikori, who in the recent US Open became the first Asian man to make a Grand Slam singles final, may not have an easy battle in the Malaysian Open final as he comes up against nine-time singles finalist Benneteau.l

Kei Nishikori of Japan celebrates after winning against Jarkko Nieminen AFP

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Sunday, September 28, 2014

ADVANCE EID-PUJA TICKETS

Train passengers frustrated over quota, illicit activity Private bus tickets for the first three days of October sold out; Launch fares higher than Eid-ul Fitr Railway Police, Dhaka Metropolitan n Abu Hayat Mahmud and Police, Rapid Action Battalion, Border Syed Samiul Basher Anik

Hundreds of city dwellers, who gathered at the capital’s Kamalapur Railway Station on Friday and yesterday to buy advance tickets to leave Dhaka ahead of Eid-ul-Azha and Durga Puja, expressed their frustration over the railway authority’s mismanagement, quota system, slow delivery and illegal activities of ticket scalpers.

Meanwhile, all bus tickets in the capital for the first three days of October have been sold out in just two days after the advance ticket sales began on September 15.

Although the advance train ticket sales began two days ago, most ticket seekers returned home empty handed as special quotas for ticket sales had choked the number of tickets available for open sale.

Ticket seekers alleged that the railway authorities had reserved 10% of the tickets for VIPs and railway officials, 25% seats for e-ticketing (purchase through mobile phones) and almost 6% seats for regular quota.

As per the seat distribution list at the railway station, the authorities will sell a total of 14,010 tickets per day where 2,756 seats will be for e-ticketing, 701 for VIPs, 701 for officials, 872 for regular quota and rest 8,980 for open sale.

Shamim, a ticket seeker, told the Dhaka Tribune: “I have come to the station early morning to buy four ticket for Nowgaon. But as the counter staff have been very slow in delivering service, I am not sure if I will be able to buy tickets at the end of the day.”

A rail police official, seeking anonymity, said a section of ticket counter staff were involved with the ticket scalpers and were thus providing tickets very slowly.

“Soon, the rush of ticket seekers will go down and then these countermen will sell off the day’s remaining tickets to scalpers,” he added.

At a time when the railway authorities claimed that security had been tightened at rail stations using the

Guard Bangladesh and the Army, this correspondent yesterday found that ticket scalpers and brokers were actively carrying out their illegal activity at Kamlapur Railway Station.

Many of the scalpers were seen trying to squeeze into queues of ticket seekers at the ticket counters using various tricks.

Several ticket scalpers were seen trying to break into the front part of the queues claiming that they were present in the queue and went to have breakfast a few minutes ago. When actual ticket seekers challenged their claims, they shifted to another line and continued to try the same trick over again.

When contacted, Kamlapur Railway Station Manager Shakhawat Hossain Khan denied the allegations and claimed: “The tickets are being sold smoothly and no report of an irregularity has been filed.”

When visit the Kamlapur Railway Station yesterday, Bangladesh Railway Director General M Tofazzal Hossain told journalists: “Few problem might occur about cabins and AC coach seats as its numbers were limited.”

“However, the numbers of seats are not expected to be sold out in such a short period (9am to 11am), we will look into the matter,” he added.

Extra fare charging bus operators

On the road, almost all private bus services operating on all the routes from the capital have already sold out advance tickets for the first three days of October, mounting pressure on homebound people who have not yet been able to secure their tickets.

During a visit to Gabtoli, Kallyanpur, Mohakhali and Sayedabad bus terminal, it was found that people were queuing in front of the counters and requesting the officials to manage tickets for them, even if the prices were higher than usual, however, the counter officials could not meet their demands as no tickets are now available from October 1 to October 3.

With around a week left for Eid, a massive crowd gathers at Kamalapur Railway Station yesterday to purchase advance tickets on the second day The holiday makers now have no options to travel out of Dhaka and visit their home towns but to travel before or after October 1 or after October 3.

“I am trying to manage tickets for Rangpur for October 2 and visited all the counters, but no tickets were available,” Aminul Karim, a ticket-seekers at Kallyanpur bus counter, yesterday.

He further added that he had also offered extra money for tickets to counter officials, however, his attempts were in vain.

Meanwhile, some passengers also alleged that the bus operators are saving the tickets now so that they can sell them just a day or two before the festi-

vals and make more money.

“The counterman refused me tickets for October 2, but when I was in the counter, a counter staff was talking to someone over phone and booked two tickets for him for the same day,” said Barun Kumer Roy at the Hanif bus counter in Gabtoli.

“What can we do? We have to run business and for this we have to keep many requests from the influential. We do keep tickets for them to keep them happy,” an official at the Hanif counter, wishing anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune.

When asked about charging more for tickets, he also claimed: “We charge exactly what is fixed by the

BRTA fare chart.”

He also claimed that normally they charge lower fares than the BRTA chart to attract more passengers, added: “Not only us, but all bus operators have been charging the same as per the BRTA chart.

BRTA has set a fare rate of Tk1.45 per kilometre on every highway, including ferry fare rates and bridge tolls. Every bus operator has put the chart, signed by a BRTA official, on display in front of their counters.

Although the private bus operators had started advanced sale of Eid tickets last week, the state-owned bus service of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) would start selling their

Jute mills’ rehabilitation to usher in employment, forex

Indian special court jails Jayalalithaa in graft case

n Mohosinul Karim

n Reuters, New Delhi

The initiative for modernisation and rehabilitation of 28 state-owned jute mills is in the offing to create employment opportunities and bring more foreign exchange.

The Chinese state-owned textile company, China Texmatech Limited, will provide soft loan for Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation to modernise and bring back the lost glory of once golden fiber of Bangladesh.

“The initiative will help the government profit from the export of jute products and create more employment for the countrymen,” said State Minister for Jute and Textile Mirza Azam.

He said the ministry accepted the proposal of the Chinese company as it wanted to invest in the jute and textile sector.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has already been signed with the China Texmatech, added the state minister.

The feasibility study will start soon and after that the amount of soft loan will be fixed up, he said.

Around 15,000 people will find employment in these jute mills after their renovation, Mirza Azam said, adding that around Tk100-crore assests will be used properly to earn forex.

The jute mills that will come under renovation under the Dhaka zone are Bangladesh Jute Mills, Karim Jute Mills, Latif Bawani Jute Mills, UMC Jute Mills, Rajshahi Jute Mills, Juto Fibre Glass Industries (non-jute), National (Jatiya) Jute Mills, Monowar Jute Mills and Mymensingh Jute Mills.

The mills under the Chittagong zone are Amin Jute Mills, Gul Ahmed Jute Mills, Hafiz Jute Mills, MM Jute Mills, RR Jute Mills, Baghdad-Dhaka Carpet Factory, Karnafuli Jute Mills, Forat Karnafuli Carpet Factory, Galfra Habib (non-jute) and Mills Furnishing (nonjute).

The mills under the Khulna zone are Carpeting Jute Mills, Jessore Jute Industries, Aleem Jute Mills, Eastern Jute

The chief minister of India’s Tamil Nadu state was sentenced to four years in jail yesterday in a high-profile corruption case that has lasted nearly two decades.

The verdict against Jayalalithaa Jayaram, a former movie star who is one of the most popular politicians in south India, delighted some supporters of rival parties who were beaten in the general election held earlier this year.

A special court in the southern state of Karnataka found Jayalalithaa guilty of “disproportionately” amassing about 530 million rupees ($8.7 million) outside her known sources of income, prosecution lawyers told reporters late in the evening.

“She has been taken into custody ...

Medical check-ups will be done, thereafter she’ll be sent to jail,” one of the prosecution lawyers said. Three of Jayalalithaa’s aides were also sent to jail.

The court has also fined the fourtime chief minister 1 billion rupees ($16 million), which will be taken from the properties that have already been seized by the court.

Jayalalithaa is legally obliged to now step down as the head of Tamil Nadu, which she has governed since 2011 un-

Mills, The Crescent Jute Mills, Platinum Jubilee Jute Mills, Star Jute Mills, Khalishpur Jute Mills and Doulatpur Jute Mills.

Of the 28 mills, Monowar Jute Mills remains closed for a long time and Mymensingh Jute Mills which was privatised earlier was taken back recently as the leasing authority failed to deposite money for the lease in time.

The MM Jute Mills and RR Jute Mills of Chittagong have started test operation in 2010 after a long time.

According to the Textile and Jute Ministry, Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation, supervising authority of the jute mills, achieved profit of Tk19.53 crore for the first time after 1980’s.

The jute mills bought 14.78 lakh quintals of jute spending Tk522.39 crore. The state-owned agency bought the same amount of jute for Tk638.48 crore in the previous fiscal year. In 2011-12 fiscal, the BJMC spent Tk826.63

crore on buying 20.95 lakh qiuintals of jute.

In 2013-14 fiscal, the BJMC produced around 121,261 metric tonnes of jute products up to February, 2014. It was 188,760 metric tonnes in the previous year while 176,405 metric tonnes in 2011-12 fiscal year.

The BJMC earned Tk413.59 crore exporting around 559,400 metric tonnes of jute products up to February 2014 in 2013-14 fiscal. The earning was Tk1,362.19 crore in the previous year while Tk1,059.53 crore was earned in 2011-12 fiscal.

Despite assets of several crores, the mill authorities cannot operate and maintain the mills properly due to shortage of capital as the government provides a little support for the mills.

According to the ministry, there were 77 jute mills under the BJMC until 1982. l

der her latest term. However, she will have the option of approaching a higher court which could overturn the verdict.

Television reports showed supporters of Jayalalithaa, chief of the AIADMK party, clashing with police in Bangalore city and the state capital Chennai.

Workers of rival Tamil party, DMK, burst crackers in celebration.

“I am pleased that the Indian democratic system is working,” Subramanian Swamy, a petitioner in the case and a leader of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), told the television channel Times Now. “It is an appropriate punishment.”

Swamy said the verdict could weaken AIADMK and present his party with an opportunity to build its base in the state, where it has had little success so far.

Experts say Indian courts have historically been lenient on powerful politicians, with many former state and federal chief ministers out on bail despite facing serious charges.

“The sentencing of Jayalalithaa and quantum of punishment makes us proud of our judiciary. However, justice ought to be fast-tracked,” former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Twitter. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

advance tickets from today, officials said.

Launch fares high than Eid-ul Fitr

Launch ticket seekers have claimed that the launch owners had not reduced the ticket prices like Eid-ul-Fitr as per a decision taken earlier during a meeting between BIWTA officials and launch owners’ associations’ leaders.

The government body allowed launch owners to keep their present ticket prices if they promise not to overload their vessels during the vacation period.

Sale of advance tickets for BIWTA vessels are scheduled to begin today. l

RAB-7 rescues 17 while being trafficked to Malaysia, two held n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-7) in drive on Friday rescued 17 people from Chittagong city’s Chandgaon area when they were being trafficked to Malaysia through the sea route.

Two traffickers were also nabbed during the drive.

RAB-7 Media Wing Assistant Director Sohel Mahmud told the Dhaka Tribune that on a tip-off, they conducted a drive at Bahaddarhat Pukur Par area from early Saturday.

Later, they also nabbed two traffickers – Md Humayun Kabir, 27 and Taslim Uddin Emran, 28, as per information provided by the victims.

The rescued are Md Abdul Waheed, 67, Md Milon, 25, Mohammad Salim, 30, Hasan Ali, 28, Ahmed Ali, 20, Abu Hasan, 19, Nawsher Ali, 28, Abdul Mottaleb, 25, Jalal Uddin, 25, Mir Iqbal, 26, Ramzan Ali, 35, Mohammad Rafique, 40, Mohammad Shahid, 35, Mohammad Wasim, 27, Mamun Miah, 20, Sagar Mia, 23, Heron Miah, 17, all were of different areas of Sirajgonj, Bogra, Magura, Jessore and Narsingdi districts.

A case was lodged with the Chandgaon police in this regard, the RAB official added. l

PM seeks global support for war crimes trial n UNB, New York Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday sought support of the international community for the ongoing trial process of war criminals in Bangladesh for the sake of justice, human rights and the rule of law.

“The highly transparent, impartial and independent International Crimes Tribunals, Bangladesh, have already completed the trials of a few key criminals who perpetrated heinous crimes against humanity. We look towards the international community’s full appre-

ciation of the aspirations of our people for this long-awaited justice,” she said.

The prime minister was delivering her speech at the 69th Session of the UN General Assembly held at the UN Headquarters. President of the sixty-ninth session of the General Assembly Sam Kahamba Kutesa chaired the session.

“To uphold peace and the rule of law and end a culture of impunity, my government remains pledge-bound to bring to justice the culprits of war crimes, crimes against humanity, rape, and genocide committed during our 1971 Liberation War,” she added.

The prime minister also noted that Bangladesh government maintains a zero-tolerance policy to all forms of terrorism, violent extremism, radicalisation and religion-based politics.

She said the anti-liberation forces continue to remain active in destroying the progressive and secular fabric of the nation as they resort to religious militancy and violent extremism at every opportunity.

Hasina said her government is also entrenching democracy, secularism and women’s empowerment to ideologically defeat terrorism and extremism. l

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B3 Business spending,

exports spur big bounce in US economy

B4 Weak euro zone lending data underscores need for ECB stimulus

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Rawhide price yet to be fixed n Asif Showkat Kallol

World Tourism Day observed n Tribune Report The World Tourism Day was observed in the country yesterday aiming to raise awareness among the people about the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic values.

The theme of this year’s day was ‘Tourism and Community Development’.

The theme focused on the ability of tourism to empower people and provide them with skills to achieve change in their local communities.

Marking the day, Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC), different tour operators and other organisations chalked out various programmes, including colourful rally and discussion meetings.

The rally, arranged by BTB, started from Matsya Bhaban and terminated at the Dhaka University’s TSC after parading through important city streets.

Inaugurating the rally, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said the government is working with an aim to expand tourism across the country.

Meanwhile, President Abdul Hamid in a message urged all concerned to work together for the development of the sector. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina called upon the private entrepreneurs to come forward alongside the government to create opportunities for engaging local communities more in running the tourism industry. l

The price of rawhide and skin is yet to be fixed as the stakeholders have so far failed to sit on it although the Eid ulAzha is knocking at the doors.

However, prices of the rawhide and skin are soaring abnormally in the domestic market ahead of the forthcoming Eid festival.

It seems rawhide and skin traders are not yet keen to determine prices of the items as they don’t want to take any responsibility over fixing the prices.

Meanwhile, the country’s tanners have predicted that the prices of rawhide and skin will be lower this year, comparing to the last year’s as the prices in international market declined by 20%.

Besides, the Ministry of Commerce has delayed an inter-ministerial meeting from September 28 to 30.

“We will hold a meeting with rawhide and skin traders on Tuesday to determine price in local market,” commerce Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, ndc, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The Commerce Ministry has asked Bangladesh Tenners Association (BTA) to reach a conscience about the price of rawhide and skin. When the price of rawhide and skin will be fixed the market is likely to behave normally or otherwise unscrupulous tannery busi-

nessmen will take an extra advantage from innocent people, he also said.

He also pointed out that the tannery owners, leather processing businessmen and wholesalers have already made a decision about the price of raw leather.

The country’s tanners have predicted that the prices of rawhide and skin would be higher this year than those in the last year.

We are unable to set a price amid fall of prices in international market, so we want the price to be fixed as per international free market economy during the next Eid ul-Azha, said BTA Chairman Md Shaheen Ahmed.

“That is why, we will try not to fix the price of raw leather at the scheduled meeting with the Commerce Ministry. However, we will buy rawhide and skin from the tannery owners’ representatives because they can preserve the items very carefully,” he also added.

According to the Directorate of Livestock, a total of 65.39 lakh animals, mostly cows, were slaughtered for rawhide in last year.

A total of 220 tannery businesses control the rawhide market in Bangladesh while 22 crore feet rawhide and skin are traded annually.

Out of 22 crore, 65% are cows and 32% goats and other animals, according to Business Promotion Council. l

Dhaka-Tokyo direct flight deal signed n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

Banglalink mulls over best data services to subscribers

Hamid Fabrics IPO subscription begins today

Biman Bangladesh Airlines is going to fly on the Dhaka-Tokyo direct flight route soon.

The operation comes after the government has signed a new agreement with its Japanese counterpart to open a new direct flight from Dhaka to Tokyo.

Earlier, Biman shut down its flights to some destinations in a bid to cut losses.

The Civil Aviation and Tourism Secretary Khurshid Alam Chowdhury signed the deal for the country on Friday in Tokyo in presence of the Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, said sources in the ministry.

“Through this deal, we are very close to meeting the demand for Dhaka-Tokyo direct flight and I am very hopeful about the success of this flight route,” Menon told the Dhaka Tribune after coming back to Dhaka on Friday.

He said under the deal Biman can fly to Tokyo via Bangkok, which will bring more tourists to the country.

Biman sources said a lot of passengers travel to Tokyo from Dhaka every day through different routes and Biman can bring all of them on its board.

But when asked, Biman officials were found to have a very little knowledge about the deal.

Biman, the national flag carrier, currently maintains flights on 19 international routes, including Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Dammam, Delhi, Doha, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Kolkata, Kuwait City, London, Muscat, Riyadh, Rome and Singapore.

Menon also attended the meeting with his Japanese counterpart in a bid to explore Foreign Direct Investment or PPP for proposed Exclusive Tourist Zone at Sabrung under Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar district.

He also held meetings with Japanese Vice-Foreign Minister Kazuyuki Nakane and State minister for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Kitagwa on several bilateral issues including tourism and civil aviation.

Menon also discussed how to establish an exclusive tourist zone with the assistance of Japanese government in a meeting with senior executives from famous resort developers of Japan, Tokyu Fudosan and Mitsui Fudosan. l

n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

n Tribune Report

Mobile phone operator Banglalink intends to be the leading data operator in the country with an aim to offer its customers the utmost satisfaction of using data bundles.

The second largest mobile operator in the country, Banglalink wants to bring in a change to data market through its offering of HSPA+ (HighSpeed Packet Access) service – a high-level 3G network, and modernised 2G internet services.

Banglalink Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ziad Shatara came up with the revelation about the company’s data services plan while talking to the Dhaka Tribune last week.

In an exclusive interview, Ziad Shatara said currently, the country witnesses a massive scale of data usage by the mobile subscribers and Banglalink wants to top the list of internet service providers.

The CEO termed the existing internet data services by the mobile operators “data revolution”.

He said: “Our aspiration is to take the lead as the best data service provider in the country and the users’ satisfaction is our only goal.”

“At the moment, we are the market leader among the mobile internet operators in the country in terms of coverage as well as speed, and without any doubt, I can say we are providing one of the best networks in the country.”

Two weeks ago, Banglalink achieved a landmark of 30 million active subscribers and the cellular company is running a modernised network.

“We have 30 million happy custom-

Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation in association with other organisations brings out a colourful rally in the capital to mark the World Tourism Day yesterday. The rally paraded across Matsya Bhaban and TSC of Dhaka University MEHEDI HASAN

Ziad Shatara ers and they are our power to expand our business.”

The chief executive officer claimed that they have quality network coverage that satisfies their subscribers who provide feedback for the company.

Ziad Shatara maintained that the network quality also makes a difference between Banglalink and its other competitors.

The Banglalink boss hopes that by the end of October the company will complete all of its modernisation process and their customers enjoy much faster data services even through 2G services.

From the customers’ point of view, they will get the highest 2G speed with the help of modernised network, he added.

Though Banglalink reached a milestone of 30 million subscribers its market share is only 25%, 3% down from what it was in 2011.

Ananda Shipyard to build ships for German n Tribune Report Ananda Shipyard and Slipways Ltd, the country’s first shipbuilder industry, will build a number of ocean-going ships for a German company that will operate on different shipping routes in European region.

The German shipping company Nordic Hamburg has shown interest to purchase a number of already-constructed and also under-construction ships of Ananda Shipyard, said the

company in a statement yesterday.

“The formalities in this regards is under way.”

Last week, a delegation of the German company led by its Managing Director Rowil Ponta visited the shipyard at Meghnaghat in Narayanganj.

Ananda Shipyard chairman Abdullahel Bari and its executive director Tariqul Islam accompanied the delegation.

The statement said the German company is going to purchase these ships for operating on different shipping routes in European region.

Established in 1983 on the bank of river Buriganga as Ananda Builders Ltd, it is the first Bangladeshi shipbuilder to deliver a seagoing vessel to a foreign customer. It is a part of the Ananda Group of companies. l

In this regard, Ziad said the market share is increasing from January 2014 and within three to five years the company targets the next 1-crore milestone.

“Currently, there are 70% penetrations and I hope 100% by the next five years and then Banglalink will have 40 million subscribers.”

About the massive scale usage of data, he added that from January 1, 2014 to the end of September the data consumption has turned triple.

But in in terms of voice business the company found its growth ranges between 5% and 10%.

The users nowadays tend to using internet more and more on their mobile sets, using facebook, whatsapp, viber, etc, he said.

Ziad described the fact that currently, all applications that are in the offing depends on data and that is why the mobile operators need more and more spectrum and should bring their data charges down.

He called upon the government to see to it that the more people are connected to internet, the more they will contribute to the economy.

The CEO went to the extent of saying that the internet facilities would contribute to beating traffic on the streets and ease human activities.

People would arrange meeting through video calls, share documents and make transaction through internet, he noted.

Ziad observed that there is a direct benefit to the economy from the services and Banglalink wants to be a part of the government initiative for developing the economy.  B3 COLUMN 5

Initial Public Offering (IPO) subscription of Hamid Fabrics begins today under newly introduced method that came into effect from July 15 last.

The company is the first in offering issues under the new method that is expected to cut down the processing time to three weeks from existing more than five weeks and to save a substantial amount of money on the expenses for IPO. Investors will be allowed to submit their IPO applications through designated brokerage firms 174 from the Dhaka Stock Exchange while 73 others from the Chittagong Stock Exchange along with 37 merchant banks.

Under the new system, retail investors will have to apply for IPO shares allotment through their respective brokerage firms and merchant banks, and deposit money to their beneficiary owner’s (BO) accounts.

However, the existing method will also remain effective for the non-resident Bangladeshis and foreign investors and the Bangladeshi nationals will have both the two options to choose between the two methods.

As per the present procedures, investors need to submit money with their applications for IPO shares to their respective bank accounts for which they have to waste hours, standing in queues. The company’s IPO subscription will be closed on October 2 for Bangladeshi nationals while October 11 for non-resident Bangladeshis.

The textile company will raise Tk105 crore from public. Using the fixed price method, it is set to float 3

crore ordinary shares of Tk10 each at an offer price of Tk35, including Tk25 as premium.

The IPO proceedings would be used for Hamid Fabrics’ existing bank loan payment and business expansion.

The company’s five-year weighted average earnings per share, as of June 2013, stood at Tk2.97 while the net asset value per share is Tk41.14 after revaluation.

According to new method, an individual will have to convey his/her wish to participate in the IPO in a prescribed paper or electronic form to the stockbrokers or merchant banks with whom a beneficiary owner’s account is maintained.

The form should contain the customer ID, name, BO account number, number of securities applied for, total amount and category of the applicant.

Money will have to be available in the customer’s account; no margin facility, advance or deferred payment will be allowed for IPO subscription.

After verifying the availability of the fund, the stockbroker or the merchant bank will block the amount equivalent to the application money and accumulate all the applications or instructions received up to the subscription closing date.

Meanwhile, the stockbroker or the merchant bank will have to maintain a separate bank account for the IPO purpose, where the blocked amount will be deposited.

In case of applications submitted by the stock-dealer or the merchant bank’s own portfolio, the application amount should also be transferred to this account. l

B2

Bullish spell continues to lift investor sentiment Telco, financial institution stocks shine

n

about the long term bullishness of the market with burgeoning liquidity and economic activities.”

The fixed deposit receipt rate has been on the wane for some time now, which might be alluring investors to invest in equity, it said.

It said other factors such as stable economic outlook and relatively calm in politics have attracted some investors.

According to the IDLC Investments, the last week of the month featured with strong turnover and persistent enthusiasm among the investors.

All the five sessions closed in green while investors continued to inject fresh funds and return-chasing behavior sustained, it said.

The new high of index has also offered confidence in retail participants, it added.

The brokers said the investors who so far remained on the sidelines were attracted towards the market, leading to a vibrant trading.

Telecommunication posted the highest gain of nearly 9%, followed by banks that moved up by 4.7% a nd non-banking financial institutions 3%.

Fuel and power also went up by 3%. Food and allied and pharmaceuticals declined 3% and 0.8% respectively.

Gainers outpaced losers as out of 310 issues traded, 194 closed higher, 106 lower and 10 remained unchanged during the past week. l

Tribune Report

The stock market experienced bullish spell for the fourth week in a row, attracting investors, even inactive ones, to join in trade.

The factors, including positive economic outlook, anticipation of no major political upheaval and falling bank interest rate might help the market continue to move up.

For the first time since its launching in January last year, the benchmark DSEX crossed 5000mark in the last trading day of the past week. At the end of the week, it surged almost 61 points or 3% to 5,027.

The comprising blue chips DS30 index rose 50 points or 2.7% to 1,949.

The DSE Shariah Index closed at 1,182, rising 34 points or 3%.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index - CSCX – saw steepest of 358 points or 4% to close at 9,439.

The volume of trade also continued to be on the upswing, as the week’s daily average turnover was Tk1,000 crore, an increase of 9% over the previous week’s Tk919 crore.

Engineering, pharmaceuticals and power stocks continued to dominate the trading. These three sectors accounted for 17%, 16% and 14% respectively of the week’s total turnover.

Lanka Bangla Securities said: “The current market scenario indicates investors’ growing confidence

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS Company Grameen M F One-A Anlima Yarn -A Samata LeatheR -Z Desh Garments -B Al-Haj Textile -A Tung Hai Knitting -N Marico BD Ltd-A Saiham Tex.A FarEast Knitting -N UNITED AIR-A

Closing (% change) -11.48 -10.38 -9.70 -9.64 -9.45 -9.21 -9.06 -8.84 -8.00 -7.63

CSE LOSERS Company Grameen M F One-A Anlima Yarn -A Wata Chemicals -A Mithun Knitting -A Saiham Tex.A Marico BD Ltd-A FarEast Knitting -N Tung Hai Knitting -N UNITED AIR-A Aramit -A

Closing (% change) -11.65 -10.88 -9.17 -8.70 -8.61 -8.59 -8.52 -7.89 -7.56 -6.83

5026.92534

(+) 3.30%

1949.63620

(+) 2.65%

15615.0721

(+) 3.89%

12385.4207

(+) 2.07%

9439.0548

(+) 3.95%

Average (% change) -11.41 -13.42 -9.54 -9.16 -8.62 -7.90 -8.19 -8.23 -8.14 -8.46 Average (% change) -9.72 -14.94 -5.52 -6.18 -7.13 -8.59 -8.08 -7.73 -7.99 -7.17

ANALYST

Closing average 27.09 26.19 21.44 83.75 133.00 21.33 1104.00 33.01 32.62 10.82

Closing average 27.21 25.85 220.25 93.37 32.93 1,130.00 32.64 21.26 10.83 284.06

Weekly closing 27.00 25.90 21.40 82.50 131.30 20.70 1091.20 33.00 32.20 10.90

Weekly closing 27.30 25.40 217.00 92.30 32.90 1,130.00 32.20 21.00 11.00 285.10

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 5337.67 3476.58 603.91 9385.07 1493.57 6678.26 10.51 3304.87 7064.74 220.83 704.96 438.45 1009.70 2224.41 585.52 531.20 1186.44 1970.34 1243.75 2788.03 2.53

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ Weekly high 32.00 31.00 23.90 92.90 149.60 23.50 1214.00 37.50 36.10 12.90

Weekly high 30.40 30.80 226.00 106.00 37.20 1,175.00 36.00 23.40 12.80 285.10

CSE key features September 21-25, 2014

DSE GAINERS

Turnover (Million Taka)

RAK Ceramics-A People`s Leasing-A SummitAlliancePort.-A BD Finance-A Sinobangla Indu.-A Rahima Food -Z BD. Thai Alum -B National Housing Fin.-B Intl. Leasing-B Barakatullah E. D.-A

Company

50,261.33

Turnover (Volume)

1,195,808,412

Number of Contract

976,543

Traded Issues

310

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

200

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

103 7

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,686.43

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

32.56

CSE key features September 21-25, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

3,595.58

Turnover (Volume)

100,438,576

Number of Contract

134,882

Traded Issues

255

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

181

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

70

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,592.85

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

31.43

Turnover in million

24.70 25.80 21.40 82.10 122.00 20.20 1090.20 32.30 31.70 10.70

Weekly low

Latest EPS

106.007 43.422 0.358 11.600 75.556 134.045 15.467 241.854 131.904 628.749

3.40 0.80 0.09 0.96 2.00 0.60 59.28 3.09 2.13 1.02

Turnover in million

26.80 25.10 215.00 88.30 32.80 1,130.00 31.70 20.30 10.70 280.00

Closing (% change) 37.98 35.59 32.36 30.71 30.40 24.82 24.43 23.81 20.87 18.38

CSE GAINERS

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

Weekly low

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Latest EPS

5.015 3.125 0.485 7.758 3.300 0.346 18.862 33.116 113.705 0.071

3.40 0.80 6.20 2.69 3.09 59.28 2.13 0.60 1.02 12.56

Latest PE 8.0 32.7 238.2 87.2 66.5 35.6 18.6 10.7 15.3 10.6

Latest PE 8.0 32.3 35.5 34.7 10.7 19.1 15.3 35.4 10.6 22.6

Company RAK Ceramics-A People`s Leasing-A BD Finance-A Sinobangla Indu.-A SummitAlliancePort.-A Rahima Food -Z BD. Thai Alum -B National Housing Fin.-B Beximco Syn.-Z Intl. Leasing-B

Closing (% change) 37.90 36.36 32.54 32.26 31.73 25.35 24.81 24.35 23.76 20.87

Average (% change) 39.35 38.26 29.24 31.74 33.28 30.92 24.26 23.14 19.86 16.42 Average (% change) 40.01 37.96 32.05 34.66 29.01 26.44 22.94 23.72 19.37 20.58

Closing average 67.99 23.96 48.57 16.77 33.48 54.53 32.73 33.74 13.88 37.29

Closing average 68.10 23.95 16.77 33.49 48.70 53.41 32.64 33.70 12.20 13.83

Weekly closing 68.30 24.00 49.90 16.60 32.60 51.80 32.60 33.80 13.90 38.00

Weekly closing 68.40 24.00 16.70 32.80 49.40 53.40 32.70 33.70 12.50 13.90

Weekly high 72.00 24.00 50.20 17.10 34.20 60.60 34.00 33.80 14.60 38.10

Weekly high 71.80 24.00 17.40 34.20 49.80 62.10 33.90 33.70 13.10 14.60

Weekly low 45.00 16.00 34.00 12.00 25.00 40.00 23.90 25.00 11.00 28.90

Weekly low 45.00 17.50 12.80 25.00 34.50 46.80 26.20 26.50 10.20 11.70

Turnover in million

Latest EPS

887.441 598.049 386.236 159.959 182.246 40.961 281.670 55.426 97.475 491.303

Turnover in million

1.76 0.82 0.96 0.26 1.21 -1.01 0.84 1.88 -0.78 1.69

Latest EPS

85.138 72.768 23.502 11.116 33.001 5.310 11.808 2.635 6.554 15.003

1.76 0.82 0.26 1.21 0.96 -1.01 0.84 1.88 0.66 -0.78

Latest PE 38.6 29.2 50.6 64.5 27.7 -ve 39.0 17.9 -ve 22.1

Latest PE 38.7 29.2 64.5 27.7 50.7 -ve 38.9 17.9 18.5 -ve

Weekly news from trade server AGM/Dividend BANGAS: The Board of Directors has recommended 50% stock dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2014. Date of AGM: 21.10.2014, Time: 12:15 PM, Venue: Factory premises of Tallu Spinning Mills Ltd., Kaltapara Bazar, Gouripur, Mymensingh.

Record date: 30.09.2014. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 5.03, NAV per share of Tk. 34.60 and NOCFPS of Tk. (0.38) for the year ended on June 30, 2014.

BDBUILDING: The Board of Directors has recommended 5% cash dividend and 20% stock dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2014. The Board has also decided to issue rights share @ 2R:5 at an issue price of Tk. 20.00 (including share premium of Tk. 10.00 each) on paid up capital after considering bonus shares subject to the approval by the shareholders in the AGM and the Regulatory Authorities. The purpose of the Rights Issue would be business expansion through diversification of product line and for working capital and repayment of outstanding loan. Date of AGM: 23.10.2014, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: Factory Premises, Janina Bazar, Telehate, Sreepur, Gazipur.

Record date: 30.09.2014. 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. 226.68 million, EPS of Tk. 3.08, NAV per share of Tk. 14.90 and NOCFPS of Tk. 1.58 for the year ended on June 30, 2014 as against Tk. 76.52 million, Tk. 1.53, Tk. 14.60 and Tk. 3.14 respectively for the same period of the

previous year.

EHL: The Board of Directors has recommended 15% cash dividend and 5% stock dividend for the year ended on July 31, 2014. Date of AGM: 30.10.2014, Time: 10:30 AM, Venue: Officers Club, 26 Baily Road, Dhaka. Record Date: 02.10.2014. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 3.08, NAV per share of Tk. 72.68 and NOCFPS of Tk. (10.07) for the year ended on July 31, 2014.

UNITEDAIR: The Board of Directors has recommended 10% stock dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2014. Date and Venue of the AGM will be intimated later.

Record date: 20.10.2014. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 1.02, NAV per share of Tk. 12.05 and NOCFPS of Tk. 1.91 for the year ended on June 30, 2014.

FAREASTLIF: The Board of Directors has recommended 40% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 03.11.2014, Time: 10:30 AM, Venue: Fareast Tower (Level-8), 35 Topkhana Road, Dhaka-1000. Record date: 16.10.2014.

Audited/unaudited Financial Reports: Ratanpur Steel Re-Rolling Mills Limited: (Q3): The Company has reported its profit after tax Tk. 42.07 million and basic EPS Tk. 1.42 for the 3 (three) months ended on 31 March 2014 (Jan 2014-March 2014) as against profit after tax of Tk. 53.03 million and basic EPS of Tk. 1.79 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. 29,600,000 shares

for both periods. However, considering Post-IPO 54,600,000 number of shares the Company's basic EPS for the 3 (three) months ended on 31 March 2014 would be Tk. 0.77 For the period of 9 (nine) months (July 2013 to March 2014) ended on 31 March 2014 profit after tax was Tk. 123.85 million and basic EPS was Tk. 4.18 as against profit after tax of Tk. 153.69 million and basic EPS of Tk. 5.19 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. 29,600,000 shares for both periods. However, considering Post-IPO 54,600,000 number of shares, Company's basic EPS would be Tk. 2.27 for 9 (nine) months ended on 31 March 2014 (July 2013 to March 2014) and NAV per share would be Tk. 49.69 as on 31 March 2014.

SPCL: (Q3-Revised): As per revised un-audited quarterly accounts for the 3rd quarter ended on 31st March 2014 (Jan'14 to March'14), the Company has reported consolidated net profit after tax (excluding non-controlling interest) of Tk. 168.77 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 1.48 as against Tk. 90.47 million and Tk. 0.79 respectively for the same period of the previous year. Whereas consolidated net profit after tax (excluding non-controlling interest) was Tk. 285.48 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 2.50 for the period of nine months (July'13 to March'14) ended on 31.03.2014 as against Tk. 222.22 million and Tk. 1.95 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

The current market scenario indicates investors’ growing confidence about the long term bullishness of the market with burgeoning liquidity and economic activities

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

% change 10.62 6.92 1.20 18.67 2.97 13.29 0.02 6.58 14.06 0.44 1.40 0.87 2.01 4.43 1.16 1.06 2.36 3.92 2.47 5.55 0.01

Million Taka 356.41 220.40 27.97 796.68 102.02 349.69 0.00 360.53 430.15 91.51 41.84 66.68 91.96 160.74 74.26 19.96 52.69 128.54 170.74 242.80 0.08

CSE

% change 9.41 5.82 0.74 21.04 2.69 9.24 0.00 9.52 11.36 2.42 1.11 1.76 2.43 4.25 1.96 0.53 1.39 3.40 4.51 6.41 0.00

Million Taka 5694.08 3696.98 631.88 10181.76 1595.59 7027.95 10.51 3665.40 7494.90 312.33 746.80 505.13 1101.66 2385.15 659.79 551.16 1239.13 2098.88 1414.49 3030.83 2.60

Total

% change 10.54 6.84 1.17 18.84 2.95 13.00 0.02 6.78 13.87 0.58 1.38 0.93 2.04 4.41 1.22 1.02 2.29 3.88 2.62 5.61 0.00

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company MJL BD Ltd.-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A BSRM Steels-A Ratanpur Steel -N Beximco Pharma -A Grameenphone-A LafargeS Cement-Z Golden Son -A Active Fine Chem.-A ACI Limited- A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Ratanpur Steel -N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A BSRM Steels-A UNITED AIR-A LafargeS Cement-Z Beximco Pharma -A MJL BD Ltd.-A Grameenphone-A RAK Ceramics-A National Bank - A

Volume shares 15,290,825 47,076,436 16,814,800 23,926,800 25,510,745 4,404,964 9,436,000 21,047,935 13,244,495 1,858,255

Volume shares 4,376,800 4,428,473 1,089,604 9,925,407 829,000 1,547,346 597,252 228,200 1,372,568 6,183,192

Value in million 2338.90 2170.37 1945.88 1901.92 1763.46 1685.32 1260.77 1099.80 1006.12 901.32

Value in million 337.12 204.40 125.79 113.71 111.31 108.05 90.65 87.21 85.14 75.11

% of total turnover 4.65 4.32 3.87 3.78 3.51 3.35 2.51 2.19 2.00 1.79

% of total turnover 9.33 5.66 3.48 3.15 3.08 2.99 2.51 2.41 2.36 2.08

Weekly closing 159.10 46.90 122.40 84.90 71.30 398.60 142.20 54.80 78.70 512.60

Weekly closing 83.80 47.10 122.10 11.00 143.10 71.50 159.30 400.00 68.40 12.40

Price change 10.33 8.56 8.13 0.00 5.47 9.18 2.45 6.61 2.88 10.50

Weekly opening 144.20 43.20 113.20 0.00 67.60 365.10 138.80 51.40 76.50 463.90

Weekly high 165.00 50.30 125.00 91.90 72.80 399.80 145.40 55.20 79.50 525.00

Weekly low 128.00 39.00 100.00 67.10 60.70 350.00 124.50 45.00 68.00 423.00

Weekly average 158.94 46.71 122.33 87.39 69.81 393.58 142.62 54.00 78.44 514.53

Price change 0.00 9.28 7.48 -7.56 2.73 4.99 11.32 9.74 37.90 10.71

Weekly opening 0.00 43.10 113.60 11.90 139.30 68.10 143.10 364.50 49.60 11.20

Weekly high 90.90 48.00 125.00 12.80 145.00 73.00 170.00 402.00 71.80 13.00

Weekly low 65.00 40.50 101.00 10.70 127.00 62.00 127.00 362.00 45.00 10.20

Weekly average 86.98 46.79 122.10 10.83 142.07 70.52 158.99 394.03 68.10 12.57

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Sunay, September 28, 2014

Business spending, exports spur Dollar takes a breather in Asia big bounce in US economy n AFP, Tokyo

n Reuters, Washington The US economy grew at its fastest pace in 2-1/2 years in the second quarter with all sectors contributing to the jump in output in a bullish signal for the remainder of the year.

The Commerce Department on Friday raised its estimate of growth in gross domestic product to a 4.6% annual rate from the 4.2% pace reported last month.

“It increases our confidence that strong growth is obtainable in the second half of this year,” said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist at MUFG Union Bank in New York.

The United States is bucking a spate of weaker overseas growth with the euro zone and Japan slumping, and growth in China slowing as well.

With the US economy firing on nearly all cylinders, traders are bracing for an interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve next year. The dollar, which got a lift from the GDP data, has risen about 7% against a basket of major currencies since early July in anticipation.

The data also supported stocks, which were up marginally near midday, while prices for US Treasury debt fell.

A faster pace of business spending and sturdier export growth than previously estimated were the two main factors behind the upward revision to US GDP, which had its best growth performance since the fourth quarter of 2011.

Consumer spending growth was unrevised at a 2.5% rate as stronger healthcare outlays were offset by weakness in spending on recreation, other services and durable goods.

Household spending, however, is likely to accelerate, with another report on Friday showing consumer sentiment hitting a 14-month high in September.

A bird flies past a container ship belonging to China Shipping Container Lines at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro

Brisk domestic demand

But the expansion in consumer spending, combined with strong business investment, was nevertheless enough to push domestic demand ahead at its fastest pace since 2010.

That suggests the economy’s recovery is becoming more durable after output slumped at a 2.1% rate in the first quarter because of an unusually cold winter.

So far, data covering manufacturing, trade and housing suggest that much of the second quarter’s momentum spilled over into the third quarter. Growth estimates for the July-September quarter range as high as a 3.5% pace.

When measured from the income

side, the economy grew at a 5.2% pace during the second quarter, while corporate profits rose at their fastest pace in three years.

Business spending on equipment was raised to an 11.2% pace from a previously reported 10.7% rate. Businesses also invested more in nonresidential structures, such as gas drilling, as well as in research and development.

The trend likely persisted in the third quarter, with data on Thursday showing business orders for capital goods rose in August. Though trade was a drag for a second consecutive quarter, export growth was raised to an 11.1% pace, the fastest since the fourth

REUTERS

quarter of 2010, from a 10.1% rate.

The dollar’s strength, however, could take some of the edge off of export growth in the months ahead.

“The recent appreciation in the dollar will continue and slow export growth in 2015 by driving relative prices for US exports higher,” said Doug Handler, chief economist at IHS Global Insight in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Businesses accumulated $84.8bn worth of inventory in the second quarter, contributing 1.42 percentage points to GDP growth. The relatively strong pace could result in inventories making no contribution to growth in the third quarter. l

The dollar took a breather in Asia on Friday after hitting a near two-year high against the euro in New York as the US economy shows further signs of strength.

The single European currency was trading at $1.2749 in Tokyo Friday, up from a low of $1.2697 in US trade, which was its weakest level since November 2012. The euro also fetched at 138.86 yen against 138.62 yen.

The greenback bought 108.92 yen, up from 108.73 yen in New York but well off the 109.30 yen touched earlier Thursday in Tokyo.

Another batch of generally good news out of the United States fed speculation that the Federal Reserve will likely hike interest rates sooner than anticipated.

Jobless claims rose, but held below 300,000, and the four-week moving average continued to fall, a fresh confirmation of the improving trend in the jobs market.

Also, while durable goods orders were dragged by volatile aircraft orders in August the overall growth trend was still strong.

Traders are now eyeing US jobs data next Friday and a news conference by Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda on October 7.

Banglalink mulls over best data  B1 COLUMN 4

Regarding their balance sheet, the Banglalink CEO said though they are not in profitable position, but their performance curve is on the upswing.

In reply to another question, he siad: “We might not go to a profitable stage by this year and consider issuing IPO after making profit.” Ziad considers that Bangladesh has achieved maturity on

Microsoft Day celebrated in Dhaka n Tribune Report

China official PMI seen steady at 51.2 in September but pressures remain

Microsoft Day 2014 was celebrated yesterday at the BCS Computer City in Dhaka.

Microsoft Bangladesh arranged the event inaugurated by its Country Manager Sonia Bashir Kabir, says a press release. Speaking at the function, she spoke about Microsoft products and how important it is to “embrace genuine” in enabling local innovation to flourish.

“We, the people of Bangladesh, are going to pave the way for the future of technology in the country. We have a big population and we will do what is right for us as individuals and for our country.”

Kabir requested the visitors to become ambassadors of the “Be Genuine, Buy Genuine” initiative. She also shared with them how Microsoft is transforming as a company.

Anti-piracy manager Sharmin Chowdhury, other members of Microsoft Bangladesh team and tech lovers from all over the country participated in the event. l

Growth in China’s manufacturing sector probably steadied in September as factory orders held up, a Reuters poll showed, providing some welcome relief for those who worry the Chinese economy is quickly losing steam.

The official manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) likely edged up slightly to 51.2 in September compared with August’s 51.1, leaving it comfortably above the 50-point level demarcating an expansion from a contraction on a monthly basis.

That may assure investors that the world’s second-biggest economy, which has stumbled this year, is not doing as badly as some feared. But at the same time, some analysts warned investors against thinking that growth would pick up markedly.

“It is good that it is above 50, but it is not that great,” Li Haitao, an economist at Guangdong Development Bank, said in reference to the PMI. “The trend has stayed weak.”

Hurt by unsteady exports, a hous-

n Reuters, Beijing

Workers look at machines moving newly made raw bricks at a factory in Huaibei, Anhui province Reuters ing downturn and cooling investment growth, the world’s second-largest economy has wobbled this year, raising doubts about whether it can grow by around 7.5% in 2014 as targeted by Beijing or whether it may be at risk of a sharper slowdown. That has prompted many in-

vestors to bet that Chinese policymakers may further loosen fiscal and monetary policies to stoke growth, following a raft of stimulus measures since spring.

Expectations that China would reduce the amount of deposits that banks must set aside as reserves, or the re-

The dollar could still break 110 yen, said Osamu Takashima, chief FX strategist at Citigroup Global Markets Japan, due to potential yen-selling by shortterm players.

Any announcement that Japan’s $1.2tn Government Pension Investment Fund will reallocate its portfolio would put a rocket under the coupling.

A move by GPIF to shift into foreign currency would give a lead to numerous pension funds and may result in yen selling by overseas hedge funds, said Nomura Securities chief strategist Yunosuke Ikeda.

Dealers seemed little moved by Japanese data showing a slower-thanexpected 3.1% year-on-year rise in August inflation.

Excluding the impact of a sales tax hike in April, the rise in core consumer prices was 1.1%, well short of the Bank’s ambitious 2% target for next year.

Many economists say the central bank may need to announce further monetary easing to mitigate the longterm impact of the tax hike on consumption.

The dollar was mostly higher against other Asia-Pacific currencies.

It rose to Sg$1.2707 from Sg$1.2680 on Thursday, to 12,021.00 Indonesian rupiah from 11,978.50 rupiah, and to 44.88 Philippine pesos from 44.76 pesos. l

serve requirement ratio (RRR), were bolstered earlier this month when data showed growth in factory output unexpectedly fell to a six-year low in August as the housing slowdown increasingly weighs on other parts of the economy.

But on their part, Chinese leaders have said repeatedly that no dramatic change in policy is imminent, partly because China cannot always rely on easy credit conditions to re-vitalise its economy, and partly because policymakers fear that flooding the system with money may feed speculative activities instead of going into the real economy.

Instead, policymakers said they would make “targeted” adjustments by loosening policy reins in the most vulnerable sectors. Some economists have interpreted that to mean that the central bank would prevent short-term interest rates from climbing too much.

The official PMI followed a similar preliminary survey by HSBC/Markit released earlier this week that showed the manufacturing sector gaining momentum in September, even though factory employment slumped to a 5-1/2-year low. l

telecom services, but at the same time he thinks there is no need to offer LTE (Long Term Evaluation, another fastest data services) before three-four years.

He added that voice business will never die, it might shift its position only.

If people use whatsapp or viber, from revenue aspect, voice position may lose, but data opportunities will increase, said the CEO. l

Oil prices rise n AFP, Singapore Oil prices were mixed in Asia Friday as dealers focused on conflict-wracked Ukraine and US-led airstrikes against jihadists in the Middle East, analysts said.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for November delivery rose two cents to $92.55 while Brent crude for November eased three cents to $96.97 in afternoon trade. Ric Spooner, chief market analyst at CMC Markets in Sydney, told AFP: “Developments in Ukraine and the situation with the US bombings in Syria and Iraq are on investors’ minds.”

The European Union (EU) will hold fresh talks with Russia and Ukraine later Friday in Berlin to settle their ongoing dispute over gas deliveries.

Europe gets more than 30% of its gas from Russia, with half of that transiting through Ukraine. In June, Moscow cut off supplies for Kiev owing to a bitter price dispute that took place against the backdrop of an armed insurgency by pro-Kremlin rebels in east Ukraine.

Gas is flowing as normal through Ukraine into the EU, but Russia has warned there is a high risk of disruption of deliveries to Europe this winter as international tensions remain high over the Ukraine crisis. l

Trust Bank Limited has recently inaugurated its branch at Sreenogor in Munshigonj. The bank’s vice chairperson and adjutant general of Bangladesh Army Major General Ashraf Abdullah Yussuf inaugurated the branch Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka has recently celebrated World Tourism Day across the country. The hotel’s expat general manager, Eldridge J Mac Ewan was present on the occasion among others

Citibank, NA Bangladesh and IDLC Finance Limited recently signed a direct debit agreement. Selim RF Hussain, CEO and MD of IDLC Finance Limited and Khd Rashed Maqsood, managing director and Citi’s country officer for Citibank, NA Bangladesh have signed the agreement

First Security Islami Bank Limited has recently inaugurated its mobile banking services named First Pay Sure Cash at Jessore Municipality. Dr Md Humayun Kabir, deputy commissioner at Jessore was present on the occasion as chief guest along with the bank’s MD, AAM Zakaria

Mercantile Bank Limited and SHOHOZ.com have recently signed an agreement in Dhaka on buying bus tickets from SHOHOZ.com using MYCash balance. The bank’s EVP and head of mobile banking, AKM Atiqur Rahman and Shakil J Rahim, head of sales at SHOHOZ.com have signed the agreement

Standard Bank Limited has recently held the 118th meeting of its executive committee in Dhaka. The committee’s chairperson Al- haj Mohammed Shamsul Alam has presided over the meeting

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Sunday, September 28, 2014

India regains ‘stable’ Weak euro zone lending data outlook from S&P on underscores need for ECB stimulus Modi reform agenda n Reuters, Frankfurt

n Reuters, Mumbai

Lending to euro zone households and companies contracted for the 28th month in a row in August, though at a slower pace, putting a keener spotlight on European Central Bank efforts to get credit flowing again.

Euro zone banks, particularly in the crisis-stricken countries, have tightened up on lending as they adapt to tougher capital requirements and undergo health checks, while companies are holding back on investments, unsure of the future.

The euro zone economy ground to a halt in the second quarter and with inflation in what ECB President Mario Draghi has called the “danger zone” below 1% for almost a year now, the ECB saw the need to add new stimulus steps in June and September.

The ECB has now started to offer banks four-year loans at ultra-cheap rates and plans to buy asset-backed securities and covered bonds from October to lighten the weight on banks’ balance sheets and entice them to lend.

But economists in a Reuters poll are skeptical about whether the plan will work, saying bank lending to private euro zone businesses needed to grow at a 3% annual rate on a sustained basis to stir inflation.

August lending rates are nowhere near such levels.

In August, loans to the private sector continued to fall, down 1.5 percent from the same month a year earlier after a contraction of 1.6 percent in July, ECB data showed on Thursday. Private sector loans have not grown since April 2012.

“It remains questionable as to how much all the liquidity measures an-

India regained its “stable” rating from Standard and Poor’s on Friday, more than two years after an embarrassing downgrade, in a validation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious agenda of economic and fiscal reforms.

S&P had cut India’s “BBB-minus” rating to “negative” in April 2012, leaving it on the verge of a “junk” rating. That came to symbolize plummeting investor confidence because of corruption cases and a perception of the political paralysis of the then Congress-led government.

But foreign investor confidence has returned after Modi was elected in May, pledging to revive investments and boost growth. He will travel to the United States later on Friday on his first visit as prime minister, and has meetings lined up with 17 US corporate chiefs.

Shares have surged to record highs this year and bonds have also rallied, in a remarkable comeback from last year, when India suffered its worst market turmoil since a 1991 balance of payment crisis - all based on the promise held by Modi’s agenda.

The S&P upgrade is likely to buy Modi some more time to deliver on these sky-high expectations, as the credit agency urged the government to resolve growth impediments such as bottlenecks on energy supply.

“Our outlook revision indicates that we believe the current government’s strong mandate will enable it to implement many of its administrative, fiscal and economic reforms,” S&P said in its statement. India is now rated at the lowest investment grade with a “stable” outlook by all three major global credit agencies, in line with fellow BRICS

Huge euro logo is pictured next to the headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB) before the bank's monthly news conference in Frankfurt REUTERS nounced by the ECB will encourage banks to lift their lending,” IHS Global Insight economist Howard Archer said. “...it is also questionable how much businesses’ demand for credit will pick up while the economic and political outlook looks so uncertain,” he said.

Weak lending in ireland

Draghi told Lithuanian business daily Verslo Zinios in an interview published

on Thursday a continued weakness in credit growth was likely to curb the euro zone recovery.

Euro zone companies rely mainly on bank funding rather than capital markets, which is why it is so crucial to fix lingering problems in the sector.

For that purpose, the ECB is putting the bloc’s top banks through a thorough review of their balance sheets to weed out bad loans, update collateral

valuations and adjust capital.

The picture varies across the euro zone. While lending to companies in Ireland fell at an annual rate of 11.8% in August - the fastest decline in three years - and 8.8 percent in Spain, it rose in Finland, Germany and France.

Euro zone M3 money supply - a more general measure of cash in the economy - grew at an annual pace of 2% in August, up from 1.8% in July. l

countries Brazil and South Africa.

The government welcomed S&P’s upgrade, which had been much speculated upon in markets in recent weeks.

“The stable outlook reflects our view that the new government has both willingness and capacity to implement reforms necessary to restore some of India’s lost growth potential,” Arvind Mayaram, the country’s economic affairs secretary, told reporters after the upgrade.

S&P cited India’s external position and its improving current account balance as other positive factors.

India’s progress in narrowing its current account deficit, with measures such as curbs on gold imports by the previous Congress government, along with Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan’s commitment to curb inflation, were factors behind the recovery of foreign investor interest in India.

But key constraints include India’s “low wealth level” as well as its “weak public finances,” the credit agency noted. S&P also warned it could lower India’s rating should the reform agenda stall over the next 24 months.

Modi’s agenda

Modi’s government still faces a key test in meeting its ambitious fiscal deficit target of 4.1% of gross domestic product for the year ending in March, which will need tax revenue to pick up and the successful partial privatisations of staterun companies, such as Coal India.

The government has also pledged to revive investments and boost infrastructure projects to boost the economy after the last two years marked India’s longest spell of growth of less than 5% in a quarter of a century. l

India promises investors German minister not happy about ECB’s asset purchases n more red carpet, less red tape AFP, Berlin

n AFP, New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged Thursday to slash red tape and harness the benefits of a huge young population as he launched a campaign to attract global business to manufacture in India.

India’s business-friendly new leader wants to revive his country’s flagging economic fortunes by kick-starting a manufacturing sector long eclipsed by that of neighbouring China.

“We don’t need to invite the world to India, they are ready to come. We just need to give them our address,” Modi said at the launch of his ‘Make in India’ campaign.

“India is the only country in the world that has the power of democracy, demographic dividend and demand,” he added, saying India’s young people stood to benefit from manufacturing growth.

Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power in May on a mandate to revive the economy, which is going through its worst slowdown in two decades.

The government has already relaxed rules for foreign investors, eager to create jobs for the millions of Indians who enter the employment market each year.

But any company seeking to do business still has to contend with byzantine regulations and a stringent tax regime.

Modi said he had been “pained” to hear stories of businesses abandoning India because of an unfavourable business climate.

“I asked my staff, ‘why are government forms so lengthy?’ And there was no reason,” he told an audience of business leaders including Reliance Industries head Mukesh Ambani, India’s richest man.

Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said there was “huge untapped potential” for manufacturing in India, which accounts for just 15% of gross domestic product (GDP), far less than many other Asian nations.

“India has long been associated, unfortunately, with red-tapism and cumbersome rules and regulations. We are conscious of such perceptions,” Sitharaman said.

DILBERT

“We want to change that. Red tape will be replaced by the proverbial red carpet,” she said.

The World Bank recently placed India a poor 134th among 189 economies in its ease of doing business report while regional rival China ranked 96th.

British mobile giant Vodafone is locked in a $2.4bn tax row with the Indian government while Finnish company Nokia had its plant in India seized over a tax dispute.

Although it has moved to open the insurance, defence and transport sectors to foreign investors, the government has also closed the door on foreign supermarket chains such as WalMart, which had been hoping to enter the Indian market.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Thursday he is not particularly happy about the European Central Bank’s plans to buy up assetbacked securities on a large scale.

Speaking to the lower house of German parliament or Bundestag at the start of a debate on Europe’s new banking union laws, Schaeuble expressed reservations about the ECB’s asset purchase plans.

“In this respect, I’m not particularly happy about the debate about loan

purchases. It’s something that has to be looked at with caution.”

Asset-backed securities (ABS) are bundles of individual loans such as mortgages, auto credit and credit-card debt that are sold on to investors, allowing banks to share the risk of default and encouraging them to offer more credit.

The ECB believes that the market for such securities - an important source of financing for small and medium-sized enterprises - has effectively dried up since the financial crisis.

And the ECB hopes that by buying them on a large scale, it can help revive

the market and free up some of the credit channels which have seized up during the long years of crisis.

The problem is that it was precisely complex financial derivatives such as ABS which are seen as the the root of the sub-prime crisis in the United States in 2008, leading many observers, particularly in Germany, to harbour deep reservations about them.

The head of the German central bank or Bundesbank, Jens Weidmann, is opposed to the ECB’s ABS plans.

It is, however, unusual for members of the German government to openly

Forbes: India’s 100 richest now all billionaires n AFP, New Delhi

Red carpet for investors

Kenichi Ayukawa, head of Indian car manufacturer Maruti Suzuki, said India had the potential to be a world leader in the sector, but was being held back by red tape and other issues.

“Costs of production in India increase because of various government policies, procedures, regulations and the way some of the laws are implemented,” he said at the launch, adding he was confident such barriers to growth could now be removed.

Modi launched the campaign hours before he was due to fly to the United States, where he will meet heads of businesses including Google and PepsiCo on an official visit heavily focused on attracting investment.

The government has identified 25 sectors including automobile, aviation and construction that have potential to attract investment.

A new web portal, www.makeinindia.com, will answer all investmentrelated queries from business entities, while a revamped Invest India unit will act as the first reference point for guiding foreign investors on all aspects of regulatory issues.

The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASSOCHAM), which promotes trade in India, said the initiative would “go a long way in instilling trust and confidence among all sections of the industry.” l

comment on the ECB’s decisions in case the comments are interpreted as an attack on the central bank’s independence.

Schaeuble was also insistent that the new banking supervisory role which the ECB is taking on under Europe’s banking union must be strictly separated from its monetary policy mandate.

“Having monetary policy and banking supervision under one roof is not completely unproblematic,” he said. The two sides must be kept apart as strictly as possible, “so as not to give rise to a conflict of interests or the impression of a conflict of interests,” Schaeuble said. l

Customers shop inside a gold jewellery showroom in Mumbai

REUTERS

China imports more gold for holiday n Reuters, Singapore

Top bullion consumer China has been importing more gold in September than in the previous month due to demand from retailers stocking up for the upcoming National Day holiday, market sources said.

Demand in India - the second biggest buyer of the metal - is also set to pick up as the festival and wedding season kicked off this week.

With gold trading close to a key psychological level of $1,200 an ounce, markets are keenly watching physical demand in Asia - the top consuming region - to see if it could lend support to prices.

“The physical volumes have been high this month compared to August. I would say imports could be at least 30 percent higher than last month,” said a trader with one of the 15 importing banks in China.

From Oct. 1, Chinese markets will be closed for a week, and retails sales are

expected to increase.

Data on Thursday showed that China’s net gold imports from Hong Kong rose in August from a three-year low in July.

Another trader said imports will remain elevated all through the fourth quarter due to seasonal demand.

“Since the price is near $1,200, we have seen more purchases. If gold dips below that level, we can see a further increase,” the trader said.

Premiums on the Shanghai Gold Exchange were about $5-$6 an ounce on Friday, largely steady from last week.

In India, an inauspicious phase called Shradh - a period for paying homage to ancestors - ended on Wednesday, giving way to a string of festivals.

“Typically, as soon as Shradh is over, demand should kick in,” said a dealer with one of the top bullion importing banks in India. “There is a feeling that gold prices will go further down, so some have chosen to wait a little longer before purchasing immediately.”

“With gold prices lower, there are expectations for good demand this time as we head to October.”

The nine-day Hindu festival of Navratri began on Thursday, which will then be followed by Dussehra, Dhanteras and Diwali - all considered auspicious time periods to buy gold jewellery, coins or bars.

Since the wedding season also kicks off around the same time, lasting all through the year, markets expect strong purchases. Gold forms an essential part of a bride’s dowry in Indian weddings.

Monthly gold imports are set to rise by as much 50% from current levels while premiums could almost double to as high as $15 an ounce because of the festivities and wedding season, industry sources told Reuters earlier this month.

Indian premiums are currently less than $10 an ounce. In other trading hubs such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo, premiums were largely unchanged from a week ago. l

India’s 100 richest people are for the first time all billionaires, according to an annual Forbes survey released Thursday, nearly double the number from five years ago.

The country’s top earners were also worth a third more combined than last year as Indian stock markets went on a roll with the election of the new rightwing government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Industrialist Mukesh Ambani topped the list for an eighth straight year with his $23.6bn fortune, Forbes India said on its website. The wealth of Ambani, chairman of conglomerate Reliance Industries, climbed by $2.6bn from last year.

The combined worth of the 100 richest Indians now totals $346bn, Forbes said, an increase of a third on 2013 fuelled by stock prices up nearly 30% since January.

The figures come amid disquiet in India about a yawning divide between the elite and burgeoning middle classes and hundreds of millions still living in deep poverty.

While India’s mega-rich host multimillion-dollar weddings for their children, host lavish parties, fly private jets and have armies of servants, the poor often toil in the shadows of mansions and office skyscrapers, scavenging and living in disease-infested slums with no sanitation.

The minimum sum to qualify for the Forbes list was $1bn for the first time, up from $635bn in 2013. India’s 100 billionaires this year is nearly double the 52 in recorded in 2009 but the number is still lower than rival emerging market giant China’s 152 billionaires, according to a Forbes list released in March.

Indian pharmaceutical magnate Dilip Shanghvi, whose wealth grew by $4.1bn to $18bn, is the new number two on the list, displacing London-based steel baron Lakshmi Mittal. The Indian-born magnate slipped to fifth place at $15.8bn. l