01 Oct, 2014

Ashwin 16, 1421 Zilhajj 5, 1435 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 180

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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TREEHOUSE

7 | LONG FORM

11 | OP-ED

13 | SPORT

FACTS ON EID-UL-AZHA

MAN VERSUS HIMSELF

HELLO DRACONIA

MASHRAFE NEW ODI CAPTAIN

Minister Latif in the dog-house PMO official says removal of minister after Hasina’s return from UK n

Tribune Report

Statements from government officials and ruling party leaders have deepened the confusion surrounding the removal of Post, Telecommunications and IT Minister Abdul Latif Siddique over a speech he delivered in the USA. On Sunday, addressing a programme organised by immigrant Bangladeshis in New York, the minister said he was against Hajj and Ijtema and that the pilgrimages were wastage of valuable money and manpower.

He also said prime minister’s son Sajeeb Wazed Joy was no one to make any important decision of the state.

Siddique went to the USA as part of Hasina’s entourage for the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Yesterday the minister said he would not resign unless the prime minister asked him to do so. Siddiqui was also firm on the remarks that he said were made as a “liberal and modern human being.”

Soon after edited video clips of the speech had been posted on social media, different quarters started lashing out at the minister for his “irresponsible” remarks. A number of political

REVISED CALL TERMINATION RATE

Tk500cr gap between new and old rates n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

parties including the BNP, Ershad’s Jatiya Party (JaPa) and Jamaat-e-Islami lodged loud protests.

The BNP demanded Siddique’s resignation while the ruling Awami League’s ally JaPa said he should be arrested for what he said. Yesterday, Jamaat announced daylong countrywide demonstrations for today.

Amid all kinds of speculation, Bangladeshi media carried a news yesterday evening that the government had decided to remove Siddique.

Seeking anonymity, an official of the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the premier, who was then in London on her way back to Dhaka from New York, had made the decision.

However, the Cabinet Division said they had not got any instruction in this regard as of last evening.

Obaidul Quader, minister for Road Transport and Bridges and a Presidium member of the Awami League, told reporters after a programme in Dhaka yesterday that a decision in this regard would be made after the prime minister returned.

The fate of around Tk500 crore, which IGW operators reportedly owe to the government in accordance to the previous call termination rate, has become uncertain because of confusion over the recently announced rate and revenue sharing structure.

The new termination rate was reduced to ¢1.5 per minute from ¢3, following Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s approval on September 18. According to the approval letter, the new rate and revenue sharing structure was supposed to come into effect from the date of issuance.

Also on September 18, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) issued a letter to authorities concerned, setting a sixmonth test period for the new rate and structure; but as the date for implementation was not mentioned, confusion arose over which date the new rates should take effect.

However, the telecom minister and influential industry figures had reportedly been trying to give the fresh rate a retrospective effect from July 1.

Taking advantage of the confu-

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Modi: Delhi to stand by Dhaka n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

Joj Mia testifies, accuses CID officials of harassment

US cable: Tarique phoned for JMB leader Khamaru’s release

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina that New Delhi would always stand by Dhaka and its relationship with Bangladesh was the most important in the South Asian region.

“Modi expressed interest in working with all South Asian countries to strengthen cooperation and ensure development in the region. Hasina also assured him of working with India in this regard,” Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali told a press briefing at his ministry yesterday.

Hasina visited New York from September 22 to 28 to attend the 69th session of the UN General Assembly and met Modi on the sidelines on September 27.

“The prime minister raised the pending issues of Teesta water sharing agreement and the ratification of land boundary agreement and urged early resolution of these issues,” Mahmood said.

In reply, Modi said his government was actively and sincerely working on the issues, he added.

n Ashif Islam Shaon

n Probir K Sarker

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

For the first time before any court, Joj Mia yesterday described how some CID officials had orchestrated a cooked-up story in connection with the August 21 attack on an Awami League rally in 2004.

To make him play the role of the key player in the two cases filed over the attack, Joj said the top officials of the Crime Investigation Department (CID) had threatened to implicate him in many false cases, kill him in “crossfire” and endanger the lives of his family members.

But if he agreed, the top officials also promised to make him the approver (royal witness) instead of an accused, and take care of him and the family. He was also assured of being released and sent abroad after the end of trial.

As Joj, having no other way left, decided to walk in their shoes, the CID started “preparing him.” He was shown video footages of the attack to provide him an idea what actually had happened in Bangabandhu Avenue area on that evening.

He was also given a prepared “confessional statement” to memorise and the officials went to great lengths to make sure he sticks to that story until the trials end.

Once a roadside CD seller Joj was also named in some other old cases to prove that he had been a member of a racket which launched the attack. He was also shown some portraits with names.

Joj said these while testifying as a prosecution witness before the Speedy Trial Tribunal 1 of Judge Md Shahed Nur Uddin yesterday. After his deposition, the court adjourned the proceeding until October 13.

Joj also demanded punishment to the CID officials and an assurance that no one becomes victim to state oppression in the future which had happened in his life during the BNP-Jamaat government.

Joj, who studied until class II, was arrested in Noakhali on June 10, 2005 and he confessed on June 26 that he was “involved” in the attack. He was cleared of the charges during the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

INSIDE

B1 | Business

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday asked the rawhide traders to fix the prices of rawhide of sacrificial animals by Friday, considering the global market price.

3 | News

The Ashuganj 450MW gas-based Combined Cycle Power Plant (South) is expected to go on commercial operation from June next year.

visit our website @

www.dhakatribune.com

8 | World

US military efforts against the IS have cost nearly $1bn so far and are likely to run between $2.4bn and $3.8bn per year if air and ground operations continue at current pace.

8 | World

US President Barack Obama and new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have vowed to expand and deepen their countries’ strategic partnership and make it a model for the rest of the world.

12 | Entertainment

I actually thought the film was based on Humayun Ahmed’s ‘Brihonnola,’ that famous Misir Ali story, and it was only after a few minutes into the film that I realized – whoops!

15 | Sport

West Indies spinner Sunil Narine has been reported for suspect bowling action during a Champions League T20 match between KKR and Dolphins.

Mahtab Khamaru, the second-in-command of hanged JMB chief Bangla Bhai, was arrested in 2005 but subsequently released since then prime minister Khaleda Zia’s elder son Tarique Rahman had asked the home state minister to do so, says a US embassy cable leaked by WikiLeaks.

He was one of several hundred JMB members to face arrest after the unprecedented series bomb blasts of Au-

gust 17, 2005 that rocked the country.

The attacks were perpetrated by the members of JMB and Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB).

These groups aimed at establishing Islamic rule were banned on February 23 the same year.

“The Rapid Action Battalion [on November 27, 2005] arrested Kamarul [Khamaru]...But that an agitated home minister of state [Lutfozzaman] Babar complained that he had been forced to  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

sion, several International Gateway (IGW) operators have followed the new slashed rates to pay the bills for the months of July and August to the stakeholders, especially the ANS (mobile and land phone) operators.

On September 25, Digicon, a renowned IGW operator, paid its dues to all mobile operators in accordance with the new rates, considering the retrospective effect to have taken place from July 1.

Two other IGW operators – Unique Infoway limited and Roots Communication – also made their payments in a similar manner.

Mobile operators were reportedly unhappy as the new reduced rate was used to calculate the bill for call traffic that had taken place before the BTRC letter was issued.

Sources said market leader Grameenphone will lose Tk47 crore, Robi Tk22 crore and Banglalink will lose Tk15 crore if the new rates were made effective retrospectively.

To resolve the issue, BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose stepped in and requested the mobile operators to accept the payment. He convinced both  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

Tarique: Hasina’s Bangladesh a militant state n Tribune Report BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman has alleged that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wants to portray Bangladesh as a militant state to the world.

He made the allegation in a speech delivered at a programme on the late president and BNP founder Ziaur Rahman in London on Monday.

“When Hasina comes to power, she  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

AL: Midterm election depends on intensity of BNP movement n Emran Hossain Shaikh Ruling out the possibility of holding midterm election now, Awami League leaders say actually it depends on the intensity of anti-government movement being waged by the BNP. They said the midterm poll might be held if the BNP was able to mobilise people through the movement or pressurise the government into holding the midterm polls by their foreign friends.

Just before and after the January 5 poll, the party considered the possibility of holding the midterm election.

Party leaders were worried over the

recognition of the government by foreign countries after the poll as it was “one-sided.” Even party chief Sheikh Hasina said schedule of fresh election would be finalised through discussion with all stakeholders after the poll.

But within six months of the new government, the scenario totally changed. Many countries have congratulated Hasina on her assuming office.

Now the premier has also changed her position. She ruled out possibility of holding any dialogue with the BNP on election.

Party leaders claim that the BNP has no political strength to wage a move-

Modi: Delhi to stand by Dhaka  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

The minister said the Modi government would follow the same procedure that its predecessor, Manmohan Singh, had followed.

“Why the Modi government would find a new way?” he questioned.

The constitution amendment bill was placed by the Congress-led government in the Rajya Sabha and the parliamentary standing committee, which had been reconstituted recently, would submit its report, he said.

About Hasina’s use of Hindi at the meeting with Modi, the foreign minister said it was not important what language was used rather the outcome was important. “English interpreter was there. Whether they discussed in Hindi or not is not important issue,” he said.

About Modi’s visit to Dhaka, he said the issue was discussed in the meeting.

“The prime minister had invited him to visit Bangladesh as soon as possible.

He also said he wanted to come. Now we have to fix a date. We want him to visit as early as possible,” Mahmood added.

The foreign minister said UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon congratulated the prime minister for maintaining peace and stability in the country after the January 5 election.

“He did not utter a single a word about the January 5 election. Even his statement did not mention anything about holding of an interim election,” he said.

On the occasion of 40th anniversary of Bangladesh’s joining the UN, Ban sent the statement on September 17 which was published in a booklet of the Foreign Ministry. In the statement, the UN chief also urged dialogue to resolve political standoff.

When asked about Bangladesh’s position on Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [ISIL] and Syrian crisis, Mahmood said: “We have not heard about any presence of [ISIL] group, but a British citizen of Bangladeshi origin was arrested.”

The UNSC on September 24 adopted a resolution on foreign fighters and financing related to ISIL which is binding all countries and Bangladesh would abide by it, Mahmood said. When

ment. There is no burning issue to carry on with the movement, they said.

Presidium member Nuh-ul-Alam Lenin told the Dhaka Tribune: “The BNP has to wait five years for polls. The countrymen are not eager for any election as they are happy with the government.”

Faruq Khan, international affairs secretary, said there was no pressure from foreign countries to hold fresh polls. “It is an internal matter. Why they will put pressure on us,” he added.

After the January 5 election, he said, some foreign countries were calling for holding fresh election, but now they had changed their position on it. l

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Tk500cr gap between new and old rates  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

parties to agree to the arrangement after taking letters of undertaking that stated that the IGW operators would pay the deficit if the BTRC instruction did not take effect from a retrospective date. The Dhaka Tribune has obtained two such letters.

However, when the Dhaka Tribune tried to contact Digicon CEO Khalid Islam, he replied through a Digicon official – Bishwajit Saha – and said he would not comment on the issue.

According to available data, during the months of July, August and the first 17 days of September, the total incoming international call duration was 465 crore minutes.

If the termination rate and revenue sharing structures are calculated as per the previous rates, the market price of the calls would be valued at $139.5m,

Tarique phoned for JMB leader Khamaru’s release

Foreign Secretary M Shahidul Haque said all members of the delegation who accompanied the prime minister attended UNGA events or Bangladesh specific events in New York.

Hasina went to New York along with a delegation of 182 members and 75 of them were businessmen.

When asked what were the events Feni district Awami League president and general secretary attended, the foreign secretary said: “I told you that there were some Bangladesh specific events. They attended non-resident Bangladeshis programme and investment programme.” l

who hails from Bagmara of Rajshahi.

According to the cable leaked in 2011 among over 2.5 lakh others, Siddiqui referred to Tarique as “wind tunnel” – a translation of the name of his Hawa Bhaban office.

“Wind Tunnel has some psycho friends who he listens to because of his lack of experience,” he told then charge d affairs in Dhaka Judith Chammas.

The cable was sent to Washington on December 15.

Siddiqui had earlier complained to the embassy officials many times about Tarique, whom he viewed as “unsophisticated and dangerous.” However, Siddiqui was loyal to Khaleda and the BNP, says the cable titled “Dissent From A Chief Zia Advisor.” Charged in a number of corruption cases, Siddiqui has been on the run since late 2006.

Tarique’s involvement with the JMB was also substantiated by Babar when Chammas had met him on December 19. At the meeting, Babar described the government’s steps to contain the JMB and the JMJB militants, says another

cable.

While saying that they were able to arrest three out of the seven council members of the JMB, Babar expressed frustration over the interference of Tarique.

“Babar confirmed that one of those arrested and released was Kazarul [Khamaru], Bangla Bhai’s reputed deputy. Babar said he was in Singapore when this happened and found out that a young official in-charge in that [Rajshahi] district had done a background check with all the police offices and found no records on Kazarul and therefore released him,” Chammas wrote to Washington.

Babar also admitted that at one time “when Bangla Bhai was allegedly popular in the Rajshahi division for his vigilante action against local criminals, several government ministers supported him.”

When Chammas asked if those ministers were being held accountable, Babar said: “This is a difficult question you are asking me.” l

man, told Joj that Sub-Inspector Kabir of Senbagh police had asked him to take Joj to the police station.

Kabir handcuffed Joj after he had gone to his uncle’s shop in the village with Moksed. He drove Joj to the police station on his motorcycle. When Joj asked Kabir why he had been arrested, the officer said: “You have a warrant in a smuggling case.” But the case is not filed with the Senbagh police.

“You have to stay here [police station] until the CID officials arrive from Dhaka. Your arrest warrant has been sent from Dhaka,” Kabir told Joj. That day, CID ASP Abdur Rashid went to Senbagh police station and asked all on-duty policemen to leave the room where Joj had been kept.

“When all left, he tied up my hands and blindfolded my eyes. Out of nowhere, he pressured me to admit my involvement in the grenade attack. I saw the incident only on TV. Surprised, I denied, and he started torturing me.”

Rashid then threatened to implicate him in false cases and even put him on “crossfire.”

Joj became scared and begged mercy. “Forgive me sir. My family is poor.

I am a poor man,” he said crying. But Rashid did not pay a heed. He took

blindfolded Joj in a car to the CID office in the capital’s Malibagh.

“I discovered myself in a room.

Along with some plainclothes men around me, Rashid Sir started threatening to kill me and my family members.”

Joj replied that he had no idea what had happened at the Awami League rally.

“But we know all. We will teach you.

You can only survive if you admit your involvement,” Rashid said.

After Joj agreed, Rashid took him to SP Ruhul Amin’s room at the same office. Ruhul took detail background information of Joj and his family.

“Its superior authority’s order to implicate you in the cases. To avert crossfire, you will have to do what we ask you to do,” Ruhul said.

In that room, Joj was shown video and still pictures of the attack. Another CID official Munshi Atiqur Rahman came there and told Joj some names of criminals and said they were Joj’s cohorts.

“We will also include your name with them in some 2-3 old case cases to make people believe,” Atique told Joj. When Joj said more cases would endanger his life, Atique replied that the CID would look after all those false cases too.

After Atique left the room, Ruhul told Joj: “If you confess, it will be a

relief for us. There is a huge pressure upon us from the superiors about you.”

The CID official then handed Joj over to the OC of Senbagh police station. The next day, he was produced before a Dhaka court.

“During the detention, the CID officials started telling me something to remember. Rashid Sir used to rebuke me if I made a mistake and threatened to kill me. He occasionally showed me some photographs with names and asked to memorise the faces.”

Ruhul Amin one day took Joj to the meeting room at the CID office to meet with some unknown officials. Those officials did not talk to him.

After that meeting, Ruhul started teaching him the cooked-up story three times a day and examined what he had learnt every day. “I had to recall every word to satisfy him.

“One day, Ruhul Sir connected me over phone with the Senbagh OC to talk to my family members. As I wanted to meet them, he assured me of arranging a meeting in future.”

After Joj made the confessional statement, the court sent him to Dhaka Central Jail and then shifted to Kashimpur jail. After 15-16 days, Atique, Rashid and Ruhul visited Joj and reminded

him of the deal.

They brought food for him and asked to contact with the jailer if he needed anything in future.

“They said when my mother and sister would come to see me, I should tell them to contact Rashid Sir for monthly expenses. Rashid Sir later gave the money to my mother. Atique Sir visited me occasionally at the jail and reminded me of the deal,” Joj said.

After many days, Ruhul and Atique visited him along with some men including Col Gulzar Uddin Ahmed, then director of Rapid Action Battalion’s intelligence wing.

“Gulzar Sir asked me to tell the truth. He assured that he will try to save me. So, I told him all that happened with me,” Joj said. “Gulzar Sir rebuked Atique in front of me for ruining innocent lives for his interest,” he said.

Later Joj’s mother met him and he was granted bail. Joj was also granted bail in the old explosive case where he had been awarded seven-year jail.

After some days Joj, his mother and sister gave deposition in front of CID official Fazlul Karim, the new investigation officer. They again gave statements after two years before CID official Abul Kahar Akanda, the last IO. l

anything to do. I have not called you.

Are you from Tangail? Then why have you come here.

If you want to listen then listen quietly...I have not come here to sell myself to a journalist...You may write whatever you want. That will not change anything...I have not misbehaved with you. It is you who misbehaved with me. I am an aged person and you are asking me one question after another.”

many black cats here too.”

Awami League’s reaction

arrest and death sentence for Latif. In a press statement, Hefazat issued a 72hour ultimatum for the government to remove Siddique and bring him to trial; otherwise, they warned that they would paralyse the country through continuous programmes.

Asked what their position would be since the government had decided to remove Siddique, Nur Hossain Kashemi, convener of the Dhaka city unit, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Our programme was called for pressing home the demand for his arrest and trial. We will not cancel our programme if he is removed from the cabinet.”

JaPa Secretary General Zia Uddin Ahmed Bablu said: “We want him to be arrested and tried. Just removing him from the cabinet will not suffice. So, the programmes we announced will stand.”

Maulana Yunus Ahmad said: “We are yet to get anything official from the government. But we have have postponed our October 3 programme; instead, we will hold demonstrations around the country tomorrow [today].”

PM delegation

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

Joj Mia testifies, accuses CID officials of harassment

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

caretaker regime in 2008 and released in March, 2009.

Former CID officials Ruhul Amin and Abdur Rashid were the investigators of the case. They are now accused in the two cases filed over the incident.

At least 24 people, including Awami League women front’s president Ivy Rahman, were killed and over 200 including Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (then opposition leader) injured in the grisly attack. Motijheel police filed the two cases – one over the murders and the other for the use of explosives.

Recalling his experience, Joj said before all these happened, he had once been caught with bombs and arms by police during a raid at a mess he used to live in the capital’s Tikatuli. However, the arms belonged to his room mates.

He got bail after two years, and that was his only crime record.

“I started CD business at Gulistan again and by that time my father passed away. So, I started running my family back in the village. Days were going well,” he told the court.

After several months, he went to his village because of feeling unwell. He stayed there 10-12 days.

One day Moksed, a village watch-

der the rule and law, but on this matter we found some absence of that,” ITM Nurul Kabir, secretary general of Amtob, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Amtob also sent a letter to the BTRC requesting an initiative to start a consultation process for reconsidering the matter.

“To ensure minimising illegal VoIP calls, the rate of incoming international call rate should be fixed at $0.015/min and not as the floor price as stated in the instruction,” the letter read. It added that the new rates should be applicable from September 19 or onwards as the BTRC issued the instruction on September 18.

“Enforcement of the new rate on a retrospective basis will not be feasible as it has direct relation with the financial reporting system,” reads the Amtob letter. l

release him [Khamaru] quickly after the intervention of Tarique Rahman [now BNP senior vice-chairman]...acting at the behest of State Minister for Land [Ruhul Kuddus Talukder] Dulu,” Kamal Siddiqui, then principal secretary to the prime minister, told a US embassy official in Dhaka on December 14, 2005.

Khamaru, also a regional commander in 2004, was later arrested on March 9, 2007 and July 23, 2012. Both Tarique and Bangla Bhai hail from Gabtoli of Bogra while Dulu was a BNP lawmaker from Natore. In 2012, Khamaru was shown arrested in a case filed for abduction and torture of one Amir Ali of Bagmara in 2004. “He is currently on bail,” OC of Bagmara police Abu Obaida Khan told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

At that time, it was alleged that Khamaru had been released upon a high-level decision of the then BNP-Jamaat government. But the leaked cable confirms the role of Tarique behind the release of the notorious militant

asked, the minister said the question of military intervention had not arisen so far.

A coalition of over 50 countries, including the USA, the UK, France, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait joined hands and engaged in military intervention against ISIL in Iraq and Syria.

Tarique: militant state wants to represent Bangladesh as a militant state. She has accomplished the same task at the UN General Assembly this time too,” Tarique said.

He said the people of Bangladesh never supported militancy and will never do it. “We all have to wage mass movement to resist Hasina in a bid to keep Bangladesh free of militancy,” he added.

He said people do not have confidence on the ruling government.

“The Awami League government does not bother about people’s trust.

The only hope of the government is its party cadre in the uniform of law enforcers,” Tarique said.

He said the only capital of Awami League’s politics is Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s killing. “They do not have any other issue to do politics in the country.” Tarique said: “But those who created the background of Mujib’s killing, some of them are now the members of the ‘illegal’ government’s cabinet.”

BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s son Tarique Rahman has been in London since September 11, 2008, on medical grounds after getting parole in various cases.

He faces 14 charges, of which four, including the August 21 grenade attack case, are in trial and 10 are stayed. l

including a $72.2m share (51.75%) for the BTRC. However, as the IGW operators chose to make payments under the slashed rates of 40% revenue sharing for BTRC and ¢1.5 termination rate, BTRC’s share came down to only $27.9m.

The share for the ANS operators, which would have been $27.9m under the previous rate, was also reduced to become $15.7m.

If the deficit between the shares of the IGW and ICX operators under the previous and the new rates are also taken into account, then the total deficit between the two rates of payment would be around Tk500 crore.

The Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (Amtob) expressed dissatisfaction over the issue of the reduced payment by the IGWs. “We hope the industry will run un-

Minister Latif in the dog-house  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

“There is a hint from the prime minister that he will be removed from the cabinet. None in our party has welcomed his comments. It also involves the image of the government. So he will have to shoulder the responsibility [for the remarks], not the government,” BBC Bangla quoted the minister as saying.

Siddique’s speech

The following is a transcript of the speech that the minister delivered at a programme in the USA on Sunday.

The programme was organised by immigrant Bangladeshis from Tangail district, Siddique’s home.

A partial video of the speech, apparently recorded on a mobile phone, was uploaded on YouTube by a user named BanglaMedia on September 29, a day after he had delivered the speech.

The minister said: “I am strongly against Hajj and Tabligh Jamaat. I am more against Hajj and Tablilgh Jamaat than I am against Jamaat-e-Islami. Just think how much manpower is wasted.

Two million people have gone to Saudi Arabia for Hajj. They do not have any work to do. They do not have any production. They only do deduction. They only eat and spend the country’s money there. How much money is spent if one lakh people go from Bangladesh and spend Tk5 lakh each on an average? Tk500 crore.

“I do not know much mathematics...

Mohammad, son of Abdullah, was a very clever and wise person. He saw that the Jazirahtul Arab [the Arabian Peninsula]

could not produce any crop; so what will they do for a living? That was why he made an arrangement so that people, especially his followers, would go there and give them something.

“The second is a Jamaat – the Tablighi Jamaat. At least 20 to 25 lakh people gather there [in Tongi near Dhaka for Ijtema]. Not only do they waste their own work hours, they also bring the traffic in the country to a standstill. “...when we get angry, we often use the word ‘...marani’...Those who talk in the television shows, I call them ‘talkmarani.’ Talk show means talkmarani.”

A journalist asked him about the progress of Sajeeb Wazed Joy’s plans for building a countrywide Wi-Fi network in Bangladesh.

In reply the minister said: “Who is Joy Bhai?”

Then someone reminded him that Joy was actually the PM’s son Sajeeb Wazed. Then he said: “Who is he to do it?…Oh okay! You [the journalist] mean to say that it is his plan. You can also come up with a plan like this. Even Siddiqur Rahman [an organiser of the programme who was sitting right beside the minister] can do that plan. Even she [pointing to a woman] can do that plan.”

When the journalist asked another question, the minister shot back at him hard, saying: “Why do you ask so many questions?…No, no, I will not talk the way you want me to. I will talk the way I want to. If that is good enough for you then fine. If it is not, then I do not have

Siddiqui will not withdraw comments

The minister in question says he is firm on his stance about Hajj. He told the BBC Bangla yesterday from Mexico that he was aware of the reactions within his party and the demand for his removal from the cabinet.

He brushed aside the possibility of tendering his resignation under pressure, saying: “I will not do anything.

I will only follow the directives of the prime minister.”

“There is nothing to repent for. The prime minister has given me some tasks of the state. She may do whatever she likes. Why should she keep me if I have become a burden?”

Shouldering responsibility for his comments, the minister said: “I commented on Hajj as a liberal and modern human being. I only said what I believe. It might hurt some people...they are also expressing their opinions and hurting me.

“I thought I was in a free world [outside Bangladesh] where everyone is like a bird. I did not know that there are

Removal procedure

Mohammad Nazrul Islam, acting secretary of the Cabinet Division, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday: “We have also heard that the decision to remove the minister will be implemented only after the prime minister’s return to Bangladesh from her US and UK visits.

We are not expecting anything to happen before her arrival here.”

Regarding the process of removal of a minister, Nazrul said: “The Cabinet Division generally issues a gazette notification if the prime minister approves any summary of removal of any minister or any official of the same level.

“According to the procedure, the prime minister asks the minister to resign from office, if the PM desires removal of any such person. They will have to resign immediately following the instruction of the PM. Otherwise, the premier will ask the Cabinet Division to prepare a summary to remove the person from his office. The gazette will be issued after the PM’s final approval,” he explained.

“In case the minister resigns, the Cabinet Division issues a gazette upon approval of the resignation letter by the PM,” Nazrul said.

According to section 58 of the constitution of Bangladesh: “The Prime Minister may at any time request a minister to resign, and if such minister fails to comply with the request, may advise the president to terminate the appointment of such minister.”

During a media briefing at the Awami League president’s Dhanmondi office yesterday, Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury said Siddique was a “trash talker” and everyone should turn a deaf ear to what he said.

“Do not pay any attention to what he [Latif] says. There are some talkative leaders and it is possible for them only to say such things...It is their freedom.

Remarks by such kind of people has no acceptance. I think you [journalists] will not accept what he said,” she said.

Saying that the people of the country knew very well who Dr Wazed Ali Mia and his son Joy were, the veteran leader said: “There is no controversy surrounding this issue.”

Joint General Secretary Mahbub-UlAlam Hanif refused to make any comment as other senior leaders of the party were dealing with the issue.

Other reactions

A number of political and religious organisations had announced protest programmes before the news of the government decision to remove Siddique came in the media. JaPa, religious organisation Islami Andolon Bangladesh and former president Badruddoza Chowdhury’s Bikalpadhara Bangladesh all demanded Siddique’s removal from the cabinet and his arrest.

All these parties had by then announced separate demonstration programmes for today.

Qawmi madrasa-based organisation Hefazat-e-Islam demanded immediate

Reaction from Tangail

The local chapter of the Awami League in Siddique’s hometown Tangail yesterday announced him unwanted. They also demanded that he be removed from the cabinet and also from the Presidium Council of the party.

Soon after the news came that the government had decided to remove him, a section of the local Awami League brought out a procession in the town and burnt Siddique’s effigy. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Wednesday, October 1, 2014

450MW Ashuganj plant to come online next year Rahman Rasel, back n Aminur from Brahmanbaria The Ashuganj 450MW gas-based Combined Cycle Power Plant (South) is expected to go on commercial operation from June next year.

During a visit to the project site at Ashuganj in Brahmanbaria yesterday, Spanish Ambassador to Bangladesh Luis Tejada expressed his satisfaction on the progress of the construction work and said the national grid would get power from the plant from next year.

‘The plant is expected to be commissioned in June 2015. The estimated cost of the plant is around Tk37.92bn’ “I am happy to see the progress of the project. It will be a great achievement for the power sector in Bangladesh,” he told journalists.

“The demand for electricity is growing day by day in Bangladesh.

More than one Spanish companies are working to install power plant in this regard,” He said Spain was the eleventh largest investor worldwide with a stock of foreign direct investment of $640m, which accounted for 3% of global investment.

Meanwhile, officials said the project – being implemented by state-owned Ashuganj Power Station Company Limited – has achieved 73% overall physical progress and 55% financial progress.

BNP-led alliance ponders programme for midterm polls n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla The BNP-led 20-party alliance has discussed mounting a month-long programme after Eid-ul-Azha to drum up public support for its demand to hold midterm elections under a non-partisan interim government.

Alliance members also discussed launching a tough movement to demand the punishment of Posts, Telecommunications and IT Minister Abdul Latif Siddique for his comments on Hajj and the Prophet.

The possibility of enforcing hartals after Eid to protest Siddique’s comments were under consideration but the programme is yet to be finalised, alliance leaders said.

The alliance will hold a press conference today at which it is expected to formally give reactions to Siddique’s comments, said an alliance leader.

“As Eid is ahead and Durga Puja under way, no tough programme will be launched now. After Eid, tougher measures like hartals are likely to be carried out to demand punishment of Latif Siddique,” Mustafizur Rahman Iran, chairman of Bangladesh Labour Party, told the Dhaka Tribune. l

HSBC’s Hong Kong branch financed the project as coordinating arranger of the fund under the ECA (export credit agency) facilities, while HERMES of Germany, ONDD of Belgium, CESCE of Spain provided the ECA facilities to implement the project.

A consortium of TSK Electronica Spain, and Inelectra International, Sweden, obtained the EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contract and started work in March 2013.

“The plant’s gross production capacity will be 382MW, while the net output will be 373MW. The plant will run at 57% efficiency using natural gas of 50 million cubic feet per day,” Ashuganj Power Station Company Limited (APSCL) Managing Director Md Nurul Alam told the Dhaka Tribune.

“The plant is expected to be commissioned in June 2015. The estimated cost of the plant is around Tk37.92bn,” he said.

It is intended that the 450MW south plant will be fired continuously with natural gas through feeder lines from Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd. For the plant, two new gas pipelines – each 600 metre long – will be constructed along with gas supply system within the APSCL premises and power will be evacuated using existing transmission lines.

In addition, the APSCL is installing at the same location, the Ashuganj 450MW Combined Cycle Power Plant (North), which is expected to be commissioned in June 2016; the 225MW Ashuganj Combined Cycle Power Plant and the Ashuganj 200MW Modular Power Plant – the first of its kind in the country.

The Ashuganj Power Station currently has a total capacity of 671MW. l

A RAB team inspects spices at a factory in the capital’s Karwan Bazar yesterday. The factory was shut down after the products were found to be adulterated

Another person arrested in Keraniganj murder case n Tribune Report

In a joint drive, police on Monday night arrested another person in connection with the murder of a couple and their two children in Keraniganj last week.

Keraniganj and Ullahpara police conducted the drive at Ullahpara upazila, Sirajganj, said Tajul Huda, officer-in-charge of Ullahpara police station.

“A police team from Keraniganj contacted us. Acting on a tip-off, the team along with police officials from here conducted the drive and arrested the

suspect,” he said.

“We have information that the suspect, Md Nasir, 29, was present during the murders,” said Kazi Maksuda Lima, assistant superintendent of police in Dhaka.

On Friday, police arrested seven people, including two prime suspects, in connection with the quadruple murder.

The arrested – Rani Begum, Mukta Begum, Shahida Begum, Rafique, Abdul Majid, Sumon and Johnny – were held from Gazipur, Munshiganj, Keraniganj, Abdullahpur and Hasnabad.

Among them, Johnny and Sumon

were directly involved in the killing, while Majid provided them with yaba and the others helped them flee after the murder, police said. The three women further helped the criminals by informing the fugitives of police activities regarding the murder.

Police believe that an internal feud of a robbers' gang led to the murder of four from the same family – Shaju Ahmed, 35, his wife Ronji Begum, 28, and their son Imran, 7, and daughter Sanjeeda, 2 – in Kolakandi village of south Keraniganj on September 24.

Shaju had connection with the gang,

and the dispute was over the distribution of looted valuables, police claimed.

“All the arrested as well as one of the victims Shaju were members of the same gang. They were involved in many illegal activities, such as robbery and yaba dealing. Recently the gang had robbed a house in Nawabganj, Dhaka, and the dispute occurred over the distribution of the loot,” said Habibur Rahman, superintendent of police in Dhaka district.

Police also believe that the miscreants killed the rest of the family to leave no witnesses. l

Suspicious transactions between Hall- SQ Chy cases sent to CID Mark and Transcom under ACC scanner for further probe n Tribune Report The Anti-Corruption Commission has launched an inquiry into some suspicious money transactions between Transcom Group Director Saifur Rahman and controversial Hall-Mark Group bosses.

The inquiry is based on the findings of a report prepared by the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) of the central bank.

Confirming the matter, ACC acting chairman M Shahabuddin yesterday said the commission had launched a fresh inquiry.

“Our investigation officer has already submitted charge sheet reports on the investigation into the Hall-Mark Group corruption to the court. If fresh allegations come up against the Hall-

Mark, we will investigate them anew,” he said.

Hall-Mark Group Managing Director Tanvir Mahmud and Chairman Jasmine Islam transferred a large amount of money from their personal and other accounts to several personal accounts of Transcom Group Director Saifur Rahman, according to a report of the BFIU. As the Bangladesh Bank has recently sent the report to the ACC for taking legal actions, the anti graft body has considered the matter and launched the inquiry.

According to the BFIU, it is necessary to conduct an inquiry into the matter as it had primarily found huge transactions between personal accounts of Saifur Rahman and Hall-Mark bosses and Bobi Spinning Mills, a sister

concern of Hall-Mark Group.

According to the report, the BFIU found that at least Tk16.62 crore had been transferred to Saifur’s accounts in Dutch Bangla Bank, Dhaka Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Prime Bank and HSBC Bank between 2009 and 2012.

The transactions were made between personal accounts of Saifur Rahman, the Hall-Mark bosses and its sister concern Bobi Spinning Mills.

The BFIU report said Saifur Rahman had bought two pieces of land – a 7.5 katha and the other 5 katha – at Purbachal, on the outskirts of Dhaka city, and maintained some fixed deposit accounts. He also transferred a large amount of money to the accounts of some other individuals.

The BFIU prepared the investigation report in the last week of August. l

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong A Chittagong court yesterday ordered the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to further investigate two cases filed against BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and others in connection with arson and vandalism in 2010.

District and Sessions Judge AKM Nasiruddin Mahmud ordered further investigation of the cases and referred to Chief Judicial Magistrate Munshi Mashiur Rahman to decide which agency should be given the task.

Later, on a plea made by the prosecution to the chief judicial magistrate the responsibility was given to the CID, said public prosecutor Abul Hashem.

On November 7, 2010, some vehicles were vandalised and torched on Dhaka-Chittagong highway in Banshbaria

and Salimpur areas under Sitakunda by some unknown people. They were protesting the arrest rumour of Salauddin Quader and the government’s bar on a BNP rally at Paltan in Dhaka.

Sub-Inspector Golam Faruk Bhuiyan of Sitakunda police lodged the two cases over the incident of violence. Four persons were detained in this connection. Two of them confessed that they had carried out the attacks under the order of Salauddin Quader, a former lawmaker from Raozan.

The BNP leader was awarded death penalty on October 1 last year for committing war crimes in 1971.

Police submitted the charge sheets mentioning Salauddin Quader as the prime accused. Ten others have been made accused in the Banshbaria incident while six others in the Salimpur one. l

Indictment hearing against Siraj Kosai, 2 others starts n Udisa Islam

ACC sues 5 including two Sonali Bank officials n Tribune Report The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday filed a case against five people, including two officials of state-owned Sonali Bank Limited, for their alleged involvement with embezzling around Tk6.17 crore from the bank’s foreign exchange branch.

ACC Deputy Director Mir Joynul Abdin Shibli filed the case with Motijheel police station.

The accused are former deputy general manager GM Baqui Billah (now chief executive officer of the First Lease Finance and Investment Limited), former assistant general manager M Abdul Hai, and Rahan Garments Limited Managing Director Sarwar M Kamal, and directors Saydul Islam Khan and Abu Syed Shahriar.

The FIR says three businessmen, with the help of the bank officials, embezzled the money between 2000 and 2001 using some LCs from the bank. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

A craftsman is busy making Shankha, a traditional bangle worn by Bangalee Hindu women, ahead of Durga Puja MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Defence denies charges against Subhan n Udisa Islam The defence counsel for Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Maulana Abdus Subhan yesterday ended cross-examination of the second investigation officer claiming that the officer had prepared the probe report based on untrue information.

The three-member International Crimes Tribunal 2 led by Justice Obaidul Hassan fixed October 15 for defence witnesses accepting a time plea.

Defence counsel Mizanul Islam said they would place maximum two witnesses for Subhan. Earlier the tribunal asked the defence to place witnesses today.

During the cross-examination of Noor Hossain, the second investigation officer of the case, Mizanul claimed that Subhan had not been involved in the alleged charges brought against him.

Responding to another question, Noor said it was not true that he had submitted untrue statements in the probe report by

abusing government power and that he had influenced the witnesses.

The official also said during interrogation at safe home, Subhan told him that Jamaat had begun its activities in Pabna in 1964.

The first investigation officer, Motiur Rahman, testified at the tribunal last week. Acting chief of Jamaat’s Pabna unit during the war, the accused was indicted on December 31 last year on nine charges of crimes against humanity. l

The charge framing hearing in the case against three alleged razakars from Bagerhat – Sheikh Sirajul Haque alias Siraj Master, Khan Akram Hossain and Abdul Latif Talukder – began yesterday at the International Crimes Tribunal 1.

Prosecutor Syed Sayedul Haque said Siraj had been a very cruel person during the 1971 Liberation War and for this, he was known as “Siraj Kosai.”

When he claimed that Siraj had served as the deputy commander of razakar force in his area, the tribunal reminded the prosecutor that in the charges the accused had been identified as razakar, not a commander.

The tribunal then asked the prosecutor whether they had submitted any documentary evidence to prove Siraj’s identity. Sayedul replied that they did not have enough documentary evidence against the three but collected adequate oral evidence.

The prosecution pressed eight charges against the trio on September 15.

Siraj Kosai, 72, is the lone accused in four charges of killings – 600-700 Hindus in Rampal, 50 Hindus in Ranjitpur, abduction and killing of 19 people at Besargati and Kandapara, and killing of seven people at Chulkathi.

He used to slit throats of the victims, after they had been shot by the razakars, to confirm their deaths. He was a

key associate of razakar founder AKM Yusuf during the war.

Along with Akram, 61, and Latif, 68, Siraj Kosai was also allegedly involved in the abduction and killing of 47 civilians at Kochua. Akram and Latif are accused together in two charges – conversion of 200 Hindus at Shakharikathi and the killing of freedom fighter Fazlur Rahman Shikder on December 13, 1971.

On the other hand, state-appointed defence counsel for Siraj Master Mohammad Abul Hasan opposed the prosecution submission and pleaded for setting his client free. He claimed that the accused had no connection with the charges.

Barrister M Sarwar Hossain, counsel for Latif and Akram, sought time for taking part in the hearing as he needed to consult with his client. The tribunal asked him why he had not mentioned this beforehand.

“We cannot appreciate your attitude.

You could mention it in the beginning of the court proceedings. You can plead for privilege communication any time. We gave permission from the chamber too.

But you cannot seek time in the middle of the hearing,” the tribunal said.

Before that, Abul Hasan also sought time with thin voice and the tribunal asked him to continue hearing.

The tribunal later adjourned the hearing until October 12. l

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Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Service hampered as 172 AC land posts remain vacant MPs sent letters to Land Ministry for immediate appointment of vacant posts parliamentary standing committee on n Rabiul Islam land.

A total of 172 posts of Assistant Commissioners (land) across the country have been lying vacant, hampering land-related services including mutation and monitoring of tax collection, among others.

Sources at the land ministry said there are 494 posts of AC land throughout the country and of them only 292 posts have been filled up.

On 29 September, the public administration ministry has issued an order for posting of 30 AC land.

“However, 172 posts still remaining vacant,” the sources added.

A senior official at the land ministry said ministers and members of parliaments have been repeatedly sending demo official (DO) letters to the ministry for immediate appointment for the vacant posts.

The official also added that the issue ¡was also discussed during a meeting of

A senior official, who have earlier performed duties as an AC land, said when the posts of AC land remain vacant land-related works, such as mutation, monitoring of fellow land, vested property and revenue collection halts.

“Although many UNOs perform the duty of AC land as his or her additional responsibilities, but being very occupied with their own responsibilities the UNO cannot carry out the job properly, the official clarified.

“I have been requesting the Public Administration Ministry for filling up the vacant posts,” Senior Secretary of the Land Ministry Mohammad Shafiul Alam told the Dhaka Tribune over phone yesterday.

He also said there is not enough manpower to fill all the vacant posts.

“If we want to fill all posts, we have to recruit fresh manpower,” Alam said. l

Removal of Harinhata police station's SI demanded n Our Correspondent, Khulna

Lack of repairs puts five Gazipur roads in sorry state n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Leaders of Khulna city and district units Awami League demanded removal of Sub-Inspector of Harinhata police station Alamgir Hossain for his alleged corruption.

Leaders of the ruling party made the demand in a statement yesterday. The statement said SI Alamgir had earned a huge amount of money through drug trading, extortion and harassing general people.

He has been suspended for several times, but he returned back his post by convincing political high ups.

Recently, he has fasted a truck driver and tortured him in a bid to realise extortion from him.

The government should remove him from his job as he has vandalised picture of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recently, said the statement.

The leaders also urged the authorities concerned to file case against the official as soon as possible.

Lawmakers Begum Munnujan Sufian, Talukder Abdul Khaleque and General Secretary of Khulna Awami League SM Mustafa Rashidi Suza, among others, were the signatories of the statement.

When contacted, SI Alamgir Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune that allegations brought out against him were not true.

He also denied vandalising photo of the prime minister. He also said a vested-interested group was hatching conspiracy against him to tarnish his image. l

WEATHER

DRIZZLE WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 5:46PM SUN RISES 5:50AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 34 32 33 33 33 33 34 31

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

24 25 23 24 23 23 22 24

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

35.6ºC Satkhira

23.3ºC Dinajpur

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:35am 5:49am 11:49am 4:07pm 5:47pm 7:02pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

Residents of Kalikoir upazila in Gazipur are suffering immensely as Safipur-Majukhan, Safipur-Boroibari, Mouchak-Phulbaria-Maona, Boroipara-Jalshuka-Chandaboho and Kaliakoir-Phulbaria roads have become unfit for traffic movement.

Locals said the recent downpour and lack of repair and maintenance have severely damaged the roads, causing frequent road accidents as well as fatalities.

Locals said carpeting was done on the Safipur-Majukhan last year. The road was in an awful condition as crates and potholes had developed on it for lack of renovation.

The condition of the roads is deteriorating every day because of plying

With Eid-ul-Azha around the corner, traders are swarming into the capital with their cattle. As the animals take up all the space in the trucks carrying them into Dhaka, the traders are making do with a makeshift, overhead bamboo platform. The photo was taken at Hare Road on Monday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

of heavy traffic and negligence of authorities concerned in renovating these roads.

Residents of Ratanpur, Majukhan, Phulchala, Kainara, Kouchakuri, Jhenjichala, Bhanmara, Laskarchala and Amdair villages are the worst suffers of the dilapidated state of the roads.

Nazrul Islam, an executive at human resources department of Mahmud Jeans Ltd, told the Dhaka Tribune that commuters were suffering severely as thousands of potholes had developed on the Safipur-Boroibari road.

“Transportation of my factory goods are hampered, but the Roads and Highway department did renovation of the road a few years back despite being informed several times about the repair of the road.”

Goods-laden trucks frequently get

Dalits demand dignity, equality under law n Adil Sakhawat John Singh and his family converted to Christianity from Hinduism seventeen years ago to escape from being discriminated as a “Dalit.” However, a change in religion has not helped him or his family to escape prejudice against the caste.

Hailing from Jessore’s Keshobpur area, John said he and his family were still treated as Dalits by the people of his area.

John spoke to the Dhaka Tribune while attending a mass rally of the Dalit community, in front of the National Press Club in the capital yesterday, urging the government to approve a draft law – Anti-Discrimination Act- 2014 – to ensure the rights of deprived communities.

“Even today, the people of my area treat me as a Dalit although I converted to Christianity seventeen years ago. They still address me as a son of cobbler when I am an educated person.

It is only because I come from the Dalit community, a group considered as untouchable and impure for the mainstream society,” he said.

Sharing her bitter experience of being a girl from the Dalit community, Ritu Singh, his daughter, said: “During my secondary and higher secondary level, my classmates who knew me as a Dalit refrained from talking to me. This is very common for school-going children of Dalit communities.”

Another protester, Rama Das, a business student at Azam Khan Commerce College, said: “I passed my secondary and higher secondary with ‘A’ grade. I am still pursuing my education to be a banker. But as far as I have seen, people generally behave very rudely with Dalits, even if they are highly educated.”

The rally, held by members of the Dalit community from 54 districts, was attended by Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque and National Human Rights Commission Chairman Dr Mizanur Rahman as chief guest and special guest respectively.

Mentioning that the cleaners of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) were living in cramped and uninhabitable buildings in the capital’s Kodomtoli area, NHRC Chairman Mizanur Rahman said: “The government has already provided Tk10 crore to rehabilitate them. But the rehabilitation is yet to take place. I want the minister’s attention in this matter.”

In response, the minister said he would talk to DSCC about the funding and take immediate action in this regard.

The minister said: “If anyone belonging to this community faces any kind of discrimination then please organise a social movement. And at this rally, I promise that I will raise this issue at the next cabinet meeting.” l

stuck on potholes that causes long tailback on the road, he added.

Carpeting was done on the Safipur-Majukhan last year. The road was in an awful condition as crates and potholes had developed on it for lack of renovation Ismail Hossain, a trader at Bhanmara village under Kaliakoir upazila, said a 10-minute ride on the Safipur-Majukhan road from Safipur Bazar to Ratanpur Rail Station takes up to almost two hours.

Golam Yeasin, a teacher of Atabor

Government Primary School, told the Dhaka Tribune that many portions of Kaliakoir-Phulbaria road went under knee-deep water because of poor drainage system.

He said: “Locals put brick chips on the damaged portion of the road so that traffic could run through the road.

He urged the Roads and Highway department to take immediate measures to repair these roads as soon as possible to ease sufferings of commuters.

When contacted, Deputy Assistant Engineer of Local Government Engineering Department Zillur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that they had informed the higher authorities about the importance of repairing the roads.

He hoped that they would be able to start renovation of the roads by November-December this year. l

Four held with VoIP equipment n Tribune Report The Rapid Action Battalion (RAB 7) in separate drives arrested four persons in possession of VoIP equipment in Chittagong city’s Rahattarpul and Chawakbazar areas yesterday morning.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mobassher Hossain of RAB 7 said acting on tip off a team of RAB had conducted drive in the DC road area under Chawkbazar police station around 10am and arrested Shahedul Haque, 38, and Jiya, 25.

Later, RAB conducted another drive in the Kalamia Bazar area of Rahattarpul under Bakalia police stations.

RAB personnel seized VoIP machines from the second floor of the building and arrested Tareq,28, and Jahed, 32. l

Locals lay siege to Savar Palli Bidyut Office for power n Our Correspondent, Savar Local people and businessmen from Dilkhushabagh area, Andha Market and Chaurangi Market laid a siege to the Palli Bidyut Samity’s Shimultala Zonal Office to protest heavily disrupted power supply in those areas yesterday.

The protesters brought out a rally,

which marched from the Savar bus stand to Palli Bidyut’s Shimultala Zonal Office around the midday yesterday and laid a siege to the office for an hour. When informed, police went to the area and persuaded the protesters to end the siege.

Local businessmen said heavy power cuts were affecting their business. During the day, electricity

supply remains for 30 to 40 minutes amid power cuts, which last from two to three hours at a stretch. The customers do not enter the dimly lit markets during the load-shedding, the shop-owners complained.

Assistant Manager of Shimultala Zonal Office Aktaruzzaman Laskar said the excessive power cuts were inevitable, as they were not allotted

enough electricity to meet the demand of the area.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Shafiqul Islam from Savar model police station said they visited the office, had a meeting with the high ups at the Palli Bidyut Office and persuaded the protesters to end the siege, assuring them of bringing down the power cuts to a reasonable level. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Illegal saw mills mushrooming in Patuakhali coastal areas n Our Correspondent, Barisal Running of illegal saw mills at different places in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali has created havoc on environment making the coastal belt more vulnerable to the adverse impact of climate change.

According to Kalapara forest office, a total of 59 saw mills are running in the upazila. Of them, 40 saw mills have approval from the Department of Environment and Forest department while 19 others are operating without any approval.

Local union parishad chairman and forest officials said 13 saw mills in Kalapara municipal area, eight at Baliatali, seven at Dhankhali, five at Nilganj, five at Mohipur, five at Latachapli, five at Champapur, four at Lalua, three at Mithaganj, two at Dalbuganj, one at Chakamaia, one at Tiakhali and one at Kalapara upazila are operating under the nose of district administration.

Mezbahuddin Mannu, local environment activist, however, said most sawmills did not renewed their documents from departments concerned.

“Thus, more than 30 sawmills running illegally in this coastal upazila making the local reserve forests to be barren land exposing 5 lakh people

vulnerable to climate change affects like storm, cyclone and tidal surges,” he said.

Local people blamed collaboration between timbre traders and a section of unscrupulous officials of the DoE for the smooth running of illegal saw mills.

A total of 59 saw mills are running in the upazila. Of them, 40 saw mills have approval from the Department of Environment and Forest department while 19 others are operating without any approval Nasir Talukdar, UP member of Lalua, said miscreants cut trees from coastal and social forestation areas at night and took those to nearby saw mills.

Later, they sold wood at different brick kilns.

Habibur Rahman Tipu, member of upazila forest and environment committee, acknowledged that most of the

saw mills running violating all rules and regulations.

As per the government rule no saw mill can be established 10 kilometers inside the reserve forest.

Forest department sources said in case of getting permission to set up a saw mill, an application has to be submitted to the local Divisional Forest Official and then after scrutiny, the DFO gives permission for the same for one year term on renewal condition.

During a visit, this correspondent found that two saw mills situated at two sides of Lakkhir Pol under Latachapli union which are few yards off Gangamoti reserved forest.

Emdadul Huq, forest officer of Mohipur range under Kalapara upazila, failed to give any statistics about the accurate number of saw mills operating in the area.

But he blamed beat-officers for not updating data and negotiating with the timber smugglers.

Sukumar Biswas, director of environment directorate Barisal office, said operating saw mill near any reserved forest areas was totally banned and there was a restriction to operate any saw mill without valid permission and regular renewal from DoE. He also assured the correspondent that he would look into the matter. l

NEWS IN BRIEF One stabbed to death A man was stabbed to death by his opponents at station road in Barhatta upazilla of Netroka district on Sunday evening.

According to police sources, Nur Uddin and Amiruddin had been in a family dispute with the victim, Amirul Islam for a while. Because of the on-going dispute, the accused men stabbed Amirul Islam in a preplanned manner at a sweet shop in Barhatta bazaar. Amirul tried to run away from the opponents and entered the sweet shop but because of the chaos the people around were too late to save the victim. Trying to save his son, the victim’s father Akbar Ali was stabbed too and was admitted to Maymensingh Medical College hospital in severe conditions. The manager of the sweet shop Monoranjan Dey said it was a preplanned murder and the alleged murders were waiting for Amirul with knives. – Our Correspondent, Netrokna

Young woman gang-raped n Our Correspondent, Jessore

A young woman was gang raped at Lakhonpur in Sharsha upazila under the district yesterday.

According to sources, the woman along with her mother went to nearby market for repairing mobile phone set around 5pm. Meanwhile, a youth named Babu and his friends in the area took her to a filed forcefully and raped her over the night.

The woman was sent to Jessore Medical College in critical condition. l

3 launches fined Tk83,000 Correspondent, n Our Munshiganj

A mobile court fined Tk 83,000 to three launches for irregularities in the Dhalashwary river in Munshiganj on Tuesday afternoon.

The Dhaka-bound launches were cruising Hatlaxmiganj area of Munshiganj when a mobile court led by executive magistrate KM Al Amin issued the fine. l

Two to die for murder

Correspondent, n Our Narsingdi The court of the district and Sessions Judge awarded the death sentence yesterday to two persons for killing a CNG driver on 20 January.

The convicts are Shaheen Mia and Ali Hossain. According to sources, Shaheen of Langolkot in Comilla district and Ali Hossain of Belabo upazila in Narsingdi district killed the CNG driver Kazal Mia over lending money. l

Police constable commits suicide in Kurigram Kurigram police station court-police constable Prakash Chandra Rai committed suicide by taking poison on Sunday. He was the son of Monoranjan Rai of Ratidhar Sindhurmati village and was in police service for 22 years. According to police and family members, after returning from from bazaar in the evening, Rai suddenly fainted on the floor in his rented home at Khalilganj.

When asked what had happened to him, he confessed taking poison. His family soon admitted him to the Kurigram Sadar hospital. As his health deteriorated, he was soon moved to Rangpur Medical College hospital where he was declared dead by the on-duty doctor. Kurigram police super Tobarok Ullah said he heard from his colleagues that constable 457 Rai was suffering from mental illness and had taken medication for

it before but he couldn’t confirm the exact reason of his death. – Our Correspondent, Kurigram

6 lakh illegal CDs recovered Rapid Action Battilion forces arrested five men for possession of 6 lakh CDs yesterday at 2pm from Rajadighi area in Feni. Moblie court sentenced the arrested men 2-month non-rigorous imprisonment. Rab ASP Jashimuddin said following an anonymous tip, they seized five lakh pirated CDs and one lakh porn CDs. The arrested five men are Farid Uddin, 34, of Banani para, his son Riaz, 16, of Feni Sadar Razu, 20, Md Yasin, 19, of Pathanagar, 19, and his brother Md Dawood. Meanwhile, from the same location, owner of Sonar Bangla restaurant was fined Tk 20k. Mobile Court Judge Shariful Islam Tanveer admitted the incidents. – Our Correspondent, Feni

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

7

Man versus himself

A Palestinian boy rides a bicycle between the ruins of houses, which witnesses said were destroyed during the seven-week Israeli offensive, in the devastated area of the east of Gaza City September 22

M

n Nilantika Banarjee

y favourite novel, or rather I call it my bible, is “The fountainhead.”

I have been in love with the philosophy it endorses: “Inspite of whatever their future – at the wake of life men seek a noble vision of man’s nature and life’s potential.” Everything we have, everything we are, comes from a single attribute – the function of his reasoning mind.

Coincidentally, I recently watched Carl Sagan’s Cosmos. It showcases

Humans are capable of far better than rejoicing over meaningless loss of human lives, more importantly human potential and mass destructions and anarchy

how science – which I believe to be a manifestation of our rationality – had travelled a thorny path since ancient times.

It took the absolute devotion of some people – who had pursued their rationality, to continue unabated in their efforts because everything else had ceased to matter for them. But I am not going to write an eulogy of my favourite author Ayn Rand or the famous science enthusiast Carl Sagan.

The latent thoughts behind this article are that groups or individuals who have lived to prove that just as man’s only weapon is his reasoning mind, the consequences that takes place if man gives up on that can be equally significant.

Recently the whole world has been repeatedly shocked and stunned by the barbaric acts of the Militant group Boko Haram (whose literal translation is said to be “Western Education Is Sinful/Forbidden”). Often in the newspapers we read only about religious wars, killing over strategic alliances, some sects like Boko Haram and ISIS trying to impose a primeval lifestyle on people – in the name of religion – otherwise threatening with dire consequences and they are pursuing their goals with relentless cruelty.

In other words, a large section of the world’s population has completely given up on the only asset a human being is born with and will die with –

A man holds a boy as another looks on at the internally displaced persons (IDP) camp for those fleeing violence from Boko Haram insurgents at Wurojuli, Gombe State, Nigeria REUTERS

which is their reasoning mind. Which consequentially makes them ineligible to be included under the scientific tag of Homo Sapiens. A new term needs to be coined for them who look like the Homo Sapiens.

I don’t know what else to call a species who kill, scare, loot, vandalise, rape either to gain occupancy of a strip of land or to deny women their freedom or to please their God. They have forgotten or maybe they have never realised that man’s only claim to greatness is forged through his mind.

The circumstances leading to such violence and blood-shed, war and turmoil around us might be extremely complex – but what pains me is to see so many bodies rejoicing in their apparent win when they have actually died the moment they have given carte blanche to some fictitious emotions and the murk of mysticism to take control of their minds which in turn has actually turned their minds dysfunctional.

The master anarchist, the revered leader of some extremist religious group, the tamer of modern women, the tyrannical dictator and some holy master – all enjoy their moments of glory under the sun. The root of their enjoyment comes from others and who are these others – the species who have no mind.

Not a single cognisance of their heroics will come from one who “thinks.” These so called mob masterminds who have sort of shaped a parallel reality on our planet – where giving up of rationality is encouraged and religion has pre-emptied the field of ethics turning morality against man and man is made to believe he is a victim of forces beyond his control.

It is indeed sad to see the loss of so many innocent lives as a by-product of the turbulent times we live in. But it is even more saddening and sickening to see the rise of a species who have willingly chosen to give up thinking for themselves and denigrated the superiority of our species – a species who have the glory of defying the forces of gravity as well as curing the so-called incurable curse of cancer to shedding light on the esoteric fields of quarks and black holes.

Humans did all this by supposedly using just 10% of what their brains can do. It’s really mind-boggling to think what else is possible if the remaining 90% ever came to use. And the mind is essentially the attribute of an individual.

And once we give up on it and switch realms from thinker to believer, we get dislodged from the long legacy of men- single

REUTERS

Groups or individuals who have lived to prove that just as man’s only weapon is his reasoning mind, the consequences that takes place if man gives up on that can be equally significant

and unsubmissive, who had taken the first step towards uncharted territories armed only with nothing but their mind.

Every great thought had been ridiculed at, every great questioning mind true to it’s purpose had been labelled sinful but that had not stopped them as they had been innocent of fear, their lives shaped by the truth of their thoughts and ideas.

From my limited understanding, I presume all the wars -religious or civil – all the anarchy in our world comes from a deep-rooted lust for power, a hankering to rule the world of some poor individual who has so little respect for his own self that the only way his existence can have a meaning to him is when he is acknowledged by the world by imposing his own views and judgments on them because he has so little belief in it himself that he fears that it’s just not enough to matter.

In this context I really liked a concept that Ayn Rand says in her book The Fountainhead, she writes that if we like something and say yes to it, it becomes ours in a way that it is of no one else’s, our affirmation or acceptance to a thing of our liking is the sole essence of ownership.

Moving from a broader global context to a limited local one we have come across a new spate of vicarious living where fame, adulation, admiration, envy, power, acceptance, approval are sought by an individual from others to make their lives meaningful and worthwhile. Being thought great is more desirable than actually being great in this age of second-hand living.

Maybe the recent barbaric attacks of Boko Haram in Nigeria, or the Israel-Palestine situation were the lateral thoughts behind this article. I thought whether human excellence

has reached such a pinnacle where such destructive forces are indeed necessary to balance the positive and the negative or else the world becomes a mundane peace haven.

But instinctively I didn’t feel like giving up on humanism yet! I still believe that the species who first lighted a fire by rubbing two stones, first thought of something called wheel, first invented the power loom, first invented cures to presumed incurable diseases, first brought in technologies which has made our world a global village – the internet, first thought of landing on the moon not being content with admiring it from a distance and are now thinking on the lines of colonising Mars are capable of far better than rejoicing over meaningless loss of human lives, more importantly human potential and mass destructions and anarchy.

Rationality and creativity, thoughts and ideas which have taken birth in the minds of individuals who have shaped the globe for decades – without wanting accolades or recognition, have taken our civilisation forward true to the fountainhead of man’s inherent potential.

So what really baffles me is when people say that they were brainwashed to fight for a cause someone else believed in. Man is not born to think what others want him to – but to decide for himself and the moment he lets others decide for him – he ceases to exist. I do not know the language such brainwashed people understand but if I knew the language they understood I would not ask them to give peace a chance I would ask them to give themselves a chance! l Nilantika is the author of the novel “To the Anya in you.” This article was first published on alochonaa.com.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Islamic State fight seen costing US $2.4bn or more annually n

Reuters, Washington

US military efforts against Islamic State have cost nearly $1bn so far and are likely to run between $2.4bn and $3.8bn per year if air and ground operations continue at the current pace, according to a think tank analysis.

But a ramp-up, including more airstrikes and a significant boost in ground forces, could send costs soaring to between $13bn and $22bn annually, said the analysis released on Monday by the nonpartisan Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.

“Future costs depend, to a great extent, on how long operations continue, the steady-state level of air operations, and whether additional ground forces are deployed beyond what is already planned,” said the report by Todd Harrison and other analysts.

Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel told reporters last week that the Pentagon has spent roughly $7m to $10m per day on operations against Islamic State since June 16, when it first deployed troops to assess the Iraqi military and advise its leaders.

The United States began air strikes against Islamic State militants in Iraq on Aug. 8 and expanded them to Syria on Sept. 22. Coalition forces have carried out 290 air strikes in Iraq and Syria, of which the US military has conducted 265.

US planes are flying about 60 reconnaissance sorties per day, and some 1,600 US troops are being deployed in Iraq.

The think tank’s analysis estimated the cost of US operations against Islamic State through Sept. 24 at between $780m and $930m. That agreed

Ukraine opens criminal case against Russian officials n Reuters, Kiev Ukrainian state prosecutors said yesterday they had opened a criminal investigation against a Russian law enforcement agency, accusing it of supporting separatist and “terrorist” groups in the east of the country.

The move appeared to be a tit-for-tat response to a criminal case launched on Monday by Russia against “unidentified representatives of Ukraine’s senior political and military leadership,” National Guard and nationalist organisations, in which it accused them of committing “genocide.”

The two legal investigations will further ratchet up tensions between the two ex-Soviet neighbours and put pressure on a ceasefire agreed on Sept. 5 between Kiev’s forces and pro-Russian separatists that has been marred by daily skirmishes and artillery shelling.

In a statement, the Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office said it had opened a criminal investigation against officials of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, a law enforcement body that answers only to President Vladimir Putin. The statement accused the Russian officials of “carrying out illegal interference” in the work of Ukraine’s law enforcement bodies and armed forces. “(This interference) is aimed at aiding the terrorist organisations ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’ and ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’ in their criminal activities and obstructing the performance of duties by government officials,” it said. l

Displaced people from the minority Yazidi sect, fleeing violence from forces loyal to the Islamic State in Sinjar town, walk towards the Syrian border, on the outskirts of Sinjar mountain, near the Syrian border town of Elierbeh of Al-Hasakah Governorate REUTERS roughly with Hagel’s estimate of the cost per day.

If air operations continue at a moderate level and deployed ground forces remain in the range of 2,000, then the cost of the US military effort against the militant Islamist group would likely run between $200m and $320m per month, the report said.

But increased air operations, coupled with the deployment of up to

5,000 ground troops, would cost between $350m and $570m per month.

High-intensity air operations with a deployment of 25,000 troops could cost $1.1bn to $1.8bn per month, the report said.

Defense officials have indicated they will have to seek more funding because of the fight against Islamic State.

Army General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff,

said last week that the Pentagon’s 2015 budget proposal assumed stable or declining commitments abroad and some flexibility to adjust military pay and healthcare and to retire weapons systems.

“Commitments have gone up,” Dempsey told reporters, noting that Congress has rejected some proposals to retire weapons and adjust military compensation. l

Israel PM tries to shift focus from IS to Iran n Reuters, United Nations Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday tried to shift the spotlight away from the Islamic State militant group and back to Iran, warning the United Nations that a nuclear-armed Tehran would pose a far greater threat than “militant Islamists on pickup trucks.”

Islamic State’s seizure of large swaths of Syria and Iraq and its killings of civilians and soldiers have dominated discussions during five days of speeches at the United Nations General Assembly podium and on the sidelines.

But Netanyahu described Iran, Islamic State and the militant group Hamas that controls the Gaza Strip as part of a single team, comparing them all to Germany’s Nazis, who killed five million Jews in World War Two. “The Nazis believed in a master race; the militant Islamists believe in a master faith,” Netanyahu said in his speech at the annual gathering of the 193-nation assembly in New York. “They just disagree who among them will be the master of the master faith.”

“Make no mistake, ISIS (Islamic State) must be defeated,” Netanyahu added. “But to defeat ISIS and leave Iran as a threshold nuclear power is to win the battle and lose the war.”

“It’s one thing to confront militant Islamists on pickup trucks armed with Kalashnikov rifles. It’s another thing to confront militant Islamists armed with weapons of mass destruction,” Netanyahu said.

Iran rejects allegations by Western powers and their allies that it is developing the capability to produce atomic weapons and wants economic sanctions lifted as part of any nuclear deal

Russian economy to see zero growth this year as Ukraine fall-out bites

Ukrainian servicemen drive a military vehicle at a military camp near the town of Debaltseve in eastern Ukraine economist Vladimir Kolychev.

Without access to Western finance, Russian companies are being forced to cut back on investments to reduce their debts. At the same time, they are squeezed by high local interest rates as the central bank struggles to stabilise the sinking rouble.

“To reverse this situation, sanctions will either have to be lifted or the central bank will have to ease monetary policy significantly, and that is not in prospect before at least the middle of next year,” Kolychev said.

The last time economists anticipated zero or negative growth for Russia

n

It was once the fourth largest lake in the world, but what used to be an expanse of water in the basin of the Kyzylkum Desert now lies almost completely dry.

The Aral Sea has been retreating over the last half-century since a massive Soviet irrigation project diverted water from the rivers that fed it into farmland, according to a report by The Independent.

Images taken from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on Nasa’s Terra satellite have now depicted how since the turn of the century the lake has increasingly shrunk until this year saw its eastern lobe dry up completely. The lake was at one time fed by the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers which flow down from the mountains before making their way through the Kyzylkum Desert where they pooled

together at the lowest part of the basin.

An irrigation project by the Soviet Union in the 1960s however took water from the rivers to transform the desert into cotton farms.

While the massive diversion of water allowed the desert to thrive, it had a devastating effect on the Aral Sea. This series of images starts in the year 2000, by which time the lake was already a fraction of what it was before the irrigation project started in the 1960s.

The images show how the smaller Northern Aral Sea had separated from the Southern Aral Sea, which itself had broken up into an eastern and a western lobe, the two sides still barely connected at both ends.

The following year however this connection had been broken and the eastern part, although larger in surface area, rapidly disappeared in the subsequent years.

While there appears to have been some fluctuation between 2009 and 2014, as a

result of alternately dry and wet years, the overall pattern sees the eastern lobe consistently shrink until dry conditions this year caused it to completely disappear.

In 2005, Kazakhstan built a dam between the Northern Aral Sea and the Southern Aral Sea in a bid to save part of the lake, according to the Nasa Earth Observatory.

The changes have also brought dire consequences to the people surrounding the lake, with the communities that depended on them collapsing as the water dried up.

Meanwhile, the water left in the lake became polluted with fertilizer and pesticides, which has caused a public health hazard now contaminated dust is blown up from the exposed lakebed, the Nasa Earth Observatory reports. In 2010, a documentary depicted the dramatic desiccation of the Aral Sea, which has now become a byword for ecological calamity. l

By describing Iran, Islamic State and Hamas as part of the same team, Netanyahu appeared to play on doubts among US lawmakers about the wisdom of President Barack Obama’s decision to engage with Tehran after the 2013 election of President Hassan Rouhani, a soft-spoken pragmatist, to resolve the 12-year-old nuclear standoff between the Iran and the West.

“You know, to say that Iran doesn’t practice terrorism, is like saying Derek Jeter never played shortstop for the New York Yankees,” he said.

Asked if Washington agreed with Netanyahu that Iran, Islamic State, Hamas, Hezbollah are all part of a joint Muslim effort to seize control of the world, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said: “We would not agree with that characterization, no.”

These issues will undoubtedly come up during Obama’s meeting with Netanyahu in Washington on Wednesday. l

Earth’s wildlife ‘halves in 40 years’

n Agencies

REUTERS

over a full year was in 2009, when the economy slumped in the wake of the global financial crisis.

The country’s economy only grew by 1.3% in 2013 and by 3.4% in 2012, already disappointing compared with growth of around 7% annually before the 2008-9 crisis. l

The disappearing sea! Once the world’s fourth biggest lake, Aral Sea is now almost totally dry Agencies

Netanyahu described Iran, Islamic State and Hamas as part of a single team

NEWS BITES

n Reuters, Moscow Russia’s economy will fail to grow at all in 2014 and inflation will reach a fouryear high, a Reuters poll of economists showed yesterday, as Western sanctions over Ukraine bite.

Economists cut back their growth forecasts for Russia this year as the escalating Ukraine crisis prompted waves of Western sanctions and a massive outflow of capital that are both hurting Russian companies’ ability to raise finance.

The latest poll, the first since a ceasefire in Ukraine between government forces and separatist rebels, suggests the economic fall-out from the crisis for Russia is far from over.

“Geopolitical risks remain, as the situation in eastern Ukraine is far from a peaceful solution and any escalation could trigger additional sanctions,” said Vladimir Miklashevsky, Russia economist at Danske Bank.

Western governments are expected to keep existing sanctions in place for the foreseeable future to keep up pressure on Russia after it annexed Crimea earlier this year and gave support to pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine. The current ceasefire in Ukraine remains highly fragile.

“De-escalation (of military action in Ukraine) only prevents the further tightening of sanctions, it’s not about removing the sanctions that have already been imposed. And those sanctions are painful,” said VTB Capital

with six countries negotiating with Tehran.

After Monday’s speeches, an Iranian delegate took the floor to respond to Netanyahu’s “laughable” speech, saying he “tried in vain to wash his hands of this most recent bloodbath in Gaza,” wrongfully equating the Muslim world “with the ISIS terrorist group and propagating Iranophobia and Islamophobia.”

The Nasa images show how by 2000 the lake was already a fraction of what it had been before the irrigation project started in the 1960s NASA

The number of wild animals on Earth has halved in the past 40 years, according to a new analysis. Creatures across land, rivers and the seas are being decimated as humans kill them for food in unsustainable numbers, while polluting or destroying their habitats, the research by scientists at WWF and the Zoological Society of London found.

“If half the animals died in London zoo next week it would be front page news,” said Professor Ken Norris, ZSL’s director of science. “But that is happening in the great outdoors. This damage is not inevitable but a consequence of the way we choose to live.” He said nature, which provides food and clean water and air, was essential for human wellbeing.

“We have lost one half of the animal population and knowing this is driven by human consumption, this is clearly a call to arms and we must act now,” said Mike Barratt, director of science and policy at WWF. He said more of the Earth must be protected from development and deforestation, while food and energy had to be produced sustainably.

The steep decline of animal, fish and bird numbers was calculated by analysing 10,000 different populations, covering 3,000 species in total. This data was then, for the first time, used to create a representative “Living Planet Index” (LPI), reflecting the state of all 45,000 known vertebrates.

A second index in the new Living Planet report calculates humanity’s “ecological footprint,” i.e. the scale at which it is using up natural resources. l

Wave of attacks kills 19 across Iraq

n AP, Baghdad Iraqi officials say a wave of bombings targeted commercial areas across Iraq has killed at least 19 people and wounded dozens.

Police say the deadliest attack Tuesday took place in the revered Shiite city of Karbala, where a car bomb killed four civilians and two policemen. That explosion wounded 16 other people. Karbala is about 90 kilometers (55 miles) south of Baghdad.

Another explosives-laden car went off in the town of Iskandariyah, 50 kilometers (30 miles) south of Baghdad, killing five civilians and wounding 13 others. Eight other civilians were killed in separate attacks in Baghdad and outside the southern city of Najaf.

Medical officials confirmed the causality figures. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release information. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

9

Obama, Modi vow to boost strategic ties Modi has received a warm welcome in the United States even though he was denied a visa in 2005 The two leaders also said their with Hindu custom and drank only n Reuters, Washington countries would work to ensure that warm water at the White House.

As part of an effort to spur foreign investment, he met more than a dozen US corporate leaders early on Monday and told them he was committed to liberalizing India’s economy, which has underperformed other emerging markets recently after years of breakneck growth.

US President Barack Obama and new Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have vowed to expand and deepen their countries’ strategic partnership and make it a model for the rest of the world.

In a joint “vision statement” issued after their first meeting at a White House dinner on Monday, the two leaders said they would work together “not just for the benefit of both our nations, but for the benefit of the world.”

They said their countries would cooperate on security and to fight terrorism and would back a “rules based” global order in which India assumes greater multilateral responsibility, including a reformed UN Security Council.

They also vowed to work together against the threat posed by climate change and to cooperate to address the consequences of unchecked pollution.

“We have a vision that the United States and India will have a transformative relationship as trusted partners in the 21st century. Our partnership will be a model for the rest of the world,” they said in their statement said.

economic growth brought better livelihoods for all people and stressed the importance of open markets and fair and transparent practices to allow trade to flourish.

Washington has been keen to expand business and security ties with India, which it sees as a key counterbalance to an increasingly assertive China in Asia. Obama has backed New Delhi’s bid to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council.

However, the relationship has failed to live up to his declaration in 2010 that it would become “one of the defining partnerships of the 21st Century.”

Modi, who came to power in May, has received a warm welcome in the United States, even though he was denied a visa in 2005 over rioting in his home state three years earlier that killed more than 1,000 people, most of them Muslims. Modi denies any wrongdoing and has been exonerated by an Indian Supreme Court investigation.

He has maintained a frantic schedule since arriving in America on Friday, even though he is fasting in accordance

Modi: Terrorism in India exported, not homegrown n Agencies

US signs pact to keep troops in Afghanistan past 2014

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that all terrorism in India is “exported” and are not “home-grown,” asserting it has “no borders.” Modi said this even as he rejected any distinction between good and bad terrorism and called for a collective fight to effectively tackle the global challenge.

The prime minister dwelt at length on the challenges posed by terrorism while addressing the Council for Foreign Relations in New York on Monday, on the fourth day of his five-day visit to the US, PTI reported.

He also told the audience about his response that “Muslims of India will fail al-Qaida” to a question by CNN about the al-Qaida threat in India. “People of all communities in India are driven by a core philosophy. That is symbolized

by Buddha, Mahatma Gandhi. Non-violence is at the core of our philosophy,” he said. “Terrorism has no borders.

There is no good terrorist or bad terrorist. Terrorism is terrorism.”

“There is a need to take the challenge of terrorism seriously. It’s sad that many countries could not earlier understand the ugly face of terrorism, which is an enemy of humanity.

“The world will have to speak in one voice against terrorism,” he stressed.

Making a reference to the ISIS assassination of hostages, Modi said,”I saw it on television that a man has been beheaded; it’s such a challenge in the 21st century for the mankind, a challenge that can shake up anyone.” l

n Reuters, Kabul Officials from Afghanistan and the United States yesterday signed a long-delayed security agreement to allow American troops to stay in the country after the end of the year, filling a campaign promise by new President Ashraf Ghani.

National security adviser Hanif Atmar and US Ambassador James Cunningham signed the bilateral security agreement in a televised ceremony at the presidential palace, one day after Ghani was inaugurated.

“As an independent country ... we signed this agreement for stability, goodwill, and prosperity of the our people, stability of the region and the world,” Ghani said in a speech after the signing.

Ghani’s predecessor, Hamid Karzai, had long refused to agree to the deal, souring his ties with the United States.

Karzai cited his anger over civilian deaths and his belief that the war was not fought in the interests of his country.

Cunningham said the pact showed the United States remained committed to Afghanistan, where foreign forces have helped provide security since the 2001 toppling of the radical Islamist Taliban government over its sheltering of planners of the Sept. 11 attacks.

“It is a choice by the United States to continue cooperating with our Afghan partners on two important security missions: training and equipping Afghan forces and supporting cooperation against terrorism,” Cunningham said.

‘Big things’

On Saturday, Modi addressed the UN General Assembly and then appeared before some 60,000 people at a musical event in New York’s Central Park aimed at ending global poverty and bringing essentials such as sanitation to all.

On Sunday, he received a rapturous welcome from a big crowd of Indian-Americans in an appearance in New York’s Madison Square Garden arena.

He will hold further talks with Obama on Tuesday.

Modi’s spokesman, Syed Akbaruddin, said the dinner meeting was “extremely convivial” and the two leaders found they had a common interest in technology and shared experience in that they were relative political outsiders before coming to power.

Minutes after the security pact was signed, a similar agreement with Nato was ratified to allow the alliance’s European members to contribute to a residual foreign force.

Ghani said in his speech that the agreement did not compromise Afghanistan’s sovereignty and that either side has the right to withdraw from the pact within two years.

Ghani’s predecessor, Hamid Karzai, had long refused to agree to the deal, souring his ties with the United States “The right to use force will be based on decisions by the Afghan government,” Ghani said. “Our air space will be under our own control. International forces will not be able to enter mosques or other holy sites.”

Taliban’s reaction

Under the agreement, 12,000 foreign military personnel are expected to stay after 2014, when the combat mission of Afghanistan’s US-led Nato force ends.

The force is expected to be made up of 9,800 US troops with the rest from other Nato members. They will train and assist Afghan security forces in the war against the Taliban and its radical Islamist allies.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi (C) waves to supporters after paying homage at the Mahatma Gandhi Statue in front of the Indian Embassy in Washington September 30 REUTERS He said they agreed they “should focus on some big things they can achieve in a finite time period in the next few years.”

The US has the right to keep bases in Afghanistan as long as the security pact is in force, and in return it promises to raise funds to train and equip the Afghan security forces, which now number 350,000.

Ghani was inaugurated on Monday and called on the Taliban to join peace talks. He formed a unity government with election rival Abdullah Abdullah after a prolonged standoff over vote results that ended in a deal to make Ghani president and Abdullah a chief executive in the government with broad powers.

The Taliban, fighting to oust foreign forces and the U.S-backed government, have taken advantage of the paralysis in Kabul to launch attacks in an attempt regain strategic territory in provinces such as Helmand in the south and Kunduz in the north.

The Taliban have denounced the pact with the United States and repeated that on Tuesday, calling it a “sinister” plot by the United States to control Afghanistan and restore its international credibility as a military super power.

“Under the name of the security agreement, today Americans want to prepare themselves for another non-obvious and very dangerous fight,” the Taliban said in a statement emailed to the media.

“With their bulk of artifices and deceptions they want to hoodwink the people. They think that the Afghan people do not know about their conspiracies and their sinister goals.” l

F I G H T F O R G R E AT E R D E M O C R AC Y I N H O N G KO N G

Modi sought suggestions from the US business leaders as to how the investment environment could be improved. When some complained about

Northern Afghans threaten to rebel if power-sharing deal fails n Reuters, Panjshir, Afghanistan Afghans in a strategically important province north of the capital have threatened to rebel if the country’s new president does not respect an agreement to share power with their chosen leader, Abdullah Abdullah.

Ashraf Ghani, a former finance minister, was sworn in as president on Monday, ending the stand-off with Abdullah, an ex-foreign minister, over who won the vote. Stability will now depend on how well the alliance holds.

The new president is an ethnic Pashtun with a support base in the east and south of the country, while Abdullah is backed by Tajiks, who make up most of the population in Panjshir and other northern areas.

As part of the US brokered agreement, Abdullah has become chief executive, a similar role to that of a prime minister, and will share control over key government decisions.

But in Panjshir, governor Abdul Rahman Kabiri said people were worried Abdullah would be pushed out of power.

“Panjshiris are watching the situation,” Kabiri told Reuters in an interview. “If they don’t commit to the agreement, people will demonstrate.”

Abdullah is backed by many Panjshiris because of his close ties to their beloved leader Ahmad Shah Massoud, who was assassinated in 2001 and is re-

membered as a national hero.

Cracks in the deal to share power have already emerged, with Abdullah’s camp nearly boycotting the swearing-in ceremony.

On the streets of Panjshir, sentiment was a mixture of resignation and anger.

One shopkeeper said he ripped up his voter card after Ghani was declared the winner.

“There will be a struggle inside the government and ... this time it will develop into a crisis,” said Wahid Rahman, in his late 20s. “As they deceived him (Abdullah) during the voting process they will deceive him again.”

Afghanistan remains deeply divided over the election. In a symbol of the north’s defiance, the road from the capital Kabul to Panjshir is festooned with huge billboards announcing Abdullah as the winner.

A former military official, who declined to give his name, said he and others in the province were prepared to fight. “If this continues and they do not stick to their commitments then we will fight,” he said. “We can sabotage electricity supplies and roads to Kabul, and without this the government will collapse.”

The new government of national unity will have multiple challenges to overcome in addition to dealing with internal rivalries. Its coffers are empty and it faces a growing Taliban insurgency that has regained territory across the country. l

HK leader says China adamant; students seek talks on democracy n AP, Hong Kong

A pro-democracy protester stands next to a banner in Hong Kong on September 30. China yesterday called major pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong ‘illegal,’ as state media insisted Beijing would not give in but would wait for public opinion to turn against the protests AFP

unpredictable taxes, he said he was “committed to a stable tax regime” as this was necessary to encourage investment, Akbaruddin said. l

Pro-democracy protesters demanded that Hong Kong’s top leader meet with them on Tuesday and threatened wider actions if he did not, after he said China would not budge in its decision to limit voting reforms in the Asian financial hub.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, in a speech ahead of Wednesday’s National Day holiday, vowed to “steadfastly safeguard” Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability. He said Beijing believes Hong Kong will “create an even better future in the big family of the motherland.”

China’s government takes a hard line against any threat to its monopoly on power and has condemned the protests as illegal, though so far it has not overtly intervened, leaving Hong Kong’s semi-autonomous government to handle the crisis.

Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying’s rejection of the student demands dashed hopes for a quick resolution of the five-day standoff that has blocked city streets, forcing some schools and offices to close. It drew a defiant response from the students.

“If Leung Chun-ying doesn’t come out to Civic Square before midnight ... then I believe inevitably more people will come out onto the streets,” said Alex Chow, secretary general of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, the

organizer of the university class boycotts that led to the street protests.

Chow said the students were considering various options, including widening the protests, pushing for a labor strike and possibly occupying a government building. The crowds swelled Tuesday night, and a brief cloudburst cooled the air, seeming to energize the protesters, a group of whom shouted “Jiayou,” or “Keep it up,” and waved their cellphones with bright LED flashlights sparkling in the dark.

Leung’s blunt rejection of the demands from the students, who are pushing for him to step down, comes as no surprise. The Chinese Communist leadership is wary of conciliatory moves that might embolden dissidents and separatists on the mainland.

Hong Kong police continued a light-handed approach to the protests, having shifted tactics Monday after their use of tear gas and pepper spray over the weekend failed to drive out tens of thousands of people occupying streets near the government headquarters. The sit-ins instead spread to the financial district and other areas.

“We are not afraid of riot police, we are not afraid of tear gas, we are not afraid of pepper spray. We will not leave until Leung Chun-ying resigns,” Lester Shum, another student leader, shouted to a crowd at Admiralty. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Education depends on standards

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ommentators and parents should not be complaining about the low success rate of 16.55% achieved by candidates in the Dhaka University “Gha” unit test.

The problem lies with the school system which prepared the candidates, not in the benchmarks required by the test.

It is the responsibility of leading higher education institutions like Dhaka University to ensure high standards for admissions.

The academic system in Bangladesh has been tainted for some time by plausible accusations of grade inflation, and a skewed scale that awards high marks to students of fairly low calibre. This practice has served as a way to gloss over deeper problems that lie within our education system, by making it look like more of our students are excelling at school.

It is right of Dhaka University to seek to enforce higher standards, both to ensure the quality of its own education and for the benefit of candidates themselves. It is better to bring deficiencies into the open and confront them than it is to allow more poorly-prepared students to graduate and find themselves unemployable because the education system has failed to inculcate the right skills.

Dhaka University is traditionally regarded as the gold standard for education in Bangladesh, and the frame of reference for assessing all other universities. It is right that it be stricter in fulfilling its responsibility to maintain integrity in its grading and admissions system. To improve our education sector, we must focus on our actual problem areas, and not simply pass blame around where convenient.

Be heard Write to Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Sukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email letters.dt@dhakatribune.com Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion.dt@dhakatribune.com www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune

Dhaka University is right to be strict in enforcing higher standards. It has a duty to maintain benchmarks

Food safety needs more than a committee

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ith Eid-ul-Azha approaching next week, it is topical the High Court has ordered the government to form a seven-member committee of experts to stop the use of steroids to fatten sacrificial animals.

The petition before the bench highlighted that “Every year, artificially fattened cattle, especially cows, are sold as sacrificial animals at cattle markets. A section of traders use steroids (hormone group medicine) to fatten cattle to earn more money.”

Although we hope this committee, which is required to submit guidelines to the health ministry within eight weeks, can help improve matters, its recommendations will come too late to reassure people buying animals for the upcoming festival.

The use of health threatening hormones to fatten cattle ahead of Eid is far from a new or isolated problem. It is symptomatic of the huge scale of food adulteration which has become endemic in the country.

Despite huge levels of public concern over issues such as the use of formalin in food, the Institute of Public Health reports that 49% out of over 28,000 food samples tested this year are adulterated in some way.

The root cause lies not with consumers or responsible businesses that are seeking to guarantee the purity of their food, but with corruption and inefficiency in the inspection process and legal system, which permits criminal operators to contaminate the supply chain with impunity.

Citizens expect the government to show zero tolerance for these practices. Corrupt officials must be weeded out to help ensure that our food supply is safe and free from harmful contamination.

Corrupt officials must be weeded out to help ensure our food supply is safe

O conspiracy!

September 23 scolded when our imaginations run away with us.

Sarika Chowdhury Given the recent parliamentary ruling regarding the impeachment of judges – a most unique decision in a so-called democracy – I find this piece particularly pertinent. The list of grievances mentioned is a shocker, not because we are unaware of them, but because it shows how much has been allowed to pass in recent years alone.

Madiha Not only does the party currently in power avail of the “conspiracy theory” excuse, but whichever party is in opposition will not only criticise the government for doing so, it will then use the same excuse when in power. We civilians, it would seem, are nothing but restless children, who need to be

Qatar won’t host World Cup 2014

September 23 SSS Disgusting. “Scorching heat” is reason enough not to host the world cup. But the deaths of all the migrant workers working for Qatar 2022 – pfft, put that aside.

SK So, the heat is the factor … not their attitudes and the death of migrant workers.

Anon Let it be held in Bangladesh. We have a better climate.

Militant financing: Banks asked to be careful about their CSR funds September 23 PB Islami Bank is one of them.

SRB Such a misuse of CSR and such a misled definition of it!!

Imran: Sayeedi’s verdict shows govt trying to re-establish Jamaat September 23

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

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

MA Good article. People with power and money use their wealth and might to keep hold of their wealth and power – that’s human nature, not conspiracy theroising.

The trouble with conspiracy theories in Bangladesh is that people resort to them whatever point of view they are trying to express. In this article the author rightly chides the government for crying conspiracy whenever anyone makes valid criticisms. But anti-government critics are far from innocent of spinning complex theories as well.

Hammer, Hammer Toilet-Slammer “Governments spying on their people, who do not have a right to privacy, was a tired conspiracy theory that took pride of place next to the comedy of Area 51 in the very recent past.”

Ahh … Area 51. What is exactly going on at Roswell these days?

Breadbitten Hammer, Hammer Toilet-Slammer: It is covered in tinfoil.

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.

Teenage suicides: Understanding the youth September 22 Zero-Agenda “Parents need to talk to children more. They need to be frank on issues about sex, divorce, and friendship.”

Parents in our country think they are better off just shutting themselves off from topics such as sex and divorce, in discussing with their children that is. It’s a real sorry state of affairs.

Pramanik Khocon The family system here sucks! Mothers are busy with Star Jalsha, and fathers are too busy with their businesses. Facebook is the children’s guardian now!

Pakistan flags found at PM’s programme September 22 birbanggali “The Education Ministry is apparently embarrassed after learning that Pakistani flags were distributed among the students at Saturday’s concluding function of a sports competition for the schools and Madrasas.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addressed the programme at the Bangabandhu National Stadium.”

We demand immediate action against all the culprits behind this.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Healing ointment (5) 6 Top card (3) 7 Planet (5) 10 Fixed gaze (5) 12 Love god (4) 13 Social event (5) 15 Eastern ruler (4) 16 Long-leaved lettuce (3) 18 Transgression (3) 20 At hand (4) 22 Variety of quartz (5) 23 Soft feathers (4) 25 Sporting sides (5) 27 Supple (5) 28 Result of addition (3) 29 Useless remains (5)

DOWN 1 Waistbands (6) 2 Perform (3) 3 Very heavy (6) 4 Time of day (7) 5 Worthless dog (3) 8 Born (3) 9 Alone (4) 11 Male sheep (3) 14 Brought into being (7) 16 Fold (6) 17 Sudden convulsions (6) 19 Worshipped image (4) 21 Consumed (3) 22 Insect (3) 24 Hairpiece (3) 26 Drinking vessel (3)

An open letter of solidarity Anon Imran’s analysis doesn’t seem very well thought-out or sharp.

September 22 Zero-Agenda My heart bleeds for those poor people. Imagine waking up to the sound of your neighbour’s house being shelled. Chilling!

Members of two criminal gangs clash over share of extortion

CALVIN AND HOBBES

September 23 Minhaz Shanto “Members of two criminal gangs, Arif group and Saju group, lock in a clash over the share of the extortion near Rajshahi city’s bus terminal area.”

Woooow! So awesome!

Streetlamps still on during the day

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

September 21

PEANUTS

Nazmul Khair “Street lamps remain on in the middle of a bright, sunny day in the capital’s Shaymoli area, and the authorities concerned remain blind to the waste of electricity. The photo was taken around noon.”

Due to having to manually turn the lights on/off, the lights have to be kept open for more than 2 hours. A few days ago, I saw a news report about this on a Bangla channel.

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

11

Is nothing sacred? n Mohammad Ali Sattar

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Many had warned that the ICT act would be used to curb freedom of expression

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BIGSTOCK

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Hello Draconia

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n Niaz Alam

t is difficult to understand why a court has sentenced a 25-year-old man to seven years imprisonment for writing a satirical song about Sheikh Mujib and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

This seems so wrong in so many ways that I have scratched my head till it hurts.

I wish it were a hoax, but it’s not.

As a little bonus, the judge ruled the defendant will face a further six months behind bars if he fails to pay a fine of Tk10,000.

One really can’t blame the Cyber Tribunal (Bangladesh) for reaching this verdict. Even though its name sounds like something out of Blade Runner, it is a judicial body established under the Information and Communications Technology Act brought in by the BNP in 2006, and added to further by the subsequent AL government.

The ICT act has all along contained draconian provisions allowing very broad interpretations of what constitutes unlawful use of communications technology. That the police and judiciary would pursue gratuitously misguided complaints filed under the act and apply its punitive sanctions, was almost inevitable.

Already this year, we have seen two HSC students at Chittagong College sent to jail for the Kafkaesque offence of having insulting comments “found in the message inbox of their Facebook accounts.”

The current government has enabled this worrisome state of affairs by ignoring a High Court notice filed in 2010 asking it to explain why the over-

ly ambiguous references to defamation, public discipline, and sovereignty contained in the ICT law are not in breach of the constitution’s guarantee of freedom of expression.

But the mindset reflected by the act and its overreaching provisions is not just the fault of any one political party alone. It is rooted in the controlling mentality of the bureaucrats and civil servants who advise our leaders.

about the prime minister, it would appear many such complaints have nothing to do with national security, but are about harassing people who criticise or sometimes merely fail to wholeheartedly endorse the government.

The current case of Tonmoy Mollick being jailed for seven years, simply for writing a satirical song is particularly outrageous.

Do we really want to be known as a country that locks people up for writing a satirical song or disagreeing with the prime minister?

Of course, there are some sound reasons, such as protecting national security and fighting piracy to have an ICT law. Moreover, panics about terrorism have inspired many free, democratic nations to adopt ambiguous, constitutionally unsound draconian laws about internet usage.

But let us be clear, many people and organisations warned that Bangladesh’s ICT act would be used to curb freedom of expression. And so, it is coming to pass.

The police report that they are investigating some 300 cases under the ICT act. From the instances we know about, such as the BUET lecturer sentenced to seven years imprisonment on the charge of publishing “fake, obscene or defamatory” information

Like many people, my first thought on reading this news was to wonder what on Earth his lyrics said. Then I figured that to look them up would probably also be in breach of the ICT act. So I started scratching my head ...

Leaving aside that it is an internationally accepted principle of defamation law that one can’t defame the dead, so it is spurious to bring in his purported defamation of Sheikh Mujib, I seriously doubt the prime minister has time to care about what may or may not have been said about her in the lyrics of a previously unknown songwriter. Indeed, as the advocate of Digital Bangladesh, she ought to be proud that technology has empowered an unknown individual to gain fame (of a sort).

Vulgar abuse, scathing criticisms, she has heard them all before from far better known persons and political opponents than this unfortunate defendant. If sycophantic complainants and prosecutors were hoping to impress her by bringing this case, I suggest they may be mistaken.

No, the real error lies in the law itself.

It is not worth speculating whether this case would have been brought if the songwriter had been more popular or had referred to figures from a different political party. Nor, is it worth asking individual MPs who voted for this law to examine their consciences as the constitution requires government MPs to vote in line with their party.

But the constitution is nothing without its fundamental guarantee of freedom of expression.

Citizens do not need permission to express a point of view. Nor should lawyers have to spend time explaining that satirical songs and suchlike are protected under the law.

By bringing this case and locking this individual up, the legal system has done more harm to the reputation of the prime minister than any words contained in a satirical song.

This case involves an individual who should be freed and a law which must be changed.

Do we really want to be known as a country that locks people up for writing a satirical song or disagreeing with the prime minister? l Niaz Alam has worked on ethical business issues since 1992 and is a former vice-chair of War on Want.

he images of the youngsters (students) busy carrying out their secret operation of passing answers via their cell phones to some of the examinees sitting for their admission tests in Dhaka University instantly reminded me of the scenes from an episode of the Indian TV series, Crime Patrol.

Crime Patrol happens to be my favorite late-night TV shows. I enjoy the series because it portrays true crime stories of India, nicely reenacted by the actors. The series shows how the criminals commit crimes (of all nature) and the cops, after intelligent investigation, nab them.

Mind you, these well-made TV shows serve both the parties. The criminals are encouraged to plan and carry out their acts by watching these episodes, and the police get the boost to learn more investigative methods to close the cases. So, it’s a learning ground for both.

Our students who were to “pass” the right answers to the examinees in the halls via their cell phones belong to a larger criminal gang, comprising of students, underworld goons, and teachers.

I felt like I was watching an episode of the Bangladeshi version of Crime Patrol from a distance. So, now they are invading the most sacred of territories, desecrating the seats of the highest form of learning.

It was encouraging to watch the crime busters move in and blow up the burrow and nab the immoral examinees. We can reason with the youngsters getting involved in these adventures for money, for excitement, or for heroics.

But what about the teachers ganging up with these youngsters?

What to make of these tutors who are supposed to be the leaders of a society? Perish in shame, you rascals.

Not too long ago, we saw the question paper leakage scam. All heads sat together to find a way to stop the rot. Nothing tangible happened.

This has been happening quite often.

The Education Ministry suggested bringing changes in the system. But the wise know whatever system we establish, nothing will work unless we get to the root and plug the holes where the water seeps in. We must try and arrest the trend in the minds of the culprits.

High-tech systems are being hacked with smarter devices and profound leakages have been taking place.

Robbing of private information is now no longer surreptitious. There is no private life for anyone – it has now become prone to theft and intrusion.

On the other end, the education minister was not quite at ease with the “rigid” admission test methods followed by the university authorities.

He was annoyed because of the disquieting percentage of successful candidates.

He expressed his dismay when he found out that only two examinees qualified for admission into the English department.

The vice-chancellor however differs with the education minister.

He thought the process was fine and there was nothing wrong with being stringent in scrutinising prospective

learners. So far so good.

The tug of war is on. The minister wants higher pass percentages (not really caring about the quality), and more conscientious sections prefer quality education.

Once again, there is a battle of words and a clash of interests. The government would like to take credit for having a successful run with a high pass percentage.

Perhaps these immoral souls will keep invading our sacred territories until we have nothing left

But the universities are tightening the noose. They are trying to slow down the intrusion of pedestrian students getting into these seats of learning.

Whatever may be the reasons behind the high pass rate or low intake, the fact is that we know most of the students who secure Golden A+ or achieve other good grades have mostly failed to perform at the higher levels.

They seldom achieve satisfactory marks in the professional fields.

Most of them don’t even qualify in the preliminary selection process of any job. A majority of them are unbelievably ignorant.

They don’t know what they have learned, what they are trying to say or do, and what they are actually looking for.

They are a shameful symbol of deceit and ignorance – victims of defective systems, low-quality teaching, and immoral individuals manning the education sector.

We have already been invaded by the syndicated gangs. Our consumer market, clubs and associations, social and religious institutions, transport and development sectors, and financial institutions are all in the grip of dark men with spoilt minds.

They are committing crimes that make you shiver. The anomalies in the gold crest given to the friends of Bangladesh, the fake freedom fighters’ certificates used by top government servants with no fear or shame, the trading of educational certificates by many private universities, illegal medical clinics and hospitals operating in broad daylight, land grabbing by the powerful, and harrowing acts of murder committed by the members of law enforcing agencies are all too common.

Perhaps these immoral souls will keep invading our sacred territories until we have nothing left. Soon we shall have more people running after more wealth, while there will be souls out in search of God. l Mohammad Ali Sattar is a journalist and a DT columnist.

Modi’s operandi n Tunku Varadarajan

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hen Barack Obama received an Indian prime minister at the White House for the first time in 2009, the greatest excitement came not from any chemistry between him and Manmohan Singh, nor even from the unstinting (if dutiful) affirmation of values shared by their two great nations. The buzz came, instead, from an audacious couple who hoodwinked the world’s tightest security cordon and gate-crashed the state banquet.

Tareq and Michaele Salahi (remember them?) upstaged the official guests in the popular imagination. Somehow, it seemed entirely fitting that a Gatsbyesque businessman from Virginia and his gaudy blond wife should have saved us all from the ineffable dullness of Manmohan Singh.

Singh’s successor, by contrast, is not a dull man, nor one easily upstaged.

His trip to the US is an awkward, even embarrassing, visit: The US State Department had placed him on a visa blacklist in 2005, until his party waltzed to victory in India’s elections in May.

The reason? Disquiet over his alleged role in the anti-Muslim riots that racked Gujarat in 2002, when he was chief minister of the western Indian state. And there was likely a belief in the state department that it was safe to deny Modi entry since he would surely never amount to anything more than a regional politician.

Those riots and that visa denial are now history, for better or worse. Modi took India by storm, and in the months since he became prime minister, he has gone about reconstructing India’s foreign policy. Some would say he is revolutionising it.

India was, until recently, a country with a rudderless foreign policy, rooted more in airy-fairy internationalism than in hardheaded national interest. A continuing fidelity to nonalignment — which, in effect, is simply nonalignment with the West — lived on in the country’s foreign ministry. For a while, when President George W Bush was in the White House, India teetered on the edge of an alliance with Washington.

Certainly, Bush did everything he could to win India over to his side, concluding a nuclear deal with New

Delhi that would have been unthinkable under any previous president. But the alliance has failed to mature under Obama, who, to be fair, has had little time for India, given the many crises that have bedeviled his administration.

Under Modi though, India is charting a policy of robust national self-interest, with Japan emerging as its central foreign partner. The new prime minister traveled to Tokyo in late August and pulled off one of the most successful state visits in Indian history. And on September 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping came calling, vying for the favorable attention that Modi had just bestowed on Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe. Japan and China are courting India with gusto. Tokyo, which feels cut adrift by an underconfident Washington, wants a partnership with India to keep China at bay. Beijing, disconcerted by a galloping Indo-Japanese alliance, wants to prise New Delhi away from Tokyo. India continues to be deeply suspicious of an expansionist China, even as it covets its investment. Just one day after Xi set foot in India, 1,000 Chinese soldiers made a

distinctly undiplomatic incursion into Indian territory.

In India, meanwhile, illusions about a meaningful alliance with the US have melted away. This is healthy for Indo-US ties, which are better embedded in pragmatism than wishful thinking.

It takes diplomatic pressure off the US, for whom forging a formal relationship with India is always going to be tricky.

An India strengthened on its own terms is likely to be a better partner for the US than a thin-skinned India that plays perpetual second fiddle, always sensitive to slights and disappointment.

Obama’s focus is now firmly on the terrorists of the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) and the Middle East, not on the subcontinent. In any case, Modi’s primary interlocutors in the US are not in the White House. They are in the American private sector. All he needs is a firm handshake from Obama. Oh, and that fulsome affirmation of shared democratic values. l Tunku Varadarajan is the Virginia Hobbs Carpenter Fellow in Journalism at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution. This article was first published in Time Magazine.

REUTERS

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Man of Steel HBO, 9pm

Clark Kent, an alien of a now extinct race disguised as a bystander of our kind is forced to reveal his true identity when Earth is invaded by an army of survivors who threaten to bring the planet to the brink of destruction.

Wrong Turn at Tahoe HBO Hits, 10pm

Students of the theatre department of Jahangirnagar University perform during the staging of its production ‘Mohua,’ on September 29, at the Mymensingh Geetika festival being held at Shilpakala Academy KHAN HASAN MD RAFI

Clooney feels

‘pretty damn great’ n Entertainment Desk After George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin exchanged traditional vows, platinum bands and, yes, a lengthy kiss at their 30-minute wedding ceremony on September 27 in Venice, Italy, the newlyweds turned to their family and friends and the place went wild.

Cheers and applause filled the gilded hall at Italy’s historic Aman Canal Grande Venice as around 100 guests, many with tears in their eyes, celebrated the much-anticipated union of the Oscar winner and the internationally acclained human rights activist bride. After taking the vow, Clooney, 53, said: “feels pretty damn great.”

Created by Giorgio Armani as part of his Made to Measure collection, the black tuxedo in ultra-fine wool/cashmere was paired with a white shirt, black bow tie and oxfords in smooth, brushed black leather. To finish off his look, Clooney wore customized cufflinks, a gift from his bride, with “George” inscribed in Arabic.

Of course nothing could upstage the bride, stunning in a custom Oscar de la Renta French lace wedding gown, hand-embroidered with pearls and diamanté accents, featuring an off-the-shoulder neckline and a full circular train.

With three days of parties followed by a civil ceremony, the festivities took center stage in Venice, which the actor calls “the most romantic city in the world” and a natural choice for their wedding locale. “We met in Italy,” says Clooney, who has long owned an estate on Lake Como. “We have a home there.

We knew that was where we wanted to get married.”

People and Hello! magazines revealed the wedding photographs yesterday. l

Shunte Ki Pao! in 15 Indian cities n Entertainment Desk Kamar Ahmad Simon’s “Shunte Ki Pao!” (Are You Listening!) has been chosen to be screened in 15 cities of India. IndiDoc, a network of thirty film clubs across India, is organising the screening on October 2 in Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Chennai and other major cities. After every screening, a pre-recorded interview of writer-director Kamar will also be showed.

Earlier, “Shunte Ki Pao!” (Are You Listening!) got the highest Cine Club votes as the best of six pre-selected films from around South Asia. “Shunte Ki Pao!” was premiered as the curtain-opener of one of the oldest documentary festivals in the world, held in Leipzig, and won the best film award Grand Prix in Paris and Golden-Conch in Mumbai. Till date, it has been invited in more than twenty-five international festivals and has bagged nine competitive awards in different categories.

In this regard, Kamar said, “After the success of the film we expect to build new audiences.” The plot of the story revolves around Rakhi, Shoumen and Rahul living in a secluded riverside village at Sutarkhali, Bagerhat.

One day Cyclone Aila devours their home and leaves their village inundated. And suddenly they are climate refugees. Can this trio rein in the forces of nature with human strength? Will Men prevail or be defeated??

Kamar’s feature film titled “Shonkhodhoni” is currently in the pipeline. l

A small-time crime boss kills a drug dealer without realising that the drug dealer works for the biggest crime boss in the country.

BRIHONNOLA: In wonder and in doubt n Mosabber Rahman I actually thought the film was based on Humayun Ahmed’s “Brihonnola,” that famous Misir Ali story, and it was only after a few minutes into the film that I realized – whoops!

I did not recognise the girl in the poster, so I was not sure if it was for a film or an art exhibition, but then I noticed the man – Ferdous Ahmed – wearing dark-rimmed take-me-seriously glasses. I have to say the poster, with its painterly pastel look, is quite original, perhaps the best I have seen in recent times; and the typeface with the exaggerated blood-red downstroke for the Bangla alphabet ‘ha’ is an expressive use of title design.

The English title of the film is “The Poisoning Sap,” but a literal, more befitting, translation would be ‘eunuch’ or ‘castrated men’ as in ‘a bunch of political eunuchs.’ That’s a pretty sharp-edged title for a film initiated by a grant from the government. Ouch! And it’s a film about two parties fighting for power, and both are equally corrupt with their share of gangsters. Double ouch! But hold your horses, the film eschews the bold road paved with hot pitch and treads on the good old road of vague metaphors and colourful allegories.

Each of the village parties, the Hindu temple committee and the Muslim mosque committee, are plotting to take control of a piece of public land and build a house of worship. But the film is not about dogmatism, it’s about power, corruption and propaganda. The parties are identical in nature, and have been carefully balanced like a chemical equation so that all the particles on one side cancel off the particles on the other side. The message of “Brihonnola” is very simple: education lights up our path and helps us

preserve our rich heritage, while ignorance lets the puppet masters tear us up from the roots. It’s a nice thought. I only wish it had been articulated a little better.

The entire cast is just terrific, particularly Azad Abul Kalam as the good Muslim. His counterpart, the good Hindu, is played by the wonderful character actor Manosh Bandyopadhyay. They often play chess and discuss village politics, and also talk about that killer tree.

The film opened with a sense of wonder. Does that ancient tree in the middle of that coveted land have supernatural powers? Then gradually doubt begin to seep in and the wonderment completely disappears. Not only that, after the interval it became a completely different movie, focusing on a love story. Thus, diluting the tension built in the first half. I felt disoriented.

Can someone be so naïve as to measure love by the sweet things he is told? It is difficult to accept that Ferdous Ahmed, a sensitive doctor from the city, would risk humiliation and exile and covet a poor villager’s wife, Sohana Saba. He behaved like such a wuss that I lost all sympathy for that character. It just did not ring true.

Moreover, a film that strives for authenticity should not use so much manipulative music dictating how the audience should feel.

I watched “Brihonnola” at Balaka Cinema, on a Friday evening, and the theatre was almost empty although it was not a bad film. It is important to remember that filmmaking does not end with post-production, it ends with film-marketing, and each film needs to be released in its own unique way. To try to figure out what sells and then to sell exactly that product is not business, it’s mere shop-keeping. Great businesses always turn a great idea into a great product.

But I would also add that beautiful packaging onto itself,

say, a glittering trailer, will not do either. First and foremost, create a usable product you believe in, and then tell the world how great it is. It’s like that Sugarman song: “And don’t try to enchant me with your manner of dress, ‘Cause a monkey in silk is a monkey no less.” l

SHILPA SHETTY launches her sari brand n Entertainment Desk Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty began to design her own line of saris, under the brand of Shilpa Shetty Kundra (SSK) saris. The collection has been exclusively announced in partnership with HomeShop 18 and was launched at a special event in Delhi recently.

Shilpa walked the ramp wearing a sari from her new collection and said, “The sari is one of the most popular and versatile outfits, which makes you look glamorous and dignified at the same time. In this exclusive collaboration, I’ve enjoyed experimenting with unique styles to suit different tastes.

The SSK collection has been designed keeping in mind an Indian ethos with a modern twist, light fabrics and embellishments enhancing their richness, with the biggest prerequisite being budget-friendliness.”

The launch collection comprised six designs which were mostly light saris in georgette and crepe in various colour schemes and prints.

Talking about the background behind her decision to design, Shilpa said, “Ever since I can remember, I loved saris primarily because my mother used to wear them to work and I would love the way they looked on her.

After I started wearing saris, I would tell my designer friends, yeh colour kardo, yeh print add kardo, yeh fabric hai, etc. That’s when I realized that since I design for myself, I could totally do it for my fans.” l

Vidya Balan, Emran Hashmi team up again n Entertainment Desk The “Dirty Picture” and “Ghanchakkar” duo Vidya Balan and Emran Hashmi starrer new film “Humari Adhuri Kahani” will have its first shooting on the auspicious day of Ashtami in Kolkata.

Two years after her Kolkata connection— shot in the city of joy for “Kahaani”—Vidya will return to the city for the first shot of the love story by Mohit Suri. The shooting will happen tomorrow and will see Vidya Balan shoot at a Durga Puja pandal. She will then be joined by her co-star Emraan Hashmi for a few scenes in the city.

“The first schedule will be widely shot in Cape Town (South Africa) and the second schedule will take place in Dubai,” said a source.

To be directed by Mohit Suri, “Humari Adhuri Kahaani” also features National Award winning actor Rajkummar Rao. The film is reportedly partly based on Mahesh Bhatt’s life. l

Film

Guardians of the Galaxy (3D) The Equalizer How to Train Your Dragon 2 (3D) Brihonnola Star Cineplex, Bashundhara City

Exhibition

Solo Painting Exhibition

By Gopal Ghoshe Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Shilpalaya Road 27 (old), Dhanmondi

Did you know?

Xabi Alonso made 216 touches for Bayern v Köln on Saturday- the most by any player in any game in the top 5 European leagues since 2006

Sport

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Korea into Asiad final, sees red

Bangladesh look to beat rain and Kuwait

Shakib his deputy, Mushfiq to lead in Tests with Tamim alongside Veteran paceman Mashrafe bin Mortaza was named the new Bangladesh captain for one-day internationals while regular skipper Mushfiqur Rahim will be leading the Test side, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hasan informed after the conclusion of the board meeting at Mirpur yesterday.

It was also decided that ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan will be Mashrafe’s deputy while swashbuckling opener Tamim Iqbal will assist Mushfiq in Tests ahead of the home series against Zimbabwe.

The issue of split captaincy came up after Bangladesh’s poor performance in the recently-concluded tour of the West Indies and a final decision was eventually taken yesterday.

“The biggest reason why we have selected Mashrafe is because Mushfiq is our most in-form batsman and we believe he is one of the best batsmen and he can improve it as well. To keep, captain and bat at one go is very difficult.

That is why, on an experimental basis, we tried to make him pressure-free and see how he plays,” said Nazmul.

The BCB chief said he sat with Mashrafe, Tamim and Shakib before they left for the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea and reminded them their responsibilities as the senior members of the side. Nazmul also justified naming Shakib vice-captain for one-day internationals.

“I feel that there was a misunderstanding that we were against Shakib but that is not true. Yes, we had a problem against his behaviour but we feel that his behaviour has changed. But we still need to observe him and he will be under scrutiny. We have no other message for Shakib. He has to maintain that trust,” he said.

Nazmul added the decision of split captaincy in the future will depend upon the performance of the national side. The BCB boss went on to say light-heartedly that they are still looking for one more captain for Twenty20 internationals. The captaincy post for

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan (C) briefs the media after the board meeting at Mirpur yesterday MUMIT M

Hockey team lose to Oman, finish eighth n Raihan Mahmood Bangladesh finished eighth in the 10-nation Asian Games hockey after losing their last game to Oman 2-3 in Incehon, South Korea yesterday.

Despite preparing for three months under the guidance of Pakistani coach Naveed Alam, Bangladesh failed to show the level of hockey required to cope in the top-level competitions.

Starting with a nil-8 loss against Japan, they suffered a 5-1 thrashing against Malaysia in their second game. Bangladesh defeated Singapore 2-1 before conceding a nil-7 defeat to South Korea.

The young and inexperienced team, comprising 11 players who tasted their first international exposure, simply failed to cope with the competitiveness at the top level. The loss against Oman categorically showed that Bangladesh failed to fill the vacuum of some experienced names.

Bangladesh went ahead in the 11th

minute from a penalty corner which was converted by Pushkor Khisa Mimo and kept the lead till the second quarter. In the third quarter, Ahmed Sabil Habib restored parity with a field goal in the 33rd minute. Musa Khalafan scored another field-goal four minutes later to put Oman ahead. Forward Krishna Kumar equalised in the 39th minute only to see Basim Omar restore

Bangladesh failed to show the level of hockey required to cope in the top-level competitions the lead again from a penalty corner in the last minute of the quarter.

Bangladesh beat Oman 6-1 in their last meeting in Dhaka. With the match, coach Naveed also ended his contract with the Bangladesh Hockey Federation. He was appointed in July 2013 and has guided Bangladesh to the AHF Cup trophy and Hockey World League Round 1 winners.l

the shortest format of the game is still vacant and Nazmul said they will come to a decision when the time is right.

On behalf of the board, Mushfiq has been informed about the leadership change and the BCB supremo assured there was no negative reaction from the former ODI skipper.

Meanwhile, another important aspect of yesterday’s board meeting centred around the performance report of the Caribbean tour. “We spent the maximum time on the performance report of the last West Indies series. [Chairman of cricket operations committee] Akram Khan provided his report and we had also sent [Naimur Rahman] Durjoy. He [Durjoy] showed his observation and report and then we also got the report of head coach (Chandika Hathurusingha). We also gathered information from other people. We identified the problems and discussed about how we can solve these problems,” said Nazmul.

The board meeting also approved the sending of the Bangladesh A team to take part in the 150-year celebration of cricket ground Eden Gardens after former India captain Sourav Ganguly sent an invitation on behalf of the Cricket Association of Bengal.

The four-team tournament is likely to take place from October 23-30 and keeping the event in mind the board has asked the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis to postpone the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League. The premier 50-over competition of the country will now start on November 2.l

13

14 Jong puts North

Mashrafe new ODI captain n Mazhar Uddin

DHAKA TRIBUNE

n Reazur Rahman Rohan Defending gold-medal winners Bangladesh, the 10th Test-playing nation and the last to achieve the status, should not encounter any trouble facing World Cricket League Division 7 side Kuwait in the quarterfinals of the 17th Asian Games Twenty20 cricket tournament today in Incheon.

However, that is not the case as even the clear favourites are worried – not because of playing Kuwait, but not being able to play Kuwait if it rains.

Weather is the most crucial factor as the tournament by-laws does not have a reserve day and in the instance of a match being washed out, the winner will be decided by a coin toss – something that already favoured the Kuwaitis.

If the match is washed out, Kuwait will be equal favourites as Bangladesh in the case of the toss of a coin.

Bangladesh stepped into the Test territory on November 10, 2010 – five days before Kuwait’s first ever recorded cricket match which was against Singapore in Dubai.

However, newly-appointed Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza should not worry too much as the weather forecasts suggest it will be partly cloudy during the game time which starts at 11am (Bangladesh time) while the sun is also expected to shine without any rain.

If the game rolls onto the field, it will be a walk in the park for the Tigers.

However, if it rains and a toss takes place to decide the winner, Kuwait might as well go through in the expense of Bangladesh. l

MUMIT M

Glory awaits Mohammedan, Brothers teens n Shishir Hoque “No alternative than winning” is Mohammedan Sporting Club’s only consideration ahead of their Airtel U-18 Football final against Brothers Union scheduled at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 5pm tomorrow.

This is the first U-18 football tournament in Bangladesh and it began on September 12. The tournament created a lot of excitement among the young talented footballers of the country as some of them now can, in reality, dream to play in the top flight football.

Both the finalists – Mohammedan and Brothers – offered attractive display throughout the tournament. Their group stage clash ended goalless and both sides are desperate and confident at the same time to lift the trophy.

Mohammedan coach Kazi Joshim Uddin Joshi said they have found at least five or six players who could get into the senior squad. He also believes that the age level players should get more playing time.

“In recent past the club has spent millions money for the players on the side bench. We can take 14-15 main players adding selected ones from age

level like U-18 then they will get chance for the development,” said Joshi in the pre-match press conference at the BFF House yesterday.

“I started playing for Mohammedan and I spent my life here. So I always have a winning mentality. There’s no alternative than to win the final,” he added.

Brother Union captain Ezazul Islam Ezaz (L) and MSC Limited skipper Badrul Hasan Tutul hold aloft the Airtel Under-18 football trophy at the BFF House yesterday COURTESY

Skipper Badrul Hasan Tutul said, “We have been disciplined from the beginning on and off the pitch. The team work, team spirit have always been there which brought to this stage. It will be a tough fight hopefully we will win it.”

Brothers’ coach Wasim Iqbal was not present during the briefing but his assistant coach Mahbub Alam Polo revealed that, “350 boys appeared on the first day of trial from where we had to cut it to 70, then 35 and finally selected 25 players. I’m proud of my boys and in only 27 practice session they implemented them nicely.”

“Mohammedan is a strong team.

In our last meeting it ended in a draw, their goalkeeper saved the game. The chance is 50-50 and I hope we are going to make it,” he added.

Brothers captain Ezazul Islam Ezaz, who emerged from Rangpur through trial, said, “I can’t explain in words how excited I am to be in the final. Now our main target is to become champions.”

BFF senior vice president Abdus Salam Murshedy is hopeful of holding the U-18 league regularly and will make it mandatory for every premier league club to take part in it. l

Soumya propels BD A

BCB unaware of banned Nadir officiating

n Minhaz Uddin Khan

n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Riding on Soumya Sarkar’s all-round performance, Bangladesh A bounced back to level the three-match one-day series 1-1 after defeating Zimbabwe A in the second game by six wickets according to the Duckworth/Lewis method at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah yesterday.

Zimbabwe A batted first after winning the toss and were restricted to 163 runs for the loss of nine wickets in their allotted 50 overs. With the exception of captain Vusimuzi Sibanda (74), no other Zimbabwe A batsman was able to spend quality time in the middle. With wickets tumbling at regular intervals, the only resistance was put up by the seventh-wicket pair of Sibanda and Tawanda Mupariwa (19) as they added 47 runs.

Spinners Elias Sunny and Jubair Hossain led the bowling attack for the home side picking up two wickets each while the military medium-pace of Soumya also yielded two wickets.

In pursuit of a modest target which was later revised due to rain, the Ban-

gladesh openers - Soumya (86) and Liton Kumar (29) - gave their side a solid start to the chase posting 80 runs.

The quick dismissals of Bangladesh A skipper Marshal Ayub (two) and Mominul Haque (three) threatened to rock their chase but middle-order batsmen

BRIEF SCORE

Zimbabwe A 163/9 in 50 overs (Sibanda 74, Soumya 2/23, Jubair 2/28, Elias 2/29) Bangladesh A 158/4 in 31.4 overs (Revised target 158 from 47 overs) (Soumya 86, Liton 29, Wellington 2/18, Kamungozi 2/52) Bangladesh A won by six wickets (D/L) Naeem Islam (13 not out) and Mosaddek Hossain (11) ensured no further hiccups. Tafadzwa Kamungozi and Wellington Masakadza scalped two wickets apiece for Zimbabwe A. The two second-string national sides will lock horns in the third and final one-dayer today at the same venue. l

A severe communication error in the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) Umpires Committee led to suspended umpire Nadir Shah officiate the First Division Twenty20 semifinal match between Indira Road and BKSP on Monday, September 28 at BKSP, only 18 months after he was handed a 10-year ban for his involvement in match fixing.

The BCB president Nazmul Hasan informed the media that the 10-year ban imposed on Nadir was never lifted and that a miscommunication piloted the debacle.

“I got to know about Nadir Shah officiating in matches through newspapers,” said Nazmul at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

“Yes, there was a discussion within the board of lifting his 10-year ban.

The board discussed if the punishment could be reduced, but never lifted the ban, it seems as though there was a communication error,” he added.

The BCB chief confirmed that the ban stands and the board was not involved

in allowing Nadir to officiate the match.

When quarried, member secretary of the BCB umpires’ committee, Sailab Hossain cleared the air.

“There was discussion of reducing ban on Nadir Shah in one of the board meetings. Our chairman (Nazmul Karim Tinku) was present in the meeting who thought that the ban will soon be lifted and thus told me to get Nadir officiate some low profile domestic matches,” Sailab explained.

The BCB said in the last four months it had been awaiting an ICC directive on Shah, although it did not announce a lifting of the ban. According to Shah,

member secretary of BCB umpires’ committee Tutul informed him of the ban been lifting in last June, while he has also received a letter from Bangladesh Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (BCUSA) which informed him of the BCB’s decision, but an official letter from the BCB was always absent.

An Indian TV sting operation in 2012 exposed Shah and several first-class umpires from Sri Lanka and Pakistan who were allegedly willing to give decisions favouring players for a fee.

In the sting conducted in July and August 2012, the reporters claimed to belong to a sports management company and promised the umpires officiating assignments in events of all kinds around the world, largely the cash rich domestic Twenty20 leagues.

All three national boards announced investigations following the broadcast.

The BCB conducted a detailed investigation into the matter, with two committees being formed, after which Shah was banned while another Bangladeshi umpire, Sharfuddoula Ibne Shahid Saikat, was acquitted. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Atletico, Arsenal look to bounce back n AFP, Paris Last season’s beaten finalists Atletico Madrid host Serie A leaders Juventus in a high octane Group A battle in the Spanish capital while Arsenal need a win at home to Galatasaray to kickstart their season.

Atletico Madrid (ESP) v Juventus (ITA)

The match of the round sees the Italian Champions Juventus visit the Spanish Champions Atletico Madrid. Last season’s runners-up Atletico suffered a shock 3-2 defeat by Olympiakos in their opening match, and since losing striker Diego Costa to Chelsea have been heavily reliant on set pieces for goals. “A set piece can change a game, and we have plenty of players who can bury the ball,” says Atletico’s top scorer Brazilian centre-back Joao Miranda.

Juventus have not conceded a goal in a run of five successive wins in Serie A, and opened the Champions League campaign with an easy 2-0 victory over Malmo. Atletico will have to be wary of Argentinian striker Carlos Tevez, who has scored six goals in four games and coach Massimiliano Allegri says he is fulfilling his potential and dictating games.

Malmo (SWE) v Olympiakos (GRE)

After going down to a brace of Tevez goals in their opener, Malmo must get something out of their clash with Greek champions Olympiakos.

Olympiakos lost at the weekend, suggesting they are concentrating on Wednesday night’s match. Striker Kostas Mitroglou has rediscovered his scoring touch since he returned from a very disappointing spell with English outfit Fulham. He scored in the recent league win over Veria and also during the splendid victory over Atletico.

Ludogorets (BUL) v Real Madrid (ESP)

As their own stadium is judged unworthy by UEFA Ludogorets will host ten-time champions Real Madrid in the distant national Stadium some 400km away in Sofia. The Bulgarian champions made the last-16 of the Europa League last season where they were beaten by Valencia. And they almost grabbed a point at Anfield in their Champions League debut before a late penalty by Steven Gerrard grabbed a fortuitous 2-1 win for Liverpool.

Real Madrid visit with their hosts not enjoying a good run of form, they have won less than half their games this season. So the likes of world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo, with eight goals in three games, Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez should be too much for the home side and their rookie coach Georgi Dermendzhiev. Real thumped Basel 5-1 in their opener where Ronaldo got his 53rd goal in 52 champions league games for Real Madrid.

Basel (SUI) v Liverpool (ENG)

Five-time champions Liverpool face a tricky game at Swiss dark horses Basel, who beat Chelsea home and away at the same stage last season. The last time Liverpool travelled to St. Jakob-Park they rallied from 3-0 down for a 3-3 draw in 2003. Much is expected of Liverpool’s inconsistent but talented Italian international striker Mario Balotelli, who has yet to show he is capable of filling the giant gap left by Luis Suarez’s departure as the team have fallen to three defeats in their last five Premier League outings.

Zenit (RUS) v Monaco (FRA)

The Russian leaders are off to a flying start in their first full season under Andre Villas Boas and will prove formidable opponents for a Monaco side who have yet to hit their stride under new coach Leonardo Jardim. Zenit, the 2008 UEFA Cup champions, have a perfect home record

Newcastle United fans hold ‘Sack Pardew’ posters before the their English Premier League soccer match against Stoke City at the Britannia stadium on Monday REUTERS

Stoke add to Magpies’ misery n AFP, Stoke-On-Trent Stoke City added to Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew’s woes with a 1-0 win at the Britannia Stadium on Monday that left the Magpies still searching for their first Premier League victory of the season.

Defeat meant the north-east side had taken just three points out of a possible 18 from six matches, with only newly-promoted Burnley keeping them off the bottom of the table courtesy of having scored fewer goals.

Both Newcastle owner Mike Ashley, among the crowd at Stoke’s ground

Villa to be available for A-League opener

n Reuters, Melbourne Former Spain forward David Villa will arrive in Australia next week and be available to play for Melbourne City’s season-opener in the top-flight, the A-League club said on Tuesday.

The newly-minted New York City striker will play a three-month stint with the Manchester City-owned Melbourne before linking with former England midfielder Frank Lampard and his U.S.-based team mates for the Major League Soccer season.

“The overall goal is to help the team perform well while I am there, support the Melbourne City FC team, build relationships, enjoy the style of football the league has to offer and, obviously, I want to do my job well and help Melbourne City to win as many games as possible,” Villa said on the club’s website (www.melbournecityfc.com.au).l

on Monday, and Pardew have become hate-figures for Magpies’ fans.

As if to prove the point, Pardew’s gesture in applauding the Newcastle supporters at full-time was met with yet more verbal abuse.

Prior to this match Ashley told the Independent newspaper that Pardew would be “finished” if Newcastle were beaten by Stoke, only to subsequently insist he had been joking.

But there was little for anyone connected with Newcastle - some of whose fans carried ‘Sack Pardew’ banners on Tuesday - to smile about when towering former England striker Peter Crouch gave Stoke the lead in the 15th minute. l

of three wins from three against French opposition in Champions League action while Monaco have a draw and two defeats on their travels to Russia.

Leverkusen (GER) v Benfica (POR)

Portuguese champions Benfica got off to the worst possible start in their bid to reach the European Cup final for the first time since 1990.

A 2-0 home defeat against Zenit means Jorge Jesus’s side are under immense pressure to pick up what would only be their fourth victory in 23 trips to German territory. Leverkusen, the 2002 runners-up to Real Madrid, are lying third in the Bundesliga having lost once in six matches and are three points behind Bayern Munich.

Arsenal (ENG) v Galatasaray (TUR)

Injury-ravaged Arsenal, who have never lifted the European Cup, take on Galatasaray for the first time since the Istanbul side defeated the Gunners on penalties in the 2000 UEFA Cup final. Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere all picked up injuries in the bruising 1-1 Premier League draw against North London rivals Tottenham at the Emirates on Saturday. The Turks are looking for their first win on English soil after three draws and six defeats in their nine previous visits. Arsenal are playing in their 17th consecutive Champions League group phase after knocking out another Istanbul side Besiktas 1-0 in the final qualifying round.

Anderlecht (BEL) v Dortmund (GER)

A victory for Dortmund, who lost to Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich in the 2013 final, would give them six points from two matches and guaranteed possession of first place in the group. Their only meeting in European action was during the 1990 UEFA Cup when the Belgians went through to the fourth round on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate draw. l

(From L) Atletico Madrid’s midfielders Raul Garcia, Juanfran and Cristian Rodriguez take part in a training session at the Cerro del Espino stadium in Majadahonda, near Madrid yesterday AFP

Di Natale hits brace, Djordjevic grabs hat-trick n AFP, Milan

Model fooled into giving birth to fake footballer’s child n Yahoo Sports

Greek government postpones fixtures over death of fan n AFP, Athens

Veteran striker Antonio Di Natale scored a double in a 4-2 win for Udinese over 10-man Parma that moved the northerners up to a surprise third place in Italy’s Serie A on Monday.

Elsewhere, Serbian international striker Filip Djordjevic netted a fine hattrick in a 4-0 win at Palermo that allowed previously lifeless Lazio to momentarily forget their early season blues.

Juventus and Roma, both in Champions League action against Atletico Madrid and Manchester City respectively this week, have set the early season pace going unbeaten over five games so far.

But Udinese, now under the guidance of former Inter Milan coach Andrea Stramaccioni, are only three points behind in third place after a fourth win which came largely thanks to 36-year-old Di Natale’s third and fourth goals of the campaign. l

A wannabe WAG claims she was conned into believing her boyfriend was Hull City captain Curtis Davies for 18 months – and only realised she’d been duped hours before giving birth to the fraudster’s child.

Josie Cunningham – who is best known for having undergone nearly £5,000 worth of cosmetic breast enhancement surgery on the NHS – says she was “manipulated” into having a relationship with a man pretending to be the Premier League defender.

And she is now having his baby, having gone into labour at the weekend.

Davies, who has played for West Brom, Aston Villa, Leicester and Birmingham, is hardly a celebrity footballer, making this story even more absurd.

A journeyman centre-back who has spent his career between the top flight and the Championship, Davies said he was “disappointed” in the story, which had “no legs.”

Cunningham, 24, claimed she was “physically fooled” by the man, who she says is a Davies look-a-like, after he sent her photos of the 29-year-old while romancing her online.

The pair went on to have a relationship, meeting for sex in hotels, with Cunningham telling friends she was

There will be no professional team sports in Greece this weekend announced the Greek General Secretariat of Sports on Monday following the death of a fan from injuries sustained in an attack a fortnight ago.

“As a small token of respect to the memory of Kostas Katsoulis, who lost his life today (Monday), a victim of football fan violence, by decision of Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports Giannis Andrianos, all official matches of team sports in the country will be postponed this coming weekend,” the General Secretariat of Sports said in a statement.

Katsoulis, a 46-year-old supporter of Piraeus team Ethnikos, was attacked along with other fans by about 30 Irodotos supporters in the third division match played in Heraklion, Crete, on September 15.

Police have arrested three people in connection with the attack.

The decision sees the postponement of all Super League football contests, including the derby between the two leaders PAOK and Olympiakos, as well as two Greek Cup basketball contests, contests in the third division football league, women’s basketball games and handball matches.l

RESULTS Udinese

4-2

Di Natale 28, 45, Heurtaux 58, Thereau 83

Palermo

Parma Mauri 22, Cassano 45+4-P

0-4

Lazio Djordjevic 45, 75, 83, Parolo 90+2

Composite image of glamour model Josie Cunningham and Hull defender Curtis dating an unnamed Premier League star. They did not believe her, but she insisted she had bedded the star.

She only realised he was a fraud just before entering labour this weekend.

“I feel so dirty, ashamed and devastated. I’ve been completely manipulated by a man for 18 months pretending to be a Premiership footballer,” she said in a lengthy statement to nearly 56,000 Twitter followers.

“We weren’t in a full-blown relationship, so I didn’t see him too much.

That’s how he managed to keep the lie going. I know I’m not that clever.”

Josie’s Twitter account also features several screenshots from Facebook, where she explained the fraud in full, and some more explicit references to their relationship.l

Jong puts North Korea into final, sees red n AFP, Incheon Jong Il-Gwan scored an extra-time winner to put North Korea into the Asian Games football final Tuesday but was sent off minutes later, ruling him out of the gold medal match.

Jong’s curling free-kick against Iraq settled a frantically paced match in which neither side could get the advantage until the extra period.

Five minutes into extra time, North Korea were awarded a free kick in the penalty arc which Jong, 21, skillfully curved over the wall and into the corner.

Celebrations for his fifth goal of the tournament were short-lived, however.

Jong got a second yellow card during one of the many standoffs between the

two sides and was ordered off, burying his face in his bright red shirt as he walked away.

With North Korea’s champion weightlifters, including gold medalist Om Yun-Chol, in tears in the crowd, the team sank to their knees as the final whistle went and the communist state reached only their second Asiad final.

The game started badly for the Koreans when defender Kang Kuk-Chol was stretchered off in the first minute.

Sim Hyon-Jul saw one first-half shot skim the Iraqi crossbar, Yun Il-Gwang missed an open goal from a corner and Pak Kwang-Ryong, North Korea’s only player to have taken part in a European Champions League game, crashed a 25-metre free-kick off the woodwork.

North Korea will play South Korea or Thailand in Friday’s final.l

North Korea’s players celebrate their win against Iraq during their men’s semifinal football match event of the 17th Asian Games in Incheon yesterday AFP

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

QUICK BYTES

Bellal to take part in Asian Wrestling

MEDAL TALLY

Bangladesh wrestler Bellal Hossain flew to Kazakhstan to particiapte in the 10th Asian Wrestling Championship yesterday. Bellal will compete in the 97kg category in the three-day event beginning from October 3. Bangladesh Wrestling Federation vice president FM Iqbal bin Anwar Dawn is accompanying Bellal as the team official.

–Raihan Mahmood

Total

Ziaur still top in National Chess Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman took another step towards reconquering the title of the Berger Paints National ‘A’ Chess after he remained at the top of the points table at the end of the 10th round yesterday. Playing with white pieces, Ziaur defeated CM Mahtabuddin Ahmed to take his tally to nine points. Mahtab conceded the loss after 29 moves. GM Enamul Hossain of Bangladesh Navy is in second position with 7.5 points with a win against FM Sheikh Nasir Ahmed.

Enamul played with black pieces and won against Nasir after 36 moves.

Reigning champion GM Abdullah Al Rakib of Bangladesh Navy remained in third position with eight points while GM Niaz Murshed of Dhaka Mohammedan is in fourth position with 7.5 points. In this round Rakib beat Uten and Niaz beat FM Aminul Islam. IM Minhazuddin Ahmed beat FM Debaraj Chatterjee while CM Sohel Chowdhury defeated Masum Hossain in the other matches of the day.

–Raihan Mahmood

Former Brazil defender Santos joins Pires at FC Goa Former Brazil left back Andre Santos has signed a deal to take part in the inaugural Indian Super League (ISL) alongside ex-Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires at FC Goa. Santos, 31, who had spells with Fenerbahce in Turkey as well as Arsenal and Brazilian clubs Corinthians, Gremio and Flamengo, is the latest high-profile name to sign up for the eight-team league that begins in a fortnight and runs for 10 weeks. Santos, who had a difficult twoyear spell in England at Arsenal before leaving in 2013, was a free agent after departing Flamengo earlier this year. He will link up with 40-year-old Pires, who came out of retirement to take part in the new league after a highly successful career and club and international level, including six trophy-laden years with Arsenal before departing in 2006. Another Arsenal alumni, former Sweden midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, is among the list of marquee players in the new league along with ex-Italy striker Alessandro Del Piero and Pires’s old France team mate David Trezeguet.

–Reuters

United consider overseas friendlies to fill CL void

Manchester United are looking at playing lucrative friendlies overseas to fill the midweek void left by the absence of European football this season and their early Capital One Cup exit. The record 20-time English title winners have forecast a 10 per cent drop in revenue in 2014-15 after they failed to qualify for the Champions League under David Moyes. The struggles have left United with just one midweek Premier League match before the end of 2014, and just three in the first three months of 2015.

Going overseas - the Middle East would be the most likely destination - would allow United to escape the English winter for a few days, and the addition of Radamel Falcao and Angel di Maria have made the club even more likely to attract lucrative contracts for friendlies. “That’s something we continue to look at, as always making sure that the preparations we do on the pitch come first,” said United managing director Richard Arnold.

–AP

DAY’S WATCH Ten Sports 5:30AM Asian Games 2014 12:45AM UEFA Champions League Arsenal v Galatasaray Ten Action 12:45AM UEFA Champions League Atletico Madrid v Juventus Ten HD 11:45PM UEFA Champions League FC Basel v Liverpool

(L-R) Bezkod Abdurakhimov of Uzbekistan, Iqbal Islam of Bangladesh, Bat Ulzii Gan Erdene of Mongolia, Tsai Hsuan of Taiwan and Saud Habib of Kuwait wait to shoot during the men’s skeet shooting qualification event of the 17th Asian Games at Gyeonggido shooting range, 70km south of Incheon yesterday AFP

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CHINA S KOREA JAPAN KAZAKHSTAN IRAN N KOREA CHINESE TAIPEI THAILAND QATAR INDIA HONG KONG UZBEKISTAN MALAYSIA SINGAPORE MONGOLIA INDONESIA BAHRAIN SAUDI ARABIA MYANMAR VIETNAM KUWAIT TAJIKISTAN PAKISTAN UAE BANGLADESH

125 79 54 55 37 54 15 16 14 11 8 10 8 8 8 6 8 6 8 6 8 6 7 4 14 4 6 4 4 3 5 3 5 2 1 2 1 1 9 1 3 1 1 1 1 1

61 265 60 169 55 146 25 56 10 35 11 29 14 30 21 35 3 11 32 46 22 36 14 27 10 28 11 21 11 19 8 16 1 9 3 3 22 32 2 6 2 1 2 1 2 1

*Till yesterday (8:00pm)

Narine reported for suspect action n AP West Indies spinner Sunil Narine has been reported for suspect bowling action during a Champions League T20 match between KKR and Dolphins, in Hyderabad on Monday in what turned out to be another ICC crackdown on chucking.

The CLT20 organising committee issued a media advisory, confirming the development, that on-field umpires Anil Chaudhary and Chettihody Shamshuddin along with third umpire Kumar Dharmasena have expressed their suspicion about the quicker delivery bowled by Narine.

“Mr Narine was reported by on-field umpires Anil Chaudhary and Chettithody Shamshuddin, along with third umpire Kumar Dharamsena at the conclusion of the match. The report specif-

ically relates to the quicker ball bowled

by Mr. Narine,” the press release states.

“Under the CLT20 Suspected Illegal Bowling Action policy, Mr. Narine may request an Official Assessment from the BCCI Suspect Bowling Action Committee. Mr. Narine has been placed on the warning list and may continue to be selected to play and bowl for his team in a match,” the release further stated.

However if Narine is reported again for the same problem, he will be debarred from bowling further in the Champions League T20 although he can play as batsman.

“Under the CLT20 Suspected Illegal Bowling Action policy, if a player receives a report while on the warning list, the player shall be suspended from bowling for the remainder of the tournament and from bowling in any

matches organised by the BCCI until such date as he is cleared.

“A player suspended from bowling may continue to be selected to play in matches, however he will not be entitled to bowl.”

Narine has been KKR’s primary weapon over the past four seasons and has helped the franchise co-owned by Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan to win two IPL titles in last three He is also on top of wicket-takers list with 11 scalps to his credit in the current edition of CLT20.

The ICC has instructed on-field umpires to be vigilant about suspected chuckers with Pakistan’s off-spinner Saeed Ajmal already suspended from bowling in competitive cricket. In this tournament, two Lahore Lions bowlers Adnan Rasool and Mohammed Hafeez have been reported for suspect actions.l

Malaysian gold medal Waqar questions timing of ICC winner expelled for doping crackdown on chucking n AFP, Incheon

n AFP, Karachi

Asian Games organisers on Tuesday expelled Malaysia’s wushu gold medal-winner Tai Cheau Xuen after she became the third doping failure of the giant event.

Tai, 24, tested positive for a banned stiumulant after winning Malaysia’s first gold in at the Games on September 20, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) said. The Malaysian delegation vowed to appeal.

The champion in the Chinese martial art was found to have taken sibutramine, according to to an OCA statement.

It is the second time the substance, widely used as a dietary supplement, has been detected at the Games, where 9,500 athletes are taking part.

OCA anti-doping chief, M. Jegathe-

Pakistan coach Waqar Younis has questioned the timing of cricket authorities’ crackdown against chucking just months away from the World Cup, and suggested that rules on bowling actions be relaxed for spinners.

In an interview with AFP, the former pace great said key all rounder Mohammed Hafeez’s confidence was left shattered after he was reported for a suspect action in an Indian domestic tournament, a fresh blow to Pakistan following the loss of Saeed Ajmal to a chucking ban.

Ajmal, the world’s leading one-day bowler, faces a race against time to complete remedial work by the World Cup, to be held from February to March in Australia and New Zealand.

Johnson still remembers English taunts n Reuters, Melbourne Australia pace bowler Mitchell Johnson has Test series against Pakistan and India ahead but is already looking beyond them to next year’s Ashes tour and the prospect of renewing hostilities with England while silencing the Barmy Army.

Left-armer Johnson suffered the most public of meltdowns during the Lord’s Test in 2009, when he was carted for 200 runs in a notoriously wayward spell and English fans never let him forget it.

He hushed his critics emphatically with a brilliant Ashes series in the last Australian summer, but memories of his special treatment in England have never faded.l

Tai Cheau Xuen Tai san, has indicated that not all failures for sibutramine are “hard core” cheats, but he has not yet commented on Tai’s case.

And no matter the circumstances the OCA had no choice but to order her out.l

He was suspended earlier this month after he was found to straighten his elbow up to 43 degrees - well beyond the 15 degree limit prescribed under the rules, the point where a kink becomes noticeable to the naked eye.

Since then, Hafeez and Sunil Narine have been among four players reported during an Indian tournament.

Though the action has no direct bearing on international cricket, Waqar said the bowlers would now be under intense scrutiny.

“Is this the right time to enforce the protocols and the technology?” he said.

“I am asking this because every team plans ahead of the World Cup, and the suspensions will badly hit the teams whose bowlers got suspended or questioned.

“I mean the protocols and the tech-

nology should have been enforced after the World Cup,” he added.

Ajmal’s suspension came as part of a wider drive by the International Cricket Council against bowlers with suspect actions, with Sri Lanka’s Sachithra Senanayake and Kane Williamson being suspended in July this year.

Bangladesh’s Sohag Gazi and AlAmin Hossain along with Zimbabwe’s Prosper Utseya were all reported after Ajmal.

The bans have thrown a spotlight on the controversial “doosra” delivery, which turns in the opposite direction to orthodox offspin but is delivered using the same wrist action.

Waqar suggested that the delivery could not be bowled legally and the ICC should amend their laws to accommodate it.l

Nadal wins on return, Djokovic stays perfect n Reuters, Beijing Rafa Nadal enjoyed an emphatic return to singles action as he powered past Richard Gasquet at the China Open on Tuesday, while world number one Novak Djokovic overcame a sluggish start to continue his perfect run in Beijing.

Spanish world number two Nadal, playing his first singles match in three months following a wrist injury, extended his record to 13-0 against the Frenchman with a brisk 6-4 6-0 win after Djokovic had beaten Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2 6-1. An early break for Nadal in the third game put him on course for the first set but only after the left hander saved a break point with an ace when trying to serve it out.

A dejected Gasquet was then broken in the opening game of the second set as Nadal’s confidence soared, the Spaniard pummelling some trademark forehand winners as he wrapped up the first

round win with a 27th fizzing winner.

Nadal’s last match before Beijing was a last 16 defeat to Australian Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon.

He made a low key doubles return on Monday when he teamed up with compatriot Pablo Andujar but the Spanish duo were defeated by Czech Tomas

Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns a shot to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez of Spain during their men’s singles match at the China Open in Beijing yesterday REUTERS

Berdych and American John Isner.

Nadal will face German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk in the second round after the world number 122 defeated big serving Ivo Karlovic 6-4 2-6 7-5.

Djokovic had less time away than Nadal but showed more rust in his first appearance on the ATP Tour since losing to Kei Nishikori in the semi-finals of the U.S. Open earlier this month.

The world number one traded five breaks of serve in the opening six games against Garcia-Lopez before Djokovic took a grasp of the match by holding for only the second time to lead 5-2.

He then broke Garcia-Lopez for a fourth time to seal the set with the Spaniard his own worst enemy, landing only 38 percent of his first serves.

The Serb looked more assured in the second set as he dropped just 14 points to take it 6-1 and make it a perfect 20 wins and no losses on Beijing’s blue courts as he bids for a fifth title here.l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Large-scale data centre on shaky grounds

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Wednesday, October 1, 2014

D A N C E S W I T H G O AT S

An earthquake-vulnerable site has primarily been selected for the world’s fifth largest data centre n Muhammad Zahidul Islam The government has reportedly initiated efforts to set up a tier 4 data centre, the first of its kind in Asia, that would be able to store massive amounts of digital data, in Gazipur’s Kaliakair. The primary choice for the site, however, has brought in much flak as the location falls under an earthquake prone zone.

Members of the centre’s technical negotiation team have expressed their shock knowing that a risky site has been primarily selected for the data centre – slated to be the fifth largest in the world.

Data centres are facilities that store and provide access to important and sensitive information; banks, research centres, government and other business organisations mostly use the data centres to store information and keep backup data in a safe location.

Currently there are only five Tier 4 data centres in the world: two in spain, two more in USA and one in Canada Expressing concerns about the location, Tapan Kanti Sarkar, a member of the technical negotiation committee, told the Dhaka Tribune that the issue has already been discussed at a committee meeting.

Ashraful Islam, chief of the committee, said the site has not been finalised yet. He added that Kaliakair was a suitable location as other alternative sites would cause a significant rise in the cost.

Appropriate earthquake-related measures would be taken if the centre was indeed built in Gazipur, Ashraful said. ICT Division sources said there are other alternative sites for the tier4 data centre that do not belong to any earthquake prone zone. The Jessore ICT Park is such a suitable location as risks of any earthquake or flood are minimal and has necessary ICT support, they added.

“Tier 4 is not an amateur project; a multimillion dollar project like this can

be established only to attract foreign business organisations and even other governments to deposit their data here and feel safe. But if they found it is established on an earthquake prone zone, it will not be profitable for the Bangladesh government to establish it,” a senior official of ICT Division told the Dhaka Tribune.

The project is estimated to cost around Tk1,000 crore under an agreement with China.

Although the Dhaka Tribune tried to get comments from Information and Communication Technology Division State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, who is currently overseas, the state minister did not respond.

Sources said Palak has visited the proposed Gazipur site several times with senior officials of ZTE Corporation Bangladesh Ltd, the company selected as the suppliers for the project.

Some senior officials of the ZTE Corporation also reportedly came from China and met Palak in the second week of September.

Asked about the issue, Sabin Shrestha, vice-president of ZTE Corporation Bangladesh Ltd, claimed that nothing about the project including its location had been finalised yet.

“We are into negotiations on the issue with the government and nothing about the budget, the location, or the design has been finalised as yet. So it will be too soon to comment on whether it will be established in an earthquake prone zone or not,” he said.

Earlier, the government signed a government-to-government deal with China for the project, according to a letter of finance ministry in July 2014. However, no expenditure had been mentioned.

Currently there are only five Tier 4 data centres in the world which are situated in Madrid (Spain), Alcala de Henares (Spain), Las Vegas (USA), Olathe (USA) and Guelph (Canada).

The tier ranking for data centres depends on the service of quality and availability; annually, a tier 4 data centre will stay available 99.995% of the time, with only an annual down-time of 26.28 a minute.

Bangladesh currently owns a tier 3 data centre; but only a small amount of information has so far been stored. l

A goat joins a young boy in a playful game near the Buriganga Dockyard. The photo was taken recently

Activists concerned over proposal to lower age limit for marriage n Udisa Islam The women’s rights activists in the country expressed grave concern over the cabinet’s recent decision to lower the age limit for marriage to 16 years for females and 18 years for males.

“The government’s intention may be good in trying to reduce the number of child marriages in the country, but its way of doing it is not wise,” the activists commented.

The officials at the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs said this decision was a step towards the government’s goal to reduce child marriage rate in the country by 2021.

“They cannot even explain why they are reducing the age limit for males too,” the activists said. “This situation only proves that the authorities concerned have not done proper research on this issue and took the decision just to reduce percentage.”

In the Girl Summit 2014 held in London in July, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a commitment to end child marriage in the country, saying: “Our country has progressed in pro-

moting female education and gender parity, but child marriage remains a problem.

“To reach that goal, the ministry thinks if they reduce the age limit, it will automatically reduce the child marriage rate,” said a ministry official, seeking anonymity.

However, Meher Afroz Chumky, state minister for women and children affairs, refuted the claim and said: “In our country, girls become matured by the age of 14. This may become a burden for many families. If the country allows the parents to marry their daughters off at young age, many social problems may cease to exist as well.”

But when asked why the age limit of males were also being reduced, Chumky refused to answer and said nothing was decided yet.

Conflicting laws regarding age limits

The activists also raised the issue of a conflict in the existing laws regarding the age limit of children and child marriage.

According to the Child Marriage Re-

straint Act 1929, females under 18 years and males under 21 years are not eligible to get married, which the cabinet suggested to change to 16 years and 18 years, respectively.

However, the Children Act 2013 considers everyone under the age of 18 years to be children in the country.

So, in order to implement the government’s decision, the Children Act also needs to be revised, the activists said.

The Citizens’ Initiatives on CEDAW, Bangladesh (CIC-BD), a platform of 47 non-government right-based organisations, said the government’s move was conflicting to national and international acts and policies. They asked the government to refrain from taking such a decision.

Salma Ali, president of Bangladesh National Women Lawyers’ Association, expressed concern over the issue, saying, the decision, if implemented, would affect the society. “In our existing law, a 16-year-old is considered a child. If this decision is implemented, we will legalising child marriage through another law.” l

RAJIB DHAR

New syllabus for BCS exams announced n Tribune Report Bangladesh Public Service Commission yesterday announced the new syllabus of Bangladesh Civil Service Preliminary Examination, effective from the 35th batch.

In a circular, the commission said the preliminary examination will be of 200 marks instead of 100 marks of previous system.

As per the new syllabus, 35 marks will be for Bangla literature and language, 35 marks for English language and literature, 30 marks for Bangladesh studies, 20 marks for International affairs, 10 marks for geography, environment and disaster management, 15 marks for general science, 15 marks for computer and information technology, 15 marks for Mathematics, 15 marks for mental ability, 10 marks for ethics, values and good governance.

The commission has also published the new syllabus on its website www. bpsc.gov.bd.

Earlier on September 23, PSC issued an advertisement for for holding the 35 BCS exams. l

Watchdog says no to reducing girls’ marriage age n Kamran Reza Chowdhury Opposing the cabinet’s decision to reduce the minimum age for marriage to 16 years for girls from the existing 18 years, a parliamentary watchdog yesterday observed that the minimum age should be hiked to 20 years.

Discussing the issue of child marriage at a meeting in the parliament building, most of the members of the 10-strong Parliamentary Standing Committee on Women and Children Affairs criticised the government’s decision, but refrained from making any recommendations.

The standing committee members also decided to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to discuss the issue.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroz Chumki did not attend the meeting, which saw committee members Md Mozammel Hossain, Nasrin Jahan Ratna, Monowara Begum and Reefat Amin in attendance.

Reefat Amin first raised the objection when Rebecca Momin, the committee chair, talked in favour of lowering the age limit while discussing the growth of girls and their addiction to social media.

“The marriage age should be 20 years; at least it can be 18 years. But 16 years is not acceptable,” Reefat told the Dhaka Tribune, referring to her stand in the meeting.

She also said other members supported her.

“Yes, some members raised the

issue and objected to reducing the minimum age to 16 years for girls.

Most of the members are in favour of 18 years. So, we have decided to meet the prime minister to learn more about the government’s decision,” Rebecca, the committee chair, said.

“Then we will make recommendations in this regard,” she told the Dhaka Tribune.

However, Monowara Begum, another committee member, is in favour of the decision.

“The marriage age should be 16 years. In many cases, the girls elope, and then their guardians file cases, resulting in huge false cases. So, it should be 16 years,” she told the Dhaka Tribune.

Addressing the Girls’ Summit

2014 in London in July, the prime minister vowed to reduce the child marriage rate in the country from the existing rate of 66%.

To uphold that commitment, the cabinet decided, in principle, to reduce the minimum age for marriage to 16 years for females and to 18 years for males.

Child marriage is one of the main reasons behind maternal and child mortality in the country, and it stands in the way of achieving the Millennium Development Goals of reducing child and maternal deaths.

The recommendations by the parliamentary watchdog are not mandatory for the ministry to follow. But constructive suggestions put the executive under pressure to abide its recommendations. l

Home ministry: Dhaka landlords must take their own security precautions during Eid n Mohosinul Karim Dhaka city residential, commercial and office building owners have been requested by the government to make security arrangements during the Eid-ul-Azha and Durga Puja holidays to complement the government’s precautions.

“Although the government has taken tight security measures by deploying Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Ansar and the police, residential and commercial building owners are requested to make their own security preparations. They are

requested to set up closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV cameras) because the footage is helpful for law enforcement agencies in the event of a crime,” State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal told reporters yesterday at his secretariat office.

“Incidents like robbery or theft can be avoided by setting up CCTV cameras in buildings, markets and offices. And CCTV footage can help provide evidence in the event of a crime,” he said.

He said: “Closed-circuit television cameras will be set up at 14

entry and exist points of the capital city, keeping in mind that Dhaka city will be empty during the festivals. The cameras will start functioning within a day or two.”

“Cameras are being set up to monitor everyone entering or exiting the capital,” Kamal added.

He also said the government is setting up watch towers on the highways during the festivals.

The minister said: “Night vision cameras and binoculars will be used by law enforcers in the watch towers to monitor activity on the highways.”

Kamal said: “RAB, police and An-

sar will ensure security across the country during this period. Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) will also be kept on alert.”

BGB has been directed to conduct tough monitoring of border areas to halt the smuggling of animal hides from the country.

Meanwhile, the home ministry on Monday sent a letter to the Inspector General of Police, Director General of Rapid Action Battalion and deputy commissioners of every district to take tight security measures to protect 621 vulnerable Hindu temples across the country. l

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While ECB struggles, Fed sees recovery

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

IMF wants decisive steps for SOCBs ‘Further strengthening the targeting and efficiency of RMG social safety net programmes is needed’ n Tribune Report A visiting IMF mission expressed concern over the delays in giving effect of the new VAT law – a key reform to boost revenue earnings. “… the introduction of a new value added tax (VAT), a key government reform to boost fiscal space for development spending, is facing delays,” mission leader Rodrigo Cubero said in a statement on the conclusion of a twoweek review on Bangladesh economy yesterday.

The mission held discussion on the fifth review under a three-year Extended Credit Facility (ECF) arrangement approved in April 2012 for a total amount of about USD954 million.

The mission met with the ministers of Finance and Commerce, Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister, Finance Secretary, Bangladesh Bank Governor, and other senior officials, development partners, and the private sector.

The mission concluded that preliminary understandings have been reached at the technical level on policy measures that, once endorsed by the government and subject to approval by the IMF’s executive board, would permit concluding the fifth review under the ECF. The mission expected further decisive steps to improve the financial position of the state-owned commercial banks (SOCBs) through enhanced supervision and corporate governance, complemented with gradual recapitalisation as required.

“The authorities have made good progress in improving working and safety conditions in the garment industry. Further strengthening the targeting and efficiency of social safety net programmes is, however, needed,” it said.

To ensure sustained rapid growth and poverty reduction in the medium term, the mission emphasised that it is necessary to preserve macroeconom-

ic stability and create fiscal space for critical infrastructure investment and well-targeted social spending.

With a calmer political environment, it said the economic activity is gaining momentum, and real GDP growth is expected at about 6.25% in fiscal year 2015 (July 2014-June 2015), supported by strong domestic demand.

“There has also been progress on structural reforms.”

Cubero said the persistent revenue shortfalls relative to budget expectations reinforce the importance of pressing ahead with tax reforms. Implementing the new VAT remains the foremost priority, as it has the potential to mobilise considerable additional resources, reduce compliance costs, and boost growth.

“This should be complemented by reforms to strengthen revenue administration and automate data management and reporting procedures.”

The mission said the Bangladesh authorities have made significant progress in consolidating macroeconomic stability under the ECF-supported programme. Despite a moderation in exports, foreign exchange reserves have continued to increase and have reached adequate levels, inflation has declined, the fiscal deficit is contained and public debt is on a downward path.

It welcomed the authorities’ efforts to strengthen public debt management by focusing external borrowing on projects with high social returns; to improve public financial management, including by formalising monthly treasury cash flow forecasts; and to strengthen financial reporting by stateowned enterprises.

It said steps have also been taken to gradually liberalise foreign exchange regulations, helping to boost the investment climate. Continued progress on these fronts should contribute to promoting sustained high and inclusive growth. l

The international market witnesses a rising demand of animal hides

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Tanners asked to fix rawhide prices by Friday n Tribune Report Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday asked the rawhide traders to fix the prices of rawhide of sacrificial animals by Friday, considering the global market price.

The rawhide traders had long been reluctant to set the prices of hides, reasoning that their prices are falling in the international market.

But sources said the international market witnesses a rising demand of animals' hides.

The instruction of the minister came at a meeting with the leaders of Bangladesh Tanners’ Association (BTA), Bangladesh Hide and Skin Merchant Association and Bangladesh Finished Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters’ Association at his secretariat yesterday.

“From the government side, we do

not want to fix the prices of rawhide, he said, adding that it would be better if you set it, so people can get reasonable price and you can also make some profits.”

Tofail, also, called for the traders to disseminate the prices of hides through SMS among the traders at grass roots level after fixing it on Friday.

The government has taken necessary steps to prevent the smuggling of rawhide and directed the police and Boarder Guard Bangladesh (BGB) to launch strict vigilance across the borders for one month after the Eid, he added.

He urged the traders to set a better price for hides as the money is distributed to orphanages and the poor.

Despite preliminary opposition from the tanners to fixing rawhide prices, the businessmen, however, agreed in the face of government pressure,

said a source of the meeting.

Seeking anonymity, the source said the minister argued that if the prices are not set, there would be a possibility to smuggle the rawhide into the neighboring country.

“We are not in favour of fixing price of the sacrificial animals' hides,” Bangladesh Tanners’ Association Chairman Shaheen Ahmed said.

He gave the version that in the first two months of the current fiscal, the prices of rawhide in the global market declined by around 25% while the country failed to reach the export target set by the government.

The traders at grass roots level create problems when buying normal hides at the rate of salted-hide price, added Saheen.

Last year, the hide prices were set at Tk85-Tk90 per square foot for Dhaka and

Tk75-Tk80 for areas outside the capital.

A square foot of rawhide of cows was set at Tk85-Tk90 in Dhaka and Tk75-Tk80 in other areas while per square foot prices of hides of bullocks had been set at Tk50-Tk55, goat at Tk40-Tk45 and buffalo at Tk40-Tk45 for throughout the country.

Senior Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon to the Commerce Ministry, Tariff Commission Chairman and acting Secretary M Azizur Rahman, EPB Vice-Chairman Shubhashis Bose, BTA General Secretary M Mosharraf Hossain, Bangladesh Hide and Skin Merchant Association Chairman Ali Hossain, Bangladesh Finished Leather Goods and Footwear Exporters' Association Vice-President Majibur Rahman and General Secretary M Zoynal Abedin, among others, were present at the meeting. l

FIU asked to probe into money looting in Sonali Bank, UK

Progressive Life Myanmar seeks int’l support services into local oil, gas sector Insurance fined

n Asif Showkat Kallol

Myanmar is seeking the entry of international support services into the local oil and gas sector and will host an oil and gas-related exhibition in Yangon in mid- October, exhibition sources said today.

Some 130 exhibitors from 22 countries and regions will participate in the first Oil and Gas Myanmar exhibition.

Myanmar will see an influx of foreign companies following the release of its oil and gas resources to the international market with many international firms looking for local agents and partners and setting up operation in Myanmar, said a Singaporean exhibitor.

Myanmar Oil and Gas Service Society, representing local oil and gas companies, said the industry is certainly

The government has asked the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Bangladesh Bank to investigate into the incident of money looting occurred in the Sonali Bank, UK in September last year.

It also instructed the unit to take necessary steps for recovering US$0.25m of the London-based Bangladeshi bank.

The instructions were given at a recent inter-ministerial meeting at the finance ministry, with Bank and Financial Institutions Division Secretary Dr MA Aslam Alam in the chair.

During the meeting, banking division also gave six directives to the management of state-owned Sonali Bank, which include taking more steps for stopping these kinds of incidents and more protection measures for the information technology department of Sonali Bank for improving computer networking system.

According to the meeting, officials and staffs won't go outside of their respective offices, without log off the swift system and departmental punishment will be given to the alleged officials of state-owned Sonali Bank, who were responsible for the hacking incident.

In a rare incident in September last year, Turkish hackers looted the money.

In February 2014, MA Aslam Alam disclosed the information while addressing the annual conference of the scam hit state-owned bank. Banking secretary revealed it in presence of finance minister AMA Muhith and other top officials.

“Some hackers of Turkey had transferred the amount to their own account

in the middle of the last year. Experts of Bangladesh University of the Engineering Technology have identified the location from where the hackers conducted their mission,'' Aslam Alam told the conference.

The government has already informed the Turkish government of the incident, and both the two governments have agreed to work jointly to recover the money.

Alam had blamed the bank’s weak internal control system and opined that the risk management system of the bank should be strengthened further.

The inter-ministerial meeting observed that looting huge amount of money from the Sonali Bank in London probed inefficiency of the bank's Information Technology department and bank management, which had utterly failed to take precautionary measures to protect its clients' money even after several vault burglaries took place in the largest state-owned banks.

Sonali Bank head of office will deposit $0.25m against the account of Sonali Bank in the UK. Two staff of the bank swift official Md Shah Alam, junior official Monowar Hossain were suspended and sent to jail following the incident.

The bank’s chief operating officer has also been suspended. l

n Xinhua, Yangon

headed down a path of rapid growth and will need a healthy pool of support services and suppliers to thrive and prosper.

According to the sources, more than 15 new oil and gas companies have been allowed to invest in onshore blocks in Myanmar since July with production sharing contracts already signed with the government.

Myanmar announced in March winners for 20 out of 30 offshore blocks available after an auction was launched in April 2013.

According to official statistics, total foreign investment in Myanmar’s oil and gas sector amounted to US$14.37bn as of June, or 30.76% of the total foreign investment, which is the second largest in Myanmar’s foreign investment lineup after electric power. l

Land ports go on vacation today n Tribune Report The export and import activities through Benapole and Banglabandha land ports will remain suspended from today on the occasion Eid ul-Azha and Durga Puja.

Banglabandha Land Port under Tetulia upazila in Panchagarh goes on a 10day vacation while Benapole Land Port

in Jessore seven days.

Banglabandha Port Manager Kazi Tarek said during the period all kinds of export and import operations will remain closed.

Benapole Customs Clearing and Forwarding Agents Association President Mofizur Rahman said the port and Customs Department will resume operation on October 8. l

Call money rate rises to 9% after 20 months n Tribune Report The interbank call money rate rose to 9% yesterday, ahead of Eid-ul Azha.

Some 25 banks traded money at the rate on the day. The rate reached the level after 20 months from 10.29% in January last year.

The interest rate in the call mon-

ey market remained stable within 6% to 7% during last one year.

It was very unstable in the year 2012 and the rate went up to above 19% while the local market was crowded with huge credit demand.

The bank was in aggressive lending mode that year and, as a result, several credit scams took place. Then the Bangladesh Bank

reined in the lending activities to jack up excess liquidity in the money market, contributing to tame down the call money market, said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank.

The fluctuation of call money rate witnessed since last two weeks after a long break as business activities has started expand-

ing, he said. The call money rate, however, rose rapidly though the transaction value falling, according to the central bank data.

The daily transaction came down to Tk7,400 crore yesterday which was above Tk8,000 crore in the last week at 8.25% rate, before rising to 8.5% from the first day of the current week. l

Tk8 lakh n Tribune Report

The Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA) has fined Progressive Life Insurance Tk8 lakh for violating rules.

The authority imposed the penalty at a meeting held yesterday chaired by IDRA Chairman M Shefaq Ahmed while Progressive Life Insurance Managing Director (in-charge) Golam Rasul, Chief Financial Officer Shadhan Chandra Das and Company Secretary M Nurul Amin were present.

Golam Rasul, Shadhan Chandra Das and M Nurul Amin have been fined each with Tk1 lakh for not attending the meeting on a certain day despite instruction by the authority, said a IDRA statement issued yesterday.

Moreover, the company has been fined Tk5 lakh for violating section 26 (3) of Insurance act 2010.

According to the act, an insurance company has to submit the annual statement of fund and asset details within the next six months of the following year.

The statement said some Tk4 lakh from the company fund has been withdrawn without permission.

The authority sought explanation from the company officials against those allegations at the meeting, but their replies were not satisfactory.

IDRA warned the Progressive Life Insurance Company of such rule violation and irregularities.

The company has also been asked to submit its transaction statement from January this year to hereafter; all information relating to transfer, appointment and release; in detail information of purchased 77 cars; appointment process and bio data of company secretary and minutes of board of directors held after 120th meeting to date, according to the statement. l

B2

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Stocks rebound amid choppy trading

DSE key features September 30, 2014

DSE GAINER

Turnover (Million Taka)

Traded Issues

300

n Tribune Report

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

141

Popular Life Insu. -A Agni Systems -A Bank Asia -A In Tech Online -A BD Finance-A People`s Leasing-A Fareast Islami Life -A RAK Ceramics-A Asia Pasific Insu. -A Apex Tannery -A

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

152

Stocks rebounded amid choppy trading yesterday, after profit booing fall in previous session.

The market opened in red but started to rise on modest buying mainly on pharmaceuticals and power stocks recovered some points in the end.

After slight drop in the morning, the benchmark DSEX rose 24 points to close at 5,074.

Bank and onbanking financial institution moved up by 1.5% and 2.1% respectively The Shariah index DSES, however, marginally down 2 points or 0.2% to 1,195. The comprising blue chips DS30 closed at 1,960, gaining nearly 3 points or 0.2%.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, slipped 12 points to 9,464.

Trading activities somewhat slowed down, as total turnover at DSE dipped below Tk900 crore after heavy trading in the last nine sessions. It stood at Tk880 crore, down 2.5% lower over the previous session.

Bank and non-banking financial institution moved up by 1.5% and 2.1% respectively, while IT rising

DSE LOSER Company Central Pharm-A SAIF Powertec-N GeminiSeaFood-Z Kay & Que (BD) -Z Desh Garments -B Appollo Ispat CL -N Barakatullah E. D.-A Keya Cosmetics -A Savar Refractories-Z Rahima Food -Z

Closing (% Change) -13.40 -9.66 -9.42 -7.59 -4.33 -3.91 -3.84 -3.80 -3.72 -3.66

CSE LOSER Company Central Pharm-A Midas Financing-Z Apex SpinningA Nitol Insurance -A SAIF Powertec-N 6th ICB M F-A Prime Bank-A Samata LeatheR -Z BD Submarine Cable-A Meghna Life Ins. -A

Closing (% Change) -10.38 -9.71 -8.64 -8.47 -8.44 -5.42 -5.19 -4.35 -4.05 -4.01

5074.30720

(+) 0.47%

1960.87160

(+) 0.14%

15622.83630

(-) 0.09%

12816.39420

(-) 0.03%

9464.19290

(-) 0.12%

Average (% Change) -11.05 -9.19 -9.26 -8.45 -3.15 -4.31 -3.75 -3.67 0.00 -1.01 Average (% Change) -10.39 -9.71 -8.65 -8.38 -8.88 -5.42 -4.15 -4.47 -3.56 -1.18

ANALYST

ClosingAvg. 32.99 66.89 146.32 13.43 84.75 25.06 35.89 23.11 60.00 50.09

ClosingAvg. 33.11 15.80 73.02 27.00 66.67 52.30 20.10 22.00 149.17 105.81

Closing

Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

DSE Million Taka 521.13 647.44 63.66 1021.49 611.06 1793.78 1.30 404.94 1143.81 20.30 168.91 104.81 173.79 356.67 100.22 45.96 360.87 809.68 110.31 336.23 1.34

DHIGH 33.60 71.90 150.00 13.50 89.50 26.00 37.90 24.00 60.00 52.00

DHIGH

32.80 15.80 73.00 27.00 65.10 52.30 20.10 22.00 146.70 102.80

33.80 16.00 73.10 27.00 71.20 52.30 20.10 22.00 154.00 110.00

150,588

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

7

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,697.80 32.76

32.70

CSE key features September 30, 014 Turnover (Million Taka)

536.78

Turnover (Volume)

13,594,618

Number of Contract

18,127

Traded Issues

227

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

101

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

117

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

9

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,585.76

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

31.34

Turnover in Million

DLOW 32.00 64.30 145.20 13.40 83.20 24.50 32.90 21.40 59.10 49.50

Latest EPS

30.948 72.728 0.139 0.048 2.034 86.904 90.333 45.963 0.006 1.077

1.86 1.63 -1.80 -1.24 0.96 1.84 1.69 1.93 0.52 -1.01

Turnover in Million

DLOW 32.40 15.80 73.00 27.00 64.40 52.30 20.10 22.00 146.00 102.00

% change 5.92 7.36 0.72 11.61 6.95 20.39 0.01 4.60 13.00 1.92 1.19 1.98 4.05 1.14 0.52 4.10 9.20 1.25 3.82 0.02

Million Taka 59.63 39.71 2.34 80.58 23.83 71.38 42.18 53.38 13.24 22.21 11.92 13.99 24.44 11.17 4.87 11.20 29.17 19.91 33.19 0.01

CSE

% change 10.49 6.99 0.41 14.18 4.19 12.56 0.00 7.42 9.39 2.33 3.91 2.10 2.46 4.30 1.96 0.86 1.97 5.13 3.50 5.84 0.00

Latest EPS

1.838 0.032 0.073 0.027 15.267 0.005 0.015 0.011 11.031 0.307

Million Taka 580.76 687.15 66.00 1102.07 634.89 1865.16 1.30 447.11 1197.19 33.54 191.12 116.73 187.79 381.10 111.39 50.83 372.07 838.84 130.22 369.41 1.35

Closing (% Change) 9.95 9.67 8.29 7.43 7.38 6.56 6.36 5.73 5.71 5.62

CSE GAINER

1.86 -6.91 2.24 2.58 1.63 6.47 1.96 0.09 2.42 6.45

Latest PE 17.7 41.0 -ve -ve 88.3 13.6 21.2 12.0 115.4 -ve

Total

Company Phoenix Insur -A Agni Systems -A Bank Asia -A Brac B.C. Bond-A Apex Tannery -A People`s Leasing-A In Tech Online -A BD Finance-A Asia Pasific Insu. -A Reliance1 M.F.-A

Closing (% Change) 10.00 9.93 9.05 7.35 6.43 6.12 6.00 6.00 5.80 5.33

Average (% Change) 10.13 8.05 7.14 4.53 7.68 6.67 4.60 2.31 3.68 3.51 Average (% Change) 9.21 7.09 7.87 7.35 4.15 7.53 3.52 7.78 6.05 5.76

ClosingAvg. 181.61 32.62 21.62 15.68 15.98 26.06 92.02 65.06 21.97 168.83

ClosingAvg. 37.13 32.32 20.98 912.50 168.69 26.13 15.59 16.20 21.90 7.90

Closing 183.40 32.90 22.20 15.90 16.00 26.00 93.60 66.40 22.20 170.90

Closing 37.40 33.20 21.70 912.50 170.40 26.00 15.90 15.90 21.90 7.90

DHIGH 183.40 33.00 22.50 16.00 16.20 26.80 94.50 67.40 22.40 171.80

DHIGH 37.40 33.20 21.80 912.50 172.90 26.90 16.00 16.50 21.90 7.90

DLOW 166.80 28.00 19.00 14.00 13.50 22.00 80.00 56.60 21.10 161.80

DLOW 37.40 30.70 20.00 912.50 165.00 24.80 14.80 13.50 21.90 7.90

Turnover in Million 26.733 62.602 19.134 9.958 14.918 180.686 33.449 162.012 1.406 76.748

Turnover in Million 0.025 2.375 1.255 0.005 2.362 11.834 2.456 3.605 0.022 0.802

Latest EPS 17.00 1.27 1.74 -0.88 0.26 0.82 4.60 1.76 2.26 5.51

Latest EPS 4.30 1.27 1.74 0.00 5.51 0.82 -0.88 0.26 2.26 1.38

Latest PE 10.7 25.7 12.4 -ve 61.5 31.8 20.0 37.0 9.7 30.6

Latest PE 8.6 25.4 12.1 30.6 31.9 -ve 62.3 9.7 5.7

News, analysis and recent disclosers ANLIMAYARN: National Credit Ratings Limited (NCR) has announced the rating of the Company as "A" in the long term and "ST-2" in the short term based on audited financial statements of the Company up to June 30, 2013.

EHL: National Credit Ratings Limited (NCR) has announced the rating of the Company as "AA" in the long term and "ST-1" in the short term based on audited financial statements of the Company up to July 31, 2013.

PHPMF1, POPULAR1MF, EBLNRBMF, ABB1STMF, FBFIF, 1JANATAMF, EXIM1STMF, IFIC1STMF, TRUSTB1MF: The Fund has informed that it has credited the reinvestment units for the year ended on June 30, 2014 to the respective unit holders' BO Accounts on September 21 and 22, 2014.

BDBUILDING: DSE has approved the change of trading code of Bangladesh Building Systems Ltd. from 'BDBUILDING' to 'BBS' with effect from October 01, 2014.

Other things (except trading code) will remain unchanged.

GOLDENSON: The Company has further informed that the experimental production of GSL Export Ltd., a subsidiary Company of Golden Son Ltd. has been completed successfully. The Company will start its

commercial production from October 01, 2014. This 100% export oriented Company will initially manufacture soft and plush toys and will export those to international market. More than Tk. 7 crore has already been invested in this internationally standard company. The amount of investment will subsequently reach Tk. 40 crore within next 3 years. The Company's first year export target has been set as Tk. 40 crore which will lead the company earn a lot of foreign currency and business profit. Apart from that, Golden Son Ltd. has invested Tk. 20 crore and Tk. 60 crore to capital machineries and factory building respectively from January 2014 to September 2014. After installing these machines, commercial production will start from January 2015. As a result, the production and sales of the Company will be increased by around 50%.

Approval for Issuance of Prospectus: Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has given consent for raising of capital through Initial Public Offer (IPO) and issuance of prospectus by C & A Textiles Ltd. and Ifad Autos Limited.

IPO Subscription: Hamid Fabrics Limited subscription date 28 September to 02 October 2014, NRB upto 11 October 2014. @ taka 35, face value taka 10 and market

lot 100.

Right Share: MIDASFIN: Subscription period for rights issue will be from 01.09.2014 to 30.09.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 03.08.2014.

ICB: Subscription period for rights issue will be from 07.12.2014 to 30.12.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 09.09.2014. BIFC: subscription period for rights issue of the Company will be from 09.11.2014 to 30.11.2014. Record Date for entitlement of rights share: 19.10.2014.

Dividend/AGM

APOLOISPAT: 15% stock, Date of AGM: 21.12.2014, Record Date: 21.10.2014.

QSMDRYCELL: 5% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 27.11.2014, Record Date: 20.10.2014.

PENINSULA: 10% cash, AGM: 13.11.2014, Record Date: 15.10.2014.

FAREASTLIF: 40% cash, AGM: 03.11.2014, Record date: 16.10.2014.

UNITEDAIR: 10% stock, Record date: 20.10.2014.

EHL: 15% cash & 5% stock, AGM: 30.10.2014, Record Date: 02.10.2014.

BANGAS: 50% stock, AGM: 21.10.2014, Record date: 30.09.2014.

BDBUILDING: 5% cash & 20% stock, AGM: 23.10.2014, Record date: 30.09.2014.

Latest PE 17.8 -ve 32.6 10.5 40.9 8.1 10.3 244.4 61.6 16.4

Breadth of the market was positive as out of 300 issues traded, 137 advanced, 123 declined and 40 remained unchanged

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

32.30 64.50 146.10 13.40 84.00 24.60 35.10 22.80 59.50 50.00

Closing

158,316,453

Number of Contract

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index :

8,797.68

Turnover (Volume)

4.5% and, food and allied 3.6%.

Telecommunication and pharmaceuticals closed in red losing 2.7% and 0.8% respectively on profit taking. All the other large cap sectors yielded positive returns.

United Airways continued to bleed as it added 2.8 points to the previous session's fall of almost 7% as the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission has formed a probe panel to investigate the company's recent share trading pattern in line with its flight suspension to resumption on Monday.

Saif Powertec, in its second trading day, shed 9.7% after rising 138% in the first trading day.

Breadth of the market was positive as out of 300 issues traded, 137 advanced, 123 declined and 40 remained unchanged.

Lanka Bangla Securities said market passed a shining day as investors showed their appetite once again for high yielding stocks. Investors have shown their buying interest evading the selling pressure on stocks, it said.

BRAC-EPL said after witnessing correction in the previous session, the market went through an uptrend amid fluctuations throughout the session.

Grameenphone Ltd topped the liquidity chart with total turnover value of Tk75 crore, followed by Titas Gas, Mobil Jamuna Limited Bangladesh, Olympic Industries, Golden Son, Beximco Ltd and Square Pharmaceuticals. l

Company

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company

% change 6.20 7.34 0.70 11.77 6.78 19.91 0.01 4.77 12.78 0.36 2.04 1.25 2.00 4.07 1.19 0.54 3.97 8.96 1.39 3.94 0.01

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

Grameenphone-A Titas Gas TDCLA MJL BD Ltd.-A Olympic Ind. -A Jamuna Oil -A Golden Son -A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Square Pharma -A Beximco Pharma -A Delta Life Insu. -A

Ratanpur Steel -N ACI Limited- A IDLC Finance -A People`s Leasing-A LafargeS Cement-Z CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company UCBL - A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Golden Son -A MJL BD Ltd.-A Grameenphone-A Ratanpur Steel -N SAIF Powertec-N RAK Ceramics-A Square Pharma -A Beximco Pharma -A

Jamuna Oil -A People`s Leasing-A UNITED AIR-A BSRM Steels-A BD Submarine Cable-A

VolumeShares 1,966,600 5,282,617 2,845,519 1,635,848 1,426,495 5,179,409 6,062,446 1,015,408 3,624,967 1,187,456

Value in Million 752.01 466.38 420.79 396.68 361.39 281.27 276.90 263.12 256.55 224.97

% of TotalTurnover 8.55 5.30 4.78 4.51 4.11 3.20 3.15 2.99 2.92 2.56

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

2,422,400 405,477 2,503,953 6,933,552 1,189,500

1,184,661 620,998 388,500 132,412 47,400 221,400 229,000 205,698 50,660 178,317

46,879 452,981 1,061,573 97,525 73,950

193.25 190.57 187.53 180.69 163.72

32.12 28.42 21.11 19.63 18.13 17.88 15.27 13.40 13.11 12.62

11.94 11.83 11.41 11.18 11.03

2.20 2.17 2.13 2.05 1.86

6.04 5.34 3.97 3.69 3.41 3.36 2.87 2.52 2.46 2.37

2.24 2.22 2.14 2.10 2.07

ClosingP 381.90 88.60 151.80 246.70 254.20 53.10 44.90 260.60 69.90 188.30

78.50 478.60 74.90 26.00 137.30

ClosingP

27.10 45.10 54.00 151.30 382.00 78.30 65.10 66.90 259.20 69.80

252.30 26.00 10.70 116.00 146.70

Change % -2.63 3.50 1.00 4.84 1.36 -0.56 -1.97 -1.51 -1.13 3.12

1.42 0.82 1.35 6.56 0.22

Change %

0.37 -1.96 0.37 0.27 -2.43 0.90 -8.44 6.53 -1.97 -1.13

0.04 6.12 -2.73 2.38 -4.05

ClosingY 392.20 85.60 150.30 235.30 250.80 53.40 45.80 264.60 70.70 182.60

77.40 474.70 73.90 24.40 137.00

ClosingY

27.00 46.00 53.80 150.90 391.50 77.60 71.10 62.80 264.40 70.60

252.20 24.50 11.00 113.30 152.90

DHIGH

DLOW

394.00 93.00 153.90 248.00 257.00 58.00 48.00 264.90 73.10 200.00

378.30 77.10 135.30 234.00 230.00 48.30 41.30 242.00 63.70 166.90

82.00 483.00 76.30 26.80 138.80

76.00 440.00 67.00 22.00 135.80

DHIGH

DLOW

27.50 47.20 56.50 153.30 387.20 82.90 71.20 67.90 265.00 73.30

27.00 44.80 53.00 143.80 380.00 76.50 64.40 62.80 255.50 68.00

257.90 26.90 11.00 116.90 154.00

250.30 24.80 10.00 112.00 146.00

AvgPrice 382.39 88.29 147.88 242.49 253.34 54.31 45.67 259.13 70.77 189.46

79.78 469.99 74.89 26.06 137.64

AvgPrice

27.11 45.76 54.35 148.28 382.58 80.78 66.67 65.14 258.71 70.77

254.66 26.13 10.75 114.62 149.17

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

While ECB struggles, Fed sees recovery n Reuters, London On one side of the Atlantic they're trying to refill the punchbowl. On the other they're getting ready to take it away.

This week, investors may get a clearer idea why.

The European Central Bank will spell out on Thursday its latest attempt to steer the euro zone away from the prospect of damaging deflation, following the latest snapshot of consumer price pressures today.

US jobs numbers on Friday will probably confirm that the fast-recovering American economy has reached the point where the Federal Reserve can finally halt its massive bond-buying stimulus. The contrast between the US and euro zone economies has grown increasingly stark, adding to the pressure on the ECB and European leaders to revive growth in their corner of the world.

US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew last week laid bare Washington's longstanding frustrations with the reluctance of European governments to increase public spending.

The risk of the euro zone sliding into deflation and deeper stagnation is adding to the drag on the global economy from a slowdown in China, where authorities are trying to rein in lending, and concerns about conflict in the Middle East.

But instead of fiscal action by European governments, it is action by the ECB that is the most likely spur for the region.

After surprising markets with an interest rate cut at its September meeting and trying to get banks to take cheap loans to boost lending, the ECB on Thursday is due to give details of its plan to unblock corporate credit by buying repackaged loans.

Marchel Alexandrovich, an economist with Jefferies in London, said investors wanted an idea of the size of the programme to buy asset-backed securities and covered bonds. This would help them gauge when the ECB might start buying government bonds,

a much more powerful - and controversial - form of stimulus.

Economists have widely ranging guesses as to the size of the programme, and Alexandrovich said that the bigger it proved to be, the longer the ECB was likely to hold off from buying government bonds.

Reuters reported this month that initial plans for the ABS and covered bond programme foresaw up to 500bn euros ($640bn) in purchases. ECB President Mario Draghi has said the bank wants to push its balance sheet back up to the levels of early 2012, or about 3tn euros, compared with 2tn euros now.

As well as the jobs data, figures on consumer spending, manufacturing and trade are likely to show the US recovery firmly on track Tuesday's consumer price data is likely to underscore how close the euro zone is to succumbing to deflation. Inflation in the 18 countries sharing the currency is expected to fall to 0.3% in September, its lowest level in nearly five years.

Economists at Nomura saw "a clear sign that euro area policy makers are losing their grip on inflation expectations". In the United States, the challenge for policymakers looks very different with attention focused on when interest rates will start to rise after nearly six years at near zero.

The US economy looks to be on course for growth of about 2 or 2.5% this year, and the Federal Reserve intends to halt its bond-buying programme in October. Data due on Friday is expected to show employers hired 219,000 people in September, a bounce-back from a surprise slip in August to 142,000.

"The message from the Fed is 'watch

The sun rises to the east of the U.S. Federal Reserve building in Washington the data' which is why the numbers next week will be very closely watched, maybe much more so than in recent months," said Gennadiy Goldberg, US strategist with TD Securities.

As well as the jobs data, figures on consumer spending, manufacturing and trade are likely to show the US recovery firmly on track.

Even so, earnings have failed to respond much to the pick-up in jobs

growth, something pointed out by Fed Chair Janet Yellen and which could delay a first rate hike. Goldman Sachs says that its number-crunching shows that growth in wages is becoming an increasingly reliable indicator of how much slack there is in the economy.

Noting how earnings growth lagged behind inflation in the United States, the euro zone, Britain and Japan in the second quarter, the investment bank

REUTERS

predicted central banks would take their time to start raising record-low interest rates with the Fed only doing so in the third quarter of next year.

The Bank of England is expected to raise rates before the Fed, and upward revisions to the pace of economic growth in 2013 and the first two quarters of this year - which are expected to be announced later today- will add to the sense of an economy firing on almost all

of its cylinders. But like the Fed, the BoE has put weak growth in pay and labour costs at the heart of its thinking and has signalled a first rate hike is only likely to come in the spring of 2015.

"While estimates of recent GDP growth may be nudged up, we doubt that these revisions will have major effects on the outlook for fiscal or monetary policy," economists at consultancy Capital Economics said in a note to clients. l

Oil prices turn higher in Asian trade n AFP, Singapore

Dollar eases ahead of data release, eyes on Hong Kong

China September PMI misses estimate: HSBC

n AFP, Tokyo

n AFP, Beijing

Oil prices turned higher in Asian trade yesterday on expectations of upbeat economic data from the United States, the world's biggest economy, analysts said. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for November delivery was up nine cents to $94.66 a barrel in afternoon trade and Brent crude added seven cents to $97.27.

WTI climbed $1.03 in US trade Monday, while Brent was up 20 cents ahead of a fresh round of results analysts hope will confirm the US economic recovery is well on track.

Phillip Futures said in a market commentary traders were expecting that a key index for the US manufacturing sector to be released Wednesday would be "positive". But it said price gains would be capped by "rising Libyan crude supply and a possible decrease in US crude imports". The US Conference Board is also due to release Tuesday a report on consumer confidence for September, while the US Labor Department's take on the jobs situation will be out Friday. l

The dollar dipped in Asian trade yesterday after enjoying a recent rally, with investors awaiting the release of key US data this week, while they are also keeping tabs on protests in Hong Kong that have shut parts of the city.

The greenback was changing hands at 109.33 yen, down from 109.45 yen in New York late Monday, while the euro fetched $1.2692 compared with $1.2686.

The single currency was also at 138.77 yen, against and 138.87 yen.

A string of impressive indicators out of Washington in recent weeks have fuelled hopes the US economy is back on track and increasing the likelihood the Federal Reserve will hike interest rates sooner than later.

But traders have stepped back ahead of the release of a raft of data through the week that culminates with Friday's US jobs report for September.

The dollar could resume its uptrend if a September consumer confidence survey, expected later in the global day,

edges higher, Credit Agricole said in a statement.

Eyes are also on events in Hong Kong, where a pro-democracy demonstration has moved into a third day, keeping parts of the financial hub shut down.

Tens of thousands of people turned main thoroughfares into street parties on Monday night, with the mood turning festive just a day after riot police fired tear gas in ugly clashes. They participants have said they will not budge until Beijing agrees to full universal suffrage for the city.

"Hong Kong will no doubt be a major (focus of) attention for now with the markets likely more sensitive to any downside surprises," National Australia Bank said in a note to clients.

The Hong Kong dollar was at 7.7652 to one US dollar, around a six-month low. The currency is pegged to the greenback and is permitted to trade in a HK$7.75-HK$7.85 range.

The euro may get a temporary boost if eurozone inflation shows an upturn when data is released later in the day,

Credit Agricole said.

But Junichi Ishikawa, market analyst at IG Securities, said the euro could fall below $1.26 if inflation comes in weak again as it could lead to further monetary easing measures by the European Central Bank.

Japanese figures showing factory output saw a surprise drop and household spending kept falling in August failed to make an impact on currency markets.

The dollar was mixed against other Asia-Pacific currencies.

It fell to Sg$1.2731 from Sg$1.2744 on Monday and to 44.79 Philippine pesos from 44.93 pesos but rose to 12,174.50 Indonesian rupiah from 12,157.00 rupiah.

It also gained to 32.36 Thai baht from 32.34 baht, to Tw$30.43 from Tw$30.35, to 1,052.26 South Korean won from 1,051.20 won and to 61.65 Indian rupees from 61.39 rupees.

The Australian dollar rose to 87.60 US cents from 87.03 cents while the Chinese yuan bought 17.78 yen against 17.85 yen. l

China's manufacturing activity came in below initial expectations in September, HSBC said yeterday, adding to pressure for Beijing to address slowing growth in the world's second-largest economy.

The British bank's final purchasing managers index (PMI), which tracks activity in China's factories and workshops, came in at 50.2.

But while the closely watched figure, compiled by information services provider Markit and released by HSBC, is unchanged from August and is above the 50-point level that separates growth and contraction, it is below a preliminary reading of 50.5.

August's figure was down from an 18-month high of 51.7 in July.

Beijing's official PMI for August came in at 51.1, down from 51.7 in July.

It will release its September figure on Wednesday.

"Production increased at the slowest pace in the current four-month sequence of expansion, while job shed-

ding across the sector extended into an 11th successive month," HSBC said in a release announcing the figure.

Last week's initial result had sparked some optimism that China's economy, a key driver of global growth, may be showing signs of picking up following a string of weak data recently.

Qu Hongbin, HSBC's chief economist for China, said the latest reading indicates growth in the sector still lacks vigour. "Overall, the data in September suggest that manufacturing activity continues to expand at a slow pace," Qu said in the release.

"We think risks to growth are still on the downside and warrant more accommodative monetary as well as fiscal policies."

China's economy grew a strongerthan-expected 7.5% in the second quarter, up from 7.4% in the previous three months, which was the worst since a similar 7.4% expansion in JulySeptember 2012.

China is scheduled to announce third-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) figures on October 21. l

Mutual Trust Bank Limited has recently opened its 96th branch at Baraipara in Ashulia.

ABM Azaharul Islam, chairperson of Shimulia Union Parishad has inaugurated the branch as the chief guest at the presence of the bank’s deputy managing director, Md Hashem Chowdhury

Jamuna Bank Limited has recently held its 250th board meeting, which was presided over by the bank’s chairperson, Shaheen Mahmud

Export Import Bank of Bangladesh Limited has recently opened its 84th branch at Ring Road in Mohammadpur. The bank’s managing director, Dr Mohammed Haider Ali Miah inaugurated the branch as chief guest

Modhumoti Bank Limited’s deputy managing director, Md Touhidul Alam Khan has recently handed over a cheque for Tk50 lakh to a woman entrepreneur, Sopna Parvin under the bank’s loan scheme in Jhenaidah

Singer Bangladesh Limited and SB Tel Enterprises Limited have signed a channel partnership agreement. MD and CEO of Singer Bangladesh Limited, AM Hamim Rahmatullah and MD & CFO of SB Tel Enterprises Limited, Jakaria Shahid signed the agreement

United Commercial Bank Limited has recently awarded meritorious children of its employees under its Young Luminary Award programme. The bank’s MD, Muhammed Ali attended the award giving ceremony as chief guest

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Wednesday, October 1, 2014

More gloomy data casts doubt on Japan recovery n AFP, Tokyo Japan's factory output saw a surprise drop and household spending kept falling in August, data showed yesterday, fanning fears about the impact of April's sales tax rise on the economy.

The figures will add to worries that the country's tentative recovery has been knocked off kilter by the increased levy and strengthen the hand of those arguing against another hike next year.

Industrial production shrank 1.5% month-on-month in August after rising 0.4% in July, the ministry of economy, trade and industry said.

The latest reading also missed a market median forecast of a 0.3% rise.

Separate data from the internal affairs ministry showed household spending in August fell a steeper-thanexpected 4.7% from a year earlier.

Spending has now fallen for five straight months since the government raised the sales tax from 5% to 8%.

The latest fall was sharper than the market forecast of a 3.6% drop and came after a 5.9% plunge in July.

Yet more weak data is likely to force policymakers to take a hard look at the state of the economy.

The government and central bank leaders have argued the world's third largest economy remains broadly on a recovery path and has withstood a temporary shock from the tax rise.

But that position is getting harder to defend, say observers.

"There is no sign at all of a V-shaped economic recovery previously forecast by the government," said Norinchukin Research Institute chief economist Takeshi Minami.

Pedestrians cross a road in Tokyo yesterday. The jobless rate fell to 3.5 percent in August from 3.8 percent in July

Decline in real wages

Demand for durable goods remains weak, compounded by a buying spree ahead of the tax hike, and "as far as demand for services and non-durable items is concerned, people are keeping

a tight grip on their wallets because of a continued decline in real wages", he told Dow Jones Newswires.

Marcel Thieliant, economist at Capital Economics, said in a note that Tuesday's data "are unlikely to dispel con-

cerns about the pace of recovery from last quarter's slump". A rebound in industrial production in September is likely but manufacturing companies predict yet another month-on-month decline of 0.2 percent in October, he noted, citing a

AFP

survey by the industry ministry.

The one ray of light for the government is that unemployment remains low, with the jobless rate falling to 3.5% in August from 3.8 percent in July.

But Thieliant warned "the weakness

India keeps interest rates on hold to French public debt over 2tn euros for first time guard against inflation n AFP, Mumbai India's central bank kept interest rates on hold yesterday as expected as it awaits more proof that stubbornly high inflation is headed downward in Asia's third-largest economy.

After a meeting in financial hub Mumbai, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said the benchmark repo rate, at which it lends to commercial banks, would remain at a steep 8.0 percent.

Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan said that although headline inflation had slowed, the full impact of just-ended annual rains that are crucial for crop production is yet to be seen.

"There are risks from food price shocks as the full effects of the monsoon's passage unfold, and from geopolitical developments that could materialise rapidly," Rajan said.

The rates hold was widely expected

by economists, but business leaders have been clamouring for the bank to cut rates and bring down steep borrowing costs to spur sluggish economic growth.

Wholesale price inflation fell to a near five-year low in August, but retail inflation, closely followed by the RBI, is hovering at close to eight percent.

The RBI is aiming to bring retail inflation down to eight percent by January 2015 and six percent a year later.

"Inflation pressures seem to be easing and fears of the impact of a deficient monsoon too are abating," said Rajiv Biswas, chief Asia economist at global consultancy IHS. "But the RBI will look for signs that show the slowdown in price rises is sustainable" before reducing rates, Biswas said before Tuesday's announcement.

Rajan has promised not to keep India's benchmark lending rate at its current level of eight percent for a "second" longer than necessary.

British government plans route map for sharing economy n BSS The British government launched an independent review of the sharing economy yesterday, in a bid to make Britain global center for sharing economy.

The review, led by Debbie Wosskow, the CEO of Love Home Swap, will unpick the policies and regulations that surround the sharing economy and present a route map for the development of sharing economy in Britain, said the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

"The sharing economy is disrupting existing markets and changing the face of business," said Matthew Hancock, the Business and Enterprise Minister.

"By opening doors for everyday entrepreneurs to trade directly with each other online, these new market places are driving down costs and pushing the frontiers of innovation," said the minister.

It was estimated that 25% of British

DILBERT

adults were sharing online, and current global revenues of around 9bn pounds (about 15bn US dollars) could reach 230bn pounds per year by 2025.

The sharing economy was estimated to reach 50% market share in key sectors such as holiday accommodation and car-hiring/car rental 2025.

Debbie Wosskow saw economic potential for the sharing economy.

"The sharing economy has the potential to ensure that customers get the best deal going. Co-working services such as NearDesk give small businesses access to office facilities, without entering into costly and risky long-term leases," she said.

The focus of the review will be on three well-established areas, personal and commercial space; transport; and time and skill sharing. It will also look at sectors where there is significant growth potential, including fashion, food and personal items such as power tools. l

But Rajan, nicknamed "The Guv", insists "the back of inflation" must be broken before the central bank starts cutting rates.

The bank has raised the repo rate three times since he was installed as governor a year ago.

Rajan has been praised for tackling inflation, which hits tens of millions of India's poor the hardest. He has stabilised the rupee and boosted investor confidence since taking over.

Pledges of growth

India's right-wing government, which took office in May, is keen to see interest rates fall to help it fulfil its election promise to accelerate sluggish economic growth.

The economy expanded by 5.7% in the first quarter of the financial year from the same period a year earlier the best quarterly performance in over two years. l

n AFP, Paris France's public debt topped the symbolic level of 2tn euros for the first time, according to quarterly data published by the national statistics agency INSEE yesterday.

The total national debt amounted to 2.023tn euros ($2.57tn) in the second quarter of the year, INSEE said, which represents 95.1% of gross domestic product (GDP).

European Union rules limit debt to 60% of GDP. In the first quarter of the year, the debt stood at 1.995tn euros, or 94% of GDP, INSEE said.

France is already on a collision course with the EU over its budget deficit, which is supposed to be kept under three percent of GDP. Paris promised to bring the deficit under three percent by next year but, in a stunning about turn, announced

earlier this month that it was pushing back this target until 2017.

France is struggling with an economy at a standstill and sky-high unemployment.

In the first quarter of the year, the debt stood at 1.995tn euros, or 94% of GDP There has been zero growth for the first two quarters of the year and Finance Minister Michel Sapin is banking on sluggish output of 0.4% for the whole of the year.

France, today, will publish its annual budget expected to confirm the gloomy outlook and reaffirm it will miss its deficit targets. l

in output since the beginning of the year will take its toll on the job market in coming months".

"Accordingly, we expect the unemployment rate to climb to 4% by the end of the year," he said. Investors are now waiting for the Bank of Japan's release Wednesday of its quarterly Tankan business sentiment survey.

Retail sales had surged ahead of the April 1 sales tax rise - Japan's first in 17 years - as shoppers made a last-minute dash to buy staples such as rice and toilet rolls, as well as big-ticket items such as cars and refrigerators.

But spending turned down right after the levy hike, weighing on activity and exacerbating worries that the higher tax would crimp consumer spending and hamper a wider economic recovery.

The tax rise was seen as crucial for shrinking Japan's mammoth national debt, proportionately the worst among wealthy nations. Policymakers are expected to decide by the end of the year on whether to go ahead with earlier plans to raise sales taxes again next year.

Households could further tighten their belts, said SMBC Nikko Securities in a note to clients, aware that despite a bump in bonuses, companies were holding back on any increase in regular pay, but it will make little difference to the calculation on another tax rise.

"Even though consumption and the overall economic recovery have been weak ... the government is likely to go ahead with the consumption tax hike from October 2015," it said.

Economists generally agree on the need for a rise as a way of getting a handle on Japan's rocketing public debt, but they also expect the economy to struggle in the near future. l

German consumer confidence falls again n AFP, Frankfurt Consumer confidence in Germany is fading, weighed down by concerns about the economic fallout from geopolitical crises, a new poll found on Friday.

"In the eyes of consumers, ongoing geopolitical tensions are now also threatening to affect the economy in Germany. And it has led to a drop in optimism," market research company GfK said in a statement.

"As a result, both income and economic expectations, as well as a propensity to spend have fallen across the board," GfK said. Looking ahead to next month, GfK's headline household confidence index was forecast to fall to 8.3 points in October from 8.6 points in September.

This reading is based on responses from about 2,000 households regarding their expectations about pay and the economy as a whole in the coming months, as well as their willingness to spend money. l

Modi promises US CEOs a return to market reforms n Reuters

Prime Minister Narendra Modi told nearly a dozen US company chiefs on Monday that he is committed to liberalizing his country's economy, which has underperformed other emerging markets recently after years of breakneck growth.

Modi spoke at a breakfast with 11 chief executive officers during his first US visit since coming came to power in May, vowing to get India's economy back on track.

The prime minister was headed to Washington for a private working dinner with President Barack Obama on the fourth day of the visit. Modi, however, is fasting.

Among those attending the breakfast at the New York Palace Hotel were the CEOs of Caterpillar Inc and Boeing Co. "He wasn’t at all like the politicians we’re used to here," said Caterpillar Chairman and CEO Doug Oberhelman, who shared his impressions of the breakfast meeting with Reuters.

"He acknowledged that the last five years have been very difficult for the Indian population, the Indian economy and the world in general, and he vowed and promised to change that. I believed him. He was very serious. ... I was genuinely quite impressed.”

However, some US business groups have questioned Modi's reformist credentials.

Last week, the US Chamber of Commerce and 15 other business associations representing various sectors gave a more cautious assessment of the prime minister's record so far.

Modi also alarmed some foes of government tinkering with business last week when he said in India that mul-

tinational soft-drink giants PepsiCo Inc and Coca-Cola Co should help increase sales by Indian farmers by adding fresh fruit juices to their fizzy drinks.

In a letter to Obama, the US business groups urged the president to press Modi to remove barriers to trade when the two leaders meet on Monday and Tuesday The letter highlighted India's blockage of a key World Trade Organisation agreement reached last year, which overshadowed a July 30-Aug 1 visit to India by US Secretary of State John Kerry. The business alliance also complained about India's raised tariffs and "burdensome" new testing requirements on imported information and communication technology products.

Last week, US congressional leaders on trade and finance wrote to the US International Trade Commission calling for a second investigation into India’s

"unfair" trade practices, detailing any changes under Modi.

In a speech at the Council on Foreign Relations think tank on Monday before heading to Washington, Modi reiterated India's WTO stance, saying that while India supported the trade pact, its demands for food stockpiles were not incompatible with it.

He stressed his campaign to encourage manufacturing in India and the country's desire for US research and technology, something US firms have been reluctant to share without stronger Indian intellectual property protections India, which once seemed to vie with China for the title of fastest-growing developing economy, has stumbled in recent years as a spate of scandals undermined business confidence in the government's commitment to economic reform.

Still, Modi had won the confidence of at least one other high-profile US CEO even before the US visit.

Cisco Systems Inc Chief Executive John Chambers last week praised him as a leader who had "captured the imagination" of Indian business, adding that he would make the needed "tough decisions" to revive the company's economy.

One of Modi's priorities on this trip is to gather more such endorsements and - judging from Oberhelman's reaction - he won some more converts at Monday's CEO breakfast.

"I deeply believe that he’s committed to changing India," Oberhelman said.

"There’s no question that part of his mission is to enhance and increase the investment climate in India, both for domestic companies and for direct investment." l

Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi (2nd R) attends a breakfast meeting with CEOs in Manhattan

REUTERS