19 oct, 2014

Kartik 4, 1421 Zilhajjj 23, 1435 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 195

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

20 pages | Price: Tk12

B4 | BUSINESS

7 | CAREER

11 | OP-ED

14 | SPORT

CHINA INC’S SPENDING CUTS DEEPEST IN SIX YEARS

UNCONVENTIONAL CAREERS: THE WORLD OF CREATIVE WRITING

HOW LONG CAN WE HOLD IT IN?

RONALDO DOUBLE PROPELS REAL TO ANOTHER ROUT

Militants building regional network Law enforcers so far arrested 50 Pakistani nationals, most of who are LeT operatives n Mohammad Jamil Khan Different regional militant organisations are reportedly working to build an inter-country militant network, with Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) playing a key role in establishing a safe haven for fugitive militants in Bangladesh as well as using the country as a hub to carry out their illegal fund-raising activities.

Local banned militant outfits including Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Harkat-ul-Jihad and Ansarullah Bangla Team were also carrying out a concerted effort to emerge in the top tier under the same umbrella with the help of the regional militant network, the chief of DB police told the Dhaka Tribune.

With the support of local militant groups, many regional militant leaders had sought refuge in Bangladesh Intelligence sources said local militants were also active in establishing communication with militant outfits from India, Pakistan and Nepal, in a bid to share and develop new strategies for committing violence including attacks on important persons of state.

The regional militant network was first noticed by intelligence officials following the October 2 bomb blast at a suspected JMB hideout in the West Bengal town of Bardhaman, which killed two suspected radical Islamists.

Intelligence officials said militants have chosen three locations – Nepal, West Bengal in India, and Rajshahi in Bangladesh – as bases for quickly spreading their network.

Pakistan-based terrorist organisation LeT has also reportedly been using Bangladesh as a hideout for its members, as well as using the country as a transit route for spreading counterfeit Indian rupees – one of the main activities of the outfit. The LeT was also providing assistance and giving inspiration to different local militant outfits, according to intelligence sources.

Shipment of counterfeit rupee was coming to Dhaka from Karachi, while the fake money was later trafficked into India with the help of JMB members.

Over the past five years, members of DB police and RAB have arrested at least 50 Pakistani nationals with counterfeit Indian rupees in Bangladesh.

Most of these arrestees were LeT operatives who brought the counterfeit currency into the country by bribing unscrupulous airport officials, said intelligence sources.

Monirul Islam, the chief of DB police, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had information that a major portion of profit from the trade of counterfeit rupees was deposited to the funds of the LeT. A number of arrested Pakistani nationals have provided the police with some “sensational” information about the business of fake money, he added.

With the support of local militant groups, many regional militant leaders had sought refuge in Bangladesh; but many of those militants including Indian militant leaders Abdur Rauf Merchant, Arif Hossain, Mufti Obaidullah alias Abu Jafor and Emdadullah alias Habibur Rahman have been arrested by the police, said a senior official of DB police. However, there may be more militants still hiding in the country and trying to carry out subversive activities, he added.

Seeking anonymity, a top official at the Police Headquarters said militants hiding in different areas in the capital were trying to pass information to other members of their respective organisations who are spread across the country.

In order to put a stop to communications between militants, police superintendents of all districts have been given special instructions to stay vigilant – especially in residential hotels, mosques and police checkpoints – as well as keeping an eye on local Jamaat-Shibir activists, the official added.

Meanwhile, in a recent report on militancy funding, prepared by a top intelligence agency of the country, it was claimed that local militant groups were receiving financial support from some NGOs in Nepal.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Revered scientist and former Indian president Dr APJ Abdul Kalam delivers his speech yesterday while addressing the celebration event of 110th founding anniversary of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dhaka RAJIB DHAR

APJ Abdul Kalam stresses need for poverty-free Saarc region n UNB He seeks leadership with vision, mission and passion to achieve the goal UNB Former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam yesterday stressed improving physical, electronic and knowledge connectivity in rural areas for a poverty-free Saarc region.

Physical, electronic and knowledge connectivity can prove to be effective to prevent the flow of rural people into cities as these will facilitate earning capacity leading to economic connectivity, he noted, expounding his development concept of Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA).

Abdul Kalam came up with the recommendations while delivering his lecture at the 110th founding anniversary of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).

P9 EXCERPTS OF SPEECH Kalam, the 11th Indian president, said when urban amenities to rural areas are provided, the investors of small scale industries can be attracted and effective financing systems like microfinance can also be introduced there.

He said rural areas must have other infrastructures like schools, hospitals

and amenities for local populations.

Kalam added that women education should get the highest priority as they would play a vital role in reducing population growth.

The former Indian president made his deliberation as the keynote speaker in the second session of the function while the inaugural session held with MCCI President Rokia Afzal Rahman in the chair was addressed by Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi.

In his long lecture, Abdul Kalam focused on creating an honest, transparent

On Wednesday, they hurled several handmade bombs in front of the BNP’s Nayapaltan office and brought out a procession demanding cancellation of the new committee.

Around 10pm the same day, some other members of Chhatra Dal blasted several crude bombs in front of the Gulshan office of the party chairperson when the Chairperson was still inside the office.

Not only the deprived ones, but many other leaders, despite getting posts in the new committee, have directly expressed dissatisfaction demanding cancellation of the committee terming it a “pocket committee of the central leaders.”

The Nayapaltan office, which had a deserted look since the Eid-ul-Adha,

A couple of years ago, Alauddin Alo was a nobody in Chittagong, living in poverty and barely managing three meals a day. Now, he is a millionaire and a role model among the rising criminals in the port city.

Alo’s name and “fame” came from the dark world of crime in Chittagong.

He earned an impressive amount of wealth in the span of two years by selling stolen mobile phones and dealing drugs, especially yaba, according to Chittagong police.

A middle-aged man, Alo’s name first popped up when a mobile thief named Sher Ali, arrested by Sadarghat police on July 21, confessed before a Chittagong court that he had sold stolen mobile phones and a laptop to Alo. Based on Sher Ali’s statement, police then started looking into Alo’s background and found out about his rapid rise out of poverty.

Sources at the Detective Branch of police said Alo owns a two-storey building – without a holding number – in the city’s Dhopar Pukurpar area.

But he lives in a rented flat in Khulshi, a posh residential area in Chittagong, as the Dhaka Tribune found out.

He also owns a motorcycle, a car, two microbuses and shops in Reaz Uddin Bazar, a hub of criminals in Chittagong, police said.

One of the shops, Zunayed Telecom, co-owned by Alo and his brother Zunayed Zunu, is at Tamakumundi Lane in Reaz Uddin Bazar. He has another nameless shop at Bata Goli in the same market, police said.

The Dhaka Tribune learned that he has one more shop in Tamakumundi Lane, which Alo claimed to have sold months ago when the Dhaka Tribune contacted him over phone.

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Embassy in Thailand bins kidnap claims Disgruntled JCD men n lock office, burn effigies Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

The Bangladesh embassy in Thailand has categorically refuted the claim that Bangladeshis were kidnapped to be sold as slaves in that country.

“It is very difficult to believe that over 130 people were kidnapped without anyone knowing anything about it,” chief of consular section Muhammad Ehteshamul Hoque told the Dhaka Tribune.

In the two operations in October, the Thai authorities said they had rescued 134 persons. Of them, there were 118 Bangladeshis and 16 Myanmar nationals, he said.

“We are in touch with the Thai authorities to get information about them so that they can be verified as Bangladeshi citizens.”

A BBC report published yesterday claimed that on October 14, some 53 foreign workers were found in a rubber  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

Thai police rescue a group of Bangladeshis from a jungle

BBC

In what appears to be another outburst of anger since a new committee has been formed, a group of disgruntled leaders and activists of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal yesterday locked the main gate of its central office at Nayapaltan in the capital.

They not only locked the office but also assaulted a leader of the new committee and burnt effigies of the former student leaders.

The Chhatra Dal office is situated on the third floor of the BNP headquarters.

Party’s Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Tuesday night approved the 201-member new committee mentioning the names of 153 persons. Protesting the move, a group of student leaders started staging demonstrations the following day.

INSIDE 3 | News

The government has nearly finalised the Foreign Grant Regulation Act 2014, aiming to attract Japanese, Chines and Indian investment in the 13 Economic Zones mainly through relaxing tax and citizenship issues.

4 | News

Deputy commissioners of 32 border districts have been instructed to hold regular border conferences with their Indian counterparts to discuss and solve common problems.

5 | News

A ride on a CNG-driven autorickshaw from Motijheel to Panthapath in the capital should not cost more than Tk100 even if the traffic is heavy.

9 | Special

Dr APJ Abdul Kalam discussed about “a world of nations where the divide between rural and urban, rich and the poor, developed and developing has to be narrowed down.”

12 | Entertainment

This years Bengal Classical Music Festival 2 will take place from November 27 to December 1.

The registration for the festival will be open from the first week of November.

Alauddin Alo: Rising star in Chittagong’s crime world n Tarek Mahmud

15 | Sport

800 runs were heaped for the loss of 4 wickets and the double-centurion Ben Dunk finished on the losing side as Queensland knocked Tasmania out of the tournament.

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Khaleda lashes out at intelligence agencies n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday alleged that the government had been using the country’s intelligence agencies to split her political party.

“I want to say to them [the agencies] to stop it. This is not your job. We know your job. Awami League is not the permanent government of the country and they will have to step down. If you say the Awami League said so, that’s why we did it...it will not work. So stop it immediately,” she said.

Exchanging views with elected chairmen and vice chairmen of Chittagong division upazilas at her Gulshan office, the former premier called upon party leaders and activists to overcome their fears and get united.

“There is nothing to be frightened of. Get united and sensitise the people across the country. When I will call for a movement, you will take to the streets,” she told the leaders.

Issuing a note of warning, the BNP chief said there would be dire consequences if the government hinders the party’s future movement programmes.

“We have tolerated enough and we will tolerate any more in the future.

The way they will behave, the same way we will respond,” she said.

Claiming that her decision to boycott the January 5 election was correct, Khaleda said: “During the 1986 elections, senior leaders of the party said if the BNP boycotts the election then it would be like the Muslim League. But we did not participate in that election held under Ershad. In 1991, the people elected the BNP. This time again we are on the right track.”

The BNP chief said the government was using RAB to kill and abduct BNP leaders and activists and for this, RAB officials will be tried one day.

Khaleda alleged that the government had destroyed the country’s education sector and that is why students, after securing GPA 5 in public exams, failed to pass university admission tests.

She said the incumbent government was not elected but the upazila chairmen and vice chairmen were elected, adding that the government was barring BNP-backed elected chairmen and vice chairmen from working for the people. l

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina along with five honorary consuls general of Bangladesh poses for photograph at Hotel Carlton Baglloni in the Italian city of Milan yesterday FOCUS BANGLA

Transport strike isolates Netrakona n Our Correspondent, Sunamganj

Communication by road between Nerakona and rest of the country snapped as the transport workers went on a strike for an indefinite period on Friday.

Transport workers waged the movement after a new committee of Netrakona District Bus Owners’ Cooperative was formed, though the term of the existing committee was not over.

When Bangladesh Sarak Paribahan Samity’s General Secretary Md Enayet Ullah and Bangladesh Sramik Federa-

tion’s General Secretary Osman Ali were informed of the new committee, they

Transport workers leader Osman Ali said the strike would continue decided in a meeting to go on a transport strike for an indefinite time period.

Arif Khan, general secretary of the old committee, said there are 17 months to go before their committee’s term is over. Some opportunity seek-

ers have formed a new committee and took over the bus terminal, he added.

When contacted, convener of the new committee Obaiul Haque Ratan said though the older committee’s term was not over, a new committee was formed on the basis of the opinion of the members of the organisation. He also said the new committee’s activities would begin after getting approval of the central committee.

Bangladesh Sramik Federation’s General Secretary Osman Ali said the transport strike would continue as long as the issue is not resolved. l

Speakers stress preservation of archaeological sites n Tribune Report

Speakers at the 9th monthly general meeting of Bangladesh Asiatic Society opined that Bangladesh can become an example in preservation of archaeological sites if the people of this highly populated country become conscious about importance of the sites.

Dr Shahnaj Husne Jahan addressed the meeting as the key note speaker.

Describing the government’s initiatives

inadequate to preserve the archaeological sites, she pointed out some problems remaining in this sector.

She told: “Everyday we are losing the sites because of people’s carelessness. Who will be responsible for this?

Even research or preservation permissions are difficult to obtain from the Department of Archaeology.”

The monthly general meeting was also addressed by university teachers and government officials. The guests

illustrated the vulnerable situation of many archaeological places in different districts of Bangladesh. For example, Sitakot Bihar of Dinajpur, Mahasthangar in Bogra, Bhitargarh in Panchagarh districts are being destroyed by the locals and some government officials, who constructed buildings or even army camps. In some cases construction of different facilities are going on in those sites violating the high court rule, told the speakers in the meeting. l

AL leader's body exhumed

Militants building

Alauddin Alo: Rising star in Chittagong’s crime world

n Our Correspondent, Sylhet

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The report also read that Indian law enforcers arrested LeT bomb expert Abdul Karim and Indian Mujaheeden founder Yeasin Vatkal from the Indo-Nepal border in August last year; both of them were reportedly planning to enter Bangladesh via Nepal.

State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said all necessary steps have been taken to stop militant activities. Commenting on the Bardhaman blast, the state minister said they were yet to get any official comment from India. l

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Complying to a court order followed by a murder allegation, police yesterday exhumed the body of a local leader of the ruling Awami League in Darbasto area of Jaintiapur upazila.

In presence of Executive Magistrate and Jaintiapur upazila nirbahi officer (UNO) Khaledur Rahman and Jaintiapur OC Harunur Rashid, police dig up the grave of Mukhlesur Rahman, who was general secretary of the upazila

unit AL, around 9:30am.

Acknowledging it, the UNO said the body was later sent to the morgue of Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital for autopsy.

On September 12, Mukhlesur's body had been recovered from Sylhet-Tamabil highway in Morgahari area near to the upazila town.

What was initially believed to be an accidental death was later suspected to be a premeditated murder prompting his son to file a case. l

APJ Abdul Kalam stresses poverty-free Saarc region  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

leadership who will have qualities of “vision, mission and realisation”.

He said a leader must have a vision, a passion to accomplish the mission and must be able to travel into unexplored path. “Leader must know how to manage a success and failure.”

About the Bangladesh-India multidimensional relations, Abdul Kalam said both countries have long-shared history and culture. Focusing on the trade relations between the two neighbouring nations, he said Bangladesh and India shared significant natural resources, including 54 rivers.

He proposed to replicate his PURA programme in the development of

Khulna region where one of the primary agro-product is jute, and said new technologies can help jute manufacturers under a cooperative structure aligned with the concept Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas programme to make them independent enterprises.

The former president said a private company in Kolkata developed the Jute-thermoplastic composite based shoe components with the help of Indian Jute Industries Research Association. Bangladesh and India can reap the advantage of such new technology for mutual benefits.

He also said it is a great opportunity for the two nations to take a visionary action to replace and eliminate plastic

products throughout the world by technology, development and marketing.

Kalam put in place the idea of developing ecotourism and forest products in the mangrove forest-based Khulna region which can generate multiple employment opportunities.

Sharing his experience on globalisation, the former Indian president said: “When I walked into a multinational software company in Bangalore, I was fascinated to find that it truly presented a multicultural environment. A software developer from China, working under project leader from Korea, working with a software engineer from India and a hardware architect from the US and communication expert from

Embassy in Thailand bins kidnap claims  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

plantation in southern Thailand. The group, who come from Bangladesh and Myanmar were discovered yesterday.

They are thought to be Rohingya Muslims, said the BBC report.

It said the rescued men were promised well-paid jobs before being drugged, bound and kidnapped.

Ehtesham said he spoke to a victim, Manirul Islam from Satkhira. “Monir told me that he was kidnapped. But when I contacted his mother, she told me that her son and three others from the same village went to Malaysia.”

The BBC reporter also approached the embassy official for comments on the matter.

“I told the reporter that it was not possible to kidnap so many people without raising any hue and cry. I also told the reporter that it was not possible for 20-25 crew members to manage a large number of kidnapped persons on a boat,” Ehtesham claimed.

The BBC report did not mention any

of the quotes from the Bangladesh embassy.

Ehtesham also said a news story earlier claimed that the Thai authorities had not been giving food to the Bangladeshi victims who were taken to shelter homes.

“We came to know the fact after contacting the victims. They said they were given Thai food in the shelters which they did not want to eat,” the official said.

According to media reports, a large number of people travel to Malaysia, Thailand and even to Australia through the waters with a view to getting lucrative jobs. A strong trafficking network is active in the country to pick the people, mainly those living in the coastal districts including Cox’s Bazar.

Many Bangladeshis and Myanmar nationals were rescued by the BGB and the Coast Guard recently.

A good number of Bangladeshis, who were either illegally going to Malaysia in boats or intruded into Thai

territory, have been in detention in Thailand.

Ehtesham said so far he had interviewed 700 Bangladeshis. Some of them, out of fear or for other reasons, claimed that they had been kidnapped.

“But I never found a single case of kidnapping.”

He said the victims, however, never disclosed the names of traffickers.

“They also do not take any legal action against those agents.

“We sent about 300 Bangladeshis to Dhaka from March until October. I told all of them that the authorities would provide them with support if they file cases against the agents. But none of them did.”

He said over 50 Bangladeshis were expected to be repatriated this month from Bangkok. “The Thai authorities requested us to take back another 400 verified Bangladeshis by December. We are working to this end,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Foreign Ministry has urged the relevant ministries and

Kotwali police said Alo started as an ordinary staff in a mobile shop in Tamakumundi Lane, where he came in contact with many mobile thieves.

He purchased stolen mobile phones from the thieves and sold them to people. Soon, he was able to get a shop of his own, which he made his base for stolen goods trade.

There are claims that Alo is also involved with drug smuggling with his brother as his accomplice, said Santos Kumar Chakma, sub-inspector at the

Germany, were all working together to solve the banking problem in Australia.”

“When I see all of them working together like one family forgetting about the culture from which they come or the language they speak, I feel that only the hope for such borderless interaction to continue is to inculcate the spirit of borderlessness in every human activity on our planet Earth.”

In delineating his vision about the world in 2030, Abdul Kalam wants to see a world of nations where the divide between rural and urban, rich and the poor, developed and the developing is narrowed down and all can enjoy an equitable distribution and adequate access to energy and quality water. l

agencies to raise awareness among the people about the dangers of trafficking.

“We had an inter-ministerial meeting on illegal migration recently and asked them in written to aware people about trafficking,” said an official of the Foreign Ministry.

Talking to UNB yesterday, State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan said the government would take steps to bring back the rescued Bangladeshis in Thailand after their identities were confirmed.

He, however, noted that all of them should not be considered as Bangladeshis just because they speak Bangla.

“And it must be taken into account that many people from Myanmar are illegally migrating to foreign countries using Bangladeshi passports,” he added.

In response to another question, Asaduzzaman admitted that the government was yet to ensure 100% vigilance against trafficking activities along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border. l

Detective Branch.

“Based on the information received, police will take action against all who are involved with criminal activities,” said Shah Alam Rouf, assistant commissioner of the Kotwali circle at Chittagong Metropolitan Police.

Police are also getting information from Tamakunundi Lane Bonik Samity in this regard.

“We have warned Alo and others involved in criminal activities several times. We are also helping police with information about them,” said Mahmudul Haque, general secretary of

the association.

However, talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Alo claimed it was all a conspiracy against him.

“I am an ordinary businessman and a victim of trade politics. Police intentionally included my name in the case filed with Sadarghat police following the instructions of some influential people,” he said.

But when asked about how he was able to amass such a wealth in such a short period of time, he said he was not obligated to provide the details to the Dhaka Tribune. l

Disgruntled JCD men lock office  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

yesterday turned the opposite as some 100 aggrieved student leaders took position there around 11am. They locked the Chhatra Dal office at 12:15pm.

Apart from blocking gate by forming a human shield, they also took position in the lanes around the building.

When new Vice-President Moniruzzaman Monir tried to enter the area, he was assaulted and forced to leave the area.

Around 1:15pm, party’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir went in front of the office and faced slogans against the new committee.

To quell the situation, Fakhrul assured them of looking into the matter.

Around 2:30pm, Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed went to the party office. At that time, some student leaders complained to him about the new committee.

Some other leaders who were standing behind the negotiating leaders chanted slogans calling Salahuddin a “dalal” (agent).

When Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi came out of the office around 5pm, some student leaders cordoned him off and raised their demands. Rizvi was also labelled as an agent.

Following rumours in the afternoon that the new Chhatra Dal leaders would come to the Nayapaltan office, the deprived leaders brought out processions with sticks. But the new leaders did not visit the office.

The aggrieved leaders alleged that BNP’s Student Affairs Secretary Sahiduddin Chowdhury Annie and Assistant Student Affairs Secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku misguided the party chairperson and announced the “pocket committee” comprising of their own people.

They hanged and burnt effigies of Annie and Tuku in front of the main

gate of the building.

In the demonstrations, former vice-presidents Abu Sayed, Jabed Hasan, Tarun Dey, Raju Talukdar and Kamal Ahmed; former organising secretary Anisur Rahman Talukdar Khokon; former joint secretaries Ferdous Munna and Tarikul Islam Titu; former assistant joint secretary generals Rakibul Islam and Abdul Mukit were present among other leaders.

Newly-selected Vice-President Sadiul Kabir Nirob, Joint Secretary Kazi Reaz and Organising Secretary Ishak Sarker were also present with the aggrieved leaders in solidarity.

Akramul Hasan, general secretary of the new committee, told Dhaka Tribune that they had been trying to solve the problem bringing all the aggrieved leaders under a common platform.

However, many of the new committee leaders alleged that Organising Secretary Ishak Sarker was behind the demonstration. Though Ishak did not take part in the programme directly, he also unhappy with the committee.

Senior Vice-President Mamunur Rashid Mamun also said he would not work with the new committee.

Asking his friends to not congratulate him, International Affairs Secretary Bayezid Arefin, joint secretary of the previous committee, wrote on Facebook: “I was showered with people’s love and affection from around the country. My realisation is that this is my best achievement in politics.”

Even though Khaleda since February had been saying that young and regular students and dedicated leaders would be given posts in the new committee, it was found that at least 20 leaders are married.

Of the new leaders, Mamunur Rashid is married while Ishak Sarker, aged around 48, is not a student. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Proposed foreign grant regulation act expands FDI hopes n Asif Showkat Kallol The government has nearly finalised the Foreign Grant Regulation Act 2014, aiming to attract Japanese, Chines and Indian investment in the 13 Economic Zones mainly through relaxing tax and citizenship issues.

During a meeting in the last week of September, a high-level meeting with Finance Minister AMA Muhith in the chair, discussed the draft act and placed initial recommendations.

Sources said, the draft will be finalised once the prime minister gave time.

If the FGR act is passed, there will not be any limitation on the amount of inward foreign direct investment (FDI) in the economic zones (EZs); local investors will be able to take over assets and industries owned by foreign farms; foreign investors will enjoy elongated tax holidays and duty exemptions; and be able to repatriate their entire income.

Reportedly, Bangladesh officials, in consultation with Japanese, Chines and Indian officials, have already prepared a list of 26 categories of incentives including relaxed citizen ship fa-

cilities; customs, VAT and income tax stipulations; foreign exchange, capital gain, share transfer, local sales and sub-contract issues.

Moreover, a further nine-point incentive package will be offered to those foreign and local investors interested in developing the 13 proposed EZs. Currently, five EZs are being developed under a World Bank-financed project on 3567.71 hectares of land in Khulna, Sirajganj, Chittagong and Sylhet. Apart from these, 13 other economic zones will be developed under the government’s public-private partnership scheme.

Officials of EZ authorities said China had expressed interests about investing in the EZ in Mirsorai in Chittagong and Japan had sought a separate EZ near Dhaka. The government however has proposed to give Japan space in Chittagong.

Other than Japan, China and India, investors from Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Myanmar are also interested in investing in Bangladesh, officials said.

In December 2013, the amount of total foreign direct investment was $8.6bn, of which China’s contribution

was $116.98m and Japan’s $342.77m.

In the FY2014-15 budget, the government allocated Tk300 crore for developing the 13 EZs.

Incentive for EZ developers

According to a presentation of the draft law given during the September meeting, those who are interested in developing the EZs will be offered tax and VAT holidays of up to 15 years.

The proposal said the developers would enjoy full holiday in the first 10 years; and 70% waiver for instance for the 11th year, 30% discount for the 12 years, and so on.

EZ authorities have also sought exemption of custom, land stamp and credit registration duties and income tax on dividend and service taxes.

Incentive for foreign investors

That meeting, held at the Finance Ministry, also decided to offer a similar tax exemption scheme for the foreign investors as well. A proposal says they would be offered 100% holiday for the first 10 years and gradually reduction by 10% in the subsequent 10 years.

The investors will also be allowed to

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Sunday, October 19, 2014

fully repatriate their capital and dividend incomes, which the existing rules do not permit. Moreover, capital gain of firms and transfer of shares will be considered tax free incomes and re-investment through dividend and profit would be treated as FDI. The incomes of the experts who will work in the EZs and the foreign firms, royalties and technical fees will also be tax-free. Industry owners can import two cars without paying taxes for five years. Electricity to be consumed by the factories will be tax-free as well.

Investors can also bring up to 5% of their workforce from abroad; the remaining 95% will have to be recruited from Bangladesh.

Foreign investors will be able to bring in their capital in the EZs in joint venture with Bangladeshi firms and will be able to operate foreign exchange dealings in the local commercial banks.

Investors will now have to put in at least $100,000 to qualify for permanent residence permit. Under the existing rules, the ceiling is $75,000. Any foreigner, who invests more than $5m in an heavy industry, will not require visa to stay in Bangladesh. l

Chinese firm picked to set up dual fuel power plant in Chittagong n Asif Showkat Kallol Power Division has selected a Chinese joint venture company to install a 150MW peaking power plant at Shikalbaha in Chittagong under the dual fuel system, official sources said.

An official of Power Division said due to gas crisis in Chittagong district, the 150MW peaking power plant at Shikalbaha usually remains inoperative.

“So, an initiative has been taken to set up a new peaking power plant which will also run on fuel,” he added.

Bangladesh Power Development Board floated a tender in last February and later the tender evaluation committee selected the Chinese joint venture company.

Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Ltd now gets around 247 million cubic feet of gas from the national grid against the demand for over 402 million cubic feet due to acute crisis of gas in Chittagong. The company is currently supplying gas to fertiliser factories and cannot supply enough gas to power stations.

A proposal signed by Power Secre-

tary Monwar Islam will be placed at a meeting of the cabinet committee on public purchase this week for approval.

Since its inception in July 2010, Shikalbaha 150MW peaking power plant was in operative for 13,716 hours till August 2014 while it did not work for 21,169 hours.

According to the proposal, Chinese joint venture firm M/S Fujian Electric Power Engineering Company and CCC Engineering will implement the project at a cost of Tk222.74 crore.

According to a proposal made by BPDB, the estimated cost for implementing the project was only Tk43.77 crore in 2009. But the project cost went high due to hike of equipment.

Although a German company signed a contract, it did not start the construction work of the dual fuel power plant at Shikalbaha as the warranty was over, the proposal said.

Apart from Fujian Electric Power Engineering Company, German firm Siemens, AG, Islam Enterprise Ltd, Dhaka and Chinese firm Sinohydro Corporation took part in the tender. l

Ershad: My house is a lobbying centre n Manik Miazee Even though they are not participating in the party programmes and its regular activities, the central leaders and activists of opposition Jatiya Party are going to the residences of party Chairman HM Ershad and other ministers for personal gains.

Sources at Ershad’s “President Park” and other ministers’ houses say more than 100 party leaders and activists visit the top leaders every day for recommendations to get jobs and government tenders.

Secretariat sources say on every working day, many leaders and activists go to the offices of the party’s representatives in the government – the water resources minister and the state ministers for LGRD and labour.

Many of them reportedly are benefited while some driven away or asked to come again later.

Recently this reporter visited a state minister’s office to verify the “open-secret” allegation and found many leaders waiting at his office to meet with him.

A JaPa leader from Comilla was sitting in his office when two reporters entered the room. The state minister first spoke to the newsmen and after that dealt with the local leader.

When contacted, LGED State Minster Moshiur Rahman Ranga said: “There are many people waiting at the office to meet me for lobbying. I cannot do my work properly because of them.”

There are some other leaders at the party’s Kakrail headquarters and Ershad’s Banani office and his house who openly convey the demands of the party men to the minister and the state ministers at their offices. Doing this, they are earning handsome amount of money, say party sources.

During a recent meeting with reporters at his office, Ershad, also a special envoy to the prime minister, said: “I am annoyed with the people who come

to see me at my house every day to get recommendation on different issues.

Now I term it a ‘lobbying house.’”

According to party sources, leaders who withdrew their nomination papers following the order of Ershad before the January 5 election visit the party chief’s residence and office.

On the other hand, others who are known as loyal to Rawshan Ershad, the opposition leader in parliament, usually find it easy to knock the minister, the state ministers and party lawmakers.

‘These ministers and MPs do not give work to the party’s dedicated leaders and activists.

They favour their relatives and those party supporters who maintain close link with them’ At least 50 party leaders were seen waiting to meet JaPa Secretary General Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu at the party’s Banani office within 30 minutes on a day before the Eid. All of them had papers in their hands, intended to manage a recommendation of the JaPa leader. At one point, Bablu felt embarrassed and left the room.

A Presidium member, requesting anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The leaders have now become ministers and MPs using the banner of the party. So, as leaders of the party, we also have the right to gain some benefits from them.

“However, these ministers and MPs do not give work to the party’s dedicated leaders and activists. They favour their relatives and those party supporters who maintain close link with them.” l

A fisherman readies his fishing equipment to catch shrimps and small fishes as the water level of the Padma River gradually started decreasing ahead of the winter season AZAHAR UDDIN

LNG terminal installation proposal to be placed n Aminur Rahman Rasel

Energy and Mineral Resources Division will place a proposal at the next meeting of the cabinet committee on economic affairs to get the go-ahead to set up a floating storage and re-gasification unit, first of its kind in the country, at Moheshkhali Island in the Bay of Bengal.

“We will submit the proposal at the next cabinet committee meeting to get approval for setting up the floating storage and re-gasification unit popularly known as Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal,” a senior EMRD official told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

On June 26 this year, Petrobangla

signed a term sheet with US-based Astra Oil and Excelerate Energy Consortium (AE). However, the state-owned agency was undecided about the signing of the term sheet under the Speedy Supply of Power and Energy (Special Provisions) (Amendment) Act 2014.

Petrobangla, a state-owned oil company under the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, will implement the project.

“We will sign the final deal on setting up the terminal after getting approval from the cabinet committee on economic affairs,” Petrobangla Chairman Hossain Monsur told the Dhaka Tribune.

They would set up the terminal with-

‘Cancel lowering female marriage age’

500mmcfd and 600mmcfd.

The government will have to import LNG from Qatar or other countries by paying $16-18 per unit.

At present, the country’s gas production is about 2,350 mmcf per day against the demand of 3,000 mmcf.

The Awami League-led government during its previous tenure decided to import LNG to feed the national grid by 500 mmcfd from the year 2013.

Meanwhile, state-owned Gas Transmission Company Ltd (GTCL) has taken a move to install a 91km Moheshkhali-Anwara gas transmission pipeline to carry re-gasified LNG from the terminal to shore. l

Study suggests forming Ilish conservation fund

n UNB

Women’s rights activists yesterday demanded withdrawal of the instruction for lowering the minimum age of marriage for girls from the draft Child Marriage Restraint Act 2014.

They came up with the demand at a human chain organised by Bangladesh Nari Mukti Kendra in front of the National Press Club. Addressing the human chain, Nari Mukti Kendra’s Dhaka unit President Sultana Akter Rubi said while societies all over the world are stepping ahead, the Bangladesh government is trying to take the nation to the dark age with steps like reducing the marriage age for girls.

While experts are thinking about setting the age of marriage for girls at 25, the government has taken the decision to set the marriage age for girls 16 years only, she added.

Kendra’s central committee President Sima Dutta said the state minister for women and children affairs, the state minister for health and other leaders of the ruling party are highlighting unreasonable and ridiculous information to implement the government instruction. l

in 16 months from the date of signing the final agreement. “We hope that we will be able to import LNG by June 2016,” he added.

AE would have to invest $500 million as infrastructure cost and other expenses to set up the terminal on a build-own-operate-transfer basis.

According to the term sheet, Petrobangla will pay 0.474 cents per mmbtu for 15 years. The terminal will have the LNG storage capacity of 138,000 cubic metres.

Besides, Petrobangla would pay port service charges and tax on behalf of AE during the period. Petrobangla would receive LNG within a range between

n UNB

Bloggers and online activists formed a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday protesting the Child Marriage Restraint Bill 2014 that proposes to bring down the minimum age for marriage from 18 to 16 for females SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Building an Ilish conservation fund through innovative policy measures can boost Ilish production by ensuring sustainable incentive-based conservation, says a new study.

The study, revealed at a discussion yesterday, suggested considering 1% tax on Ilish export to build an Ilish conservation fund for sustainable support to incentive-based conservation of the iconic fish.

Executive Chairman of Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC) Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman revealed the findings of the study, conducted in five coastal districts - Barisal, Patuakhali, Bhola, Laxmipur and Chandpur.

The PPRC organised the programme at the National Consultation on Exploring Conservation-Livelihood WinWins: PPRC Research Findings on Hilsha Fishermen at The Daily Star’s conference hall in the capital. Zillur said the government can form a fund imposing tax on Ilish export. “Ilish

could be conserved by giving financial support to fishermen from the fund.”

About the potential of Ilish, he said it has an untapped growth potential and it could be a global brand like salmon and tuna fishes.

The study shows that the government’s compensation to the fishermen not to catch Ilish during the ban period has increased its production. “Total Ilish catching has increased from 1.99 lakh metric tonnes in 2002-03 to 3.51 lakh metric tonnes in 2012-13,” it says.

About the status of fishermen, the study shows about 17% of them are still illiterate as 69% fishermen completed primary education.

About 33% of fishermen are landless, while 40% have no boat and 29% no net to catch fish.

Zillur said the fishermen are not only economically poor, but also socially poor. “Their community is the part of the poor. But the microcredit contributes to cutting poverty in the country but the fishermen are not getting the benefit of it,” he added. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Sunday, October 19, 2014

DCs instructed to hold regular border conferences with Indian counterparts n Mohosinul Karim Deputy commissioners of 32 border districts have been instructed to hold regular border conferences with their Indian counterparts to discuss and solve common problems.

The border conferences will be held dividing the border districts into 13 clusters. But, there will be no bar to arrange border conferences between district and district in times of need.

The instruction was given yesterday during an orientation programme for the deputy commissioners, ehich organised to brief them about the government’s policy and stance regarding the border crisis and border management.

The day-long orientation programme was organised at the secretariat’s cabinet conference room in the capital.

Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, senior secretary and secretaries and high officials of different ministries, divisions and organisations

were also given instructions on their respective duties.

According to the cabinet division officials, the instructions were given on cabinet division, home ministry, foreign ministry, land ministry, commerce ministry, internal resources division, shipping ministry and road transport and highways divisions issues of the government.

After the meeting, Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said the DC’s were instructed to hold the border conference between DC’s and Indian districts magistrates regularly, which were not being held for the last few years.

“There were some limitations from both countries in holding the meeting regularly. But, some meetings were also held during this period on some specific issues. We are keen to hold the meeting regularly to resolve the crisis on border management,” he added.

“Border conference is the home ministry’s issue, but cabinet division looks

WORLD EGG DAY

Call for safe egg production to ensure nutritional security n BAU Correspondent State Minister for Fisheries and Livestock Narayan Chandra Chanda at a programme yesterday urged poultry scientists, researchers, industry owners, and concerned entrepreneurs to produce safe eggs and other poultry products for ensuring nutritional security of the people of the country.

The state minister said this at a seminar titled “Eggs for me, eggs for you, eggs for all” at the Zainul Abedin auditorium of Bangladesh Agriculture University (BAU) to mark the World Egg Day. Department of Poultry Science of BAU and the World’s Poultry Science Association (WAPSA) jointly organised the programme to raise awareness among people about the food value of egg.

“We, the common people, are looking forward to you as you are the right persons who can ensure quality food for consumption,” the state minister added.

He also warned of taking legal action

against the dishonest businessmen and poultry industry owners who are using harmful components, medicine and industry wastes to prepare poultry feeds and products that are detrimental to public health.

“We will take stern action against those who are leading common people to gradual death by using harmful chemical components and tannery wastes in poultry feeds.”

He addressed the seminar with the Dean of Animal Husbandry faculty Professor SD Chowdhury in the chair while BAU Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Rafiqul Hoque was present as the chief patron.

Prof Shubash Chandra Das of Poultry Science department presented the key note paper.

Among others, Director General of the Department of Livestock Services DLS Ajay Kumar Roy, DG of Bangladesh Livestock Research Institute BLRI Dr Md Nazrul Islam, Prof Md Ashraf Ali and Head of Poultry Science Department Prof Fowzia Sultana, were present at the event. l

after the DC’s. The division briefed the DC’s about the government’s decision and policy. As the foreign ministry maintains relations with other countries, they also briefed the DCs of their policies. Though the DC’s act locally, but they implement the central decisions of the government,” he said.

Bhuiyan said border trespass, boundary pillars disputes, border management including human trafficking and drugs and smuggling, border protection and border killing issues of home ministry, border lands and land boundary issues of land ministry, border trading of commerce ministry, customs issues of internal resources division, land port issues of shipping ministry and roads connectivity issues of road transport and highways divisions were included in the instructions.

“We asked them to prepare agenda of the conferences prioritising local problems and crisis. The agendas will be finalised consulting with the coun-

terparts. But, before sending to the counterparts DC’s will take opinion of their higher authorities about the agenda,” the cabinet secretary added.

He said the government usually holds bilateral meeting with India on different issues. BGB-BSF meetings are also being held time to time. But, the DC-DM border conference will help government to resolve major problems prevailing in the border areas.

He also informed that Bangladesh has a 200km long borders with Myanmar. We are also planning to hold such meetings with the country after beginning with India.

“The border conferences would help strengthening relationship between the countries and expedite economic development. It will also help bring down border killings. Various issues, including smuggling, border killing, drug and human trafficking, will be resolved holding the border conference,” he added. l

CU BCL demands judicial probe into VC’s corruption Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong A faction of Chhatra League Chittagong University unit has demanded judicial probe into the alleged corrupt activities of Professor Anwarul Azim Arif, vice-chancellor of the university.

They blamed the VC for nepotism as he had appointed his son, sonin-laws, and daughterin-law to different posts in the university Led by former joint secretary Sumon Mamun, the faction raised seven-point demands including resignation of the VC, at a press conference held at the Chittagong Press Club yesterday.

CU BCL former assistant secretary

Moazzam Hossen James read out the demands in presence of 50 leaders and activists of the faction.

The leaders alleged that Professor Anwarul Azim Arif had appointed BNP and Jamaat-Shibir backed officials to important posts of the university like registrar, exam controller, director of CU agricultural project and director of CU transport department.

They also alleged that the VC had directed a section of “desperate” BCL men to engage in controversial activities on campus by forming a “VC League,” in order to gain his personal interest.

They blamed the VC for nepotism as he had appointed his son, son-in-laws, and daughter-in-law to different posts in the university.

Other demands include removal of all BNP-Jamaat backed staffs from the university, ban on politics of Jamaat-Shibir, declaring the VC League leaders “unwanted” and reopening the student dormitories after driving out the Shibir men form there. l

Seminar on startup funds for entrepreneurs at DIU

n Tribune Report

Bangladesh Venture Capital Limited (BVCL) and Daffodil International University (DIU) have jointly organised a seminar on “Scope of Startup Funds for Entrepreneurs” at DIU Auditorium recently in its campus in the capital, says a media release.

Md Rabiul Islam, managing director of Islamic Finance and Investment Limited was present there as the chief guest while Md Sabur Khan, chairman of the BVCL and chairman of Board of Trustees of the DIU were as the special guest.

The speakers shared lot of effective tips about Entrepreneurship development, Entrepreneurial behaviour, Angel Investor, success secrets, capitals, motivation and marketing with the students.

The seminar also included frequently asked questions about the rules, policy, techniques of investment by the venture capital and funding process of different financial institutions.

More than 100 new entrepreneurs from the capital attended the seminar as well. l

ULAB signs MoU with VSO

n Tribune Report

The University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Volunteer Service Overseas (VSO) Bangladesh on its campus in the capital, says a media release.

ULAB VC Prof Imran Rahman and VSO Country Director Shahana Hayat signed the document on behalf of their organisations yesterday.

Under the MoU, VSO would recruit ULAB students as volunteers and interns for its various projects.

ULAB Pro-Vice Chancellor, Lt Col Md Foyzul Islam (Retd), Registrar Mohammad Ali Khan were present the programme among others. l

Seminar on enterprisers held at NSU

n Tribune Report Noticing fresh graduates for being prepared for the changing world by improving their knowledge and skills to meet the demands of employers and the realities of the workplace, Alumni Association of North South University has organised a seminar titled “Investment and Expectations from Fresh Graduates as Potential Entrepreneurs” in its seminar hall recently.

Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh, Shiro Sadoshima, was the chief guest while NSU Vice Chancellor Dr Amin U Sarkar chaired the event, says a media release.

Vivek Sood, CEO of Grameenphone and Nahar Mahmood, MD of Novartis also addressed the programme while Dr KG Moazzem placed a resourceful presentation on foreign investment of Bangladesh as keynote speaker. l

In memory of Bhasha Matin, Sammilita Sangskritik Jote arranged a programme at the Dhaka Central Shaheed Minar yesterday RAJIB DHAR

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Commuters caught in CNG autorickshaw drivers' whim It will be hard to find an autorickshaw driver in city who is ready to traverse a distance at the fare fixed by the government unwillingness for why they had failed The Dhaka Tribune has talked to n Rafe Sadnan Adel to press home their demand for a higha number of drivers about why they A ride on a CNG-driven autorickshaw from Motijheel to Panthapath in the capital should not cost more than Tk100 even if the traffic is heavy. Every such autorickshaw has electronic meters installed on them that display the fare fixed by the government.

But it will be hard to find an autorickshaw driver in the city who is ready to traverse the distance at the fare calculated by the meter. A passenger will have to pay at least Tk200 for the ride. On rainy days or on days of extra heavy traffic, the fare may go up to as much as Tk250-Tk300.

A driver said the fare on the meter covered only a small fraction of their expenses, which include paying a part of their daily income to the owner of the autorickshaws, let alone leave them with any surplus. So, instead of following the meter, they ask for fares on their whims.

The driver said they could not follow the meter reading because the owners charge them hundreds of taka more than what the government had fixed as the daily deposit.

The daily deposit and the meter fare are considered in pair. The government generally fixes the meter fare in such a way that drivers are left with sizable incomes at the end of the day after paying the government-fixed daily deposit to the owners.

When asked why they charged more, an owner said the costs of operating the vehicles had increased manifold over the years but the government had not increased the daily deposit.

The authority in charge of the matter said they had no plan to increase the deposit or the fare for the time being.

So, the cycle turns vicious and the Dhaka commuters, who have very little or no comfortable public transport options, are badly stuck in it.

charge passengers twice, often thrice, the government-fixed rate. They said not just the high daily deposits, but their incomes had not risen either in line with the ever increasing price of essentials. Moreover, they have to pay the traffic police a significant amount of their daily income as extortion.

Mofiz Mia from the capital’s Khilgaon area told the Dhaka Tribune: “I have to pay Tk600 to the owner if I drive an autorickshaw for half day [six hours]. If I drive it for the whole day that is 12 hours, he charges me Tk1,100.

But the government has fixed only Tk600 for the whole day.

“We also need to pay Tk2,000 every month on an average in the forms of extortion and bribe to traffic police and sergeants. Add to that the repairing cost in case there is any accident. The owners do not pay for the repairing.

So, you can understand that it is not possible for us to follow the government-fixed fare chart.”

Shamsher Sheikh is a driver from the capital’s Mirpur area who is the only earning member of a four-member family. While talking to the Dhaka Tribune, he described why he could not follow the government’s fare chart.

“Because of the terrible traffic on the roads of Dhaka we cannot help but charge passengers double the government-fixed rate. According to that rate, we can earn only Tk100 per hour. For a 12-hour working day, we can therefore earn maximum Tk1,200. But for driving the vehicle for 12 hours, we have to pay the owner more than Tk1,000.

Add to that another Tk600 or so that we have to pay policemen every day. In our calculation, we need to earn at least Tk200 an hour to take something back at home,” he said.

It has been four years since the government last fixed the meter fare

A driver of a CNG-run autorickshaw waits for passengers at the capital's Shahbagh intersection on Thursday and the daily deposit amount for CNGrun autorickshaws. According to that rate, the fare for the first 2km is Tk25 and every kilometre afterwards costs Tk7.64. The waiting charge is Tk2 per minute. The government also fixed Tk600 as daily deposit, which is the income of the owners, for a 12-hour day.

Over the past few years, the owners have been demanding that the daily deposit amount be increased to Tk900.

According to a survey conducted by the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) in 2009-2013, the price of essentials and services rose at the rate of 12% per annum. As a result, the average cost of living increased by 10.32%

during the period.

Moreover, aggregate wages experienced a 12.92% rise over these five years in agriculture, fisheries and industries sectors. But the government has not thought about increasing the fare or deposit for the CNG-run autorickshaws.

Two separate reports by economic think tank Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) and global lender World Bank (WB) suggest that despite declining trends in recent years, the level of inflation in Bangladesh is still very high.

The inflation rates in Bangladesh in 2013 were 7.5% and 7.7% according to the WB and CPD respectively.

RAJIB DHAR

Barkatullah Bulu, president of the Dhaka Metropolitan CNG Autorickshaw Owners' Association, told the Dhaka Tribune recently: “The government-fixed daily deposit amount has remained at Tk600 since 2010. It would not be very normal to think that the owners will keep the deposit at the level fixed five years ago, when during the same period the price of per kilogram of rice rose from Tk30 to Tk50.”

Claiming that he would have to start begging if he rented out his autorickshaws at the Tk600 rate, he said he had no other option but to raise the rate to Tk700 entirely on his own decision.

He also blamed the bureaucracy’s

er deposit.

Earlier this year, during a meeting with the owners, Communications Minister Obaidul Quader categorically said there was no chance that the deposit amount would be increased anytime soon. At that time, the owners were in the middle of a movement demanding increased lifespan for the old autorickshaws.

Bulu also alleged that it would not be possible for them to carry on with their business for long if the law enforcers continued to harass them on roads.

“We have to pay at least Tk1,000 every day to law enforcers in the form of bribes. If, for any reason, one of our autorickshaws is confiscated, it takes at least two weeks to get it freed from police. These have also narrowed down the scope of profitable business and following all the regulations. In order to reduce losses, we have to increase the deposit and the drivers cannot follow the meter,” he explained.

However, Deputy Commissioner Imtiaz Ahmed, head of one of the four traffic divisions of Dhaka Metropolitan Police, said: “We do not have any specific allegation [regarding bribery and extortion]. CNG autorickshaws are fined whenever they break rules.”

Dr Ahsan Mansur, executive director of the Policy Research Institute Bangladesh, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Policymakers should think about bringing competition in the CNG autorickshaw trade. In fact, the government can think about introducing a suitable alternative. That is in fact the only option to bring back discipline in this sector.”

He, however, said: “Then again, it is also true that living costs have been rising in line with the increasing prices of essentials. To bring harmony there, the fares should be updated – ideally, at two-year intervals.” l

RAPED RMG WORKER’S SUICIDE IN CHITTAGONG

Police yet to nab 3 accused even after 7 days into Kohinur's suicide n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Law enforcers are yet to arrest the three persons accused of gang raping Kohinur Akhter, a garment factory worker who took her own life following the incident, even after seven days after her death.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, the victim’s family said they were now anxious to get fair justice for Kohinur and claimed the families of the accused were now trying to influence law enforcing agencies to close the case.

On October 12, Kohinur Akhter, 18, worker of a garment factory in Karnaphuli EPZ, committed suicide in her residence in the city’s Patenga a day after of a Chittagong court released her with the three alleged rapists, Md Moktar, 25, and his two friends Md Iqbal,

WEATHER

PARTLY CLOUDY SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 5:29PM SUN RISES 5:58AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 30 30 31 31 31 30 30 31

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

20 22 18 19 20 20 19 23

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

33.4ºC Cox's Bazar

19.5ºC Dinajpur

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:42am 5:57am 11:44am 3:52pm 5:29pm 6:45 pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

22, and Md Belal, 23, who were arrested from a city hotel on prostitution charges on October 10.

“A case was lodged with Patenga Police Station against the trio under section 9(A) of Women and Children Repression Prevention Act as the victim’s suicide note blamed Mokthar, Iqbal, and Belal for her death, said Kazi Shahabuddin Ahmed, officer-in-charge of the police station.

The victim's father, Md Sharif, said his daughter committed suicide as Moktar, and his two friends raped her as she refused their indecent proposals adding that the men used to stalk and harass for a long time.

“They followed her when she was returning home from work on October 12, and forced her into a CNG auto-rickshaw. They took her to a hotel at Sta-

tion Road and repeatedly raped her,” he added.

Sharif also alleged that the trio confined her in a hotel room until the police arrived. The girl and the three men were arrested from the hotel on charges of prostitution. They were produced before a Chittagong court on October 11 and given bail.

On the next day, Kohinoor and her roommates left for work. When one of the roommates, Kamrun Nahar, returned home, she found the door locked from inside. As she peeped through the door, she saw Kohinoor’s body hanging from the ceiling.

OC Shahabuddin said they conducted several drives at Anwara upazila along with the police station concerned but could not nab the trio till filing this report. l

A hawker uses an innovative idea to attract customers by carrying a mannequin to sell hairbands. The photo was taken from capital's Mohakhali area yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Two held with 4,500 Yaba pills in Ctg College professor killed n in Chittagong road crash across the country through the port city.

Sources said Chittagong is considered as a golden transit point for drug smugglers especially for Yaba peddlers.

Admitting the increase in Yaba smuggling through the port city, CMP Additional Commissioner (crime and operation) Banaz Kumar Majumder told the Dhaka Tribune that they have increased their vigilance to fight the smuggling.

“We have also increased our watch at the entrance points of the city especially Shah Amanat Bridge area by which point vehicles enter into the city from Cox’s Bazar,” he said. l

Police in separate drives early yesterday arrested two persons with 4,500 pieces of Yaba tablets from Chittagong city’s Shah Amanat Third Karnaphuli Bridge area.

Bakalia police arrested the two - Al Amin, 42, and Nurul Islam, 22, - from separate buses of Saudia Paribahan. Police said they were attempting to smuggle the illegal drugs from Cox’s Bazar to the port city.

Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Moshin of Bakalia police station said they had arrested Amin around 2am

and Nurul around 3:30am following on a tip-off.

The OC said they found 4,000 pieces of Yaba pills inside a fake bandage in Amin’s hand while another 500 pieces were recovered after searching Nurul’s body.

Legislative measures were being taken against the duo in this connection, added the OC. According to Department of Narcotic Control, around 37 Yaba factories are at Mongdu in Myanmar which is close to Teknaf while about 90% of smuggled Yaba are entering into the country through the Naf River and distributed

Youth hacked to death n Our Correspondent, Comilla

Houses, shops and AL party office gutted in Chittagong

Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

A youth was hacked to death by unknown miscreats at Pihar area in Burichang upazila on Friday night.

The deceased was identified as Nazmul Hasan, 14, student of class VI, and son of Abdur Rab Miah. Nazmul was a an auto-rickshaw driver. In the morning, he went out of the house with his auto-rickshaw and went missing.

Later, locals spotted the body early Saturday and informed the police. SI Imam Hossain of Burichang poilce station said, on information, police went to the spot and recovered the body. l

Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong At least 11 dwelling houses, four shops and a local Awami League office were gutted in two separate fire incidents in Chittagong’s Kattoli area and Bakalia area early yesterday.

However, no causality was reported following the incidents, said fire brigade sources.

Jasim Uddin, deputy assistant director (DAD) of Fire Service and Civ-

il Defense Headquarter in Agrabad said a fire gutted five semi-pucca, six thatched houses and a tin shed local ruling party office at Kalirhat area of Uttar Kattoli area under Akbar Shah police station.

The fire originated from an electric short circuit in a house around 3:30am and soon engulfed to the other establishments, burning down valuables worth Tk6 lakhs, the official added.

After receiving information, a unit of Agrabad fire service managed to douse

Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong A college professor was killed in a road crash in Sitakunda upazila of Chittagong yesterday morning.

The dead Joynul Abedin, 60, was son of late Hamidur Rahman of Sitakunda upazila, said police sources. He was a professor of Bijoy Smarani Degree College of Bhatiary in the upazila.

Sub-Inspector Kamal Uddin of Sitakunda police station said a Chittagong-bound

the blaze after two hours.

The other fire incident burned down four roadside shops in Abu Zafar road of Bakalia area during the same time.

Fire brigade sources said the fire had originated from an electric short circuit at one of the shops and spread to the neighbouring shops, burning down Tk2.5 lakh worth of valuables.

A unit from Lama Bazar Fire Station extinguished the blaze after an hour of efforts. l

stone laden truck ran over the professor while he was waiting for transport beside the road in Edulpara Bypass Road under Sitakunda Municipality area around 9:30am, leaving him spot dead.

The body was handed over to the family members without autopsy after completing all the legislative process, the SI said adding that police have seized the truck involved in the accident.

A case was lodged in this connection while the truck driver and its assistant managed to flee after the incident. l

Man held with Tk3,75 crore gold n Tribune Report Custom officials detained a man along with 64 gold bars worth Tk3.75 crore at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in the capital yesterday.

Detained 37-year-old Abdul Latif hails from Satkania upazila in Chittagong.

Umme Nahida Akter, an assistant director of the Customs Intelligence at the airport, said they stopped and checked Latif as his movement was suspicious and found the 7.5 kg gold in three packets of Benson and Hedges cigarettes at around 8:30am. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Sunday, October 19, 2014

60,000 students suffering from drinking water crisis

Microbus hijacked, driver killed

n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

n

About 60,000 students of 146 institutions in Muksudpur upazila of Gopalganj district have been suffering from fresh water crisis due to arsenic contamination in groundwater.

According to sources, tube wells of the institutions had been marked with red colour by a non government organization about 8-10 years ago. But now there is no red sign on the tube wells as the colour had been washed way for several reasons.

The tub wells also have no pitcher filter system for obtaining pure water.

Inhabitants of the upazila demand arsenic-free tube wells for their safety. They become angry when they see health workers or outsiders coming to advise them.

They say only after arsenic-free tube wells have been installed, they would talk to them.

According to health engineering department sources, arsenic test cannot be conducted for the tube wells in 43

high schools and 103 primary schools in the upazila due to fund shortage.

The officials overseeing groundwater, said that an extensive survey should be carried out in the area that is known to be arsenic-prone.

The sources said 91 primary schools out of 194 had been given pitcher-filter and the rest would be given gradually.

People in the upazila have been chronically exposed to arsenic in their drinking water, which is considered as a great threat to public health.

Students and teachers of SJ High School and Pilot School alleged that they had to face the problem of drinking water as the tube wells of the schools have been lying uncared for long time.

While many schools were visited it was found that there was some sort of arrangements of drinking water as the tube wells were arsenic contaminated.

Teacher Suil Kumer of SJ High School said they had to fetch water from a tube well in a madrasa near by.

“We have informed the matter to the

higher authority,” he said.

“The students and youngsters must be educated on the importance of fresh water and should be taught to use it consciously,” he also said.

It is predicted that the people in the area face water crises due to arsenic problem. By the development of new technologies many a governmental and non governmental organisation are working to mitigate the effect of such a crisis, said an officer of the department.

The guardians of these schools alleged they had to buy fresh water bottle from the shops for their kids as there is no drinking water in their schools.

Upazila Family Planning Officer AR Das said:“Tube well water in the upazila is suffering from a high level of arsenic concentration.”

“The water of the tube wells is vulnerable to human health,” he said.

Upazila Primary School Education Officer Nazrul Islam said: “The government should take step for setting up arsenic contamination free deep tube wells in these schools immediately.” l

Child abducted, skeleton found n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi Police yesterday morning recovered parts of remains of a child 34 days after abduction from a bush in Atushal village of Manohardi upazila, Narsingdi. Clothes worn by the child during abduction was also found at that time.

Four-year old Ashraful Jahan Sony was abducted on September 16 by neighbour Majeda Begum and her son Haris Mia to avenge a trifle family rivalry. The abductors after being arrested by law enforcers confessed the murder.

According to police, Haris Mia dam-

aged the motorcycle owned by Sony’s father Shaheen’s brother-in-law while riding it. In a salish by respected locals, Haris was made to pay for the damage. But this enraged Haris, who threatened Shaheen of grave consequences. Two days after the incidents, Shaheen’s son Sony was abducted while playing near the house.

Failing to find the boy, a general diary was lodged on September 20 and a missing note was also published in the newspaper.

Meanwhile, the abductors sent Shaheen a Bikash number and demanded one lakh Taka ransom for the child. Shaheen sent Tk60,000 in two instalments

and promised to pay the rest soon.

After being informed, police and RAB11 arrested suspects Manzil Mia, Abul Kalam, Nayan Mia, Zahir Mia and Roksana by using mobile device tracking technology. However, no information about the child could be obtained from them.

Finally, when Haris Mia and Majeda Begum were arrested and interrogated on Friday, they confessed the murder.

According to their information, police recovered Sony’s skull, teeth, bones and clothes from a bush. Sony’s father confirmed the remains to be his son’s by identifying the clothes. l

Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Driver of a microbus was killed after being hijacked by a group of miscreants from Malekerbari area under Gazipur city corporation early yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Parvez, 18, son of Abdur Razzak of the area. Police recovered the body from Ghorashal area on Narsingdi-Ghorashal highway and arrested Rafiq, 26, for his alleged involvement in the killing.

Owner of the microbus Nuruzzaman said, six men had rented the microbus for a trip to Narsingdi on Friday evening. When the microbus reached Ghorashal area at around 9:30pm, they fastened the neck of the driver Parvez with a rope. They threw helper Suruz out of the vehicle and took off with

the microbus and the driver. Later, Suruz informed the owner about the incident.

Sub-inspector of Joydebpur police station Nazmul Haque said, upon information police first rescued Suruz and detained him. According to his information, police then went on an operation and arrested Rafiq from Sharifpur area of Gazipur. The microbus was recovered from Uttara on Saturday morning.

According to the information of Rafiq and Suruz after interrogation, Police later recovered the body of driver Parvez from a waterland beside Narsingdi-Ghorashal highway.

Police said, the arrestee Rafiq hailing from Sharifpur area was involved in various crimes in the area. l

Three detained with gold bar in Noakhali n Our correspondent, Noakhali Three people were detained with two pieces of gold bars at Sonaimuri upazila in Noakhali on early Saturday night.

The detainees were Habibur Rahman, Sohag and driver of an auto-rickshaw Md. Abul Kalam, all hailing from village Vimpur under Chatkhil upazila of the district.

Ashraful Alam, officer in-charge of Sonaimuri police station said, the detainees were going to Chatkhil by a CNG run auto-rickshaw from Chaumuhani. While the vehicle was crossing Sonaimuri college gate at around 2am, on duty patrol police searched them and found two pieces of gold bars in their possession.

A case was filed with the police in this connection. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Career

7

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Unconventional careers: the world of creative writing

J

n Nakibul Hoq

BIGSTOCK

dents who actually want to study physics are studying business, and those who want to study the fine arts are forced to enroll in engineering. But in terms of opportunities, the unconventional majors are nowhere behind.

Careers for creative writing majors

tend to be centered towards the traditional professions in literature. They are often editors of books, magazines and newspapers that have widespread circulation both online and offline.

In Bangladesh, majors in literature and creative writing often presume that

they will have no jobs or a prospect in any of the traditional careers. But in recent times, it has been seen that many of these graduates are finding work in embassies as translators and also working as translators of books from Bengali to English and vice versa. While these

on things unless you absolutely need them, and cut corners at every available opportunity.

Use your contract to your advantage

Fringe benefits such as medical insurance or coverage are often the last things on one’s mind before leaving a job, especially when the decision is based on passion. However, if you know the day you leave is imminent, now may be the time to schedule any medical or dental appointments you have been putting off all these years and still get it under your company's health coverage. You do not want to be jobless and suddenly be hit with a huge medical expense.

Throw away your cards

Unless you absolutely need to, stop using your credit cards right now. If you are leaving your job today, it is just one more extra payment to deal with tomorrow. If you know that your job is coming to a close, stop charging anything on your credit cards.

Create a portfolio

BIGSTOCK

In-between jobs n Ahsan Sajid

Y ‘There can be any number of reasons for you to hate going to work; if you know the reason you are lucky and if you don’t, you at least know that you need to make some kind of change to start enjoying working again’

our 30s are fast approaching and you are getting increasingly stuck in an industry you never cared for. Everyone you know seems to be more successful than you. You always valued one of your skills which you have not had an opportunity to use in years; you don't even know if you are good at it any more. You hate the people you work with.

There can be any number of reasons for you to hate going to work; if you know the reason you are lucky and if you don't, you at least know that you need to make some kind of change to start enjoying working again.

However, in the real world of early morning commutes, and paperwork and red tape, this is not so easily done.

Some of the biggest stress-inducing events in life are the death of a close one, the end of a relationship, moving out and joblessness. When you are without a job, every single decision becomes a dire one and every single expense calls for well-thought planning.

If you must make a change and pull the plug on your current job, unless you already have one lined up, you will be jobless and no matter how well you think you can take it, you will be unprepared for it. The following are a few tips and suggestions to tackle joblessness and life in-between jobs.

No matter when you plan to take the

leap, if you are already thinking about it, It is prudent to start preparing for it right now. Preparing for unemployment is difficult enough for a single person; if you have people depending on your pay check, then you are heading for troubled waters. Consider the following suggestions on how to get ready for it.

Save

The most important step to preparing for unemployment is to have a negligible rainy day fund. Negligible in this instance means enough money to last you three to six months without a job.

There is no such thing as unemployment benefits in Bangladesh, so unless you already have emergency money set aside, there is no time like right now to start saving. You do not want to lose your job and find yourself without a safety net.

Stay within means

Being thrifty is not a process, it is a way of life, which makes it difficult to attain unless you are used to living within your means. You don't just turn thriftiness on and off. You have to acclimatise yourself to it. I know plenty of people who will be broke and penniless on the second half of every month and never pick up the lesson when they are splurging on pay day the next month.

If you know you are heading towards unemployment, stop spending money

Once you get laid off, you will no longer have access to your workstation or work email; start collecting samples of your work (such as written pieces, proposal drafts, presentations or any tangible examples of your work) on a pen drive or email the files to your personal account. When you look for a new job, they will want to look at samples of your previous work, and you do not want to find yourself without access to them.

Do not forget networking

Networking is not a one-off activity but a constant development. However, unless the job expressly requires it, it is common to fall out of the practice.

When you are heading towards unemployment, you need to scurry towards your closest acquaintances and be on the lookout for opportunities. Keep an eye open for potential opportunities at all times, whether you are at a work event or a friend’s child’s birthday party.

Study your contract

Go through your employment contract thoroughly and figure out if you have any unused leaves left. It may be a good time to use them up before it is too late.

Also look through the sections regarding resignation and how long a notice you have to provide your employer, so you know how best to prepare for it.

may be on a project to project basis, they do strengthen the candidate’s portfolio and exposure to a circle.

The reason the majority of young students choose creative writing as their major is because they aspire to become a writer. They want to travel the

n Career Desk

W

e employ a number of communication techniques in our day-to-day interactions to make a point, persuade, demand, suggest etc. Many of these “techniques” such as examples, allegories, anecdotes, hypotheses etc. comes so naturally to us that we hardly ever think about it.

Similarly, like bad habits, there are a number of negative communication behaviours and styles that we are all guilty of to an extent without being aware of it.

One can imagine how detrimental this might be at the workplace, where how effectively and well we communicate may determine how fast and far we succeed.

These negative behaviours get in the way of effective relationship building, networking and simple civility. At the work place, they are more noticeable, as one wouldn’t be as forgiving of a colleague as they would of a family member, and thus they seem more amplified and reproachable.

Getting rid of certain negative communication behaviours which we are not even aware of is not an easy task. It means having to be aware of what you are saying, how, when and where you are saying it at all times.

Following is a short list of common negative communications behaviours or styles that many of us are guilty of.

If you spot any that you think may apply to you, you definitely have room for improvement.

Constant disagreements

A number of people get used to routinely disagreeing with everybody, especially when their job involves constant public interface. Next time you find yourself disagreeing with something again, whether you are right or not, try some tact. Unless you are talking about something related to work, most chatter at work is usually exactly that – chatter and small talk. If someone says something you disagree with, your life

Have the talk

Unemployment is a difficult and emotionally stressful time, not just for you but everyone who cares about you. If you are looking at an upcoming removal, have a talk with anyone who will be impacted by the loss of your job, such as your spouse, parents, children etc.

Make sure you are on the same page, and most importantly, can start prioritising and setting financial goals together. l

Nakibul Hoq is the Lead Manager of Content and Analytics of GradInsights, the research service of GradConnect. More articles from the team can be found at - www.gradinsights.com

Getting rid of negative habits that are holding you back at work

BIGSTOCK

ack Kerouac had it right when he mentioned that the world is actually changed by people who are passionate about their cause, and crazy enough to think that they can change the world.

After all, what use is human emotion if we cannot channel it into ways that ensure their proper utilisation?

One of the primary frustrations of today’s youngsters is not being able to study what their hearts actually want to.

They want to major in subjects they enjoy studying and thinking about, and desperately want to make their degrees aligned to what they hope to do in the world.

But this is exactly where the average Bangladeshi youth is constantly facing problems. In the public universities you don’t get to choose which subject you will study for your undergraduate education that easily. It depends on how well you have done in the admissions exams, how good your past academic records are and how competitive the selection pool is. And undoubtedly, in a country with such a huge population, there is an enormous demand for every seat at a public university where there is not only prestige but also low tuition rates subsidised by taxpayers’ money.

Bangladeshi parents are not very helpful either when it comes to their children choosing their own subject of interest. They want their children, for whom they have invested a huge amount of time and resources for schooling, to study things that will pay a good return in the near future. They want their children to become doctors, engineers, business executives, lawyers and other established professionals so that they can have a smooth career waiting for them.

This is why it is often seen that stu-

world, write about their experiences in life and make readers read about what they have to say. But this is where the catch has always been: time and again it has been proved that you need not be a creative writing expert to become the author of a bestseller. Probably the most famous example in the subcontinent is Chetan Bhagat, a writer who was actually an investment banker and had studied engineering and business, but later went on to become a fulltime writer.

Globally, publishing houses have been the highest recruiter of candidates who have majored in creative writing. But even then, the publishing houses choose a prospective employee not just based on glowing recommendations and a great portfolio, but also on how creative the individual is.

The case is similar for screenplay writers or writers who write for the visual media. It is hardly their degree that matter. It is more about their achievement and their creativity, and how well they know their audience. Their job is to use the art to engage the mass-public and for that, professional certifications might be helpful but it is always more about their talent.

A talented mind will go a long way in this pathway, but such talents are often hard to come by. As earlier mentioned, the myth that creative writing majors become novelists is only that: a myth.

The truth is, most of the world’s famed writers weren’t necessarily hardpressed on learning how to write. They used their skills to tell a story in a way that appealed to the audience, and that is what made most of the difference. l

does not depend upon turning your cafeteria into the parliamentary floor.

Complaints

There are a number of levels to this particular problem. Continuous whining about the heat, traffic or your workload may all be legitimate complaints or even common grounds to start a conversation with a colleague, but you do not want to be known as a complainer.

Ask yourself if you are always complaining about something or the other, and how interested others are to hear about it. It doesn’t matter whether your complaints are legitimate or petty. This isn’t a difficult habit to eliminate.

Knowing-it-all

People with this character flaw are usually guilty of pushing others with words. No matter how much more experience and wisdom you have than the person you are communicating with, nobody likes to constantly hear “you should”. Stop telling people what they should or shouldn’t do.

Interruptions

Disrupting others’ train of thought is something we have always been told not to do. This is something all parents teach their children from an early age and yet a surprisingly large number of people never pay heed. Do not start talking while another person is still talking. If you have something to say wait till the other person is done, or interject politely. Do not hijack the conversation.

Seeking approval

Don’t persistently look for approval. It comes off as insincere because most of the times when someone is seeking for approval, they hardly care for feedback or suggestions and just want everyone else to agree with them. If someone agrees with you, they’ll make it clear.

Do not attempt to engineer situations where you try to get others to agree with you or compliment you. l

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Iraqi government complete amid fierce fighting n BBC Iraq’s parliament has approved new defence and interior ministers, completing the new Iraqi government after weeks of delay.

Mohammed Salem al-Ghabban, a Shia, was appointed interior minister, while Khaled al-Obeidi, a Sunni, was confirmed as defence minister.

It comes as Iraq’s military seeks to tackle Islamic State (IS) militants who have seized large parts of the country.

On Friday, a curfew was imposed in the city of Ramadi amid fierce fighting.

The vote by Iraqi MPs will be a big relief both inside and outside Iraq after weeks of wrangling, says BBC Arab affairs editor Sebastian Usher.

A more inclusive cabinet is seen as an essential first step in countering IS fighters, particularly among Iraq’s Sunni minority, our correspondent adds.

The previous Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki was forced to resign in August, as the Sunni Arab and Kurdish communities accused his administration of pursuing sectarian policies.

IS militants had exploited discontent with Mr Maliki’s government, initially gaining the co-operation of some Sunni rebels.

A new unity government was sworn in on 8 September, headed by Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi, with Sunni and Kurdish deputy prime ministers.

Kurds thwart new Kobane IS bid n AFP Kurdish forces in the Syrian town of Kobane repulsed a new attempt by Islamic State fighters to cut off the border with Turkey Saturday as troops battled the jihadists in neighbouring Iraq.

A Kurdish official reported five new US-led strikes around Kobane overnight as the coalition kept up its air support for the town’s defenders.

But the US military said that while it saw some “encouraging” signs, the strikes might not prevent Kobane’s fall and its priority remained the campaign against the Islamic State (IS) group in Iraq.

Heavy IS mortar fire hit the Syrian side of the border crossing with Turkey which is the Kurdish fighters’ sole avenue for resupply and the only escape route for remaining civilians, Kurdish official Idris Nassen told AFP. The jihadists launched a fierce attack from the east towards the border gate before being pushed back, he added.

IS suffered heavy losses in the fighting and was forced to send in reinforcements, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

The jihadists lost 21 of their people to air strikes and another 14 in ground fighting on Friday, the Britain-based monitoring group said. The Kurds lost three of their fighters.

An AFP correspondent on the Turkish side reported sporadic mortar fire very close to the border crossing on Saturday afternoon. l

However, the key posts of interior and defence minister had not been filled until now, with previous nominations by Mr Abadi rejected by parliament.

Car bombs

Iraqi government forces, supported by US-led air strikes, are battling IS militants near Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, and the city of Tikrit, which was seized by IS earlier this year.

Anbar is a strategically important province, and home to Iraq’s second-largest dam, the Haditha dam.

Seizing Anbar would give IS control of a stretch of territory across much of Syria and Iraq, enabling it to establish a supply line and potentially launch attacks on the Iraqi capital, Baghdad.

On Thursday, officials said more than 40 people were killed and dozens wounded in a series of attacks in mainly Shia areas of Baghdad.

The capital was rocked by further attacks on Friday night, as a series of car bombs killed at least 23 people.

Meanwhile, US military officials said in a statement that they had conducted 10 airstrikes against IS targets in Iraq, and 15 air strikes against IS targets in Syria, on Friday and Saturday.

IS buildings, oil facilities and armed vehicles were among the targets destroyed, the statement added. l

US President Barack Obama told Americans on Saturday not to “give in to hysteria or fear” over the deadly Ebola virus, calling for patience and a sense of perspective.

In his weekly address to the nation, Obama also played down the idea of a travel ban from West Africa, the epicenter of the outbreak, saying such restrictions would only exacerbate the crisis.

“All of us – citizens, leaders, the media – have a responsibility and a role to play,” Obama said.

“This is a serious disease, but we can’t give in to hysteria or fear – because that only makes it harder to get people the accurate information they need. We have to be guided by the science. We have to remember the basic facts.”

It comes a day after the World Bank warned the fight to stop Ebola was being lost and the World Health Organization said that, as of October 14, 4,555 people had died from the disease out of 9,216 registered cases.

The United States – where a Liberian man died from Ebola on October 8 and two American nurses who treated him have tested positive – was not seeing an “outbreak” or

Sunday, October 19, 2014

WAR AGAINST THE ISLAMIC STATE

NEWS BITES

Pentagon gears up for the long haul

Philippine rebels free German hostages

n AP

n Agencies

Ten weeks into its war against Islamic State extremists, the Pentagon is settling in for the long haul, short on big early successes but still banking on enlisting Syrians and Iraqis to fight the ground war so that US troops won’t have to.

The US general overseeing the campaign on Friday predicted that the jihadists will be “much degraded” by airstrikes a year from now, in part because he is focusing attacks on those resources that enable IS to sustain itself and resupply its fighters.

On Friday, for example, the US military said one of its six airstrikes overnight in Syria hit several IS petroleum storage tanks and a pumping station — sites that are central to the militants’ ability to resupply their forces and generate revenue. Likewise, it said two coalition airstrikes in Iraq damaged or destroyed IS military targets near the contested town of Beiji, home of Iraq’s largest oil refinery.

In his first public overview of the campaign he leads from the Florida headquarters of US Central Command, Army Gen. Lloyd Austin cautioned against expecting quick progress. He said he cannot predict how long it will take to right a wobbly Iraqi army and build a viable opposition ground force in Syria.

“The campaign to destroy ISIL will take time, and there will be occasional setbacks along the way,” Austin told a Pentagon news conference, “particularly in these early stages of the cam-

paign as we coach and mentor a force (in Iraq) that is actively working to regenerate capability after years of neglect and poor leadership.”

While hammering the jihadists daily from the air, the US military is talking of a years-long effort — one that will require more than aerial bombardment, will show results only gradually and may eventually call for a more aggressive use of US military advisers in Iraq.

“This isn’t going to get solved through 18 airstrikes around a particular town in a particular place in Syria. It’s going to take a long time,” the Pentagon press secretary, Rear Adm. John Kirby, said Thursday, referring to a recent concentration of American airstrikes on the Syrian city of Kobani, near the Turkish border.

That is one reason why the Pentagon is preparing to set up a more formally organized command structure, known in military parlance as a joint task force, to lead and coordinate the campaign from a forward headquarters, perhaps in Kuwait. On Wednesday it formally named the campaign “Operation Inherent Resolve.”

As of Thursday the US had launched nearly 300 airstrikes in Iraq and nearly 200 in Syria, and allies had tallied fewer than 100, according to Central Command. Those figures don’t capture the full scope of the effort because many airstrikes launch multiple bombs on multiple targets.

Central Command said that as of Wednesday, US and partner-nation air forces had dropped nearly 1,400 munitions.

Officials say the strikes have squeezed IS and slowed its battlefield momentum. More specifically, they claim they have destroyed an array of Islamic State military targets: command posts, sniper positions, artillery guns, armed trucks, tanks, mortar positions, buildings, mobile oil refineries and more. The Pentagon has shied from providing a body count, but Kirby said several hundred IS fighters have been killed in Kobani alone in recent days.

Yet the militants are making gains in some parts of Iraq, particular in Sunni-dominated Anbar province, even as they stall or retrench in other areas. At times they have appeared within reach of taking control of Syria’s Kobani.

Baghdad is not believed to be in imminent danger of falling but it is “certainly in their sights,” Kirby said.

Some US analysts call Obama’s approach overly cautious, given the comparatively small number of airstrikes launched thus far and the president’s refusal to involve US soldiers more directly in the ground war.

Calling it an “unserious air war,” analysts Mark Gunzinger and John Stillion of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments wrote this week on the center’s website, “In the end, no matter the reason, the timorous use of air power against Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria is unlikely to reduce the territory under their control, curb the brutal murder of innocent civilians or prevent the creation of a sanctuary for an enemy that has sworn to continue its fight on a more global scale.” l

T H E J OY O F R E U N I F I C AT I O N

Two German hostages have been freed by the Abu Sayyaf group in the southern Philippines, the Philippines military and the group have said, on the day the group had threatened to kill one of them.

The AP news agency on Friday quoted the Philippine defence secretary, Voltaire Gazmin, as saying the group had released Stefan Okonek, 71, and Henrite Dielen, in her 50s.

An Abu Sayyaf spokesman told a local radio station that they had been freed after the payment of a ransom of $5.6m.

The rebels had demanded the ransom and for Germany to stop supporting US-led air strikes in Syria, and had threatened to kill Okonek on Friday if their demands were not met.

Gamzin said he was “not privy” to information about a ransom payment.

Al Jazeera’s Harry Fawcett, reporting from Zamboanga City, said the release came after a day of tense negotiations involving a former German ambassador.

Germany’s foreign ministry has confirmed that the hostages had arrived at its embassy in Manila, according to the AFP news agency. l

Cameroon kills 107 Boko Haram fighters

n AFP Cameroon said Friday its army killed 107 Boko Haram fighters, while a police officer told AFP at least 30 civilians were murdered by the Islamist guerrilla group before the ambush.

The combat occurred Wednesday and Thursday after militants from the Nigeria-based Boko Haram drove into the border towns of Amchide and Limani, Cameroon’s defence ministry said in a statement read on state radio.

Officials said eight Cameroonian soldiers died in the battle, which the ministry called “fighting of rare violence.”

It was not possible to independently verify the information or the toll.

Boko Haram rebels, who have been waging attacks in northern Nigeria and who kidnapped more than 200 school girls in April, frequently cross into neighbouring Cameroon. l

Power out for thousands in Bermuda as hurricane moves away

n Reuters

Israeli survivors from the blizzard hug each other, as they get ready to board a bus to the airport to head back to their country in Kathmandu October 18. Nepali troops on Saturday searched rugged snow-covered Himalayan terrain in their most intensive effort to find any remaining survivors of a blizzard that killed 30 people and injured 175 in one of the country’s worst mountain disasters. More than 40 people are still missing after unseasonal weather in peak trekking season unleashed avalanches on the 240-km (150-mile) route around Annapurna, the world’s 10th-tallest peak, which takes enthusiasts three weeks to finish REUTERS

Obama calls for end to Ebola ‘hysteria’ n AFP

World

“epidemic,” Obama stressed.

But as fear of Ebola heightens across the United States, Obama admitted more “isolated” cases were possible.

“But we know how to wage this fight,” he said.

“And if we take the steps that are necessary, if we’re guided by the science – the facts, not fear – then I am absolutely confident that we can prevent a serious outbreak here in the United States, and we can continue to lead the world in this urgent effort.”

However, cutting off West Africa, for example by way of a travel ban, was not the answer, he cautioned.

“Our medical experts tell us that the best way to stop this disease is to stop it at its source – before it spreads even wider and becomes even more difficult to contain,” he said.

“Trying to seal off an entire region of the world – if that were even possible – could actually make the situation worse.

“It would make it harder to move health workers and supplies back and forth. Experience shows that it could also cause people in the affected region to change their travel, to evade screening, and make the disease even harder to track.” l

Cautious optimism over Nigeria’s kidnapped girls n AP There’s no dancing in the streets, but people in the hometown of more than 200 kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls are cautiously optimistic about news of a cease-fire with the Islamic extremists who abducted their daughters six months ago.

“We don’t know how true it is until we prove it,” said Bana Lawan, chairman of Chibok Local Government Area.

“We will know the negotiations were successful when we see the girls physically. And then we will know it is true.

And then we will celebrate.”

Community leader Pogu Bitrus says “people rejoiced, but with caution.”

Both men said residents have been disappointed too many times in the past by reports of progress by Nigeria’s government and military that later proved to be false. That is why they are skeptical of the army’s announcement Friday that Boko Haram extremists have agreed to an immediate cease-fire.

Some reports said the truce includes an agreement to free the girls missing from Chibok town.

But government spokesman Mike Omeri would say only that authorities

are “inching closer to the release of the Chibok girls.”

On Friday, French President Francois Hollande welcomed the “good news” and told a news conference in Paris that the girls’ release “could happen in the coming hours and days.”

France has been involved in negotiations that led to the release of several of its citizens kidnapped by Boko Haram in Cameroon.

Residents have been disappointed too many times in the past by reports of progress Neither Hollande nor Nigerian government officials gave any details.

There was no immediate word from Boko Haram, which limits its public engagement to video announcements by its leader, Abubakar Shekau. Last year, when a government minister announced an agreement, Shekau quickly denied it. He said at that time that whoever the government negotiated

with did not speak for him, and that he would never talk to infidels.

Chibok community leader Bitrus told The Associated Press in a telephone interview, “We are waiting, hoping that it is really true and that the people who negotiated on Boko Haram’s side, that they are the genuine leaders.”

Boko Haram — the group’s nickname means “education is sinful” — drew international condemnation with the April kidnapping of 276 girls and young women at a boarding school in the remote northeastern town of Chibok.

Dozens escaped in the first couple of days, but 219 remain missing.

Boko Haram had been demanding the release of detained extremists but Jonathan originally said he could not countenance a prisoner swap. On Saturday, an official at the presidency said the current negotiations are about releasing Boko Haram members in exchange for the girls. He spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter is sensitive.

“Sometimes these people, they will say something and they will not act,” said Lawan, speaking from Maiduguri, the Borno state capital in the northeast.

“We just pray that this is true.” l

Power was out for tens of thousands in Bermuda on Saturday morning after Hurricane Gonzalo pummeled the island with torrential rain and howling winds through the night, but there have been no reports of serious injuries.

The eye of the strongest storm to sweep the subtropical British territory in a decade was 200 miles northeast of the island by early Saturday morning after making landfall the night before, the US National Hurricane Center in Miami said.

Gonzalo whipped the island with maximum sustained winds of around 110 miles per hour (175 kph), forecasters said, with hurricane force winds extending out some 45 miles (72 km) from the eye.

Damage from the storm was believed to be widespread in Bermuda, a tourist destination and affluent insurance industry hub, but authorities were waiting for daylight to assess the full extent of it, a spokeswoman for the Emergency Measures Organization said early on Saturday. l

South Korea concert planner found dead in Seongnam

n BBC A man involved in planning a concert that ended in tragedy in South Korea on Friday has been found dead in an apparent suicide, police say.

Sixteen people died and 11 were injured when a ventilation grate collapsed during the concert in Seongnam.

The 37-year-old man, identified as Mr Oh, worked for one of the sponsors and handled safety measures, officials say.

He is believed to have jumped from a 10-storey building near the venue after being questioned by police.

The body of Mr Oh, an employee of the Gyeonggi Institute of Science and Technology Promotion, was found early on Saturday morning, city spokesperson Kim Nam-jun said.

Officials say he left a note to his wife which reads: “I am sorry for the dead victims. Please take a good care of my children.”

Police have questioned 15 others in relation to the incident, including employees of the local online news service who organised the event, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Special

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Sunday, October 19, 2014

Building bridges Dhaka Tribune presents excerpts from APJ Abdul Kalam’s keynote address from the 110th anniversary of MCCI

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ormer Indian President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam discussed about “a world of nations where the divide between rural and urban, rich and the poor, developed and developing has to be narrowed down” at a ceremony marking the 110th Anniversary of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) in Dhaka yesterday.

Dr APJ Kalam presented the keynote address titled “Sustainable development system for a peaceful and prosperous global society.” Following are the excerpts from his address: I would like to share with you some points of my address and a joint call to the heads of states and governments who attended the 14th Saarc Summit at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on 3rd April 2007. The subject I discussed with Saarc chiefs was Realizing the uniqueness of Saarc.

“Together we Saarc nations represent 1.47 billion people (now 1.7 billion) of this planet, which is around 25% of the world population. The inspiring and unique aspects of Saarc countries, that we share, are: firstly, the high intensity of bio-diversity in our region; secondly, we have the largest population of youth

various factors.

Dynamics of global manifestations

The world today is integrally connected through four rapid connectivities.

They are environment, people, economy and ideas. We all know the global warming and climate change are no loner problems of individual nations, they are planetary problems.

In the present time, a single product may be made out of components sourced from multiple continents and provide services to markets far off from their place of origin. We also saw, how the economic turbulence originating in one part of the globe shook the whole world.

Globalisation

When I was traveling in an aircraft in USA, I was told that much of its controls were software driven and most probably developed in India. When I presented my credit card, I was told that it was being processed in the backend server located in Mauritius. When I walked into a multinational software company in Bangalore, I was fascinated to find that it truly presented a multicultural environment.

A software developer from China,

I feel that the only hope for such borderless interaction to continue is to inculcate the spirit of ‘borderlessness’ in every human activity on our planet Earth

of the world; thirdly, our combined purchasing power has the potential to be the highest in the world; and also we are blessed and interconnected with a civilizational heritage that goes back for thousands of years.

“What better environment can any region in the world have, which is more favorable for socio-economic development, promoting peace and prosperity of the region as a whole, if we share a common vision and work together to realize our vision through dynamic missions.”

As you all might know, India and Bangladesh are historically linked as friends and share trade, natural resources and people.

In terms of trade, over 15% of Bangladeshi imports come from India and Bangladesh is now India’s largest trading partner in the subcontinent with total trade volume crossing $6bn mark. In fact, experts predict that this number may even cross $10bn mark by 2018. Of course, for this to happen there has to be focused effort from the government and industries from both nations to reach out to each other.

This aspect needs to be addressed too as it harms industries for both India and Bangladesh. Both nations have to regulate their trade and business with border agreements and legal framework for trade and this will assist the economic progress of both the nations.

working under a project leader from Korea, working with a software engineer from India and a hardware architect from the US and communication expert from Germany, were all working together to solve the banking problem in Australia.

When I see all of them working together like one family forgetting about the culture from which they came or the language they speak, I feel that the only hope for such borderless interaction to continue is to inculcate the spirit of “borderlessness” in every human activity on our planet Earth.

Based on detailed discussions in many educational institutions across the world and with many citizens in India and abroad from multiple organizations, and disciplines, I am happy to present to you on distinctive profile for the Nations of the World in 2030, as follows:

them vulnerable to the changing climate conditions, both in terms of habitat variations and natural calamities.

Moreover, they have a high rural population percentage, mainly involved in agricultural activities, about 50% of the total employed workforce.

The region, while it represents emergent economies, also has the challenges of overcoming poverty, inequity and societal disparities which are more than other regions in the world. Thus, with such a human resource and opportunities, how can we empower the people of the Saarc region with economic prosperity and security, peace and harmony?

This will be the most vital question to address in our quest towards a World Vision 2030. We will need systems of sustainable development for the international rural community which today account for about half of humanity.

Empowering of these 3 billion people worldwide, out of which more than half are in Saarc region, will be the basis of our discussion further. One such system of empowerment is that of Pura or Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas.

In my view for achieving sustainable development system in our rural complexes, we need Pura – Providing Urban Amenities in Rural Areas, which envisages four types of connectivity, namely; physical, electronic and knowledge

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between rural and urban, rich and the poor, developed and developing has narrowed down.

A world of nations where there is an equitable distribution and adequate access to energy and quality water.

A world where core competencies of each nation are identified. Missions synergizing the core competencies of different nations lead to economic advantage and faster development for all the societies.

A world of nations where all the students of all societies are imparted education with value system.

A world of nations where affordable quality health care is available to all.

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Out-of-the-box Ideas needed: Focus Saarc

The Saarc region, to which we all belong, today represent about 1 out of every four human beings on the planet.

Moreover, the region has a high concentration of youth of the world and is rich with great traditions, cultures, and religions. At the same time, because of the high population the region is also marked by low per capita resources availability which necessitates a focus on efficient and eco-friendly management of the resources. Some of the nations of the region are within the tropics and near the coasts, which makes

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nance is responsive, transparent and corruption free.

A world of nations where crimes against women and children are absent and none in the society feels alienated.

A world in which every nation is able to give a clean green environment to its citizens.

A world that is prosperous, healthy, secure, devoid of terrorism, peaceful and happy and continues with a sustainable growth path.

A world of nations with creative leadership who ensure effective mechanisms to resolve conflicts between nations and societies in a timely manner keeping overall peace and prosperity of the world as a goal.

connectivity leading to economic connectivity of the complex. Such Pura is driven by rural entrepreneurship and becomes a growth centre for the entire region.

Pura: Connectivities which lead to it

Pura essentially requires four levels of connectivity which have to be customised according to local competencies and needs. It means that: l

The villages must be connected with in themselves and with main towns and metros through by good roads and wherever needed by railway lines. They must have other

RAJIB DHAR

infrastructure like schools, colleges, hospitals and amenities for the local population and the visitors.

This is physical connectivity.

In the emerging knowledge era, the native knowledge has to be preserved and enhanced with latest tools of technology, training, and research. The villages have to have access to good education from best teachers wherever they are, must have the benefit of good medical treatment, and must have latest information on their pursuits like agriculture, fishery, horticulture and food processing. That means they have to have electronic connectivity.

scale industrial partnerships can play an active role in realising such a sustainable development mission.

Khulna division Pura complexes in Bangladesh

Let me now present a Pura Model for the Khulna Division of Bangladesh. It represents a population of over 15 million out of which over 10 million are rural. The region represents forecast and deltaic conditions - and we calculate that about 150 Pura complexes need to be developed in the region.

One of the primary agro products of the region is Jute and Jute Products. As new products are coming, we need to

The region [Saarc], while it represents emergent economies, also has the challenges of overcoming poverty, inequity and societal disparities which are more than other regions in the world

Distinctive profile for the Nations of the World in 2030

Global challenges

Today, the challenges in some part of the world are poverty, illiteracy, need of safe drinking water, clean and green energy, equitable distribution of resources, quality education with values for all, overcoming societal imbalances, curing diseases, quality healthcare for all and good living conditions.

Individual nations are working to find a solution to these challenges.

However, we are clearly witnessing that challenges faced by nations are not only of their making or the solutions amenable only by the individual nations. There are many international dimensions for the cause and solutions. Hence, working for solutions is a collective responsibility of the global community.

Also, when nations start working on the common enemies of illiteracy, poor health care etc, their tendency to focus on national, regional and global peace with better mutual trust is enabled. The global challenges take various manifestations based on the local dynamics which are interconnected on

APJ Abdul Kalam delivering his keynote speech

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Once the physical and electronic connectivity are enabled, the knowledge connectivity is enabled.

That can facilitate the ability to increase the productivity, the utilisation of spare time, awareness of health welfare, ensuring a market for products, increasing quality conscience, interacting with partners, getting the best equipment, increasing transparency and so in general knowledge connectivity, that progresses core competence of the rural environment with additional to technology. Hence, these three connectivities integrated way lead to economic connectivity.

Once the three connectivities viz physical, electronic and knowledge connectivity are ensured, they facilitate earning capacity leading to economic connectivity. When we provide urban amenities to rural areas (Pura), we can lead to upliftment of rural areas, we can attract investors, we can introduce effectively useful systems like rural BPOs, Micro Finance and smallscale industries.

India will need 7000 Pura complexes with the four connectivities which I have discussed. There are numbers of operational Pura in our country, initiated by mane educational, healthcare institutions, industry and other institutions. Government of India is already moving ahead with the implementation of Pura on the national scale across several districts of India.

Bangladesh, with over 100 million rural citizens would need about 1000 Pura complexes to make its rural areas vibrant engines of development and growth. These Puras can be based on agriculture, such as jute and fish products, industry including Hi-tech and tourism. I am sure MCCI, with wide

find how technological advances in the Jute Industry can help the empowerment of the jute manufacturers of Khuna Pura Complexes and improve their income. For this we need a cooperative based structure by the farmers who manage production, processing, technological reinforcement and marketing of the Jute products in the regions as independent enterprises.

Recently, I came across the Jute-thermoplastic composite based shoe components (toe puff & counter stiffeners) that have been developed under a project launched by a private company with technology support from the Indian Jute Industries Research Association (IJIRA), Kolkata. The project aimed at developing jute-thermoplastic composite components such as toe puff, counter stiffener, insoles etc. for footwear thus giving value addition and competitive advantage to the Jute products. There should be a free flow of such knowledge and skills of the Jute industry between various nations to the mutual benefit of India and Bangladesh. About 50 Puras can be built around this core competency. MCCI can act as a facilitator for such a mission.

Another skill based industry of the Khulna Division Puras would be that of the Bamboo based products which has been traditional product of the region.

This would need formation of Self Help Groups who are trained and developed as entrepreneurs. About 30 Puras can be built around this core competency.

India has a rich experience of Bamboo products in its North Eastern regions.

The scientific community also need to find ways to enhance the value of the products. For example, coir, jute and bamboo are not providing continuous fibre. In addition, they absorb moisture and they are not fire proof. Research and development input is needed to

make these fibres, moisture proof and fire proof. I would like to suggest MCCI to come together and create a Platform for natural fibres.

For India and Bangladesh, it is a great opportunity to take a visionary action to replace and eliminate plastic products throughout the world by technology, development and marketing.

The largest mangrove forest in the world – the Sundarban – is spread over the three most southern districts of Satkhira, Khulna and Bagerhat within the Khulna Division. This is a great opportunity to focus on development of forest products and eco-tourism which can be the core economic activity of about 25 out of the total Puras discussed. There can be allied industry of hospitality, tour guide which can generate multiple employment opportunities.

The key human development needs, which are largely derivatives of the extreme poverty, can be enlisted as, and need to focus on in the Khulna Pura mission: l Literacy level and vocational training l Focus of social entrepreneurs who can bring clean water, hygiene and sanitation to the people. Recently, the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) has developed Green Toilets based on Vaccum and Bacteria Digesters for the Indian Railways which can be employed in the rural development domain as well.

Lack of access to financial services, with only few commercial bank offices present in the area. More financial services are the need of the hour.

Lack of healthcare facilities propels the demand of innovatively laid out healthcare services. l

Qualities of Leadership a. Leader must have a vision. b. Leader must have a passion to accomplish the mission. c. Leader must be able to travel into an unexplored path. d. Leader must know how to manage a success and failure. e. Leader must have courage to take decision. f. Leader should have Nobility in management. g. Every action of the leader should be transparent. h. Leader should work with integrity and succeed with integrity.

I have been discussing these essential traits of creative leaders with people of eminence in different areas and students from India and abroad.

Apart from this what is needed is the spirit among the youth that “I can do it, we can do it and the nation can do it.”

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Sunday, October 19, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Make abortions safe, not life-threatening

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growing number of women are resorting to abortions in unsafe conditions and facilities.

The number of unwanted pregnancies is especially high among teenage girls and our reporters in Dhaka found more than 150 unsafe illegal abortions taking place every day in Mirpur and Shyamoli alone.

There are believed to be over half a million women suffering from complications from unsafe and illegal abortions. With the demand for abortion growing, there is a marked risk of this figure rising.

The government needs to review the law and facilities available to ensure that more women do not suffer the life threatening risks inherent in illegal and unsafe abortions.

At present, the law makes it illegal for women to get an abortion after 10 weeks of conception and severely limits the facilities and options available for most women.

The lack of available legal facilities willing to do abortions has only increased the number of women undertaking procedures in poorly monitored or unsafe facilities.

No woman should have to find herself in a situation in which she has to resort to back alley abortions that might, and at times do, cause irreparable harm, or, worse, may even cost her life.

Women should have the fundamental right to get an abortion, at least anytime during their first trimester and partly through their second trimester. It needs to be viewed as a medical procedure that medical professionals are able to provide in ways which are inexpensive and safe. There should be no harassment or unfair treatment to women who consider or undergo abortions.

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

Will the real Muslim please stand up?

October 12

No woman should have to take the risks inherent in unsafe abortion

Building new cities helps

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ingapore has expressed interest in constructing an independently-operating city which would incorporate modern-day facilities on the outskirts of Dhaka at Purbachal.

Bangladesh can benefit greatly by building this type of proposed new urban centre. It could both improve infrastructure and support moves towards decentralisation to relieve pressures on Dhaka.

Although building an entirely new city is a massive undertaking, the experience and capability available from Singapore should provide a fillip to its construction and quality.

With people from all parts of the country migrating in at an inexorable rate, the resources and infrastructure of Dhaka are being exhausted well beyond the city’s capacity. This is a direct result of the capital being considered the sole urban zone which can offer a decent living in the minds of many Bangladeshis.

We need to build more modern centres and facilities all around the country to reduce the pressures caused by this perception. In terms of costs, building a city from-the-ground-up is more likely to save money in the long run than simply pouring increasing amounts of funds into improving the condition of Dhaka alone, which, in the past, has yielded little in the way of desired results.

New cities are just what the country needs in order to shift the brunt of the focus away from Dhaka – a city which we’ve been continuously failing to take better care and preserve the heritage of – and bring the rest of the country up to standards.

New cities are just what the country needs in order to shift the brunt of the focus away from Dhaka

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 2 represents U so fill U every time the figure 2 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

it against allegations of supremacy. I can see how some people might get angry that he puts Islam on the same level as other religions, but that’s just the inability of those people to soften their hearts and minds or to see beyond the superficial.

Roonie The writer is confused. I couldn’t get his message.

It seems it’s easy these days to become famous overnight by writing anything against Islam. The writer tried to do exactly this.

Evil people politics Roonie: There’s nothing in this article that explicitly spells out the writer being against Islam. Give the article a thorough read before you attempt to talk smack about it.

Momoaswan Roonie: On the contrary, the writer’s message is very clear, and there’s nothing in his piece to suggest he is trying to become famous by stigmatising Mulsims.

The piece clearly implies Maher could play the Joker without any make-up (correct), and states he is wrong to stereotype all Muslims as the same.

An obvious point but one that constantly needs to be made – it is one thing for a privileged Western atheist to criticise all religions, but when the same person goes on to say Islam is a uniquely bad religion, that is not only unfair, but is Islamophobic as, regardless of Maher’s views, it appeals to racists who care little about religion vs atheism, but are afraid of brown people.

Kashef Golam Md Roonie: The writer isn’t confused. Nor is he writing anything against Islam. He’s actually defending

No impunity for sexual harassment

Qtiya Roonie: If one writes about garbage itself, there would be plenty of mention of garbage. Hardly circular logic. He has only stated well understood (but less echoed) facts.

Thanks for truly identifying what the religion actually is.

Faceless Man As per the Islamic rules, s/he who follows the footsteps of the prophet Muhammad is the quintessential Muslim. So there isn’t none is not an acceptable statement to the religious Muslim because there are many who are constantly and relentlessly trying to be so.

Kashef Golam Md Faceless Man: Yes they are, and they’re ending up in different places. That’s what this article is saying. That’s a reality of the world and that’s a reality only a blind and fanatic fool will deny, religious or irreligious.

OM Some etymologists think eve teasing only goes back to the 1960s, even though the very use of the Biblical name Eve, with its old-school connotations of woman=temptress, reflects attitudes that are more Stone Age than Space age.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

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.

Faceless Man Kashef Golam Md: That doesn’t necessarily disprove my point though that there are quintessential Muslims and searching them is not a fool’s errand.

John Faithful Hamer There is, in your approach, a basic decency, a kindheartedness, a commitment to fairness, and a sense of humour, which are all sorely lacking in most writing on this subject. Thank you for bringing some sanity into a discussion that’s so often shrill, stupid, and – as you say – sophomoric.

Piash Karim passes away October 13

October 12

Bushra Mollick “Attitudes which normalise sexual harassment make it harder to deter violent crimes against women.”

This is a good piece.

SUDOKU

Sheikh Jinat Mahmid RIP sir.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Sooty matter (4) 6 Short sleep (3) 7 Conceal (4) 9 Miss achievement (4) 10 Trees (5) 11 Singer (5) 12 First woman (3) 14 Evil spirit (5) 17 Lowest point (5) 20 Land measure (3) 21 Whole sum (5) 23 Cried, as a cat (5) 25 Fissure (4) 26 Minute particle (4) 27 Facial twitch (3) 28 Expensive (4)

DOWN 1 Make more malleable (6) 2 Combined (6) 3 Story (4) 4 Loud noise (3) 5 Acceptance (3) 7 Employ (4) 8 Interior decoration (5) 10 School of whales (3) 13 Manservant (5) 15 Evil intent (6) 16 Drink of the gods (6) 18 Article (4) 19 Slender stick (3) 22 Dry (4) 23 Insane (3) 24 Affliction (3)

Naushad Ehsanul Huq One of the last, very few presentable intelligent people on the BNP side. I didn’t agree with all that he said, but it was inspiring to see how he dealt with some of the political hawks.

Parvej Ahmed Chowdhury May God ensure you a restful peace. Goodbye, boss. Heaven for you, insha’allah.

Aamir Khan made UNICEF ambassador for South Asia October 12

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

Tousif Jamal Well deserved, and someone who will sincerely work to make a positive impact.

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

Shakil Khan Yes, Aamir Khan is the best.

Police: Zubair was murdered October 13

Samia Khan Waiting to hear what kind of punishment will be given to Kadir, the killer.

Bullet from own gun kills a SI October 11

Sulaiman Shaheed Reyha He probably had no idea that there was a trigger lock in his gun.

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Kundera and the little prize n Faisal Mahmud

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BIGSTOCK

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n Iffat Nawaz

magine a scenario: You are in a long car ride, not with your family, but say, your co-workers. Imagine you are a working woman and you leave Dhaka frequently for work. Most of your colleagues are men, and they are passionate about their work just as you are. You go visit locations, collect stories, or work towards the development of something or other.

You wake up early and walk down village roads, sit near rivers, talk to people, collect data, take videos — whatever the work requires. And then you head back, presumably in a car.

Your days are so consuming that you don’t think about timely meals or other bodily needs, including the need to use the toilet.

Then you sit in cars for hours, two, three, four, six, seven. The highways support your movement and teach you how to hold it in. You do not mention your need to use the toilet as you doubt the existence of decent toilets, in the rest stops or CNG stations, for women. And even if you are okay with those poorly maintained outfits, you are embarrassed to tell the driver or your colleagues to stop.

And you hold it in longer, you hold it in till it burns, till your lower abdomen is in pain. Even if you want to, you cannot squat in the bushes, even if you are okay with a hole in the ground, you stop yourself because others would be uncomfortable. So you look at the houses by the highway and ponder which home may have had a

decent toilet for you to use.

Your bodily needs make you feel like a lesser being. You cannot stand and pee facing a wall like your male counterparts, you are afraid to drink water or any other liquid for hours at a time, worried it will make the situation worse.

Have you been in this position before? If you are a man then you probably have not, but if you are a woman, then you have, at least once

seeming weaker, with the “if it is not a problem for him, then it should not be a problem for her” logic.

I have done this countless times, others I know have too. Some reading this may say, it is my fault for not speaking up. And perhaps it is, but you see, this problem dates back a long while, starting from school, when our mothers discouraged us to make use of school toilets because they were public and hence unhygienic. Same thing

With all the women’s empowerment talk, no one has thought about the need for women who travel, and how they might need toilets

in your life, haven’t you? Some of you have developed urinary tract infection, you have taken antibiotics trying to balance between being a capable professional woman and just a human with humanly needs.

With all the development around the country, with all the women’s empowerment talk, no one has thought about the need for women who travel, and how they might need toilets, that they also need to empty their insides.

And the capable professional woman has also kept quiet in the fear of

continues into college and university and then in the workplace. Now my question is, does the perfect Bengali girl not pee?

And say you do express yourself and ask someone – most likely a man – that you need to use a restroom. You will notice the shyness on his face, and then of course the silent urgency for him to go find a toilet. He will most likely go consult a few others and figure out the best place for you to be “fresh” (most commonly used term towards woman referring to the need

to pee), he will return with one or two more people, and the whole bazar is now aware that you are looking for a place to urinate, so you walk down the road and go to the toilet found for you, and the entire time everyone looks at you from the corners of their eyes, you are no longer the perfect Bengali woman, you are open about your bodily needs, you talk about the needs of your privates. How unwomanly of you!

Every educated person talks about gender equality these days, people say they support treating each other right.

Yet, even after long gender trainings and awareness in this issue, we skirt over these basics which make us feel uncomfortable and often lead us towards illness, all for one of the most natural needs.

Dear prime minister, will you build us a thousand toilets so we can work around the country? We promise we won’t challenge our cultural norms too much, we will not talk about urination openly, we will just point to these outfits and tell our male colleagues “ektu fresh hotey hobe.” We will keep the toilets clean, we will even pay for it if that makes it easier.

And dear male colleagues, we have an ovary, we have a uterus, but we also have a liver and kidneys and the same organs which urge you to empty yourselves, so please don’t be embarrassed, it’s not news, we do it every day. Please don’t make us feel sorry for it, it’s as natural for us as it is for you, seriously, shotti bolchi. l

unknowingly fell in love with Milan Kundera’s work during my childhood. Renowned physicist Dr Ali Asgar used to live on the fourth floor of our building, and his younger son Vaskar was my classmate, and probably the first friend I’d ever made.

Almost every time I went to his house, he secretly brought out a book from his father’s library (a huge library, which probably had over 10,000 books), and we both read a part of that book intensely.

Now, I feel no shame to admit that it was a guilty pleasure. The book was a Bengali translation of one of Kundera’s finest work – The Joke. And the part we used to read was the one where Helena inadvertently stripped in front of Ludvik. I can’t remember properly right now for how long we continued to do that, but it was after my SSC exams that I actually thought of reading the whole book.

I read the whole book (an English translation), and it was a mixed journey back then. It was hard for me to understand the complex nature of Ludvik and I was too naïve to comprehend the jokes of Ludvik’s life. But the book did one good thing for me – it upgraded my reading habits from Jeffery Archer to a whole new level.

Four years later, when I was a second-year university student, I read the book again. But things had changed a bit by then. I was kind of influenced by Samajtantric Chhatra Front (socialist student union) and I used to read a lot about communism. The journey was amazing then. “A healthy atmosphere stinks of stupidity!” “Long live Trotsky!” I was actually able to grasp the humour of that amazing line.

My affection for Kundera started then. PG Wodehouse is the writer who I would claim to be my favourite, but Kundera was something else. The hunt for his book in the old bookstores at Nilkhet had begun. The first one I found was Slowness. I read it; how much it had influenced me I can now say by giving one example – I enrolled for the French language course in Alliance Francaise, and when the instructor asked the customary question “why do you want to learn French?” I had replied “I want to read Slowness in French.” Slowness was one of Kundera’s books originally written in French instead of Czech.

Anyway, I dropped out only two semesters later, and the only line in French I can remember is – “Je reviendrai à apprendre le français” (I will

Iffat Nawaz is Acting Editor, Art & Letters, Dhaka Tribune.

be coming back to learn French).

Within a year, I found five of his ten novels. I could have easily gone to the large bookshops or asked my brother living abroad to send me Kundera’s books, but I just didn’t want to miss the sheer joy of hunting down his books one-by-one in the vast jungle of old books at Nilkhet.

I have been waiting for the announcement: ‘This year, Czech writer Milan Kundera gets the Nobel prize’

My favorite Kundera novel to date is The Unbearable Lightness of Being. It explores the artistic and intellectual life in Czech society during their Communist period, from the Prague Spring to the Soviet Union’s August 1968 invasion and its aftermath. I really can’t explain why, but I think the character Sabina, which Kundera sketched in that book as the epitome of the “lightness” of being, is a haunting character. Through her character, Kundera tried to portray love as fleeting, haphazard, and an endless string of insignificant coincidences. It was kind of scary to me.

Later, I saw its film adaptation, and the character was portrayed by Lena Olin in the film. She was amazing in her part, which consolidated my idea of considering Sabina the “haunting character,” who would repeatedly come to someone’s dream and whisper “life is insignificant, and decisions do not matter.”

I haven’t read any of Kundera’s works for the last six years. Somehow, my literary appetite has reached a place where I now prefer reading Reader’s Digest (no offense, it’s the greatest magazine of all time) instead of pure literature. But for every year since 2005, I have been eagerly waiting for the announcement: “This year, Czech writer Milan Kundera gets the Nobel prize for literature.” Unfortunately, I have been reminded time and again that Santa isn’t real. That blasted little prize! l Faisal Mahmud is a journalist with Dhaka Tribune.

WIKIMEDIA

Any more Latifs in the cabinet? n Niaz Saki

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atif Siddique has gotten himself into quite some trouble for saying things he shouldn’t have.

He has done that before, but this time he has said things so sensitive that he has ended up being shunned by both his party and the government. This outcome doesn’t seem to have made anyone upset either. If someone in a high-ranking position talks without using common sense, he could possibly be cut some slack for that mistake only.

However, the issue didn’t quite end there. The two initiatives by both the government and the opposition are noticeable. The opposition is desperate to turn the words of an overly talkative minister into the government’s fault.

The public is not really buying that. It’s as though the BNP has turned politics that is detached from public sentiment into its own special brand in the last two years. The BNP will have to pay the price for its own faults – there is

not much more to say to that.

However, the behaviour of the ruling party is questionable as well. The Awami League has proven its political wisdom by announcing the immediate expulsion of Latif Siddique from both

the parliament and the party, and by quickly making it effective. However, the problem is somewhere else. We have noticed, with much surprise, that a bunch of allegations of corruption and even possible cases against Latif

Siddique have come forward shortly after he created trouble for the party by mouthing off in the wrong way.

If there are credible allegations of corruption against any minister, they should be properly investigated. If there is evidence, cases should also be filed. However, one question still remains: Why is there a sudden rush to prove him corrupt now?

The first and main crime of Latif Siddique was his horribly offensive comment about religion. Being expelled from the parliament and the party was the proper punishment for him. But allegations and cases about corruption being part of the punishment for his crime is quite strange.

Does this mean that as long as ministers can get away with saying insensible things, they don’t need to worry about their actual conduct?

Also, were the allegations that have come forward against Latif Siddique completely unknown till now? If they were known, how did he manage to stay as minister for so long? Does this

mean that as long as the wrong words don’t come out of your mouth, you can stay minister as long as you want?

It can’t be said that he has become the focus of the ACC because

Were the allegations that have come forward against Latif Siddique completely unknown till now?

of his corruption. His real crime was embarrassing his party by saying insensitive things. So, you can engage in corruption, but you have to watch your mouth when you talk – is that the lesson to be learnt for those who are left in the cabinet?

If this is not the message the government is trying to send, then before some new “Latif” is discovered, the government should pay attention to three things when it comes to ministers: Do they regularly talk too much?

Are they incompetent in their work?

And, are they corrupt? If someone is guilty of one or more of the faults mentioned above, then they should be scrutinised a bit more. Get rid of them before something really bad happens.

Eating a mango to see if it gives you stomach ache is not the best way of identifying rotten mangoes. If you think a bad odour is coming from a basket full of mangoes, examine them.

If there are rotten mangoes there, toss them out before they reach your mouth.

Until the government is being more vigilant about picking its ministers, my advice towards our honourable ministers would be this: No matter what you do, watch what you say! l Niaz Saki is a researcher and columnist.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Rabbu Bhaiyer Bou: a real-life story depicted on screen n Entertainment Desk

Bengal Classical Music Festival starts on November 27, registration starts early November n Entertainment Desk This years Bengal Classical Music Festival 2014 will take place from November 27 to December 1 at the Bangladesh Army Stadium. The registration for the festival will be open from the first week of November.

Organised by Bengal Foundation and supported by ITC Sangeet Research Academy, the five day event will be feature the major proponents of classical music from both Bangladesh and India.

Bidushi Girija Devi, Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Pandit Hariprasad Chaur-

asia, Ustad Rashid Khan, Pandit Ajoy Chakrabarty, Ustad Rajan Misra and Sajan Misra, Sandeep Banerji, Pandit Samar Saha, Uday Shankar Malaka, Ustad Shahid Parvez, Pandit Ulhas N Kashalkar, Kaushiki Desikan, Bishal, and Krishna Mukh are among the stellar names who are scheduled to perform in this years roster. Promising artistes Kishori Amonkar and Shamihaan Kalshkar will also showcase their craft.

Supriya Das, Rajrupa, Dr Asit Roy, Moniruzzaman, Nishit Dey, and Shorup are among the Bangladeshi artistes who will be featured in the show. l

Very few real-life lovers live a life that makes a story worth telling. Ask Partho Barua, and you will get a different answer. Enter, Rabbu – Partho's childhood friend, who's stories were so good that Partho though it had the elements of a drama-series. Partho then shared the idea with Imrul Rafat, a director.

Now, Partho, Rafat, and Sayeduzzaman Mithu from Tom Creations

have realised the idea to a point where Channel 9 will air Rabbu Bhaiyer Bou at 9:30 every Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

Speaking about his creation, and its naming, Partho said: “The title of the drama could be changed to something different other than mentioning Rabbu. But we kept the original name to convey reality.”

Partho plays the character of Rabbu while Aparna Ghosh plays the wife.

Based on Partho Barua'a story, Im-

raul Rafat has written the screenplay and has directed the drama serial. His take on style of the drama is: “Every story will take three episodes to portray. Sometimes the audience loses concentration when the story seems long. So we are presenting Rabbu through short stories.”

Kochi Khondokar, Shirin Alam, Irfan Sazzad, Tousif Mahbub, Toya, Ishika Khan, Joynal Jack and others played in the drama along with Partho and Aparna. l

Kill Bill: Vol 1 HBO, 7:32pm

Uma Thurman and David Carradine in an action crime movie about a bride who wakes up from a four-year coma.

Shutter Island

Zee Studio, 9:30pm

US Marshal Teddy Daniels is assigned the task of investigating the disappearance of a patient from Shutter Island.

Thor 2: The Dark World Star Movies, 9:30pm

Thor battles to save all the Nine Realms from a mysterious enemy older than the universe itself.

Aparna and Partho in a scene from ‘Rabbu Bhaiyer Bou’

CHRISTIAN BALE to play Steve Jobs in Danny Boyle's latest creation n Entertainment Desk Former Batman actor Bale, 40, has reportedly been in discussions with Sony about the movie after Leonardo DiCaprio turned it down. Fellow Oscar-winner Aaron Sorkin is writing the script.

Sorkin, who worked on “The Social Network” and “The West Wing,” has revealed that the film will be split into three parts including the launch of the Mac computer, the start of Jobs' computer company NeXT and the birth of the iPod. Talking to US website the Daily Beast Sorkin, 53, says of Jobs, who died three years ago from pancreatic cancer at the age of 56: "It's a little like writing about The Beatles.

"There are so many people out there who know him and revere him."

The first big-screen effort about Jobs starring 36-year-old Kutcher and directed by Joshua Michael Stern was universally panned, with Rotten Tomatoes describing it as shallow: "It is an ambitious but skin-deep portrait of an influential, complex figure."

If everything goes to plan the forthcoming - as yet unnamed - film will start shooting early next year. l

RANI MUKHERJEE to play Dawood Ibrahim’s sister n Entertainment Desk

Haseena Parker … you probably have heard of the name …

Does Dawood Ibrahim ring a bell?

Haseena was Dawood’s younger sister and aide, herself prominent enough to warrant a biopic. And Apoorva Lakhia is making just that. Rani Mukherjee, who, after “Mardaani,” only chooses tough and challenging scripts, has been offered the lead reole in the movie.

The film is titled “Haseena” for now; shooting is expected to start by November.

Hassena became well known after her husband Ismail Parkar was gunned down by members of the Arun Gawli gang in 1991. Dawood avenged his brother-in-law’s murder by gunning down the murderers in the infamous J J Hospital shoot-out.

Later, Haseena moved into an apartment in Nagpada and soon became the “godmother” of the area. On July 4, she passed away at Dongri hospital following a massive heart attack. About the movie, a source close to the filmmaker said, “Till late last year, Apoorva was in touch with Haseena and her family. He wants to ensure that every detail is right. He himself spent a lot of time with Haseena to understand the complexities of her life.”

Explaining the director’s choice of Rani, the source added, “Apoorva believes that Rani will do complete justice to the role. She can pull off the part with confidence and aplomb, which is why he zeroed down on her.”

For the role, Rani Mukherjee had to gain some weight and the lead stars need to attend a workshop to understand the mannerism and culture of the powerful yet dangerous lady. l

Nagorik presents Nam Gotrohin Mantor Meyera n Entertainment Desk Theatre troupe Nagorik Natya Sampradaya will stage “Nam Gotrohin Mantor Meyera” as part of the “BotTala-RangaMela 2014” festival on October 29 at the National Theatre of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

The 44th production of the troupe is based on Saadat Hasan Manto’s novels “Kaali Shalwar,” “License” and

Film

Annabelle Into The Storm Hercules 3D Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3D Valkyrie The Maze Runner Amra Korbo Joy Kistimaat Jack Ryan Blockbuster Cinemas, Ka- 244, Pragati Avenue, Kuril, The Expendables 3 How to Train Your Dragon 2 3D The Equalizer Guardians of the Galaxy 3D Kistimat Star Cineplex, Level 8, Bashundhara City 13/3 Ka, Panthopath

Exhibition

The Macabre World

By Subrata Das, Time: 9:30am – 8:00pm EMK Centre, MIDAS Center, Dhanmondi Solo Painting Exhibition

By Gopal Ghoshe Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Shilpalaya, Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts Road 27, Dhanmondi Inspiration Time: 3pm – 8pm Drik Gallery, House 58, Road 15A

“Hatak,” the play is directed by famed Indian theatre activist and director Usha Ganguly.

“Kaali Shalwar,” the first story portrays Sultana, a sex worker who recently migrated from Ambala to Delhi with her escort Khodabox. Because of war and poverty, Sultana and Khodabox suffer and she presses Khodhabox to return to their previous living arrangement.

The second story was on Man-

to’s “License,” which showed how a woman cannot get a license to drive a horse carriage but can easily get to sell her body and dignity on the backdrop of a patriarchal society.

In the third story “Hatak,” Sugondhi is approached by a police constable who promises to meet all her expectations and demands, in return he wants her to leave her profession as a sex worker and lead an honourable life. l

FARHAN AKHTAR sings for Zoya in Dil Dhadakne Do n Entertainment Desk Apart from acting in his sister Zoya Akhtar’s upcoming directorial venture “Dil Dhadakne Do,” Farhan Akhtar is also co-producing the film.

The multi-talented star has now also recorded a song for the multistarrer.

According to an insider close to the production, the lyrics of the track have been penned by Zoya and Farhan’s father and veteran writer Javed Akhtar. “Even though Farhan is currently busy shooting for Bejoy Nambiar’s next film, he has been making the time to visit the recording studio regularly. He has also been exchanging notes with Zoya on how the film’s sound track should shape up,” says the source.

Incidentally, for this song, this will be the third time that Farhan will team up with composer trio Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy. He began his singing career with them in “Rock On” in 2008 and also worked with them for the number “Senorita” from Zoya’s second film, “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara” in 2011.

“Dil Dhadakne Do” is about a dysfunctional Punjabi family where

Priyanka Chopra and Ranveer Singh will be playing siblings. The film will be shot extensively on a cruise liner exploring various interesting locations in Europe such as Spain, Turkey, Italy, France etc.

“Dil Dhadakne Do” will also star Anushka Sharma and Anil Kapoor in prominent roles and is slated to release on June 5, 2015. l

Did you know?

Sergio Aguero (61) has now scored more Premier League goals for Manchester City than any other player

Sport

Sunday, October 19, 2014

14 Ronaldo double

propels Real to another rout

14 Cavani sent

off after sniper celebration

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Queensland chase

down 399, Dunk’s 229 in vain

BFF sacks national coach de Kruif n Shishir Hoque The Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) has sacked national head coach Lodewijk de Kruif and assistant coach Rene Koster yesterday. National coach Saiful Bari Titu will step in temporarily to take charge of the Red and Greens for the two international friendly matches against Sri Lanka later this month.

BFF president Kazi Salahuddin confirmed the decision of firing de Kruif and stated ‘lack of sincerity’ from the Dutch coach, who spent 210 days on vacation during their 16-month job with the national team, as the reason.

“He (Kruif) is no more with the Bangladesh Football Federation. As long as I’m in this chair, these coaches will not be working here again. The reason is their lack of sincerity. They are with the national team for 16 months now and we have paid them for 12 months, but they were not in the country for seven months,” said the BFF chief at the BFF House yesterday.

“We provided car, flat and air tickets for them and their family. Yet they did not seem satisfied. They always complain and it keeps on getting published in the media. I wanted this non sense to end,” he added.

After de Kruif and Koster’s appointment in July 2013, the conflict between the coaches and the federation sparked when the Dutch duo started complaining about several issues especially their unpaid dues as BFF paid them wages of 12 months while their salary for three

months remains unpaid.

De Kruif cited his father’s illness and returned to Holland after the Asian Games while Koster also accompanied him and the duo was asked to return on October 9 before the national camp for the Sri Lanka friendlies kicked off.

However, both de Kruif and Koster disagreed to return if the dues aren’t cleared instantly.

De Kruif later changed his mind and decided to return as BFF sent him his air

BFF named Saiful Bari Titu as the stand in coach for the national side

ticket and he was scheduled to land in Dhaka yesterday night, but yet another demand from the Dutch irked the BFF chief. After completing the international friendlies de Kruif wanted to attend a Fifa seminar in Malaysia and head towards Holland for another vacation.

“He (de Kruif) said he will come to Dhaka and take his salary then he will be on the field during two matches against Sri Lanka and then he wanted to go to Malaysia for a coaches’ seminar and after that he wanted to go back to Netherlands.

“I don’t understand this,” said Salahuddin before continuing with, “I pay him day after day but he will work two days and spend three days on vacation.

It cannot go on.”

“Two and half months ago, 98% voted against keeping the coaches during an executive committee meeting as they were not sincere in their job but i tried to keep him. It was my mistake and now I will follow the board’s decision,” he added.

Salahuddin said he still prefers high profile coaches and talked about his next plan regarding the head coach.

“We will sit for a meeting within 10-12 days to look for a new coach. In the meantime, Titu (Saiful Bari Titu) will guide the national team in the two friendly matches against Sri Lanka.

After that we will decide on our new coach,” On the other hand, de Kruif recently stated he lodged a complaint against BFF to Fifa regarding the four months of unpaid wages and also termed BFF as ‘liars’. Salahuddin said they will also send a report to Fifa today providing the details and their side of the story.

De Kruif and Koster joined the Bangladesh team in July 2013 initially on a one-year contract with a provision of extension for further one year. Under his management, Bangladesh played seven international matches – winning two, losing three and drawing two. He also guided Bangladesh Under-23 national team in the recently concluded Asian Games. l

Bangladesh look to upset India n Shishir Hoque The high flying hosts will face a tough test when they face the strong India side in their third match AFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2015 qualifiers at the Bangabandhu National Stadium today at 5pm.

The Bangladesh U-16 women’s

showed immense progress and displayed beautiful ‘passing’ football in their first two matches picking wins against Jordan and United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, playing against India who are ranked 67 places above them in the Fifa women’s football ranking won’t be an easy task.

Momentum is the key and home side coach Golam Rabbani Choton also

Coach Golam Rabbani Choton (C) leads the training session of the Bangladesh U-16 women’s team at the BUET ground yesterday COURTESY

emphasised on continuing their free flowing game.

“The way we played against Jordan and UAE in our last two matches, we want to keep up the momentum and continue play like that. If we can repeat similar performance and rectify the mistakes we have done on those matches, we can produce a positive result,” said choton after their training session at the Buet field yesterday. He also revealed to follow a zonal marking strategy against India.

“We know India is very strong opponents, but I believe, if my players can play in accordance with their ability and can execute their technique, anything can happen.”

India, who were considered one of the favourites to qualify from the group, are also looking forward to registering their first victory after they lost to Iran 1-2 in their only match so far.

Meanwhile in the day’s first match, Jordan will play against UAE at 2pm at the same venue. l

BCB mulls franchise based age-level tournament n Minhaz Uddin Khan In a meeting with the Bangladesh Cricket League (BCL) franchises the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) exchanged views and thought of arranging a franchise-based league involving the Under-19 cricketers of the country.

Sources revealed both the board and the franchises reached a common ground of starting the competition following the end of the third season of BCL which was scheduled in December this year, but has been postponed until March 2015.

The three franchisees of BCL – Walton, Islami Bank and Prime Bank complied with BCB’s proposal and have asked for the overall budget and game plan of the league in details as early as possible.

“BCB Game Development is mulling to formulate a game plan with the involvement of the age-level groups, especially Under-19. We’ve just shared our plan with the BCL franchisees at

the meeting,” informed Khaled Mahmud, chairman of BCB Game Development Committee yesterday.

Mahmud further informed Islami Bank and Walton showed great interest in the tournament.

“Now we are waiting to know the consent of Prime Bank. Hopefully they will also express their solidarity with the novel initiatives like the other franchises,” said Mahmud.

Mahmud also said, “We have decided to start the BCL-3 in March next year.

However, if Bangladesh can break the super eight phase, they would have to stay in Australia-New Zealand till April.

In that case the BCL could be deferred.”

The BCB currently sponsors the North Zone while Walton takes the ownership of Central Zone. The East and South are owned by Islami Bank and Prime Bank.

Mahmud, the former national skipper informed the BCB looks to lock the fourth franchisee – for North Zone – before the start of the BCL-3. l

Anamul Haque plays one off the front foot during the three-day warm-up game between BCB Red and BCB Green at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday MUMIT M

Hathurusingha keeps hopes high n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Dutch head coach of Bangladesh national team Lodewijk de Kruif was sacked by the Bangladesh Football Federation yesterday a day after his compatriot and assistant Rene Koster (R) was sacked FILE PHOTO

Anamul to lead BCB XI in Kolkata n Minhaz Uddin Khan

The Bangladesh Cricket Board yesterday announced a 15-member BCB XI squad for the SK Acharya Memorial Trophy 2014 in Kolkata.

The team led by Anamul Haque also comprises Nasir Hossain meaning the two regular members of the national side won’t be seen in the whites during the Test series against Zimbabwe.

The national selection panel emphasised on filling the squad with cricketers who are likely to be part of the upcoming five-match ODI home series against Zimbabwe next month.

Initially pacer Mashrafe bin Mortaza was in line to lead the XI but the selectors opted to provide the veteran cricketer some rest ahead of the ODI series. Left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak also had to miss being a part of the squad following a right hamstring strain he picked during training.

The Bangladesh side will be participating in the 50-over invitational tournament from October 25 to November 1. The tournament has been arranged by the West Bengal Cricket Association (WBCA) to commemorate 150 years of Eden Gardens stadium.

SQUAD Anamul Hoque (Captain), Naeem Islam (Vice-Captain), Liton Das, Mohammad Mithun, Sabbir Rahman, Soumya Sarker, Nasir Hossain, Nurul Hasan, Aratat Sunny, Elias Sunny, Mohammed Shahid, Abul Hasan, Kamrul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Muktar Ali BCB XI will begin their campaign in the four-side tournament facing Mumbai on October 26. In the following days they will face Karnataka and Bengal. All the matches will be played at Eden Gardens including the final on November 1. l

National head coach Chandika Hathurusingha believes the home advantage will finally see the Bangladesh side end their losing streak in 2014. The Sri Lankan rated his charges above the visiting Zimbabwe team who will lock horns for the three-match Test series starting from October 25.

Bangladesh has been experiencing a terrible time on the field, but despite the down trend Hathurusingha said the chances of winning are “Realistic” as they are the home team.

“But there is no room for us to underestimate Zimbabwe because they played South Africa and Australia at home and I saw they beat Australia.

But having home advantage here we should win this series,” he added.

The squad for the Test series will be announced tomorrow as the cricketers completed their preparation for the 45day long home series with the threeday warm-up game yesterday at Shere-Bangla National Stadium.

The match played between the two sides made up of the camp cricketers produced positive and motivating outputs with Mushfiqur Rahim’s BCB Red winning by eight wickets.

The result of the match is not of a concern to Hathurusingha, but the fact the batsmen and bowlers fared well made the coach a happy chap.

“I am very happy with the preparation,” he said. “This is more so as the guys who are in contention for the Test match bowled and batted well and their attitude off the field was also really good.”

“They practiced with the other coaches and did fielding and fitness. I think they all covered everything and I am very happy with the preparations,” said the former Sri Lanka cricketer.

Bangladesh in their last bilateral series in West Indies in August failed to register a single win despite going close on several occasions. There were elements of positives as long as individual performances were concerned but they were overshadowed by the overall team effort.

“This was due to injuries and other things like we lost (Sohag) Gazi early on for the Test series as well and some of the guys. The positive thing now is that some of the batsman scored runs and getting into form and because of that I think if we can score runs we can do well here,” said Hathurusingha. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Chelsea march on, Aguero hits four for City

Suarez is ‘not fat’: Enrique

n AFP, Madrid

Brilliant Saints thrash Sunderland 8-0 short of Manchester United’s record n Reuters, London 9-0 triumph over Ipswich in 1995 and

Chelsea maintained their iron grip on top spot in the Premier League with a 2-1 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday and Sergio Aguero fired a four-goal warning that Manchester City will not relinquish their title without a fight.

Goals from Oscar and Cesc Fabregas made it seven wins from eight games for Chelsea, who overcame the sending-off of Cesar Azpilicueta before halftime to stay five points clear.

Aguero lit up the day’s early kickoff, scoring all four goals as Manchester City beat Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in a match of four penalties and a red card for Spurs defender Fabrizio Fabio.

The Argentine scored twice from the spot and had another penalty saved.

Pride of place, however, went to Southampton who thrashed Sunderland 8-0 to stay in third place. West Ham United moved into the top four after a 3-1 victory at struggling Burnley.

Arsenal’s mediocre start to the season continued as they were held to their fifth draw in eight matches, Danny Welbeck scoring late to salvage a 2-2 home draw with Hull City. Everton returned to form with a 3-0 win over Aston Villa.

Newcastle United’s home game against Leicester City was a delayed kickoff after a pre-match safety issue with a new video screen inside St James’ Park.

Southampton recorded one of the biggest victories in Premier League history when they crushed a woeful Sunderland side 8-0 at St Mary’s on Saturday.

The thumping win fell one goal

Brazil confidence back with Dunga, former coach says n AFP, Rio de Janeiro Three months on from their World Cup semi-final hiding by Germany, Brazil have recovered their poise, former coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said Friday.

Parreira served as technical assistant to 2002 Cup-winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari as the five-times champions were humbled 7-1 on home soil by eventual winners Germany.

He and Scolari stepped down afterwards and former handler Dunga has overseen four straight friendly wins since he returned for a second spell, having been sacked after the 2010 World Cup. “Dunga’s main task was to recover confidence and respect for Brazilian football after the Cup. “I thought it would take a little longer and I don’t think we’re quite there yet but it’s four matches and four wins, one over Argentina. He’s been doing a good job,” said Parreira, who led the Selecao to 1994 World Cup glory.

Dunga took over on July 22 and has masterminded wins over Colombia and Ecuador in the United States and Argentina and Japan, the latter thrashed 4-0 last week, on an Asian swing.l

maintained the south coast club’s remarkable start to the season under manager Ronald Koeman.

Top scorer Graziano Pelle was among seven names on the scoresheet, netting twice to take his tally for the season to six.

Southampton continue to confound predictions they would struggle after they sold several first-team players in the close season. They remain third in the table on 16 points, six behind leaders Chelsea.

Two days before they ventured north to face Premier League champions Manchester City, their manager Mauricio Pochettino described Sergio Aguero as the best striker in the world -- calling him the Mozart of football.

Aguero duly delivered a virtuoso performance to destroy Tottenham on Saturday, bagging all his side’s goals in a 4-1 victory that was never as comfortable as the score suggested.

The fact that two of them came from the penalty spot and he also had another spot-kick saved took a little gloss off his feat, but the Argentine maestro was simply a class apart as he became City’s all-time leading Premier League hitman.

While Carlos Tevez, whose record he surpassed, was a relentless warrior, Aguero plays his football with classical elegance combined with soaring passages of brilliance.

Aguero has nine Premier League goals this season, the same as Chelsea’s Diego Costa, and if City are to retain their title he could be the difference.

City might have dropped points without him against a Tottenham side whose lively attack often worried City’s rearguard, but whose defence was fragile. l

RESULTS Arsenal

2-2

Sanchez 13, Welbeck 90

Burnley

1-3

Boyd 60

Crystal Palace

West Ham Sakho 49, Valencia 54, Cole 70

1-2

Campbell 90

Everton

Hull Diame 17, Hernandez 46

Chelsea Oscar 6, Fabregas 51

3-0

Aston Villa

Jagielka 18, Lukaku 48, Coleman 76

Man City

4-1

Aguero 13, 20-P, 68-P, 75

Southampton Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring during their EPL match against Tottenham Hotspur at the The Etihad Stadium in Manchester yesterday AFP

8-0

Tottenham Eriksen 15

Sunderland

Vergini 12-og, Pelle 18, 69, Cork 37, Bridcutt 63-og, Tadic 78, Wanyama 79, Mane 86

Barcelona coach Luis Enrique insisted Friday that Luis Suarez is not fat as the controversial Uruguyan striker prepares to make his return to competitive action.

After his ban for biting an opponent at the World Cup, Suarez should make his Barcelona debut against bitter rivals Real Madrid on October 25 and Enrique rejected comments made by some media about Suarez’s fitness.

“It’s difficult to evaluate if he’s at 70, 80, 90 or 100 percent but what is sure is he feels much better in training,” said Enrique.

“He’s been in a certain dynamic for a while and the fact that he has been able to play for his country has allowed him to rediscover the daily life of a footballer.

“We see him training every day, he’s a player like any other and what’s clear is that he’s not fat.

“He never has been, despite everything that’s been said. He’s been in shape for several months so everything is fine.”

Suarez moved from Liverpool to Barcelona for 95 million euros in the wake of the storm of controversy after he bit Italian defender Girogio Chiellini at the World Cup and was banned for four months. Suarez was banned for nine internationals.

Although Suarez has played in friendly matches for both club and country during his ban, scoring twice against Oman on Monday, he has not been allowed to appear in official fixtures.

Barcelona lead La Liga after seven matches and host minnows Eibar on Saturday.

Suarez said this week, as he received the Golden Boot award for Europe’s top score -- which he shared with Cristiano Ronaldo -- that starting with Barcelona was “a dream come true.”

Asked if he was 100 per cent ready for the Real match, he said: “If you had asked me that a week ago, before the two games with Uruguay, I may have had doubts.

“But I have played in those two (friendly) games and I am probably in better condition than I thought I was.

So I think I can say now, yes, 100 per cent, I am ready to play.” l

Ronaldo double propels Cavani sent-off after sniper celebration n Real to another rout BBC

n

AFP, Madrid

Real Madrid ensured they will head into a big week full of confidence with a 5-0 thrashing of Levante ahead of their meetings with Liverpool and Barcelona.

Cristiano Ronaldo stretched his fine scoring streak at club level to nine games as he opened the scoring from the penalty spot before Javier Hernandez headed home to double Madrid’s lead before half-time.

Ronaldo powered home his 15th league goal in just seven appearances this season to make it 3-0 before sweet finishes from James Rodriguez and Isco rounded of a seventh consecutive win for the European champions.

Madrid now lie just a point adrift of leaders Barcelona, but the Catalans can restore their four-point advantage with a win over Eibar later on Saturday.

Real boss Carlo Ancelotti was missing a host of first team regulars as Karim Benzema and Raphael Varane missed out due to a fever, Sergio Ramos was sidelined by a calf injury and Gareth Bale handed a rare rest after his exertions with Wales in the past week.

However, the visitors could still have put the game to bed inside the first 15 minutes as Ronaldo was uncharacteristically wasteful in front of goal.

The Portuguese captain sliced wide with just Diego Marino to beat after a wonderful through ball from Luka Modric and then pulled another shot

RESULT Levante

0-5

Real Madrid Ronaldo 12-P, 61, Hernandez 38, Rodriguez 66, Isco 82

wide from the edge of the box moments later.

Ronaldo, though, wasn’t to be denied on 12 minutes as Hernandez was tripped inside the area by Juanfran and the World Player of the Year slammed home the resulting penalty.

Levante reacted well to going behind and came close to an equaliser twice in a matter of seconds midway through the first-half as Marcelo diverted Pape Diop’s effort inches past his own goal.

And from the corner Modric had to make a fine clearance off the line to prevent Victor Camarasa punishing Madrid’s slack marking. l

Paris St-Germain striker Edinson Cavani was sent off for his trademark gun celebration and subsequent protest as the French champions beat Lens.

The Uruguayan was booked after bending on one knee and firing an imaginary shot during a 3-1 victory.

He reacted by touching referee Nicolas Rainville’s arm, with the official then showing him a red card.

PSG president Nasser Al Khelafi backed Cavani and said the 27-year-old “did not deserve” to be dismissed.

He told Canal Plus television: “Why did he get the yellow card before? He always celebrates the same way.”

Cavani, a keen hunter, performed his usual celebration after scoring a 55th-minute penalty to give PSG a 3-1 lead.

The striker, signed from Napoli for £55m in July 2013, is yet to respond to the dismissal on social media.

Goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu told the PSG website: “Cavani? I still don’t know why he was sent off. I feel really bad for him.”

PSG coach Laurent Blanc said: “I’m not going to make any comment about the refereeing. It’s a difficult game to analyse.”

Ten-man Paris Saint-Germain won a stormy encounter at the Stade de

France on Friday as they overcame nine-man Lens 3-1 to move within four points of Ligue 1 leaders Marseille.

Despite taking an early lead through Adamo Coulibaly, Lens self-destructed as they conceded three goals in 27 minutes and had two players sent off in front of a packed house at the national stadium, just outside of Paris.

Adama Coulibaly’s 20-yard shot had put Lens ahead but former Newcastle midfielder Yohan Cabaye equalised.

Maxwell gave PSG the lead with a lob before Jean-Philippe Gbamin was sent off for shoving Cavani in the area.

Jerome Le Moigne was dismissed for the newly-promoted hosts just before the hour in a game played at the Stade de France because Lens’s Bollaert stadium is being renovated.

Victory moved PSG above Bordeaux into second in Ligue 1, four points behind Marseille, who have a game in hand. l

PSG forward Edinson Cavani gestures during the French L1 football match against Lens (RCL) at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris on Friday AFP

Nepal FA chiefs ask Mazzarri wants ‘attacking’ Fifa to investigate Inter for Napoli own president consecutive defeat. n Reuters n AFP, Milan It is a scenario the Nerazzurri coach

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo (C) celebrates scoring with Chicharito (L) and James Rodriguez against Levante during their Spanish La Liga match at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium in Valencia, Spain yesterday AP

Senior officials at Nepal’s football association (ANFA) have asked FIFA’s ethics chief Michael Garcia to launch an investigation into their own president Ganesh Thapa.

The request, via an emailed letter seen by Reuters, comes after the country’s public accounts committee ordered an investigation of Thapa, an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) vice president, over what it said was alleged embezzlement of funds. Thapa has repeatedly denied all allegations, saying he has done nothing wrong.

This episode marks the second incident involving an Asian FA this week, after Mongolian football chief Ganbold Buyannemekh was banned

by FIFA for “soliciting and accepting” bribes from ex-FIFA executive Mohamed Bin Hammam. l

Under-fire Inter coach Walter Mazzarri has called for a “fast and aggressive” approach to Sunday’s home clash against former club Napoli amid rumours a third consecutive defeat could prompt his dismissal.

Inter welcome Rafael Benitez’s men looking to get back to winning ways following two embarrassing defeats.

Having succumbed 4-1 at home to then-basement side Cagliari three weeks ago, when they were whistled and jeered off the park, Inter suffered a 3-0 defeat away to Fiorentina a week before the international break.

Speculation is mounting that Mazzarri could be sacked if Inter, who sit 10th and well behind their target of a top-three finish in Serie A, suffer a third

believes can be avoided with a committed performance by his players at the San Siro.

“I want to see the players’ determination to bounce back tomorrow,” Maz-

FIXTURES Fiorentina Atl Bergamo Cagliari Palermo Torino Verona Inter Milan

v v v v v v v

Lazio Parma Sampdoria Cesena Udinese AC Milan Napoli

zarri told reporters on Saturday.

“They know exactly what I want from them -- for us to get in their faces and play a fast and aggressive game. I want us to do what we have to to get a result.”l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Kohli knock helps India clinch curtailed series

QUICK BYTES

Gatlin out of World Athlete of the Year Controversial United States sprinter Justin Gatlin is out of contention to win the IAAF’s athlete of the year award after failing to make the final three-man shortlist, the sport’s governing body announced on Friday.

As widely expected, double-doper Gatlin was among those cut from the final shortlist after a two-week-long poll conducted by the “world athletics family”. The 32-year-old was included on the original 10-man shortlist thanks to a stellar year of sprinting in which he posted six of the fastest 100 metres times. Gatlin, who served a one-year ban for testing positive for a banned stimulant in 2001 and then failed a second test in 2006, which led to a four-year ban, ran 9.77 seconds in Brussels last month -- the fastest-ever time by an over-30. However, his inclusion was heavily criticised and fellow nominee, Germany’s Olympic discus champion Robert Harting, felt so strongly about the former Olympic champion’s nomination that he asked to be removed from the list.

–Reuters

n Agencies

BRIEF SCORE

Russia tennis chief banned for ‘Williams brothers’ jibe

The president of the Russian Tennis Federation Shamil Tarpischev has been fined $25,000 and banned from the women’s tour for a year after referring to Serena and Venus Williams as “the Williams brothers” on a television chat show last week. Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) chief executive Stacy Allaster said the comments were “insulting, demeaning and have absolutely no place on our sport”. Allaster added: “Mr. Tarpischev’s statements questioning their genders tarnish our great game and two of our champions.

His derogatory remarks deserve to be condemned and he will be sanctioned.

“As a result of his comments I have ordered Mr. Tarpischev to be fined $25,000, the maximum allowed under WTA rules.” She added that he would be suspended from any involvement with the WTA for a year. World number one Serena Williams has won 18 grand slam singles titles while her sister Venus has won seven majors. Dave Haggerty, president of the United States Tennis Association, called on Tarpischev to issue an apology.

–Reuters

DAY’S WATCH Channel 9 AFC U16 Women’s Championship Qualifiers 2:00PM Jordan v UAE 5:00PM Bangladesh v India

Star Sports 4 8:00PM MotoGP World Championship Main Race 4:00PM Spanish La Liga Atletico Madrid v Espanyol English Premier League 6:30PM QPR v Liverpool 9:00PM Stoke City v Swansea 12:45AM Italian Serie A Inter Milan v Napoli

Star Sports 1 1:30PM, 4:00PM, 6:30PM Sultan of Johor Cup Spanish La Liga 9:00PM Deportivo v Valencia 11:00PM Elche v Sevilla 1:00AM Villarreal v Almeria

Star Sports 2, 3 Indian Super League 5:00PM Kolkata v Delhi 7:30PM North East v Goa

Ten Action French Ligue 1 6:00PM Olympic Marseille v Toulouse 9:00PM Bordeaux v SM Caen 1:00AM Montpellier v Olympic Lyon

Sony Six 6:30PM WORLD Kabaddi League 2014 Jalandhar: 29th 6:30AM Major League Soccer LA Galaxy v Seattle Sounders

15

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Virat Kholi of India celebrates after scoring a century during the 4th One Day International against West Indies at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala, India on Friday BCCI

India 330 for 6 (Kohli 127, Raina 71, Rahane 68; Benn 1-30) West Indies 271 (Samuels 112, Bhuvneshwar 2-25, Akshar 2-26) India won by 59 runs

Virat Kohli struck a brilliant 127 as India fashioned a 59-run win over the West Indies here on Friday, effectively sealing the ODI series 2-1 after the visitors dramatically pulled out from the remainder of the tour over an acrimonious pay dispute with their board.

Kohli reassured that he is back in form and struck a sublime knock off 114 balls to push India to 330 for six after the West Indies put them in to bat on a wicket expected to favour the bowlers.

Opener Ajinkya Rahane (68) and Suresh Raina (71) were the other big contributors to the formidable score.

Loose bowling and sloppy fielding from the West Indies also went in favour of the Indians.

The West Indies, who made their mind of going back home on Thursday and were somehow convinced to play at least Friday’s game, found it tough to give their best. Their negative body language expectedly affected their overall game, culminating with their unsuccessful chase that ended at 271 all out in 48.1 overs.

A rare positive for them on the day was Marlon Samuels (112 off 106), who raced to his seventh ODI hundred and second in three matches.

The Caribbean batsmen crawled to 27 for two in 11 overs, making it difficult for them to get near the stiff target. l

India mulls ‘serious action’ against WICB n AFP, New Delhi India’s cricket chiefs could take “serious action” against the West Indies, including possibly refusing to play a return series, for abandoning their tour because of an internal payment dispute, a top official said Saturday.

The West Indies cut short the tour of India on Friday even though a fifth one-day international, a Twenty20 match and three Tests still remained to be played.

“What has happened is very disappointing and calls for serious action,” Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Sanjay Patel told AFP. “We want to take adequate measures to ensure such a thing is not repeated.”

The BCCI’s decision-making working committee will meet in Hyderabad on Monday to take stock of the situa-

tion, he added.

Asked if refusing to tour the West Indies in future was an option, Patel said: “Everything will be taken into consideration.”

According to the International Cricket Council’s Future Tours Programme, India are scheduled to tour the Caribbean during February and March 2016 to play three Tests, five one-dayers and

a Twenty20 international.

Patel has drawn the line at barring players from the West Indies from taking part in the cash-rich Indian Premier League, according to a report in the

Abandoned cricket tours West Indies in England 1939 The outbreak of the Second World War saw the last seven matches of the tour cancelled, with the West Indies’ party boarding a boat in Scotland to sail back to the Caribbean.

England in Pakistan 1968/69 Political and student unrest dogged the tour throughout but it seemed the series would be played out to a finish when the teams arrived in Karachi for the third and final Test. However, a riot on the third

morning saw the match abandoned and the series tied at 0-0.

India in Pakistan 1984/85 The assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi sparked 13 days of national mourning and saw the final three matches cancelled.

Sri Lanka in Pakistan 2008/09 Sri Lanka were travelling in their team bus on the way to the second Test in Lahore when terrorists opened fire, injuring six

members of the Lankan tour party. Sri Lanka went home and no major international matches have since taken place in Pakistan because of security fears.

West Indies in India 2014 A protracted pay dispute between the West Indies players and their own board eventually saw Indian officials announce the end of the tour after Friday’s fourth one-day international amid suggestions from their Caribbean counterparts it might still continue. l

Mumbai-based Mid-Day newspaper.

“Our problem is with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and not their players,” Patel told the newspaper.

Current one-day captain Dwayne Bravo, Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine are among the top West Indies cricketers who play in the glitzy IPL Twenty20 tournament.

A WICB statement issued late Friday said it was the players’ decision to withdraw their services for the remainder of the tour.

Skipper Bravo had said before the start of the tour on October 8 that the players had not accepted the payment agreement signed on their behalf by the West Indies Players Association.

But the players took the field for three one-dayers in Kochi, New Delhi and Dharamsala, while one match in Visakhapatnam was cancelled due to a severe storm on India’s east coast.l

Windies chiefs slam Bravo Queensland chase down 399 against n AFP, New Delhi The West Indies Cricket Board attacked one-day captain Dwayne Bravo after confirming Friday that the team’s tour of India had been abandoned following a strike by their own players in a pay dispute.

As India won the fourth of what were supposed to be five-one-day internationals by 59 runs in Dharamsala, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced the tour was over -- something which their Caribbean counterparts revealed Friday was a possibility right from the outset.

Several hours later, following a teleconference, the WICB issued a statement from their headquarters in St John’s, Antigua, blaming the collapse of the tour -- with a fifth one-dayer, a Twenty20 match and three Tests all remaining on the itinerary -- on their

players.

“The WICB clarifies that players in the West Indies Squad currently in India represented by Mr. Dwayne Bravo indicated to the WICB through the West Indies Team Management that the players have taken a decision to withdraw their services for the remainder of the tour of India,” the WICB’s latest statement said.

In the course of a 10-point statement, the WICB said it would hold an emergency board meeting in Barbados on Tuesday to “conduct a thorough assessment of all the ramifications of the premature end to the tour”, with a media conference after that meeting.

Several points in the statement saw the WICB “unreservedly apologise” to West Indian fans, global cricket followers, the BCCI and their sponsors for “this most regrettable situation and the premature end to the tour”.l

Tasmania, Dunk’s 229 in vain n Cricinfo

Ben Dunk celebrates after his double ton

Eight-hundred runs were heaped for the loss of four wickets and the double-centurion Ben Dunk finished on the losing side as Queensland knocked Tasmania out of the domestic limited-overs tournament in an affair of gluttonous batting at North Sydney Oval.

The ground’s short boundaries combined with a pristine pitch and sunny day to create the perfect environment for run-making, leaving the bowlers with a thankless task. The Bulls captain James Hopes returned 10-0-38-0, the only figures not to cost at least seven per over. A more typical analysis was the 1 for 101 collected by Peter George.

Tasmania’s 1 for 398, built on an Australia domestic record opening stand of

277 between Dunk and Tim Paine, was swiftly made to look inadequate by Usman Khawaja and Chris Hartley, who added an even faster 280 to break the newly minted mark. Dunk’s 229 usurped David Warner’s 197 on the same ground

BRIEF SCORE Tasmania 398 for 1 (Dunk 229*, Paine 125) Queensland 402 for 3 (Khawaja 166, Hartley 142) Queensland won by seven wickets in last year as the highest score ever made in an Australian domestic one-day match. It was also the third highest List A score of all time, bettered only by Ali Brown and Shikhar Dhawan.l

Bayern demolish Bremen as Dortmund lose again n Reuters, Berlin Champions Bayern Munich crushed Werder Bremen 6-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday to protect their four-point lead at the top as last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund continued their poor run with a 2-1 loss at Cologne.

Fellow Champions League participants Bayer Leverkusen spectacularly imploded, giving up a 3-0 halftime lead to draw 3-3 against troubled VfB Stuttgart.

With winger Franck Ribery making his comeback as a substitute on the hour, league leaders Bayern were in complete control with Philipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso giving them an early two-goal cushion.

With Werder unable to counter the Bavarian attacks, a 43rd-minute pen-

alty from Thomas Mueller and Mario Goetze’s shot two minutes later killed off the game before halftime.

It was a different story for Borussia Dortmund, who despite having Ilkay

RESULTS Bayern Munich

6-0

Werder Bremen

Lahm 20, 79, Xabi Alonso 27, Mueller 43-P, Goetze 45, 86

Mainz 05

2-1

Hofmann 20, Jairo 23

Hanover 96

Augsburg Werner 78

0-3

M’gladbach

Kruse 15, 90, Xhaka 49

Freiburg

1-2

Kerk 90+1

VfB Stuttgart

Caligiuri 8, 66

3-3

Werner 57, Klein 67, Harnik 76

Cologne Vogt 40, Zoller 74

VfL Wolfsburg Leverkusen Son 4, 9, Bellarabi 41

2-1

Dortmund Immobile 48

Guendogan back after more than 17 months out with a back injury, lost 2-1 at Cologne for their fifth defeat in eight league matches.

Dortmund keeper Roman Weidenfeller gifted their opponents the winner with a failed clearance in the 74th minute that allowed Simon Zoller to score, after the visitors had equalised through Ciro Immobile early in the second half.

Leverkusen looked set for an easy afternoon after two goals from South Korea’s Son Heung-min and another one from Germany international Karim Bellarabi gave them a comfortable lead.

Yet they inexplicably lost focus after the break with Timo Werner, Florian Klein and Martin Harnik scoring at 10-minute intervals for the hosts with Leverkusen’s defence in tatters.

VfL Wolfsburg kept up their good form to climb to fourth on 14 points with a 2-1 win at Freiburg. l

Prizes of the Fair & Lovely Max Fairness consumer promotional campaign “Confidence Jar Bike Tar” were distributed to the winners of the week on 16th October. The winners are: Kamrul Hasan (Narayanganj), Rashidul Alam (Kishoreganj), Nazmul Sakib (Dhaka), Mamunur Rashid (Chapainawabganj), Faishal (Dhaka), Alak Sarkar (Chittagong) and Dr. Shariful Abedin Komal (Comilla). Officials of Bangladesh Limited and Bronze Limited were present in the prize giving ceremony COURTESY

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Jute sector battling downhill trends n Abu Bakar Siddique The country’s jute sector is currently undergoing a depression as the result of a gradual decrease in raw jute production, with farmers failing to meet their production costs because of a downhill demand in the domestic and international markets.

Over the last four years, the country’s raw jute production decreased by 10 lakh bales, according to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE).

In 2013-14 fiscal, raw jute production at farmers’ level was 74.36 lakh bales while in 2010-11 it was 84.60 lakh bales.

Golam Mohammad, deputy director (jute production) of the DAE, said this year’s gross raw jute production would also be less than the previous year as the government had failed to cover the desired demonstrated acreage.

“The farmers are losing their interest to cultivate jute in recent years as they have not been getting fair price of their production because of lessened demand in the market,” he said, adding that diminished demands also resulted in farmers often not being able to sell off their production.

“I usually cultivated jute in my two and a half acres of land each year. However, this year I just cultivated one acre of land and kept the rest of it idle as I counted huge losses last year,” said Sajjad Hossain, a farmer from Dinajpur.

Quazi Shahabuddin, a professional fellow at Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), blamed the crisis on the government’s failure to timely and appropriately operate and promote the jute sector.

The jute mills of state owned-Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC) and private owners’ body Bangladesh Jute Spinners Association are the major consumers of raw jute in the country. But most of the mills did not procure any raw jute from the market in recent years

lakh sacks annually as packages for their production. If only jute sacks instead of polythene sacks were used in this single sector, the whole situation would change, he claimed.

However, Nirod Baran Saha, convener of Naogaon Rice Millers Association, said the price of rice would climb if they tried to use jute sacks, as the jute sacks for 50kg capacity cost around Tk30 more than the polythene sacks that were currently being used by the millers.

Meanwhile, in 2010, the government also discovered the genome sequencing of jute which would help develop jute fibre, production of new jute seeds to curb diseases and develop jute industry.

Alternative Hope as they remained idle during the time.

Less export demand

The export of raw jute has also experienced a decline in recent years.

According to the Export Promotions Bureau, the export volume came down from $1.11493bn to $824.49m between 2010-11 and 2013-14 fiscal year.

Market insiders said the downtrend was caused as the popularity of plastic and other synthetic-made products was outweighing the demand for jutemade products worldwide.

Badrul Alam, the chief executive of exporting company Sartaz Trade International, said foreign buyers including major players like China had stopped procuring raw jute and jute-made products from the local market in recent years.

BJMC sources also claimed that Middle Eastern countries like Syria, Iran, Egypt and Iraq – which were major buyers of jute products from Bangladesh – had stopped buying finished jute or jute products because of the political

turmoil and instability in their respective countries.

Inefficiency in the mills

Regarding the local demand of jute, BJMC Director (marketing) Babul Chandra Roy said the government-owned mills have been facing huge fund crunch as well as system loss in operating their daily activities.

As an example, the BJMC director said it was a burden to pay Tk450 in daily remuneration to the seven lakh labourers at the government-owned mills. In addition, those mills also suffered further losses for using old machineries that had low production capacity.

“We could improve the production level from the existing 680 tonnes of daily jute products to 900 tonne by adding new equipment,” Babul said.

Many of the private jute mills were also hurt by the recent downtrend in the market.

However, Sheikh Basir Uddin, managing director of Akij Jute Mill Ltd

which is the largest in Bangladesh, claimed that they have made a profit in recent years even though the global situation was bad.

Blaming inefficiency for the losses at government-owned mills, Basir said the Akij factory alone could produce around 250 tonnes of jute products each day, while all the 27 mills of the BJMC produced only around 50 tonne of daily jute goods combined.

Government initiative

To promote the jute sector, the government this January enacted the Mandatory Jute Packaging Act 2010 – under which all kinds of packaging in the country’s business sector have to be made by jute. But the act is yet to be properly enforced.

BJMC sources claimed that the jute sector would regain it strengths overnight, if only the act could be enforced in even 20% of the business sectors.

Citing an example of the rice-producing sector, Babul Chandra Roy said the rice millers alone used around 14

A good number of countries including members of the European Union have recently introduced restrictions on plastic and other synthetic-made products.

According to the UK-based Daily Mail Online, European MPs have voted in favour of strict new targets that forced each country to reduce plastic bag use by 80% before 2019.

Economist Quazi Shahabuddin said the government could seize this opportunity to create a market for jute products in the countries which imposed restrictions on synthetic-made products.

“We could create alternative markets instead of sitting idle waiting for the Middle East countries,” Shahabuddin said, adding that the government has to take initiative to create multi-dimensional jute products to capture the market and ensure profit for all parties concerned.

Akij Jute Mill MD Sheikh Basir Uddin also recommended developing new types of alternative jute products to create new markets and generate demand in both home and abroad. l

Ebola-risk returnees given clean bill of health n Moniruzzaman Uzzal More than 100 people out of a little over 175 African and Bangladeshi citizens arriving in Dhaka from Ebola-affected countries in the recent past have successfully passed the 21-day observation period as none of them was found to be carrying Ebola symptoms.

Of the 175, officials said 100 were Africans and the rest were Bangladeshi nationals. Five more people arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport from Ebola-hit countries yesterday.

Professor Dr Be-Nazir Ahmed, member secretary of the national Ebola monitoring cell, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday evening all the necessary precautionary measures had been taken to tackle any unwanted situation that might arise.

“There is nothing to be panicked about this,” he said.

The Health Ministry has decided to buy seven thermal scanners to install at airports. The primary decision was to purchase only two but there was a change in the plan later.

A top ministry official said of the seven devices, three would be set up at Dhaka airport, one at Chittagong airport, and one at Sylhet airport. The remaining two would be stored.

No certain date to buy the scanners, however, has yet been announced.

Health officials had to contact foreign firms to inquire about the price of the device as there is no local agent that sells it. It was said they received several rates with large differences.

Be-Nazir said several small scanners had already been installed at airports to detect temperature. Fresh World Health Organisation figures showed yesterday that more than 4,500 people died in Ebola outbreak that was first reported in West Africa in March this year. l

HIGH UNDER THE OPEN SKY

A group of people including women selling drugs under broad daylight sitting on the railway lines in the capital’s Khilgaon area. Local goons reportedly guard the customers for uninterrupted trade of the contraband items SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Hong Kong activists regroup; police chief warns safety at risk Teenager violated in city n Reuters, Hong Kong Hong Kong pro-democracy activists recaptured parts of a core protest zone from police early yesterday after hours of turmoil that the city’s police chief warned undermined order and jeopardised public safety.

Dozens of people were injured in the skirmishes, including 18 police, which raged through the night as several thousand protesters squared off again police in the densely populated Mong Kok district.

At least 33 people were arrested, Hong Kong public broadcaster RTHK reported.

Police used batons and pepper spray, and scuffled violently with activists, but they were eventually forced to pull back less than 24 hours after they re-opened most of the area to traffic.

The protests have been going on for three weeks and pose one of the biggest political challenges for China since the crushing of pro-democracy demonstrations inBeijing in 1989.

Hong Kong Police Commissioner Andy Tsang broke three weeks of public silence to say his force had been “extremely tolerant” but had failed to stop protesters becoming more “radical or violent.” “To these protesters, you may think that your illegal acts have prevented the police in going about our duties, disrupted our deployments and even forced us to retreat,” Tsang told a news conference.

“Superficially, that may be the case.

But let me tell you this: these illegal acts are undermining the rule of law, undermining (what) Hong Kong has been relying on to succeed.”

After police retreated, demonstra-

tors swiftly stacked up barricades made out of packing crates and fences. Tsang said the reoccupation of the area “seriously undermined public order and seriously jeopardized public safety”.

The protesters, led by a restive generation of students, have been demanding China’s Communist Party rulers live up to constitutional promises to grant full democracy to the former British colony which returned to Chinese rule in 1997.

Hong Kong is ruled under a “one country, two systems” formula that allows the thriving capitalist hub wide-ranging autonomy and freedoms and specifies universal suffrage for Hong Kong as an eventual goal.

But Beijing ruled on Aug. 31 it would screen candidates who want to run for the city’s chief executive in 2017, which democracy activists said rendered the universal suffrage concept meaning-

less. The protesters are demanding free elections for their leader.

‘We will stay’

The clashes came just hours after Hong Kong’s pro-Beijing leader Leung Chun-ying offered talks to student leaders next week in an attempt to defuse the protests that have grabbed global headlines with scenes of clashes and tear gas rising between some of the world’s most valuable office buildings.

Leung’s chief secretary, Carrie Lam, announced on Saturday that between student leaders and the city government would take place for two hours on Tuesday.

The Mong Kok area was calm later yesterday with the number of protesters much smaller as activists rested.

Police stood in formation away from the barricades. l

n Tribune Report A teenage girl who came to the capital looking for a job from Kurigram was allegedly raped on Friday, the first night of her stay in Dhaka.

Police said a middle-aged man lured her into a rental at Darussalam by promising a job but two men violated her there.

The victim, who was admitted to the One-Stop Crisis Centre at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, told reporters yesterday that the recent death of her father forced her to come to Dhaka in search of a job. “As my father passed away, I had to take the responsibility to support my family financially,” she said.

She reached Gabtoli bus terminal on Friday evening and was wondering where to go. A man named Masud Hossain approached her and offered to stay

the night at his place. He also said he could arrange a job for her.

Masud then took her to the flat at Lalkuthi Third Colony at Darussalam where she found an ailing woman and a man. Masud and the woman assured her of a safe stay there.

“At night, Masud and the other man named Kabir raped me. The ailing woman was asleep in another room when they violated me,” the victim said.

Rafiqul Islam, officer-in-charge of Darussalam police station said, a police source informed them about the girl and they rescued her in the afternoon.

Police held Kabir Hossain, 28, from the flat but Masud fled.

“We came to know that three people live in the flat. We are looking for Masud now,” Rafiqul said, adding that a case would be filed. We will quiz the ailing woman too, said the policeman. l

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B3 Merkel urges EU to

keep up reforms as crisis not over

B4 China Inc’s spending

cuts deepest in six years as economy slows

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Muhith hopes to get out of 6% growth cycle Business seeks policy support to bring about a miracle as MCCI celebrates its 110 years n Tribune Report Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday hoped to get out of the 6% economic growth cycle maintained by the country over the last several years.

“It seems we have done badly maintaining the growth rate within the boundary of 5.7% and 6.7% over the last several years. I am not very happy about it,” he said.

Muhith sees the coming months will be helpful to get out of the cycle.

He was speaking at the marking of 110 years of the country’s oldest trade body MCCI yesterday at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.

A book on the MCCI along with the body’s new logo was unveiled at the function.

“We have decided in the period of crisis to maintain the domestic demand at good level and pace of domestic resource mobilisation. These are the two policies in the last six years we are maintaining, which are fairly successful,” the finance minister stated.

The minister appreciated the MCCI and other chambers bodies to formulate various government policies, including income tax law in 1983 and VAT law in 1991.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said the economy grew 6% annually with human development growing hand in hand.

He said poverty dropped nearly third coupled with improving life expectancy, per capita income, literacy rate and food intake.

The minister hoped the country’s annual export volume will be around $60bn by the fiscal year 2020-21.

“This year our RMG export stood at

From right (sitting), MCCI President Rokia Afzal Rahman, former Indian President APJ Abdul Kalam, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed and PM’s foreign affairs adviser Gowher Rizvi smile while posing for photo at the 110 years celebration of MCCI in the capital yesterday RAJIB DHAR $24.5bn and next year we projected the export will be $27bn. This is just by the dint of hard work of business people.

Bangladesh is a miracle,” he continued.

He remembered that in 1972-73 the export earning was only $300m and the export items were only 25 while the volume has crossed $30bn now.

He said when the country had 75m people, it faced shortage of foods, but now the population is 160m and the country is self sufficient in food.

“We have surplus of foods. I say surplus because very recently we have decided to export 50,000 tonnes of rice to Sri Lanka. This is the first time Bangla-

desh is going to export rice. That is the potential of Bangladesh today.”

Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi said Bangladesh has progressed a lot in the last five years, as power generation increased 75% and transportation sector is moving forward.

MFIs capitalise on borrowers’ ignorance

Bolstered rural economy stressed for sustainable development

n Abid Azad

The microfinance borrowers yesterday a programme demanded that the lenders increase their credit amount alongside bringing down the interest rate and facilitating loan reimbursement procedures.

They also alleged that NGOs that offer less than sufficient amount of credit to them do not come to their rescue at their austerity, rather ensnare them in a perpetual loan cycle.

The allegations surfaced on the sidelines of a national convention titled “Towards Poverty alleviation and Social Development: The Role of Micro Finance Institutes” held in the capital.

The Institute of Microfinance, Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation and Micro credit Regulatory Authority jointly hosted the programme.

Several microcredit borrowers said due to weekly loan installment system they cannot afford their kids’ education properly and ensure better health for their family. They added that it was also tough for them to obtain microcredit and in most cases they fail to make out the lenders’ critical finance system.

“I got a loan of Tk30,000 with 12% interest from an NGO, EC Bangla, which will be reimbursed within 45 weeks, but this is very difficult to pay

Many international analysts and organisations described Bangladesh as a land of tremendous potentials, he cited.

Referring to the mega projects, including Padma bridge, taken by the government, PM adviser said these are possible to be implemented as “the industrialists and traders are playing a

n Tribune Report

The micro credit lenders speak at a national convention held in the city yesterday back the amount soon,” Srimoti Sabita Rani, an NGO member hailing from Munshiganj shared her view with the Dhaka Tribune.

Besides the weekly installments, the lenders also realise service charges, added Sabita. The borrowers vented their frustration by saying that the little amount of loan the NGOs provide for them hardly helps them make both ends meet together. NGOs never give support during financial crisis, claimed another microcredit holder Halima Begum who came from Ramgati village under Noakhali district “I am a member of a local NGO that demands Tk2,500 as service charge against a loan of Tk25,000. I hardly gained from my investment into Soya-

bin cultivation that was damaged due to heavy rainfall, but my lender was strict to realising the installment.”

Halima also said the micro financers capitalise on the borrowers’ ignorance.

“We are illiterate and we do not know their critical finance system.

They provide us with loan and we are bound to repay them.”

Another microcredit holder Peyara Bugum claimed that the NGOs allocate a good amount of loan only to those that have capacity to repay. “But like us, she said obtaining a big loan is a far cry and the small amount of credit makes us encounter a continuous financial crises.”

Halima said she took a loan more than 10 years ago, but still she could not repay it and come out of the loan cycle.

great role in the development of Bangladesh.”

MCCI President Rokia Afzal Rahman said in the last 110 years MCCI passes through a very tumultuous period of history starting with partisan of Bengal and birth of Pakistan and then independent Bangladesh.

She said MCCI has created a history of its own.

“If the history of 110 years has been epochal, the changes that are yet to come will be nothing short of revolutionary. We believe it will reshape a society in ways that we cannot even imagine,” she said.

According to her, globalisation has already fundamentally altered the way to do business at a technological revolution.

Rokia Afzal said MCCI firmly believes Bangladesh surprised the world in the past with its resilience and it will do so with its creativity and functions.

But for that, “we must have stronger and more trusting harmonisation and mutually beneficial relation between the government and the private sector.”

She said much has been saying about Chinese success but what is often overlooked is that the centre of success is the symbolic nature of cooperation between government and the private sector.

“We cannot replicate the Chinese success but definitely bring about Bangladeshi miracle, if the government gives us that crucial policy support that Chinese and South Korea governments give to their private sector,” MCCI chief said.

She offered the government to sit to work out a detailed policy guideline that the government and business people can unleash to create a miracle. l

NASHIRUL ISLAM

“To pay my previous loan, I rush towards another NGO to save my skin.”

An NGO organiser, Manobi Bairagi, hailing from Jessore told the Dhaka Tribune the microcredit borrowers that invest money into business can profit, but those who use their loan for meeting family needs find themselves in difficult situations.

“NGOs cannot provide sufficient loan for those that have little or no capital while they are not much concerned about social development,” she said.

The woman entrepreneur said sometimes women are provided with training, but they hardly get such market as necessary to run their business, and ultimately they become prone to taking more and more loans. l

Palli Karma Sahayak Foundation Chairman Kazi Khaliquzzaman Ahmed yesterday said strong rural economy is necessary for sustainable development in the country.

Sustainable poverty alleviation is not possible only through micro financing, he observed, saying that sustainable development also incorporates into it education, health, social and environmental issues.

The observation came at a national convention on “Towards Poverty Alleviation and Social Development: The Role of MFIs” jointly arranged by the Institute of Micro Finance, Micro-credit Regulatory Authority (MRA) and PKSF in the capital.

State Minister for Ministry of Finance and Planning MA Mannan attended the first session of the convention as chief guest.

Khaliquzzaman stressed the need for a boost to the rural economy to advance the progress of the country.

He said stimulating rural economy

is a must in the best interest of the country’s GDP. The 6% GDP growth will not be possible to achieve if the rural economy is ignored, observed the PKSF chairman.

Speaking as special guest, Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor SK Sur Chowdhury said micro finance institutions have provided financial support for rural people.

The demand for loan among the rural poor has increased because of interaction between rural and urban economy, he said, adding that it is only due to increased flow of money to the rural economy through micro finance institutions.

Banks and non-bank financial institutions are also providing support to the marginal farmers, he said.

Sur Chowdhury maintained that Bangladesh Bank is also trying to bring unbanked people under the banking services through financial inclusion programmes.

The central bank has created refinancing schemes to support farmers by giving loan at lower interest rate. l

BTRC to allow mobile operators to bring handsets n Muhamad Zahidul Islam The telecom regulator is finally going to allow the mobile phone operators to introduce mobile handsets in the local market on their own brands, which is currently prohibited, after an agreement with the importers or manufacturers.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is now busy drafting a directive in this regard, which is likely to be issued shortly.

The telecom watchdog came up with the decision as the third largest mobile phone operator Robi recently sought a permission at a meeting with BTRC officials for branding a handset of Maximus company, the model of which is M266.

The decision will go in favor of all the mobile phone operators as they would be able to import handsets to release in the market labeling their own brands, said BTRC sources.

“We’ve also heard about the regulator’s

decision to allow the mobile phone operators to introduce handsets on their own brand and I think it will be largely helpful for the industry,” Shihab Ahmad, Chief Commercial Officer of Banglalink, told the Dhaka Tribune on Thursday at his office in the city.

Hailing the decision, he, also said, “It is obvious that the subscribers can trust more on a mobile operator than a handset vendor while we can offer better after sale services and users can also rely on the mobile operators better than others.”

Before changing its mind, BTRC had earlier fined Tk3 lakh to a handsets vendor called Flowra Telecom Limited in 2010 as it put all their imported 2.5 lakh handsets under the brand of Grameenphone with a selling price of Tk2,500 each.

At that time, BTRC had argued that if mobile operators got involved in handsets business, the handsets vendors would loose their stakes and mobile operators would

grab the entire mobile market.

But this time, BTRC has taken a u-turn, just citing examples from different countries on this issue.

In India, mobile operator Reliance has branded two handsets product from Lenovo and Nokia. Same practices were seen in Sri Lanka while Europe is the pioneer in introducing this services.

“We were trying to implement new idea in the country but the telecom regulatory authority did not allow us to do so, but now it has finally changed its stance after four years.

But we are not yet sure whether we would take the chance or not,” a senior executive of Grameenphone told the Dhaka Tribune.

BTRC officials, however, fear that if BTRC finally allowed the mobile phone operators to brand handsets, it could also come up with some extra charges along with fresh conditions.

Considering the decision a positive one,

Hasan Mehdi, head of Samsung Mobile Bangladesh said, “We may face some challenges because of the policy shift but on the other hand it may also benefit the consumers in various ways.”

Device locking proposal rejected

At the same meeting, the BTRC also turned down both the two proposals from the Grameenphone and Banglalink for introducing device locking system in the mobile handsets.

BTRC officials said the two mobile phone operators had earlier sought regulator’s permission for offering high-priced handsets along with packages of the respective companies with lower prices where users would be allowed to pay the amount in installments.

In this regard, a senior BTRC official said, if they were allowed, the mobile phone operators would only bring high-priced set to attract the customers, which might contribute to destabilising the market. l

B2

Stocks pass week after Eid with limited gain n

earnings declaration and selected June-ending stocks from the fuel and power sector drew some wise participants into the market, said the merchant bank.

“Stock-wise swing was present alongside investors’ preference in fundamentally strong and lucrative issues centering on upcoming earnings declaration,” it said.

It said some investors pursued safe strategy, cashing out their holding on the fear of crash after recent rally.

Lanka Bangla Securities said the benchmark index consolidated around 5,300-level in the following four trading sessions of the past week.

The major sectors showed mixed performance last week. Food and allied posted the highest loss among the large cap sectors with 1.4% decline. Telecommunication and NBFIs also edged 0.7% and 0.6% lower respectively.

Pharmaceuticals and power posted impressive yields of 4% and 4.2% respectively. Banks rose 1.6%.

Gainers outpaced losers as out of 312 issues traded, 199 advanced, 107 declined, 6 remained unchanged on DSE floor during the past week.

Square Pharmaceuticals dominated the week’s top turnover chart with shares worth Tk212 crore changing hands followed by Mobil Jamuna Limited Bangladesh, Grameenphone, Titas Gas and Delta Life Insurance. l

Tribune Report

Stock market inched up in the first week after a nine-day Eid-ul-Azha vacation, extending the gaining streak for the sixth consecutive session.

Out of usual five trading sessions in the week that ended Thursday, two sessions witnessed steep gain while three sessions saw profit-booking fall.

The benchmark index DSEX added 48 points or 1% to 5,285.

The comprising blue chips DS30 index rose nearly 5 points or 0.3% to 1,997. The DSE Shariah Index closed at 1,242, rising 23 points or 1.9%.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index - CSCX – was up 130 points to close at 9,911.

Trading activities still remained vibrant at the DSE, as the daily turnover for the week averaged Tk962 crore, a slight increase of 0.3% over the previous week’s average Tk959 crore.

The investor’s attention was mostly concentrated on fuel and power and pharmaceuticals - the sectors that accounted for 19% and 14% respectively of the week’s total turnover.

IDLC Investments said dynamic trading pattern, mostly focused on re-balancing portfolio, kept the market movement positive in the first week after the prolonged Eid vacation.

It said expectations of quarterly

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSERS Company Fu-Wang Food A Progressive Life-A Rahima Food -Z Meghna Life Ins. -A Envoy Textiles Ltd-N SAIF Powertec-N Savar Refractories-Z Argon Denims Limited-A Saiham Tex.A BSRM Steels-A

Closing (% change) -14.23 -11.19 -10.25 -9.80 -9.40 -9.27 -8.56 -8.26 -7.96 -7.16

CSE LOSERS Company Fu-Wang Food A Rahima Food -Z Samata LeatheR -Z SAIF Powertec-N Prime Islami Life -A Envoy Textiles Ltd-N Sandhani Life -A Argon Denims Limited-A Meghna Life Ins. -A Apex Tannery -A

Closing (% change) -14.50 -13.27 -9.33 -9.17 -9.06 -8.81 -8.26 -8.26 -8.08 -7.51

5285.83938

(+) 0.92%

1997.79434

(+) 0.23%

16309.4832

(+) 1.13%

13491.6140

(+) 2.55%

9911.9386

(+) 1.33%

Average (% change) -14.13 -12.03 -9.89 -8.14 -9.10 -5.52 -6.67 -7.18 -6.39 -4.17 Average (% change) -14.03 -12.98 -9.33 -5.71 -9.00 -8.70 -4.79 -7.04 -6.48 -5.50

ANALYST

Closing average 23.46 92.78 47.39 103.40 55.61 56.16 56.00 43.42 31.50 109.95

Closing average 23.53 47.82 20.40 55.86 83.32 56.26 65.45 43.55 105.80 163.11

Weekly 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 5475.06 3855.75 890.02 4921.04 2390.22 9082.82 12.36 3889.83 6763.54 207.72 748.34 474.24 736.03 1763.61 402.32 746.32 1658.43 1847.35 809.01 1425.18 3.68

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ Weekly high

22.90 92.90 47.30 103.10 55.90 55.80 56.60 43.30 31.20 108.90

Weekly closing

27.50 113.00 52.80 116.50 62.00 63.50 59.00 49.50 34.70 118.00

Weekly high

23.00 47.70 20.40 55.50 83.30 55.90 65.50 43.30 105.80 160.00

27.20 51.00 20.40 63.00 86.00 60.50 70.00 53.70 119.50 178.00

DSE key features October 12-16, 2014

DSE GAINERS

Turnover (Million Taka)

Bangladesh Welding -Z Shinepukur Cera-Z DESCO Ltd. -A EBL NRB M.F.-A Standard Insurance-A EXIM Bank 1 MF-A IFIL Islamic M.F.1-A Fareast Finance-Z ISN Ltd. -Z NCCBL Mutual Fund-1-A

Company

48,102.88

Turnover (Volume)

1,179,346,724

Number of Contract

885,100

Traded Issues

312

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

213

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

99 -

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,786.21

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

33.77

CSE key features October 12-16, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

3,062.79

Turnover (Volume)

93,955,696

Number of Contract

111,015

Traded Issues

262

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

172

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

88

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

2

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,688.63

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

32.59

Turnover in million

21.80 89.00 46.30 95.00 51.00 55.50 56.10 41.00 31.00 102.10

Weekly low

Latest EPS

285.073 8.539 9.385 77.595 163.574 214.744 0.031 239.043 73.951 447.455

0.96 2.30 -1.01 6.45 2.04 1.63 0.52 3.86 3.09 4.80

Turnover in million

22.70 47.00 20.40 55.20 83.00 55.00 65.10 43.20 105.00 160.00

Closing (% change) 27.42 22.30 21.82 19.05 16.54 15.25 14.81 14.68 14.42 14.29

CSE GAINERS

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

Weekly low

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Latest EPS

16.029 0.880 0.010 33.566 0.333 7.733 0.517 16.708 2.208 2.959

0.96 -1.01 0.09 1.63 4.95 2.04 2.12 3.86 6.45 5.51

Latest PE 24.4 40.3 -ve 16.0 27.3 34.5 107.7 11.2 10.2 22.9

Latest PE 24.5 -ve 226.7 34.3 16.8 27.6 30.9 11.3 16.4 29.6

Company Shinepukur Cera-Z Bangladesh Welding -Z DESCO Ltd. -A Central Insur -A Prime Insur -A LR Global BD MF1-A ISN Ltd. -Z AMCL 2nd MF-A Asia Pasific Insu. -A Pragati Gen. I -A

Closing (% change) 25.36 24.80 22.36 20.72 17.91 16.98 16.19 16.00 15.91 14.81

Average (% change) 22.45 23.60 18.16 17.74 17.98 17.18 15.84 13.93 12.98 13.38 Average (% change) 24.00 20.91 18.18 20.72 15.95 16.98 13.01 16.20 15.91 13.60

Closing average 15.22 17.18 73.67 7.50 31.43 6.89 6.29 12.35 11.75 6.44

Closing average 17.10 15.09 73.40 30.30 23.34 6.20 11.90 5.81 25.50 46.68

Weekly closing 15.80 17.00 76.50 7.50 31.00 6.80 6.20 12.50 11.90 6.40

Weekly closing 17.30 15.60 76.60 30.30 23.70 6.20 12.20 5.80 25.50 47.30

Weekly high 15.90 18.00 76.70 7.50 33.80 6.90 6.80 13.00 12.20 6.70

Weekly high 17.50 15.70 76.60 30.30 24.00 6.80 12.20 5.90 25.50 47.30

Weekly low 11.30 13.00 55.00 5.90 25.00 6.40 5.50 11.00 10.00 5.70

Weekly low 13.50 12.30 57.00 27.60 21.40 5.50 10.00 5.30 23.00 43.00

Turnover in million

Latest EPS

26.245 40.200 841.616 0.445 10.337 0.129 21.746 27.061 3.724 19.352

Turnover in million

0.34 0.50 1.94 0.85 3.00 1.28 1.07 0.78 0.20 0.43

Latest EPS

2.902 3.261 19.202 0.309 0.346 0.564 0.525 0.201 0.333 0.019

0.50 0.34 1.94 3.14 1.28 0.64 0.20 0.99 2.26 2.44

Latest PE 44.8 34.4 38.0 8.8 10.5 5.4 5.9 15.8 58.8 15.0

Latest PE 34.2 44.4 37.8 9.6 18.2 9.7 59.5 5.9 11.3 19.1

Weekly news from trade server AGM/Dividend DESCO: The Board of Directors has recommended 5% cash dividend and 10% stock dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2014. Date, Time and Venue of the AGM will be notified later. Record Date: 13.11.2014. The Company has also reported net profit after tax of Tk. 668.64 million, EPS of Tk. 1.94, NAV per share of Tk. 32.82 and NOCFPS of Tk. 7.65 for the year ended on June 30, 2014 as against Tk. 804.65 million, Tk. 2.34, Tk. 35.97 and Tk. 10.77 respectively for the year ended on June 30, 2013.

AL-HAJTEX: The Board of Directors has recommended 20% stock dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2014. Date of AGM: 20.12.2014, Time: 11:30 AM, Venue: Alhaj Textile Mills Factory Premises at I.K. Road, Ishurdi, Pabna. Record Date: 05.11.2014. The Company has also reported net profit of Tk. 21.36 million, EPS of Tk. 1.68, NAV per share of Tk. 14.88 and NOCFPS of Tk. 9.67 for the year ended on June 30, 2014.

Audited/unaudited Financial Reports: NCCBLMF1: (Q3): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 3rd quarter ended on 30th September 2014 (July'14 to Sep'14), the fund has reported net profit/(loss) of Tk. 9.68 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.09 as against Tk. (0.86) million and Tk. (0.008) (restated) respectively for the same period of the previous year. Whereas net profit was Tk. 34.48 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.32 for the period of nine months ended on 30th September

2014 (Jan'14 to Sep'14) as against Tk. 70.24 million and Tk. 0.65 (restated) respectively for the same period of the previous year.

GREENDELMF: (Q1): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 1st quarter ended on 30th September 2014 (July'14 to Sep'14), the fund has reported net profit/ (loss) of Tk. 27.12 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.18 as against Tk. (10.23) million and Tk. (0.07) respectively for the same period of the previous year.

DBH1STMF: (Q1): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 1st quarter ended on 30th September 2014 (July'14 to Sep'14), the fund has reported net profit of Tk. 16.56 million with earnings per unit of Tk. 0.14 as against Tk. 2.32 million and Tk. 0.02 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

Fixed Assets/Right/Investment: ABBANK: The Company has informed that Bangladesh Bank has accorded its approval to AB Bank Limited's taking over of a further 10% shares in "Cashlink Bangladesh Limited", thereby rising its shareholding in the Company to 100%. Cashlink Bangladesh Limited (CBL) was formed as a Company to carry on the business of providing integrated electronic financial payment and transaction processing solutions in Bangladesh including co-ordination and deployments of independent branded automated teller machines (ATM) and electronic fund transfer through point of sales and to provide pre-paid card, debit card and credit card processing services. CBL also would facilitate e-commerce facility to

its Member Banks.

PTL: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors of the Company has decided to purchase Commercial floor space in the Ground floor 1,420 sft., 1st floor 2,914 sft. and 2nd floor 2,914 sft. total 7,248 sft. floor space including 6 cars parking at Shikharaa Jolchhobi 40/8, Gulshan North Avenue (Madani Road), Gulshan-2, Dhaka-1212 from Shikharaa Developments Limited for its own uses by fixing total Tk. 42,06,59,500.00 of which Tk. 12,61,97,850.00 only will be paid as down payment and the rest amount will be paid in 14 equal monthly installment i.e. Tk. 2,10,32,975.00 only.

OLYMPIC: With reference to the Company's earlier news (news disseminated by DSE on July 08, 2013) the company has further informed that it has completed its installation of machineries for its 2 new Biscuit Lines (Line-6 and Line-7). The Company has further informed that the production of aforesaid 2 new Biscuit Lines will start from October 15, 2014 when its production capacity will increase from 5,000 tons to 7,500 tons per month and will be able to produce and sell many newer types of international quality biscuits.

Credit Rating: PROVATIINS: Emerging Credit Rating Limited (ECRL) has assigned the rating of the Company as "A+" in the long term and "ECRL-2" in the short term along with a stable outlook to the Company based on the analysis of Company data for four financial years (FY 2010-2013).

Dynamic trading pattern, mostly focused on re-balancing portfolio, kept the market movement positive in the first week after the prolonged Eid vacation

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

% change 11.38 8.02 1.85 10.23 4.97 18.88 0.03 8.09 14.06 0.43 1.56 0.99 1.53 3.67 0.84 1.55 3.45 3.84 1.68 2.96 0.01

Million Taka 381.70 196.47 47.80 336.64 104.81 431.49 0.00 400.47 353.06 45.07 62.21 26.82 77.47 144.02 59.85 26.50 56.50 108.94 119.71 157.92 0.06

CSE

% change 12.17 6.26 1.52 10.73 3.34 13.75 0.00 12.76 11.25 1.44 1.98 0.85 2.47 4.59 1.91 0.84 1.80 3.47 3.82 5.03 0.00

Million Taka 5856.76 4052.22 937.82 5257.68 2495.03 9514.31 12.36 4290.30 7116.60 252.78 810.55 501.07 813.50 1907.63 462.17 772.82 1714.93 1956.29 928.73 1583.10 3.74

Total

% change 11.43 7.91 1.83 10.26 4.87 18.57 0.02 8.37 13.89 0.49 1.58 0.98 1.59 3.72 0.90 1.51 3.35 3.82 1.81 3.09 0.01

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Square Pharma -A MJL BD Ltd.-A Grameenphone-A Titas Gas TDCLA Delta Life Insu. -A Summit Power -A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Beximco Pharma -A Khulna Power-A DESCO Ltd. -A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Square Pharma -A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A MJL BD Ltd.-A Summit Power -A National Bank - A LafargeS Cement-Z Grameenphone-A G Next Fashions-A RAK Ceramics-A

Volume shares 7,714,459 13,144,403 4,135,003 15,856,042 6,073,525 23,990,059 21,930,376 13,498,032 14,562,619 12,098,608

Volume shares 2,783,869 387,728 3,606,000 613,051 1,832,252 6,252,752 524,500 187,000 3,869,478 1,009,892

Value in million 2126.75 2024.38 1561.48 1477.89 1244.86 1070.02 979.22 950.54 890.84 841.62

Value in million 124.25 107.14 97.30 93.43 81.91 81.24 72.09 70.83 69.01 67.64

% of total turnover 4.42 4.21 3.25 3.07 2.59 2.22 2.04 1.98 1.85 1.75

% of total turnover 4.03 3.47 3.15 3.03 2.66 2.63 2.34 2.30 2.24 2.19

Weekly closing 279.60 154.30 377.80 95.50 200.60 43.00 42.70 68.10 60.60 76.50

Weekly closing 42.80 278.70 26.40 153.90 43.20 12.70 136.50 379.10 17.10 64.90

Price change 5.63 3.91 -0.63 2.80 -0.94 1.90 -5.53 -1.73 12.43 21.82

Weekly opening 264.70 148.50 380.20 92.90 202.50 42.20 45.20 69.30 53.90 62.80

Weekly high 295.00 162.30 386.00 96.50 215.00 46.40 47.00 73.00 64.90 76.70

Weekly low 241.60 129.30 356.00 82.60 185.00 39.00 39.00 62.00 50.00 55.00

Weekly average 280.34 153.46 379.38 94.77 202.99 43.43 42.96 68.66 61.21 73.67

Price change -5.73 5.81 6.45 3.57 1.89 -3.05 -2.64 -0.34 2.40 -0.31

Weekly opening 45.40 263.40 24.80 148.60 42.40 13.10 140.20 380.40 16.70 65.10

Weekly high 47.00 287.30 28.80 162.50 46.50 13.60 141.00 385.00 18.60 70.00

Weekly low 41.90 250.00 25.30 142.00 41.00 12.40 134.30 372.80 16.00 64.10

Weekly average 43.02 280.03 25.96 153.52 43.73 12.73 136.77 380.10 17.13 65.37

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Merkel urges EU to keep up reforms as crisis not over n Reuters, Berlin German Chancellor Angela Merkel told parliament on Thursday that Europe must push ahead with efforts to cut public deficits and improve competitiveness because the euro zone debt crisis has not yet been overcome and its causes have not been eliminated.

Speaking to the background of nervousness in financial markets about signs of a global slowdown, Merkel said European Union leaders must bear in mind, as they debate ways to boost growth, that painful fiscal reforms have begun to pay off.

“Early successes prove that we chose the right path from the start,” she said, citing improved productivity and finances in some euro zone states and what she termed the “successful”

exit of Ireland, Portugal and Spain from their bailout programmes.

“But - and I will say this again and again - we are still far from our goal,” Merkel said.

“The crisis has not yet been permanently and sustainably overcome because the causes, regarding the setup of the European economic and currency union and the situation of individual member states, haven’t been eliminated.”

“We have to press ahead determinedly with our efforts for sustainable growth and solid public finances and the creation of jobs,” said Merkel, who is under pressure to allow member states such as France and Italy greater flexibility under EU deficit rules so that they can focus on measures to create employment.

But, like Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble who has faced repeated criticisms of Berlin’s stance at International Monetary Fund talks in Washington and from other EU finance ministers, the chancellor showed little sign of being swayed.

“All - and I stress here once again all member states must fully respect the reinforced rules of the stability and growth pact,” she said, adding that the incoming European Commission would have to uphold these rules to defend the EU’s credibility.

Speaking ahead of an EU-Asia summit in Milan where she and other EU leaders will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time in months, with President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine, Merkel called the situation there “very difficult”. l

German Chancellor Angela Merkel walks away after addressing the German lower house of Parliament Bundestag in Berlin

Fed’s Williams downplays global risks, eyes US inflation n Reuters, Washington

Employees and journalists take pictures and videos of a giant electronic board showing the online transaction value on Alipay, an online payment system of China's leading e-commerce retailers REUTERS

Alibaba affiliate Alipay rebranded Ant in new financial services push n Reuters, Beijing Chinese e-commerce firm Alibaba Group Holding Ltd said on Thursday it has changed the name of its Alipay financial services affiliate to Ant Financial Services Group as it steps up its push into the financial services industry.

Alibaba has been aggressively offering new financial services around Alipay, including a money market fund for consumers, a mobile payment app and even a new private bank that was approved by the Chinese government in September.

Due to Alibaba’s dominant market position in e-commerce, Alipay has emerged as the online payment processing leader in China. It clears 80 million transactions per day, including 45 million transactions through its Alipay Wallet mobile app, the company said on Thursday.

The rebranding of the Alipay unit, whose legal name is Zhejiang Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co, is part of a strategy by Alibaba and its affiliated companies to accelerate development of financial business. The name

‘Ant’ was chosen to symbolize the potential strength of a number of smaller brands working together, executives said.

At a day-long presentation in Beijing, Ant Financial executives outlined a vision of turning its mobile payment app into a full-fledged, data-driven commercial platform. They have their sights set on a service where businesses can deliver personally tailored smartphone ads and promotions based on Alipay data gleaned from an individual consumer’s shopping habits.

“China has never been lacking banks; it has 200 of them,” said Ant Financial Chief Executive Lucy Peng. “But we have an opportunity to use Internet methods, Internet technology, Internet thinking to disrupt traditional finance.”

Unique position

Alibaba controversially spun out Alipay in 2011, but its executives including executive chairman Jack Ma maintain control of the payment processor, considered by some analysts as one of the most valuable assets in the Alibaba universe due to its unique position in Chinese commerce. l

Flytxt, the leading Big Data Analytics solution provider for Communication Service Providers (CSPs) was recently announced to be presented with the Bronze Stevie Award for the ‘Mobile Marketing Campaign of the Year’ at a gala ceremony for ‘The 11th Annual International Business Awards’ in Paris on Oct 10, 2014. The Nokia handset promotional campaign executed by Flytxt’s mobile ad marketplace, mADmart, in Bangladesh, was adjudged as one of the top three campaigns in this category

City Bank has recently opened a branch at Jamuna Future Park in Dhaka. The bank’s chairperson, Rubel Aziz inaugurated the 106th branch

A bellwether Federal Reserve policymaker on Tuesday downplayed concerns about weakness in the global economy, saying the US central bank should only delay an interest rate hike next year if inflation or wages fail to perk up.

John Williams, president of the San Francisco Fed, said in an interview with Reuters that the first line of defense at the central bank, if needed, would be to telegraph that US rates would stay near zero for longer than mid-2015, when he currently expects them to rise.

If the outlook changes “significantly,” with inflation showing little sign of returning to the central bank’s 2% target, he said he would even be open to another round of asset purchases.

The comments from Williams, seen as a good barometer of the views of Fed Chair Janet Yellen, suggest the central bank has been little moved by growing concerns in financial markets over weakness in Europe and China, and remains on track to lift rates. In the interview, Williams repeated he is comfortable with his call for a rate hike about nine months from now.

But “if inflation isn’t moving above 1.5 (%) and we get stuck into that gear, that would argue for a later liftoff,” he said. “If we don’t see any improvement in wages, that would be a sign that we still have a lot of slack in the economy and we are not getting any inflationary pressure to move inflation back to 2%.”

Markets not far from fed rate view

A key adviser to Yellen for years, Williams will rotate into a voting spot on the Fed’s policymaking panel next year when the central bank is widely expected to start moving benchmark borrowing costs higher for the first time in nearly a decade.

As signals of European weakness grew stronger last week, investors pushed back their expectations for when the Fed would raise rates from June to September of next year, and they see a more gradual pace of rate hikes than predicted by Fed officials.

Asked about shifting investor bets, Williams expressed little concern, saying markets had a fundamentally correct view of the likely path of Fed policy.

“If the problem we are facing is the difference of a couple of (Fed) meet-

ings, I really think those are not that meaningful,” he said. “As the data come in, as the forecasts evolve, one view or another will be proved right.”

Rather than reflecting a misreading of the Fed’s intentions, low rates for 10 and 30-year US government bonds instead show doubts about the global economy and other issues, Williams said. “The markets are pricing in a lot of other things that might happen and a lot of those are negative,” he said.

If US economic growth does pick up, Williams said the Fed could raise rates sooner than currently expected. But the bigger concern is a downturn, he said.

The Fed next meets on Oct 28-29, when some policymakers are pushing to ditch a promise to wait a “considerable time” before raising rates, given a sharp drop in the US unemployment rate to 5.9%. Williams wants to leave that phrase intact for now, but said the central bank could adjust it as the outlook evolves.

The Fed is set to wrap up its third round of massive asset purchases, known as quantitative easing, or QE, later this month, leaving it with some $4.4tn on its balance sheet. l

REUTERS

Dollar gains as eurozone concerns linger n AFP, New York The dollar Friday climbed against other currencies following dovish comments from US and British central bankers and continued concern about the eurozone.

The dollar rose against the euro and yen for a second day running as global financial markets steadied, in part in response to soothing commentary from central bankers.

On Thursday, James Bullard, head of the St Louis branch of the Federal Reserve, suggested the US central bank could extend its bond-buying program rather than winding it down, as had been expected.

Then on Friday, Andrew Haldane, chief economist of the Bank of England, said recent economic weakness implied the need for a “back foot,” or slower, approach to raising rates.

Kathleen Brooks, a research director for Europe and Britain at Forex.com, said the dovish commentary, coupled with eurozone uncertainty, could lift the greenback.

“If Eurozone sovereign fears rise once more, loggerheads at the ECB could hurt market sentiment, and European assets in particular,” she said. l

Japan rolls out ‘long-held dream’ with first commercial jet in 50 years n Reuters, Nagoya To the sound of drums and a children’s choir, Mitsubishi Aircraft yesterday rolled out Japan’s first commercial jet in half a century, amid doubts it can attain an ambition to sell more than 2,000 aircraft in a competitive market segment.

Developed by a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries that includes Toyota Corp as a shareholder, the $42m regional jet, with just under 100 seats, is Japan’s second bid to break into the commercial aircraft market.

“This has been a long-held dream of ours, and one that all of Japan has

waited for,” Hideaki Omiya, chairman of Mitsubishi Heavy, said at a factory in Nagoya in central Japan, which was also the site of the roll-out, 75 years ago, of the prototype of the World War Two-era Zero fighter plane.

The ceremony, attended by about 500 people, kicks off a sprint to complete flight tests before the first delivery of the aircraft in June 2017 to ANA Holdings Inc. That target is three years later than initially planned. Japan failed in its last attempt to break into the commercial aircraft market in the 1960s, with a 64seat turboprop dubbed the YS-11. Only

KFC and Pizza Hut has recently launched a month-long campaigned named World Hunger Relief to address widespread hunger in Bangladesh as to support the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Funds raised from the campaign will help WFP provide a mid-morning snack of vitamin and mineral fortified biscuits to primary school children in poor areas to help ensure that they complete a basic education. WFP representative in Bangladesh Christa Räder and Akku Chowdhury, MD & CEO of Transcom Food Ltd were presented at the launching ceremony on October 16

Jamuna Bank Limited has recently held its quarterly business conference for the on-going year at a hotel in Dhaka. The bank’s chairperson, Shaheen Mahmud was present at the conference as chief guest

182 planes, built by a consortium that included Mitsubishi Heavy, were ever made.

Mitsubishi has so far won 191 firm orders from customers including US regional groups Trans States Holdings and SkyWest Inc, and Japan Airlines Co Ltd. Analysts say the figure is less than the several hundred planes it needs to sell to break even and far behind the orders it needs to overtake the market leader, Brazil’s Embraer SA. That goal presents a “significant challenge,” Rob Morris, head of consultancy at aviation market specialist Ascend, said before Saturday’s ceremony. l

Global CEO of Coats, Paul Forman is expected to attend the celebration programme of 25 years of partnership of Coats Bangladesh to be held today. Paul Forman was appointed as the Group CEO of Coats plc in December 2009. Prior to that, he was managing director at Unipart Automotive, the leading European automotive aftermarket distributor, with over 500 branches across three continents

Following the launch of two Regus business centres in Bangladesh last July, many companies from several sectors have flocked to its new flexible workplaces in Dhaka, officials said at a press briefing held in the capital recently

Ahmed Kamal Khan Chowdhury, acting managing director of Prime Bank Limited has recently handed over a crest to Inessa Tolokonnikova, regional industry manager for South Asia Financial Markets of IFC after signing an agreement for $70m of short-term finance and guarantee facility in a function held at the bank’s head office

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Sunday, October 19, 2014

China Inc’s spending cuts deepest in six years as economy slows

China to inject $33bn of 3-month loans into banks n Reuters, Beijing

n Reuters, Beijing Chinese companies are on a pace to cut capital spending by around 7% this year, the biggest annual reduction since the global financial crisis, deepening an economic chill.

Slower spending by companies underscores the challenges that China faces this year in containing an economic slowdown that is set to be its worst in 24 years, and which has been aggravated by a sagging property market.

The cutbacks could persist, indicating that China’s economy, which has relied heavily on investment, will need to speed up rebalancing to feed growth.

Economic uncertainty and a government campaign to curtail industries that are either heavy polluters or are stuck with a glut of unsold goods mean that investment could fall next year as well, interviews with companies and analysts showed.

A Reuters analysis of 335 Chinese companies, ranging from drug to machinery makers, shows investment is expected to fall 7.3% this year - or 74bn yuan ($12.1bn) - from 2013 levels, according to Thomson Reuters Starmine data.

For many companies such as Yunnan Tin Co Ltd, whose sales and profits have been hit by China’s softening economy, being frugal is a matter of survival. Analysts on average expect the firm, which is the world’s largest tin producer, to slash capital expenditure by 81 percent this year.

“We feel that the economic downturn will continue, so it’s better to keep our eye on our wallet,” said Pan Wenhao, board secretary at Yunnan Tin, which posted a net loss of 1.27bn yuan last year.

Others are also staying lean in tough times. A Reuters study showed that cash balances at 726 companies rose 13% in the first six months of this year compared with the year-ago period, as firms curbed investment in the face of uncertainty.

The flight to safety comes as China’s economy is forecast to grow at its slackest rate in five years in the third quarter, as slower investment growth and a housing downturn increasingly dampened activity.

Analysts polled by Reuters forecast China’s economy likely grew 7.2% in July-September, the weakest since the first quarter of 2009 when the world was smarting from the financial crisis.

People cross a bridge at Pudong financial district in Shanghai With no recovery in sight, firms like Anhui Jinhe Industrial Co Ltd, which makes chemical products, said it would rather play safe. It plans to stop investing in expanding its capacity from this year for an unstated period of time, as it tries to cut corporate flab and increase automation, it said in its 2013 annual report in March.

“From 2014 onwards for a long period of time, the economic environment is likely to become more complicated,” it said.

No need for so much

Investment has long been a crucial driver of China’s economy. It accounted for 54% of growth last year, with private investment making up as much as 63% of the total 43.7tn yuan ($7.1tn) spent.

Reflecting China’s wobbly economy,

REUTERS

data due later this month is expected to show annual investment growth slid to a near 13-year low of 16.2% in JanuarySeptember.

Whether the slowdown was for the better part driven by China’s cooling economy or engineered by authorities’ efforts to wean the nation off heavy investment is unclear. But what is certain is that energy firms and machinery makers, the usual capex heavyweights, have led the latest savings drive alongside telecom firms and food, beverage and tobacco companies.

Petrochina Co Ltd, one of China’s top two gas importers, is forecast to have slashed its investment by nearly 11bn yuan this year from last, Reuters data shows - the first time it has cut investment since its 2000 stock market debut. Likewise, miner China Coal En-

better quality growth.

The change, which entails weaning China’s economy off exports, easy credit and heavy investment, would require the country to pay the price of living with slower growth in the short term. Analysts forecast economic growth of 7.4% this year.

As a result, firms like Hebei Iron & Steel, China’s top steel maker, are bracing for more austerity. The company said earlier this year it would not embark on new projects in 2014 and would cap budgets following a government ban on new steel projects until 2017.

“Cash management is our core focus,” it said at its September half-year results. “Given the supply-demand situation and the sector’s falling profits, the tight financial situation has become the industry’s ‘new normal’.” l

Banned: Property tycoon KP Singh, who built India’s first ‘smart’ city

Oil prices at $82.75 a barrel n Tribune Business Desk Oil prices Friday rose for a second consecutive day following strong gasoline demand data in the US, as investor sentiment steadied in global equity markets.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for delivery in November added a modest five cents to $82.75 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

European benchmark Brent oil for December delivery advanced 34 cents to $86.16 a barrel in London.

Analysts said the market continued to take a hopeful reading from Thursday’s US energy inventory data, which showed gasoline inventories fell 4 million last week.

“We saw yesterday that demand is very strong, especially gasoline, with more people driving and shopping,” said Carl Larry, head of consultancy Oil Outlooks and Opinions.

“We were a little oversold and now the economy looks a bit more stable.”

Friday’s move came as equity markets in Britain, France and Germany all gained at least 1.8% as investors snapped up bargains following a sharp drop earlier in the week. US equity markets were also solidly higher.

A broader rally of higher-risk investments “has swept up the crude complex with it,” said Matt Smith, analyst at Schneider Electric.

Since mid-June, US oil prices have fallen about 22% and Brent about 25% amid concerns of a glut.

The drop in oil prices has helped push gasoline prices in the US down to a national average of $3.14 per gallon compared with $3.36 last year, according to the American Automobile Association. Lower gasoline prices often leads to higher consumption. l

ergy is forecast to have pared spending by 7.5bn yuan this year.

“For the traditional manufacturing sectors, I’m afraid their expenditure will continue to shrink,” said Cai Jin, vice president at the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing, which compiles China’s official purchasing managers’ index. “Because of the structural reforms, there’s no need for so much coal, so much iron ore and so much steel,” Cai said.

After 30 years of breakneck, doubledigit growth that lifted millions of Chinese out of poverty but also damaged the environment and left the government and banks with a pile of debt, China says it is ready for change. It wants to cut debt, reduce pollution and lift domestic consumption to prepare its maturing economy for slower but

China’s central bank is set to inject about 200bn yuan ($32.66bn) worth of three-month loans into five or six listed banks to keep liquidity ample and support the slowing Chinese economy, four sources with knowledge of the matter said on Friday.

The injection follows signs that Chinese investors are beginning to bet that the PBOC is going to reduce the official deposit rate, now fixed at 3%.

And it came after a 500bn yuan injection the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) made into China’s top banks last month via its standard lending facility (SLF) in the form of three-month loans.

“Banks got the notice this afternoon but perhaps will only receive the funds next week. This injection focuses on listed joint-stock banks,” one source said.

Analysts also suspect that recent moves to guide traded short-term rates by lowering the guidance rates for repo contracts may be buttressed by cuts in nominal lending rates. The aim would be to encourage state-owned banks to lower the cost of credit for productive investments.

Central bank officials whom Reuters contacted couldn’t immediately confirm the injection plan.

Regulators were concerned by signs of slowing loan growth this summer, but yuan loans picked up in September, relieving worries that demand was slackening. However, the Friday standard lending facility shows the central bank is still engaged in targeted easing to keep cash in the system.

China has injected a net 44bn yuan for the year through open market operations, compared with 113bn yuan in 2013. But it has begun to intensify its use of short-term facilities extended directly to banks in 2014, a method which some analysts criticize as being relatively opaque.

The PBOC has so far held back from a deeper across-the-board easing such as a reduction of bank reserve requirement ratios (RRR) that would result in a big, sustained upward adjustment to the base money supply. Some economists question how long it can rely on short-term targeted tools to keep credit flowing.

“There was very weak loan demand in Q3, which would generally indicate lower lending in Q4, but this is likely to be offset by continued monetary loosening and lending support,” wrote Oliver Barron of NSBO in a research report on Friday. l

n Reuters, New Delhi

A trader gestures at his screen on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in New York REUTERS

Top investors, strategists take pummeling in Wall St sell-off n Reuters, Boston Some of Wall Street’s biggest names are licking their wounds as October lives up to its reputation as one of the market’s roughest months.

The Standard & Poor’s 500 index has now lost almost 8% in the past threeand-a-half weeks , wiping out almost all of the gains achieved earlier in 2014.

What seemed like another good year for investors in US equities is now fraught with uncertainty, with $1.3tn in S&P companies’ market value disappearing.

Add in the impact of an oil price slump plus a big surprise rally in US Treasuries, and the risks of big investment losses have risen dramatically.

From top equity strategists to big hedge funds and mutual funds, the carnage has spared few. Morgan Stanley strategists said this week that their model portfolio through Monday had trailed the S&P by 3.6 percentage points

due to bad bets on technology stocks, including GT Advanced Technologies, the Apple supplier that surprised investors with a bankruptcy filing last week.

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn, had indicated for some time that he was prepared for a stock market reversal but it is unclear whether he would have been fully hedged against a 27% drop in the shares of online video company Netflix on Wednesday after it reported slower US growth. Icahn’s Icahn Enterprises owned 1.8 million shares at the end of the second quarter. He could not be immediately reached for comment.

Top equity strategists at major investment banks polled this year by Reuters have been caught wrong-footed.

They steadily boosted their bets on the rally continuing. The median S&P 500 year-end forecast has been steadily climbing, from a median of 1,925 in December 2013, to 2,000 in June, and then 2,033 in a Sept 25 poll. l

It was, by his own account, a chance encounter with a scion of the Gandhi political dynasty that turned former soldier Kushal Pal Singh into the man who built a city from nothing and made billions in the process.

Singh was toppled from his spot as India’s richest property developer this week, when his company DLF Ltd was hit with an unprecedented three-year ban from capital markets, accused by the regulator of failing to disclose key information at the time of its recordbreaking 2007 market listing.

Investors wiped more than $1.3bn off the indebted company’s market value after the decision.

Village boy-turned-visionary developer, Singh may be largely unknown outside India. But as the man who built “boom city” Gurgaon and fostered the outsourcing industry - with a little help, he says, from ex-General Electric boss Jack Welch - he has been among the most influential Indian names of recent decades.

His political links, to the Gandhi family in particular, have also placed him among the more controversial.

To its cheerleaders, Gurgaon, the city he imagined and built 15 miles outside India’s capital Delhi, is a prototype of where young, upwardly mobile Indians want to live and work. The outsourcing boom has made the city India’s third-richest.

“It is India’s first smart city,” said Rajeev Talwar, executive director at DLF. “Its infrastructure may be creaking ... but there is a new part which supports a new kind of life.”

To its detractors, though, Gurgaon is the epitome of the fervid real estate speculation and dysfunctional urban sprawl that threaten India’s cities as populations boom. Water and power are unreliable, social problems abound and private contractors have had to step in where the police have failed.

Its population has ballooned by

about three-quarters to 1.5 million people in the decade to 2011.

Boom city

It has been a difficult year for Singh, whose fate from the start has been closely tied to that of the Gandhi family. Haryana, the state neighbouring Delhi and including Gurgaon, has long been a stronghold for the family and the Congress party.

After a decade in power Congress, led by Sonia Gandhi, was ousted in May’s general election by Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. Haryana’s voters threw out Congress in a state election this week and strongly backed the BJP, exit polls show. Results are due Sunday.

“There are businesses that have benefited from managing their political connections, and real estate is one of them,” said an executive whose company works with DLF, but did not wish to be named because of the sensitivity of the issue.

In Singh’s case, the link goes back decades.

In his autobiography, Singh describes how in 1980 he accidentally met Rajiv Gandhi, Sonia’s husband and India’s prime minister from 1984 to 1989, when the latter was travelling to Gurgaon and had stopped for water to cool his car’s radiator.

Singh, whose family property firm had been pushed out of the capital by strict development laws, says he shared his plan for the dry and desolate Gurgaon region, and his fate was sealed.

DILBERT

The chance meeting served DLF well for several years during which Singh - even at 82, a sharp dresser with military bearing - amassed 3,500 acres of land in Gurgaon, some of it still undeveloped.

“A salute to the old man to have at that time thought of putting together the entire site and not be tempted to gain by selling parcels of land to other developers,” said Anuj Puri, chairman and country head of Jones Lang LaSalle, a property consultancy that advises DLF. In 2007, DLF listed in what was then India’s largest IPO. The atmosphere at DLF, one employee recalled, was “electric”.

However, politics also cost Singh dearly - DLF has been pulled up several times by opposition party members and anti-corruption activists who accused it of improper land deals with family members of Congress chief Sonia.

It is familiar ground for Singh, whose fallout with Haryana’s Congress party chief minister in the 80s cost DLF nearly a decade of lost development opportunities.

But the timing of the regulator’s order this week, two days before the Haryana state polls, has strengthened views that DLF’s close ties with Congress could also work against it.

For the regulator, it is simply about targeting the big fish, in a bid to boost investor confidence. DLF and its supporters say they will seek to work with the government, regardless of political shades. l