03 Nov, 2014

Kartik 19, 1421 Muharram 9, 1436 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 210

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

20 pages | Price: Tk12

BUSINESS

7 | LONG FORM

11 | OP-ED

13 | SPORT

DEMAND FOR USED CARS SURGES

ROUSSEFF’S DIFFICULT 2ND TERM, AND HER ABUNDANT PROMISES

IS JAMAAT A BOON OR BURDEN FOR BNP?

TIGERS LOOK TO WIN IN KHULNA, SECURE SERIES

Al-Badr commander Mir Quasem to die The key Jamaat financier led the group to commit crimes at Chittagong’s Daleem Hotel – a death factory n Julfikar Ali Manik The International Crimes Tribunal 2 yesterday awarded death sentence to notorious war criminal of 1971 Mir Quasem Ali, who has been playing a key role in recent years to foil the initiative of trying war crimes suspects by spending a large amount of money at home and abroad.

The tribunal convicted Quasem for his notorious role as a commander of alBadr force (a para militia killing squad) in Chittagong where he had committed crimes against humanity during the War of Independence against the Pakistani occupation force.

Quasem, the 62-year-old Jamaat-e-Islami leader, has been found guilty of murder, abduction, and of confining and torturing non-combatants and freedom fighters at an al-Badr camp set up at Daleem Hotel in Chittagong City.

“The al-Badr camp at Daleem Hotel [in Andorkilla area] was a ‘criminal enterprise’ of which accused Mir Quasem Ali was a ‘boss,’” says the verdict pronounced by the three-member tribunal headed by Justice Obaidul Hassan.

“Mir Quasem Ali had been in steering and guiding position of al-Badr force headquartered at Daleem Hotel which was a ‘death-factory’ indeed.”

The tribunal found him guilty of systematic form of killing and torturing and also liable for the criminal role of civilian superior responsibility.

Quasem instead of preventing the criminal acts by al-Badr men, on whom he had effective control, involved himself in the system and protracted brutality caused to the detainees at the camp, the verdict says.

Quasem “was an indispensable cog in the ‘murdering machinery’ implanted at Daleem Hotel.”

Fourteen charges were brought against the al-Badr leader by the prosecution in 2012 for committing crimes during the nine-month-long bloody war.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Mir Quasem Trial Charges & Verdicts  Omar-ul-Islam abduction, confinement and torture  Abdul Jabber Member abduction, confinement and torture  Abduction, confinement and torture of Nurul Quddus and others Abduction, confinement and torture of Sunil Kanti Bardhan alias

 Dulal

10 YRS JAIL

at a camp in Chittagong in his reaction said: “Today is like a Eid day for our family members. Still I have marks of torture on my body.”

“I am a diabetics patient and doctors have advised me not to eat sweetmeats. But today, I have taken one and also distributed among people I know,” the 66-year-old said over phone.

He said, a month after the war broke out, he went to India and received guerrilla training.

Coming back to Chittagong, he

War criminal Mir Quasem Ali yesterday dealt the death sentence handed down to him with overt arrogance, swearing “Shaitan” inside the courtroom, terming the verdict “directed” and showing the customary victory sign before leaving.

He was brought to the International Crimes Tribunal in the capital from the Kashimpur jail in Gazipur around 9:15am. He could be seen reading newspapers inside the court lockup while waiting before the court kicked off proceedings.

Police took him to the dock around 10:40am. Clad in a sky blue shirt, black trousers and black shoes, a stone ring in the middle finger of his right hand and a silver wrist watch on the other hand, the war criminal appeared to be in a really good mood.

Right after he took his seat on the dock, he said something to his son Mir Ahmed Bin Quasem, who was part of the defence attorney team.

Mir Quasem sat on his chair in the dock with his legs crossed and relaxed.

A little later, he asked one of the policemen, standing beside him outside the dock, whether the judges had come to the court.

The judges of the second International Crimes Tribunal, led by Justice Obaidul Hasan, came to the courtroom at 10:50am.

Soon after, a courtroom attendant unknowingly came in front of the dock.

Flipping his left hand, Mir Quasem drew the attention of a policemen and asked him to clear up the place so that he could see the judges.

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Abduction, confinement and torture of Jahangir Alam

 Chowdhury, Ranjit Das, Tuntu Sen and Murder of Ranjit Das Mir Quasem Ali being taken to tribunal for the verdict yesterday

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

7 YRS JAIL

Lutfar Rahman Faruk Seraj abduction, Â and confinement and torture

confinement, torture and murder of Jashim and  Abduction, five others

20 YRS JAIL DEATH

and Tuntu Sen

‘Al-Badr atrocities were against spirit of Islam’

Solace for the victims of Quasem’s brutality

n Julfikar Ali Manik

n Ashif Islam Shaon

Activities of al-Badr, the infamous killing squad of Jamaat-e-Islami that took the lives of many unarmed Bangalee civilians during the Liberation War in 1971, was against the spirit of Islam although they had committed atrocities in the name of the religion.

While delivering verdict against Mir Quasem ali yesterday, the second International Crimes Tribunal said Jamaat had claimed that the stance of the party and its the then student wing Islami

Chhatra Sangha – now known as Shibir – was in solidarity with Pakistan and for preserving Islam.

“But holy religion Islam does not allow such atrocious acts against humanity,” the verdict said, adding: “Rather, Islam teaches protecting humanity and human rights and dignity.”

Tribunal Chairman Justice Obaidul Hassan and members Justice Md  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

P3 ANOTHER STEP AHEAD

Blackout cause yet unknown, but grid upgrade likely n Aminur Rahman Rasel While Power Ministry officials are urging the public to await the findings of an eight-member probe committee into the national power grid failure’s causes, other top officials seem to have determined what were and were not the causes of the grid failure.

The finance minister yesterday said: “It was the faulty transmission and distribution electricity lines that caused yesterday’s [Saturday] power shutdown, not the Indian power company that we import the power from.”

Finance Minister AMA Muhith said the 10-hour blackout across the country was the result of faulty transmission and distribution lines, after the minister met Power

Secretary Monowar Islam at his secretariat office yesterday to discuss why the nationwide blackout had occurred.

Meanwhile, State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid yesterday told journalists that an inquiry committee was investigating the causes of the national grid failure, and asked the public to postpone further speculation until the committee’s definitive report on the matter (See story on Back Page).

But an expert attending the media conference at Bidyut Bhaban said the national power grid could collapse again if it was not upgraded.

“We will appoint a consultant to review the power grid system as soon as possible,” Nasrul Hamid said at the press conference.

The nationwide blackout on Saturday  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

INSIDE

5 | News

12 | Entertainment

3 | News

6 | Nation

The re-demarcation of the Turag River has been suspended on undisclosed grounds, making it easy for encroachers to grab more riverbed and riverbank lands.

In immediate reaction to the death penalty handed down to war criminal Mir Quasem Ali, Chief Prosecutor Zead-Al-Malum said it was yet another strong step towards repaying a debt.

4 | News

n Ahmed Zayeef

Jahangir Alam Chowdhury abduction, confinement and torture Saifuddin Khan abduction, confinement and torture Harun-or-Rashid Khan abduction, confinement and torture Abduction, confinement and torture of Md Sanaullah and two others confinement and torture of Nuruzzaman and six  Abduction, others  Abduction, confinement and torture of Md Zakaria and others

   Â

Abduction, nement and  confi torture of Nasiruddin Chowdhury

NOT GUILTY

Even though the first trial scheme failed, the government is now distributing saplings of genetically modified Bt brinjal among over 100 farmers – up from 20 – to make the controversial variety popular.

‘Monpura’ girl Farhana Mili will soon appear in a Liberation War-based telefilm. Portraying a character named Taramon Bibi, Mili will seen in a rebellious role with weapons in her hand.

After of gap of several months in the face of action by the local administration, some influential people have recently started sand lifting anew from Bukbhora haor in Sadar upazila of the district.

8 | World

Iraqi Peshmerga forces have started combat operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Kobane, less than 24 hours after arriving in the besieged Syrian town.

The verdict that awarded death penalty to Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali who gained notoriety for torture on freedom fighters at Dalim Hotel in Chittagong brought some solace to the families of martyrs and other victims.

A guerrilla freedom fighter Jahangir Ali Chowdhury whom Al-Badr men tortured in presence of Mir Quasem Ali

P3 MONCHO HAPPY

The fine line between confidence and arrogance

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, November 3, 2014

Pakistan home minister criticises Nizami death sentence n Tribune Report

Pakistan’s Home Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan expressed concern over the death sentence of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, Pakistan newspaper Dawn reported on Saturday.

‘Pakistan could not remain divorced from references to 1971 and its aftermath’ In a statement, he said although what happened in Bangladesh was that country’s internal matter, Pakistan could not remain divorced from references to 1971 and its aftermath.

Nizami was sentenced to death on October 29 for committing crimes against humanity during the 1971 Lib-

eration War. Nisar Ali Khan said it was highly unfortunate that almost 45 years after that tragic chain of events, the Bangladesh government still seemed to be living in the past and totally ignoring the time-tested virtue of forgiveness and forgetting.

He said one failed to understand why the Bangladesh government was hell-bent on digging the graves of the past and reopening old wounds.

He said it seemed obvious to any independent observer that the recent events in Bangladesh were a manifestation of serious political violations which were being inflicted on Bangladesh’s Jamaat-e-Islami for events before the independence of Bangladesh.

The minister said he was deeply saddened to receive this shocking news and believed that the government of Bangladesh had misused the process of law as a political tool against the Jamaat leader. l

Birdem doctor shot at home in capital n Tazlina Zamila Khan

Workers under the banner of Sarak Paribahan Sramik Malik Oikya Parishad bring out a rally in the capital yesterday demanding immediate execution of the sentence of Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer Motiur Rahman Nizami DHAKA TRIBUNE

Blackout cause yet unknown, but grid upgrade likely

The fine line

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has led to a series of high-level government efforts to figure out just what went wrong with the national power grid and what must be done to fix it.

“The transmission and distribution system in the country is sub-par compared to any other country,” the finance minister said.

He also said: “I asked the power secretary why our power generation was 80% of our capacity to generate power.”

The country currently has the capacity to generate 11,000MW of power, but it only generates 7,000MW. The focus of all the concern is falling on state-run Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Ltd (PGCB). Incorporated

in November 1996 with an authorised capital of TK1,000 crore, it is entrusted with owning, operating and expanding the national power grid.

“I think such an accident could happen again if the system is not modernised,” said Abdul Hasib Chowhdury, associate professor of electrical and electronic engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet).

Prior to Saturday’s grid collapse, nationwide blackouts occurred in 2003 and 2007. Grid system security analysis, low-voltage study, blackout prevention study and power restoration plan are needed to revise the total system, the Buet teacher said.

“Grid system security analysis is an

engineering study which would give reports to the operator before any problem emerges in the system,” he added.

“If a full low-voltage study was done, it would point out supply source problems. A blackout prevention study prepares an automatic load system which would be activated just before a possible grid failure,” he said.

“Besides this, the grid system needs to be decentralised. For instance if a problem emerged at the Bheramara power station, why should it affect Sylhet?”he asked.

“Finally, there needs to be a full restoration plan so that a plan of action exists if the grid fails. These steps are standard procedure globally and if we

follow them, we will not have such problems in future,” he said.

The PGCB’s actual upgrade effort will likely be based on the findings of the probe committee and the recommendations of the consultant the Power Ministry will bring in.

In 1996 when the PGCB was formed, the total length of 230kV and 132kV lines was 838 circuit-km and 4,755 circuit-km, respectively. This increased to 1,144 circuit-km and 4,962 circuit-km respectively in FY2000-01.

At present there are 164.70 circuit-km of 400kV lines, 3,066 circuit-km of 230kV lines and 6,125 circuit-km of 132kV lines throughout Bangladesh run by the PGCB. l

During the 45 minutes that the verdict was being read out, the war criminal sat on the dock mostly with his legs crossed. He listened to the verdict carefully. Sometimes he nodded his head in disagreement with certain sections.

However, his patience started receding as the verdict was nearing climax. At one point, he sat with his legs straight up, shaking the left one nervously.

He gave a scornful smile when Justice Obaidul Hasan said that they had reached a unanimous decision on nine of the charges.

When the tribunal announced death penalty for abducting and killing seven people, Quasem quipped: “…

Al-Badr atrocities

Solace for the victims of Quasem’s brutality

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Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Shahinur Islam yesterday delivered the 351-page judgment over the charges against Quasem. They sentenced Quasem to death for the crimes that had committed against humanity in 1971.

In the concluding part of the judgment, they said: “The grave misdeeds committed by the al-Badr force, the ‘action section’ of Jamaat, are in no consideration approved by Islam.”

Jamaat have been doing politics in the country with an aim of establishing its own version of Islamic rule.

The party and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir have earned a reputation generally associated with terrorist organisations, by carrying out attacks on police and people over the last few years to foil the war crimes trial.

Yesterday’s verdict said the Islami Chhatra Sangha (ICS), by providing active assistance, inducement and endorsement to the al-Badr’s criminal activities, instead took a stance against the spirit of Islam.

The judges said: “Quasem being a potential leader of ICS, the student wing of Jamaat, had acted as its trusty henchman in furtherance of common policy and design of annihilating the ‘miscreants’ [freedom fighters].”

Quasem has been convicted for committing crimes against humanity in 1971 in an al-Badr camp, set up in

Chittagong’s Dalim Hotel, in seclusion.

The Judges said it was the principal execution site of all the offences of confinement, torture and murder.

According to the judgment, by keeping civilians in prolonged captivity, the al-Badr men inflicted ruthless torture on them that resulted in death of several detainees including Jasim, a young freedom fighter, and Tuntu Sen and Ranjit Das. The purpose of carrying out such system cruelties was to obtaining information about freedom fighters secretly headquartered in and around Chittagong town. Finally, on 16 December 16, 1971, hundreds of detainees got released there from with the help of freedom fighters.

Quasem was the boss of the alBadr camp. The al-Badr acted a “death squad” for the Pakistan army and exterminated leading Bangalee professors, journalists, litterateurs, doctors and other professionals and intellectuals.

About the objective of creating the al-Badr force, the verdict said the infamous force’s objective was not to guard lives and properties of civilians.

“Rather, it [al-Badr] had acted in furtherance of policy and plan of Pakistani occupation army and in doing so, it had committed indiscriminate atrocities in a systematic manner against the unarmed Bangalee civilians throughout the territory of Bangladesh in 1971,” said the verdict. l

organised guerrilla fighters to carry out operations in the port city.

“Probably two days after Eid-ul-Fitr (in November) in 1971 Al-Badr men and Pakistani army personnel picked me up from my house and took me to Dalim Hotel. There I found my younger brother Dastagir Chowdhury, neighbour Mafiz and some others.”

That evening Al-Badr men Nurul Afsar and Quasem also brought advocate Shafiul Alam in and kept him in the same room. “Blood was oozing from his mouth.”

The following day Afsar and Quasem left a teenage boy [Jasim] in the room.

Other hostages later found him dead.

“We saw hostages waiting for death crying for water. They beat up us brutally and dumped the dead bodies in Karnaphuli river. Sometimes Quasem visited the Dalim Hotel. The Al-Badr men narrated to him the torture they inflicted upon us much to his satisfaction,” he said.

Sanaullah Chowdhury, also a victim of Quasem’s torment, said: “It is a much expected verdict. Finally justice has been served.”

Tripping down his memory lane the 67-year-old man described his ordeal in captivity: “Bodies of four to five captives who were tortured to death at the camp I was confined to were dumped into the Karnaphuli river at the fag-end of nine-month bloody war.”

Top al-Badr leader Mir Quasem to die  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

The three-member tribunal – consisting Chairman Justice Obaidul Hassan, and members Justice Md Mozibur Rahman and Justice Shahinur Islam – unanimously found Quasem guilty on nine charges. On another charge, Quasem has been convicted by the majority opinion of Justice Obaidul and Justice Shaninur; Justice Moibur acquitted the top Jamaat financier on that charge.

But the judges acquitted Quasem unanimously from four other charges as the prosecution did not bring any witness against two charges and failed to prove the two others.

Two of the 10 proven charges are related to murdering people in which the tribunal awarded Quasem death sentence. On the other eight charges, he has been awarded jail for different terms – from lowest seven years to highest 20 years; but he will have to serve the terms concurrently.

All these sentences will, however, merge with the death sentence if “he be hanged by the neck till he is dead” after confirmation of the capital punishment by the Supreme Court.

Quasem’s lawyers said they would appeal against the verdict with the apex court.

Just after completion of delivering the verdict, Quasem stood up shout-

ing: “False incidents, false witnesses, dictated verdict. Truth will win, lies will be defeated...soon, soon.”

Police took him to the lock-up of the tribunal. While getting on the prison van, he showed the photojournalists a victory sign.

The infamous al-Badr force was formed by Jamaat’s then student wing Islami Chhatra Sangha (now Islami Chhatra Shibir) to orchestrate systematic killings of pro-liberation people.

Quasem was the president of Chhatra Sangha’s Chittagong City unit until November 1971 and then was elevated as the general secretary of the East Pakistan unit.

Jamaat and its student wing Chhatra Sangha both functioned as criminal organisations, the tribunal earlier said in some other verdicts.

Quasem in the past decades has also become the steerer of Jamaat’s financial ventures that are considered as the lifeline of the anti-liberation communal party.

Before his arrest in June 2012, Quasem, on behalf of his party, started campaigning abroad in exchange for money against the war crimes trial initiative taken by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2010. It is evident that Quasem paid millions of dollars to a US lobbyist firm to make the trials controversial.

After Quasem’s arrest, evidence was found that his brother Mir Masum Ali and convicted war criminal and Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami’s son Dr Naqibur Rahman paid top lobbyist firms to work against the war crimes trials.

There has been widespread discussion among cross-sections of people since long that Quasem and his party were spending a large amount of money in the country to foil the war crimes trial and save Jamaat leaders facing trial.

On April 28 last year, then law minister Shafique Ahmed told parliament that Jamaat had signed an agreement with a US lobbyist firm to make the trial of war criminals “controversial.”

He said Quasem had paid $25m for this purpose while claiming that the government had copies of the receipts and the agreement.

Quasem is also known for his strong link with many organisations in the Middle East for financial purpose.

The verdict

In a cream blazer over a blue shirt, black trousers and shoes, Mir Quasem Ali was sitting in the dock on a chair all through the 45 minutes the tribunal took to read out the summary of the 351-page judgement.

Some unidentified criminals shot at and injured a senior medical officer of Birdem Hospital at his own house in the capital’s Moghbazar area yesterday.

Victim Md Abu Naser Muhit, 34, was later admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Neighbour Ibrahim said Naser opened the door of his flat, on the first floor of the four-storey building at 356/c Madhubagh, after a youth aged around 25 knocked it about 6:45pm saying that he worked for the local cable operator.

Muhit found four masked men outside the door who stormed into the flat.

As he resisted, one of the attackers shot him on the thigh and left the scene.

After hearing screams, neighbours came and rushed him to the DMCH around 8pm.

Ibrahim said Muhit had received a threat from goons seeking money in 2009 when he extended two floors of the building.

Ramna police said they would interrogate the locals on the matter and that process of filing of a case was under way. l

devils…devils…devils…devils.”

When the policemen were taking him away from the dock after verdict delivery ended, he shouted again: “False events…False witnesses…Black law…Hatched-up verdict. Truth will win, false will be defeated soon..soon.”

Around 12:40pm, when he was being taken on to a prison van, he waved his to the people that had gathered on the tribunal premises.

Then he showed the customary victory sign with the index and middle fingers of his right hand which was reminiscent of executed war criminal Abdul Quader Molla.

Quasem had a smile on his face to accompany the gesture. l

He said, on the evening of November 27, 1971, he was taken to Dalim Hotel by armed Al-Badr men blindfolded with his brother-in-law Habibur Rahman and neighbours Zafar Ahmed and Ilias.

Habibur and he were confined to a room on the first floor from where he managed to see some other captives through the blindfold. But he did not come to know the whereabouts of Ilias.

He said he saw Shah Alam, Tuntu Sen and Ranjit Das inside the room.

“Some of them were writhing in pain on the floor.

“While I was in confinement, captives were tortured in different rooms and Mir Quasem Ali, on several occasions, was present. He himself beat me up. Mir Quasem Ali also interrogated me at Dalim Hotel. They killed many captives there.”

On December 9, Sanaullah was released upon giving an undertaking that he would provide information about freedom fighters.

Syed Mohammad Amran, a classmate of Quasem, said he was delighted at the verdict.

Amran said four to five detainees were killed at the Al-Badr torture camp while freedom fighters rescued 100-150 detainees including him from the camp on December 16, 1971.

On the night of November 29, his group got engaged in a front battle with Al-Badr men at Chandgaon in Chit-

tagong and defeated the enemies.

But unfortunately in the early hours of November 30, Al-Badr led by Quasem, Pakistani army and Razakars besieged their house and detained him along with his elder brother and five other cousins and took them blindfolded to NMC School.

Amran said 10 to 12 more freedom fighters were picked up from different parts of the city and were brought to the school later were taken to Dalim Hotel in the city’s Andarkellah area.

“I was taken to a room and tortured brutally by sticks, electric wire and other weapons. I fainted frequently and each time they poured water on my face so that I regained consciousness.”

At one stage, Quasem interrogated him about their arms, training and manpower. A freedom fighter named Jasimuddin was tortured and killed inside the camp.

Jasimuddin’s maternal cousin Hasina Khatun was also deposited against Quasem at the tribunal. After the verdict was pronounced. Hasina talked with Dhaka Tribune over phone.

“The new generation should know about what Jasim and his fellows did for the country. I am happy and hope, one day we will leave a better and enemy free Bangladesh for them,” she said and urged the government to hang Quasem as early as possible.

She said, Al-Badr men led by Mir

Quasem Ali tortured Jasim to death.

She had learned about Jasim’a death from those who were also held captive in the camp.

Jasim was a candidate of higher secondary examination from Chittagong College when he joined the war.

She had learnt from other freedom fighters that some Al-Badr men had tortured Jasim, a teenage from Sandwip, and left him in a room in the camp in a critical condition, and within a few minutes he died. Jasim’s body had been dumped into the Karnaphuli river.

Yesterday the tribunal-2 announced that ten out of 14 charges have been proved against the 62-year-old Quasem and as the third most powerful man of the Al-Badr force he got the highest penalty – death sentence – for two charges.

One charge is torture and killing of adolescent freedom fighter Jasim along with five unidentified people after Eidul-Fitr of 1971 at Dalim Hotel after abduction while the other is kidnapping of Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Ranjit Das Prokash Latu and Tuntu Sen in November, 1971.

Latu and Tuntu were later killed and their bodies were never found.

Mir Quasem is known as a key financier of Jamaat, which was instrumental to bar the birth of Bangladesh by collaborating with Pakistan occupation forces and carrying out crimes against humanity. l

The verdict says Quasem’s active inducement, approval and endorsement effectively contributed to the commission of all criminal activities carried out in the al-Badr camp, in furtherance of common purpose.

The Pakistani Army members were known as “Khan Shena” during the Liberation War. Quasem earned infamous titles for his atrocious acts in 1971 such as “Khan Shaheb,” “Bangali Khan,” “Sardar” (commander) as he and his force were actively collaborating with their killing mission against Bangalis.

In the verdict that cites the context of the nation’s struggle for freedom from Pakistan, the tribunal said Quasem had established himself as the “ring leader” of the criminal enterprise (al-Badr camp at Daleem Hotel).

Convicted Quasem’s conscious and active presence at the al-Badr camp, his inducing sayings, acts and conducts cumulatively suggest his “commanding position.”

His position “had encouraging effect” and gave approval to all criminal activities carried out to the commission of abduction, confinement, torture and death, the verdict says.

Despite being in commanding position of the al-Badr camp, he failed to prevent the commission of crimes. Rather, he used to remain present and grill

the detainees, and ordered al-Badr men to beat them up, the verdict mentions.

The tribunal said Quasem was found liable also under the doctrine of Joint Criminal Enterprise (JCE, form II), which means he was liable for systematic form of killing and torture.

Mir Quasem Ali was a “part of an ‘organised system’ of ill-treatment and cruelties...Quasem has incurred criminal liability also under the ‘theory of civilian superior responsibility’ in respect of offences proved.”

“His position of authority and domination over the al-Badr camp which was indeed a ‘death factory’ justifiably be taken onto account as an aggravating factor.”

According to a defence petition, Quasem is the member secretary of the Islami Bank Foundation, an organisation that oversees all projects of Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd and profits generated by it; chairman of Keari Ltd, a real estate and tourism company; founding trustee and also a member responsible for the administration of the Ibn Sina Trust and director (marketing) of Ibn Sina Pharmaceutical Industries.

The Jamaat leader is also the member secretary of the Fouad Al-Khateeb Charity Foundation. He is the chairman of the daily Naya Diganta and Diganta television.

Death on two charges

Any time after the Eid-ul-Fitr day of 1971, Quasem made a plan and at his instigating, the members of al-Badr force abducted freedom fighter Jasim from an unknown place of the Chittagong City and took him to Daleem Hotel.

Thereafter, on November 28, under Quasem’s directive and hint, alBadr members having confined Jasim therein tortured to death and then his body along with five other dead bodies of unknown persons, who had also been tortured to death by al-Badr, were thrown into the Karnaphuli River.

On any day and at any time in November, Quasem planned the abduction of Jahangir Alam Chowdhury, Ranjit Das alias Lathu and Tuntu Sen alias Raju. He asked al-Badr men to pick them up from their houses on Hazari Lane.

Though Jahangir (who testified at the tribunal) was released from Daleem Hotel the following day, later al-Badr members, at the instigation of Quasem, killed Lathu and Raju and kept their bodies concealed. At the time of abduction of the victims, Quasem along with al-Badr, razakar and al-Shams forces and the Pakistani Army plundered many shops, torched about 250-300 houses and compelled more than 100 families to go to India as refugees. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Monday, November 3, 2014

Prosecution: Another step towards repaying debt n Abid Azad In immediate reaction to the death penalty handed down to war criminal Mir Quasem Ali, International Crimes Tribunal’s Chief Prosecutor Zead-AlMalum said it was yet another strong step towards repaying a debt.

While talking to reporters on the tribunal premises in the capital yesterday, he also dedicated the verdict to the martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War. “The prosecution is indebted to the three million martyrs of the 1971 Liberation War. Because of this sense of indebtedness, we never bowed down to any obstacle while conducting the case despite there being threats on our lives,” the leading state lawyer said.

“We welcome the verdict. It fulfils the expectation of the people of the country,” he said.

In reply to a query, another prose-

Gonojagoron Moncho happy with Quasem verdict

n Tribune Report

The activists of the various factions of the Gonojagoron Moncho and other pro-Liberation War organisations have expressed satisfaction over the death penalty handed down to war criminal Mir Quasem Ali. After the verdict, Moncho activists also brought out victory rallies at and around the Shahbagh intersection in the capital.

In his immediate reaction to the verdict, Imran H Sarkar, spokesperson of one of the factions of the Moncho, said: “We welcome the verdict. We thank the government and the tribunal for it. If the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upholds the verdict, we will be happy.”

He also said: “Now we want to see quick execution of the verdict because it will establish rule of law in the country.”

Another faction of the Moncho, led

by Kamal Pasha Chowdhury, also expressed satisfaction and brought out a rally at Shahbagh. Ruling Awami League’s student front Chhatra League brought out a procession on the Dhaka University campus.

Since morning, the activists of the various factions of the Moncho took position at Shahbagh, waiting in anticipation for the verdict against Quasem, who is known as a key financier of Jamaat-e-Islami. The Chhatra league (JSD) also demanded capital punishment for the war criminal from a separate gathering. l

cutor Turin Afroz said: “We will sit and make a decision on whether we will file appeal regarding the charges against Mir Quasem that the tribunal said had not been proved.”

An International Crimes Tribunal yesterday handed down death penalty to Jamaat leader Mir Quasem Ali, also known as the leading financier of the party, on the charges of abducting and killing five people in 1971.

A total of 10 out of the 14 charges brought against him including those for killing, conspiracy, planning, complicity, incitement and active participation were proved, the tribunal pronounced.

He was also given a total of 72 years’ imprisonment on other charges of abduction, conspiracy and planning.

Defence to appeal

Meanwhile, terming the verdict “suspi-

cious” and “falsified,” Quasem’s lawyer Mizanul Islam said they would challenge the tribunal verdict with the apex court.

Mizanul said: “The prosecution failed to present any document that could prove the charges against Quasem Kashem and also prove that Kashem was in Chittagong at that time.

On the contrary, we tabled many documents that could prove that the Jamaat leader was not involved with any crime during the war.”

He also said: “One of the persons that the prosecution produced as a witness was born in 1977.”

The defence lawyer claimed that the documents that the two sides had placed before court indicated that the al-Badr commander was someone else, not his client. Mizanul also alleged that the tribunal verdict had not established justice and truth. l

Two persons including a photojournalist were injured in a crude bomb blast in a procession of Gonojagoron Moncho in Chittagong city’s Cinema Palace area yesterday.

The Moncho leaders and activists brought out the procession hailing the death sentence awarded to war criminal and Jamaat leader Mir Kashem.

The injured were rickshaw puller Md Rafiq, 45, and Aminul Islam Munna, photojournalist of the Daily Azadi,

n Tribune Report The first day of countrywide 48-hour hartal, enforced by Jamaat-e-Islami protesting its chief Matiur Rahman Nizami’s death penalty for committing war crimes during the 1971 Liberation War, passed off without any mentionable untoward incidents elsewhere in the country yesterday.

In the capital, activists of the party and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir brought out a flash procession in support of the shutdown at Paikpara in Mirpur around 6:40am. There was also another flash procession at Paltan intersection around 2pm where unruly activists vandalised at least six vehicles.

In Dhanmondi 15, some unruly hartal supporters from a flash procession set a bus afire in front of Almas Super Shop around 7:30pm. However, no arrest was made from the aforesaid incidents.

Our Chittagong correspondent says no violent incident was reported from the port city or other areas of the district; public offices, business establishments, factories, industries and educational institutions remained operational.

Presence of vehicles was as usual and rail communication was uninterrupted while long-route buses left the city with police protection.

In Rajshahi, some pickets lit up fire on roads at Vodra, Dewanpara, Doshormondol intersection by pouring petrol.

However, no major incident were reported while a good number of police, RAB and BGB members were deployed

a local daily in Chittagong.

Kotwali Police Station Officer-in-Charge AKM Mohiuddin Selim told the Dhaka Tribune that a crude bomb was blasted when the Moncho procession was crossing Cinema Palace area around 1:45pm leaving the duo injured.

Of them, Rafiq was sent to Chittagong General Hospital while Munna received minor injuries in the bomb blast, said the OC. The on-duty physician Dr Morshed Ali at emergency ward of Chittagong General Hospital said Rafiq was given

SAGAR-RUNI MURDER PROBE

RAB given time till December 9 n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday asked Rapid Action Battalion to submit the probe report before it by December 9 in journalist couple Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi murder case.

Metropolitan Magistrate Amit Kumar Dey passed the order as Investigation Officer Wares Ali, also an assistant superintendent of police, failed to submit the probe report yesterday.

Elite crime busters RAB on September 18 submitted a routine progress report before the court.

IO Wares took over the charge of investigation on March 18 and submitted a progress report to the trial court on March 20 complying with a High Court order.

Sagar and his wife Runi were killed at their West Rajabazar’s rented flat on February 11, 2012. Sagar was the news editor of private TV station Maasranga while Runi worked as a senior reporter of ATN Bangla channel.

Yesterday was the International Day to End Impunity against Crime against

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

2nd phase of Jamaat hartal almost peaceful Jail Killing Day today there to prevent any destructive move.

In Sylhet, Jamaat-Shibir activists put up a barricade on Choukidighi Road by placing logs and torching tyres and they blasted four crude bombs there. Besides, the activists in the same way blockaded Naya Sarak in the morning. However, there was no arrest as the hartal supporters moved away from the spot before reaching police.

In Comilla, law enforcers in separate drives detained 10 activists from different areas of the district on apprehension of conducting violent activities centring the hartal.

In Gaibandha, Sadullahpur police station OC Zia Latiful Islam said they arrested Noldanga Jamaat unit Chief Abu Sayed Raju in several cases filed for committing destructive incidents.

In Barisal, no unwanted incident was reported in the district except sudden processions of hartal supporters in Kawnia, C and B Road and Kashipur areas in the city before dawn. They later tried to block road by felling trees while the move was foiled by prompt action of police.

In Gopalganj, police arrested two Jamaat-Shibir activists from Kashiani upazila town.

In Jessore, Police in drives arrested 52 accused, including 9 Jamaat-Shibir activists, in cases filed with different police stations, says Reshma Sharmin, assistant superintendent of police and also spokesman of police.

In Kushtia, there was no violence centring the hartal, resulting in usual

Two hurt as Gonojagoron Moncho comes under attack n Our Correspondent, Chittagong

Security around the war crimes tribunal beefed up ahead of the verdict in Jamaat leader Mir Quasem Ali’s trial yesterday

Journalists. Justice seekers have been waiting for long to see the perpetrators of the sensational killings held and prosecuted.

Meanwhile, the Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court has set November 6 to hear a plea to take two security guards – Enam Ahmed alias Humayun Kabir and Palash Rudro Paul – into seven-day remand. RAB filed the petition on October 21.

Police have so far arrested eight accused, including these two guards of the victims’ residence.

Following the murders, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police started investigating the case and later it was shifted to the DB police. However, the High Court in an order asked elite force RAB to deal the case as the DB had expressed its inability to resolve the case.

In October of 2012, the then home minister announced a bounty of Tk10 lakh for helping law enforcers nab Humayun Kabir, who was on the run. Humayun was arrested on February 9 last year, but there has been no progress in the case since then. l

primary treatment.

The OC said police were looking into the matter and trying to arrest the persons involved in the blast.

Gonojagoron Moncho Co-ordinator Sharif Chouhan said the crude bomb was thrown targeting their procession to foil the spirit of the Liberation War. Earlier, the International Crimes Tribunal 2 awarded death penalty to top Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Kashem Ali for his crimes against humanity and other offenses committed in Chittagong during the 1971 Liberation War. l

Bomb-maker arrested, explosives seized

n Tazlina Zamila Khan Fifty-six cocktails, eight hand-made bombs and 250 grams of gunpowder were seized from the possession of a veteran bomb-maker as he was taken into custody from the capital’s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area yesterday.

The accused, Md Manik, 28, was arrested from the Puran Bazar Shahnewaz house in West Agargaon. RAB raided an under-construction building situated north of the Neuroscience Hospital, where Manik was arrested and some of his explosives were seized.

After interrogating the suspect, officials recovered another stash of explosive devices and bomb-making equipment near Bosila Bridge.

RAB officials said Manik has been involved in various criminal activities for the last 12 years. They described him as a bomb-maker for hire.

Manik is also an FIR-listed accused in a murder case. In 2002, a case was filed against him for his involvement in the Ayesha killing in the capital’s Mohammadpur area. He was absconding and a warrant had been issued for his arrest. l

public life.

UNB reports: The hartal supporters brought out separate processions on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway at Chandana intersection in Gazipur and threw brick chips targeting the moving vehicles. They also blasted a crude bomb in Joydevpur rail gate area.

In Narayanganj, at least 10 people were injured, including one with bullets, in a clash between police and Jamaat-Shibir activists at Fatulla in Sadar upazila in the morning. In another incident, hartal supporters vandalised 10 vehicles on the Dhaka-Sylhet and the Dhaka-Chittagong highways in Siddhirganj.

In Pabna, police arrested 45 people, including 15 Jamaat-Shibir activists, from different parts of the district. Shibir men also set fire to a bus during the hartal hours in the district town.

In Bogra, pickets vandalised 10 battery-run easy bikes at Charmatha in the town and police arrested five suspected pickets.

The first phase 24-hour hartal enforced by the party ended on Friday amid poor response while the second period will end at 6am tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Jamaat has announced another 24-hour strike for Thursday protesting the death sentence declared by International Crimes Tribunal 2 to top Jamaat-e-Islami leader Mir Quasem Ali, known as a key financier of the anti-liberation party, for crimes against humanity in Chittagong during the Liberation War of 1971. l

n Tribune Report The 39th Jail Killing Day will be observed in the city as elsewhere across the country in a solemn manner today.

On this day in 1975, four national leaders and key-personalities in the Bangladesh government in exile acting president Syed Nazrul Islam, prime minister Tajuddin Ahmed and ministers Captain M Mansur Ali and AHM Quamaruzzaman, who led successfully the Liberation War in absence of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1971, were assassinated inside Dhaka Central Jail by the usurpers of state power of former president Khondoker Mostaque Ahmed government.

The horrendous assassination of the four champions of democracy and independence by some disgruntled mid-ranking army officers in a well-protected jail, unheard of anywhere in the world, added a black chapter in the history of Bangladesh.

In separate messages, President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina recalled with gratitude the immense contributions of the slain four national leaders in the country’s Liberation War and other national movements for restoration of people’s fundamental rights.

Different political parties including the ruling Awami League and its allies in the grand-alliance government, associate bodies and other pro-liberation parties and socio-cultural- professional organisations will pay deep homage

to the slain four national leaders, who were also close associates of Bangabandhu, in observance of the day in a befitting manner.

Awami League will observe the day with due solemnity. It will organise a public rally at the historic Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital at 3pm marking the Jail Killing Day. Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will attend the public rally as the chief guest. Party’s presidium member and Deputy Leader of the Jatiya Sangsad Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury will chair the rally to be addressed by the national leaders.

The programmes of the day include hoisting of the national and party flags at half-mast at Bangabandhu Bhaban and party offices and raising of black flags, wearing of black badges at 6:30am, placing of wreaths at the portrait of Bangabandhu on the premises of Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi at 7am and laying of wreaths at the graves of the martyrs of the August 15 and the November 3 carnages at Banani graveyard at 7:30 in the morning.

Offering of fateha and munajat and holding of milad mahfil will also be organised at Banani graveyard in the morning seeking divine blessings for eternal peace of the departed souls.

An identical programme in paying homage to AHM Quamaruzzaman including placing of wreaths, offering of special prayers and munajat and milad mahfil will also be held at his grave in Rajshahi in observance of the day. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, November 3, 2014

BARI moves to popularise Bt brinjal n Abu Bakar Siddique Even though the first trial scheme failed, the government is now distributing saplings of genetically modified Bt brinjal among over 100 farmers – up from 20 – to make the controversial variety popular.

“We selected 106 farmers in 17 districts to distribute the saplings. The distribution began last month,” Dr Rafiqul Islam Mondol, director general of Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), said.

Each farmer is given saplings of two varieties for half bigha land, though BARI initially decided to suggest one bigha for each variety.

In February, the government distributed saplings among 16 farmers in Gazipur, Jamalpur, Rangpur and Ishwardi to cultivate those in one bigha land each. However, most of them carried out poor results.

The BARI chief now claims that this time farmers will not face any difficulties as “October-November is the appropriate season for brinjal cultivation.”

On October 30 last year, the stateowned research institute released the four GM varieties without giving any satisfactory explanation on issues related to environmental and health hazards raised by campaigners. The move was even challenged in court, but rejected.

In the face of concerns, the government last December tasked the BCSIR, better known as science laboratory, to analyse if the varieties had any negative health impact. The report is yet to be prepared.

BARI developed the varieties with the help of India’s Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) by inserting

bt gene into the local varieties. The gene is patented by American seed giant Monsanto.

Mahyco, in which Monsanto has 26% stake, developed the varieties with the financial support of the USAID. Mahyco’s Bt brinjal was banned in India in 2010 after its harmful effects were exposed. The same group earlier developed GM brinjal varieties in the Philippines. But the move was stalled by a court order, considering the health hazards.

Farmers in Bangladesh had experienced drying up of seedlings and pest attacks because of demonstrating in late season, the BARI chief claimed.

Rafiqul also said they were expanding the areas of cultivation to make the product popular across the country.

Apart from last year’s four districts, the new areas include Manikganj, Tangail, Pabna, Kushtia, Comilla, Jessore and Dinajpur.

At a press conference on September 8, the BARI DG himself acknowledged that before releasing the varieties, they had not conducted any laboratory test on the possible negative impacts on human health.

Nine of the 20 farmers present at the event said they had faced huge financial losses due to poor production output as most of the saplings died at different stages of cultivation.

On labelling GM brinjals before marketing them, Dr Rafiqul told the Dhaka Tribune that it would not be possible to maintain labelling while selling the brinjals. It would be ridiculous.

According to a condition imposed by the National Committee on Biosafety, no GM crop can be sold without labels.

Bt brinjals produced by the 20 farmers were sold at local markets allegedly without any label. l

Eminent writer Mohammed Zafar Iqbal hands over life’s works and personal belongings of late Humayun Ahmed including his personal diary and a letter to the National Museum at a memorial ceremony yesterday FOCUS BANGLA

Jamaat strike raises exam schedule disruption worries n Abu Hayat Mahmud Students, guardians and teachers are concerned about possible exam schedule disruptions as Jamaat-e-Islami is enforcing general strikes frequently in protest at the death penalty awarded to some of its leaders for war crimes.

More strikes by the party have been speculated in the coming days which have deeply worried learners as well as their mentors.

Ruhul Amin, headmaster of Shukrabad High School, said public exam schedules would be disrupted if there were strikes in every week.

“The disruption cannot be overcome just by considering scheduling exams for Friday and Saturday. The Primary School certificate (PSC) exams are scheduled for November 23 while annual exams in most of the schools will begin in early December. If there are more shutdowns, exam schedules are highly likely to be disrupted,” he said.

Ruhul said those who enforce strikes should seriously consider the impact of such programmes on public life and other daily activities, including education.

Ashraf Chowdhury, whose son studies at Government Laboratory High School, said: “I am really worried about

the spate of shutdowns as my son is a JSC candidate. He has also become upset about this.”

“Academic affairs will be seriously hampered if strikes continue to be enforced this way,” he added.

In protest at the death sentence given to Motiur Rahman Nizami on Wednesday, Jamaat announced a 72hour countrywide strike in two phases.

The party yesterday enforced another 24-hour strike for Thursday, though the second phase of the previous shutdown would end tomorrow at 6am.

The strike for Thursday was enforced after the International Crimes

Kofi Annan urges Sheikh Hasina not to lower girls’ marriage age n Tribune Report

A student receives her ITEC scholarship certificate from President Abdul Hamid at the golden jubilee celebration of the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme in the capital yesterday PID

Fund crisis, red tapes hit BAU research n Md Ataul Goni Rabbani Benefits of various researches at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) are not reaching the country’s people because of fund constraints and lack of proper extension activities.

Scientists at the BAU said most often they do not get cordial cooperation from the authorities responsible for fund allocation and disbursement to carry out their work and reaching out their outputs to the people.

In most cases, funding agencies or organisations provide funds for a very short period that forces them to discontinue their work without achieving any significant output.

“We conduct various outstanding researches on agriculture, livestock and fisheries here in Bangladesh, but outputs of the researches do not reach the target groups due to lack of proper extension activities,” said Dr Bazlur Rahman Mollah, a poultry scientist at BAU. “Even, sometimes we have no other way to stop our work in the midway due to lack of sufficient funds,” he said.

According to the scientists and researchers, it requires eight to 10 years or even more time to develop a new va-

riety of crop, fish, or livestock breeds.

But in most cases donor agencies provide funds only for three to five years, they said.

Citing an example from his ongoing research, Dr Mollah said: “We have developed two new strains of broiler chicken namely BAU Bro-White and BAU Bro-Colour after working hard for more than four years from available genetic resources.

“The new strains are well adjusted to our environment and more disease resistant than that of the imported ones, but we are facing challenges in further research to establish it as patent strains of Bangladesh due to lack of fund.”

Species of many indigenous fishes are gradually disappearing from the country’s water bodies due to various natural and man-made reasons.

More than 40 local fishes have already gone extinct and many will disappear soon if research is not conducted to preserve those, said Prof Dr Md Fazlul Awal Miah.

“We have developed modern technologies like artificial insemination and induced breeding techniques of many fishes to protect them from extinction,” he said.

Dr Awal recently conducted successful induced breeding of local Baim (Mastacembelus armatus) fish that was declared endangered by the IUCN in 2000.

“The same technologies can be applied to two other popular indigenous fish species like Baghair and Mohashol, but we are receiving negative responses from the donor agencies from home and abroad,” he said.

Developed countries spend millions of dollars for research for years, said Dr Shubash Chandra Das. “It is a matter of regret that we cannot withdraw allocated funds in time due to various bureaucratic complexities.”

Increased budgetary allocation for research in agricultural sector can ensure food and nutritional security of the common people of the country.

“We are continuously requesting the University Grants Commission and ministries concerned to increase funds for agri-based researches but have received few responses,” said BAU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Md Rafiqul Hoque.

Organisations concerned and donor agencies should come forward to help our experts for the development of lives of people of the country, he said. l

Former UN secretary general Kofi Annan has urged Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to maintain the minimum age of marriage for girls at 18 years.

Kofi Annan, currently chair of The Elders, a group of independent leaders working together for peace and human rights across the globe, made the call in an open letter sent to Hasina yesterday.

On behalf of The Elders, Annan said they were concerned to learn that the cabinet has recently approved language in the draft Child Marriage Restraint Act 2014 to lower the minimum age of marriage from 18 to 16 years for girls.

Warning of the dangers of lowering the age, he says: “Such a change in legislation would undermine efforts to reduce poverty and improve the welfare of girls and women across Bangladesh.

“We urge you to maintain the minimum age of marriage for girls at 18

City Bank wins best consumer internet bank award

n Tribune Report

City Bank has been named the “Best Consumer Internet Bank in Bangladesh”

by Global Finance, a North America based leading global financial publications.

City Bank Chairman Rubel Aziz, accompanied by the bank’s Deputy Managing Director and Chief Operations Officer Mashrur Arefin, received the award at a ceremony on October 28 in New York.

City Bank received the accolade for the success of Citytouch, an internet banking platform. The service brings together all the conveniences of branch banking to internet-enabled devices.

Rubel Aziz said: “We are inspired and will bring even more significant internet banking developments in Citytouch in near future.” l

years of age,” the letter says.

Annan praises Hasina’s government for committing to end child marriage.

However, he warns that lowering the age of marriage for girls would be “a step in the wrong direction” that would “undermine efforts to reduce poverty and improve the welfare of girls and women across Bangladesh”, with particularly harmful effects for maternal and child health.

“Girls who are married and out of school do not contribute to Bangladesh’s economic development and prosperity, perpetuating cycles of poverty,” he adds.

Bangladesh has made impressive progress in improving maternal and child health over the past decade, however this progress will be hindered if the proposal to reduce the age of marriage goes forward, he says.

Kofi Annan termed child marriage a major violation of human rights. l

Tribunal yesterday had condemned Jamaat leader Mir Quasem Ali to death for crimes against humanity.

Junior School Certificate (JSC) exams scheduled for yesterday and today were rescheduled for November 7 and November 14 respectively for the strikes.

Thursday’s JSC exam was also suspended. Starting from November 23, the PSC exams will end on November 30.

Education Secretary Nazrul Islam Khan said exams suspended for strike had been decided to be held on every Friday.

“If strikes continue, exams will also be held on Saturdays,” he added. l

IGP flies for Monaco to join Interpol conference n Tribune Report Inspector General of Police Hassan Mahmood Khandker yesterday left Dhaka for Monaco to attend the 83th yearly conference of International Criminal Police Organisation or the Interpol.

With the theme “100 years of International Police Cooperation,” the conference will be attended by top brass police officials and delegates of the 190 member countries.

Deputy Inspector General (operations) Chowdhury Al Mamun, Assistant Inspector General of National Central Bureau Mahbubur Rahman Bhuiyan and Additional Police Super Montasirul Islam will also join the conference, said a press release published by the police headquarters.

State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan is scheduled to deliver a speech on “A century of collectively combating transnational crime,” on the fourth day of the conference. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Monday, November 3, 2014

Turag re-demarcation halted mysteriously

Son of police official found murdered after going missing n Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

Grabbers continue constructing structures, including markets and restaurants n Abu Hayat Mahmud The re-demarcation of the Turag River has been suspended on undisclosed grounds, making it easy for encroachers to grab more riverbed and riverbank lands.

In defiance of the High Court order and a directive of the prime minister, grabbers are constructing structures on the riverbank lands illegally, including industries, markets, shops, garages, restaurants and educational institutions. The release of chemical wastes from the industries in the river continues unabated.

Dr Md Samsuddoha Khandaker, chairman of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), told the Dhaka Tribune in February this year that encroachment was reducing the river to a canal.

He said erecting demarcation pillars in the middle of the river was a wrong step, adding that further demarcation would be done.

In April 2011, Gazipur district administration wrongly demarcated the river by erecting pillars at low-water mark, thus excluding much of the riverbed.

BIWTA sources said around 600 acres of riverbank lands had been grabbed from Tongi to Aminbazar.

A range of establishments have been erected in Gabtoli, Borobazar, Kotbari, Harirampur, Jahanabad, Golartek, Lalpara, Diabari, Sinnirtek, Jagannathbad - eastern part of the river adjacent to Mirpur – and Eskabed, Golbari, Kanundia -western side of the river under Harirampur union.

A river comprises a bed, foreshores and banks, according to a High Court verdict.

After the wrong demarcation in 2011, Gazipur district administration, the BIWTA and land officials have so far taken a good number of re-demarcation attempts but it is yet to be done because the authorities choose not to be harsh with grabbers, BIWTA sources said.

Attempts have also been made by the district administration, the BIWTA, Ra-

A 13-year-old boy, son of an assistant sub-inspector of police, was found murdered at a village in Trishal upazila yesterday after he went missing on Monday.

Trishal police station Officer-inCharge (OC) Moniruzzaman said they were informed by locals in the morning about the body of a boy found buried at an abandoned land of Panchparha village.

He said they rushed there, recovered the body and identified it as that of Shahriar Adib, son of Assistant Sub-Inspector Sarwar Ahmed, whose current office is Sadarghat police station in Dhaka.

Adib, a Class IX student of Darirampur Nazrul Academy, used to live at his maternal grandfather’s house at the upazila’s Konabari village. He hailed from Sadar upazila’s Borerchar area.

According to his family, Adib had gone missing from Kabi Nazrul University bypass crossing on Monday. After that, they searched him but failed to trace him out.

His father Sarwar later filed a general diary with the local police station.

Police or Adib’s family yesterday could not say who might have been involved in the murder. l

Local sand traders have set up bamboo fences to enclose a portion of the Turag River to grab the river. The photo was taken from Ashulia point of the river yesterday jdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk), Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) and other government bodies to recover occupied lands but they could not make much progress in the face of the strong influence of grabbers.

On July 14 this year, the Supreme Court cleared the way for removing all structures, excluding those set up by the government to serve public interests, erected on the banks of four rivers encircling Dhaka - Shitalakhya, Balu,

Turag and Buriganga.

After turning down five review petitions, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court upheld its previous verdict. The High Court issued similar orders several times in the past but those were not complied with.

On October 13, Gazipur district administration, the BIWTA, the BWDB teamed up to carry out eviction drives and complete the demarcation process of Turag but they halted operations after

a week without giving any exact reasons.

Samsuddoha yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune a survey was underway and re-demarcation would follow once the survey ended.

Seeking anonymity, a BIWTA official said: “The whole river will not be re-demarcated. The process will only concern the pillars erected in wrong places.”

Earlier in 2009, the High Court ordered to remove all illegal structures and erect demarcation pillars in ac-

MEHEDI HASAN

cordance with the CS and RS survey.

The pillars were to be placed 150 feet away from the river slope.

In November 2012, the High Court directed the government to stop sand trades on the banks of the rivers surrounding the capital.

In another order, the High Court on June 25, 2009, directed the BIWTA to safeguard Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalakhya Rivers against encroachment and pollution. l

80% fail written in CU B-1 unit admission test n FM Mizanur Rahaman

AL, BNP leaders’ grip on R&H land

Two DU students held over mugging

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

n DU Correspondent

Around 80 percent of the admission seekers have failed in the written part of B-1 unit under the Chittagong University admission test for 2014-15 academic sessions.

Only 20 percent of the aspirants secured the pass mark in the test held for arts and humanities faculty at CU, according to the result published yesterday.

SM Akbar Hossain, deputy registrar of academic section of CU and member secretary of CU admission committee, said out of 24,109 admission seekers 4,455 secured pass mark in the written part.

Earlier, only 20.43 percent aspirants obtained pass mark in the written test of D unit under CU Social Science faculty. l

Leaders of Jubo League and Jubo Dal, youth fronts of the ruling party Awami League and the BNP respectively, have grabbed land of the Roads and Highways Department worth about Tk3 core in Nilkhola and Harisaona areas under Gournadi upazila area of Barisal.

Local sources said Gournadi upazila Vice Chairman and Jubo League leader Farhad Munshi and his associates – Golam Mustafa and Chunnu Khalifa had filled Sundardi Khal (canal) of Nilkhola recently and built a number of structures.

During a visit to spot this correspondent found that the encroachers have already leased out the shops and rented out those defying objections of the Road and Highway Department.

DRY WEATHER LIKELY

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 5:18PM SUN RISES 6:06AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 31 30 30 31 31 30 32 31

23 24 18 19 19 20 19 23

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

33.5ºC Cox's Bazar

18.0ºC Chuadanga

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

Two Dhaka University students were arrested while trying to mug a man early yesterday at the capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan. Some of their cohorts, however, managed to flee the crime scene.

The detainees are Arifur Rahman Lion, a third-year student of the university’s finance department, and Asad Ahmed, a first-year student of the same department. Shirajul Islam, officer-incharge of Shahbagh police station, said a case has been filed against the two young men along with some others including another DU student.

“The victim, Al Amin, filed a case against the two students along with four or five others,” the OC said.

Police sources said Al Amin, a res-

ident of Old Dhaka, had come to the Suhrawardy Udyan to exercise at 6am, when he was attacked by the students.

The victim was forced to hand over a mobile phone and around Tk2,000 to the muggers before patrolling policemen heard his screams and rushed in to apprehend two of the robbers. Other culprits, however, managed to escape.

Sources at Surja Sen Hall, the dormitory where Lion resides, said Lion had been suspended several times in the past. Lion also allegedly abducted a businessman and pushed him off the second floor of the hall a few months ago.

When contacted, DU acting proctor Amzad Ali admitted that Lion had also committed several crimes before, adding that stern academic steps would be taken against the accused. l

About 59 students will vie for a seat in the upcoming admission test into first year honours course of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University (BSMRSTU) in the 2014-15 academic session.

At least 40,079 applicants will sit for the admission test against 680 seats in 14 departments under six units this year.

The admission tests for A, B and C units will be held on November 21, and the tests for D, E and E units will be held on November 22.

Applicants can avail necessary information at the university’s website: www.bsmrstu.edu.bd . l

Tk77 lakh sandal woods seized in Jessore n Jessore Correspondent Members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) seized about 154 kilograms of sandal woods worth about Tk77 lakh from a bus in Laojani area of Jessore early yesterday.

Acting on a tip off, a BGB team led by Major Md Liakat Ali, deputy commander of Jessore 26 battalion of BGB, intercepted a Jessore-bound bus from Benapole on Jessore-Benapole highway and seized the Indian woods, said a BGB press release. Nobody was arrested in this connection. l

BAN ON ILISH NETTING

WEATHER

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

On other hand, Mehedi Hasan Shaymol, organising secretary of Gournadi upazila Jubo Dal, illegally occupying land of the Roads and Highway Department has constructed shops along Dhaka-Barisal Highway in Harisona area of the municipal town.

However, the grabbers claimed that they had filled canal and built structures there after taking lease from the authority concerned.

Shishir Kumar Baral, sub-assistant engineer of Roads and Highway Department, Gournadi said they had not give lease of any of their land to any Jubo Legue and Jubo Dal leader.

He also said they had tried their best to resist those political leaders from building structures on government’s land, but failed. l

40,079 admission seekers will sit for tests at BSMRSTU n Gopalganj Correspondent

4:49am 6:05am 11:42am 3:42pm 5:18pm 6:35 pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

Fishermen demand proper rehabilitation n Our Correspondent, Barisal People from different quarters underscored the need for rehabilitation of the fishermen as an eight-month countrywide ban on ilish fry catching, known as jatka, came into effect from November 1.

They also opined that the move will kiss dust finally if necessary initiative in this regard is not adopted.

The embargo of Ilish fry catching, transportation and marketing will continue till June 30 next year across the country.

While visiting yesterday, the correspondent, however, found that Ilish fry selling was going on in the local kitchen markets unabatedly defying the ban.

Besides, any action to check the misdeed by the authorities concerned was not also found.

Sources at the local and divisional fishery department said they were unable to take action against jatka catchers and traders due to fund constraint, limitation in law and lack of manpower as well as logistics support.

When asked, Barisal District Fishery Officer Wahiduzzaman said they have already formed teams to run monitoring on the rivers and later they would

also operate mobile court there.

Israil Pandit, president of Bangladesh Khudra Matsyajibi Samiti, said except implementing a rehabilitation plan for the fishermen, the initiative would not be able to prevent the illegal jatka netting while poverty and unemployment would push them to defy the ban.

The embargo of hilsa fry catching, transportation and marketing will continue till June 30 next year across the country Bazlur Rashid, deputy director and Barisal divisional fishery officer, acknowledged the fact stated by Israil, saying they started assisting some enlisted fishermen with a food-package programme and encouraging them to chance the profession.

A fisherman named Kasem said the fry was being caught by general net and they will face trouble as there is no special net for the species that also die as soon as pulling out of water. l

People gather around the wreck of a truck after a collision with the vehicle and a train at Bhabanipur Rail Crossing in Gouripur upazila, Mymensingh yesterday. A man was killed and five others were injured in the accident DHAKA TRIBUNE

Train rams into truck, one killed n Our Correspondent, Mymensingh

A man was killed and five other were injured as a train smashed into a sand laden truck at Bhabanipur Rail Crossing in Gouripur upazila, Mymensingh yesterday.

Railway Traffic Inspector Sazzad Hossain said a Mymensingh-bound mail train coming from Chittagong hit the sand-laden truck while it was crossing the rail track around 8:30 am, leaving the unidentified man, traveling on the

railway engine, dead on the spot and five, including the train driver injured.

The injured were admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital and Gouripur Hospital in critical condition.

Following the incident, rail communication between Mymensingh and Kishoreganj route was disrupted from 8:30am to 10:30am.

One killed in Kishoreganj road accident

Meanwhile, a motorcyclist was killed while another one was injured in a road

accident in Karimganj upazila of the district yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Shafiqul Islam Shafi, 45, son of Gias Uddin of Jangalbari village. Md Aktaruzzaman, officer-in-charge of Karimganj police station said the accident had taken place on the Kishoreganj- Chamta Highway in Jangalbari area around 12:30pm while Shafi’s motorcycle hit a roadside tree, leaving two critically injured.

Locals rushed them to Kishoreganj Modern Hospital where Shafi died. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Monday, November 3, 2014

yet to file case against rapist Desperate sand lifters leave Police n Bukbhora haor at stake Our Correspondent, Shariatpur

n Our Correspondent, Jessore After of gap of several months in the face of action by the local administration, some influential people have recently started sand lifting anew from Bukbhora haor in Sadar upazila of the district.

As a result, the ecological balance as well as the haor’s nearby vast track of land and a flood protection dyke has been facing extinction due to the ongoing misdeed.

Besides, 213 families who are vastly dependent on the water-body have passing days amid apprehension of being destroyed their sole source of livelihood.

It was learnt that the haor is located in Dewara union on 153 hectors of land touching Chandutia, Arichpur, Halsa, Isapur, Narangali and Motbaria villages.

Currently, some quarters named Ali, Rafee, Anu and Anis have started sand lifting from the haor with several swallow machines and it was being sold to others.

On the other hand, incessant trucks

plying on the roads to carry the sand left the local communication on poor condition while some crop lands on the bank of the haor have already vanished as well.

One fisherman named Shital Biswas said he could not catch fish like before as the imprudent sand lifting caused an unusual depth in the haor.

When contacted, Ali said he had took lease some land for fish cultivation two years ago and started the sand lifting to make pond.

In a query whether he obtained any permission for the task, he answered negative, saying about sand tantamount to 10-12 trucks was being lifted daily from the spot.

Dewara union parishad Chairman Ashrafuzzaman Mito alleged that he failed to draw attention of the local administration despite repeated pleas although the sand lifting had earlier remained stopped for several months owing to a media uproar in this regard.

He continued that the influential people have been running the sand extraction by grabbing a land of 8-bigha on the

baor. Ovimanno Biswas, former president of Bookbhora baor Fishers’ Samity, echoed the voice of the chairman.

Dr HM Jakir Hossain, associate professor of petroleum and mining department at Jessore University of Science and Technology, opined that the sand layer is loose and that is why the sides of a baor start breaking because of lifting sand from it.

The worst outcome of the unscrupulous act would appear within several months if the situation continues, the professor warned.

Despite repeated attempts to mobile phone set, Jessore Fishery officer Md Ramzan Ali could not be reached to make remark in this regard.

When asked, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Kamrul Arif acknowledged of receiving such type of allegation, saying he would conduct a drive on the scene within two days after getting green signal from the deputy commissioner.

The UNO went on that as it was a major misdeed, necessary preparation was required to run a drive there. l

Farmers harvest Aman paddy at Chabbish Nagar village under Godagari upazila, Rajshahi. Farmers of the district have cultivated floodtolerant Aman paady – Swarna 28 – in a bid to increase production and earn more profit AZAHAR UDDIN

Drug peddler burnt alive by villagers Correspondent, n Our Brahmanbaria Outraged by the notorious activities of two drug peddlers, residents of Nurjahanpur village set fire to their house killing one and injuring three in Nabinagar upazila under Brahmanbaria district yesterday.

The dead is Manik Miya, 45, elder brother of Monnaf Miya who is known as the “emperor of drugs” in the village. Yesterday the villagers set fire to their house after

Agitated by their act, the villagers chased them to their house and set fire to it leaving Manik dead on spot the two brothers spoiled a “shalish” (local court) scheduled to be set up against them for theft on Saturday.

Locals said Manik had stolen three cows of one Taleb Hossain of the village on October 27. On Saturday Manik and Monnaf, along with rented goons, created panic in the village by hurling crude bombs and threatened the villagers.

Agitated by their act, the villagers chased them to their house and set fire to it leaving Manik dead on spot and three others injured.

The injured are Manik’s wife Anwara Begum, 30, son Shakil, 18 and Sumon, 14.

Nabinagar police station Officer-in-Charge Rupok Kumer Saha said Manik’s dead body was sent to the District Sadar Hospital for autopsy while the injured were sent to Comilla for treatment.

“Manik was an infamous thief and drug seller in the village. The villagers committed this act after suffering from the activities for long,” said the OC. l

It has been seven days since a woman, resident of Chamta village under Naira upazila in Shariatpur, was raped by her co-villager, but police are yet to file a case against the rapist.

Moreover, the rapist through local influential people are threatening the victim that she would have to face dire consequences if she does not stop

knocking police to file a case.

The victim said she was raped by her co-villager Titu Talukdar on October 27. Hearing hue and cry of the victim, neighbouring people rescued her.

She said: “When I and my husband went to his house and told them about the matter, they rebuked me.

“We went to Naira police station on October 28 and requested police to lodge a case, but they did not file any

case rather they suggested returning back to home.”

She also alleged that former upazila chairman Ismail Hossain Mridha tried to put pressure on them, so that she would not file a case against Titu. But Ismail chairman said he just tried to resolve the issue. OC of Naira police station said they had sent a team to the village to probe the matter, but police could not find any actuality of the complain. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

7

Monday, November 3, 2014

Rousseff’s difficult second term, and her abundant promises

What happened to the Brazil that, just a few weeks before, begged for a change to the lethargy and stagnation?

Supporters of Brazil’s President and Workers’ Party (PT) presidential candidate Dilma Rousseff react to the results of the Brazil general elections on Sao Paulo’s Paulista Avenue, October 26, 2014. Rousseff narrowly won re-election on Sunday after convincing voters that her party’s strong record of reducing poverty over the last 12 years was more important than a recent economic slump REUTERS

I

n Scheila Farias Silveira

t took little more than four hours, but Brazil has counted the votes and elected its leader.

With 51.64% of nationwide preference, Dilma Rousseff is the re-elected president.

From January 1st, she will have four more years to prove that there will be no reversals to the recent social developments, to stimulate a discouraged economy, and to appease a polarised population. It is true that neither she nor rival candidate Aécio Neves are representatives of change, but fundamental differences between the two meant she remained in power.

Rousseff was appointed as secretary of energy, mining and communication in Rio Grande do Sul by the state governor.

“She always had a strong presence – that is why people are confused and think she is aggressive,” said former Governor Alceu Colares when she first stepped to power. At the end of both their terms, the country was already in a very different situation: inflation was no longer rampant, the country finally settled on a currency, though still in vogue, and Brazil was a full democracy.

Four years later, in 1999, she was summoned once again for the same position, composing staff this time led by the Labour Party.

In 2002, she became minister of mines

Rousseff also aims to increase full-time vacancies from 13.2% to 20% until 2018, as well as offer more openings

Looking back Although Dilma Rousseff has reached the top of the political game without going through the usual path through state and local governments, her life story gives a more clear understanding of how she got involved with such affairs. Daughter to a Bulgarian engineer and a Brazilian schoolteacher, Rousseff grew up in Belo Horizonte – the intellectual stronghold of the region.

This was the 1960s, a dark moment for most of South America. Under a number of pseudonyms and false identities, the highly educated teenager Rousseff first became involved with clandestine reading groups and associations, developing affinities for socialism and workers’ politics.

It is between rallies and demonstrations that she met Cláudio Galeno Linhares. They joined forces with fellow companions as the founders of the National Liberation Command, an armed resistance movement.

With the introduction of the infamous Institutional Act 5, through which began the most intense period of repression, the opposition began to be seized. Fearful of the same fate, 19-year-old Rousseff fled to Rio de Janeiro. The clandestine groups begin to unite and grow in numbers.

For being at the wrong place at the wrong time, she was arrested in São Paulo in 1970. Two years and four months of prison and torture followed. She was arrested for leading strikes – illegal at the time – and bank robberies that financed armed warfare.

In a legendary debate with Senator Agripino Maia in 2008, Rousseff (by then minister of state for civil office) remembered these times in a speech that gained her broader visibility and sympathy before Brazilians: “I am proud to have lied, because it is not easy to lie under torture. But in a democracy, we must speak the truth.”

Later, already under a democratic system, she established a branch of the Democratic Labour Party (PDT).

and energy. In 2010, after corruption scandals in the Civil House, she assumed the position of chief of staff.

Rousseff came to fame by obsessing with data and little appetite for politics. For this combination, she secured her space by centralising decisions and not forgiving doubts among her subordinates.

Thus, Rousseff became the natural successor of Luis Inácio “Lula” da Silva.

On the one hand, the public recognised that she was a competent, technocratic manager, on the other hand, she lacked charisma to get elected.

However, the discovery of a lymphoma in 2009, in the middle of her political campaign, brought her sympathy whilst she handled the illness under the public eye. She became the first woman president of Brazil.

Skeletons in the closet – During the recently concluded elections, her greatest achievement, perhaps due to her ever-increasing experience, has been that she is finally shining with her own light.

Former president “Lula” da Silva caused a stir when he chose Rousseff as a candidate in 2010. Although Rousseff displayed competence in managing the ministries of her predecessor, she lacked the empathy required of a good politician.

At the time, Lula’s popularity, and declaration of full support was a decisive factor. Several corruption scandals later, association with his image and the Labour Party was discouraging to investors and upper-middle-class alike.

As predicted, stock markets plummeted shortly her victory.

Cases of government rigging are one of the main counterweights to Brazil’s recent social development.

Supposedly, high positions in state enterprises and municipalities should be occupied by long-career professionals.

However, there is an increasing number of positions that can be filled by appointment – that is, party allotment – says Istoé Dinheiro, a weekly business magazine. “At the federal level, there are now 22.7 thousand direc-

tors of superior advisory. In 2002 there were 18.3 thousand”, says the report.

Barely passed accusations regarding World Cup costs, the ongoing scandal involving Brazil’s state-owned Oil and Gas Company Petrobras should also present relevant developments soon.

Into the future So, what happened to the Brazil that, just a few weeks before, begged for a change to the lethargy and stagnation?

In fact, the majority of causes pressed by protesters were not targeted at the federal government – they either referred to state and municipal-level administration, or conservative lawmakers.

Overall, presidential candidates presented government plans in accordance to the claims pointed out by protesters.

With the ghosts of extreme poverty rates and uncontrollable inflation asleep since just before the 2000s, Brazil has learned to prioritise social inclusion.

With economic growth and ascension of millions to the middle class, the only coherent part of the dispute was that Rousseff wished to expand income distribution programmes, and the pay additional subsidies to municipalities that opened childcare facilities for disadvantaged children.

Her opponent, Neves, wanted to transform and adopt redistributing income as a permanent state policy, and expand the service.

demanded in the demonstrations. To do so, Dilma promises to carry out a plebiscite to decide for or against a constituent assembly that will have among its obligations redefining responsibilities between the federal, state, and municipal governments, and also revise the tax structure.

However, this proposal already took a blow this Tuesday, two days after the election, as other parties from the allied base itself rebelled against the linked proposal. It is a decree issued in May, which established the national system of participation.

Through it, public agencies should open instances of social participation in public policy development, in activities similar to popular councils.

Mendonça Filho, leader of the Democratic Party, unfolded in her criticism

According to a recent survey published by the Brazilian Institute of Public Opinion and Statistics (IBGE), 29% of Brazilians consider corruption as the primary problem in the country.

The new law is to punish public officials who enriched themselves without showing the origin of their equity increase, and streamline the trial of cases involving misuse of public resources.

In terms of foreign policy, Rousseff prioritises relations with Latin American and BRICS countries. She has plans to strengthen the southern common-market region Mercosur (Argentina, Brazil,Paraguay and Uruguay) and African and Asian countries. The re-elected president said little about what will be done differently in the economy, but said that she will change the finance minister, Guido Mantega.

tion policies for legal, illegal migrants and foreign residents are still to be developed.

Quest for support Congress, fully elected on October 5, caught attention of political scientists in the country for being the most conservative in 50 years.

Jair Messias Bolsonaro, a far-rightwing politician, was the most voted in the state of Rio de Janeiro. Among his causes were implementing the death penalty, military intervention in civil matters and setbacks in LGBT issues. Pastor Marcos Feliciano, Luis Carlos Heinze are other examples of homophobic, racist and overall prejudiced approach to politics, with wide support.

Audacious goals made the difference The candidate for re-election used education as banner. For the next term, the elected government aims to universalise early childhood education. Until 2016, every child between four and six years of age has to be in school. Rousseff also aims to increase full-time vacancies from 13.2% to 20% until 2018, as well as offer more openings for the National Program for Access to Technical Education and Employment (Pronatec), in a total of 12 million until the end of next year.

A resident of the region of Sao Paulo state that depends on the Cantareira water system, blocks a road during a protest for the eightmonth rationing of water continues as a result of a record drought, in Itu, October 27. After a grueling election campaign in which officials faced fierce criticism for downplaying the effects of a year-long drought, Brazil’s most populous state is finally coming to terms with an uncomfortable reality: it is running out of waterThe sign reads, ‘The city of Itu asks for help.’

REUTERS

Majority of causes pressed by the protesters were not targeted at the federal government – they either referred to state and municipal-level administration, or conservative lawmakers

She also pledged to universalise highspeed Internet: the government’s proposal submitted in the campaign suggests public-private partnerships to install optical fibres in 90% of Brazilian municipalities. In the remaining, radio or satellites are the viable options because of accessibility issues. The project aims to maintain a minimum internet speed of 25 megabytes per second.

For healthcare, her goal is to bring in specialists in addition to the ongoing imports of general practitioners. In order to better train police, a National Academy of Public Safety is also to be created.

After successive evidence of popular disapproval, the government says it will abide by the political reform

while also appealing to public fear on Brazil’s resemblance to Venezuela. “She overstepped Parliament, mirroring the likes of Hugo Chávez,” he stated.

This is not the first time the proposal has been considered “Bolivarist” by opposition and allies alike.

This sudden allegiance might have to do with other facets of the promised reform. The electoral process itself was also meant to come under discussion – with corporate campaign financing in the agenda along with the debates about whether the seat distribution remains proportional, or is it to be defined by district or party lists, and about how to maintain the provisional replacement of senators.

Immigration might also be an upcoming issue. The number of requests for refugee status in Brazil sky-rocketed from 500 (in 2010) to 5,200 (2013), says National Committee for Refugees (CONARE). Numbers are due to increase after a new bill was approved on August 14.

Through the bill, Brazil has agreed to grant citizenship to stateless people – such as the Rohingyas, one of the most persecuted minorities in the world. According to personal preference, people who are not considered nationals by any country can now opt between being provided Brazilian citizenship, or keeping their status of foreigners, but with the same rights of other legal immigrants.

The decision results from an agreement during the UN Convention on the Status of Stateless Persons, 60 years ago. “We consider the country advanced. It is one of the few who signed the conventions and the fact that it incorporated it into legislation is a significant step,” said André Ramirez, country representative for the UN Refugee Agency to Estadão.

Today, another under-populated country – Uruguay – is also preparing a similar law. However, specific integra-

But it is misleading to think that this composition represents the majority of Brazilians. The abstention of nearly a third of the population – 38 million blank ballots – in this phase of the process, explicits discontent, a more-than-proper ending to the protests that began in 2013.

The low level of the electoral debate, especially during the second round, set aside the programmatic review of proposals for the country. In social networks and on streets alike, voters lost patience, tolerance and respect – heavily influenced by biased media coverage.

Between cursing, unproven accusations and broken personal and professional relations, the campaign brouhaha seemed more like the backstage to an amateur football match than strategically promoted discourses. It is feared, hereafter, that citizen participation has been impaired.

Many people will only discuss politics again in four years’ time. Until then, few are expected to continue watching, criticizing and demanding from the “new” leadership.

Scheila Farias Silveira is a freelance contributor.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Monday, November 3, 2014

Peshmerga in Kobane fire rockets at ISIL Ukraine separatists vote in controversial election

n Agencies Iraqi Peshmerga forces have started combat operations against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Kobane, less than 24 hours after arriving in the besieged Syrian town.

Peshmerga fighters in Kobane, a town near the Turkish border that has become a focal point in the battle against the armed group, fired at least six rockets from pick-up trucks at ISIL positions on Saturday.

Al Jazeera’s Jamal Elshayyal, reporting from the border, earlier said the Peshmerga stationed themselves on the western side of the town and hoisted the Kurdish flag in one of the buildings they were staying in.

Al Jazeera’s Raafat Al Rifai, also reporting from Kobane, said Syrian Kurdish fighters, known as the YPG or People’s Protection Units, who have been battling ISIL for weeks, had been patiently waiting for the arrival of the Peshmerga and their superior weaponry.

The YPG have been holding out for weeks against ISIL’s offensive, backed by dozens of US-led air strikes against ISIL positions.

The YPG have repeatedly said they do not need more fighters, only weapons, and say they are mistrustful of Turkey’s intentions, accusing it of trying to dilute the YPG’s influence in Kobane.

Peshmerga forces arrived in Kobane

n AFP, Donetsk

A Kurdish peshmerga fighter waves the Kurdish flag while sitting atop an army vehicle armed with a heavy infantry weapon as he moves towards the Syrian town of Kobane from the border town of Suruc, Sanliurfa province, October 31 REUTERS on Friday armed with heavy weaponry, including anti-aircraft machine guns and mobile rocket launchers.

Shorsh Hassan, a spokesman for the YPG, said the arriving Peshmerga had “a role” to play in the fight against ISIL. “The priority will be to recapture Kobane neighbourhoods that were taken by [ISIL] and then the goal is to liberate all villages in the countryside

of Kobane,” Hassan told the AFP news agency.

The SOHR, which operates through a network of activists on the ground, said more than 100 ISIL fighters had been killed in clashes in the last three days, as well as through US-led air strikes.

US Central Command said on Saturday that US aircraft had launched five

raids near Kobane in the past two days, affected nine ISIL fighting positions and damaging one building used by the group.

Kobane has become a crucial battleground in the war against ISIL, which is fighting to extend large expanses of land it controls in Iraq and Syria, where it has declared an Islamic “caliphate.” l

Separatists in eastern Ukraine voted Sunday in controversial, Russian-backed leadership elections that Kiev branded a “power grab” and the West condemned.

The elections in the self-declared Donetsk People’s Republic and Lugansk People’s Republic – based around the two main rebel-held cities – were billed as bringing a degree of legitimacy to the makeshift military regimes that already control them.

However, the polls deepened an international crisis over the conflict and further undercut an already teetering truce between Ukraine’s government and the heavily armed pro-Russian separatists.

“I hope that our votes will change something. Perhaps we will finally be recognised as a real, independent country,” Tatyana Ivanovna, 65, said as she waited to cast her ballot in Donetsk’s school number 104.

“We need to be able to live normally,” said Valery Vitaliyevich, 50. “It’s terrible being afraid for your family at every bombardment. I will vote hoping that this will help the authorities to defend our interests against Kiev.”

But Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko blasted the election as a violation of a September 5 truce deal,

calling them “pseudo-elections that terrorists and bandits want to organise on occupied territory.”

The Security Service of Ukraine said Sunday it was opening a criminal investigation into “the holding of socalled ‘elections’,” which it said contradicted the constitution and resembled “a power grab.”

- Bullets, not ballots The run-up to the polls saw a spate of intense clashes. The rebels – who deny being helped by Russia, but boast an arsenal including anti-aircraft missiles, tanks and heavy artillery – have threatened to expand their offensive to the Ukrainian Black Sea port city of Mariupol.

Ukrainian authorities announced Saturday the deaths of seven more soldiers and at least six wounded in separatist shelling, which authorities Sunday said was continuing across the conflict zone.

“The election in the Lugansk People’s Republic began with the shelling by insurgents of Girskye town,” said Gennady Moskal, head of the regional administration, which remains loyal to Kiev. “They fired on the town with Grad (multiple rocket systems),” he said.

According to UN figures, more than 4,000 people have been killed in Ukraine’s conflict in the last seven months. l

UN: Climate change fight affordable, cut emissions to zero by 2100 n Reuters, Copenhagen

Governments can keep climate change in check at manageable costs but will have to cut greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2100 to limit risks of irreversible damage, a UN report said on Sunday.

The 40-page synthesis, summing up 5,000 pages of work by 800 scientists already published since September 2013, said global warming was now causing more heat extremes, downpours, acidifying the oceans and pushing up sea levels.

“Science has spoken. There is no ambiguity in the message. Leaders must act, time is not on our side,” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in presenting the report in Copenhagen that is meant to guide global climate policy-making.

With fast action, climate change could be kept in check at manageable costs, he said, referring to a UN goal of limiting average temperature rises to 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial times. Temperatures are already up 0.85 C (1.4F).

The study by the Intergovernmenal Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), approved by more than 120 governments, will be the main handbook for negotiators of a UN deal to combat global

warming due at a summit in Paris in December 2015.

To get a good chance of staying below 2C, the report’s scenarios show that world emissions would have to fall by between 40 and 70 percent by 2050 from current levels and to “near zero or below in 2100.”

Below zero would require extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for instance by planting forests that soak up carbon as they grow or by burying emissions from power plants that burn wood or other biomass.

is phased out almost entirely by 2100.”

Without extra efforts to cut emissions, “warming by the end of the 21st century will bring high risks of severe, widespread, and irreversible impacts

globally,” the IPCC said.

“Irreversible” could mean, for instance, a runaway melt of Greenland’s vast ice sheets that could swamp coastal regions and cities or disruptions to

monsoons vital for growing food.

“The cost of inaction will be horrendously higher than the cost of action,” Pachauri said.

Deep cuts in emissions would reduce

Renewables, nuclear

To cut emissions, the report points to options including energy efficiency, renewable energies from wind to solar power, nuclear energy or coal-fired power plants where carbon dioxide is stripped from the exhaust fumes and buried underground.

But carbon capture and storage (CCS) is expensive and little tested.

Last month, Canada’s Saskatchewan Power opened the world’s first big CCS unit at a coal-fired power plant after a C$1.35bn ($1.21bn) retrofit.

“With CCS it’s entirely possible that fossil fuels can be used on a large scale,” IPCC chairman Rajendra Pachauri said.

In most scenarios, the report says “fossil fuel power generation without CCS

(L-R) Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Peru’s Minister of Environment, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Chairman Rajendra Pachauri and Renate Christ, Secretary of the IPCC present the AR5 Synthesis Report during a news conference in Copenhagen yesterday REUTERS

Ebola in Sierra Leone ‘spreading quickly’ – campaign group

Ebola: Bats may be heroes as well as villains

n BBC

n Reuters, London

Ebola cases are continuing to rise “frighteningly quickly” in areas of Sierra Leone, an international campaign group has said.

The Africa Governance Initiative (AGI) found that in rural parts of the country the virus is spreading nine times faster than two months ago.

In Liberia, however, the rate of new cases appears to have slowed.

AGI’s findings come after World Health Organization officials told the BBC the number of new cases is levelling off.

Though Sierra Leone’s rural areas have been worst hit, the group says the spread of Ebola is also increasing in the capital Freetown - which is recording six times more cases per day compared to two months ago.

The virus has only started to slow in one region of Sierra Leone, Bombali in the country’s north.

AGI - an organisation set up by former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair that operates in the affected countries - says it is not sure why cases are slowing in Liberia.

But the group says burial manage-

ment has “improved significantly” in both Liberia and Sierra Leone. Half of all Ebola infections are thought to come from the bodies of victims.

AGI Chief Executive Nick Thompson said: “The picture is certainly changing but that’s all we can say for sure at the moment.

“The pace of the spread in rural Sierra Leone shows we still have no time to lose.”

On Friday 31 October the WHO said there had been 13,567 cases since the outbreak began, with 4,922 confirmed people to have died from the disease. l

US foreign policy concerns loom large in Jerusalem passport case n Reuters, Washington The United States is facing an unconventional challenge as it seeks to project credibility as a neutral peacemaker between the Israelis and Palestinians: a case before the Supreme Court involving a 12-year-old boy.

On Monday, the nine justices will consider whether the administration of President Barack Obama must follow a law enacted by Congress that allows US citizens born in Jerusalem to have Israel listed as their birthplace on passports.

What appears to be a dry legal question is a foreign policy minefield for the US government, which has refused to enforce the law ever since it was

enacted in 2002. The concern for the United States is that the law could be interpreted as an endorsement of Israel’s hotly disputed sovereignty claim over Jerusalem, a holy city for Judaism, Islam and Christianity.

The case was instigated by the parents of Jerusalem-born US citizen Menachem Zivotofsky because they want his passport to state that he was born in Israel. Ari and Naomi Zivotofsky sued on behalf of their then-baby son in 2003.

The legal fight has bounced around the US court system for a decade, an odyssey that included a previous trip to the Supreme Court that led to a ruling in 2012 on a more technical procedural issue.

The legal question is whether the law is unconstitutional because it infringes on the president’s exclusive right on whether to recognize a foreign nation and under what terms.

The most recent US-brokered peace talks with Israelis and Palestinians broke down in April. Tensions are even higher than usual in Jerusalem after Israel on Thursday briefly closed access to a Muslim holy site, the Al Aqsa mosque, following the wounding of a far-right Jewish religious activist.

Negotiations over the status of Jerusalem have long been seen as key to any potential peace settlement. The United States has been neutral on the question ever since Israel was founded in 1948. l

Bats are living up to their frightening reputation in the world’s worst Ebola outbreak as prime suspects for spreading the deadly virus to humans, but scientists believe they may also shed valuable light on fighting infection.

Bats can carry more than 100 different viruses, including Ebola, rabies and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), without becoming sick themselves.

While that makes them a fearsome reservoir of disease, especially in the forests of Africa where they migrate vast distances, it also opens the intriguing possibility that scientists might learn their trick in keeping killers like Ebola at bay.

“If we can understand how they do it then that could lead to better ways to treat infections that are highly lethal in

people and other mammals,” said Olivier Restif, a researcher at the University of Cambridge in Britain.

Clues are starting to emerge following gene analysis, which suggest bats’ capacity to evade Ebola could be linked with their other stand-out ability – the power of flight.

Flying requires the bat metabolism to run at a very high rate, causing stress and potential cell damage, and experts think bats may have developed a mechanism to limit this damage by having parts of their immune system permanently switched on.

Scientists studying Ebola since its discovery in 1976 in Democratic Republic of Congo, then Zaire, have long suspected fruit bats as being the natural hosts, though the link to humans is sometimes indirect as fruit dropped by infected bats can easily be picked up by other species, spreading the virus to animals such as monkeys. l

Iran jails woman for ‘attending match’ n Agencies An Iranian-British woman detained while trying to attend a men’s volleyball game has been sentenced to one year in prison, her lawyer has said.

Mahmoud Alizadeh Tabatabaei told the Associated Press news agency on Sunday that a court found Ghoncheh Ghavami, 25, guilty of “propagating against the ruling system.”

Tabatabaei said he was shown the text of the verdict but was still waiting

to officially receive it.

In a statement on Sunday, the British Foreign Office cited concerns about Ghavami’s conviction and sentence.

“We have concerns about the grounds for this prosecution, due process during the trial, and Miss Ghavami’s treatment whilst in custody,” the statement noted.

Ghavami was detained in June at Tehran’s Freedom Stadium, where Iran’s national volleyball team was to play Italy. l

global growth in consumption of goods and services, the economic yardsstick used by the IPCC, by just 0.06 percentage point a year below annual projected growth of 1.6 to 3.0 percent, it said. So far, major emitters are far from curbs on emissions on a scale outlined by the IPCC. China, the United States and the European Union are top emitters.

John P. Holdren, Director of the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, said the report was “yet another wake-up call to the global community that we must act together swiftly and aggressively in order to stem climate change.”

“We must safeguard the world for future generations by striking a new climate deal in Paris next year,” British Secretary of State for Climate and Energy Ed Davey said.

Environmental groups welcomed the report, including its focus on zero emissions. “This is no longer about dividing up the pie. You need to get to zero. At some stage there is no pie left for anyone,” said Kaisa Kosonen of Greenpeace.

The report also says that it is at least 95 percent sure that manmade emissions of greenhouse gases, rather than natural variations in the climate, are the main cause of warming since 1950, up from 90 percent in a previous assessment in 2007. l

Thousands protest Burkina Faso army’s power grab n Reuters, Ouagadougou Thousands gathered on Sunday in the centre of Burkina Faso’s capital to denounce what they called a military coup, two days after mass protests forced President Blaise Compaore to resign.

Compaore’s 27 years in charge of the landlocked West African country ended on Friday when his bid to change the constitution to extend his rule was thwarted.

A power struggle ensued and on Saturday Presidential Guard commander Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Zida was appointed as transitional leader, superseding an earlier claim by the army chief of staff.

In Ouagadougou’s Place de La Nation on Sunday, opposition leaders denounced the power grab to the assembled crowds, while a UN official warned of possible sanctions if Zida obstructed a return to civilian rule.

The central square was the site of the violent demonstrations against Compaore, in which three people were killed and the parliament set ablaze.

On Sunday those gathered there turned their anger against Zida, a large bespectacled man little known outside military circles whose trademark is a red beret.

One citizen carried a placard saying “Zida = Judas” while another said “Zida - get out of here.”

“They are coming from Kossyam to enslave us,” said protestor Sanou Eric, in a reference to the Presidential Palace. “This is a coup d’etat. Zida has come out of nowhere.”

“I am here to stop the army from stealing our victory,” said another protestor, Boubacar Sow. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

At least 35 killed after blast near Wagah Border n Tribune Desk At least 35 people have been killed and 60 hurt in an explosion at a Pakistan-India border town, officials say.

The explosion happened near the famous Wagah border crossing between the two countries.

At least 15 of those injured are seriously wounded, local police told the BBC. Huge crowds gather every day at the crossing to watch a "lowering of the flags" ceremony, which soldiers from both sides have conducted for decades.

Pakistani authorities are examining

the possibility that a suicide bomber was behind the attack, police told the BBC. Reports also suggest that the cause of the explosion may have been a cylinder blast, but there is no confirmation.

Security and rescue personnel have rushed to the site of the blast. The injured have been rushed to hospital.

Emergency has been declared at all hospitals in Lahore. Prime Nawaz Sharif has taken notice of the explosion and called for a report on the incident.

Wagah is the only road border crossing between the Indian city of Amritsar and the Pakistani city of Lahore. l

PML-N stalwarts make no secret of indignation n Agencies Disgruntled PML-N leader Senator Sirdar Zulfiqar Khosa has said he and other Muslim Leaguers had been defending the Sharif brothers’ “falsehood” about their agreement with Musharraf.

Talking to a private TV channel, Khosa said the Sharifs had gone to Jeddah after making an agreement with retired Gen Pervez Musharraf without taking him into confidence.

“I have no personal issue with Nawaz Sharif. Nawaz has become owner of the country while his younger brother Shahbaz the owner of a prov-

ince,” he said, adding he could not defend the corruption of the Sharifs.

The former governor further said the Sharif brothers gave a false hope to the people of south Punjab about creating new province for them.

“Shahbaz wants to be the chief minister of united Punjab as the Sharifs had never been in favour of division of the province,” he said.

He said PML-N’s members of parliament and workers were being ignored.

Another ‘angry’ PML-N stalwart from Sindh, Ghaus Ali Shah, said Nawaz had become “accidental leader” and he liked “flatterers” in the party. l

World

Hong Kong protests: Police reputation at stake n Reuters, Hong Kong

Hong Kong police have been pushed and pulled in all directions during weeks of pro-democracy street protests, obeying orders to clear protest sites, allow protest sites to stay put, push back demonstrators and protect them from attack.

With no end to the standoff in sight, the police, long known as “Asia’s finest,” risk being cast as enforcers for an unpopular central government in Beijing or failing in their duty to ensure the city remains one of the safest in the world.

“Your friendly ‘bobby on the beat’ image ... has been taken for granted in Hong Kong,” said Steve Tsang, head of the School of Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Nottingham in England.

“If the police start actually using force then all those things that have been built up ... will go out of the window.”

In signs of goodwill, police have been seen washing out protesters’ eyes with bottled water after using pepper spray. Protesters have used their trademark yellow umbrellas to protect police in sub-tropical downpours.

But the force seems to be caught between a rock and a hard place, with uncertainty creeping into tactics. The use of tear gas only drew more demonstrators on to the streets. Protesters have since been allowed to block some of main thoroughfares, illegally, sparking anger from tradesmen and small businesses whose livelihoods have been hit.

China took back control of the former British colony of Hong Kong in 1997 through a “one country, two systems” formula which allows wide-ranging autonomy and specifies universal suffrage as an eventual goal.

But Beijing said in August it would

People listen to a pro-democracy protester delivering a speech from a makeshift stage at the part of Mongkok shopping district protesters are occupying in Hong Kong yesterday REUTERS effectively screen candidates who want to run for city leader, which democracy activists said rendered the notion of democracy meaningless.

Student-led activists have since taken to the streets.

When police stepped in to protect protesters from attack by opponents, they were swiftly accused of co-operating with triad criminal gangs, failing to make arrests and helping some of the assailants escape the scene.

“People are saying the police are switching back to being licensed tri-

IS fears grow in Pakistan and Afghanistan n Agencies

kistani security analyst Amir Rana said.

The Islamic State organisation is starting to attract the attention of radicals in Pakistan and Afghanistan, unnerving authorities who fear a potential violent contagion.

Far from the militants’ self-proclaimed “caliphate” in Iraq and Syria, the name of IS has cropped up several times in militant circles in recent weeks in Pakistan and Afghanistan, the historic homeland of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, The dawn reported.

Leaflets calling for support for IS were seen in parts of northwest Pakistan, and at least five Pakistani Taliban commanders and three lesser cadres from the Afghan Taliban have pledged their support.

Pro-IS slogans have appeared on walls in several cities in both countries and in Kabul University, where a number of students were arrested.

Militant, security and official sources questioned in recent weeks say these are local, individual initiatives, and at this stage IS has not established a presence in the region.

But the success of IS in the Middle East is unsettling many of those charged with keeping a lid on Afghanistan and Pakistan’s myriad extremist groups.

“ISIS is becoming the major inspiration force for both violent and non-violent religious groups in the region,” Pa-

Warning letter

Earlier this month Pakistan’s National Counter Terrorism Agency wrote to a dozen government agencies warning them to be on their guard against IS. “The successes of ISIS play a very dangerous, inspirational role in Pakistan, where more than 200 organizations are operational,” the agency said.

The letter came as the Pakistani army fights a major offensive in insurgent bastions of the tribal areas, which appears to be weakening its major enemies, the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and allied Al-Qaeda fighters.

Following the army offensive, the TTP, a coalition of disparate militant groups, has fragmented into rival factions over recent weeks, fueling rumours the movement could be overtaken by IS. The TTP say they broadly support both IS militants and Al-Qaeda.

They also say they have sent 1,000 fighters in recent years to help the militant struggle in Syria — an estimate confirmed by a Pakistani government source — and plan to send 700 more.

But if IS militants one day envisage extending their influence in Afghanistan and Pakistan, they will have to either defy or find an accommodation with the two countries’ Taliban movements.

9

Monday, November 3, 2014

Currently both the TTP and the Afghan Taliban officially recognise only one leader, Mullah Omar, and a senior Afghan cadre said that IS was wrong to declare a caliphate.

“The Taliban and their supporters say that ‘amir-ul-momineen’ (the commander of the faithful) has already been chosen,” the commander said, rejecting IS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.

Money, money, money

So far the Taliban and Al-Qaeda’s new South Asia wing have steered clear of criticising IS, maintaining a united front against “Western aggression.”

US officials say the group is generating tens of millions of dollars a month from black market oil sales, ransoms and extortion.

This financial heft is proving a big draw — including for the five Pakistani Taliban commanders who announced their support for the IS group.

“The splinter groups are facing financial crisis, so they are contacting Daesh,” a senior militant said. Daesh is another name for IS. To spread in the region, IS must also eat away at the authority of the state — but, unlike Iraq and Syria, Pakistani state structures look solid and are supported by a powerful army.

Afghanistan, much more fragile, is more worrying — particularly Kunar

and Nuristan, mountainous provinces on the Pakistani border, which have long been refuges for militants.

“The authorities’ fear is that IS will join up with the TTP and other extremist groups and from there spread on both sides of the border,” said analyst Rana.

Several sources say that in Kunar there is at least one camp training hundreds of fighters sympathetic to IS. Away from the camps, there is a danger that the IS militants could attract more and more young Afghans and Pakistanis through their propaganda on Facebook and Twitter.

“People here face problems with the lack of justice, the corruption and the inefficiency of the state, and therefore they need a counter-narrative, and ISIS provides one with religious content,” said Tahirul Ashrafi, head of the Pakistan’s Ulema Council, seen as close to the authorities.

In the short-term the big fear in Pakistan stems from the IS group’s sectarian agenda, more extreme and more explicit than that of Al-Qaeda, heightened by its fight against majority Shia governments in Iraq and Syria.

Violence against minority Shia Muslims, who make up about 20 per cent of Pakistan’s population, has hit record levels in recent years and there are concerns IS could energise sectarian groups even further. l

ads,” said a protester who gave his name as Wong.

Their reputation took a further battering when several officers were caught on video beating and kicking a handcuffed protester as others kept lookout.

The triad accusations hark back more than four decades to an era of violent unrest fomented by the Chinese Communist Party in the grips of Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution and to a colonial-led force that was mired in graft and brutality.

The then Royal Hong Kong Police worked hard to clear that stain and earn a place among the world’s most trustworthy forces.

According to the World Justice Project’s 2013-14 rule of law index, only police forces in Japan, Singapore and Denmark ranked higher in providing order and security. Hong Kong police were also fourth - behind Finland, New Zealand and Qatar - in a World Economic Forum 2013-14 global competitiveness report that gauged the reliability of police services. l

‘Every penny of black money will be brought back’ n Tribune Desk The government was committed to bringing back “every penny” of black money stashed abroad and it will not be held back in its efforts, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

“I want to tell the people that please have faith in this pradhan sevak (chief servant) of yours...that this is an article of faith that every paisa that has gone will come back,” said Modi in his second nationwide radio speech called ‘Mann ki Baat’.

“I assure you I will not be held back in bringing back whatever the amount.” Modi said there could be a difference in the path and procedure to bring back the black money, “but what I understand and what I know is that we are on the right path,” Modi said in his 18-minute address.

He said that no one knows the exact figure of the amount stashed abroad, “and nor did the previous government...and everyone gives different figures.”

He said he does not want to get into figures. “This is the wealth of the poor and should be brought back and I want to assure you that there will be no let-up in my efforts. I just

want your blessings.”

Black money is income that is not disclosed to the government and, therefore, not assessed for tax, and although there is no official fix on how much of it is there, unofficial estimates say it could be as much as $500bn or Rs. 31 lakh crore (nearly 30% of India’s $1.8-trillion GDP).

Washington-based think-tank Global Financial Integrity has estimated that India suffered $344bn in illicit fund outflows between 2002 and 2011.

The Modi government last week gave the Supreme Court a secret list of 627 people suspected of stashing black money in foreign banks beyond the reach of tax authorities.

After coming to power, Modi set up a team of regulators and former judges to identify illicit fund-holders and repatriate money. But it has encountered difficulty obtaining details of account-holders from foreign nations due to financial confidentiality issues.

The Prime Minister thanked the public for their support for his cleanliness mission. “Nobody could have imaged that Swachhta (cleanliness) will turn into such a revolution. The mission has influenced children the most.” l

‘Kiss of Love’ campaign meets wall of cops and protesters; fizzles out n Tribune Desk The much-hyped ‘kiss of love’ campaign to protest against growing moral policing has fizzled out after the police rounded up 50odd activists who were planning to march towards Marine Drive, the venue of the event. The police detained the organisers and sympathisers, including women, even before they could reach the venue of the symbolic protest against moral policing.

Just as the march began at around 4pm, the police team led by DCP (Law and Order), R Nishantini, took the organisers and sympathisers into custody and bundled them into a police van as they raised slogans against moral policing. They have been taken to Thevara police station, police said.

Though organisers had claimed that 5000 activists would take part in the event many pro-kiss activists backed out at the eleventh hour fearing violence. Since morning many anti-kiss drive activists had swarmed Marine Drive and assembled at vantage points insisting that they won’t allow the event come what may, reported Hindustan Times.

The police later resorted to a mild lathicharge to disperse the crowd that attacked two motor-cyle borne pro-kiss activists.

Took law in their hands, many protesters were seen questioning couples whether they were part of such an event. Traffic was

Open affection and kissing is frowned upon in India. A plan to have a kissing event in Kochi, by a Facebook support group, was disrupted after police carted away the supporters and organisers AFP disrupted for more than two hours.

Despite the police arresting them minutes before their march to the venue pro-kiss activists claimed that their campaign was a runaway hit. “We succeeded in sending a strong message throughout the country that moral policing is worse than voyeurism. We got unprecedented support from many quarters.

It is a strong warning to moral police,” said N

Nandini, one of the activists.

Earlier, protesters on Sunday blocked roads leading to Kochi’s Marine Drive, the venue for ‘Kiss of Love’ — a mass-kissing campaign against alleged moral policing by right-wing groups.

The port city remained tense with suspected members of the Shiv Sena, Samastha Sunni Students Federation and

other activist groups saying they would not let the event take place.

Around 1,000 policemen were deployed to prevent any untoward incident as those supporting the drive planned to march to the venue by 5:00pm.

The campaign was launched on social media after a coffee shop in north Kerala’s Kozhikode city was vandalised recently by

a group of people who criticised the public display of affection by some couples there.

A day after the Kerala high court refused to intervene, the organisers said on Sunday they would go ahead with the protest, even as they were yet to get permission from the police.

Though the police had denied permission for the event, they said they would only intervene if it created a law and order problem.

Stressing that it was “not a kiss fest” but a gathering of like-minded people to raise awareness against moral policing, the organisers said they would next focus on creating awareness about the deadly AIDS. ‘Free Thinkers’, a Facebook group organising the programme, expect about 700-1000 people would participate.

“There is no question of backtracking.

The protest will be held as scheduled at 5pm at the venue with participants holding placards,” Rahul Pasupalan, IT professional and short film maker and Jijo Kuriakose, a researcher and members of ‘Free Thinkers’ told reporters earlier in the day.

On Saturday, the organisers had received a shot in the arm with the Kerala high court refusing to interfere with the event after the state government assured action would be taken in the event of any illegal activities.

Two petitions seeking to prohibit the event

was disposed by the court recording the government’s submission.

“This is not a kiss fest. It is a gathering of like minded people to protest against moral policing. We are independent thinkers and this is a gathering of the Facebook users,” they said, adding young and old couple, parents and youngsters were all welcome to participate in the event, which is a platform to protest against moral policing.

Pasupalan said though they approached police four days back with a request for permission to conduct the event, they were yet to receive any intimation allowing or denying permission.

Pointing out that kissing and hugging was only a form of agitation they had chosen to raise awareness against moral policing, Rahul said it was precisely due to the novel form of protest they had adopted that so much heat had been generated.

The campaign was launched on social media after a coffee shop in north Kerala’s Kozhikode city was vandalised last week by a group of people who criticised the public display of affection by some couples there.

The attack came after a news channel owned by a political party carried a report on October 23 with visuals of “immoral activities” allegedly taking place at the establishment, showing young couples kissing and embracing. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Monday, November 3, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Another harmful hartal

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obody gains from Jamaat-e-Islami’s stubbornness in extending its 72 hour hartal call by a further day on Thursday in protest of the verdict and sentences passed by the International War Crimes Tribunal.

If the party wishes to protest the ICT rulings, it needs to appeal cases under the law. It must not unilaterally hold the public to ransom.

We fail to see how Jamaat’s actions in calling and prolonging this costly hartal can help it win over new supporters. Costly disruption is being unnecessarily caused to the economy, and exams for 2 million children sitting for JSC and JDC may have to be delayed.

The public has endured many costly hartals over the last year.

It is clear that the vast majority of people in the country do not want to see more hartals.

While there has been relatively little violence during recent hartals compared to the mayhem seen a year ago, there continue to be many reports of cars being vandalised.

The spectre of violence and intimidation associated with hartals is still enough to keep many shops closed and private vehicles off the road, with all the consequent damage this does to daily life and the economy.

People should be able to go about their ordinary lives during hartals without fear of intimidation and violence. There is never any justification for political violence and vandalism.

If Jammat wishes to hold demonstrations and ask people to stay off work, it must make clear that this is purely voluntary. It must make clear it will eschew violence and support authorities in ensuring businesses and schools stay open when they want to.

Jamaat must not unilaterally hold the public to ransom.

Demonstrations should be purely voluntary

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

BTRC to press ICXs hard to realise Tk418cr dues October 22

Rakib The news is very interesting. However, I feel someone is hiding something, and the general public, not having any idea about this, may form the wrong perception about ICXs. The facts are as follows: 1. ICXs collect revenue from mobile companies (ANS) and International Gateway Exchange (IGW) and pays government share to BTRC. If ICXs do not get money from the mobile companies or IGW, they cannot pay the BTRC. In fact, one may say, ICX is the “toll collector” on behalf of BTRC. 2. When mobile companies and IGW do not pay the ICX, ICX in turn cannot pay BTRC. It’s very simple. ICXs do not have any tool (law, etc) to compel IGW in paying the dues. But BTRC have all such tools.

3. A few IGWs kept huge dues in the market

October 25

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early two years have passed since television journalists Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi were killed in their flat in February 2012.

The submission of the murder investigation report into their case was delayed 27 times before a progress report was filed this September. With eight accused held in jail, it is important progress on this case be speeded up to bring justice for the victims.

Around the world, over 700 journalists have been killed for bringing news and information to the public. This weekend’s UN-backed International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists provides a reminder of the need to ensure accountability and bring to justice perpetrators of any crimes against journalists and media workers.

The liberty of the press is essential to democracy. As well as acting against impunity for violence against journalists, it is important for the government to resist actions which limit freedom of expression and to encourage moves to promote media diversity.

Bangladesh has too many laws restricting press freedom. Along with many other states, we are categorised by Reporters Without Borders as a country where press freedom is in a “difficult situation,” which is the fourth worst out of five headings.

Unfortunately, the government still promotes plans to exercise power over the free press. Its proposal earlier this year to revive the “black law” scrapped in 1991, giving district magistrates authority to cancel declarations of newspapers for publishing material deemed “anti-state,” or stories that could hurt the religious sentiments of the people.

Compromising with press freedom is a dangerous and undemocratic road which must be avoided.

The liberty of the press is essential to democracy

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

and were blocked by BTRC. Such IGWs have now been permitted to do business again without even paying those long-outstanding dues of ICXs. How could BTRC allow them to come back into this business without paying old dues?

Mehatab It is also interesting that it was mentioned BTRC’s increased revenue share for International calls was 17.5% instead of 15% for ICX operators. But they don’t mention that earlier, ICX got 15% of $0.03 ie $0.0045, and now ICX will get 17.5% of $0.015 ie 0.002625. In that case, ICXs lost their revenue by $ 0.001875 per minute. So how did ICX recover their 42% loss?

Rakib Mehatab: Well said.

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

RAB: 2 guards concealed information

Defending press freedom matters

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 22 represents M so fill M every time the figure 22 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

‘There lives an Ananta Jalil in every person’ October 22

Koler gaan “Sagar-Runi Murder Case: Very recently, a Dhaka court has given the RAB time until November 2 to submit the probe report.”

It is good timing! Remember the 4th of November!

PB #SagarRuni murder probe, a new development or a hoax? #RAB #journalist

Ghulam Azam’s body handed over to family October 24

Nazmul Khair So my question is, where should his graveyard be?

In Bangladesh or Pakistan?

Infamous Ghulam finally escapes execution October 24

Humaira Chowdhury All Bengalis who talk about reconciliation and such things should read this article.

Cops and robbers October 24

Seira For the life of me, I can’t figure out why this guy chooses to wear light-coloured contacts.

BraveStar Seira: He seems to have psychological issues as well as a bad dress sense; over-the-top make-up that even some women would refuse to wear. Trying hard to be Elvis Presley in the wrong decade.

32 die, scores hurt in Natore road crash October 22 Vikram Khan Horrible, horrible news; again, so many people murdered because the relevant ministry does not take up its responsibility of protecting the public and prevent such tragedies!!

Jute: A conditional love October 22

Mohdud Ul Huq “Conducting a drive at Uttara, in the capital, police arrested seven robbers with firearms and lethal weapons.”

Good job; glad to see they are now in police custody.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Stare openmouthed (4) 3 Coastal vessel (4) 7 Monkey (3) 8 Ward off (5) 11 Parched (4) 12 Exploits (5) 13 Choose by vote (5) 15 Stiff hair (4) 18 Certain (4) 19 Melodies (5) 20 Stage play (5) 21 Of great range (4) 23 Happen again (5) 24 Whichever (3) 25 Require (4) 26 Catch sight of (4)

DOWN 1 Fruit (6) 2 Like better (6) 4 Vehicle (3) 5 Narcotic (6) 6 Marry (3) 9 Go back (6) 10 Make lace (3) 11 Take for granted (6) 14 Of the wolf (6) 16 Makes into a statute (6) 17 Wandering (6) 19 Sailor (3) 21 Pale (3) 22 Stain (3)

rose It is true that jute has built up a reputation for Bangladesh, but at the moment, research centres are definitely required in order for it to flourish further. So, we request the government to take proper action.

Oscar Pistorius jailed for five years

CALVIN AND HOBBES

October 22

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

RS So, at last this case is over and Pistorius has been jailed for 5 years.

CROSSWORD

HRW: Prosecute RAB members who shot Limon PEANUTS

October 22

Dr Ahsan Habib Very, very, very legitimate demand from HRW. But they should have been vocal on this and other cases all along.

Every week they should routinely publish a list of unresolved issues of human rights violations all over the country. Let us see how long the list gets and how long each case lasts.

New York officials: Doctor has Ebola, 1st in city October 24

Anon So now that a caucasian person has got it, there will be more scrambling to find a cure.

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Monday, November 3, 2014

Is Jamaat a boon or burden for BNP?

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n Syeed Ahamed he recent rift between the supporters of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami may not be the beginning of an end to the BNP-Jamaat alliance.

Nevertheless, it evoked the same old question again – is Jamaat a boon or a burden for BNP? Let’s find the answer in numbers.

Jamaat leader Ghulam Azam’s son Abdullahil Azmi recently claimed that BNP could never form a government without Jamaat's support. He has also asked BNP to remember that they can never go to power again without Jamaat. To understand the dependency on this marriage of convenience, we need to look at the “alliance factor” in our electoral politics.

In our first-past-the-post electoral system, the smallest margin of popular vote can determine who will win the national election. Around 50% of the 300 parliamentary seats have less than 10% winning margins.

to win 35 seats with 11.9% of the total vote count. Despite (or as a result of) the claimed informal alliance with BNP, Jamaat appeared as the third largest political party in terms of votes, and fourth largest in terms of parliamentary seats. Jamaat won 18 seats with 12.1% votes. As a result, alliance with these two smaller parties became lucrative to AL and BNP. In an effort to keep Jamaat in its alliance, BNP gave back citizenship to Ghulam Azam who reinstated himself as the head of Jamaat. Yet, before the 1996 election, Ghulam Azam decided to cut ties with BNP to save Jamaat from the anti-incumbency voting trend. Jamaat still lost 3.5% of total votes, while BNP’s total vote share increased by about 3% from 1991 to 1996.

BNP did lose the election to AL by 30 seats and almost 4% popular vote, while Jamaat faced a more humiliating defeat. Constituency-level results show that BNP could not win that election even with Jamaat’s vote.

Azmi’s claim that BNP can never go to power again without Jamaat’s support seems far from the truth

An ungrateful BNP? In the past national elections, a total of 142, 158, and 125 seats were won by less than 10% winning margins – in 1991, 1996, and 2001 respectively.

Thus, any smaller political party with at least a 5-10% electoral vote bank can become a significant help for the two close competitors – AL and BNP – to win the incumbency.

Both the parties realised this during the election of 1991, when BNP won 140 seats with a total 30.8% popular vote, while AL won only 88 seats with its 30.1% popular vote. Which means, with less than 1% overall winning margin, BNP won 52 more seats.

In that very close contest for popular vote, two sidekicks emerged as power brokers. Jatiya Party managed

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P

E

Nevertheless, they realised that they are both stronger together.

Their re-alliance helped them win the 2001 election. This time, BNP defeated AL by 131 seats for less than 1% extra popular vote. Constituency-level results show that it would have been impossible for BNP to win the election without the alliance with Jamaat. On this account, Azmi is probably right.

Is he also right in saying that BNP can never go to power again without Jamaat's support? Let’s check.

After Ghulam Azam’s death and before his son’s remarks, a part of the right-wing chattering-class was actually running a social media campaign highlighting Ghulam Azam’s assumed success during the 1990s in strength-

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

ening Jamaat as a political party, power broker, and part of state power.

During his leadership, Jamaat probably got a stronger foothold, but at the cost of popular support.

During his leadership, when the younger post-1971 generation of Jamaat-Shibir wanted to cleanse the party by getting rid of the old war criminals, he denied that move.

Instead, during his tenure, Chhatra Shibir followed the violent form of campaign that is now seen among ISIS in the Middle East. Shibir was known as the “rog kata-gola kata” wing of Jamaat for its notorious slitting or killing of student leaders at public universities.

Ghulam Azam’s personal image as

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the head of local collaborators and war criminals also tarnished Jamaat’s support. His opportunistic willingness to side with parties of opposite ideologies in 1996 only made that worse.

It is not surprising that during his leadership, Jamaat’s popular vote as a percentage of total national votes continued to plummet from 12.13% in 1991 to 8.61% in 1996 to 4.28% in 2001 (despite receiving BNP votes). In 2008, Jamaat received only 4.7% popular vote. Since it contested in nine more seats than the 2001 election, in reality, Jamaat lost 2,104 votes per constituency in 2008, when compared to the votes it received in 2001.

Ghulam Azam may have created millions-strong army of minions will-

ing to gather for his cause, but under his leadership, Jamaat became the only major party that consistently lost popular vote since 1991. Jatiya Party’s vote share also declined after a rise in 1996, indicating a diminishing role of the alliance factor in politics.

As the votes BNP gain from Jamaat are declining fast, the trade-off is the major concern for BNP now. Between 2008 and now, most opinion polls have shown strong public opinion against war criminals. A nation-wide survey by Nielsen on behalf of Democracy International also suggested that an overwhelming 86% of respondents personally wanted the currently active war crimes trials to proceed despite having concerns over it.

Hence, with diminishing popularity, Jamaat is now becoming a burden for BNP. Azmi’s claim that BNP can never go to power again without Jamaat's support seems far from the truth.

Azmi actually has no ground to call BNP “ungrateful.” It was BNP who revoked the ban on Jamaat. It was BNP who allowed its exiled chief Ghulam Azam to come back to Bangladesh.

It was BNP who gave him back his citizenship. And, it was most definitely BNP who made a convicted war criminal of Jamaat a minister. For all that, BNP may have been paying now, but BNP surely does not owe any debts to Jamaat. l Syeed Ahamed is a blogger election analyst.

N

Magic in the moonlight

Counting the wrong votes

n Towheed Feroze

n Khawaza Main Uddin

“M

ota mombati chai” (fat candles are needed) was the common line heard at most area-based stores on Saturday.

Alas, there weren’t any fat candles for sale. At least not in the small shops.

Perhaps the secret dungeons in the capital of masked hedonists faced no shortage of the type I am talking about. You want to know the address?

Let’s talk sometime.

There was also a frantic run for kerosene. The city, along with the whole country, had to readjust priorities as the power outage rolled towards sunset. Such events always fuel the rumour mill and this was no different.

When people began to learn that no area in the capital had power, avid conspiracy theorists woke up with gusto. Someone asked me in a hushed tone: “Does it have any relation to the strike called for the following day?”

I dismissed him, saying that it was possibly an electrical fault somewhere.

He did not like my answer; in fact, he loathed it so much that the person added indignantly: “Brother, this mundane explanation is not what I expected from a media guy.” I replied: “Sorry, I have seen and heard too many incredible theories in my time, so ...”

At that moment, a plane passed overhead and the man spoke up: “Is that a military aircraft? Why is it flying so low?” I thought it prudent to leave him and walk away. My mobile rang and an excited voice on the other end said, upon hearing that the power may not come back that day: “Can you imagine a night of total darkness enveloping the city?”

I couldn’t imagine it! Something within me told me to stop worrying, power would be restored by midnight.

The blackout which the whole country faced triggered the rumour mill once the power outage crossed the four-hour mark. While the main

problem facing most Dhaka residents was a shortage of water, patients at hospitals, confined to their beds, also found themselves in darkness.

It’s natural that sufferings only increased for people across the country.

But true to that line “every cloud has a silver lining,” this sudden carpet of darkness also provided some haunting respite for Dhaka city dwellers, so dependent on electricity and a frenzied pace of living.

Walking within the vast Dhaka University campus, I noticed groups of people, students as well as teachers living in the area, out enjoying the moonlight. Tea sellers were doing brisk business while the large university gymnasium field was occupied by nature lovers.

When it comes to discipline in darkness, we may still be ahead of others

Soft moonlight flooded the roads, cooking for dinner was suspended at most homes, and Star Hotel, with generators powering the lights, was filled with activity.

“Today, we will have an extra pot of mutton with lentils since a lot of local people are coming here for dinner,” remarked one waiter. Excellent, one full “daal khashi” for me!

Many tuned in to BBC, trying to find out the actual cause for the sudden electricity failure. It reminded me of the late 70s and early 80s, when any national emergency meant sitting at the main room with adults trying to decipher BBC reports, usually read by

the famed Mark Tully.

Another thing that struck me was that, despite the long period of darkness, anarchy did not take over the city – a feature which has been noticed in many first-world cities. No one ransacked mobile phone-selling shops or broke into stores selling electronic gadgets.

Young, unruly men and women did not set fire on the roads, escalating public anxiety. Yes, there was suffering along with murmurs of conspiracy plots, but I think it’s safe to say, to a large extent, people were taking the sudden episode in their strides.

Do we want the government to investigate why the country fell into an abyss all of a sudden? We sure do, because in the long-run, the story of power failure across a country actually sends more negative messages than positive ones.

Most international news channels had the issue in their bulletins.

However, it would be refreshing if they also mentioned that unlike other cities, where blackouts end in mass law-breaking, Dhaka and other major towns were relatively calm and tranquil. The main message is: Despite being a developing nation with widespread economic constraints, when it comes to discipline in darkness, we may still be ahead of others.

How about a survey of public behaviour in all countries during power cuts? Of course, we certainly don’t want to tempt providence and hope for a recurrence! Conspiracy theorists were eventually disappointed when power arrived before midnight and the guy in my area seemed unwilling to accept the normal ending to the tension that had been deliciously built during the evening.

“Here, have some cognac,” I said, adding: “After all those hours of anticipation, this will do you good.” l Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.

W

e are not able to come out of the poisonous cycle of a bipolar equation. If the BNP fails to amass opinions that matter for holding a mid-term election, the Awami League survives in office. As the power structure has not been threatened, the diplomatic status quo remains. Since everything is under the control of the coercive state, why do the people expect fresh voting?

For our own contentment, we must ignore the issue of deficiency in popular legitimacy. The harsh reality is that the AL is holding power. Who is BNP here? Taking advantage of the incumbency, the premier is representing Bangladesh everywhere. So, life is fine for “her people,” if not for all, in a manipulated democracy.

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury’s victory in the election to the Common Parliamentary Association, and AL lawmaker Saber Hossain Chowdhury’s to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, presented the government’s beneficiaries a belated occasion to celebrate the victory without the ballot proper on January 5, 2014. They claimed the global partners recognised the 10th Jatiya Sangsad and the popularity of the AL government.

It’s a breaking story – public representatives of other countries, be they elected or not, have been given the responsibility to measure and announce the result of how popular a government in Dhaka is. The voting rights of our people no longer stand valid in that case.

What a “kangal” of democracy a party, that once boasted of the politics of the ballot, has been, losing confidence in the people. It forgets that the cabinet or a lawmaker represents Bangladesh, not the party. It lacks the understanding that a foreign government, despite reservations, doesn’t suspend all communications with an unpopular regime unless there is a clear resolution in that regard.

Desperate to prove the international support behind it, the AL fails to notice that most governments didn’t accept the January 5 election. Instead, they recommended a dialogue between political parties to hold a participatory election. But keeping eyes away from criticism of their very legitimacy, they only express joy when others allow them to visit their countries.

Other countries have been given the responsibility to measure how popular a government in Dhaka is

The AL's men didn’t take insult from the government’s maltreatment abroad. Dhaka doesn’t bother with the failure to resume export of manpower after the premier’s visit to the United Arab Emirates or her one-on-one meeting with US President Barack Obama during the UN General Assembly session. The Hasina regime pays no heed to the Downing Street statement, or the one from the UN secretary general reminding it of the need for a credible ballot.

When critics say the prime minister is out to hold a photo session with world leaders, is there no element of truth, given the tendency to sell such photos through the domestic media to fool the people at home? We, as citizens, don’t feel very honoured to see the disgraceful approach of our leaders in front of other nations.

Such a morally-bankrupt government doesn’t hesitate to use the trump card of Islamophobia even at the cost of the image of the country.

This has probably gifted the AL the

most advantageous position, especially when its political rival BNP was being criticised for forming an alliance with parties that use Islam politically. AL’s well-wishers know there are fanatic enthusiasts who would love to suppress democracy in the name of combating Islamist forces.

In the process, it is the people who are being undermined most, with no respect shown to their will, dignity, or interests. A government which is supposed to uphold national prestige abroad is using all means to exploit the state apparatus for its own existence.

Such a government’s strategic or tactical advantage in the international arena turns out to be harmful for the people.

What could be the sublime objective of clinging to power in this way? Pro-AL intellectuals can help us understand the greatness of the illegitimate authority, maybe, for the fear of repercussion to the excesses committed by the AL men following the misuse of power.

It is, thus, impossible for this kind of regime to present good governance and public welfare. In the current pattern of governance, Sheikh Hasina has no other option but to tolerate corruption even at the lowest echelon of the administration. She also has to appease any foreign players.

Yes, all the prime minister’s “yes men” can still relish the AL’s advantage for being in the driver’s seat of power, no matter how they capture it or how others look at their reckless driving. Foreigners are either with them or at least give de facto recognition to their stay in power.

As the regime has no popular base at home, those who are governed by it cannot enjoy any advantages abroad.

The distance between the government and the people in pursuing domestic and foreign policies may prove to be dangerous in the course of time. l Khawaza Main Uddin is Executive Editor at ICE Business Times.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Monday, November 3, 2014

Farhana Mili to play a freedom fighter n Entertainment Desk “Monpura” girl Farhana Mili will soon appear in a Liberation War-based telefilm titled “Anonter Pakhi.”

Portraying a character named Taramon Bibi, Mili will seen in a rebellious role with weapons in her hand.

Taramon Bibi was one of the female freedom fighters who engaged in direct

127 Hours

Star Movies, 7:30pm

combat in Kurigram during the war in 1971, as part of the Liberation Army, which was a guerilla force fighting the Pakistan Army.

Mili always prefers to play characters that are strong and have an impact on the audience. Her artistic looks will surely add to her portrayal of Taramon Bibi. The telefilm is expected to be released in December this year. l

A mountain climber becomes trapped under a boulder while canyoneering alone near Moab, Utah and resorts to desperate measures in order to survive.

Air Force One

Zee Studio, 7pm

Hijackers seize the plane carrying the President of the United States and his family, but he - an ex-soldier—works from hiding to defeat them.

Can’t Scare Me: The Story of Mother Jones at the EMK Center n Entertainment Desk A play titled “Can’t Scare Me: The Story of Mother Jones” will be staged today at 7pm at the EMK Center in the capital’s Dhanmondi area. The play was written and performed by Kaiulani Lee, a veteran stage, film and TV actor in the US. Set in the 1900s, the play tells the story of Mother Jones who, after

n Entertainment Desk A group print exhibition titled “The Dhaka Print Club Show” is being held at the Bengal Art Lounge in Gulshan Avenue, Dhaka.

The show is about discovering new talents, different themes and unique techniques. Founded by Rokeya Sultana, famed artist and printmaking teacher at Dhaka University, the Dhaka Print Club is a platform for young print makers who have wide ranges of themes or artistic philosophy.

The participants of the exhibition has given an insight of their innovative creativity in their print work. The exposition offers viewers the results of experimenting with nature in mysterious aspects.

The portraits are mostly zombie-like, which creates emotional fear and anxiety. The figurative images are captivating which speaks about the fragility of life.

Along with Rokeya Sultana, participating artists are Abdullah Al Bashir, Rashida Akhter, Farzana Haque, Juton Chandra Roy, Mahbubur Rahman, Mukaddas Sadi Ahmed, Palash Baran Biswas and Sheikh Farhana Parvin Tumpa. The exhibition will run until November 8. l

A new study has revealed that Spice Girls’ debut track “Wannabe” is the “catchiest UK hit single.”

Researchers developed the interactive game, called “Hooked on Music,” as part of a scientific study to unlock the secrets of what makes music memorable, the BBC reported.

People who played the game were asked if they recognised a song, which was randomly selected from more than

HBO Hits, 8:30pm

opened at the Atlas Theater in Washington, DC in 2011.

Lee, who now tours nationally and internationally to perform her plays, has starred in over a dozen plays on and off Broadway. She has been nominated for the Drama Desk Award on Broadway and has won the Obie Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Achievement.

The show is free for all. l

A meek hobbit of the Shire and eight companions set out on a journey to Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring and the dark lord Sauron.

‘The Dhaka Print Club Show at Bengal Art Lounge

Spice Girls’ debut track Wannabe named catchiest UK hit single n Entertainment Desk

immigrating from Canada to the US, lived through the American Civil War and the Great Chicago Fire.

Her personal life mirrored the tragedies about her: she lost her husband and all four of her small children to a yellow-fever epidemic.

Unable to save her own family, she dedicated her life to protecting and saving others.

The one-performer, one-act play

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

1,000 clips of best-selling songs, dating from the 1940s until the present day.

And it was found that the participants recognised the song in 2.3 seconds, compared with an average of five seconds for other popular hits.

Second was Lou Bega’s “Mambo No 5,” which was identified in an average of 2.48 seconds, followed by Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger” with an average time of 2.62 seconds, while “Just Dance”

by Lady Gaga was the fourth catchiest song. l

Raima Sen to play sex worker n Entertainment Desk Visitors and one of the participants at the inaugural ceremony on October 25

Making a return to the big screen, Bollywood actress Raima Sen will be seen essaying a sex worker in her next venture in KD Satyam’s “Bollywood Diaries.” Raima is excited about the role and said: “When I heard Imli’s character, I immediately felt that as an actress, I can experiment with it.

The character is very filmi and I’m

Jennifer Lopez admits Ben Affleck was her first big heartbreak Jennifer Lopez admits that before she went her separate ways with Hollywood star Ben she had no idea how it really felt to suffer that much pain as a result of love—despite having already been married twice.

Jennifer, 45, then agrees with her and points out that it was hard to realise the relationship was not right because she just needed the support he offered her so badly at the time.

She said: “It was probably my first big heartbreak, and to have one of my best friends who I’d known for years, who I actually love and did have chemistry with, come into my life and say, ‘I’m here’...What you need to know is, nobody can save you or heal you. Only you can do that for you.”

And following her split from dancer boyfriend Casper Smart earlier this year Jennifer is adamant that she now just wants to take some time out from dating and discover more about herself before she shares her life with another man.

She added: “I’m open to love. But right now, I think it’s better to just be on my own for a minute and learn more about myself.” l

looking forward to it, as I’ve just finished the shoot for a rather serious film in Delhi. This film will be fun,” she said.

“Bollywood Diaries” a film about different unknown, yet passion ate and talented characters whose life is all about Bollywood. Raima plays Imli, a sex worker who copies all Bollywood actresses and thinks that one day, she will be a star. l

Aamir lands in legal trouble

n Entertainment Desk Bollywood actor Aamir Khan did an episode on LGBT people in the country, but his initiative has landed him in trouble.

A city based advocate Mandeep Kaur has requested the local court to intervene and send Aamir a notice for going against the Supreme Court judgement on Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code. The advocate claims that Aamir violated the Supreme Court judgment when he decided to speak for the right of the LGBT community on “Satyamev Jayate 3.”

The Civil Court Judge Jaswinder Singh sent a legal notice to Aamir to file his response by December 19. The petition states that a decree must be passes declaring that Aamir went against the law. “Satyamev Jayate’s” LGBT episode was telecast on October 19 on Star Plus. Apparently, by talking about the rights of the LGBT community the actor in a way went against the law cited by the Supreme Court. l

Did you know?

Misbah-ul Haq scored the fastest (24 minutes) Test fifty ever in terms of time yesterday surpassing Bangladesh’s Mohammad Ashraful who took 27 minutes for his fifty against India in Dhaka in 2007

Sport

Monday, November 3, 2014

14 Aguero condemns

Van Gaal to derby defeat

14 Suarez hurt by

‘unjust’ defeat on home debut

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 ‘Tuk tuk’ Misbah

races to fastest Test century

Mushfiq gunning for victory at any cost n Minhaz Uddin Khan from Khulna

(L-R) Bangladesh cricketers Mahmudullah, Shamsur Rahman, Shakib al Hasan and Marshal Ayub engage themselves in a game of rugby during a training session at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Tigers look to win in Khulna, secure series n

Minhaz Uddin Khan from Khulna

This is the third time in history Bangladesh will be taking the field for the second Test of a series with a 1-0 advantage over their opposition.

The two other instances against Zimbabwe in 2005 and the West Indies in 2009 eventually resulted in the only series wins till date.

Having cornered Zimbabwe with spin in the first Test, the Tigers are looking to pounce on the opportunity of securing the three-match Test series when the sides meet in Khulna’s Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium for the second match today.

A precious win will also see the bottom-ranked Bangladesh replace Zimbabwe, who sit ninth at the ICC Test rankings. Meanwhile, the outing adds

further glory for skipper Mushfiqur Rahim who will equal the most number of matches as Bangladesh captain – 18 by Habibul Bashar.

The home side are going into the game in the best shape possible. However, keeping their batting performance in mind there are plenty of concerns. The visitors surrendered to their weakest link, spin, while they were almost successful in ripping the hosts apart with their pace.

However, a win is a win and they are now a step closer to a Test series win for the first time since 2009.

Though Bangladesh have a strong batting unit on pen and paper, the same department was the reason they almost slipped in the first Test chasing 101.

The Tigers’ think-tank is probably looking to set their XI with an extra batsman in Anamul Haque who was included in the squad replacing pacer Al Amin Hossain. However, usually an

opening batsman, Anamul might have to bat at a new position. If he opens the innings, Shamsur Rahman will be sent in at No 3 or else Anamul might have to bat at No 7 giving an extra cushion in the department.

The spin trio – Shakib al Hasan, Taijul Islam and Jubair Hossain – scalped 18 of the 20 Zimbabwean wickets in the first match and remains the major threat to the visitors who are desperate to find a way of surviving from spin.

Compared to the hosts, Zimbabwe will be hoping their fast bowlers shine once again. Apart from their batting against spin bowling, the visitors are also concerned about their own spinners who lack the experience in the five-day format.

Bangladesh does have the upper hand going in to the match, but given the talents both team possess, it is difficult to rule Zimbabwe out from a comeback too. l

Taylor depending on batsmen, pacers n Minhaz Uddin Khan from Khulna Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor will count on his pace attack and the determination of his batsmen to play well against the local spinners when they face hosts Bangladesh in the second Test at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium beginning today.

The 28-year old top-order batsman knows very well that the pitches in Khulna will assist the spinners more than the pacemen. Even then Taylor is still looking forward to his seamers to do a good job in the second Test after faring admirably in the first Test in Dhaka.

“It’s a different pitch to Mirpur, but they (pacers) do have the skill of maybe reversing the ball on an abrasive surface. I don’t think there is going to be that kind of bounce, but I think our bowlers have the skill and control to contain and take wickets,” Taylor told the media yesterday.

When queried what might be his spin options for the game, Taylor

Time for tennis, says new dad Djokovic

n AFP, Paris

Former cricketer Athar Ali Khan (R), national selector Habibul Bashar (2R) and former Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore (2L) talk with Jamira Khatun, late national cricketer Manzarul Islam Rana’s mother, at her residence in Khulna yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Interest high among Khulna people n Hedait Hossain, Khulna

Cricket lovers of Khulna yesterday flocked to the two branches of the United Commercial Bank (UCB) in numbers to purchase tickets of the second Test match between hosts Bangladesh and visiting Zimbabwe starting today.

Tickets of the second Test match between the two teams were made available to the public last Saturday and saw 7,000 tickets being sold in the opening day. In the second day yesterday, demand was much higher as most of the general people were seen buying tickets of the second day of the Test sched-

uled for tomorrow - a public holiday on the occasion of Holy Ashura.

The UCB branch situated at Helatola provided a serene picture as the law enforcement authorities, bank security personnel along with the bank officials maintained proper discipline. The UCB branch located at Khan Jahan Ali Road, however, encountered a torrid time due to the high number of ticket aspirants. It is mentionable that both the branches had a separate booth for the female fans as they collected their tickets comfortably. People who booked tickets through the bank’s mobile financial service, UCash, also received

their tickets easily.

Nahin Hossain appeared extremely happy after getting hold of the tickets.

“The tickets assure us that we will be going to the stadium to see the Test.

Having the tickets in hand, all our pain is wiped out,” said Nahin.

Manager of UCB’s Helatola Road branch, Mohammed Muslehuddin, said as long as they had tickets they will deliver it to the cricket-loving people.

Tickets were priced at Tk20 and 50 for the eastern and western stands, Tk75 for club-house, Tk100 for international stand and Tk300 for grand-stand respectively. l

Bangladesh Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim standing in his 18th Test as captain is eyeing nothing but a win against Zimbabwe as the second Test begins in Khulna’s Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium today.

“The task will be challenging like we said before the series. We will play every game to win,” said Mushfiq in the pre-match conference held at SANS yesterday.

The 26-year-old from Bogra admitted the failure of the top-order batsmen in the first Test resulted in a bumpy ride for the hosts, “But we will give our best effort so that we can win every game. Hopefully things will be in our favour in the second Test.”

“Even if it takes us five days to win the game, we will take it. We are ready to win by any means and everybody is keen to perform. But at the end of the day our focus will be to overcome the mistakes that we did in the first Test,” said Bangladesh’s most successful Test captain.

There is kiddie-time and then there is tennis-time and Novak Djokovic believes the two don’t mix.

Just 11 days after his wife Jelena gave birth to the couple’s first child, a boy they have named Stefan, Djokovic is back at his day job and on the cusp of winning a 20th ATP Masters Series title.

The world number one says he is cherishing every moment of fatherhood, but had no hesitation in leaving wife and son behind to defend his title in Paris and then go on to London where he is also the title-holder at the World Tour Finals.

Asked after crushing Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-3 in the Paris Masters semi-finals if he had found his mind wandering back home from time to time, Djokovic was adamant. l

Korea, India rule the roost in Junior Tennis n Tribune Desk The South Korean and Indian players dominated the opening day of the 28th Bangladesh International Junior Tennis Championship 2014 at National Tennis Complex in Ramna yesterday.

Jun Sanglo, Lee Sungmin, Sin Konho of South Korea and Siddhartha Ananda, Sunish Dhrubo and Mohammad Atif Sheikh of India won their respective matches in the qualifiers. The final round of the boys and girls’ section will be held today. l

He is aware of the soft dismissals that cost Bangladesh in every match so far and said, “In any Test match you can see one or two soft dismissals, but in our case we see five or six soft dismissals which is very alarming to be honest.”

“We are trying to improve our concentration. We are trying to focus in a way so that if someone gets 50, he should score another 50 for the team.

If the batsman can do it he will get hundred and team will also be benefited.

Our two top-order batsmen are a bit attacking normally. We just hope they will play their normal game,” he added.

A win will also see them climb a place to ninth in the ICC Test rankings, but Mushfiq said he is only focused on winning.

“Ranking is of course an issue but if you think too much about it I think we will be deviated from the process. If we do well in batting, bowling and fielding I think we will get a result and the ranking will go up. A win is our first target,” said Mushfiq. l

said, “We have got reserves in our spin department but we are yet to sit down with the coach and the selectors to make a decision on that. It has been a big topic of discussion and we are going to do it this evening, and see how we can fine-tune our spin department.”

Having lost the first of the threematch Test series in Dhaka by three wickets, Zimbabwe have no option but to win the game to stay alive in the series. At the same time, the ICC Test rankings are at stake as a series win for Bangladesh against Zimbabwe will mean that the former will leapfrog the latter at ninth position. Taylor, however, is not reading too much into the rankings.

“We want to win. Obviously there is the rivalry between the two teams but I am sure both teams just want to go out and win. I am sure they are not worried about the rankings.

You got to worry about one game at a time and not look too far ahead,” said Taylor. l

Second national school hockey begins Dec 15 n Raihan Mahmood The second edition of the First Security Islami Bank National School Hockey is all set to get underway from December 15 after a successful inaugural edition last year. The logo of the second edition was unveiled at Falcon Hall of Bangladesh Air Force yesterday.

The number of participating schools last year was 101. This year, the hockey federation has received applications of 130 schools but they will only be able to accommodate 120 in the event. The matches will be played in 11 venues across the country with the 32-team final round taking place in Dhaka.

The champions will receive a purse of Tk500,000, the runners-up will pocket Tk200,000 while the third placed team will get Tk300,000. The best forward,

best midfielder, best defender and best goalkeeper will be awarded Tk20,000 each. Prior to the start of the tournament, the participating schools will get hockey sticks, balls and a federation-appointed short-term coach.

The First Security Islami Bank provided Tk20m for the event last year and has pledged to hand over the same amount of money to the federation this year also.

The logo unveiling ceremony was graced by the presence of Bangladesh Hockey Federation president and chief of Bangladesh Air Force, Air Marshal Enamul Bari, First Security Islami Bank managing director AAM Zakaria, ATN Bangla, ATN News and tournament committee chairman Mahfuzur Rahman and secretary of the organising committee Mamunur Rashid.l

Dignitaries applause as the logo of the First Security Islami Bank National School Hockey is unveiled at Falcon Hall yesterday COURTESY

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Monday, November 3, 2014

Aguero condemns LVG to derby defeat n AFP, London

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero (C) celebrates after scoring against Manchester United during their English Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, northern England yesterday REUTERS

Sergio Aguero’s goal ensured Louis van Gaal’s first Manchester derby ended in defeat as Manchester City beat 10-man Manchester United 1-0 at Eastlands on Sunday.

United manager Van Gaal’s side had to play more than half the match a man down as defender Chris Smalling was sent off in the 39th minute after collecting two needless yellow cards, having charged down goalkeeper Joe Hart’s clearance kick before a reckless foul on James Milner.

City had several penalty appeals rejected by referee Michael Oliver before Aguero fired City into a 63rd-minute lead after finishing from close range to crown a superb one-touch move involving Yaya Toure and Gael Clichy.

The Argentinian striker’s 10th league goal of the season left him top of the Premier League scoring charts after he had been tied on nine goals with Chelsea’s Diego Costa heading into this weekend’s round of matches.

Hart then saved well from Angel di Maria to deny United an equaliser 14 minutes from time before Marouane Fellaini wastefully headed wide when well-placed to make it 1-1.

Toure, however, could have made it 2-0 in the first of five minutes of added-on time but headed over the top from close range.

Victory saw Premier League champions City move to within six points of leaders Chelsea but still remain third, two points adrift of second-placed Southampton. United’s third league loss of the season meant they dropped to ninth on goals scored and remained

13 points off the summit.

Meanwhile on Saturday, Eden Hazard’s penalty enabled Chelsea to preserve their lead in the Premier League with a narrow 2-1 win at home to local rivals Queens Park Rangers.

Arsenal climbed into the Champions League places after Alexis Sanchez scored twice in a 3-0 success at home to winless bottom club Burnley.

Missing top scorer Diafra Sakho due to a shoulder injury, West Ham fell 2-0 behind through goals from Victor Moses and Mame Biram Diouf either side of half-time.

But Downing crossed for Enner Valencia to reduce the arrears on the hour and the Ecuador international returned the favour for Downing to drill home an equaliser with 17 minutes to play. l

RESULTS

1-0

Man United

3-0

Burnley

Man City Aguero 63

On Saturday Arsenal Sanchez 70, 90, Chambers 72

2-1

Chelsea Oscar 32, Hazard 75-P

QPR Austin 62

Everton

0-0

Swansea

Hull

0-1

Southampton Wanyama 3

Leicester

0-1

West Brom Cambiasso 47-og

Newcastle

1-0

Liverpool

Perez 73

Stoke

2-2

Moses 33, Diouf 56

West Ham Valencia 60, Downing 73

Real on top after Barca lose at home n Reuters, Madrid Barcelona followed up last weekend’s 3-1 defeat at Real Madrid with another reverse on Saturday, squandering a host of chances to lose 1-0 at home to Celta Vigo and handing the lead in La Liga to their arch rivals.

Barca forward Neymar hit the crossbar twice and team mate Lionel Messi did likewise once before hesitation in the defence let in Celta forward Joaquin Larrivey to score 10 minutes after halftime at the Nou Camp.

Barca’s second straight defeat is another blow for new coach Luis Enrique, who was in charge at Celta last season, and means Real take over at the top on 24 points from 10 matches thanks to a 4-0 win at Granada earlier on Saturday.

James Rodriguez struck twice for the European champions, including a superb volley, and the prolific Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 17th goal in nine La Liga appearances this season.

Champions Atletico Madrid, 4-2 winners at home to Cordoba, are second on 23 points.

Ronaldo set Real on their way in the

LA LIGA Granada

0-4

Real Madrid

Ronaldo 2, Rodriguez 31, 86, Benzema 54

Atletico Madrid

4-2

Griezmann 43, 58, Mandzukic 62, Raul Garcia 80

Barcelona

Cordoba Ghilas 53, 87

0-1

Celta Vigo Larrivey 55

Real Sociedad

0-1

Malaga Juanmi 72

second minute at Granada’s Nuevo Los Carmenes stadium when he clipped home a Karim Benzema centre.

Rodriguez made it 2-0 for the European champions in the 31st minute when he crashed a superb, dipping vol-

ley into the top corner before Ronaldo’s clever backheel sent Benzema clear for a third in the 53rd.

Granada fluffed their few chances before Rodriguez followed up a scuffed Ronaldo effort to score the fourth with four minutes to go as Real eased to an 11th win in a row in all competitions.

Cordoba held out until two minutes before halftime at the Calderon stadium when Antoine Griezmann’s effort was deflected in for an own goal

by Luso.

The visitors surprised Atletico nine minutes into the second half when Nabil Ghilas headed in at a corner before Griezmann made it 2-1 with another header four minutes later.

Mario Mandzukic nodded Atletico’s third in the 62nd minute before substitute Raul Garcia deflected Koke’s cross into the net nine minutes from time.

Ghilas grabbed Cordoba’s second goal with three minutes left after some poor defending. l

Western Sydney Wanderers win Asian title n AFP, Riyadh Western Sydney Wanderers became the first Australian side to win the Asian Champions League title on Saturday after a goalless draw against Saudi giants Al Hilal gave them a 1-0 aggregate win in the final.

The Aussie side’s victory stunned into silence the 65,000 Al Hilal supporters inside the King Fahd International Stadium, most of whom had turned out in the host team’s blue and white colours.

The win was a shot in the arm for the Wanderers who came into existence only two years ago and had survived some tough games in the tournament to reach the final.

Al Hilal were clearly the dominant side, but despite getting countless chances they failed to breach the Wanderers defence, with goalkeeper Ante Covic putting in an outstanding performance, producing a series of stunning saves, especially late in the second half.

Al Hilal coach Laurentiu Reghecampf rued the fact his team were not able to make the most of their chances. l

Gonzalo Higuain scored early with an acrobatic volley, his fifth goal in three league games, to set Napoli on the way to a convincing 2-0 win over sluggish AS Roma in Serie A on Saturday.

Roma’s defeat in the big game of the weekend in Italy allowed Juventus to pull three points clear at the top after a 2-0 victory at Empoli thanks to an Andrea Pirlo free kick and Alvaro Morata’s strike.

The champions, who lost for the first time in the league this season at Genoa in midweek, were made to work hard for their win with both goals coming in the second half.

Napoli, who have picked up speed after a slow start to the campaign, moved up to third place on 18 points

SERIE A Napoli

2-0

Roma

0-2

Juventus

Higuain 3, Callejon 85

Empoli

Pirlo 61, Morata 72

Parma

2-0

Inter

De Ceglie 5, 76

from 10 games, four behind the second-placed Romans.

The hosts went ahead in the third minute when Lorenzo Insigne’s longrange effort was deflected off a defender and Argentine Higuain, with his back to play, leapt to hook the ball spectacularly into the net.

The strike made Napoli fans quickly forget his missed late penalty in

n AFP Southampton manager Ronald Koeman believes that his side have the quality to qualify for European competition and enjoy a “fantastic season” in the Premier League.

The Saints retained second place in the table after recording their 10th win in 11 matches with a 1-0 victory over Hull City at the KC Stadium on Saturday.

Dutchman Koeman has made an impressive start to his first spell in English football, having taken over from Mauricio Pochettino in the summer.

The former Netherlands defender said, “Expectation is high, but I like that because we like to win something.

Football players like to win games and if you win games, you will have good possibilities.

“Maybe to play in Europe, you never know. Everybody knows we have to work hard every day and the players are incredible in the way they are acting together. The spirit that we showed is important and we have to keep that.

“It’s easy to keep that if you win, but more difficult if you lose. If we keep like this, it can be a fantastic season.”

Koeman, 51, admitted he did not expect to make such a strong start as manager at St Mary’s. l

Suarez hurt by ‘unjust’ defeat on home debut n AFP, Madrid

Barcelona’s Luis Suarez (R) and Lionel Messi (L) are pictured during their Spanish first division match against Celta Vigo at the Camp Nou, Barcelona on Saturday REUTERS

Higuain sinks Roma as Juve profit n Reuters, Milan

Koeman sets Southampton European goal

Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at Atalanta and calmed the atmosphere inside the San Paolo as the sides met for the first time since a fan was shot before May’s Italian Cup final.

Radja Nainggolan became the villain when he lost possession in the centre circle and the ball was fed to the left flank where Higuain’s incisive cross into the area saw Jose Callejon get there first to finally turn it into the net.

Juve’s Pirlo broke the deadlock on the hour at lowly Empoli in trademark style, his free kick drifting over the wall and in, although the keeper could probably have done better.

Carlos Tevez came off the bench and almost immediately made an impact as he teed up Morata for the second on 72 minutes.l

Napoli’s Argentine forward Gonzalo Higuain (L) shoots and scores a goal past Roma goalkeeper Morgan de Sanctis during their Serie A match at San Paolo stadium in Naples on Saturday REUTERS

Luis Suarez remains without a victory in a Barcelona shirt as the Catalans suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Celta Vigo on his home debut on Saturday.

Barca had been unbeaten in the league until the Uruguayan’s bow away to Real Madrid last weekend, but consecutive defeats have seen them slip to third in La Liga behind Real and Atletico Madrid.

“The other day against Real Madrid to return to playing was a bittersweet feeling, it was great to be back but we didn’t get the result,” Suarez told Barca TV. “To make my debut in the Camp Nou in a competitive game was nice but the result is negative again.

“Football can be unjust at times, the opponent creates one chance in the whole game and scores and that hurts.”l

Bayern hold on for classic win over Dortmund n Reuters, Munich A late Arjen Robben penalty gave Bayern Munich a dramatic 2-1 comeback win on Saturday that sent Borussia Dortmund sliding into the drop zone after their fifth straight defeat and worst-ever start to a Bundesliga season.

The Dutchman sent keeper Roman Weidenfeller the wrong way in the 85th minute, after Franck Ribery was brought down, to lift leaders Bayern to 24 points, four ahead of second-placed VfL Wolfsburg.

The defeat, which featured two decisive blunders from defender Neven Subotic after he came on for the injured Mats Hummels in the second half, drops the Ruhr Valley club to third from bottom with seven points from 10 games.

In a game that lived up to its reputation with both teams hitting the woodwork amid high tempo fare in the opening exchanges -- Robben for Bayern and Henrikh Mkhitaryan for Dortmund -- it was Germany winger Marco Reus who drew first blood for the visitors in the 31st minute.

Reus, Bayern’s top transfer target, headed in a pinpoint cross from Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the Gabon international’s 50-metre sprint down the wing.

The Bavarians had a golden opportunity to level six minutes after the restart but former Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski fired wide from inside the box.

The Pole eventually snatched a 72nd-minute equaliser, drilling the ball

BUNDES LIGA Mainz 05

1-2

Okazaki 3

Hanover 96

Werder Bremen Santo 45-P, 49

1-0

Frankfurt

0-4

VfL Wolfsburg

Madlung 88-og

VfB Stuttgart

Perisic 15, 88, Knoche 45+1, De Bruyne 48

Hamburg

1-0

Bayer Leverkusen

2-1

Dortmund

Van der Vaart 26-P

Bayern Munich Lewandowski 72, Robben 85-P

Reus 31

home from the edge of the area after Subotic’s poor clearance landed in his path.

The goal completed Lewandowski’s set of scoring against all 18 Bundesliga teams.

Subotic also tugged desperately at Ribery’s shirt as the Frenchman surged into the box, leading to Robben’s coolly-taken winner.

Elsewhere, Ivan Perisic scored twice as Wolfsburg crushed VfB Stuttgart 4-0 to extend their winning run to five straight league games.

Hamburg SV claimed their first home win of the season, against Bayer Leverkusen, after Rafael van der Vaart converted a first-half penalty in a 1-0 win.

Argentine Franco Di Santo struck twice in Werder Bremen’s 2-1 comeback win at Mainz 05.

It was their first victory of the season on new coach Viktor Skripnik’s league debut and moved them off the bottom of the table. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Monday, November 3, 2014

STATS IN NUMBERS

SECOND TEST, DAY 4

Number of balls in which Misbah-ul-Haq got his century - the fastest, in terms of deliveries, equaling Viv Richards.

Pakistan 1st innings 570-6 dec (Younis Khan 213, Azhar Ali 109, Misbah-ul Haq 101; M. Starc 2-86)

56

Australia 1st innings 261 (M. Marsh 87; M. Clarke 47; Imran Khan 3-60) Pakistan 2nd innings Ahmed Shehzad b Johnson 14 Hafeez c Starc b Johnson 3 Azhar Ali not out 100 Younis Khan lbw b Smith 46 Misbah-ul Haq not out 101 Extras: (b23, lb4, nb1, w1) 29

74

Number of minutes in which Misbah got to his hundred, the second-fastest in terms of time.* Jack Gregory scored his century in 70 minutes.

138

The partnership strike rate for Pakistan’s fourth wicket.

Misbah and Azhar Ali posted 141 runs from 102 balls. This is the the best rate for a 100-plus partnership by a Pakistan pair, and the third-fastest ever.

Total: (for 3 wkts; 60.4 overs dec) 293

2

Fall of wickets 1-14 (Shehzad), 2-21 (Hafeez), 3-152 (Younis)

Number of instances where two batsmen from a team have scored twin hundreds in a Test. Misbah and Azhar scored two hundreds each in this Test. The only previous instance involved Greg Chappell and Ian Chappell, in Hamilton in 1974.

Bowling Johnson 7-1-45-2, Lyon 18-3-48-0, Starc 11.4-2-56-0 (1w), Siddle 14-4-480, Smith 6-0-54-1, Marsh 4-1-15-0 Australia 2nd innings

21

Number of balls in which Misbah got to his fifty - a record. The previous fastest fifty in Test cricket was by Jacques Kallis, off 24 balls, against Zimbabwe, in Cape Town, in 2005.

C. Rogers c Shafiq b Babar D. Warner c Shah b Hafeez G. Maxwell lbw b Babar M. Clarke b Babar S. Smith not out M. Marsh not out Extras: (b4, nb1, pen5)

24

Number of minutes in which Misbah got to fifty, also a record. The previous record holder was Mohammad Ashraful, who scored a fifty in 27 minutes, against India, in Mirpur in 2007.

Total: (for 4 wkts; 48 overs)

143

Fall of wickets 1-19 (Rogers), 2-31 (Maxwell), 3-43 (Clarke), 4-101 (Warner) Bowling Rahat 5-4-1-0, Khan 5-1-13-0, Hafeez 121-33-1, Babar 17-1-65-3, Shah 8-0-21-0 (1nb), Ali 1-0-1-0

Misbah-ul Haq and Azhar Ali walk off after scoring tons during the fourth day of the second Test against Australia in Abu Dhabi yesterday INTERNET

‘Tuk tuk’ Misbah races to fastest Test century n AFP, Abu Dhabi

2 58 4 5 38 26 10

by a beautiful turner as the Australian captain pushed on the backfoot only to see his stumps disturbed.

That summed up Clarke’s miserable series with only 57 runs.

David Warner had held on end intact, reaching his 13th half-century before miscuing a drive off Mohammad Hafeez and was caught for 58. Earlier Misbah, notorious for his slow batting in one-day internationals, removed all doubts about his credentials.

In all Misbah hit 11 boundaries and five sixes off 57 balls during his two centuries in the match, a blitz which overshadowed Azhar Ali’s feat of 100 not out, making this only the second occasion in Test cricket’s history when two batsmen scored a century in each innings in the same match.

Australian brothers Ian and Greg Chappell scored centuries in each innings against New Zealand at Welling-

ton in 1973.

Misbah beat the previous record of the fastest half-century held by South Africa’s Jacques Kallis scored against Zimbabwe at Cape Town in 2004.

Misbah hit two boundaries off paceman Mitchell Starc to reach his hundred, punched the air in delight and waved his bat to team-mates.

This is also the second fastest hundred in terms of time, behind Australia’s Jack Gregory who reached a hundred in 70 minutes against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1921. Misbah took 74 minutes to reach the mark.

Misbah cut loose after Younis Khan fell for 46, hitting three sixes and a four off one Steven Smith over and then hit the spinner for his fourth six an over later.

In all he hit four boundaries and as many sixes in his fifty. Misbah pushed Starc for three to complete the fastest Test fifty ever which took only 24 minutes. l

FASTEST TEST HUNDREDS Balls

Batsman

Match

Location

Year

56

IVA Richards

West Indies v England

St John’s

1985-86

56

Misbah-ul-Haq

Pakistan v Australia

Abu Dhabi

2014-15

57

AC Gilchrist

Australia v England

Perth

2006-07

67

JM Gregory

Australia v South Africa

Johannesburg

1921-22

69

S Chanderpaul

West Indies v Australia

Georgetown

2002-03

69

DA Warner

Australia v India

Perth

2011-12

70

CH Gayle

West Indies v Australia

Perth

2009-10

71

RC Fredericks

West Indies v Australia

Perth

1975-76

74

Majid Khan

Pakistan v New Zealand

Karachi

1976-77

74

Kapil Dev

India v Sri Lanka

Kanpur

1986-87

Balls

Batsman

Match

Location

Year

Misbah-ul-Haq

Pakistan v Australia

Abu Dhabi

2014-15

Pakistan were on the verge of their first series win over Australia in 20 years and victory in the second Test after skipper Misbah-ul Haq rewrote the record books with his belligerent batting in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Misbah smashed a 56-ball hundred, equalling West Indian legend Viv Richards’s record made against England at Antigua in 1986, minutes after breaking the mark for the fastest fifty which he made off just 21 balls at Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

Misbah’s stunning blitz set up Pakistan to declare their second innings at 293-3, setting a daunting 603-run target for Australia who suffered another batting collapse before reaching 143-4 at stumps on the fourth day.

Misbah said it was an honour to be bracketted with Richards.

“I think it’s the biggest honour for me,” said Misbah. “I am no where near him (Richards) and scoring a hundred in as many deliveries as he did is something I will always remember in my life.

“I didn’t know about the record of fastest hundred but someone from the team told me and I got to know it, its great to have this record.”

Steven Smith (38) and Mitchell Marsh (26) were at the crease as Australia still need another 460 runs for an unlikely win or bat out three sessions on the final day to avoid a 2-0 whitewash, their first series defeat against the Pakistanis since a 1-0 loss in Pakistan in 1994.

Australia’s woes with the bat continued as left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar (3-65) struck regular blows by dismissing Chris Rogers (two), Glenn Maxwell (four) and Michael Clarke (five) in 19 balls to leave Australia tottering at 43-3. Clarke was beaten

Swiss footballer gets 50-year ban n Reuters, Berne

Sachin almost quit after captaincy debacle: book

PSG cranks up heat on Marseille n AFP, Paris

A Swiss amateur footballer has been handed a 50-year ban from the sport for kicking the ball at a referee and insulting him in a fourth-tier match, local media reported on Saturday.

Ricardo Ferreira, of Berne’s Portugal Futebol Clube, received a lifetime ban after he kicked the ball at the official, sprayed him with water and verbally abused him at the end of a game during which he was an unused substitute. l

n AFP, New Delhi

Unbeaten Paris Saint Germain drew to within a single point of Ligue 1 leaders Marseille on Saturday with a comefrom-behind 2-1 win at Lorient.

Lorient stunned the champions with Raphael Guerreiro’s tight shot opening the scoring on 42 minutes. But Paris came back early in the second-half with goals from Edinson Cavani and substitute Jean-Christophe Bahebeck.

Marseille, who lost at Lyon last weekend, have 25 points ahead of their home game with Lens on Sunday and PSG have 24, as these two giants of French football get ready to go headto-head in Paris next weekend.

Later, Lyon held on to third spot on 23 points after two late strikes from Alexandre Lacazette gave them a 3-1 win at Nice. His exploit puts him level-top scorer in Ligue 1 along with Marseille striker Andre Pierre Gignac, both have ten goals.

Saint Etienne also held onto fourth (21) after their 1-1 draw at Lille, where both ‘keepers saved a penalty.l

DAY’S WATCH Gazi TV, BTV 9:30AM Bangladesh v Zimbabwe 2nd Test, Day 1

Ten Cricket 12:00PM Pakistan v Australia 2nd Test, Day 5

Sachin Tendulkar felt so “scarred” and “devastated” by the Indian team’s losing streak under his captaincy that he contemplated leaving the game in the late 1990s, the master batsman has written in his autobiography.

In the much-awaited book ‘Playing It My Way’, which will be released on November 6, Tendulkar has spoken about his frustrating captaincy tenure from 1996 to 2000 when he led in 25 Tests, losing nine and winning just four.

“I hated losing and as captain of the team I felt responsible for the string of miserable performances,” Tendulkar wrote in the book, extracts of which were released by the Press Trust of India on Sunday.

7:30PM Hero Indian League Pune v North East

24

JH Kallis

South Africa v Zimbabwe

Cape Town

2004-05

25

S Shillingford

West Indies v New Zealand

Kingston

2014

26

Shahid Afridi

Pakistan v India

Bangalore

2004-05

26

Mohammad Ashraful

Bangaldesh v India

Mirpur

2007

27

Yousuf Youhana

Pakistan v South Africa

Cape Town

2002-03

28

EAV Williams

West Indies v England

Bridgetown

1947-48

28

IT Botham

England v India

Delhi

1981-82

28

CH Gayle

29

B Yardley

West Indiies v New Zealand Port of Spain Australia v West Indies

“More worryingly, I did not know how I could turn it around, as I was already trying my absolute best. I confided in Anjali (his wife) that I feared there was nothing more that I could do to stem the tide of defeats.

“Losing a string of very close matches had left me badly scarred. I had given it everything and was not sure that I could give even 0.1 per cent more.

“It was hurting me badly and it took me a long time to come to terms with these failures. I even contemplated moving away from the sport completely, as it seemed nothing was going my way.”

Tendulkar retired last year as the world’s highest run-getter in both Test and one-day cricket and the only batsman so far to score 100 international centuries. l

n Agencies

2:00AM Italian Serie A Lazio v Cagliari

Star Sports 1 1:45AM Spanish La Liga Rayo Vallecano v Eibar

Star Sports 4 2:00AM English Premier League Crystal Palace v Sunderland

Sony Six Scottish League Ross County v Aberdeen

21

India crush Sri Lanka in 1st ODI

Star Sports 2

1:45AM

FASTEST TEST FIFTIES

India openers Dhawan, Rahane both scored tons during a 231-run opening stand against Sri Lanka in their 1st ODI yesterday BCCI

India registered a comprehensive win over Sri Lanka in the first One-Day International (ODI) of the five-match series to take a 1-0 lead at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday. It was an all-round team effort by the home side which included centuries by openers Shikhar Dhawan and Ajinkya Rahane, followed by an all-round effort by Suresh Raina. However, it was Ishant Sharma’s four-wicket haul which was the final nail in the coffin of the visitors.

Defending a target of 364, Indian pacers were on top of their game right from the first ball. Even as it was Is-

hant Sharma who bagged wickets by the bagful, the pressure was put on by Umesh Yadav and Varun Aaron who applied the pressure with a good spell of fast bowling. They ran hard and bowled fast, making the Sri Lankan

BRIEF SCORE India 363/5 (50.0 ov) Rahane 111, Dhawan 113, Raina 52, Randiv 3/78 Sri Lanka 194 all out (39.2 ov) Jayawardene 43, Perera 28, Ishant 4/34 India won by 169 runs

openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upal Tharanga hop at their crease.

It was Sri Lanka who won the early honours in the game through some tight bowling and the pitch was lending support too, with plenty of nip and moisture on the surface which restricted the Indian openers to drop anchor and see out the danger.

Rahane and Dhawan slowly grew into the game and it was Rahane who broke the shackles first up with a flurry of boundaries. Once the batsmen got to their fifties, the duo launched a spectacular assault on the weakened attack, sans Ragnana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekera and their lynchpin, Lasith Malinga. l

Bridgetown

LIGUE 1 Lorient

1-2

Guerreiro 42

Metz

1977-78

PSG Cavani 60, Bahebeck 68

3-2

M. Maiga 10, 50, Malouda 90-P

Montpellier

2014

Caen Calve 65, Koita 83

2-0

Evian

Berigaud 32, Mounier 90

Nice

1-3

Puel 51

Lille

1-1

Frey 16

Guingamp Yatabaré 32

Lyon Malbranque 64, Lacazette 80, 90+4

Saint-Etienne Gradel 60

1-0

Bastia

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Monday, November 3, 2014

Huji-B getting military training from LeT Three more militants detained, fresh remand for those arrested before Jamil Khan and n Mohammad Sanaul Islam Tipu Members of banned militant outfit Harkat-ul Jihad Al-Islami Bangladesh (Huji-B) are receiving special military training from Pakistani militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the police have learned.

“At least seven members of Huji-B have returned to Bangladesh after getting military training from Lashkar-e-Taiba over the last two years.

They also had plans to send other members to undergo training and join the so-called jihad,” said Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of the Detective Branch (DB) of police.

He added that the information was extracted during the interrogation of four arrested Huji-B men – who were under remand for six days following

Four children burnt during blackout n Our Correspondent, Savar Four children sustained severe burn injuries in a fire explosion created by toxic gas generated from a toilet on Saturday night.

The four children are Zara, 4, Sara, 6, Jihad, 9, and Raquib, 12, all members of an extended family residing at the house of Adab Ali in Savar's Aminbazar area.

On Saturday around 9:30pm, when the whole area was under darkness following a nationwide power outage, a malodour started coming out of an old abandoned toilet situated on the ground floor of the building, said Sayem Sarker, uncle of the four.

Sensing the malodour, the children went down there with a candle and as soon as they opened the door of the toilet, the fire spread immediately and grilled them in a severe manner, he said.

They were admitted to the burn unit of Enam Medical College and Hospital in a critical condition.

Doctor Nazim Uddin of the hospital said as the fire came in touch with the toxic gas it spread immediately and burnt the children.

The children had sustained 30%40% injuries, however, they were now out of danger, he said. l

their arrests on October 25.

“Getting information from these arrestees, a DB police team conducted a drive in the capital’s Postagola area early today [Sunday] and arrested three more Huji-B members,” said DB chief Monirul, while addressing a briefing at the DMP Media and Community Centre.

The arrestees were Md Abdullah, Md Ridwan and Shafiqul Islam alias Ripon.

Among them, Abdullah and Ridwan are garment factory workers while Ripon did different kind of jobs to make a living as well as assisting at a Huji-B bomb making lab in Narayanganj.

All of them hailed from Fatullah in Narayanganj and were followers of Huji-B operation wing chief Mawlana Mohammad Rafiq Ahmed. The arrestees were reportedly trying to travel to Pakistan for receiving training from the LeT. “Huji-B operation wing chief Rafiq

A teenager was killed and two others injured in a motorcycle accident in the capital's Jatrabari area yesterday.

The deceased, Md Zakir Hossain Zeki,16, was resident of Shyampur area.

His friends Zahid, 16, and Sumon,16, are undergoing treatment at the Dhaka Medical Collage Hospital (DMCH).

The accident took place when the trio were crossing the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover riding on a motorbike towards Jatrabari area, they said at the hospital.

Zeki, a Class-X student at Dholaipur

receiving training abroad, the DB joint commissioner said the Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh preferred to train within the country, learning from their own top command who had earlier joined jihad in Afghanistan.

JMB leaders were also uploading training methods and instruction to several websites, allowing members to download the content easily while staying out of sight from the law enforcement, Monirul said.

He, however, added that the police had information that some members of militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team have received logistics training in Yemen.

Remand

The three Huji-B members – who were arrested from Postogola – have been placed on a two-day remand by Metro-

politan Magistrate Mollah Saiful Islam, after DB Sub-Inspector SM Raisul Islam produced them before the court seeking a 10-day remand.

The same court also placed four Huji-B members – who had been arrested during previous drives – on a one-day fresh remand. Another Dhaka court of Metropolitan Magistrate SM Ashiquer Rahman also placed these four men on an another one-day remand in two separate cases filed with the Uttara (west) police station. The court passed the order after DB SI Abdul Kader produced the arrestees before the court with a 20-day remand prayer.

These four Huji-B members are: the outfit’s operation wing chief Mawlana Mohammad Rafiq Ahmed alias Sajid, bomb expert Umar alias Foyzul alias Roby, Md Nadim Ahmed alias Sumon, and Md Salahuddin Ahmed. l

FOREST DUMP

High School, was driving the bike. The trio fell on the road as Zeki lost his control over the vehicle while giving side to another motorbike, they said.

Local rushed the critically injured boys to hospital where doctors declared Zeki dead. The body was sent to the morgue for an autopsy.

DMCH police outpost Inspector Mozammel Haque said Zeki got serious injuries in his head as he was not wearing helmet while driving the motorbike.

Jatrabari Police Station Sub-Inspector Rezwanul Islam said filing of an unnatural death case was underway when this report was written at 8:30pm. l

n Our Correspondent, Magura Mystery has arisen surrounding the disappearance of an army man who went missing in Magura on Wednesday.

Razia Begum, wife of missing Bakulur Rahman from Ambolshor village in the district's Sreepur upazila, said he had come home on a fourday leave on Tuesday and left for the Jessore Education Board the next day to collect his secondary school certificate.

He has not since return and his mobile phone was found switched off.

It is not clear what has happened to him.

His wife expressed fear that he might have been abducted.

When contacted, Sreepur police station Officer-in-Charge Md Awlad Hossein said they had received a general diary in this regard. “We are trying our best to trace him,” he said. l

Local influential settles rape for money n Our Correspondent, Savar

Thousands of timbers piled in the Rangamati Bazar area indicate to the massive scale deforestation carried out in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, an area already becoming scarce of the essential resource. Every day these logs are transported from here to different parts of the country upon processing in saw mills RAJIB DHAR

1 killed in road accident n Tribune Report

was working in this regard. Abdullah’s passport had been given to him to be submitted for visa processing, while Ridwan’s passport had already been processed as he reportedly got visa through another source,” said DB chief Monirul.

“We have learned that around seven [Huji-B] members took two-month long training from Lashkar-e-Taiba and visited Afghanistan before coming back to Bangladesh for carrying out the outfit’s activities while in hiding.”

About the recently discovered Narayanganj-centric militancy dens, Monirul said the militants chose crowded locations that consisted of floating masses. Although Tongi was previously a favourite choice for militant hideouts, the banned outfits shifted their safe houses to Narayanganj following massive manhunts in Tongi, he added.

Asked if other militant outfits were

Army man goes missing in unclear circumstances

The brother of a ward commissioner in Savar has allegedly taken money to settle the rape of a schoolgirl.

Two men raped the seventh grader of a local school, tying up her elder sister and brother-in-law in another room in their Anandapur flat on Saturday.

Family of the girl claimed that the rapists – Aziz and Kabir from a nearby locality – also filmed the act.

Some locals said the rapists had threatened the family with revealing the video on the internet.

Chan Mia, brother of ward 9 Commissioner Aynal Haque Gedu, along with a few other arbitrators settled the issue at Tk50,000, the locals who did not want to be named said.

Chan Mia could not be reached for comments while Gedu said he was unaware of the incident.

Officer-in-Charge of Savar Model police station Mostafa Kamal yesterday said police had visited the flat but action would be taken once a formal complaint was lodged. l

Verdict on Kamaruzzaman’s appeal today n Ahmed Zayeef The verdict on Jamaat-e-Islami leader and former al-Badr man Kamaruzzaman’s appeal against his death sentence for war crimes committed during the 1971 Liberation War will be pronounced today.

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court enlisted the Jamaat senior assistant secretary general’s appeal as the first task in today’s cause list.

The four-member court comprising Justice Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, Justice Hasan Foez Siddique and Justice

AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury will pronounce the verdict.

On concluding hearing on the appeal on September 17, the bench kept the appeal waiting for verdict.

Kamaruzzaman was an al-Badr leader in 1971. He was also a top leader of the greater Mymensingh Islami Chhatra Sangha, the then student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, and was also the office secretary of East Pakistan Islami Chhatra Sangha.

The second International Crimes Tribunal framed seven charges against him but the prosecution was able to

prove five.

On May 9 last year, the tribunal found him guilty of mass killing, murder, abduction, torture, rape, persecution, and abatement of torture in greater the Mymensingh area in 1971.

Of the five charges, he was sentenced to death in two charges, life imprisonment in two other charges and 10 years’ imprisonment in one.

The tribunal said while delivering verdict: “We are convinced from the evidence, oral and documentary, led by the prosecution and the sourced documents, that the accused [Kamaru-

zzaman] at the relevant time had acted as an atrocious and potential leader of al-Badr to the actual accomplishment of the crimes charged and beyond.”

The tribunal verdict also termed al-Badr an auxiliary force of the Pakistani army that killed three million Bangalees, raped around a quarter of a million women, forced 10 million Bangalees to take refuge in India and displaced innumerable people inside Bangladesh during the nine-month-long war.

On June 6, Kamaruzzaman’s lawyers filed an appeal petition, challenging the tribunal verdict. l

8-member probe team to report on national power grid collapse n Aminur Rahman Rasel The government says it is preparing an investigation report on the failure of the national power grid that plunged the country into darkness on Saturday.

“I have requested the public to be patient for the next three working days to know the actual facts of the incident,” State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid told journalists yesterday at a press conference at Bidyut Bhaban in the city.

But a Power Development Board (PDB) official said he had doubts about how useful the investigation committee report would be since its members are all government officials and no outside experts have been invited. “I think the investigation needs input from outside experts as well,” he said.

“We will not take any experts from outside as our time is limited,” Power Division Secretary Monowar Islam told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

An investigation into the national grid failure in 2007 following cyclone Sidr recommended that substations that went offline power up only after receiving permission from central authorities, otherwise the grid could collapse.

But the recommendations of that report were not put into effect, a member of that committee said, requesting anonymity.

Monowar said an eight-member inquiry committee led by an additional secretary of the Power Division was working to detail the specific reasons for the power grid failure. It is also expected to make recommendations of its own.

“The prime minister is monitoring the situation and giving directives on it,” the state minster said.

“We are grateful to the Almighty that none of our electricity plants were affected. We have successfully managed to get the electricity supply back to normal,” he added.

The state minister stressed the need to maintain an alternative power supply and back-up support arrangements at all critically important installations like airports and hospitals.

Responding to reports that the grid failed following a technical fault on the Indian side of the India-Bangladesh transmission line, Nasrul Hamid said everyone must await the findings of the committee.

The national grid collapsed twice on Saturday cutting power to the entire country for several hours.

The power supply was restored partially across the country at 2:50pm after the first grid failure at 11:28am.

But the national grid collapsed again at 4:30pm.

Power was restored in the capital and elsewhere in the country around midnight.

“All the power plants in the country collapsed one after another because the relay system in the power network did not work during the national grid failure,” Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, PM’s energy adviser, said.

Power Division Secretary Monowar said there was a technical glitch in the country’s western grid around 11:30am on Saturday that resulted in the national grid shutting down.

“The media’s objective reporting helped the power department to focus on restoring power across the country,” he said.

“There are flaws in the set-up of the Bheramara power sub-station, so when it tripped yesterday, the entire national electricity grid collapsed,” he said.l

Members of Bangladesh Muktijoddha Sangsad burst into cheers outside the International Crimes Tribunal 2 after hearing the verdict that handed down death penalty to war criminal Mir Quasem Ali yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com

B3 Wounded Japan PM

B4 European growth as

grapples with tax jinx after BOJ eases

elusive as quicksilver

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Demand for used cars surges The increasing purchase power, relaxed car loan policy and appreciation of taka against dollar make consumers able to buy reconditioned vehicles n Tribune Report Demand for reconditioned cars has been increasing gradually in the country due to rising purchasing power of the people, particularly middle class, relaxed car loan policy and taka appreciation against the greenback.

In fiscal year (FY) 2012-13, importers brought in 7,353 units of used vehicles, a jump of more than 100% a year earlier, according to data provided by Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA).

According to Bangladesh Road Transport Authority, the number of registered motor vehicles in 2013 stood at 10,472, a rise of more than 13% over the previous year when the figure was 9,224.

As of September this year, the figure was 11,541.

“The imported reconditioned car sales have increased due to relaxed of car loan policy. A large number of buyers are middle class people,” said BARVIDA President Habib Ullah Dawn.

The car price fell substantially due to relaxed depreciation rules for cars formulated in FY2013-14, he said.

Abdul Haq, managing director of Haq’s Bay Limited, said car sales have increased manifold recently, as prices have fallen down significantly.

For example, a Toyota Axio brand is now being sold at Tk17lakh, which was Tk22 lakh earlier because of depreciation in value that has also resulted in

Muhith also misses tax return deadline n Tribune Report National Board of Revenue has extended the deadline for submission of income tax returns by individual taxpayers till November 30, 2014.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith was one of them who missed earlier deadline that expired yesterday.

After approving extension proposal

by NBR, he said: “I also could not submit my tax returns by the previous date.”

On Saturday, the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) urged the government to extend the deadline for another month.

FBCCI thinks Eid-ul-Azha, Durga Puja and hartals made it difficult for many people to submit their income tax returns within the stipulated time.

Earlier, the deadline for submitting income tax returns for the current year was extended by a month from September 30.

The revenue authority took step to extend the time following such requests from the country’s apex trade body and many others.

About 17 lakh people now holds TIN in the country although less than 10 lakh people usually file their returns to NBR every year.

A total of 5 lakh individual taxpayers have submitted their tax returns till Thursday, according to NBR officials who said the number was not satisfactory.

As per the income tax ordinance, the NBR can fine Tk1,000 at a time and Tk50 for each day after a TIN holder fails to submit return within stipulated time. l

C A R S

D O M I N AT E

D H A K A

S T R E E T

Financial year

Units of used vehicle imported

2013-14

14,813

2012-13

7,353

2011-12

9,588

2010-11

19,823

2009-10

32,225

2008-09

33,178 Source: Barvida

Year

Private Passenger Car registered

2014 (till September)

11,541

2013

10,472

2012

9,224

2011

12,950

2010

22,960

2009

1,96,870 Source: BRTA

lowering duty, he said.

Mid-income people preferred to purchase at prices ranging from Tk15lakh and Tk20lakh, he said.

He said appreciation of local currency against dollar and yen resulted in lower prices of vehicles that went to an affordable range of the people.

The banks are now providing

50% of a vehicle’s value or Tk40 lakh as loan which was earlier 30% or Tk20 lakh, stimulating purchase of the vehicles.

As per the budget for FY2014, 45% depreciation has been proposed for 2008-09 model 1500cc cars while for 2010 model the depreciation is 40%, for 2011 model 35% and 2012 model

30%. Earlier, the depreciation was 35% for all such cars.

Bangladesh imports reconditioned cars mainly from Japan where only Toyota has nearly 75% share in the market. The reconditioned cars account for 90% of all motor cars while the rest 10% are brand new cars, according to importers. l

Committee for concrete vaults to keep bank money secure

Muhith: Trade talks with Russia to continue despite sanctions n Tribune Report

n Asif Showkat Kallol

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has categorically said the government will continue e-commerce and investment talks with Russia though the United States and European Union imposed economic sanctions on the federation.

“We will not comply with the US and EU that slapped sanction on the Russian federation,” the minister told reporters at his secretariat yesterday after meeting with the Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh Alexander Nikolaev.

He also said the government may form a joint commission with the Russian federation to enhance commerce and investment between the two countries though the United States would not be happy about the matter.

The present trade volume between Bangladesh and Russia is around $543.59 million, and the balance is tilted in favour of Russia. Bangladesh’s import from Russia was $335.30 million in 2012-13 fiscal year against the export of $208.29 million.

Meanwhile, the total demand for clothes in Russia was estimated to be 21.4 billion euro in 2008 which had been projected to be about 29 billion euro in 2013.

According to the BGMEA research cell, Russia is the 12th largest apparel importer in the world, and Bangladesh, as the second largest garment exporting country, has a bright prospect there. l

The committee on security and vault management of state-owned commercial banks has submitted its final report to the Bank and Financial Institutions Division with recommendations of strong vault for old and new branches of the banks, official sources said.

After submitting the report, the banking division additional Secretary Amalendu Mukherjee, who heads the committee, said on Thursday the committee scrutinised the report several times before submission.

The report was prepared by a panel of Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET) professors.

The 200-page report contains images of vault and strong rooms.

The banking division will issue directives to the managing directors of state-owned banks and Bangladesh Bank to act on the recommendations, Amalendu said.

The committee report will be useful to keep secure of the vaults and strong rooms of commercial banks, he added.

According to the report, the panel suggested the banks build three different strong vaults based on deposits amounting to Tk25 lakh, Tk1 crore and more than Tk1 crore.

The report also suggested the width of pillars that should be made of concrete for safe rooms alongside strong vaults.

Geotechnical Engineering Prof Dr Md Zoynul Abedin of BUET told the Dhaka Tribune the cost of building vaults will vary according to their configurations.

The cost will be higher if the vaults are procured from aboard, and if locally made, it will be less costly, he added.

The price of vaults will range from $795 to $7,195 according to the foreign firm that constructs vault.

The banking division formed the committee on March 9 to review security of the government bank vaults and formulate measures to stop further heists.

The committee comprises the banking division secretary, its additional secretary and four deputy managing directors of state-owned banks.

The move comes after a heist at a Sonali Bank Branch in Bogra from where robbers on a holiday took away Tk30.8 lakh through a 30-feet tunnel dug from a nearby furniture shop to the vault.

In the same fashion, robbers looted Tk16.4 crore from the bank’s Kishoreganj branch on January 24. l

Fast growing middle class drags Carmudi to Bangladesh n Kayes Sohel Bangladesh economy is growing steadily at around 6% over the last one decade and expected to grow at 7-8% in the next couple of years.

Economic growth has usually led to swell a large number of middle class people in emerging economies like Bangladesh, offering new business opportunities for both local and foreign companies like Carmudi, an online marketplace.

Purchasing power of middle class people increased as they spend more on non-essential goods like cars, helping to transform the economy.

Used car sales are rising fast in Bangladesh in recent years as middle class people prefer to purchase such cars.

Erwin Sikma, co-founder and managing director of Carmudi, had talks about the emerging car market in Bangladesh and shares his experiences in operating business here in an interview with the Dhaka Tribune (DT) during his recent visit to Dhaka.

DT: Where does Carmudi come from?

Sikma: Carmudi is originally founded in Berlin, Germany in 2013 by our mother company, Rocket Internet, which is a big international internet business across the world. The idea is to get all cars under one roof.

Carmudi is one of the world’s largest and fastest online marketplaces bringing together people who want to buy used or new vehicles and individuals or vehicle owners or vehicle dealers that want to sell new or used vehicles.

DT: What potentialities have brought you to Bangladesh?

Sikma: It’s a good question. Couple of things … first of all the whole country is potential itself … a lot of people here … it is a developing economy that is expected to grow fast in years to come.

On the other hand, there are also fast growing middle class people. They spend more on foods, cloths, cars and other things. This trend makes sure the strength of the car market.

Besides, there is no platform and service in this area. So, we see potentials in Bangladesh.

DT: Are you facing any challenges in operating business in Bangladesh?

Sikma: It is a developing country.

So, there are always a lot of challenges here. Challenges like hartal … it is difficult to do business. Internet penetration is not also so super high. Although there are challenges, we grew extremely fast during last year. But it is not a problem for us because we don’t see challenges as problems but as opportunities in that sense. That is why we are here. … All the time something does not go perfect … a bit problematic … if you do not start taking about risk, you will never be successful. Our philosophy is to look at the problems, fix problems … and to continue.

Regarding other official matters and tax related issues, we have a very good local team who effectively takes care of the process in a very professional and responsible manner.

DT: What’s the secret behind successful story of Carmudi?

Slot for own satellite to be bought if failed to get thru ITU n Muhammad Zahidul Islam The government will not stop from launching the country’s own satellite in 2017 and all complexities towards the goal will be resolved, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak said.

He said they will try to resolve objections by different countries against Bangladesh’s 102 degree east orbital slot application to ITU, and if unsuccessful, will float international tender to buy slot from an international company or a country.

“We will float international tender for orbital slot and at the same time will consult with ITU for allocating our desired slot through resolving objections raised by different countries,” state minister said at a press conference yesterday.

Bangladesh has applied for slot of 102 degree east. But as many as

20 countries including China, South Korea and Australia have filed objections against slot position.

If Bangladesh can resolve the issue with these countries, it will have its desired slot and if cannot, will have to buy from others.

Palak said the government, however, will launch the satellite named Bangabandhu-1 by 2017

through whatever it is.

The presser was held at the Post and Telecommunications Division yesterday after Bangladesh’s win at International Telecommunication Union (ITU) council election.

Bangladesh retained council membership for a four-year term securing 115 votes in the election held last week in Bushan, Korea.

ITU is the highest body for allocating orbital slot for satellite.

“We will need a couple of orbital slots and try some more slots through ITU,” Palak said.

After filing application on 102 degree east, Bangladesh has also applied for 69 east and 133 east as alternative orbital slots.

Earlier, Bangladesh Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (BTRC), the main stakeholder for launching the satellite, decided to acquire the 119.1 east orbital slot from Russian company Sputnik for $28m.

But the move was stopped after finance ministry’s objection.

The Bangabandhu satellite project deadline was already extended twice: from June 2015 to June 2016, and then to June 2017.

The Executive Committee of National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved Tk3,253 crore in

2012 for the project but later revised down to Tk2,968 crore.

ITU cell will be established

Zunaid Ahmed Palak said they will go for establishing a cell to communicate with the ITU for betterment of the ICT industry of Bangladesh.

Palak described Bangladesh’s ITU election win as a “biggest victory” towards building digital Bangladesh. He said international community also accepted the country’s vision of a digital nation.

“We hope this victory will attract more investment in hi-tech park, software industry and other related fields.”

Member of the parliamentary standing committee on telecommunication Shawkat Hasanur Rahman Rimon and telecommunications secretary M Foyzur Rahman, among others, also attended the presser. l

Erwin Sikma Sikma: I can’t say all the secret of course … just find out problems from the buyers side and sellers side. We listen to that … develop products and applications what people of Bangladesh wants … we give our service getting feedback from buyers and sellers. On the other hand, we have robust central team in Germany developing products.

We are also specialised and, of course, you need a lot of money. We are the only vehicle specific website in the country at the moment and our website has very high quality contents and photographs.

‘It’s a good question.

Couple of things … first of all the whole country is potential itself … a lot of people here … it is a developing economy that is expected to grow fast in years to come’ DT: How did you get idea to launch online marketplace platform?

Sikma: We have seen similar business models (online car classifieds) in Europe and the USA. But there is a growing need for such platforms in developing markets that we feel has not been fully met. Then, we assess how potentials they have and are there any online marketplace and start building the company.

Assessing every pros and cons, we start business in Myanmar, Nigeria, Mexico—three different regions in the world to test how it works as business model. Very quickly, it becomes popular in these developing countries.

So, we started our business operation in September 2013. Since then, we expanded in 18 countries.

DT: Are you planning to expand your business further? If so, what’s that country where you are going to operate soon?

Sikma: Yes, we are going to set foots some other countries soon. Jordan will be the next country to operate our business very soon and we are also exploring more markets in Africa and Asia.

DT: Do you think e-commerce is getting popular in Bangladesh?  B3 COLUMN 1

B2

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

DGEN sinks to one month low

DSE key features November 2, 2014

n Tribune Report

Number of Contract

offer value of Tk35.

It was the day’s highest gainer and also the most traded stock with shares worth more than Tk88 crore changing hands.

LankaBangla Securities said the market suffered sharp decline while a nationwide hartal was being enforced.

It said investors’ sentiment still remained cautious and they were discounting any political risks associated with the economy.

It continued that the market was struggling to find direction as investors got mixed reactions about the third quarter earnings registered by the listed corporate entities.

The country has been put under three-day hartals by Jamaat-e-Islami protesting latest war crimes verdict against the party chief Motiur Rahman Nizami.

After another verdict handed down by a war crimes tribunal yesterday against another Jamaat leader Mir Kashem Ali, the party called hartal for Thursday too.

“Following a number of depressed earnings, pessimism reinstated amid investors and shrank market movement. As a result, the stocks start positive but ended negative with 68 points down,” said IDLC Investments.

Out of 306 issues traded, 71 advanced, 204 declined and 31 remained unchanged.

Besides Western Marine, other top turnover leaders included Shahjibazar Power Company Limited, Khulna Power Company Limited, Barakatullah Electro Dynamics Ltd and Titas Gas. l

Stocks plunged yesterday, as the late cautious selling pressure following latest war crimes verdicts whipped off early gains, pulling down the benchmark index DSEX to one month low.

Just after one-day rebound, DSEX lost 68 points or 1.4% to close at 5,105—its lowest since September 30.

The Shariah index DSES edged 17 points or 1.3% to 1,204. The comprising blue chips DS30 was down 31 points or 1.6% to 1,918.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, closed at 9549, shedding 151 points.

Strong buying and selling pressure has helped to increase the turnover slightly as the DSE turnover stood at Tk732 crore, up 1% from the previous session.

All the heavy-weight sectors closed lower, except for food and allied driven mainly by BATBC and Olympic Industries.

IT sector took the maximum hit tumbling more than 7% due to no dividend disclosures by Daffodil Computer, unsatisfactory corporate disclosure by Agni System and negative earning disclosures by Intec.

The cement sector came second losing 2.4%, followed by life insurance that moved down 2.4%, power 2%, non-banking financial institutions 1.8% and telecommunication 1.2%. Pharmaceuticals and banks also ended in the red.

Western Marine Shipyard Limited, in its first trading day, gained 79% to close at Tk62.7 a share after rising as high as Tk65.7 on its

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSER Company Daffodil Computers -Z Fine Foods A Metro Spinning -A Beximco Syn.-Z Intl. Leasing-B FAR Chemical-N Agni Systems -A Sinobangla Indu.-A Savar Refractories-Z In Tech Online -A

Closing (% Change) -24.16 -22.52 -11.59 -9.70 -9.40 -9.27 -8.79 -8.11 -8.08 -7.95

CSE LOSER Company Daffodil Computers -Z Fine Foods A Metro Spinning -A Pragati Gen. I -A Beximco Syn.-Z Agni Systems -A ICB AMCL 2nd NRB -A Shinepukur Cera-Z Intl. Leasing-B FAR Chemical-N

Closing (% Change) -25.17 -23.53 -10.98 -9.88 -9.63 -9.06 -8.99 -8.97 -8.78 -8.00

5105.22040

(-) 1.31%

1918.09398

(-) 1.61%

15710.43970

(-) 1.57%

12924.06360

(-) 1.52%

9552.23770

(-) 1.54%

Average (% Change) -25.62 -23.69 -10.08 -10.41 -7.27 -9.34 -8.94 -4.07 -7.85 -7.98 Average (% Change) -27.46 -25.18 -9.74 -9.88 -9.73 -10.13 -8.47 -7.50 -7.98 -7.96

ANALYST

ClosingAvg. 11.44 11.63 14.72 12.22 13.90 36.97 28.31 31.62 51.20 14.07

ClosingAvg. 11.49 11.50 14.83 38.30 12.43 28.30 8.10 14.30 13.73 37.36

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 653.39 252.55 64.20 1808.82 189.28 1575.56 1.97 346.80 901.74 130.75 496.16 41.00 80.67 149.37 97.86 51.08 123.24 157.46 68.84 134.93 0.04

DHIGH 12.50 12.10 15.50 13.40 14.90 39.00 30.50 33.60 51.20 14.90

DHIGH

11.30 11.70 14.60 38.30 12.20 28.10 8.10 14.20 13.50 36.80

Company

7,325.70

12.00 12.70 15.80 38.30 13.90 29.20 8.10 15.50 15.10 39.50

164,480,670 255,815

Traded Issues

306

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

91

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

209

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

6

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,729.50

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

33.08

CSE key features November 2, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

741.59

Turnover (Volume)

17,316,039

Number of Contract

58,218

Traded Issues

218

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

56

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

155

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

7

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,621.17

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

31.77

Turnover in Million

DLOW 10.50 11.40 14.40 12.10 13.50 36.00 27.80 30.20 51.20 13.80

11.10 10.20 14.40 38.30 12.20 27.80 8.10 14.10 13.40 36.50

Latest EPS

2.768 4.043 9.492 5.193 12.523 79.653 43.610 13.423 0.003 3.447

Turnover in Million

DLOW

% change 8.92 3.45 0.88 24.69 2.58 21.51 0.03 4.73 12.31 6.77 0.56 1.10 2.04 1.34 0.70 1.68 2.15 0.94 1.84 0.00

Million Taka 32.58 18.57 2.74 325.64 36.37 109.22 74.94 59.51 66.48 54.52 51.14 4.84 7.90 21.87 0.81 4.91 8.65 11.81 15.40 0.01

CSE

% change 3.59 2.05 0.30 35.87 4.01 12.03 0.00 8.25 6.56 7.32 6.01 5.63 0.53 0.87 2.41 0.09 0.54 0.95 1.30 1.70 0.00

0.68 -1.01 0.92 0.66 -0.78 2.88 1.27 1.21 -1.08 -0.88

Latest EPS

0.385 0.799 0.497 0.004 1.800 1.189 0.004 0.091 3.199 11.070

Million Taka 685.97 271.12 66.94 2134.46 225.65 1684.78 1.97 421.74 961.25 197.23 550.68 92.14 85.50 157.27 119.73 51.89 128.15 166.11 80.64 150.33 0.04

Purabi G Insu.A SummitAlliancePort.-A Dulamia CottonZ Alltex Industries -Z Shurwid Ind. -N SAIF Powertec-N Modern Dyeing -Z Trust Bank-A Quasem Drycells -A ICB Islamic Bank-Z

Closing (% Change) 10.00 9.85 9.76 9.69 9.63 9.58 9.34 9.30 8.63 8.16

CSE GAINER

0.68 -1.01 0.92 2.47 0.66 1.27 1.40 0.50 -0.78 2.88

Latest PE 16.8 -ve 16.0 18.5 -ve 12.8 22.3 26.1 -ve -ve

Total

Company Alltex Industries -Z Trust Bank-A SummitAlliancePort.-A SAIF Powertec-N Shurwid Ind. -N Quasem Drycells -A Sonargaon Tex -Z Trust Bank 1st MF-A Rupali InsurA Prime Islami Life -A

Closing (% Change) 9.95 9.94 9.90 9.85 9.78 8.37 6.86 5.17 4.74 4.50

Average (% Change) 7.95 9.00 9.76 12.22 10.79 8.58 9.64 9.69 8.29 6.04 Average (% Change) 11.17 8.42 9.36 9.40 9.65 8.81 2.19 3.26 4.74 4.22

ClosingAvg. 19.55 64.28 9.00 21.49 49.78 89.30 109.09 18.90 51.49 5.27

ClosingAvg. 22.99 18.80 64.26 89.61 49.77 51.85 10.74 6.02 26.50 85.77

Closing 19.80 64.70 9.00 21.50 50.10 90.40 108.90 18.80 51.60 5.30

Closing 23.20 18.80 64.40 90.30 50.50 51.80 10.90 6.10 26.50 86.00

DHIGH 19.80 64.70 9.00 21.50 50.20 90.70 109.50 18.90 52.20 5.30

DHIGH 23.20 18.80 64.40 90.40 50.60 52.50 11.00 6.10 26.50 87.00

DLOW 16.50 54.00 9.00 21.30 46.10 76.00 102.00 15.50 47.50 5.00

DLOW 21.10 18.50 58.00 80.10 46.10 49.60 10.40 5.90 26.50 85.00

Turnover in Million 11.316 163.883 0.448 1.859 164.259 319.908 0.240 77.323 86.350 5.505

Turnover in Million 3.081 0.684 19.826 33.783 19.732 6.326 0.328 0.297 0.003 0.089

Latest EPS 0.92 0.88 -4.13 2.56 1.64 2.54 1.56 2.93 1.55 -0.71

Latest EPS 2.56 2.93 0.88 2.54 1.64 1.55 -0.84 0.91 2.52 4.95

Latest PE 21.3 73.0 -ve 8.4 30.4 35.2 69.9 6.5 33.2 -ve

Latest PE 9.0 6.4 73.0 35.3 30.3 33.5 -ve 6.6 10.5 17.3

News, analysis and recent disclosers ANWARGALV: 7.50% cash dividend to the general shareholders, AGM: 12.01.2015, Record Date: 13.11.2014. EPS of Tk. 0.50, NAV per share of Tk. 8.11.

DAFODILCOM: No dividend, 24.12.2014, Record Date: 20.11.2014. EPS of Tk. 0.73, NAV per share of Tk. 11.71.

SAMATALETH: No dividend, AGM: 24.12.2014, Record Date: 23.11.2014. EPS of Tk. 0.05, NAV per share of Tk. 14.98.

AMCL(PRAN): 32% cash dividend, AGM: 24.12.2014, Record Date: 13.11.2014. EPS of Tk. 6.93, NAV per share of Tk. 60.88.

METROSPIN: 5% stock dividend, AGM: 30.12.2014, Record Date: 17.11.2014. EPS of Tk. 0.84, NAV per share of Tk. 19.29.

PRIMETEX: 10% cash, AGM: 27.12.2014, Record Date: 13.11.2014. EPS of Tk. 1.17, NAV per share of Tk. 56.56.

AGNISYSL: 10% stock dividend, AGM: 23.12.2014, Record Date: 16.11.2014. EPS of Tk. 1.01, NAV per share of Tk. 15.87.

FINEFOODS: No dividend, Date, Time and Venue of AGM will be notified later. Record Date: 24.11.2014. EPS of Tk. -0.475, NAV per share of Tk. 9.94.

NTLTUBES: 20% cash and 10% stock dividend, AGM: 20.12.2014, Record date: 20.11.2014. EPS of Tk. 4.96, NAV per share of Tk. 315.87.

CVOPRL: The Company has informed that

the Energy & Mineral Resources Division of the Ministry of Power, Energy & Mineral Resources of the Govt. of Bangladesh has allotted 15,000 MT Condensate per year in favour of CVO Petrochemical Refinery Ltd. vide their letter dated 30th October 2014.

IPO Subscription: National Feed Mill Limited subscription date 26 -30 October 2014, NRB upto 08 November 2014. @ taka 10, face value taka 10 and market lot 500.

Right Share: MIDASFIN: Subscription period for rights issue will be from 01.09.2014 to 30.09.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 03.08.2014.

ICB: Subscription period for rights issue will be from 07.12.2014 to 30.12.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 09.09.2014.

BIFC: subscription period for rights issue of the Company will be from 09.11.2014 to 30.11.2014. Record Date for entitlement of rights share: 19.10.2014.

Dividend/AGM SAVAREFR: No dividend, AGM: 24.01.2015, Record Date: 23.12.2014.

SHYAMPSUG: No dividend, AGM: 13.12.2014, Record Date: 20.11.2014.

MIDASFIN: No dividend, AGM: 24.12.2014, Record Date: 20.11.2014.

RENWICKJA: 22% cash dividend, AGM:

13.12.2014, Record Date: 20.11.2014.

ZEALBANGLA: No dividend, AGM: 19.12.2014, Record Date: 20.11.2014.

BDCOM: 15% stock dividend, AGM: 25.12.2014, Record Date: 17.11.2014.

IMAMBUTTON: No dividend, AGM: 20.12.2014, Record Date: 19.11.2014.

JUTESPINN: No dividend, AGM: 20.12.2014, Record Date: 19.11.2014.

SAIHAMTEX: 15% cash dividend, AGM: 18.12.2014, Record Date: 16.11.2014.

HWAWELLTEX: 15% cash dividend, AGM: 18.12.2014, Record Date: 10.11.2014.

LIBRAINFU: 20% cash dividend, AGM: 28.12.2014, Record Date: 11.11.2014.

EMERALDOIL: 10% cash and 5% stock dividend, AGM: 28.12.2014. Record Date: 23.11.2014.

NORTHERN: 5% cash and 5% Stock Dividend, AGM: 14.12.2014, Record Date: 19.11.2014.

CVOPRL: 5% cash dividend to the ordinary shareholders, AGM: 22.12.2014, Record Date: 06.11.2014.

PREMIERCEM: 30% cash dividend, AGM: 27.12.2014, Record Date: 17.11.2014.

USMANIAGL: 11% cash and 10% Stock Dividend, AGM: 26.12.2014, Record Date: 20.11.2014.

BDAUTOCA: No dividend, AGM: 11.12.2014, Record date: 18.11.2014.

Latest PE 16.9 -ve 16.1 15.5 18.8 22.3 5.8 28.6 -ve 13.0

The market suffered sharp decline while a nationwide hartal was being enforced

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

11.30 11.70 14.50 12.10 13.50 36.20 28.00 30.60 51.20 13.90

Closing

DSE GAINER

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

Monay, November 3, 2014

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company

% change 8.33 3.29 0.81 25.92 2.74 20.46 0.02 5.12 11.67 2.40 6.69 1.12 1.04 1.91 1.45 0.63 1.56 2.02 0.98 1.83 0.00

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

WesternMarine -N SAIF Powertec-N Shahjibazar Power-N Khulna Power-A Barakatullah E. D.-A Titas Gas TDCLA Keya Cosmetics -A MJL BD Ltd.-A Shurwid Ind. -N SummitAlliancePort.-A

Golden Son -A S Purbanchol Power-N Square Pharma -A Khulna Printing-N Grameenphone-A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company WesternMarine -N SAIF Powertec-N SummitAlliancePort.-A Shurwid Ind. -N Khulna Printing-N Keya Cosmetics -A Khulna Power-A S Purbanchol Power-N Summit Power -A Golden Son -A

Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A FAR Chemical-N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Beximco Pharma -A Barakatullah E. D.-A

VolumeShares 14,885,300 3,582,200 1,253,000 3,113,348 4,813,157 1,909,438 6,160,372 1,222,412 3,300,000 2,549,410

Value in Million 885.34 319.91 269.61 202.70 186.72 174.38 170.97 168.19 164.26 163.88

% of TotalTurnover 12.09 4.37 3.68 2.77 2.55 2.38 2.33 2.30 2.24 2.24

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

3,396,375 2,389,809 484,947 4,236,000 338,600

4,245,100 377,000 308,512 396,500 536,000 592,400 252,315 256,200 279,644 246,500

533,000 296,300 256,146 145,350 234,560

163.38 142.74 134.89 130.03 126.11

250.78 33.78 19.83 19.73 16.48 16.42 16.35 15.30 12.27 11.94

11.91 11.07 10.29 9.30 9.00

2.23 1.95 1.84 1.78 1.72

34.99 4.71 2.77 2.75 2.30 2.29 2.28 2.14 1.71 1.67

1.66 1.54 1.44 1.30 1.26

ClosingP 62.70 90.40 197.90 63.30 38.50 90.30 27.80 135.80 50.10 64.70

47.20 58.10 277.20 29.70 370.70

ClosingP

62.30 90.30 64.40 50.50 29.70 27.80 63.20 58.30 43.20 47.10

22.10 36.80 39.60 63.00 38.50

Change % 0.00 9.58 -4.95 -2.62 2.39 -1.53 3.73 -4.37 9.63 9.85

-6.90 -3.17 -0.54 -7.48 -1.01

Change %

0.00 9.85 9.90 9.78 -7.48 4.12 -2.92 -2.83 0.00 -7.10

-7.14 -8.00 -4.35 -3.82 3.22

ClosingY 0.00 82.50 208.20 65.00 37.60 91.70 26.80 142.00 45.70 58.90

50.70 60.00 278.70 32.10 374.50

ClosingY

0.00 82.20 58.60 46.00 32.10 26.70 65.10 60.00 43.20 50.70

23.80 40.00 41.40 65.50 37.30

DHIGH 65.70 90.70 226.40 67.80 39.70 93.20 28.40 145.70 50.20 64.70

51.00 61.50 281.90 32.60 379.40

DHIGH

65.00 90.40 64.40 50.60 32.20 28.30 68.00 61.50 44.70 50.30

23.50 39.50 42.00 65.20 39.40

DLOW 50.00 76.00 190.00 61.00 34.00 82.80 24.20 128.00 46.10 54.00

45.70 57.80 255.00 29.40 370.00

DLOW

55.50 80.10 58.00 46.10 29.10 25.90 62.90 58.00 42.80 46.50

21.60 36.50 38.00 62.80 37.00

AvgPrice 59.48 89.30 215.17 65.11 38.79 91.33 27.75 137.59 49.78 64.28

48.10 59.73 278.15 30.70 372.43

AvgPrice

59.07 89.61 64.26 49.77 30.76 27.72 64.80 59.74 43.86 48.43

22.35 37.36 40.17 63.96 38.36

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Monday, November 3, 2014

Wounded Japan PM grapples with tax jinx after BOJ eases n Reuters, Tokyo When Prime Minister Shinzo Abe raised Japan’s sales tax from April, he was betting he could break a jinx that has doomed leaders who raised the levy to losing their jobs.

Now, wounded by cabinet scandals and growing doubts about his radical “Abenomics” prescription to revive an economy scarred by years of deflation, Abe must decide whether to roll the dice again.

A shock move by the Bank of Japan on Friday to expand its massive assetbuying stimulus program - in the hope it will stoke inflation - could boost the chances of a rise in the unpopular levy from October, especially if followed by promises of added fiscal stimulus to help offset the pain.

But concerns that his popularity has peaked and worries about the election calendar are certain to weigh as heavily as economic data when Abe decides in coming weeks whether to press ahead with a planned rise to 10%.

“The government is indicating it is focusing on the economy ... but the truth is that after all, Abe will weigh political loss and gain in making a final decision,” said Hiroshi Watanabe, a senior economist at SMBC Nikko Securities.

Raising the sales tax requires a strong nerve and reserves of political capital the issue has been regarded as the “third

rail” of Japanese politics ever since it was first promoted in 1979, and a previous increase in 1997 was blamed by many for killing an incipient recovery.

So for proponents of the hike, who argue it is vital to curb Japan’s huge public debt and fear delay would trigger a selloff in government bonds and a spike in long-term interest rates, the timing for a decision is hardly auspicious.

For 20 months after taking power with pledges to reboot Japan’s economy with a mix of hyper-easy monetary policy, spending and reform, Abe’s team was mostly unscathed by the scandals that dogged his first, troubled term from 2006 to 2007.

But since a September cabinet reshuffle meant to boost his ratings, two ministers have quit over fundingrelated misdeeds, others face scrutiny and talk persists about fresh disclosures.

To be sure, the scandals themselves have not sent Abe’s ratings plunging.

Support remains around 50%, although some polls showed it falling to slightly below that for the first time since July, when Abe’s cabinet took the controversial step of easing constitutional constraints on the military.

But the scandals coincide with growing concerns about Japan’s longsought economic recovery after the 3-point rise in the sales tax to 8% in April pushed the economy into its

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe attends the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) Air Review to celebrate 60 years since the service's founding at Hyakuri air base in Omitama, northeast of Tokyo REUTERS deepest quarterly slump since the 2009 global financial crisis.

“I don’t think the scandals are doing all that much damage,” said a ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker who declined to be identified so he could speak freely. “The problem is the economy.”

Triple moves, election calendar

Abe has already faced pressure from some aides, including architects of Abenomics, to delay the tax rise.

Implicitly admitting that not all was going according to plan, the BOJ said on

Friday it would accelerate its purchases of Japanese government bonds, even as the government signaled a willingness to boost fiscal spending if needed and the government pension fund announced it would buy more shares.

The moves pushed Tokyo share prices, closely watched by Abe as a barometer of economic sentiment, up more than 5 percent. But how much the actions will impress voters, especially those in regions feeling neglected by Abenomics, is unclear.

Despite the scandals and economic doubts, there is little talk that Abe’s

grip on his own job is in immediate danger.

The LDP trounced the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan in the 2012 election, and the opposition has been in disarray since. Strong rivals are scarce inside Abe’s own party.

“As the economy slows, hopes for Abe are declining but there is little sense among the public that Abe should be dumped because there is no viable alternative either inside or outside the LDP,” said veteran political analyst Minoru Morita.

But much of Abe’s voter support rests on hopes he can lead the world’s third-biggest economy back to sustainable growth, so signs that isn’t happening are likely to erode his ratings.

“Abenomics is nearing its ‘sell-by’ date,” said LDP lawmaker Seiichiro Murakami, a rare outspoken critic of Abe’s policies in the party. “People are watching carefully and gradually coming to realize that Abenomics was nothing.”

Public support could prove less robust than it looks at first glance. A recent Nikkei newspaper poll put support for the LDP at 37 percent, far outstripping that for the Democrats at 6 percent - but 45 percent supported no particular party at all.

In addition, many voters oppose not only a second sales tax hike but other key policies, such as restarts of atomic

reactors that went offline after the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster.

“People are waiting for Abenomics to work .. but at some point, the fact that there are discrepancies between (support for) major policies and government approval ratings will catch up,” said Tobias Harris at risk consultancy Teneo Intelligence.

Complicating the situation are local elections later this year and nationwide next spring that will serve as gauge of public opinion ahead of a LDP leadership poll next September that Abe must win to secure another three-year term.

Fears that his popularity has peaked could, some Japanese media have said, encourage Abe to combine a postponement of the sales tax rise with a snap election late this year or early next, although no lower house poll need be held until late 2016.

Abe is expected to wait for final data on third quarter gross domestic product, due out on Dec. 8, before deciding on the tax rise, but preliminary data will be released in mid-November.

Several experts dismissed the early election scenario, but some political insiders said it couldn’t be ruled out.

“I think there could be an election in the near future,” the LDP lawmaker said. “Abe could decide to postpone the sales tax hike after looking at data due out Nov 17 and call an election, saying he is putting the economy first.” l

Tanners to get incentives Unknown election outcome is for relocation stocks’ big fear in US

NBR chair fails to obtain extension

n Reuters, New York

The government has decided not to extend the tenure of National Board of Revenue Chairman Ghulam Hussain as his contract expires on January 9, 2015, official sources said.

According to sources in the finance division, the NBR chairman had been lobbying for his contract extension, but to no avail.

Recently, Ghulam transferred 27 tax commissioners to different tax offices across the country.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday said the outgoing chairman should not have issued the transfer order for the tax commissioners including the director general of central intelligence unit.

“The NBR chairman called on me at my office and admitted his wrongdoing about the transfer of commissioners,” he said.

The transfer order of those 27 tax commissioners was later suspended, added the finance minister.

Earlier, the finance minister sent a letter to the minister of Public Administration Ministry to stop transfer of the taxmen. l

n Tribune Report

A series of incentives have been announced for tanneries to relocate their establishments to Savar industrial zone.

The announcement came in line with the fund problems the tanners facing in the relocation process, said a circular Bangladesh Bank issued yesterday.

In case of getting new loan facilities, clients would deposit fresh collateral if there is lack of security money The tanneries relocated to Savar or under process of relocation would be allowed to transfer their irregular loans to block accounts, get moratorium facilities and get flexible payment term.

The interest would be realised at

Fast growing middle class  B1 COLUMN 6

Sikma: E-commerce is really booming here. Internet penetration is relatively high compared to other countries in this region.

DT: Which country is most successful for Carmudi?

Sikma: To be honest, all the country is doing very well. We start business in different stages in different countries.

But business depends on how big the country is. We are already number one in Philippines, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and, of course, in Bangladesh and hoping to become number one in Indonesia soon. Our target is to establish Carmudi as the number one car classifieds in all countries across the world.

DT: How many car-sells per month make you happy in Bangladesh?

Sikma: I am happy when buyers and sellers are happy. Feedback, calls and leads from clients, dealers, buyers, seller and users certainly make my day.

DT: Why should people buy car from online market place instead of traditional market?

Sikma: Main thing is that you want to buy best car or motorcycle. First of all, it is very convenient, stress-free and saves time too.

You do not need to go to showroom.

It enables customers to easily find or sell their cars, motorcycles or commercial vehicles online. At the same time, vehicle dealers and agents get a trusted online presence through a personalised web page. Carmudi has over 400 dealers listed on their website, in Bangladesh making it much more easier and convenient for individuals to find their desired vehicles from home.

We offer diverse vehicle listings, an intuitive website design and high security standards to avoid fraud as we screen every vehicle sent to us before uploading them on the site. l

a rate 10% of the loan transferred to block account or the cost of fund, whichever is lower.

Non-imposed interest and suspended interest would be waived in case of block account loans, but the principle loan amount and the cost of fund would not be waived.

The board of banks could consider loan reschedules and relax down payments in case of providing new loan facilities for tanneries involved in export business.

The loans to be transferred to block accounts or that rescheduled would be adjusted with the export bill.

The banks would follow the common rules of classifying and provisioning if loans are not recovered as per the schedule.

In case of getting new loan facilities, clients would deposit fresh collateral if there is lack of security money. Moreover, tanneries would release mortgage properties providing equivalent collateral.

The clients have to appeal to the bank with related papers and proof of transferring tannery to Savar within 6 months of the circular issued. l

A handful of toss-up US Senate races next week could hold the key to whether the stock market glides through the year-end in a typical post-midterm election rally or gets hit with a fresh bout of volatility.

U.S. investors appear less concerned with whether Republicans take control of the Senate, as expected, or Democrats hang on to their majority by a slim margin. They just want to know - come Wednesday morning - the actual outcome.

“If we have a really uncertain situation, where the Senate is divided and candidates are threatening recounts, that’s really not good,” said Robbert van Batenburg, director of market strategy at Newedge USA LLC in New York.

In two southern matchups Louisiana and Georgia - polls show the races are too tight to call, raising the potential for run-off elections that could delay for weeks knowing who will control Congress’ upper chamber. Louisiana’s run-off election

is scheduled for Dec 6. In the market’s worst-case scenario, the majority party may not be known until after Jan. 6, when Georgia will hold its run-off election if no Senate candidate wins at least 50% of the vote on Nov 4.

Such an outcome, while considered unlikely, nevertheless rekindles uncomfortable memories for some of the 2000 presidential election, when George W. Bush’s victory over Al Gore was not confirmed for more than a month after Election Day. That uncertainty contributed to a spike of almost 11.2% in the CBOE Volatility index .VIX and a 7.6% drop in the S&P 500 .SPX from Election Day through the Electoral College vote in late December that certified the outcome.

“While the reaction wouldn’t be that dramatic this time, any form of risk could really jolt equities, especially since the Federal Reserve is no longer in the market,” van Batenburg said, referring to the US central bank’s decision last week to end its massive bondbuying program, a stimulus measure which has been credited with boosting equities.

Clarity could add legs to rebound

U.S. stocks have roared back in the past two weeks after an early October scare fest. The S&P is up more than 8% since its recent closing low on Oct 15 and the VIX has tumbled some 45%.

A clear outcome on Tuesday, then, could set the market up for additional upside into the end of the year.

Historically, midterm elections correspond with market strength. Barclays noted that since 1928, the S&P 500 has posted a median return of 7% in the 90 days after a midterm, with returns positive 86% of the time.

Upside in mid-term election years has historically favored small-caps.

Since 1990, the Russell 2000 .TOY has risen an average of 4.89% between Election Day and the end of the year, compared with a rise of 3.22% in the S&P over the same period and a rise of 2.28% in the Dow. Those gains are close to the averages for all years, with the Russell 2000 rising 4.6% in the last two months of the year and the S&P up 3.2% in the last two months, according to the Stock Trader’s Almanac. l

n Tribune Report

The equity cult alive and kicking, despite deflation threat n Reuters, London Anyone betting on another “Great Rotation” of investment flows out of bonds and into stocks is in for disappointment: it’s not happening, and isn’t going to.

In a world where deflation, never the most fertile ground for equities, is a bigger concern for policymakers than inflation, that seems a pretty safe call - but the surprise is that this time around both asset classes may be on to a winner.

Bonds tend to do better than stocks when inflation is weak because the value of the fixed income payments investors receive is protected. In periods of deflation the real rate of return is actually enhanced.

But many of the world’s leading investment banks argue that the broader market backdrop - also characterized by low interest rates, low returns and high cash balances - leaves stocks just as wellpositioned to benefit as bonds.

Even as the US Federal Reserve withdraws its stimulus, there is a surplus of savings and central bank liquidity in the global financial system that needs to find an investment home.

“The equity cult and the bond cult can live side by side,” according to Citi.

As a group, US financial institutions are among the biggest investors on the planet, with more than $60tn of assets under management, according to UBS. And they are loading up on stocks.

U.S. mutual funds’ net investment flows in stocks over a five-year rolling period troughed at round $550bn net outflow in late 2012 compared with a peak net inflow of over $1tn at the end of the millennium, Citi analysis shows.

But that flow is now approaching neutral territory and is on track to turn positive

next year.

To be sure, equities aren’t cheap right now, particularly US stocks. The S&P 500 has risen 170% from its post-crisis low in early 2009, and other developed markets have performed similarly well.

By some measures, valuations are getting stretched, especially with sluggish growth unable to prop them up. The third quarter earnings season now under way has shown many large firms on both sides of the Atlantic missing revenue and profit forecasts.

But many investors still consider them more attractive than bonds which currently offer the lowest yields in years, or in some cases ever.

The “equity risk” premium - how much more stocks are expected to return than bonds - is more than 7% in the euro zone and UK, and 10% in Japan. Even the lower US premium of 6%, which suggests Wall Street is starting to look a little expensive, still offers a decent return.

Even those who think these risk premia are too low say there are reasons why it may be different this time, the main one being that the returns offered by bonds and cash are simply too low.

“Investors have no option but to accept higher risk if they wish to meet their future income requirements,” said Keith Wade, strategist at fund management giant Schroders in London.

Wade also reckons that equity markets, much like bonds post-crisis, essentially now have the back of global policymakers, who will do all they can to support the economic recovery and prevent renewed financial market distress and volatility.

This was brought into focus two weeks ago when an explosion of volatility ripped through markets, sending bond yields

tumbling and prompting the biggest fall in stock markets for years.

Officials from the Federal Reserve and Bank of England were quick to allay market fears with soothing messages of interest rates possibly staying lower for longer than previously anticipated. Wall Street and European stocks have rebounded between 5 and 7% from these panic-driven lows.

Citi predicts global stocks will rise a further 21% by the end of next year, while Barclays says European stocks are cheaper than at any point in the last 10 years because investors are pricing in a growth and deflation scenario that is “more pessimistic than warranted”.

The ‘shock absorber’ for the deflationary forces currently being fought to varying degrees around the world will be a stronger dollar, argue Morgan Stanley and HSBC. They say the US economy is the only one of sufficient size and strength to withstand a rising exchange rate, the negative effects of which will be cushioned by lower energy prices.

Morgan Stanley, HSBC and almost every other major US and European investment bank expect the dollar to strengthen next year. Many of them say the greenback is in the early stages of what is a multi-year rally.

If they are right the euro, sterling and Japanese yen all weaken, making their economies more competitive on the global stage and fuelling a recovery in growth and inflation, albeit from extremely subdued levels.

According to Goldman Sachs: “The backdrop remains one of sub-par growth, low inflation and low interest rates,” an environment that’s “unlikely to be very negative” for bonds and at the same time “positive” for stocks. l

Sheltech (pvt) Ltd has organised a ten daylong fair named “Sheltech Investment Fair” as on the beginning of November. The company’s managing director Toufiq M Seraj inaugurated the fair

Eastern Housing Ltd has recently held its 50th annual general meeting in Dhaka where the company declared 15% cash and 5% stock dividends for its stakeholders. The meeting was presided over by the company’s chairperson, Manzurul Islam

Grameenphone has announced to sponsor an event platform for startups, businesses and investors - named Innovation Xtreme (IX), an initiative of StartupDhaka. Innovation Xtreme will take place on November 22nd at Radisson Hotel Dhaka. Sayed Talat Kamal, head of external communications at Grameenphone and Mustafizur Khan, CEO and founder of Startup Dhaka were present at the press briefing

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Monday, November 3, 2014

European growth as elusive as quicksilver n Reuters, London Data from both sides of the Atlantic will give clues in the coming week on just how bad the euro zone economy is and just how sustainable is its US counterpart.

Europe offers a rate meeting from the European Central Bank and a new slate of economic forecasts; the United States will release its influential monthly jobs data.

Purchasing manager indexes for the past month will also show how businesses see things shaping up in the United States and Europe. One for China’s has already come in lower than expected.

For many, the ECB meeting on Thursday will be the main money event – despite the fact that it is not likely to be one of action or suspense.

As usual, the attention will be on ECB President Mario Draghi’s nuances at the news conference that follows the likely non-move on rates. When it comes to the ECB, the news is often all about the journey rather than the destination.

This week’s inflation data let the ECB off the hook on taking any immediate additional action to combat the threat of deflation.

At 0.4% in October, inflation is worryingly slight, but it is higher than it was a month earlier.

ECB policymakers are also in no rush to move on to something new when they have not yet seen how their targeted loans and purchases of assetbacked securities are doing.

Many in financial markets would like to see the ECB move to a full quantitative easing (QE) asset-buying program like the one the US Federal Reserve has just closed. But as these words from ECB Governing Council member Ewald Nowotny suggest, it is not likely.

has proved as elusive as quicksilver.

This is expected to be underlined by the purchasing manager indexes. The euro zone’s manufacturing is sitting just a tad above stagnation. Data has been very lackluster.

“October’s ... business and consumer survey suggests that the euro-zone economy got off to a weak start in Q4, after broadly stagnating in Q3,” Capital Economics said in a note.

Mid-week, the European Commission will give its latest economic forecasts and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development will issue its on the G20 economies ahead of a meeting of the group.

Getting better?

A euro logo sculpture stands in front the headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB) in Frankfurt “I don’t think we should be pushed by the markets to produce a new program at every meeting we have.”

The bank will also be looking at the US Federal Reserve’s ending of QE and

US consumer spending falters; wage gains highest since 2008 n Reuters, Washington US consumer spending fell for the first time in eight months in September, suggesting the economy lost some momentum heading into the fourth quarter.

But rising consumer sentiment and faster wage growth suggest the weakness in spending will be temporary, with the economy remaining on firm ground.

“The fundamentals ... remain very solid,” said Gus Faucher, a senior economist at PNC Financial Services in Pittsburgh. “The conditions are in place for continued above-trend growth.”

The Commerce Department said on Friday that consumer spending, which accounts for more than two-thirds of US economic activity, slipped 0.2% last month after rising 0.5% in August. The decline was the first since January.

The report is indicative of continued improvement in business sentiment While the data led some economists to pare estimates for fourth-quarter gross domestic product, most still look for an annual growth pace of 2.5% to 3% after the third quarter’s brisk 3.5% clip.

“What we are getting is a frustrating mix of conflicting data. This is a reflection of 3% growth,” said Anthony Karydakis, chief economic strategist at Miller Tabak in New York.

Separately, the Thomson Reuters/ University of Michigan’s index of consumer sentiment rose to 86.9 in October from 84.6 last month. Sentiment has been steadily rising in recent months, and now stands at its highest level since July 2007.

Rising wages

Another report from the Labor Department showed wages and salaries rose 0.8% in the third quarter, the largest increase in more than six years.

US Treasury debt prices fell on the

DILBERT

mixed data, while the dollar rallied to its highest level since June 2010 against a basket of currencies, helped by a decision by the Bank of Japan to significantly ramp up its stimulus program.

The BOJ’s action also lifted US stocks to near record highs.

Various business surveys have been hinting at an acceleration in US wage growth, and the third-quarter increase was a welcome sign for the labor market.

“This first sign of rising wage pressure in hard data releases corroborates the Federal Reserve’s more sanguine assessment of the labor market,” said Harm Bandholz, chief US economist at UniCredit Research in New York.

“If sustained, which we expect, it will further strengthen the Fed’s commitment to continue its policy normalization path, and to eventually raise rates.”

Fed policymakers on Wednesday gave a fairly upbeat assessment of the labor market, dropping their characterization of labor market slack as “significant” as they brought their bond-buying stimulus program to a close.

Officials at the central bank are keen to see faster earnings growth as they try to lift inflation to their 2% target.

The spending report showed the Fed’s preferred gauge of core inflation rose just 1.5% in the 12 months through September.

The combination of improving confidence, rising wages and a drop in gasoline prices to near a four-year low is a good omen for the upcoming holiday shopping season, particularly given that households have boosted savings to the highest level since December 2012.

In another upbeat economic sign, factory activity in the Midwest accelerated in October, with strong gains in new orders and employment. The strong order books should allay fears of a slowdown in manufacturing sparked by data earlier this week that showed unexpected weakness in business spending plans.

“The report is indicative of continued improvement in business sentiment,” said Blerina Uruci, an economist at Barclays in New York. l

relatively hawkish tone for some spillover succour. The euro is down more than 1.5% against the dollar since the Fed meeting on Wednesday, and down more than 10% since May.

Western Union beats as more people use Web, mobile money transfer

n Reuters Western Union Co, the world’s largest money-transfer company, reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit as lower prices drew more customers, particularly to its digital money transfer business.

Revenue at the company’s digital business, which includes westernunion.com and mobile money transfer, jumped 21% in the third quarter, accounting for nearly 6 percent of total revenue.

Western Union has cut prices and invested heavily in its online and mobile businesses to better compete with fast-growing rivals such as MoneyGram International Inc, Xoom Corp and privately owned Boom Financial Inc. The move is starting to pay off as the company has been eating into the market share of online rivals such as Xoom, by offering highly competitive foreign exchange rates and lower transaction fees.

The company said on Thursday it plans to increase its spending on digital and mobile business, compliance and cyber security in the fourth quarter.

“Our previous pricing and other strategic actions in Europe and in Russia have helped drive good results,” Chief Executive Hikmet Ersek said on a post-earnings conference call.

Growth in transactions in Europe and Russia, which account for more than a fifth of Western Union’s total revenue, rose 10% during the quarter.

“We believe market has shown fairly stable pricing recently,” Chief Financial Officer Raj Agrawal said, adding that the company expects pricing actions to be modest for the remainder of the year. Western union’s third-quarter transaction volumes rose 5%. Remittances increased about 5% to $22.1bn.

Revenue from the company’s consumer-to-consumer business rose 2% to $1.15bn.

Western Union forecast full-year earnings of $1.50 per share, the top end of its previous projection of $1.45-$1.50 per share. Net income for the quarter ended Sept. 30 rose 9% to $234.1m, or 44 cents per share.

Analysts on average had expected earnings of 38 cents per share on revenue of $1.43bn, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

Compliance costs

Money transfer companies such as Western Union and MoneyGram International Inc have been forced to spend more to meet stricter compliance requirements to prevent money laundering through their payment systems. l

A weaker euro not only boosts euro zone exports, it imports inflation, both of which the ECB wants to see.

The nuance being sought on Thursday, however, will be whether there is

REUTERS

any momentum towards full QE and how German opposition could be overcome.

The ECB has been throwing money in various ways at the euro zone economy for a long time but dynamic growth

Outside the euro zone, the Bank of England also looks to keep interest rates on hold at record low levels on Thursday.

Three of its most senior officials have expressed staunch opposition to hiking rates over the last two weeks.

Until a few weeks ago, a small but significant minority of economists expected the BoE would raise interest rates from 0.5% in November. Now they are unanimous in expecting no change this month, according to a Reuters poll.

This is partly because the British recovery, while strong compared with elsewhere, is still tentative and is unlikely to be sustainable if Britain’s main trading partners decline.

The United States is one of those partners, but it seems to be relatively robust. US employers are expected to have expanded their payrolls by a healthy 233,000 in October, according to a Reuters poll.

That figure, if confirmed on Friday, would validate the Federal Reserve’s conclusion that the job market continues to make strides toward full health. l

The takeaway from six years of economic troubles?

Keynes was right n Anatole Kaletsky Now that the Federal Reserve has brought its program of quantitative easing to a successful conclusion, while the French and German governments have ended their shadow-boxing over European budget “rules,” macroeconomic policy all over the world is entering a period of unusual stability and predictability. Rightly or wrongly, the main advanced economies have reached a settled view on their economic policy choices and are very unlikely to change these in the year or two ahead, whether they succeed or fail. It therefore seems appropriate to consider what we can learn from all the policy experiments conducted around the world since the 2008 crisis.

The main lesson is that government decisions on taxes and public spending have turned out to be more important as drivers of economic activity than the monetary experiments with zero interest rates and quantitative easing that have dominated media and market attention. Fiscal decisions on budget deficits, taxes and public spending have mostly been debated as if they were largely political choices, with much less influence than monetary policy on macroeconomic outcomes such as inflation, growth and employment. Yet the reality has turned out to be the opposite. While every major economy in the world has followed essentially the same monetary policy since 2008, their fiscal policies have been very different and the divergence in outcomes, especially when we compare the United States and Europe, has been exactly the opposite to what was implied by the rhetoric of most politicians and central banks.

Countries that took emergency measures to reduce public borrowing have mostly suffered weaker growth, as in the case of Britain from 2010 to 2012, Japan this year and the United States after the 2013 “sequester” and fiscal cliff deal. In more extreme cases, such as Italy and Spain, fiscal tightening has plunged them back into deep recession and aggravated financial crises. Meanwhile countries that ignored their deficit problems, as in the United States for most of the post-crisis period, or where governments decided to downplay their fiscal tightening plans, as in Britain this year or Japan in 2013, have generally done better, both in terms of economics and finance. The one major exception has been Germany, where budgetary consolidation has managed to coexist with decent growth, largely because of a boom in machinery exports to Russia and China that is now over, pushing Germany back into the recession its stringent fiscal policy suggested all along.

Thus the six years since 2008 have provided strong empirical support for the

supposedly outmoded Keynesian view that government borrowing is more powerful than monetary policy in stimulating severely depressed economies and pulling them out of recession. In a sense, it is odd that the power of fiscal policy has come as a surprise - or that it continues to be categorically denied by the German government and the US Tea Party. The underlying reason why fiscal policy is so important in recessions, and has now come to dominate over monetary policy, is a matter of simple arithmetic that should not be open to debate.

Recessions generally occur when private business and households decide to spend less than their incomes in order to reduce their debts or increase their savings. If this process of “deleveraging” is happening in the private sector, which it clearly has been, then simple arithmetic shows that economic balance can only be restored if some other sector of the economy spends more than its income - and such excess spending is only possible if that “other sector” is willing to increase its debts. Disregarding the role of exports and imports, which must sum to zero for the world as a whole, the government is the only possible candidate to play the crucial balancing role as the “other sector.” It is therefore a mathematical certainty that governments must increase their borrowing whenever businesses and households decide to boost their savings by spending less than they earn.

Despite this indisputable arithmetic, there has been surprisingly little interest in the macroeconomic impact of budgetary policies in contrast to the endless debates about every twist and turn of monetary policy. The explanation lies in the monetarist theories that came to dominate standard economic models of the pre-crisis period - and the related institutional changes that elevated central bankers above finance ministers as the supreme arbiters of economic policy. Monetarism overturned the Keynesian fiscal consensus that prevailed from the 1930s to the 1970s, by introducing one simple assumption into the models that guided governments and central banks. The case for Keynesian fiscal stimulus in deep recessions was simply assumed away by asserting that interest rates could always be reduced sufficiently to stimulate private investment, discourage private savings and so restore growth. As a result, the private sector as a whole would never suffer for long from a shortfall in spending.

Therefore government borrowing would never be needed to balance inadequate private demand.

As a result of these assumptions, interest rate decisions by central banks came to be seen as the only effective tool of

macroeconomic management, while fiscal policy was relegated to a microeconomic supporting role. Tax structures and public spending levels were seen as supply-side issues influencing incentives and resource allocation, but the demand impact of government borrowing was largely ignored.

Whether government borrowing expanded or contracted, interest rates would rise or fall to offset the Keynesian demand effects. Independent central bankers would manage macroeconomic demand with monetary policy, leaving governments to set taxes and spending plans to achieve political or supply-side objectives.

In the era of high inflation when monetarism was introduced, the idea that interest rates could always be cut by enough to revive private economic activity was reasonable enough. After all, when inflation is running at 5%, an interest rate of 1% is equivalent to minus 4 percent in real terms, imposing a massive tax on savers and offering a big subsidy to private investors. But this argument fails completely when inflation falls to negligible levels or disappears completely, as in the euro-zone and Japan. Ironically, therefore, the very success of monetarism and central banking in conquering inflation now means that the era of monetary dominance is over. Keynesian fiscal thinking has triumphed and finance ministers are again more important than central bankers, even though most of them have not yet noticed. Once interest rates fell to zero, traditional monetary management lost its ability to provide further stimulus. And now that central banks are providing “forward guidance” which commits them to very low interest rates for years ahead, monetary policy has also lost its ability to offset fiscal easing and restrain demand.

As monetary policy has lost traction, fiscal policy has automatically gained power.

With interest rates at or near zero, private demand cannot be simulated with further rate cuts and this means that monetary easing can no longer offset fiscal tightening.

As a result, any reduction in budget deficits becomes unambiguously deflationary, which is why the French and Italian governments were right to resist enforcement of the German-inspired fiscal compact in the euro-zone. Conversely, fiscal expansion now provides an unqualified economic stimulus because there is no risk of interest rates rising significantly in the next year or two - and perhaps not until the end of the decade. In short, the world has returned to a period of fiscal dominance, as in the 1950s and 1960s. l Anatole Kaletsky is an award-winning journalist and financial economist. The article was initially published at Reuters.