06 Nov, 2014

Kartik 22, 1421 Muharram 12, 1436 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 212

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

20 pages plus 16-page T-Mag tabloid | Price: Tk12

TMAG

7 | JURIS

13 | SPORT

B1 | BUSINESS

HOMEWORK: A HEARTBREAK REMEDY

CALLING A SPADE, A SPADE

ICC CLEARS AL AMIN’S BOWLING ACTION

DHAKA LIKELY TO LOSE EU TRADE PREFERENCES ...

Crash victim victimised further in vendetta A young woman has been in jail indefinitely in connection with a ‘plain and simple’ road accident Islam Shaon and n Ashif Faisal Mahmud Local police believe she is not guilty, but she has been sitting in jail for nearly three and a half months following a tragic car accident that killed a young man. She has been denied bail in a bailable case, taken into remand three times, and her family are now also on the run as they have been made accused in the “murder” case against her.

It all started in the early hours of June 11, when Jannati Hossain, 23, was driving her 27-year-old friend Mostamsir Ashraf’s car from Uttara to Dhanmondi.

Right after descending from the Mohakhali flyover, the car, which reportedly suffered a brake failure, ran into the back of a police van parked on the roadside opposite the Shaheen School and College.

The left side of the car was smashed and Mostamsir, who was sitting in the passenger seat beside Jannati, got badly injured and later died in hospital.

Jannati and three law enforcers, who

were inside the van, were also injured in the accident.

Later that day, a police sub-inspector who witnessed the incident filed an accident case against Jannati for reckless driving and hitting the police van.

There is nothing in the case statement, a copy of which the Dhaka Tribune has accessed, that suggests it was anything other than a plain and simple accident.

Since Jannati had a legal driving licence, she was eligible under existing laws for getting bail in the accident case. If proven guilty, the maximum punishment she could have got was three months’ jail.

However, she never got bail and has already been in jail for nearly three and a half months.

Eleven days after the incident, Mostamsir’s uncle filed a murder case  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Despite hartal enforced by Jamaat-e-Islami, traffic in the capital was like any other day as the picture taken in Paltan area yesterday afternoon shows MEHEDI HASAN

Probe body finds several Execution hangs in the balance reasons for blackout n Ashif Islam Shaon and Ahmed Zayeef

n Aminur Rahman Rasel Tripping of the Bheramara sub-station, inefficiency of national power grid maintenance staff and widespread mismanagement have all contributed to the nationwide blackout on November 1, a government probe committee has found.

The committee, comprising one former and seven current high-ranked officials of the Power Ministry, are supposed to place their findings today in the form of what they are saying is a “primary progress report.”

However, seeking anonymity, a member of the committee told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that there

INSIDE 3 | News

Local militants have been receiving special training from Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Taiba to target crowded public places as well as attacking secured facilities like police stations, detectives have learned.

5 | News

The development of Dhaka has been put on the back burner because of bureaucrats being deputed as departmental heads at the bifurcated Dhaka city corporations, officials from both the DNCC and DSCC have claimed.

12 | Entertainment

Tisha and Shakib Khan will be appearing together on the big screen for the first time as the sizzling acting talents signed the deal for the film ‘Mental.’

 







Bheramara HVDC tripped on November 1 National grid got unbalance when Bheramara tripped NLDC failed to recover from an unbalanced grid Still to confirm whether Ashuganj, Haripur failed because of Bheramara Nothing was wrong with Ashuganj and Haripur plants

was some confusion about how and to what extent they were going to reveal their findings.

Even committee chief Ahmed Kaikaus, an additional secretary of the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Prison authorities are all set to implement the death sentence to war criminal Kamaruzzaman as the law minister yesterday directed the inspector general of prisons to make necessary preparation in this regard.

But as the Dhaka Central Jail office did not get a copy of the Supreme Court verdict, they could not tell, as of early last night, when the capital punishment awarded by the apex court on Monday may be implemented.

“We will have to complete the required procedures after getting copy of the Supreme Court verdict,” Forman Ali, senior superintendent of the Dhaka Central Jail, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday evening.

Around the same time, Law Minister Anisul Huq briefed reporters at his residence on the same matter. The minister said he had directed the IG prisons to make preparation to implement the death sentence of the notorious war criminal.

“I do not know when we will get the copy of the supreme Court verdict,” he said.

Under the country’s law, the highest punishment for an offender is death.

Anisul said: “The government will not compromise in the case of war criminals even if any country or organisation asks it not to do so.”

The same old debate took place between the state counsels and the defence counsels even yesterday about the scope of reviewing the Supreme Court verdict.

Prison authorities transferred Kamaruzzaman, a top Jamaat-e-Islami leader, from Kashimpur jail to the Dhaka Central Jail on Tuesday, and yesterday morning 10 members of his extended families including wife, sons, daughter and brother visited him in jail.

Following these developments, a rumour spread quickly around the country that Kamaruzzaman was going to be executed by last night. Many people across the country contacted the Dhaka Tribune office to confirm the time of execution.

Authorities concerned could not proceed futher regarding the execution until the Supreme Court releases either copy of the full judgement or the short order which will be sent to to the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

First day of 48-hour strike elicits little response n Tribune Report The first day of a 48-hour nationwide general strike enforced by Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh, called to protest death sentences handed down to two of its leaders for war crimes, passed off with barely any response across the country.

The fresh shut down that began at 6am yesterday will end at 6am on Friday.

In the capital, activists of Jamaat and its student wing, Islami Chhatra Shibir, brought out processions at the Madartek, Jurain and Bakshibazar areas of the capital yesterday morning in support of the hartal.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Execution hangs in the balance  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

International Crimes Tribunal 2 which gave the first verdict.

The tribunal will issue a death warrant for Kamaruzzaman and send the copy of the verdict and the warrant to the central jail.

It is not possible for anyone to predict or say when the four-member bench of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court will release either the short order or the full judgement.

“Kamaruzzaman has to confess his guilt and seek presidential mercy within seven days after hearing his death verdict. Otherwise, the sentence will be executed any time after the seven-day period,” Anisul said.

Replying to a question, he said: “The Appellate Division has upheld the tribunal verdict and I have asked the prison authorities to make preparations considering the review petition has been dismissed.

“The issue of full verdict has not been written anywhere [in law]. So, it [execution] could be done on receiving the short order,” the minister added.

Asked if Kamaruzzaman was informed of the verdict, he said: “So far as I have heard, he has been informed that the Supreme Court upheld his death sentence. But I am not sure if he was informed formally. I did not ask the IG prisons about that.”

Meanwhile, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam at a press conference held in his office yesterday afternoon said jail authorities did not need the copy of the full verdict to execute Kamaruzzaman.

“The tribunal has given its verdict and the Appellative Division upheld it. According to my opinion, they only need the part which contains the death penalty order.”

Talking about the previous Appellate Division verdicts, he said: “What was done in the previous case is not a big factor, one has to see what is written in the law. The copy of the full verdict is not required even to seek clemency.

“He [Kamaruzzaman] has to accept all his crimes and then seek clemency.”

He reiterated that there was no scope of filling a review petition against the judgement.

However, defence counsel Khandakar Mahbub Hossain claimed that Kamaruzzaman could not be executed before getting the full copy of the apex court verdict.

Addressing a press conference at the Supreme Court, he said: “The jail authorities must have the copy of the full verdict of the Appellate Division to execute Kamaruzzaman. Otherwise, the execution will be illegal.”

Also an adviser to the BNP chief, Mahbub said: “We have submitted a review application in order to get justice. We will file the review petition after getting the full copy of the verdict.”

Asked about preparation of hanging Kamaruzzaman, IG Prisons Brig Gen Syed Iftekhar Uddin said: “We always have preparations. We are prepared.”

Asked if they had informed Kamaruzzaman about the death sentence, he

News

said: “We are yet to receive any official order of the government. So, we cannot inform him about it.”

However, a Dhaka jail official said they were prepared to hang any death row convict within two hours of getting the notification. They will just intensify security inside and outside the prison when the war criminal would be hanged.

Yesterday morning, family members of the war criminal turned up at the jail gate to meet him. They were given 30 minutes to spend with Kamaruzzaman from 10:38am.

His wife Nurunnahar; four sons Hassan Iqbal, Ahmed Hassan, Hassan Imam and Ikram Hassan; daughter Afiya Nur; brothers Najibur Zaman and Abdullah Al Mahdi; sister Mohsina Begum and nephew Abdul Alim met the death row convict.

While leaving the place, Hassan Imam told reporters that his father was normal. “He is not worried about the verdict...I have not seen such a strong person like him.”

He said the jail authorities did not ask them to see his father. It was a regular meeting.

Asked if the convict would seek presidential mercy, Hassan said: “Father will think about it after filing a review petition. It is his personal decision.”

Meanwhile, the IG prisons said lawyers of Kamaruzzaman lodged an application seeking permission to consult him today. “Five lawyers will meet him in prison tomorrow [today] any time,” Iftekhar said. l

Probe body finds several reasons for blackout  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were going to seek more time for further investigation.

Asked why they had missed today’s report submission deadline, he said: “We visited several power plants today [yesterday]. That is why we have failed to meet the deadline.”

State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid told reporters at his secretariat office yesterday that they were still trying to find out whether there was any human error on the part of the national load management authority that had resulted in the countrywide blackout.

On November 1, two collapses in the national electricity grid caused hours of power outage in the country. The first collapse occurred around 11:28am and the authorities took until the next morning to fully restore power supply across the country.

From November 3-5, the committee visited, collected data and talked to

the officials of the National Load Desptach Centre (NLDC) in the capital’s Aftabnagar, the Bheramara High Voltage DC Sub-station (HVDC) in Kushtia and several key power stations in Brahmanbaria’s Ashuganj and Narayanganj’s Haripur.

Findings

Ahmed Kaikaus told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that after visiting the Bheramara High Voltage DC Sub-station (HVDC), they were now sure it had tripped on that day.

On the day of the countrywide blackout, a high official of the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), the authority that owns and runs the national electricity grid, said the key power stations in Ashuganj tripped as a consequence of the Bheramara tripping.

However, probe committee chief Kaikaus said they had visited Ashuganj but had not found anything to confirm

that Ashuganj failed because of Bheramara.

“We will submit just a primary report tomorrow. I cannot give you much hope that there would be anything substantial in that report. Before reaching any conclusion, we need to conduct extensive investigation. We need to analyse all the available data for preparing a comprehensive report,” committee member Md Kizir Khan, also a former Power Development Board (PDB) chairman, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“We have visited several key power plants in Ashuganj and Haripur and have reached a conclusion that there was nothing wrong with them,” committee member Md Shahinul Islam Khan, also a member of PDB who looks after power generation, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Asked whether they had been able to pinpoint the problematic plant, Shahidul said they need to analyse more data to be able to do that.

Power and influence turn Jannati’s day into night  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

against Jannati, her husband, and her brothers with a Dhaka court, reportedly after having failed to convince local police to accept a murder case.

The court later ordered investigators to merge the two cases against her, and since then Jannati has been denied bail and taken on remand several times.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of police, who are investigating the merged cases, however are still to find any evidence that could prove Jannati guilty of murder although they have taken her on remand for a total of 15 days so far, the last of which ended October 23.

Mostamsir’s father Khan Mohammad Abdul Mannan is a former judge of a district court and is now serving the government as the Inspector General of Registration (IGR). Reportedly, he did not like the friendship between his son and Jannati.

The Dhaka Tribune has learned that on the day of the accident, Mostamsir’s family and several of their influential well wishers tried to put pressure on Tejgaon police to file a murder case instead of an accident case.

They even allegedly blamed the police for being involved with the socalled murder, but because police had a witness among them who testified that it was an accident, they refused to accept a murder case.

The list of witnesses in the murder case includes several high-ranking government officials such as the director general and a public prosecutor of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the director general of the Islamic Foundation, a deputy secretary of the Law Ministry, and an additional district judge of Narsingdi.

The Dhaka Tribune has talked to two of these witnesses and both have said they did not know that a murder case had been filed.

Shamim Mohammad Afzal, DG of Islamic Foundation, said he did not know Jannati or her family.

“After the accident, along with others, I went to see Mostamsir because he was our colleague’s son. I do not know what had happened before or after the accident. I just saw the victim’s dead body; that is it,” he said.

Claiming that he did not know that a murder case had been filed, the government official said: “They made me a witness in the case. If the investigation officer calls me, I will talk to him.”

Another witness Md Kamrul Hossain Mollah, DG of ACC, said Mostamsir’s father was his friend.

“I went to the police station after I had learned that my friend’s son had died in a road accident. No one told me that a murder case had been filed or I was made a witness. I do not know the girl personally but I saw her at the police station.”

Mostamsir-Jannati’s friendship

Jannati’s husband Reyman Siddique told the Dhaka Tribune that his wife was a young entrepreneur. She and Mostamsir were partners in a coffee shop and restaurant named Eco Sparks Restaurant in Uttara, which was informally opened in July.

Jannati and Mostamsir invested Tk15 lakh each for the restaurant, he said.

But Mostamsir’s father Khan Mohammad Abdul Mannan wanted his only son to go abroad instead of getting involved in business with Jannati. He even called up Jannati and requested her to sever ties with his son, Reyman said.

Mostamsir, however, was determined to start the food business. He got the money to invest from his mother, according to Reyman.

“Then my wife and I started planning for opening a fashion house in Dhanmondi. The accident happened day before the shop was scheduled to open. Mostamsir wanted to invest in that business too. We were discussing the terms of investment at that time,” Reyman said.

“On the night of June 10, Jannati, her brother Junayed, Mostamsir, and I were hanging out at the Eco Sparks Restaurant in Uttara sector 12. Around 10pm, we left the place. Jannati was supposed go to a relative’s house in Dhanmondi because of the fashion house’s opening the next day. Mostamsir was also going to Dhanmondi to meet a relative, and so he offered her a lift. I went home by myself. Jannati drove Mostamsir’s car that night because his driver was on

leave. On the way, they dropped Junayed at Khilkhet,” Reyman said.

“After Mostamsir died, his father, and some high profile friends visited the police station. They exerted pressure on police to take a murder case.

But they did not take the case as a policeman had witnessed the accident and Jannati had a valid driving license.

“I think, as Mostamsir’s father was unhappy with his son’s business links with Jannati, he filed the murder case to teach her a good lesson,” Reyman said.

Jannati’s mother Sakeela Hossain alleged that the plaintiff and his relatives had threatened them several times saying they would “ensure” conviction for Jannati in the murder case.

The accident case statement

The first case was filed by Tejgaon police’s Sub-Inspector Sarder Nizamul Haque on June 11. It stated that a police van was stationed along the pavement at Shaheenbagh. Around 1am, a black sedan car coming down from the Mohakhali flyover to Jahangir Gate hit the police van from behind.

“After getting hit, the police van ran on to the pavement. It’s right and back sides and private car’s left and front sides got smashed. A police constable and two Ansar men, who were inside the van, sustained injuries,” the case statement said.

“We found that in the smashed car, a woman was on the driving seat. On her left, a young man was lying injured and unconscious. The woman gained sense and shouted for help. With the help of other members of our team, we pulled the man out of the smashed left door,” it said.

“As we took them to the nearby Ayesha Memorial Hospital, doctors declared the man dead,” the statement read.

The girl identified herself as Jannati Hossain, a resident of the capital’s Khilkhet area and the young man as Mostamsir Ashraf, a resident of Uttara.

Police made an inquest report of the dead body and took the sedan car and the police van to the Tejgaon Police Station compound and Jannati was shown arrested. Later she was given treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

Thursday, November 6, 2014

First day of 48-hour strike elicits little response  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Several crude bombs were detonated at Bakshibazar in the city yesterday morning. No one was reported injured.

Pro-hartal activists set fire to a passenger bus in front of Tejgaon Girls College around 8:27pm. Two units of fire fighters rushed to the spot and doused the fire. No injury was reported.

Hartal supporters blasted two crude bombs around 8:50pm just outside the office of the English-language national daily, the Dhaka Tribune. GG Biswash, officer-in-charge (OC) of Sher-e-Bangla Nagar police station, told the Dhaka Tribune that before police arrived at the scene of the attack, the picketers had fled. There were no reports of any injuries.

Activists blasted crude bombs at the Khilgaon railway station around 8pm.

Police rushed to the scene of the explosions where they were pelted with bricks by hartal enforcers.

Police responded by firing rubber bullets at the brick-throwing picketers, injuring two passers-by. The injured, Sanaullah Haque, 22, and Jafor, 40, are being treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Mozammel Haque, inspector of the DMCH police outpost, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Long-route buses stayed put during the shut down, not leaving Gabtoli, Mohakhali, and Syedabad bus terminals.

The authorities deployed Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) troops to different parts of the country. Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and police forces were seen since early morning at key points in Dhaka.

Saidur Rahman, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) additional deputy commissioner (ADC), told the Dhaka Tribune that no major incident occurred in the capital and no one had been arrested in the capital as of 6pm yesterday.

Our Gazipur correspondent reports that pro-hartal activists set fire to a private car and a covered van on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Highway in front of the Gazipur City Corporation in the Vogra area. The incident took place around 1pm, says Mobarak Hossain, Sub-Inspector (SI) of Vogra police station. Picketers set fire to the car using petrol, he said. Gazipur fire station firemen responded to the emergency, but the act of vandalism halted traffic on the highway for half an hour, he added.

In Chittagong, the Jamaat-enforced hartal passed off in the district peacefully, our correspondent reports.

Transports and CNG-run auto rickshaws plied city roads during hartal hours like any other day. Mizbah Uddin, deputy commissioner of Chittagong district, told the Dhaka Tribune that no major untoward incidents happened in the district and law enforcement officials had been deployed at all key points.

Our Meherpur correspondent reports that police arrested 26 Jamaat-Shibir activists during the last three days. Azbahar Sheikh, additional police superintendent, said the arrestees would be produced before the court as they are accused in several cases of attacks on the police, unlawful cutting down of trees to make barricades, the

obstruction of officials carrying out their duties, and subversive activities.

In Munshiganj, no Jamaat-Shibir activists were seen working in support of the hartal on the day, our correspondent reports. Biplob Bijoy Talukder, Police superintendent of the district, said all vehicular movement was normal and law enforcers were alert to fend off any kind of situation.

Our Gaibandha correspondent reports that some picketers, in support of the hartal, brought out a procession in Gaibandha’s Polashbari area and threw crude bombs towards police around 9am. Police fired 20 rounds of shot gun shots to bring the situation under control.

Mojibur Rahman, OC of Polashbari police station, told the Dhaka Tribune that police returned fire when picketers hurled crude bombs at them. Police arrested three Jamaat-Shibir men from the spot, he added.

Our Chandpur correspondent reports that 11 Jamaat-Shibir men from the district were arrested in a special drive. Amir Jafor, police superintendent of the district, said police are on alert during the hartal.

In Bogra, a group of Shibir activists brought out a procession in support of the hartal and blocked a road at Khandar in the district town around 7am, UNB reports. Earlier, two crude bombs were exploded at Akubia High School intersection during a procession on Tuesday evening. Police said they arrested 11 leaders and activists of Jamaat and Shibir from different upazilas of the district on Tuesday night. l

“The national grid got unbalanced after the HVDC [Bheramara] sub-station tripped. The officials of the NLDC [National Load Despatch Centre] could not recover from that. We have understood this much,” Mohammad Hossain, director general of the government’s Power Cell and member secretary of the investigation committee, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Sources said the committee did not get operational data of all the power stations in the country because the system at NLDC was not fully digitised.

Several members of the committee have also said that widespread mismanagement in PGCB was one big reason behind the disaster.

Most PGCB officials and employees have given conflicting statements to the probe committee. Even the PGCB managing director, who is himself a part of the ministry’s probe body, allegedly said one thing in the morning and a complete opposite thing at night.

The PGCB also formed a five-member committee of its own to look into the blackout. But that committee has not yet conducted much investigation.

Tapon Kumar Roy, executive director and chief of the PGCB committee, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that they were waiting for the ministry probe body to file its report. He informed that they were going to visit Bheramara tomorrow.

State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid yesterday said: “In the past, we have seen probe reports vanished. But this time it will not happen. International consultants will be appointed to find out ways to upgrade the national grid.”

Asked why the ministry committee comprised only government officials and no independent experts, Monowar Islam, secretary of the Power Division, said a few days ago that they did not want to waste time.

During a press conference on No-

vember 2, he said the disaster was a result of a technical glitch in the western power grid rather than any problem in power transmission from India.

When contacted, Prof Aminul Hoque, who teaches electrical and electronic engineering at Buet, said yesterday: “You do not need three days to find out what went wrong on that day.

Just three hours are enough...They did not recruit any independent expert because they wanted to cover up their faults.”

He alleged that the government had been trying to complicate the issue by talking about appointing international consultants. “Buet is fully capable of handling such situations. We have proved that in 2007. The issue of international consultants is just a window dressing. It will only delay things,” he said.

He also said if this went on, the national grid would be heading towards an uncertain and risky future. l

“The arrestee drove the car recklessly which led to the accident. The victim died because of the pressure that the smashed door put on his body. As one died, police members sustained injuries in the incident and our vehicle got damaged, I am filing an accident case under section 279/304-kha/427 of the penal code,” Sub-Inspector Sarder Nizamul Haque wrote in the case statement.

wanted to go home, but they took him and his car to an unknown place.”

It further alleged that Jannati killed Mostamsir to misappropriate his businesses with the help of Reyman, her father DM Delwar Hossain and brothers Jubayer and Junayed. Later, with further help from Tejgaon police, they made up the accident story, the statement alleged.

The statement also termed Delwar and Jubayer as part of a gang of miscreants.

Sources at Tejgaon police station said before filing the murder case, the plaintiff came and threatened to make police accused in the case. When Tejgaon police said they would also file a counter case, the plaintiff decided to drop police from the case.

When contacted, Mostamsir’s father Mannan Khan told the Dhaka Tribune: “I found it unacceptable and dubious that my son died in the passenger seat, but Jannati, who was driving the car, did not have any sign of injury. I believe this requires further investigation.”

When told about the allegations raised by Jannati’s mother, Mannan Khan said: “She is out of her mind.

These are all lies.”

“I believe my son was killed and I want justice,” he said.

Jannati was being taken into remand for further questioning,” he said.

Autopsy findings

The post mortem report prepared by the Dhaka Medical College forensic department says, the cause of Mostamsir’s death was shock resulting from haemorrhage in vital organs such as the lungs, liver and spleen because of blunt force, compression and rupture, which happened before he died and were accidental (road traffic accident).

The murder case statement

Mostamsir’s paternal uncle Hannan Khan filed the murder case with a Dhaka court under Section 302 of the Penal Code, 11 days after the accident case had been filed.

According to the case statement, the members of Mostamsir’s family were at their village home in Dohar near Dhaka on the night of the incident. Around 2:30am, Mostamsir’s chauffeur Aziz informed them about the incident over phone. They rushed to the Tejgaon police station and were later joined by Law Ministry Secretary Abu Saleh Mohammad Jahirul Haque, ACC DG Kamrul Hossain Mollah, Islamic Foundation DG Shamim Mohammad Afzal and Additional District Judge of Narshingdi Mahbubur Rahman.

“Police showed us the van and we found that the two front wheels were punctured, the battery was not in place, the front door had no lock and there was dust on the front seat. It proves that the police car fell in accident at least two to three months back and had been there at the police station compound since then,” the statement said.

It also claimed that although the left door of Mostamsir’s car was smashed, his body did not have any severe injury mark, neither did Jannati’s body.

“We have learned that the victim was with Jannati and Jubayeer [her brother] until 11:30pm. Mostamsir

Jannati’s lawyer

Jannati’s lawyer Mizan Mollah said she was being wrongly targeted because Mostamsir was the son of a very powerful man.

“I have been working as a lawyer for 30 years and I can say that this is plain and simple case of an accident ...

Reckless driving is a bailable offence and Jannati is being denied her right for the past four months ... Police is a first-hand witness of the accident and they said in their report that it was an accident. The BRTA report also stated that the car suffered mechanical failure,” he said.

He also said filing of the murder case was not legally right because a second case could not be filed against an accused person before the hearing in the existing case was settled.

“Whenever we tried to have hearing in the accident case, we were told that investigation was still going on and

<b> CID’s version <b>

“She will have to admit before court that she had intentions to kill her friend. Otherwise, it will be hard to prove a murder,” Uttam Kumar Biswas, investigation officer of the murder and an inspector of CID, told the Dhaka Tribune.

He said CID had been trying to find out two things – why she drove the car and why Mostamsir was with her that late in the night.

Asked why Mostamsir’s uncle did not accuse Tejgaon police officials, he said, “Mostamsir’s family members just suspected police’s involvement. But they were not sure. We still have not found anything against the local police.”

“If Jannati was really innocent, her mother could have come to us and showed the evidence. But she did not,” Uttam said.

However, Jannati’s mother Shakeela Hossain said: “I went to the CID office with my brother-in-law two days after Jannati had been arrested. But the investigation officer kept us waiting until evening saying he was busy entertaining calls from some high officials of the Home Ministry.”

Latest developments

On October 30, yet another bail plea for Jannati was turned down by the district sessions judge’s court of Dhaka.

Her lawyer Mizan Mollah said the refusal of bail was an indication that some influential parties had been trying to control the case.

“It was a clear bailable case. The court did not give any explanation for denying the bail. It is unacceptable.”

Jannati’s mother said they would go to the High Court now. “For that purpose, we are trying to collect all the necessary papers from the sessions judge’s court. But it has not been easy for us. Even the registrar’s office does not want to give us the case papers. We are being choked from all sides.

“If that is not enough to indicate that someone has been controlling things and creating all the obstacles for us, then what is?” Jannati’s mother inquired in exasperation. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, November 6, 2014

3

Tribunal indicts 3 for crimes in 1971 Siraj Kosai, Akram and Latif are facing seven charges n Tribune Report The International Crimes Tribunal 1 has framed charges against three razakar leaders for committing crimes against humanity in Bagerhat during the 1971 Liberation War. The three-member panel headed by Chairman Justice M Enayetur Rahim indicted Sheikh Sirajul Haque alias Siraj Master, 72, Khan Akram Hossain, 61, and Abdul Latif Talukder, 68, reports BSS. They are facing seven charges of crimes against humanity including genocide, murder, abduction, confinement and torture.

December 2 has been set for placing opening statement of the prosecution side.

Among the charges, four have been brought against Sirajul alone for the killing of more than 600 people, two against all of them for the killing of 47 people and one against Akram and Latif for killing a person.

As the place of occurrences and incidents are same, the trio has been held responsible in the same case.

The tribunal framed the charges rejecting two separate discharge petitions submitted by Abul Hasan, counsel for Siraj Master, and barrister M Sarwar Hossain, counsel for Akram and Latif.

The tribunal also asked the defence counsels to submit lists of witnesses and other documents before the tribunal by that day.

“Two separate applications seeking discharge were filed. We are inclined to reject the petitions and hereby framing charges as follows,” Justice Rahim said.

Prosecutor Syed Sayedul Haque Sumon submitted eight charges against Sirajul, Akram and Abdul Latif. The tribunal, however, dropped one.

The tribunal read out the charges

and after the indictment order asked the defence to ask the accused whether they wanted to plead guilty. The trio pleaded themselves not guilty.

According to the prosecution, the trio took training under the Pakistani occupation forces in Khulna Ansar Camp and set up razakar camps in different areas of Bagerhat. Subsequently they carried out killings, genocide, rape, loot, arson and forced conversion from those camps.

Siraj Master was allegedly involved in the killing of 600-700 Hindus in Rampal of Bagerhat while fleeing to India to take refuge “They acted as commanders and deputy commanders of the infamous razakar force in then Bagerhat Mohokuma.

Of these three, Siraj was particularly so vicious that he used to slit the throat of at least a person captured by his followers, before taking his daily breakfast,” Sayedul said.

Siraj was also known in the area as “Siraj Kosai.”

According to the indictment order, Siraj Master was a teacher of Khulna Multilateral High School until 1971. He was an activist of National Students’ Federation during his student life and thereafter he joined the Muslim League.

In 2001, he joined the BNP and was active in the party until 2006.

During the war, he joined the razakar force, an auxiliary unit of the Pakistani Army and became the deputy commander of then Bagerhat sub-division.

Accused Akram served as a mechan-

ic at the agriculture department and retired from the service in the year 2011.

Latif was elected a member of Raripara union Kochua police station in 1985. He was a local leader of Jatiya Party. In 1990, he joined the Awami League and since then he has been working as a worker.

Akram and Latif were arrested on June 10 and June 20, while Sirajul on July 21.

Charges

According to the indictment order, Siraj on May 13, 1971 was involved in the killing of 40-50 Hindus in Ranjitpur village under Bagerhat sadar. Their houses were also looted.

On May 21, when several thousand Hindu men gathered at Kalimandir in Dakra of Rampal to take refuge in India, an armed group killed around 600-700 Hindus. Siraj was involved in the killings.

Collaborators on June 18 captured 19 pro-Liberation people of Besargati and Kandapara under Bagerhat sadar, tortured and killed them. Siraj is found to have been involved in the killings.

The notorious collaborator allegedly took part in the looting of 50 houses of Chulkathi village. A total of seven pro-Liberation people were murdered and 50 houses looted and torched.

On November 5, the three accused attacked civilians at Shakharikathi Haat under Kochua. A total of 42 pro-liberation people were killed and many houses were looted in that incident.

Five persons of different villages of Kochua were abducted, confined, tortured and subsequently killed by the three war crimes accused on November 22, the charge sheet says.

Akram and Latif detained freedom fighter Fazlur Rahman of Teligati village and killed him on December 13. l

Family members of war crimes convict and Jamaat-e-Islami Assistant Secretary General Mohammad Kamaruzzaman went to meet him at Dhaka central jail yesterday NASHIRUL ISLAM

Tribunal finds evidence of war crimes involvement against two more n Tribune Report The International Crimes Tribunal 1 found primary evidence of involvement of two war crimes suspects in crimes against humanity committed at different parts of Netrokona district during the Liberation War in 1971.

The war crime suspects are Obaidul Haque alias Taher and Ataur Rahman alias Noni. The investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal 1 yesterday said this at a press conference at its Dhanmondi office.

Senior investigator Abdul Hannan Khan said: “The probe started on June 6 last year and we have recorded testimony of 32 persons. We have primarily found proof of their involvement in crimes against humanity in 1971.”

According to the agency, the war crimes suspects Taher and Noni were involved in abduction and killing of at least 15 persons and looting and setting fire to more than 400-450 houses in Netrokona.

Investigation Officer Shahjahan Kabir will submit his probe report to the prosecution office. After scrutiny, the prosecution will submit it to the tribunal for taking the charges into cognisance and charge framing.

Abdul Hannan said, razakars led by Obaidul and Ataur abducted one Fazlur Rahman Talukder from Baushi Bazar under Barhatta police station on August 17, 1971.

After torture at Netrokona Zila Parishad they killed him at Trimohoni Bazar. They also looted and set fire to at

least 400-450 shops in Baushi Bazar.

He said, the accused abducted then famous footballer Dabir Hossain from Barhatta of Netrokona City. He was shot dead on Moktarpara Bridge after torture.

According to one of the charges, Moshrof Ali Talukder, among others, were abducted 10 people on October 12, 1971 and shot dead seven of the detainees. At about 11am the accused abducted six more people including one Badiuzzaman Mukto.

On August 12, this year police arrested taher and Noni in Netrakona for their alleged involvement in crimes against humanity committed in the district in 1971 after the International Crimes Tribunal-1 had issued warrants of arrest against them. l

Closing arguments begin against jamaat leader Abdus Subhan

Former professor testifies against Jabbar

n Tribune Report

A new prosecution witness in the case against alleged razakar leader from Mathbaria Mohammad Abdul Jabbar yesterday described the killing of 11 people including his father and grandfather in 1971.

Dipak Kumar Bishwas, 63, a retired professor, testified at the International Crimes Tribunal 1 as the 18th prosecution witness.

A victim himself, Dipak said Jabbar had led a team of razakars and members of Peace Committee to their village on May 22, 1971.

“They began the attack from the west side of the village. Some of us gathered to stop them but we had to run away due to the heavy shooting. At that time, Jabbar fired with his own rifle and killed one villager named Shokhanath Khorathi,” the witness said.

“At the same time, upon Jabbar’s order, razakar Nur Hossain [now dead] shot and killed my grandfather Nishi Kanto and father Surendra Nath Biswas,” Dipak said adding that he had seen the killings while hiding along with the villagers.

Others who had been killed on that day were Jitendra Nath Biswas, Ganesh

The prosecution has started placing their closing arguments in the case against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdus Subhan at the International Crimes Tribunal 2.

On the first charge, the prosecution yesterday also placed their submission on historical background of the trial, Subhan’s status in 1971, and his alleged role in the crimes committed in Pabna during the Liberation War. The three-member tribunal led

by Justice Obaidul Hassan – with members Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Shahinur Islam – adjourned the case proceedings until today.

According to the prosecution, Subhan was the ameer of Jamaat-eIslami’s Pabna unit in 1971. He was also the general secretary of Pabna Peace Committee, an anti-liberation organisation, and later became the vice-chairman of the committee in 1971.

Initiating the arguments yesterday, Chief Prosecutor Ghulam Arif Tipoo said as the top leader of Jamaat and Peace Committee, Subhan had close relationship with the razakar and the al-Badr auxiliary forces in Pabna. Using his superior status, Subhan assisted the Pakistani army and was also personally involved in committing crimes during the war.

Citing from the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, Prosecutor Sultan Mahmud Simon said Subhan was the chief controller of razakar force in Pabna and organised the antiliberation forces there.

After his submission, another Prosecutor Rezia Sultana Chaman also placed her arguments on the first charge that was related to the killings of Moazzem Hossain and others in Pabna. She also cited testimonies of three prosecution witnesses.

Following the completion of closing arguments from both the prosecution and the defence, the tribunal will either keep the verdict waiting or will fix a date for delivering it.

Subhan, a nayeb-e-ameer of Jamaat, faces nine charges including genocide committed in Pabna during the nine-month-long war. Subhan, however, pleaded not guilty before the tribunal. l

n Tribune Report

Acting on a tip-off, Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police arrested a Huji-B leader in the capital yesterday

MEHEDI HASAN

Huji-B men training to hit ‘soft and hard targets’ n Mohammad Jamil Khan Local militants have been receiving special training from Pakistan’s Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) to target crowded public places as well as attacking secured facilities like police stations, detectives have learned.

The information was extracted during the interrogation of 30-yearold Huji-B operation wing leader Md Khairul Bashar alias Ibrahim, who was arrested from the capital’s Sayedabad yesterday by the DB bomb disposal unit.

Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami Bangladesh (Huji-B) operative Ibrahim had received a three-month training from the LeT last year on how to attack “soft and hard targets,” said Detective Branch Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam.

During his training period, Ibrahim learned how to make, plant and execute bombs attacks successfully as well as receiving tactical training on operating different types of firearms, the DB boss told a press conference at the DMP Media and Community Centre.

In militant jargon, “soft target” meant crowded places like markets, rail stations and hospitals – where maximum destruction would be possible, Monirul said, adding that “hard target”

meant secured places like police stations or top institutions.

Ibrahim was the first one to receive LeT training, while around 12 more Huji-B militants have since received training after travelling to Pakistan on tourist visas, the official said. Before leaving for Pakistan, the selected Huji-B men also received physical training at a madrasa located in a remote area in Chittagong, he added.

On October 25, 4 Huji-B members including their operation wing chief were arrested by the DB police from the capital and Narayanganj Although the DB chief refused to disclose the location of the madrasa because of ongoing investigation, he said it was suspected that the site was also used to train militants for a so-called jihad.

During primary interrogation, Ibrahim also admitted he had been waiting for an order from the Huji-B high command to carry out an attack, as well as confessing to the detectives that the outfit had to delay their plans several times

as it was taking too much time to get the bombs ready at their weapons lab.

Ibrahim, the eighth Huji-B member to have been arrested in the past two weeks, was responsible for the outfit’s weapons and bomb laboratory in Narayanganj – which was busted by the DB police on October 25. The lab was being used to research on how to produce weapons like AK-47 rifles or largescale explosives.

The DB joint commissioner said Huji-B members were frustrated as they were unable to move ahead with any plan because of the lack of directives from the top leaders.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court has granted a six-day remand against Ibrahim, who was shown arrested in a case filed with the Wari police station.

Metropolitan Magistrate Mollah Saiful Islam granted the remand after DB Sub-Inspector SM Raisul Islam, also the investigation officer of the case, placed him before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court yesterday.

On October 25, four Huji-B members including their operation wing chief were arrested by the DB police from the capital and Narayanganj. Again on November 1, three more Huji-B members were detained from the capital’s Postogola. l

Chandra Mistri, Nepal Chandra Mistri, Upendra Nath Mistri, Basanta Halder, Balaram Mistri, Shashthi Halder and Upendra Nath Biswas, said Dipak, then 22. He was a student of Barisal Polytechnic Institute.

Jabbar is facing five charges for his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War From a hideout near the canal of the village, Dipak saw the attackers looting houses and setting them on fire. “They attacked 60 houses in the village along with ours.”

“After they left, we came back to our village and buried the dead in different spots,” the witness said.

Jabbar is facing five charges for his alleged involvement in crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. l

New envoy: European Union not opposing war crimes tribunal n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman The European Union does not oppose the trial process of the war crimes tribunal but it is against any death penalty, the newly appointed EU ambassador to Bangladesh said yesterday.

“We have objection to death penalty worldwide in whatever reason, whatever time and whatever person.

“The EU opposes death penalty in any country in the world including the United States,” said Mayaudon Pierre at a press briefing at a city hotel.

He was responding to a question when asked as to why EU issued statements only after announcement of death penalties involving war criminals.

“The issue is not the ICT related and we don’t have any objection to ICT,” he

said adding that European Union condemns any death penalty anywhere in the world.

“Please don’t spread this perception that the EU is against war crimes tribunal,” he told the reporters.

He said whenever they were informed about any death penalty they issued press statement.

The EU delegation to Bangladesh issued a statement on October 29 after the death penalty for Jamaat top leader Motiur Rahman Nizami was announced.

The statement urged the Bangladeshi authorities to commute the sentence and to introduce a moratorium on execution as a first step towards definitive abolition of capital punishment. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Dhaka streets continue to experience its usual gridlocked state yesterday despite the fresh round of hartal called by the Jamaat-e-Islami protesting the upholding of the death penalty against its leader Kamaruzzaman. The photos were taken at the capital’s Karwan Bazar and Farmgate intersections RAJIB DHAR

PM: 3 million more to get renewable energy n Aminur Rahman Rasel Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government had planned to provide solar home system to three million more rural families through Infrastructure Development Company Limited (Idcol) in next three years.

“We have set a target to provide solar energy facility to three million more families over the next three years as part of the scheme to produce 24,000MW electricity by 2021 with 10 percent from solar power.”

She was addressing a function at a city hotel marking the landmark of installing three million solar home systems in the country.

Hasina said there are huge potentials of solar-based irrigation pumps in the country. At present, the number of diesel-run irrigation pumps in the country is 14 lakh. “For these, we’ve to import a huge quantity of diesel spending our valuable foreign exchange.”

Besides, she said, to run 150,000 electricity-run irrigation pumps the power grid has to bear an immense pressure. “If a portion of these pumps can be put under the solar-based irrigation system, the import of diesel will decrease significantly and the pressure on the national grid will ease.”

Idcol was established on May 14, 1997 by the then Awami League government. The Company was licensed by the Bangladesh Bank as a non-banking financial institution (NBFI) on January 5, 1998.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina underscored the need for transforming the country’s existing carbon-based energy

system into a smart, clean and effective energy one suiting the 21st century to ensure sustainable economic development.

She said to achieve this target taking public and private initiative, environmental planning and technological road map as well as global cooperation in large extent is needed.

Hasina said Idcol’s Solar Home System is one of the largest and fastest growing off-grid renewable energy programmes in the world.

The primary objective is to supply clean electricity in the energy-starved off-grid rural areas of Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister said her government has formulated renewable energy policy and Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority Act laying emphasis on production and distribution of environmentally sustainable renewable energy.

The use of solar power has increased manifold as her government waived import duties and tax on solar accessories and channeling soft loan and grant to the people through Idcol, Hasina mentioned.

The Prime Minister said rural people now can afford buying solar home systems at a monthly installment of less than their kerosene cost due to various initiatives of the government.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said protection of environment is very crucial for sustainable development growth, reducing the consumption of fossil fuel. To do this happen, she said, there is need to put in place a smart, clean and efficient energy in place of carbonized fuel.

Laying importance on public-private partnership, environmental plan-

Naogaon 3 MP expulsion order negated after 11 months n Our Correspondent, Naogaon The order expelling Naogaon 3 lawmaker Md Salim Uddin Tarafder from the Awami League (AL) was cancelled almost 11 months later.

Salim was the organising secretary of Mahadebpur unit.

President of Naogaon district AL unit Advocate Fazle Rabbi Baku nullified the order and wrote to Mahadebpur unit on Tuesday night to reinstate him.

The decision to reinstate the lawmak-

er was taken in response to a petition by Salim, said Rabbi. Local activists in his constituency distributed sweets yesterday to celebrate Salim’s reinstatement.

Failing to be nominated by the Awami League to contest the January 5 parliamentary elections from the Naogaon 3 constituency, Salim ran for office as an independent candidate and claimed victory.

He was then expelled for defying the order of the party which asked him not to do so. l

ning and technological road-map for building carbon efficient sustainable economic growth, the Prime Minister said, a massive global initiative is required for promoting development of renewable energy.

To make electricity facility available for all by 2021, the PM said, her government wants to enhance the electricity generation to 24,000mw of which 10 percent would come from the renewable energy.

Apart from importing 500-MW electricity from India, the government has signed a deal with Russia to set up nuclear power plant which would add 1000MW of more electricity to the national grid by 2018 and another 1000 MW by 2020, Hasina said.

Hasina said projects have been undertaken for the production of bio-gas, installation of solar-powered irrigation pumps and mini-grid system through Idcol.

Later, the prime minister through a video conference talked to the beneficiaries of Idcol solar home system, local parliament member and deputy commissioner of Char Janajat of Shibchar Upazila of Madaripur district.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith, PM’s adviser for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Affairs Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, World Bank Country Director Johaness CM Zutt and Idcol Executive Director and CEO Mahmood Malik also spoke at the programme chaired by Idcol Chairman and ERD Secretary Mohammad Mejbahuddin. l

Police recovered two badly decomposed bodies from separate places in the capital in the last two days.

In Gulshan, locals spotted a male body, aged about 25, in a lake near the Gulshan-Badda link road around 10:45am and informed police.

Gulshan police station SI Joynal Abedin said:“We are yet to gather information regarding the body that might have been dumped in the lake 2-3 days ago.”

Joynal also stated: “It is really difficult to recognize the body, wearing T-shirt and black jeans, owing to the decomposed condition. We sent it to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) morgue for an autopsy.”

On searching the body, police found a

n Tribune Report The government should amend the constitution to ensure that war criminals do not get the opportunity to seek presidential mercy, said speakers at a seminar yesterday.

Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee organised the seminar styled “Constitution of Bangladesh, militancy and trial of war criminals” marking the Constitution Day of the country. The seminar was held at WVA auditorium in the capital’s Dhanmondi.

Shahriar Kabir, acting chairman of the organisation, said, BNP founder Ziaur Rahman during his presidency allowed Razakars to enjoy a range of facilities.

“Even a Razakar like Abdur Rahman Biswas became the president. If the country gets presidents like Ziaur Rahman or Abdur Rahman Bishwas in the future then the Razakars might get mercy and even the constitution might be amended for pardoning war criminals,” he said.

Kabir said the government should remove all the anomalies from the constitution to ensure that war criminals face punishment.

Justice Syed Amirul Islam said the change in Article 49 of the constitution would cancel the possibility of war criminals coming under protection through presidential mercy.

“But if anti-liberation force come to power in the future with a two-third majority in the parliament then it can amend the constitution. This is why there should be a law instead of curtail-

ing the power of the president to ensure that no one is able to protect war criminals in the future,” he added.

According to Article 31 of the constitution, citizens are entitled to enjoy fundamental rights equally but those accused of war crimes would not get the same privilege, said Tureen Afroze, a prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal.

‘Government should remove all the anomalies from the constitution to ensure that war criminals face punishment’ Chairman of Bangladesh Itihash Sammilani Professor Muntassir Mamoon said: “We do not want to lessen the president’s constitutional power of pardoning someone. What we want is that the war criminals should not have the right to seek mercy.”

Mamoon also called for banning and removing all publications, books and speeches existing in both written and audio forms of all war criminals.

The primary education should include lessons on constitution which will help the citizens to what it is, said Barrister Amir-Ul Islam.

“Studying the constitution is not a matter of right which will be given by court. It is a matter practicing it at individiual level,” he added. l

ASI closed for hiding seized goods Correspondent, Mirsarai n Our (Chittagong)

An assistant sub-inspector of highway police in Mirsarai of Chittagong has been closed on charge of concealing the actual amount of goods recovered in a drive led by him.

The accused is Jamal Hossain, of the Jorarganj Highway Police Camp in Comilla. The disciplinary decision was taken by Reazul Karim, superintendent of police (SP) of Comilla (West Zone) highway police, on November 3, after a primary departmental investigation,

Two decomposed bodies found in the capital n Tribune Report

Call for scrapping presidential mercy for war criminals

mobile phone set, visiting cards and some cash.

In another incident, the body of one Md Kalam, 22, son of late Chiru Mia, of Barisal, was found from a lake adjacent to Kurmitola General Hospital around 10am on Tuesday.

A case of unnatural death was filed with Cantonment police station, SI and Investigator Officer of the case told the Dhaka Tribune: “The body was found in the restricted area. We have taken some pictures but the body was completely decomposed while it was afloat in the lake for over 60 hours.”

He said that the body was sent to the DMCH morgue for an autopsy and would continue their investigation to unearth how the incident took place in a restricted area. l

sources said.

On November 1, acting on a tip-off a team of Jorarganj highway police led by Jamal conducted a drive on Dhaka-Chittagong Highway in Sonapara area, and recovered 200 bottles of Indian phensedyl from a CNG-run auto-rickshaw.

On that day, the police also arrested two people on charge of carrying the illegal drugs. Jamal filed a case with Jorarganj police station against the duo, the sources said.

Although the police team had recovered 200 bottles of phensedyl, Jamal mentioned recovery of only 90 bottles in

the statement. The remaining 110 bottles had been sold to a drug trader, they said.

In another drive the Jorarganj police arrested one Tomal Dey with 99 bottles of phensedyl from the Sonapahar Tita Batgachtal area on November 2.

Tomal told police that he had bought the phensedyl from Jamal. Jorarganj Highway Police Camp In-Charge Mehedi Hasan said they were investigating into the matter. Jorarganj police station officials could not say how many bottles of phensedyl were actually recovered in the drive. Jamal could not be contacted for his comment. l

JS body for quick start of Rooppur nuke plant n Tribune Report The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology Ministry said the ministry must hasten the construction work of the country’s first nuclear power plant at Rooppur of Pabna , at a meeting held at the parliament building headed by its Chairman AFM Ruhal Haque.

So far, around 90% work of the first phase of the project and 60% of the second phase have been completed.

The committee members in a meeting yesterday also hoped that the 2000MW plant’s main construction work would begin next year to meet the ever increasing demand of electricity.

The watchdog also said to build the power station properly, an experienced agency should be appointed. The government hopes to complete the plant by 2020 with a view to starting supply of power to the national grid by the following year.

Russia is providing technical and financial support to build the plant and has promised to install the latest and safest type of nuclear reactor. It will also provide 90% of the construction cost that ranges between Tk12,000 crore and Tk15,000 crore. l

Prof Saeed Alamgir Jafar dies

n Tribune Report Prof Saeed Alamgir Jafar, 67, of Labonee Apartments 2, Dhanmondi, passed away on Wednesday, November 5 at 10am. He was a professor of business administration at IBA at Dhaka University. He was the only child of the late poet Sikandar Abu Jafar and women’s rights activist late Nargis Jafar. He left behind a son and a daughter.

Saeed was suffering from heart complications for several years and he was admitted to Ibrahim Cardiac Hospital on Tuesday evening. Early in the morning yesterday, he had a cardiac arrest and had to be moved to the ICU. The doctors tried to revive him, but he breathed his last at 10am.

He is fondly remembered by his students and colleagues at IBA and will be sorely missed by his family and friends.

His Namaz-e-Janaza will be held at Takwa Masjid at Dhanmondi 12A after the Zohr prayers on Saturday, November 8. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

City corporation tangled in deputed responsibilities Officials unhappy with new organogram which will only hire deputed bureaucrats in top posts

n Abu Hayat Mahmud The development of Dhaka has been put on the back burner because of bureaucrats being deputed as departmental heads at the bifurcated Dhaka city corporations, officials from both the DNCC and DSCC have claimed.

Permanent employees of the capital’s local governing body also cautioned that the situation might worsen if the government implements a new organogram, which proposes that only secretaries or additional secretaries could be appointed as departmental heads or other key top posts.

Disgruntled city corporation employees also claimed that corruption has dug its roots into the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) and Dhaka North city Corporation (DNCC) since the city corporation was split up in

2011, as all posts – starting from the mayoral office to most first-class-level posts – were controlled by deputed bureaucrats who have almost no accountability to the public because of their short-terms in office.

Taking to the Dhaka Tribune, Khandker Millatul Islam, former general secretary of the undivided DCC and incumbent chief social welfare and cultural officer of the DSCC, said: “Most officials and employees of both city corporations are dissatisfied over the government system and the controversial new organogram.”

According to government rules, every employee should be evaluated based on their qualifications and performance, Millatul said. However, the new organogram contradicted such rules as its implementation would mean that even the best performing employee of the city corporation would

never be promoted to the highest post of their department, while salary scales would also decrease for some ranks, Millatul added.

“We have discussed with the city corporation high-ups about the controversial decision and the corporation has sent a letter to review the decision; but no fruitful result has come yet. We hope the LGD [Local Government Division] forms a committee to review the organogram,” Millatul said.

City corporation sources said according to the old organogram, appointment on deputation was only applicable for the posts of chief executive officer, secretary and executive magistrate; while departmental promotion was possible for appointing chief estate officer, chief engineer, chief revenue officer and press secretary of mayor.

However, the new organogram

– proposed in October 2013 – recommends that every departmental head and their deputies must be appointed through deputation. The recommendation would also be applicable for all posts of the corporations’ estate department – a key department which handles all estates and assets under the respective jurisdictions.

Seeking anonymity, several mid-level officials of the DSCC and the DNCC, told the Dhaka Tribune that irregularities and corruption would increase if more appointments were made through deputations. Most deputed officials ran their respective departments on a whim as they only stayed with the city corporation for a couple of years, the officials added.

Asked about this issue, DNCC Chief Executive Officer BM Enamul Haque said: “We have received objections from the corporation officials and em-

ployees about the new organogram. We have no right to change it, and the LGD will do what they think.”

Also speaking about the discontent among the employees, DSCC Chief Executive Officer Ansar Ali Khan said: “Officials and employees appealed for changing the organogram and we have informed the matter to the LGD a long time ago.”

Nazrul Islam, chairman of Centre for Urban Studies, criticised the existing system and said: “Top executives of the corporations are transferred before they can fully understand their roles in the city corporation; thus ultimately depriving the city residents of better services.”

He suggested against frequent transfers of city administrators and called for handing over the city corporations’ responsibility to public representatives. l

BSF detains Bangladeshi national n Our Correspondent, Naogaon

The election of deans for nine faculties of the Dhaka University (DU) will be held at its Nawab Nabab Ali Chowdhury senate building on the campus today, states a media release.

The polling is scheduled to start at 10am and continue till 2pm. A total of 1,250 university teachers are expected to cast their votes.

Candidates from the pro-AL blue panel and the BNP-Jamaat combined white panel will contest in the election, while DU Treasurer Dr Kamal Uddin Ahmed will serve as chief election commissioner.

The Earth and Environmental Science faculty dean Professor ASM Maksud Kamal from blue panel was earlier elected unopposed. l

WEATHER

PARTLY CLOUDY THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 5:18PM SUN RISES 6:07AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 31 30 30 30 31 31 32 31

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

22 24 19 19 20 20 20 24

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

34.2ºC Situakunda

18.5ºC Chuadanga

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:49am 6:05am 11:42am 3:41pm 5:18pm 6:35 pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

One arrested with over a lakh Saudi Riyal n Tribune Report Railway police yesterday arrested a passenger with more than a lakh Saudi Riyal from the Kamalapur Railway Station in the capital.

Law enforcers found approximately 108,500 Saudi Riyal around 2:30pm in the possession of Mohammad Obaidul Islam, 33, son of Mofizul Islam of the Chittagong district.

Officer-in-Charge of Dhaka Railway police station Abdul Mazid said: “Obaidul came to the station on the Suborno Express. Acting on a tip-off, we searched his bag and found the Saudi currency.”

The OC said: “We detained him to find out where he was taking the money. We are preparing to file a case against him with the police station.” l

Teachers: Implement new pay scale

n BAU Correspondent

Indian Border Security Force (BSF) detained a Bangladeshi national in Naogaon yesterday.

The detained Omar Ali, son of Niaz Uddin is from the Nitpur Diarapara village in the Porsha upazila.

The BSF members from the Harishchandrapur camp in India detained Omar when he intruded the Indian territory while fishing in the Velar Dara (Shitla) Basin on the Nitpur border around 2:00pm, said Naogaon 14 BGB Company Commander Harunur Rashid.

The BGB (Border Guard Bangladesh) and BSF held a flag meeting near the Nitpur Border Pillar No 230, with BGB commandar Harunur Rashid and Harishchandrapur camp in-charge PK Roy representing the Bangladesh and India sides respectively.

Citing the output of the meeting, Harunur Rashid said the BSF sent Omar to the Habipur Police Station in the Maldah district of India. l

DU dean election today n DU Correspondent

5

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Members of the Border Guard Bangladesh are seen in a strong vigilance at Saheb Bazar point in Rajshahi yesterday, first day of 48-hour hartal enforced by the Jamaat-e-Islami protesting the death sentence given to its two leaders for war crimes AZAHAR UDDIN

Teachers of Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) yesterday demanded the implementation of the pay scale that was drafted recently with a new pay structure for the 1.3 million civil servants of the country.

The BAU teachers urged the authorities concerned to implement the new pay scale from July 2014 instead of July 2015.

The eighth pay and service commission drafted the pay scale recently and Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith on September 23 said the new scale for government employees would come into effect from 1 July 2015.

The demand came from a gathering of teachers on the BAU campus around 11am. BAU Teachers’ Association (Bauta) organised the programme where over 150 teachers took part. Several employee associations of the university expressed their solidarity with the demand.

“The existing pay scale is not up to the mark as price of the daily essentials is on the rise. We would like to thank the incumbent government for taking timely initiatives to form a structure of new pay scale,” said Bauta President Prof Dr Lutful Hassan. BAU Vice-chancellor Prof Dr Md Rafiqul Hoque in his speech urged the government to implement the drafted pay scale as early as possible. l

3 hurt in crude bomb blast 'Metro rail in Dhaka by 2019' n Tazlina Zamila Khan

Three members of a family was injured after a series of crude bombs were blasted in Khalpar area of the capital’s Purbo Jurain yesterday morning.

The injured were Sumon Sarder, 42, and his nephews Imon Sarder, 18, and Rifat Sarder, 13. The incident occurred in front of their residential home in Khalpar of Purbo Jurain around 8:30am. Later, Sumon’s brother Nazmul, 22, brought the three to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Nazmul said: “A gang of 10-12 locals involved in drug business came to kidnap my father Ataur Rahman. When our

relatives and local chased them they blasted crude bombs."

The injured Sumon said: “I was standing in front of my house when suddenly the eloping youths blasted 4-5 crude bombs.”

Family sources said Sumon and Imon had received splinters on the right leg and Rifat on his right cheek.

Sumon was later sent to National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Nitor) as he was severely injured on his leg. OC of Kadomtoli police station said: “The incident might have occurred centring land related disputes. We are preparing to file a case in this regard.” l

AL-backed contractors disrupt BADC’s tender process in Barisal n Our Correspondent, Barisal Contractors backed by local Awami League activists disrupted the tender procedure by Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC) for several small irrigation projects in Barisal district yesterday.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Abdullah Al Rashid, executive engineer at BADC and director of the projects, said the lottery to select tender proposals, which started at 11am at the BADC office, was suspended for indefinite period due to the disruption and chaos created by the ruling party followers.

The projects, worth Tk2.5 crore – were in different categories under 18 groups – blocks based on the size of land – covering four upazilas – Babuganj, Banaripara, Muladi and Wazirpur – in the district, he said.

Around 4,200 contractors submitted tender proposals for the projects, the BADC engineer added.

Several contractors who submitted tender proposals and officials at the BADC told the Dhaka Tribune that trouble ensued when the Awami League activists, led by Moin Tushar, protested the awarding of contracts to two bidders from outside of Barisal.

“The ruling party activists supporting some of the local bidders took position in the morning at the BADC office before the lottery, and when names of two contractors from Faridpur came up in the lottery, they started protesting,” said Ruhul Amin, one of the winning bidders from Faridpur.

“The situation became chaotic and there were a very few number police members who could not control the situation, so the BADC officials had not suspend the procedure,” he said.

The Barisal regional unit of the Department of Agricultural Extension covers 11 districts, which is why a huge number of contractors from other districts submitted tender proposals for the projects as well, Ruhul said.

The lottery was arranged to ensure a free and fair awarding of contracts, said several contractors from Barisal seeking anonymity. Ruhul said: “If we had known that it would not be the case, we would have abstained from participating.”

BADC Engineer Rashid said: “A new date for free and fair tender procedure will be announced soon. We will also ask for more help from the law enforcement agencies this time. No irregularities will be tolerated and no special group will be given undue privileges.” l

n Tribune Report Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said to start commercial operation of metro rail in the capital would be possible by December 2019.

“The government has taken a project involving T21,985 crore to bring an end to traffic congestion in the capital,” he said this while talking to journalist after a view exchange meeting with the officials of the project at the MRTL 6 office in Eskaton of the capital.

Of the total amount of the project, the Bangladesh government will pro-

vide Tk5,390.48 crore and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Tk16,594.59 crore.

Noting that he visited the office to see progress of the project, the minister said objective of the metro rail project is to introduce safe, dependable, environment friendly and speedy mass transportation in the capital.

Quader said Rajuk had already handed over 5.69 hectares of land out of the total 22 hectares for building depot of the metro rail. The handing over of the rest of the land is under process, he said.

The length of the Metro Rail Tran-

sit Line 6 will be 20.1km with 16 stations. The 16 Metrorail stations will be at Uttara (north), Uttara (centre), Uttara (south), Pallabi, IMT, Mirpur 10, Kazipara, Taltala, Agargaon, Bijoy Smarani, Farmgate, Sonargaon, National Museum, Doel Chattar, Bangabandhu National Stadium and Bangladesh Bank.

The trains will run above the middle of roads and each of 24 sets of train takes less than 40 minutes to run the whole distance with an average speed of 100km. The metro rail will have the capacity of carrying 60,000 passengers per hour. l

Amu for UN help to set up livestock labs n Tribune Report Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu yesterday sought cooperation from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) to set up world-standard livestock inspection laboratories across the country.

The minister came up with the request at a meeting with UNIDO Director General Li Yong held on the sidelines of a two-day international conference on

investment in Vienna, the capital city of Austria, said a handout.

UNIDO organised the second forum, titled ‘Partnerships to scale up investment for inclusive and sustainable industrial development (ISID),’ that concluded yesterday.

Various aspects of financial and technical assistance of UNIDO to the industrial sector of Bangladesh came up for the discussions at the bilateral meeting.

The Industries Minister said Bangla-

desh was prioritising industrialisation for boosting its economic growth, and the Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development (ISID) programme taken by the UNIDO is a time-befitting initiative for Bangladesh.

Praising Bangladesh for improving the industrial sector of Bangladesh, the UNIDO Director General said Bangladesh had achieved a tremendous progress in improving the quality of products and diversification of products in recent times. l

A Tazia procession marking Ashura, the tenth day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar, was brought out from Hosni Dalan area in Old Dhaka yesterday. Muslims especially from Shia community mark the day as a mourning day for the martyrdom of Husayn Ibn Ali (A), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (SM) MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Ruling party men swoop on mobile court in Narsingdi

Journalists and law enforcers injured during the drive conducted against illegal gas connections in Bhatpara area journalists. n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi andKamal Molla, a witness, said: “The A gang of miscreants led by leaders of the ruling party Awami League’s associate bodies swooped on a mobile court while it was conducting a drive against illegal gas connections in Bhatpara area in Narshingdi yesterday.

Three journalists and two Ansar members were injured during the attack. The local hoodlums also vandalised camaras of journalists as they were taking footage of the drive.

The injured are two members of Ansar, who are yet to be identified, Kawsar Ahmed, cameraman of Shomoy Television, and Lakshman Barman, cameraman of Channel 24 and Aiub Khan Sarkar, reporter of Channel 9.

According to district administration, Titas gas office conducted a drive in Bhatpara area in the afternoon to sever illegal gas connections.

Executive Magistrate M Jahirul Hayat, who led the drive, said: “A gang of miscreants led by Md Sajib Hossain, general secretary of Bangabandhu Jubo Parishad and Monir Molla, general secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, Ghorasahal municipality unit suddenly swooped on Ansar members

attackers firstly dragged two Ansar members off to a nearby pond and beat up them indiscriminately and tried to snatch their arms.”

They also beat Kawsar Ahmed with an iron rods when he was taking footage of the beating.

“As other journalists tried to save Kawsar Ahmed, they also beat up them,” he added. Rather saving journalists, the executive magistrate fled the scene without taking action against the attackers, said journalists.

Narshingdi Police Super Sheikh Rafiqul Islam said: “We have heard about the incident. Police have were sent to the spot and they managed to bring the situation under control.

Of the injured, Kawsar Ahmed was taken to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation in critical state while four others were taking treatment at Narsingdi Sadar Hospital.

Md Kamal Hossain, additional deputy commissioner (revenue), told the Dhaka Tribune that a three-member probe committee had been formed to investigate the matter. l

JCD leader murdered allegedly by AL men n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi A local leader of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal, an associate body of BNP for students, was allegedly hacked to death by some activists of the ruling Awami League in Isakhali area of Palash upazila here yesterday.

The victim, Abul Kasem Mridha alias Limon, 22, was general secretary of Gojaria union unit JCD. Witness sources said there was a schedule for arbitration to settle the

Protest rally for AL leader Faruque murder Correspondent, n Our Tangail A procession was brought out in Tangail district town yesterday afternoon in protest of the killing of Awami League leader Faruque Ahmed, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.

The procession, organised by Freedom Fighter Sector Commanders’ Forum and Tangail district unit Freedom Fighters ‘71 along with family members of the AL leader, started from Shaheed Smrity Poura Udyan and paraded the main streets of the town, ending at Tangail Shaheed Minar premises.

Later, a rally was held at the shaheed minar premises presided over by the AL leader’s wife Nahar Ahmed. Awami League district unit Joint Secretary Zoharul Islam, former president of district unit Jubo League and President of Sector Commanders’ Forum Shawkat Reza, district unit Jubo League Secretary Tareq Poton, Vice- President of central unit Chhatra League Mahmudul Hasan Maruf and Sumon Ahmed, eldest son of Faruque Ahmed, spoke at the rally among others.

Speakers demanded immediate arrest of the killers and bring them under trial.

On January 18, 2013, AL leader and freedom fighter Faruque Ahmed,60, was shot dead by unknown criminals. His body was recovered near his residence at College Para of Tangail district town. Faruque, was a member of the district AL unit committee and also a former joint secretary of the same unit. l

altercation between Limon and local AL activist named Solaiman Miah over sand trading. Accordingly the victim attended the meeting along with his two associates, namely Oliullah and Rubel.

At one stage, some AL activists led

by Solaiman and a local Jubo League leader named Ariful Islam started hacking Limon with machetes indiscriminately, leaving him critically injured. Later, he was declared dead on arrival at the district hospital. l

Farmers pluck bitter gourd from a field at Rurampur village under Puthia upazila, Rajshahi yesterday. Although growers have witnessed bumper yield of the vegetable, they are now frustrated as they cannot transport their agri-produce for back-to-back hartals AZAHAR UDDIN

Restaurant owner killed in Tongi n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Joypurhat potato farmers face seed crisis

Three killed in road accidents n Tribune report

A Restaurant owner was beaten to death following a dispute over payment of borrowed money in Purba Arichpur area of Tongi in Gazipur on Tuesday night .

The deceased was Younus Ali, 55, a resdient of Melandaho upazila in Jamalpur. He used to run a restaurant in Boubazar area of Tongi.

Police arrested two persons for their alleged involvement in the incident.

The arrested are Bulbul Ahmed Zillu and Sakibur Rahman.

One Jashim Uddin along with five to six associates attacked one Sujon, a relative of Younus, follwoing an altercation over payment of borrowed money at Younus’s restaurant around 9:00pm, police said.

Sujon borrowed some money from Jashim a few days ago. The attackers also attacked Younus and his son Mozammel when they tried to protect Sujon, they said. Locals rushed critically injured Younus and Mozammel to Tongi Government Hospital where doctors declared Younus dead. l

n Our Correspondent, Joypurhat

Two vegetable traders have been killed when a truck ran over them in Bahubal area in Habiganj.

The deceased are Shundor Ali, 50, of Shombhopur village and Shukur Ali, 52, of Guchhopur.

Shayestaganj highway police Sub-Inspector Kamal Hossain said: “A truck ran over them when they were going to Bahubal Bazar on Wednesday afternoon, killing Shundor on the spot.”

“Shukur succumbed to his injuries while being taken to Sylhet Medical College Hopsital,” he said.

The SI said though the trcuk has been siezed but the driver fled the scene.

A garment worker was crushed under the wheels of an oil Tanker in Masterbari area under Sreepur upazila in the district early yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Somon, 28, son of Ismail Hossain of Doria village under Netrokona Sadar upazila.

He was a worker of BG Collection garment factory at Masterbari area. l

Potato farmers are facing an acute seed crisis as they have not stored any seed, failing to get the yield’s fair price in Joypurhat last year.

According to the local agriculture extension department, it requires 55000 tonnes of potato seeds for cultivation on 39500 hectares of land in the district while only 45000 tonnes of seed have been preserved in all 14 private cold storehouses there.

Many farmers cannot depend on the locally preserved seed amount and so they are depending on the dealers for collecting quality seeds.

Taking advantage of it, local dealers have increased seed prices at will. Prices of seeds are now almost double to what it was in the last year.

Farmer Abdul Alim from Railgari village in Khetlal upazila said he had decided to grow potatoes on five bighas of land to recoup the losses he faced last year.

He said he was yet to collect asterix variety of potato seed, but was relying

on the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation (BADC), which had assured him of its supply on time.

Farmer Gaziul Haq from Karimpur village in Kalai upazila said he was at a loss to know on how many bighas of land he would grow potato this year, adding that he had farmed potatoes on 20 bighas of land last year.

Seeking anonymity, several BADC seed dealers told the Dhaka Tribune that many of them sold 500-600 tonnes of potato seed last year, but there was no scope to sell that amount this year.

A dealer has been allocated only five tonnes this year, which is hardly enough to meet even 10 percent of the market demand, they said.

Khetlal Upazila Parishad Chairman RDistrict Agriculture Extension Department’s Deputy Director Sabbir Ibne Jahan said they had been supplied by the government only 400 tonnes of potato seed while it had been estimated that it would require 55000 tonnes for cultivation on 39500 hectares of land this year. l

Juris

Calling a spade, a spade

Eve-teasing is nothing but a sexual offence which should be strictly criminalised

A

country whose prime minister, opposition leader and speaker are all women, it seems unlikely that females would not be able to go on with their daily activities without often being ogled, taunted with passing remarks and sexual innuendos, catcalled, humiliated, and/or in extreme circumstances being groped or assaulted. However, that is the stark reality for any woman in Bangladesh who dares to tread on public places. It is almost socially accepted that every women will have their fair share of similar traumatic experiences, especially during adolescent years.

Despite the country’s recent awareness regarding equal rights, the issue of public sexual harassment against women is still rampant. Furthermore, the traditional unease towards discussing sexual issues restrict victims of such offences from speaking out and forces them to suffer in silence instead. Article 27, 28 and 29 of the Constitution of Bangladesh deals with equal rights of women with regards to public life but possible discrimination in a private sphere is not looked into.

Several legislative and judicial measures were introduced in order to tackle the issue. However, the euphemistic approach of such measures and the society’s patriarchal attitude fails to affect the social menace.

This can be easily proved by the society’s refusal to term the issue blatantly as public sexual harassment and rather opt for the virtuous term of eve-teasing thereby introducing victims as “eve,” a biblical figure who was expelled from heavens for the sin of sexual temptation. This implies that every victim of eve-teasing are temptresses who might have incited the perpetrator into states of sexual titillation. Maybe our society does not want to associate eve-teasing with sexual harassment, due to the latter’s intensity of the act.

It is deemed that in sexual harassments, the perpetrator usually takes advantage of a dominant position and on the other hand eve-teasing is depicted almost as a recreational activity for men. However, despite the humoured feeling this term may carry, the rest of the world defines is it as public sexual harassment. Therefore,

SYED LATIF HOSSAIN

n Raihanatul Jannat

Victims of eve-teasing suffer from its negative effect through depression, curtailed education, early marriages to save honour, low self-esteem, and sometimes resort to suicide without any fault of their own failure to do so in Bangladesh means that the relevant existing laws do not focus on the victims or the offence suffered by them. Though eve-teasing offences take place within a short space of time, it is severely significant and has a far reaching consequence.

During eve-teasing, a male takes advantage of his masculine predatory power and uses it to bully his prey, a woman. Victims of eve-teasing suffer from its negative effect through depression, curtailed education, early marriages to save honour, low self-esteem, and sometimes resort to suicide

without any fault of their own.

The Penal Code, 1860 addressed various sexual offences but nowhere does it mention sexual harassment or eve-teasing directly. Section 76 of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Ordinance 1976, defines “teasing women.”

The other five Metropolitan Ordinances also includes similar provisions which penalises the offence. However, the Ordinances did not apply outside their designated areas and failed to provide a nationwide jurisdiction.

Then in 2000, The Prevention of Oppression against Women and Children

Act provided an excellent provision and penalised sexual harassment as an offence which could be committed without any actual physical contact to the victim. However, in a downward spiral, it was repealed when the law was amended in 2003 and there were no valid provisions which could discipline sexual harassment of noncontact nature.

Thereafter, through two landmark cases where BNWLA filed Writ Petition number 5916 of 2008 and Writ Petition number 8769 of 2010 to the High Court Division, an 11 point directive was given to define sexual harassment which would include noncontact sexual offences and modern means of erotic insults. However, even though elements of eve-teasing were included, failure to link the term itself to the definition makes it less comprehensible to the masses.

Complaint committees were formed in various institutions and mobile courts in Bangladesh were empowered to prosecute perpetrators of harassments or stalking with imprisonment and/or fine. In order to gain awareness, June 13 has been assigned as “Eve-tease Protection Day.” Even though there are many commendable aspects of the government and judiciary’s attempt at combating the issue in Bangladesh, it may be recommended to draw a separate, comprehensive legal framework in regards to eve-teasing. Such a law will be able to define eve-teasing precisely and list out conducts which would fall within the offence. However, as legal remedy single-handedly may be insufficient to abolish it, several other overwhelming social changes has to be prescribed.

Creating opportunity at root levels to discuss gender roles and gender biases would go a long way towards respecting women and their private rights. Furthermore, resources would have to be allocated to civil societies and the media in order to create public awareness against eve-teasing. Only through the society’s mind-set of accepting eve-teasing for what it is – not a recreational practice but an offence with serious connotations of public sexual harassment, would exterminate the wrongdoing and ensure protection of women’s rights. l

Proper implementation of laws must be ensured to protect this huge workforce tional or industrial hazards. ILO has n Saraban Tahura Zaman estimated that 4% of the world’s an-

I

Industrial disasters in garments factories Besides natural disasters, industrial disasters are also common in the garment industry in Bangladesh.

Industrial disasters are usually caused by accident or negligence or incompetence of the concerned companies, eg, collapse of buildings due to poor

RAJIB DHAR

construction without properly following the building code, fire incidents at different times, etc.

Our experience shows that in such disasters female workers suffer more than the male workers. On April 24, 2013, the infamous Rana Plaza collapsed and 402 female workers were killed, 88 went missing and 1,286 were injured. Most of the workers in Rana Plaza were female (62%) and the remaining 38% of the workers were male. Among the missing workers 72% were female and the remaining 28% were male. The ratio is almost the same between injured workers. On the other hand between the identified dead workers 56% were female and 44% of them were male. A few months before that tragedy, a fire in Tazrin garments factory also proved the same fate for the female garment workers.

The writer interviewed a few female workers who were rescued from the collapsed building alive but suffered terrible injuries both mental and physical. These workers alleged that their supervisors or the higher authorities used to intimidate them using undue influence. It was obvious that the higher officials did not sensitise gender issues nor did they disseminate

Article 28(2) of Bangladesh Constitution states that women will have equal rights with men in all spheres of the state and public life

any type of security or safety related information. Strict preventive measures from the very beginning would have saved thousands of lives from this catastrophe.

Non- compliance with the relevant laws Article 28(2) of Bangladesh Constitution states that women will have equal rights with men in all spheres of the state and public life. Article 32 ensures the right to life and Article 34 prohibits all forms of forced labour. Recently amended Labour law 2006 also affirms for the safe, secure and healthy working environment for the workers. ILO (International Labour Organization) Constitution sets forth the standards as to the safety against any occupa-

Agony of teaching and learning law in Bangladesh n Rokeya Chowdhury

T

he relationship between legal education and legal profession in Bangladesh has never been a happy one. There is not only a common feeling of discontent about fresh law graduates being unprepared for multifaceted legal professions, but also about an absence of a proper blend of legal theory and real life issues in classrooms and the law schools’ inability to provide socially responsive legal education. All these problems can be reduced to a basic problem: the inability of law schools to determine their functions and aims as legal education providers.

After joining the Faculty of Law, University of Dhaka, my classmates – now legal professionals – have shared their sufferings for inadequate understanding of procedural and substantive issues. The conversations have always been followed by a request to impart “practical” (clinical) legal education which will enable fresh law graduates to do their “work.” I could not tell them that my legal education has not provided me enough to be an academician. What does one need to be a law teacher in Bangladesh? The answer is – good grades and a required number of publications. Legal education training is not a requirement either to enter or to continue the profession.

With my share of inadequacy of understanding I cannot ascertain for sure “What? Why and How?” to teach. For I do not know who I am speaking to – Prospective lawyers?

themselves accordingly. For example, one aiming to be a law teacher in Bangladesh might discuss career and higher studies prospects with professors, get first-hand experience from a law firm, join seminars and workshops on research and writing.

After trying all of the above and still having a sense of inadequacy, my destination was to get into a research university abroad for higher studies to get necessary training as researcher and teacher. I selected a law school which proudly says “this is not a trade school, this is a law school – our aim is to create researchers – a community that asks and thinks deeper questions about law.”

As an LLM student I had training on research, writing and critique.

As a doctoral student, I have the opportunity to be part of a research community by joining faculty events, presenting my work in different platforms, joining professors as teaching assistant in advanced stages of the programme. For those interested to be law teachers, the degree offers an opportunity to get legal education training as well.

What does one need to be a law teacher in Bangladesh?

The answer is – good grades and a required number of publications

Raihanatul Jannat is a Barrister from The Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, UK.

Vulnerability of female garment workers n Bangladesh the multimillion dollar ready-made garment (RMG) sector employs more female workers than male workers. Millions of workers earn their livelihood through this sector and roughly 80% of them are female. Bangladesh’s society is a male dominated one and generally in any workplace male workers are preferred, however, reason behind this bizarre ratio between female and male is not difficult to understand.

Generally, in a country like Bangladesh, which is one of the poorest countries in the world, women are more likely to fall prey to poverty than men. Due to economic hardship they became the cheapest labourer and often garment factory owners use the helplessness of these poor female job-seekers for financial gain. These female workers can neither bargain nor deny any unjust decision attributed towards them because of their powerlessness.

This large number of female workers often find themselves under compelling conditions where they have to work longer than regular working hours even during the holidays or may have to taken an extra load of work which they are not supposed to do. There are many factors behind the helplessness of the female workers at work – migration from villages to the cities due to poverty, no earning member in the family, lack of educational qualification, no knowledge of the labour law and so on. These are the main reasons that make the women garment workers more vulnerable at the workplace.

7

Thursday, November 6, 2014

nual GDP is lost as a result of occupational diseases and accidents.

In 2003, ILO adopted a global strategy to improve occupational safety and healthy atmosphere through ILO’s Global Program on Safety, Health and the Environment. The programme included the introduction of a preventive safety and health culture, effective protection to vulnerable groups, awareness building, and the promotion and development of relevant instruments and technical assistance.

Promises are made after every such man-made tragedy takes place and soon forgotten. If such negligence and the trend of forgetfulness continues, the day is not very far when this huge remittance earning industry would be completely ruined. The poor implementation of international and national legal instruments tells us that it is high time to take effective, preventive and adequate measures to stop such industrial hazards.

Ensuring proper compliance with the available national and international legal instruments is a must, otherwise, only amending the law would not help. RMG sector contributes three quarters of the total export revenue for Bangladesh. Industrial safety, gender sensitive issues and labour friendly environment must be ensured.

Newspapers and other media should shed more focus on the labour rights issues. The government as well as related organisations, eg BGMEA, BKMEA, FBCCI should come forward and monitor the situation more frequently. Since the main workforce engaged in this sector are women, the government should emphasise more on this particular issue and run awareness raising programmes for female garments workers to avoid such incidents in the future. l Saraban Tahura Zaman holds an an LLM from the Department of Law, University of Dhaka.

BIGSTOCK

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Judges? Corporate officers? Academicians? What do the law schools in Bangladesh aim to develop? How do they define themselves? Imagine a college graduate entering law school watching “Paper Chase” with high expectations and put down with no challenges at all by the mundane education system.

How does the student survive?

I got an answer while watching another movie which had a punchline “sometime the wrong train takes you to the right destination.” So after boarding the wrong train of legal education the law students aim for their own destinations and groom

I am sure that my teachers and their teachers, my colleagues and their colleagues in every law school in Bangladesh, have and have had their own destinations and efforts — but until those are translated into a meaningful institutional change; all our efforts will be destined to personal well-being rather than defining and refining of a collective legal community. l Rokeya Chowdhury is a human rights activist and Lecturer at Faculty of Law, University of Dhaka. The article was first published in the Dhaka Law Review Blog (dhakalawreview.org).

JURIS QUOTE We desire justice, and justice has never been obtained in haste and strong feeling.

Walter Van Tilburg Clark

American novelist, short story writer, and educator August 03, 1909 – November 10, 1971

RIO SHUVO

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Tough road ahead for Obama after Republicans seize Senate n Reuters, Washington Republicans rode a wave of voter discontent to seize control of the US Senate, dealing a punishing blow to US President Barack Obama that will limit his legislative agenda and may force him to make a course correction for his last two years in office.

The Republican rout on Tuesday was wide and deep in what was bound to be seen as a sharp rebuke to Obama, who has lurched from crisis to crisis and whose unpopularity made him unwelcome to Democratic candidates in many contested states.

Obama, who watched election returns from the White House and saw little to warm his spirits, scheduled a news conference for 2:50pm EST (1950 GMT) on Wednesday. He invited Democratic and Republican leaders of Congress to the White House on Friday to take stock of the new political landscape.

The Republicans also strengthened their grip on the US House of Representatives. When the new Congress takes power in January, they will be in charge of both chambers for the first time since elections in 2006.

The Republican takeover in the Senate will force Obama to scale back his

ambitions to either executive actions that do not require legislative approval, or items that might gain bipartisan support, such as trade agreements and tax reform.

It also will test his ability to compromise with newly empowered political opponents who have been resisting his legislative agenda since he was first elected in 2008. Americans elected him to a second and final four-year term in 2012.

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a possible presidential candidate in 2016 who campaigned for fellow Republicans around the country, said the Senate results put the onus on Obama.

“We need to get things done ... and put things on the president’s desk and make the president make some decisions,” Christie said on “CBS This Morning.” He cited tax reform, a national energy policy and job stimulation as pressing needs.

The shift in the Senate also could prompt a White House staff turnover as some exhausted members of the Obama team consider departing in favor of fresh legs. {ID:nL1N0SS0FC] Before the election results, the White House had signaled no major changes for Obama. Officials said Obama would seek common ground

with Congress in such areas as trade and infrastructure.

“The president is going to continue to look for partners on Capitol Hill, Democrats or Republicans, who are willing to work with him on policies that benefit middle-class families,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Tuesday.

Obama, a one-term senator before he became president, has often been faulted for not developing closer relations with lawmakers.

He will find one familiar face in a powerful new position. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who won a tough re-election battle against Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, will replace Democrat Harry Reid as Senate majority leader. Reid has been one of Obama’s top political allies and helped steer the president’s signature healthcare law through the Senate in 2010.

“Some things don’t change after tonight. I don’t expect the president to wake up tomorrow and view the world any differently than he did when he woke up this morning. He knows I won’t either. But we do have an obligation to work together on issues where we can agree,” McConnell said in his victory speech in Louisville. l

US mid-term elections Thursday, November 6, 2014 November 4

Democrats

Republicans

Senate

Voting in 36 of the Senate’s 100 seats

The Senate today

53

2 Independents (Democrat allies)

45

100 seats

Of the seats being contested, 21 are Democrat, 15 Republican

House of Representatives

Voting in all 435 seats

The House today

3 vacant seats

199

435

233

seats

State Governors

Voting in 36 of the 50 governorships

Current Governors

29 21

Peshmerga ‘heavily shelling’ IS in Kobane

Obama says he sees ‘worst possible’ Senate map since Eisenhower n Reuters, Washington US President Barack Obama said on Tuesday that the Senate electoral map heavily favors Republicans, making it the toughest grouping of races faced by a second-term president since Republican Dwight Eisenhower lost heavily in 1958.

Obama, who called a local radio show in Hartford, Connecticut to encourage people to vote, noted that only a third of the Senate seats are up for election, and that this cycle, those races are in Republican-leaning states.

“In this election cycle, this is probably the worst possible group of states for Democrats since Dwight Eisenhower. There are a lot of states that are being contested where they just tend to tilt Republican,” Obama said on WNPR. In 1958, Democrats took 13 Senate seats, including 10 from Republican incumbents, and won both Senate seats in the first-ever Senate election for Alaska.

The White House is fighting back against assertions that Tuesday’s mid-

terms are a referendum on Obama’s performance. Republicans are expected to pick up seats in the Senate and may gain the six they need to wrest control of the chamber from Democrats.

Obama did 14 interviews with local radio stations on Monday and Tuesday leading up to the midterms, including in Milwaukee, Philadelphia, Miami, Baltimore, Chicago, Charlotte, and Detroit.

Obama was calling the Hartford radio show to express his support for Connecticut Governor Dan Malloy, who is in a tight race with Republican challenger Tom Foley.

Of the 36 gubernatorial races, more than a dozen are considered too close to call.

“That probably speaks to the fact that voters are generally frustrated with government,” Obama said.

“They know things have gotten better from where they were six years ago, but they don’t see the kind of cooperation between Democrats and Republicans they’d like to see.

The polarization has gotten worse,” he said. l

Poroshenko: Ukraine sending troops to defend cities against rebels n AFP, Kiev Ukraine is rearming and deploying newly formed units to protect cities in the east of the country from threatened attempts by pro-Russian rebels to seize more territory, President Petro Poroshenko said Tuesday.

At a crisis meeting of security chiefs in the capital Kiev, Poroshenko said he had not given up on a deal brokered in September to end the seven-month conflict, in which the UN says more than 4,000 people have died.

“Ukraine remains a firm supporter of the peace plan,” Poroshenko said.

However, Poroshenko said Ukraine’s

military is ready to repel any separatist attempt to mount a new offensive, as they have repeatedly threatened to do.

Troops were in place to defend government-held cities from Mariupol on the Black Sea to Kharkiv in the northeast, near Russia, he said.

“We are obliged as the Ukrainian state not to allow the spread of this cancerous tumour, to ensure the blockade of this territory,” he told his National Security and Defence Council.

Ukraine’s small army has been badly mauled during the more than halfyear of battles with rebels who Western governments say are supplied and supported by regular Russian troops. l

Thousands of Gaza civil servants strike n AFP, Gaza City Free Syrian Army (FSA) fighters fire with a heavy machine gun at IS militant positions on the outskirts of the Syrian town of Kobane, also known as Ain al-Arab, as seen from the southeastern border village of Mursitpinar, Sanliurfa province, on Tuesday AFP

n AFP, Arbil

IS has seized control of large parts of Syria and Iraq and the Iraqi Kurds have been a key fighting force in preventing the group’s further advance in Iraq.

“We have fought IS in Iraq. There is no difference at all between the jihadists we fought in Iraq and those we are fighting in Kobane. They use the same weapons,” said the commander.

Up to 4,000 jihadists are fighting some 1,500 to 2,000 members of the YPG in Kobane, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Brit-

Iraqi Kurdish peshmerga fighters who joined the battle for the Syrian border town of Kobane have been heavily shelling Islamic State group jihadists, a commander told AFP. Speaking to AFP by telephone from inside Kobane, the commander said the peshmerga were manning artillery in support of local Syrian Kurdish militia fighters, who have been battling the jihadists for nearly seven weeks.

“We are 150 well-trained peshmerga and we are here only to provide support,” said the commander, speaking on condition of anonymity.

“We have been heavily shelling Islamic State positions in Kobane, which has helped the (Syrian Kurdish) People’s Protection Units (YPG),” the commander said.

The peshmerga crossed the Turkish border into Kobane at the weekend after travelling across Turkey from Iraq’s northern autonomous Kurdish region.

Senior al Qaeda operative killed in US strike in Yemen

Amnesty berates Israel for civilian deaths in Gaza war

n Reuters, Sanaa

A senior al Qaeda official wanted by the United States and a local leader of the militant group’s affiliate, Ansar al-Sharia, were killed in a drone strike in central Yemen overnight, tribal sources said on Wednesday.

Nabil al-Dahab, leader of Ansar al-Sharia in Yemen’s al-Bayda province, was killed along with four other al Qaeda members, including Shawki al-Badani, the sources said. Badani is a leader of al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula who is wanted by the United States.

The US State Department has designated Badani as a “global terrorist,” saying he was linked to at least two plots against the US embassy in Sanaa and a 2012 suicide bombing in the Yemeni capital that killed more than 100 soldiers.

A June 17, 2014, posting on the State Department website said the Yemeni government had offered a $100,000 reward for information about Badani.

It also reported Yemeni authorities describing him as one of “the most dangerous terrorists affiliated with al Qaeda.” l

n AFP, Jerusalem The Israeli military displayed “shocking disregard” for civilian lives in Gaza during its devastating 50-day war on militants in the Palestinian territory, Amnesty International said in a report Wednesday.

Israel rejected the London-based rights group’s findings, saying it produced “no evidence” to back up its claims in what was effectively “a propaganda tool for Hamas.”

Amnesty documented eight instances in which Israeli forces attacked homes in Gaza “without warning,” killing “at least 104 civilians including 62 children.”

“The report reveals a pattern of frequent Israeli attacks using large aerial bombs to level civilian homes, sometimes killing entire families,” Amnesty said.

While possible military targets were identified in some cases, “the devastation to civilian lives... was clearly disproportionate,” it added.

The report charged that when it appeared to have failed to identify “any

possible military target” in a Gaza residential building, Israel may have “directly and deliberately targeted civilians or civilian objects, which would constitute war crimes.”

“The report exposes a pattern of attacks on civilian homes by Israeli forces which have shown a shocking disregard for the lives of Palestinian civilians, who were given no warning and had no chance to flee,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s director for the Middle East and North Africa.

Amnesty said “Palestinian armed groups also committed war crimes, firing thousands of indiscriminate rockets into Israel killing six civilians including one child.”

The group said it had to conduct research for the report remotely as Israel denied it and other watchdogs access to Gaza.

It also called for cooperation with the UN Human Rights Committee, which last month urged Israel to ensure an independent and impartial investigation to the Gaza war. l

ain-based monitoring group.

The town has become a highly visible symbol of the international campaign against the jihadist group.

“Since our arrival, IS has tried to advance... but it has failed because we pushed them back,” the commander said, adding that the Kurds had killed “a large number” of jihadists since Friday.

“Our morale is very high and we are convinced we will expel (the jihadists) from Kobane. We have a strategy to achieve this goal,” the commander said. l

About 20,000 civil servants in the Gaza Strip went on strike Tuesday to protest the Palestinian unity government’s refusal to pay military and security employees of the Islamist movement Hamas.

All ministries and other institutions run by Hamas in Gaza were shut and gated, except for schools, after the walkout by mostly administrative workers, an AFP correspondent said.

Thousands of military and security workers caught up in a row between Palestinian rival factions Hamas and Fatah in the war-ravaged territory have not been paid for several months.

Hamas hired more than 40,000

people after it seized Gaza in 2007 following deadly clashes with militants of Fatah, the party of Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

But after a reconciliation deal with Abbas that led to the formation of a West Bank-based national unity government in June this year, Hamas relinquished responsibility for paying salaries.

Hamas has technically handed power to the unity government but it remains in de facto control of Gaza.

Abbas’s West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA) initially refused to pay the workers, but on Wednesday about 24,000 civilian Hamas employees received their salary from the unity government. l

Kerry: US, China should set example by agreeing on climate goals n Reuters, Washington The United States and China, the world’s largest carbon emitters, have an opportunity to agree on ambitious targets to reduce climate-warming gas emissions and set the stage for a global deal, US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Tuesday.

Speaking hours before leaving on a trip that will include Beijing, Kerry said climate change, Iran, North Korea and counter terrorism were areas on which the two major powers could cooperate and agree.

China and the United States appear increasingly willing to reach a deal, even a limited one, in Paris in late 2015 when developed and developing nations are supposed to set goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020.

“Solutions are within reach but they will require ambitious, decisive and immediate action,” Kerry told an audience at Johns Hopkins School of

Advanced International Studies in Washington.

“We hope that the partnership between China and the United States can help set an example for global leadership and for the seriousness of purpose on those targets and the negotiations overall,” Kerry added, noting that China and the United States together account for close to 50% of all greenhouse gas emissions.

Kerry will join US President Barack Obama for a leaders’ summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Beijing later this month.

Describing the U.S-China relationship as “the most consequential in the world today,” Kerry reiterated the Obama administration’s declared “rebalance” to Asia that aims to leverage economic, security and trade ties to take advantage of the region’s rapid rise.

Kerry said Washington was committed to advancing a “principled and productive relationship” with China.

“As the two of the world’s major powers and largest economies we have a profound opportunity to set a constructive course on any number of issues,” said Kerry.

“Our relationship has to be carefully managed and guided, not by news hooks and grand gestures, but by a long-term strategic vision, by hard work, by good diplomacy and by good relationships,” he added.

He said the relationship was built on two pillars: constructively managing differences and coordinating efforts in areas where there is agreement.

The United States has expressed concern over China’s human rights record and Beijing’s assertive actions in disputed waters of the South China Sea. While stressing that it does not take a position on specific maritime claims, Washington has increased military cooperation with allies and partners in the South China Sea, including the Philippines and Vietnam. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

More than 40% of China’s arable land degraded n Reuters, Beijing More than 40 percent of China’s arable land is suffering from degradation, official news agency Xinhua said, reducing its capacity to produce food for the world’s biggest population.

The rich black soil in northern Heilongjiang province, which forms part of China’s bread basket, is thinning, while farmland in China’s south is suffering from acidification, the report said, citing agriculture ministry statistics.

Degraded land typically includes soil suffering from reduced fertility, erosion, changes in acidity and the effects of climate change as well as damage from pollutants.

Beijing is growing increasingly concerned about its food supply after years of rapid industrialization resulted in widespread pollution of waterways and farmland.

The country, which must feed nearly 1.4 billion people, has already outlined plans to tackle soil pollution, said

to affect around 3.3 million hectares of land.

But as rising incomes place growing pressure on its domestic resources to produce more, high quality food, it is also planning to tackle degraded soil, the report said.

The agriculture ministry wants to create 53 million hectares of connected farmland by 2020 that would allow it to withstand drought and floods better, said Xinhua. Larger farms are more suited to irrigation and other modern farming practices.

It also wants to strengthen the monitoring of arable land management and speed up the legislative process to protect farmland in order to ensure stable food production and farmers’ incomes, the report added.

Currently protecting farmland is difficult as liability for soil contamination is hard to determine, experts say.

The government is drafting a new law to tackle this but it is not expected to be completed until at least 2017. l

World

After Wagah blast, Taliban group vows to attack India n Reuters A new Pakistani Taliban group behind this week’s devastating suicide bombing on the Wagah border said on Wednesday the attack was as much aimed at India as Pakistan, suggesting that Indian targets might be next.

At least 57 Pakistanis were killed during the flag-lowering ceremony on Sunday when a bomber tried to get as close as possible to the border in a possible attempt to cause casualties on the Indian side as well.

Ehsanullah Ehsan, a prominent militant and spokesperson for the group, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Jamaat Ahrar (TTP-JA), said he had warned Prime Minister Narendra Modi that attacks in India were in the pipeline.

“I have already conveyed it to Modi ... that if our suicide bombers can carry out attacks on this side of the border, they can easily do it on other side of the border in India,” he told Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location.

“I told him that his hands are red with the blood of Kashmiri mujahideen (fighters) and innocent people of Gujarat for which he would have to pay the price.” l

9

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Congress faithful question Gandhi leadership in India n Reuters, New Delhi Rumblings of dissent are growing against the Gandhi family that leads India’s hapless Congress party, five months after the most resounding electoral defeat in the party’s 129-year history.

The Gandhis’ troubles are helping Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he seeks to further his agenda of economic and social reform by winning control of the upper house of parliament.

Disgruntled Congress members pasted newspaper over portraits of the mother-son team of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi at a party office in the southern state of Tamil Nadu on Monday, after a party veteran shunned their leadership and formed his own splinter group.

GK Vasan, a former minister, was the latest in a series of regional leaders to quit the party, which was pushed out of office in May, clinging to just 44 of 543 seats in parliament.

Vasan’s departure triggered more criticism of the Gandhis and their perceived lack of introspection.

On Wednesday, Karti Chidambaram, the son of India’s previous finance minister, said the Congress lead-

ership should give state chapters of the party more freedom.

“We must rethink this high-command observer culture,” he said. “We cannot wait for Delhi to show the path in every single way.”

Congress faced further embarrassment at the weekend when Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra, shoved away the microphone of a journalist who asked him about allegations he profited from sweetheart land deals.

Vadra was pilloried for his responses of “Are you serious?” and “Are you nuts?” which became Twitter sensations. Analysts said the incident was a reminder of the stand-offish attitudes that led many people to reject the party in May. “The Vadra incident simply smacks of the arrogance of power,” said Sandeep Shastri, a professor of political science at Bangalore-based Jain University.

Congress free india

Modi has repeatedly promised a “Congress-free India” to end the domination of a party that has ruled India for most of the 67 years since freedom from British rule. He blames the Nehru-Gand-

hi dynasty that began with Rahul’s great-grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru for the country’s slow development.

Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party took control of two economically important states from Congress in regional elections last month, and is expected to deal the party further pain in another group of state polls that end in December.

Congress General Secretary Shakeel Ahmad told Reuters the party is thinking about ways to improve communication, including better use of social media. He gave no details.

Modi’s adept use of technology was widely credited with helping him win the support of millions of young Indians. Congress has taken to Twitter and Facebook more actively since the election but still has a long way to go.

The party’s website promises to factcheck statements by Modi’s ruling nationalists “every day.” It was last updated on May 7.

In the last seven days, Rahul has been holding meetings with state heads and other party members, brainstorming and inviting suggestions to strengthen Congress in New Delhi. The party aims to increase its membership across India, Ahmad said. l

Hong Kong students fine-tune plan to take democracy call to Beijing n Reuters, Hong Kong

Pro-democracy protesters wearing Guy Fawkes masks stand in front of an advertisement as they take a subway train to a protest site occupied by them as part of the Occupy Central civil disobedience movement in Hong Kong yesterday, the day marking Guy Fawkes Night REUTERS

India moves two warships away from Kolkata port after terror alert

Choose us or Hurriyat leaders, Indian defence minister tells Pakistan

n Reuters, New Delhi

n AFP, New Delhi

India’s navy withdrew two warships from the eastern port of Kolkata on Tuesday after intelligence agencies warned of an attack on the port and the city, police and navy officers said.

The rare move came two days after a suicide bomber killed 60 people on the Pakistani side of the main border crossing with India hundreds of miles to the west, deepening fears that Pakistan’s internal strife was spreading into India.

Two naval warships, INS Khukri and INS Sumitra, that had docked in Kolkata on Monday were ordered back into sea for “operational reasons”, navy spokesman Captain D.K. Sharma said.

The ships were meant to be in port until Friday for public viewing as part of ceremonies in the run-up to Navy Day next month, he said.

Two officers in the control room at the police headquarters in West Bengal where Kolkata is located said they had received a message from federal intelligence agencies on Tuesday warning of the possibility of an attack on the port.

On Sunday, a bomber detonated his suicide vest near the Wagah checkpoint between India and Pakistan just as people on the Pakistani side were leaving after a daily flag-lowering ceremony by border guards. l

India’s Defence Minister on Wednesday said Pakistan must make a “conscious choice of peace” and decide whether it wants to talk to the Indian government or the Hurriyat leaders.

According to news reports, Indian Defence and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said India is prepared to enter dialogue with Pakistan and normalise relations but “there are a few red lines.”

Referring to India’s decision to call off foreign secretary-level bilateral talks with Pakistan following the criticism of Pakistani High Commissioner Abdul Basit’s meeting with Hurriyat leader Shabbir Shah, Jaitley said: “We create the environment, we fix up a dialogue at the level of foreign secretaries, our foreign secretary is to visit Pakistan [and] literally a few hours before that they invite the separatists for a dialogue to their high commission [in New Delhi].”

“So I think a new red line has to be drawn in Pakistan to reconsider this question that who they want to speak to? Do they want to speak to the government of India or they want to speak to those who want to break India,” the Indian minister said at the India Economic Summit in New Delhi.

“So unless Pakistan makes the con-

scious choice, a dialogue with Pakistan will not be possible,” he said.

Talking about the ceasefire violations on the Line of Control (LoC), he said the consequences of Pakistan’s “misadventure” like firing on a civilian population and the uprooting of a village, “would be an unaffordable cost for Pakistan.”

Jaitley said New Delhi had given three messages to Pakistan.

“The first is that we want to talk. So we invited them. The second is we send a foreign secretary there. But they must decide whether they are ready to speak to our foreign secretary or to speak to those who want to break India. The third is that this kind of a situation in international border cannot go on.

“That’s not an environment for a dialogue... India would like to normalise the relationship. But whether Pakistan wants to normalise the relationship depends on Pakistan.”

Jaitley had warned Pakistan on October 21 of more “pain” if it “continued to violate a ceasefire” on the disputed border in Kashmir. He had said that it was up to Islamabad to create conditions for the resumption of peace talks.

“Our conventional strength is far more than theirs. So if they persist with this, they’ll feel the pain of this adventurism,” Jaitley had told NDTV in an interview.

Indo-Pak delegates spar over Kashmir at UN

Pakistan and India were involved in a yet another verbal duel over the Jammu and Kashmir region after an Indian delegate protested what he called were “unsolicited comment” about the decades-old dispute made by a Pakistani diplomat in a UN General Assembly’s panel.

“Jammu and Kashmir is an integral part of India,” Indian delegate Mayank Joshi claimed, while reacting to a statement made by Pakistani diplomat Diyar Khan in the 193-member Third Committee calling for a settlement of the Kashmir dispute in accordance with UN resolutions.

The Pakistani delegate also said, “It is regrettable that decades after the adoption of these resolutions, the people of Jammu and Kashmir remain deprived of their fundamental right to self-determination. They continue to face widespread repression and human rights violations, which have been documented by independent international human rights organisations.”

Exercising his right of reply, Joshi, the Indian delegate, called Pakistani delegate’s comments about the Issue of Kashmir as ‘factually incorrect.’ l

Students calling for full democracy for Chinese-ruled Hong Kong are hoping to take their protest to Communist Party rulers in Beijing and are expected to announce details of their new battle plan on Thursday.

The plan signals a shift in the focus of the protests in the former British colony away from the Hong Kong government which has said it has limited room for maneuver.

But China is highly unlikely to allow any known pro-democracy activists into Beijing, especially if the trip coincides with this weekend’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum there.

“I think one of the ways we can solve this problem is to go to Beijing personally and have a direct dialogue with Beijing officials on this matter since the (Hong Kong) government claims that all decisions have to be passed up to the NPC,” Alex Chow, leader of the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS), said last week, referring to China’s parliament, the National People’s Congress.

The protesters blocked key roads leading into three of Hong Kong’s most economically and politically important districts for weeks. The campaign drew well over 100,000 at its peak and hundreds remain camped out at the main protest site in the Admiralty district, home to government offices and next to the main financial district.

The HKFS has not said whether its planned trip was to coincide with APEC, which would mean, if allowed, it would take place in front of an audience of world leaders.

Another student leader, Nathan

Law, said details would be revealed on Thursday.

Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying signaled on Tuesday that a much-anticipated plan to link the Shanghai and Hong Kong stock markets had been delayed as a result of the protests and urged society to pull together to restore order in the city

Impact on business

China has ruled Hong Kong since 1997 through a “one country, two systems” formula which allows wide-ranging autonomy and freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland.

The protesters are demanding fully-democratic elections for the city’s next chief executive in 2017, not the vote between pre-screened candidates that Beijing has said it will allow.

A survey by Hong Kong University’s Public Opinion Program on Tuesday showed that the HKFS has become the most popular political group in the city.

On Wednesday, Regina Ip, a former Hong Kong security chief and a top adviser to the city’s embattled leader proposed HKFS be given seats on the committee that nominates candidates for chief executive, broadcaster RTHK reported.

Ip said the committee should include young people and women and could cut back on agriculture and fisheries representatives, according to the report.

Pro-Beijing groups have increasingly criticized the impact the protests are having on business. Data on business conditions in the city’s private sector economy released in the HSBC Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) show the strongest pace of deterioration in October in three years. l

NEWS BITES Kashmir protests killing of civilians

Saudi Arabia beheads Pakistani drug smuggler

n AP

n AFP

Shops and businesses were closed in Indian-held Kashmir and small protests broke out after separatists called a strike Wednesday following the killings of two teenagers by army soldiers at a roadblock.

Government forces fired tear gas in a suburb of Srinagar to disperse protesters who hurled stones at police and paramilitary soldiers. There were no immediate reports of injuries. The army said on Wednesday it regretted the killings, ordered an investigation and removed 16 soldiers from field duty pending the inquiry. l

Saudi Arabia beheaded a Pakistani on Wednesday for trafficking heroin hidden in his stomach into the kingdom, the interior ministry said, the latest in dozens of executions this year.

Mohammed Sadiq Hanif was arrested during his attempt to smuggle “a large amount” of heroin, the ministry said in a statement carried by the official SPA news agency.

Last month, Saudi authorities beheaded four Pakistanis convicted of smuggling heroin into the kingdom. l

Sri Lankan president seeks Supreme Court nod for third term

Christian couple lynching incited by mullah of local mosque

n Reuters

n Reuters

Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa has asked the Supreme Court to determine if there is any constitutional obstacle to his becoming president for a third term, something the top lawyers’ association says he can not do.

Rajapaksa and his family have a tight grip on Sri Lanka’s economy and on politics which critics characterize as an unusually personalized system of government.

He has also been criticized over human rights standards. l

Police arrested dozens of people on Wednesday after a mob beat a Christian couple to death and burned their bodies for allegedly desecrating the Holy Quran.

Local media reported the couple was accused of burning a copy of the Holy Quran and throwing it in a rubbish bin in the province of Punjab on Tuesday. Police said their bodies were set on fire in a brick kiln.

The incident took place in the town of Kot Radha Kishan, some 60 kilometres of Lahore. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Thursday, November 6, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Up the speed on renewable energy

A

ccording to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the number of household solar power systems in Bangladesh has jumped from 25,000 to 2.8 million in the last 10 years.

IDCOL has ambitious targets to multiply this figure further and the country is installing small photovoltaic systems at a rate of 80,000 a month.

This is important progress and needs to be supported more widely.

As a nation that is highly vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change, it is vital Bangladesh keep increasing the pace of our efforts to increase renewable energy production.

The IPCC has told the UN that in order to keep global average temperature rise within manageable limits, greenhouse gas emissions have to be cut to near zero by 2100.

This means reducing world emissions by between 40% and 70% within the next 35 years.

Leading the way on converting to clean energy can bring multiple benefits. For a start, we urgently need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels anyway given their cost and finite nature. More importantly, we need to raise living standards by providing more people with reliable electricity in order to increase peoples’ resilience to adapting and coping with climate change.

The government should do more to incentivise renewable energy production, by cutting subsidies on fossil fuels. With over 114,000 people working in the solar industry already in Bangladesh, there is plenty of scope for this to create new jobs as well as helping us play our part in the clean energy revolution.

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

Chatty Cathy

We urgently need to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, given their cost and finite nature

Reclaim rivers from land grabbing

October 26

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 20 represents P so fill P every time the figure 20 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

about evolution towards freedom of speech as it is to talk about evolution to laws against murder or corruption.

Rajeeb “But such sensitive discussions can only be lead by intellectuals and in a system that works.”

What system are you talking about? How can you bring about such a system without talking about it in the first place? And how can you talk about it if people like you continue to shun dissent? Of course, it is alright for everybody else but Taslima to write and express! You can educate a whole generation but not create an intellectual by calling some internationally-acclaimed writer as being of “zero-calibre.”

Osmania Rajeeb: That’s right. I care not for Latif, his opinions, or his career, but by using his case to imply “ordinary people” cannot cope with sensitive discussions, the author indicates that they either do not trust ordinary people, or they fear them.

A mindset that thinks sensitive discussions should only involve intellectuals is not democratic.

You either believe in freedom of speech and democracy or you don’t. It is as ludicrous to talk

Rob Osmania: Ordinary people can cope with sensitive situations and provide discourse. We might say Lalon was the epitome of such a phenomenon.

Latif is no ordinary thing; we have plenty of “blabbering fools” of varying levels of education in key political positions. I for one believe they should be taxed heavily for their speech (their tax matters remain heavily guarded, though). s mallik Rajeeb: You can educate a whole generation but not create an intellectual by calling some internationally-acclaimed writer as being of “‘zerocalibre.’”

Internationally acclaimed. Hahahahahahaha RS “When the majority of the population lacks proper education, discussions on religion will hardly be positively stimulating.”

Yes, I agree. Discussion on religion is not at all that important at the moment, The leaders should focus more on poverty alleviation and in finding solutions to other existing problems.

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.

Rob Rajeeb: How many bets for “he was drunk”?

Otherwise, politically suicidal has to be the verdict. Is this what we call dissent?

I

t is highly concerning that progress on removing illegal structures from the banks of rivers encircling Dhaka appears to have stalled once again.

The re-demarcation of the Turag River has recently been suspended on undisclosed grounds, increasing the risk of encroachers grabbing yet more riverbed and riverbank lands.

On July 14 this year, the Supreme Court cleared the way for removing all structures, excluding those set up to serve public interests, erected on the banks of the Balu, Buriganga, Shitalakhya, and Turag around Dhaka.

This was the latest in a long line of related court cases which have issued directives to protect and reclaim important riverbanks.

Although there are clear precedents defining the areas which need to be protected and the High Court directed the BITWA in 2009 to safeguard these four rivers against encroachment and pollution, enforcement actions have regularly been delayed by legal challenges on the definition of the areas affected and by the strong influence of land grabbers.

Hence, despite court orders and a prime ministerial directive, efforts by local and national government bodies, including Rajuk, BIWTA, and the Bangladesh Water Development Board have failed to adequately recover occupied lands.

Not only are grabbers constructing new structures on illegally occupied riverbank lands, but they are setting up factories releasing untreated chemical wastes into the rivers.

If the government is serious about reviving the Dhaka circular waterway route and maintaining flood plains, it must take tougher action to punish those responsible for unscrupulous land- grabbing and pollution.

Take tougher action to punish those responsible for unscrupulous land- grabbing and pollution

Try some tact October 26

SM Emotion is far too hard to study!

Maus “Being caring and considerate is something one builds up one available shoulder at a time, and having these values is not only about helping others but helping yourself.”

Very, very true.

All accused acquitted in Padma graft case October 26

Arch Bishop And what exactly were we expecting from a regime which controls the ACC and the courts in an iron grip?

Outlaw all forms of rape

October 24 VK Including domestic rape, forced child marriage (and sexual intercourse with minors), pedophile behaviour with boys and girls etc.

SR Any form of rape should not be endured, and the culprits ought to be punished. The government should really implement effective punishments against this crime.

Love will keep us alive October 24

rose I think business professionals ought to understand their employees better, and create love for hard work, zeal, respect etc.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Cicatrix (4) 4 Dance (5) 8 Country (6) 9 Stopper (4) 11 Giver (5) 12 Augury (4) 14 First woman (3) 15 Tempt (6) 19 Governing body (6) 21 Insane (3) 22 Have on (4) 24 Thespian (5) 27 Matures (4) 29 Reluctant (6) 30 Made a mistake (5) 31 Catch sight of (4)

DOWN 1 Plant juice (3) 2 Keen insight (6) 3 Storm (4) 4 Sorrowful (3) 5 Take as one’s own (5) 6 Adult (3) 7 Concurred (6) 10 Fondness (4) 13 Fish trap (3) 14 Landed property (6) 16 Fresh (3) 17 Likenesses (6) 18 Be concerned (4) 20 Over (5) 23 Comfort (4) 25 Sailor (3) 26 Colour (3) 28 Arch (3)

Minister: Shooting at Limon’s leg mere accident October 24

Dr Ahsan Habib No, just no. Shooting Limon was not an accident, based on what I read so far. Rather, this minister becoming the deputy home minister and the ALled government forming in 2014 is an accident.

Listology: Top 10 Deshi Delights

CALVIN AND HOBBES

October 26

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

Nyasa Islam Um … you get malaria from mosquitoes. Surely you can’t get it from chotpoti or fuchka. Maybe diarrhea, typhoid, or salmonella would’ve been more appropriate.

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

Sheikh Jinat Mahmid Still, we love them, and when we are away, we no longer have them on hand, isn’t that right? :) Anon E Cha and adda. That’s what I miss most. :-(

Militants organise to form a common platform October 26

PB “Bangladesh Jihadi Group comprise JMB, Huji-B and Ansarullah.”

Advancement of #militancy in #Bangladesh is fast, thanks to lax vigilance and support of the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance.

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Redefining borders

H

n Sabbir Ahmed and Ranjan Sen uman integration and cooperation generate dynamism and synergy in social, cultural, and economic life that yields development. Development means positive changes in the ecosystem, in other words, better living conditions for all living beings.

In order to develop security, and cultural and economic conditions, regional organisations like Nafta, EU, and Asean have been formed in advanced countries. These integrations reduced differences and enhanced the level of trust among people of the member countries. They started interaction at the people-to-people level that brought development in the regions. Regional cooperation had never been witnessed at such a level in South Asia – perhaps because of bitter political incidences the sub-continent experienced at the time of the partition of 1947.

and Bangladesh in Yunnan, China.

Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, and former Indian prime minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, appreciated the progress during their meeting in May 2013 in Delhi, India. A road show was organised starting from Kolkata, crossing Bangladesh and Myanmar, and ending in Kunming in 2012 to generate public awareness and support for the initiative.

The first Joint Study Group (JSG) meeting of the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor was held in Kunming in December 2013. The 1st JSG meeting of BCIMEC marked the official launch of the intergovernmental process of BCIMEC. The next meeting will be held on November 12-13 in the beach town of Cox’s Bazar.

During the first joint study group meeting of the BCIM countries, the four countries agreed that the priorities of BCIM-EC should focus on, among other things, are the following areas: Regional connectivity, including

No nation can prosper by keeping its borders closed to the world. Neighbours are the first countries we should open up to Making trade easier is a major goal of the BCIM-EC South Asian countries – Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Maldives, India, and Sri Lanka – established Saarc (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) in 1985 to broaden integration and cooperation in the field of regional security, environment, culture, trade, etc, forgetting past wounds. Afghanistan joined this association later in 2007. In its 12th summit, the association decided to create a complete freetrade area by 2016. However, because of various castes, religions, values, ethos, and political ideologies and systems, Saarc could not yet deliver on its promises. A bright future is also not seen in the horizon.

Based on the changed regional and international geopolitical scenario, a new regional cooperation organisation is emerging. Bangladesh, China, India, and Myanmar are working for the formation of an economic corridor, named BCIMEC. The initiative has been put on a fast track since the first intergovernmental meeting between China

transportation, telecommunication, and power and energy; trade and investment, sustainable development, and people-to-people exchange.

The BCIM-EC will advance multi-modal connectivity, break down trade barriers between countries, harness the economic complementarities, promote investment and trade, and facilitate people-to-people contacts.

The economic corridor will also help dovetail China, Bangladesh, India, and Myanmar on the issue of development strategies, build an even closer network of common interests, and bring integration of respective interests to a higher level.

Major global player China is pursuing BCIM-EC as a part of its initiative for joint development of an “Economic Belt along the Silk Road” and a “Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century.”

President Xi Jinping of China emphasised the importance of the initiatives in his visits to Indonesia and Kazakhstan last October. These two major initiatives that China has made are to

deepen reform and to open up and advance its neighbourhood diplomacy.

Revival of the more than 2,000-year-old economic belt along the Silk Road that connected major civilisations across Asia, Europe, and Africa will definitely boost global integration, where China and India will be playing leading roles.

Regional cooperation in the field of security, infrastructure, trade, and culture in BCIM countries still remain weak. Meaning, there is an immense opportunity for enhancement. The size of BCIM-EC economies was more than $10tn in 2012, where the economies of Euro countries were more than $12tn in the same period at the current market price.

In purchasing power parity method of GDP, the difference between the two regions might have been nullified.

BCIM-EC will have close integration and cooperation with BRICS countries, and other East Asian countries that would create greater scope to expand.

Purchasing and investing powers of

BIGSTOCK

these countries are also augmenting.

The success of the initiative depends on the relationship between India and China.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his last visit to the United States, pledged to intensify cooperation with the United States in maritime security to ensure freedom of navigation. His pledge that came against the backdrop of China’s expanding maritime ambitions, raises concern about the future of BCIMEC. On the other hand, India’s new leader, at the sixth BRICS summit, said, “BRICS must provide a united and clear voice in shaping a peaceful, balanced, and stable world.” In effect, he is trying to build a new world maintaining a balanced relationship with both giants.

Joining BCIM-EC, Bangladesh will have major benefits in the short term in the field of building badly-needed infrastructure, transportation of goods between two giant countries, removal of trade barriers, and receiving

foreign direct investments. China has demonstrated to the world that it can build infrastructure, including roads, mega bridges, high-speed rails, modern ports including deep sea ports, power, etc at lightning speed. Given the available educated workforce, easy access to sea, and low labour costs, China is eager to invest in manufacturing industries of Bangladesh that will create enormous employment opportunities and boost economic growth.

Bangladesh should develop agro and IT-based industries and RMG, among other sectors, to catch Chinese outflows. India-China trade is planned to cross $100bn by 2015, which is currently about $70bn. A portion of this planned trade can be transported through roads and railways by lifting barriers. India has already accepted duty free access to 500 Bangladeshi products. The acceptance had not yet materialised fully because of a few non-tariff barriers. China has also expressed its willingness to

expand the “zero tariff treatment” to Bangladesh.

Closer integration among BCIM countries will not only remove such non-tariff barriers but also open windows for thousands of other products. Myanmar has a huge amount of land that remains uncultivated because of a shortage of workforce.

On the other hand, Bangladesh has a huge amount of under-employed cultivators.

Embracing openness is the game of the time. No nation can prosper by keeping its borders closed to the world. Neighbours are the first countries we should open up to.

BCIM-EC creates the scope for peopleto-people contact among more than one-third of the world’s population.

These people are carrying the legacy of the great civilisations of humankind.

These people are rising. These people are taking the lead. l

remains vague and its interpretation at the discretion of the government and/ or the judiciary. The real issue here cannot just be the concern for sheer “gross security” as many powerful states insist. We must also reflect upon other core values including the right to freedom of speech or the right to political freedom.

The issue here is not only about contents, topics, or frequency of communications but also of ethics, honesty, and morality which makes the lives of general people vulnerable.

It is also important to think about the immense power possessed by private corporations that sell such software, security/IT equipment, worth trillions of dollars, and how the business interests of a few are capable of manipulating the decisions made by super powers.

The reverse is also true, where the advanced states also take advantage of the corporations who are operating in a monopolistic or oligarchic style of markets. Thus, the outcome is a gross violation of human dignity.

This is even more problematic because jargons like “metadata,” “boundless informant,” “PRISM” and so on are used which have the effect of discouraging the average citizens from finding out more information about how these intelligence programs are working and exploiting the public.

However, on the positive side, awareness around these issues is increasing and there have been numerous efforts by both journalists and whistleblowers to put more information out in the public.

Past experiences such as the outburst by the German chancellor and the French president, in response to US surveillance, have shown that such rampant acts carried out by the intelligence agencies will not go unques-

tioned, although the foreign minister of India, a weaker superpower had reconciled with these violations for reasons that may seem obvious.

Nonetheless, the situation is dismal and the extent to which individuals can stand up to the powers of the state remains low. The primary action that can be taken at this point is to increase basic knowledge about these issues and to engage the public and/or the mobile phone/internet users.

democratic means.

Besides, time has come to ask serious questions as to whether the security concerns should relate to those of the state rather than to the security of the people on the globe at large who are seeking their minimal guarantee of a safe livelihood under tough economic conditions. Should citizens’ security and safety as a whole be valued higher than personal security and safety?

Time has also come to redefine the

Sabbir Ahmed is a fellow chartered accountant. Ranjan Sen is a journalist.

I spy with my little eye n Nausheen Khan

G

rowing up, a large part of my childhood was spent playing different types of games – outdoor games, indoor games, word games, picture games (none involving iPads). One game that I immensely enjoyed was “I spy with my little eye something beginning with ...”

Fast forward two decades and the games no longer seem harmless or fun. The eyes are no longer little and the rules of the game no longer trivial, as evident from the recent Wikileaks revelation about a Tk8.2cr (€831,060) purchase of surveillance software from a German company by the Bangladesh government. This software allows the country’s intelligence units to remotely intercept audio, video, and written communications from privately-owned computers.

The news of the purchase of the FinFisher aka FinSpy software has surfaced only about a year after the Snowden incident when Edward Snowden created shocks around the world when he leaked classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA) about numerous global surveillance programs. The issue of surveillance in our home context sheds light on deeper concerns relating to morality, legitimacy, security, freedom, and so on.

Spyware obstructs the privacy of people’s lives and challenges the individual freedoms of people all over the world. Every human being has a basic and fundamental right to protect himself and his privacy from others, be it other individuals or the omnipotent state machinery. If we look both at absolute and comparative scales, we would find that this freedom has been mostly respected all along the history of human civilisation.

Even during the nascent stage of computer and information technology systems, human society guaranteed personal freedom and privacy – elements considered to be the basic ingredients of a democratic society.

Centuries ago, during the primitive age of communication when we relied upon postal mails, or “snail mails,” states pedagogically recognised the privacy of individuals. For example, the encroachment of post office personal letters was considered illegal

and such privacy was protected by appropriate legislation.

If we look at the laws of our state, in Article 43(b) of the Bangladesh constitution, it is stated that “every citizen shall have the right to the privacy of his correspondence and other means of communication, subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by law in the interests of the security of the State, public order, public morality, or public health.”

However, the term “reasonable”

This software allows the country’s intelligence units to remotely intercept audio, video, and written communications from privately-owned computers

Any infringement on such human values by the state on whatever pretext, for example, the so called “security considerations,” eventually turns these states into “police states,” lacking not only democratic values but also devoid of the minimal respect that any human being on this earth deserves.

What is more dangerous is that such security taboo provides a ploy for authoritarian governments to crack down on the opposition or dissenters by hounding on their emails, social media, mobile phones, data traffic, and all other modes of communications threatening them, making their lives miserable and taking them into custody to perpetuate their illegitimate hold on the government to lengthen their regime through non-

issue of security of state vis-a-vis the security of people before further abuse of modern technology by a tiny handful of powerful and greedy individuals nullify our eternal struggle for setting up a just and egalitarian society for all people on Earth irrespective of their gender, nationality, cast, creed, religion, richness, or poverty. That is the real essence of protecting fundamental human rights.

Bangladeshis highly value the concepts of human rights and freedoms and given current events, this is the most opportune time to steer such ideas in the pursuit of peace and progress of humankind to further advance the human civilisation. l Nausheen Khan is a development professional.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Thursday, November 6, 2014

TISHA pairs up with Shakib in Mental

The Terminal

Zee Studio, 9:25pm

n Entertainment Desk

CLAIRE DENIS to conduct Tareque Masud Master’s Class n Entertainment Desk French master filmmaker Claire Denis is on a visit to Bangladesh with invitation from online forum “Filmy-Bahas” to attend a programme.

The two-day programme will be held on December 8 and 9 at Chhayanaut Sanskriti Bhavan in Dhanmondi. Starting at 9am on both days, six films by Claire Denis are scheduled to be screened along with discourse with the master.

Palme d’Or nominee of Cannes and winner of Golden Leopard’ in Locarno, Claire Denis is the second Master invited to “Tareque Masud Master’s Class” to be held in December this year.

Filmamker Kamar Ahmad Simon will direct the main discourse with Claire Denis. Xan Brooks in .

Considered as one of the leading auteur director of contemporary French cinema, Claire Denis was born in Paris and raised in colonial French Africa.

It has been a strong influence on her films, which have dealt with themes of colonialism and post-colonialism in Africa.

Jointly organised by Embassy of France, Bangladesh and Beginning Production, Institut Francais, UniFrance Films and American International University (AIUB) are also supporting the programme.

Interested participants are requested to register themselves on facebook.com/Filmy.Bahas by November 22. Only selected participants will be able to attend due to limited number of seats.

The objective is to bring parallel narrative of world cinema to the young film enthusiasts of Bangladesh.

Kamar Ahmad Simon shared in his reaction, “When the entire world is thriving with alternative school of thoughts, when parallel narrative is merging with the mainstream more and more, then we are judging a creative medium like cinema with profit only. This notion won’t last much longer; hence it is essential to understand others’ language if you want to establish your own in this globalised era.” l

Tisha and Shakib Khan will be appearing together on the big screen for the first time as the sizzling acting talents signed the deal for the film “Mental.” Tisha signed the agreement right after reading the screenplay without qualms as she was mesmerised by it. Directed by Shimim Ahmed Roni, shooting of the film will begin in early December.

Produced by Bangla Express Films and presented by The Abhi Kothachitra, the film casts Achol, Porshi, Kabila, Misha Sawdagor and others along with Tisha and Shakib Khan.

Tisha previously worked in Mostafa Sarwar Farooki’s “Third Person Singular Number,” “Television” and Tareque Masud’s “Runway” but this is the first time the 33-year-old is going to act in a film that features stereotyped dance-song segments. l

Viktor Navorski arrives in New York airport while war breaks out after he left his country and now Viktor finds that the US refuses to recognise his country and refuses entry.

The Adventures of Tintin Star Movies, 11:30pm

Chhayanaut classical dance festival begins tomorrow n Entertainment Desk A two-day classical dance festival is scheduled to be held on the premises of Chhayanaut, a leading cultural organisation, from tomorrow. This is the fourth time Chhayanaut is organising the festival.

Manipuri, Odissi, Bharat Natyam and Kathak, an array of prominent classical dance forms will be performed throughout the festival. Apart from Chhayanaut students and teachers, eminent dance artists such as Tamanna Rahman, Munmun Ahmed, Warda Rihab, Amit Chowdhury and other guests from outside Dhaka will perform at the festival.

Chhayanaut students will also be performing in the festival.

Chirkutt to perform in the 8th South Asian Bands Festival 2014

n Entertainment Desk Band Chirkutt of Bangladesh is on a visit to New Delhi in India from November 5 to 7, 2014, to participate in the 8th South Asian Bands Festival 2014. The 8th South Asian Bands Festival 2014 in India will have participation of prominent bands from all the South Asian countries viz.

India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Chirkutt has released two hit albums “Chirkuttnama” and “Jadur Shohor.” The present lineup of Chirkutt comprises Sumi (vocals), Pintu (vocals, violin and flute), Emon (guitar, banjo and mandolin), Pavel (drums and percussion) Didar (Bass), and Tomal (guitar). l

Safe Haven HBO, 7:10pm

At the beginning of the programme, prodips (clay oil lamps) will be lit. The glory of Manipuri dance will be manifested in all its beauty, specific values and conventions.

BEYONCE highest paid woman in music in 2014: Forbes n Entertainment Desk Beyonce is the highest paid woman in music in 2014, with estimated earnings of $115 million, more than double what she pulled in last year, Forbes magazine said on Tuesday.

The huge sum, most of which was from her world tour, propelled Beyonce, 33, from fourth place last year and put her firmly ahead of pop star Taylor Swift, 24, with $64 million, who jumped up one spot from last year to No. 2.

“Beyonce played 95 shows during our scoring period, bringing in an average of $2.4 million per

Having bought a model ship, the Unicorn, for a pound off a market stall Tintin is initially puzzled that Sakharine should be so eager to buy it from him.

city,” said Forbes, citing data from the Pollstar trade magazine.

The R&B singer’s self-titled album released last December and endorsement deals pushed her earnings up further assuring her the top spot.

Barbados-born Rihanna, 26, with $48 million and Katy Perry, 30, who earned an estimated $40 million, rounded out the top five on the annual list.

Madonna, 56, ranked No 1 last year, failed to make the top 10 in 2014. Lady Gaga, 28, slumped from No 2 in 2013 to ninth place this year with estimated earnings of $33 million.

Forbes compiled the list after estimating pre-tax income calculated for the 12 months from June 2013 to 2014 based on record sales, concert tickets, touring information merchandise sales and interviews with concert promoters, lawyers and managers. l

Kathak will be the featured style in the occasion like the previous arrangements.

Solo and duet performances will also mark the classical dancers’ event. l

An affirming and suspenseful story about a young womans struggle to love again, the film is based on the novel from Nicholas Sparks.

PAOLI DAM is set to arrive in Dhaka n Entertainment Desk Indian actress Paoli Dam is going to pair up with Dhallywood superstar Shakib Khan in a Bangladeshi film titled “Sotta.” The actress is expected to arrive in the capital on November 15 and will start shooting on the following day.

The film has been directed by Hasibur Reza Kallol, is an adaptation of Sohani Hossain’s novel “Maa.” “Sotta” has a romantic story line, where a bohemian, to be played by Shakib Khan, encounters a prostitute, to be enacted by Paoli Dam. Besides the romance of the two outcasts, the film will also focus on struggles of underprivileged people.

Paoli Dam received acclamation for her acting in Bangladesh-India joint venture films “Padma Nadir Majhi” and “Moner Manush,” and popular Bollywood film “Hate Story.”

Ahmed Rubel, Bonna Mirza, Kabila and Nasreen will also work in “Sotta.” l

U2 the longest-running band on the planet

n Entertainment Desk

U2 are one of rock & roll’s greatest success stories for their artistry, but also for their marathon endurance. Friendship, health and serendipity have kept founding members Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. together since 1978.

Recently the Rolling

Theatre Natyajon presents ‘Shesh Rokhha’ on November 4 at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. A satiric love story adapted from Rabindranath Tagore’s play, the drama was directed by Mohsina Akhter KHAN HASAN MD RAFI

Stone magazine cover stars lead an elite group of bands who have fought off death, drugs, dysfunction and ugly extended hiatuses to keep their original lineups intact.

With that in mind, the magazine broke down which still-active bands have been at it the longest — with no breaks, no lineup changes, no hiatuses. With apologies to long-running bands like Rush,

Green Day and ZZ Top who all had drummer turnover early on the magazine brought out a list.

With 29 years of active and 8 albums releases, U2 stands top on the list and followed by 16 other long-running bands including Radiohead, De La Soul, Cafe Tacvba, The Hibes, Sloan, Portishead, Muse, Ramstain, The LOX, Coldplay and others. l

Did you know?

Only Don Bradman (15+ inns) averages more against the eight major Test playing nations than Mominul Haque (68.8)

Sport

14 Racist abuse ‘a

disgrace’ and Fifa must act: Toure

Thursday, November 6, 2014

DHAKA TRIBUNE

15 Sangakkara,

15 ‘Nadal’s

Johnson vie for ICC award double

13

appendicitis surgery went well’

‘Big Baby’ Hamilton keeps Tigers at bay n Minhaz Uddin Khan from Khulna

Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim (R) congratulates Zimbabwe’s unbeaten centurion Hamilton Masakadza during the third day of the second Test at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna yesterday AFP

Hamilton Masakadza pulled Zimbabwe out of trouble with a classy century as the visitors now trail Bangladesh by 102 runs in their first innings after day three of the second Test in Khulna yesterday.

Hamilton, aka Big Baby among teammates, made the hosts pay heavily for dropping him at slips in only the second over of the day as he went on to register is fourth Test century and remain unbeaten on 154. He was well complimented by Regis Chakabva’s fifty as the duo added 189 for the sixth wicket to see their side reach 331 for five in reply to Bangladesh’s 433.

Though the Khulna pitch has been placid to bat on so far, 31-year-old Hamilton had to struggle to get set. The Bangladeshi attack picked three quick wickets after lunch as the well-built right-handed fought in the middle and was eventually rewarded with his career best score.

Resuming on 53 for one, debutant Brian Chari was the first to be dismissed on the day by left-arm spinner Taijul Islam. Brendan Taylor and Hamilton, the two most experienced batsmen for the visitors, gathered 67 to repair the damage before Shakib al Hasan put a dent on their rescue mission. Khulna division’s own boy Shakib returned Taylor (35) before claiming two more wickets of Craig Ervine (17) and Elton Chigumbura (one) to leave Zimbabwe tottering at 189 for 5.

This saw Chakabva, who is usually the second choice wicketkeeper-batsman and is only playing in place of injured Richmond Mutumbami, join Hamilton and display a dominating batting performance to keep the hosts

away from any further success.

The track offered very less for the spinners as Hamilton implemented his power to tame the dangerous Bangladesh spin attack. He was particularly exquisite off the back foot and watched the ball closely to strike effortlessly while Chakabva, who was given LBW by the on field umpire when he was on seven but a well timed review saved him, also pounced on the bowlers and unsettled them which saw Zimbabwe milk 91 runs from 32 overs in the last session. l

SCORECARD, DAY 3 Bangladesh 1st innings 433 (Shakib Al Hasan 137, Tamim Iqbal 109, T. Panyangara 2-49, T. Chatara 2-61, M. Waller 2-65) Zimbabwe 1st innings (Overnight 53-1) S. Raza lbw b Taijul 11 B. Chari c Tamim b Taijul 25 H. Masakadza not out 154 B. Taylor c Mominul b Shakib 37 C. Ervine c Rahim b Shakib 17 E. Chigumbura c Mominul b Shakib 1 R. Chakabva not out 75 Extras (b2, lb7, w1, nb1) 11 Total (for five wickets, 112 overs) 331 Fall of wickets 1-17 (Raza), 2-84 (Chari), 3-151 (Taylor), 4-181 (Ervine), 5-189 (Chigumbura) Bowling Shahadat 11-2-24-0, Taijul 30-6-94-2, Shakib 30-6-70-3, Jubair 18-2-63-0 (nb1), Rubel 13-4-31-0 (w1), Shuvagata 7-0-27-0, Mominul 1-1-0-0, Mahmudullah 2-0-13-0.

Zimbabwe trail by 102 runs with five wickets in hand

ICC clears Al Amin’s bowling action n Mazhar Uddin Bangladesh pace bowler Al Amin Hossain’s bowling action has been cleared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) yesterday as the 24-year-old is now eligible to resume international cricket.

“Alhamdulilah, I am relieved to hear the news. It has been a very nervy period for me though I was confident after appearing in the bowling action test,” a relieved Al Amin told Dhaka Tribune.

The match officials expressed concern over his bowling action during the first Test against the West Indies in St Vincent in September after which Al Amin got his action tested at the Sri Ramachandra University in Chennai on October 20.

According to the ICC press release that came in yesterday afternoon, Al Amin’s bowling elbow extension for all deliveries is inside the 15-degree level permitted by the ICC rules.

“I expressed confidence after the test and today (yesterday) the news gave me a morale boost and I am more confident now. Hopefully I will get an opportunity in the ODI series against Zimbabwe,” said Al Amin who, however, did play the first Test against Zimbabwe in Dhaka before taking a leave from October 6-17 for his Honors final exam at Rajshahi University.l

It was tough to score Tamim, Shakib ease batting worries century, says Shakib n Minhaz Uddin Khan from Khulna

n Minhaz Uddin Khan from Khulna Ace Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan believes the second Test between the hosts and the visiting Zimbabwe in Khulna’s Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium is heading towards a draw.

The former national skipper, now the vice-captain of the Bangladesh ODI side, said both the teams are evenly matched going into the fourth and penultimate day’s play today.

Replying to Bangladesh’s first innings tally of 433, Zimbabwe ended the third day’s play on 331 for the loss of five wickets, trailing the hosts by 102 runs.

“I do not think they are ahead of us.

We won the first game and here so far we have both the teams at the same level. But cricket is an unpredictable game as things can change drastically within an hour or two. At this moment, however, I think we are heading towards a draw,” Shakib told the media yesterday.

The hosts were in the driving seat

Japan proposes to send U21s instead of Olympic team n Shishir Hoque Japan Football Association (JFA) has put forward a proposal of sending their national Under-21 side instead of the Olympic team to play a friendly match against Bangladesh in December next month.

The JFA sent a four-day schedule to the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) and informed that they want to play on December 18.

Due to Victory Day events in the middle of December, the BFF wants to host the friendly match after December 20.

The JFA, however, had no other option but to cancel the lone friendly as their Olympic team, comprising several national players, are scheduled to play a practice match away to Thailand on December 14 which will be followed by the ongoing Japanese League as well. l

after posting 433 runs on the board in the first innings riding on centuries from Shakib and opener Tamim Iqbal.

Missed opportunities in the field and indiscipline with the ball, however, saw Zimbabwe come back into the game with the third day wicket not really assisting Bangladesh’s arsenal of slow bowlers like it was expected to.

Despite the wicket losing its sharpness in the latter part of the third day, Shakib picked up three scalps. Instead of the pitch, the left-arm spinner blamed the Bangladesh bowlers for dismissing only four Zimbabwean batsmen throughout the day.

“We picked up three wickets in the second session which was really good but failed to maintain our momentum.”

Shakib also shed some light on his 137-run knock in the first innings.

“It is tough to score runs when you are back in the format after a long gap.

It is not easy to score runs right away.

I did not expect it myself that I will be able to score so many runs so early to be honest,” he said. l

Heading into the second Test against Zimbabwe, doubts were dangling over the Bangladesh batting department as most of their senior batsmen failed to deliver for large parts of 2014. Even after the first Test in Dhaka which was won by the hosts by three wickets, the picture made for grim viewing as the majority of the Bangladesh batsmen were unable to post any significant scores.

The graph depicting the Tigers’ batting performances, however, skyrocketed upwards following the conclusion of the home side’s first innings of the second Test, thanks to contrasting

SLOWEST TEST INNINGS FOR BANGLADESH Player

Runs

BF

n

Dhaka Premier Football League champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club will face Bangladesh Army football team in a practice match, as part of their preparation for the King’s Cup in Bhutan, at Army Stadium, Banani at 3pm today.

Jamal, under their new coach Maruful Haque, is sweating hard for the best possible preparation as they aim to clinch the title of the international club tournament.

“We are working hard and we have set our eyes on the title, with Wedson [Anselme] and Vaniel Sirin ready, Emeka Darlington is expected to arrive soon, I believe Jamal possess the power to win the title,” said Maruf after conducting a full-fledged practice session at the club ground yesterday.

SR

Opposition

Start Date

Mohammad Ashraful 190 417 45.56 Sri Lanka 8 Mar 2013 Aminul Islam 145 380 38.15 India 10 Nov 2000 Javed Omar 119 357 33.33 Pakistan 27 Aug 2003 Nafees Iqbal 121 355 34.08 Zimbabwe 14 Jan 2005 Tamim Iqbal 109 332 32.83 Zimbabwe 3 Nov 2014 It is remarkable that in the 32 Tests Tamim and Shakib have played together, it was only the fourth instance of them being in at the same time. It was also their first century stand in any form of the game.

While Ashraful has six tons in 61 Tests, Tamim has five tons in 36 Tests

Sheikh Jamal DC focus on King’s Cup Raihan Mahmood

centuries from the two icons of Bangladesh cricket in recent times – Tamim Iqbal and Shakib al Hasan.

Before the Khulna Test got underway, Bangladesh skipper Mushfiqur Rahim had stated his desire of seeing his batsmen roaring back to form. Tamim and Shakib duly obliged registering their first Test centuries in 34 and 20 innings respectively. Some other notable contributions ensured that Bangladesh put up 433 in their first innings, the second time they crossed 400 against Zimbabwe in 24 Test innings.

The two hundreds were as different to each other as day is to night.

Better known for his domineering ap-

The Dhanmondi-based club have a formidable backline comprising Nasir Uddin, Yasin Khan, Raihan Hasan, Linkon and Yamin Munna while the experienced Shahidul Alam Sohel provides them the perfect back-up with his superb goalkeeping skills.

The workload in the middle will be shared by Sohel Rana, Sharif and Jamal Bhuiyan with youngster Toklis Ahmed Tonmoy pairing up with a foreign player completing the attacking line-up.

Jamal will fly to Thimphu on November 11 and will face local club Druk United FC on November 15, the inaugural day of the competition.

Jamal are placed in Group A alongside Indian giants Mohun Bagan FC, Thailand’s First Division League side Nakhon Ratchansima Mazda FC and Bhutanese side Druk United FC. l

proach, Tamim was a model of patience as he struck 109, breaking his 4-years4-months Test century drought. The left-handed opener took 312 balls to reach his fifth century, the slowest hundred by a Bangladesh batsman in Tests, eclipsing the 309-ball ton of Tamim’s elder brother Nafees against the same opposition nine years ago in Dhaka.

Shakib on the other hand exuded sheer aggression, hitting 18 boundaries and two sixes on his way to his third Test century, his first after two years and 11 months. The fourth-wicket pair of Tamim and Shakib put on 132 runs.

Playing their 32nd Test together, this was only the fourth time the left-handed pair got the opportunity to bat alongside each other. Both made it count as this was their maiden 100-run partnership in any format.

Putting aside all the individual records, Mushfiq will no doubt be pleased with a team stat, especially after the Bangladesh batsmen’s subpar displays in the first Test. This was only the third time the Tigers batted for more than 150 overs in an innings. The batsmen showed application and took their time to settle at the wicket, which will satisfy Mushfiq a great deal. l

Bangladesh’s Shakib al Hasan (R) embraces Tamim Iqbal after the latter’s century in the second day of the second Test against Zimbabwe in Khulna on Tuesday AFP

BD U21 hockey team reach India n Tribune Desk

BHF expects Bansal soon, Keenan alternate option

As part of their preparation for the upcoming Under-21 Asian Cup Hockey Qualifiers, the junior hockey players of Bangladesh reached India last Monday and are likely to take part in eight practice matches against different opposition.

The 24-member Bangladesh U-21 hockey contingent contains 20 players and four officials. Mamunur Rashid will perform his duties as head coach while Tarikuzzaman will be the assistant coach.

Following the conclusion of their preparation matches, the Bangladesh youngsters will return home on November 18.

The U-21 Asian Cup Hockey Qualifiers is scheduled to begin in Dhaka on November 30 and end on December 7. Alongside hosts Bangladesh, four teams – Oman, Chinese Taipei, Thailand and Sri Lanka – from Group 1 will participate in the Qualifiers. The group champions will qualify for the final round slated for China next year. l

n Shishir Hoque Bangladesh Hockey Federation (BHF) is hopeful of Indian Ajay Kumar Bansal’s arrival next week. Bansal is expected to take charge of the national team as head coach.

It was also learned that Bansal met Mamunur Rashid, coach of the Bangladesh Under-21 hockey team that is currently touring India, and provided him some expert advice.

Though Bansal agreed to join the Bangladesh hockey team as head coach late last month on a three-month contract, he is yet to get the clearance of coaching a foreign country from the Indian sports governing body. However, with all the cultural festivals and holidays now over, BHF hopes Bansal should get the clearance within twothree days.

“I talked to Bansal yesterday (Tues-

day) night. He said he could not get his leave approved due to government holidays. He will rush to Dhaka as soon as he gets the leave and we expect him to arrive in the next two-three days,” said Air Force wing commander Rafiul Haque, the spokesperson of BHF president Air Marshal Enamul Bari.

Meanwhile, the BHF also has an alternate option in Canadian professional hockey coach Mike Keenan provided things do not work out with Bansal and the federation.

“I do not think it will happen (agreement problem with Bansal) but we are not denying the possibility and cannot say ‘no’ to Keenan considering if anything goes wrong with Bansal he is our first priority,” added Rafiul.

Bansal is expected to take charge of the national team before the Hockey World League Round 2 slated for next year in January in Singapore. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Real, Dortmund breeze into last 16

Wenger slams sloppy Arsenal

Juventus pip Olympiakos to nervy win, Arsenal buckle under late Anderlecht onslaught

n AFP, London

n

AFP, Paris

Holders Real Madrid and 2013 finalists Borussia Dortmund eased into the last 16 of this season’s Champions League with two group games to spare on Tuesday.

Madrid recorded their fourth win in four Group B games, and their 12th consecutive victory in all competitions, beating Liverpool 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu thanks to a first-half Karim Benzema goal.

Meanwhile, Dortmund shrugged aside their dreadful domestic form to maintain their perfect record in Group D, crushing Galatasaray 4-1 in Germany.

Elsewhere, Atletico Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen won to close in on qualification for the last 16 while Juventus, Basel and Benfica all recorded precious victories but Arsenal threw away a

RESULTS Juventus

3-2

Pirlo 21, Roberto 65-og, Pogba 66

Malmo

Olympiakos Botía 24, Ndinga 61

0-2

Atletico Madrid

Koke 30, Raul Garcia 78

Basel

4-0

Ludogorets

1-0

Liverpool

1-2

Leverkusen

Embolo 34, Gonzalez 41, Gashi 59, Suchy 65

Real Madrid Benzema 27

Zenit Rondon 89

Benfica

Son Heung-min 68, 73

1-0

Monaco

3-3

Anderlecht

Anderson Talisca 82

Arsenal

Arteta 25-P, Sanchez 29, Oxlade-Chamberlain 58

Dortmund

Vanden Borre 61, 73-P, Mitrovic 90

4-1

Reus 39, Papastathopoulos 55, Immobile 74, Kaya 85-og

Galatasaray Balta 70

Fifa bars Italian FA chief over ‘banana’ comment n Reuters, Berne Italian football federation (FIGC) president Carlo Tavecchio has been barred from holding any position with world governing body FIFA for six months over an alleged racist comment he made in August.

European soccer’s governing body UEFA has already imposed a similar sanction on the 71-year-old and the FIFA decision announced on Wednesday was another embarrassment for the FIGC, whose own investigation had cleared Tavecchio of any wrongdoing.

Tavecchio caused an outcry when he made a comment about a fictitious African player he named Opti Poba “eating bananas” during the campaign for the FIGC presidency.

FIFA said that Tavecchio would be “ineligible for any position as a FIFA official for a period of six months starting from October 7, 2014.

“The case relates to racist comments made by Mr Tavecchio during his FIGC presidential election campaign,” the statement said. “FIFA’s stance against any form of discrimination is unequivocal.l

three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Anderlecht in London.

Carlo Ancelotti’s Madrid utterly outclassed Liverpool in winning 3-0 at Anfield two weeks ago and a similar outcome appeared on the cards when visiting manager Brendan Rodgers named a side missing regulars such as captain Steven Gerrard and Raheem Sterling.

However, in the end the only goal of the game came in the 27th minute, Benzema converting a Marcelo cross at the back post.

That meant Cristiano Ronaldo remains on 70 Champions League goals for now, one short of the competition record still held by Madrid great Raul.

Liverpool are now three points behind second-placed Basel, who crushed Ludogorets Razgrad 4-0 in Switzerland with Breel Embolo, Derlis Gonzalez, Shkelzen Gashi and Marek Suchy on target.

Dortmund followed up a 4-0 win away to Galatasaray in Turkey two weeks ago by defeating the same team 4-1 in the return fixture with Marco Reus, Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Ciro Immobile all finding the target before a Semih Kaya own-goal late on, with Hakan Balta grabbing a consolation for the visitors.

Arsenal should also have clinched their place in the last 16 on Tuesday as a Mikel Arteta penalty and strikes by Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put them 3-0 up at home to Anderlecht.

However, the Belgian champions produced a remarkable comeback in the last half hour to rescue a draw, Anthony Vanden Borre scoring twice, including once from the penalty spot, before Aleksandar Mitrovic equalised in the last minute to keep them in the competition.

In Group A, last season’s runners-up Atletico closed in on qualification with a 2-0 win over Malmo in Sweden, Koke and Raul Garcia finding the net.

Meanwhile, there was drama in Tu-

Juventus’ Andrea Pirlo celebrates scoring against Olympiakos in his 100th Champions League appearance in Turin on Tuesday REUTERS rin, as Juventus came from behind to beat Olympiakos 3-2 to give their own hopes of going through a shot in the arm.

Andrea Pirlo marked his 100th Champions League appearance with a trademark free-kick to put Juve ahead, but Alberto Botia and Delvin N’Dinga scored to swing the game in the Greek champions’ favour.

A Roberto own-goal restored parity

and Paul Pogba grabbed what proved to be the winner in the 65th minute, although Juve may yet come to regret seeing Arturo Vidal have a late penalty saved if goal difference plays a part in deciding who goes through to the last 16.

Leverkusen are in control of Group C thanks to an impressive 2-1 triumph against Zenit St Petersburg in Russia as South Korean star Son Heung-Min

scored a second-half brace before substitute Jose Rondon’s consolation.

And Portuguese champions Benfica revived their European campaign by defeating Monaco 1-0 in Lisbon with a late Talisca strike.

The action continues on Wednesday, when Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, Chelsea and FC Porto could all clinch their last-16 spots. l

Arsene Wenger launched a scathing attack on his Arsenal flops after they blew a three-goal lead in a 3-3 draw against Anderlecht that left them still waiting to book their place in the Champions League last 16.

Wenger’s side were on course to qualify for the knockout stages of Europe’s elite club competition for the 15th successive season after Mikel Arteta’s penalty and fine strikes from Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain put them in complete control by the 58th minute.

But the Gunners’ creaky defence was brutally exposed by Anderlecht in a remarkable finale that saw the unheralded Belgians score three times in the last 29 minutes through Anthony vanden Borre’s double and Aleksandar Mitrovic’s stoppage-time header.

Wenger was furious with the way his players squandered their advantage and he said: “We had a poor defensive performance from the first until the last minute. We never looked comfortable and we got punished.

“There was a bit of bad luck because their first goal was clearly offside but we never looked good enough defensively.

Across the pitch we were very poor.

“It was a combination of fatigue and switching off. We dropped off and were always open. We didn’t stop the crosses or the long balls.

“It is very disappointing. Maybe subconsciously we underestimated Anderlecht at 3-0.

“In the Champions League you need to be at your best mentally and we weren’t today.”

“We have very little chance of winning the group,” said Wenger, whose team are five points behind Dortmund.

“The luck we have is with the qualification, we still have a chance. If we had lost tonight we would have been in a very bad situation with qualification.”

To make the evening extra frustrating for Wenger, he is likely to be without captain Arteta for several weeks after the Spanish midfielder was forced off with a hamstring injury. l

Racist abuse ‘a disgrace’ Inter hoping for reprieve in Europa FIXTURES and Fifa must act: Toure n AFP, Paris

n Reuters, London Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure has said the abuse he suffered on social media is “a disgrace” and called for world soccer’s governing body FIFA to reassess the way they deal with racism.

Greater Manchester Police are investigating claims that the Ivorian was racially abused within hours of re-activating his Twitter account on Monday.

“To have such aggression in sport, I can’t understand that. It’s a disgrace to be honest,” Toure told the BBC. “We need to do something to try to tell people those kinds of behaviour have to stop. I want those people to understand what they’re doing is wrong.

“I’ve been trying to say to FIFA that they are on the wrong way and what they are doing is not good. We need to do something to close this chapter.

“I’ve been attacked like that for many years. I will never stop telling them they are wrong and have to change.

“Football doesn’t have a colour.

Sport is sport. Sport is not violence.

Sport is not about being bad with peo-

ple. Sport is about being healthy and proud of what you are doing.”

The police said they had been contacted following complaints that Toure had been targeted after tweeting again following a five-month break.

“GMP can confirm we have received a number of complaints regarding racist tweets directed at Manchester City Football Club player Yaya Toure on Monday 3rd November 2014,” a police statement said. “Officers are now investigating.”

The 31-year-old left Twitter to focus on this year’s World Cup but within hours of sending his first tweet on the social network site, he was subjected to racist insults.

Toure, tweeting about City’s derby win over Manchester United on Sunday, wrote: “Great to be back on twitter after a good win yesterday. Now my focus is on the next game... Happy Monday everyone!!”

A Kick It Out spokesperson said: “At this stage we have received complaints about two separate tweets of a racist nature aimed at Yaya Toure and now we are informing the police. l

To say Inter Milan coach Walter Mazzarri is living on borrowed time as his side take on Saint-Etienne in the Europa League on Thursday is little short of an understatement.

The 0-0 draw between the sides in Italy last time out may have left Inter comfortably top of Group F with seven points, but the calls for Mazzarri’s head gathered force again at the weekend after a 2-0 away league defeat at struggling Parma.

Even club president Erick Thohir appears to have lost patience with the former Napoli coach.

Having thrown his weight behind the coach for much of a dismal start to the season, Thohir gave the strongest signal yet that Mazzarri’s job was hanging in the balance amid speculation that Roberto Mancini is ready to take over.

There are no such worries for Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Montella, though, as his side entertain PAOK of Greece in Group K, expecting to extend their 100 percent start to the group and ensure

qualification for the knockout stages.

In Group C, Tottenham Hotspur, whose 5-1 victory over Asteras Tripolis in London two weeks ago was celebrated for Erik Lamela’s extraordinary ‘rabona’ goal, which has gone viral on the Internet, may not find the trip to Greece such a comfortable outing.

Asteras have yet to lose a home match in three seasons in European club competition, winning four and drawing three. Ominously for Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham, those four victories, all by two-goal margins, have come in their last four fixtures.

French side Lille, held 0-0 at home

by Everton in Group H, travel to the north-west of England, which has not been a happy hunting ground for them in the past.

They have not scored in four of their five games in England and the last time they played on Merseyside, they lost 3-0 to Liverpool in the 2009/10 Europa League.

They are currently without a win in six European fixtures, drawing four and losing two, since starting the campaign with a 2-0 success at Grasshopper Zurich in the qualifying rounds of the Champions League. l

FC Zurich Apollon HJK Helsinki Copenhagen Tripolis Besiktas FC Astra Zagreb Moscow Panathinaikos Qarabag Saint-Etienne Feyenoord Sevilla VfL Wolfsburg Everton Sparta Prague Napoli Dynamo Kiev Rio Ave Guingamp Fiorentina Lokeren Legia Warsaw

v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v

Villarreal M’gladbach Torino Club Brugge Tottenham Belgrade Celtic Salzburg Estoril PSV Eindhoven Dnipropetrovsk Inter Milan Rijeka Standard Liege FC Krasnodar Lille Bratislava Young Boys Aalborg BK Bucharest Dinamo Minsk PAOK Trabzonspor Metalist Kharkiv

Stars could remain benched, says Rodgers n AFP, Madrid

Manchester United’s Dutch midfielder Daley Blind and his partner Candy Rae (Left) and Argentinian midfielder Angel Di Maria and his wife Jorgelina di Maria pose for pictures on the red carpet as they arrive to attend the ‘United for UNICEF Gala Dinner’ at Old Trafford in Manchester, Northern England, on Tuesday AFP

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers warned some of his star players their place in the side for the visit of Chelsea on Saturday is far from assured after a battling performance by their understudies in a 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid.

Rodgers controversially dropped captain Steven Gerrard, Mario Balotelli and Raheem Sterling to the bench amongst seven changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Newcastle on Saturday.

Karim Benzema’s first-half goal was enough for the European champions to seal their place in the Champions League last 16 with a 12th consecutive victory in all competitions.

However, after a disappointing start to the season, Rodgers was heartened by the performance of his side and claimed some of those who started have played themselves into contention to face the Premier League leaders at the weekend.

“Tonight gives me great food for

thought. It wasn’t players rested as such, we played the team we thought could get the result,” he said.

“We haven’t been consistent enough for too many players to be in the team as guaranteed starters.

“The players know the name is irrelevant to me, for me it is about performance, and if a player is playing well I focus on that.

“I don’t focus on what people may say. I focus on my team, my players and what is best for them.”

Basel’s 4-0 thrashing of Ludogorets Razgrad in the other game in the group on Tuesday leaves Liverpool three points adrift of the Swiss champions in the race to join Madrid in the last 16.

“When the draw was made we thought it would go down to the last game against Basel. We have to win our next game to bring it down to that game hopefully,” added Rodgers.

“Tonight was a great performance, we didn’t get the result our team deserved, but we still have a big chance to progress.”l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Rossouw, De Kock guide SA to easy win over Aussies

QUICK BYTES

Chittagong, BAF and Mymensingh win big Chittagong registered the biggest victory in the opening day of the ATN Bangla Gold Cup National Hockey trouncing Habiganj 11-0 at Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium yesterday. In the other matches of the day, Bangladesh Air Force defeated Comilla 5-1 while Mymensingh edged past Patuakhali 2-1. Mahfuzur Rahman, the chairman of ATN Bangla, inaugurated the 23-team event while Anvir Adil Khan, the acting general secretary of Bangladesh Hockey Federation, was also present among others.

–Raihan Mahmood

n AFP, Adelaide

Lara backs Windies to survive India crisis Brian Lara believes West Indies cricket will overcome the threat of complete financial collapse caused by the team’s controversial withdrawal from the tour of India. The already cash-strapped West Indies Cricket Board was left facing a $42 million (£26.2 million, 33.5 million euros) claim by their Indian counterparts for lost earnings after their side quit the tour following the fourth ODI in Dharamsala on October 17, even though the fifth one-day international, a Twenty20 match and three Tests still remained to be played. That prompted the Board of Control for Cricket in India to respond by cancelling a tour scheduled for February and March 2016 to play three Tests, five one-dayers and a Twenty20 international. The current crisis in Caribbean cricket, and the reason behind the abandonment of the India tour lay in the unhappiness of some players at the pay deal brokered by their own association and the WICB. –AFP

Pakistan hero Younis hails Flower power Man of the series Younis Khan praised batting coach Grant Flower for the pivotal role he played after Pakistan completed a 2-0 Test-series win over Australia in Abu Dhabi on Monday. Nine centuries, including three by Younis and two apiece from captain Misbah-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali, helped Pakistan clinch their first Test-series victory against the Aussies for 20 years. “I am not comfortable that no one has mentioned the contribution of Grant Flower in our success,” Younis told the Geo Super TV channel. “It would be unfair not to mention his role. “He worked very hard with all the batsmen in the series. I think Grant was the key to our improved batting performances - he has played a role in changing our attitude towards batting.” Flower, 43, played in 67 Tests and 221 one-day internationals for Zimbabwe before joining the Pakistan camp in June.

–Reuters

Kumble says chuckers can change Legendary Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble said Wednesday he believes that bowlers under scrutiny for suspect action can quickly return to competition after remedial work. The 44-year-old spinner is the head of cricket committee of the International Cricket Council (ICC) which in June this year recommended stringent measures against bowlers with suspect actions.

That resulted in the suspension of high profile bowlers such as Pakistan’s Saeed Ajmal, Sri Lanka’s Sachitra Senanayake, Zimbabwe’s Prosper Utseya, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson and Bangladesh’s Sohag Gazi. Bangldesh’s paceman Al-Amin Hossain was also reported but on Wednesday cleared after a bio-mechanical analysis.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Gazi TV, BTV 9:30AM Bangladesh v Zimbabwe 2nd Test, Day 4

Star Sports 1, 3 2:00PM India v Sri Lanka 2nd ODI

(L-R) Former Indian cricketers Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman laugh along with compatriot Sachin Tendulkar at the launch event of the little master’s autobiography ‘Playing It My Way’, in Mumbai yesterday AFP

Chappell rejects Tendulkar’s claim over captaincy n AFP, Sydney Former India cricket coach Greg Chappell on Tuesday vehemently denied Sachin Tendulkar’s claims that the former Australian great tried to have the Indian captain removed before the 2007 World Cup. In his autobiography “Playing It My Way”, extracts of which were released on Monday, Tendulkar says Chappell asked him to take over from Rahul Dravid as captain ahead of the tournament.

Chappell, who coached India between 2005 and 2007, rejected Tendulkar’s claim, saying he “never contemplated” such a move.

“The claims made in Sachin’s new

book were brought to my attention earlier today,” the former Australian captain said in a statement on the Cricket Australia website.

“Whilst I don’t propose to get into a war of words, I can state quite clearly that during my time as Indian coach I never contemplated Sachin replacing Rahul Dravid as captain.

“I was therefore very surprised to read the claims made in the book.”

In the book, to be released worldwide on Thursday, Tendulkar says Chappell visited him at home a few months before the showpiece event in the Caribbean and suggested that he become the captain.

Chappell disputed this on Tuesday, saying he had visited the master bats-

man only once - 12 months before the incident was supposed to have taken place.

Chappell said he went to Tendulkar’s home with a physio and assistant coach during the Indian master’s rehabilitation from injury.

“We enjoyed a pleasant afternoon together but the subject of captaincy was never raised,” Chappell said.

In the book, Tendulkar describes Chappell as a “ringmaster who imposed his ideas on the players without showing any signs of being concerned about whether they felt comfortable or not”.

Tendulkar says he was shocked during the meeting at his home to hear Chappell say that ‘together, we could control Indian cricket for years’, and

that he would help me in taking over the reins of the side.

“I was surprised to hear the coach not showing the slightest amount of respect for the captain, with cricket’s biggest tournament just months away.

He stayed for a couple of hours, trying to convince me, before finally leaving.”

Tendulkar says that he then suggested to the Board of Control for Cricket in India that Chappell should not be sent with the team to the World Cup, but the idea was rejected.

During Chappell’s controversial tenure in India, Sourav Ganguly was sacked as captain before the coach was himself shown the door after India’s shock first-round exit from the 2007 World Cup. l

Rilee Rossouw scored a breezy 78 to lead South Africa to a commanding seven-wicket victory over Australia in the first of three Twenty20 internationals on Wednesday.

Rossouw, making his T20 international debut, smashed three sixes and seven fours in his 50-ball knock to get the Proteas home with 145 for three.

The Australians could only manage 144 for six off their 20 overs after winning the toss at the Adelaide Oval.

South Africa lost Reeza Hendricks off the third ball of the innings but Rossouw combined with wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock (46 off 39 balls) to put on a match-winning 129-run partnership for the second wicket.

By the time Rossouw skied Pat Cummins to Ben Cutting in the 15th over, the Proteas only needed 16 runs for victory.

The Proteas’ well-drilled bowling and outstanding fielding kept the Australians under pressure with Shane Watson, in his first international appearance for seven months, top-scoring with 47 off 36 balls.

Watson’s innings, with support from James Faulkner (41 not out), revived the home side after a poor start.

The Australians struggled to 67 for four after 10 overs with both their international debutants, Ben Dunk and Nathan Reardon, failing.

Dunk made just two and Reardon four after opening batsmen Aaron Finch (14) and Cameron White (24 from 21 balls) had begun briskly.

“I thought we were pretty disappointing with the bat. It was a beautiful wicket and the guys at the top of the order didn’t really go on and get that big score,” said Finch, Australia’s T20 captain.l

BRIEF SCORE

Australia 144/6 in 20 overs(Watson 47, Faulkner 41*, Abbott 3-21) South Africa 143/5 in 19 overs (Roussouw 78, De Kock 46) South Africa won by seven wickets

Sangakkara, Johnson vie for ICC award double n AFP, Dubai Prolific Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara and fiery Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson were in line for a rare double as cricketer of the year after a shortlist of nominees was announced on Wednesday.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson announced the shortlists for the 2014 awards, with the winner to be announced on November 14.

During the voting period of August 26, 2013 and September 17, 2014, the 2009 winner Johnson claimed 59 wickets in eight Tests at an impressive average of 15.23.

Sangakkara, who won this prestigious award in Colombo in 2012, finished as the leading run-getter during the same period with 1,502 runs in 11 Tests.

Since the start of the ICC awards in 2004, no cricketer has won it twice.

ICC TEAMS FOR 2014 (in batting order) Test David Warner (Australia) Kane Williamson (New Zealand) Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) AB de Villiers (South Africa) Joe Root (England) Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka, captain) Mitchell Johnson (Australia) Stuart Broad (England) Dale Steyn (South Africa) Rangana Herath (Sri Lanka) Tim Southee (New Zealand) Ross Taylor (New Zealand, 12th man) The people’s choice award, voted for by fans, was won by India’s fast-rising paceman the 24-year-old Bhuvneshwa r Kumar.

“This award means a lot to me as I didn’t get it only for my individual performance but because of the love and support of my fans,” Kumar told the ICC.

ODI Mohammad Hafeez (Pakistan) Quinton de Kock (South Africa) Virat Kohli (India) George Bailey (Australia) AB de Villiers (South Africa) MS Dhoni (India, wicketkeeper, captain) Dwayne Bravo (West Indies) James Faulkner (Australia) Dale Steyn (South Africa) Mohammad Shami (India) Ajantha Mendis (Sri Lanka) Rohit Sharma (India, 12th man) Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews and South Africa’s AB de Villiers are also in the shortlist for cricketer of the year award.

Johnson, Mathews and Sangakkara as well as Australia opener David Warner have also been in contention for the ICC Test cricketer of the year award.

For the ICC one-day cricketer of the year award, South African trio of Quinton de Kock, Dale Steyn and de Villiers will vie with India’s Virat Kohli.

For the ICC women’s cricketer of the year award, two former winners have been shortlisted. These are England captain Charlotte Edwards, winner in 2008, and two-time winner Stafanie Taylor of the West Indies. They are joined by India captain and number-one ranked batter Mithali Raj and England wicketkeeper-batter Sarah Taylor.

England duo of Gary Ballance and Ben Stokes, and New Zealand’s pair of Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neeshan have been shortlisted for the ICC emerging cricketer of the year award.

There will be a new winner of the ICC women’s T20 cricketer of the year after the previous two awards were won by England’s Sarah Taylor. The players shortlisted this year are Char-

lotte Edwards of England, Meg Lanning of Australia, India’s Mithali Raj and West Indies’ Stafanie Taylor.

Alex Hales’s 116 not out against Sri Lanka in the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh 2014, Aaron Finch’s 156 against England in 2103 and Rangana Herath’s figures of five wickets for three runs against New Zealand in the ICC World Twenty20 Bangladesh in 2014 have earned them nominations for the ICC Twenty20 International performance of the year award.

Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi and Samiullah Shenwari, and the Scotland duo Calum MacLeod and Preston Mommsen will fight for the best player award from the Associates and Affiliates teams.

The ICC also announced its Test and one-day teams for 2014, with Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews as captain for the longer format while Dhoni will lead the limited overs team. l

‘Nadal’s surgery went well’ n AFP, Paris Rafael Nadal underwent appendix surgery on Monday, with the operation passing off smoothly, according to his management company.

“Rafa feeling well, surgery went well, if everything goes as planned out of the hospital tomorrow (Tuesday),” B1PR revealed on their Twitter page.

The Spanish 14-time Grand Slam champion ended his season prematurely after a quarter-final loss at the Swiss Indoors last month ahead of his

date under the knife to remove his appendix.

At the time the 28-year-old said: “I need to do the surgery, I need to work on my back next week before the operation. Then I need five weeks to recover.”

Nadal has been taking antibiotics to treat appendicitis since early October.

Missing last week’s Paris Masters and the season-closing World Tour Finals starting Sunday in London he reflected: “If I play the last two tournaments, I would not be competitive and would have no chance to win. l

Daffodil International University cricket team will fly to Malaysia today to participate in the 7th International Inter-Varsity Cricket Invitational 2014 to be held in Malaysia from November 7-16. Hosted by University Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), a total of eight universities from Australia, England, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia and host Malaysia will take part COURTESY

Murray to meet Federer at ATP finale

Star Sports 2 7:30PM Hero Indian League Kerala v Goa

n Reuters, London

UEFA Europa League

Ten Action 12:00AM Asteras v Tottenham 2:00AM Everton v Lille

Ten Sports 12:00AM St-Etienne v Inter Milan 2:00AM Feyenoord v Rijeka

15

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal leaves the hospital after an appendicitis surgery in Barcelona yesterday REUTERS

Three-times champion and world number one Novak Djokovic has been drawn in a group with U.S. Open champion Marin Cilic in next week’s season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London.

Defending champion Djokovic, who retained his Paris Masters title on Sunday after beating Milos Raonic, will also face Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka and hard-hitting Czech Tomas Berdych in Group A of the elite event staged at London’s O2 Arena.

Djokovic takes a 27-match indoor winning streak into the tournament and Cilic, who is making his debut at

DRAW Group A Novak Djokovic (Serbia), Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland), Tomas Berdych (Czech Rep), Marin Cilic (Croatia) Group B Roger Federer (Switzerland), Kei Nishikori (Japan), Andy Murray (Britain), Milos Raonic (Canada)

the eight-man event, has not beaten the Serb in 10 previous encounters.

Second seed Roger Federer, who has won the year-ending tournament six times and who still has hopes of replacing Djokovic on top of the rankings before the end of the year, faces a clash in Group B with home favourite Andy Murray.

Former Wimbledon champion Murray, who won three titles in the past six weeks to secure a place at the tournament after slipping down the rankings, missed last year’s tournament because of back surgery. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Thursday, November 6, 2014

Sari River being stripped off resources Hartals disrupt preps Illegal sand extraction continues ignoring HC order, locals blame political syndicate

for O- and A-level

n Rafe Sadnan Adel

n Abu Hayat Mahmud

Unscrupulous traders continue to exploit the natural resources of Sylhet’s Sari River by illegally extracting sand, stone, marble, coal and other minerals from its waters, ignoring a High Court order that earlier directed the government to put an end to such practices.

The local administration claimed that aggressive protests by the local labourers had thwarted repeated attempts by the authorities concerned to stop the illegal extraction of natural resources from the river.

The upazila nirbahi officer of Jaintapur, Khaledul Islam, told the Dhaka Tribune that the workers extracting the materials from the river refused to listen to him when he visited the site and ordered the community to obey the High Court order – which was issued on February 3 for saving the river’s flow and navigability. Later, the labourers also beat up an official who went to the site to issue another warning on behalf of the UNO, he said.

Blaming a syndicate of local politicians for foiling efforts to implement the High Court directive, Khaledul also emphasised that a combined task force of law enforcers and border guards was urgently needed to solve the problem.

Local sources also echoed the UNO, saying an influential 20-member syndicate of local ruling party leaders was behind the illegal extractions in the river. They also claimed that the leaders indirectly involved with the business included local lawmaker Imran Ahmed’s close aide Liyakat Ali, Jaintapur Jubo League Joint Secretary Foyez Ahmed Babor, former general secretary Shahed Ahmed, and Darbast union Chairman Kamal Ahmed.

However, while talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Liyakot Ali snubbed out the allegations.

Asked on the issue, union Chairman Kamal admitted that he was previously involved with the traders who operated when there were sand quarries or Balumohals in the area. But he claimed that he was no more involved in such business, adding that it was only individual labourers – not syndicates – who now extracted materials from the river.

Despite repeated attempts, the Jubo League leaders could not be reached for comments.

The river Sari – located in Jaintapur near the Indian border – has long been a popular tourist destination. But the unregulated extractions from the riv-

Classes at schools offering O- and A-level exams have been suspended since last week because of the countrywide strike called by Jamaat-e-Islami to protest death sentences against its leaders convicted of war crimes.

School teachers said hartals were affecting English-medium schools’ activities in November, an important month in their academic calendar because mid-term O- and A-level examinations are held in November.

Most English-medium schools in Dhanmondi, Gulshan, Baridhara and Uttara were closed. At the few schools that were not shut, only the offices were open but classes were suspended.

Saqeba Ali, principal of Marie Curie School at Dhanmondi told the Dhaka Tribune: “If strikes or other disruptions come after the general holidays in a session, it breaks students’ concentration and regular study habits.”

She said if strikes continue, the midterm exams will be held on Friday and Saturday, but the British Council will provide the final exam schedule for English-medium schools offering Oand A-level qualifications.

“The half-yearly mid-term exams were supposed to start at the end of this month. Due to frequent hartals we did not have model tests,” she said, adding: “I think educational institutions should be kept keep out of the

Gates Foundation grants go to ‘rich nation NGOs’ n AFP, Madrid The bulk of the roughly three billion dollars given over the past decade by the Gates Foundation to foster agriculture in poor countries has been given to aid groups based in rich nations, said a study published Tuesday.

The foundation - set up by Microsoft founder Bill Gates to fight poverty and disease in impoverished nations awarded 610 agricultural development grants worth $3.11bn between 2003 and September 2013, the study by the Barcelona-based research group Grain found.

Roughly half of this amount went to international organisations such as the World Bank or United Nations agencies, as well as global agriculture research networks, Grain said in the report.

“The other half ended up with hundreds of different research, development and policy organisations across the world,” the group said.

“Of this last group over 80% of the grants were given to organisations in the United States and Europe, 10% to groups in Africa and the remainder elsewhere.”

The main recipient nation for agricultural grants was the United States followed by Britain, Germany and the Netherlands, according to the study.

Grain, which works to support small farmers and social movements that favour biodiversity-based food systems, said: “One would assume that a significant portion of the frontline work that the foundation funds in Africa would be carried out by organisations based there,” it said.

“But of the $669 million that the Gates Foundation has granted to NGOs for agricultural work, over three quarters has gone to organisations based in the United States. Africa-based NGOs get a meagre four percent of the overall agriculture-related grants to NGOs.” l

Sand lifting continues at Sari River defying a High Court order against it

Owners of local resorts said coal extraction from the river has caused the colour of the water to change significantly in the last three years

er had been polluting the crystal-clear water as well as damaging its navigability.

Owners of local resorts told the Dhaka Tribune that coal extraction from the river has caused the colour of the river water to change significantly in the last three years. Comparing the situation to “slow poisoning,” the businesspeople claimed the pollution of the water was affecting local residents as well as discouraging domestic and international tourists from visiting the site.

The illegal trade was not only damaging the ecological balance, but also destroying the natural beauty of the area, they added. The resort owners also

urged the government to immediately implement the High Court order to preserve a 3km area of the river and to enlist the place as an ecological heritage.

Asked about the situation in Sari River, Prof Abdur Rob, head of Dhaka University’s department of geology and environment, told the Dhaka Tribune that if the unplanned sand collection was not stopped immediately, it would cause river erosion soon.

Continued extraction would also result in an imbalance in bio-diversity which would then threaten the existing ecology in the area, he said, adding that a few species of fishes native to the river had already waned in number in recent times.

Dumping coal dust from the upstream was also a criminal offence under the international river law, the professor said, warning that the coal dust would cause slow poisoning.

Meanwhile, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, chief executive of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association (BELA), expressed her frustration at the local authority’s failure to implement the High Court order – which was made based on a writ petition from her organisation.

COURTESY

A letter has already been sent to the local deputy commissioner to take proper initiative regarding the court directive, Rizwana said, adding that BELA was also going to issue a contempt notice to the DC as well as moving to the High Court once again with a contempt petition for saving the river.

Sylhet Deputy Commissioner Shahidul Islam, meanwhile, claimed that they were trying hard to solve the problem, adding that the leasing of any local sand quarry has already been banned.

The only way to prevent extraction of sands and coal from the river was to guard the place around the clock, which was not possible because of logistical reasons, Shahidul added.

Nurul Alam, the police superintendent of Sylhet, however told the Dhaka Tribune that the police was not informed about the High Court order and had not received any notice on this regard from the DC office.

No criminal offence had been reported from the site, he added. Discarding claims of a political syndicate controlling sand extraction business in the Sari River, the SP said only local labourers carried out the work for their livelihood. l

jurisdiction of hartals.”

A teacher at DPS STS School at Uttara said her school did not take classes on Friday and Saturday but would conduct classes and exams on the weekends if strikes continued.

Laboni Sikdar, whose son studies at DPS STS School, said: “I am really worried about the spate of hartals because students’ mid-term exams will start in the last week of this month.”

She expressed dissatisfaction over the Jamaat’s non-stop hartal: “Academic affairs will be seriously hampered if strikes continue to be enforced this way.”

Meanwhile, examinations of the Bangla-medium Junior School Certificate (JSC) and its madrasa equivalent, the Junior Dakhil Certificate (JDC), have been disrupted because of Jamaat’s shutdowns, affecting 2.1 million students.

The JSC and JDC exams originally scheduled for November 2 and 3 were pushed back to November 7 and November 14, respectively, and exams scheduled for November 5 and 6 were rescheduled for November 19 and 20, respectively, due to the strikes, said Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid on Monday.

There have been no changes announced for the Primary School Certificate (PSC) exams scheduled from November 23 to November 30. Class final exams are scheduled to start on December 1. l

School attacked after conversion rumours n Our Correspondent, Gazipur At least 10 people were injured when a missionary school in Gazipur was attacked by locals yesterday following rumours that the school authorities were trying to convert its Muslim students into Christianity.

At least 10 employees, including a few teachers, of the Stiv Kim Mission School at Konaba Ambagh area were injured in the incident.

Police said they arrested five people – Faruk Hossain, 42, Rahman Kalu,40, Amzad Hossain, 37, Babu, 24 and Alamin,18 – for their alleged involvement in the attack.

Witnesses said more than 100 peo-

ple attacked the school with sticks, rods and other locally made weapons hearing a rumour that Muslim students were being converted into Christianity at the school.

The attackers vandalised the school’s furniture and beat up 10 school employees, said Michel Mondol, a director of the school.

The injured include Sheuli Hawlader, Sunil Mondol, Bishtu, Narayan, John, Sheuli Mondol and Sumitra, he said.

Claiming that there were no such activities of converting students, Michel Mondol said: “It is just a rumour.”

The process of filing a case was under way, said Sayeed Azharul Islam, a sub-inspector at Konabari police out post. l

Government seeks information on 17 Facebook users n Tribune Report The Bangladesh government has made seven requests to Facebook seeking data from January to June this year of 17 accounts on the globally top-ranked social media website.

It was found in the statistics that the Facebook authorities revealed recently.

However, they did not respond to any of the requests.

In its Government Requests Report, Facebook said: “We respond to valid requests relating to criminal cases.

Each and every request we receive is checked for legal sufficiency and we reject or require greater specificity on requests that are overly broad or vague.”

In this report Facebook provided the country-wise statistics of the governments’ requests and their responses.

According to Facebook, neighbouring country India made 4,559 requests seeking data on 5,958 users, in which case the company responded to 50.87% of the requests made by the Indian government.

It also said Facebook restricted access in India to a number of contents reported primarily by law enforcement officials and the India Computer Emergency Response Team under local laws prohibiting criticism of a religion or the state.

Upon requests, 4,960 pieces of content were restricted, the report shows.

United States made 15,433 law enforcement requests for data of 23,667 users/accounts, 80.15% of which were duly responded. Facebook responded to 71.68% of 2,110 requests by the UK for 2,619 accounts.

Facebook Inc said requests by governments for user information rose by about a quarter in the first half of 2014

over the second half of last year.

In the first six months of 2014, governments around the world made 34,946 requests for data. During the same time, the amount of content restricted because of local laws increased by about 19%.

“We are aggressively pursuing an appeal to a higher court to invalidate these sweeping warrants and to force the government to return the data it has seized,” the company said in a company blog post on Tuesday.

Google Inc reported in September a 15% sequential increase in the number

During the first half of 2014, governments around the world made 34,946 requests for data. During the same time, the amount of content restricted increased by about 19% of requests in the first half of this year, and a 150% rise in the last five years, from governments around the world to reveal user information in criminal investigations.

Krishna Pada Roy, deputy commissioner at the Detective Branch of police, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the DB often make such requests to Facebook for information.

However, when asked about the information request for the aforementioned 17 users, the deputy commissioner said he could not say anything about the requests immediately and would need to look into the matter. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com

B3 BoJ boss: ‘Half-baked’ deflation treatment worsens the issue

B4 European Commission

cuts forecasts, recovery delayed

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Plan to float $2bn sovereign bonds next year

BTRC for raising international call charges n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

The government revives the plan to fund big infrastructure like Padma Bridge was quoted to have told the meeting. n Asif Showkat Kallol Meanwhile, the reserves rose to reThe government has planned to float $2bn sovereign bonds from next year to collect fund for infrastructures like Padma Bridge, official sources said.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith took the decision at a meeting of non-concessional loan committee last week. He chairs the committee.

Reserves rose to record high of $22.3bn at the end of October from $21.8bn a month ago Muhith asked Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman to prepare for floating the bonds as the country’s foreign exchange reserves have become stronger than any time.

Atiur Rahman, however, preferred floating the bonds when foreign exchange reserves would reach $25bn mark.

Finance Secretary Mahbub Ahmed, however, argued the country has already enough reserves and so there is no need to wait for that mark, officials who attended the meeting said.

“We have foreign exchange reserves of nearly $22bn which is adequate to pay the import bills for seven months.

So why shall we wait longer?” Mahbub

cord high of $22.3bn at the end of October from $21.8bn a month ago, boosted by defiant exports and remittances.

The US-based investment bank Goldman Sachs and German Deutsche Bank AG have offered Bangladesh’s government to raise up to $3bn fund from international bond market by issuing sovereign bonds for the nation’s different infrastructure projects.

After a meeting with the finance minister last August, a visiting team, headed by managing director of Goldman Sachs, UK, Ryad Yousuf offered the government to raise $2-$3bn from international bond market by issuing sovereign bonds for infrastructure projects.

During a meeting with the finance secretary in September this year, head of fixed income capital markets for Asia of Deutsche Bank, Herman Bake also offered Bangladesh to raise $1bn by floating sovereign bonds.

The officials assured finance minister of raising $2-$3bn in just three months.

Bangladesh is one of the “Next 11” countries identified by Goldman Sachs in 2005 as a fast growing economy.

After the meeting, AMA Muhith said the interest rate of the bond will be at least 7% with a minimum maturity period of five years.  B3 COLUMN 2

European Union (EU) ambassador Pierre Mayaudon addresses a press conference at a city hotel yesterday

Dhaka likely to lose EU trade preferences if it becomes mid-income country n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Bangladesh would lose all trade preferences it receives as a least developed country from the European Union if it becomes a middle-income country.

“The legal consequence is that your country would then lose this privileged access regime to the EU,” the newly appointed EU Ambassador to Dhaka Mayaudon Pierre told at a press conference at a city hotel yesterday.

The country should start negotiation for GSP plus scheme to continue duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market, he said. Dhaka has announced it would want to become a middle-income country by 2021.

BB appoints observer to Mercantile Bank n Tribune Report

Grameen Bank election deferred again

Bangladesh Bank (BB) yesterday appointed an observer to Mercantile Bank in the backdrop of loan irregularities allegedly committed by the board of directors.

Masud Biswas, general manager of Foreign Exchange Policy Department, has been appointed as an observer to the board.

He would attend all the bank’s board meetings, executive and audit committee meetings to report to the central bank about the board activities, according to a BB letter sent to the Mercantile Bank yesterday.

The observer was appointed as the Bangladesh Bank found irregularities in processing loans approval by the board, said a senior executive of the central bank. The board had earlier provided loan worth Tk250 crore to Sanmar group, which is involved in Chittagong-based hotel business, violating loan formalities.

The bank showed an interest from the given the loans in its income despite not having any earnings from the loans, said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank.

The election to nine women borrower-directors of Grameen Bank board has been delayed further by one more year, instead of six month, in the name of procedural complexities.

The government has once again deferred the long pending polls to the bank through issuing a gazette no-

 B3 COLUMN 2

n Asif Showkat Kallol

Last September, the central bank declined holding polls of its 12-member board within stipulated time frame tification in this regard. Earlier, the government had delayed the poll by 6 months.

The Bank and Financial Institutional Division issued a gazette notification, signed by banking division Secretary M Aslam Alam, disclosed that the division has already amended the previous Grameen Bank electoral rules.

Newly amended Grameen Bank election rules will now be effective

DHAKA TRIBUNE

from October 5, 2014, which will be ended on the same date in 2015.

“After issuance of the gazette notification, it will be time consuming to find out a retired district judge as chairman of the election commission,” said M Aslam Alam.

According to the gazette notification, the three-member election commission will be headed by a retired district judge. Other members will be a deputy managing director of a stateowned bank and deputy managing director of PKSF. Last September, the central bank declined to hold the polls of its 12-member board within the stipulated time frame that expired on October 5 this year, as the government made a decision to bring some changes in the bank rules.

Quoting the central Bank, Finance Minister AMA Muhith, however, explained that being a regulatory body Bangladesh Bank (BB) expressed its unwillingness to hold the polls as it fears would create a conflict of interest.

Regarding the issue of amending the Grameen Bank (Election of Directors) Rules 2014, the minister said: “We will have to write something else in place of Bangladesh Bank in the rules.” l

Banks asked to ensure enough cash at ATM booths, branches n Tribune Report

Bangladesh Bank asked the banks to supply adequate money to the ATM booths and branches across the country.

The instruction came to ensure smooth financial transactions for clients, said a circular Bangladesh Bank issued yesterday.

The banks were also asked to take necessary measures to ensure security for the booths and branches.

The circular was issued against the backdrop of ongoing hartal that caused disruption to money supply to the booths and branch-

es across the country, said Humayun Kabir, general manager of Currency Management Department of Bangladesh Bank.

“We also want to draw the government attention through the circular so that banks get adequate security while carrying money during hartal hours,” he said.

The Islamic party on Sunday announced a 24-hour strike for Thursday protesting the death sentence to its top leader Mir Quasem Ali for war crimes and on Monday another 24-hour hartal for Wednesday protesting the death penalty for its another leader M Kamaruzzaman. l

Bangladesh enjoys duty-free access under everything but arms [EBA] initiative of the EU and it exports over 10 billion euro worth of products to the EU market.

The ambassador said Bangladesh needs to sign 27 international core conventions in the areas of human rights, labour rights, environment and governance.

Dhaka needs to sign, ratify and implement the convention, he said.

“Bangladesh will not be eligible for consideration by the EU to get GSP plus until and unless it complies with a combination of stringent conditions,” Pierre said.

The envoy said the EU has sent a

clear message to the government to implement Compact Sustainability to ensure labour rights in the country.

“A lot has been done but much more needs to be done. This is the key message conveyed to GoB (government of Bangladesh) on Ocotber 20 in Brussels,” he said.

Nobody can allow another Rana Plaza tragedy to happen, he said. About development cooperation programme, he said the new programme is going to start for 2014-2020 period this year.

The assistance covers three areas – education and skills development, nutrition and food security, and strengthening democratic governance, Pierre continued. l

Telecom regulator has recommended the government doubling the charge of international outgoing telephone calls to 12 countries including the United Kingdom, Maldives, Iraq and France where a large number of Bangladeshis live in.

As per the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) proposals, charge for landline calls to UK should be increased to Tk30 per minute from Tk16 and for mobile phone calls to Tk30 from Tk20.

Both landline and mobile calls to Maldives, where thousands of Bangladeshis work, have been proposed to increase to Tk80 per minute from Tk40.

International incoming call termination charge, however, was recommended to be slashed which many said would have no benefit at all at the user end.

In a letter to the government recently, BTRC said it made the recommendations after having been requested by two International Gateway (IGW) operators for increasing the charges.

For France, the charge should be Tk35 per minute compared to Tk16 now while for Oman it has been proposed to increase to Tk40 per minute from Tk27.

And the landline callers to Iraq may have to count Tk18 a minute which is now Tk12 while mobile phone users may see an increase of per minute charge to Tk20 from Tk14.

BTRC said calling charge to Jordan should be increased up to Tk15 a minute from Tk10 per minute. The charge for calls to Morocco it would be Tk32 from Tk24 currently.

Charge hike proposal has also been made for calls to other five countries – Algeria, Chad, Ivory Coast, Liberia and Sierra Leon. l

B2

Stocks continue to lose luster n Tribune Report

Banks and non-banking financial institutions also witnessed hefty losses of 1% each.

Telecommunication, food and allied and power edged down. However, engineering soared 1.6%.

The market breadth also remained negative as out of 308 issues traded, 111 gained, 159 declined and 38 remained unchanged.

However, debutant Western Marine Shipyard continued to rally for the third consecutive session, adding more 8% to its last two session’s gain of 86% to close at over Tk72.7 a share on its offer value.

It also continued to get investor attention, leading it to top the liquidity chart for the third consecutive session with turnover nearing Tk65 crore.

IDLC Investments said the beat across the market continued and chipped away 316.8 points in recent downturn in the last 17 sessions.

It said additionally, nation-wide blocked fostered fear amid investors. “Besides, getting the facts of recent quarter, investors reassessed market anatomy and focused on further re-balancing of their positions.”

Zenith Investments said the market was still reeling from the profit taking virus, unable to show any sign of recovery yet.

It, however, said much of the contribution went to recent political upheaval, and profit realisation from local and foreign investors as well.

After Shipyard, Bangladesh Building System, Khulna Power Company Limited, Keya Cosmetic, Summit Port Alliance Limited, Saif Power Tech and Square Pharmaceuticals were the other top turnover leaders. l

Stocks posted losses for the third consecutive session yesterday, the worry over the country’s latest political development deepened further.

The market opened higher in the very beginning but failed to sustain as sell-off mainly on life insurance, banks and cement took place.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange benchmark index, DSEX, fell 47 points or 1% to close at 5,017.

The market was still reeling from the profit taking virus, unable to show any sign of recovery yet

The Shariah DSES index lost almost 13 points or 1% to 1,182. The DS30 index comprising blue chip issues was down 21 points or 1.4% to 1,872.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, closed at 15,480, shedding 139 points.

An increased level of sale pressure has pushed the turnover higher as DSE turnover stood at Tk743 crore, up more than 9% over the previous session.

All the major sectors ended in red with life insurance registering the highest loss of 2%, followed by cement 1.5%, pharmaceuticals 1.4%.

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSER Company

Closing (% Change)

Power Grid Co. -A Alltex Industries -Z Fine Foods A Modern Dyeing -Z MutualTrust Bank-A BD. Autocars -Z Reliance Insur -A Quasem Drycells -A Sun Life Insurance-N Purabi G Insu.A

-10.12 -9.75 -8.70 -8.48 -7.18 -5.76 -4.68 -4.59 -4.59 -4.43

CSE LOSER Company Power Grid Co. -A Alltex Industries -Z BDCOM Online-A Pragati Gen. I -A Rupali Life Insur.-B Aziz PipesZ Monno Ceramic -B Wata Chemicals -A Northern G Insur-A Quasem Drycells -A

Closing (% Change) -13.28 -9.80 -9.41 -8.85 -6.64 -6.06 -5.78 -5.58 -5.37 -4.63

5017.22088

(-) 0.95%

1872.39213

(-) 1.13%

15480.11300

(-) 0.89%

12675.15420

(-) 1.27%

9427.23050

(-) 0.82%

Average (% Change) -12.19 -8.47 -6.70 -13.99 -1.10 -3.27 -4.38 -0.98 -0.58 -1.19 Average (% Change) -11.78 -4.94 -8.36 -8.74 -3.73 -5.14 -4.61 -4.33 -6.12 -1.12

ANALYST

ClosingAvg. 46.04 21.60 10.86 100.00 20.66 23.38 57.18 54.51 46.49 19.93

ClosingAvg. 46.56 24.23 26.31 37.09 53.88 15.50 27.70 220.45 31.42 55.49

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 436.44 266.83 56.37 1276.44 205.02 1465.84 2.26 348.66 1146.86 164.24 339.29 39.52 146.49 118.49 83.42 46.64 174.08 231.61 96.78 163.87 0.08

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

DHIGH

45.30 21.30 10.50 99.30 19.40 22.90 57.00 54.10 45.70 19.40

Closing

47.90 25.90 11.40 102.20 21.00 24.90 59.00 58.80 48.60 20.50

DHIGH

45.70 23.00 26.00 37.10 53.40 15.50 27.70 221.80 31.70 53.50

49.90 27.00 26.50 37.10 57.00 15.50 27.70 225.00 31.70 57.00

Company

Turnover (Million Taka)

7,438.08

Turnover (Volume)

165,270,829

Number of Contract

168,557

Traded Issues

308

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

109

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

192 7

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,683.61

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

32.53

CSE key features November 5, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

588.48

Turnover (Volume)

13,344,848

Number of Contract

25,030

Traded Issues

225

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

95

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

127

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

3

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,583.67

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

31.32

Turnover in Million

44.90 21.30 10.50 98.60 19.00 22.60 56.50 52.00 45.50 19.00

Latest EPS

27.154 5.356 2.030 0.275 4.960 0.152 1.115 62.751 5.770 5.205

-0.06 2.56 -0.48 1.56 2.45 0.06 3.79 2.24 0.00 1.87

Turnover in Million

DLOW 45.20 23.00 26.00 37.00 53.20 15.50 27.70 214.00 31.30 52.70

% change 6.41 3.92 0.83 18.75 3.01 21.53 0.03 5.12 16.84 4.98 0.58 2.15 1.74 1.23 0.68 2.56 3.40 1.42 2.41 0.00

Million Taka 24.82 17.77 4.58 131.55 45.55 110.22 65.37 61.19 86.66 33.78 67.30 21.01 10.03 26.67 0.39 5.69 16.91 16.06 18.49 0.03

CSE

% change 3.25 2.33 0.60 17.22 5.96 14.43 0.00 8.56 8.01 11.34 4.42 8.81 2.75 1.31 3.49 0.05 0.75 2.21 2.10 2.42 0.00

Latest EPS

3.357 1.163 0.289 0.004 0.269 0.002 0.003 0.176 0.079 0.860

Million Taka 461.26 284.60 60.94 1407.99 250.58 1576.06 2.26 414.04 1208.06 250.90 373.07 106.82 167.50 128.52 110.09 47.03 179.77 248.52 112.85 182.36 0.12

SAIF Powertec-N Shurwid Ind. -N Shahjibazar Power-N Samorita Hospital -A Dulamia CottonZ Daffodil Computers -Z Deshbandhu Polymer-A WesternMarine -N Anwar Galvanizing-B GeminiSeaFood-Z

Closing (% Change) 10.00 9.83 9.44 9.28 9.09 8.85 8.06 8.02 7.94 7.86

CSE GAINER

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

DLOW

Thursday, November 6, 2014

DSE GAINER

DSE key features November 5, 2014

-0.06 2.56 1.49 2.47 5.33 -0.37 0.11 5.37 2.77 2.24

Latest PE -ve 8.4 -ve 64.1 8.4 389.7 15.1 24.3 10.7

Total

Company Samorita Hospital -A Anwar Galvanizing-B Shurwid Ind. -N Daffodil Computers -Z Deshbandhu Polymer-A Delta Brac HFCL-A BD. Thai Alum -B Janata Insur -A MeghnaCement -A The Peninsula CTG.-N

Closing (% Change) 9.88 9.87 9.73 8.55 6.99 5.87 5.29 5.26 5.00 4.62

Average (% Change) 0.89 3.30 5.41 8.09 9.09 6.95 7.40 (0.18) 10.72 7.93 Average (% Change) 8.29 9.87 3.29 12.76 7.65 5.81 5.15 5.26 6.20 3.67

ClosingAvg. 89.88 50.42 199.58 96.47 10.80 12.15 19.73 68.25 34.51 161.90

ClosingAvg. 96.76 33.40 50.55 12.55 19.69 68.46 43.07 18.00 138.06 31.64

Closing 92.40 51.40 202.90 96.60 10.80 12.30 20.10 72.70 34.00 161.90

Closing 96.80 33.40 51.90 12.70 19.90 68.50 43.80 18.00 136.50 31.70

DHIGH 92.40 51.40 202.90 97.20 10.80 12.40 20.40 74.50 34.60 161.90

DHIGH 96.90 33.40 52.00 12.80 20.00 68.50 43.90 18.00 140.00 32.20

DLOW 83.00 47.20 176.00 86.90 10.80 11.80 17.00 62.20 33.00 161.90

DLOW 96.50 33.40 47.50 12.10 18.50 68.40 37.50 18.00 130.00 30.50

Turnover in Million 198.194 85.868 123.500 32.449 1.972 2.290 45.837 649.423 17.032 0.032

Turnover in Million 0.387 0.084 14.381 0.201 5.250 0.171 5.017 0.018 0.525 7.461

Latest EPS 2.54 1.64 3.71 2.20 -4.13 1.16 1.05 1.84 0.50 -1.80

Latest EPS 2.20 0.50 1.64 1.16 1.05 5.15 1.09 0.37 6.71 2.70

Latest PE 35.4 30.7 53.8 43.9 -ve 10.5 18.8 37.1 69.0 -ve

Latest PE 44.0 66.8 30.8 10.8 18.8 13.3 39.5 48.6 20.6 11.7

News, analysis and recent disclosers POWERGRID: The Board of Directors has recommended 10% cash dividend for the year ended on June 30, 2014. Date of AGM: 17.01.2015, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: "Mukti Hall", Biddut Bhaban, 1 Abdul Gani Road, Dhaka-1000. Record Date: 25.11.2014. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. (0.06), NAV per share of Tk. 63.61 and NOCFPS of Tk. 12.78 for the year ended on June 30, 2014.

DAFODILCOM: (Q1): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 1st quarter ended on 30th September 2014 (July'14 to Sep'14), the Company has reported consolidated net profit after tax of Tk. 14.66 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 0.29 as against Tk. 9.39 million and Tk. 0.19 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

CMCKAMAL: (Q3): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 3rd quarter ended on 30th September 2014 (July'14 to Sep'14), the Company has reported net profit after tax of Tk. 31.91 million with EPS of Tk. 0.37 as against Tk. 23.73 million and Tk. 0.28 (restated) respectively for the same period of the previous year.

Whereas net profit after tax was Tk. 91.70 million with EPS of Tk. 1.07 for the period of nine months (Jan'14 to Sep'14) ended on 30.09.2014 as against Tk. 86.75 million

and Tk. 1.01 (restated) respectively for the same period of the previous year.

KPCL: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors has decided the following: (i) subject to compliance with prescribed procedure under the Companies Act, 1994 amalgamation of the subsidiary companies of the Company namely Khulna Power Company Unit II Ltd. and Khanjahan Ali Power Company Ltd. (the "Transferor Companies"), with the Company, has been approved. This amalgamation of the Transferor Companies with the Company will boost the Company to grow its business and better utilize its assets and thereby maximizing profits and (ii) To approve the above matters by the Hon'ble High Court Division, an application will be filed in due course under section 228 and 229 of the Companies Act, 1994 and an EGM of shareholders will be held under the supervision of the Hon'ble Court.

IMAMBUTTON: (Auditor's Observation): "Anisur Rahman & Co.", Auditor of the company, has given the following observations in the audit report of the company for the year ended on 30 June 2014: "Production Capacity: We have observed that the company utilized 21% of its production capacity during the year under review. The production of the year has decreased due

to machineries problem, market demand, frequent power failure and frequent breakdown of existing generator. In our opinion, approx. 70% production capacity utilization is needed to be achieved for viability of the company. Operating Losses: The company has suffered an amount of Operating Losses Tk. 1,38,98,642.00 for the year under review due to high price of raw materials, global recession, frequent power failure and frequent breakdown of existing generator and machineries problem. Going Concern Threat: In our opinion, based on the above observation, if the management is unable to mitigate the above-mentioned infrastructure and operating obstacles to utilize the desired level of production capacity and improve the efficiency both in terms of operation and financing, the status of the company as a going concern for the foreseeable future will be affected."

MIDASFIN: (Qualified Opinion): 'Zoha Zaman Kabir Rashid & Co.', Auditor of the company, has given the following Qualified Opinion in the audit report of the company for the year ended on 30 June 2014: "Midas Financing Limited has transferred 4.5 Floors (35,685 sft) of Midas Center to its subsidiary Midas Investment Limited at cost value of Tk. 16.56 Crore instead of market price."

Latest PE -ve 9.5 17.7 15.0 10.1 -ve 251.8 41.1 11.3 24.8

The beat across the market continued and chipped away 316.8 points in recent downturn in the last 17 sessions

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company

% change 6.09 3.76 0.80 18.59 3.31 20.81 0.03 5.47 15.95 3.31 4.93 1.41 2.21 1.70 1.45 0.62 2.37 3.28 1.49 2.41 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 BD Building Systems -A Khulna Power-A Keya Cosmetics -A SummitAlliancePort.-A SAIF Powertec-N Square Pharma -A Summit Power -A Titas Gas TDCLA Grameenphone-A

MJL BD Ltd.-A Khulna Printing-N LafargeS Cement-Z Barakatullah E. D.-A Shahjibazar Power-N

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company WesternMarine -N SAIF Powertec-N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Khulna Power-A Khulna Printing-N Shurwid Ind. -N MJL BD Ltd.-A SummitAlliancePort.-A Keya Cosmetics -A GBB Power Ltd-A

LafargeS Cement-Z S Purbanchol Power-N Grameenphone-A Summit Power -A Square Pharma -A

VolumeShares 9,516,000 6,174,227 4,843,359 9,073,614 2,942,954 2,205,000 736,227 4,413,143 1,943,867 455,337

Value in Million 649.42 360.82 328.13 271.90 208.57 198.19 197.98 196.53 170.74 163.58

% of TotalTurnover 8.73 4.85 4.41 3.66 2.80 2.66 2.66 2.64 2.30 2.20

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

1,148,164 4,113,000 1,048,000 3,460,926 618,800

1,771,600 304,000 451,996 254,870 442,000 284,500 106,696 183,133 406,329 466,500

94,500 187,208 31,600 238,876 39,096

150.49 134.14 132.01 129.58 123.50

120.62 27.31 17.34 17.30 14.41 14.38 13.98 13.00 12.18 11.94

11.86 11.44 11.36 10.61 10.55

2.02 1.80 1.77 1.74 1.66

20.74 4.70 2.98 2.97 2.48 2.47 2.40 2.23 2.09 2.05

2.04 1.97 1.95 1.82 1.81

ClosingP 72.70 58.30 66.10 29.20 72.00 92.40 266.10 44.00 87.90 358.50

130.40 31.80 125.20 37.50 202.90

ClosingP

72.70 91.90 38.00 66.40 31.80 51.90 131.40 71.60 29.20 25.60

125.10 60.50 358.30 44.00 267.20

Change % 8.02 3.92 -2.36 -2.01 1.27 10.00 -2.81 0.23 -0.23 -0.86

-0.61 -1.85 -2.57 0.54 9.44

Change %

9.16 9.80 -2.06 -2.21 -2.15 9.73 0.00 1.13 -1.68 4.49

-2.34 -1.47 -1.24 -0.23 -2.41

ClosingY 67.30 56.10 67.70 29.80 71.10 84.00 273.80 43.90 88.10 361.60

131.20 32.40 128.50 37.30 185.40

ClosingY

66.60 83.70 38.80 67.90 32.50 47.30 131.40 70.80 29.70 24.50

128.10 61.40 362.80 44.10 273.80

DHIGH 74.50 60.00 70.70 32.00 75.00 92.40 280.00 45.40 88.70 365.00

134.70 33.40 130.00 38.20 202.90

DHIGH

74.50 92.00 39.10 70.50 33.40 52.00 134.70 74.00 31.00 25.90

127.00 63.00 365.00 45.00 274.10

DLOW 62.20 53.00 62.00 27.00 65.00 83.00 261.00 40.00 80.00 355.00

119.00 31.40 124.50 33.60 176.00

DLOW

62.60 80.20 37.70 66.00 31.50 47.50 128.10 66.00 28.50 24.80

124.10 60.00 356.00 43.90 265.00

AvgPrice 68.25 58.44 67.75 29.97 70.87 89.88 268.91 44.53 87.83 359.26

131.07 32.61 125.96 37.44 199.58

AvgPrice

68.09 89.84 38.35 67.89 32.60 50.55 130.99 70.97 29.99 25.59

125.53 61.10 359.44 44.42 269.83

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

BoJ boss: ‘Half-baked’ deflation treatment worsens the issue

KPCL plans merger of two subsidiaries n Kayes Sohel Khulna Power Company Ltd (KPCL), the country’s first independent power producer, plans to merge with its two subsidiary companies – Khulna Power Company Unit II Ltd and Khanjahan Ali Power Company Ltd. “This amalgamation will boost the company to grow its business and better utilize its assets and thereby maximising profits,” said the company in a statement yesterday.

Before merging, the companies need to take approval from regulator and the court. The detail about transfer of shares from transferor to the transferee companies has not been disclosed yet.

The company will apply to the High Court Division of the Supreme Court, for approval of the amalgamation. Its Extraordinary General Meeting will be held under the supervision of the court soon for shareholder’s permission.

Established under the private sector power generation policy, it is in operation for the last 16 years. It owns and operates a 110 mega watt barge mounted power plant that commenced operation in October 1998 in Khulna and

n AFP, Tokyo The Bank of Japan will do whatever it can to beat the plague of deflation, governor Haruhiko Kuroda said Wednesday, adding “half-baked” measures would only worsen the problem.

Just days after he took the markets by surprise with a massive enlargement of the Bank’s already-hefty stimulus programme, Kuroda said the path forwards was clear.

“In order to completely overcome the chronic disease of deflation, medicine should be taken until the end,” he told private- and public-sector officials in Tokyo.

“A half-baked medical treatment will only worsen the symptoms,” he said.

Japan’s economy, now the world’s third largest, has suffered through more than a decade of deflation, a debilitating phenomenon that encourages consumers to put off purchases in the knowledge that things will be cheaper in the future.

That hurts producers, who cut back on wages or employment, further dampening demand in a self-reinforcing circle.

Kuroda’s comments come after the central bank said Friday it would widen its asset-buying plan by as much as 20tn yen ($182bn) to an eye-popping 80tn yen annually.

The announcement sent the yen into freefall and lit a fire under stock prices.

The central bank chief has repeatedly said the programme - dubbed quantitative and qualitative easing - is aimed at influencing people’s behaviour by generating expectations that prices will rise in the future.

JP Morgan found hackers through breach of corporate event website

n Reuters

JP Morgan Chase & Co learned about hackers who stole the bank’s contact information for 76 million households and 7 million small businesses through a corporate event that it sponsors, the New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

According to the reports, the bank discovered that the intruders had used some of the same offshore servers to hack both the bank and the website of the JPMorgan Corporate Challenge.

The New York Times said the breach was part of a repository of a billion stolen passwords and usernames from some 420,000 websites that a Milwaukee-based security consulting firm, Hold Security, had traced to a gang of Russian hackers.

Further investigation by Hold and JPMorgan security specialists revealed that in April the hackers had obtained the website certificate for the Corporate Challenge site’s vendor, Simmco Data Systems, allowing hackers access to any communications between visitors and the website, including passwords and email addresses, the Times reported. l

Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Haruhiko Kuroda smiles during a news conference “Conversion of the deflationary mindset has been steadily progressing under the (policy). Such progress should not be stopped now,” Kuroda said Wednesday.

“A transition from a bad and shrinking equilibrium to a good and expanding equilibrium brings significant changes to Japan’s economic and social systems,” he said, repeating now is a

“critical moment” to achieve sustainable growth.

“The Bank will do whatever it can to achieve the price stability target at the earliest possible time,” he said.

Kuroda has been bullish in his ambition to achieve two percent inflation in about two years from 2013.

However, he failed to carry his full board with him last week, with only

B3

Thursday, November 6, 2014

REUTERS

five of the nine members of the committee backing the expansion.

Critics charge that monetary policy alone cannot overturn years of somnolence in Japan’s once hard-charging economy.

They insist that structural changes, including a relaxation of rigid labour laws, are necessary, and say Japan’s government must step up to the plate. l

supplies electricity to the national grid.

Local shareholders hold 100% ownership of the company. KPCL project was initially financed by the IFC and the sponsors’ equity with a debt-toequity ratio of 54:46.

Initially, the company’s shareholders were Coastal Power Company (later Coastal was merged with El Paso Corporation, USA) through its direct wholly-owned subsidiary El Paso Khulna Power ApS, Summit Industrial and Mercantile Corporation, United Enterprises and Co Ltd. (Bangladesh) and Wärtsilä Development and Financial Services (Asia).

The plant consumes about 600 metric tons of heavy fuel oil daily to generate 110 MW power by the 19 generators on the two barges located in Khalishpur, Khulna.

Yesterday at the Dhaka Stock Exchange, the listed company KPCL share prices fell more than 2%. The company was also the third largest traded stocks at the bourse.

According to the company’s latest financial statement, its third quarter (July to September) profit this year stood at Tk56.4 crore, a rise of more than 26% a year earlier. l

Oil prices extend losses n AFP, Singapore Oil prices extended losses in Asia yesterday as dealers looked ahead to the release of the latest US supply report after a sell-off in the previous session owing to price cuts by Saudi Arabia.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for December delivery fell seven cents to $77.12 while Brent crude

for December fell 33 cents to $82.49 in afternoon trade.

WTI had dropped $1.59 in New York late Tuesday to hit its lowest closing point since October 2011, as dealers continued to digest Saudi Arabia’s move to cut its prices for crude sold to the US markets.

Brent fell $1.96 in London to its lowest close since October 2010. l

Bangladesh may float $2bn Wider US trade deficit, weak exports sovereign bonds next year point to slower growth  B1 COLUMN 2

He, however, said there was a scope for bargaining on maturity period.

In 2011 the government took a move to issue sovereign bonds to raise $500m from the international market to implement development projects because of poor availability of soft loans from the donors.

But it abandoned the plan after a committee, led by Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor SK Sur Chowdhury, identified risks including appreciation

of local currency against dollar and fall in soft loans from donor agencies in last year.

World Bank, Asian Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency suspended around $2bn loans to Padma Bridge project in 2012 following corruption allegations in tender process.

Sources said the government’s decision to build Padma Bridge with own fund has revived the abandoned plan of sovereign bonds. l

BB appoints observer to Mercantile Bank  B1 COLUMN 1

The board also approved loan of Tk300 crore to Jamuna group violating single borrower exposure limit. Moreover, the bank did not classify the loan account though it was classifiable, he said.

Bangladesh Bank investigation also found the former Mercantile Bank chairman M Amanullah, now a director of the bank, embezzled Tk2 crore from the bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund.

Nasir A Choudhury, advisor and founder managing director of Green Delta Insurance has recently won the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the 18th Asia Insurance Industry Awards (AIIA) hosted by Asia Insurance Review in Singapore

Mercantile Bank’s board of directors, led by the then chairman Amanullah, approved the fund to Aman Group Foundation to build a charitable kidney dialysis hospital at Keraniganj in Dhaka.

The central bank has appointed its observers for various reasons to five more banks, including state-run BASIC Bank, Bangladesh Commerce Bank, ICB Islamic Bank, National Bank and Islami Bank. l

n Reuters, Washington The US trade deficit unexpectedly widened in September as exports hit a fivemonth low, a sign that slowing global demand could undercut economic growth in the fourth quarter.

The Commerce Department said on Tuesday the trade gap increased 7.6% to $43.03bn, ending four straight months in which the deficit had narrowed.

“We expect a stronger dollar and weaker growth abroad, most notably in Europe, will take a greater toll on the trade balance and overall growth in the economy,” said Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial in Chicago.

September’s shortfall was bigger than the $38.1 billion gap the government had assumed in is estimate of third-quarter GDP last week, when it said the economy expanded at a 3.5% annual rate, with trade adding 1.3 percentage points.

Economists, who had expected a $40bn trade gap in September, said the wider deficit could cut as much as a half a percentage point off that growth estimate. That would come on top of a reduction of about two-tenths of a point due to weak construction spending data released on Monday, they said.

The government will publish revi-

Akij Cement has recently marked its 12th anniversary. The group’s managing director, Sk Bashir Uddin was present on the occasion as the chief guest

sions to third-quarter GDP later this month.

In another report, the Commerce Department said orders for factory goods fell for a second straight month in September. Relatively firm domestic demand, however, is expected to keep US factories humming.

While the trade data had little impact on US financial markets, concerns about weakening global demand pushed Brent crude oil prices to the lowest level in more than four years, dragging down US stocks. The dollar fell against a basket of currencies, while prices for US Treasury debt rose.

STRONG DOLLAR Exports in September fell 1.5% to $195.59bn, the lowest level since April, a sign that weakening demand in key markets such as China and the euro zone was starting to weigh.

A survey of US manufacturers published on Monday showed a decline in a gauge of export order growth, suggesting exports will weaken further.

Apart from slowing global demand, exports are seen crimped by a strong dollar, which so far this year has strengthened by about 4% against the currencies of the country’s main trading partners.

“We expect that the trade sector

actually will subtract slightly from growth in the coming year,” said Peter D’Antonio an economist at Citigroup in New York.

The decline in exports in September was broad-based, with the exception of food and beverages, which rose.

Exports to the European Union fell 6.5%, while those to China slipped 3.2%. Exports to Japan tumbled 14.7%.

There were also declines in exports to Mexico and Brazil.

Overall imports were unchanged in September as petroleum imports hit their lowest level since November 2009.

A domestic energy boom has enabled the United States to reduce its dependence on foreign oil, tempering the trade deficit. Declining prices, which hit a seven-month low in September, are also helping to curb the import bill.

Consumer goods imports, however, were the highest on record in September, as were non-petroleum imports.

Cellphones, most likely Apple’s new iPhone 6 model introduced in September, accounted for the bulk of the consumer goods imports.

Imports from China hit an all-time high, leaving the politically sensitive trade gap at $35.6bn, the highest on record. Imports from Canada were the highest since July 2008. l

Southeast Bank has recently sponsored the inauguration of an elevator for the teachers’ use at the Faculty of Business Studies, University of Dhaka. The bank’s managing director, Shahid Hossain was present on the occasion as the guest of honour along with Prof Dr AAMS Arefin Siddique, vice-chancellor at University of Dhaka, who was present as chief guest

Wali Ul Islam, a capital market expert has recently joined Unicap Securities Limited – a wholly owned subsidiary of Union Capital Limited – as the its chief executive officer

Rangs Properties has recently arranged a three-day lifestyle fair at their own Mirpur project

Standard Bank Ltd held recently held its 229th board meeting t its head office. The bank’s chairperson Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed presided over the meeting

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Thursday, November 6, 2014

IMF gave richer countries wrong austerity advice after crisis n Reuters, Washington The International Monetary Fund ignored its own research and pushed too early for richer countries to trim budgets after the global financial crisis, the IMF’s internal auditor said on Tuesday.

The Washington-based multilateral lender, concerned about high debt levels and large fiscal deficits, urged countries like Germany, the United States and Japan to pursue austerity in 201011 before their economies had fully recovered from the crisis.

At the same time, the IMF advocated loose monetary policies to sustain growth and boost demand in advanced economies, initially ignoring the possible spillover risks of such policies for emerging market countries, the Independent Evaluation Office, or IEO, said in a report that analyzed the IMF’s crisis response.

“This policy mix was less than fully effective in promoting recovery and exacerbated adverse spillovers,” the IEO wrote.

The IMF advises its 188 member countries on economic policy, and provides emergency financial assistance to its members on the condition they get their economies back on track.

The internal auditor said the IMF should have known that the combination of tight fiscal policy and expansionary monetary policy would be less effective in boosting growth after a crisis. Evidence showed that the private sector’s focus on reducing debt made it less susceptible to monetary stimulus.

In 2012, the IMF finally admitted that it had underestimated how much budget cuts could hurt growth and recommended a slower pace for austerity policies. But its auditor said the IMF’s own research showed this relationship

even before the crisis.

IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde said the IMF’s advice was reasonable, given the information and economic growth forecasts it had in 2010.

“I strongly believe that advising economies with rapidly rising debt burdens to move toward measured consolidation was the right call to make,” Lagarde said in a statement.

The IEO report looked at the IMF’s crisis response through the end of 2013 but excluded lending to euro zone countries in order to avoid interfering with current programs, such as the IMF’s loan program to Cyprus, which will not end until 2016.

However, the auditor did acknowledge that the IMF’s close work with the European Central Bank and European Commission on euro zone loan programs raised some concerns about the IMF’s independence and equal treatment of all members.

Echoing that point, Paulo Nogueira Batista, IMF executive director for Brazil and 10 other emerging market countries, said the IMF played the role of “junior partner” in the trio of lenders, at times ignoring its own policies, according to a statement Batista and others in his office presented to the IMF board. The statement does not represent the IMF’s views.

The IEO also urged the IMF to quickly pass 2010 governance reforms meant to boost its funding and give more say to emerging markets. The reform measures have been held up because the US Congress has not ratified them.

The delay leaves the IMF reliant on temporary or bilateral borrowing for 70% of its credit capacity and leaves it vulnerable in case of a future crisis, the IEO said. l

Merkel says euro zone extremely fragile n Reuters, Berlin German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday the euro zone was extremely fragile and made clear Europe’s biggest economy would not borrow more to invest, resisting pressure from some of its partners to do more to boost growth.

Much economic progress had been made in the euro zone since the height of the bloc’s debt crisis, Merkel said, noting Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Greece had completed or were close to exiting their bailout programs.

“But still the situation in the euro

zone remains extremely fragile,” Merkel told the BDA employers association, adding structural reforms needed to be implemented in some countries.

The European Commission said earlier the euro zone would need another year to reach even a modest level of economic growth, revising down its forecasts and predicting more low inflation and high unemployment. Export-oriented Germany has slashed its growth forecast for this year and next to 1.2% and 1.3% respectively, blaming modest global growth and international crises. Its previous forecasts were 2% and 1.8%. l

A picture illustration of Euro banknotes and coins taken in central Bosnian town of Zenica

European Commission cuts forecasts, recovery delayed n Reuters, Brussels The euro zone will need another year to reach even a modest level of economic growth, the European Commission said on Tuesday, calling on Germany to help as Chancellor Angela Merkel again rejected a spending spree.

The EU executive cut its forecasts, saying the euro zone economy would expand by 0.8 percent this year, 1.1% next year and by 1.7% in 2016 - a level the Commission said six months ago would be achieved next year. The delay in the upturn was due to drag on the economy from France and Italy.

“There is no single and simple answer. The economic recovery is clearly struggling to gather momentum,” the EU’s economics commissioner, Pierre Moscovici, told a news conference. Fellow European Commissioner Jyrki Katainen said Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, should invest more to help the recovery.

Those calls were echoed by Italy’s undersecretary for European Affairs, Sandro Gozi, who said the Commission’s forecasts were proof that economic policies focusing heavily on budget rigour were misguided.

“Today’s economic forecasts are good news because they confirm that the approach is wrong,” Gozi said in Berlin.

German economic growth will be slower than the Commission had hoped, expanding 1.1% in 2015, not the

2% level the EU executive had foreseen in its Spring forecasts.

“Germany can play a significant role in stimulating the EU and euro area economy,” said Katainen, who is the EU’s new growth and jobs commissioner. “For the sake of Germany’s own economic strength in the future, it makes sense to invest.”

But he also said Germany alone would not be enough and that all EU countries needed to reform to boost growth.

Germany has become increasingly isolated for its insistence on balancing its budget, as the weakness of the 18-country euro zone, which generates a fifth of world economic output, holds back a broader global revival led by the United States.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, speaking in Berlin to Germany’s employers association, reiterated her concerns about getting deeper into debt, in what is becoming a repetitive debate on spending that divides the euro zone.

“Investment is needed but not with new borrowing,” she said.

Germany is wary of the excessive spending that caused the euro zone’s 2009-2012 banking and debt crisis, when the bloc lived far beyond its means and lost the confidence of markets.

The Commission forecasts Germany will post a budget surplus this year, a balanced budget in 2015 and another surplus in 2016, showing little appetite for more government spending.

Central bankers to challenge Draghi on ECB leadership style n Reuters, Frankfurt National central bankers in the euro area plan to challenge European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi on Wednesday over what they see as his secretive management style and erratic communication and will urge him to act more collegially, ECB sources said.

The bankers are particularly angered that Draghi effectively set a target for increasing the ECB’s balance sheet immediately after the policymaking governing council explicitly agreed not to make any figure public, the sources said.

“This created exactly the expectations we wanted to avoid,” an ECB insider said. “Now everything we do is measured against the aim of increasing the balance sheet by a trillion (euros) ...

He created a rod for our own backs.”

Irritation among national governors who hold a majority on the 24-member council could limit Draghi’s space for bolder policy action in the coming months as the bank faces crucial choices about whether to buy sovereign bonds to combat falling inflation and economic stagnation.

Some members intend to raise their concerns with Draghi at the governors’ traditional informal working dinner on Wednesday before their formal monthly rate-setting meeting on Thursday, the sources interviewed by Reuters said.

Many people at the central bank, which manages a single currency for 18 European Union member states,

European Central Bank Governor Mario Draghi speaks at a news conference during the World Bank/IMF annual meetings in Washington Reuters welcomed Draghi’s greater informality when he took over from JeanClaude Trichet of France in 2011. His efforts to keep meetings short, delegate and brainstorm more, were received as a breath of fresh air.

However, as decisions to loosen monetary policy and resort to further unconventional measures have become more contentious, insiders say the Italian ECB chief has acted increasingly on his own or with just a handful of trusted aides, sidelining even key heads of department.

“Mario is more secretive... and less collegial. The national governors sometimes feel kept in the dark, out of the loop,” said one veteran ECB insider.

REUTERS

“Jean-Claude used to consult and communicate more,” another ECB source said. “He worked a lot to build consensus.”

The ECB sources, like other central bankers interviewed for this report, declined to be identified because of the confidentiality of the bank’s highly market-sensitive deliberations.

BOARD IN THE DARK Even members of the ECB’s executive board - the six-member inner circle that runs the bank - were not informed in advance about two key recent policy announcements, two sources said.

Those were a key passage inserted into Draghi’s speech at the U.S. Federal

Reserve’s Jackson Hole conference in August, in which he highlighted falling euro zone inflation expectations and vowed to act to counter them, and his Sept. 4 comment during a question-and-answer session that the ECB aimed to expand its balance sheet “towards the dimensions it used to have at the beginning of 2012” at the peak of the euro zone crisis.

That particularly rankled with council members since they had just agreed not to put any price tag on the “sizeable” plan decided that day to buy bundled loans known as assetbacked securities (ABS) and covered bonds, the sources said.

“We specifically agreed at the meeting... not to put any numbers on the table,” one central banker. “Draghi’s reference to the balance sheet of 2012 irritated a lot of colleagues. So he has had to backtrack a bit ... to compensate.”

The ECB declined comment on the matter.

Several ECB sources said Draghi had cut back on circulating policy papers in advance of council meetings, apparently out of concern that opponents, notably in the German Bundesbank, were leaking them to try to block or discredit decisions.

Draghi’s relationship with Bundesbank chief Jens Weidmann hit a low point in October after the German publicly criticised ECB policy and each side briefed against each other at the annual IMF session in Washington. l

French promise

Indebted countries like Italy and France have little public money for investing, something that was highlighted by the Commission’s Autumn projections for France’s budget deficit.

Rather than falling, like virtually everywhere else in the euro zone, the French deficit is to grow steadily to 4.7% of gross domestic product in 2016 from 4.1% in 2013, assuming the country takes no further steps.

France has promised to bring the deficit down to the EU’s 3% of GDP limit in 2017, but that is the year of a presidential election, making dramatic spending cuts unlikely.

Reacting to the Commission’s overall forecasts, French Finance Minister Michel Sapin said in a statement issued to Reuters that the crucial question was “how to rediscover, as quickly as possible, more growth and jobs”.

Euro zone leaders are putting their faith in a proposed 300bn euro fund to invest in projects to revive the economy.

The European Commission’s new president, Jean-Claude Juncker, has promised to unveil the plan in December, but economists warn the programme will not be enough.

“Investment is still considerably lower than the level it was at before the crisis,” said Moscovici. “This is not specific to the most vulnerable countries ... An acceleration of investment is essential.”

Dire indicators

While the hangover from its banking and debt crises is largely to blame for the euro zone’s fragility, tensions with Russia over Ukraine and economic sanctions imposed by the EU on Moscow have also damaged business confidence and exports.

The Commission data appears to avoid the relapse into recession that European Central Bank President Mario Draghi warned EU leaders of at a summit in Brussels last month, but despite a slowly improving trend, indicators remain dire.

Inflation will be 0.5% this year, 0.8% in 2015 and 1.5% in 2016, well below the target level of 2% the ECB judges as healthy for the economy, while unemployment is seen barely budging, at 10.8% in 2016.

The data is likely to support calls by economists and some investors for the ECB to embark on the kind of quantitative easing bond-buying programme that Japan, Britain and the United States have employed to recover from the crisis.

But Draghi has told the euro zone it cannot just rely on the ECB, which is banned from directly financing governments, to help, and that countries must reform to get more young people into work and help carry the burden of an ageing population.

Draghi said last month he wanted to see governments draw up a reform programme by the next EU summit in December. l

US big companies disclose too little on operations abroad n Reuters, Berlin The world’s biggest companies disclose little or no financial details about their operations abroad, according to a report

by Transparency International which singled out Chinese firms but also US tech giants like Amazon and Google.

The Berlin-based anti-corruption watchdog named Bank of China, Honda Motor, Bank of Communications, Agricultural Bank of China and Russia’s Sberbank as the five least transparent companies.

Bank of China could not be reached for comment on the report, while the other four firms declined to comment.

“We need more transparency from multinational companies, whose power in the world economy closely rivals the biggest countries,” said Transparency International chairman Jose Ugaz.

“By not responding to people’s demands for greater transparency and accountability, companies risk harming their brand and losing customers,” he warned.

Around three quarters of the 124 firms assessed do not disclose the taxes they pay in foreign countries and nearly half publish no information on rev-

DILBERT

enues abroad, the report said.

The companies were ranked based on their reporting of their measures to prevent corruption, information about subsidiaries and holdings and information about financial operations abroad.

By these criteria, European companies performed best with Italy’s Eni, Britain’s Vodafone and Norway’s Statoil at the top.

“We are committed to providing as much information and insight as possible to support informed public debate on issues such as corporate governance, anti-corruption programmes and corporate taxation,” said a spokesman for Vodafone.

While there were six Chinese companies among the 10 worst performers, U.S. firms also figured.

Warren Buffet’s conglomerate Berkshire Hathaway was ranked the sixth least transparent multinational and the report said major tech companies also performed relatively poorly.

“Surprisingly, the sector that makes greater transparency possible is one of the least transparent,” said Transparency, adding that Amazon, Apple, Google and IBM all scored less than three out of 10. l