18 nov, 2014

Agrahayan 4, 1421 Muharram 24, 1436 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 224

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

20 pages | Price: Tk12

B1 | BUSINESS

7 | LONG FORM

11 | OP-ED

14 | SPORT

APPAREL EXPORTS TO US LOSING EDGE TO COMPETITORS

REDESIGNING ECONOMICS TO REDESIGN THE WORLD

IT’S BANGLADESH’S TIME NOW

ROARING CHARACTERS BEHIND SUCCESS

Shafiul’s killers were hired professionals

PUBLIC DISSERVICE

Police said killers left behind very few clues to work with Jamil Khan and n Mohammad Sourav Habib, from Rajshahi The assailants who hacked Rajshahi University Professor AKM Shafiul Islam Lilon on Saturday were hired professionals, investigators say.

“Six young men took part in the killing mission. After the mission was over, they fled the spot by climbing over a nearby wall before anyone could follow them,” a high official of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The official, who is one of the chief coordinators of the murder investigation, seeking anonymity also said:

‘We are now tracking phone calls from and to several numbers that belong to JamaatShibir men’ “The killer took position behind a bush in a dark, shadowy place.”

Around 2:30pm on Saturday, armed assailants hacked Shafiul to death in the Chouddopai area in Rajshahi city.

He succumbed to injuries around 4:45pm while undergoing treatment at the Rajshahi Medical College Hospital.

The investigator said the professor’s life could have been save if he could be brought to the hospital right after the attack. “Shafiul’s residence is located at the deserted dead end of an alley. That was why rescuing him and taking him to the hospital took time,” he said.

The official claimed to have talked to the rescuers and several witnesses and learned that six young men first surrounded Shafiul and forced him towards the bush.

At that time, Shafiul shouted at the criminals saying “why are you people forcing me?” a witness told Rajshahi police.

By the time the witness could bring in local people for support, the killers, who are professionals, fled the area by climbing over a nearby wall.

“The handle of the machete that we recovered from the spot, was wrapped with nylon so that it did not slip during the hacking. Moreover, there was no finger print on the handle,” an officer of the Detective Branch of Rajshahi police told the Dhaka Tribune.

However, the DB official said they had found the name “Sadhon” inscribed on the handle and suspected that it might refer to the maker of the machete.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, another high-ranked official from the RMP headquarters said they had been following two routes for the investigation.

“We have done the forensic test already. But using technology, we have got some other sensational information. For instance, we have learned that one of the killers had been using his mobile phone in an unusual manner at the crime scene.”

He also said: “We have prepared a list of suspects comprising numbers that had made phone calls before and after the murder to some fixed numbers over a 20-minute period.”

Analysing the phone calls, witness statements and the way the killers behaved, police guessed that they were not local people.

Another investigator told the Dhaka Tribune that the killers had been divided into three groups – one group was updating others about the professor’s movements; one group showed the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Construction materials left haphazardly occupy almost the entire width of a road in Kalshi of Mirpur in the capital leaving very little space for traffic. The work for this culvert began in February and has not reached anywhere near completion even in nine months RAJIB DHAR

Cyber Jihadists hint at next targets n Ashif Islam Shaon In a long status update yesterday, the Facebook page of Ansar al Islam Bangladesh – 2, a Jihadist group that claimed responsibility of killing Rajshahi University Professor Shafiul Islam Lilon, has given hints who their next targets can be.

Citing a verse from the holy Qur’an, the Bangla status said the group had not been targetting those who were “atheists in their personal lives,” rather their targets were those who “had been demeaning Prophet Muhammad under the cover of atheism.”

The groups’ probable next targets could be teachers of universities, schools and colleges; public representatives or local opinion leaders; heads of organisations; judges, lawyers and doctors; poets and intellectuals; journalists or editors of newspapers; and

television, stage or film actors, the status said.

The only definitivename that appears in the 342-word status update is vernacular daily newspaper Prothom-Alo.

P4

PROTESTS

The status, posted at 5pm yesterday, fetched more than a hundred comments until 9:30pm. While some praised the organisation, several Facebook users opposed killing people in the name of Islam and urged the page admins to not create anarchy.

Some of the comments suggestionsed the group about who their next targets could be.

One such comment is from Facebook user Abdullah Hil Baki Nayem, a resident of Rajshahi, who said Ansar al Islam Bangladesh -2’s next targets could be Gonojagoron Moncho spokesman

Imran H Sarker and activist Lucky Akter.

Last year, the Moncho emerged as a strong campaigner for war crimes trial. They have been demanding death sentence for all convicted war criminals and the trial of Jamaat-e-Islami’s alleged 1971 crimes.

Feni Basherkella, a Facebook page run by the Feni unit of Jamaat’s student front Shibir, urged the militant organisation to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Imran saying that would solve every problem in the country.

Another user Dr Cherag Ali wrote: “Please contact with me in inbox. I have some important information for you. We will be beneficiary. This is my duplicate ID.” On the other hand, several Facebook users expressed their suspicion that Shibir men might actually be running the page from behind.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Imam: Media distorted my speech Felani’s father bursts into n Tribune Report Prime minister’s political affairs adviser HT Imam yesterday accused media of “distorting” his speech, at a time when his boss Sheikh Hasina asked her cabinet colleagues to wait to see how she dealt with the matter.

On November 12, Imam said passing the written part of the recruitment test would be enough for Chhatra League men to get government jobs; they do not need to worry about the viva of the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS) Examination.

He also praised the role that police and administration had played before the January election, especially those “recruited” by him.

Clippings of his speech got viral in mainstream and social media soon after, sparking widespread criticism. Opposition parties said Imam’s comments proved the “farcical” nature of the January election and the ongoing nepotism in job recruitment. Even several senior ruling party leaders and ministers slammed him for talking irresponsibly.

During yesterday’s press briefing at the Prime Minister’s Office, Imam said:

“Several newspapers and electronic media distorted my speech. Parts of my speech were cut off and joined and published wrongly. As a result, the BNP-Jamaat circle is trying take political advantage of that.”

However, he remained silent about the

I would not have asked them to study if I meant any privilege for BCL men matter over the first four days since he made the controversial comments.

Asked whether he had discussed the matter with the PM, Imam said he had not because she was ill and he did not want to disturb her for a “personal” problem.

He also said there was no question of resigning because it was media’s mistake as they did not publish his full speech.

However, according to sources, Imam and his comments were dis-

cussed in the weekly meeting of the cabinet yesterday in the presence of the PM. When asked whether she was going to take any action against Imam, the PM reminded everyone about the steps she had taken against misconduct and asked them to wait and see, sources said.

She however reportedly said she had not yet talked to Imam regarding the matter.

Yesterday, a cabinet member reportedly said the decision to appoint former bureaucrats in top government posts was not the right decision.

HT Imam was the first cabinet secretary of independent Bangladesh.

Imam’s explanation

At yesterday’s briefing, Imam said the Awami League government had ensured that only the talented candidates got government jobs. That was why he had asked the Chhatra League men to study hard to pass the written part.

He also claimed that he would not have asked them to study hard if he actually meant any undue privilege for the Chhatra League men.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

tears in Indian court n Julfikar Ali Manik Nurul Islam once again broke down in tears before the same Indian court yesterday, asking for justice for his minor daughter Felani Khatun who had been shot to death by a soldier of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) in January 2011.

“I have no complaint against India, I have no complaint against the BSF...I only want justice – I only want punishment to the person who killed my innocent daughter,” Felani’s father said crying before the court at the end of his statement.

The Dhaka Tribune talked to Nurul Islam and SM Abraham Lincoln, the lawyer Bangladesh government has appointed to assist Felani’s father, over phone about yesterday’s court proceedings on their way back after appearing in the Indian court that sat to review its previous verdict in the Felani murder case.

The seven-member court comprising BSF officials sat at 181 BSF Battalion headquarters in Cooch Behar district of

West Bengal conducted the hearing to review the acquittal of BSF Constable Amiya Ghosh from the charge of killing Felani.

The verdict of the Indian court delivered in September last year was heart-breaking for Nurul and other family members and also for the Bangladesh authorities and the people of the country.

Justice-seekers demanded retrial.

The Indian authority decided to review the verdict.

Nurul and his daughter Felani were returning to their home in Kolonitari village of Nageshwari upazila in Kurigram from Delhi through the Indian state of West Bengal. During their illegal crossing through Anantapur border area at Fulbari upazial, Kurigram, on January 7, 2011 the BSF shot dead Nurul’s daughter.

Felani’s body had hung from the barbed-wire fence at the border for five hours before the Indians took her body down. They tied her hands and feet to a bamboo pole and carried her away.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

INSIDE 4 | News

‘Diversities in religion, culture and different other practices in the South Asian region should not be considered as a barrier, but as a platform to enhance the human rights mechanism in the region.’

6 | Nation

Around 5,000 farmers of 20 chars (shoals) in Bhola district have been passing days in panic fearing attack by musclemen and land grabbers ahead of Aman paddy harvest.

5 | News

DU admission seekers postponed strike yesterday giving a seven-day ultimatum for restoring the previous system allowing aspirants to appear in tests twice.

8 | World

Authorities were investigating the involvement of several suspected Western jihadists in the brutal video by the Islamic State group claiming the beheading of US aid worker Peter Kassig.

14 | Sport

Defender Thiago Silva has criticised Brazil coach Dunga and star player Neymar after claiming neither of them told him he was no longer Brazil captain.

15 | Entertainment

Sharmin Lucky is one of the best in the field of voice-over art in country. She never tries to come into limelight through acting in any television play or film despite her huge demand.

RMP commissioner transferred n Tribune Report The Home Ministry yesterday transferred Rajshahi Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mahbubur Rahman, two days after the gruesome murder of Rajshahi University Professor AKM Shafiul Islam.

The transfer order however did not mention any reason for the decision.

Additional Commissioner Mohammad Shamsuddin of Dhaka Metropolitan Police will take charge at Rajshahi, according to the Home Ministry order.

Requesting anonymity, an official of the RMP said the decision had come amid strong demands for the arrest of and exemplary punishment to the killers of the university teacher.

Over the last two days, RMP detained 34 people in separate drives.

Yesterday 11 of them were shown arrested. l

Khaleda’s tired counsel stops making case early n Tribune Report BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s counsel yesterday refused to continue presenting arguments for a leave to appeal petition in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case as he felt tired.

Advocate Zainul Abedin started around 12 noon and read out the High Court order that accepted charges against Khaleda in the case in 2009.

But he stopped five minutes earlier than he was expected to and said he was tired when Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain told him he could proceed as there was still time.

Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, one of the five members of the Appellate Division bench which is hearing Khaleda’s petition, told Zainul: “Have you reached 70?”

“My lord, you make me so old?” replied Zainul.

The chief justice again said: “How do you feel tired in front of all these young lawyers?”

Zainul replied: “Sometimes the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Students, teachers blame Jamaat-Shibir for Shafiul murder Jamil Khan and n Mohammad Sourav Habib, from Rajshahi Students and teachers of Rajshahi University (RU) yesterday continued protesting for a second consecutive day, boycotting classes and examinations and forming a human chain, to demand the arrest of Professor AKM Shafiul Islam Lilon’s murderers.

“No classes or exams were held and the protest will continue,” Pronob Kumar Pandey, general secretary of RU teachers’ association, said.

Teachers held a human chain in front of the senate building around 10am armed with banners and placards.

Professor Mohammad Mizanuddin, vice-chancellor of the university, addressed the rally, saying: “Two professors of the university were killed before this but their trials have not been held yet. If the trials were held then this killing might not have happened.”

“Some anti-Liberation War forces have targeted Rajshahi as a zone of operations,” he said.

If the killer is not identified and punished, such killings would continue, he added.

Professor Malay Bhowmick said: “We have learned that a Facebook page named ‘Ansar al Islam Bangladesh’ has taken responsibility for the killing but one must remember that the root of this fanaticism is Jamaat-e-Islam.”

“Basically, the so-called Islamic groups give birth to fanatic fringe groups, that is the reality and nothing else,” Bhowmick said.

Soon after the end of the teachers’ rally, another human chain by the department of sociology and joined by faculty members of other departments was formed at Paris road. They too demanded the perpetrators be punished.

Shirajul Islam, associate proctor and associate professor of sociology, said: “We have all came together on one platform to demand the killers be brought to book.”

Mithu Biswash, a student of sociology, said: “We are astounded and feel helpless after the gruesome killing of our professor. We hope the administration will take action. The killer must be punished so no more teachers are at risk.”

“Our teacher was very cordial with us and was a beloved person. We do not understand why the killers took his life,” Mithu said.

Kamrul Islam Majumder, president of the RU teachers’ association, said: “An ultimatum of 15 days has been given to the administration to ensure the arrest and punishment of the killers.”

“If a trial is not held within this time, then a tougher movement will be launched,” he said.

The Rajshahi University unit of the Bangladesh Chhatra League blockaded a section of the Dhaka-Rajshahi highway around 12pm for 20 minutes demanding the punishment of the killers of Shafiul. They later brought out a procession along different main roads of the campus.

On Saturday, around 2:30pm, armed assailants hacked RU Professor Shafiul Islam Lilon to death in broad daylight.

He succumbed to his injuries while being treated at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) at 4:45pm that day.

The university registrar, Professor M Entajul Haque, filed a case with Motihar police station on Sunday night.

Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Motihar police station, said the plaintiff filed the case against unidentified persons. l

Dhaka University Teachers’ Association form a human chain at the base of Aparajeyo Bangla yesterday demanding a fair probe into the killing of Rajshahi University Professor AKM Shafiul Islam NASHIRUL ISLAM

Bangladeshis to get jobs at HT Imam’s explanation unacceptable, says Fakhrul Malaysia’s Sarawak province n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

n

Tribune report

Bangladeshis can work at Sarawak province of Malaysia as well after the amended “Memorandum of Understanding on Employment of Workers” is signed with the Southeast Asian country. Currently, Bangladeshis get jobs only in the mainland of Malaysia.

Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters after a cabinet meeting that approved the amended deal yesterday. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting.

The cabinet also approved the Ministry of Home’s proposal, ‘Agreement between the government of Malaysia and that of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on the Partial Abolition of Visa Requirement”, he said.

Once the deal is signed, it will allow Bangladesh diplomats and officials 90-day visa waiver, said the cabinet secretary, adding that the 21-year-old unmarried children of the diplomats and their families will also enjoy the facility.

The deal will not have any time limit, as he said it can be renewed or cancelled any time. l

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said HT Imam’s explanation regarding his recent statements towards Chhatra League and on January 5 elections was not acceptable.

HT Imam at a press conference yesterday claimed that the media had exaggerated his speech which he gave on November 12. He said: “Media has exaggerated my speech and misrepresented it before the people, letting BNP and Jamaat take advantage of it.”

On this, Fakhrul said: “After remaining silent for a few days, today [yesterday] he claims that his statement was distorted by the media. However, he should know that in today’s information and technology era, all news spread quickly through YouTube and everything is recorded. So it is not an easy task to make a fool of people blaming the media.”

Fakhrul made the comments while addressing a discussion organised by Mohila Dal to mark the National Revolution and Solidarity Day at Engineers Institute in the capital.

He said HT Imam’s comments on January 5 election were secrets that just came out. He referred to it as “the cat out of the bag.”

Referring to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s statement that those who criticised the January 5 election were fools, the BNP spokesperson pointed out: “The election did not receive any acceptance across the world. The United States, United Kingdom and the European Union also said there was no election held on January 5. They also stressed the need of holding an election immediately

after a dialogue with all political parties.”

As a reply to the PM’s comments, Fakhrul asked a question saying “Are USA, UK and the people of the country fools?” Commenting that the prime minister has lost her grounds, he warned of dreadful consequences if the government does not listen to the voices of the country’s people.

The BNP leader also said: “The government has to hold an election today or tomorrow, so please do not put the party [Awami League] into any more trouble.” l

Media distorted  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

Woman killed in road crash n Tribune Report A sexagenarian woman was crushed to death by a bus while crossing road in the capital’s Mohakhali area yesterday.

However, the identity of women could not be known as of filing this the report in the evening.

Witnesses sources said the incident took place around 12pm when a speedy bus run over her while she was crossing the road before Mohakhali bus stand, leaving her critically.

Later, she was declared dead on arrival of Dhaka Medical Collage and

Hospital. When contacted, Banani police station SI Shafiul Azam confirmed it.

On the other hand, at least 14 people were injured in another road accident as a bus hit a BRTC bus from behind after losing control over steering in front of toll plaza of Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover in the capital’s Gulistan area around 10am.

Of the injured, one named Razu sustained severely injuries in one of his legs and he was admitted to the DMCH. Wari police station OC Topon Shaha acknowledged the mishap. l

Police get the convicts in Monir murder case into a van. The District Sessions Judge’s court yesterday sentenced the six accused to death in the case FOCUS BANGLA

Cyber Jihadists

Shafiul’s killers were hired professionals

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

Abir Ahsan Tamim commented: “I knew you are Shibir men. You killed the teacher and now changing name trying to shift blame to an unknown organisation.”

Facebook community page Ansar al Islam Bangladesh - 2 claimed responsibilities hours after the murder of Rajshahi University Professor Shafiul Islam Lilon, who was hacked to death outside his house in the Chauddapai area of Rajshahi city on Saturday afternoon and succumbed to his injuries in hospital some hours later.

Having observed the activities on the page for several hours yesterday, this correspondent discovered that most of the comments were from people whose profiles suggest that they lived in London, UK. Only a few of the respondents appear to be from Dhaka.

The profiles of many, whose are presently located in London, suggest their origins are Sylhet or Dhaka.

A man named Shahriar, who was once a sathi or a member of Rangpur unit Shibir, was the first to like the page.

Most followers of the page have posted Jamaat-Shibir-generated contents on Facebook in the past.

Until 10pm yesterday, the page fetched a total of 2,927 likes. l

others how to reach and flee the spot; and the last group carried out the killing.

He also said: “The most sensational part is that some of the suspected mobile phone numbers are registered under the name of people involved with the politics of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Chhatra Shibir.”

He said the murder scene details suggested that it was a well-planned operation which could be termed as a

“silent killing.” That, he said, was one of the major directions that the investigation was heading to.

“Additionally, we are also trying to find out whether any conflicts, including Prof Shafiul’s political affiliations, could be behind the murder,” he said.

Meanwhile, police yesterday showed 11 people arrested in connection with the case and sought seven days’ remand for each.

A local court fixed today for hearing on the remand plea.

Alamgir Hossain, officer-in-charge of the Motihar police station, said all of them had cases filed against their names and were involved in sabotage and inciting violence in the area in the past.

Islamia College Principal and Jamaat leader Humayun Kabir, madrasa teacher Fazlul Haque, Abdul Al Mahmud, village doctor Mosharraf Hossain Pintu, Moshiur Rahman, Hasibur Rahman, Jinnat Ali, Saifuddin, Rezaul Karim, Arif and Sagor were the 11 shown arrested yesterday.

Felani’s father bursts into tears in Indian court  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

The Indian authorities handed over Felani’s body on January 8, 2011 and she was buried in the yard at home, which is two and a half kilometres from the spot where she was shot dead.

Felani’s wedding was supposed to take place in a couple of days after their return to home.

West Bengal media fist published the sensational picture of Felani’s body hanging on the barbed-wire border fence. Later, Bangladeshi media also published the image of the tragic event, which triggered a huge outcry in the country and around the globe. As a result, for the first time a BSF jawan was

put on trial for the murder although killing of Bangladeshi people by the BSF has been a longstanding problem.

Felani’s father yesterday said he could not hold back his tears and at one point fainted.

“I cried for justice,” Nurul said. “I wanted the highest punishment to the person who killed my daughter, I wanted compensation.”

He said: “The killing of my daughter has left my family completely devastated to date.”

Accused Amiya Ghosh was present in the court yesterday, said Nurul’s lawyer Lincoln.

Felani was the eldest among Nurul’s

three daughters and sons.

Nurul told the Indian court: “I did not do anything wrong, my daughter did not do anything wrong.

Touts [agents who work at the border to ensure illegal crossing in exchange for money] showed us the way to come back home. Please catch those touts...We did not make any mistake.”

Felani’s father, who was a witness to the incident, said he had given a similar statement before this court during the first trial. He also answered some questions of the court.

Lawyer Lincoln said during the three-and-a-half-hour proceedings

The adviser said he knew the role that police and administration had played in maintaining law and order before the election because he was a member of the Awami League’s election committee.

Referring to his speech, Imam said he actually did not mean any partisan individual when he said “people recruited by us.”

According to Imam, it was very normal for an election-time government to seek help from police and administration in keeping things peaceful.

He also claimed that there would have been no confusion had the media published the entire of his 47-minute speech and people would have known the context of his remarks. l

Khaleda’s tired The Rajshahi district unit Jamaat have confirmed that all of them are actively involved with the party and its student front.

In a joint statement, district Jamaat chief Prof Abul Hashem and Secretary Abul Kalam Azad protested the arrest of Humayun without proper investigation.

Earlier, police detained 34 people during special drives over the last two days in connection with the murder. l

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

yesterday the court inquired Nurul about some issues related to the tragic incident.

He said although the prosecution believed that the BSF jawan had crossed the limit of his jurisdiction by shooting Felani dead, a Cooch Behar-based lawyer named Ananda Jyoti Majumder, counsel for accused Amiya Ghosh, argued that the accused had been compelled to do so.

He defended the accused, saying there had been an illegal mob at the border and the BSF jawan had opened fire to try to control the mob.

Lincoln said the court inquired Felani’s father about the illegal mob

and Nurul categorically told the court that there was no illegal mob. Nurul said there were only five persons – his daughter Felani, himself and three local touts.

The Bangladeshi lawyer said he was optimistic about getting justice as the same judges had decided to review their earlier verdict.

He said the judges of this court had visited the place of occurrence. They can accept new evidence, if they want, during the retrial.

“I would like to think that the previous judgement was not complete and perfect, so they wanted to review it,” said Lincoln. l

young lawyers also feel tired as they are afraid to stand before you.” Hearing the reply, lawyers in the courtroom burst into laughter. The court then adjourned the hearing until today.

The appeal was filed in February 26, 2012, against a High Court verdict that rejected Khaleda’s petition, which was filed challenging a lower court order passed after accepting charges. The Anti-Corruption Commission filed the case in July 3, 2008. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Charges pressed against Forkan Mallik

Closing arguments end in case against Subhan

Tribunal 2 fixed November 30 to hear arguments on the charges n Tribune Report case against Forkan with Mirzaganj po- house of Kakrabunia village at Mirja- upazilla on August 15 1971.

The prosecution yesterday completed n Tribune Report The fifth charge: He abducted and its closing arguments in the war crimes ganj Upazilla under Patuakhali district lice station on July 21, 2009.

Eight formal charges, including genocide, murder, rape, arson and looting, were yesterday pressed against Forkan Mallik for his alleged crimes against humanity in Patuakhali during the Liberation War. Prosecutor Mokhlesur Rahman Badal submitted the charges along with case documents to the registrar office of the International Crimes Tribunal.

After a hearing, the Tribunal 2, led

by Justice Obaidul Hassan, fixed November 30 to hear arguments on the charges and decide whether to take cognisance. Forkan Mallik was present at the tribunal during the hearing.

Abdul Hamid of Shoulabunia of Mirzaganj upazila of Patuakhali lodged a

After investigating the case primarily, police sent it to Patuakhali district and session judge’s court.

After accepting the case, the court issued an arrest warrant against Forkan last year.

Police arrested him from Rupatali bus stand area of Barisal on June 25.

ICT 2 ordered the inspector general of prisons (IG Prisons) on July 3 to produce the war crime accused before it.

On October 27, the investigation agency of the International Crimes Tribunal finalised two reports against Forkan Mollik, a razakar commander from Mirzaganj of Patuakhali.

According to the prosecution, the first charge: Forkan looted Hawladar’s

on July 3 1971. During that time, he was engaged in arson, torture there.

The second charge: He was involved in looting, detention, torture and arson at Deuli village of Mirzaganj upazilla some day between July 2 1971 to July 17 1971 In the third, looting, detention, murder, genocide charges were brought against him for the attack on Subidkhali Bazar of Mijaganj Upazilla on August 12 1971. Four people, including upazilla president of Awami League, were murdered.

In the fourth charge, he was accused of detention, forced conversion and banishment of three members of same family in Subudkhali bazar of Mirjaganj

3

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

raped Golapi Rani of Subidkhali bazar on August 17 1971, who later died.

The sixth charge: Forkan abducted and raped Shovarani Kormokar and Shushoma Rani on August 20. Later, they were forced to leave the country.

The seventh charge: He was involved in detention, torture, looting, arson, rape, murder and genocide at Kakrabunia village of Mirjaganj Upazilla on August 22 1971. Aleya Begum was raped and three people were murdered.

The last and eight charge: He looted Freedom fighter Abul Hossain Mridha’s house some day between August 29 to September 5 1971. Abul Hossain and his wife Monwara Begum were also tortured. l

case against Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdus Subhan at International Crimes Tribunal 2 while tribunal 1 fixed November 25 for hearing the prosecution’s closing arguments in the case against fugitive Abdul Jabbar.

The three-member tribunal 1 led by Justice Obaidul Hassan adjourned the case proceedings against Subhan until today.

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

Prosecutors Ziad Al-Malum, Rezia Sultana Chaman and Sultan Mahmud

Simon placed their arguments in the case for the eighth day yesterday.

Case against Jabbar

Defence counsel Mohammad Abul Hasan yesterday completed cross-examining the last prosecution witness Helal Uddin who is also the investigation officer of the case against Jatiya Party leader Abdul Jabbar.

The defence told Helal that the first prosecution witness, Shoebur Rahman Goldar, was a leader of the Jatiya Party and testified against Jabbar because of intra-party conflicts. Helal said it was not true. In reply to another question, the witness said it was not true that he had submitted fabricated investigation report to ensure Jabbar’s punishment.

Jabbar is facing five charges of crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971. l

Just 16% of FY2014-15 subsidies disbursed in Q1 n Asif Showkat Kallol Four major government bodies have spent just 16 % of allocated subsidies during the first quarter of FY2014-15, thanks to the abnormal situation of prices in the international energy and food markets, officials said.

The disbursement of subsidies by the Power Development Board, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, the Ministry of Agriculture and Bangladesh Bank, associated with the usually subsidy-hungry power, fuel, food and export sectors, was low in the first quarter.

Officials said another reason for the slow spending was the regular prices hikes taken by the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC).

“We do not care if the agriculture ministry or other agencies slash fertiliser prices as long as it is in keeping with our commitments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF),” an official said.

Bangladesh is currently under an IMF extended credit facility programme which is supposed to end in July next year.

Finance minister AMA Muhith last week said donors frequently discussed subsidies and the misuse of subsidies, but they amount to just two percent of the budget.

DU student suspended for sexual harassment

n DU Correspondent

The Dhaka University authorities yesterday suspended one of its students for his involvement in sexual harassment of some female students. The suspension came on Nahid Shikdar, a fourth year student of Urdu department.

DU acting proctor Amzad Ali acknowledged the suspension order, saying they also issued a show-cause notice to Nahid along with two others named Arif and Selim from the same department over the incident.

Earlier, the trio hurled abusives at three female students from music department in a university elevator.

Observing it, a student, namely Rakibul Islam Badhan, from the victims’ department protested it and Nahid and his friends beat him up.

At one stage, other students approached and caught the trio and handed them over to the university authorities.

Amzad Ali said: “We have suspended Nahid and further action will be taken against him and others if the offence is proved after primary investigation.” l

“We hope the amount of subsidy remains within limits by the end of the fiscal year,” the finance minister said.

The BERC yesterday proposed an upward price adjustment from January 1, 2015 of 40% for gas prices and 18.12% for bulk power prices, varying by consumer category.

The fuel oil price is now below US$100 per barrel in the global market, hovering between US$81 and US$86, and food prices are also stable in the international market.

According to the latest data from the Finance Division, Tk4,223cr in subsidies was disbursed from July to September, representing 15.96 % of the allocated subsidy of Tk26,453cr for FY2014-15.

The highest disbursement of subsidies was Tk1,750cr from a total of Tk3,135cr allocated as export subsidies.

The Finance Division has so far released agriculture subsidies worth Tk1,083cr from the allocated amount of Tk9,000 for the current fiscal year.

Some Tk790cr of Tk7,000cr was disbursed as power subsidies. According to data from the Finance Division, Tk600cr in fuel subsidies was disbursed from an allocation of Tk2,800cr.

The subsidy allocation for FY201415 is Tk26,453cr, down from Tk32,354cr set aside last fiscal year. l

A number of elderly people including a physically challenged woman wait outside Agrani Bank Poradaha branch in Bogra to receive old-age allowances yesterday

FOCUS BANGLA

Court summons Tarique Rahman for Amzad gets Awami maligning Sheikh Mujib League nomination for n Sirajganj 3 by-polls Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Dhaka court yesterday summoned BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman on charges of maligning Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Rezaul Karim ordered Tarique, the elder son of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, to appear in his court by December 10.

The order came within hours of Md Monir Khan, an assistant secretary of the ruling Awami League’s central sub-committee, filing the case.

The complaint stated that Tarique had made derogatory remarks about Bangladesh’s founding president, also father of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, at a discussion in East London on November 7.

Son of military strongman Ziaur Rahman, Tarique said Sheikh Mujib should be tried for sedition because he had taken oath as president after returning to independent Bangladesh as a Pakistani citizen with a Pakistani

passport on January 10, 1972.

“Sheikh Mujib returned to Bangladesh with a Pakistani passport about 25 days after independence and took oath as a Pakistani national,” Tarique said.

The Pakistani occupation forces surrendered on December 16, 1971.

Noting that Bangladeshi newspapers published Tarique’s statement the next day, the complainant said: “The derogatory statement maligned his [Bangabandhu’s] name and the image of our party [the Awami League] so much that it cannot be regained with even Tk100 crore in damages.”

There were, however, no claim for damages in the complaint. Tarique has given widely debated interpretations of Bangladesh’s history at various programmes in the UK in recent times.

Many have termed his interpretations as distortion of history.

On another occasion, he called Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman “Pak-bandhu” (friend of Pakistan).

A sedition case was filed against him

on October 19 for name-calling and spreading distorted information about the Liberation War. Advocate Moshiur Malik, president of Bangabandhu Foundation, filed the case with the CMM court.

After hearing the charges against Tarique, Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Asaduzzaman Nur ordered police detectives to submit a probe report.

Another defamation case was filed against Tarique on September 8 and his party’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir for derogatory remarks about Sheikh Mujib and his daughter Sheikh Hasina.

AB Siddique, president of Bangladesh Jononetri Parishad, a pro-Awami league platform, filed the case.

Tarique faces 14 charges in Bangladesh, including one for a grenade attack on August 21, 2004 on an Awami League rally where Hasina was present.

He has been living in the UK for about six years. l

n Tribune Report Gazi MM Amzad Hossain Milon, former president of Tarash upazila unit of Awami League, has got the party’s nomination for contesting in the byelection to the Sirajganj-3 (RaiganjTarash) constituency.

The party’s parliamentarian body headed by its chief Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has chosen Amzad after taking interviews of 19 candidates, Tofayel Ahmed, a member of the body, told the press yesterday.

The interview was held at the Gonobhaban in the capital.

The constituency fell vacant after the death of Awami League lawmaker Ishaq Hossain Talukdar.

The Election Commission (EC) decided that the by-polls to the constituency would be held on

December 30.

As per schedule, candidates can submit their nomination papers till November 20, while the date for scrutinising the nomination papers is November 22 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is November 30.

A total of 3,31,336 voters, including 1,64,539 male and 1,66,797 female, will excersise their voting rights through 131 possible polling centres in the by-polls.

The constituency is comprised of one municipality (Raiganj) and 17 union parishads. There are nine union parishads under Raiganj upazila and eight union parishads under Tarash upazila.

As per article 123 (4) of the Constitution, the commission has a legal obligation to hold the by-election

by January 4, 2015. l

Contempt of court rule issued against NU VC

Murder accused beaten to death in Chittagong

The High Court yesterday issued a rule of contempt of court against National University Vice-Chancellor Dr Harunor-Rashid in a case filed for violating its stay order.

A bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Kazi Ejazul Hoque Akando also directed the VC to give a reply in this regard within ten days after receiving the copy.

On September 23 last year, the HC in response to a writ petition filed by one NU former lecturer named Hafizur Rahman issued a three-month stay order on his dismissal from the job and directed the NU authorities to reply why the decision should not be declared illegal.

The authorities concerned denied to accept the HC copy when Hafizur handed over it. l

Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong

n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Chhatra Dal activists who feel they were deprived of positions in its newly formed committee, bring out a procession in the capital’s Nayapaltan area, demanding expulsion of former frontmen Annie and Tuku for their alleged conspiracy against the party DHAKA TRIBUNE

A local terrorist was killed and his cohort was injured in a mob beating at Rangunia upazila of Chittagong on Sunday night.

The dead Mahbub Alam, 35, was an accused in two cases including a murder case, said Chandan Kumar Chawaktroborty, officer-in- charge of Rangunia police station.

The injured Amin, accused in four cases, was admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital, said the OC adding that police had recovered a light gun, a rifle and six rounds of bullets from their possession.

Quoting locals, the OC said Mahbul

and his associate Amin were caught by the locals with firearms when they were asking for extortion money from them around 7pm.

The locals then beat up the duo, leaving them critically injured, he added.

After receiving information, police apprehended them from a tea garden and admitted the two in Upazila Health Complex, said the OC adding that they were shifted to CMCH where the duty doctors declared Mahbub dead.

OC Chandan said the duo had went into hiding soon after cases were filed against them with Rangunia police station. However, they might have returned to the upazila few days back, he added. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Speaker: South Asian diversities a platform for human rights mechanism n Abid Azad Diversities in religion, culture and different other practices in the South Asian region should not be considered as a barrier, but as a platform to enhance the human rights mechanism in the region, said Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury yesterday.

Speaking at the inauguration of the two-day regional seminar titled “Towards a South Asian Human Rights Mechanism: Prospects and Challenges,” she said: “Human rights are universal and inherited. One of the challenges which has been addressed as the reason of conflicts is religious and cultural diversities and practices.

“But I disagree with this idea. I think if we embrace these diversities that exist in South Asia, we can build a strong

Muggers snatch Tk 5 lakh from trader in capital n Tribune Report A gang of muggers took away around Tk5 lakh from a businessman in the capital’s Demra area yesterday.

The victim is Khandakar Hafizur Rahman, 34, owner of Tuhin Enterprise, and a resident of Matuail Mazar area.

The gang of 10-12 muggers attacked the victim when he was going to his business centre in Mazar road area, and took away a bag containing around Tk4.75 lakh after beating him up around 12:00pm, according to Hafizur.

“The muggers attacked me when I was going to my business centre on Hazi Badmah Mia road in Matuail area of Demra after collecting from some of my customers,” he said.

“Some local youths used to follow me for the last 15 days as I refused to pay them Tk5 lakh as extortion,” he added.

On information, his family members took to a local hospital. Later, he was shifted to Dhaka Medical Collage and Hospital around 2:00pm.

Demra Police Station Sub-Inspector Shah Alam said they had not received any complain about the attack and robbery.

“Actions will be taken after receiving complaint,” he said. l

platform and also unity among the countries in this region,” she said.

Organised by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the event was held at the Dhaka University’s Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban.

“Living in the time of globalisation, it becomes difficult to just remain within one’s confined territory. There are common concerns, problems and interests in the region that bind us together, which actually creates the necessity for the regional cooperation,” the speaker said.

Other speakers at the event expressed their deep concern over trans-border issues, human trafficking, violence against women and children, child labour, migration, climate change, etc.

Dr Mizanur Rahman, NHRC chairman who also chaired the event, said: “Within a region, adaptation of inter-

national solutions to real problems can be intelligently carried out, and the states’ commitments to each other can be confined to manageable proportions and sanctioned by clearly evident bonds of mutuality.”

He also expressed his hope saying: “Dhaka is the birth place of Saarc; let Dhaka become the birth place of South Asian Human Rights Mechanism.”

Among others, the event was also attended by India’s NHRC Chairperson Shri KG Balakrishnan, Maldives’ Human Rights Commission President Marayam Azra Ahmed, Nepal’s NHRC Commissioner Mohona Ansari, Sri-Lanka’s NHRC Secretary Samanthi, and Afganistan’s IHRC Commissioner Ahmad Zia Langari, with UNDP’s Deputy Country Director to Bangladesh Nick Beresford as special guest. l

Parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury addresses a seminar on human rights mechanism in South Asia, at Dhaka University Senate Bhaban yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

RU TEACHER MURDER

Demos held across the country n Tribune Report Demanding exemplary punishment to the killers of Rajshahi University Sociology Professor AKM Shafiul Islam, different teachers’ associations have held demonstrations across the country.

Dhaka University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) formed a human chain at the base of Aparajeyo Bangla urging the authorities to make a fair probe into the incident.

They claimed that progressive and secular teachers frequently fell victims to such cruelty.

DUTA president Dr Farid Uddin Ahmed said the militant groups are active in killing progressive minded people to turn this country into a communal one. He asked law enforcing agencies to find out sources

of such extremist forces first.

Jahangirnagar University Teachers’ Association (Juta) demonstrated on campus demanding punishment of the killers through speedy trial.

Around a hundred teachers from different departments and institutes formed a human chain around 9.30am in front of university library.

JU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Farzana Islam said the murder at RU was not a fragmented incident, same kind of incident had happened before at RU while DU teachers had come under threat as well.

They urged the government to take enough security measures for the family members of the slain professor. Barisal University Teachers’ Association boycotted classes yesterday and formed a human

chain where they said in 2004, Economics Professor Dr Md Yunus was hacked to death near the campus. They also referred to the murder of Geology Professor S Taher in 2006.

Such killings are taking place because the killers enjoyed impunity, said the participants.

Over 150 teachers of Bangladesh Agricultural University on Sunday demanded immediate arrest of the killers. They brought out a silent procession on the campus wearing black badges.

Rajshahi University sociology teacher AKM Shafiul Islam was hacked to death by unknown assailants near his house in Choddopai area, adjacent to the RU campus, on the outskirts of the Rajshahi city on Saturday. l

Chittagong road crash claims minor boy n CU Correspondent An eight-year-old boy was killed in a road accident in the port city’s Baizid area yesterday.

The deceased, identified as Md Rakib, son of Nesar Ali, is a resi-

dent of Amtol Colony of the area, said police sources. Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) police outpost Nayek Sheikh Farhadul Haque said the boy was run over by a speedy truck in front of Mukta Washing

Factory at Sher Shah in the area around 11 am while he was crossing the road.

The boy was whisked off to CMCH in a critical state where on duty doctors pronounced him dead, the Nayek continued. l

Rights bodies demand separate allocation for children in national budget n Syeda Samira Sadeque

There should be specific allocation for children in the national budget to ensure adequate services for all children and establish their rights in the country, say child rights activists.

Now, issues related to child rights are dealt with the funds from other sectors as there is no specific budgetary allocation for the country’s children who are the future of the nation, they said.

“Budgetary allocations are given to deal with the issues such as social protection of adults, not children. We are calling for a change to that,” Shabira Sultana, national advocacy coordinator at World Vision, told the Dhaka Tribune.

World Vision is one of the nine organisations that have formed the Child Rights Advocacy Coalition Bangladesh.

The coalition will organise a four-day long programme to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the United Nations Child Rights Convention (UNCRC) on November 20.

On the occasion, several programmes will be arranged that include holding a national press conference, photo exhibition, talk shows, publication of newsletters and writing letters to the prime minister.

A report by rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra found that were 675 cases of child abuses – including rape, physical abuse and murder – between 2010 and 2014 in the country.

Of the cases, only 349 were taken to court, the report said. l

Prof Louka Katseli to deliver CPD’s anniversary lecture n Tribune Report The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) is organising the Anniversary Lecture 2014 on “Recent Fiscal and Labour Market Adjustment Experiences in Europe and Lessons for the Low-Income Countries” today. This year Professor Louka Katseli, eminent scholar and former minister of Greece will deliver the lecture, said a press release.

Dr Katseli had earlier served as Greece’s minister of labour and social security (2010-2011) and minister of economy, competitiveness and shipping (2009-2010). She was director of the OECD Development Centre, Paris (20032007) and was a member and vice president of the UN’s Committee for Development Policy (1996-1999). Currently she is professor of economics at the National Kapodistrian University in Athens. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Study: Half the urban population in Bangladesh slum dwellers n

Tribune Report

Bangladesh has the highest number of slum dwellers – 60% of the urban population – in the South Asian region, according to a report launched in the capital yesterday.

Among the other South Asian countries, the slum population is 29% in India, 47% in Pakistan and 58% in Nepal, the report says, adding that rapid urbanisation in South Asian countries, especially Bangladesh, in the past few decades has created a large number of slums in the cities, which contain a large number of people mostly migrated from rural areas.

Titled “Human Development in South Asia 2014 – Urbanisation: Challenges and Opportunities,” the report says the effects of such “unplanned”

urbanisation has left the urban population with inadequate facilities.

It created infrastructural challenges and service gaps, including inadequate access to transport, housing, water and sanitation, solid waste management, energy, health and education, the report says.

Originally published by Mahbub ul Haq Human Development Centre, a policy research institute in Islamabad, Pakistan, the report was launched at Brac Centre Inn auditorium in the capital.

Bangladesh also has the highest number of urban people living below the poverty line – 21%, as opposed to 14% in India, 13 % in Pakistan, 5% in Sri Lanka and 15% in Nepal, the report states.

The country also experienced the

highest rate of urbanisation in the past three decades in South Asia, which is 4.19%, while the urbanisation growth during the same period was 2.87% in India, 3.41% in Pakistan, 0.37% in Sri Lanka, and 5.74% in Nepal.

Speaking at the event, Professor ATM Nurul Amin of North South University said like the other developing countries, Bangladesh could not ensure the basic facilities of urban life to its large number of inhabitants, which made Dhaka city nearly uninhabitable.

A large portion of the city dwellers are living in slums that do not have access to their basic rights, such as fresh water and sanitation, education and health services, which would be ensured if the urbanisation had followed a proper plan, he said.

5

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, former adviser to the caretaker government, said rather than implementing its actual aspects, urbanisation in Bangladesh produced a large number of slums without ensuring facilities due to lack of planning and corruption.

The government’s capital-centric development plan is also a major cause behind such unplanned growth, he said.

But urbanisation cannot be stopped as people consider the urban life as civilised and better, he added.

Improving facilities such as quality education and scope of income generation in different sectors should be ensured at the district level, which will ultimately halt the migration to the cities of Dhaka and Chittagong, Professor Zillur Rahman said. l

SBMCH lacks due fire safety measures n Our Correspondent, Barisal A fire erupted on Sunday noon in Shere-Bangla Medical College Hospital (SBMCH) and the actions in this regard have showed that the hospital was running without proper fire safety arrangement.

Local fire fighting units doused the blaze, broke out in the store room on the fourth floor of the hospital around 1:30pm, after half an hour of frantic effort, leaving no remarkable damage.

On the other hand, at least four people were badly injured in the stampede of the patients, attendants, visitors and employees of the five-storied hospital.

Barisal Fire Service and Civil Defence Station Officer Alauddin Miah acknowledged the lack of fire safety in the hospital, saying the fire originated from electric short-circuit.

He also stated that there are many flammable items but it has no fire security measures. “Fatal injuries could have escaped because of happening the fire incident in broad daylight.”

Kamrul Hasan Selim, director of the SBMCH, echoed the voice of Alauddin, telling it was the duty of local public works department (PWB) to install fire-safety equipment in the hospital.

Zakir Hossain, executive engineer of the PWD office, denied the matter of duty, saying new buildings being constructed were following the fire safety code.

Murad Ahmed, a former member of the SBMCH management committee, said: “It is hospital authorities’ duty to ensure fire safety there, not the PWD. We discussed the concern many times in the regular meetings, but the efforts finally was in vain.” l

DU admission seekers give 7-day ultimatum to restore previous system n Arif Ahmed Admission seekers, who had been observing hunger strike since Wednesday on the premises of the Central Shaheed Minar, postponed strike yesterday and gave seven-day ultimatum to restore the previous system that allowed aspirants to appear in the admission test of Dhaka University twice.

At least 24 DU teachers expressed solidarity with their demands The admission seekers also threatened that they would start hunger strike again if the university authority does not fulfill their demand by November 24.

Some teachers of the university, inclduing MM Akash (Economics department), Fahmidul Haque (Mass Communication and Journalism department), Tanzim Uddin Khan (International Relations department), Aminul Islam (So-

Dhaka-Mymensingh highway blocked

n Our Correspondent, Gazipur A tailback streching 20 kilometres created on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway in Gazipur as jewelry traders put up barricade on the road at Joina Bazar under Sripur upazila, protesting death of one trader in a road accident.

A jewelry trader Afsar Uddin, 38, of Nayapara village of the upazila, was killed in a road accident. As soon as the news of his death spread, traders of Joina Bazar came to spot and put barricade on the highway. ater, local people joined with the traders and vandalised 15 to 20 vehicles on the highway. l

WEATHER

DRY WEATHER LIKELY TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 5:12PM SUN RISES 6:16AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 30 30 29 30 29 29 31 31

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

20 20 14 18 17 18 18 21

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

31.5ºC Sylhet

14.4ºC Jessore

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:56am 6:14am 11:43am 3:36pm 5:12pm 6:30 pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

ciology department), and AM Rasheda (former DU senate member), went to Shaheed Minar around 6pm and requested admission seekers to break their hunger strike. Later, they broke the strike with juice.

MM Akash said: “We have requested the protesters not to follow such detrimental programme because it could be disastrous for their health and mental strength.

“We will talk with university chancellor and vice-chancellor if needed.”

Moreover, a statement was sent to the protesters where 24 DU teachers expressed solidarity with their demands and requested them to withdraw hunger strike.

Mohammad Sakibul Rahman Pranto, passed HSC from Dhanmondi Ideal College, said: “According to the direction of the DU teachers, we will not observe any protest programme within this period, if the DU authorities do not reconsider our demand to attend admission tests twice, we will resume our protest programme from November 24.” l

College graduates lying down at the Central Shaheed Minar premises during the sixth day of their fast-unto-death programme yesterday, demanding cancellation of DU authorities’ decision of allowing aspirants to take the admission test once only MEHEDI HASAN

Naogaon Swechchhasebak Hartal passes off peacefully, fire at League vice-president Amra Sylhetbasi convenor’s house hacked to death, 8 held n Tribune Report

n Our Correspondent, Naogaon Naogaon sadar upazila Swechhasebak League Vice-President Ohidul Islam, 45, and his younger brother Shahinul Islam, 40, were hacked to death in the city’s Durgapur area on Sunday.

The incident occurred around 12am when the two were returning home through a wheat field in the area. Some miscreants severed their body parts with sharp weapons and left them on the field. Later police recovered the bodies upon information.

The dead are sons of Mojibur Rahman of Chawkprachi village.

Another brother of the two, Sha-

hidul Islam, filed a murder case accusing eight identified and 10-12 unidentified people with Naogaon Model police station yesterday.

Police held eight people until 4pm yesterday in this connection from Chawkprachi village and other areas.

The arrested are Ershad Ali, Attab Sarder, Shahdul Islam, Mofiz Uddin, Ripon, Abdur Rahman, Shishir and Motaleb Hossain.

The dead bodies were buried in the village after autopsy. Naogaon Model police station Officer-in-Charge Zakirul Islam said police suspected that the murder might had taken place following previous enmity. l

A down-to-dusk hartal, enforced by local social organisation Amra Sylhetbasi to protest the inclusion of Sylhet City Corporation Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury’s name in the supplementary chargesheet in the former Finance Minister Shah AMS Kibria murder case, passes off peacefully.

President of Amra Sylhetbasi Abdur Razzak announced the shutdown at a rally at Court Point in the city on Saturday afternoon.

Most of the motorised vehicles remained off the roads and business establishments remained closed.

No long-route buses left the district town.

A large number of police personnel were deployed in the district to fend off any trouble.

The Amra Sylhetbasi brought out a procession in the city in the morning.

Later, police dispersed activists of the organisation.

Fire at residence of Sylhetbasi convenor

Meanwhile, a fire broke out at the residence of convenor of Sylhetbasi Abdu Razzak around 11pm on Sunday in which valuables, including furniture and electronic appliances, were gutted.

However, no casualty was reported in the fire incident. He said erupting fire at his residence was mysterious.

Additional Police Commissioner (media) Md Rahmat Ullah told the

‘No Impact Week’ begins at JU n JU Correspondent A week-long environment awareness programme titled “No Impact Week 2014” was launched at the senate hall of Jahangirnagar University yesterday.

Department of Environmental Science organised the programme in collaboration with ‘Re-draw the line,’ an environmental organisation.

After inaugurating the programme, chief guest of the session JU Vice-Chancellor Prof Farzana Islam said: “The education for keeping environment safe should start from the family.”

She added that pure water was extremely scarce and should not be wasted.

A seminar on protecting the environment from man-made disasters was held at the inauguration ceremony where speakers said if people changed certain habits in day to day life, the safety of nature could be ensured.

AHM Sadat, a faculty member of the department, said they were trying to make mass people aware of climate change, natural and man-made disasters, and other pollutions happening around. l

Dhaka Tribune that erupting fire at his was accidental. He, however, said they were looking into the matter.

On Thursday, Senior Assistant Superintendent of the Habiganj Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Meherunnesa Parul, also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the supplementary charge-sheet against 32 people, including former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s political secretary Harris Chowdhury and SCC mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury.

Five people, including Kibria, were killed and 70 others injured in a grenade attack on a public meeting of local Awami League at Baidder Bazar in Sadar upazila of Habiganj on January 27, 2005. l

Gold bars worth Tk50 lakh seized at Ctg airport n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Bangladesh Railway authorities demolish illegal structures erected by the railway tracks in Gopibagh of the capital in a drive yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

Customs officials at Shah Amanat International Airport seized 10 gold bars worth Tk50 lakh from a Dubai-returned passenger yesterday.

Chittagong Customs Assistant Commissioner Md Shahadat Jamil told Dhaka Tribune that they found the bars, weighing 1.16 kilogrammes, while scanning a luggage of one Md Faruk, 29, who arrived at the airport by a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines around 6:25am.

“The passenger was released, however, his passport was seized and a case was lodged against him under the Customs Act,” he said.

The bars were handed over to the Bangladesh Bank.

Existing law allows a person to carry highest 200 grammes of gold after paying necessary taxes at the airport.

A passenger can bring highest two kilogrammes of gold by giving an early notice to the authorities concerned and paying duties according to the circular of Bangladesh Bank. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Fear of musclemen comes with joy of Aman harvest

15 injured in clash over land dispute n Our Correspondent, Savar

Land grabbers prepare fake documents and claim the khas land allotted to people living in char areas ing fish in the ponds. Criminals loot n Our Correspondent, Bhola their paddy and other crops and even Around 5,000 farmers of 20 chars (shoals) in Bhola district have been passing days in panic fearing attack by musclemen and land grabbers ahead of Aman paddy harvest.

The char land are Ilishachar Ananda, Baghmara, Char Sutkimara, Char Hossen, Bhelumia, Majher Char, Char Medhua, Char Samsuddin, Char Madanpur, Char Modhupur, Char Chotkimara, Shikder Char, Char Kolmi and Char Jahajmara, Char Zahir Uddin and Dhar Char.

In some areas farmers have already started harvesting the paddy.

The land grabbers from ruling party in connivance with land officials prepare fake documents with fictitious names and claim the khas land allotted to people living in char areas for cultivation, said Abdul Mannan, the owner of Bhedhuria Char under Sadar upazila.

While musclemen swoop on the ripe paddy fields, cut and loot it by attacking the farmers and often seriously injuring them. Most of the time the agents of land grabbers, collect money as extortion from them.

Shanti Ranjan Mondol, officer of Agriculture Extension Officer said the farmers of these chars have been living here by constructing houses, planting trees, digging ponds and cultivating crops on thousands of acres of land for a long time.

They survive by cultivating paddy and vegetables on the lands and farm-

grab their lands, leaving them paupers.

“The paddy has been planted on 75 hectares of land in theses areas and production is satisfactory,” said the officer.

He said: “I am very disappointed to know that influential people are involved in looting the crop. I hope all the relevant authorities should come forward to save the farmers.”

People of Monpura union said the ruling party men looted the crop on 12 acres of land. When contacted, the union council chairman Alauddin Haolader denied the allegation.

Sakuria UP chairman Shahriar Dipak Chowdhury was also alleged for looting the crop. But he denied the allegation.

Meanwhile, 1200 farmers of Mujibnagar union brought out a procession protesting the looting and submitted a memorandum to deputy commissioner in this regard.

Charfashion upazila nirbahi officer Rezaul Karim confirmed the incident and said that they would take proper steps soon. The paddy growers have urged the civil and police administrations to set up police investigation centres in these char lands during harvesting time.

Moniruzzaman, superintendent of police said police camps would be set up in risky areas soon.

Deputy Commissioner Selim Reza said: “A Coast Guard outpost has been set up to avoid any untoward situation.” l

Teachers of Barisal University boycotting classes form a human chain on the campus yesterday demanding immediate arrest and speedy trial of killers of Rajshahi University’s sociology department’s teacher AKM Shafiul Islam DHAKA TRIBUNE

Health complex vandalised for Tk1, injured 8 n Our Correspondent, Brahmanbaria Eight people including two doctors received severe injuries as a group of local youths beat them up following a bickering over Taka one at Sorail Upazila Health Complex of Brahmanbaria district yesterday.

The unruly youths vandalised the cash counter and also damaged documents of the health complex. Agitated by the incident, doctors and other employees of the complex went on a strike causing immense sufferings to patients.

Yesterday afternoon, Al Amin, a youth from Uchaliapara village, came to the payment counter of the health complex. The consultation fee of doc-

tors at the health complex is Tk3, said sources of the hospital.

They said Al Amin gave Tk2 to Muslim who was sitting at the counter.

When Muslim asked for one more taka, Al Amin gave him Tk100. As Muslim was unable to give change, Al Amin asked for a “free ticket.” At one point he called Muslim names and left.

After a while he, along with 30-40 youths came back and attacked Muslim. When other employees and doctors came to rescue Muslim, the youths attacked them as well.

The injured are residential doctor Md Noman Miya, Deputy Assistant Health Officer Md Mahbubur Rahman, Tarikul Islam, Cashier Md Motahar, lab assistant Md Farid Miya, Md Al Amin,

Khadija Begum and Muslim Loshkor.

All of them received primary treatments.

The attackers left the scene after police arrived. The employees of the organisation had refrained from work since the incident demanding arrest of the attackers.

Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Abu Saleh Md Musa Khan said: “The unruly boys had beaten up employees of the complex. They had also stolen Tk5,000 from the counter.

We would continue our strike until they are arrested.”

Sorail police station Officer-inCharge Md Ali Arshad said: “We have received a complaint. We are trying to arrest those involved.” l

At least 15 people, including seven policemen, were injured in a clash between two rival groups over a land dispute at Baranol village under Sreepur upazila in Gazipur yesterday.

The injured police officials are: assistant sub-inspector Somon, 26, constables Nurul Amin, 56, Abdus Sattar, 57, Abdul Mannan, 50, Abdul Kader, 52, Abdul Baten, 55 and Mohammed Safin, 26.

Safin was admitted to Sreepur Upazila Health Complex, while others took treatment at a local clinic.

Locals and police said there was a long standing dipute between one Abdul Mannan and Jashim Uddin over ownership of a piece of land at the village.

The clash ensued when some people led by Jashim Uddin went to erect a structure on the land and some people led by Jashim tried to prevent the fomer group, said Sreepur Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mohsin-UlKadir.

Some people attacked the law enforcers by throwing brick chips when they were trying to bring the situation under control, he said. l

Two killed in Gopalganj road accident n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj Two people have been killed as a bus rammed into a house losing its control at Shalbarat under Kashiani upazila in Gopalganj.

The deceased are Rashida Begum, 55, wife of Monaff Munshi of Shalbarat village and their granddaughter Laila Khanom, 6. Kashiyani police station OC said: “A sand-laden truck rammed into the roadside house losing its control at Shalbarat, killing the two on the spot.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

7

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Redesigning economics to redesign the world Will the present economic system be able to establish appropriate levels of moral, social, and material balance in the world?

I don’t think it can

T

n Muhammad Yunus he present system is like an impersonal sucking machine which thrives on continuously sucking juice from the bottom to the top. The higher you are in the system, the more juice you are able to suck. It is not because bad people are running the machine, it is just that the machine is built that way. The system was not designed to have any moral responsibility; at least that is not the case in practice.

Discussion on moral responsibilities is an after-thought. This machine turns people into money-centric robots.

The stock market which is the ultimate judge of business success, does not grade businesses on the basis of its moral commitment. Moral issues were never included in their reporting template.

Social business I have been proposing and practising a new kind of business which is based on selflessness, replacing selfishness, of human beings. This type of business runs parallel to the business driven by selfishness, that rules the world.

Conventional business is a form of personal profit seeking business. The new business, which I am adding, is a personal profit forsaking business. It is a for-profit business, but one that is personal-profit forsaking in nature. I call it social business, a non-dividend company to solve human problems.

The owner can take back his investment money, but nothing beyond that.

After getting the investment money back, all profit is ploughed back into the business to make it better and bigger. It stands between charity and conventional business. It is designed with the objectives of charity and carried out with the methodology of business, while the link from personal profit-taking is severed.

Charity is a great concept to help people, and has been in use since time immemorial, but it is not sustainable. Charity money goes out, does a wonderful job, but does not come back. Social business money gets the job done and then comes back. As a result, this money can be used over and over endlessly. It creates independent self-sustaining enterprises, which have their own lives. In other words, these enterprises become self fueled entities.

The capitalist system is justified on the assumption that making money is the sole source of happiness. The more money you make the happier you are.

Money is an incentive, no doubt, but it is not the only incentive for human beings. Making money is happiness; but I feel that making the world happy, is happiness on a much higher level.

The capitalist system is about freedom to choose, but when it comes to looking for happiness it provides no choice. By introducing social business, to make the world happy, we give people another choice. Now they can choose.

Business schools today train young people to become business warriors to capture market and money. They are not given any social mission. If we accept the concept of social business, business schools will be required to produce another category of graduates, equipping them to become social problem solvers to bring an end to social problems through social businesses.

We would need to create social stock markets to attract investors who would like to invest in problem solving enterprises, without having any intention of making personal profit.

Income disparity The present version of capitalism will never deliver equitable distribution of income. A system that is built as a sucking machine cannot bring equitable distribution; the concept was never placed in its DNA. In today’s world, 85 individuals own more wealth than all those in the bottom half. The top half population of the world own 99% of the wealth in the world, leaving only 1% for the bottom half. It may get worse because technology will remain under the control of the people at the top.

Indifference or worse Indifference to other human beings is deeply embedded in the conceptual framework of economics. The theory of economics is based on the belief that

a human being is basically a personal gain seeking being. Maximising personal profit is the core of economic rationality. This encourages a behaviour in human beings which may be described by a far harsher word than mere ‘indifference’ to other human beings.

By its fundamental assumption the Capitalist Man does not have any other virtue than selfishness. The Real Man is a composite of many virtues. He enjoys relationships with other human beings. He is a caring man, a selfless man, a trusting man. We have many good examples to demonstrate these virtues. To show that he is a trusting man, take the case of Grameen Bank in Bangladesh. The entire bank is built on trust. There is no effort in this bank to establish relationships with legal glue.

It is a lawyer-free bank. It lends out over $1.5bn a year to 8.5 million poor women on the basis of trust alone. Now it works in a number of other countries, including the US, in exactly the same way. The repayment rate stands close to 100%.

GDP does not tell the story As we create a world based on selfishness, people move away from each other. In that selfish world the very way we create measurements of the success of business itself fuels more selfishness.

Human society is an integrated whole. It’s success or failure should be measured in a consolidated way, not purely on the basis of an aggregate of purposefully chosen economic information about individual performance.

GDP does not tell the whole story; we need something else to do that. It may be GDP minus all human problems (poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, income inequality, status of women, lack of human rights, absence of law and order, lack of technology and opportunities for all people, etc).

As we move from the national scene to a global one, we see an extension of the same behaviour. Ideally, globalisation should have been the process to create a close global human family. But in practice, it is doing the exact opposite. It is placing people and nations in a confrontational posture, each trying their best to enhance their selfish interests.

The top half population of the world owns 99% of the wealth in the world, leaving only 1% for the bottom half because these breakthroughs are not in any way linked to any destination except for the daily goal of making personal profit. Given the power of technology and creativity, any destination is reachable today. But it does not seem like anybody is seriously concerned about a global destination.

We gloat and float with our selfish personal/company goals. Since we do not have any collective direction, we are likely to waste our power by putting it behind random selfish forces, or, worse still, not using our power behind great opportunities which are not visible in the selfish radars.

Why are we missing a collective destination? To begin with, the education system is at fault. Young people are never asked to engage themselves in finding out what kind of world they would like to create. They are never told that they are the creators of that world.

There is no curriculum in schools to let the students imagine their dream world, and what steps they can take to build that dream world. They may be

We cannot simply sit back and watch a whole generation of young people fall through the cracks of theory because we are too timid to question the wisdom of our theoreticians

Technology If the present variety of capitalism continues, the more we advance in technology, improve our infrastructure, spread globalisation, and bring “efficiency” in the system, the more exceedingly fine-tuned the system becomes, at sucking the juice from the enormously wide bottom to transport it to the sharply thinner tops.

Technologies, particularly ICT, with progressively higher levels of creativity, and speed of accessing information are changing the world faster and faster. There is indeed a surprise waiting in every corner. But there is no global vision driving these changes. Great innovations are designed and dedicated mostly for commercial successes. Creativity rushes in the direction wherever businesses see market potential. Nobody is putting up any highway signs to lead the world to its destination. It raises the question, does the world have a destination, or, should it have one? MDGs are probably an attempt to define an immediate destination over a short period, that was a good beginning. We should have a 15-year destination, along with a 50 year destination at the same time. For every business we may post these goals along its path guiding them to expedite in reaching the goals within time, or ahead of time, and refrain from doing anything which will be counter to achieving those goals.

There are lots of amazing breakthroughs in the world, but they don’t add up to becoming an unstoppable force to get the world to its destination

asked about the things they are unhappy about in this world. What would be the things and events that might make them happy in this world? Once they start imagining a new world, they’ll start making attempts to create it.

Financial institutions are designed for the rich We have created a world for the rich by creating the financial institutions for the rich. If we want to get the poor out of poverty we have to create exclusive financial institutions for the poor. Institutions designed for the rich will not do any good to the poor.

Finance is power; for the bottom half of the world population, banks do not exist. So they remain powerless.

Today economic power is concentrated in a few hands because financial institutions are dedicated to help them in accomplishing this. We talk about land reform for the purpose of overcoming poverty, because land represents power in rural societies. But we don’t talk about credit and equity reform. We don’t ask the question of who gets how much of bank credit and equity? Or what percentage of population gets what percentage of bank credit? This one piece of information will give us the real story on power and powerlessness. Credit and equity disparity is the single most powerful cause of income disparity.

We will have to create new financial institutions if we are worried about income disparity and poverty. Grameen Bank has shown how even the poorest women, and even beggars, can do

business with a financial institution, provided it is designed for them. Do not ask them to do business with an institution which is designed for the rich. Social business funds can be the answer to the availability of equity to the people at the very bottom.

Not job seekers, but job creators While the idea of labour unions is excellent, the basic assumption of “once a labour, always a labour” has to be removed. There should be plenty of opportunity for each and every person to switch from being a labour to becoming an entrepreneur. Social business can make it happen. Every person, at every stage of his life, should have two options, either to work for somebody, or to be an entrepreneur.

He should be informed about these options at school, while he is growing up. He should be given opportunities to prepare himself, both as a job creator, and as a job-seeker. Even if someone takes up a job, it does not have to be a life-long engagement. He should have the opportunity to move between both worlds. It is essential that we build appropriate financial institutions to make it happen. Financial institutions are key to make such switches possible.

Creating a world without unemployment Unemployment means throwing a fully capable person into a trash can. It means punishing a human being into paralysis. A human being is born to be active, creative, energetic - always exploring ways to unleash his own unlimited potential. Why should we allow anybody to unplug a creative human being, and deny him the opportunity to use his amazing capacity? Who unplugs him? Why do billions of people around the world remain unplugged? Why do we deprive the world from the creativity of almost half the adult population?

This problem of unemployment is not created by the unemployed people themselves. It is created by our grossly flawed conceptual framework which has drilled into our heads that people are born to work for a few privileged people called entrepreneurs. Since entrepreneurs are the drivers of the economy, according to the present theory, all policies and institutions are built for them. If they don’t hire you, you are finished. What an absolute misreading of human destiny. What an insult to a human being who is packed with unlimited creative capacity.

Our education system is an extension of this same economic theory. It is built on the assumption that students should work hard, get good grades so that they can get good jobs. Education is seen as the process of preparing young people to get jobs and live happily afterwards. Top universities in the world pride themselves in letting the public know that their graduates appear in the graduation ceremony with appointment letters in their pockets.

I have been insisting that all human beings are born entrepreneurs, not job-seekers. The education system should be aiming at enhancing their entrepreneurial capacities, not eliminate it by making the students believe that getting a job is the ultimate goal of

their lives.

Young people are never told that all of them are born with two choices, and continue to have these two choices throughout their lives. They can be job-creators, or they can be job-seekers.

In Grameen Bank we are inspiring the second generation of borrowers’ families to believe that they are not job seekers, they are job givers. Every child in the world should grow up this way. Institutions and policies should be created to make it happen. Job seeking should become a second alternative for any young person. In Bangladesh we have created a social business fund to provide all the equity they need to become an entrepreneur. We provide them with all the support they require for achieving success.

Why are half of the youth in some of the European countries unemployed?

Why are they talking about a “lost generation” in Europe? Why are they accepting it as an unalterable fate? Are they not insulting human capability by accepting it as a fate? Is putting unemployed people on state charity the only solution? Is this how we uphold human dignity, by putting young creative people on state charity? What about giving them opportunity to explore their own creative power?

We may ask them to start an enterprise of their own. In that case, the most important support they would need is initial financing. This is how the idea of micro-finance was born and took institutional shape in Grameen Bank. Micro-finance was aimed at creating self-employment for the unemployed poor women; it worked. I see no reason why similar specialised financing institutions for credit and equity should not work for the unemployed youth. We need to create such intuitions. We can start with social business funds for providing equity to the unemployed youth in Europe and elsewhere.

We must take the initiative. We cannot simply sit back and watch a whole generation of young people fall through the cracks of theory because we are too timid to question the wisdom of our theoreticians.

We have to redesign our theory by recognising the limitless capacity of a human being, instead of relying on “invisible hands” to solve all our problems. We will have to wake up to the fact that invisible hands are invisible because they do not exist.

State charity If we can ensure that nobody needs to remain unemployed, we get a society without poverty and without state charity to support the unemployed.

Unemployment is an artificial creation of our faulty conceptual framework. It is not natural to human beings. Human beings are doers; they are go-getters.

But our theory has put them in chains.

Theory should not be allowed to punish human beings. We should punish theory by scrapping it.

We should make sure that the word “unemployment” soon gets unemployed. When we finally build a new world, we will know for sure that in that world the word “unemployment” will not make sense to anybody. Nobody would be able to figure out how a

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

hot blooded human being could remain idle. In our conceptual framework, we should not allow anything which is derogatory to the human spirit.

Theory should reflect us, we should not be forced to reduce ourselves to fit a theory; human beings are not meant not be squeezed into narrow moulds of theory. Theory must allow enough room for human beings to grow, rather than limit them. Human beings thrive in this world by constantly turning the impossible into the possible. Theory must keep all its doors open to make it happen easily. People should have the final word on their fates, at each stage of history, not the theory.

Helping people in distress is the prime responsibility of the state. State charity must be applauded for doing an excellent job of taking care of its citizens in distress.

But a still higher responsibility of the state will be to enable people to come out of their distress as soon as possible and get out of their dependence on the state.

Human beings are all about independence and freedom, and their constant search for their own worth, not about dependence on anyone.

Dependence diminishes human beings.

Their mission on this planet is to make it a better place for everybody. They should not be put in a situation where they remain dependent on state all their life, then pass it on to their next generation, who in turn, pass this on to the third generation, creating an unending series. State charity has created this situation for many people in Europe. We have the technology and methodology to bring an end to this.

All it needs is a determined initiative.

Conclusion A human being is an enormously creative and entrepreneurial being.

Conceptual framework of present capitalist theory is too narrow and undignified for him. It reduces him to a selfish robot. We need to design a theory keeping in mind the true human being, not a distorted and miniaturised version of him. A true human being holds the potential of assuming any of the many diversified possibilities. He is a selfless, caring, sharing, trusting, community-building, friendly human being. He is, at the same time, also the reverse of all these virtues. How he’ll shape himself will depend entirely on the world around him. We need to give him all the opportunities to bring out the right virtues. Today we limit him to a very narrow role. We do not introduce him to his limitless possibilities. Theory constrains him to a narrow self-serving path. That’s where the trouble begins.

Whereas we should have told him, your possibilities are limitless; you can do anything you want; you have the power to create a world without poverty, without unemployment, without income disparity, without endangering the planet, without wars and weapons, and with equality, friendship and peace.

Now the time is here to tell him that. l Muhammad Yunus is a social entrepreneur, banker, economist and civil society leader who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for founding the Grameen Bank and pioneering the concepts of microcredit and microfinance.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Suspected Western jihadists in ‘pure evil’ IS beheading n AFP, Beirut Authorities were on Monday investigating the involvement of several suspected Western jihadists in the brutal video by the Islamic State group claiming the beheading of US aid worker Peter Kassig.

The killing of Kassig and the simultaneous beheadings of at least 18 Syrian military personnel in the video sparked global horror, with President Barack Obama calling it “an act of pure evil.”

It was the latest in a series of atrocities by IS, a Sunni Muslim extremist group that has seized control of large parts of Iraq and Syria.

The video showed the Syrian men each kneeling on the ground before a separate executioner, whose faces were uncovered.

Among the militants shown beheading the Syrian servicemen were some known foreign fighters, including at least one Frenchman and possibly a Briton, an Australian and a Dane.

French authorities identified at least one of the executioners as believed to be Maxime Hauchard, born in 1992 in northern France and who left for Syria in August last year.

“The video was analysed by our intelligence services,” Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said, adding there was a “strong possibility that a French citizen was directly involved in these despicable crimes.”

An intelligence source said it was also being verified whether a second French citizen was among the jihadists seen in the video.

Thousands of foreign fighters have flocked to join IS in Iraq and Syria and experts say they are often among the most violent and brutal of the jihadists.

Briton sees ‘son’ in video

A British-accented jihadist has been at the centre of previous IS beheading videos and appeared again in Sunday’s recording claiming Kassig’s killing.

Another British jihadist fighting with IS seemed to have appeared as an exe-

n Reuters, Bangkok Thai police said on Monday two Americans suspected of trying to send infant and adult body parts in parcels to the United States had fled the country.

A baby’s head, a baby’s foot sliced into three parts, a heart and a “sheet of skin” with tattoo markings were found in parcels on Saturday after staff at a shipping office in Bangkok scanned the packages, police said.

The parts were stored in plastic containers filled with formaldehyde and the packages were destined for an address in Las Vegas.

“X-rays showed there were contents similar to human body parts.

From our investigation of three parcels we found human body parts in five plastic containers,” Police Lieutenant General Ruangsak Jaritake, assistant to the National Police CommisAn image grab made yesterday, and taken from a propaganda video released on Sunday by al-Furqan Media allegedly shows members of the Islamic State (IS) jihadist group, with among them a jihadist believed to be French citizen Maxime Hauchard,right, also known as Abu Abdallah al-Faransi, before taking part in the beheadings of at least 18 men described as Syrian military personnel AFP cutioner in the video, his father said.

“I cannot be certain but it looks like my son,” the father of Nasser Muthana, a 20-year-old prospective medical student from Cardiff in Wales, told Britain’s Daily Mail newspaper.

“He must fear Allah now for killing people. How can he expect to face Allah if he is killing human beings?” added the father, Ahmed Muthana.

Nasser Muthana appeared in an IS recruitment video in June and also boasted about being a “soldier” of the organisation on Twitter, according to British media reports. His 17-year-old brother is also reported to have joined him in Syria.

Kassig, who took the name Abdul-Rahman after converting to Islam, was captured last year and was the fifth Western hostage beheaded by IS after two US reporters and two British aid workers.

NEWS BITES Kerry heading to Europe for Iran talks Just back from a whirlwind 10-day trip to Asia, the Middle East and Europe, Secretary of State John Kerry is heading across the Atlantic again for nuclear talks with Iran as a November 24 deadline for a deal looms.

The State Department says Kerry is leaving for Europe on Monday, starting his trip in London where he will hold talks with European and Mideast officials on the Iran negotiations as well as volatile situations in the Mideast.

Burkina Faso diplomat chosen as interim leader Burkina Faso’s former ambassador to the United Nations is slated to be in charge of a civilian transitional government after the military briefly seized control of the country last month.

Michel Kafando, 72 , was named early Monday as transitional president to lead Burkina Faso until elections a year from now.

Kafando’s nomination must be validated by the country’s highest court.

Colombia suspends FARC peace talks after kidnapping of general Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos suspended peace talks with Marxist FARC rebels following the kidnapping of an army general, throwing into crisis the nation’s efforts to end 50 years of war.

General Ruben Dario Alzate, who heads the Titan task force in the Pacific department of Choco, was captured on Sunday afternoon by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), along with another military official and a civilian.

Mugabe deputy accused of assassination plot Zimbabwe’s vice president Joice Mujuru has said that she is taking legal action against pro-government newspapers that accused her of corruption and plotting to topple President Robert Mugabe.

“I am accused of being involved in a plot to overthrow the legitimate Zimbabwean government led by His Excellency RG Mugabe,” Mujuru said her in first full response to charges against her in the state media, including recent reports that she is leading a plot to assassinate the leader.

Americans suspected of trying to ship baby body parts flee Thailand

Part of British parliament evacuated due to suspicious package: police The part of the British parliament housing the offices of many lawmakers was briefly evacuated on Monday due to a suspicious package before staff were allowed to re-enter the building.

A spokeswoman for London’s Metropolitan Police said Portcullis House, an office building opposite the Houses of Parliament and above Westminster underground station, was evacuated while police investigated.

Police on the scene said the station had also been closed, and police motorbikes could be seen blocking cars and members of the public from entering the road.

German, Dutch, UK bird flu outbreaks could be linked: OIE chief Outbreaks of bird flu detected in the past two weeks in Germany, the Netherlands and Britain could be linked and may have been spread by migrating wild birds, the head of the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) said on Monday.

All three countries have reported cases of highly pathogenic bird flu which pose a risk to birds but not human health.

The Netherlands detected the outbreak over the weekend and Germany earlier this month.

Poles, Russians expel diplomats over spying Russia says it has expelled several Polish diplomats in response to Poland’s recent expulsion of Russians suspected of espionage.

The tit-for-tat moves come as Poland and the Czech Republic say they have detected intensified efforts by Moscow’s intelligence services to extend their influence in their countries.

Russian’s Foreign Ministry said Monday that Polish authorities took the “unfriendly and unwarranted step” of expelling some of its diplomats.

It added that “in connection with this, the Russian side has undertaken adequate response measures, and a number of Polish diplomats have already left our country because of activities incompatible with their status,” diplomatic jargon for spying.

A reporter for Polish broadcaster TVN, Andrzej Zaucha, reported from Moscow that four Polish diplomats were told Friday afternoon that they had 48 hours to leave Russia. source: Agencies

Pure evil

“Abdul-Rahman was taken from us in an act of pure evil by a terrorist group that the world rightly associates with inhumanity,” Obama said in a statement.

In the undated video released on Sunday, the British-accented jihadist stands above a severed head he claims is Kassig’s and urges Obama to send more troops to the region to confront IS. “Here we are burying the first American crusader in Dabiq, eagerly waiting for the remainder of your armies to arrive,” the militant says, referring to a northern Syrian town.

Washington is preparing to double its military personnel in Iraq to up to 3,100 as part of the international campaign it is leading against the jihadists.

Kassig, an Iraq war veteran, had risked his life to provide medical treatment and relief supplies to those suf-

fering from Syria’s civil war.

Kassig’s parents said they were “incredibly proud” of his humanitarian work to help Syrians trapped in a bloody civil war.

Flags were to be lowered at government buildings in Kassig’s home state of Indiana on Monday, Governor Mike Pence said in a statement, calling the killing “an unspeakable act of barbarism.”

Sunday’s video was substantially different from previous IS recordings of beheadings. Kassig was not shown alive in the footage, and no direct threats were made against other Western hostages.

The video came as IS suffered battleground setbacks in Iraq backed by US-led air strikes, with government forces Saturday breaking the jihadists’ months-long siege of the country’s largest oil refinery. l

Sierra Leone doctor brought to US for Ebola treatment dies n Agencies A surgeon from Sierra Leone who was being treated for Ebola at a Nebraska hospital has died, according to a statement from the hospital.

Dr Martin Salia, a permanent US resident, is the second patient to die of Ebola in the US. He arrived in Omaha on Saturday, having left Freetown on Friday by air ambulance.

He was immediately transported to Nebraska medical center, where he began treatment.

“It is with an extremely heavy heart that we share this news,” Dr Phil Smith, medical director of the Biocontain-

Israel to step up demolition of Palestinian homes n

AP, Jerusalem

Israel said Monday it has sent notices to the families of several Palestinians in the West Bank implicated in attacks against Israelis to vacate their homes ahead of their impending demolitions.

The development indicated that Israel is intensifying its much maligned policy of punitive destructions of homes of suspected attackers.

The assaults the attackers are accused of involved deadly intent against civilians — ramming vehicles into commuters at Jerusalem light rail platforms, for example — rather than just throwing stones or Molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers.

The Israeli military said that in recent weeks, an unspecified number of notices warning of impending house

demolitions have been issued to Palestinian families in the West Bank, whose relatives had carried out the attacks.

The military said that families have 48 hours to petition against the notices. Should they fail to do so — or should the petitions be rejected — the houses would become subject to immediate demolition.

Also Monday, the Israel Police said they designated several homes in east Jerusalem for destruction or sealing, but were awaiting final government approval before going ahead.

The demolitions are based on instructions from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who earlier this month said the home destruction policy would be implemented in response to a wave of Palestinian attacks against

sioner, told reporters.

“The packages were marked ‘children’s toys’ but x-rays showed they were not children’s toys.”

Police named the two suspects, aged 31 and 33, and said they were being “monitored,” but did not say how.

Both men fled Thailand on Sunday through a checkpoint in the east of the country, Ruangsak said.

He said the heart had stab marks and belonged to an adult while the sheet of skin with tattoo markings also belonged to an adult.

“As soon as we have results, we will contact the FBI,” he said.

Doctors at Bangkok’s Siriraj Hospital said that the body parts were taken from the hospital’s Medical Museum, nicknamed the Museum of Death, which exhibits preserved human remains, many of them from murder victims. l

Israelis in Jerusalem, mostly against the background of tensions over a disputed holy site in the city.

The policy was largely suspended in 2005, after security authorities questioned its efficacy, but many Israelis continue to back it.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said police were now prepared to carry out house destructions or sealings in east Jerusalem “as soon as a final government decision is given.”

He did not say how many homes would be demolished.

Meanwhile, the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem said that four east Jerusalem homes belonging to relatives of Palestinian attackers had recently been visited by police, apparently in preparation for their demolition or sealing. l

ment Unit at Nebraska medical center and professor of infectious diseases at the University of Nebraska medical center, the hospital’s academic partner, said in a statement on Monday.

“Dr Salia was extremely critical when he arrived here, and unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we weren’t able to save him.”

Salia, 44, was not able to walk off the plane, as other patients brought to the US have been able to do. Instead, he was taken off the plane in an isopod, a special device designed to keep contagion from spreading. He was placed on a stretcher and loaded into an ambulance. l

Palestinian driver found hanged in Jerusalem bus

n Reuters

A Palestinian bus driver was found hanged inside his vehicle on Monday, an incident Israeli police described as a suicide but which the driver’s family said they believed was an attack.

The incident quickly touched off Palestinian stone-throwing protests and a general strike in some large Palestinian suburbs of Jerusalem, pouring more fuel on tensions stoked over the past few weeks by a dispute over Jerusalem’s holiest site. The bus driver, Youssef al-Ramouni, 32, was found dead at the start of the route he was supposed to have driven late on Sunday, in an area of Jerusalem close to Jewish settlements and Palestinian neighborhoods. Israeli police said the evidence suggested Ramouni had committed suicide. But rumors quickly spread in the Palestinian media that he had been killed by Jewish assailants, stirring tension and violence. l

Chopin’s heart exhumed in secret, like a relic n AP, Warsaw, Poland Chopin’s heart inspires a deep fascination in Poland normally reserved for the relics of saints. For Poles, Chopin’s nostalgic compositions capture the national spirit — and the heart’s fate is seen as intertwined with Poland’s greatest agonies and triumphs over nearly two centuries of foreign occupation, warfare and liberation.

Chopin experts have wanted to carry out genetic testing to establish whether the sickly genius died at 39 of tuberculosis, as is generally believed, or of some other illness.

But they remain frustrated. The Polish church and government, the custodians of the heart, have for years refused requests for any invasive tests, partly because of the opposition of a distant living relative of the composer.

This year, however, they finally consented to a superficial inspection after a forensic scientist raised alarm that after so many years the alcohol could have evaporated, leaving the heart to dry up and darken.

Close to midnight on April 14, after the last worshippers had left the Holy Cross Church, 13 people sworn to secrecy gathered in the dark sanctuary.

They included the archbishop of Warsaw, the culture minister, two scientists and other officials. With a feeling of mystery hanging in the air, they worked in total concentration, mostly whispering, as they

A monument dedicated to the 19th century composer Frederic Chopin in a park in Warsaw, Poland. In 1849 Chopin’s dying wish was that his heart should be removed and entombed in his native Poland and following many twists in the tale Chopin’s heart has remained at rest at Holy Cross Church in Warsaw until April 2014, when it was taken out so that officials could determine its condition. Officials have now announced plans for another inspection, 50 years from now, a reflection of the mystique the relic-like object holds over Poland AP removed the heart from its resting place and carried out the inspection — taking more than 1,000 photos and adding hot wax to the jar’s seal to prevent evaporation.

Warsaw’s archbishop recited prayers over the heart and it was returned to its rightful place. By morning, visitors to the church saw no trace of the exhumation.

“The spirit of this night was very sublime,” said Tadeusz Dobosz, the forensic

scientist on the team.

Polish officials kept all details of the inspection secret for five months before going public about it in September, giving no reason for the delay. They are also not releasing photographs of the heart, mindful of ethical considerations surrounding the display of human remains, said Artur Szklener, director of the Fryderyk Chopin Institute in Warsaw, a state body that helps

preserve the composer’s legacy.

“We don’t want this to be a media sensation, with photos of the heart in the newspapers,” Szklener said. However, to prove that the heart is in good shape, he showed The Associated Press photographs of the organ, an enlarged white lump submerged in an amber-colored fluid in a crystal jar.

Some Chopin experts are critical of what they consider a lack of transparency.

Steven Lagerberg — the American author of “Chopin’s Heart: The Quest to Identify the Mysterious Illness of the World’s Most Beloved Composer” — believes international experts should have also been involved in the inspection. He said he wishes that the exhumation had involved genetic tests on a small sample of tissue to determine the cause of Chopin’s death.

Though Lagerberg and others believe that Chopin probably died of tuberculosis — the official cause of death — the matter isn’t fully settled. Some scientists suspect cystic fibrosis, a disease still unknown in Chopin’s time, or even some other illnesses.

Chopin was born near Warsaw in 1810 to a Polish mother and French emigre father.

He lived in Warsaw until 1830, when he made his way to Paris — where he chose a life of exile because of the brutal repressions imposed by Imperial Russia after a failed uprising. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

9

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

India and Pakistan modern slavery hubs n Agencies

With over 14.2 million in India being involved in forced labour and being victims of trafficking - for sexual exploitation and forced marriage, the country is home to the largest number of people trapped in modern slavery.

Globally, 35.8 million people are enslaved across the world. Of them, 23.5 million people are in Asia, two-thirds of global total in 2014 (65.8%).

The Global Slavery Index 2014 announced on Monday that India and Pakistan alone account for over 45% of total global enslaved population and have highest prevalence in Asia.

The Index said, “Particularly in countries such as India and Pakistan, nationals - often including entire families - are enslaved through bonded labour in construction, agriculture, brick making, garment factories and manufacturing.”

The report this year found 23% more people across the world are involved in modern slavery than previous estimate.

Modern slavery exists in all 167 countries with five countries accounting for 61% of the world’s population living in modern slavery.

The 2014 Global Slavery Index (GSI) has been published by the Walk Free Foundation, a global human rights organization with a mission to end modern slavery in a generation.

The report looks at prevalence (the percentage of a country’s population that is enslaved) as well as the total number of people living in modern

slavery in each country.

It estimates that over 23.5 million people in Asia are living in modern slavery. This is equivalent to almost two-thirds of the global total number of people enslaved. Of these, over 14.2 million are in India and over 2.05 million are in Pakistan, which demonstrate the highest prevalence of modern slavery in Asia (1.141% and 1.13% of their populations respectively).

In South Asia, these countries are followed in prevalence by Nepal (0.823% of the population, 228,700 people), Bangladesh (0.435%, 680,900), Afghanistan (0.435, 132,800) and Sri Lanka (0.359%, 73,600).

“Some countries with the biggest challenges are also taking important steps to tackle the problem. India for example has strengthened its criminal justice framework through legislative amendments and has established 215 Anti- Human Trafficking Police Units.

Much more needs to be done,” said the report.

The report says, “India’s modern slavery challenges are immense. Across India’s population of over 1.2 billion people, all forms of modern slavery, including inter-generational bonded labour, trafficking for sexual exploitation and forced marriage, exist. Evidence suggests that members of lower castes and tribes, religious minorities and migrant workers are disproportionately affected by modern slavery. Modern slavery occurs in brick kilns, carpet weaving, embroidery and other textile

manufacturing, forced prostitution, agriculture, domestic servitude, mining, and organised begging rings. labour is particularly prevalent throughout India with families enslaved for generations.”

Modern slavery affects an estimated 35.8 million people

People in Africa and Asia are especially at risk Totals by region

Call for action

Walk Free says it found evidence of slavery in all 167 countries it surveyed.

The report says Africa and Asia face the biggest challenges in eradicating slavery, while the practice is least prevalent in Europe.

According to the report, more than 14 million people live as slaves in India. Next in the index comes China, with more than 3 million slaves, followed by Pakistan, Uzbekistan.

Russia is ranked fifth. The country’s economy is said to rely on enslaved migrant workers in the construction and agricultural sectors.

Mauritania meanwhile has the highest number of slaves as a proportion of the population, at 4%. Many people in the African country inherit their slave status from their ancestors.

The report calls for much wider international cooperation on slavery. It wants governments to increase penalties for trafficking and to put pressure on businesses to clamp down on the use of slaves in their supply chains.

The Global Slavery Index was first published last year. The rise in the overall figure from 2013 was attributed by the report’s authors to better data and methodology, rather than to an exponential rise in the numbers enslaved. l

Russia and Eurasia

(millions of people)

2.6

Europe

0.57

The Middle East and North Africa

2.2

East Asia Pacific

The Americas

South Asia

1.3

17.5

Sub-Saharan Africa

5.6

Highest proportion of people enslaved (percent of population) Mauritania

4%

Uzbekistan

3.97 2.3

Haiti Qatar

1.35

India

1.14

Total number of people enslaved (millions of people)

Russia 1.1 Uzbekistan 1.2 61% of total

Pakistan 2 China 3.2

China has arrested 288 fugitives suspected of committing economic crimes as part of an aggressive anti-corruption effort aimed at individuals who have fled abroad, the official government news agency Xinhua said.

The campaign, dubbed Operation Fox Hunt, included the surrender of 126 suspects, Xinhua said, citing China’s Ministry of Public Security.

China has conducted activities in 56 countries, including the United States, Canada, Spain, South Korea, and South Africa, it said, citing Vice Minister of

Public Security Liu Jinguo.

President Xi Jinping has conducted a sweeping drive against corruption since assuming power two years ago.

Qiu Xueqiang, the Supreme People’s Procuratorate deputy procurator-general, told state media this month that the Communist Party had approved the establishment of a new anti-corruption general office under the prosecutor to strengthen that effort.

The Chinese government has given overseas graft suspects a deadline of December 1 to surrender, the report said, citing a Ministry of Public Security official. l

n Agencies Australia’s prime minister, Tony Abbott, has lauded a brief aside about democracy in Chinese president Xi Jinping’s speech to the Australian parliament as a commitment that China would be fully democratic by 2050.

In a wide-ranging address on Monday, Xi referenced democracy in explaining “the Chinese dream,” the slogan he has adopted to describe his goal of national rejuvenation and growing wealth.

Experts said the comment was no

different from his previous remarks on democracy in China, and suggested Abbott had misunderstood. Xi has dismissed western-style political changes and suggested this year that adopting foreign political systems would not fit and might lead to “catastrophic” consequences.

Xi said during the parliamentary address in Canberra that the Chinese dream was about enhancing the strength and the prosperity of the country, and the wellbeing of its people.

“We have set two goals for China’s future development,” he said. “The

first is to double the 2010 GDP and per-capita income of urban and rural residents and build a society of initial prosperity in all respects by 2020. The second is to turn China into a modern socialist country that is prosperous, democratic, culturally advanced and harmonious by the middle of the century.”

The Australian prime minister referred to Xi’s democracy comment at a state dinner held to mark the president’s visit. “I have never heard a Chinese leader declare that his country would be fully democratic by 2050,” Abbott said on Monday night. l

Will ‘break’ any Chinese construction Pakistan drought kills infants in Tharparkar on Indian territory, Rajnath warns n Agencies Indian Home minister Rajnath Singh on Monday warned China against constructing roads in Indian territory while maintaining that New Delhi wants cordial ties with its neighbours.

Asked what if China continues to carry out construction of roads on Indian side, Singh said our forces will be

left with no alternative but to “break” any such construction.

“China must end its practice of infiltrating Indian territory and construction of roads on our side. We want to maintain good relations with China and it must respect our sentiment,” he said while addressing a public rally here.

Sending out a message of a stronger India emerging under the BJP regime,

Singh said if China continues construction of roads on Indian side, there will be no alternative left with India but to “break” them as a last resort.

Continued incursions by Chinese troops into Indian side have led to high tension along the border. The matter of incursions came up when Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in New Delhi recently. l

n Agencies Unrelenting drought-like conditions has seen the deaths of seven malnourished infants in Tharparkar district on Monday whereas one infant died in Civil Hospital Umerkot.

In the past 24 hours, a total of 14 people have died in Tharparkar.

The latest number of reported

deaths has taken the cumulative figure to 80 in the past 45 days in Tharparkar whereas 61 infants have died over a span of three months in Umerkot, Dawn learnt today.

The dry spell in Tharparkar district — which has been ongoing over the last three years (2012-2014) — continues to deprive local growers of their main crops: cluster beans and millet. l

As fears rise in Myanmar, Rohingya exodus grows n AP, Myanmar The captain of the small fishing vessel has spent most of his life helping fellow Rohingya Muslims escape persecution and hatred in Myanmar, but now even he is worried about the panicked pace the exodus has taken in recent weeks.

“Everyone is going now,” Puton Nya said.

“I’m afraid that soon, no one will be left.”

Bouts of vicious violence, together with discriminatory government policies, have sent an estimated 100,000 Rohingya fleeing this Buddhist-majority nation by boat in the last two years, according to the Arakan Project, a human-rights group that monitors the Rohingya. Director Chris Lewa said the pace is accelerating, with more than 15,000 people leaving since Oct. 15 — twice the number that fled during the same period last year.

Lewa said soldiers and border guards in northern Rakhine state, where most of the estimated 1.3 million Rohingya live, are engaging in a “campaign to create fear and to get them to leave.”

She said that in the last six weeks: — At least four Rohingya men were tortured to death in northern Rakhine, in western Myanmar. Lewa said security forces broke one victim’s leg and burned his penis during interrogation, and that the pummeled body of another Rohingya was found in a river.

— Young men have been grabbed off the streets and brutally beaten by border guards and soldiers without any clear explanation.

One photo snapped by cellphone shows a man after he was allegedly smashed with

the butt of a gun in the jaw, cheekbone and stomach.

— More than 140 people have been arrested in two dozen villages on what Lewa said appeared to be trumped-up charges, ranging from immigration violations to alleged links with Islamic militants.

National Minister of Information Ye Htut did not immediately respond to the allegations.

Denied citizenship by national law, Myanmar’s Rohingya are effectively stateless, though historical records indicate some members of the ethnic minority arrived in the country centuries ago. Many more arrived from neighboring Bangladesh in the 1900s when the country was under British rule. Almost all settled in Rakhine state, creating tensions with Buddhist locals who for centuries considered it their duty to prevent an eastward Islamic spread into their nation and beyond.

Soon after Myanmar began transitioning from a half-century of dictatorship to democracy in 2011, newfound freedoms of expression fanned the flames of hatred.

Violence by Buddhist mobs left up to 280 people dead — most of them members of the religious minority — and chased another 140,000 from their homes.

Most Rohingya now live under apartheid-like conditions in camps outside Sittwe or in restricted villages. They cannot leave without paying hefty bribes to police and face constant threats of violence from Buddhist Rakhine neighbors.

Often, their proximity to their old homes is “tantalizingly short,” Hugo Slim of Oxford University said in a report for the United

Three steps and the foundation of a mosque destroyed in 2012 are seen just outside Sittwe on November 13 Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Many are just a few hundred meters from the fields they used to till, the schools their children used to attend, and the communities that attacked them.

Rohingya have limited access to schooling and health care. Doctors Without Borders, a key medical provider for Rohingya, was expelled from Rakhine eight months ago after the government accused it of bias.

The government said in July that the group could return, but it has yet to make good

on its invitation. Rakhine state spokesman Win Myaing said the organization will be allowed to return “soon,” but offered no clear timeline.

President Barack Obama, UN Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon and several other heavyweights visiting Myanmar last week for a series of summits called on the government to solve the crisis. The government has put forward a “Rakhine Action Plan,” but that also has drawn criticism.

Under the plan, only those who can prove they lived in the country since 1948

Others 14

35.8 million

India 14.3

Source: Walk Free Foundation

China grabs 288 suspects Tony Abbott lauds Xi Jinping’s in anti-graft net ‘commitment to fully democratic China’ n Reuters

6.1

REUTERS

can qualify for citizenship. Few can fulfill the requirement, in part because few hold any documents. Those who don’t comply would be classified as “Bengali,” a term that implies they are illegal migrants and could subject them to internment camps and eventual deportation.

Now Rohingya are leaving the country in numbers rarely seen before, bound for countries including Malaysia and Indonesia. Many pass through Myin Hlut village, where they hide in houses before wading into the midnight waters and clamoring into fishing boats. l

Japan CO2 emissions hit record yearly high n AFP, Tokyo Japan’s carbon dioxide emissions hit a record high in the year to March due to the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, an official said Monday.

CO2 emissions related to the use of non-renewables reached 1.224 billion metric tonnes, up from 1.208 billion metric tonnes for the previous fiscal year, said an official of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

They were also up more than 15 percent from 1990, the base year for emission cuts previously targeted under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

According to the official, the use of natural gas and coal account for some 90 percent of the nation’s entire greenhouse gas release.

The country’s CO2 emissions have been steadily rising due to growing demand for fossil fuels following the nuclear accident.

“The recent economic recovery in the fiscal year also helped increase CO2 emissions,” the official added.

Japan’s entire stable nuclear power stations were gradually switched off after the tsunami-sparked catastrophe at Fukushima. l

Pakistan snubs India over bulletproof car n AFP, Kathmandu Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has rejected the use of a bulletproof car provided by rival India for next week’s summit of South Asian leaders in Kathmandu, a Nepalese official said on Monday.

Sharif “will be bringing his own car... all other vehicles for (visiting) heads of countries have come from India,” said foreign ministry spokesman Khaga Nath Adhikari.

Adhikari denied the move was a snub specifically targeted at India, whose tense ties with Pakistan have worsened since October over some of the worst cross-border firing in years.

“It’s not that they have refused to use an Indian car... when the US president travels, he also brings his own car, it’s not an issue,” he told AFP. The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation summit will see the leaders of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India and Pakistan meet in Kathmandu on November 26 and 27.

Recent exchanges of fire across the de facto border between India and Pakistan in Kashmir, have killed at least 20 civilians and forced thousands to flee their homes.

The nuclear-armed neighbours, who have fought two wars over Kashmir, have traded blame for the upsurge in firing and shelling which started on October 6.

India called off peace talks in August after Pakistan first consulted Kashmiri separatists. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

World must coordinate action on climate change

I

t is vital that the $7.5bn worth of pledges made to the Green Climate Fund at the G20 last week are fulfilled urgently to help developing countries adapt to climate change and increase renewable energy production.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) estimates that in order to keep global average temperature rise within manageable limits, greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced by between 40% and 70% within the next 35 years.

It is welcome then that China has pledged to cap its emissions by 2030 and the US has increased its target to cut emissions by over a quarter below 2005 levels by 2025.

Between them, China and the US produce nearly half (45%) of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions.

It is vital that their promises are fully implemented and that this encourages those major emitting nations with lower existing targets to follow suit. Any delays by these two countries will be a major impediment to global efforts to reduce emissions.

All countries have a responsibility to set higher targets for reducing fossil fuel use and increasing renewables. This is particularly important for Bangladesh because rising water levels could permanently inundate large parts of our country.

As a nation that is hugely vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. Bangladesh should take more of a lead in moving in the direction which the whole world needs. We should cut our own wasteful subsidies on fossil fuels and support proposals for globally coordinated taxes on the use of fossil fuels.

Ensure promises to reduce emissions are put into practice

Join the open source revolution

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ore businesses and governments around the world are changing to open-source software for computer applications.

India is looking at open source as a way of reducing the billions of dollars its national and state governments spend on IT services each year, as are parts of the UK public sector.

Bangladesh’s government should lead by example by moving to open source in order to encourage more Bangladeshi organisations to do the same.

This is important because as our economy grows, enforcement of intellectual property rights by providers of proprietary software will become stricter in Bangladesh.

Organisations will be less able to rely on pirated software and will need to start paying or incurring greater license fees for IT services.

By providing free versions of all the most commonly used IT applications, including web browsers, spreadsheets, and word processing, open source provides a simple solution to the cost of license fees for proprietary software.

It can also be more cheaply adapted by programmers to deliver customised, bespoke services, and so is a boon to IT developers as well as for consumers.

With the IT sector planning to grow significantly in the next few years, encouraging use of open source software will help by opening up new opportunities for local developers to collaborate on developing improved applications, such as the enhanced security features which are increasingly sought by users.

Moving to open source software can kill two birds with one stone by both cutting costs and providing new opportunities for the IT sector.

OS provides a simple solution to the cost of licence fees and opens opportunities for the IT sector

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

Report: Hefazat sets Tk5 lakh bounty on Latif Siddique’s head November 4

Vikram Khan Am I wrong? Is Hefazat not the “peace-loving” and “non-violent” Islamic party?! Strange then they set a bounty on a person’s head.

Ahmad Faraz Vikram Khan: Oh, cry me a river, and get over your secularist mindset. Learn the rulings regarding the one who commits apostasy and ridicules religion.

What he did was open “kufr” and later assured it by showing absolutely no signs of regret. Be it Hefazat or OIC, or any average Muslim. Bringing him to justice by the law Allah has set is undeniable.

F138 Ahmad Faraz: Must we all bow down in Shafi’s direction when we pray?

Ahmad Faraz F138: Fear Allah and stop defending those who mock Islam, or be it today or 50 years later, death will overtake you and you’ll be lowered to your grave where the worst of the torments will occupy your life.

The ummah is agreed that the one who belittles or mocks the Qur’an or any part of it is a kaafir. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Verily, this (the Qur’an) is the Word that separates (the truth from falsehood, and

The Bhawal estate scandal November 8

commands strict laws for mankind to cut the roots of evil). And it is not a thing for amusement.” [alTaariq 86:13-14] Anyone who takes any part of the Qur’an for amusement – singing, dancing or entertainment – has taken it for amusement and play, and Allah warn such people of a humiliating torment: “And when he learns something of Our Verses (this Qur’an), he makes them a jest. For such there will be a humiliating torment.” [al-Jaathiyah 45:9] Wallahu aalam if you are a Muslim or not. lol but since you mentioned about bowing (Mashaa’Allah, you at least know that Muslims bow to Allah), here are a few ayahs dealing with people like Latif: “If you ask them (about this), they declare: ‘We were only talking idly and joking.’ Say: ‘Was it at Allah, and His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His Messenger that you were mocking?’ Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had believed.” [al-Tawbah 9:65-66] Secondly, I already mentioned it doesn’t matter whether it is Hefazat or OIC or any average God-fearing Muslim.

A man like Latif is a disgrace. Funny, you refer to him as “people.” If he can blaspheme the rites bestowed by Allah, how much of a human is he?

Furthermore, he displays no remorse.

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 12 represents T so fill T every time the figure 12 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

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.

Aiming to be average November 5

CROSSWORD Shammi Huda A summary of the story of the Bhawal estate, remnants of which are still found around Dhaka and in Gazipur. The full, detailed history which takes into account the colonial, political, socioeconomic, and media contexts of the time is to be found in Partha Chatterjee’s brilliant “A princely imposter.”

Mushfique: ‘There are few like Shakib in the world’ November 8

Raheel Bardai “If a guy hits a century and takes ten wickets, he is certainly going to be a threat.”

I wish this threat could be presented to some of the biggest cricket nations, not Zimbabwe. :) I hope he doesn’t get banned again. Good luck!

Break the glass ceiling November 4 RS At times women face illness, also a reason why they stay at home. If they are helped with proper treatment and if household work is shared, then perhaps more women would come out to work.

RS A thorough evaluation should have been done before introducing the GPA system for the students.

Tanveer Saleh I think the author does not understand the concept of the GPA system at all. Getting the top 20 students out of 100,000 was indeed an unhealthy competition. The difference in marks between first and second used to be in a range of one or two marks. Does the author really think there is any sort of intellectual difference between the 1st and second position holder, considering the difference in marks mentioned above? Not at all.

A public exam is not an Olympic competition where we will choose first and second-place holders in this manner. Moreover, there are many examples where top position holders did not at all do well in the tertiary level; rather, so-called mediocre students did very well indeed. Maybe we can refine the GPA system and the standard of the question and marking scheme, but no doubt this system is far better than the previous marking system.

ACROSS 1 Meal (6) 4 Permit (3) 7 Banishment (5) 8 Law enforcers (6) 11 Homo Sapiens (3) 12 Dutch cheese (4) 13 Cry of pain (4) 15 Within the law (5) 16 Governs (5) 20 Monkeys (4) 23 Fondness (4) 24 Top card (3) 25 Seesaw (6) 26 Silly (5) 27 Encountered (3) 28 Ripe (6)

DOWN 1 Drive back (5) 2 Give life to (7) 3 Swarm (4) 4 Peruvian capital (4) 5 Dash (4) 6 Perfect score (3) 9 Lyric poem (3) 10 Convict (3) 14 Wealthy (7) 17 Fate (3) 18 First woman (3) 19 Durable cloth (5) 20 Pimply condition (4) 21 Fuel cut from bogs (4) 22 Slender support (4) 24 Goal (3)

nds Tanveer Saleh: Yes, the problem is not the system but misuse or manipulation of the system.

Hasina: Khaleda’s curse becomes blessing for Bangladesh

CALVIN AND HOBBES

November 4

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

rose Our politicians should think more in terms of the development and progress of the country, instead of supporting the war criminals and terrorists.

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

Death for war criminal Kamruzzaman November 4 Fugstar Interesting analyses of the different charges Anon Since Kamruzzaman committed a crime against humanity, he was given the death sentence.

More and more farmers going organic in Jessore region November 4 re The farmers have indeed done a great job by using organic manure for their land. More and more farmers should learn to do this.

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

11

NASHIRUL ISLAM

It’s Bangladesh’s time now

I

n Tim Steel

t is not hard to criticise the Ministry of Aviation and Tourism for their evident inability to either run a successful national ambassador airline, or their failure to develop and implement any consistent and meaningful strategy and implementation program to develop the potential for international-inbound tourism.

Around the world, both research and experience, as well as empirical evidence, tell us that heritage is one of the most significant attractions, together with cuisine and shopping opportunities, to the most valuable sector of the still growing international leisure travel and tourism (T&T) market.

Not the least of the ministry’s failures, as well as that of most of its critics, is the way in with the market is never analysed, segmentation identified, and the strategies developed.

Tourists are not a homogenous group. Like every other consumer market in the world, it segments by age, gender, socioeconomic groups, and, especially as a result of such factors, attitudinal groups.

In the same way that it is often fair to say that consumer attitudes of the

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highly-educated, across the world, are more similar than such groups have in common with the less well-educated.

Even in their homelands, it is equally fair to identify market segments of the international T&T market that have common expectations and interests, whatever their national origins.

popularise such destinations.

Such people tend to holiday more frequently and are ready to experiment with facilities, if attracted by the key interests, especially heritage.

I can be personal about that. In 1984, with high income, I travelled to a slowly opening China, and was paid

None of what could, and should, be done to realise the potential is rocket science, and there is plenty of real experience to draw on

“Empty nesters,” professional, educated, successful people, either childless or whose children have “flown the nest,” from developed nations, have a surprisingly high level of T&T interests and expectations.

Thus, amongst the neighbours of Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, increasingly Myanmar, and to some extent India, have developed their markets on limited numbers of such top-end tourists, who invariably move on when the media people amongst them

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considerably for the privilege. My USAbased cousin, a very successful lawyer, excitedly sought permission to tour in Bhutan in the mid 80s, no expense spared.

In my work in the last five years attempting to support the development of tour programs in Bangladesh, I have been able to facilitate such individuals relatively high cost tours, for such visitors from, amongst other places, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Italy, Czech Republic, having them depart excited

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by the experiences, especially relating to heritage and culture.

Heritage, Bangladesh has in spades.

Much of what the world believes it knows of sub-continental heritage is, in fact, founded upon the Ganges basin and delta; and of course, much of that is now to be most easily reached to visit in, or through, Bangladesh. And let’s face it, much of what the world thinks it knows of “Indian” cuisine is in fact Bangladeshi.

As for shopping, well, try as India might to steal the heritage of fabrics, the fact remains that the culture and heritage of such artefacts is easy to demonstrate to any potential visitor.

All that, and so much more, including the world’s first corporation, and the source of gunpowder, to burgeoning empires across the world since the sixth century, when the properties of saltpetre were first demonstrated to the emperor of China by a visitor from Bangladesh.

All of which is, of course, relevant to the exploitation of one of the modern world’s greatest tourism icons, Silk Roads. Of which the earliest known to China as “The Southern Silk Road,” had its gateway in the Ganges delta, to which flocked traders from across the known world from at least 700 years before the Common Era.

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As someone who spent much of my corporate working life in marketing, communications and general management with senior executive responsibility in such notable multinationals in both leisure and T&T as Jaguar cars, Sony Corporation, and latterly, strategic and communications adviser to such companies as Intercontinental Hotel Group, Sheraton Hotel Group, and Forte Hotel Group, as well as airlines, including BA, American, United, and Gulf, and destinations like Highlands of Scotland and Bahrain, it is easy to cast a jaundiced but sad eye on bodies in Bangladesh tasked with considering the why, how, when, and whether of the development of such tourism in Bangladesh.

If Turkey, Dubai, Malaysia, and Indonesia are amongst the prominent Islamic majority nations who have successfully navigated the dangerous waters of such development, mostly through an early focus on the socially and environmentally sensitive, the educated, professional, empty nesters, there is no evident reason why Bangladesh should not do the same.

At all costs, they should not even consider entering the bottom end of the market of package tours and casinos, but rather, gently pace themselves to reach the top.

The contribution of T&T to GDP and employment, worldwide, is around 9%. With neighbours either at that level, or closing in on, if not above, there is no apparent reason why Bangladesh should not move above its present approximate of 3%, which derives from internal tourism and the costly export of tourists.

Bridging the gap could produce about 4 million new jobs, and about $10bn in annual income.

Even in such apparently opportune places as Cox’s Bazar, the potential for such development still exists, but, with a deep-water harbour due nearby, and the unending, unplanned construction of inappropriate facilities, time is certainly running out.

None of what could, and should, be done to realise the potential is rocket science, and there is plenty of real experience, as distinct from theoretical “expertise,” to draw on from around the world.

As I said, it is easy to criticise all the sins of omission and commission that Bangladesh lives with today in its tourism failures, but a constructive and knowledgeable approach is all that is required to get on track. l Tim Steel is a communications, marketing and tourism consultant.

S

Dictated by desire

Bailing ourselves out

n Ikhtisad Ahmed

n SM Shahrukh

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here is a widely held belief in contemporary politics that the electorate is deprived a real choice when presented with ballot boxes.

This universally applicable principle stems from the narrowing of the political spectrum at elections, representatives using the rhetoric of disagreement to conceal their agreement on major policies in line with what is perceived as safe ground, and the populace being disenfranchised from its leaders who monopolise power. The false choices present the irreconcilable conundrum of having parliaments mired in polluted bureaucracy and serving an ever-decreasing administrative function.

In a country such as Bangladesh, where the government comprises over three quarters of a parliament dictated by the doctrine of voting along party lines that castrates everyone, the opposition – part of the coalition last term, in possession of cabinet positions this term – being little more than ineffective window dressing necessary to apply a veneer of democracy, influential stakeholders being excluded from the system of governance, and the people’s voice and will being suppressed and dismissed, the centralisation of power in the hands of the head of government and her select group of family members and agreeable cronies makes the existence of a parliament wholly unnecessary.

An architecturally significant building can always house a real throne room; at least then the citizens and the rest of the world would know exactly what to expect from, and how to deal with, Bangladesh and its leaders.

The argument for a change is not an argument in favour of the opposition’s present and past.

The entrenchment of a system that ridicules parliament means that a change in the captain will do nothing to change the course of the ship, since the overriding tendency is not only to staunchly oppose and refuse to

work with others, but to wish the ten plagues on the other side.

Regardless of which party or which representative of any of the existing political parties holds the reins, there is no need for a parliament in Bangladesh. The chest-thumping, sycophantic speeches achieve nothing.

The Icelandic, Faroese, and Sicilian parliaments, all formed in 1097, are the oldest recognised parliaments in the world. However, the former two had no decision-making abilities, being only cosmetic bodies to help legitimise the respective sovereigns, making the Sicilian parliament the first true governmental body.

The Sicilian parliament had three chambers – the feudal chamber, the ecclesiastical chamber, and the state property chamber – that served as an advisory committee to help confirm the powers of the sovereign, especially on taxation. This formula was widely replicated across the planet at the inception of parliament as a system or tool of governance.

The first parliament to actually use the word in its name was the English parliament of 1236, during the reign of Henry III. Prior to this, parliaments had to be convened by the sovereign – a top-down system of advisory government.

Due to the weak position of Henry’s early reign, because of Magna Carta signed under his predecessor King John and his own young age, being a minor at the time of his coronation, he had to accept a regular convention of the nobility to guide him. Until 1263, parliament still had to be formally called by the monarch. In 1264, however, Henry’s increasingly volatile and authoritarian rule led to the first ever instance of parliament of nobility forming without the monarch’s consent.

Historically speaking, therefore, parliament started as a means for the privileged classes to pressurise the sovereigns in their respective countries. The notion of accountability to the masses, which is a hallmark of the debate for pro-liberal democratic values, was not a part of this system until

T

A throne in the parliament? much later. This means that contemporary frustrations with parliament, where people are becoming increasingly disillusioned with government and mainstream politics, are actually reflective of the historical roots of the institution.

Despite claims of accountability, there are no provisions anywhere in the world for the electorate to introduce a motion of no-confidence, for instance by means of a referendum.

Although national sentiment can trigger such calls, it is still the prerogative of parliament to declare the actual motion.

A Curia Regis is conducive to the monopolisation of power, as well as the uniform code of domestic policy that is de rigueur in Bangladesh. Thus, a monarch’s council should suffice, and this view should be propagated widely across the globe to civilise the rest of the world. This, in turn, will negate the inherent fears in relation to foreign aid that unnecessarily propel autocracies of the developing world towards parliament. l Ikhtisad Ahmed is a writer and an erstwhile lawyer. He can be contacted on Twitter via @ Ikhtisad.

he World Bank (WB) recently reported that “Bangladesh recorded retail sales of $10-12bn during the last two Eid festivals, which took place within a span of three months.”

Excellent news indeed.

It shows all the signs of a vibrant economy, a nation that is gradually getting wealthy, and the augmented purchasing power of the masses resulting from that prosperous economy.

However, the WB puts a caveat on this upbeat mood – the nation needs to maintain a stable political scenario.

I don’t think it would take a rocket scientist to figure out the importance of stability in our political scene.

We have seen, throughout last year, disruptions caused by certain quarters and their adverse effects on the economy. Those disruptions caused untold misery for farmers, small traders, entrepreneurs, and of course, the overall industrial sector.

The government, as Muhith chalked out in his budget speech, expects the economy to grow at around 7.2%, but the WB is not that optimistic.

The major hurdle for the government to achieve their projected target of growth, according to Dr Zahid Hussain, chief economist of the Bangladesh chapter of the WB, is poor investment scenario.

Why is the investment situation so deplorable? With Bangladesh being a hub of economic activity in South Asia, investments in various sectors should be at an all-time high. Poor infrastructure is a major hurdle in big investments to be made by entrepreneurs. The power situation is dicey too, and there are major concerns about primary fuels to generate electricity.

Now, how do the banks service their liabilities, ie the money of the depositors? In order to attract investment they are starting to cut interest rates, but that would inevitably force them to lower rates on deposits both on normal savings and term deposits. This is a dangerous scenario.

This situation will give rise to various Ponzi schemes and multi-level marketing (MLM) companies will mushroom with lucrative yet absurd offers of return on investment. I don’t need to elaborate what has already happened to many hapless people who trusted the unscrupulous elements running such schemes.

Now, we come to the big problem – the stock market. Some analysts have already suggested that the market seems overheated. We are starting to see a common trend in the Bangladesh capital market: “Too much money chasing too few stocks.” This syndrome is starting, if it has not already started.

As it is, many good companies have never bothered to enlist with the bourses, and the market is flooded with many junk company stocks. Prices of some stocks have formed bubbles and an irrational chase will only make the bubble bigger.

Some major market players are busy setting the board already, and when the bubble bursts, we will again see the government with a pie on its face, and of course, screaming and shouting small investors.

To stop this recurrence, the government should immediately be on guard.

I will never suggest over-regulating the market, but the regulatory body should be vetted with due diligence.

The central bank, which was found wanting during the last crash in 2010, should keep their eyes and ears open for any red flags, their inspection of banks should be very rigorous, and their actions prompt.

Overall, there should be a holistic policy that would guarantee that kneejerk reactions in the forms of “circulars” are not needed to cool the market if the stock prices become way past irrational. If the government cannot avert another crash with the wisdom, if any, gained from 2010, then their popularity will plummet and they will find it hard to keep their noses above water. l SM Shahrukh is a freelance contributor.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE Tuesday, November 18, 2014

13 Rupganj continue

down gauntlet to his rivals

14 Silva slams Dunga,

Neymar after losing captaincy

Sport

Croatia’s Ivan Rakitic has created 20 chances in Euro 2016 so far; more than any other player

DHAKA TRIBUNE

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

to win, Abahani taste narrow defeat

14 Djokovic throws

Did you know?

Bangladesh national team players Sabbir Rahman and Al Amin Hossain share a light moment in the swimming pool while (right) allrounder Shakib al Hasan and his wife Umme Ahmed Shishir set off for Rangamati from Hotel Peninsula in Chittagong yesterday

Roaring characters behind success n Mazhar Uddin from Chittagong It has been a dream Test series for Bangladesh, no doubt. Their second ever whitewash in the longer version beating their arch rivals and bottom table competitor Zimbabwe 3-0 was an immense need for the Tigers in order to end their disappointing 2014 on a positive note.

Bangladesh were in a spot of bother in the first Test but once they escaped the early hiccup they never looked back as Mushfiqur Rahim and his troop comfortably beat their opponent in the next two Tests.

The home side spinners wrecked havoc on Zimbabwe by claiming 49 wickets – the second most by spinners in number of wickets in a three-match series. The most valuable player in the series award went to Taijul Islam for his 17 wickets including a match-winning 8 for 39 in the first Test while Shakib al Hasan announced his return to cricket, following a three-month suspension,

Abahani look to maintain momentum n Shishir Hoque

Abahani Limited are confident to continue their winning spree in the King’s Cup as they take on Bhutan National League outfits Ugyen Academy in their second Group B match at the Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu today.

The traditional Sky Blues also look forward to rectify mistakes from their opening game where a 10-man Abahani toiled hard to escape with a 1-0 victory over Assam Electricity.

However, team manager Sattyajit Das Rupu reasoned the altitude, low temperature and the turf behind their poor showing against their comparative weaker opponents.

“It was difficult for us to play our natural game in the first match as we were struggling to cope up with the altitude, weather and speedy turf. The positive thing now is that we managed to overcome the problems and the players are ready to win,” said Rupu yesterday.

“We wasted many scoring opportunities in the first match which we don’t want to repeat and we have learnt from those mistakes,” he added.

Young midfielder Atikur Rahman Fahad is likely make his debut for the Sky Blues as Rupu might pick him to replace his suspended skipper Pranotosh Kumar who received a red card in the last match.

The four-time league champions, however, will face Nepal A-Division League champions Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) in their next match on November 22 before playing I-League side Pune FC on November 25.

“If we play our natural game we will earn full three points tomorrow (today).

We don’t want to take them (Ugyen) lightly. We need to win this match before facing two strong teams in the last two matches,” Rupu added. l

in the best manner he knows – 251 runs minul Haque.

In Khulna, Shakib also bagged 18 and 18 wickets.

Batting has been disastrous for most wickets – the most for a Bangladeshi of the part this year, but Bangladesh after Enamul Haque Jr’s 12-wicket haul showed great character in that depart- back in 2005 against Zimbabwe. The Timent too. After the narrow escape in gers continued their winning streak in Mirpur where they lost seven wickets Chittagong, a venue where Bangladesh to reach 101, the Tigers posted five cen- haven’t lost in the last two years. turies in the last BANGLADESH V ZIMBABWE, TEST SERIES 2014 two Tests.

Most runs for Bangladesh The posterboys – Tamim Player Mat Inns NO Runs HS Ave SR 100 50 Iqbal and Shakib Mominul Haque 3 6 1 321 131* 64.20 53.14 1 2 – of Bangladesh Tamim Iqbal 3 6 0 308 109 51.33 44.76 2 1 cricket gathered Mahmudullah 3 6 0 264 71 44.00 42.85 0 3 hundreds in the Shakib Al Hasan 3 6 0 251 137 41.83 70.70 1 1 second match in Mushfiqur Rahim 3 6 1 159 64 31.80 54.45 0 1 Khulna before Most wickets for Bangladesh Tamim returned to his hometown Player Mat Mdns Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ 5 Chittagong for Shakib Al Hasan 3 29 329 18 6/59 10/124 18.27 2.53 3 his consecutive Taijul Islam 3 25 369 17 8/39 9/81 21.70 2.85 1 hundred alongJubair Hossain 3 7 322 11 5/96 7/152 29.27 3.83 1 side Imrul Kayes Rubel Hossain 2 11 125 5 2/16 3/62 25.00 3.20 0 and the ever Shafiul Islam 1 6 67 4 2/17 4/67 16.75 2.48 0 consistent Mo-

Gazi takes 2-34 in return n Minhaz Uddin Khan Off-spinner Shohag Gazi, who was banned from bowling in the international arena for illegal bowling action by ICC last month, made his first appearance in competitive cricket through the Dhaka Premier League yesterday.

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club signed the national cricketer who ended up on the winning side against Abahani Limited. Gazi took 2-34 in Jamal’s six-run win.

Gazi is working hard to improve his bowling action and make a return to international cricket as the 23-year-old said to Dhaka Tribune, “Everything goes right in the practice sessions but the situation is different when you are playing a game – there is pressure and other things you have to deal with. So I wanted to see the affects.”

“I faced some issues with by leg positioning. It was alright during practice but troubled during the game yesterday – it is not big, might be because of the pressure, but I will have to work on that. All in all I think my action is much better than before,” Gazi informed.

However, Gazi, who is currently under the supervision of national spin bowling coach and former Sri Lankan off-spinner Ruwan Kalpage and computer analyst Mohammad Salauddin, does not want to bowl any more in the DPL but is eager to play as a batsman.

“I want to get ready in the best way possible and go into matches. I will play as a batsman if the club wants but don’t think I will bowl as my primary target is to return to international cricket (and bowling before getting full ready might create trouble),” he said.

The ICC suspended Gazi in October after his action was found to violate the 15-degree limit. l

Mominul stood out among the convincing results and hundreds as he took his performance to a new height. His fourth century in only his 12th Test in Chittagong also saw him stand beside Everton Weekes, Alec Stewart, Matthew Hayden, Jacques Kallis, Simon Katich and Kumar Sangakkara in scoring more than nine consecutive Test fifties.

Meanwhile, in the bowling department Bangladesh found their first ever specialist leg spinner in the form of Jubair Hossain. The 19-year-old maintained his patience and showed great ability in controlling the difficult art of leg spin and along the way picked 11 wickets including a five-for in the ultimate Test.

The Test series win also saw Bangladesh leapfrog Zimbabwe to ninth place in the rankings for the first time in history. All these taken in to account, the result was a major necessity for Bangladesh ahead of their five-match ODI series and more importantly the ICC World Cup in February. l

SAFF WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP

Sabina brace guides Bangladesh n Shishir Hoque

Striker Sabina Khatun scored a brace in Bangladesh’s 3-1 triumph over Maldives as the Red and Greens swept into the semifinals of the 3rd Saff Women’s Championship at the Jinnah Football Stadium in Islamabad, Pakistan yesterday.

Being the runners-up of Group A, Bangladesh will now face Group B champions Nepal in the second semifinal tomorrow at the same venue, an opponent whom they have faced at the same stage in the tournament’s inaugural edition in 2010. Four years ago in Cox’s Bazar, hosts Bangladesh were humbled by Nepal 3-0.

Sabina netted twice in the 35th and 87th minute after Maynu Marma opened scoring in the 18th minute.

Aishath Sama scored the consolation for Maldives in the 84th minute.

Maldives head coach Rionaok was full of praise of Bangladesh after the game and said, “They played wonderful and dominated us in full match.

They deserve to win and to play in the semifinals.” l

Down to earth Mominul focused on batting only n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Cricket is a funny game. A hundred or five wickets will see a regular player turn hero overnight while the same player sometimes also loses his place from the team for inconsistent performance. Therefore, it is easy to figure that consistency is what the cricketers look for day in day out.

For Bangladesh, they have been looking for it in players and as a team for the past 14 years in Test cricket and have they found it yet? The Tigers staged excellent teamwork to earn their maiden home clean sweep of a Test series recently while as an individual Mominul Haque can be stated as the solution to the impatient batsmen.

One can hardly find a 23-year-old so calm and down to earth like the left-handed Mominul who has already made a place alongside the top players of the game. He became Bangladesh’s fastest to reach 1000 Test runs (21 innings) while his 131 in the last innings in Chittagong took his average to 63.05 and put him second to the legendary Sir Donald Bradman who averaged 99.94.

“Please don’t mention all this. I don’t like talking of records or what I have done. These things embarrass me,” said Mominul to Dhaka Tribune over phone. “I just want to carry on with my job which is to bat.”

His 55 on debut against Sri Lanka was overshadowed by Mushfiqur Rahim’s 200, Mohammad Ashraful’s 190

and Nasir Hossain’s 100 in the same innings. Apart from his personal third match against Zimbabwe, where he scored 23 and 29, he managed a fifty in all his other Tests and now stands with 1198 runs from 12 matches.

So what motivates Mominul, a person who has been scoring runs heavily even when people around him were not. “Batsmen from other countries motivate me,” said Mominul who also realises nothing is invincible.

“Me, Tamim bhai and Anamul often discuss in the dressing room of how the batsmen from the leading cricket nations score a hundred in every second game and their consistency. This gives me itchy feelings to perform and the believe that I can also do the same.

“And today cricket has reached a point where a batsman cannot survive scoring even half centuries, people – let it be the team or general spectators – all wants to see more from a batsman and I try to meet the demand,” said Mominul.

However, converting the fifties to hundred is not a habit that Mominul has grown yet and the player from Cox’s Bazar is also concerned about the fact. “My mindset is to be blamed, not my technique.”

“We (Him and the national coaching staff ) tried to find the mistakes I am doing. We couldn’t find anything wrong with my technique. The fault is with my mentality. I am working on it and hope it will be put right soon,” Mominul concluded. l

MOMINUL HAQUE TEST RECORD Mat Inns NO Runs

HS

12

181 63.05 2151 55.69

23

4

1198

Ave

BF

SR

100 50 4

7

Series by Series Mat Inns NO Runs

HS

Ave

BF

SR

100 50

Bangladesh in Sri Lanka, 2012/13 2 3 0 156 64 52.00 274 56.93 Bangladesh in Zimbabwe, 2013

0

2

1

0

0

181 188.00 599 62.77

2

0

Sri Lanka in Bangladesh, 2013/14 2 4 1 171 100* 57.00 264 64.77

1

1

311 39.22

0

2

131* 64.20 604 53.14

1

2

2

0

52

29 26.00

99 52.52

New Zealand in Bangladesh, 2013/14 2

4

2

376

Bangladesh in West Indies, 2014 2

4

0

122

56 30.50

Zimbabwe in Bangladesh, 2014/15 3

6

1

321

Old Trafford new chapter in Messi-Ronaldo rivalry n Reuters, London Cristiano Ronaldo’s second Old Trafford home-coming will be another highly-charged affair with big rival Lionel Messi leading Argentina in their friendly with Portugal on Tuesday.

Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford for the first time after leaving Manchester United in 2009 when Real Madrid beat United 2-1 with his winning goal in a Champions League tie in March last year, but he can expect plenty of support this time from fans who would love him to make a permanent move back.

The Portugal captain will not have it all his own way, though, given the

backing the Manchester-based Argentine colony in coach Gerardo Martino’s squad can also expect in the two great players’ 27th clash though only the second at national level.

Messi, on top in their head-to-head record with 12 wins to Ronaldo’s seven and the remainder drawn, gave Argentina a 2-1 win with a late penalty in a February 2011 friendly in Geneva after Ronaldo had scored Portugal’s equaliser.

Carlos Tevez, recalled for the first time since July 2011, will also be looking for a part, having played for both United and Manchester City who provide Argentina with three players including Sergio Aguero.

Tevez and Aguero, though, look set to start on the bench with Gonzalo Higuain taking the centre forward role as coach Martino looks to give most of his squad a game on their two-match tour in England that started with Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Croatia in London.

“It had been a long time since I played in that position, having done so for Barca. I’ve got to get used to it now, it’s not something new but I have to adapt again,” Messi said after Thursday’s match.

Ronaldo, with 52 goals in 117 internationals, comes fresh from scoring the only goal in Portugal’s 1-0 win over Armenia in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Friday. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Hockey U-21’s fitness at peak: coach

QUICK BYTES

Cagers reach quarters of Asian Beach Games

n Raihan Mahmood

Bangladesh reached the quarterfinals of the Beach Basketball in the 4th Asian Beach Games after a closely fought 17-14 victory over Oman at Phuket, Thailand, yesterday. China will the opponent of Bangladesh in the last eight duel.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh beach volleyball team conceded a 2-0 defeat against Thailand losing 21-11 and 21-12. In handball, Bangladesh lost to Pakistan by 2-0 games in a 21-5, 22-13 scoreline.

– Raihan Mahmood

Zidane’s son Enzo makes Real debut Enzo Zidane, the eldest son of former France and Real Madrid midfielder Zinedine Zidane, made his debut for Real’s B team under his father’s orders in Sunday’s 2-1 win at home to Conquense. Zinedine Zidane is assistant coach of Real Madrid Castilla, who play in the third tier of Spanish soccer (Segunda B), and 19-year-old Enzo, a midfielder, came on as a substitute in the 88th minute of the match in the Spanish capital. Named after Uruguay great Enzo Francescoli, the young Zidane was called up for medical tests with France’s Under-19 squad in February after he opted to represent Les Bleus despite having played for Spain’s Under-15 side. Enzo’s younger brothers Luca, Theo and Eliaz are all being groomed in Real’s academy.

– Reuters

Blind latest to Man United injury woes With Daley Blind joining a burgeoning Manchester United injury list, manager Louis van Gaal must feel like the fates are conspiring against him at the start of his reign at Old Trafford.

Netherlands midfielder Blind limped off in his country’s 6-0 win over Latvia in a Euro 2016 qualifier on Sunday with a knee injury to become the third United player to be crocked during the international break. He joined goalkeeper David de Gea, who dislocated his finger training with Spain, and Michael Carrick, who withdrew from the England squad with a groin problem, as key players returning to Manchester facing a spell on the sidelines.

– Reuters

Troubled Ryder pulls out of Dubai tour Troubled cricketer Jesse Ryder’s bid to regain a place in the New Zealand team suffered a setback Monday when he pulled out of an A squad tour to Dubai, citing personal reasons. The withdrawal follows his absence from a provincial match over the weekend.

The explosive batsman’s career is littered with alcohol-fuelled incidents and his selection for the New Zealand A tour was seen as a test of his commitment before the World Cup starting in February. Ryder has not played for the New Zealand premier side since he went on a late-night drinking session in Auckland before the start of a Test series against India nine months ago.

New Zealand selector Bruce Edgar announced Ryder’s decision not to travel to the UAE but made no comment on his future. “NZC (New Zealand Cricket) respects Jesse’s decision and is currently considering options for a replacement,” Edgar said in the brief statement.

– AFP

DAY’S WATCH Ten Cricket 12:00PM Pakistan v New Zealand Second Test, Day 2

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Sony Six 9:30AM NBA 14-15: Regular Season LA Clippers v Chicago Champion Tennis League 2014 5:30PM Hyderabad v Pune 8:30PM Delhi v Mumbai 12:30AM Fifa International Friendly Portugal v Argentina

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Sony Six HD 1:00AM Fifa International Friendly France v Sweden

13

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Kalabagan Krira Chakra opener Shamsur Rahman plays a shot while Legends of Rupganj wicketkeeper Jahurul Islam looks on during their Dhaka Premier League match in Fatullah yesterday COURTESY

Rupganj continue to win, Abahani taste narrow defeat n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Legends of Rupganj maintained their winning run in the Dhaka Premier League as they beat Kalabagan KC to earn their third win in as many games yesterday. Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Prime Doleshwar SC also won in their respective matches.

Legends of Rupganj v Kalabagan KC, SBNS

Twin half-centuries by Junaid Siddique and Alok Kapali guided Rupganj to a seven-wicket victory chasing down their opponents 205.

Kalabagan skipper Shamsur Rahman struck his third consecutive fifty in the league, after losing his place from the national side recently, as it was his 77 that enabled his side go past the 200-mark.

Rupganj reached the target in 47.3 overs losing three wickets only – credit

to the sides top order. All the batsmen, except opener Jahurul Islam (nine), posted 40 plus knocks. Junaid scored an 85-ball 51 while skipper Alok Kapali remained unbeaten on the same score off 53 balls that included three boundaries and a six.

Sheikh Jamal DC v Abahani, Fatullah

The match saw off-spinner Sohag Gazi return to cricket since his bowling action was labelled illegal by the ICC last month.

Batting first Jamal rode on their English recruit Liam Dawson’s 64 to post a mediocre 219 before the bowlers played a vital role in handing Abahani their first defeat in the season by six runs.

The Sky Blues were cruising to the shore as Raqibul Hasan smashed 83 at the top, but a flurry of wickets in the last hour of the match saw them getting

all out for 213.

Sajib Dutta led the Jamal attack with three scalps while Gazi put a decent performance claiming two wickets for 34 runs in eight overs.

Prime Doleshwar SC v Victoria SC, BKSP 3

Prime Doleshwar picked their second win of the season defeating Victoria by six wickets. Put into bat, Victoria rode on Chamara Kapugedara’s 85 and skipper Nadir Chowdhury’s 83 to throw a target of 200 runs to Victoria. Chamara’s innings included 11 boundaries and two sixes while Nadif slammed four boundaries and three over boundaries in his 124-ball knock. Medium-pacer Delwar Hossain picked three wickets for Doleshwar.

In reply, Doleshwar chased the target in 47.2 overs losing four wickets.

Coming in at No 3 Rony Talukder led the innings with 56 off 83 balls followed by their English Dawid Malan’s 47. l

BRIEF SCORES Sheikh Jamal v Abahani

Sheikh Jamal: 219/9 in 50 overs (Dawson 64, Amit 48, Nazmul 3/29) Abahani: 213 all-out in 50 overs (Raqibul 83, Sajib 3/35, Gazi 2/34) Sheikh Jamal won by 6 runs

Prime Doleshwar SC v Victoria SC Victoria: 200 all-out in 48 overs (Kapugedera 85, Nadif 83, Delwar 3/16) Prime: 204/4 in 47.3 overs (Rony 56, Dawid 47, Marshal 1/10) Prime Doleshwar won by 6 wickets

Legends of Rupganj v Kalabagan KC Kalabagan: 205 all-out in 48.2 overs (Shamsur 77, Mosharraf 3/45, Shahid 3/34) Rupganj: 208/3 in 47.3 overs (Alok 51*, Junaid 51, Mosharraf 45, Shahadat 2/39) Legends of Rupganj won by 7 wickets

Bangladesh U-21 hockey coach and former national defender Mamunur Rashid believes the fitness level of his team has reached the peak during their tour of India.

The U-21 hockey team returned to the capital on Sunday night completing their 12-day tour in which they won six matches out of the seven played as the only defeat came against the Haryana XI. Mamun thinks the players coped well with the conditions and said, “Playing seven matches in nine days presents the picture of the players fitness, there are no injury, the tour boosted the confidence of the team ahead of the final challenges.”

Meanwhile Mohammad Sarwar, the captain of the team thinks they need to improve the rate of the penalty corner conversion and the link between the defence and midfield. “The rate of our penalty conversion was 40 percent, we have to work on it and we have to work on the building the quick link between the defence and the midfield, on the whole we tried to apply the strategies that the coach tried to insert, the tour was a good one,” said Sarwar.

Bangladesh, Chinese Taipei, Oman, Sri Lanka and Thailand play in the meet that starts from November 30 and concludes on December 7. l

Srinivasan cleared of IPL corruption n Reuters, Mumbai International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Narayanaswami Srinivasan has been cleared in a report submitted to India’s top court by a committee probing allegations of corruption in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 competition.

The Supreme Court had relieved Srinivasan of his duties as the country’s cricket board president to ensure a fair investigation into the controversy, in which his son-in-law Gurunath Meiyappan was indicted for illegal betting on the 2013 IPL. The report said Srinivasan, who took over as ICC chairman in July, was not guilty of betting and fixing nor of having tried to prevent the investigation.

Meiyappan, an official of the Chennai Super Kings IPL franchise, was arrested in May last year by Mumbai Police probing illegal betting on the lucrative tournament but he was released on bail after two weeks. Legal sports betting in India is confined to horse racing. l

Latham ton gives Kewis strong start n Reuters

SCORECARD, DAY 1

Opener Tom Latham struck his second consecutive hundred to keep New Zealand on course for a big first-innings total on the opening day of the second test against Pakistan on Monday.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the visitors, trailing 1-0 in the three-test series, reached 243 for three wickets at the close.

Latham, who scored a century in the first test in Abu Dhabi, remained unbeaten on 137 with Corey Anderson on seven.

The 22-year-old Latham, playing his sixth test, displayed good temperament and solid technique against both the fast bowlers and the spinners and reached his century with a single off paceman Ehsan Adil.

The left-handed batsman survived a close lbw appeal against Adil on 11 and edged Rahat Ali on 71 but the ball went between the wicketkeeper and first slip.

Azhar Ali dropped Latham at gully

New Zealand Ist innings T Latham not out 137 B McCullum c Masood b Adil 43 K Williamson b Babar 32 R Taylor c Masood b Shah 23 C Anderson not out 7 Extras: (lb1) 1 Total: (for 3 wkts; 87 overs) 243 Fall of wickets: 1-77, 2-153, 3-226 Bowling: Rahat 20-2-46-0, Adil 17-447-1, Babar 25-4-92-1, Shah 22-3-51-1, Ali 3-1-6-0 Toss: New Zealand after the batsman had reached his hundred and failed to latch on to a sharp chance at silly point off Ross Taylor.

Latham added 77 for the opening wicket with Brendon McCullum before the New Zealand captain succumbed to a rush of blood to be dismissed on 43.

Adil, who replaced paceman Imran Khan in Pakistan’s starting line-up, broke the gritty opening stand 15 min-

utes before the lunch break.

McCullum pulled Adil, playing his second test match, straight to Shan Masood who was placed at square leg precisely for that purpose.

Latham added 76 for the second wicket with Kane Williamson who fell an over before tea, bowled by left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Babar for 32.

Leg-spinner Yasir Shah dismissed Taylor (23) in the final session but not before he had added 73 for the third wicket with Latham.

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq introduced spin as early as the ninth over after his pace bowlers failed to make early inroads with the new ball.

Pakistan, who won the first test by 248 runs, went in with a new left-handed opening pair after Ahmed Shehzad and Mohammad Hafeez failed to recover from injuries.

Masood, with just two test caps, and Taufeeq Umar, who last played in July 2012, will open the batting for the hosts. l

New Zealand opener Latham celebrates his century against Pakistan during the 1st day of their 2nd Test in Dubai yesterday INTERNET

Bryans claim fourth Tour Finals title Australia eye options after Clarke limps home

n Reuters, London

American twins Bob and Mike Bryan underlined their status as the best doubles pair in the world as they claimed the ATP Tour Finals title for the fourth time on Sunday.

The 36-year-olds came from a set down to beat seventh seeds Ivan Dodig (Croatia) and Marcelo Melo (Brazil) 6-7(5) 6-2 10-7 at the O2 Arena -- their 103rd title together.

The Bryans recovered from a near knockout blow in the first set when Bob slammed a first serve into the back of his brother’s head, going on to dominate after dropping the opener.

“Looking back at the year, we’re very proud of the way it went,” Mike told reporters, adding that winning a 100th career title together at the U.S. Open had been the highlight.

“This is considered the fifth slam, with the top eight teams in the world.

To lose our first match and bounce

n Reuters, Sydney

Bob Bryan (L) and Mike Bryan of the US pose with the trophy after winning the ATP World Tour Finals in London on Sunday AFP back, barely qualify for the semi-finals, win today, was a great feeling.”

The doubles has outshone the singles at the O2 this week with most of the matches being close whereas the singles groups produced numerous

one-sided matches.

Speaking after Roger Federer withdrew from the singles final against Novak Djokovic, Bob said: “I feel the doubles game is pretty healthy right now.

We put out a good product this week. l

With the optimism over Michael Clarke’s fitness for the test series against India fading fast, Australia’s selectors will have to ponder their captaincy options as well as the make-up of their bowling attack over the next week.

Chief selector Rod Marsh’s confidence the 33-year-old would be fit to face India at the Gabba on Dec 4 was undermined by Pat Howard on Monday, the team performance manager saying Clarke had virtually no chance of playing in the series.

Coach Darren Lehmann has not given up hope, however.

“Until I get confirmation, I’m not going to say he’s in or he’s out,” he told reporters in Perth on Monday.

“At the moment, he’s captain of Australia and, if he’s fit to play and gets through the next little bit, then hope-

fully he’ll front up in the first test.”

Since taking over as captain in 2011, Clarke has managed a long-term back injury, which contributes to his frequent hamstring problems, to play all but one of his country’s 39 tests.

But with Australia’s main priority over the next couple of months being to keep him fit for the World Cup, an understudy might now be required for the four matches against India. The most obvious choice to become Australia’s 45th test captain is vice captain Brad Haddin.

Shane Watson, who stood in for the injured Clarke for one test on the India tour last year, is another option but neither the 33-year-old all rounder nor Haddin, 37, are long term solutions.

George Bailey, 32, stood in as skipper of the one-day team after Clarke’s hamstring failed him again in the opening match of the series against South Africa last Friday. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Djokovic throws down gauntlet to his rivals

Injured Federer withdraws from Tour Final n AFP, London

n Reuters, London Novak Djokovic laid down the challenge to his rivals on Sunday after completing another year as world number one.

“Right now, I’m at the pinnacle in my career,” the 27-year-old Serb declared after claiming a third consecutive ATP World Tour Finals title by default when Roger Federer withdrew before their showpiece final with a back injury.

“I physically feel very fit. I’m very motivated to keep on playing on a very high level. I’m going to try to use these years in front of me to fight for the number one of the world and fight for the biggest titles.”

Djokovic ends the season as number one for the third time in four years having won a seventh grand slam at Wimbledon and Masters 1000 titles in Miami, Indian Wells, Rome, Paris and this week’s year-ender in London.

While arch-rival Rafa Nadal is still recovering from a wrist injury followed by appendicitis, Andy Murray is struggling to return to his best form after back surgery a year ago and 33-year-old Federer cannot hold back time forever, new dad Djokovic appears to be reaching his prime.

In London, he dropped only nine games in his three group matches before seeing off Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the semis and he will start 2015 having clearly set the benchmark for men’s tennis.

Djokovic said he was disappointed his year ended with a hollow victory – even if it meant he was the first to win the year-ender three times in succession since Ivan Lendl.

“This is probably the first time in history that this happens,” said Djokovic, who found out shortly before the final that Federer was withdrawing.

“It’s a very awkward situation to talk about it, to be honest. You never like to win, especially these big matches against big rivals, with a retirement.”

Djokovic rejected any suggestion that Federer had pulled out to save himself for next week’s Davis Cup final.

“The stats are saying clearly that he is one of those players that would compete and always fight if he can,” Djokovic said. “He has had, what, three retirements in his entire career?

“I don’t think he was calculating and trying to save his body for the Davis Cup final. I’m sure that wasn’t the case. This is probably one of the biggest matches of the year for him, as well as for me.” l Serbia’s Novak Djokovic poses with the trophy after winning the ATP World Tour Finals in London on Sunday AFP

Dutch earn resounding win as Italy held n AFP, Paris The Netherlands recorded a morale-boosting win in qualifying for Euro 2016 on Sunday while Italy saw their perfect start to the campaign ended by Croatia in an eventful encounter.

Guus Hiddink had indicated that he would resign as coach of the Dutch if they slipped up against Latvia to continue a stuttering start to their bid to reach the finals in France.

However, the World Cup semi-finalists recorded their second win in four games in Group A by thumping Latvia 6-0 in Amsterdam as the outstanding Arjen Robben and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar both scored twice.

Captain Robin van Persie and Jeffrey Bruma were also on target to ensure that Hiddink -- only appointed for a second

spell in charge of the Oranje in the summer -- would not be going anywhere.

The Czechs made it four wins from four games as they ended Iceland’s 100 percent record by coming from behind to win 2-1 in Plzen.

Meanwhile, in Istanbul, Turkey got their first win of the campaign by beating Kazakhstan 3-1 as Burak Yilmaz scored twice for Fatih Terim’s struggling side.

In Milan, Italy dropped their first points in Group H in a 1-1 draw with Croatia that was marred by crowd trouble.

The evening started well for the Azzurri as Antonio Candreva drilled home to give them the lead 11 minutes in at the San Siro.

However, Gianluigi Buffon allowed a shot from Ivan Perisic to go under his body and into the net to bring Croatia level four minutes later, and the game was then halted for 10 minutes in the second half when away supporters

sent a hail of flares down onto the pitch from high in the stands.

Italy and Croatia are level on 10 points atop the section after four games, with Norway a point behind after a 1-0 win in Azerbaijan thanks to a solitary goal by Borussia Moenchengladbach’s Havard Nordtveit.

In the group’s other game, Malta struck another blow for Europe’s minnows by coming from behind to draw 1-1 in Bulgaria, a second-half penalty

by Clayton Failla cancelling out Andrej Galabinov’s early opener.

Elsewhere, Wales extended their unbeaten start in Group B with a battling performance to hold World Cup quarter-finalists Belgium to a 0-0 draw in Brussels.

In the group’s other game, George Efrem scored a hat-trick as Cyprus won 5-0 at home to Andorra, who have now conceded 17 goals in losing all four games to date. l

Croatia supporter throw flares onto the field during their Euro 2016 qualifying match against Italy at the San Siro stadium on Sunday REUTERS

RESULTS Czech Republic Kaderabek 45+1, Bodvarsson 61-og

Netherlands

2-1

Silva slams Dunga, Neymar after losing captaincy Iceland

R Sigurdsson 9

6-0

Latvia

3-1

Kazakhstan

van Persie 6, Robben 35, 82, Huntelaar 42, 89, Bruma 78

Turkey

Burak Yilmaz 26-pen, 29, Serdar Aziz 83

Belgium Cyprus

Smakov 87-pen

0-0 5-0

Andorra

3-0

Bosnia

0-1

Norway

Wales

Merkis 9, Efrem 31, 42, 60, Christofi 87-pen

Israel Vermouth 36, Damari 45, Zahavi 70

Azerbaijan Nordtveit 25

Bulgaria Galabinov 6

Italy Candreva 11

1-1 1-1

Roger Federer pulled out of his ATP Tour Finals showdown with Novak Djokovic just before the final was due to start Sunday because of a back injury, casting doubt on his fitness ahead of the Davis Cup final.

Federer, 33, felt unable to take part in the showpiece clash at London’s O2 Arena after suffering the back problem during Saturday’s gruelling three-set semi-final victory over Swiss compatriot Stan Wawrinka.

“Unfortunately I’m not match fit to play match tonight. Clearly I wish it wasn’t this way. You try all year to be ready for the ATP World Tour Finals and I didn’t want to end this way,” sixtime Tour Finals champion Federer told the crowd during an on-court interview.

“I’m sorry I’m here in a tracksuit. I wish it weren’t so. I tried everything I could last night and today -- painkillers, rest -- until the very end, but I can’t compete at this level with Novak. In a final like this and at my age, it would be too risky. I hope you understand.”

The 17-time Grand Slam champion is due to lead Switzerland’s challenge against France in the Davis Cup final, starting in Lille on Friday, and the prospect of missing out on a first title in the team event if he aggravated the back problem against Djokovic may have influenced his decision.

“I hurt my back late in the match yesterday against Stan. I am very disappointed and I hope to be feeling better soon,” Federer said. l

Malta Failla 49-pen

Croatia Perisic 15

n Reuters, Sao Paulo

Defender Thiago Silva has criticised Brazil coach Dunga and star player Neymar after claiming neither of them told him he was no longer Brazil captain.

“He never came to talk to me,” Thiago Silva said of Neymar, the Barcelona striker who was made captain by coach Dunga after the World Cup. “I never spoke to anyone, it was done without any conversation. That’s what upsets me,” Brazilian web site globoesporte.com.br quoted him as saying.

Thiago Silva captained the Brazil team during the World Cup but missed the humiliating 7-1 defeat by Germany through injury. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari was replaced by Dunga soon after but the Paris St Germain defender has missed most of Dunga’s matches due to injury.

Miranda and David Luiz have played together in Brazil’s last two games, with

Corinthians’ Gil also being given a chance.

Although Thiago Silva has returned to the squad, he was left out the team for Friday’s 4-0 win over Turkey and appears resigned to missing out against Austria on Monday.

“It seems like you lose your place, like they’ve taken something away from me,” he said. l

Croatia flares deflect glare from outplayed Azzurri n AFP, Milan

Contrasting goals in Spain-Germany friendly

Ugly flare-throwing incidents at Milan’s storied San Siro stadium deflected the glare from under-par Italy on Sunday as they scraped a precious Euro 2016 qualifying point at home to impressive Group H leaders Croatia.

Instead, Croatia coach Niko Kovac spent most of the post-match period making apologies for the disruptive behaviour of his country’s notoriously difficult fans.

“I want to say sorry for what happened with our fans,” said Kovac, a former captain of Croatia.

Several rocket flares were thrown in the early stages of the game and loud bangs echoed around the stadium after being set off in the Croatia fans’ end.

Around the hour mark, Italy goalkeeper Buffon became a target as fans launched flare after flare in his direction. l

Spain and Germany will have different objectives when they play a friendly in Vigo on Tuesday in the first meeting between the European heavyweights since Spain’s 1-0 win in the semi-finals of the 2010 World Cup. Vicente del Bosque’s new-look side will want to show they have put their failed title defence at the 2014 World Cup firmly behind them and some fresh faces coming through will be keen to impress.

Germany, meanwhile, are looking to finish off a stellar year in style after they claimed Spain’s global crown with July’s 1-0 win against Argentina in the World Cup final, their fourth triumph at soccer’s international showpiece.

Del Bosque is in the process of integrating a new generation following the retirement from internationals of

n Reuters, Madrid

stalwarts like Xavi, Xabi Alonso and David Villa as the European champions prepare for a tilt at a third straight continental title in France in two years’ time.

The hopes of La Roja now rest with players including midfielders Koke and Isco and forward Paco Alcacer, and there is a particular buzz around Isco after he scored a brilliant goal in Saturday’s 3-0 win at home to Belarus in Euro 2016 qualification Group C. The squad still has plenty of hardened campaigners who have won every major title in the game and one of the most experienced, Sergio Ramos, said after the Belarus match the future was bright.

Germany coach Joachim Loew has insisted he and his players are not looking to avenge defeats to Spain in the final of Euro 2008 and in the last four at the 2010 World Cup. l

Wiese climbs into pro-wrestling ring

Turkey keeper England, Scotland on Demirel storms out n AFP, Berlin Glasgow collision course Beefed before game up ex-Germany international beginning to appear a formality, and in goalkeeper Tim Wiese is set for a career n Reuters, Istanbul n AFP, Glasgow age-old rivals Scotland they face a team in professional wrestling after making Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Demirel walked out ahead of his country’s Euro 2016 qualifier at home to Kazakhstan on Sunday after being abused by his own fans during the warm-up, media reports said.

The veteran plays for Turkish club team Fenerbahce but the match was held at the stadium of fierce rivals Galatasaray, whose supporters goaded the keeper.

Volkan Babacan played in goal instead after Demirel had left the stadium and Turkey went on to win 3-1. l

Each heartened by positive results in Euro 2016 qualifying, England and Scotland will renew their 142-year-old rivalry in a hotly anticipated end-ofyear friendly at Glasgow’s Celtic Park on Tuesday.

Roy Hodgson’s England are riding high after opening up a six-point advantage at the top of their qualifying group by coming from behind to beat Slovenia 3-1 on Saturday.

Having won all four of their Group E games to date, qualification is already

who have not beaten them in 15 years.

England won 3-2 when the teams last met at Wembley Stadium in August last year, with Rickie Lambert scoring the winning goal with his first touch of the ball as an international player.

Tuesday’s resumption of hostilities comes with new political undertones, after the people of Scotland voted against breaking away from the rest of Britain in a fiercely fought independence referendum in September. l

an appearance in the ring at a WWE event on Saturday in Frankfurt.

The 1.90 metres (six foot, three inch) Wiese, who made the last of his six appearances for Germany in 2012, has completely transformed his body and now tips the scales at around 120kgs (nearly 19 stones) after taking up weightlifting.

The muscular former shot-stopper is considering a career in the razzmatazz world of wrestling having walked away from professional football in September following a lengthy dispute with

ex-club Hoffenheim.

The 32-year-old was the star attraction on the WWE event’s red carpet.

He briefly climbed into the ring when provoked by wrestling duo ‘Goldust’ and ‘Stardust’, but only ended up posing, dancing and flexing his bulging tattooed biceps to the delight of the 10,000-strong crowd.

Wiese was in the Germany squad for the 2010 World Cup and made more than 300 Bundesliga appearances.

But after leaving Werder Bremen in 2012 to play for Hoffenheim, a disagreement with his new club’s bosses meant he played just 10 league matches before walking away earlier this year with two years still left on his contract. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

SHARMILA BANERJEE and AUPEE KARIM perform today Demonstration of Kathak dance content, spoken explanations and n Entertainment Desk demonstrations of steps, gestures Celebrated artist Sharmila Banerjee and actress Aupee Karim will perform at the fourth arts venue of Bengal Foundation in the capital’s Karwan Bazar at 7pm today.

The subject of the programme will be Kathak, the monthly series of “Understanding Classical Dance”, which is curated by Banerjee.

The second series of the programme features audio-visual

and costume.

In this session, Kazi Rakibul Haque Ripon, a student of Birju Maharaj, will assist Sharmila Banerjee in dance direction. Among other performers are Tahmina Islam, Santa Shahreen, Monira Parveen, and Mehraj Haque Tushar.

The first series of the programme took place at the same venue last month. l

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

SHARMIN LUCKY: Beauty relies on the frame of mind

15

We’re the Millers HBO, 7:36pm

n Hasan Mansoor Chatak Sharmin Lucky is one of the best in the field of voice-over art in Bangladesh. She is recognised as a successful anchor and model. Lucky never tries to come into limelight through acting in any television play or film despite her huge demand. Recently Dhaka Tribune caught up with the travel, food and music connoisseur to learn about her works, beauty secrets and many more.

A veteran pot dealer creates a fake family as part of his plan to move a huge shipment of weed into the US from Mexico.

How and when did you grow your interest on jingles and voice-overs?

I am enthusiastic about recitation from my student life.

And listening to other notable artists on this field I cherished the aspiration to do like them.

MI4—Ghost Protocol Zee Studio, 9:35pm

You seem utterly confident and spontaneous in front of camera then why are you reluctant to appear on television plays?

Then who will do these jingles and voice-overs (laugh)?

Actually I think tv plays demand more involvement and time than my present line of work. Once I grew interested in stage play but somehow that did not materialise and later I did not give a second thought on it again.

The IMF is shut down when it’s implicated in the bombing of the Kremlin, causing Ethan Hunt and his new team to go rogue to clear their organization’s name.

What is the source of your energy as we can see a mix of energy and spontaneity on your show?

If one person can possess inner peace, then it will be his/ her strongest power. A peaceful and happy mind is the prerequisite to do my job. For me, a happy mind is that kind of state when I will be able to think that I am pleased what God has offered me.

Film

Interstellar, Annabelle, Kistimaat Amra Korbo Joy Into The Storm, Hercules 3D Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3D Valkyrie, Most Welcome 2’ Blockbuster Cinemas Jamuna Future Park Ka- 244, Pragati Avenue, Kuril Pipra Bidda How to Train Your Dragon 2 Guardians of the Galaxy Million Dollar Arm, Tarzan

Star Cineplex, Level 8 Bashundhara City

Festival

Shikhondikotha National festival Time : 6:30pm-8:30pm Music and Dance theatre hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Shegunbagicha

Exhibition

Life is her

By Kanak Chanpa Chakma Time: 12pm-8pm Bengal Art Lounge, 60, Gulshan Avenue

What is your favourite television show and which one of your shows is the personal favourite?

I love to watch culinary show from the Travel and Living Channel. I love to watch shows on travel, food, music, people and country at home and abroad.

Apart from my anchoring, it is obviously the “Siddika Kabir’s Recipe.” Then a 26-episode non-fiction titled “Chandrabindu” created by Nurul Alam Atique on 26 different topics. And later “Lux Bridal,” “Apnar Agami”.

“Gaan O Fun with Shafin Ahmed” is my personal favourite.

Do you have any plan to bring a show on television with your own idea?

I developed two ideas of tv shows over the last four years.

One of the shows is on our rivers and another on Dhaka

city. Unfortunately, none of them came to light.

Spider-Man 3

I heard you are a vegetarian. Is there any relation between food habit and beauty?

Star Movies, 9:30pm

Actually I am a fishetarian. I try to explore organic food as we see most of our available food items in the city either chemical-treated or having one ingredient overly. Probably there is a relation between food habit and beauty.

However, I think beauty relies on the frame of a person’s mind.

What is the secret of your beauty?

I have a theory on beauty that when anyone tries to create trouble and criticises others, eventually he/she gets distorted beauty. Everyone should appreciate each other to have a beautiful face.

And apart from the abstract theory, I do take an ayurvedic facial every month and also apply a high-quality moister night-cream every day before going to bed. l

A strange black entity from another world bonds with Peter Parker and causes inner turmoil as he contends with new villains, temptations, and revenge.

PINK FLOYD top British album charts for first time

ARJUN KAPOOR pays tribute to Salman Khan n Entertainment Desk

Natyakendra stages Dui Je Chhilo Ek Chakor n Entertainment Desk Troupe Natyakendra, which began its journey back in 1990, will stage its acclaimed production “Dui Je Chhilo Ek Chakor” today at 7pm at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

This is an adaptation of “Servant of Two Masters”

by Italian playwright Carlo Goldini.

The production has already been staged more than 27 times at home and abroad and become one of the most popular offerings of the troupe.

Adapted, scripted and directed by Tariq Anam Khan, the comedy is about a desperate man who takes two jobs at a time to meet his needs. The story proceeds with twists and turns as he tries to keep both the jobs. l

RIHANNA excited about her album n Entertainment Desk Singer Rihanna says her new album will be “great”. She has been recording all year and she is ready to share her new work with her fans.

“You start over-thinking things at times. I try to battle myself and outdo everything I’ve done,” dailystar.co.uk quoted Rihanna as saying.

However the 26-year-old refused to share release date.

“I can’t give you any hints of when it will drop.

It’s going to be great, that’s all I’m going to tell you,” she said.

DJs Mustard, David Guetta, Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins and Nicky Romero have contributed to the upcoming album. l

The first song from Arjun Kapoor and Sonakshi Sinha’s “Tevar” titled “Main toh Superman, Salman ka fan” has been released. Shot against the backdrop of the Taj Mahal, Arjun’s expressions and dance steps are a must-watch.

The song starts with Arjun’s dialogues saying that he is a combination of Rambo, Terminator and Salman Khan and then breaks into Arjun dancing atop a fenceless terrace. He is shown as a relentless street fighter who is also Salman’s biggest fan. l

n Entertainment Desk British progressive rock group Pink Floyd topped the album charts for the first time in nearly 20 years on Sunday with “The Endless River”, the Official Charts Company said.

The newly-released album, which the band says will be their last, became the third fastest-selling by a single group or artist this year after shifting more than 139,000 copies during the last week.

A tribute to the band’s keyboardist Rick

Wright who died in 2008, it is their sixth British number one album and their first since “Pulse” in 1995.

Foo Fighters were also a new entry at number two with “Sonic Highways,” while last week’s chart topper “X” by Ed Sheeran slid two places to number three.

Sheeran also featured in the singles chart, where his track “Thinking Out Loud” stayed in second place, ahead of One Direction’s “Steal My Girl”, which climbed six places to third. l

JENNIFER ANISTON reprises Horrible Boss role n Entertainment Desk Hollywood actress Jennifer Aniston says she loves her character in upcoming film “Horrible Bosses 2” as it let her come out of inhibitions because of its wild nature.

The 45-year-old actress reprises her role as sexually predatory dentist Julia in the comedy sequel and while she found some of her alter ego’s antics shocking, she had fun acting out her “wild fantasies”, reported Contactmusic.

“It was kind of shocking for me. But I loved the

character and the writing was so good that it gives you the chance to really let loose and not feel inhibited in any way. I think we all have strange thoughts or moments where you imagine what it would be like to get really wild. It’s very rare that you ever get to act out those kinds of fantasies and that’s why acting can be so stimulating really, because it’s the very nature of the process to totally throw yourself into the mind of the character,” she said.

The film is set to be released on November 26, 2014. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

BARDHAMAN BLAST

NIA, high-powered body to probe terror link n Rafe Sadnan Adel The home ministry yesterday formed a high-power committee to liaise with a visiting delegation of India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) in light of allegations that Bangladeshi nationals were involved in the Bardhaman explosion last month.

The existence of the committee, composed of ministry high ups and high officials from several Bangladeshi law enforcement and intelligence agencies, was announced by Home Secretary Mozammel Haque yesterday after an introductory meeting with NIA officials at the secretariat.

“The team will be led by additional secretary for home affairs, Kamal Uddin Ahmed, and will learn more about the Indian investigation and its findings. The ministry will provide legislative assistance to the visiting team during its two-day visit. We have to work together to root out terrorists, whether in Bangladesh or in India. We will never tolerate terrorists using our land,’’ the home secretary said.

He confirmed the committee would investigate allegations of involvement

by Bangladeshi nationals in the Bardhaman blast as well as assist the NIA investigation.

The NIA team had not given the Bangladeshi side a list of suspects or an investigation report at the first meeting, Mozammel said.

A four-member NIA team headed

by Director General Sharad Kumar arrived in Dhaka yesterday as part of its investigation into the Bardhaman blast of October 2. After the introductory meeting with the home secretary, the delegation held a discussion with the home ministry committee, the agenda of which was not disclosed.

Ministry high-ups and top law enforcement and intelligence officials including Inspector General of Police

Hasan Mahmud Khandaker, RAB Director General Mokhklesur Rahman, National Security Intelligence Director General Shamsul Houque, Border Guard Bangladesh Director General Aziz Ahmed, Directorate General of Forces Intelligence chief Akbar Hossain, Special Branch of Police chief Jabed Tatoary, Criminal Investigation Department chief Mokhlesur Rahman, Rapid Action Battalion intelligence chief Abul Kalam Azad and Detective Branch of Police joint commissioner Monirul Islam were present at the introductory meeting.

“Both countries are combating terrorism with a zero-tolerance policy and the committee will share intelligence about the blast if the investigation requires it,” Mozammel said.

The NIA team will be in Dhaka for two or three days, Mozammel said.

The Indian agency is investigating jihadist networks following a bomb blast on October 2 at a house in Bardhaman town in India’s West Bengal state.

The house reportedly had been turned into a factory to make Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) by militants belonging to banned Islamist outfit, Jama’at-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB).

Two suspected militants died in the explosion that rocked the house and their two wives, believed also to be trained by the JMB, were taken into custody.

The incident led to the unravelling of a wider terrorist network, investigators have said.

Indian sleuths claim that militants were out to assassinate Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Several individuals have been arrested in connection with the blast including Bangladeshi national, Sheikh Rehmatulla alias Sajid of Narayanganj, allegedly a commander of the JMB’s module in West Bengal. l

Occupying land on the banks of Sitalakhya River, a group of bamboo traders run an illegal business, but the authorities seem indifferent and unconcerned. The photo was taken from near the Sultana Kamal Bridge in Demra MEHEDI HASAN

549 foreigners in detention across country n Muhammad Zahidul Islam At least 549 foreign nationals are detained in various jails in the country as of on November 1, State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan informed parliament yesterday.

Of the detained, 393 are under trial while 76 are convicts, he said replying to a star-marked question from AKM Mayeedul Islam, lawmaker from Kurigram 3.

The detained are citizens of India, Myanmar, Pakistan, Nepal, Peru, Algeria, Cameroon, Nigeria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand and Sri Lanka, Asaduzzaman said.

Last Friday, detectives in Dhaka detained 31 more foreign nationals from 10 African countries – a move that will surely add to the count of foreigners in jail. The arrests came as a result of

the first large-scale drive conducted by the DB police against illegal foreigners.

The move followed the murder of Uttara O-level student Zubair Ahmed by Abuubaida Kadir, an Algerian illegally living in Bangladesh for 14 years. More than 300 foreigners living in Gulshan, Rampura and Uttara areas were screened.

Jamalpur 2 MP Faridul Haque Khan asked the state minister for home if it was true that many Bangladeshis make more than one passport to join the IS in its “holy war” in the middle east, and what measures has the government taken to counter this phenomenon.

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu answered the question in the absence of the state minister, saying there was no scope for a person to ac-

6th math olympiad begins n Tribune Report The 6th National Undergraduate Mathematics olympiad organised by the Bangladesh Mathematical Society (BMS) has begun in the country.

Undergraduate students from any background can take part in the national level Olympiad by registering them with Tk 100, said a press release.

As a part of the national event, the olympiad will be held in the country’s six regions – Khulna, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Dhaka North and Dhaka South, it said. l

n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Deputy Speaker Fazle Rabbi Miah yesterday apologised to the House for sending invitation to a late MP. During an unscheduled discussion, AL MP Muhibur Rahman Manik informed the House that the Parliament Secretariat had issued a letter to Ishak Hossain Talukder, who died on October 6, for attending the IMF-CPA conference.

“This shows how careless the Parliament Secretariat is about the lawmakers,” Manik told parliament.

Fazle Rabbi Miah, who was chairing the sitting, said: “I personally express my apology for such a mistake. I think the senior secretary of parliament would be careful in future.” l

625 people en route to Malaysia held

Titas drilling deal with Chinese firm next month n Aminur Rahman Rasel Bangladesh Gas Fields Company Limited (BGFCL) is likely to ink the final agreement with Chinese company Sinopec International Petroleum Service next month for drilling four development wells at Brahmanbaria’s Titas Gas Field.

The state-run BGFCL aims at drilling the wells to produce 120 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) of gas.

“We already issued the Notification of Award to the company on November 5. It has been asked to submit the performance guarantee and hopefully we will get it in two or three days. Then we will go for signing the final contract,” BGFCL Deputy General Manager Md Ali Moktazer, also the project director, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday. After the deal is signed, the contractor will complete the drilling within 19 months, he said.

On November 15, Russia’s Gazprom finished drilling 10 wells across the country. It was supposed to complete drilling wells by the end of last year; but it took additional 11 months.

The BGFCL had invited the international tender to drill wells 23-26 in the Titas gas field last year.

The project named Gas Seepage Control and Appraisal and Development of Titas Gas Field aims at meeting the mounting demand for natural gas by raising its output. The Asian Development Bank is financing a major part of the project’s cost of Tk1,000 crore. l

quire more than one passport in the current automated, technology-based system.

He said such duplication was impossible since the passport authorities issue machine-readable passports after automated scrutiny of detailed information, especially the national ID cards and birth registration certificates. The system also registers fingerprints of applicants.

“When required, the Special Branch of Police investigates the accuracy of the information,” he added.

Responding to another question, Amu informed the House that since the introduction of the MRP programme, over 8.6 million passports had been issued as of November 5.

Passport offices across the country issue about 15,000 MRPs daily, he added. l

Deputy speaker apologies for inviting deceased MP

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Bangladesh Navy yesterday afternoon detained 625 people from a fishing trawler off the St Martin’s Island as they were travelling to Malaysia illegally.

More than 1,000 people en route to Malaysia illegally have been detained in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar since September

Women availing medical services at a daylong health camp organised by Gaibandha district administration at a remote char called Lalchamar under Kapasia union of Sundarganj upazila of the district yesterday FOCUS BANGLA

Assistant Director (Navy wing) of Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate Syeda Tapushi Rabeya Lopa told the Dhaka Tribune a Myanmar flag was hoisted in the trawler.

Navy sources said the detainees were expected to be brought back to Chittagong city by this morning and the navy would arrange a press briefing to disclose

the details of the operation afterwards.

BNS Durjoy, a navy ship, conducted the operation around 12 at noon and detained the 625, including children and women, and their identities would be verified after handing them over to the police, sources added.

The multi-storey trawler was 25 metres long and human traffickers were also suspected to be among the detainees.

More than 1,000 people en route to Malaysia illegally have been detained in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar since September.

Trafficking spikes after the rainy season as the sea remains calm, Deputy Commissioner Harun-ur-Rashid Hajaree of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (port zone) told the Dhaka Tribune.

“Traffickers mainly target people who are poor, illiterate and unemployed. These people pay a huge sum of money to traffickers to travel to foreign countries in search of better wages living conditions,” he added. l

Kamal: Progress towards digital Draft deal on free vehicular Bangladesh sluggish movement okayed SAARC STATES CONNECTIVITY

n

Tribune Report

The cabinet yesterday approved the draft of a motor vehicle agreement aimed at enabling free movement of vehicles among Saarc member states.

The agreement titled “Draft Motor Vehicles Agreement for the Regulation of Passenger and Cargo Vehicular Traffic amongst Saarc Member States” was approved at the cabinet meeting held at the Secretariat. Prime Minster Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting.

Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters after the meeting the agreement would open the door for free movement of motor vehicles among Saarc member states. The draft also has the provision for taking licence and insuring vehicles, he said.

“According to the agreement, motor

and cargo vehicles will be able to freely move across the eight Saarc member states. We hope the contract will be signed at the 18th Saarc summit scheduled to be held in Kathmandu on November 26-27. But before that, it will be finalised at the Saarc ministerial meeting,” said the cabinet secretary.

“In the draft, vehicles have been divided into three categories - passenger, cargo and personal. Passengers vehicles have again been divided into two categories - regular and non-regular,” he said.

Musharraf said a form would be prepared to be used for taking permission for travelling by vehicles among the Saarc countries.

He said offices would be set up in the member states in compliance with rules and regulations of each of the countries. l

n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

Most of the projects that were undertaken by the government to achieve the vision of a “digital” country have been progressing at a rather slow pace, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said at parliament yesterday.

In reply to a question by Awami League lawmaker Nazrul Islam Babu in this regard, the planning minister also said out of all the projects, worth Tk2,840.61 crore, only one project – Digital Information System by the Statistics and Information Division, worth Tk9.29 crore – has been completed so far.

Most of these projects missed their original deadlines and had to get extensions.

Listing the unfinished projects, the minister said one project, Digitalisation of BPATC, under the Ministry of Public

Administration, has progressed around 45%. Launched in October 2012, the Tk11.46-crore project is set to be finished by June next year.

The Access to Information (a2i) programme under the Prime Minister’s Office has different projects worth Tk185.39 crore. Launched in April 2012 with a deadline in March 2016, the projects have have progressed 60% so far.

Rest of the projects have been taken by two different divisions under the Ministry of Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology.

The least progressed project of them all is the Jessore Software Technology Park – it is only 20% complete. Worth Tk240.74 crore, the project was launched in February last year and was supposed to be finished by June this year. The extended deadline is June 2016.

The Leveraging ICT for Growth,

Employment and Governance project, which was also launched in February last year, has progressed 26%. The project is worth Tk572.48 crore and is set to be complete by January 2018.

The Learning and Earning Development project by the ICT Division, worth Tk180.4 crore, has progressed 30%.

Launched in November last year, the project is set to end in June 2016.

Mustafa Kamal also said the Phase II of the Development of National ICT Infra-Network for Bangladesh Government, worth Tk1,333.44 crore, progressed 45%. The project started in July last year and is set to end in June next year.

The first phase of the project, Banglagovnet, which was set to be complete by next month, has progressed only 70%, he said. Worth Tk307.41 crore, the project was launched in April 2010. 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.

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B3 The $375bn Europe wants to invest but doesn’t have

B4 Japan economy enters recession after Q3 contraction

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

PM asks commerce Apparel exports to US losing edge to competitors Orders shift to Vietnam, Cambodia, India and Indonesia as an impact of inspection ministry to visit n US factories Kayes Sohel

n Asif Showkat Kallol Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the Commerce Ministry to visit garment and other factories in the United States of America and learn about the US Trade Union facilities and labour rights.

The directive came at a cabinet meeting yesterday, sources said.

Recently, the US trade representative criticised Bangladesh government for not complying with labour standards.

‘Do the US authorities really comply with their labour rights though they always give recommendations about ours?’

The premier gave her directives to Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed. She said the US officials always criticise the factory environment and labour rights in Bangladesh.

“You immediately send a letter to the USTR about our visit to the US garment and other factories,”a minister who attended yesterday’s cabinet meeting quoted Hasina to have said.

“Do the US authorities really comply with their labour rights though they always give recommendations about ours?” Hasina told her cabinet colleagues.

In the cabinet meeting, the commerce minister informed the PM of the amount of duties Bangladesh pays to the US government for export of readymade garment items.

Earlier, Tofail Ahmed said Bangladesh had paid $3.04 billion tariff on export of garment products to US over the last five years. The average duty Bangladesh pays to the US is more than 16% and the tariff on garment products is 15.62%.

In comparison, Vietnam pays 8.38%, Indonesia 6.36%, China 3%, Germany 1.16%, India 2.29%, Turkey 3.57% and Hong Kong 1.25% tariff on export of goods to the US market.

At a programme organized by Dhaka Tribune this week, Rob Wayss, Executive Director of Accord, a platform of EU garment retailers, said a total of 9% private sector factories of United States have trade union facilities.

A week ago, at a meeting with the Economic Reporters Forum, US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena strongly denied that Bangladesh pays tariffs for apparel export to the US market.

He said: “Bangladesh pays zero...

Zero... zero tariff.”

All countries except those who have special trade relationship with the United States pay same tariff rate, he said, adding that China export to America is subject to pay 15.5 % tariff, Cambodia export to America is subject to pay 15.5% tariff. “It is totally nonsense.”

“There is no discrimination against Bangladesh in terms of tariff. China, Bangladesh, India and Cambodia all pay the same tariff rate,” he said.

Every newspaper says each year Bangladesh pays to America $800m tariff, he said.

“I want to ask the government of Bangladesh please show me the cheque of $800 million you sent to America.

Off course, there is no cheque.” l

Bangladeshi apparel products are losing edge in the US market to its competitors namely Vietnam, Cambodia, India and Indonesia, as buyers cut back their orders over safety and compliance issues imposed after Rana Plaza tragedy and Tazreen Fashions fire incident.

The declining trend is apprehended to be continued in the months to come unless measures are taken to boost up buyers’ confidence, industry insiders say.

For the seven months in a row, the country’s ready-made garment exports to US slipped while the four countries saw strong double-digit growth, according to the latest figures from the US Department of Commerce’s Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA).

US apparel imports from Bangladesh continue to shrink, but surged 9.77% from all sources in September to 2.57bn square metre equivalents (SME).

Among the top ten supplier countries, shipments from China grew 12.4% to 1.3bn SME year on year, and were 7.4% higher than August.

Vietnam’s upward performance accelerated even further in September – jumping 23.4% to 254m SME compared to a year ago, and 1.2% higher than August.

While the two largest apparel suppliers to the US continued their upward trajectory, the picture remains worrying for Bangladesh, which sits at number three in the top-ten league table.

Imports from the country, which has been hit by issues around worker and factory safety in the last year, fell 11% to 111m SME in September.

This is the seventh consecutive month of decline this year for Bangladesh, having started its fall in February, just a month before Alliance, a platform of 27-US based retailers and brands for-

mally started safety checks.

Indonesia, meanwhile, rebounded from its 4.4% decline in August to post

a 17.1% year -on-year gain in September, reaching 86m SME. Cambodia remained flat at 113b SME, an improved

Japanese delegation lauds EPZs condition as investment-friendly

Paira Seaport may not open before next March

n Tribune Business Desk

n Asif Showkat Kallol

A Japanese business delegation has lauded the investment-friendly working atmosphere and operational activities prevailing in the country’s EPZs. The 50-member business delegation led by Soi Hi Yoshimura, executive vice president of Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) appreciated the EPZ operation while visiting Adamjee Export Processing Zone yesterday in Narayanganj.

The delegation was accompanied by Kei Kawano, country representative of JETRO Bangladesh, according to a BEPZA statement issued yesterday.

Terming Bangladesh’s EPZs the ‘Bonanza for Investors’, Major General Mohd. Habibur Rahman Khan, ndc, psc, executive chairman of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA), urged the Japanese business group to invest more in producing the diversified items in this country.

Briefing the delegation about the overall scenario of EPZs as well as BEPZA, Habibur Rahman said, “BEPZA is an autonomous body under the direct supervision of Prime Minister.

The country’s third and newly-built Paira Seaport might not be fully operational till next March as the National Board of Revenue (NBR) is yet to start work for building bonded warehouse in the area, officials said.

According to the seaport authorities said they sought NBR assistance several times to build bonded warehouse and employ manpower to collect duties on imported goods, but to no avail.

In a letter, the port Chairman, Captain Md Saidur Rahman, said to NBR Chairman Md Ghulam Hossain that Paira Seaport cannot be functional without necessary infrastructure and manpower.

Foreign ships may not enter the country’s third seaport before March unless the NBR employs sufficient manpower and construct bonded areas for Paira Seaport, said another letter sent to finance Secretary Mahbub Ahmed last week.

Earlier, the port authority set a target to start partial operation of the port in December this year but it has been shifted to March 2015 as some required

Investors from 37 countries have invested about $3,269m in 432 operating industries of 8 EPZs under BEPZA. The operating enterprises have exported goods worth $41,571m with creating job opportunities for about 3,92,000 Bangladeshi workers.”

The BEPZA strictly maintains various compliance issues, building code, fire-fighting safety etc.

Furthermore, BEPZA also regularly monitor the wages & benefits and rights & welfare of the workers. Industrial-friendly peaceful investment

climate is the main attraction of EPZs and the key strengths of EPZs are amicable cohesive teamwork & harmonious relations among Worker-Management-Owner, he said Referring to the MoU signed between BEPZA and JETRO during the Prime Minister’s visit to Japan in May last, General Habib informed the delegation that BEPZA has reserved 40 plots in Uttara, Ishwardi & Mongla EPZs and one factory building each in Comilla & Adamjee EPZs for the Japanese investors. l

infrastructure development was yet to be completed.

Last May, Chittagong Port Authority signed a memorandum of understanding with Paira Seaport authority for building the seaport and provided interest-free loan worth Tk496 million in November 2013 for land acquisition and development and building pontoon and other facilities.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the Paira Seaport at Ramnabad in Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali on November 19, 2013.

The distance of Ramnabad channel is 31km from sea, 316km from Chittagong, 130km from Mongla Port and 340km from the capital.

The Chittagong Seaport has a capacity to handle an aggregate volume of 1.6 million twenty feet equivalent units (TEUs) of containers annually while the Mongla Port 6.5 million tonnes of goods and 50,000 TEUs of containers every year.

The Paira Seaport, first ever built in the country after independence, would open up a new dimension to import-export and goods-transportation activities, according to entrepreneurs. l

performance from its 9.6% year-onyear drop in August.

When it comes to imports from the US’s other largest suppliers, year -onyear gains were posted during September by Honduras (up 8.8% to 105m SME), India (up 10.9% to 67m SME) and Mexico (up 1.1% to 74m SME).

“Buyers are continuing to wait for the inspection report of Alliance, hitting RMG export to US market,” said former BGMEA president Anwar-ulAlam Chowdhury.

Alliance already completed safety assessment of garment factories in Bangladesh and found less than 2% structural faults of the factories in October.

“This massage is yet to reach to the American buyers who want certified copy, supposed to be issued by the Alliance, for those factories free from fault,” he said.

Chowdhury also feared that export shrinking might be continued unless measures were not taken to bring back buyers confidence. “Dark cloud hovers over the country’s economic backbone,” he said.

The RMG makes up around 80% of total merchandise exports from Bangladesh.

According to few buying agents in Dhaka, some American retailers are relocating orders elsewhere from Bangladesh.

Vietnam continues to benefit as both producers and buyers diversify their supply chains. Its apparel business is also being buoyed by the expected benefits of the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade treaty with countries including Canada and the US, they said.

Like Vietnam, India may also have been benefited from orders diverted from China and Bangladesh, according to some analysts. l

Banks asked to ensure vault security n Tribune Report Bangladesh Bank has asked the banks to take precautionary measures to ensure vault security.

Banks have been asked to set up required number of Close Circuit (CC) cameras, Internal Protocol (IP) camera, Spy camera and Digital Video Recorder (DVR) at the entrance gates, inside units and even outside the branches, said a Bangladesh Bank circular issued yesterday.

The instruction came in order to ensure greater security for banks, read the circular.

“In the wake of recent vault thefts in different banks, we have issued the circular to remind bank authorities about ensuring security,” said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank.

In January this year, robbers have looted Tk16.40 crore from a Sonali Bank branch in Kishoreganj by digging a tunnel that led to the bank’s vault.

In September, burglars took away around Tk1.95 crore after breaking open the vault of a BRAC Bank branch in Joypurhat town. l

Tofail reiterates demand for duty-free market access to US n Tribune Business Desk Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday reiterated Bangladesh’s demand for duty-free and quota-free market access in the US market in accordance with the WTO decision.

“Export of RMG products to US market would increase if they (US) provide the trade concession to Bangladesh as a least developed country,” he told the inaugural function of a three-day US Trade Show2014 at Hotel Sonargaon in the city.

American Chamber of Commerce in Bangladesh (AmCham) and US Embassy in Dhaka jointly organised the show, the 23rd of its kind in Bangladesh.

Some 43 US firms showcased their products at 78 stalls of the show that remains open for the visitors from 10 am to 8 pm till Wednesday.

The entry fee is Tk20, but students would have the privilege to enter free of ticket by showing their ID cards.

Tofail said the US market is the single largest export destination for Bangladeshi apparel products, prompting Bangladesh to seek the trade concession for long. The country also signed TICFA with the US for expansion of business cooperation.

“But, they have not provided the duty-free market access yet,” the minister said in presence of US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena, who is insisting recently that Bangladesh pays zero tariff to export apparel to the US. He said the government is working to expand the export basket as well as export market in line with the Sixth Five Year Plan.

Many countries have already showed their interest in Bangladeshi products, he added. l

Models pose with motorcycles at a US Trade Show-2014 in a city hotel yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

B2

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

DSE GAINER

Stocks continue to fall amid low turnover

DSE key features November 17, 2014

Traded Issues

304

n Tribune Report

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

69

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

230

Turnover (Million Taka)

Stocks continued to fall for the third consecutive session yesterday with declining participation in trading.

The market opened with bearish sentiment and the trend continued as days passed.

The benchmark DSEX lost 46 points or 1% to close at 4,917, pulled down mainly by power and other large cap stocks.

Stock prices fell across the board as out of 304 issues traded, 68 advanced, 200 declined and 36 remained unchanged The Shariah index DSES was down 10 points or nearly 1% to 1,156. The comprising blue chips DS30 ended at 1,829, shedding 22 points or 1.3%.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, closed at 9,290 with a fall of 70 points.

Trading at the Dhaka Stock Exchange was relatively sluggish. Total market participants went down by 8.2% to Tk690 crore over the previous session.

Stock prices fell across the board as out of 304 issues traded, 68 advanced, 200 declined and 36 remained unchanged.

Among the large cap sectors only, power yielded a positive return of 0.3%.

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSER Company Agni Systems -A Alltex Industries -Z Saiham Tex.A Jute SpinnersA Anwar Galvanizing-B Orion Infusions -A SAIF Powertec-N Meghna PET Ind. -Z Quasem Drycells -A DESCO Ltd. -A

Closing (% Change) -13.38 -9.17 -9.04 -8.90 -8.71 -7.78 -7.65 -6.67 -6.06 -6.02

CSE LOSER Company

Closing (% Change)

Agni Systems -A Saiham Tex.A Alltex Industries -Z Prime Insur -A Pioneer Insur -A Keya Cosmetics -A Anwar Galvanizing-B Orion Infusions -A Prime Textile -A SAIF Powertec-N

-13.14 -9.61 -9.17 -9.09 -8.83 -8.22 -7.93 -7.78 -7.76 -7.60

4917.42915

(-) 0.94%

1829.97936

(-) 1.22%

15207.55940

(-) 0.69%

12465.23250

(-) 0.40%

9290.06080

(-) 0.67%

Average (% Change) -10.39 -7.25 -7.31 -9.12 -3.00 -7.38 -5.51 -6.09 -5.23 -3.19 Average (% Change) -8.62 -7.66 -4.85 -9.09 -8.74 -6.52 -2.84 -7.08 -7.68 -5.96

ANALYST

ClosingAvg. 27.86 21.76 30.43 46.96 41.05 58.48 84.15 5.71 57.30 75.63

ClosingAvg. 28.32 30.50 22.18 20.00 47.50 28.08 40.42 59.03 20.31 84.32

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 345.52 164.51 44.56 1419.52 397.82 1870.51 14.58 480.84 985.95 77.42 219.76 80.31 43.42 106.49 123.57 43.76 115.55 105.94 89.10 180.74 0.22

DHIGH 30.60 23.90 32.00 47.60 44.00 62.20 90.70 5.70 59.90 79.90

DHIGH

27.10 30.10 20.80 20.00 47.50 27.90 38.30 56.90 20.20 81.50

30.00 31.60 24.00 20.00 47.50 29.80 42.20 62.00 21.00 90.90

131,243

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,636.71

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

31.96

CSE key features November 17, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

447.02

Turnover (Volume)

10,524,184

Number of Contract

15,857

Traded Issues

225

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

57

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

164

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,535.98

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.74

Turnover in Million

DLOW 26.70 20.70 30.00 46.60 38.40 56.20 79.60 5.60 55.30 71.00

Latest EPS

57.525 79.371 32.230 0.054 9.606 90.732 143.704 0.020 34.530 164.124

1.32 3.28 2.96 -43.64 0.84 3.64 2.36 -0.44 2.24 3.96

Turnover in Million

DLOW 27.00 30.00 20.70 20.00 47.50 27.60 38.30 56.60 20.10 80.60

% change 5.00 2.38 0.64 20.54 5.76 27.07 0.21 6.96 14.27 3.18 1.16 0.63 1.54 1.79 0.63 1.67 1.53 1.29 2.62 0.00

Million Taka 31.49 8.36 2.08 128.30 34.01 94.42 56.25 45.48 38.72 11.19 33.91 4.56 7.40 11.23 2.08 2.22 9.67 13.65 16.77 0.00

CSE

% change 5.71 1.52 0.38 23.25 6.16 17.11 0.00 10.19 8.24 7.02 2.03 6.14 0.83 1.34 2.04 0.38 0.40 1.75 2.47 3.04 0.00

Latest EPS

2.988 0.573 9.639 0.020 0.024 5.653 0.424 9.705 0.102 7.404

Million Taka 377.01 172.87 46.65 1547.82 431.83 1964.93 14.58 537.08 1031.43 116.14 230.95 114.21 47.98 113.89 134.80 45.85 117.77 115.60 102.75 197.52 0.23

JMI Syringes MDL-A Pharma Aids A Northern Jute -Z Shahjibazar Power-N Aramit -A GSP Finance-A Berger Paints-A Libra Infusions-A ACI ZERO Bond-A 8th ICB M F-A

Closing (% Change) 9.95 8.75 8.73 8.72 8.60 7.08 5.52 4.57 4.54 4.22

CSE GAINER

1.32 2.96 3.28 1.81 4.83 1.93 0.84 3.64 1.04 2.36

Latest PE 21.1 6.6 10.3 -ve 48.9 16.1 35.7 -ve 25.6 19.1

Total

Company JMI Syringes MDL-A Shahjibazar Power-N Aramit -A ICB Emp. PMF-A Wata Chemicals -A Bengal Windsor-A Titas Gas TDCLA Miracle Industries -B BD. Thai Alum -B Eastern Cables-A

Closing (% Change) 9.99 8.75 8.74 4.35 4.28 4.18 3.72 3.66 3.10 2.72

Average (% Change) 7.11 8.45 8.73 8.03 5.57 4.43 5.14 4.71 3.40 4.22 Average (% Change) 8.03 3.96 8.74 2.15 2.32 3.42 4.94 3.78 3.43 6.59

ClosingAvg. 180.43 261.58 255.40 309.61 323.34 25.23 1,199.88 389.17 1,171.88 66.70

ClosingAvg. 182.63 615.10 309.90 4.75 240.72 64.19 84.48 17.03 43.71 141.08

Closing 183.40 262.30 255.40 311.60 333.50 25.70 1,203.60 388.90 1,175.50 66.70

Closing 186.00 308.30 309.90 4.80 246.00 64.80 83.70 17.00 43.20 136.00

DHIGH 183.40 262.30 255.40 311.60 333.80 26.00 1,211.80 397.00 1,192.00 66.70

DHIGH 186.00 308.30 309.90 4.80 248.00 65.00 85.90 17.10 44.90 145.00

DLOW 171.00 250.20 255.40 292.00 309.00 22.00 1,130.00 382.00 1,116.00 66.70

DLOW 174.00 293.20 309.90 4.70 231.10 63.00 83.10 16.80 43.00 135.00

Turnover in Million 80.653 150.527 0.562 547.583 41.210 12.207 10.019 0.467 0.150 0.033

Turnover in Million 6.575 6.096 0.031 0.019 0.818 1.824 6.148 3.135 2.327 0.807

Latest EPS

Latest PE

4.48 9.88 1.00 9.00 14.12 1.59 49.25 5.52 0.00 4.76

40.3 26.5 255.4 34.4 22.9 15.9 24.4 70.5 14.0

Latest EPS

Latest PE

4.48 9.00 14.12 0.80 5.37 2.60 9.48 0.40 1.09 0.08

40.8 68.3 21.9 5.9 44.8 24.7 8.9 42.6 40.1 1763.5

News, analysis and recent disclosers UNITEDAIR: (Q1): NPAT= Tk. 178.29 million with basic EPS of Tk. 0.31 ( restated 0.29) as against Tk. 215.92 million and Tk. 0.38 (restated) respectively.

GHAIL: (Q1): NPAT= Tk. 34.28 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 0.42 as against Tk. 41.58 million and Tk. 0.51 respectively.

PRIMELIFE: (Q3): Increase in life insurance fund was Tk. 121.79 million as against Tk. 332.88 million for the same period of the previous year. Total life insurance fund stood at Tk. 6,339.39 million as on 30.09.2014 as against Tk. 5,680.72 million as on 30.09.2013.

PRIMELIFE: (H/Y): Increase in life insurance fund of Tk. 22.02 million with total life insurance fund of Tk. 6,239.62 million as against Tk. 183.59 million and Tk. 5,531.44 million respectively.

PRIMELIFE: (Q1): Decrease in life revenue account of Tk. 32.78 million with total life insurance fund of Tk. 6,184.82 million as against an increase of Tk. 60.86 million and Tk. 5,408.70 million respectively.

AMBEEPHA: ARGUS Credit Rating Services Limited (ACRSL) has announced the Rating of the Company as "A-" for long term and "ST-3" for short term with stable outlook in consideration of audited financials of the Company up to December 31, 2013, unaudited financials up to

the period ending September 30, 2014 and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

PIONEERINS: Credit Rating Information and Services Limited (CRISL), has announced the CPA (Claim Paying Ability) Rating of the Company as "AA" in consideration of audited financials of the Company up to December 31, 2013, unaudited financials upto June 30, 2014 and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

ACI: The Company has informed that ACI Chemicals Limited which is a subsidiary of Advanced Chemical Industries Limited (ACI Limited) has entered into an exclusive agreement with SOSA Chemical from Turkey for working as their Exclusive Agent in Bangladesh for marketing of their Leather Chemical products.

PROGRESLIF: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors of the Company has elected Mr. Abdul Malik as chairman and Mr. Gulam Mostofa Ahmmad as Vice chairman of the Company.

FASFIN: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors of the Company has elected Mr. Md. Russel Shahrior as the Managing Director and CEO of the

Company.

BENGALWTL: As per Regulation 30 of DSE Listing Regulations, the Company has informed that a meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on November 22, 2014 at 4:30 PM to consider, among others, audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended on June 30, 2014.

IPO Subscription: C & A Textiles Limited subscription date 09 to 13 November 2014, NRB upto 22 November 2014. @ taka 10, face value taka 10 and market lot 500. IFAD Autos Limited subscription date 23 to 27 November 2014, NRB upto 06 December 2014. @ taka 30, face value taka 10 and market lot 200.

Right Share: ICB: Subscription period for rights issue will be from 07.12.2014 to 30.12.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 09.09.2014. BIFC: subscription period for rights issue of the Company will be from 09.11.2014 to 30.11.2014. Record Date for entitlement of rights share: 19.10.2014. FIRSTSBANK Subscription period for rights issue will be from 07.12.2014 to 28.12.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 20.11.2014.

Dividend/AGM

RAHIMAFOOD: No dividend, AGM: 24.12.2014, Record Date: 04.12.2014.

Latest PE 21.5 10.3 6.8 11.0 9.8 14.5 48.1 16.2 19.5 35.7

Non-banking financial institutions registered the highest loss of over 1%

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

27.20 20.80 30.20 47.10 38.80 56.90 80.90 5.60 55.80 73.40

Closing

133,562,853

Number of Contract

All other major sectors closed in red.

Non-banking financial institutions registered the highest loss of over 1%.

Telecommunication, banks, pharmaceuticals, food and allied, fuel and power, IT, real-estate, cement, engineering and pharmaceuticals closed lower.

Shahjibazar Power rallied almost 9%, which is the biggest gainer of the day, shrugging off launching of regulators probe against its unusual price hike. It also became the top tunover leader with shares worth Tk54.8 crore changing hands.

Lanka Bangla Securities said the market ended the day in red territory again as investors remained confused about future market directions.

It said despite some mid-cap and large-cap stocks registering favorable earnings in the latest quarter, overall investors’ sentiment remains bearish.

IDLC Investments said market continued to slip down, despite somewhat slow selling pressure and turnover.

Additionally, news related to soaring default loans in banking industry kept investors re-thinking before further investment, it said, adding that quarterly earning disclosures in the session didn’t match with investors’ expectations.

After Shahjibazar, other leading top turnover leaders include Western Marine Shipyard, Jamuna Oil, Dhaka Electric Supply Company Ltd, Titas Gas, Parma Aids and Navana CNG. l

Company

6,910.09

Turnover (Volume)

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company

% change 5.05 2.32 0.63 20.74 5.79 26.33 0.20 7.20 13.82 1.56 3.10 1.53 0.64 1.53 1.81 0.61 1.58 1.55 1.38 2.65 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

Shahjibazar Power-N WesternMarine -N Jamuna Oil -A DESCO Ltd. -A Titas Gas TDCLA Pharma Aids A Navana CNG-A Barakatullah E. D.-A SAIF Powertec-N Fu-Wang Food A

Olympic Ind. -A Square Pharma -A Ratanpur Steel -N Orion Infusions -A AB Bank - A

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company WesternMarine -N Jamuna Oil -A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A AB Bank - A Orion Infusions -A Alltex Industries -Z Ratanpur Steel -N Navana CNG-A Fu-Wang Food A The Peninsula CTG.-N

Appollo Ispat CL -N SAIF Powertec-N JMI Syringes MDL-A Titas Gas TDCLA Shahjibazar Power-N

VolumeShares 1,768,600 5,683,000 1,666,599 2,170,172 1,787,576 575,450 2,044,128 4,048,622 1,707,800 5,492,062

Value in Million 547.58 463.35 435.65 164.12 150.86 150.53 149.92 148.83 143.70 135.55

% of TotalTurnover 7.92 6.71 6.30 2.38 2.18 2.18 2.17 2.15 2.08 1.96

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

418,539 418,628 1,450,200 1,551,600 3,086,581

818,100 146,394 293,229 351,788 164,400 434,500 125,800 120,637 345,900 267,200

349,400 87,800 36,000 72,777 9,910

124.62 108.95 104.60 90.73 90.60

66.45 38.45 11.39 10.28 9.70 9.64 9.05 8.87 8.54 8.52

7.88 7.40 6.57 6.15 6.10

1.80 1.58 1.51 1.31 1.31

15.43 8.93 2.65 2.39 2.25 2.24 2.10 2.06 1.98 1.98

1.83 1.72 1.53 1.43 1.42

ClosingP 311.60 79.20 257.50 73.40 83.70 262.30 72.30 37.00 80.90 24.00

294.60 260.50 70.90 56.90 29.10

ClosingP

78.90 255.40 38.50 29.10 56.90 20.80 70.80 72.40 24.00 31.70

22.50 81.50 186.00 83.70 308.30

Change % 8.72 -0.88 -3.38 -6.02 3.21 8.75 0.84 -0.80 -7.65 -4.76

-1.47 0.12 -0.14 -7.78 0.34

Change %

-1.13 -3.77 -2.53 0.69 -7.78 -9.17 -0.42 1.40 -4.38 -2.76

-1.32 -7.60 9.99 3.72 8.75

ClosingY 286.60 79.90 266.50 78.10 81.10 241.20 71.70 37.30 87.60 25.20

299.00 260.20 71.00 61.70 29.00

ClosingY

79.80 265.40 39.50 28.90 61.70 22.90 71.10 71.40 25.10 32.60

22.80 88.20 169.10 80.70 283.50

DHIGH 311.60 83.90 274.00 79.90 85.80 262.30 74.60 38.00 90.70 25.10

305.00 265.00 73.50 62.20 29.90

DHIGH

83.80 273.80 39.90 29.70 62.00 24.00 73.10 74.80 25.00 32.40

22.80 90.90 186.00 85.90 308.30

DLOW 292.00 77.20 244.00 71.00 73.00 250.20 65.00 33.60 79.60 21.00

275.00 238.00 70.80 56.20 26.20

DLOW

76.70 254.00 38.30 28.90 56.60 20.70 70.00 72.00 23.80 31.50

22.40 80.60 174.00 83.10 293.20

AvgPrice 309.61 81.53 261.40 75.63 84.39 261.58 73.34 36.76 84.15 24.68

297.76 260.26 72.12 58.48 29.35

AvgPrice

81.22 262.65 38.85 29.23 59.03 22.18 71.96 73.52 24.70 31.90

22.54 84.32 182.63 84.48 615.10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

The $375bn Europe wants to invest but doesn’t have “how much?”. The 300 billion euros is an overall target for both the public and private money that the Commission hopes to mobilize.

The Commission itself does not have any money and is funded through annual EU budgets that must be balanced.

Of the region’s 28 governments, only Germany seems to have public finances strong enough to significantly increase investment. But in its drive to have a balanced budget, Berlin is not keen to spend more.

'Through the targeted use of the existing structural funds and of the European Investment Bank (EIB) instruments already in place or to be developed' So the Commission plans to use what little public money is available to lure bigger private funds into projects that would otherwise seem too risky or with too low a rate of return.

“Our aim is to ‘crowd in’ private money for big infrastructure projects in the energy sector, transport, broadband or research and development.

The private sector cannot take all the risks,” Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen told Reuters.

European Commission President, Luxembourg's Jean Claude Juncker addresses a news conference at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels

n Reuters, Brussels New European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker is preparing a 300bn euro ($375bn) investment plan he will present as a cornerstone of efforts to revive an ailing economy.

But history suggests the program

Oil prices down in Asian trade n AFP, Singapore Oil prices slipped in Asia yesterday but losses were limited by speculation that the OPEC cartel would be forced to cut output to prevent further big losses, analysts said.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for December delivery fell 25 cents to $75.57 while Brent crude for January was down 31 cents at $79.10 in mid-morning trade.

Crude was supported by “speculation that OPEC will put a floor on prices by curbing output now that Brent is trading persistently below $80”, said Desmond Chua, market analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore.

Singapore’s United Overseas Bank (UOB) said expectations are for the recent price plunge to “force OPEC to cut production”.

Prices sank to four-year lows last week following remarks by ministers from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that it is unlikely to slash output.

But analysts now say the losses could push the 12-nation cartel to cobble together a deal to cut output, despite resistance from some members. l

risks becoming an exercise in financial engineering rather than a conduit for the new money the region needs to help boost output and create jobs.

A flagship project of the new European Union executive, the investment scheme is due to be unveiled before Christmas. It is still being finalised and

few details have been made public.

If all the money it promises is raised and spent, it could provide the 28-nation EU with roughly an additional 0.7% of GDP in investment per year over three years.

“It is significant,” said Carsten Brzeski, economist at ING bank in Frank-

World’s first oil well still bubbling up black gold in Poland n AFP The smell of money hangs thick in the air as black crude oil bubbles up from what is billed as the world’s oldest oil well, but this is not Texas or Saudi Arabia.

The sleepy village of Bobrka in southern Poland lays claim to the planet’s first oil well and rig, one that is still pumping up enough black gold to be profitable.

It was dug and built by hand in 1860 under the watchful gaze of Polish pharmacist and inventor Ignacy Lukasiewicz, a humble man who pioneered the now ubiquitous use of petroleum by creating the kerosene lamp.

Thanks to him, “Bobrka became the birthplace of the world’s oil industry”, says Barbara Olejarz, who runs a local museum devoted to the origins of the sector and whose last name by coincidence means “oilman” in Polish.

“It all began there,” she tells AFP while pointing a finger at an obelisk built by Lukasiewicz and his circle to mark the launch of the oil field in 1854 and the founding of the world’s first oil company.

Despite giving birth to the sector,

it turned out that Poland did not have much oil.

It now produces around 20,000 barrels a day, or 7.3 million per year, worth some $584m (466m euros) at current prices - a trickle by global standards.

Refined locally, Polish crude covers just four to five percent of domestic demand, according to oil and gas expert Andrzej Szczesniak.

The five remaining wells at the Bobkra museum pump out a combined 423 barrels of crude per year, which is also locally refined and consumed.

And though he pioneered the oil industry, few outside the country know about Lukasiewicz, due in part to his own humility.

“His modesty worked against him.

He remained less known than other Polish scientists: Copernicus or Marie Sklodowska-Curie,” says Olejarz.

Kerosene

Born in 1822 in the southern village of Zaduszniki - then part of the AustroHungarian Empire - Lukasiewicz acquired a pharmacist’s diploma and an interest in the petroleum found in the eastern Carpathian Mountains. l

Show us the money REUTERS

furt. “You would expect some kind of a multiplier effect from investment on jobs and purchasing power and it would increase the growth potential.

The downside is that public investment can take years before it gets started.”

But even more than “when?”, the big question hanging over the plan is

Potential investors will want to know how much the EU will provide, and whether it will be new funds or re-labeled money already accounted for in various EU spending schemes.

“If it is additional money, it would be OK, but I fear that it will be funds taken from other places in the EU budget,” said Christoph Weil, economist at Commerzbank.

Very little new money ended up in the 120bn euro “growth and jobs” compact that EU leaders approved at the start of 2012, which failed to prevent a recession and was followed by two years of falling investment.

It was made up of existing EU structural funds and a 10bn euros capital boost for the European Investment Bank so that it could potentially lend 60bn more over three years.

The new scheme looks likely to utilize similar ideas.

Juncker said in July it would be financed “through the targeted use of the existing structural funds and of the European Investment Bank (EIB) instruments already in place or to be developed”.

Katainen told Reuters the capital of the EIB, which is owned by EU governments, could be raised again.

Structural funds that poorer EU countries receive could be leveraged in a similar way as with EU project bonds, under which EU cash becomes a first loss guarantee on a debt issue from private investors, he said.

Economists are doubtful about leveraging, which failed to calm markets when used to theoretically boost the size of the euro zone bailout fund during the sovereign debt crisis.

Making loans cheaper for investors also makes little sense at a time when, with European Central Bank rates at close to zero, cheap money is already available, ING’s Brzeski said.

What would make a difference is impetus for more euro zone integration, minimizing the risk that the euro currency could again be at risk of collapse in future.

“The 300bn investment plan will really have to be coherent, with very little wishful thinking and the leverage part should be small.

It has to be realistic and convincing,” Brzeski said. “If it is mainly leveraging, it would be a disappointment.” l

Yen on roller coaster in Asia after poor Japan GDP data n AFP, Tokyo Japan’s currency was on a roller coaster ride in Asia yesterday as news that the country had slumped into recession initially pushed the yen to a seven-year low before it quickly reversed course.

In Tokyo, the yen fell below 117 against the dollar for the first time since October 2007 just minutes after official data showed Japan’s economy dropped into a recession after a second-straight quarter of contraction.

It was the biggest jolt to the unit since the Bank of Japan’s monetary easing expansion on October 31, but the fresh round of yen selling was short lived.

It quickly rose to 115.74 on the dollar in midday trade, from 116.26 in New York Friday afternoon.

The euro weakened to 145.39 yen from 145.66 yen in US trade, while it firmed to $1.2573 from $1.2523.

Japan’s surprisingly poor thirdquarter GDP data pushed Tokyo stocks down 2.59 percent by the break, with the negative sentiment prompting a move to the yen, which is seen as a

A man counts Japanese yen notes before exchanging them into US dollars at a foreign exchange REUTERS safe-haven currency in times of uncertainty or turmoil.

The dollar-yen rate has jumped sharply over the past two months and “all factors (to push the yen down) are out now,” said Daisuke Karakama, head

of currency spot trading at Mizuho Bank.

Japan’s gross domestic product shrank 0.4% in the July-September quarter, or an annualised rate of 1.6%, as a tax rise earlier this year slammed the brakes on growth. l

Jamuna Bank has recently opened its 92nd branch at Bizra Bazar in Comilla. The bank’s chairperson, Shaheen Mahmud presided over the ceremony where Md Tazul Islam, chairperson at the standing committee of Ministry of Power, Energy & Mineral Resources, inaugurated the branch Mercantile Bank Limited has recently opened its 95th branch at Koraish Munshi Bazar, Dagonbhuyan in Feni. The bank’s chairperson, Morshed Alam inaugurated the branch as chief guest

Marico Bangladesh Limited has recently appointed two new independent directors, Rokia Afzal Rahman, the president of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and Masud Khan, FCA, Director Finance at Lafarge Surma Cement Limited

EXIM Bank has recently opened its 86th branch at Seed Store Bazar, Valluka in Mymenshingh. The bank’s managing director, Dr Mohammed Haider Ali Miah inaugurated the branch

NCC Bank Training Institute has recently organised a workshop on prevention of money laundering and combating financing of terrorism for the officers of NCCB Securities & Financial Services Ltd. The managing director and CEO of NCC Bank, Golam Hafiz Ahmed inaugurated the workshop as chief guest

Rupayan Housing Estate Limited has recently handed over its Rupayan Sinha Tower among its subscribers. The company’s adviser, Sadat Hossain Selim was present at the programme

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Japan economy enters recession after Q3 contraction n AFP, Tokyo Japan’s economy sank into recession in the third quarter, making it almost inevitable that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will delay a fresh sales tax hike and call snap elections to reinvigorate his power against party rivals, analysts said yesterday.

Abe’s two-year premiership has been largely focused on breathing life into Japan’s deflation-plagued economy, and getting a handle on its soaring national debt by tapping into new revenue through raising duties.

In light of the sharp fall in today’s preliminary estimate, it now looks likely that PM Abe will call off the hike and announce snap elections But a sales levy hike in April - Japan’s first in 17 years - knocked consumers off their feet, as Abe’s approval ratings fall and he uses up political capital in his attempt to restart nuclear power and bolster the role of Japan’s military.

“In light of the sharp fall in today’s preliminary estimate, it now looks likely that PM Abe will call off the hike and announce snap elections,” Marcel Thieliant from Capital Economics said in a report following the data release.

Japan’s gross domestic product shrank 0.4% in the third quarter, or at an annualised rate of 1.6%, underscoring how the tax rise earlier this year stalled Abe’s programme to turn the world’s number three economy around.

The market’s median expectation was for a 0.5% expansion, according to economists surveyed by the leading Nikkei business daily.

Residential investment fell, capital spending was weak, and consumer

spending remained tepid. Exports were in positive territory, but shipments of cars and televisions were not enough to drag the economy into the black.

“The data show that the economy is in a recession,” said Koichi Fujishiro, an economist at Dai-ichi Life Research Institute. “Household consumption is still weak as real disposable income declined ... We’ll have to wait until December or January to see a rebound in the economy.”

Snap elections

The figures comes as speculation swirls that Abe - who faces a leadership election next year - will delay boosting Japan’s sales tax to 10% next year, after the rise to 8% from 5% in April.

The economy suffered a revised 1.9% contraction in the April-June quarter - or 7.3% at an annualised rate - reversing a 1.6% expansion in the first quarter of the year when hopes were still buoyant for Abe’s growth plan, dubbed “Abenomics”.

Last month, the Bank of Japan expanded its already huge monetary easing programme to counter the downturn, but the latest figures will lead to talk of further measures by the central bank.

Tokyo has said it would wait to see the final estimate for third-quarter growth, due next month, before making a final decision on the second tax hike.

Yesterday, economy minister Akira Amari noted that, despite yesterday’s data, the economy still expanded 0.5% in the first nine months of the year.

“A positive cycle in the economy is ongoing - we can’t just simply summarise (the data) with the word ‘recession’.”

Tokyo’s tax rises are aimed at paying down the country’s enormous national debt, but they have put Abe in a tricky position as he tries to balance them with his pro-spending growth plan, launched after he swept to power in late 2012.

While most commentators said a dip in spending was inevitable - millions of

A man holding a shopping bag walks on a street at Tokyo's Ginza shopping shoppers dashed to stores ahead of the tax hike - the second-quarter contraction was much more painful than many economists had expected.

Japanese media have reported that Abe plans to hold a general election

on December 14, two years ahead of schedule, as he seeks to bolster his public support on the back of shaky approval ratings.

The premier wants an early poll while opposition parties remain weak

Cameron warns Multi-billion dollar HK-Shanghai link-up Britain’s recovery launches in cross-border transactions faces ‘real risk’ n AFP, Hong Kong n AFP, London The stock exchanges of Hong Kong and Prime Minister David Cameron on Sunday warned Britain’s economic recovery faced a “real risk” from instability in the world economy fuelled by Middle East unrest, Ebola, Ukraine and stalled trade talks.

In an article on The Guardian website that will appear in Monday’s edition of the newspaper after the G20 summit, Cameron said that “red warning lights are once again flashing on the dashboard of the global economy”.

He also said the eurozone was “teetering on the brink of a possible third recession” and pointed to “a dangerous backdrop of instability and uncertainty” in the world economy.

“Wider problems in the global economy pose a real risk to our recovery,” he said, adding: “We cannot insulate ourselves completely but we must do all we can to protect ourselves from a global downturn”.

Growth of the British economy slowed in the third quarter of this year, with gross domestic product (GDP) rising 0.7% between July and September from output in the previous three months. l

Shanghai yesterday launch a muchanticipated trading link that will see billions of dollars in daily cross-border transactions and partially open up China’s closeted equities markets to the world.

After weeks of delays the ShanghaiHong Kong Stock Connect finally kicks off, giving international investors access to companies in the world’s number two economy, while allowing mainland investors to trade shares in Hong Kong.

The link-up, which was described by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) as a “milestone”, is seen as a key step towards greater financial liberalisation in China’s economy as its leaders embark on a slow process of reform.

“It definitely is a game changer, it brings a new dimension to the market and new dynamics as well,” Jackson Wong, associate director for Simsen International Financial Group in Hong Kong, told AFP, calling it a “win-win” situation.

“If all this goes well, China will probably put in more financial products, not only stocks,” he said, explaining that foreign investors currently can only participate in the limited trading of Chi-

OPEC will keep its production ceiling steady at its “toughest ever” meeting this month, a former adviser to oil kingpin Saudi Arabia said after global crude prices hit a four-year low.

The 12-nation OPEC cartel, including the world’s biggest crude producer Saudi Arabia, will meet on November 27 in Vienna.

Mohammed Suroor al-Sabban, who until last year was chief adviser to the kingdom’s petroleum ministry, said the cartel’s talks will be “the toughest OPEC meeting ever as some OPEC ministers had not anticipated prices would drop to this level, and so quickly.”

He said he expected OPEC members to stick with the current output ceiling.

“In my personal opinion, the next meeting will confirm the current production ceiling... at 30 million barrels a day and OPEC will adhere to that in the coming period,” he told businessmen in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah late Saturday.

Sabban said that some OPEC members, such as sanctions-hit Iran, “cannot be obliged” to cut their output.

At the same time Saudi Arabia has sent a clear message that “it cannot lower production alone, or carry the burden of reductions.”

OPEC nations currently produce around 600,000 barrels of oil a day over the output ceiling.

'In my personal opinion, the next meeting will confirm the current production ceiling... at 30 million barrels a day and OPEC will adhere to that in the coming period' In early November, Riyadh sent global oil prices tumbling when it cut its price for crude on the US market while raising it for Asia, the country’s major outlet.

Analysts said the kingdom wanted to strengthen its market share in the United States against a flood of oil being extracted there from shale rock,

after the ruling party’s spectacular election victory two years ago, pundits said. An election win next month would boost Abe ahead of the Liberal Democratic Party’s three-yearly leadership vote in 2015.

Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Ltd. Chairman Chow Chung-kong (left) and Hong Kong Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying smile after hitting a gong during the launch ceremony of the Shanghai-Hong Kong Stock Connect REUTERS nese financial products. “The whole programme will attract more foreign funds. When you have more funds, that will help the stocks on both exchanges.”

Strict controls remain

The scheme is expected to allow the equivalent of $3.8bn a day in cross-border transactions.

which had helped to create a global supply glut and lowered prices.

Oil rebounded slightly on Friday, with the US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for December delivery rising to $75.82 a barrel. Brent North Sea crude for delivery in January advanced to $79.41 in London.

Prices have fallen by about onethird since June.

Saudi Arabia’s Petroleum Minister Ali Al-Naimi last week rejected talk that the country was leading a price war in global oil markets.

On Saturday Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz told fellow members of the Group of 20 most powerful world economies that the kingdom wants oil market stability, official media reported.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia continues its balanced and positive role in cementing the stability of oil markets, taking into account the interests of the producing and consuming countries,” he told the G20 meeting in Brisbane, Australia.

Saudi Arabia produced around 9.6 million barrels a day in October, according to data cited by OPEC. l

China’s premier Li Keqiang announced plans for the project in April as part of Beijing’s push to liberalise its economy and gradually to make the yuan more freely convertible.

But it is subject to strict limits in order to preserve capital controls in China, where Communist authorities keep a tight grip on the yuan currency. l

FT: Facebook preparing new website for office use n AFP, London Facebook is preparing a new office version of its social networking site to compete with other sites like LinkedIn, the Financial Times reported on Monday citing sources familiar with the matter.

“Facebook is secretly working on a new website called ‘Facebook at Work’” that would allow users to “chat with colleagues, connect with professional contacts and collaborate over documents”, it said.

Facebook last month reported its quarterly profit nearly doubled to $802m (640m euros) but saw its stock pounded after outlining a plan to invest heavily in the future instead of revelling in short-term riches.

“We are going to continue preparing for the future by investing aggressively, connecting everyone, understanding the world, and building the next-generation in computing platforms,” Facebook founder and chief Mark Zuckerberg said then. l

The Mainichi newspaper said the conservative premier would order the drafting of an additional budget on Tuesday, before announcing his decision to dissolve the lower house of parliament. l

Paris pop-up store immortalises shoppers with 3D printed figurine n AFP, Paris

‘OPEC to keep production ceiling' n AFP, Jeddah

Reuters

A new pop-up shop in the hip Marais district of Paris is giving people the opportunity to immortalise themselves with a tiny printed 3D figurine for the not so tiny price of 230 euros ($286).

The studio, called “Le Moimee Store”, hails itself as the world’s first specialising in 3D portraits. It allows customers to print a figurine 1/12th their size, in whatever pose they like, wearing their favourite clothes and accessories.

“We think of it as giving new life to the portrait,” said Sylvie Roche, the project director. But it’s a portrait with a different perspective.

“You know what you look like in a picture, but the day you see your ‘Moimee’ you go ‘Wow, I look like that’?” said Roche.

The Moimee studio has just opened to the public, and is a venture of The Vibrant Project, a company specialising in digital and interactive art installations.

Before its official opening, the company held a contest called “Le Peuple des Cours” or “The People in the Courtyard”, where participants could win one 3D printed version of themselves, and have a second one used in a special art installation representing the Marais neighbourhood.

So far, about 150 winners have been immortalised as figurines and about 15 people have come to purchase them at the pop-up shop.

The new store hopes to surf the wave of 3D printing, which is fast becoming the hot new trend - as well as big business.

According to research firm Gartner, 3D printing is one of the top 10 strategic technology trends for 2015, with global shipments of printers expected to double by then.

Impulse wedding purchase

The small Moimee studio is located in an outdoor courtyard next to the BHV,

DILBERT

one of Paris’ top department stores, and is surrounded by coffee bars, sandwich stands and faux-fur-covered lounge chairs.

Model figurines line the walls of the shop, and 3D printers sit in the window.

Neon signage gives the place a modern feel. Frederic Saunier, 48, who was in Paris on holiday from the south of France with his fiancee Valerie, 47, decided to have a figurine printed for the top of their wedding cake.

“We saw it on the news and said: ‘Why not?’” said Saunier.

The couple was dressed casually for the photo-shoot that would begin the printing process of their figurine, and planned to hold hands or embrace as the 50 cameras captured the image that would eventually be “printed” for the top of their tiered cake.

“At first we thought it was too expensive, but we figured we would do it anyway,” said Saunier.

The price for one figurine is 230 euros for a “double-dipped finish”, 245 euros for a “waxed finish”, the latter being more detailed. For two people it’s 345 and 360 euros respectively.

After the initial photo-shoot, the images are uploaded to software for retouching. The figurine is then painstakingly printed, layer by layer, and the colours are developed and sealed.

Clients receive their mini-me in about three weeks.

The Moimee Store sees a variety of clientele come through their doors.

“Very different people come in,” said Roche. “Most people want to fix a moment in their life that’s very important.” Drop-in shoppers are more rare, with most clients planning their figurines in advance.

“Most of the casual shoppers are foreigners,” said Roche.

“I don’t know many people in France who would come and drop 1,000 euros on four figurines,” she said, referring to a group of Mexican tourists who recently purchased four 3D figurines on a whim. l