27 nov, 2014

Agrahayan 13, 1421 Safar 3, 1436 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 233

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com

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TMAG

7 | JURIS

11 | OP-ED

12 | SPORT

THE LOTTERY OF LIFE

CREATING A CHILDFRIENDLY WORLD

ON THE CUSP OF REGIONAL CONNECTIVITY

HATTRICKS FOR LEONEL MESSI

Pakistan blocks key connectivity agreements

Tigers’ Anamul, Sunny star in series win n Mazhar Uddin

Anamul Haque missed his fourth ODI century by a whisker and left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny bagged four wickets as Bangladesh clinched the series yesterday thumping Zimbabwe by 124 runs in the third game in Mirpur. The Tigers have an unassailable 3-0 lead going into the fourth ODI at the same venue tomorrow.

The series win prolonged Bangladesh’s dominance over Zimbabwe. The Tigers have now claimed eight of the 12 ODI series played between the two teams.

Saarc summit kicks off aiming to promote integration for peace n Tribune Report Pakistan yesterday stalled inking of Saarc connectivity agreements, including the motor vehicle pact, saying it was yet to complete its “internal process,” despite strong push from India and Sri Lanka.

Although disappointed with Pakistan’s stance, India did not give up its pursuit for regional connectivity, initiating bilateral deals with other flexible Saarc countries such as Tuesday’s Motor Vehicle Agreement with Nepal, sources said.

“South Asia is slowly coming together. India and Bangladesh have deepened their links through rail, road, power and transit. India and Nepal have started a new era of cooperation in energy; and, India and Bhutan are making those ties stronger by the day,” said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Infrastructure is our region’s greatest weakness and it is most pressing need. When I thought of coming to Kathmandu by road, it made many officials in India nervous. Because of the condition of roads at the border! Infrastructure is my greatest priority in India. And, I also want to set up a Special Purpose Facility in India to finance infrastructure projects in our region that

enhances our connectivity and trade,” he said.

In her speech at the 18th Saarc Summit in Kathmandu yesterday, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh was in favour of early signing of the regional motor vehicle and railway agreements, saying the pacts would help boost trade.

She also said: “The countries of the Saarc region can actually attain collective political will and ambition but we need to set aside our differences.”

She also stressed the needs for building regional food and seed banks and greater cooperation in increasing productivity.

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) Summit kicked off in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu yesterday morning, with the theme “Deeper Integration for Peace and Prosperity.”

Nepalese Prime Minister Sushil Koirala inaugurated the two-day regional jamboree at the City Hall, when the Maldives handed over chairmanship to Nepal. This is the third time that Nepal is hosting the Summit after 2002 and 1987.

While opening the summit, Nepalese PM Sushil Koirala said: “Terrorism is our common enemy and South Asia  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Bangladesh 297/6, Zimbabwe 173 Bangladesh won by 124 runs and lead the series 3-0

Bangladesh Skipper and ace pacer Mashrafe Mortaza appeals for a dismissal in the third ODI against Zimbabwe in Dhaka’s Mirpur yesterday which the hosts won comfortably by 124 runs to seal the 5-match series

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

Rahman Rasel with our n Aminur Dinajpur Correspondent

Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina meets her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in a meeting in the sidelines of the ongoing 18th Saarc Summit in Kathmandu, Nepal yesterday

Police now want to follow RAB’s theory in Shafiul murder n

Mohammad Jamil Khan, from Rajshahi

When RAB claimed that Professor Shafiul Islam was killed over an incident of harassing a female employee of the Rajshahi University, the local police was not convinced.

When the six people – mostly belonging to BNP’s youth front Jubo Dal – arrested by RAB told media that they had committed the crime, police said there must be some connection

of Jamaat-Shibir because the professor had a feud with them over political ideologies.

However, only a day later the six RAB arrestees refused to confess before magistrates and the female employee said she did not know the professor, Rajshahi police yesterday said they were now going to follow RAB’s lead.

Mohammad Shamsuddin, the new commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP), yesterday said: “We are [now] giving priority to RAB’s find-

ings. Like RAB, we have also found proof that Prof Shafiul might have been killed over a personal matter.”

Briefing reporters in his office yesterday, the new RMP boss also said: “We have narrowed down the investigation and following the lead into his personal conflict [in connection with the female employee]. However, we are still giving priority to some other issues as well.”

When asked why they had moved away from blaming Jamaat-Shibir for

the murder, RMP Additional Commissioner Sardar Tamizuddin gave an oblique answer. “People who have idea about how things work in Rajshahi University, they must know. Be it Chhatra League or Chhatra Dal or Chhatra Shibir, everybody knows who pull the strings from inside and behind,” he said.

Only a day before, the RMP commissioner said RAB’s theory was just another clue and they were checking the lead into the Facebook page of

8 | World

15 | Entertainment

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Tension grew in Phulbari coal mine area yesterday as a gathering hosted

by Asia Energy to drum up support for its open-pit mine project was attacked allegedly by the activists of National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Power, Mineral Resources and Ports.

Gary Lye, country chief of Asia Energy, was addressing the gathering at its local office in Phulbari area.

Additional law enforcers were deployed as the locals staged demonstrations all day long. The agitators also blocked Dinajpur-Gobindaganj road until 4pm by setting fire to tyres.

The Asia Energy top boss was earlier barred by the Phulbari locals from visiting the area early last year.

Lye and his wife Nana Lye went to Phulbari on Tuesday night and held several meetings at the local office of Asia Energy. He again sat with some local businessmen and other stakeholders around 11am yesterday.

Hearing this, the anti-mine people gathered at the bazar and went on a rampage at the site office, which is left abandoned, damaging its doors and windows. The three vehicles parked in front of the building were also vandalised.

Upazila Nirbahee Officer Moniruzzaman, Inspector of Phulbari police ABM Rezaul Islam, municipality Mayor Mortuza Sarker Manik and former

INSIDE 3 | News

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will look into the involvement of a section of Biman staff in gold smuggling after her return from Kathmandu, said Rashed Khan Menon, civil aviation and tourism minister.

4 | News

The ACC yesterday interrogated six more officials of Islami Bank in connection with the allegation of embezzlement of nearly Tk1,300 crore by Ananda Shipyard.

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Phulbari locals again protest Asia Energy CEO’s visit

Modi: Strong efforts on to resolve LBA, Teesta issues n Tribune Report Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was making strong efforts to resolve the long standing Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) and Teesta water sharing issue with Bangladesh quickly.

He said this during a meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Crowne Plaza in Kathmandu of Nepal on the sidelines of the 18th Saarc Summit yesterday afternoon.

After the meeting, Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque told reporters, reports BSS. During the meeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina wanted to know the progress of the LBA and Teesta water sharing issue, Shahidul said.

In reply, the Indian Prime Minister said he was making strong efforts to resolve the two pending issues with Bangladesh quickly.

And after a disappointing year, the Tigers gave their fans something to cheer about. Before the ongoing five-ODI series, Bangladesh did not win a single ODI in 13 matches this year so the series victory will work as a tonic heading into next year’s ICC World Cup in Australia-New Zealand.

Chasing Bangladesh’s formidable 297/6, the visitors were all out for 173 in 39.5 overs, falling short by a convincing 124 runs.

ODI skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza once again led the bowling attack from the front as the Narail Express removed both the Zimbabwean openers – Vusi Sibanda (nine) and Hamilton Masakadza (12) - with the scoreboard reading 22.

The visitors kept on conceding wickets at regular intervals and were eventually dismissed for 173. Sunny, who had taken four wickets in the first ODI

5 | News

People of Ebola-affected five West African countries will not be given visa to attend Bishwa Ijtema, the second largest gathering of the Muslims after Hajj, this year.

6 | Nation

Tension has been prevailing among the community of freedom fighters in Kotalipara upazila following the suspension of honorarium for at least 463 freedom fighters by the Ministry for Liberation War Affairs.

Protest marches sprang up across the United States on Tuesday, and police battled to stifle another night of unrest in Ferguson, ground zero of America’s latest racially-charged riots.

The long-anticipated Bengal Classical Music Festival 2014 will begin today at the Bangladesh Army Stadium in the capital at 6:30pm.

B1 | Business

Some banks are in trouble with Citycell as the heavily indebted mobile phone operator has been incurring losses constantly for last several years that it could not pay back the loans.

upazila chairman Aminul Islam Babul among others came forward to calm the agitators.

Later they campaigned in the area in favour of today’s agitation programmes, called jointly by Sommilito Peshajibi Songothon and local unit of the National Committee to Protect Oil, Gas, Natural Resources, Power and Ports demanding the arrest of Lye and full implementation of the 2006 Phulbari Agreement.

The programmes include daylong rail and road blockade in the area.

‘This does not reflect community wishes for development on the back of the coal mine and power generation’ In solidarity, the National Committee’s Dhaka chapter has announced a rally in front of the National Press Club today.

Lye and his wife Nana Lye along with other officials left Phulbari for Dinajpur in the afternoon, an official of Asia Energy said.

“We protested and staged demonstration against the visit of Gary Lye. We will not allow Asia Energy in Phulbari,” Saiful Islam Jewel, upazila unit convener of the National Committee, told the Dhaka Tribune.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, November 27, 2014

DU evades controversy in teacher recruitment n Arif Ahmed The Dhaka University Syndicate has finalised the appointment of a lecturer, leaving aside two other controversial candidates selected by the recruitment board, to its Urdu department apparently in the face of objections raised by other deserving candidates and criticism in media.

The decision came at a meeting held last evening with Vice-Chancellor Prof AAMS Arefin Siddique.

The two candidates in question – Sayera Zerin and Md Masum Sheikh – were dropped since they did not have necessary requirements mentioned in the advertisement on June 12.

In 2011, Zerin passed the oral exam but was dropped by the Syndicate.

To apply for the post of lecturer, the candidates should have minimum CGPA of 4.25 in SSC. But Zerin had 3.63 while Masum 4.

The duo was not among the five candidates who met all the requirements.

“The media bitterly criticised the selection board as it chose the duo.

But qualification of most of the 19 applicants was below standard. We had to choose among them,” Prof Nasrin

Ahmed, the pro vice-chancellor of the university and also head of the committee, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Earlier, the recruitment committee sent a list of three candidates to the Syndicate for approval. Of the 19 applications, the committee shortlisted 11 candidates to face the oral exams, and later selected the trio.

The other deserving candidates, dissatisfied over the committee’s decision, met with the VC on Monday and submitted a memorandum demanding cancellation of the recruitment process.

Other members of the committee were former chairman of the department Prof Golam Rabbani, Arts Faculty Dean Prof Akhteruzzaman, Islamic studies department’s Prof Ali Haider and Prof Abdul Mabud of Arabic department.

According to sources, Associate Professor Mahmudul Islam of the Urdu department wanted Zerin to become a teacher while a senior official of the Prime Minister’s Office phoned for Masum.

Asked about qualification of the duo, Prof Akhteruzzaman said they had chosen the best candidates. l

Heads of governments of the eight Saarc countries pose for a photograph at the inaugural ceremony of the 18th Saarc Summit at Kathmandu, Nepal yesterday

Nahid frustrated over dwindling education budget n CU Correspondent

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid yesterday expressed his frustration over the dwindling trend of budget allocation for the country’s education sector.

The education budget goes up abroad while it has gradullay declined in our country, he said while visiting Fulkhi School in Chittagong city.

“When I was given the charge of the

Education Ministry in 2009, the allocation was 14 percent of the national budget while it is now 11 percent,” he pointed out.

He urged the government to increase the education budget allocation, instead of lowering it further.

While visiting the Government City College, he praised the girls for their enrollment in the primary education and said the country’s primary education enrolment accounts for 51 percent

n Tribune Report

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman receives Gusi peace prize at Manila, Philippines yesterday

COURTESY

last Friday, repeated his heroics yesterday picking up 4/27 in 8.5 overs.

Paceman Rubel Hossain played his part scalping two wickets while Shakib al Hasan and Mahmudullah shared two wickets between them.

Ever since his debut in international cricket and in the intervening years, a determined Shakib only got better and better. Along the way the ace all-rounder created and broke countless records and feats. And the record-cart does not seem like stopping anytime soon.

Yesterday too Shakib achieved another milestone. After taking the wick-

man Md Shahjahan, School Inspector Kazi Nazimul Islam, Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board’s Deputy Director Abdul Aziz, were present, among others.

The minister attended a seminar at Chittagong Government College, amid a tesnion between Chhatra League and Chhatra Shibir men over attending the seminar yesterday.

However, no untoward incident was reported until filing of this report. l

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman received Gusi Peace Prize International 2014 award yesterday at a ceremony held at the Philippines International Convention Centre in Manila.

He was awarded for his work in the field of economics focusing on the welfare of poor people, said a press release issued by the central bank.

The Gusi Peace Prize foundation termed him “the poor man’s economist” in the award citation.

In his reaction after receiving the award, the Bangladesh Bank governor said: “When I became governor six years ago, I said I would make

the Bangladesh Bank a humanitarian central bank, and now I have succeeded.”

Atiur is the second Bangladeshi recipient of the award.

The first winner is AHM Nouman, founder and secretary general of the Development Organisation of the Rural Poor, who won the Gusi Peace Prize International award last year for his contribution in poverty alleviation and humanitarianism in Bangladesh.

The Gusi Peace Prize foundation, a charitable organisation registered in Manila, Philippines, introduced the peace award in the name of Javier Gusi who was guerilla who fought against Japan in World War II. l

Police now want to follow RAB’s theory

Pakistan blocks key connectivity

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

Ansar Al Islam Bangladesh-2, an organisation that claimed responsibility for the murder.

Even the 11 that were arrested by the Rajshahi police so far are involved with the politics of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student body Chhatra Shibir.

On Sunday, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) said Rajshahi Jubo Dal leader Abdus Samad Pintu had confessed to them that he had enacted the killing because the RU teacher misbehaved his wife Nasrin Akther Reshma.

Reshma, who is absconding in the police list, claimed in an exclusive interview with the Dhaka Tribune that she did not know Shafiul – the alleged harassment was just a theory.

The Dhaka Tribune reporter yesterday talked to Ashraf Ud-Daula, director of finance and accounts section of RU. He said a total of 16 employees, including Nasrin, work under him. They all sit together in one room. “But neither Nasrin, nor any of the other employees has ever reported any such incident [of misbehaviour] to me or to anyone else.”

Regarding the two people arrested in Bogra for their affiliation with the Facebook page of Ansar Al Islam, RMP Commissioner Shamsuddin said: “We have already learned that they got active on

the Facebook page following instruction from another person, who is a former president of a local unit of Shibir.”

RMP Deputy Commissioner AKM Nahidul Islam said in yesterday’s briefing: “We have sought cooperation from Bogra district police in arresting the person upon whose order the Ansar Al Islam page had been created.”

Asked what they would now do with the six RAB arrestees who had refused to confess before court, RMP Commissioner Shamsuddin said: “The courts have sent them to jail. If needed, we will take them on remand or interrogate at jail gate.”

Meanwhile, a RAB official yesterday recovered a battery-powered autorickshaw from Rajshahi which was allegedly used by the killers.

Mirza Golam Sarowar, the RAB 5 official, said: “Ibrahim Khalil alias Tokai Babu, who was arrested by RAB, is basically an autorickshaw driver. During the interrogation, he told us that he transported some of the killers from the Rajshahi Railway Station to the Chouddopai area on the day of the murder.”

On November 15, armed assailants killed RU Sociology Professor AKM Shafiul in front of his house in the Chouddopai area near the university campus. He is the third teacher of the

university killed in eight years. Jamaat-Shibir have been largely blamed for the previous two murders.

RAB and Police have so far arrested and detained 22 people, including the two in connection with the Facebook page.

Police took 11 of the arrestees on remand twice. However, the six other detainees picked up from Bogra, including the machete makers, are yet to be shown arrested, although they had been detained more than 48 hours. l

Modi: Strong efforts on to resolve LBA  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

“A consensus about the issues is being built in India,” Modi said.

Modi also expressed his firm optimism to resolve these crucial issues with Bangladesh. He said a report on LBA would be submitted very shortly and it would be accepted.

About the Teesta water sharing issue, the Indian premier said discussions were underway to this end.

The foreign secretary said the two leaders reiterated their firm commitment to work together to fight terrorism. l

Tigers’ Anamul, Sunny star in series win  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

girls and 49 percent boys.

“Thirty percent of girls and 10 percent of boys are offered stipend from the government while the 99.47 students are schooling in primary education in the country, he added.

The minister also visited Chittagong Government Mohila College, Mirza Ahmed Ispani High School and inaugurated the newly- constructed building of Probortok School and College at noon.

Chittagong Education Board Chair-

BB governor receives Gusi Peace Prize International 2014

Benefit of doubt goes to accused, says Sobhan’s counsel n UNB Jamaat-e-Islami leader Abdus Subhan’s counsel yesterday claimed that Subhan was eligible for the acquittal of war crimes charges as the evidence made by the prosecution witnesses appeared contradictory, doubtful and unreliable.

“There’s no reasonable ground to rely on the testimonies of the Pws after evaluating the outcome of their cross-examinations,” said Mizanul Islam before the International Crimes Tribunal -2 during defence case summing-up arguments charge-wise.

Although admitting the atrocities happened in the villages of Ishwardi and Pabna district during the Liberation War, the defence counsel candidly told the tribunal that he did not make any dispute over the events of 1971.

Mizanul said: “I admit the events as the victims’ bodies had been buried and identified accordingly. But I do disagree with the prosecution case terming it mechanical as the dates of the incidents were not accurate, and I also disagree with the allegations against my client as a mastermind of the operations.”

In no way Maulana Sobhan had complicity in the crimes against humanity during the Liberation War, claimed Mizanul, adding that as the defence has been outwardly able to create doubt about the evidence of the PWs to prove the charges, the benefit of doubt always goes to the accused.

During the trial, the defence counsel extensively argued about two more charges made against his client. The two charges are: In the first week of September 1971, Sobhan, accompanied by local Razakars, abducted two pro-liberation men from Dublia Bazar under Pabna sadar and killed them inside a temple at Kuchiamara village, while in October Sobhan and local Razakars attacked Betbaria village in Ishwardi and looted several houses before torching those. Four people were also picked up from the village and later killed.

BSS

et of Brendan Taylor, Shakib (76 wickets, Mirpur) rose to fourth in the list of players who have scalped the most number of wickets on a single ground.

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram (122, Sharjah) tops the list followed by his countryman Waqar Younis (114, Sharjah) and Sri Lankan spinner Muttiah Muralidaran (82, Sharjah).

Earlier, the Bangladesh opening pair, once again, gave their side a terrific start. Asked to bat first by Elton Chigumbura, openers Tamim Iqbal and Anamul added 121 runs – the first instance of a Bangladeshi opening pair putting on more than 100 runs in con-

secutive ODIs. The left-handed Tamim smashed a brilliant six through mid-wicket off Tinashe Panyangara in the first over of the innings to start the proceedings.

Anamul, however, played the aggressor’s role as the young wicketkeeper-batsman found the boundary rope frequently.

Just when he was set for a big score, Tamim (40) was run out for the second match in a row and the 14th time he has been dismissed in this fashion in one-dayers.

Soon after Tamim’s dismissal, Mominul Haque (15) departed early while

man-of-the-match Anamul made his way to the dressing room after a half-hearted shot. Anamul scored 95 off 120 balls with the help of nine boundaries.

The lad from Kushtia became the seventh Bangladeshi opening batsman to be dismissed in the nervous nineties in ODIs. Shakib (40 off 33 balls) and Mushfiqur Rahim (33 off 22 balls) then added the finishing touch to their innings, blasting 72 runs for the fourth wicket.

Mahmudullah (33 off 26 balls) and Sabbir Rahman (22 off 13 balls) struck some lusty blows to take Bangladesh close to the 300-run total. l

is the worst victims of it. Terrorism of all forms and manifestations infuriates extremism and religious fundamentalism and undermines peace and stability. So we should take measures collectively and unequivocally to combat terrorism.”

He also emphasised the need for building an institutional framework under the Saarc as well as honest and effective cooperation of all institutions and law enforcement agencies to fight terrorism.

There has been a lot of speculation over whether Indian PM Modi was going to hold sideline talks in Kathmandu with his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

India and Pakistan have been involved in a war of words after New Delhi cancelled a foreign secretary-level meeting in August after Pakistan’s envoy in India met Kashmiri separatists

ahead of the talks.

Upon his arrival in Kathmandu, when journalists asked about possibility of talks, Sharif said the question should be put to his Indian counterpart.

However, according to NDTV, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs has said there was no such meeting on Modi’s formal agenda.

The leaders of the eight member countries delivered spoke in the inaugural session. Nine observers from China, USA, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Mauritius, Myanmar, Iran and the European Union are also attending the Summit.

The eight leaders will also meet privately during a retreat at a resort in Dhulikhel on Thursday. The concluding session of the Summit will be held at the City Hall on Thursday, when Kathmandu Declaration will be issued and some regional agreements signed. l

Phulbari locals again protest Asia Energy CEO’s visit  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Around 200 people also brought out a procession in the area in support of the Asia Energy project, Md Anwar Hossain, a former chairman of Hamidpur union, told the Dhaka Tribune.

“We had a meeting with Gary Lye. Soon after the meeting ended, the National Committee members launched attack on us. I have 100 bighas of land here and I want to give it for the coal mine,” he said.

The people of Phulbari have been opposing the open-pit mining proposal of the Asia Energy since 2006 when then the BNP-Jamaat government dropped the plan to award it mining licence in the face of mass protests. Three protesters were killed by the law enforcers while over 200 others injured.

The government then agreed to the six-point demands of the people that include cancelling all deals with the

Asia Energy and not choosing opencast method for extracting coal. The Awami League, then in opposition, supported the demands.

“We had productive meetings with very large community groups last night [Tuesday] and this [yesterday] morning. Later in the day a small group obviously young boys were allowed to throw stones at our office and vehicles.

It is unfortunate that law and order authorities stood by and witnessed the vandalism,” Lye said a statement.

“This in no way reflects community wishes to have development on the back of the coal mine and power generation. We respect everyone’s rights but did not see democracy and people’s rights protected by the authorities today [yesterday]. We will stand by the local community and work to deliver this great project so they can get the huge benefits,” the statement says. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Thursday, November 27, 2014

PM to look into gold smuggling issue n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will look into the involvement of a section of Biman staff in gold smuggling after her return from Kathmandu, said Rashed Khan Menon, civil aviation and tourism minister.

Hasina is now in Nepal to attend the 18th South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit.

The civil aviation minister asked the Biman board of directors to attend a meeting in his office today.

Recently involvement of Bangladesh Biman staff in gold smuggling has become a much-talked-about issue and it even came up in parliament discussion.

Some opposition and independent lawmakers even walked out of the House in protest against a large amount of gold haul seized at the Shahjalal International Airport.

Last week detectives arrested three senior officials with two others of Biman Bangladesh.

“After a huge criticism in the House, the prime minister called me to her parliament office and wanted to know all about it. She told me that she would sit with me after her return from Nepal,” said Rasehd Khan Menon yesterday.

The PM is very serious about the issue, he added.

Before that high-powered meeting, Rashed Khan Menon will sit with all 11 directors of its board, including Board Chairman Air Marshal (retd) Jamal

Uddin Ahmed, former chief of the air force, today.

Meanwhile, the civil aviation minister also collected the report prepared by a parliamentary committee on the national flag carrier prepared in 2011.

The Dhaka Tribune obtained a copy of the report in which an overhauling of the Biman board was stressed.

JaSaD lawmaker Moinuddin Khan Badal, convenor of a parliamentary sub-committee that prepared the report, said: “If the government had accepted our recommendation then this huge gold smuggling would not have happened.

“Look, who are in the board? You will not find a single professional aviation expert there,” he said: “Aviation is more of commerce, less of aviation, but the board is full of soldiers and bureaucrats.”

The board includes Senior Secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office Md Abul Kalam Azad, Senior Secretary of Finance Division Mahbub Ahmed, Secretary of Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry Khurshed Alam Chowdhury, Assistant Chief of Air Staff (Operation and Training) Air Vice Marshal Abu Esrar, Engineer-in-Chief of Bangladesh Army Maj Gen Abdul Quadir, Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh Air Vice Marshal M Sanaul Huq, Dhaka University treasurer and a chartered accountant.

“No doubt Biman is facing a challenging time,” Menon said, “We are trying to restore its past glory.” l

The BIWTA carries out a drive against encroachers at Shyambazar area near the bank of the Buriganga River in the capital. The photo was taken yesterday

Former WDB DG denies allegation of FF certificate forgery n Adil Sakhawat The former director-general of Bangladesh Water Development Board, Shahidur Rahman, denied the allegations of enjoying benefits as a freedom fighter through certificate forgery.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) interrogated him yesterday for his alleged involvement with the forgery of freedom fighter certificates to extend his government job tenure.

ACC Assistant Director Selina Akhter interrogated him from 3pm to 5pm at the headquarters, an ACC official said.

The former DG appeared before the commission after being summoned for the fourth time by the commission.

Earlier during his tenure at the Water Development Board, the commission sent him three notices for questioning on his alleged involvement with corruption.

Every time, he ignored the commission’s notice and later the ACC dropped the charges.

Requesting anonymity, an ACC official said Shaidur was still very powerful. “We are already being lobbied not to run an inquiry against him,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

The former DG was supposed to face ACC interrogation on November 20, but he requested an extension and finally appeared before the anti-graft body yesterday.

After the interrogation, he talked to the journalists and claimed that all the allegations against him being a fake freedom fighter is false.

He claimed the reports on his fake freedom fighter certificate were completely wrong. He claimed he was a real freedom fighter and got his government job under the ‘freedom fighter’ quota.

However, he could answer when asked why his name was not found in the Mukti Barta (red book).

On April 25, 2010, the Water Development Board BWDB sent a list of 160 employees claiming to be freedom

fighters to the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs in order to verify whether the documents they had submitted as proof of identity were valid.

The ministry, in its reply, approved 32 employees as freedom fighters and said it could not find any valid information on the remaining 128 employees that could prove they were freedom fighters. Shaidur was one of the 128 employees.

In the document Shahidur submitted as the proof of his identity, he claimed that he had taken part in the Liberation War under Sector 2 Commander Major Haider.

But the ministry could not find any evidence that validated his claim, nor could it find his name in the Mukti Barta, the ACC official told the Dhaka Tribune.

Shahidur joined the Water Development Board as assistant engineer in 1977. The commission is also looking into the possible existence of assets he acquired illegally. l

Court orders actress Nayar’s fresh autopsy n Tribune Report

An electric transformer in Old Dhaka’s Islambagh area installed at a low altitude poses threat to people passing under it. Such devices are needed to be installed at a specific height which is not the case here. The photo was taken yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

A Dhaka court yesterday ordered the Deputy Commissioner of Dhaka to exhume the body of Nayar Sultana, a well-known small screen actress, for a fresh autopsy.

Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Bikash Kumar Saha passed the order in response to a petition filed by the victim’s mother Razia Sultana.

The court also ordered the Dhaka Deputy Commissioner to appoint an executive magistrate for exhumation and form a three-member committee, which would comprise the head of Sir Salimullah Medical College, to perform a fresh autopsy on the body.

The autopsy report was ordered to be submitted to the court by December 15.

Report of the previous autopsy performed at Dhaka Medical College Hospital concluded that Nayar had committed suicide.

But her mother rejected the report and filed a petition demanding a fresh autopsy be carried out.

Nayar, who played “Tuni” in the hugely popular TV production Eishob Din Ratri, took her own life by hanging herself from a ceiling fan on October 16 at her Gulshan residence.

Police detained her husband AlAmin hours after the incident as Razia lodged a case with Gulshan police station accusing him of inciting Nayar to kill herself.

On November 16, police produced him before a court in Dhaka and petitioned for a 10-day remand but the court sent him to prison after rejecting the petition. l

Two JMB men to die n Tribune Report

A Speedy Trial Tribunal yesterday condemned two members of the banned Islamist outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to death for killing a police informer in Tangail police station in 2006.

Judge ABM Nizamul Haque of the Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 passed the order in presence of the two convicts after examining the records 16 prosecution witnesses out of 28.

The convicts are Saiful Islam alias Russel, 29, son of late Kamal Uddin of Forazikanda in Bandar Police Station of Narayanganj district and Abdur Rahman alias Fahad Alal, 30, son of late Mokhlesur Rahman of Binodnagar in Nawabganj upazila of Dinajpur district.

The condemned convicted have been in jail since their arrest.

According to the case statement, The JMB men gunned down Joynal, an informant of police, at Bamna check post on Dhaka-Tangail highway on December 29 in 2006 when police raided a bus of Shyamoli Paribahan following a tip-off that huge firearms and explosives were being taken to Dhaka from Meherpur.

The duo was traveling in a public transport named Shyamoly Paribahan and when they saw the police checking the transport they were on, they fired three rounds of bullets toward police.

A traffic constable, Siraj Miah, was also hit by a bullet during the incident.

Soon after the incident, police arrested two of the JMB men Saiful and Abdur Rahman from the spot and seized huge amount of firearms, ammunition and explosives. They are also accused in more cases.

The injured Joynal Abedin was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital in a critical condition.

Joynal Abedin, son of late Lal Mia of Kabila Monirpur in Burichong upazila of Comilla district, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital on January 13, 2007.

In this connection the following the day Traffic Inspector Md Abdur Rob filed a murder case with Tangail Sadar Police station accusing the two of murder.

On July 4, 2007, Inspector (CID) Sankar Chandra Das submitted chargesheet against the two.

Later, the case was transferred to Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal-4 from Tangail District and Session Judge’s Court.l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Missing university student found dead in Pabna n UNB A university student, who had gone missing from the capital seven days ago, was found dead in a beel (waterbody) in Sathia upazila here yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Golam Rabbi, 22, son of Anwar Hossain, a resident of Kalyanpur in the capital.

Being informed by the local people police recovered the floating body of Rabbi from the beel in the morning and sent it to sadar hosptial morgue for autopsy, said Shahid Mahmud, officer-in-charge of Sathia police station.

The OC said Rabbi remained missing since November 19.

His family members claimed that criminals abducted Rabbi from Dhaka on November 19. A case was filed with Mirpur Model police station on the following day, he said.

The body bore several injury marks, said police.

Police suspected that miscreants might have killed him in another place and dumped the body here. l

Former minister Mahbubur grilled at ACC n Adil Sakhawat The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday interrogated former state minister for water resources and Patuakhali 4 constituency lawmaker Mahbubur Rahman Talukder on charge of amassing wealth illegally.

The commission had already filed a case against the lawmaker on August 21 this year for amassing illegal wealth in five years of the Aawami League government’s last tenure.

He was also charged for providing false information in the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission.

ACC Deputy Director and Investigation Officer Farid Uddin Patwary interrogated the incumbent lawmaker in its headquarters yesterday from 10.30am to 1pm, its official said.

The commission also interrogated him earlier before filing case against him on February 23.

Emerging from the commission’s interrogation the lawmaker told the waiting reporters that the commission filed case against him based on wrong information. The lawmaker told reporters that if he had amassed wealth illegally then people in his constituency would not have voted for him.

When contacted ACC Chairman M Bodiuzzaman said: “The accused always defend themselves but the commission filed the case against the former state minister after inquiring into allegation of his accumulation of illegal wealth and submission of false information in his wealth statement.”

The ACC also found proofs of those allegations, he added.

The commission in its investigation found that the former minister amassed illegal wealth of Tk5.19cr which was stated in the first information report (FIR). It also stated that he submitted wealth statement of Tk5.84cr he earned between 2008-13 but actually he earned Tk6.42cr.

The complaint also showed Mahbubur declared in his tax return for 2009-10 that he got Tk40cr from his wife Preity Haider but his wife did not mention the amount in her tax return.

The wealth statements submitted before the ninth and tenth parliamentary elections showed that the wealth of Mahbubur and his wife increased to Tk7.61 crore from Tk41.88 lakh in five years only. The amount of agricultural land owned by Mahbubur also rose from only 20 acres to 2,865 acres. l

Members of Bangladesh Adivasi Chhatra Sangram Parishad form a human chain yesterday in the capital’s Shahbagh demanding rapid implementation of Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord and a separate ministry for indigenous people of the planes MEHEDI HASAN

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News

Thuresday, November 27, 2014

6 more IBBL officials quizzed over Ananda Shipyard scam n UNB The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday interrogated another six officials of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) in connection with the allegation of embezzlement of nearly Tk1,300 crore by Ananda Shipyard.

An ACC team, led by its deputy director and inquiry officer Zainul Abedin Shebly, started questioning them at 10am and continued till 3pm at the ACC head office, the commission’s public relations officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya told UNB. The IBBL officials grilled yesterday were former executive president Farid Uddin Ahmed, former deputy executive presidents (Investment Wing) Harun-Ur-Rashid Chowdhury and Shamsul Huda, retired executive vice president Setaur Rahman, deputy managing director Nurul Huda and retired executive vice president Syed Abdullah Mohammad Saleh.

The ACC today will also question

Nisha Biswal arrives today n Tribune Report Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Biswal will arrive in Dhaka today for a threeday official visit.

During the trip, she will hold meetings with high-level government officials, labour, RMG sector and business community leaders, and opposition party leaders.

In addition to her activities in Dhaka, Biswal will also travel to Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation Training (BIPSOT) in Gazipur before departing on November 29.

Biswal was sworn in as Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs on October 21, 2013. As Assistant Secretary, she oversees US foreign policy with India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Prior to that, she served from September 2010 as Assistant Administrator for Asia at USAID. l

executive vice president Engr Mohammad Ali, senior vice president Engr Moiz Uddin, vice president Hasnayn Abid, retired assistant vice president Delwar Hossain, assistant vice president Mahmud Hossain Khan and retired senior officer Engr Zahidul Islam.

Ananda Shipyard allegedly used fake documents to borrow Tk1,300 crore In April 2014, the ACC initiated a probe into the allegation of swindling out of about Tk1,300 crore from 14 commercial banks and financial institutions by Ananda Shipyard, a manufacturer and exporter of ships.

According to the graft allegation, Ananda Shipyard took loans of Tk1,300 crore from 14 commercial banks and financial institutions showing fake documents. The banks disbursed the loans violating banking rules when Ananda

December 31 to be observed as ‘Clean Our Country Day’ n Tribune Report For the first time in Bangladesh, December 31 will be observed as a “Clean Our Country Day” in a bid to encourage cleanliness and protect environment.

Poriborton Chai, a voluntary organisation, yesterday arranged a press conference at the National Press Club in this regard.

To observe the day, Poriborton Chai will clean city streets, parks, rivers and open spaces from 11:00am to 1:00pm.

The organization also invited people from all walks of life to take part in the program by cleaning their surroundings and making a promise to not litter.

Speakers said Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gazipur were known as the worst cities in the world to live in. If the con-

Dhaka University journalists awarded n DU Correspondent Six Dhaka University (DU) campus reporters were awarded for their investigative and objective reporting yesterday.

Mutual Trust Bank and Dhaka University Alumni Association jointly awarded the ‘Campus Journalism award 2014’ to the campus reporters for the first time at a ceremony held at the Nawab Ali Choudhury Senate Bhaban.

The awardees were Matiur Tanif of Daily Jai Jai Din, Forhad Uddin of Daily Bangladesh Protidin, Sanaul Hoque Sunny of the Dainik Amader Shomoy and Tawhidur Rahman of Daily Naya Diganta under print media category.

Mahmudul Hasan of Banglanews24. com and Sujon Mandal of Bdnews24. com had been awarded for online reporting.

A seventeen-member jury board

Shipyard had no experience of building ships.

The Bangladesh Bank in its inspections also found such irregularities in disbursing loans by the banks and financial institutions.

According to the central bank report, Ananda Shipyard took loans of Tk456.34 crore from IBBL while about Tk187 crore from Arab-Bangladesh Bank Limited, Tk221.2 crore from Mercantile Bank, Tk114.21 crore from One Bank, Tk238 crore from Janata Bank, Tk 24crore from Bangladesh Development Bank and Tk15.14 crore from NCC Bank.

Ananda Shipyard also took loans of Tk1.93 crore from Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company (BIFCL), Tk 23.18crore from Finix Finance and Development Limited, Tk 11.75 crore from Fareast Finance and Development Limited, Tk3.72 crore from IDLC, Tk2.92 crore from Housing Finance and Investment Limited, Tk3.92 crore from Haj Finance Company Limited, and Tk3 crore from Premier Leasing & Finance Limited. l

headed by Professor Sheikh Abdus Salam of Mass Communication and Journalism Department made the selections.

Speaking at the ceremony, special guest of the program, Emeritus Professor Sirajul Islam Choudhury said objectivity was an important aspect for journalism but all the reporters’ associations were clearly divided.

Dhaka University VC Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique also emphasised on objective reporting and urged the reporters to work with responsibility.

“You should obey all ethical norms in your work, which will help in creating a civil and corruption-free society,” he said.

Chaired by Dhaka University Alumni Association President Rakib Uddin Ahmed, Professor Abdus Salam and Executive director of MTB Anis Khan were present in the event. l

dition did not change, the whole country become unlivable soon.

Fawzia Khan, advisor of Poriborton Chai, said: “Our environment is a testimony to the state of our mentality. We indiscriminately pollute our environment.”

“We know that one day’s cleaning operation is not enough but we have to make an effort to change our habit. We have to remember not only to clean but also to stop throwing garbage to protect our environment,” said, Nahid Sultana, another advisor of the organisation.

With Volunteers of Poriborton Chai, Himu Paribahan, Mastul, Sobuj Pata, Aanchal, ex-cadets, rover scouts, Sandhani and students of several educational institute will take to the street to clean the country on December 31. l

Wastes dumped at Jatrabari intersection beneath Mayor Hanif flyover in the capital pollute the environment

Fire kills minor in city n Tribune Report A two-year-old girl was killed in a devastating fire that took place in the capital’s Hazaribagh area yesterday afternoon.

The child who died in the fire was named Maria, daughter of Omar Ali. Her brother Soleman, 4, received 15% burn injuries in the incident. Family sources said Maria and her brother were sleeping at the time of the incident.

The fire occurred in a shanty at

Salam Sarder road adjacent to Sikder Medical College.

Fire service control room inspector, Farhad, said: “The fire might have originated from a gas stove in the shanty.”

“After dousing the fire, we recovered the body of the child and rescued her brother alive,” the fire official said adding that both of them were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Meanwhile, another fire incident took place in a button factory named

Uniglory Accessories Ltd in the capital’s Tejgaon area in the afternoon. The fire originated from a lit cigarette at the dust store of the factory, said Fire Inspector Farhad. Around eight units of fire service went to the spot and doused the blaze after one hour of frantic efforts, the official added.

Fire Service Control Room Duty Officer Farhaduzzaman said valuables worth around Tk2 lakhs were damaged in the fire. l

3 fake journalists held on extortion charge n Our Correspondent, Sylhet Police detained three fake journalists including a female from the Technical road area in South Surma upazila yesterday on charge of extorting money from a principal of a local college.

The detainees are Belayet Hossain Sabuj, 27, son of Mohi Uddin Ahmed, of Hatimganj Nijtola village in Golap-

ganj upazila; Subro Chandra Shil, son of Sibu Chandra Shil, of the village and Farhana Begum, 20, daughter of late Moti Miah, of Karimpur Derai upazila of Sunamganj.

South Surma police outpost SI Shafiqul Islam Khan said the trio went to the residence of Sylhet Vocational School and College Principal Md Saidur around 2pm and demanded Tk25,000

threatening to make fabricated reports involving him. At one stage, the principal called his neighbours who caught the fake journalists and informed police.

Police seized a camera, six mobile phones, two modems and a microphone of unknown satellite channel named “Channel 7” from their possession, the SI continued. A case was filed against them in this connection. l

MEHEDI HASAN

Chittagong rail connection with Dhaka, Sylhet disrupted n Our Correspondent, Comilla Rail link from Chittagong with Dhaka and Sylhet was snapped for several hours following the derailment of a cargo train in Comilla yesterday.

The accident took place at around 6pm at Daulatpur area of Comilla Sadar upazila.

Engineer Irfanul Islam, a railway official, said the train was going to Rangpur from Chittagong when one of its compartments derailed.

A recovery train from Laksham junction reached the scene at around 9pm. However, the recovery work was still going on when this report was filed at 10pm.

The derailment caused delay for the Chittagong-bound Suborno Express and Dhaka-bound Probhati Express adding sufferings to the passengers. l

A man fined for jaywalking in the capital’s Banglamotor area tells a mobile court official he has only Tk10 with him but promptly agrees to arrange the fine as the official attempts to sentence him to jail. Right, police warn pedestrians, who are about to cross the road, against jaywalking in Karwan Bazar area. Both the pictures were taken yesterday. Story on Back Page MEHEDI HASAN

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

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Thursday, November 27, 2014

Ijtema pilgrims of Ebola-risk countries to face visa ban People of Sierra Leon, Mali, Nigeria, Liberia and Guinea will not be given visa Tabligh devotees. n Tribune Report Around 15-20 lakh devotees from People of Ebola-affected five West African countries will not be given visa to attend Bishwa Ijtema, the second largest gathering of the Muslims after Hajj, this year.

The government has asked all Bangladesh missions abroad not to issue visas to the people of five Ebola-virus affected countries – Sierra Leon, Mali, Nigeria, Liberia and Guinea, State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said this at a press brief after a meeting over Ijtema preparations at the secretariat.

Mentioning the example of the last Hajj, he said: “Saudi Arabia during Hajj had also taken this sort of preventive measures and we are following the same to protect our people from this dangerous virus.”

The minister said Bangladesh would issue two categories of visas for foreigners who will join the Ijtema, of which one month’s visa for general category and 45-day visa for Ijtema and

home and abroad take part in the threeday congregation every year. Tablighi Jamaat has been organising the gathering since 1976.

Over 15,000 foreign devotees from different Muslim countries are likely to join the three-day congregation to be held on the bank of the Turag River at Tongi, some 20 km north of the capital.

Last year, around 20 lakh devotees, including 10,500 foreign devotees from 105 Muslim countries, had joined the gathering.

The first phase of the congregation will begin on December 9 and the second phase will be held from January 16 to 18. The minister said all preparations regarding the congregation was going in full pace.

The first Ijtema was held at Kakrial Mosque in Dhaka in 1946. This was followed by a congregation at Chittagong Hajji camp in 1958, then at Siddirganj in Narayanganj. Si znce 1965, the Bishwa Ijtema has been held at Tongi. l

National Women Debate Festival begins at JU

Sajeda doubts BNP’s future Obaidul Quader: No politics over existence in politics Latif Siddique issue

n JU Correspondent

Jahangirnagar University Debate Organisation (JUDO) in the slogan of “Morjadai Gori Somota” has arranged a four-day “National Women Debate Festival-2014” on its campus yesterday.

The JUDO in collaboration with “Manusher Jonno Foundation” arranged the competition, where debaters from 32 public and private universities across the country were supposed to take part, the organisers said.

The debate programme was aimed to promote the equal rights of the women and to recognize their household chores as institutional work.

In a yesterday’s press conference in JU Journalists’ Association (JUJA) around 3pm, JUDO President Debangshu Shuvo said the programme was designed into two parts while one part is particularly for the JU students.

The event also includes an inaugural programme, a colourful procession, a public debate and prize giving ceremony among the best debaters.

In the closing ceremony, which would be held in the university’s “Selim Al Deen Muktamancha” on November 29, JU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Farzana Islam was supposed to attend as the chief guest. JU treasurer Prof Dr Abul Khayer and the foundation’s Executive Director Shahin Anam were due to attend the programme among others.

Channel 24, Radio ABC, the Daily Samakal and the news portal banglanews24.com are the media partners of the event. l

n Our Correspondent, Savar The BNP will no longer exist in the country’s political arena in the coming days, Deputy Leader of the House Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury said yesterday.

She said the BNP can only roar but has no activities as a party.

“I doubt the future existence of the BNP,” said Sajeda while addressing the tri-annual council of Savar upazila unit of Awami League held at the ground of Ashulia School and College.

In his address, Food Minister Advocate Quamrul Islam said Awami League activists should be aware of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami men as they are plotting to kill Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

He also called on everyone to work

Smoke blows out from a button manufacturing factory where at a fire broke out yesterday afternoon. The factory is located at Tejgaon Industrial Zone in the capital DHAKA TRIBUNE

together in order to better organise the party in the future.

The tri-annual conference was held nearly a decade later and a festive mood prevailed in Savar and Ashulia since the morning. Carrying banners and festoons, hundreds of local Awami League activists arrived at the venue ahead of the council.

Hasina Daula was made the president of Savar upazila unit of Awami League while Ali Haidar and Manjurul Alam Rajib were named the general secretary and joint general secretary.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Youth and Sports Secretary Dewan Shafiul Arefin Tutul, lawmaker of Savar Dr Enamur Rahaman and several other top local leaders were present at the council. l

n Our Correspondent, Sylhet Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said no one would be allowed to do politics over Latif Siddique issue.

The minister said: “Steps would be taken against the former minister according to the existing laws of the country,” the minister said while talking to journalists during his surprise visit in Sylhet yesterday afternoon.

He said the government was on a strict position over Latif Siddique issue as he had made derogatory remarks against Islam.

Asked about the membership of the parliament of Latif Siddique, he said it was under jurisdiction of the speaker whether he would remain MP or not.

n Tribune Report

LIGHT FOG LIKELY THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27

FORECAST FOR TODAY 28 28 27 27 28 28 28 28

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

18 18 12 15 14 14 14 29

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

29.8ºC Cox’s Bazar

10.4ºC Chuadanga

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

5:02am 6:20am 11:46am 3:35pm 5:11pm 6:31 pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

Obaidul said court would take decision whether he would be hanged or given life-term imprisonment.

In another query regarding the recent factional clash at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, the minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had already given directions to law enforcing agencies in this regard.

“Our prime minister’s decision is our decision,” said the minister.

Earlier, the minister without prior notice reached Sylhet around 2pm. Later, he visited several points of the city and seized 20 unfit vehicles.

Central Organising Secretary of the Awami League Misbah Uddin Siraj and Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Md Shohidul Islam accompanied the minister. l

Nasim: Community clinics to have doctors once a week

WEATHER

DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 5:10PM SUN RISES 6:22AM

He has already been removed from the cabinet as well as primary membership of the ruling party Awami League, he said.

Criticising BNP, the Presidium Member of Awami League Obaidul Quader said two days back they said that government was favouring Siddique, but when he was arrested, they said the government bound to arrest him to calm outrages of people.

He said: “They [BNP] have failed to wage movement as they did not get people’s support. It was their great mistakes that they had taken part in the last national election held on January 5 this year.”

Failing to wage movement, they are now trying to use Latif Siddique issue, but the government will not allow them to do so.

Students form a human chain in front of the National Press Club in the capital yesterday, demanding they be allowed taking admission tests at Dhaka University and other public universities next year too NASHIRUL ISLAM

Chief justice for fast-track case disposal n

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain yesterday called for quick disposal of cases in the country.

He made the call while exchanging views with lawyers in Barisal city. The chief justice suggested resorting to the alternative dispute resolution (ADR) system to ensure justice for victims soon.

He also spoke for following modern judiciary system to make sure victims got justice on time and good governance reached the grassroots level.

The increasing expenses of litigation, delay in disposal of cases may shake people’s trust in the judiciary, he opined and advised introduction and expansion of the cost-effective ADR system in quick dispensing of justice.

The ADR would be fruitful in ending backlogs of cases, particularly involving family and civil matters, said the chief justice.

He warned lawyers and judges against committing any irregularity in quick disposal of justice, saying people come to the court for justice, not for harassment.

Barisal District Bar Association urged the chief justice to take steps for the construction of judicial and magistrate court buildings and appointing more judicial magistrates to prevent case jam and accelerate trial procedures and thus justice delivery.

District and Sessions Judge Anwarul Haque, Deputy Commissioner Shohidul Alam, leaders and members of the bar association, among others, attended the programme. l

Health Minister Mohammed Nasim yesterday said doctors would see patients at the community clinics across the country at least once a week.

He said he would visit the clinics in villages to see if those were open and providing healthcare services duly.

“No initiative will fail if people’s involvement can be ensured,” he said while speaking at the programme where the book “Community Clinic Health Revolution” penned by Shamsuddin Ahmed was unveiled.

Held at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital, the programme was organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) under the Community Clinic Project.

Dr N Paranietharan, WHO representative in Bangladesh, said he was surprised as well as pleased to see the revolution of community clinics in the country. “Bangladesh has achieved the top position in developing

healthcare services for rural people.”

A documentary was screened at the programme where it was shown that there are 12,040 community clinics in the country. Health workers are trained for six months before they being working at the clinics.

Each clinic has a 17-member group that provides medical advice and patients can get free healthcare services for about 40 types of diseases.

Birth and death registrations can also be done at the clinics.

Addressing the programme, Community Clinic Project Director Dr Makhduma Nargis said community clinics are working to ensure safe child birth.

Health Secretary Syed Monjurul Islam presided over the programme while Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Professor Dr Deen Muhammad Nurul Haque and Director General of the Family Planning Department Nur Hossain Talukder were also present. l

DU admission test ban protested

Muggers stab two in capital

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

n Tribune Report

Several hundred students, who had come out successful in this year’s HSC examinations, formed a human chain in the city yesterday demanding reinstatement of second time eligibility to sit for the honours admission test of Dhaka University.

Sources said around 200 students holding rose flocked in front of Ashwini Kumar Hall in Sadar road area in the morning protesting the DU decision.

On the other hand, local Chhatra Union and Samajtantrik Chhatra Front leaders joined the programme expressing solidarity with the demand.

The participants said the message of the roses was “wasting the golden scope of their life” by the DU decision and they urged upon the DU authorities to retreat from the decision for the sake of the students. l

In separate incidents, two people were allegedly stabbed early yesterday by a group of muggers near the capital’s Gopibagh intersection.

The group of around eight robbers had stabbed both Parvez, 36, son of Abdur Rahman, and Md Selim, 34, son of Md Taslim in the same area around the same time. Of the victims, Parvez was critically injured and was admitted Dhaka Medical College Hospital soon after the incident while the other injured left the hospital after primary treatment.

While talking to Parvez, he claimed that the robbers had stabbed him in front of many people as well as police but no one came to his aid. He alleged that they were rather enjoying the scene. Parvez said the incident took place around 4:30am.

Describing the incident, Parvez said:

“I was on a rickshaw when the robbers stopped me. Of the muggers, four were carrying lethal weapons.

“They tried to rob my belongings but an altercation broke out between us as I resisted and that is when they stabbed me with knives. They stabbed on my back, head and ear.”

“I shouted for help but no one came to help me.”

“After the muggers escaped, I asked help from the police but they told me to hire a CNG and go to the hospital,” Parvez claimed.

Parvez said: “A person named Bappi later agreed to take me to the hospital.

However, while going to the hospital, we found another person named Selim lying injured near the same place.”

“When Bappi asked, Selim said the same muggers attacked him first, robbed him and then attacked me,” he continued. l

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Nation

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Allowance for 463 freedom fighters suspended

Rival groups accuse each other of conspiracy list contains names of some of name of issuing certificates to freedom n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj theThe popular freedom fighters such as fighters.

Tension has been prevailing among the community of freedom fighters in Kotalipara upazila following the suspension of honorarium for at least 463 freedom fighters by the Ministry for Liberation War Affairs.

Deputy Secretary of the Ministry Mohammad Noor Alam gave the order on November 3 following an appeal from Haji Sardar Abdul Malek, commander of the upazila chapter of Bangladesh Muktizoddha Sangshad.

Subhash Chandra Chowdhury, social welfare officer of the upazila said 552 freedom fighters were enlisted for receiving allowance in the upazila. On October 18, Haji Sardar wrote an application to the ministry identifying 463 as fake freedom fighters.

“The ministry ordered to suspend the allowance as per the application and directed the National Security Intelligence to investigate the matter. We received a copy of the order on November 20,” said the officer.

former commander of the Muktizoddha Sangshad Mohd Shamsul Haq, deputy commander Abul Kalam Azad, development worker Ashalata Baiddya and Shadhin Bangla Betar singer Anil Kumar Dey. Meanwhile, Bir Bikram Hemayet Uddin, chief of the Hemayet Bahini during the liberation war, held a press conference on November 4 to protest the letter and the government’s recent decision to verify the list of freedom fighters.

“A vested quarter is trying to tamper the list to include fake freedom fighters. We are against modification of the list without following proper procedure,” said Hemayet Uddin. He also threatened to hold demonstrations on December 3-5 otherwise.

On the other hand, the upazila Muktizoddha Sangshad organised another press conference on November 13. The written statement alleged that Hemayet Uddin was doing business in the

“He was a founding general secretary of Kotalipara BNP. In 2010, he helped his brother Mohd Shamsul Haq win the election of Muktizoddha Sangshad. He is against the modification of the list to save fake freedom fighters,’’ said Haji Sardar.

Expressing his reaction about the letter, former commander Mohammad Shamsul Haq said he was the commander of the Muktizoddha Sangshad for three years before Haji Sardar was elected. “Those who call me fake, are fake themselves and this needs to be looked into.”

Anil Kumar Dey said: “I sang at least 22 songs for the Shadhin Bangla Betar Kendra during the liberation war. Government has been giving me allowances after verifying my papers. It is really unfortunate if someone terms me as fake freedom fighter now.”

Bir Bikram Hemayet Uddin said there was no fake freedom fighters in the upazila according to his knowledge. l

Farmers harvest brinjal from a field at Dakura village under Poba upazila, Rajshahi yesterday. The growers said they were counting a huge loss as they are not getting fair price. They said wholesale traders were purchasing winter vegetables such as cauliflower, bean, radish rather than brinjal. Finding no way, growers are selling the vegetable at lower price AZAHAR UDDIN

Lawyers demand withdrawal Owners of Natore CNG-run three-wheeler on protest of Chapainawabganj OC against extortion n Our Correspondent, Chapainawabganj

Lawyers yesterday demanded the withdrawal of the officer-in-charge (OC) from Sadar police station in Chapainawabganj within 24 hours.

They threatened that they would go on tougher movement if the authorities do not take actions.

They made the demand at a press briefing yesterday. It followed an emergency meeting by the District Lawyers’ Association yesterday.

General Secretary of the Association Advocate Ali Awal Baul, who spoke at the press conference, said advocate

Rais Uddin went to file a human traficking case with the Sadar police on behalf of one Ashraful on Tuesday after consulting the district and sessions judge and public prosecutor.

OC Jasim Uddin refused to accept the case and misbehaved with the advocate. He even beat up the lawyer and and kept him detained in jail, he said.

The district lawyers’ leadership also will form a human chain in protests against this incident.

They also constituted a 10-member action committee yesterday, which will meet the district and sessions judge, deputy commissioner and superintendent of police about this. l

n Our Correspondent, Natore The owners of the CNG-run three wheelers have took to the streets to protest the desperate toll collection from their vehicles by different sorts of local cooperatives.

Sources said more than 100 owners flocked in Madrasha crossing area of the district town around 12am yesterday and then they placed memoranda of six-point in this regard to Natore DC Mashiur Rahman and SP Basudev Banik demanding a ban on all kinds of illegal toll collection there.

One dies in launch capsize cer-in-charge of Mehendin Our Correspondent figanj police station said the A man died after a trawler capsized in the Meghna at Char Akuria areaon on Tuesday night.

The victim was identified as Yusuf Ali, 70, hailed from Kashinathpur of Pabna district. Ujjal Kumar Dey, of-

accident occurred around 10pm when a launch hit a trawler with 76 passengers in the area around 10pm.

The body was sent to to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital. Police seized the launch, he said. l

Day labourer killed and victim’s famn Our Correspondent ily Police sources said miscreants A day labourer was hacked to death at Purulia village in Kalia upazila of Narail district on yesterday. The deceased was identified as Makbul Hossen Mollah,60.

stabbed Makbul, leaving him critically injured while he was sleeping in his house.

He was sent to Narail Sadar Hospital where on duty doctor declared him dead. l

2 killed in road accident Correspondent, n Our Brahmanbaria Two people were killed and two others injured in a head-on collision between two buses at Kuttapara intersection under Sarail upazila in Brahmanbaria yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Ayet Ali, 30, of Dhormotirtho village and Johir Mia, 50, of Chondiber area.

Sarail Khatihata highway police outpost Sergeant Md Abdun Nur said: “Ayet and Johit died on the spot when the buses collided with each other around 4pm on Tuesday.” “The injured have been admitted to Sarail upazila health complex,” he said. l

BSMRSTU admission test results published Correspondent, n Our Gopalganj

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University test result for the academic session 1914-15 of first year honours’ students was published yesterday. l

In the event, Natore CNG-run three-wheeler Owners’ Somity President Hossein Sarder threatened to launch hunger strike in front of the DC office from December 1 unless their demands are met.

Later, they sent a copy to the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges by post.

According to the memorandum, men of different local somities have long been forcefully collecting toll from their vehicles plying on the roads and highways in the district in the name of providing services. l

Three abducted forest officials rescued n Our Correspondent, Rangamati Members of law enforcers rescued three forest officials from Naniachar of Langadu upazila on Tuesday night after 19 days of abduction, who were reportedly kidnapped by miscreants on 6 November while they were going to visit a garden in Kharikata area in the district.

Sources said the three forest officials conservator Farid Mia, range officer Robiul Islam and forester Bibartan Chakma of the forest department (North) of Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) were rescued from a deep forest beside the Naniachar-Malchhari road.

On a tip-off, a team of joint force comprising members of police, Rapid Action Battalion, Bangladesh Army and Border Guard Bangladesh conducted a drive in different areas of Naniachar area in the morning, forest conservator Farid said.

Sensing the presence of the joint force, the kidnapers managed to flee the area leaving behind the three forest officials.

Later, the joint force members rescued the three abducted forest officials from the area around 8pm.

The rescued returned to their respective houses at night, the forest conservator added. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Juris

UNIVERSAL CHILDREN’S DAY 2014

Creating a child-friendly world

DHAKA UNIVERSITY LAW FACULTY

Vanguard of legal education in Bangladesh n Emraan Azad and Preeti Kona

A

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

n Md Abdur Razzak “We were all children once. And we all share the desire for the well-being of our children, which has always been and will continue to be the most universally cherished aspiration of humankind.”

We the Children End-decade review of the follow-up to the World Summit for Children Report of the Secretary-General (2001)

I

n an international study of children’s perception of their working lives, children were asked to describe which circumstances in their lives made them feel bad.

Their answers were almost identical.

An Ethiopian children reported that: “I was punished in the classroom by my teacher, who put a pencil in between my fingers and squeezed them.

It was not the pain that hurt me but the feeling of humiliation I underwent when my classmates laughed at me.

That was the last day for me to be at the gate of that school.”

This is just one example that represents the agony of many children worldwide. This is how millions of children worldwide are being treated every day. We consider children as smaller and weaker version of adults.

We tend to treat them in a way that often denies their existence as an independent personality with human dignity. Consciously or unconsciously we discriminate children in varying degree and context compared to an adult. They are highly vulnerable to various forms of physical and mental violence, mistreatment, abuse and exploitation.

It is equally true that children are very welcome in our personal and family life; but most adults do not have adequate knowledge about the rights of children. As a result, in most cases, adults’ behaviour towards children is not always conducive for the welfare and overall development of the children. On top of that, children are unable to voice against the violation of their rights as they are not fully empowered to do that. Therefore, the child, by reason of his physical and mental maturity, deserves special care, including appropriate legal protection, before and after birth.

Taking due account of the importance of the rights of the

child, United Nations adopted the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989 which is ratified by 193 countries all over the world till date. This is the most universally embraced human rights treaty in history containing a comprehensive set of international legal standards for the protection and well-being of children. Article 1 of the Convention, defining a child, reads as, a child means every human being below the age of 18 years unless under the law applicable to the child, majority is attained earlier. The convention mandates that the state parties shall respect and ensure the rights set forth in the present convention to each child within their jurisdiction without discrimination founded on race, colour, sex, language, religion, political and other opinion, national ethnic or social origin, property, disability, birth or family members.

As one of the first countries to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and its two optional protocols, the Government of Bangladesh is under an international obligation to ensure the rights of all children. It should also be mentioned that, during the early period of independence and much prior to the adoption of CRC, Bangladesh adopted the Children Act, 1974. The Constitution of Bangladesh also made provisions guaranteeing the rights of the children. Later on, in line with constitutional and international commitments, Bangladesh had adopted, revised and enacted various policies and laws. Children Act, 2013 is the outcome of such longstanding efforts. The law defines a child as a person below the age of 18 years. A new Children Policy, 2011 has been adopted highlighting children’s right to health, education, cultural activities, leisure, protection, birth registration and iden-

The National Child Labour elimination policy aims at prevention and elimination of child labour especially in its hazardous forms The Millennium Development Goals by 189 United Nations Members in 2000 set a series of collective priorities for peace and security, poverty reduction, the environment and human rights which are essential steps for the advancement of humankind. Though the Goals are for all humankind, they are primarily about children because six of the eight goals relate directly to children. Thus it makes clear that for the greater development of humankind, emphasis should first be laid on children who are the architects of the golden future of any nation. Significantly, the principle objective underpinning all national and international instruments protecting child rights aims at protecting the best interest of the child. The principle of the best interest of children advocates for two important basic rules. The first one is, all the decisions regarding children have to be taken in the exclusive interest of the child to ensure their immediate and future well-being. The second one is, all the decisions and acts must imperatively guarantee the child rights.

tity. The National Child Labour elimination policy aims at prevention and elimination of child labour especially in its hazardous forms. The government also enacted Birth and Death Registration Act, 2014 making birth registration mandatory for all. Needless to mention, there are many more laws and policies having relevance to the protection of child rights.

Despite initiatives undertaken by government and non-government organisations, there are still challenges in addressing some very crucial issues with regard to the protection of child rights in Bangladesh. These are poverty, sexual exploitation, trafficking, child marriage, forced and bonded labour, domestic violence etc. Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of child marriage in the world. Although Bangladesh achieved an appreciable progress in reducing infant mortality yet malnutrition remained as a barrier to such progress. Bangladesh has earned international appreciation in regard to its progress in primary education.

Juvenile justice system in Bangladesh is not child friendly. Juvenile offenders are often tried and detained along with adults. Indeed, the Children Act, 2013 is a very unique piece of legislation that accommodates almost all standard practices with regard to the protection of child rights.

Unfortunately, proper implementation of the law is still a far cry. The law provides for establishing at least one Children’s Court along with a probation officer and a child affairs desk in every district, but this has not been materialised yet. Among others, the Act contains substantive provisions of alternative care, family conferencing, diversions, but rules are yet to be adopted as to which methods of family conferencing and diversions would be followed. The numbers of correction centers are too insufficient to meet the increasing needs. Despite being banned pursuant to a court order, many children, especially in the rural areas, are still being subjected to corporal punishment for behaviour that doesn’t constitute an offence under any law.

The main barriers towards ensuring the rights of the children include poverty, lack of proper implementation of the laws and policies, and lack of awareness regarding the majority of the people regarding the rights of the children. In order to deal with the challenges mentioned, the government should establish a separate ministry for children only with adequate financial and human resources and adopt a child-focused budgeting framework. Strong collaboration between government and NGOs is needed. The government should review all policies and law once in every three to five years in order to make them consistent with demands of the time.

To conclude, there is much to celebrate as we mark the 25th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, from declining infant mortality to rising school enrolment, but this historic milestone must also serve as an urgent reminder that much remains to be done to ensure the full realisation of rights for children. l Md Abdur Razzak is an LLM candidate at the Department of Law, Jagannath University, Dhaka.

JURIS QUOTE Liberty is the right to do what the law permits.

Charles de Montesquieu

French Philosopher January 18, 1689 – February 10, 1755

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7

Thursday, November 27, 2014

s old as the university itself, the faculty of law of Dhaka University started its academic journey on July 1, 1921 along with two other faculties – Sciences and Arts.

Since its establishment, the faculty has been the pioneer of legal education in Bangladesh.

Until 1973, the faculty of law offered a two-year LLB programme in the evening. During the 1973-74 session, it introduced a three-year LLB Honours course which was extended to four years from 1977-78 session.

A one year general LLM course was introduced during the 1976-77 session, and specialised LLM courses were launched in 2006. Now there is a sum total of 30 subjects in both general and specialised Masters programme.

The academic committee decides the number of subjects to be offered for LLM students depending on the availability of course teachers. This faculty enrols students for MPhil and PhD programmes too. At present there are 39 teachers, and around 1150 students at this faculty.

Currently Professor Dr Taslima Monsoor is the dean of faculty of law, and Professor Dr Shahnaz Huda is the chairperson of department.

Amongst others, Professor Dr ABM Mafizul Islam Patwari, former chairperson of this department and founder of Dhaka International University; ABM Khairul Haque, former chief justice of Bangladesh and current chairman of Law Commission; and Professor Dr Mizanur Rahman, former chairperson of the department and present chairman of National Human Rights Commission, are the former prominent faculty members. Professor Dr Borhan Uddin Khan, former dean of this Faculty, is presently heading the Asian Society of International Law (Bangladesh Chapter).

share common interests, ideas, and problems in the legal arena.

To name a few, notable alumni of the faculty are the founder of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, current Supreme Court Chief Justice, Md Muzammel Hossain; present speaker of the national parliament, Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury; the executive director of Ain O Salish Kendro, Sultana Kamal; founder of Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association, Dr Mohiuddin Farooque; Ramon Magsaysay Award winner of 2012, Advocate Syeda Rizwana Hasan, and many others.

Law faculty offers numerous scholarship programmes for regular, needy and meritorious law students.

Each year, the female students on the basis of their academic excellence are awarded the Shamaila Rahman Memorial Scholarship. Five bright and handicapped students are awarded the Professor Dr Hamid Uddin Khan Memorial Scholarship at the end of first year. A number of students from this faculty get accepted for their post-graduate degrees at Harvard University, Oxford University, Cambridge University, etc. The number of students becoming members of Bangladesh Judiciary, Bar Council, and in other services of the Republic after passing competitive examinations is also on the rise.

Despite being an influential seat of learning, this faculty continues to face several academic and administrative problems. The productivity of students is seriously hindered by the absence of a canteen at the department. A computer lab, which was set up in 2010 for the students, is no longer accessible to them. For lack of maintenance, most of the computers are out of order. The seminar library, which does not allow students to borrow books, often fails to provide adequate and updated books or legal

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

To address the challenges of 21st century, the law faculty intends to train its students by introducing them to various extracurricular activities. Established in 2006, the Dhaka University Moot Court Society (DUMCS) is one of the most active and vibrant moot court societies in the country. Representing Bangladesh in different moot court competitions home and abroad, DUMCS has been championing the Henry Dunant Memorial Moot Court Competition, Price-Oxford Media Law Moot Court Competition, ELCOP Refugee Law Moot Court Competition and so on. Each year DUMCS arranges workshops, seminars, symposiums and intra-year, inter-year, and national moot court competition on different branches of law. Since 2004, International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) has been organising the Henry Dunant Memorial National Moot Court Competition in association with this faculty and the DUMCS. The faculty publishes “Dhaka University Law Journal,” a half yearly journal where eminent academics contribute regularly. Moreover, with the motto of enriching the legal scholarship in the country, Dhaka Law Review (DHLR), a legal journal independently run by the students of Dhaka University Law Department, started its journey in 2013.

Being the alumni association of Dhaka University law students, Bangladesh Law Association organises seminars, conferences, and symposiums on legal career, judiciary and human rights issues. The association works not only as an alumni organisation, but also a professional body with objectives to provide a platform for the members to identify, discuss, and

resources necessary for learning.

Although the students demanded for a mock trial court for many years, its establishment is still a castle in the sky. A law clinic was set up in the department during the mid nineties by the sponsorship of Ford Foundation to develop the advocacy skills of the students, which has now been shut down due to inadequate funding.

Nevertheless, the faculty and department together has been trying to solve these problems and handle sessions-jam and disciplinary issues sincerely. The process of digitalising all classrooms is undergoing with the support of donors and well-wishers. A new conference hall has been recently established with modern amenities.

For all students, this department has initiated the programme of student counselling where students can freely talk to the counsellors about any issue that they feel uncomfortable with.

This programme has proven successful for new law students who face problems in studying law and attending classes.

The law faculty has a history of innovation in its curriculum, methods of teaching, and programmes. The goal of this faculty is to provide its students with well-rounded legal education along with the opportunity to put that knowledge and skill into action in ways that contribute to the personal development of the students and for the betterment of the community. Its rich history, commitment to academic excellence and innovation have made it one of the most prestigious law schools in Bangladesh today. l Emraan Azad and Preeti Kona are the LLM candidates at Dhaka University and Editors of Dhaka Law Review.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Thursday, November 27, 2014

‘I know I did my job right’ n Agencies In his first interview since shooting Michael Brown, Officer Darren Wilson has defended his behavior, saying he has a “clean conscience” regarding his actions and that he would do the same thing again if he had to.

During an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulous, Wilson said he saw Brown walking down the middle of the street, along the yellow line, when he asked him to move over.

When he didn’t, the officer said he pulled his car beside him. Describing an altercation that lasted 45 seconds, Wilson explained that he shot Brown six times.

There is a still a federal investigation underway into whether Wilson violated the teen’s civil rights, but that hasn’t stopped the officer from agreeing to break his silence, and give a national broadcast about his version of what happened that day.

He said he feared for his life during the confrontation, believing Brown was attempting to wrestle his gun away from him.

A female protester raises her hands while blocking police cars in Ferguson. More than 2,000 National Guard troops spread out across the St Louis area to prevent another night of rioting and looting after a grand jury declined to indict Darren Wilson, a white police officer, in the August shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown REUTERS

Ferguson fury burns America Two FBI agents shot at house near Ferguson unrest chunks of concrete and a Molotov guson area had been tripled to more n Tribune Desk than 2,000 troops to back up the beleacocktail, St Louis County police said.

Protest marches sprang up across the United States on Tuesday, and police battled to stifle another night of unrest in Ferguson, ground zero of America’s latest racially-charged riots.

Violence erupted in the St Louis, Missouri suburb for a second night, after Monday’s decision by a grand jury not to prosecute a white police officer for shooting dead an unarmed black teenager in August.

Windows were smashed at city hall, a police car was set on fire and protesters pelted police with rocks, bottles,

Demonstrators also threw bottles appearing to contain urine, said county police chief Jon Belmar. He said 44 arrests were made, but that in general the night was calmer than Monday, when the town saw rampaging looters, much gunfire from rioters and at least 12 buildings set on fire.

This time police only used tear gas once, Belmar said.

“I think generally it was a much better night,” Belmar told reporters.

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon said the National Guard force in the Fer-

Warrant issued for Libya’s Haftar n

Agencies

A court in the Libyan capital has issued an arrest warrant for former general Khalifa Haftar, hours after his forces hit Tripoli’s only functioning airport with air strikes.

The developments on Tuesday came as UN chief Ban Ki-moon called for a halt to air strikes in Libya and for all warring sides to engage in talks.

“The only way to resolve the current crisis is through dialogue,” Ban said, citing “full confidence” in his special envoy, Bernardino Leon, who is seeking to broker talks on a ceasefire deal.

Libya’s various militias and the internationally recognised government of Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thani have been engaged in a violent power struggle for months, resulting in the establishment of parallel administrations.

The internationally recognised government in Tobruk says it was forced to hit the Mitiga airbase because it had fallen under the control of a rival administration in Tripoli.

The main international airport has been closed since July.

“If an international airport is a symbol of a country’s sovereignty, then Libya is in big trouble,” Al Jazeera’s Nicole Johnston said.

Arab world singer Sabah dies n AP, Beirut Beloved for her powerful voice and brazen in the conservative Arab world for her multiple marriages, Lebanese singer, actress and entertainer Sabah never seemed far from the limelight during her six-decade career.

And even while playfully mocked in her later years for clinging to youth through plastic surgeries, flings with far-younger men and garish outfits, Sabah remained cherished for her love of life and positive outlook even into old age.

Sabah, whose real name was Jeanette Feghali, died Wednesday morning at age 87, the Lebanese National News Agency reported, without offering a cause of death. Her health had been declining in recent years. l

Awash with weapons

Although the Tobruk government has been recognised internationally, Libya’s Supreme Court this month ruled the Tripoli-based parliament was the legitimate one.

The airport attacks will have repercussions, said Omar al-Hassi, prime minister of the Tripoli government.

“The national salvation government has always adopted the policy of peace, acceptance and dialogue,” Hassi said.

“Yet now, we are forced by what’s happened in Benghazi, Kalkla and Tripoli to embrace the policy of war and armed confrontation.”

More than three years after dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled, Libya is awash with weapons, and all three main cities - Tripoli, Benghazi and Misrata - are largely controlled by militias opposed to Thani’s government.

Residents of the area say they are the ones ultimately paying the price for the ongoing conflict.

“We had one air strike and this morning we were surprised with another one,” a local resident told Al Jazeera.

“We woke up to find airplanes striking three times. They hit houses where families and women were staying.

They had nothing to do with the airbase.” l

guered local police force.

Early in the night at the Ferguson police station riot police dispersed around 100 protesters chanting and waving placards, including one that read: “We will not be silenced.”

Crowds were smaller than they had been on Monday. But masked agitators on the fringes of the demonstration clashed with police. Later, the violence worsened.

Meanwhile, thousands of marchers snaked along streets and freeways, disrupting traffic on bridges and in

tunnels in New York City – leading to a number of arrests.

Two FBI agents were shot and wounded at a house in north St. Louis County early on Wednesday, though the incident was “not directly related” to racially charged unrest in and around nearby Ferguson, an agency spokeswoman said.

One agent was shot in the shoulder and the other was shot in the leg while assisting local police in executing an arrest warrant, FBI spokeswoman Rebecca Wu said in a brief statement. Their injuries were not life-threatening. l

Ohio protests shooting of 12-year-old n AFP Separate protests flared, meanwhile, in Cleveland, Ohio, following the fatal shooting by police of a 12-year-old black boy holding a toy gun at the weekend.

Despite appeals by Brown’s family for calm in Ferguson on Monday, protests rapidly degenerated into looting, arson and running street battles between police and stone-throwers.

Ferguson mayor James Knowles declined to comment Tuesday on Wilson’s future, saying only that the 28-year-old officer remained on administrative leave.

“His current employment status has not changed,” Knowles said.

Syrian regime raids on IS kill 95 n AFP, Beirut, Libya

Syrian regime air strikes on Islamic State group stronghold Raqa killed at least 95 people as a government delegation prepared for talks with key ally Russia Wednesday on relaunching peace negotiations.

The bombing on Tuesday was the deadliest by President Bashar al-Assad’s air force in Raqa since Sunni extremist IS fighters seized control of the city last year and declared it their capital.

More than half of the dead were civilians, according to the Syrian Ob-

servatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war through a network of sources.

It was unknown how many jihadists were killed.

Raqa was the first provincial capital to fall from regime control, and it was later overrun by IS which has used it as the capital of its self-proclaimed “caliphate” straddling Syria and neighbouring Iraq.

The multi-sided Syrian conflict has killed more than 195,000 people and forced millions from their homes since it began three and a half years ago as an

uprising against Assad’s regime.

The government has in recent months stepped up its air strikes against IS-held towns in the north and east, with most of the casualties reported to have been civilians.

Raqa has also been the target of repeated air strikes by the US-led coalition fighting the jihadists.

The exiled opposition Syrian National Coalition condemned the strikes as a “brutal massacre,” warning that “many seem now convinced that Assad is the major beneficiary of the US-led coalition strikes” against the jihadists. l

A man walks amidst smoke and fire following a reportedly air strike by Syrian government forces in IS group controlled Raqa

AFP

Geo-engineering: Climate fixes ‘could harm billions’ n BBC Schemes to tackle climate change could prove disastrous for billions of people, but might be required for the good of the planet, scientists say.

That is the conclusion of a new set of studies into what’s become known as geo-engineering.

This is the so far unproven science of intervening in the climate to bring down temperatures.

These projects work by, for example, shading the Earth from the Sun or soaking up carbon dioxide.

Ideas include aircraft spraying out sulphur particles at high altitude to mimic the cooling effect of volcanoes or using artificial “trees” to absorb CO2.

Long regarded as the most bizarre of

all solutions for global warming, ideas for geo-engineering have come in for more scrutiny in recent years as international efforts to limit carbon emissions have failed.

Now three combined research projects, led by teams from the universities of Leeds, Bristol and Oxford, have explored the implications in more detail.

The central conclusion, according to Dr Matt Watson of Bristol University, is that the issues surrounding geo-engineering how it might work, the effects it might have and the potential downsides - are “really really complicated.”

Sun block Injecting aerosols into the stratosphere mimics the cooling effects of volcanoes “We don’t like the idea but we’re more convinced than ever that we have to research it,” he said.

“Personally I find this stuff terrifying but we have to compare it to doing nothing, to business-as-usual leading us to a world with a 4C rise.”

The studies used computer models to simulate the possible implications of different technologies - with a major focus on ideas for making the deserts, seas and clouds more reflective so that incoming solar radiation does not reach the surface.

One simulation imagined sea-going vessels spraying dense plumes of particles into the air to try to alter the clouds. But the model found that this would be far less effective than once thought.

Another explored the option of injecting sulphate aerosols into the air above the Arctic in an effort to reverse the decline of sea-ice.

A key finding was that none of the sim-

“I can feel his hand trying to come over my hand and get inside the trigger guard and try to shoot me with my own gun,” Wilson said.

Asked if he believed he would have acted the same way if Brown was white, Wilson responded: “No question.”

The officer said he was comfortable that he had acted correctly.

“I don’t think it’s haunting. It’s always going to be something that happened,” he said, adding that his conscience was clear because “I know I did my job right.”

Lawyers for the family of slain youth Michael Brown denounced the prosecutor whose grand jury hearing found that police officer Darren Wilson had killed the 18-year-old in self-defense.

“This process is broken. This process should be indicted,” Brown family lawyer Benjamin Crump told a news conference.

Crump criticized the way Wilson had not been cross-examined when he appeared before the grand jury, which decided not to indict him over the August 9 shooting. l

ulations managed to keep the world’s temperature at the level experienced between 1986-2005 - suggesting that any effort would have to be maintained for years.

More alarming for the researchers were the potential implications for rainfall patterns.

Although all the simulations showed that blocking the Sun’s rays - or solar radiation management, as it is called - did reduce the global temperature, the models revealed profound changes to precipitation including disrupting the Indian Monsoon.

But blocking the Sun’s rays could have undesirable effects, such as disrupting the Indian Monsoon Prof Piers Forster of Leeds University said: “We have found that between 1.2 and 4.1 billion people could be adversely affected by changes in rainfall patterns. l

The August shooting of Brown sparked weeks of protest and a debate about race relations and military-style police tactics.

The Ferguson grand jury concluded Wilson had acted lawfully in firing 12 shots at Brown after he first reached into the officer’s car to grapple with him, then turned on him as he gave chase.

Brown’s death, the aggressive police response to protests and now the result of the grand jury hearing have stirred racial tensions in Ferguson, a mainly black suburb with a mostly white police force.

The town’s community of 21,000 has been on edge since the shooting, and residents complain of years of racial prejudic. l

Erdogan attacks US ‘impertinence’ on Syria n AFP, Istanbul Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday slammed US “impertinence” on the Syrian conflict, exposing the extent of strains between Washington and Ankara days after his key meeting with US Vice President Joe Biden.

Ties between the the US and Turkey have soured in recent months over the reluctance of Turkish leaders to intervene militarily in the US-led campaign against the Islamic State jihadists, who have taken control of swathes of Iraq and Syria.

In an indication of the tensions that remain between the two Nato allies, Erdogan accused the US of being “impertinent” for pressuring it to help save the besieged Syrian town of Kobane, which is within sight of the Turkish border.

“Why is somebody coming to this region from 12,000 kilometres (7,000 miles) away?” Erdogan said during an address to a group of businessmen in Ankara, in a clear reference to the US. “I want you to know that we are against impertinence, recklessness and endless demands,” he said.

Biden had personally stung Erdogan last month by suggesting his policies in supporting Islamist rebel forces in Syria had helped encourage the rise of the IS militant group, a slight that prompted Erdogan to warn his relationship with the US number two could be “history.” l

Putin’s tiger kills 15 goats in China n AP, Beijing A rare Siberian tiger released into the wild by Russian President Vladimir Putin is keeping farmers in northeastern China on edge.

China’s official Xinhua News Agency said Wednesday that the animal, named Ustin, bit and killed 15 goats and left another three missing on Sunday and Monday on a farm in Heilongjiang province’s Fuyuan county.

Xinhua said the farm’s owner, Guo Yulin, was stressed about the tiger, but that he would be compensated by the local forestry department for the loss of the 18 goats. According to Xinhua, Russian experts rescued five tiger cubs two years ago. Ustin was one of three released by Putin in May in a remote part of the Amur region. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Hong Kong riot police clear protest site, arrest student leaders n Reuters, Hong Kong Hong Kong police on Wednesday cleared one of the largest protest sites that has choked the city for months, arresting scores of pro-democracy activists in what could be a turning point in the fight to wrest greater political freedom from Beijing’s control.

Riot police clashed with protesters late into the evening as activists sought to regroup and regain lost ground.

Student leaders Joshua Wong and Lester Shum were among those arrested as hundreds of officers swept through the bustling area of Mong Kok, clearing barricades and tents that had blocked key roads in the Chinese-controlled city for more than two months.

Some among the pockets of demonstrators still out on the streets denied the setback marked the beginning of the end of the occupation, and it was not clear if or when police might try to remove the remaining protest sites elsewhere in the city.

Scuffles broke out when riot police moved against hundreds of protesters on Nathan Road in gritty Mong Kok, Reuters witnesses said.

“You can’t defeat the protesters’ hearts!” screamed Liu Yuk-lin, a 52-year-old protester in a hard hat holding a yellow umbrella, the symbol of the movement, as she stood before lines of police in helmets and goggles.

Nepal arrests treason row protesters near summit venue n AFP, Kathmandu Police in Kathmandu Wednesday arrested a group of protesters demonstrating near the venue of a regional summit to demand that authorities drop a treason case against a prominent Nepalese activist.

Authorities last month charged Chandra Kant Raut, a former scientist with a doctorate from Britain’s Cambridge University, with treason over his calls for a separate homeland for Nepal’s marginalised Madhesi community who live in the southern plains. l

India moves to raise age for tobacco purchases to 25

A police officer (C) gestures as he stands on a barricade built by pro-democracy protesters during the clearance of a major protest site in the Mongkok district of Hong Kong yesterday AFP September to call for greater democracy in the former British colony.

Mong Kok has been a flashpoint for clashes between students and mobs intent on breaking up the protests,

which have posed one of the biggest challenges to China’s Communist Party leaders since the crushing of student-led pro-democracy demonstrations in Beijing in 1989. l

AFP

n AFP Muslim-majority Malaysia will soon introduce a new anti-terrorism law to counter a potential security threat from supporters of the extremist Islamic State (ISIS) group, Prime Minister Najib Razak said on Wednesday.

Najib told parliament his government also would strengthen existing security-related laws as authorities express mounting concern that Malaysians who have joined the ISIS jihad in Syria and Iraq will return home to spread militant Islam.

“Looking at the potential threat

from this group, we fear the return of Malaysians from the conflict zone in Syria and Iraq will be detrimental to national security,” Najib said.

He expressed concern that returnees will come back with battlefield expertise and could carry out “lone wolf” attacks, but did not elaborate on what the new terror legislation would entail.

Najib made the announcement as he introduced a government white paper on the terrorism threat that said 39 Malaysians had gone to join the fighting in Syria, and that five had been killed. l

Gunmen killed four members of a polio vaccination team in Pakistan’s restive southwest on Wednesday, and one survivor recounted screaming at police and dozens of passers-by for help before it finally arrived.

The attack – the latest in a series by militants in Pakistan – happened on the eastern outskirts of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province. Thousands of other polio vaccinators will refuse to go back to work unless they are assured of greater security, a representative said.

“A team of seven polio workers was getting ready to launch the fourth and final day of the campaign when two men riding a motorbike opened fire on their vehicle,” provincial home secretary Akbar Durrani told AFP. The vaccination team leader, who wished to be identified by her first name ‘Rubi’, said the driver of her minivan fled when the men on the motorbike pulled out in front and flashed a gun.

“Then they started firing from the front, I received bullets and fell down, I was bleeding. Then they went to the side of the vehicle and started firing,” she said.

Rubi and others got out of the minivan after the gunmen fled the scene – but minutes passed before they could flag down help.

“I was bleeding and feeling so weak but I struggled to get down and saw a policemen nearby. I screamed for help but he walked away and disappeared down a street,” she said.

“I kept on screaming, begging for help but vehicles wouldn’t stop.” A motorcycle rider finally came to their aid. But two more workers, a husband and wife, died of their injuries on their way to hospital. l

China drafts first national domestic violence law n Agecies

Health campaigners Wednesday welcomed India’s unprecedented plans to raise the age for tobacco purchases to 25 and ban unpackaged cigarette sales, calling them a major step towards stopping nearly one million tobacco-related deaths a year.

India, with a population of 1.2 billion, would have the world’s highest minimum legal age for buying cigarettes if plans to increase the limit from 18 to 25 were implemented, according to campaigners. l

China has drafted its first national law against domestic violence, a move hailed by campaigners as a major step forward.

The new bill defines domestic violence for the first time and offers clear guidance on restraining orders.

Activists have welcomed the move but say the law does not go far enough.

Nearly 40% of Chinese women who are married or in a relationship have suffered abuse, according to state media.

Domestic abuse has long been seen as a private matter in China despite the scale of the problem, says the BBC’s Martin Patience in Beijing.

It was only in 2001 that physical abuse became grounds for divorce.

‘Powerless’ The law, which still needs approval by parliament, introduces measures rights groups have long advocated, such as formally defining domestic violence.

Without a legal definition of the term, victims have found it difficult to get justice. l

A Pakistani official identifies the body of a female polio health worker at a hospital in Quetta yesterday

The Taliban’s psychiatrist In the late 1990s the Taliban controlled Afghanistan, but the fighting that brought them to power left many militants struggling with the psychological effects of war.

One doctor recognised the problem and, although he disagreed with the Taliban’s ideology, agreed to treat them.

“I remember the first group of Taliban who came to see me,” says Afghan psychiatrist Nader Alemi. “They used to come in groups, not as individuals. When I treated one, he would spread the word.

“Fighters would turn up with my name on a piece of paper. They would say that I’d cured their friend, and now they wanted to be cured too. Most of them had never been to a doctor before.”

A familiar figure in Afghanistan, Alemi is based in Mazar-e-Sharif in the north of the country. Taliban forces captured the city in August 1998 and won control of much of the surrounding area.

But while they were succeeding on the battlefield, Alemi saw the mental strain of years of fighting.

He was the only psychiatrist in northern Afghanistan to speak Pashto, the language of most Taliban.

“Language was very important because I spoke their language, they felt comfortable opening up,” he says.

One day the Taliban’s provincial gov-

Aung San Suu Kyi’s party Wednesday said Myanmar is expected to hold high-level political talks within days aimed at amending a controversial junta-drafted constitution that bars the opposition leader from becoming president.

The summit – the second and potentially most important meeting of top officials since the end of army rule – was approved by parliament Tuesday as Myanmar debates charter change ahead of crucial 2015 elections.

“We heard that they are going to meet on coming November 28,” said Nyan Win, spokesman for Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, but was unable to confirm an exact schedule.

“It’s not just us – the whole country is watching this development with great interest,” he said.

The six-party talks will include President Thein Sein, two parliament speakers, Suu Kyi, the army commander in chief and a representative from ethnic parties.

Suu Kyi earlier welcomed the talks, which are a more streamlined version of unprecedented discussions held in late October between Myanmar’s president, army chief and top political figures.

“I have no reason to refuse (to at-

tend),” Suu Kyi told reporters Tuesday after the parliament session, adding that the summit was a positive step.

The NLD gained five million signatures – around 10% of the population – earlier this year in support of its bid to change the constitutional provision that enshrines the military’s effective veto on amendments.

But last week the party admitted that this veto meant it could not win parliamentary votes to change key aspects of the charter, as military representatives in parliament lined up to speak out against significant change.

Suu Kyi has solicited support from US president Barack Obama in her campaign to change the constitution, which she has described as “unjust” and written specifically to keep her out of power.

The charter prohibits those with a foreign spouse or children from becoming president. Suu Kyi’s late husband and two children are British.

Last week the country’s powerful parliamentary speaker Shwe Mann said there would be a referendum on proposed amendments in May 2015, but ruled out enacting any significant changes before the November election.

Parliament will select a president after the poll, which is seen as a key test of Myanmar’s emergence from outright military rule, a process which began in 2011. l

Malaysia plans anti-terror Four polio vaccinators shot dead in Pakistan n law amid ISIS fears

n AFP, New Delhi

n BBC

Suu Kyi party expects new Myanmar constitution talks n AFP, Yangon

But there was no serious violence, and after about three hours the operation was complete and traffic was flowing through the area where demonstrators had camped out since late

9

Thursday, November 27, 2014

ernor Akthar Osmani summoned Alemi to see him - Mullah Akhtar was second in command to Mullah Omar, the group’s spiritual leader.

“He was hearing voices and he was delusional - his bodyguards told me they could hear him raving during the night,” says Alemi. Mullah Akhtar’s staff also said their boss often didn’t recognise them.

“This man had been on the front line for goodness knows how long, and seen goodness knows how many people killed in front of him. All those explosions and screams may still have been echoing in his head, even sitting in the comfort of his office.”

Alemi wanted to see Mullah Akhtar regularly to provide long-term treatment, but his patient would go off on missions every three months, and only kept a few appointments. Much later, in 2006, Mullah Akhtar was killed in an airstrike.

Alemi treated other high-ranking Taliban officials too. “We became sort of friends. [One] asked me to see him at his headquarters - he was suffering from depression and chronic pain, and I prescribed him drugs to alleviate his symptoms.”

“I don’t remember the exact numbers who came to me, but it must have been in the thousands. I treated them for almost three years, before Mazar was recaptured in November 2001.

Because most of these patients had never been to a doctor before, Alemi asked

if their commanders forbade it but that wasn’t the case. “To be honest, they were so into their mission and daily routine that they didn’t have time for medication.

Surprisingly, all of them believed in my treatments.

“The reason they gave me for the turmoil in their minds was the uncertainty in their lives. They had no control over what was happening to them. Everything was in the hands of their commanders. They got depressed because they never knew what would happen from one minute to the next.

“Most of them hadn’t seen their families for months - they hadn’t seen their children who had grown big.”

Alemi found many of the soldiers wanted to die. “They told me they [wanted] to commit suicide, but couldn’t because of Islamic values.”

One said: “Every time I go to the frontline, I wish someone would shoot me and bring an end to my life. But I still survive and hate this sort of living.”

“I used to treat the Taliban as human beings, same as I would treat my other patients… even though I knew they had caused all the problems in our society,” says Alemi. “Sometimes, they would weep and I would comfort them.”

Problems are mainly caused by continued violence, poverty, unemployment, domestic violence and drug addiction A nationwide survey conducted by

the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2002 found high levels of depression, anxiety, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) - women and people with disabilities were most affected In 2006, the WHO reported that less than 1% of medical training was devoted to mental health One of the main problems was that Alemi’s patients were often sent off on missions and could never commit to follow-up sessions.

Consultations cost the equivalent of $1 and the Taliban sometimes sent their wives and daughters to Alemi for treatment as well. “They too were suffering depression, because they wouldn’t see their husbands, fathers for a long time and they didn’t know what the future held for them.”

Even the notorious religious police, the Amr Bil Ma’ruf, let him get on with his business. Alemi remembers how one day they were shouting on their loudspeakers, telling people to leave their jobs and get to mosque for prayers, but he was still seeing patients.

“One of my staff shouted from the building and said: ‘The doctor is busy seeing patients’,” says Alemi. The Amr Bil Ma’ruf shouted back and said: “It is alright, let him do his job.”

Incredibly, at the same time that Alemi was treating the Taliban, his wife ran an underground school for about 100 girls - under the Taliban girls were not allowed to study. l

AFP

Sri Lanka opposition candidate offers unity government n AFP, Colombo Sri Lanka’s main opposition presidential candidate expressed hope Wednesday of forming a unity government and ushering in constitutional reforms if he defeats the incumbent Mahinda Rajapakse in January’s election.

Maithripala Sirisena, who was sacked as health minister after defecting from Rajapakse’s party last week, said he would welcome former cabinet colleagues into a coalition if he triumphs in the January 8 contest.

“I am inviting my former colleagues and all parties represented in the current parliament to join a national government,” Sirisena said after his first visit to the opposition United National Party (UNP) headquarters in the capital.

Sirisena’s shock announcement last week has sparked an exodus from the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party. Another SLFP legislator jumped ship to the UNP on Wednesday, bringing the total to 10.

Sirisena, who was also the SLFP’s general secretary, vowed to scrap many of the powers that Rajapakse has transferred to the presidency since

coming to power in 2005.

He says he will return to the former British colony’s status as a parliamentary democracy that existed until 1978.

Sirisena said he wanted to bring about a peaceful constitutional revolution, citing India’s independence icon Mahatma Gandhi and South Africa’s anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela as his inspirations.

“I am a poor farmer’s son, I am not rich... but I am an admirer of both Gandhi and Mandela and will follow their example in leading the country to establish a new political culture,” he said.

Private election monitors said more violence was reported overnight, with ruling party loyalists attacking homes of those who had defected to the opposition.

Shots had been fired into the homes of rivals in the central region, but there were no casualties.

Rajapakse, the longest serving leader in South Asia, called the election two years ahead of schedule in an apparent bid to seek a fresh mandate before his party’s popularity tumbles further after dropping over 21% in September local elections. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Thursday, November 27, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Saarc needs more vision

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early 30 years after its foundation, there is still a long way to go for Saarc to fulfill its potential to help lift living standards for all the peoples of South Asia.

We welcome the speech by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at this week’s summit in Kathmandu urging Saarc leaders to set aside differences and work collectively to bring prosperity for the people of the region.

As leader of the grouping’s dominant economy, it is important that Indian PM Narendra Modi has also supported similar aims. His observation that India’s huge trade surplus with the rest of the region is “neither right nor sustainable” provides a welcome boost for efforts to ease the bureaucratic hurdles which hinder Saarc from flourishing.

Saarc needs to become far more effective at lowering the barriers that prevent mutual trade and investment from growing in our region. It is vital this summit is followed up by concrete steps to help Bangladesh and other Saarc members grow their exports to India. Non-tariff barriers need to be removed altogether.

Vision is key to helping Saarc achieve its goals. We hope recent talks and interest in major cross-border projects on energy and transport can act as a game changer to boost its mission.

Symbolic steps such as India’s steps to ease business visas also matter.

For Saarc to succeed, our nations should emulate the free and convenient movement of goods and people seen in the European Union. Our region needs both better physical links and more open borders to secure prosperity, stability, and peace.

Cross-border projects on energy and transport can act as a game changer

Innovation key to unlocking digital future

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Californian venture capital fund has announced it is to take a stake in a Bangladeshi web company and plans to build a $200m fund to invest in Bangladeshi startups.

It is extremely welcome news that Silicon Valley-based investors are taking an interest in the country’s growing Internet sector. The experience they can bring in terms of management and strategy is as valuable for Bangladeshi technology startups as the new funding they can provide.

With our young population and developing economy, there is enormous potential for entrepreneurs to innovate and develop IT-based services for the home market, as well as competing for overseas income streams via outsourcing.

However, we must not neglect the fact there is a huge need for improvement in our IT sector. A limited skills base, low bandwidth, and a large number of households without computers means that Bangladesh only lies at the 145th position among 166 countries on the International Telecommunication Union’s global ICT index.

Efforts to improve innovation and develop new skills and services need to be encouraged further.

The rapid take up of mobile banking services, which now has over 20 million regular customers, without the need to develop costly brick and mortar networks, shows the potential of ICT to boost economic development via technological advances.

Our economy needs to keep developing new skills to stay competitive. We must encourage entrepreneurs by improving infrastructure and loosening red tape in order to help improve the living standards of everyone in the nation.

Our economy needs to keep developing new skills

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

Chhatra League say they own DU campus

November 12 Jamaat when they aren’t even factors here? nds After all, they are the “Surja shontan of AL.” They shondhani own not only DU, but, as a matter of fact, the This is not just a shame for the “Chhatra League.” country is their father’s property. Protesters had Moreover, this is an image of the atrophy of our no right to trespass into their property, whereas education system. How we can say that they are in a liberal democracy, the cardinal principle is to students and again claim DU as the best university respect the right of property. of the country? What can a nation expect from Go ahead, dear soldiers of the liberation war these rowdy students? spirit, the nation is with you. We have proved our loyalty to you in the last national election. You Siam Ashraful need not bother about what the poor hapless Just such a shame for us, I have lost my words ordinary people say or do. already!

Anonymous Evil People Politics Chhatra League should be named as a terrorist This is absolutely unacceptable behaviour! If organisation for the very same crimes of rape, reason does not prevail with these hoodlums, arson, murder, harassment, and conspiracy perhaps it’s time for stricter measures to be against the country as Jamaat of 1971. brought out.

Vikram Khan Kamal Our future politicians???

There’s no single statement that says Chhatra League owns the campus. No Chhatra League Mug Costanza member said so, nor their leader. Then why does Vikram Khan: Appropriate, no? the author say so?

University authorities have taken action on Judas503 this matter; thumbs up for them.

Vikram Khan: Yes they are. rose The Chhatra League should not be allowed to exhibit such criminal acts anywhere in this country. The authorities should take stringent measures to prevent such an iniquity.

Shahid Imon They are muggers at best, not students. safia durdana I am disgusted by them. The Chhatra League are liars.

I hope the prime minister is aware of their actions. bongovokto safia durdana: Not at all, we are honest folks. The supporters and activists of Bangabandhu can never utter a lie. Only the Jamaatis can do such a thing.

JJ bongovokto: From where did you dig up BNP and

The troubles of travelling by bus November 16

Sheikh Jinat Mahmid “Commuters engage in a risky competition to ride on the limited number of public buses left on the city streets in the wake of BRTA’s ongoing drive against unfit vehicles.”

Seems like an action movie scene where the film’s hero is chasing a bus!

CALVIN AND HOBBES

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 4 represents C so fill C every time the figure 4 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.

Dreampie Kamal: They said a number of things, quite boldly and plainly I might add, to drive home that they “own DU campus.” Since only a fraction of their statements were quoted in this report, it does not mean they never said it.

Barely Legal Alien Dreampie: Not to be pedantic or anything, but they said exactly that they own DU. There was no room for misinterpretation. None.

Akhtar Al Amin Is there any necessity to even utter these lines?

When they are proving this by their activities?

Dreampie It was clearly evident in the slogans the BCL thugs screeched that they believe they own Dhaka University.

Probe makes historic comet landing November 12

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Annoying children (5) 5 Not cheap (4) 8 Appropriate (6) 9 Essential (5) 10 Quick (4) 11 Prods (5) 12 Pinch (3) 15 Repose (4) 18 Make into a statute (5) 21 Fish eggs (3) 22 Building cover (4) 24 Halt (4) 25 Lawful (5) 28 Smooth and even (mus) (6) 29 Facial features (4) 30 Lowest point (5)

DOWN 1 Oxlike (6) 2 Fitting (3) 3 Snare (4) 4 Alone (4) 5 Postpone (5) 6 Rubber (6) 7 Rodent (3) 13 At home (2) 14 Conditional release (6) 16 Accordingly (2) 17 Bank employee (6) 19 Deals with successfully (5) 20 In the direction of (2) 23 Open tart (4) 24 Prosecute (3) 26 Greek letter (3) 27 Deity (3)

Momoaswan That is amazing.

PM opens flyover construction work in CTG

November 13 imzy This flyover need to be completed immediately!

An inspiration for all November 13 WaliulHaqueKhondker Congrats! Wasfia, you do us proud!

As I have already voted and invited all and sundry to vote for you, I hope all others would do the same to help you earn the prestigious People’s Choice Award of the National Geographic Magazine! Go Wasfia, go! We are with you!

SE Congrats indeed to this particular mountaineer who made Bangladesh so proud of her achievement.

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

Tofail: Bangladesh does not get zero tariff access to US November 12 Dr Ahsan Habib What is such a big deal about becoming a middle-income country? It is not a matter of pride, but long overdue. It is a shame that Bangladesh is still an LDC. There are only 48 countries in the world that are LDC. Countries that were far below Bangladesh have moved out of this list. India, Pakistan, and most Asian countries are out of it.

So my advice to Hasina and Tofail is: Don’t beat the drum of becoming a middleincome country. It only reflects your failure to make our nation middle income, which our peers have become.

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Thursday, November 27, 2014

On the cusp of regional connectivity

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n Nisha Biswal s South Asian leaders gather in Kathmandu this week for the 18th Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc), there is growing expectation for the discussions to result in stronger economic and energy connectivity in the region and opportunity for enhanced regional collaboration on a host of other areas.

While it is too early to tell what agreements will be forged at the Saarc summit, such a focus is long overdue in a region that continues to be one of the least connected in terms of interregional trade. The United States firmly believes that increased regional economic connectivity within South Asia, as well as with other parts of Asia, can bolster economic growth, reduce poverty and enhance regional stability and security, which is why we continue to encourage governments, civil society and businesses in South Asia to strengthen regional cooperation.

the world. But the good news is we are seeing real leadership from governments of the region to change that dismal statistic.

India’s Prime Minister Modi has made growing trade and investment among Saarc countries one of his government’s top priorities, and these early efforts are having positive ripple effects throughout the neighbourhood. This is especially true in areas like energy connectivity, where increased flows of electricity can fill supply gaps, provide factories with the power they need to engage in regional trade and showcase to potential investors the region as a platform for business and market access.

Following Modi’s trip to Nepal earlier this year, the two countries have advanced power trade and power development cooperation, which could enable greater private sector investment to develop hydropower capacity. India and Bhutan recently signed agreements to strengthen their ties and deepen regional energy, trade, and educational connectivity.

Saarc members can lead the way this week and unleash the region’s true potential South Asia has a chance to break down barriers This is not to say that progress has not been achieved. It has. Over the past 20 years, South Asia has averaged 6% economic growth per year, lifting millions out of poverty and improving the quality of life for hundreds of millions more. It is the second-fastest growing region in the world, and has the human capital, industry, and technology to catapult its citizens forward in the 21st century.

Still, in terms of economic linkages, the countries of South Asia remain oceans apart, especially in stark contrast to other regions of the world.

For South Asia, intraregional trade is anchored at around 5%, the lowest in

And India and Bangladesh are working closely to expand their cross-border 500 MW electricity transmission line, which came online last year. In Afghanistan, the newly elected Government of National Unity has prioritised regional economic engagement, already signing a pricing agreement for transiting electricity from Central Asia through Afghanistan to Pakistan as one of its first policy acts.

This week, Saarc members have the chance to further deepen regional ties by moving on three agreements that have the potential to revolutionise trade and regional economic growth: A South Asia power trade agreement, a

motor vehicle agreement and a railway agreement which collectively will provide the basic framework for regional integration.

We also welcome the continued pursuit of a South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA) by all the countries of Saarc, which would provide a strong, stable and transparent framework for investment while fostering greater trade and spreading opportunity. Such steps are necessary to create a single regional market that will spur market efficiencies, generate comparative advantages and shift to more productive, innovative and balanced economies.

As Saarc members work together

towards a more connected and more prosperous future, they will have the support of international partners like the US. We are already taking several steps to support greater South Asia cooperation. On the energy side, we have been working with South Asian countries on steps needed to create a regional energy market through greater electricity trade.

On transit trade, the US supports a strong regulatory environment for private investment and greater harmonisation of trade standards across borders. On border crossings, we are implementing a single-window customs system to reduce border wait

T

Then what?

To be without a home

n Taslima Nasrin

I

received an award a few days ago.

It was the Hedenius award from a Swedish human rights organisation. This award was named after the Swedish philosopher Ingemar Hedenius. He was a professor of philosophy at the famous University of Uppsala.

He fought against Christianity. He even wrote books on the subject of no healthy argument being possible between religion and science. The Hedenius award is given to those who relentlessly fight against fanaticism, superstitions, etc. I have received several awards from Europe and America. The recognition that I receive for writing in favour of humanity and human rights eliminates the pain of my exile.

Sometimes I wonder what will happen to all these awards after I die.

I have no home, no country. They will probably be lost. I lost many awards already. I have been forced to lead a Bohemian life for 20 years now. Since my childhood, I wished to get a house of my own and decorate it in my own way.

BIGSTOCK

My wish never came true. Now, I don’t dream about settling down anymore. The older I get, the less I dream of houses. The thought occurs to me that I have to leave everything behind one day. And I frequently remember that everything in life, even life itself, is temporary.

Only Swedish people are eligible for the Hedenius award. As I am a Swedish citizen, I didn’t face any difficulty in getting this award. A brown girl with black hair is Swedish! Even I can’t believe it. Swedish men and women are tall, wide, white-skinned with blonde hair, whereas I am a Bengali from head to toe.

As Bangladesh wouldn’t renew my passport, even though I am a citizen, I had to accept a Swedish passport. With that came citizenship. And with the citizenship came the Hedenius award.

I have a love-hate relationship with Sweden. I love the country, and then I don’t – a lot like my feelings towards Bangladesh and France.

That night, I met another humanitarian and Hedenius award winner – the famous Björn Ulvaeus. He was one

of the four singers of the famous Swedish band Abba. The band survived for only 10 years, from 1972 to 1982. Yet they were famous worldwide.

After the band broke up, Björn and Benny Andersson, another member of the band, continued their singing careers. They did well, but it was nothing compared to the popularity of Abba. Abba’s music became popular again after movies like Muriel’s Wedding, The Adventures of Priscilla – Queen of the Desert, and Mamma Mia. People started listening to their songs again.

I had dinner with Björn that night.

American humanitarian writer Rebecca Goldstein and a few other British and Swedish humanitarians were also there with us. We discussed many things over dinner, but not a single word about Abba.

He is a free thinker and he doesn’t believe in religion. He has a publication house named Fri Tanke, that promotes free thinking. They published many books in Swedish, but I won’t say that the house is very profitable.

People don’t read books on atheism, humanitarianism, and science. If 85% of the people in a country are atheists, then the number of people who read books on science cannot be too small.

When I was talking to Björn, I was thinking about how this very famous person never hesitated to declare that he is an atheist.

Usually, famous or popular upperclass people do not want to disturb the social structure. They want to be identified as the dedicated servants of religion and patriarchy. They want to avoid controversy. Not everyone can be John Lennon or a Monty Python.

Not everyone can be Björn Ulvaeus.

Sweden is the best country in the world for human rights and women’s rights. There is no discrimination against anyone – woman, atheist, homosexual, transgender, black, or brown – in making their way to the top. I don’t live in Sweden, but I am proud of the country.

I wonder if Bangladesh can ever become a country like Sweden. Maybe it will, but I know it won’t be in your lifetime or mine. Even if it takes a thousand years, one day, the country will be civilised – this is my dream. l Taslima Nasrin is a feminist writer and columnist currently in exile in India. This article has been translated for the original Bengali.

REUTERS

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times at key points such as the Benapole-Petrapole crossing across India and Bangladesh.

We have also offered technical assistance to organisations that facilitate greater regional linkages to the global marketplace like the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) secretariat.

The US sees a South Asia with unlimited potential, not only to dramatically increase trade within the region but to also reach out to regional neighbours in Central and Southeast Asia. This is why we are supporting initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Eco-

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nomic Corridor – connecting South to Southeast Asia – and the New Silk Road – connecting South to Central Asia – with greater energy, trade, transit and people-to-people links.

In short, the US sees the potential of a much more unified Asia – with South Asia at the heart of dynamic regional connections. Saarc members can lead the way this week and unleash the region’s true potential and create a more prosperous and secure future for their people. l Nisha Biswal is Assistant Secretary of State of the United States, Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.

E

Y

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In your debt n Mamun Rashid

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his is not the best time for commercial bank seniors. Though the statistics show that more than 11% of the Tk4.5tn loans are classified, they know for sure if one were to apply qualitative judgment, the numbers would be much higher.

Thankfully, Bangladesh Bank, in view of the turbulent situation in the last quarter of 2013, allowed flexibility to the banks to keep their books regular through rescheduling loans.

One does not need to go far – only the Chittagong portfolio of each of the commercial banks can possibly exceed the reported gross classified amount by banks. If one would include the written-off amount, the amount may become massive. It is often said commercial banks can’t lower their interest charge due to large classified or non-performing loans.

Can they realise the classified or default loans? This is a million dollar question. The answer is: Probably not.

Since the banks are not at all serious about recovering the written-off loans, we don’t think they can be too serious about recovering classified or doubtful debts.

Besides, there is reported security or collateral shortfall or deficiency, telling us the banks are sitting on large troubled assets. They can obviously go to the courts, but the legal route can only remind us about the East India Company era. Any settlement through courts would take at least five to 10 years.

Banks were very happy with Bangladesh Bank actions early this year, deferring the classification exercise by almost 6 months. Banks could book their year-end profit. The NBR was happy with their tax collection in a dull scenario. Shareholders were happy they could book some dividends due to the inflated profit of the banks.

All synthetic solutions.

Courtesy Hall-mark, Bismillah, and other loan failures, NCBs are topping the list with large classified loans. The amount is more than 20% of their total loans.

Again, if we follow a quality drive,

the amount may be much higher.

Sadly, the large private sector banks are also sitting on surprises. News coming out of them is also too dubious.

There are recurring past dues, security shortfall, excessive lending, and non-payments. Though the situation is much better with foreign banks, the situation may worsen if they continue to increase their loan portfolio or try to reach out to a larger client base.

When accountability is non-existent in the government, one should not expect much from the central bank

Usually, one always blames weak risk analysis, absence of a need-assessment culture, weak loan governance resulting in diversion of funds to purchase land, invest in capital markets, or transfer money abroad, political influence helping continuous loan rescheduling, weak information technology or MIS architecture, lack of proper approval covenant monitoring or loan monitoring, poor facility structuring, weak client fundamentals, and maybe political disturbances.

These days however, one also gets to hear about poor risk management skills of the banks’ senior managers, including the CEO, and continuous pressure from the board of directors to increase loan portfolio or to book new clients.

Like the state-owned banks, most of the private commercial banks are managed day to day by the chairman or one or two influential board members, obviously not the managing director or CEO. These directors look after each others’ interests or the interests of their director friends in other banks.

When things start to go bad, they

simply pass the buck to the poor MD or senior management.

Some would blame the central bank for this sad state of commercial banks.

They point the finger at the weak supervision by the central bank. In a country like ours, the central bank too is either helpless to political pressure, or succumbs to vested interests. When accountability is almost non-existent in the government, one should probably not expect too much of it from the central bank.

Most of us thought the days of plundering depositors’ money by only a few large borrowers were gone. We were wrong. Banks are still sitting on large classified loan portfolios or possible bad debts. Each CEO prays the hole is not revealed during his time.

He tries to do cosmetic surgery in order to hide the actual situation of the loan books. Some are successful, some aren’t – especially those who are given renewals or tenor extensions. Some of them even have to face the music from the Anti Corruption Commission.

Can the situation change or improve? Of course it can. But for that, we must improve the credit analysis or risk management capacity of the banks. Banks should have better MIS to understand whose loan is being repaid, whose is not, or where the money is going. Loan concentration within a few hands or loans to politically important persons should be stopped, and the majority of the board members should come from independent quotas or among professionals.

The commercial banks must follow one rule: “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.” Accountants must be able to defend each of their audited reports. The central bank can also think of linking group borrowing with that of the groups’ total equity. Capital market route should be considered by the biggies for any new fundraising.

Banks should focus on more credit, risk management training, or certification for their employees including the senior management. l Mamun Rashid is a business professor and financial sector entrepreneur.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE Thursday, November 27, 2014

13 Ton-up Hafeez

lifts Pakistan

14 Hattricks for

Kun, Leo

14 Fabregas hits

back at Ramos

Sport

Anamul sad for missing 100, Chigumbura fed-up with effort

Anamul Haque 95 from 120 balls

Minhaz Uddin Khan

Anamul Haque Bijoy scooped his career’s second man-of-thematch as Bangladesh continued to dominate the visitors who are yet to see the face of a win in this tour.

There were disappointment f r o m both members of B a ng l a d e s h and Zimbabwe present at the post-match conference yesterday – 21-yearold Anamul expressed sadness for not being able to register a hundred while Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura was fed-up with his charges committing the same mistakes in every game.

Anamul, who has three centuries in his 25-match one-day career, made 80 in the previous match while he was just five shy of a 100 yesterday. The youngster was rued the opportunities and said, “I am disappointed with myself, missed the century two matches in a row.”

“A batsman is always disappointed when he gets out in the 90s and for me the pain is double because this is the first time I got out in the 90s,” said a dejected Anamul.

Alongside Anamul, Bangladesh’s experienced opening batsman Tamim Iqbal also seem to be in song as the two are providing effective partnership at the top. After their record 158-run stand in the second ODI in Chittagong, the duo added 121 yesterday to set another solid platform of a big score. Along the way it was also the only time an opening pair regis-

tered two hundred-plus partnerships for Bangladesh.

“Tamim Iqbal is one of the best openers in the world, and he helps me all the time. He is a great partner, doesn’t matter if he is batting with me or with someone else. Today (yesterday) he played the anchoring role while I went for the shots,” said Anamul.

Anamul, who will turn 22 next month, feels a “Banglawash” is well on cards given they maintain their present standard. “The batsmen are getting runs and with the ball Mashrafe (Bin Mortaza) bhai is getting the early breakthroughs and later being complimented by other bowlers, the fielding is sharp so I think we are in a good shape now and with this whitewash should not be an impossible task.”

BANGLADESH’S HIGHEST ODI TOTALS

Score Result Vs Ground (Year) 326/3 lost Pak Dhaka (2014) 320/8 won Zim Bulawayo (2009) 313/6 won Zim Bulawayo (2009) 309/6 won NZ Fatullah (2013) 301/7 won Kenya Bogra (2006) 300/8 won UAE Lahore (2008) 297/6 won Zim Dhaka (2014)

BEST ODI OPENING PAIRS FOR BANGLADESH Partners Kayes, Tamim Junaid, Tamim Anamul, Tamim S Nafees, Tamim

Inns Runs Ave 100 42 1138 27.09 0 25 573 23.87 0 15 572 38.13 2 24 490 20.41 1

On the other hand, the visiting skipper had nothing much to say but repeat what he has been saying after their latest defeats. The 124run defeat ended their hope of saving the ODI series and Chigumbura just hopes they can take some positives back home from the remaining two matches.

The all-rounder was especially disappointed from the efforts of his bowlers while he also reasoned the regular fall of wicket during their run-chase behind the humiliating defeat.

“Same old stuff, same old mistakes. I guess if we keep repeating the same thing we keep getting the same result. It didn’t work like I said the same mistakes, we changed the team but we repeated the same mistakes,” said Chigumbura.

“And we didn’t bowl well as we wanted too. Any team chasing 290 is always a tough thing and we didn’t help ourselves by losing early wickets again. Could have been better if we had wickets in hand,” he added.

However the 28-year-old believes these demoralising tour and the results in Bangladesh will not put any negative impact or extra pressure on his team ahead of the ICC World Cup in February. Chigumbura said the conditions in Australia and New Zealand are totally different and more suitable for them and hence they are not worried about the results here.l

Tigers’ batting worries a thing of the past n Minhaz Uddin Khan Batting has been Bangladesh’s main concern throughout the year 2014.

And with the 2015 ICC World Cup just around the corner, the Tigers required some much-needed improvements in the bilateral series at home against Zimbabwe.

Before the home series against the Southern African nation, Bangladesh’s batting department experienced one low after another in this year. The Tigers hardly did any justice to their grand nickname as they were skittled out for 58 and 70 in ODIs against India and the West Indies respectively earlier this year.

To add to their woes, Bangladesh were dismissed for 161 in a Test innings against the West Indies in Septem-

ber besides being bundled out for 98 against the same opposition in the ICC World Twenty20 in March.

These batting failures not only frustrated the cricketers but also the millions of cricket-mad supporters in this country. That is why the series against Zimbabwe was that much important ahead of the showpiece event in Australia-New Zealand next year.

As of now, three Tests and as many ODIs have taken place between the home side and Zimbabwe. And looking into the scorecard of the ongoing series, it seems that the Tigers batsmen have recovered bravely from their flagging fortunes in recent times.

The Tigers got off to a flying start in the bilateral series registering a clean sweep in the Test matches. Besides the Bangladesh spinners, credit should

Parliamentary committee seeks to alter BFF fund n Shishir Hoque The parliamentary standing committee for the ministry of youth and sports seeks to alter the financial demand presented by the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) for the development purpose of the game in the country.

The BFF in April requested the government to allocate Tk370m every year in order to run football smoothly.

A two-member BFF delegation team comprising general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag and Shamsul Hoq Chowdhury met the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee for the ministry of youth and sports, Zahid Ahsan Russel, yesterday afternoon when, apart from discussing the ongoing and future activities, Russel also advised the federation about revising their financial request and decreasing the amount.

The standing committee also expressed its willingness to see different national teams participating, not age-level or Olympic teams, in the

forthcoming Bangabandhu Gold Cup. “We informed them about our activity, development, ongoing project, district football, upcoming concert and lottery plan. It was a lively discussion,” said Shohag yesterday.

“They gave us their observations.

They would be happy if the national teams of the participant countries take part in the upcoming Bangabandhu Gold Cup. They also feel they need to revise the financial support (Tk370m) we asked for and see if they can deduct any. They also want to see more football outside Dhaka,” added Shohag.

The amount asked by BFF includes the wages of the Bangladesh team coach, training of football in the grassroot level, the national team’s participation in the international tournaments and the organising of professional football league and other tournaments.

Former national footballer, BFF vice president and the deputy minister for youth and sports, Arif Khan Joy and top National Sports Council officials were also present in the meeting.l

also be given to the batsmen for improving the side’s plight. In those three Tests, the Tigers garnered 1858 runs, including scoring 503 in the first innings of the third match in Chittagong.

Top-order batsman Mominul Haque continued to make merry in five-day cricket while opener Tamim Iqbal played his role to perfection.

The Bangladesh batsmen did the same in the first three ODIs, dominating the Zimbabwean bowlers to post totals of 281/7, 251/7 and 297/6 – the first time they scored more than 250 in three ODIs in a row since 2009 when they achieved the feat against the same opposition.

Opening batsman Anamul Haque leads the batting chart for the home side in the first three ODIs with 187 runs followed by Shakib al Hasan (141), Mush-

fiqur Rahim (125) and Tamim (121).

The most pleasing aspect is that the Bangladesh batsmen are taking time to settle at the wicket and in the process stringing together record-breaking partnerships. Shakib and Mushfiq’s 148-run stand for the fifth wicket in the first ODI was the highlight alongside Tamim and Anamul’s 158-run partnership for the opening wicket in the second match.

In the third ODI too, Tamim and Anamul added more than a hundred runs – the first time a Bangladeshi opening pair posted more than 100-run partnerships in consecutive ODIs. l Abul Hasan and Taijul Islam have been named in place of Shafiul Islam and Arafat Sunny for the 4th and 5th ODIs

Mashrafe Mortaza has taken most catches (42) for Bangladesh in ODIs

BANvZIM, 3RD ODI Bangladesh innings Tamim Iqbal run out 40 Anamul Haque c Sub b Kamungozi 95 Mominul c Maruma b Masakadza 15 Shakib c Chigumbura b Panyangara 40 Mushfiqur Rahim b Panyangara 33 Mahmudullah not out 33 Sabbir Rahman c Maruma b Madziva 22 Mashrafe Mortaza not out 2 Extras (lb 10, w4, nb3) 17 Total (for 6 wickets; 50 overs) 297 Fall of wickets 1-121(Tamim), 2-160 (Mominul), 3-167(Anamul), 4-239 (Shakib), 5-244 (Rahim) , 6-290(Sabbir) Bowling Panyangara 10-0-54-2(nb1), Madziva 9-0-60-1(w2, nb1), Chigumbura 3-018-0 (w2, nb1), Kamungozi 10-0-40-1, Maruma 2-0-15-0, 10-0-64-0, Masakadza 5-0-25-1, Mire 1-0-11-0 Zimbabwe innings H Masakadza c Rahim b Mortaza 12 V Sibanda c Sunny b Mortaza 9 T Maruma c Mortaza b Rubel 8 B Taylor lbw b Shakib 28 S Mire c Rahim b Sunny 12 R Chakabva b Mahmudullah 14 E Chigumbura not out 53 P Moor lbw b Rubel 2 N Mazdiva c Sub b Sunny 11 T Panyangara b Sunny 0 T Kamungozi b Sunny 4 Extras (b8, lb1, w11) 20 Total (all out; 39.5 overs) 173 Fall of wickets

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

n

Did you know?

Arafat Sunny 4 for 27

1-9 (Sibanda), 2-22 (Masakadza), 3-39 (Maruma), 4-80 (Mire), 5-82 (Taylor), 6-119 (Chakabva), 7-126(Moor), 8-153(Mazdiva) 9-153(Panyangara), 10-173(Kamungozi) Bowling Mortaza 7-2-24-2, Shafiul 2.1-0-200(w2), Rubel 5.5-0-22-2(w1), Sabbir 2-0-16-0, Sunny 8.5-0-27-4, Shakib 7-119-1(w1), Mahmudullah 5-0-29-1(w2), Mominul 2-0-7-0 Bangladesh won by 124 runs and lead the series 3-0

Sk Jamal face Sony Norde n Raihan Mahmood Bangladesh Premier Football League champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club will face one of their former players when they take on Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan, led by Haitian international Sony Norde, in a crucial Group A match of the King’s Cup in Thimphu, Bhutan today. The match will kick off at 5pm.

In the last encounter between the two powerhouses nine months back, Jamal prevailed 1-0 in the IFA Shield in India. Norde, playing for Jamal back then, slammed in the match-winner.

Jamal, however, lost the final to Kolkata Mohammedan 4-3 in the tiebreaker.

Today, Norde will take the field against the Bangladesh top flight champions. It is mentionable that prior to his stint with Jamal, Norde featured for Sheikh Russel in their treble-winning

POOR TAMIM!

campaign in the 2011-12 season.

With Jamal and Mohun Bagan locked on four points each, a draw will see both the teams qualify for the semifinals as Thai club Nakhon Ratchasima ended their group campaign on four points. In their last group match, Mohun Bagan defeated Nakhon 3-0 with Pierre Boya netting a brace and Norde scoring the other.

If Jamal win today’s match 2-0 then Mohun Bagan will be eliminated by goal difference and Nakhon will seal their berth in the last four. A 1-0 defeat for Bagan, meanwhile, will be enough for them to progress. The same equation is applicable for Jamal. At the moment, Bagan and Jamal have a goal difference of +3 each while Nakhon have +2.

Meanwhile, Jamal president Manjur Kader has flown to Bhutan to motivate the team and has announced cash rewards for a win.l

Nat’l hockey quartet awaiting fitness test

n Raihan Mahmood

As soon as Anamul Haque worked the ball on the on-side, his opening partner Tamim was alive to the prospect of some runs. The pair ran the first one quickly, but Anamul hesitated to take the second. Tamim ran through though, putting pressure on Anamul to look for a second. Tamim was close to making his ground at the striker’s end when his bat jammed into the turf while he was trying to slide it to safety. As it happened, his feet were in the air when Masakadza broke the stumps to complete Tamim’s second run-out in consecutive matches MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Russel Mahmud Jimmy and three other national players will be called up by the National Selection Committee within a few days to demonstrate their fitness level.

Head coach Mamunur Rashid said the committee is awaiting instructions from the federation. “After receiving instructions, the selection committee will start the procedure. The players will be given about a week’s time to get prepared. After that they will appear before the committee. If they require more time to attain their fitness we will provide them special programmes.”

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh Hockey Federation yesterday selected 13 players for the second round of the upcoming Hockey World League. The players are - Mamunur Rahman Chayan, Rokonuzzaman Shohag, Krishna Kumar Das, Hasan Jubair Niloy, Pushkor Khisa Mimo, Irfanul Haque, Abdullah al Monsur, Taposh Barman, Rimon Kumar Ghosh, Sheikh Mohammed Nannu, Shamim Mia, Monowar Hossain Russel (GK) and Sajibur Rahman (GK).l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

‘Hughes not wearing latest model helmet’

QUICK BYTES

Berbatov relishing Leverkusen return Veteran Monaco striker Dimitar Berbatov hopes to frustrate former club Bayer Leverkusen in their bid to reach the Champions League’s knock-out phase in Wednesday’s clash. With a four-point lead at the top of Group C, Roger Schmidt’s Leverkusen are in pole position to reach the last-16. A point for the hosts will put them in the knockout phase, but ex-Bulgaria international Berbatov hopes second-placed Monaco can make life difficult for the hosts in what he expects will be a tough game.

Leverkusen are looking to avenge their 1-0 opening day defeat away at Monaco last September when Portugal’s Joao Moutinho netted the winner. The German league side have won all three games since, defeating Zenit Saint Petersburg both home (2-0) and away (2-1), while bottom side Benfica were also beaten 3-1 at the BayArena. Monaco have struggled in their last three games, having been held to goalless draws both at Zenit, then at home to Benfica, before losing 1-0 to the group’s bottom side in Portugal.

–AFP

n AFP, London

Fire near Tottenham ground ‘suspicious’ A fire that wrecked the offices of a firm in dispute with Tottenham Hotspur over the club’s proposed ground redevelopment was described as “suspicious” by investigators on Tuesday.

Firefighters attended the blaze at Archway Sheet Metal Works on Paxton Road, just yards from Tottenham’s White Hart Lane ground in north London, shortly after 5:00am (0500GMT) on Tuesday. The company is situated on the last remaining piece of land that Premier League club Spurs needed to begin a redevelopment of their ground. However, seven years of talks between the two sides have yet to see them reach an agreement. Earlier this year Archway and its owners, the Josif family, challenged a compulsory purchase order - which in turn led to a case in London’s High Court and a fresh delay in the start of the project.

London’s Metropolitan Police said the fire had been extinguished but Paxton Road remained closed as night fell.

–AFP

Bent quits Villa Park for Brighton Former England international Darren Bent has left Aston Villa and dropped down a division to join Championship side Brighton. The 30-year-old Bent cost Villa £18million (23million euros) from Sunderland in 2011 but has struggled to win a place in Paul Lambert’s side this season. He agreed an initial one-month deal with the Seagulls and could make his debut on Saturday against Fulham, the club where he spent last season on loan. Brighton manager Sami Hyypia told the club website: “We are delighted to welcome Darren to the club, and I hope he will score plenty of goals for us during his time with us. “His record speaks for itself. He is a top-class striker with more than 100 Premier League goals with Charlton, Spurs, Sunderland and Aston Villa. “Three years ago he was a regular in the England squad under Fabio Capello; there is no doubting his ability to score goals.

–AFP

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

Star Sports 2 7:30PM Indian Super League North East v Chennai

Sony Six NBA 14-15: Regular Season 7:00AM Houston v Sacramento 9:30AM LA Lakers v Memphis UEFA Europa League

Ten Action 10:00PM Dinamo Moscow v Panathinaikos 12:00AM Wolfsburg v Everton 2:00AM Tottenham v Partizan

Ten Sports 12:00AM Feyenoord v Sevilla 2:00AM Inter Milan v Dnipro

Ten HD 12:00AM Sparta Praha v Napoli 2:00AM Celtic v Salzburg

13

Thursday, November 27, 2014

The manufacturer of the helmet worn

by Phillip Hughes said Tuesday he was not wearing their most up-to-date model after the Australian batsman was left fighting for his life having been knocked out by a bouncer.

Hughes, 25, who was pressing for a Test recall, crashed to the ground unconscious after the heavy blow to the lower head and was rushed to hospital from the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

Television images showed the helmeted Hughes, who had scored a composed 63 for South Australia in the Sheffield Shield game, standing dazed before going down face-first following the rising delivery from New South Wales bowler Sean Abbott.

Masuri, the UK-based manufacturer of the helmet worn by Hughes and one of the leading suppliers of protective headgear to the world’s top batsmen, said in a statement they wished him a “full and speedy recovery”.

Their statement said they were seeking as much footage of the incident as possible to be able to see more conclusively exactly where Hughes had been hit.

“From the footage and pictures currently available to Masuri, it appears that Phil Hughes was struck by the ball to the rear of the grille and below the back of the shell, missing his Masuri Original Test model helmet,” the company’s statement said.

“This is a vulnerable area of the head and neck that helmets cannot ful-

ly protect, while enabling batsmen to have full and proper movement.”

However, Masuri’s statement added: “The newly-developed Masuri Vision Series helmet, which supersedes the 2013 helmet worn by Phil Hughes, does afford batsmen extra protection in this region - and still allows comfortable movement.”

Nevertheless, it was yet to be determined whether a change of helmet could have prevented Hughes’s accident or indeed if the design of the one he was wearing had played any part at all in his injury.

Masuri managing director Sam Miller said: “The thoughts of everyone at Masuri are with Phil Hughes and his family.

“Helmet manufacturers are constantly developing their products to make them safer.

“We work continuously with the governing authorities worldwide to reduce the risk of injury to players.”

A spokesman for Masuri told AFP the new Vision Series helmet had gone on sale in the UK in August 2014.

Former England fast bowler Stephen Harmison said he had been “horrified”

by Hughes’s injury, particularly as he was a top-order batsman.

Harmison, who in the first Test of the 2005 Ashes at Lord’s struck Ricky Ponting, one of cricket’s greatest batsmen, with a delivery that hit the then Australia captain between the helmet and the grille, drawing blood from the Tasmanian’s cheek, told BBC Radio Five: “It’s horrifying seeing something like that happen to a top-order batsman.l

the level of protection offered by contemporary helmets.

Cricketers didn’t start wearing protective helmets until the late 1970s, when batsmen decided it was time to protect themselves against a 156-gram (5 1/2-ounce) hard leather ball traveling at up to 160 kph (100 mph).

Bouncers, where a fast bowler aims to push the batsman back toward the stumps with a ball that lands halfway down the pitch and rears up above chest or head height, are still a regular and acceptable part of the game.

The International Cricket Council revised its laws on short-pitch bowling in the early 1990s, putting restrictions on the number of short-pitch balls al-

lowed per over to stamp out bowlers merely using the delivery to intimidate batsmen. Former test bowler Brett Lee said Abbott did not deserve blame for the incident.

“You’re always on edge bowling fast or being out there batting,” Lee said.

“When you see something as shocking as this you really feel for Phil. I know first-hand that no one goes out there to try and maim a batsman.”

Speaking on Australian radio, cricket great Shane Warne called it a freak accident.

“It’s a tough situation for everyone,” Warne said. “You just think about how many lives the helmet has saved over the years. This is just one of those things.” l

Hughes has more scans, still critical n Agencies More than 24 hours after being hit behind the left ear by a short-pitched ball, Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes remained in critical condition on Wednesday after undergoing emergency surgery.

Australian team doctor Peter Brukner issued a statement saying Hughes had further scans at St. Vincent’s Hospital during the morning and that his condition was unchanged from overnight.

The 25-year-old Hughes was batting for South Australia in a Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday when he was knocked out by a delivery

by Sean Abottt.

Hughes was treated on the field by medical experts, including doctors who were flown by helicopter onto the ground, before being taken to the hospital.

“Phillip is receiving the best possible medical care,” Brukner said.

The match was canceled almost immediately and other Sheffield Shield matches in Brisbane and Melbourne were called off Wednesday after consultation between Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers’ Association.

Hughes was wearing a batting helmet, but the area behind his ear was unprotected.

Images of the hard-to-watch blow

were broadcast almost instantly across Australia, and messages of support flowed in from around the world all night and into the morning. News channels were live at the hospital in downtown Sydney, where satellite TV trucks and dozens of news crews reported regular updates on Hughes’ condition.

Hughes has played 26 test matches for Australia since his debut in 2009 but hasn’t been able to earn a regular spot in the starting lineup. He was highly regarded by teammates and rivals, and regular fans who appreciated his no-fuss approach to the game.

The injury sparked debate about short-pitch bowling in the game, and

Ton-up Hafeez lift Pakistan in final Test n AFP, Sharjah Opener Mohammad Hafeez struck a dominating century to lift Pakistan to 281-3 in the third and final Test against New Zealand in Sharjah on Wednesday.

The 34-year-old anchored Pakistan’s innings with an unbeaten 178 -- his seventh Test hundred and second in the series -- as Pakistan dominated the day after winning a crucial toss and deciding to bat on a flat, grass-less Sharjah stadium pitch.

Hafeez added an invaluable 121 for the fourth wicket with skipper Misbah-ul Haq who was not out on a chancy 38 and 87 for the second wicket with Azhar Ali (39).

It was an aggressive knock during which Hafeez drove and pulled with authority, clobbering 23 boundaries and three sixes.

Misbah, batting in his usual cautious style, benefitted from a dropped catch on 20 when wicket-keepe BJ Watling failed to hold an edge off leg-sppiner Ish Sodhi.

New Zealand’s three-spinner at-

Capello ‘shameful’, says unpaid assistant

n AFP, Rome

tack failed to get any spin with Mark Craig getting 2-67 and recalled Daniel Vettori 1-28.

New Zealand, seeking to level the three-match series after losing the first in Abu Dhabi by 248 runs and drawing the second in Dubai, hit back in the second session by dismissing Ali and in-form Younis Khan for five.l

3RD TEST, DAY 1 Pakistan 1st innings Mohammad Hafeez not out 178 Shan Masood b Craig 12 Azhar Ali c Taylor b Craig 39 Younis Khan lbw b Vettori 5 Misbah-ul Haq not out 38 Extras: (lb4, nb1, w4) 9 Total: (for three wkts; 90 overs) 281 Fall of wickets 1-44 (Masood), 2-131 (Ali), 3-160 (Younis) Bowling Boult 17-5-47-0 (1w), Southee 18-3-430, Vettori 12-4-28-1, Anderson 12-428-0 (1nb, 3w), Craig 16-2-67-2, Sodhi 15-2-64-0

Pakistani batsman Mohammad Hafeez (R) hugs teammate Younis Khan as he celebrates after scoring a century during the first day of the third and final Test match against New Zealand at the Sharjah cricket stadium yesterday AFP

The former deputy to Russian coach Fabio Capello has slammed the Italian for failing to defend his staff who left when they were not paid.

Former Italian international Christian Panucci said Capello had acted in a “shameful way” by not defending him.

Panucci and physical trainer Massimo Neri left their posts with the Russian squad when they were not paid.

The Russian Football Federation said this month that Capello, who is reported to have a seven million euro annual salary, has not been paid for five months.

Capello “acted in a shameful way with me and with all the Italian staff,” Panucci told Gazzeta dello Sport on Tuesday.

“I will tell him face-to-face the next time I see him,” Panucci added. “A great coach should defend his staff and he dd not do it.”

Panucci thanked Capello for the chance to work with the Russian team, who crashed out of this year’s World Cup in the first round.l

Siddikur tees off in King’s Cup today ‘What crisis?’ says Wenger n Tribune Desk Premier Bangladesh golfer Siddikur Rahman is all set to feature in the King’s Cup teeing off at Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club, Bangkok today.

The 30-year old from Madaripur is coming to the $500,000 tournament on the back of a disappointing finish in the recently-concluded World Resorts Manila Masters where he ended at joint 57th position. Siddikur said he is excited to be playing in the King’s Cup after recently recovering from a severe back injury that saw him miss several tournaments in the Asian Tour circuit.

“It is nice to be back playing again after my injury lay-off. It (form) is improving. This is my first visit to Khon Kaen and I am really excited. I am

pleased with how I have played since I came back from my injury,” Siddikur was quoted as saying on the official Asian Tour website.

“I was nervous as I did not know what to expect following such a long lay-off. I felt something crack when I was jumping and training. I was on the bed for two weeks. [Then] I hurt myself and was admitted to the hospital. I went to see the physio again to get treatment and I started training again to regain my stamina.

“This is what I have been doing and it is coming along nicely. I miss the competitive atmosphere and playing in the big tournaments. I was really sad but told myself that [this] is life and you got to accept this. I saw it as my rest period and now I am back and that is all that matters,” he added. l

n AFP, London Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger shrugged off criticism from Gunners shareholder Alisher Usmanov as he urged everyone involved with the north London club to get behind the team.

Usmanov - whose Red & White Holdings Group has just over a 30 percent stake in Arsenal’s parent company - gave an interview to US broadcaster CNBC in which he questioned the direction of the club, whose majority shareholder is American businessman and sports entrepeneur Stan Kroenke.

Usmanov said Wenger’s errors were not properly reviewed and that this failure to consider the veteran French manager’s mistakes was preventing Arsenal from becoming one of Europe’s leading clubs.

The Uzbek oil magnate’s comments came with Arsenal having lifted just one trophy in nine-and-a-half years and followed Saturday’s a 2-1 defeat at home to Manchester United, a loss that marked the team’s worst start to a season since 1982.

But Wenger, speaking ahead of Arsenal’s Champions League clash against Borussia Dortmound at the Emirates on Wednesday, said: “When you are such a long time in football as I am, you don’t understand any more what crisis means.

“I must get to the dictionary and look at it well again,” he added.

“During the 18 years I have been here I have shown that I can take criticism. Everybody has the right to have an opinion, having said that, we have values at this club.l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Record hauls ease damaging year for Messi’s legacy n AFP, Madrid

Aguero up with Messi, Ronaldo: Lampard n AFP, Manchester

Just last week Lionel Messi was made to recall the moment that could have changed the world’s outlook on his 2014 and enhanced even further the legacy of a player regarded as the best of all-time by various commentators, players and coaches.

Captaining Argentina in their first World Cup final for 24 years, Messi had the sort of half-chance he has made look routine in scoring over 400 career goals to put his country in front two minutes into the second-half, but, on his trusted left foot, pulled his shot inches wide of Manuel Neuer’s far post.

“If I had scored that goal in the final, they would have said I had a spectacular World Cup,” Messi told Argentine newspaper Ole. Instead, his election as the best player at the tournament was widely derided, many suggesting the fact the award was sponsored by one of his principal promoters Adidas was a convenient coincidence.

Even FIFA president Sepp Blatter admitted his “surprise” to see a desolate Messi having to suffer the indignity of climbing to the presidential boxes twice to collect his individual award and then a losers medal in front of the eyes of the world. For a lesser light the experience could have had a more lasting effect. Yet, less than five months, on Messi has put his legacy back up for debate by breaking two historic records to become the top goalscorer in both the history of La Liga and the Champions League at just 27 years of age.

His hat-trick in a 5-1 demolition of Sevilla on Saturday saw him pass Telmo Zarra’s 59-year-old record mark to take his tally to 253 goals in 289 games.

Just four days later it was Real Madrid legend Raul who saw his Champions League record of 71 goals overhauled by the Argentine with another hat-trick to take him to 74 Champions League goals having played 51 fewer games than the Spaniard.l

Manchester City midfielder Frank Lampard believes that his team-mate Sergio Aguero stands comparison with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo following his stunning Champions League hattrick against Bayern Munich.

Asked if Aguero, who has scored 17 goals this season, could be likened to Barcelona superstar Messi and Real Madrid’s Ronaldo, Lampard told reporters: “For me, he’s right up there.

“It’s a big call to make, but from seeing him at close quarters, ability-wise he’s in that bracket, without doubt.

“Now he has to carry on this form, keep doing it week in, week out, which he’s doing and he’s done before, and people will talk about him in the same breath.

“I haven’t been fortunate enough to play with those two (Messi and Ronaldo). I’ve admired them from afar, but in terms of Aguero, he’s certainly right up there.”

City’s trip to the Stadio Olimpico next month will see Lampard come up against his former Chelsea team-mate Ashley Cole, who left Stamford Bridge to join Roma during the close season.l

POINTS TABLE

Argentina wizard Lionel Messi broke the Champions League scoring record while Luis Suarez broke his Barcelona duck in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Barca romped to a 4-0 win at APOEL Nicosia but that fact was overshadowed by Messi and Suarez’s personal achievements.

Messi came into the match level with Spaniard Raul on 71 Champions League goals but he stabbed home from close range on 37 minutes to take

sole possession of the record.

He went on to notch a hat-trick on the night as Barcelona remained a point behind Paris Saint-Germain at the top of Group F after the French team beat Ajax 3-1 thanks to an Edinson Cavani brace and one from Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Both sides have already qualified for the knock-out rounds and top spot will be decided in two weeks time at the Camp Nou. Messi’s feat came just four days after the four-time World Player of the Year broke Telmo Zarra’s 59-year-old record of 251 La Liga goals with a hat-trick in a 5-1 thrashing of Sevilla to take his tally in the Spanish top flight to 253 goals in 289 appearances.

Just 10 minutes before that, Suarez, who moved from Liverpool in the close season, had finally notched his first goal - a brilliant solo effort - for the Catalans in his fifth appearance since making his debut in a 3-1 loss to Real Madrid on October 25.

Elsewhere, Manchester City kept their qualification hopes alive as Sergio Aguero completed a hat-trick in stoppage time to give the English champions a 3-2 win over 10-man Bayern Munich.

City were five minutes from defeat against a side that had outplayed them throughout the game, whether playing with 10 or 11 players. Aguero gave the hosts the lead from the penalty spot after centre-back Mehdi Benatia had

Lionel Messi has now scored more goals (74) in the Champions League/ European Cup than any other player.

Messi has scored 5 Champions League hat-tricks. No other player in history scored more than 3 Messi has so far scored in the UCL: in 15 of 16 Countries, in 22 of 25 Cities, at 23 of 32 Stadiums, against 23 of 31 Clubs

Edinson Cavani has scored in each of the last six competitive games he has started with PSG. Chelsea have scored five goals away from home in the Champions League for only the second time (5-0 vs Galatasaray in 1999).

Xavi Hernandez has now made 145 appearances in the Champions League, more than any other player (Casillas - 144).

Nani has scored four goals in five CL games for Sporting this season, after scoring four in 49 CL games for Man Utd. John Terry is only the fourth defender to score 10+ goals in the Champions League.

been dismissed for bringing him down in the box as the last man.

But Bayern still went into the break in front with two goals in the final five minutes of the half, first through Xabi Alonso’s free-kick and then as Robert Lewandowski outjumped Vincent Kompany and Bakary Sagna to head home a deep right-wing cross.

City toiled in the second period as the Germans dominated the ball, until Stevan Jovetic cut out Alonso’s misplaced pass to send Aguero away to equalise five minutes from the finish.

The Spaniard then popped up a minute into stoppage time to pounce on a mistake by former City defender Jerome Boateng to complete his hat-trick.

n AFP, Sao Paulo

All three of Messi’s goals yesterday for Barcelona have been scored with his right foot.

Sergio Aguero has now scored 11 goals in 11 Champions League appearances since the start of last season

D

L

Pts

4 1 1 1

0 2 2 2

1 2 2 2

12 5 5 5

PSG Barcelona Ajax APOEL

5 5 5 5

4 4 0 0

1 0 2 1

0 1 3 4

13 12 2 1

Chelsea Sp Lisbon Schalke Maribor

5 5 5 5

3 2 1 0

2 1 2 3

0 2 2 2

11 7 5 3

Porto Shakhtar At Bilbao BATE

5 5 5 5

4 2 1 1

1 2 1 0

0 1 3 4

13 8 4 3

On a day of records, Roma stalwart Francesco Totti extended his mark as oldest scorer in the Champions League by opening the scoring in his side’s 1-1 draw at CSKA. Chelsea romped to a 5-0 win at Schalke 04 to not only secure a place in the second round but also ensure they will win Group G. Captain John Terry opened the scoring with a header from a corner before Brazilian Willian finished off a sublime team move with a crisp finish that had even some German fans applauding.

Two goals in two second half minutes from substitutes Didier Drogba and Ramires completed a thoroughly miserable evening for the Germans.l

RESULTS

CSKA Moscow

1-1

Berezutsky 90+3

Man City

3-2

Aguero 21-P, 85, 90+1

APOEL Nicosia

Roma Totti 43

Bayern Munich Xabi Alonso 40, Lewandowski 45

0-4

Barcelona

Suarez 27, Messi 38, 58, 87

PSG

3-1

Cavani 33, 83, Ibrahimovic 78

Schalke 04

Ajax Klaassen 67

0-5

Chelsea

Terry 2, Willian 29, Kirchhoff 44-og, Drogba 76, Ramires 78

Sporting Lisbon

3-1

Mané 10, Nani 35, Slimani 65

BATE Borisov

Maribor Jefferson 42-o.g.

0-3

Porto Herrera 56, Martinez 65, Tello 89

Shakhtar Donetsk

0-1

Athletic Bilbao Dominguez 68

Urinary infection SPAIN COMMITMENT SPAT keeps Pele in hospital

STATS & FACTS

Sergio Aguero is only the second player to score a CL hat-trick against Bayern Munich (after Roy Makaay for Deportivo in ‘02).

W

5 5 5 5

GROUP E (Left) Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and (Right) Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero celebrates their hattricks with teammates during their respective Uefa Champions League matches against Apeol and Bayern Munich on Tuesday AFP

Messi breaks CL scoring record, Aguero upsets Bayern to keep City alive as 5-star Chelsea through n

P

Bayern Man City Roma CSKA

GROUP H GROUP G GROUP F

HATTRICKS

Remarkable hattricks for Leo, Kun AFP, Paris

Team

Sporting’s midfielder Luis Carlos da Cunha ‘Nani’ celebrates against NK Maribor at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on Tuesday. Sporting won the match 3-1 AFP

Brazilian football legend Pele remained in a Sao Paulo hospital Tuesday having been admitted overnight Monday with a urinary infection, barely a week after undergoing surgery for kidney stones, the clinic said.

“The patient Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pele) remains in hospital with tests revealing the presence of a urinary infection. He remains stable for the moment,” a statement from the Albert Einstein clinic read. Pele, 74, spent two days in the same hospital when he underwent surgery on November 13, having also had hip surgery there two years ago.l

British trio on brink of Europa KO phase n AFP, Paris Everton, Tottenham and Celtic can wrap up their places in the Europa League knockout stage in Thursday’s penultimate batch of group matches.

Red Bull Salzburg, Dinamo Moscow, Fiorentina and Legia Warsaw are already guaranteed their place in the last-32.

That leaves 20 places still up for grabs from the group phase with eight third-place finishers from the Champions League also set to parachute into the draw.

Roberto Martinez’s Everton side are enjoying a fine return to European football since their glory days of 1985

when they won the now defunct Cup Winners’ Cup, the same year they became English champions.

The Toffees, on eight points, face a daunting trip to Wolfsburg carrying a one point lead over their Bundesliga hosts with French side Lille on three and tackling Turkish side Krasnodar who prop up the group with two draws from four matches.

One player Everton will have to keep an eye on is Wolfsburg’s dynamic midfielder Kevin De Bruyne who has three goals and three assists in the competition so far.

The 23-year-old Belgian has been revelation both in the league and on the continent since his 20 million euro

transfer from Chelsea in the summer.

The two teams can advance with Everton needing a win to top the pool while a draw could see both sides move forward if Lille fail to win in Turkey.

Everton’s veteran defender Sylvain Distin says the team are in good spirits and ready for the challenge in Germany.

Celtic have bounced back following their Champions League exit at the qualifying stage and can join already qualifed Salzburg from Group D if they beat their Austrian visitors at Celtic Park.

Tottenham, who won the then UEFA Cup for the second time in 1984, host eliminated Serbian club Partizan Belgrade sharing the Group C lead on eight points with Istanbul’s Besiktas. l

Fabregas hits back Ramos n Reuters, Madrid Cesc Fabregas was “pissed off ” with Spain team mate Sergio Ramos for raising doubts about his commitment to the national team but said the pair had buried the hatchet.

Midfielder Fabregas pulled out of Spain’s matches against Belarus and Germany this month citing injury, joining Chelsea team mate Diego Costa on the sidelines.

The fact that Fabregas had played the whole of the 2-1 Premier League win at Liverpool and Costa 90 minutes a few days before they were due to join up with the squad in Madrid prompted Ramos to suggest club had taken priority over country.

“Yes I felt that I was the one being alluded to and I already told Sergio what I thought,” Fabregas said on Spanish radio station Cadena Cope late on Tuesday.

“We spoke by telephone and everything is fine,” added the 27-year-old, who has been on excellent form since joining Chelsea from Barcelona in the close season.

“It pisses you off when your commitment is questioned, of course it pisses you off. There have been a lot of matches and training camps I have turned up for without playing.

“I have made 94 appearances for Spain and for nine years I have always come, always. And with a smile from ear to ear.

“I said to Ramos he can call me on the telephone and say it to my face.

“I told him we have been playing together since the under-21s and there is no need to send messages in the media.”

Fabregas said he was possibly playing the best football of his career at Chelsea after three seasons back at boyhood club Barca when he failed to win over the club’s demanding fans.

Groomed in Barca’s famed “La Masia” academy, Fabregas joined Arsenal in 2003 before returning to Spain eight years later.

Under manager Jose Mourinho, Fabregas has made an immediate impact on the Chelsea side playing in a central role where he controls play and seeks to open up stubborn defences.l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

MIM’s career has grown in 2014

BENGAL CLASSICAL MUSIC FESTIVAL begins today

15

Thursday, November 27, 2014

King Arthur

Star Movies Action, 10pm

n Entertainment Desk The long-anticipated Bengal Classical Music Festival 2014 will begin today at the Bangladesh Army Stadium in the capital at 6:30pm. The opening day’s sessions will highlight long-held traditions of Bangla music and feature a chorus by 40 prominent singers from Bangladesh, including Iffat Ara Dewan, Mita Haq, Laisa Ahmed Lisa, Aditi Mohsin, Khairul Anam Shakil, Bulbul Islam and Subir Nandi. The artistes listed below will take over the stage to enthral the audience:

A demystified take on the tale of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

Today’s artists

The Bachelor

HBO Defined, 6:25pm

n Entertainment Desk Malavika Sarukk, Bharatnatyam

Ajinkya Joshi, tabla

Ruchira Keda, vocal

Shahid Parvez Khan, sitar

Ajoy Chkrabarty, vocal

Rajrupa Chowdhury, sarod

Debashish Bhattacharya, slide guitar

Bidya Sinha Mim has made a name for herself in the country’s film industry since she stepped into the world of acting seven years ago. Lux Channel-i Superstar 2007 winner began her celluloid career with novelist and filmmaker Humayun Ahmed’s “Amar Achhe Jol,” which brought her to the limelight in the showbiz world.

This year was quite productive for her. She appeared in as many as 13 TV plays and gave hits like Khalid Mahmud Mithu’s “Jonakir Alo” and Mostofa Kamal Raj’s “Tarkaata.” She also endorsed for seven brands.

Next year is going to be equally productive for Mim. She is set to appear in seven films next year. The success of Her Grameen Phone TV commercial this year landed her another commercial for the same company. She will play double roles in this commercial too.

She is already filming the commercial in the midst of the scenic beauty of Srimangal. Talking about the project, Mim said: “I liked the previous concept, so I agreed to do another one for the same company. The new one is good too. It is about two sisters – one is traditional and another is modern.

I have worked very hard to do justice two these two different characters.” l

A committment-phobic man goes in search of a bride including his fed up girlfriend, to inherit his grandfather’s $100 million inheritance.

Wild Wild West

Movies Now, 7:25pm

The two best hired guns in the West must save President Grant from the clutches of a 19th century inventor-villain.

Jazz night with Thaerichen’s Tentett at Shilpakala n Shadma Malik Thaerichen’s Tentett, a prominent band from Germany, performed at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Tuesday. Organised by the Goethe Institut, the concert was a treat of jazz music for the city’s music lovers.

The concert was divided into two parts. The band’s performances were characterised by felicitous compositions, polished arrangements and humorous compositions. Nicolai Thaerichen, founding member of the group, graced the audience with an evening of soulful grooves. Nicolai’s original compositions, mostly songs set on poems

by artists like Dorothy Parker, Lord Byron, Thomas Hardy and Ronald D Laing received storm of applause.

Energetic vocalist Michael Schiefel also performed; the vocalist capitvated the audience with beatboxing and swaying with the music. Andreas Spannagel’s performance of flute and tenor saxophone was refreshing to hear – instrumental music that carried a message. Towards the end of the show, their performance picked up such a pace that got the audience on their feet.

These 10 jazz musicians gave backto-back performances, giving an opportunity to the jazz enthusiasts to experience an incredible jazz spectacle. l KHAN HASAN MD RAFI

KURT COBAIN’s first authorised Coca-Cola-Channel i Bandfest 2014 on Dec 1 documentary to premiere on HBO n Entertainment Desk

The Coca-Cola-Channel i Bandfest 2014 will be held at the Channel i office in the capital’s Tejgaon area on December 1. The day-long band music festival will commence at 11am and will continue till 5pm. Coca-Cola Bangladesh and Channel i have jointly arranged the event for the first time, with the cooperation of Sym-

phony Mobile.

Sixteen bands will participate in the festival. The bands are Uchharon, Different Touch, Obscure, Prometheus, Ark, Bay of Bengal, Teerondaz, Chirkutt, Dolchut, Black, Artcell, LRB, Shunno, Radio Active, Parthibo and Joler Gaan.

Sheikh Siraj, director of Channel i and head of news, announced the details of

RACHEL MCADAMS lands True Detective leading role n Entertainment Desk

n Entertainment Desk HBO is bringing the first fully authorised documentary about Kurt Cobain to the screen.

The film, titled “Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck,” is being shepherded by co-producers HBO Documentary Films and Universal Pictures International Entertainment Content Group. “Montage of Heck” will debut exclusively on HBO in the U.S. in 2015. Universal will roll out the film internationally in theatres next year.

Oscar-nominated director Brett Morgen, who previously tackled the Rolling Stones for HBO with the documentary “Crossfire Hurricane,” is helming the film, eight years in the making. Visual artist Frances Bean Cobain, the daughter of the late Nirvana singer, guitarist and songwriter, is executive producing.

“Montage of Heck” marks the first documentary to

be made with the cooperation of Cobain’s family. Morgen was granted unprecedented access to Cobain’s archives, including never-before-seen home movies, recordings, artwork, photography, journals, demos and songbooks. The film features dozens of Nirvana songs and performances, as well as previously unheard Cobain originals.

“I started work on this project eight years ago,” Morgen said. “Like most people, when I started, I figured there would be limited amounts of fresh material to unearth. However, once I stepped into Kurt’s archive, I discovered over 200 hours of unreleased music and audio, a vast array of art projects — oil paintings, sculptures — countless hours of never-before-seen home movies, and over 4,000 pages of writings that together help paint an intimate portrait of an artist who rarely revealed himself to the media.” l

After months of speculation, Rachel McAdams has landed the hotly tipped role of Sheriff Ani Bezzerides on the second season of “True Detective.”

McAdams, best known for her starring roles in “The Notebook” and “Mean Girls,” joins previously announced stars Vince Vaughn, Colin Farrell and Taylor Kitsch on author Nic Pizzolatto’s HBO drama series. McAdams’ character is described, per a press release, as a no-nonsense “Venture County Sheriff ’s detective whose uncompromising ethics put her at odds with the system she serves,” and whose troubled upbringing is to blame for her gambling and drinking problem.

Ever since Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson transformed themselves into Rust Cohle and Marty Hart during True Detective’s critically acclaimed, Emmy-nominated first season, practically every actor in Hollywood has been rumored to appear in the next installment of the anthology series. For the Bezzerides role, Mad Men’s Elisabeth Moss, Rosario Dawson, Jessica Chastain, McAdams, Malin Ackerman, Jessica Biel, Brit Marling and most recently Keira Knightley were billed as the frontrunner to land the role at some point. However, Chastain immediately dismissed rumors of her involvement, as did Christian Bale when headlines tied him to one of the show’s lead male roles. l

the programme at a press conference yesterday. Shadab Ahmed Khan, director of Coca-Cola Bangladesh, Rezwanul Haque, senior director of Edison Group and representative of Symphony Mobile, celebrated band musician Aiyub Bacchu, and Chirkutt vocal Shumi, were also present at the press conference, among others. The show will be aired live on Channel i. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Thursday, November 27, 2014

SECOND DAY OF ANTI-JAYWALKING DRIVE

One imprisoned for biting a law enforcer Pedestrians claim ‘being on rush’ to escape fine; 255 jaywalkers fined Tk13,075 n Abu Hayat Mahmud Many pedestrians were seen using the excuse of “being late” to avoid getting fined on the second day of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s drive against jaywalking at Farmgate, Karwan Bazar and Banglamotor intersections on Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue in the capital.

The mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Md Sarwoer Alam also ordered the first prison sentence in the drive yesterday, sentencing a jaywalker named Tania to a month of prison for biting a police official when stopped from jaywalking.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, the executive magistrate said: “Tania, 22, tried to cross the street at the Karwan Bazar intersection without using the underpass or the zebra crossing, when a female police stopped her. She tried to force her way through, but when the female police kept stopping her, she bit her.”

Adding that the convict was of sound mind, the executive magistrate said she was sentenced to prison under Section 353 of the Penal Code.

Meanwhile, the majority of pedestrians were seen following police’s instruction and crossed the streets by footbridges, the underpass and zebra crossings.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday evening, DMP Joint Commissioner (Traffic) Moslem Uddin said a total of 255 people were fined to pay a total of Tk13,075 for jaywalking on the second day of the drive, and one person was sentenced with prison time.

On the first day, 331 people were fined a total of Tk24,095.

The situation yesterday was quite similar to the previous day – traffic and pedestrian movement was disciplined compared to any other day. The two mobile courts led by

Probe report on Nov 1 blackout submitted

n Aminur Rahman Rasel The government committee investigating the national electricity grid collapse on November 1 submitted its final report to State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid yesterday.

“We submitted our final report today [Wednesday]. The tripping of Bheramara grid sub-station mainly caused the collapse of the entire national grid,” said Mohammad Hossain, director-general of the government’s Power Cell and member secretary of the investigation committee, while talking to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Receiving the report, the state minister told reporters that the reason behind the grid failure would be made public in a day or two.

The eight-member committee, formed by the Power Ministry to look into the countrywide power outage and comprising one former and seven current government high officials, finished the investigation on November 12 by visiting the Ghorashal power plant in Narshingdi. l

Executive Magistrates Md Sarwoer Alam and Abdul Kuddus conducted the drive in the three aforementioned intersections.

Fined pedestrians claim having no time to waste

On the second day of the anti-jaywalking drive, pedestrians who were fined for breaking the rules claimed they were on a rush to get to their destinations, as opposed to the previous day when those who were fined claimed they did not know about the drive.

Visiting one of the intersections, this correspondent witnessed a conversation between police on duty and a pedestrian named Hasibur Rahman, who said: “I know the drive started yesterday [Tuesday]. But I do not have time to take the footbridge as I am already late to work.”

Not only Hasibur, but a lot of jaywalkers were seen using the same argument to convince police when they were caught.

However, there were some pedestrians who said they could not take the footbridges due to illness or physical disabilities, while some others claimed being unaware of the drive.

Abdul Awal, 58, one such pedestrian, told the Dhaka Tribune that he was unaware of the drive and was unable to climb stairs due to illness.

“I cannot climb stairs due to my illness. I was on my way to my doctor’s when I tried to cross the road and was stopped by police. When I explained my situation to them, they let me go,” he said.

According to DMP data, 950 people were killed in the capital in road accidents between 2010 and 2014, and jaywalking was involved in most of those incidents.

Pedestrians are habituated in using the shortest way by crossing busy roads

A woman, caught in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area for jaywalking, fights back by biting a hand of a law enforcer yesterday in front of moving vehicles and consequently fall victim to fatal accidents.

Tanvir Hasan of the Accident Research Institute at Buet told the BBC Bangla that people would be encouraged to use footbridges and underpass-

es more, if more of these were constructed at the exact points accessible to them.

However, authorities at both Dhaka North and Dhaka South city corporations told the Dhaka Tribune that they

Political parties chalk out elaborate programmes to mark Milon Day n

Tribune Report

Today is the 24th death anniversary of Shaheed Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Milon, former joint secretary of Bangladesh Medical Association killed by the followers of then autocratic military ruler HM Ershad near the Teachers Students Centre (TSC) of Dhaka University in 1990.

Various organisations and political parties have chalked out programmes to mark the day, which is also known as Milon Day. Sahid Dr Milon Sangsad will hold a discussion at TSC at 3pm following the placing of wreath at Milon’s grave.

On the eve of the day, President Md Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in separate statements, recalled the supreme sacrifice of Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Milon for the cause of restoring democratic system, said BSS. The ruling Awami League drew up an extensive programme to observe

Milon Day. A statement of Awami League said like the previous years the party, along with the democracy-loving people of the country, would observe the day in a befitting manner.

‘Dr Milon embraced martyrdom to save democracy from the shackle of autocratic rule. His sacrifice will be successful only if democracy gets a strong footing’ The programmes include offering of Fateha, special prayers and placing of wreaths at the grave of Shaheed Dr Shamsul Alam Khan Milon at Dhaka Medical College campus at 8am.

The BNP will also hold a discussion at National Press Club to mark the day.

The BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in a message said: “Dr Milon embraced martyrdom to save democracy from the shackle of autocratic rule. His sacrifice will be successful only if democracy gets a strong footing.”

She further alleged that the one-party rule, re-established by killing democracy through the January-5 ‘voter-less’ election, had blocked the path of multi-party democracy.

“We all must get united to thwart conspiracies by the evil forces of democracy annihilators,” she said.

Jatiya Samajtantrk Dal (JSD) and Gano Forum also planned to organise discussions at their respective central offices in the city.

As a prominent, dedicated and honest organiser of the movement of professionals, Dr Shamsul Alam Milon was the joint secretary of Bangladesh Medical Association (BMA), treasurer of Dhaka Medical College Teachers Association and a lecturer of Bio-chemistry Department of Dhaka College. l

were not constructing new footbridges because of the government’s future plans on metro rail and elevated expressway.

Md Sirajul Islam, chief town planner at Dhaka South City Corporation, told

MEHEDI HASAN

the Dhaka Tribune: “Every footbridge in the capital has been made following appropriate plan. Pedestrians must use them; we have also installed barrier in the middle of the road under as well as near every footbridge to ensure that.” l

Veena Malik sentenced to 26 years for ‘blasphemy’ n AFP A Pakistan court Tuesday sentenced the owner of the country’s biggest media group to 26 years in prison for broadcasting a show it said was blasphemous.

The verdict against Mir Shakil-ur-Rahman along with the host of the show and two guests was announced by an anti-terror court in the city of Gilgit, which is controlled by Pakistan but part of the Kashmir region which India also claims.

But the order is unlikely to be implemented because the Gilgit-Baltistan region is not considered a full-fledged province by Pakistan and verdicts by its courts do not apply to the rest of the country.

The four people convicted were also ordered to pay a fine of 1.3 million rupees ($13,000), sell their properties and surrender their passports, according to a copy of the court order.

“The malicious acts of the proclaimed offenders ignited the sentiments of all the Muslims of the country and hurt the feelings, which cannot be

taken lightly and there is need to strictly curb such tendency,” the order said.

No lawyer appeared on behalf of any of the accused. However the court had arranged a state lawyer to defend them.

The morning show broadcast live on Geo TV in May featured Pakistani starlet Veena Malik dancing with her new husband while a group of Sufi musicians sang a devotional song about the wedding of the Prophet Muhammad’s daughter.

Its broadcast set off a storm of controversy on social media, though similar routines by other channels in the past have largely gone unnoticed.

Many observers at the time suspected Pakistan’s military establishment of engineering the blasphemy campaign against Geo TV. The channel was then caught up in a struggle with the all-powerful military.

The blasphemy case was registered on May 26 in a police station in Gilgit by a hardline sunni cleric Himayatullah Khan, deputy chief of the anti-shiaorganisationAhl-e-SunnatWalJamaat (ASWJ) formerly known as Sipah-e-Sahaba. l

EU watchdogs to apply ‘right to be forgotten’ rule on Web worldwide n Reuters

This plastic-making factory is located in the densely populated Shaheennagar area in Old Dhaka. These unprotected factories with absolutely no firefighting arrangements have often been the cause of deadly accidents MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

European privacy regulators want internet search engines such as Google and Microsoft’s Bing to scrub results globally, not just in Europe, when people invoke their “right to be forgotten,” as ruled by a European Union court.

The EU’s privacy watchdogs agreed on a set of guidelines yesterday to help them implement a ruling from Europe’s supreme court that gives people the right to ask search engines to remove personal information that is “inadequate, irrelevant or no longer relevant.”

Google, which dominates internet searches in Europe, has been scrubbing results only from the European versions of its website such as Google.de in Germany or Google.fr in France, meaning they still appear on Google.com.

“From the legal and technical analysis we are doing, they should include the ‘.com’,” said Isabelle Falque-Pierrotin, the head of France’s privacy watchdog and the Article 29 Working Party of EU national data protection author-

ities, at a news conference.

A spokesman for Google said the company had not yet seen the guidelines but would “study them carefully” when they were published.

Pierrotin said the guidelines should be published on Thursday or Friday.

Google’s decision to notify press outlets and webmasters via email was criticised by regulators earlier this year Google previously said it believed search results should be removed only from its European versions since Google automatically redirects people to the local versions of its search engine.

The issue of how far to push the “right to be forgotten” has divided experts and privacy regulators, with some arguing that Google’s current approach

waters down the effectiveness of the ruling, given how easy it is to switch between different national versions.

Yesterday’s decision was another setback for Google, which is facing multiple investigations into its privacy policy and is mired in a four-year EU antitrust inquiry. The ruling has pitted privacy advocates against free speech campaigners, who say allowing people to ask search engines to remove information would lead to a whitewashing of the past.

Pierrotin also said notifying publishers and media outlets when their stories are de-listed from search results would not be mandatory, as Google has previously argued.

“There is no legal basis for routine transmission from Google or any other search engine to the editors. It may in some cases be necessary, but not as a routine and not as an obligation,” she said.

Google’s decision to notify press outlets and webmasters via email was criticised by regulators earlier this year for sometimes bringing people’s names back into the open. l

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B3 Russia cuts oil output

as OPEC ‘agrees’ price too low

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Banks in trouble with sinking Citycell CEO Mehboob Chowdhury hopes to reschedule the loans by next quarter and get back in business n Jebun Nesa Alo Some banks are in trouble with Citycell as the heavily indebted mobile phone operator has been incurring losses constantly for last several years that it could not pay back the loans.

The company owes a total amount of Tk1,040 crore to 12 banks as of June, and Bangladesh Bank fears the loans would have to be classified as sub-standard. In fact, the loans are up for consideration as classified after the end of September quarter, a central bank executive said.

The company also owes around Tk250 crore to the national exchequer, According to Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission sources. The BTRC served a showcause notice to the company and threatened cancelling the licence.

The net loss of the company was Tk196 crore in 2011, Tk226 crore in 2012, Tk320 crore in 2013 and Tk480 crore in 2014, according to a central bank report.

“We are holding negotiations with the banks to regularise the loans through instalment payment,” Citycell CEO Mehboob Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

He hoped to get back in business amid expansion after rescheduling the loans by next quarter.

According to Bangladesh Bank, the cellphone company has already been considered defaulter by four banks – The City, Dutch-Bangla, Eastern and Exim.

The operator recently became defaulter of IFIC Bank as Bangladesh Bank did not extend the loan repayment schedule.

A forced loan of around Tk39 crore was created due to the company’s failure in LC payment, according to a central bank source. The total period of credit against LC should not exceed 180 days as per Bangladesh Bank foreign exchange rule.

Following a request by the company, IFIC Bank sent a letter to the central bank seeking an extension till December, but refused for being an already defaulter company to other banks.

“The central bank usually allows such extension request, but we did not consider the case of Citycell,” said

Airtel, Citycell subscribers fall n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Mobile phone operators Citycell and Airtel have faced a drop in subscribers in last few months.

Airtel lost 10.74 lakh subscribers from June to October, according to data released yesterday by the telecom regulator Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) reports that Airtel’s active connections were 85.4 lakh as of June, which came down to 74.66 lakh in September.

Citycell suffered loss of 1.04 lakh subscribers from May to October period. The number stood at 13.29 lakh in October.

BTRC report notes that the total active mobile connections of the country are 11.89 crore as of September. The number was 11.85 crore one month ago. l

Security guards stand at the entrance of a building that houses Citycell Corporate Head Office in the capital. The photo was taken yesterday evening a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank, because the company continues to incur losses and already became defaulter to other banks.

“We requested the central bank to extend the payment time, considering the company’s business situation,” said an IFIC Bank senior executive, expecting the company would be able to pay the loan instalment by December this year.

The total loan of Citycell from the bank stood at Tk177 crore as of June, according to central bank data. The company has total liabilities of about Tk2,325 crore, including the bank loans as of the year 2013.

National Bank also ran into trouble with Citycell as it did not get back a loan of Tk167 crore. The bank, howev-

er, obtained collateral considered to be adequate to recover the loan amount.

According to a central bank investigation report, National Bank issued four guarantees against Citycell in the year 2012 for the operator’s taking loan from Eastern Bank, AB Bank and Trust Bank. The total value of the bank guarantees was Tk100 crore.

National Bank also issued shortterm loan of Tk100 crore as well as bank guarantees. The loan account and bank guarantees renewed in the year 2013, mortgaging a space of 24,250 square feet worth Tk497 crore.

In accordance with a credit condition, Citycell was supposed to invest Tk210 crore in two phases within June 2012 to get back on business again, but failed.

Meanwhile, the bank topped up the amount of loan Tk150 crore at the end of 2013 from existing Tk100 crore and the bank guarantees to Tk150 crore.

The bank took space mortgage worth Tk1,341 crore from Citycell, plus personal guarantee of Citycell Chairman Morshed Khan and his son Faisal Morshed Khan for the second time.

National Bank expected the company would recover the losses through investing new capital, according to a review report on the loan proposal.

The review report stated, Citycell is overburdened with loans. The company could not recover its losses and gradually being loser facing market competition.

National Bank itself ran a risk by issuing loans and guarantees against

DHAKA TRIBUNE

such loser company which is against the interest of the depositors, stated the central bank investigation report.

The Citycell has sought time till December from almost all lenders to pay loans as the company is in the process of selling its major stakes, said a senior executive of a private bank.

He said the banks are not, however, so much worried as they hope Citycell would pay their money back after venturing into new business.

Citycell came into operation in 1993 and currently has a subscriber base of 13.49 lakh as of September, lowest among the operators in Bangladesh. It currently holds 1.23% market share.

Back in July 2010, the operator had around 20 lakh subscribers and enjoyed 3.23% market share. l

Muhith: Saarc ‘failure’ leads to sub-regional trade n Tribune Report Finance Minister AMA Muhith has said Bangladesh steps to strike sub-regional or bilateral agreements as the eight-nation group, Saarc, failed to improve intra-regional trade.

“Yes, SAARC failed, that’s why we have moved for bilateral and sub-regional trade relations, such as with Nepal and Bhutan,” he replied to a question from journalists after a meeting with ADB vice president yesterday.

Asian Development Bank also wants to invest in sub-regional trade improvement projects and has already launched one - “South Asia Sub-Regional Economic Cooperation,” finance minister cited.

Bangladesh has signed cooperation deals in bilateral trade with Nepal and Bhutan – two members of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc).

Under the deals, according to Muhith, the countries have already started using Mongla sea port of Bangladesh.

However, the implementation of transit route agreement with Nepal and Bhutan has faced a delay as India, also a part of the proposed route, is yet to put ink on such a deal.

Finance minister is hopeful that India would sign the deal and said as a new government in the country has just taken office, it might take some time to act on the matter.

India also told Bangladesh that the latter should have not inked the deal with others before making it with India, Muhith said. He thinks slow implementation of Public-Private-Partnership projects to develop regional trade is another reason behind the delay.

“None from private sector comes to invest in the projects under PPP initiative,” he lamented.

Besides, the Kunming initiative, known as BCIM-EC, has also made no progress and still remained just a commitment, Muhith said.

The Bangladesh China India Myanmar Economic Corridor (BCIM-EC) is an initiative conceptualised to achieve significant gains through sub-regional economic cooperation within the BCIM. The multi-modal corridor will be the first expressway between India and China and will pass through Myanmar and Bangladesh. l

Muhith seeks ADB fund

‘Default loans soar for political influence’

n Tribune Report

n Tribune report

Finance Minister AMA Muhith has sought more fund from Asian Development Bank for infrastructure development for next three years.

“I asked ADB vice-president to raise its financial assistance since it has already raised loan capacity for its clients,” he told reporters after a meeting with ADB Vice-President (operation) Wencai Zhang at his secretariat office yesterday.

Muhith said the multilateral bank gives only $1 billion which is a little fund for development.

“The government will take up big project from next year so we need financial assistance on a large scale.”

Japan has also promised to give $5 billion for infrastructure development for next three years, he added.

Asian Development Bank wants to

expand its programmes into Bangladesh, he said, adding that his ministry also wants to raise spending, which is yet to be approved at the cabinet meeting taking place next month.

Muhith said the problem of ADB-funded project is that it delays appointing consultant which is bad for development and which pushes up project costs.

The minister said the Asian Development Bank is now very much interested in regional cooperation among Asian countries.

Sub-regional trade and business integration between Bhutan and Nepal is developing under the bank’s funding.

“We have already signed agreement with Bhutan and Nepal on the use of Bangladesh’s road, railway and seaports, but that agreement will not come into effect till any such agreement signed with India,” he said. l

Nokia runs 4G trial Zahidul n Muhammad Islam Infrastructure service provider Nokia Networks demonstrated trial run of the Long Term Evolution (LTE), popularly known as 4G LTE, at a city hotel yesterday.

On this occasion, the company organised an event where Marko Lius was introduced as the new country head.

Describing the activities of LTE, Harald Preiss, head of Asia North of Nokia Network, said the use of broadband internet in Bangladesh would be increased massively in 2015, and preparation to this end should be started from now on.

Citing the statistics of the World Bank, he said every 10% increase in broadband penetration contribute a 1.38% growth to GDP. Nokia Networks has brought modern network system for the cellular phone operators and broadband internet service providing companies to ensure quality of services for the customers.

Marko Lius said the customers would enjoy a new type of internet experience through the newly introduced LTE. Nokia has introduced a new application named ‘Liquid Applications’ which would offer different type of internet experiences for the users. l

Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday said political influence was the key factor in increasing loan defaulters in Bangladesh.

The minister made the comment at a meeting with Asian Development Bank Vice-President (operation) Wencai Zhang.

Muhith said: “During the early period of Awami League regime encouragement from political parties added to loan defaulters in the country.”

The finance minister, however, claimed that the government has become successful in controlling the default loan situation and managing to decrease the number of defaulters significantly.

In reply to a question, he said it is not true all political persons are involved in commercial bank’s default

loans and financial irregularities.

The government has no relation with influential persons related to private commercial banks, claimed Muhith.

Regarding recent default loans, the minister said rescheduling time-frame in addition to hard and fast rules is a major reason to increase default loan of the state-owned commercial banks.

The clients of the state-run banks usually import commodities like fuel, fertiliser and foods but the loans taken under the letters of credit remain unpaid for a long time and thus the borrowers turn defaulters.

He also focused the lack of good management responsible for increasing default loans for BASIC and Krishi Bank.

There is no new directive for Bangladesh Bank as the government has already given it responsibility for keeping vigilance on the state-owned and private

commercial banks, Muhith continued.

On November 22, the finance minister asked Banking Division Secretary M Aslam Alam to let him know about the default loan situation in the country’s banking sector.

In his letter written to the secretary, he wrote: “The rise in default loans caused uproar in the press. I want to know what the real situation is and how we are operating this.”

According to news reports, it seemed that there was a competition among commercials banks in disbursing loans without adequate scrutiny of the borrowers’ financial status, which eventually led to failure in loan recovery.

Besides, the commercial banks do not disclose regular default loan amounts as they fear being identified as “problem banks” by the central bank, said a BB report on default loans. l

B2

Stocks back in red with poor turnover n Tribune Report

Turnover (Million Taka)

Broad market moved back to red, wiping out the marginal gain of last session After rising more than 50 points in the morning, the benchmark DSEX lost 48 points or 1% to close at 4,756, its lowest since September 17 this year.

The Shariah index DSES dropped 11 points or 1% to 1,108. The comprising blue chips DS30 ended at 1,752, shedding 19 points or 1%.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, closed at 8,948 with a fall of over 87 points.

Trading activities also dipped with turnover at the Dhaka Stock

DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSER Closing (% Change)

GeminiSeaFood-Z Midas Financing-Z Rahima Food -Z Eastern InsurA CMC Kamal Tex. -A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A Eastern Housing -A Meghna PET Ind. -Z GSP Finance-A Stylecraft -A

-5.69 -5.26 -5.13 -4.31 -4.05 -3.72 -3.54 -3.23 -3.16 -2.68

CSE LOSER Company

Closing (% Change)

Standard Insurance-A Hakkani P& Paper -B Islami Ins.BD-A NLI 1st M F-A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A National Housing Fin.-B Delta Brac HFCL-A Mercantile Bank -A Daffodil Computers -Z H.R. Textile -A

-8.31 -6.83 -4.90 -4.17 -3.70 -3.06 -3.01 -2.69 -2.54 -2.40

4430.98100

(+) 0.34%

1612.77381

(+) 0.65%

13673.71440

(+) 0.33%

11255.63150

(+) 0.35%

8492.80890

(+) 0.17%

Average (% Change) -6.27 -6.25 -1.82 -4.37 -3.04 -3.34 0.89 -3.23 -2.47 -2.91 Average (% Change) -8.94 -3.24 -4.90 -3.66 -3.12 -0.92 -3.01 -1.36 -2.29 -2.30

ANALYST

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 244.77 82.38 48.11 370.75 242.80 273.36 1.14 351.63 382.47 0.56 133.99 30.40 8.53 623.53 11.85 34.17 62.03 230.96 15.41 62.98 0.26

293

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

140

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

146 7

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,275.21

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.58

CSE key features November 26, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

8,279

Traded Issues

206

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

95

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

105

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,181.67

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

26.44

Turnover in Million

125.52 18.00 58.70 35.49 23.93 26.35 61.30 6.00 18.55 1000.00

126.00 18.00 57.30 35.50 23.70 25.90 59.90 6.00 18.40 1000.00

129.50 18.00 61.00 35.60 24.70 27.10 64.00 6.10 19.10 1000.00

124.90 18.00 56.60 34.00 22.90 25.70 56.00 6.00 17.10 1000.00

ClosingAvg.

Closing

DHIGH

DLOW

32.00 28.90 23.30 9.20 27.20 30.00 64.50 18.40 11.50 28.50

5,799,844

Number of Contract

DLOW

32.00 27.30 23.30 9.20 26.00 28.50 64.50 18.10 11.50 28.50

220.67

Turnover (Volume)

DHIGH

0.182 0.018 3.082 0.215 23.827 60.981 129.387 0.051 1.954 0.100

Turnover in Million

31.50 27.30 23.30 9.20 25.80 28.30 64.50 16.80 11.50 28.50

Latest EPS -11.90 -6.91 -1.01 3.44 1.32 4.64 3.19 -1.33 1.56 47.83

Latest EPS

0.031 0.057 0.012 0.009 8.595 0.564 0.032 2.397 0.063 0.057

2.88 0.28 1.92 1.36 4.64 2.32 5.05 1.16 0.68 1.62

Latest PE -ve -ve -ve 10.3 18.1 5.7 19.2 -ve 11.9 20.9

Million Taka 21.86 5.48 2.95 33.69 15.39 22.43 33.99 22.99 17.13 3.13 19.25 1.81 34.72 1.82 0.34 8.82 14.33 4.46 7.27 0.01

CSE

% change 8.04 2.02 1.08 12.39 5.66 8.25 0.00 12.50 8.46 6.30 1.15 7.08 0.67 12.77 0.67 0.12 3.25 5.27 1.64 2.68 0.00

Million Taka 266.64 87.86 51.06 404.44 258.19 295.80 1.14 385.63 405.46 17.69 137.13 49.65 10.34 658.25 13.67 34.51 70.85 245.29 19.86 70.25 0.27

7.57 6.39 6.14 4.75 4.51 4.47 4.39 4.07 4.02 3.80

Company Samata LeatheR -Z Phoenix Insur -A ACI Limited- A BGIC -A Premier Cement-A Eastern Cables-A LafargeS Cement-Z ConfidenceCement A MeghnaCement -A BSC-A

8.04 7.03 6.56 5.91 5.25 4.74 4.68 4.51 4.51 4.31

Average (% Change) 8.29 7.03 4.94 6.18 4.86 4.67 4.68 4.22 7.38 3.73

ClosingAvg.

Closing

133.63 374.17 224.95 122.07 165.43 32.35 73.03 89.65 44.06 518.17

ClosingAvg.

135.00 376.10 229.80 123.50 166.80 32.70 73.70 89.60 44.00 519.00

Closing

30.97 35.00 226.69 23.36 90.21 126.07 73.12 131.92 134.55 518.47

30.90 35.00 230.50 23.30 90.20 126.00 73.80 132.10 132.20 520.50

DHIGH 137.90 378.00 235.40 124.20 168.80 32.90 74.40 91.50 44.80 525.25

DHIGH 31.00 35.00 235.00 23.50 91.80 126.90 74.20 135.00 138.50 523.50

DLOW 127.90 350.00 200.00 106.20 161.30 28.20 71.30 85.00 38.50 501.25

DLOW 30.90 35.00 210.00 23.30 86.10 125.80 71.20 129.00 132.00 508.00

Turnover in Million 42.642 1.417 64.938 30.521 13.648 12.558 414.171 14.702 21.169 36.860

Turnover in Million 0.046 0.042 2.584 0.033 0.920 0.315 23.692 2.451 0.686 3.816

Latest EPS 7.00 9.37 5.28 2.00 2.08 1.55 2.16 3.67 0.68 23.48

Latest EPS 0.09 3.00 5.28 1.36 3.67 2.03 2.16 8.52 7.00 23.48

Latest PE 19.1 39.9 42.6 61.0 79.5 20.9 33.8 24.4 64.8 22.1

Latest PE 344.1 11.7 42.9 17.2 24.6 62.1 33.9 15.5 19.2 22.1

News, analysis and recent disclosures EHL: (Q3): As per un-audited quarterly accounts for the 3rd quarter ended on 30th April 2014 (Feb'14 to Apr'14), the Company has reported net profit after tax of Tk. 121.16 million with EPS of Tk. 1.50 as against Tk. 78.50 million and Tk. 0.97 respectively for the same period of the previous year. Whereas net profit after tax was Tk. 192.49 million with EPS of Tk. 2.39 for the period of nine months (Aug'13 to Apr'14) ended on 30.04.2014 as against Tk. 179.08 million and Tk. 2.22 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

UNIQUEHRL: Credit Rating Information and Services Limited (CRISL) has rated the Company as "AA+" in the long term and "ST-1" in the short term in consideration of financials of the Company up to 31st December 2013 (audited) and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

AMCL(PRAN): Credit Rating Information and Services Limited (CRISL) has rated the Company as "AA-" in the long term and "ST-3" in the short term in consideration of financials of the Company up to 30th June 2013 (audited) and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

RANFOUNDRY: Credit Rating Information and Services Limited (CRISL) has rated the

Company as "AA-" in the long term and "ST-3" in the short term in consideration of financials of the Company up to 31st December 2013 (audited) and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

EHL: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors of the Company has approved the investment of Tk. 3.00 million in IG Health Care Limited, a healthcare project of Islam Group against 300,000 shares of Tk. 10.00 each out of total 5,000,000 shares.

SAIHAMCOT: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors of the Company has taken the following resolutions: 1. has decided to go for commercial production of Saiham Cotton Mills Ltd. (Unit-2) from May 31, 2014, the proceeds of which were mainly received from Initial Public Offering, 2. The total cost of setting up of the additional unit is Tk. 1,12,17,48,482.00 and 3. The additional unit will generate approximately extra revenue of Tk. 170.00 crore to the existing turnover.

RUPALILIFE: The Company has informed that it has credited the rights shares to the respective shareholders' BO Accounts on May 26, 2014.

WATACHEM: As per Regulation 30 of DSE Listing Regulations, the Company has

informed that a meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on June 01, 2014 at 4:00 PM to consider, among others, audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

IPO Subscription: Tung Hai Knitting & Dyeing Limited subscription date 18-22 May 2014, NRB upto 31 May 2014. @ taka 10, face value taka 10 and market lot 500. Far East Knitting & Dyeing Industries Limited subscription date 15-19 June 2014, NRB upto 28 June 2014. @ taka 22, face value taka 10 and market lot 200. Shurwid Industries Limited subscription date 08-12 June 2014, NRB upto 21 June 2014. @ taka 10, face value taka 10 and market lot 500. Saif Powertec Limited subscription date 06-10 July 2014, NRB upto 19 July 2014. @ taka 10, face value taka 30 and market lot 200.

Dividend/AGM AMBEEPHA: 15% cash and 20% stock, AGM: 16.06.2014, Record Date: 28.05.2014.

MBL1STMF: 3% cash, Record date: 02.06.2014.

AIBL1STIMF: 5.5% cash, Record date: 02.06.2014.

ORIONPHARM: 15% cash, AGM: 22.06.2014, Record Date: 21.05.2014.

PURABIGEN: 15% stock, AGM: 29.06.2014, Record date: 21.05.2014.

11.0 101.3 12.1 6.8 5.7 12.5 12.8 15.7 16.9 17.6

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company

Total

Closing (% Change)

Average (% Change) 7.20 6.44 3.66 3.05 2.80 2.73 4.46 3.75 3.94 3.63

Latest PE

Lack of investors’ participation at this price level is an alarming sign for the market

% change 7.62 2.56 1.50 11.54 7.56 8.51 0.04 10.95 11.91 0.02 4.17 0.95 0.27 19.41 0.37 1.06 1.93 7.19 0.48 1.96 0.01

MeghnaCement -A Kohinoor Chem -A ACI Limited- A Al-Haj Textile -A JMI Syringes MDL-A Golden Harvest Agro-N LafargeS Cement-Z Premier Cement-A AramitCementA BSC-A

Closing (% Change)

CSE GAINER

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

Closing

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

71,366

Traded Issues

ClosingAvg.

31.76 28.35 23.30 9.20 26.37 28.92 64.50 18.16 11.50 28.50

66,614,586

Number of Contract

Weekly capital market highlights

Company

3,212.05

Turnover (Volume)

Thursday, November 27, 2014

DSE GAINER

DSE key features November 26, 2014

Exchange closing Tk300 crore, as some investors continued preferring to stay sidelines due to heavy volatility in the recent months.

It stood at Tk312 crore, a decrease of over 10% over the previous session and worst since July 20 this year.

Food and allied was the only sector that edged higher while all the remaining sectors closed in negative territory.

Among major sectors, power took the most hit losing more than 2%, followed by cement and non-banking financial institutions, which shed 1.9% each.

The largest cap sectors telecommunication, banks and pharmaceuticals closed marginally lower.

Losers outpaced gainers, as out of 304 issues traded, 101 advanced, 168 lost and 35 remained unchanged.

Lanka Bangla Securities said lack of investors’ participation at this price level is an alarming sign for the market.

IDLC Investments said broad market moved back to red, wiping out the marginal gain of last session. Turnover also dropped sharply, which reflected muted enthusiasm from the market participants, it said.

Western Marine remained the most traded stock of the session with liquidity worth Tk12.4 crore. It was followed by Jamuna Oil, Lafarge Surma Cement, Meghna Condensed Milk, Keya Cosmetics, Khan Brothers PP Woven Bag, GSP Finance and Grameenphone. l

Stocks slipped back in red amid volatility yesterday, after one-day rebound, with turnover falling to 18 weeks low.

The market was in the positive territory in first session but late selling pressure dragged the market down, led by mainly large cap sectors. Market opened the session on a positive note. However, it could not sustain the uptrend and closed in red.

Company

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

% change 7.65 2.52 1.47 11.61 7.41 8.49 0.03 11.07 11.64 0.51 3.94 1.43 0.30 18.89 0.39 0.99 2.03 7.04 0.57 2.02 0.01

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

LafargeS Cement-Z Grameenphone-A Eastern Housing -A BSRM Steels-A Meghna Petroleum -A Olympic Ind. -A Square Pharma -A HeidelbergCement -A ACI Limited- A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A

Appollo Ispat CL -N Mercantile Bank -A Beximco Pharma -A Emerald Oil Ind. -N BD Submarine Cable-A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company LafargeS Cement-Z BSRM Steels-A Grameenphone-A Appollo Ispat CL -N Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A Meghna Petroleum -A Rupali Life Insur.-A Square Pharma -A Hwa Well Textiles-N BD Submarine Cable-A

UNITED AIR-A BSC-A UCBL - A Emerald Oil Ind. -N AFC AgroBiotech-N

VolumeShares 5,671,500 682,200 2,110,880 1,397,454 358,415 425,404 265,131 130,500 288,681 2,314,500

Value in Million 414.17 183.58 129.39 106.67 101.25 98.64 71.80 69.81 64.94 60.98

% of TotalTurnover 12.89 5.72 4.03 3.32 3.15 3.07 2.24 2.17 2.02 1.90

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

2,089,800 3,016,937 1,249,386 993,500 262,091

324,000 142,140 38,400 357,000 326,000 24,200 72,000 18,199 99,000 22,100

338,781 7,360 141,136 15,500 64,500

58.69 55.71 52.96 48.77 47.38

23.69 10.88 10.33 10.00 8.60 6.86 5.94 4.93 4.13 4.00

3.86 3.82 3.76 3.64 3.54

1.83 1.73 1.65 1.52 1.47

11.17 5.13 4.87 4.71 4.05 3.23 2.80 2.32 1.95 1.89

1.82 1.80 1.77 1.72 1.67

ClosingP 73.70 269.80 59.90 76.20 284.50 235.30 271.40 531.80 229.80 25.90

27.90 18.50 39.90 49.20 180.00 ClosingP

73.80 76.50 269.50 27.90 26.00 284.20 76.70 271.10 41.30 180.60

11.30 520.50 26.60 49.00 54.60

Change % 4.39 1.43 -3.54 2.83 1.93 3.57 0.74 0.53 6.14 -3.72

1.09 -0.54 0.00 2.29 -0.88

Change %

4.68 3.38 1.58 1.45 -3.70 1.36 -5.07 0.63 -1.43 -0.71

-0.88 4.31 0.00 -78.34 -1.27

ClosingY 70.60 266.00 62.10 74.10 279.10 227.20 269.40 529.00 216.50 26.90

27.60 18.60 39.90 48.10 181.60

ClosingY

70.50 74.00 265.30 27.50 27.00 280.40 80.80 269.40 41.90 181.90

11.40 499.00 26.60 226.20 55.30

DHIGH 74.40 270.50 64.00 77.40 286.50 236.50 272.00 539.80 235.40 27.10

28.40 18.70 43.50 49.50 183.30

DHIGH

74.20 77.60 270.70 28.20 27.20 291.50 83.20 271.90 42.30 182.50

11.60 523.50 26.90 49.40 55.50

DLOW 71.30 263.50 56.00 68.00 255.00 213.00 255.00 529.10 200.00 25.70

27.70 16.80 37.00 48.70 164.10

DLOW

71.20 74.80 266.00 27.50 25.80 280.70 76.00 268.00 41.10 180.00

10.30 508.00 24.00 48.50 54.00

AvgPrice 73.03 269.11 61.30 76.33 282.50 231.87 270.81 534.96 224.95 26.35

28.08 18.46 42.39 49.09 180.76

AvgPrice

73.12 76.55 269.02 28.01 26.37 283.46 82.53 270.74 41.71 181.05

11.38 518.47 26.62 234.87 54.88

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Russia cuts oil output as OPEC ‘agrees’ price too low n AFP

“believes that market players should be responding to market changes more proactively”.

He did not say when the country’s largest oil producer - responsible for about 40% of Russia’s total output had implemented the curbs.

But they represent just a fraction of the 4.1 million barrels per day that Rosneft says it has averaged over the first 10 months of the year.

Russian oil giant Rosneft has trimmed its oil output amid a continued slide in crude prices, as an under-pressure OPEC mulls taking similar action.

Rosneft said Tuesday it had cut its daily output by 25,000 barrels because of “market conditions”. The token reduction represented less than one percent of the behemoth’s total and did nothing to boost energy prices on depressed global commodity markets.

The announcement, given in a company statement, came after Rosneft chief executive Igor Sechin held talks with officials from Mexico and OPEC members Saudi Arabia and Venezuela in Vienna, the venue for Thursday’s key meeting of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

The meeting is the most significant in recent years for OPEC, whose dozen members together pump out about one-third of the world’s crude.

The Vienna-headquartered cartel is under pressure from its poorer members like Venezuela and Ecuador to cut output after tumbling prices have slashed their precious revenues.

Crude futures have sunk by over 30 percent since June to four-year lows on the back of plentiful oil supplies, a strong dollar and worries about stalling energy demand in a weak global economy.

‘Price not good’

Oil prices tumbled again Tuesday, with the US benchmark down 2.2%, on expectations that the OPEC cartel will not agree to cut output.

The key US futures contract, West Texas Intermediate for January delivery, dived $1.69 on the New York Mercantile Exchange, closing at $74.09 a barrel, its lowest level since mid-September 2010.

Saudi silent

Iraq's largest oil refinery in the northern town of Baiji Meanwhile Benchmark Brent North Sea crude for delivery in January fell to $78.33 a barrel in London, down $1.35 from Monday’s close.

Both fell even further Wednesday, with West Texas Intermediate dropping 40 cents to $73.69 and Brent eas-

ing 31 cents to $78.02.

However the cartel’s Gulf members, led by kingpin Saudi Arabia, have rejected calls for a cut unless they are guaranteed market share in the highly competitive arena, according to analysts.

Despite the apparent differences,

AFP

OPEC and non-OPEC oil producers Tuesday agreed that crude prices have fallen too far, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Rafael Ramirez said.

“We agreed that the price is not good. Everybody is worried,” he told reporters.

Oil prices mixed ahead of OPEC meeting n AFP, Singapore Oil prices were mixed in Asia yesterday as speculation swirls that the OPEC oil cartel will maintain output at this week’s closely watched meeting despite a global supply glut.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for January delivery fell two cents to $74.07 while Brent crude for January rose nine cents to $78.42 in afternoon trade. WTI dived $1.69 Tuesday while Brent closed down $1.35.

Crude prices have sunk 30 percent

to four-year lows since June on the back of plentiful supplies, a strong dollar and worries about stalling energy demand in a weak global economy.

“At the moment, the outcome of the OPEC meeting on Thursday is very much trumping all other factors,” Daniel Ang, investment analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore, told AFP. “Prices have come under pressure after the meeting between some OPEC members and Russia saw no real concrete measures announced regarding production cuts,” Ang said.

Members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and nonmember producers including Russia held talks Tuesday ahead of the cartel’s key output meeting on Thursday.

After the meeting, Venezuelan Foreign Minister Rafael Ramirez said all parties agreed that the current price of crude “is not good”.

“We discussed the situation on the market, we shared our points of view and we agreed to keep in contact, and we will meet again in three months,” he added.

Separately, Russian oil giant Rosneft said it had trimmed output by 25,000 barrels partly in response to sliding prices.

The token reduction represented less than one percent of the behemoth’s total and did little to boost energy prices on depressed global commodity markets.

Thursday’s meeting in Vienna of OPEC, whose dozen members together pump out about one-third of the world’s crude, is its most significant in recent years. l

Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak also attended the meeting in Vienna on Tuesday, at which the four delegations failed to agree on a joint cut in output and left any such decision for the full meeting of OPEC members.

The Rosneft statement said Sechin

Ahead of the OPEC meeting, the world’s top oil producer Saudi Arabia has cut what it charges US customers, in a move seen as a bid to maintain its market share amid increasing competition from oil extracted from shale rock in the United States.

Analysts say the kingdom is content to see shale oil producers - and even some members of the cartel - suffer from low prices and will resist pressure to reduce output and shore up the cost of oil.

Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi was silent about his government’s intentions Monday as he arrived in Vienna.

His Iraqi counterpart Adel Abdel Mahdi arrived in the Austrian capital pushing for action, deeming the steep price drop “not acceptable”.

OPEC pumped 30.6 million barrels per day last month, above its 30 million bpd oil target, according to the International Energy Agency which advises countries on energy policy.

“With many of the cartel’s members suffering a rapidly deteriorating balance sheet given the recent rout in Brent prices, all eyes will be firmly fixed on this OPEC meeting for any indication of members taking steps to address the fundamental picture” of supply and demand, Sucden broker analyst Kash Kamal said Tuesday. l

Discover Financial sues Visa over anti-competitive card practices n Reuters Discover Financial Services Inc sued Visa Inc on Tuesday, alleging the world’s largest cards company has been using anti-competitive practices in its debit card business, and sought compensation for lost profit, court documents showed.

Discover, through its Pulse Network LLC unit, alleges that “in order to maintain its monopoly, Visa has undertaken

a series of illegal actions that undermine competition – harming rival debit networks, merchants, acquirers, card issuers, and consumers.”

Representatives at Visa could not immediately be reached for comment outside regular business hours.

Pulse requires its debit cardholders to authorize transactions with a personal identification number (PIN).

Most Visa transactions use customer signature. l

US economy grows robust 3.9% in Q3 n AFP, Washington

An employee of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China Ltd (ICBC) counts money at one of the bank's branches at the Shanghai Free Trade Zone in Pudong district, in Shanghai REUTERS

China won’t consider more rate cuts or easing until Q4 data out n Reuters, Beijing

China’s central bank will wait until fourth-quarter economic data is out and monitor US and Japanese monetary policy before considering any more rate cuts or easing, a central bank adviser said on Tuesday.

The People’s Bank of China surprised the markets by cutting rates last Friday for the first time in more than two years to help stabilize the world’s second-largest economy. Reuters then reported that China was prepared to ease policy again.

“Regarding the next step, whether to cut rates again or take similar action, we still need to look at the fourth quarter’s macroeconomic index,” said Chen Yulu, who sits on the central bank’s monetary policy committee. He was speaking on the sidelines of an economy and finance forum in Beijing.

“It is also important to make decisions taking into account Japanese and US monetary policy,” Chen said.

He added that he didn’t believe that Friday’s benchmark lending rate cuts

represented a change in monetary policy, echoing the central bank line.

Prior to Friday’s moves, Beijing and the central bank had persisted with modest stimulus measures.

Reuters reported that the country’s leadership and central bank were prepared to cut rates again and loosen lending restrictions on concerns that falling prices could trigger a surge in debt defaults, business failures and job losses, according to sources involved in policy-making.

Economic growth slowed to 7.3% in the third quarter and policymakers feared it was on the verge of dipping below 7% - a rate not seen since the global financial crisis. Producer prices, charged at the factory gate, have been falling for almost three years, piling pressure on manufacturers, and consumer inflation is also weak.

Earlier on Tuesday, the central bank cut the yield for a key short-term money rate for the fourth time this year as regulators step up efforts to reduce funding pressure on Chinese companies. l

Growth in the US economy in the third quarter was far stronger than thought, official data showed Tuesday, further distancing the United States from the ailing eurozone and Japan.

The world’s largest economy clocked a 3.9% annual growth rate in the July-September period, the Commerce Department said, revising its initial estimate of 3.5% last month.

The number was well above expectations. Economists had predicted a downward revision in the second official estimate for the quarter, to 3.2%.

The momentum came on the heels of a 4.6% expansion in gross domestic product in the second quarter as the economy rebounded from a 2.1% contraction in the first three months of the year largely reflecting severe winter weather.

The back-to-back quarterly growth means “the US has undergone its strongest growth phase for 11 years,” said Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit.

The United States is a bright spot in the slowing global economy, with the 18-nation eurozone stalling and Japan, the third-largest economy, falling into recession, and China and other emerging-market economies experiencing easing momentum.

The European Central Bank and the Bank of Japan are ratcheting up stimulus measures just as the Federal Reserve is withdrawing them, announcing the end of quantitative easing in October.

The Fed is expected to raise its nearzero interest rate in mid-2015, the first increase in the federal funds rate in more than six years, if the economy continues to improve.

“Such buoyant growth will inevitably raise expectations that the Fed could soon start to raise interest rates, possibly in the first half of 2015,” Williamson said.

Contributing to the improved thirdquarter GDP number was an upward revision to business inventory invest-

A bucket is lifted by scaffolding workers at the Washington Monument (right) at sunrise in Washington ment, up 7.1%, especially in the wholesale trade and retail trade sectors.

Consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of US GDP, increased 2.2% instead of the 1.8% prior estimate. The increase was primarily due to spending on goods.

Partly offsetting the upward revisions, based on data that was not available for the first estimate, exports were revised lower and imports were revised higher. The widening in the trade deficit was expected given the slowdown in trading partners and a stronger dollar.

Inflation remained subdued. The Fed’s preferred inflation measure, the personal consumption expenditures price index, rose 1.3% in the third quarter, an upward revision of 0.1 percentage point. Stripping out volatile

food and energy prices, core PCE prices were up 1.4%.

The White House and economists voiced caution about the outlook despite the better GDP numbers.

“Since the financial crisis, the US economy has bounced back more strongly than most others around the world, and the recent data highlight that the United States is continuing to lead the global recovery,” said Jason Furman, President Barack Obama’s chief economic adviser.

“Nevertheless, there is more work to be done to boost growth in the United States and around the world,” he said, calling on Congress, which will be controlled by opposition Republicans next year, to take “important steps like increased infrastructure investment.”

REUTERS

Barclays analyst Michael Gapen said that “although the details of this report are more positive, on net, relative to the advance release, we are not inclined to extrapolate the stronger growth into future quarters.”

“Without a persistent acceleration in private consumption, it is hard for overall GDP growth to accelerate.”

Rob Carnell at ING Bank warned that “a lot can happen between now and the April 2015 rate hike the market is pricing in, including much weaker inflation and a possible re-run of the 2013 government shutdown, and we are taking nothing for granted.”

The Commerce Department will publish its third and final estimate of third-quarter GDP growth on December 23. l

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OECD: Stagnant eurozone poses ‘major risk’ to world growth n AFP, Paris The weak eurozone economy poses a key threat to global growth, the OECD warned Tuesday, urging more flexibility in fiscal rules for struggling EU members like France and Italy to prevent another recession.

Forcing the two major European economies to meet the EU’s tough deficit criteria “would likely depress activity further and even risk tipping the euro area into another recession,” it said.

France and Italy’s “slower pace of structural fiscal adjustment... proposed in their 2015 budget plans seems appropriate,” said the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, which provides economic analysis and advice to its 34 industrialised members.

Its assessment came as an EU source said the Commission would give the two countries until the spring to implement tough reforms, delaying a final verdict on national overspending originally set for this week.

The Commission was expected to deliver the detailed opinions next Thursday or Friday, but will now only give an initial verdict without getting into next steps, the EU source said.

The decision, to be approved by the Commission later Tuesday, risks angering an impatient Germany, frustrated with the slow pace of reform in Paris and Rome.

Last month, France and Italy barely avoided having their budgets humiliatingly sent back for serious breaches.

France is set for a deficit of 4.3% of GDP in 2015, way above the EU ceiling of three percent, while Italy’s slow pace of structural reforms to reduce its massive debt of 133.4% - more than double the EU ceiling - was under scrutiny.

According to the plans, the Commission will divide eurozone countries into groups, with France and Italy, but also Spain and Portugal, identified as noncompliant of the EU’s budgetary rules.

Tensions have been running particularly high between Berlin, which has

Thursday, November 27, 2014

ECB’s negative interest rates under fire in Germany n AFP, Frankfurt

A man walks past various currency signs, including the dollar, Australian dollar, pound sterling and euro, outside a brokerage in Tokyo REUTERS

preached fiscal discipline, and Paris, which is not only running a budget deficit but also urging more stimulus spending.

But the OECD in its semi-annual report appeared to side with Paris and Rome, urging the eurozone to “slow down structural budget consolidation relative to previous plans to reduce the drag on growth”.

‘Grinding to a standstill’

Unveiling the report Tuesday, OECD chief economist Catherine Mann questioned whether Berlin could take the high ground on reforms, saying: “Neither France nor Germany have done much in terms of structural reforms.”

The OECD also called for further stimulus in the European single cur-

rency zone to prop up growth, although in Britain and the United States, policymakers can afford to pull back on such programmes next year.

“The euro area is grinding to a standstill and poses a major risk to world growth, as unemployment remains high and inflation persistently far from target,” Mann said in the report.

The OECD lowered its forecast for global growth this year by a tenth of a percentage point to 3.3%. For 2015 it cut the forecast by two tenths of a point to 3.7% growth.

The OECD left in place its forecast for the 18-nation eurozone to expand by 0.8% this year and by 1.1% in 2015.

“Growth is set to be stronger in the United States and the United Kingdom than in the euro area and Japan,” the

report said, adding that unemployment “will remain particularly high in the euro area”.

Among the emerging economies, “growth will edge down in China, remain weak in Russia and Brazil, but will recover steadily in India, Indonesia and South Africa,” it said.

“This macroeconomic prognosis leaves us with a keen need for both continued supportive macroeconomic policy, as well as tailored structural reforms to raise both demand and supply throughout the global economy,” it said.

Global concerns have mounted about the health of the eurozone just two years after the European Union said that the debt crisis which started in 2009 was over. l

The European Central Bank is under fire in Germany because of its policy of negative interest rates, which is prompting some banks to charge customers for holding money in their bank accounts.

In Germany, where saving is considered a virtue, the announcement by one of the country’s biggest lenders, Commerzbank, that it will start charging clients with high deposits on their accounts has angered many.

Commerzbank insists that momand-pop retail customers will not be affected and the so-called “deposit fees” will be levied only on major corporate clients holding more than 10m euros ($12.5m) on their accounts.

Nevertheless, at a time when savers in particular are already feeling the pinch from an extended period of ultra-low interest rates, Commerzbank’s move “broke a taboo”, complained the television news channel n-tv.

Some observers think it is only a matter of time before private retail customers are hit, too.

The idea behind the ECB’s unprecedented decision in June to take eurozone borrowing costs into negative territory was to kick-start lending in the euro area.

In a bank-based economy such as the single currency area, the chronically low level of credit is regarded as the main hurdle to a broader recovery.

So the ECB decided to lower the rate on banks’ overnight holdings with the central bank - the so-called deposit rate - to minus 0.10%, with the aim of “punishing” banks who park their excess liquidity with the central bank.

The German term for the practice reflects this thinking: negative interest rates are known as “Strafzinsen” or “punitive rates”.

The logic was to give banks the incentive to lend the money to the private sector instead. The ECB tightened the screws again in September by lowering the deposit rate further to minus 0.20%.

But the policy has had its critics from the start, not least in Germany, where the ECB’s “unconventional”

policies are generally regarded being too risky and overstepping its mandate.

Some ECB watchers warned in advance that the largely untested policy could actually have potentially harmful unforeseen consequences.

And such concerns now appear to be backed up by Commerzbank’s move.

‘Failure of monetary policy’

“Punitive interest rates crown the failure of a monetary policy that has made saving increasingly unattractive since the start of the crisis,” complained Lutz Goebel, head of the federation of family-run businesses ASU. “Instead of generating more investment, the ECB’s policy of negative rates is adding to the burden on the economy,” agreed Martin Wansleben, president of the DIHK federation of chambers of commerce.

With the ECB’s key “refi”, or refinancing rate, currently at an all-time low of 0.05%, many savers all around Europe are feeling the squeeze.

But in a country such as Germany, where households and businesses often prefer to place their money in safe but unsexy savings accounts rather than investing it in bonds and shares, they are more painful still.

Germany has the highest savings rate in Europe, and low interest rates are also eroding people’s private pension provisions. The mass-circulation daily Bild, on one of its front pages, directly linked the ECB’s policies to fears about poverty in old age.

A small bank in the regional state of Thuringia, the Skatbank, has said it will levy a charge of 0.25% on all clients with savings in excess of 3m euros.

Admittedly that means the rich will be hit, rather than small-time savers.

Nevertheless, opinion is divided whether other banks might follow the lead of Commerzbank and Skatbank.

Frank Kohler, chief executive of Germany’s biggest cooperative bank Sparda-Bank Berlin, said at the end of October that negative interest rates could no longer be seriously ruled out in retail banking. l

Juncker unveils massive Japan’s war on deflation faces its toughest battle n EU investment plan AFP, Tokyo

n

AFP

European Commission chief JeanClaude Juncker was set to unveil an eagerly awaited 300bn euro investment plan in European Parliament on Wednesday, intended to boost the continent’s flatlining economy.

The plan is the cornerstone of Juncker’s five-year agenda to jumpstart the EU’s moribund economy, which has failed to grow since the financial crisis and is mired in mass unemployment and near-deflation.

The new European Fund for Strategic Investment will be funded to the tune of 21bn euros, but its work will have an net effect on the economy of about 315bn euros ($390bn), according to an official estimate.

As expected, overall responsiblity for the three-year plan will fall to the European Investment Bank, a littleknown EU institution based in Luxembourg that is often criticised for its lack of ambition.

Juncker will formally introduce the plan to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday before submitting it to EU leaders at a summit in December.

The heart of the problem in the 28-nation bloc is a drastic lack of investment, which remains way off pre-crisis

levels, in stark contrast to the US and despite unprecedented stimulus measures by the European Central Bank.

The plan announced Tuesday is designed to attack the investment problem head-on, but with the added challenge to do so without more public spending, with most EU countries already paralysed by high deficits and mountains of debt.

No new money

Crucially, the Juncker plan in the end relies on no new money, but re-engineers existing funds in such a way, officials said, that will provide far more added value than in their existing allocation.

“The amounts are lower than we hoped, but we felt that coming in recent weeks,” an EU diplomat told AFP on condition of anonymity.

In essence, the plan uses existing cash from both the EIB and EU to feed an investment fund that will be tasked with financing private-sector driven projects. Officials said the projects would provide a “real added value” for the European economy.

The overall figure multiplies the initial 21bn euros by a factor of 15, which was a “conservative” estimate, EU officials said. l

US consumer confidence falls in November n AFP, Washington US consumer confidence fell in November as views of current and future business and job conditions sagged, the Conference Board reported Tuesday.

The consumer confidence index fell to 88.7 from 94.1 in October, but remained well above the 72 level of a year ago.

Assessments by survey respondents of existing business conditions and those in the next six months all eroded.

But the same survey showed consumer plans for spending on major items like cars, houses, appliances and vacations in the next six months were generally higher.

“Consumers were somewhat less positive about current business conditions and the present state of the job

market,” said Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at The Conference Board.

“However, income expectations were virtually unchanged and gas (gasoline) prices remain low, which should help boost holiday sales.”

Analysts said the downturn in the overall index is likely temporary, and possibly related to October’s stock market slump, now well-overcome in November.

“We are inclined to see it as a lagged response to the drop in stock prices in October, which has since more than reversed, while gas prices have fallen further,” said Ian Shepherdson at Pantheon Macroeconomics.

“We expect a rebound in December and further gains early next year.” l

As Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe heads to the polls next month, the success of his war on deflation hinges on convincing people like 24-year-old Ryo Tatemichi to shrug off fears about the future and start spending.

That’s a tough sell when young workers like Tatemichi are struggling with insipid wage growth and declining job security, and as the economy slips into its fifth recession since 2000.

“If things keep going like they are, salaries could drop. That’s why people need to save now,” said Tatemichi, an information technology worker who puts aside as much as one-third of a 200,000 yen ($1,700) a month salary before overtime pay.

“It would be good if people who do have money spend it ... But all we hear about is economic gloom. People are scared of spending their cash.”

Japan’s economy shrank between July and September, the second consecutive quarterly contraction, in the wake of an April sales tax rise that was designed to help pay down one of the world’s largest public debt mountains.

The levy hike delivered a body blow to Abe’s efforts to rev up growth, just as the world’s number three economy appeared to be turning a corner.

The weaker-than-expected figures convinced Abe to put off another sales tax hike, due in 2015, and call a snap election that he described as a referendum on his policies, dubbed “Abenomics” - although observers said it was a strategic move to fend off party rivals ahead of a leadership vote next year.

The move set off a flurry of speculation about whether Abe’s grand economic experiment had died on the operating table, and sparked questions about what Japan’s struggle with falling prices means for the eurozone as it teeters on the edge of deflation.

“The lesson for Europe is that what counts most is not to fall into deflation” in the first place, said Atsushi Nakajima, chairman of Japan’s Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry.

Spread the wealth

While many economists say it is still too early to judge the success or failure of Abenomics, changing Japan’s so-called “deflationary mindset” has proven to be a Herculean task for Abe and his hand-picked Bank of Japan chief Haruhiko Kuroda.

“The narrative is this: the govern-

Bank of Japan (BOJ) Governor Haruhiko Kuroda attends a news conference at the BOJ headquarters in Tokyo ment wants to eradicate deflation, which has long-term, structural costs,” said Marcel Thieliant from Capital Economics.

So “the BoJ has provided aggressive stimulus, which has weakened the yen.

This has boosted corporate profits, but has undermined household purchasing power.

“The key question is how to ensure that the benefits to the corporate sector are eventually passed on to consumers.”

Japan Inc., which once led the world in innovation, is facing stiff competition from emerging nations including China, while a falling number of working age Japanese is shrinking its tax base even as soaring ranks of seniors strains the public purse.

It’s a demographic conundrum that exacerbates caution among the public, two decades after a stock and property price bubble popped, sending the economy into years of stagnation.

“Many Japanese save a lot because they worry as more and more people (hit) retirement age, and fewer (people) join the workforce, that public pensions and possibly private pensions as well will not be able to guarantee them the standard of living today’s retirees are enjoying,” said Robert Dujarric, the director of Asian Studies at Temple University’s Tokyo campus.

Abe’s much-touted plan consisted of “three arrows”: big government spending - such as infrastructure projects - as well as massive central bank monetary easing and an overhaul of the highly regulated economy.

The cornerstone is a 2% inflation target designed to reverse price drops that gave consumers an incentive to delay purchases knowing that goods would be cheaper down the road.

Deflation ‘not so bad’

But the battle to end deflation isn’t welcomed by seniors such as 69-year-old Eiji Shimojima, who worry that higher prices will erode their retirement income.

“Deflation might not be good for the economy overall, but from an ordinary citizen’s perspective it’s actually not so bad because you can afford more things,” Shimojima said.

DILBERT

REUTERS

Niigata University economics professor Ivan Tselichtchev added in an e-mail: “If the BoJ reaches its two-percent inflation target (which is doubtful), it will not necessarily be a good news for the Japanese economy, especially for households. The major task should be growth, not inflation. “ Abe has made some progress on growth-oriented reforms - the “third arrow” of his plan - such as trying to cut farm subsidies and deregulating the electricity sector, but his ambitious blueprint has also put him on a collision course with the politically powerful agricultural lobby, among others.

“Japan desperately needs drastic structural reform to exit from deflation - the first and second arrows of Abenomics are phony,” said Satoru Madono, a Reitaku University economics professor. l