December 02, 2014

Agrahayan 18, 1421 Safar 8, 1436 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 238

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

20 pages | Price: Tk12

B1 | BUSINESS

7 | LONG FORM

11 | OP-ED

14 | SPORT

JAPAN ENVOY: CHEAPER LABOUR DRAGS JAPANESE TO BANGLADESH

ARE WE MIDDLE INCOME YET?

REALITY VERSUS SOPHISTICATED RHETORIC

BARCA GRAB LAST-GASP WIN AGAINST VALENCIA

Killing the goose that lays the golden egg Rahman Rasel and n Aminur Asif Islam The government may feel safe about its energy policy and Chevron may make a profit, but Bibiyana gas field, whose production expansion was inaugurated by the prime minister on November 29, is being pushed to the brink of a disaster.

Bibiyana gas field in Habiganj is capable of remaining in service until 2032, but if Chevron’s extraction plans go into full effect, the field will be exhausted by 2024. Chevron data, presented to Petrobangla recently, warns of production declines as early as 2018.

Government’s decision to allow US oil company Chevron to extract 1,200 million cubic feet of gas per day

‘Experience clearly teaches us that over extraction is bad for gas fields’ (mmcfd) from the Bibiyana gas field starting in January 2015 follows a certain political and business logic. But experts warn that such a high rate of extraction could kill the gas field, or at the least maim it badly.

“It is a combined effort to make a significant difference to help solve the energy crisis in Bangladesh,” the Prime Minister’s Energy Adviser Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury said in 2012 when Chevron announced its $500m Bibiyana expansion project.

The government’s desire to parlay the massive rate of gas extraction at Bibiyana into the generation of power reveals how crucial the sector is in terms of electoral politics, and how eagerly the government wants to win public confidence by claiming a success in the sector.

PM: Take action against foreigners staying illegally n Tribune Report Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed the authorities concerned to make a list of the foreign nationals illegally staying in the country and take legal action against them.

The premier gave the directive to the ministries and divisions concerned at a cabinet meeting yesterday, a cabinet member told the Dhaka Tribune, requesting anonymity.

The issue of the illegal foreign nationals was brought up at the meeting when Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed asked about the activities of Accord and Alliance, two international organisations which are now looking into the labour standard in the country’s ready-made garment sector.

The prime minister said foreigners are working in different sectors, especially RMG, while staying illegally in the country. They should be identified immediately and their identification should be verified by the national security and intelligence agencies, the cabinet member said.

The duration of visa and work permit of every foreign national should also be verified by the authorities concerned, the prime minister said.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Ministers have also said the extra gas would go to propping up flagging enterprises like the country’s defunct fertiliser factories.

Chevron, meanwhile, will be able to maximally exploit the resources at Bibiyana and turn a handsome profit.

But according to the production sharing contract (PSC), a company should not produce more than 7.5% of the proven and probable reserve of gas in a year. As we will show, from January 2015 Chevron will be producing at a rate of 10.4%.

Given that the remaining reserve is 4.2 trillion cubic feet (tcf), annual production should not be more than 315 billion cubic feet (bcf), which translates into a daily production rate of 863 mmcfd. At present, Chevron already is over producing gas to the tune of nearly 1,000 mmcfd. In January 2015, the company has announced that it will produce 1,200 mmcfd.

That means that Chevron is planning to produce 39% more than it should according to the PSC. According to the PSC, a gas field is considered to have a 25-year lifespan.

Since production started in March 2007, Bibiyana gas field is expected to be viable until 2032. But Chevron, in a recent presentation to Petrobangla, said production from Bibiyana would start to decline after 2018. Why then is the company be willing to produce gas at a rate that will almost certainly hasten the gas field’s demise?

After all, Chevron, if it extracted the proven reserve at a more leisured pace, would not only make a good return on its investment but would also be able to take advantage of a five-year extension built into its contract to prolong its business here.

“If the gas runs out before Chevron’s contract expires or if over extraction  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

The national cricket stadium in Mirpur could have easily done without flood lights yesterday. The remarkable ODI clean sweep against Zimbabwe brings thousand-watt smiles to the faces of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, ODI skipper Mashrafe Mortaza and test leader Mushfiqur Rahim MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Banglawash featuring Taijul hat-trick n Mazhar Uddin Debutant spinner Taijul Islam’s hat-trick enabled Bangladesh to maintain their clinical and consistent performance before the World Cup as the home side handed Zimbabwe a five-wicket defeat in the last ODI to complete the five-nil drubbing at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was present at the home of cricket and added colour to the elated occasion as she handed over the trophies of the Test and ODI series to the respective captains of the format – Mushfiqur Rahim and Mashrafe bin Mortaza.

Two months back the current sce-

Zimbabwe, 128 [30 overs] Bangladesh, 130/4 [24.3 overs] Bangladesh won by 5 wickets nario in Mirpur was a hard one to imagine as Bangladesh, who suffered plenty of humiliations in the first 10 months, bounced back in the best possible manner to retain the faith of the fans by outplaying and handing the visitors a “Banglawash” in both the Test and ODI series.

Already 4-0 up, the Tigers tinkered with their playing XI as expected and handed debuts to Taijul and Soumya Sarker as the former made the outing memorable by making history. The left-

Poor facilities scourge for HIV patients n Abid Azad

The dearth of adequate healthcare services has left AIDS patients in the country helpless as they continue to suffer from the incurable disease.

Besides, discrimination and negligence that HIV patients frequently face at public and private hospitals in the country heighten their woes as there is still a social stigma attached to the disease.

The Health Ministry on January 1 this year introduced a free healthcare

service in public hospitals for HIV-positive people, but it has not been much fruitful.

NGO officials have blamed the ministry’s lack of adequate preparation for this. They said the government had installed eight machines to count CD4 cells of AIDS patients at hospitals in Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Chittagong, Rangpur and Sylhet, but most of those do not function properly.

The CD4 cell counting machine at Chittagong Medical College Hospital has been out of commission for a year,

A World Aids Day procession in the capital’s Manik Mia Avenue yesterday tries to make people aware about the use of contraceptives DHAKA TRIBUNE

and the hospital’s Head of Microbiology Department Dr Khan Mashrequl Alam told the Dhaka Tribune that a lack of maintenance support was the reason behind it.

“We heard that the government would arrange training on how to operate and maintain such machines, but that has yet to happen. The machine in our hospital displays an error message and I think there is a software problem,” he said.

“The lack of maintenance staff forces us to contact officials in Dhaka in case of any technical problem,” he added.

Dr Husain Sarwar, line director of National AIDS/STD Programme (NASP), told the Dhaka Tribune that the CD4 machines are not frequently used as the number of HIV patients is low.

“But we always try to fix the machines whenever there is any trouble,” he said.

But Halida Khandaker, executive director of Confidential Approach to AIDS Prevention (CAAP), said the government did not disseminate information about the machine.

“How can the patients go to hospitals if they are not aware that such machines exist? There is also the problem of unfriendly attitude of those providing treatment at hospitals. We have yet to see any experienced and competent staff who can provide healthcare services for HIV patients,” she said.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

arm spinner became the only cricketer to bag a hat-trick on one-day international debut.

The visitors had no clue whatsoever after opting to bat first for the first time in the series and was bundled out for a paltry 128 as the host spinners shared nine wickets among them with Taijul leading the pack with 4 for 11.

Chasing the mediocre target, Bangladesh were in a spot of bother by the “short-ball” strategy from the visitors that made them lose five wickets before reaching 100, but Mahmudullah’s calm 51 from one end ensured there was no upset.

Earlier, Zimbabwe lost Sikandar Raza early before Hamilton Masakadza

The High Court yesterday dropped a plea from the cause list that sought scraping of the parliament membership of Jatiya Party Chairman and Prime Minister’s Special Envoy HM Ershad.

3 | News

A Narayanganj court ordered investigators looking into the 7-murder to submit charge sheet within January 22. Police yesterday produced 24 arrestees including three ex-officials of RAB before the court.

Defence says court can’t record deposition n Tribune Report A special Dhaka court yesterday failed to fully record a witness submission in a graft case against BNP chief Khaleda Zia and five others amid hullabaloo by defence counsels who said the court did not have the right to do it.

Hearing both sides for several hours, Bashudev Roy from the Dhaka Special

Prosecution says the High Court hasn’t barred recording deposition either Judge’s Court 3 started recording the deposition of Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Deputy Director Harun-or-Rashid, plaintiff of the Zia Orphanage Trust Corruption case.

However, around 4:15pm, minutes after the deposition began, the judge had to leave the court as the defence lawyers started shouting inside the court.

They loudly objected saying the judge did not have the legal right to

4 | News

The High Court yesterday rejected a petition of Mia Nur Uddin Apu, personal secretary to BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, which sought cancellation of trial in a bribery case against him.

6 | Nation

At least 50,000 farmers of different villages in the district have become self dependent by cultivating winter vegetables in fallow land this season.

5 | News

On the last day of the week-long drive against jaywalking, two mobile courts cracked down on unfit vehicles and those driving on the wrong side of the road in the capital.

9 | World

Hong Kong protesters forced temporary closure of government headquarters yesterday after clashing with police, defying orders to retreat in the Chinese-controlled city.

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

ZIA ORPHANAGE TRUST CASE

INSIDE 2 | News

(52) and Vusi Sibanda (37) scored over five-runs an over to take them to 95 for 1 in 17 overs. However, once leg-spinner Jubair Hossain broke the partnership by removing the dangerous looking Masakadza it was all Taijul’s show.

Taijul, who made his ODI debut after an impressive Test series replacing Rubel Hossain, had no idea what he was about to do when he came to bowl at the 11th over of the match. The 22-year-old picked up his first one-day wicket in his second spell when he trapped Solomon Mire leg-before. His first victim of the hat-trick was Tinashe Panyangara in the last ball of the same over and he returned John Nyumbu

15 | Entertainment

Kolkata-based vocalist Kaushiki Chakrabarty captivated an audience of 55,000 on Sunday night at the Bengal Classical Music Festival.

record the statement as the High Court had still not settled Khaleda’s petition for transferring the case to another court.

The lawyers also said the defendants should therefore be granted more time.

However, ACC’s acting chief prosecutor Musharraf Hossain Kajal argued that it was fully legal because the HC had not barred recording of deposition either.

On Sunday, Supreme Court’s Appellate Division dismissed a leave-toappeal petition filed by Khaleda in the Zia Charitable Trust corruption case, clearing the last obstacle to proceed with the case.

On November 23, the apex court dismissed two other leave-to-appeal petitions regarding the acceptance of charges and indictment in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case.

However, the former premier on Sunday filed another petition – this time seeking transfer of the two cases filed against her and others from the Special Judge’s Court 3.

Her lawyers were referring to this  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Petition against Ershad’s JS membership dropped n Tribune Report The High Court yesterday dropped a plea from the cause list that sought scraping of the parliament membership of Jatiya Party Chairman and Prime Minister’s Special Envoy HM Ershad.

Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal leader Sabbir Ahmed, who had contested the January 5 poll from Rangpur 3 constituency, filed the writ petition alleging that Ershad had concealed information about his educational certificate and wealth in the affidavit submitted to the Election Commission.

When his lawyer went to the bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Jahangir Hossain, they came to know that it had been dropped from the cause list.

Sabbir last moth filed the petition where he made the chief election commissioner, the chairman of Dhaka Secondary and Higher Secondary Educa-

tion Board, the chief of Anti-Corruption Commission and Ershad respondents.

He sought a rule from the court seeking educational documents from the education board chief, DU and Ershad.

If failed, the petitioner sought rule on the chief election commission to scrap Ershad’s candidature and declare Sabbir as the lawmaker from the constituency.

He urged the court to order withdrawal of all the facilities Ershad now enjoys as a lawmaker until disposal of the rule.

Sabbir also sought resumption of a money laundering case filed against Ershad by now-defunct Anti-Corruption Bureau in 1995.

A former military dictator, Ershad had withdrawn his candidature before the January 5 election but the EC did not accept it since it was not submitted following rules. l

PM to visit Malaysia Dec 2-4 n Tribune Report Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be visiting Malaysia from December 2 to December 4.

Briefing reporters at the Foreign Ministry yesterday, Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali said she would be accompanied by a delegation of 30 members.

Hasina will meet with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak with an aim to discuss manpower export and human resources development, trade, investment, culture, travel, and higher education among other issues.

The foreign minister said there was a possibility of other signings including a

Banglawash featuring  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

and Tendai Chatara in the first two balls of his next over to become the fourth Bangladeshi bowler to take a hat-trick in ODI’s after Shahadat Hossain, Abdur Razzak and Rubel Hossain.

Shakib al Hasan, who registered his second duck with the bat in the series, also bagged three wickets as none of the other visiting batsmen reached double figures.

Mahmudullah’s contribution in the series saw him getting awarded as the most valuable Bangladeshi player. l

protocol amending the MoU of 2012 regarding Bangladeshi workers in Sarawak state, and an MoU on improving tourism and agreement regarding partial abolition of visa requirements, among others.

While answering questions, he said the trade imbalance between Bangladesh and Malaysia would also be discussed at the meet.

“We will discuss how Bangladesh’s export can increase. We are already exporting world class products such as pharmaceutical products to many developed countries,” he said.

The issue of illegal Bangladeshi migrants in Malaysia will also be discussed, he added. l

‘Sick’ Sayedee brought to Dhaka n Tribune Report Convicted war criminal Delawar Hossain Sayedee was transferred to Dhaka Central Jail from Kashimpur early yesterday as he was feeling ill. The matter was not serious, authorities say.

Jamaat Nayeb-e-Ameer Sayedee, who was sentenced to jail for the rest of his life, felt chest pain and was rushed to BSMMU around 3:45am. Earlier he was taken to Gazipur Sadar Hospital.

Following a check-up, he was shifted to Dhaka Central Jail around 10:30am, Senior Jail Super Forman Ali said.

“His illness was not that serious.

Doctors have prescribed some medicines and asked him to take rest.”

The war criminal was under observation of jail doctors until last night. “He will be sent to Kashimpur Jail after doctors discharge him,” Farman said. l

The National Freedom Fighters Association brings out a ‘victory procession’ in the capital yesterday. The photo was taken from in front of National Press Club SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Khaleda: Awami League presented the national flag to razakars n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has said her party’s ties with Jamaat-e-Islami – an Islamist party that opposed the 1971 Liberation War – is not ideological.

“The Awami League is not a party of freedom fighters. They have always tried to use our affiliation with Jamaat against us. I want to say clearly that we do not have any relation with Jamaat.

Our alliance is based only on movement and election,” she said.

After inaugurating a programme of BNP’s freedom fighters’ wing Muktijoddha Dal yesterday, Khaleda also said: “They [Awami League] say we presented the national flag to the Razakars [1971 collaborators]. But it was they who first made Nurul Islam Razakar a minister. There are so many examples.”

Defence says court can’t record deposition  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

latest petition while they were shoutng in court yesterday.

Trial against former premier Khaleda, her eldest son Tarique Rahman and four others began on September 22 for misappropriating more than Tk2.1 crore from the orphanage trust’s fund when BNP was in power.

The BNP chief however did not appear at the makeshift court set up in the capital’s Bakshibazar during the proceedings yesterday but a chair was kept empty in front of the dock for her.

Police in plain clothes kept the witness box encircled when Harun was speaking. Later, the judge from his

chamber adjourned the proceedings until December 8.

According to the case statements, Khaleda Zia, during her tenure as the prime minister from 1991 to 1996, opened a current account with the Sonali Bank’s Ramna Corporate Branch for the orphanage fund.

The plaintiff yesterday told the court that on June 9, 1991, the current account received $1.255m from a Saudi Arab-based private bank. The said amount of Tk2.1 crore was allegedly withdrawn by the accused from that account.

Khaleda, her son Tarique, nephew Mominur Rahman and former principal secretary Kamal Uddin Siddiqui,

Poor facilities scourge for HIV patients  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

At present, patients need to take HIV test at the ICDDR,B and Infectious Diseases Hospital, both located in Dhaka.

The test is also costly.

Three NGOs – Ashar Alo Society, Mukto Akash and the CAAP – now offer free antiretroviral (ARV) therapy to HIV patients, while the NASP also provides free medical treatment.

Habiba Akter, executive director of Ashar Alo Society, said HIV patients coming from poor families could run into trouble in the future as they cannot afford better treatment abroad.

“The poor only go to the NGOs and government hospitals for treatment,

and that is a cause for concern as the government has not been able to ensure proper medical services for HIV patients. The hospitals will face a serious crisis in terms of the supply of ARV medicine, proper nutrition services and mental support that the patients need,” she said.

Dr Rashidul Hoque, senior medical officer at the CAAP, said AIDS patients largely feel guilty about themselves and also suffer from mental agony when they think about the future of their families.

“The patients lose self-respect and gradually become isolated from their families and society,” he said.

UNAIDS Country Director Leo Ken-

ny told the Dhaka Tribune that HIV treatment needed to be comprehensive, and merely providing ARV drugs would be of no use if nutrition services were not arranged and infections were not treated.

“AIDS is a syndrome and not a single disease. People die not from a single infection, but a range of infections which afflict people because their immune system is suppressed and cannot fight off infections from a number of other diseases, like tuberculosis and cancer,” he said.

According to government statistics, 3,241 people have been diagnosed with HIV infection in the country between 1989 and 2013, 1,299 of whom contract-

Killing the goose that lays the golden egg  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

impedes production or shuts it down, who will bear the responsibility for it?”

Ijaz Hossain, professor at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet), asked.

Over production

According to the Bangladesh Economic Review 2014, the initial reserve of gas at Bibiyana was 7.4 tcf, of which 5.7 tcf was proven and recoverable. This is bigger than the last assessed figure of the country’s oldest producing field, Titas, the reserves of which are currently being reassessed.

At the beginning of 2014, the remaining reserve amount at Bibiyana gas field was 4.2 tcf.

Bibiyana is now the largest producing gas field of the country, currently producing about 40% of Bangladesh’s total domestic natural gas supply.

Chevron’s bid to extract 1,200 mmcfd starting in January 2015 will exceed the maximum extraction limit by

She also questioned the role played

by Awami League (AL) supporters during the Liberation War. “Awami League’s freedom fighters crossed the border while BNP’s freedom fighters fought on the battlefield.”

Gen Ziaur Rahman, the first military ruler of the country and Khaleda’s husband, formed the BNP in 1978, seven years after the Liberation War. Yesterday’s comment comes on the back of a heated exchange of words between the arch rivals – Khaleda Zia and Prime Minister and AL chief Sheikh Hasina.

Addressing a rally in Comilla last week, Khaleda said the Awami League was a party of freedom fighters. In response, a couple of days later the PM said in parliament that the BNP had presented the national flags to Razakars.

337 mmcfd.

The geological structure of the gas field is at risk of irrevocable decimation because of the aggressive extraction policy agreed to between the government and Chevron, experts say.

Experts say excessive extraction of gas can destroy a gas field, a situation already witnessed at the Bakhrabad and Sangu fields.

Ijaz said: “The expected gas production could not be achieved at the Bakhrabad and Sangu gas fields because of over extraction. Over extraction is a danger to gas fields.”

The Bakhrabad gas field used to produce 250 mmcfd, but that rate has plummeted to a mere 36 mmcfd.

Sangu once produced more than 150 mmcfd; it has now been shut down.

The Bibiyana expansion project undertaken by Chevron has drilled 14 new wells at Bibiyana over the last three years.

The company has built two new gas processing trains and an enhanced liq-

former BNP lawmaker Kazi Salimul Haque Kamal and businessman Sharfuddin Ahmed have been charged with breach of trust under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Penal Code.

The charges carry life term as the highest punishment.

Of the accused, Tarique, who has been living in London with family since 2008, Kamal Uddin and Mominur are being tried in absentia.

On March 19, Judge Basudev Roy of Dhaka’s Third Metropolitan Special Judges Court indicted Khaleda in this and the Zia Charitable Trust Corruption case, both of which were then at the deposition stage. l

ed AIDS and 472 died from it. 370 new HIV-positive patients were identified in the country last year.

UNAIDS data says the estimated new infections have increased by 25% in Bangladesh since 2001 and the reported new infections has increased 1.5 times over the past five years.

The number has been especially increasing in some key population, such as sex workers, people who inject drugs, transgenders, etc.

There were more than 9,000 people in the country living with HIV infection in 2013, two-thirds of whom did not know their status, according to an estimate by the UNAIDS. l

uids recovery unit that will produce an additional 4,000 barrels per day of condensate.

Ijaz said: “Experience clearly teaches us that over extraction is bad for gas fields. Petrobangla should seriously keep this in mind.”

He was sceptical about whether Petrobangla monitors possible over extraction of gas.

But Chevron says it is gearing up to produce gas at the rate of 1,200 mmcfd.

If production exceeds the 90% limit, there is a chance that unprocessed gas might enter the national grid, giving rise to severe complications.

Processing plants separate dust, water and condense the raw gas extracted from under the earth for use.

Processing plant

On June 23, 2013 the supply of gas was disrupted almost everywhere in the country for nearly 20 hours following a leak at the processing plant of the Bibiyana gas field.

Daily life in most of the country, including the capital, was severely disrupted because of shortages of gas, electricity and water supplies.

In short, a fault at a single gas field of Bibiyana’s size and importance can cripple the country.

Buet professor Ijaz Hossain called the government’s plan to augment the already massive output of gas from

The processing plant at Bibiyana gas field could become inoperable any day because it is producing more gas than it has the capacity to handle.

Industry insiders say processing plants should ideally be run at 90% of capacity in order to ensure a long service life.

Chevron’s updated figures indicate with the two new trains, the processing plant has a capacity of 1,250 mmcfd. If the production rate adheres to the 90% rule, the maximum amount the plant should process is 1,125 mmcfd.

Adverse impacts

Citing a book written by Tajuddin Ahmed’s daughter Sharmin Ahmed, Khaleda claimed that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman – Sheikh Shahib in her words – had refused to record the proclamation of the war.

“If Ziaur Rahman had not made the proclamation of independence and if our army had not participated, the Liberation War would not have been successful,” she claimed.

Criticising Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam’s statement on US junior minister Nisha Desai Biswal and US ambassador to Bangladesh Dan Mozena, Khaleda said: “By scolding the BNP, the Awami League has reached such a level that they are now scolding the foreigners. They do not know how to respect others. They are tarnishing the country’s image by scolding guests.” l

Rajnath asks BSF to stop cattle smuggling n Tribune Report Indian home minister Rajnath Singh has asked his country’s border security force to check smuggling of cattle to Bangladesh at any cost.

Speaking at a programme of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) yesterday, the minister said: “You [BSF] have to stop illegal infiltration from Bangladesh, deal with narcotics, fake currency notes being smuggled from this border...You should stop the smuggling of cows at any cost and if you are doing that already I compliment you for that.”

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed was also present at the event, reports The Hindu. Hundreds of thousands of cattle, mainly cows, are smuggled across the border from India every year, especially during the Eid-ul-Azha which involves sacrifice of animals.

A number of Bangladeshis have been killed and injured in the past by BSF while allegedly trying to bring in smuggled cattle consignments across the border. l

PM: Take action against foreigners staying illegally  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

The Detective Branch of police conducted a special drive against foreign nationals illegally living in the capital on November 14 and arrested 31 expatriates from 10 African countries.

Conducted in the capital’s Uttara, Rampura and Gulshan areas, the drive took place following the murder of teenager Zubair Ahmed, an Uttara resident who was raped and killed on October 4 by his swimming instructor Abuubaida Kadir, an Algerian national living in Bangladesh illegally for 14 years.

The DB took a short break afterwards, but they have been preparing for the next drive, to be carried out in the capital’s Bashundhara residential area, Banani and Nikunja areas, Abdul Ahad, additional deputy commissioner at the DB, told the Dhaka Tribune on November 15.

Sheikh Nazmul Alam, deputy commissioner at the DB, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were keeping tabs on the foreigners who are living in Bangladesh as players of different national leagues, teachers of different English medium educational institutions, RMG buyers, travellers and students.

Asked about any suspect on their next drive, he said they had yet to make any such list.

Bibiyana a “risky gamble” for the nation.

Istiaque Ahmad, chairman of Petrobangla, told the Dhaka Tribune that he was not in charge when the contract was signed, and said that he did not want to comment on it.

But he added that the government must have had its reasons for making the deal.

Chevron’s response

Since Bangladesh has just one big source of natural gas – Bibiyana – the question is should the gas be extracted at a safe and moderate pace or should it be finished off within a decade?

Naser Ahmed, external affairs director of Chevron Bangladesh, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Allegations about over production causing lower recovery are baseless and unfounded.”

But the energy major admitted that gas production in the country faced imminent decline.

“Bangladesh’s gas production will

However, requesting anonymity, a DB police official, who was involved in the special drive, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had a suspect list of around 500 foreigners to check their status and documents.

PM instructs Tofail ‘not to bother’

The prime minister told the commerce minister at the meeting not to bother about what Accord and Alliance were doing in the country.

Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety is a platform of 27 North American retailers, while Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh is a platform of over 150 European buyers.

Talking about their activities, the commerce minister said they were frequently giving new conditions on workers’ safety and other issues in the RMG factories, putting pressure on the RMG factory authorities as well as the Bangladesh Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association.

In response to his concern, the prime minister told him not to care about their activities.

Regarding the cancellation of GSP facilities for Bangladesh to the US market, the premier said the US government and people would face problems if they did not allow Bangladeshi RMG products access to their market. l

decline unless investments in seismic acquisition, exploration drilling and development are increased,” Naser said, adding that the extraction levels his company had planned were approved by the government.

“The Bibiyana Expansion Project was approved by Petrobangla, and it is consistent with the Gas Sales Purchase Agreement (GSPA) and the PSC signed with them,” he said.

Declining to give information about Bibiyana’s prospects and safety situation, Naser said: “As per long-standing policy, we do not release production figures on a well-by-well, or even fieldby-field basis.

“Chevron production from Bibiyana plus Chevron’s two other gas fields is expected to reach 1.4 billion cubic feet per day,” he said.

Chevron has two PSCs in Bangladesh, covering Block 12 (Bibiyana field) and Blocks 13 and 14 (Jalalabad and Maulvibazar fields) in the north eastern Sylhet region. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

NARAYANGANJ 7-MURDER

Court orders probe report

by January 22 n Tribune Report A Narayanganj court has ordered investigators looking into the seven-murder to submit charge sheet within January 22.

Senior Judicial Magistrate HM Shafiqul Islam passed the order when police produced 24 arrestees including three ex-officials of RAB. Earlier, prosecution blamed police for delaying the submission of charge sheet although seven months have been passed after the gruesome murders.

“We have urged the court to take steps and fix a date as the investigators have failed to submit charge sheet although it has been quite a while,” Narayanganj District Bar Association President Shakhawat Hossain told reporters yesterday.

On April 27, seven men, including former panel mayor Nazrul Islam and lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarkar, were abducted. Later their bodies were found

floating on the Shitalakhyya River.

Nazrul’s relatives accused several officials of the local unit of RAB of committing the abduction and murders for a “fee” of Tk6 crore. Former Awami League leader Nur Hossain, now detained in India for tresspassing, is the prime accused in the seven-murder case.

Three RAB officials – local unit commander Tarek Sayed Mohammad, sonin-law of minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya, Maj Arif Hossain and Lt Commander MM Rana were sent into forced retirement and later arrested in connection with case.

Two cases have so far been filed in connection with the crimes. A total of 12 people, including the former RAB officials, have reportedly confessed their crimes and 14 have testified.

RAB filed an internal probe report on the alleged involvement of its officials on November 23 to the attorney general’s office. l

Carrying way more weight than its capacity, a cement tanker finally gives up and turns over near Bangabhaban in the capital’s Gulistan area yesterday

Three Rohingyas arrested in Bardhaman blast incident

Former MP’s son denied bail again

n Ashif Islam Shaon

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

Detectives arrested three Rohingyas in the capital on Sunday night who are believed to have links with the suspects and arrestees of West Bengal’s Bardhaman blast incident.

Names of two of them are mentioned in the lists of India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Bangladesh law enforcers, prepared to fight cross-border militants. India had requested the Bangladesh officials to arrest them on priority basis, police say.

Information gleaned by the NIA, from those arrested in India following the blast, also matched with what the detectives in Dhaka have got from the three arrestees during primary interrogation.

But the detectives are yet to confirm whether the three were physically present during the blast on October 2.

Noor Hossain alias Rafiqul Islam, 26, Yasir Arafat, 22 and Umar Karim, 25, were arrested from Lalbagh area around 9pm on Sunday. Of them, Noor

has been living in Bangladesh for four years, Yasir for one year while Umar for 12 years illegally.

Police also claimed to have recovered five detonators, two gel-based bomb materials and 100gm explosive substances from them during the drive.

They would be placed before a court seeking remand, Deputy Commissioner Krishna Pada Roy of the DMP told reporters yesterday.

“We are sure whether Noor and Yasir have connections with militant organisations of Myanmar like Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), Aro Rohingya Units Voice for Human Rights and the Netherlands-based Global Rohingya Center (GRC),” he said.

In primary interrogation, the arrestees claimed that Myanmar national Khaleed alias Khalid Mohammed of the RSO, arrested in Hyderabad recently, was their ideological leader, the DB official said.

Possible Rohingya connection with the Bardhaman blast, believed to be

masterminded by banned Islamist outfit Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), came to light after the arrest Khaleed by the Indian law enforcement agencies.

Khaleed reportedly ran terror camps on the Myanmar-Bangladesh border and also had links with Tehrik-e-Taliban of Pakistan. He is now under the custody of the NIA. The detectives are now assessing the depth of connection between the three arrestees and Khaleed, and whether the arrestees had direct link with the Bardhaman blast.

Another DB official told the Dhaka Tribune that some other listed suspects would be arrested soon. “Umar Karim’s name was not on the list. But we are surprised knowing that he trained the two others.”

It was found out that the bombs made in Bardhaman were intended to be used in Bangladesh. Prime accused in the case Sajid, his wife and brother have already been arrested. l

A Dhaka court yesterday again denied bail for Humayun Sultan, son of ex-MP Khan Tipu Sultan in a case filed in connection with the murder of his wife Dr Shamarukh Mahjabin Sumi.

Acting Metropolitan Sessions Judge KM Imrul Kayes passed the order in response to a bail plea filed by defence counsel Jesmin Chowdhury.

Twenty-four year-old Sumi was found hanging in the bathroom of her in-laws’ Dhanmondi residence in the capital on November 13. After completing her MBBS at Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College, she was preparing for FCPS. Her father Nurul Islam filed a case with Dhanmondi police station, accusing Humayun, his father Tipu Sultan and mother Dr Jesmin Ara Begum of murdering her.

The case in brief is that Sumi was tortured to death by her husband and in-laws. It was a premeditated murder.

n Tribune Report Rights groups warned the government against any new inclusion in the vested properties list through amendment of the related law or publication of gazette saying it would be “illegal”.

From a press conference yesterday at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, nine rights groups also threatened tougher movement if an amendment proposal tabled recently in the cabinet was passed.

BSc Dental Students’ Association demonstrate in front of the National Press Club yesterday to press home their demands MEHEDI HASAN

Operation of Mohona Hospital suspended n Tazlina Zamila Khan Mohona Hospital in the capital’s Panthapath area was temporarily shut down yesterday by the government for allegedly operating without license and neglecting treatment to eminent journalist Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury.

The decision came a day after the death of Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury, who was taken to the hospital after falling victim to a tragic road accident on Sunday.

A team of officials, led by Joint Secretary of the Health Ministry Mosharraf Hossain and Professor ABM Abdul

SC orders retrial of Huda, wife n Tribune Report The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court ordered fresh hearing of a bribery case against former minister Nazmul Huda and his wife Sigma Huda, scrapping a High Court order that had acquitted them in the case.

The rehearing would be held at the High Court as per the order, ACC lawyer Khurshid Alam Khan told the Dhaka Tribune.

A four-member bench, headed by Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha, passed the order after hearing two leave-toappeal petitions – one filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission and another by the State.

On March 20, 2011, the High Court acquitted the couple of the Tk 2.4 crore bribery case.

Nazmul Huda was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined Tk 25 million by the Special Judges Court on Aug 26, 2007 while his wife Sigma Huda was jailed for three years alone.

ACC Deputy Director Md Shafiqul Islam filed the bribery case with Dhanmondi police station on March 21, 2007. l

Rights groups warn against new inclusion in vested properties list

Envoy in Malaysia to resign over missing passports n Syeda Samira Sadeque Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque yesterday said Bangladesh High Commissioner to Malaysia AKM Atiqur Rahman would step down from his post over passports going missing from the Bangladesh mission office earlier this year.

However, when he was inquired further about the matter, he changed his statement, saying: “He [the high commissioner] will retire.”

Shahidul was speaking at a press briefing on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Malaysia at the Foreign Ministry yesterday.

When asked about the progress of inquiry into the 500 missing passports, the foreign secretary said: “All recommendations are being implemented and all workers involved in the incident have been withdrawn as per the recommendations. Administrative action has also been taken against them.”

He said they had also reviewed the entire system of storing passports. l

The next day, police arrested her husband Humayan and on November 16 placed him before a Dhaka court that granted police three days to interrogate him.

Meanwhile, Humayan’s father Tipu Sultan and mother Jesmin Ara secured anticipatory bail from the High Court for four weeks in the case on November 16.

On completion of Humayun’s threeday remand, he was again produced before a Dhaka court that had also refused bail for the ex MP’s son and sent him to jail. Meanwhile, a Dhaka court ordered the deputy commissioner of Jessore to exhume Sumi’s body for further postmortem upon a plea filed by Sumi’s father Nurul Islam.

The previous autopsy confirmed that Sumi had killed herself, prompting her father to file the petition for further autopsy.

Sumi, the only daughter of Nurul Islam, was married off to Humayun, the eldest son of former Monirampur MP Tipu Sultan on April 26 last year. l

MEHEDI HASAN

Mannan, director of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), visited the hospital around 11am.

After the inspection, they ordered instant suspension of the hospital operations, asking the authority to transfer admitted patients to other hospitals within 24 hours. The ministry also formed a three-member panel to urgently probe into the matter.

Mosharraf Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune: “We closed the hospital temporarily for two reasons. One is alleged negligence of providing treatment to a patient and the other is running a hospital without license. They have the license for a diagnostic centre only.”

“We have also asked them to submit a report on the incident and we will take a final decision after that,” he added.

Tofazzal Hossain, Mohona Hospital Manager said: “Around 230 share holders established the hospital on June 1.

Most of the them are doctors and have permanent chambers in different hospital like Dhaka Medical Collage and Hospital and BSMMU.” “When the patient (Zaglul) came here, we had only one doctor on duty. Dr KM Tarikul Islam, who is a Neurosurgeon took him to the OT and did a CT scan. After seeing the films, the doctor said the patient needed

emergency support but did not have an ICU. “He was admitted around 8.15pm and discharged around 8.30pm. It is not true that we did not give him any treatment,” the manager said.

During a visit to the hospital yesterday, this correspondent saw a shut down notice hanging on the gate of the hospital.

It was found that there were only 30 doctors in the hospital, but most of them were on-call. Eleven patients were admitted in the hospital before it was shut down, but only eight were left as three of them had already been discharged. l

Some corrupt officials at the AC land or union level or schedule offices are applying tricks so that the original owners do not get back their lands They placed 10-point demands that include taking action against the officials involved in proposing the new amendment and the corrupt officials who were hindering the implementation of the Vested Properties (Return) Act 2001 (amended in 2013).

The other demands include resolving the pending applications in the appeal tribunals as soon as possible, forming special tribunal for the disposal of appeals against the verdicts of the tribunals, implementation of the verdicts given on behalf of the victims and issuing a notification by the Law Ministry to stop wasting time in resolving the applications.

Ain O Salish Kendra, Bangladesh

Legal Aid and Services Trust, Nijera Kori, Human Development Research Centre, Association for Land Reforms and Development, Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad, Orpita Sampatti Ain Pratirodh Andolon, Sammilita Samajik Andolon and Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad.

Subrata Chowdhury, general secretary of Orpita Sampatti Ain Pratirodh Andolon, in his keynote paper said there were around 2.5 lakh acres of land under “Ka” schedule while 5 lakh acres under “Kha” category.

“The ‘Kha’ schedule lands are not be vested properties. But the government officials are not taking taxes for those lands. If the officials are successful in showing that taxes are not paid for one year, then the property will be considered as government land. This is a conspiracy to grab those lands,” he alleged.

Kajal Debnath, president of Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, said: “The rate of resolving applications at the appeal tribunals in many districts including Sylhet, Manikganj and Habiganj is very slow. In some districts, formation and activities of tribunals have not started yet while the affected people are facing harassment.”

Sultana Kamal, executive director of Ain O Salish Kendra, said: “When the victims go to the AC (land) office and union-level land or schedule office for mutation, the officers concerned are demanding huge money by giving wrong explanation of the Act. Some corrupt officials are applying tricks so that the original owners do not get back their lands.”

Khushi Kabir, co-ordinator of Nijera Kori, and Shamsul Huda, executive director of ALRD, were also present at the programme. l

4 AL: Khaleda’s ‘new change’ means another Hawa Bhaban n Abu Hayat Mahmud The Awami League yesterday said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia had promised at a Comilla rally that she would bring a “new change” once her party comes to power but she did not mean a real change, she meant introducing a new Hawa Bhaban.

“In Comilla rally, she (Khaleda Zia) promised to bring about a new change once her party comes to power,” said Awami League Joint General Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak.

“What she means by the word ‘new’ is introducing a new Hawa Bhaban from where she and her son could launch more terrorist acts and corruption and violent politics.”

Khaleda Zia and her son could only resist the country’s development. They always try to save protect terrorists, corrupts and war criminals just as did the party’s founder Ziaur Rahman, he said.

Nanak made the claims at a press conference held at the Awami League president’s office at Dhanmondi in the capital.

He claimed that BNP founder Major Zia had worked for Pakistan during the Liberation War. To justify his claim, he showed a letter with Major Zia’s portrait and said: “General Beg of Pakistan wrote this to Major Zia expressing satisfaction over his role as ISI agent during the Liberation War.” “This proved that he had acted as a Pakistani agent in 1971,” he added.

Nanok alleged that the BNP-Jamaat alliance was trying to make the January 5 polls controversial at the international level and court the international community’s support for their demand to hold the next election beforehand.

“But that will not be successful because the next election will be held as per the Constitution.”

Criticising Khaleda, he said, “She woke up from sleep at 5pm, when everybody leaves their work places. So, how can she know about the (January 5) polls?”

“More than 40 percent people cast their votes in the election. The Awami League was elected and came to power,” he added. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Deprived leaders threaten with n non-stop sit-in

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

MoU inked to make DohazariCox’s BazarGhundum rail track

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Deprived and aggrieved Chhatra Dal leaders yesterday threatened to enforce non-stop sit-in programmes from today in front the Nayaplatan headquarters to press home their threepoint demands, including cancellation of the new committee, expulsion of Sahiduddin Chowdhury Annie and Sulatn Salahuddin Tuku.

They also demanded withdrawal of the explanation of three Chhatra Dal leaders immediately who were expelled for this movement.

“We have waited for a long time but we did not get any response from the BNP high-ups. As we have no other alternative, we have announced this programme,” Ferdaus Munna, one of the leaders claiming they have been deprived, told journalists.

Last Wednesday, these leaders announced that if their demand were not considered within seven days, they would go for tougher movement.

On October 14, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia announced a 201-member partial committee of the Chhatra Dal with Rajib Ahsan as president and Akramul Hasan as general secretary.

Since then a group of leaders waged a movement demanding cancelation of the committee.

These leaders blamed BNP Students Affair Secretary Shahid Uddin Chowdhury Annie and Assistant Student Affair Secretary Sultan Salahuddin Tuku for the crisis and demanded their expulsion.

Munna said if the BNP high-ups expelled Annie and Tuku, they would work in the organisation as normal activists. l

Tribune Report

Bangladesh Railway yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China Railway Group Ltd (CRGL) to construct rail tracks from Chittagong’s Dohazari to Myanmar’s border Ghundum via Cox’s Bazar.

The MoU which will have a validity of 12 months was signed by Bangladesh Railway Chief Planning Officer Mohammad Manjurul Islam and CRGL representative Zhang Xuecai in Rail Bhaban.

As per the MoU, the Chinese government will send a technical team to evaluate the study and the CRGL would start the construction work on receiving the report from the team.

Although its foundation stone was laid in 2010, there has been no remarkable progress till now. l

WAR CRIMES

Date set for order on Mahidur, Afsar indictment n Tribune Report The International Crimes Tribunal 2 has fixed December 11 to decide on whether it will frame charges against two suspected war criminals from Chapainawabganj for their alleged crimes against humanity committed during the 1971 Liberation War. The accused are Mahidur Rahman, 84, from Dadanchak, and Afsar Hossain alias Chutu, 65, of Satrosia village under Shibganj upazila of the district.

The same day, the tribunal will also pass an order on their bail petitions.

During the indictment hearing yesterday, prosecutor Shahidur Rahman read out the three charges pressed against the duo that include mass killings, arson, looting, abduction, torture, confinement and murder. Defence lawyer Mizanur Rahman refused the allegations.

They were arrested on September 16 in connection with a criminal case and later shown arrested in the war crimes case.

Meanwhile, state-appointed defence counsel Mohammad Abul Hossain placed closing arguments in the case of former Jatiya Party lawmaker Abdul Jabbar at the tribunal 1.

Later the tribunal adjourned the proceedings until tomorrow. l

SC judges to get gratuity rise n Tribune report The government has decided to raise the gratuity rate of Supreme Court judges in case of compulsory surrender of their pension.

The raise was proposed in the draft of the Supreme Court Judges (Leave, Pension and Privileges) Ordinance (amendment) Act 2014, which the cabinet approved in its meeting yesterday.

The meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters the judges retiring at the age of 40-45 years would get Tk260 in gratuity for surrendering each taka of their pension. The amount is Tk230 at present.

“For judges retiring between 45 and 50 years, the amount will be Tk245, the existing is Tk215, while for those going into retirement at 50 or above it will be Tk230. The current amount for the latter group, is Tk200,” he added. l

Workers of Common Thread Ltd, a sister concern of Harvest Group, stage a sit-in demonstrtation in front of the National Press Club in the capital yesterday demanding their due wages from August to November this year. Jaago Bangladesh Garments Sramik Federation supported the demonstration MEHEDI HASAN

8 attendants held from DMCH n Adil Sakhawat The authorities of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) detained eight female unauthorised attendants who used to provide services illegally in exchange of money at the hospital yesterday.

The detainees are Lalmoti, Nurjahan, Fatema, Jobeda, Amena, Moksuda, Roksana and Hasi.

The DMCH authorities said they were detained after family members of a patient lodged a complaint.

“We have been working as ‘special’ employees along with the forth class employees at the hospital,” said Nurjahan while talking to journalists.

“For getting the appointment under this special employees quota, we had to pay 5000 taka each to the hospital’s fourth class employees union secretary Sarder Shah Alam’s wife Sufia Begum,” she said.

“Every day we have to pay her 100 taka each from our earnings which we

get from the patients,” she added.

DMCH Director Brig Gen Mostafizur Rahman said they received a complain from the family members of a patient named Marium Akhter on Saturday, adding that the detainees demanded Tk800 for providing her a bed at the Ward No 106.

Marium’s mother alleged that the attendants did not allow them to go out of the hospital although they were discharged.

The DMCH authorities also formed a committee consisting of five members led by DMCH Deputy Director Dr Musfiqur Rahman to probe into the matter.

Contacted, Shah Alam denied the allegation that his wife was involved in the recruitment. “In association with the hospital’s Ansar Platoon Commander Rafiq, some fourth class employees conspired against me,” he claimed.

The ward master of Ward No 106 Abdul Aziz filed a case with Shahbagh Police Station against the detainees. l

HC: Stop illegal liquor selling

n Tribune Report The High Court has ordered to take necessary action within 48 hours to stop illegal liquor selling at the minibars and restaurants in the capital’s Gulshan and Banani areas.

The HC bench of Justice Salma Masud Chowdhury and Justice M Khasruzzaman passed the order yesterday following a writ petition filed by Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh.

Assistant Attorney General Titus Hillol Rema said: “The writ was filed after a national daily reported that there were 40 minibars and restaurants in Gulshan and Banani that are selling liquor illegally. l

Nirmul Committee demands ban on activities of Jamaat in Europe n Tribune Report Ekattorer Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee has demanded that the European countries ban the activities of war criminals of Bangladesh in their countries including those from Jamaat-e-Islami so that they may not re-emerge and commit crimes again.

Speakers at a discussion in Swedish capital Stockholm on Sunday also said they would raise awareness among the people so that convicted war criminal Zahidur Rahman alias Khokon Razakar, now hiding in Sweden, is tried in a local court.

Another death sentenced war criminal Chowdhury Mueen Uddin is living in the UK. Both the countries are against capital punishment.

Executive President of the organisation Shahriar Kabir said the young Bangladeshis abroad should raise their voice against the enemies of the Liberation War including Jamaat and other groups. “They

should be brought to book in the European countries where they have been living in. We demand that the European communities ban their terrorist activities.”

If the Swedish government did not return Khokon Razakar, it might try him too, Shahriar said. Otherwise, someday he might be seen playing a vital role in terrorist groups like al-Qaeda or ISIS. The discussion was organised by the Sweden branch of the committee, a citizens’ platform founded by Jahanara Imam campaigning against the 1971 war criminals. The programme was chaired by Sweden branch President Akhtar Zaman.

Bangladesh High Commissioner in Sweden Golam Sarwar said because of Jamaat propaganda, many European countries had negative perception about the Bangladesh’s war trials. “But now the European governments have expressed their positive stance in every matter of the tribunal, except for the death sentences.” l

Abdul Khaleque’s 1st death anniversary today

n Tribune Desk

Today is the first death anniversary of Abdul Khaleque, former AGM of Sonali Bank and former president of Rotary Club of Chittagong Pioneer.

On this occasion, a Qurankhani and a Milad Mahfil will be held at his village home at Char Kakra under Companygonj upazila in Noakhali district. The family members requested all relatives, friends and well-wishers to pray for salvation of his departed soul. l

HC rejects petition of Tarique’s PS in bribery case n Tribune Report The High Court yesterday rejected a petition of Mia Nur Uddin Apu, personal secretary to BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, which sought cancellation of trial in a bribery case against him.

The High Court bench comprising of Justice Shawkat Hossain and Justice Farid Ahmed passed the order.

Advocate Khurshid Alam Khan represented the ACC while Advocate SM Shahjahan and Sogir Hossain Leon stood for Apu. Apu, who had been in hiding since January

11, 2007, surrendered to a Dhaka court on June 18 this year and sought bail. Reports say that he lived in Malaysia and London while in hiding.

On October 4, 2007, the ACC filed the case against seven people, including Apu, on charges of bribing former home minister Lutfozzaman Babar Tk21 crore to drop the name of Bashundhara Group Chairman Ahmed Akbar Sobhan’s son Sanvir from the charge sheet in the killing of Humayun Kabir Sabbir, a director of Bashundhara Telecommunications Network Ltd. Sabbir was killed in a house, owned by Bashundhara Group, in Gulshan on July 5, 2006. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

DRIVE AGAINST JAYWALKING

45 jaywalkers and 79 vehicles fined on the last day n Abu Hayat Mahmud On the last day of the week-long drive against jaywalking, the two mobile courts yesterday cracked down on unfit vehicles and vehicles driving on the wrong side of the road at Farmgate, Karwan Bazar and Banglamotor area.

A total of 45 jaywalkers and 79 vehicle owners were fined Tk38,870 for breaking traffic laws, Executive Magistrate Md Sarwar Alam told the Dhaka Tribune.

The mobile court led by him at Karwan Bazar and Farmgate points fined 18 jaywalkers and 43 vehicles Tk21,450 while another mobile court led by Executive Magistrate Abdul Kuddus at Banglamotor fined 37 jaywalkers and 36 vehicle owners Tk16,720.

“They were fined for jaywalking, driving unfit vehicles, and also driving vehicles on the wrong side,” said Sarwar Alam.

Three killed in Ctg road accident n CU Correspondent At least three people were killed and three others were injured when a bus collided head-on with a CNG-run auto rickshaw at Banshkhali upazila in Chittagong yesterday (Monday) morning.

The deceased were Gias Uddin, 35, Safiullah, 32, while the identity of the other victim could not be known immediately, said Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Pankaj Barua of Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) Police Outpost.

ASI Pankaj said a Chittagong bound CNG-run auto rickshaw carrying six passengers including a woman collided head-on with a bus at Sarkarhat area of the upazila in the morning, leaving all the passengers critically injured.

They were rushed to upazila health complex later shifted to CMCH where the on duty doctors declared the three dead at around 10:30 am, said the ASI adding that the injured were admitted to CMCH after the incident. l

The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) began the anti-jaywalking drive on October 27 with the two mobile courts between Farmgate police box and Hotel Ruposhi Bangla intersection.

The mobile courts also conducted drive against illegal makeshift shops and vendors occupying footpaths.

The drive appears to have yielded a positive result as the majority of pedestrians complied with rules while crossing roads at three points in the capital city yesterday.

Though the mobile courts did not operate during the weekend, most of the pedestrians still took footbridges to cross roads.

When contacted, DMP Joint Commissioner (traffic) Mosleh Uddin told the Dhaka Tribune that though the drive had ended yesterday, police on duty would continue to monitor jaywalking. l

Police produce pedestrians who did not follow traffic laws before a mobile court at Karwan Bazar in the capital yesterday. A total of 45 jaywalkers and 79 vehicle owners have been fined Tk38,870 for breaking traffic laws yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Hartal protesting death of RU teacher passes off peacefully n

RU Correspondent

A dawn-to-dusk hartal enforced by city and Rajshahi University units Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal passed off peacefully yesterday.

The associate bodies of the BNP went on the strike demanding immediate arrest of the real killers of Rajshahi University (RU) professor AKM Shafiul Islam.

The strike was also enforced in protest against question papers leakages of different public examinations, including PSC, anarchy at different educational institutions, HT Imam’s speech over appointing party men in the different government sectors and demanding coexistence of all students political parties on campuses.

City and RU units of JCD jointly an-

nounced the shutdown from a protest rally at Bhubanmor Park on Friday.

However, no untoward incident took place during the strike. Most of

A gang of miscreants hacked Shafiul Islam to death in Chauddapai area adjacent to the campus on November 15 the motorised vehicles remained off the roads and business establishments remained closed. No long-route buses left city bus terminal.

No classes and examinations were

held at RU and Rajshahi University of Engineering and Technology.

Leaders and activists of the JCD, student wing of Bangladesh Nationalist Party, brought out protest rallies from different areas of the city.

Iftekhaar Alam, assistant police commissioner and also the spokesman of Rajshahi Metropolitan police, said additional police were deployed at the main points in the city to avert any untoward situation.

Earlier on November 15, a gang of unidentified miscreants hacked Shafiul Islam with machetes at the entrance to his residence in Chauddapai area adjacent to the campus around 3pm, leaving him fatally injured.

Later, he was declared dead after surgery at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital in the afternoon. l

WEATHER

DRY WEATHER LIKELY TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 5:10PM SUN RISES 6:26AM 28 29 28 28 28 28 28 28

19 19 14 16 14 15 16 19

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

29.5ºC Cox's Bazar

11.9ºC Srimangal

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

Awami League Presidium member Obaidul Quader yesterday said only a few members of the Bangladesh Chhatra League were ruining its glory, which they should not be allowed doing.

Thus, they were also denting the achievement of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasaina and “so the student politics must be cleaned,” he said.

The former Bangladesh Chhatra League president also felt the need for cleaning campus premises. He made the remarks while the inaugural ceremony of “Clean campus and Save Campus’ programme, organised by Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL), at Dhaka University.

Recalling the BCL’s significant role in the independence of Bangladesh as well as in other national movements,

n CU Correspondent

Rapid Action Battalion arrested two people with huge amount of equipment of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) in Chittagong city’s Halishahar area yesterday.

The arrestees are Saidul Islam, 18 and Kamal Hossain, 30.

Mobassher Hossain, an official at Chandgaon Camp of RAB-7, said acting on a tip-off, they launched a drive at a house, Nahar Manjil, in Shapla Residential Area of Halishahar around 12:00pm. l

FORECAST FOR TODAY

n Arif Ahmed

he said: “You will also have to dedicate yourself in the future when it will be required for the country.” He urged the unruly members of the BCL to come in line and practice politics well.

BCL General Secretary Siddique Nazmul Alam was also present at the programme, with BCL President H M Bodiuzzaman Shohag in the chair.

Just after the inauguration ceremony, the BCL leaders and activists cleaned the Dhaka University campus, using brushes and put the wastes into the dustbins there. The campus cleaning programme will be carried out at all educational institutions from December 1 to 7.

On November 13, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Advisor Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, better known as Joy, approved the BCL plan to carry out the programme. l

Examinations postponed at Cuet in the face of unrest

VoIP equipment seized in Ctg n CU Correspondent

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

Obaidul: A few cannot be allowed to ruin BCL glory

5:05am 6:25am 11:48am 3:34pm 5:10pm 6:30 pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

Children with disabilities charging candles inaugurate a two-day handicraft fair at Drik Gallery in the capital yesterday. Products made by children with disabilities are being displayed at the fair. The Seid Trust and the HSBC Bank Ltd have jointly organised the event RAJIB DHAR

In the wake of students’ protest over several issues authority of Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology (Cuet) yesterday evening suspended all the examinations for honours level.

The decision was came from a meeting with Cuet Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Jahangir Alam in the chair. All deans, institute’s directors, hall provosts and registrars of the university were present at the meeting.

A press release singed by Cuet registrar (acting) Professor Dr Faruk-Uj- Jaman Chowdhury said considering the present situation, the university authority had suspended all the examinations.

The next schedule of examinations will be announced from the respective departments, said the release.

The agitating students, however, vowed to continue their protest until all of their demands are met.

Students of the university have been

Husband throws acid at ‘No alternative to trained drivers to check road wife in the capital n Tribune Report A woman sustained burn injuries in an acid attack allegedly by her husband in Kamrangirchar, on the outskirts of the capital, yesterday.

Nazma Begum who is undergoing treatment at the burn unit of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital told the Dhaka Tribune that her husband Abul Hossain, a drug addict, had thrown acid at her as she refused to give him money to buy drugs.

The 35-year-old woman said she had been running the family by working as a street vendor ever since Abul, who used to drive a CNG-run autorickshaw, left the profession and started taking drugs.

Nazma’s work includes collecting the remains of slaughtered

chicken and hawking those on street corners to people of the low-income group.

Nazma told reporters at the hospital that her husband, who often takes away the major portion of her earnings to buy drugs, approached her when she was selling her products in Rasulpur around 6:35pm.

“He asked for Tk200 but I refused to give. He left the place before returning shortly with a bottle. I did not see what was in it,” she said.

“It began burning when he poured the liquid on my face. Some people who were there brought me to the hospital,” she added.

The couple lives in a rented house with their three sons and two daughters. No case was filed in this connection. l

accidents’ n Tribune Report

Road accident is a national problem and it cannot be curbed without educating and training the drivers, opined noted film artist Ilias Kanchan, also the Chairman of Nirapad Sharak Chai (We Demand Safe Road), an organisation advocating for safer roads.

He was addressing a press conference to mark the 21st anniversary of the organisation at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) auditorium yesterday.

In a written speech Ilias Kanchan said: “The government has already implemented some of our proposals to stop road accidents, but it is not enough.”

He urged the government to take various steps including setting up trau-

ma centres beside all major highways so that injured people can get treatment immediately, and establishing driving and mechanical training institute in 64 districts.

“The government has approved Tk20 crore for building driving and mechanical institute in every district, but we are yet to get this money,” Ilias Kanchan alleged.

Earlier, Nirapad Sharak Chai observed October 22 as National Road Safety Day and urged the government to propose the UN for declaring October 22 as International Road Safety Day. The actor turned activist Ilias Kanchan launched the Nirapad Sharak Chai movement in late 1993 after he lost his wife in a road. The organisation has over 80 branches across the country. l

boycotting classes since Wednesday for nine-point demands.

The Student’s Welfare Director Professor Dr Ashutose Saha told the Dhaka Tribune that the authorities had accepted all the eight-point demands while they need more time to change the university’s ordinance.

According to Cuet ordinance, students should not allow for the improvement examination after passing out with GPA 2.00 at the relevant course in honours examination.

But the students demanded to be allowed them for the improvement examination who get bellow GPA 2.50, said campus sources.

Yesterday, the demonstrating students also placed a memorandum to the VC in this regard.

Their other demands include canceling fine system of dormitory’s dining, speeding up Wi Fi bandwidth at dormitories and withdrawing the ban on students’ politics on the campus. l

2 RAB, journo impersonators held in Ctg n CU Correspondent Police arrested two people who impersonated them as a member of RAB and a journalist in Chittagong city’s Halishahar area yesterday.

The arrestees are Md Jwel, 35, who impersonated him as a RAB member, and Md Morshed, 42, who impersonated him as reporter of Saptahik-2000.

Using fake identities, the duo abducted a businessman Abdus Salam and demanded TK2 lakh from his family members, police said.

“They picked up the businessman and later confined him to a flat in Halishahar area where they blackmailed the person by taking obscene photos,” the OC said.

The family members, however, paid Tk 20,000 to the culprits, he added. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Farming in fallow land becomes boon for farmers n Our Correspondent, Sunamganj At least 50,000 farmers of different villages in the district have become self dependent by cultivating winter vegetables in fallow land this season.

Sources said the farmers of Sadar and Jamalganj upazilas cultivated vegetables on 26,000 hectares of land.

They prefer cultivating vegetables which they find more profitable. They are growing high-yielding vegetables like tomato, cauliflower, cabbage, pumpkin, radish and brinjal for commercial purpose.

After meeting local demands, different varieties of vegetables are sold in the capital and other parts of the country.

Tajul Islam of Gudigaon village said he cultivated brinjal on three bighas of

land spending Tk15,000, and made a profit of nearly Tk50,000. He also planted pumpkin for Tk5,000 and earned Tk15,000. He said pumpkin is selling atTk20-25per piece in the local market.

Kafiluddin, a farmer of the village grew cabbage on seven bighas of land spending Tk160,000. Now, he is selling his produce at the local market for Tk25-30 a piece. He hopes to earn Tk34 lakh this season.

Amjad Hossain, another farmer of the village planted 22,000 heads of cauliflower at a cost of Tk130,000. He is now expecting a return of Tk2 lakh.

The farmers alleged that the Krishi Bank did not help them to cultivate the vegetables.

They also said the officials of Department of Agriculture Extension helped

them by giving training and advice.

Abul Hashem, deputy director of the office said: “We have advised the farmers how they can grow vegetables well.”

Many unemployed youths also have changed their lots by cultivating the vegetables.

Jamal Hossain of Purandigaon village said: “I had no work after passing HCS. But now I am self dependent by cultivating vegetables around my homesteads.” “DAE officials helped me in this regard,”he said.

Mariam Begum of the village said that her husband had to run the family doing the work of day labourer. Now they are self dependent by growing the vegetables. She said the government should help them by providing money, pesticide and fertilizer. l

Two killed in mass beating n Tribune Report

Two people were killed in mass beating in Gazipur and Madaripur in the early hours of yesterday.

A thief was lynched at Singerdighi village under Sreepur upazila in Gazipur.

He was identified as Nurul Islam alias Nuru Mia, 40, son of Dulo Sheikh of Kandipara village under Gafargaon upazila in Mymensingh.

Police said Nurul Islam along with his five to six associates had gone to steal poultry brids from a farm owned by one Abdus Salam at SIngardighi village around 3:30am.

Sensing their presence, workers of the poultry farm started screaming.

The locals came to the spot and caught Nurul Islam, but his others associate managed to flee.

Later, the angry mob gave him a good beating, leaving Nurul Islam seriously injured.

On information, police rushed to the spot and rescued him from the people and sent him to Gazipur Sader Hospital where on duty doctor declared him dead.

Confirming the matter, Officer-incharge of Sreepur police station Mohsin Ul Kadir said, Nurul Islam was living with his family in MC Bazaar area of Mawna in Sreepur upazila of Gazipur.

Meanwhile, an alleged robber was beaten to death at Housdi village under Madaripur Sadar upazila yesterday.

Police said a gang of robbers entered the house of Awami Legue leader Faruk Khan around 2:30am.

The robbers looted Tk1.75lakh in cash, gold ornament keeping house residence hostage.

Sensing the presence of robber, neibouring people chased the robbers and cauguht one of the robbers. The locals gave him a good beating in which he injured critically.

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

NEWS IN BRIEF Two abductors held Two abductors were arrested yesterday in Basail upazila of Tangail district two hours after abduction a business man. The arrested were identified as Tipu28, son of Nuru Talukder, Adil,38, son of Abul Hossain Talukder in Karotia Talukder Para. ASI Murad Hossain of Basail police station said, the arrested abducted Tarek Ajij,30, contractor of a construction farm, from in front of Basail Gobinda Govt High School around 11am while he was going to his village along with his brother.

– Our Correspondent, Tangail

Two drug peddlers held Two drug peddlers were held at Bhurungimari in the district yesterday. The arrested were identified as Jahurul Islam, son of Abul Kashem in Singjhar village under Joymonir Hat union and Firoz,

of Singjhar village. On information, police conducted drives and arrested them form their house respectively.

–Our Correspondent, Kurigram

Death penalty demanded for killer of housewife Anju Locals and family members of Irin Akhter Arju, who was murdered in Dhaka on November 5, formed a human chain at Sher-e-Bangla intersection in Panchagarh town yesterday, demanding the highest punishment to the killer. Seeking justice, they also placed a memorandum to the state minister for home affairs through Mohammad Salah Uddin, deputy commissioner of Panchagarh. Speakers at the human chain demanded that Arju’s husband Amanullah Aman be given death penalty.

– Our correspondent, Panchagarh

Two farmers collect cucumber at Nakara Dighi village. Farmers of Godagari upazila in Rajshahi are happy after getting a good yield of the vegetable this year. Traders from different parts of the country come to the district and directly buy cumber from farmers. According to growers, one maund cucumber is being sold at Tk450 AZAHAR UDDIN

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

7

Are we middle income yet?

The problem of poverty is far from gone, even if officially invisible in the VIP areas

B

n Naomi Hossain

angladesh turned middle income on a Thursday afternoon in November. Do not look for this transformation in GDP or national income statistics, because these may tell a different story. This transformation was revealed in three signals on the way to Bangla Academy.

First, a sign at the Gulshan 2 crossing declared it a “beggar-free zone”(bhikkhukh mukto elaka). The point was illustrated with a line drawing of a person apparently living a life of great poverty, bent double with age and destitution.

The second sign was an absence: no visible beggars as depicted. The unfamiliar sight of a rule apparently being followed on the Dhaka streets was unsettling. But was the rule being followed? Were beggars staying away because of the consequences? Or was there another reason? Could it be – and rural wages have certainly increased – that everyone is so prosperous and secure that the supply of such beggars had dried up?

The rural economy is booming, but this last explanation felt like wishful thinking. People have worked the traffic out of north Gulshan ever

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Foundation included to “break the cycle of poverty,” by investing in high quality education and new skills (displaying an excellent grasp of contemporary development language). This was a large volunteer effort of a kind I had never seen in this part of Dhaka. Despite questionable health and safety standards, it looked like fun for the volunteers, and they made clever use of the gridlock. Were they allowed to do this, I asked one young fellow.

Yes, he said, they were licensed and everything.

Perceiving poverty Coming so rapidly one after another, these signals turned my attention to an old preoccupation – the relationship between the Bangladeshi elite and the masses whom they rule. For those who think you can tell a lot about a society by how it treats its vulnerable members, there is much to read here. It feels like a big change.

The defining characteristic of the elite-mass relationship in the short life of Bangladesh has been an unusual degree of proximity – affinity, even.

Outsiders often scoff when I say this: to those unfamiliar with Bangladeshi society, or indeed with elite behaviour in general, these relations appear

Bangladeshi society has to date had a comparatively open approach to poverty – a fact, not a dirty secret. We do not banish the poor to an island or the hills or the forest; they live next door

since I can remember, and they were often the genuine article: workless northerners escaping seasonal famine, landless southerners fleeing rising waters, unlucky folk from all over. There were none of these hardy souls to be seen that Thursday.

The third signal at Gulshan 2 put a spin on the story. Instead of beggars from up-and down-country, the stalled traffic was descended upon by large numbers of young middle class people, in coordinated saffron gear, collecting donations. This was organised charity, not begging, by and on behalf of the well-regarded Jaago Foundation. Donations were to be receipted if required, or you could sign up to sponsor a child.

A leaflet explained the aims of the

coldly distanced, minutely hierarchical, anachronistically feudal.

But this is partly because we conceal little: Bangladeshi society has to date had a comparatively open approach to poverty – a fact, not a dirty secret. We do not banish the poor to an island or the hills or the forest; they live next door. Most middle class city folk are themselves recent rural migrants, at most a generation or two from the village.

Media coverage of disasters and human rights abuses keep vulnerability and destitution in the public eye. And middle aged and older people from all classes remember the horrors of the 1974 famine (although we do not talk about it). All of this combines in a tangible, perceptible poverty, which

many people of wealth and power have seen up close and personal.

Their visibility does not guarantee poor people good treatment, but for what it is worth, they have been difficult to ignore. And so the Bangladeshi elite has, to date, had a more experiential, face-to-face perception of poverty than their counterparts in Brazil, or the US or South Africa, or even India. And this has mattered in how we have gone about tackling our problems of poverty and vulnerability.

I think it helps to explain our modest successes.

To the extent that it replaces the old modes, this new generation’s new model of charity creates a distance between donor and recipient. The face-to-face element is gone, replaced by a relationship of accountability between donor and charity organisation.

This in turn is licenced, and receipts donations, and probably audited, too.

Perhaps it is more efficient and more transparent, but the relationship is also now a bureaucratised outsourced transaction, not a personal exchange.

It is inherently demeaning and wrong to have to beg, but it has provided a safety net for centuries of beggars across South Asia. There have always been good reasons to give alms: religion, culture, proximity, reputation, kin feeling, social capital.

But these are different, more modern times. Perhaps the time has now come, as Bangladesh aspires to middle income status, to do this better, or at least in a less visibly demeaning manner.

The growing unacceptability of begging resonates with other debates about poverty in Bangladesh. In the rainy season, I travelled north with a team studying how to help people cope with climate change and disasters. The old mode is public works schemes, mati-kata kaj as the women call it. But there was a new tone to our discussions with government officials and aid donors.

This was a discomfort about the sight of women transporting mud with their bare hands under the beating sun, which they do for below-market wages. This labour builds valuable public goods – embankments and canals, in areas prone to floods and waterlogging, yet could be made redundant with the most basic mechanisation, at very little cost. But the labour of poor women is valued little, and those who get international aid are still required to prove themselves “deserving.” So women continue to labour on public works schemes (in all fairness, many of them like the camaraderie of the labour crews, and value their ability to earn).

My colleague was puzzled by the discomfort of the policy elites we met.

I argued that in present day Bangladesh, to use the labour of poor women

in this way was no longer acceptable: it just looked wrong. In much of Africa, he countered, nobody would have even questioned this.

It felt like at a moment of flux, when the spectacle of the third world in our midst jars intolerably with our aspirations for middle income status.

We aspire not only to more money and better roads and hospitals, but also to an absence of beggary and to a more organised, less visceral kind of poverty.

The love affair between business and charity How will poverty be perceived in this shiny new era? The signals at Gulshan 2 reminded me of how charity came to be reorganised in late Victorian England, a place of Dickensian poverty as well as vast wealth and imperial power.

The Charity Organisation Society of London, a network of elite men and women, pioneered a “rational” approach to poverty that broke with a view of charity as purely a private, religious duty, and distinguished between poor relief (breeding dependency) and organised charity (helping poor people pull themselves out of poverty).

For Bangladeshi social welfare and development organisations, these are familiar distinctions. For the Jaago Foundation, the goal is investment in education of good quality so that bright Bangladeshis are equipped with the skills they need to “break the cycle of poverty.” The ultimate point is to render charity redundant.

The logic is market-friendly (KFC and Pizza Hut are among Jaago’s sponsors): people can be boosted into work or enterprise, and will thus pull themselves out of poverty. It speaks to familiar aims of transformation through meritocratic social and economic integration.

In Victorian England, organised private charity became more important at a time of rapid industrial and imperial growth. Bangladesh is at present enjoying a period of strong economic growth and growing political power of business. This is no coincidence: business and organised charity go together like gin and tonic. It is partly practical – rapid growth and development casts aside those it deems economically useless, so someone else has to help them. But it is also symbolic: an emphasis on charity separates values of morality and humanity from matters of trade and profit. Charity makes it ok to make big profits at a time of great poverty.

Middle income country problems The parallels between late Victorian London and the Bangladesh of last

Is organised charity the answer to Bangladesh’s problems of poverty? In Britain, organised charity did not then (and does not now) solve the problem of poverty. But then nor did the progress of capitalist development

Thursday are that these too, are times of economic growth in the shadow of global economic volatility and overhanging threats from rising powers.

In Bangladesh and elsewhere, the project of economic growth increasingly depends on the quality of the population.

People whose ancestors were poor rural labourers are needed now for industry and the economy: they need to be strong and skilled and capable of competing in global markets. Meanwhile waterlogging and land erosion are pushing thousands to the big cities each year, to live in unplanned unsanitary conditions in a slum near you.

Without doubt these are times to be thinking about poverty and insecurity.

So is the third signal the green light in this story? Is organised charity the answer to Bangladesh’s problems of poverty? In Britain, organised charity did not then (and does not now) solve the problem of poverty. But then nor did the progress of capitalist development, which is why the welfare state was so essential for economic growth and human development.

In a fast-growing capitalist society like Bangladesh there will always be a need to support those left behind.

Charity and religion plug some of those gaps. Achieving middle-income status means a large, necessary investment by the state in the Bangladeshi people. There will be more, not less, need for strong safety nets and for care of the elderly, disabled and sick.

These are protections that only states can provide. No amount of business success and economic growth or charity work can meet this need.

This is no criticism of private charity, or of the Jaago Foundation in particular, about which all I know and hear is good. The energy of the young volunteers is particularly valuable, and should be channelled wisely. But this marker of change in how the elites perceive the poor raises a key chal-

lenge, one about the next generation of Bangladeshi elites and the growing young middle class.

How will they perceive the problem of poverty? What do they know of rural hardship, famine and disaster?

How will their perceptions influence their actions when it is their turn to take charge? That problem of poverty is far from gone, even if officially invisible in Gulshan.

I passed these signals en route to the Hay Festival – a world class celebration of global literature and the arts in the cultural heart of Dhaka city.

Surely we are middle income now? l Naomi Hossain is writing a book about The Bangladesh Paradox.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Putin to visit Turkey amid Syria differences n AP

WORLD AIDS DAY

The beginning of the end for Aids?

Russian President Vladimir Putin is traveling to Turkey for discussions on economic ties and the crisis in Syria and Iraq.

Russia and Turkey have opposing positions on Syria’s crisis but Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are expected to downplay differences to concentrate on trade ties when they meet yesterday. Russia is Syrian leader Bashar Assad’s closest ally while Turkey wants to see him deposed. l

United Nations data show that in 2013, 35 million people were living with HIV, 2.1 million people were newly infected with the virus and some 1.5 million people died of AIDS. By far the greatest part of the HIV/AIDS burden is in sub-Saharan Africa

n Reuters The world has finally reached “the beginning of the end” of the AIDS pandemic that has infected and killed millions in the past 30 years, according to a leading campaign group fighting HIV. The number of people newly infected with HIV over the last year was lower than the number of HIV-positive people who joined those getting access to the medicines they need to take for life to keep AIDS at bay.

But in a report to mark World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, the ONE campaign, an advocacy group working to end poverty and preventable disease in Africa, warned that reaching this milestone did not mean the end of AIDS was around the corner.

“We’ve passed the tipping point in the AIDS fight at the global level, but not all countries are there yet, and the gains made can easily stall or unravel,” said Erin Hohlfelder, ONE’s director of global health policy.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS is spread via blood, semen and breast milk. There is no cure for the infection, but AIDS can be kept at bay for many years with cocktails of antiretroviral drugs.

United Nations data show that in

Iraq uncovers 50,000 ‘ghost soldiers’ n Agencies Iraq has uncovered the existence of 50,000 “ghost soldiers,” Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said, promising a crackdown on corruption.

“The prime minister revealed the existence of 50,000 fictitious names” in the military, said a statement from Abadi’s office on Sunday after a session of parliament.

A parliament statement said the premier scrapped the 50,000 jobs, equivalent to almost four full army divisions.

Abadi’s spokesperson Rafid Jaboori said that the investigation started with a thorough headcount during the latest salary payment process.

“There are two kinds of ‘fadhaiyin’,” one experienced officer in the security forces said, using a word which, literally translated, means “space men,” and refers to the fictitious soldiers crowding the payroll.

“The first kind: each officer is allowed, for example, five guards. He’ll keep two, send three home and pocket their salary or an agreed percentage,” he told the AFP news agency.

“Then the second and bigger group is at the brigade level. A brigade commander usually has 30, 40 or more soldiers who stay at home or don’t exist,” the officer said.

“The problem is that he too, to keep his job as a brigade commander, has to bribe his own hierarchical superiors with huge amounts of money,” he said.

The officer explained that, for those reasons, the thousands of soldiers who defected or were killed this year across Iraq were rarely declared as such. l

WFP suspends food aid for 1.7 million Syrian refugees n Reuters, Geneva A lack of funds has forced the UN World Food Programme to stop providing food vouchers for 1.7 million Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq and Egypt, it said yesterday.

“Without WFP vouchers, many families will go hungry. For refugees already struggling to survive the harsh winter, the consequences of halting this assistance will be devastating,” said WFP, which needs $64m to support the refugees for the rest of December. l

2013, 35 million people were living with HIV, 2.1 million people were newly infected with the virus and some 1.5 million people died of AIDS. By far the greatest part of the HIV/AIDS burden is in sub-Saharan Africa.

The AIDS pandemic began more than 30 years ago and has killed up to 40 million people worldwide.

The United Nations AIDS agency, UNAIDS, says that, by June 2014, some 13.6 million people globally had access to AIDS drugs, a dramatic improvement on the 5 million who were getting treatment in 2010.

“Despite the good news, we should not take a victory lap yet,” said Hohlfelder.

She highlighted several threats to current progress, including a $3b shortfall in the funds needed each year to control HIV around the world.

“We want to see bold new funding from a more diversified base, including more from African domestic budgets,” she said.

ONE also noted that HIV is increasingly concentrated among hard-toreach populations such as injecting drug users, gay men and sex workers - groups who are often stigmatised and have trouble accessing treatment and prevention services. l

Republican aide apologises for comments on Obama’s children n Agencies

(Top) File photo showing policeman Bret Barnum, left, and Devonte Hart, 12, hug at a rally in Portland, Oregon, where people had gathered in support of the protests in Ferguson; this photo, with more than 400,000 shares, is the most widely shared photo in the wake of the recent American protests. (Bottom) St Louis Rams players put their hands up to show support for Michael Brown before their American football game against the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. The St Louis Police Officers Association claimed that officers found the actions of the players Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, Kenny Britt, Jared Cook, Chris Givens and Tre Mason to be ‘tasteless, offensive and inflammatory,’ and demanded that they be disciplined AP/REUTERS

Palestinian woman stabs Israeli, shot by security forces n Reuters, Jerusalem A Palestinian woman stabbed an Israeli in the occupied West Bank yesterday and was then shot and wounded by security forces, the military and police said.

Violence in Israel and the Palestinian territories has risen in the past months. Attacks carried out by Palestinians have killed 11 Israelis. Twelve Palestinians have been killed, including several of the assailants.

The latest incident occurred in the Etzion bloc of Jewish settlements near Jerusalem. The Israeli was lightly wounded.

A military spokesman said the Israeli was a civilian and that security forces “overcame the suspect and transferred her for further medical assistance.”

A police spokeswoman said the Pal-

estinian woman who carried out the attack was shot. Reuters witnesses saw her being taken to Jerusalem’s Hadassah hospital. A hospital spokeswoman said she was seriously wounded.

In July, a Palestinian youth was burned to death by Jewish attackers, allegedly in revenge for the killing of three Israeli teens by Palestinian militants in the West Bank in June.

A 50-day war that began in July between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip resulted in the deaths of more than 2,100 Palestinians, many of them civilians, as well as 67 Israeli soldiers and six civilians on the Israeli side.

Tensions have also risen in past weeks over access to a Jerusalem religious site holy to both Muslims and Jews, triggering Palestinian street protests. l

Pope says it is wrong to equate Islam with violence n Reuters Pope Francis said on Sunday that equating Islam with violence was wrong and called on Muslim leaders to issue a global condemnation of terrorism to help dispel the stereotype.

Francis, the leader of 1.2 billion Roman Catholics, told reporters aboard his plane returning from a visit to Turkey that he understood why Muslims were offended by many in the West who automatically equated their religion with terrorism.

Francis’ predecessor, Benedict XVI, caused storms of protest throughout the Islamic world in 2006, when he made a speech that suggested to many Muslims that he believed Islam espoused violence.

Benedict said he had been misunderstood and apologised. But this year, the image of a violent religion has once more been promoted by Islamic State, who have seized swathes of Syria and Iraq, slaughtering or driving out Shi’ite Muslims, Christians and others who do not

Aging Europe needs the migrants it doesn’t want n

Reuters

Europe is aging faster than any other region of the world. It badly needs immigrants. But many Europeans don’t want them.

The “old continent” may be able to offset the impact of a graying workforce until around 2020 by bringing more women and elderly people into work, encouraging mobility within Europe and making better use of existing migrants, EU and OECD experts say.

But in the medium to long term, the European Union will need to attract significant numbers of skilled workers from beyond its borders - and overcome growing public opposition highlighted by the rise of populist anti-immigration parties.

“If you close the door (to immigration), you will pay an economic price,” says Jean-Christophe Dumont, an expert on migration at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, a Paris-based intergovernmental think-tank.

“For now, we can make better use of migrants who are already here, matching their skills better to labor market needs. In the longer term, it will not only be about matching skills, it will also be about numbers,” he said.

Going by current trends, Europe’s industrial powerhouse Germany, along with Spain and Poland, will see its pop-

ulation shrink from now on, slowing potential economic growth.

Germany’s 82 million residents will dwindle to 74.7 million by 2050 and their average age will rise to nearly 50, assuming unchanged levels of migration, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat. Some projections are even more dire, putting the German population as low as 65 million by 2060.

That will mean “serious labor supply constraints” in some of the strongest EU economies - Austria, the Netherlands and Finland as well as Germany - according to a European Commission study by Joerg Peschner and Constantinos Fotakis that took a baseline economic recovery of just 1%.

By contrast, Britain, France, Ireland and to a lesser extent Italy can expect healthy expansion. Britain will have overtaken the Germans by 2050 as the EU’s most populous nation with 77.2 million - if it stays in the bloc - while France will have caught up with Germany on 74.3 million.

Regardless of their place on the scale, many European countries still recovering from six years of economic crisis are being tugged in the opposite direction from demographic realities by a tide of anti-immigration political rhetoric.

Marine Le Pen in France, Nigel Farage in Britain and Geert Wilders in the Netherlands are attracting work-

ing-class voters by raging against freedom of movement of workers within the EU, from the poorer east and south to the wealthier north.

They accuse the EU of opening the flood gates to “job stealing” migrants, driving down wages and living standards and raising crime rates.

The backlash against immigration prompted Pope Francis to appeal in the European Parliament for an “elderly and haggard” continent to show a more welcoming face to those who cross the Mediterranean Sea in search of a better life.

Another pressing argument for rational debate is the growing impact of the demographic reversal on the funding of pensions and healthcare, especially in countries such as Germany and Spain which will have the oldest populations.

As the post-World War Two baby boom generation retires, the ratio of over-65-year-olds to the working age population is set to rise dramatically, while the number of under-15s declines by nearly 15% by 2060, according to projections by Eurostat.

At present, the age dependence rate is 27.5 on average in the 28-nation EU, but Germany and Italy are well above that level. The rate is projected to jump to 49.4 in 2050, when there will be only two people of working age for every retiree. l

share their radical brand of Sunni Islam.

The Argentine pope, who has been trying to foster cooperation with moderate Islam in order to work for peace and protect Christians in the Middle East, said it was wrong for anyone to react to terrorism by being “enraged” against Islam.

“You just can’t say that, just as you can’t say that all Christians are fundamentalists. We have our share of them (fundamentalists). All religions have these little groups,” he said.

“They (Muslims) say: ‘No, we are not this, the Koran is a book of peace, it is a prophetic book of peace’.”

Francis said he had made the suggestion of a global condemnation of terrorism by Islamic leaders in talks on Friday with Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

“I told the president that it would be beautiful if all Islamic leaders, whether they are political, religious or academic leaders, would speak out clearly and condemn this because this would help the majority of Muslim people,” he said. l

A senior Republican aide has apologised for her comments about President Obama’s children, in which she claimed the girls should “show a little class” after they appeared next to their father in fashionable clothing and looking slightly bored during an official address the day before Thanksgiving.

Many joked about the First Daughters’ awkward stances as they stood next to their father during the pardoning of turkeys ‘Mac’ and ‘Cheese’, while many in the room laughed at the girls’ swift response of “Nah” when asked if they wanted to pet the birds.

Elizabeth Lauten, spokeswoman for Republican Congressman Stephen Fincher, instead accused Sasha, 13, and Malia, 16, of being disrespectful in a now-deleted Facebook post, and chastised the girls for their choice of clothes on the day.

Her deleted post read: “Dear Sasha and Malia: I get you’re both in those awful teen years, but you’re part of the First Family, try showing a little class.

At least respect the part you play.

“Then again, your mother and father don’t respect their positions very much, or the nation for that matter. So I’m guessing you’re coming up a little short in the ‘good role model’ department.”

She continued to berate the girls’ for their appearance, advising them to “rise to the occasion and act like being in the White House matters to you.

Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar,” the BBC reported.

Ms Lauten, who has since faced sharp criticism and calls for her to resign, has apologised for her comments.

She wrote in an apology that she had spent “many hours of prayer” thinking about her comments, talking to her parents and re-reading her words online, claiming that “I can see more clearly just how hurtful my words were.”

“I’d like to apologise to all of those who I have hurt and offended with my words, and I pledge to learn and grow (and I assure you I have) from this experience.”

She said she had “judged the two young ladies in a way that I would never have wanted to be judged myself as a teenager.” l

Mohamed UK’s most popular name n Agencies Mohamed is the most popular baby’s name in the UK as the popularity of Arabic names continues to rise, along with those of Frozen and Game of Thrones characters.

Figures from the Baby Centre showed that when different spellings, including Muhammad and Mohammad, are combined, it takes the top spot – up 27 places from last year.

The name of the Muslim Prophet means “praised” or “praiser of God” and is thought to be one of the most popular names worldwide, leading some men to shorten it and go by another, less common name.

It is not the only popular Arabic name appearing in the list for 2014, with Omar, Ali, Ibrahim and Kian, which can also be Irish in origin, entering the top 100 for boys.

For girls, Nur and Maryam – the biggest riser - have grown in popularity.

Sarah Redshaw, managing editor for the Baby Centre, said: “With the increase of Arabic names plus Aarav, an Indian boys’ name, the top 100 shows the ever-increasing diversity of the UK today.

“Parents have also been influenced by celebrity name choices. The Beckhams

and Simon Cowell have been big influences this year. Eric, the name Simon Cowell chose for his son, increased by 314%.”

The names of David and Victoria Beckham’s offspring have prompted a trend, with Harper hitting the top 100, Romeo is up 67% and the popularity of Cruz quadrupling for new parents.

Film and television is also proving to be a big influence, with the phenomenal popularity of the Disney film Frozen making its presence felt just a year after release.

Elsa, the name of the ice queen, has shot straight into the top 100 at 75, and the friendly snowman Olaf and leading man Kristoff have both been picked by new parents for the first time.

Breaking Bad appears to have inspired an increase in the names Skyler, Jesse and Walter, while Emilia - a lead actress from Game of Thrones - was a new entry at number 53 for girls.

Daenerys and Tyrion have also been registered, albeit far fewer times, and the popularity of Piper almost tripled as series Orange Is The New Black continues.

But while the names of popular celebrities and film heroes are favoured, parents appear to be wary of more controversial characters. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Indian IS recruit goes home after having to clean toilets n AFP An Indian student who travelled to Iraq to join the Islamic State group has returned home disillusioned after jihadists made him clean toilets and do other menial jobs, according to media reports.

Areeb Majeed, 23, left for Iraq with three friends in late May amid fears by authorities that IS militants were attempting to recruit from India’s large pool of young Muslim men.

The engineering student flew home Friday to Mumbai where he was arrested and charged by India’s elite National Investigation Agency (NIA) with terror-related offences.

Majeed told NIA officers he was sidelined by the jihadists for whom he fetched water and performed other lowly tasks such as cleaning toilets, instead of taking part in the deadly of-

fensive like he wanted, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

He phoned his family to say he wanted to come home after suffering an unexplained bullet wound for which he did not get proper medical attention, the agency said late Sunday.

“Only after I begged them, I was taken to a hospital,” he was quoted as saying by NIA officers. “There was neither a holy war nor any of the preachings in the holy book were followed.”

India’s moderate population of 150 million Muslims have traditionally not been drawn into sectarian conflicts in the Middle East and elsewhere, but the case of the four raised concerns about online recruitment.

Al Qaeda announced in September a new chapter of its extremist movement charged with waging jihad in South Asia, prompting several Indian

states to be placed on high alert.

Tanvir Sheikh, the father of one of Majeed’s friends who was still missing in Iraq, said he felt betrayed by his son.

Sheikh said his son Fahad was offered a job in Kuwait but instead decided to travel to Iraq to join the extremists.

“He had got a job offer from Kuwait with a salary of three lakh rupees ($4,800) but he ignored that and instead took up arms. Now what happens to his future?” Sheikh told the Indian Express newspaper yesterday.

“I feel let down by my son. He had a bright career ahead of him but he took advantage of our love and betrayed us.”

Radicalised foreigners have been drawn to the IS group, which has conducted a series of mass executions and other atrocities since launching its offensive in Iraq and Syria in June. l

9

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Imran threatens to ‘shut down’ Pakistan n Agencies Pakistan’s opposition leader Imran Khan on Sunday threatened to “shut down” the entire country by December 16 if the Nawaz Sharif government failed to initiate an impartial probe into the alleged rigging in 2013 general elections.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief, in a rally here outside the parliament, said that his protest will continue till the government initiate an inquiry into the “massive rigging” in last year’s general elections, which saw Sharif’s Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) win by a landslide.

“The ball is in your court, Nawaz Sharif — do your talks, do your investigations and solve the issue. We will close Pakistan down when December 16 comes, and what I do after that you will not be able to bear it ... It has been 109 days and ‘Naya Pakistan’ is waking up every day. We can all see it,” Khan was quoted as saying by Dawn.

“On Thursday (December 4), I will go to Lahore and shut it down. On December 8, I will shut down Faisalabad,

on December 12, I will go to Karachi and shut it down. By December 16, I will shut down all of Pakistan if the poll inquiry is not initiated,” Khan said.

The ball is in your court, Nawaz Sharif — do your talks, do your investigations and solve the issue The cricketer-turned-politician has been holding protest-rallies in different cities to spread his movement, demanding a probe into the allegations of rigging the election.

Khan had launched his protest in mid-August, demanding Sharif’s ouster, but he later withdrew his main demand of the prime minister’s resignation ahead of the probe and offered the government to constitute a judicial commission comprising Supreme Court judges, ISI and military intelligence offi-

cials, to investigate the reported rigging.

Government set to talk

Pakistan government yesterday decided to resume dialogue with the PTI. Dawn reported that Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took the decision after his meeting with the Leader of Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah.

After the government’s announcement of resuming talks with the PTI, a formal contact with the party was expected to be established soon.

Earlier today, Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah said Information Minister Pervez Rashid’s statement that the government would not hold talks with PTI was disappointing.

It was necessary for the PML-N led government to hold talks with PTI, the Pakistan Peoples Party leader said, adding that in the other case, the government risked weakening its own standing.

The government had ruled out on Sunday the possibility of resuming dialogue with PTI. l

Hong Kong warns protesters not to return after clashes close government HQ n Reuters Thousands of Hong Kong pro-democracy activists forced the temporary closure of government headquarters yesterday after clashing with police, defying orders to retreat after more than two months of sustained protests in the Chinese-controlled city.

Hong Kong leader Leung Chun-ying said police had been tolerant but would now take “resolute action,” suggesting that patience may have finally run out.

Chaos erupted as commuters made their way to work, with hundreds of student-led protesters surrounding Admiralty Centre, which houses offices and retail outlets, in a stand-off with police.

The central government offices and the legislature were forced to close in the morning, as were scores of shops.

The latest flare-up, during which police charged protesters with batons and pepper spray, underscored the frustration of protesters at Beijing’s refusal to budge on electoral reforms and grant greater democracy to the former British colony.

“Some people have mistaken the police’s tolerance for weakness,” Leung told reporters. “I call for students who are planning to return to the occupation sites tonight not to do so.”

He did not respond when asked if police would clear the sites yesterday.

Hong Kong Federation of Students leader Alex Chow said the protesters had intended to paralyse government headquarters.

“The plan was a failure on the whole, given that even if some places were occupied, they were cleared by the police immediately,” Chow said.

The democracy movement represents one of the biggest threats for China’s Communist Party leadership since Beijing’s bloody 1989 crackdown on pro-democracy student protests in and around Tiananmen Square.

Financial Secretary John Tsang said the protests had damaged Hong Kong’s international image and hurt investor confidence, adding the city’s economic growth could be lower than the government’s forecast of 2.2%. The territory also reported a slowdown in monthly retail sales.

Hundreds of riot police scattered the crowds in several rounds of heated clashes overnight, forcing protesters back with pepper spray and batons.

Scores of volunteer medics attended to numerous injured, some who lay unconscious and others with blood streaming from head gashes. Police said at least 40 arrests were made.

The unrest came as British lawmakers said they had been told by the Chinese Embassy they would not be allowed to enter Hong Kong as part of an inquiry into Britain’s relations with its former colony and progress toward democracy.

Hong Kong returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a “one country, two systems” formula that gave it some autonomy from the mainland and an undated promise of universal suffrage. l

Pro-democracy demonstrators rest at the main protest site in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong yesterday. Police unleashed pepper spray and baton charges at students who tried to storm Hong Kong’s government headquarters early on December 1, as tensions soared in the third month of pro-democracy protests AFP

Amit Shah halts speech for azan, woos muslims n Agencies

Indian sisters applauded for beating up molesters

From a four-minute pause at 3.20pm halfway through his speech to allow azan from the Tipu Sultan Mosque to be heard uninterrupted, to handing over Rs 50,000 in cheques to four families — all Muslims — who had died in political clashes, BJP national president Amit Shah on Sunday stepped beyond mere words to woo an electorate in Bengal that is increasingly flocking to his party in south Bengal, particularly Birbhum.

With CPM unable to fight their cause against Trinamool Congress, a large section of the minorities are joining the saffron fold — a fact the national leadership is learning to adapt to.

Significantly, a considerable portion of the huge turnout in the heart of central Kolkata comprised members of the minority community.

Rahamtullah Gazi travelled around 180km — all the way from Halsidanga village in Birbhum’s Illambaazar block — to become a part of the BJP rally at Esplanade. His name didn’t figure in the list of BJP supporters who came from the district because this former member of a CPM gram panchayat came alone.

He didn’t want to be detected. “My only fault was that I was a CPM leader and my family voted for the Left,” he said. “We were ostracised. Even now, ... BJP, to me, is the only alternative,” he added.

Mujibar Rahman from Deganaga said: “CPM hardly has a presence in our village and we prefer to extend our support to BJP rather than join Trinamool.” l

Two Indian sisters were showered with praise and cash yesterday after a video of them thrashing three alleged molesters on a moving bus was widely replayed.

Arti and Pooja Kumar, aged 22 and 19, were harassed by the men on a crowded bus last week while returning to their home in Rohtak, a district of largely rural Haryana state that borders New Delhi.

The sisters, using their belts and their hands, were seen attacking the men who were also grabbing and shoving other women in the aisle while other passengers looked on.

Police arrested the men on Sunday night after mobile phone footage, shot by a pregnant fellow passenger, was uploaded on social media and replayed on India’s multiple 24 hour news channels.

Although many praised the girls’ bravery, others were scathing of the other passengers. Some of them were seen sniggering as the attacks took place.

“Hats off to #RohtakBravehearts.

N I despise such men who just sat and watched everything happening,” one posted on Twitter.

Braveheart was the term given by the media to the 23-year-old student who died after being gang-raped on a moving bus in Delhi in 2012.

The horrific attack sparked international outrage, street protests and a round of soul-searching in India

n AFP

about its treatment of women.

Some hoped the latest incident would inspire others to rise up against so-called eve teasing, a euphemism for harassment that women in India endure on an almost daily basis.

“Go brave girls! #girlrising and wake up bystanders! Its shameful, the only one who intervened was a pregnant woman!,” said actress Freida Pinto, star of “Slumdog Millionaire.”

“Bravo! #RohtakBravehearts 4 standing up against eve teasing.

Hope you become role models for all girls who want to stand up against #eveteasing, “another tweet said.

Rohtak police spokesman Ved Singh Nain promised a speedy investigation into the incident on Friday, after the women said the men started abusing them when they rejected their advances.

“On the bus, they made obscene gestures, touched us and abused us,” Pooja told NDTV news channel yesterday.

“We could not take it any more and started beating them. One of the men grabbed my sister’s hand and the other held me by the neck.

That is when my sister took out her belt and started beating them,” she said.

Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar announced a cash reward for the women of 31,000 rupees ($500) each, saying he hoped the publicity would sensitise others to the issue. l

Climate funds for coal highlight lack of UN rules n AP, Indonesia About $1bn in loans under a UN initiative for poor countries to tackle global warming is going toward the construction of power plants fired by coal, the biggest human source of carbon pollution.

Japan gave the money to help its companies build three such plants in Indonesia and listed it with the United Nations as climate finance, The Associated Press has found. Japan says these plants burn coal more efficiently and are therefore cleaner than old coal plants.

However, they still emit twice as much heat-trapping carbon dioxide as plants running on natural gas. Villagers near the Cirebon plant in Indonesia also complain that stocks of shrimp, fish and green mussels have dwindled.

Japan’s coal projects highlight the lack of rules to steer the flow of climate finance from rich to poor countries — a critical part of UN talks on global warming, which resume Monday in Lima, Peru. There is no watchdog agency that ensures the money is spent in the most effective way, and no definition of what climate finance is.

Japan, a top contributor of climate finance, denies any wrongdoing and has done nothing illegal — there are no rules against counting such projects as climate finance in the UN system.

“There are countries ... that cannot afford to have other methods than coal,” Japanese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Takako Ito said. “For these countries, we’d like to provide the best method of reducing carbon dioxide.”

However, UN climate chief Christiana

Figueres, who was unaware that the Japanese-funded coal plants in Indonesia were labeled as climate finance, said “there is no argument” for supporting such projects with climate money.

“Unabated coal has no room in the future energy system,” she told AP. “Over time, what we should be seeing is a very, very clear trend of investment into clean renewable energy.”

Even the newly launched Green Climate Fund, a key channel for climate finance in the future, still only has vague guidelines on how to spend the money.

Board member Jan Cedergren said he didn’t believe the fund would support fossil fuels but acknowledged no decision has so far been made.

In 2009, rich countries pledged that by 2020 they would provide $100bn a year in climate finance. They agreed to come up with $30bn over the next three years, with Japan providing about half.

An analysis of the 300 top climate finance projects during that period showed Japan was the only country to include direct support to new coal plants.

The second-largest project on the list was a $729 million loan for what Japan described as a “high energy efficient thermal power plant project in East Java.” AP found that the loan from Japan’s Bank for International Cooperation, or JBIC, was used to build an 815-megawatt coal-fired unit at the Paiton power plant, which is partly owned by Japanese firms Mitsui and Tokyo Electric Power Company.

Also among the top 30 projects globally was a $214 million JBIC loan

for another “thermal power plant” in West Java, which AP confirmed was the Cirebon power station. The plant is co-owned by Marubeni Corp., a Japanese company that was fined $88 million this year by the US Department of Justice for bribing Indonesian government officials to secure a separate power project.

Japan’s climate finance also included a $15 million development loan for a plant in Indramayu, West Java, and a dozen smaller coal projects in India, Indonesia and Vietnam. Those were identified as coal projects in documents submitted to the UN, while the larger projects in Paiton and Cirebon were not.

Japanese officials said there was no specific reason for that.

“We don’t have anything to hide or disguise,” a Foreign Ministry official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak publicly on the topic.

Marubeni and Mitsui declined requests for comment. Tokyo Electric said transferring Japanese technology can lead to a substantial reduction in carbon emissions.

However, many climate scientists say even the new technology Japan promotes is not enough to meet the UN goal of keeping the global temperature rise below 2 degrees. The only way for the math to work with coal, they say, is through technology that sucks carbon dioxide from the air and stores it underground.

That expensive technology is not yet commercially available on a large scale, and neither Cirebon nor Paiton has it. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

Protect property rights properly

I

ncalculable harm is done to our economy by the failure of the government to ensure legal certainty and protect property rights.

One extreme consequence of this can be seen in our investigations into the Jamaat Shibir stronghold at Buthpara next to Rajshahi University.

Buthpara residents report that one of the reasons for Jamaat’s support in the area is that it has astutely taken advantage of local grievances in relation to land disputes. This is because residents claim the government acquired their land for Rajshahi University without paying compensation.

It goes without saying that the government should not acquire private lands or property without paying reasonable compensation.

Although the consequences in Buthpara are unusual, the root problem is not. Despite it being a serious criminal offence, land grabbing is widespread and property rights are frequently trampled upon. Politically-connected individuals have notoriously been able to act with impunity in occupying public land adjacent to rivers and in trying to grab land from minority communities.

Moreover, these are merely the tip of an iceberg. The court system is congested by at least 2 million land-related cases. Endemic corruption and maladministration in the land registration system make many of these harder to resolve.

The government must act effectively to reform the land registration system. It should start by always paying due compensation where it appropriates land by showing zero tolerance to corrupt officials and grabbers in high-profile cases.

It must also speed reforms to the land registration system and use technology to make it more accountable and transparent.

Make the land registration system accountable and transparent

Free school lunches to improve nutrition

N

ew upazila-level maps illustrating the geographical concentrations of malnourished people in the country show a high correlation with areas of poverty and more remote districts.

We cannot afford to continue to allow people to endure the silent but violent misery of poor nutrition. Over 53,000 children die in Bangladesh every year due to complications arising out of high rates of child and maternal malnutrition.

Nearly half of deaths among under 5s are caused by malnutrition, and seven million children suffer from stunted growth and weakened ability to recover from disease. The grave health and development consequences caused by chronic vitamin A and iodine deficiencies cost the country more than Tk7,000cr in lost productivity every year. With 39 out of 64 districts and 300 out of 544 upazilas in Bangladesh having stunting rates above 40%, policy-makers must address malnutrition as a national crisis.

The most cost-effective way to do this is to introduce free goodquality school lunches in public schools to help ensure all children receive a balanced diet. As well as fighting malnutrition, this would also help encourage enrollment and retention.

We have the resources and the food producing and distribution ability to provide balanced diets for all, but what is needed is political will to make it a priority.

The government spends a billion dollars subsidising fossil fuels and electricity each year. It should cut these wasteful subsidies and spend the funds saved on developing free school meal programs, boosting rural incomes, and improving public education on nutrition.

Helping all people access a balanced diet that goes beyond merely fighting hunger is the only way to cure malnutrition.

Help ensure all children receive a balanced diet to end the curse of malnutrition

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

Stop interfering with private universities

November 19 I expressed my desire to work for a newspaper, Hovercraft even the adviser of the department approached It is a signal to the private universities to reform me with his recommendation. themselves into educational institutions and Notice that a private university provides serve society, instead of being just a moneyelectricity 24/7, air-conditioning, access to internet making business. (with plenty of computers and labs), multimedia classrooms where the projectors and the Guest computers always work, and if there’s any missing I think I can add some practical examples classes, students are immediately compensated the here. I argued with my parents, friends, and following week. All the facilities here cost money, other people that if I leave Rajshahi University not just for the beautification of the campus, but and join ULAB, then it will boost my personal also for an appropriate learning experience. development. I repeatedly reasoned that teachers People in authority should and must think of my former English department either miss about the unhygienic and dangerous condition of classes unreasonably or give lectures pointlessly. our public universities. They should take steps to Rarely are there seminars, talks, or lectures from finally install proper toilets at the public university renowned authors, researchers, or moviemakers. campuses, and then provide all the classrooms If, by studying literature, I would aspire to become with functioning projectors and computers, a banker or something which doesn’t require my so that both teachers and students could academic knowledge, then I would never think of benefit from them. They should also consider transferring out of a public university. how they can finance the public institutions, Now, every week, there is some sort of where seminars, talks, or lectures by renowned seminar, talks, and lectures by prominent editors, personalities are rarely organised. authors, and filmmakers at ULAB, where I’m At my current university, students are taught currently studying. After switching to a private in a way so that they become actual future university, I have found a job that moderately leaders. Not just passive learners. helps me to finance my living expenses. When

Phil Hughes: Australia cricketer critically ill after being hit by ball

Foot-over bridges get cleaned up November 25

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.

November 16

nds Agreed, so long it is on a mutual consent basis.

The problem is in our society; in every aspect of life, physical force acts as a constant villain and kills everything that is good in us. abul kalam nds: Wow! There you are. Seemingly teaming up with the author in “making love” in public!

Love, romance are good and beautiful, but when you bring them into the public, is it romance anymore?

Son Zoo abul kalam: A newspaper is just as much an open forum for different opinions as it is a source of news. Just because you don’t happen to agree with one such opinion does not mean anything more than simply you don’t agree.

Rana abul kalam: True, true, and very true!

Nur Hossain Howlader “In a bid to ensure safe movement of pedestrians, law enforcers have evicted hawkers from most of the foot-over bridges across the capital.

This photo was taken in the capital’s Kamalapur area.”

Nice, and without banner festoons!

A relief to see this.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Kissy, kissy, kissy

November 25 Mohdud Ul Huq All sports are not good for a humans safety. Completely a waste of time for bright students.

SA Mohdud Ul Huq: Good health is important. In fact, it’s the only thing that carries into old age, with basic flexibility and movement allowing a person to function in their daily activities. A bright mind doesn’t matter if the body can’t function.

Though I must admit that yes, in this case, it was a highly dangerous situation. Very sad to see Phil Hughes pass away. Condolences to his family.

May he rest in peace.

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 8 represents L so fill L every time the figure 8 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.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Picturesque (6) 5 Annoy (3) 7 Lowest point (5) 8 Counting frame (6) 10 Insane (3) 12 Classify (4) 13 First woman (3) 14 Fashion (4) 16 Dreadful (4) 17 Knight’s title (3) 18 Exchanged for cash (4) 20 Laundry item (3) 23 Make beloved (6) 24 Bread from heaven (5) 25 Floor covering (3) 26 Gives credit to (6)

DOWN 1 Cicatrix (4) 2 Rubber (6) 3 Accustom (5) 4 Members of a play (4) 5 Vigour (3) 6 Period of time (3) 9 Sheltered nook (4) 11 Female deer (3) 14 Amiably gentle (4) 15 Commands (6) 16 Immerse (3) 17 Echo sounder (5) 18 Transmitted (4) 19 Malay dagger (4) 21 Flightless bird (3) 22 Joke (3)

rose Even I don’t find that loving each other in public should be protested, or anything as such. We need to love each other. Love is indeed a beautiful thing.

Son Zoo rose: Yes. Expressing affection out in the open is not the same thing as doing whatever you want to in public.

Interpol interested to investigate wildlife trafficking in Bangladesh

CALVIN AND HOBBES

November 26

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

PEANUTS

Green Channel “South Asia is home to the world’s 13-15% biodiversity, encompassing some of the world’s most endangered species, including the Bengal Tiger.”

Are we making sure that our wildlife is safe in their own home environment?

CROSSWORD

US hostage ‘killed by IS’ November 16

RS “Kassig, 26, was a former US Army Ranger who served in the Iraq War. He later trained as an emergency medical technician, travelling to Lebanon in May 2012 to work in border hospitals treating Palestinian refugees and later those fleeing Syrian conflict.”

It is indeed harrowing to know IS has once again committed a horrendous and reprehensible act. It should be punished for this.

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

The yellow-brick road n Asif Reza Akash

Moving towards a more developed Bangladesh

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Reality versus sophisticated rhetoric

T

n Hasanuzzamann he category of least developed country (LDC) was created in 1971 – the year Bangladesh achieved political and economic independence.

For those LDC’s graduation analysis, which tends to overlap with income status, it is to be distinguished here that low-income country (LIC) and LDC thresholds are mutually exclusive, ie, they produce two distinct interpretations. This is where the question of sophisticated rhetoric creeps in.

LIC status governs access to concessional lines of finance, and not all LDCs are LICs. In case of Asia-Pacific, they range from Tuvalu – an upper middle-income country (UMIC) – to Bhutan, Kiribati, Lao PDR, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu – low middle-income country (LMICs) – and to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Nepal – LICs.

investment, Asian LDCs registered the most progress, with Bangladesh being recognised as the main driver.

LDC graduation process

Successes achieved in both HAI and EVI could earn Bangladesh “eligibility” recognition by 2015.

If Bangladesh is found eligible for graduation between 2015 and 2018, UNCTAD and UNDESA will prepare a vulnerability profile and an impact assessment, respectively. At the 2018 triennial review, CDP will review the latter, alongside country inputs, and subsequently recommend Bangladesh for graduation to ECOSOC and the General Assembly.

From 2018 to 2021, CDP will monitor Bangladesh’s progress with the three thresholds.

After being recommended by CDP, the UN’s General Assembly will decide within the next three years, which will be 2021 – the Golden Jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence. Table 2 offers a timeline and a summarisation of both

Table 1: LDC Graduation of Bangladesh Criteria

CDP (2012)

Government (2014)b

Threshold (until 2021)

GNI

$637a

$1,190

-

HAI

54.7

65.96

66

EVI

32

32.4

32

a

GNI per capita (Atlas Method) recorded $900 as of 2013 b External Economic Policy (EEP), Economic and Relations Division (ERD), Ministry of Finance, February 2014 This article focuses on the development aspect, because LDC’s graduation does not necessitate Bangladesh becoming an MIC or LMIC.

LDC graduation thresholds

The number of LDCs is revised on a triennial basis by the UN’s Committee on Development Policy (CDP). Three major considerations for LDC’s graduation are: Gross national income (GNI) per capita, level of human capital or human assets index (HAI), and the economic vulnerability index (EVI).

The income threshold for graduation is set at 20% above the inclusion threshold, and it will be $1,242 in the upcoming 2015 review. On the other hand, the EVI and HAI thresholds have been permanently fixed by CDP. Recent government estimates from the Ministry of Finance, presented in Table 1, indicate that Bangladesh is set to graduate from the LDC group by 2021. The country is on track to meet two out of the three graduation thresholds before the next CDP triennial review in 2015.

During the launch of the latest UNCTAD LDC report, a local research organisation opined that Bangladesh has not met any of the three thresholds, and that it will need at least a decade beyond 2021 to become an MIC. This is certainly not true. Additionally, statements on whether Bangladesh will attain LMIC/MIC status certainly dilute the LDC graduation objectives.

Nor does UNCTAD make any such indications, but it highlights Bangladesh’s achievements within the Asia-Pacific LDC group. In case of foreign aid, remittance, and foreign

the UN process and national priorities.

The political commitment is explicitly articulated by the national 10-year Perspective Plan and a graduation strategy being prepared by the government. The prime minister of Bangladesh has rightly pointed out that “Bangladesh will be moving out of the LDC status, but the country does not need to rush ahead.”

Whilst policy-makers with left-tocentre bias promote the idea of graduation, opponents argue that Bangladesh would stand to suffer heavily as a result of erosion of trade preferences if the country graduates.

The problem is neither opponents nor supporters of graduation, but

those respected opinions transcending LDCs discussion to the ladder of LICs in an attempt to underplay the significance of LDC graduation for Bangladesh.

The graduation of Bangladesh from LDC status is, nevertheless, inevitable – whether by 2021 or 2024. As we gear up to celebrate our nation’s 50th birthday, we should neither forget what has been achieved nor should we lose focus on the inevitable.

Many of us have been an expatriate, a foreign student, or a visitor to a country which is at least relatively more developed than Bangladesh. We have often walked with people around the world from many strands of development and income status.

There is no doubt today that we have integrated well with the global economy as a virtue of our “least developed” grade, but is it not necessary to celebrate as we free ourselves from its clutches?

Recalling grandma’s advice

During pregnancy times, expecting parents who go all-in to planning and strategising are often cautioned by their elderly that they should wait until post-delivery to make any type of plans or purchases – whether short, medium, or long-term. Our grandmothers believed that such impulsive engagement without focusing on the need of the hour – taking care of the mother and praying for a healthy child – jinxes the birth cycle.

Surely, we are not only praying but are also hoping of making a healthier Bangladesh. In the same vein, gaining non-LDC recognition implies a new Bangladesh – at least in the global terms, if not for many cynical citizens.

Bangladesh is our mother, and we are her children. Just as our mother walks into a non-LDC realm, we too should gear up to embrace the Golden Jubilee opportunity to tell the world our “basket case” story in a whole new way. This will not only make our mother proud but will also help others to not to shy away from rays of hope. l Hasanuzzaman is a Research Officer at UNDP Bangladesh.

Table 2: Golden Jubilee LDC Graduation of Bangladesh: A Timeline Timeline 2015

UN Process

Bangladesh has seen a sudden upsurge in gold smuggling within 2013-14 through its international gateways.

Gold seizures in the two airports have become a near regular occurrence.

Law enforcers are apprehending gold smugglers at the country's two international airports every other day, with gold bullions being brought in primarily from the Middle East, thought to be headed towards India.

Customs officials claimed to have seized around 650kg of gold, worth an estimated $31m, in the last 15 months.

According to the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID), 4.3kg of gold was seized within the 2009-10 financial year, 0.35kg in 2010-11, 1.21kg in 2011-12, and 5.56kg in 2012-13.

So, the extreme rise in smuggling is fairly predictable and the reason behind it is not quite subtle. Our next-door neighbour India is one of the world's top importers of gold, but its import tariffs are much higher than that of Bangladesh.

Since the government of India raised tariff on gold to 10% in August 2013 from 2% in July 2012 to check the legal gold import to trade off a severe current account deficit in 2012, this tariff barrier cut its gold import sharply to 19 metric tons in November 2013 from 162 metric tons in May 2013.

So the supply of gold dropped but the demand has remained the same seeing how legendary the Indian market’s demand for gold is. The price of gold doesn’t plummet much in India, even when the price goes down in the international market for the stable domestic demand. Resultantly, gold smuggling syndicates are using Bangladesh as a route to smuggle gold to India across land-borders by bribing corrupt officials of Biman, customs, the immigration police, and others involved.

Being interviewed by newsmen, many customs officials admitted that the gold being seized at the airport was only the tip of the iceberg. The amount of gold seized by the officials is only a fragment of the bullion that is being

brought to the country.

However, the only good here is that whatever volume of gold is being confiscated in the airports is being added in the gold reserve of the central bank, but on the other hand Bangladesh is being highlighted in the media as a safe gold-smuggling route. The syndicates are poisoning our immigration mechanism through their bribing. Our local gold businesses are losing their shares and the scope for corruption is increasing.

Corruption is already rampant in Bangladesh, and officials aiding gold smugglers have now pushed it to a new degree

Reportedly, Bangladesh has 12 metric tons in annual demand of gold and that is partly met by expatriates. Travellers and migrant workers, working in Middle Eastern countries, can legally carry 200g of gold on each visit to Bangladesh. In addition to the Middle East, gold also flows into Bangladesh from Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia.

Reportedly, the jewelry market in Bangladesh is entirely dependent on smuggled gold because of cumbersome import procedures.

Moreover, the higher duty on imported finished jewelry compared to gold bars also encourages businessmen to rely on smuggled gold. India has a demand of 1,500 metric tons of gold annually, but after the tariff hike in India, Bangladesh raised its own import tariffs on gold by 20 times on July 1, bringing them in-line with those of India, thanks to our corrupt officials who appear to have done little to stem the tide.

According to the CIID, more than 4,000 people were arrested for smuggling at the Dhaka airport in the last three years. They include 89 airline

Inclusion of LDC graduation strategies in the Seventh Five Year Plan (7FYP) 2015/16-2019/20

2015-2018

UNCTAD and DESA prepare vulnerability profile and impact assessment respectively

Oral statement to EGM and written statement to CDP

2018

CDP: Second finding (confirmation) – reviews vulnerability profile and impact-assessment; reviews country inputs; recommends for graduation; ECOSOC: Takes action on CDP findings General Assembly: Takes note of CDP recommendation

Maintaining progress

2018-2021

CDP: Monitors development progress

Prepare transition strategy

2021

Graduation (3 years after General Assembly’s decision)

2021-2024

CDP: Monitors development during triennial reviews

Implement transition strategy and update the Perspective Plan

Source: Compiled from CDP (http://www.un.org/en/development/desa/policy/cdp/ldc/ ldc_graduated.shtml)

Despite their efforts, most of those arrested in gold smuggling cases last year are now out of jail on bail. The masterminds behind this ill trade are influential folk who have never been clearly identified.

Corruption is already rampant in Bangladesh, and officials aiding gold smugglers have now pushed it to a new degree. Local and international media are reporting on this gold smuggling haul regularly. There is already a perception among people that customs and immigration are already highly prone to corruption, and now this degree of gold smuggling has confirmed their beliefs.

A lot of civil-service examination candidates put customs as their top choice because of its highly lucrative possibilities, but it will destroy our social mechanism if steps are not taken against it immediately. The sooner the government understands this, the sooner our country can advance. l Asif Reza Akash is pursuing his MBA at the Department of Accounting and Information Systems, University of Dhaka.

A depoliticised Pakistan on the rampage n Khalil Ahmad

T

he pivot of politics is always seeking power, so that a political party is able, so to say, to implement its program on the basis of which it wins voters’ mandate. That’s an ideal statement of an ideal polity. In reality, it doesn’t happen like that.

There are betrayals, treacheries, and opportunism on the part of political parties. There is perennial interference, for instance in the case of Pakistan, by the players who are external to the political realm but are always intent upon unleashing political instability and uncertainty in the country.

Let’s try to understand what it is that’s called being depoliticised. In Pakistan, everyone who has a bit of interest in politics knows well a term, political apathy, the usual use of which stopped probably after the Lawyers’ Movement (2007-09); though the apathy still exists.

mean there is none, it's still there.

The voter turnout in the last elections is 55%. But the argument of the present writer does not base on the concept of political apathy. It lays its whole emphasis on the notion of a depoliticised citizenry of Pakistan. It may both be non-political and/or antipolitical.

The concept of political apathy is altogether different from the notion of a depoliticised citizenry. Political apathy is a reaction from the people to a fruitless and barren politics. It leaves politics on its own. It withdraws its interest from such politics.

In contrast to that, a depoliticised citizenry is something very dangerous, simply because it overrides politics. It outdates politics, it predates politics.

It does not lose its interest in politics, rather it is overwhelmingly interested in politics. However, it’s concept of politics is sort of unique. It’s sort of a supra-politics.

In a nutshell, a politically apathetic

It is PTI which represents a depoliticised Pakistan.

It’s on the rampage to destroy a political Pakistan it must come back to

National Priority

CDP: First finding confirms eligibility, notifies country

employees, 396 CAAB officials, 34 customs and immigration officials, and 240 Ansar personnel. But we never hear about how they were prosecuted or if the were even prosecuted at all.

Recently, the Detective Branch (DB) arrested 5 individuals, including a deputy general manager (DGM) and a flight scheduler, and according to information gathered from the arrestees, a hundred other officials, including some high executives, are under the surveillance of DB.

Maybe because it’s the movement that refreshed the interest of the people in the political affairs of the country.

Prior to that, the term political apathy stood to mean people’s insensitiveness to matters political, and it was also argued that it was this factor which kept the voter turnout in Pakistan too low.

As far as causes of the political apathy are concerned, one is more important than others. First, regardless of the fact which party is in power, no civilian political government ever tried to deliver. So people became impervious to whatever was happening in the political arena. They turned to themselves and to their homes.

Indeed, presently there is no talk of political apathy. But that doesn’t

citizenry is indifferent to whoever seeks power and whoever comes in power – it knows it’s not going to change their fate. A depoliticised citizenry, as it is ardently and desperately interested in politics, does not believe in seeking power through political means.

It derives its inspiration from an imagined future. It is in this sense, that it is said to be depoliticised. It is the essence of depoliticised elements, whatever their form is, they always seek power hungrily and seek it in non-political ways.

As a matter of principle, political elements, their betrayals, treacheries, and opportunism aside, somehow come to believe in political ways while

seeking political power. As against this, depoliticised elements are naked power-seekers. They want power at any cost by any means. That’s their substance and hallmark as well.

One more explanation may help understand the nature of a depoliticised Pakistan, the politics of which is being witnessed in the shape of Imran Khan (Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf), Tahir-ul-Qadri (Pakistan Awami Tehreek), Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Pervaiz Elahi (Pakistan Muslim League-Q), Sheikh Rashid Ahmed (Awami Muslim League).

They are all seeking power in non-political ways, whatever their excuses and slogans are. In fact, it is all the martial laws which veritably nursed such power-seekers. They crafted ever newer ways for non-political power-seekers; and opened a whole new world for such non-political politicians.

In addition, a constituency for such politics also emerged. That created a depoliticiased Pakistan, which think and act non-politically. It derides politics. Some of the political parties learned a lesson or two not to seek power in non-political ways; but there is no dearth of newcomers and the old stalwarts who are still clinging to the old habits of seeking power.

Imran Khan’s would have proved to be a promising party for the politically apathetic citizens also, had it gone for seeking power in a political manner.

Unfortunately it has opted for an alignment with a depoliticised Pakistan, which believes in non-political ways only.

Political problems require political solutions. Likewise, in seeking political power in non-political ways, one party may succeed, but in the process, what damage it wreaks to the state and society, it may never realise. Now it is PTI which represents a depoliticised Pakistan; it’s strengthening it also. It’s on the rampage to destroy a political Pakistan it must come back to. l Khalil Ahmad is a Lahore-based political philosopher and author of The Rise of State Aristocracy in Pakistan (Urdu) and other books. This article was previously published in Pakistan Observer.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE Tuesday, December 2, 2014

13 Mash hails

teamwork, Mushy happy to contribute

14 Barcelona grab

last-gasp win against Valencia

14 Pirlo settles

Turin derby, Inter fall to Roma

Sport

Did you know?

Three of the last 10 hat-tricks in ODIs have been taken by Bangladesh players

H AT T R I C K O N O D I D E B U T

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

26.6

Panyangara b Taijul 0

28.1

Nyumbu lbw b Taijul 3

28.2

Chatara b Taijul 0

Taijul Islam to Panyangara, OUT, one more, sneaks it through the gap! Panyangara stretched Taijul Islam to Nyumbu, OUT, oh given lbw, one more for Taijul! It was flat and sliding in Taijul Islam to Chatara, OUT, oh he’s got it, he’s got three in three on debut, the crowd forward to defend the flighted delivery that didn’t turn away but came in slightly with the towards the stumps, the batsman went on the back foot but was hit right in front of the erupts, Taijul leaps in joy! Chatara went down on a knee to slog the ball on the leg side, angle and found the gap between bat and pad to hit the stumps. Kept a little low too stumps and umpire gives it out missed it completely and the ball angled in to the off stump

Magical Taijul inspires Bangladesh n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Left-arm spinner Taijul Islam became the 116th player to represent Bangladesh in one-day internationals, and 2207th overall in the history of 50-over cricket, when he made his debut in the fifth and final match of the series against Zimbabwe in Mirpur yesterday.

And he made it an occasion to remember by grabbing a hattrick – the very first in ODI history by a debutant.

The 22-year old ended with miserly bowling figures of 4/11 in seven overs as Bangladesh defeated Zimbabwe by five wickets and subsequently whitewashed the visitors.

That the Tigers eventually made it five ODI wins out of five against the Southern African nation was large-

ly down to Taijul’s exertion with the leather. Taijul is now the fourth Bangladeshi bowler to take an ODI hattrick after Shahadat Hossain, Abdur Razzak and Rubel Hossain.

More than the hattrick itself, the Tigers will be pleased with the fact that they have unearthed another genuine left-arm spinner. Taijul recently made his Test debut in the West Indies and exhibited his talents in his very first innings scalping 5/135.

And in the three Test matches against Zimbabwe that preceded the ODIs, Taijul grabbed the headlines once again registering the best ever bowling figures in an innings – 8/39 - by a Bangladeshi bowler in five-day cricket.

All that remained to be seen was if he could continue to be consistent. His

latest heroics yesterday, however, put paid to all the lingering doubts.

Coming back to his record feat, the cricketer from Natore first clean bowled Tinashe Panyangara in the final delivery of his sixth over. And in the first two deliveries of his seventh over he trapped John Nyumbu in front before again shattering the stumps to dismiss Tendai Chatara.

A humble Taijul though admitted after the game that he did not ponder taking a hattrick while coming on to bowl as his sole objective was to account for as many dot balls as possible.

“I did not think about it from the beginning. I just wanted them (Zimbabwe) to play dot balls. It happened by the grace of the Almighty Allah,” said Taijul before adding, “Mushfiqur [Ra-

ODI HATTRICKS FOR BANGLADESH SL Bowler

VS

21

Shahadat Hossain ZIM

27

Batsmen

Venue

Date

Mufambisi, Chigumbura, Mupariwa

Harare

Aug 2006

Abdur Razzak

ZIM

Utseya, Price, Mpofu

SBNS

Dec 2010

34 Rubel Hossain

NZ

Anderson, McCullum, Neesham

SBNS

Oct 2013

36 Taijul Islam

ZIM

Panyangara, Nyumbu, Chatara

SBNS

Dec 2014

him] bhai kept telling me to bowl at the stumps. That is what I focused upon doing. I was unaware of the record. The senior players later told me about it.”

The year 2014 was turning out to be an annus horribilis for the Tigers prior to the bilateral series against Zimbabwe. Although the series sweep in Tests and ODIs will not make it an annus mirabilis either, it will still give the Tigers some much needed confidence heading into the 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia-New Zealand.

And Taijul, as one of the match-turners of the side, will surely have something to say next year Down Under. If his recent achievements are anything to go by, the Tigers need not worry, at least in the spin department going into the global showpiece event. l

Jamal a step away from glory n Shishir Hoque Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club are just a step away from becoming the first Bangladesh outfit to clinch the King’s Cup title as the premier football league champions take on Indian League side Pune FC in the final at Changlimithang Stadium in Thimphu, Bhutan today.

The Dhanmondi-based club have exhibited impressive football throughout the tournament. After remaining unbeaten in the group stages with two wins and a draw, Jamal edged Nepalese club Manang Marshyangdi 2-1 in the last four last Saturday.

Jamal’s opponents in the final, Pune, who finished seventh in the I-League last season, are also unbeaten but struggled in the semis against Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan before eventually winning the encounter 6-5 in the tie-breaker last Sunday.

It will be Jamal’s third final appearance in as many international tournaments. Previously, Jamal clinched the Safal Pokhara Cup in Nepal three years ago but their biggest achievement in

the international stage came in the 118th IFA Shield in India earlier this year when they finished runners up.

Following the departure of Haitian international Sony Norde at the end of last season, Gambian midfielder Landing Darboe has been Jamal’s main man on the pitch. Darboe, who previously played for Feni Soccer Club, netted twice against Mohun Bagan in the group stages. The Gambian footballer also grabbed the late winner against Manang in the last four.

Jamal coach Maruful Haque will be glad with the return of Haitian striker Wedson Anselme who missed the semifinal due to suspension. The Bangladesh top-flight champions, however, will miss the services of Sohel Rana who received his marching orders against Manang.

In Jamal, Pune coach Karim Bencherifa will be up against a familiar opponent. The Moroccan coach was previously at the helm of Mohun Bagan earlier this year in the IFA Shield when they took on Jamal. The Moroccan, therefore, will need to be on his guard to prevent Jamal from claiming their second international title. l

BDvZIM, 5TH ODI Zimbabwe innings H. Masakadza b Jubair S. Raza c Rahim b Mortaza V. Sibanda c Mortaza b Shakib B. Taylor b Shakib S. Mire lbw b Taijul T. Maruma b Jubair E. Chigumbura not out T. Panyangara b Taijul John Nyumbu lbw b Taijul T. Chatara b Taijul T. Kamungozi c Mahmudullah b Shakib Extras (w3)

Total (all out; 30 overs)

52 9 37 9 9 1 3 0 3 0 2 3

128

Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-95, 3-108, 4-109, 5-112, 6-120, 7-120, 8-124, 9-124, 10-128 Bowling: Mortaza 5-1-23-1 (w1), Abul 3-1-230 (w1), Shakib 7-1-30-3 (w1), Taijul 7-2-11-4, Jubair 8-0-41-2 Bangladesh innings Tamim Iqbal c Mire b Panyangara 10 Anamul Haque c Masakadza b Chatara 8 Soumya Sarkar c Raza b Chatara 20 Mahmudullah not out 51 Shakib Al Hasan c Masakadza b Panyangara 0 Mushfiqur Rahim c Taylor b Chatara 11 Sabbir Rahman not out 13 Extras (lb6, w10, nb1) 17

Total (for five wickets; 24.3 overs) 130 Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-28, 3-47, 4-58, 5-93 Bowling: Panyangara 10-1-49-2 (w3, nb1), Chatara 10-0-44-3 (w6), Kamungozi 4-0-210, Mire 0.3-0-10-0 (w1) Toss: Zimbabwe Bangladesh won by five wickets to take the five-match series 5-0 The Zimbabwe cricket team pose for a photograph with Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina following the end of the fifth ODI against Bangladesh in Mirpur yesterday

Zim coach Mangongo hails clinical Bangladesh n Minhaz Uddin Khan

The visiting Zimbabwe cricketers without any doubt are deeply disappointed having lost all matches across both formats – Test and one-day international – in their 45-day tour of Bangladesh but the side’s coach Stephen Mangongo believes it’s not the end of the world.

Mangongo credited the home side who he thought played exceptional cricket throughout the tour, but also acknowledged the effort from his

charges, especially the bowlers.

“I think it was disappointing to lose the series 5-0. Disappointing because we had opportunities to win a couple of games – at least we should have won the last game which we lost by 21 runs but its not like all is doom and doomed for us,” said Mangongo during the postmatch conference at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium yesterday. “We have lost but we will put our heads up and move on and that’s cricket and that’s sport but we must always give cred-

it where its due. Bangladesh were the better side and they played very well.”

“Our bowling department I think has put up some good performances – I am very proud of them. They bowled very well in all the five games. So yes, there is hope with few individuals, young Solomon Mire’s start of international career was truly outstanding. So we can built from there,” he said.

Mangongo, who is known to be a strict disciplinarian, added, “I must give credit to Bangladesh. They were reso-

lute, they had the killer instinct, when they had us down they finished us. They executed their skills better and, yes, the better team won the series.”

“I think when I arrived for my first press conference I said the Tigers are formidable they are very good in their own jungle, they can beat any team, they have very good bowlers who execute very well. Their senior batters came to the party and they beat us. That is a fact and any given day they can beat anyone,” said the Zimbabwe coach. l

Spirited Bangladesh thrash Chinese Taipei n Raihan Mahmood

Bangladesh made a rollicking start in their Men’s Junior AHF Cup campaign with a resounding 7-0 win over Chinese Taipei at Maulana Bhasani National Hockey Stadium yesterday. In the other match of the day, Oman thumped Thailand by the same margin.

The Bangladesh youngsters began the match in a rusty manner having missed a number of good chances before eventually netting their first goal in the opening half. The hosts, however, came out in the second half with all guns blazing firing in another six goals.

Bangladesh piled up a considerable amount of pressure but due to their misfiring forwards had to wait till the 27th minute for their first goal. The deadlock was broken through penalty-corner specialist Khorshedur Rahman after Milon’s push and skipper Sarwar Hossain’s stop.

Heading into the second half with a slender 1-0 lead, Bangladesh changed their strategy and adopted an all-out attacking approach. The alteration paid immediate dividends as Mainul Islam Koushik made it 2-0 in the 41st minute, defender Ashraful added the third three minutes later while another

defender, Khorshed, grabbed the side’s fourth in the 46th minute. Three quickfire goals in five minutes broke down Chinese Taipei’s resistance.

Milon notched Bangladesh’s fifth in the 50th minute, Koushik struck his second and the home side’s sixth three minutes later while Milon hit his second in the 56th minute to complete the rout.

Bangladesh coach Mamunur Rashid said his charges, eight of whom are from the senior team, were initially nervous in the first half. “They were nervous and we opted for a counter-attacking strategy. However, in the second half we decided to attack from all

fronts while our penalty-corner variations worked perfectly.”

Captain Sarwar, who plays in midfield, was a relieved man following the end of the game. “The first half was poor but in the second we showed our potential. Technically and physically Chinese Taipei are not bad. We have to continue the trend.”

Meanwhile in the first match of the day, Oman thrashed a hapless Thailand 7-0. The losing side only arrived in Dhaka on Sunday night and a match the following day was always going to be a tall order. The Thais shipped six goals in the second half. l

The Bangladesh Under-21 hockey players celebrate one of their seven goals against Chinese Taipei in the Men’s Junior AHF Cup yesterday COURTESY

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

13

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Abahani, Brothers, Victoria post wins n Raihan Mahmood

QUICK BYTES

Neuer, Ronaldo, Messi on Ballon D’Or shortlist Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer made the final three candidates for the FIFA Ballon D’Or award on Monday, joining former winners Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on the shortlist.

Argentina and Barcelona forward Messi, winner on four occasions, made the shortlist for the eighth time in a row and Portugal’s Ronaldo, last year’s winner, for the fourth time running. Germany coach Joachim Loew, Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti and Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone were selected for the Coach of the Year award. The final ceremony will take place in Zurich on Jan. 12. The FIFA world player of the year award was founded in 1991 and merged with France Football’s Ballon D’Or in 2010.

– Reuters

Platini denies Sunday Times Picasso claims UEFA president Michel Platini told AFP on Sunday that rumours he was given a Picasso painting in return for voting for Russia to host the 2018 World Cup were “totally fictitious”. British newspaper the Sunday Times claims to have access to a database of allegations compiled by the failed English bid team for the 2018 World Cup. The newspaper claimed on Sunday Platini was given a painting, believed to be a Picasso, as part of a bid to secure his vote. “I’d like to point out that the Sunday Times allegations are totally fictitious and the newspaper themselves admit that they don’t have any proof to support this ridiculous rumour,” Platini told AFP. – AFP

Spain to seek to banish ‘ultras’

Spain will seek to banish groups of violent fans known as “ultras” from football following Sunday’s death of a Deportivo La Coruna fan in clashes in Madrid, a government official said on Monday.

Francisco Javier Romero Taboada, 43, had to be pulled out of the Manzanares river near Atletico Madrid’s Calderon stadium before kickoff in a La Liga match against Deportivo and died after suffering a cardiac arrest, hypothermia and head injuries. Trouble had flared in what appeared to be an organised street battle between ultras tied to Atletico, Deportivo and Madrid-based clubs Rayo Vallecano and Alcorcon.

–Reuters

Pakistan coach satisfied despite final Test defeat Pakistan cricket coach Waqar Younis Monday termed his team’s performance over five Tests as “extremely good” as they beat Australia 2-0 and levelled the series against New Zealand 1-1. Pakistan went down by an innings and 80 runs in the third and final Test against New Zealand in Sharjah on Sunday, an ending Waqar felt should not be criticised. “It would have been icing on the cake and a happy ending had we won the last Test and the series against New Zealand but if I analyse the performance in the five Tests I found it extremely good,” Waqar told AFP. Pakistan’s October win - also in United Arab Emirates - was their first against Australia in 20 years.

– AFP

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 1 2:00PM Int’l Premier Tennis League 1:45AM English Premier League Leicester City v Liverpool

Star Sports 2 7:30PM Indian Super League Delhi v Kolkata 1:45AM English Premier League Burnley v Newcastle

Star Sports 4 1:45AM English Premier League Man United v Stoke Ten Action 12:30AM Copa del Rey Real Madrid v Cornella

Ten Sports French Ligue 1 12:00AM 56 Lorient v Olympic Marseille 2:00AM AS Monaco v Racing Club De Lens

Ten HD Coppa Italia 9:00PM Lazio v Varese 11:00PM Sassuolo v Pescara

Sony Six 9:30AM NBA: Regular Season LA Clippers v Minnesota

The Tigers celebrate with the Test and ODI series trophy following the fifth ODI against Zimbabwe in Mirpur yesterday

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Jubilant Mash hails teamwork, Mushy happy to contribute n Mazhar Uddin Mashrafe bin Mortaza earned full marks in his first assignment as Bangladesh one-day international captain after the Tigers completed a convincing turnaround in the fate of their results this year by securing a whitewash against Zimbabwe.

The 31-year-old hailed the team’s overall professionalism while he also praised Taijul Islam for his heroics on debut yesterday.

“Even if you play a gully (street) cricket match you can’t expect a perfect result. The boys performed very professionally. Taijul came in for one match and the hat-trick might have been a matter of luck but he bowled well, he bowled in one area. He did what the team needed from him. Every boy worked hard that’s why the result was possible.

“There is no substitute for a win.

This year we had close matches and we couldn’t win those but that doesn’t mean that we played bad, we just couldn’t finish, so no matter who we played against the fact that we managed to win is a good thing and we need to hold on to this feeling,” said Mashrafe before adding that the contribution from the fast bowlers in the team also played a crucial role behind the result.

However the ‘Narail Express’ expressed concerns with the batting department as time after time they are encountering mini-collapses that put the team under pressure.

Meanwhile, the outgoing Bangladesh ODI skipper also had reasons for celebration as the wicketkeeper-batsman received the man of the series award for his 213 runs from five matches and he dedicated the precious feat his newly wedded wife.

“This is nothing new to me as I even

received similar awards while being the captain. It is my responsibility to perform well, being the captain or not

BDvZIM, ODI Series MOST RUNS Player

Runs Mat

Mushfiq (BD)

213

5

Anamul (BD)

Ave

SR

42.60 95.08

200

5

Mahmudullah (BD) 179

5

89.50 80.26

40

70.42

Taylor (ZIM)

162

5

32.40 76.77

Tamim (BD)

147

5

29.40 65.33

MOST WICKETS Player

Wkt Mat

Shakib (BD)

11

5

Ave

12.36 3.23

Eco

Arafat (BD)

10

3

7.80 2.80

Mashrafe (BD)

9

5

16.44

Panyangara (ZIM) 9

4

24.44 5.50

Kamungozi (ZIM)

5

29.16 4.16

6

4.11

does not matter. And this was my first series after wedding, so I am really happy with how things went,” said Mushfiq.

Mushfiq faced huge criticism for the defeat earlier this year before he was relaxed from his duty of leading the Tigers in the one-day format prior this series. He, however, informed that captaincy never put any pressure on his performance as his focus is simply on contributing what is needed.

“Yes captaincy pressure is different, but when I went into the middle to bat as a captain I never thought that okay I am captain so I have to do well, as a senior player I have a responsibility to do well. I need to set an example. Whether I am captain or not is not my issue, the main thing for me is to contribute for my team. If I can get a team out of a troublesome situation, individually confidence increases and I can learn as well,” he said. l

Abahani, Brothers Union and Victoria defeated Old DOHS, Partex and Kalabagan Krira Chakra respectively in the seventh round of the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League at different venues yesterday.

At Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah, Abahani trounced Old DOHS by 166 runs. Abahani posted a challenging 297/5 in 49 overs with Liton Kumar Das scoring the highest 66 while national discard Nasir Hossain chipped in with 60. Rakibul Hasan also registered a half-century.

In reply, Old DOHS capitulated to 131 allout. Abahani’s Nazmul Apu scalped three wickets conceding 13 runs while Ziaur Rahman and Mostafizur Rahman shared four wickets between them.

At BKSP 3 in Savar, Victoria cruised to a seven-wicket win over Kalabagan KC. Kalabagan KC were skittled out for 122 with Victoria’s Abu Haider and Kamrul Islam picking up three wickets each. In pursuit of a modest 123 for victory, Victoria coasted to the target with 21 overs and seven wickets remaining. Dhiman Ghosh’s 44 led the way for the victors.

At BKSP 4, Brothers beat Partex by seven wickets. Partex were dismissed for 183 in 50 overs with the highest score coming from the bat of Mehrab Hossain Jr (62). Shahjada Hossain was the wrecker in chief with a three-wicket haul. Chasing 184, Brothers barely broke sweat strolling to their target with 37 balls remaining and seven wickets in hand. Brothers skipper Nazim Uddin scored 68 while Joe Denly made an unbeaten 56. l

BRIEF SCORES Abahani v Old DOHS, Fatullah Abahani 297/5 in 49 overs Liton 66, Nasir 60, Rakibul 56; Nehaduzzaman 2/53 Old DOHS 131 allout in 45.3 overs Nehaduzzaman 43; Apu 3/13, Mostafizur 2/17, Ziaur 2/19 Abahani won by 166 runs Brothers Union v Partex, BKSP 4 Partex 183 allout in 50 overs Mehrab Jr 62; Shahjada 3/33, Asif 2/32 Brothers 187/3 in 43.5 overs Nazim 68, Denly 56*; Azim 2/34 Brothers won by seven wickets Victoria v Kalabagan KC, BKSP 3 Kalabagan KC 122 allout in 43.2 overs Abu 3/20, Kamrul 3/27 Victoria 123/3 in 29 overs Dhiman 44; Rokibul 2/18 Victoria won by seven wickets

Australia-India first Test moved to Adelaide n AFP, Sydney Australia’s four-Test series against India will now start in Adelaide on December 9 after Cricket Australia on Monday reworked the schedule following the tragic death of Phillip Hughes.

The opening clash between the teams was due to start on Thursday at the Gabba in Brisbane but was put off following the death of Hughes in a freak on-field incident, with skipper Michael Clarke admitting his players were emotionally shattered.

Hughes died last Thursday from bleeding on the brain, two days after being knocked unconscious by a bouncer while batting during a domestic match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, throwing the cricketing world into mourning.

India were scheduled to travel to Brisbane on Monday to prepare for the Test, but they remained in Adelaide,

effectively ending any hopes that the Gabba Test may be pushed back by one or two days.

With Hughes’ funeral scheduled for Wednesday in his home town of Macksville, Cricket Australia Monday night listed a change of dates on its website, with Adelaide Oval now hosting the first Test.

Instead of starting on Friday, December 12 - as the second Test originally slated for Adelaide was scheduled to - it will begin on December 9.

This is seen as a fitting venue for the new first Test given it was Hughes’ adopted home ground for the past two summers with South Australia.

Such a shift will allow the second Test to be played in Brisbane from December 17-21 with the traditional Boxing Day clash in Melbourne remaining unchanged, while the Sydney Test has been pushed back three days and will now start on January 6. l

ICC: clampdown on bouncers unlikely

McCullum hails ‘band of brothers’

A clampdown down on bouncers is unlikely despite the death of Australian Phillip Hughes this week, International Cricket Council (ICC) chief executive David Richardson said on Sunday.

The cricket world was in shock this week after Hughes died on Thursday, two days after being struck on the neck by a short-pitched ball in a domestic fixture.

“We need to try and keep our perspective,” Richardson, speaking to BBC Radio, said when asked if the ICC would move to further restrict the use of the bouncer.

“It’s a bit early to determine, but my initial reaction is that that’s unlikely.

“People have died by being struck on the heart before. I don’t think cricket needs to over-react, but do what we can.”

Current regulations permit two bouncers per over in Test matches and one-day internationals and one per over in Twenty20 cricket. l

Skipper Brendon McCullum hailed New Zealand’s “not so easy” series-levelling win in the third Test against Pakistan on Sunday in the wake of the tragic death of Phillip Hughes.

New Zealand thumped Pakistan by an innings and 80 runs to level the three-match series 1-1 in a Test overshadowed by Thursday’s death of Australian batsman Hughes.

“It certainly wasn’t easy,” admitted McCullum. “It was a very tough period.

We are nowhere as affected as the guys back in Australia, but at the same time, cricket is a community ... it is a fraternity and we felt we lost one of our own.”

Both teams agreed to abandon the second day’s play on Thursday after news of Hughes’ death in Sydney came through.

The Australian, who would have celebrated his 26th birthday on Sunday, died two days after he was knocked un-

n Reuters, London

n AFP, Sharjah

Young cricket players pay tribute to the late Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes, who died recently suffering a head injury during a match, at Marina beach in Chennai yesterday AP

conscious by a bouncer while batting in a domestic match at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“It hit the guys pretty hard and we tried to stay as close as we could as a group. We tried to spend a lot of time together and tried to talk through stuff and share one another’s thoughts,” said McCullum.

“It felt incredibly hard to focus on the game and still hard to talk about the game. But we will look back upon this performance in time and we will be really proud of what we have been able to achieve,” said McCullum, who hit a robust 202 which helped his team post their highest-ever Test total of 690. Pakistan were bowled out for 351 and 259.

McCullum said New Zealand have progressed well in Tests.

“I think from the low of being bowled out for 45 against South Africa, we could only go up,” said McCullum of their slump in Cape Town last year.

“What it allowed us to do was strip

things right back to what was important for us, how we wanted to be known as a team, how the country wanted us to play and the traits they wanted to see in those representing New Zealand - like a team that never gives up, and if they do get beaten, it is very hard to beat them.”

Pakistan captain Misbah-ul Haq was disappointed at the state of the Sharjah pitch.

“We cannot do anything about it,” said Misbah.

“We asked for a turner and everybody has seen what sort of wicket this was because we wanted this Test to be decided and we asked for a turning pitch and I don’t know what happened.”

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s veteran spinner Daniel Vettori said he didn’t feel it appropriate to call time on his Test career after the death of Hughes.

The 35-year-old staged a Test comeback after an injury gap of 28 months in Sharjah. l

Williamson to lead limited overs series

n Reuters

Batsman Kane Williamson has been given the opportunity to flex his captaincy credentials after being named to lead New Zealand in their one-day international and Twenty20 series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

The 24-year-old, who has been touted as a likely future New Zealand captain, will take over from Brendon McCullum, who is returning home to rest ahead of the Sri Lanka tour of New Zealand in December and January. New ball bowlers Tim Southee and Trent Boult are also returning to New Zealand as part of the team’s player workload programme, as the series against Pakistan does not end until a week before the first Sri Lanka Test in Christchurch on Dec. 26.

“Managing players’ workloads will be an important part of our summer plans and this is simply an example of that,” New Zealand selection manager Bruce Edgar said in a statement. l

14

Sport

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Barcelona grabs last-gasp win Messi hit by bottle while celebration them their due,” he said. “But we had n AFP, Madrid such clear chances and could easily Barcelona snatched a vital 1-0 win away to Valencia on Sunday thanks to Sergio Busquets’s volleyed winner deep into stoppage time.

The Spanish international pounced after Diego Alves had made a great save from Neymar’s header to ensure Barca close to within two points of leaders Real Madrid.

And on a day overshadowed by the death of a Deportivo la Coruna fan in violent clashes before Atletico Madrid’s 2-0 win over the Galicians, there were more unsavoury scenes at Mestalla as Lionel Messi was struck on the head by a plastic bottle thrown from the crowd with Barca celebrating the winner.

A first home defeat of the season means Valencia remain nine points off the top in fifth.

LA LIGA

Sevilla

5-1

Granada

Bacca 24, 79, Banega 65, M’bia 89, Gameiro 90+2

Cordoba

El-Arabi 42-pen

0-2

Villarreal Vietto 24, Uche 70

Valencia

0-1

Barcelona Busquets 90+3

“We were lucky to score in the last minute. These are three points that will give us a huge boost,” Busquets told Canal Plus.

“We never settle for a draw, we tried in every way possible and in the end it came from a corner. We had been attacking them for a few minutes and when the ball fell to me from Alves I gave it everything I had.”

Valencia boss Nuno Espiritu Santo, meanwhile, was left to lament the chances his side failed to convert in the second-half.

“We had good moments in the match and very clear opportunities to score. Barca also had chances to give

have won.”

Barca boss Luis Enrique signalled how exacting a test he expected his side to face by naming Javier Mascherano alongside Busquets in midfield for the first time in his tenure.

However, they struggled to control the game in the early stages as Rodrigo forced Claudio Bravo into an early save with a rasping drive.

Barca slowly grew into the game, but their better chances arrived via long balls towards Neymar, while Luis Suarez ought to have put the visitors in front on 14 minutes.

Neymar laid Gerard Pique’s pass from the back into the path of the Uruguayan, but he fired straight at Alves with just the Brazilian goalkeeper to beat.

Barca were then fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men when Neymar appeared to headbutt Nicolas Otamendi, but the incident went unseen by referee Fernandez Borbalan.

Moments later it was Valencia who came close as the game swung from one end to the other, Pique clearing Rodrigo’s drive off his own goalline.

Suarez’s frustrating night continued as he was wrongly flagged offside when he did finally find the net from Dani Alves’s cross.

Yet, in their push for a winner, Barca were opened up on the counter-attack and had Bravo to thank for making a fine save to prevent Sofiane Feghouli from opening the scoring.

The Chilean keeper had to be at his best again 12 minutes from time to beat Alvaro Negredo’s sweetly struck volley to safety.

And those interventions were to prove crucial as three minutes into stoppage time Alves parried Neymar’s header from Messi’s tempting cross and Busquets was on hand to force the ball home despite the goalkeeper’s best efforts to keep it out. l

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi (R) hit by water bottle during their La Liga match against Valencia CF at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia on Sunday

Van Gaal dreading busy December schedule n AFP, Manchester Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal admitted he is dreading the Christmas period as his team continue their bid for a Champions League place against lowly Stoke City at Old Trafford on Tuesday.

The visit of Mark Hughes’ team marks the beginning of a month in which United play seven league fixtures and, while his team has no interest in European or League Cup football, Van Gaal is adamant such a schedule is too demanding.

“I’m not happy because I do not agree with that but I cannot change that,” said the former Dutch coach.

“I don’t think it’s good for the foot-

ball players that they play within two days another match. In December, it shall be like that. We also have families.

I also have a wife and kids and grandchildren and I cannot see them this Christmas,” the Dutchman added.

EPL

Burnley Crystal Palace Leicester City Manchester United Swansea City West Bromwich

v v v v v v

Newcastle United Aston Villa Liverpool Stoke City QPR West Ham

“But, I want to work in the Premier League, I have to adapt and I shall adapt.”

Van Gaal’s concerns have been heightened by his team’s alarming in-

jury record with Angel di Maria and Wayne Rooney becoming the 41st and 42nd United first-team players respectively to sustain injuries this season, during Saturday’s 3-0 win over Hull.

Di Maria’s hamstring pull will keep him out of the Stoke game, although Van Gaal was more optimistic regarding Rooney’s chances of recovering from calf and knee problems in time.

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has said he will persist with a pragmatic approach when the Merseysiders travel to Premier League strugglers Leicester on Tuesday.

However, following the sale of striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona in the close season and Daniel Sturridge’s injury problems, Liverpool have failed to re-

Pirlo settles Turin derby, Inter fall to Roma n AFP, Milan

Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring during their Italian Serie A match against Torino at Juventus Stadium in Turin on Sun day AFP

Saint Etienne end 20-year Lyon hoodoo

n AFP, Paris Saint Etienne beat Lyon 3-0 in France on Sunday, their first home win over their local rivals in 20 years, after Ligue 1’s top two, Marseille and Paris Saint Germain also won this weekend.

Moustapha Sall and Ricky Van Wolfswinkel gave Saint Etienne a 2-0 lead by half-time and Renaud Cohade finished the job in the 69th minute.

The result sent a wave of joy round the stadium as it ended a run dating back to April 1994 and a series of seven home defeats by their bitter local rivals.

Playing with a five-man defence the home side were rarely troubled by Lyon’s 4-4-2 but breathed huge sighs of relief when Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette missed a sitter at 1-0 before also sending a penalty wide in the 79th minute. l

LIGUE 1

1-0

Lille

Evian

2-0

Guingamp

Saint-Etienne

3-0

Lyon

Bordeaux Diabate 62

Bayal Sall 18, van Wolfswinkel 40, Cohade 68

Cornella keen to enjoy Bernabeu experience n Reuters, Madrid Third-tier Cornella, whose part-timers include a dentist and a school teacher, are determined to have fun when they run out at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu stadium for Tuesday’s King’s Cup last 32, second leg.

The Barcelona-based club, whose tiny arena holds around 1,500 fans compared with the Bernabeu’s capacity of more than 80,000, trail 4-1 from the first leg and know it would take nothing short of a miracle to turn the tie around.

The match pits the world’s richest club by income, with annual revenues of more than 600 million euros ($748 million), against a club with a budget of around 1 million euros a season who were promoted to Spain’s regional Segunda B for the first time at the end of last term.

“Our goal is to enjoy ourselves,” striker Oscar Munoz, who scored Cornella’s goal in the first leg, told reporters as the club’s party left by coach for the Spanish capital on Monday.

According to Spanish media, the

INTERNET

Cornella players have been promised a bonus of around 1,400 euros if they achieve the feat of eliminating the King’s Cup holders, less than Real forward Cristiano Ronaldo earns in a single hour.

KING’S CUP Alaves Alcoyano Real Madrid Las Palmas Valladolid

v v v v v

Espanyol Athletic Bilbao UD Cornella Celta Vigo Elche

Ronaldo and other regulars including Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Pepe will be rested for Tuesday’s game, coach Carlo Ancelotti said, as Real seek to extend the club record for consecutive victories of 16 they set on Saturday by beating Malaga 2-1 in La Liga. Forward Jese Rodriguez will see his first action since sustaining a serious knee injury in a Champions League game in March, Ancelotti told a news conference.

Real and Cornella’s first leg was brought forward because of the European champions’ participation in the Club World Cup this month. l

A last-gasp screamer from Andrea Pirlo saw Juventus stretch their impressive record over Torino in a 2-1 ‘Derby della Mole’ win as Roberto Mancini suffered his first defeat back in the Inter hot seat on Sunday.

Juve’s 11th win of the campaign stretched their lead over title rivals Roma to six points, although Rudi Garcia’s men restored their three-point deficit with a stirring 4-2 home win over Mancini’s visitors at the Olympic Stadium.

Torino showing plenty of enterprise in a thrilling second-half, but the visitors were undone in the final seconds when Pirlo, from 25 yards, smashed Vidal’s lay-off past goalkeeper Gillet in the third minute of added on time.

Inter levelling twice thanks to Andrea Ranocchia and Pablo Daniel Osvaldo following strikes by Roma’s Gervinho and Jose Holebas, the visitors were undone by a second-half brace from Miralem Pjanic.

Earlier, Jeremy Menez struck a second-half brace in a 2-0 win over Udinese as struggling AC Milan grabbed their first success in six matches to move up to provisional fifth place. l

SERIE A

Cagliari

0-4

Fiorentina

Fernanez 17, 55, Gomez 69, Cuadrado 74

Cesena

0-3

Genoa Matri 4, Antonelli 7, Volta 43-og

Empoli

0-0

Atalanta

AC Milan

2-0

Udinese

Menez 65-pen, 75

Palermo

1-1

Dybala 37, Barreto 73

Juventus

2-1

Vidal 15-pen, Pirlo 90+3

Roma

Parma Palladino 40

4-2

Gervinho 21, Holebas 46, Pjanic 60, 90+2

Torino Peres 22

Inter Milan Ranocchia 36, Osvaldo 57

capture that form this term.

After a run of three league defeats, Rodgers adopted a more disciplined and defensive game against Stoke City at the weekend and saw his side grind out a 1-0 win.

And, ahead of the clash with Leicester, Rodgers said he planned to stick with a more conservative style for the time being.

Nigel Pearson has told his Leicester players they cannot afford to feel sorry for themselves if they want to end their poor run of form.

Pearson is expected to reshuffle his pack with the out-of-form Leonardo Ulloa, Leicester’s £8 million ($13 million, 10 million euros) record signing, expected to be among the fall guys. l

Mancini already impatient for the transfer window n Reuters, Milan Roberto Mancini has only been in charge of Inter Milan for two weeks and the new coach is already itching for the January transfer window.

Mancini complained that he had the wrong players for the system he wanted to play after his side went down 4-2 at AS Roma on Sunday, leaving them in eleventh place in Serie A with only four wins from 13 games.

“This squad has been built to play a different system, so it’s inevitable that there are some teething problems.

“We don’t have any out-and-out wingers, but the players are doing well to adapt. We’ve now got a month to do what we can, then we’ll see,” said Mancini, who was sent off for dissent during the match. “We need to improve quickly,” A new centre forward is likely to be top of Mancini’s list after Rodrigo Palacio, partnering Pablo Daniel Osvaldo in attack in place of the rested Mauro Icardi, again failed to hit the target. l

Klopp refuses to quit as Dortmund crash again

Soldado’s barren run ends as soaring Spurs beat Everton n AFP, London n AFP, Berlin Roberto Soldado’s near six-hour wait for a competitive goal finally came to end as he scored the winner in Tottenham Hotspur’s come-from-behind 2-1 win at home to Everton on Sunday.

Victory at their White Hart Lane ground saw Spurs climb into seventh place, level on points with north London rivals Arsenal, in the Premier League table.

The result ended Everton’s eightgame unbeaten run but Roberto Martinez’s mid-table side had looked on course to extend that record when Kevin Mirallas’s 15th-minute goal broke the deadlock.

But Mauricio Pochettino’s men were level just six minutes later through Christian Eriksen before former Valencia striker Soldado ended a run of 593 minutes without a goal in competitive football in first-half stoppage-time. l

EPL

Tottenham Eriksen 21, Soldado 45

2-1

Everton Mirallas 15

Jurgen Klopp insisted Sunday he will not quit as Borussia Dortmund coach despite his team suffering their eighth league defeat of the season to remain bottom of the Bundesliga.

Dortmund crashed 2-0 at Eintracht Frankfurt as Klopp’s men continued to frustrate fans who have seen the team, in stark contrast, ease into the Champions League last 16.

But when asked if he has thoughts of walking away, Klopp insisted he will stay, despite his side being whistled and booed after the final whistle.

“I can understand journalists have such thoughts, but things aren’t heading that way, I am responsible for what is going on here,” a visibly dejected Klopp, who is under contract until 2018, told Sky. “If it was only a question of luck and a change of coach would make a difference, you only have to call me and I won’t stand in the way.

“But as long as no-one comes to me and says ‘we have someone who can do better’, I simply can’t leave. l

BUNDESLIGA

VfL Wolfsburg

1-0

M’gladbach

2-0

Dortmund

Knoche 12

Frankfurt Meier 5, Seferovic 78

Dortmund coach Klopp comforts defender Erik Durm after the Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday AFP

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

15

MONIRUZZAMAN plays from the heart

B E N G A L C L A S S I C A L M U S I C F E S T I VA L 2 0 1 4

n Nadira Sultana Ava M Moniruzzaman is one of the leading flutists in Bangladesh, a master of several wind instruments including banshi, silver flute, saxophone and Chinese flute.

His three solo albums all have different themes. Shomokal fuses different ragas, Egaro has instrumental versions of eleven popular patriotic songs, and Destination features Sufism based folk music. The Dhaka Tribune caught up with the artist:

Our society often pushes young people towards mainstream jobs.

When you decided to make music your career, did you face obstacles?

Dancer Vishal Krishna takes the stage last night on the fifth day of the festival at Army Stadium

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

KHAN HASAN MD RAFI

I practice at least six hours a day. I personally think that, on top of practice, every artist should keep time to research what they are working on.

Do you teach?

Yes, I do. I teach both in Shilpakala Academy and at home. Even though I don’t take a single penny from students, not many are interested to learn when they see the difficulty level and the amount of practice I seek from them.

Fortunately my father Ustad Abdur Rahman was himself a renowned flutist. Many of the old playbacks we hear now-a-days were composed by him.

So, I was lucky that way.

But I have faced real hardship financially. It’s not possible to support a family only by practicing classical music. I often play in events where the organisers can’t even offer me a stick of rajanigandha flowers due to lack of funds.

Any suggestions for upcoming young flutists?

As a prominent flutist, you perform almost every day. How do you make time for your own practice?

It saddens me when I see the thousands of people spending thousands of taka to attend an Indian artist’s

Flute is a charming and magical instrument, but it has to be played from the heart. He or she has to love the instrument, and they must play it for their own pleasure. One can do well in anything, if it’s done with love and dedication.

Do you think the flute and classical music are treated with due respect in our country?

performance, whereas sometimes we don’t even find 50 audience at our shows.

People think anything from abroad is better than us. They don’t even try us.

Sponsors are also not eager to provide funds for classical music. According to them, it is commercially unprofitable.

What do you have planned for your next album?

About my first three albums, I would like to thank Tonatuni Productions.

In this world of commercialism, they came forward to sponsor us, which helps not only to me, but to the entire classical music industry.

For a long time, I’ve been planning to work on Lalongeeti. Hopefully, it will be reflected in my next album. l

KAUSHIKI CHAKRABARTY: Connecting on a deeper level n Rumana Habib Kolkata-based vocalist Kaushiki Chakrabarty captivated an audience of 55,000 on Sunday night at the Bengal Classical Music Festival.

The lifelong musician is the daughter of vocalist Pundit Ajoy Chakrabarty, who also performed on the first day of the festival. But with her honeyed voice, angelic face and incredible stage presence, she is a celebrity in her own right.

She sat down with the Dhaka Tribune for an interview the morning after her triumphant performance.

You have performed many different styles of music in your career.

Yes, I started with only raag sangeet, which I was trained in as a child. But over the years I’ve done collaborations, playbacks in different languages, and mainstream contemporary music also.

These broaden my mindset. Beyond the music itself, the process that musicians goes through is very interesting to me. I think knowing what’s going on in the mind of the musician during a song helps people connect to it on a deeper level.

Music is who I am. Music cannot lie. It is the most genuine expression of myself, so having access to different styles gives me a path to different aspects of myself: some bring out the brightness in me, some bring out my mellowness.

Very good, apart from the fact that I was a little rushed.

Just before I went on they came told me we were short on time. It’s better idea to tell a musician after they’re on stage, maybe after the first piece. Because that’s the time when you want to get into the mood of the music. So it not great to mention a time factor then, because you’re not in a very practical place.

How do you feel about singing in Bangla? You’ve recorded Rabindrasangeet.

I love poetry, and I love writing and literature. No one on earth who loves literature wouldn’t love Rabindranath Tagore. Studying him has been a part of my life, introduced to me by my mother. I sing it for myself more than anything else.

Rabindrasangeet teaches you to tell a story, give a message through the song. As a singer you can get carried away by the melody. But when you sing Rabindrasangeet, a part of your mind must always be soaked in the lyrics, or you can’t sing it. There is such deep thought and philosophy being conveyed.

You sang ‘Golap Sari’ at the festival, which was a huge hit with the crowd.

Did you plan that when you decided to wear a pink sari?

Right before getting on stage seems to be a sacred time for musicians.

Not at all. I just love having fun. That’s who I am. I don’t think playing classical music forces you to become someone else. Music is the truest me that I am. So when singing, I have to be myself.

You were very playful with the audience, and they really responded to that.

I love to interact with the audience.

My gestures and everything I do is the

expression of what is going on in my mind. That is precisely why an audience comes to a live performance: for the entire experience. Otherwise they would just put on a CD. As a musician, I have a responsibility to make them a part of the entire process. I try to bring them as close as possible to the process I am going through while creating music.

How was your own experience on stage?

It is a very lonely time.

That’s when the journey within starts. Any creative art is done in a lonely space. We create a pseudo-space on stage, a pseudo-reality.

The really lonely space is when we practice, when we do our riyaz.

That’s where the actual journey happens, and that’s what we try to go back to. That space of emptiness and loneliness is what the music stems out of.

Regarding that loneliness, does it help coming from a family of musicians?

It helps because the environment you get is one of music, and I have been fortunate to learn from my father. He

is always constant monitoring me, rectifying mistakes at once. I went on stage with father, and experienced being on a dais from a young age. These help.

But my father did not come from a musical family, and for him, that is what made him a musician. It’s something that comes from within.

You’ve performed in the Bengal festival all three years. How did you feel about Sunday night’s massive crowd?

It was the largest audience I’ve ever performed to. When I was told it was that big, I was shocked.

I think the best compliment to an audience is when a 55,000-person group feels very cozy. People who were so much with me, and trying to connect to the process. Blessed are those days when you can actually connect.

It’s no easy task to connect to 55,000 different hearts thinking different things. But it makes it so easy and spontaneous and free-flowing when everyone is reciprocating the vibes that you want to give them. That makes it something very special. l

F O U R T H D AY ’ S P E R F O R M A N C E S Exhibition

Life is Here

By Kanak Chanpa Chakma Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Art Lounge 16th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh Time 11am – 8pm National Art Gallery

Indian flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia’s mood livened up when the maestro broke into an enthusiastic performance of Ahir Bhairav with a large audience. Chaurasia gave an amazing display of his skill, making each one of the audience appreciate the joy that music can elicit. The duet of Pandit Tejendra Narayan Majumdar’s sarod and Ganesh Rajagopalan’s violin also captivated the audience KHAN HASAN MD RAFI

Chhuye Dile Mon’s album released

Theatre

Bhongobongo

by Aranyak, Shilpakala Time 6:30pm – 8pm Experiemnetal Theatre Hall Shilpakala Academy Shegun Bagicha

Two Bangladeshi films selected for Bengaluru Film Fest n Entertainment Desk Two Bangladeshi films, Akash Koto Durey (The Distant Sky) and Nodijon (The River of Colours), will be screened at the Bengaluru International Film Festival, which will be held from December 4 to 11 in Bengaluru, India.

Both films are produced by Impress Telefilms Ltd. Akash Koto Durey directed by Samia Zaman was released on February 14 while Shahnewaz Kakoli’s Nadijon is not released yet.

Kazi Shahriar Parvez, the executive producer of Impress Telefilms’ Cinema Division, told the Dhaka Tribune that Zulfiqar Russel, the story and screenplay writer of Akash Koto Durey and Shahnewaz Kakoli, director of Nodijon would attend the festival. With the post-production work going on, Nodijon is all set to hit the cinemas soon. l

n Entertainment Desk Audio album of the film “Chhuye Dile Mon” was released on Friday in the capital. The colourful event was attended by the stars of the movie Arefin Shuvo and Zakia Bari Momo, who also performed with a song from the movie. The cast and crew of the film then uncovered the audio CD. The album is packed with six songs penned by Marzuk Russel, Saju Khadem, Shahan Kobondha, Sirajum Monir and Someswar Ali. Except one song, “Bhalobasha Dao, Bhalobasha Nao”, which is composed by Habib Wahid, all other songs are tuned by Sajid Sarkar.

The title song “Chhuye Dile Mon” is sung by Tahsan and Shakila while Habib has lent his voice for “Chhuye Dilam”. “Shunno Theke Ashe Prem” is sung by Kona and Imran, “Chini Na” is performed by Shaon and “Chole Jaoa” is sung by Shaon and Shakila. “Chuye Dile Mon” is a directorial debut of Shihab Shaheen and produced by Asiatic Dhonichitra and Monforing. l

Shilpakala Academy Shegun Bagicha

A scene from Akash Koto Durey (The Distant Sky)

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Cabinet-approved NGO draft law comes under fire The law, if enacted, will authorise the bureau to punish NGOs for irregularities ernment control over the issues groups. n Tribune Report Groups receiving or planning to reThe draft of a new law regulating non-government organisations (NGOs) operating in the country was approved by the cabinet yesterday authorising the NGO Affairs Bureau to cancel licence for irregularities and corruption.

The draft law styled “The Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act, 2014” gives ministries the authority to require revision of NGO projects or to order them cancelled.

It requires approval before anyone involved in voluntary activities travels abroad for project work. That is a potential violation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

‘These are the kind of restrictions one usually associates with authoritarian states, not a democracy like Bangladesh’ The draft law was approved by the cabinet at a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

But the draft has met with criticism from international watchdog Human Rights Watch, which describes it as restrictive and prone to abuse.

“These are the kind of restrictions one usually associates with a one-party or authoritarian state, not a democracy like Bangladesh,” said HRW Deputy Director Robertson.

There have been reports that 15 NGOs, including Transparency International Bangladesh, opposed the proposals in the law when the draft was earlier circulated for their opinions.

According to the proposed law, NGOs receiving foreign funding must register with the NGO Affairs Bureau (NGOAB) in the Prime Minister’s Office and subject their operations and funding to increased scrutiny and control.

HRW called on foreign donors to publicly express misgivings about the proposed legislation.

“Corruption is flourishing in the government and the private sector, so it is more than odd that the government is spending its time passing tough laws that target NGOs,” Robertson said.

The provision requiring approval for foreign funding will effectively allow gov-

ceive foreign funding must register with the NGOAB, submit to inspections and monthly coordination meetings with its representatives, and seek approval for all planned activities before receiving the grant, according to the draft law.

In addition, the bill proposes tough sanctions for non-compliance by both organisations and individuals, including fines and disciplinary action.

If there is disagreement over any order, the NGO or individuals involved would be able to file appeal with the PMO. However, the draft states that its ruling would be final, denying recourse to an independent judicial process.

Cabinet Secretary Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said NGO’s would have to get approval from NGOAB before adopting and implementing projects.

NGOs will need the consent of the Home Ministry to appoint foreign consultants, the cabinet secretary said, adding that the NGO Affairs Bureau would scrutinise such proposals.

“The consent of the Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Ministry will be required if an NGO wants to run a programme in the region. There will be regular vigilance by the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regional Council of the programmes,” he said.

The draft law says NGOs must maintain a separate bank account to deal the foreign aid, and that account would be subject to scrutiny and audits by NGOAB. NGOs must submit statements of their accounts to NGOAB, which will have the power to inspect, monitor and evaluate the activities of NGOs. Annual statements must be submitted by every NGO to the NGO Affairs Bureau director general, the draft law says.

“The staff and officials of an NGO will face criminal cases if the organisation is involved in terrorism financing and trafficking of women and children,” he said.

The cabinet secretary said NGOs were currently operating under two ordinances, passed in 1978 and 1982.

The Foreign Donations Voluntary Activities Regulation Ordinance, 1978 and The Foreign Contributions Regulation Ordinance, 1982 were promulgated during the military interregnums.

The government says it is drafting the new law for the sector after the Supreme Court declared ordinances and decrees issued during the interregnums unlawful. l

Vidushi Kishori Amankar performs at the Army Stadium in the capital on the last day of the Bengal Classical Music Festival yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Bengal Classical Music Festival takes a bow n Rumana Habib Concluding at dawn today, the Bengal Classical Music Festival brought together 160 artistes over the course of the five-day music and dance extravaganza at the Army Stadium.

The third annual event was bigger than last year in every way: more days, longer hours, more headliner artistes, and a crowd to match.

Sponsored by the Bengal Foundation and Square, among others, it was a completely free event, though audiences had to register in advance – which they certainly did.

“It is by far the biggest audience I have played for,” said santoor Pandit Shivkumar Sharma. “This is a historic thing happening here.”

“I travelled from Bogra just to attend the festival,” said Md Zakaria Sheikh Justice, who returned every night. “I got off the bus and came straight to the venue.”

More than 55,000 people attended the fourth evening. There were traffic jams around the venue and hour-long queues to enter, even as late as 2am.

It was the audience size that astounded the musicians, many of whom have been selling out concert halls around the world for decades. Organisers attributed the surge in crowd size to flute player Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, who performed that evening to a packed stadium from around 4am.

“I have been performing on stage for 60 years, but have not experienced such grand arrangements,” Chaurasia said. “More interesting is the enthusiasm of the audience

here, who spend the whole evening and stay up all night to listen to music.

“I have not seen such music lovers in the whole world,” he added.

Chaurasia was also a big draw last year and the year before. In 2013, the night he played was the most well-attended, at 35,000. This year’s attendance topped that number almost daily.

Set to close the festival was sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, playing for the first time at the annual event.

“I would like to congratulate Bengal for creating awareness about music. This is the first time I am playing for the local people. Other performances here were all official,” Amjad said. He expressed interest in returning next year and playing together with his sons Ayaan Ali Khan and Amaan Ali Khan, who

had performed the night before.

The brothers were among many performers from the same family on this year’s programme, which they greatly appreciated.

Others were: father and son Rahul and Shivkumar Sharma, father and daughter Ajoy and Kaushiki Chakrabarty, and brothers Ajan and Sajan Misra, and Umakant and Ramakant Gundecha.

They enjoyed meeting so many fellow performers. “I don’t think I’ve ever been under the same roof with so many members of the fraternity,” said Amaan.

Shivkumar Sharma said the festival was “an answer to people who ask: What is the future of Indian classical music?”

“There are those who think classical music may be lost,” he said. “But when I come and play here, I don’t feel like that at all.” l

Bangladesh 6th on Women Resilience Index n Tribune Report

Bangladesh was positioned sixth among the seven South Asian countries in the Women’s Resilience Index (WRI) on preparing for and recovering from disasters, said a report by the intelligence unit of UK-based weekly newspaper The Economist.

According to the report, prepared in collaboration with ActionAid, Bhutan and Sri Lanka was positioned first and second, respectively, in the overall ranking in the Women’s Resilience Index while Nepal, India, Maldives and Pakistan obtained the third, fourth, fifth and seventh positions, respectively.

Despite the country’s good reputation in facing disasters, Bangladeshi women are far behind in this regard, which happened due to lack of proper implementation of the disaster response policy, said Farah Kabir, ActionAid’s country director in Bangladesh.

While presenting the report at the Dhaka Reporters’ Unity hall in the capital yesterday evening, she said Bangla-

desh has to increase the expenditure to prepare for and recover from disasters to decrease the vulnerability of women in this regard.

The Women’s Resilience Index assesses a country’s capacity for disaster risk reduction and recovery, and the extent to which the needs of women are being considered in national resilience building efforts.

Bangladesh achieved an overall score of 40 out of 100, while Bhutan scored 46.4 and Pakistan scored 27.8.

The scores were determined by 68 different indexes under four categories – economic, institutional, infrastructure and social.

The study had Japan as benchmark regarding the disaster preparedness and recovery while preparing the index for the South Asian countries, as Japan faces similar types of, and frequent, disasters. Japan’s overall score is 80.6 in the index.

In case of the individual categories, Bangladesh was placed third in the economic category, with a score of

48.6, while India and Maldives ranked first (55.9) and seventh (18.2), respectively.

Maldives scored the highest, 59.6, in the infrastructure category, while Bangladesh scored the lowest – 22.3.

In the institutional category, Bangladesh was positioned third with an overall score of 45.4, while Bhutan and Sri Lanka was first (49.7) and seventh (29.4), respectively.

In the social category, Bangladesh was fifth with 43.8, with Bhutan in the first place (55.6) and Pakistan in the last (21.6).

The report suggested that the economic empowerment of women in the community can make all the difference for their experience in disaster risk reduction.

It also said women in Bangladesh do not play vital leadership roles in disaster resilience, and even though they represent the majority of micro-finance borrowers – 90% – their access to credit at both formal and informal institutions remains limited.

Bangladesh is considered one of the most vulnerable countries to natural disasters such as cyclone, flood and storm surge. The frequency of such natural hazards increased in recent years as a result of climate change.

According to the WRI report, Bangladesh’s economic damage is more than $10b, and 15,719 people lost their lives between 1995 and 2014, due to natural disasters.

Farah Kabir suggested that the government should make the local governments stronger so that they can respond intensively during disasters, and make women empowered by providing training and other support.

The role of local government institutions should be inclusive in this regard as they are located nearest to common people, she said.

She also said the disaster issue should be included in the government’s different economic plans so that both men and women can bring themselves out of the vulnerabilities. l

‘Change in mindset required for addressing disability’ n Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique Meet Khondokar Jahurul Alam, a man who was diagnosed with polio when he was three, only to become a key figure in the field of disability rights.

Alam, Executive Director of the Centre for Services and Information on Disability (CSID), an NGO, argues that addressing the issue of disability requires a change in thinking.

He is also the county representative of International Council for the Education of Visually Impaired Persons, and the former president of Asia Pacific Disability Forum.

He played a crucial role in formulating the 1995 policy, 2001 law, and the latest law adopted in 2007, for the disabled.

“Many have the deep-seated belief that the disabled have no potential.

Even I had this belief as my parents got very frustrated when I contracted polio at the age of three. They were concerned about my future,” he says.

“After passing the SSC examination, I did nothing for seven years, and later appeared in the HSC test. I then tried to do something and I was lucky as I met Dr RJ Garst, who founded the Rehabilitation Institute and Hospital for the Disabled (now National Institute of Traumatology and Rehabilitation) through makeshift rehabilitation camps for the disabled and wounded freedom fighters after the 1971 Liberation War,” recalls Alam.

He says Garst sent him to a vocational training centre for the blind, where he had to supervise the task of making

chalk pencils. “That was the beginning.

It was a time when government officials used to make Tk450-500 a month but I was receiving as much as Tk8,000, which gave me enormous confidence that I can do something despite my disability. I was later promoted to coordinator, and got a pay rise as well.”

According to Alam, the experience of a London tour of his elder brother was a real eye-opener for him. “My brother, having returned from London, told me the disabled in London took part in many activities, and the society did not think there was anything wrong with being disabled.”

My brother inspired me by saying that I could do a lot despite having polio, adds Alam.

Alam, who says Garst changed his life, graduated from Tejgaon College in 1983 and enrolled in a course at London School of Business. There he observed how the disabled were treated by others. He later obtained a Master’s degree

from Jagannath University.

“In 1991, organisations working for the disabled decided to form a forum, and I became the first president which changed my life again. I also became the chairman of an organisation for the disabled in the Asia Pacific region, which was my first international role.

I got the opportunity to see the global scenario of the disabled. However, I had to choose between whether to do the job for making money or to lead the organisation. I chose the later,” he says.

Alam claims the government has downplayed the number of the disabled by putting it at about 2% of the total population.

“This is unrealistic. Some international organisations say it will be about 15%,” he says.

Alam’s organisation has so far provided support for many disabled people. Besides conducting researches, the organisation trained 21,000 disabled people and helped them secure jobs.

Addressing disability requires changes in social mindset as well as approach in dealing with the disabled, reiterates Alam, adding that the conception of disability beggars description in Bangladesh.

“Many people in the society still believe that having a disabled child is disgraceful. They also prefer not to disclose to others that they have disabled children, which makes it difficult to get the accurate statistics about disabled people,” he says.

According to Alam, people with disabilities in the society lead a really unattended life, but they need care and love. l

Son of artist Qayyum Chowdhury holds the hand to condole artist Monirul Islam, who got emotional as he came to pay his last respects to the late colleague at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Final tribute paid to Qayyum Chowdhury n Tribune Report Artist Qayyum Chowdhury was laid to rest at the family graveyard at Azimpur in the capital yesterday.

The body of the veteran artist was taken to the Central Shaheed Minar around noon. People from all walks of life – his colleagues and students, cultural activists, friends and family members and general people – paid their last respects to the noted artist at the Shaheed Minar.

Earlier in the morning, his body was

taken to the Institute of Fine Arts of Dhaka University where he taught almost his entire professional life.

His namaz-e-janaza was held at the Dhaka University central mosque in the afternoon.

Artist Qayyum Chowdhury died at the Combined Military Hospital in the capital on Sunday night. He had fallen ill at the time of addressing the Bengal Classical Music Festival at the Army Stadium around 8:40pm.

Qayyum Chowdhury was born on March 9, 1934 in Feni.

After passing Matriculation from Mymensingh City Collegiate School, he studied at the Dhaka Art Institute. His teachers Zainul Abedin, Quamrul Hassan and Saifuddin Ahmed had a great influence on him.

He joined the institute as a teacher in 1957 but left in 1960. He rejoined the art institute – then renamed as Government Art College of Dhaka – in 1965 as a lecturer in the commercial art department.

He retired from the Institute of Fine Arts (later renamed) in 1994. But, he continued teaching there until 2002. l

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B3 Oil prices hit multi-year lows as OPEC decision weighs

B4 Asia factories find

demand lacking, in further blow to commodities

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Tofail brushes aside fear over becoming mid income country n Tribune Report Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed yesterday criticised the skepticism over the country’s becoming a middle income country by 2021 as he expressed confidence by saying Bangladesh will definitely achieve the target as envisaged by the government.

“I can say (in the name of Almighty Allah), definitely the country will be a middle income one within 2021,” he told a meeting in Dhaka. “Because all the economic indicators moving in positive direction.”

He made the remarks three days after a local think tank expressed frustration in an analysis on a recent Least Developed Countries Report 2014 of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

On Thursday last, Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD) said Bangladesh would have to wait 10 more years to graduate from the league of least developed countries, as the country still lags behind economic vulnerability and human assets index despite faring well in some socio-economic indicators.

When this government took over power in 2009, the minister said, the

country’s exports were $14bn, but it doubled in last five years while foreign exchange reserve escalating four times.

He was speaking at a symposium on “Look East: Asia’s Economic Integration and Bangladesh Perspective” at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

Quoting reports of some international organisations, including the World Bank, Tofail said there are many positive reports on Bangladesh economy. “But a research organisation of Bangladesh thinks it will take 10 years to achieve the goals.”

He continued: “We are talking against ourselves. It’s unfortunate.”

About the millennium development goals (MDGs), Tofail said Bangladesh has already met several targets of the MDGs like reducing poverty gap, attaining gender parity and per capita income threshold.

“Some areas like economic resilience and human resource development will be attained within the time frame,” he said.

About the apprehension over losing benefits as an LDC, he said: “We’ll go for FTA (free trade agreement) like other countries doing now.” l

BTRC warns internet gateway operator of paying dues n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission has issued a final show-cause notice to the first private International, Mango Teleservices Limited, for its non-payment of due revenues to the commission.

In the notification issued on November 27, the regulator said it would suspend Mango’s operation if the latter fails to pay all dues amounting to Tk8.26 crore within a week according to International Internet Gateway (IIG) guidelines.

Asked about it, Mango Teleservices Managing Director Mir Masud Kabir told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday over phone: “We are yet to get any final show-cause notice from the regulator regarding the revenue-sharing, and even for the first time, I learned about such type of notice from you.”

Masud, however, acknowledged that they have a huge amount of money due to pay to the regulator.

IIGs serve as a gateway for routing international incoming and outgoing internet-based data traffic while all internet service providers are connected to global internet through them.

The internet gateway operator sources said as they fail to collect their bills from Wimax licence holders of the regulator, thus being unable to deposit the regulator’s portion.

BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose recently told journalists they would get tough with Mango for realising the outstanding bills.

Over the last couple of years, Mango is not sharing its revenues with the commission according to the IIG guidelines though the telecom watchdog frequently served notices to the internet gateway operator.

The telecom regulator served at least four notices to the operator and fixed November 20 as the last date for paying all dues, but the operator also turned non-compliant.

“All these activities are against the licence condition and the guidelines and also a violation of the telecom act 2001,” reads the notice sent from the Engineering and Operation Division of BTRC. A senior official in the regulatory commission said they are preparing to cancell Mango’s licence according to section 46 of the telecom act and will write the government about it.

According to the guidelines, IIGs need to share 10% of its total revenues.

The telecom watchdog has so far awarded 37 gateway licences and around 22 are in operation, regulator sources said.

According to sources in the market, the licence holders are hardly following due operational procedure, and even some of them are not sharing their revenues with the telecom regulator. l

A file photo shows women working with machine to produce textile yarn at a factory. Bangladeshi workers are often recognised for performing manual production at lower cost than automated production SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Japan envoy: Cheaper manual production than automated cost drags Japanese to Bangladesh n Tribune Report Japanese ambassador to Bangladesh Shiro Sadoshima yesterday said attention of a larger number of Japanese businessmen towards Bangladesh is growing due to its low-labour cost.

“This year enquirers from Japan about Bangladesh have almost doubled and the number of missions has drastically increased here. So now attention is rising,” he said.

The ambassador was speaking at the inaugural session of a symposium on “Look East: Asia’s Economic Integration and Bangladesh Perspective” arranged

by Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the city.

He said in the radar of Japanese businessmen, Myanmar occupied the best position and so does Bangladesh.

“My colleagues asked me repeatedly why not Bangladesh. Eventually, they have started to think seriously over entering into the country.”

He said: “My point is that generally

I don’t like foreign direct investment, which is an abstract term.

“More clear vision and more specific common ambition are needed to boost trade and investment,” he added.

Recalling his experience on visiting Karnaphuli EPZ, Shiro Sadoshima said a Japanese company is producing blending machine there.

“The factory is producing products with the help of both automated machine and manual system but what was most surprising to me was that manual production line is producing products with half cost compared with the automated production line.”

“So combined forces between Japan and Bangladesh can do more and there is a lot of room for us to cultivate,” the envoy said, adding that Japan is ready to help develop human resources for increasing productivity.

“This country can be a stepping stone for Japanese businessmen and looking east orientation is required,” he said.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said Bangladesh export to Japan is

increasing as the country gave us duty-free and quota-free access except two items only.

“Hopefully it will help increase trade and investment further in days to come.” Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal said looking east is not a myth but a reality now.

“This is the time to move forward as the economic transformation is taking place in the world. Bangladesh will have to get ready for that.”

FBCCI President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed invited Japanese businessmen to joint venture in areas like light engineering, leather and home textile other than apparel sector.

He put importance on interaction between the two countries’ entrepreneurs on regular basis for finding out investment strategy here.

JETRO country representative Kei Kawano said Bangladesh is geographically situated in the best strategic location between east and west.

“So, Bangladesh can play a great role to boost trade and commerce be-

tween the two nations.”

In his keynote paper presented in the second session, chief economist of Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia Professor Fukunari Kimura said some east-Asian developing countries have been successful in attaining middle-income levels.

Highlighting economic development in some East-Asian countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, China, Indonesia and the Philippines, he said East Asia lies in the formation of its industrial agglomerations. “Production networks in the region have reached a new stage of development.”

He said changes in the nature of the North South division of labour also affect developed countries’ attitudes toward globalising corporate activities. Moving labour intensive activities to LDCs does not necessarily mean the loss of domestic employment, added the economist.

“Production networks has changed the nature of the North-South division of labour. East Asia is about to present a new model for the world.” l

Tax returns response poorer than last year

n Tribune Report

While there are around 1.7m TIN holders across the country, only 845,000 have submitted their tax returns this fiscal year.

The number is even less than that of last year which was 1.3m.

Although the National Board of Revenue had extended deadline for two months separately till November 30, the response remained lacklustre.

The possibility is therefore now bleak to reach revenue collection target this fiscal.

The NBR has set collection target at Tk1,49,720 crore for FY2014-15.

“We hoped the total number of (income tax return) submissions will reach 1.3m,” said a tax official yesterday.

A number of 195,000 taxpayers have applied to deputy tax commissioners for more time to submit tax returns.

NBR official said they will be given

the chance. According to the latest data of revenue board, the taxes received so far from 800,000 individuals amount to Tk1,390 crore.

In the same period last year the collection was, however, Tk1,288 crore.

A high revenue official said the total number of taxpayers who have submitted income tax returns this year could rise after receiving more detailed data from across the country.

“The data will be available in a day

Topaz workers demand factory reopening n Tribune Report

The workers of closed-down Topaz Dresses Limited yesterday staged demonstration in front of BGMEA complex in the capital, protesting the factory closure and demanding its reopening.

Around 300 workers have become unemployed due to the closure on Sunday all on a sudden in accordance with article 13(1) of the Labour Act, 2006.

According to the Labour Act, 2006, employers may, in the event of an illegal strike by any section or department of any establishment, close down either wholly or partly such section or department and the striking workers shall not be paid any wages for such a closure.

The workers alleged that the factory owner was sacking the workers without paying their due

salaries in due time as per labour law, and not paying maternity allowance, which led them to go for work abstention.

However, the factory management said the workers went for work abstention and demonstration illegally even without placing their demands before the management as there is a registered trade union in the factory.

As the company has recently appointed production engineers from Srilanka to increase production, the workers are not willing to accept the appointment, alleged the management of the factory.

“The owners were forced to shut the factory as the workers illegally staged work abstention breaching the labor law during the last three days,” BGMEA Vice President Reaz Bin Mahmood told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“We went on work abstention

on Sunday as the factory owner had transferred one of our colleagues with a threat to sack him,” said Mamun, an operator of the factory.

As the factory owner is going to start a 35-line factory in Gazipur and for shifting purpose, he is playing a tricky game with the workers. As a part of his deception, he shut the factory in line with article 13(1) of the Labour Act, 2006 just to escape workers payment, he added.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), however, said they would sit with the workers and the owner tomorrow to settle the issue, said Shahidul Islam, a line chief, who met the BGMEA leaders as a team leader to negotiate.

Besides, the workers of Common Thread, a sister concern of Rich Harvest Group, also staged sit-in in front of the National

Press Club demanding their fourmonth dues.

They staged the sit-in programme under the banner of Jago Bangladesh Garment Workers Federation at 11am, which continued till 3pm, according to an witness account.

In the name of two days leave on the occasion of Shab-e-Barat in June, the management of the factory shut the factory and did not re-open it, despite several pledges to open it. As soon as the workers went to join office after the two days leave, they found a factory closure notice on the ground of lack of work orders.

“We did not join elsewhere as the factory authorities have been assuring us of reopening it and that is why we are demanding wages for the last four months,” said Rina Begum, an operator of Common Thread. l

or two as the field offices will send updated data soon,” he told Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Officials said that the revenue board would take action against the people who did not submit their returns despite having taxpayer’s identification number.

According to the Income Tax Ordinance-1984, tax officials can impose a penalty of Tk1,000 at a time and Tk50 for each day delay for non-submission of returns. l

DSE sees fall in net foreign investment n Tribune Report Net foreign investment in Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) declined by nearly 7% to Tk183 crore in November compared to that in previous month.

According to DSE data, the country’s premier bourse witnessed foreign investment of Tk183 crore in November, which was Tk196 crore in October.

As per the statistics, in November, foreign investors have bought more share than that in October.

Data showed foreign investors in November bought shares of Tk348.37 crore, which was Tk302.88 crore in October.

Meanwhile, the selling trend was also higher in November in comparison with October.

In November, foreign investors sold shares of Tk165.45 crore against Tk107 crore in October. l

B2

Stocks register sharp rise as heavyweights gain n Tribune Report

with cement surging 2.8%, power 2.7%, non-banking financial institutions 1.3% and pharmaceuticals 1% respectively.

Food and allied was marginally down on profit booking.

Out of 299 issues traded, 253 advanced, 34 lost and 12 remained unchanged.

LankaBangla Securities said the investors started to feel the market to be at an oversold territory.

“The largest capitalised Grameenphone led the broad market rally. Moreover, banking sector was 2.2% up, which made investors bullish about the market. The day went green, backed by buying spree on large capitalised stocks.”

IDLC Investments said with lucrative prices and expectation on the year-end disclosures, the first session of December was upbeat.

“Since DSEX lost 403.8 points during November, price level of most of the fundamentally sound scrips came to hand, luring general investors as well as some institutional investors, putting an upward pressure on overall market sentiment.”

AB Bank was the most liquid stock with turnover of Tk15.6 crore, followed by Grameenphone which made Tk13.5 crore worth of turnover. l

Stocks rose sharply yesterday riding on large cap shares after remaining dull throughout last week.

The market was on a happy note in early trading that continued till the closing.

The benchmark DSEX jumped 99 points or 2% to close at 4,868, after losses over the last couple of sessions.

The Shariah index DSES rose 25 points or over 2% to 1,132. The comprising blue chips DS30 ended at 1,799, soaring 39 points or 2%.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, closed at 9,160 with a rally of over 324 points.

Trading activities also improved as turnover at the Dhaka Stock Exchange stood at Tk341 crore, which was 47% higher over the previous session.

Steep rally in two large cap sectors—telecommunication and banks that rallied 6% and 2% respectively – put such positive movement of the overall market.

Notably, all the bank scrips settled in positive territory after remaining unimpressive for long time, gaining while the sector captured the highest turnover.

All other sectors also advanced

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSER Company

Closing (% Change)

Northern Jute -Z Standard Ceramic -A ICB AMCL 1st NRB -A Shahjibazar Power-N Monno Stafllers -A Sonali Ansh -A Sonargaon Tex -Z Aftab Auto.-A Keya Cosmetics -A Khan Brothers-N

-7.34 -6.73 -6.49 -4.29 -3.90 -3.62 -3.06 -2.96 -2.46 -2.35

CSE LOSER Company

Closing (% Change)

Provati Insur.-A Shinepukur Cera-Z AMCL 2nd MF-A GSP Finance-A Aftab Auto.-A Saiham Tex.A ACI ZERO Bond-A Keya Cosmetics -A Hakkani P& Paper -B Khan Brothers-N

-8.26 -4.26 -4.08 -3.80 -2.96 -2.91 -2.87 -2.80 -2.78 -2.77

4868.64575

(+) 2.08%

1799.27878

(+) 2.23%

14986.42120

(+) 2.21%

12305.35100

(+) 1.68%

9159.94530

(+) 2.24%

Average (% Change) -7.34 -6.73 -6.49 -6.31 -3.97 -5.42 -2.24 -2.17 -4.34 -3.25 Average (% Change) -4.91 -1.00 -4.08 -3.82 -2.11 -1.51 -2.59 -3.30 -3.68 -3.70

ANALYST

ClosingAvg. 265.00 40.20 21.60 214.83 297.86 134.37 9.58 72.55 27.97 46.41

ClosingAvg. 20.74 13.90 4.70 30.24 72.43 26.66 1,015.00 28.09 28.00 46.05

Closing

Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

DSE Million Taka 581.89 249.99 43.77 391.89 120.96 545.20 10.55 194.83 455.09 16.69 142.73 16.55 27.53 130.31 90.01 30.84 56.08 142.14 28.80 138.23 1.26

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

DHIGH

265.00 40.20 21.60 212.00 295.90 135.80 9.50 72.20 27.80 45.80

Closing 20.00 13.50 4.70 30.40 72.10 26.70 1,015.00 27.80 28.00 45.70

265.00 40.20 22.00 227.50 311.50 144.00 9.90 77.00 29.00 48.40

Company

Turnover (Million Taka)

3,415.34

Turnover (Volume)

85,298,535

Number of Contract

77,876

Traded Issues

300

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

244

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

54 2

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,594.42

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

31.45

CSE key features December 1, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

271.40

Turnover (Volume)

7,903,420

Number of Contract

10,569

Traded Issues

213

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

169

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

41

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

2

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,492.59

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.21

Turnover in Million

265.00 40.20 21.50 208.00 294.00 127.10 9.20 67.00 27.40 45.20

0.053 0.020 0.054 14.995 0.834 10.501 0.246 26.648 99.694 58.195

Turnover in Million

DHIGH

DLOW

21.30 14.10 4.70 31.00 73.70 26.70 1,030.00 28.80 28.00 48.10

19.90 13.00 4.70 28.50 72.00 26.60 1,000.00 27.60 28.00 44.90

% change 17.04 7.32 1.28 11.47 3.54 15.96 0.31 5.70 13.32 4.18 0.48 0.81 3.82 2.64 0.90 1.64 4.16 0.84 4.05 0.04

Million Taka 44.23 15.11 3.16 40.16 7.05 28.27 34.20 26.46 5.40 12.93 4.87 4.51 13.37 3.14 1.44 2.14 13.67 4.43 19.54 0.00

CSE

% change 15.57 5.32 1.11 14.13 2.48 9.95 0.00 12.04 9.32 1.90 4.55 1.71 1.59 4.71 1.10 0.51 0.75 4.81 1.56 6.88 0.00

Latest EPS 1.00 0.60 3.24 9.00 1.17 0.76 -0.84 4.01 1.93 1.36

Latest EPS

0.270 0.103 0.014 0.680 4.161 0.019 0.002 5.266 0.028 11.352

Million Taka 626.12 265.10 46.93 432.04 128.01 573.48 10.55 229.02 481.55 22.10 155.66 21.42 32.04 143.68 93.15 32.28 58.22 155.81 33.23 157.77 1.27

Alltex Industries -Z Beximco Syn.-Z Khulna Power-A MJL BD Ltd.-A Grameenphone-A Midas Financing-Z R. N. Spinning-Z Aziz PipesZ LankaBangla Fin. -A Standard Bank -A

Closing (% Change) 8.46 7.96 7.34 6.60 6.21 5.84 5.71 5.59 4.93 4.92

CSE GAINER

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

DLOW

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

DSE GAINER

DSE key features December 1, 2014

1.97 0.39 0.72 1.59 4.01 2.96 0.00 1.93 0.64 1.36

Latest PE 265.0 67.0 6.7 23.9 254.6 176.8 -ve 18.1 14.5 34.1

Company

Closing (% Change)

BDCOM Online-A Alltex Industries -Z Sonargaon Tex -Z Beximco Syn.-Z S.B. 1st M. F.-A Eastern InsurA Trust Bank-A R. N. Spinning-Z Aziz PipesZ Islamic Finance-A

8.76 8.46 8.33 7.96 7.25 6.92 6.67 6.41 5.68 5.68

Average (% Change) 8.81 7.67 8.92 7.37 6.51 6.92 6.02 4.00 7.33 3.72

ClosingAvg. 21.43 12.09 57.43 123.50 331.49 16.40 29.21 18.75 43.92 12.62

ClosingAvg. 23.60 21.63 10.38 12.09 7.36 34.00 19.01 29.39 18.60 18.39

Closing 21.80 12.20 58.50 125.90 338.50 16.30 29.60 18.90 44.70 12.80

Closing 23.60 21.80 10.40 12.20 7.40 34.00 19.20 29.90 18.60 18.60

DHIGH 22.00 12.30 58.80 126.80 343.00 16.90 29.90 19.50 45.00 12.90

DHIGH 23.80 22.00 10.40 12.30 7.50 34.00 19.70 30.40 19.30 18.70

DLOW 20.60 11.70 52.00 106.30 319.00 15.50 26.00 18.10 42.00 11.00

DLOW 23.50 21.00 10.30 11.40 7.20 34.00 18.30 28.80 17.60 18.10

Turnover in Million 11.185 1.378 58.888 62.989 134.824 0.992 22.737 0.617 29.366 14.447

Turnover in Million 0.035 1.644 0.026 0.191 0.018 0.027 1.916 13.718 0.038 0.552

Latest EPS 3.28 0.08 6.36 5.11 15.72 -7.00 2.19 -0.37 1.29 1.52

Latest EPS 1.64 3.28 -0.84 0.08 1.36 2.31 2.93 2.19 -0.37 1.21

Latest PE 6.5 151.1 9.0 24.2 21.1 -ve 13.3 -ve 34.0 8.3

Latest PE 14.4 6.6 -ve 151.1 5.4 14.7 6.5 13.4 -ve 15.2

News, analysis and recent disclosures REPUBLIC: BSEC is not in a position to consider the application for issuance of Rights shares of Republic Insurance Company Limited as the Company has failed to comply with the requirement of rule 3(e) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (Rights Issue) Rules, 2006.

WMSHIPYARD: Credit Rating Information and Services Limited (CRISL) has rated the Company as "BBB+" in the long term and "ST-4" in the short term along with a stable outlook based on audited financial statements of the Company up to June 30, 2014, unaudited financials up to September 30, 2014 and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

SAIHAMCOT: (H/Y): As per un-audited half yearly accounts as on 31.10.2014 (May'14 to October'14), the Company has reported net profit after tax of Tk. 113.34 million with EPS of Tk. 0.84 as against Tk. 122.32 million and Tk. 0.90 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

Whereas net profit after tax was Tk. 52.98 million with EPS of Tk. 0.39 for the period of 3 months (August'14 to October'14) ended on 31.10.2014 as against Tk. 64.66 million and Tk. 0.48 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

BENGALWTL: (Q1): As per un-audited

quarterly accounts for the 1st quarter ended on 30th September 2014 (July'14 to Sep'14), the Company has reported consolidated net profit after tax (excluding non-controlling interests) of Tk. 78.61 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 1.04 as against Tk. 78.13 million and Tk. 1.03 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

IPO Subscription: C & A Textiles Limited subscription date 09 to 13 November 2014, NRB upto 22 November 2014. @ taka 10, face value taka 10 and market lot 500. IFAD Autos Limited subscription date 23 to 27 November 2014, NRB upto 06 December 2014. @ taka 30, face value taka 10 and market lot 200.

Right Share: ICB: Subscription period for rights issue will be from 07.12.2014 to 30.12.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 09.09.2014. BIFC: subscription period for rights issue of the Company will be from 09.11.2014 to 30.11.2014. Record Date for entitlement of rights share: 19.10.2014. FIRSTSBANK Subscription period for rights issue will be from 07.12.2014 to 28.12.2014. Record date for entitlement of rights share: 20.11.2014.

Dividend/AGM BATASHOE: 175% interim cash dividend, Record Date for entitlement of interim

dividend: 04.12.2014.

ICB: 45% cash, AGM: 20.12.2014, Record Date: 03.12.2014.

BATBC: 100% interim cash dividend, Record date for entitlement of interim dividend: 03.12.2014.

BENGALWTL: 23% cash, AGM: 28.12.2014, Record Date: 02.12.2014.

MPETROLEUM: 95% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 16.01.2015, Record date: 04.12.2014.

ENVOYTEX: 12% cash and 3% stock dividend, AGM: 24.12.2014, Record date: 02.12.2014.

AFTABAUTO: 17% cash, AGM: 24.12.2014, Record date: 30.11.2014.

JAMUNAOIL: 90% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 07.02.2015, Record date: 11.12.2014.

GEMINISEA: 7.50% cash, AGM: 22.12.2014, Record Date: 08.12.2014.

KBPPWBIL: 10% stock, AGM: 29.12.2014, Record Date: 08.12.2014.

RAHIMAFOOD: No dividend, AGM: 24.12.2014, Record Date: 04.12.2014.

DACCADYE: 10% stock dividend, AGM: 12.12.2014, Record date: 25.11.2014.

ORIONINFU: 15% cash dividend, AGM: 18.12.2014, Record date: 25.11.2014.

KOHINOOR: 25% stock dividend, AGM: 18.12.2014, Record date: 25.11.2014.

LRGLOBMF1: 5% cash dividend, Record date: 25.11.2014. Earnings per unit of Tk. 0.69.

10.5 35.6 6.5 19.0 18.1 9.0 14.6 43.8 33.9

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company

Total

Average (% Change) 6.19 6.24 4.72 4.89 4.67 6.29 3.43 4.57 3.41 3.36

Latest PE

With lucrative prices and expectation on the year-end disclosures, the first session of December was upbeat

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

% change 16.92 7.17 1.27 11.68 3.46 15.50 0.29 6.19 13.02 0.60 4.21 0.58 0.87 3.88 2.52 0.87 1.57 4.21 0.90 4.26 0.03

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

AB Bank - A Grameenphone-A Jamuna Oil -A LafargeS Cement-Z UCBL - A WesternMarine -N Keya Cosmetics -A SummitAlliancePort.-A City Bank - A Beximco Pharma -A

Agni Systems -A MJL BD Ltd.-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Meghna Petroleum -A IDLC Finance -A Alltex Industries -Z CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company WesternMarine -N R. N. Spinning-Z Grameenphone-A LafargeS Cement-Z Khan Brothers-N AB Bank - A SummitAlliancePort.-A UCBL - A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A City Bank - A

Keya Cosmetics -A Jamuna Oil -A Aftab Auto.-A IDLC Finance -A MJL BD Ltd.-A

VolumeShares 4,910,728 406,719 494,963 1,003,000 3,585,601 1,681,200 3,564,770 1,375,919 3,426,624 1,156,793

Value in Million 155.42 134.82 125.73 109.73 106.87 103.64 99.69 98.02 73.48 71.22

% of TotalTurnover 4.55 3.95 3.68 3.21 3.13 3.03 2.92 2.87 2.15 2.09

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

2,285,203 510,044 1,562,941 237,569 823,893 4,845,000

298,700 466,750 35,600 106,000 246,500 286,311 120,635 271,182 167,585 291,400

187,450 17,120 57,442 56,400 32,213

65.06 62.99 61.62 61.31 59.74 113.67

18.39 13.72 11.76 11.56 11.35 9.08 8.60 8.04 6.62 6.28

5.27 4.31 4.16 4.09 3.93

1.90 1.84 1.80 1.80 1.75 1.51

6.83 5.09 4.37 4.29 4.22 3.37 3.19 2.98 2.46 2.33

1.96 1.60 1.55 1.52 1.46

ClosingP 31.60 338.50 254.30 110.80 29.80 61.10 27.80 71.30 21.50 61.90

27.80 125.90 39.30 259.20 73.50 22.90 ClosingP

61.10 29.90 335.50 110.40 45.70 31.60 71.80 29.50 39.50 21.70

27.80 254.40 72.10 72.50 124.80

Change % 3.61 6.21 1.72 3.17 3.47 0.99 -2.46 1.71 4.37 1.31

1.09 6.60 0.51 1.97 3.96 4.09

Change %

1.50 6.41 5.37 1.28 -2.77 4.29 3.31 2.08 0.77 5.34

-2.80 1.84 -2.96 2.55 5.23

ClosingY 30.50 318.70 250.00 107.40 28.80 60.50 28.50 70.10 20.60 61.10

27.50 118.10 39.10 254.20 70.70 22.00 ClosingY

60.20 28.10 318.40 109.00 47.00 30.30 69.50 28.90 39.20 20.60

28.60 249.80 74.30 70.70 118.60

DHIGH 32.40 343.00 255.70 112.20 30.10 62.60 29.00 72.50 21.70 62.40

29.40 126.80 41.00 261.10 74.00 24.20

DHIGH

62.50 30.40 340.10 112.50 48.10 32.10 72.50 30.00 39.80 21.80

28.80 255.80 73.70 73.90 126.00

DLOW 27.50 319.00 235.00 107.60 26.50 60.50 27.40 64.00 19.00 58.00

26.00 106.30 35.20 250.00 64.00 20.50 DLOW

60.20 28.80 321.70 108.00 44.90 30.50 63.00 29.00 39.10 20.70

27.60 249.60 72.00 71.50 116.50

AvgPrice 31.65 331.49 254.01 109.40 29.80 61.65 27.97 71.24 21.44 61.56

28.47 123.50 39.43 258.09 72.51 23.46 AvgPrice

61.55 29.39 330.20 109.06 46.05 31.71 71.30 29.63 39.49 21.54

28.09 251.47 72.43 72.55 121.93

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

Oil prices hit multi-year lows as OPEC decision weighs n AFP, Singapore

Oil tumbled to new multi-year lows in Asia yesterday, extending a sharp selloff last week in response to OPEC’s decision to maintain output despite a supply glut and plunging prices.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for January delivery dipped $1.65 in afternoon Asian trading to $64.50, its lowest intraday level since July 2009.

Brent crude for January sank $1.76 to $68.39, to stay below the psychologically important $70 level. It had touched $67.90 earlier Monday, its lowest since February 2010.

“Negative actions in the oil market are continuing today. Investors see crude as remaining vulnerable after last week’s OPEC announcement,” Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney, told AFP. “We have not yet seen any piece of news or development that could trigger a bottoming-out phase in oil prices,” he added.

The unabated price plunge comes after the 12-nation Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) opted Thursday to keep its collective output ceiling at 30 million barrels per day, where it has stood for three years.

OPEC ignored calls for a cut that have grown as oversupply and weak demand have wiped more than a third off prices since June. Analysts warn of further falls to come.

“OPEC’s decision leaves demand and supply rebalancing to the market,” banking group ANZ said in a commentary.

China data ‘not helping’

The news dragged WTI down $7.54 in New York on Friday, compared with the settlement price on Wednesday, to end

An oil tanker is seen on Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela's western state of Zulia at $66.15 a barrel. US floor trading was closed Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday.

Brent had settled at $70.15 on Friday, down $2.43 from Thursday’s close.

OPEC has come under pressure from its poorer members, including Venezuela and Ecuador, to trim production as slumping prices have eaten into government revenues and raised fears over their economies.

But the group’s powerful Gulf members, led by kingpin Saudi Arabia, resisted the calls unless they are guaranteed market share -- particularly in the United

States, where rising production of shale oil has contributed to the global glut.

McCarthy said weak Chinese manufacturing data early Monday was “doing nothing to help oil prices”.

The official purchasing managers’ index for the manufacturing sector in the world’s second-biggest economy skidded to an eight-month low of 50.3 in November, from 50.8 in October.

It was the weakest reading since a similar 50.3 reading in March. A reading above 50 indicates growth, while anything below points to contraction.

Tumbling energy prices scalped

Dollar up in Asia on weak oil prices n AFP, Tokyo

The dollar notched up further gains against the yen in Asia yesterday as investors embraced lower oil prices as a plus for the US economy.

In Tokyo the greenback rose to 118.87 yen, up from 118.65 yen in New York Friday afternoon. The euro rose to 148.03 yen from 147.64 yen in US trade, while it ticked up to $1.2457 against $1.2443.

The dollar briefly topped 119 yen - its highest in more than seven years - after OPEC’s decision last week to maintain output levels despite calls for a cut.

However, the dollar’s upward momentum may be constrained, said Akira Moroga, manager of forex products group at Aozora Bank.

It seems to “have failed to jump straight to further upside due to profittaking”, Moroga told Dow Jones Newswires. OPEC had not been expected to respond aggressively to a roughly 35% drop in oil prices since June, but it did

less than many predicted.

On Monday a 3.1% third-quarter rebound in Japanese capital spending was seen as boding well for upcoming revised economic growth figures.

But on the downside, separate data Monday showed China’s manufacturing growth skidded to an eight-month

The Australian dollar fell to 84.45 US cents from 85.06 cents while the Chinese yuan rose to 19.34 yen from 19.30 yen low in November, signalling further pressure on the world’s second-largest economy.

Speculation about the European Central Bank’s plans to buy sovereign bonds were dampened by a governing council member, who suggested such a

Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited has recently opened its 48 branch at Bolla, Kalihati in Tangail. The bank’s chairperson, Md Yousuf Ali Howlader inaugurated the branch as chief guest

Rangs Workshop Limited, an authorised after-sales service provider of Mitsubishi Motors in Bangladesh has recently launched a weeklong servicing campaign for its vehicle “Lancer Ex” at its service centre in Tejgaon I/A, Dhaka. Tanzeem Chowdhury Director of East Coast Group inaugurated the service campaign

move was unlikely ahead of this week’s policy meeting.

“We expect no Sovereign QE (quantitative easing) announcement from the ECB meeting on Thursday but instead a commitment to more easing likely contingent upon further deterioration in the inflation outlook (highly probable given falling oil prices),” Credit Agricole said in a note.

The dollar was firmer against other Asia-Pacific currencies, trading at Tw$31.05 against Tw$30.95 on Friday, firming to 32.89 Thai baht from 32.85 baht, to Sg$1.3083 from Sg$1.3044 and to 44.95 Philippine pesos from 44.90 pesos.

It advanced to 1,114.13 South Korean won from 1,107.95 won, to 62.14 Indian rupees from 62.05 rupees, and to 12,273.80 Indonesian rupiah from 12,204.00 rupiah.

The Australian dollar fell to 84.45 US cents from 85.06 cents while the Chinese yuan rose to 19.34 yen from 19.30 yen. l

B3

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

REUTERS

energy firms, but stocks of airlines - which count fuel as their major expense - soared.

Among the biggest losers were Sydney-listed Santos, which fell almost 10% in the afternoon, while BHP Billiton lost 6.75% and Woodside shed 4.34%. In Hong Kong PetroChina was 5.39% lower and CNOOC fell 4.59%.

In Tokyo Japan Airlines added 4.01% and rival ANA gained 3.76%, while in Hong Kong Cathay Pacific rose 3.86% and Korean Airlines in Seoul was up 6.43%.

Singapore Airlines bucked the trend, trading 0.19% lower. l

Lego builds success brick by brick in digital age n AFP, London Generations of children worldwide have grown up loving Lego and the popularity of tablets and video games will not change that, the company’s chief executive told AFP in an interview.

Joergen Vig Knudstorp said he believed that the plastic, multi-coloured bricks - whose name is an abbreviation of the Danish words “leg godt”, meaning “play well” - would be around for “centuries”.

The company hit trouble a decade ago but is now the world’s biggest maker of toys by sales, more than quadrupling its revenues in 10 years.

Far from threatening Lego’s popularity, Knudstorp said the digital era offered great opportunities for the company to build its customer base even further.

“We are one of the most popular video games, we also have reached more and more customers on social media - Lego fans are gathering like never before,” he said.

“In the past, children watched TV and then played with Lego. Now they play on tablets and play with Lego.

“The reason why they do it is that many children, and adults as well, want a real, physical experience. Even though we like to watch football or play it on a PlayStation, it’s still not the same as running on the field kicking the ball.”

He was speaking as Lego, whose headquarters are in Billund, Denmark, opened a fifth “main office” in London on Friday as the company seeks global growth.

One key target is Asia. As well as offices in Shanghai and Singapore, the company started building a new factory in China’s Jianxing, south of Shanghai, earlier this year to build Lego products for sale in Asia.

‘Please don’t die’ Such an international presence is a far cry

from the company’s origins.

The company was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, the grandfather of the current owner, in a small workshop in Billund, and took the name Lego two years later.

It started out making products like wooden ducks, while the iconic plastic brick in its present form dates back to 1958.

Lego became a major international brand from the 1960s and Legoland in Billund, now one of Denmark’s biggest tourist attractions, was opened in 1968.

But the group hit trouble in 2004, announcing major losses. Knudstrop was appointed that year and recalls receiving “letters from customers saying ‘please don’t die’”.

He said that, at that stage, the company had “spread ourselves over too many areas” and was poorly run.

To turn the business around, he focused on cutting manufacturing costs, releasing the right products in tighter timeframes and “reigniting the product innovation, really working with children to make products they find more appealing”.

Now the focus is on international expansion, hence the opening of the London office.

The opening coincides with the Brick 2014 fan event being held at London’s giant ExCeL exhibition centre from Thursday to Sunday, featuring Lego sets, characters and construction zones.

For Knudstrop, despite the changes which he has brought and those in the digital world, the Lego brick is at the centre of what the company is about -- and will remain so for years to come.

“I think the brick will stay with us for centuries because it is fundamental like football or reading a great book, telling stories,” he said.

“It’s something that will be around forever.” l

Corruption crackdown clouds China corporate jet market n AFP, Shanghai Makers of the world’s private jets are looking to promote their aircraft as business tools in China rather than luxury toys for the super-rich, as a corruption crackdown slows sales in the country.

Chinese leader Xi Jinping launched a drive against graft after he came to power in late 2012, accompanied by policies to enforce austerity among officials - hitting sectors ranging from high-end liquor to luxury watches.

The market for private jets is a small, albeit fast-growing aviation segment in China, but the corruption campaign has taken some heat out of the market, according to industry officials.

“We’re in this anti-extravagant thing so numbers are down a little bit,” said Briand Greer, president of Honeywell Aerospace for Asia-Pacific, which supplies the aviation industry.

ICAB has recently awarded Jamuna Bank Limited for preparing the best-presented annual reports for the year 2013, among all private sector banking organisations. The bank’s managing director, Shafiqul Alam received a certificate in this regard from Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith

Coca-Cola Bangladesh, Ocean Conservancy and Kewkradong volunteers have recently partnered for a day to clean St Martin’s seashore in order to celebrate International Coastal Clean Up Day

“To me it’s like the river has slowed a little bit. Growth will be there, but it’s a different period right now,” he told AFP. The first US Gulfstream jets only arrived in China in 2003, widely seen as the dawn of the new market. By 2013, there were an estimated 248 business jets in China - a 28 percent jump from 2012, according to consultancy Asian Sky Group.

At China’s premier airshow in Zhuhai earlier this month, major players including Gulfstream, Canada’s Bombardier and Brazilian firm Embraer put their products on display.

Even the Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China, the country’s major civil aircraft maker, showed a plastic model of a new business version of its ARJ21 regional jet, as it seeks to steal market share away from foreign firms.

“Business jets should not be treated as a luxury product because it’s con-

sidered a business tool to improve efficiency,” said Christine Yan, Bombardier’s China marketing manager for business aircraft and aerospace.

“As long as this benefit can be recognized ... in the long run it’s still a very good outlook,” she told AFP on the sidelines of the airshow.

Infrastructure issues

Manufacturers remain positive about the longer-term outlook for the China market, citing steady economic growth and Chinese companies heading abroad to do business.

“For a long time, it’s been wealthy individuals buying a jet because they needed somewhere to put their money.

It was cool to have a business jet,” said Greer of Honeywell.

“There’s starting to be a recognition that this is a tool that you can utilise to be more efficient,” he said. l

Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited has recently held a meeting at its boardroom, which was presided over by the bank’s chairperson, Prof Abu Nasser Muhammad Abduz Zaher

Lamudi Bangladesh has recently organised its first ever 'Real Estate Summit 2014' in partnership with Cityscape in Bangladesh. Rajesh Grover, co-founder and managing director of Lamudi Bangladesh has started the summit with unveiling the 'White paper research findings'

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Asia factories find demand lacking in further blow to commodities

Indonesian inflation up, manufacturing hit after fuel price hike n AFP, Jakarta

n Reuters, Sydney Asia’s factories appeared to have stepped down a gear last month as a glut of supply met a dearth of global demand, piling pressure on prices of manufactured goods and the commodities used to make them.

Oil sank to its lowest in over five years on Monday, with the industrial bellwether copper not far behind. The rout spread to gold and silver while the US dollar cleared seven-year peaks on the Japanese yen JPY. Both US crude CLc1 and Brent LCOc1 have now fallen for five straight months, the longest losing streak since the 2008 financial crisis.

With domestic and export demand softening and production growth weak, many Asian manufacturers were more reluctant to stock up on raw materials, activity surveys yesterday.

While lower commodity prices are a boon to consumer spending power, they have damaging side effects in a world where official interest rates are already at historic lows in many countries.

Slowing inflation acts as an unwanted tightening of policy as it pushes up real interest rates, one reason China and Japan surprised with new stimulus measures in recent weeks.

It was clear in HSBC’s survey of Chinese businesses which found input costs fell for a fourth straight month in November while its overall index of activity touched a six-month trough of 50.0.

China’s official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) was scarcely better, slipping to 50.3 in November from October’s 50.8.

“Domestic demand expanded at a sluggish pace while new export order growth eased to a five-month low. Disinflationary pressures remain strong while the labor market weakened further,” said Hongbin Qu, chief economist for China and co-head of Asian economic research at HSBC. “We continue to expect further

A worker carries a used car wheel after repairing it inside a factory at a second-hand automobile parts market in Kolkata monetary and fiscal easing measures to offset downside risks to growth.”

After saying for months that China does not need any big economic stimulus, the central bank wrong footed markets by lowering rates in late November.

China’s troubles were felt broadly across the region, with South Korea reporting exports to the Asian giant fell for the first time in three months,

while its measure of manufacturing activity stayed stuck in contractionary territory.

In Indonesia, the HSBC Markit PMI reached the unwelcome milestone of the lowest since the survey began in April 2011 at 48. That was down from 49.2 in October.

In Japan, the Markit/JMMA version of the PMI eased to 52.0 in November, from 52.4 the month before. The econ-

omy slipped into recession in the third quarter as the baleful impact of a hike in sales taxes lingered longer than anyone expected.

Still, the extent of the contraction may have been overstated, given figures out Monday showed business investment was stronger than thought.

India was a rare bright spot, as it has been for a few months now, with its PMI climbing to a 21-month high of 53.3

REUTERS

last month.

A host of European and US surveys are yet to come later yesterday. The euro zone measure is expected to be barely positive at 50.4, woefully short of the US which is forecast to come in at 58.0.

The European Central Bank releases its latest economic estimates this week when inflation is back at a five-year low, adding to the case for more aggressive stimulus in the bloc. l

Think tank: ECB could fix euro zone China manufacturing growth at eight-month low flaw with risk-free bond n AFP, Beijing

n Reuters, London

As the European Central Bank comes closer to buying sovereign bonds, one Londonbased think tank says an opportunity has arisen to fix one of the euro zone’s birth defects - the absence of a credible “riskfree” asset.

Regulators deem domestic sovereign bonds risk-free - so-called although no asset is entirely without risk - and push financial firms to buy them as a safety buffer, exempting them from a rule that requires setting aside capital for holding other assets.

However, when they assess how strong a bank needs to be, regulators consider both German bonds - the only state debt in the bloc rated triple-A by all three major agencies - and bonds issued by Greece, which defaulted two years ago, risk-free.

As a result, euro zone banks are loaded with low-rated government debt, creating a potential “doom loop”, in which troubles at a bank can drag in governments and vice-versa.

The most commonly discussed proposal for a new risk-free asset is a joint euro bond that transfers debt risk from weaker countries to stronger ones. However, that idea has faced resistance from the latter who fear they could end up on the hook for less prudent borrowers’ profligacy.

Luis Garicano and Lucrezia Reichlin at the Centre for Economic Policy Research have come up with an idea that they say counters that objection and breaks the toxic link between banks and sovereigns.

The two professors say the need for the ECB to pump money into the euro zone economy could be an opportunity for the market itself to create a euro bond - which the ECB would then buy - that does not lead to debt mutualization.

“The ECB would merely announce the features of the synthetic bonds it will purchase,” they write in a policy proposal.

Regulations would have to be changed to turn the special bond into a zero-risk asset by forcing banks to set aside cash for holding bonds as currently issued by individual countries, while not requiring any provision for holding the new product.

The new bond would include debt issued by euro zone members in proportion to the size of their economies and the ECB would buy only its senior tranches.

The ECB has looked at similar instruments before and they could still feature in future

The new European Central Bank (ECB) headquarters are pictured behind partially dismantled Sudfass brothel club in Frankfurt REUTERS policy, sources with knowledge of ECB thinking said.

Market view Steven Major, global head of fixed income research at HSBC, says the proposal has “potential”, especially as he sees legal and practical issues with the ECB buying government bonds.

But he says it could hurt banks in southern Europe, which own large amounts of their own countries’ high-yielding debt.

The creation of the new product would require them to buy expensive top-rated bonds while setting aside cash for their current debt holdings.

“If the proposal only works for core banks it would defeat the purpose,” Major said, referring to lenders in northern Europe. “To get the benefit across the euro zone you need participation from the peripheral banks.”

Large holders of bonds issued by weaker, peripheral euro zone states warn that changing the regulatory treatment of existing government debt could destabilize those markets.

“Next day everyone will be selling Italian bonds and you end up with potential self-fulfilling processes in the market where there’s no buyers and only sellers and it becomes very disorderly,” said Myles Bradshaw, European strategist at PIMCO, the world’s biggest bond investor.

Garicano, who calls the bank-sovereign

symbiosis “diabolic”, countered this by pointing to the ECB’s promise to do “whatever it takes to save the euro”.

“I don’t think it would happen for the same reason it doesn’t happen now -- the ECB,” the professor of economics and strategy at the London School of Economics told Reuters.

Liquidity Philip Brown, a Citi banker who organizes debt sales for governments, said the low liquidity of the instrument would make it “somewhat impractical”.

Wrapping bits of highly liquid government bond markets into a hybrid bond in which initial trading volumes would be tiny means any buyer would demand a liquidity premium.

Investors like liquid products because they can buy and sell them without significantly altering the market price. Therefore for this particular bond the buyer is likely to offer the seller a lower price than what was spent to create the product to compensate for the low liquidity, some in the market say.

Garicano is not worried.

“Given the large demand for safe assets, the exclusive use of these euro safe assets for liquidity purposes at banks ... and their role as the main instrument of monetary policy, this will be a highly liquid market,” he said, adding that the ECB could help out in the early stages with a special facility to finance creation of the product. l

China’s manufacturing growth skidded to an eight-month low in November, an official survey showed yesterday, fuelling speculation authorities will take further steps to stimulate the world’s second-largest economy.

China’s official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) released by the National Bureau of Statistics came in at 50.3 last month, lower than the 50.8 recorded in October and the weakest since a similar 50.3 reading in March.

The index, which tracks activity in factories and workshops, is considered a key indicator of the health of China’s economy, a major driver of global growth. A figure above 50 signals expansion, while anything below indicates contraction.

“The decline in the PMI was broadbased, led by output and new orders,” Nomura economists said in a note on the data. “The weaker PMI data implies that growth momentum remained weak in November,” they said, adding: “This helps explain the People’s Bank of China’s decision to cut benchmark interest rates” last month.

China’s central bank on November 21 surprised economists by cutting benchmark interest rates for the first time in more than two years, in a move interpreted as an attempt to shore up flagging growth.

The PBoC lowered its one-year rate for deposits by 25 basis points to 2.75% and its one-year lending rate by 40 basis points to 5.6%.

The move came after a string of disappointing data showed the Chinese economy is struggling with not just stalling factory growth, but other problems including soft exports and a weakening property market.

Authorities had for months utilised various kinds of limited stimulatory measures such as targeted cuts in bank reserve requirements - aimed at freeing up funds for lending -- and a cash injection into the country’s five biggest banks for re-lending.

More rate cuts expected

Separately, a closely watched private survey of manufacturing conditions was confirmed to have fallen to a sixmonth low showing stagnation.

British bank HSBC’s final PMI for November came in at the 50 breakeven point dividing expansion and contrac-

tion, the bank said in a statement, matching a preliminary figure released last month. The result, compiled by information services provider Markit, was lower than October’s 50.4 and the weakest reading since May’s 49.4.

“Domestic demand expanded at a sluggish pace while new export order growth eased to a five-month low,” Qu Hongbin, HSBC’s chief China economist, said in the statement. Qu added that the PBoC rate cuts will aid in stabilising investment in property and manufacturing in the months ahead.

“We continue to expect further monetary and fiscal easing measures to offset downside risks to growth,” he added.

The Nomura analysts said they expect more measures next year, including another interest rate cut in the second quarter and a reduction in reserve requirement ratios in each quarter.

We continue to expect further monetary and fiscal easing measures to offset downside risks to growth China’s economy expanded 7.3% in the July-September quarter, down from 7.5% in the previous three months and the slowest since 2009 at the height of the global financial crisis.

A slowdown in China’s huge property sector has been weighing on overall growth, with broader worries about the health of the country’s financial sector also a cause for concern.

China’s housing prices fell on a monthly basis for the seventh straight month in November, a survey showed Sunday. The average price of a new home in China’s 100 major cities was 10,589 yuan ($1,720) per square metre in November, down 0.38% from October, the independent China Index Academy said in a statement. l

DILBERT

Indonesia’s inflation rate jumped and manufacturing activity sank to a record low after the country’s new president raised the price of fuel in Southeast Asia’s top economy, data showed yesterday.

The 30-percent increase in the price of diesel and petrol, announced last month, was aimed at cutting government subsidies that gobble up a huge chunk of the state budget and have sparked investor alarm.

But, as expected, the move caused an immediate spike in the cost of transportation as well as basic goods, which are now more expensive to deliver.

November inflation surged to 6.23% year on year from 4.83% in October, official data from the statistics agency showed. Economists expect inflation to rise further in coming weeks but then drop back next year.

The fuel price hike also contributed to a slowdown in manufacturing activity, which had already been weakening in recent months due to falling demand, HSBC said in its Purchasing Managers’ Index for Indonesia.

The gauge fell to 48 in November from 49.02 in October, the lowest reading since the introduction of the measure in 2001. A reading below 50 indicates contraction, while anything above signals growing.

“The hike in subsidised fuel prices may have exacerbated things, though we note that both domestic and external demand were already moderating even before the hike,” said HSBC economist Su Sian Lim. On a more positive note, official data released Monday showed Indonesia’s trade balance swung to a small surplus of $20m in October from a $270m deficit the previous month as a fall in oil prices cut the country’s import bills.

Economists have long been calling for Indonesia to reduce its generous fuel subsidies as they are blamed for a widening current account deficit, although attempts to cut them are often met with public anger.

President Joko Widodo, who took office last month, made reducing the payouts a key election pledge, and has vowed to divert the money to overhauling the country’s creaking infrastructure and programmes to help the poor. l

Coffee with Pepper? Robot sells espresso machines in Japan n AFP, Tokyo Move over George Clooney - Nestle has employed a fleet of chirpy robots to sell its coffee machines in Japanese stores.

The Hollywood heart-throb, who has become the global face of the Nespresso brand, has been given the elbow in favour of Pepper, a cheeky and chatty android, which its makers claim can answer customers’ questions.

“How do you enjoy coffee? Number one: An eye-opener coffee; Number two: A post-meal cup of coffee,” Pepper asked a TV personality at a promotion event Monday.

The 120-centimetre (four-foot) tall robot has a human-like face perched on top of a white plastic body, with rollers and what looks like a tablet computer on its chest.

The gimmick will eventually see 1,000 stores across Japan with their own Pepper, which makers say can understand up to 80 percent of conversations.

The robots will “help us discover consumer needs through conversations between our customers and Pepper,” said a joint statement from Nestle and SoftBank, whose French arm Aldebaran developed the technology.

Pepper, which was unveiled in June

by SoftBank president Masayoshi Son, already sells mobile phones at SoftBank’s 74 Japanese stores, where it has been used to collect customers’ opinions.

Engineers claim the robot’s artificial intelligence has allowed it to expand its conversational ability by listening to what customers say.

The robot will go on sale to the public in February, with a price tag of 198,000 yen ($1,670) plus monthly fees. l