19 dec, 2014

Paush 5, 1421 Safar 25, 1436 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 255

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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WEEKEND

7 | LONG FORM

11 | OP-ED

12 | SPORT

CHRISTMAS COMES TO THE CHT

A TRAIL TO JCI’S SUCCESS

A NEW LINE WAS CROSSED

YOUNG SAMURAIS TOO SKILLFUL TO CONTAIN

Two ministers give conflicting views on oil spill Inspection committee claims not seeing dead dolphin as reported n Tribune Report Two ministers, whose offices are closely linked with the Sundarbans, yesterday gave conflicting views about the oil spill and its environmental impacts; the same day a government inspection team said they had not seen any dead dolphin or crocodile.

As of yesterday – 10 days after a tanker went down the Sela River with over 350,000 litres of furnace oil – local people have managed to collect only around 65,000 litres.

Despite having a few options, the government failed to employ any mechanism to remove the oil, already spread over a big area in the forest, which environmentalists fear is detrimental for the rich vegetation and wildlife.

P16 JS BODY REACTS Several media, including the Dhaka Tribune, have already published photographs and reports on the sighting of distressed wildlife.

Echoing Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan, Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain Manju yesterday said at the secretariat that the incident was not very big.

“The incident is unfortunate. But when you compare it with other such incidents in world history, it is not so big,” he reportedly said during a meeting with the inspection committee.

Nurul Karim, additional secretary of the forest ministry and the chief of the inspection committee, told reporters after the meeting that their report on the Sundarbans oil spill was nearly complete and they had not found any

dead dolphin or crocodile.

He said they had drawn the conclusion by talking to the local citizens. “Although the 31km stretch of the Sela and Pashur Rivers are a dolphin sanctuary, they are mostly seen near a breeding point along the Pashur River,” Nurul told reporters.

However, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said in a programme in Chittagong yesterday that the oil spill was a massive environmental disaster for the biggest mangrove forest in the world.

“There is no doubt that it is a disaster.

The Sundarbans is a mangrove forest.

The trees take food through the roots.

No trees are likely to survive if oil enters their roots. Water is also getting polluted.

“The government has already involved the local people to remove oil from the water. We have also sought the United Nations’ help to remove the oil. They said they will help. But this is a major disaster for us,” Menon said.

He also told reporters after attending a tourism fair in Chittagong that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had ordered the reopening of the Ghashiakhali channel.

“If that route could be opened, no commercial water transport needs to use the Sundarbans,” the minister said.

When asked why the inspection team did no see any dead dolphin or crocodile, political ecology researcher and DU Professor Tanzim Uddin Khan told the Dhaka Tribune that it would not be wise to say anything without seeing the report.

“But, we also need to know how much area the inspection committee has covered. Dead bodies of marine  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

They cannot afford the luxury to lay under an warm blanket on a foggy winter morning. Amid nearly zero visibility, two fishermen in the Supti area in the Sundarbans have hit the waters early yesterday morning looking for a catch SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

‘Dead’ Hefazat activist found alive 19 months after May 5 rally n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong A 16-year-old Hefazat-e-Islam activist, whose family claimed that he had been “killed” during the Shapla Chattar clash with police last year, has now been found alive in Chittagong.

The Detective Branch of Chittagong Metropolitan Police on Wednesday traced down and detained Al Faruk, who went missing following the clash on May 5 last year.

A DB team found Faruk in Chit-

tagong city’s Miskin Shah Mazar, while he was handed over to his maternal uncle yesterday afternoon, said DB Sub-Inspector Sontosh Kumar Chakma.

Faruk – who used to study in class five at a madrasa in Dhaka’s Badda area – had run away to the port city after the Shapla Chattar incident, the SI said, adding that the teenager had been hiding in different shrines across the district during the past 19 months.

However, the police gave no expla-

nation on why Faruk had chosen to stay in hiding for so long.

Faruk, son of Solaiman Bin Mobarak from Comilla’s Chandina, was assumed to have died after joining Hefazat’s May 5 rally in Motijheel. At the time, Faruk’s family had also held a funeral for the madrasa student.

However, Faruk recently phoned his mother, who became suspicious and lodged a complaint with the DB on December 10 thinking someone was trying to scam her using her son’s identity. l

Calling upon the party leaders and activists and also the people of the country to wage street movements, the BNP chief said: “I am aged and you also grew old. But we have courage and passion for the country. It is democracy, so age would not be factor. We are ready to sacrifice our lives for the country.”

She also asked the police force not to open fire targeting opposition leaders and activists as people are ready to face police firing.

“Get ready. I will call on time and you all have to take to the streets. This  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Khaleda now asks Hasina to watch her mouth

Controversial business tycoon and alleged arms trader Moosa Bin Shamsher appeared at the Anti-Corruption Commission headquarters yesterday two hours before schedule in all royalty.

He came in a Mercedes Benz blue edition SUV with an army of 25 bodyguards – all wearing black suits and sunglasses – in six micro-buses. Of them, four were women.

The businessman, labelled by many as “Prince Moosa,” was possibly wearing his much-talked-about diamond-plaque shoes and wrist watch.

Moosa entered the ACC’s Segunbagicha office flanked by two of the female guards while 10 other male guards waited outside the main gate until he came out around 1pm following interrogation over his alleged involvement in money laundering and amassing illegal wealth.

Emerging from the session, conducted by Senior Deputy Director Mir Zainul Abedin Shibli from 9:45am to 1pm, he faced the media and brushed aside the allegations terming those “baseless.”

“I came here to face the ACC being respectful to the law...As the commission has started its inquiry against me, I will help them by providing all related documents from time to time whenever they ask me for them,” he said.

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

Being escorted by personal bodyguards, controversial businessman Moosa Bin Shamsher comes out of the Anti-Corruption Commission office in Dhaka yesterday RAJIB DHAR Terming media reports on him “fabricated,” Moosa said: “Newspaper reports cannot be the main source of investigation.

“I have a huge contribution in this country’s manpower exports. Ask your guardians; you will have a clear idea about my role.”

Moosa is the chairman of Datco, a manpower recruiting agency, located in Banani.

The ACC took the decision of running the inquiry on November 3 following a cover feature published in Busi-

ness Asia, an international magazine, in June this year.

An ACC official seeking anonymity told the Dhaka Tribune that during the interrogation, the inquiry officer had asked Moosa about the source of his wealth and the $7bn (over Tk54,000 crore) left frozen at the Swiss Bank for the last five years.

The amount was frozen because of irregular transactions. Moosa has filed a case to recover the amount from the bank, the official said.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday asked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to watch her tongue and use decent words.

“They are [ruling party] not even sparing foreigners as they have got used to badmouthing us. I want to ask Hasina to restrain her tongue before advising others.

“Hold your tongue. The way you are talking is unacceptable. A self-declared prime minister cannot speak like this... control your tongue and use decent language,” she cautioned.

On Wednesday, the prime minister advised Khaleda to ask her “spoiled” son Tarique Rahman to watch his mouth while making statements.

“Otherwise the people of the country will teach him a befitting lesson,” she said in the wake of Tarique’s statement in London on Monday that Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was a razakar.

The premier also said: “Since he is not educated and civilised, he talks rubbish like an uncivilised person. The people of Bangladesh know how to teach the uncivilised a lesson,” adding that Khaleda doesn’t teach her sons such indecent language and words.

Without mentioning her son’s re-

cent remarks against Bangabandhu, Khaleda further said, “What we say are facts based on documents and information.”

Khaleda made these remarks while addressing a convention arranged by pro-BNP student leaders of Ducsu and All-Party Students Unity (Apsu) of the 90s at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.

Khaleda: Our boys are educated; they follow Ziaur Rahman

INSIDE 3 | News

5 | News

4 | News

6 | Nation

Former Jubo Dal leader Afzal Hossain Sattar alias Gola Kata Sattar was killed by hired hitmen over control of the extortion racket of the tannery industry in the Hazaribagh area of the capital.

The conditions of the indigenous people can be improved by ensuring their land rights legally, said National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Mizanur Rahman.

Fewer people are now dying from diarrhoeal diseases and preterm birth complications in Bangladesh, according to a comprehensive analysis of trend data collected from 188 countries.

Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College still does not have its own campus even though three years have gone by since it was established in 2011.

9 | World

Pakistan began burying 132 students killed in a grisly attack on a school by Taliban that has heaped pressure on the government to do more to tackle insurgency.

15 | Entertainment

After launching her music career in the US, Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has now sealed a one-year TV development deal with ABC Television Studios.

n Agencies A day after the Pakistani government lifted a moratorium on the death penalty in terrorism-related cases, Zaki-ur Rehman Lakhvi, a military commander of Lashkar-e-Taiba, was let off on bail by a special anti-terror court.

Lakhvi, a senior member of the Lashkar hierarchy, was second only to Mumbai terrorist attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed.

He was arrested in December 2008 soon after the serial attacks that rocked Mumbai on November 26, 2008.

Lakhvi and six others had filed bail applications on Wednesday even as lawyers were on strike condemning the terrorist attack on an army-run school in Peshawar that left 148 people, mostly children, dead.

Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency prosecutor disagreed with the bail request, but advocate Rizwan Abbasi, the lawyer representing Lakhvi, stood before the court as the bail was granted, Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper reported.

The seven accused – Lakhvi, Abdul Wajid, Mazhar Iqbal, Hamad Amin Sadiq, Shahid Jameel Riaz, Jamil Ahmed and Younis Anjum – are awaiting trial at Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi.

Lakhvi’s lawyer told reporters in Islamabad his client was given bail due to a lack of evidence even though Ajmal Kasab, one of the ten Mumbai attack terrorists, and conspirators, David Coleman Headley and Abu Jundal, gave graphic details of Lakhvi’s role.

Lakhvi, according to Kasab – who was hanged after being convicted for the 26/11 attack – was the main trainer who supervised target practice and underwater training.

He was also the financier and main plotter who sat in the terror control room in Karachi directing the terrorists’ activities during the three days Mumbai was under siege.

One of the key pieces of evidence came after Abu Jundal – also present

Moosa ‘earned’ that $7bn abroad Sakhawat and n Adil Probir K Sarker

Mumbai terror attack suspect granted bail in Pakistan

B1 | Business

Bangladesh has not been included in the list of countries now under review of the US GSP programme that could alter their beneficiary status.

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Friday, December 19, 2014

AL: Public will cut off Tarique’s tongue Govt mulls childhood n Abu Hayat Mahmud Ruling Awami League’s Publicity and Publication Secretary Dr Hasan Mahmud yesterday said if the people of Bangladesh got hold of Tarique Rahman they would cut off his tongue for making false statements against Bangabandhu and the Awami League.

He made the statement at a press conference on BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman’s recent remarks in which he called Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman “a razakar” and said the Awami League did not participate in the country’s Liberation War in 1971.

Former foreign minster and Awami League Joint General Secretary Dr Dipu Moni and other central leaders were present at the press conference.

“It is not new. Tarique Rahman has made such statements before. Tarique makes such statements because he is an ISI agent. Only a drug addict can say such things,” Hasan Mahmud said.

He said: “Ziaur Rahman failed to teach Tarique the right things and Khaleda Zia has failed to teach and manage her son. This is not my statement, these are the words of former BNP leader Colonel Oli Ahmed.”

The AL leader said: “Oil Ahmed has

said just because a mother was bad that doesn’t necessarily mean the son should also be bad.”

At the press conference Hasan Mahmud displayed an affidavit of Tarique Rahman announcing his resignation from the post of senior vice-chairman of the BNP and from active politics.

The affidavit was written on a Tk50 stamp. Copies of it were distributed to reporters at the press conference.

Hasan Mahmud said Tarique was trying to remain politically newsworthy by making objectionable comments, despite signing the affidavit saying he would resign from politics.

While addressing a programme in London, Tarique called Bangladesh’s founding Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman a “razakar,” a term meaning “traitor.”

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s elder son made the statement after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday advised Khaleda to ask her “spoiled” son to watch his mouth when giving statements, or the people of the country would teach him a lesson.

“The people of Bangladesh will never accept such lies,” Hasina said.

On Tarique, Hasina said: “Being uneducated, how can he know the history

of the Liberation War?” “Since he is not educated and civilised, he talks rubbish like an uncivilised person. The people of Bangladesh know how to teach the uncivilised a lesson,” the prime minister said.

Hasina also said the masterminds of the August 21 grenade attack and other killings during the rule of the BNP-Jamaat government must be brought to book just as the war criminals have been.

The prime minister said the verdicts against convicted war criminals would be executed. Nobody would be able to help the war criminals escape the judicial process, she said.

Khaleda yesterday, at a programme in the capital, warned Hasina to control her mouth when speaking about Ziaur Rahman’s family and the BNP, the party he founded.

A number of prominent citizens and leaders of the ruling AL vented their anger over Tarique’s comments, terming him insane.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court has issued an arrest warrant against Tarique in a sedition and defamation case filed for calling Bangabandhu a “razakar.”

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Yunus Khan passed the order yesterday. Advocate Mohammad Mo-

stafizur Rahman Dulal filed the case with the court the same day.

Another Dhaka court issued an arrest warrant against Tarique in a defamation case for calling Sheikh Mujibur Rahman “Pakbandhu” on December 10.

Tarique has been living in London since September 11, 2008 on medical grounds after securing parole in various cases including money laundering.

He faces 14 charges, of which four, including the August 21 grenade attack case, are on trial. The rest have been stayed.

AL leaders have said Tarique was in London under the political shelter of the British Government to avoid the cases pending against him.

AL, Jubo League joint meeting A joint meeting of the central leaders of the ruling Awami League and its affiliated organisation, the Jubo League, was held yesterday to decide upon a programme to celebrate January 5 as “Victory Day of Democracy,” to commemorate the national election held on the day this year.

The leaders of Jubo League Central Unit and it’s Dhaka City North and South units were present at the Dhanmondi offices of the AL president, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. l

blindness survey n UNB

The government is planning to conduct a survey to determine the number of children with blindness in the country, said a senior official yesterday.

Prof AHM Enayet Hussain of National Eye Care under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) revealed the government plan at a symposium in the city.

Orbis International organised the symposium, titled “Universal Eye Health: Orbis Initiatives and Experience in Bangladesh,” at Bangladesh University of Health Sciences (BUHS) at Mirpur.

Prof Enayet said the government has also planned to enhance capacities of medical colleges and offer follow-up services to district hospitals to tackle blindness and eye ailments.

He presented a paper on “Universal Eye Health: Focus on Childhood Blindness” at the symposium.

Dr Fayazul Islam of ORBIS International presented a paper on “Diabetic Retinopathy Initiatives and Orbis Experience,” while Dr Lutful Hussain of Orbis on “Tele Medicine - Cyber Sight,” Mohammad Shamsul

LGB community feels conflict in faith, lack of confidence

34th BCS written exam results out n Tribune report

n Syeda Samira Sadeque Despite homosexuality being a tabooed issue in our society, about 59% of a surveyed community of 751 people said they have never faced discrimination due to their sexual orientation.

However, many also said they felt their sexual orientation conflicting with their religious identity, some considering it a sin and immoral, the results showed. More than 50% said they live in constant fear of their sexual orientation being out.

These results, along with many other findings regarding the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual community in Bangladesh, was released as part of a Needs Assessment survey conducted by Boys of Bangladesh, a support group for the gay community in Bangladesh, and Roopban, the first ever magazine for gay community in the country.

The event was organised in collaborations with The Centre of Excellence for Gender, Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and CREA, held at the ICDDR,B yesterday.

According to the survey, of those who said they did face discrimination (25.8%), a higher percentage said they either had no knowledge or no access to legal support.

“The aim of our survey is to understand what problems our community is facing, what their demands are and how they can be addressed,” said Shakhawat Imam Rajeeb, one of the hosts of the event.

The survey was carried out through eight major cities across the country in order to maintain a varied sample.

Out of them, 250 of the surveyors were from the capital. The average age of the respondents, all of whom were self-identified LGB, was 25.

The survey was the first of its kind in Bangladesh, and thus is testament to how much is yet to be done.

“We had actually expected or targeted responses from about 500 people, but we had more than 700 responses,” Rajeeb said, which shows how few people are confident about talking about their sexual orientation in public.

“Sexuality in general needs to be talked about in our country,” said Saad Khan, a researcher who was present among the audience.

“There is such a wide spectrum of sexuality – we have to be open to different interpretations of it,” he said. “That can only happen when you bring in different voices from society.”

Saad, who has completed his masters in gender and sexuality studies, also added that there is a lot of importance of intersectionalities between sexuality and other issues such as disability, ethnicity, and class.

The issue of class was discussed in depth at the event, as there was speculation that respondents were largely from the middle class.

Rajeeb said in the beginning of the event that this was not wholly representative of the LGB community in all of Bangladesh.

This could be possibly because it is difficult to access lower echelon of the society which is less educated and thus has less room for a discourse on sexuality. l

Islam of Chittagong Eye Infirmary & Training Complex (CEITC) on “Utilisation of PEC by the Community.”

Shusmita Khan of Eminence and Md Shoaibe Anwar of ORBIS presented two other papers.

Orbis International’s Country Director for Bangladesh Dr Munir Ahmed presided over the symposium, moderated by Orbis Director of Programs Mohammed Alauddin.

In his presentation, Dr Fayazul said 25% of diabetic patients have Diabetic Retinopathy (DR).

The number of diabetic patients in Bangladesh would reach 11.1m in 2030, he said, referring to an estimate of World Diabetic Federation.

Dr Munir laid emphasised on public-private partnership and integration of programs of local and international NGOs for reaching out the eye care services to the people. He said universal eye care would remain unattended unless “we can address geographical issues.”

The event was held during the two-day fifth Regional Public Health Conference which was inaugurated by Brac founder Fazle Hasan Abed on Wednesday. l

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina with new graduates of National Defense Course and Armed Force War Course at the National Defence College auditorium at Mirpur Cantonment in the capital yesterday. Story on Page 3 BSS

Bapa presents six suggestions to tackling Sundarbans oil spill n Tribune Report

Green activists yesterday demanded immediate governmental actions in tackling the oil spill in the Sundarbans’ Sela River and implementing their sixpoint recommendations to protect the world’s largest mangrove forest from further danger.

Environmental group Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (Bapa) organised a press conference titled “Oil Tanker Accident of Sela River: Destroyed Environment of Sundarbans, Present Situation and Responsibilities” at the Dhaka Re-

porters Unity auditorium to present their suggestions after its field team visiting the Sundarbans submitted a report.

The recommendations are – declaring the accident affected area in Sundarbans “infested,” using government workforce to remove the oil, taking scientific methods for oil management, permanently blocking the water way in the Sela River, relocating the Rampal power station and Orion Group’s power station to avert accidents in the future and formulating rules and regulations for using the Sundarbans.

Speakers at the conference alleged

that the government had not taken any scientific steps in managing the oil spread in the Sundarbans and the effects of that would remain on the forest’s biodiversity for more than 50 years. They also said the Forest Department had used local people to remove the spilled oil without considering their health hazards.

Columnist Syed Abul Maksud said: “The United Nations wanted to extend its support in tackling this issue but the government did not accept their proposal. Taking their support is not a dishonour for us. We cannot make a digital Bangladesh without foreign help.” l

Two ministers give conflicting views on oil spill  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

creatures take time to surface. Sometimes corpses get washed to the sea during low tides. So, unless they have covered the entire area, the committee should not say that no dolphin or crocodile has died,” Tanzim said.

“Dolphins moving away from a sanctuary is a negative indicator. If they cannot live in a sanctuary, it means that something is very wrong,” he said.

“Let us agree with the government that it is not big. But they have failed to manage even this small one. What would they do if there is a big disaster?” he inquired.

“The environmental impact will

take time to get visible. Even if a tiny plankton dies, it will eventually affect the entire food chain. That will not be very good,” he warned. Rofiqul Islam Babul, local contractor of Padma Oil Company in Sundarbans, told the Dhaka Tribune that the manual oil collection will not continue for too long - may be a few more days at best.

UN experts arrive in Dhaka

In response to a government request, a United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) has team arrived in Dhaka to support the government’s drive to clean up the oil spill in the Sundarbans, said a UN me-

Moosa ‘earned’ that $7bn abroad  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

Asked about the allegations, Moosa said: “The huge amount of money was not earned while staying in this country. So it is not possible to launder that amount from this country.”

Moosa said: “No one will be able to earn the amount in the next 50 years which I have made throughout my life.

Every story has a history.”

As early as in 1998, the Sunday Telegraph Magazine published an exclusive feature titled “Man with the Golden Guns” terming Moosa “Prince of Bangladesh.” Reporter Nigel Farndale wrote: “Prince Moosa, the multi billionaire from Bangladesh, bathes in rose water, wears diamond encrusted shoes and doesn’t like to talk about the offer of 5m pound sterling he once made to Tony Blair.”

However, Blair reportedly rejected his

proposal.

Business Pundit in 2011 showed Moosa as one of the most notorious arms dealers in modern history where he ranked eighth. In 2007, a renowned Malta-based CA firm’s audit report stated that Moosa had made $10bn, mostly from the international arms trading by selling tanks, fighter planes and ballistic missiles as well as from power brokerage that he had carried outside Bangladesh.

Moosa told reporters that after the inquiry it would be found that he was not a money launderer.

The ACC earlier initiated inquiries against him in 2010 and 2011 following newspaper reports. The first inquiry officer could not work due to poor health while the second officer failed to make any progress as he had not got required information

dia note yesterday evening, UNB reported.

The advance team arrived on Tuesday while the additional team is expected to be here over the weekend.

It will also conduct an assessment and advise the government on recovery and risk reduction measures.

This UN support is led by the UNDP with assistance from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)/the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Joint Environment Unit (JEU), and other partner countries including the US, the UK, France and the EU’s Civil Protection Mechanism. l

from the Bangladesh Bank’s financial unit, an ACC source told the Dhaka Tribune.

Senior Deputy Director Shibli is the third inquiry officer in this matter.

Moosa also told reporters that he was interested to do something for the country’s development.

“The Padma bridge project needs $3bn to complete. Not only I hope to finance the project, I also want to do something for the country’s government employees, teachers and elderly people.”

After talking to the reporters, Moosa left the premises in the same manner he arrived.

An official told the Dhaka Tribune that the commission would ask the central bank and the National Board of Revenue for information on Moosa’s bank accounts and tax returns. l

The results of the public service written examinations were published yesterday. The viva phase of the assessment will start form January 26, Public Service Commission officials said.

PSC’s Exams Controller (cadre) AEM Nesar Uddin told the Dhaka Tribune that 9,822 candidates had been cleared to appear the oral exam.

The gazette of the 34th BCS was published on February 7 last year while the preliminary exams held 0n May 24 and its results published on July 8.

As many as 12,033 candidates passed out of around 100,000 applicants. The written exam was held early this year.

Quota system was applied in the 34th preliminary exams for the first time. l

Mumbai terror attack suspect granted bail  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

in the control room – was brought to India from Saudi Arabia. Jundal recognised and identified Lakhvi’s voice on the terror tapes for the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team that interrogated him.

Headley, a Pakistan-born American terrorist, who visited Mumbai several times to film different targets described Lakhvi as “the main architect of 26/11” to a team of NIA officers, who were given access to him in Chicago.

In a damaging disclosure, Headley revealed that the then ISI chief, Lt Gen Shuja Pasha, had visited Lakhvi in Adiala jail.

The American government has also shared intelligence with India that Lakhvi had access to a mobile phone in jail and continued to run Lashkar’s operations from prison.

Two years ago, investigative online journal ProPublica reported that the then Pakistan army chief Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had declined to confiscate Lakhvi’s phone.

Lakhvi’s importance to the Pakistani establishment can also be judged from the fact that the military commander was being guarded by Lashkar-e-Taiba soldiers even though he was being housed in a high-security jail where the terror trial was being conducted.

For six years now, Pakistan has refused to share Lakhvi’s voice samples, needed to confirm that he controlled the Mumbai attacks from a control room that had been set up in Karachi.

Lakhvi’s bail on grounds that the evidence was not enough has been regarded by observers as a major setback to the trial. l

Khaleda now asks Hasina  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

time the streets will not remain empty and we will return home after ousting this illegal government,” she warned.

The BNP chief said she is happy to see the student leaders, who waged a movement that compelled autocratic HM Ershad to step down from office, and asked them to use the same spirit to ensure the ouster of the Hasina-led government.

“You have to wage a movement to oust this fascist (Awami League) government the same way you waged the movement and ousted the autocratic Ershad and restored democracy in the country,” she said.

Bashing the autocratic ruler HM Ershad and also a special envoy of the prime minister, Khaleda said: “You said your party will not share the misdeeds of the government. You will share power with the government but will not share the misdeeds of the government...it cannot be so. You also have to take responsibility of the misdeeds.”

Lambasting Chhatra League for its “widespread crimes,” the former prime minister said: “Check your Chhatra League goons and people will get relief.”

Regarding Chhatra Dal, Khaleda said: “Our boys are educated. They follow Ziaur Rahman and took a lesson from him. If there are some wicked boys we will get tough with them.”

Khaleda alleged that the government, which grabbed power through a voter-less election, has destroyed economy and all the country’s institutions and sectors by politicisation, corruption and misrule.

“Sheikh Hasina has destroyed the country and its democracy.”

She alleged that the government had politicised the administration and sent the meritorious officers into forced retirement.

Regarding the secretariat officials meeting with Khaleda, she said the intelligence agencies had provided false information as the tenure of the incumbent government is going to expire soon.

“You [Hasina’ have held meeting with the killers and criminals during the BDR mutiny. Now you are saying government officials held meeting with me. If they held meeting then what’s wrong. Is it illegal? But they did not hold any meeting with me.”

On the gold smuggling in the airport, Khaleda alleged that Civil Aviation Chairman Jamal Uddin and some bigwigs of Awami League were involved in gold smuggling.

She alleged that conspiracy was hatched in a planned way to destroy the largest mangrove forest of the world Sundarbans and the owner of the oil tanker was a ruling party man. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Ex-Jubo Dal leader killed ‘over control of extortion racket’ n

Mohammad Jamil Khan

Former Jubo Dal leader Afzal Hossain Sattar alias Gola Kata Sattar was killed by hired hitmen over the control of the tannery industry extortion racket in the Hazaribagh area of the capital.

“A hired shooter killed him according to the direction and planning of top criminal Sanjidul Islam Emon, while he [Emon] was in jail,” Lt Col SM Masud Rana, commanding officer (CO) of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) 2.

He said investigators were suspecting that Emon’s motive to incite and coordinate the killing was to establish his supremacy in the extortion of Hazaribagh’s tannery businesses.

The RAB 2 CO said information about the motive for the murder was obtained following the arrest of Md Masud Rana, 33, a prime suspect and First Information Report-listed accused.

“RAB arrested Masud Rana from his father-in-law’s house in the capital’s Shewrapara neighbourhood around 5:30am yesterday,” he said.

“Masud mainly worked as the coordinator of the killing mission and did it because Sattar, together with three of his brothers, killed Masud’s elder brother in the Nawabganj area of the capital in 1996,” said Lt Col Masud.

Thirty-seven -year-old Sattar, a former president of Ward 48 of the Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal and a raw-hide trader, was shot dead in broad daylight in the Jigatola Tin Mazar Mosque area on December 14. A case was filed with Hazaribagh police station.

The plan to kill Sattar was hatched six months ago when the deceased was out of jail on bail.

Top criminal Emon inspired Masud to carry out the revenge killing, the CO

said at a press briefing at the RAB office in the capital’s Agargaon area.

Masud, along with another accused, Ibrahim Khalil alias Bulu, watched Sattar for the last four months following Emon’s suggestion. Both stayed in contact with Emon continuously about the killing mission over their cell phones, the RAB 2 CO said.

They tried repeatedly to kill Sattar during the last four months, but failing to do so, gave the job to Goni, a hired shooter.

Masud told RAB he came to know that Goni was a trained shooter from Bulu, according to the RAB CO. “On the day of the killing, Masud set up Monir, Rajat, Rana and Taposh at different spots of Jigatola. Goni was in the front-line. Sattar was shot pointblank by Goni and died on the spot,” the Lt Col Masud said.

“Emon and Sattar worked together

before 2005 and both are accused in a number of cases. The deceased, Sattar, was an accused in at least 15 criminal cases including murder, robbery and extortion,” he said.

After 2005, due to a massive drive against criminals by law enforcers, Emon and his associates went into hiding and crossed the border. The police’s Criminal Investigation Department brought Emon back to the country from India in 2007. At that time, a conflict also arose between Sattar and Emon and they started working separately, Lt Col Masud said. But he could not say why enmity arose between Sattar and Emon in 2007.

RAB and the police are keeping an eye on Emon’s men because he is believed to be in control despite being in jail, Lt Col Masud said.

The CO said Bulu and Masud were in custody. l

To make honey from mustard seeds farmers have placed 60 honey bee nest boxes by the side of a mustard field in Kashimpur Beel area in Godagari upazila of Rajshahi. The photo was taken yesterday AZAHAR UDDIN

Tarique faces arrest warrant for ‘razakar’ remark Sanaul Islam Tipu and n Md Tarek Mahmud A Dhaka court yesterday issued an arrest warrant against BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, currently in the UK on parole, in a defamation and sedition case filed by a lawyer for calling Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman a “razakar.”

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Yunus Khan passed the order after Md Mostafizur Rahman Dulal, a member of the Dhaka Bar Association, filed the case. The court also asked the police station concerned to submit warrant execution report on February 2.

After recording the plaintiff ’s deposition, the court took into cognisance the defamation charge, but refrained from passing order on the sedition section of the complaint.

Ruling party-backed Hawkers League General Secretary Md Abdul Mannan lodged another defamation complaint against Tarique and three others with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Md Maruf Hossain over Tarique’s remark made on December 15.

BNP Chairperson’s Adviser Mir Mohammad Nasir Uddin, party’s Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi and its International Affairs Secretary Majedur Rahman are the three other accused.

But the court kept the petition pending since the complainant or his counsel did not appear before the court during the hearing.

While addressing a programme in London on December 15, Tarique called Father of the Nation Sheikh Mujib a “razakar,” a term which has become synonymous with a collaborator or traitor of the Pakistani occupation army since the country’s independence.

Elder son of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, Tarique said Sheikh Mujib had accepted Yahya Khan as Pakistan’s president and participated in the national and provincial elections accepting his conditions.

He also claimed that Sheikh Mujib, the father of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, had never wanted an independent Bangladesh, but a combined Pakistan.

On December 10, another metropolitan magistrate issued a warrant for arrest of Tarique in a defamation case filed for calling Bangabandhu “Pakbandhu” (friend of Pakistan) and he

JS body recommends vacating Hasina: Work on to establish professional, MP flats by mid-January well-trained armed forces n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

The House Committee on the tenth parliament yesterday recommended that nine incumbent cabinet members vacate the flats they were allotted when they were only lawmakers in the ninth parliament.

During a meeting of the committee, the nine - Hasanul Haq Inu, Sayedul Haq, Shajahan Khan, Sharif Shamsur Rahman Dilu, Mirza Azam, Abdullah Al-Islam Jacob and three others – were recommended to vacate flats by January 15 next year.

“We notified them several times to leave the flats but they did not comply. The committee has decided to give them another chance,” ASM Feroz, chairman of the committee, told the Dhaka Tribune after the meeting.

ASM Feroz, also the chief whip of the parliament, said the committee dis-

Mobarak appeals against tribunal verdict n Tribune Report Death sentenced war criminal Mobarak Hossain has appealed with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court against the verdict handed down on November 24 by the International Crimes Tribunal 1.

Mobarak filed the petition yesterday through his lawyer Joynal Abedin Tuhin seeking acquittal from the two charges on which he was found guilty by the tribunal.

The convict submitted an 82-page appeal petition before the apex court.

He also annexed 780-page documents along with the appeal. He mentioned 77 grounds, which he said the court should consider for acquitting him.

Mobarak is a former Jamaat-e-Islami leader who later joined the Awami League but was expelled. He was given capital punishment for the abduction and killing 33 people of Tanmandaiyl village of Brahmanbaria’s Akhaura. l

cussed a number of issues, including payment of bills with acknowledgement of the MP concerned on completion of any work done in his flat.

The committee discussed quality of sanitary fittings in flats of lawmakers, canteen and laundry problems in the parliament building area and difficulties in purchasing air tickets.

The committee asked to take necessary measures to resolve the problems. Opposition Chief Whip Tajul Islam Chowdhury, Mohammad Abdus Shahid, Noor-E-Alam Chowdhury, Segupta Yasmin, Fazle Hossain Badsha, Panchanan Biswas and Mahbub Ara Gini attended the meeting.

The meeting also discussed security of MP buildings at Nakhalpara and Manik Miah Avenue and urged the authorities concerned to provide ID cards for the drivers and housemaids working for lawmakers. l

n BSS Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said her government had been working to establish professional and well-trained armed forces to safeguard the country’s hard-earned independence and sovereignty.

“That is why we have allocated increased money for the armed forces in the national budgets and formulated the armed forces goal 2030,” she said while addressing the graduation ceremony of the National Defence College and the Armed Forces War Course 2014 at Mirpur Cantonment. NDC Commandant Lt Gen Mollah Fazle Akbar also spoke at the function.

Hasina said: “Bangladesh is proud of its armed forces which were born during the Liberation War. Our patriotic armed

forces always were with the people to meet their hopes and aspirations. I hope they will do the same in future.”

In continuation of the forces goal, she said, the government had procured equipment including fourth generation tank MBT 2000, self-propelled guns, radars, APC for the army and modern helicopters for the army aviation.

“For a three-dimensional navy, procurement of a submarine is underway and we hope that the submarine would be inducted in the navy by 2016.

Besides, helicopter, marine patrol aircraft, modern frigate and vessels were procured to meet the newer challenges,” Hasina said.

The armed forces members, she said, had always worked to help the people in times of natural and other calamities and disasters.

The prime minister congratulated the graduates for completion of the hectic and challenging the NDC and AFW Course. “You have also studied problems of governance and different solutions to this problem,” she said.

As many as 48 persons took part from Bangladesh in this year’s NDC course, including 28 Brigadiers General from Bangladesh Army, four Commodores from Bangladesh Navy, three Group Captains from Bangladesh Air Force.

Besides, 28 overseas course members from 11 friendly countries participated in the NDC Course-2014.

A total of 35 persons took part in the AFW course – six Lieutenants Colonel from army, two captains and three commanders from navy, a group captain and three wing commanders from air force. l

Mirza Fakhrul summoned JU Zubair murder case at argument stage for defaming Hasina n Tribune Report A Dhaka court yesterday summoned BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in a defamation case filed for calling Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina “a killer” and her party, the Awami League, “a party of killers.”

Metropolitan Magistrate Amit Kumar Dey passed the order after Paltan police submitted an investigation report saying the BNP leader made derogatory comments about the AL and its president.

Fakhrul has been asked to appear before the court on January 22.

Meanwhile, the complainant’s lawyer, Shariful Islam, requested the court to issue an arrest warrant against Fakhrul as Paltan police station Officer-in-Charge (investigation) Tofail Ahmed submitted the probe report in the court on December 15.

According to the investigation report, the investigating officer found that Fakhrul had made the derogatory comments.

SM Nur-e-Alam Siddique, vice president of the Awami Matsyajibi League, a pro-AL organisation, filed the suit against Fakhrul with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court of Dhaka on September 1.

The metropolitan magistrate ordered the officer-in-charge of the Paltan police station to submit a probe report before the court.

The complainant of the case was present in the court during the issuance of summons against Mirza Fakhrul.

According to the case statement, the complainant stated that Mirza Fakhrul termed Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina a killer and the Awami League a party of killers while addressing a press conference at the BNP’s Nayapaltan office on August 24.

“I saw reports of Fakhrul’s comments in different daily national newspapers on August 25 and in different national dailies the following day which tarnished the image of the prime minister at home and abroad,” the complainant said in the petition. l

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Friday, December 19, 2014

n Court Correspondent A Dhaka court yesterday fixed January 1 to start closing arguments in Jahangirnagar University student Zubair Ahmed murder case, in which 13 Chhatra League leaders and activists are made accused.

Judge ABM Nizamul Haque of the Speedy Trial Tribunal 4 fixed the date after recording statements of two defence witnesses.

One of the accused Md Mazharul Islam, who was expelled for two years, and his friend Rois Noman testified before the court yesterday claiming that the accused had not been present on the spot and suggested that the charges against him be dropped.

However, a probe committee formed by the university authorities found all the 13 accused responsible for the murder. Seven of them were expelled for life for their direct involvement while the others for two years. Earlier, two accused made confessional statements.

Nine of the accused, now on bail, appeared before the court yesterday.

Four others fled the court on February 23 after their bails had been cancelled by the tribunal.

As many as 27 out of 37 prosecution witnesses gave statements in the case.

Honours final year student Zubair, also a former Chhatra League activist, succumbed to his injuries on January 9, 2012 at United Hospital in the city.

He was beaten and stabbed indiscriminately the previous afternoon on the campus by the accused and their aides allegedly over previous enmity.

The same tribunal last year pronounced verdict in sensational Bishwajit Das murder case sentencing eight Chhatra League activists to death and 13 to life-term imprisonment.

A Dhaka court framed charges against the accused on September 8 last year. After the end of indictment hearing, Judge Md Helal Uddin reprimanded the accused saying that they were not students, but inhuman. l

be charged for sedition. A dozen cases were filed against Tarique for making such comments.

Tarique has been in London since September 11, 2008 on medical grounds after securing parole in various cases. He faces 14 charges, of which four including the August 21 grenade attack case are on trial while the rest are stayed.

He has been giving distorted versions of the history of Bangladesh since the January 5 national election this year. The BNP boycotted the poll and failed to resist it despite months of violent and bloody street protests.

In late May, Tarique at a discussion claimed that the political life of Sheikh Mujib had been a failure whereas BNP founder Gen Ziaur Rahman was a success.

Tarique said Sheikh Mujib never wanted an independent Bangladesh, but a combined Pakistan After his latest remarks, the prime minister on Wednesday advised Khaleda to ask her “spoiled” son to watch his mouth while giving statements. “Otherwise the people of the country will teach him a befitting lesson,” Hasina said.

A number of leaders of the ruling Awami League and prominent citizens also vented anger and grievances over Tarique’s comment, terming him insane. Party’s Publicity and Publication Secretary Hasan Mahmud yesterday said if the people of Bangladesh had found Tarique, they would have cut off his tongue for making such comments on Bangabandhu.

Sedition case in Chittagong

City unit Chhatra League General Secretary Nurul Azim Rony yesterday filed a sedition case against Tarique Rahman for calling Bangabandhu a “razakar” with the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court of Moshiur Rahman Chowdhury.

The court took the case into cognisance and ordered Kotwali police Inspector (investigation) Nezam Uddin to look into the matter.

The officer was asked to submit report within 10 days and adjourned the proceedings until December 27. l

War tribunal indicts Forkan Razakar n Tribune Report The International Crimes Tribunal 2 yesterday framed charges against Forkan Mallik for his alleged crimes against humanity committed in Mirzaganj upazila of Patuakhali during the 1971 Liberation War. Forkan was indicted on five out of eight charges brought against him by the prosecution on November 17.

It also set January 19 for placing opening statement by the prosecution and recording the deposition of prosecution witnesses. The defence was asked to submit list of witnesses by that day.

Forkan, 63, pleaded not guilty when the tribunal 2 finished reading out the charges against him.

According to the prosecution, the accused was a razakar commander in Mirzaganj. He was also involved with the anti-liberation Muslim League.

On June 25, police arrested him from the Rupatali bus stand area of Barisal.

Abdul Hamid of village Shoulabunia of Mirzaganj lodged a case against Forkan with Mirzaganj police station on July 21, 2009. A team of the tribunal’s investigation agency completed its probe on October 27 this year.

Forkan is accused of looting, detaining, killing and genocide and for the attack on Subidkhali Bazar in Mirzaganj on August 12, 1971. Four people including the upazila unit president of the Awami League were murdered.

He is also charged for detaining, forcefully converting and deporting three members of a Hindu family in Subidkhali Bazar on August 15.

The accused is charged for the abduction and rape of Golapi Rani of Subidkhali Bazar on August 17. The victim later died. Under charge four, Forkan is accused of the abduction and rape of Shobharani Karmaker and Shushoma Rani on August 20. Later they were forced to leave the country.

The prosecution in the other charge mentioned that Forkan was responsible for the abduction, detention, torture, loot, arson, rape, murder and genocide in the Kakrabunia village of the same upazila on August 22. Aleya Begum was raped and three other people had been murdered in that incident. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Friday, December 19, 2014

NHRC chief says land rights can better indigenous people’s conditions n Tribune Report The conditions of the indigenous people can be improved by ensuring their land rights legally, said National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Chairman Mizanur Rahman.

“Only ensure land rights and the laws in this regard for the indigenous people. A fundamental change will come to their present situation,” he said at a seminar in the capital.

Kapaeeng Foundation and Action Aid Bangladesh organised the seminar on “progression status of universal periodic review recommendations to Bangladesh: indigenous people’s perspective” held at the CIRDAP International Conference Centre.

The NHRC chief urged the government to implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord as soon as it is possible.

Criticising the government for not ensuring the indigenous people’s rights in the hill tracts, he said he did not sometimes see any difference between

The NHRC chief urged the government to implement the Chittagong Hill Tracts Accord as soon as possible the government’s “oppression” in the hill tracts and Israel’s in Jerusalem.

“It cannot be allowed happening in a country like Bangladesh, which we dream of being a country of equality.”

International CHT Commission member Khushi Kabir, also coordinator of Nijera Kori, said the Awami League had showed its firm stance on ensuring their rights and the use of the word ‘adibashi’ in the Constitution.

“But since after the election, they are saying there is no indigenous people in the country. I do not think they are saying this for their lack of political will. Rather, there is something else behind this,” she said.

Kapaeeng Foundation’s Executive Director Binota Moy Dhamai presented the key note paper at the seminar, with Professor Dr Sadeka Halim moderating it.

Kapaeeng Foundation Chairperson Rabindranath Soren, Indigenous People’s Forum General Secretary Sanjeeb Drong, the Ministry of Hill Tracts Affairs’ Joint Secretary Salma Akhter Jahan also spoke at the seminar. l

Speakers at a seminar on Universal Periodic Review (UPR) in the perspective of Bangladeshi indigenous people jointly organised by Kapaeeng Foundation and Action Aid at the capital’s CIRDAP auditorium yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Youths can change Bangladesh, says Mizanur n DU Correspondent National Human Rights Commission Chairman Mizanur Rahman said yesterday the youth can eliminate all social problems, including hunger, poverty and corruption, in Bangladesh.

By doing so, they can play a pivotal role in bringing about a change in the country, he said at a discussion titled Youth Parliament to Explore Future Bangladesh held at Dhaka University Nawab Nabab Ali Chowdhury Senate Building.

Emphasising on the youth leadership, he said: “If a country wants progress, its youth must have the quality of leadership...Unity is essential for efficient leadership.”

He urged the youth, particularly students, to practise ethics in politics and to be aware of all misconducts, including question leak and violence on the campus.

Mizan also asked the youth to pressure the government into providing all types of support to the people, particularly the disabled and

distressed ones.

The discussion was held in three sessions – ICT for Entrepreneurship and Innovation; Human Rights, Good Governance and Environment; and Education for Future Economy and Leadership.

Sushashoner Jonno Nagorik President Badiul Alam Majumdar, Transparency International Bangladesh Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, Bangladesh Environmental Lawyers Association Executive Director Syeda Rezwana Haque also spoke there.

They urged the government to provide proper internet facilities in rural areas and lessen the cost to ensure internet access to all.

They stressed the need for involving women more and more in the ICT sector to build a science and knowledge-based society.

Dhrubotara Youth Development Foundation organised the discussion, with Information and Communication Technology Division Secretary Shyam Sundar Sikdar inaugurating it. l

IUB’s 16th convocation held n Tribune Report

The 16th Convocation of the Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) was held on the university campus at Bashundhara, Dhaka yesterday.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid conferred the degrees upon the graduates. IUB Founder President Dr A Majeed Khan was the convocation speaker.

In his speech, Nahid advised the graduates to lead the country towards prosperity to meet new challenges.

Dr A Majeed Khan said the graduates need ethics and good minds.

“We all are in the same vessel, in the vessel of education,” he said.

A total of 1,163 students from different programmes attended the convocation. Of them 729 were from undergraduate and 434 from graduate level programmes.

A total of 83 students earned ac-

Intl conference on info-softknowledge at UIU

n Tribune Report

ademic honours. Five students, one from the undergraduate and four from the graduate programmes, received Chancellor’s Award (Gold Medal).

The gold medalists are Maeesa Ayesha, Tanzina Ahmed Choudhury, Razibul Hasan, Ali Ashraf Molla, Azmi-

na Panjwani and Nabila Rahman.

Meanwhile, Shabhanaz Rashid Diya and Marufa Mehnaz Chetona from the media and communication department and SK Hashmi Rafsanjani from the school of business received the IUB Alumni Association Award.

A three-day intentional conference on software, knowledge and information management began at the United International University in the capital yesterday.

Researchers from 27 countries will discuss their recent scientific works and present research results in 15 sessions at the conference titled the “8th International Conference on Software, Knowledge, Information Management and Applications”, said a press release.

Some 75 research papers on various topics have been selected for the final publication after a rigorous peer review process, it said. l

‘Cooperaion among villages needed for positive change’

n Tribune Report Junior Chambers International (JCI) President Shine Bhaskaran, on a visit to a community under a JCI initiative yesterday, said cooperation among villages were necessary to achieve sustainable impact and positive changes in society.

He visited the community under Dhaka Uptown, the JCI initiative, in Parameshwardi village in Sonargaon upazila with an aim to receive feedback from local residents about the community’s condition and the improvements that were made.

JCI is an international organisation focused to work with people aged 18-40 years for socio-economic development in 120 countries.

A reception was held in his honour at Parameshwardi Government Primary School, where Bhaskaran was warmly greeted by hundreds of children.

Later, in a meeting of JCI members in the school compound, Bahaskaran said: “JCI initiatives and cooperation among the villages are needed to bring about sustainable impact and positive change, be it in clean water, tree plantation, raising awareness in domestic violence and family planning.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Mortality from diarrhoeal diseases sharply falls Life-expectancy improved for both men, women in Bangladesh

n Tribune Desk Fewer people are dying from diarrhoeal diseases and preterm birth complications in Bangladesh, according to a comprehensive analysis of trend data from 188 countries.

Since 1990, Bangladesh saw marked declines in mortality from a number of diseases that used to take a large toll on the country, reports UNB. For instance, by 2013, mortality from diarrhoeal diseases decreased 91 percent and preterm birth complications caused 79% fewer deaths.

In 1990, these diseases killed 271,569 people. Twenty-three years later, they claimed 235,859 fewer lives.

At the same time, a number of diseases, including ischemic heart disease and diabetes, claimed more lives in Bangladesh in 2013 than in 1990.

Life-expectancy improved for both men and women in Bangladesh at an average of 11.1 years gained since 1990.

This was a larger increase than the global average, and one of the top 10 biggest gains in life-expectancy worldwide.

Published in The Lancet on De-

cember 18, “Global, regional, and national age-sex specific all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 240 causes of death, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013” was conducted by an international consortium of researchers coordinated by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington.

The leading killers in Bangladesh were stroke, ischemic heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), accounting for 34% of all deaths in 2013.

Ischemic heart disease and stroke were the top two causes of death for people between the ages of 15 and 49, resulting in 31,724 lives lost in 2013.

Among individuals, 70 and older, stroke claimed the most lives that year.

The top cause of child mortality was neonatal encephalopathy in 2013, killing 28,412 children under the age of 5.

In Bangladesh, ischemic heart disease and diabetes took more lives in 2013 than in 1990, with deaths increasing more than 400 percent and more than 200 percent, respectively.

Mortality from stroke also increased more than 200 percent between 1990 and 2013.

In Bangladesh, average life-expectancy for men increased to 68.3 years.

Women’s average life-expectancy increased to 71 years in 2013.

The study also revealed how some diseases and injuries cause different mortality patterns for males and females.

For example, in Bangladesh, ischemic heart disease took a greater toll on men, killing 71,375 males and 35,505 females in 2013. By contrast, stroke claimed 91,809 women’s lives and 86,545 men’s lives.

Dr Aliya Naheed, Associate Scientist, Centre for Equity and Health Systems, icddr,b said, “Bangladesh has set an extraordinary example of improving health and life expectancy of its people at a very low cost, and has achieved notable gains in a number of indicators.

Bangladesh has outperformed some of its neighboring countries, which have higher per capita incomes.

However, the health system has been facing enormous challenges as it caters to more than 150 million people.

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Friday, December 19, 2014

These challenges will be greater in the future as the population grows, demographics shift, and chronic diseases emerge on top of infectious diseases.

The government will need to invest more in primary health care and focus on developing self-sustaining health plans for prevention of both acute and chronic diseases.”

Globally, people live an average of 6.2 years longer than they did in 1990, with a life expectancy rising to just under 72 years in 2013.

Women showed a slightly larger average gain (an increase of 6.6 years) than men (a rise of 5.8 years). Improvements in health, reduced fertility, and shifts in the world’s age patterns have driven these global gains in life-expectancy.

In Bangladesh, the average life-expectancy for women was 71 years in 2013, with men living an average of 68.3 years. By contrast, women lived an average of 59 years and men had a life expectancy of 58.2 years in 1990.

Out of the 188 countries included in the study Bangladesh ranked 126th for women and 108th for men for longest

life expectancies. In 2013, Andorra had the longest life expectancy for women (86.7 years) and Qatar had the longest for men (81.2 years).

Lesotho had the shortest life expectancy for both women (51.2 years) and men (45.6 years).

“The fact that people are living longer in most parts of the world is good news but we must do more to address health disparities,” said IHME Director Dr. Christopher Murray. “Only with the best available evidence can we develop policies to improve health and save lives.”

Worldwide, ischemic heart disease, stroke, and COPD claimed the most lives, accounting for nearly 32% of all deaths.

Much global progress has been made in reducing mortality from diseases such as measles and diarrhea, with 83 percent and 51% declines, respectively, from 1990 to 2013.

The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2013 is part of an ongoing effort to produce the timely and up-to-date understanding of what kills and ails people worldwide. l

Diagnostic centre sealed, seven arrested n Our Correspondent, Barisal A mobile court of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) yesterday noon raided and sealed off a diagnostic centre and arrested its seven officials and employees in Barisal city.

Barisal Kotowali police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shakhawat Hossain confirmed this to the Dhaka Tribune.

Administrative Magistrate Al-Muktadir, who led the mobile court, said the diagnostic centre, Rupatali Housing Estate, had been functioning illegally.

Its staffs were also not qualified and certified and so services were sub-standard, he said.

Seven persons of the diagnostic centre were also arrested during the drive.

They were director Md Hosein, technician Mustafizur Rahman, pharmacist Sirajul Islam, employees Monirul Islam and Ruma Begum and brokers Sakib and Milon.

OC Shakhawat said all the seven arrestees were handed over to them at night and now a case was underway. l

Intense cold wave likely in January in country n Tribune Report

Two workers die in dredger capsize in Shitalakkha n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

The mild cold wave, sweeping over the country for the last few days, may be intensified within a day or two, Met office said.

The cold wave may hit the people hard especially in the northern and south-western parts of the country, with mercury dip one to three degrees Celsius from today, said an official at the Meteorological Department yesterday.

“There might be fall in both day and night temperature, and the country may experience a mild cold wave after December 20 with mercury falling to eight degrees,” said Shah Alam, director of Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD).

Madaripur, Rajshahi, Pabna, Sayedpur, Jessore, Kushtia and Srimangal divisions may face spells of cold waves in January next year, he said.

A moderate to thick fog may be created over the river basins and light to moderate fog may occur elsewhere during midnight till morning, he added.

The temperature in the night may fall slightly over Rangpur division, and it may remain nearly unchanged elsewhere over the country.

According to the weather bulletin, the weather is likely to remain dry with temporary cloudy sky over the country in next 24 hours till 6:00pm today. l

Two workers died as a sand lifting dredger sank in the Shitalakkha River in Shaorait area of Kaliganj upazila in Gazipur yesterday.

The dead are Mohammed Shawkat Ali, 34, son of Ahmed Ali of Jakuapara village under Chilmari upazila of Kurigram district and Mohammed Noab Ali, 40, son of Alim Uddin of Muradpur village of the same district.

Quoting the locals, Kaliganj police station Officer-in-Charge Mohammed Nazmul Haque Bhuyan said with three workers inside, the dredger was engaged in extracting sands from the Shitalakkha River around 25 kilometre away from the shore in Shaorait Bazar area until 8pm on Wednesday.

A man named Billal Hossain alias Biplob, hailing from Narayanganj, owned the dredger.

After finishing their work, the workers fell asleep inside the dredger.

Hit by another dredger, the dredger started sinking in the river around midnight yesterday. l

WEATHER

DRY WEATHER LIKELY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 5:15PM SUN RISES 6:36AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 26 27 25 25 25 26 26 26

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

15 15 12 11 11 14 13 16

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

29.3ºC Teknaf

12.1ºC Srimangal

Source: Accuweather/UNB

Indigenous people nurturing orchards of ‘Bijli tomato,’ first-of-its-kind experimentally cultivated on Barendra soil in Kantapasha village under Rajshahi’s Godagari upazila. Produced by a local farmer Monirul Islam, the brand new breed hit the market yesterday AZAHAR UDDIN

Tension at CU over BCL activist’s murder n CU Correspondent Leaders of the Choose Friend with Care (CFC) group, a faction of Bangladesh Chhatra League active in Chittagong University, demanded immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the killers of Taposh Sarkar under the Speedy Trial Tribunal.

The CFC leaders placed their fourpoint demand at a press conference in Chittagong Press Club yesterday at 3:30pm, a day after their rival Chhatra League faction Varsity Express (VX) held a press conference at the same venue, placing their six-point demand including fair investigation of Taposh’s murder.

Taposh, a first-year Sanskrit student in CU and a CFC activist, was shot dead in a clash between VX and CFC groups at Shah Amanat Hall on Sunday.

Police detained a number of VX members in connection with Taposh’s murder.

Both the groups are based in CU shuttle train and are under the patronage of Chittagong metropolitan Awami League President ABM Mohiuddin Chowdhury.

At their press conference yesterday, CFC leaders demanded compensation

for Taposh’s family from the CU authorities.

The four-point demand was placed

by Amit Kumar Basu, former vice-president of Chhatra League’s CU unit, while former joint secretary Sumon Mamun, former deputy secretary of legal affairs Kishore Das, and former assistant secretaries Omar Faruk, Rezaul Karim and Arman Habib were present at the press meet.

Amit claimed VX man planned to kill Taposh and staged the clash as Chhatra League’s factional feud to cover up their plan, even though they have no relations with CU Chhatra League.

“After Taposh was killed, Chhatra League central committee’s General Secretary Nazmul Alam Siddique put up a post on Facebook saying the VX men who shot at Taposh were expelled from the organisation as the VX group has no relations with CU Chhatra League,” Amit said.

He also claimed that the VX men were instigated to kill Taposh by Islami Chhatra Shibir activists, proven by the Jihadi books recovered during the police raid at Shah Jalal Hall, which is dominated by the VX group.

The other three points of the de-

n Our Correspondent, Gazipur Road Communication and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader yesterday said the BNP would vanish one day because of internal enemies as they were doing negative politics.

“Tarique Rahman is enough to destroy the party,” he said this while inaugurating Rajabari Bridge over the Paruli River in Sreepur of Gazipur yesterday.

He said leaders and activists of the BNP had become split as their emerging leader Tarique Rahman had been making contradictory statements from London. Many BNP men are now in confusion whether they should remain with BNP politics or not.

Local Lawmaker Md Rahmat Ali Executive Engineer of Roads and Highway Department Aftab Uddin Ahmed and District Executive Engineer Sabuj Uddin Ahmed accompanied the minister.

Before inaugurating the bridge over the river, the minister inaugurated a foot over bridge in Rajendrapur area of the district.

BSc nurses want non-gazetted first class status

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

mand were: removal of CU Proctor Siraj Ud Dowla, cancellation of certificates of the alleged killers, and appointment of two family members of Taposh at authority level in the CU as compensation.

At their press conference on Wednesday, VX activists threatened to enforce a non-stop blockade in the CU, giving a 72-hour ultimatum to the authorities concerned to withdraw the “false” cases against them regarding the murder.

Chhatra League dissolved its CU unit after a factional clash between the VX group and the Concord group, another shuttle train-based faction of the organisation, at the university on June 10 this year.

Earlier on a visit to Chittagong on November 12, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina expressed anger over the factional disputes of Chhatra League and directed the city leaders to resolve the deadlock as early as possible.

Three days later, the disputing VX and CFC groups met at Mohiuddin Chowdhury’s residence and agreed to coexist peacefully.

However, 30 days after the agreement, Taposh was murdered in the clash between these two groups. l

Quader: Tarique Rahman is enough to destroy BNP

5:14am 6:34am 11:55am 3:39pm 5:15pm 6:35 pm

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

SourceL IslamicFinder.org

visit our website @

www.dhakatribune.com

Nurses of Bangladesh Basic Graduate Nurses’ Society bring out a rally in the capital demanding first class status be given to the jobs of the four-year BSc nursing diploma holders yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Students of Barisal Nursing College yesterday formed a human before the Ashwini Kumar Hall in Barisal town to press home their demand of up-gradation of service status for graduate nurses.

Nurses working at the Barisal Shere-Bangla Medical College Hospital also took part in the event.

Bangladesh Basic Graduate Nurses Society (BBGNS), Bangladesh Intern Nurses Association (BINA) and Bangladesh Basic Graduate Nurses Association (BBGNA) jointly

organised the programme.

Ataur Rahman, Shampa Boidya, Shima Haldar, Suborna Mandal, Reshma Aktar, among others, spoke on the occasion.

The speakers said their one-point demand was that the government recruits the nurses who have BSc degree in nursing as graduate nursing-officers with non-gazetted first class status.

They they also demanded that sufficient security and professional dignity be ensured at the working places of the nurses.

They threatened to wage tougher if their demands were not met. l

A recent remark over Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman made by BNP Senior Vice-President has been facing criticism from all strata of life.

Several political organisations took to the streets and demanded exemplary punishment of Tarique.

Moreover, a good number of cases has been filed against him across the country.

On Monday, Tarique Rahman called Bangladesh’s founding president “Razakar”, a term which has become synonymous with a collaborator or traitor since the 1971 Liberation War. The elder son of former premier and BNP chief Khaleda Zia made the remark while speaking at a programme at Atrium of London marking the Victory Day. Tarique said Sheikh Mujib had accepted Yahya Khan as Pakistan’s president and went for the national and provincial elections accepting his conditions.

He claimed that father of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Mujib never wanted an independent Bangladesh but a combined Pakistan. l

Ctg port’s container operator killed

n CU Correspondent A container handling specialist at the Chittagong Port was killed as a covered van ran him over inside the port jetty yesterday.

The deceased, Amanat Ullah Patwari, 27, was a junior operator of the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA).

Hailing from Kachuya of Chandpur, Amanat used to live on the Port Colony Road No 13, police said.

Amanat was critically injured as a speedy covered van ran him over at the Jetty No 4 around 12:00pm, said Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) Police Outpost Nayek Shilbrata Barua. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Medical college limping with no permanent campus n Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj Shaheed Syed Nazrul Islam Medical College still does not have its own campus even though three years have gone by since it was established in 2011.

Students are attending classes at different rooms of the 250-bed general hospital with difficulty. Besides, all 45 teachers and other staffs are facing much trouble as they have been working here on deputation.

Students Sanjida Afrin Shashi and Zubair Ahmed said they were facing various problems, including residence and security, every day.

Guardians were having to count

extra costs because of staying outside the campus. As there was no permanent campus, it had no hostel for its students, they said.

Temporary campus cannot provide security as much as a permanent one can, they added, urging the authorities to build their permanent campus along with students' hostels very soon.

Department of Biochemistry Head Utpal Kumar Paal said this medical college did not have the required number of teachers, officers and employees.

All the teachers and staffs here were on deputation and so facing trouble quite a lot every day. They

were just trying to make do the college, he said.

Vice Principal Sajal Kumar Saha also admitted the problems, which students, teachers and other staffs were facing, and said it had been quite tough to run classes at the tin-shed rooms on this temporary campus.

Kishorenganj Public Works Department Executive Engineer Shafiqul Islam said the college complex project began in June last year and was supposed to end by June 2015.

However, it would take one more year to finish the project because only 28% of the project had so far been completed, he said. l

Friday, December 19, 2014

One killed in clash in Gopalganj n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj A man was killed when two rival groups were locked in a clash Kashiani upazila of the district yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Munsur Ali Sheikh,55. Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kashiani police station said on the day a goat of Munsur damaged the wheat filed of his neighbour Hafizur in Baliadanga village.

Following the issue, the people of Hafizur and Munsur got locked in an altercation. At one stage, they attacked each other with local weapons , leaving Munsur critically injured.

Later, he was sent to Gopalganj Hospital where doctors on duty declared him dead. Police arrested two in this connection. l

Hundreds protest mayor’s ‘roadblock’ n Our Correspondent, Brahmanbaria

Two years after traffic were stopped plying on a pitch road beside the house of a mayor, thousands of people took to the streets in protests of it in Brahmanbaria yesterday.

They blocked Comilla-Sylhet highway for around one and a half hours and then submitted a memorandum to the deputy commissioner.

Brahmanbaria Mayor and Awami League leader Helal Uddin allegedly stopped the plying of traffic on the road in early 2012, saying traffic movement clouds his house in road dust.

The people of Natai (south), Sadekpur and Borail Unions have ever since been taking around a four-kilometre detour every day.

Natai Union (south) Parishad Chairman Abdul Kaiyum said they would next blocked Dhaka-Chittagong-Sylhet highway if traffics were not allowe on the road immediately.

People from all walks of life, particularly students, had been suffering most because they had to take around a four-kilometre detour everyday, he said.

When Mayor Helal was asked about this all, he denied stopping the plying “I was abroad when this road was blocked. After returning home, I talked to the leadership of the three unions to settle this issue but they did not listen to me,” he said. l

Raj Punnah Fair begins n Our Correspondent, Bandarban The 137th Raj Punnah Fair, a traditional tax collection festival in Bandarban, is going to start today.

Bohmong king's family sources say the three-day festival will be held at the local Rajar Math (king's field).

The organising committee has already taken preparations for the festival, which could not be held last year because of political unrest at the time.

On the opening day, the king will collect taxes from headmen and karbaris (traders) at 9am.

Housing and Public Works Minister Mosharraf Hossain, State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Bir Bahadur, Deputy Commissioner KM Tariqul Islam, Bandarban Police Super Devdas Bhattacharya and kings of the other two hill tracts districts will attend the programme.

A cultural programme will be held at the fair where 11 local indigenous communities will participate.

On the first day, the headmen and karbaris present the king with liquor, chicken, rice and fruits as they consider him a divine figure.

There are 9,000 families engaged in jhum farming in Bandarban's Bohmong Circle and each of the families pay Tk6 in taxes annually. l

Hundreds of people stage demonstration in Brahmanbaria town yesterday, protesting a move of mayor

STEALING OF FERTILISER OF TK7.30 CRORE

BADC storekeeper on five-day remand n Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj Khorshed Alam, warehouse keeper of the Bangladesh Agriculture Development Corporation in Bhairab, was granted 5-day remand on Wednesday night over Tk7.30 crore fertiliser stolen incident.

Acting on a tip-off, police form Criminal Investigation Department have arrested fugitive accused Khorshed Alam from Mirpur area in the capital on Tuesday afternoon.

Later, he was produced before Kishoreganj Senior Judicial Magistrate Md Hamidul Islam court and investigator of the case Pal Komol Chanda, assistant director of Mymensingh Anti-Corruption Commission plead for 10 days remand. After hearing, the court granted five days remand.

On the other hand, another accused Rezaul Karim, assistant direc-

tor of Bhairab BADC, was sent to jail after seven days remand and he was also produced before the same court on the same day.

Rezaul Karim was arrested on December 8 from his father-in-law Yusuf Ali Bhuiyan’s house located in Bheraduma area of Tangail town.

Earlier on November 16, Shahidullah Sheikh, assistant director of Kishoreganj BADC warehouse, filed the case with Bhairab police station against acting assistant director Rezaul Karim and warehouse keeper Khorshed Alam in connection with the disappearance of 4,326 tonnes of non-urea fertiliser worth about Tk7.30 crore from there.

Later, the case was shifted to Pal Komol Chanda, assistant director of Mymensingh Anti-Corruption Commission and he is now investigating the case. l

DHAKATRIBUNE

Madrasa student killed for ransom n Our Correspondent, Gazipur A madrasa student was killed for ransom in the town yesterday.

The victim was identified as Sajedur Rahman,10, son of Nasir Udiin and Class IV student of Shafipur Dakhil Madrasa.

SI Akram Hossain of Joydebpur police station said Faisal, Sajedur, Zakir, Sajid, Pappu and Jewel in the town abducted Sajedur on Wednesday afternoon.

At night, they demanded Tk40,000 from cell phone of Sajedur to his father as ransom. They also threatened him that his son would be killed if the demanded money is not paid immediately. The father of the deceased denied to pay the money.

Later, locals caught Zakir. According his confessional statement, they recovered the body from a septic tank of an abandoned house.

Police arrested the abductors. l

Shaky school building sends students under open sky n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha Students of a primary school in Bamandanga union are attending classes under the open sky as the dilapidated school building remains in a risky state.

The academic building of Hatibandha Government Primary School in Sundarganj upazila was erected back in 1994 but large cracks began to appear on the walls in 2006.

Flakes of paint came off the ceiling of a classroom and fell on students when they were attending a lecture lately.

The school authorities then

stopped arranging lectures at the building at the request of guardians after the incident, but were also forced to bring students under the open sky for learning as the school had no other building.

Headteacher of the school Abdul Majid Mia said several complaints had been lodged but the authorities concerned had not taken any step to repair the building.

He said the school, which has a total of 253 students, has no sanitation facilities. President of the school’s management committee Salek Mia said district and upazila education officials had been in-

formed of the problem several times but they took no measure.

He said the students are compelled to brave rain and cold to attend lectures on the open ground which hampers learning.

“What is worrying is that students are also getting reluctant about coming to school,” added Salek.

Gaibandha District Primary Education Officer AKM Amirul Islam said an application seeking allocation of funds for a new building had been sent to the Primary and Mass Education Ministry.

“Construction will begin once the application is granted,” he added. l

NEWS IN BRIEF Jubo League leader killed in road accident

A local Jubo League leader was killed when a truck rammed into his motorbike in Mastarbari area on the Dhaka-Mymenshing Highway in the town on Wednesday night. The deceased was identified as Rakib Hossain Jewel,40, joint secretary of Sadar upazila unit Jubo League, the youth associate body of the ruling Awami League. “A rice-laden truck lost control and ran him over as it turned turtle in the area. Rakib died at the spot,” said

Abdullah-Al-Mamun, the victim’s cousin.

The highway police outpost SI Mizanur Rahman said the body was handed over to relatives without an autopsy following their request. Police seized the truck but its driver and helper managed to flee the scene. A case was filed in this connection.

– Our Correspondent, Gazipur

1,500 bottles of phensidyl seized Border Guard Banglades recovered 15000

bottles of phensidyl from Meherpur border area yesterday. Shawratola BGB camp commander Nayek Subedar Abdul Baten said on a tip-off, a BGB patrol team conducted a drive in Harabhanga village near pillar NO.135 and recovered the contraband. – Our Correspondent, Meherpur

Two held for abduction Two alleged abductors were arrested in Uttar Maguri area under Sadar upazila on Wednesday night. The arrested

were identified as Shohag and Ismail Hossain. According to sources, in the morning some miscreants abducted three construction labourer Shakil, Sujan and Jamal at gunpoint from the area.

Later, the kidnappers demanded ransom from the family members of the victims.

On information, police conducted a drive around 9pm and arrested the two while others manged to flee the scene.

The police also rescued Shakil from a garden in the area. – Our Correspondent, Lakshmipur

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Special

7

Friday, December 19, 2014

‘When the need has been analysed the root cause will reveal itself’ n Interview by Ishtiaque Mahmud Shine Bhaskaran: I am happy to acknowledge that the various projects that our national presidents are currently engaged in are all in one way or another closely connected to sustainable growth and development for the chosen community. I also appreciate the fact that Bangladesh is actively participating in assisting in the development of local organisations and communities.

The current project involves education regarding clean drinking water and tree plantation, and providing stipend for students. JCI is presently focusing on need analysis on the community level. When the need has been analysed the root cause will reveal itself. Only then can JCI members hope to create sustainable change in the community, because uncovering the root cause and addressing it effectively is the only sustainable way to dealing with such challenges.

When it comes to challenges like

ensuring clean drinking water, the solution won’t magically appear in an instant, it will emerge taking its due time, but when it does it will clearly mean more prosperity in that community since less people are falling ill. This year our theme is “Unite to Impact.”

to be taken according to the varying needs of the various areas.

Have you come across anything that sets Bangladesh apart in terms of challenges we face; a challenge that is unique to us alone?

Do you think Bangladesh has need for diversified strategies to address challenges?

JCI’s mission is to provide opportunities that empower young people to create positive change. We will make sure our youngsters are empowered, and provide them with opportunities to grow in confidence; these are in turn utilised to make positive changes.

That’s the mission we are following all over the world in our 120 branches. In trying to bring about positive change we encourage our members to study the real need of the community. The challenge faced by Dhaka will not be the challenge faced by a nearby village, so we should give need analysis

Shine Bbhaskaran, JCI Global President its due urgency in the community.

Secondly, what’s the real challenge, and how can we get to the bottom of it? We need to think along the lines of “Why is the problem occuring?” That will give us a list of challenges that we need to address. We have to treat the root cause, and diversified action has

Bringing Vision to Life by JCI Dhaka Cosmopolitan The Ophthalmology first does vision screening followed by treatment for eye irritation, cornea, and vision impairment. The children are provided with free treatment along with free spectacles.

Healthy Teeth Wealthy Smile by JCI Dhaka Central Aims to create awareness of oral hygiene as well us guide people to root and consequence of oral cancer. Bangladesh has 4th highest death rate from Oral Cancer which is 13%.

Healthy Living by JCI Chittagong Cosmopolitan To reach out to underprivileged citizens in both rural and semi urban zones with medicines and consultation from physicians. As well as assist underprivileged pupils in rural areas through correspondence with relevant authority on issues of nutrition, hygiene and health, and providing the pupils with their basic schooling necessities such as shoes, uniform or stationeries.

EDUCATION & ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT Computer for All by JCI Dhaka Heritage Old Town of Dhaka is a densely populated area with no or little technological knowledge. To make the locality aware of technology especially operation and importance of computer, JCI Dhaka Heritage initiated the project, ‘Computer for All’. It aims to literate people of all

Could you tell us about a few short term goals and a long term one from the perspective of JCI regarding the communities?

Our structure is something like this: we have a local organisation, which is supported by an international organ-

isation. As a rule, local organisations have a short term plan of action spanning one year while strategic plans are more long term spanning five years.

The current focus of strategic planning has shifted from numbers to impact.

In other words, it has stopped being all about how many communities have been activated, and instead it is all about what sustainable impact the activation has had on the community in question. In a nutshell, the short term plan is to bring the government, the

private sector and social development institutions under one coordinated umbrella so that projects have next to no gaps in the chain of contributing factors leading up to sustainable impact. When we have these three crucial bodies moving in tandem, only then will we see results with any amount of impact, only then can we realistically move forward toward becoming a nation that is empowered through true and deep introspection followed by insightful actions. l

JCI Bangladesh governing body

JCI Activities in Bangladesh HEALTH & WELLNESS

I will be able to provide an answer with more certainty in the near future; this is one of the main reasons why I am here, in order to understand the country better. But right now given the statistics that I have come across already I must say that magnitude of annual maternity death in your country stands out to the point of alarm. A close second would be the infant mortality rate.

‘The current focus of strategic planning has shifted from numbers to impact. In other words, it has stopped being all about how many communities have been activated, and instead it is all about what sustainable impact the activation has had on the community in question’

age to computer education. We are continuously expanding its network and activities in our locality to develop a strong ICT community in the wake of Government Digital Bangladesh mission.

SMILE by JCI Dhaka East Bangladesh has one of the largest primary education systems in the world with an estimated 16.4 million children starting primary education in more than 82,000 schools but only 51% of them complete primary school. This project is aimed to reduce primary school dropout rate among the children who are coming from poor families.

Convince by JCI Dhaka West To offer development interventions for the young active citizens (18 - 30) of Bangladesh to nurture their talents to bring positive impact in their community. This project has been initiated following Active Citizen Framework, Education & Economic Empowerment.

Voice by JCI Dhaka West To provide development intervention to enhance debating skill of next generation leaders, freedom of speech, resolve conflicts, respect differences and overcome obstacles for young active citizens to create positive impact.

Amzad Hussain National President

Standing from left: Saif Khandaker, Secretary General; M Nazrul Islam, Training Commissioner; Niaz Morshed Elite, Director; Ahmed A Rahman, Vice President; Shakawat Hossain Mamun, Vice President; Sarah Kamal, Treasurer Seating from Left: Mostafizur Rahaman Sohel, Immediate Past President; Amzad Hussain, President; Fayaz Atiqul Islam, Executive Vice President

SUSTAINABILITY Shobujayon by JCI Dhaka Uptown It is designed to ensure sustainability of environment by creating awareness of Tree plantation and assist students to learn the global crisis of de-forestation and global warming.

Local chapter of JCI and respective presidents JCI Chittagong Cosmopolitan Mohammed Raisul Uddin

Dhaka East Rumana Chowdhury

JCI Dhaka South Syed Nasimul Azam

JCI Dhaka Central Sumon Howlader

JCI Dhaka Heritage Mir Sahed Ali

JCI Dhaka Uptown Maruful Islam Jhalak

JCI Dhaka Cosmopolitan Sharfuddin Adil Imtiaz

JCI Dhaka North Seefat Jahan

JCI Dhaka West Sarajit Baral

‘The projects in question [in JCI village] all fall under the chapter of Uptown Dhaka in Parameshwardi, Barodi, Sonargaon. Our Chapters follow a motto which goes like this: Economic, environment, community development. In other words we at JCI make ourselves responsible for the continued growth of a community in terms of economic solvency, and environmental insight thereby enabling them to efficiently maximise on its benefits and effectively mitigate its threats’

A trail to success JCI Bangladesh has recently won the 100 percent efficiency award, grabbing the attention of JCI Global President Shine Bhaskaran, who came to Bangladesh to visit the JCI village in Narayanganj

Clockwise: More than a hundred excited children waiting to receive the JCI president; JCI president Shine Bhaskaran arrives, accompanied by JCI Dhaka Uptown founder president Maruful Islam Jhalak; JCI conducting a session with farmers; Uthan boithak with women; Shine Bhaskaran making a speech at the welcoming session

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Friday, December 19, 2014

A WITNESS’ ACCOUNT

What happened inside the Sydney cafe n Agencies Joel Herat, who was taken hostage inside a cafe in Sydney, has in an interview revealed the drama that unfolded inside the cafe where he and 16 others were held at gunpoint by Iranian refugee Man Haron Monis.

Talking to Fairfax Media, Joel’s fa-

ther Bruce Herat revealed that Monis repeatedly said “someone must die now” when the first of the hostages escaped on Monday afternoon.

Three people, including Monis, died in the siege.

Monis was wide awake and highly agitated by the early hours of Tuesday morning in the Lindt Cafe in the city’s

central business district.

Joel Herat told his family Monis was herding the terrified hostages into separate groups, Xinhua reported citing the interview. They feared they would “not survive until the morning if they did not do something,” Bruce Herat said.

He said his son’s group of hostages

decided to kick down an internal door so they could escape.

“From what Joel told me initially, towards 2am Monis started to bring groups of people together in close proximity from where they had been dispersed throughout (the cafe),” he said.

“And at that point in time, Joel and

Chocolate bears are seen placed outside the Lindt cafe, the scene of a fatal siege in the heart of Sydney’s financial district yesterday

AFP

five others came to the conclusion that they were not going to survive until the morning if they did not do something.

“So I think him and Jarrod (19-year-old Jarrod Hoffman) basically came to the conclusion that they would bust down the door.

And I know that Joel made sure that Harriette (Denny)... got behind him and he said, ‘You’re coming with me’, and basically made sure that all in that group were ready to go when Joel and Jarrod broke down the door, it was a group of six in total, I’m not sure who the others were.”

This was the group seen escaping just before heavily armed tactical assault police stormed the cafe.

Earlier Monday, when the first group of hostages escaped, Monis was furious.

“We knew that three escaped early on, and I knew that was fabulous, but we were very much worried that some form of retribution would be taken,” Bruce Herat said.

“Luckily it wasn’t but I know that when I spoke to Joel later he said that upon the first escape, (Monis) lined up five people, one of them was Joel, and pointed a gun at them and said, ‘Someone must die now.’

“I don’t know how they did it but they did kick down the (internal) door, which leads to the barristers’ chambers, and then the moment they busted that door down, Joel heard shots in his proximity. And he made sure that Harriette got out and Jarrod got out, there were shots as they were fleeing,” Jared Herat’s father said.

“It had to be immediate, no opportunity to look back or anything like that, they just had to take their opportunity.”

Bruce Herat said families of the hostages waited in a nearby court building until the siege ended. l

US, Cuba restore ties after 50 years n

Reuters, Havana/Washington

The United States and Cuba agreed on Wednesday to restore diplomatic ties that Washington severed more than 50 years ago, and President Barack Obama called for an end to the long economic embargo against its old Cold War enemy.

After 18 months of secret talks, Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro agreed in a phone call on Tuesday on a breakthrough prisoner exchange, the opening of embassies in each other’s countries, and an easing of some restrictions on commerce.

The two leaders made the announcement in simultaneous televised speeches. The Vatican and Canada facilitated the deal.

Obama’s call for an end to the economic embargo drew resistance from Republicans who will control both houses of Congress from January and who oppose normal relations with the Communist-run island.

Obama said he was ending what he called a rigid and outdated policy of isolating Cuba that had failed to achieve change on the island.

His administration’s policy shift includes an opening to more commerce in some areas, allowing use of US credit

and debit cards, increasing the amount of money that can be sent to Cubans and allowing export of telecommunications devices and services.

Travel restrictions that make it hard for most Americans to visit will be eased, but the door will not yet be open for broad US tourism on the Caribbean island.

Obama’s announcement also will not end the US trade embargo that has been in force for more than 50 years.

That is codified in legislation and needs congressional approval. Obama said he would seek that approval but likely faces a struggle.

But sanctions experts said Obama had leeway to use executive his powers to ease the embargo even in the face of congressional objections.

“There is a lot of breadth to authorise things more broadly than they’ve been authorised, provided that the broad (legislative) contours are adhered to,” said Peter Kucik, a former Treasury Department official who worked on Cuban sanctions.

Obama said the opening was made possible by Havana’s release of American Alan Gross, 65, who had been imprisoned in Cuba for five years. Gross’ case had been a major obstacle to improving relations. l

Cameroon army kills 116 Boko Haram militants n Reuters Cameroon’s army killed 116 Boko Haram militants on Wednesday when they attacked a base in the Far North region of the country, said defense ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Didier Badjeck.

Meanwhile, suspected Boko Haram gunmen kidnapped more than 100 women and children and killed 35 people during a Sunday raid on the remote northeast Nigerian village of Gumsuri, a security source and resident said on Thursday.

“They gathered the people, shot dead over 30 people and took away more than 100 women and children in two open-top trucks,” Maina Chibok, who did not witness the attack but is from Gumskiri and visited family there shortly afterwards.

Although no one has claimed it yet, the attack bore the hallmarks of Boko Haram.

“They also burned down a government medical center, houses and shops,” Chibook said.

A security source confirmed that more than 100 had been abducted and said 35 people had been killed, including the district head. News from remote parts of Nigeria that are cut off from mobile communications sometimes takes days to travel.

In Cameroon, militants ambushed a column of army vehicles using an improvised explosive device and then hundreds attacked in the region of Amchide, 65 km (40 miles) north of Maroua, at around 10.30 a.m. local time (0430 ET).

The five-year-old campaign for an Islamic state by Boko Haram, whose name means “Western education is sinful,” has become the greatest menace to the security of Africa’s biggest economy and top oil producer. l

‘Over 200 bodies’ found in Syria n Agencies The bodies of 230 people killed by the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group have been found in a mass grave uncovered by their relatives in Syria’s Deir Ezzor province, a monitoring group has said.

The discovery brings the number of members of the Shaitat tribe killed during ISIL’s summer advance in Deir Ezzor, near Iraq, to more than 900, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said on Wednesday.

“The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has learned from trusted sources that more than 230 bodies have been found in a mass grave in the desert near al-Kashkiyeh in the east of Deir Ezzor,” said the Britain-based group.

It said the “vast majority” were civilians, and that many of them were executed in cold blood after the tribe rose up against ISIL. The tribe had earlier driven out rival self-declared jihadists and rebels from the area.

ISIL controls large swathes of northern and eastern Syria, as well as parts of neighbouring Iraq.

Hundreds more members of the Shaitat tribe are still missing, said the Observatory, which relies on a large network of activists, doctors and military sources on all sides of the Syrian conflict for its reports. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

9

Friday, December 19, 2014

India wants Pakistan to reverse unfortunate Lakhvi bail n Agencies

A Pakistani court yesterday granted bail to 26/11 mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, sparking outrage in India which minced no words to condemn the decision as unacceptable and unfortunate.

His bail came a day after Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif lifted a moratorium on the death penalty and pledged to wipe out terrorism from the region in the wake of the massacre of 132 schoolchildren in Peshawar.

Lakhvi is among seven Pakistani nationals accused of planning and abetting the brazen terror attack in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, that left 166 dead. He was the operational head of the banned Pakistani terror group and, along with LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, a key planner of the 60-hour siege.

Reactions in India on Lakhvi’s bail was sharp and scathing, some calling it a Pakistani doublespeak after Sharif’s pledge not to bracket terrorists as good or bad.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh said the court’s decision was “unfortunate.” “I believe whatever evidence India has given to Pakistan on Lakhvi are more than enough to nail him. Hope the Pakistani government will appeal in a higher court so that his bail is cancelled.”

The external affairs ministry made it clear that the bail to Lakhvi, a key conspirator of the Mumbai attacks and a UN designated terrorist, cannot be accepted.

“We cannot accept that LeT’s chief operation commander Zaki-ur Lakhvi, one of the key conspirators of the Mumbai terror attacks in which so many innocent people were slaughtered, a person designated as an international terrorist by the UNSC, is being released on bail,” external affairs ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.

“We call upon the government of Pakistan to immediately take steps to reverse this decision. There can be no selective approaches to terrorism. Given the scale of the tragedy that Pakistan itself has faced in recent days, it is incumbent on it to realise that no compromise can ever be made with terrorists.”

Sources have already indicated that government was working with its mission in Pakistan to prepare a strong response to the Anti-Terrorism Court’s verdict.

Lakhvi and six others had filed bail applications on Wednesday, even as lawyers were

observing a strike to condemn the terrorist attack on an army-run school in Peshawar.

Ujjwal Nikam, public prosecutor in the 26/11 case, termed Thursday’s development a setback and asked Pakistani authorities to ensure it was cancelled. “It is a big setback because now witnesses will not like to come forward and give evidence.”

He rejected defence lawyers’ claims that there was no evidence to directly link Lakhvi with 26/11. “If they don’t have evidence, why was he not released earlier? India has provided enough evidence (to Pakistan).”

Refusing to make any comment on Lakhvi’s bail, defence minister Manohar Parrikar said Pakistan should reciprocate with positive attitude in response to the maturity shown by India in standing by its side in the hour of grief following the Peshawar carnage.

“I would not comment on what other nations are doing but things are not working correctly.”

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said Lakhvi’s bail was proof that Pakistan had not learnt any lesson from the Peshawar carnage. “We have been asking for his arrest for a long time. We need to continue to put pressure.”

Lakhvi was arrested in Pakistan in February 2009 and was indicted on November 25 that year but the failure to advance the trial over the past five years has been a source of irritation when the two nations try to improve frosty ties through dialogues and other measures.

India has long said there is evidence that “official agencies” in Pakistan were involved in plotting the 26/11attack. Islamabad denies the charge but LeT’s charitable arm Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), headed by Hafiz Saeed and seen as a front for the terror group, operates openly in the country.

Saeed also leads a high-profile existence despite a $10m US government bounty offered for his capture, regularly appearing on TV and addressing large public gatherings of his followers - the most recent being the one in Lahore early this month.

“If Pakistan wants to fight terrorism, they should fight terrorism emanating from inside. The Peshawar incident shook the world,” Nikam said.

Reports said Peshawar could be a watershed for a country long accused by the world of treating terrorists as strategic assets. The military has been known to be too lenient towards Islamist militants who are used to carry out the army’s bidding in Kashmir. l

A Pakistani photographer takes photographs inside a classroom an army-run school that was attacked by Taliban militants in Peshawar yesterday

AFP

Anger and grief as Pakistan buries students massacred at school n Reuters, Peshawar Pakistan on Wednesday began burying 132 students killed in a grisly attack on their school by Taliban militants that has heaped pressure on the government to do more to tackle an increasingly aggressive Taliban insurgency.

Anger mixed with the grief as people looked to the authorities to act decisively. In an apparent response to public opinion after what may have been the deadliest militant attack in Pakistani history, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced he had lifted a moratorium

on the death penalty.

At a vigil in the capital Islamabad, Fatimah Khan, 38, said she was devastated by the atrocity.

“I don’t have words for my pain and anger,” she said. “They slaughtered those children like animals.”

Sixteen-year-old Naba Mehdi, who attends the Army School in the nearby garrison city of Rawalpindi, had a message of defiance for the Taliban.

“We’re not scared of you,” she said. “We will still study and fight for our freedom. This is our war.”

When asked what the government should do, her mother inter-

rupted: “Hang them. Hang them all without mercy.”

The focus was on Army Chief Raheel Sharif as he visited Afghanistan, where the two sides - whose relationship is strained after decades of mistrust - discussed how to crack down on militants hiding on their common border.

A Pakistani source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the army chief Raheel Sharifhad asked the Afghan side to help catch and hand over Pakistani Taliban Chief Mullah Fazlullah, who is hiding in the lawless mountains on the Afghan side of the frontier.

“It has been our long-standing demand,” the senior military official told Reuters. “And if Afghanistan does not help us then we have other options, including the option of hot pursuit.”He added the army chief went to Kabul with “incontrovertible evidence” that the attack was masterminded in Afghanistan.

Raheel Sharif got assurances on Wednesday from the Afghan government and International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (Isaf) for action against a Kunarbased Taliban splinter group which is believed to be behind the massacre. l

Taliban’s sadistic games with students n AFP Taliban gunmen who stormed a school in northwest Pakistan toyed with captive students by suggesting some could be let go before lining them up and gunning them down in front of their classmates, according to a new account by survivors.

Militants rampaged through an army-run school in Peshawar and killed at least 141 people on Tuesday, almost all of them children.

Pakistan was in mourning over the attack, the bloodiest in the nation’s history, which brought international condemnation and promises of a stern crackdown by political and military leaders.

Previous accounts by witnesses have indicated a pattern of indiscriminate firing on students with those fortunate enough to survive playing dead while the attackers moved on.

But Shahnawaz Khan, a 14-yearold who was being treated in a Peshawar hospital for two bullet wounds to his shoulder, said the attackers also engaged in sadistic games.

He said he and his class were in the middle of English grammar lecture when they heard gunshots, though their teacher said it was a first-aid class and the sound could be coming from a demonstration.

The blood-splattered auditorium

of the Army Public School in Peshawar reveals the barbarity of Tuesday’s Taliban attack.

“But after a while the sounds of gunshots grew louder and we were hearing screams of students,” said Khan, the son of a former local government official.

“Our teacher opened the door and suddenly rushed back to the room and shouted get under the benches, he was trying to lock the door when someone pushed it from outside and he fell to the ground.

“Two men wearing army-like uniforms carrying AK-47s barged into the room and told us not to make any noise and do as they say.”

Khan said the man asked for

eight students who wish to be let go to raise their hands, with almost the entire class responding to the call by doing so.

“They took eight students of their choice and made them stand in front of the class near the blackboard facing the wall and told us to watch the students,” he continued, as one of gunmen, whom Khan described as burly, forced the class teacher on to a chair.

“He told our teacher: ‘Watch as your loved ones die. Ours are also being killed in the same way.’”

The gunmen then opened fire on the children who slumped to the ground, some dead and others writhing and moaning in agony. l

Taliban attack: Pakistan army retaliates, kills 57 militants school children were killed, n Agencies were trained in the Bara area Pakistan army retaliated to the the deadly Taliban attack at Peshawar school by killing 57 militants in massive airstrikes in the Khyber tribal region where the suicide bombers were reportedly trained.

The army launched 20 airstrikes on Wednesday on several Taliban hideouts in Tirah valley area of Khyber tribal region which is adjacent to Peshawar and killed 57 militants, an army spokesman said.

The strikes were launched after reports that militants involved in the Peshawar army school attack in which 148 people, including 132

of Khyber.

The military said that the ongoing operation Khyber-1 in the district is being reviewed.

Pakistan had on Wednesday pledged to announce a “national plan” to tackle terrorism within a week with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif saying “this entire region” should be cleaned of terrorism.

Taliban spokesman claimed that its 6 suicide bombers attacked the army school, saying it was a revenge for the military’s operation against militants in the North Waziristan tribal area close to Peshawar. l

India’s biggest rocket lifts off

n AFP India successfully launched its biggest ever rocket, including an unmanned capsule which could one day send astronauts into space, as the country ramps up its ambitious space programme.

The rocket, designed to carry heavier communication and other satellites into higher orbit, blasted off from Sriharikota in the southeast state of Andhra Pradesh yesterday.

“This was a very sig-

nificant day in the history of (the) Indian space programme,” Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) chairman K.S Radhakrishnan said from mission control as fellow scientists clapped and cheered.

ISRO scientists have been riding high since an Indian spacecraft successfully reached Mars in September on a shoe-string budget, winning Asia’s race to the Red Planet and sparking an outpouring of national pride. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Friday, December 19, 2014

CODE-CRACKER

CHT violence has gone too far

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t is a matter of national disgrace that no less than 50 houses and seven shops throughout three villages in Rangamati – all belonging to the region’s indigenous population – were vandalised and torched

by Bangali settlers, reportedly in the presence of army personnel.

That these events took place on the morning of December 16, a day of celebration for all Bangladeshis, serves as a grim reminder of the aspects in our society where we have clearly failed.

While there is no excuse for such savage violence under any circumstance, attention must be paid to the fact that these crimes were allegedly committed in the presence of defense personnel who stood by and did not intervene or attempt to stop the violence.

The CHT region has long been fraught with frequent spates of violence against indigenous people. Whether or not the attackers were somehow “instigated” to lash out at the Pahari community, there is no excuse for this kind of lawlessness. This is not a matter of taking sides, but a matter of protecting the basic rights of all Bangladeshi citizens.

We urge the government to bring the perpetrators to book immediately, and to compensate the victims of this terrible assault without delay. These attacks are a tragedy, not for any particular ethnic group, but for all citizens of Bangladesh.

This is not a matter of taking sides, but a matter of protecting the basic rights of all Bangladeshi citizens

Speed it up

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recent survey shows that a large number of Internet users are unhappy with the speed and quality of Internet services available in the country. In the survey conducted by the Bangladesh ICT Journalist Forum (BIJF) and Expo Maker, it was revealed that only 2.3% of 900 respondents said they found their Internet speed to be “excellent.”

A nation cannot advance in this information age without making high quality Internet services available to households and businesses. The fact that our Internet services leave so much to be desired, and continue to frustrate millions of users, makes the government’s promises of a “digital Bangladesh” ring hollow.

The total number of active Internet users rose from 39.4 million to 40.8 million between July and August – a figure that includes mobile Internet users – according to the most recent BTRC data. This clearly shows that the demand for Internet in the country is increasing rapidly.

With business entities both small and large adapting to an online infrastructure of conducting operations, this demand shows no signs of slowing down.

With the right to Internet access steadily gaining traction in the developed world as an extension of freedom of expression and as a basic human right, it would be detrimental for us to ignore the importance of high quality information technology services, including fast Internet. Our government cannot afford to let Bangladesh fall by the wayside – digital Bangladesh is a good vision, now we need to make it real.

It would be detrimental for us to ignore the importance of high quality information technology services, including fast Internet

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

First dead dolphin spotted December 14

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 17 represents P so fill P every time the figure 17 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Tarek Ahmed Those running our country are the worst kind of useless people. What would they know or understand about the environment?

Zahurul Islam They are our masters after all. They can issue driving licenses to anybody who can identify cows and goats, they allow the wards of railway employees (who are busy otherwise) to run the trains, they allow the wards of hospital staff (who are busy otherwise) to collect tolls from visitors at the entrances, and so on!

The results: Rampant road traffic accidents, train ramming into the station buildings, newborns stolen from the hospitals, motor boats/ launches getting capsized, head-on collision of oil tankers etc. To them, any foreigner giving any opinion is imposable on the general public and they never hesitate to purchase one opinion from those who are their relatives otherwise.

The only concern is they lack certain basic qualities to be a good human being, like having common sense, shame, dignity, self-respect, empathy, sympathy, responsibility etc. And we are the happy idiots!

SD How ignorant do we have to be before we lose all of our assets? Feeling outraged!! This is horrible!

MRM You gotta pay for this!! Who is YOU!?

How Bhutan does it

December 8 “Once the happiness philosophy is taught to our bickering politicians, some sense will begin to develop.”

Fuad M Minister Shajahan Khan says no major damage likely from Sundarbans oil spill! Is he out of his mind?

Manifa Rehnuma I can’t believe it. How insensitive and stupid can people be? And at the end, you can’t feed on money if every small bit of ecology gets lost, and the Earth loses its ability to give us back.

Rupa Illiterate ministers, careless authority, and the blind government – we deserve this!

Gopal Khanal Sad news. The authorities must act soon to stop more disaster.

Music slowing down for banks December 8

RetiredBUET Beautiful piece about a beautiful place.

Rajeeb The writer seems to have forgotten one tiny (or not so tiny) detail … the population of the two countries and the system of governance.

Jacklin Elizabeth Been to this place. You will get to know Bhutan from the moment you step inside Druk Airways.

The immigration form says: “Bhutan: Where happiness has a Place.” It is indeed a place of happiness. So peaceful and quiet. You will go numb from the very first moment you step out of the airport. No sound pollution, no traffic. In the entire Thimphu city, you will find one single traffic police, whom they call the dancing police. Amazing place for any holiday destination!

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.

Latif Hossain What more will it take for the ministers et al to realise?

rose Bhutan indeed has its own ways of doing things.

Tristaterefugee “We are not comfortable with the idea of a tourist spot without major shopping options. Immersion in nature and breathing clean air do not spring to mind when the plans for a getaway are made.”

How true and sad!

SUDOKU

Jilany “The extended party for banks in the last decade seemed almost ceaseless. The night continued to seem young. But as it happens, after a night full of wild but vague memories, the morning sun doesn’t always come with the enlightenment you would have liked.”

What a way to start the writing!! I liked it.

Luna Well-written piece. And, what a cute piggy bank!

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Male deer (4) 6 Domestic animal (3) 7 Transgressions (4) 9 Satellite (4) 10 Fashions (5) 11 Danger (5) 12 Perform (3) 14 Prescribed amounts (5) 17 Unpleasant (5) 20 Large deer (3) 21 Souvenir (5) 23 Replenish (5) 25 Corrosion (4) 26 Drug-yielding plant (4) 27 Melody (3) 28 Observes (4)

DOWN 1 Chinese boat (6) 2 Takes as one’s own (6) 3 Departed (4) 4 Help (3) 5 Donkey (3) 7 Alone (4) 8 Stair handrail post (5) 10 Central (3) 13 Ship of the desert (5) 15 Safe (6) 16 Moves on ice (6) 18 Woody plant (4) 19 Tree (3) 22 Part of the eye (4) 23 Narrow beam (3) 24 Today (3)

Listen to our exporters December 8

Osmania “Develop deep sea port and infrastructure to remove bottlenecks to investment.”

If we don’t build a deep sea port, all FDI will go to Myanmar. It already gets three times more than Bangladesh.

‘Non-stop programme if gaspower price hiked’

CALVIN AND HOBBES

December 7

Fragglerock & roll “The government is increasing electricity, gas prices repeatedly because of corruption in these sectors, alleges Fakhrul.”

I doubt it’s as simple as “because corruption” that the prices of gas and electricity are being raised.

RB Cheap populism, not principle. A responsible government has to balance the books. Besides, we spend too much money subsidising wealthy consumers with diesel and gas for their AC cars and generators. Move for democracy on principle, not price rises, please.

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

RMG in concert with $50bn export target December 8

Ret B “PM urges sector stakeholders to remain alert about conspiracies.”

I hope this makes a real difference. Millions of our people need this industry to survive and to thrive. We must help it to compete better.

DU campus turns unsafe for female students December 15

PB No place is safe for women from the inhumans.

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Friday, December 19, 2014

The persecution of Maria Corina n Azeem Ibrahim

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Silence may not be an option in the face of extremism

REUTERS

A new line was crossed

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n Ashikur Rahman he 13th century Italian poet Dante once uttered a profound note of caution by stating: “The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.” After witnessing the brutal massacre of 132 children in the city of Peshawar in Pakistan

by Taliban on December 16, 2014, a similar chord was touched in the entire civilised world where no room is left for being a neutral observer to this overall ordeal.

The truth is, the mass murder that we witnessed, and the brutality that was exhibited collectively make us believe that a new line of immoral conduct was crossed in Peshawar to which we cannot be silent. In essence, there was an Islamic State-like savagery that was imported from Syria and Iraq to Pakistan to deliver a strong political message by Taliban to all its opponents in South Asia. But, have we deciphered that message yet?

Or more bluntly, is our political elite ready to see that a peaceful social order within our political space cannot and should not accommodate such vicious entities irrespective of their political strength?

There is no doubt that the Islamic radicalism and terrorism that we witness in South Asia is a manifestation of opportunistic political entities who have, time after time, patronised radical supporters of political Islam.

The history of our political space in Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan has witnessed far too many dictators and political parties who have endorsed

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H

radical religious philosophy to earn cheap legitimacy and support for facilitating their existence.

But, can we use this loss that the mothers and fathers have experienced in Peshawar to collectively unite against such a political idea? Is it possible for pragmatic political elements to draw a new line against such radical political groups that they will collectively never cross in the name of coalitions and electoral politics?

while interacting with such dangerous medieval ideas. However, can we draw a new social contract where no major political parties will pay service to such political elements to flourish?

Can we expect such moral conduct from our political leaders?

We should not forget, that despite difficult odds, our founding fathers and political thinkers have laboured and suffered in the past to implant seeds of a tolerant society

should force us to be intolerant and non-accommodative of such entities.

The time is ripe for our political elites to rise to the occasion and collectively unite in their hatred for such evil, if any remorse at all is present within their hearts.

In doing so, we must remember that the language of “political compromise,” while being very relevant and fruitful during certain historical junctures, has its own limits and is definitely not applicable in times of grave moral crisis.

To conclude, democratic principles demand that all views must be tolerated. But, does that mean that opinions and prescriptions of forces like the Taliban or any other equally heinous political element should be treated under the same consideration?

Certainly not.

Human society has evolved a long way, and some interpretations of our social order are no longer acceptable, no matter how many people endorse them.

Our heart bleeds with the blood of all the children who were mercilessly killed in Pakistan. And it should only solidify our faith in the doctrine that those who have politicised religion to stay popular in public discourse are truly the newer forms of evil who we must collectively fight.

Nonetheless, it is not going to be an easy endeavour, and the fight for a true secular social order demands our complete conviction. So, let us remain focused, and let us, for now, pray for the eternal peace of those children. l

The time is ripe for our political elites to rise to the occasion and collectively unite in their hatred for such evil

As citizens, we are often dumbfounded when we see pragmatic political entities dancing to the tune of Islamists or Hindu radicals when elections are on their door steps, but such a dangerous political attitude often had grave consequences.

That is, by strategically interacting with such extremist groups, the political elements from the centre-right and centre-left ideological continuum have explicitly given their views and philosophical standing support and legitimacy within our overall societal periphery.

Thus, the barbaric incident in Peshawar should compel our political elites to rethink their strategies

E

by harnessing a secular vision for our political order.

In particular, South Asian social space have produced thinkers like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, and Rabindranath Tagore and political leaders like Gandhi, Nehru, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Suhrawardy, and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who have challenged the tide of history to advocate political and social values that are indispensable for crafting a progressive society.

Hence, the incident of Peshawar and the mindless killing of children, who have now joined a long list of innocent people who have grieved and perished under radical religious ideals,

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L

Ashikur Rahman is Senior Economist at Policy Research Institute.

I

P

n November 26, a group of Venezuela’s State Political Police (Sebin) came to the private home of pro-democracy campaigner Maria Corina Machado to inform her that she was going to be charged with conspiring to assassinate the president of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro. The penalty, if found guilty, would be a maximum of 28 years in prison.

Yet this was only the culmination of a several months-long campaign against Machado. She was first alleged to have planned to kill the president and carry off a coup d'état by the “High Political Command of the Revolution,” a group of five top political associates of Maduro, during a national television broadcast on May 28.

During that same broadcast, Machado’s personal email address and phone number were also made public – a gross violation of privacy, and a clear incitement to violence.

Indeed, she has received numerous death threats since, as have the rest of her family.

On June 4, the president himself described Machado as “a murderer and an assassin,” and urged the judicial branch to arrest her.

The evidence? Supposed email exchanges between Machado and other opposition figures. Email exchanges that were subsequently certified by the email provider, Google, as forgeries.

No further evidence was presented, and until late November, no further official action was taken against Machado – except for the campaign of harassment and vilification. And in the end, the charge has been reduced by the attorney to mere “conspiracy,” which still carries a maximum penalty of 16 years in prison.

But Machado’s real crime? Being a long-time campaigner for electoral transparency, and a critic of the governments of Hugo Chavez and Nicolas Maduro – especially their propensity to amend the constitution of Venezuela to suit their electoral interests.

Maria Corina Machado has in the past been a co-founder, acting vice president, and the president of Súmate, a volunteer civil association established in 2002 whose aim is to monitor the electoral process in Venezuela, and counter attempts to undermine its integrity by any political actor.

It has also been effectively the strongest break on Chavez’s tendencies toward authoritarianism. It is this background and her record as a democracy campaigner that got her elected as a Yale World Fellow in 2009 – where we met and became friends.

Personally, I know her as a woman of immense strength and integrity. It comes as a great shock to know that she is in this very serious situation.

And, there are genuine fears that the

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I

regime will move against her over the Christmas period, in the hope that the timing will mean avoiding much exposure in the world news cycle.

Which is why I am writing this piece, and why I insist on drawing attention to this issue. This is something that should not pass by the international community.

Machado’s real crime? Being a longtime campaigner for electoral transparency

Consider this position. Ignore for a moment the great international standing of this woman, and the respect she commands amongst pro-democracy campaigners all over the world. Allow for a moment the Chavez and Maduro line that Súmate is an American front organisation whose purpose is to destabilise the so-called “Venezuelan Revolution.”

Allow even for the sake of argument that the charges brought against Maria Corina are not just pure fabrication by the Chavista ruling elite, but that there may indeed be some evidence, somewhere that she may have done or planned to do something illegal.

Allow for all that, and then consider the following facts: The allegations as they stand have been clearly and purposefully built up by rumour rather than evidence over a long period of time. When pressed for the evidence, the accusers and prosecuting attorneys have changed stories and charges.

Machado’s rights to privacy and equality under law have been repeatedly and deliberately violated by government supporters and state organs – it was even revealed at one point by the attorney general, whether truly or otherwise, that the emails that allegedly prove her involvement with an anti-government plot were obtained because Machado had been under a secret investigation of which she was not made aware, something that is illegal under Venezuelan law.

Machado has been deliberately linked to other conspiracies by pro-government media, in a deliberate and concerted campaign to discredit her.

Can you honestly trust that Maria Corina Machado will receive due consideration under the rule of law in this case? And if not, what does that say about the Venezuelan regime? l Azeem Ibrahim is a Lecturer in International Security at the University of Chicago and 2009 Yale World Fellow. This article was previously published in The Huffington Post.

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The demon bites back n Nadeem Qadir

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he mayhem in Peshawar, Pakistan, is an unforgivable act by the Taliban, the so-called men of Allah. If revenge means the killing of innocent children, then it is a new lesson in the so-called war for setting up Islamic rule globally.

The Taliban, or for that matter any religious extremist group, is finding its own meaning of Jihad, or holy war, and the holy Qur’an itself, thus defaming Islam, the religion of peace.

132 students of the school.

It is the latest act of distorting Islam by the Taliban, and it is high time for Pakistan to act against a demon that it has created. The demon is now larger than its master.

It is a massacre which can be likened to one of many such massacres carried out by Pakistani soldiers in the former East Pakistan to get rid of “Hindus” and “Indian agents,” but in reality to wipe out the Bengalis of all religions fighting for a homeland called Bangladesh.

Reports suggest that large-scale killings are taking place in Baluch areas to suppress dissent there.

One wonders when Pakistan will learn its lesson

I was shocked when news broke out that a Taliban group had laid siege on the Army Public School. Why a school?

Then more horrible news came – the killing of innocent children, a total of

The incident in Pakistan coincided with Bangladesh’s victory month, the month in which the Pakistani forces surrendered to the joint Indo-Bangla forces in 1971.

The mass killings could not stop the birth of Bangladesh, and now Bangladesh is indeed far better off than what is now left of Pakistan, with dissent in its northwestern province where the birth of another small state may not be far away.

Reports suggest that large-scale killings are taking place in Baluch areas to suppress dissent there. One wonders when Pakistan will learn its lesson not to kill innocent people.

The Taliban attack has put Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif under pressure to do something more serious to tackle the Taliban.

The government and its military have long been blamed for not being tough with the Taliban, while its politicians avoid mentioning the Taliban when speaking about terror attacks.

They are scared of the demon.

The Pakistani Taliban are holed up in the mountains bordering Afghanistan and are allied with the Afghan Taliban as well as al-Qaeda, besides having foreign recruits.

Pakistan and Afghanistan have blamed each other for not acting against these so-called Islamic warriors. Islamabad has been accused of harbouring the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani network.

REUTERS

Pakistani newspaper Dawn quoted sources as saying that the school attackers were working for the Afghan Taliban and prominent Taliban commander Umar Naray was the master-

mind.

As for Pakistan, the demon is slowly eating away at its soul and the future generation, but one wonders when Pakistan will wake up.

In Bangladesh, the BNP-Jamaat government gave birth to terrorists like Bangla Bhai, hampered investigations into the August 21, 2004, grenade attack on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Bangla bhai was quickly hanged without letting him speak to the press, in an apparent bid to suppress his links from becoming public.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been internationally praised for being tough on any kind terrorism, and is an example of what a government can do if it means business. Despite efforts from Bangladesh and India, we still find that the fangs of Jamaat-ulMujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) are yet to be totally crushed.

Thus, fighting terrorism has to be a commitment, and a continuous war.

The recent Bangladesh-India joint efforts are an example that Pakistan and Afghanistan can follow if they really want to fight terrorism.

Unless Pakistan wakes up now, there will be many more Decembers of such bloodbath added to its shame of losing Bangladesh on December 16, 1971. l Nadeem Qadir, a senior journalist, is a UNCA Dag Hammarskjold Scholar in journalism.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE Friday, December 19, 2014

13 Hazlewood

leads Aussie fight back

14 San Lorenzo

edge Auckland to reach CWC final

14 ‘Rolls Reus’ fined

€540,000 for driving offence

Sport

Did you know?

Hashim Amla has become the 3rd player after Graeme Smith (5) & Gary Kirsten (3) to hit 3+ Test scores of 200+ for South Africa

Young Samurais too skillful to contain n Shishir Hoque The visiting Japan Under-21 team showed exactly why they are considered the next Blue Samurais as their relentless attacks saw them end the year with a comfortable 3-0 win over Bangladesh national team in the Fifa friendly match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Japan, ranked 54th in the latest Fifa world ranking, slipped to second in the AFC rankings just yesterday, but the style of play and the vast disparity between two footballing nations from two opposite poles in Asian football was easy to read.

Bangladesh adopted a defensive strategy right from the starting whis-

SQUAD Bangladesh Liton; Nasir, Yeasin, Yeamin, Rayhan; Jamal, Sohel, Mamun, Hemanta, Zahid; Emily.

Japan U21 Masatoshi; Ken, Takuya, Ryosuke, Tatsuki; Wataru, Shiya, Riki; Yuya, Takumi, Takuma. tle and seemed to be happy going for a draw against their superior opponents, who could’not find the back of the net until the hour mark. But Japan coach Teguramori Makoto spilled water on all hopes when he deployed super substitute Asano Takuma as the attacking forward scored twice and assisted the other for Minamino Takumi.

The home side attacking trio – Zahid, Emily and Sohel – failed miserably in making any impact in the game as Bangladesh had zero shots on target

while Japan penetrated the opposition defence and threatened to score from almost every attack.

Sheikh Russel goalkeeper Rasel Mahmud Liton made some mind blowing saves in the opening half to keep the home side upbeat. The first of which came in the 16th minute when left back Yamanaka Ryosuke’s attempt on goal fell to Takumi before Liton denied the striker from point blank range.

Three minutes later, Ryosuke threatened with a curling strike from outside the box but no damage was done yet.

Nasir impressed in the Bangladesh back line stopping Kubo Yuya in the 26th minute before Yeamin Munna made an important clearance in the 38th minute, after Liton half saved Takumi’s shot, to keep the hosts on level terms.

Japan appeared much more stronger after the breather though they sqaundered two opportunites inside nine minutes of the restart. Liton’s save nine minutes into the second-half was followed by a silly miss from Shiya who shot wide despite finding an open net.

However, the scenario changed when Asano came off the bench to make Bangladesh look clueless. The substitute forward put the visitors ahead at the hour mark following a fine work by Harakawa Riki. Collecting a pass from Takuya, Riki delivered a defence splitting through for Asano who broke into the penalty area to finish from the far post.

Minamino doubled the lead in the 73rd minute with a left-footed volley following a collective work between Suzuki, Asano and the goal scorer himself.

Asano killed the game and sealed the win with his second on the night just two minutes later. l

Japan U21 player Minamino Takumi (L) scores past Bangladesh goalkeeper Rasel Mahmud Liton during their Fifa friendly match at BNS yesterday

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Titu’s ‘third attacker’ fear comes true n Raihan Mahmood

Around 20,000 spectators gathered to see the Fifa friendly match between Bangladesh and Japan U21 at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

20,000 sweet and sour fans n Raihan Mahmood Football fans contained their frustrations once again but relished the mode of two super goals scored by the Japanese U-21 team at the BNS yesterday.

Around 20,000 spectators gathered to create a festive mood at the big bowl and the encouraging first-half also maintained the euphoria, but three goals in the span of 15 minutes spoiled the atmosphere making the fans leave early.

“Bangladesh was destroyed in 15 minutes, three goals was too much, I did not hope Bangladesh to win but I lost interest to continue in the stands, after 3-0” said Ashikur Rahman Jewel, a resident of Maniknagar, who was among the bunch of spectators leaving early.

However, Shahin Chowdhury of Wari praised the Japanese goals and said, “The last two goals were world class, it showed the individual brilliance, control and skill.

The goals were scored off perfect teamwork and it was nice to see those goals, international matches provide the local fans these opportunities and we liked it.”l

Bangladesh coach Saiful Bari Titu’s apprehension of failing to cut the third attacker down came agonisingly true as Japan scored three goals to stamp their authority in the Fifa International Friendly at the Bangabandhu National Syadium yesterday.

Titu admitted the lack of physical fitness, tactical and technical inferiority that made all the difference. “You saw how the third odd man came out of nowhere and scored the goals, Bangladesh players succeeded to block the third man running down in the first half, but we failed to continue the trend in the second half, moreover the first goal demoralised the players and the Japanese team took the toll of it,” said Titu.

The Bangladesh coach said the four aspects – physical, technical, tactical and mental – was not matched by his charges. “I expected the physical sustainability will last till 70 to 80 minutes

but after conceding the first goal it fell down rapidly, Japanese players tactics and techniques are the results of long term practice that may have started in the U-12 level, we are behind them in this aspect.”

“They charged Jahid who was expected to lead our attack heavily, they cut Emily out of the players and as we tried to take the aerial route they also controlled it with their height, my expectations was that Bangladesh would have kept the clean sheet for little bit more and that in consequence mounted the frustration over them, I thought we had a chance if it happened,” opined Titu.

Titu said Bangladesh’s Bangabandhu Gold Cup preparation will begin as soon as possible and he would prefer two good practice matches.

“The first match will be after the first week after the camp and the last one before one week of the event, I think it will help the team for the perfect fine tuning.” l

Razzak five-for keeps Kalabagan upbeat n Mazhar Uddin In a race to survive in the top flight, Kalabagan KC gained some much needed confidence ahead of their crucial relegation tie against Partex as they

BRIEF SCORES Kalabagan KC v Old DOHS Old DOHS 115 allout in 29.1 overs (max 30) Nehaduzzaman 30, Siddik 27; Razzak 5/20, Shahadat 3/21 Kalabagan KC 116/2 in 23.1 overs Nasiruddin 46*, Shamsur 22; Raihan 2/28 Kalabagan KC won by eight wickets strolled past a hapless Old DOHS in the Dhaka Premier League yesterday.

Veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak bagged five wickets to lead Kalabagan to a convincing eight-wicket win at BKSP-4 yesterday.

The match was curtailed to 30 overs with heavy fog forcing a delayed start and the Kalabagan bowlers made full use of the conditions to restrict DOHS to just 115.

32-year-old Razzak, who was left out from the Tigers squad in the last home series against Zimbabwe, bagged five for 20 from just 5.1 overs to make a strong statement to the national selectors ahead of the World Cup. He was well complimented by paceman Shahadat Hossain who picked three wickets.

Kalabagan lost Shamsur Rahman (22) and Jupiter Ghosh (19) in their run chase, but safely reached their target with 6.5 overs to spare. Nasiruddin Faruque remained unbeaten on 46 off 67 balls while Zimbabwean Elton Chigumbura was not out on 13.

The match between Kalabagan and Partex on December 22 will decide the second team to join DOHS in first division next season. l

International Hockey Federation president Leandro Negre lays the foundation stone of the blue turf at the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Makoto’s half time speech ignites visitors n Raihan Mahmood It was a simple message during the half-time from Japan U-21 coach Makoto Teguramori that ignited the passion of his players and consequentially burn the Bangladesh resistance into ashes.

“You have only 45 minutes left to finish the year of 2014, it is the last match of this year for you, you decide how you want to finish it, its your decision whether you want to win or lose,” was the message after the first-half ended in a goalless stalemate and eventually saw the visitors score three goals in a span of 15 minutes.

Makoto observed the Bangladeshis before sticking to his plan and said, “I saw how Bangladesh crumbled after conceding the first goal, we capitalised on it, from the very beginning I instructed my players to block the three attacking players (Emily, Jahid and Sohel Rana), Bangladesh appeared organised in the first-half and I said to players to continue their normal game and not to get frustrated.”

The Japanese coach, who termed Bangladesh’s strategy of two-man on the ball as “old”, was also aware of the away crowd pressure that eventually decreased with the first goal. “At first I thought playing in front of the big crowd will create some pressure on my players, I think it is also a big experience for them, but I saw them leaving after the first goal, that I think had a double effect, Bangladesh got demoralised and my wards got charged, overall I finish the Asian tour with satisfaction, my players are ready for the Olympic qualifiers.” l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

13

Friday, December 19, 2014

QUICK BYTES

AUSvIND, DAY 2 India 1st innings R B (311 for 4 overnight) A Rahane c Haddin b Hazlewood 81 132 R Sharma c Smith b Watson 32 55 M Dhoni c Haddin b Hazlewood 33 53 R Ashwin c Watson b Hazlewood 35 41 U Yadav c Rogers b Lyon 9 21 V Aaron c sub (Labuschagne) b Lyon 4 11 I Sharma not out 1 3 Extras (b4, lb1, w2, nb1) 8

Abidal to retire: Olympiakos coach Former France international defender Eric Abidal who returned to playing football after undergoing a liver transplant bowed out on a winning note on Wednesday as Greek champions Olympiakos beat Panionios 2-0 in their league match. Olympiakos coach Michel confirmed after the game that Abidal had played his last game and the 35-year-old would officially announce his retirement at a press conference on Friday. Michal told Nova TV that Abidal “had made his decision to leave Olympiakos two months ago.” “I am proud to have been his coach this season.

Personal decisions are above those of the pitch,” Michel added.

–AFP

Total (all out, 109.4 overs)

Bowling Johnson 21-4-81-0, Hazlewood 23.2-6-685, Starc 17-1-83-0 (2w), M. Marsh 6-1-14-1, Lyon 25.4-2-105-3, Watson 14.4-6-39-1, Warner 1-0-9-0 (1nb), Smith 1-0-4-0

Newcastle suffer keeper crisis Newcastle United are facing a goalkeeping crisis and manager Alan Pardew is considering asking the Premier League about the possibility of an emergency loan. Already without Dutch international Tim Krul and Rob Elliott, both injured, Pardew has been relying on 21-year-old third-choice Jak Alnwick. Alnwick, who made his senior competitive debut when he came on to replace Elliott in the Premier League defeat of Chelsea this month, has conceded eight goals in his last two games and injured his shoulder in the 4-0 League Cup defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday. He was at fault for the first Tottenham goal and Pardew is looking for cover heading into a busy Christmas period.

–Reuters

Spurs hit back at Villas-Boas claims Tottenham have hit back at Andre Villas-Boas by accusing their former manager of rewriting history after he claimed the Premier League club reneged on promises over transfers.

Villas-Boas was sacked by Spurs a year ago following a difficult 18 months at White Hart Lane. The Portuguese coach has since taken charge at Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg, but the manner of his departure from Spurs still rankles, leading him to air his grievances in an interview with TVI. The 37-year-old says Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy broke promises in relation to transfers both in and out of the north London club.

–AFP

Mangongo sacked as Zimbabwe coach Stephen Mangongo has been fired as Zimbabwe’s coach just eight weeks before the World Cup. Mangongo’s dismissal comes after the team lost all eight fixtures on their recent Bangladesh tour, which included three Tests and five ODIs. No replacement has been announced but Zimbabwe Cricket will hold interviews next week and unveil a new coach after Christmas.

ZC chairman Wilson Manase said that two people were under consideration.

“They are experienced people and will do us proud.” The board announced Mangongo’s departure on Thursday afternoon after a meeting. “The ZC board has decided to relieve Stephen Mangongo of his duties as head coach with immediate effect.”

–Cricinfo

DAY’S WATCH Ten Action 5:00PM New Zealand Tour of Pakistan 5th ODI 1:30AM

Australia 1st innings C. Rogers c Dhoni b Yadav D. Warner c Ashwin b Yadav S. Watson c Dhawan b Ashwin S. Smith not out S. Marsh c Ashwin b Yadav M. Marsh not out Extras (lb1, w3, nb4)

R

B

55 29 25 65 32 7 8

79 28 29 88 70 22

Total (4 wickets; 52 overs)

221

Fall of wickets 1-47 (Warner), 2-98 (Watson), 3-121 (Rogers), 4-208 (S. Marsh)

Australia paceman Josh Hazlewood leaves the field after taking five wickets against India on the second day of their 2nd Test at The Gabba in Brisbane yesterday

AFP

Hazlewood leads Aussie fight back n Reuters Josh Hazlewood’s five for 68 on debut helped Australia battle back into the second test against India on Thursday but the contest remained in the balance when the hosts finished the second day in Brisbane on 221 for four.

India, who had been looking to drive home their advantage after taking charge on day one at the Gabba, could only add 97 runs to their overnight tally before being dismissed for 408 at lunch.

Australia lost three wickets in the second session and it was left to standin skipper Steve Smith to steady the innings with a half century to add to the unbeaten knocks of 162 and 52 he made in the first test victory in Adelaide.

The 25-year-old, deputising for the

injured Michael Clarke for the remainder of the series, was 65 not out when stumps were drawn early because of bad light, with Mitchell Marsh alongside him on seven.

All-rounder Marsh was unable to field let alone bowl after suffering a hamstring injury on Wednesday, one of a slew of Australians who ended the sweltering first day of the contest in the treatment room.

Australia needed a good start to day two and Hazlewood, crippled by cramps and forced off the field in mid-over on Wednesday, provided it by having Ajinkya Rahane caught behind for 81 with a peach of a delivery in the third over.

The 23-year-old returned before lunch to break a 57-run partnership between all-rounder Ravi Ashwin (35)

and India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (33), triggering a collapse which saw the tourists lose their last four wickets for 23 runs.

“Yesterday was obviously a pretty tough slog with the heat,” Hazlewood told reporters at the Gabba.

“But we all came out and bowled to our plan today and picked up the last six wickets for just about where we wanted them, so things are good.”

Six of India’s wickets were caught behind, giving Brad Haddin a share of the Australian record for catches by a wicketkeeper in a test innings.

David Warner was the first Australian batsman to fall, getting a top edge to an Umesh Yadav delivery on 29, and Shane Watson followed for 25 when Shikhar Dhawan took a brilliant catch

off Ashwin.

Opener Chris Rogers had just reached his sixth test half century and appeared to be ushering Australia to the tea break in reasonable shape when he gloved a Yadav ball to wicketkeeper Dhoni for 55.

Smith and Shaun Marsh put together a stand of 87 for the fourth wicket before the latter was caught by Ashwin for 32 to give Yadav (3-48) his third victim and bring his brother Mitchell to the crease.

“I think we are in front of the game at the moment if we can have a good first session tomorrow,” Ashwin said.

“We could have made a few more runs but 400 is enough if we can get a couple of quick wickets in the morning.” l

Bowling I. Sharma 9-0-47-0 (3nb, 1w), Aaron 12-159-0 (1nb), Yadav 13-2-48-3 (2w), Ashwin 18-3-66-1

Warne feels heat after calling Starc ‘soft’ n AFP, Brisbane Shane Warne was in damage control Thursday after Australia coach Darren Lehmann threatened to confront him after the spin great blasted fast bowler Mitchell Starc as “soft”.

“He has to change his body language, it needs to be stronger - he looks a bit soft,” Warne said on Channel Nine.

Lehmann was not impressed when later told of the comment.

“Soft? He used those words?,” he said. “That’s very harsh. I will take it up with Shane myself.”

Warne backtracked Thursday, saying: “I never at any stage called Mitchell Starc soft.l

Amla double-ton puts Proteas in control Kiwis level series with narrow win over Pakistan n Reuters, Pretoria

n Reuters Kane Williamson hit a brilliant 123 as New Zealand staved off Pakistan’s spirited challenge to eke out a series-levelling seven-run victory in the fourth one-day international in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

Williamson’s fourth ODI century helped New Zealand post 299 for five but Younus Khan hit 103 and Shahid Afridi blasted 49 runs off 25 balls as Pakistan looked very much in the hunt before eventually finishing on 292 for eight.

There was uncertainty over whether the match would be played following the attack by Taliban gunmen on a school in Peshawar on Tuesday that killed at least 132 students.

It eventually got underway with players and match officials wearing black armbands and observing two minutes’ silence before Williamson won the toss and decided to bat at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium.

The decision was soon vindicated by the 81-run opening stand between Martin Guptill (58) and Dean Brownlie

(42) that gave the Kiwis a perfect start.

Pakistan captain Afridi broke the partnership when Umar Akmal took a diving catch at short midwicket to dismiss Brownlie. Sohail Tanvir dismissed Guptill but stand-in captain Williamson led from

BRIEF SCORE, 4TH ODI New Zealand 299 for 5 (Williamson 123, Guptill 58; Irfan 2-53) Pakistan 292 for 8 (Younis 103, Afridi 49, Vettori 3-53) New Zealand by 7 runs and level series 2-2 the front, adding 63 runs with Ross Taylor (26) and 72 with Tom Latham (14 not out) as he completed his century in 92 balls.

New Zealand hit 91 runs off the last 10 overs and finished just shy of the 300-mark as Mohammad Irfan ended Williamson’s 105-ball knock, which included 12 boundaries, with the final delivery of the innings.l

French Ligue 1 De Lens v Nice Cote Azur

Ten Cricket 2:30PM West Indies Tour of South Africa 1st Test Day 3

Star Sports 1 5:20AM (Saturday) India Tour of Australia 2nd Test, Day 4

Star Sports 2 1:45AM La Liga Celta de Vigo v Almeria

Star Sports 4 2:07PM T20 Big Bash League Sydney Sixers v Melbourne Renegades 12:30AM La Liga Real Sociedad v Athletic Bilbao

Sony Six NBA 14-15: Regular Season 7:00AM Chicago v New York 9:30AM Golden State v Oklahoma City

408

Fall of wickets 1-56 (Dhawan), 2-100 (Pujara), 3-137 (Kohli), 4-261 (Vijay), 5-321 (Rahane), 6-328 (Sharma), 7-385 (Ashwin), 8-394 (Dhoni), 9-407 (Aaron), 10-408 (Yadav)

Sri Lankan cricket team players watch as Sri Lankan Buddhist monks chant prayers for their success during a Buddhist ceremony in Colombo, on Wednesday AFP

Hashim Amla fashioned a third double-ton for South Africa and Stiaan van Zyl clobbered an unbeaten century on debut against West Indies as they declared on 552 for five at tea on day two of the first test on Thursday.

The tourists were spared a tough 20-minute spell in the middle following the South African declaration when the umpires decided to take an early interval as rain began to fall before their innings had started.

The day has so far belonged to Amla and Van Zyl, who are on opposite ends of spectrum in terms of test experience but can be equally pleased with their efforts in helping South Africa to their massive total.

Amla showed all of his famous powers of concentration and stamina to bat for almost eight hours in compiling 208 from 371 balls before he holed out to long-on off the bowling of left-arm spinner Suleiman Benn as the hosts tried to up the tempo.

The impressive Van Zyl, long tipped as an international cricketer, grabbed his moment by smashing 15 boundaries

to end the innings on 101 not out from 130 balls.

He is the fifth South African to score a test hundred on debut, but his total is far short of the record set by Jacques Rudolph of 222 not out against Bangladesh in 2003.

The only other wicket to fall in another dominant day for South Africa was AB de Villiers, for 152, when he became a first victim in the test for the luckless Benn when a thick outside edge was caught by Jermaine Blackwood at point.l

SAvWI, DAY 2 South Africa, first innings (Overnight 340-3) A Petersen c Smith b Roach D Elgar c Samuels b Cottrell F du Plessis c Ramdin b Roach H Amla c Taylor b Benn A de Villiers c Blackwood b Benn S van Zyl not out Q de Kock not out Extras (b8, lb6, nb2, w2)

R

B

27 28 0 208 152 101 18 18

44 42 8 371 235 130 15

Total (5 wkts dec, 122 overs)

552

Fall of wickets 1-57 (Petersen), 2-57 (Elgar), 3-57 (Du Plessis), 4-365 (De Villiers), 5-520 (Amla) Bowling Taylor 26.1-5-108-0, Cottrell 28-1-1241 (2nb, 1w), Roach 15.5-4-52-2 (1w), Benn 46-7-148-2, Samuels 20-0-89-0, Brathwaite 1-0-2-0, Blackwood 3.2-0-15-0 South Africa have declared their first innings at 552 for five wickets

Amla raises his bat after scoring double century against West Indies yesterday AFP

Djokovic and Williams take ITF annual honours n Reuters, London

Rory’s the story in golf after stellar year

Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams have been named 2014 World Champions by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). The annual award takes in performances on the regular Tour and grand slams.

Wimbledon champion Djokovic takes the men’s prize for the fourth time having won seven titles this season and the year-end top ranking for the third time in four years.

Williams wins the award for the fifth time in a career which has brought her 18 grand slam singles titles - the most recent at this year’s U.S. Open.

“I’m so honored to be named ITF World Champion for the fifth time. This was a year of challenges and triumphs, so to win another Grand Slam and retain my year-end No. 1 ranking is an accomplishment I’m very proud of,” she said.l

Rory McIlroy dominated golf in 2014, winning two majors, recapturing the world number one spot and starring in Europe’s latest Ryder Cup triumph.

Not since Tiger Woods was at his best from 2000 to 2006 has one player been so commanding and, by the time the season was over, there was no more debate over who is the best golfer in the world.

McIlroy’s year started slowly enough following a poor 2013, but following the breakup of his relationship with tennis player Caroline Wozniacki in late May, McIlroy returned to his very best.

The vital spark was his win that very same week from seven shots back in the European Tour’s PGA Championship at Wentworth.

The summer brought back-to-back majors, his third and fourth, at the

n AFP, Paris

British Open at Hoylake and USPGA at Valhalla.

Those saw him climb above Adam Scott and Henrik Stenson atop the world rankings and by the time the dust had settled McIlroy was the undisputed kingpin.

He was the first UK player to win consecutive majors and the third youngest player of the modern era - after Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus - to win four majors.

The prospects for 2015 are mouth-watering if he can keep this rich run of form going.

A win in April at The Masters would set him up for a crack at four-in-a-row at the US Open in June, and the possibility of emulating Woods’ fabled run in 2000-01 (Woods completed his slam at the Masters).

McIlroy firmly believes that he is coming into his prime.l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Friday, December 19, 2014

San Lorenzo edge Auckland to reach CWC final n Reuters, Marrakech South American champions San Lorenzo needed extra-time to see off the gallant challenge of Auckland City as they beat the New Zealand part-timers 2-1 in the Club World Cup semi-final on Wednesday.

Auckland’s unlikely dream of facing European champions Real Madrid in Saturday’s final in Marrakech ended when substitute Mauro Matos fired San Lorenzo’s winner four minutes into extra-time.

CLUB WORLD CUP

San Lorenzo

Barrientos 45+2, Matos 93

2-1

Auckland City Berlanga 67

The rank outsiders had given San Lorenzo an almighty scare when Angel Berlanga equalised in the 67th minute to cancel out Pablo Barrientos’ opener for the Argentines in first-half stoppage time.

San Lorenzo will attempt to become the first Argentine side to win the tournament since it began in its current format in 2005, although they face a near-impossible task if Wednesday’s poor display is anything to go by.

In a scrappy first half, they creat-

ed an early opening when Argentine Emiliano Tade wriggled free and had a low shot saved by San Lorenzo goallkeeper Sebastian Torrico.

San Lorenzo offered little threat until Emmanuel Mas broke to the byline and pulled the ball back into the middle of the area to Barrientos, who fired a left-foot shot just inside the near post.

However, neither the goal nor nonstop singing from around 5,000 of their fans could inspire San Lorenzo and they were stunned by an equaliser in the 67th minute.

Tade’s pass through the heart of the defence evaded San Lorenzo Torrico and ran loose to Angel Berlanga who slotted home from an acute angle.

The game suddenly came to life and San Lorenzo went close with a brilliant effort by Martin Cauteruccio who flicked the ball over an opponent and crashed a dipping volley against the post.

Auckland replied immediately as Ryan de Vries found Tade free on the left but, with a chance of glory beckoning, he scooped his shot high and wide.

Substitute Matos finally settled matters when he fired home a loose ball as San Lorenzo became the third Argentine side to reach the final after Boca Juniors in 2007 and Estudiantes in 2009.l

San Lorenzo team members (R) celebrate winning their Club World Cup semifinal match against Auckland City, at Marrakech stadium on Wednesday

Dortmund held, stay in bottom three n AFP, Berlin

Ailing German giants Borussia Dortmund remain in the Bundesliga’s relegation places after twice throwing away the lead in a 2-2 draw with second-placed VfL Wolfsburg on Wednesday.

The draw leaves defending champions Bayern Munich 11 points clear at the top of the table.

A piece of sloppy defending five minutes from time ultimately cost Dortmund the three points when Wolfsburg’ Brazil defender Naldo headed home having been left unmarked at a corner.

“That was an intensive game against a very good opponent, Wolfsburg are a top team,” said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp.

“We played well and that was okay for today.”

Dortmund have the worst record

in the Bundesliga with nine defeats in their first 16 matches and are 16th in the table. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s early goal for Dortmund was cancelled out by a Kevin de Bruyne free-kick in

BUNDESLIGA 2-2

Dortmund

Aubameyang 8, Immobile 76

De Bruyne 29, Naldo 85

4-1

M’gladbach Kruse 32, Wendt 38, Kramer 64, Hrgota 88

Hoffenheim

VfL Wolfsburg

Werder Bremen Junuzovic 51

0-1

Bayer Leverkusen Kiessling 79

4-4

Frankfurt Aigner 43, Seferovic 58, Meier 90, 90+1

Paderborn

Hertha Berlin

Brooks 21, Ben-Hatira 33, Schieber 37, Niemeyer 90

1-2

Ayhan 31-og

Schalke 04 Choupo-Moting 44, Neustedter 78

the first-half.

Ciro Immobile restored Dortmund’s lead with a stunning strike 14 minutes from time before Naldo rescued a point for Wolves.

Ten-man Werder Bremen, who host Dortmund on Saturday, remain rooted to the bottom of the table after their 4-1 defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach, who move up to third.

Bayer Leverkusen drop to fourth on goal difference despite Stefan Kiessling’s goal giving them a 1-0 win at Hoffenheim.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Alexander Meier rescued his side with two goals in added time to seal a stunning 4-4 draw at home to Hertha Berlin.

Hertha were 4-2 up with 90 minutes played before Meier struck to take his tally to a Bundesliga best 12 goals.

Schalke are up to fifth after a 2-1 come-back win at Paderborn. l

Di Maria Argentine player of the year n Reuters, Buenos Aires

‘Rolls Reus’ fined €540,000 for driving offence

Manchester United’s Angel Di Maria has been voted Argentina’s foreign-based player of the year by the country’s sports journalists.

The winger won the Olimpia de Plata (Silver Olimpia award) at a ceremony on Tuesday, where striker Lucas Pratto of Velez Sarsfield won the equivalent for best player in the Argentine league.

Di Maria helped former club Real Madrid win their 10th European Cup in May and Argentina reach the World Cup final.

Velez, announcing Pratto’s award on their website on Wednesday, said the striker was on the verge of joining Brazil’s Atletico Mineiro pending a medical. Media reports have said Velez will receive $5 million for Pratto, a high fee for a transfer between South American clubs. l

n AFP, Berlin German international Marco Reus has been slapped with a record €540,000 ($665,000) fine for driving without a licence, the daily Bild reported Thursday.

“Today I know it: I was much too naive in this situation, it was a stupidity I have learned from,” said the 25-year-old.

“I’ve learned my lesson it will never happen again.”

According to Bild, the fine is a record in Germany for such an offence.

The Borussia Dortmund player who is currently out with a right ankle injury was stopped by police on March 18 behind the wheel of a luxury car as he returned from training.

He failed to present his licence to police who later discovered that he

Champions Germany top Fifa year end rankings n AFP, Paris

Lille players celebrate victory at the end of their French League Cup match against Bordeaux at the Pierre Mauroy stadium in Villeneuved’Ascq, northern france on Wednesday AFP

PSG, Lille reach last eight n AFP, Paris

French champions Paris Saint Germain ended a run of two defeats with a comefrom-behind 3-1 win over second tier AC Ajaccio to reach the French League Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.

PSG, who had lost to Barcelona in their Champions League group match last week and then in the league to Guingamp at the weekend, went behind early on to a penalty by captain Johan Cavalli.

A tense PSG coach Laurent Blanc said, however, that going behind had not worried him.

The Paris side may have been missing key players like Zlatan Ibrahimovic but they still had players of the experience of David Luiz and Edinson Cavani in the starting line-up, players their hosts could only dream about buying.

Ivorian defender Serge Aurier added a second with a header from a corner 10

minutes from time, and the last eight place was ensured when Jean-Christophe Bahebeck slotted home four minutes later with Lucas once again the creator. l

FRENCH LEAGUE CUP 0-1

Lorient

Saint-Etienne Hamouma 48

1-0

Rennes

Creteil

Armand 69

AC Ajaccio

1-3

Cavalli 27-P

Arles-Avignon

PSG Cavani 54, Aurier 80, Bahebeck 84

0-2

Guingamp

Mandanne 13, Beauvue 68

Lille Frey 30

Lyon

1-1 Lille win 6-5 on penalties

1-1

Bordeaux Mariano 16

Monaco

Lacazette 107 Ferreira Carrasco 97 Monaco won 5-4 on penalties

Ozil closes on Arsenal return n AFP, London Arsenal playmaker Mesut Ozil said that “it won’t be too much longer” before he returns from a knee injury in an interview published on the club website on Thursday.

The Germany international, 26, has not played since suffering a partial rupture of the outer band of the left knee joint during his side’s 2-0 loss at Chelsea on October 5. Ozil was pictured walking out for training at Arsenal’s Hertfordshire training centre last week and he says that he is on schedule for a return in early 2015.

“I am working every day to get myself fit and I am on the right path now. It won’t be much too much longer before I am back on the pitch,” Ozil said.

“I hope to be back training with the whole team again as soon as possible.” l

REUTERS

World champions Germany comfortably top the pile of the FIFA national team rankings revealed Thursday despite a slump in form since their rampant campaign in Brazil.

The top three remain unchanged since September with Lionel Messi’s beaten World Cup finalists Argentina second and Colombia in third.

Up-and-coming Belgium are fourth ahead of their northern Neighbours the Netherlands while the humiliated World Cup hosts Brazil round off the year in a respectable sixth.

Euro 2016 hosts France are seventh as Didier Deschamps’ solid team continue to impress while World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal are level with them.

After years atop the heap, Spain end

2014 in ninth, but look to be in fine health with 2015 coming into view.

Finally Luis Suarez’s Uruguay have done enough to climb back into tenth for the year end rankings. l

FIFA RANKING 1. Germany 2. Argentina 3. Colombia 4. Belgium 5. Netherlands 6. Brazil 7. France 7. Portugal 9. Spain 10. Uruguay 11. Italy

12. Switzerland 13. Chile 14. Croatia 15. Algeria 16. Costa Rica 17. Mexico 18. Greece 19. Ukraine 20. England 176. Bangladesh

did not possess one and he had been stopped five time perviously between September 2011 and March 2014.

The fine was calculated in proportion to his revenue which the court estimated at 180,000 euros ($221,000) a month. l

Fifa ethics investigator Garcia resigns in protest n Reuters, Marrakech FIFA ethics investigator Michael Garcia resigned on Wednesday in protest at the way his report into allegations of corruption in awarding the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments to Russia and Qatar was handled by the soccer governing body’s ethics judge.

Former U.S. prosecutor Garcia said in a statement that he had lost confidence in the independence of the ethics committee’s adjudicatory chamber after judge Hans-Joachim Eckert issued a 42-page statement in November based on the report.

Garcia, whose report has not been made public, said it was “the lack of leadership” on ethics issues within FIFA “that leads me to conclude that my role in this process is at an end.l

Liverpool, Tottenham make semis n AFP, London

Raheem Sterling eased the pressure on under-fire manager Brendan Rodgers as Liverpool swept into the League Cup semi-finals with a 3-1 win over Championship leaders Bournemouth on Wednesday.

ENGLISH LEAGUE CUP

Bournemouth

1-3

Gosling 57

Tottenham

Liverpool

Sterling 20, 51, Markovic 27

4-0

Newcastle

Bentaleb 18, Chadli 46, Kane 65, Soldado 70

Rodgers has endured stinging criticism in recent weeks after Liverpool dropped down the Premier League table and crashed out of the Champions League in the group stages.

A dismal 3-0 defeat at arch-rivals

Manchester United on Sunday prompted Rodgers to admit Liverpool’s squad lacked the unity that almost carried them to the English title last season.

In the circumstances, an embarrassing defeat to second tier Bournemouth would have been a major blow to the beleaguered Rodgers’ hopes of holding on to his job, but he was able to leave Dean Court with his head held high as Sterling’s double sandwiched a Lazar Markovic strike in a one-sided quarter-final.

In Wednesday’s other quarter-final, Tottenham thrashed Newcastle 4-0 at White Hart Lane as the Magpies suffered more north London misery.

Jak Alnwick, a 21-year-old making just his third appearance in goal for Newcastle, made a hash of catching a corner and allowed the ball to slip out of his grasp to midfielder Nabil Bentaleb, who hooked home from four yards for his first Tottenham goal.l

Liverpool’s Sterling (L) celebrates scoring against Bournemouth on Wednesday AFP

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Friday, December 19, 2014

Chobi Mela VIII to begin on January 23, 2015

Photograph by Max Pinckers

n Entertainment Desk Chobi Mela, the largest photography biennale in Asia, will launch its eighth edition in the capital on January 23 and will run until February 5, 2015.

The international festival is jointly organised by Drik Picture Library Ltd and Pathshala South Asian Media Institute.

In a press conference yesterday, the organisers said more than 30 photographers from 22 countries have partic-

Exhibition

16th Asian Art Biennale Bangladesh Time: 11am – 8pm National Art Gallery Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Meet the Faces

By Nasreen Sultana Mitu Time: 3pm – 9pm Alliance Francaise

ipated with their works in Chobi Mela VIII themed “Intimacy.”

Renowned international and local photographers Larry Towell of the Magnum Photographer, New York Times Lens blog Editor James Estrin, Anwar Hossain of Bangladesh, World Press Photo winner Denis Dailleux and Spanish model-turned-photographer Cristina Nunez will take part in the festival’s artist talks, portfolio reviews and workshops.

The exhibitions are curated by Mu-

Be Smart About Art Time: 10am – 8pm Athena Gallery of Fine Arts Shifting Sands Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Art Lounge, 60, Gulshan Avenue

Film

Roar, Fury, Ek Cup Cha Big Hero 6 (3D)

nem Wasif, ASM Rezaur Rahman and Tanzim Wahab while two guest curators – Salauddin Ahmed and Mahbubur Rahman – have also lent their hands on the task.

Shahidul Alam, the festival director, said at the press conference: “It is time Bangladesh began to take pride in itself. We are now a role model in the world of photography. The world is looking up at Bangladesh. The nation needs to respond.” He highlighted the new features of juxtaposing young and recognised artists along with alternative curatorial practices previously unseen in Bangladesh.

Swapan Parekh, the World Press Photo juror and introducer of documentary aesthetics in Indian advertising photography, will hold a workshop titled Shaping a Vision. Teun van der Heijden of Heijdens Karwei will visit Bangladesh for the first time to hold a book-making workshop titled The Photobook: Going Beyond the Form.

More than 10 workshops on different topics have been arranged for the festival.

To ensure the presence of general spectators in the festival, the organisers keep the exhibitions free while a spectacular mobile exhibition has also been arranged like before which will roam in Dhaka city. l

Pipra Bidda, Ouija Star Cineplex Hridoye 71, Children of War Ouija, Interstellar Gone Girl, Annabelle Pipra Bidda, Ek Cup Cha Into The Storm Time: 12:30pm – 10:00pm Blockbuster Cinemas

15

Screening of documentary films on 1971 mass killing today

ROCKSTRATA to perform after 22 years n Hasan Mansoor Chatak After about 22 years, the Rockstrata, a musical band which is a pioneer of heavy metal music in Bangladesh, is going to perform in a live show.

The LiveSquare will arrange the gig at the KIB auditorium in Farmgate area of the capital on January 9 next year.

The band was much active in the live concert scene between 1986 and 1992 in the country.

The gig is going to be a significant incident in the band’s history as it will be consisting of original tracks of the band.

Mainul Islam, the guitarist of the band, told the Dhaka Tribune: “For the first time, we are going to perform our own songs in the live show as we were used to cover music of international heavy metal acts on live shows in the 80s and 90s,” “After the release of our first album in 1992, we could not manage to arrange a show as most of the members of the band left the country for their higher studies soon,” he added.

The second studio album of the band, “Notun Shader Khojey”--released in 2014, was developed and recorded in abroad.

“When we see many of our followers on social media, and some new rock bands formed in Dhaka in the last two decades, sometimes expressed

that Rockstrata played a little base part on their inspiration of music; it propelled us to make happen the gig,” Mainul said.

All other members of the band are already reached home and are currently busy on jamming. The line-up for the first album will perform in the gig.

But vocal Shoaib Rahman was yet to confirm to perform at the programme.

The current line-up is: Mushfiq Ahmed on vocals, Imran Hussain on guitar, Mainul Islam on guitar, Arshad Amin on bass and Mahbubur Rashid on drums.

In the launching progarramme of the band’s second album in last February, only Arshad Amin was present physically. The other members joined the ceremony over the video conference from abroad and no live performance was materialised from the band’s part. Mainul said they are going to introduce some interesting things like documentary and interviews surrounding the gig.

The title of the gig “One Last Live” suggests that this will be the band’s last live show.

“We are still stick to the idea of last show. But I do not know what will happen after the show. Who knows we would not change our mind after see the post-gig feedback?” Mainul said.

“But it will really be difficult for us to make this happen like this again,” he added. l

PRIYANKA CHOPRA signs deal with American TV network

n Entertainment Desk A special screening of two documentaries on mass killing during the Liberation War 1971 will be held at the Dhaka Art Center in the capital today.

“Rakhbo Bahoman,” a 36 minute long documentary by Fouzia Khan and “Roktakto Prantor,” a 20 minute long documentary by Polash Rosul, will be screened on the occasion.

Bangladesh Documentary Council arranged the programme.

A question and answers session with the films’ directors will be held after the screening. l

Biutiful

HBO Defined, 10:25am

This is the story of Uxbal, a man living in this world, but able to see his death, which guides his every move.

Tremors

Star Movies, 11:30pm

n Entertainment Desk After launching her music career in the US, Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra has now sealed a oneyear TV development deal with ABC Television Studios.

The 32-year-old former Miss World, who will be a part of an ABC series developed for her or star in an existing project targeted for next fall, said she is very excited about venturing into American television.

“I am honoured and excited to have inked this deal with ABC. The fact that the network will be developing customised TV content, specifi-

Latest Night at the Museum film marks ROBIN WILLIAMS’ final appearance n Entertainment Desk For the third installment of the lucrative “Night at the Museum” series, the filmmakers wanted to make a film about saying goodbye. As fate would have it, the sequel, entitled “Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb” would be comic legend Robin Williams’ final appearance before the cameras, as well as the penultimate film featuring veteran nonagenarian actor Mickey Rooney, both of whom died in 2014.

The credits for “Secret of the Tomb,” which opens in U.S. theaters on Friday, read “In loving memory of Mickey Rooney,” and “For Robin Williams - the magic never ends.”

In the latest installment, the plot of which might best be distilled as “Night at the British Museum,” Stiller, his teenage son and

the museum’s come-to-life characters must travel to London to save the decaying magical tablet that animates the natural history museum’s exhibits each night.

Back for a third go-round in the series, which has so far generated nearly $1 billion at the worldwide box office, are Ben Stiller as the night security guard, Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan as the diminutive cowboy Jedediah and Roman Centurion Octavius, museum head Ricky Gervais, and Williams as U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt.

Australian actress Rebel Wilson joins the franchise as a lovelorn British Museum security guard, along with Dan Stevens, of “Downton Abbey” fame, as a comically non-comprehending Sir Lancelot and Ben Kingsley as a politically incorrect Egyptian pharaoh. l

cally with me in mind, is amazing.

I have been a long-time fan of ABC shows, and an admirer of how the network has changed the landscape of TV through the diversity of their lead characters,” Priyanka said in a statement.

“To follow in the footsteps of game-changers like Sofia Vergara, Kerry Washington and Eva Longoria is a matter of pride for me. I am looking forward to this endeavour,” the “Mary Kom” star added.

The ABC deal comes after Priyanka had a voice role in the animated feature “Planes.”

The actress’s first single, “In My City,” was also selected as the theme song to the 2013 season of the NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football and her cover of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me” was featured in a nationwide campaign for Beats By Dre. l

Sony cancels Christmas release of THE INTERVIEW n Entertainment Desk Sony Pictures has cancelled the Christmas release of a film at the centre of a hacking scandal after terrorist threats to cinemagoers and a decision by major movie theatre groups to cancel screenings in the US. A group calling itself Guardians of Peace (GOP) published an online message on Tuesday warning cinemagoers to stay away from screenings of “The Interview,” starring Seth Rogen and James Franco, which depicts the assassination of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

The threats led five of biggest

cinema chains in the US to drop the film. A federal investigation is also under way.

The decision to cancel the release marks the climax of a torrid month for Sony. GOP has also claimed responsibility for a huge hack on Sony’s computer systems in November, which led to the release of thousands of confidential documents revealing executive pay structure, corporate profits, unreleased films, personal email correspondence and employee social security numbers.

Sony’s decision comes amid new reports that the US has determined North Korea was directly responsible for the hack. l

MADONNA on leaked demos of new album: ‘This is artistic rape’ n Entertainment Desk After tracks purportedly from an unreleased thirteenth studio album leaked to the internet, Madonna took to Instagram to decry her treatment as “artistic rape.”

“These are early leaked demo’s half of which wont even make it on my album the other half have changed and evolved [sic]. This is a form of terrorism,” the “Like a Prayer” singer wrote in a caption on Instagram. (Update: On Wednesday afternoon, the singer deleted the post.) In another caption, Madonna wrote “Thank you for not listening!

Thank you for your loyalty!”

Though the references to terrorism and rape are new for the pop

star, who’s increasingly become the wrong kind of provocative, Madonna’s been critical of hackers before. When an unfinished version of the single eventually titled “Give Me All Your Luvin’” leaked months before its planned release, timed to her Super Bowl halftime performance in 2012, Madonna said, “My true fans wouldn’t do this.”

And before the release of her album American Life in 2003, Madonna’s team planted a fake file on peer-to-peer sharing sites to thwart piracy; on the file, the pop singer cursed at listeners instead of serenading them. l

Natives of a small isolated town defend themselves against strange underground creatures which are killing them one by one.

London Boulevard

HBO Hits, 11:58pm

An ex-con with a reputation tries to go straight by working as a handy man for a reclusive actress but this is unfortunately not the wish of London’s underground crime lord.

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Friday, December 19, 2014

Indigenous families living under open sky

‘Sex’ most searched word on Google in Bangladesh The affected people refused to accept government compensation as it was too meagre to survive on n Tribune Report n Abid Azad from Rangamati With the total number of Internet users Thirteen-year-old girl Ilsha Chakma and her brother Mithun Chakma, 18, silent and grim-faced, stood in front of their house burnt by Bangali settlers on December 16.

Their house at Suridas Para under the Naniarchar upazila in Rangamati went up in flames in the morning of the day when the county was celebrating its 44th Victory Day. “We have no place to go now, nowhere to sleep, no food available., everything torched by Bangali settlers. We only managed to save our lives. When we came back we found only ashes,” said Ilsha to the Dhaka Tribune.

“Our recent harvest was also burnt.

We are helpless,” said Ilsha’s mother Shanti Rani.

“Now we are passing a miserable life in this cold hilly area, keeping ourselves warm by lighting a fire. Our next-doorneighbours give us food,” she said.

Family members of 54 other houses have also similar stories to tell as all their houses were burnt to ashes on the fateful day of December 16.

Not only that, seven shops and a Buddhist temple were also vandalised and looted during the arson attack in the area.

After the incident, lawmaker Firoza Begum Chinu, district Awami League President and also former state minister Dipankar Talukder and district parishad Chairman Nikhil Kumar Chakma visited the affected area on Wednesday morning and offered them compensation.

The compensation consists of a cash amount, tin sheets, blankets, utensils, lungis and rice but indigenous people refused to accept the compensation as it was too meagre for them to manage their survival.

Naniarchar upazila Chairman Shaktiman Chakma said 100 blankets had been brought for the affected family members.

Barigat union member Ananda

growing to a record high of four crores, Bangladeshis are as “diligent” as ever in looking up sexual contents on the web.

Bangladesh has swiftly moved to the third position in the list of countries having searched for the word “sex” in the recent years.

Google recently disclosed the list based on its region-based annual search statistics which are available on its website.

Since 2011, Sri Lanka has consistently been ranked No 1 on the list, followed by India, Sril Lankan newspaper the Daily Financial Times reported.

Bangladesh has swiftly moved to 3 in the list of countries having searched for the word in recent years

An indigenous woman stares with despair at her harvest burnt by Bangali settlers in Suridas Para of Naniarchar upazila in Rangamati yesterday Chakma told the Dhaka Tribune: “How could we offer just one blanket to each family in this severe winter season? Tin sheets are also not sufficient to rebuild a house! Is this a joke?”

“When we found our houses burnt many of us rushed to our temple. We became more disheartened and helpless when we found the temple too was vandalised. Even the Buddha idol

was not spared,” said a helpless Arun Bikash.

The tension is still mounting among the settlers and indigenous people in the area.

Lawmaker Chinu, however, said: “Actually they refused to accept the compensation as they are feeling depressed. They demanded their houses be rebuilt and after that they will ac-

cept the compensation.”

The government has sent a team to rebuild the houses burnt by settlers on Thursday, she said.

In return for anonymity a number of indigenous people said they did not hear about any such information. But some people from the government came and visited the affected area, they said.

ABID AZAD

The attack was a sequel to an earlier event of vandalism of a pineapple orchard owned by Bangali settlers in Chouddo Mile area located between Suridas Para and the Bagachhari Bazar where around 350 Bangali settlers are living.

Since then the Rangamati-Khagrachhari link road has remained barricaded by indigenous people. l

Pakistan and Nepal are also among the top 10 countries on the list, showing that the list is heavily dominated by South Asian countries, which has been the case for the past few years.

Bangladesh is on the third position this year, moving up from the fifth and sixth positions in 2013 and 2012, respectively.

According to Google’s search statistics, sexual contents have been among the top 10 searches in the past two years among Bangladeshi users. Similar trend was noticed for image searches in the country.

However, the website traffic in the country is driven by news websites and blogs, rather than censored websites.

Alexa Ratings shows that one-third of the most visited websites in the country are that of news media.

The top 10 countries where sex was commonly looked up on Google this year are: Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Nepal, Timor-Leste, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Pakistan and the Solomon Islands. l

JS body blames Shipping Ministry for Sundarbans catastrophe n Muhammad Zahidul Islam A parliamentary watchdog has held the Shipping Ministry responsible for the oil spill catastrophe in the Sundarbans, saying the ministry neither ensured the fitness of the vessels nor responded immediately after the incident.

The body also expressed its dissatisfaction over the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry’s failure to respond after the oil tanker capsize.

The observations were made yesterday at an emergency meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Environment and Forests Ministry, presided by committee chairman Hasan Mahmud.

The meeting, held at the Jatiya Sangsad building, also recommended a stop to the movement of vulnerable and unfit oil tankers on the river route.

On December 9, an oil tanker carrying about 357,000 litres of furnace oil sank in the Sela River in the Sundarbans.

Sources present at yesterday’s meeting said the locals have so far been able to collect 60,800 litres of oil as of Wednesday.

“The Shipping Ministry did not take any effective measure after the Sela

Pay hike report likely on Sunday n Tribune Report The chairman of the Pay and Services Commission is going to submit the report on the much-awaited pay hike recommendation for government employees on December 21.

Sources said Muhammad Farashuddin would hand the eighth pay commission report over to Finance Minister AMA Muhith at the ministry. Muhith returned from Singapore last night.

Sources said recommendations were made for hikes in three categories – Tk1 lakh, Tk80,000 and Tk70,000 – for 1.3 million public sector employees.

The lowest pay scale would be around Tk8,200 to Tk10,000.

The 250-page report was printed at Bangladesh Government Press three days ago, but was later reprinted later. l

River incident occurred. They did not even take this committee’s recommendation three years ago [in 2011] to stop the plying of water vessels through the Sundarbans,” Hasan Mahmud told a press briefing at the parliament media centre after the meeting.

In 2013, the Environment and Forest Ministry again asked the Shipping Ministry about the progress made on implementing its previous recommendation. To this, the Shipping Ministry reportedly replied that they would comply with the suggestion by 2014 – a self-imposed deadline which they also missed.

Hasan Mahmud termed the capsize of the oil tanker a catastrophe to the long-term ecology and environment of the Sundarbans.

Earlier, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan had claimed that the capsized tanker had the proper fitness certificate.

Asked about the shipping minister’s comment, Hasan Mahmud said Environment Ministry officials have found out that the tanker had no fitness certificate.

He added that the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry had also taken no action following the disaster.

“It was a disaster indeed, and we also want to know why the Disaster Management Ministry did not take it seriously,” the watchdog chief added.

Replying to a query, Hasan Mahmud said they would not compare this disaster with any other, but added that it would hamper the national economy for a long time.

“It will take a long time for the fishes to come back and we will also need to wait three to four years for the trees to regrow,” he said The standing committee also asked the government to submit an assessment report on the long-term impact of the oil spill in the Sela River.

Officials of the Environment Ministry told the standing committee that the dissolved oxygen in the Sela River has recently improved to an average level of 6.8ml per litre – which was still higher than the 5.5ml per litre safe limit.

Yesterday’s meeting was attended

by Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain Manju, Deputy Minister for Environment and Forest Abdullah Al Islam, and lawmakers Nobi Newaz, Golam Rabbani, Tipu Sultan, Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury and Merina Rahaman. l

Concert for Kombol today n Tribune Report Project Kombol (blanket), a voluntary effort to distribute winter clothes among impoverished people, is organising a concert titled “Concert for Kombol” at the Kalabagan Krira Chakra Field in Dhanmondi, Dhaka today.

Popular bands and singers including Aurthohin, Chirkutt, Shunno, Bappa and Friends, Different Touch, Dreek, Habib, Maqsood O Dhaka, Obscure, Tahsan and Yaatri will perform at the charity.

The concert is considered different as people have been invited to attend the concert with a good-quality blanket or warm clothes as tickets.

Those who cannot bring one can get a “kombol” pass at the venue for Tk250, which will cover the price of a good-quality blanket and its distribution cost.

The venue will be open from 2pm; the concert will start at 2:30pm and run until 11pm. l

A young girl strokes the nape of a rainforest parakeet displayed at an exhibition on foreign pet birds organised by the Agricultural Society at the National Press Club in the capital yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Volume of world’s oldest water estimated n BBC The world’s oldest water, which is locked deep within the Earth’s crust, is present at a far greater volume than was thought, scientists report.

The liquid, some of which is billions of years old, is found many kilometres beneath the ground.

Researchers estimate there is about 11m cubic kilometres of it – more water than all the world’s rivers, swamps and lakes put together.

The study was presented at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. It has also been published in the journal Nature.

The team found that the water was reacting with the rock to release hydrogen: a potential food source.

It means that great swathes of the deep crust could be harbouring life.

Prof Barbara Sherwood Lollar, from the University of Toronto, in Canada, said: “This is a vast quantity of rock that we’ve sometimes overlooked both

in terms of its ability to tell us about past processes – the rocks are so ancient they contain records of fluid and the atmosphere from the earliest parts of Earth’s history.

“But simultaneously, they also provide us with information about the chem-

The finding means great swathes of the deep crust could be harbouring life istry that can support life. And that’s why we refer to it as ‘the sleeping giant.”

The crust that forms the continents contains some of the oldest rocks on our planet. But as scientists probe ever deeper – through boreholes and mines – they’re discovering water that is almost as ancient.

The oldest water, discovered 2.4km down in a deep mine in Canada, has been dated to between one billion and 2.5bn years old. l

Study: 400k children do housework n Abu Hayat Mahmud Nearly 4,00,000 children are engaged in household chores and the total number of street children stands at 1.2 million in the country, says a study.

Jointly conducted by Assistance for Slum Dwellers (ASD), ILO, Unicef and Bangladesh Institute of Labour Studies (BILS), it also found that around 83% of the children are females between 5 and 18 years. They work 15 hours a day on an average, according to the study.

The findings were revealed at a discussion organised by the ASD at the Cirdap Auditorium in the capital yesterday.

“The monthly average pay of the children involved in housework is Tk509, and most of them continually face mental abuse and even sexual harassment. Sometimes they live like captives and do not get the chance to meet their family members,” said ASD Deputy Executive Director Mozammel Haque, the keynote speaker. Some 1.2m street children live in public places and under the open sky. l

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B3 US consumer prices fall on gasoline; rate hike likely in 2015

B4 Saudi to continue

‘massive’ spending despite oil price fall

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Bangladesh left out of US GSP review Tofail: Exports to India barred by NTBs

Tofail Ahmed says there is no possibility of GSP review as it expired last year and GSP would not be given to anyone

n Asif Showkat Kallol

n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi Bangladesh has not been included in the list of countries now under review of the US GSP programme that could alter their beneficiary status.

The GSP status of Bangladesh as also other countries has been suspended in June last year, following which the US authorities were reviewing the worker rights, child labour, intellectual property rights, or arbitral awards issues to consider reinstating the trade preferences.

Since the suspension of the GSP programme, a number of countries continued to be reviewed that could alter their beneficiary status, according to the latest Trade Policy Review of US by the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

But in the review list Bangladesh was not included.

A number of changes in country eligibility took place during the review period, it added.

As per the review list, the countries included in the list are Ecuador, Fiji, Georgia, Indonesia, Iraq, Niger, Philippines, the Russian Federation, and Uzbekistan.

Meanwhile, a review process to consider Myanmar and Lao PDR as possible beneficiary countries was still under way as of mid-2014.

On June 27 last year, the United States suspended the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) eligibility for Bangladesh due to worker rights issues while the GSP programme expired on July 31 last year.

The US authorities, however, imposed an action plan of 16 conditions asking Bangladesh to comply with if it has to get back the GSP benefits.

Bangladesh also submitted the progress report to the US authorities, claiming that it has implemented all the conditions.

Workers busy at a RMG factory in Dhaka Bangladesh has made visible progress in all the conditions, but it might be that the US government is not satisfied with the progress in some points, said Mustafizur Rahman, Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD). “It may result in dropping the name of the country from the list.”

He suggested Bangladesh to identify the conditions where progress is not satisfactory and take action accordingly.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed explained it differently. “There is no

Citycell: Nothing happened for licence cancelling n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Mobile phone operator Citycell has responded the regulator’s notice of licence cancellation saying that it paid 49% of 2G spectrum fee as the spectrum provided was less than allocation.

As it has “followed relevant guideline” regarding payment of dues, licence should not be cancelled, said the reply yesterday.

On December 4, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) served a final show-cause notice to Citycell stating why its licence should not be cancelled if it fails to pay over Tk252 crore dues. Yesterday was the last day to make response.

Citycell, the oldest mobile phone operator in South-East Asia, was allocated 10MHz spectrum. In the reply, the operator demanded licensing guideline be amended in next six months allowing it to switch to GSM technology from existing CDMA technology.

“The company (Citycell) has sent a reply denying any violation of payment rules. It argued the spectrum received was lower than allocation,” said a sen-

ior official at the BTRC’s legal wing.

However, the mobile phone company stated it would pay other payments.

The official said decision on the matter will be taken in the Commission’s meeting. The operator said due to use of CDMA technology it was counting the cost and losing subscribers every month in the country’s mobile market dominated by GSM technology.

Major part of Citycell dues is 2G spectrum and annual fees, which total around Tk230 crore. BTRC has so far issued six letters since December 2013 to Citycell for the payment of dues. After first warning of licence cancellation in February this year, the operator paid Tk26.5 core and got a chance for paying rest of the money by September.

Citycell started its operation in 1993 with CDMA technology with 44.54% shares owned by Singapore’s SingTel, 37.95% by Pacific Motors Ltd and 17.51% by Far East Telecom.

The operator intended to move to the widely-used GSM technology but the BTRC rejected the proposal on the ground that the company had a huge amount of dues. l

RAJIB DHAR

possibility of GSP review as it expired last year and GSP would not be given to anyone,” he told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday, after having discussion in this regard with outgoing US Ambassador in Dhaka Dan W Mozena.

“But the countries, especially of Africa, would be provided with duty-free market access,” he quoted Mozena as saying.

Earlier a meeting with the US ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena at the commerce ministry yesterday, Tofail raised the question of GSP restoration and, in response, Mozena said

there is no possibility of GSP coming back as it expired in 2013.

“We are not worried as no country will get GSP facilities. And if it is restored, we would get it because we have done lot of progress as per the Action plan,” the minister said.

Senior Commerce Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon told the Dhaka Tribune, if the US Congress considers restoration of GSP for any country, Bangladesh would be the first country to get it back as it has implemented all the conditions of safety and compliant issues. l

India’s non-tariff barriers and imposition of regional tariff have continued to obstruct Bangladeshi exports to the neighbouring country, said Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed.

He was talking to Dhaka Tribune last week. Commerce Minister went to India’s West Bengal yesterday to attend an international mega trade fair organised by Kolkata-based Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He inaugurated the nine-day fair yesterday.

Tofail said he would present the situation Bangladeshi is facing in bilateral trade with India in the event.

The fair will continue till December 26. Tofail Ahmed will also inaugurate 27th Industrial Indian Trade Fair on December 27.

KolKata-based MCC Chamber of Commerce is organising the fair.

A total of 90 Bangladeshi stalls will participate in the international mega trade fair this year.

Last year the number of Bangladeshi stalls was 82 and the participants received work orders of $1.18m.

Commerce minister said the local exporters are yet to take full opportunity of duty-free excess into Indian market though the Indian government has approved the facilities since November 2012.

Indian government offers Bangladesh duty-free benefit for all products except 25 alcoholic and beverage items.

The duty benefit came following then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Bangladesh in September the same year.

Export Promotion Bureau data shows the exports to India declined 19% to $456.63m in fiscal year 2013-2014.

Tofail Ahmed emphasised the need to establish regional connectivity to expand trade and investment.

“If we are not regionally connected,

Mozena: Leather goods export to US to be massive n Tribune Report Outgoing US Ambassador to Bangladesh Dan W Mozena yesterday said leather goods export to the US market will be huge like apparel products within the next five years.

“I see within five years leather export market will be massive like that of the RMG,” he said.

Mozena was addressing the media following a courtesy call at the secretariat with Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed.

“I talked about coming revolution in leather and shoes sector of Bangladesh. I also visited new tanneries and saw that brand new massive ETPs coming up fast,” the ambassador said.

He added that 150 tanneries have been established which would be completed by the end of next year and produce shoes and leather products of international standards.

The leather industry will open up market in the USA and other parts of the world for shoes, belt, wallet and other leather products, said Mozena.

Dan W Mozena Tofail said: “We will promote our business relations with the USA through Ticfa agreement and the next course of action would be how to increase trade volume and attract more foreign direct investment to the country.”

Bangladesh investment climate will be more attractive and investment worth billions would come from the US, the US ambassador hoped.

Tofail Ahmed our trade will not expand.”

He said the export items of Nepal and Bhutan have crossed the India border but Bangladesh export items can not reach Nepal and Bhutan borders.

Bangladesh is yet to sign a deal with India to build a corridor to Nepal and Bhutan through India.

“If we sign Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor agreement, Bangladesh can use corridor in India to export to all these countries plus Nepal and Bhutan,” Tofail Ahmed said.

A trade talk is expected between BCIM countries at Guwahati in India in January on the sidelines of a fair.

Bangladesh then will have an opportunity to discuss about non-tariff barriers and trade with West Bengal and seven sisters.

During the interview, commerce minister also talked about GSP facility in the US market and claimed that the US is currently not providing GSP to any country in the world.

“We had got a little benefit from GSP as only $300m exports would receive the facility,” he said.  B3 COLUMN 1

Forex reserve hits record high n Tribune Report

He also focused on the pharmaceutical sector, saying Bangladeshi pharmaceutical companies will have a huge market in the US and the drug companies are in the process of getting approval from the US Food and Drug Administration.

“A team from Free Trade Agreement will be here in Bangladesh to inspect new factories soon and the generic pharmaceutical export to US would be huge.”

Talking on the RMG sector, Mozena said Bangladesh is making a great progress to transform the apparel industry into a premium brand or best brand in the world but it needs more to do.

The progress includes amendment of Labor Act 2013, publicly accessible database, recognising more trade unions, dealing with unfair labour practices and ensuring workers’ voice in the EPZ. Urging the owners to ensure factory safety, the ambassador said: “Go through remediation and resolve work to resolve disputes regarding the safety issues and make real progress to address real concerns. l

Foreign exchange reserve reached to a record high at US$22.4bn yesterday, thanks to the increased inflow of remittances and export earnings.

“It would be enough for us to meet the import payment for at least seven months,” said Kazi Sayedur Rahman, general manager of Forex Reserve and Treasury Management Department of Bangladesh Bank.

He also explained that expatriates sent $352m remittances in the last week, which was highest forex earnings in a week.

Moreover, export rose 24% in November compared to October, which also contributed to rise forex reserve.

Forex reserve has set the record yesterday despite the huge selling of dollars worth $228m from the period of November to December, this year.

It could even reach $23 if the dollars were not sold by the central bank, said Sayedur.

He also hoped that the country would experience sharper growth of remittance in the coming days as dollar rate and local currency remain stable.  B3 COLUMN 1

Global retailers: $50bn RMG export target achievable n Tribune Report Bangladesh’s target for $50-billion export by 2021 is possible to achieve as the country has capacity to embrace global demands with its huge workforce, said leading global retailers.

The retailers that participated in the three-day “Dhaka Apparel Summit 2014” expressed their opinion in a feedback to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association through emails, BGMEA Vice-President Shahidullah Azim told the Dhaka Tribune.

“The Summit has opened our eyes for the future of Bangladesh’s RMG sector after participating in the event and having visit to several factories,” Azim said, quoting retailers and participants.

Rana Plaza and Tazreen Fashions do not depict the real picture of apparel industry, there is something unique in the sector, which can meet the global demands for quality products, Azim said, referring to retailers.

BGMEA organised the summit to draw a roadmap to reach an apparel export target of $50bn by the year 2021 when the nation will celebrate the golden jubilee of the country’s independence.

“The export target for $50 billion set by the BGMEA could be achieved by 2021,” said Prof Arnold Marshal Zack of Harvard Law School through an email.

“The apparel summit has put forward the impeccable story of Bangladesh’s RMG sector before the world community. It has also helped develop interrelation that would bring positive change among the people in the sector,” Zack added.

He said Bangladesh would top the list of RMG manufacturing countries in Southeast Asia if the country works in combine with all.

“I am waiting to see how the plans and recommendations are implemented maintaining a sustainable and ethical standard,” said Jean Lambert, European Parliament for London Green Member, who was overwhelmed with the ambitious future plans and recommendations that came from the

apparel summit.

“BGMEA has lifted retailers, stakeholders and participants to a new height through the summit and it is totally impossible for any single individual to go beyond the bench-

‘The Summit has opened our eyes for the future of Bangladesh’s RMG sector after participating in the event and having visit to several factories’

mark,” said Thomas A. Nelson, Vice President, Supply Chain- Global Product Supply, VF Corporation in his email.

VF Corporation would continue its sup-

port to expand business in Bangladesh and financing with low interest for factory remediation, added Nelson.

Thomas A Kochan, Professor, Work and Employment Relations, Sloan School of Management, MIT, Boston assured the RMG entrepreneurs that they would work together with the entrepreneurs to ensure safety and develop working environment in the factory.

Avedis H Seferian, President and CEO of Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), said he firmly believed the $ 50-billion export target set by the BGMEA would be implemented by 2021.

Rachel Heath, Assistant Professor of Economics, University of Washington, Seattle, Rick Darling, Executive Director, Government and Public Affairs, Li & Fung (Trading) Ltd, Ms Sarah Labowitz, Co-Director, New York University Stern Center for Business and Human Rights, also sent separate emails to BGMEA, praising the event and expressing their high hopes on the bright future of the country’s RMG sector. l

B2

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Stocks end fiveday losses

DSE key features December 18, 2014

n Tribune Report

Number of Contract

over 6%, followed by textile almost 5%, ceramic 3.6%, jute 3.5% and cement more than 1%.

Other sectors particularly large, including power, pharmaceuticals, banks, non-banking financial institutions and telecommunications, closed marginally higher.

IDLC Investments said initial attempt of the market to recover subdued as investors balked at price scrips in higher side.

It said rather their attention remained scattered in multiple stocks.

“Trading pattern on the other hand imitated previous sessions’ tendency to allocate in volatility exploiting strategy in small caps as well as expectation of a revaluation in large caps.”

Lanka Bangla Securities said index moved higher in early trading after moving down all-week long. It said stocks have restored some ground and remained mostly positive.

“This might be an impulse bounce back after 5 days of correction.”

Quasem Drycell has remained the most traded stock of the session with liquidity worth Tk8.3 crore changing hands.

It was followed by Fuwang Food, RAK Ceramics, Square Pharmaceuticals, Agni System, Tung Hai Knitting and Beximco Pharmaceuticals.

Eastern Insurance was the biggest gainer soaring over 6%. It was followed by Sonali Ansh, Bangladesh Electrode Dynamics Ltd, EBL NRB Mutual Fund and Monno Staffler.

Shyampur Sugar Mill was the worst loser falling over 7%, followed

by Gemini Sea Food, MBL First Mutual Fund, Western Marine Shipyard and 7th ICB Mutual Fund. l

Stocks witnessed moderate rise amid cautious trading yesterday, breaking five consecutive days’ losses.

The market opened higher rising more than 35 points in the early session, led by small cap issues but lost some points on selling pressure on food and allied stocks at close.

The benchmark DSEX gained over 18 points or 0.4% to settle at 4,856.

Initial attempt of the market to recover subdued as investors balked at price scrips in higher side The Shariah index DSES was up almost 7 points or 0.7% to 1,144. The comprising blue chips DS30 closed at 1,792, rising marginally over 4 points or 0.3%.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, edged 23 points higher to 9,102.

However, investors remained cautious in trading activities as DSE turnover stood at Tk231 crore, down almost 19% over the previous session.

The market breadth remained positive as out of 310 issues traded, 157 advanced, 112 declined and 41 remained unchanged.

Among the major industry moves, only IT, and food and allied closed in red with slightly down.

All other sectors ended positive with Jute posting highest gain of

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)

Shampur Sugar -Z GeminiSeaFood-Z MBL 1st M. F.-A WesternMarine -N 7th ICB M F-A FarEast Knitting -N Apex SpinningA Alltex Industries -Z FAS Fin. & Inv. Ltd-B Legacy Footwear -A

-7.32 -5.93 -4.55 -4.28 -3.84 -3.77 -3.72 -3.60 -3.45 -3.00

CSE LOSER Company 2nd ICB M F -A BD Fixed Income MF-A AIBL 1st Is. M. F.-A Standard Ceramic -A Prime Textile -A Apex SpinningA Bata Shoe Ltd. -A Apex Footwear-A Saiham Tex.A BDCOM Online-A

Closing (% Change) -19.87 -10.00 -8.51 -8.43 -6.88 -6.87 -6.23 -5.36 -4.83 -4.38

4856.41760

(+) 0.38%

1792.86382

(+) 0.23%

14954.69470

(+) 0.17%

12177.94190

(-) 0.18%

9102.78140

(+) 0.05%

Average (% Change) -5.70 -6.80 -1.62 -3.12 -3.46 -1.58 -3.01 -6.09 -0.85 -3.76 Average (% Change) -19.87 -10.00 -8.12 -8.43 -1.54 -6.66 -5.99 -5.36 -5.38 -4.03

ANALYST

ClosingAvg. 11.58 209.30 4.26 54.73 92.68 28.59 70.53 24.53 19.80 28.89

ClosingAvg. 250.00 5.40 4.30 39.10 17.94 70.66 1,098.03 440.00 27.60 24.03

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 194.39 203.00 26.12 365.93 132.19 210.17 6.81 242.37 356.69 12.92 84.56 9.51 74.03 89.16 87.71 18.24 50.49 56.62 33.29 59.07 0.00

DHIGH

11.40 211.10 4.20 53.70 92.60 28.10 69.80 24.10 19.60 29.10

Closing 250.00 5.40 4.30 39.10 17.60 70.50 1,095.20 440.00 27.60 24.00

12.20 231.00 4.30 57.20 95.00 29.60 72.50 25.80 20.30 30.70

DHIGH 250.00 5.40 4.30 39.10 18.50 71.00 1,150.00 440.00 27.60 24.90

DSE GAINER Company

2,313.24

Turnover (Volume)

59,862,103 77,899

Traded Issues

310

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

161

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

138

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

11

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,597.15

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

31.48

CSE key features December 18, 2014 Turnover (Million Taka)

227.94

Turnover (Volume)

6,386,408

Number of Contract

14,193

Traded Issues

254

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

120

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

126

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

7

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,509.73

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.42

Turnover in Million

DLOW 11.10 208.30 4.20 53.50 92.00 28.00 69.50 23.10 19.30 28.50

0.169 0.054 0.651 50.149 0.190 8.308 1.784 6.618 0.720 3.817

Turnover in Million

DLOW 250.00 5.40 4.30 39.10 17.60 70.50 1,095.00 440.00 27.60 23.60

0.005 0.000 0.002 0.020 0.067 0.022 0.040 0.004 0.003 0.228

% change 8.40 8.78 1.13 15.82 5.71 9.09 0.29 10.48 15.42 3.66 0.41 3.20 3.85 3.79 0.79 2.18 2.45 1.44 2.55 0.00

Million Taka 10.69 18.18 3.25 31.03 9.58 19.64 33.63 33.04 2.99 11.53 2.19 8.34 9.02 4.06 0.97 3.28 16.72 3.88 10.06 0.05

CSE

% change 4.60 7.83 1.40 13.37 4.13 8.46 0.00 14.49 14.24 1.29 4.96 0.94 3.59 3.89 1.75 0.42 1.41 7.20 1.67 4.34 0.02

Million Taka 205.08 221.18 29.37 396.96 141.77 229.81 6.81 275.99 389.73 15.91 96.08 11.70 82.38 98.18 91.77 19.20 53.77 73.34 37.17 69.14 0.05

Jute SpinnersA R. N. Spinning-Z Northern Jute -Z Eastern InsurA Shinepukur Cera-Z Sonali Ansh -A Barakatullah E. D.-A EBL NRB M.F.-A Monno Stafllers -A Shahjibazar Power-N

Closing (% Change) 9.83 8.06 6.56 6.08 5.71 5.68 4.89 4.76 4.67 4.67

CSE GAINER

Latest EPS -52.72 1.39 0.18 1.80 8.52 2.28 0.86 3.28 1.27 0.28

Latest EPS 71.88 0.48 -0.08 0.60 1.04 0.86 52.96 20.48 2.96 1.64

Latest PE -ve 150.6 23.7 30.4 10.9 12.5 82.0 7.5 15.6 103.2

Company Samorita Hospital -A Barakatullah E. D.-A Marico BD Ltd-A Nitol Insurance -A R. N. Spinning-Z Pragati Gen. I -A Quasem Drycells -A LR Global BD MF1-A AMCL 2nd MF-A Beacon Pharma Ltd.-Z

8.26 6.19 6.15 5.86 5.63 5.34 4.55 4.55 4.44 4.42

Average (% Change) 8.26 4.00 6.14 7.72 3.48 5.21 5.64 4.55 5.56 3.87

ClosingAvg. 64.98 29.28 299.00 34.92 14.73 121.50 33.81 4.42 301.58 242.51

ClosingAvg. 78.60 34.07 1156.96 31.24 29.75 41.37 80.20 4.60 4.75 18.80

Closing 65.90 29.50 299.00 34.90 14.80 122.70 34.30 4.40 304.60 241.90

Closing 78.60 34.30 1157.00 30.70 30.00 41.40 80.40 4.60 4.70 18.90

DHIGH 66.00 29.90 299.00 35.00 15.10 124.00 34.60 4.50 310.00 249.20

DHIGH 78.60 34.80 1157.00 31.30 30.80 41.50 81.40 4.60 4.90 19.00

DLOW 60.00 27.30 299.00 32.60 13.80 117.70 32.80 4.40 290.00 236.00

DLOW 78.60 31.50 1156.90 29.50 28.00 40.00 78.20 4.60 4.50 18.50

Turnover in Million 0.679 10.350 0.000 2.584 0.792 6.126 22.765 0.186 0.956 9.443

Turnover in Million 0.000 2.684 0.008 0.225 2.170 0.056 3.200 0.046 0.074 1.356

Latest EPS -43.64 2.19 1.00 2.31 0.39 0.60 3.20 0.64 1.17 9.00

Latest EPS 2.32 3.20 55.10 2.79 2.19 2.47 2.24 0.69 0.72 0.08

Latest PE -ve 13.4 299.0 15.1 37.8 202.5 10.6 6.9 257.8 26.9

Latest PE 33.9 10.6 21.0 11.2 13.6 16.7 35.8 6.7 6.6 235.0

News, analysis and recent disclosures ECABLES: As per Regulation 30 of DSE Listing Regulations, the Company has informed that a meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on December 21, 2014 at 3:00 PM to consider, among others, audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended on June 30, 2014.

BENGALWTL: Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh Limited (CRAB) has announced the entity rating (surveillance) of the Company as AA3 based on unaudited financial statement as on June 30, 2014 audited financial statement up to June 30, 2013 bank liability position as on September 30, 2014 and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

IPO Subscription: Shasha Denims Limited subscription date 14 to 21 December 2014, NRB upto 30 December 2014. @ taka 10, face value taka 35 and market lot 200.

Zaheen Spinning Limited subscription date 28 December 2014 to 04 January 2015, NRB upto 13 January 2015. @ taka 10, face value taka 10 and market lot 500.

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. 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 HFL: 10% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 30.12.2014, Record Date: 22.12.2014.

SONALIANSH: 10% cash AGM: 30.12.2014, Record Date: 21.12.2014.

KEYACOSMET: 20% cash, Record Date: 21.12.2014. Date, Time and Venue of the AGM will be notified later.

RECKITTBEN: 175% interim cash dividend (second time), Record date for entitlement of interim dividend: 15.12.2014.

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.

PHARMAID: 25% cash, AGM: 28.12.2014, Record Date: 02.12.2014.

TALLUSPIN: No dividend, AGM: 23.12.2014, Record Date: 01.12.2014.

MITHUNKNIT: 20% stock, AGM: 23.12.2014, Record date: 20.11.2014.

WMSHIPYARD: 5% cash dividend to the general shareholders only, and 10% stock dividend to all the shareholders, AGM: 21.12.2014, Record date: 20.11.2014.

PRIMELIFE: 10% cash and 15% stock dividend, AGM: 24.12.2014, Record Date: 20.11.2014.

OLYMPIC: 20% cash and 35% stock, AGM: 24.12.2014, Record Date: 27.11.2014.

PADMAOIL: 100% cash, AGM: 14.02.2015, Record date: 22.12.2014.

EASTRNLUB: 30% cash, AGM: 17.01.2015, Record Date: 25.11.2014.

3.5 11.3 -ve 65.2 17.3 82.2 20.7 21.5 9.3 14.7

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company

Total

Closing (% Change)

Average (% Change) 8.90 4.83 6.36 6.33 3.15 5.19 3.43 4.00 3.64 7.89

Latest PE

Index moved higher in early trading after moving down all-week long. It said stocks have restored some ground and remained mostly positive

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▲

Turnover (Million Taka)

Friday, December 19, 2014

% change 8.06 8.69 1.15 15.60 5.57 9.03 0.27 10.84 15.31 0.62 3.77 0.46 3.24 3.86 3.61 0.75 2.11 2.88 1.46 2.72 0.00

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

Quasem Drycells -A Fu-Wang Food A RAK Ceramics-A Square Pharma -A Agni Systems -A Tung Hai Knitting -N Beximco Pharma -A LafargeS Cement-Z Keya Cosmetics -A SummitAlliancePort.-A

WesternMarine -N Grameenphone-A GSP Finance-A Navana CNG-A Active Fine Chem.-A Alltex Industries -Z

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Grameenphone-A Tung Hai Knitting -N SummitAlliancePort.-A RAK Ceramics-A Square Pharma -A Keya Cosmetics -A WesternMarine -N Meghna Petroleum -A Hamid Fabrics -N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A

Navana CNG-A Fu-Wang Food A GSP Finance-A Beximco Pharma -A LafargeS Cement-Z

VolumeShares 1,035,805 2,768,067 1,128,782 256,590 1,941,620 2,999,180 957,839 515,526 2,118,707 663,409

Value in Million 82.68 73.84 69.79 65.09 64.29 63.03 60.77 59.30 58.33 56.79

% of TotalTurnover 3.57 3.19 3.02 2.81 2.78 2.72 2.63 2.56 2.52 2.46

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

916,272 142,182 1,341,307 631,344 560,066 4,845,000

44,377 442,821 105,706 131,761 31,754 274,661 131,673 33,283 162,416 155,013

81,861 204,279 144,795 77,679 41,557

50.15 50.09 47.27 43.04 40.87 113.67

15.66 9.27 9.01 8.14 8.06 7.54 7.21 7.03 6.99 5.88

5.58 5.42 5.12 4.93 4.81

2.17 2.17 2.04 1.86 1.77 1.51

6.89 4.08 3.97 3.58 3.55 3.32 3.17 3.09 3.07 2.59

2.45 2.39 2.25 2.17 2.12

ClosingP 79.70 27.50 62.10 254.30 33.10 21.30 62.90 115.00 27.80 84.40

53.70 350.80 35.70 68.70 72.90 22.90 ClosingP

350.40 21.10 84.20 62.00 254.90 27.70 53.90 211.80 42.90 37.90

68.50 27.20 35.50 63.20 115.10

Change % 4.59 4.17 3.85 0.39 -0.60 1.43 0.96 1.68 2.96 -0.35

-4.28 0.06 4.39 3.78 1.11 4.09

Change %

0.11 0.96 -0.47 4.20 0.04 2.97 -3.92 -1.03 -0.92 0.00

3.47 3.03 4.41 1.12 1.59

ClosingY 76.20 26.40 59.80 253.30 33.30 21.00 62.30 113.10 27.00 84.70

56.10 350.60 34.20 66.20 72.10 22.00 ClosingY

350.00 20.90 84.60 59.50 254.80 26.90 56.10 214.00 43.30 37.90

66.20 26.40 34.00 62.50 113.30

DHIGH 82.00 27.90 62.80 257.00 33.70 21.40 64.20 120.30 28.00 89.90

57.20 355.90 35.80 69.30 73.50 24.20 DHIGH

355.00 21.40 86.60 62.50 256.50 27.90 56.90 213.20 43.90 38.20

69.00 27.60 35.70 64.00 119.00

DLOW 76.60 25.70 60.20 252.70 32.70 20.60 62.00 114.20 27.00 83.60

53.50 347.00 34.10 66.10 71.70 20.50 DLOW

350.00 20.40 83.50 60.50 254.00 27.00 53.60 210.90 42.80 37.80

65.10 25.80 34.10 62.30 114.90

AvgPrice 79.82 26.67 61.83 253.68 33.11 21.02 63.44 115.02 27.53 85.61

54.73 352.27 35.24 68.17 72.97 23.46

AvgPrice

352.85 20.94 85.25 61.76 253.74 27.44 54.73 211.10 43.02 37.95

68.13 26.55 35.35 63.48 115.81

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

Friday, December 19, 2014

US consumer prices fall on gasoline; rate hike likely in 2015 n AFP, Washington US consumer prices recorded their biggest drop in nearly six years in November as gasoline prices tumbled, but did little to change views the Federal Reserve would start raising interest rates in mid-2015.

The Labor Department said on Wednesday its Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell 0.3%, the largest decline since December 2008, after being flat in October. The CPI increased 1.3% in the 12 months through November, the smallest gain in nine months, after advancing 1.7% in October.

Fed officials shrugged off the disinflationary trend as transitory in a statement at the end of a two-day meeting.

The US central bank offered an upbeat assessment of the economy and signaled it was on track to raise borrowing costs in 2015.

“Conditions could be in place to raise rates during the first half of next year,” said Joel Naroff, chief economist at Naroff Economic Advisors in Holland, Pennsylvania.

The Fed said it expected inflation to rise gradually toward its 2% target.

It has kept its short-term interest rate near zero since December 2008.

Wall Street had expected the CPI to dip only 0.1% from October and increase 1.4% from a year earlier.

While inflation is trending lower, job growth has shifted into higher gear and the pace of slack absorption in the economy has accelerated in recent months. The Labor Department report also showed average weekly earnings, adjusted for inflation, recorded their biggest gain in six years in November.

US stocks rallied on the Fed’s vote of confidence in the economy, while pric-

Ruble steady in Asia after Russia measures to halt collapse n AFP, Tokyo

An eagle tops the U.S. Federal Reserve building's facade in Washington es for US Treasury debt fell. The dollar jumped against a basket of currencies.

Plunging crude oil prices, which hit a new 5-1/2 year low this week on increased shale production in the United States and slowing global demand, are likely to keep overall inflation in check for while.

Underlying price pressures are also ebbing a bit after showing some signs of creeping up in October, but this could also be temporary as the cost of rental accommodation continues to push higher.

Stripping out food and energy prices, the so-called core CPI edged up 0.1% after rising 0.2% in October. In the 12 months through November, the core CPI rose 1.7% after increasing 1.8% in October.

“If they (Fed policymakers) delay tightening due to low oil prices, it will be out of caution for the potential economic impact,” said Jay Morelock, an economist at FTN Financial in New York.

“If the fall in energy prices continues, the loss of capital spending by en-

REUTERS

ergy companies could cause GDP to fall in the first half of the year.”

Gasoline prices have recorded their biggest drop since December 2008. They have now declined for five straight months. Within the core CPI, shelter costs increased 0.3% last month after rising 0.2% in October.

There were also increases in airline fares, medical care and alcohol prices.

But new motor vehicle prices fell as did the cost of household furnishings, apparel and used cars and trucks. l

B3

The ruble recovered in Asia yesterday after Russian authorities launched fresh measures to halt its collapse, while the Federal Reserve’s indication that interest rates will not rise until mid-2015 supported the dollar.

The struggling Russian unit was at 61.59 to the dollar after plunging to 80 earlier in the week, and at 74.21 against the euro after previously hitting 100.

Moscow said Wednesday it would sell about $7bn in foreign reserves to prop up its currency and also implement other measures to prevent a sell-off. That came after a central bank interest rate hike to 17% from 10.5% failed to halt a slide.

The ruble has been hammered by a perfect storm as slumping oil prices hit Russian exports combine with punitive sanctions for Moscow’s support of separatists in eastern Ukraine.

In other trading, the dollar surged to 118.99 yen in the morning yesterday before easing back to 118.48 yen later.

That is down slightly from 118.63 yen in New York, but still well up from 117.07 yen in Tokyo earlier on Wednesday.

The euro fetched $1.2342 compared with $1.2343, while it was at 146.26 yen against 146.43 yen in US trade.

The greenback rallied Wednesday after the US Federal Reserve signalled no shift in its expectation to raise interest rates in 2015.

Its policy committee said it “judges that it can be patient in beginning to normalise the stance of monetary policy”. Rates have been at record lows since 2008, at the height of the global financial crisis.

“Most importantly, (Fed chair Ja-

net Yellen) noted that normalisation is unlikely to begin in the next couple of meetings, which suggests that April is on the table for the first rate rise,” National Australia said in a note.

“Yellen also emphasised that a number of participants indicated that liftoff in the middle of 2015 could be appropriate.”

Credit Agricole added: “Fed officials do not want to send a signal that rate hikes are around the corner... We believe that the Fed will proceed cautiously as we see the risks of tightening too early... are much greater than the risks of tightening too late.”

'Judges that it can be patient in beginning to normalise the stance of monetary policy' The Indonesian rupiah, which earlier this week tumbled to its lowest since August 1998 during the Asian financial crisis, rose to 12,565 against the dollar from 12,731 on Wednesday.

The greenback was mixed against other Asia-Pacific currencies.

It strengthened to Sg$1.3124 from Sg$1.3042, to 1,102.57 South Korean won from 1,094.98 won, and to Tw$31.41 from Tw$ 31.32.

The US unit weakened to 63.31 Indian rupees from 63.65 rupees, to 32.92 Thai baht from 33.01 baht, and to 44.71 Philippine pesos from 44.73 pesos.

The Australian dollar slipped to 81.34 US cents from 81.55 cents, while the Chinese yuan bought 19.07 yen against 18.88 yen. l

BSREA urges GP to allow Africa’s first fact-checking website hits million visitors local vendors for its BTS n solar systems AFP

n Tribune Business Desk Bangladesh Solar & Renewable Energy Association, a forum of local solar power system providers and manufacturers, has urged the Grameenphone authorities to allow local companies to supply their solar power systems for its base transceiver station (BTS).

It has also requested the country’s leading telecom company, a subsidiary of global telecom giant Telenor, to review its decision to escalate its BTS with solar power supplied by foreign vendors instead of local ones, reports UNB. In a letter sent to Grameenphone CEO Rajeev Sethi yesterday, Bangladesh Solar & Renewable Energy Association (BSREA) said it has come to their notice that Grameenphone has taken a decision to escalate solar power for BTS in Bangladesh with global listed vendors of Telenor, and not with local Bangladeshi companies that have already years of experience in doing the same with GP. Bangladesh Solar & Renewable Energy Association mentioned that GP in 2007 took the pioneering initiative to pi-

lot green energy in telecom sector, and till today it has installed over 310 sites.

Majority of the projects were executed by local companies and members of BSREA successfully. Besides, key components like panel and battery are manufactured in the country and used in GP systems.

“With local industry proving its experience and expertise in the area of solar power system for BTS, we wonder about the wisdom and prudence in GP decision now to give the job to its global listed vendors. Rather GP would have done the nation and the sector a big support and cooperation by listing local companies as global vendors and creating overseas rollout opportunities and generate export revenue for the country,” said the BSREA letter signed by its president Dipal Barua.

BSREA requested the GP to re-look and review the decision that will adversely affect the local organisations’ participation in escalating usage of green energy in telecom sector.

“It will create opportunity for our member firms with experience and expertise to participate,” he said. l

Africa’s first independent fact-checking website Africa Check, launched two years ago to promote accuracy in public debate and the media, announced Thursday that it had hit a million visitors.

Crossing the million mark “is symbolic for us”, said Africa Check editor Julian Rademeyer.

“It is reaching a milestone moment

in the number of readers.”

The main point of the website is to promote transparency and push for “accuracy in public debate, and encourage honesty of politicians”, he said.

Through a network of researchers spanning the continent, the organisation checks facts pronounced by politicians, business leaders or in the media, verifying them and then publishing their findings. It has over the past two

years published over two hundred guides, factsheets and reports casting a critical eye on fake health cures, water quality exposés, and the effect of gun control legislation on murder rates.

“We had a number of cases where changes have been made,” following some of the exposés, said Rademeyer.

“It’s a way of checking claims made by public officials. “It’s holding them to account. It gets people to interrogate the

claims that have been made,” he said.

The africacheck.org website was set up by the AFP Foundation, the nonprofit media training arm of Agence France-Presse, in October 2012 with seed money from Google.

It operates in partnership with the prestigious University of the Witwatersrand’s journalism department and a core team of researchers based in Johannesburg. l

CORPORATE NEWS

bKash, mobile financial service provider has recently signed an agreement with Square Hospital on facilitating its patients to pay their medical bills through bKash. Rezaul Hossain, chief commercial officer of bKash and K M Saiful Islam, director of Square Hospital Limited have signed the agreement

Mercantile Bank Limited has recently opened its 97th branch at Chandpur. Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni has inaugurated the branch as chief guest at the presence of the bank’s chairperson, Morshed Alam

Forex reserve hits record high  B1 COLUMN 6

Foreign exchange reserve of the country has been growing rapidly this year setting fourth times record high owing to robust inflow of remittance and foreign loans.

The country’s reserve reached to $20bn in April for the first time when it made new highs of $21bn in June and $22bn in August this year.

The country’s export growth rose by

24% to $2.4bn in November compared to $1.9bn in the previous month, according to the central bank data.

The weighted average exchange rate of dollar was Tk77.80 yesterday. It was in upward trend since November from Tk77.40 due to the increased demand. Bangladesh Bank sold $70m in November and $158m in this month in response to rise of import payments. l

Jamuna Bank has recently opened its 95th branch at Gulshan Badda Link Road in Badda.

The bank’s chairperson, Shaheen Mahmud inaugurated the branch as chief guest

Tofail: Exports to India barred  B1 COLUMN 6

On $50bn export target from garments by 2021, he said, “The government may set garment export target at more than $60bn. Our garment export was only $15bn in 2009 and now it is $24.5bn on garment export. It will definitely reach $50bn in next seven years.”

Tofail put stress on the development of infrastructure, diversification of export products and exploring new destinations.

In reply to a question about safety challenges, the minister said the country’s garment factories are now more or less compliant in ensuring labour rights and environmental standards.

He mentioned the inspection of Accord and Alliance in this regard.

Tofail said the risky factories have come down to only 1.80% of total num-

ber now after safety measures taken following Rana Plaza incident.

“The risky factories have been shut down for remediation. The buyers now feel confident to return as the industry is trying to ensure internationa standard in workplace safety,” Tofail said.

Australia and China are now good garment market for Bangladeshi exporters, he said adding that Germany’s garment market will exceed that of the US. After apparel summit in Dhaka this month, the world’s famous brands now look for garment products in Bangladesh, commerce minister said.

“Orders are pouring in Bangladesh after the apparel summit.”

He said big global brands in 11 helicopters visited factories and expressed satisfaction in factories’ conditions during the summit. l

Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited has recently initiated its winter aid programme for distressed victims of cold wave. The bank’s chairperson, Md Yousuf Ali Howlader inaugurated the programme as chief guest

Holcim Cement Bangladesh appoints new CEO n Tribune Business Desk

CP Bangladesh Co Ltd has recently launched its 150th food outlet at Katabon area. The company’s president, Suchat Santipada was present at the ceremony

Sumanta Pandit has recently been appointed as the chief executive officer of Holcim Cement (Bangladesh) Limited. Pandit joined Holcim Bangladesh from Emirates Cement, a subsidiary of Ultratech India, where he was heading the business in Bangladesh as country manager. Prior to this, Sumanta Pandit worked for various multinational cement companies in different management positions. l

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Friday, December 19, 2014

Russia spends billions to prop up ruble n AFP, Moscow Russia stepped up its defence of the ruble on Wednesday as it sought to halt a run on the currency and stem the worst financial crisis of President Vladimir Putin’s 15 years in power.

The intervention came as Washington prepared to pile further sanctions on Russia over its support for the separatist insurgency in Ukraine, which have combined with falling oil prices to produce the perfect storm for the currency to go into freefall.

The ruble, which lost a fifth of its value in a single day on Tuesday, has lost 60% of its value since the beginning of the year.

The economic storm clouds present a major challenge for Putin, 62, and will test his ability to ride out the economic turmoil and his confrontation with the West over Ukraine.

“There is reason for cautious optimism,” Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in televised remarks, referring to the economic outlook.

‘Anti-crisis decisions’

The ruble rallied slightly in late afternoon trading, reaching 61.50 to the dollar from 67.88 on Tuesday evening, and at 76.50 to the euro from 85.15.

The rise came after Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev voiced confidence that Moscow can contain the crisis and the finance ministry said it was selling around $7 billion to prop up the ruble.

“What we are seeing today is by and large playing on emotions,” Medvedev told a televised meeting of ministers and exporters.

“We have experience in making anti-crisis decisions.”

The Russian central bank announced a series of measures aimed at “stabilising the financial system.”

The measures seek to ease access to foreign currency and protect banks from having to book losses that would weaken their financial strength.

The central bank also reiterated it

would work with the government to recapitalise some lenders in 2015.

The bank added it had spent $1.96bn on Monday in a bid to prop up the currency, taking to over $10bn it has spent on propping up the ruble since the start of the month.

The Bank of Russia’s currency reserves were worth $415bn on December 5.

Russia’s economy had aready been slowing before Moscow annexed Crimea in March and subsequently supported insurgents in eastern Ukraine, but the sanctions and the halving oil prices threaten to push Russia into a sharp recession.

Heavily dependent on the export of natural resources, the central bank estimated the Russian economy could contract by five percent next year, before it hiked interest rates that will slow activity further.

The collapse of the value of the ruble will squeeze Russians as most consumer goods are imported.

End of ‘Teflon Putin?’

Putin, who has remained conspicuously silent on the ruble collapse, came into the firing line on Wednesday.

“We’ve lost the feeling that Putin is a kind of magician who can control everything,” wrote the wide-circulation daily Moskovsky Komsomolets, saying the president had heretofore been “Teflon Putin”.

The Russian president is scheduled to hold his annual end-of-the-year news conference on Thursday.

“It’s unclear what they want to do and what will happen in the future,” said Vyacheslav, a Muscovite in his 20s.

“I think the 1990s will be back,” referring to years of high inflation which ended with a collapse of the ruble and the government defaulting when oil prices dropped.

Putin’s popularity has so far remained sky high, but his 15-year rule has been marked by relative prosperity and economic stability. l

Crude prices have fallen to multi-year lows since June in the face of a global supply glut and slower growth in demand

Saudi to continue ‘massive’ spending despite oil price fall n AFP, Riyadh Saudi Arabia will continue massive public spending despite a 50% drop in the price of oil, which provides the bulk of its revenue, the finance minister said Wednesday.

Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz al-Assaf commented after completing the 2015 budget, which will be presented to cabinet “in the near future”, the official Saudi Press Agency said.

Financial analysts expect the budget to be approved as early as Monday.

The kingdom is the largest economy in the Arab world, and OPEC’s biggest crude producer.

Assaf said the budget comes during “challenging” global economic conditions but surpluses and reserves built

over many years have given it “depth and a line of defence that come in handy in times of need”.

He said this policy will continue, enabling the government “to implement massive social projects” in health, education, social services and development as well as state security.

This spending, combined with private sector activity, is expected to bring positive economic growth, he said, without giving a figure.

Crude prices have fallen to multiyear lows since June in the face of a global supply glut and slower growth in demand.

Prices have plunged even further since last month, when the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries decided against cutting production.

Russian economy faces 5% contraction n AFP, Washington

The sharp fall in oil prices and Western sanctions could combine to drive a five percent contraction of the Russian economy next year, an economist warned Wednesday.

Lubomir Mitov, a Russian specialist at the Institute of International Finance, said that if oil prices stick at current levels, domestic investment and consumption will plunge, and companies and banks that do not enjoy government support could default on their loans.

If oil prices remain in the range of $58-62 a barrel for a year or more, “Russia will be in a very deep recession,

which will definitely be more than a drop in GDP of five percent,” he said.

The recession would be sustained through 2016 as well if sanctions applied on the country over its support for Ukraine rebels remain in place.

The sanctions are choking off especially funding and support for investment in oil and gas operations.

If the oil prices stay at current levels for only several months, he said, “it is not really that important” for the overall economy. “If we have $60 a barrel for a year or two, it is a very, very significant downside for Russia.”

Mitov, who studies Russian and eastern European economies for the IIF, an association of 500 of the world’s

largest banks and financial institutions, said the Russian government has to finance a $100bn gap in its budget this year due to the plunge in the oil price.

The devaluation of the ruble has helped bridge the deficit, offsetting the fall in energy prices. But the ruble’s drop has far overshot what the central bank was likely targeting, he said.

He said the central bank’s recent 17% interest rate hike to stem the currency’s fall came too late, and that companies and businesses continue to pile out of the ruble while supplies of hard currencies have dried up for most.

If the authorities cannot bring calm back to the market, they could be forced to institute capital controls,

Swiss central bank introduces negative interest rate n AFP, Geneva Switzerland’s central bank announced yesterday it was introducing negative interest rates to stop the franc getting any stronger, after the Russian ruble crisis sent investors pouring their investments into the safe haven currency.

The Swiss National Bank will impose a rate of -0.25% on certain bank deposits on January 22, with the aim of pushing the target range of Switzerland’s benchmark interest rate into negative territory.

“The Swiss franc has been experiencing renewed upward pressure vis-àvis the euro in the last few days,” said Thomas Jordan, chairman of the SNB governing board.

“Rapidly mounting uncertainty on the financial markets has substantially increased demand for safe investments. The worsening of the crisis in

DILBERT

Russia was a major contributory factor in this development.”

The ruble crashed to historic lows this week of 80 to the dollar and 100 to the euro, as the energy-export dependent economy was hit by a rout in oil prices.

It has prompted Russians to rush to exchange their savings and make a run on stores to dump the devaluing national currency ahead of expected price hikes.

With the safe haven Swiss currency in demand, the SNB was forced to take action to protect the country’s vital export sector.

The negative interest rate will be imposed on so-called sight deposits, funds which can be accessed immediately, but only apply to balances above a certain threshold.

The SNB said the aim of the rate change was to take the three-month Libor rate, which Switzerland uses to de-

AFP

termine interest rates on mortgages and savings accounts, into negative territory.

The target range for Libor - the name for the franc’s three-month London interbank offered rate - is now between -0.75% and 0.25%, compared to its previous level of between 0.0 and 0.25%.

“This measure will lead to a further decline in the interest earned on Swiss-franc investments, making them less attractive, and thereby easing the upward pressure on the Swiss franc,” Jordan said.

He reiterated the central bank’s “utmost determination” to keep to an exchange-rate floor of 1.20 francs to the euro - a move that effectively imposes a limit on how strong the Swiss currency can get.

“Without the minimum exchange rate, price stability in Switzerland would be seriously compromised,” Jordan said.

He repeated that the SNB was “prepared to purchase foreign currency in unlimited quantities and to take further measures, if required”.

‘Battle of measures’ with ECB

Analysts had been expecting negative rates even before the Russian crisis, because of the increasing risks of deflation in Switzerland and in anticipation of further stimulus measures by the European Central Bank. l

even though so far the central bank opposes that measure, Mitov said.

The authorities need to “create some sense of normalcy,” he said.

“If this doesn’t happen, then the exchange rate can go to levels which nobody can really predict.”

“Then there will be nothing left for them but to resort to widespread capital controls. This is the immediate danger.”

Separately the International Monetary Fund said Wednesday that it was watching the Russian situation closely.

“The IMF is closely monitoring developments in the foreign exchange markets in Russia,” a spokeswoman told AFP. l

German business warns ruble plunge will ‘affect us all’ n AFP, Berlin A German business group Wednesday cautioned against “Schadenfreude” over Russia’s currency woes, predicting a 20% drop in German exports to the country this year and the risk of worse to come.

The ruble’s sharp drop would further damage trade, already hurt by Western sanctions amid the Ukraine crisis, and slash revenues of foreign companies operating in Russia, said Eckhard Cordes, head of industry group the Committee on Eastern European Economic Relations.

“I generally cautioned against Schadenfreude”, or the pleasure at another’s misfortune, Cordes told business daily the Handelsblatt.

“A destabilisation of Russia in the end isn’t in anyone’s interest, we would all be affected.

“At the moment we expect a 20% fall of German exports to Russia in 2014.

But if the current situation continues, we could experience a bigger fall.”

The ruble this week slumped to record lows against the dollar and the euro, losing around 60 percent of its value since the beginning of the year, due to plunging oil prices and Western sanctions over Ukraine.

It has recovered somewhat as the finance ministry has sold foreign currency to prop up the ruble. l

The cartel pumps about 30% of global crude.

On Wednesday, US benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for January delivery sank a further $1.16 in afternoon Asian trade, to $54.77.

Brent crude for February shed 71 cents to $59.30.

Riyadh-based Jadwa Investment said in a December 7 report that the government should be in a comfortable position to adjust to lower oil prices and avoid drastic spending cuts.

It highlighted “the strong sovereign balance sheet, with foreign reserves of more than 95 percent of GDP and a public debt of less than two percent of GDP”.

Jadwa projected a fiscal deficit of 2.7% in 2015.

It said it expected global growth to

recover next year, helping to pull up crude prices to around $84 a barrel.

“We think the government will maintain elevated spending”, Jadwa said, forecasting real GDP growth of 3.4% in 2015.

British-based analysts at Capital Economics said a budget deficit “should be easily financed by issuing debt or drawing down savings. Overall, then, growth is unlikely to collapse as a result of lower oil prices.”

Saudi Arabia had a nominal GDP of $748bn (598m euros) last year, and reported a budget surplus of around $55bn.

The ruler of neighbouring Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, warned in October that falling oil prices were damaging his nation’s economy. l

EU summit to discuss crisishit Russia, economic plan n AFP, Brussels EU leaders on Thursday will discuss tense relations with Russia and punishing sanctions imposed over Moscow’s actions in Ukraine at a summit led for the first time by Poland’s Kremlin-wary former premier Donald Tusk.

Leaders will also back a huge 315bn euro ($380bn) investment plan unveiled last month by new European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker -- although hard cash is expected to be lacking to help kickstart Europe’s economy.

“The Russian economic situation will be in everyone’s minds,” a European diplomat said, after a month that has seen Russia spend heavily to stop the collapse of the ruble triggered by falling oil prices and sanctions imposed

by Brussels and Washington.

Tusk - who on December 1 took up his duties as president of the European Council grouping the 28 EU member states - has set aside talks on a “strategy” for Moscow, several European sources said.

No new sanctions will be decided at the summit in Brussels as the EU “is not in a hardening mindset,” one diplomat said, while another added: “We don’t want to provoke Putin too much.”

“We must pursue the political work,” a French source said.

On Tuesday, French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel held a conference call with presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine, agreeing that peace talks to end months of bloody rebellion in the east of the exSoviet republic should resume “as soon as possible”.

The EU leaders, who want to tread a line between firmness and dialogue with Moscow, must reflect on how to follow up on the heavy sanctions agreed over the summer after the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

“Everybody agrees that the sanctions have an impact but that they are not an end in themselves,” a European source said, stressing that Russia has not changed its policy one bit on Ukraine.

Western powers have repeatedly accused Russia of stoking the Ukraine

crisis, which has killed at least 4,700 people and displaced close to one million, by supplying weapons and troops to the rebels - Moscow denies this.

Tusk said: “The crisis in Ukraine remains a serious concern.... It is therefore important that we come out of this meeting with a clear political message.”

‘Hard cash now’

The EU, which has already spent $1.6bn on rescuing effectively bankrupt Ukraine, will reiterate that it is ready to do more, but only in return for reforms.

Also on the table will be Juncker’s investment plan to revive the bloc’s stalling economy, a plan that seems to have pitted Brussels against European governments.

On the eve of the summit, the head of the EU’s executive branch urged EU leaders to open their wallets and add to the seed money that will be put in place over the next few months to launch the investment plan.

“Several states have shown potential interest,” Juncker said in a debate at the European Parliament.

“I now wait for concrete proposals and not just ‘talk-talk’. I need ‘moneymoney,’ hard cash now,” he said.

But the 28 member states are far from stepping up. They first want to know how the plan will work, what the projects will be and what the return will be for their country at a time when their budgets are already strained.

“I don’t think that, tomorrow or after tomorrow, the states will take a decision on participating in it,” a German government source said.

“It will not be a donors conference,” a French source said, while leaving the door open to national contributions at a later stage.

Tusk, a veteran of summits which he attended for seven years as Poland’s prime minister, wants to break with the style of previous gatherings.

The conclusions will be shorter than before, as will be debates, which he does not want to see drag on beyond midnight.

If all the subjects are wrapped up, the meeting could end Thursday evening, a first for European summits which often stretched late into a second night at the height of the eurozone debt crisis. l