07 Jan, 2015

Paush 24, 1421 Rabiul Awal 15, 1436 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 273

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

20 pages plus 8-page Treehouse children’s supplement | Price: Tk12

TREEHOUSE

7 | LONG FORM

11 | OP-ED

12 | SPORT

THE LOST CITY OF ATLANTIS

INDIAN WINTER

MAY WE SPEAK FREELY?

TALE OF THE OVERLOOKED TIGERS

Ijtema puts BNP in a dilemma

A boy’s dreams shattered by a bomb n Mohammad Jamil Khan

Khaleda advised to call rally for Jan 8 so that govt cuts off Dhaka and be blamed for public sufferings during Ijtema shan residence to take part in a rally at n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Nayapaltan for which they never got The BNP is in a dilemma regarding whether to carry on with or relax the ongoing indefinite blockade for the upcoming Ijtema because the party now believes that its movement has gained quite a bit of momentum.

Then again, there are also fears that if Ijtema – the second biggest global religious congregation of the Muslims – gets hampered because of political programmes, the party will have to pay for it.

P3 OPERATION ‘DHORO’ BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has already been living in virtual confinement at her Gulshan office since Saturday evening. Yesterday, the party’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was arrested in the capital in connection with several cases.

By yesterday, most senior leaders of the party have gone into hiding either to avoid police harassment or to sway away from getting tangled in fresh lawsuits.

On Monday, Khaleda Zia announced the indefinite countrywide rail, road and waterways blockade after she was barred from coming out of her Gul-

the permission from Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP).

Both ruling Awami League and the BNP wanted to hold their respective political programmes in the city on Monday; instead of allowing either of the two, the DMP responded with a ban on rallies and processions.

Seeking anonymity, a senior leader said that considering the confinement of Khaleda Zia and the arrest of Mirza Fakhrul, they cannot relax the grip; they are choosing the risky option of continuing their protest programmes during the Ijtema.

The plan is to keep the Ijtema and vehicles carrying devotees out of the blockade’s purview, he said.

“We do not have any other option but to go ahead [with our programmes].

Had the government not compelled us, we would not have needed to call such programmes,” the leader told the Dhaka Tribune.

“There is no reason to think that the BNP is not aware of the sensitivity associated with the Ijtema. Then again, the BNP’s stance regarding religion is also very clear to all. So, we do not think anyone will be able to cash in on it [if we  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

With bandages covering wounds to his skull and face, 15-year-old Anik lies in pain at the DMCH yesterday. His hopes of sitting for the upcoming SSC exams is all but shattered following a crude bomb attack in Feni on Monday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Bangladesh’s readymade garment exporters are worried of losing work orders with the country’s politics entering into another wave of unrest over national election. They say international buyers usually place most of their orders in this part of the year.

4 | News

The third meeting of the Fast Track Project Monitoring Committee would be held today, which is likely to include the ‘Matarbari 2x600 MW ultra super critical coal-fired power project’ as a fast track project in addition to the existing six fast track projects.

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

Press Club drama ends with Fakhrul arrest Momtaj and n Munir Nure Alam Durjoy A 24-hour political drama at the National Press Club finally reached its climax yesterday afternoon with the arrest of BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

The second-in-command of the party had taken refuge at the press club

INSIDE B1 | Business

One dreadful moment is all it took to fling 15 years of love and hope in the balance.

One moment, a boy is struggling for the fruits of life’s labours, a flash of light and an ear-splitting explosion later, he is struggling for very survival.

Less than a month before he was to sit his SSC exams, fifteen-year-old Anik was maimed, possibly for life, by the treacherous work of a bomb maker.

“Splinters have shattered parts of Anik’s skull and his face is partially burnt,” said Anik’s physician Rashed Mahmud at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

On Monday, Minhazul Islam Anik became the latest victim of a crude bomb attack, hurled by pickets in Feni, after the BNP-called the blockade came into effect.

At 4:30pm, while Anik was returning home from his teacher’s house in the

15 | Entertainment

Small screen actor Moutushi Biswas will be appeared in a TV play titled ‘Overcoat’ soon. Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Moutushi said: ‘The drama portrays various aspects of violence against women and its negative impact in the society.’

since Monday afternoon amid tensions over the BNP and Awami League’s parallel and confrontational programmes to mark the anniversary of the January 5 general election.

The drama started on Monday when Fakhrul was at the press club to observe the anniversary of the general election as the Democracy Killing Day. The Peshajibi Parishad, a pro-BNP

professionals’ body, arranged a programme together with pro-BNP journalists at the National Press Club auditorium. Fakhrul attended the meeting and delivered a speech at the function.

At the same time, pro-AL journalists held a meeting inside the club under the banner of Jangibadbirodhi Sangbadik Samabesh (anti-militancy journalists’ rally] marking January 5 as the

Day for the Victory of Democracy.

Around 3:30pm on Monday, as Fakhrul was about to leave the club, the situation deteriorated and the opposing groups began chanting slogans against each other, witnesses said.

Pro-AL journalists claim that at one point, pro-BNP journalists and their supporters entered the main premises  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Day 1 of blockade passes amid arson, vandalism n Tribune Report Arson, vandalism and sporadic clashes across the country marked the first day of the BNP-led 20-party alliance’s countrywide indefinite blockade programme.

Reports of violence came in from across the country, showing that at least 12 people were injured and many vehicles vandalised in blockade-related incidents. One person in Chandpur, who was attacked by pickets on Monday night, also succumbed to his injuries yesterday.

In Dhaka, at least six vehicles were torched throughout the day. In one of those attacks, an Ansar member suffered burns near the Lal Masjid area in Kadamtali at around 6am.

Kadamtali police station Officer-inCharge Mizanur Rahmna said: “Forty-year-old Ansar member Monwar Hossain sustained burn injuries when miscreants torched a tempo [human haulier] in the area.”

Later at around 2pm, a BRTC bus and a private car were torched by miscreants in front of the Rajuk building in Motijheel.

Also around the same time, a bus was torched at Tatibazar intersection.

Masum, the driver of the burnt bus, said the vehicle was carrying around 10-12 passengers when five to six young men climbed aboard in Gulistan. After reaching Tatibazar, the men told the passengers to get down before exploding a crude bomb and setting the bus on fire.

Elsewhere, Shahbagh police station Sub-Inspector Mizanur Rahman said two passengers and a driver were injured when a bus of Shekhor Paribahan was set ablaze near Shahbagh in the afternoon. Witnesses said two young men hurled crude bombs and torched the bus, which was picking up passengers at its counter.

In the evening, two more buses were torched at Gulistan and Mohakhali’ Amtoli intersection. No injury was reported from the incidents, said Ziaur Rahman, control room officer of Fire Service and Civil Defence.

Owners fear heavy toll on the transport sector n Shohel Mamun With the latest spell of political turmoil in the country, transport owners are worried as the indefinite blockade enforced by BNP-led 20 party alliance could take a heavy toll on the sector.

“We have to incur loses about Tk300 crore a day due to hartal or blockade enforced by any political party,” said Kondoker Anayetullah, secretary of Dhaka Sarak Poribohan Malik Samity [Dhaka Road Transport Owner’s Association].

Moreover, pickets often set fire on buses or lorries, which add much to the losses, he said.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Monday announced a countrywide blockade of road, rail and waterways for an indefinite period to protest the government’s not allowing her party and allies to hold rallies in the capital and elsewhere.

Yesterday, pro-blockade activists set fire to at least six buses in the capital.

Meanwhile, 20 buses and cars were burned and vandalised by the pickets across the country in the last two days.

“No inter-district bus left from the terminal due to fear of attacks by the pickets today [yesterday],” said Jowshan Ali, assistant manager of Gabtoli Bus Terminal. The transport labourers become jobless on hartal days as they get their wages on daily basis, he said.

In 2014, a transport owner had to incur losses on an average Tk8,000 to Tk10,000 due to hartals or blockades, according to a study by Dhaka Sarak Poribohan Malik Samity.

In 2013, political activists set fire on 800 buses and lorries during hartal hours, and 50 drivers were killed due to the political violence, it said.

The Dhaka Sarak Poribohan Malik Samity had to pay Tk1.50 crore as compensation to the family members of the victim drivers.

“In terms of losses, the amount of money is too little for the family members,” said Anayet.

“Now political violence has returned in the country. The ruling and other political parties should come forward to establish a peaceful condition for the sake of the country’s economic progress,” he said.

Faruk Talokder Sohel, president of Dhaka Bus Truck Owner Association, said: “If the ongoing political deadlock prolongs, it could affect the transport sector badly.” l

Another bus – belonging to Cantonment Mini Service – was set ablaze near Banani’s Chairmanbari area at around 7pm, said Banani police station OC Bhuiyan Mahbub Hasan. In Gulshan, miscreants exploded several crude bombs in front of the Gulshan police station, while the police managed to arrest two people from the scene, said Gulshan OC Rafiqul Islam.

Two crude bombs were set off at Natunbazar, said Badda OC Abdul Jalil; while on the Johnson Road, miscreants hurled cocktails and started a fire on the road in front of the Dhaka deputy commissioner’s office.

Violence outside Dhaka

Widespread violence was also reported by our correspondents from different districts across the country.

In Narayanganj, at least five BNP activists were injured during a chase and counter-chase with the police.

Narayanganj Sadar station OC Monjur Kader said the police fired blank rounds to disperse a BNP procession near the town’s Khanpur Hospital Road.

In Rajshahi, Shibir activists beat up two policemen after snatching their weapons. Pickets pounced on Constables Amzad Hossain and Shafiqul Islam, who were left behind on the street after their police van came under attack by the Shibir men near the Sapura Wasa Bhaban.

Rajshahi city DB police Assistant Commissioner Iftekayer Alam said six people were arrested from the area during a raid later in the day.

Meanwhile, in Chandpur, a businessman died yesterday after succumbing to injuries sustained during an attack by pickets on the night before.

Alok Chakrabarti, 35, son of Ramesh Chakrabarti, died while being brought to Dhaka for better medical attention.

Alok suffered his injuries on Monday night when the CNG-run autorickshaw he was on came under attack by pickets near Ghosherhat area, causing the vehicle to turn turtle, said Chandpur Additional Superintendent of Police Kamrul Islam.

Our Comilla correspondent said around 20-22 vehicles were vandalised

by Chhatra Dal activists at Alekharchar intersection yesterday. Comilla Assistant Superintendent of Police (Sadar) Jahangir Alam said law enforcers fired eight rounds of rubber bullets to disperse the procession, while the local Chhatra Dal claimed that around 10 of their activists were injured.

In Tangail, police arrested three activists of the Chhatra Dal including the district unit’s Joint Secretary Touhidul Islam Babu, said Tangail Model police station OC Golam Mustafa. Pro-blockade activists also torched and vandalised vehicles at Ashekpur Bypass area of the DhakaTangail highway, the OC said.

In Thakurgaon, the district BNP unit declared a dawn-to-dusk hartal for today protesting the arrest of Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir. District BNP Vice-President Mirza Faysal Amin made the announcement.

In Jamalpur, miscreants vandalised two trucks in Bagherhata area, confirmed Jamalpur Sadar station OC Md Mujibur Rahman.

In Gazipur, around seven people were injured and two others were detained following a clash between police and Swechchhasebak Dal leaders in Tongi area. Tongi police station SI Maleka Banu said the police fired a few rounds of rubber bullets to control the situation after the Swechchhasebak Dal brought out a procession in the area.

In Noakhali, 16 BNP activists were detained by the police from different places in the town, said Md Eliash Sharif, the superintendent of police in Noakhali.

Our Faridpur correspondent also reported that a bus was torched in the district’s Jhiltuli area yesterday.

Our Jhalakati correspondent reported that pickets were active in the town’s Shatpakia, College intersection, BRAC intersection, Chadkathi intersection, Bagri and Rajpur’s Bypass. Jhalakati Senior ASP AFM Anwar Hossain said police and RAB have been deployed to prevent any untoward situation. l

HC: Refund extra SSC fees by Jan 20 n Tribune Report

Top, BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is arrested by the police after leaving the National Press Club premises yesterday. Earlier, ruling party supporters try to climb over the club gate protesting Fakhrul’s presence inside MEHEDI HASAN

Art critic Bartelik shares global experience n Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique The second part of the “Visiting Art Critic Talk” with acclaimed art critic Marek Bartelik was held at the Goethe Institute auditorium in the capital yesterday evening.

Also president of the International Association of Art Critics (AICA), he shared his experience through a brief presentation titled “A Critic’s Experience in the Global Arena.”

His presentation covered works and artists from countries including USA,

Holland, Argentina, Brazil, China, Turkey and India. He focused on the salient aspects of the art works and trends of the contemporary arts, emphasising on the unique perspectives associated with different arts, artists and regions.

He also elaborated on how varied media, versatile perspectives had ultimately shaped the global landscape of the modern and postmodern arts, and how arts reflect the change in the global outlook on human sexuality, evolution of the art forms, and revival of the retrospective aesthetics. l

The High Court has ordered the government to make schools across the country that charged additional fees from SSC candidates to refund them by January 20.

The bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman gave the order on its own volition yesterday on the basis of a report in a Bangla daily that some schools charged as much as eight times the fee fixed by the authorities concerned for registering an SSC candidate.

According to government regulations, the enrolment fee for an SSC candidate is Tk1,400. To refund the excess money, the court directed the education secretary and chairpersons of all the 10 eduction boards to issue an order upon the schools in question.

“Otherwise, the management committees of the schools concerned will be considered invalid and the members of those committees be considered ineligible for any management or governing body election,” the court said.

After yesterday’s hearing, the court also exempted the respondents from appearing before the court and fixed February 1 to issue further order regarding the matter.

On November 10 last year, the bench asked the government to immediately stop charging of the extra fees. It also issued a rule asking the government to explain why such practice should not be declared illegal. Yesterday, the principals, headteachers and heads of the management committees or governing bodies of 20 Dhaka schools appeared before the bench.

The court observed that not more than Tk1,200 could be charged for special coaching at schools ahead of the SSC examination.

The court said: “Only 20 schools have updated us of their situation in this matter, but we issued the order for all the schools of the country. Only Dhaka and Barisal education boards responded to the order.”

The deputy attorney general said: “There are some schools in Dhaka which took as much as Tk18,000 from each SSC candidate. It was not published in newspapers. The guardians informed us about it.” l

Press Club drama

A boy’s dreams shattered by a bomb

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

of the press club and vandalised the plaque of martyred journalists.

Prime minister’s information adviser blamed opposition journalists for the vandalism, but the president of the National Press Club has accused pro-AL activists for it.

A fight broke out when Muktijoddha Projonmo League activists, a pro-AL group, entered the club premises with sticks. Activists of the Muktijoddha Projonmo League entered the club by scaling the gate and chased anti-AL activists with sticks.

They, together with a large number of law enforcement personnel, had earlier taken position outside the main gate.

At least five people were injured when supporters of the two opposing parties clashed with each other.

Fakhrul then fled into the press club building and took shelter in the general secretary’s room, where he spent the night. The Press Club remained in the grips of confrontation and debate all yesterday as the opposing sides weighed in on Fakhrul taking refuge there.

Both pro-AL and pro-BNP journalists declared counter programmes over the BNP leader’s presence at the club.

Around 1:30pm yesterday, pro-AL members of the Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and the Dhaka Union of Journalists jointly addressed the media in the club seminar room.

The two bodies said at the press conference that the use of Press Club for political asylum was contradictory to club rules. Non-journalists could not take shelter there and Fakhrul must leave the premises, they said.

Prime Minister’s Media Affairs Advisor Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said the Press Club is meant for journalists and journalistic activities, not for political parties. “It is not meant for any kind of political drama,” he said.

He blamed the pro-BNP faction for vandalising the martyred pressmen’s memorial plaque. He urged club authorities not to allow the premises to be used as a place for political asylum.

Defending Fahkrul’s stay at the club, pro-BNP journalists arranged another press conference where pro-BNP journalist leader Shawkat Mahmud said: “The Press Club has a tradition of showing hospitality towards political leaders.

The recent behaviour of some of our fellow journalists has destroyed our unity.”

After the press conference, Fakhrul entered the VIP Lounge around 3:40pm for a press briefing of his own amid clamour which soon settled down after

he began speaking.

Fakhrul said: “I wanted to leave the Press Club after making my speech yesterday but the police and pro-AL cadres barred my exit. So I remained here along with all of you journalists.” “I did not leave the club last night because of safety concerns,” he said. He blamed the government for making the country “a grave yard.”

“There is no easy environment.

There is no democracy. The government has taken away peoples’ rights in every way they like. And the economy is on its way down,” he said.

Mirza Fakhrul said the government is moving towards a one-party state and all the arrangements for it are being taken. “Democracy is achieved through a long-term movement, but it has now become endangered,” he said.

He urge the people to join the 20-party alliance movement.

Outside the Press Club, the Detective Branch (DB) of police were ready with a micro-bus, a prison van and a pick-up parked nearby. As Fakhrul walked towards the exit, supporters of the ruling party shouted slogans against him and his party. AL supporters escorted the BNP leader to the main gate where police took him to the DB office.

Earlier in the day, at 3:15pm, pro-BNP journalist leaders also addressed the media in the VIP lounge of the National Press Club. Shawkat Mahmud, president of the National Press Club, denied pro-AL groups’ accusations, saying a pro-AL programme in front of the Press Club, led by AL leaders, was responsible for the clashes.

“We saw Muktijoddha Projonmo League standing in front of the club.

While AL leader Mahbubul Alam Hanif was addressing the demonstration, we suspended our programme for a while to show respect,” he said. He said the Sammilita Peshajibi Parishad had arranged a programme protesting the “fascist” government on the club premises at the same time.

“Mirza Fakhrul gave his speech at this event. While he was speaking, disrespect and slogans were made from the other side,” he said. He blamed the Muktijoddha Projonmo League for vandalising the plaque bearing the names of martyred journalists.

Ruhul Amin Gazi, secretary general of the press club, and Abdul Hye Sikder, president of the Dhaka Journalists Union, were also present. Pro-BNP journalists demanded the immediate release of Fakhrul. “We cannot accept such an attitude. The public has shown in the past that it knows what the remedy is for the restoration of democracy,” Ruhul said. l

Mastarpara area in Feni town, the bombs went off. He was with his friend Hridoy.

Quoting Hridoy, Anik’s mother Jesmin said: “Pickets exploded crude bombs in the area. Two of them blasted right in front of Anik. Hridoy took him to a nearby clinic with the help of locals. Anik was later transferred to the DMCH.” Anik, an SSC candidate of Feni Government Pilot High School is currently undergoing treatment at Ward 103 of the Neurosurgery Department of the DMCH. Hailing from Dagonbhuya, he lives with his mother and sister in the Hazzakari area of Feni town. His father lives and works in Oman.

On hearing the news, Anik’s father, Mizan, is flying back from Oman.

Anik’s mother, unable to stem the tears says: “Anik is our only son. What did he do wrong? He was apolitical, an innocent. We have so many dreams for him.

If anything happens to him, the Almighty will never forgive those who did this.”

Teachers and students of Feni Government Pilot School held a human chain in

front of the school yesterday demanding punishment for those responsible for Anik’s condition.

“We have asked our plastic surgery unit to observe Anik’s injuries and conduct an operation soon,” said Dr Rashed, assistant registrar of DMCH Neurosurgery Department.

“His condition is almost stable now and we hope we can cure him fully,” he said.

The stricken boy’s condition has put Ward 3 of DMCH under a pall of gloom.

Anik’s relatives, praying for his recovery, utter no words except to demand punishment for the pickets, blockaders or whoever is responsible for the bombing.

Outraged, Anik’s uncle Abdullah Al-Mamun said: “Those culprits are viler than beasts. They not only hurt Anik but also took his cell phone after injuring him.”

The boy’s school principal, Hosne Ara Begum, told the Dhaka Tribune that Anik is a meritorious student of the school.

“We are very hopeful about him. We hope that he will be able to sit for the ex-

Ijtema puts BNP in a dilemma  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

continue our programme during Ijtema]. The Awami League itself has enforced hartal during Ijtema in the past,” said another senior leader.

At a party forum a few months ago, Khaleda Zia reportedly admitted that her party’s strategy of relaxing movement after the January 5 election was a mistake.

In 2010, Khaleda Zia was evicted from her cantonment residence in the capital days before an Eid. The BNP enforced a hartal in protest, causing trouble to hundreds of thousands of people leaving Dhaka before the festival for their village homes.

The former premier did not make any attempt to come out of her office yesterday.

In the meantime, a delegation of Tablig-e-Jamaat – the organisers of Ijtema – went to the Gulshan office to invite Khaleda; but, no discussion about withdrawing blockade took place.

The three member delegation, led

by Abdur Rahim, talked to Khaleda’s special assistant Shamshur Rahman Shimul Biswas, her press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan, and some others.

Rahim later told reporters that they had invited Khaleda to join the Ijtema.

According to sources, BNP leaders told the Ijtema delegation that Khaleda Zia fell ill after getting hit by police’s pepper spray on Monday and so she

could not talk. The BNP leaders advised the Ijtema delegates to talk to the government; if the government created a normal situation, then any hartal or blockade will not be needed.

Later, another Ijtema delegation led

by Iftekhar Ahmed went to meet the BNP chief but police did not allow them to enter the office.

BNP leaders told the Dhaka Tribune that any sort of gap in the middle of the ongoing movement will create pressure on the leaders and activists; the government will take advantage of the gap and intensify police action. That, they said will hurt the movement’s momentum and so they have advised their chief to continue the blockade.

Other sources said Khaleda had been advised by some senior leaders to call a rally for December 8.

“The government will then cut the city off from the rest of the country and have to take the blame for public sufferings ahead of and during Ijtema,” said a source.

Later in the day, former Dhaka and Rajshahi University vice-chancellors Prof Emajuddin Ahmed and Prof Syed Rashidul Hossain went to meet Khaleda.

Although sand-laden trucks were removed from the areas adjacent to Khaleda’s office in Gulshan, police trucks and vans remained in their positions. The main gate of the office is still

ams and we are praying to the Almighty for his recovery,” she said.

Meanwhile, an Ansar member and a pick-up van driver sustained injuries in crude bomb attacks in the capital yesterday and have been admitted to the Burn and Plastic Surgery unit of the DMCH. Around 5:10am yesterday, Ansar member Anwar Hossain, 45, a resident of Kadamtali police station barrack, came under attack in the capital’s Jurain area. The attack burned 3% of his face and hands.

Around 7pm, a pick-up van driver Md Amjad, 35, came under attack as he was leaving the Beribadh area after refilling his pick-up at a fuel station.

As he reached the Lalbagh police outpost, pickets hurled four petrol bombs at his van and set it on fire.

Amjad said he was lucky that he could quickly get out of the van.

The fire burned 3% of his left arm.

In 2013, during countrywide political unrest, at least 30 people were killed by crude bombs hurled by pickets and over 200 sustained splinter injuries. l

under lock and key.

Just like the last few days, BNP’s Nayapaltan office remained locked yesterday as well and nobody was seen around.

In the afternoon, party’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who took shelter in the National Press Club, was arrested by detectives after he came out.

Condemning the arrest and demanding his release, Khaleda in a press statement alleged that it has been an arrest bonanza for the government.

“Confining me to my office and arresting the acting secretary general and in the same way running drives across the country...Not only the opposition leaders and activists but the common people are passing their days in fear. As the ruling party does not have the slightest of public support, it has strengthened repression using the law enforcers and state machineries,” Khaleda said in the statement.

Her press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan told journalists: “On Monday, police sprayed pepper in the presence of Khaleda Zia. She has not been feeling well since then. She is having severe respiratory problems, coughs and headache and vomited twice. She is now being treated with nebulisers.”

Only those reporters who were inside the Gulshan office were allowed by police to join the press briefing. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Operation ‘Dhoro’ netting top BNP-Jamaat leaders n Mohammad Jamil Khan In the face of rising political turmoil, the Dhaka Metropolitan Police has adopted a new technique to keep under control the law and order in the capital – arresting the leaders and activists of the opposition parties.

The specialised operation titled “Dhoro” (catch) was initiated on Saturday so that the members of the opposition parties, especially the BNP and its key ally Jamaat-e-Islami, cannot take control over the city streets.

The government had instructed the police to remain on high alert while asked the party supporters to remain on the streets to foil any move by the opposition activists centring the January 5 rally, sources in the DMP said.

As part of the special security measure, the officials of 49 police stations and the Detective Branch are making lists of BNP-Jamaat leaders, mainly those who are already accused in dif-

ferent cases but remain fugitive, under their police station area and conducting drives to arrest them.

The detectives are also monitoring the activities of opposition supporters on Facebook.

In the crackdown since Saturday, around 200 leaders and supporters of the BNP and Jamaat were arrested in the capital. Later they were placed before different courts and sent to jail in cases of violence and vandalism.

DMP sources said the drive would continue until all the listed persons were put in jail.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has been cordoned off at her Gulshan Office since Saturday while party’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was arrested by the DB police yesterday.

The police earlier arrested several top leaders of the BNP including Goyeshwar Chandra Roy and Moazzem Hossain Alal.

Detectives yesterday arrested private television channel ETV Chairman Abdus Salam reportedly for airing the speeches of BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, now in the UK, for a long time. He was, however, shown arrested in a pornography case filed earlier against a reporter of the channel and three others.

The police have also conducted drives in the houses of Mirza Abbas, Khairul Kabir Khokon, SA Khaleque, Habib-unNabi Khan Sohel, and several leaders of BNP’s youth and student wings.

A senior DB official who is also a member of the “Dhoro” drive, requesting anonymity, said they had failed to arrest most of the listed leaders since they went into hiding.

“No one is staying at their houses at night. However, we are keeping eye on their activities,” the official said.

Detectives say since a number of 20-party activists came to the capital ahead of their January 5 rally, the po-

lice also raided rest houses and residential hotels.

A source in the DB police told the Dhaka Tribune that the detectives were tracking the phone calls of senior opposition leaders as well as the police members so that they cannot pass information to the opposition men before a drive.

Before the 10th parliamentary election, members of the BNP-Jamaat-led alliance were able to take control of most of the districts, except for the capital. However, they failed in the capital because of strong vigilance of the law enforcers, the police say.

Asked about the drive, Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of the DB, said it was their duty to ensure security of all the citizens.

“The law enforcers are ready to take any kind of initiative to stand against all violent activities,” Monirul, also spokesperson of the DMP commissioner, told the Dhaka Tribune. l

Khaleda will not appear before the court today n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will not appear for hearing on the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases as she is “confined” in her Gulshan office, her defence counsel said.

“How will she go to the court? She has been kept confined in her office since Saturday night. Cases have been filed against her lawyers and a countrywide blockade programme is going on.

She will not go to the hearing,” Sanaullah Miah, defence counsel of Khaleda, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

He said Khaleda’s lawyers would submit time petitions to the court, stating the reason for her absence.

Miah also said his colleagues on the case and he is on the run; many of them cannot leave the Supreme Court without getting arrested.

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has not been allowed to leave her office since Saturday night; the entrance to the office is still under lock and key, heavily guarded by police.

On the other hand, a case has also been filed against pro-BNP lawyers,

Awami League claims blockade failed n Abu Hayat Mahmud Terming the programme “unethical,” the ruling Awami League yesterday claimed that the people of the country had outright rejected the BNP’s countrywide indefinite blockade.

The party leaders also criticised the pro-BNP journalists for providing shelter to BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir inside the National Press Club.

“Why did BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia call the countrywide blockade and for whom? The party leaders and activists have remained absent on the streets as they feel the blockade valueless,” Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif told journalists at a sit-in programme in front of the party headquarters on Bangabandhu Avenue in the capital.

“Khaleda Zia called the blockade for her own good and to execute her plots...But the country’s scenario is normal,” he added.

On Fakhrul’s staying over at the National Press Club, he said: “This is a place for journalists. How could a wanted accused take shelter in a place like that? It is not expected...Journalists [backed by the BNP] should have handed him over to the police.”

Fakhrul was detained yesterday after coming out of the press club.

Earlier, pro-Awami League journalists chanted slogans on the first floor of the press club demanding that Fakhrul be driven out of the premises.

“The press club is not a place for doing politics. If he [Fakhrul] does not leave the premises within 2pm, we will declare further protest programmes.

Then the press club authorities will be held responsible for consequences,” said journalist leader Iqbal Sobhan

Chowdhury, also an adviser to the prime minister.

Later in the day, Hanif criticised the BNP for declaring the blockade ahead of the Bishwa Ijtema.

In a press release sent by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi office, the Awami League leader said: “It proves that Khaleda Zia and her party’s leaders do not follow Islam properly.”

At another programme of the Dhaka city unit, Hanif yesterday termed the BNP acting secretary general a hiding commander. “Mirza Fakhrul announced to continue non-stop movement [against the government].

We want to see how he can continue it and who comes forward after the call of the leader who hides fearing arrest.”

Hanif made the comment at a joint meeting organised to make successful the 14-party rally at Suhrawardy Udyan on January 10, marking the homecoming day of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

He also criticised a quarter of the civil society members who favoured allowing the BNP to hold their scheduled rally. “I want ask the civil society members how can a political party announce counter programme [on the same day] when another party is set to hold one?”

City unit General Secretary and Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya said no one who dishonours Bangabandhu would be allowed to hold a rally. Maya indicated at the elder son of the BNP chief who recently made “derogatory remarks” about the Father of the Nation.

Food Minister Qamrul Islam said: “We will observe January 10 along with the joy of January 5. Nobody will spared if they hatch conspiracy.” l

Firefighters douse the fire on a bus set by pickets during the first day of BNP-called nationwide blockade yesterday in the capital’s Motijheel area MEHEDI HASAN

Health Minister Mohammad Nasim has said it is the duty of the government to protect BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia in her “helpless situation.”

Also a Presidium member of the Awami League, Nasim said: “The leaders and activists of the BNP have left Khaleda Zia alone. It is the duty of the government to assist her in her helpless situation, especially when she has sought security.”

He made the statement yesterday while inaugurating a blood donation campaign to mark the 67th founding anniversary of Bangladesh Chhatra League at Dhaka University.

Terming the decision to boycott 10th national election Khaleda’s biggest mistake, he said: “She can resolve her mistake only by participating in the election in 2019 and by taking movement-related training from Awami League and its front organisations.” l

Writ seeks ban on airing Tarique’s speech

Fear-gripped Dhaka streets see light traffic

n Tribune Report

n Abid Azad

A writ petition was filed yesterday with the High Court seeking ban on airing or publishing speech of BNP’s Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman, who is facing arrest warrants in some cases filed for his controversial remarks.

Supreme Court Lawyer Nasrin Siddiqui Lina filed the petition against Tarique, the elder son of BNP chief Khaleda Zia now staying in the UK. The petitioner sought the court’s instruction upon the information secretary

Jamil Khan and n Mohammad Sanaul Islam Tipu

Following order of a Dhaka court, Ekushey TelevisionChairman Abdus Salam being taken to jail in a case filed under “Pornography Control Act” yesterday FOCUS BANGLA chairman of a mass media allowed it.

Salam, 50, was arrested by the members of DB police after coming out of office at Karwan Bazar around 3am yesterday. Later, he was taken to the DB headquarters on Mintoo Road.

Taking to reporters, ETV’s Additional General Manager Tareq Tabib said Salam was on his car to go home. When the vehicle reached the main gate, a group of 10-12 police in plain clothes appeared and asked for his identity.

As Salam identified himself, the plainclothes men asked him to walk out of the car. But as he refused, the plainclothes men then asked his driver to get

including the Supreme Court Bar secretary Mahbubuddin Khokon, for attacking law enforcers during Mondays demonstrations.

Among Khaleda’s defence lawyers, Khokon, former bar-president Zainul Abedin and Sanaullah Miah were still inside the Supreme Court premises while this report was being written.

Speaking to the press from her “confinement,” Khaleda called nationwide rail, roads and water-ways blockade programmes for an indefinite period.

Earlier on December 24, Abu Ahmed Jamadar, the newly appointed judge of Special Judge Court 3, adjourned till January 7 the deposition in the Zia Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust graft cases against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and eight others.

On August 8, 2011, the ACC filed the case with against four people – Khaleda, her former political secretary Harris Chowdhury, his assistant personal secretary Ziaul Islam Munna and Manirul Islam Khan, former personal secretary of BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka – for abusing power and collecting funds from unknown sources. l

Nasim: Saving helpless Khaleda government’s duty n Arif Ahmed

to take necessary steps not to disclose, publish, broadcast or reproduce Tarique’s speech in any newspaper, electronic media or social networking websites.

The information secretary, home secretary, law secretary, police chief, DG of BTV, BTRC chairman, chief news editor of Ekushey TV, editor of the daily Kaler Kantho and Tarique were made respondents in the petition.

Lawyer Lina also sought a rule as to why the information secretary should not be directed to impose ban on the broadcasting of Tarique’s speech. l

ETV boss sent to jail in pornography case Hours after his arrest, a Dhaka court yesterday sent Ekushey TV Chairman Abdus Salam to jail in a case filed under “Pornography Control Act” with the cantonment police.

Metropolitan Magistrate Meher Nigar Sultana set tomorrow to hear the remand and bail pleas as the prosecution failed to present case document.

A woman from Matikata area under Cantonment police station of the capital filed the case on November 7 last year against four people including Mohammad Elias, a senior reporter of the channel. The three other accused are Jahirul Haque Imran, Shahjalal and Md Jakir Hossain.

Investigation Officer of the case and DB Inspector Shah Mohammad Aktheruzzaman Ilias placed Salam before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court seeking seven-day remand for Salam.

On the other hand, defence counsel Mohammad Saidur Rahman sought bail for Salam, also CEO of the channel.

The IO said the channel in its regular programme “Ekusher Chokh” aired a naked video of the plaintiff in its episode of November 6 last year. Salam provided all kinds of logistics and directives to the persons for making the episode, which is a punishable offence.

The remand prayer states that it is mysterious why Salam despite being

3

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

out of the car. They then dragged the driver and took Salam away with the car identifying themselves as DB police.

According to the case, the plaintiff got married with Shahjalal in 1999.

After five years, he went abroad for some personal reasons. At that time, the plaintiff met with accused Imran.

She claims that she treated him like a brother. However, Imran with an ill motive took her photographs secretly and circulated in on the internet making a naked video clip.

Meantime, Shahjalal came back and as per suggestion of Jakir started torturing the plaintiff to grab her proper-

ties. At that time, the ETV reporter had helped them in circulating the naked video.

Although the ETV chairman was shown arrested in the pornography case, DMP Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman while talking to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday morning mentioned that Salam had been shown arrested in a case filed under the ICT Act. When contacted, Atikur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Cantonment police, told the Dhaka Tribune that three case were filed with the police station regarding the ETV programme. “Although the cases were filed against the reporter, Salam is also responsible for the offence as the chairman of the channel.”

However, sources say Salam has been arrested for giving Tarique Rahman, the BNP senior vice-chairman, much coverage. On Sunday, transmission of the channel was disrupted in many areas of the country around noon.

The sources also say the channel might face legal action under the ICT Act for covering Tarique’s programmes since the BNP leader is wanted in over a dozen of corruption and criminal cases.

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu yesterday claimed that they had not created any obstacle in the transmission of the channel. “We have not issued any directives. The media is operating freely,” he added. l

On the first day of the BNP’s non-stop countrywide blockade, road communication links with the capital stayed disrupted as almost no bus left or entered Dhaka. Local bus services inside the city, however, regained normalcy along with inter-district launch services from Sadarghat.

The city’s streets stayed relatively empty and transport terminals saw fewer passengers as those who could afford it chose to stay indoors fearing any sudden outburst of street violence surrounding the existing turbulent political scenario.

Sadiqur Rahman, an employee of a private bank found waiting at the city’s Technical intersection bus stand, told the Dhaka Tribune that when he stepped out of his home yesterday, he did so with the fear of not knowing whether he would be able to return home safely.

“Irrespective of whether there is a hartal, blockade or any other tensed situation, we the jobholders must attend our offices on time. No excuse will be accepted [by the employer]. But the thing is, we have to remain anxious about our every step on the road,” Sadiqur said.

His fear was not unfounded. Unidentified miscreants torched at least six vehicles at different spots in the capital during the blockade yesterday.

A man sustained burn injuries in an arson attack near the Lal Masjid area in the capital’s Kadamtali, while crude bombs were also exploded at Natunbazar in the afternoon.

Another jobholder, Nargis Ara, said: “Such violent and anarchic situations are very fearful for the people – especially the women. I can not explain how unsafe and tensed I feel when I go outside home. It becomes a serious panic for us.

“I do not know whether I would become a victim like the woman – who along with her children suffered burns in an arson attack few days ago. So it [political unrest] should be stopped for the sake of democracy and for the sake of the innocent people.” Nargis added.

Meanwhile, inter-district bus companies continued to keep their shutters closed yesterday. Visiting the city’s Gabtoli, Sayedabad and Mohakhali bus terminals, the Dhaka Tribune found that almost all bus counters were closed.

Staffs from different bus services claimed that they have indefinitely suspended their operations out of security concerns surrounding the BNP’s blockade.

Md Apu, an employee of Hanif Paribahan, said: “When the situation becomes normal and when our owners feel safe, then the inter-district service will be resumed.”

However, some officials working at bus counters claimed they could not run their buses as there was not enough passengers, adding that they would resume operations in the evening if they could find people to fill their buses.

Although ticket-seeking people were seen waiting at Gabtoli and Sayedabad terminals, their numbers were relatively small.

Ajmal Mia, waiting at the Gabtoli bus terminal, told the Dhaka Tribune that he had been waiting several hours for a bus to Thakurgaon, and was contemplating on whether he should hitch a ride on a truck or other vehicles.

Sources, meanwhile, said some buses left Gabtoli and Sayedabad for Aricha and Mawa ferry terminals.

On the other hand, after a day of almost no inbound or outbound activities at Sadarghat, launch services also resumed yesterday, according to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA).

Mohammad Solaiman, a BIWTA transport inspector, said: “On Tuesday morning around 40 launches from different districts reached the terminal. Launch service has now resumed across the country.”

Normal operations was also seen in the railway service, the only communication service which was active on Monday – the day when the Awami League and the BNP both called programmes in Dhaka to mark the one year anniversary of the tenth national election. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Materbari mega power project set to go into fast track list n UNB The third meeting of the Fast Track Project Monitoring Committee would be held today, which is likely to include the “Matarbari 2x600 MW ultra super critical coal-fired power project” as a fast track project in addition to the existing six fast track projects.

According to sources at the Economic Relations Division (ERD), this mega project is set to be included to the fast track list in the today’s meeting to be chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the chair of the committee. The meeting will be held at the Prime Minister’s Office around 11am.

On August 12, last year, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the country’s most expensive Matarbari project involving TK 35,984.46 crore.

Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) under the Power Division will implement the project at Matarbari in Moheshkhali upazila of Cox’s Bazar aiming to address the power deficiency in the country as well as ensuring uninterrupted power supply, economic development and improving the living standard of people.

Under the project, there will be two coal-based power plants each having power generation capacity of 600 MW. Its completion deadline was set by June 2023, says the project documents.

Earlier, some 1,500 acres of land have been acquired for the project while the appointment of consultant is

at the final stage. Besides, the boundary works is undergoing.

Ultra Super Critical Technology will be used at the Matarbari project which would have work efficiency of 41.99%, which is higher than the average work efficiency of other coal -based power plants (34 percent) in Bangladesh while the figure in USA is 36%.

Currently, six projects are under the Fast Track involving an estimated cost of $15.5 billion. Those are the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project, construction of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, 2x660 MW Moitree Super Thermal Power Project (Rampal), Dhaka Mass Rapid Transit Development Project (Metro Rail), construction of LNG terminal project and Deep Sea Port.

Besides, the meeting is expected to review the progress of the decisions taken in the first and second meetings and setting working strategy for formulating DPP and TPP of projects, delay in approval or removing errors.

The meeting is also expected to finalise the draft anti-graft Monitoring Modality for the fast track projects for ensuring transparency in their implementation and tackling corruption and irregularities.

A procurement plan would have to be undertaken for a project while all the necessary procurements would have to be done as per the scheduled timeframe as per the Plan.

The Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU) and the Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) will conduct project monitoring on quarterly basis. l

On the first day of BNP’s nationwide blockade programme, a street in capital’s Purana Paltan area saw little number of vehicle at the dawn of the day, however, as hours passed the number vehicles increased like any normal day MEHEDI HASAN

4 die as truck plunges into a crowd n Our Correspondent, Comilla At least four women were killed and three others injured as a truck ploughed through a crowd of them during returning back from a Waz Mahfil, local religious gathering of Muslims to hear sermon, in Burichang upazila early yesterday.

The fateful incident took place on the Burichand-Brahmanpara road in Doriapar area of the upazila around 1am.

The victims were identified as Salma Begum, 32, wife of Mizanur Rahman,

Jahanara Begum, 65, wife of Sekandar Ali, Monwara Begum, 45, wife of Abdur Razzak, and Ranuara Begum Ranu, 55, wife of Nurul Islam. All of them were from Noapara Purnamati village under the upazila.

Police said there was a Waz Mahfil in the area, which continued until dead of the night and some 17 women, including the deceased, from the village joined it.

A Brahmanpara-bound speedy truck ploughed into the crowd of the women from behind while they were returning home from the event, leaving Salma dead on the spot and six others injured.

n Our Correspondent, Jessore

n RU Correspondent

A district court yesterday issued an arrest warrant against BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarique Rahman for calling Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman a “razakar”.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Abu Ibrahim issued the order. Tarique had called the Bangabandhu a razakar (collaborator) while speaking at a discussion in London on December 15, which

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu has said the government was trying to imprison those, who have their involvement in promoting militancy in the country.

The minister made the statement while briefing the journalists regarding country’s present political situation at the secretariat yesterday morning.

Inu said: “The government is not trying to confine the democracy rather we are trying to imprison the politicians, who have promoted militancy.”

“Khaleda is favouring the militants

n Tribune Report

Bangladesh Qawmi Madrasah Teachers’ Association forms a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday to call off all kinds of political programmes for the sake of holding Bishwa Ijtema peacefully on Friday MEHEDI HASAN

and war criminals in order to assume the power. But we cannot let this happen. We will not allow any criminal or militant organisation to form government in Bangladesh.”

He also said the government would act cautiously to tackle the leaders involved with militant activities.

The minister further said: “She [Khaleda] wants to sacrifice the general people for serving her own interests.”

“The attempt of imposing this kind of martial law will not be allowed.

Tougher stance will be taken against them [militancy promoters].” l

Two factories fined Tk8 lakh n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Two washing factories were fined a total of Tk8 lakh for running their business without the Department of Environment (DoE) certificate in the Bangladesh Small & Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) area of Tongi yesterday.

DoE Assistant Director Mohammad Hafizur Rahman said they fined Moon-

A three-day long border conference of Bangladesh Rifles and India’s Border Security Force will begin at Shiliguri in West Bengal in India on Tuesday.

A 40-member Bangladeshi team went to India through Burimari-Chengrabandha land port on Monday to attend the programme, said sources of the district administration. Drug smuggling, illegal trespass, women trafficking, restore border pillars, disputed land and other trans-border crimes will get preference in the conference. l

was reported by the country’s different media outlets on December 17.

Freedom Fighter Khoirat Hossain, law affairs secretary of the district unit of the Awami League, filed a petition with the court in this regard on December 22.

According to the petition, the freedom fighter was hurt at Tarique’s comments over the Bangabandhu and so he should be put on trial under Sections 500 and 501 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. l

Rafiqul, Aman get bail

Inu: Govt trying to imprison militancy promoters n Tribune Report

n Our Correspondent, Panchagarh

Arrest warrant out for Tarique

RU student killed in road accident A female student of Rajshahi University was killed when her scarf got stuck with the engine of a battery-run auto-rickshaw in Jhalmalia area under Puthia upazila in Rajshahi yesterday.

The deceased was Rukaiya Khatun, 21, a second year student of Islamic History and Culture Department of the RU. Relative of the victim Mizanur Rahman said: “Rukiya along with her mother was going to Puthia around11:30am by an easy-bike for submitting an application for the post of primary school teacher. Suddenly, she fell from the auto-rickshaw after her scarf got stuck with the engine of the battery-run vehicle, leaving her injured.”

“Critically injured Rukaiya rushed to Puthia Upazila Health Complex where the duty doctor declared her dead.”

RU Vice-Chancellor Professor Mizanuddin, Pro VC Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan and Islamic History Department Chairman Prof Syeda Nure Kaseda expressed profound sorrow and shock at the death of the female student. l

Locals got admitted the injured to Comilla Medical College Hospital where the rest three died of their injures in the morning.

When contacted, Burichang police station OC Jahirul Islam said they recovered the bodies and handed over those to the family members.

They were trying best to arrest the killer truck driver who promptly left the spot along with the vehicle after the incident.

A pall of gloom ascended on the dwellers when the bodies were taken to the village. l

3-day BDR-BSF confce Tuesday

light Washing Ltd Tk5 lakh and National Composite Knit and Washing Ltd Tk3 lakh for harming environment by discharging untreated wastage to local rivers without taking any clearance certificate from them.

During a previous drive, the DoE had spotted the malpractice of the factories and later called both owners in its head office at noon to imposed the fine. l

BNP leaders Rafiqul Islam Mia and Aman Ullah Aman yesterday secured bail for four weeks in three separate cases filed for vandalism and arson in the capital.

The High Court bench comprising of judges Syed AB Mahmudul Haque and Kashefa Hossain passed the orders.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is also accused in the cases – two filed with Paltan police and one with Motijheel police.

Defense counsel Ragib Rouf Chowdhury said they also sought bail for Mir-

HIGH COURT TO GOVERNMENT

Explain measures taken to screen pilgrims of Ebola-affected countries n Tribune Report

The High Court yesterday sought explanation from the government about which measures it has taken to screen the pilgrims of Ebola-affected countries who are going to attend the upcoming Biswa Ijtema from Ebola affected African countries at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka to prevent Ebola contamination.

The HC bench comprising Justice Kazi Rezaul Haque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman issued a rule in this regard following a writ petition filed by the Children’s Charity Bangladesh Foundation (CCBF).

The rights group submitted the petition before the court last week seeking its directives on the government to take steps for preventing Ebola contamination from the affected African people who will attend the Biswa Ijtema in Tongi scheduled to be held from January 9 to 18.

The CCBF prayed to the HC to direct the government to take steps for screening the African pilgrims at the

airport in the capital.

Earlier, the government said it would not visa to people of Ebola-affected five West African countries to attend Bishwa Ijtema, the second largest gathering of the Muslims after Hajj, this year.

Around 20 lakh devotees, including 10,500 foreign devotees from 105 Muslim countries, had joined the gathering Then the government also asked all Bangladesh missions abroad not to issue visas to the people of five Ebola-virus affected countries – Sierra Leon, Mali, Nigeria, Liberia and Guinea.

Later, the government said if any devotee from Ebola-affected countries want to participate in the congregation, he/she has to produce ‘Ebola-free health card’ at airport before entering

into the country.

Around 15-20 lakh devotees from home and abroad take part in the threeday congregation every year. Tablighi Jamaat has been organising the gathering since 1976.

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

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

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

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

za Fakhrul in the cases.

Another BNP leader Mir Nasir also got bail in a case filed for making derogatory statements over Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Brahmanbaria district unit Chhatra League President Masum Billah filed the case. BNP Senior Vice Chairman Tarque Rahman and Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizbi are also accused in the same case.

BNP leader Mir Nasir was present at a programme in London, where Tarique made derogatory comments over the Bangabandhu. l

UK, Bangladesh joint research on strokes and dementia n Tribune Report Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) and two organisations of UK – East Kent University Foundation Trust and Sir William Beveridge Foundation – have jointly completed a research on strokes and dementia.

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, BSMMU organised a seminar to discuss the research on Monday.

At the seminar, National Institute of Neuroscience Hospital Director Professor Quazi Deen Mohammad said rehabilitation must start as soon as stroke occurs.

BSMMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Pran Gopal Datta ensured of extending his support to the project in future.

The research papers will be presented in Berlin in 2015.

The team was leading the world on this topic, said Ambassador of Sir William Beveridge Foundation Dr Mohammad Sakel adding that his foundation would also expand support to the affected families alongside research.

Professor Dr Abu Nasir Rizvi conducted the seminar. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

5

Clockwise from left: Pickets hurl brick chips at a bus. Being panicked an elderly couple run after getting down from the bus . Police in action to disperse the pickets from the spot and bring the situation under the control. The photos were taken from Badda in the capital yesterday, the first day of the indefinite blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

People suffer due to lack of public transports n Our Correspondent, Barisal Many people yesterday faced immense sufferings in Barisal due to less number of vehicles and vessels on roads and waterways in the first-day of the nationwide blockade called by BNP-led 20-party alliance.

The alliance has enforced the nationwide indefinite blockade protesting confinement of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and barring her from joining a rally of the alliance.

Presence of people at large showrooms, shops in commercial areas, transactions in financial institutions, educational institutions, judicial and administrative offices were seen less than any other normal days.

Leaders and activists of ruling Awami League and its front organisation brought out processions protesting the blockade in Barisal city. l

WEATHER DRY WEATHER LIKELY

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 5:26PM SUN RISES 6:43AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 24 26 23 23 24 25 25 26

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

13 15 10 12 9 12 12 16

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

29.0ºC Cox’s Bazar

09.8ºC Srimangal

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

5:22am 6:41am 12:03am 3:48pm 5:24pm 6:45pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

No presence of BNP men in enforced hartal 261 arrested sent to jail, numerous sued Government and other private officn Tarek Mahmud and FM Mizanur es remained open with usual presence Rahaman, Chittagong

The dawn-to-dusk hartal enforced by Chittagong city unit BNP and its allies yesterday ended in relatively relaxed fashion as no pro-hartal activists were seen on the streets picketing in favour of their programme.

Police said no untoward situation took place during the hartal in the city as additional law enforcers were deployed in key points to fend off any unrest. Police were also kept on alert in front of the city BNP office, Nasiman Bhaban, in the city’s Kazir Dewri area.

CMP Additional Commissioner (crime and operation) Banaj Kumar Majumdar said: “No pickets were seen on the streets during the hartal and no unrest reported either.”

Public transports were seen plying different routes in the city during the hartal but the number of cars was relatively less than usual days.

Sources said no inter-district bus left the city but schedule of train services remained unchanged.

Officer-in-Charge Sayed Jakir Hossain of Bar Awlia highway police outpost told the Dhaka Tribune that Dhaka-bound trucks and buses were not operating on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway, fearing attack.

while most educational institutes remained closed considering safety of the students.

Meanwhile, police yesterday produced 261 out of 300 activists held on Monday before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court around 6:30pm. The court ordered them jail.

At least 25 people were injured during clashes in Kazir Dewri, Nasiman Bhaban, Almas Cinema, MA Aziz Stadium, Enayet Bazar and CWASA areas Local BNP called the hartal protesting the arrest of its Chittagong district (north) unit Convener Aslam Chowdhury and the police attack on their leaders and activists during their rally on Monday.

At least 25 people including 10 policemen were injured during clashes in Kazir Dewri, Nasiman Bhaban, Almas Cinema, MA Aziz Stadium, Enayet Bazar and CWASA intersection areas during the rally.

Police, blockaders engage in clash in Sylhet n Our Correspondent, Sylhet Blockaders locked in a clash with police on the Dhaka-Sylhet Highway yesterday.

Surma police station (south) Officerin-Charge Khairul Fazal said BNP leaders and activists gathered in Tetli area on the highway to put up barricades and set vehicles on fire.

They fled away after police arrived at the spot, he said. Police discharged 24 gunshots and hurled tear shells to disperse the crowd.

Witnesses said around 10am some members of Chhatra Dal, student wing of BNP, and Sechchasebak Dal took position in the area. They vandalised 10/12 motorcars.

Local residents also said some Ja-

maat-Shibir men vandalised scores of vehicles in South Surma Chandipul area, a few kilometres away from Tetli.

No bus for long route started from Sylhet yesterday.

However, movement of trains, rickshaw and CNG autorickshaw was regular on the streets.

On Monday night BNP convened its leaders and activists to carry on demo in their respective zones through issuing a statement.

Police have been deployed at different points inside the city to check vehicles. Some motorbikes without proper documents have also been seized in the process.

On Monday, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia called for blockade for indefinite period across the country. l

After the clash, police arrested the 300 persons including Aslam Chowdhury and Enamul Haque and recovered 20 petrol and crude bombs from the BNP office premises.

BNP-Jamaat men sued

Police yesterday lodged two cases accusing several hundred BNP-Jamaat men in connection with the violence and vandalism on Monday.

BNP Chittagong city unit President Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and General Secretary Dr Shahadat Hossain are among the accused.

Kotwali police Sub-Inspector Mohammad Ekramullah lodged a case against 388 named BNP-Jamaat men, including the two senior leaders, and numerous unidentified persons charging them with arson, vandalism, blasts and attacks on police.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner (Kotwali circle) Shah Mohammad Abdur Rouf said at least 300 of the 388 named accused had been arrested on Monday night.

Meanwhile, SI Mahbub Alam of Chawkbazar police filed another case accusing eight named Islami Chhatra Shibir activists and 150-200 unidentified others of vandalism and blast incidents, OC Atik Ahmed Chowdhury said. l

Singer Rajib drowns in Cox’s Bazar sea beach n Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar North the East Band group’s bass guitarist Rajibul Hossain Raju drowned as he was swept away while taking bath in the Cox’s Bazar sea beach yesterday.

The incident took place at the Sugandha point around 3:30pm, said Cox’s Bazar tourist police Officer-in-Charge Satyajit Roy. Locals fished him out and took to Cox’s Bazar General Hospital, where he was declared dead, he said.

The officer-in-charge said Raju, also vocal of Ross Band, hailed from Mohammadpur’s Shekhertek in the capital.

He went to Cox’s Bazar along with his band group to perform at a cultural function, according to his friend Sumon. l

Hefazat day was the most challenging, says outgoing DMP boss n Tribune Report Tackling the Hefazat-e-Islam’s rampage in the capital on May 5, 2013, was the most challenging and memorable task during the four years of service as the Dhaka city police chief, the outgoing DMP commissioner has said.

“While serving as a commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) for four years, two months and 27 days, the most challenging task was tackling the day of Hefazat-e-Islam violence,” said Benazir Ahmed on his final day in a DMP uniform before moving on to become the new RAB chief.

Exchanging greetings with journalists at the DMP community centre, Benazir also claimed that the years 2012 and 2013 had been particularly challenging for him as the city’s police chief.

Benazir said many journalists were injured on the day of Hefazat’s violence, and rescuing them safely was one of the most challenging tasks for the police. “However, the good news is we had overcome all the barriers and achieved success,” he said.

On May 5, 2013, supporters of Hefazat-e-Islam unleashed unprecedented levels of rampage in the capital surrounding their rally in the Shapla Chattar. Clashes, vandalism and arson

that took place on the day left many people dead and caused damages worth millions of taka.

Thanking the prime minister for her guidance on many issues, the outgoing DMP chief also thanked journalists for their support to the police force.

When reporters prepared investigative reports, they are able to seek out information like police officials, he said.

Terming Dhaka a mini-Bangladesh, Benazir said the city was a miniature version of the entire country as people from all districts and villages were present in the capital.

“My colleagues who are listening to my words provide security to this mini-Bangladesh and I hope that they would continue the effort in future,” Benazir added.

Among others, Additional Police Commissioner Mili Biswash, Deputy Commissioner Maruf Hossain and high officials of the DMP were also present at the programme, which was organised for media workers to bid farewell to the outgoing DMP commissioner.

“Benazir Ahmed will join as a director general of Rapid Action Battalion on January 7 and the new [DMP] commissioner Asaduzzaman Mia will start office from the same day,” said Deputy Commissioner of DMP Masudur Rahman. l

Happy’s ‘Leave out Rubel’ petition cancelled n Tribune Report The High Court yesterday scrapped a writ petition, which actress Naznin Akter Happy had filed seeking removal of cricketer Rubel Hossain from country’s squad announced for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

The bench of judges Kazi Rezaul Haque and Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman came up with the order, showing the reasons that Happy’s lawyer Md Yunus Ali Akhand did not turn up at the court thrice on schedule.

Defense counsel Moniruzzaman Asad told the Dhaka Tribune that the judges had asked Akhand thrice to come to court for hearing over the peti-

tion, but he did not attend, prompting the court to dismiss her plea.

Actress Happy made headlines after she had sued Rubel for reneging his promise to marry her after nine months of intimate relationship with her.

On Sunday, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) announced the 15-man squad for the World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand. Rubel is one of those named in the squad.

The next day, Happy filed the petition with the High Court, asking it to order seizure of the pacer’s passport until her case against him is settled.

The petition also sought another rule as to why police should not be ordered to provide security to keep Happy safe from Rubel. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Devotees suffer for want of a bridge at Solakia

The LGED fails to build a concrete bridge over the Narsunda River to ease sufferings of local people from around 15 villages n Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj of People Kishoreganj Sadar and Karimganj

Kishoreganj municipality with the voluntary services of local people has constructed a 50-metre long bamboo bridge over the Narsunda River adjacent to the historical Solakia Eidgah around 30 years back.

Since then, the district administration renovates the bamboo bridge every year before the Eid-ul-Fitr’s congregation where around 125,000 devotees from home and abroad take part every year.

As there is no alternative, the devotees are compelled to use the bridge and sometimes, many of them especially elderly people faces accidents while crossing the river as the bridge lies in a sorry state.

upazilas of the district use the bridge, locally called ‘Solakia Eidgah Bridge’.

As the bridge is not fit for vehicles, people have to walk extra two kilometers to reach the district headquarters, locals said.

Thousands of people, including students, go to their institutions using the bridge amid risk. Business, education and public health services have seriously been affected in the areas as the people living on both sides of the Narsunda River cannot travel easily.

As the successive local government authorities could not build a bridge over the river despite making pledges several times, people have become disappointed.

While visiting the bridge, this correspondent talked to Ziaur Rahman, a schoolteacher of the area. He said the bridge had turned into a death trap for people as the bamboo structure bridge swings while they move on it.

“Locals, including students, cross the river using the bridge with much fear,” he added.

Jamal Abu Naser Hilali Minthu, a ward councilor of Kishoreganj municipality, said the bridge is vital for the transportation of people of Solakia and its adjoining villages.

He also opined that the Local Government Engineering Department should take a prompt initiative to build a concrete bridge over the river.

Engineer of the LGED GP Chowdhury said the bridge was not built yet because of place selection’s problem.

He also expressed hope that the bridge would be built as soon as possible. l

Eight shops in Baburhat gutted n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi

EC fails to pay bills for two years

Over 50,000 people of Charsolakia, Ekrampur, Boila, Tarapasa, Satal, Puranthana and Gachbazaar areas of Kishoreganj Sadar upazila have been suffering for long time for want of a bridge.

Thousands of devotees, who come to perform Eid-ul-Fitr’s prayers at Solakia Eidgah, the largest congregation ground in the sub-continent, face much sufferings every year.

While visiting the bridge, this correspondent talked to Ziaur Rahman, a schoolteacher of the area. He said the bridge had turned into a death trap for people

A devastating fire yesterday swept through Shekherchar Market in Baburhat outskirt of the district town gutting eight shops.

Fire service sources said the fire had originated from an electric shot circuit around 5am and engulfed the adjacent area soon leaving the shops burnt to ashes.

As the shops were packed with warm clothes, the fire broke out quickly.

On information, firefighters from Madhobdi went to the spot and doused the fire after two hours of hectic efforts.

The fire service station master Mohammad Hiron said the loss caused by the fire could go up to Tk2crore. l

n Our Correspondent, Jamalpur

Two contractors in Jamalpur have not got their bills Tk25.38 lakh from the Election Commission for two years.

In protests of the non-payment, they stayed away from helping the commission during the by-polls to Char Amkhawa Union Parishad at Dewanganj upazila on December 23.

The elections to Kulkandi, Belgachha, Chinaduli and Noapara Union Parishads at Islampur upazila were held in 2012.

The polls to Dewanganj municipality and the by-elections to Nilokkhia Union Parishad’s Ward No 4 at Dewanganj upazila were held in 2014.

Authorities of Shahid Nazmul Haque Girls’ High School in Rajshahi city take overcharge from the students for admission and book this year. The picture shows guardians of the students gather yesterday in front of the school to protest against the extra fee DHAKA TRIBUNE

Three robbers held after Launch workers call strike on three routes in Barisal gunfight with cops n Our Correspondent, Satkhira

Police yesterday arrested three robbers after an encounter with the gang at Choigharia on the Satkhira-Jessore Highway in Sadar upazila early yesterday.

The arrested were identified as Ishaq Ali Gazi, son of Momin Gazi, of Garerkanda village, Faruk Hossain alias Pichchi Faruk, son of Firoz Gazi, of Chhatiantala village in Sadar upazila and Mizanur Rahman Gazi, son of Ahmed Ali Gazi, of Dhopadanga village in Debhata upazila.

The district’s police information officer SI Kamal said on a tip-off, a team

The EC had deployed 1200 policemen during the polls and appointed two contractors to help the lawmen with food and transportation.

Contractor Jahangir Alam, who owns one of the two contracting firms, said: “Since we have not got any bills and so police’s daily allowance has also been kept unpaid.”

According to the district election office, the EC would send the bills through the home ministry to the police superintendent and then it would be distributed to the contractors.

Superintendent of Police Md Nazrul Islam said they had asked the authorities to pay the bills immediately. l

Finally AL council after 10 years n Our Correspondent, Panchagarh

After an unusual long gap of ten years, the much-awaited council of the district unit Awami League is going to be held today.

Panchagarh unit AL President advocate Nurul Islam Sujan disclosed outline of the programme in a press briefing held in the party office yesterday, saying a total of 155 councillors would select their leadership for the next three years.

AL General Secretary and also LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam was supposed to attend the programme as the chief guest while Presidium Member Kazi Zafrullah will inaugurate and local MP and also central committee Organising Secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury will present as main speaker.

In the event, Nurul Islam will preside over the programme going to be held on the premises of Panchagarh Sugar Mills. Centring the council the town has turned into a festive look as colourful banners and festoons of the candidates have been set up at different points of the town.

Besides, the council has become talks of the town when the local leaders, activists as well as ordinary people were seen enthusiastically discussing the matter at tea stalls, different public gatherings and places. On the other hand, all the candidates were on a door-to-door visit to convince the councillors to ensure vote for them. Even many candidates were holding meeting as well.

Party sources said existing president and also lawmaker from Panchagarh 2

constituency Nurul Islam may appear as lone candidate for the post while present General Secretary and also former Panchagarh 1 MP Mozaharul Haque Prodhan, Joint Secretary Abbas Ali, Publicity Secretary Abu Toyabur Rahman, Sadar upazila Chairman Anwar Sadat Samrat as well as Abu Sarwar Bokul and Advocate Mirza Sarwar Hossain will vie for the general secretary post.

Sources said most of the councillors want to elect a new leadership through ballot papers who would be able to restore the AL’s stronghold and image which lost during the last tenure.

The party lost three upazila chairman seats in Atwary, Tentulia and Boda, out of five upazlas, in the previous polls due to lack of integrated efforts by the party men. l

NEWS IN BRIEF 2-year-old electrocuted

Two-year old Bonna Rani Das was electrocuted while switching on the television at Gugiargaon Bazar under Shalla upazila in Sunamganj yesterday. She was the daughter of Bhanu Das of the area. Shalla police station Officer-in-Charge Anisur Rahman said: “The child got tangled with the wire while trying to switch on the television around 10am.” “Duty doctor Amzad Hossain declared Bonna dead when taken to the upazila health complex,” he said.

– Our Correspondent, Sunamganj

Motorcyclist killed in road accident A motorcyclist was killed in a road accident on the Nabinagar-Kaliakoir Highway in Savar outskirt of Dhaka yesterday. The deceased was identified as Mujibur Rahman,40. Police sources said a pssen-

ger bus hit the motorcycle of Mujibur, leaving him dead on the spot while he was going to his house. Mostofa Kamal, officer-in-charge of Ashulia police station confirmed the incident.

– Our Correspondent, Savar

Two jailed for having fake money Two people were sentenced to 14 years jail yesterday in the district for possessing fake money. The convict were identified as Kaosar Ali ,52, son of Ramjan Ali, Sirajul Islam 50, son of Bazrul Rahman in the town.Sources said, on a tip-off, members of law enforcers arrested the duo on 29 December, 2011 with fake currency Tk11lakh.

Later, a case was filed against them. The court led by Judge Bipul Gowsami handed down the verdict.

– Our Correspondent, Chuadanga

of police conducted a drive in the area around 2:30 am when the gang was taking preparation for a robbery on the highway. Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the robbers hurled some crude bombs towards them.

In retaliation, police opened fire, triggering a gunfight that left one of the gang injured.

Later, police arrested three robbers including the injured from the spot while their other associates managed to escape. The injured, identified as Faruk Hossain alias Picchi Faruk, was admitted to Satkhira Sadar Hospital under police custody. l

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Bangladesh Launch Labour Association and Water Transport Workers Federation have called a strike on three routs in Barisal, protesting attacks on launch workers.

The strike on Hizla, Mehendiganj and Majuchowdhurir Hut connecting Barisal started from yesterday.

Ekin Ali Master, joint secretary of Bangladesh Launch Labour Association, said some miscreants attacked a launch plying on Barisal-Mehendiganj route on January 2.

The attackers snatched away

Tk17,000 and a mobile phone set from employees of MV Upabon, owned by Sreepur Navigation Company, when it was anchored at Mehendiganj streamer ghat, he said. The launch’s clerk Nasimul Hasan Chowdhury was injured in the incident, he added.

A case was lodged with Mehendiganj police station ,identifying one of the attackers as Raihan.

But police have not taken any step in this regard till yesteday, said Ekin Ali Master. Sanjoy Kumar Dey, officer-incharge of the police station, said they were investigating into the incident, and trying to arrest the attackers. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

7

WIKIMEDIA

Indian winter

T

n Shayan S Khan he reports received in Dhaka regarding President Abdul Hamid’s 6-day “official” visit to India, that took place from December 18 to 23, read more like the diary entries of a senior citizen on one last sojourn through a favourite holiday destination, all expenses paid-for.

That last bit about the expenses, it of course was in reality. We don’t begrudge him that.

Yet the line between fluff talk and concrete results must be drawn somewhere, and if the president is due a break or two given the years he has put in, the question still stands: what was the need for the state minister for

Hamid Ansari, and last but not least President Pranab Mukherjee, at whose invitation the visit took place.

All of these meetings duly took place. In what must have been a whirlwind start to the tour, the Bangladeshi president was through with all of them by just the second evening he was there, on December 19.

In fact, all the meetings took place on that one date. The day, and for all intents and purposes, the “official” visit of the president, was wrapped up in fine fashion that evening with a state banquet in his honour.

After which a look back at the president’s itinerary reveals: On day three of his tour, he visited the Taj Mahal, where he was photographed looking quite resplendent it must be said,

The failure to prioritise the bill relating to LBA one bit in consideration of the Bangladesh president’s presence in the country - on top of it being due anyway - does not speak well for the relationship

foreign affairs to accompany him?

To recount, President Hamid during his time in India was slated to meet with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, Vice President

Amber Fort just outside Jaipur

against the most famous background known in photography. Later he took to other attractions in and around Agra.

Day four was one for piety, as the president checked in at Ajmer Sharif, and offered fateha there. The 16th century Amber Fort just outside

Jaipur also managed to make it into the presidential diary before the fifth day, when in a sure sign of the tour winding down, President Hamid and his entourage rolled into Kolkata - the city that for many Bangladeshis, still remains the one that got away. They would only stay that one night though, fitting in an “exchange of pleasantries” with the most important person in West Bengal vis-a-vis Bangladesh, Mamata Banerjee, at a dinner hosted by the state’s governor.

The next evening, December 23, President Hamid was back in Dhaka, having had to cut his visit to Shantiniketan short earlier in the day, due to students at Viswa Bharati protesting over admission quotas. At this you can only say, not the most perfect ending, but at least it ended.

Now it may be fashionable to try and hold this all under the scanner, and question just why taxpayers should support such a visit, specifically those last four days. Were accountability paid something more than just lip-service in our affairs of state, there would probably be no excuse for it.

But what we’re going to try and arrive at here is something a bit more nuanced of reckoning. It occurs in the realm of perceptions, and concerns itself with their importance, in particular how they relate to bilateral ties between nations.

While the president and his entourage were on their round of sight-seeing around Agra and Jaipur, the bicameral Indian parliament was looking to get busy to get an adequate amount of work done before closing for the winter.

One of the pieces of legislature that was speculated to be on the agenda

for both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha throughout the last four weeks, was the long-stalled Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, ratified by Bangladesh in 1974.

Having taken a position against it while in opposition, in government the BJP under Prime Minister Modi had come around to it, we were made to understand. Following the approval of the constitutional amendment bill necessary for Indian ratification by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, speculation grew that the fate of the over 150 “chitmahals” and theirs residents along the border between India and Bangladesh would be resolved before the winter session was up.

The dates for President Hamid’s visit were finalised against this backdrop.

The chair of the Lok Sabha committee, the suave and urbane novelist, Congress MP, and former UN under-secretary general Shashi Tharoor, took it upon himself to remind the incumbent government that the bill was ready to be placed in the Rajya Sabha through a combination of tweets, press briefings and op-eds.

With the days winding down, he stood on the floor of the Lok Sabha and questioned the delay, exclaiming: “The Bangladesh president is here.”

Needless to say, the session concluded - incidentally, on the same day as President Hamid’s trip - without the said bill seeing the light of day.

Now, to be sure, the Land Boundary Agreement is nowhere near the prize for Bangladesh that it is made out to be these days. With an agreement over sharing the waters of the Teesta ruled out for the time-being, it is merely the next best thing. If anything, with

Our series of Indian official visitors in recent years have all shown a proclivity towards tight, businesslike schedules. And they’ve got their business done.

Bangladeshi officials might be well-advised to start reining in their own schedules some 110 chitmahals going India’s way under the agreement (versus 52 for Bangladesh), it is probably they who stand to gain from it.

Yet the Modi government’s treatment of the issue can be instructive on how it views relations with Dhaka going forward, beyond the rhetorical flourishes that have so far defined it. Before you get drawn into the complexities of Indian domestic politics and how they acted to stall progress on a number of fronts towards the end of the parliamentary session, please be informed that the Lok Sabha did manage to pass a record 18 bills before going into recess.

The failure to prioritise the bill relating to LBA one bit in consideration of the Bangladesh president’s presence in the country - on top of it being due anyway - does not speak well for the relationship.

And neither does the president and his entourage’s seemingly happy acceptance of four days on the tourist trail, in lieu of something concrete and noteworthy.

Just imagine the chappal on the other foot. You could probably find a team of gymnasts to give the Eastern

Europeans a run for their money, from the amount of bending-over-backwards that would ensue among members of Sheikh Hasina’s cabinet. People would be falling over each other. All to make sure that someone like Pranab Mukherjee always got good value for whatever amount of time he spent in Bangladesh.

To be fair, that is only how it should be. High-ranking government officials, heads of nation-states - one shouldn’t expect it of them in this day and age, to have time to waste, to hang around, see what happens.

Certainly our series of Indian official visitors in recent years have all shown a proclivity towards tight, business-like schedules. And they’ve got their business done.

Bangladeshi officials might be well-advised to start reining in their own schedules, given it’s never too late to try a good thing. They might just find that as long as you don’t give off the impression that you’ve got time to waste, most people don’t feel like they can waste your time. l The author is the Executive Editor of Dhaka Courier, and Senior Editor at UNB

WIKIMEDIA

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

NATO’S PRIORITY IN 2015

Setting up reaction force in Europe n AP, Brussels Leaving combat operations in Afghanistan behind, Nato is shifting its focus to Europe in 2015 and the creation of its new ultra-rapid-reaction force, designed as a deterrent to Russia.

The priority for the 28-member alliance will be to get the new agile expeditionary force into operation, but also settling the question of who will pay for it, analysts say.

The multinational force, often called the “spearhead,” was ordered into existence by President Obama and other Nato leaders in September so it could be deployed to reinforce alliance members feeling threatened by the actions or ambitions of Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

Nato Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has called the new force and other components of the reboot of alliance capabilities “the biggest reinforcement of our collective defense since the end of the Cold War.” Stoltenberg, now in his third month as the alliance’s top-ranking civilian official, said it is his “top priority to implement this plan in full and on time.”

With Nato officially out of combat operations in Afghanistan as of Jan. 1, the alliance’s agenda is expected to be dominated by the new strategic realities in Europe conjured up by Moscow’s annexation of Crimea and alleged proxy war in eastern Ukraine, and what the West should do in response.

“Nato’s biggest challenge in 2015 will be focusing on and advancing its core mission — ensuring the security of the alliance’s members and promoting stability in Europe,” said Michael Brown, dean of the Elliot School of International Affairs at George Washington University.

“This will be a challenge because the alliance’s leaders have taken collective defense for granted for many years, because Russia has developed an array of unconventional tactics that will require new and unconventional responses, and because Nato will continue to be involved in training activities in Af-

ghanistan,” Brown said.

In reaction to Moscow’s actions, Obama and the other Nato leaders approved a Readiness Action Plan to upgrade alliance capabilities, and 2015 “will be about making it more concrete and visible for Russia,” said Marcin Terlikowski, head of the European Security and Defense Economics project at the Polish Institute of International Affairs in Warsaw.

“The main task will be to decide what this force will be, where it will be based, and how it will be commanded,” Terlikowski said. “It’s also about money.”

It is unclear who will pay for the force, said Bruno Lete, senior program officer for foreign and security policy at the German Marshall Fund, a Brussels-based think tank.

Many are hoping the Americans will foot much of the bill, while others are looking to Germany, Nato’s wealthiest and most populous member in Europe, Lete said.

It is vital for Nato cohesiveness that as many members as possible contribute to payments, he said, or “the plan will lose its legitimacy.”

In 2015, decisions are also expected that would continue the rotation of US and other allies’ air, land and naval forces to maintain a non-stop heightened profile in the Nato member countries closest to Russia. On New Year’s Day, Nato officials said, the Italian Air Force, flying four Eurofighter jets, took over from the Portuguese in executing one of those operations, the Baltic Air Policing mission in the skies over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

In the coming year, the go-ahead should also be given by Nato governments to stockpile fuel, ammunition and other supplies and equipment in the frontline countries for use by the rapid reaction force if needed, Terlikowski and other analysts said.

To signal its resolve to come to defend its members in Eastern and Central Europe, Nato conducted more than 200 military exercises in 2014, and the member countries are expected to decide to maintain that pace. l

Libyan fighter jets bomb Greek tanker ship, killing 2 n AP, Cairo Fighter jets dispatched by Libya’s internationally recognised government bombed a Greek-owned tanker ship at an eastern city controlled by Islamist extremists Monday, killing two crew members and wounding two, Libyan and Greek officials said.

The bombing highlights the chaos that’s gripped Libya since its 2011 civil war that deposed and killed dictator Moammar Gadahfi. Libyan officials apologised for the bombing as the Greek Foreign Ministry demanded compensation for the victims’ families and punishment for those behind the attack.

Libyan military spokesman Ahmed al-Mesmari said jets struck the Liberian-flagged Araevo twice in Darna before his government learned the vessel was commissioned by the local power station. Darna is a base for Islamic extremists who have pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group.

“We had no information (about the tanker). We treated it as a dangerous and suspicious target that threatens national security,” al-Mesmari told The Associated Press. “We regret the loss of lives.”

Libya’s state-run National Oil Corp.

contradicted al-Mesmari’s account, saying it informed all parties it contracted the ship.

“This incident will negatively impact the arrival of oil tankers to Libyan ports in the future, which will consequently affect the ability to provide fuel to different regions,” the corporation said in a statement.

Al-Mesmari said the ship was heading in the opposite direction of the power station, raising suspicions.

Greece’s Merchant Marine Ministry said the vessel had 12,600 metric tons of fuel on board and that damage to it was being assessed. The victims were identified as a Greek and a Romanian. Araevo’s crew of 26 consisted of 21 Filipinos, three Greeks and two Romanians.

Al-Mesmari’s government, based in Tobruk, is locked in a bloody confrontation with the self-proclaimed government in Tripoli, which is backed by militias mostly from the western city of Misrata and other Islamist groups.

The internationally recognised Tobruk government says it is engaged in a war against terrorist groups and has asked for foreign support to establish its control over the oil-rich North African country. l

Lars Seidensticker, left of the anti-Islam party ‘Burgerbewegung pro Deutschland’ (Citizens movement pro Germany) holds a sticker showing a crossed out mosque as he takes part in a rally by a mounting right-wing populist movement on January 5, 2015 in Berlin. Counter-demonstrations were called for several cities against the group ‘Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident’ AFP

Israeli military divided over Gaza war probes n AP, Jerusalem A fierce debate is raging within Israel’s military over the extent to which soldiers should be held legally accountable for their actions during last year’s Gaza war, with commanders increasingly at odds with military lawyers.

The dispute has set off a firestorm in Israel, where many say the legal threat would shackle soldiers in any future battle, lower their morale and shatter a sacred trust on which Israel’s compulsory military service relies.

But with the Palestinians announcing their application last week to the International Criminal Court, the decision to investigate becomes all the more pressing: A robust Israeli inquiry into its military’s actions could be essential in thwarting an embarrassing and potentially incriminating outside probe.

Israel launched the Gaza operation on July 8 and said it was aimed at halting relentless rocket fire by Hamas militants. During 50 days of fighting, more than 2,100 Palestinians were killed, most of them civilians, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry and the United Nations. On the Israeli side, 66

soldiers and 6 civilians were killed.

Israel has defended the operation as an act of self-defense and blamed Hamas for the heavy civilian death toll, saying the militant group used residential areas for cover. But critics have pointed to the heavy Palestinian civilian death toll and questioned whether Israel’s response was proportionate.

Israel has also come under fire from critics who say it fails to thoroughly investigate its military operations or prosecute soldiers for abuses.

Israel says it does investigate its actions, but those inquiries rarely lead to criminal punishment. Following a similar operation in Gaza in early 2009, the army convicted a total of four soldiers on various charges, including looting, improper use of a weapon and life-endangering conduct. The most serious sentence was a three-and-a-half month prison term.

Israel’s outgoing military chief, Lt.Gen. Benny Gantz, has walked a fine line in the debate, trying both to soothe the troops’ worries and explain the need for inquiries.

“Soldiers and commanders know they have the full support of the command level,” Gantz said last month. “I feel very

secure with our support and with the investigations, which are a necessary tool for our continued improvement.”

Israel’s military advocate general, Danny Efroni, is seen as the leader of the drive to investigate soldiers. Efroni and his legal team have received more than 100 complaints regarding incidents from last summer’s war and plan to conduct criminal investigations into at least 10, including the deaths of four boys in an Israeli strike on a Gaza beach on July 16 and an attack on a UN school on July 24.

Efroni’s perspective, military analysts say, views an internal investigation as preferable to a potential probe by the International Criminal Court.

The military said Israel is “obligated” to examine every incident where a crime is suspected to have taken place. “This obligation is based on both Israeli and international law,” the military said in a statement.

The Palestinians are expected to join the court within about 60 days. Once that happens, they can submit war crimes claims against Israel. However, if Israel can show the court that it has carried out its own investigation in good faith, it could avoid an outside probe. l

Hamas ‘totally opposed’ to Abbas plan for new UN bid n AFP Gaza City (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) - Hamas said on Monday it was “totally opposed” to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas’s plans to re-submit to the UN Security Council a resolution on ending Israel’s occupation which failed last week.

“Hamas is totally opposed to any return to the UN Security Council by the Palestinian Authority,” spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement.

“Such a step would be political foolishness which plays a dangerous game with the destiny of our nation.

“Mahmud Abbas and the leadership of the Palestinian Authority should completely stop this political foolish-

ness,” Abu Zuhri said.

On January 2, the Palestinian leadership decided to refile a draft resolution setting a deadline for reaching a final peace deal and ending the occupation.

The draft had failed to pass a vote in the Security Council on December 30.

Speaking to AFP, Abbas’s spokesman Nabil Abu Rudeina said the resolution would be presented again “soon”, without saying exactly when.

The vote saw Security Council heavyweights China, France and Russia among eight countries who gave their support, while the United States and Australia voted against.

Five other countries, including Britain, abstained – among them Nigeria which had been expected to vote in favour but

changed its stance at the last minute.

The failure to win the nine “yes” votes necessary for the resolution to be adopted spared Washington from having to wield its veto, a move sure to cause embarrassment with its key Arab allies.

But it was a diplomatic blow for the Palestinians who had been counting on the symbolic victory of nine votes, even though the resolution would in all likelihood have been blocked by a US veto.

However, on January 1 the makeup of the 15-member council changed with the addition of five new non-permanent members – Angola, Malaysia, New Zealand, Spain and Venezuela – some of which are perceived as having a more pro-Palestinian stance. l

Germans protest against anti-Islam rallies n Agencies A record 18,000 people have turned out for an anti-immigrant rally by a right-wing populist movement in eastern German city of Desden, prompting thousands to join counter-demonstrations in several cities.

The movement that began with just a few hundred in October against percieved “Islamisation of Europe” drew huge crowds on Monday despite calls

by Chancellor Angela Merkel to snub such street protests.

Alarmed at the rising xenophobia, an estimated 30,000 people rallied against the “Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident”, or PEGIDA group across several cities.

Several thousand anti-PEGIDA protestors turned out in Cologne, some carrying placards stating “foreigner hatred is inhuman” or “shame for our country” while one held by supporters of the group read “think of your children”.

Cologne’s landmark Gothic cathedral dimmed its outdoor lights in a stand against the anti-Islam group.

In Berlin, more than 5,000 people rallied against PEGIDA. Justice Minister Heiko Maas joined the anti-PEGIDA protest, while the foreign ministry tweeted “there is no room for xenophobic agitation” in Germany.

A counter-demonstration in Dresden drew some 3,000, police said.

Anti-PEGIDA demonstrations were also held in the cities of Stuttgart, Muenster and Hamburg, the dpa news agency reported.

Over the last three months, crowds at PEGIDA’s demonstrations in Dresden, Saxony, a region that has few immigrants or Muslims, have swelled from a few hundred to 17,500 just before Christmas.

PEGIDA calls itself a grassroots movement and according to its manifesto, aims to protect “Judeo-Christian” values.

Germany has an estimated 4 million Muslims, in a total population of nearly 81 million. l

IS jihadists claim execution of eight people in Iraq n AFP, Baghdad

‘Iran, top general saved West’s Islamic State focus neglects Baghdad from falling to IS’ human tragedy in Syria, doctors say

The Islamic State jihadist group has executed eight people, four of them policemen, in Iraq’s Salaheddin province, according to a series of pictures posted online.

A message that accompanied the pictures, the authenticity of which could not be independently confirmed, said the eight men had reneged on a pledge to stop working for the Iraqi government.

It was not immediately clear when the photos were taken.

Seven of the victims can be seen wearing orange jumpsuits similar to those worn by journalists and aid workers killed by IS. Captions identify them police officers, one is said to be a policeman and three are described as “secret informants”. l

An Iraqi Shiite militia leader and lawmaker has credited Tehran and a powerful Iranian general with saving the Baghdad government during last summer’s offensive by Islamic State group militants.

Hadi al-Ameri, a former minister who commands the Badr militia, said support from Iran and General Qassem Suleimani had been crucial after Iraqi government forces collapsed in the face of the IS assault.

“If it were not for the cooperation of the Islamic republic of Iran and General Suleimani, we would not today have a government headed by Haider al-Abadi in Baghdad,” Ameri told a memorial service south of Tehran Monday for an Iranian officer killed in Iraq last month.

“It would not have existed,” he said of the Iraqi government, according to

n AFP, Tehran

the Isna and Fars news agencies.

The memorial was for Iranian Revolutionary Guards Major General Hamid Taghavi, killed by IS fighters in the Iraqi city of Samarra last month.

Suleimani, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force – the foreign wing of the Revolutionary Guards – was also present at the memorial.

The general, who reportedly landed in Baghdad hours after IS overran the Iraqi city of Mosul in June and led the anti-jihadist counter-attack, has become the public face of Iran’s deep military involvement in Iraq.

Abadi took over as Iraq’s prime minister after Nuri al-Maliki, a fellow Shiite with close ties to Tehran, reluctantly stood down following the IS surge into northern Iraq.

Iran moved swiftly by arming Iraqi Kurdish fighters and supporting Baghdad with military advisers. l

n Reuters, Paris Western states are focusing too much on tackling Islamic State and are forgetting the daily suffering of ordinary Syrians in areas of the country where the medical situation has become catastrophic, a group of Syrian doctors said.

Some 200,000 people have died and nearly half the Syrian population has been displaced by the conflict that began with anti-government protests in 2011 and spiraled into full-scale civil war.

The situation has been exacerbated since a U.S-led coalition began bombing areas of Syria controlled by Islamic State, which seized swathes of territory in both Syria and Iraq last year.

“Between 30 to 60 people are dying each day since the bombings started,” said Tawfik Shamaa, spokesman for the

Union of Syrian Medical Relief Organisations (UOSSM), a non-governmental association that brings together 14 groups.

“There is only talk of extremism and Islamic State, but not the women and children who are killed, the bodies torn apart, the stomachs blown open, which is what doctors are dealing with each day.”

About a dozen doctors operating in Syria for UOSSM, including areas besieged by government forces in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta and Syria’s second city Aleppo as well as in Islamic State stronghold Raqqa, met French officials on Monday to outline the situation.

While the UOSSM says it remains neutral in the conflict, Paris is its largest donor. The group has about 300 medical posts and 12 dispensaries

across Syria, but said its efforts are limited given the lack of medicines, equipment and staff.

“The situation is unbearable, catastrophic,” said Obaida al-Moufti, a Franco-Syrian doctor.

One doctor in Aleppo, who gave his name as Abdelaziz, said there were just five functioning hospitals to cater to 360,000 people encircled by government troops.

“There are only 30 doctors of all specialities,” he said adding that people were dying of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, scabies and tuberculosis because there were no treatments or vaccines available.

In Raqqa, the Islamic State’s main Syria stronghold where some 1.6 million people live, another doctor said things were not easy, but not as difficult as elsewhere. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

9

Kashmir shelling, spat over Pakistan aid mar run-up to Kerry trip n Reuters, New Delhi Reports of a $500-million Washington aid package to Pakistan and a period of intense border shelling in Kashmir have overshadowed the run-up to US Secretary of State John Kerry’s expected visit to South Asia in the next few days.Kerry is due to attend an investment summit promoted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the weekend, and media reports say he will then travel to Islamabad.

President Barack Obama will make a second official trip to India later in the month, seeking to strengthen ties between the world’s two largest democracies. Despite Modi and Obama’s well-publicised chemistry at talks in Washington last year, renewed friction between South Asia’s nuclear-armed neighbors is a reminder of underlying anger in New Delhi at US support for its arch-rival.

“This may be a bit of a sobering moment for those who thought we might see a blooming of the relationship,” said Harsh Pant, professor of international relations at King’s College London.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since independence in 1947, and Washington’s financial support to Pakistan’s military and government is a constant irritant in New Delhi, where Kerry is widely seen as pro-Pakistan.

Anger over aid

Pakistan announced last week that the US ambassador had said a request had been made to Congress for a $532 million aid payment under an act co-authored by Kerry in 2009. Washington denied that on Monday, but not before drawing India’s ire.

“How the Government of the United States of America decides to spend US tax payers’ money is entirely its prerogative,” foreign ministry spokesman Syed Akbaruddin said in a statement.

“However, India does not believe that Pakistan is showing ‘sustained commitment’,” against Islamist militants, he added.

State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said no request had been made to US Congress for a payment under the act, which requires Pakistan to cease support for extremist groups such as the Taliban and al Qaeda.

Australians reject siding with Japan over China n AFP Australians would overwhelmingly reject siding with close ally Japan against top trade partner China over a dispute in the East China Sea and prefer to remain neutral, according to a survey published Tuesday.

Beijing and Tokyo have been engaged in a long and bitter battle over ownership of a contested island chain, known as Diaoyu in China and Senkaku in Japan.

Australia has a long-standing military alliance with Japan’s close ally the United States, which could arguably see it drawn into the dispute.

But a poll commissioned by the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology, Sydney, suggested that 71% of Australians would prefer to remain neutral should a conflict arise.

“The poll confirms Australians overwhelmingly want their country to stay neutral,” said former foreign minister Bob Carr, director of the institute, an independent research think-tank.

Asked what Australia should do if armed conflict broke out between Japan, the United States and China over the islands, only 15% said they supported backing a Japan-US alliance.

Four% said Australia should back China and nine% were unsure, the poll of more than 1,000 Australians found.

Should the US president call and ask the Australian prime minister to join in supporting Japan, 68% said Australia should declare itself neutral and not make a military contribution.

Fourteen% said Canberra should join its allies in war while 17% were unsure.

Carr said as far as the public was concerned, Australia was not obliged under the Australia-New Zealand-United States (ANZUS) treaty to make a commitment. l

However, she said other funds were available to Pakistan.

In 2009, under the Kerry-authored act, the United States agreed to give an annual $1.5 billion to Pakistan, and in 2013 handed over the cash under a waiver despite what critics said was a lack of progress in countering Islamist militancy.

Funding for 2014, the last year of the four-year plan, has not yet been released, Psaki said.

Washington has for years been trying to encourage a rapprochement between India and Pakistan.

Relations were badly damaged in 2008 when a group of Pakistani militants killed 166 people in a three-day rampage through the Indian city of Mumbai after landing by sea.

India’s coast guard last week said four suspected militants blew themselves up in a boat in waters between the two countries, an account that has been questioned by Indian media and opposition parties, and denied by Pakistan.

“War-Like”

In the disputed region of Kashmir, thousands of Indians have fled their homes as fighting between India and Pakistan spread along a 200-km (124mile) border stretch. At least 10 people have been killed since Dec. 31.

Tensions have been high since Modi called off peace talks in August, and border clashes have erupted intermittently since.

Indian and Pakistani security officials have not spoken since Jan. 1 to reduce the violence, according to D.K. Pathak, director general of India’s Border Security Force. Pakistan has lost more lives and suffered more damage to property, he said.

“It is not a happy situation and we would like the restoration of normalcy as fast and soon as possible,” said Pathak. “But what can be done? If firing comes from their side we definitely have to respond.”

Pakistan in turn accuses India of killing two of its men in an ambush on New Year’s Eve. About 6,000 civilians in Indian-controlled Kashmir fled late on Monday as fighting spread to civilian areas, said Shantmanu, divisional commissioner of Jammu region. About 4,000 left after fighting began last week. l

Indian sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik gives the final touches to his sand sculpture portraying two missing aircraft, Air Asia QZ8501 and Malayasia Airlines MH370 on Golden Sea Beach at Puri, some 65 kms east of Bhubaneswar on December 29, 2014 AFP

What’s still not known about AirAsia jet and why it crashed boxes and the wreckage itself.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — AirAsia Flight 8501 crashed into the Java Sea with 162 people on board, halfway into a Dec. 28 flight from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Singapore. Dozens of bodies have been recovered, and search teams have detected what is believed to be the plane’s wreckage, but many questions remain unanswered. Here are some of them:

What caused the plane to go down?

The pilot told air traffic control he was approaching threatening clouds and asked to climb above them, from 9,750 meters (32,000 feet) to 11,580 meters (38,000 feet). But with six other planes in the same airspace, permission was denied. When the tower tried to make contact four minutes later, there was no response, and the Airbus A320 was gone from the radar. The investigation will hinge on the discovery of the black

Where are the black boxes?

View galleryAirAsia Flight 8501 crashes in the Java Sea Parts of AirAsia QZ8501, recovered from the Java Sea, are carried by Indonesian Airforce and Search …

With high surf preventing the deployment of ships that drag “ping” locators, no signals have been detected from the aircraft’s all-important cockpit voice and flight data recorders.

Both will provide essential information, including the plane’s vertical and horizontal speeds along with engine temperature and final conversations between the captain and co-pilot. The black boxes’ ping-emitting beacons still have around 20 days before their batteries go dead.

Where are the bodies and debris?

A massive international search effort involving planes, ships and helicop-

ters continues despite heavy rain, high waves and strong currents. So far, only around three dozen bodies have been recovered, some still strapped into their seats. Sonar has identified what is believed to be five large parts of the plane on the seabed, but rough conditions along with mud and silt have kept divers from getting a clear visual on it.

Was the plane authorised to fly?

Indonesia has launched an investigation into AirAsia’s operating practices after alleging the low-cost carrier did not have permits to fly from Surabaya to Singapore on Sundays, the day the plane crashed. All of the carrier’s flights on that route have since been canceled.

The Transportation Ministry also has suspended officials who allowed the plane to fly without authorisation, including the Surabaya airport’s operator and officials in the control tower. AirAsia has declined to comment until the evaluation is completed. l

Thai PM urges action on Pakistan votes for military courts to try insurgents human trafficking n Reuters, Bangkok Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chanocha said on Tuesday his government would step up measures against human trafficking as the country scrambles to improve its record in fighting the illegal trade before a US deadline to show improvement.

Thailand is ranked one of the world’s worst centers of human trafficking. It was downgraded to the lowest “Tier 3” status last June on the US State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons Report for not fully complying with minimum standards for its elimination.

Prayuth, who as army chief seized power from an elected government in a coup in May, said Thailand would work on areas flagged by the United States before submitting its record for 2014 to the US State Department by a March

deadline.

“We have set up a committee to look after 23 areas which the US analyses and has warned us about for years,” Prayuth, told reporters in Bangkok.

“We have to take this plan and put it in to action. Police, officials ... everyone.”

Any progress made in 2014 could help lift Thailand from the lowest tier and boost investment in industries accused of using trafficked labor, including fisheries.

Shortly after the military seized power in May, it vowed to “prevent and suppress human trafficking”.

But an October Reuters Special Report suggests trafficking routes in Thailand were thriving, with jungle camps still holding thousands of people in remote hills near the border with Malaysia and trafficking rings able to operate largely with impunity. l

Like all whales the minke must surface to breath oxygen from the air through two blowholes

n AFP, Tokyo Lifespan Over 20 years

About 300 asymmetrical baleen plates in jaw used to filter food

Pakistan’s parliament on Tuesday passed legislation allowing military courts to try insurgents, one of a raft of measures aimed at clamping down on increasingly brutal attacks after Taliban gunmen massacred 134 children last month.

With the unanimous vote of all lawmakers present in the lower house and the senate, the bill secured a two-thirds majority it required. Lawmakers from religious parties and an opposition party led by former cricketer Imran Khan stayed away.

The law is now expected to be signed into law by the president this week.

It will stay on the books for two years, allowing military courts to try anyone accused of terrorism offences.

Most politicians in Pakistan agree that military courts must be used to curb Taliban attacks because civilian courts are

Diet Feed on krill almost exclusively in the Antarctic but common minke whales eat fish and invertebrates

About 50-70 throat grooves which swell when feeding

Behaviour Highly acrobatic and often active on water surface Fast swimmers, can reach 34 kph Known to vocalise and communicate with each other

Breach or leap out of water

Weight Up to 10 tonnes Length 7-11 m

Two known species Antarctic minke whale (Balaenoptera bonaerensis) Northern or common minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

Spyhop or raise head vertically out of water

Source: IUCN/SeaShepherd/IWC/NOAA/ProjectMinke.org/JapanFisheriesAgency/Marinebio.org

too cowed and corrupt to jail militants.

But some have raised concerns about the dramatic expansion of military powers in the coup-prone country.

The army is often accused of only targeting groups that stage attacks in Pakistan while tolerating others focused on neighbors India and Afghanistan.

The courts will have a limited mandate, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan said last week.

“Military courts will not be used against any politician, seminary, businessman, media person or common citizen,” he said. “Nor is it a forum for dispensation of justice.”

On Monday, the Pakistani Taliban leader Mullah Fazlullah released a video vowing more attacks on children.

The government and the military say Pakistan’s Taliban insurgency amounts to a war, so there is a precedent for the use of military courts. l

Govt: Harpoonless Japanese whalers heading for Antarctic

Minke whale Smallest of the great baleen whale family, main target of Japanese hunters

Antarctic minke whales have larger skulls than common minke wales

n Reuters, Islamabad

Dive

Japanese whalers will set out for the Antarctic this week, but will leave their harpoons at home after the United Nations’ top court last year ruled their annual hunt was illegal, the government said Tuesday. The Japanese Fisheries Agency said the Institute of Cetacean Research plans to conduct non-lethal research on whales until March 28.

As the research does not involve catching whales, harpoons have been removed from the vessels, the agency said.

Two boats, which will set sail on Thursday, will carry out “sighting surveys” and take skin samples from the huge marine mammals. A third boat

will sail in support.

The International Court of Justice – the highest court of the United Nations – ruled in March that Tokyo was abusing a scientific exemption set out in the 1986 moratorium on whaling, and was carrying out a commercial hunt under a veneer of research. After the ruling, Japan has said it would cancel this winter’s Antarctic mission. But Tokyo has also expressed its intention to resume “research whaling” in 2015-16.

In a new plan submitted to the International Whaling Commission (IWC) and its Scientific Committee, Japan set an annual target of 333 minke whales for future hunts, down from some 900 under the previous programme. l

Indonesia orders air officials’ suspension as crash probed n AFP Indonesia on Monday ordered the suspension of aviation officials as it investigates the crash of AirAsia Flight 8501, also promising action against any domestic airlines violating their flying permits.

The crackdown came as a major search in the Java Sea entered its ninth day, struggling in bad weather to find more bodies or the “black box” flight data recorders which are crucial to determining the cause of the disaster.

Only three more bodies were recovered Monday, bringing the total found to 37. A total of 162 passengers and crew were aboard the Airbus A320-200 on December 28 when it crashed en route from Indonesia’s second city Surabaya to Singapore.

Indonesia alleges the plane was flying on an unauthorised schedule. The transport ministry has now ordered airport and air navigation managers to “suspend the personnel involved” in the activity of Flight 8501, director general of air transport Djoko Murjatmodjo told reporters.

AirAsia Indonesia, a unit of Malaysia-based AirAsia, has already been suspended from flying the Surabaya-Singapore route – although Singapore officials said they had given permission for the flight at their end.

Murjatmodjo said they would halt any other airline found violating its permitted flight schedule in the country, which has a patchy aviation safety record.

“If, after assessment, another airline is also not flying on the approved schedule, that is a violation and we will suspend it too,” Murjatmodjo said, adding that they were investigating how AirAsia had been flying on an unapproved schedule without the ministry’s knowledge.

Search and rescue agency chief Bambang Soelistyo meanwhile said three more bodies from the crash were recovered Monday, but only two advance divers had been able to go down to the wreckage off the island of Borneo. Five large parts of the plane including the suspected tail have so far been located.

“The current was strong. So (most of) the divers are still on standby,” Soelistyo told reporters.

The search, assisted by several countries including the United States and Russia, has been trying to expand eastwards on suspicions that strong currents have caused parts of the plane to drift.

Earlier in the day several aircraft made their way from Pangkalan Bun, a town on Borneo with the nearest airstrip to the wreckage, to scour the sea’s surface. Speedboats were sweeping the coastline to look for any bodies that may have drifted ashore.

Indonesia’s military chief General Moeldoko said he had offered to take relatives out to the crash site to pay their respects.

“We will bring them to the navy ships and we will take them to the location to scatter flowers, and I hope coming to the location can reduce their sadness and the feeling of loss,” he told reporters. l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

CODE-CRACKER

Both sides must listen

I

t is completely unacceptable for both the government and BNP leaders to continue ratcheting up their political dispute.

Both sides share responsibility for the ongoing impasse. In continuing to confine BNP leaders and prevent the opposition party from holding a rally in the capital, the government provides the BNP with an excuse for its call for an indefinite blockade.

The damaging consequences of this unnecessary deadlock are clear for all to see. It is the very poorest people in the country who suffer most from the harm to daily life being caused by this dispute. People who rely for sustenance on daily wages and have been denied the opportunity to earn an income are hit the hardest.

Major industries have also been needlessly disrupted.

Industrial production fell by nearly a half on Monday as workers were prevented from reaching factories, and the transport shortage prevented the delivery of raw materials to garment factories.

Likewise, banks and businesses have all reported large falls in activity. The lack of political resolution is hugely damaging for the future of the economy, which needs stability to sustain and build on the progress it has been making.

Both sides need to listen to the public and act promptly to resolve matters.

The country cannot afford to risk further political turmoil and unrest. The government must heed the many calls being made by business leaders to act constructively to bring about a long-term resolution to this damaging crisis. The BNP too must play its part.

It is time for both parties to heed the wishes of the Bangladeshi public.

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

I was there, and I don’t need a defence

T

he Bangladesh Outdoor Advertising Establishment Owners Association (BOA) estimates that at least a quarter of Dhaka’s billboards were taken over last week by posters advertising the 67th anniversary of the founding of the Chhatra League.

As with previous such occasions, including in November when the government’s youth wing, the Jubo League, took over 75% of the city’s billboards to celebrate its 42nd birthday, billboard owners were neither asked for permission nor paid for their services.

Losses to billboard owners from this form of theft are claimed to have totaled over Tk50cr last year. This is only the tip of the iceberg as public spaces including footbridges and utility poles are also regularly swamped by ilwlegally-placed political posters.

Such blatant abuses are more than a disservice to the public and a blight on the reputation of the parties involved. They are indicative of a deeper malaise in our polity.

If politically-connected individuals are allowed to act with impunity in commandeering private and public spaces in such a manner, it only increases the likelihood of more serious abuses.

The government must act to ensure billboard owners are duly compensated for their losses, and that police are empowered to remove illegal billboards from public spaces. If those responsible are held to account, this will help deter re-occurrence.

In the long term, the Election Commission must be empowered to set, monitor, and enforce tougher regulations on political advertising. Stricter spending limits and restrictions are the best way to both prevent public nuisance and ensure fair play for political parties.

Impunity for commandeering billboards increases the likelihood of more serious abuses

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

December 25

It is time for both parties to heed the wishes of the Bangladeshi public

Signs of a deeper malaise

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 14 represents X so fill X every time the figure 14 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.

Zakir Hossain, one of our best photographers.

Seira A right slap in the face. Zakir Bhai says it as it is – no downplaying the facts, no spouting empty words of hope.

Thank you Zakir Bhai. I hope your own experience helps clear the vision of many prominent blind people. shottikar bangalee “Those who believe what is happening is media hype will have very little they can do to protect the natural shield of Bangladesh.”

Terrific piece. Denial of what is happening is the dumbest thing ever.

Zakir Kibria Thanks, Syed Zakir Hossain.

sujaul khan Humble salute. I guess as a nation we don’t deserve such a precious natural resource. If we did, we would not do an EIA report after deciding to set up a coal-fired power plant 13 kilometers north, called Rampal.

We would not allow Orion to build one at Mongla. We would not allow vessels to ply through the forest.

Clearly it’s time to die. Who needs some stupid animals and trees after all?

dlsr A picture tells a thousand words. Thank you Syed

Maus sujaul khan: Bro, I feel your pain.

ara That picture makes me tear up.

Railway official suspended for negligence

Four-year-old child falls into 400-foot hole December 26

Melanie Joy Very sad. May he come out safe and well.

Yunus ranks 5th among global thinkers

December 25

Farhad Faisal “The survey has been carried out by Zurichbased Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute for Economic and Social Studies (GDI) and MIT Sloan School researcher Peter Gloor.”

Admittedly, all such rankings tend to be somewhat arbitrary. It is, nevertheless, interesting to note that two out of the top fives of the “globally influential thinkers” are of Bengali origin – Amartya Sen and Muhammad Yunus.

We congratulate them all for their contributions toward creating a better world. The youth of Bangladesh may take pride and let themselves be inspired by their role models.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

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.

Just don’t do it December 26

December 27 Mohammad Tanvir Khalid Too late. For the boy.

Faiz Ahmed Rafat “Bangladesh Railway authorities have suspended an official on charge of negligence in duties following the falling of a four-year-old child into a 400-foot hole.”

But TV officials mentioned SR Traders’ very negligence and inexperienced authority are also at work.

SUDOKU

Fragglerock & roll “Civic sense is all about having consideration for a fellow human being.

It means being polite, showing consideration to others.”

I don’t think “clean people” and “Bangladesh” can ever co-exist in the same sentence.

Barely Legal Alien Fragglerock & roll: Yes! (Or is it “no”?) You can feel the uncleanliness in the very air, like a preternatural entity hell bent on undoing all those minutes of scrubbing and sudsing up in the shower/tub.

Rajeeb This situation will never change unless and until we teach our kids civic sense, which must be included in the curriculum. For example, teaching 3rd/4th graders on how to cross the street, follow traffic rules, be hygienic etc, so that they become aware.

I see many parents helping their kids to pee on the streets, especially when they are traveling, or at a fair.

It brings one back to the basic fact of charity beginning at home, and counters the claim of the writer that we Bangladeshis are personally very clean people. The fact is we are not. We have very little knowledge about hygiene, no matter what socioeconomical background we are from. However, it is also true that our huge population is a major reason.

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Army rank (5) 5 Blemish (4) 8 Narcotic (6) 9 Musical sounds (5) 10 Deserve (4) 11 At no time (5) 12 Insect (3) 15 Fruit (4) 18 Machines for weaving (5) 21 Mineral spring (3) 22 Satellite (4) 24 Burden (4) 25 Fertile spot (5) 28 Time of holding (6) 29 Worshipped image (4) 30 Slender supports (5)

DOWN 1 Servile (6) 2 Little bit (3) 3 Frank (4) 4 Get up (4) 5 Precipitous (5) 6 Concretions of nacre (6) 7 Large cask (3) 13 Denial (2) 14 Love apple (6) 16 Out of bed (2) 17 Working classes (6) 19 Mannequin (5) 20 Accordingly (2) 23 Intellect (4) 24 Hawaiian garland (3) 26 Craft (3) 27 Bishop’s territory (3)

SA Common sense is uncommon, so is civic sense. But some sense should start to improve things. At least some civic sense is all I ask. And while you’re at it, keep your motorbikes off my footpath, thank you very much!

The flowers of heaven December 25

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

vhs “The continuous killings and violence has actually shaken the very existence of the state.” Nothing is worse than killing children.

Now all we can do is pray for them.

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD

Dreampie vhs: There is: Killing crippled children … who also happen to be savants.

AL: BNP will not be allowed to enter Dhaka in January December 25

Nazia Rahman This only shows that true democracy exists in Bangladesh!

Bakshibazar clash: BCL denies involvement December 25

Dr Ahsan Habib Nothing but lies, lies, lies.

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

11

May we speak freely?

D

n Sadiat Mannan espite having a constitution that resembles ours, with respect to freedom of expression (of speech, of press, of assembly), the Chinese government has been applying a much narrower definition of rights, as shown by the example of a university professor being sentenced to life imprisonment this September for having criticised the Communist Party’s ethnic policies.

China’s restriction of free speech and information is not an unknown phenomenon, and one possible example would be the relationship between Google and the Chinese government that has been nothing less than unpleasant and marred with conflict – for instance, in 2010, Google had attempted to curb Chinese censorship by redirecting users to the unrestricted Hong Kong site.

views; which was exemplified by the fears elicited by rumours of a network blackout in October during the movement.

Protesters had been urged to install FireChat, an innovative application that maintains connectivity via Bluetooth technology, if communication networks provided by the state fall, to allow the sustenance of the citizens’ stand regarding voice and representation against any probable government measures.

Bangladesh is a country where citizens take pride in having a constitution – the basis of our policies, laws, and the overall legal system – on the notion that it is representative of our thoughts as the people. However, within our legal framework, there have been telling signs of restriction of speech and expression through enactments of laws and policies.

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act, 2006

The very essence of life is to be able to speak our minds, to venture down a path that allows us to be ourselves

Examples of the Chinese government confining “democracy” and restricting free speech are not limited to that of Google, but widespread. The statement made by Xi was made within a couple of months of the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests regarding the limitation posed by Beijing in terms of direct election within the political system of the region – the region that had been handed over by the British to China just before the turn of the new millennium.

The Internet, particularly the social media, has developed into a powerful space that promotes the exchange of ideas and can hold the state accountable regarding politicisation and representation of people and their

that had been amended, and the draft passed by the cabinet last year (2013), allows the police to arrest any violator without a warrant, and the crimes under the bill are non-bailable.

Civil society and non-profit organisations like Transparency International Bangladesh, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, and Ain o Shalish Kendra, among notable others, had reacted to the law, especially to the fact that the ICT Act 2013, on the account of reducing “cybercrime,” allows a maximum of 14 years of prison for publishing any material electronically that can lead to the deterioration of law and order, or prejudice the image of the state or a person, or hurt peo-

BIGSTOCK

ple’s religious sentiments.

Several activists, bloggers, and media personnel have been arrested under the ICT Act. The law was passed just before the last national elections, and a member of the abovementioned civil societies had opined that there had been no protest at that time by the opposition party, as it left scope for political abuse.

A more recent example of controlling the dissemination of information is the National Broadcast Policy 2014, for which journalists have shown their disapproval by setting the policy on fire publicly. In this case, too, experts, organisations, and other groups, including political parties, have shown their dissatisfaction and provided their views on the contradiction of the policy with democratic norms, values, and already established laws.

The policy restricts the broadcast-

ing of information that may compromise state security, in addition to comments demeaning the armed forces and officials in charge of upholding the rule of law, and airing mutiny, chaos, and violent incidents that may affect public interests.

No matter how much one considers legal framework to be positivistic and open to “only” precise application, legal theories and practice over the years have shown that legal frameworks are open to interpretation, and at times misuse.

Ambiguities within legal documents are widespread in the immediate and broader world around us.

We have witnessed and continue to witness voices concerning formal setups that can impinge on our freedoms. Voices, expressions, and even freedom of assembly are the very basic ingredients of a democratic setup and

of life itself.

From theorists of the Western world like John Locke, to philosophers and poets closer to us, like Tagore and Amartya Sen, many have emphasised on the notion of life based on liberty, being free. The very essence of life is to be able to speak our minds; not so that the state is harmed, but to be able to venture down a path that allows us to be ourselves.

The nation-state is an idea which is not above or below us, but a space to which we ought to have transcended our subjective selves: We are to live within it and for it. Pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, among many other demonstrations, have elucidated the creation of chaos, and have led to the deterioration of law and order going against state policy. We live in a country where many of us may not consider information and voices to be

restricted, de facto.

However, we live in a country where politics and political parties, at times, have played a larger role in the governance process of the state than we would have desired. In a world where the idea of democracy and its basic institutions have become debatable, one can consider the distinction between state and political parties to become increasingly apparent.

We have raised our voices in the past, within our limits, but we must continue to persistently do so if we desire to live in a nation that serves the interests of the people. l Sadiat Mannan is a Research Associate at the Brac Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), Brac University. He is a member of the politics, democracy, and governance cluster.

A year of great danger

Democracy faces the gallows

n MJ Akbar

n Mohammad Ali Sattar

T

he safest prediction for 2015 is that the tension of actual or possible terrorism will continue to test our nerves. There are enough questions around the trawler that left Pakistan near Karachi, and was stopped by Indian security forces about 365 kilometres from Porbandar, Gujarat.

The cover-up narrative, already in play in some sections of media, “explains” that the ship was a smuggling rather than a terrorist vessel. But why should smugglers prefer death to arrest?

When cornered, those on board chose to blow themselves up rather than face arrest and interrogation

by Indian police. India apprehends any number of Pakistani fishermen who enter our waters illegally; they do not kill themselves. They choose life.

Only those on a suicide mission prefer death. Certainly, smugglers are not in the business of self-destruction.

They know that an occasional jail term is the price of their profession.

The timing of this mission, and its destination, Gujarat, tells their own story. The annual convention of overseas Indians is scheduled to be held in Gandhinagar between January 7 and 9, to be followed by the Vibrant Gujarat Summit.

VIP guests include America’s Secretary of State John Kerry and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. But the most important visitor to India this year is going to be Barack Obama, who will become the first American president to visit India twice while in office, as well as the first to be guest of honour at our Republic Day celebrations.

This is a measure of the personal warmth and political cooperation that Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have achieved over a short period. Those who do not want to see India at peace with itself have opened up conflict flanks from Kashmir to Gujarat.

The debate about what actually happened will play its course in Indian media, which is understandable in a free press. But it is pertinent to note that the success of intelligence is measured by what has been prevented, and our security systems were acting on information when they tracked the ship and then challenged it on high seas. This was not business as usual.

The challenge for Indian security services is that failure does not deter suicidal fanatics; for them, death is transition to something better than their experience of this life.

Formal wars wreak havoc, but they begin and end. Undeclared wars are unending

Eternal vigilance has been called the price of liberty; in a new dimension, relentless vigilance has become the price of a nation’s stability. The focus of Pakistan’s long war against India, initiated just 14 weeks after its formation, has shifted from military acquisition of the Kashmir valley, since its armed forces have realised that this is impossible through conventional warfare. The thrust is now towards terrorism and the instigation of social instability wherever and whenever they sense an opportunity.

This confrontation policy has added another layer to the tiers of power that constitute the Pak establishment. At the top, there is the permanent authority of the military. A former president and army chief, Pervez Musharraf, has even suggested publicly that the army’s role in government should be institutionalised.

He is advocating, with obvious

encouragement from elements still in service, that Pakistan’s unelected officers in uniform are given full control of internal and external security, which also means a veto over relations with India, Afghanistan, and America.

The one benefit of this potential arrangement is that it would preclude the need for a coup. Below the army line sits, with various degrees of discomfort, the elected political class, which is essentially in charge of the economy, raising of revenues, and policing the country.

The third tier is a nexus between radical clergy, terrorist militias and armed forces, working through ISI, a convenient arrangement flawed by one contradiction.

This third tier gets all it wants in guns, cash, and logistical operational support when it attacks India, or any interest perceived to be hostile to Pakistan. But when it ups the ante and seeks further radicalisation of the Pakistani state, it provokes the engineers and beneficiaries of the status quo.

However, by their very nature, militant bands cannot be kept in disciplined line or totally leashed. Sometimes, fighters and even groups nurtured by ISI have to be sacrificed in order to pacify American anger or, increasingly, ease Chinese suspicions.

This instigates blowback, as happened recently in Peshawar when militants took barbaric revenge by killing schoolchildren. Ideally, Pakistan’s military-political elite would want Jihadists to function when ordered as an attack column protected by the useful camouflage of deniability, and return to docility while waiting for further orders. But because you want something, it does not mean that you are necessarily going to get it.

2015 looks like being a year of great danger. Formal wars wreak havoc, but they begin and end. Undeclared wars are also unending. India will need steel in the nerve and some iron in the soul to protect itself. l MJ Akbar is an Indian journalist. He is the founder of The Sunday Guardian.

H

ere we are. The New Year got off to a heated start. Khaleda Zia remains confined in her Gulshan office since Saturday. Party leaders are scampering.

Her confinement (“security” is the government version) was beefed up with at least 10 brick and sand-laden trucks parked in front of her office. She will find herself in solitude for a few more days until things conform to the government’s liking. She has declared nonstop blockade of rail, road, and waterways for an indefinite period.

Therefore, we brace ourselves for periods of uncertainty.

It now seems clear that there is no scope for a peaceful settlement.

Dialogue is a far cry, which the BNP so earnestly wanted. The strange fight for democracy is underway, with BNP fighting for people’s right to vote while the Awami League government holds on to its stand of protecting the constitution and development. It is a bizarre battle for democracy.

Four BNP activists have been killed across the country. Clashes go on and more lives will be lost. The High Court and Press Club premises remain tense with two opposing sides raring to go at each other, while the police wait at every point to nab the opposition leaders.

The expected has happened. BNP finds no alternative but to resort to tougher action to realise its demands for participatory national polls under a neutral caretaker government. This time round, the party chief declared that there would be no further concession to the government.

The party has been suffering from various ailments since 2007. From leadership crises to policy implementation to internal squabbles to government ire, it is facing a tough time and will have to brave the rough weathers if it has to survive in a credible manner. For the first time in its colourful history, the party has been, in effect, out of the mainframe of state politics and administration.

Lack of commitment and fear of imprisonment have kept many senior and young leaders away from taking an active part in street showdowns.

Add to these the internal squabbles among the leaders. Dhaka leaders have been at loggerheads for years.

The opposing supporters of the student-front also fought for supremacy. Therefore, there has been genuine frustration and discontentment among the party workers and youngsters.

Many seniors have taken back seats due to reasons they prefer not to talk about. Acting Secretary General Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has been the main voice of the party. Senior and mid-level leaders have frequently disappeared from the scene at inappropriate times.

Most of the BNP advisers and senior members are showing signs of bad judgment. Some of them are too old to do anything other than retire or compromise. This pitiable situation has become more dreadful as the government becomes intransigent.

Since the government is not keen on dialogue, BNP will find the road ahead very taxing

Following the 2009 polls, which were not taken in good stride by many, the AL has become increasingly intolerant when dealing with BNP activists. Unofficially, the party is now just about persona non-grata in Bangladeshi politics.

The party offices remain under the shadows of the cops. Party leaders keep themselves holed up inside the gates of the main office.

Others remain in hiding, or are

forced to enjoy the coziness of their apartments.

Sarcastic comments by the AL leaders about the alleged failure and weaknesses of the BNP make it more annoying for all. The government has made it clear that BNP and its allies will not be given any leverage concerning polls or politics.

One senior BNP leader commented: “The way they treat us in the streets, it is simply not possible to bear such atrocities.” Another young leader remarked: “If the police and RAB did not back the AL activists on the ground, we could have exposed our force.”

The party leaders believe that the government is afraid of their support base. They challenged the government to let them come out without obstruction and prove their mass support.

However, the government is not interested in witnessing any congregation of the opposition, posing a threat to its popularity.

Once again, democracy is not in practice here.

The ruling party has binned the seven-point demand put forward by the BNP chief in a press conference on New Year’s Eve. To many, the demands were not timely and inappropriate for the current situation. Therefore, BNP is also likely to shun its dialogue offers from here on.

The politics of conflict is back again.

For BNP, it is a must win situation.

The party leaders believe that it will have to continue with its movement if it wants to have a credible existence, and the government will have to keep negotiating various situations at different levels. Since the government is not keen on dialogue, a dark cloud hangs overhead.

BNP will find the road ahead very taxing. It will have to redesign its stance and the government ought to realise that democracy is facing the gallows. l Mohammad Ali Sattar is Editor at Global News Network (GNN), Sports Times, and a DT columnist.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE Wednesday, January 7, 2015

13 Proteas seal

win to keep top ranking in Tests

14 Australia top

four punish India

14 Barcelona sack

sports director, Puyol quits

Sport

(L) A determined Soumya Sarkar lifts weights while a cheerful Anamul Haque arrives at the home of cricket, the Mirpur Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, yesterday

Tale of the overlooked Tigers BCB releases South n Mazhar Uddin Even a year ago, he was one of the most important names in the Tigers’ bowling lineup and spearheaded the spin department. But, things have changed drastically for the most experienced cricketer of the country, Abdur Razzak.

The 32-year old veteran cricketer suffered a heartache when he was overlooked in Bangladesh’s 15-man squad for the 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia-New Zealand.

Ever since the West Indies series in the Caribbean islands last year, Razzak’s performances came into question. Following a horrible outing in the West Indies, the left-arm spinner was under the scanner having conceded 76 runs for a solitary wicket from his quota of 10 overs. That proved to be the final straw for Razzak as he was axed for the bilateral series at home against Zimbabwe last month.

And following the announcement of his omission, Razzak, a 153-ODI campaigner, was visibly disappointed.

“Every cricketer dreams of playing the World Cup for his country, so do I. Obviously, I am a bit disappointed as I bowled well in the Dhaka [Premier Division Cricket] League and I thought of getting the opportunity. But, this is not in my hands as the selectors are there to decide and they have done what they thought better,” said Razzak.

Two other cricketers who will curse their luck are openers Imrul Kayes and Shamsur Rahman. With Tamim Iqbal and Anamul Haque virtually guaran-

Maradona backs Neuer for Ballon D’Or n

AFP, Havana

Argentina legend Diego Maradona said on Monday that he believes Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer should pip Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the Ballon D’Or. “Neither Messi, nor Ronaldo, my favourite is Neuer, he’s the one who deserves it the most,” said the outspoken former star player and coach during a visit to Cuba.

Maradona arrived in the island nation on Monday to take part in some sports programmes with Venezuelan television station Telesur. But before that, speaking to Radio Habana Cuba, he said “Ronaldo and Messi were resting” during the last year while Neuer was winning the World Cup with Germany.

Ballon D’Or will be presented during an awards ceremony on January 12.l

teed a place in the playing XI, let alone the 15-man squad, all that was left to be decided was the selection of the backup opener.

In came seamer-allrounder Soumya Sarkar who has played just one ODI, against Zimbabwe last month.

While Shamsur had a terrific start to his career, Imrul was an integral part of the Tigers’ setup in the 2011 ICC World Cup, including a brilliant knock against

RAZZAK

KAYES

England in Chittagong.

Like Razzak, Imrul also expressed his dejection after missing out on the final squad. “I was playing well recently which made me hopeful of getting into the World Cup squad. But, I was disappointed at not being selected,” said Imrul.

Imrul added that if he had played for Abahani or any other big club in the just-concluded DPL, he would have received more opportunities to prove his worth. Imrul featured for Kalabagan Krira Chakra, who were ousted before the Super League phase got underway.

Shamsur on the other hand had no complaints with the final squad and informed that if he was a selector, he would have picked the same 15.

“According to me this is a very good squad and I would have done the same thing which the selectors did. I think this team will do well in the World Cup. I have no complaints and the selectors have done the right thing,” said Shamsur.

NAEEM

SHAMSUR

Last but not the least, Naeem Islam is perhaps the most unlucky of the quartet. The Mohammedan all-rounder had a stellar campaign in the DPL, smashing 634 runs – third-highest from 16 matches at an average of 63.40, including eight half-centuries. While with the leather, the right-arm off-spinner scalped 20 wickets at 17.17.

Although Imrul, Shamsur and Naeem will have the opportunity to set the record straight in the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and Wales, Razzak can might as well kiss his World Cup hopes goodbye. l

Africa fixtures n Minhaz Uddin Khan The 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia-New Zealand will be the only occasion when Bangladesh will play away from home this year. With the exception of the global showpiece event Down Under, Bangladesh will host all the bilateral series scheduled for this year, including the South Africa series in July-August.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board yesterday announced the itinerary of the month-long bilateral series involving the Tigers and the Proteas. The two sides will face each other in two Twenty20 internationals, two Tests and three one-day internationals.

The Springboks are scheduled to reach Dhaka on June 30. The series will begin with a T20 warm-up game in Fatullah on July 3 before the commencement of the T20Is, slated for July 5 and 7 in Mirpur.

The two T20Is will be followed by the three-ODI series.

The first two ODIs will be played in Mirpur on July 10 and 12 with the third and final match taking place in Chittagong on July 15.

The port city will also host the first Test from July 21 while the second Test will be held in Mirpur from July 30.

The series, however, might be in jeopardy due to the monsoon season.

The cricket season in Bangladesh usually begins in October and ends in May.

It is therefore no surprise that only three international series – the 2000 Asia Cup, the tri-nation Kitply Cup in 2008 and the three ODIs against India last year in June - have been played during this period in the history of Bangladesh cricket.

Explaining the situation, BCB CEO

SOUTH AFRICA TOUR OF BANGLADESH 1st T20I 2nd T20I 1st ODI 2nd ODI 3rd ODI 1st Test 2nd Test

July 5, Dhaka July 7, Dhaka July 10, Dhaka July 12, Dhaka July 15, Chittagong July 21-25, Chittagong July 30-August 3, Dhaka

Nizamuddin Chowdhury said, “This tour was set four or five years ago in the FTP (Future Tours Programme).

We tried to change the schedule but we had to match the timing with South Africa.”

BCB media committee chairman Jalal Younus on the other hand informed that Pakistan will tour the country before South Africa.

1992 World Cup champions Pakistan are expected to visit the country in April for three ODIs, two Tests and a T20I. India and Australia are also scheduled to tour Bangladesh this year. l

Did you know?

Rogers & Warner’s stand of 200 marked the first time since Jan 2012 that Australia have produced a 200+ opening partnership

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Football transfer window extended n Shishir Hoque The inter-club local players’ transfer window for the upcoming football season has been deferred for the second time as the time frame is extended till January 30 following requests from six premier league clubs yesterday.

The already altered deadline day was suppose to end today, but the professional football league committee of Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) pushed back the window for another three weeks.

This is the second time BFF has deferred the transfer window that opened on November 11, 2014 and was scheduled to close on December 11, 2014.

Mohammedan Sporting Club and Brothers Union were the first, on Monday, to send BFF letters requesting to extend the date, a night before four other clubs – Muktijoddha SKC, BJMC, Farashganj and Feni Soccer Club – walked the path.

Bangladesh Premier League champions Sheikh Jamal DC and four-time professional league winners Abahani Limited officials showed a bit of frustration over the postponement of the window as the top two finishers from last season were the first clubs to begin their preparation for the new season.

BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag, however, said the deferment of the transfer window will not affect the kick-off of the season’s opening tournament Federation Cup which is scheduled to be held in February after the Bangabandhu Gold Cup.l

Bashundhara boost for Sheikh Russel KC

Shakib out to change Renegades’ fortune

n Raihan Mahmood

n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Bangladesh Premier Football League outfit Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra received a major boost with Bashundhara Group arriving as their main sponsor.

In a recent amendment the club made Sayem Sobhan Anvir, the managing

As a result Russel now have their own ground at the Bashundhara Residential Area director of Bashundhara Group, the chairman of Sheikh Russel KC. Long serving president of the club, Nurul Alam Chowdhury, admitted the development and said, “We did not have any post of club chairman. Sayem Sobhan was willing to help the team

and I would like to mention that not only football, but Bashundhara Group will be assisting Sheikh Russel in all the sports disciplines they participate in.

The club decided to create a new post and we unanimously selected Sayem Sobhan as the chairman.”

As a result Russel now have their own ground at the Bashundhara Residential Area. Bashundhara Group provided the ground for intensive practise while the players and the coaching staff will also reside within the area.

The club are also planning to buy their own team-bus for convenient movement.

Russel have already appointed Montenegrin Dragan Djukanovic as the coach of the team while the search for quality foreign booters are also underway. Last year Russel finished sixth among 10 teams in the Bangladesh Premier Football League.l

The world number 1 international Twenty20 allrounder Shakib al Hasan joined his Big Bash League 2014 side Melbourne Renegades yesterday and the premier Bangladeshi is all set to make his debut for the side today afternoon in their away game against Hobart Hurricanes.

Shakib, who featured for Adelaide Strikers in the previous edition, is thrilled to join the Renegades and in a video published by the franchise, Shakib said, “I had the opportunity to play for the Strikers and that was a very good experience for me. I hopefully will put the experience together and put some performance for renegades.”

“I hope to contribute for the team (Renegades) it doesn’t matter even if it is scoring one run or taking one wicket or even save one run in the field. As

long as I am contributing for the team and the team is doing well, I am happy,” said Shakib.

Renegades are lurking at the bottom of the table with a single win in four matches, but Shakib was optimistic of is side bouncing back through the game today.

“Well, the momentum is very important. Starting well in a game is very crucial and you need to carry that throughout the game because the game is very short. You need to be on your feet all the time,” said the Bangladesh one-day international vice-captain.

“I hope all of you (the fans) will support us. Though the fact that we didn’t have good results earlier, I hope we will be able to bounce back and win the game (today),” said Shakib.

Melbourne Renegades and Hobart Hurricanes will face off at 2.30pm BST and will be telecast on Star Sports 4.l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Proteas seal win to keep top ranking in Tests

QUICK BYTES

Impressive PSG stroll past Montpellier in Cup Paris Saint-Germain made light work of Ligue 1 rivals Montpellier to stroll into the last 32 of the French Cup following Monday’s 3-0 away win. Second-half goals from Clement Chantome, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and a sublime third from Brazilian Lucas Moura settled the last 64 tie at Montpellier’s Altrad stadium. It was a welcome relief for the champions, who were held to a draw at home to Montpellier in the league two weeks ago. They will face Bordeaux in the next round. PSG coach Laurent Blanc was critical of the pitch, which hosted a Top 14 rugby match just two days earlier. “Given the conditions we didn’t expect a great football match,” said Blanc. “Despite that, in general in the Cup it’s the team that shows the most combativity, determination and aggression that wins and goes through to the next round. “Tonight I think that was the case with our progression.” With South American forwards Edinson Cavani and Ezequiel Lavezzi left back in Paris as punishment for coming back late form their holidays, PSG took time to click their attack into gear. The visitors took the lead on 63 minutes as Chantome finished a pass from Ibrahimovic following the big Swede’s one-two with Brazilian defender Marquinhos.

–AFP

n Reuters, Cape Town

Juve coach confirms Sneijder interest Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed that the Serie A leaders are interesting in signing Dutch midfielder Wesley Sneijder from Galatasaray. “It’s not easy to reinforce Juve, but we have some very clear ideas and it’s no secret that we are looking for an attacking midfielder and a defender,” Allegri told reporters on Monday. “Sneijder has tremendous technical quality and would complete an already very strong part of the team, creating competition for places. “He wouldn’t be able to play in the Champions League but we have to be realistic and see who is out there.” Sneijder, 30, spent three-and-ahalf seasons in Serie A with Inter Milan before joining Galatasaray two years ago.

Juventus, who host struggling Inter Milan on Tuesday (2000 GMT), start the year three points clear of AS Roma at the top of Serie A, although they were beaten on penalties by Napoli in the Italian Supercup match in Doha on Dec. 22. “The first game of the year is always a strange one. The team that stays the most focused and alert will emerge victorious,” Allegri said.

“It won’t come down to physical condition or technique, it will be mindset and mindset alone.” “The lads have returned from their holidays fired up and raring to go.

“We won’t be suffering a hangover after Doha. I always like to win and unfortunately it didn’t happen in Qatar, but we played well and the game was only settled after 15 penalties were converted during the shootout.”

–Reuters

Podolski completes loan move to Inter Milan Striker Lukas Podolski has completed a loan move from Arsenal to Inter Milan for the rest of the season, the Premier League club said on Monday. The 29-yearold German has scored 31 goals in 82 appearances for Arsenal since arriving from Cologne in 2012. “Everyone at Arsenal would like to wish Lukas the best for his time in Serie A,” the London club said on their website (www.arsenal.com). This season the World Cup winner has been reduced to being a bit-part player at Arsenal despite injuries to Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott, with manager Arsene Wenger appearing to better trust the speed and skills of younger players such as Danny Welbeck and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Podolski has made just two starts and 11 substitute appearances for the Gunners, netting three times, during the current season. Podolski became the youngest ever European to reach the 100-cap mark for his country during Euro 2012.

–Reuters

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 2 10:00AM Ranji Trophy Haryana v Delhi 5:30PM Chennai Open Tennis

Star Sports 4 2:15PM T20 Big Bash League Hobart Hurricanes v Melbourne Renegades

Star Sports 1 5:30AM Australia v India 4th Test, Day 3 (Thursday)

Ten Action 1:30AM Copa del Rey Atletico v Real Madrid

13

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

South African opener Dean Elgar (L) embraces captain Hashim Amla after winning the third Test against the West Indies in Cape Town yesterday AFP

Opener Dean Elgar hit an unbeaten 60 as South Africa coasted to a comfortable eight-wicket win over West Indies in the final Test at Newlands on Tuesday to take the three-match series 2-0 and retain their ranking as the top side in Tests.

Elgar and captain Hashim Amla (38 not out) saw South Africa home as they reached 124 for two wickets before lunch on the final day to secure victory.

“It is good to still be the number one Test team but it’s not really about the ranking. It needs to be about being a winning team for a long time,” Amla said.

They were nine for one overnight and showed no hurry to knock off the remaining 115 runs needed for victory.

The first 44 balls of the day failed to deliver any runs before Elgar finally stroked a boundary off Jerome Taylor to break the stranglehold.

Faf du Plessis was out for 14 just after the first hour, handing Sulieman Benn a second wicket of the innings after the spinner bowled opener Aviro Petersen with the last ball on Monday.

The tall left-arm spinner toiled for 16 successive overs on Tuesday to finish with figures of two for 24.

Tuesday’s win added to South Africa’s victory by an innings and 220 runs in the first Test in Pretoria. The second Test in Port Elizabeth was a rain-affected draw.

Meanwhile, South African opener

Alviro Petersen announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday immediately after the team’s eight-wicket win over the West Indies at Newlands.

Petersen, 34, said he wanted “to move on with his career” and will play county cricket and for the Johannesburg-based Lions for the next three years.

Petersen played 36 Tests from 2010, scoring 2,093 runs at an average of 34.88 with five centuries but has struggled for form recently.l

WIvSA, DAY 5 West Indies 1st innings 329 South Africa 1st innings 421 West Indies 2nd innings 215

R

B

South Africa 2nd innings (Overnight 9-1) D. Elgar not out A. Petersen b Benn F. du Plessis c Blackwood b Benn H. Amla not out Extras (b8, lb2, nb2)

60 103 0 7 14 69 38 49 12

Total (2 wkts, 37.4 overs)

124

Fall of wickets 1-9 (Petersen), 2-51 (Du Plessis) Bowling Taylor 7-3-20-0, Samuels 3.4-0-24-0, Benn 17-8-24-2, Holder 5-0-19-0, Gabriel 5-1-27-0 (2nb) South Africa won by eight wickets; seal series 2-0

Williamson, Watling record smashes SL hopes n AFP, Wellington A world record sixth-wicket partnership of 365 by Kane Williamson and B.J. Watling, who both posted career bests, slammed the door on Sri Lanka in the second Test in Wellington on Tuesday.

Williamson’s unbeaten 242, with Watling not out 142, rescued New Zealand from a deep hole and carried them to 524-5 declared in their second innings. Sri Lanka were left facing a 390run final-day target on a ground where the record for a successful fourth innings chase is 277-3 set by Pakistan 11 years ago.

At stumps they were 45-1 with Kaushal Silva on 20 and Dhammika Prasad on one. Dimuth Karunaratne was out for 17 four overs before the close, the only dismissal of the day.

With wickets hard to come by on a flat track, and Sri Lanka holding middle-order strength led by Kumar Sangakkara, a draw seemed the likely outcome. This would give New Zealand the two-Test series 1-0.

Williamson and Watling came together as New Zealand’s last recognised batsmen with the score on 159-5, a perilous 24-run lead. They methodically ground the Sri Lankan bowlers into submission over the following eight hours.

Williamson said their focus was on occupying the crease to save New Zealand and records were secondary.

Sri Lanka need a further 345 on the final day to win. While the odds favour New Zealand, Williamson said both sides fancied a result.

New Zealand declared 13 runs ahead of the previous sixth-wicket record of 352 set by Watling with Brendon McCullum in similar Test-saving circumstances against India a year ago.

Then, as now, New Zealand were fighting to claim the series after winning the first Test.

Sri Lanka squandered several opportunities to break the partnership and regain control, and paid a heavy price for sloppy fielding.

Williamson offered four chances - dropped by Rangana Herath on 29,

Maria Sharapova of Russia poses for a ‘selfie’ with a fan (R) as she signs autographs following her women’s singles second round win in Brisbane yesterday REUTERS

Pliskova spoils Azarenka comeback in Brisbane n AFP, Brisbane Czech player Karolina Pliskova spoiled Victoria Azarenka’s comeback bid after an injury-marred 2014, winning a gruelling first-round match at the Brisbane International on Monday.

Pliskova displayed incredible fighting spirit to hold off the former world number one and win the match 4-6, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 in three-and-a-quarter hours.

Azarenka, who won her maiden WTA title in Brisbane in 2009, played only nine tournaments last year after suffering foot and knee injuries. She slipped to a year-end ranking of 32 and entered the season-opening tournament unseeded.

Pliskova, ranked eight places higher at 24, withstood everything Azarenka

threw at her, saving two match points in the 84-minute second set before forcing a decider.

There were no such problems for Kerber, who had too much firepower for her French opponent, wrapping up the match in a shade under 90 minutes.

In the men’s draw, Australian young guns James Duckworth and Thanasi Kokkinakis both cruised to upset wins over higher-ranked French opponents.

Duckworth, 22, smashed sixth seed Gilles Simon 6-2, 6-2 at the Pat Rafter Arena before 18-year-old Kokkinakis downed Julien Benneteau, the eighth seed, 6-4, 6-3. There was some good news for the French, however, with Jeremy Chardy beating Kazakhstan’s Andrey Golubev 6-4, 6-4. l

dropped by Nuwan Pradeep on 60 and dropped by Prasanna Jayawardene on 104 before Jayawardene missed a blatant stumping opportunity on 233.

Williamson’s unbeaten 242, the product of more than 10 hours at the crease, gave the 24-year-old his ninth

Test century and the seventh highest score by a New Zealander.

After cautiously steering New Zealand into a commanding position, Williamson opened up towards the end of the innings, scoring 52 of the 79 runs added in the 15 overs before the declaration.l

Jordan’s Prince Ali to stand for Fifa president n AFP, Amman Fifa Vice President Prince Ali bin Al Hussein of Jordan declared Tuesday he would challenge Sepp Blatter to lead football’s world governing body, vowing to end years of controversy surrounding the game.

If successful, he would be only the second Fifa chief from outside Europe, and the first ever from the Middle East.

“I am seeking the presidency of Fifa because I believe it is time to shift the focus away from administrative controversy and back to sport,” the 39-year-old prince said in a statement.

“The headlines should be about football, the beautiful sport, not about Fifa.”

The prince, who was elected Fifa vice-president for Asia in 2011, aims to prevent Blatter winning a fifth term in office.Frenchman Jerome Champagne has also declared his candidacy in the May 29 election. Prince Ali said he had been encouraged to run after consultations with senior figures in football.

“This was not an easy decision. It came after careful consideration and many discussions with respected Fifa colleagues over the last few months,” he said.l

NZvSL, DAY 4 New Zealand 1st innings 221 (K. Williamson 69; N. Pradeep 4-63, S. Lakmal 3-71) Sri Lanka 1st innings 356 (K. Sangakkara 203, D. Chandimal 67; J. Neesham 3-42, D. Bracewell 3-93) New Zealand 2nd innings (Overnight 253-5) K. Williamson not out B. Watling not out Extras (b7, lb7, w4, nb6)

R

B

242 438 142 333 24

Total (five wickets dec, 172 overs) 524 Bowling Lakmal 32-4-89-0 (1w), Pradeep 37-4117-3 (5nb, 1w), Herath 56-8-154-1, Prasad 28-1-102-1 (1nb, 1w), Mathews 11-3-29-0, Thirimanne 8-1-19-0 (1w)

New Zealand’s Kane Williamson (L) lifts his bat to the crowd as he is clapped off the field by Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara at the Basin Reserve in Wellington yesterday AFP

Sri Lanka 2nd innings D. Karunaratne c Rutherford b Craig K. Silva not out D. Prasad not out Extras (b4, lb2, w1)

R

B

17 20 1 7

34 49 19

Total (one wicket, 17 overs)

45

Bowling Boult 7-0-21-0, Southee 4-3-4-0, Bracewell 2-0-11-0 (1w), Craig 2-2-0-1, Rutherford 1-02-0, Williamson 1-0-1-0

Bouchard thrashes sluggish Serena in Perth

Football Motijheel win V-Day football n Raihan Mahmood

n Reuters

Football Motijheel KC emerged as the champions in the Victory Day Football organised by Nine Star Juba Sangha. The winners beat Old Friends Club 1-0 at the Paltan Ground yesterday. A total of nine clubs participated in the tournament.

Ibrahim Chengish, the general secretary of Bangladesh Athletics Federation, distributed the prizes as the chief guest. Assistant general secretary of Bangladesh Handball Federation Khaliquzzaman Swapan and Nurul Islam and Bangabandhu National Stadium administrator Md Yahya were also present on the occasion. l

Canadian teenager Eugenie Bouchard swatted aside an out-of-sorts Serena Williams 6-2 6-1 at the Hopman Cup in Perth on Tuesday.

The American world number one’s body language throughout the contest suggested she would rather have been anywhere else than on the blue hardcourts in Western Australia.

An on-court espresso helped spark her into life as she overcame a first set bagel to beat Italy’s Flavia Pennetta 0-6

6-3 6-0 on Monday in the round robin mixed team event but nothing could help bring her out of Tuesday’s malaise.

Sluggish footwork and uncharacteristically slow serves allowed Bouchard to break the 33-year-old with ease as the Canadian bounced back from a 6-0 6-4 thrashing by Lucie Safarova in her opener. Williams had complained of jetlag following her previous day’s efforts against Pennetta but she looked in good spirits as she teamed up with John Isner to win their mixed doubles against the Italians for a 3-0 whitewash later on.l

Football Motijheel KC players celebrate with their trophy at the Paltan Ground yesterday

COURTESY

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Aussie top four punish India n AFP, Sydney David Warner kissed the ground in Phillip Hughes’s memory to lead an Australian run spree with an emotional century on the opening day of the final Test against India on Tuesday.

The dynamic opener posted his third ton of the series and 12th in Tests as he honoured the memory of his fallen friend Hughes, who was fatally

AUSvIND, DAY 1 Australia 1st innings C. Rogers b Shami D. Warner c Vijay b Ashwin S. Watson not out S. Smith not out Extras (lb3, w6)

R

B

95 101 61 82 9

160 114 132 134

Total (2 wickets, 90 overs)

348

Fall of wickets 1-200 (Warner), 2-204 (Rogers) Bowling Kumar 20-2-67-0, Yadav 16-1-97-0 (6w), Shami 16-2-58-1, Ashwin 28-5-88-1, Raina 10-2-35-0

struck by a bouncer at the same Sydney Cricket Ground in November.

Upon reaching the symbolic score of 63 that Hughes had made when he was hit, Warner kissed the ground and then looked skywards before clapping in tribute. Warner scored 101 and shared in an opening stand of 200 on a benign SCG pitch with veteran Chris Rogers, who again fell short of a ton in his fifth consecutive half-century of the series.

Skipper Steve Smith and Shane Watson maintained Australia’s grip with an

unbroken 144-run stand after winning the toss to put the home side at a formidable 348 for two at the close.

Smith, who glided to his half-century off 67 balls for his fifth innings beyond 50 in the series, was unbeaten on 82 with Watson on 61.

Watson was dropped by Ravichandran Ashwin at slip off the second-last ball of the day.

“We got lucky the coin fell our way.

At the moment it was a fantastic toss to win, we’re two for 348, fantastic position to be in,” Warner said.

“There was no swing, there was no sideways movement at all, so it was quite challenging for the bowlers.

“It’s going to be challenging for us to take 10 wickets as well.”

India have already lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with Australia holding an unassailable 2-0 lead following wins in Adelaide and Brisbane.

The tourists have won only one of their last 22 Tests overseas and have been successful in only one of their 10 Tests at the Sydney Cricket Ground, that sole victory coming 37 years ago.

“It was a very tough day. It’s very important that we pick ourselves up tonight and try to be as fresh as possible tomorrow,” Ashwin said.

“It’s going to be a hard day. If we can keep them down to (a reasonable score) we can get back into it.”

Warner batted for 180 minutes with 16 fours, pulling Mohammed Shami to the boundary to bring up his ton off 108 balls with 16 fours.

He was out soon after for 101 off 114 balls, caught at slip off a leading edge from spinner Ashwin.l

Binny, Patel make India’s WC squad n Reuters, Mumbai

Australia opener David Warner celebrates his century during the first day’s play in the fourth Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday REUTERS

Emotional Warner lauds Hughes family for SCG return n Reuters, Sydney

A photo of the late Australian batsman Phil Hughes is displayed on a scoreboard before play at the Sydney Cricket Ground yesterday AFP

An emotional David Warner fought back tears on his way to his 12th Test century on Tuesday as he remembered his late team mate Phillip Hughes.

The dashing opener smashed 101 off just 114 balls to lay the foundation for Australia’s opening day total of 348 for two in the fourth and final Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the same venue where Hughes was fatally injured by a bouncer in a first-class match in November.

Cricket Australia unveiled a memorial plaque outside the home side’s dressing room on Monday as the Hughes family watched both teams pay tribute to the left-hander before the game began.

“I had a tear in my eye this morning when I walked out to warm up and I

saw Greg (Hughes’ father) and (sister) Megs up in the stands,” Warner later told reporters.

“It’s fantastic for them to be here.

The hurt and the pain they’ve gone through and how much it would have hurt them to come back today -- it’s just courageous for them to be here.

“And I applaud them for making the effort to come down, it’s fantastic. I had a minute to myself when I came back off.

“I had my head in a towel and I had to dig deep and go out there and bat the way I know I can and try and clear my mind. It was tough, but I got out there and got back on the horse which we should be doing.”

Warner, who scored centuries in both innings in the first Test in Adelaide, also paused to kiss the pitch and signal to the sky when he reached 63, the score Hughes was on when he was

hit by the rising delivery.

Australia’s opening stand of 200 between Warner and Chris Rogers, who has indicated that the SCG Test might be his last at home, gave Australia the ideal launchpad for a huge first-innings total.

Warner praised the 37-year-old Rogers, who compiled his fifth successive half-century in the series but fell agonisingly close of a hundred on 95.

“The thing I’m most proud of is actually putting up a double century partnership with Bucky (Rogers), our first one,” Warner said. “We bat very well together and I think that’s the highlight today for me.

“I looked at his numbers the other day -- 70 first-class hundreds and over 20,000 first-class runs. It’s a fantastic career. He’s batting the best he has in the last 18 months that I’ve seen.” l

India have included all-rounders Stuart Binny and Akshar Patel in a 15-man squad to defend their World Cup title in Australia and New Zealand starting next month.

Binny, who bowls medium pace, has played six one-day internationals for India while left-arm spinner Patel has represented the country in the 50-over format nine times.

All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who returned to India midway through the test series in Australia with a shoulder injury was also included in the squad named on Tuesday.

“Jadeja is at present going under a rehabilitation programme. He is doing wonderfully well,” Indian cricket board (BCCI) Secretary Sanjay Patel told reporters.

“We had a detailed discussion today with the BCCI physio and we are quite hopeful he will be match-fit within the next ten days.”

The team will be led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who recently retired from tests, while Virat Kohli, who replaced Dhoni in the longer format, was appointed vice-captain.

Fast bowlers Mohit Sharma and Dhawal Kulkarni will be added to the same squad in Australia for the Tri-series, also involving England, as a warmup for the World Cup. Paceman Ishant Sharma was rested for the ongoing fourth and final test against Australia in Sydney with a knee problem but is expected to be fit soon.

India won the 50-over World Cup for the second time when they hosted the quadrennial event four years ago with Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Speculation was rife in Indian media about the possibility of the inclusion of Yuvraj Singh after the left-hander scored three consecutive hundreds in domestic matches.

The name of Yuvraj, the man of the tournament in the World Cup four years back, came up for discussion in the selection meeting on Tuesday despite him not being part of the 30-man probables.

“Not only Yuvraj Singh, a lot of other players were also discussed apart from the 30, and (we picked the team) after a lot of deliberation in the presence of all five selectors as well as captain MS Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher, who were there on conference call,” Patel said.l

INDIA WC SQUAD Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virat Kohli (vice-captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Stuart Binny, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ambati Rayudu, Akshar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma

Torres in line for Atletico return in King’s Cup Madrid derby n Reuters, Barcelona Atletico Madrid’s prodigal son Fernando Torres could make his return in a heated derby with Real Madrid on Wednesday in the last 16 of the King’s Cup if he looks sharp in training, coach Diego Simeone has said.

The former Atletico captain, who played 244 games for his home-town club where he debuted aged 17, has signed an 18-month loan deal from AC Milan which will become effective when the Italian transfer market opens on Monday.

“He will train with us, play a bit of football and we will see how he is,”

Simeone told a news conference.

Torres, nicknamed El Nino (The Kid), was an Atletico emblem who left the stuttering club in 2007 to seek his fortune at Liverpool and Chelsea and has now returned to a side that broke the monopoly of Real and Barcelona by winning La Liga last season.

The success under Simeone has brought a new perspective to the Madrid derby which Real had become used to winning at a canter.

Last season Atletico suffered an excruciating extra-time defeat in the Champions League final against Real but beat their city rivals in the Spanish Super Cup, this season’s curtain raiser.

Barcelona sack sports director, Puyol quits n

AFP, Madrid

Barcelona had a turbulent start to 2015 as the La Liga giants, still reeling over a transfer ban, on Monday sacked sports director Andoni Zubizarreta while his assistant Carles Puyol resigned.

The club did not say why they fired Zubizarreta, Barcelona’s goalkeeper from 1986 to 1994 who played 126 times for Spain and who took up the post in 2010, and didn’t name a replacement.

But the move came just a day after Barcelona crashed 1-0 away to Real Sociedad and less than a week after the main international sports appeal court backed a one year transfer ban against the Catalans. Last year Zubizarreta, 53, renewed his contract with Barcelona until 2016.

Just an hour after the club an-

nounced it had parted ways with Zubizarreta, former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol said he was leaving his position in the Spanish giant’s management team.

Puyol, 36, had been Zubizarreta’s assistant since May when he retired after 15 seasons at the heart of the Barcelona defence. l

Real also have a testing run of games which started with the Valencia reverse but coach Carlo Ancelotti has said he will give equal importance to the league and cup.

“We don’t have a priority. We will concentrate on the next game and we will put out the best team possible,” Ancelotti told a news conference, while acknowledging there might still be rotation.

“It will be necessary to rest players so as to avoid injuries and have the squad more motivated.”

Elsewhere, Barcelona have a seemingly easier passage into the next round of the cup against La Liga bottom side Elche, with the first leg on Thursday. l

Manchester City striker Aguero back in training n Reuters, London Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has returned to training following a knee ligament injury, the Argentine international said on Monday.

The 26-year-old Argentine, who has scored 19 goals in all competitions for City this season, has not played since the start of December when he limped off against Everton.

“I wanted you to know I’ve already started field work. Slowly but surely I’ll be back at the right moment,” Aguero said on Twitter. “Thanks for the wishes!”

Aguero is unlikely to feature for joint-leaders City against Everton at Goodison Park on Saturday, but could make his return against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on January 18.l

Liverpool’s English midfielder Steven Gerrard (2L) celebrates scoring with teammates during their English FA Cup third round match against AFC Wimbledon at The Cherry Red Records Stadium in Kingston Upon Thames, south west London on Monday AFP

Cambridge to host United in 4th round n Reuters, London Fourth tier Cambridge United, the lowest ranked team left in the FA Cup, will host 11-times winners Manchester United after Monday’s draw for the fourth round of the competition.

RESULTS AFC Wimbledon

1-2

Akinfenwa 36

Burnley Vokes 73

Liverpool Gerrard 12, 62

1-1

Tottenham Chadli 56

Holders Arsenal will travel to Championship (second tier) Brighton & Hove Albion while joint Premier League leaders Chelsea will face Championship Millwall or third tier Bradford City on Jan. 24 or 25.

Champions Manchester City are at home to Championship side Middles-

brough and Birmingham City entertain West Bromwich Albion in a Midlands derby.

The match will be Manchester United’s second in a row against lowly opponents after Louis van Gaal’s team beat famed League One giant-killers Yeovil Town 2-0 in the third round on Sunday.

If Tottenham Hotspur win a replay against Burnley after Monday’s third round match ended 1-1, they will play Leicester City in another all Premier League clash.

Spurs defeated Burnley in the 1962 FA Cup final and overcame Leicester to win the trophy in 1961.

Premier League Aston Villa host Championship leaders Bournemouth while Liverpool, who beat fourth tier AFC Wimbledon 2-1 on Monday, will entertain Bolton Wanderers.

That match could see Bolton’s for-

mer Liverpool striker Emile Heskey make a return to Anfield. l

FIXTURES S’ton/Ipswich Cambridge Blackburn Chelsea Derby Preston Birmingham Aston Villa Cardiff Liverpool Burnley/Spurs Brighton Rochdale Sunderland D’ster/Bristol ManCity

v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v v

Crystal Palace Man United Swansea M’wall/B’ford S’thorpe/C’field Sheffield United West Brom Bournemouth Reading Bolton Leicester Arsenal Stoke Fulham/Wolves Everton/W Ham Middlesbrough

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

MOUTUSHI portrays a victim of violence against women

Van Helsing Star Movies, 11:59pm

The notorious monster hunter is sent to Transylvania to stop Count Dracula who is using Dr. Frankenstein’s research and a werewolf for some sinister purpose.

n Shadma Malik Small screen actor Moutushi Biswas will be appeared in a TV play titled “Overcoat” soon.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Moutushi said: “The drama portrays various aspects of violence against women and its negative impact in the society.”

“Despite being physically beaten, the helpless woman in rural areas still stay under one roof with their husband to be sheltered,” she said.

“Backdrop in a rural setting, the story of ‘Overcoat’ depicts in such way that my husband, played by Pran Rai, wears an overcoat,” she added.

In the play, her husband keeps money in the pocket which are stolen. Interestingly, she also steals money from the same place where Pran keeps his stolen money. One day she was caught red handed and was beaten badly. The story raises the question who is the wrong person in the picture.

“Addressing such issues in TV plays is always contentment. If ever I get a chance to support woman in anyway, I will always stand by them,” she added. l KHAN HASAN MD RAFI

The Bounty Hunter HBO Defined, 6:40pm

Palakar to stage BANGLAR MATI BANGLAR JOL today n Entertainment Desk Theatre Palakar will stage “Banglar Mati Banglar Jol” today at 6:30pm at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

Based on Rabindranath Tagore’s “Chhinnapatra,” the play has been written by Syed Shamsul Haq and directed by Ataur Rahman.

Exhibition

Nakshi Kantha: Zainul Abedin Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts Alluvial Rhythym

By Kalidas Karmakar Alliance Française de Dhaka

In the story, Rabindranath Tagore narrates his memory with Shilaidaha, the place by the Gorai River where he wished to return.

He reminisces the period from 18891895, “the most productive period of my literary life” as described by the polymath.

He wrote on riverine beauty and greeneries of Bangladesh during this period.

The play also describes how he was influenced by bauls and their philosophy. l

Solo Art Exhibition

By Proshanta Karmakar Buddha Cafe Mango Gallery House 3/A,Rd 72, Gulshan 2

Film

Meghmallar, Interstellar Gone Girl, Ek Cup Cha

Blockbuster Cinemas Jamuna Future Park The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 Penguins of Madagascar (3D) Desha: The Leader Star Cineplex, Bashundhara

Audio album of Warning released n

French filmmaker Claire Denis, also the president of Cannes Jury in 2010, speaks with Bangladeshi filmmaker Kamar Ahmad Simon in the just ended second edition of Tareque Masud Master’s Class in the capital yesterday

Entertainment Desk

The soundtrack of the film “Warning” was released at a restaurant in the capital on Monday.

James and Shafin Ahmed have lent their voices to the film’s songs, along with Nancy, Kona, Rupom, Dinat Jahan Munni, Roma and Saimon. Shafin Ahmed, also the vocalist of renowned band Miles, has performed playback singing for the first time, and has sung a duet with Nancy. The album contains a total of six tracks, including James’ “Eto Kosto” and Shafin Ahmed-Nancy duet “Shono Tumi.” All the songs have been written by Kabir Bakul and the music composed by Sawkat Ali Emon.

Arefin Shuvo and Mahiya Mahi, the “Agnee” duo, will make their appearance on the silver screen once

CAMERON DIAZ and BENJI MADDEN ties the knot

n Entertainment Desk Hollywood star Cameron Diaz and rocker Benji Madden got married in their Los Angeles home on Monday, People magazine reported. Diaz, 42, and Madden, 35, had been dating since May and got engaged shortly before Christmas.

“We couldn’t be happier to begin our new journey together surrounded by our closest family and friends,” the couple said to the magazine.

Diaz, a Golden Globe-nominated actress, most recently starred in the film “Annie,” a reworking of the Tony-winning 1977 Broadway musical of the same name.

Madden is best known for performing in the rock bands Good Charlotte and The Madden Brothers with his twin brother Joel Madden. A representative for the couple said to People that the two were married at “an intimate ceremony at their home in Los Angeles.” l

again with “Warning.” Misha Sawdagor, Rubel and Kazi Hayat will also be seen in the film in supporting roles.

Directed by Shafi Uddin Shafi, the film is set to hit cinemas on Friday. l

Scarlett Johansson has signed up to star in the upcoming live-action adaptation of “Ghost in the Shell.” The “Lucy” actress will star in Dream Works’ version of the hugely popular Japanese anime series, reports Variety.

Unlike her avenging role as Black Widow, Major Motoko Kusanagi is -- at least

Eden Lake Zee Studio, 5:20pm

Refusing to let anything spoil their romantic weekend break, a young couple confront a gang of loutish youths with terrifyingly brutal consequences.

Behind Enemy Lines HBO, 7:45pm

A Navy navigator is shot down over enemy territory and is ruthlessly pursued by a secret police enforcer and the opposing troops.

Meanwhile his commanding officer goes against orders in an attempt to rescue him.

An ex-assassin and a wealthy programmer save lives via a surveillance AI that sends them the identities of civilians involved in impending crimes.

JACQUELINE keen to work with AAMIR After romancing one of Bollywood’s most eligible bachelors Salman Khan in the film “Kick”, Sri Lankan beauty Jacqueline Fernandez is now keen to work with Aamir Khan, who is currently enjoying the success of his recent release “PK.” Jacqueline was present at the launch of fashion photographer Dabboo Ratnani’s 2015 calendar in Mumbai Monday. Here, on being asked about working with Aamir, Jacqueline said: “I want to work with as many amazing actors as I can, because that will only help me to grow as an actor. And of course, it is on everyone’s wish list to work with Aamir Khan because his movies always have strong content and he is a fantastic actor.”

On the film front, Jacqueline will be next be seen opposite Ranbir Kapoor and Arjun Rampal in “Roy.” l

SCARLETT JOHANSSON to star in Ghost in the Shell adaptation in the comics and anime -- the leader of a crack counter-terrorism unit focussing on cyber crime. Set in a future where cybernetic implants, prosthetic enhancements, and robot workers are common, there’s a bit more action to deal with than countering DDoS attacks. Rupert Sanders is currently in line to direct the adaptation, while Avi Arad and Steven Paul will produce from a script by Bill Wheeler.

A bounty hunter learns that his next target is his ex-wife, a reporter working on a murder cover-up.

Soon after their reunion, the always-at-odds duo find themselves on a run-for-their-lives adventure.

Person of Interest, s4 Star World Premiere, 11:30pm

n Entertainment Desk

n Entertainment Desk

15

“Ghost in the Shell” was originally published as a seinen manga series, written and illustrated by Masamune Shirow.

It was later published as its own tankobon volumes by Kodansha, before a movie was released in 1995. A TV series titled Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex was released in 2002, while the “Ghost in the Shell: Arise” film series began in 2013. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Government caves in on Sela ultimatum

Secretarial committee to discuss pay hikes today n Asif Showkat Kallol

Sela River waterway open to daytime use, but oil tankers barred from plying the route n Abu Bakar Siddique The government yesterday bowed down to an ultimatum given by marine workers and reopened the Mongla-Joymonirgol-Bogi navigation route on the Sela River, despite concerns that use of the waterway could endanger the environment of the Sundarbans.

“We decided to reopen the route under certain conditions in consideration of the movement of vessels, the effectiveness of Mongla port and the livelihood of the workers,” Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan said.

The conditions include a continued ban on the use of the route by oil tankers and a requirement that the route be used only in the daytime.

The Shipping Ministry reopened the route in consultation with the Environment Ministry Regarding the use of the waterway by oil tankers, Shahjahan said that a final decision would come after a UN expert team conducting an environmental impact assessment submits its final report on the oil spill on January 15.

The minister said the legal waterway, the Mongla-Ghosiakhali route, will resume operations within the next 6 months.

The Mongla-Joymonirgol-Bogi navigation route on the Sela River has been used as an illegal navigation route since 2011 after siltation hampered navigability on the Mongla-Ghosiakhali route.

Earlier on yesterday morning, the Bangladesh Marine Workers Federation issued the government an ultimatum saying if the Sela River navigation route was not reopened within 24 hours, marine workers would go on indefinite strike from today.

They demanded controlled navigation on the route to reduce negative environmental impacts to the Sundarbans.

Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain Manju told the Dhaka Tribune that the Shipping Ministry had reopened the route in consultation with his ministry and would strictly uphold certain conditions of operation.

On December 9, oil tanker Southern Star 7, with some 358,000 litres of furnace oil in its hold, sank in the river at Mrigmari after being hit by another cargo vessel, causing a massive oil spill.

On December 11, the government prohibited use of the route to all commercial vessels.

Local people have collected 68,000 litres of furnace oil from the river with bare hands and buckets after Padma Oil Company, the owner of the oil, promised cash payments for it.

A UN team of international experts carried out an impact assessment, at the request of the Bangladesh government, from December 22 to December 27.

It disclosed its primary findings on December 31 saying the mangrove ecosystem and aquatic species of the Sundarbans had experienced a “limited” environmental impact due to the oil spill.

It suggested controlled navigation on the Sela River, together with appropriate safeguards, to protect the environment. l

Fears of vandalism during blockade discourage many people to bring out their vehicles in the capital yesterday. The photo is taken at the Saarc Fountain, a busy intersection that often experiences traffic gridlocks even on weekends MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Warrant of Precedence remains illegal n Tribune Report

The Appellate Division has disposed of the governments appeal against the HC order declaring the existing Warrant of Precedence illegal.

The five-member appellate division bench headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain issued the order with “expansions, modifications, observations and findings.”

According to the courts observations, the rank of chief Justice should be equivalent to that of the speaker of the national assembly, said Md Asaduzzaman, lawyer of the writ petitioner that yielded a 2010 HC order to issue a new Warrant of Precedence.

Asaduzzaman said the old warrant of precedence should be scrapped to formulate a new one in accordance with the Supreme Court order.

He said: “The posts of Appellate Division judges will be equivalent to cabinet ministers, while the HC judges will be equivalent to state ministers. The attorney general will be given precedence over secretaries.”

“MP’s will be given precedence over the cabinet secretary, chiefs of the

armed forces and chief secretary. The post of additional attorney general will be equivalent to that of secretaries, and the posts of district judges will be equivalent to that of the administrative executives.”

Asaduzzaman said: “In our submission we said the current warrant of precedence was framed in an arbitrary manner. There was no objective satisfaction over it. As a result, the people formulating the warrant put someone anywhere they liked.

“We also said, no explanation was given to why the chief justice was excluded from equalling the rank of speaker in the reformed warrant of precedence of 1986 even though the posts were equivalent in the Warrant of Precedence of 1975.”

The existing Warrant of Precedence, formulated in 1986 and revised in 2008, ranks the speaker of the parliament in third, followed by the chief justice, and former presidents of Bangladesh in fourth positions.

On February 4, 2010, the High Court directed the government to issue a new Warrant of Precedence for the republic’s officers, giving district judges and

equivalent judicial officers precedence over the chiefs of armed forces and government secretaries. The existing Warrant of Precedence was declared illegal and void, as it does not conform to the country’s constitution.

The government later appealed against the HC verdict.

The verdict came as a result of a 2006 writ petition challenging the legality of positioning the district judges and judicial officers lowest in the warrant of precedence. Md Ataur Rahman on behalf of Bangladesh Judicial Service Association filed the writ; Ataur is a former secretary general of the association, and a district judge.

The writ claimed that the cabinet division had framed the existing Warrant of Precedence in 1986 in an arbitrary manner, without evaluating the dignity and status of judicial officials.

During yesterdays hearing, Barristers Rokon Uddin Mahmud and Abdul Matin Khasru moved for the district judge and judicial officers, while advocate Abdur Rob Chowdhury moved for the cabinet and additional attorney general Murad Reja moved for the state side. l

A secretarial committee will discuss the hikes proposed by the pay commission in a meeting at the Cabinet Division today.

An official involved with the committee said it usually takes five to six sittings to finish reviewing the pay commission’s recommendations.

Sources said the secretarial committee is likely to give opinions on controversial issues such as deputation, contractual jobs and time scale and selection grades.

The six-member committee, led by Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, was given six weeks’ time to work out ways for implementing the pay commission’s recommendations.

Finance secretary, secretary to the prime minister, public administration secretary, defence secretary and housing and public works secretary are the five other members of the body.

The committee will also review recommendations for pay hike of the armed forces’ personnel.

According to that committee’s recommendations, there will be 16 grades; the lowest monthly salary for non-combatant enrollment or civil administration staff is proposed to be Tk8,200; the highest Tk1 lakh for a general. A major general will get Tk84,000 and a lieutenant general Tk88,000 per month. At present, there are a total of 183,851 personnel working under the Armed Forces.

The finance minister received recommendations from the 8th National Pay and Services Commission (NPSC), led by former Bangladesh Bank governor Mohammd Farashuddin, on December 21.

The commission recommended doubling the salaries, plots for group housing and establishment of bank for loan at single-digit interest rates for public servants.

The highest salary of Tk 1 lakh was recommended for the cabinet secretary and principal secretary to the prime minister; currently their basic montly pay is Tk 45,000.

The government plans to implement the hikes from July. The commission was formed in November last year.

Currently, there are over 832,000 government employees and around 500,000 pensioners in the country. l

Tripura police lauds Bangladesh for anti-militant operations n Tribune Report A senior police officer in India’s Tripura said the Bangladeshi security forces did a commendable job in smashing camps of Indian insurgents and helped contain the decade-old insurgency in the north-eastern state.

“There is no camp of insurgents in the state. The menace was contained due to the change of attitude of the security forces of Bangladesh against the Indian insurgent groups,” Tripura Director General of Police K Nagraj told reporters yesterday, reports The Shillong Times.

“Bangladesh Army, RAB and BGB conducted operations in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. In course of those operations, many camps of the Indian insurgents were destroyed and huge arms and ammunition seized,” Nagraj said.

“There are 245 border outposts in the state and efforts were on to intensify BSF patrolling in bordering areas affected by insurgency,” he said. l

From Left, one police officer takes care of another police officer who received injuries on his head after being assaulted by Shibir activists in Rajshahi’s Alif Lam Mim intersection yesterday during BNP’s national blockade programme.

Leaving one police official injured on the streets the Shibir activists fleeing the scene AZAHAR UDDIN

Quack treatment puts child in severe state n Our Correspondent, Gazipur An 11-year-old child named Shakil has been suffering severely due to the wrong treatment administered by a quack veterinarian at Bidhai village in Sreepur upazila, Gazipur.

The boy, a fifth grader at Bidhai Government Primary School, was suffering from tonsillitis, starting to feel uncomfortable with a sore throat on December 18. As his pain gradually increased, his father took him to their neighbour Abdul Haque, 60, on December 22, despite knowing that Abdul tended to animals.

“I took my son to Abdul thinking he might be able to help. Abdul looked him over and administered an injection on each of Shakil’s arm,” Ibrahim said.

“When I took Shakil to Abdul the next

day, he administered another injection and gave my son four tablets to take.”

Following the treatment, boils broke out all over Shakil’s body and his condition deteriorated. He was taken to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital in a critical condition on December 24, where he has been under treatment ever since.

Shakil’s elder brother Sharful Hossain said the doctors attending his brother had said the boils had been caused by the wrong treatment given by Abdul.

Ibrahim filed a complaint with Sreepur Model police station against Abdul on Monday evening.

Mohsin-ul Kadir, OC at the police station, said: “We are taking preparations to file a case in this regard. The quack animal doctor will be arrested for administering wrong treatment to a human.” l

Four policemen hurt in Shibir attack in Rajshahi n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi Four policemen were injured as activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and Jamaat’s student front Islami Chhatra Shibir attacked the law enforcers in Shalbagan area of Rajshahi city yesterday.

The injured are Constables Amzad Hossain and Shafikul Islam, SubInspector Jahangir Shah Makhdum and police van driver Moinul Islam.

Amzad and Shafikul are undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH). While, Jahangir and Moinul took primary treatment at the hospital, police said.

A clash ensued between the law enforcers and Jamaat-Shibir activists when they brought out a procession in support of the blockade enforced by

BNP-led 20 party alliance in Shalbagan area around 10:15am, they said.

The Shibir men attacked a police van which was patrolling the area as the law enforcers tried to bring the situation under control The pickets started demonstration by setting tyres on fire on the highway in front of Alif Lam Mim brick kiln.

The Shibir men attacked a police van which was patrolling the area as the law enforcers from Shah Makhdum police station tried to bring the situation

under control, according to police.

At one stage, the attackers hit the heads of Amzad and Shafikul with bricks chips. They also snatched the gun from Shafikul and left it after beating him with the gun, they said.

Later, a patrolling Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) rushed to the spot and rescued the policemen. However, the Shibir men managed to flee the scene.

Ifte Khayer Alam, additional police commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) and also its spokesperson, told the Dhaka Tribune that they arrested six people from nearby areas on charge of their involvement in the attacks.

However, local administration has imposed the section 144 on any political programmes at Baneshwar,

Belpukur and Shibpurhat under Puthia upazila in Rajshahi for indefinite period to avoid any untoward situation after the death of a pro-blockade activist on Monday.

Khandaker Farhad Ahmed, the UNO of Puthia upazila, said a tense situation was prevailing in the areas.

Earlier on Monday afternoon, a BNP activist was killed, after police opened fire when leaders and activists of BNP and its alliances brought a procession at Baneshwar Bazaar.

The deceased was identified as Mazir Uddin, 45, of Maria village of Shalua union under Charghat upazila.

However, a down-to-dusk hartal called by BNP is also underway in Rajshahi in protest of the death. The countrywide blockade programme is also underway in Rajshahi. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com

B3 US oil prices slip below $50 a barrel

B4 German bank exposure to Greece around 24bn euros

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2015 www.dhakatribune.com/business

RMG exporters fear losing orders n again as politics heat up

Atiur awarded ‘Central Banker of the Year’ in Asia-Pacific

Police to escort shipping goods between Dhaka and Chittagong during blockade programme n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

RMG RMG LOSSES LOSSES DUE DUE TO TO POLITICAL POLITICAL UNREST UNREST (BGMEA estimates since Nov 1, 2013 to Jan 12, 2014 )

HARTAL CALLED

13 days

PRICE DISCOUNT

2.2 million

$

BLOCKADE

31 days

AIR FREIGHT

2.1 million

$

Tribune Report

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman has been awarded “Central Banker of the Year” in Asia-Pacific for 2015.

The Banker, UK-based financial magazine of the Financial Times Group, declared the award on January 05.

Atiur has been awarded in recognition of his role in stimulating growth and stabilising economy as well as promoting social and environmental initiatives.

On its website, the Banker said Atiur Rahman’s work exemplifies how central banks can play essential roles in providing capital for environmental and social development without compromising on growth or macroeconomic stability.

“Initially it was not easy. Central bankers are a bit of a conservative, sceptical bunch. They thought it was going to be a disaster,” it quoted Rahman as saying.

Atiur believed that supporting agriculture and SME could avert financial crises.

“In many developed countries, central banks only create money and liquidity in the air. They don’t do much on the ground, which could stop spec-

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman ulative financing and increase liquidity with small deposits. Financial systems would be more stable and have diversified loan portfolios if this happened,” he said.

In November last year, the Bangladesh Bank governor received the “GUSI Peace Prize International 2014” award in recognition of his work in establishing peace by reducing poverty in Bangladesh.

He was appointed the 10th governor of Bangladesh Bank on May, 2009, for four years. The government last year extended his appointment for another term. l

Bangladesh’s readymade garment exporters are worried of losing work orders with the country’s politics entering into another wave of unrest over national election.

They say international buyers usually place most of their orders in this part of the year.

“Usually, most orders come during this period. But if political unrest persists, the buyers will be concerned about security. The sector would be the loser,” BGMEA director Md Moshiul Azam Shajal told Dhaka Tribune.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party, key rival of ruling Awami League, has announced the country-wide blockade to be continued as the government completed one year into controversial January 5 election.

“Such blockade will disrupt supply chain of imported raw materials, hampering production and causing shipment delay,” said Moshiul.

BNP chief Khaled Zia called the blockade after police “confined” her at her Gulshan office from attending a protest rally in the city’s Paltan area yesterday.

“Both the ruling party and BNP should consider the country’s business in their practice of politics. The returned to a business environment in last one year of political calmness and investments started to flow in,” said Vidiya Amrit Khan, director of Desh

Garments Limited.

She said the parties should do politics in a way which would discourage investment and disrupt business.

Political confrontation that the country experienced yesterday hurt production in the RMG factories.

“The RMG factories, located especially in the capital, has seen 40% decline as many workers could not attend their respective factories on Monday,” said BGMEA Vice President Shahidullah Azim.

“The buyers have started coming to Bangladesh again but this type of political chaos will make them frightened again, and the sector will suffer, orders will go to competitor countries,” he said.

It would eventually fail the country to reach its export and GDP growth tar-

NBR boss may get extension

Banks to face penalty if fail to meet farm loan targets

Inflation falls further in Dec

n Tribune Report

n Tribune Report

The government is likely to extend the tenure of incumbent chairman of National Board of Revenue (NBR) Md Ghulam Hussain for more six months, officials said yesterday.

Hussain’s tenure will expire on January 9.

“The tenure of present NBR chairman might be extended for execution of current fiscal year budget,” said an official in the Finance Ministry.

The Prime Minister’s Office has already agreed for extension of his tenure, but the decision will be finalised after arrival of Finance Minister AMA Muhith who is now out of Dhaka.

On October 15, 2012, Ghulam Hussain was appointed as the NBR chairman. Before joining NBR, he was commerce secretary. l

Bangladesh Bank has imposed a penalty on the banks in case they fail to meet their respective farm loan disbursement targets.

The banks will have to deposit with the central bank 3% of the amount to remain short of the disbursement target. The deposit will bear no interest, according to a circular issued yesterday.

The authorities brought the banks under the obligation as a strategy to achieve 100% target of farm and rural credits, said the circular, taking immediate effect.

Earlier, the banks had to deposit the remaining money with the central bank in the following quarter with interest.

The measures are not, however,

Inflation continued to fall for the fifth consecutive months in a row in November, softened by declining food prices, particularly imported goods.

Month to month inflation eased to 6.11% last month, decelerating from 6.21% a month earlier.

The figure was disclosed by Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal at a press briefing on the outcome of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) meeting that approved five development projects costing Tk1,354 crore.

He, however, said the detailed information on inflation will be published later at a press conference.

“Inflation continued to ease in the wake of falling commodity prices both in the international market and domestic

DSE revises share trading fee n Tribune Report The Dhaka Stock Exchange (BSE) yesterday revised down equity transaction fees.

The move came after three weeks in response to stock brokers’ demand.

Under the revised structure, transaction charges will be 0.025% instead of 0.03% of total share trade value, the DSE said in a statement.

For block trade, floor crossing and delivery verses payment, the trading fee will be 0.0125% for every deal valued Tk50 lakh or above, it said.

The new charges will come into effect from January 1 this year.

Earlier on December 17, the bourse set the equity transaction charges and lifted hawla charge after launching the lot-free new automated trading system. The premier bourse set the bond transaction fee at Tk50 per trade.

The ‘hawla’ charge refers to the fees on the completion of a trade, while the ‘laga’ charge is the fees on turnover generated from an investor’s share trading. l

ORDER CANCELED

6.4 million

$

SHIPMENT DELAY

12.8 million

$

gets this fiscal year, he feared.

Attendance, however, improved to some extent yesterday.

A survey conducted by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) showed the political unrest had led RMG buyers to cancel orders worth $3.6m in 21 days of December 2013.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, several factory owners urged the ruling party as well as other political parties to shun confrontational politics to let the economy grow at the desired rate needed for becoming a middle income country by 2021.

They said the peak of export target could be achieved subject to ensuring political stability in the country.

However, the BGMEA has decided to transport outbound RMG products

applicable for the banks being able to disburse farm loan at a rate of 2.5% of their total loans and advances or more or equal of the target set by the central bank.

The order issued as some banks could not meet their respective disbursement targets in the recent months, said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank.

According to BB data, farm loan disbursement decreased by 3.86% in the first five months of the current financial year (2014-15) as compared with that in the same period of the last fiscal year.

The disbursement by all scheduled banks decreased to Tk5,288.27 crore in July-November of the FY15 from Tk5,500.95 crore in the corresponding period of FY14. l

IMF unhappy over Vat reforms delay n Asif Showkat Kallol International Monetary Fund has reiterated its dissatisfaction over the delay to make new value added tax law effective from July this year, said official sources.

With the launch of Vat automation system in July, the law was supposed to be implemented from the month which also marks the beginning of next financial year.

But the government has already canlcelled tender for Vat automation works over allegations of irregularity in the process, raising the concern about the launch in due time.

IMF came up with the dissatisfaction at an initial meeting on government reforms committee at Finance Division’s office in Dhaka yesterday.

The meeting discussed full-filling of mainly two conditions for Extended Credit Facility (ECF), which include implementation new Vat law, said a Finance Division who attended the meeting.

Earlier, the government promised to the IMF to implement the law from middle of 2015.

Besides, the government also failed

to appoint a foreign audit firm to evaluate financial status of the country’s lone fuel oil importer Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation. This was one of two main conditions set under the ECF programme.

The official said IMF’s note of dissatisfaction would be presented for discussion at the next week’s meeting of the government reforms committee. Finance Minister AMA Muhith will preside over the meeting. The reforms committee is dealing with the matters like implementation of new Vat law.

Two tranches of IMF fund of around $280m under the ECF now hang in the balance as some conditions still remain unmet.

Finance Division officials said BPC selected a local auditor to assess its financial status and prepare an annual report, but the global lender preferred an international audit firm.

On September 23 last year, regarding Vat reforms, Muhith said the government would not be able to complete Vat reforms programme by June 2015. He said it might be delayed to June 2016.

“But I am not sure whether IMF will agree with me,” he said. l

to Chittagong port under police escort during the countrywide blockade to ensure timely shipment, and to bring raw materials from the port city.

The decision was taken at a meeting with Md Asaduzzaman Mia, deputy inspector general of the Highway Police, where representatives from the BGMEA and transport sector were present.

Since the RMG sector people witnessed incidents of torching vehicles and looting during the political unrest ahead of the January 5, 2014 national election, the police agreed to escort the vehicles to ensure safety of the shipping goods, said Azim.

As per the decision, factory owners will have to reach the city outskirt of Signboard area by 9 am for the first phase escort and at 9 pm for the second phase. l

n Tribune Report

Agent banking allowed both in rural and urban areas n Tribune Report Bangladesh Bank has allowed conducting agent banking in both urban and rural areas.

The metropolitan or city corporation, municipality and union areas will now be considered as rural areas, said a circular Bangladesh Bank issued yesterday.

Earlier, on March 24 last year, the central bank imposed restriction on agent banking in metropolitan or city corporation areas and municipalities.

market,” he said early December while giving brief on November inflation data.

The ECNEC meeting was presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Of the total cost of five projects, the government will provide Tk1,325 crore from the national exchequer and Tk29.13 crore would come from foreign aid.

The Planning Minister also announced the ADP implementation rate during the July-December period of the current fiscal that stood at 28% compared to corresponding period a year earlier.

He said during the period, some Tk23,745 crore were spent against Tk18,825 crore during the period.

The meeting approved Tk190.28 crore PC girder bridges, RCC bridges and RCC box culverts project in the hilly district of Khagrachhari. Roads and Highways Department will implement the project to be entirely borne from the government

Later, the authority on June allowed agent banking in municipality areas, but restriction lay on city corporation areas.

Agent banking allows an agent to provide limited scale banking and financial services for the underprivileged population through engaging agents on behalf of a bank under a valid agency agreement.

Every agent must have current accounts with respective bank to conduct their banking activities. The highest deposit limit of the account is Tk10 lakh. l

exchequer by December 2017.

It also gave nod another project titled “Improvement Component for Vulnerable Group Development Programme” with Tk38.89 crore to be implemented by the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs by June 2018.

Under the project, the government will help the ultra poor women of Chouhali and Belkuchi upazilas to help come out of their families from poverty. Some 21,000 distressed women of these two upazilas would be provided with Tk15,000 each to find ways for maintaining their livelihood.

The ECNEC meeting gave nod to another project titled “Further Development of Islamic University (2nd phase)” involving Tk70.58 crore to be jointly implemented by University Grants Commission (UGC) and Islamic University by June 2019. l

Airfare to come down as change imminent in agents commission practice n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Airfare will come down as the government has decided to make the airliners pay agent commission on total fare including fuel surcharge, aviation ministry sources said.

Unlike the global practice, the airlines local agents are being paid 7% by the airlines company on ticket price excluding fuel surcharge. The agents usually give whole commission benefit to their customers. If the commission is counted on total fare, the customers will get larger benefit, which means they will need pay a reduced price.

The airlines stopped paying commission on whole fair when the fuel price soared few years ago. Although the fuel price has now dropped largely, the airlines companies to continue avoiding the commission on fuel surcharge.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon said they were trying to solve the problem.

“Of course we will take care of our local agents and ensure the travellers are benefited,” he told Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The minister said they along with Civil Aviation Authority sent letters to the foreign carriers having business in Bangladesh on November 16 last year about the matter. “But the foreign companies are not willing to comply with the directives mentioned in the letters.”

Kazi Wahidul Alam, an aviation industry expert, said the country loses a huge amounts of money every year in the current practice of fixing fare.

“There is an over $500m business in the local market. But the current practice is incurring big losses to the agents,” he said, who is also Editor of monthly Monitor.

But Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB) said sometimes foreign carriers fix fare price at only 20% and fuel surcharge at 80% which also causes a huge loss to the country.

“The country loses not less than Tk1,000 crore through this process.

Everybody should take it seriously,” SN Manzur Murshed (Mahbub), president of the ATAB, said.

He said foreign carriers are not allowed to do this in their own counties.

Regent Airways AoC under trouble Regent Airway’s deadline eration Certificate (AoC) tomorrow with Tk25 crore Civil Aviation Authority, (CAAB). l

for Air Opwill expire dues to the Bangladesh

B2

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Stocks shrug off political chaos

DSE key features January 6, 2015

n Tribune Report

Number of Contract

spite political turmoil,” said a stock broker.

However, he said this rise might not be sustainable taking overall situation into account. “It has recently been noticed that every hartal day, market has tendency to scale up,” he said.

All the major sectors ended in green with power rising highest over 2%. Banks and, food and allied, sectors advanced around 1% each.

Pharmaceuticals, non-banking financial institutions and telecommunication closed marginally higher.

IDLC Investments said despite the gloomy political situation, broad market turned around amid improved turnover and institutional participation. On the macro front, increased flow of remittance signalled additional comfort in foreign reserve, it said.

Lanka Bangla Securities said market ended on green zone after a stellar rally.

“Fear in investors mind about the political unrest in past three days and panic sell-off formed scope for value seekers to flow fund in equity market.”

Gainers beat losers as out of 309 issues traded, 191 advanced, 74 declined and 44 remained unchanged.

Lafarge Surma Cement was the most traded stock for the third consecutive day with shares worth Tk17.7 crore changing hands, followed by DESCO, Agni Systems, RSRM Steels and Beximco Pharma.

Shahzibazar Power Company was the day’s top gainers, positing a rise of almost 10% while Northern Jute Manufacturing Company was the worst loser, plunging over 8%. l

Stocks closed higher yesterday, shrugging off rising political tension in the country.

The market began on positive note and the momentum continued till close of the day. In the previous session, the market ended lower due to panic-driven selling spree.

Turnover value crossed Tk300-crore mark after four weeks and stood at Tk319 crore, registering an increase of over 56% over the previous session The benchmark index, DSEX, soared 43 points or 0.8% to 4,969, which is nearly one-month high.

The Shariah index, DSES, rose 10 points or 0.9% to 1,186. The comprising blue chips DS30 gained 14 points or 0.8% to 1,859.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, was up 77 points to close at 9,208.

Turnover value crossed Tk300crore mark after four weeks and stood at Tk319 crore, registering an increase of over 56% over the previous session.

“Risk-averse investors still stepped back from betting on stocks but on the other hand, optimistic investors swooped on stocks taking advantage of lower share prices de-

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSER Company

Closing (% Change)

Northern Jute -Z Samata LeatheR -Z EXIM Bank 1 MF-A Jute SpinnersA Al-Haj Textile -A DBH 1st MF-A LR Global BD MF1-A Desh Garments -B Prime Islami Life -A Shampur Sugar -Z

-8.61 -7.89 -5.71 -5.10 -4.49 -4.35 -4.17 -4.03 -3.84 -3.57

CSE LOSER Company

Closing (% Change)

Kay & Que (BD) -Z FAS Fin. & Inv. Ltd-B LR Global BD MF1-A City G Insu.-A Asia Pasific Insu. -A Meghna Life Ins. -A EBL First M F-A Islami Ins.BD-A Fine Foods A Bangladesh Lamps -A

-8.09 -6.12 -5.88 -4.64 -4.50 -3.81 -3.77 -3.70 -3.64 -3.19

4969.67276

(+) 0.88%

1859.06548

(+) 0.79%

15259.84520

(+) 0.96%

12333.16270

(+) 0.92%

9215.48420

(+) 0.92%

Average (% Change) -9.32 -7.89 -32.25 -5.29 -3.61 -3.90 -5.19 -2.90 -2.33 -4.05 Average (% Change) -8.02 -4.57 -5.91 -4.53 -4.50 -3.75 -2.66 -3.75 -3.28 -2.58

ClosingAvg. 264.60 21.00 6.45 52.29 102.77 4.44 4.57 79.36 69.28 8.06

ClosingAvg. 12.50 18.59 4.78 18.53 19.10 88.33 5.13 20.79 10.63 116.25

Closing

▲ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▼

DHIGH

265.30 21.00 6.60 52.10 102.00 4.40 4.60 78.60 67.60 8.10

Closing

266.00 21.00 6.70 53.00 107.10 4.60 4.80 81.70 70.50 8.50

DHIGH

12.50 18.40 4.80 18.50 19.10 88.30 5.10 20.80 10.60 115.50

DSE GAINER Company

Turnover (Million Taka)

3,196.05

Turnover (Volume)

12.50 19.20 4.80 18.60 19.10 88.50 5.20 20.80 10.80 117.00

72,220,246 78,707

Traded Issues

308

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

221

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

80 7

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,650.73

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

31.23

CSE key features January 6, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

247.40

Turnover (Volume)

6,644,118

Number of Contract

13,555

Traded Issues

247

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

175

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

63

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

7

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,552.97

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.95

Turnover in Million

265.00 20.90 6.50 51.10 101.40 4.30 4.50 78.00 67.00 8.00

0.077 0.021 0.016 0.098 12.334 2.313 2.756 1.362 2.164 0.029

Turnover in Million

DLOW 12.50 18.40 4.70 18.50 19.10 88.20 5.10 20.70 10.60 115.50

Shahjibazar Power-N Alltex Industries -Z Standard Ceramic -A Ratanpur Steel -N Hamid Fabrics -N Bangas -A Bengal Windsor-A Matin Spinning-N CVO PetroChem RL-A Keya Cosmetics -A

Latest EPS 1.00 0.05 0.64 -43.64 1.04 0.56 0.69 0.80 4.95 -52.72

Latest EPS

0.001 0.028 0.029 0.031 0.001 0.004 0.011 0.011 0.001 0.047

-1.41 1.27 0.69 1.89 2.32 6.45 0.72 1.48 -0.48 1.13

Company Standard Ceramic -A Bengal Windsor-A Alltex Industries -Z Shahjibazar Power-N National Life I -A H.R. Textile -A Ratanpur Steel -N Popular Life 1st M.F.-A Hamid Fabrics -N Aziz PipesZ

Sector 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 281.62 158.09 58.18 419.16 362.99 585.89 2.54 224.20 308.53 10.84 143.56 10.12 28.51 196.10 158.00 17.70 42.43 64.47 37.41 60.95 0.00

% change 8.88 4.98 1.83 13.22 11.45 18.47 0.08 7.07 9.73 4.53 0.32 0.90 6.18 4.98 0.56 1.34 2.03 1.18 1.92 0.00

Million Taka 19.46 9.04 1.45 34.34 9.68 40.71 35.58 20.20 5.90 20.96 4.34 4.89 14.07 11.79 1.17 2.16 8.15 4.43 9.77 0.02

CSE

% change 7.54 3.50 0.56 13.30 3.75 15.77 0.00 13.79 7.83 2.29 8.12 1.68 1.89 5.45 4.57 0.45 0.84 3.16 1.72 3.79 0.01

Million Taka 301.08 167.12 59.63 453.49 372.67 626.60 2.54 259.78 328.73 16.74 164.52 14.46 33.40 210.18 169.78 18.86 44.59 72.61 41.84 70.72 0.02

10.00 9.87 9.76 9.11 7.80 7.37 6.72 6.38 5.72 5.69

Average (% Change) 10.00 8.52 12.08 3.43 7.80 6.63 4.39 4.64 3.53 5.69

OLYMPIC: The Company has informed that it has credited the bonus shares for the year ended on June 30, 2014 to the respective shareholders BO Account on December 30, 2014.

05-01-2015

Credit Rating: CPA (Claim Paying Ability) Rating ASIAINS A+, FEDERALINS A-, CENTRALINS A, CITYGENINS A, POPULARLIF A : These rating were done by Credit Rating Information and Services Limited (CRISL). Long Term & Short Term Rating: AGNISYSL A- in the long term and ST-3 in the short term, BAYLEASING A- in the long term and ST-3, GEMINISEA BBB in the long term and ST-3 in the short term, NPOLYMAR A+ in the long term and ST-3 in the short term, BDFINANCE A- in the long term and ST-3: These rating were done

by Credit Rating Information and Services

179.95 26.79 46.25 61.60 38.26 300.47 61.04 43.13 498.33 23.11

ClosingAvg. 42.90 59.36 27.00 503.62 235.00 30.39 62.01 4.96 38.13 22.30

Closing 187.90 26.80 46.60 63.70 38.90 306.10 61.80 43.60 502.10 23.50

Closing 42.90 60.10 27.00 191.60 235.00 30.60 63.50 5.00 38.80 22.30

DHIGH 188.00 26.80 46.80 63.90 39.50 310.00 64.80 44.70 508.90 23.60

DHIGH 42.90 60.10 27.00 193.10 235.00 30.60 64.00 5.00 39.10 22.30

DLOW 172.50 25.60 43.80 60.00 36.80 289.00 59.40 41.90 487.00 21.90

DLOW 42.90 59.00 26.50 172.50 235.00 28.70 60.00 4.80 36.70 22.30

Turnover in Million 13.862 6.965 1.071 129.965 40.509 11.540 32.989 6.359 43.532 5.890

Turnover in Million 0.133 0.177 6.613 2.754 0.001 0.180 5.205 0.181 10.371 0.000

Latest EPS 9.00 3.28 0.60 5.44 3.12 5.44 4.16 4.40 5.24 2.36

Latest EPS 0.60 4.16 3.28 9.00 12.46 1.75 5.44 0.48 3.12 -0.37

Latest PE 20.0 8.2 77.1 11.3 12.3 55.2 14.7 9.8 95.1 9.8

Latest PE 71.5 14.3 8.2 56.0 18.9 17.4 11.4 10.3 12.2 -ve

Limited (CRISL). Entity Rating: SONARGAON’s entity rating (surveillance) CC, done

by Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh Limited (CRAB).

IPO Subscription: Zaheen Spinning Limited subscription date 28 December 2014 to 05 January 2015, NRB upto 13 January 2015. @ taka 10, face value taka 10 and market lot 500. Asian Tiger Sandhani Life Growth Fund subscription date 11 to 15 January 2015, NRB upto 24 January 2015. @ taka 10, face value taka 10 and market lot 500. United Power Generation & Distribution Company Limited subscription date 18 to 22 January 2015, NRB upto 31 January 2015. @ taka 60, face value taka 10 and market lot 100. Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills Limited subscription date 01 to 05 Febuary 2015, NRB upto 14 Febuary 2015. @ taka 35, face value taka 10 and market lot 200.

Dividend/AGM

ECABLES: 10% cash, AGM: 26.02.2015, Record Date: 05.01.2015.

MPETROLEUM: 95% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 16.01.2015, Record date: 04.12.2014.

JAMUNAOIL: 90% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 07.02.2015, Record date: 11.12.2014.

PADMAOIL: 100% cash, AGM: 14.02.2015, Record date: 22.12.2014.

EASTRNLUB: 30% cash, AGM: 17.01.2015, Record Date: 25.11.2014.

SAMORITA: 20% cash and 10% stock dividend, AGM: 07.01.2015, Record Date: 19.11.2014.

POWERGRID: 10% cash, AGM: 17.01.2015, Record Date: 25.11.2014.

SPCL: 25% cash and 5% stock dividend, AGM: 29.01.2015, Record Date: 27.11.2014.

ANWARGALV: 7.50% cash dividend to the general shareholders, AGM: 12.01.2015, Record Date: 13.11.2014.

264.6 420.0 10.1 -ve 98.8 7.9 6.6 99.2 14.0 -ve

Latest PE -ve 14.6 6.9 9.8 8.2 13.7 7.1 14.0 -ve 102.9

Company Olympic Ind. -A LafargeS Cement-Z DESCO Ltd. -A Agni Systems -A Ratanpur Steel -N Beximco Pharma -A MJL BD Ltd.-A Khulna Power-A SAIF Powertec-N SummitAlliancePort.-A

Total

Closing (% Change)

ClosingAvg.

Latest PE

Fear in investors mind about the political unrest in past three days and panic sell-off formed scope for value seekers to flow fund in equity market

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

9.95 9.84 9.65 6.88 5.99 5.44 4.75 4.56 3.98 3.98

Average (% Change) 4.29 12.14 8.82 3.91 4.08 4.00 3.63 3.68 2.32 3.45

News, analysis and recent disclosures

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS

ANALYST

Closing (% Change)

CSE GAINER

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

DLOW

Wednesday, January 7, 2014

% change 8.78 4.87 1.74 13.22 10.87 18.27 0.07 7.58 9.59 0.49 4.80 0.42 0.97 6.13 4.95 0.55 1.30 2.12 1.22 2.06 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

Grameenphone-A Summit Power -A Square Pharma -A Barakatullah E. D.-A Titas Gas TDCLA Southeast Bank-A CVO PetroChem RL-A WesternMarine -N CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company LafargeS Cement-Z Hamid Fabrics -N SummitAlliancePort.-A SAIF Powertec-N WesternMarine -N Agni Systems -A Khulna Power-A Beximco Pharma -A Alltex Industries -Z Grameenphone-A

MJL BD Ltd.-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Ratanpur Steel -N DESCO Ltd. -A Summit Power -A RAK Ceramics-A Summit Purbanchol P-N

VolumeShares 1,274,458 1,289,171 1,833,702 3,734,274 2,109,742 1,425,371 638,962 1,283,957 980,294 761,947

Value in Million 300.93 176.44 135.06 130.14 129.97 90.70 81.94 80.09 69.45 65.72

% of TotalTurnover 9.49 5.56 4.26 4.10 4.10 2.86 2.58 2.53 2.19 2.07

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

160,261 1,222,363 187,876 1,329,038 552,058 2,239,813 87,355 780,924

92,850 272,002 120,350 146,401 154,813 241,132 110,865 105,925 244,943 17,601

48,693 147,132 83,946 63,976 115,870 70,050 78,528

58.89 49.61 48.81 46.08 45.02 44.72 43.53 43.53

12.72 10.37 10.36 10.32 8.60 8.43 6.90 6.73 6.61 6.46

6.26 5.50 5.21 4.69 4.68 4.20 4.13

1.86 1.56 1.54 1.45 1.42 1.41 1.37 1.37

5.18 4.22 4.22 4.20 3.50 3.43 2.81 2.74 2.69 2.63

2.55 2.24 2.12 1.91 1.91 1.71 1.68

ClosingP 234.60 136.20 73.60 34.90 63.70 64.00 129.30 62.90 69.40 86.60

367.40 41.00 259.90 34.90 82.40 20.10 502.10 55.40 ClosingP

136.70 38.80 86.20 69.60 55.10 34.90 62.80 63.90 27.00 365.90

129.50 37.40 63.50 73.60 40.90 59.80 53.10

Change % 0.17 1.11 2.51 3.56 6.88 2.40 1.49 3.28 0.14 1.41

0.03 2.76 0.04 2.65 2.36 3.61 3.98 0.00

Change %

1.41 5.72 1.53 0.58 -0.36 3.87 3.46 2.57 9.76 -0.38

1.97 1.08 6.72 2.79 2.76 0.67 4.32

ClosingY 234.20 134.70 71.80 33.70 59.60 62.50 127.40 60.90 69.30 85.40

367.30 39.90 259.80 34.00 80.50 19.40 482.90 55.40 ClosingY

134.80 36.70 84.90 69.20 55.30 33.60 60.70 62.30 24.60 367.30

127.00 37.00 59.50 71.60 39.80 59.40 50.90

DHIGH 242.00 137.80 74.60 35.30 63.90 64.30 129.80 63.50 74.00 87.00

369.20 41.10 260.40 35.10 82.60 20.20 508.90 56.60 DHIGH

138.00 39.10 86.80 71.20 56.20 35.50 63.10 64.40 27.00 369.70

130.00 37.70 64.00 75.90 41.00 60.30 53.80

DLOW 233.50 135.10 72.20 33.70 60.00 62.30 127.00 60.40 68.10 85.70

365.20 39.80 258.50 33.90 80.20 19.20 487.00 55.10 DLOW

135.00 36.70 85.20 68.00 54.90 34.00 59.00 62.70 26.50 365.60

127.50 37.00 60.00 72.50 39.80 59.30 51.10

AvgPrice 236.13 136.86 73.65 34.85 61.60 63.63 128.23 62.38 70.84 86.25

367.48 40.58 259.77 34.67 81.54 19.97 498.33 55.74 AvgPrice

137.01 38.13 86.12 70.48 55.57 34.95 62.25 63.55 27.00 366.79

128.53 37.41 62.01 73.25 40.39 59.91 52.62

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

US oil prices slip below $50 a barrel n AFP, New York US oil prices Monday slipped below $50 a barrel for the first time in more than five years as the surging dollar and news of additional supplies extended a six-month rout.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for February delivery, in free fall since June, ended at $50.04 a barrel, down $2.65 or five percent. The contract got as low as $49.95 a barrel earlier in the session, its lowest level since May 1, 2009.

European benchmark Brent oil for February delivery fell $3.31 to $53.11 a barrel in London.

Monday’s slide in oil prices followed indications of rising output from key producers Russia and Iraq at a time when forecasters have trimmed their demand projections due to weak global economic growth.

The breaching of the psychologically important $50 level also came on a turbulent day for global financial markets.

US stocks fell nearly two percent, approaching the drops in European equity markets as the euro plunged to a nine-year low on revived eurozone worries.

A long rally in the greenback, which gained 11% last year against a basket of major currencies, has weighed on the dollar-priced oil market by making crude more expensive for buyers using weaker currencies.

Oil prices could fall further still, analysts say.

“There’s serious concern the bottom’s not in yet,” said Kyle Cooper, managing partner at IAF Advisors in Houston. “Basically everyone who’s taken a stab at the bottom has been wrong.”

“Oil prices attempted to stabilize during the last two weeks, but the fundamentals remain weak,” said Gene McGillian, broker and analyst at Tradition Energy.

“The market is trying to come to a bottom. It could be anybody’s guess, but it appears we still have more to go.”

A ship passes a petro-industrial complex in Kawasaki near Tokyo Fawad Razaqzada, a technical analyst at Forex.com., said the drop below $50 a barrel could trigger more selling, paving the way for oil to fall as low as $45 or $40 a barrel in the coming weeks.

Weak fundamentals

The retreat in prices comes on the heels of a multi-year boom in US oil production that has shaken the global petroleum market and put the US in a league with oil giants Russia and Saudi Arabia.

Other leading producers are also pumping aggressively. Iraq’s oil ministry last week released figures showing

that December crude exports reached their highest since 1980.

Meanwhile, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has consistently ruled out action despite the months-long slide in prices.

In November, the cartel met in Vienna and took no action, as key powerbrokers like Saudi Arabian oil minister Ali al-Naimi said he preferred for the market to balance itself.

In December, Naimi told a Middle East publication the group would take the same hands-off approach even if oil fell to $20 a barrel.

REUTERS

Meanwhile, economic growth remains uncertain in Europe and in many emerging economies, such as China and Brazil.

The International Energy Agency in December projected global crude inventories could rise by nearly 300 million barrels in the first six months of 2015. The agency also cut its demand outlook by more than 200,000 barrels a day for 2015.

Energy equities, by far the worst performing sector in the S&P 500 last year, suffered more pain Monday. Dow member Chevron fell 4%, while oil-

services giant Schlumberger lost 2.6%.

Key US oil companies like ConocoPhillips and shale producer Continental Resources have cut their drilling budgets for 2015.

Still, analysts expect US output to continue to rise this year, owing to investments that have already been made. That will put more pressure on crude prices.

“I still think one of the primary drivers of the market is US oil production and I really don’t see US oil production growth slowing appreciably in the first quarter,” Cooper said. l

TV makers out to ignite market with super high-def n AFP, Las Vegas

Pedestrians look at an electronic board showing the stock market indices of various countries outside a brokerage in Tokyo REUTERS

Nikkei slumps to worst day in 10 months n Reuters, Tokyo Japanese stocks posted their biggest fall in nearly 10 months yesterday, as uncertainty surrounding Greece’s future in the euro zone and slumping oil prices dampened risk appetite, while a stronger yen hit exporters’ shares.

In its worst day since March 14, the Nikkei benchmark slipped 3% to close at 16,883.19, not far off a six-week low of 16,672.94 hit on Dec 17.

Euro under pressure in Asia n AFP, Tokyo The euro struggled in Asia yesterday after dropping to its lowest level in nearly nine years against the dollar, as traders fret about a possible Greek exit from the eurozone and falling oil prices.

In Tokyo, the single currency slightly recovered to $1.1955 in afternoon trade from $1.1933 in US trade and $1.1864 on Monday in Asia, its lowest level since March 2006. But it weakened to 142.13 yen, against 142.74 yen.

The dollar also slipped to 118.90 yen, compared with 119.61 yen in New York. The yen is considered a safe bet in times of uncertainty.

“Crude keeps dropping and Greek politics are a worry,” said Etsuko Yamashita, chief economist at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. in New York. l

With oil prices at their lowest since spring 2009, the Tokyo Stock Exchange sub-index of oil and mining shares tumbled 5.5%. Inpex Corp shed 5.8%.

Exporters’ shares suffered from a stronger yen, which broke through the 119 level versus the dollar late in the session. Nissan Motor Co Ltd lost 4.4% and Panasonic Corp slipped 3.1%.

The broader Topix fell 2.9% to 1,361.14, while the JPX-Nikkei Index 400 shed 2.9% to close at 12,327.80. l

After several years of sluggish sales, television manufacturers are pegging growth hopes on new technologies that deliver a more immersive and interactive experience and stunningly realistic image displays.

As new TVs were unveiled at this week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, it was clear that so-called 4K “ultra high definition” televisions are gaining traction with consumers amid lower prices.

“We have seen 4K televisions in the past few years, but this certainly marks the year of them becoming affordable and much of the premium over highdefinition vanishing,” Reticle Research principal analyst Ross Rubin told AFP. He saw 4K as a major trend at CES, and expected prices for some wellknown brands to drop below $1,000, essentially eliminating the edge highdefinition televisions have with budget-minded consumers.

“It comes down to price,” the analyst said, dismissing concerns that a lack of 4K films or shows will discourage buyers.

“Once the price premium over HD disappears, there will be a certain level of television where the only option will be 4K.” The global market for big-screen televisions is rebounding as consumers replace their flat-screen devices that

Chevron gets new President n Tribune Report Kevin Lyon has been appointed as the new president of Chevron Bangladesh, with effect from January 1, 2015.

Prior to his new assignment, he held the post of Netherlands Country Manager for the Chevron Upstream Europe.

Kevin Lyon has succeeded Geoff Strong, who now assumes the post of vice-president, Supply & Trading in Chevron’s Gas & Midstream organisation, based in Houston, Texas, in the United States, said a press statement released yesterday.

Lyon joined Chevron as an Electrical Engineer in 1988, after obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering that same year from the University of Wyoming in the United States.

Aside from multiple locations in the

United States, he has held numerous engineering and management positions in Indonesia, Nigeria and Philippines.

Expressing his optimism about his new workplace, the Chevron Bangladesh chief said, “I have come on board at what is an exciting time for Bangladesh and its energy sector.

In continuing the collaborative relationship between Chevron and its partners in Government, I look forward to building on the continuity of success we had under my predecessor’s leadership, so we can work even closer together for Bangladesh’s energy security.”

Chevron, the largest gas producer of Bangladesh, is currently producing natural gas from three onshore fields in the northeastern part of the country. l

hit the market a decade ago, according to the Consumer Electronics Association, which organizes the annual event in Las Vegas.

The “ultra HD” market included fewer than one million units sold in 2013, growing to 9.3 million in 2014 with sales projected at 23.3 million in 2015, CEA said.

'Once the price premium over HD disappears, there will be a certain level of television where the only option will be 4K' Skinny and rich

South Korean consumer electronics titan LG on Monday expanded a line of 4K OLED televisions launched at CES here last year.

Seven new 4K models shown off by LG included flexible, curved and flat screens ranging in size from 55 inches diagonally to 77 inches. LG promised to have a proto-type of a television with nearly 8K resolution on display at its booth on the CES show floor opening on Tuesday.

“OLED is simply the best TV ever and is the future of television,” LG head of new product development Tim Alessi said while unveiling the expanded

4K TV line-up.

Japanese consumer electronics giant Sony is adding a dozen new 4K Ultra HD Bravia LCD television models, including a skinny, rich X9000C touted as so thin it appears as though it is “floating” against a wall. Sony boasted it is a mere 4.9 mm (0.19 inches) at its thinnest point.

TV brains and beauty

Japanese electronics giant Sharp on Monday unveiled what it called its “beyond 4K” television set for release later this year which offers an even more realistic image than its traditional “ultra high definition” models.

“We will bring the viewing experience closer to reality in 2015 by introducing the highest quality resolution TV available. We call it Beyond 4K,” Sharp America chief Jim Sanduski said.

By enhancing the technology behind the TV “pixels” and adding “subpixels,” Sharp said this new device would have resolution 167% higher than existing 4K models.

Sharp also announced it would offer Google-powered Android TV on some of its models to give viewers apps from that system, and would offer a variety of new televisions in the 4K format with prices as low as $750.

An array of TV makers was building Google’s Android software popular in mobile phones into screens to add Internet brains to image beauty. l

Oil prices rebound in Asian trade n AFP, Singapore Oil prices recovered slightly in Asia yesterday after the US contract fell below the psychological $50 mark in New York on demand worries, a strong dollar and a global supply glut.

West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for February, the US benchmark, rose nine cents to $50.13 in afternoon trade. Brent crude rose for February rose 22 cents to $53.33. WTI fell as low as $49.95 - a level not seen since May 2009 - Monday before closing at $50.04, down $2.65 from Friday. Brent fell $3.31 to $53.11.

“The price rebound (in Asia) is likely to be provisional as traders anticipate short-term moves in the oil market in this blow-off phase,” Michael McCarthy, chief market strategist at CMC Markets in Sydney, told AFP. Monday’s slide followed indications of rising output from key producers Russia and Iraq at a time when forecasters have trimmed their demand projections due to weak global economic growth.

A long rally in the greenback, which gained 11% last year against a basket of major currencies, has also weighed on the dollar-priced oil market by making crude more expensive for buyers using weaker units. Analysts are warning of further losses to come for the black gold.

Oil has dropped about 50% since June on worries about weak demand and a decision by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries not to cut output in response to lower prices and higher supplies.

Monday’s heavy losses are a reminder to the market “that oil fundamentals have not changed just because we entered into the New Year,” said Daniel Ang, investment analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore.

“To further exacerbate the problem, a New Year means a new slate for oil bears and with them coming back to the market, this pushes the prices down further,” he said.

CMC’s McCarthy said prices could stabilise if global production is reduced following plummeting prices, and “the likes of China and the European Union revise their demand outlook this quarter.” l

French, German borrowing rates at new all-time lows n AFP, Paris French and German borrowing rates reached new all-time lows yesterday amid fears over the prospect of Greece leaving the eurozone.

As of 0830 GMT, France’s 10-year debt hit 0.772% on the secondary market, while the German 10-year Bund fell to 0.484%. “Factors causing the recent risk-off mode are unlikely to fade rapidly,” BNP Paribas analysts said in a note.

“Greece and the question of QE (stimulus) are keeping bond markets nervous,” it said, adding that the anxiety is likely to persist through January.

At the weekend, the Der Spiegel weekly quoted German government sources as saying that Berlin sees a Greek exit from the eurozone as “almost inevitable” should Greece’s radical leftist Syriza party win snap elections on January 25.

Both Chancellor Angela Merkel and her finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble have come to consider that Greece’s departure from the single-currency bloc would be “manageable”, the magazine said. German media saw the Spiegel article as an attempt by Merkel and Schaeuble to put pressure on Greeks and Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras, who has vowed to end austerity policies.

The spectre of a Greek exit from the eurozone caused major stock markets to fall on Monday despite a European Commission declaration that eurozone membership was irrevocable. l

CORPORATE NEWS

Shahjalal Islami Bank has recently distributed one thousand pieces of blanket among winter hit people at Old City in Dhaka with the help of Dhaka Mahanagar Samity. Member of Parliament and President of the Samity, Hazi Mohammad Selim presided over the distribution ceremony where the bank’s director, Alhaj Mohiuddin Ahmed distributed the blankets as chief guest

Tarik Morshed has recently been promoted as deputy managing director of Social Islami Bank Ltd. Prior to his promotion, he was senior executive vice president and manager of the bank’s principal branch.

Tarik has been working with the bank since its inception in 1995

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

German inflation slows, boosting case for ECB action n AFP, Frankfurt Inflation in Germany, Europe’s biggest economy, hit a five-year low in December, data showed Monday, turning up the heat on the European Central Bank to do more to ward off the threat of deflation, analysts said.

In a preliminary flash estimate, the federal statistics office Destatis calculated that German inflation stood at just 0.2% year-on-year last month, down from 0.6 percent in November.

The last time inflation in Germany was lower than 0.2% was in October 2009. Taking 2014 as a whole, inflation stood at an annual average 0.9%, Destatis calculated.

For the ECB, such low inflation rates in Germany should make it easier to argue the case of further monetary easing Using the Harmonised Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) - the ECB’s yardstick - inflation in Germany was even lower at 0.1% in December, way under the central bank’s target of just below 2%.

The sharp slowdown in inflation in Europe’s biggest economy will fuel fears that prices across the entire eurozone could begin falling and tip the region into deflation - a sustained and widespread drop in prices that hampers economic activity and could lead to job losses.

While falling prices may sound good for consumers, deflation can trigger a vicious spiral in which businesses and households delay purchases, throttling demand and causing companies to lay off workers. Such concerns already persuaded the ECB to cut interest rates to a new all-time low and roll out other anti-deflation measures such as a series of asset purchase programmes to inject cash into the economy.

But if euro area-wide inflation turns

negative, then the ECB may have to resort to even more radical measures, such as so-called quantitative easing (QE), the large-scale purchase of sovereign bonds, analysts said. “For the ECB, such low inflation rates in Germany should make it easier to argue the case of further monetary easing,” said Berenberg Bank economist Christian Schulz.

‘Limited’ deflation risks

The ECB is scheduled to hold its first policy meeting of this year on January 22 and there is already widespread speculation that ECB chief Mario Draghi may announce some sort of QE programme, despite opposition from the likes of the Bundesbank or German central bank.

Critics see QE as a licence to print money to get governments out of debt, which the ECB is strictly forbidden from doing under its statutes. In a recent interview, Draghi insisted that the danger of deflation was “limited”, but “cannot be ruled out completely.”

“If inflation is too low for too long, then it can happen that people will bet on a further fall in prices and postpone spending. We haven’t reached that point yet. But we have to prepare for that risk,” Draghi said. Commerzbank economist Marco Wagner said the inflation data could force the ECB’s hand on January 22.

“We expect the ECB to announce broad-based government bond purchases,” he said. But ING DiBa economist Carsten Brzeski said a combination of falling inflation and the latest crisis in Greece would put the ECB in a quandary.

The possibility of Greece rescinding on its austerity commitment and quitting the single currency “probably encouraged QE opponents at the ECB to increase their resistance,” Brzeski said.

At the same time, negative headline inflation “would clearly feed deflationary fears of the QE proponents,” he said.

Natixis economist Johannes Gareis said the inflation data “add weight to our view that the ECB will embark on full-blown QE at its next meeting on January 22.” l

A Greek national flag (L) and a European Union flag wave outside the office of Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras in Athens

German bank exposure to Greece around 24bn euros n Reuters, Frankfurt German banks have around 23.5bn euros ($28bn) in credit exposure to Greece, but the systemic risk is limited as the biggest commercial banks, Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank, hold only a tiny fraction of that, according to figures gathered by Reuters.

The lion’s share of German exposure is held by the state-owned development bank KfW, with lending totalling 15bn euros to the Greek state, the banking industry group BdB said.

Various tools are seen hanging from the ceiling at the engine manufacturing unit for the new Mercedes AMG GT super sports cars REUTERS

Euro zone economy ended 2014 in poor shape The euro zone economy ended 2014 with its worst quarter for over a year as further price cutting failed to significantly drive up business activity, adding pressure on the European Central Bank to act, surveys showed.

Also of concern to policymakers, the surveys highlighted an ongoing downturn in France and Italy and only a stuttering performance in Germany, Europe’s largest economy.

“The weakness of the PMI in December will add to calls for more aggressive central bank stimulus, including fullscale quantitative easing, to be undertaken as soon as possible,” said Chris Williamson, chief economist at survey compiler Markit.

Markit’s final December Composite Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), based

on surveys of thousands of companies across the region and seen as a good indicator of growth, missed an earlier flash reading of 51.7, coming in at 51.4.

While beating November’s 16-month low of 51.1 and marking the 18th month the index has been above the 50 level that separates growth from contraction, Williamson said the indicator pointed to fourth quarter GDP growth of just 0.1 percent.

“The euro zone will look upon 2014 as a year in which recession was avoided by the narrowest of margins, but the weakness of the survey data suggests there’s no guarantee that a renewed downturn will not be seen in 2015,” Williamson said.

Last week, ECB President Mario Draghi fanned expectations he would take bolder steps when the Governing Council meets on Jan 22, saying the

central bank stood ready to respond to the risk of deflation.

Risks of a deflationary spiral - consumer price data for the euro zone due on Wednesday is widely expected to show a fall in annual terms - will push the ECB to buy sovereign debt early in 2015, a December Reuters poll showed.

A composite PMI sub-index showed firms have been cutting prices for nearly three years. It came in at 48.1, up from November’s 47.6.

That ongoing discounting had only a marginal effect on a PMI covering the region’s dominant service industry as it nudged up to 51.6 from November’s 51.1, missing a flash 51.9. And some of that activity was again driven by firms running down old orders. A PMI covering backlogs of work was below 50 for a seventh month at just 47.8, well shy of the 48.6 flash reading. l

Of the total German exposure, 4.6bn euros was to other banks, 3.6bn to companies and private individuals, and 15.2bn to state entities, the BdB said.

“The credit exposure of German banks in Greece is low,” BdB head Thomas Kemmer said in a statement.

“That’s why, should it come to insolvency for Greece, the direct effects on German banks could be overcome.

“Even the contagion effects that would accompany an exit could be endured better than two or three years ago.” l

Commerzbank said it held around 400m euros in exposure to Greece at the end of September, while Deutsche Bank said it held around 298m euros in exposure to corporate, bank and public debt.

Greek politics has weighed on markets including the euro as speculation intensified that Greece could leave the euro zone after a snap election on Jan. 25.

A study by JP Morgan found that the French bank Credit Agricole was the most exposed of Europe’s commercial banks. Credit Agricole said it had 3.5bn

euros in exposure to Greek debt at the end of 2013.

France’s largest bank, BNP Paribas, held around 0.7bn euros in Greek debt at the end of 2013, according to data provided by BNP. Most of the exposure was to corporate borrowers and none was to Greek state entities, the bank said.

Societe Generale held 0.3bn euros in exposure to Greek corporate debt and had no sovereign exposure as of endSeptember, a spokeswoman for the bank said.

Iran sees oil prices at $60 to $90 in coming months n Reuters, Ankara

BSE Sensex falls 3% on global growth concerns

Crude prices will vary between $60 and $90 in the coming months, Iranian Oil Minister Bijan Zanganeh was quoted as saying by the ministry’s official SHANA website, adding the only lever OPEC could use to influence the market was supply.

“It is predicted that oil prices would reach $60-90 in the coming months,” Zanganeh said. l

The BSE Sensex fell as much as 3% yesterday, heading towards its biggest daily loss since the rupee crisis in 2013 as emerging markets tumbled, while safe-haven assets such as US Treasuries surged.

n Reuters, Mumbai

For the consumer who wants a smartphone to make an impression, the Lamborghini nameplate can do that - for a cool $6,000, shipping included.

Tonino Lamborghini Mobile on Monday announced the global launch of the stainless steel-and-leather handset ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Despite an uncertain economy and declining prices for mobile devices, the Italian-based company says it may be unable to meet demand.

“Luxury is not a need, but it is a way to stand out,” said Bob Hatefi, chief executive at Lamborghini Mobile, a company formed by the son of famed auto designer Ferruccio Lamborghini.

“We provide technology as well as luxury. We are not after volume.”

The company is not related to Lamborghini automobiles, which are now produced by a division of Volkswagen, but was created by Tonino Lamborghini, the son of the famed auto designer Ferruccio Lamborghini.

The handset, which sells as an unlocked device accepting dual SIM cards for international travel, has a five-inch high-definition display, 20 megapixel camera and can connect to mobile networks around the world. The 88 Tauri handset is offered in black, gold and steel silver and is finished with highgrade leather available in five colors.

Each phone is assembled by hand and receives a unique device number. l

Investors piled into safe-haven assets and offloaded riskier investments in the face of a weak outlook for global growth and inflation concerns, and growing fears Greece may leave the euro zone.

The BSE Sensex fell as much as 3% to 27,000.78, while the broader Nifty dropped as much as 2.9% to 8,133.85. l

British banks to outline plans to protect ordinary customers

$6,000 n Reuters, London Lamborghini biggest lenders have only a day smartphone offers Britain’s before the deadline passes for submission of their plans to protect ordinary wow factor customers from the banks’ risky activities, starting a four-year industry overn AFP, Las Vegas haul that will cost billions of pounds.

n Reuters, London

REUTERS

The Bank of England is forcing the banks to set up a boundary around their branch operations to protect taxpayers from any repetition of the multibillion-pound bailouts required during the financial crisis of 2007 to 2009.

Among the requirements will be new boards of directors for the ringfenced entities, new staff contracts and separate pension schemes. Banks will also need to separate their risk-management and IT operations.

The cost of running the separated operations with higher capital standards is likely to cost the industry between 1.7bn pounds ($2.6bn) and 4.4bn pounds a year, Britain’s finance ministry has estimated.

Any bank with 25bn pounds of UK deposits will need to set up a ringfenced unit by 2019. At present, six lenders would need to do so: HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Barclays, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander UK and the Co-operative Bank.

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Another batch have deposits of almost 25bn pounds and could be above that level by 2019. These include TSB and Virgin Money, both of which told Reuters on Monday that they will be submitting ring-fencing plans.

The plans must be submitted before Wednesday and the Bank of England has indicated that it will be flexible in the way different banks are handled under the new rules and will not adopt a “one size fits all” approach.

However, Andrew Tyrie, head of an influential parliamentary committee that scrutinizes Britain’s finance ministry, has warned that banks could look to find ways around the ring-fence and should face the threat of being broken up if they do.

Britain’s biggest customer-facing banks - Lloyds and RBS - hope to include as much as possible within the ring-fenced entity, whereas those with more risky investment activities, such as Barclays and HSBC, want fewer of their assets to be kept within the ringfence, industry sources have said.

The regulator will publish final rules in the first half of 2016, giving banks three years to prepare. “It will then be a Herculean task to implement within each bank the necessary requirements operationally,” said Tony Anderson, a partner at law firm Pinsent Masons. l