06 jan, 2015

Paush 23, 1421 Rabiul Awal 14, 1436 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 272

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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12 | SPORT

POLITICAL UNREST CRIPPLES BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY

A LEAR’S FOOL TO KING TARIQUEW

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Mounting tension results in violence BNP calls hartals in separate districts protesting four deaths n Tribune Report Growing political tension culminated in a day of sporadic violence yesterday, which saw at least four people killed, party offices burned and scores of others injured across the country.

Although the January 5 programmes by political rivals Awami League and BNP were centred around Dhaka, the fatalities took place in three north-western districts: two deaths in Natore and one each in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj. Protesting the deaths and arrests, local units of the BNP called hartals separately in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj and Natore.

P3 CHITTAGONG ROCKED However, throughout the day, the media’s main attention remained on the BNP chairperson’s Gulshan office, from where Khaleda Zia emerged in the afternoon to announce an indefinite countrywide blockade programme.

Amid the DMP’s announcement of imposing restrictions against demonstrations in the city, neither the Awami League nor the BNP staged any rally; although ruling party supporters were seen gathered in groups at different areas across the capital in an apparent attempt to resist any BNP attempt to hold programmes.

Supporters of the two parties engaged in a scuffle at the National Press Club premises when BNP acting secre-

tary general Mirza Fakrhul Islam Alamgir was leaving after attending a programme there.

Separate acts of violence in the city also saw vehicles being vandalised, arson attacks taking place, while several people were injured in sporadic clashes.

However, the largest incident of violence took place in Natore, where clashes claimed the lives of at least two and injured 22 others in Tebbaria area under the Sadar upazila. Our Natore correspondent reports that the victims were Rayhan Hossain Rana, 25, son of Mithun of Naogoan; and Rakib, 26, son of Chand Munshi of Tebaria Uttarpara village.

The local BNP unit claimed that both of the deceased belonged to their party.

They also called a dawn-to-dusk hartal in the district protesting the deaths.

One person was also killed in Rajshahi’s Puthia, where a clash broke out among Awami League, BNP-Jamaat and law enforcers. At least 20 others were also injured including five policemen. The local BNP claimed that the deceased, 35-year-old Abdul Majid, was one of their own men and called a dawn-to-dusk hartal in the district today protesting his death.

The Awami League, on the other hand, also claimed Majid to be a supporter of the ruling party.

However, Puthia police station Inspector Hafizur Rahman said Majid was a shopkeeper at Baneshwar Bazar and had died after being caught in the line  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

n Tribune Desk

3 | News

Khaleda Zia was barred from going out of her Gulshan office twice in 2 days first on Saturday night, and then yesterday afternoon. She had this experience once before a year ago - on that occasion too, she was not allowed to go out and attend a programme.

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Once again “confined” and barred from joining a rally of the 20-party alliance, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday announced a countrywide indefinite blockade of road, rail and waterways.

“The programme will continue until further notice. We will set the next course of action after the situation

4 | News

Opposition leader Rawshan Ershad yesterday said Jatiya Party ministers will quit the cabinet soon so that the party can play effective opposition role.

The scarcity of transportation in the capital yesterday caused a lot of suffering to commuters, who swarmed around any available vehicle to hitch a ride. The photo was taken at Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN the worst. If all these transport service remain closed then the government should also shut all the offices and educational institutions.

“We do not want to be another Bishwajit [Das] who was murdered because of such undemocratic political practice and movement,” he said.

Like Sadek, those looking to enter the capital also had stories of sufferings to share.

Sarif Uddin, a college student from Jessore, said he had to change transports at least six times after leaving his district on Sunday night. He was in a rush to reach the capital by yesterday morning to visit his ailing father in Dhaka’s Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, but was forced to be delayed in every step of the way.

At first, Sarif, accompanied by his

n Mohammad Jamil Khan

described the measures as an effort to provide better security for the opposition politician.

Because of the locked gates, the BNP chairperson’s lunch, sent around 2pm, was delivered to her by jumping over the north wall of the compound.

Khaleda came down from the second floor of the office around 3:48pm and BNP supporters repeatedly asked police to unlock the gate. But they would not, saying the gate would remain locked for Khaleda’s own safety.

“It would be not safe for the BNP chairperson to go outside the office,” the on-duty police officials said in response to BNP supporters’ requests.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Gulshan Police Ayesha Siddiqa, who was coordinating the police members on duty in front of the Gulshan office, declined to comment on why the gates had been locked.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP)

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Police: Everything done for Khaleda’s own good The press corps and law enforcers readied themselves yesterday around 12 noon as news spread outside the BNP’s Gulshan office that its chairperson, Khaleda Zia, would finally emerge from the office where she had been confined.

Suddenly, three female police personnel strode up to the main gate of the BNP office and turned to face the street.

One of them, attempting to conceal her actions, locked the gate shut. At her side, the two other policewomen gave her cover.

In swift succession, the pocket gate and emergency gate on the north side of the office were also locked.

Some 37 hours after Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairperson Khaleda Zia was confined by police to her party’s Gulshan office, the locking of the office’s gates by policewomen effectively imprisoned the opposition politician.

The state minister for home affairs

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 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Khaleda calls non-stop blockade

n Abid Azad

INSIDE

ers alleged that she had been placed in “confinement.”

At least 11 sand and bricks-laden trucks, several platoons of law enforcers and several police vans have been stationed outside the BNP chief’s office.

She was barred from coming out at least twice – once late on Saturday night, and then again yesterday afternoon.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday advised BNP chief Khaleda Zia on how she could earn people’s trust and come to power in future, but for the moment she said Khaleda should focus on her party and leave the “path of violence.”

“The way you are doing politics will not benefit the people; rather, you will lose their trust and confidence. Shun the path of violence and choose the one of peace. Tell the people about your plans for the betterment of people’s socio-economic condition,” the prime minister said in her speech marking one year of the 10th general election.

“Reorganise your party; then you may have some scopes in the future [to come to power]. People want security, peace and development,” she said.

Reiterating that it was Khaleda’s “political mistake” not to join the 10th general election, Hasina said: “You and your party are out of parliament because of your political mistake. Who will you blame? You have to blame yourself.”

In her written speech, the prime minister elaborated the achievements of her government’s consecutive two terms in different sectors and compared with the BNP-Jamaat-led four-party government of 2001-06. However, she did not mention anything about the possibility of a dialogue over mid-term election, a demand that the BNP-led alliance has been pressing since the election.

The premier claimed that her

Confined to her Gulshan office, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia addresses the media from inside the premises yesterday

People suffer as Dhaka marooned On a day of fear and uncertainty surrounding the January 5 political programmes, unending miseries had to be endured by passengers willing to enter or leave Dhaka or commute within the capital.

Although no political party had called a hartal yesterday, inter-district communication with Dhaka came to a near standstill with only the railway link staying open yesterday.

Ahead of yesterday’s announced programmes by the Awami League and the BNP, bus and launch services in the capital started to come to an almost complete halt from as early as Sunday.

Only a handful of buses were seen operating on Dhaka streets yesterday, with rickshaws and CNG-run autorickshaws – drivers of which seized the opportunity to spike up fares – becoming the only available option open to city commuters.

Abu Sadek, a Dhaka resident who could not find a public transport to reach his office in time, told the Dhaka Tribune: “I need to go to my office to keep my job. This is ridiculous that because of political parties’ clashes, we the general people will have to suffer

Hasina advises Khaleda to reorganise her party first

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

calms down. I will ask the 20-party alliance leaders and activists to carry on with the movement until our demand is fulfilled,” she said.

The BNP chief made the announcement in an unscheduled media briefing in front of her Gulshan office yesterday afternoon.

By then, she had already spent nearly 48 hours inside the office; BNP lead-

RAJIB DHAR

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Dr Kamal: Break deadlock through consensus, not violence n UNB Dr Kamal Hossain yesterday said the present political standoff should be overcomed through a national consensus and dialogue, not through street violence.

“We need to overcome this situation through an immediate national consensus and dialogue, not street violence,” he told a roundtable at the Jatiya Press Club.

Nagarik Oikya, a platform of civil society members, arranged the roundtable styled “The January 5 and Aftermath” on the occasion of the 1st anniversary of the January 5 parliamentary elections that largely went uncontested.

Dr Kamal, also president of Gonoforum, urged people to forge a strong unity and wage a mass movement for arranging a national dialogue to break the present political deadlock.

Noting that the country is now passing through a war-like situation, he said “Who called the war against whom? Has the government called a war against people? This situation cannot be allowed continue.”

About the January 5 elections, Dr Kamal said: “No election was held on January 5. It was rather farce in the name of election. A majority of the people did not participate in the polls as they boycotted it...there’s no doubt.

The country didn’t find true representatives with the January-5 elections.”

He called upon people to get united for the restoration of people’s rule through a free, fair and neutral election.

Chaired by Nagarik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, the function was addressed, among others, by Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) President ASM Abdur Rab and ex-Ducsu VP Sultan Mohammad Mansur. l

BNP men attack two photojournalists n Tribune Report

Dhaka Tribune photojournalist Azahar Uddin, wearing the yellow jacket, is being assisted by a colleague after he was assaulted by BNP activists while trying to take pictures of an ongoing clash in Rajshahi city DHAKA TRIBUNE

Happy files Police: Everything done writ for Rubel’s removal  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

n Tribune Report Actress Naznin Akter Happy yesterday filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking removal cricketer Rubel Hossain from the World Cup cricket team.

Happy’s counsel Eunus Ali Akond told the Dhaka Tribune that the petitioner sought a court order to remove him from the national team as well as the World Cup squad before the disposal of the writ.

“She pleaded with the court to seize Rubel’s passport until the lawsuit she had filed against him was disposed of.

She also sought a ruling as to why respondents in the petition should not be instructed to ensure her security,” he said.

The actress also sought a court directive as to why the respondents should not be instructed to remove Rubel from the national and world cup cricket teams and why his passport would not be seized until the disposal of her case.

The home secretary, sports secretary, president of Bangladesh Cricket Board, chief metropolitan magistrate of Dhaka, Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal 5, officer-incharge of Mirpur Model police station, and Rubel were made respondents in the petition. l

Deputy Commissioner (media and publication) Masudur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that the police needed to look into the situation to determine how a lock came to be placed on the main gate of the BNP Gulshan office.

Although the deputy commissioner for media would not give a direct answer, State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said Khaleda had been kept in this condition for her own security.

“If the police feel it is safe, then she is free to go home or to her party’s Nayapaltan office, but the police will make that decision when they determine that she is safe,” he said.

Police will provide security to Khaleda Zia’s office as long as she needs it, the state minister said to reporters at his office yesterday.

Kamal said the government had taken the precautions for Khaleda because of a general diary (GD) filed on her behalf with the police station demanding better security.

Earlier on December 31, Khaleda’s lawyer Advocate Zakir Hossain filed the GD with Chawkbazar police station urging the police to ensure her security.

The GD mentions an attack on Khaleda’s private car on December 24 when she was on her way to a special court in Bakshibazar for a deposition hearing in the Charitable Trust and Zia Orphanage Trust corruption cases. The GD application said Khaleda needed better security during her trial.

Using the general diary as their ra-

tionale, police confined the BNP chief to her Gulshan office.

Police first cordoned off the entrance to the BNP Gulshan office around 11pm on Saturday.

Besides deploying more than one hundred personnel to the front of the office, police completely blocked the entrance to the office with a dozen trucks loaded with bricks and sand.

The state minister for home affairs said the trucks had been placed there to provide cover in the event of violence.

Police pick-up vans, armoured personnel carriers, water cannon and Jeeps had also been deployed to the party office.

Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of the Detective Branch of police and spokesperson for the DMP commissioner, denied that the BNP chairperson had been confined to her Gulshan office.

“Security had simply been increased in the area and she could have left on the first day if she wanted to,” he said.

Monirul further said it was the police’s responsibility to ensure the security of every citizen.

“Khaleda Zia, a former prime minister and chief of a major political party, requires good security. Because various political parties had announced programmes on January 5, her security was increased for her safety and nothing else,” Monirul said.

The trucks have been removed, as of 10pm yesterday, but police remain on the scene and the office is still locked, eyewitnesses said. l

Hasina advises Khaleda to reorganise her party first  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

government had curbed corruption significantly by strengthening the Anti-Corruption Commission.

Mentioning that the Awami League has so far given licence for 32 television channels, 22 FM radio stations and 32 community radios, she said: “The media in Bangladesh is now enjoying absolute freedom.”

Blaming the BNP-Jamaat activists for the incidents of violence before the election, Hasina said: “Again, there have been efforts to create anarchy when the country is moving forward through the highway of development.”

She also claimed that those who did not believe in the existence of Bangladesh were conspiring to foil the war crimes trials and save the accused and convicts.

Hasina affirmed that her government

would complete trial of all war criminals.

Also the ruling Awami League president, Hasina said: “We want to come out of the ill political culture. We want to establish the form of politics that will serve the country and the people.”

The premier also asked for assistance of the people to make the country a developed one by 2041 in line with her party’s 2014 election manifesto.

“Before the 2008 election, we pledged to turn Bangladesh a middle-income country by 2021. Insha’Allah, we will reach our goal ahead of the time.

“Because of the people’s cooperation, we have been able to carry forward the development initiatives taken earlier. Moreover, it has given us the scope to take up new plans ...”

She urged the people to uphold the spirit of democracy by building resist-

Khaleda calls non-stop blockade  PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

Police said the beefed up measures were part of a strategy to ensure security for the BNP chairperson; but they refused to describe the strategy in detail.

The BNP repeatedly asked why police needed to lock the main gate and station sand and bricks-laden trucks in the area if they were really there to ensure security.

Journalists were not allowed to enter the office premises and a lock was put on the main gate yesterday afternoon.

Wearing a cream-coloured saree, Khaleda Zia came down and got into her white Nissan Petrol around 3:20pm, in an attempt to go to the BNP’s Nayapaltan office to attend a rally there.

Earlier, Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) banned all kinds of processions and gatherings in the city after both ruling Awami League and the BNP-led 20-party alliance sought permission to hold programmes yesterday.

The BNP wanted to observe January 5 as “Democracy Killing Day;” for the

Awami League, it was the “Victory Day of Democracy.”

When Khaleda was barred from coming out, Abdul Kayeum, a former inspector general of police, and Shamshur Rahman Shimul Biswas, her special assistant, talked to police; but their calls to let her out were not heeded.

Biswas then accused Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal of lying. Both the PM and the junior minister had said Khaleda had not been confined; she could go home if she wanted.

Aggrieved BNP leaders, especially those from the women’s front Mohila Dal, began chanting anti-government slogans inside the office compound.

When they started hitting the gate, police used pepper spray to disperse them. Several journalists and BNP leaders were injured by the pepper.

The BNP chief told journalists: “Not just me, the entire country is confined.”

She said she did not know the reason behind the confinement.

She said: “The government has im-

BNP supporters attacked two photojournalists during a clash with police at Puthia upazila in Rajshahi yesterday.

Azahar Uddin, a photojournalist of the Dhaka Tribune, and Rayhan, a cameraman from Channel 24, were attacked around 4:45pm.

According to Azahar, he was returning home after taking some photos in Natore, where two people were killed in an Awami League-BNP clash.

When he reached the upazila’s Baneshwar, he found the BNP supporters trying to break the police barricade.

He went there to take some photos of the incident and found Channel 24 cameraman Rayhan being attacked with sticks and iron rods.

“I rushed there and they also attacked me with brick chips, leaving me to bleed,” the Dhaka Tribune photojournalist said, adding that his camera was also vandalised by the attackers.

He added BNP attackers later apologised and requested him not to publish this incident in the newspaper. l

Mounting tension results in violence  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

of fire during the clash. Violence broke out in the area when the police tried to bar a BNP-Jamaat procession from approaching an Awami League rally at Baneshwar intersection, he added.

“BNP-Jamaat men opened fire at the police and Awami League supporters.

The police retaliated with rubber bullets and tear gas shells,” said Hafiz.

Also in Rajshahi’s Poba upazila, Rajshahi 3 lawmaker Ayen Uddin escaped unscathed from a bomb attack on a rally in Katkhali, while ruling party supporters caught two Shibir men – Shakil Hossain and Shakil Ahmed – red handed from the scene and took them to the police.

Meanwhile, in Kansat of Chapainawabganj, a man – allegedly belonging to the BNP – was shot dead during a clash between BNP-Jamaat and law enforecers in the afternoon. In protest the 20-party alliance has called a dawn-todusk hartal in the district for today.

Supporters of the BNP-Jamaat defied section 144 to bring out a procession in the town; when it reached the Gopalnagar intersection, a clash broke out – with the activists allegedly blasting over a hundred crude bombs and the police retaliating with rubber bullets and tear-shells.

The deceased, who was later identified as one Jamshed Ali, was injured during the violence and died on the way to hospital, said Shibganj police station Officer-in-Charge MM Moynul Islam, adding that around 30 more also sustained injuries in the clash.

ance against any subversive acts and militancy.

Saying that her party was “ready to make sacrifice” to hold the 10th parliamentary election in line with the constitution, Hasina said: “We tried a lot to sit for dialogue before the election. We wanted to make sacrifices to hold election under the constitution. We were ready to form all-party cabinet ahead of the election … we had only one demand – to hold the election under the purview of the constitution. There is no scope to conduct the poll under an unelected government system.

“But the BNP-Jamaat alliance wanted to create anarchy and destabilise the country with a view to capture power through the back door. But the people did not step into their trap ...”

She said 2014 was a glorious year in

the history of Bangalis in terms of overall development, continuation of the constitution and democracy and keeping the people inspired by the spirit of the Liberation War. “In the five years of previous tenure and one year of the current tenure, Bangladesh has become a role model in the world with respect to improvement in socio-economic condition of the people. It has happened because of the successful implementation of our development schemes.”

On the other hand, Hasina said the 2001-06 term of the BNP-Jamaat government was full of misrule, corruption and militant activities. “Moreover, the country’s economic condition remained devastated during the two years of the subsequent caretaker government because of their oppressive policy.” l

posed section 144 to thwart our peaceful protest rally and black flag procession; but it would not be possible to stop our movement by doing so...The blockade programme will continue across the country until further notice.

I am calling upon the people to carry on with the protest. We should be allowed to hold rallies.

“They [government] said they have not confined me. Then why is the gate locked? Why am I being barred from going out? If I have not been confined then why are people not allowed to meet me?”

Khaleda said everybody knew why she was confined and why they were not allowed to hold a rally to mark Democracy Killing Day. “The government did not provide any security when it was needed. When we wanted to hold rally, they blocked it in the name of providing security. What type of security is this?”

At one point, addressing the police personnel, Khaleda said: “Why brothers? Why are you spraying gas? I am

just talking. Will you not allow me to even speak out?”

She alleged that the government’s agents have infiltrated the police force; only people from a certain district were recruited. She told the police personnel: “Do not cross the limit; it will not last forever. You will have to suffer for this.”

Khaleda said the government was scared of the people and that was why the BNP was not allowed to hold the programme. “If I join the rally, then people from different walks of life will join.

This illegal government is scared of confronting people because they have lost the ground beneath their feet.”

She once again called upon the government to initiate talks to create an atmosphere to hold a free, fair and credible election.

As of 1:30am, the sand and brick-laden trucks had been removed and the security cordon around her office was somewhat eased. But police vehicles and personnel remained in front of the office gate. l

In Chittagong, at least 25 people including 10 policemen were injured during clashes between BNP-Jamaat and law enforcers in a 5km radius in the city stretching from Kazir Dewri, Nasiman Bhaban, Almas Cinema, MA Aziz Stadium, Enayet Bazar and CWASA intersection.

Protesting the arrest of their local leaders, the BNP’s Chittagong city unit called a dawn-to-dusk hartal for today – which will be staged in Chittagong city and 14 upazilas of the district. Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, BNP’s Chittagong city unit president, issued a press release yesterday evening in this regard.

Reports of violence also came in from other places of the country.

In Pabna, at least 10 people were injured in clashes between the BNP and Awami League; in Chandpur, 10 men were injured – with three suffering bullet injuries; in Brahmanbaria, 25 were injured in a clash between BNP and Chhatra League.

In Bogra, former BNP lawmaker AKM Hafizur Rahman sustained injuries in a clash, while violence also broke out in Sirajganj, Noakhali and Sylhet. Police arrested 27 men from Barisal, 10 from Meherpur, and 36 from Chandpur.

Separate acts of vandalism were also carried out in the capital, with at least 19 vehicles being burnt by BNP-Jamaat activists since Sunday noon. Two motorcycles were also set ablaze yesterday in front of the BNP’s Nayapaltan office – which had been

cordoned off by law enforcers for the past few days.

In the capital’s Shahjahanpur and Bijoynagar, the police opened fire on two processions of the BNP, leaving around 15 men injured. The procession at Shahjahanpur was led by BNP leader Mirza Abbas while the other was led by Habib Un Nabi Sohel.

Meanwhile, at the High Court premises, pro-BNP lawyers staged demonstrations and tried to bring out a black flag procession. After police barred protesters, the lawyers allegedly beat up a court watchman and a police constable. The lawyers also traded brickbats with Chhatra League men who were outside the court premises.

A pro-BNP lawyer, Saidur Rahman Jatan, sustained injuries when a stick held by a man from his own side hit him, while protesters also struck a car of a High Court judge with a stick.

Also in the capital, police recovered 20 petrol bombs from a house in Gendaria, while miscreants set fire to offices of the Awami League and its labour wing Sramik League at Nayabazar and Jatrabari.

Fire Service sources said unknown people set fire to the Awami League office in French Road at Nayabazar around 5:13am and another group attacked and set fire to the Sramik League office at Jatrabari around 6:45am.

In the evening, Chhatra League activists, on the other hand, allegedly vandalised Ibn Sina Hospital in Dhanmondi, which has heavy links to Jamaat. l

People suffer as Dhaka marooned  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

mother, could only travel as far as the Aricha ferry terminal by bus from Jessore. They had to wait there until sunrise before taking a pickup van ride to Dhamrai, then a CNG-autorickshaw ride to Nabinagar, followed by a rickshaw ride to Savar town. There, they found a local bus which brought them as far as Hemayetpur before being stopped by the police; after a brief walk, another CNG-autorickshaw followed – which was again stopped by the police near Aminbazar.

The mother and son had to walk the rest of the way to Gabtoli, an ordeal which caused physical distress to Sarif’s mother – who was aged more than 50 years.

Visiting different transport terminals and bus stops between Savar and Dhaka, thousands of people were seen waiting for a public transport; many of them gave up hope after hours of waiting and were forced to settle for a highpriced ride on CNG-autorickshaws.

Our Savar correspondent reported that five police checkpoints had been set up on the Dhaka-Aricha highway, where vehicles were being turned away and individuals were being screened for security. Supporters of the ruling party were also active on the highway to turn away vehicles, while around 100 Awami League activists sat and occupied one side of the highway in Gabtoli to stop vehicles from entering.

When asked why buses and autorickshaws were being stopped by the police at Aminbazar, an on-duty policeman there – seeking anonymity – told the Dhaka Tribune that it was an order from the “upper level” to maintain law and order.

Our Munshiganj correspondent also reported that road communication on Dhaka-Munshiganj, Dhaka-Chittagong and Dhaka-Mawa highways saw no buses operating; while ferries on the Shimulia-Kewrakandi route carried only a handful of cars, goods-laden vehicles and ambulances.

Scenes of passenger suffering was also common at the inter-district bus terminals in the capital’s Mohakhali and Sayedabad bus terminals as well as the Sadarghat launch terminal.

No bus reportedly reached or left the terminals since Sunday night, while Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association Secretary General Khandakar Enayet Ullah told the Dhaka Tribune that buses had not left the capital because of “security reasons.”

Mohammad Solaiman, a Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) official working at Sadarghat, said: “Last day more than 55 launches had reached the terminal while everyday generally more than 60 launches reach the terminal. But on Monday morning, no launch has arrived.”

A launch staff, Kalu Miah, however told the Dhaka Tribune that they have been “ordered” by the BIWTA authorities to halt all operations on Buriganga River.

Train service was the only mode of transportation that saw no major setbacks; although there was lower number of passengers than usual.

Kamalapur Railway Station’s Assistant Information Officer Md Masud said: “Every train has reached and left the station on time. On Monday, till 1:30pm about 23 trains left Dhaka while 22-24 reached the station.”

Meanwhile, the fear of untoward violence prompted many of the capital’s shop owners and hawkers to keep their business closed for the day.

Despite the DMP authority’s imposition of the restrictions in line with DMP ordinance section 28 and 29, supporters of the ruling party and its associate bodies were seen sitting in groups at different intersections of the capital – often playing songs on loudspeakers at high volume.

The police, along with BGB and RAB forces, remained stationed at strategic points as well as patrolling the streets of the capital. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Khaleda Zia’s two nights and two days n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla On Saturday night, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia decided to visit Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, the ailing joint secretary general who was at that time staying in the party’s Nayapaltan office. Around 10:30pm, she asked her personal aides to get ready to go to there.

However, by the time she came down the stairs and got onto her white Nissan Petrol inside the main gate of her Gulshan office around 11:30pm, police had entered the Nayapaltan office and taken Rizvi “to a hospital for treatment.” Additional law enforcers were deployed in front of Khaleda’s Gulshan office as well.

BNP leaders alleged that their chief had been barred from going out of her office.

When the first of the journalists arrived in Gulshan, they saw several police trucks and vans had taken position around the office. One truck was parked on the right side of the office and three on the left. Police officials present in the area refused to say anything about their movements.

At midnight, Khaleda’s special assistant Shamshur Rahman Shimul Biswas alleged that she had been confined and was not allowed to come out. Selima Rahman, Syeda Asifa Ashrafi Papya, Rehena Akter Ranu, Nilofar Chowdhury Moni, Shirin Sultana, Khaleda Yeasmin and some other female leaders were in the office with the party chief.

Around 1 o’clock in the morning, Khaleda’s housemaid Kulsum entered the office, bringing with her at least eight big travel bags. Half an hour later, a pick-up van brought a mattress and it was taken inside.

Since Saturday night, no BNP leader or activist was allowed to enter the office. A female leader mockingly said: “Incoming and outgoing, nothing free.”

Around 2:30am, someone brought food for the leaders who were inside the office and also for the reporters who were waiting outside.

Several senior journalists said they do not remember any previous occasion when the former prime minister had to “live” in the office. Around 9 o’clock on Sunday, breakfast was brought.

An hour or so later, some leaders from Mohila Dal, women’s front of the party, tried to enter the office but police prevented them; 13 were detained from the spot.

Around midday, a scuffle took place between Mohila Dal leaders and some supporters of the ruling Awami League; the ruling party men beat up some of the women.

‘Unlock the gate. I want to go to the Nayapaltan central office.

Cooperate with me’ Then former president of the country AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, now president of Bikalpadhara Bangladesh, went there to meet Khaleda; but he and his supporters too were not allowed in.

Some pro-BNP journalists and lawyers then went to meet her in the office; after coming out, they told media that she was still determined to attend the rally that the party wanted to hold

yesterday and have not got the permission for.

After sunset, police took position right in front of the gate of Khaleda’s Gulshan office and were now preventing even journalists from entering.

Around midnight, four trucks, laden with sand and bricks, were brought and parked outside the office. Soon, the number of trucks was increased and by yesterday evening, a total of 11 trucks were stationed in the area.

A water cannon, armed cars, police vans and a good number of female police were deployed outside the office.

Police then locked the main gate from outside. In the afternoon, RAB members joined in.

However, when this report was filed at 1:30am, Khaleda was still in the office; but all of the freight trucks were removed from the area and the guard was somewhat eased. However, police vehicles remained.

While briefing reporters from “confinement,” Khaleda said: “Unlock the gate. I want to go to the Nayapaltan central office. Cooperate with me.”

Somebody asked her how she was.

Awami League-BNP clash at Press Club leaves five injured n Tribune Report At least five people were injured when supporters of both the ruling party and the opposition party locked into clash on the National Press Club premises yesterday centring presence of the BNP’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

The incident took place while Mirza Fakhrul, after attending a program of Peshajibi Parishad at the press club premise, was going out around 3.30pm.

Convener of the organisation, a pro-BNP body, journalist leader Ruhul Amin Gazi arranged the event marking the “Democracy Killing Day” despite a ban on rallies by Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Prior to this, the pro-Awami League Bangladesh Federal Union and Dhaka Journalist Union held another programme marking January 5 as “Democracy Salvage Day.”

The BNP supporters started chanting slogans when Mirza Fakhrul was going out after delivering his speech at the event. Upon hearing their slogans, the ruling party supporters, who were attending another event in the same premise, also started to chant slogans.

At one point, Fakhrul and his supporters tried to enter the main premise of the Press Club and vandalised the nameplate of martyr journalists.

Soon a clash broke out when Projonmo League and Jubo League activists, who already took position in front of the Press Club, entered the premise wielding sticks.

Some senior journalists of the National Press Club brought the situation under control nearly 15 minutes after the clash broke out between the arch-rivals.

In the meantime, BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul and his associates took shelter at the room of the Press Club secretary.

WEATHER

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

13 15 10 11 9 12 11 16

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

28.2ºC Teknaf

13.8ºC Ishwardi

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

At least 25 people, including 10 policemen, were injured in a clash between BNP-Jamaat 20-party alliance men and law enforcers at a rally in Chittagong city yesterday.

Police resisted BNP-Shibir activists who attempted to demonstrate beyond the permitted venue of the rally, the BNP office premises at Nasiman Bhaban, Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) Assistant Commissioner (Kotwali circle) Shah Mohammad Abdur Rouf said.

“Police tried to control the situation when BNP-Shibir men attacked the police with brickbats and exploded crude bombs, opening fire with tear gas shells and shotgun rounds to disperse them,”

n Abu Hayat Mahmud

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6

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

Dhaka Metropolitan Police has clarified that no section 144 under the Code of Criminal Procedure was imposed in the capital. The DMP on Sunday imposed a ban on all kinds of meetings and procession sin the city from 5pm that day until further order.

The directive came as the Awami League and BNP announced rallies for yesterday.

DMP Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman said: “We imposed the ban in line with section 28 and 29 of the DMP Ordinance. In the ordinance, there is no scope of issuing any order under section 144 of the [CrPC] in any metropolitan area.”

According to section 21 of the DMP Ordinance of 1976, enforcement of directions, notifications, public notices and orders can be given, issued or made. Section 28 allows the police commissioner to prohibit certain acts for prevention of disorder while under section 29 a police commissioner can prohibit assembly or procession.

Masudur said: “Whenever we issue an order, we mention the section.” l

Criticising the BNP’s event, Prime Minister’s Information Affairs Secretary and senior journalist Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury said the Press Club was meant for only journalists to perform professional duties. “Political personalities are welcome here only to share greetings and we would entertain them but it doesn’t mean that Press Club can be used for political activities,” he said.

“We condemn the vandalising of the martyrs’ nameplate by the BNP men,” he said adding that only the anti-independence party could do such an act.

When asked, Press Club General Secretary Syed Abdal Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune that it was nothing but a minor brawl and they had already settled the issue after talking with senior journalists.

A large number of police was deployed in front of the Press Club, where Mirza Fakhrul was still staying till filing of this report at 1:30am. l

Supporters of the Awami League and BNP get involved in a scuffle inside the National Press Club compound in the capital yesterday.

Journalist leaders later brought the situation under control MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

he said.

Police forces fired more than one hundred rounds of tear gas, shotgun and other firearm bullets to control the situation, Rouf said.

The CMP assistant commissioner told the Dhaka Tribune that law enforcers recovered 20 Molotov cocktails and crude bombs from the BNP rally venue.

Eyewitnesses and police sources said several hundred BNP-Shibir men, carrying placards, banners, bamboo sticks and a coffin meant to symbolise democracy’s demise, chanted slogans and attempted to stage a demonstration at the Kazir Dewri intersection around 3:30pm.

The scuffle between police and BNP-Shibir men over gathering outside the permitted rally venue escalated within moments into a full-blown

clash, sources said.

Demonstrators torched three vehicles, vandalised 14 others and set tyres on fire on the roads, eyewitnesses said.

The clashes engulfed the BNP party office where the 20-party alliance rally was being held.

BNP Chittagong city unit President Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury and other top alliance leaders, standing on a makeshift stage on top of a truck, tried to calm the situation down.

The leaders later took shelter inside the party’s office, eyewitnesses added.

The clashes turned the area into a battlefield with residents running for cover as panic spread amid the fighting and gun fire.

The hour-long engagement was brought under control after police cleared the streets and raided buildings

in the area, including the BNP office, said a police official.

Injury reports came in from a five-kilometre radius area of the port city yesterday that included Kazir Dewri, Nasiman Bhaban, Almas Cinema, MA Aziz Stadium, Enayet Bazar and CWASA intersection.

Following the confrontation, police raided the BNP’s Chittagong city office at Nasiman Bhaban and adjoining areas and took some 200 people into custody, including BNP district (North) unit convener Aslam Chowdhury and district (South) unit vice-president Enamul Hoque, for their alleged connection to the unrest, police sources said.

The injured policemen are Kotwali police station Sub-Inspector (SI) Nurul Islam, CMP reserve force Constables

Dhaka streets under Awami League control

DRY WEATHER LIKELY

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

In reply she said: “It has been hard. It is painful but I have no other option.”

When she was trying to come out, police sprayed pepper from outside the gate to disperse Khaleda’s entourage.

Her press secretary Maruf Kamal Khan told the Dhaka Tribune that the BNP chief had “fallen ill because of the pepper spray.”Her personal physician Dr Mamun entered the office around 7pm and she took treatment from him.

This experience is not new for the BNP chief. On December 27, 2013, Khaleda Zia was confined at her Gulshan residence after she had announced joining the “March for Democracy.”

On that occasion too, some sand-laden trucks were stationed outside her residence and journalists too were also barred from entering her residence.

Just like yesterday, Khaleda could not join that programme either.

However, one difference is that Khaleda, who was struggling to control her anger while talking to journalists one year ago, yesterday appeared much more calm and composed. l

DMP: It was not section 144 n Tribune Report

Chittagong rocked by clash between BNP-Shibir and police

Six establishments gutted in Ashulia Mahmud and FM Mizanur n Tarek Rahaman, Chittagong n Our Correspondent, Savar Four houses and two jhut warehouses were burnt down in a fire in Jamgora area of Ashulia yesterday. The incident took place around 5:45pm. No casualty was reported.

Fire service said locals spotted smoke coming out of the house of one Malek which spread quickly to engulfing the nearby warehouses.

Seven fire fighting units rushed to the spot and doused the fire after around two and half hours of effort.

Ashulia DEPZ Senior Station Officer confirmed the incident, but could not confirm the cause. The affected sides claimed that loss from the fire could be around Tk50 lakh. l

3

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

The ruling Awami League and its affiliates gathered at different spots of the capital to observe the “Victory Day of Democracy” yesterday and resist BNP’s counter programmes.

Several leaders and activists of the Awami League were also seen on some important roads with banners and festoons.

The Awami Swadhinota League brought out a procession in the morning to observe the first anniversary of the 10th parliamentary election, defying the ban on all political activities placed by Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Members of the Awami Mahila League were seen taking part in all the party programmes.

However, the Awami League postponed its scheduled rallies in Dhaka yesterday. The party members also did not chant slogans when they gathered.

Following Khaleda Zia’s announcement of non-stop blockade, the Awami League-led 14-party alliance also suspended its previously scheduled rally at the Central Shaheed Minar today, said a press release.

Speaking at a gathering in front of the Awami League headquarters at Bangabandhu Avenue, party leader Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya said: “Khaleda Zia was forcibly trying to fight, but the people of the country did not respond to her. People are cele-

brating the Victory Day of Democracy.”

About Khaleda’s alleged confinement, he said: “Neither the Awami League nor the law enforcers have deployed the sand-laden trucks in front of Khaleda Zia’s office. The trucks might have been kept there by Khaleda’s people for renovation purpose.”

Meanwhile, the pro-Awami League and pro-BNP factions in Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists and Dhaka Union of Journalists organised separate meetings at the National Press Club.

Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif said: “Today we are celebrating the Victory Day of Democracy, because there would not be any democracy if the national election were not held on January 5.”

He said: “Even though BNP-Jamaat boycotted the elections and tried to create anarchy at the time, the people of the country took part in the polls.

And now, they have declared to observe democracy killing day on January 5 because they want to ruin the day.

“The Pakistani agent BNP-Jamaat alliance planned violent activities to spoil the day, but the public responded to the call of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and took to the streets to observe the day,” the Awami League leader said.

“People do not fear BNP’s threats.

In fact, their leaders and activists were not seen on the streets because of the fear of the public,” he added.

Earlier, Awami League’s Joint Gen-

The DMP ban could not stop the ruling Awami League’s supporters from bringing out a motor procession in the city yesterday MEHEDI HASAN eral Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak said the ruling party’s rallies at 16 spots throughout the city were suspended “out of respect for law.”

“The Awami League is a responsible political party. Out of respect for law, we halted our rallies in the capital,” Nanak told reporters at the prime minister’s political office at Dhanmondi yesterday morning.

“But we are observing carefully that the BNP and Jamaat, led by Khaleda Zia, are hatching a conspiracy,” he said.

The DMP officials made no com-

ments about Awami League’s gatherings in the capital yesterday when approached by journalists.

However, at a press conference in his office, State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal claimed that he had no information about Awami League’s gatherings or processions.

“If I get such complaints, they will be stopped,” he added.

In another press conference at the prime minister’s political office in Dhanmondi, Awami League presidium member Mohammad Nasim said: “The

Emilon Chakma and Md Shahzahan, who both sustained bullet injuries to their legs. They were admitted to the Dampara Police Line Hospital, police sources said.

Sources in the BNP said at least 12 of its members were injured in the police action, but party leaders, despite several attempts to contact them, could not be reached for confirmation or comment.

Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) police outpost Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Pankaj Barua said four injured people were admitted to the hospital, three with bullet injuries.

Their identities could not be confirmed when this report was filed.

Despite several attempts, no BNP leaders could be reached for comment. l

BNP-Jamaat leaders and activists have gone into hiding after announcing their programmes.”

To the BNP leaders, Nasim said: “Your (BNP’s) activities do not indicate to a real movement. Police will put up barricades, but you would have to break it, which is what we did when you were in power.

“However, If they try to create violence and cause sufferings to the country’s people in the name of movement, we will not tolerate it and take strict actions to resist it.”

Later in the evening, Awami League presidium member Obaidul Quader addressed another press conference at Dhanmondi, where he urged the nation to reject the blockade announced

by Khaleda Zia. In another press release issued around 8:30pm yesterday from Awami League’s Dhanmondi Office, Hanif urged the party leaders and activists to be present at the 16 important locations, including the Suhrawardy Udyan, across the city to resist BNP’s blockade.

Tension has been prevailing across the country due to the political unrest and confrontation centring the counter programmes declared by the Awami League and BNP for January 5.

The BNP had declared to observe the day as the “Democracy Killing Day,” while the Awami League was set to celebrate the “Victory Day of Democracy.” l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Rawshan: JaPa ministers to quit cabinet soon n UNB Opposition leader Rawshan Ershad yesterday said Jatiya Party ministers will quit the cabinet soon so that the party can play an effective role as the opposition.

“We’ve had discussions at the party forum that we’ll play an effective role as the opposition…we’ve decided to come out from the cabinet soon,” she said replying to a question at a press conference at Parliament Media Centre.

Asked whether Jatiya Party supports police siege to BNP chairperson’s Gulshan political office, Rawshan said Khaleda Zia has not been confined.

“We think it has been done for the sake of Khaleda Zia’s security.”

Rawshan, who hardly appear before the media, said they do not know what information the government has about Khaleda Zia. “We don’t support if it has been done out of political motivation.

Woman kills husband for not allowing her to watch Star Jalsha n Our Correspondent, Gazipur A woman killed her husband for allegedly not allowing her to watch Indian channel Star Jalsha at Kapasia upazila in Gazipur on Sunday night.

Police also arrested the woman.

The deceased, Amir Hossain, 28, was the son of Shahjahan Mia of Barkatkanda in the upazila’s Ghagutia.

He was a sales representative of Airtel and a BBA student at Model Institute of Science and Technology.

Locals said his wife Shahida Akter alias Ripa was watching a soap opera on the Indian when he returned home and changed the channel.

Ripa got angry and hit him in his chest and he was taken to Gazipur General Hospital but doctors declared him dead, said Joydebpur police station Officer-in-Charge Rezaul Karim. l

We do support it if it has been done for her security.”

Ruling out the possibility of any a snap election right now, Rawshan Ershad said a democratic environment now prevails in the country and there is no need for any election.

She claimed that Jatiya Party participated in the January 5 parliamentary elections last year to continue the constitutional process and sustain democracy. “Though the political situation has turned a bit unstable, it’ll get normal very soon.”

Opposition chief Whip Tajul Islam Choudhury, Jaitya Party leaders Kazi Firoz Rashid, MP, ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, MP, Fakhrul Imam, MP and Rowshon Ara Mannan, MP were among others, present at the press conference, arranged on the occasion of the first anniversary of the January 5 national election that largely went uncontested. l

Eid-e-Miladunnabi observed

n UNB

Anjuman-e-Rahmania Moinia Maizbhandaria organised a procession, led by Maulana Saifuddin Ahammad Al-Hasani Maizbhandari, to observe Eid-e-Miladunnabi on Sunday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Inu: January 5 poll foiled conspiracy New trips for Maitree n Tribune Report

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu yesterday said the January 5 polls had thwarted the conspiracy of forming unusual government that aimed to nullify the constitutional democratic process through militancy, vandalism and subversive activities.

The minister passed the remarks while talking to reporters at his secretariat office.

Questioning the endeavour of terming the January 5 election a “stigma,” Inu said: “The people who are trying to deliver such word, do not they see that Begum Khaleda Zia is stigmatising the democracy continuously through not acknowledging her mistake or apologising to the people as well as not leaving friendship with militancy?”

Mentioning that leaving militancy was necessary to save democracy, the minister said: “Khaleda Zia is trying to establish unlawful militancy in the country nullifying democracy in the

name of discussion.”

Meanwhile, lawmaker of a Jessore constituency Kazi Nabil Ahmed said the rise of militancy had been checked in the country because of the sagacious leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

“The continuation of democracy and development has been possible because of holding of the general election on January 5 last year,” he said adding that otherwise, the BNPJamaat nexus would have transformed the country into a terrorist one like Pakistan.

The lawmaker was addressing a rally organised by Jessore city and municipality units of the ruling Awami League at Chourasta Intersection in the town yesterday.

He alleged that the BNP-Jamaat men had created an anarchic situation in the country in the name of pursuing their so-called demand for holding elections under a caretaker government.

Claiming that development was guaranteed when Awami League was

in power, the lawmaker said the country achieved bumper production in agricultural sector.

“Now we can export rice to foreign countries. The literacy rate has increased while the rate of deaths of mother and children have been decreased,” he said.

“We outpaced Pakistan in the human development index. We also topped over India in several other aspects of development,” Nabil added.

Comparing Sheikh Hasina with former Malaysian prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the lawmaker said if the Awami League was in power for the next 20 years, “Bangladesh will become a developed country.”

Claiming that the future of BNP was bleak, he said it had no contact with the people.

Awami League leaders Shahidul Islam, Kamrujjaman Chunnu, Haidar Goni Khan, Mohith Kumar Nath also spoke on the occasion with senior Awami League leader Abul Hossain in the chair. l

Boy dies falling off rooftop in Ctg

n CU Correspondent An adolescent boy died after falling from rooftop of an under-construction building in the port city’s Chandgaon area yesterday.

The deceased, Md Sakib, 14, son of Manjurul Alam, from Panchlaish area, had been working as construction worker there, police sources confirm.

Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) police outpost Assistant Sub-Inspector Pankaj Barua said Sakib fell from the second floor of the establishment belonged to a real estate company while he was fixing a grill around 11am.

The injured was whisked off to the CMCH where duty doctors declared him dead, the ASI went on. l

Airtel staff killed in road accident Correspondent, n Our Moulvibazar An employee of mobile phone operator the ‘Airtel’ was killed in a road accident in Moulvibazar yesterday morning.

The deceased was identified as Aminul Islam, 30, son of late Abdur Razzak of village Chandrakuna under Khuksabari union of Sirajganj.

Aminul Islam, a projector operator of the mobile phone company Airtel, was going to Sylhet town from Moulvibazar on a covered van of the company at about 7:30am.

When the vehicle reached Kanakpur, it hit a truck parked on the side of the road and Aminul died on the spot.

The driver of the van was sent to Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital, said Abdus Salek, officer-in-charge of Moulvibazar Sadar Model police station. l

The holy Eid-e-Miladunnabi, marking the birth and demise of Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), was observed across the country yesterday with due reverence and religious fervour.

On this day in 570, the 12th day of Rabiul Awal of the Hijri calendar, Muhammad (pbuh) was born in Makkah of Saudi Arabia with divine blessings and messages of peace for mankind. He also passed away on the same day.

Different Islamic and socio-cultural organisations and political parties held various programmes, including milad mahfil, discussion meetings and Qurankhwani to mark the day.

Thousands of devotees, carrying banners inscribed with the “Kalema Taiyeba,” joined the processions taken out in the city by the religious organisations.

The Islamic Foundation also held programmes, while a milad mahfil was held at the Bangabhaban where President Abdul Hamid took part. Bangladesh Betar and Bangladesh Television as well as other TV channels aired special programmes on the occasion.

President Abdul Hamid, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Opposition Leader Rawshan Ershad and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia greeted the country’s people and Muslims across the world. l

PD – 06/01/15/ 514-9x4

Express launched n Tribune Report Two new trips for the Maitree Express, the sole cross-border train service between Bangladesh and India, was launched yesterday.

Railways Minister Md Mazibul Haque launched the two new runs, Dhaka-Kolkata and Kolkata-Dhaka, at the Cantonment Rail Station in the capital. Ministry Secretary Md Munsur Ali Sikder and Bangladesh Railway Director General Md Amzad Hossain were present at the event as well.

“The demand for the train service has been on the rise, so the governments of Bangladesh and India decided to expand the service,” the minister said.

Maitree Express was launched on April 14, 2008, on the occasion of the Bangla New Year, to re-establish the rail links between the two countries which had been disrupted during the Partition in 1947.

Before the launch of the new runs,

the train service had four runs in a week – twice each from Dhaka and Kolkata. Now, it will run six days a week, with the service off only on Thursday.

‘The government has taken steps to provide proper railway service whereas the BNP tried to destroy the sector’ “The government has taken steps to provide the proper railway service, wherease the BNP tried to destroy this sector,” the railways minister further said.

The distance between the Dhaka Cantonment station and the Kolkata station is 396km. Fares for the Dhaka-Kolkata trip are: Tk2,186 for an air-conditioned cabin, TK1,433 for an air-conditioned seat, and TK960 for a non-AC seat, including the travelling tax and VAT. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Spotlight

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

5

J A N U A R Y 5 , AT A G L A N C E

Clockwise from top left: Two foreign nationals become panicked when activists of the BNP started vandalism at Dhopadighirpar in Sylhet city yesterday l A policeman opens fire on the activists of the BNP in Paltan area in the capital l The photo taken from Brahmanbaria district town shows activists of BNP-Jamaat engaged in a clash with Awami League men l An activist of the BNP hurls a stone at rivals during a clash thatr took place at Paltan in the capital l The photo snapped from Nayabazar area in the capital shows some youths hire a horse cart to go to their destinations because of shortage of transport l Awami League activists beat a suspected Jamaat activits in Badda area of the capital l BNP-backed lawyers chant slogans against the government at the main gate of the High Court in the capital l Some activists of the Jamaat-e-Islami vandalise a pick-up van at Gopibagh in the capital SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN/ MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU/ MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK/DHAKA TRIBUNE

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Gandhi Ashram a historical beacon of humanity n Our Correspondent, Jamalpur During the anti-British movement, people of the Indian Subcontinent set up numerous Gandhi Ashrams across the region to uphold and promote Mahatma Gandhi’s principles of non-violence and non-cooperation.

Being inspired by the movement, Nasir Uddin Sarkar of Jamalpur built a Gandhi Ashram in his village of Kapashatia. After being demolished and neglected for years, the Ashram was recently renovated with the addition of a museum to commemorate the history of Bangladesh’s liberation war.

Nasir Uddin Sarkar, the then secretary of Jamalpur Congress, built the Gandhi Ashram in 1934 at his own house on the bank of Jhenai River, 15 kilometre from the district town.

The aim was to spread Gandhi’s message of non-violence among the people and provide them with various vocational training for self-reliance.

They were taught how to operate spinning wheel, various handicrafts, basic education and physical exercises.

Famous personalities including Sher-e-Bangla AK Fazlul Haq, Maolana Abdul Hamid Khan Bhashani, Comrade Moni Singh, Barin Dutt, Ismail Hossain Siraji, Abdus Sattar and Khandkar Abdul Baki, among others, visited the Gandhi Ashram. Political meetings were regularly held there.

After the partition in 1947 and the emergence of Pakistan, the school, vocational training centres, health facilities, and other infrastructures of the Ashram were demolished by Muslim League activists. They also beat up and severely injured Nasir Uddin Sarkar. Since then the activities slowed down.

However, despite all odds it took part in the liberation war by giving refuge, resources to the local freedom fighters.

After the death of Nasir in 1978, his

family continued to support the Ashram to keep up his legacy.

In 2006, with the help of local people and international community, the Ashram was renovated under a Trustee Board. A Freedom Struggle Museum was also established alongside the Ashram to uphold the history of the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war.

Apart from students, everyday a good number of local and foreign visitors come to see the Ashram, which has rare collection of artefacts from the British era.

It also hosts photos, journals and other historic documents of the liberation war along with screenings of films and documentaries.

One of the most effective programme of the Ashram is ‘Inspiring the young generation in the spirit of the liberation war’, where young learners visit the Ashram to learn about the history and engage in interactive discussion.

Moreover, staying true to the spirit of Gandhi Ashram, it continues to provide free computer and sewing training to the villagers.

Director of the Trustee Board of Gandhi Ashram and the Freedom Struggle Museum, Utpal Kanti Dhar, said: “The Ashram, along with the museum, represents Bangladesh’s long anti-colonial struggle in the 20th century. We are continuously working to enrich it by adding information, photos and other documents related to the history that the Ashram is a proud witness to.”

“Since we are situated in a remote village, we urged the government to repair the road to the Ashram. A guest house in the area will also help attract more visitors,” he added.

Many visitors to the Ashram said if such institutions could be established in the villages across the country, the young generation could learn more about humanity and patriotism. l

Police in action during a clash taken place between Awami Legue and Jamaat-BNP men in Brahmanbaria district town yesterday

100 Jamaat-Shibir men indicted for post-poll violence n Our Correspondent, Jessore The Criminal Investigation Department has indicted at least 100 BNP and Jamaat men for their alleged involvement in the post-poll violence at Malopara under Abhoynagar upazila, Jessore on January 5.

At least 16 people were excluded from charge sheet as their involvement in the violence could not be proved during the preliminary investigation.

Investigation Officer Aminul Islam pressed the charge sheet after investigation.

The indicted accused included Kibria Hossain, Abul Kashem, Mijanur

Rahman, Bokul Mia, Muktadir, Sharifuddin, Mossaraf Hossain, Bakkar Ali, Omar Ali, Ariful Islam, Ismail Hossain, Mizanur Biswas, Saddam Hossain, Israfil Hossain, Hasan, Tariqul Islam, Shihabuddin, Rustam Ali, Taib Ali, Aiub Ali, Rahim Mollah, Nur Islam, Kamrul Islam, Alauddin, Rasel, Azizul Gazi, Shahidul Islam, Muzzafar Hossain, Abdullah Al Mamun and Majibur Rahman.

Police said all of the charge sheeted accused are involved with the politics of Jamaat and the BNP. The people who were excluded from the charge are Yusuf Hossain, Al Amin, Ibrahim, Aiub Ali, Hadiuzzaman, Kamrul Islam, Rezaul Islam, Omar Ali, Asadul

Obscene dance, gambling in Jatrapala protested n Our Correspondent, Panchagarh Villagers protested obscene dance and gambling allegedly going on in local Jatrapala through forming a human chain on Panchagarh-Tetulia highway in Bhajanpur bazar in Tetulia upazila on Sunday.

From the event, about four hundred people under the banner of “Bhajanpur Shushil Somaj” demanded to the authorities concerned to be halted the anti-social activities being staged on the premises of Bhajanpur Degree College in the name of Bijoy Mela. Later, the protesters brought out a procession and held a rally in the bazar where they also alleged that there was open drug sale in guise of raffle draw.

The speakers blamed police for turning eyes to the illegal activities in exchange of bribe and they afterwards submitted a memorandum to local DC Mohammad Salahuddin. l

Housewife tortured brutally n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj A housewife was tortured by in-laws’ house brutally at Kotalipara upazila in the district yesterday for dowry.

The victim was identified as Livu Biswas,18, wife of Ripon Mallik in Boikuntha village of the upazila.

Sources said, Livu, daughter of Romesh Biswas in Chowrashi-Bazitpur village of Rajoir upazila had been married off Ripon 1.5 year before.

After the marriage, Ripon and his family members demanded dowry from the father of Livu.

They used to torture her as she failed to meet up their demand.

The sources said, a month ago, they hit her with hot spatula in several sensitive parts of the body leaving her critically injured. She had been confined in a room for a month since the day. She could not bear the pain of torture and her condition deteriorated mentally.

Yesterday, they cut off her hair forcefully and told the locals that she became mad.

On information, the parents of the victim went to the house of Ripon and rescued Livu with the help of law enforcers.

She was admitted to Rajoir Upazila Health Complex in critical condition.

Mizanur Rahman, Rajoir upazila nirbahi officer confirmed the incident. l

Local people form a human chain in Bhajanpur Bazar are under Tetulia upazila, Panchagargh yesterday, protesting obscene dance and gambling which are going on in the name of Jatrapala DHAKA TRIBUNE

Three killed in Savar n Our Correspondent, Savar

Two persons were killed at Savar and Dhamrai upazilas in Dhaka on Sunday.

Police also recovered the body of a youth in front of Habib Clinic at Ashulia’s Palashbari, nor could they say prima facie whether he was killed.

The body was unidentified until yesterday. The murdered were identified as Riad Morshed Babu, 32, son of Abul Bashar from the Bank Colony in Savar and Tushar, 19, son of Azahar, from Dhamrai municipality.

Witnesses said Riad was critically stabbed by a group of criminals in front of Savar Girls’ High School. He was rushed to a local hospital only to be de-

clared dead.

According to Tushar’s family, he had not returned home since he went out on Friday. He was found dead at an abandoned house beside Othoi Tower in Dhamrai municipality.

Tushar was a second year student of Dhamrai Government College.

His mother Nilufa Yasmin said he had placed a bet of Tk10,000 over a mobile phone game a few days ago. He lost but failed to pay it up.

She suspected that her son was killed because of his inability to pay it up.

Savar and Dhamrai Circle Assistant Superintendent of Police Rasel Sheikh confirmed the incidents and said three separate cases were filed with local police. l

Man killed by in-laws n Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

A man was killed by in-laws in Bhairab upazila of the district on Saturday night over family feud.

The deceased was identified as Shafiqul Islam, 26, son of Nurul Islam of Srinagar village under the upazila.

According to police and local sources, Shafiqul married Ratna Begum, daughter of Abdur Rashid of Badhunagar village in the upazila two years ago.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

After the marriage, they used to lock in feud over family affairs.

Shafiqul came to visit her in-law’s house on Thursday with his wife. He had been beaten up severely by his father-in-law Abdur Rashid and other family members. Later, he was sent to local hospital in critical condition where on duty doctor declared him dead. Police arrested two including Rashid in this connection. The body was sent to morgue. l

Robber hurt in gunfight; two held n Our Correspondent, Satkhira

A member of a robber gang was injured in a gunfight with police while they were allegedly taking preparation for a robbery in Monajitpur area of Sadar upazila early yesterday.

The injured was identified as Ekramul karim, 22.

Sadar police station officer-in-charge Golam Rahman said police conducted a drive in the area around 3am while a gang of robber was taking preparation for robbery.

Sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the robbers hurled a crude bomb towards them, leaving two cops injured. In retaliation, police opened fire that left Ekramul injured.

Police also arrested the injured along with one suspected member of the gang Mokam Joarder.

Ekramul was admitted to Sadar Hospital. l

Rafique, Emran, Alamgir Hossain, Wahiduzzaman, Liton and Aziz Maoulana.

The Hindus came under attack soon after the completion of general election on January 5 in different parts of the country allegedly by BNP-Jamaat activists who were resisting the election.

In the wake of mindless attacks, members of the minority community at Chapatola in Obhoynagar fled their homes. With assurance from different organisations and the government, they have begun living at the newly built houses.

The government had provided help to 62 families to construct their houses and temples. Members of Border Guard

Bangladesh, a paramilitary force which is primarily responsible for the border security of the country, had helped to construct the houses and other buildings.

Initially, police investigated the case. Later, the CID was entrusted with the investigation.

One year after the deadly attacks, a nightmare is still haunting as the people of the area are still apprehending violence yet again.

The affected people demanded exemplary punishment to the attackers.

However, the authorities concerned said the situation was under control.

There is no scope for the violence. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Long Form

7

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

A word in Tarique’s ear

As things stand, with Tarique Rahman in his current avatar as BNP’s chosen future, I am afraid the future is bleak, and we might soon be discussing BNP’s past

As a Lear’s Fool to King Tarique, as far as the standard he has to live up to is concerned, a London Exile simply doesn’t cut it. He has to return home, embrace a prison sentence and possible threat to his life.

WIKIMEDIA

T

n Jyoti Rahman here is no shortage of punditry along the line of BNP-is-in-trouble. One of the better attempts came courtesy of Shuvo Kibria a few weeks ago: The government has its own crisis of confidence… It doesn’t rely on public ballot… The government will want to uproot BNP as a political force. BNP’s challenge is to re-establish itself as a political force.

I think the above is on the whole correct. And there may be a degree of validity in this as well: BNP’s front row leaders and workers will need to prove their willingness to take any risk for the party by getting into the field. But I think even Kibria misses some key nuances.

Let’s start with a few observations.

First, on BNP’s failure in the streets.

By all accounts, BNP rank-and-file gave it a pretty good shot this time last year. And they came short. They could not stop the government from ramming through a one-sided election as a result of which Hasina Wazed continues to be the prime minister.

But BNP’s failure is not qualitatively different from MK Gandhi’s in the early 1920s, or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s in the mid-1960s. Our history is full of failed street movements. The historical reality is, most andolons fail, just like BNP’s did.

The past is not always an accurate guide to the future. But I am quite skeptical of any analysis that concludes with “BNP must launch a vigorous andolon that will lead to a mass upsurge.” Even if BNP could mount one, in and of itself, what would another round of street protests, blockades and hartals achieve?

Second, BNP failed to win over the bastions of power that ultimately matter to Bangladesh. Above everything else, the powers-that-be want a stable Bangladesh. And BNP failed to convince the civil-military bureaucracy, corporate sector and foreign stakeholders that it could provide stability.

Of course, in a two-horse race, one doesn’t have to be particularly good — simply being just not as bad as the other side makes one win such races.

It’s not that everyone is inspired by the prime minister. It’s just that when all is said and done, sufficiently large number of key stakeholders simply didn’t respond to BNP, and accepted Mrs Wazed.

Third, from BNP leadership’s actions, we can deduce something about its self-assessment. Recall, we can summarise BNP’s travails as one of either marketing or management or product. By making it abundantly clear that Tarique Rahman is the party’s future, BNP is signalling that it believes the problem is not management. Therefore, it must believe the focus should either be marketing or product or a combination.

As would be clear by the end of the piece, I do not necessarily agree with BNP’s choice (and that’s putting it mildly). But it matters little what I

think. Leaving my views aside, let’s accept for now that BNP has got it right — Mr Rahman is the best it has got, fine. So, how should he try to win over the powers-that-be?

If we assume that BNP’s middleof-the-road, don’t-rock-the-boat pragmatic Burkean conservatism is the appropriate “product” for Bangladesh — full disclosure: I personally do — then the challenge before Mr Rahman is simple: he needs to establish himself as acceptable to the establishment.

Currently, he patently is not.

Believing that the establishment will choose him over the prime minister is like claiming the earth is flat.

Railing against the establishment for its alleged hypocrisy on this count is futile. Bottom line: senior state functionaries, big shot businessmen, and interested foreigners don’t think much of Mr Rahman.

They didn’t think much of him last winter. And since then, sporadic forays in our pathetic history wars have done nothing to improve his standing.

They create media buzz, senior Awami League leaders end up looking quite stupid, and BNP rank-and-file feel fired up for a while. But what do they do to alleviate Mr Rahman’s extremely negative image? To ask is to answer.

So, what should Tarique Rahman do?

in turn compounds BNP’s problems, and that creates further distrust among its leaders, who must then engage in further sycophancy, and so it goes.

If Tarique Rahman ever wants to govern Bangladesh, he must end this now. If he doesn’t get the irony of being called a deshnayak while living abroad, if he thinks he is the embodiment of youth at 50 — an age by which his father had been president for nearly four years, or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was already hailed as Bangabandhu — he will never make it.

Dramatically cutting off the circus would be a good first step, and a low hanging fruit. Mr Rahman will need to follow that up with more speeches and public appearances, and not just to the choir in East London about Sheikh Mujib’s Pakistani passport (do we really need to replace Hasina Wazed with someone who seriously thinks Mujib needed a passport in Heathrow airport in January 1972?).

This is not to say he should shy away from hitting hard on the haloed Mujib myth. Like it or not, history wars is a key part of our politics that BNP cannot shy away from. Apparently Tarique paid respect at Mujib’s grave several times when BNP was in power.

Why on earth did they keep that a secret? Why not talk about it now? And

It’s not that everyone is inspired by the prime minister. But when all is said and done, sufficiently large number of key stakeholders simply didn’t respond to BNP, and accepted Mrs Wazed

In the first instance, he should stop appearing in silly videos with stupid titles like Deshnayak, or never, ever, indulge in the circus of cutting supersized birthday cakes. As it happens, it is quite rational for even a sensible and erudite person like Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to engage in these acts.

After all, in a party that is by design bereft of any strong ideological mooring but the politics of synthesis of centrist, pragmatic nationalism, if there is no internal organisational rejuvenation, how else are the party workers and leaders to signal their allegiance but to foster a personality cult? Of course, by doubling down with Mr Rahman, organisation rejuvenation has been made just that much harder.

That is, BNP — or rather, Tarique Rahman — has created a vicious cycle.

Its current senior leaders — and note the word senior, these are old men and women — have no alternative to engaging in obscene Tarique-mania, which puts off otherwise sympathetic elements of the establishment, which

then, the respect for Mujib-the-nationalist-hero notwithstanding, draw the parallel between 1974-75 and the present day, maybe in a frank series of interviews with a well-respected neutral journalist — now, wouldn’t that be something?

And yet, that would not be enough.

Even if he is humanised and shown to be a normal, decent person, to the establishment there are grave doubts about his associates. The establishment wants to feel comfortable that Tarique Rahman’s associates are their own. On this, Mr Rahman will do well to learn from, wait-for-it, Mrs Wazed.

Yes, believe it or not, once upon a not too distant past, the establishment did not trust the prime minister and her party. Even in the early 1990s, the stereotype was that those few Awami Leaguers qualified enough to govern were unreconstructed socialists, while most AL-ers were simply not fit for office. This changed in the lead up to 1996 election, when Mrs Wazed made it clear that people like the late SAMS

Tarique has to produce a coherent vision that the current Bangladeshi establishment could rally behind when Mrs Wazed’s regime unravels. And unravel the current regime will, sooner or later

Kibria or AHSK Sadeq were in her inner sanctum. This paved the way for a rapprochement between the League and the establishment.

Tarique Rahman needs to do something similar for his party. Appointing a fresh-faced PhD in marketing, I’m afraid, simply doesn’t do that.

Therein lies the rub. Mr Rahman needs people who are already established in their fields — businesses, professions, academia, at home and abroad — by his side. But such people simply don’t like him much. Why would they put their trust in someone whose only claim to fame is his parents (and infamy from his lifelong friends)? Dynasty didn’t do it for a dud like Rahul Gandhi. Why should Tarique be any different?

Mr Rahman has odds stacked against him. Therefore, it follows that he has to shake things up. Two acts come to mind, neither easy, and one carry high risks.

Firstly, Tarique Rahman must produce a game-changing idea. Not nice ideas like how to improve agricultural yield as he did in an early London speech in 2013. But that won’t shake things up. No, he needs to do what Mujib did in 1966 by presenting SixPoints.

Back then, Ayub Khan dominated over Pakistan. Grand old men like HS Suhrawardy were either dead or marginalised. Younger, leftist firebrands were beginning to turn on each other, taking their cue from Beijing and Moscow. Mujib’s peers like Ataur Rahman Khan looked tired with their calls for restoration of democracy.

Ayub could simply ignore them. But Mujib with his Six-Points was different. Here was a paradigm shift, fiscal autonomy, monetary autonomy, East Pakistan’s own foreign trade missions and paramilitary. Mujib called for an end to not just Ayub regime, but Pakistan-as-it-existed. Ayub knew he had to use the “language of weapon.” So he did. Mujib went to jail, and came out after the regime collapsed.

It’s very important to understand that the 1968-69 uprising that led to Ayub’s fall was not a step-by-step escalation of any andolon programme by Mujib or his party. An urban uprising started in West Pakistan from a clash between students and army jawans in the beginning of winter 1968, and by the end of the winter, both wings of erstwhile Pakistan was aflame. At the centre of the uprising was Maolana Bhashani. But not only was Bhashani

without a party, he was also a man without any compelling ideas for the post-Ayub world, and zero support among the establishment. When the Pakistani establishment had turned on Ayub, the emergent East Bengali establishment squarely stood with Mujib.

That’s the act Tarique has to emulate. He has to produce a coherent vision that the current Bangladeshi establishment could rally behind when, rather than if, Mrs Wazed’s regime unravels. And unravel the current regime will, sooner or later — let me quote myself from January: She stands on the precipice of chaos, for the simple reason that Bangladesh — a super-densely populated humid swamp — is always at the edge of chaos. Usually, mandate from a democratic election, or the prospect of the next one, keeps us from falling over the cliff. By taking away the option of a democratic election, the prime minister has effectively put a ticking time bomb on herself.

Tarique has to make sure that when the time comes, he is not brushed aside like the old Maolana.

And for that, a compelling vision for a post-Hasina Bangladesh — hard as that might be to conjure — is not necessary, but not sufficient for Tarique.

He still needs to demonstrate that he as an individual has what it takes.

He must demonstrate his grit. His sickly, elderly mother does that every time she goes out to one of those rallies.

Mrs Wazed did that in 2007 when she defied the 1/11 regime and returned home, or in 2004 as the subject of an assassination attempt, or in 1988 when police open fired on her rally.

His father demonstrated grit in the battlefields in 1965 and 1971, and every day between November 3, 1975 and May 30, 1981. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman demonstrated grit by never compromising with the Pakistanis despite spending much of the 1950s and 1960s in jail.

That’s the standard Tarique Rahman has to live up to. A London exile simply doesn’t cut it. He has to return home, embrace a prison sentence, and possible threat to his life. That’s the bottom line for him.

As things stand, with Tarique Rahman in his current avatar as BNP’s chosen future, I am afraid the future is bleak, and we might soon be discussing BNP’s past. l Jyoti Rahman is a political blogger.

This article was previously published in nuraldeen.com.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Lebanon restricts flow of Syrian refugees n Reuters

File photo showing a Syrian Kurdish woman as she crosses the border

AFP

Lebanon enforced new immigration controls at the Syrian border yesterday in a move to gain control of the steady stream of refugees from its much larger neighbour.

Shopkeepers and taxi drivers on the Lebanon side of the Masnaa border crossing said thousands of Syrians crossed the frontier on Sunday before the rules were implemented at midnight. Yesterday, the border was quiet.

A senior security official said on Saturday that Syrians would have to apply for entry permits for the first time and provide information about the purpose and length of their stay.

Lebanon, whose population is less than five million, hosts more than a million Syrian refugees and has the highest per capita concentration of refugees in the world. The government already started restricting refugees late last year.

It is also home to thousands of working Syrians, many of them employed in shops or as labourers. Resentment among the Lebanese population has spilled over into attacks on Syrians.

Syrians will now have to apply for one of six types of entry permit – tourist, business, student, transit, medical or short stay. Each permit requires specific documentation, such as hotel bookings and $1,000 for tourists or an invitation from a Lebanese company for business people.

Mohammed Moukhaiber, a Syrian who drives people from the Syrian capital Damascus to Lebanon, said he is

worried he will now have to repeatedly apply for permits and that many of the workers he transports will not qualify under the new rules.

“It will have an effect. There are people with business here, workers and drivers. Some have been working here for 20 years, they will surely be affected by this decision,” he said.

The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR called on the government to clarify the role of refugees under the new legislation.

“Our concern is that there is no mention of refugees in these new regulations,” spokesman Ron Redmond said. “We’d like some information on exactly how the procedure will be carried out to ensure the most vulnerable can still get in.”

Previously, travel between the two countries was largely unrestricted, but now Syrians will have to obtain a visa.

Lebanon hosts more than a million Syrian refugees and this is the latest step to try to stem the influx.

Millions of Syrians have been displaced by the civil war as rebel forces try to oust President Bashar al-Assad.

The uprising began with protests against his rule in 2011 and degenerated into civil war a year later. The rise of Islamist groups has added to the problem.

Lebanon, which shares a border with Syria, is one of the countries most affected by the large numbers of refugees.

Before now, Syrians could stay in Lebanon for up to six months automatically. Under the new measure, Syrians wanting to enter Lebanon will have to fulfil certain criteria in order to be granted a visa at the border. l

France vows to strike at terrorists leaving southern Libya

Abbas to renew bid for Palestinian statehood, has signed Rome Statute

Boko Haram seizes army base in northeast Nigeria n Reuters, Maiduguri

n Agencies

n AP, Paris

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said that he was discussing with Jordan plans to resubmit to the United Nations Security Council a resolution calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state that failed to win enough votes last week.

Palestinian officials hope the UN will be more sympathetic to their resolution, demanding an Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories and independence by 2017, although the veto-wielding United States would be all but certain to vote “No” again, as it did on December 30.

“We didn’t fail, the UN Security Council failed us. We will go again to the Security Council, why not? Perhaps after a week,” Abbas told officials at a cultural conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Palestinian seat of self-rule government.

“We are studying it, and we will study this with our allies and especially Jordan ... to submit the resolution again, a third time or

Islamist militants have overrun an army base in the remote northeast Nigerian town of Baga, two security sources said on Sunday.

Baga is notionally the headquarters of a multinational force comprising troops from Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Cameroon, although only Nigerian troops are actually stationed there.

Troops eventually fled the remote station on the semi-desert shores of Lake Chad after it was attacked on Saturday by Boko Haram fighters in military vehicles, both sources said. The military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The insurgency has killed over 10,000 people this year, according to a count by the Council on Foreign Relations in November. It is the gravest threat to Nigeria, Africa’s biggest economy, and a headache for President Goodluck Jonathan ahead of an election on Feb. 14 where he is being challenged by opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari, a former military ruler seen as tough on security. l

French President Francois Hollande is ruling out unilateral military intervention in Libya but says French forces will strike Islamic extremists leaving the country to bring arms to Africa’s Sahel region.

Hollande urged the United Nations to take action to stem growing violence in the North African country.

“We are making sure to contain the terrorism that took refuge there, in southern Libya. But France will not intervene in Libya because it’s up to the international community to take its responsibility,” Hollande said.

Libya is mired in the worst fighting since dictator Moammar Gadhafi was overthrown in 2011, leaving the country with two rival governments. In the chaos, arms have flowed from Libya into Africa’s Sahel region, home to several militant groups. French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian has described southern Libya as a “terrorist hub.”

Speaking yesterday on France-Inter radio, Hollande said French forces will strike the fighters “every time they leave these places where they are hiding” in southern Libya.

To do that, France is setting up a military base in northern Niger, 100 kilometers (60 miles) from the lawless Libyan border region. About 200 troops are deployed in the desert outpost at Madama.

French and US drones are already operating out of Niger’s capital, Niamey.

African leaders urged Western countries to intervene in Libya at a security summit in Dakar last month.

French forces largely expelled alQaida-linked insurgents from northern Mali in 2013 and some fled to Libya.

France then launched a military operation last year against Islamist groups in five of its former colonies in the Sahel region. The country has deployed some 3,000 troops, 200 armored vehicles and six fighter jets in Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad and Mali. l

Tomb of Pharaoh’s unknown queen discovered n Agencies Czech archaeologists have unearthed the tomb of a previously unknown queen believed to have been the wife of Pharaoh Neferefre who ruled 4,500 years ago, officials in Egypt have said.

The discovered tomb is of Khentakawess the third The tomb was discovered in Abu Sir, an Old Kingdom necropolis southwest of Cairo where there are several pyramids dedicated to pharaohs of the Fifth Dynasty, including Neferefre.

The name of his wife had not been known before the find, antiquities minister Mamdouh al-Damaty said in a statement.

He identified her as Khentakawess, saying that for the “first time we have discovered the name of this queen who had been unknown before the discovery

of her tomb.”

That would make her Khentakawess III, as two previous queens with the same name have already been identified.

Her name and rank had been inscribed on the inner walls of the tomb, probably by the builders, Damaty said.

“This discovery will help us shed light on certain unknown aspects of the Fifth Dynasty, which along with the Fourth Dynasty, witnessed the construction of the first pyramids,” he added.

Miroslav Barta, who heads the Czech Institute of Egyptology mission who made the discovery, said the tomb was found in Neferefre’s funeral complex.

“This makes us believe that the queen was his wife,” Barta said, according to the statement.

An official at the antiquities ministry said the tomb dated from the middle of the Fifth Dynasty (2994-2345 BC). Archaeologists also found around 30 utensils, 24 made of limestone and four of copper, the statement added. l

even a fourth time.”

In the UN vote on Tuesday, the Palestinian draft received eight votes in favour, including France, Russia and China, two against and five abstentions, among them Britain. Australia joined the United States in voting against the measure.

But any resubmission would face almost certain failure. The US has veto power as one of the council’s five permanent members and has pledged to block Abbas’s plan, calling it one-sided and unproductive.

ICC bid

Abbas signed onto 20 international conventions the next day, including the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, giving the court jurisdiction over crimes committed on Palestinian lands and opening up an unprecedented confrontation between the veteran peace negotiator and Israel.

In retaliation for the move to the ICC, Israel announced on Saturday that it would withhold $125m in monthly

UK’s Prince Andrew steps up denial of underage sex

n Reuters, London

Buckingham Palace stepped up its denial that Prince Andrew had sex with an underage girl introduced to him by a disgraced US financier, and named the alleged victim whose anonymity was preserved in court documents filed last week.

Buckingham Palace had already denied on Friday allegations made in Florida court documents by the woman, who said she was forced as a minor by financier Jeffrey Epstein to have sex with several people, including Prince Andrew, the second son of Queen Elizabeth.

Another of those named by the woman, well-known American attorney Alan Dershowitz, said he has assembled a team of “eminent” lawyers to fight the sexual abuse allegations made against him in last week’s filing in Florida federal court.

The allegations come from a woman who is named in the filing as Jane Doe #3, but Buckingham Palace referred to her as Virginia Roberts. Several British newspapers have also named the woman.

Dershowitz represented Epstein against criminal sex abuse charges, which ended in a plea deal six years ago under which Epstein served jail time for state charges but avoided federal prosecution. Last week’s filing was made in a long-running civil litigation brought against the US government over the plea agreement by women who say they were abused by Epstein.

On Sunday, Buckingham Palace issued its second denial of wrong-doing

by Prince Andrew. l

tax funds that it collects on the Palestinians’ behalf, in a blow to Abbas’s cash-strapped government.

“Now there are sanctions - that’s fine. There’s an escalation - that’s fine ... but we’re pushing forward,” Abbas said.

Abbas’ plan to resubmit the statehood application came as Israel considers its options for further punishing Palestinians after freezing millions in tax revenues as a first response to their attempt to join the International Criminal Court.

Palestinian leaders responded to the tax freeze by accusing Israel of trying to starve their people as a form of mass punishment.

The Palestinian move to join the Hague-based court sets the scene for potential legal action against Israel for war crimes, in a bid to put pressure on Israel to pull out of the territories.

But the request to join the court, formally presented on Friday, angered Israel which quickly moved to freeze the transfer of $127m in tax revenues to the Palestinian Authority (PA). l

Former minister nominated as new Tunisia premier n Reuters, Tunis A former Tunisian interior minister has been nominated as prime minister to form a new government after an agreement among political parties in the newly elected parliament, congress speaker Mohamed Nacer said yesterday.

The nominee, Habib Essid, worked in the government of autocrat Zine ElAbidine Ben Ali but was also interior minister after the 2011 revolution that ended Ben Ali’s one-party rule and forced him into exile.

His nomination follows the election

of Beji Caid Essebsi, also a former Ben Ali minister, as president. Essebi’s secular Nidaa Tounes party holds the most seats in the new parliament.

“We have chosen Essid because he is independent and has experience in the areas of security and the economy,” Nacer told reporters outside the congressional palace.

He will now appoint a government that must then be approved by a vote in the parliament. Tunisia has been praised as a model for its transition to democracy and its new constitution and free elections held since the 2011 uprising. l

Blast targets Houthi base in Yemen capital n Reuters, Sanaa A large blast damaged a building belonging to Yemen’s Shi’ite Muslim Houthi militia in a western district of the capital Sanaa early yesterday, but there were no fatalities, a police source and witnesses said.

The Houthis, who control large swathes of Yemen and are regarded as enemies by Sunni militants including those in al Qaeda’s Yemeni wing, sealed off the area soon afterwards to prevent access to it, said local residents.

The explosion left a hole in the wall of the building, which was used as a base by the Houthis, witnesses told Reuters.

Photographs posted on Yemeni so-

cial media accounts, which could not be immediately verified, showed the front of a building in which the windows had been blown out and bricks were missing from around the door.

Turmoil in Yemen accelerated in September after the Houthis seized control of Sanaa and expanded into central and western parts of the country, leading to direct fighting between them and al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) in some areas.

A series of bomb attacks by AQAP in recent weeks have struck Houthi targets, including a guesthouse in which four people were killed on Sunday and a street celebration in which 26 were killed on Wednesday. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Japan’s leader says he will express remorse for World War II n AP, Tokyo In a year that marks the 70th anniversary of World War II’s end, a question weighs on the minds of policymakers in Asia and as far away as Washington, D.C.: What will Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe say about his country’s role in the war?

At a year-opening news conference yesterday, he sought to reassure the world that he wouldn’t veer from past official statements on Japan’s wartime responsibility. Many analysts have speculated that Abe, known for his nationalist views, might downplay Japan’s responsibility for the war in a move that would roil relations with China and South Korea.

“The Abe Cabinet will uphold the general stance on history of successive prime ministers, including the Murayama statement,” he said, referring to a 1995 apology made by then-Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama on the 50th anniversary of the war’s end.

‘I think it is most important for us to take this opportunity to study and learn from the history of this war ... ‘ He said the government would draft a new statement “that includes Japan’s remorse for the war,” though he stopped short of saying it would again apologise. Abe spoke to reporters in the city of Ise after visiting an important Shinto shrine there.

The statement is expected to be issued around the anniversary of the end of the war on Aug. 15.

Seventy years on, the scars of World War II still poison relations in Asia, particularly between Japan and nearby China and South Korea, both victims of Japan’s wartime aggression.

Commemorative events will be held

Indonesia naval captain says may have located missing plane’s tail section

n Reuters, Pangkalan Bun An Indonesian naval patrol vessel found yesterday what the captain said could be the tail of a missing AirAsia jet, the section where the crucial black box voice and flight data recorders are located.

Ships and aircraft seeking debris and bodies from the Airbus A320-200 widened their search area to allow for currents eight days after Flight QZ8501 plunged into the water en route from Indonesia’s second-biggest city Surabaya to Singapore with 162 people on board.

“We found what has a high probability of being the tail of the plane,” Yayan Sofyan , captain of the patrol vessel, told reporters. However, the Indonesian search and rescue agency is yet to confirm the discovery.

Indonesia’s meteorological agency has said seasonal tropical storms probably contributed to the Dec. 28 crash and the weather has persistently hampered efforts to recover bodies and find the cockpit voice and flight data recorders that should explain why the plane crashed into the sea.

The main focus of the search is about 90 nautical miles off the coast of Borneo island, where five large objects believed to be parts of the plane - the largest about 18 meters (59 feet) long - have been pinpointed in shallow waters by ships using sonar.

Peter Marosszeky, a senior aviation research fellow at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, said the weather was squarely to blame for the delay in finding the black box recorders, which are designed to emit pings that can be detected by sonar for a month after a crash.

“The seas haven’t been very friendly, but the black boxes have a 30-day life and they will be able to find them, particularly in the shallow waters,” he said. “It’s the weather that is causing the delay.”

Indonesia AirAsia, which is 49% owned by Malaysia-based budget carrier AirAsia, has come under pressure from authorities who have suspended its Surabaya-Singapore license, saying the carrier only had permission to fly the route yesterdays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. l

around the world, but here it’s not just about remembering the past. The tenor of the events and the specific words chosen by leaders in each country will have current-day implications for Japan’s still strained relations with its neighbors.

That prospect worries the US government, which fears more tensions at a time when China’s emergence as a military power is shifting the power balance in a region where the US military has long dominated the seas.

The liberal Asahi newspaper devoted a recent editorial to the statement, saying Abe needs to face up to Japan’s war responsibility.

“If ... Japan starts talking about the future without seriously facing up to its past, countries that suffered from Japan’s wartime behavior could start wondering if the Japanese are saying, ‘Let’s forget the past,’” it wrote.

Analysts said it’s too early to predict what Abe will say seven months from now. While he may not revise the Murayama statement, he can still undermine it, said Koichi Nakano, a liberal professor of contemporary politics at Sophia University in Tokyo.

“There has been growing concern that Abe might try to effectively overwrite the Murayama statement with the ‘Abe statement,’” he said.

Emperor Akihito, in his annual New Year’s message, also stressed the need to remember the past.

“So many people lost their lives in this war,” he said in a statement. “I think it is most important for us to take this opportunity to study and learn from the history of this war, starting with the Manchurian Incident of 1931, as we consider the future direction of our country.”

The proof, China says, will lie in Japan’s actions.

“We hope Japan can match its words, honestly facing up to its history of aggression, (and) abide by all the solemn statements and promises it has made on the issue of history,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said yesterday. l

World

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Tuesday, January 6, 2015

H AC K E R WA R

A magazine with caricatures of US President Barack Obama, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is displayed at a book store in Seoul, South Korea, last Saturday. The United States imposed new sanctions Friday on North Korean government officials and the country’s defense industry for a cyberattack against Sony, insisting that Pyongyang was to blame despite lingering doubts by the cyber community. The red letters on the magazine read ‘Hacker War’ AP

Three things to know about new US sanctions on North Korea

Kim Jong-un paves a new beauty trend n Times of India

n AP, Seoul

Salons across North Korea are abuzz with this new trend as their fellow countrymen are opting for unusually short eyebrows.

The trend caught wildfire soon after the “supreme leader” appeared for a televised speech to address the people of North Korea on the occasion of New Year’s Day. Kim Jong-un emerged sans what scientists call supercilium - the eyebrows. In their place were two tiny black dashes that made Kim Jong-un appear rather amusing.

Kim’s new look distracted the North Koreans who tried hard to suppress their laughter and as a result failed to notice the gusto with which their leader laid out his great plans of entering into “high-level talks” with South Korea. l

Here are three things to know about new US sanctions against North Korea over a cyberattack on Sony Pictures, whose movie depicting the fictional assassination of North Korea’s leader has infuriated Pyongyang, which denies responsibility for the cyberattack:

North’s reaction aimed at domestic audience as well as US

Pyongyang’s rhetoric over the weekend criticising the sanctions, which included a vow that the new measures and America’s “inveterate repugnancy and hostility” would not weaken the North’s 1.2-million-strong military, is probably directed as much at a domestic audience as it is at Washington.

New sanctions unlikely to affect North Korea very much

The new measures are unlikely to make much of a difference in North Korea, which has been bombarded by sanctions for decades and has woven an obsession with self-reliance into its national psyche.

Some analysts say Washington and others have the ability, should they choose, to apply more severe financial measures to hurt the North’s leadership. But many others point out that a raft of multilateral penalties from the United Nations, as well as national sanctions from Washington, Tokyo and others meant to punish the government and sidetrack its nuclear ambitions, have done nothing to derail Pyongyang’s pursuit of a nuclear

tipped missile that could reach America’s mainland.

Recent efforts to improve North-South ties seem safe

The measures probably won’t hurt recent efforts to improve ties between the rival Koreas.

North and South Korea have been at each other’s throats since the Korean Peninsula was divided at the end of World War II into a US-backed capitalist south and a Soviet-backed communist north.

In the decades since they were founded in 1948, the Koreas have established elaborate patterns of communicating their intentions toward each other, even as they trade bombastic rhetoric and threats. l

China fumes after Taiwan’s Indian Defence Minister: Evidence shows flag raising in Washington Pakistani boat had suspected terror links n Reuters, Beijing China has protested to the United States after Taiwan’s de facto embassy in Washington hoisted a Taiwanese flag on New Year’s Day, calling on the United States to respect the “One China” policy, the foreign ministry said yesterday.

Taiwan’s China Post newspaper reported on Saturday that it was the first time the Taiwanese flag was raised in the United States in 36 years since the United States switched recognition from Taiwan to Beijing in 1979.

More than 100 people attended the ceremony at the Twin Oaks Estate in Washington last Thursday, including Taiwan’s top envoy to the US Shen Lyushun, the China Post said, citing the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Washington.

“We resolutely oppose the so-called flag-raising ceremony by Taiwan’s agency in the United States and have lodged solemn representations with the United States,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news briefing.

Mainland China deems Taiwan a

renegade province and has never ruled out the use of force to take it back, particularly if the island makes a move toward independence. China and Taiwan have been ruled separately since defeated Nationalist forces fled to the island at the end of a civil war with the Communists in 1949.

Hua called on the United States to abide by the ‘One China’ policy and “prudently and properly handle” any issues related to Taiwan so as to prevent similar incidents from happening again.

The flag-raising ceremony is the latest incident involving Taiwan to roil relations between the United States and China. Beijing said in December that it had lodged a protest with the United States after President Barack Obama signed into law legislation authorising the sale of up to four Perry-class guided missile frigates to Taiwan.

While Taiwan and China have signed a series of landmark trade and economic agreements since 2008, political and military suspicions still run deep, especially in democratic Taiwan where many fear China’s true intentions. l

n Agencies Rejecting the “smugglers at sea” theory, the Indian government yesterday claimed that the Pakistani boat which sank in the Arabian Sea after being intercepted by the Indian Coast Guard had “suspected terror links,” a report published on The Times of India said.

“I think they were suspected terrorists (the four persons on board the fishing vessel) as they committed suicide. A normal boat carrying drugs would have surrendered. Why would smugglers keep in touch with Pakistan maritime authorities?”

A senior Taliban commander, Ehsanullah Ehsan, has been caught using professional networking site LinkedIn in an apparent bid to recruit terrorists.

Ehsan, who made 69 connections, claimed he was a spokesperson for the ruthless Jamaat-ul-Ahrar and listed ‘jihad and journalism’ as his skills on his LinkedIn account, British newspapers reported on Sunday.

The account was taken down by the company on Friday after it was approached by reporters from The Sunday Telegraph, who saw Ehsan’s claims.

A spokesperson for LinkedIn

said the company’s security team had decided to ‘restrict’ the account and it would no longer be in operation. She also said there was suspicion that it was a fake account, pointing to the ‘lack of Taliban recruiting messages’.

Ehasan’s Taliban splinter group in Pakistan, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, had threatened to attack Britain in October to retaliate against the arrest of Anjem Choudary, a radical Islamist cleric and eight other extremists in London.

Ehsan formed Jamaat-ul-Ahrar along with former commanders of the the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Pakistan wing of the Taliban. The group declared their separation in August 2014.

the Indian defence minister.

While the defence minister insisted that the Pakistani boat had “terror links,” he refused to “speculate” on the exact nature of cargo which was on the boat.

“I am not speculating that it had explosives. But their activities to my mind do not fit the description of smugglers. Circumstantial evidence points to suspected terror links,” he said.

However, an earlier report on the Indian Express had said that the Pakistani vessel seemed to be on a routine smuggling trip when it was intercepted. l

Pakistani Rangers violate ceasefire again n Times of India One BSF jawan was killed in ceasefire violation by Pakistani Rangers at Hiranagar in Samba sector of Jammu & Kashmir, Times Now reported yesterday.

After a day-long lull, Pakistani Rangers violated ceasefire again by targeting border posts in Kathua and Samba

Taliban commander used LinkedIn to recruit? n Agencies

claimed Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.

Parrikar also praised the Coast Guard for what he called doing “the right thing at the right time” — based on “clear, specific Indian intelligence.”

The boat, which began its journey from Keti Bandar near Karachi, was kept under surveillance for over 12 hours and was intercepted at a location which is not the normal sea route taken either by fishermen or smugglers.

“If they were smugglers, why would they commit suicide? I would categorise them as suspected terrorists,” said

The newly-formed terror group was blamed for the devastating suicide bombing on the Attari-Wagah border in Pakistan last November that left at least 61 dead.

Days after the attack, Ehsan issued a series of tweets, including one that identified the bomber and another that threatened Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He had his Twitter account suspended after the incident, but now operates using a different name.

When he was with the TTP, Islamabad had declared a $650,000 bounty on his head after he boasted of the Taliban’s hand in the attack on Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai in October 2012 for wanting to go to school. l

sectors, drawing retaliation from BSF. “Pakistani Rangers resorted to ceasefire violation and opened small arms firing in one post in Samba district and two areas in Kathua district late last night,” officials said.

There was firing on Bobiyan and Pansar forward areas along international border in Kathua district since

Sunday night, deputy commissioner, Kathua, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said, adding it was going on intermittently.

BSF troops retaliated to Pakistani firing, they said.

However, residents of border villages continue to leave for safer areas in view of the latest round of ceasefire violations by Pakistan since New Year eve. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

CODE-CRACKER

Don’t confine political space

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here can be no justification for the confinement of BNP leader Khaleda Zia to her party offices in Gulshan.

While she has since moved out of the building, and authorities and political opponents have claimed the surrounding of her party office did not legally amount to confinement, the symbolism of police surrounding the building and locking gates was unambiguous.

No public good was served by this action.

By clamping down on the BNP leadership, such actions by authorities only serve to inhibit freedom of expression and make the government look autocratic.

Claims by ministers that incidents elsewhere such as arson attacks may in some way have justified the pre-emptive lockdown in Gulshan do not have any substance in our judgement.

The BNP leader should be able to move around and speak freely. Law enforcers have a public duty to uphold the right of the opposition to peacefully voice its concerns.

As the government, the ruling party has a duty to uphold rule of law and allow peaceful demonstrations. Limiting political space by shutting down all rallies or squeezing the opposition out through a show of force is neither acceptable nor sustainable in a democracy.

Such actions are not acceptable in a democracy

Public needs dialogue not drama

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he public at large has suffered most from this week’s political showdown.

Commuters and businesses all round the country are enduring huge hardship as daily life and economic activity are once again unnecessarily disrupted by political deadlock.

The heavy-handedness of authorities in banning all political demonstrations on the anniversary of the January 5 election and closing down national bus services imposed a government-created hartal on the public.

The country would have been better served if law enforcement authorities had focused efforts on making sure political parties hold rallies and solicit public support in a peaceful manner.

The public does not need to be reminded that the path of confrontational street politics only leads to violence, as was seen by the clashes in Natore which led to the deaths of two people.

Shutting down bus services did nothing to prevent the lawless behaviour there by small numbers of party activists.

It is the government’s responsibility to ensure rule of law and maintain normality, not to make matters worse by inflicting disruption.

An underlying problem here is the misplaced priorities of our political leaders.

By placing their prestige solely in their ability to demonstrate strength in numbers and to “control” the streets, both the government and opposition parties put narrow political interests above those of the nation.

The country needs the competing parties to engage in dialogue and negotiation to bring political stability, not to escalate differences through confrontation and drama.

Misplaced priorities put narrow political interests above those of the nation

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

We, the people December 23

Akhdar Fauad Khan The last time I heard this quote, “We the people,” it came out from a groups of villains in a fictitious TV show; so, that’s how this quote always rings in my head. :p F Singh What a mess in India!

No verifiable data bank on road accidents

Nasim: No JS elections before 2019 December 26 Arch Bishop Why hold elections at all? I mean, we know who is going to win, since we know who is going to count the votes!

It’s Christmas!

December 25

RS Merry Christmas to the entire Christian community who resides here in this country.

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Sattar Always good to read Garga Chatterjee’s scholarly musings.

TJ The Land Boundary Agreement should be given more importance as well.

Political mercury rising again December 25

December 26 anon Well, it’s about time they started on this. What on Earth are they dragging their feet for? Newspaper reports with stats by organisations that are already crunching the numbers, as well as local organisations and NGOs that are working in the area are good places to start looking for stats on previous years.

Mohammed Sobhan It is very necessary to track drivers with many violations. All a driver must know is it is important they “do not drive fast, as accidents happen faster than that.” I hope the Bangladesh ministry of communication puts special emphasis on safety and security of people other than the driver. Many lives are lost due to reckless driving. We must try to follow the developed world’s road safety system so that our mission and vision as a developed nation will be fulfilled. A driver’s education of rules must be made a priority with some workshop which all drivers must undergo.

I personally wish that we try to reduce corruption in the transport and communication ministry for a better future for our country. Anyone tied to corruption of any kind should be brought to justice, regardless of party and muscle power.

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 1 represents P so fill P every time the figure 1 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.

SUDOKU How to solve: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no number repeating.

Joshim Uddin Wrong, this won’t happen again.

Breadbitten What’s with the sweater vests?

Bakshibazar turns battlefield December 24

CROSSWORD Seira When will we start behaving like a civilised people?

Unrest in Visva-Bharati: Hamid cuts trip short December 24 Mohammad A Sattar Just because these protests did not happen for the last 120 years does not mean that they won’t happen today. VB administrators can do whatever they like, and they expect all of us to swallow this quietly? No way. That the agitation was planned at a time of the Bangladesh president’s visit could be a wise move on the part of the agitators. They must have gauged the mood of the VB administrators and took this step. They must have thought that this is the time, or the authority will not listen to them.

Putting the VB to shame? Why? Is it the most sacred and stainless institute in the world? Lots of shameful things happen there. All one has to do is just dig and find out; one will learn of lots of things that reek.

After all, Tagore was not a saint himself. So why do you think this music institution would be free from corruption? When music becomes rotten, it sounds like the howling of ghosts.

ACROSS 1 Smile radiantly (4) 4 Automaton (5) 8 Incentive (6) 9 Praise (4) 11 Farm birds (5) 12 Demonstrative joy (4) 14 Golf mound (3) 15 Withdraw (6) 19 High regard (6) 21 Spoil (3) 22 Main actor (4) 24 Country (5) 27 S-shaped moulding (4) 29 Gage (6) 30 Frozen shower (5) 31 Continent (4)

DOWN 1 Ten decibels (3) 2 Talisman (6) 3 Fashion (4) 4 Equip (3) 5 Not concealed (5) 6 Insect (3) 7 Seesaw (6) 10 Matures (4) 13 Before (poet) (3) 14 Tantalises (6) 16 Printers’ measures (3) 17 Likenesses (6) 18 Uncommon (4) 20 Banishment (5) 23 Roman garment (4) 25 Copy (3) 26 Fish trap (3) 28 Greek letter (3)

Rape is more serious a crime than murder

CALVIN AND HOBBES

December 24

rose The rape victims of the liberation war should be supported, and the criminals should be hanged.

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

Sustaining the Bangladesh paradox December 24

CROSSWORD

PEANUTS

Evil People Politics “The paradox: The superior status of women despite a patriarchal social structure.”

Quite a curious paradox we have here.

Maybe if we deconstruct it further, we might crack the code to end gender disparity the world over!

Fraudulent activity December 25

Dreampie “Control lapses make clients jittery about their bank – an institution totally built over trust.”

True, it’s easier to walk away from a relationship than from a bank.

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Who will they save today? n Garga Chatterjee

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The monarch of the ruling AL isn’t willing to part with her crown

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Two players and a grenade

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n Ikhtisad Ahmed

ontinuity in governance breeds development by implementation of the definitive vision of one side of the political divide.

This is posited regularly to make the case for longevity of the current government of Bangladesh. The assertion implies that prolonging a rule forces evolution, manifesting itself in the shape of better policies and greater accountability.

As with most sociopolitical theories, the Utopian abstract does not translate into any of the possible permutations of a positive reality. The harsh terrain of this loathsome existence is devoid of hope in underdeveloped countries condemned to teeter on the brink, as Bangladesh is. That the benevolent dictator has failed to reveal himself or herself as the country stutters into its fifth decade dispels the notion that he or she can possibly exist.

An entire population remains hostage to a pathetic game of badminton, where the two players are not ageing well and the pin in the hand grenade they chose for a shuttlecock slips out millimetre by millimetre with each contact with the decrepit racquets.

The merits of the methods employed by the current government to ascend to the throne, or, depending on the preferred narrative, cling on to the crown, continue to be debated. The futile exercise can be abandoned if only the simplest explanation is accepted as gospel: The Awami League, like every

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single one of its predecessors, was not ready to cede power a year ago.

No man, woman, child, or politician has a right to question this irrefutable justification.

As a monarch has the divine right to rule, so everyone else has an earthly right to comply fully to subjugation and abuse. To think that the attitude of anyone else purporting to be a leader in a nation beholden to corruption, as humans are to mortality, would be any different is to be naïve to the history of the last 366 days as much as the last 366 years, to the point of irredeemable idiocy.

ble, tiresome, and vexatious.

The monarch, whose reign has just entered its sixth year, has a crown that is becoming increasing hollow.

Documented disappearances of citizens – and regardless of how evil they may be, they remain citizens – add to the worrying inclination towards a police state, but that is to be expected of an autocracy where rights range from conditional to nonexistent.

The rise in crime, with the numbers given healthy boosts by the unchecked nefarious acts of confident members of the ruling party, is a media conspiracy,

An entire population remains hostage to a pathetic game of badminton, where the two players are not ageing well

Criticising the undemocratic nature of the last general election, while excluding oneself from it and embracing violence, may seem perfectly reasonable for one day, a fit of rage borne of frustration at the Grand Poobah not being a monarch. That very song being stuck on repeat for a year, however, with no concrete solutions beyond the sacred doctrine of blame game that is much-beloved by the self-proclaimed leaders of Bangladesh, is unfathoma-

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masterminded by the cretins who refuse to see the emperor’s new clothes.

The suggestion of adverse effects of an oil spill is as laughable as global warming, and allowing the market to be manipulated is part of the sound economic policies that will eradicate poverty in three years’ time.

Mass homicide of the corporate and political varieties are the fault of the enemy that needs extra security and building materials every now and

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again, as are the murderous intents of roadwork and vehicles.

An opposition worthy of the title, or at least one that is fulfilling its obligations instead of being bought for a price that streetwalkers would turn their noses up at, would scarcely believe its luck at winning the lottery of this glorious litany of unabated catastrophes. Even a vanquished one would make hay, however few breaths it has left.

Yet, the government’s hits keep coming, keep being brushed aside or justified convincingly as its whims decree unconditionally, keep being tolerated. Taking responsibility for decades of misdeeds by all concerned is unsatisfactory, unpalatable, unnecessary. Compounding problems, or adding to the list, is considerably more fun than solving them, for solutions start with confessions that no one is willing to make.

The situation is not as hopeless as it seems. Bangladeshis need to make the extraordinarily difficult decision to forget about the immediate and nearfutures, and commit themselves to the long-term. It betrays human nature to be selfless, but that is the only way to save the present. Only then can the nation as a whole look beyond the Hobson’s choice presented by the polluted parameters of the existing political system, parties, military, warts and all. l Ikhtisad Ahmed is a writer and an erstwhile lawyer. He can be contacted on Twitter via @ Ikhtisad.

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e live in a subcontinent where the ideas of home and roots are being constantly challenged by a minority who look upon these things as a hindrance to their upward mobility and lifestyle choices.

They are being able to mount a challenge because of their disproportionate over-representation among the rich, the powerful, the Anglophone and the connected – all of which amount to their casting a long shadow in the world of urban opinion-making and general policy.

Like most shadows, the size of the shadow of this class is very different from their actual size, which is still miniscule. However, they increasingly dominate in setting the goal-posts of aspiration and are able to talk down to the rooted majority without having a stake in anything. That translates into having a superficial stake in everything. Let’s start with tigers.

It wasn’t too long ago that tigers became all the rage, especially in media. Everyone wanted to save tigers. Of course, everyone comes with the caveat of being a sliver of society at most, but that is a continuing bane of the Anglophone in brown land.

That is a boon for the rest of the browns, but that is another matter. Anyways, much tears, warmth, newsprint area and airtime was devoted to the tiger and its preservation. The principal habitat of the tiger in the subcontinent is the Sundarbans, a mangrove forested deltaic territory criss-crossed by countless rivers and water-channels before they empty out into the Bay of Bengal.

The territorial administration of the Sundarbans is divided between the West Bengal state of the Indian Union, and the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. In all this love of tigers, how much do the people and locale and cultures and life and the feel of the Sundarbans figure?

Apparently, not much. Because, on December 9, 2014, there was a huge oil-spill at the Sela river of Sundarbans. This released 350,000 litres of oil into the downstream rivers and water channels and everything that is connected to them, touched by them, lives in them, on them, by them, and dependent on them.

But alas, there is little sympathy or even awareness on the most part among the very vocal and public save-the-tiger-wallahs, including their sponsors, promoters, wheeler-dealers, suddenly-discovered experts, activists, Facebook cover-photo changers and others.

Members of the species who had become one with the tiger, have moved on to another issue, another saving act, another bout of rootless global awareness. In the meantime, those in the Sundarbans also know it by another name – it’s called home.

They don’t exactly explore the exotic, nor do they describe themselves using that pathetically vacuous giveaway called interested in other cultures.

The Sundarbans of “Save the Tigers” origin is a make-believe idea

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that was the flavour of the week in the make-believe world of the self-certified righteous Anglophone brown ones. Elite rootlessness has its advantages.

But there is something more to it. It has to do with the spatial-ideological location of things that mostly populate their minds. When the BP oil-spill happened near Florida, there were squeaks of concern from this class.

Members of the species who had become one with the tiger have moved on to another issue

When I used to live in Boston, a smalltown by subcontinent standards, a city-wide chase for two young suspected terrorists happened.

This spawned a lot of solidarity with Boston. This is the brown class that is now riled up about racist police violence against black people in the United States (Eric Garner #icantbreathe).

This is the same class that is interested in an armed hostage-taking crisis in Australia and the Muslim-friendly concerns of a section of the resident population (Sydney #illridewithyou).

Very worthwhile human causes indeed. But there are other humans too.

Much nearer to “home.”

Every brown city has had shootouts and brown people killed for various reasons, this day, this week, this month, this year. In this cold winter in Delhi, more than 30 slum homes were demolished in Wazirpur of Delhi.

Remember Golibar?

But all that is too close for comfort.

Online is one thing, but this real. They even have to march. As friend Uday Chandra bitingly puts it: ‘‘Are we really going to march with our servants? We can’t even kiss them and they don’t get our jokes in English.”

Even in cybersphere, with only so much bandwidth, what one chooses to engage with, is a political choice.

There is another aspect. Consumers of long-distance solidarity things are typically out of depth when they step out into the real brown world with the browns they become exasperated – except when they talk to ones belonging to the nodding, clicking, liking set.

The group that has breathing problems after going online and accompanies other people in rides also wanted to save the tiger, once upon a time.

With the social-image builder function being served, what stake is there, beyond appreciating the aesthetics of protest art, if it can be called so? Can they breathe? With whom did they ride today? l Garga Chatterjee is a freelance contributor.

He can be followed on twitter @gargac.

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s part of BTV’s celebration of 50 years on air, I was watching a one-on-one talk show where noted actor Pijush Bandyopadhyay was talking about the heyday of BTV, the state-run television channel.

For us, every line Pijush said was like a link to the days when the state owned TV was the sole medium of entertainment.

The truth is, today, BTV is hardly watched. From the top to the near bottom – the slide is sometimes difficult to accept. Especially for those of us who regarded it as the channel that provided balanced entertainment sans the outlandish.

Pijush was talking about his experience as a drama actor for BTV; but surprisingly, not a single clip from the past was shown. Those who remember BTV programs of the 70s and 80s will be able to do away with actual images, but for the new generation who didn’t see the prime of the state-run channel, only words will do little to prove a point.

For them, BTV is and always was obsolete.

Millions of 30-plus people were too young to recall the channel’s programs or grew up at a time when it was already on the decline.

But, as we celebrate 50 years, we must say, BTV during the glory days was far better than any current-day TV channel. At least if we talk about programs.

Of course, the one flaw was the state-run organisation never took a critical stance of the government in power, and that has possibly been the core reason for its downfall. No one wants to watch or listen to a subservient, acquiescent station. People want objective views and see TV media bring out social anomalies.

BTV of the past was more of a program-based channel, and never a news-presenting one. Audiences back then divided TV and print media and the former meant just entertainment as the latter was for serious newsrelated stuff.

We live in a different world now, news is no longer the exclusive do-

main of the print media; images talk louder than words with the rise of investigative journalism, making TV channels more powerful in the media industry.

Not exaggerating when I say BTV has been a total failure in this regard. It has always voiced the message of the party in power, sidelining blithely the government’s failings.

Reportedly, the authority has said during the 50-year commemoration that the channel should not be the sole mouthpiece of the government. Well, if that’s the actual intention, then let some BTV posts be filled by people with the right qualifications and not the “proper links.”

Has there been any thoughtprovoking breaking news done by BTV, exposing deeply entrenched irregularities within the government?

Sorry, I can’t think of one.

Nor has it ever taken the initiative to carry out profound investigative reports on social ills like forced marriage, sexual exploitation, and drug addiction.

Just to digress a bit, the BBC relies

heavily on the British government because the major funding of the news agency comes from a TV licence fee fixed by the authority.

While the government enjoys some influence, the Beeb hardly shies away from airing critical shows highlighting state-level aberrations.

where super heavy make-up is aided by brassy (blush inducing) dialogue.

Plenty of English serials were shown with three full-length movies every week.

Copying others has gone to such an extent that hardly any channel can offer something original. On top of

BTV during the glory days was far better than any current-day TV channel

Of course, BTV will never be BBC, but at least it can be the channel that can still matter to the local audience.

Talking about BTV of the golden days, the program schedule was a perfect blend of indigenous and imported productions. There were top-notch dramas, different totally from the “copy Indian soaps blindly” format,

that, apart from news, most programs appear stilted.

To be honest, BTV could have been different if it had stuck to its original formula that thrilled us in the decades after independence.

If I remember correctly, for the 25year celebration, BTV, for two whole days, showed old TV serials like The

Persuaders, Fugitive, Danger Man, and post-independence dramas like Shaat Jon Jaatri, Mukhora Romonir Boshikoron, Idiot, Aaaj Robibar, Fuler Baagane Shaap, and so on.

For the 50-year celebration there should have been more of such shows, including re-running old football matches recorded and kept in the archives. There is still an archive, right?

The question is, will BTV come out of obscurity, or will it languish in the current state of negligence?

Rhetoric won’t change anything, we need action.

It’s not an impossible task – a little liberty to pursue news stories, a package of programs blended with the old and the new, and some of the latest British or American TV shows.

If this happens, we will not swiftly go past BTV while surfing channels and nor will we shrug nonchalantly if the area satellite connection channel list has BTV or not. l Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE Tuesday, January 6, 2015

13 Prime Bank lift

maiden Dhaka Premier League

14 Valencia end Real’s

winning run, Barca also lose

14 Big guns

progress, Blades cut down QPR

Sport

Did you know?

Real Sociedad are the 1st team to win in a La Liga home game vs RMA, ATL & FCB in the same season since Sevilla in the 2006/07

BANGLADESH WORLD CUP SQUAD

15-MAN BANGLADESH SQUAD FOR WORLD CUP Delay in announcement

raises confusions n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Mashrafe bin Mortaza (C)

Shakib al Hasan (VC)

Mushfiqur Rahim

Tamim Iqbal

Mahmudullah

Anamul Haque

Nasir Hossain

Mominul Haque

Sabbir Rahman

Rubel Hossain

Soumya Sarkar

Taijul Islam

Arafat Sunny

Taskin Ahmed

Al Amin Hossain

Soumya surprise package in balanced Tigers squad n Mazhar Uddin After a lot of anticipation, the much-awaited 15-man Bangladesh squad for the 2015 ICC World Cup was announced by Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan last Sunday in Mirpur.

The only surprise inclusion is that of seamer-allrounder Soumya Sarker. And as mentioned previously, the threeman national selection panel picked four pacemen keeping the conditions in Australia and New Zealand in mind.

The 15-member squad also comprises two specialist spinners in Arafat Sunny and Taijul Islam while there are a number of all-rounders and batsmen.

Chief selector Faruk Ahmed said they have managed to string together a balanced squad. “We have managed to draft a balanced side as we have three left-arm spinners (Arafat, Taijul and Shakib al Hasan) and two parttime off-spinners (Mahmudullah and Nasir Hossain). We have four seamers (Mashrafe bin Mortaza, Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed and Rubel Hossain) along with a seaming-allrounder

(Soumya). I think we have everything what is required. The conditions and pitches in Australia and New Zealand will be bouncy. What I also want to say is this is not a series. This is an ICC event and I think the wickets will be batting-friendly as well. And keeping those things in mind, we have tried to select the best possible squad.”

Mashrafe will lead the side while Shakib will act as his deputy. There are no debutants in the squad although as many as nine cricketers will make their maiden appearance in a 50-over World Cup. Among the notable omissions include veteran left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak and Naeem Islam, the third highest scorer in the just-concluded Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2014-15 season. Openers Imrul Kayes and Shamsur Rahman were also left out of the squad.

Young paceman Taskin, who made his debut in ODIs at home against India last June, found a place for himself in the squad while left-arm Taijul was also included.

An out-of-favour Nasir Hossain,

who was recently axed from the national side for the Zimbabwe series last month, returned to the squad after a fine performance in the DPL. Another youngster, all-rounder Sabbir Rahman, was also rewarded for his brilliant performance in recent times for both club and country.

Following the conclusion of the DPL, the national cricketers will now rest for a week before starting the camp for the upcoming World Cup this Monday. After the 10-day camp, the cricketers will leave here for Brisbane on January 24.

Then, the Tigers will fly for Sydney on February 7 with the global showpiece event getting underway seven days later.

Bangladesh will play two unofficial and as many official practice matches – against Pakistan on February 9 and Ireland on February 12 - before starting their World Cup campaign against Afghanistan on February 18 in Canberra.

Ace all-rounder Shakib has already reached Australia to take part in four KFC Big Bash Twenty20 matches.

Paceman Shafiul Islam will accompany the Tigers as a standby. l

The two-hour delay prior to the announcement of the 15-man Bangladesh squad for the 2015 ICC World Cup last Sunday raised quite a few eyebrows. The confusion arose because the Bangladesh Cricket Board earlier said in a press release that the final World Cup squad would be named at 1pm. However, cricket’s regulatory body in the country revealed the squad at around 3pm.

BCB president Nazmul Hasan declared the Bangladesh squad although it is primarily the chief selector’s responsibility. The BCB supremo reasoned the last-minute discussions among himself, the three-man national selection panel and a few board directors behind the delay.

“The squad was already ready and I thought I will only need to announce it today (Sunday). But, when I found out that the coach, selectors and several directors were present, we thought of discussing amongst us before announcing the squad,” said Nazmul in his introductory speech in Mirpur last Sunday.

The BCB boss have always asserted that there is zero intervention in the selection process and last Sunday is no exception. However, Nazmul’s statement in the press conference gave birth to some confusions.

Nazmul explained the issue saying, “From what I have seen since coming (to BCB as the president), the selection committee prepares a list and gives it to us.

The president gives the final decision.

“We take the final decision after a discussion and it is not that my choice always goes through. You can inquire whether we speak to the directors, coach and captain. But, I want to discuss with as many people as possible which makes my decision-making easier.”

Chief selector Faruk Ahmed shared the podium with Nazmul during the press conference. When asked if the national selection panel encounters any pressure from the board, Faruk said, “This depends on how you see it. The selectors pick a squad after which the president takes his final decision. But, there are also times when we are thrown with suggestions. After that there might be some changes in the selection.”

Questions started to surface regarding the World Cup squad due to an unfortunate episode two years ago. The then chief selector Akram Khan, now a director, had resigned back then citing interference from former BCB president AHM Mostafa Kamal. Akram’s resignation came a day after Kamal rejected the selection of high-profile opening batsman Tamim Iqbal in the 14-man squad for the 2012 Asia Cup. l

Nine newbies bracing for World Cup n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Compared to the 2011 ICC World Cup, the 15-man Bangladesh squad for the 2015 competition has one thing in common. The previous edition featured nine first-timers in the global showpiece event and it is the same this time around too.

Amongst the 15 members, four cricketers will play their third World Cup – skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza, vice-captain Shakib al Hasan, wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim and opener Tamim Iqbal – while it will be the second appearance in the 50-over world event for paceman Rubel Hossain and all-rounder Mahmudullah.

As far as the newcomers are concerned, seamer-allrounder Soumya Sarker’s inclusion has attracted the most headlines and the lad from Satkhira is expected to play a crucial role Down Under, if given the opportunity. The 21year old cricketer will have to perform dual roles – backup opener and third seamer of the side.

Soumya caught the attention of the selectors after an impressive campaign in the just-concluded Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League 2014-15 season.

The elegant left-hander accumulated 615 runs – fourth-highest in the league at an average of 41, including four fifties

and a century while with the leather he has scalped eight wickets.

And following his surprise callup, Soumya expressed his delight to the assembled media in Mirpur last Sunday.

“I was always confident that if I play well this season, there will be an outcome,” said Sarkar.

I tried to stay normal during the time I was out of the team but it was not easy, said Nasir last Sunday “The selectors must have thought about me before they picked me. I was thinking of today’s (Sunday’s) match (in the DPL) since it is an important one.

It does feel great that we (Prime Bank) became champions and I got a chance to play in the World Cup for the very first time. It is a big deal for me,” added Soumya, who played his only ODI at home against Zimbabwe last month.

Alongside Soumya, Nasir’s selection also created some noise. The 23-year old’s bad run of form heading upto the Zimbabwe series led to him being

dropped after three consistent years with the Tigers.

Nasir smashed 550 runs in the DPL at an average of approximately 50 runs per match. As a result, the cricketer from Rangpur, once dubbed “Mr Finisher” due to his match-winning exploits, is bracing himself for his first 50-over World Cup. “I tried to stay normal during the time I was out of the team but it was not easy,” said Nasir last Sunday in Mirpur.

“I spoke to the coaches and former cricketers, spent time in the nets and I think it all benefitted me. I tried to enjoy my batting, which brought me back to form. I scored in a number of matches. I believed that if I score runs, I can return to the team,” he added.

Other newcomers include young pacemen Taskin Ahmed and Al Amin Hossain, who will both provide valuable support to spearhead Mashrafe and Rubel, while left-arm spinners Arafat Sunny and Taijul Islam have been picked as specialist spinners.

Batsmen Sabbir Rahman, Anamul Haque and Mominul Haque complete the 15-man lineup while paceman Shafiul Islam has been selected as standby in case of injuries. 19-year old leg-spinner Jubair Hossain is being touted by the national selection panel as the second standby. l

Uncapped Ashraful picked BANGABANDHU GOLD CUP National Bank joins the party with Tk30m by hockey federation n Raihan Mahmood Ashraful Islam is the lone newcomer in the 18-man national squad announced by the Bangladesh Hockey Federation yesterday for the upcoming Hockey World League Round 2.

Long-serving forward Krishna Kumar dethroned Mamunur Rahman Chayan as the skipper while talented midfielder Sarwar Hossain was nominated as vice-captain.

National coach Mamunur Rashid termed the squad as a balanced one. “In term of fitness, the team are in top shape. There are no injuries and all the players are ready to give their best. Team spirit is also good. We need a couple of practice matches for fine-tuning. As it is not possible to do it in the country right now, we look forward to playing them in Singapore.”

Mamun explained the reason behind the selection of a new captain.

“We thought of grooming a new captain. Moreover, it is a reality that Chayan has lost some of his composure

SQUAD BANGLADESH HOCKEY CONTINGENT

Ashim Gope, Abu Sayeed Nippon; Khorshedur Rahman, Ashraful Islam, Farhad Ahmed Shitul, Mamunur Rahman Chayan, Imran Hasan Pintu, Rimon Kumar Ghosh; Quamruzzaman Rana, Sarwar Hossain, Rezaul Karim Babu, Rumman Sarker; Hasan Jubair Niloy, Pushkor Khisa Mimo, Mainul Islam Koushik, Krishna Kumar Das, Milon Hossain and Russel Mahmud Jimmy. Gobinathan Krishnamurti (head coach), Mamunur Rashid (coach) Kamrul Islam Kismat (manager) and Rafikul Islam Kamal (assistant manager) with his age.”

Bangladesh are likely to fly to Singapore this Saturday. Round 2 of the Hockey World League will feature Bangladesh, Japan, Malaysia, Oman, Poland, Singapore and the Ukraine and is set to begin on January 17 and end on January 25.l

n Shishir Hoque

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) yesterday roped in National Bank Limited as an official partner of the much-awaited upcoming Bangabandhu Gold Cup international football tournament, which the federation president once again reaffirmed will be held in this month.

The first private commercial bank of the country will provide a decent amount – Tk30m – to the football federation to become the tournament’s first official partner, apart from Channel 9.

With the signing of the deal between the two parties National Bank also made its return to the football arena after two decades. The last time they were involved was back in 1993-94 when they sponsored the senior division football league.

“We came back to football and hopefully we will continue in the development of football of the country in future,” said the vice president of National Bank, Mir Mosharref Hossain yesterday.

Mir Mosharref and the other vice

president, Nazmul Ahsan, were present as representatives of the bank and handed over the cheque to BFF boss Kazi Salahuddin in a press conference yesterday.

“It’s a major boost for the Bangabandhu Gold Cup and football in general while it is also the first important event in the new year. I welcome and want to thank National Bank for stepping forward in becoming a partner of the event,” said Salahuddin.

Salahuddin is scheduled to leave the country today to take part in the Extraordinary Congress of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) scheduled for this Thursday and he added, “(There) I will talk to the AFC president and the representatives of other participating teams of the tournament. I can reaffirm that the Bangabandhu Gold Cup will be held within January.”

Meanwhile, private television channel Channel 9 bought the rights of the tournament for Tk60m. The money provided by the National Bank will be deposited for the fund of the tournament where the budget is believed to be around Tk120-130m. l

Representatives of the National Bank hand over the cheque to BFF boss Kazi Salahuddin in a press conference yesterday COURTESY

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

13

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

QUICK BYTES

Windies star Brathwaite hits a seven West Indies opener Kraigg Brathwaite earned a footnote in cricket history on Sunday when he got off the mark with a seven in the third Test against South Africa at Newlands. The batsmen ran three and gained four extra runs when wicketkeeper AB de Villiers shied at the stumps at the bowler’s end and the ball went to the boundary. According to South African statistician Andrew Samson, this was the first occasion in Test history when a batsman’s first runs were a seven. Brathwaite was eventually dismissed for 16 as the West Indies closed the third day on 88-2 in their second innings, four runs behind the home team.

–_AFP

Coffee and bagel served up in Serena’s win World number one Serena Williams credited an on-court coffee for her recovery after she stormed back from a first set bagel to beat Italy’s Flavia Pennetta in her opening match of the year at the Hopman Cup on Monday. The 33-year-old American looked all at sea during the first 19 minutes of the early morning match in a sweltering Perth but the caffeine hit did just the trick as her serve clicked into gear for a 0-6 6-3 6-0 win. “I’m so jet lagged and Flavia played really, really well and yeah, everyone needs coffee every now and then. I needed coffee to get my feet moving,” Williams said in an on court interview to roars of appreciation from the crowd.

–Reuters

Newcastle terminate Ben Arfa’s contract Newcastle United terminated France midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa’s contract on Sunday ahead of his imminent move to French Ligue 1 side Nice. “Newcastle United can today confirm that Hatem Ben Arfa and the Club have reached an agreement to terminate the contract between both parties with immediate effect by mutual consent,” the Premier League club said on their website (www.nufc.co.uk). “Newcastle United wishes Hatem all the best for his future.” Nice said on Saturday that Ben Arfa would have a medical on Monday.

The player, who has 13 caps and scored two goals for France, joined Newcastle from Olympique de Marseille in 2010 but fell out of favour at St James’ Park after former manager Alan Pardew raised questions about his fitness and work ethic.

–Reuters

Schwarzer leaves Chelsea for Leicester Former Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is leaving joint Premier League leaders Chelsea to join bottom club Leicester City, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed. Schwarzer, 42, played 12 times for Chelsea last season as backup to Petr Cech, but has only been an unused substitute four times this season. “I want to publicly thank Mark Schwarzer because he’s leaving us and he was a fantastic guy for us,” said Mourinho. “As a goalkeeper, when we needed him he was there for us, and as a person and a professional he was an amazing guy in our group. “On behalf of myself, my staff and my players I want to say we are going to miss the big guy and we wish him all the best in his new life at Leicester.” Schwarzer, who had a brief spell in Germany in the mid-1990s, has been in England since 1996 and played for Bradford City, Middlesbrough and Fulham before moving to Chelsea in 2013.

–Reuters

DAY’S WATCH Ten Cricket 2:00PM South Africa v West Indies 3rd Test Day 5

Star Sports 2 10:00AM Ranji Trophy Haryana v Delhi 5:30PM Chennai Open (Tennis) 1:45AM Everton v West Ham

Star Sports 4 2:15PM T20 Big Bash League Adelaide Strikers v Perth Scorchers Italian Serie A 5:30PM Udinese v Roma 8:00PM Milan v Sassuolo 11:00PM Cesena v Napoli 2:00AM Juventus v Inter Milan

Star Sports 1 5:30AM Australia v India Fourth Test, Day 2 (Wednesday)

BRIEF SCORES Abahani v Prime Bank Prime Bank CC players celebrate winning the Dhaka Premier League title at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium on Sunday

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Prime Bank win maiden DPL n Mazhar Uddin Soumya Sarker’s allround performance gifted Prime Bank CC their maiden Dhaka Premier League title after the bankers romped to an emphatic nine-wicket victory over traditional giants Abahani Limited last Sunday.

It was a must-win encounter in order to lift the trophy as Prime Bank headed into the last match of the season with a two-point lead over Prime Doleshwar, who also won their match

against Mohammedan, but could not cause an upset.

Abahani, who lost to Kalabagan Cricket Academy in the penultimate match to exit the title race, managed only 160 runs at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium before Soumya entertained the crowd and the selectors with a mesmerising 91-ball 97. He clobbered seven fours and equal number of sixes, signaling his importance in the one-day format.

Saikat Ali remained unbeaten on 58 as Prime Bank landed the win under 28

Williamson, Watling fight back for New Zealand n Reuters, Wellington

NZvSL, DAY 3

New Zealand’s Kane Williamson inched towards his ninth test century as he combined with BJ Watling to stave off Sri Lanka’s push for victory at the close of the third day’s play in the second test at the Basin Reserve on Monday.

Williamson was 80 not out, his 16th test half century, and shared in an unbroken 94-run partnership with Watling (48 not out) to take the hosts to 253 for five at the close, a lead of 118 runs with two days left to play.

The visitors must be ruing missed opportunities to sew up the game within three days after they dropped Williamson twice.

Williamson was put down on 29

by Rangana Herath in a caught and bowled opportunity with the score 132 for four, then dropped in the final session by Nuwan Pradeep at deep backward square leg on 60, just three overs before the second new ball was due.

Sri Lanka had put the hosts on the back foot with three wickets before lunch and then seized control when they reduced them to 159 for five, with the home side holding a 24-run lead and their last recognised pair at the crease.

Hamish Rutherford (40) and Latham (35) had given New Zealand a solid start on Monday, driving their side to 75 without loss in the first hour before Pradeep dismissed both.

They slumped even further after

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 R (overnight 22-0) T. Latham c Jayawardene b Pradeep 35 H. Rutherford c Chandimal b Pradeep 40 K. Williamson not out 80 R. Taylor b Herath 0 B. McCullum lbw Prasad 22 J. Neesham lbw Pradeep 19 B. Watling not out 48 Extras (lb6 w2, nb1) 9 Total (five wickets, 101 overs)

overs and became the eighth different club to clinch the top-flight Dhaka league.

Earlier, Farhad Reza laid the platform picking four wickets supported

by Soumya and Enamul Haque Jr who grabbed two wickets each for the eventual champions.

On the other hand, openers Mehedi Maruf and Rony Talukder slammed half-centuries to help Doleshwar finish the league on a high though they had to remain content as the runners-up side with a three-wicket win. Chasing Mo-

hammedan’s 220/9 Doleshwar reached the target in 48.5 overs.

In a lesser important match on the final day of DPL in Fatullah, Kalabagan rode on an unbeaten 150 from Anamul Haque to register a 38-run victory over Legends of Rupganj.

The right-hander took just 146 balls and struck 10 sixes and seven boundaries to guide his side to 288/3 before Rupganj were restricted to 250/6 with national discard Junaid Siddique scoring a fifty. l

South Africa made an early breakthrough with the wicket of West Indian Leon Johnson when play got underway on a rain-delayed fourth day of the final test at Newlands on Monday.

Johnson was caught behind for 44,

SAvWI, DAY 4 AT TEA West Indies 329 (Steyn 4-78, Harmer 3-71) and 95 for 3 (Johnson 37*) South Africa 421 (De Villiers 148, Samuels 2-68)

Prime Doleshwar v Mohammedan Mohammedan 220/9 in 50 overs Mithun 45, Sayem 40, Naeem 40*; Asif 3/29, Shafiul 3/37 Doleshwar 223/7 in 48.5 overs Rony 63, Mehedi 58; Nabi 2/30 Doleshwar won by three wickets Rupganj v Kalabagan CA Kalabagan CA 288/3 in 45 overs (max) Anamul 150*, Nafees 52, Imtiaz 42; Rupganj 250/6 in 45 overs Junaid 50, Milon 43*; Bishwanath 2/27 Kalabagan CA won by 38 runs

One-year transfer ban imposed on Zahid n Shishir Hoque

B 86 84 200 7 46 44 140

253

Fall of wickets 1-75 (Rutherford), 2-78 (Latham), 3-79 (Taylor), 4-122 (McCullum), 5-159 (Neesham) Bowling Lakmal 20-2-50-0 (1w), Pradeep 19-3-57-3 (1w), Herath 32-8-58-1, Prasad 19-1-53-1 (1nb), Mathews 11-3-29-0 Toss: Sri Lanka Umpires: Steve Davis (AUS), Richard Illingworth (ENG) TV umpire : Bruce Oxenford (AUS) Match referee : Chris Broad (ENG)

lunch when Brendon McCullum (22) was trapped lbw by Dhammika Prasad while Jimmy Neesham was also leg before to Pradeep for 19 before Williamson and Watling took them to the break. l

The Bangladesh Football Federation has imposed a one-year transfer ban on national winger Zahid Hossain for breaching the Code of Conduct against his former club Mohammedan.

The decision was taken during a meeting of the BFF’s disciplinary committee yesterday. The committee told the players to pay back fifty percent of the transfer fee as soon as possible.

The fee was provided by the traditional Black and Whites last season during their signing of the player. Zahid will serve a transfer ban which will expire on January 6 next year.

The total signing money was believed to be around Tk3.6m, which means Zahid, who joined his former club Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra for the upcoming season, has to reimburse Tk1.8m to his former club in order to get his transfer ban withdrawn.

According to Fifa regulations regarding the status and transfer of players and the BFF’s disciplinary code, the committee sent a press release stating, “A sum equivalent to 50% of the contracted amount is forfeited in favour of Mohammedan Sporting Club Limited, Dhaka and the player Zahid Hossain shall deposit the amount immediately through the BFF. A failure to do so will see the player banned from signing for any other football club globally for the next one year.” l

Andy Murray holds the trophy after winning the Mubadala World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, following the withdrawal of Novak Djokovic REUTERS

Djokovic illness hands Murray first title of season n AFP, Abu Dhabi World number one Novak Djokovic withdrew from the final of the Mubadala World Tennis Championships in Abu Dhabi on Saturday handing Andy Murray his first title of the season.

Serb Djokovic had dismissed Stan Wawrinka in the semi-finals of the exhibition event on Friday but the defending champion revealed on Saturday he was suffering from a fever.

Murray had himself complained of pain in his left shoulder during his 6-2, 6-0 win over Rafael Nadal in the last four.

South Africa make early breakthrough after rain n Reuters, Cape Town

Abahani 160 allout in 44.2 overs Nasir 55; Farhad 4/17, Enamul Jr 2/25, Soumya 2/36 Prime Bank 163/1 in 27.3 overs Soumya 97, Saikat 58* Prime won by nine wickets

flaying at a steep ball on his off stump from Morne Morkel, as the West Indies moved on to 95 for three in their second innings, just three runs ahead of their hosts. Rain delayed the scheduled start and took past lunch and tea to clear, play starting at 1500 local time for a single session of 53 overs.

The West Indies, 88 for two overnight, scored 329 in their first innings to which South Africa replied with 421, including a flamboyant 148 from AB de Villiers. De Villiers scored his 21st test century in a concerted effort to accelerate the scoring and build an advantage on a batting track. l

The 27-year-old Scot said: “I don’t know exactly what happened. I’ve never had anything happen to my left shoulder before.

“It’s pretty sore and at the end of the match when I was reaching out to sign autographs it was quite painful.”

Murray is set to undergo a scan before continuing his build-up to the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open, at the Hopman Cup in Perth next week. He will join Heather Watson to represent Britain at the mixed team event, with their opening match due to be against France on Monday. l

Army best in national karate

n Raihan Mahmood

Champions of the 23rd National Karate Championship Bangladesh Army players pose with chief guests yesterday COURTESY

Bangladesh Army emerged as the champions of the 23rd National Karate Championship bagging 10 gold, three silver and three bronze medals at the Shaheed Suhrawardy Indoor Stadium yesterday.

Bangladesh Ansar finished runners-up winning six gold, four silver and three bronze medals while the third position was clinched by Bangladesh Police who grabbed one gold, one silver and three bronze medals.

State Minister for Youth and Sports Biren Sikder distributed the prizes as the chief guest. Karate federation president Mokhlesur Rahman was also present on the occasion. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Valencia’s Nicolas Otamendi (top) and Lucas Orban celebrate victory over Real Madrid after their La Liga match at the Mestalla stadium on Sunday. (Right) Real Sociedad players celebrate scoring against Barcelona during their La Liga match at Anoeta stadium on Sunday

REUTERS

Valencia end Real’s winning run, Barca also lose n AFP, Madrid Valencia came from behind to snap Real Madrid’s winning streak at 22 games, however Barcelona failed to take advantage as they lost 1-0 at David Moyes’s Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Jordi Alba’s early own goal was enough to consign Barca to defeat after coach Luis Enrique had left Lionel Messi and Neymar on the bench.

Earlier, Cristiano Ronaldo’s firsthalf penalty looked to have Madrid on course to start the new year as they finished 2014, but Valencia roared back after the break with goals from Antonio Barragan and Nicolas Otamendi to move above Sevilla into fourth.

It is the first time since April 30, 2011 that both Madrid and Barcelona have lost on the same day and means Los Blancos retain their one point lead over the Catalans and Atletico Madrid having also played one game less than their title rivals.

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti also lamented the chances missed by his side at crucial points in the game at Mestalla.

“I don’t think we deserved to lose,” said the Italian.

“We just didn’t have the luck to score when we had the chances to make it 2-0, then to go ahead 2-1 and finally at the end when we had many chances to make it 2-2.”

Despite a bright start Valencia had to come from behind when Alvaro Negredo handled Gareth Bale’s flick on from Toni Kroos’s free-kick and Ronaldo duly stepped up to fire home his 33rd goal of the season from the penalty spot.

The World Player of the Year should have doubled his tally and his side’s lead 12 minutes later when Bale’s deflected cross fell perfectly into his path, but after rounding Diego Alves, Ronaldo could only turn the ball into the side-netting with the goal gaping.

Valencia also started the second-half in the ascendency as Andre Gomes sent a thunderous volley inches wide, but they were finally rewarded when Pepe turned a low drive from Barragan past

Mourinho says sorry for referee criticism n AFP, London

Big guns progress, Blades cut down QPR

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has apologised for criticising referee Kevin Friend in the aftermath of his side’s 3-0 win over Watford in the FA Cup at the weekend.

Mourinho complained in a television interview that his side should have been awarded a penalty in the build-up to their second goal when Craig Cathcart appeared to handle the ball after blocking a shot from Diego Costa.

But Friend subsequently explained to Mourinho that he had played an advantage, which enabled Loic Remy to score moments later, and the Portuguese admitted that his criticism had been misplaced.

“I want to apologise for my earlier comments in some television (interviews). What the referee did was great refereeing,” said Mourinho.

Mourinho complained recently that his players were the victims of a “clear campaign” orchestrated by opposition coaches and the media following a spate of diving accusations. l

Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City and holders Arsenal reached the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday, while third-tier Sheffield United demonstrated their cup pedigree by eliminating Queens Park Rangers.

Arsenal progressed after winning 2-0 at home to Hull City in a repeat of last season’s final, which saw Arsene Wenger’s side end their nine-year trophy drought by coming from behind to win 3-2.

Premier League joint-leaders Manchester City were given a scare by second-tier Sheffield Wednesday before coming through 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium thanks to a 91st-minute winner from James Milner.

United manager Louis van Gaal named a strong side featuring Wayne Rooney and Radamel Falcao for his first FA Cup tie, but had to wait until the 64th minute for Ander Herrera to put the visitors in front with a glorious,

n AFP, London

Torres keen for titles after hero’s welcome n AFP, Madrid Fernando Torres has targeted trophies to add to the love of the Atletico Madrid faithful after he was presented in front of 45,000 fans at the Vicente Calderon on Sunday.

Torres was forced to watch from the stands as Atletico beat Levante 3-1 on Saturday as his move from AC Milan cannot be officially completed until the Italian transfer window opens on Monday.

However, El Nino, who captained Atletico before leaving for Liverpool in 2007, is set to make his second debut for the club against arch rivals Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.

“Off the pitch I have been through many things. On a personal level I am more mature and very happy to be here,” he said.

“On the sporting level things have

looping strike from 20 yards.

Chelsea enjoyed a rather more straightforward victory, winning 3-0 at home to second-division Watford courtesy of second-half strikes by Willian, Loic Remy and Kurt Zouma.

Sheffield United, won 3-0 at QPR via a Marc McNulty goal and a second-half brace from Jamal Campbell-Ryce.

Southampton were taken to a replay

by Championship side Ipswich Town after a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s, while it took a powerful late effort by Christian Benteke for Aston Villa to overcome second-tier Blackpool 1-0.

Meanwhile, non-league Wrexham of the fifth-tier Football Conference came within 10 minutes of creating another piece of FA Cup history, only to lose 3-1 at top-flight Stoke City.

Alan Pardew made a winning start to life as manager of Crystal Palace, who won 4-0 at non-league Dover Athletic thanks to a first-half double by centre-back Scott Dann and goals from Dwight Gayle and Kevin Doyle. l

utes to backfire in San Sebastian as Alba stretched to reach Sergio Canales’s cross but could only turn the ball into his own net. Without their other two South American stars, Luis Suarez ploughed a lonely furrow up front.

However, even he was ineffective as the visitors’ best two efforts before the break came from Pedro Rodriguez who fired over before Geronimo Rulli bundled a low drive to safety.

Canales could even have added to the Basques’ half-time advantage as he left Martin Montoya in his wake with an outrageous piece of skill only to see the former Sociedad ‘keeper turn his effort behind for a corner.

Messi was introduced at the break

LA LIGA

Getafe

Vazquez 3

1-2

Rayo Vallecano

Jozabed 39, Baena 64)

2-1

Real Madrid

Barragan 52, Otamendi 65

Ronaldo 14-P

1-2

Eibar

Valencia Espanyol Caicedo 80

Real Sociedad

Del Moral 34, Boveda 38

1-0

Ligue 1 leaders Marseille were sensationally knocked out of the French Cup on Sunday as fourth-tier Grenoble prevailed in a penalty shoot-out after the sides finished 3-3 after extra-time.

The last-64 tie went to an extra 30 minutes when Grenoble came back twice to level at 2-2 before Ghana’s Andre Ayew appeared to score the winner with his strike in the first half of extra-time for Marseille.

Elsewhere, there were few surprises as seven Ligue 1 sides including Monaco, Lyon and Saint-Etienne all marched into the next round.

Holders Guingamp began their defence in style as they dispatched lower tier outfit Dinan-Lehon 3-2 while Bordeaux edged Toulouse 2-1 in an all top flight affair in the south. l

Barcelona

Alba 2-og

and Neymar soon followed as Barca improved in the second period, yet they were denied by some dogged defending and even better goalkeeping from Rulli as he made two outstanding saves from Suarez in the final five minutes to prevent Barca snatching a point. l

FA CUP RESULTS Arsenal Mertesacker 20, Sanchez 82

2-0

Hull City

Aston Villa Benteke 88

1-0

Blackpool

Chelsea 3-0 Willian 58, Remy 70, Zouma 72

Watford

Dover Athletic

0-4

Crystal Palace Dann 10, 34, Gayle 68, Doyle 87

Manchester City 2-1 Milner 66, 90+1

Sheffield Wed Nuhiu 14

QPR

0-3 Sheffield United McNulty 36, Campbell-Ryce 49, 90+4

Southampton Schneiderlin 33

1-1

Ipswich Town Ambrose 19

Stoke City Arnautovic 80, Ireland 88, 90+4

3-1

Wrexham Carrington 73

Sunderland Van Aanholt 33

1-0

Leeds United

Yeovil Town

0-2 Man United Herrera 64, Di Maria 90

Manchester City midfielder James Milner celebrates scoring during their English FA Cup third round match against Sheffield Wednesday in Manchester on Sunday AFP

Grenoble knock Pogba calls for winning Juve start Marseille out of n AFP, Milan French Cup n AFP, Paris

changed too. At 24 I realised something very hard, that I needed to leave so that the club and I could grow.

“It was the most difficult moment of my career. The club has grown and time has proved us right. I have also won trophies, but I want to win trophies here.” l

the helpless Iker Casillas.

Bale had a great chance to restore Madrid’s lead when he galloped in behind the Valencia defence seven minutes later, however the Welshman was denied by a fine saving challenge from Otamendi.

Madrid rallied in the final 15 minutes, but couldn’t find an equaliser as Ramos sent a header inches wide before Alves denied Isco with a brilliant save from point-blank range and Otamendi cleared the danger before a Madrid player could pounce on the rebound.

Barca boss Enrique’s huge gamble to leave Messi and Neymar, amongst nearly 300 million euros of talent on the bench, took fewer than two min-

Paul Pogba has called for Juventus to emulate the success of last year’s return to Serie A action following the festive period when they host an ambitious Inter Milan on Tuesday.

Juve beat title rivals Roma 3-0 in their first league outing of 2014 as they charged towards a third consecutive title under former coach Antonio Conte.

With Roma in second place at three points adrift in the current campaign, Juventus can ill afford to make further slip-ups in the title race.

Inter travel to Turin looking for only their second win under new coach Roberto Mancini, but buoyed by the signing of former Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski who could start on the bench at Juventus Stadium if the paperwork on his loan deal is finalised in time.

Pogba admits that on a personal level he can “still improve at everything”.

But the 21-year-old believes the “difficult” clash with Inter is one of several

steps on his quest for more glory with the Turin giants.

“We have to start 2015 with a win, that’s the most important thing. Last year we beat Roma in our first game back and we hope we can start the same way,” Pogba told Sky Sport.

Mancini is currently building his team around the creative midfield skills of Kovacic but the Croatian admitted: “It will be a hard game, but we’re looking forward to it.

A Juve setback would give closest

SERIE A Udinese Chievo Empoli Genoa Milan Palermo Parma Cesena Juventus

v v v v v v v v v

Roma Torino Verona Atalanta Sassuolo Cagliari Fiorentina Napoli Inter

challengers Roma, who face Udinese away earlier in the day, a chance to make amends for two draws in their last three games.

Yet Rudi Garcia’s men travel north wary of the danger of Andrea Stramaccioni’s Udinese, especially with doubts over defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa (flu), captain Francesco Totti and forward Mattia Destro.

Napoli arguably lead the race with a trip away to struggling Cesena, although striker Manolo Gabbiadini expected to complete his 13m euros signing from Sampdoria on Monday after passing a medical on Sunday - is suspended.

Milan, in seventh but only two points behind the third and last Champions League qualifying spot, host Sassuolo. Alessio Cerci could make his debut at the San Siro after his recent signing from Atletico Madrid, who took Fernando Torres on loan to give the Rossoneri flop a chance to revive his career at the club where he rose to stardom. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

BIJORI: Shooting for thirty days is not possible on my part

n Shadma Malik “Kothao Keu Nei” actress Bijori Barkatullah told the Dhaka Tribune: “I have always confined myself to doing a small amount of work and will continue doing so. Although it is my profession, I insist on enjoying every bit of it. I do not like working for long stretches, and dislike monotony in my

work. Shooting for thirty days is not possible on my part.”

“I enjoy spending time with my family, especially with my daughter.

I feel that giving her time is more important than doing anything else. But if a good script comes my way, I am willing to work for the role.”

“Recently I got on board Rahmatulla Tuhin’s directional venture “Gontobbo Niruddesh” which is written by Pantha Shahriar. A fifty-two part TV drama, the plot is full of suspense and thrills.”

“I play a mysterious character named Shejuti who is in search of her sister’s killer. She goes to Bangkok and takes a job as a housekeeper of singer Partha Barua.”

“My husband Intekhab Dinar is also working on the TV series.”

Bijori and Dinar were last seen in “Plastic Card,” a TV play, in November.

The TV series is being filmed in Bangkok for twenty days.

“Before I was used to produce TV dramas but now the selling process has changed so much that I no longer involve myself with the production of TV plays.” l

15

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Hellboy II: The Golden Army Star Movies, 11:30pm

The mythical world starts a rebellion against humanity in order to rule the Earth.

Minority Report Zee Studio, 6:35pm

Dhaka Theatre staged ‘Iti Patramita’ as part of the six day long drama festivals which began on Saturday at Jahangirnagar University

Exhibition

Nakshi Kantha: Zainul Abedin Time: 12pm – 8pm Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts, Dhanmondi

Alluvial Rhythym

By Kalidas Karmakar Alliance Française de Dhaka

Buddha Cafe Mango Gallery House 3/A,Rd 72, Gulshan 2

Film

Solo Art Exhibition

By Proshanta Karmakar

Meghmallar, Ouija

Interstellar Gone Girl Ek Cup Cha Into The Storm Blockbuster Cinemas Jamuna Future Park

In a future a special police unit is able to arrest murderers before they commit their crimes.

DEEPIKA PADUKONE turns 29, to star in varied roles n Entertainment Desk Variety has been the key in the career of Bollywood actress Deepika Padukone, who turned 29 Monday. The New Year will be no different with three movies as different as “Piku,” “Tamasha” and “Bajirao Mastani” slated for release.

In Shoojit Sircar’s “Piku,” she will be seen teaming up with megastar Amitabh Bachchan. She will play his onscreen daughter in the movie which is said to be about the father-daughter relationship.

Then in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s epic period drama “Bajirao Mastani,” Deepika will share screen space with her rumoured boyfriend Ranveer Singh.

This apart, she will also scorch the screen with her former beau Ranbir Kapoor in Tamasha.

Deepika’s film career started off with a bang in Bollywood with Shah Rukh Khan-starrer “Om Shanti Om” in 2007.

She consolidated her spot among the top rung Hindi film actresses when she gave four back-to-back hits in 2013. In the year gone by too, Deepika continued to rule the hearts of many.

She came together with King Khan once again for Happy New Year, which had a bumper opening. The movie, which featured the actress as an enthusiastic dancer named Mohini, earned a record Rs. 44.97 crore on the first day of its release.

Deepika also experimented with Homi Adajania’s English language Bollywood entertainer “Finding Fanny,” and she was also seen with megastar Rajinikanth in “Kochadaiyaan,” touted as India’s first motion capture photo-realistic 3D animated film. l

GEORGE CLOONEY’s wife AMAL risks arrest in Egypt n Entertainment Desk George Clooney’s wife Amal Clooney risked arrest in Egypt for criticising the country’s judicial system that led to the conviction of three Al Jazeera journalists accused of helping the Muslim Brotherhood.

Clooney, now representing one of the trio, wrote a harshly worded report in February 2014 about the country’s policy of permitting government officials to select judges, earning her the threat of arrest even before she became involved with the case.

“When I went to launch the report, first of all they stopped us from doing it in Cairo,”Clooney told the UK’s Guardian newspaper

RUSSELL CROWE: Hollywood female actors need to act their age n Entertainment Desk Russell Crowe received a backlash from online users after he said that Hollywood female actors past the age of 40 should take up roles according to their age.

Though statistics show that female actors over 40 made up just 30% of all characters in movies last year, with even Oscar-winning star Meryl Streep admitting she thought her career was over once she hit 40, Crowe, believes they would do just fine if they act like their age, Stuff.co.nz reported.

During an interview

THE HOBBIT wins box office for third week n Entertainment Desk “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” is showing some impressive fight at the box office.

The Middle Earth send-off held its ground, securing the top spot on the charts for a third consecutive weekend. The New Line and MGM co-production picked up $21.9 million, driving its domestic total to $220.8 million.

To retain its crown, “The Hobbit” had to contend with two resilient Christmas holdovers in “Unbroken” and “Into the Woods” and the surprising strength of horror sequel, “Woman in Black 2: Angel of Death.”

The holiday hits were in a dead heat for second place, with “Into the Woods” retaining a slight edge in the initial estimates. The musical is expected to make $91.1 million, bringing its domestic haul to $91.2 million.

“Unbroken” was right behind, capturing third place with $18.4 million. The survival drama’s stateside total stands at $87.8 million.

“Woman in Black 2,” a Relativity release, bested tracking, which had pegged an opening of between $9 million to $11 million. The film earned $15.1 million from 2,602 locations. l

Power packed 2015 for SHRUTI HAASAN n

Entertainment Desk

Shruti Haasan is going to have her hands full in 2015 with as many as 6 films releasing this year, which include four in Bollywood and one each in Tamil and Telugu.

In Bollywood, Shruti has “Gabbar” opposite Akshay Kumar, “Rocky Handsome” and “Welcome Back” opposite John Abraham and “Yaara” opposite Vidyut Jammwal.

Down south, she has a yet-untitled Tamil and Telugu project each with Vijay and Mahesh Babu,

respectively.

“She’s been working tirelessly, round the clock juggling between her film and brand commitments, while also making time for her music. Shruti has got a very interesting line up that spans various genres and ensures different looks and character graphs,” a source close to Shruti told Bollywood Country.

Recently, she was signed on for yet-untitled Tamil-Telugu bilingual featuring actor Akkineni Nagarjuna and Karthi. l

while promoting his new film “The Water Diviner,” the 50-year-old actor said that female actors over 40 still want to be portrayed as the 21-year-old ingenue, but it didn’t work like that.

The actor added that “if you are willing to live in your own skin, you can work as an actor.”

Crowe’s comments quickly sparked criticism amongst online users, with a female fan writing, “Funny how Crowe doesn’t bother to offer any opinion about the mind boggling legacy of Hollywood men playing romantic leads to women 10, 20, 30, and sometimes 40 (!!!!!) years younger than them. Because it’s clearly the sad old women daring to pretend they are outside their actual birth ages that are ruining Hollywood.” l

this week. “They said: ‘Does the report criticise the army, the judiciary, or the government?’ We said: ‘Well, yes.’ They said: ‘Well then, you’re risking arrest.’”

Clooney compiled the report on behalf of the International Bar Association and suggested that Egypt end the controversial practice.

Unfortunately the government ignored the report and the journalists received stiff sentences of up to 10 years in prison.

“That recommendation wasn’t followed, and we’ve seen the results of that in this particular case where you had a handpicked panel led by a judge who is known for dispensing brutal verdicts,” Clooney told the newspaper.

“And this one was no different.” l

Lecture by Heisnam Kanhailal at IGCC today n Entertainment Desk Eminent Indian art theatre personality Heisnam Kanhailal will deliver a lecture on “Renewal of Ancestral Tradition for a Contemporary Cultural Expression” at the Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, Gulshan-1 at 5pm today.

Shadhona, a centre for advancement of South Asian culture, organised the event as a part of series of public lectures on Indological Studies.

Kanhailal founded Kalakshetra Manipur in 1969. Since then he has been continuing experiment with tradition for an alternate theatre. He broke a new trend of theatrical expression in contemporary Indian theatre.

He worked with Badal Sircar in 1973. However, he didn’t sacrifice his own individuality.

In the process his alternative theatre could be identified with the live theatre that he ultimately conceived as the ‘Theatre of the Earth’.

He has conducted around 15 major workshops in the last twenty years for the actors from different cultural backgrounds in the country.

He also produced a short

theatre film “PEBET” in 1985.

The film secured the Best Short Fiction Film in the International Short Film Festival held in Kolkata.

He has been awarded several prestigious awards like “Sangeet Natak Akademi Award” in 1985, “Sangeet Natak Akademy Ratna Award” in 2011, “Padmashree” the highest civilian award

by Government of India in 2004.

He was also awarded different Fellowships like Jawaharlal Nehru National Fellowship, Emeritus Fellowship, a research project by Ford Foundation and a research project by Theatre works, Singapore to study performance tradition in Indonesia and Malaysia. l

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Trains operate when buses and launches fail n Tribune Report With political tension causing both bus and launch services to stay out of order in the capital yesterday, people had to rely on trains – the only mode of public transport system that saw normal operations throughout the day.

Even though rail officials expected to see train compartments to be more packed because of suspensions of other communication modes, the number of train passengers was significantly low out of Dhaka, apparently because of fears that the existing political tension might take an ugly turn and become violent at any moment.

“The pressure of passengers was lower than other days. Even some of the passengers returned their tickets...

Out of fear of the political situation, the number of passengers was low,” station master of Kamalapur Rail Station, Nripen Chandra Saha, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Officials at the Kamalapur Rail Station said almost all the trains were on time at the station, while trains elsewhere also moved properly without any glitch.

“Only the ‘Egarosindur’ train was delayed an hour while all other trains

maintained their schedules,” the station master said.

Railway officials said although the Kamalapur station sees 64 trains daily carry over 40,000 passengers out of Dhaka on an average, yesterday most trains had vacant seats.

The director general of Bangladesh Railway, Amzad Hossain, told the Dhaka tribune: “We have taken a policy to operate trains during any type of political programmes. Under the policy, train ran properly; if passengers did not ride in the trains, we have nothing to do.”

Although Dhaka saw fewer number of outgoing passengers, rail officials from other districts claimed that they experienced higher passenger numbers than other days.

Rajshahi Rail Station Superintendent Abdul Karim claimed that the number of passengers was higher than usual, adding that they had to sell additional standing tickets for trains on different routes.

Mizanur Rahman, deputy commercial officer at Bangladesh Railway’s Chittagong office, also claimed that the number of passenger was more than other times. All the trains from Chittagong were on time, he added. l

Sadarghat launch terminal, usually crammed with people, launches and boats, lay empty yesterday due to the disruption of communication caused by the ongoing political unrest MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Former chief justice Mustafa Kamal dies n Tribune Report Former chief justice Mustafa Kamal died early yesterday after suffering a cardiac arrest at his Gulshan residence.

He died around 3:30am. He was 81 years old. He left behind three daughters and six grandchildren.

Mustafa Kamal’s first Namaz-eJanaza took place on Supreme Court premises at 2pm. Former chief justice ABM Ruhul Amin, Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain and other judges of the Supreme Court and High Court attended the janaza, among others.

Senior lawyers including Dr Kamal Hossain, Barrister M Aminul Islam,

Khandokar Mahbub Hossain, Baset Majumder, Matin Khasru, MI Faruqui and Jamir Uddin Sarker were also present.

The former chief justice was buried at Azimpur graveyard after his second Namaz-e-Janaza on the compound of Gulshan Azad Mosque after Asr prayers, his son-in-law ASM Mainuddin Monem said.

The eldest son of illustrious musician, Abbas Uddin Ahmed, Mustafa Kamal was born in Domar, Rangpur in 1935. He had his schooling at Cooch Behar, Kolkata and Dhaka.

He obtained BA Honours and MA degrees in political science from the University of Dhaka in 1953 and 1954,

respectively, obtaining first position in the first class.

The Central Government of Pakistan awarded him a merit scholarship

for higher studies and he obtained an MSc from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1958.

He was called to the bar from Lincoln’s Inn in 1959.

Justice Mustafa Kamal developed a wide practice in all branches of the law at the Dhaka High Court, the Supreme Court of Pakistan and the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.

In 1976 he was appointed Advocate General of Bangladesh.

In 1979 he was elevated as judge at the High Court. In 1989 he was elevated to the Appellate Division.

He was appointed Chief Justice on June 1, 1999 and went into retirement on January 1, 2000. l

High Court to hear BDR carnage case on Jan 18 n Tribune Report A special bench of the High Court, which was formed on Sunday, will hear appeals and death reference in the BDR carnage case on January 18.

The bench comprising judges Md Shawkat Hossain, Md Abu Zafor Siddique and Mustafa Zaman Islam fixed the date yesterday.

The appeals and death reference were in yesterday’s cause list of the bench. However, it could not be heard since the case was not fully ready. According to the superintendent of the relevant section of the High Court, it would need 10 more days.

The case is likely to be heard at court number nine of the main High Court building. A defence lawyer yesterday requested the court to hold the hearing at court number 24 instead.

He said many lawyers would come to court during the hearing and so it would be difficult to accommodate them in such a small room.

The lawyer also sought a month to begin the hearing saying that there were many appeals in the case.

The bench assured him of taking up his request about the courtroom with the authorities concerned and consider whether the hearing could be delayed. l

BTRC: Rumours of ETV transmission suspension not true n Tribune Report

Makeshift businesses on the capital’s footpaths remained closed yesterday to avoid conflict feared as a result of programmes announced by the Awami League and the BNP MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

ç Police put up barricades at the Nightingale intersection in Kakrail, near the BNP office, yesterday morning amid the political heat surrounding the first anniversary of the 10th general elections MEHEDI HASAN

Mamata likely to visit Dhaka before February 21 n Tribune Desk The chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, is likely to come to Dhaka in mid-February on a threeday visit.

A Foreign Ministry official said Mamata might join the International Mother Language Day and Language Martyrs Day programmes during her visit.

“She earlier expressed interest to visit Dhaka. We are also prepared to welcome her ahead of February 21,” the official said seeking anonymity.

Mamata was supposed to visit Dhaka in 2011 with then Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh. But she cancelled the trip at the last minute protesting the proposed Teesta water sharing agreement. l

Court relieves Prothom Alo editors n Tribune Report The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court exempted Prothom Alo Editor Motiur Rahman and Joint Editor Mizanur Rahman Khan from contempt of court charges.

The eight-member bench headed

by Chief Justice M Muzammel Hossain passed the order yesterday after the duo apologised unconditionally.

Senior lawyers Dr Kamal Hossain and M Amir-Ul Islam moved for the duo while Attorney General Mahbubey Alam for the state.

The Appellate Division set at 9:15am in presence of Motiur and Mizanur. The newspaper published an article on December 15 titled “Selection of the Chief Justice” written by its Joint Editor Mizanur. The writer said the incumbent chief justice was set to retire on January 16. But there was little discussion

on the procedure of appointment.

Mentioning that the duo would apologise, the counsels said before that they had something to say on the matter. They also submitted a written document seeking apology.

But rejecting their written submission, the court said either the editors would have to apologise or contest the matter. “It’s a long-standing practice on contempt matters.”

The counsels argued that a contemnor could apologise any time before the implementation of punishment, according to the supreme court rules.

Giving them time, the court asked Dr Kamal to discuss the matter with his clients and left the room at 9:37am.

At 10:45am when the court set again, Dr Kamal sought unconditional apology in favour of the editors and placed a fresh written submission regarding the matter.

At one point of the hearing, Justice

AHM Shamsuddin Choudhury and Dr Kamal exchanged heated words.

Pointing at Justice Shamsuddin, Dr Kamal said: “We learnt something [earlier]. [But now] we are hearing something else from that corner.”

The judge then said: “Mr Kamal, don’t say ‘that corner.’ It’s court. Show respect.”

Dr Kamal replied in a louder voice: “From that corner, with due respect, my Lordship.”

Justice Shamsuddin said: “If you go through all the relevant decisions all over the world, you will see how wrong you are.” The defence counsel said: “I read all the decisions...You know nothing. I am addressing the chief justice.”

After few moments, the chief justice said: “If someone writes about the court, he has to do it from a responsible stand by knowing and understanding the whole thing.”

Dr Kamal Hossain then said: “So you

are not telling to stop writing.”

The chief justice replied: “No. First you have to know and learn. Then you can write.” Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah said: “We did not issue a contempt rule on the whole write-up. We marked few sentences which tarnishes the image of the judiciary. You have to uphold the majesty of the court.”

Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha said: “...so that it does not undermine the institution.”

The chief justice said: “...you should write very carefully.

“Previously lawyers and members of the BAR did court reporting. But now when the reporters write about the court...for example, this or that order was given, they have to write after understanding the matter.”

Then the judges left the courtroom without making any further comment or issuing any order. l

Ekushey Television (ETV) channel’s picture went off air in different parts of the capital yesterday.

Television screens went blank in many parts of the country around 2:30pm yesterday giving rise to speculation that the private television channel had been taken off air by the authorities.

Ibrahim Azad, the acting head of news at ETV, told the Dhaka Tribune that speculation as to why the channel was off-line was nothing but a rumour.

“ETV is under regular transmission,” he said.

“Blackout was reported in different parts of the city. It may have been due to a technical glitch at the cable operators’ end, who disseminate our telecast in the private sector,” a senior reporter of ETV said.

Earlier, speculation over ETV’s possible closure was spurred on by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia raising the suspicion that the government had taken ETV off air, while speaking to journalists from the premises of her Gulshan office.

A senior official of the Information Ministry however confirmed that the government had taken no such action.

According to the official, “over-enthusiastic” local cable operators may have partially suspended the dissemination of the ETV telecast.

The private television channel recently carried a telecast of a speech

by Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) senior vice-president Tareq Rahman live from London.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Secretary Sarowar Alam told the Dhaka Tribune that neither the commission nor the government had taken any action against the transmission of ETV. “If anyone spreads misleading information about it then it is their responsibility to admit their mistake,” he said. 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 Oil hits 5-1/2-year lows on supply glut

B4 Japan final

manufacturing PMI shows sustained growth

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Political unrest cripples business and industry Transport crisis mainly hampers people’s going to business establishments and factories in the city

n Tribune Report Business activities almost came to a halt in the city yesterday due to acute transport crisis ahead of pre-announced 20-party rally.

Most industries, banks and businesses failed to operate at their optimum level because of thin presence of staff and workers, according to businessmen and traders.

Banking transaction dropped ranging from 50% to 70%, as customers could not turn out due to non-availability of transport while attendance of bank officials were also very low, according to bankers.

Some small-scale businesses, shops and ATMs (automated teller machines) kept their shutters down in fear of damage due to political violence.

The situation was even more grave than a strike day as there was hardly any transport in the city that led the commuters to look for alternative means to travel.

Political field in the country has heated up again over the controversial January 5 election last year, pushing the country into chaos and uncertainty.

“Since the business also crippled all over the city, banking transactions suffered a lot,” said Mohammad Alam, a banker.

According to a Dutch-Bangla bank official, the bank experienced sharp fall of about 70% transaction compared to the daily average transactions and attendance of bank staff was also very low due to non-availability public transport.

All bank branches located in the Motijheel area, the business hub of the country, conducted their office activities, keeping their main entrances shut. They allowed their clients through pocket gets, though there was no announcement of hartal (strike) by political parties.

“We kept the main gate closed to avoid any possible violence though there was no official notice,” said Ishtiaque Ahad, NCC Bank branch in-charge of Motijheel.

He said the average transaction of the day was just over 30% compared to the daily average transactions.

Meghna Bank Motijheel branch witnessed very thin presence of clients during the day. The branch also conducted its business activities keeping the main gate closed.

Abdul Haque, head of Motijheel branch of Meghna Bank, said: “Though we opened the main door early of the day but within a short time we closed it as all business establishments were shut in this area.”  B3 COLUMN 3

Two more IGWs lose licences for dues n Muhammad Zahidul Islam The government has cancelled licences of two more International Gateway (IGW) operators for failing to pay more than Tk230 crore as licence fees and revenue sharing.

Post and Telecommunication Division yesterday sent a letter to the telecom regulator asking to take necessary steps regarding the matter, the telecom ministry sources said.

Telex Limited and Vision Tel Ltd lost the licences this time while the government earlier cancelled licences of another two IGW operators. Cases have been filed with the court against the operators as they are on default of fees.

The regulator, BTRC moved to cancel licence of Telex Ltd in October 2013 as the company had a due of Tk62.47 crore.

BTRC sought approval from the ministry to the cancellation of licence. Telex will now have to pay a total of over Tk80 crore including licence and late fees.

Telex’s call termination was blocked in 2013 as the revenue sharing amount and licence fees were not paid.

Two non-resident Bangladeshis –

Abdur Rahman and Mohammad Mojibur Rahman – own Telex. The owners have remained “traceless” for last more than one year, said BTRC. According to the sources concerned, the owners left the country just after termination call blocking.

BTRC served show-cause notices to Telex and got no reply from them who didn’t event contact the regulator after that.

Another IGW operator, Vision Tel Ltd may be next to lose licence. Vision Tel’s dues now stand at Tk138.76 crore.

Vision Tel transferred its share twice during the first year of its launching.

The company is currently owned by Md Shariful Islam, Rashel Mirza and Md Ziaur Rahman.

Mobile phone operator Grameenphone also filed cases against Vision Tel and Telex for outstanding bills which they owe to the Grameenphone.

According to the IGW guideline, the IGWs got 3 US cents per minute of international incoming call. The operators needed to share 51.75% of its earnings with the regulator.

(Top) Sonali Bank head office witnesses a very thin presence of customers yesterday. (L) stock traders sit motionless in a broker house. (R) A Dutch-Bangla Bank booth keeps shutter down apprehending violence MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU/DHAKA TRIBUNE

Govt may meet IMF conditions for ECF

H1 remittance posts over 10% growth

n Asif Showkat Kallol

n Tribune Report

The government has decided to resolve disputes over fulfilling two conditions set by the International Monetary Fund before getting the release of two tranches of Extended Credit Facility (ECF) fund, official source said yesterday.

The global lender is expected to disburse around $280 million under the ECF. The IMF conditions include extension of schedule to launch new VAT Law and appointment of an international auditor for Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC).

The government high-ups recently asked the finance division to address those issues for expediting the disbursement of IMF credit.

An official of finance division said: “The unresolved issues for disbursement of IMF credit will be discussed at today’s government reform committee meeting.”

“We have decided to extend schedule to launch the new VAT Law although IMF is yet to be informed officially.

The remittance inflow into the country posted 10.35% growth in the first six months of current fiscal year, thanks to get back the momentum of the country’s economy.

The expatriates sent a total of $7.47bn remittance in July to December of the fiscal year 2014-15 compared to $6.77bn in the same period of the last fiscal.

The country experienced a negative growth of 8% in the first six months of fiscal year 2013-14 compared to $7.4bn in the previous fiscal because of sluggish investment amid high-voltage political turmoil.

The remittance inflow, though, witnessed a slower pace began to rise faster over the past several months after the political situation cooled down.

The total remittance stood at $14.9bn in the just-concluded year, 8% higher from $13.8bn in the previous year.

The remittance inflow rose by 6.35% to $1.25bn in December last year compared to $1.18bn in the same month of the previous year.

The remitters sent $376m through

 B3 COLUMN 6

 B3 COLUMN 3

HALF YEARLY REMITTANCE GROWTH

Suspicious transactions on rise n Jebun Nesa Alo

state-owned banks, 17.19m through specialised banks, $850m through private banks and $14.84m through foreign banks in December.

Remittance growth is expected to rise 10% in the fiscal year 2015 from $14.2bn in 2014, according to Bangladesh Bank.

The number of suspicious money transactions increased substantially in the last three fiscal years in a row despite having Anti Money Laundering (AML) laws.

Total number of Suspicious Transaction Reporting (STR) submitted by the reporting agencies rose by 47.38% to 619 in the fiscal year 2013-14 compared to 420 in the previous fiscal year.

The number of such reporting increased by 140% in the fiscal year 201213 compared to 175 cases in the fiscal year 2011-12, according to the annual report of Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIR), 2014.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman unveiled the report yesterday at a function held in its headquarters.

Reporting organisations are obliged to submit STRs to BFIU under the provision of Money Laundering Prevention Act, 2012.

Banks are the prime reporting organisations of STR, other reporting organisations, like insurance companies,

 B3 COLUMN 5

 B3 COLUMN 1

12 10 8

6,755 11%

7,415 10%

7,456 10%

7,046 8.5%

6 4 2 0 -2 -4

7,470 0.18% Jan-June July-Dec Jan-June 2012 2012 2013

Jan-June July-Dec 2014 2012

6,773 -4% July-Dec 2013

DITF sees low turnout amid political unrest n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

The Dhaka International Trade Fair sees a little presence of visitors yesterday due to political unrest

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Panic grips the exhibitors at Dhaka International Trade Fair 2015 as the ongoing political unrest hits the country’s communication system that prevents people from visiting the fair.

In the last Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF), participants failed to bag their expected sales and sales order from consumers due to low turnout of visitors as the country was hit hard by the political turmoil, centering the election held on January 5, 2014.

Talking to several exhibitors at the trade fair, it was found that they are frustrated at the political situation as it would impact their business. They also said they had to count losses due to political stalemate last year.

The visitors’ flow came down drastically yesterday due to the ongoing political stalemate, centering the BNP programme, said Firoz Al Mamun, head of marketing of Hatil.

“If I compare the presence of visitors with the previous day, I can say it

is 70% less than that,” said Mamun.

The BNP and the ruling Awami League were at loggerheads in connection with their observance of January 5, which BNP terms democracy killing day, while the ruling party terming it as democracy emancipation day.

If the political deadlock continues, the fair would be affected severely, Mamun said, adding that they have showcased several unique items to draw buyers’ attention.

A visit to the Dhaka International Trade Fair revealed that sales executives were just whiling away their time as there were hardly enough visitors or customers at the stalls and pavilions.

The visitors cannot attend

the fair due to unavailability of transport and fear of violence, said Abu Bakar Siddique of Jamuna Electronics.

The presence of visitors today (Monday) is very nominal in comparison with the previous day, Siddique said, adding that on Sunday it was a huge rush of visitors and the stalls were full of customers.

The main target of participation in the fair is to promote products and to  B3 COLUMN 5

B2

Stocks end flat as investors get panicked n Tribune Report

safe zone and mild -level of profit booking took place,’ it said.

On the other hand, some investors were accumulating few stocks on better earnings expectation, it said adding that but turnover did not improve sequentially, settling at Tk200 crore level.

The investors were more focused on large-cap stocks and centralised their portfolio to power and engineering sectors, it said.

LankaBangla Securities said the investors’ sentiment dampened throughout the trading session as noise on the political front seemed to get louder.

It said morning trading dissipated previous day’s gain as panic-prone investors rushed to book profit.

Zenith Investments said recent political debacle was casting a larger shadow, as market remains unresponsive due to overriding influence of political fear.

“While the stock market performed modestly bad during the end of 2014, a new market paradigm remains to be seen at the start of year 2015, that is, if the recent political tension turns out to be a passing fad.”

All the major sectors ended in red except telecommunication, which gained marginally by 0.6%. Banks and power sectors lost over 1% and 0.8% respectively.

Losers took a lead over gainers as out of 303 issues traded, 186 declined, 86 advanced and 31 remained unchanged on DSE. l

Stocks ended flat yesterday, after a sharp rise in the previous session, as investors got panicked over the rising political tension.

Investor presence was very thin on the trading floor due to transport crisis in the city.

Panic-driven investors rushed to book profit taking cue from the political upheaval that has started in very beginning of a new year over controversial national polls held on January 5, analysts say.

The market opened with a negative tone and the downturn continued amid high volatility throughout the sessions. The intraday volatility was nearly 50 points.

At the end of the day, DSEX, the prime index of the Dhaka Stock Exchange went down by 15 points or 0.3% to 4,926.

The Shariah index, DSES, inched 2 points or 0.2% higher to 1,176. The comprising blue chips DS30 rose marginally 1 point to 1,844.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, lost 34 points to 9,131.

Turnover came down to Tk204 crore, registering a decline of more than 10% over the previous session’s value of Tk227 crore.

IDLC Investments said, “Political unrest left its impact on market, turning down DSEX.” “As the tension in the political front prevailed, investors remained indecisive and were searching for

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)

Shahjibazar Power-N Progressive Life-A PragatiLife Insu. -Z Prime Islami Life -A Trust Bank-A Saiham Tex.A 1st Janata Bank MF-A ICB Islamic Bank-Z Shampur Sugar -Z Safko Spinning-A

-9.29 -5.39 -5.26 -5.13 -4.52 -4.32 -3.77 -3.57 -3.45 -3.44

CSE LOSER Company Progressive Life-A Continental Insur. -A Shahjibazar Power-N Aziz PipesZ Imam Button -Z Kohinoor Chem -A Janata Insur -A Bengal Windsor-A ACI ZERO Bond-A Provati Insur.-A

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Closing (% Change) -10.00 -9.26 -8.87 -8.26 -7.50 -7.14 -7.06 -5.69 -5.62 -5.31

4926.40938

(-) 0.31%

1844.41984

(+) 0.07%

15114.46620

(-) 0.19%

12220.23350

(-) 0.40%

9131.36610

(-) 0.37%

Average (% Change) -10.07 -5.71 -5.59 -4.39 -3.32 -2.14 -1.91 -2.37 -5.51 -2.22 Average (% Change) -10.00 -8.86 -2.02 -8.26 -7.50 -7.14 -6.65 -5.66 -5.62 -5.05

▼ ▲ ▼ ▼ ▼

DSE GAINER

DSE key features January 5, 2015

Company

Turnover (Million Taka)

2,044.27

Turnover (Volume)

44,673,845

Number of Contract

57,297

Traded Issues

303

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

75

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

223

Samata LeatheR -Z SAIF Powertec-N Kohinoor Chem -A GeminiSeaFood-Z Envoy Textiles Ltd-N Al-Haj Textile -A Northern Jute -Z Nitol Insurance -A Meghna PET Ind. -Z WesternMarine -N

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,633.49

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

31.92

CSE key features January 5, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

149.59

Turnover (Volume)

4,130,287

Number of Contract

8,895

Traded Issues

231

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

68

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

158

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,537.47

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.76

Company SAIF Powertec-N Power Grid Co. -A Meghna Life Ins. -A Envoy Textiles Ltd-N Standard Insurance-A NCCBL Mutual Fund-1-A Apex Tannery -A WesternMarine -N Islami Ins.BD-A Global Heavy Chemicals-N

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

Closing (% Change) 7.62 5.01 4.32 4.23 4.00 3.64 2.99 2.98 2.86 2.83

Average (% Change) 5.24 1.88 4.28 3.37 3.75 3.64 1.91 2.17 2.86 2.81

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 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

ClosingAvg. 172.55 75.93 95.04 70.93 19.20 26.95 5.13 5.36 8.40 28.16

ClosingAvg. 78.30 19.64 486.90 21.10 7.40 325.00 15.85 54.70 940.00 19.56

Closing

DHIGH

170.90 75.50 95.40 70.30 19.00 26.60 5.10 5.40 8.40 28.10

Closing 78.30 19.60 175.60 21.10 7.40 325.00 15.80 54.70 940.00 19.60

194.00 77.00 100.00 74.90 19.80 27.70 5.20 5.50 8.40 29.20

DHIGH 78.30 20.00 177.00 21.10 7.40 325.00 15.90 55.10 940.00 19.60

Turnover in Million

DLOW 170.90 73.80 94.20 70.00 18.80 26.50 5.10 5.30 8.40 27.90

11.675 0.448 0.069 1.312 7.159 4.593 0.134 0.584 0.008 3.442

Turnover in Million

DLOW 78.30 19.50 175.20 21.10 7.40 325.00 15.80 54.30 940.00 19.50

0.117 0.102 1.152 0.002 0.007 0.026 0.010 0.002 0.002 0.003

Latest EPS 9.00 2.30 2.38 4.95 2.93 2.96 1.04 -0.71 -52.72 1.24

Latest EPS 2.30 2.27 9.00 -0.37 -1.72 10.40 0.37 4.16 0.00 1.97

% change 8.62 4.13 2.05 11.92 6.59 15.37 0.11 8.55 10.70 7.58 0.91 0.97 10.19 3.05 0.63 1.44 3.91 0.80 2.09 0.00

Million Taka 11.85 3.79 1.79 23.44 4.68 21.53 17.06 11.51 4.48 15.04 4.64 2.01 12.79 2.78 0.96 2.34 7.85 5.89 6.91 0.00

CSE

% change 7.35 2.35 1.11 14.53 2.90 13.34 0.00 10.58 7.13 2.78 9.32 2.88 1.24 7.93 1.72 0.59 1.45 4.86 3.65 4.28 0.00

Million Taka 188.05 88.29 43.71 267.16 139.41 335.77 2.34 191.88 230.17 12.42 169.90 23.18 21.94 221.13 65.12 13.79 31.73 87.80 22.19 49.60 0.00

22.80 67.58 370.00 225.00 53.99 106.62 291.81 28.75 6.00 54.60

ClosingAvg. 67.68 40.67 91.77 52.73 26.00 5.70 136.56 54.73 21.60 43.60

Closing 22.80 69.30 370.00 225.00 54.40 106.80 290.30 29.80 6.00 55.40

Closing 69.20 41.90 91.80 54.20 26.00 5.70 138.00 55.30 21.60 43.60

DHIGH 22.80 69.90 370.00 225.00 55.70 109.80 304.50 30.00 6.00 55.60

DHIGH 70.00 42.50 91.80 54.60 26.00 5.70 138.00 55.70 21.60 43.60

DLOW 22.80 64.50 370.00 225.00 51.00 104.00 260.00 28.30 6.00 52.90

DLOW 62.10 40.00 88.20 49.50 26.00 5.70 130.80 52.30 21.60 43.60

Turnover in Million 0.000 107.086 0.002 0.000 22.527 30.471 0.609 1.279 0.001 58.017

Turnover in Million 10.764 0.144 0.858 0.340 0.021 0.002 0.034 9.503 0.001 0.000

Latest EPS 0.05 2.36 10.40 1.39 2.15 1.04 1.00 2.79 -0.44 1.80

Latest EPS 2.36 1.04 6.45 2.15 3.07 0.43 2.64 1.80 1.48 2.43

Latest PE 456.0 28.6 35.6 161.9 25.1 102.5 291.8 10.3 -ve 30.3

Latest PE 28.7 39.1 14.2 24.5 8.5 13.3 51.7 30.4 14.6 17.9

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.

SAVAREFR: No dividend, AGM: 24.01.2015, Record Date: 23.12.2014.

DESCO: 5% cash & 10% stock, AGM 03.01.2015 Record Date: 13.11.2014.

19.2 33.0 39.9 14.3 6.6 9.1 4.9 -ve -ve 22.7

Latest PE 34.0 8.7 54.1 -ve -ve 31.3 42.8 13.1 9.9

LafargeS Cement-Z SAIF Powertec-N Grameenphone-A Olympic Ind. -A WesternMarine -N MJL BD Ltd.-A Agni Systems -A Beximco Pharma -A Khulna Power-A DESCO Ltd. -A

Total

ClosingAvg.

Latest PE

Recent political debacle was casting a larger shadow, as market remains unresponsive due to overriding influence of political fear

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

DSE Million Taka 176.20 84.51 41.92 243.72 134.73 314.24 2.34 174.82 218.66 7.94 154.86 18.53 19.93 208.34 62.34 12.83 29.40 79.95 16.30 42.69 0.00

8.06 7.61 4.88 4.75 4.62 3.79 3.68 3.47 3.45 3.36

Average (% Change) 5.36 5.41 4.87 4.70 4.35 4.00 4.22 (1.61) 3.81 1.83

News, analysis and recent disclosures

Company

Sector

Closing (% Change)

CSE GAINER

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS

ANALYST

Tuesday, January 6, 2014

% change 8.53 4.00 1.98 12.11 6.32 15.22 0.11 8.70 10.44 0.56 7.70 1.05 0.99 10.03 2.95 0.63 1.44 3.98 1.01 2.25 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

SummitAlliancePort.-A BATBCL -A AB Bank - A CVO PetroChem RL-A Al-Haj Textile -A Square Pharma -A Titas Gas TDCLA Quasem Drycells -A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company LafargeS Cement-Z SAIF Powertec-N WesternMarine -N Grameenphone-A MJL BD Ltd.-A Beximco Pharma -A Khulna Power-A SummitAlliancePort.-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A UNITED AIR-A

Khan Brothers-N Singer BD -A Hamid Fabrics -N FarEast Knitting -N Aftab Auto.-A Agni Systems -A Appollo Ispat CL -N

VolumeShares 1,422,483 1,584,550 199,930 282,638 1,062,586 453,528 1,629,436 804,881 802,824 642,923

Value in Million 191.67 107.09 73.18 65.82 58.02 57.81 54.38 49.83 48.46 45.62

% of TotalTurnover 9.38 5.24 3.58 3.22 2.84 2.83 2.66 2.44 2.37 2.23

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

531,982 12,977 1,105,514 64,677 285,779 115,244 333,783 348,358

88,044 159,038 173,641 18,530 44,893 78,202 76,492 48,876 93,979 352,606

78,271 12,290 73,286 89,874 35,533 72,551 117,514

45.34 34.39 33.63 31.50 30.47 29.81 26.94 26.41

11.87 10.76 9.50 6.78 5.71 4.84 4.62 4.14 3.47 3.16

2.72 2.72 2.70 2.54 2.49 2.43 2.33

2.22 1.68 1.65 1.54 1.49 1.46 1.32 1.29

8.04 7.29 6.44 4.59 3.87 3.28 3.13 2.81 2.35 2.14

1.84 1.84 1.83 1.72 1.68 1.65 1.58

ClosingP 134.70 69.30 367.30 234.20 55.40 127.40 33.70 62.50 60.90 71.80

85.40 2636.00 30.60 482.90 106.80 259.80 80.50 76.10 ClosingP

134.80 69.20 55.30 367.30 127.00 62.30 60.70 84.90 37.00 8.90

34.90 222.00 36.70 27.50 70.60 33.60 19.80

Change % 2.36 7.61 0.82 0.95 3.36 -0.55 0.90 0.64 1.84 1.27

0.59 -0.94 -0.65 -1.47 3.79 -0.19 -0.86 1.20

Change %

2.67 7.62 2.98 1.07 -0.70 0.32 1.85 0.12 -0.80 -1.11

1.16 -0.05 -0.54 -1.43 1.15 0.90 -1.49

ClosingY 131.60 64.40 364.30 232.00 53.60 128.10 33.40 62.10 59.80 70.90

84.90 2661.00 30.80 490.10 102.90 260.30 81.20 75.20 ClosingY

131.30 64.30 53.70 363.40 127.90 62.10 59.60 84.80 37.30 9.00

34.50 222.10 36.90 27.90 69.80 33.30 20.10

DHIGH 136.50 69.90 368.00 235.00 55.60 128.40 34.00 62.80 61.00 72.40

86.70 2660.00 30.80 502.90 109.80 260.10 81.00 76.70 DHIGH

136.50 70.00 55.70 369.00 128.00 62.50 61.00 85.50 37.10 9.00

35.10 224.00 37.20 28.60 71.10 34.00 20.00

DLOW 132.10 64.50 362.20 230.00 52.90 126.00 32.80 61.10 59.00 69.20

AvgPrice 134.74 67.58 366.02 232.87 54.60 127.46 33.38 61.91 60.36 70.96

83.10 2631.00 30.20 481.00 104.00 257.50 80.00 72.30

85.22 2649.76 30.42 487.04 106.62 258.66 80.70 75.82

DLOW

AvgPrice

133.00 62.10 52.30 360.10 126.10 61.20 58.50 82.20 36.70 8.90

34.30 220.00 36.30 27.30 69.00 33.00 19.80

134.83 67.68 54.73 365.97 127.24 61.88 60.35 84.77 36.92 8.97

34.78 221.31 36.83 28.23 69.99 33.51 19.86

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Oil hits 5-1/2-year lows on supply glut n Reuters, London Oil prices dropped to fresh 5-1/2-year lows yesterday as worries about a surplus of global supplies and lacklustre demand dragged on oil markets.

Russia’s oil output hit a post-Soviet high last year, averaging 10.58 million barrels per day (bpd), up 0.7% thanks to small non-state producers, Energy Ministry data showed.

Iraq’s oil exports were at their highest since 1980 in December, an oil ministry spokesman said, with record sales from the country’s southern terminals.

But oil producer group OPEC has decided not to cut output, opting to let the market find its own level.

The two oil benchmarks - Brent and West Texas Intermediate - have now lost more than half of their value since mid-2014. Brent crude LCOc1 for February dropped as low as $55.25 a barrel, its weakest since May 2009, before edging back to $55.67, down 75 cents, by 0815 GMT. US crude CLc1 slid to $51.40 a barrel yesterday, also its lowest since May 2009, before recovering a little to trade around $51.90.

“It’s hard to see much improvement in oil fundamentals near term,” Morgan Stanley analyst Adam Longson said.

“New supply has entered the market, offsetting Libya woes. Additional exports are coming primarily from Russia and Iraq.”

Lacklustre economic data from the United States on Friday fuelled worries about the state of the global economy and the strength of oil demand.

“Oil demand is unlikely be robust this year when we look at the state of economies in China, Japan and Europe,” said Yusuke Seta, a commodity sales manager at Newedge Japan.

A weak euro may also have contrib-

A flame shoots out of a chimney at a petro-industrial factory in Kawasaki near Tokyo uted to further oil losses as it reduces the purchasing power of euro holders for dollar-denominated oil. Investors are also increasing bets on lower oil prices.

Suspicious transactions on rise  B1 COLUMN 6

financial institutions, capital market intermediaries and NGOs also submit STRs. BFIU received a total of 71 cases of money laundering offences occurred during the fiscal year 2013-14, of which five related to over invoicing, 15 corruption, 11 fraud, 3 financing in terrorism and 9 related to kidnapping.

After analysing the STRs, if it is assumed that there is any element of money laundering related offence and it is necessary to further investigation, BFIR provides information of those cases usually to ACC or CID of Bangladesh police, said the report.

Rigid foreign exchange policy influence people to carry out money through trade misinvoicing, said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank.

The existing policy does not permit the non-resident Bangladeshis to transfer their proceeds abroad. There is also little chance to outward money for treatment purpose.

There is also very limitations on spending foreign exchange for traveling abroad, he said.

Bangladesh Bank liberalised some rules to carry money out of the country to remove money-laundering tendency.

Non-resident Bangladeshis has been allowed to transfer fund from their accounts in Bangladesh upon the central bank approval. But, in this case, subsistence costs of individual account holders and their family members in

their country of residence must be specified.

Bangladesh Bank has recently relaxed its rules doubling business travel quota in foreign exchange for exporters, manufactures and importers.

Under the new provisions, Bangladeshi nationals and foreign nationals working in any business organisations in Bangladesh will be able to spend US$10,000 instead of existing $5000 per year for traveling to the foreign countries.

“We have relaxed some foreign exchange rules gradually in line with our dollar capacity,” said Bangladesh Bank Executive Director Mahfuzur Rahman.

He noted that foreign exchange policy still has some rigidity on spending dollars as its flexibility depends on the country’s dollar reserve.

The total of $1.78bn flown out of Bangladesh in the year 2012 mainly on trade misinvoicing, according to the recently released study conducted by the Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a Washingtonbased research organisation.

The amount of $593m was laundered in the year 2011. On an average, $1.31bn funneled out of the country per year between 2003 and 2012, according to the report.

Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) also claimed recently that over-invoicing in import of a large number of goods increased rampantly. It also demanded to examine that whether flight of capital is taking place through this over invoicing. l

Open interest for $40-$50 strike puts have risen several fold since the start of December, while $20-$30 puts for June 2015 have traded, said Stephen Schork, editor of Pennsylvania-based

REUTERS

The Schork Report.

Conflict in Libya has reduced the OPEC producer’s crude output to around 380,000 bpd, state-run National Oil Corp (NOC) has said.

Fighting was reported near the country’s biggest oil export port Es Sider in the east even as a week-long fire at the port’s storage tanks was extinguished on Friday. l

Political unrest cripples business and industry  B1 COLUMN 2

According to a Dhaka Bank official, the bank’s transaction declined by more than 50% compared to any other normal day.

The acute transport shortage also hit hard production of factories that saw a fall of more than 40%, according to businesses.

“Production at the apparel factories particularly located at the capital fell over 40% as workers failed to attend the factory due to transport crisis,” said BGMEA Vice-President Shahidullah Azim.

He said at least 45% workers could not join their duties, hitting the production hard.

His company also failed to ferry the imported raw material. “This will also cast adverse impact on production in days to come.”

Only those workers, who resided within a walking distance from the factories, were able to attend the factory, according to Azim.

The BGMEA leader expressed his utter dissatisfaction over recurrence of political violence, saying buyers just started to place orders, but this type of political chaos will give negative signal to the world.

Former BGMEA president Anwarul-Alam Chowdhury said any disruption in the flow of transportation can extensively hamper the productivity of

workers as well as business activities.

“The disturbance in the movement of people and goods will already pose an immediate effect on the economy,” he said.

Furthermore, small businesses were badly affected by the transport shortage.

Traders at the city’s new market shared that a few shoppers visited the market on the day as people had a hard time getting to their destinations.

Mohammad Farukh, a vendor, faced a decrease in the number of buyers on the day and it actually made a significant difference in his daily profit.

“Political unrest marked a low selling day,” he said. l

Govt may meet IMF conditions for ECF  B1 COLUMN 3

In the meeting, we will decide when to inform the global lender,” he said.

Sources at the finance division said BPC picked up a local auditor to look into its financial matter and to prepare an annual report, but IMF imposed the condition to find an international audit firm.

Last week , the government injected Tk1,500 crore into two of its state-owned banks – Sonali and BASIC – which were sucked almost dry of capital in the wake of alleged lending forgeries.

A source in the finance division said the Finance Ministry had already provided Tk710 crore for Sonali Bank and Tk790 crore for BASIC Bank to make up for their capital shortfalls.

The IMF wanted not to disburse more than Tk800 crore to rescue financially-troubled BASIC Bank under the ECF conditions at the end of this fiscal year.

On September 23, regarding VAT reforms, Muhith said the government will not be able to complete VAT reforms this year and that might extend till 2016.

“But I am not sure whether IMF will agree with me,” he added.

Last September, a six-member IMF mission headed by Rodrigo Cubero, deputy division chief, had expressed dissatisfaction over sluggish progress in VAT reforms.

Apart from the two tranches, a fresh deal between the global lender and the government is likely to be halted if the finance division fails to comply with a major IMF condition, apprehends NBR officials.

The fate of two installments might be decided in March next year. l

 B1 COLUMN 5

The central bank forecast the growth in a statement over the economy of new year.

The fall in manpower export in the global market also played a vital role in slower remittance inflow over the last two years, said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank.

Remittance inflow from Middle Eastern countries fell 23.38% in October last year, according to the central bank data.

The country received remittance of

Tiger Cement has recently hosted Brand Renovation ceremony at a hotel in Dhaka hotel where its new logo and cement pack were launched. Haji Mohammad Salim, managing director of Madina Cement Industries Ltd was present among others on the occasion

Two more IGWs  B1 COLUMN 2

They also were required to share 20% with mobile phone operators and 15% with ICXs operators.

In December 2014, the government approved licence cancellation of two IGW operators – Ratul Telecom and Key Telecommunication Ltd. However, BTRC is yet complete the process.

These two companies are backed by politically influential persons.

Ratul Telecom, 50% of which owned

by Syeda Amrin Rakhi, daughter of former state minister and Awami League leader Jahangir Kabir Nanak, and 20%

by Nanak’s wife Syeda Arzumand Banu, started operations in October 2012.

Kay Telecommunications Ltd was owned by ruling party lawmaker Shamim Osman’s wife Salma Osman and his two sons Tanvir Ahmed and Imtinan Osman. The shares were reportedly transferred to three people - Md Shakawat Hossain, Debabrata Chowdhury and Md Rakibul Islam.

For dues, calls of SM Communication and Bestech Telecom, another two IGWs, were also blocked in 2013.

These six IGWs owe Tk588.63 crore including Tk10.13 crorse Vat to the regulator. In addition, they will have to pay 15% charge for delaying payment of dues.

Besides, officials said the IGW companies didn’t deposit licence fees. The operators’ licence fees amounted to Tk15 crore each for 2013 and Tk7.5 crore for 2014. l

Modhumoti Bank Limited has recently launched a new deposit scheme since start of the new-year at a launching programme. The bank’s MD and CEO, Md Mizanur Rahman inaugurated the deposit scheme programme

$599 million in October from Middle East compared to $782 million in previous month.

The remittance inflow from gulf states has fallen for one and a half years.

The country experienced a 10% rise in remittance inflow from Middle East in the fiscal year 2012-13 compared to $8.3 billion in the previous fiscal.

The remittance inflow from Europe increased 10% in the fiscal year 2013-14 compared to the previous fiscal year. l

DITF sees low turnout amid political unrest  B1 COLUMN 6

Social Islami Bank Limited has recently held its 329th board meeting. The bank’s chairperson, Major (retd) Dr Md Rezaul Haque presided over the meeting

After a ninemonth without a full-time Managing Director, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, the national flag carrier, finally picked up Kyle Haywood as its second foreign MD, who took the helm yesterday.

Kyle, however, was scheduled to join the office on January 1.

After the departure of Kevin John Steele in April last year, Haywood, a South Africa-born British national, was appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and MD of Biman on September 11, 2014.

Prior to joining Biman, Kyle served the traditional carriers such as British and Etihad Airways, and also low-cost carrier, Air Arabia. He also served the Air Uganda as the CEO. After joining Biman as new MD, Kyle said: “I am delighted to take up this challenging role particularly at a time when the airline moves forward with its modernisation programme.”

Issuing a statement yesterday, he said: “Biman is well placed to evolve into a stronger aviation player.”

“The ongoing fleet renewal allows us to build and improve a strong network whilst providing better punctuality and overall customer experience.”

The airline has made a great progress in recent years and must continue to accelerate this positive rate of relevant change to ensure that it secures and maintains a rightful place as a strong regional aviation company, Kyle added. l

H1 remittance posts 10% growth

CORPORATE NEWS

NRB Commercial Bank Limited has recently donated blanket to the Prime Minister’s relief fund to help the cold suffering people of the country. The bank’s chairperson, Engr Farasath Ali handed over the blankets to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

New CEO takes over Biman charge n Tribune Report

make them familiar with the consumers, but if there is no visitor, there will be no successful mission.

The countrymen are virtually hostage to two political parties and they are doing politics for their own interest, not for the people and the country, said Sumon Hossain, sales executive of Hamko.

The government wants to keep a firm grip on the power while the BNP struggles to assume power through violence, added Sumon.

The political parties should come out of their destructive path of politics and reach consensus to ensure peaceful environment in the country, said the executive.

On the other hand, visitors that came to enjoy the biggest trade show of the country urged all political parties to shun violence and let them enjoy the month-long fair.

The 20th Dhaka International Trade Fair began on January 1 at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital. It would continue till January 31. l

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Japan final manufacturing PMI shows sustained growth n Reuters, Tokyo Japanese manufacturing activity showed sustained growth in December, a survey showed on Monday, suggesting domestic demand continues to recover after the economy fell into a surprise recession last year.

The final Markit/JMMA Japan Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) was 52 in December, slightly less than a preliminary reading of 52.1 and unchanged from the final reading in November.

It remained above the 50 threshold that separates contraction from expansion for the seventh consecutive month.

The output component of the PMI index was 52.5, less than a preliminary reading of 53.3 and slightly below 52.7 in November.

New export orders rose for a sixth straight month but at a slightly slower pace than in November.

The economy unexpectedly slipped into recession in the third quarter of last year as a sales tax increase in April hit consumer spending harder than expected, while exports were uneven for

Global tech spending sputters amid economic woes n AFP, Las Vegas The outlook for global technology spending is uncertain after nearly flat growth in the past year, with turbulent economic conditions making a forecast difficult, an industry gathering was told Sunday.

At the media preview for the massive International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, data presented showed just one percent growth in 2014 to bring spending on technology to $1.024tn.

But analyst Steve Koenig of the Consumer Electronics Association, which organizes the event, said economic conditions around the world forced the group to defer its forecast for 2015.

“We have a very mixed spending picture,” Koenig said.

The market is being driven by strong demand for new products like tablets and smartphones in emerging economies in Asia, and by modest economic growth in North America.

The picture is clouded by economic stagnation in the eurozone and Japan and “weak expectations” in big emerging economies such as Brazil, Koenig explained.

Russia, another large emerging economy, is being hit by economic sanctions that could dent tech spending.

The association predicted a drop in tech spending of five percent in Europe and Latin America, and it remains unclear whether the rest of the world will pick up the slack. l

most of the year.

However, the economy is expected to have resumed expansion in the fourth quarter as consumer spending recovered and companies increased capital expenditure.

Late in December, Japan’s government approved stimulus spending worth $29bn aimed at helping the country’s lagging regions and households with subsidies, merchandise vouchers and other steps, though analysts are skeptical about how much it can spur growth.

The package, worth 3.5 trillion yen, was unveiled two weeks after a massive election victory by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition gave him a fresh mandate to push through his “Abenomics” policies to reflate the long-moribund economy, a strategy which has so far had mixed results.

The government said it expects the stimulus plan to boost Japan’s GDP by 0.7%.

The government is also expected to start cutting corporate taxes from April in a bid to spur more activity and encourage firms to pay higher wages. l

A worker cuts a metal at a sheet metal processing company Yamada Manufacturing in Daito, Osaka prefecture

Electronics show a window into the ‘Internet of Me’ n AFP, Las Vegas New technology is getting more personal. So personal, it is moving to connect and analyze our movements, our health, our brains and our everyday devices.

Welcome to the so-called Internet of Me. One of the major themes at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is connecting thousands of objects that people use each day - clothing, cars, light bulbs and home appliances.

But the challenge facing developers is making that information useful, and the CES is increasingly seeing inventions related to digital “coaches” and ways to improve health or fitness, or get better information about our cars or appliances, said Shawn DuBravac, chief economist at the Consumer Electronics Association in his outlook for the show.

“The key to all of this is that something happens in the physical space, and we digitize it and feed it back into the physical space,” he said.

“No longer the focus is on what can technologically be done but what is technologically meaningful.”

Some of the new devices on display at a preview Sunday included apps to monitor and improve the quality of sleep, a connected baby bottle to measure infant nutrition intake, and sensors that analyze one’s golf swing to compare it to that of the pros.

Smart clothing, connected smoke detectors and dozens of new smart-

watches and fitness devices are also in the mix.

Next phase of Internet

Smartwatches and other wearables are far more prominent at the show than ever before.

These new technologies “continue the trend of deploying the Internet in a personal way,” DuBravac said. “Nothing gets more personal than wearables.”

He said this represents a “third phase of the Internet,” after personal computers and mobile devices, to wearables and other connected objects.

“We are moving the Internet now from two billion smartphones to 50 billion objects,” he said.

“We are taking the Internet to new places, to your wrist. And you are going to see that across the show ... It’s not just about the distribution and dissemination of information. The way we use the Internet will change.”

CES, which officially opens Tuesday, is one of the world’s biggest trade fairs devoted to technology, with some 36,000 exhibitors and an estimated 160,000 people in attendance.

The show also features new bigscreen televisions with “ultra” highdefinition displays, and an array of drones for personal and industrial uses.

It also includes expanded sections for robotics and automotive technology.

The exhibition opens amid a mixed economic outlook for the global technology industry. The Consumer Electronics Association, which organizes it, said spending on technology rose a

mere one percent in 2014 to $1.024 trillion, but that it is too early to know the trend for 2015.

“We have a very mixed spending picture,” CEA analyst Steve Koenig said.

The market is being driven by strong demand for new products like tablets and smartphones in emerging economies in Asia, and by modest economic growth in North America.

The picture is clouded by economic stagnation in the eurozone and Japan and “weak expectations” in big emerging economies such as Brazil, Koenig explained.

Russia, another large emerging economy, is being hit by economic sanctions that could dent tech spending.

The association predicted a drop in tech spending of five percent in Europe and Latin America, and it remains unclear whether the rest of the world will pick up the slack.

Koenig said smartphone and tablet sales are growing at a healthy pace in China and other developing economies, and demand for new televisions is being driven by a “robust upgrade cycle” to the “ultra” high-definition displays.

At the same time, spending is being capped by the decreasing price for new mobile devices.

“A flood of low-cost devices is coming into the marketplace,” he said, noting the prominence of phone makers in China such as Xiaomi, which has pushed into the top ranks of manufacturers. l

Dubai passes first deficit-free budget since crisis n AFP, Dubai Dubai announced Saturday adoption of a balanced budget for 2015, the first time there has been no shortfall since the global financial crisis.

Spending and revenues are both projected at 41bn dirhams ($11.2 bn/9.3bn euros), according to an official statement cited by the official WAM news agency.

Spending is set at 9% higher, while revenues are projected to be up 11%.

Dubai is one of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates. Its nonoil economy has posted budget deficits since 2009 after being hit hard by the global financial crisis and debt problems before being bailed out by fellow emirate Abu Dhabi.

The director of Dubai’s finance department, Abdulrahman al-Saleh, said six percent of spending, or $670m, is tagged for servicing an estimated some $80 billion in debt.

About 37% of spending is allocated for wages and salaries and another 44% for administrative and public expenditures, capital spending, grants and subsidies, Saleh said.

The remaining 13% is for infrastructure projects, he said. l

Abenomics boost for Japan property shrinks back to Tokyo n Reuters, Osaka An economic rebound and loose money policy under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe briefly halted a long slide in Japan’s commercial property market, but the benefits of “Abenomics” appear increasingly limited to Tokyo, leaving a moribund hinterland.

For a while, as the Bank of Japan printed money and Abe spent it, commercial property investment, a barometer of economic activity, spilled beyond the capital into the country’s larger regional cities.

In the year to July 1, commercial land prices rose 1.9% in Tokyo, and 1.5% in Osaka and Nagoya, notching up a second year of gains.

That patchy recovery - prices in the rest of Japan still fell 2.2%, marking a 23rd consecutive annual decline - now appears to be narrowing.

Rents for prime offices in Tokyo continued to rise in November from October, but in Osaka they were flat, and those in all other major cities fell, according to the latest data from broker and research firm Miki Shoji Co. “Large foreign investors are directing their focus to Tokyo, where rents for office properties are clearly growing, which could increase the gap in asset values between Tokyo and the rest of the country in the near term,” said J-P Toppino, managing partner of private-equity investor PAG Real Estate.

A huge city block in central Osaka, the priciest section of Japan’s second city, is emblematic of the problem. It remains undeveloped, except for temporary office structures, since Japan Post Co tore down the Osaka Central Post Office in 2012, intending to build a 40-storey office and retail tower complex.

Japan Post has shelved the project while it “considers the economic environment and development plans in the neighbourhood”.

The neighbourhood doesn’t look promising. On the other side of the station, within sight of Japan Post’s temporary premises, lies the giant Grand Front Osaka office and retail complex.

That development, which opened in 2013, is 30% empty.

No new blood

Though Miki Shoji says vacancy rates for prime Osaka offices fell to 8% in November from 9.85% a year ago, that remains above the 5-6% considered healthy, and the city’s average annual office rent has fallen 1.5% over the past year.

DILBERT

The Slow Control smart baby bottle is displayed at CES Unveiled, the opening event for the media preview days at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show, January 4, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The smart baby bottle holder helps parents track how much and how fast their baby is drinking, providing feedback on how to hold properly to prevent babies from swallowing air. 2015 International CES, the world's largest showcase for the latest in consumer electronics, runs on January 6-9, with media preview days on January 4 and 5 AFP

REUTERS

That’s because there’s no influx of new blood, says Yasutaka Inoue, managing director at Osaka-based developer Keihanshin Building Co. “When a big office tower is built in Osaka’s city centre, new tenants move in from the same area, not from outside Osaka,” he said.

Keihanshin generates 90 percent of its revenue in Osaka, but wants to increase its focus on the Tokyo market, Inoue said.

In the city of Nagoya, heart of Japan’s third-biggest regional economy and home to Toyota Motor Corp, the property market took heart in anticipation of a super-high-speed train service, though it won’t be in operation for at least 12 years.

Investors will need greater skill and better expertise to generate good returns on properties outside Tokyo The number of Nagoya office property transactions jumped 8% in the first half of 2014 from a year earlier to 94 deals, according to local broker Ichi. And the city’s offices are filling up faster than Osaka’s, with the vacancy rate down to 7.5% in November from 9.8 percent a year earlier, Miki Shoji data shows.

But that trend looks unsustainable.

More than 330,000 square metres of prime office space is set to come online in the coming two years, including five major office towers.

That would add more than 10% to the current total, and one local broker predicts it could push Nagoya’s vacancy rate back as high as 17%.

Though some prime office buildings in Osaka, Nagoya and Fukuoka have started to fill up over the past year, rents have not turned higher. Demand is just not strong enough, say developers and brokers, boding ill for a sustained recovery in real estate prices.

“Investors will need greater skill and better expertise to generate good returns on properties outside Tokyo,” said Katsumi Tanimoto, general manager of business development Fukuoka-based property investor Genkai Capital Management. l