08 Jan, 2015

Paush 25, 1421 Rabiul Awal 16, 1436 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 274

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BACK TO SCHOOL

ENSURE RIGHTS OF THE THIRD GENDER

BNP NEEDS TO MOVE ON

‘I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE JUBAIR’

Second day of blockade claims three more lives Vehicles vandalised, buses torched as 20-party indefinite agitation continues n Tribune Report Though the countrywide blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance was met with tepid response, at least three persons fell victim to violence yesterday, the second day of the indefinite programme.

In Noakhali, two persons died after being hit by bullet during a clash between police and activists of BNP-Jamaat at Chowmuhani. They are Rubel, 30, a shopkeeper; and Mohiuddin Baburchi, 32, a cook who was passing the area at the time of the clash.

93 people injured and 58 BNP-Jamaat men arrested across the country A dawn-to-dusk hartal was called for today in Noakhali in protest against the deaths.

The clash broke out when the police barred a procession brought out by the BNP-Jamaat men. The agitators torched five motorcycles including those of a journalist and police while also vandalised some shops in the area.

At one point, police fired blank shots to bring the situation under control.

The BNP-Jamaat men also allegedly responded with bullets. At that time, Rubel and Mohiuddin were hit by bullets.

They were rushed to the Noakhali

Abdul Malek Ukil Medical College Hospital where the on duty doctor declared them dead. Begumganj unit Jubo Dal leaders claimed Rubel as their activist.

Thirty more people were injured with six receiving critical bullet injuries including OC (Investigation) Jisan Ahmed and Chowmuhani police camp In-Charge TSI Saiful Sikder.

A large number of police along with Border Guard Bangladesh personnel were deployed after the clashes.

Meanwhile, an auto-rickshaw passenger was killed in Sirajganj in an attack by blockaders on Bogra-Nagarbari road in Ullahpara upazila. The victim, Ismail Hossain, 60, hails from Jangidah village in Shahzadpur upazila.

OC of Ullapara police Tajul Huda said pickets threw bricks at the auto-rickshaw carrying Ismail near Shemolipara bus stand around 1pm, killing him on the spot.

His body was later recovered by the police and sent it to General Hospital for a post mortem examination.

In contrast to the other parts of the country, life in the capital was almost undisrupted although at least eight vehicles were torched on the first day of the blockade.

Miscreants yesterday tried to set a bus ablaze at Shewrapara in the morning. Witnesses said a bus of “Shikar Paribahan” was attacked near a police box at 9:05am. But the locals doused the fire immediately.

Three buses were also torched in  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

With inter-city bus services unavailable because of the ongoing countrywide blockade of the BNP-led 20-party alliance, trains happen to be the only option for people to go outside Dhaka. Yesterday, people take huge risks to get on to the roof of an overloaded train at the Kamalapur Railway Station in the capital DHAKA TRIBUNE

Some inter-district services to resume under risk n Abid Azad

Miseries continue for the people willing leave or enter Dhaka city, as inter-district bus services in the capital remain suspended because of the BNPled 20-party alliance’s non-stop countrywide blockade.

Amid the uncertainties of a sudden outbreak of violence on the roads, most bus owners are unwilling to take the risk of resuming operations. Those des-

perate to travel are now being forced to choose alternative routes through available train or launch services, or try to reach their destinations by making several stops and changing transports on the road.

Visiting the capital’s Gabtoli, Mohakhali and Sayedabad bus terminals in the morning, the Dhaka Tribune learned that with the exception of a few night coach services, all other inter-district services stayed shut off.

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

The crisis, however, is likely to be alleviated by some extent by today, as some inter-district bus service officials said they would operate from Wednesday night despite the blockade.

“We are going to resume few of our bus services from Wednesday night, although there are possibilities of risk” said Sabuj, an MR Paribahan counterman at the Gabtoli bus terminal.

Asked why they were willing to the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Where is the BNP blockade headed?

Court slaps ban on fugitive Tarqiue’s speech in media n Tribune Report The High Court has banned publishing, broadcasting or reproducing speeches and statements of BNP’s Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique Rahman in print, electronic and social media as long as he remains absconding.

The bench of Justice Kazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman passed the order yesterday upon a writ petition filed by a Supreme Court lawyer Nasrin Siddique Lina.

The court in its order said: “Let the information secretary and the home secretary being directed to prohibit all media [electronic, print, social] to publish any statement by Tarique Rahman until he remains a fugitive in the eyes of law.”

The order comes in the wake of

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune at Sayedabad, Matin Mia – who had been trying to get out of the city for the past three days, said: “I need to go to Jhenaidah for some business purpose by tonight. As I cannot find any bus, now I must travel by making several stops in my journey.”

Like Matin, many were also seen queuing up at the terminals trying to find a bus service willing to take them to their destinations.

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

Law enforcers escort BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, arrested on Tuesday in an arson attack case, out of court after Dhaka’s chief metropolitan magistrate court orders for him to be sent to jail yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

The invisibility of BNP leadership during blockade, poor showing of the party’s rank and file in the streets, and the symbolically significant scheduling conundrum centring on the Bishwa Ijtema tomorrow, all beg the question: Where is this movement going?

Despite the BNP’s determination to continue its countrywide rail, road and waterway blockade, senior and mid-ranking leaders were conspicuous by their absence, not even venturing out to meet party chief Khaleda Zia, who has been confined to her office.

Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi said: “The blockade will continue until further notice.” But he failed to explain the party’s plans to accommodate the Ijtema coming up on January 9.

From her confinement, Khaleda on Monday announced the nationwide blockade for an indefinite period. But on the second day of the blockade programme, not a single leader was seen in the capital’s streets, not even at the party’s Nayapaltan central office.

The confined BNP chairperson is apparently passing her days at her Gulshan office practically by herself, as none of the senior leaders of the party have been to see her since Saturday night despite vows to remain in the street even in the face of police firing.

Apart from this, around 50 fresh cases were filed against party leaders and activists in connection with the recent violence, causing many leaders to go into hiding.

Almost all senior and mid-ranking  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

BNP leader Rizvi ‘flees’ hospital n Ashif Islam Shaon

Kibria murder accused mayors Ariful and Gaus suspended

Evading the eyes of hospital authorities and law enforcers, BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi “fled” from the Apollo Hospitals in Dhaka in the early hours of yesterday.

Soon after Rizvi left the hospital unnoticed, hospital authorities lodged a general diary (GD) with Bhatara police station accusing the BNP leader of not paying his bills for treatment and a four-day stay there.

However, within a few hours after the GD was filed, a representative of Rizvi – who did not disclose his own name to the authority – came to the hospital and paid the dues.

Later in the afternoon, Rizvi invited some journalists to a Gulshan house, where he told them that he had walked out of the hospital “to execute his own political strategy,” which was also part of the strategy for the ongoing

The government has suspended BNPbacked Sylhet City Mayor Ariful Haque Chowdhury who was recently named in the supplementary charge sheet as an accused in the former Awami League Shah AMS Kibria murder case.

Now in jail upon his surrender on December 30, Arif is the first city cor-

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

Al-Masum Molla n Mohammad with Sylhet Correspondent

poration mayor to face suspension in the history of Bangladesh.

The LGRD and Cooperatives Ministry issued the order yesterday with immediate effect. In another order, the government also suspended Habiganj Municipality Mayor GK Gaus.

BNP leader Gaus was sent to jail in the same case after he had surrendered on December 28.

Arif has been suspended from the

position as per article 12 (1) of the Local Government (City Corporation) Act 2009, says the order. “Since a court has received charge sheet against him and he is now in jail, his continuing the office of the mayor goes against public interest. Is not advisable from the administrative point of view,” it says.

Currently, there are nine elected mayors in the 11 city corporations of the country. Among the nine, seven are

backed by the BNP. There is no mayor in the two city corporations of Dhaka.

BNP’s central leader Arif was elected mayor in the June 15, 2013 election defeating the incumbent mayor from the Awami League, Badar Uddin Ahmed Kamran. Arif is also a member of the metropolitan unit BNP’s convening committee.

On the other hand, Habiganj BNP leader Gaus was suspended as per arti-

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INSIDE

5 | News

Loading and unloading of goods is completely stalled at the Sonamasjid land port as nearly 350 freight trucks from India are stuck there because of the BNP-led alliance’s countrywide blockade.

Snow fell Wednesday across the Middle East as a powerful winter storm swept through the region, forcing Syrians who have fled their country’s civil war to huddle for warmth in refugee camps.

Richi Solaiman recently wrapped up a TV drama based on Lliberation War in which she portrayed the character of a female freedom fighter who gallantly fought against the enemy.

Business activities yesterday improved to some extent in the city after suffering badly for two days due to acute transport crisis.

There are fears that non-stop blockade may affect the supply chain in future.

cle 31 (1) of Local Government (Municipality) Ordinance 2009.

Five people including Kibria were killed in a grenade attack after attending a rally in Boidyer Bazar of Habiganj on January 27, 2005. The former finance minister was critically injured in the attack and died on the way to hospital. The four other deceased were his nephew Shah Manzurul Huda, and  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Fast-track projects committee happy with progress n Asif Showkat Kallol A government monitoring committee has decided to closely observe the implementation of the seven fast-track priority projects to ensure transparency in tender processes under 11 modalities.

Following their third meeting yesterday at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), one of member of the committee told the Dhaka Tribune that they had approved the monitoring modalities in a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

The official also said the committee also expressed satisfaction over the progress of the large-scale projects including the Padma bridge and metro rail; on an average, more than 40% progress have been made in all the seven fast-track projects.

The other projects are: deep-sea port; 1,320 megawatt Rampal Power Plant; Matabari 1,200MW power plant; 1,000 MW Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant; and LNG Terminal.

It was discussed in the meeting that allocation and acquisition of necessary land for building the MRT Line 6 of the metro rail have been completed.

Rajuk gave 40 acres of land to Communication Ministry a couple of months ago.

In June last year, the work for a geo-technical survey was inaugurated; the detailed design will be completed

by July.

It was also discussed in the meeting that around 30% work for the Jajira approach road of the Padma Bridge has been finished and 22% of the Mawa approach road.

The work for the service area has progressed 15%, the main bridge construction 1%, land acquisition 99% and rehabilitation work 65%.

The ADB will also regularly recommend the first-track task force based on the monitoring outcomes. One of the modalities follows an ADB recommendation that monitoring will be easier if the ministries and divisions concerned prepare budgets for projects. l

Wife allegedly killed by husband n Tribune Report

Hundreds of people throng the Kamalapur Rail Station yesterday as inter-district bus services continued to be suspended because of the ongoing blockade by the 20-party alliance SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Hanif: 11th national poll on scheduled time n Tribune Report

Mahbub-ul-Alam Hanif, joint general secretary of ruling Awami League, yesterday said the 11th parliamentary election will be held on schedule in accordance with the constitution.

He also claimed that talks with all the political parties on the national poll will be held at that time if needed; be-

Some inter-district services to resume under risk  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

risk now, he said: “This is our owner’s decision. If they think they will take the risk then we have no other option but to sell tickets.”

Md Alamgir Hossain, who managed to secure an MR Paribahan ticket to Satkhira for yesterday night after three days of trying, said he was still concerned about whether he would have a safe journey.

“I am not even sure whether I can go or not. The counterman told me that the service could be closed if any critical situation arises. Besides, during the blockade it is an anxious matter to make a long trip,” he said.

Source said other bus services that

also had plans to resume operations from yesterday night included AK Travels, Eagle Paribahan, Hanif Paribahan, Bikash Paribahan, Subarna Express and Suman Paribahan. They would operate buses from Dhaka to Barisal, Satkhira, Rajshahi, Comilla, Feni, Sherpur and other districts.

Khandakar Enayet Ullah, secretary general of Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association, said: “We did not suggest the owners to resume the inter-district bus service. Whoever will resume, they will do so at their own risk. But the government should provide sufficient security if the non-stop blockade continues. Otherwise it will cause a tough situation for owners and

also for the employees.”

Drivers and bus staff also claimed that they were facing financial hardships because they could not make any trips during the blockade.

Amjad Hossain Amju, a driver for the Hanif Paribahan, said: “Since the service was suspended from the night of January 5, we have had no available option to earn money. We earn around Tk500- Tk1200 per trip and now we are out of any income. So the situation has become dire for our families.”

However, with the inter-district buses staying out of the roads, more people have been heading to the Kamalapur Rail Station and Sadarghat launch terminal in search of tickets.

fore that, there is no scope for talks.

Hanif made the comments while talking to reporters during his visit to the under-construction stage of the Awami League’s planned public rally to be organised at the Suhrawardy Udyan in the capital marking the Homecoming Day of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahnan on January 10.

The Awami League leader called

Mohammad Solaiman, a Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) official working at Sadarghat, said: “The number of launch passengers had increased [on Wednesday] than the previous day.”

The capital’s streets, on the other hand, saw vehicle numbers returning to near-normalcy again as more private cars, local buses, rickshaws, autorickshaws and university bus services operated on major streets yesterday.

Although the volume of traffic still remained relatively light than any usual weekday, traffic jams could be seen forming at key intersections including Paltan, Gulistan, Karwan Bazar and Bijay Sarani. l

Kibria murder accused mayors Ariful and Gaus suspended  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Awami League leaders Abdur Rahim, Abul Hossain and Siddique Ali. Over 100 people were injured the grenade attack.

Sylhet district unit Awami League leader Abdul Mazid Khan MP filed two cases the following day – for murder and use of explosives.

The Criminal Investigation Department on November 3 incorporated the names of 11 people including Arif, Gaus and former primer minister Khaleda Zia’s political secretary Harris Chowdhury in the supplementary charge sheet. The prime accused in the case, 11 leaders of banned Islamist group Huji, are currently in jail.

Following the submission of revised

supplementary charge sheet on December 3, a Habiganj court on December 21 issued arrest warrant against 13 fugitive accused in the case.

Arif was sent to jail on December 30 when the court rejected his bail plea.

He was supposed to surrender on December 22, but he did not.

On that day, at least 15 out of 27 councillors of the city corporation brought out processions and campaigned in the city against the issuance of arrest warrant against Arif.

Total number of accused in the case now stands at 32.

“Such suspension order against any city corporation mayor is the first time in the country’s history, though not new for municipality, upazila and

union parishad mayors or chairmen,” Tofayel Ahmed, a local government expert, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

He also said harassing public representatives had become a part of the country’s political culture. “It is a threat for establishing rule of law and flourishing of democracy,” he warned.

Meanwhile, SCC Chief Executive Officer Anamul Habib said he had got the suspension order around 6:30pm yesterday. The panel mayor 1, Rezaul Hasan Koyes Ludi, will be serving as the acting mayor, he said quoting the order.

However, Arif a day before his surrender handed over the charge to the panel mayor 2, Saleh Ahmed Choudhury.

Where is the BNP blockade headed?  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

leaders, especially those of the party’s associate and front bodies, were on the run as an apparent crackdown to thwart the opposition movement was put into effect.

Party insiders said most of the senior leaders had either gone into hiding or were attempting to evade arrest, after police arrested the party’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir in the wake of political violence that left at least six people dead since Monday.

The country has become politically volatile, with the government slapping a ban on rallies after the BNP-led opposition alliance announced a mass meeting in Dhaka to mark the anniversary of the disputed January 5 election that the combine had boycotted.

Failing to hold the planned programme, the BNP chief announced a non-stop blockade from her place of confinement as security personnel in riot gear stood guard in front of her office.

The announcement of the blockade programme came all of a sudden as senior leaders said they were unaware of the plan.

Even the party’s second in command, Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, was not informed about the programme.

The blockade has been in effect amid a low response from BNP activists while the activists of Jamaat-e-Islami, an Islamist ally of the party, have been hyperactive in some places and have carried out acts of vandalism.

Among the 19-member standing committee, three are in jail and one is abroad. The others are free but none except Mirza Abbas attempted to take to the streets or meet their beloved leader in her confinement.

Only three of the 35-member advisory committee was seen in the streets.

One of them, Abdul Kayum, has been with Khaleda Zia at the chairperson’s office since Saturday night.

Exceptionally, Abdul Awal Mintoo, a businessman and the chairperson’s

adviser, has played a crucial role in the movement from his place of hiding.

Among the seven joint secretary generals, only Rizvi has been visible.

The others have hardly been seen since January 4.

Even the organising secretaries were not seen in the street.

Among the front and associate bodies—especially the Chhatra Dal, Jubo Dal and Swechchhasebak Dal—not a single front line leader was seen in the streets apart from Habib-un-Nabi Khan Sohel.

Khaleda repeatedly asked them to remain in the street and brave police harassment, but they apparently have not paid heed to her request.

“How will we take to the streets if police open fire on sight,” Akramul Hasan, general secretary of the Chhatra Dal, told the Dhaka Tribune.

He, however, asked, if leaders and activists were not present in the field then who exactly were killed and how were they killed.

Second day of blockade claims three more lives  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

Atimkhana intersection of Azimpur, Victoria Park in Old Dhaka and in front of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque.

Fire service official Fariduzzaman said they were able to put out the fire at Azimpur and Victoria Park as soon as they were informed.

Moreover, a pick-up van was set on fire in Madhya Badda area around 6.30pm. Fire fighters doused the fire, said Shahjadi Sultana, duty officer of the Fire Service and Civil Defence headquarters.

Another passenger bus was torched around 9:30pm at Khilkhet by un-

known miscreants. A unit of the fire service was deployed to extinguish the fire.

In Barisal, police arrested at least 14 leaders and activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir, the student front of Jamaat-e-Islami, after raiding a student dormitory on Jumir Khan Road in Alekanda area of the city.

The city and BM College unit president of the organisation was one of the arrestees. Crude bombs, Islamic literature, iron pipes and anti-government leaflets were also seized at that time.

Shakhawat Hossain, OC of Kotwali police, said most of the arrestees were wanted in various cases of political vi-

A husband allegedly killed his newly married wife in the capital’s Uttara area yesterday. The victim, Shapla Akther, 18, was married to Ziaur Rahman, a car driver.

SI Md Kabir of Airport police said they recovered Shapla’s body from a drain beside Mohila Hospital in Uttara around 9:30am and sent it to DMCH for autopsy.

Later, identifying the body of Shapla, her uncle Fazlul Haque said Shapla and Ziaur got married last year. After the marriage, the couple used to lock in altercation over family feud.

SI Kabir said they found black spots around the neck of Shapla raising suspicion that she might have been killed by strangulating. Zia has been detained, he added. l

olence.

Members of different law enforcement agencies were patrolling the city roads to avert any untoward situation, said Shoyeb Ahmed, deputy commissioner (headquarters) of Barisal Metropolitan Police.

Another 44 people, including six leaders of Chhatra Shibir and five of the BNP, were arrested in a special drive by police in Jessore.

Spokesperson of Jessore police ASP Reshma Sharmin said the arrestees had been accused in various cases. The law enforcers also recovered a motorcycle, black flags, a laptop and cameras during the raid.

Both Saleh and Ludi are loyal to the BNP. Ludi, former organising secretary of the Sylhet city unit BNP, is facing at least three cases including one for murder. He was recently indicted in the Sylhet Central Shaheed Minar vandalism case, Rezwan Ahmed, councillor of ward five, told the Dhaka Tribune.

He said: “We have urged the chief executive officer not to hand over the charge to Ludi.”

Currently on bail, Ludi claimed that the cases were politically motivated.

He said he had not got the order yet.

Meanwhile, a group of ward councillors announced that they would hold a press conference today in protest against Ludi’s new assignment. l

upon BNP chairperson to call off the blockade programme for the convenience of Ijtema-bound Muslims from home and abroad.

He also said: “An election cannot be held to fulfill exclusively the desire of an individual. The people of the country cannot pay the price of the mistake BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia has committed by not taking part in the

last national poll.” In reply to a query, Hanif said: “We have announced programmes in observance of the Victory Day for Democracy on January 5 and Bangabandhu’s Homecoming Day on January 10 a fortnight back.

As a law-abiding party, Awami League withdrew its programmes of January 5 and got permission to hold public rally on January 10, Hanif said. l

BNP leader Rizvi ‘flees’ hospital  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

anti-government movement.

However, Rizvi refused to disclose details of the strategy to “all the people.”

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Ovijit Roy, duty manager of Apollo Hospitals, said Rizvi had “secretly” gone out of the hospital without notifying the on-duty doctors, nurses or security personnel.

“He was under treatment at gastroenterology and hepatology department under Professor M Muzibur Rahman Bhuiyan. Rizvi was being kept in a deluxe single cabin on the ninth floor at room number 3011. He was fed hospital food and he also took some laboratory tests and blood tests,” Ovijit said.

Without disclosing an exact figure, the duty manager said Rizvi’s hospital bill was within five digits.

According to the GD, filed by the hospital’s Security Executive Shah Alam, a nurse named Laboni visited

Rizvi at his cabin around 12:45am and found him watching TV at the time.

When she came back to check on him at 3:45am, Rizvi was not in the room anymore. Despite checking the entire hospital, Rizvi could not be found on the premises.

The doctors had reportedly asked Rizvi to rest for a few days and undergo some more tests.

Asked about the GD, Sarwar Alam, officer-in-charge of Bhatara police station, said they would talk to the hospital authority over the matter.

On Saturday night, a Detective Branch team picked up Rizvi from the BNP’s Nayapaltan headquarters; the BNP leader was ill at the time after having food brought by a Mohila Dal leader earlier in the afternoon. Rizvi was whisked away in an ambulance, with DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Masudur Rahman claiming that the police had not arrested Rizvi but only helped him reach the hospital. l

Court slaps ban on fugitive Tarqiue’s speech in media  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

The confinement of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia entered its fourth day amid protests by party men.

Police forces were still deployed in front of Khaleda’s party office in Gulshan on Wednesday.

Water cannon and riot police vans were seen near the former premier’s office. The main entrance of the office is still under lock and key.

The party claimed that the threetime former premier is suffering from breathing problems but none but a few professionals have gone to meet her. A delegation of pro-BNP teachers led by AFM Yusuf Haider went to meet Khaleda at the office.

The BNP chief has been confined to her Gulshan office since Saturday midnight.

Police authorities and ministers, including the prime minister, denied confining the opposition leader and said the heavy police deployment was a response to Khaleda’s request for security. l

controversies triggered following Tarique’s recent comments regarding Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation. He labelled Sheikh Mujib as a razakar and also friend of Pakistan.

More than a dozen cases were filed against him with different courts for the “derogatory” remarks whereas several courts issued arrest warrants against him.

Tarique, the elder son of BNP chief Khaleda Zia, has been staying in London since 2008. He was released on parole for treatment. Tarique is named in the August 21 grenade attack cases.

The High Court also issued a rule upon respondents asking why they should not be directed to take appropriate action prohibiting all sort of publication, reproduction, repetition, transmission of said or similar offensive utterance by all electronic, print and social media.

The respondents are information secretary, home secretary, law secretary, director general of BTV, BTRC chairman, chief news editor of Ekushey Television, editor of the daily Kaler Kantho and Tarique. They have to answer within four weeks.

Moreover, the court directed the foreign secretary to submit a compliance report with regard to Tarique’s present status while the inspector general of police was asked to inform it about Tarique’s passport within 30 days.

During the hearing, Yousuf Hossain Humayun, Sahara Khatun, SM Munir, SM Rezauil Karim and Sanjida Khanom moved for the petitioner side while Deputy Attorney General Biswajit Roy represented the state.

The petition filed on Tuesday says fugitive Tarique used various “offending words” against Bangabandhu violating the constitution – considered as crime according to the law.

Counsel Humayun said: “Tarique violated the declaration of independence. No one in the world disrespects the father of the nation. I visited Indonesia...India...No one in India comments against Mahatma Gandhi, even though the BJP government is in power.”

The court at this point observed that Tarique had tried to create anarchy in the country.

The petition also states that Tarique is destroying peace and deteriorating law and order. His acts are encouraged when media publishes such comments. “If the media does not publish Tarique’s statements, there will be no chance of repetition of his statement.”

Meanwhile, Khaleda’s Adviser Khandaker Mahbub Hossain termed the order “unprecedented.”

Also president of the Supreme Court BAR Association, Mahbub told reporters: “In the past, we saw many leaders from underground and fugitive are giving speeches. The governments and the courts did not impose any ban.” l

Bus helper Murad Molla, 20 received burn injuries when two buses were torched in Khajura Bus stand area in the morning yesterday. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

Our Chandpur correspondent reported that a clash between the police and the BNP activists left at least 60 people including 20 police men injured.

The clash began at 9am and continued until noon at Enayetpur on Chandpur-Comilla highway on Tuesday night.

In Lakshmipur, miscreants hurled hand bombs at a temporary police camp in Latifpur village injuring two

police officers.

The injured are constables Siddique, 50 and Jahangir Alam, 40. They were sent to district Sadar Hospital for treatment, Assistant Police Super Md Nasim Mia told the Dhaka Tribune.

In Jhalakathi, blockaders put up barriers on Barisal-Jhalkathi regional highway by torching tyre and vandalised several buses.

Our Gaibandha correspondent reported that cases were filed against more than 200 BNP and Jamaat-Shibir activists with Polashbari police for vandalism and exploding hand bombs on Dhaka-Rangpur highway on Tuesday, Assistant Sub-Inspector Abdur Rouf

confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune.

As an effect of the blockade, around 350 trucks loaded with goods from India were stuck at the Sona Masjid Port in Chapainawabganj. Moreover, 400 trucks could not enter the capital as there was no empty space in the yard of Panama Port Link.

Our Sylhet correspondent reported that the district BNP yesterday called hartal for today protesting the “confinement” of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and the arrest of acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Nasim Hossain, convener of Sylhet district unit BNP, made the announcement. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

3

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Left, a photo taken at the capital’s Mirpur area shows normal vehicular movement on the streets on the second day of the 20-party alliance’s indefinite blockade programme yesterday. However, in many districts including Dhaka, most inter-district buses did not leave their terminals, as can be seen from a picture taken at the packed Shiroil bus terminal in Rajshahi MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK/AZAHAR UDDIN

Rizvi: Countrywide blockade will continue The BNP leader briefed journos after covertly leaving hospital

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla BNP Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi yesterday said the ongoing countrywide blockade would continue until further notice.

After leaving Apollo Hospitals on the sly early yesterday morning, he went to an unknown location to avoid police harassment. He was taken to hospital after police picked him up from the Nayapaltan office on Saturday night.

Messages were sent to some journalists yesterday, asking them to come to a specific place where Rizvi would be explaining why he left the hospital in a covert fashion and would

talk about the ongoing agitations.

The journalists who received messages were mostly from the electronic media and one of them was from an online newspaper. Rizvi talked to them and also requested to pass his statement to journalists of other television channels and the print media.

Rizvi alleged the government had used members of the law enforcement agencies to spray pepper at BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s Gulshan office so that she died.

“Like the Nazis killed people in Germany inside a gas chamber, the government used pepper spray with the same intention. Our chairperson

has been ill since then,” he said.

Rizvi condemned the incident and called on the people to resist the government’s evil plans. He also demanded immediate release of the party’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir.

Earlier in 2013, before the January 5 elections, almost all the BNP leaders went into hiding to avoid police harassment and talked to the press from their hideouts.

When Rizvi was arrested, BNP Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed issued a video message to the electronic media which drew flak at the time. l

People opt for trains, face immense suffering n Shohel Mamun People are facing immense suffering in traveling long distances as the roads and waterways connectivity have almost been paralyzed by the BNP-led 20 party alliance enforced blockade in the country.

All trains leaving and reaching Dhaka are packed like sardines as passengers are opting for trains with a view to enjoy risk-free travel.

During a visit to the Komalapur Railway Station around 3:30pm yesterday, it was found that many people were trying to get on an already-overcrowded train, even on its rooftop risking their lives.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, many commuters alleged that they could not buy ticket from the ticket counters.

“Most of the trains reaching and leaving the station are overcrowded.

The demand for tickets is much higher than any other normal days,” said Nripen Chandra Saha, station master at the

railway station.

Jakir Hossain, an official at the ticket counter of the railway station, said the demand of tickets for Chittagong, Rajshahi and Khulna bound trains have been increased in the last few days.

Taniya Sultana, a university student, said: “I went to my home in Dinajpur to enjoy the winter vacation. I did not get any ticket in the last three days for coming back to Dhaka.”

“I, however, got a ticket by paying some extra money, and the journey was horrible one due to over crowing in the train,” he said.

However, the government has decided to deploy some 4,000 additional personnel to ensure security of the passengers of the trains, according to an official directive issued on Wednesday by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Members of Ansar and Village Defense Party (VDP) will be deployed at the most vulnerable spots of the railway in 40 districts as the government wants to ensure safe plying of trains, it said.

Md Shahidullah, chief inspector of the Railway Nirapotta Bahini (RNB) [Railway Security Force], said they have also taken some other steps to ensure secured journey of the passengers.

“We have deployed additional personnel at risky points like as overpasses and bridges to ensure security of the passengers and the trains,” he said.

“We have formed three vigilance teams which are patrolling in different places in Dhaka city to ensure that pickets cannot cause any harm to railways,” Shahidullah said.

“The vigilance teams are working in three shifts a day,” the RNB chief inspector said.

Amzad Hossain, director general of Bangladesh Railway, said additional security personnel have been deployed in each three kilometers of the railways outside Dhaka city.

In normal situation, the vigilance remain alert in each six kilometer of the railway, he added. l

‘BNP seeks intervention from India’

No remand, Fakhrul to be quizzed at jail gate

n Tribune Report

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A report emerged in Indian media claiming that Bangladesh’s second largest political party BNP has sought New Delhi’s intervention to “restore democracy” in the country.

Times of India carried the story on Wednesday, fourth day of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s confinement to her Gulshan office in Dhaka, quoting BNP’s standing committee member Nazrul Islam Khan.

However, the Dhaka Tribune could not verify the news.

He was quoted as saying “India as a neighbour and a friendly country should stand by the people of Bangladesh to restore democracy,” “India is a mature democracy and Bangladesh also aspires to be a truly democratic country. Free and fair elections are the bedrock of democracy.”

The BNP leader apprehended saying: “Failure of democracy in Bangladesh will push this country towards extremism.”

Khan told Times of India over phone from Dhaka that his party has announced a peaceful and democratic agitation to mark the first anniversary of last year’s controversial elections as a ‘Black day for democracy’.

“But the government, using brute force, is trying to thwart our movement for restoration of democracy. Armed goons of the ruling party, under the protection of the police, are attacking our party members and supporters and torching our party offices. Over 2000 of our party members have been arrested, 4 killed and more than 500 injured in attacks on them by police and Awami League goons,” Khan told TOI. Regarding Awami League’s relationship with Indian government Khan said: “The Awami League government has been claiming that the earlier (UPA) government as well as the present (NDA) government is firmly behind it and that’s why it feels emboldened to go ahead with its brutal crackdown on our peaceful and democratic movement.”

“India is getting a bad name because of this and we hope that India will try to realise the sentiment of our people and will act accordingly.”

Awami League came to power for the second consecutive time through the January 5, 2014 election that was held amid the boycott of the then main opposition BNP. A total of 153 candidates were elected uncontested. l

A Dhaka court yesterday sent BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir to jail in connection with a case filed on charge of provoking party supporters towards vandalism and arson.

Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Tareque Mainul Islam Bhuiyan directed the investigation officer of the case to interrogate the BNP leader, detained on Tuesday, at jail gate within 10 working days.

The case was filed against 29 BNP leaders including Fakhrul with Paltan police for inciting vandalism and arson attacks in front of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in the capital on January 4.

Earlier in the day, Sub-Inspector Khandakar Jahangir Hossain produced Fakhrul before the court seeking 10day remand. His prayer stated that they needed to interrogate the BNP leader to know motive behind the attack.

Although BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia remains in alleged confinement, scores of law practitioners and law enforcers were found on the Special Judge Court premises in the capital’s Bakshibazar area where Khaleda was scheduled to appear in connection with the graft cases of Zia Orphanage and Zia Charitable Trust yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

ZIA ORPHANAGE TRUST GRAFT CASE

Court hears partial deposition Titas Gas n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A special Dhaka court yesterday recorded partial deposition against BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia, her eldest son Tarique Rahman and the other accused in the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case.

Abu Ahmed Jamadar, the newly appointed judge of Special Judge Court 3, recorded the partial deposition of complainant Harun-or-Rashid, who is also a deputy director of Anti-Corruption Commission, during yesterday’s hearing at a makeshift courtroom in the city’s Bakhshibazar.

Before recording the deposition, the court also heard two petitions from the defence: one seeking more time for a “confined” Khaleda’s appearance at the court and another seeking adjournment of the hearing as most senior defence counsels were currently in hiding to avoid arrest in a case with the Shahbagh police station.

The judge accepted the first plea but rejected the second one, prompting the defence counsels to file two more petitions seeking review of the order. The two pleas were also rejected later on.

During the hearing, defence counsel Aminul Islam argued that even though Khaleda Zia was willing to appear before the court, the BNP chief was being wrongly confined by the government and the police.

ACC Public Prosecutor Musharraf Hossain Kajol, however, argued that there was no legal barrier to continue trial in the absence of Khaleda as some others accused in the case had appeared in the court. “Khaleda is not confined and she is free, but is unwilling to appear before the court to face the trial,” Kajol told the court.

Another defence counsel, Md Mohsin Miah, then asked the judge to issue a warrant against a “confined” Khaleda if it wanted to ensure her appearance in the court.

In reply, the judge said: “Since the accused is out of the court, the matter is not under the purview of my jurisdiction.”

During the deposition, ACC official Harun described how the funds of Zia Orphanage Trust was transferred to open four fixed deposit receipt in 2006.

After recording partial deposition of the witness, the court adjourned proceedings of the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases until January 15.

In July 2009, the ACC filed the Zia Orphanage Trust graft case against Khaleda, Tarique and four others for embezzling over Tk2.1 crore by forming the “fake” trust. On August 8, 2011, the commission also filed the Zia Charitable Trust graft case against Khaleda and three others for abusing power while setting up the charity. l

manager under ACC scanner

The BNP spokesperson is now facing six cases – four with Paltan police, one with Motijheel while another with Chawkbazar police – filed on January 4 and 6, his lawyer said adding that the government had filed 78 cases against his client.

Seeking his bail, defence counsel Md Sanaullah Miah claimed that Fakhrul had been ill and that his doctor suggested bed rest for 15 days. “But the government arrested him to foil the political movement.”

According to the case, some miscreants vandalised and torched New Vision city Paribahan bus in front of the national mosque leaving four people injured.

Paltan police filed the case accusing 29 BNP leaders and activists including Fakhrul, Rafiqul Islam Miah and Aman Ullah Aman.

In the case, Standing Committee member Rafiqul and Joint Secretary General Aman secured anticipatory bail from the High Court. l

Amu: BNP’s movement to save war criminals

n Adil Sakhawat

n DU Correspondent

The Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC) has decided to launch an investigation into an allegation of accumulating wealth illegally against an official of the Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited, said a source at the ACC. The ACC in a recent regular meeting decided to run the probe against Titas gas Manager Maksudul Hasan, a highly placed ACC official told the Dhaka Tribune on condition of anonymity.

That official said Maksudul has allegedly accumulated huge assets by abusing his power.

He has earned the money through providing illegal gas connection and other illegal means, he said.

In July 2014, the ACC had received complaints against Maksudul in this regard, the ACC official said adding that the commission in primary investigation has found some proof in the allegation. The commission has appointed its Deputy Directors Neyamul Ahsan Gazi and Abdus Sobhan as inquiry officers to run the inquiry.

Despite repeated attempts over cellphone, Maksudul could not be reached for his comment. l

Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu has opined that the nationwide violent movement being run by BNP is not for an election, only to thwart the war crimes trial.

“BNP’s prime aim is to destroy the ideology of the Liberation War and that

PM Sheikh Hasina had offered several ministries including the Home Ministry to Khelada Zia in the preelection government in last year is why its chairman Khaleda Zia and her activists have been conducting brutal activities across the country to save war criminals in name of democratic movement,” Amu said it in an inauguration programme of distributing warm cloths and educational materials to the poor and meritorious primary school students on the Arts Faculty premises

of Dhaka University yesterday.

The Awami League’s student body Bangladesh Chahtra League (BCL) organised the event as part of their 67th founding anniversary programme.

AL Advisory Council member also said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had offered several ministries including the Home Ministry to Khelada Zia in the pre-election government in last year but she refused it that time.

Later he questioned the rationality of the demand of election by Khaleda.

The minister also criticised violence during the countrywide blockades such as petrol bomb attack as well as torching vehicles and he urged upon BNP to retreat from the violent path.

BCL President HM Badiuzzaman Shohag chaired the programme where DU Arts Faculty Dean prof Mohammad Akhatruzzaman, BCL former president Bahadur Bepari and former General Secretary Mahfujul Haider Chowdhury Rotan were present among others.

In the event, BCL distributed educational materials and warm clothes among 2,000 poor and meritorious children, which it is also going to distribute warm garments among the destitute distress in the northern districts from next week. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Hearing on gas price hike proposals begins Feb 2 n Aminur Rahman Rasel Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) will begin a four-day public hearing from February 2 on the gas price hike proposals submitted by six state-owned gas distribution companies.

It will also hold a hearing on gas transmission tariff.

The hearing will take place at the TCB Bhaban in the capital’s Karwan Bazar.

Gas Transmission Company Limited (GTCL) has proposed that the BERC raises gas transmission tariff.

“The hearing will end on February 5 and the final decision will be made afterwards,” BERC Chairman AR Khan told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The six gas distribution firms earlier submitted their proposals after the government decided to increase gas prices.

According to their proposals, domestic users will have to pay Tk1,000 every month instead of Tk450 for each double burner, which is a 122.22% hike.

On the other hand, Tk850 has been proposed for single burner, which stands at Tk400 at present. The proposed price is 112.5% higher than the existing figure.

Consumers using meter-based burners will have to pay Tk235 instead of Tk146.25 per month – a 60.68% increase from the previous price.

A hike of 102.94% has been proposed for captive powers (privately-owned smaller power plants) – Tk240 from Tk118 for 1,000 cubic feet of gas.

Tk84 for every 1,000 cubic feet of gas has been proposed for power plants, which was is Tk79.82 presently.

Prices of gas will rise to Tk350 from Tk268.09 (30.55% hike) for commercial users, Tk200 from Tk165.91 (20.55%) for tea gardens, Tk905.92 from Tk651.29 (39.10%) for CNG filling stations and Tk1,132.67 from Tk849.50 (33%) for CNG at consumer level.

Fertiliser companies will have to pay Tk80, which is currently Tk72.92 (9.71%), while the tariff for industrial users will reach Tk220 from the existing Tk165.91 (32.60%).

The distribution companies also urged the BERC to make the proposed tariff effective from February 1.

The hearing on proposals of the GTCL will be held on February 2, while that of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Ltd and Pashchimanchal Gas Company Limited will be held on February 3.

The hearing on Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company Limited and Karnaphuli Gas Distribution Company Limited proposals will be held on February 4.

On the concluding day, hearing on proposals of Jalalabad Gas Transmission and Distribution System Limited and Sundarban Gas Company Limited will be held.

The BNP-led 20-party alliance had threatened to announce non-stop programmes if gas and electricity prices were hiked.

Communist Party of Bangladesh and Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal also threatened to call a countrywide general strike if the government did not cancel its plan to raise gas, liquid fuel and electricity prices. l

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Deal inked for Matarbari power plant consultancy services n Aminur Rahman Rasel

State-owned Coal Power Generation Company Bangladesh Limited (CPGCBL) yesterday signed a deal with four companies for receiving their consultancy services to set up the 1,200MW Matarbari Ultra Super Critical CoalFired Power Plant in Cox’s Bazar.

CPGCBL Company Secretary Mizanur Rahman and Hiroto Itagaki, project manager representing the four companies, signed the deal on behalf of their respective organisations at a hotel in the capital.

The companies are Japan-based Tokyo Electric Power Services Co Ltd and Nippon Koei Co Ltd, Germany-based Fichtner GmbH and Co, and Australia-based SMEC International Pty Ltd. On August 16, 2014, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council approved the Tk35,984.46 crore project with the aim of boosting electricity generation.

State Minister for Power Nasrul Hamid, Power Division Secretary

Monowar Islam, CPGCBL Managing Director Md Abul Kasem and representatives of Japan International Cooperation Agency and the four companies were present when the agreement was inked.

Nasrul Hamid said Japan had always been a good friend of Bangladesh, adding: “We hope to see that the project has been implemented during the tenure of the government.”

According to the deal, the four companies will design the plant, prepare the specifications and bidding documents, and assist in the EPC selection process, construction, supervision and monitoring of environmental factors up to the defect liability period. It is a 108-month project.

The CPGCBL will pay over Tk186 crore to the four companies for receiving the service.

Ultra Super Critical Technology will be used to build the plant, which is 42% more efficient than the average efficiency of 34% of other coal-based plants in the country. l

PAY COMMISSION PROPOSALS

Secretarial committee identifies areas of opinion n Asif Showkat Kallol The secretarial committee tasked with analysing the pay commission recommendations has identified the issues on which it would give its opinion for implementing a new pay scale.

Seeking anonymity, a member of the committee said the body – in its first meeting yesterday at the Cabinet Division – decided to give opinions on issues like lower grade salaries, deputation, contractual jobs and time scale or selection grades.

The committee also discussed about the total expenditure for implementing the proposals set by the National Pay and Services Commission, as well analysing how the government might increase the earnings of the National Board of Revenue (NBR).

A source at the meeting said the secretaries also discussed how public

servants’ skills and efficiency would be enhanced if the government curtailed the implementation phases of the pay commission recommendations.

Earlier, pay commission Chairman Mohammad Farashuddin said only 1% increase in NBR collection would meet the requirement of implementing a 100% salary hike for government employees.

The government last week formed the six-member secretarial committee, led by Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, and set them a six-week deadline to find out ways for implementing the pay commission’s recommendations.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday, Cabinet Secretary Musharraf said: “We will give our decisions to the government regarding the implementation of pay commission recommendations within the stipulated time”. l

Vehicular movement was normal on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway yesterday, the second day of the indefinite blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance. The photo was taken from Bariarar area in Mirsarai of Chittagong district DHAKA TRIBUNE

Listed criminal held in capital n Our Correspondent, Jamalpur Listed criminal Rasel Fakir, 25, was arrested in the capital in the early hours of yesterday.

A team of police members from the Detective Branch, Jamalpur Sadar police station and Islampur police station, led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Shubro Saha, raided a house in the capital’s Pallabi area and nabbed Rasel with a rivolver and five rounds of bullets, said Md Nazrul Islam, superintendent of police in Jamalpur.

Hailing from Fakirpara village in Jamalpur’s Islampur upazila, Rasel is a member of top criminal gang Shahdat Group, the police super said.

Sources said Rasel recently threatened to kill Islampur lawmaker Faridul Haque Khan Dulal and Municipality Mayor Abdul Kader Sheikh over mobile phone.

Kazi Saidur Rahman, OC at Islampur police station, confirmed that the matter, but said no complaints were filed with the station in this regard. l

Youth rescued 4 days after abduction n Our Correspondent, Naogaon Police yesterday rescued an abducted man after four days from Dinajpur’s Pakonchora village.

Police sources said four people were also arrested in connection with the abduction.

Officer-in-Charge Mirza Abdus Salam of Dhamirhat police station said: “On January 3, Abdus Sattar, 24, son of Amej Uddin of Chhotoshibpur village of Dhamirhat upazila of Naogaon, was abducted when he was returning home in the evening after watching a football match at Jogdol Adivasi School and College field of the upazila.”

The kidnappers Mohibullah, 27, Togor, 32, and Dablu, 25, took him away on a motorcycle, the OC added.

According to the victim’s family sources, on January 4 the kidnappers called Sattar’s family and demanded Tk11 lakh as ransom after which the family lodged a complaint with Joyepurhut RAB camp. On Tuesday, Sattar’s father went to Dhamirhat police station and filed a case regarding the abduction following which a police team led by OC Mirza Abdus conducted a drive and rescued abducted Sattar yesterday. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Thursday, January 8, 2015

No response to BNP’s blockade in Chittagong n Our Correspondent, Chittagong The second consecutive day of the countrywide indefinite blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance was met with poor response yesterday in Chittagong.

Despite the call for non-stop blockade by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, no senior leaders of the party or its associate wings were seen to enforce the blockade.

Sources said fearing arrest in the cases filed with various police stations in connection with the violence on January 5, no senior BNP leaders were seen at the party office at Nasiman Bhaban in city’s Kazir Dewri area till noon.

Additional police were deployed at the key points of the city though no untoward situation was reported.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP)’s Additional Commissioner (Crime and Operation) Banaj Kumar Majumdar said police were deployed at

the entry points of the city to fend off any sudden unrest.

Along with police, six platoons of BGB men were kept standby to avert any kind of violence, said the Additional Commissioner.

Buses and goods laden trucks were seen plying on the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway with police escort while the train schedules remained unchanged and left for the destinations in time, said sources.

Sergeant Mehedi Hasan of Jorarganj Highway Police Outpost said they were providing security to the goods laden trucks and inter-district buses on the highway during the blockade programme.

Government and other private offices remained open though educational institutions were closed considering students’ safety.

The city life remained unhindered as public transports were seen on the streets along with a number of private cars. l

A good number of trucks from India are stuck at Sonamasjid land port in Chapainawabganj because of the BNP’s countrywide blockade

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Blockade disrupts Shbir dominates road, no activities of BNP in Rajshahi Barisal long-haul n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi bus services

Hundreds of trucks stuck at Sonamasjid port for blockade

Vandalism and disruption to long-haul bus services marked yesterday, the second day of the nationwide indefinite blockade called by the BNP in Barisal.

Police raided a mess accommodation of Chhatra Shibir activists on Jumir Khan road in Alekanda and detained 14, including Barisal city and BM College unit presidents.

They also recovered Islamic literature, iron pipes, patrol and anti-government leaflets from the place.

Most of the detainees were sued in cases filed in connection with political violence, said Shakhawat Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station.

Pickets vandalised a covered van of a courier company and a battery-run autorickshaw late on Tuesday late in Nabagram.

The number of road and water transports was very low, and those moved only on the internal routes, causing trouble for passengers.

Aftab Hossain, president of Barisal Bus Owners’ Association and that of Barisal city unit of Sramik League, said buses on long-haul routes would run under police protection, provided there were enough passengers.

Trade in stores and transactions in financial institutions were moderately hit by the blockade. Not many students attended classes in educational institutions, and the presence of employees in offices was relatively low as well.

Police are on patrol in different parts of the city to check any possible violence, said Shoyeb Ahmed, deputy commissioner of Barisal Metropolitan Police. l

Loading and unloading of goods is stopped at Sonamasjid land port as nearly 350 freight trucks from India are stuck there because of the BNP’s countrywide blockade.

Traders meanwhile said around 400 goods-laden trucks at Mohdipur land port in India could not enter Bangladesh because the yard in Panama port link is crammed. Among the goods waiting to be loaded and unloaded are rice, maize, bran, fruits, wheat, onion and soya bean.

Manager of Panama port link Prabir Kumar Shil said the situation had been terrible in the last two days and the long queues of trucks had resulted in gridlock at Panama port link. Joint Convener of the C&F Agents’ Association Palash said entry of trucks into Sonamasjid port was stopped two days before the blockade was imposed because of security reasons.

“We have advised importers not to import perishable items in view of the situation,” he said.

He also said importers might have to count losses because of the disruption. l

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

The activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir were active on roads in Rajshahi city on the second consecutive day of the identified blockade enforced by the BNPled 20-party alliance, but the presence of BNP men were less on the day.

On the day, no major incidents took place in the city while Shibir activists tried to destabilise the situation in several areas.

A group of Shibir activists tried to bring out a procession from Hadir intersection in the city around 10am.

On receiving information, law enforcers rushed to the spot and disperse the Shibir men from the scene. Police, however, could not arrest anyone from there.

Ifte Khayer Alam, assistant police commissioner of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP), and also its spokesperson told the Dhaka Tribune that additional police forces had been deployed at several main points in the city to avert any untoward incident.

Police also detained 12 Shibir activists from different parts of the city when they were trying to destabilise the situation, Alam also said.

Due to the threat of vandalism and sabotage, buses on long route did not leave Rajshahi city.

However, all light vehicles like rickshaws, auto rickshaws, motorcycles, CNG, human hauliers and micro busses were seen moving on the highway in a limited scale. But rail communication was normal like any

normal day.

Meanwhile, at least 11 Shibir activists were sent to jail yesterday afternoon in connection with the case filed over beating up of law enforcers on Tuesday that left four policemen severely injured.

They were sent to jail after being produced before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in the district.

The Shibir men are Masud Rana, Mostafizur Rahman, Rabiul Islam, Naiyar, Jony, Ramajan, Faisal, Sujan, Atiq, Sohel Rana and Shahinur Islam, police sources said.

Sub-Inspector Jahangir Alam filed the case with Shah Makhdhum police station on Tuesday night.

About 60 to 70 Shibir leaders and activists were made accused in the

BNP’s blockade hampers academic activities at CU

n CU Correspondent

WEATHER DRY WEATHER LIKELY

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8 DHAKA TODAY TOMORROW SUN SETS 5:27PM SUN RISES 6:43AM FORECAST FOR TODAY 24 25 23 23 24 25 26 25

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

14 15 11 11 10 12 12 15

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

28.8ºC Cox’s Bazar

09.2ºC Chuadanga

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

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

case while 49 are named, said Sayedur Rahman Bhuiyan, officer-in-charge of Shah Makhdum police station.

On Tuesday, four policemen were injured as activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir, students’ front of the Jamaat e Islami, attacked law enforcers in Shalbagan area of Rajshahi city. Shibir activists also beat them up with gun after snatching it from the policemen.

The injured are constables Amzad Hossain and Shafikul Islam, SubInspector of Shah Makhdum police station Jahangir and police van driver constable Moinul Islam.

Amzad and Shafikul are undergoing treatment at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH) while Jahangir and Moinul took primary treatment at the hospital, police said. l

The newly appointed Director General of Rapid Action Battalion Benazir Ahmed addresses a press conference at the battalion’s headquarters in the capital’s Uttara yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Benazir Ahmed: RAB will be a high tech force n Tribune Report Taking charge yesterday, the newly appointed Director General of Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) Benazir Ahmed said he would work sincerely to turn RAB into a high-technology based force to fight against terrorism and militancy.

“New forms of technology are being discovered in every moment in the world to tackle terrorism and militancy. I would first observe the capacity of RAB and later take decision about new technology for it,” said Benazir while talking to journalists at the battalion’s headquarters in the capital’s Uttara.

About RAB, which is suffering from image crisis especially for cross fire and Narayanganj-seven murder, the DG said he would give his best efforts to make the force as one of the strongest force in south-east Asia.

He said: “RAB has been working for the last 11 years with utmost sinceri-

ty, dedication and professionalism to maintain law and order in the country.”

About seven-murder, he said: “Narayanganj seven murder is a scattered incident, nothing else.”

There were a section of political pople who tries to find out politics in every things. RAB will do their job without giving priority on them “If any RAB officials involve in any crime, action will be taken against those officials as per the existing law, said Benazir.

Asked about which action RAB took against militancy, he said: “Our main aim is to curb organised crime, terror-

ism and militancy.”

Mentioning RAB as every citizen’s force, Benazir said: “We would work together to get people’s trust and ensure their peace and security.”

RAB is using for political interest, in replay of such question, new DG said there were a section of political pople who tries to find out politics in every things. RAB will do their job without giving priority on them, he said.

Among others, Additional DG (admin) of RAB Aftab Ahmed, ADG (operation) Col Ziaul Ahshan, Director of Legal and Media wing Commander Mufti Mahmud Khan, were present on the occasion.

Additional Inspector General of Police Benazir was the commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) for over four years. He replaced the Additional Inspector General of police Mokhlesur Rahman who went on retirement on December 30, last year. l

The academic activities of Chittagong University (CU) were hampered yesterday on the second day of BNP-led 20-party enforced countrywide blockade as the presence of students were low.

CU Proctor Siraj Ud Dowla said the presence of students at the campus were thin because of the blockade and only a few classes of some departments were held along with a few scheduled examinations.

AS Abir, a third year student of Islamic History department, said their third year scheduled examination was postponed due to low presence of students.

However, the campus bound CU shuttle train service, the mod transportation of CU, were operating between the campus and the city on time but the teachers’ bus service of CU did not operate in the morning, said campus sources.

CU Transport department’s Deputy Director Md Rabiul Alam said the teachers’ bus services were halted fearing attack during the countrywide blockade. l

Correspondent, n Our Chapainawabganj

BNP calls dawn-to-dusk hartal in Sylhet today

n Our Correspondent, Sylhet

Protesting alleged confinement of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and arrest of BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, Sylhet unit of BNP has called a dawn-to-dusk hartal in the city today.

BNP Sylhet unit convener committee member Nasim Hossain confirmed the decision. Yesterday around 10:15am the unit brought out a rally from Sylhet’s Dorgagate area.

Led by Badruzzaman Selim, member secretary of the unit, the rally was attended by Nasim Hossain, Advocate Habibur Rahman Habib, Miftah Siddiqui among others. Following the call for hartal, Sylhet district and city unit of Awami League held a press conference in city’s Ibrahim Memorial Sangsad yesterday. l

New DMP chief vows to be tough on lawbreakers n Tribune Report Vowing to make Dhaka a safer city, the newly appointed Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Commissioner Asaduzzaman Miah said he would be as tough as required to ensure public safety.

“Whatever measure that is necessary to ensure public safety will be taken as per law. We will be as tough as we need to. Those who try to disrupt regular lives of people will not be spared,” he said at a press briefing in the DMP media centre after assuming office yesterday morning.

“In 2013, miscreants went on rampage to make the country unstable. Thirteen police members died and 300 were injured, while 3,000 sustained minor injuries that year. Even then, police risked their lives for the sake of public security.

And we continue to do that,” he said.

The new commissioner sought cooperation from the city’s elite as well as the journalists in protecting public life and property, and promised to carry out his duties with sincerity and professionalism.

Asked about the allegation that the police force had been used for political interests for years, the DMP chief said: “We are servants of the republic. Our responsibilities are defined by the constitution, Code of Criminal Procedure and the police act. We will not go beyond our jurisdiction.

“If someone loots and sets fire to public properties and tries to create anarchy, we will do what the law permits us to do. We will not compromise with the criminal, militant and subversive activities.”

He said police would make sure that the law was implemented equally to all.

The police commissioner also said he would work to raise public awareness about maintaining public security and work to ensure an investment-friendly environment in the country.

Previously the deputy inspector general (highway), Asaduzzaman was appointed the DMP commissioner on December 30. His predecessor Benazir Ahmed was appointed director general of RAB. l

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Nation

Thursday, January 8, 2015

New bus terminal yet to be functional four years after inauguration n

Our Correspondent, Moulvibazar

Even after four years into inauguration, the new and modern bus terminal of the Moulvibazar district is yet to be properly utilised as the transport owners and workers continue to avoid it. Because of no use and lack of maintenance, the terminal building is falling apart.

The new bus terminal, on the west side of the Moulvibazar town, was built to ease the traffic congestion and remove the illegal bus stand. Though it was inaugurated in 2010, it could not be operational due to lack of interest of the bus owners and drivers to use it.

A recent visit to the terminal at the Jugidohor area of the town found it in dilapidated condition. The terminal building was left unattended with dirt all over the floor. The tiles, doors and windows were also broken. The bus counters allotted to various companies were closed with no sign of life.

A business man from the terminal area said no vehicle was ever seen to

A view of Moulvibazar new bus terminal which has been inaugurated four years back lies in a sorry state for lack of proper maintenance Dhaka Tribune pick up or drop passengers at the terminal. Only a few empty buses take refuge here during the night and leave early morning. Though there is a night guard for the terminal, his duty is only to switch on and off the lights.

The terminal was built on a three acre area by the local government spending more than Tk3 crore.

After the inauguration, the district

administration held several meetings with the district transport owners and workers to encourage them to start using the new terminal. Though some inter-district companies started operating from the terminal, the local bus companies did not do so. This discouraged the inter-district companies to avoid the terminal and move their buses to the Kodalipul area.

Police station comes under attack n Our Correspondent, Madaripur

Local transport workers of the district yesterday swooped on Sadar police station protesting the arrest of one of their fellows in a murder case.

The untoward incident took place around 11:30am as police arrested Mangal Talukdar, 52, against whom the High Court earlier issued an arrest warrant for escaping witness statement in a murder case.

When the news spread, the workers pressed police and put a blockade on the Dhaka-Barisal highway in Mostapur

area seeking the release of Mangal.

At one stage, the workers locked in clash with RAB personnel as the latter appeared the spot to lift the blockade.

Later, the unruly workers chased the RAB men compelling them to take shelter inside the police station and hurled brick chips at the thana, leaving the window glass damaged.

Police and RAB fired some blank shots and tear gas canisters to quell the unruly mob. During the clash, eight people sustained minor injuries as well.

On the other hand, the workers left their vehicles helter skelter on the road

to the police station.

Being informed, the SP along with additional policemen rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

When contacted, Madaripur Assistant Superintendent of Police (circle) Abu Bakkar Siddique confirmed the attack on the police station, telling the blockade was lifted after a discussion with the leaders of transport workers.

Due to the blockade, huge tailbacks were seen on the local roads as well as on the Dhaka-Barisal highway creating immense suffering to the commuters. l

General Secretary of Moulvibazar District Road Transportation Owners’ Association Md Abdur Rashid said: “The new terminal is not conveniently located for us and for the passengers.

We have had many discussions with the transport owners and workers, but they do not want to use the new terminal. And for passengers, they have to count extra rickshaw or auto-rickshaw fare to go the terminal.”

President of Moulvibazar Bus-Minibus, Coach and Microbus Road Transportation Workers’ Union Sanjit Kumar Deb told the Dhaka Tribune that long time ago he proposed the then MP and former Finance Minister Saifur Rahman to build the terminal at the south of the town. However, that proposal was not accepted.

Moulvibazar Municipality Mayor Faizul Karim said: “If the traffic police did not allow vehicles to park at the Kusumbag area, then there would be no congestion. The vehicles would then automatically opt for the new terminal.” l

n Our Correspondent, Mymensingh A pregnant housewife was allegedly killed for dowry at Nandail Chalmari village in Trishal upazila of the district yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Parul Akter, wife of Masud Rana.

Sources said Parul of Ditiokhanda village had been married off with Masud a year ago.

Meherpur

Disagreements between Jhalakati mayor and councillors result in skirmish n Our Correspondent, Jhalakati The long term odds and disagreements prevailing between Jhalakati’s municipality mayor Afjal Hossain and panel mayor Rezaul Karim Zakir resulted in a clash yesterday leaving 15 injured including one female councillor.

A group of 10 councillors led by Zakir, also the Jubo League Jhalakati unit convener, engaged in the clash with Afzal Hossain and his supporters during a meeting held at the mayor’s office yesterday.

Police and witnesses said tension between the two groups had been mounting for several days. A few cases were also pending with the Jhalakati police station in these connections.

Yesterday morning Mayor Afzal called upon the rebel councillors to discuss an issue related to health in his office. The councillors took their supporters there and at one point of

brawling, the conflict ensued.

The injured are Rizia Begum, Afzal’s brother Auwal Hossain, Farid Haolader, Sabuj Haolader, Robin Sikder, Sohel Khan, Selim Khan, Md Harun, Nasir Ahmed, Md Hafiz, Kabir Hossain, Shona Miya, Md Kalam, Sabuj Khan and Harshu.

Following the incident, the supporters of the councillor group brought out a procession in the city against Mayor Afzal.

They said earlier LGRD and cooperatives ministry suspended Afzal from his post temporarily.

The order was issued on charges of cutting trees of government departments and selling them, giving approval to battery-run rickshaws by abusing power and irregularities in establishing electric poles in town.

The High Court stayed the government decision to suspend Mayor Afzal Hossain for six months, however, following a writ petition filed by Afzal, the

HC again issued a rule upon the government to explain why the decision should not be declared illegal.

Afzal Hossain said: “For not being able to meet their injust demands the councillors went against me. They were led by influential Awami League leader Amur Hossain Amu.” He said preparation for filing a case in this connection with Jhalkathi police station was on.

Rezaul Karim Zakir said the mayor had been involved in manifold corrupt activities since joining. He never involved the councillors while taking decisions.

The deprived general people of the city corporation gave the mayor and his supporters a beating, he said.

Jhalakati senior Assistant Police Super AFM Anwar Hossain Khan said police brought the situation under control. Police and RAB personnel have been deployed at the spot to avert further clashes. l

NEWS IN BRIEF 376 bottles liquor seized

In a special drive Border Guard Bangladesh seized 376 bottles of Indian liquor of different from Monair frontier area in the district yesterday. Battalion-8 Commander Lieutenant Colonel Mohammad Golam Mohiuddin said on a tip-off, a BGB team conducted the drive in the area and recovered the liquor worth about Tk5.64 lakh.

-Our Correspondent, Sunamganj

Mahila League’s council held Natore district unit of Mahila League tri-annual council was held at Awami League office in Kandivitua area in the

town yesterday. Among others, central committee vice president Anjali Sarker, organizing secretary Easmin Hossein, Baraigram-Gurudaspur constituency Member of Parliament, also district AL president Abdul Quddus and Sadar constituency Member of Parliament, also district AL secretary Shafiqul Islam Shimul spoke on the occasion while Mahila League president Ratna Ahmed presided over the meeting.

-Our Correspondent, Natore

2,000 kg hilsa fry seized Members of law enforcers recovered 2,000 kgs hilsa fry from three passenger

launches in the Dhaleswari River early yesterday. Mohammad Shahjadha Khasru, a fisheries official of Sadar upazila, said the members of Coast Guard of Narayanganj Pagla station and officials of Munshiganj Fisheries office conducted the joint raid in the Dhaka bound MV Sariatpur-3, MV Mittali-6 and MV Farhan-4 and recovered the hilsa fry.

The members of the law enforcement agency, conducted the joint drive on the basis of secret information and found the fry in 7 baskets, said he. Later, the fries were distributed among the local orphanage and madrasa.

-Our Correspondent, Munshiganj

n Our Correspondent, Panchagarh After a long gap of ten and a half years, the much-awaited council of the district unit Awami League was held on the premises of Panchagarh Sugar Mills yesterday.

Chittagong Hill Tracts related Parliamentary Committee President and AL central committee member RAM Obaiudul Muktadir Chowdhury inaugurated the council as the chief guest while AL Organising Secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury was present as the main speaker.

Besides, AL Information and Research Secretary Advocate Afzal Hossain and lawmaker Selina Jahan were as special guest.

AL General Secretary and also LGRD Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, supposed to available as the chief guest, could not attend the triennial council due to countrywide blockade enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

When asked, Panchagarh district

Pregnant housewife killed for dowry

Abducted businessman released n Our Correspondent,

Journalists form a human chain in Barisal city demanding release of Ekushey TV Chairman Abdus Salam who was arrested on Monday the Pornography Control Act DHAKA TRIBUNE

Panchargh AL council held amid festivity

A grocery traders, who was kidnapped earlier in the district, was released after giving ransom yesterday morning.

Sources said miscreants kidnapped Taposh, a trader of Mahajanpur Bazar in Sadar upazila on Tuesday and demanded Tk60,000 as ransom.

On information, police conducted a drive in the area along with the locals but failed to rescue him.

Later, the miscreants released Taposh after taking their demanded money, said locals.

When contacted, the family members said that they could not say anything about the incident.

Robiul Islam, officer-incharge of Mujibnagar police station said the police tried to nab the culprits. l

One killed in clash over land n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

A man was killed in a clash tween two rival groups under Palashbari upazila in the district yesterday over land.

The deceased was identified as Abu Sayed Mian,30, of Nandisaha village.

Police sources said there had been a longstanding enmity between Sayed and his neighour Shah Jahan over establishing supremacy centering a water body.

On the day, the supporters of the both groups got locked in a clash with local weapons leaving Sayed dead on the spot and 12 injured.

On information, members of law enforcers went to the spot and brought the situation under control.

Mujibur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Palashbari police station confirmed the incident. l

Locals said Masud used to torture her for dowry after marriage.

On the day he tortured her to death as she failed to meet up his demand.

Later, he hanged the body with a ceiling of the house and declared that she committed suicide.

On information, police went to the spot and recovered the body. Aybur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Nandail police station confirmed the incident. l

unit AL President Nurul Islam Sujan confirmed the aforesaid statement, saying the second session of the council would be held in the district auditorium in the evening.

Centring the council the town has turned into a festive look as colourful banners and festoons of the candidates have been set up at different points of the town.

Besides, the council has become talks of the town when the local leaders, activists as well as ordinary people were seen enthusiastically discussing the matter at tea stalls, different public gatherings and places.

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

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

Robbery at jewelery shop n Our Correspondent, Lakshmipur A daring robbery was committed at a jewelery shop in Bashikpur Bazar under Sadar upazila yesterday.

Police sources said a gang of armed robbers wearing mask entered the shop owned by Babul Chandrakuri in the evening. They looted eight tolas gold.

On information, the police went to the spot and got locked in a gun battle when the robbers fired at them.

No casualty reportedly happened during the gunfight. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Juris

Ensure rights of the third gender Nobody should be discriminated on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity

Nailing down your graduate law admission application abroad n Rokeya Chowdhury

L

ike many others in the academia I have become used to receiving phone calls and emails each fall; seeking opinion and response to some common questions and concerns regarding admission abroad. Responding to these questions is often very challenging for the answers depend on personal preferences and can only be determined by the applicant. The best way to “answer” those questions as I believe is to provide some general guidelines or to offer specific alternative choices to the applicant so that they might assess the stakes more clearly.

From my own experience as an applicant and a “reviewer” of admission applications, I offer you some handy tips which in my opinion can work well for prospective law graduates.

Where to go?

S

ocial convention says there are two types of people based on their chromosome and genitalia: men and women.

Charles Darwin’s writings on sexual selection reaffirm, only these two sexes exist for the purpose of reproduction. But in fact, various cultures have long recognised members who buck the biological binary. These people are neither men nor women; or both; or people with male body and female behaviour or vice versa. Today there are many populations with alternative identities, such as hijras in South Asia, kathoeys in Thailand, and muxes in Mexico. Surprisingly, there also remains states like Iran that does not recognise alternative genders and legalise sex reassignment surgery.

Though the concepts of human rights and equal rights have been a matter of the 20th century, only recently has the fight for legal recognition and respect of a third category of gender along with male and female gender has begun to bear fruit. From ancient Greece to digital Bangladesh, the political, cultural and legal emergence of a complex, controversial term, “third gender” has not been so easy.

However, “Hijra” or mostly male to female transgenders have a long history in South Asia. “Ramayana,” the holy book for Hindu refers to a third sex.

Again, during the Mughal empire in the 16th and 17th centuries, castrated hijras or eunuchs were respected and considered close confidants of emperors.

But the scenario has worsened for hijras when in 1871, British administrators passed the Criminal Tribes Act in India, effectively outlawing the country’s hijras, a community that includes intersex people – those born with both male and female biological traits, transgender people – those whose gender identity does not match their sex assigned birth, eunuchs and even cross-dressers. This Act was repealed in 1949 but negative attitudes and discrimination towards hijras

continued.

Even today, they remain socially excluded, living on the fringes of society, in ghettoised communities, harassed by the police and abused by the public. Most make a living by singing and dancing at weddings or to celebrate child birth, many have moved to begging and prostitution. Violence against hijras, especially hijra sex workers, is often brutal, and occurs in public spaces, police stations, prisons, and their homes. As with transgender people in most of the world, they face extreme discrimination in health, housing, education, employment, im-

Court, asking to recognise hijras as a third gender. At the end of 2009 the chief justice of Pakistan ordered the National Database and Registration Authority to issue national identity cards with a “third gender” category for non-binary citizens.

According to one estimate, India has about two million transgender people who have been forced to choose either male or female as their gender in most public spheres. In 2009, India’s Election Commission took a first step by allowing transgenders to choose their gender as “other” on ballot forms. India’s Supreme Court

The government must make sure that the third genders have access to medical care and other facilities like separate wards in hospitals and separate public toilets migration, law, and any bureaucracy that is unable to place them into male or female gender categories.

Only seven countries, as of today, offer an alternative option on their legal documents, whereas, legal documents in the United States only recognise “male” and “female” as genders, leaving anyone who does not identify as one of these two genders with no option.

Following a Supreme Court landmark decision against gender identity discrimination in 2007, Nepal is believed to have become the world’s first country to include a third gender option on its census forms, which it initiated in 2011. The country has led the way in South Asia, also introducing a third gender category on its passports in 2012.

In 2009, local police had allegedly attacked, robbed and raped eight hijra wedding dancers near Islamabad, Pakistan. That traumatic event led Muhammed Aslam Khaki to file a private case in the country’s Supreme

has recognised transgender people as a third gender, in a landmark case of “National Legal Services Authority v Union of India and Others” in 2014.

“Recognition of transgenders as a third gender is not a social or medical issue but a human rights issue,” Justice KS Radhakrishnan, said in his judgement.

“Transgenders are also citizens of India” and they must be “provided equal opportunity to grow ... the spirit of the Constitution is to provide equal opportunity to every citizen to grow and attain their potential, irrespective of caste, religion or gender.” The court also said. The judges asked the government to treat transgender as “socially and economically backward,” to enable them to get quotas in jobs and education along with all other amenities.

At least 10,000 hijras currently live in Bangladesh, according to national statistics, but the number can be 10 times higher. They have had the right to vote since 2009. In November 2013, the government announced the

recognition of “hijra” as a third gender category in all national documents and passports. The prime minister’s cabinet secretary noted the community was “being denied their rights in various sectors, including education, health and housing because of being a marginal group.”

After a year of the government announcement, we are still waiting for a specific law to be enacted to cover third gender people’s rights. The government must make sure that the third genders have access to medical care and other facilities like separate wards in hospitals and separate public toilets. The government should also treat transgender as “socially and economically minority,’’ to enable them to get quotas in jobs and education. Confusion still remains in areas on their rights to inheritance, rights to own property, rights to adopt a child and rights to marry. Without these rights to be confirmed, only legal recognition as a marginal group will do little to their favour.

Moreover, legal experts predict this announcement puts transgender people in a strange situation: on the one hand, they are now legally recognised and protected under the Constitution, but on the other hand they may be breaking the law if they have consensual gay sex. According to a 153 year old colonial era law, Section 377 of the Penal Code 1860, a same-sex relationship is an “unnatural offence” and punishable by a 10-year jail term.

It is hoped that social acceptance along with the landmark court rulings and legal status by governments will help bring the third gender people into the mainstream and improve their lot worldwide. We must not forget, it is the right of every human being to choose their gender and not to be discriminated on the basis of their sexual orientation and gender identity. l Barrister Farzana Hussain is an Advocate and Senior Lecturer at Northern University, Bangladesh.

JURIS QUOTE So long as you do not achieve social liberty, whatever freedom is provided by the law is of no avail to you.

B.R. Ambedkar

Architect of the Constitution of India April 14, 1891 – December 06, 1956

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and also your articles on any legal issues at: law@dhakatribune.com

Dhaka Tribune Visit our website at: www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune RIO SHUVO

Choosing the university where you want to apply is an interesting and at the same time a challenging task. The expertise offered by the university in your area of interest is a very important criterion apart from the overall rank and reputation of the institute. Most applicants prefer applying to more than one university, if you are one of them start with a bigger list of universities and make a shorter list by comparison. Application deadline, requirements, fees, scholarships, availability of supervisors or courses are some of the important factors that one should carefully consider. Most universities list all application requirements and procedures in their websites, but feel free to send email inquiries for any doubts or confusions.

When to go?

I find many law students from Bangladesh utterly frustrated with the courses offered by LLM programmes and those who seek specialisation often think about skipping the LLM programme at home. While it seems completely doable, there are some downsides. Most programmes abroad call for application a year ahead of actual admission. If you want to start your LLM abroad immediately after LLB (Hons) you have to apply before earning your first degree.

carefully. Remember that you might need to modify your statement for different universities. Do some homework on the law schools or institutes you are applying to, in order to better understand the admission criteria and shape your statement accordingly. Your statement should be consistent with your experience and activities listed on your CV to make your application coherent.

What should/should not be in my research proposal?

Most universities ask for a research proposal for LLM application. Take note of the length, word count suggested and areas to be covered. Most applications will ask you to provide research questions, methodology and the relevance of your proposed research. Try to write in short and simple sentences. If your research relates to an issue which can be fairly assumed to be unfamiliar to most members of the admission committee, provide sufficient background. Do not load your proposal with heavy arguments or do not make generalised comments. Give references where necessary and follow the reference style prescribed by the university you are applying to.

Will they fund me adequately?

Most universities define funding graduate education as one of their greatest challenges and many universities have limited internal funding opportunities.

You should look for the internal and external funding opportunities, potential teaching and research assistantship opportunities apart from applying to well-known scholarships.

Are you concerned with your grade?

Many university students fear they will be prejudiced because of comparatively low average grades awarded by their university. Explain your department’s grading strategies in your application statement. For example, you may write: “Less than three percent students secure 80 percent or above.” If any unfortunate event or circumstance have hindered your undergraduate studies explain how the event has affected your academic performance. Do not make up things, if you had a genuine

BIGSTOCK

BIGSTOCK

n Farzana Hussain

7

Thursday, January 8, 2015

That will limit your possibility to apply to a significant number of universities. If you apply after LLB (Hon’s), you have to wait for a year before joining your LLM programme abroad and you might make use of the year by doing an LLM at home. This will also provide you a chance to write a dissertation which might lead to a publication. You can also use your extra time by doing internships relevant to your area of interest.

What documents to send?

The documentation requirement varies among universities. Most universities have online applications now, some require additional documents through post and some require electronic submission. You should check all the submission requirements well ahead of time so as not to be taken by surprise at the last moment. One important thing you should take note is grade conversion for previous degrees. Some universities do the conversion on their own, some require you or your institute to convert the grades. You might need to translate some documents. Be careful in selecting your referees, as a rule of thumb you should seek reference letters from professors you have worked with. Give your referees all necessary documents, detail and guideline fairly ahead of the deadline. Most applications ask for a CV, provide an updated CV no longer than two pages. Do not send extra or unnecessary documents, it will just lengthen the process.

How should I write my statement?

A statement generally asks for your previous academic record, your interest in joining the programme, your research interest, how you hope to benefit from and contribute to the programme. Read the guidelines given in your application

case, it is legitimate to bring it to the notice of the admission committee.

Do I need to forward my application for editing?

It is always better to have your writings read by a second person. This person may be from a different or same discipline as yours. The benefit of sending to a person from different academic discipline is if they understand your proposal, you know that you have done a good job. The advantage of sending to an expert on your own research area is to get specific suggestions and recommendations. A combination of both is ideal for your application. Give your application reviewer sufficient time to read and comment, do not send unfinished or roughly done pieces and do not expect them to rewrite your application documents. Your aim is to get feedback and prepare a better application, this is an important learning process for you.

Listen to your heart

You have all the required information from the university of your choice, you have comments and feedback from your reviewers and referees, and you are all set to compose your application. In this long process never forget to listen to your heart, even in the end when hopefully you are offered admission by more than one universities.

Above all it is your pursuit of knowledge. So what are you waiting for?

Go and finish your application. Good news on the way! l Rokeya Chowdhury is a human rights activist and Lecturer at Faculty of Law, University of Dhaka. At present she is doing her Doctoral Research as an O’Brien Fellow at the Centre for Human Rights and Legal Pluralism, McGill University, Canada.

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Report reaffirms Syria chemical weapons use n Al Jazeera Al Jazeera has obtained a leaked copy of a report by a chemical weapons watchdog that offers further evidence about the use of chemical weapons in Syria.

The report by a fact-finding mission of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which deals with investigating the use of chemical weapons, includes eyewitness accounts of helicopters dropping barrel bombs with toxic chemicals.

Witnesses reported hearing helicopters before the attacks.

Al Jazeera’s diplomatic editor James Bays, reporting from the UN, said that western members of the UN Security Council blamed the Syrian authorities for the attacks as only they had access to helicopters.

US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power tweeted that “32 witnesses saw or heard sound of helicopters as bombs struck; 29 smelled chlorine. Only Syrian regime uses helos .”

The 117-page report offers the most detailed findings to date regarding the use of chemical weapons in Syria, but does not say which side used them.

It focuses on three Syrian villages, two in Idlib and one in Hama, where it says there is a “high degree of certainty” chlorine gas was used against the Syrian people.

The findings are consistent with two previous reports by the mission.

After a closed-door meeting of the UN Security Council on the progress in destroying Syria’s chemical weapons programme, Power said the new report added credence to allegations that the Syrian government used chlorine gas as a weapon in its four-year-old civil war after pledging to give up its toxic arsenal.

The effort to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons programme was launched after a sarin gas attack on August 21, 2013 that killed hundreds of civilians in the Damascus suburb of Ghouta.

President Bashar al-Assad’s government and rebel forces blamed each other for the Ghouta strike and other chemical weapons attacks, though Western government’s blame Assad.

Damascus joined the OPCW, without admitting responsibility for Ghouta, after the United States threatened military intervention.

After briefing the 15-nation Security Council, UN disarmament chief Angela Kane told reporters the OPCW mission was still trying to clarify gaps in Syrian chemical weapons declaration and hoped to destroy all remaining production facilities by June.

UNSC met on Syria CW today and reviewed more compelling eyewitness evidence of chlorine gas use by Syrian regime. l

A Syrian boy looks out through his tent door covered in snow at a refugee camp in Deir Zannoun village, in the Bekaa valley, east Lebanon, yesterday. While the storm disrupted life for everyone, it proved particularly trying for the hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees who live in tents and makeshift shelters in the Bekaa AP

Syrians largest refugee Snow falls in Middle East as strong group after Palestinians winter storm strikes

Turkish leftist group says behind attack on police n Reuters, Istanbul

n Reuters, Geneva

A far-left Turkish group has claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a police station in Istanbul’s historic Sultanahmet district that killed one officer and wounded another, saying it was to “settle scores” with the government.

A female suicide bomber on Tuesday entered the police station, saying in English she had lost her purse before tossing explosives at police and blowing herself up. The three-storey building lies across the square from the Aya Sofya Museum and Blue Mosque, the biggest draws for millions of tourists who visit Istanbul each year. l

Syrians have overtaken Afghans as the largest refugee population aside from Palestinians, fleeing to more than 100 countries to escape war in their homeland, the United Nations said yesterday.

At more than 3 million as of mid2014, Syrians accounted for nearly one in four of the 13 million refugees worldwide being assisted by the UN refugee agency, the highest figure since 1996, it said in a report. Some 5 million Palestinians refugees are cared for by a sep-

Car bomb kills 31 people outside Yemen police college

n Reuters, Sanaa

A car bomb exploded outside a Yemeni police college in Sanaa on Wednesday, killing 31 people and wounding dozens, the interior ministry said, less than a week after a devastating suicide bombing south of the capital.

Yemen’s sectarian conflict has worsened since September when the Shi’ite Muslim Houthi militia seized Sanaa, in the latest upheaval following the country’s popular uprising which led to a change of government and military splits.

Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), one of the Sunni militant group’s most active wings, had staged increasing numbers of attacks across Yemen before the Houthi advance and has carried out more bombings and shootings since.

The health ministry said 64 people were wounded by the powerful explosion. l

arate agency, UNRWA. “As long as the international community continues to fail to find political solutions to existing conflicts and to prevent new ones from starting, we will continue to have to deal with the dramatic humanitarian consequences,” UN High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said in a statement.

At least 200,000 people have died and half the Syrian population has been displaced since the conflict began in March 2011 with protests that spiraled into civil war. l

n AP, Anjar Snow fell Wednesday across the Middle East as a powerful winter storm swept through the region, forcing Syrians who have fled their country’s civil war to huddle for warmth in refugee camps.

The storm dumped rain and hail on Lebanon’s coast and heavy snows in the mountains and central Bekaa Valley, where gas stations, banks, schools and most shops closed.

While the storm disrupted life for everyone, it proved particularly try-

ing for the hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees who live in tents and makeshift shelters in the Bekaa.

Near the town of Anjar, men used brooms and sticks to try to clear the heavy snow from the tops of refugee tents, fearing the weight might cause the shelters to collapse. Inside the tents, adults could be seen huddling around the wood burning stoves to try to keep warm.

Elsewhere, Palestinian authorities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip declared a state of emergency over the storm. An 8-month-old Palestinian

infant in the Tulkarem refugee camp killed in a fire caused by a heating stove, Palestinian civil defence ministry spokesman Loae Bani Odeh said.

Snow accumulated in the Golan Heights and northern Israel. Schools across Jerusalem closed ahead of a forecast warning of 25cm of snowfall.

In Syria, snow blanketed Qassioun Mountain, which overlooks Damascus.

The snowfall also brought traffic to a near standstill in the capital, Damascus, and prompted closing of schools and universities for two days. l

UK, Greek election anxiety may see Brexit feed Grexit n Reuters, London British elections in May could arguably have as much impact on euro zone stability as this month’s snap poll in Greece, making for an anxious period of up to six months for European investors.

Two new themes for 2015 are already in play on financial markets: an echo of the 2011/12 euro crisis via Greek political upheaval and fears that the country might leave the currency union; and UK political risk and what the election there might say about the chances for a referendum on Britain’s European Union membership.

“Grexit” and “Brexit” - shorthand for any Greek exit from the euro and British exit from the EU - may seem unconnected, aside from common roots in voters’ disillusionment with European institutions. Their causes are different and the probability of a British departure is much higher, if years away.

Popular opposition parties in Greece blame years of deep recession on austerity demanded by euro zone sovereign creditors in return for billions of euros of loans to rescue the country from insolvency.

Speculation is growing that the anti-bailout Syriza party will win the election on Jan. 25 and try to renegotiate those loans and conditions, provoking another standoff between Athens and the rest of the euro group. This would reignite investors’ fears that the tension will eventually lead to Grexit and all it entails for the euro’s survival.

While Britain is outside the euro zone, popular unease with waves of immigration from new EU member states over the past decade has forced the ruling Conservatives to promise an “in/out” referendum on EU membership if they are returned to power.

What connects the two is that Brexit could inadvertently help to pave the way

for Grexit, or indeed euro exits by other countries, by mapping previously uncharted waters.

There is no legal provision or framework in EU Treaties for a country to leave the euro; a decision to join the single currency was deliberately designed as an irreversible move.

That’s not to say unilateral exit is impossible, but the absence of any agreed mechanism at the very least upped the ante in previous crisis years, magnifying the fear of the unknown and suggesting the breakdown of intra-euro relations would have to be extreme to justify defying the entire EU Council.

However, there has always been an alternative legal route to leaving the euro: leaving the EU altogether.

Considered unthinkable by most EU countries, Article 50 of the EU’s Lisbon Treaty states a member can decide to withdraw from the bloc according to its

Khamenei: Iran must immunise itself against nuclear sanctions

n Reuters Iran’s top authority Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday the Islamic Republic should immunise itself against international sanctions to strengthen its position in nuclear talks.

Western powers have imposed penalties over Iran’s disputed nuclear program which have slashed its oil exports, causing inflation to soar and the value of its currency to plummet.

“What would you do if they set a condition for lifting the sanctions that would compromise your (national) pride?,” supreme leader Khamenei told a gathering, in comments published on IRNA. “No official would accept it. Efforts must be made to immunise Iran against the sanctions,” he said, without going into details on how that should be done.

Iran and six world powers will hold talks on Tehran’s disputed nuclear program in Geneva on Jan 18 where Iran “will continue negotiations in Geneva on 18 January with a view to making further progress towards a long-term comprehensive solution on the nuclear issue,” an EU statement said yesterday. l

own constitutional requirements.

The article sets out notification protocols and says all treaties, presumably including commitments to the single currency, “shall cease to apply to the State in question from the date of entry into force of the withdrawal agreement or, failing that, two years after notification...”

If Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives win the May elections and table an EU referendum by 2017 as promised, then Britain could well be the first EU country to invoke Article 50.

Even though Goldman Sachs economists said on Tuesday that Brexit was costly and unlikely, they reckoned a Conservative election win was on the cards, despite the opposition Labour Party’s lead in the polls and hosts of coalition possibilities.

Yet, opinion polls show that up to 50% of Britons would vote to leave the EU, meaning any Conservative election win will bring with it significant EU exit risks. l

Boko Haram leader threatens Cameroon n AFP, Kano Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has threatened Cameroon in a video message on YouTube, warning that the same fate would befall the country as neighbouring Nigeria.

The video, which was posted on January 5, is directly addressed to Cameroon’s President Paul Biya after repeated fighting between militants and troops in the country’s far north.

“Oh Paul Biya, if you don’t stop this, your evil plot, you will taste what has befallen Nigeria...

Your troops cannot do anything to us,” Shekau said in Arabic.

It is first time Shekau has directly addressed Cameroon and is also the first admission that Boko Haram has been actively operating in the country.

Boko Haram fighters had in the past launched attacks on northeastern Nigeria from bases in Cameroon but recent months

have seen an increase in strikes within the country.

Boko Haram, which began its violent insurgency in 2009, has taken over swathes of territory in three northeastern Nigerian states, and declared some towns as part of its Islamic caliphate.

Cameroon’s far north has come increasingly into the group’s firing line and on December 28, Yaounde deployed fighter jets against Boko Haram for the first time.

Biya personally ordered the air strike after the insurgents crossed the border and seized a military camp, the government said on December 29.

The aerial bombardment, hailed as a new phase in the counter-insurgency, forced the Islamists to flee, it added.

Cameroon’s president has made a series of strong statements against Boko Haram and in October last year vowed to go after the group “until it’s totally wiped out.” l

Alan Dershowitz sued in Prince Andrew case

n BBC

Lawyers representing a woman who has alleged Prince Andrew and law professor Alan Dershowitz had sex with her when she was a minor are suing Mr Dershowitz for defamation.

The lawyers accuse Mr Dershowitz of mounting a media assault on their reputation and character.

The development comes a day after he began legal proceedings to clear his name.

Both Buckingham Palace and Mr Dershowitz deny the claims.

On Monday, Mr Dershowitz filed papers at a court in Florida, where the case is being heard, to contest what he described as “absolutely outrageous claims.”

The former Harvard law professor has asked for his name to be removed from documents which accuse him and Prince Andrew of having sexual relations with Virginia Roberts, known in court as Jane Doe #3, who was under the age of consent in the US at the time of the alleged incidents. l

Glimpse of Obama’s daughter causes online stir n AFP, Washington After years of careful White House control over her few public appearances, a mysterious online image of first daughter Malia Obama, 16, has gone viral.

The rare glimpse of a personal side of President Barack Obama’s oldest daughter — sister Sasha is now 14 — shows her wearing a tee-shirt printed with the name of the Brooklyn rap group Pro Era. In pics: Glimpse of Obama’s daughter causes online stir The photo shows the lanky high school student — or someone who looks very much like her — mouth agape, looking directly into the camera as she arranges her long ponytail.

But no one seems to know who took the picture, or how it came to be circulated on the internet.

The viral dissemination of the image underscored the perils of life in the White House fishbowl — particularly when its occupants are trying to raise children there — in the age of the internet and social media. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

9

Thursday, January 8, 2015

AirAsia jet tail found underwater, black box may be close n Reuters, Jakarta The tail of a crashed AirAsia jet has been found upturned on the sea bed about 30 km (20 miles) from the plane’s last known location, Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said on Wednesday, indicating the crucial black box recorders may be nearby.

Flight QZ8501 vanished from radar screens over the northern Java Sea on Dec. 28, less than half-way into a two-hour flight from Indonesia’s second-biggest city of Surabaya to Singapore. There were no survivors among the 162 people on board.

“We’ve found the tail that has been our main target,” Fransiskus Bambang Soelistyo, head of the search and rescue agency, told a news conference in Jakarta.

The tail was identified by divers after it was spotted by an underwater machine using a sonar scan, Soelistyo said. He displayed underwater photographs showing partial lettering on the sunken object compared with a picture of an intact Airbus A320-200 in AirAsia livery.

“I can confirm that what we found was the tail part from the pictures,” he said, adding that the team “now is still desperately trying to locate the black box.”

Indonesia’s Minister for Maritime Affairs, Indroyono Soesilo, told another news conference: “With the finding of the tail, six SAR (search and rescue) ships are already at the location to search within a radius of two nautical miles.”

Forty bodies and debris from the plane have been plucked from the surface of the waters off Borneo, but strong winds and high waves have been hampering divers’ efforts to reach larger pieces of suspected wreckage detected by sonar on the sea floor.

Locating the tail has been a priority because the cockpit voice and flight data recorders that can provide vital

‘Every Hindu woman must produce at least four kids’

n Agencies

Indonesian handout released yesterday shows images believed to be of wreckage of ill-fated AirAsia flight QZ8501, photographed by divers working in the Java Sea clues on why the plane crashed are located in the rear section of the Airbus.

“I am led to believe the tail section has been found,” AirAsia boss Tony Fernandes tweeted minutes after the announcement.

“If (it is the) right part of tail section, then the black box should be there ...

We need to find all parts soon so we can find all our guests to ease the pain of our families. That still is our priority.”

In Pangkalan Bun, the southern

India police: Ex-minister’s wife murdered

n Reuters, Seoul

n AP, New Delhi

South Korean prosecutors charged the daughter of the chairman of Korean Air Lines on Wednesday for delaying a flight following an outburst over the way she was served nuts, in a case that stirred public outrage and ridicule.

Heather Cho, a former executive of the airline and head of in-flight service before she resigned, had demanded the chief steward be removed from the flight at John F. Kennedy airport in New York after another flight attendant in first class served her macadamia nuts in a bag, not on a dish.

The early December incident, which media has dubbed the “nut rage” case, has aggravated public resentment of South Korea’s powerful family-run conglomerates, called chaebol, which are seen as dominating the economy and contributing to a widening wealth gap.

Prosecutors said Cho, who has been held in custody by a court since Dec. 30, was facing charges of violating aviation security law and obstructing a government investigation.

The Airbus A380 on which Cho was traveling had pushed back from its gate but returned for the chief attendant to disembark. It arrived in South Korea 11 minutes late.

Deputy chief prosecutor Kim Changhee told reporters Cho had disrupted the flight and “threatened the plane’s safety.” l

Indian police said Wednesday that they are now treating the death of the wife of a prominent former government minister and UN diplomat as a murder and have set up a special team to investigate her death in a New Delhi hotel last year.

Sunanda Pushkar’s death last

January was previously believed to have been a suicide. But Delhi police chief Bhimsen Bassi said Wednesday that after an investigation, a medical board had concluded that she had been poisoned.

A murder case has been registered and a team of police officials will re-examine all those linked to the case, Bassi said. l

Winter aid for 225,000 displaced Afghans n AFP, Kabul The Afghan government and the United Nations on Wednesday began distributing blankets, clothes and fuel to about 225,000 people displaced by violence nationwide as the bitter winter sets in.

In recent years, scores of Afghans living in slums, tents or makeshift shelters have died of cold despite billions of dollars in international aid for nthe country.

The UN refugee agency UNHCR has co-ordinated efforts to reduce fatalities this winter.

“We know it (aid) is not

enough,” said Fazal Ahmad Azimi, the deputy refugees minister.

“All over Afghanistan we have a lot of displaced people, they are very needy.”

The annual programme helps 2,300 families around Kabul alone, providing a winter kit of coal, children’s clothes, cooking equipment and other supplies.

“We really hope and believe that this programme can provide support through the months of winter and (ease) the suffering that follows the very serious temperatures,” said Bo Schack, UNHCR representative in Afghanistan. l

Borneo town closest to the crash site, search and rescue agency coordinator Supriyadi told reporters the bad weather that has dogged the operation for 10 days had abated and divers were in the water.

Pro-democracy lawmakers walk out of Hong Kong council

n AP, Hong Kong

Pro-democracy legislators walked out of the much-awaited start of a debate on democratic reforms in Hong Kong on Wednesday to protest the government’s intention to stick with a plan to screen all candidates in an election of the city’s top executive in 2017, an issue that sparked massive recent street protests.

Chief Secretary Carrie Lam, the city’s No. 2 official, opened the consultation with a speech in the territory’s Legislative Council. Lawmakers aligned with the pro-democracy movement calling for free elections immediately raised yellow umbrellas — symbols of the street protests — and walked out.

Pro-democracy legislators hold 40% of the seats, enough to block the election plan. However, that would only preserve a status quo that is also unappetizing to democracy activists.

Currently, the chief executive is chosen by an elite committee that is friendly to central Chinese authorities.

The pro-democracy legislators accuse leaders in Hong Kong and mainland China of breaking promises to let the city choose its chief executive through universal suffrage by 2017.

The central Chinese government pledged such a vote when the financial hub was handed from colonial British to Chinese rule in 1997 under a form of autonomy dubbed “one country, two systems.” l

Two most Earth-like planets found Earth’s closest twins have been found.

The two most Earth-like planets - Kepler-438b and Kepler-442b have been found orbiting red dwarf stars that are smaller and cooler than our Sun. Kepler-438b circles its star every 35 days, while Kepler-442b completes one orbit every 112 days.

With a diameter just 12% bigger than Earth, Kepler-438b has a 70% chance of being rocky, according to scientists.

Kepler-442b is about one-third larger than Earth, but still has a 60% chance of being rocky.

Kepler-438b receives about 40% more light than Earth. In comparison, Venus gets twice as much solar radiation as Earth. As a result, the team calculates it has a 70% likelihood of being in the habitable zone of its star.

Kepler-442b get about two-thirds as much light as Earth.

The scientists give it a 97% chance of being in the habitable zone.

n Agencies Lashkar operations commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the 2008 Mumbai terror attack mastermind, would continue to remain in jail.

The Pakistan supreme Court on Wednesday overturned the high court order granting bail to Lakhvi.

The apex court sent the case back to the Islamabad high court directing it to hear the arguments again and decide on merit without rushing through.

On December 18, 2014, the Anti-Terrorism Court had granted bail to Lakhvi, who was involved in planning, financing and executing the Mumbai terror attacks in November 2008.

Next day, he was again detained under the Maintenance of Public Order. l

Korean Air chairman’s daughter charged over nut rage

n Agencies

Lakhvi to remain jailed

Astronomers have found eight new planets in the Goldilocks zone of their stars, orbiting at a distance where liquid water can exist on the planet’s surface.

Among these eight, the team identified two that are the most similar to Earth of any known exoplanets to date.

This doubles the number of small planets (less than twice the diameter of Earth) believed to be in the habitable zone of their parent stars.

This artist’s conception provided by the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics depicts an Earth-like planet orbiting an evolved star that has formed a stunning “planetary nebula.” Earlier in its life, this planet may have been like one of the eight newly discovered worlds orbiting in the habitable zones of their stars. (AP Photo) “Most of these planets have a good chance of being rocky, like Earth,” says lead author Guillermo Torres of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics (CfA).

To be in the habitable zone, an

exoplanet must receive about as much sunlight as Earth. Too much, and any water would boil away as steam. Too little, and water will freeze solid.

“We don’t know for sure whether any of the planets in our sample are truly habitable,” explains second author David Kipping of the CfA. “All we can say is that they’re promising candidates.”

Prior to this, the two most Earth-like planets known were Kepler-186f, which is 1.1 times the size of Earth and receives 32% as much light, and Kepler-62f, which is 1.4 times the size of Earth and gets 41% as much light.

As with many Kepler discoveries, the newly found planets are distant enough to make additional observations challenging. Kepler-438b is located 470 light-years from Earth while the more distant Kepler-442b is 1,100 light-years away.

The team studied planetary candidates first identified by Nasa’s Kepler mission. All of the planets were too small to confirm by measuring their

masses. Instead, the team validated them by using a computer program called BLENDER to determine that they are statistically likely to be planets.

BLENDER was developed by Torres and colleague Francois Fressin and runs on the Pleaides supercomputer at Nasa Ames.

This is the same method that has been used previously to validate some of Kepler’s most iconic finds, including the first two Earth-size planets around a Sun-like star and the first exoplanet smaller than Mercury. After the BLENDER analysis, the team spent another year gathering follow-up observations in the form of high-resolution spectroscopy, adaptive optics imaging, and speckle interferometry to thoroughly characterize the systems.

Those follow-up observations also revealed that four of the newly validated planets are in multiple-star systems.

However, the companion stars are distant and don’t significantly influence the planets. l

AFP

But, as ships with acoustic “pinger locators” designed to pick up signals from the black box converged on the scene of the find, he cautioned the tail section of the aircraft might not be fully intact. l

Sangh hotheads just won’t be reined in.

Despite reservations from the BJP leadership at the centre, which had to recently face considerable flak in both houses of Parliament in the aftermath of the Agra conversion controversy, Unnao MP Sakshi Maharaj has once again stirred a hornet’s nest by saying all Hindu women must produce at least four children.

In Meerut, addressing gathering on Sant Samaagam Mahotsava on Tuesday, he said, “The concept of four wives and 40 children will not work in India and the time has come when a Hindu woman must produce at least four children in order to protect Hindu religion.”

Sakshi Maharaj went further to add that those involved in conversion must be punished with death though ‘ghar wapsi’ (reconversion) is not equivalent to conversion. “Wait for some time,” he thundered, “a law will be passed in Parliament in which anyone indulging in cow slaughter and conversion will be punished with the death sentence.” l

10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Thursday, January 8, 2015

CODE-CRACKER

The face of political violence

F

ew people can fail to be disturbed by the shocking images of Anik, the 15-year-old SSC student who was maimed by a bomb attack in Feni on Monday.

The teenager from Feni Government Pilot High School was left struggling for life after two bombs exploded partially burning his face and shattering splinters into his skull.

National media has shown pictures of the boy who was not only injured by the bombs thrown by pickets, but also robbed of his cell phone afterwards by the perpetrators.

We share the hopes of well wishers that the victim, who is now under the care of the DMCH Neurosurgery Department, can be helped to make a healthy recovery. Law enforcers and authorities must make every possible effort to bring those responsible to justice.

Sadly, Anik has not been the only victim of political violence this week.

It cannot be stated too strongly that the public has had enough of the callousness to human life which creates this sort of havoc and injury. The mass of people have long made clear that they do not condone or support violence.

It has always been unacceptable that political protests should be so closely associated with intimidation and violence. For innocent bystanders to have their lives wrecked because of politics is even further beyond the pale.

Until all political parties can stick to the principle that participation in protests must be purely voluntary, hartals and blockades will continue to generate fear and disruption to daily life.

The government and BNP have a duty to not only negotiate a solution to ongoing differences, but to act meaningfully to take all violence and intimidation out of political campaigning.

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

Trying to incite violence?

December 26

All parties must take intimidation and violence out of politics

Why no accountability for Sela disaster?

T

he government has shown unseemly haste in reopening navigation on the Sela River less than one month after the catastrophic oil spill that caused huge and still unquantified damage to the Sundarbans eco-system.

By failing to wait for the final report of the UN expert team conducting an environmental impact assessment, the shipping minister betrays a warped sense of priorities.

Narrow business interests should never take precedence over the government’s duty to act with care to safeguard this unique nature reserve and invaluable World Heritage Site.

Impartial observers cannot take seriously the minister’s claim that he has merely bowed to an ultimatum given by marine workers, when he himself has close ties to the organisations involved and has been blamed by a parliamentary watchdog for being responsible for permitting the risky passage of oil tankers down this route in the first place.

Expressing concern for the livelihood of workers sounds noble, but is not a plausible explanation given the government does not respond similarly in other cases.

For the sake of the Sundarbans, we hope the government can stick to its promise to uphold stringent conditions on the transport of cargo and to quickly revive the alternative legal waterway between Mongla and Ghosiakhali.

There is still an overwhelming case for the government to hold the shipping minister to account for the catastrophe on the Sela River. His culpability and lack of contrition are self evident. The prime minister can only benefit by using this case to send a clear signal that the government will break form the past and hold minsters to account for failures.

Hold the shipping minister to account for his culpability and lack of contrition

Sammy For someone who seeks to lecture others about knowing history, the author is rather stunning in his own gaps of knowledge: The nationality of Ghulam Azam was never given to him by Begum Zia, rather it was “restored” to him by the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division.

I wholeheartedly endorse his words of wisdom to Tarique Rahman whose passions seem to run quite a bit ahead of his prudence. But the wisdom dispensed by the author will have more weight if it comes in a more balanced form rather than – as is rather sadly obvious – gift wrapped by the high command of the ruling party, which would rather have us forget what ugly things the author’s own friends say about the late Ziaur Rahman, his widow, and many others.

And please, dispense with the effort to whitewash the BKSAL as something other than the one-party dictatorship it was; next you are going to tell us that the Rakkhibahini was just a version of the Boy Scouts, and the closure of all the newspapers was done to conserve newsprint.

Hafeejul Alam I agree with most of the views of the author, for those are nothing but the plain truth about

our history. About giving back the citizenship to Ghulam Azam, it’s wrong to refer the Supreme Court, because the government of Khaleda Zia initiated the motion; the apex court never did it suo motu.

Forming BKSAL might not have been the right decision for our nascent democracy. However, that does not justify maligning the top leader who spearheaded our freedom movement, and sacrificed the best part of his life for that cause.

No human being is above mistakes. Bangabandhu too was not. In any case, Bangabandhu never compromised with the anti-liberation forces, which his henchmen and disgruntled generals did, and ultimately betrayed the cause of our independence from Pakistan.

As far as our independence or the spirit of our Liberation War is concerned, there cannot be any “balanced form” of expression. An anti-Bangladesh stance deserves nothing but condemnation.

Sammy Hafeejul Alam: “… because the government of Khaleda Zia initiated the motion.” Not true … the government of the day had nothing to do with it; it was a constitutional petition moved by Ghulam Azam whose own counsel was an original Awami Leaguer.

“An anti-Bangladesh stance deserves nothing but condemnation.” Fully agreed. So, when are you going to condemn the NSF-like tactics of BCL on the streets of Dhaka (and if you don’t know what NSF is in this context, read up some history)?

Or the Pakistani-style laws that wpenalise speech “against the ideology of the state”? Or the Convention Muslim League-style thuggery that stops other parties from holding rallies by force of arms?

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 20 represents T so fill T every time the figure 20 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

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

CROSSWORD Biman hopeful about finding profit route next year

December 27 Babul Sarwar Why does the Biman chairman not resign? And what happened to Biman’ s listing in the DSE? anon Biman and profit go together like cheese and wax.

Minister: None trapped in 600-ft deep pipe

December 27 Nafiz Ahmed Momen The unconscious body of Jihad was found after the minister’s infamous words were spoken. Now what does the minister have to say?!

Fresh efforts ‘to rescue’ Jihad

December 27 Matiur Rahman From the Gorge Mia drama, to the Reshma drama and now Ziad’s drama? Are the war crimes tribunal’s witness rape allegations also some sort of drama??

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Should we have seen this coming?

December 26

Son Zoo So, we had a scientific study for the prevention and tackling of exactly this sort of a disaster, and yet not only did it happen, but the authorities are doing an absolutely impressive job in not tackling the fallout. I think we’ve found the top new example of “gross incompetence” for the dictionary.

ACROSS 1 Suffering loss (6) 5 Finish (3) 7 Land measure (3) 8 Good name (6) 11 Fruit (3) 12 Tranquility (5) 14 Members of a play (4) 16 Scolds (5) 18 Drive (5) 20 Raw hide (4) 21 Sun-dried brick (5) 23 Melody (3) 24 Crudely showy (6) 27 Dry, of champagne (3) 28 Unhappy (3) 29 Buy back (6)

DOWN 1 Barrier (3) 2 Sharp blow (3) 3 Broke out (7) 4 Festivity (4) 5 Exhausted (6) 6 Abstract (6) 9 Dutch cheese (4) 10 Listener (3) 13 Skipped about (7) 14 Smokers’ favourites (6) 15 Was merciful to (6) 17 Trees (4) 19 Ship’s record (3) 22 Foundation (4) 25 Frozen treat (3) 26 Border (3)

Karl Hungus The study forgot to take into account the suicidal tendencies we as a nation harbour and display with giddy abandon from time to time. We don’t deserve the Sundarbans, and the Sundarbans don’t deserve us. vhs Protecting nature has never been a high priority for us. We’ll soon get the wasteland we deserve.

ACC: Moosa confesses to having arms business December 26

HD My request to the ACC is: Please stop disclosing useless information in all classes.

It has become a habit for you and the police of Bangladesh. This is done to create the impression that you are doing something, or are going to do something. But the end result is that nothing happens. And that is the reality with you. As long as you yourselves are corrupt and are puppets of the ruling party, this is going to continue.

PEANUTS

M Bhuiyan “The ACC had taken the issue seriously and until it finds the source of his arms business and unusual income, the commission will stick to its inquiry.”

Good. Just check what arms business Moosa has done in Bangladesh. That should answer your question.

Aim for success by goal setting in five steps December 28

rose “Goal setting starts with careful meditation on what it is you want to achieve and is followed by a lot of hard work to actually make it happen.”

A helpful article indeed!

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Thursday, January 8, 2015

All those old, young men n Mamun Rashid

T

Hooliganism cannot be politics

MEHEDI HASAN

BNP needs to move on

A

n Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique year after the election which BNP had boycotted, refuting its credibility, the party does not seem to have any competent

agenda.

Even if we aren’t so judgmental, it is quite clear that the party hasn’t moved a single inch from what they said at the time of the elections.

When the government has seemingly been able to convince its citizens and the international community with the rationale for holding the election, BNP continues to insist that it is an illegal government.

The most regrettable aspect of their strategy or policy is probably that they are merely trying to imitate what the Awami League did against their regime. However, it is apparent that the changes that have taken place since then are not under the BNP’s consideration.

It is hard to say what they needed to do to recover, or regain enough power to compete against the ruling party, but it can definitely be said that they don’t have better alternatives to propose.

So, it is not too difficult to prove that BNP has been against any development that the government said they had achieved, from the national to international level, from policymaking to the running of the state.

Additionally, it has become an established perception among the people that the BNP has always adopted hostile strategies to realise their demands.

The violence that the country experienced in recent years evokes such fear in people that they want stability in the country at any cost.

Democracy and development are doctrines of the time. Has the BNP as a party been able to propose anything that promises to bring about more development than what the current government is capable of? Does the BNP show any potential of being able to govern the country better than what the AL is doing now, despite the many

We should not look to bring back what we have already left behind. Let violence be a thing of the past

On top of the hostile comments from one of its top leaders sitting in London, the BNP leadership continues to incite violence around the country. This was obvious in their attempts to adopt destructive measures to exhibit their rage against the government, which ultimately brought support for the government’s stringent handling of the situation.

Again, it remains a mystery what bars the party from respecting what young people think, and why they are still clinging to outdated ideas and their old way of doing politics.

criticisms against the government?

Probably not, and neither have they shown any willingness or taken any steps towards correcting what they did during their last tenure, ranging from corruption to repression. Rather, they are doing exactly the opposite of what a political party should do to regain public support.

We are definitely not worried about which party fails to remain competent in the political field, but we are seriously worried about the use of confrontational political strategy, hostile atmosphere, and threats of violence.

We are worried about stability for the sake of the economy and for the sake of development.

We yearn for a democratic approach to all aspects of life. Whichever party proves to be upholding democratic norms and goals best will have our support.

So, to BNP I say: It is time to correct your approach. It is time to move away from practices that result only in violence. It is time to do politics that will prove you more competent. The days of retaining power to exploit the state mechanism no longer prevail.

This is an age of alternatives, and people will choose the best. It is the job of any political party to prove they are the best for the people, otherwise they will be rejected.

Thus, the first thing the BNP needs to do is bring back the party to democratic practices. Only then, things can begin to change from within the party. This is true for all parties, for if any party fails to maintain democratic standards, they will lose the people’s support.

The BNP also needs to consider the changes that have already taken place. We should not look to bring back what we have already left behind.

Let violence be a thing of the past. Let democracy and only democracy be our future. l Mohammad Abu Bakar Siddique is a staff writer at Dhaka Tribune.

he gentleman goes by the name Rehman Sobhan. He has either reached the age of 80 or will be there soon. He worked on the two economy theory in the 60s, which eventually helped Bangladesh earn its independence from Pakistan through a bloody war. All his life, he has been a champion of public policy, a dedicated teacher, and a pro-people economist.

I met him the other day and found him to be as charged as any young man, ready to go for his second or third round of fixing this country, to clear the laundry list of activities which would take this country forward. I can’t claim to be too close to him though, but I respect him for being an honest person throughout his entire life. He is so articulate, so networked, that anyone of us can consider him a role model for being a “public policy activist.”

Professor Sobhan is not alone. I had the chance to work with three of his direct students: Professor Muhammad Yunus, Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed, and Dr Mirza Azizul Islam. No matter who says what, the entire world knows Bangladesh as the birthplace of Nobel Laureate and founder of Grameen Bank Muhammad Yunus, possibly the most hardworking economist in the world at the age of 75.

His friend Mirza Aziz is possibly the best finance minister Bangladesh will remember, taking the country forward during its most troubled time. The gentleman still teaches for three hours in each session, sharing his wisdom with many newspaper readers and television audiences.

Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed will be remembered as the most organised central bank governor in Bangladesh, who tied all loose ends in the country’s financial watchdog agency. This gentleman is in exile now, and he is still the fastest person who will reply to any email sent to him or share his opinion on any economic activities impacting the world.

Pay a visit to Fazle Hasan Abed, the founder of Brac – the largest NGO in the world. You will find this young man of almost 80 still making plans of launching a new enterprise or a people-friendly initiative in education or poverty alleviation.

I know a gentleman by the name Dr Akbar Ali Khan, who is a Kali Narayan Scholar from Dhaka University’s history department. He joined the civil service, took part in Bangladesh’s Liberation War, and even taught at a public university. He’s worked for various divisions under our finance ministry. Unfortunately this young-at-heart man had to undergo spinal surgery in the United States, which has impacted his mobility.

This gentleman is only in his 70s, but is still the most productive person in Bangladesh in terms of writing, composing, teaching, and speaking his heart out on public policies in Bangladesh.

Moving on to the world of science in Bangladesh, you will come across names like Professor Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Professor Mohammad Kaykobad, Professor Ainun Nishat,

and Professor Muhammad Zafar Iqbal – each one of them are very knowledgeable, committed, and dedicated in building “solutions” for this country.

When he was alive, I used to frequently meet the gentleman named Samson H Chowdhury, the symbol of Bangladesh’s entrepreneurship. He always had an open learning mind. Go and ask any revenue collector, they will tell you how Mr Chowdhury never shied away from paying what was due to the national exchequer. His friends, Latifur Rahman, Mahbubur Rahman, all in their late 60s or mid 70s, are supplementing his leadership traits.

They are thinking big, working hard, and are trying to do their best to take this nation forward

Many faces appear to me: Dr Mohammed Farashuddin, the former UN senior and Bangladesh Bank governor; Matiur Rahman, the editor of the largest circulated daily and a trend-setter; Professor Nazrul Islam, the founder of the Centre for Urban Studies and a former UGC chairman, Mr Delwar Hossain, an Ekushey award winner and social activist from Tangail. All of them have either crossed the age of 70 or are close, yet they are so hard-working, and so committed to making sure our emerging nation succeeds.

I remember poets Syed Shamsul Haque, Nirmalendu Goon, artist Shahabuddin, Rafiqunnabi, and many of their peers who gained a lot of appreciation for their creativity, dedication, and commitment. They all are aging, but have an evergreen heart.

I would also like to tip my hat to our politicians: Matia Chowdhury, Nurul Islam Nahid, Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury, and professionals-turnedpublic representatives like AMA Muhith, Dr Osman Faruk, MK Anwar, and some others.

The late Justice Habibur Rahman, Justice Mustafa Kamal, journalist ABM Musa, and journalist Zaglul Ahmed Chowdhury will be remembered for their commitment to logical thinking, perfection, beauty, and the public good.

All the individuals whose names I have mentioned here are crossing 70 or even 80, yet they are thinking big, working hard, and are trying to do their best to take this nation forward.

While we salute them, it is also regretful that there are not many who can fill the void that they will leave when they are gone.

Our generation needs to do more to be able to replace them, and feel comfort in knowing that the future generations will be no less than their predecessors. l Mamun Rashid is a business professor and financial sector entrepreneur.

Does Pakistan mean serious business this time? n Ziauddin Choudhury

P

akistan authorities seem to have decided that enough is enough, and it is time to weed out the extremists that have been running a reign of terror for so long in its North West corner. The government and its powerful army have drawn a 20-point program to stop the cancer of extremism and religious militancy that in the last 10 years claimed more than 50,000 people, the last being the most senseless and mindless killing of 150 children.

The steps include creating a paramilitary force to combat the extremists, capital punishment of persons charged with extremist violence, and monitoring and regulating funding sources of the religious institutions.

We can only hope that this resolve of Pakistan is for real, and it will not go the way of past such resolves of Pakistan authorities that were more known for their rhetoric than for real action.

One wishes that this will to eradicate the evil that has spawned over the last two decades had descended on Pakistan years ago. This would have saved the country thousands of lives, an endless amount of financial resources, and above all, the image of

an intolerant and bigoted society. Unfortunately, it was not to be so; because the powers that are today declaring war on the militants are the same who had once nurtured them and helped them grow into the monsters they are today.

The birth of the religious extremists or the jihadists (as they call themselves) in Pakistan is no accident. This was by design, with direct help of the powers that be in Pakistan, in particular the army that had always been the kingmaker of the country.

The midwife of religious extremism was General Ziaul Huq, the army general who commandeered his way to presidency and later became the rallying point of the West to wage war against Soviet aggression in Afghanistan.

He adroitly used the Western powers’ reliance on him to wage this war with locally recruited guerilla forces motivating them with Islamic zeal to fight a communist regime. With abundant resources showered on him by the West, Ziaul Huq, himself a firebrand Islamist, created seminaries all over the country that would turn out to be recruitment centers of religious militants who would initially fight the soviets as Mujahids (freedom fighters) but later form the seed for the Taliban

forces. The Talibans of Afghanistan were the brainchild of Pakistan’s formidable army intelligence, who, ironically, would later also have a fraternity in Pakistan imbued with similar ideals.

What is spawned in Pakistan can affect and will affect the rest of the region

The Taliban-Pakistan army axis would have gone on merrily had it not been for the tragedy of September 11 that exposed the Taliban’s shelter to the main perpetrators of the tragedy. Pakistan authorities had to renounce their liaison with the Taliban under duress and helped support US war in Afghanistan to topple them. But in the change of guards, the Taliban simply blended and scattered all over including slipping into Pakistan, where they joined

hands with their fellow sympathisers and blood brothers.

Although this happened primarily in the territory adjoining Afghanistan, their ideological supporters were spread out all over Pakistan. And these supporters would also be within the army and its powerful intelligence branch.

Two powerful examples of such support were the firebrand imam of Islamabad Lal Masjid, Abdul Aziz, and the leader of Pakistan Taliban, Fazlullah. Abdul Aziz, who was a protégé of General Ziaul Huq, preached his bigoted religious philosophy and intolerance day after day for decades, vowing to establish his brand of religious ideals in the country defying the government.

He trained his students inside the mosque in handling small arms, and at one stage turned the mosque into a fort when police tried to stop the militant students from attacking them.

The mosque would later turn into a battle ground leading to the deaths of many civilians. The fortress of extremist militants that grew under the nose of Pakistan’s powerful military intelligence was broken for the time being, but its main leader Abdul Aziz continued to roam free later and

preach his violent philosophy.

Fazlullah, a self-declared leader of the Pakistani Taliban, similarly grew his forces under the very eyes of Pakistani authorities. With the support of more than 4,500 militants, by late October 2007, Fazlullah had established a “parallel government” in 59 villages in Swat Valley by starting Islamic courts to enforce sharia.

For nearly a year, he ruled without any nudge from the central authorities. The Pakistan authorities acted only after goading from the US and Fazlullah fled the area. But he continued his recruitment mission of diehard suicide bombers who would wreak havoc in various parts of Pakistan. The latest carnage in Peshawar that took 150 lives of innocent school children was also reportedly masterminded by him.

There are many other such militant leaders who are heading one or the other faction of Pakistan Taliban including Baitullah Meshud, the self-declared ruler of South Waziristan (reportedly killed recently by US drone attack), Samiul Huq (spiritual guide of Meshud), Sheikh Haqqani (deputy leader of Tehrik-e-Taliban), etc who continue to operate in Pakistan.

They have been able to operate and

guide their forces under the nose of Pakistan authorities either because the authorities have never shown any seriousness to apprehend them or they connive at their presence. This is also largely because the kingmakers of Pakistan who created the Frankenstein of religious zealots to start with, used them as pawns in the past to change power play in Pakistan suiting their objectives. That is why even though the so-called war against terrorism began in Pakistan more than a decade ago never succeeded to weed out the extremists form the soil of the country.

There may be a lot scepticism about this latest phase of war against religious extremism in Pakistan, but one thing is certain – a second failure will not only pave the way for greater uncertainty about stability of Pakistan, but also peace in the sub-continent.

What is spawned in Pakistan can affect and will affect the rest of the region. It is in the interest of us all in the region that this time Pakistan means serious business, and the country’s establishment including the powerful military bring this evil to an end. l Ziauddin Choudhury is a political analyst and commentator.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE Thursday, January 8, 2015

13 New Zealand

win second Test, seal series

14 Centurion

Smith joins Bradman, Kallis

14 Oedagaard keeps

European giants on tenterhooks

Sport

‘I would have loved to have Jubair’ n Reazur Rahman Rohan The media was eager to hear from Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha regarding his views on the 15-man World Cup squad and by the look of things, the Sri Lankan is satisfied with what he has at his disposal.

However, the former Lankan cricketer wanted rookie leg-spinner Jubair Hossain who he believes would have caused trouble for the opponents in Australia-New Zealand.

In a press conference in Mirpur yesterday, Hathurusingha spoke about the sort of challenges they are going to face. He also informed of their primary aim which is to reach the second round of the mega event starting from February 14.

“As a coach you don’t get all the players you want, generally there’s a discussion and you are happy if you have at least 12 or 13 players that you want and then you can formulate a game plan. There are different opinions of players but we have got a really good mix,” said Hathurusingha.

“I would [have] loved to have Jubair in the team because leg-spinners in Australia are very, very effective. My experience [in the] last four years in Australia [shows that] every state team tries to get a leg-spinner in the team because they are wicket-takers.

Yeah, it’s true that I was asking for him and he was in our plans as an attacking option to get wickets but that’s where it is, he is not in but we will try to do what we can with the players we have,” he said before adding, “Since

Shakib shines in Big Bash n Mazhar Uddin Ace Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan made an impressive debut in his second season in the KFC Big Bash Twenty20 League as his team, Melbourne Renegades, strolled to a comfortable 37-run win over Hobart Hurricanes at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart yesterday.

Asked to bat first, the Renegades posted a challenging 163/7 in their allotted 20 overs with Shakib scoring 14 off 12 balls with the help of two boundaries. Later, the Hurricanes were bundled out for 126 in 19.2 overs with Shakib scalping 2/33 from his quota of four overs. Shakib also took a catch off the bowling of Nicholas Winter to dismiss last-man Xavier Doherty.

Despite posting 163 on the board, the Renegades were in a spot of bother early as they lost both their openers – Matthew Wade (two) and Aaron Finch (five) – cheaply. English cricketer Ben Stokes, making his debut for the Renegades, rescued his side from further peril with a blistering knock of 77 off just 37 balls.

The 23-year old Englishman smashed five sixes and eight fours and alongside Callum Ferguson (31), added 86 runs for the third wicket.

Stokes then made way for Shakib in the 12th over of the Renegades’ innings.

The poster boy of Bangladesh cricket started well with the bat striking two fours before he was dismissed by Doherty.

Shakib’s well-timed stroke went straight into the throat of George Bailey, the Hurricanes skipper, at the cover region. For the Hurricanes, paceman Ben Hilfenhaus bagged three wickets while leg-spinner Cameron Boyce took two wickets.

Defending 164, the Renegades’ skipper Finch handed over the ball to Shakib to start off proceedings. Having failed with the willow, the 27-year old all-rounder capitalised the opportunity.

First, the left-arm spinner clean bowled English cricketer Tim Bresnan before accounting for the wicket of Doherty.

Bailey was the highest scorer for the Hurricanes with 20 but no other batsmen were able to cross 17.

Besides Shakib, Winter (3/19), Fawad Ahmed (2/13) and Peter Siddle (2/15) were also among the wickets.

With this victory, the Renegades moved from bottom to second-bottom with four points from five matches while the Hurricanes are sixth in the eight-team standings with the same number of points from the same number of matches as the Renegades. The Renegades’ next match is scheduled for this Saturday against Melbourne Stars. l

Bangladesh head coach Chandika Hathurusingha (L) greets all-rounder Mahmudullah in Mirpur yesterday Shakib [al Hasan] is there having two more left-armers it’s very unlikely to play all three in one team. It’s a tough decision but I would have loved to have a different option.

“I mean as a coach you have the

plans with the other coaches, senior players and captains, [in] most of the cases the selectors communicate with the coaching staff and have a discussion. In that sense if you have a say in selection it would be helpful, but

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

then again it’s the communication that you need.”

The coach also termed the surprise package in the team, Soumya Sarkar as a batsman-allrounder and said, “He has been in runs so we are definitely

looking at his batting first and then if he can contribute with the ball that is a bonus.”

His major focus is on the two weeks in Brisbane as he believes that is when they should concentrate hard and try to adjust with the conditions before the tournament begins although he was realistic saying, “I would love to say we can go all the way but the reality is that we need to first think about getting into the second round. That’s the whole idea we are working towards.”

Hathurusingha believes that they have the potential to beat the big names in the event. But for that to happen, the pacemen will have to play a key role behind any success they achieve. Even though everyone is expecting wins against Afghanistan and Scotland, the coach thinks otherwise.

“Any team can’t be taken lightly in a World Cup because we all play in different conditions. Afghanistan is no different and Scotland we are playing in Nelson, those conditions are alien to us as well. It’s going to be a challenge [in] every game.”

The 46-year-old termed veteran left-armer Abdur Razzak “unfortunate” and said the bowler has been “a big servant for Bangladesh cricket.”

Hathurusingha concluded by saying, “The World Cup is a challenge for any team and for Bangladesh it’s no different, we have to go and play to our potential. I want my team to play to their potential and if we do well, the day someone has a really good game and the opposition has an ordinary day we can win games.” l

Did you know?

Steve Smith has made centuries in 4 consecutive Tests, on just 4 occasions has a player managed 5 in a row

Abahani claim Shahed as their own n Raihan Mahmood Abahani Limited claimed that midfielder Shahedul Alam Shahed has no link with Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra whatsoever and that the midfielder has signed the registration form for the former which which will be submitted duly.

Sheikh Russel completed their 29-player registration for the upcoming season at the BFF House yesterday and it contained the name of Zahid Hossain, who is serving a one-year transfer ban, and Shahed, who is contracted with Abahani since last season. Zahid has appealed to the Players’ Status Committee for reducing the amount of money he has been asked to repay Mohammedan for disciplinary reasons. The amount is Tk1.8m. If Zahid fails to pay the money he will remain suspended till January, 2016. Zahid has appealed to reconsider the amount and Sheikh Russel said they will assist Zahid both logistically and financially.

However, the status of Shahed remains a mystery. The management of Sheikh Russel submitted the form of Shahed claiming that he had taken money from the club as advance payment. Sheikh Russel claimed that he is their player. Shahed though was absent in the players’ registration yesterday.

Abahani manager Satyajit Das Rupu was contacted over the issue yesterday.

Rupu said Shahed has signed the registration form for Abahani and is therefore not eligible for Sheikh Russel. “Shahed has signed for Abahani in the official registration form and we will submit it when Abahani complete the registration process. I do not think he has signed any other registration form for any other club.”l

Sk Russel complete players’ registration n Shishir Hoque Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra became the second top-flight club, after Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, to complete the inter-club players’ registration procedure when they completed the formalities yesterday afternoon at the BFF House. With seven national footballers at their disposal, Sheikh Russel, on paper at least, appear the most likely to pose the strongest challenge to defending champions Sheikh Jamal DC. The club’s players, coaches and officials arrived at the BFF House yesterday and the traditional horse-and-cart music exhibition spoke volumes of Sheikh Russel’s spirit. A determined Sheikh Russel are focused to put up an encouraging performance in the upcoming season after a below-par display last season when they finished sixth in the Bangladesh Premier Football League.

With financial assistance from new sponsor Bashundhara Group, the former treble winners recruited six topnotch local players from Mohammedan

– Jahid Hasan Emily, Zahid Hossain, Hemanta Vincent Biswas, Yusuf Sifat, Mamun Khan and Tapu Barman – and five from Abahani Limited – Wali Faisal, Nazrul, Bhasani, Jamal, Shahed and Atiqur Rahman Meshu.

Sheikh Russel submitted a list of 29 footballers yesterday, including two foreigners – Nigerian striker Kingsley

SK RUSSEL SQUAD Mamun Khan (MSC), Liton (Muktijoddha), Masud Rana, Rony; Aminul, Wali Faisal (Abahani), Rezaul Karim, Yeasin Khan (Sheikh Jamal DC), Tapu Barman (MSC), Nazrul (Ctg Abahani), Sohel, Bhasani (Abahani), Murad, Bojan Petric; Ashraf (Farashganj), Zahid Hossain (MSC), Jamal (Abahani), Shahed (Abahani), Fazley Rabbi, Atiqur Rahman Meshu (Abahani), Hemanta Vincent Biswas (MSC), Moklesur (BJMC), Yusuf Sifat (MSC); Jahid Hasan Emily (MSC), Mithun Chowdhury, Bablu, Rocky, Rumman (Fakirapool), Kingsley Chigozie (Muktijoddha) * Brackets indicate former clubs

Chigozie and Serbian defender Bojan Petric. Among these 29 players, as many as 20 are new recruits.

The club are now aiming to forget the bitter memories of last season when they finished a staggering 32 points behind eventual champions Sheikh Jamal.

“The result was not satisfactory for us in the previous season. This time we are determined to deliver better, positive and beautiful football. We have tried to form a quality squad which will fight for the title. Like the 2012-13 season when we won the treble, we want to win silverwares this time as well,” said Ismat Jamil Akanda, director in charge of Sheikh Russel, yesterday.

Dragan Djukanovic, the Montenegrin coach of Sheikh Russel, termed the forthcoming season as the dawn of a bright future and is optimistic about his side’s chances in the upcoming season.

“We must work harder to know each other. I hope this season will be much better for Sheikh Russel in Bangladesh football. This team is looking into the future,” said Djukanovic yesterday. l

Mir Corporate Football kicks off tomorrow n Tribune Desk

Engineer Fazle Sobhan (2L), executive director of Mir Group, speaks during the Mir Corporate Football Fiesta while ITHS section head Zubeyir Bayram (L), former national footballer Abdul Gaffar (2R) and Sheikh Jamal DC coach AKM Maruful Haque look on at the Olympic auditorium yesterday SHEKHAR MONDAL

The Mir Corporate Football Fiesta, powered by International Turkish Hope School, gets underway at the school premises in Uttara tomorrow.

For the very first time in the country, a corporate football competition will be played in an artificial turf and under lights at an outdoor field. Sponsored by Mir Group, the fiesta will feature 16 renowned corporate houses - Mir Group, Int’l Turkish Hope School, Accenture-GPIT, Bando Design, Spell-Bound, HSBC, IDLC, Qubee, Magnito Digital, Computer Source, Comfit Composite Knit Ltd, Vizrt, Dhaka Tribune, BAT, IFC and SCB. Clemon is the beverage partner while Asian TV, Colors FM 101.6 and Dhaka Tribune are the media partners of the seven-day tournament.

The event was officially presented to the media by Engineer Fazle Sobhan, executive director of Mir Group. Zubeyir Bayram, section head of ITHS, former footballer Abdul Gaffar, Sheikh Jamal DC coach AKM Maruful Haque and Dhaka Tribune sports editor Raihan Mahmood were also present among other dignitaries in the press conference at the Olympic Bhaban auditorium yesterday. l

Sheikh Russel players are all smiles during their registration at the Bangladesh Football Federation House yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Russel quartet hopeful of success n Raihan Mahmood Stalwarts of many successes in the domestic arena, Jahid Hasan Emily, Atiqur Rahman Meshu, Mithun Chowdhury and Wali Faisal believe that Sheikh Russel Krira Chakra possess the firepower of winning the upcoming professional football league.

Sheikh Russel registered 29 players for the forthcoming season at the BFF House yesterday. Amongst these 29, seven footballers represent the national side – second highest after Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, who have 14 representatives.

Emily, who is a member of Sheikh Russel’s treble-winning campaign in the 2012-13 season, hoped yesterday that his side will turn into a formidable squad with the inclusion of a number of high-profile foreign recruits. “We have a number of players who have played together for a long time. We know each other very well. If the club bring a number of good foreign players, we can match any powerful team.

The reserve bench is very important for winning the league,” said Emily.

Emily and Sheikh Jamal midfielder

Mamunul Islam had a superb partnership while the duo were at Sheikh Russel. Emily scored a number of goals assisted by Mamunul. Upon being asked if Sheikh Russel would miss Mamunul’s services, Emily said, “No. There are Zahid [Hossain], Mihun and [Hemanta Biswas] Vincent. We will work hard to form new combinations. Maybe our combination will prove to be vital against the opposition defenders.”

Meshu, the long-serving defender of the national side, thinks that Sheikh Russel are well capable of challenging for the title. “Winning the title is not new for Russel. The club proved it two seasons back. The club management is focused on winning titles. The coach [Montenegrin Dragan Djukanovic] is also good. We have a mixture of youth and experience.

Why should we not focus on winning titles?” said the left-back.

Both Mithun and Faisal, meanwhile, stressed upon the importance of teamwork. “The atmosphere feels good. With the support of Bashundhara (sponsor), the club management has been able to keep the players motivated for success. That is important,” opined the two veterans. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

13

Thursday, January 8, 2015

QUICK BYTES

NZvSL, DAY 5

I wanted to stay at Liverpool, says Gerrard

New Zealand 1st innings 221 (K. Williamson 69; N. Pradeep 4-63, S. Lakmal 3-71)

Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has said he would have agreed to stay at the club if he had been offered a new contract in the close season. The 34-year-old announced last week he would leave at the end of this season and move to Major League Soccer in the United States after spending his entire career at the Merseyside club.

Gerrard said at the weekend the turning point in his decision to depart came when manager Brendan Rodgers told him he could no longer play every game. He did not blame the club for effectively making up his mind to leave but said he was ready to commit his future to Liverpool in the summer after they finished as Premier League runners-up. “If a contract had been put in front of me in pre-season I would have signed it,” Gerrard was quoted as saying by the Liverpool Echo on Tuesday.

–Reuters

Sri Lanka 1st innings 356 (K. Sangakkara 203, D. Chandimal 67; J. Neesham 3-42, D. Bracewell 3-93) New Zealand 2nd innings 524-5 dec (K. Williamson 242 not out, B. Watling 142 not out; N. Pradeep 3-117)

Late Lukaku leveller saves Everton Romelu Lukaku’s late equaliser earned Everton an FA Cup replay against West Ham United and took the heat off manager Roberto Martinez following a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park. Martinez had been under growing pressure following a disappointing run of form which had seen Everton lose their last four matches heading into this third-round tie. And Hammers defender James Collins looked like he had secured safe passage to the fourth round for his side, and a meeting against either Doncaster or Bristol City, with a second-half header. But Belgium striker Lukaku popped up in injury time to finish from close range, ensuring the Toffees players and Martinez left the pitch to cheers rather than jeers. Everton were without left-back Leighton Baines, who had picked up a minor knock, as Martinez picked arguably his strongest team, spearheaded by an attacking triumvirate of Kevin Mirallas, Steven Naismith and Ross Barkley behind Lukaku.

–AFP

Wozniacki, Williams grab win in Auckland Caroline Wozniacki and Venus Williams strolled into the quarter-finals of the Auckland Classic on Wednesday with second-round straight-sets wins. Venus Williams was made to work at the start of her match with Japan’s fleet-footed Kurumi Nara, dropping serve twice before shifting up a gear to cruise home 6-4, 6-1. Although the win was comfortable, 34-year-old Williams was not satisfied with the way her usually venomous serve misfired, delivering a less than 50 percent success rate. She plays Russian Elena Vesnina in the quarter-finals after the Russian breezed past Croatian teenager Ana Konjuh 6-3, 6-1.

Head-to-head, Vesnina leads Williams 2-1 although Williams won their last encounter in Dubai 11 months ago.

–AFP

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 2 9:35AM Ranji Trophy Haryana v Delhi 5:30PM Chennai Open Tennis

Star Sports 4 2:00PM T20 Big Bash League Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat

Star Sports 1 5:30AM (Friday) Australia v India 4th Test, Day 4

Ten Action 3:00AM Copa del Rey Barcelona v Elche

B

17 34 50 121 6 27 5 18 62 144 8 11 10 37 13 27 0 1 6 15 1 2 18

Total (10 wickets, 72.4 overs)

196

Fall of wicket 1-42 (Karunaratne), 2-51 (Prasad), 3-61 (Sangakkara), 4-94 (Silva), 5-110 (Mathews), 6-133 (Jayawardene), 7-156 (Chandimal), 8-156 (Herath), 9-189 (Lakmal), 10-196 (Pradeep)

Poland down Great Britain at Hopman Cup Poland are on the verge of reaching their second successive Hopman Cup final after beating Great Britain 2-1 at the Perth Arena on Wednesday. The Polish pairing of Agnieszka Radwanska and Jerzy Janowicz remained unbeaten in the mixed teams tournament by claiming the deciding mixed doubles rubber against Heather Watson and Andy Murray in the Group B tie. Radwanska also reached the final last year, teaming with Grzegorz Panfil in Poland’s Hopman Cup debut. The pair were beaten in the title decider by France’s Alize Cornet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The Polish pair will only need to beat this year’s French pairing of Cornet and Benoit Paire on Friday to advance to the final of the eight-team tournament. Radwanska gave the Poles the early ascendancy in Wednesday’s tie. She was far too good for 50th-ranked Watson, winning plenty of cheap points through Watson errors in her 65-minute 6-3, 6-1 win.

–AFP

R

Sri Lanka 2nd innings (Overnight 45-1) D. Karunaratne c Rutherford b Craig K. Silva c Craig b Bracewell D. Prasad c Neesham b Boult K. Sangakkara c Watling b Boult L. Thirimanne not out A. Mathews c Williamson b Bracewell P. Jayawardene c Williamson b Craig D. Chandimal c Watling b Craig R. Herath lbw Craig S. Lakmal run out (Bracewell) N. Pradeep b Southee Extras (b8 lb6, w3, nb1)

New Zealand pose for a photo after winning the Test and the series against Sri Lanka at the Basin Reserve in Wellington yesterday

AFP

Kiwis win second Test, seal series n AFP, Wellington New Zealand recovered from first innings turmoil to convincingly beat Sri Lanka by 193 runs in the second Test in Wellington on Wednesday and record a 2-0 series whitewash.

Led by offspinner Mark Craig who took four for 53, New Zealand ripped through Sri Lanka’s second innings after setting them a 390-run target.

Sri Lanka were all out for 196, not helped by the questionable dismissal of Kumar Sangakkara.

The batting maestro’s 203 paved the way for Sri Lanka to hold a 135-run first innings lead and New Zealand were in

dire straits when they collapsed to be five down and only 24 runs ahead in their second innings.

But a world record sixth-wicket stand of 365 by Kane Williamson and BJ Watling turned the game in New Zealand’s favour, leaving Craig and quick bowlers Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell to polish off Sri Lanka on the final day.

“For so long we were miles behind the game and it took something pretty special for us to get out of trouble firstly and then be allowed to dictate play,” New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said.

New Zealand sensed the win was on when both Sangakkara and Mathews fell before lunch on the final day.

“Both guys (are) capable of winning games on their own, so to be able to get both of those guys was huge and certainly at the lunch break we knew we were in with a big sniff of being able to close out the game.”

There remained a question mark, however, over Sangakkara’s caught behind dismissal.

New Zealand wicketkeeper Watling did not initially join the appeal which was turned down.

However, McCullum sought a review and it took multiple replays before the third umpire Bruce Oxenford of Australia was convinced the technology showed there was the faintest nick.

Mathews, who needed his in-form batsman at the crease to have a chance to save the Test, tactfully refused to criticise the dismissal.

“That’s the way it goes and unfortunately, or fortunately, we have to take it as it comes,” he said, switching the blame for the “shocking turnaround” on poor fielding including four let offs for Williamson on his way to an unbeaten 242.

“Kane batted brilliantly, but we have to grab those chances. We were under no real pressure at the time... You can’t really drop those sitters when you’re on the way to winning the game and you are desperate to win the game.”l

Bowling Boult 21-2-55-2 (1w), Southee 17.4-6-411, Bracewell 13-3-25-2 (1nb, 2w), Craig 18-8-53-4, Rutherford 1-0-2-0, Williamson 2-0-6-0 New Zealand won by 193 runs; won Series 2-0

Clarke recovery ‘ahead of schedule’ n AFP, Sydney Injured Australia captain Michael Clarke said Wednesday his recovery from hamstring surgery was ahead of schedule as he races against the clock to be fit for next month’s World Cup. Clarke said he had begun running since the surgery three weeks ago, after suffering the injury in Australia’s first Test victory against India in Adelaide almost a month ago.

Clarke, 33, is expected to be named skipper of the 15-man Australian squad when it is officially announced on Sunday, but it is unclear when he will be fit to return to the field.l

Sohail in Pakistan squad as seniors miss out n Reuters, Karachi

Maria Sharapova of Russia holds Sinnamon, a native Australian Koala, at the Brisbane International tennis tournament yesterday. (Right) Roger Federer of Switzerland holds a fish to feed a dolphin during a feeding session at Tangalooma Resort in Brisbane on Tuesday REUTERS

Nadal suffers shock defeat in Qatar n AFP, Doha Rafael Nadal’s ability to make a quick recovery from multiple ailments was thrown into doubt Tuesday as he lost 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 to Michael Berrer in Qatar.

This first round match was Nadal’s first of the 2015 ATP World Tour and he appeared to have had insufficient time to recover from an appendectomy, and far too little match practice over the last two months. Nevertheless, it was a humiliating outcome for one of the most successful players of all time, who had won the first set at a canter before his

game crumbled.

Berrer is a 34-year-old qualifier ranked outside the top 100 who is playing the last season of his career.

Nadal has also been suffering from back and wrist injuries, which reduced his service speed greatly.

And he appeared to cast doubt on his ability to take part, let alone be a contender at the Australian Open, which begins in less than two weeks.

“Little things didn’t quite work out for me today,” he said. “This is the third comeback of my career after injury, so we will see how it goes in a couple of

months. I wanted to start well, but it was not the case today.

“I also want to play in the Australian Open which is a tournament I like a lot. I don’t know if that will be the case either, but I am going to work for it. If not I will be playing at Rio and Buenos Aires.

“The season is long. After coming back from injury you can’t see the immediate moment, you have to look further ahead a little bit. Now in my mind I have to practise well and try to be ready for Australia, but I know it can happen that I will go there and lose. Perhaps I will win a couple of matches there, I don’t know.”l

Fast bowler Sohail Khan earned a surprise recall to the Pakistan squad for the World Cup while selectors omitted senior players Shoaib Malik and Kamran Akmal from their final 15-member list on Wednesday.

The 30-year-old Sohail was picked for his strong performances in domestic cricket this season, chief selector Moin Khan told reporters in Karachi.

“We have picked a full battery of pace bowlers while our spin bowling department is also led by the experienced Shahid Afridi and includes legspinner Yasir Shah,” Moin said.

Right-arm bowler Sohail has played two tests and five one-day internationals but last represented Pakistan in Zimbabwe in 2011. Yasir also played his only ODI against Zimbabwe on the same tour.

The leg-spinner, however, bagged 27 wickets in the five Tests against Australia and New Zealand recently in the United Arab Emirates.

Misbah-ul-Haq had also recovered from a hamstring injury he sustained last month while playing against New Zealand in the UAE and would lead the team at the Feb. 14-March 29 tournament in Australia and New Zealand, Moin added.

“He (Misbah) says he is gaining fit-

ness and he is an experienced player so we are confident he will be ready for the World Cup,” Moin added.

“The selectors have done a lot of homework in selecting this squad and we are confident this side will put up a good performance in the World Cup. “We have lot of expectations from this squad specially the youngsters who have not played before in Australia and New Zealand.”

PAKISTAN SQUAD Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Younus Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Harris Sohail, Umar Akmal, Sohaib Maqsood, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Junaid Khan, Mohammad Irfan, Sohail Khan, Wahab Riaz, Ehsan Adil, Yasir Shah Pakistan will be without two of their most experienced spinners at the tournament as Saeed Ajmal and Mohammad Hafeez have been suspended from bowling in international cricket for illegal actions.

Hafeez, however, was included as a specialist opener and Moin said he would undergo another bowling test prior to the tournament.

“We have picked only two specialist openers while wicketkeeper Sarfaraz Ahmed will be the reserve opener when required,” Moin added.l

England ‘brave’ to drop Cook, says Moores n AFP, London England coach Peter Moores said on Tuesday that Alastair Cook’s removal as one-day captain has made his side stronger, as they fly to Australia to begin their World Cup preparations.

Cook was stripped of the 50-over captaincy in December, less than two months before the start of the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.

It has left his successor Eoin Morgan with little time to adjust to his new role, but Moores, who was a member of the selection panel that opted to jettison Cook, believes England made the right call.

“We’d got to a position where it felt like it was the right thing to do. It was

a braver decision to change it,” he told a press conference at Heathrow Airport in west London.

“I’m comfortable with that and I think we’ve got the right people on the plane. We’ve got to go out there now and we’ve got to perform. We’ve got to perform well as a team.

“We’ve got to go there with a strong focus. We go there with a strong ambition to go and win a World Cup.” While Cook’s form in his final oneday outings was dismal, Morgan’s recent displays have been little better.

The 28-year-old Irishman averaged just 25.45 in 23 ODIs in 2014 and has gone 20 innings without a century, but Moores believes he will peak in time for the World Cup.l

Bangladesh female weightlifting team comprising Sabira, Reshma and Shimanta pose with the trophy after finishing fifth at the Asian and Arab Weightlifting at Doha Qatar yesterday COURTESY

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Centurion Smith joins Bradman, Kallis

AUSvIND, DAY 2 Australia 1st innings (Overnight 348 for 2) C. Rogers b Shami D. Warner c Vijay b Ashwin S. Watson c Ashwin b Shami S. Smith c Saha b Yadav S. Marsh c Saha b Shami J. Burns c Rahul b Shami B. Haddin not out R. Harris c Ashwin b Shami Extras (lb6, w7)

R

B

95 101 81 117 73 58 9 25 13

160 114 183 208 116 114 11 9

n AFP, Sydney

Total (7 wickets dec, 152.3 overs) 572 Fall of wickets 1-200 (Warner), 2-204 (Rogers), 3-400 (Watson), 4-415 (Smith), 5-529 (Marsh), 6-546 (Burns), 7-572 (Harris) Bowling Kumar 34-5-122-0, Yadav 27-5-137-1 (6w), Shami 28.3-3-112-5, Ashwin 47-8-142-1, Raina 16-3-53-0

R

B

India 1st innings M. Vijay c Haddin b Starc L. Rahul not out R. Sharma not out Extras

0 3 31 71 40 76 0

Total (1 wicket, 25 overs)

71

Bowling Starc 6-2-17-1, Harris 7-1-17-0, Hazlewood 4-1-10-0, Lyon 8-1-27-0

Australia pacer Mitchell Starc reacts after he dismissed India opener Murali Vijay for a duck during the second day’s play in their fourth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) yesterday REUTERS

Dominant Australia post huge total n Reuters, Sydney Steve Smith completed his fourth century in as many matches on Wednesday as Australia compiled a daunting first innings total in the final test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The Australian captain added to his incredible run of form against the tourists with a composed 117 as Australia, already holding an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, declared on 572 for seven shortly after tea on day two.

In response to the huge total, India got off to a horrible start, losing in-form opener Murali Vijay for a duck on the third ball to left-arm paceman Mitchell Starc.

But Lokesh Rahul (31 not out) and

Rohit Sharma (40 not out), brought back after being dropped for the third test in Melbourne, ensured there was no further damage and took India to 71-1 at stumps.

After Australia had resumed on 348-2, Shane Watson fell for 81 in the morning session with Shaun Marsh (73) the only batsman to get out in the afternoon. A half-century from Joe Burns (58) meant the home side’s top six batsmen made at least a fifty.

Burns and Ryan Harris fell at the start of the third session to give India paceman Mohammed Shami his second five-wicket haul in tests.

Watson and Smith added 196 for the third wicket after openers David Warner (101) and Chris Rogers (95) put on

200 on Tuesday as Australia’s top order cashed in on a flat pitch.

Smith continued his extraordinary run of form, following up his 162 not out in the first test in Adelaide, 133 in the second test in Brisbane and 192 in the third test in Melbourne with another hundred.

Resuming on 82, he reached his eighth test ton when he smashed a full toss from fast bowler Umesh Yadav for a boundary.

Yadav gained a small measure of revenge when he dismissed Smith just before the break, finding the edge off an attempted drive and giving wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha a simple catch.

Watson, batting cautiously after a lean run, looked set to register just his

fifth test hundred since making his test debut a decade ago, only to throw his wicket away with a rash shot.

He was caught by Ravichandran Ashwin at deep midwicket off the bowling of Shami, marking the 24th time he had made a test half-century but failed to go on and reach triple figures.

Marsh, run out for 99 in Melbourne, also missed out when he was caught behind off Shami, while Burns, playing in his second test, registered his first 50 with a composed display.

Harris smashed Bhuvneshwar Kumar for 19 runs in an over and brought the crowd to their feet with his knock of 25 from nine deliveries. The quick runs from Harris prompted Smith to declare the innings. l

Steve Smith joined the greats Wednesday with his fourth century of the series as India hung in after the shock loss of an early wicket on the second day of the final Test in Sydney.

The Aussie skipper became only the third batsman along with Don Bradman and Jacques Kallis to score tons in four consecutive Tests in the same series as his team posted a total beyond 500 for the fourth Test running.

Smith contributed 117 in Australia’s first innings declaration of 572 for seven before the tourists were rocked by the third-ball dismissal of opener Murali Vijay for a duck.

At the close, India had stabilised at 71 for one to trail Australia by 501 with Lokesh Rahul on 31 and Rohit Sharma hitting two sixes on his way to 40 not out.

“I thought our whole top six played really well,” Smith said.

“We’ve relied a lot on the tail in the last couple of Test matches and I said the batters had to step up in this match.

“The whole top six got above fifty which I don’t think has happened before. That’s outstanding for us.

“It’s not the kind of wicket I think where you can blast sides out. It’s about staying patient and hopefully the patience pays off.”

Left-armer Mitchell Starc, bowling with fire and rhythm, slanted one across Vijay and coaxed a snick to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Starc may be in disciplinary trouble for giving Vijay a big send-off, roaring in his face and waving his fists in a fiery opening over as Mitchell Johnson’s injury replacement.

But the day belonged to Smith, who added another century to his unbeaten 162 in Adelaide, 133 in Brisbane and 192 in Melbourne in this series.

“It’s been a pretty special summer for me personally, obviously with some of the results that I’ve got,” Smith said.

“But look, I always put the team

Inter hold Juve, poor debut for Zola n Reuters, Milan

Juventus’ Arturo Vidal (L) is challenged by Inter Milan’s Gary Medel during their Serie A soccer match at the Juventus stadium in Turin on Tuesday REUTERS

Match-fixing scrutiny for Asian Cup n AFP, Sydney Fears of match-fixing will lurk in the background at the Asian Cup as the stain of corruption proves hard to shift despite efforts to clean up football.

While most attention will focus on the big matches in Australia, games between smaller teams will also be under scrutiny for potential manipulation by illicit betting rings.

Swiss-based Sportradar, which has a partnership with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), will monitor for unusual betting patterns once the tournament starts on Friday.

Smaller teams, where players are usually paid less, are considered more vulnerable to match-fixers who may offer them bribes to throw a match.

Match-fixing, along with doping, is one of the biggest threats to the integrity of sport and is fuelled by a multi-billion dollar illegal betting industry.

A crackdown on several fronts has yielded results, with scandals uncovered in Australia and England and a leading suspect now detained for more than a year in Singapore.

But incidents persist, creating the damaging perception that any unusual results -- especially in hotspot Asia -have been manipulated.

Ferguson, a former head of education at bookmakers Betfair who runs the Sport is Made for Betting website, said the risk of match-fixing at the Asian Cup was “fairly low”, given the event’s high profile and anti-corruption efforts in Australia.l

Serie A leaders Juventus were held to a 1-1 draw by Inter Milan who hit back through a clinical Mauro Icardi strike after conceding an early Carlos Tevez goal on Tuesday.

Second-placed AS Roma cut the gap to one point with a 1-0 win at Udinese, although the hosts claimed that Davide Astori’s header never crossed the line after it bounced down off the crossbar.

Gianfranco Zola’s Serie A coaching career got off to a miserable start when his Cagliari side were thumped 5-0 at Palermo.

Germany forward Mario Gomez missed a penalty and Fiorentina had two men sent off in a 1-0 defeat at bottom club Parma while a spectacular goal by Simone Zaza, who met a corner

with a full-blooded volley, gave Sassuolo a shock 2-1 win at AC Milan.

Two goals from Argentina forward Gonzalo Higuain took his tally to nine and helped Napoli win 4-1 at relegation-threatened Cesena, keeping them joint third with Lazio who beat Sampdoria 3-0 on Monday. Jose Callejon also scored and Daniele Capelli turned Marek Hamsik’s shot into his own goal.

Titleholders Juventus lead with 40 points from 17 games with Roma on 39 and Lazio and Napoli on 30.

Tevez gave Juventus a fifth-minute lead with his 11th goal of the season as the hosts dominated the first half.

Inter, with Lukas Podolski making his debut as a halftime substitute, hit back in the second and Icardi levelled when he cleverly turned in Fredy Guarin’s incisive pass.

Barca crisis spirals ahead of Cup tie n AFP, Madrid Five days of 2015 was all it took for crisis mode to envelop Barcelona as two club legends Andoni Zubizarreta and Carles Puyol left their roles with the Catalan giants following a shock 1-0 defeat to David Moyes’s Real Sociedad at the weekend.

Yet, worse could still be to come with rumours of dressing room discontent between coach Luis Enrique and star players like Lionel Messi and Gerard Pique bringing Enrique’s position under serious threat should they fail to comfortably see off Elche in the Copa del Rey in midweek and beat La Liga

champions Atletico Madrid at home on Sunday.

Zubizarreta’s sacking as the club’s sporting director by president Josep Maria Bartomeu on Monday came as little surprise.

Bartomeu is fighting a losing battle to see out his mandate until 2016 and needed a scapegoat for the one year transfer ban imposed on the club by FIFA for irregularities in the signing of minors, which rules out any further reinforcements to the playing squad until next January.

Anticipating the ban, Zubizarreta was in charge of Barca’s near 160 million euros ($191 million, £125 million)

splurge on seven new players over the summer which has so far proved largely unsuccessful.

The most expensive signing in the club’s history, Luis Suarez, has scored just one league goal, whilst 18 million euro defender Thomas Vermaelen is yet to make his debut for the club after being sidelined until April with a hamstring injury.

Indeed in the brief period between Zubizarreta’s sacking and Puyol’s resignation, the latter was being touted as the ideal man to step into the role of sporting director with a year to properly learn the ropes before having to dive into the transfer market.l

Cameroon’s Song retires from internationals

West Ham loan Zarate to QPR n AFP, London

n Reuters

Queens Park Rangers announced on Tuesday that they have signed Argentine forward Mauro Zarate on loan from Premier League rivals West Ham United until the end of the season.

Zarate, 27, has made only eight appearances for West Ham since signing from Velez Sarsfield during the close season, scoring twice. He could make his QPR debut away to Burnley on Saturday.

“I am happy,” Zarate said in a statement on the QPR website. “I need this, I need to play and Queens Park Rangers have given me this chance to show what I can do. I will try to do different things with the ball, some skills to make the difference for the team.”l

Cameroon midfielder Alex Song has retired from international football after being left out of their 23-man squad for African Nations Cup finals in Equatorial Guinea, he announced on Tuesday.

Song is not in the plans of Cameroon coach Volker Finke, who has ignored the 27-year-old since last year’s World Cup in Brazil where he was sent off for elbowing Croatia striker Mandzukic.

Song got a three-match ban from competitive internationals from FIFA and, despite talk of a late call-up to the national squad, the player, who is on loan at West Ham United from Barcelona, has decided to concentrate on club football.

“Since the World Cup in the summer and my subsequent exclusion from the Cameroon squad for the African Cup of Nations I have taken the decision to retire from international football,” Song, who has 47 caps, posted on photo-sharing site Instagram.l

Icardi then slid the ball wide from a Podolski break and wasted another chance when he curled the ball wide with Pablo Osvaldo unmarked in the area. Osvaldo remonstrated furiously and was himself reprimanded by Guarin for his behaviour.

Zola, who replaced Zdenek Zeman after an eight-match winless run, barely had time to settle into his seat before Michel Morganella and Ezequiel Munoz put the Sicilians 2-0 ahead.

Cagliari then had Daniele Conti sent off for a second bookable offence in the 26th minute before Paulo Dybala made it 3-0 with a penalty just after the half hour.

Andrea Costa gave Parma an early lead with a close-range header before Gomez, plagued by injury since his move to Fiorentina, saw a weak penalty saved

by Antonio Mirante in the 33rd minute.l

first, I think the success the team has had over the last little bit has been outstanding and we’re in another good position in this Test match.”

Australia passed 500 for the fourth Test of the series, a feat last registered against the Garry Sobers-led West Indies at home in 1968-69.

Smith was out just before lunch when he was caught behind off Umesh Yadav ending his 208-ball knock spiced with 15 fours.

He has 698 runs in the series at an average of 139.6, placing him third behind Bradman (715) and Ricky Ponting (706) for most runs in a series against India.

Smith is having an extraordinary purple patch and has now scored six centuries in the first innings of his last seven Tests at home. l

Australian captain Steven Smith looks skyward after reaching his century against India at the SCG yesterday AFP

RESULTS Udinese

0-1

AS Roma Astori 17

Chievo

0-0

Torino

Empoli

0-0

Verona

Genoa

2-2

Iago 51-P, Matri 69

AC Milan

1-2

Poli 9

Palermo

Atalanta Zappacosta 37, Moralez 49

Sassuolo Sansone 28, Zaza 67

5-0

Cagliari

Morganella 6, Munoz 10, Dybala 33-P, 72, Barreto 85

1-0

Fiorentina

Cesena

1-4

Napoli

Brienza 75

Callejon 29, Higuain 41, 72, Hamsik 64)

Juventus

1-1

Parma Costa 11

Tevez 5

Inter Milan Icardi 64

Norwegian prodigy keeps European giants on tenterhooks n AFP, Oslo Norwegian prodigy Martin Oedagaard, one of the most hunted players in Europe’s winter transfer market, is keeping potential suitors hanging on his every word and every pass.

The 16-year-old has been linked to nearly every major club between Manchester and Madrid in recent weeks.

But the midfielder’s dazzling dribbling and anticipation is being matched by

his discretion about where he will go and when.

“There’s been a lot of noise surrounding Martin and we decided to not contribute to it by refusing to feed the rumours,” his father Hans Erik Oedegaard, himself a former professional, told AFP. “The only thing that matters is that he can develop as a footballer,” the father added.

Oedegaard, already a Norwegian international, fuelled speculation about a move from his hometown club of Stroemsgodset by going on a grand tour of Europe’s football giants in England, Germany and Spain around his 16th birthday on December 17.

While the professed Liverpool fan trained at and carefully inspected facilities, press reports had him linked one day with Ajax Amsterdam and the next to Real Madrid in a 12 million euro ($14.3 million) deal.

Norwegian media said that Oedegaard and his father were again in the Spanish capital on Wednesday for talks with Real Madrid.

He could also plump for Bayern Munich, whose president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has named him “the talent of the century.”

More than 30 clubs have expressed an interest: Manchester United and City, Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund are also on the list. But English Premier League leaders Chelsea are not among them.l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Thursday, January 8, 2015

RICHI SOLAIMAN turns a female freedom fighter Richi Solaiman recently wrapped up a TV drama based on Lliberation War in which she portrayed the character of a female freedom fighter who gallantly fought against the enemy.

Titled Chokher Jol, the special single episode drama is made to be aired during the upcoming Independence Day. Written and directed by Chayanika Chowdhury, the drama also cast Anisur Rahman Milon in the role of Richi’s husband.

Richi Solaiman told the Dhaka Tribune: “I portrayed a very strong role in the drama which depicts a woman suffering and surviving a war. My character also depicts the untold story of the society where a woman, captured and tortured in the war, is thrown out from the family.

She is even barred from seeing her children.”

The drama’s storyline shows Milon joining the Liberation War and after a long wait Richi also joins the war leaving behind her child with the expectation to meet her husband. However, unfortunately she gets caught by the Pakistani Army and is tortured in captivity. As the story unfolds the consequences of the war, Richi discovers her husband married to another woman. The only solace left for her was her child, who she longs to see again. l

Mardaani Sony Max, 9:25pm

A cop’s search for a missing teenage girl leads her to the depraved world of child trafficking. What follows is a cat-and-mouse game between the fearless cop and a ruthless mafia kingpin.

INT’L CHILDREN FILM FESTIVAL to begin on Jan 24 n Entertainment Desk The 8th International Children Film Festival will be held simultaneously in the country’s seven divisional cities from January 24.

Some 250 films by both local and international filmmakers will be screened at the week-long festival organised by the Children Film Society Bangladesh.

The main venue of the event is the auditorium of the Public Library

BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH doesn’t see Doctor Strange as a risk Benedict Cumberbatch doesn’t think taking on the lead role in “Doctor Strange” is a risk. The 38-year-old actor was recently cast in the role and says he’s confident the film will be a success, because of Marvel’s ability to bring lesser-known characters to life. He shared: “‘I don’t think it’s a risk because of Marvel.

Marvel is a stable of bringing out ordinary comic characters and turning them into screen-like gods.” “‘It’s very different, it’s an Astral Plane. There’s a huge new element to this Marvel universe that’s going to be employed in building this story and this character. But you know, I’m really excited about it, about working with [director Scott Derrickson] whose imagination is endless, and all the boys and girls at Marvel who know what they’re doing,” he added.

Cumberbatch, who confirmed he will begin shooting “Doctor Strange” after appearing on the stage in “Hamlet” and filming for the “Sherlock” Christmas special in 2015, revealed he was never a big fan of comic books as a child.

However, he told The Wall Street Journal newspaper: “You can bet your bottom dollar I’m reading them now, avidly.”

“Doctor Strange,” which is set for release in November 2016, is also expected to feature Morgan Freeman and Bill Nighy. l

auditorium at Shahbag in the capital.

The others venues will be in Chittagong, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barisal, Rangpur and Khulna.

As a part of the festival, a seminar on child marriage will be held at the Begum Sufia Kamal Auditorium of Bangladesh National Museum on January 27.

Four competition sections have been introduced in this year. The sections are: the Children Filmmakers’ Section, the Young Bangladeshi Filmmakers’

Section, the Social Film Section and the International Filmmakers Section.

Some 30 films made by Bangladeshi children will compete for awards this year.

In a newly introduced segment titled Bangladesh Talent, 15 films made by Bangladeshi youths will be screened.

In the Social Film section, another newly introduced segment, five films will be screened while theme for the segment of this year is “early child and forced marriage.” l

Nadia Nodi to appear in new music video

n Entertainment Desk Emerging model Nadia Nodi will appear in a music video of a song by expatriate singer Habib.

The song titled “Shajabo Ei Prothibir” is the second album of Habib.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune Habib said: “I received good responses on my debut album in Europe.

“Now, I want to make a video song portraying my country. I have come to Bangladesh and produce a

good music video.”

Nadia said the concept of the song is a bit different.

The music video has been produced in an unconventional way which will grab the attention of viewers.

“I eagerly awaiting for its release.”

Directed by Robi Hasan, the music video was shot in beautiful locations of Bashundhara Residential Area of the capital.

Earlier, Nadia appeared in Joy Shahriar and Arfin Rumi’s music videos. l

ANNE HATHAWAY: I’m no Oscar host role model

n Entertainment Desk

n Entertainment Desk

One of actor Huma Qureshi’s resolutions for this year includes travelling a lot. She even plans on making a list of places that she wants to visit. A source close to the actor says that she has been discussing her plans with her friends and staff.

“Huma wants to explore the country and has decided to travel whenever her schedule permits this year,” says the source, adding that the actor has already started researching her destinations and mapping travel plans. “She believes travelling and meeting different people would help her as an actor. It would help her understand

Former Star Wars actor KHAN BONFILS dies n Entertainment Desk Actor Khan Bonfils, known to “Star Wars” fans for playing Jedi master Saesee Tiin in “The Phantom Men-

ace,” has died suddenly during a play rehearsal. He was 43.

Khan (also known as Kan) collapsed on Monday while rehearsing with the Craft Theatre Company for a new production of Dante’s “Inferno.”

Despite the best efforts of his fellow cast members, and the play’s director, as well as paramedics, they were unable to save his life.

“Kan collapsed during a rehearsal and the director Rocky Rodriguez Jr, he performed CPR on location,” said Craft Theatre spokesman Chris Hislop. “An ambulance was called out but unfortunately he couldn’t be resuscitated. The company later released a statement saying, “With great sadness, we announce the death of Kan Bonfils. His sudden loss is a tragedy and he will be sorely missed.” l

World War Z HBO, 9:20pm

United Nations employee Gerry Lane traverses the world in a race against time to stop the Zombie pandemic that is toppling armies and governments, and threatening to destroy humanity itself Twister Star Movies, 10:30am

Bill and Jo Harding, advanced storm chasers on the brink of divorce, must join together to create an advanced weather alert system by putting themselves in the cross-hairs of extremely violent tornadoes.

The Mexican HBO Hits, 6:30pm

Travel on HUMA QURESHI’s wish list this year her characters better,” says the source.

When asked about this, Huma says, “I want to try and travel this year whenever possible. I am putting together a travel wish list. I think this will also help me in my career.”

According to the insider, some of the places on Huma’s itinerary include Rajasthan, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. “I want to visit small towns and villages and experience the culture and cuisines, and also interact with the locals,” says Huma. l

15

In a new interview with The New York Times Magazine Anne Hathaway says she doesn’t profess to have much Oscar-hosting advice for Neil Patrick Harris, though she seeks to lead by example—of what not to do.

When asked if she had any words of wisdom for Harris, she replied: “Do the opposite of what I did, and you’ll be fine.” But she wouldn’t go too deep into the details of what went wrong with her 2011 hosting gig alongside human art installation James Franco.

“I think it’s so obvious that it doesn’t even need to be identified,” she said. “He’ll be great. He’s a natural host.”

Hathaway was equally blunt when asked about the source of the “vitriol” that followed her Oscar win for “Les Misérables.”

“Oh, I think you can’t answer that and be a self-respecting person,” she said.

Hathaway, whose movie “Song One” is being released later this month, was more forthcoming when discussing her New Year’s resolution (she’s going to try sober January) and vaping (she doesn’t judge). l

Shah Rukh Khan’s animated avatar in Atharva – The Origin n Entertainment Desk Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan will be seen in an animated avatar in a graphic novel titled “Atharva – The Origin.”

Playing the title role in the graphic novel the trailer features SRK with ripped muscles and armour. Shah Rukh can be seen standing on rocky mountains.

The graphic novel is an adaptation of Ramesh Tamilmani’s novel of the same name. The project, headed by Vel Mohan, has illustrations by Ramesh Acharya. l

A man tries to transport an ancient gun called The Mexican, believed to carry a curse, back across the border, while his girlfriend pressures him to give up his criminal ways.

White Vengeance WB, 9:30pm

A story of two brothers contending for supremacy during the fall of the Qin Dynasty, which ruled Imperial China from 221 to 206 BC. As rebels rose, the nation fell into chaos.

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Blockade deters Biswa Ijtema devotees 12 dead in attack on 16 doctors and 63 medical officers will be on duty to provide healthcare services Momtaj and n Munir Nure Alam Durjoy The indefinite blockade of the BNP has caused devotees to lose enthusiasm for joining Biswa Ijtema, the second largest congregation of the Muslims after Hajj, which is going to start tomorrow.

Organisers said not too many people had arrived on the bank of the Turag River, the venue of the congregation, because of the countrywide blockade.

One of the organisers said yesterday all the preparations had been taken for Ijtema but the number of devotees was less than expected.

Devotees were engaged in a variety of activities on the Ijtema ground yesterday, with some of them cooking, some eating, some offering prayers and others chatting.

A devotee named Abdus Safi said people could not come because transports to the venue were not available from many places outside Dhaka.

“Foreigners are also arriving, and almost 500-600 reached today,” he added.

Chan Mia who came from Narsingdi said he and several others reserved a bus and made the journey at night because of the blockade.

“There are many who have not come to avoid any untoward situation during the blockade,” he added.

Organised by Tabligh Jamaat, Ijtema will be held in two phases, with the first starting after tomorrow’s Asr prayer and will end on Sunday. The second phase will begin on January 16 and will end on January 18.

Engineer Gias Uddin Ahmed, who supervised preparations, said everything was fine and there had been no problems so far.

“Last year, almost 17,000 foreign devotees were here but we expect that the number will top 20,000 this time,” he added.

‘Bangladesh diplomat must face US lawsuit’ n Reuters A US judge on Tuesday rejected a request by a Bangladesh diplomat and his wife to dismiss a lawsuit by a former domestic worker who accused them of forcing him to work without pay in slavery-like conditions.

US District Judge Sidney Stein in Manhattan said Monirul Islam, a former New York consul general of Bangladesh, and his wife Fahima Tahsina Prova were not immune from the lawsuit by Mashud Parves Rana, because their employment and supervision of him were not “consular functions.”

Rana sued for back pay and punitive damages last March, shortly before Islam began a new job in Morocco as Bangladesh’s ambassador to that country.

Rana, a Bangladesh citizen, accused the defendants of promising to pay him $3,000 a month and renew his visa. Instead, he said he was never paid during a year of employment, and was forced to work 16-to 20-hour days through “physical threats, coercion, isolation (and) physical restraint,” with threats to his life if he tried to escape. l

Paris satirical magazine n Reuters Hooded gunmen stormed the Paris offices of a weekly satirical magazine renowned for lampooning radical Islam, killing at least 12 people, including two police officers in the worst militant attack on French soil in recent decades.

One of the men was captured on video shouting “Allah!” as four shots rang out. Two assailants are then seen calmly leaving the scene and remain at large.

Charlie Hebdo (Charlie Weekly) is renowned for courting controversy with satirical attacks on political and religious leaders and has published numerous cartoons lampooning the Prophet Mohammad.

“This is a terrorist attack, there is no doubt about it,” President Francois Hollande told reporters after rushing

Army personnel busy building a make-shift bridge over the Turag river in Tongi yesterday to improve road communication for Muslims to attend the Bishwa Ijtema, the second largest gathering of the Muslims after Hajj, starting today DHAKA TRIBUNE Executive Engineer of Gazipur City Corporation Mujibur Rahman Kajol said the devotees would be supplied with fresh water and there were enough toilets for their use.

Executive Engineer of Desco’s Tongi zone (east) Manjurul Hasan said preparations were taken to ensure uninterrupted power supply on Ijtema ground.

“We also have four generators at our disposal in case of emergency. Anisur Rahman, civil surgeon of Gazipur, along with 16 doctors and 63 medical officers will be on duty on the ground to provide healthcare services.

“We also set up two makeshift medical camps on the west bank of Turag.

There are 12 ambulances for dealing

with emergency situations,” he added.

Devotees from 32 districts will join the first phase.

Engineer Gias said there are specific places on the ground for the devotees coming from a particular district. “Cooking places and toilets have also been categorised according to districts.”

Ebola concern

Dr Mushtuq Hussain, principal scientific officer of the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research, said precautions had been taken against Ebola.

“The threat is particularly high among devotees coming from Li-

beria, Sierra Leone and Guinea. We have put Ebola scanners at airports.

But we will send anyone found with Ebola symptom immediately to Kurmitola Hospital.

‘Besides, devotees from Pakistan are scanned for polio and those from the Middle East are also scanned for MERSCoV,” he added.

Mostafa Kamal Uddin, additional secretary of the Home Ministry, said: “We have made a rule for people from five countries to take “Ebola free certificates” from their own countries if they want to join Ijtema.”

Police and RAB have been deployed at the Ijtema venue as part of strict security measures. l

Pakistan executes two more militants n Agencies Two militants belonging to banned Sipah-e-Sahaba sectarian outfit were hanged today, as the Pakistan government pressed ahead with the execution of terrorists despite criticism by international rights groups. The executions take the number of those hanged till now to nine after Pakistan lifted its self-imposed moratorium on capital punishment following the Peshawar school massacre last month that killed 150 people, mostly children.

Ahmed Ali alias Sheshnag and Ghulam Shabbir alias Fauji alias doctor belonged to banned Sipah-e-Sahaba organisation and were hanged this morning in the central jail of Multan.

Two more varieties of hybrid rice introduced

Arson victim fights for life at DMCH

n Abu Bakar Siddique

n Mohammad Jamil Khan

The government has introduced two more varieties of hybrid rice for cultivation aiming to boost the rice production in the country.

The new varieties, BADC Hybrid Dhan 2 and Buyer Hybrid Dhan 4, were released on Monday, each variety having the capacity of producing around six tonnes of paddy per hectare.

Anwar Faruque, director general of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Seed Wing, said the government gives priority to the cultivation of more hybrid varieties to boost the food production in the country, and introducing the two new hybrid varieties is a part of that.

According to the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE), the annual paddy production, in Bangladesh is around 3.38 million tonnes.

The paddy production using traditional and locally developed high-yielding varieties are two tonnes and 3.8 tonnes per hectare, respectively. The paddy production using hybrid seed is 4.7 tonnes per hectare.

Of the new hybrid paddy varieties,

the BADC Hybrid Dhan 2, sourced from China by Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation (BADC), has the production capacity of 6.5-7.2 tonnes per hectare, and the Buyer Hybrid 4, sourced from India by Bayer Crop Science, has the production capacity of 6-6.5 tonnes per hectare, sources at the ministry said.

Around 10-12% of the total paddy production in the country came from hybrid seeds, which is very low in volume, said Anwar, who is also an additional secretary at the ministry.

“The government is trying to enhance the use of hybrid seeds to get more production in the gradually reducing agricultural land to ensure food security of the country,” he added.

The state-owned Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) has developed 62 varieties of paddy so far. Of them, the number of hybrid varieties is only six.

A total of 132 varieties of hybrid paddy have been introduced in Bangladesh. Of them, the BADC developed two varieties, the BRRI developed six, and the rest were developed by private companies. l

Struggle is a word which is very familiar to him. He had struggled a lot in his life to ensure livelihood for family members. Now he is also struggling at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

But this time this is not merely a struggle. It’s his fight for life.

With severe burn injuries in his body’s different parts—face, neck and some upper portion of chest— bus driver’s assistant Murad Mollah is undergoing treatment at emergency observation ward of the hospital.

“I was sleeping inside the bus. Before sleeping, I closed all the windows as it was cold outside. Suddenly, I woke up as I felt severe heat. After opening my eyes, only one thing I saw, and that was flame.

Then I just jumped off. I do not know what happen to me later,” said Murad.

The 20-year-old took almost 20 minutes to say the lines at burn and plastic surgery unit of of the DMCH. Murad could not say anything more as doctors already put oxygen mask on his face and only tears found rolling down from his eyes.

to the scene of the attack. His government raised France’s security level to the highest notch and scheduled an emergency cabinet meeting.

The gunmen fled towards the eastern Paris suburbs after holding up a car, police officials said.

“There is possibility of other attacks and other sites are being secured,” Police union official Rocco Contento said.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls also said security would be ramped up at transport hubs, religious sites, media offices and department stores.

Another 20 people were injured in the attack, including four or five critically.

The attack was as yet unclaimed.

A firebomb attack had also gutted the headquarters of Charlie Hebdo in November 2011 after it put an image of the Prophet Mohammad on its cover. l

Hailing from Mohammadpur area of Magura, Murad is the son of rickshaw puller Sohar Mollah.

Dr Kazi Imran, an emergency medical officer at the burn unit of DMCH, said almost 32 percent body Murad has been burned down.

“The respiratory system has badly been affected. It is hard to recover such injury. But we are trying our best,” he said.

Mizanur Rahman, sub-inspector of Kotwali police station of Jessore, told the Dhaka Tribune that miscreants had set fire on the bus by pouring petrol around 4am yesterday when it was parked in Khajura Bus Stand area in Jessore.

Reshma Sharmin, spokesperson of Jessore police, said they arrested eight people on charge of their involvement in the arson attack.

Samad Mollah, elder brother of Murad, said: “We are simply labourers. I we do know what politics is. We feed our family members by working.”

“If some people for their political interests target us, then where we the poor people would go, please, do not target us for your interest,” said Samad. l

Dawn reported that Ahmed Ali, a resident of Shorkot, Jhang district, was hanged for killing three men in 1998.

Ghulam Shabbir, a resident of Talamba area of Khanewal district had killed Deputy Superintendent of Police Anwar Khan and his driver Ghulam Murtaza on the Bohar Gate Road in 2000.

He was sentenced to death by a special anti-terrorism court in 2002.

The warrants were issued by anti-terrorism courts as mercy petitions of the convicts had been rejected by the president.

Pakistan ended its six-years-old moratorium on the death penalty in terror cases last month after the horrific terror attack on an army-run school in Peshawar. l

Leader killed in AL factional clash n Our Correspondent, Jhenidah A local Awami League leader was hacked to death and 14 others were injured as rival faction attacked a meeting of the upazila Awami League in Kaliganj of Jhenaidah yesterday afternoon.

Mostafizur Rahman, Kaliganj municipality mayor, said when an extended meeting of the upazila unit Awami League was going on at Kaliganj municipality auditorium with former MP Abdul Mannan in the chair, a group of Jubo League activists led by Shibli Noimani attacked the meeting.

During the attack, they hacked former secretary of upazila unit Awami League Israil Hossain, Municipality Panel Mayor Rezaul Islam and President of Kola union unit of the ruling party Ananda Mohon Gosh indiscriminately.

They also vandalised 15 motor bikes, 200 chairs and a jeep.

The injured were taken to Jessore Sadar Hospital where Ananda Mohon Ghosh succumbed to his injury around 8:30pm.

Shibli Nomani could not be contacted as his mobile was switched off. District AL secretary Azizur Rahman confirmed the matter. l

Hazaribagh flooded with toxic water n Abu Hayat Mahmud

Parts of Hazaribagh, a widely known area in the capital for tannery industry, has been flooded with toxic chemical water from the tanneries for the past few days due to poor drainage and sewerage systems in the area.

Streets and other areas from Ganaktuli School to Hazaribagh kitchen market are submerged in the toxic water, which overflowed from the drains, causing immense suffering to the residents of the area.

Locals claimed that lack of monitoring by the Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), who are responsible for managing the area’s sewerage and drainage systems, caused the flood.

“Despite the dry season, the roads have been under the tannery water since Monday. The authorities have yet to take steps to clean up the drains,” said Abul Kalam Azad, resident at Ganaktuli area in Hazaribagh.

After receiving complaints from the locals, Wasa officials visited the site

on Tuesday evening, but did not immediately start the clean up, as a Wasa cleaner said they did not work at night.

Md Rafiqul Islam, the cleaner, told the Dhaka Tribune that they started working yesterday morning, and the water had already started to recede.

About the cause of flooding, he said: “A huge amount of solid tannery waste was dumped into the DSCC service drains and Wasa sewerage drains, which clogged them and caused the waste water to overflow on to the roads and streets.”

Wasa engineer Md Asaduzzaman visited the area yesterday and directed the cleaners to work fast.

He also assured the locals that the water would subside entirely by the night.

A persisting problem

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, many locals claimed that such flooding had happened before, yet the authorities concerned had a lacklustre attitude about solving the problem.

Azad, the Ganaktuli resident, told the Dhaka Tribune that such a situation

is commonplace during monsoon.

The locals also claimed that by not taking proper steps to resolve the problem, the authorities are setting up a death trap for the pedestrians and passengers of small vehicles, ie rickshaws, auto-rickshaws, motorcycles and human hauliers.

Ripon, an auto-rickshaw driver, said: “During these waterlogs, the roads get under pitch-black toxic water, making it difficult to navigate through them.

Sometimes the auto-rickshaws and other small vehicles fall into the drains, or their wheels get stuck in the manholes.”

Hazaribagh was listed as one of the top 10 polluted places in the world in a 2013 study by Zurich-based Green Cross Switzerland and New York-based Blacksmith Institute.

There are 270 registered tanneries in Bangladesh, and around 95% of those tanneries are located in Hazaribagh, most using outdated and inefficient processing methods.

The government recently decided to move the industry from Hazaribagh to Savar, starting from the first quarter of this year. l

The highly toxic liquid waste released by tanneries and sewerage has turned the roads almost into canals in the capital’s Hazaribagh area leaving local residents the worst sufferers MEHEDI HASAN

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B3 China fourth-quarter

GDP growth may slow to 7.2%

B4 Oil price to fall until major Asian manufacturers feel the benefit

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Business condition slightly improves Mutual funds pass

another tough year of 2014

Fear of losses haunts traders in the wake of new political chaos n Tribune Report Business activities yesterday improved to some extent in the city after suffering badly two days back due to acute transport crisis.

However, non-stop blockade progaramme beginning from Tuesday called by the 20-party alliance might affect the supply chain in future despite police protection, if it takes longer, industry people said.

Most banks and businesses operated at their maximum level but some say situation is yet to reach satisfactory level.

Banking transaction, which dropped ranging from 50% to 70% on Monday when there were hardly any transport on the streets, improved, but clients’ presence was not at expected level, according to bankers.

Some banks still kept their frontside shutters down in fear of political violence in the city.

A Dutch-Bangla Bank official said the situation was normal compared to Monday when transaction dipped. He also said ATM (automated teller machine) booths were refilled smoothly but some booths faced technical problem as it happened like normal days.

The clients, however, faced cash crunch in the ATM booths in some areas in the city yesterday.

But for some banks like NCC Bank, banking transactions continued to suffer for three days in a row due to political turmoil as most people were reluctant to come out of home in fear of sudden political violence.

“Daily transaction still remained lower since Monday as the presence of clients did not improve,” said Ishtiaque

n Kayes Sohel

Bank transaction increases on the second day of blockade yesterday as compared to previous two days Ahmed, in-charge of Motijheel branch, NCC Bank.

He said the ATM transaction remained normal as money was refilled into the booths properly.

Banks are assessing losses due to fall in daily transactions at the beginning of the new year, added the banker.

Bank business was severely hit by political turmoil in 2013 which caused piles of default loans, said a senior executive of a private bank.

They, however, planed to start fresh business in the new year as political sit-

uation returned to normal at the end of the last year. But now they are fearing of another bleak year once political turmoil continues, he said.

Goods were carried from Chittagong Port to Dhaka city and other areas of the country under police protection provided by the government in the ongoing blockade programme.

“This has helped ship the goods,” said BGMEA Vice-President Shahidullah Azim. He added that a total of 125 trucks laden with RMG products went to Chittagong Port under police protection.

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

If the political turmoil persists, the shipment of goods might be affected as it was seen in late 2013, he said, pointing to the political stalemate ahead of January 5 election last year when opposition party boycotted the poll.

According to news paper reports, despite police protection only 30% goods had been carried from Dhaka to Chittagong Port for shipment as most exporters showed little interest to send their products in fear of arson attacks on the highway during the 131-hour blockade. l

The 2014 was another tough year for the closed-end mutual funds as the demand remained sluggish despite being traded at reduced prices.

Data shows it has been a trend for last several years in the country’s stock market.

Analysts attributed the poor demand mainly to the lack of understanding about the mutual funds and distrust over fund managers.

Mutual fund industry is still at a nascent stage in Bangladesh, as it makes up very small market cap, which is only over 1% of total market cap of the Dhaka Stock Exchange.

According to analysis of the LankaBangla Securities, among 40 closedend mutual funds, only one fund—First Prime Finance Mutual Fund One— was traded at a premium or above cost value while all other funds were traded at a discounted or below-cost value in the just concluded year.

Most close-end funds were traded at 42% discounts to net asset value, which clearly indicates that there is a lack of demand for such funds.

The performance of funds was somewhat better in 2013 when only six out of 39 mutual funds were traded at a premium.

Mutual funds, usually operated by professional fund managers, is an investment vehicle that is made up of a pool of funds collected from many investors for the purpose of investing in securities such as stocks, bonds, money market instruments and similar assets.

NAV represents a fund’s per share market value.

The industry’s price ratio to NAV stood at 0.58%, meaning that the closed end mutual fund industry of Bangladesh were traded at 42% discount to its net asset value in 2014, which is lucrative for investment, said the analysis.

In 2013, the industry’s price ratio to NAV was 0.76% and mutual funds were traded at 24% discount to its NAV. “So, the industry exhibits undervaluation relative to NAV,” said LankaBangla. The industry registered a portfolio return of 13.8%, under performing the benchmark return of 14% in 2014, it said.

“The 2014 was another tough time for the industry due to continuous unsatisfactory performance of funds,” said Yawer Sayeed, a top fund manager. He manages closed-end funds.

Among the fund managers, the state-owned financial institution ICB was the best performer in terms of portfolio return as NAV of ICB fund has increased by 38.3%.

The second best performer was AIMS, achieving portfolio return of 20.2%, followed by VIPB 19.2%, ICB AMCL 13.9%, Race 12.9% and LR Global 3.9%.

About the funds deteriorated performance, VIPB Asset Management Company CEO Shahidul Islam said it was because either investors failed to understand the funds or didn’t trust fund managers.

“I think that investors’ distrust in the fund manager is perhaps the main reason behind the current predicament of the industry,” he added. l

Three-day Asia pharma expo kicks off today

Banks’ biggest challenge in 2015 restoring governance

n Tribune Report

n Asif Showkat Kallol

A three-day international fair of pharmaceutical products is set to begin today at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.

Titled “Asia Pharma Expo-2015” is seventh event of its kind in the country is expected to help strengthen trade relation with partners across the world.

Bangladesh Aushad Shilpa Samity, a platform of pharmaceutical industry people, is organising the event in association with GPE Expo Private Limited.

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed will formally inaugurate the exhibition at 10:30am while the Samity President Salman F Raham and Secretary General Abdul Muktadir will also attend.

Last fiscal year, the country earned $69.24m by exporting pharmaceutical products, increasing from nearly $60m in the previous fiscal, according to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) data.

In July-November period of the current fiscal year, however, the earning fell to $30.5m from $31m during the same period last fiscal year.

The government has set $73m export target in the pharmaceutical sector for the current fiscal year.

Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical products currently go to 87 destinations worldwide.

Organisers said the pharmaceutical

industry in South Asian countries is growing now at an “unprecedented” rate and the Asia Pharma Expo would be a chance to further boost the growth.

There will be around 400 booths to exhibit the products in the Expo.

This year’s exposition is expecting more number of delegates from more countries this time than the previous events.

High-level delegates from Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand and China attended the exhibitions held in the previous years.

Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry is described as one of the most developed hi-tech sectors, which has continued to make significant contribution to the economy.

Among least developed countries (LDCs), Bangladesh is the largest producer of formulation products reaching over 72 international destinations.

It has 18% international market share of exporting goods to Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America.

A good number of large companies are intent to make fresh investments, some of them have already made, to expand the business to developed and regulatory markets.

GMP certification has already been received by a number of firms in several regulated markets, the industry insiders said. l

Price fall to push oil industry into ‘sharp recession’ n AFP, New York The oil price plunge will force energy companies to slash capital spending in North America, Europe and Asia in 2015, investment bank Evercore IS said Tuesday.

But investment will continue to rise in Africa and the Middle East as producers in those areas seek to boost long-term output in the flooded global oil market.

Evercore estimated that oil companies would cut spending on exploration and production globally this year by 10-15%, and by 25-30% in North America.

“To sum it up, a sharp recession is coming to the global oilfield,” said James West, an oilfield services analyst at Evercore, after surveying 300 global oil and gas companies on their 2015 spending plans.

The report shows the impact of the

steep drop in oil prices. US oil prices Tuesday closed at $47.93, down from nearly $107 in June.

The London benchmark, Brent crude, has fallen from $115 a barrel to less than $52 Tuesday.

The oil-price crash is also beginning to reverberate across other industries. US Steel plans to lay off hundreds of workers due to lower petroleum industry demand for pipes, a union source said Tuesday.

About 750 workers are expected to lose their jobs, according to US media.

Evercore said the oil industry is contending with lower cashflow and a lack of access to capital. Independents are especially vulnerable.

As a result, companies are cutting back especially in high-cost Arctic drilling and in Canadian oil sands projects, as well as on some US shale ventures.  B3 COLUMN 6

Banking Division Secretary M Aslam Alam told Dhaka Tribune in a recent interview One of the biggest challenges the country’s banking sector is going to face this year is restoring good governance and reducing corruption, said a senior official.

“Affected by large credit scams in 2013, the banks will now need to bring back discipline and governance. This is one of the biggest challenges for the sector in 2015,” said Bank and Financial Institutions Division Secretary M Aslam Alam.

He was talking to Dhaka Tribune in an interview at his office recently.

State-owned Sonali Bank and BASIC Bank were involved with the huge loan forgeries.

The secretary feared BASIC officials facing charges of assisting in the scams could be proved not guilty due to flawed and weak charge-sheet.

He said new management of the bank is also encountering tough resistance from the staff against the indictment.

M Aslam Alam, a second secretary in the Division since Awami Leagueled alliance assumed power in 2009, talked about financially troubled Sonali and BASIC banks, pending cases of the Division, MoU signed with staterun banks for good governance, automation of state-owned banking system, launching of a website, a separate pay scale for Bangladesh Bank and four state-owned commercial banks.

About the scams, he said it would take next 10 years time to recoup the loans given to the companies like HallMark.

“We don’t have any magic to recover the credits in 2/3 days. A 10-year time will be required.”

The official said external audits by private firms on small amounts of loan default like Tk1 crore because of non-cooperation by BASIC staff.

“New management of BASIC is struggling to establish its full authority on the bank’s employees and it may take two years to have everything under its control,” he said.

The government provided Tk1,500 crore to Sonali Bank and BASIC Bank last week to meet their capital shortages.

Both the banks have a combined capital shortfall of about Tk4,000 crore as of last September, due mainly to their inefficient and corrupt mode of loan sanction and disbursement that resulted in huge stockpile of default loans.

“It is a big challenge for state-run banks to ease default loan situation.

The government can issue directive to the boards of directors to lower the default loans, but it has no special plan as the central bank is looking into the matter.”

He said the government is thinking of use of video camera in the board meetings of the state banks, but stakeholders’ support is required to introduce the system.

About a separate pay scale for four state-run commercial banks, M Aslam Alam said Finance Division opposed such plan as the banks still need recapitalisation to survive.

He said the Finance Division also opposed a separate pay scale for the central bank as other government bodies may seek the same.

However, such pay scale proposals have received the banking division’s support.

“The state-owned commercial banks are now limited companies and they deserve a separate pay scale under the existing law. There are also separate pay scales for BASIC and BDBL,” the secretary said.

He said mid-level staff and officials raised voice against separate pay scale as they fear such scale can be based on

M Aslam Alam

‘New management of BASIC is struggling to establish its full authority on the bank’s employees and it may take two years to have everything under its control’ performance of the staff.

Aslam said the separate pay scale should be implemented with earning profits of the banks.

About automation, he believed the loan forgeries could be reduced through implementing such a system.

Automation project will be completed in 2016, though the government is negotiating with the World Bank to bring the project under the “Financial Sector Reforms Project.”

About the Banking Division’s website, he said the Division launched its website last year, which published, for

Three-day BEA conference begins today n Tribune Report The 19th biennial conference of Bangladesh Economic Association (BEA) begins in the city today.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is scheduled to inaugurate the three-day event at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh.

Law Commission chairman ABM Khairul Haque would be the guest of honour at the inaugural session to be chaired by BEA President Dr Abul Barkat. The theme of the conference is “Re-

thinking Political Economy and Development.”

The association will honour four renowned economists during the conference. They are Professor Dr Mosharraf Hossain (posthumously), former Governor of the Bangladesh Bank Lutfor Rahman Sarker (posthumously), noted Indian economist Dr Ashok Mitra and Professor Nurul Islam.

The BEA has over 4,000 members, including top economists in government, universities, banks, financial institutions, businesses and other organisations. l

the first time, the name of a DMD of Rupali Bank for involvement with corruption.

“This is an effort to ensure transparency in the banking sector,” M Aslam Alam said.

About a special court for banking sector, he said they have already requested the law ministry to set up two separate benches of the court dedicated to resolve cases of banks and financial institutions.

The secretary said the Division would sign a MoU with state-owned banks and financial institutions to establish a proper commercial environment from the end of January this year to increase efficiency, accountability and dynamism.

“We will sign a MoU with all stateowned banks and financial institutions one by one to achieve some key performance indicators” he said.

“The Division will strictly monitor the key performance indicators of state banks and financial institutions at three-month intervals while the central bank will monitor financial activities.”

In 2007, the Division gave full financial freedom to boards of directors of state-owned banks and financial institutions, but they failed to maintain expected environment, he said.

“That is why the Division has to start monitoring activities of the boards.”

During the three months of monitoring, the Division and Bangladesh Bank will monitor the classified loans, capital adequacy, profit margin, return of assets, return of equity, credit against net assets, assets turnover ratio, growth of deposit and statement of credit growth.

He said the chairmen and managing directors of seven state-owned banks, Investment Corporation of Bangladesh and Sadharan Bima Corporation and Jiban Bima Corporation will sign MoU. l

B2

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

DSE GAINER

Stocks edge lower with volatility

DSE key features January 7, 2015

Traded Issues

310

n Tribune Report

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

173

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

130

'The list of investors that have already adopted wait and see policy enlarged due to political upheaval'

After rising nearly 20 points in the morning, the benchmark index, DSEX, lost marginally 6 points or 0.2% to 4,963, scaling back from previous day’s one-month high.

The Shariah index, DSES, inched nearly 3 points or 0.3% down to 1,183. The comprising blue chips DS30 shed slightly 2 points or 0.2% to 1,857.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, was down 16 points to 9,192.

The large cap sectors posted mixed performance with slim movements. Bank, telecommunications

Weekly capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index : DSE LOSER Company

Closing (% Change)

Northern Jute -Z ICB AMCL 1st NRB -A Meghna Con. Milk -B Hakkani P& Paper -B ICB Islamic Bank-Z Republic Insu.-A Quasem Drycells -A Pharma Aids A Keya Cosmetics -A SummitAlliancePort.-A

-8.29 -5.48 -4.82 -3.96 -3.70 -3.56 -3.02 -2.82 -2.55 -2.54

CSE LOSER Company Central Insur -A Aziz PipesZ ACI ZERO Bond-A Standard Insurance-A Popular Life 1st M.F.-A Rahima Food -Z Beximco Syn.-Z SummitAlliancePort.-A Bata Shoe Ltd. -A Shinepukur Cera-Z

Closing (% Change) -6.05 -5.38 -5.05 -4.62 -4.00 -3.47 -3.17 -3.02 -2.95 -2.68

4963.66425

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1857.15070

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15219.31000

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12276.03150

(-) 0.46%

9191.33560

(-) 0.26%

Average (% Change) -8.14 -4.83 -3.60 -2.73 -2.23 -3.19 -2.32 -1.39 -0.78 -1.39 Average (% Change) -6.22 -5.38 -5.05 -4.46 -1.81 -2.77 -1.37 -2.35 -2.94 -2.16

ClosingAvg. 243.05 20.69 8.03 29.24 5.27 24.56 74.83 249.40 22.93 85.05

ClosingAvg. 23.23 21.10 903.00 24.84 4.87 35.80 12.22 84.10 1,110.10 14.51

2,978.37 70,960,667

Number of Contract

and pharmaceuticals lost marginally. Cement, food and allied, engineering, textile non-banking financial institution and power gained marginally.

Trading at DSE shrunk by 6.8% to almost Tk300 crore over the previous session’s value.

Investors remained shaky over the current political situation, making the market volatile with slight rise, said a trader. “The list of investors that have already adopted wait and see policy enlarged due to political upheaval,” he said.

The country is facing non-stop blockade programme enforced by the 20-party alliance since Monday last to protest against the arrests of its leaders and activists in connection with the holding of its January 5 rally.

Lanka Bangla Securities said investors continued to act indecisive amid jittery sign in political arena.

IDLC Investments said market participation remained weak while index closed almost flat.

Investors remained concentrated in large cap scrips reflected by the fact that among the top ten most liquid stocks five were large caps, it added.

Gainers beat losers as out of 311 issues traded, 123 advanced, 138 declined and 50 remained unchanged.

Lafarge Surma Cement was the most traded stock for the fourth consecutive day with shares worth Tk1.8 crore changing hands, followed by DESCO, Mobil Jamuna Bangladesh, Beximco Pharma, Saif Power Tech. l

Stocks fell slightly amid volatility yesterday, after a day of rise, as investors remained indecisive in the wake of ongoing political unrest in the country.

The market lost its upward momentum after the first one and half an hour of trade and then selling pressure pulled the market down at close.

Company

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

Closing

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

DHIGH

243.30 20.70 7.90 29.10 5.20 24.40 73.90 244.90 22.90 84.40

Closing 23.30 21.10 903.00 24.80 4.80 36.20 12.20 83.60 1,110.10 14.50

245.00 21.00 8.30 30.90 5.40 25.50 78.00 260.00 23.80 87.00

DHIGH 23.30 21.10 905.00 25.00 5.00 36.50 12.50 86.20 1,110.10 14.60

82,419

7

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,647.55

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

32.09

CSE key features January 7, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

349.15

Turnover (Volume)

7,072,225

Number of Contract

13,782

Traded Issues

245

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

127

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

106

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

11

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,549.01

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.90

Turnover in Million

242.10 20.60 7.80 29.00 5.20 23.50 73.40 243.50 22.60 82.00

23.20 21.10 901.00 24.70 4.80 35.30 12.10 82.40 1,110.10 14.50

Latest EPS

0.892 2.669 0.143 1.119 0.818 3.006 27.621 18.193 5.611 52.818

Turnover in Million

DLOW

0.006 0.007 0.002 0.025 0.014 0.147 0.272 3.574 0.049 0.083

Alltex Industries -Z Shahjibazar Power-N Al-Haj Textile -A Samata LeatheR -Z Savar Refractories-Z Fu-Wang Food A 7th ICB M F-A Prime Islami Life -A Desh Garments -B DBH 1st MF-A

1.00 3.24 -4.32 0.64 -0.71 2.56 2.24 9.88 2.36 0.88

Latest EPS 2.96 -0.37 0.00 3.07 0.48 -0.80 0.08 0.88 52.96 0.39

Latest PE

Company Alltex Industries -Z Shahjibazar Power-N Imam Button -Z Kay & Que (BD) -Z Delta Brac HFCL-A Standard Ceramic -A Saiham Tex.A PrimeFin. 1st MF-A Apex Foods -A Fu-Wang Food A

Sector Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

DSE Million Taka 224.79 236.04 48.09 368.03 126.64 472.76 4.56 386.25 303.14 14.83 138.43 11.55 31.97 215.27 99.59 28.95 47.31 74.04 26.59 94.84 0.00

4.69 0.39 1.08 7.29 3.37 0.98 1.60 2.51 0.90 3.21 0.00

Million Taka 15.25 16.47 1.95 33.57 109.82 34.49 52.84 17.16 8.48 12.73 5.62 3.88 17.50 5.57 0.39 2.09 5.71 5.91 15.09 0.01

CSE

% change 4.18 4.52 0.54 9.21 30.13 9.46 0.00 14.49 4.71 2.33 3.49 1.54 1.06 4.80 1.53 0.11 0.57 1.57 1.62 4.14 0.00

Total

29.39 202.42 108.12 22.50 51.00 25.56 96.48 70.28 81.38 4.56

ClosingAvg. 29.62 517.78 8.50 13.50 75.08 45.69 28.78 17.48 100.80 25.50

Closing 29.50 205.40 110.80 22.50 51.00 25.80 96.60 70.80 82.20 4.60

Closing 29.70 209.10 8.50 13.50 76.00 45.70 28.80 17.50 100.80 25.70

DHIGH 29.50 205.40 112.20 22.50 51.00 25.90 97.00 71.40 83.00 4.60

DHIGH 29.70 209.10 8.50 13.50 76.00 47.10 28.90 17.80 100.80 26.00

DLOW 28.00 194.00 100.20 22.50 51.00 24.80 96.50 68.40 79.00 4.50

DLOW 28.30 197.00 8.10 13.50 72.00 45.00 27.20 17.30 100.80 24.10

Turnover in Million 68.533 8.258 41.075 0.000 0.000 42.005 0.288 1.773 2.213 0.303

Turnover in Million 20.511 2.710 0.153 0.003 1.039 0.074 0.492 0.044 0.000 1.862

Latest EPS 3.28 9.00 1.04 0.05 -0.44 1.80 8.52 4.95 0.80 0.56

Latest EPS 3.28 9.00 -1.72 -1.41 5.36 0.60 2.96 1.13 3.64 1.80

Latest PE 9.0 22.5 104.0 450.0 -ve 14.2 11.3 14.2 101.7 8.1

Latest PE 9.0 57.5 -ve -ve 14.0 76.2 9.7 15.5 27.7 14.2

mental annual turnover is expected around Tk. 50.00 million is hereby approved to go for commercial production with effect from 07 January 2015 IPO Subscription: Zaheen Spinning Limited subscription date 28 December 2014 to 05 January 2015, NRB upto 13 January 2015. @ taka 10, face value taka 10 and market lot 500. Asian Tiger Sandhani Life Growth Fund subscription date 11 to 15 January 2015, NRB upto 24 January 2015. @ taka 10, face value taka 10 and market lot 500. United Power Generation & Distribution Company Limited subscription date 18 to 22 January 2015, NRB upto 31 January 2015. @ taka 60, face value taka 10 and market lot 100. Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills Limited subscription date 01 to 05 Febuary 2015, NRB upto 14 Febuary 2015. @ taka 35, face value taka 10 and market lot 200.

Dividend/AGM

ECABLES: 10% cash, AGM: 26.02.2015, Record Date: 05.01.2015.

MPETROLEUM: 95% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 16.01.2015, Record date: 04.12.2014.

JAMUNAOIL: 90% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 07.02.2015, Record date: 11.12.2014.

PADMAOIL: 100% cash, AGM: 14.02.2015, Record date: 22.12.2014.

EASTRNLUB: 30% cash, AGM: 17.01.2015, Record Date: 25.11.2014.

SAMORITA: 20% cash and 10% stock dividend, AGM: 07.01.2015, Record Date: 19.11.2014.

POWERGRID: 10% cash, AGM: 17.01.2015, Record Date: 25.11.2014.

SPCL: 25% cash and 5% stock dividend, AGM: 29.01.2015, Record Date: 27.11.2014.

ANWARGALV: 7.50% cash dividend to the general shareholders, AGM: 12.01.2015, Record Date: 13.11.2014.

SAVAREFR: No dividend, AGM: 24.01.2015, Record Date: 23.12.2014.

Latest PE 7.8 -ve 8.1 10.1 -ve 152.8 95.6 21.0 37.2

LafargeS Cement-Z DESCO Ltd. -A MJL BD Ltd.-A Beximco Pharma -A SAIF Powertec-N Agni Systems -A Hamid Fabrics -N WesternMarine -N Alltex Industries -Z Square Pharma -A

Million Taka 240.05 252.50 50.04 401.60 236.46 507.25 4.56 439.09 320.29 23.30 151.16 17.17 35.85 232.77 105.16 29.34 49.40 79.75 32.49 109.93 0.01

10.00 9.13 8.97 8.00 7.80 6.53 6.27 6.06 5.88 5.33

Average (% Change) 9.70 2.81 8.56 8.00 5.72 6.50 6.20 6.85 5.87 3.66

ClosingAvg.

243.1 6.4 -ve 45.7 -ve 9.6 33.4 25.2 9.7 96.6

Investors continued to act indecisive amid jittery sign in political arena

% change 7.61 7.99 1.63 12.46 4.29 16.01 0.15 13.08 10.26

Closing (% Change)

KEYACOSMET: The Company has further informed that the Board of Directors of the Company has approved to increase the paid-up capital through issue and allotment of 321,951,055 nos. of fully paid ordinary shares of Tk. 10.00 each to the existing shareholders of Keya Knit Composite Limited, Keya Cotton Mills Limited and Keya Spinning Mills Limited against amalgamation.

PROGRESLIF: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors of the Company has instructed Mr. Md. Shahjahan Azadi to serve his duty as the Managing Director (Current Charge) of the Company in addition to his current charge of Deputy Managing Director with effect from January 01, 2015.

FUWANGCER: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors of the Company has taken the following decision: The Digital Printing Machine whose incre-

Company

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

10.07 9.31 8.63 7.14 6.47 5.31 5.00 4.73 4.58 4.55

Average (% Change) 9.71 12.49 5.21 7.14 6.07 4.45 3.38 1.44 2.55 2.70

News, analysis and recent disclosures

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS

ANALYST

Closing (% Change)

CSE GAINER

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

DLOW

Thursday, January 8, 2014

% change 7.23 7.61 1.51 12.10 7.13 15.29 0.14 13.23 9.65 0.70 4.56 0.52 1.08 7.01 3.17 0.88 1.49 2.40 0.98 3.31 0.00

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

Grameenphone-A IDLC Finance -A Khulna Power-A SummitAlliancePort.-A CVO PetroChem RL-A Barakatullah E. D.-A Fu-Wang Food A Al-Haj Textile -A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BATBCL -A Alltex Industries -Z LafargeS Cement-Z Hamid Fabrics -N SAIF Powertec-N WesternMarine -N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Khulna Power-A MJL BD Ltd.-A BSRM Steels-A

Beximco Pharma -A Khan Brothers-N S Purbanchol Power-N Tung Hai Knitting -N Appollo Ispat CL -N Agni Systems -A LankaBangla Fin. -A

VolumeShares 1,273,840 1,093,794 611,684 1,264,005 1,105,646 2,231,767 1,862,343 1,344,837 2,331,452 248,989

Value in Million 175.95 80.30 80.16 80.02 77.25 77.24 75.87 75.34 68.53 64.79

% of TotalTurnover 5.96 2.72 2.71 2.71 2.62 2.62 2.57 2.55 2.32 2.19

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

172,046 751,237 895,931 621,002 93,676 1,284,110 1,643,317 379,885

38,025 692,499 109,687 278,930 126,256 148,762 205,872 103,326 48,436 67,903

92,806 148,538 84,320 224,097 204,420 119,390 86,788

63.02 57.19 56.15 52.82 48.26 44.88 42.01 41.08

101.52 20.51 15.17 11.26 8.81 8.32 7.68 6.44 6.34 6.32

5.89 5.43 4.53 4.50 4.13 4.11 3.97

2.13 1.94 1.90 1.79 1.63 1.52 1.42 1.39

29.29 5.92 4.38 3.25 2.54 2.40 2.22 1.86 1.83 1.82

1.70 1.57 1.31 1.30 1.19 1.19 1.14

ClosingP 136.30 73.40 130.40 62.80 69.40 34.20 40.20 55.40 29.50 259.90

365.10 76.50 61.50 84.40 516.10 34.70 25.80 110.80

ClosingP

2579.20 29.70 136.40 40.20 69.00 55.30 37.10 61.60 130.10 92.80

62.50 36.30 53.00 20.20 20.20 34.00 46.00

Change % 0.07 -0.27 0.85 -1.88 0.00 -2.01 3.34 0.00 10.07 0.00

-0.63 1.19 -2.23 -2.54 2.79 -0.57 5.31 8.63

Change %

0.67 10.00 -0.22 3.61 -0.86 0.36 -0.80 -1.91 0.46 2.09

-2.19 1.97 -0.19 4.12 1.51 -2.58 1.32

ClosingY 136.20 73.60 129.30 64.00 69.40 34.90 38.90 55.40 26.80 259.90

367.40 75.60 62.90 86.60 502.10 34.90 24.50 102.00 ClosingY

2562.10 27.00 136.70 38.80 69.60 55.10 37.40 62.80 129.50 90.90

63.90 35.60 53.10 19.40 19.90 34.90 45.40

DHIGH 141.00 74.40 132.30 64.80 71.40 35.50 41.40 56.90 29.50 261.50

367.70 77.00 63.60 87.00 520.00 35.50 25.90 112.20

DLOW 135.80 72.80 129.00 62.50 68.00 33.80 39.00 55.10 28.00 259.10

363.50 75.60 61.20 82.00 507.00 34.40 24.80 100.20

AvgPrice 138.12 73.41 131.04 63.30 69.87 34.61 40.74 56.02 29.39 260.23

366.30 76.13 62.67 85.05 515.19 34.95 25.56 108.12

DHIGH

DLOW

AvgPrice

2579.20 29.70 140.20 41.20 71.20 56.90 37.90 63.60 132.10 94.50

2579.20 28.30 136.00 39.10 68.70 55.10 37.00 61.50 129.10 90.60

2669.94 29.62 138.33 40.38 69.74 55.91 37.33 62.34 130.85 93.14

64.80 36.90 54.30 20.30 20.40 35.20 46.20

62.30 35.50 52.00 19.80 20.00 33.80 45.40

63.48 36.54 53.74 20.09 20.22 34.45 45.71

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Corp chief China fourth-quarter GDP growth may slow to 7.2% Intel shows wrist-worn drone n Reuters, San Francisco

n Reuters China’s annual economic growth likely slowed to 7.2% in the fourth quarter, the weakest since the depths of the global crisis, a Reuters poll showed, which would keep pressure on policymakers to head off a sharper slowdown this year.

The expected slowdown in growth of the world’s second-largest economy, from 7.3% in the June-September quarter, means full-year would undershoot the government’s 7.5% target and marks the weakest expansion in 24 years.

Growth of 7.2% in October-December would be the weakest since Q1 2009, when the economy grew 6.6% as the worst of the global crisis passed.

Fourth-quarter GDP data will be announced on Jan 20.

The poll of 31 economists showed bank lending, fixed-asset investment and factory output growth may have steadied in December, but factory price deflation likely worsened and consumer price inflation hovered near five-year lows.

“We expect the upcoming December data to show a still frail economy, tepid production momentum, and mounting deflationary pressures,” economists at UBS wrote in a note.

Banks may have extended nearly 853bn yuan ($137.3bn) in new loans in December, flat from November’s level, which showed a 56% jump from the previous month.

The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) unexpectedly cut interest rates in November for the first time in more than two years to lower borrowing costs to support growth. Later, it loosened loan restrictions to encourage banks to step up lending.

In the poll, M2 money supply is seen growing 12.5% in December from a year earlier, up from November’s 12.3% rise.

Fixed-asset investment, a key growth driver, probably grew 15.8% in the whole of 2014, matching the pace in the first 11 months as the government approves more investment projects to offset the impact from a cooling property market.

The National Development and Reform Commission, the nation’s top planning agency, approved infrastructure projects with total investment value of 1.77tn yuan in 2014, with the bulk in the fourth quarter, according

Intel Corp Chief Executive Brian Krzanich showed off a computer built into a jacket button and a wristband that transforms into a selfie-snapping flying camera, as the chipmaker extends its push into smart wearable gadgets.

Speaking at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Krzanich also announced a five-year, $300m investment in math-related education and other programs to help employ more women and minorities in the technology and the video game industries.

Krzanich used most of his keynote to talk up Intel’s efforts in computerized apparel and other sensor-packed gadgets - nascent markets that the chipmaker and other technology companies hope will fuel future growth as demand for smartphones and tablets loses steam. l

Price fall to push oil  B1 COLUMN 6

Workers chat outside a construction site in Beijing's central business district to Reuters calculations based on NDRC announcements.

But analysts say it could take quite some time before construction of planned railways, roads and other projects starts as local governments are burdened by piles of debt.

December factory output likely grew 7.4% from a year earlier, quickening slightly from 7.2% in November, when many polluting factories in north China were shut for a meeting of AsiaPacific leaders in Beijing.

Policy easing

The PBOC is widely expected to cut interest rates further or lower reserve requirement ratios (RRR) for all banks,

although some analysts believe it may be pausing on policy easing to wait for recent actions to take effect and lift growth.

“The central bank needs time to observe economic operations before taking further easing measures, so the possibility of a near-term cut in interest rates or RRR is not big,” Lin Hu, an economist in Beijing for Guosen Securities said in a note.

China’s reform-minded leaders have shown greater tolerance for slower growth, but further slowdown in the economy could fuel job losses and undermine public support for changes.

A property slump is expected to last well into 2015, companies will continue

REUTERS

to struggle to pay off debt and export demand may remain erratic, leaving the services sector as the economy’s lone bright spot.

UBS expects China’s GDP growth to slow further to 6.8% in 2015, and rising deflationary pressure will spur the central bank to cut benchmark lending rates by at least 50 basis points this year.

Factory price deflation

Highlighting deflationary risks, producer prices may have fallen 3.1% in December from a year earlier. That would extend to 34 months a streak of declines that has eroded corporate earnings. November saw a 2.7% slide.

Annual consumer inflation likely hovered near five-year lows, at 1.5%, in December, leaving some room for the central bank to loosen policy if needed.

Reflecting lackluster domestic demand, China’s imports may have declined 7.4% in December from a year earlier, following a 6.7% drop in November.

Export growth likely accelerated to 6.8% in December from 4.7% in November. The December trade surplus could be around $50bn, near record highs.

Retail sales, a key gauge of domestic consumption, were seen expanding 11.7% in December from a year earlier, steady from November, according to the poll. l

Arctic projects require oil prices of about $115-122 a barrel to break even, while Canadian oil sands and deepwater developments can require $90 a barrel.

Many US shale developments can withstand a somewhat lower price, but Evercore said a sustained fall to $60 a barrel or below would force companies to curtail operations.

Evercore also expects capital spending in Europe to fall by 20% due to cuts in the North Sea. It projects more modest declines in spending in Asia and Latin America.

Investment in Russia will be trimmed by 10% or more due to lower prices as well as international sanctions on Russia.

However, Middle East capital spending is expected to rise 15%, with Saudi Arabia proceeding with a number of high-cost natural gas projects and Kuwait working to boost its crude output to four million barrels a day in 2020 from about three million now.

The report said African spending would rise by six percent in 2015, thanks to strong investment in Angola and Algeria. l

Euro hits nine-year low as Brent oil goes below $50 Spanish economy n shows signs of getting back on track Reuters, London

The euro hit a nine-year trough yesterday as collapsing oil prices and worries about the world economy drove skittish investors into the arms of safe-haven sovereign debt.

From Japan to Germany to Australia, government borrowing costs fell to all-time lows as oil fell 10% in just two days - Brent crude broke below the psychological $50 barrier - as investors wrestled with the risk of global deflation.

European stocks opened higher, after Asia just about managed to hold up in positive territory, but nervousness ran deep through all financial markets

ahead of euro zone inflation data due later yesterday.

The figures are expected to show the first annual fall in consumer prices since 2009, piling pressure on the European Central Bank to launch all-out quantitative easing at its next policy meeting on Jan 22.

But despite the growing threat of deflation, the ECB may be reluctant to act before Greece’s general election on Jan 25, a vote which some observers say could hasten the country’s exit from the euro zone if the left-wing Syriza party wins.

“Given the fact that Greece will not have an official government in place at that time, the ECB may have to wait,”

said Marshall Gittler, head of global FX strategy at IronFX. “The euro has not been able to sustain any rallies this year and so looks chronically weak,” he said.

The euro fell as low as $1.1842 in anticipation of more money-printing by the ECB. In early European trading, it was down slightly from the previous day around $1.1870.

The dollar fared better, bouncing to 119.15 yen from a low of 118.04 touched on Tuesday.

Yields going, going...Gone?

The breakneck decline in oil showed no sign of letting up. Brent LCOc1 fell more than 2% to dip below $50 a barrel

for the first time since early 2009. It has shed more than 11% so far this week. US crude CLc1 fell to $47.02.

With fears of deflation rampant, yields on longer-dated Japanese, German, French, Dutch, Austrian, Belgian, Finnish, Canadian and Australian bonds all touched record lows.

Euro zone inflation expectations, measured by the ECB’s preferred gauge of so-called 5-year forwards, fell to a fresh low of 1.58%. That’s well below the central bank’s target of just under 2%.

All yields on German bonds out to 5 year maturities were negative on Wednesday and the 10-year yield was 0.45%. The benchmark US 10-year yield was steady at 1.959%. l

CORPORATE NEWS

Mercantile Bank Limited has recently arranged a certificate award giving ceremony for its eighth batch of management trainee officers. The bank’s chairperson, Morshed Alam distributed the certificates as chief guest at the programme Delta Brac Housing (DBH) Finance Corporation Ltd has recently donated two thousands pieces of blanket to BRAC for distributing it to cold wave affected people. Md Akrmaul Islam, Director of BRAC and Imtiaz Elahi, manager brand & communication of DBH were present on the occasion among others

RFL has recently opened its 'Best Buy' outlet at Rayer Bazar in Dhaka. The company’s director, RN Paul inaugurated the outlet

The employees of BRAC Bank has recently organised a marathon titled “BRAC Bank DAUR 2015 – Kolyaner Pothochola” at Hatirjheel in order to raise fund for humanity. Benazir Ahmed, director general of Rapid Action Battalion was present as chief guest at the annual marathon for humanity along with Syed Mahbubur Rahman, MD & CEO of BRAC Bank Limited

Jamuna Bank Foundation has recentled inaugurated construcution work of Jamuna Bank Medical College and Hospital at Khadon, Rupshi, Narayangonj. The foundation’s chairperson, Al-Haj Nur Mohammed presided over the ceremony that was attended by Golam Dastagir Gazi, director of Jamuna Bank Limited

n AFP, Madrid Fewer Spaniards stood in jobless queues in 2014, consumer spending rose and banks boosted lending - all signs pointing to Spain’s economy getting back on track after six years of a gruelling financial crisis.

The number of people registered as unemployed in 2014 dipped by 253,627 to 4.45 million, the labour ministry said this week.

It was the second consecutive yearly drop since a decade-long property bubble burst in 2008, throwing millions of people out of work.

While the unemployment rate which is calculated differently - was 23.67% in the third quarter, one of the highest rates in the industrialised world, the dip in the jobless numbers last year gives a ray of hope to job seekers, many of whom have seen their unemployment benefits run out.

“Today there is greater confidence in Spain in the ability to find work in the coming months,” said Labour Minister Fatima Banez of the ruling conservative government which faces regional and legislative elections this year.

One in two Spaniards, 51%, believe their personal economic situation will improve or at least remain stable in 2015, according to a survey by DYM Market research published last week by online newspaper El Confidencial.

Those who fear that the new year will be one of economic difficulty fell to 36% from 51% during the same time a year earlier.

The growing optimism has also spurred a shopping spree.

Sales over the Christmas season, which in Spain ended on Tuesday on the Feast of the Epiphany when gifts are traditionally opened, are expected to post their biggest rise in seven years.

In November retail sales posted a 1.9% increase over the same year-ago period.

New car sales - a key measure of demand - jumped 18% in 2014 to 855,308 vehicles, the best annual performance since 2010, helped in part by a government subsidy scheme, according to carmakers association Anfac.

Government borrowing costs are

down and banks, which were saddled with bad debt after the property crash in 2008, also appear more willing to lend, the Bank of Spain said in its latest bulletin on the state of the economy.

A tax reform which came into effect in January may also give the economy a boost. It will reduce the tax bill of the lowest-income groups on average by 320 euros ($385) per household per year, according to the government.

Buffett opens Madrid office

Spain emerged timidly from recession in mid-2013 and in the second quarter of 2014 posted its strongest quarterly growth since 2007, expanding by 0.6%.

Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy’s government estimates the economy will have expanded by 1.3% in 2014 and will grow by 2% in 2015, a faster growth rate than is expected in France, Germany and Italy.

And foreign investors are stepping back into Spain.

They poured 47bn euros (more than $55bn) into the eurozone’s fourth-largest economy last year, up from 20bn euros in 2013, according to an estimate by daily business newspaper Expansion.

US billionaire Warren Buffett, nicknamed the “Sage of Omaha” for his successful track record in investments, opened an office in Madrid to seize opportunities in the real estate market where prices have stabilised.

Mexican telecoms magnate Carlos Slim, the world’s second-richest man, reached a deal in November to become the main shareholder in Spanish builder FCC, edging out a competing bid for the firm by another US billionaire, George Soros.

Opposition parties and some commentators have accused the government of pre-election “triumphalism”.

They argue that the majority of the new jobs which have been created are short-term positions while the government at the same time has slashed social protection.

The number of short-term job contracts rose by 12.6% to 15.37 million last year, compared with just 1.35 million new permanent job contracts, which however represented an increase of 18.9% from a year earlier. l

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Oil price to fall until major Asian manufacturers feel the benefit

Oil plunge a ‘golden opportunity’ for Asia economies

n Reuters, Singapore Oil prices will continue to drop as high production meets weak demand and a strong US dollar pressures crude, and markets will only pick up once major manufacturing economies particularly in Asia feel the benefit of cheaper energy.

Oil prices have halved since last June to near 6-year lows as economic growth stutters, and analysts say that a building supply glut means prices are set to fall further before any rebound.

On the supply side, downward pressure on oil has come from a boom in US shale oil output and, more recently, by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ (OPEC) decision not to cut output in support of prices, and instead try to defend market share against North American shale by offering discounts.

“The risks to oil prices remain skewed to the downside in the near term,” ANZ Bank said on Wednesday. “(US) shale producers won’t start feeling the pinch for another six months. In addition, there is the prospect of further supply increases from highly stressed OPEC members such as Libya, Nigeria and Venezuela, which could place further downward pressure on prices,” the bank added.

There’s also more oil in the system as slowing economies are using less and as energy efficiency improves.

In Asia, Japan is battling recession, while in China, the commodity boom driver in recent years, demand is slowing as the world’s second-biggest economy shifts from energy-intensive construction to consumer-fuelled growth.

Citi this week predicted China’s crude oil imports would grow more slowly this year, adding that “anyone hoping for China to drive a rebound in oil prices is likely to be disappointed.”

Vietnam devalues dong to boost growth n AFP, Hanoi Vietnam’s central bank said yesterday it would devalue the dong currency for the second time in seven months in a bid to boost exports and drive economy forward.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) will devalue the reference rate by one percent to 21,458 Vietnamese dong per dollar to “control inflation” and “push up economic growth”, it said in a statement.

The latest move is “in accordance with the developments of the domestic and international financial markets, creating a solid stability for the forex market”, the SBV said.

The dong was last devalued by one percent in June 2014.

SBV governor Nguyen Van Binh said in December that the regulator will not weaken the dong by more than two percent in 2015.

At the new reference rate, the currency is allowed to fluctuate from 21,243 dong against the dollar to 21,673 dong.

Economist Vu Dinh Anh from the state-run Economic Finance Institute told AFP the dong had come under mounting pressure on foreign exchange markets late last year.

“The SBV had to proceed with the adjustment to avoid disadvantages against other currencies,” he said.

Asian currencies have more generally weakened against the dollar over the past six months due to assumptions that the US Federal Reserve will start raising interest rates this year.

“The move was in line with market expectations of weaker currency against general strength of the greenback,” ANZ said in a statement on the dong devaluation Wednesday.

The bank added that it expects further devaluations in 2015 and forecast the Vietnamese currency would reach 22,050 by December.

The dong devaluation will help keep Vietnam’s thriving exports - including smartphones and other electronics manufactured by Korean giant Samsung in its Vietnamese factories - competitive with regional rivals.

Rising exports helped Vietnam to achieve its highest GDP growth in three years in 2014 with the economy growing an estimated 5.98%, while inflation slowed to 4.09%, official figures showed.

But the exports boom has yet to spill over into the domestic economy, which remains sluggish thanks in part to lingering problems in the banking sector and the dominance of inefficient state owned enterprises. l

Thursday, January 8, 2015

n AFP, Singapore

A pump jack is seen at sunrise near Bakersfield, California Adding to the slack in Asia is that Europe has yet to recover from its postcredit crunch crisis in 2008-09.

Another drag on oil comes from the dollar. With the US Federal Reserve expected to raise interest rates this year for the first time since 2006, supported by healthy growth, the dollar is likely to keep strengthening, putting more pressure on oil markets as European and Asian currencies fall.

Boon for consumers

While the immediate outlook for oil remains weak, analysts say cheaper fuel costs for households and businesses should at some point support demand,

especially in manufacturing-led economies.

“The collapse in oil prices looks set to wipe out the Gulf’s external surpluses next year, leaving China and the euro-zone as the world’s major surplus economies,” Capital Economics said in December.

Citi noted that lower oil prices could save China more than 1% of GDP on imports, helping boost consumption.

In Japan, cheaper fuel costs will not only benefit large industry, but also help reduce an enormous deficit, triggered in part by soaring fuel imports following the shutdown of its nuclear power plants after the 2011 Fukushima

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reactor meltdown.

For India, Asia’s No 3 economy, lower oil imports will also be a boon.

“Growth prospects have improved ... as lower oil prices will allow households and businesses to increase spending and the central bank to loosen monetary policy,” research firm PIRA Energy said.

Analysts say oil prices will bottom out and start to rise again - part of the so-called commodity supercycle - once some producers scale back production to adjust to falling prices and major manufacturing centres begin to feel the economic benefits of cheaper energy and again start using more. l

World Economic Forum to draw a record number to Davos this year n AFP, Geneva The World Economic Forum said Tuesday that its annual gathering at Davos this month will draw a record number of participants and over 300 heads of state and government bigwigs.

The January 21-24 meeting of the rich and powerful at the posh Swiss ski resort comes amid a spate of global crises, including the worst post-Cold War stand-off between Russia and the West and renewed fears of financial turmoil.

More than 2,500 people are expected to turn up, WEF said in a statement.

“In addition to the 1,500 top busi-

WEF refused to provide a list of participants, saying its main announcement would be made on January 14 ness leaders from over 140 countries, more than 300 heads of state, heads of government and government members are also expected to participate,” it said.

“In particular, most European countries will be represented by the prime

minister, president or chancellor and will be accompanied by strong government delegations.”

WEF refused to provide a list of participants, saying its main announcement would be made on January 14.

“Today’s leaders are facing challenges that are unprecedented in their complexity, velocity and interconnectedness,” said WEF founder and chairman Klaus Schwab.

“Finding a way to navigate these successfully in 2015 is, therefore, a critical priority for every leader, not just to ensure sustainable growth but to rebuild trust.” l

The plunge in crude prices will give a much-needed boost to Asia’s oil-guzzling economies and provides governments a “golden opportunity” to implement crucial structural reforms such as cutting expensive energy subsidies, analysts say.

A slowdown in the key export markets of Europe, China and Japan, the end of US stimulus measures, and an expected US rate hike - fuelling a flight of foreign cash in search of better returns - has left some governments having to make tough decisions to get back on track.

But experts say lower oil prices would ease inflationary pressures throughout much of Asia, allowing many central banks to either keep monetary policy on hold or reduce interest rates.

And the Asian Development Bank last month said developing countries could see an additional 0.5 percentage point of growth on average this year if oil prices remain low.

However reforms are needed, analysts say, and among the most crucial and controversial is the removal of fuel subsidies, which in the past been the catalysts for sometimes violent protests across the spectrum, from the impoverished to the region’s growing middle class.

While global equity markets are being strafed by a continuing slump in the prices of black gold - they have fallen more than 50% since June to five-and-a-half-year lows - analysts said countries should grab the opportunity and move now.

Malaysia, Indonesia and India have already made cut to the populist but economically disastrous subsidies, which have contributed to government fiscal deficits.

Shang-Jin Wei, chief economist at the Manila-based ADB, said in a statement that easing oil prices “present a golden opportunity” for oil-importing countries to introduce the reforms.

And Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific chief economist at global consultancy IHS, warned if they fail to move, leaders “will miss the window of opportunity and face public resistance to removal of fuel subsidies if oil prices strengthen significantly in future years”.

Angry protests Previous efforts in Indonesia to slash fuel subsidies sparked violent protests, but the country’s new president Joko Widodo has vowed to tackle the problem despite risks to his popularity.

Widodo, who took office in October, wants the money diverted to overhauling infrastructure and helping the country’s poorest.

An attempt by former Indonesian president Suharto to reduce the subsidies triggered riots that helped end his threedecade dictatorship in 1998.

India also experienced similar protests in the past when it tried to cut the subsidies -- diverted government funds used to

artificially keep fuel prices low.

Removing the payouts allows market forces to determine prices and free them from political manipulation.

The softer crude prices will also provide some respite for the region’s oil-reliant economies, facing global headwinds from slowing in their key export markets.

Biswas said “most of the Asian economies are large net importers of oil and gas, and will benefit from lower oil import costs and significantly reduced fuel costs for consumers”.

“This positive boost helps to mitigate the negative effects of China’s moderating growth rate and Japan’s slump back into recession in late 2014,” he said.

Analysts expect India, Asia’s third largest economy, to be a major beneficiary as it imports nearly 80% of its oil needs.

Like China and South Korea, the lower prices should keep inflation in check and allow the central bank to implement much-needed interest rate cuts with less fear of stoking inflation.

Among the top winners is the airline sector, while shipping and energy-intensive heavy manufacturing industries such as steel will benefit across the region.

Shukor Yusof, founder of Malaysiabased aviation research firm Endau Analytics, said jet fuel accounts for about a third of airline operating costs in Asia.

Further losses ahead “You’re likely to see airlines posting profits for the fourth quarter of 2014 and for this coming quarter,” he told AFP. “Given the trend in falling oil prices, we should see a corresponding correction in air fares as well.”

However, oil and gas exporters including Malaysia and Brunei stand to take a hit.

With petroleum-related earnings accounting for 30-40% of Malaysian government revenues annually, the ringgit currency has fallen almost 11% against the US dollar over the past six months as oil prices sank.

Malaysia in October forecast economic growth of 5-6% for 2015, but the World Bank projects the expansion at 4.7% due in part to lower oil prices.

And there could be further falls in the oil price from the present levels of $47.90 for West Texas Intermediate and $50.82 for Brent.

Daniel Ang, an investment analyst with Phillip Futures in Singapore, told AFP he expects WTI to hit bottom at $46 and Brent to hover at $50-$53 in the second quarter of this year.

He forecasts WTI to average $58-$63 a barrel this year, against the average $92.60 in 2014 and $98.05 in 2013. Brent is projected to average $60-$65 this year, compared with $99.29 last year and $108.70 in 2013.

But Ang and other oil market watchers say further price falls to below $40 would not surprise them. l

China crude imports seen at record as it fills strategic reserves n Reuters, Beijing

Tumbling world oil prices sparked a buying spree by China that led to record crude imports in December, according to Reuters estimates that suggest the top energy consumer doubled the oil put aside for strategic reserves in 2014 compared with 2013.

The figures indicate that thanks to the doubling of surplus oil in its system last year, China is much further along in filling up its strategic oil reserves than previously thought.

Yet analysts played down suggestions that Chinese buying could prop up global oil markets, where prices have dropped by more than half since the middle of last year.

Economic growth is slowing, and Daniel Ang, an analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore, reckons China could be close to filling its currently available space for its strategic petroleum reserve (SPR).

“As to China stocking up on their SPR, we believe that it was definitely a surprise. Judging from their economic figures, we expected that crude imports would not increase,” Ang said.

“We do not expect this level of crude import into China to continue in the longer term.”

Estimates by Thomson Reuters Oil Research and Forecasts indicate that China’s total crude imports surpassed 31 million tonnes, or more than 7 million barrels per day (bpd), for the first time last month. That’s more than 10% above the previous record monthly amount.

Using data on domestic output, imports and commercial storage versus demand from refineries, that raised the excess oil available for China’s SPR last year to as much as 124 million barrels,

Middle east oil

A ship loaded with containers is seen at a port in Lianyungang separate Reuters calculations show, more than twice the 61 million barrels available for stock-building the previous year.

US bank Citi said in a note it expects China’s crude imports to slow and that “anyone hoping for China to drive a rebound in oil prices is likely to be disappointed”.

Little is known about China’s strategic reserves, besides the locations of the storage facilities and their capacities. China also seldom issues any data on commercial crude and product stocks other than percentage changes

in volumes released through official news agency Xinhua.

China has been filling the second stage of its strategic reserves since completing the first phase in 2009.

SPR stocks are currently estimated at more than 30 days’ worth of crude imports. China plans to build reserves of around 600 million barrels, or about 90 days of imports.

“As global crude prices slump, China is apparently exploiting the opportunity to add low cost crude to its SPRs,” said Tom Hilboldt of HSBC. He cautioned, though, that SPR-

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builds could be overestimated as some of the barrels could be lost in the system or used up by refineries against initial plans to put it into storage.

DILBERT

China’s crude imports touched record or near-record levels in several months last year, despite a slowing economy and weak oil demand growth. Imports have particularly picked up from September, largely fuelled by oil from the Middle East.

Ship broker data obtained by Reuters shows that the number of supertanker charters from that region to China surged over the last four months of the year.

Unipec, the trading and chartering arm of state-owned Sinopec Corp, has loaded at least 40 super-tankers every month since September with Middle East and West Africa crude, the data shows.

Chinaoil, the trading arm of stateowned PetroChina, took in a record haul of Oman crude in October, buying 47 cargoes of Upper Zakum, Oman and Dubai in deals done as part of the Platts price assessment process.

In November, President Xi Jinping pledged to start regularly releasing data on China’s oil inventories, although giving no timeline on when that might begin.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) made its first announcement about the first phase last November, saying it contained about 91 million barrels, or 9 days’ worth of crude. l