27 Feb, 2015

Falgun 15, 1421 Jamadiul Awal 7, 1436 Regd No DA 6238 Vol 2, No 323

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

20 pages plus 24-page weekend supplement | Price: Tk12

WEEKEND

7 | JURIS

11 | OP-ED

12 | SPORT

A WORLD OF BOOKS

MOHAMMAD ATAUL KARIM: JAMDANI IS OURS

ZAFAR SOBHAN: MAKING THE CASE

MASHRAFE RUES ‘BUTTER FINGERS’

Blogger-writer Avijit hacked to death Police have found similarities with the way Humayun Azad and Rajib Haider were attacked Jamil Khan and n Mohammad Arif Ahmed Unidentified miscreants hacked blogger and writer Avijit Roy to death and seriously injured his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonna at the TSC roundabout on Dhaka University campus last night.

Avijit has received threats from militants for his progressive books and blog posts The physical condition of Bonna, who was undergoing treatment at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital, was said to be stable but critical when this report was being filed early today. Avijit’s body was kept at the DMCH morgue late last night.

The Dhaka Tribune has learned that Avijit has recently received threats from militants for his progressive books and blog posts.

Avijit was still alive when the couple was admitted to the DMCH immediately after the attack that took place around 9pm. Avijit died around 10:30pm, confirmed Shahbagh police

Hasina tells Annisul, Khokon to prepare for DCC polls n Abu Hayat Mahmud The ruling Awami League has finalised the nomination of former FBCCI president Annisul Huq and Sayeed Khokon as its candidates for the split Dhaka City Corporation polls.

Annisul, also a noted media personality, will run for the Dhaka North City Corporation and Syeed Khokon, son of former Dhaka mayor Mohammad Hanif, will run for the Dhaka South City Corporation polls.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also the chief of the ruling party, asked Khokon and Annisul to make  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

station OC Sirajul Islam. “We are still unclear about the identity of the criminals. But, police suspect that those who attacked Prof Humayun Azad are behind this attack as well. There are similarities between the style of the two attacks.”

Witnesses said the couple was returning from the Amar Ekushey Book Fair around 9pm. When they reached the Bot-tola area at the TSC roundabout, a CNG-run autorickshaw stopped near them, three young men got down and started hacking them mercilessly with a machete.

Witnesses also said the attack took place right in front of a police barricade that was put up to restrict vehicular movement on the adjacent road for the ongoing book fair.

Akram Hossain, a witness, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Bonna tried to block the hits and lost a finger. In a matter of seconds, the attackers just disappeared.”

Visiting the spot, the Dhaka Tribune correspondents saw blood stains on the spot on the footpath where the criminals hacked Avijit and Bonna. Police have cordoned off the area. A severed finger was found at the crime scene and police personnel could be seen collecting evidences.

Dr Sohel Ahmed, duty doctor at the DMCH Emergency Unit, told the Dhaka Tribune that Avijit had died of excessive bleeding and an internal brain injury.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Slain blogger-writer Avijit Roy’s wife Rafida Ahmed Bonna, who was critically injured in the same attack at TSC on DU campus last night, is being taken to the DMCH Emergency Unit on a stretcher RAJIB DHAR

n Mazhar Uddin from Melbourne

Jamil Khan and n Mohammad Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

Bangladesh were nowhere near their best, and it was clearly evident by their fielding performance, as they went down by 92 runs against Sri Lanka in a Pool A game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday.

Taking first strike, opener Tillakaratne Dilshan and one-drop batsman Kumar Sangakkara hammered unbeaten centuries to propel Sri Lanka to a mammoth 332/1. In reply, Bangladesh only managed to muster 240, losing all of their wickets with three overs remaining.

Right-handed Dilshan blasted 161

from just 146 balls, featuring 22 fours, and in the process became the highest individual scorer for Sri Lanka in the World Cup, surpassing the previous best of 145 by Aravinda de Silva against Kenya in 1996.

From the other end, Lankan legend Sangakkara smashed a blistering 105 off 76 balls with the help of 13 boundaries and a six to make his 400th ODI appearance a memorable one. This was the classic left-hander’s 22nd ODI ton.

However, rather than Dilshan and Sangakkara, the Bangladesh cricketers were their own worst enemies as abject displays in the field took the game far away from them. There were  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Two days have elapsed since Dhaka Special Judge’s Court 3 issued a warrant for the arrest of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia but the police station concerned was yet to receive it as of yesterday.

“No police station of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has yet received any such warrant,” said Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of the Detective Branch of police, yesterday.

“We have only heard that the court issued a warrant for the arrest of the BNP chairperson but we have not received it yet. Once we get the order we will take

steps as per the court directive.”

On Wednesday, the Special Judge’s Court issued the warrant for the arrest of Khaleda and two other accused in two graft cases for failing to appear before the court during hearing.

In the order, the court said prime accused Khaleda Zia had so far appeared in court on only seven of 63 scheduled dates.

According to the procedures, after a court issues a warrant the assistant bench officer prepares the order document and gets it signed by the judge concerned and sends it to a bench known as “court process server” for dispatch. Warrants can also be delivered by hand.

A warrant for arrest is generally is-

sued under section 75 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).

It mentions the name of the police station concerned, its officials and their designations, asking them to produce an accused in the court on a specific hearing date.

Ariful Islam, assistant bench officer of Special Judge’s Court 3, is supposed to know all about the warrant for Khaleda’s arrest, but he yesterday said it was beyond his jurisdiction and knew nothing about it.

Even Public Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol told the Dhaka Tribune that he did not have any idea.

Advocate Rabiul Islam Rabi, a  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

The sorry tale of Barind outsiders n Abu Bakar Siddique

Anamul Haque walks off the field after being run out during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh at Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday

Lokman Ali, 28, was born in a shoal on Padma River near Godagari upazila of Rajshahi district.

When he turned 19, he, along with his family, had to move to the mainland, to a place called Amnura in the neighbouring Chapainawabganj district, some 50km away.

At the place he was born, the Padma River was like a sword that cut on both sides.

During monsoon, the river eroded severely and gobbled up vast stretches arable land and hundreds of homesteads.

In the dry season, it dried up to such extents that everything even remotely fertile in the vicinity turned barren.

But there is no reason to think that the forced migration has meant something good for Lokman and his family.

For the Barindas, the original inhabitants of Amnura, people like Lokman are the Diaras, the outsiders. So, the Barindas do not easily accept the Diaras and

the marginalisation has always made it tough for the outsiders to make a living.

The Amnura area in Chapainawabganj falls within the Barind Tract that covers several places in three districts

‘We migrated with hopes, but it’s been a nightmare. In the last 3 years, we have not made any profit’ in the north and is known for producing the popular but irrigation-intensive Boro paddy, one of the main crops in Bangladesh.

Before the Farakka Barrage in India came into affect a few decades ago, the Mahanada River used to be the principal source of water for irrigation.

Mahanada is actually a tributary of the great South Asian river system Ganges, parts of which is known as Padma in Bangladesh.

INSIDE 2 | News

4 | News

3 | News

5 | News

The Bridges Division and Bangladesh Railway are tussling over which agency has the right to build a new railway bridge across the Jamuna River.

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The curious case of the arrest warrant against Khaleda Zia

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Alleging that the BNP-Jamaat clique is carrying out genocide in the name of hartal and blockade, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said such a situation is not at all acceptable to anyone.

The Detective Branch of police started questioning Nagorik Oikya Jote Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna yesterday, the first day of his 10-day remand granted by a court the previous day.

A four-member team specialised in technology-related issues interrogated him in the capital’s DB headquarters, said a high official requesting anonymity. The same team would quiz Manna in the next nine days.

The case was filed with Gulshan police for his alleged involvement in inciting the army to grab power. Former Awami League leader Manna allegedly plotted to unseat the incumbent government while talking to an unnamed Bangladeshi expatriate in Australia through Viber.

“We just started interrogating Manna and have not got anything concrete at the preliminary stage,” Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of DB police, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“We will be able to expose details of the plot once we get information and complete analysis,” he added.

Meanwhile, two days have passed but the law enforcers are yet to give a formal version regarding the arrest of Manna and his whereabouts during the 20 hours since his alleged abduction by some people who had identified themselves as detectives.

According to records, members of the Rapid Action Battalion arrested

Sloppy fielding lets game slip away

EU delegation briefs parliament on situation in Bangladesh n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman The European Union parliamentary delegation that visited Dhaka recently has feared that if the opposition political forces are simply sidelined, then other forces including extremist forces might fill the void.

“That means the terrorists. That’s a big big risk, big big danger,” Josef Weidenholzer, one of the delegation member, said in a briefing held at the EU parliament yesterday.

The delegation, led by lawmaker Cristian Dan Preda and the other members Josef Weidenholzer and Karol Karski, arrived in Dhaka on February 17 and stayed until Februrary 20. They had over 20 meetings with government officials, members of civil society, journalists and others.

Special DB team interrogating Manna n Mohammad Jamil Khan

German political foundation FES has requested an institutional arrangement with the Foreign Ministry. FES Resident Representative Henrik Maihack made the request to Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali yesterday.

Three government offices in Rajshahi have come under attack within 48 hours, and police described those as attempts to weaken the government.

6 | Nation

Defying an order of the Department of Environment, a pond near Eidgah Field under Brahmanbaria municipality is being filled up by a local.

15 | Entertainment

Runa Khan who is about to etch her name in Dhallywood will be seen in Mrittika Gun’s next venture Kalo Megher Bhela, which is a government funded project.

B1 | Business

Domestic fuel oil price at the retail level should be reduced to pass the benefits of falling oil price in the global market onto the consumers, energy analysts said yesterday.

But Mahananda has dried up considerably over the last couple of decades because of the Farakka Barrage on the Ganges in the upstream in India. Moreover, the Barind Tract has never been known for having too much rainfall even during the monsoon.

So, the Boro growers had to increasingly rely on extracting underground water for irrigation.

But as natural reinforcements like Mahananda and rainfall dried up, overuse caused underground water levels to sink to alarming levels, increasing cost of irrigation manifold and directly affecting farmers’ profitability.

So, for people like Lokman, growing Boro at their new home was not a viable option because of the high cost of irrigation.

Initially, Lokman’s family bought a piece of land in Amnura and cultivated Boro with the irrigation provided by the Barind Multipurpose Development Authority (BMDA).  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

PM: BNP-Jamaat carrying out genocide n UNB Alleging that the BNP-Jamaat clique is carrying out genocide in the name of hartal and blockade, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said such a situation is not at all acceptable to anyone.

“May Allah give good sense to those who are burning people to death so that they stop such arson attacks…these are sheer killings and acts of genocide, and they are accused of killing people. The BNP-Jamaat nexus has been carrying out genocide,” she said.

The prime minister was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the four-day 4th International Conference on Plastic Surgery or PlastiCon 2015 held at a city hotel.

Sharply criticising the ongoing killings of people through hurling petrol bombs by the BNP-Jamaat, Hasina said: “What kind of cruelty is this? What kind of politics is this? This is not politics…these are entirely terrorist and militant activities.”

She said such brutalities cannot be tolerated which is very unfortunate, pathetic and painful. “How could a man burn another to death?”

The prime minister alleged that a particular quarter is providing neces-

sary finance, training and other support to the BNP-Jamaat miscreants for committing such heinous acts.

She questioned why such pains and sufferings are inflicted on innocent people by the BNP-led 20-party allies.

“If we have failed to run the country, then they could wage a movement against the government. But, there is no sign of government failure in Bangladesh.”

Hasina said when the country is moving ahead in all fields while peace, stability and comfort have been restored and people have started dreaming of a better life, why such anarchy and subversive acts are being unleashed for whose interest? “This is not at all for public interest rather for personal interest. Then why should people suffer?”

Without mentioning the BNP chairperson’s name, she said why the country’s common people would have to pay for someone’s wrong political decision.

In the name of hartal and blockade, the Prime Minister said, attempts were made to create a terrific situation in the country which is beyond imagination as no one could think that a human being could burn another human being in such a way. l

News

Friday, February 27, 2015

JU Chhatra Dal president, another held with 20 petrol bombs n Tribune Report The Detective Branch of police arrested two leaders of Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal’s central committee with 20 Molotov cocktails from their possessions on Wednesday night.

One of them, Md Zakir Hossain is the president of Jahangirnagar University unit and also assistant organising secretary of the central unit of Chhatra Dal – student wing of the BNP. Police claimed that Zakir had also been involved in destabilising the JU campus by blasting crude bombs and paralysing academic activities during the BNP-led alliance’s blockade and hartal programmes.

The other arrestee is Mrinal Kanti Das, an assistant general secretary of the central unit. He hails from Kotalipara of Gopalganj.

Meanwhile, JU unit Chhatra Dal yesterday called three-day strike on the campus in protest against the arrest of Zakir and issuance of arrest warrant against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. DB Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam at a press conference yesterday said the arrestees along with other central leaders and members were waiting in front of a bus counter in Gabtoli with the petrol bombs.

“They were instructed by central leaders to launch attack on public transports.”

On the basis of intelligence information, a team of DB police led by assistant police commissioners Mahmud

Jashim Uddin appointed new ambassador to Greece n Tribune Report The Detective Branch of police produces two central leaders of Chhatral Dal, the student wing of the BNP, before journalists following their arrest with 20 petrol bombs from the capital’s Gabtoli area yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE Naser Jony and Mohorom Ali reached the spot and arrested the duo.

At that time, central unit President Razib Ahsan, JU unit General Secretary Sayeed and other Chhatra Dal members fled the scene, Monirul said adding that the drive was coordinated by Additional Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Saiful Islam.

“Zakir was involved in planning and implementation of arson attacks on buses on the Dhaka-Aricha Highway. He is also accused of issuing death threats to the university’s vice-chancellor, proctor and some other teachers.

“On the other hand, Mrinal was in-

Blogger-writer Avijit hacked to death

The curious case of the arrest warrant against Khaleda Zia

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“We have done a city scan on Bonna and giving her the best possible treatment,” Dr Sohel said.

Dhaka University acting proctor Prof Amzad Ali who went to the DMCH soon after the incident, said: “We are yet to get any information on the attackers.

But I have learned that he [Avijit] used to receive threats for his writings. He might have been killed for this reason.”

Avijit’s father Prof Ajit Roy, a former professor of physics at Dhaka University, also went to see his son and daughter-in-law but refused to make any comment.

Contacted, Shibli Noman, assistant commissioner of Police’s Ramna Division, told the Dhaka Tribune that the attackers might belong to some radical Islamist militant groups who did not like Avijit’s writings..

“Analysing the case histories of writer Prof Humayun Azad and blogger Rajib Hyder’s murders, we have found similarities with this incident,” Shibli said.

“We recovered two machetes and a bag from the spot but have not arrested anyone as yet,” he added.

Avijit Roy, an engineer by profession, was the administrator of blogging site named Muktomona. He and his wife Bonna were both US residents.

They came to Bangladesh on February 15 because two of his books got published in this year’s book fair.

The two books are “Biswaser Virus” (virus in faith) and “Sunyo Theke Mahabiswa” (the universe from zero) was published by Shudhishor Publication.

Avijit has written a total of nine books so far. After coming to Dhaka,

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member of a Dhaka court, said once the police station concerned receives the warrant it can arrest the accused.

If the officials of the police station concerned want to delay the arrest, they can do so as they are asked to produce the accused in the court on a particular date for hearing.

Police could arrest an accused just a couple of hours or a day before the hearing, he said.

But because of the excessive cost of irrigation, this year, they cultivated tomato in their land but failed to make any profit.

“We migrated with hopes for a better life but it has turned out to be a nightmare. Over the last three years, we have not made any profit. And now we are heavily in debt,” said Lokman’s father Anwar Ali. The Diaras are the worst sufferers because cultivation is their only way of living. On the other hand, the Barindas are mostly land owners, who live in the Rajshahi city some 50km away and lease out their lands to others.

According to Lokman, some of the

prepare for DCC polls  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

Police personnel collecting evidence from the spot near the TSC roundabout on DU campus where blogger-writer Avijit Roy was hacked to death and his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonna was critically injured by unidentified miscreants yesterday RAJIB DHAR he had been living in a house in Dhanmondi with his wife.

He was also an active supporter of the Gonojagoron Moncho, a youthbased platform initiated by online activists who demanded capital punishment for all war criminals.

The Dhaka Tribune has learned that Avijit featured at the top of a hit list that was prepared by a person named Farabi Shafiur Rahman with whom the blogger had often had confrontations in the virtual space regarding religious issues.

Badhon, a contributor of Avijit’s blogging site Muktomona, told the Dhaka Tribune: “It [the attack] is most definitely a work of the fundamental-

ist groups who used to threaten Avijit.

Farabi Shafiur Rahman has openly declared before that he would take action against Avijit.”

In 2014, online bookstore Rokomari. com stopped selling Avijit’s books after Farabi Shafiur Rahman issued death threats on Facebook to the website’s owner.

Contacted, Additional Commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police Shaikh Mohammad Maruf Hassan said yesterday: “Our officials, divided into separate groups, have started investigating into the incident. We hope to hunt down and arrest the attackers soon.”

Writer Humayun Azad, also a pro-

Diaras are now having to migrate for the second time because Boro has not brought them any good. In fact, years of loss has made many of them even poorer than what they used to be while living in the Padma shoals.

Many have already started migrating to the urban areas trying to make a living by working as day labourers.

“Last year, one of my brothers moved to Dhaka to work as a construction worker. Now, I am also seriously considering that option. Our family will starve if we keep toiling here,” Lokman said in exasperation.

Hydrology expert Ainun Nishat said if there was enough water in Mahananda, these people would not have need-

ed to migrate.

“If the Padma carried in enough water like it used to do before the commissioning of the Farakka Barrage in India, such a situation would not have arisen,” he said.

BMDA officials said the government has taken an initiative to discourage farmers about growing Boro in several upazilas in the Barind districts – Rajshahi, Naogaon and Chapainawabganj.

However, Anwar Faruque, additional secretary of the Agriculture Ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The government cannot dictate what a farmer grows. But, we have nothing to do but discourage Boro.”

Sloppy fielding lets game slip away  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

several dropped chances with Anamul Haque turning out to be the worst offender, grassing two opportunities, both provided by Lankan opener Lahiru Thirimanne (52 off 78 balls). Bangladesh wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim also missed an easy stumping of Thirimanne off the bowling of spinner Sabbir Rahman.

After a 122-run stand for the opening wicket, Thirimanne was finally caught

by Taskin Ahmed off Rubel Hossain.

But, Thirimanne’s departure was hardly a cause for celebration as the Dilshan-Sangakkara partnership registered the highest ever second-wicket

In the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust cases, Khaleda Zia and five others were charged with misappropriation of Tk2.1 crore after withdrawal of the amount from the trust fund between November 13, 1993 and March 28, 2007.

The court fixed March 4 for hearing the case next.

As of filing of this report yesterday evening, the arrest warrant did not reach any police station. l

Hasina tells Annisul, Khokon to

The sorry tale of outsiders in the Barind tract  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

volved in hand bomb and petrol bomb attacks at different places of the capital,” the DB official added.

Although Zakir is the incumbent president of JU unit Chhatra Dal, he does not stay on the campus. “He stays in Savar and Dhaka while his followers, staying beside the campus, have been carrying out sabotages on the campus and the highway with the support of outsider criminals,” Monirul claimed.

He later told the Dhaka Tribune that a regular case had been filed with Darussalam police station. Drive against the other Chhatra Dal leaders would continue, he added. l

The government has appointed Md Jashim Uddin, currently serving as Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the new Ambassador of Bangladesh to Greece.

A career diplomat, Jashim Uddin is a 13th BCS (Foreign Affairs) cadre, states a foreign ministry press release.

In his diplomatic career, he served at various Bangladesh missions, in New Delhi, Tokyo, Washington DC, and Islamabad, in different capacities.

Jashim Uddin obtained his MSS in International Relations from the University of Dhaka, and his MA in Modern International Studies from the UK. Of late, he successfully completed the NDC course from National Defence College in Dhaka. He is married and blessed with two children. l

stand for the Lankans in ODIs, adding 210 in double quick time.

Sangakkara was also the beneficiary of some sloppy Bangladesh fielding as he was dropped twice, on 22 and 60.

The Sri Lankan duo flayed the Bangladesh bowlers all over the ground as the atmosphere at the MCG all of a sudden transformed into a Lankan festival.

Chasing the huge target of triple nelson – 333 – the Tigers suffered an early blow as Tamim Iqbal was clean bowled

by Lasith Malinga before he had even opened his account.

Soumya Sarkar, coming in at No 3, looked to be in good touch, striking

three consecutive boundaries off Suranga Lakmal but the left-hander soon departed after scoring 25 off 15 balls.

The situation soon turned from bad to worse after Mominul Haque (1), promoted up the order, presented an easy opportunity to the slip fielder.

Mahmudullah, also promoted to No 5 ahead of Shakib al Hasan, started to settle alongside Anamul (29 off 43 balls) but an unfortunate run out ended the latter’s stay at the wicket. Right after Anamul’s dismissal, Mahmudullah (28 off 46 balls) also departed after a nothing shot provided catching practice to Rangana Herath at fine-leg.

fessor of Bangla at Dhaka University, was mercilessly hacked by assailants on February 27, 2004. He too was returning from the book fair on that day and the assailants used machetes just like what what the attackers did with Avijit and Bonna. Prof Azad later died in Germany but his death is still shrouded in mystery.

Blogger Rajib Hyder, another active supporter of the Gonojagoron Moncho, was killed in much the same fashion near Shahbagh in Feburary 2013.

Investigators have found involvement of militancy groups behind those murder and attack, both of which took place in the month of February. l

Boro plays a key role in the country’s food security by accounting for nearly 60% of the total rice production. People from the lower income groups are heavily dependent on this.

Soon after the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) invented it, Boro got huge popularity among farmers because of high yield and fast growth. According to BRRI, every kilogram of Boro paddy requires around 4,000 liters of water.

The government has also tried to introduce a new technology called the Alternative Wet and Dry Method, also invented by BRRI. Under this, every kilogram requires 700 liters of water. l

It was upto Shakib and Mushfiq to resurrect the inning. The Tigers’ most experienced pair added 64 runs and appeared compact but Shakib eventually departed after scoring 46 off 59 deliveries. Bangladesh’s hopes of an unlikely win all but evaporated when Mushfiq was dismissed for 36.

Youngster Sabbir Rahman chipped in with a half-century late in the inning to lend respectability to the Tigers’ total.

It will now be a tough task for Mashrafe and Co if they want to make it through to the quarterfinals. First and foremost though, their ground fielding needs drastic improvement. l

necessary preparations for the elections, said sources at the PM’s official residence Ganabhaban last night.

The split DCC elections have been overdue since May 2007. Before the city corporation was split in 2011, the last election was held in April 2002.

In a recent cabinet meeting at the secretariat, the prime minister directed the LGRD ministry to take necessary measures for clearing the

obstacles in arranging elections for the bifurcated city corporation as soon as possible.

On February 6, at a meeting of the Awami League Central Working Committee held at the Ganabhaban, Hasina said the elections for the city corporations will be held in March.

On November 29, 2011, the government split the city corporation into two and appointed administrators to run them. l

Special DB team interrogating Manna  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Manna from in front of a restaurant in Dhanmondi area around 11pm on Tuesday, Monirul said.

Manna’s family members earlier claimed that he had been picked up by detectives around 3am on Tuesday from a house in Banani. They also filed general diary with the police.

When asked, Monirul said: “It requires investigation on the general diary to tell where he was at that time.”

After elite force RAB handed over Manna to Gulshan police early Wednesday, he was shown arrested in the case and taken to the DB headquarters for interrogation.

The case was filed on Tuesday in connection with two leaked telephone conversations – one between Manna and an expatriate unnamed Bangladeshi while the other between Manna and former DCC mayor and BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka. l

EU delegation briefs parliament  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

Josef said though Bangladesh is a big Muslim country and it settled the thing well earlier, but there is a big danger for the next few months.

“There could be extremist groups who emerge and they don’t want to cooperate anybody including the government. That’s really a matter of concern for us,” he said. He suggested that EU more closely work with the country.

About the arrest warrant against BNP chief Khaleda Zia, he said: “We took note that yesterday the arrest warrant has been issued against Khaleda Zia who is the head of the opposition.

Though that is not implemented yet.

I’m afraid this will lead to dramatic escalation... the arrest will be very very problematic.”

The lawmaker said there was conflict in the whole and more than 60 people died in these clashes and seven to 10 thousands members of the opposition have been arrested.

“This conflict, these clashes are difficult to resolve. Both parties are really digging the hills in,” he said.

Josef said: “The past explains the present. Quite honestly we did not see any scope of compromise.. Everybody

is being in a very rigid stance.”

The delegation had meetings with many statekholders including Nobel Laureate Mohammad Yunus and everybody said that nothing going to be changed within next few weeks and conflict could be turned into civil war.

“The security situation there is very tensed .. Unfortunately they way things are headed are very negative tendency,” he said.

The lawmaker said they did not go beyond Dhaka because of the security situation.

The main mission of the delegation was to inquiry about post Rana Plaza situation in the country.

He said that media landscape was very lively in Bangladesh but it’s not that free place to express freely opinion which was mentioned by different interlocutors.

“Situation of media freedom is not that satisfactory.”

About foreign donation act, he said they were told that these restriction on funding due to terrorists activities.

They also discussed about death penalty, women and children rights, Minorities, indiginous minorities, Rohingyas issues. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Bridges Division and Railway face off over Jamuna Railway Bridge n Shohel Mamun The Bridges Division and Bangladesh Railway are tussling over which agency has the right to build a new railway bridge across the Jamuna River.

The conflict arose after the government recently decided to build a new railway bridge parallel to the existing Jamuna Multi-purpose Bridge, commonly called the Bangabandhu Bridge. The existing bridge, despite being equipped with rail tracks, has not been able to sustain the stress of railway traffic.

The two agencies have separately taken steps to begin work on the coveted project, and have sought guidance from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to clarify their respective roles.

The new 4.8km dual-gauge double-line railway bridge is estimated to cost Tk8,274 crore 35 lakh and will be constructed parallel to the existing Bangabandhu Bridge.

The Japanese government will provide over Tk6,651 crore while the rest of

the cost will be borne by the exchequer.

Bangladesh Railway and the Bridges Division, under the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry, both sent letters to the PMO this month explaining their respective positions.

The Bridges Division says that according to the Allocation of Business, it alone has the legal authority to construct and maintain bridges greater than 1,500 metres in length.

The division earlier built the 4.8km Jamuna Multi-purpose Bridge whose under-performing railway track has necessitated the new railway bridge.

The division argued that it could construct the railway bridge at a lower cost than BR because it has had greater experience with conditions at the construction site.

“According to the Allocation of Business and Ordinance, we have the legal authority to build the railway bridge.

Bangladesh Railway is also interested in constructing it even though they do not have sufficient experience. We

will wait for direction from the PMO,” Bridges Division Secretary Khandaker Anwarul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune.

Bangladesh Railway has also sought permission from the PMO to construct the new railway bridge.

Railway authorities contend that according to the Allocation of Business, BR enjoys sole authority to construct any type of railway bridge. Railway authorities cited the Railway Act, 1890 to press their claim.

The Bridges Division Ordinance only applies to the construction of road bridges, Railway authorities said. Even if the Bridges Division were allowed to construct the railway bridge, it would eventually be handed over to BR for maintenance, it added.

In its letter, Bangladesh Railway said it had completed a feasibility study and was working on a detailed project plan.

The BR’s feasibility study was carried out by Montreal-based Canarail Consultants Ltd. BR Director General Amzad Hossain

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Friday, February 27, 2015

told the Dhaka Tribune: “Earlier, the Railway was under the Communications Ministry, now it is under the Railway Ministry.

“When the Bangabandhu Bridge was built, the Railway helped the Bridges Division.”

BR said a detailed project plan had been sent to the Planning Commission, adding that it hoped to commence work on the bridge later this year and complete it by 2020.

The BR director general said: “At the moment, passenger trains use the bridge at some risk and goods trains are off limits. This hampers domestic and international trade.”

The railway track on the existing Jamuna Multi-purpose Bridge cannot handle freight trains at all and can only carry passenger trains moving at 5kmh.

The new bridge is expected to be able to handle passenger trains travelling at 100kmh and cargo trains at 80kmh, according to BR’s detailed project plan. l

Joy: Arrest and try Dr Kamal, Mahfuz Anam n Abu Hayat Mahmud The prime minister’s ICT adviser, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, urged the government to arrest and try the editor of The Daily Star, Mahfuz Anam, and Gonoforum President Dr Kamal Hossain, in a statement posted on his Facebook profile on Wednesday.

Labelling the activities of civil society members “treason,” Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s son wrote: “Now we know why. They [Mahfuz Anam, Kamal Hossain and Mahmudur Rahman] want the violence to continue and indeed want to help BNP-Jamaat kill more people.

“They want to blame our Awami League government no matter what so that they can ride the Army’s coat-tails back to power just like 1/11.”

“This is treason. They should all be arrested and tried,” he said.

Joy pointed to two incidents which he described as instances of treason – one concerning Mahmudur Rahman Manna and the other concerning English-language newspa-

per, The Daily Star.

In the first instance, Manna, in a leaked phone conversation, recommended that the opposition kill a few people on the Dhaka University campus to destabilise the governemnt, Joy alleged.

Since Manna referred to Gonoforum leader Dr Kamal Hossain by name during the conversation, Joy said he too should be arrested as a collaborator to Manna’s plans.

The other incident centres the publication of a Hizb ut-Tahrir poster published as part of a Daily Star report on the activities of the banned militant outfit.

“The Daily Star prints a half page copy of a poster by banned terrorist outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir urging army soldiers to overthrow the government and seize power,” he said.

“They disgust me. These are people who want power but have never been elected in even a single constituency without the backing of one of the major political parties. l

Ruling alliance leaders ask Khaleda to surrender respecting court order n Abu Hayat Mahmud Awami League-led 14-party alliance leaders have urged BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia to surrender at the lower court respecting the court order.

“Surrender at the court within 40 days respecting the court order.

You [Khaleda Zia] might get bail after your surrender if the court thinks so,” Civil Aviation Minister and Workers Party President Rashed Khan Menon addressed Khaleda while speaking at a rally in the capital yesterday evening.

The rally was organised by 14-party ally Ganatantri Party at Bangshal in the capital to protest the nationwide violence by BNP-led 20-party alliance.

Quamrul said if anybody tries to involve the army in politics in the future, he or she too would not be able to avoid trial and punishment He said after politically losing, BNP plotted the conspiracy with Nagirik Oikyo Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna to depose the government, but their conspiracy has also failed.

Terming BNP-Jamaat’s blockade and hartal valueless, Menon said: “The people have ignored BNP-Jamaat’s programmes. The blockade and hartal enforced by BNP were only taking place in television talk-shows, not in the grounds.”

Addressing BNP Chief Khaleda Zia the Workers Party president further said the people have turned away from you when you started killing innocent people with petrol bomb attacks in the name of political movement.

On Wednesday, in his office at the

secretariat, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed also urged Khaleda Zia to surrender after he heard about the court order.

Health Minister and Awami League Presidium Member Mohammad Nasim said: “BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is the one to blame for such militancy.

Our [14-party] responsibility, along with the country’s people, is reparation of the militancy at any cost. Their [20-party alliance] poisonous teeth should be broken off.”

He said BNP Vice-chairman Sadek Hossain Khoka and Nagorik Oikyo Convener Mahmudur Rahman conspired to come to power through illegal and unconstitutional ways.

They planned to kill students in the University of Dhaka, but the conspiracy was discovered thanks to the government’s alertness.

“The law enforcement agencies have arrested and taken Manna under 10-day remand. Trials would be held for every anti-state conspiracy, violence and killing of people centering BNP-Jamaat’s blokade and hartal,” Nasim added.

Addressing BNP chief Khaleda Zia, he said: “You would not have announced the blockade and hartal if the January 5 national polls had not been held last year.

Due to the polls democracy persists and you got the chance to announce the programmes; otherwise it would not have been possible.”

Nasim, also spokesperson of the 14-party alliance, again announced that the next general polls will be held in 2019 as per the constitution, and there is no alternative.

Food Minister Quamrul Islam said Khaleda’s trial would end properly in this soil, and she would also be punished for killing innocent people in the name of political movement.

He warned that if anybody tries to involve the army in politics in the future, he or she too would not be able to avoid trial and punishment. l

These cauliflowers could not be sent to different places in the country on time because of a transport crisis. No longer fresh, they are now being loaded on to a truck for being transported. Growers of perishable winter vegetables have been facing huge losses since the blockade and hartals began early January. The photo was taken at Talpukur village of Poba upazila in Rajshahi yesterday AZHAR UDDIN

Kibria murder charge sheets need another revision n Our Correspondent, Habiganj The Criminal Investigation Department has been asked to resubmit the supplementary charge sheets in former minister Shah AMS Kibria murder case as the court detected another incorrect information in the documents.

Judge Nishat Sultana of the Habiganj Senior Judicial Magistrate Court yesterday ordered Investigation Officer Meherunnesa, an assistant police superintendent of the CID, to submit the revised supplementary charge sheets

by March 18 since the court cannot fix the errors once charges are pressed.

It is the second time the court has found errors in the supplementary

charge sheets the IO has pressed.

The judge wanted to know why the intelligence agency had repeatedly been making mistakes in the sensational case. Meherunnesa then apologised to the court.

Judge Nishat said: “Only apology is not enough. A case cannot be lingered this way year after year. We also have some responsibilities...You could not give the exact name of the father of an accused.”

The CID officer then submitted a petition to resubmit the charge sheets.

During the hearing, defence lawyer Arif Chowdhury said the court could not fix an error in the charge sheet once it is submitted. “If needed, the IO can

sheets in November last year incorporating 11 more names raising the number of accused to 35. But since the names and addresses of the accused were not correct, the court ordered her to submit a revised one.

Following submission of the revised supplementary charge sheets on December 3, a Habiganj court on January 25 ordered seizure of all properties owned by the fugitive accused in the cases.

The latest order came as the police had failed to execute the order. The father’s name of accused Mohibur Rahman was mentioned as Farid Mia. But actually it would be Rafique Mia, court sources said. l

Man killed in crude bomb attack

Indictment hearing of 23 BNP men put off until March 25 n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday deferred the indictment hearing in a vandalism case against 23 BNP men, including the party’s acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, until March 25.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Tareique Moinul Islam Bhuiyan set the new date in response to a petition filed by defence counsel Zaynal Abedin Mesbah.

BNP policymaker member Moudud Ahmed, Mirza Abbas and several other accused were present. The case was lodged with Shahjahanpur police station over vandalising and torching vehicles in the capital on March 2, 2013.

Ruhul Amin Munshi, sub-inspector of the Detective Branch of police, submitted the charge sheet of the case before the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court in Dhaka on March 20 the same year. l

submit supplementary charge sheets again,” he added.

Even several members of the prosecution team expressed discontent over the investigating agency’s negligence.

Two cases were filed over the killing of five people including Kibria in a grenade attack in Boidyer Bazar of Habiganj on January 27, 2005. Over 100 people were also injured the grenade attack.

The first IO submitted charge sheets on March 1 the same year accusing 10 people. Another officer pressed the first supplementary charge sheets on June 20, 2011 adding 14 other names.

Later Meherunnesa took the charge of investigation and submitted charge

Mizanur Rahaman, n FM Chittagong

Supporters of Masuduzzaman, vice-president of Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers’ Association, go on a rampage right in front of police to evict shanties to free a piece of land in Narayanganj yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Police yesterday filed a case against 26 local leaders and activists of BNP-Jamaat and Shibir in connection with Wednesday night’s crude bomb attack that killed a man in Chittagong city’s Chandgaon area.

Chandgaon police station Officer-in-Charge Sayed Abdur Rauf said Sub-Inspector Sajol Kanti Dey filed the case accusing 26 leaders and activists of BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir. The accused included Chittagong city unit BNP Vice-President Abu Sufian and 20 other unnamed persons, he said adding that police arrested one person in this connection.

On Wednesday, Md Redwan, 50, a land broker and a resident of Chandgaon area, was walking by the area around 8pm when a crude bomb was hurled by miscreants, leaving Redwan critically injured.

He succumbed to his injuries around 9:45pm while undergoing treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH). Doctors said he died due to excessive bleeding.

Meanwhile, 32 BNP-Jamaat men and 20 unidentified persons were sued for torching a bus at Bahaddarhat bus terminal area around the same time of the crude bomb attack.

SI Rupom Mallik lodged the case mentioning 32 names of BNP, Chhatra Dal and Jamaat-Shibir activists and 20 unidentified persons, said the OC. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Friday, February 27, 2015

German FES seeks institutional arrangement with Foreign Ministry n Tribune Report German political foundation Friedrich-Ebert Stiftung (FES) has requested an institutional arrangement with the Foreign Ministry.

Resident Representative of the FES Henrik Maihack made the request during a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali yesterday and handed to him a letter from FES Chairman Kurt Beck, inviting the minister to the FES headquarters in Berlin.

The two men also discussed areas and ways of deepening cooperation and relations between the Foreign Ministry and the FES. The minister said an improved and institutionalised interaction between the ministry and the FES could be settled on by his visit to the FES headquarters in Germany.

In that context, Maihack underlined that broad areas of engagement for mu-

tual collaboration and discourse could include economic issues that hold significance for Bangladesh’s long-term growth and development, the advancement of regional and sub-regional cooperation within and beyond South Asia, and aspects relating to the sustainable development of Bangladesh.

The FES, a non-profit German foundation funded by its government, started its Bangladesh operations last year.

It was founded in 1925, and is named after Germany’s first democratically-elected president, Friedrich Ebert.

The FES is committed to the advancement of both socio-political and economic development in the spirit of social democracy, through civic education, research, and international cooperation.

The FES has over 100 offices around the world and has remained active in South Asia for the past 40 years, supporting to build consensus on various issues of regional cooperation, with a wide range of stakeholders. l

Bangladesh-Switzerland political consultation on Sunday n Tribune Report The second round of the bilateral political consultation between Bangladesh and Switzerland will be held in Dhaka on Sunday.

Additional Secretary of Foreign Ministry Mizanur Rahman and Assistant State Secretary of Swiss Foreign Ministry Johannes Matyassy will lead respective delegations during the consultation, said a press release issued by the Swiss embassy.

Apart from reviewing the current status of bilateral relations, the two countries will discuss ways to further strengthen economic investment, development and cultural cooperation

during the consultation.

A number of new areas of possible cooperation, such as renewable energy, will be explored as well.

The two sides will also exchange views on human rights and issues of regional and international importance.

Matyassy will arrive in the capital today for a four-day visit.

During the visit, he will also meet Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali, Foreign Secretary Md Shahidul Haque, and representatives of civil society and the business community.

The first round of the consultation took place in 2013. l

A very rare sport today, the traditional horse race takes place at Sharighat of Gowainghat upazila in Sylhet yesterday

Miscreants destroy dams in Bandarban n Our Correspondent, Bandarban On the eve of starting Boro season, some unidentified miscreants have reportedly cut off two irrigation dams in Baishari area in Naikkhanchhari upazila of the district.

Consequently, farmers in five villages who are dependent on the soil-dams have been facing serious trouble to continue their cultivation without water.

The cut off took place early Monday in Chak Headmanpara and Baishari union sadar.

It was learnt that local peasants used to build soil-dam across river to reserve water for the sake of smooth irrigation and as part of the move, the two dams were also set up with their initiative this year as well. A farmer, Md Yousuf Dealer, opined that all croplands could face ruin until water supply is ensured within two weeks.

When asked, Baishari UP Chairman Manuarul Hoque Manu acknowledged the soil-dam destruction, saying he has informed the matter to the higher authorities seeking a quick remedy. l

Roundtable: Female upazila members are deprived of rights n

Munir Momtaj

Most local-level female representatives are unaware of and therefore deprived of their rights, said Dhaka University Professor Dr Zerin Rahman Khan at a roundtable on “Power and special functions of female upazila members,” organised by Bangladesh Legal Aid and Service Trust and Dhaka Tribune in the capital yesterday.

“The government has allotted a car for the use of each UP office, but the chairman uses it personally, and the female upazila employees are unaware of their right to it,” she added.

Advocate Tajul Islam and BLAST Director and Legal Advisor Dr SM Rezaul Karim presented the keynote paper on “power and function of women UP members.”

Dr Karim said: “If specific policies are in place about his actions, then the UP

chairman is compelled to obey them.”

Md Awlad Ali, former Justice and vice-chairman, and BLAST Trustee board member, said: “The Bangladesh Constitution and National Women Development Policy-2011 have declared equal rights for women in every sphere, yet we cannot put them into practice.”

Some female parliament members shared their experiences and the barriers they face at the discussion.

Selina Jahan Lita, female vice-chairperson of Ranisonkail Upazilla Parishad in Thakurgaon said: “That women in our country lag behind is not true.

They are advancing day by day.”

“We need proper education to change attitudes toward women and also proper monitoring.”

Fazilatunnesa Bappy MP said: “We work with different female representatives who say their rights and dignity are not being recognised.” l

FOCUS BANGLA

Trial against Jubo Dal chief Alal to begin April 1 n Court Correspondent A Dhaka court yesterday fixed April 1 to start trial against 43 BNP men including Jubo Dal president Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal in a case filed for vandalising and torching vehicles in 2012.

Yesterday was the scheduled date for start the trial but Dhaka metropolitan magistrate Tarique Moinul Islam Bhuyain deferred the date following a time petition filed by the defense counsel.

On June 30, 2014, the sane court indicted the 43 accused in the case filed with the capital’s Paltan police station under the Speedy Trial (Tribunal) Act. On October 14, 2012, Alamgir Hossain, OC of the Paltan police station, submitted the charge sheet before the court of Dhaka’s chief metropolitan magistrate.

According to the charge sheet, they were charged for violence, preventing police from discharging duty and vandalising vehicles in front of the BNP headquarters in Nayapaltan during a rally on October 2, 2012. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

5

Friday, February 27, 2015

Blockade, hartal supporters target public offices Three government offices in Rajshahi come under attacks in last two days n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

The record room of the land office in Bagha upazila and the secondary education office, both located in the same building, were set on fire yesterday. A large number of land documents and around 500 new textbooks were gutted in the fire.

Bagha Upazila Nirbahi Officer Badol Chandra Howladar claimed that blockaders had torched the offices but police said it might be an accident.

Badol told the Dhaka Tribune that the attackers broke the windows and used matchsticks to light the fire.

The security guard of the building, Abdul Mannan, said he heard a sound

early in the morning and later saw smokes coming out of the windows.

Firefighters arrived on the scene shortly and doused the flame with the help of locals, he added.

Bagha police station Officer-inCharge Aminur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune the fire might have originated from a short circuit.

“Blockaders could be responsible for the attack as well,” he said.

“Police detained a number of employees of the offices and also some locals for interrogation but later released them. We are trying to nab the attackers,” added the policeman.

Early in the morning on February 24, the survey room of Charghat land office was gutted in a fire, reducing huge documents to ashes.

It was an arson attack and the attackers set the room on fire by breaking windows, which resembled yesterday’s attack.

Charghat police station Officer-inCharge Alamgir Hossian said a case was filed in connection with the attack but none could be arrested as yet.

Rajshahi Additional Police Super SM Rashidul Haque told the Dhaka Tribune that arson attacks on government offices were alarming.

“We are looking into such incidents very seriously and instructions have been given to every police station to take steps for preventing this sort of subversive acts,” he added. l

11 bakeries sued in Chittagong n Tribune report

Unsafe stone extraction poses a great risk for workers

Three government offices in Rajshahi have come under attack within 48 hours, and police described those as attempts to weaken the government.

The attackers could not be identified in either of the incidents but police claimed that blockaders had carried out those.

'Police detained a number of employees of the offices and also some locals for interrogation but later released them'

The Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) yesterday sued 11 bakeries in Chittagong city for producing and marketing their foods without the BSTI’s approval and using it’s logo illegally.

KM Hanif, assistant director of BSTI, said earlier BSTI’s Filed Officers Rigan Baddya and Abdul Matin filed two cases with Chief Metropolitan Magistrate court against the 11 bakeries for manufacturing and marketing their goods without proper documents and using the BSTI logo illegally.

“As the BSTI’s field visit at different bakeries in city on February 25, the officers found the irregularities, we lodged the cases”, said the AD adding that the BSTI also asked the bakeries to stop marketing their goods until further notice. l visit our website @

www.dhakatribune.com

WEATHER

DRY WEATHER FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27 DHAKA

TODAY SUN SETS 6:00PM

TOMORROW SUN RISES 6:22AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY 32 29 32 31 33 32 29 29

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

21 20 20 18 19 19 18 19

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

34.6ºC Rajshahi

18.0ºC Teknaf

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Jumma Asr Magrib Esha

5:07am 6:22am 12:11am 4:22pm 6:00pm 7:16pm

SourceL IslamicFinder.org

n Our Correspondent, Sylhet Safety of hundreds of workers employed at Bholaganj stone quarry in Companyganj of Sylhet are completely neglected resulting in frequent deaths and accidents.

Recently at least five workers died due to landslide and lack of safety measures. Such deaths are a frequent occurrence throughout the year but they are not always properly reported, alleged workers at the quarry.

Dangerous stone extraction, landslide, border crossing and stealing stones at night are some of the main reasons behind the deaths.

Though the Bholaganj stone quarry is the biggest in the country and employs more than one lakh workers, the safety standard here is at minimum.

Locals said lack of awareness of both the stone pit owners and workers are to be blamed for such poor safety measures.

Moreover, there is also no government regulation on stone mining. This allows owners to dodge any responsibility and not compensate the victims.

Abdul Alim, a stone collector, said his job was a very dangerous

Though patients often complaint about not getting medicines, Rajshahi Medical College and Hospital (RMCH) destroys the expired medicines worth Tk25-30 lakh. The medicines, left unused at the store room of RMCH, were destroyed in presence of a magistrate yesterday AZAHAR UDDIN

Lawmen accused of abducting Nur, Majed n Tribune Report

The families of Jubo Dal leader Nur Alam and businessman Majedur Rashid Majed have alleged that the two were picked up by law enforcers and have remained traceless since February 12 and 18 respectively.

In separate press conferences, the families sought the prime minister’s support in finding them out.

Nur is the general secretary of the Pallabi unit of the BNP’s youth front. A group of people identifying themselves

one. “I am in constant fear of landslide or falling into the pit. But we do not get any compensation.”

According to sources, a number of workers lost their lives in the quarry in the last couple of years.

On July 25, 2014 a worker named Zohur Ahmed, 40, was killed by an Ansar member when he went to collect stones at night.

Saleh Ahmed, 20, a resident of Islampur union, died in a landslide on January 20 of 2015.

The five people that recently died are Moin, 40, Dana Mia, 42, Delwar, 24, Selim 42, and Chandan, 30. They all were killed when their make-shift shanties near the stone pits caved in due to landslide, which is common given the nature of the quarry and stone lifting.

Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Mohammad Rokon Uddin said he held a meeting with the owners after the recent deaths. He urged them not to build houses for the workers near the pits and ensure safety of the workers.

Advocate Shah Shaheda, divisional coordinator of Bangladesh Environment Lawyers’ Association (BELA), said there was a High Court restriction on using dredgers to lift stones. However, pit owners were

as police picked him up in the early hours of February 12 from the residence of a relative in Joydebpur of Gazipur.

A businessman by profession, Majed is also a nephew of BNP standing committee member Mirza Abbas. He was allegedly abducted in the capital’s Paltan area on February 18.

Majed’s wife Ambia Khatun alleged when her husband was being picked up in front of the Bangladesh Commerce Bank building, police was present there.

She also alleged that police did not properly cooperate with her when she

still using the machine risking lives of the workers.

Earlier, stones used to extracted manually from the surface. Armed with shovels and wicker baskets, the workers would carry the stones in small boats. However, the recent use of heavy machinery and systematic excavation took quarrying to a new level of risk.

Excavator machine, known as “Boma” machine, is used for extracting stones from under river with 60-70 feet deep. This is a very dangerous method for the workers.

Sometimes shallow engines are also used to extract stones.

The Bholaganj stone quarry is spread throughout an area of 1010 acre. Of this Bangladesh Railway owns 359 acres and minerals ministry owns 651 acres.

According to workers, this stone quarry is also a highly politically contested area with the ruling party always taking control. However, the need for better safety measures and a regulation for systematic stone extraction have always been overlooked no matter which party rules.

The workers demanded proper government monitoring and enhancing safety standard at the quarry. l

JU BCL men beat up JCD leader over arson attack

Washing factory fined for polluting environment

n JU Correspondent

Correspondent, n Our Gazipur

The leaders and activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) at Jahangirnagar University (JU) unit yesterday beat up a university unit Jatiyadabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leader on campus.

The victim was identified as Jahir Uddin Babor, a masters student of JU chemistry department and also a JCD joint-convener at Shaheed Salam Barkat Hall.

Eyewitnesses said some five to seven BCL men of Bangabandhu Sheikh Muzibur Rahman Hall, led by BCL leader Asif Ahmed, attacked Babor around 12.30pm near Zahir Raihan auditorium on the campus. The BCL men severely beat up JCD leader Babor using iron pipe, rod, wooden stick and other improvised weapons. The victim was severely injured in his face, hands and legs as a result.

Babor was rushed to JU medical centre after the BCL men left him in a critical condition. JU doctor Shyamal Kumar Sheel referred him to Savar Enam Medi-

cal College and Hospital for better treatment. When contacted, Bangabandhu Sheikh Muzibur Rahman Hall unit BCL leader Asif Ahmed told the journalists that he had beaten up Babor as he was connected to an incident of torching a university bus on Wednesday night.

“He was a miscreant who was involved in torching a university bus.

Also, he was threatening me over phone for a few days. That is why he was beaten,” Asif Ahmed said.

JU proctor Dr Tapan Kumar Saha was unavailable for his comment when contacted over the phone.

Asif Ahmed, a masters student of chemistry department, along with two other BCL activists, were suspended from the organization on February 9, 2013 by the central BCL committee over internal feud on campus.

On Wednesday around 8pm, some unknown miscreants had thrown a petrol bomb aiming an empty university bus that was stationed at the transport area of the university. A few seats of the bus got burnt. l

The Department of Environment (DoE) fined a washing factory for polluting environment in Kaliakoir upazila, Gazipur city yesterday.

Assistant Director of the DoE Mohammad Hafizur Rahman said a team led by Md Alamgir, director (monitoring and enforcement) of its Dhaka headquarters, visited Panas Knitwear Creation located in Rajendrapur area recently.

The DoE authority later asked the factory authority at its Dhaka office and fined the factory Tk8 lakh after a hearing yesterday. During the hearing, the authorities of the factory sought an apology and pledged a commitment to take preventive measures in this regard. l

went to logde complain.

“Paltan police station OC Morshed Alam misbehaved and compelled me to stay in the police station one whole night,” Ambia said.

She suspects that the members of the old managing committee of the Fakirerpul Jam-e-Mosque could be behind his disappearance because Majed had earlier protested a misappropriation of funds.

She also said that police were yet to take any action against the suspects.

The Paltan OC however denied the allegations of misbehaviour and non-

cooperation brought against him.

OC Morshed said the family first filed a general dairy and then police filed a case based on primary investigation.

In another press conference at the Dhaka Reporter’s Unity, Rina Alam, wife of Nur Alam, said: “People have called us up and told us names of various hospital morgues claiming that Alam’s dead body was kept there. But we are yet to find any trace of him.”

Saying she was unclear about the motive behind the abduction, Rina urged the authorities to return her husband alive. l

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Nation

Friday, February 27, 2015

Blockade, hartals choke Gaibandha hosiery industry n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha The Tk200 crore worth hosiery industry of Gaibandha has been facing grave crisis due to the on going countrywide blockade and hartals enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

People involved in the hosiery industry said the sector did not suffer such losses in the last 20 years as it did in this winter season due to lack of clients.

Products worth more than Tk100 crore are now left unsold. The political violence and the consequent transportation crisis deterred the clients making the factory owners count a huge loss.

The hosiery, which is an important sector of the small and cottage industry of Bangladesh, has been the main income source of more than 500 traders in over 50 villages of Gaibandha.

The remote villages of Kochashahar union of Gabindaganj upazila of Gaibandha are now home to about 7,000 skilled and semi-skilled artisans working in the hosiery sector. The clothes produced by them during the winter season is highly sought after not only by the locals but also by the rest of the country.

The Noyarhaat market in Kochashahar union is the main trading place for these warm clothes. About 10,000 people are now employed in these shops, factories and markets.

General Secretary of Nayabandar Cottage Industries’ Association, the prima-

ry organisation of hosiery traders, Iqbal Hossain said the clothes are generally produced from the month of October to February. And these clothes are stored and sold during the rest of the year. However, the sell is the highest during winter.

About 30 kinds of products – scarf, sweater, cardigan, blouse, cap, and socks etc – are made in these small factories. Wholesale traders from Dhaka, Narayanganj, Chittagong, Comilla, Sylhet, Rajshahi and many other places of the country come to Noyarhaat to buy these woollen products.

Zahidul Islam, owner of Joya Hosiery, said many businessmen invested more than one crore Taka in these factories, which meet the warm clothes demand of lower and middle income groups of the country.

President of Nayabandar Cottage Industries’ Association Mizanur Rahman said a large chunk of sweater and other products were left unsold in the factories due to the political crisis.

Owner of Rahat Hosiery Abdur Razzak said the sector was already facing troubles since there was no bank loan available.

“We take loan from local businessman for a very high interest rate and then go into production. Now if we cannot sell the products, we will not be even able to pay off the loan let alone make any profit,” he said urging the political parties to consider general people’s misery and put an end to political stalemate. l

A farmer shows her Boro paddy field which has almost become dry for lack of water. Farmers at Taltola village of Bagmara upazila, Rajshahi cannot irrigate their paddy fields properly as a deep tube well in the locality remains inoperative for non-availability of electricity. A transformer went out of order 15 days back. Although farmers have already informed local Palli Bidyut Office several times, all of their efforts proved futile AZAHAR UDDIN

Teachers draw salary without attending offices n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha

A total of 16 teachers, who are allegedly linked with Jammat-e-Islami politics of 11 institutions in Gaibandha district have not attended their offices for a long time but get regular salary and benefits.

According to sources, Kaosar Ahmed and Belal Uddin of Palashbari Merirhat Fazil Madarsa, Sydur Rahman of Materhat Abu Bakar Fazil Madrasa, Abdul Mazid Akond, Ruhul Amin and Kazi Mozammel Hossain of Palasghbari Senior Fazil Madrasa, Shakhawat Hossain of

Chakbakbala Alim Uddin Dhakhil Madrasa, Ziahir Rahman Zia of Basudev Dhakhil Madrasa, Shahidul Islam Kazi and Ayub Ali of Allahr Dharga Dhakhil Madrasa, Abdul Oahed and Ishak Ali of Harinbari Siddiqia Dharmul Ulum Madrasa, Alamgir Hossain of Moheshpur Dhakhil Madrasa, Abu Taleb Mian of Jamalpur Hish School, Rafiqul Islam of Tilakpara Dhakhil Madrasa and Asadul of Badiakhali Alim Madrasa have ignored their duties as teachers of the institutions.

Kutub Uddin, education officer of the district, said: “Those teachers are involved with Jammat politics and

Filling up of pond continues in Brahmanbaria defying DoE order

Crops on 202 hactares of land submerged n Our Correspondent, Bandarban Boro crops on 202 hactares of land have been submerged as some miscreants demolished two dams in Naikkhongchhari upazila of Bandarban district on Sunday.

Local sources said on Sunday early morning a group of miscreants broke two dams built on two canals in Chak Headmenpara and Rajghat areas in Baishari union of the upazila.

If the dams are not rebuilt immediately, a number of farmers might face severe hardship as the season for cultivating Boro crops has just started.

Moreover, the dam was used by residents of five villages in Baishari for communication. Md Yusuf Dealer, a local farmer, said if irrigation water was not arranged through alternative way within two weeks, crops on 500 acres of land would die.

A former member of Baishari Union Parishad Mohammed Shafi said the water from the canals had already washed away the road and land in front of his house, he feared that his homestead might get submerged at any time. Nurul Hakim, member of Irrigation Dam Committee said water is not arranged quickly the farmers might incurr losses in crores. l

Correspondent, n Our Brahmanbaria Defying an order of the Department of Environment (DoE), a pond in is being filled up in Brahmanbaria.

According to locals, one Asad Ullah had begun fill up the pond near Eidgah Field in Kazipara area under Brahmanbaria municipality.

On November 6 last year, the DoE had issued an order asking Asad not to fill up the pond as the environment law prohibits such activities without obtaining relevant permission.

According to the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act, 1995 and the wetland preservation law of 2000, filling any pond or wetland is a punishable crime.

Earlier, the locals had submitted an application to the DoE seeking a ban on the filling up of pond.

Asad Ullah, however, had recently again begun the filling up process, although he informed the DoE that he would excavate the filled pond after the DoE order.

Saef Ullah Talukdar, a deputy

Defying an order of the Department of Environment a pond is being filled up in Kazipara area of Brahmanbaria district town. The photo was taken yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

director at the DoE in Brahmanbaria, said they issued another asking Asad to stop the pond filling up process on February 22.

On that day, police went to the spot and stopped the process.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, Asad Ullah, however, denied the

allegation of defying DoE order.

“The land where pond is located is my property. I began filling up some part of the pond to make pathway,” he said.

“I stopped the work right after order from the environment department,” he added. l

Wheat production booms in Barisal region n Our correspondent, Barisal

Cultivation and production of wheat in four districts of Barisal increased three-folds in the last four years under Integrated Agricultural Productivity Project under Agriculture Ministry.

Wheat production rose to 10,997 tonnes on 3,672 hectares in fiscal 2013-14, highest in four years, mainly due to quality seed supply and climate change effect on weather.

The amount was only 2,889 metric tons on 1,213 hectares in 2010-11 fiscal under this project, according to statistics of IAPP in Barisal division.

Dr AKM Mizanur Rahman, regional project manager of IAPP in

Barisal, said wheat cultivation area and production is increasing due to farmers’ growing interest in the crop and a shift from boro cultivation.

Lower production cost of wheat without dependence on irrigation and salinity, compared to irrigation-dependent salinity-sensitive boro, and less volatile prices compared to rice might have encouraged growers to sow the grain on more of their lands, the agriculturist said.

According to the Barisal regional office of IAPP, the production and cultivation of wheat was 2,844 metric tons on 1,185 hectares in Barisal, 14 metric tons on six hectares in Jhalakathi, 15 metric tons on 12 hectares in Patuakhali, 16 metric tons

on 10 hectares in Barguna under IAPP projects in 2010-11 fiscal.

However, it was increased to 10,265 metric tons on 3,259 hectares in Barisal, 397 metric tons on 138 hectares in Jhalakathi, 190 metric tons on 178 hectares in Patuakhali, 145 metric tons on 97 hectares in Barguna districts under IAPP projects in 2013-14 fiscal.

Quality seed supplies also contributed to higher yields from 1.5 metric tons to 3.5 metric tons per hectare. The government’s purchase of wheat also gave farmers some added incentive.

In recent years, breeders at Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (Bari) developed six high-yield-

ing wheat seed varieties as BARI GOM- 20,22,24,25 and salinity resistant 26 and 27 containing high protein and having better yielding capacity to rejuvenate farmers’ waning interest in the crop, Dr Mizanur informed.

Agriculturists said rising acreage and production of wheat might cut Bangladesh’s import costs for the grain, the demand for which grows every year owing to rising population, health consciousness and industrial use.

According to food ministry data the country needs 40 lakh tonnes of wheat, two-thirds of which are imported every year. In fiscal 2013-14, 26.89 lakh tonnes was imported: up 44% from that in the previous year. l

NEWS IN BRIEF Teenage boy found dead Police recovered the body of a teenage boy from an under-construction building at Basail in Narsingdi yesterday. Narsingdi Model police station Deputy-Inspector Mujibur Rahman said the body of Shakil Ahmed, 16, was recovered from the under-construction building of Md Ripon Mia. He was the son of rickshaw puller Rahi Mia of Toroya village. The body was sent to hospital morgue for autopsy.

–Our Correspondent, Narsingdi

Three houses gutted At least three houses were gutted and two cows were killed as fire broke out at Alinagar Uttarpara village in Austagram upazila in the district yesterday. Police

and local sources said the fire originated from Ali Mia’s cowshed around 1am and soon engulfed adjacent houses including the cowshed, leaving five cows dead on the spot and three houses burnt to ashes. The house owners claimed the loss caused by the fire could go up to Tk5 lakh.

– Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

One held in firearms case Police arrested a person yesterday at Kahalu upazila in the district in four firearm cases, filed 12 years ago. Police sources said Ashus Dev Barman , son of Satish Chandra Barman of Chatchari area was accused of four firearm cases. The cases were filed twelve years before. But the police could not arrest him as he went into hiding.

On the day, on a tip-off, the police arrested him from

the area. Chunarughat police station Officer-in-Charge Amullay Kumar Chowdhury confirmed the incident.

– Our Correspondent, Habiganj

Husband kills wife A housewife was killed by his husband yesterday at Pakundia upazila of the district over family feud. Police and locals said, Masud Mia, 40 of Bahadia village in the upazila married Rahena Khatun of Sutalrirchar under Katiadi upazila 14 years ago. On the day, Masud hit on the head of Rahena with wooden stick while she was performing Isha Namaj, leaving her dead on the spot.

Zakir Rabbani, officer-in-charge of Pakundia police station ,said the body was sent to Kishoreganj Modern Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

– Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

maximum times they are busy with their party activities. So, they cannot attend the offices.” “Many of them are accused off recent violence, arson attacks and vandalism,” he said.

When asked about the salary, he said they managed the committee men to put their name in the attendance book and drew the salary with the help of them.

“We have sent letter asking the committee members of those institutions to take proper action against the teachers.”

The officer alleged that local leaders of ruling party were heading maximum posts of the managing committee.

AKM Moksed Chowdhury, joint secretary of Palashbari unit Awami League said: “Maximum posts to the managing committees are headed by AL MPs.” “AL leader Shahidul Islam is the president of Palashbari Merirhat Fazil Madarsa’s managing committee. Jammat leader Kaosar is the principal of the institution and he along with other Jammat teachers drew the salary and other benefits with the help of the AL leader,” he said.

Shahidul said the salary of the alleged teachers would be stopped after getting order from the education officer. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Juris

Friday, February 27, 2015

Jamdani is ours

JAGANNATH UNIVERSITY LAW FACULTY

Bangladesh should win the title of Jamdani under the geographical indication law

Transforming legal education in Bangladesh n Md Abdur Razzak

A

lbeit started the journey as a public university in 2005, Jagannath University (JnU), as an academic institution, holds a long glorious history of 150 years that dates back to 1858. At present it has 33 departments under the aegis of seven distinctive faculties. In response to the upward demand of legal education in Bangladesh, Jagannath University opened its Law Department in the year 2009.

Professor Dr Sarkar Ali Akkas, a veteran in the arena of legal education of Bangladesh, was appointed as the first chairperson of the Law Department. Initially, he was accompanied by three young and popular law teachers, namely, SM Masum Billah, Shafiqur Rahman Khan and Christine Richardson. Among them, presently, the two faculty members, SM Masum Billah and Shafiqur Rahman Khan, are pursuing their PhD studies in New Zealand and Australia respectively.

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

J

n Mohammad Ataul Karim amdani Sari of Bangladesh, with indigenous craftsmanship and traditional weaving, has been a flagship Bangladeshi handicraft for a long period due to its special characteristics, quality and reputation. However, it is now well-known that India has registered Jamdani Sari as their own.

This move by our neighboring country has resulted in deep concerns among Bangladeshi people, particularly to those who have been associated with the industry.

Bangladesh government, after much hue and cry, has enacted Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 2013 to protect and promote our potential food products, agricultural products and handicrafts under the umbrella of geographical indications. It is worthwhile to mention that enacting the GI law is certainly a step forward to protect Bangladeshi GIs; however, Bangladesh government has to take some additional initiatives to preserve our national interests. In this writing, an attempt would be made to explain why Bangladesh should win the title of Jamdani under the geographical indication law.

Article 22.1 of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) explains geographical indications (GIs) as “indications which identify a good as originating in the territory of a member, or a region or locality in that territory, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographical origin.” Therefore, TRIPS has put forwarded the basis of GI protection based on the quality and characteristics of goods with regard to their origin.

In this respect, historical exploration would show that Jamdani has its roots in different areas of Bengal that currently comprise of the Dhaka district. It is well documented in Banglapedia, a national encyclopedia of Bangladesh, that during Mughal

rule, there were handlooms in almost all villages in Dhaka district. Dhaka, Sonargaon, Dhamrai, Titabari, Jangalbari and Bajitpur were famous places for making superior quality Jamdani.

Thus, Bangladesh has valid claims over Jamdani from a historical perspective. In addition, 8th Unesco Conference of the “Intergovernmental Committee for Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage” held at Azerbaijan in 2013 has endorsed the historical link of Jamdani to Bangladesh. It has declared Jamdani handicraft as “sole tradition” and “intangible cultural heritage” of Bangladesh.

GI law like other intellectual property laws is territorial, therefore, both the countries should protect the Jamdani under same terms. However, the issue is not as simple as it sounds. Of course, Section 10 of Indian Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999 provides scope for the registration and protection of homonymous GIs. In contrast, Section 7 of Bangladesh Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 2013 incorporates a similar provision. However, it is to be noted that the laws of both countries permit co-existence of homonymous GIs unless they poten-

Bangladesh is a genuine claimant of Jamdani as it is our national pride, a part of our longstanding tradition and cultural expression

As far as quality and reputation are concerned, Bangladeshi Jamdani Sari is of higher quality and greater brand value than its Indian counterpart which originates from Uppada, a small village of Andhra Pradesh in India.

The issues pertaining to quality and reputation of Bangladeshi Jamdani (also known as Dhakai Jamdani) are well-known not only in Bangladeshi markets but also in different Indian markets.

Article 22.2 and 22.3 of TRIPS has restricted the members from using GIs in any manner that may create confusion and mislead the public. As a signatory to the TRIPS Agreement, India is obliged not to adopt any policy that creates confusion, misleads the consumers and facilitates unfair competition.

It is further worthwhile to analyse whether India and Bangladesh can simultaneously protect Jamadni as homonymous GIs. Since enforcement of

7

tially create confusion in the market and mislead the consumers.

From domestic to international context, European Union is the leading GI market not only for EU members but also for other GI producing countries of the world. EU Regulation 1151 of 2012 has prescribed the rules and procedures to manage homonymous GIs. This Regulation stipulates that “a homonymous name which misleads the consumers into believing that products come from another territory shall not be registered even if the name is accurate as far as the actual territory, region or place of origin of the products in question is concerned.”

Therefore, proposition of homonymous protection of Jamdani by both States is not tenable under domestic and international geographical indication regime. Harnessing Jamdani as a homonymous GI has a great risk of producing confusion among the con-

sumers and may mislead them.

The position of Bangladesh may be substantiated even by the precedents of Indian Judiciary. For instance, In Scotch Whisky Association vs Golden Bottling Limited (2006 (32) PTC 656 Del), Scotch whisky had a GI tag and contended that the defendants were infringing their GI tag by propagating its whisky as “Red Scot.” Delhi High Court held that the defendant’s tag is not genuine; therefore, they are responsible for infringements and misleading the consumers.

Moreover, the famous Indian Basmati Rice case should be a useful reference to the current Jamdani dispute.

In late 1997, an American company, RiceTec Inc was granted a patent by the US patent office to call the aromatic rice grown outside India as “Basmati.”

India has been protecting Basmati rice for a long time as plant varieties under the legal mechanisms of Indian Seed Act, 1966.

India objected actions of the RiceTec on the ground of, among other things, non disclosure of true origin and creating misconception to buyers.

The same objection may also be raised

by Bangladeshi producers with regard to the ongoing Jamdani dispute.

In short, Bangladesh is a genuine claimant of Jamdani as it is our national pride, a part of our longstanding tradition and cultural expression.

Under the domestic and international geographical indications regime, we have sufficient grounds to substantiate our position against India. First and foremost, Jamdani should be registered under our domestic GI law without further delay.

Bangladesh, then, may apply under section 27 of Indian GI Law to the Registrar of Indian jurisdiction for cancellation of the registration of Jamdani. If the legal battle in India does not produce any satisfactory outcome, Bangladesh will have the recourse to the WTO dispute settlement body (DSB) for adjudication of the dispute. l Mohammad Ataul Karim is Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Green University, Bangladesh.

JURIS QUOTE The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread.

Anatole France

French author, awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1921 April 16, 1844 – October 12, 1924

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The young department, at the very outset, was run by only four faculty members with around 25 students. The figure is now raised to 13 faculty members with approximately 550 students Embarked on a solid intellectual foundation with the aim of transforming the legal education in Bangladesh, the Department of Law began offering four-year LLB (Hon’s) program from 2008-2009 academic session while

their career footprints in diverse fields including academia, judiciary, law practice, public services etc.

However, the Department of Law, being a recent addition to Jagannath University, is hard-pressed to deal with some sorry state of affairs. There is acute shortage of classrooms in the department. With the increasing number of students getting admitted every year, this problem is turning severe.

On top of that, there is no seminar room for the students. Absence of seminar room certainly hinders the legal minds from engaging in teaching and learning beyond the classroom.

There is no mock trial room or law clinic either. Despite having procedural subjects like “Moot Court Lawyering,” “Legal Drafting and Professional Ethics” and “Trial and Advocacy Training,” no effective means are available to reap their full potential. As a result, these subjects proved not to be very effective for the students.

Apart from taking regular classes at the department, teachers are seen to be engaged in private university teaching and consultancy. Although this practice is not substantially affecting their departmental functions, but it is in fact true that it somehow reduces their contributions for the department. Since politics is a very common phenomenon in public universities, ours is no exception. However, teachers’ involvement in politics had no detrimental effect on the academic activities so far.

In the midst of all these bugbears, the department has been, by and large, successful in keeping the students away from the unpleasant experience of session jam which is typical to almost all public universities in Bangladesh. As opposed to the year-system followed in different public university law departments, students of Jagannath University Law School seem to have benefited from the semestersystem it follows.

Insufficient infrastructural facilities have made the scope for extracurricular activities relatively limited.

The only club Law Department has

COURTESY

one-year LLM program was introduced in 2012-2013 session. Later on, it introduced Mphil and PhD programs in the year 2012. In the same year, Department of Law was placed under the Faculty of Law. Earlier, it was functioning under the auspices of the Faculty of Arts. Professor Dr Sarkar Ali Akkas is currently serving as the Dean of the Jagannath Univesity Law Faculty.

The young department, at the very outset, was run by only four faculty members with around 25 students.

The figure is now raised to 13 faculty members with approximately 550 students. In each academic year, almost 120 students are offered admission to the department. Applicants are required to go through a very rigorous and stiff competition to secure a seat at the department.

The department is committed to foster legal scholarship. As opposed to the traditional notion of lawyering, it puts emphasis on creating well trained, motivated and morally sound new breed of pro-bono lawyers with the ability to ensure access to justice for the poor and serve the greater interest of the nation. The curriculum is designed in a way that fosters an environment of interdisciplinary scholarship and enhances opportunities for students to learn and to contribute to both national and global legal issues. With two batches recently being graduated, students of the Law Department have successfully set

is Jagannath University Moot Court Society, although it is yet to carry out its functions in a full-fledged fashion.

However, students regularly publish wall magazines and there are some study circles as well.

On a regular basis, students do actively take part in various moot court and debate competitions like National Henry Dunant Moot Court Competition, ElCOP Refugee Law Moot Court Competition, and Inter-University Debate Competition etc. Every year, a good number of students from the department participate in the Human Rights Summer School organised by ELCOP which is the only residential programme in Bangladesh designed especially for law students.

Established with the pledge to revolutionise the legal education in Bangladesh and to encapsulate a high standard of academic excellence, the Department of Law, Jagannath University, is yet to reflect all its promises in reality. However, having said so, it would be no exaggeration to assert that in a short period of time and despite being faced with loads of conundrums, it has attained a considerable progress in terms of the quality of legal education it imparts. That progress is evident from the accomplishments that the fresh graduates of the Law Department have achieved so far in their respective fields. l Md Abdur Razzak is a student researcher, mooter and human rights activist.

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

World

Friday, February 27, 2015

IS snatches 220 from Christian villages n Reuters, Beirut Islamic State militants have abducted at least 220 people from Assyrian Christian villages in northeastern Syria during a three-day offensive, a monitoring group that tracks violence in Syria said yesterday.

The British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the abductions took place when Islamic State captured 10 villages inhabited by the ancient Christian minority near Hasaka, a city mainly held by the Kurds, in the past three days.

Islamic State has ruthlessly targeted members of religious minorities, as well as fellow Sunni Muslims who refuse to swear allegiance to the ‘caliphate’ it has declared in parts of Syria and Iraq.

A video released last week showed its members beheading 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya. Last August it killed or enslaved hundreds of Iraq’s Yazidis, whom it considers devil worshippers.

The militants have previously used kidnappings to trade captives for their own captured fighters but it was not clear if they planned to use the same tactic with the Assyrians, whose abduction they have not yet claimed.

The United States on Wednesday condemned the attacks on Assyrian Christian villages, which it said included the burning of homes and churches and abduction of women, children and the elderly.

Hundreds of Christians have now fled to the two main cities in Hasaka province, according to the Syriac National Council, a Syrian Christian group.

Land bridge

The region is strategically important to Islamic State as one of the bridges between land it controls in Syria and Iraq.

In recent weeks it has lost ground in northeast Syria after being pushed out of the Kurdish town of Kobani in January by Kurdish forces backed by US-led airstrikes.

These same strikes, however, have been unable to stop its advance into smaller villages.

Heavy fighting continued through Wednesday night between Syrian Kurdish militants and Islamic State, Kurdish officials and the human rights observatory said.

“ISIS now controls 10 Christian villages,” observatory head Rami Abdulrahman said by phone, using an acronym for Islamic State. “They have taken the people they kidnapped away from the villages and into their territory,” he said.

Two Kurdish officials said around 90 people had been abducted. One of the officials, Nasir Haj Mahmoud, from the YPG militia in northeastern Syria, said they were taken to Shedadeh village, which is Islamic State territory.

“Some Assyrian villages are still under Islamic State control,” he said.

Mahmoud said YPG had cut a main road linking Tel Hamis with al-Houl, a town just a few miles (kilometres) from the Iraqi border, and prevented attempts by Islamic State to reopen it.

“The YPG are still in control,” he said.

He said dozens had died overnight in clashes, which underline the emergence of well-organised Syrian Kurdish militia as the main partner for the US-led alliance against Islamic State in Syria.

Southern push

Islamic State fighters also launched an attack on rival insurgents east of Damascus, the group said on social media yesterday, a rare skirmish near the southern capital from the militant organisation, which is strongest in the northeast.

An official Twitter account for Islamic State said its fighters ambushed members of the Free Syrian Army, an alliance of western-backed rebels, on Wednesday in the Eastern Ghouta area.

It said the FSA suffered casualties, and Islamic State fighters seized tanks and ammunition in what it called a strategic location close to the government stronghold of central Damascus.

The Observatory confirmed the attack but said it had targeted rival jihadist brigades. l

A member of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards chants slogans after attacking a naval vessel during a military drill in the Strait of Hormuz in southern Iran on Wednesday. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards began naval exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, just a few hundred kilometres away from western vessels engaged in the fight against the IS group AFP

Guantanamo judge halts 9/11 proceedings over Pentagon order n AFP, Washington A US military judge suspended all pre-trial hearings in the case of the accused 9/11 plotters Wednesday after the Pentagon ordered all military judges to live permanently at the Guantanamo Bay base.

The ruling by Judge James Pohl was still under seal. But one of the defense attorneys in the case, James Connell, revealed its contents.

On December 9 last year, the over-

seer of the Guantanamo military courts, retired major general Vaughn Ary, asked Pentagon top brass that judges relocate to the US base in Cuba “to accelerate the pace of litigation.”

Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work issued the rule change on January 7. A month later, the five men accused of plotting to carry out the September 11, 2001 attacks – including alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed – filed a motion for their case to be dismissed, citing the gov-

ernment’s “unlawful influence” over the proceedings.

The man accused of masterminding the attack on the USS Cole in 2000, Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, joined that motion.

All six men could face the death penalty if convicted.

On Wednesday, Pohl suspended proceedings in the 9/11 case until the rule change is rescinded by the Pentagon, according to Connell, who has seen the sealed ruling. l

Cuba, US at odds on ending Havana’s Suicide bomb strikes top Nato envoy team in terror blacklist n Afghanistan AFP, Washington

n

Reuters, Kabul

A suicide bomber rammed a car laden with explosives into a vehicle belonging to Nato’s top envoy in Afghanistan, killing one Turkish soldier and wounding at least one person, Turkish officials said.

The explosion struck in the heart of the heavily fortified capital Kabul, close to the German, Iranian and Turkish embassies, rattling windows and putting embassy staff on high alert.

The Nato Senior Civilian Representative and former Turkish ambassador to Afghanistan could not immediately be reached by phone. Details on

his location at the time of the attack were unclear.

“A car bomb attack has been carried out on the vehicle of the security team of Turkish envoy Ismail Aramaz,” the Turkish military said in a statement.

The Taliban swiftly claimed responsibility but appeared to have mistaken the Turkish security team for a US convoy, clarifying on Twitter that they had not intended to kill any other country’s citizens.

“The purpose of today’s attack in Kabul was a convoy of US troops. The embassy or any other country nationals were not objective,” Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid tweeted. l

Just two days ahead of a second round of talks on restoring diplomatic ties frozen for five decades, Cuba and the United States on Wednesday staked out competing demands to ensure progress.

Cuban officials demanded that as a preliminary step to renewing relations, Washington must remove the island from its list of state sponsors of terrorism.

But a US official insisted the two issues should not be linked.

“It would be very easy to restore diplomatic relations if they would not link those two things ... it’s a delay of their own making, frankly,” the senior State Department official told reporters.

A delegation from Cuba will meet with US counterparts on Friday at the State Department to resume negotiations after a first historic round held in Havana last month.

“This session will focus entirely on the restoration of diplomatic relations,” the US official said, adding the session would start at 9:00 am (1400 GMT) and end in the afternoon with press conferences by both sides.

“We will focus on just what we need to do and get resolved to open embassies in each other’s countries, or transition our interests sections to embassies,” the official said, adding “both sides have an interest in doing that as quickly as possible.”

Washington has insisted that American diplomats must be allowed

to operate freely and meet with dissidents on the communist-run Caribbean island.

But Havana has remained wary.

And even Cuba’s dissident community has had mixed feelings about US President Barack Obama’s December agreement with Cuban leader Raul Castro to seek normal ties.

Some have praised the move while others worry too much was conceded to the communist regime without getting much in return.

Some observers believe that diplomatic ties could be restored before a Summit of the Americas in Panama in April, to be attended by Cuba for the first time in the history of the regional gathering. Obama is also due to attend. l

UK lawmakers demand new EU rules on genetically modified crops n Reuters EU rules that prevent genetically modified crops from being grown in the UK, even after they pass rigorous safety tests, are not fit for purpose and should be totally reformed, British lawmakers said yesterday.

Members of parliament’s science and technology committee said the EU regulation is driven more by politics than science.

Scientific evidence is clear, they said, that genetically modified crops “pose no more risk to humans, animals or the environment than equivalent crops developed using more conventional techniques.”

The committee criticised huge delays in decision-making and said the way the EU’s regulatory system works means that member countries opposed to GM crops can stop them from being grown in other EU countries.

“A regulatory system which can take decades to reach a decision cannot possibly be considered fit for purpose,” Andrew Miller, the committee’s chair, said in a statement.

In its report, the committee said the stringent rules had driven research activity out of the EU and put at risk Britain’s chance to be a global player in

new agricultural technology.

“To meet the huge challenge of feeding a burgeoning global population, using fewer resources, as our climate becomes increasingly unstable, we will need to use all of the tools at our disposal, be they social, political, economic or technological,” Miller said. “Regulatory reform is no longer merely an option, it is a necessity.”

Widespread in the Americas and Asia, GM crops are rare in Europe. Opposition is strong in some countries such as France and Germany, while Britain is broadly in favor of them.

The UK committee highlighted three “major flaws” in the EU regulatory regime: it is based on the assumption that GM crops inherently pose greater risk than crops produced using other techniques; it assesses the risks posed by GM crops but fails to balance them with potentially significant benefits to the producer, the consumer and the environment; it prevents EU states from making their own decisions about whether to adopt GM products.

“The purpose of shared regulation should be to ensure mutual protection from unsafe products, not to unjustifiably restrict the choices available to other elected governments and the citizens they represent,” Miller said. l

Nigeria’s Buhari vows to ‘lead from the front’ against Boko Haram

n AFP, London Nigerian presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari yesterday vowed to “lead from the front” in the fight against Boko Haram if elected in the country’s forthcoming election.

The former military ruler, who rejected descriptions of him as a “dictator,” also argued against further delays to the election and said a free, fair and peaceful vote would boost democracy in Africa.

The 72-year-old from the All Progressives Congress (APC) opposition has been seen as neck-and-neck with President Goodluck Jonathan in the closely fought election campaign.

Some have predicted that Jonathan’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could lose power for the first time since Nigeria returned to civilian rule in 1999. l

Hollande condemns French lawmakers meeting ‘dictator’ Assad

n AFP, Manila President Francois Hollande yesterday condemned a group of French lawmakers for meeting with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whom he branded a “dictator.”

“I condemn this initiative. I condemn it because French lawmakers have taken it upon themselves to meet with a dictator who is the cause of one of the worst civil wars of recent years,” Hollande told reporters in the Philippines.

A cross-party group of four French lawmakers made an unofficial trip to the Syrian capital Damascus on Wednesday and held talks with senior ministers.

Three of the MPs – not including one from the ruling Socialist party – then met with the Syrian leader.

Hollande condemned the talks, saying France cannot have a dialogue with a “dictator who has bombed his own people and who has used chemical weapons to destroy human lives, Syrian lives – the lives of children, women.” l

BBC names ‘Jihadi John’ suspect in Islamic State beheading videos

n Reuters, London The BBC said yesterday it had learned that the “Jihadi John” suspect who has featured in several Islamic State beheading videos is Mohammed Emwazi from London. Earlier, the Washington Post newspaper had also identified Emwazi and said he was a Briton from a well-todo family who grew up in West London and graduated from college with a degree in computer programming. Police declined to comment on the reports.

“We are not going to confirm the identity of anyone at this stage or give an update on the progress of this live counter- terrorism investigation,” said Commander Richard Walton of the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command in a statement. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Preview

Friday, February 27, 2015

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10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Friday, February 27, 2015

CODE-CRACKER

Proceed with utmost caution

T

he fact that two private telephone conversations could be taped and then leaked to the media raises important questions for the authorities to answer.

Amidst constant efforts to undermine and unseat the government, including almost daily acts of criminal violence that have taken scores of lives already this year, no one doubts that national security is a legitimate concern for Bangladesh.

The authorities must have the tools they need in order to maintain stability and pursue those who seek to unlawfully bring down the government or to terrorise the public.

However, by the same token, the general public also has a right to know what the rules of such engagement are and to have made clear what level of privacy and security we enjoy and what lines we can expect will not be crossed.

The government must set in place a protocol for what is an acceptable level of surveillance, and ensure that it is followed.

Everyday citizens need to have confidence that their government will not spy on them without due cause, and that the power of government surveillance will be used as sparingly as possible, and that every effort will be made to ensure that such sensitive information is not leaked to the media or other third parties.

Further, the government must assure the general public that this right will not be abused to harass or intimidate those it perceives to be its enemies or opponents, but will only be used in genuine cases of national security or public concern.

National security is a paramount concern. However, we urge the government to take every precaution in ensuring protections for the public, so that we do not cross over the line into becoming a surveillance state.

No one doubts the critical importance of national security or the government’s need to be vigilant to protect the public interest, but the dangers of too much surveillance can be just as ruinous to the health of the nation as that of too little.

Citizens need to have confidence that their government will not spy on them without due cause

Encourage more women in local government

M

ore effort must be made to increase the participation of women in local government bodies.

Tackling barriers that limit the involvement and effectiveness of women in local politics is essential not just to help empower women, but also to revitalise this vital tier of governance by making it more representative and democratically accountable.

Figures compiled by Democracy Watch show that women’s participation in the 2014 upazila elections which had 1,507 women taking part across 458 upazilas, was 48% lower than in the 2009 upazila elections.

Parties’ reluctance to nominate and empower their female members is widely cited as a reason behind falling female participation in local elections.

This gives pause for thought especially when considered with the long delays which have occurred in ensuring elections for reserved seats for women.

Even when women are in elected local positions, many complain of being held back in the ability to represent their communities because of lack of cooperation and support from their male colleagues.

Such attitudes and barriers undermine the entire community, by making local government less responsive and effective. It is vital that we do not allow national progress in empowering women to fall behind at the grassroots level.

Institutional obstacles deterring or hampering women’s participation in local government must be addressed by political parties themselves to help more women advance in leadership roles.

Everyone will benefit if women’s skills and talents are not held back.

Society gains by encouraging everyone to develop and reach their potential.

Everyone will benefit by making governance more representative

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

Is an election enough?

February 9 is definitely not affirmative.

Both the major political parties and their leaders have been tested time and again and they have always betrayed the peoples’ hopes and aspiration. They are glued to either leaders with a sort of super glue that stubbornly refuses to get detached. Democracy will continue to elude us in real life and stay only in our dreams forever.

Hugh Jass No it is not. We need sweeping changes to the very core of our political landscape in order to fix this nation. rose A good write-up indeed! sundar But do we, the people of this country, really want transparency and accountability in all aspects of our life? Do the businessmen, professionals, service-holders, and intellectuals sincerely want to be transparent and accountable in respect of their respective professions? Definitely not. Similarly, is each individual person sincerely accountable to their conscience, ethics, and morality? The answer

BNP has lost

February 7 Arsenal Real Is there any dislike button?

Khosru Huda She should know that the people of this unfortunate country have given her the approval to take the severest stand against this form of terrorism, unleashed by the BNP and its allies, the terrorist organisation called Jamaat-e-Islami, and its student-wing Islami Chhatra Shibir. The best article

by Nadeem Qadir I have ever read! So unbiased and well researched. If there is a Nobel prize for best journalism, you deserve that!

Arch Bishop And what about the RAB and police, and the author’s political masters who have conducted more than a 100 extra-judicial killings and disappearances in 2014 alone? Typical BAKSAL. Babul Sarwar After 60 deaths by burning, we still feel happy to say that the BNP lost and the AL won. But has the government won? Why are we even biased with rule of law?

How to solve: Each number in our CODE-CRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 19 represents W so fill W every time the figure 19 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

sneep sundar: I think what the author is advocating is a change in the system. Basically it is the electoral system that keeps us glued to the two ladies, but a different system might help us break free. sundar sneep: Agreed, but the question is to change the system, peoples’ effective and active support is indispensable, for which they need to be unglued from these ladies, which till now, seems to be a Utopian expectation.

You can rest assured that if by any miracle a free and fair election is held tomorrow, participated by the two ruling parties, including a third force, pledging a system-wide change, either of the mainstream parties and the third force might lose their electoral security money.

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.

Saudi to recruit workers free of cost February 9 Rao How kind of them! Now they don’t have to pay extra for their slaves.

A way out of this mess February 10

sattar So Hasina at the end of the road? Crazy implications.

Karl Hungus An interesting twist you have there Ms Ahmed.

Bangladesh into the final of Bangabandhu Gold Cup February 6

AL: Dialogue only if BNP admits to killing people

CROSSWORD ACROSS

DOWN

1 Bear witness to (6) 4 Enquire (3) 7 Combine (5) 8 Appropriate (6) 11 Excavate (3) 12 Solitary (4) 13 Nigh (4) 15 Water pitchers (5) 16 Unit of capacity (5) 20 Quick (4) 23 Within a short period (4) 24 Clamour (3) 25 Takes as one’s own (6) 26 Change (5) 27 Acceptance (3) 28 Threefold (6)

1 Fruit (5) 2 Specialists (7) 3 Rotate (4) 4 Opera by Verdi (4) 5 Agitate (4) 6 Barrel (3) 9 Argument (3) 10 Numeral (3) 14 Serial part (7) 17 Spinning toy (3) 18 Decay (3) 19 Result from (5) 20 Line of soldiers (4) 21 Insects (4) 22 Pastry dish (4) 24 Period of time (3)

February 7

Fazlul Karim Do we not trust our judiciary??? Let crimes/killing be dealt by judiciary!!!

Please AL/PM call for dialogue to discuss next election, not only with BNP but also with civil society, other prominent politicians like Dr. Kamal, Badruddoza Chowdhury, Kader Siddiqi, Comrade Khalekuzzaman ...

Jahangir Shah After a long time, the first sport with which we fell in love has come into the spotlight again.

Congrats!

CALVIN AND HOBBES BNP extends hartal till Friday

February 10 Naureen Ahmed Lol ... as if we didn’t know this was going to happen!

Pakistan win the first warm-up match of Cricket World Cup 2015 against Bangladesh

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

February 9 Jitu Sheikh Jinat Mahmid Very bad news! Bangladesh cricket: The Tigers wake up!

Dhaka Drum Circle sends out positive vibes February 10 Golam Ahmed Khan This is good

PM: BNP-Jamaat act as IS

February 6 Babu Sardar Where ISIS burnt the Jordanian pilot, there is no government like we have, or is the PM comparing her government with the government ISIS has around them!

SUDOKU

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

11

Friday, February 27, 2015

Historic hilsa diplomacy n Nadeem Qadir

T

BIGSTOCK

Making the case

I

n Zafar Sobhan

t is a constant complaint of the ruling AL that it doesn’t get a fair shake in the media, who are always drawing a false equivalency between them and the BNP, and that there is a gulf of difference between the two parties that is not sufficiently appreciated by the chattering classes.

There is more than a modicum of truth to the accusation, and certainly the AL has never unleashed a reign of terror on the civilian population of the country, as the BNP were responsible for in the run up to the January 5 election as well as over the past month and a half.

This is not to say that the AL is either perfect or faultless, only to point out that there do exist significant areas of difference between it and the BNP. For the most part, the differences (for instance, when it comes to extra-judicial killings) are more in degree than kind, but the numbers do bear them out.

Now is the time for the AL to sharpen the distinctions between it and its rivals and to show the Bangladeshi public that it really is fundamentally different from the alternative.

Indeed, the bar is so low, that even very token steps in the direction of good governance and respect for fundamental rights would go a long way towards cementing a better reputation for the party.

The recent arrest of Mahmudur Rahman Manna in fact offers the ruling party a gilt-edged opportunity to demonstrate the difference between the AL and not only the BNP but the caretaker government that ruled this country for two years from 2007 to

2008.

Custodial abuse and torture is one of the most egregious of wrongs that is routinely committed by successive Bangladeshi governments. We all know that serious abuse in police custody is business as usual, and that those unfortunate enough to be taken into custody on even the most minor of charges can expect serious physical abuse.

most recent one. I have heard of no parallel to the torture meted out to MK Alamgir by both the BNP and later the caretaker government, when the AL have been in power.

This is a record that the AL should be proud of and should do everything it can to uphold. There truly is a world of difference between a government that does not torture and a government that does. This is the perfect

Let his case stand as an example of the government’s commitment to due process, to transparency, to its respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights

Those who are arrested on more serious charges of instigating political unrest are even less fortunate, and the lower you are down the totem pole, the worse the torture you can expect.

It is worth noting that as bad as things were prior to independence, the Pakistani authorities maintained some semblance of decency when incarcerating their political foes. The likes of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and Dr. Kamal Hossain may have spent considerable time behind bars, but at least they were never tortured or abused. Sadly, in independent Bangladesh, our record has not been as good.

But custodial abuse and torture is an area where the AL does indeed have a better record than either the BNP or the various military-backed governments of the past, including the

way for the party to demonstrate the distinction between it and its predecessors in office and to show the public how things can be different under an AL government.

For a party that has spent so much of its existence in opposition and that has seen so many of its stalwarts put behind bars at one time or another, the focus on respecting political rights and protecting the fundamental rights of the accused should be a comfortable fit.

Which brings us back to the case of Manna. He has long been a strident critic of the government, and as a one-time AL leader, his criticisms of the party have had more impact and done more damage than those of many others. Due to his ubiquity on television, he is among the most prominent

and recognisable of the government’s critics.

The case against him is a serious one and the charges grave. He is accused of attempting to instigate the armed forces to unseat the government, possibly the most serious crime anyone could be charged with, certainly in the political scheme of things.

The country has been in crisis since the start of the year and remains balanced on a knife-edge. In such an environment, the government could be forgiven for operating with zero tolerance for those who would seek to destabilise them.

There can be little doubt what the BNP or the last caretaker government would have done to someone accused of such serious crimes against the state.

This is a chance for the AL to really show that it is different from its rivals and predecessors and that it will run the country according to the rule of law and not through fear and intimidation.

By all means, the case against Manna must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and no one would blame the government for the most stringent punishment if he is found guilty. But let his case stand as an example of the government’s commitment to due process, to transparency, to its respect for the rule of law and fundamental rights.

The whole nation is watching, and judicious handling of Manna’s case would do the AL more good with the general public than all the billboards, PR publications, and public service announcements extolling the government’s virtues put together. l Zafar Sobhan is the Editor, Dhaka Tribune.

he brief visit of Mamata Bannerjee was significant, as it not only laid down firm assurances of her support of Bangladesh’s long-standing demand of the land boundary agreement, and the almost-sealed Teesta river water sharing agreement.

It is important since it also came at a time when the opposition, BNP-Jamaat, are leaving no stone unturned to make the international community, especially India, turn against Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government in an effort to force new elections.

Mamata, popularly known as Didi, came to Bangladesh with outstretched arms, and was equally reciprocated by the government.

But, it is all stuck in the Hilsa diplomacy -- as I call it. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has told Mamata that Hilsa fish will flow into West Bengal once Teesta river water starts to flow into Bangladesh adequately.

It was all in a lighter vein, but in diplomacy, it is very important to move at the right moment. When Didi asked for Hilsa, the premier chose the right words. The premier made it clear that nothing will change in the strained relations unless Mamata played her role in the Teesta deal, as she had on the land boundary treaty.

Mamata wrote in her Facebook status on her visit to Bangabandhu Bhaban: “Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the chief architect of independent Bangladesh. As the father of the nation, he brought due respect and glory to the Bengali language from all over the world. In memory of the great soul, I bow with reverence and respect.”

And about her meeting with Sheikh Hasina, she said: “Constructive, positive and may I say, historic!”

Mamata had opposed both the deals saying that she was safeguarding the interests of her people in West Bengal, but she did this when she had an upper hand in the central government during Manmohan Singh’s Congress rule.

This time around, with Narendra Modi’s BJP possessing absolute majority in the centre, Mamata appears to have realised that good ties with Dhaka could bring her some important dividends.

She also needs the vote of West Bengal’s Muslim population as well as the swinging ones in the 2016 polls.

Analysts say the Burdhwan blast linked to Islamic militants weakened her position with questions that she might be overlooking that West Bengal is being used for terror attacks in Bangladesh. Also, the Saradha scandal in which her close associates were involved damaged her image a great deal. Thus, she needed some positives to rescue her goodwill and the easiest, with guaranteed success, was mending her ties with Sheikh Hasina.

Her choice of words and every move was very measured, in an effort to impress the hearts of Bangladeshis -- like reciting poems and joining artists in singing Bangladesh’s national anthem.

In response to questions on the deal, Mamata confidently said: “Have faith in me.” It seemed as if she was trying to right a wrong that she had done in the past and was repentant.

She also promised a new beginning in ties between Dhaka and Kolkata.

Why not? Kolkata is one of our favourite destinations for holidays, as Bangladeshis enjoy the theatres and other cultural happenings there, besides shopping and enjoying the popular street foods.

During my stay in Kolkata for more than a year, I realised that the people there had a special closeness to those from Bangladesh -- as if we belonged to different branches from the same tree that needed more nurturing.

What now remains to be seen is how she follows up on her promises to her friends in Bangladesh Mamata must have also realised that the border with Bangladesh was hot during the BNP-Jamaat rule, while Sheikh Hasina took a firm stand on ensuring that Bangladesh’s soil is not used against India.

What now remains to be seen is how she follows up on her promises to her friends in Bangladesh.

She visited the Language Martyrs’ Memorial and the Bangabandhu Museum, besides other routine appointments, but left out meeting Khaleda Zia, the leader of the BNP-Jamaat 20-party right-wing alliance.

It appeared to be a move designed to not give Khaleda Zia any upper hand in this so-called terror campaign to go to power. And also to tell the world that Sheikh Hasina is on a right footing.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a 30-minute telephone conversation with Sheikh Hasina on the Cricket World Cup. Interestingly, the two busy heads of government can take so much time just to discuss cricket! It definitely covered other issues including the political situation in Bangladesh and his assurance of continued friendship with Sheikh Hasina’s regime.

One source in New Delhi, close to the establishment, told me that New Delhi has great faith and respect for Sheikh Hasina’s unequivocal stand on secularism and terrorism, besides her being a traditional friend of India.

It is time that the two countries started to roll the ball for furthering ties by approving the two treaties, keeping in mind the interest of the people of the two neighbouring South Asian countries. l Nadeem Qadir is Minister (Press), Bangladesh High Commission in London and a UNCA Dag Hammarskjold Scholar in journalism.

Resolving problems of the new HSC ICT subject n Zeeshan Hasan

T

his year, the ministry of education introduced a new Information and Communication Technology (ICT) subject at the HSC-level and made it compulsory for all students. The syllabus itself is excellent; it covers a simple introduction to web page design in HTML, followed by extensive topics in the much more challenging C programming and SQL database programming languages.

ly only encountered abroad at the university-level, and only by students who have successfully completed high school science and mathematics.

That’s because these programming languages are complex subjects, suitable only for science students with mathematical aptitude. It is unrealistic to expect arts and commerce students to cope with these topics.

In Bangladesh, there is already a strong cultural preference for science as the route to a secure career in

Making computer programming a compulsory subject effectively discriminates against the poor

Unfortunately, in its enthusiasm to incorporate the dream of a Digital Bangladesh in the HSC syllabus, the relevant government officials have overlooked the limitations faced by the majority of students.

First of all, it should be noted that C programming and SQL database programming languages are usual-

medicine and engineering. In general, students who have opted for arts and commerce tracks have done so because they lacked mathematical aptitude, as witnessed by the high proportion of students who fail mathematics at SSC and HSC. By making C and SQL programming compulsory to all those arts and sci-

ence students who already face great difficulty passing regular mathematics, the Ministry of Education has only put a needless hurdle in the path of the majority of students.

Most non-science HSC students will not be able to pass the university-level programming syllabus, which has now been made compulsory for them. The obvious solution is to make the ICT syllabus compulsory only for science students.

Another major problem is related to cost of computer hardware. Learning C and SQL programming requires spending long hours in front of a computer.

The reality is that students need a computer at home if they are to learn C and SQL programming. This is the real reason why even most wealthy countries don’t make computer science compulsory before university; even in wealthy countries, poor families don’t own computers.

Making computer programming a compulsory subject thus effectively discriminates against the poor. The cost of conventional PC hardware is around Tk25,000, far beyond the reach of poor families in Bangladesh.

The only real solution at the moment is to make the HSC ICT subject optional for everyone, as the majority of poor rural students will be unable to afford a computer and will find themselves at an extreme disadvan-

tage compared to wealthier students in cities.

This will only be solved by universal distribution of low-cost computers like the $35 Raspberry Pi (www.raspberrypi.org), which has been created particularly for the education market.

There is a further problem with the ICT subject, namely, the legal issue of software licenses. Although the syllabus has been carefully designed to not include the names of any proprietary software, the board-approved textbooks all assume that the syllabus will be fulfilled using Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office/Access.

However, the cost of buying this software is around Tk50,000 per computer, or about twice the price of the PC hardware.

This is too expensive for both schools and students. The solution is to create a new HSC ICT textbook to complete the syllabus using free and open-source software such as Linux and LibreOffice. Writing such a textbook is simple, and will be completed soon by local Bangladeshi Linux/opensource organisations.

In fact, low-cost devices, such as the Raspberry Pi mentioned above, are only able to run free/open-source operating systems such as Linux. So approval of a Linux/LibreOffice-based ICT HSC textbook is urgent.

The final issue is teacher training.

BIGSTOCK

To date, most HSC colleges don’t have teachers trained to teach students complex computer programming languages such as C and SQL. It is unreasonable to expect students to pass a challenging ICT syllabus without trained teachers in each institution.

Until Raspberry Pi, or similar low-cost Linux-powered computing devices, are available everywhere in Bangladesh, until the board approves a textbook allowing the syllabus to be

completed using such devices, and finally, until there are trained teachers available everywhere for this subject, the HSC ICT syllabus should be made optional. l Zeeshan Hasan is a director of Kazi Farms Group (www.kazifarms.com), Dhaka Tribune, and Sysnova IT (www.sysnova.com). His articles on religion are at www.liberalislam. net, and his global warming blog is at www. goodbyebangladesh.blogspot.com.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE Friday, February 27, 2015

UPCOMING MATCHES

TODAY South Africa v West Indies, 9:30am TOMORROW New Zealand v Australia, 7am India v UAE, 12:30pm

14 Afghanistan

14 Moin apologises

edge Scotland in thriller

to Pakistan fans for casino visit

Sport

Did you know?

Wayne Parnell has conceded 12 boundaries in nine overs at #CWC15, highest percentage of those delivering 50+ balls (21.4%)

Mashrafe rues ‘butter fingers’ The defeat to Sri Lanka will probably hurt the Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza most as the veteran fast bowler could only stand and watch how his charges dropped the match. As many as four catches went down as Sri Lanka made the Tigers pay heavily at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) yesterday.

The scenario could have been completely different given Anamul Haque held on to the sitter of Lahiru Thirimanne at first slip in the first over with the islanders on zero. The frustration was probably at the peak when Mashrafe continued to move the ball in the air, getting and edge only to see it fly between the wicketkeeper and Anamul.

Later, Mominul Haque and Taskin Ahmed joined the list as Kumar Sangakkara and TM Dilshan sent the ball to literally all corners of the ground to post a mammoth 332/1 in 50 overs.

Mashrafe rued the dropped chances and also emphasised on their performance saying they were not able to build partnerships during the match

like they did against Afghanistan. He said the bowlers were not able to bowl according to their merit and the poor fielding also did not help.

“Definitely drop catches costs us but it happens in cricket at the same time I think as a bowling group we were not been up to the mark today (yesterday).

We need to work it out and hopefully in the next games we will come up good,” said a demoralised Mashrafe before adding, “Chasing over 330 was always going to be difficult.”

“Prior to that with the ball and in the field we were not up to the mark.

However, we still have three matches left and hope do something well in the upcoming game,” he said.

Bangladesh team only practiced a day before their game at the MCG, but Mashrafe was not ready to make it an excuse. “When we first reached here we practiced the ground fielding so whatever I say will be an excuse and I think it will be better if we accept that we did not play up to the mark in that department.

“However, things would have been different if we could have restricted them under 270-280. If Shakib and Mushfiq were not dismissed when they were, we could have gone further.”l

TALKING POINTS

Yousuf Rahman (Babu), former national cricketer, vice captain and first centurion writes from New York for Bangladesh fans all across the globe.

Bizarre elements of the match

Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara stumps Bangladesh’s Mashrafe Mortaza during their Pool A 2015 World Cup match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday

Excitement gets the better of Tigers Mazhar Uddin

High points of the match

Bangladesh’s batting order. The two best batters, Mushfiq and Shakib batting at 6 and 7 and Shabbir, who looks much better than his position at 8.

The complete domination by the two veterans of Sri Lanka, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara as both ended up with unbeaten hundreds that literally sealed the match for Sri Lanka.

Embarrassment of the match

Lowest points

The term “butterfingers” for all the dropped catches from both teams.

Bangladesh’s bowling line, which was wide off the mark. Only 13% of the balls bowled by the seamers were at the stumps.

The second half of Bangladesh’s batting order showing more reliability and grit than the top order

Bangladesh’s top order batting is still very tentative and fragile. With two big matches to come against England and New Zealand, unless the top five is organized, the results will be a one-sided affair going against Bangladesh. l

Most painful moment Mashrafee Murtaza’s frustration when he had Thirimane edge twice within a span of two overs only to see the chances go by in the slip region.

A young fan of Bangladesh's cricket team wears a tiger outfit before their Cricket World Cup match against Sri Lanka in Melbourne yesterday REUTERS

from Melbourne It was a case of not being able to handle the excitement and expectation of the fans as the Bangladesh cricketers suffered a 92-run defeat against Sri Lanka yesterday on their Melbourne Cricket Ground debut.

There was no shortage of enthusiasm and energy in the Tigers’ third Pool A game yesterday but eventually it backfired ever since Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and asked Bangladesh to field.

There is a common phrase in cricket, “Morning shows the day”, and it was relevant from the very beginning as Anamul Haque made the worst possible start at such a beautiful ground.

The youngster grassed an easy opportunity in the very first over of the innings, bowled by skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza. Lahiru Thirimanne was the batsman in question. The lefthander, who had yet to open his account, edged Mashrafe to first slip but Anamul dropped a sitter after a couple of juggles.

Anamul never really recovered from it as the ball tended to follow the nervous cricketer throughout the inning.

Over-excitement even seemed to get the better of experienced wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim and once again, Mashrafe was the unlucky one. A lucky Thirimanne nicked a delivery but Mushfiq and Anamul were unable to even get close as the ball flew between the stumper and first slip.

It was followed by another missed opportunity and Thirimanne was the beneficiary yet again. On 44,

POOL A Teams New Zealand Sri Lanka Australia Bangladesh Afghanistan England Scotland

M 3 3 2 3 3 3 3

W 3 2 1 1 1 1 0

L 0 1 0 1 2 2 3

NR P 0 6 0 4 1 3 1 3 0 2 0 2 0 0

Thirimanne came down the wicket off Sabbir Rahman but Mushfiq failed to grab the ball and missed an easy stumping chance. The left-hander rubbed salt into the wounds by smashing the very next delivery for a boundary.

A few unnecessary overthrows compounded Bangladesh’s misery but the worst misses were yet to come.

Bangladesh paid the heaviest price by dropping veteran campaigner

Kumar Sangakkara not once but twice.

First, fast bowler Taskin Ahmed was unable to hold onto a return catch when the legendary left-hander was batting on 23.

Then it was Mominul Haque at point who let go of an easy catch off the bowling of paceman Rubel Hossain when Sangakkara was on 60.

Playing in his 400th one-day international, Sangakkara went on to smash his 22nd hundred.

From the other end, opener Tillakaratne Dilshan blasted an unbeaten 161 from 146 balls and 332/1 was always going to be a tall order for the Tigers given the stat that no side have ever chased 300 successfully in 10 matches at the MCG. The Tigers eventually lost the game by 92 runs but it could have been a totally different ball game if the Bangladesh fielders were able to keep their composure.

“Obviously, everyone was excited which was normal. Expectation was obviously there. Our focus was to play good cricket but we couldn’t,” Mashrafe told the media after the end of the game.

All the Bangladesh cricketers can do now is forget the MCG experience and concentrate on their next game against Scotland this Thursday at Nelson, New Zealand.l

AFP

SLvBAN Sri Lanka L. Thirimanne c Taskin b Rubel T. Dilshan not out K. Sangakkara not out Extras: (b3, lb2, w9)

R 52 161 105 14

Total (for 1 wkt, 50 overs)

332

B 78 146 76

Fall of wickets 1-122 (Thirimanne)

Bowling Mortaza 10-0-53-0, Rubel 9-0-62-1 (w5), Taskin 10-1-82-0 (w2), Shakib 10-0-55-0, Mahmudullah 7-0-49-0, Sabbir 4-0-26-0 (w2)

Bangladesh Tamim Iqbal b Malinga Anamul Haque run out (Mathews) Soumya c Sangakkara b Mathews Mominul c Jayawardene b Lakmal Mahmudullah c Herath b Perera Shakib Al Hasan c Malinga b Dilshan Mushfiqur Rahim b Lakmal Sabbir c Sangakkara b Malinga Mashrafe st Sangakkara b Dilshan Rubel Hossain not out Taskin Ahmed lbw b Malinga Extras: (lb9, w6) Total (all out, 47 overs)

R 0 29 25 1 28 46 36 53 7 0 0 15

B 2 43 15 3 46 59 39 62 7 5 1

240

Fall of wickets 1-0 (Tamim), 2-40 (Sarkar), 3-41 (Mominul), 4-84 (Anamul), 5-100 (Mahmudullah), 6-164 (Shakib), 7-208 (Rahim), 8-228 (Mortaza), 9-240 (Sabbir), 10-240 (Taskin)

Bowling Malinga 9-0-35-3, Lakmal 8-0-49-2 (w2), Mathews 5.4-0-36-1, Herath 10-0-43-0, Perera 6.2-0-33-1 (w1), Dilshan 8-0-35-2 (w2) Sri Lanka won by 92 runs

‘Proud’ Sangakkara marks 400th ODI with century

Mathews hails ‘brilliant’ Dilshan n AFP, Melbourne

n AFP, Melbourne

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews hailed century makers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara as “brilliant” after they lifted the 1996 champions to a 92-run win over Bangladesh on Thursday.

Dilshan smashed an unbeaten 161 off 146 balls -- the ninth highest score in World Cup history -- while Sangakkara marked his 400th one-dayer with 105 not out as Sri Lanka whipped butter-fingered Bangladesh at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Sri Lanka piled up 332 for one that proved too much for Bangladesh, who folded up for 240 with three overs to spare.

“Dilshan and Sangakkara were brilliant, they batted us through, took calculated risks and it was a great effort by the three batters,” said Mathews, also reserving praise for opener Lahiru Thirimanne for his 52.

“We were slightly sloppy in the field and could have done better, but once you’ve got 300 on the board your bowlers can take chances. We’re all ready for the England game,” added Mathews in reference to their next Pool A game in Wellington on Sunday.l

Kumar Sangakkara said he was proud to have “kept pace with the game” as he marked his 400th one-day international with a century against Bangladesh in their World Cup clash at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Thursday.

The 37-year-old left-hander, who plans to retire from the white-ball game after the World Cup, struck his 22nd ODI century off just off 73 balls including 12 fours and a six before finishing on 105 not out.

But for much of his innings he

played second-fiddle to Tillakaratne Dilshan, who made 161 not out in the pair’s unbroken second-wicket stand of 210 that saw Sri Lanka to a commanding total of 332 for one in their 50 overs.

“It’s nice to get a hundred,” said Sangakkara at the mid-innings break.

“Dilshan batted brilliantly and the innings was set-up by that opening partnership (of 122 between Dilshan and Lahiru Thirimanne, who made 52).

“The boys were wishing me luck for my 400th game so it was nice to get the hundred,” said Sangakkara.

“You have to evolve with the game.

I’ve tried to keep pace with the guys and innovate.”

Sangakkara joined two Sri Lankans -- Sanath Jayasuriya (445) and current team-mate Mahela Jayawardene (444) -- in a ‘400-club’ of most appearances headed by India great Sachin Tendulkar of India, who played 463 ODI matches.

Sangakkara, the prolific left-handed batsman and wicketkeeper who made his debut in 2000, is due to retire from one-day cricket, along with Jayawardene, after the World Cup.l

400 ODI CLUB SACHIN TENDULKAR

SANATH JAYASURIYA

MAHELA JAYAWARDENE

KUMAR SANGAKKARA

463 ODIs

445 ODIs

444 ODIs

400 ODIs

Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara (R) celebrates his century with TM Dilshan against Bangladesh in their World Cup Pool A game at the MCG yesterday REUTERS

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

13

Friday, February 27, 2015

Sk Russel stroll past Ctg Abahani n Shishir Hoque A comfortable 2-0 victory over Chittagong Abahani in the quarterfinal of the Federation Cup yesterday saw title aspirants Sheikh Russel KC set a semifinal date with defending champions Sheikh Jamal DC. Former Muktijoddha star and Nigerian striker Kingsley Chigozie netted the opener at the Bangabandhu National Stadium while his Cameroonian striking partner Paul Emile scored the second to seal the fate of the match for the strong Russel’s.

Sheikh Russel lost to Team BJMC and crashed out from the last eight in the previous edition of the tournament, but a better preparation with a stronger unit makes them a hot favourite this time around. They roped in seven national players along with securing the service of proven foreign players.

Russel dominated the entire match and it was a surprise that they did not put more goals past the port city side goalkeeper, who was the lone barrier to Russel’s attacks.

Kingsley struck a powerful shot in the 11th minute which could have given Russel the lead, but to everyone’s surprise the shot went straight to Chittagong Abahani goalkeeper Selim from the one-on-one situation. And just five minutes later national winger Yousuf Sifat also squandered a chance from a

similar set up.

Kingsley rattled the woodwork with a mighty backvolley from outside of the box with 25 minutes on the clock before Sifat too missed a golden chance skying the ball inside the six-yard box.

After a number of misfiring efforts Russel finally found the back of the net as Kingsley rectified his early mistakes by putting his side ahead in the 41st minute. The Nigerian striker chested Jahid Hasan Emily’s cross before firing home past Selim from the near post.

Paul Emile doubled the lead 11 minutes into the second half with a screamer. Receiving a short pass from Mithun Chowdhury, the Cameroon footballer unleashed a powerful strike from 30 yards out that rocketed past Selim giving the Chittagong custodian no chance.

Meanwhile, Abahani Limited will take on last season finalist Muktijoddha SKC in the last quarterfinal today at 5.15pm.l

Sheikh Russel KC’s Nigerian recruit Kingsley Chigozie (C) celebrates scoring the first goal against Chittagong Abahani during their Federation Cup quarterfinal at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Huge wins for Rangpur, Dhaka Metro in NCL BRIEF SCORES, DAY 4 Chittagong v Barisal Barisal 597/9 dec Chittagong 339 allout & 324/3 in 97 overs Tasamul 120*, Shukkur 104*, Abdullah 77 Match drawn

n Minhaz Uddin Khan Rangpur jumped to third position in the points table following an innings and one run win over Rajshahi on the

fourth and final day in the 16th National Cricket League yesterday.

Dhaka Metro on the other hand moved to fourth after a 135-run victory over second-bottom Sylhet while the

other two matches of the fifth round ended in draws.

Rajshahi v Rangpur, BKSP 3

Rangpur’s left-arm seamer Sajedul Is-

Khulna v Dhaka Dhaka 366 allout & 216/2 in 45 overs Majid 104, Rony 78 Khulna 600/9 dec in 150.3 overs Mehedi 66, Ziaur 110, Miraz 61; Sharif 3/176, Shahadat 2/87, Mosharraf 2/126 Match drawn

Dhaka Metro v Sylhet, SBNS

A joint effort by the Dhaka Metro bowlers saw Sylhet getting bundled out for 222, chasing 357 for victory.

Needing a further 324 for a win, Sylhet began the day’s proceedings on 33/1. However, the Dhaka Metro bowlers grabbed wickets at regular intervals to unsettle the opposition.

Paceman Sharifullah scalped three wickets while four bowlers picked up a wicket apiece to land a 135-run win for Dhaka Metro.

Rangpur v Rajshahi Rajshahi 263 allout & 263 allout in 75.3 overs Muktar 70*, Mizanur 61; Sajedul 4/66, Tanvir 3/28, Shuvashish 2/50 Rangpur 527/6 dec Rangpur won by an innings and one run Dhaka Metro v Sylhet Dhaka Metro 264 allout & 264/8 dec Sylhet 171 allout & 222 allout in 101.2 overs; Sharifullah 3/44, Marshal 2/19, Elias 2/51, Shohid 2/64 Dhaka Metro won by 135 runs

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 1, 3 9:30AM ICC World Cup South Africa v West Indies

Star Sports 4 7:00PM & 9:00PM Dubai Duty Free Tennis C’ships Semi Final 1 & 2

Ten Sports 7:30PM WTA 2015 Qatar Total Open SF 1

Ten Action 2:30PM A-League 2014/15 Melbourne City v Adelaide United 5:00PM I-League 2015 Shillong Lajong F.C v McDowell’s Mohun Bagan 06:30PM Indian-League Kalyani Bharat v Mumbai FC 1:45AM French Ligue 1 Olympic Marseille v SM Caen

Sony Six NBA Season 7:00AM Cleveland v Golden State 9:30AM Phoenix v Oklahoma City 12:30PM Super Rugby 2015 Highlanders v Reds 01:00AM Scottish Premiership Falkirk v Rangers

lam bagged four wickets as Rajshahi were dismissed for 263, just like the first inning, to give the former a comfortable victory.

Following on, Rajshahi resumed the final day’s play on 85/1 but were only able to add 178 more before losing all of their remaining nine wickets.

Muktar Ali struck an unbeaten 70 for Rajshahi but he lacked support from the other end as they finished a run behind Rangpur’s first-inning tally of 527/6 declared.

Dhaka v Khulna, Fatullah Dhaka division opener Rony Talukder pulls against Khulna during their NCL match at Fatullah yesterday

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Arsenal 1-3 Monaco: five talking points from the Emirates Stadium 1) Giroud endures horror show after rave reviews in build-up

The stage had been set for the former Montpellier striker, as he entered the tie in excellent form, with eight goals in 11 appearances and plenty of plaudits to massage his ego.

But everything fell apart for Olivier Giroud in the short period after halftime, when he missed a hat-trick of chances. They came in ascending order of gruesomeness, with the third – lifted over the crossbar from closerange – the prompt for howls from the crowd at the Emirates Stadium.

He was substituted moments later, making way for Theo Walcott on the hour, and, it was fair to say, few Arsenal fans were sad to see him depart.

2) Ospina will not enjoy replays of his bow on the big stage

This was a Champions League debut for David Ospina, the sort of opportunity he would have dreamed about when he joined Arsenal from Nice.

The goalkeeper was rarely employed in the first half until the moment when Geoffrey Kondogbia let fly from 25 yards and the ball deflected off Per Mertesacker. It was horrible to see just how wrong-footed Ospina was while the shot flashed into the very centre of his net – factors that

added up to an irritating concession.

It was easy to question Ospina’s lack of reaction, even though the ball was travelling at pace. He would recover to make a smart save from Anthony Martial on 62 minutes.

3) Wenger will fume after getting caught on the counter again

Arsène Wenger had laboured the point beforehand. On the back of conceding damaging away goals in the Champions League knockout phase in recent seasons, it was imperative that Arsenal kept things tight this time. But there was plenty of

UCL RESULTS

Arsenal

1-3

Chamberlain 90+1

Leverkusen

Monaco Kondogbia 38, Berbatov 53, F Carrasco 90+4

1-0

Atletico Madrid

Calhanoglu 57

head-shaking when Kondogbia was afforded yards of space in front of the back four in which to advance and shoot for the first while goals two and three came after Wenger’s team were caught cold on the counter. Mertesacker lost his bearings completely on the second and it was shocking to see Arsenal being exposed two-onone as early as the 55th minute.

4) Monaco disrupt Arsenal’s rhythm despite absentees

Nobody breaches Monaco easily. Les monégasques had arrived with an astonishing defensive record, having conceded only three times in their previous 17 matches in all competitions, but there had been fears for them here. In short, none of their first-choice back four was playing at the back (Fabinho, the regular rightback, was in midfield) while Jérémy Toulalan, the midfield screen, was suspended.

But Leonardo Jardim’s team made light of the setbacks with a welldrilled and athletic performance.

They massed men round the ball and threw themselves into the challenge.

Arsenal could not find their rhythm.

Table-toppers Khulna, resuming on 437/6, added 163 more runs before declaring their first inning on 600/9. In

the process, Khulna accumulated a lead of 234 runs with Ziaur Rahman scoring 110 off 139 balls with the help of 11 fours and five sixes. Later, Dhaka batted 45 overs and put on 216 for the loss of two wickets before the umpires decided to end the game in a draw. Openers Abdul Majid (104) and Rony Talukder (78) cut down the lead to 18.

Barisal v Chittagong, BKSP 2

Tasamul Haque (120*) and Irfan Shukkur’s (104*) unbeaten centuries helped table-proppers Chittagong to avoid defeat as their four-dayer against Barisal ended in a draw. The port city outfit scored 324/3 in 97 overs in their second inning and managed a 66-run lead over Barisal, who put up a huge 597/9 declared in their first essay. l

NCL POINTS TABLE Teams Khulna Dhaka Rangpur Dhaka Metro Rajshahi Barisal Sylhet Chittagong

M 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5

W 3 3 3 2 1 0 0 0

L 1 0 0 1 3 2 2 3

D Pts 1 83 2 81 2 74 2 48 1 45 3 28 3 28 2 16

Under-11 mini rugby begins today n Raihan Mahmood The 5th Health First Mini Rugby (U-11), sponsored by Monowara Hospitals and comprising nine schools of the capital, starts at the Paltan ground at 10am today.

The participating schools are Rahmatullah Model High School, Kamalapur School and College, Karatitola CS Memorial High School, St. Gregory’s School, Maniknagar Model High School, Haidar Ali High School, Shahid Nabi High School, Cambrian School

and Madartek Abdul Aziz High School.

In a press conference held at the Bangabandhu National Stadium conference room yesterday the chairman of the tournament committee and the personal secretary of the National Sports Council chairman Rashiduzzaman Serniyabat presented the meet to the media. The manager of Monowara Hospitals, Amir Hossain, assistant manager Maksudur Rahman, rugby union general secretary Mousum Ali and joint secretary Saeed Ahmed were also present on the occasion. l

5) Berbatov: the connoisseur’s choice of centre-forward

What is there not to like about Dimitar Berbatov, the strolling centre-forward who was born to play in a millionaire playboy’s paradise?

Unsurprisingly he is loving life in Monaco. There was something soothing about his return to England and the 34-year-old decorated the tie with his glorious touch and a few extravagant moments.

His first involvement was jeered by the crowd but there was little venom towards the former Spurs striker. Booing him just feels wrong.

Monaco’s top scorer never looked like blowing his chance against Ospina on the counterattack in the second half.l

The speakers in the press conference of the 5th Health First Mini Rugby (U11) address the media yesterday COURTESY

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Friday, February 27, 2015

TALKING POINTS

SCOvAFG Scotland K. Coetzer b Dawlat Zadran C. MacLeod c Najibullah b Dawlat H. Gardiner lbw Hassan M. Machan b Nabi P. Mommsen c Zazai b Naib R. Berrington c Zazai b Dawlat Zadran M. Cross c Zazai b Shapoor Zadran J. Davey c Hassan b Shapoor Zadran M. Haq c Naib b Shapoor Zadran A. Evans c Nabi b Shapoor Zadran I. Wardlaw not out Extras: (lb12, w12, nb1)

25 0 5 31 23 25 15 1 31 28 1 25

Total (all out; 50 overs))

210

Yousuf Rahman (Babu), former national cricketer, vice captain and first centurion writes from New York for Bangladesh fans all across the globe.

Statement of the day: The courage and discipline shown by the Afghans throughout the match.

Most exciting moment:

Fall of wickets

Shapoor hitting the winning runs and the celebration that followed.

Shapoor’s emotional reaction as he lay prostrated on the ground.

Dunedin becomes a historical landmark for Afghanistan as it records its first World Cup victory. This reminds me of Bangladesh’s first World Cup win in 1999. Ironically, it was also against Scotland.

1-7, 2-38, 3-40, 4-93, 5-95, 6-132, 7-134, 8-144, 9-206, 10-210

Bowling Shapoor Zadran 10-1-38-4 (1nb, 2w); Dawlat Zadran 10-1-29-3 (2w); Hassan 10-1-32-1; Naib 9-0-53-1 (2w); Nabi 10-0-38-1 (2w), Ahmadi 1-0-8-0; Afghanistan: J. Ahmadi c Machan b Berrington N. Mangal b Evans A. Stanikzai c Cross b Evans S. Shenwari c Davey b Haq M. Nabi lbw Davey A. Zazai lbw Berrington Najibullah Zadran c Haq b Barrington G. Naib c Haq b Davey Dawlat c Mommsen b Berrington H. Hassan not out Shapoor Zadran not out Extras: (lb1, w10, nb1)

51 7 4 96 1 0 4 0 9 15 12 12

Total (9 wkts, 49.3 overs)

211

Afghanistan’s fight back to win the day. Getting a win after being 132 for 8, when everyone had already counted them down and out.

Thought provoking statement: Had Mushfiq and Shakib not resuscitated Bangladesh’s batting, Afghanistan could have pulled off an upset win in their first world cup encounter.

Had Jayawardene not played that patient innings, Sri Lanka would have, in all likelihood, lost the match.

Fall of wickets 1-42, 2-46, 3-85, 4-88, 5-89, 6-96, 7-97, 8-132, 9-192

Bowling Wardlaw 9.3-0-61-0 (1nb, 2w); Davey 10-134-2 (1w); Evans 10-1-30-2 (4w); Haq 10-045-1 (1w); Berrington 10-0-40-4 (2w); Afghanistan won by one wicket

Afghanistan batsman Shapoor Zadran (R) celebrates with teammate Hamid Hassan after hitting the winning runs to defeat Scotland in their 2015 Cricket World Cup Group A match in Dunedin yesterday AFP

Afghanistan edge Scotland in thriller n AFP, Dunedin Afghanistan posted their first-ever victory at the World Cup on Thursday with a nail-biting one-wicket win over Scotland in Dunedin on Thursday.

Afghanistan chased down their target of 211 with just three balls to spare, bringing up a remarkable win for the minnows, appearing in their first World Cup .

Samiullah Shenwari who like many of the Afghan players learned his cricket in refugee camps after fleeing civil strife back home, rescued the side with a defiant 96 after they had collapsed to 97 for seven.

Javed Ahmadi contributed 51, while tail-ender Shapoor Zadran scored the winning runs, courtesy of a last-over boundary off Scotland paceman Iain Wardlaw.

Shapoor, who had earlier excelled with the ball, fell face down on the ground with relief after seeing Afghanistan home as the gutted Scots looked on.

The loss left Scotland still seeking a first win at a World Cup, with their overall record now standing at 11 defeats from as many matches over three

Stricken Crowe promises to cheer on Black Caps n AFP, Auckland New Zealand great Martin Crowe has vowed not even life-threatening cancer will stop him from being among an expected capacity crowd at Auckland’s Eden Park on Saturday to watch the Black Caps face Australia in an eagerly-anticipated World Cup clash.

The 52-year-old master batsman, terminally ill with a rare blood disease called double-hit lymphoma, said he wouldn’t want to miss the Pool A clash between the two tournament co-hosts and title contenders, for anything.

“For me, it will be the only (World Cup) game I get to, and it’s almost like a bookend to my cricketing life, to be there on Saturday and watch these boys,” Crowe told the Dominion Post.

Crowe, who played 77 Tests and 143 one-day internationals, hit a match-winning century to help New Zealand beat Australia at the same venue on their way to a semi-final finish in the 1992 World Cup. Crowe, one of the finest batsmen of his generation, said the current crop of New Zealand players were doing him proud. “I am incredibly proud of New Zealand cricket and the way Brendon (McCullum) and his team have really taken up this challenge over the last year. I am just overwhelmed at the way they’re playing a fearless game.”

Crowe hoped the round robin game, would be a cracking affair. l

campaigns at the tournament.

The Scots were all out for 210 off the final ball of their allotted 50 overs at Dunedin’s University Oval after losing the toss and being sent into bat in this Pool A clash.

Afghanistan’s decision to bowl first paid dividends on a green wicket as left-arm paceman Shapoor took four for 38 in his maximum permitted 10 overs.

But a 62-run stand for the ninth wicket took Scotland past 200 for the first time at a World Cup to provide a defendable total for their bowlers.

Several of the Scottish batsmen made starts but could not convert them in the face of Afghanistan’s spirited bowling effort.

The Afghans made a strong start to their chase, with opening batsman Ahmadi notching his fifth one-day international half century off 48 balls.

Ahmadi’s knock had Afghanistan at 85 for two after 18 overs, putting them into a good position for an all-out assault late in the innings.

But his departure sparked a dramatic collapse, with Mohammed Nabi gone two balls later followed by a first-ball duck for Afsar Zazai.l

S-club heaven for Shenwari, Shapoor

Afghans celebratory gunfire wounds six n AFP, Dunedin n Reuters, Kabul Twelve months ago Samiullah ShenEcstatic Afghans danced in the streets and fired rifles into the air on Thursday to celebrate their national cricket team’s first win in their maiden World Cup, a much-needed piece of good news for the country mired in war with Taliban insurgents.

Six people were injured in celebratory gunfire.

In the capital, Kabul, dozens of jubilant Afghans gathered near the cricket stadium after Afghanistan beat Scotland in dramatic one-wicket win in their Pool A clash.

“Today is one the happiest days in my life to see our heroes win their first World Cup match,” Ahmad Yaseen, a 19-year-old boy said while others shouted “Long live Afghanistan”.

“This means so much for our countrymen who wake up to face bombs, attacks and so many other difficulties.”

In Kabul, cricket fans raced around the city waving Afghan flags from car windows and honking their horns.

Celebratory gunfire wounded six people in the eastern city of Jalabad following the victory, according to Dr. Najib Kamawal, a health official in Nangarhar province.

For most, though, the World Cup win was injury-free. “I hope that this victory will help unite us.” l

WORLD CUP HEAD-TO-HEAD

wari starred with 81 runs as Afghanistan stunned Bangladesh at the Asia Cup, his country’s only win over a Test nation.

On Thursday, the 28-year-old was making headlines again with a breathtaking 96 with seven fours and five sixes as Afghanistan clinched a nailbiting one-wicket win over Scotland for their first victory at the World Cup. The muscular all-rounder -- he also bowls a decent line in leg-spin, made his debut in 2009, also against Scotland in Benoni in South Africa.

He is a hard act to keep quiet at the World Cup. As well as his 96 on Thursday, the man from Nangrahar made 42 in the opening game against Bangladesh and 38 in the defeat by Sri Lanka.

Against Bangladesh, he was also banned from bowling after just seven balls for running on the pitch.

Not one to shrink from expressing an opinion, he was furious with teammate Dawlat Zadran for throwing away his wicket in Thursday’s dramatic conclusion at Dunedin’s University Oval.

“It was difficult because we lost early wickets but I did my job,” said a modest Shenwari after his one-man demolition job, which featured the only five sixes of the match.

SOUTH AFRICA

WEST INDIES Wins Highest totals Lowest totals

2 289/9 136

OVERALL

42

Wins

13

BATTING

AB de Villiers (253) AB de Villiers (146) Meyrick Pringle (4) Meyrick Pringle (4)

Most runs Highest scores BOWLING

Most wickets Best bowling

Brian Lara (257) Brian Lara (116) Roger Harper (4) Roger Harper (4/47)

PROBABLE XI Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (WK), Francois du Plessis, AB de Villiers (C), David Miller, Jean Paul Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, Kyle Abbott, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir Amla, who is the fastest cricketer to score 5000 ODI runs, had a disappointing start to the World Cup. Having scored 11 and 22 against Zimbabwe and India respectively, the stylish right-hander will no doubt be targeting a big score against the Windies

Dwayne Smith, Chris Gayle, Jonathan Carter, Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin (WK), Lendl Simmons, Darren Sammy, Andre Russell, Jason Holder (C), Jerome Taylor, Sulieman Benn

PLAYER TO WATCH

AMLA

SAMUELS

Overshadowed by teammate Gayle during the entirety of their record partnership in the previous match, Samuels’ unbeaten 133 was a fine knock to say the least. The dangerous right-hander will be looking to carry on the good work against the Proteas

Shenwari was named man-of-thematch but number 11 batsman Shapoor Zadran, who also took four wickets, played an invaluable role, tucking away the winning boundary with three balls to spare.

The 27-year-old is hard to miss in Australia and New Zealand.

A tall, ramrod straight left-arm fast bowler, Shapoor has one of the longest run-ups at the event and probably the tournament’s most unruly haircut, with his flowing black locks often plas-

Skipper AB de Villiers says the West Indies will crumble if South Africa apply the right pressure in their crunch World Cup Pool B game at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.

De Villiers says the Proteas’ confidence took a “bit of a slap” in their 130run mauling by India last Sunday, but they were ready to bounce back against the West Indies.

South Africa cannot afford to lose as they would then have to beat Ireland, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates to ensure they finish near the top of their pool and secure an advantageous quarter-final draw.

The West Indies are coming off a spectacular 73-run victory over Zimbabwe with opener Chris Gayle back to his destructive best with the highest ever individual World Cup score of 215 containing a record-equalling 16 sixes, while Marlon Samuels scored an unbeaten 133 in an all-time ODI record stand of 372.

“They’re a dangerous cricket team. I believe if you put enough pressure on them like any other cricket team they can crumble,” de Villiers told reporters at the SCG on Thursday.

“We haven’t played well in the last

tered to his forehead.

If he was a right-hander, he could be mistaken for his hero Shoaib Akhtar, the former Pakistan tearaway.

“I am angry every time I bowl. A bowler has to be angry, so that his reaction can carry over to the batsmen, who get unsettled and end up making a mistake,” he told cricinfo.com.

Shapoor was born in the Logar Province of Afghanistan, but grew up in Peshawar in Pakistan to escape the ongoing conflict in his country.l

Afghanistan’s Samiullah Shenwari heaves through midwicket as Scotland wicketkeeper Matthew Cross (L) looks on during their World Cup match in Dunedin yesterday AFP

Proteas say Windies will blink first in must-win tie n AFP, Sydney

3 356/4 200/8

So, if the two opportunities were not lost, Afghanistan would have been sitting pretty with the following table. Played-3, won-3, points – 6.

game so we’ve got to make sure we look after our side.

“They do have weaknesses in the team and it’s important to push those buttons, especially in the pressure situations.”

De Villiers, who was run out for 30 at a crucial stage of South Africa’s abortive run chase after India’s 307, said the Melbourne defeat had not changed anything for them.

“Nothing’s changed with our approach except our confidence might have taken a bit of a slap in the last game which is maybe not a bad thing.

It’s maybe a good thing for us to make sure we keep our feet on the ground.

“We’ve got nowhere to go now. It’s only upwards otherwise we’re going to stumble out of this tournament.”

De Villiers argued against the perception that South Africa were traditionally too tense and uptight in big tournaments and carried a bloated support staff. De Villiers said he has spoken with his players about the team’s slow over-rates.

The Proteas were fined for maintaining a slow over-rate against India, with de Villiers as skipper docked 20 percent of his match fee and facing the threat of a one-match World Cup ban if South Africa again fell short of the required over-rate. De Villiers said he had been told he couldn’t give away the captain’s arm band to circumvent a future ban for slow over-rates.l

Moin apologises to Pakistan fans for casino visit n AFP, Brisbane Pakistan’s chief selector Moin Khan Wednesday apologised for going to a New Zealand casino on the eve of a crucial World Cup match, an “inappropriate” visit which has seen him sent home from the tournament.

Moin said he was sorry that his actions had offended millions of cricket fans at home.

“I had gone to a casino in Christchurch with friends and family to have dinner. In hindsight, the choice of venue for dinner was indeed inappropriate. It has offended the Pakistan public as well as cricket fans,” Moin said in a statement.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan on Tuesday launched an investigation into Moin’s visit to the Christchurch casino which took place a day before team’s Pool B game against the West Indies.

Pakistan lost the match by 150 runs.

“I have already explained my position to the PCB chairman and have apologized to him. He has asked me to return home to further clarify my position in person, which I have readily accepted,” added Moin.

“Through this statement, I also apologize to the Pakistan public for my insensitivity in the choice of venue for dinner.” Moin is likely to depart from Brisbane early Thursday and will meet the PCB chief in Lahore on Friday.l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

15

Friday, February 27, 2015

CELEBS ON SOCIAL MADONNA @madonna Armani hooked me up! My beautiful cape was tied too tight! But nothing can stop me and love really lifted me up! Thanks for your good wishes! I’m fine!

ABHISHEK BACCHAN @bachchan #DOP #AllIsWell #OnSet #BigBrother #SunBlock

RUNA takes silver screen as a challenge

KIM KARDASHIAN @KimKard K’s and Tay

LILLY SINGH @IISuperwomanII Can’t wait to meet you and make a video with you! Yay!! See you tomorrow!

SAM SMITH @samsmithworld Lay Me Down tonight x https://instagram. com/p/zikRmaR2fV/

8 bands lined up for Joy Bangla Concert

WHAT TO WATCH TELEVISION

n Entertainment Desk Runa Khan who is about to etch her name in Dhallywood will be seen in Mrittika Gun’s next venture Kalo Megher Bhela. A government funded project, the film is the adaptation of popular poet Nirmalendu Goon’s novel “Kalo Megher Bhela,” which has been dramatised by Faruk Hossain.

Runa took on the silver screen as a challenge, which led her to become irregular in her small screen appearances. She also has the lead role for another government-funded movie “Chitkini”.

“I will be playing a role of the protagonist Rosy in ‘Kalo Megher Bhela.’ I believe that these two movies will lift my career as I am playing strong roles” she confirms.

“In ‘Chitkini’ which is centered on a widowed stone-breaker near Panchagar and her sufferings and hardships, and my character in ‘Kalo Megher Bhela’ is also an influential one. I haven’t quite written off the small screen, but it is true I am working less in TV plays.”

Runs performed in a TV series “Boiree Batash,” directed by Jewel Mahmud, where she played a role of a woman leader.

While sharing her feelings about the role Runa said: “I have worked this type of role for the first time. I think it is honourable to create awareness among the people about the establishment of women rights in our society. I am very selective while acting. This work is also something I’ve carefully considered.”

Runa is modelling for various commercials and also she is regularly seen in a TV series titled Ghomta on Banglavision. l

Exhibition

Anne Frank Exhibition Time: 3pm – 8pm Bangladesh National Museum, Shahbagh

Theatre

Baramkhana Time: 7:00pm – 9:30pm

Film

National Theatre Hall, Selim Al Deen Dramas Golpo Niye Golpo Iti Potromita

By Dhaka Theatre Time: 7pm – 9pm Experimental Theatre, Shilpakala Academy

Nanan Bhashar Nanan Chhobi IP Man The Final Flight Time: 6pm – 9pm International Digital Cultural Archive, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Shegun Bagicha

IN THE LINE OF FIRE HBO Hits, 6:25pm Cast: Clint Eastwood, John Malkovich Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan couldn’t save Kennedy, but he’s determined not to let a clever assassin.

n Entertainment Desk A mega concert featuring eight prominent rock bands of the country including Warfaze, Artcell, Arnob and Friends, Cryptic Fate, Shironamhin, Nemesis, Arbovirus and Shunno, is set to be staged at the Army Stadium in the capital on March 7.

Organised by Young Bangla in collaboration with Centre for Research and Information, Bangladesh Debate

Federation and JCI, the concert will mark the anniversary of the 7th March historic speech given by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1971 at the Ramna Race Course Maidan in Dhaka, inspiring a nation to prepare for the imminent war of independence.

Entrance for the concert has been kept free to everyone on a first come first service basis while interested individuals can register at http://joybanglaconcert.youngbangla. org/ for entry ticket. l

CITI-ANANDO ALO SAHITYA AWARD announced

THE MATRIX RELOADED Movies Now, 4:50pm Cast: Reeves, Laurence Fishburne Neo and the rebel leaders estimate that they have 72 hours until 250,000 probes discover Zion.

n Entertainment Desk The Citi-Anando Alo Sahitya Award 2015 was announced at the Bangla Academy premises in the capital on Thursday.

Emdadul Haq Milon’s novel “Sharey Tin Haat Bhumi,” Shamsuzzaman Khan’s collected essays “Rashtrya Dhramo o Samskriti,” and Rezauddin Istalin’s poem “Boidata” have awarded in category A while Mostaq Ahmmad and Alam Talukder got listed jointly for literature for adolescents.

Category B writers awarded debut work which includes actor-model Kusum Sikder’s poetry “Neel Kafer Kobi,” Mahbub Aziz’s “Thik Sondhyar Agey” and Galib Rahman’s “Je Sutoy Bona Jai Samatol Abash.”

The awards will be conferred to the winners in the first week of next month.

Channel i will telecast the ceremony live.

Ananda Alo, a fortnightly entertainment magazine, in collaboration with Citibank NA, Bangladesh introduced the award in 2008. l

CLOUD ATLAS HBO Defined, 10:30pm Cast: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry An exploration of how the actions of individual lives impact one another in the past, present and future.

THEATRE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR 3D I ZERO DEGREE I ROMEO V/S JULIET I SEVENTH SON 3D I JESSABELLE @ Star Cineplex TOP LEFT: Shamsuzzaman Khan, Emdadul Haque Milon and Alam Talukdar MIDDLE LEFT: Mostaq Ahmmad, Rezauddin Istalin and Mahbub Aziz BOTTOM LEFT:

Kusum Sikdar and Galib Ahmmed

SEVENTH SON 3D I ROMEO V/S JULIET I EXODUS 3D I INTERSTELLAR I NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM: SECRET OF THE TOMB I THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES I THE PENGUINS OF MADAGASCAR 3D I ZERO DEGREE @ Blockbuster Cinemas

MADONNA falls off stage at Brit Awards n Entertainment Desk LIST OF WINNERS Brit Critics’ Choice Award James Bay

Mastercard British Album of the Year X (Ed Sheeran) Brit Award for British Group Royal Blood Brit Award for British Single Uptown Funk (Bruno Mars, Mark Ronson) Brit Award for British Breakthrough Act Sam Smith

Madonna ended up putting on a performance that was memorable for all the wrong reasons, when she was pulled off the stage backwards as she closed out Wednesday night’s BRIT Awards 2015.

With the final, much-anticipated performance of the night singing “Living For Love,” Madonna failed to untie her cape in time for her dancers to rip it away as she took to the stage at London’s O2 Arena.

The 56-year-old looked shocked and briefly stopped singing - after she fell down a set of stairs, but picked herself back up and continued to the end.

Explaining the embarrassing gaffe via her Instagram page after coming off stage, the legendary singer laughed off the incident and said her Armani cape was simply tied “too tight.”

She wrote: “Armani hooked me up! My beautiful cape was tied too tight! But nothing can stop me and love really lifted me up! Thanks for your good wishes! I’m fine! #living-

forlove.”

Ironic lines including “pick me up” and “I’m gonna carry on” featured in the singer’s performance as she battled to the end in her elaborate matador-inspired costume.

Karlie Kloss was seen turning to best friend Taylor Swift in the audience with a mortified look as onlookers watched the stage veteran tumble and then battle on with conviction.

Madonna appeared to land on her back with a bang after she fell down a flight of three steps mid-performance. She paused for around a minute where she couldn’t muster the strength to sing.

But the singer dusted herself off, brushed over her hair and stood up to ascend the steps once again without her cape. l

NAUMI ON YOUR CHOICE Naumi, a talented young singer who came to prominence as child artist, will now take a shot as an emcee for musical show ‘Your Choice’ on Maasranga TV. Entirely focusing on music videos, the show has options for audience to request their favourite numbers to be aired on every Sunday night at 12:02am

THE BRIT AWARDS RED CARPET

Brit Award for British Video You and I (One Direction) Brit British Solo Female Award Paloma Faith Global Success Award Sam Smith Brit International Female Solo Artist Award Taylor Smith British Male Solo Award Ed Sheeran Brit Award for International Group Foo Fighters Brit International Male Solo Artist Award Pharrell Williams

Taylor Swift in Roberto Cavalli

Ellie Goulding in Alberta Ferretti

Karlie Kloss in Tom Ford

Rita Ora in Zuhair Murad

Michelle Keegan

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Friday, February 27, 2015

Maritime Silk Route promising for Bangladesh n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Private sector representatives have said Bangladesh can gain much by joining the Maritime Silk Route, a Chinese strategic initiative floated in 2013 to increase investments and foster collaboration across the historic trade route.

“I understand that Bangladesh has agreed in principle [to the initiative] and it is very very important for busi-

Last November, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced plans to create a $40bn fund to develop the New Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Route ness and economic point of view,” the president of Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Syed Nasim Manzur, told a seminar in the capital yesterday.

Earlier last June, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina discussed the issue with the top Chinese leadership during a visit to China; while later in November, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced plans to create a $40bn fund to develop the New Silk Road and the Maritime Silk Route.

Yesterday’s seminar titled “Marine Resources Management of Bangladesh in the Context of Newly Demarcated Boundary” was organised by Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS), and presided

Muslim forum on ‘terrorism’ seeks education reform n AFP, Jeddah A counter-terrorism conference attended by senior Muslim scholars from around the world on Wednesday called for education reform to tackle religious extremism.

Participants at the meeting in the Saudi holy city of Mecca urged Muslim leaders to review the religious messages in education, “to achieve a more moderate approach.”

The recommendation came in a communique after the three-day conference organised by the Mecca-based Muslim World League, a group of non-government organisations.

“The fight against terrorism and religious extremism does not conflict with Islam,” the statement said.

“Terrorism has no religion or homeland, and to accuse Islam of being behind terrorism is unjust and false,” it added.

The call comes as Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations battle Islamic State (IS) group jihadists who have seized swathes of Iraq and Syria.

At the start of the conference, the head of Cairo-based Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam’s most prestigious seat of learning, said some people had embraced a misguided form of the religion.

This must be countered in schools and universities, Al-Azhar grand imam Ahmed al-Tayib said. l

by BIISS Chairman Ambassador Munshi Faiz Ahmed.

Addressing the seminar, business leader Nasim Manzur also said job creation, product diversification, food security and land scarcity were the areas under the blue economy – a sustainable maritime economic system – where the private sector could contribute.

Urging the government to invest in knowledge building, Manzur added: “As a businessman, I think we have great opportunity.”

In his keynote presentation, Maritime Affairs Unit Secretary Md Khurshed Alam described how Bangladesh had prepared itself to present its cases before the international courts.

Bangladesh now has sovereign rights over a 118,000 square-kilometre area in the Bay of Bengal after settling a maritime boundary dispute with Myanmar in the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in 2012, as well as settling a separate dispute with India at the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in 2014.

Khurshed, who acted as deputy agent for both cases, said Bangladesh had invited the PCA judges to visit the Bay of Bengal to see by themselves the boundary line claimed by the parties.

The judges’ visits to the disputed places immensely helped Bangladesh to make them understand Dhaka’s claim over the boundary, Khurshed said.

About the business prospects of the blue economy, he said shipping, fisheries, tourism, aquaculture, energy and mineral resources were the areas the private sector could invest.

Senior government officials, former ambassadors, diplomats of different countries attended the seminar at the BIISS. l

A frightened child witnesses her school van puller getting beaten up by a motorcycle rider yesterday, shortly after the two vehicles collided in an accident at Mirpur 10 circle, her van surrounded by onlookers SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Three killed in Sundarbans gunfight n Our Correspondent, Bagerhat

Three men who RAB claimed were forest robbers have died in a gun battle with the force in the Sundarbans.

The three – Saddam, 27, Sohel, 25, and an unidentified man – were killed at Katlar Khal area near Chandeshwar forest camp of Bagerhat’s Sharankhola range yesterday morning.

They all hailed from Patharghata of Barguna district.

RAB said the men were members of Saikat Bahini, a group of outlaws engaged in abduction of fishermen, stealing their fishes and extorting them.

Twelve firearms, toll collection receipts and more than 50 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the scene, said RAB 8 Deputy Commander

RAB, forcing the law enforcement officials to fire back which triggered the gunfight,” said Adnan.

The shootout lasted for nearly half an hour. RAB then entered the forest when the firing stopped where they found the three bodies.

Adnan said the bodies and the firearms would be handed over to Sharankhola police station. l

Poor sales force publishers to demand extension, refund n Nure Alam Durjoy As the Amar Ekushey Boi Mela nears its end this year, publishers complained AMAR EKUSHEY about sufferBOOK FAIR 2015 ing a 30% drop in the sales volume, compared to the usual sales in the fair, due to the ongoing political turmoil.

They demanded, again, extension of the book fair until March 7, as well as refund of stall and pavilion rent they paid to the Bangla Academy, to make up for their losses.

Kamrul Hasan, executive director of Academic and Creative Publishers’ Association, told the Dhaka Tribune: “The overall sale this year has been at least 30% less than what we usually see in Boi Mela, and it is due to this endless hartal and blockade.”

Leaders of Academic and Creative Publishers’ Association of Bangladesh held a press conference at the fair venue yesterday evening, where they

also urged the government to provide grants and financial assistance for the book publishing industry.

Addressing the press briefing, Osman Gani, president of the association, said: “This book fair is the largest platform for us to sell books and make

‘The government had extended the Dhaka International Trade Fair for a week, then why can the book fair not be extended?’ profits. But this year, there has been a drastic drop in the sales, which has cause severe loss to many publishers.

Some of them may lose interest in this business after this fair.”

He also made the demand for extension and refund; besides, other leaders proposed that the Bangla Academy hands over the organising responsibility of the fair to the publishers.

Blaiming the hartal and blockade

enforced nationwide by the BNP-led 20-party alliance for the fair’s failure, they demanded immediate halt of such politicals programmes for the sake of the country.

“Many people did not visit Boi Mela fearing violence, which affected the business,” said Mofidul Haque, publisher of Shahitya Prakash.

“The government had extended the Dhaka International Trade Fair for a week, then why can the book fair not be extended?” asked Fazlur Rahman, publisher of Obosor Prakashani.

Others who spoke at the conference included University Press Limited publisher Mohiuddin Ahmed and Somoy Prakashani publisher Farid Ahmed.

Meanwhile, Jalal Ahmed, member secretary of the fair committee, reiterated that they would not extend fair considering the security issues.

“Also, stall rent is non-refundable, so keeping in line with the fair guideline, we will not be able to refund it,” he said.

Yesterday, 134 new titles were published, putting the number of new arrivals at 3,385. l

Youth murdered for having an affair n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi A youth has been hacked to death allegedly for having an extramarital affair with a woman in Amtolipara of Rajshahi’s Godagari upazila.

Jem Hembrom, 22, was murdered allegedly by Kumar Tudu and his associates when he went to meet Kumar’s wife Ayami on Wednesday.

Godagari police OC SM Abu Forhad said Ayami and Jem were having an affair for a long time. Quoting Ayami, he said: “As Jem arrived at Ayami’s place around 10pm, Kumar and his associates started chopping him with sharp knives. They fled after killing him.”

Ayami was arrested in this connection yesterday. l

Major Adnan Kabir. He said intelligence officials of RAB had kept Patharghata-Sharankhola area under surveillance where members of Saikat Bahini had allegedly been operating for long.

“RAB stepped up surveillance in the area in the morning in response to a tip-off that members of the group had prepared to kidnap fishermen. At one point, the robbers fired two rounds at

Black hole as massive as 12 billion suns found n Agencies A giant black hole, as massive as 12 billion suns, has been found by astronomers and seems to be growing far too fast.

The black hole is not the biggest that is known, but is far bigger than scientist would expect to be at its age. It got to its huge size 875 million years after the big bang – which scientists would not expect to happen, since black holes grow as they age and eat other gas and stars that surround them.

Scientists can only see it at that age – 12.8 billion years ago, and 6% of the age of the current universe – because it is so far away.

They also cannot look at it directly, because the power of its gravity sucks everything including light into it – but the team that found it saw it by spotting a quasar, an object that gets lit up as it is heading into the black hole.

In a paper reporting their finding, published in Nature and reported in

National Geographic, the scientists behind the study say that the finding could change our understanding of how black holes form.

It is thought that black holes begin when the first stars collapsed, about 100 million years after the big bang, and that they swelled after that.

But the newly-found black hole is too big to have happened that way, according to Bram Venemans of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy.

Other possibilities include a merging of galaxies, bringing two different black holes together. But that depends on the two having the same mass, or they would have cast each other aside rather than merging.

Instead, it’s possible that the first stars that helped create those black holes were huge – as much as a million suns packed into one star. If they collapsed early on, they could have “they could jump-start the formation of very large black holes,” said Loeb. l

Bangladesh Gyan O Srijonshil Prokashak Samity holds a press conference on the Boi Mela premises demanding time extension of the fair and compensation for the publishers affected by the blockade and hartals. The photo was taken yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

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B3 Oil prices down in Asian trade

B4 India benefits from

reform and a bit of luck

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2015 www.dhakatribune.com/business

time to cut oil price to pass benefit to World Bank to High consumers, say analysts provide $2bn this fiscal year n Tribune Report

n Tribune Report World Bank Vice President for the South Asia Region Annette Dixon has pledged support to help Bangladesh achieve its goal of becoming a middle-income country by the end of this decade.

“Bangladesh is recognised globally for making remarkable progress in reducing poverty and advancing human development. Other countries can learn from Bangladesh’s rich development experience,” she said, concluding her first visit to Bangladesh yesterday.

“The World Bank remains committed to working with Bangladesh to reduce poverty and bring prosperity to all Bangladeshis.”

The World Bank has already approved more than $1 billion in new financing this fiscal year to improve primary education, child nutrition, and resilience to natural disasters.

“We are on track to deliver a total of nearly $2 billion by the end of June,” said the VP. Dixon met with senior government officials, including the Finance Minister and Governor of Bangladesh Bank, and discussed how World Bank support could be best aligned with the country’s priorities.

She also met civil society and private sector leaders and development partners, and visited the Export Processing Zone in Chittagong and a gov-

ernment health facility in Dhaka.

“The World Bank is keen to support Bangladesh in achieving its vision of becoming a middle-income country,” Dixon said.

For this to happen, she added Bangladesh needs to do more to narrow the power and transportation gaps, manage urbanisation, reduce climate change impacts, and also improve the business environment, public service delivery and governance. Going forward, she assured the World Bank will help Bangladesh to clear bottlenecks that impede faster growth and to connect to regional and global markets.

The World Bank is the largest development partner of Bangladesh, committing more than $19 billion in interest-free IDA credits to advance Bangladesh’s development priorities since the country’s independence.

The current IDA portfolio consists of 32 projects, with a total commitment of $7.5 billion.

The World Bank Group’s private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has a portfolio of 35 projects with investment commitments of $668 million.

The World Bank Group’s arm for promoting foreign direct investment, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), has a portfolio of one active project with a total guarantee amount of US$251 million. l

Domestic fuel oil price at the retail level should be reduced to pass the benefits of falling oil price in the international market onto the consumers, energy analysts said in Dhaka yesterday.

They also viewed the existing price mechanism in Bangladesh was flawed, as it is a common phenomenon in our country that if oil price goes up, the government does not raise and if the price goes down, it does not reduce.

They were speaking at a discussion on “Oil Price Fall: Possible Impact on Bangladesh imports, Exports and Remittance” arranged by the Financial Excellence Limited (FinExcel), with its Chairman Mamun Rashid conducting the progarmme.

In 2014, the oil price plunged 44% to $60.55 a barrel and the trend continued to 2015. Yesterday, the Brent oil price stood at around $58 a barrel in the international market.

Former Power Secretary Foujul Kabir said global oil market has witnessed fundamental changes in the recent time due to sharp fall in oil prices.

“This is high time to go for fixing the prices of petroleum products based on market price. The falling oil price has brought opportunity to reform price mechanism policy.”

But the policymakers should be careful while adjusting the prices so that petroleum products cannot be smuggled out of the country to the neighbouring country, he said.

Former BPC Finance Director Munirul Islam said usually falling oil price has brought boon for importing countries and bane for oil producing countries.

Speakers at a discussion on possible impact of oil price fall on Bangladesh exports, imports and remittance, held yesterday RAJIB DHAR Presently, he said, Bangladesh has imported crude oil on the basis of state to state agreement, which might not bring any advantage from lower oil price. He suggested that under the present circumstances the government might look for other sources for importing oil.

“Energy price should have been de-regulated earlier to give the benefit of consumers and India has such practice.”

He said there should be strong monitoring in internal distribution system, as there are inefficiencies both in procurement and distribution levels, he said.

Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Sayed Nasim Manzur said exporters might lose competitiveness of their products in the international market due to falling oil price, as the cost of production has increased compared to the other countries where oil price has already reduced.

“We are very concern about this.”

Countries like India and Pakistan have already lowered oil prices but unfortunately in Bangladesh it is yet to take place, he said. “Time has definitely come to pass benefits to the consumers.”

Energy experts also recommended increasing the country’s oil storage capacity. Bangladesh has only a storage capacity of 913,000 tonnes to meet the demand for only 1-2 months. l

Forex reserve crosses $23bn mark About 1m users give up mobile internet use in January

n Tribune Report The country’s foreign exchange reserve crossed US$23bn yesterday thanks to the lower import pressure amid falling oil price in the global market.

The reserve was $21bn in June, $19bn in February last year and $18bn in December 2013.

The country received $889m remittance in the first three weeks of the first three weeks of the current month.

“Both the remittance inflow and higher export growth have led the reserve to a record high despite ongoing political crisis,” said Kazi Sayedur Rahman, general manager of Forex Reserve & Treasury Management Department of Bangladesh Bank.

The amount of reserve would be good enough to meet as many as seven months of import payments. It reached the new high in six months from $22bnmark as of August last year..

Though the inflow of remittance remained slower in recent months due to sluggish investment climate amid political unrest and fall in manpower export in the Middle Eastern countries, said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank.

The remittance inflow dropped slightly to $1.24bn in January this year compared to $1.26bn in the same period of the last year.

n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

Import of capital machinery has experienced a sharp fall in January due to the ongoing political unrest started since the beginning of the year.

The LC (letter of credit) settlement value against capital machinery import dropped by 31% to $176m in the first month of the new year compared to $258m in December last, according to Bangladesh Bank data.

The fall has pulled back the overall import growth by 5% to $3bn in January compared to $3.2bn in the previous month. The overall LC settlement value dropped 7.54% year-on-year during

the month, according to the data.

The LC opening value also declined by 7.25% in January compared to the same period of the last year and 8.54% compared to previous month.

Earnings from export rose by nearly 5% to US$2.88bn in turmoil-hit January compared to same month last year.

According to the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh fetched $2.88bn in July-January of FY2014-15 compared to $2.75bn for the same period of the last year. However, it has failed to reach the strategic target of $2.97bn by 3%. l

EU, Bangladesh joint meeting today to identify new areas of cooperation n Tribune Report The European Union (EU) and Bangladesh Trade and Economic Cooperation Sub-Group will hold a joint meeting today to identify new areas of cooperation for enhancing bilateral trade and commerce among Bangladesh and EU countries.

The meeting will be held at the State Guest House Padma where both the parties would discuss the bilateral trade issues and find out new horizons of cooperations, said a commerce ministry release issued yesterday.

Additional commerce secretary Manoj Kumar Roy will lead the Bangladeshi team while Diana Acconcia, deputy head of unit for EU South and South East Asia, will lead a 14-member delegation, which includes EU Ambas-

sador to Bangladesh Pierre Mayaudon.

The agenda of the meeting are bilateral trade and commerce expansion between EU and Bangladesh, devising ways to implement WTO Bali package,

Bangladesh and EU will ink a Horizontal Aviation agreement for establishing air link implementation of sustainability compact, expansion of regional trade and commerce, shipping services, Bangladesh’s business environment and also the progress of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement.

After a wide-range of discussion, the both sides will take necessary steps to remove the existing barriers in doing business among Bangladesh and the EU countries.

In the meeting, Bangladesh and EU will ink a Horizontal Aviation agreement for establishing air link.

In the financial year 2013-14, bilateral trade between EU and Bangladesh was US$18.78bn.

According to Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), Bangladesh exported products worth $16.40bn to EU market, while it imported products of $2.23bn.

This sub-groups has been formed under the EU-Bangladesh joint commission to develop bilateral relationship among Bangladesh and EU countries. The fifth meeting of the group was held in 2011 in Dhaka. l

The total number of mobile internet users sharply dropped by 0.9m in January, according to the telecom regulator.

Consequently, this declining trend in mobile internet connection has brought a negative impact on the overall growth of the country’s internet users.

The industry people, however, blamed the opposition’s ongoing blockade programme for the decline in internet usages in the country.

The total number of mobile internet connections fell to 4.13 crore in January from 4.22 crore in December. Bangladesh, currently, has a total of 4.28 crore internet users.

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) came up with the disclosure in a report pub-

Etihad Airways offers 30% discount on fares n Tribune Business Desk Etihad Airways has offered discounted fares up to 30% to passengers travelling in business and economy class from Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagong of Bangladesh to over 350 popular destinations in UK, Europe, South America, Middle East, Africa, USA and Canada in corporation with the airline’s equity code share partner airlines across the world.

The offer is open for sale when guests book between February 25 and March 3 and the outbound travel between February 25 and December 12, and the return travel to be completed by March 11 next year, said a press release.

Guests could now travel to popular North American destinations including New York, Washington, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas & Toronto with US immigration pre clearance facility at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

This will facilitate passengers’ arrival in the US with shorter connecting times for onward flights in the US with luggage arriving directly to the final destination.

So the guests flying now can look forward to Etihad’s award winning hospitality with unburdened queues, said the release. l

lished on its official website yesterday.

According to the BTRC data, as of January this year, the country’s Wimax users number stand at 2.23 lakh along with 12.40 lakh fixed internet connections.

Before this period, the industry also witnessed a fluctuation in internet connections while this figure declined twice in the last seven months.

The telecom industry also witnessed a decline of internet connections by ten lakh in June and eleven lakh in November last year.

Explaining the reasons, some industry insiders said,”Political programme like ongoing blockade and strikes coupled with world cup cricket may be responsible for the decline in internet users.”

“During any world cup tournament,

we’ve experienced that the people are not interested to use more data or voice services as they prefer to watch the matches,” said Mahatab Uddin Ahmed, chief operating officer of Robi, at a press conference held on Wednesday at its head office.

Another senior executive of a operator said, “Frequent drops in internet connections make us confused about the market pattern.”

“As the drop is huge, its a matter of concern for us. We need to find out the real cause behind this,” he also added.

According to a BTRC source, one third of the total mobile internet users are now using third generation (3G) connections. The total active SIM connection increased 15 lakh in in January while the total numbers stand at 12.18 crore. l

BB provides 27 organisations with CSR fund n Tribune Business Desk Bangladesh Bank (BB) yesterday finalised memorandum of understanding (MoU) with 27 organisations and handed over cheques for the first instalment of funds to implement projects under Corporate Social Responsibility activities.

Similar deals would be done soon with three more organisations for the rest three projects.

The central bank pledged financial support to 30 projects, which are more than double the projects the central bank funded last year.

The projects cover the areas like financial inclusion, socio-economic development, environment protection, education and health, rehabilitation of differently able persons, public welfare, consumers’ rights protection, human resource development and wellbeing of the Birangonas (heroines of the War of Independence in 1971).

Besides the banks and financial institutions, the central bank

as a regulator also involved in the CSR activities towards attaining a sustainable development in the field of economy, BB Governor Atiur Rahman told the MoU signing ceremony at the central bank’s headquarters in the capital city.

He expected that the direct involvement of Bangladesh Bank though with limitation would encourage others.

He called upon all the institutions in the financial sector to carry out CSR activities to help develop the countries financial sector to ensure betterment of society.

Last year, the central bank funded 14 projects with providing Tk5 crore from its CSR fund, which was introduced in 2013. This year the central bank increased its funding to Tk5.13 crore. l

B2

Stock

DHAKA TRIBUNE

DSE GAINER

Stocks recoup losses with lacklustre trading

DSE key features February 26, 2015

Traded Issues

307

n Tribune Report

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

121

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

170

recent downtrend, few large-cap stocks held on the index during the season of corporate declarations.

“The mixed performance on stocks partly reflects the uncertainty company performance, as traders continued to keep a close eye on political situation.”

Riding on heavyweight BATBC that surged 4.6%, food & allied sector posted the highest return of almost 4%, followed by pharmaceuticals 1%, energy 0.9% and IT 0.6%.

Almost all other sectors, including banks, non-banking financial institutions and telecommunication closed flat.

IDLC Investments said market responded positively to earnings growth despite gloomy forward outlook.

However, it said, political fault lines continued to concern long term investors and turnover remained muted throughout the session.

Shahjibazar Power Company Limited (SPCL) continued to shine, shrugging off regulatory restrictions, which were put on its trading in a bid to check its unusual price hike.

Its share prices rose to around Tk190, extending its gaining streak for the fifth straight session.

It was also the most traded stocks on the day with shares valued worth Tk13 crore changing hands.

In November last year, Bangladesh Securities Exchange Commission has sent it to the spot market from the main market. l

Stocks regained with poor volume of trade yesterday, recovering from sharp losses on the concern of deepening political strife following the news of arrest warrant against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The market opened higher in the morning and continued to move forward with remaining in rangebound at limited level. The gain was led by mainly food & allied, pharmaceuticals and energy issues.

The benchmark DSEX managed to gain 21 points or 0.5% to settle at 4,763, scaling back from its two-day losses.

The Shariah index DSES inched 4 points or 0.4% higher to 1,130. The blue chip comprising DS30 index was up only 2 points or 0.2% to 1,772.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, closed at 8,854 with a rise of 36 points.

Risk-averse investors still preferred to stay on the sidelines, reflecting in declining volume of trade.

Turnover at the Dhaka Stock Exchange came down below Tk300 crore to stand at Tk296 crore, sharply down by around 14%.

Losers outpaced gainers as out of 305 issues traded, 139 advanced, 111 declined and 55 remained unchanged.

LankaBangla Securities said after closing the previous session dropping below 4800 mark, the stocks appeared with a mixed performance.

It said while stocks extended a

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)

Dulamia CottonZ Prime Finance-A Intl. Leasing-B 7th ICB M F-A ICB AMCL 1st NRB -A Popular Life 1st M.F.-A Imam Button -Z United Insur -A Zeal Bangla Sugar -Z Meghna Con. Milk -B

-5.75 -5.70 -4.70 -4.49 -4.21 -4.08 -3.10 -2.68 -2.67 -2.44

CSE LOSER Company

Closing (% Change)

Rahima Food -Z Asia Pasific Insu. -A Prime Finance-A SonarBangla Insu. -A Intl. Leasing-B Paramount Insur-A Eastern Bank - A PrimeFin. 1st MF-A Continental Insur. -A BD Building Systems -A

-6.50 -4.92 -4.69 -4.44 -4.03 -3.75 -3.74 -3.70 -2.78 -2.58

4763.21716

(+) 0.44%

1772.41773

(+) 0.14%

14552.94990

(+) 0.54%

12049.68620

(+) 0.46%

8859.08000

(+) 0.56%

Average (% Change) -7.24 -4.44 -3.34 -4.87 -3.89 -2.07 -3.09 -1.37 6.67 -1.82 Average (% Change) -2.56 -4.92 -4.51 -7.39 -3.99 -3.56 -3.78 -3.40 -3.53 -1.59

ANALYST

ClosingAvg. 8.20 18.52 14.45 80.86 20.50 4.74 12.56 29.59 8.00 8.07

ClosingAvg. 33.43 17.40 18.41 16.67 14.43 15.43 28.24 13.07 17.50 45.82

Closing

Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

DSE Million Taka 349.08 216.57 34.63 401.43 160.65 448.33 9.72 221.38 410.90 7.56 124.70 31.55 32.25 139.85 60.07 19.00 28.86 132.60 16.44 105.49 10.00

DHIGH

8.20 18.20 14.20 80.80 20.50 4.70 12.50 29.10 7.30 8.00

Closing

8.30 19.30 15.10 81.00 20.50 4.90 12.90 30.80 7.30 8.10

DHIGH

33.10 17.40 18.30 17.20 14.30 15.40 28.30 13.00 17.50 45.40

34.90 17.40 19.20 17.20 15.20 15.70 28.50 13.40 17.50 46.80

2,961.03 62,428,324

Number of Contract

81,549

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

16

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,574.99

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

31.21

CSE key features February 26, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

231.43

Turnover (Volume)

5,820,147

Number of Contract

11,539

Traded Issues

232

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

85

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

130

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

17

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,487.31

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.15

Turnover in Million

DLOW 8.10 18.00 14.00 80.00 20.50 4.60 12.10 28.80 7.20 8.00

0.041 12.273 5.764 0.321 0.031 3.505 0.188 0.837 0.002 0.069

Turnover in Million

DLOW 33.00 17.40 18.20 16.50 13.90 14.80 28.10 13.00 17.50 45.20

0.049 0.009 0.351 0.096 0.706 0.066 0.171 0.102 0.016 0.539

% change 11.79 7.31 1.17 13.56 5.43 15.14 0.33 7.48 13.88 0.26 4.21 1.07 1.09 4.72 2.03 0.64 0.97 4.48 0.56 3.56 0.34

Million Taka 19.30 8.78 0.95 28.20 6.97 39.25 23.39 25.64 1.34 10.97 0.77 1.15 9.67 13.03 0.50 1.03 19.52 3.35 17.60 0.05

CSE

% change 8.34 3.79 0.41 12.18 3.01 16.96 0.00 10.11 11.08 0.58 4.74 0.33 0.49 4.18 5.63 0.22 0.44 8.43 1.45 7.60 0.02

Million Taka 368.38 225.35 35.58 429.63 167.62 487.58 9.72 244.77 436.54 8.90 135.67 32.32 33.40 149.52 73.10 19.50 29.88 152.11 19.79 123.08 10.04

National Tubes -A Sonali Ansh -A Shahjibazar Power-N The Ibn SinaA GQ Ball PenA National Polymer -A Rangpur Foundry -A GeminiSeaFood-B Bangladesh Lamps -A Usmania Glass -A

Closing (% Change) 9.96 9.91 9.52 9.44 8.96 6.55 6.40 6.31 6.15 5.98

CSE GAINER

Latest EPS -4.02 1.59 -0.09 12.76 2.86 0.56 -1.48 2.91 -46.80 -4.42

Latest EPS -0.42 2.32 1.59 1.77 -0.09 1.13 3.50 1.13 2.27 2.52

Latest PE -ve 11.6 -ve 6.3 7.2 8.5 -ve 10.2 -ve -ve

Company The Ibn SinaA Pragati Gen. I -A 8th ICB M F-A Usmania Glass -A GQ Ball PenA Eastern Cables-A Bangladesh Lamps -A SummitAlliancePort.-A National Polymer -A AMCL (Pran) -A

9.43 9.32 8.33 8.30 8.14 7.61 6.10 5.73 5.71 5.25

Average (% Change) 6.29 9.32 3.20 8.58 4.45 7.77 6.12 3.04 3.80 5.25

ClosingAvg. 121.34 112.87 183.30 104.83 101.77 72.97 102.45 194.71 119.53 120.76

ClosingAvg. 105.21 39.89 61.92 121.74 103.75 122.64 119.98 62.06 73.83 210.50

Closing 123.60 114.20 188.70 106.70 104.60 74.80 103.10 197.00 120.90 120.50

Closing 107.90 39.90 65.00 121.40 105.00 123.00 120.00 62.70 74.00 210.50

DHIGH 123.60 114.20 189.50 107.10 105.00 76.50 104.50 198.90 122.40 124.00

DHIGH 107.90 40.10 65.00 123.30 106.00 124.00 120.00 64.00 75.20 210.50

DLOW 113.90 102.30 173.00 97.50 97.00 70.00 98.30 186.80 115.90 116.00

DLOW 100.00 39.50 61.30 116.90 100.00 119.80 119.90 59.00 68.00 210.50

Turnover in Million 23.330 9.571 130.894 12.016 6.464 50.686 9.964 2.741 8.848 5.217

Turnover in Million 0.215 0.016 0.011 1.168 0.531 0.097 0.069 7.922 0.645 0.021

Latest EPS -1.36 0.64 8.68 3.77 2.21 3.30 3.23 -6.36 1.13 -0.88

Latest EPS 3.77 2.47 9.10 -0.88 2.21 1.52 1.13 0.78 3.30 6.50

Latest PE -ve 176.4 21.1 27.8 46.0 22.1 31.7 -ve 105.8 -ve

Latest PE 27.9 16.1 6.8 -ve 46.9 80.7 106.2 79.6 22.4 32.4

News, analysis and recent disclosures EBL: 20% cash dividend, AGM: 31.03.2015, Record Date: 11.03.2015. EPS of Tk. 3.50, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 33.11.

IDLC: 10% cash and 25% stock dividend, AGM: 30.03.2015, Record Date: 09.03.2015. EPS of Tk. 6.19, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 32.46.

SALAMCRST: 15% cash dividend, AGM: 28.03.2015, Record date: 09.03.2015. EPS of Tk. 0.98, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 20.12.

IPDC: 5% cash and 10% stock dividend, AGM: 29.04.2015, Record Date: 09.03.2015, EPS of Tk. 1.44, NAV per share of Tk. 19.97.

PRIMEFIN: 12.50% cash dividend, Date of AGM: 30.03.2015, Record Date: 09.03.2015. EPS of Tk. 1.59, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 16.47.

GPHISPAT: (Q3 Un-audited): NPAT= Tk. 247.06 million with EPS of Tk. 1.98 as against Tk. 242.84 million and Tk. 1.95 respectively.

SALAMCRST: (Q1 Un-audited): NPAT= Tk. 38.58 million with consolidated EPS of Tk. 0.39 as against Tk. 28.10 million and Tk. 0.29 respectively.

IDLC: The Board has also recommended to issue Rights shares 1R:2 (i.e. 1 Rights share for every 2 Ordinary shares held) at an issue price of Tk. 20.00 each (including a premium of Tk. 10.00 per share) subject to the approval by the shareholders and regulatory authorities.

KEYACOSMET: The Company has informed that BSEC has given consent dated February 25, 2015 on the issue of raising of paid-up capital through merge and amalgamation purpose from Tk. 179,06,66,740.00 to Tk. 501,01,77,290.00 by allotting of 32,19,51,055 nos. of ordinary share of Tk. 10.00 each to the existing shareholders of Keya Knit Composite Ltd. Keya Cotton Mills Ltd. and Keya Spinning Mills Ltd. RAKCERAMIC: The Company has informed that the board of directors approved, subject to the approval of the shareholders, the offer of RAK Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. to settle the long outstanding loan given by the Company of an amount of BDT 500,000,000 and interest of BDT 334,665,468 thereof as on February 18, 2015 totaling to BDT 834,665,468 in consideration of the final settlement

of an amount of BDT 44,118,000 in cash and transferring the title of the corporate office of RAK Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. measuring 8,075.92 sft. at the 10th floor of RAK Tower, 1/A Jasimuddin Avenue, Sector-3, Uttara Model Town, Dhaka-1230 (the present fair value of the corporate office of RAK Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. is BDT 201,898,000 as determined by an independent valuer). The Company has also informed that, subject to the approval of the shareholders, the Board also decided to write off the balance irrecoverable loan of BDT 253,984,000 and unrealized interest of BDT 334,665,468 totaling to BDT 588,649,468 as Investment Loss and Interest Loss on Investment respectively totaling to BDT 588,649,468 in the books of the company for the interest of the business of the Company.

PRIMEBANK: As per Regulation 30 of DSE Listing Regulations, the Company has informed that a meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on February 26, 2015 at 5:00 PM to consider, among others, audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended on December 31, 2014.

-ve 7.5 11.6 9.4 -ve 13.7 8.1 11.6 7.7 18.2

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company

Total

Closing (% Change)

Average (% Change) 10.72 9.20 6.63 6.97 5.06 3.34 5.86 4.28 4.20 6.89

Latest PE

Market responded positively to earnings growth despite gloomy forward outlook

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY Sector

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

Company

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume)

Friday, February 27, 2015

% change 11.54 7.06 1.11 13.46 5.25 15.27 0.30 7.67 13.67 0.28 4.25 1.01 1.05 4.68 2.29 0.61 0.94 4.76 0.62 3.86 0.31

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

Shahjibazar Power-N UCBL - A IDLC Finance -A ACI Limited- A LafargeS Cement-Z MJL BD Ltd.-A SummitAlliancePort.-A BD Submarine Cable-A Square Pharma -A Bangas -A

Titas Gas TDCLA BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Islami Bank BD - A Ifad Autos -N National Polymer -A

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Shahjibazar Power-N BD Submarine Cable-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A MJL BD Ltd.-A LafargeS Cement-Z SummitAlliancePort.-A Singer BD -A aamra technologies-A Mozaffar H.Spinning-A Salvo Chemicals-B

Square Pharma -A WesternMarine -N ACI Limited- A Grameenphone-A Bangas -A

VolumeShares 714,093 3,783,133 1,503,625 217,209 775,148 711,377 1,427,169 606,575 292,765 166,927

Value in Million 130.89 115.37 113.55 94.02 90.41 89.39 88.43 82.39 77.35 58.50

% of TotalTurnover 4.42 3.90 3.83 3.18 3.05 3.02 2.99 2.78 2.61 1.98

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

740,288 1,714,923 2,308,101 1,043,306 694,655

111,230 111,146 332,174 69,895 74,566 127,644 34,124 192,823 228,846 290,511

20,092 115,066 11,676 13,146 11,460

55.89 55.86 54.69 53.70 50.69

19.72 15.10 10.84 8.78 8.69 7.92 7.71 7.53 7.43 5.30

5.29 5.13 5.04 4.42 4.02

1.89 1.89 1.85 1.81 1.71

8.52 6.52 4.68 3.79 3.76 3.42 3.33 3.26 3.21 2.29

2.29 2.22 2.18 1.91 1.74

ClosingP 188.70 30.50 75.00 436.00 116.40 127.20 62.00 136.80 263.80 358.40

75.10 32.20 23.60 51.10 74.80

ClosingP

173.00 136.80 32.30 126.60 116.20 62.70 227.00 38.60 32.80 18.20

263.20 44.30 436.50 335.20 357.40

Change % 9.52 0.99 0.00 3.00 0.34 3.08 4.20 3.25 0.00 4.95

-0.66 -1.23 -0.42 -1.73 6.55

Change %

2.98 3.56 -1.52 2.51 0.35 5.73 0.18 0.52 3.47 1.68

0.08 0.00 3.36 -0.48 4.78

ClosingY 172.30 30.20 75.00 423.30 116.00 123.40 59.50 132.50 263.80 341.50

75.60 32.60 23.70 52.00 70.20

ClosingY

168.00 132.10 32.80 123.50 115.80 59.30 226.60 38.40 31.70 17.90

263.00 44.30 422.30 336.80 341.10

DHIGH 189.50 30.80 77.50 436.50 117.90 127.90 63.90 137.90 265.10 361.80

76.50 33.30 23.80 52.90 76.50

DHIGH

185.50 137.70 33.20 127.90 118.90 64.00 230.00 39.60 33.00 18.50

265.00 45.40 439.00 338.50 362.40

DLOW 173.00 30.10 74.00 423.00 115.30 123.80 59.20 132.90 262.50 343.00

74.80 31.80 23.50 50.80 70.00

DLOW

170.10 132.10 32.20 123.90 116.00 59.00 222.50 38.40 31.80 18.00

262.40 44.00 425.00 335.10 338.00

AvgPrice 183.30 30.50 75.52 432.87 116.64 125.66 61.96 135.83 264.20 350.48

75.50 32.57 23.70 51.47 72.97

AvgPrice

177.25 135.81 32.64 125.55 116.55 62.06 226.00 39.08 32.49 18.25

263.48 44.60 431.26 336.26 351.10

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

B3

Friday, February 27, 2015

Oil prices down in Asian trade n AFP, Singapore

Oil prices fell in Asia yesterday but losses were curtailed as dealers focused on positive elements of a mixed US energy stockpiles report, analysts said.

West Texas Intermediate for April eased 43 cents to $50.56 while Brent crude for April tumbled 31 cents to $61.32 in afternoon trade.

The US government’s Department of Energy (DoE) said Wednesday that crude inventories rose 8.4 million barrels in the week ending February 20 to a record 434.1 million barrels, more than double the increase expected.

However, the DoE also reported that stockpiles of distillates, which include diesel and heating fuel, slid 2.7 million barrels, while gasoline reserves sank by 3.1 million.

Traders are choosing “to focus on the sharp declines in gasoline and distillates stockpiles which may indicate strengthening demand in US, the world’s largest crude consumer,” Singapore’s United Overseas Bank said in a commentary.

Analysts said oil prices were also supported following upbeat comments

by Ali Al-Naimi, the oil minister of ma-

jor oil producer Saudi Arabia.

Oil demand is growing and the market has turned “calm”, Al-Naimi told reporters after a speech at a conference in the kingdom on Wednesday, Bloomberg News reported.

Saudi Arabia is the biggest and most influential member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), which in November decided to maintain output levels despite a global oversupply.

The move sent prices tumbling to six-year lows of just over $40 at the end of January, before recovering slightly following a drop in US oil rig utilisation and reduced future investments by oil majors.

Elsewhere, oil investors are also keeping a close watch on Greece’s debt crisis as well as rising violence in oil producer Libya.

“With temporary resolution of the Greek crisis and significant drop in production from Libya due to escalation of tensions, risk of sharp fall in prices during the next two weeks is limited,” said Sanjeev Gupta, head of the Asia-Pacific Oil & Gas practice at professional services organisation EY. l

A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California

REUTERS

China drops leading tech brands for state purchases

Greece sees problems repaying IMF, ECB

n Reuters, Beijing

n Reuters, Athens

China has dropped some of the world’s leading technology brands from its approved state purchase lists, while approving thousands more locally made products, in what some say is a response to revelations of widespread Western cybersurveillance.

Others put the shift down to a protectionist impulse to shield China’s domestic technology industry from competition.

Chief casualty is US network equipment maker Cisco Systems Inc, which in 2012 counted 60 products on the Central Government Procurement Center’s (CGPC) list, but by late 2014 had none, a Reuters analysis of official data shows.

Smartphone and PC maker Apple Inc has also been dropped over the period, along with Intel Corp’s security software firm McAfee and network and server software firm Citrix Systems.

The number of products on the list, which covers regular spending by central ministries, jumped by more than 2,000 in two years to just under 5,000, but the increase is almost entirely due to local makers.

The number of approved foreign tech brands fell by a third, while less than half of those with security-related products survived the cull.

An official at the procurement agency said there were many reasons why local makers might be preferred, including sheer weight of numbers and the fact that domestic security technology firms offered more product guarantees than overseas rivals.

China’s change of tack coincided

with leaks by former U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) contractor Edward Snowden in mid-2013 that exposed several global surveillance programs, many of them run by the NSA with the cooperation of telecom companies and European governments.

“The Snowden incident, it’s become a real concern, especially for top leaders,” said Tu Xinquan, Associate Director of the China Institute of WTO Studies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing. “In some sense the American government has some responsibility for that; (China’s) concerns have some legitimacy.”

Cybersecurity has been a significant irritant in US-China ties, with both sides accusing the other of abuses.

A spokesperson for the US State Department, when asked to comment on the Chinese state purchasing moves, said the United States was “very concerned that many aspects of China’s recent regulatory actions — touted as means to bolster cybersecurity —are neither effective cybersecurity measures nor consistent with the principles of free and open trade.”

US tech groups wrote last month to the Chinese administration complaining about some of its new cybersecurity regulations, some of which force technology vendors to Chinese banks to hand over secret source code and adopt Chinese encryption algorithms.

The CGPC list, which details products by brand and type, is approved by China’s Ministry of Finance, the CGPC official said. The list does not detail what quantity of a product has been purchased, and does not bind local

government or state-owned enterprises, nor the military, which runs its own system of procurement approval.

The Ministry of Finance declined immediate comment.

“We have previously acknowledged that geopolitical concerns have impacted our business in certain emerging markets,” said a Cisco spokesman.

An Intel spokesman said the company had frequent conversations at various levels of the U.S. and Chinese governments, but did not provide further details. Apple declined to comment, and Citrix was not immediately available to comment.

Security pretext?

Industry insiders also see in the changing profile of the CGPC list a wider strategic goal to help Chinese tech firms get a bigger slice of China’s information and communications technology market, which is tipped to grow 11.4% to $465.6bn in 2015, according to tech research firm IDC. “There’s no doubt that the SOE segment of the market has been favoring the local indigenous content,” said an executive at a Western technology firm who declined to be identified.

The executive said the postSnowden security concerns were a pretext. The real objective was to nurture China’s domestic tech industry and subsequently support its expansion overseas.

China also wants to move to a more consumption-based economy, which would be helped by Chinese authorities and companies buying local technology, the executive said. l

Greece said on Wednesday it will struggle to make debt repayments to the IMF and the European Central Bank this year as Germany’s finance minister voiced open doubts about Athens’ trustworthiness.

A day after euro zone finance ministers agreed to a four-month extension of a financial rescue for the currency bloc’s most heavily indebted member, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis gave a frank assessment of Greece’s financial position.

“We will not have liquidity problems for the public sector. But we will definitely have problems in making debt payments to the IMF now and to the ECB in July,” he told Alpha Radio.

He put no figure on the funding gap.

After interest payments this month of about 2bn euros, Athens must repay an IMF loan of around 1.6 billion that matures in March and about 7.5 billion in maturing bonds held by the ECB in July and August.

Greece is due to receive 7.2bn euros in remaining EU/IMF bailout funds if it successfully completes the programme.

But German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble, revelling in his role as the euro zone’s grumpy paymaster, said no further aid would be paid out until Athens fulfilled all the conditions.

“The question now is whether one can believe the Greek government’s assurances or not. There’s a lot of doubt in Germany, that has to be understood,” he told SWR2 radio.

Fuelling German suspicion, a hard-

CORPORATE NEWS

line leftist in Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ radical new government appeared to row back on a commitment made to creditors a day earlier to allow privatisations that are already under way to proceed.

Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis said the government would not go ahead with the sale of the main electricity utility PPC or power grid operator ADIME. “The companies have not submitted binding bids so it will not be completed,” he told Ethnos newspaper.

That drew an angry response from Berlin, where a finance ministry spokesman said Athens could not decide to delay or stop privatisations on its own.

Despite scepticism in both governments and dissenting voices on their fringes, the four-month bailout extension seems certain to be approved by the German and Greek parliaments this week.

However, the next round of negotiations on Greece’s debt mountain will start as soon as those votes go through, and take place under the shadow of a looming repayment crunch.

“It is highly unlikely Greece would be able to regain market access before the summer, meaning a replacement programme will probably be needed in advance of the new end-June expiry date,” credit ratings agency Fitch said in a statement.

In the meantime, the best way to plug the current expenditure funding gap would be to let the government issue more short-term treasury bills, currently limited to 15bn euros, Fitch said. l

Jamuna Bank Limited has recently held its business review meeting at a local hotel in Chittagong. The bank’s MD, Shafiqul Alam presided over the meeting as chief guest

n AFP, Tokyo The dollar made up lost ground against the yen yesterday after falling when Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen hinted the central bank was in no hurry to raise rates.

The greenback fetched 118.97 yen in Tokyo afternoon trade, up from 118.86 yen in New York Wednesday afternoon.

The euro bought $1.1370 against $1.1360 while edging up to 135.26 yen from 135.02 yen.

Markets have been rife with speculation over when this year the US central bank will start raising interest rates.

In a second day of testimony to the US Congress, Yellen hewed to a steady path on rates.

She provided no fresh clues on the timing of the rate increase, but again signalled that the central bank was in no rush.

“We did not see anything nefariously dovish in Yellen’s testimony,” National Australia Bank said.

“The only thing that is clear is that (the Fed policy-making) FOMC has given itself more flexibility than before,” the bank said in a note.

“If US data begins to... surprise once more, the market will quickly jump back on to the ‘buy USD’ bandwagon,” it said.

The euro stayed pressured as German Chancellor Angela Merkel said an agreement on a four-month extension of Athens’ bailout was merely a “starting point”.

The dollar was mixed against other Asia-Pacific currencies. l

Gold holds above $1,200 on view US rate rise will be delayed n Reuters, Singapore

The Chief of Naval Staff, Indian Navy Admiral RK Dhowan has recently praised international standard products including production system of EPZs and operational activities of BEPZA. Executive chairperson of Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) greeted Indian Naval Chief at Chittagong EPZ during his visit

Dollar inches up after falls on Yellen testimony

Modhumoti Bank Limited has recently opened an ATM booth at its Sakhipur branch in Tangail. The bank’s director, Salahuddin Alamgir inaugurated the booth as chief guest

NRB Global Bank Limited has recently signed an agreement with Enterprise Development Company Limited (EDCL) to expand its green banking activities. The bank’s MD, Md Abdul Quddus and Irteza Reza Chowdhury, MD of EDCL have signed the agreement

Gold rose for a second session and held above $1,200 an ounce yesterday as comments from Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen led investors to believe US interest rates would start to rise later than expected this year.

Firm Chinese physical demand also supported bullion as buyers from the world’s No 2 consumer trickled back into the market after the long Lunar New Year break, although it was not strong enough to push the spot price above Wednesday’s peak.

Bullion was up 0.3% at $1,208.50 an ounce at 0302 GMT. It rose as much as 1% to $1,211.80 on Wednesday after Yellen indicated the Fed would be flexible in raising rates. She told the Senate Banking Committee on Tuesday that while the Fed was preparing to consider rate hikes on a “meeting-by-meeting basis”, an increase was not likely for at least the next couple of meetings.

Yellen did not offer any additional insight on the timing of a rate increase before the House of Representatives’ Financial Services Committee on Wednesday. Markets had until now

been focusing on June.

The comments support “market thinking that the Fed may hike rates later this year and the path will be a little flatter than what was previously expected”, said ANZ Bank analyst Victor Thianpiriya.

'It’s certainly taken a bit of the wind out of the US dollar’s sails and that’s been positive for gold' “It’s certainly taken a bit of the wind out of the US dollar’s sails and that’s been positive for gold.”

US gold for April delivery rose 0.6% to $1,208.60 an ounce.

Premiums on the Shanghai Gold Exchange remained firm at around $4-$5 an ounce over the global spot price as buyers returned to the market after the Feb. 18-24 holiday in China.

“China remains a supportive factor for the market. But whether it’s enough to really get prices rocketing higher, I don’t think so, because what you really need for that is a supply shortage and we just don’t have that at the moment,” said Thianpiriya. l

B4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Friday, February 27, 2015

India benefits from reform and a bit of luck n James Saft Titularly now the fastest-growing major economy, India, having left China behind, is positioned for a good year, both in its economy and financial markets.

India’s 7.5% clip of economic growth has edged out China’s 7.3 rate on the most recent readings, making it the fastest grower among the 20 major economies, a title somewhat tarnished by controversy over opaque revisions to how the data is compiled.

The real challenge, and it may come soon: getting through a Federal Reserve interest rate hike later this year without re-enrolling its membership in the ‘fragile five’ group of vulnerable emerging markets.

Perhaps more than the headline growth figures, which have come in for criticism, India’s putative strength relies more on structural reforms by the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a fortuitous drop in energy prices which leaves precious room for easier monetary policy.

Napoleon had a preference for lucky generals, a title Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan might warrant: less than a year into taking a fraught job and the price of India’s energy needs, 40% of which it must import, tumbled on global markets. This is a triple boon: reducing the need for foreign cash with which to pay for it, tamping down inflation (and so giving room for growth-friendly rate cuts), and lowering the cost of fuel subsidies which crimp budget spending.

“Eighteen months ago, India was one of the more fragile of the ‘fragile five’. Three issues in particular beset both Indian corporates and foreign investors in Indian asset markets: structurally high and sticky inflation and slowing economic growth, or emerging markets stagflation; twin deficits on the current and fiscal accounts; and stale/poor macroeconomic governance,” Maya Bhandari, an asset allocation specialist at fund house Columbia Management, wrote in a note to clients.

“With helpful policy, politics and propitiousness, each of these seems less relevant today.”

The fragile five: Brazil, India, Indonesia, South Africa and Turkey, were

A worker takes a nap inside a shop selling potatoes at a wholesale vegetable market in Delhi marked out in large part for their dependence on foreign capital flows, money which abruptly repriced in 2013 when investors became concerned about the impact of the upcoming tapering of bond buying by the Fed. If a Fed rate hike comes, as many expect, this summer, it will almost certainly make waves in global funding markets but, to judge by recent rises in Indian shares and the rupee, investors are reasonably confident this time may be different.

Reform and preparation

That in part is down to longer-term optimism over reforms brought in by

Modi and his BJP, in office nine months, including steps to cut the time needed to register a new business from 27 days to one. More fraught, and yet to be delivered, are full reforms to make it easier for large industrial developments to buy farmland, now a tortuous process thought to be holding up hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of projects.

To be sure, recent losses by the BJP in regional elections show that reform is far from a one-way bet, and many will take a critical eye to a critical budget to be released on Feb 28.

The RBI, taking advantage of falling inflation, cut rates for the first time in 20 months in January but held off at

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the beginning of February, instead finetuning a reserve requirement intended to push banks to pass along easier money to clients.

Rajan has already curbed foreign purchases of Indian bonds, to try to limit the kind of ‘hot money’ flows which drain rapidly in time of stress, as well as limiting the strength of the rupee, a sore spot for exporters. India has also piled up an all-time high of $333bn of foreign currency reserves.

If reforms progress and the RBI is able to continue to trim rates India is likely to attract increasing notice from global investors. Given that consumer inflation has more than halved to about

5% in two years, this is a reasonable bet.

While about $20bn of foreign cash has flowed into Indian shares in the past year, much of that has been as investors dedicated to emerging markets chose India as one of the best of a risky lot. So-called global funds, which are nearly triple the size of dedicated emerging market funds, are still substantially underweight India, implying room for a re-weighting.

India’s moment, not without dangers, may be arriving. l James Saft is a Reuters columnist. The article was initially published at Reuters.

Moody’s: Fiscal reforms to determine India’s ratings n Reuters, Mumbai Moody’s Investors Service said on Wednesday that its assessment of India’s credit ratings will be determined mainly by the extent of its fiscal reforms, not recent revisions to its economic growth data.

The comments come a day after rival Standard & Poor’s said India must boost growth, cut its fiscal deficit and fulfil promises of financial and fiscal reforms in order to justify an upgrade in its credit rating.

The government on Saturday will present its fiscal budget for the new fiscal year starting in April amid high hopes that it will find a way to boost capital spending while exercising fiscal restraint.

“The upward revisions of India’s GDP growth based on methodological and base year updates -- highlight the strength of the economy, but do not impact Moody’s overall assessment of the sovereign’s credit profile,” the agency said.

“Rather, fiscal and structural reform policies will determine the extent to which accelerating growth will buttress the sovereign credit profile.”

Moody’s added that rising private external debt levels and banking sector challenges will also continue to pose sovereign credit risks.

India this month changed the way it measures Asia’s largest economy and said under the new methodology the economy expanded 7.5% year-on-year during the last quarter, higher than 7.3% growth recorded by China in the latest quarter.

As a result, Moody’s said it now expected 7.5% growth for the year ending in March 2015.

However, the new government readings have left economists confused as it is at odds with other indicators such as industrial production, trade and tax collection figures, which suggest the economy is still suffering from slack.

Moody’s rates India at “Baa3”, the lowest investment grade rating, with a “stable” outlook. That is in line with S&P and Fitch Ratings. l

Japan companies to jointly work on self-driving car technology n AFP, Tokyo Japan’s big three automakers will team up with electronics giants and the government in a bid to propel the country into the front ranks of self-driving car technology, officials and local media said yesterday.

“We will set up a so-called self-navigation business conference so that we can discuss what measures we need to take,” a land and transport ministry official said, adding that they have yet to set the agenda.

The Nikkei business daily said the government will invite Toyota, Nissan and Honda as well as Panasonic and Hitachi to the meeting, which will look at jointly developing parts and technologies related to self-driving.

The project will also involve the University of Tokyo and Nagoya Uni-

versity, with their research institutes handling analyses of data, the newspaper said.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will include measures on the project in his growth strategy plan, expected to be announced around June, the daily said.

As a first step, auto parts makers will standardise software for self-control navigation and for sensors that detect obstacles while driving so that they can cut development and production costs, it said.

Common technology for communication links will also be targeted to guard against accidents caused by hacking the paper reported.

Currently, Japanese auto parts makers lag behind Bosch in sensors, with the German giant supplying western as well as Japanese carmakers, the Nikkei said.

The public sector will help in devel-

oping infrastructure, so that traffic and accident information can be communicated from on-road systems, it said.

The private and public sectors may invest 10bn yen ($84m) or so to build test courses, a focal point in international competition, it added.

The scheme is part of a government initiative to support domestic industries related to self-driving technology, as competition in the field intensifies globally.

European, Japanese and US automakers are aiming to commercialise self-driving cars by around 2020, with global behemoths including Daimler and Google in play.

Japan is concerned that if US and European rivals lead in developing the industry standards, that could put Japanese counterparts at a disadvantage, the Nikkei added. l

German consumer confidence hits 13-year high

S&P raises India’s GDP forecasts n Reuters, Mumbai

n AFP, Frankfurt

Standard & Poor’s sharply raised India’s growth forecasts for the next several years to reflect a recent change in how gross domestic product is calculated by the government, and said the economy should be a “bright spot” in Asia.

The ratings agency S&P raised its India GDP growth forecast to 7.9% from 6.2% for the year ending March 2016, citing as well rising investment and low oil prices. The agency also raised its growth forecast for 2016/17 to 8.2% from 6.6% previously.

The revisions come after India this month changed the way it measures Asia’s third-largest economy.

“India should be the Asia-Pacific region’s bright spot,” S&P said in a statement. At the same time, the ratings agency lowered growth forecasts for a slew of Asian countries, including China and Japan.

S&P currently rates India at “BBB-” with a “stable” outlook.

The agency earlier this week said India must boost growth, cut its fiscal deficit and fulfil promises of financial and fiscal reforms to justify an upgrade in a credit rating. l

Consumer confidence in Germany is at its highest since late 2001, as rising optimism about the economy and income expectations persuade German shoppers to open their wallets, a poll found yesterday.

“The escalation of the situation in east Ukraine, the ongoing tensions between the West and Russia and events in Greece are not leaving much of an impression on German consumers, who are increasingly optimistic,” market research company GfK said in a statement.

“The drop in energy prices is boosting the purchasing power of private households and opening up room for

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further spending. As a result, income expectations and the propensity to buy are increasing as well,” GfK said.

Looking ahead to next month, GfK’s headline household confidence index was forecast to rise to 9.7 points in March from 9.3 points in February.

“That is the highest level since October 2001. The consumer climate in Germany remains in a clear uptrend,” the statement said.

Consumer spending would contribute substantially to overall economic growth this year, the institute predicted.

GfK said it expected private consumption to rise by 1.5% in the whole of 2015 “and that is is a strong a rise as in overall gross domestic product (GDP).” l

Frayed EU and Greek flags flutter atop the Greek Ministry of Finance in central Athens

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Germany: Greece won’t get ‘a single euro’ till pledges met n AFP, Berlin

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble stressed Wednesday that Greece, having won breathing space in its debt talks, will not receive “a single euro” until it meets the pledges of its existing bail-out programme.

If the conditions are not met and the Greek reform plans presented to creditors this week are not substantiated with figures, no more money will be paid, he said on SWR public radio, stressing that the commitments Athens agreed with creditors the EU, ECB and IMF remain valid.

“If they fulfil those, then they can still receive the outstanding payments.

And if they don’t fulfil those, there will be no payments,” Schaeuble said.

He added that “not a single euro will be paid before then”.

Greece’s new left-wing government has secured a four-month extension to its lifeline bailout programme with promises of ambitious reforms and a pledge to stick to its financial commitments.

The breathing space beyond a Saturday deadline prevents the immediate worst-case scenario of national bankruptcy, a run on banks and even a chaotic exit from the eurozone.

'If they fulfil those, then they can still receive the outstanding payments.

And if they don’t fulfil those, there will be no payments' Eurozone finance ministers called the pledges a “starting point”, the ECB pointed out that they “differ from existing programme commitments in a number of areas”, and IMF chief Christine Lagarde said the list lacks “clear assurances” on previous reform promises.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has urged her conservative party to

back the bailout extension in a parliament vote Friday, stressing however that the “task is by no means done”, a lawmaker has said.

Schaeuble stressed that the extension gives Greece more time but does not let it off the hook in terms of its pledges.

“Fist the Greek government said it wouldn’t meet the commitments,” he said. “Then we said you won’t get the outstanding possible payments under the programme.

“Now the Greek government says it wants to meet the commitments after all. And we have said, well, you’ll get more time ... so you can meet the commitments.

“But whether they will meet them or not, we will have to see. And only when it is certain that they have met them, will there be payment.”

Most German oppose more European aid for Athens. Only 21% are in favour of a green light from the German parliament Friday, according to a survey by the Insa Institute for Bild daily published Wednesday. l