06 March, 2015

SECOND EDITION

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015 |

Falgun 22, 1421, Jamadiul Awal 14, 1436 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 2, No 330 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages plus 24-page Weekend | Price: Tk10

NHRC: LAW ENFORCERS ABUSING POWER PAGE 3

TWOKI’S KILLERS STILL NOT INDICTED PAGE 5

INDIA SERVES LEGAL NOTICE ON BBC PAGE 11

Stay hearing on Khaleda warrant deferred n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla The High Court yesterday deferred by a week the hearing on a plea seeking a stay order on the arrest warrant against Khaleda Zia in two graft cases.

The bench of Justice Md Rezaul Haque and Justice Md Khasruzzaman set March 12 as the next date for hearing on the petitions for a change of judge and stay on the arrest warrant.

Additional Attorney General Md Mamtaz Uddin Fakir stood for the prosecution and Md Khurshid Alam Khan for the plaintiff Anti Corruption Commission (ACC).

The warrant was issued on February 25, after the 69-year-old former three-time prime minister Khaleda Zia skipped court appearance on several occasions.

On Tuesday, March 3, Khaleda’s lawyers moved the High Court for a stay and withdrawal of the warrants.

A day later, the court just included the pleas into the case documents, keeping the warrant valid. The warrant, however, had not found its way to Gulshan police station as of yesterday.

The government and ACC raised two questions: since the warrant had been issued, Khaleda is now a fugitive and does not have the right to ask for legal intervention.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

FBI launches probe into Avijit murder n Mohammad Jamil Khan Visiting officials of the Federal Bureau of Investigation yesterday started their probe into the murder of scientist and blogger Avijit Roy last week.

“The four-member FBI team visited the Detective Branch headquarters on Mintoo Road in the morning to get updates on the investigation of the Avijit murder case,” Monirul Islam, the joint commissioner of DB police, said.

The team led by Jagdeep Singh Khangura arrived in Dhaka early yesterday and went to the DB office around 11am.

During their three-hour stay, the FBI members held meetings with detectives and obtained information about the evidence collected from the crime scene and the seizure list, a DB official who did not wish to be named said.

Tamim Iqbal registered the highest score by a Bangladesh batsman in World Cups in their Pool A match against Scotland at Saxton Oval in Nelson, New Zealand yesterday CRICINFO

Tigers a step away from quarters n Mazhar Uddin from Nelson Bangladesh swatted away any pre-match jitter that might have crept in following the Sri Lanka defeat as they got the better of Scotland by six wickets in a Pool A encounter at Saxton Oval yesterday.

In pursuit of 319 against a determined Scotland, Bangladesh barely broke sweat, reaching their destination with six wickets and 11 deliveries remaining. In the process, Bangla-

desh also registered their highest successful run-chase in the World Cup. With this win, Bangladesh gained some much-needed momentum ahead of their all-important clash against England this Monday in Adelaide.

Co-host New Zealand (eight points), 1996 champions Sri Lanka (six points) and fourtime winners Australia (five points) are as good as through while Bangladesh are occupying fourth place with five points. England are down at fifth with just two points from four matches.

Bangladesh are virtually competing with England for a quarterfinal berth. With four teams from Pool A progressing to the last eight, Bangladesh can officially confirm their place by defeating England in their next game.

Bangladesh will take on the Kiwis in their final match next Friday in Hamilton.

England’s two remaining matches are against Bangladesh and Afghanistan.

It was a superb display with the bat after the first half of the game went horribly wrong for Bangladesh.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

PAGE 6 Woman beaten to death for not accepting arbitration judgement

PAGE 7 Mosquitoes pester Khulna for lack of steps

PAGE 8 Get-rich-quick scheme swindles depositors

PAGE 9 16 years of Udichi tragedy: Victims yet to get justice

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Nasim: No pressure on law enforcers to arrest Khaleda n Abu Hayat Mahmud Health Minister Mohammad Nasim yesterday said Awami League had not put any pressure on law enforcers to arrest BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The law enforcement agencies will take proper steps to arrest her as a warrant was issued for her arrerst, he said The ruling party leader said: “The diplomats were informed about BNP-Jamaat’s violence. If she does not tell her terrorists and militants to stop violence BNP will then throw out the baby with the bath water.”

He made the statement while speaking at a joint meeting of pro-AL professionals, freedom fighters, women organisers and alim-ulamas at the party president’s office at Dhanmondi in the capital.

Speaking at another meeting of Swechchhasebak League at Bangabandhu Avenue he said dialogue did not yield any result in 1991 and 1995.

The meeting was held to prepare for the Suhrawardi Udyan rally on March 7.

Meanwhile, speaking at a programme, Awami League Publicity and Publication Affairs Secretary Hasan Mahmud said there is no difference between BNP chief Khaleda Zia and the militant kingpins, reports BSS. A few political parties after the partition of the sub-continent tried to impose their ideologies upon the people choosing the path of terrorism and anarchy. These parties including that of the Siraj Shikdar’s party could not stay in politics as they had chosen the path of terrorism, he said.

Begum Khaleda Zia would be depicted as a militant kingpin if anybody goes through the book of history two decades ago from now,” he continued.

Hasan Mahmud said this while speaking as the chief guest at a public rally-cum-humanchain programme in the city organised by Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote. l

Today with Dhaka Tribune

Barapukuria graft case order on Mar 10 Lawyer Tajul held, freed n UNB The High Court yesterday set March 10 for delivering order on its long-pending rule asking the Anti-Corruption Commission to explain why the Barapukuria graft case filed against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia and others should not be quashed.

The bench of Justice M Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice JBM Hassan

set the date after closing final hearing on the rule issued on October 16, 2008. On that day, the court also stayed proceedings of the case.

The case filed on February 26, 2008 accuses the former premier and her 10 former cabinet colleagues of taking kickbacks amounting to about Tk159 crore to ink the Barapukuria Coal Mine deal with the highest bidder instead of the lowest one. l

n Tribune Report

Hours after his detention, police released Advocate Tajul Islam, counsel for Jamaat-e-Islami leaders in war crimes cases, yesterday night.

Shishir Munir, a Jamaat lawyer, told the Dhaka Tribune that the arrest was the result of a “misunderstanding.” The acting DC of Motijheel Division of Police, Anwar Hossain, said Tajul was arrested following a crude bomb blast in the Paltan area and was released soon afterwards. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Tigers a step away from quarters The decision of not picking an extra specialist spinner backfired after Mashrafe bin Mortaza won the toss and elected to field. A brilliant century from opener Kyle Coetzer enabled Scotland to post a huge total of 318/8.

Chasing 319, it was not all plain sailing for Bangladesh as opener Anamul Haque was unable to bat after injuring his shoulder in the 31st over bowled by Mahmudullah. To add to that, the Tigers were jolted early in their chase as makeshift opener Soumya Sarkar (two) departed early.

Tamim Iqbal, alongside Mahmudullah, who was promoted to number three, did what they were asked to do as the pair took command of the game. Tamim was outstanding with his beautiful cover drives and elegant pull shots and reached his half century from 53 balls. The southpaw was slowly but surely heading towards his fifth ODI hundred and his first in two years.

However, the lad from Chittagong was stranded just five short of his much-awaited century as he was trapped in front by Josh Davey after scoring a well made 95 off 100 balls with the help of nine fours and a six.

On the other end, Mahmudullah looked compact and also grabbed a half-century. The second-wicket pair added 139 runs which is Bangladesh’s highest partnership for the second wicket in the World Cup. Mahmudullah eventually departed after hurting his toes while getting bowled. He

scored a-run-a-ball 62 while Mushfiqur Rahim came in and joined in the party, smashing a quickfire 60 off 42 balls, ensuring the Tigers never fell behind the required run rate.

It was then Shakib al Hasan and Sabbir Rahman who took Bangladesh past 318.

Shakib was unbeaten on 52 from 41 balls while Sabbir was undefeated on 42 off 40 balls. The left-handed Shakib smote five boundaries and a six while youngster Sabbir blasted four boundaries and two sixes.

Earlier, Mashrafe and his bowlers were hammered all over the park by centurion Coetzer as the Tigers looked helpless on the field. The right-hander dominated the Tigers bowlers on a flat deck and became the first Scotsman to smash a hundred in a World Cup. Coetzer reached the landmark with a six off paceman Rubel Hossain.

Coetzer initially paired up with Matt Machan and added 78 runs for the third wicket. Coetzer, the man-of-the-match, then added another 141 runs for the fourth wicket alongside skipper Preston Mommsen, which is the highest partnership for Scotland for any wicket in the World Cup. Machan scored 35 and Mommsen added 38 balls while Richie Berrington played a quick 16-ball 24 at the end.

Taskin Ahmed took three wickets and Nasir Hossain bagged two while Shakib was the only Bangladesh bowler who conceded less than five runs an over. l

Both the detectives and the US embassy in Dhaka declined to disclose details of the FBI officials.

Avijit and his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonna, both US citizens, came under attack on the night of February 26 at the TSC roundabout on Dhaka University campus. Avijit succumbed to his injuries at Dhaka Medical College Hospital some hours after the attack. The couple came to Dhaka on February 16.

Bonna, who was critically injured, was flown to the US on Monday. On that day, the FBI representative in Dhaka and the police met with her at Square Hospital.

The four-strong team arrived in Bangladesh after the government responded positively to an offer of the US government to engage the intelligence agency in the case.

When contacted, Avijit’s father, Prof Ajay Roy, told the Dhaka Tribune that no FBI member had communicated with him. He said Bonna had been admitted to a hospital in Chicago and that a trauma expert was looking after her.

Meanwhile, law enforcers yesterday detained two other persons in the murder case, State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan told reporters. He, however, did not give their names.

Detectives suspect that militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team members were behind the murder and are looking for its leader, Redwanul Azad Rana, who is also suspected in the blogger-architect Ahmed Rajeeb Haider killing.

He got a coded SMS around 8pm on February 26, when Avijit and Bonna were about to leave the book fair. Rana passed on that message to two members of a terrorist cell ordering them to launch the attack, detectives said earlier.

Elite force Rapid Action Battalion on March 2 arrested member of banned Hizb ut-Tahrir Shafiur Rahman Farabi. A Dhaka court granted the detectives 10 days to interrogate him.

He had threatened to kill Avijit several times.

“Farabi has not disclosed any significant information about the murder,” a senior DB official said adding that they were analysing details of mobile phones used in the TSC area at the time of the murder.

From those records, detectives have got information about some suspects, the official said.

DB chief Monirul said a seven-member specialised police team was investigating the case. “We have got some clues and are now analysing them.”

Stay hearing on Khaleda warrant “We have raised our points before the court.

The bench has heard them. No hearing has been held on Khaleda Zia’s pleas. The matter will come up on the cause list on Thursday,” said Khurshid Alam.

AAG Mamtaz Uddin Fakir said: “The two petitions for change of judge are the key.

Since the cases were filed under the ACC Act, they cannot be heard here. We told the court that the pleas are not acceptable as she is in hiding.

“But they have also filed two pleas for staying the warrant. If a decision on postponing the judge is made, then it would be easier to decide on the other two.”

On January 28, BNP chief Khaleda Zia moved the High Court with two no-confidence pleas against the judge hearing the Zia Orphanage Trust and Zia Charitable Trust graft cases. The pleas were presented for hearing on Sunday.

Earlier, she challenged the validity of the appointment of the judge and his right to frame charges. The High Court scrapped both the challenges.

On March 1, another court issued a search warrant for Khaleda’s Gulshan office where she has been residing since January 3. Police claim Khaleda has explosives and a communication device in her office with which she is coordinating the blockade-hartal violence. l

FBI launches probe into Avijit murder

He hoped that they would be able to arrest the killers soon.

“The detectives are now looking for a dozen Ansarullah members who were arrested earlier but are now out on bail,” Manosh Kumar Poddar, additional deputy commissioner of DB police, said.

Detectives also recovered 17-18 hours of video footage from the CCTV cameras installed on the book fair premises at Bangla Academy.

Meanwhile, a probe committee formed to investigate the inaction of police personnel has found that some officers did not perform their duties properly at the time of the attack.

An official of the probe body, requesting not to be named, said their initial investigation was almost complete. The report would be submitted soon and action would be taken shortly.

According to sources, a total of five police teams were on duty around the site of the murder. Among the teams, Sub-Inspector Waheduzzaman, also in-charge of Nilkhet police outpost, SI Mozibur Rahman and SI Hafizul Islam were in the TSC area, while SI Daud Hossain was near Shahbagh. There was also a patrol team in the area when the group of two or three criminals attacked the couple with sharp weapons. l

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FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

NHRC: Law enforcers abusing power n Abid Azad Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Prof Mizanur Rahman has observed that the law enforcement agencies are misusing power in some cases.

“We have always asked the law enforcers to act cautiously in their moves to control law and order. But still some incidents are taking

P32 VICTIMS OF VICIOUS POLITICS place which cannot be termed legal in any way,” he told reporters after a meeting with newly-appointed Chief Justice SK Sinha at the Supreme Court yesterday.

The NHRC chief said they had got some complaints both in writing and over the phone. In some cases, the law enforcers were blamed for producing arrestees before courts

two-three days after detention.

As per the law, police have to place a detainee before court or a magistrate within 24 hours.

‘We have always said no citizen should be arrested by law enforcers in plain clothes. If it is required to arrest someone, at least two local people should be present as witnesses’ Prof Mizanur said the law enforcers in some cases were planting petrol bombs beside the body of a deceased to claim that the victims of “gunfight” were arsonists or criminals. “Such deaths cannot be accepted.

“Until the law enforcement agencies can prove that they had no other option but to shoot, such deaths of accused will be termed extra-judicial killings. People responsible for such deaths should be brought to the book,” he added.

About arrest and search operation, the NHRC chairman said: “We have always said no citizen should be arrested by law enforcers in plain clothes. If it is required to arrest someone, at least two local people should be present as witnesses so that the families can know whereabouts of the persons detained.”

During the meeting, Prof Mizanur urged the chief justice to provide necessary support from the judiciary in order to promoting independent and strong activities by the NHRC. “The commission also requires changes in its law to work independently,” he told reporters adding that Chief Justice Sinha had assured him of extending cooperation. l

Ctg burn victim dies, DMCH takes in 7 more n Munir Momtaj A burn victim, Ranjit, died early today at Chittagong Medical College Hospital ICU. He was admitted to CMCH burn unit on Wednesday after a firebomb was hurled at an autorickshaw in Chittagong’s Hathazari.

Doctors said he had sustained 82% burn injuries and died around 12:40am.

Meanwhile, seven new firebomb victims were admitted to the burn unit at DMCH yesterday, raising the number of arson victims undergoing treatment there to 54.

Of the victims, three were injured when a petrol bomb was hurled at a truck near Manikganj. Two other patients were injured in a petrol bomb attack on a bus near the Choddoshoto area in Kishoreganj on Wednesday. Two more patients were injured in a petrol bomb attack on their truck near Chandina in Comilla yesterday. l

20-party threatens to enforce fresh hartal from Sunday n Tribune Report The BNP-led 20-party alliance threatened to enforce hartal once again from Sunday if their demand for a national election under a non-partisan interim government was not met.

“We will be compelled to call vigorous programmes including hartal from March 8 if the government does not accept the demand for a free, fair, participatory and acceptable election under a non-partisan government,” Salahuddin Ahmed, joint secretary general of the party, said at a press release.

Salauddin issued the press release from an undisclosed location.

The ongoing peaceful mass movement will continue until the demands are met to establish a democratic system in the country, said the release.

The BNP leader alleged that the prime minister was intimidating BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia into sending jail after withdrawing all the cases filed against her (Hasina).

“The government is using the whole judiciary system to repress the opposition party and opposition views. In reality, the government has pitted all the state organs against people.”

Salauddin, on behalf of the party chairperson, thanked the 20-party leaders and activists for observing the blockade programme peacefully. l

Manna, Khoka sued for sedition n UNB Police yesterday filed a sedition case against Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna and BNP Vice-Chairman Sadeque Hossain Khoka in connection with the recently leaked “telephone conversation” between the duo.

SI Sohel Rana of Gulshan police lodged the case after getting Home Ministry approval.

Manna was arrested on February 24 at a Banani house while RAB confirmed the arrest the following day. He was later placed on a 10day remand in a case filed for instigating the armed forces to take over power. l

Online Activists’ Network lights candle in front of the Raju Memorial in Dhaka University’s TSC area yesterday to pay tribute to slain blogger-writer Avijit and demand punishment to his murderers MEHEDI HASAN

Government plans to contest ICC judge election

Climate change website launched n Abu Bakar Siddique

n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

The government yesterday launched a climate change website which aims to be a resource hub for the issue.

The Ministry of Environment and Forest developed the portal with support from Asian Development Bank’s Climate Change Capacity Building and Knowledge Management project.

“The government created a common platform to accumulate knowledge on climate change,” said Kamal Uddin Ahmed, secretary in charge at the ministry.

The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), says Bangladesh is at risk from climate change. l

The government is planning to nominate a candidate to fill a judicial vacancy at the International Criminal Court (ICC).

“We are planning to contest the election and our candidate will be former chief justice ABM Khairul Haque,” Law Minister Anisul Haq told the Dhaka Tribune.

He meets all the criteria to become a judge of the ICC, Anisul said.

This is the first time a Bangladeshi is attempting to become a judge of the court, he added.

The election will be held in the Hague on June 24 and 25, the minister said.

A senior government official who did not wish to be named said the ICC judge election requires a hectic campaign.

A judge must win a two-thirds majority from the 123 voter-countries to be elected, he said.

The election of six judges in New York last December saw 22 rounds of voting, he added.

The post fell vacant last year when Filipino judge Miriam Defensor Santiago submitted her resignation. The judgeship is for a six-year term. l

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Malaysia-bound illegal migrants intercepted, 7 arrested n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

The Bangladesh Navy yesterday seized an engine boat and a fishing trawler in Chittagong Port’s outer anchorage, and took into custody seven migrant smugglers and 15 migrants en route to Malaysia.

A Navy press release said a Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (SWADS) team intercepted

the vessels around 12am during a patrol mission.

The SWADS team netted the two boats, whose movements were deemed “suspicious,” after giving them chase.

The migrants and smugglers were handed over to Patenga police station, and the boat and trawler were handed over to Chittagong Customs House, the press release said.

The intercepted illegal migrants were

handed over to their families after police verification, he said.

The migrant smugglers – Dinesh Chandra Jaladas, 35, and Mohammad Sohel, 20, of Noakhali and Mohammad Ayub, 28, Golam Kader, 28, Omar Faruk, 25, Erfan Hossain, 25, and Alam, 30, of Cox’s Bazar – were sued in a case lodged with Patenga police station under sections 6, 7 and 8 of the Human Trafficking

Prevention and Control Act, 2012, police said.

Dinesh, found with 85 Yaba pills in his possession, also faces a drug case, Patenga police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Kazi Shahabuddin said.

A Police Headquarters Anti-Human Trafficking Special Committee report from 2014, said 4,500 illegal migrants were intercepted in Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong district over the last five years. l

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Bus-truck owners ACC questions ex-City Bank officials protest blockade n pay-out exclusion Adil Sakhawat

n Shohel Mamun Bus and truck owners who did not receive compensation payments claimed that the compensation committee set up by the various owners’ associations showed favouritism in doling out damages.

They also claimed that the government did not properly verify the committee’s recommendations.

Uncompensated bus and truck owners said transport association leaders gave friends and allies preferential treatment in awarding claims.

Damages worth Tk4.2cr were paid out, but the accuracy of individual claims was never examined by the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority-assisted Prime Minister’s Office technical team that was authorised to do so, Road Transport and Highway Division officials, asking not to be named, said.

But the Road Transport and

Highway Division Secretary MAN Siddique disagreed, saying: “The matter was monitored by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). As far as I know, the PMO has a technical team which evaluated the vandalised vehicles and was assisted by the BRTA technical wing,” Disgruntled owners said the compensation claims were fixed without explanation as to how they were assessed.

“Some who suffered minor losses received huge compensations, while others who sustained major losses received nothing at all,” a transport owner, asking not to be named, told the Dhaka Tribune.

The secretary general of a major owners’ group, Dhaka Sarak Paribahan Malik Samity, Khandaker Enayetullah, who is the coordinator of the compensation committee, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We have upheld all the rules. Those who were affected were compensated.” l

Twoki’s killers still not indicted n Mohammad Jamil Khan

The case filed over the murder of A-Level student Twoki in Narayanganj in 2013 has gathered dust as investigations by police and RAB has seen sluggish progress in the past two years.

The RAB, which took over the case from police, now says it cannot give a timeframe for submitting a charge sheet.

The family of Tanvir Mohammad Twoki, who was only 17 when he was killed, continues to suffer the agonising wait to see the killers being tried.

“Two years have already passed, but they [investigators] are not filing the charge sheet although the main accused is moving freely. We went to the High Court to change the investigating agency as there was very little progress. But the case is now being conducted by RAB. What can we do now?” said Twoki’s father Rafiur Rabbi, the convener of Santras Nirmul Twoki Mancha – an anti-crime platform founded to honour the memory of Twoki.

Rabbi alleged that the charge sheet has become un-

certain as the accused included members of the Osman family – an influential political family based in Narayanganj.

When contacted, RAB 11 Commanding Officer Lt Col Anwar Latif Khan said any projected deadline for filing the charge sheet could not be mentioned now. “The probe is ongoing. We have found some leads but cannot disclose it.”

Commander Mufti Mahmud Khan, legal and media director at RAB headquarters, also refused to set any deadline.

Seeking anonymity, a law enforcer in Narayanganj, however, said: “Instead of identifying the main culprits behind the killing, the probe has become like a politically motivated case. So, the future of the case has now become uncertain.”

On March 6, 2013, Twoki went missing in Narayanganj, and his body was found two days later on the banks of the Shitalakkhya. On March 8, Rafiur Rabbi filed a murder case against unidentified criminals.

The death anniversary of Twoki will be observed with a three-day programme from today. l

The Anti-Corruption Commission has interrogated four senior officials of City Bank Limited, regarding a Tk1,000 crore loan scam from four banks and a financial institute.

A team led by ACC Deputy Director Julfikar Ali quizzed the officials at its

headquarters regarding the scam by a businessman named Wahidur Rahman.

The City Bank officials are former head of SME Bodruddoza Chowdhury, former head of marketing Sadat Ahmed Khan, former business development manager Nurul Alam Mojumder and former relationship manager SM Ashik Al Mehedy of the bank’s head office.

They were interrogated about the loan embezzlement worth Tk18.16 crore from the principal branch of the bank, informed an official of the commission.

The ACC official said Wahidur also embezzled money from Basic Bank, ICB Islamic Bank, Bangladesh Krishi Bank, and IDLC between 2005 to 2011. l

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Woman beaten to death for not accepting arbitration judgement n Our Correspondent, Jessore An elderly woman in Jessore was beaten to death for refusing to accept the outcome of an arbitration on Wednesday night.

Radha Rani Mawl, 55, was beat up along with four others, including her husband, by Tapan Mawl, a neighbour her family had a long-standing dispute with over a land prop-

erty, in Bhaina area.

The woman and the four – her husband Kartik Mawl, son Manishankar Mawl, 26, brother-in-law Debu Mal, 45, and another brother-in-law Manar Mawl, 56 – were taken to Jessore General Hospital where she died hours later.

Kartik said Bikash Mawl, a local arbitrator, administered the arbitration between the two

families and the outcome went in favour of Tapan.

“We protested the judgement, which made Tapan angry. Bikash, Tapan and some of their supporters suddenly attacked us with sticks, leaving the five of us badly injured,” he added.

Kotwali police station Officer-in-Charge Sikdar Akkas Ali said Radha’s body was

sent to Jessore General Hospital morgue for autopsy.

The officer-in-charge said two men were detained in connection with the beating but no case was lodged.

“We are currently conducting primary investigation into the matter. Legislative actions will be taken if a lawsuit is filed,” added OC Sikdar. l

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Mosquitoes pester Khulna for lack of steps City residents term the situation worse than previous years n Our Correspondent, Khulna Mosquito infestation in Khulna has increased in magnitude due to lack of preventive measures.

In a situation where conventional preventions like mosquito coils and aerosol sprays cannot deliver people from mosquitoes, Khulna City Corporation has started using foggers to administer pesticide across 31 wards since Monday.

Residents like Sohag Haoladar from the Nirala residential area claims that the problem is paramount, and KCC initiatives have not helped: “no measure is working and we have to enter mosquito nets as soon as dusk. This year’s problem is worse than previous years.”

Echoing Sohag’s sentiment, Amzad Hossain, a resident of Tupara, Khulna, adds credibility to the feeling that this year’s problem is more severe than previous years: “maintenance work is underway in various areas of Khulna. The drainage canals have been clogged by these activities. As a result, spawning of mosquitoes has increased manifold.”

Mosquitoes generally breed as winter fades and summer begins. Usually the KCC is active in dealing with the issue, but this season is yet to see necessary effort from the people

WEATHER

DRY WEATHER LIKELY FRIDAY, MARCH 6 TODAY SUN SETS 6:03PM

DHAKA

TOMORROW SUN RISES 6:16AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

29

17

Chittagong

30

19

Rajshahi

29

14

Rangpur

29

14

Khulna

29

14

Barisal

30

15

Sylhet

29

13

Cox’s Bazar

30

20

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

30.4ºC Teknaf

15.0ºC Dinajpur

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Jumma Asr Magrib Esha

5:01am 6:16am 12:10am 4:25pm 6:03pm 7:19pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

responsible. Safroon Begum from Nirala said there has not been any KCC activity regarding mosquito infestation in her area.

On the other hand, the conservancy division of the city corporation informed they have undertaken procedures to deal with this issue. Workers are spraying light diesel through hand-pumps since February 26.

Conservancy Officer Md Anisur Rahman said: “in addition to the hand-pumps, 41 employees are operating 41 foggers in 31 wards of Khulna since Monday.

Mosquitoes should come under control within a week. Simultaneously, 31 others will be administering light diesel through hand pumps in 31 wards.”

Foggers will be used to administer Adulticyte and pumps for spraying light diesel. The KCC has procured 10,000 litres of pesticide and 4,872 litres of diesel for this purpose, and fresh supplies will be procured as soon as half of the current stock is used, the officer said.

Residents have complained of discomfort and ill health in areas where diesel has been sprayed.

Throat irritations, inflammation of the eyes and skin, difficulties in breathing has mainly been problems faced by Khulna residents.

Shafiqueul Islam from Powerhouse mor

BCL man grabs land, constructs shops n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi Leader of a local Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) chapter allegedly grabbed public land after forcefully evicting shops and bus stand at Gollapara under Tanor upazila of Rajshahi.

The BCL leader, identified as Tanor upazila BCL President Al Hasanul Kabir Robin Sarka, started constructing shops on the grabbed land drawing reaction from the locals and businessmen. Gollapara Businessman Association President Sarwar-uz-Zaman told the Dhaka Tribune that the land had been used as a local bus stand for the last 30 years.

Moreover, several makeshift shops on the land were run by poor people. The local micro bus owners’ association also had an office there, Sarwar-uz-Zaman said.

“On Thursday, Robin, along with 30-35 accomplices, forcefully took over the area and started vandalising shops and the office of the association,” said Nazrul Islam, general secretary of Gollapara Business Association.

“We already verbally informed the local authorities but they are yet to take action against the BCL leader,” he added. Contacted, Robin admitted constructing brick structures but said it was for BCL party office and library. He also denied the allegation of forced eviction.

Tanor Municipality Awami League’s General Secretary Pradip Sarker said he was not aware of the incident and would look into the matter.

UNO Muniruzzaman Bhuiyan said constructing buildings on public land without proper approval was illegal and added that he would take legal action after looking into the issue.

Anwar Hossain, officer in-charge of Tanor police station said he was aware of the matter but since no one lodged any formal complaint, they could not take any action. l

said his fellow businesspeople and he was troubled shortly after the KCC sprayed diesel in the vicinity. That was unlike any previous year, and he questioned the quality of the chemicals KCC is using.

Anisur Rahman blames mixture of diesel such incidents. He has instructed his staff to be extra careful about the proportions of the chemicals. The problem should subside automatically, he hopes. l

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FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

Get-rich-quick scheme swindles depositors n Our Correspondent, Barisal

People who deposited all of their savings into the Bikash Multipurpose Cooperative Society (BMCS), with a hope to get rich in a short time, are now wandering about the office every day to get back their money.

As the multipurpose cooperative society founder is very close to the ruling party Awami League, the affected depositors do not dare to file cases, as well as general diary, against him.

Former vice-president of Brojo Mohon College students’ union and president of upazila unit Awami League, Anwar Hossain who is commonly known as VP Anwar established the BMCS in the BM College area in 2005.

According to these clients, the multipurpose cooperative society has collected Tk100 crore from them since its inception.

During collection of money, the BMCS official pledged to clients they would provide high interest rates for deposit and low rates for distributed loans under easy terms and conditions which greatly appealed to the low-income groups.

Bishu Ghosh, who was present at the demonstration, said: “BMCS’s promise to double our deposit and a return on our investment in a short time was appealing.”

Bishu added: “I deposited Tk6 lakh into the BMCS as its offer was lucrative.”

Derailment snaps rail link n Our Correspondent, Brahmanbaria

Railway communication between Chittagong, Sylhet and Noakhali was cut off yesterday after the derailment of six bogies of a Dhaka-bound train near Puniaut rail crossing area in Brahmanbaria.

Brahmanbaria Railway Station Master Mohidur Rahman said the derailment took place around10:45am.“The accident snapped rail communication between Dhaka and Chittagong, Sylhet and Noakhali.

The reason behind the accident could not be known immediately,” he said. l

Elderly woman crushed under train Correspondent, n Our Mirsarai An elderly woman was killed when a train hit her near Baiarhat Rail crossing in Mirsarai yesterday.

Gatekeeper Arif said a Dhaka bound train hit the unidentified woman while she was crossing the tracks. Locals rescued her in critical condition and sent to hospital where on duty doctors declared her dead. l

Rana Talukder, who deposited Tk2 lakh, said the NGO stopped giving clients any interest or profit two years ago. The BMCS officials are threatening clients who want to get their profit and interest against their investment, or to withdraw their deposits, he said.

Barisal District Officer of Cooperative Directorate Ruhul Kabir told the Dhaka Tribune that the BMCS had registered to work as a cooperative society, and not as a bank. He said they would look into the matter.

Kazi Nurul Alam, general manager incharge of Bangladesh Bank, Barisal Branch, said: “As BMCS is not a bank, the Bangladesh Bank has nothing to do with this matter.”

Secretary of the citizens’ alliance Barisal Nagorik Parishad, Enayet Hossain Chowdhury, said it is the government’s duty to see whether people are being defrauded or not.

Anwar, who is also an activist of Awami League district, said: “When I became sick, and could not supervise the BMCS’s activities the last four years, some field-level supervisors and workers failed to collect a return on the loan and on the invested amount from the field, which created problems.” The investment will be returned when the funds are collected from the field-level investments. The clients only need to wait patiently, he said.

The administration, law enforcement, and Bangladesh Bank authorities however have not shown any vigilance in this matter. l

A housewife dries red chillies on the yard of a rice mill, which is waiting for the Boro harvest to arrive.

Leveraging the brief gap before stocking up new rice, some mill owners take up the dry chilli business for some extra cash. The photo was taken at Shutihaat village of Manda upazila of Naogaon yesterday AZAHAR UDDIN

DT

NEWS 9

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

16 YEARS OF UDICHI TRAGEDY

Victims yet to get justice n Our Correspondent, Jessore Today marks the 16th anniversary of the gruesome bomb attack on the programme of Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Goshthi in Jessore.

In a previous verdict in 2006, all the accused were acquitted of charges. And the appeal against that verdict is yet to see any light.

On the night of March 6 of 1999, a powerful bomb exploded at the 12th national conference of Udichi at Jessore city’s Town Hall.

The attack left 10 people dead and more than hundred people injured.

Nahid is one of the severely injured who lost both of his legs in the attack. Even after 15 years, the memory of the tragic night haunts him everyday.

“I cannot accept the fact that we are not getting justice even after such a long time. It pains me. Only Allah knows what I go through,” he said hoping that justice would prevail.

Another victim Sukanto Das expressed his deep frustration and hoped that he would get justice one day, no matter how long it takes.

On the fateful night, Nazmul Huda Tapan, a local cultural activist, was volunteering at

the Udichi event. He was one of the 10 persons who lost their lives in the attack. Being the only earning member, Tapan’s death has left his family in a continuous battle of survival.

Though, the family was compensated with a land and an old house to live in, it is the justice that they demand the most.

However, Tapan’s family is now facing a new crisis as the local police demanded that a portion of the land belonged to them. Tapan’s sister Nazmun Sultana Beauty said police had been intimidating them to give up the land.

When asked, Jessore Superintendent of Police Anisur Rahman said police owned a portion of the land legally and the case could now be only settled in the court.

Beauty urged the Prime Minister’s intervention to save their property and to ensure justice.

Meanwhile, President of Jessore Udichi DM Shahiduzzaman said: “We have been demanding justice for the last 15 years. But still no result. If this case was settled, the other attacks like Ramna, Chhayanaut and Satkhira would not have happened.”

Rafiqul Islam Pitu, public prosecutor of the case, said the incumbent government revived

Some opportunists set up a bamboo bridge on a dirt road running along the Tahirpur border in Sunamganj and demand money from motorcycle riders DHAKA TRIBUNE

UP chairman embezzles VGD rice Correspondent, n Our Comilla A union parishad chairman was accused of misappropriating rice of vulnerable group development (VGD) at Daudkandi upazila yesterday.

Maluka Union Council members claimed that the chairman Shahjahan Bhuyan made 60 fake VGD cards in the name of his relatives.

He withdrew 60 sacks of rice from several funds including TR (test relief) and Kabikha against the cards and kept it in his house.

In the morning, locals caught him red handed while he was selling the rice in black market, said UP member Razzak. Azaduzzaman said he would take necessary steps after investigation the incident. Shahjahan also denied the allegation. l

the case following the discovery of militant leader Mufti Hannan’s involvement. “Two appeals were filed and they were duly accepted by the court. After that the accused who were earlier released were asked to surrender. Now the hearing on the appeals are going on,” he said hoping that the case would be settled soon.

Right after the incident in 1999, two separate cases were filed. After a primary investigation by the Kotwali police, the cases were handed over to the CID, who filed a chargesheet accusing the then minister and BNP leader Tariqul Islam and 24 others. However, Tariqul Islam’s name was later dropped from charge framing by an order of the high court.

After seven long years since the court began the trial proceedings, verdict was announced on May 30, 2006, when all the accused were relieved without any charges.

When Awami League assumed office in 2009, the Home Ministry filed an appeal with the HC on March 3, 2010 challenging the lower court verdict. Later in 2011, HC division bench justices Siddiqur Rahman and Krisna Devnath ordered fresh probe into the case and asked the acquitted people to surrender before the court. l

Riding motorbike after 10pm banned n Our Correspondent, Panchagarh Riding a motorcycle in Panchagarh after 10pm could get one arrested as the local administration has imposed ban in a bid to stop subversive activities by using the vehicle in the district.

The administration has also put a restriction on carrying passengers on the twowheeled motor vehicles in daytime.

The decisions were taken at an emergency meeting of the district law and order committee at the conference room of the deputy commissioner’s office in Panchagarh on Wednesday.

With Panchagarh DC Md Salahuddin in the chair, Thakurgaon Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Sector Commander Col Mohammad Akramul Haque, Panchagarh BGB-18 Commanding Officer Lt Colonel Ariful Haque, Superintendent of Police Abul Kalam Azad, Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer Laila Muntajery Dina, among others, attended the meeting.

The ministry issued that order following complaints that bike-riding criminals were hurling petrol and crude bombs targeting vehicles and law enforces in the capital and elsewhere in the country during the recent blockade enforced by BNP-led 20-party alliance. l

DT

10 WORLD

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

Russia starts large-scale military exercises in disputed territories

n Reuters, Moscow Russia’s Defence Ministry said yesterday that large-scale military exercises had started in southern Russia and in disputed territories on Russia’s borders.

The exercises involve over 2,000 anti-aircraft troops and 500 items of weaponry and will last until April 10, Interfax news agency reported.

The Defence Ministry said the exercises were taking place in Russia’s Southern and North Caucasus Federal Districts, as well as on Russian military bases in Armenia, the Georgian separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia and Ukraine’s Crimea region, which Moscow annexed last year.

They are likely to be viewed in the West as a show of force as relations between Russia and the West are at their most strained since the Cold War because of the Ukraine crisis.

Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of directing a separatist assault in eastern Ukraine.

Russia has repeatedly denied those accusations.

At a news conference in Moscow unrelated to the exercises, Russian Deputy Defence Minister Anatoly Antonov said Nato activities on Russia’s borders far exceeded anything the Russian military was undertaking.

“Nato states are using the situation in the south-east of Ukraine as an excuse to ... move forward, closer to Russia’s borders,” Interfax quoted Antonov as saying. l

Kerry briefs Iran’s Gulf rivals on nuclear talks n Reuters, Riyadh US Secretary of State John Kerry met Saudi Arabia’s king and Gulf Arab foreign ministers in Riyadh yesterday to reassure them that a possible nuclear deal with old adversary Iran would not damage their interests.

Kerry arrived in Riyadh late on Wednesday from Montreux, Switzerland, where he said he had made progress in talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.

China, one of the six nations involved in the Iran negotiations, which aim to establish a framework accord by late March, said yesterday an agreement might be at hand.

“We do think that it’s a last stage and hopefully we could reach an agreement,” said Wang Qun, director general of the arms control department of China’s Foreign Ministry.

Gulf countries, like Israel and many Western states, fear that Iran is using its atomic program to develop nuclear weapons capability, something Tehran denies.

Sunni Muslim Saudi Arabia regards Shi’ite Iran as its main regional rival and the two countries back opposing sides in wars and political struggles in Syria, Iraq, Bahrain, Lebanon and Yemen, often along sectarian lines.

As such, Saudi Arabia and its allies worry that the mooted atomic accord will not stop Iran from gaining the bomb. They are also concerned that it would lift international pressure on Tehran and give it more room to intervene in regional issues.

The Baghdad government, which is close to Iran, said yesterday it believed the nuclear negotiations would prove fruitful.

“We believe these (talks) will lead to a peaceful solution and will resolve controversial points,” Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari told a UN-sponsored conference in Geneva.

Kerry was driven to Diriyah on the outskirts of Riyadh to meet King Salman, who became monarch in January. He is also scheduled to meet Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who is the Interior Minister and heads Riyadh’s security policy.

The GCC includes Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Oman.

Kerry also held a separate meeting at the start of the day with Oman’s Foreign Minister Yusef bin Alawi bin Abdullah. Muscat helped facilitate months of secret talks between Iran and the United States in 2013 that led to the push for a deal. l

Myanmar police drag away protesting factory workers n AP, Yangon Police say they have detained more than a dozen factory workers, who were demanding higher wages and better working conditions, in a protest that follows a crackdown on students outside Myanmar’s biggest city.

The detentions came when about 100 workers tried to march from their factories into Yangon late Wednesday but were blocked by police. After some workers staged a sit-in, police dragged them away.

The protest in two industrial zones near Yangon came as police in an area 140 kilometers (90 miles) from Yangon were faced off with hundreds of students demanding education reforms.

Since the country started moving from a half-century of dictatorship to democracy just four years ago, the government has found itself grappling with the consequences of newfound freedoms of expression. l

The World Health Organisation will start large-scale testing of an experimental Ebola vaccine in Guinea on Saturday to see how effective it might be in preventing future outbreaks of the deadly virus.

The West African nations of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea have been hardest hit in the yearlong Ebola outbreak, which has left

n AFP, Cairo Egypt’s state-sponsored Islamic authority warned women Wednesday against marrying fighters from the Islamic State group online, saying such unions would push them into a “circle of terrorism.”

Dar al-Ifta, the body that issues rulings on Islamic sharia law, said it made the warning after noticing several IS calls on social networks for girls to marry its jihadists “through video conferences.”

“Dar al-Ifta warns girls from adhering to these calls that go against sharia,” a statement said.

Such actions would push them into “the circle of extremism and terrorism through illegitimate marriages that neither please Allah or his prophet.”

The London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue said in a recent report that women joining the extremist group in Iraq and Syria are expected to marry its fighters, keep house and bear children. l

Chad president tells Boko Haram leader to surrender or face death

n Reuters, N’djamena President Idriss Deby of Chad said on Wednesday he knew the whereabouts of Abubakar Shekau, the leader of the Nigerian militant group Boko Haram, and called on him to surrender or risk being killed.

Chad’s army has waged a series of battles against Boko Haram as part of a cross-border military campaign and has re-taken territory the militant group held in northeastern Nigeria.

“Abubakar Shekau must surrender. We know where he is. If he doesn’t give himself up he will suffer the same fate as his compatriots,” he told a news conference after a regional meeting.

“He was in Dikwa two days ago. He managed to get away but we know where he is. It’s in his interests to surrender,” Deby said, referring to a town in northeastern Nigeria held by Boko Haram that fell to Chad’s army earlier this week. l

Iranian special operatives free diplomat abducted in Yemen

n AP, Tehran In this Feb 19, photo, Myanmar workers of Korean-owned Costec garment factory stage a sit-in protest under a makeshift tent camp outside the entrance to the factory in Shwepyithar AP

Testing of Ebola vaccine to begin in Guinea n AP, London

Egypt warns women against marrying IS fighters online

more than 9,800 people dead. In a statement yesterday, the UN health agency said the vaccine study will focus on Basse Guinee, the region that has Guinea’s most Ebola cases.

The health agency’s vaccination strategy in Guinea aims to create a buffer zone around an Ebola case to prevent its further spread — an approach used to eradicate smallpox in the 1970s. Officials will vaccinate people who have already been exposed to Ebola cases and

are at risk of developing the disease.

The vaccine being tested — VSV-EBOV — was developed by Canada and is now licensed to Merck. A second vaccine — one developed by US National Institutes of Health and GlaxoSmithKline — will be tested in a separate study as supplies become available.

The Guinea trial is being conducted with other health partners including Doctors Without Borders, Epicentre. l

Iran said yesterday that a team of special operatives has freed an Iranian diplomat abducted more than 19 months ago in Yemen, a rare acknowledgement by Tehran of an intel operation carried out on foreign soil.

The official IRNA news agency quoted deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdolahian as saying that intelligence officers undertook a “difficult and complicated operation” to secure Nour Ahmad Nikbakhat’s freedom from the “hands of terrorists.”

Amirabdollahian added that the operation took place “in a very special area in Yemen,” without elaborating or providing further details.

The diplomat, who was stationed in the Yemeni capital of Sanaa at the time of his abduction, returned home yesterday, the report said. l

DT

WORLD 11

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

Delhi rape victim’s father urges viewing of documentary

n AFP The father of a woman who died after a savage gang-rape in Delhi said yesterday he thought everyone should watch a documentary about the attack broadcast by the BBC but banned in India.

“Everyone should watch the film,” news channel NDTV quoted him as saying on its website.

“If a man can speak like that in jail, imagine what he would say if he was walking free,” he said, describing the documentary as “the bitter truth.”

“It is not only Mukesh who thinks like this,” the victim’s mother said. l

DPRK says US diplomat deserves punishment

n Reuters, Seoul

North Korea’s official KCNA news agency called yesterday’s knife attack on the US ambassador to South Korea “deserved punishment” for US military exercises with South Korea, calling the assault “the knife of justice.”

Ambassador Mark Lippert suffered deep wounds to his face and arm, requiring surgery, after a South Korean nationalist slashed him with a fruit knife at a breakfast forum in Seoul. l

India serves legal notice on BBC for airing Nirbhaya film n Agencies An upset Indian government yesterday served a legal notice to BBC after the channel ignored its advice and broadcast the controversial interview of Delhi gang-rape convict even as it asked video sharing website YouTube to remove the documentary as it is “very sensitive.”

BBC has no plans to telecast the film in India “Yes we had informed all channels that the documentary must not be released. But BBC has broadcast it in London. (Now) whatever action we have to take, the home ministry will go ahead and do that,” home minister Rajnath Singh told reporters here earlier when asked about the airing of the programme on Wednesday night.

“We had requested BBC not to telecast the documentary but BBC said that it’s an independent organisation and will go ahead with the telecast,” he added, Asked what the government could do, Singh said, “I would not like to make any comment at this moment. All I can say is that whatever is required, will be done. If condi-

tions have been violated, if they have been violated, there will be appropriate action,” PTI reported.

To another query, the minister said, “You keep watching, I have talked to the I&B ministry and have also written to the external affairs ministry. Proceedings are taking place.”

Meanwhile, communications and IT ministry told Youtube that the issue is “very sensitive” and it should review its position on the matter, and remove it from the website.

When contacted, a YouTube spokesperson said: “While we believe that access to information is the foundation of a free society and that services like YouTube help people express themselves and share different points of view, we continue to remove content that is illegal or violates our community guidelines, once notified.”

BBC aired the documentary, containing the controversial interview of a convict in the December 16,2012 gang rape despite a Delhi court prohibiting it.

BBC yesterday conveyed to the government that it has no plans to telecast the film in India in compliance with the directive.

Asked as to who was to blame for allowing shooting of the documentary, the home minister said, “there has been no failure on the part of the government.” l

Indonesia rejects Australian proposal of prisoner swap for death row pair

n Reuters

Indonesia rejected yesterday an Australian proposal for a prisoner swap made in an 11th hour effort to save the lives of two Australian drug smugglers expected to face a firing squad within days.

The planned executions of Myuran Sukumaran, 33, and Andrew Chan, 31, have ramped up diplomatic tension between Australia and Indonesia after repeated pleas for mercy on their behalf. They are among a group of up to 11 convicts, mostly foreigners, due to be executed on the prison island of Nusakambangan.

Indonesia’s foreign ministry said there was no legal basis for Indonesia to act on the proposal that had been made by Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.

“Basically Indonesia does not have any regulation or legal framework regarding a prisoner swap,” said Indonesian foreign ministry spokesman Armanatha Nasir. “This idea was put forward to our minister two days ago and we told them then.”

A spokeswoman for Australia’s Bishop said: “We have not had confirmation of that from our end yet.”

Also facing execution are citizens of France, Brazil, the Philippines, Ghana and Nigeria, as well as Indonesia. l

DT

12 EDITORIAL

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

Implement accord to end CHT land-grabbing

A

new report draws attention to the link between communal tension and discrimination in the Chittagong Hill Tracts and criminal acts committed by land grabbers.

The Kapaeeng Foundation cites land disputes as the underlying motive for a growing number of attacks on indigenous people in the region. It records that grabbers attacked 153 families, 89 from the plains and 64 from the CHT, in 2014 as part of efforts to take over land belonging to indigenous peoples. It notes a large number of fabricated cases being brought to coerce land-grabbing attempts.

Of even more concern, it records a growing number of abductions, rapes, and killings, with some 122 indigenous women and girls being subjected to sexual and physical violence in 2014, up from 67 in 2013.

The report claims that communal attacks and fears of persecution forced over 200 indigenous families to flee the country last year.

It is long overdue for the government to heed calls from local people and the Chittagong Hill Tracts Commission to put into force unimplemented provisions of the 1997 CHT Accord.

The government must urgently progress full implementation of the CHT accord.

It has a duty to uphold the rights of all citizens by working to eliminate discrimination and ensure peace and rule of law. It must not backtrack or delay.

Communal attacks and fears of persecution forced over 200 indigenous families to flee the country last year

Be heard

Writeto toDhaka DhakaTribune Tribune Write Tower,8/C 8/CPanthapath, Panthapath, Sukrabad, Shukrabad,Dhaka-1207 Dhaka-1207 FRFRTower, Email letters.dt@dhakatribune.com Email letters.dt@dhakatribune.com Sendususyour yourOp-Ed Op-Edarticles: articles: Send opinion.dt@dhakatribune.com opinion.dt@dhakatribune.com www.dhakatribune.com www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community: Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune

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Non-stop hartal after Feb 14 if demands not met February 13

B

Poor road safety is exacerbated by reckless driving habits and an endemic lack of enforcement of basic traffic rules

February 14

Petros Mendes Good Lord.

Md Milon Yes!

Joy blasts civil society

February 13 abul Sarwar Very natural -- while holding power, nobody likes the civil society. Outrage is also an indication of nervousness.

Muhid Babu At times, he seems more active!

UET surveys estimate that there are on average more than 12,500 deaths in road accidents taking place in Bangladesh each year.

Given this record, the government’s goal of reducing accidents by 30% in 10 years is not ambitious enough to end the appalling number of casualties that occur on our roads every day.

Poor road safety is exacerbated by reckless driving habits and an endemic lack of enforcement of basic traffic rules and regulations.

With 65% of road accidents taking place on the highways, it is essential that the fitness of our roads and drivers be tackled primarily.

Most of the steps presently being proposed by the authorities -- such as establishing “pre-hospital” treatment and trauma centres along major highways -- can, at best, serve to reduce fatalities caused by road accidents, but will not by themselves reduce the number of preventable accidents occurring.

It is undoubtedly important to take every measure to reduce casualties on freeways, but prevention is better than cure and the concerned agencies need to address the source of the problem.

The proposal to include road safety education in schools is an important step forwards. But without effective enforcement of road rules and tests for the fitness of drivers, it will be ineffective.

We urge the authorities to take road safety much more seriously. The government cannot afford to keep overlooking the need to act on such a long-standing issue. It must take responsibility for reducing the number of deaths on our roads.

Failing to act now puts at risk many lives which can and must be better protected.

Let him without sin cast the first stone

M Naim Mostafiz Antu Why not in Feb 14?

Zahidul Islam Babul Sarwar: I agree with you.

The wrong road to safety

DT

BNP calls 72-hr hartal from Sunday February 14

Adnan Qader You are forcing us to support AL, you buffoons. Good job trying to win over the general population.

Probir Bidhan Inhumane ...

GB goes under full state control today February 15 Shawkat Haider Bangladeshi reality.

‘Make Sundarbans oil spill probe report public’

February 15 Babul Sarwar Our government (?) cannot even protect and save our God-gifted natural blessings and resources. Why do we have a government at all?

Rajshahi-Chapai train communication resumes

February 14 Probir Bidhan The train sabotage continues. :(

Climate negotiations on the road to Paris

February 13 Evil People Politics Let us hope this congregation bears some fruit. Climate change is nothing to scoff at.

vhs Wonderful stuff from Esam Sohail as always.

Zero-Agenda There’s always someone to point fingers at, past or present.

The blood-dimmed tide is loosed

February 15 sundar In the past, the people in desparate situations used to expect the military to rescue them, but this time the military has been infected by the virus that is “business” and the only recourse the people have is God, or what we call “Allah bhorosha.”

Barely Legal Alien Man, all I want is for my classes to stop being rescheduled to the weekends.

Karl Hungus Yes! Much like Stevie Wonder’s (debatable) joke gone out-of-control, our leaders have lost possession of the reins in their [fatal] practical joke.

Fearing boundaries

February 15 Madiha Good read, even for us here in Bangladesh, as we often talk about “going to a better country” while simultaneously complaining about the very real barriers to moving! Interesting to see how politicians in the UK are not above scapegoating.

George Fascinating look at the realities behind the smoke and mirrors.

Pre-election mayhem cases never saw trial

February 14 MSirajullah Unfortunaltely that is one of the reasons behind present hooliganism. Hooligans know that nothing will happen. Until a few hangings are allowed, it will not stop.

DT

OPINION 13

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

A paper leviathan n William B Milam

T

MEHEDI HASAN

Earn our trust n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

S

ince BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia -- also supreme leader of the 20-party opposition -- announced the all-out blockade and hartals on January 5, the Awami League has apparently been puzzled.

The AL and its front organisations -- Chhatra League, Jubo League, Krishak League, and others -- poured onto the streets, occupying major strategic spots in Dhaka and other cities and towns to stage a counter-show. They brought out processions and played Bangabandhu’s March 7 speech through loudspeakers.

They were seen on the streets on January 6 and 7 when BNP-Jamaat launched their hit-and-run tactics, creating a dark chapter in Bangladesh’s hartal-blockade politics. The common people became the victims of their alleged arson attacks. People were burnt alive, which is unbecoming in a civilised society. At least 80 people lost their lives due to the heinous attacks across the country.

But the AL leaders and activists suddenly disappeared from the streets, leaving the police and other law enforcers to tackle the violence. Why? Are they scared of BNP-Jamaat? Possibly not. This may be a political strategy to foil the BNP-Jamaat “movement” (or violence).

How? Very easyly! The BNP-Jamaat resorted to blockade and violence with the motive of bringing the economy to a total standstill -- a situation that would make people angry with the government. And amid domestic and international pressure, the AL would then come to a compromise and agree for mid-term polls, which the opposition thinks it would sweep.

But the AL thought in a different way.

They withdrew from the streets and it gave them some advantages. For instance, if they were on the streets, the fight would be between the BNP-Jamaat and the AL and its

front organisations.

Many of their leaders and activists would die. And it is a harsh reality that murder of political activists hardly moves people, but attacks on innocent people have serious implications.

The BNP-Jamaat issued several statements saying they were not responsible for the petrol-bomb attacks on public transports.

But the majority of the people strongly believe that the agitating opposition has been carrying out the Molotov-cocktail attacks on buses, trains, trucks, and other installations, as many of their leaders were caught or injured while attacking people. Again, they must take responsibility as they have been sponsoring the blockade-hartals.

The AL’s philosophy of staying away from the street is: Every single petrol-bomb attack on the innocent people would enhance public wrath against BNP-Jamaat. At one stage, people would raise a clamour: Why are the police not killing them, and why is the AL not taking action against Khaleda Zia? Then the government would eliminate them, and the people would not mind.

Eventually, people will not care about the so-called hartal-blockades. The hartal-blockade has already lost its efficacy.

Khaleda Zia is the principal accused (hukumer ashami) in some arson attacks. And the time will come, according to AL, when people will welcome Khaleda Zia’s trial for the killing of innocent people and calling hartals.

But, for that to happen, the AL must earn the people’s trust through adopting some tangible measures that would reform the political institutions such as the party itself, the Election Commission, and the parliament.

The AL must also show initiatives taken to curb corruption and ensure social justice.

Only then will our cherished Shonar Bangla come into being. l Kamran Reza Chowdhury is a journalist.

he violent political struggle in Bangladesh seems to be adding a new twist to the political philosophy of authoritarianism which Thomas Hobbes famously set out in his 1651 classic, The Leviathan. I wrote two weeks ago that the country is in a state of “incipient anarchy,” in which the leaders of both sides appear to have lost control of their street fighters.

It is almost as if the country is returning to what Hobbes called “the state of nature,” a condition in which he says that none of the aspects of “commodious living” are possible because they require force, and that instead, there is “no knowledge of the face of the Earth, no account of time; no arts; no letters; no society; and … continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.”

Hobbes wrote that the society in a state of nature needs a social contract to establish a civil society, a contract in which society surrenders many individual rights to a protective sovereign power -- a monarch, a dictator, a military ruler, etc -- for protection and order.

This has to be the central message, implicit or explicit, of the present government in Dhaka, as it is dragged along the path of accelerating confrontation and human rights abuses against an opposition that, as I also mentioned two weeks ago, is both feckless and desperate, that perceives at least that it is fighting for survival, and which is also not fully under control of its leaders.

In that sense, there is not much to distinguish the exponential rise in instability and violence in Bangladesh over the past year from many of these other troubled spots. But I discern one difference: I stumbled on this idea recently when I read the off-the-cuff remarks of SOAS economist, Mushtaq Khan.

Like some other political entities in South Asia, Khan mused, stability and order (or at least a reasonable facsimile thereof) has only obtained in Bangladesh when it was an electoral democracy, and when the major party alliances traded off power in each election, ie from 1990 to 2014.

Khan points out that it is during this almost 20-year period, that Bangladesh made the fastest and largest economic and social gains ever. If economic growth and social development are connected in some way to stability and order, this bodes ill for Bangladesh unless the present strife is, somehow, halted and resolved before things break down completely.

A brief glance at Bangladesh history bears

this out. In 1975, when Sheikh Mujib tried to lock-in the Awami League’s access to the resources that governing provides with his one-party state, the fragile stability and order that obtained was shattered, he was killed and the ensuing chaos (truly a Hobbsian state of nature) led to an absolutist ruler, who over time brought about order and stability, with support from the military. He created the BNP, the other major party, as a center-right alternative to the Awami League, and made it the party of government while he ruled.

After his assassination, a hybrid, military-backed government ruled for almost a decade using a wily strategy of dividing the opposition (which included the BNP) and luring some independents to join it for patriotic reasons and others for pecuniary ones. This strategy was shredding, and stability and order breaking down by the mid- 1980s. The government remained in power primarily because of increasing repression and because until 1990 the two major parties could not agree on a common front.

That the primary cause of Bangladesh’s zero-sum political mindset and past and present instability is over access to resources in neither new nor surprising.

But in Bangladesh, the Leviathan was a concept, the caretaker government to run elections. This concept started as an agreement between the opposition parties in the 1990 movement against the military ruler, so each knew that when Ershad fell, they would be in a free and fair election. Each, obviously, thought it would win that election. In 1996, this was turned into a constitutional amendment. Thus it is fair to call it a paper Leviathan.

The paper leviathan did not change the zero-sum mindset, as many of us hoped.

Each government tried to find ways to use the Caretaker Amendment to its advantage in reelection, and each election brought in the opposition because the parties governed so badly, and corruptly. But until the 2009 election, neither won enough seats to junk the amendment.

Hobbes, if he were still around, might argue that his social contract gave Bangladeshis the right to do away with their paper protection against one party government. But wouldn’t he worry that their doing so has, in fact, taken the country back toward the state of nature, the anarchy that the Leviathan was supposed to prevent. Something is wrong with this picture. l William B Milam is a Senior Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington, DC, and former US Ambassador to Pakistan and Bangladesh. This article was first published in The Friday Times.

BIGSTOCK

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14 OPINION

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

The bridge is broken

BIGSTOCK

All the king’s horses

W n Zafar Sobhan

ell-meaning third parties continue to try to foster dialogue between the government and the opposition, and the general consensus among right-thinking people seems to be that there is no other resolution to the current crisis.

This comes from a good place and there is eminent sense in the proposition. Everyone agrees that the current situation is untenable for the country and that anything that can bring the carnage and mayhem to a halt has got to be better than what we are going through every day.

To that end, what alternative is there except dialogue and discussion with a view to holding fresh elections, acceptable to all, at some point in the not too distant future?

Unfortunately, the time has now come for us to squarely face up to the possibility that there may be no good solution -- or indeed any solution -- to the problems that this country faces. We may well have reached the point of no return, and if we have not already, then we are approaching it fast.

The first problem with trying to broker a dialogue is that both sides have categorically ruled this out or set pre-conditions that they know full well the other side cannot or will not accede to.

Looking at the matter from this point of

view, both the warring factions in fact have a point that those who are counseling truce and dialogue will have a hard time countering.

What is there, when all is said and done, to talk about?

The AL wants an end to the violence, but it certainly is not going to be -- nor, one could perfectly reasonably argue, should it be -blackmailed into concessions. It may agree to new elections and it may budge slightly on the terms under which the new elections

agree to new elections, neither will it concede the BNP demand for reconstitution of the caretaker government system to administer the election, nor will it agree to an alternate arrangement that would be acceptable to the BNP. In short, we are simply going round and round in circles. Nothing has changed from last year, when the two sides could not come to an agreement in order to make the January 5 elections fully participatory and contested,

We need to wake up to the fact that there is no AL-BNP solution to our problems. There is no solution that will satisfy both parties

would be held, but it will not, under any circumstance, agree to terms that the BNP would find acceptable.

By the same token, the BNP believes that the AL is an illegitimate government, with neither popular mandate nor legal right to rule the country. It makes perfect sense for them to have a one point program demanding new elections.

However, even if the government does

so why does anyone think that a new round of elections will solve anything when the issue of under what rules the elections will be held remains intractable and unresolvable?

I agree that talking is better than not talking. But, at some point, there has to be something to talk about. If there is nothing to talk about, then why waste time?

All the well-meaning offers of mediation that we have seen so far from third parties in

person or mooted on op-ed pages and in talk shows all suffer from the same understandable and laudable failing -- they assume that a resolution is possible.

But I am afraid that not all problems have a resolution. There are some problems that we just have to file under the category of insoluble. Just because we all want there to be a solution to every problem doesn’t mean that there is one.

Getting AL and BNP to talk to one another, to get them to compromise with one another, to recreate the political compact that the parties shared for the best part of the last quarter century is a fool’s errand, and it is about time we acknowledged this fact instead of continually trotting out new solutions that take as a basic premise that compact is not irreversibly broken.

The political compact between AL and BNP is broken, and all the king’s horses and all the king’s men can’t put it back together again.

We need to wake up to the fact that there is no AL-BNP solution to our problems. There is no solution that will satisfy both parties.

There is no ground common enough for the both of them.

The sooner we stop pretending otherwise, the sooner we can come to a realistic solution to the current crisis.

I don’t know what the answer is, but I do know what the answer isn’t. l Zafar Sobhan is the Editor, Dhaka Tribune.

16

India helps small business borrow to grow

17

China signals ‘new normal’ with lower annual growth target

19

Stocks finish week on back foot

20

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Business

15

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

US to help Bangladesh reach $50bn RMG export target

GP plans insurance and e-education Zahidul Islam, from n Muhammad Barcelona, Spain Grameenphone wants to bring all its customers under a single insurance scheme covering health, death, accidents and hospital support.

The largest mobile phone operator in Bangladesh is also planning to get tied up with the Bangladesh government’s e-education services, said a high official of Telenor, the Norway-based parent company of the operator.

Sigve Brekke

‘We are strongly arguing that we need to use a lot of spectrum for 3G, 4G and later for 5G. We cannot get stuck...Unfortunately, the regulators in Bangladesh said they will not go for neutral spectrum technology’ “We have signed two partnership deals with a global and a local insurance company [in Bangladesh],” Head of Telenor Asia Sigve Brekke said in an interview on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.

“If a customer gives certain amount of money, he or she will be provided insurance facilities,” he said.

The four-day long Mobile World Congress, the biggest annual gathering of the mobile industry, concluded yesterday.

“We are having discussions with the Bangladesh government about how educational services can be improved so that one can get

access to schools, professors and universities easily,” said Brekke, who is also the chairman of the GP board of directors.

“We think this will be a big opportunity for us in terms of providing information such as crop prices and harvest to farmers across Asia,” he said.

GP wants its customers to have banking relations and transactional services for transferring and lending money and pay bills through their mobile phones. “But that does not mean we are competing with the banks. We will not deal with the existing banking customers. We will try to bring only those who do not have banking relations under our scheme.”

For that, he said, they would look to have their own banking licence, similar to what exist in neighboring India, Pakistan and Myanmar. “If we cannot have that, then we will tie up with the banks for ensuring these services.”

Regarding the upcoming spectrum auction in Bangladesh, Brekke said they are looking for a neutral bandwidth bidding to acquire a wider spectrum so that they can be ready to embrace faster data services such as the 4G. GP is the highest revenue-generating concern of the Norway-based Telenor Group.

“We are strongly arguing that we need to use a lot of spectrum for 3G, 4G and later for 5G. We cannot get stuck...Unfortunately, the regulators in Bangladesh said they will not go for neutral spectrum technology,” he said.

Operators who provide voice services and have less than 20 MHz spectrum in the GSM bands – 900 MHz and 1,800 MHz – are eligible to participate in the auction due next month.

There are concerns that GP, the only operator in Bangladesh to have more than 20 MHz in those bands, may not be allowed bid for the 1,800 MHz spectrum.

GP, who control 43% of the market share, will be able to take part in the bidding if the entire 10.6 MHz spectrum remains unsold after the auction.

Terming the condition discriminatory, Brekke said: “In some cases we are using the spectrum for 2G, in some cases for 3G. But you should have 4G in Bangladesh and we need a lot of bandwidth to go for the technology.”

He said the telecom policy in Bangladesh is 16 years old and it does not draw out on the internet. So a new policy is needed in order to have more investment in future, particularly because the government has been talking about “Digital Bangladesh.”

GP currently has 52 million active subscribers, out of which 20% use internet on a daily basis. The company wants to raise the mobile internet penetration to 80% by the end of 2017. l

Exports grow 5% in February n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi The country’s exports registered more than 5% growth in February from the same month last year, riding on the robust garment sector.

In February, Bangladesh earned $2.5bn compared to $2.38bn last year, showed Export Promotion Bureau data released yesterday.

However, the exports witnessed 14.8% decline from the last month as in January the figure was $2.88bn.

The data also showed the exports reached $20.31bn in first eight months of the current fiscal with 2.43% growth from the same period last year.

During the period in last fiscal year, the export earnings were $19.83bn.

But the exporters say the bad news still awaits for the Bangladesh export sector. They said the impact of the current political instability would be visible in next month.

“This growth doesn’t make us happy as the bad news is still ahead. The ongoing political unrest will start casting a negative impact on the exports in the upcoming month,” Abdus Salam Murshedy, president of Exporters Association of Bangladesh, told Dhaka Tribune.

He said the growth was possible as the exporters chose air shipment to ensure the supply of goods as the countrywide transport blockade continued for the past two months without any break.

He said it was also possible as the government had provided security with law enforcers to the goods-carrying vehicles.

“But our competitors are making faster growth. So we

have to do more to maintain competitiveness,” Abdus Salam, also managing director of Envoy Textiles, said.

Vice president of garment owners association BGMEA Shahidullah Azim said the growth was expected 7%.

He thinks if the supply chain was normal, the growth could have been higher than the achievement.

In July-February period, the country’s apparel export earnings increased 2.56% to $16.55bn, which was $16.14bn in the same period last fiscal year.

The knitwear exports during the period stood at $8.13bn with a 2,88% growth, while woven goods earned $8.41bn registering a 2.25% rise over the previous year’s earnings.

Among the other major sectors, tea exports grew 35%, followed by rubber 10.6%, footwear 22.16%, handicraft 15.6%, jute and jute goods 6.40% and bicycle 30%.

But frozen foods marked negative growth by 6.32%, followed by vegetables 10%, pharmaceuticals 2.332%, leather 19.30%, specialised textile 15.27%, ceramic products 8.7% and furniture 13%. l

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16 BUSINESS

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

FUNDING THE UNFUNDED

India helps small business borrow to grow n Reuters, Mumbai A new bank announced in the annual budget last week could boost loans and cut borrowing costs for India’s cash-starved small businesses - tailors, mechanics and phone booth operators who account for around a fifth of the economy.

MUDRA bank - to be set up with $3.2bn of capital to help microfinancing firms to lend more - should help leverage up firms which account for 40% of India’s exports, just as India tries to rekindle growth, lenders and entrepreneurs say.

India’s small businesses employ more than 106 million workers, according to government statistics, in a country that brings a million new workers into the workforce every month.

Yet according to government estimates, only 4% of 57.7 million small business units in India have access to institutional finance, leaving many to rely on informal lenders. Industry experts estimate that demand for loans from the sector outstrips supply by more than $80bn.

Rating agency Crisil estimates that microfinance lenders have loan assets totalling $5.6bn. But they have had a limited impact on small businesses as they primarily target lending to individuals or groups of individuals among the poor.

Even for the microfinance institutions that would like to lend more to businesses, rules cap the amount they can lend to a single borrower at 50,000 rupees ($803), making them an unviable option for many businesses.

“The micro and small enterprises have been starved of credit,” said Alok Prasad, chief executive of Microfinance Institutions Network (MFIN), a regulatory body for the sector.

Loans between 50,000 rupees and a million rupees from formal lenders are “almost completely unavailable”, Prasad said, adding that the Reserve Bank of India had been asked to raise the cap on microfinance loans and a

Euro hits new 11-year low on dollar n Reuters, Tokyo The euro hit a new 11-year low on the dollar yesterday as investors waited for the European Central Bank (ECB) to announce details of its bond-purchase programme.

The single currency bought $1.1055 in Tokyo against $1.1080 late Wednesday in New York, its lowest level since September 2003.

With the ECB’s decision-making council meeting later yesterday, President Mario Draghi is set to unveil details of the bank’s 1.1tn euro quantitative-easing plan, due to be launched this month to ward off deflation.

The ECB’s stance is in stark contrast to the Federal Reserve’s plan to exit crisis support, having ended its asset-purchasing plan in October. It is now planning to raise interest rates this year.

The dollar was at 119.85 yen against 119.70 yen in New York late Wednesday.

“Clearly there looks to be an element of currency-market positioning ahead of the ECB decision,” Philip Borkin, a senior economist at ANZ Bank New Zealand wrote in a client note, according to Bloomberg News. l

A worker operates a lathe machine as he makes a steel cutter at a manufacturing unit in Noida, on the outskirts of New Delhi decision was expected soon.

Mumbai entrepreneur Vipul Vora chased more than a dozen banks for two-and-a-half years before a lender finally agreed to give him a 10-million-rupee ($161,708) loan to set up a plant to produce jaggery, a traditional sweetener, in western India.

“It is absolutely difficult,” said Vora, 55, who is starting a new business after closing down an earlier venture five years ago. “I must have printed about 25,000 pages (of paperwork) ... Some banks asked for eight times that amount as collateral.”

Small businesses say mainstream banks of-

REUTERS

ten ask them for excessive collateral.

Banks, particularly dominant state lenders who are already under pressure over bad loans, have largely held back from lending to a sector where debt repayment installments can often be less than the cost of pursuing the payment. l

NEWS IN BRIEF Car industry welcomes Google, Apple but battles loom It could be the battle of the titans. Auto giants at the Geneva Motor Show say they welcome the potential move of Silicon Valley players into their sector but experts warn of major disruptions. Google has long made headlines with its plans for a self-driving car, but Apple is now also reportedly readying for a plunge into the industry to begin developing an electric car. “This could surprise you, but I welcome with open arms the interest of Apple, Google and others in the auto industry,” Volkswagen head Martin Winterkorn said, adding he thought it would help garner interest for cars among new generations who grow up connected. Fiat-Chrysler chief Sergio Marchionne agreed, saying the Californian giants’ arrival would be “exactly what this industry needed.” Ditto for Renault-Nissan chief executive Carlos Ghosn. “I’m absolutely not fearful or hostile” towards a possible arrival of Apple, he said at the motor show. “I consider that all the people who join the electric car are some kind of allies.” – AFP, Geneva

PMI: Global business growth at five-month high Global business activity picked up at the fastest pace in five months during February as new orders flooded in, even though companies raised prices, a business survey showed on Wednesday. JPMorgan’s Global All-Industry Output Index, produced with Markit, jumped to 53.9 in February from January’s 53. It has now held above the 50 mark that divides growth from contraction since October 2012. “The breadth of the expansion is encouraging, with output growth accelerating across both the manufacturing and service sectors,” said David Hensley, a director at JPMorgan. “With new order inflows also strength-

ening, the PMI implies that global GDP is on course to post a mild acceleration over the opening quarter as a whole.” An index measuring prices charged rose to a three-month high of 50.6, but the increases didn’t stop the new-orders index from reaching a five-month high of 54. A global PMI covering the service industry rose to a five-month high of 54 from January’s 53. Global manufacturing activity also accelerated in February, a similar survey showed on Monday.

The index combines survey data from countries including the United States, Japan, Germany, France, Britain, China and Russia. – Reuters, London

Oil up in Asia trade despite US inventories rise Oil prices climbed in Asian trade yesterday as signs that a refineries strike in the United States is weakening overshadowed a rise in US crude stocks, analysts said. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate added 21 cents to $51.74 a barrel and Brent gained four cents to $60.59 in afternoon trade. Daniel Ang, an investment analyst with Phillip Futures in Singapore, said despite the rise in US inventories, traders focussed on signs that a refineries strike the the US could be settled, allowing more crude oil to be processed. “Although they have not come to a conclusion (on ending the strike) it seems that workers are coming back to work, which shows weakness in the strike and suggests that the strike is coming to an end soon,” he told AFP. Workers and management are trying to end the strike at three major US refineries operated by Royal Dutch Shell following a stalemate on February 20. More than 5,000 workers spread across around a dozen installations have been on strike since February 1 demanding improved wages and safety conditions. The US Department of Energy (DoE) on Wednesday said commercial crude inventories jumped by 10.3 million barrels in the week February 27, higher than analyst forecasts. – AFP, Singapore

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BUSINESS 17

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

China signals ‘new normal’ with lower annual growth target n Reuters, Beijing China announced an economic growth target for 2015 of around 7% yesterday and said it would boost government spending, signalling that the lowest rate of expansion for a quarter of a century is the “new normal” for the world’s No 2 economy.

Speaking at the opening of the country’s annual parliamentary meeting, Premier Li Keqiang vowed to fight corruption and pollution, and stressed the need for more painful reforms to put the economy on a more sustainable footing after three decades of breakneck growth.

“The downward pressure on China’s economy is intensifying,” Li told around 3,000 delegates gathered at the Great Hall of the People to the west of Tiananmen Square in the heart of Beijing.

“Deep-seated problems in the country’s economic development are becoming more obvious. The difficulties we are facing this year could be bigger than last year. The new year is a crucial year for deepening all-round reforms.”

Outlining the government’s policy priorities for 2015 in a Chinese equivalent of the US State of the Union address, Li said those priorities included pushing ahead with reforms of the giant state-owned enterprises that still bestride the economy, and moves to liberalise the banking system and financial markets.

“In order to defuse problems and risks, avoid falling into the ‘middle income trap’, and achieve modernization, China must rely on development, and development requires an appropriate growth rate,” said Li. “At the same time, China’s economic development has entered a ‘new normal’.”

The annual full meeting of the largely rubber-stamp National People’s Congress is a colourful event, drawing delegates from all over China, some in traditional ethnic costumes, to the vast hall, a monument to 1950s Communist architecture.

Its role is largely to endorse policy decisions already agreed by the Party hierarchy and provide top leaders with a platform to lay out their priorities for the coming year.

Fiscal boost

In the short-term, China’s top policymakers are grappling to sustain an economy weighed down by a cooling property market, high debt levels and excess factory capacity. Over the longer run, they are seeking to restructure it

Chinese President Xi Jinping drinks from a cup during the opening of the annual full session of the National People’s Congress, the country’s parliament, at Great Hall of the People, in Beijing REUTERS to boost consumption at the expense of exports and investment.

Underscoring the challenges faced in striking that balance, the People’s Bank of China cut interest rates at the weekend for the second time in three months.

Adding a fiscal boost to the central bank’s monetary support, Beijing plans to lift government spending to 17.15tn yuan ($2.74tn) in 2015, an increase of 10.6% on 2014.

That will mean raising the budget deficit to 1.62tn yuan, or around 2.3% of GDP, compared with 2.1% last year, with some of the extra money being spent on railway and water projects and modernising agriculture.

China’s economy grew 7.4% last year, roughly in line with the government’s growth target of around 7.5% and robust by global standards, but still the slowest in 24 years.

With deflationary pressures mounting in China - annual consumer inflation fell to a five-year low of 0.8% in January - Li said the government would also lower its 2015 inflation target to around 3% from 3.5% in 2014.

MARKET REFORMS, SOCIAL STABILITY A key plank of China’s reform agenda is overhauling its industrial sector by tackling overca-

pacity in polluting heavy industries and moving manufacturing up the global value chain.

“Manufacturing is traditionally a strong area for Chinese industry,” said Li. “We will implement the ‘Made in China 2025’ strategy, seek innovation-driven development, apply smart technology, strengthen foundations, pursue green development and redouble our efforts to upgrade China from a manufacturer of quantity to one of quality.”

Li promised a greater role for private business in the economy, which he said would be further opened up by halving the number of industries in which foreign investment is restricted.

With Communist Party leaders ever mindful of social stability, Li said China aimed to create more than 10 million new jobs in 2015 and would ensure the jobless rate does not exceed 4.5%. China targeted a registered urban unemployment rate of 4.6% last year.

The fight against pollution and corruption, consistent themes for Premier Li and President Xi Jinping, have contributed to the slowing economy as Beijing has clamped down on dirty industries, while fear of being caught in the anti-graft net has discouraged local officials from pressing on with reforms. l

World Bank admits flaws in resettlement practices n AFP, Washington The World Bank said Wednesday it would reform the way it handles the resettlement of people moved to make way for development projects, saying internal reviews have revealed significant flaws.

“We took a hard look at ourselves on resettlement and what we found caused me deep concern,” said World Bank President Jim Yong Kim in a statement.

The global development lender has been sharply criticized by nongovernmental or-

ganizations like Oxfam, Amnesty International and Greenpeace, for failures to protect human rights and the environment.

Kim said the major problems uncovered were inadequate oversight of projects involving resettlement, weak implementation of the plans and the lack of strong tracking systems to ensure Bank policies were being followed.

“We must and will do better,” he said.

Three reports, which reviewed World Bank projects involving resettlement over two decades, found there was often poor or no documentation of the projects.

The Bank gave no details of the flawed projects, but part of the review documentation pointed to an urban transport project in Mumbai, a gas pipeline project in western Africa and a coastal project in Albania.

Resettlement projects typically result in the loss of homes, livelihoods and businesses, and potentially lowering the standard of living of the displaced persons.

The World Bank said some of the reforms to past practices were already underway, including a systematic risk management framework and improved accreditation of specialist staff. l

First time in years, euro economy starts on upside n Reuters, London The euro zone economy is sprouting more green shoots than anticipated just as the European Central Bank fires up a money printing program worth more than 1tn euros.

An analysis of Reuters polls shows more than half the most important economic reports since the start of the year, as well as data across the bloc’s four largest economies, have beaten the consensus forecast and many have topped the highest prediction.

This latest turn, which comes despite concerns over Greece’s future membership in the euro and no real respite to conflict in Ukraine, suggests fears of a deflationary spiral in Europe have been overdone.

Germany, Europe’s largest economy, is the clear leader. Retail sales growth for January almost tripled the highest forecast and helped propel the wider euro zone figure to over 10 times the Reuters median on Wednesday.

Two other Germany releases - fourth quarter GDP growth and the flash services PMI reading for January - also topped the highest forecast.

Taken alongside average 3.2% negotiated pay rises at a time when inflation has evaporated, the data suggest that ECB quantitative easing may soon look like the last thing Germany needs.

Economists point to the greater discretionary income given to consumers by a dramatic fall in energy prices and a significantly weaker euro, partly in anticipation of the ECB’s bond-buying program, as key factors.

“Everyone got caught up in the debate of deflation, Greece and the Ukraine crisis and so expectations were quite low,” said Christian Schulz, economist at Berenberg Bank.

“It now seems the deflation story is a positive one for the euro zone since cheaper oil means consumers spend less on energy and have more money in their purse.”

While the Federal Reserve and Bank of England have viewed cheap energy as a boon to their economies, the ECB has fretted that it could entrench deflationary expectations.

In Spain, both the flash manufacturing and services PMI for January beat the consensus, while GDP growth in Italy, which is still contracting, was not as bad as the Reuters median.

Even in France, Europe’s second largest economy, the latest industrial output beat the Reuters consensus, while the services PMI data was higher than all predictions.

The ECB will almost surely announce an upward revision to staff growth forecasts at its monthly meeting later yesterday at the same time as giving more detail about its hotly-debated quantitative easing program which commences in March many years after its peers have shuttered theirs.

“In terms of timing the ECB got lucky,” said Schulz. “If it still had to announce it tomorrow, given all the strong data we’ve had, the backlash, especially from Germany, would have been much more severe than it was in January.”

For now, disinflation remains the prevailing force globally with only a few exceptions.

Euro zone inflation for the most part has come in on consensus or weaker than forecast.

But while oil prices have knocked inflation to very low rates, often below zero, simple maths show that once oil stabilizes or begins to regain lost ground, inflation will turn higher. l

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18 BUSINESS

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

News, analysis and recent disclosures UNIONCAP: The Board of Directors has recommended 10% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2014.

Date of AGM: 31.03.2015, Time: 10:30 AM, Venue: Spectra Convention Centre Ltd. (2nd floor), Gulshan-1, Dhaka. Record date: 16.03.2015. The Company has also reported consolidated net profit after tax of Tk. 199.99 million, consolidated EPS of Tk. 1.65, consolidated NAV per Share of Tk. 14.95 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 0.91 for the year ended on December 31, 2014 as against Tk. 141.76 million, Tk. 1.17 (restated), Tk. 16.63 (restated) and Tk. 2.79 (restated) respectively for the year ended on December 31, 2013 MICEMENT: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors of the Company has decided to establish a fully owned subsidiary Company in India with an initial Paid-up Capital of IRS. 50.00 lac.

BSC: In connection with the Corporations earlier news (disseminated by DSE on May 04, 2014) the Corporation has further informed that a proposal of procuring 6 (six) new vessels under Preferential/Concessional loan of Chinese Government has been approved in the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase.

KPCL: In connection with the Companys earlier news (disseminated by DSE on November 13, 2014) the Company has further informed that the Honble High Court Division of the Supreme Court

of Bangladesh has sanctioned the Scheme of Amalgamation (without modification) proposing merger of Khanjahan Ali Power Company Ltd. & Khulna Power Company Unit II Ltd. (Transferor Companies) with Khulna Power Company Ltd. (Transferee Company) vide a judgment and order dated 03.03.2015 passed in Company Matter No. 322 of 2014. As a result, Khulna Power Company Ltd. shall take over, amongst others, all licenses, permissions, assets and liabilities of the Transferor Companies and shall continue to be as a going concern whilst the Transferor Companies shall be stricken out from the Company register kept with RJSC. ISLAMIBANK: The Company has further informed that a meeting of the Board of Directors will now be held on March 21, 2015 at 3:00 PM to consider, among others, audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended on December 31, 2014.

IPO Subscription: Tosrifa Industries Limited Subscription March 24, 2015 to March 31, 2015; NRB UPTO April 09, 2015.

Offer Price per share Tk. 26.00, Market Lot (Shares) 200.

Dividend/AGM TRUSTBANK: 5% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 30.03.2015, Record date: 15.03.2015.

DUTCHBANGL: 40% cash, AGM: 30.03.2015, Record date: 15.03.2015.

SOUTHEASTB: 15% cash, AGM: 29.03.2015, Record date: 15.03.2015.

Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

Company PrimeFin. 1st MF-A Progressive Life-A Provati Insur.-A PragatiLife Insu. -Z Tung Hai Knitting -N Shahjibazar Power-N Eastern InsurA Stylecraft -A Ifad Autos -N Mithun Knitting -A

Closing (% Change) 9.84 8.25 4.24 4.19 4.19 4.03 3.50 3.42 3.41 3.26

CSE GAINER Company PragatiLife Insu. -Z ICB AMCL 1st NRB -A PrimeFin. 1st MF-A Central Insur -A Samata LeatheR -Z ICB Sonali Bank 1 MF-A Provati Insur.-A Phoenix Insur -A Eastland Insur -A Bata Shoe Ltd. -A

Closing (% Change) 9.95 9.73 8.26 7.32 7.32 6.56 6.29 6.01 5.63 4.65

DSE LOSER Company UCBL - A Prime Insur -A SonarBangla Insu. -A Meghna PET Ind. -Z ICB Emp. PMF-A 1st Janata Bank MF-A Phoenix Finance-A United Finance - A Northern Jute -Z AB Bank - A

Closing (% Change) -23.67 -13.74 -4.91 -4.41 -4.35 -4.00 -3.70 -3.46 -3.28 -3.25

CSE LOSER Company UCBL - A Dhaka Ins. Ltd.-A H.R. Textile -A Sonargaon Tex -Z I P D C -A Apex Foods -A Dutch Ban. Bnk- A AramitCementA Reckitt Benckiser -A Bank Asia -A

Closing (% Change) -24.00 -9.84 -9.64 -9.09 -7.51 -6.58 -6.49 -5.90 -5.80 -5.46

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

DSE key features March-5, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

DSE GAINER

Sector

2,663.06 67,944,326 105,236

Traded Issues

304

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

115

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

181

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

8

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,528.34

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.65

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 467.85 90.61 21.90 251.65 93.36 326.57 1.12 601.07 223.67 7.15 118.49 12.08 14.54 161.64 43.18 16.36 29.40 86.21 13.84 78.28 4.11

% change 17.57 3.40 0.82 9.45 3.51 12.26 0.04 22.57 8.40 0.27 4.45 0.45 0.55 6.07 1.62 0.61 1.10 3.24 0.52 2.94 0.15

Million Taka 23.51 5.11 1.69 60.71 5.80 23.61 103.09 15.48 0.77 7.80 0.01 1.21 19.58 3.00 0.86 2.82 15.23 3.13 18.48 0.00

Average (% Change) 7.42 7.55 3.75 6.62 3.07 3.66 5.99 2.72 2.95 1.34

Average (% Change) 9.95 9.73 8.24 7.32 7.32 6.56 6.60 5.97 4.05 4.65

Average (% Change) -22.73 -14.69 -5.70 -4.69 -2.64 -1.83 -1.64 -3.14 -4.12 -1.98

Average (% Change) -22.99 -8.81 -9.64 -9.01 -5.83 -6.58 -6.70 -3.82 -5.80 -4.85

CSE

ClosingAvg. 13.03 74.65 17.14 114.37 19.81 225.20 29.56 865.00 54.13 84.59

ClosingAvg. 106.10 20.30 13.14 22.00 22.00 6.50 16.95 30.00 29.55 1350.00

ClosingAvg. 23.12 15.68 15.40 6.51 4.42 4.84 23.98 25.29 190.00 27.19

ClosingAvg. 23.05 22.05 22.50 10.00 16.00 98.00 85.01 30.73 1,250.00 17.45

% change 7.54 1.64 0.54 19.46 1.86 7.57 0.00 33.05 4.96 0.25 2.50 0.00 0.39 6.28 0.96 0.27 0.91 4.88 1.00 5.93 0.00

Closing 13.40 74.80 17.20 114.30 19.90 227.20 29.60 865.00 54.60 85.40

Closing 106.10 20.30 13.10 22.00 22.00 6.50 16.90 30.00 30.00 1350.00

Closing

DHIGH 13.40 75.00 17.90 117.00 20.10 229.40 30.00 865.00 55.40 85.70

DHIGH 106.10 20.30 13.30 22.00 22.00 6.50 17.00 30.00 30.00 1350.00

DHIGH

22.90 15.70 15.50 6.50 4.40 4.80 23.40 25.10 191.80 26.80

Closing 22.80 22.00 22.50 10.00 16.00 98.00 85.00 30.30 1,250.00 17.30

Million Taka 491.37 95.72 23.59 312.36 99.16 350.18 1.12 704.15 239.15 7.92 126.28 12.09 15.75 181.22 46.18 17.21 32.22 101.44 16.97 96.77 4.11

DLOW 12.20 70.20 15.50 111.00 19.10 219.00 28.20 865.00 53.20 82.40

DLOW 106.10 20.30 12.00 22.00 22.00 6.50 15.70 30.00 29.10 1350.00

DLOW

23.60 16.30 17.00 6.70 4.60 4.90 24.50 26.10 192.10 28.30

22.70 15.60 15.00 6.40 4.40 4.80 23.20 24.60 191.00 26.70

DHIGH

DLOW

24.00 22.30 22.50 10.00 16.00 98.00 85.10 32.40 1,250.00 18.30

22.50 22.00 22.50 10.00 16.00 98.00 85.00 29.80 1,250.00 17.30

Total

% change 16.52 3.22 0.79 10.50 3.33 11.77 0.04 23.67 8.04 0.27 4.24 0.41 0.53 6.09 1.55 0.58 1.08 3.41 0.57 3.25 0.14

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

Turnover in Million

Latest EPS

4.651 0.134 0.153 4.255 35.251 145.097 0.193 0.003 51.346 44.469

Turnover in Million

1.13 2.30 1.97 2.38 1.19 8.68 2.31 44.44 1.92 3.42

Latest EPS

0.010 0.010 0.156 0.001 0.000 0.007 0.062 0.030 0.006 0.004

Turnover in Million

11.5 32.5 8.7 48.1 16.6 25.9 12.8 19.5 28.2 24.7

Latest PE

2.38 2.86 1.13 2.96 -0.46 0.98 1.97 3.88 3.33 52.96

Latest EPS

51.154 3.578 0.608 0.028 0.126 0.878 1.947 8.808 0.019 31.700

Turnover in Million

Latest PE

44.6 7.1 11.6 7.4 -ve 6.6 8.6 7.7 8.9 25.5

Latest PE

3.66 2.41 1.77 -0.44 0.60 0.84 2.65 2.33 0.96 4.13

Latest EPS

3.377 0.165 0.023 0.010 0.008 0.043 0.043 0.294 0.075 0.039

6.3 6.5 8.7 -ve 7.4 5.8 9.0 10.9 197.9 6.6

Latest PE

3.66 2.44 1.36 -0.84 1.44 3.20 11.03 0.32 42.33 2.64

6.3 9.0 16.5 -ve 11.1 30.6 7.7 96.0 29.5 6.6

CSE key features March-5, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

311.89 8,442,690 22,888

Traded Issues

228

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

81

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

141

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

6

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,403.81

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

19.14

DT

BUSINESS 19

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

Stocks finish week on back foot n Tribune Report

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Shasha Denims -N Shahjibazar Power-N LafargeS Cement-Z Brac Bank -A SummitAlliancePort.-A Social Islami. B-A Square Pharma -A Ifad Autos -N UCBL - A MJL BD Ltd.-A

BD Submarine Cable-A Bangas -A Mithun Knitting -A ACI Limited- A Grameenphone-A

VolumeShares 9,176,635 644,315 1,237,185 3,425,833 1,425,212 4,587,861 238,752 948,639 2,212,650 410,514

Value in Million 358.63 145.10 138.80 123.06 93.15 73.17 61.87 51.35 51.15 50.21

% of TotalTurnover 13.47 5.45 5.21 4.62 3.50 2.75 2.32 1.93 1.92 1.89

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Shasha Denims -N GPH Ispat Ltd-A LafargeS Cement-Z BD Submarine Cable-A Shahjibazar Power-N National Feed-N Bengal Windsor-A Ifad Autos -N Square Pharma -A WesternMarine -N

BEXIMCO Ltd. -A SummitAlliancePort.-A Singer BD -A National Polymer -A BD Building Systems -A

365,985 130,388 525,702 92,774 111,926

2,238,677 459,050 138,340 103,050 56,998 386,935 167,020 118,824 23,682 127,693

167,620 77,936 21,758 57,725 85,394

49.45 46.90 44.47 38.96 36.76

87.44 19.28 15.68 13.95 12.85 10.26 10.02 6.42 6.14 5.36

5.32 5.10 4.77 4.55 3.61

1.86 1.76 1.67 1.46 1.38

28.04 6.18 5.03 4.47 4.12 3.29 3.21 2.06 1.97 1.72

1.71 1.64 1.53 1.46 1.16

ClosingP 37.10 227.20 116.30 35.30 65.00 15.90 258.20 54.60 22.90 122.50

134.30 357.50 85.40 417.90 328.10

ClosingP

Change % 0.00 4.03 3.01 -1.94 1.72 0.00 -0.46 3.41 -23.67 0.57

-1.68 0.93 3.26 -1.02 -0.39

Change %

37.10 42.10 116.40 134.40 228.00 26.60 59.00 54.50 259.00 41.80

31.50 64.90 219.20 78.70 42.10

0.00 0.24 3.01 -1.68 3.64 1.92 0.00 3.42 -0.54 -1.18

-0.94 1.09 0.32 3.42 -4.10

ClosingY 0.00 218.40 112.90 36.00 63.90 15.90 259.40 52.80 30.00 121.80

136.60 354.20 82.70 422.20 329.40

ClosingY

0.00 42.00 113.00 136.70 220.00 26.10 59.00 52.70 260.40 42.30

31.80 64.20 218.50 76.10 43.90

DHIGH 50.00 229.40 117.00 36.00 66.70 16.00 260.40 55.40 23.60 123.20

137.70 365.00 85.70 426.20 332.10

DLOW 36.90 219.00 109.50 35.00 64.00 15.80 257.80 53.20 22.70 121.50

134.00 355.00 82.40 417.00 327.10

DHIGH

DLOW

45.90 43.30 116.90 138.00 231.00 26.80 60.00 55.20 260.50 42.50

36.80 42.00 110.00 134.10 219.10 25.90 59.00 52.50 258.40 41.10

32.40 66.50 220.10 78.90 43.50

31.40 64.40 218.50 76.20 42.00

AvgPrice 39.08 225.20 112.19 35.92 65.36 15.95 259.12 54.13 23.12 122.31

135.13 359.70 84.59 419.97 328.41

AvgPrice

39.06 42.01 113.34 135.40 225.43 26.52 60.00 54.00 259.35 41.96

31.72 65.45 219.34 78.74 42.27

Daily capital market highlights DSE Broad Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index :

4664.91000

(-) 0.36%

1730.72198

(-) 0.40%

11782.45680

(-) 0.39%

11782.45680

(-) 0.46%

8672.79230

(-) 0.57%

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

Stocks ended flat yesterday, extending the losing streak for the fifth session in a row as political uncertainty continued to dampen investor sentiment.

The benchmark DSEX index lost 16 points or 0.4% to settle at 4,664.

The Shariah index DSES was marginally up 1 points or 0.2% to 1,112. The comprising blue chips DS30 closed at 1,730, shedding almost 7 points or 0.4%.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, declined 56 points to 8,666.

Volume of trade improved at the Dhaka Stock Exchange, driven by debutant Shasha Denims that accounted for more than 13% of the total turnover of Tk266 crore, which was 20% higher over the previous session.

However, the company, in its first trading day, showed relatively lackluster performance compared to recent IPOs, advancing by only 6% at the end of the day.

Cement sector shined rising almost 2%, driven by heavyweight Lafarge Surma Cement that gained 3%

ahead of its dividend decelerations.

But dividend expectations from banks, which remained under pressure for long due to piles of bad loan, failed to ignite buying mood of the investors, as the sector lost 1.3%.

Almost all other sectors such telecommunication, non-banking financial institutions and pharmaceuticals, declined.

Lanka Bangla Securities said market set for a steep correction for the fifth consecutive session as bearish stance continued to batter market sentiments. “All eyes are now on the government’s move on issue of arrest warrant for opposition leader as court has not yet rejected the petition.”

IDLC Investments said the humdrum declining trend extended for another session, coupled with anemic activities drive mostly by capital protection motivation.

After Shasha Denims, other top turnover leaders include Shahjibazar Power Company, Lafarge Surma Cement, Summit Alliance Port Limited, Social Islami Bank Limited, Square Pharmaceuticals and IFAD Autos. l

ANALYST

The humdrum declining trend extended for another session, coupled with anemic activities drive mostly by capital protection motivation

DT

20 BUSINESS

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

US to help Bangladesh reach $50bn RMG export target n Tribune Report US Ambassador to Bangladesh Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat said her country would continue to work with the Bangladesh garment industry to help it achieve $50bn export target by 2021.

“We recognise that the country’s RMG sector drives jobs growth and is truly a social changemaker. We will continue to work with the BGMEA to help reach its goal of $50bn export by the country celebrate 50 years of independence,” she said at a meeting yesterday.

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) organised the meeting at its headquarters in Dhaka.

“Good things have already begun to happen (in the local apparel industry). Risky factories have been closed, new inspectors hired, over 200 unions recognised and remediation works under way,” Bernincat noted.

She added that the labour law is transparent and the inspection process is also laudable.

“Bangladesh RMG is unparalleled anywhere in the world and the industry is responding to its challenges well,” she pointed out.

Bangladesh is facing difficult challenges after tragic factory incidents and has been able to show the world that how it’s resilient towards all these odds, the US ambassador added.

She laid emphasis on implementation of the labour law to effectively make the factories compliant.

She also stressed the need of holding meetings between owners and workers to solve any related problems.

Onion prices to ‘fall in 2 to 3 days’ n Asif Showkat Kallol Prices of onion, which is now being sold at Tk55 a kilogram in retail market, will come down in two to three days with the arrival of the new harvest, said a senior official.

“As the new harvest (of onions) is about to reach the market, the prices will drop in 2/3 days,” Senior Commerce Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon, ndc told Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Besides, an inter-ministerial meeting at the commerce ministry recently decided to strengthen monitoring on the retail market to contain unusually high price of the vegetable compared to the wholesale market.

The meeting has asked the National Consumer Rights Protection Bureau to tighten the monitoring as the retailers are charging as high as Tk55 for a kilogram of onion although the wholesale price is Tk28.

As per the meeting decision, teams of the Bureau can seek to see vouchers of sold onions from retailers, and if a huge gap between retail and wholesale prices are found, the traders concerned will be fined.

However, Bangladesh Tariff Commission report said the harvesting delay could led to the price hike, increasing to Tk55 from Tk35 a week ago. l

US Ambassador Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat attends a meeting of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association. BGMEA president Atiqul Islam is seen beside her DHAKA TRIBUNE Bernicat hoped Bangladesh could achieve its export target by the stipulated time and become the world’s number one exporter of garment products some day.

BGMEA President Md Atiqul Islam made a presentation on progress, challenges and potentials of the sector.

“If we can increase our global market share from 5% to 8% by 2020, it would be very much possible to earn $52bn (from garment exports) by then,” Atiqul Islam said.

He cited key challenges for the sector, which included maintaining competitiveness, political stability, environmental sustainabil-

ity, workers-management relationship and improving working conditions.

He said Bangladesh’s 30 years of experience and reputation in garment manufacturing is an advantage for the country to rule in the market.

Besides, it offers competitive prices, international standard products quality, and has a vibrant workforce, irresistible and resilient entrepreneurial spirit, rapidly developing backward linkage industries and ensures rapid adoption of environment-friendly, energy efficient and green concepts, BGMEA chief added. l

BB starts settling Sonali Bank’s outstanding bills n UNB Bangladesh Bank has started paying unsettled bills that remain pending with the stateowned Sonali Bank.

Officials said the central bank yesterday made the first payment to the Standard Chartered Bank from the Sonali Bank’s foreign currency (FC) account.

“Bangladesh Bank made a first payment of $1,12,000 to Standard Chartered Bank from the FC account of Sonali Bank,” BB General Manager AFM Asaduzzaman told UNB. Different private banks owe a huge amount of money by state-owned Sonali Bank on unsettled inland bill purchases (IBPs). The problem started following the loan scam of Hallmark Group.

The private banks have long been pursuing the central bank to take necessary measures against Sonali Bank to clear such payments.

As a follow-up move, the Bangladesh Bank had issued some directives to Sonali Bank Ltd (SBL) in September 2013 to settle such IBPs. But despite the directives, Sonali Bank management could not resolve the prob-

lem. Finally, the central bank intervened and started making payments to different banks against their unsettled IPBs pending with Sonali Bank, said a central bank official.

Earlier, the BB also issued directives to banks concerned, the Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB), and the Bangladesh Foreign Exchange Dealers’ Association (BAFEDA) for settlement of IBPs. According to BB, the Hall-Mark Group swindled more than Tk2,600 crore by selling inland letters of credit (ILC) – accepted by Sonali Bank’s Ruposhi Bangla Hotel branch -to other banks, mostly the private ones.

A number of banks on several occasions had accepted foreign and local bills against letters of credit, but did not pay the dues of other banks on time.

The amount of such unpaid bills stood at $363 million or Tk2,976 crore, as of June 30 2012.

Of the overdue bills, around Tk700 crore is Hall-Mark Group’s, a BB official said.

Banks say they bought Hall-Mark Group’s bills based on Sonali’s acceptance of them. l

3E launched to promote sustainable development n Tribune Report A programme styled Energy Efficiency Engagement (3E) has been launched in Dhaka yesterday to promote sustainable economic development in Bangladesh.

The programme, a joint initiative of the Nordic Chamber and the Embassy of Denmark, will be implemented by Nordic Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bangladesh (NCCI) and funded by the Danish International Development Agency.

The objective is to reduce CO2 emissions from selected industries of Bangladesh and minimise their costs related to energy consumption.

As per the implementation process, a fourfold approach will be adopted – first to contact a company for discussions on its current energy situation and agreement on timeline and goals, second to diagnose potential energy savings by offering companies audit to assess their potential energy savings with free of charge, and prioritise list of areas for improvement.

The third is to recommend for making a business case for energy efficiency investments and fourth is to build partnership with Nordic green technology providers.

‘Assessment of environmental risks above the threshold limit is a must’ The targeted companies are related to iron steel, textiles and R MG, cement, pharmaceuticals, telecommunication, ceramics and, chemicals, pulp and paper, leather, food and brick making.

Inaugurating the programme, Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman said shifting the investment from fossil-fuel to green energy is the only way for transforming economic growth paths. “Assessment of environmental risks above the threshold limit is a must.”

He said most of the lenders in the country are not familiar with energy efficiency technology and approaches, and require technical support to apprise and manage loans for the energy efficient projects.

In this scenario, he expected the energy efficiency secretariat will look into the challenges for converting them into opportunities which would give impetus to the green transformation, green growth of Bangladesh economy.

Over the last couple of years, the central bank has been providing a range of policy and financing support to banks and financial institutions for mainstreaming green banking into the core banking practices, according the governor.

According to NCCI, Nordic countries generate 63% of their electricity from renewable sources. Since, 1990 Denmark saw a 40% increase in GDP while achieving a 6% reduction in gross energy consumption.

In 2013, electricity production in Denmark from renewable energy plants accounted for 46.7% of domestic electricity supply.

Danish Ambassador in Dhaka Hanne Fugl Eskjaer, energy expert M. Tamim and NCCI President Shamim Ul Huq also spoke, among others, at the function. l

DT

21

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

T-JUNCTION

Relaxing the taste buds Photo : Courtesy

EDITOR’S NOTE Dear Readers, Fridays are when we get time to unwind, let down our hair and maybe go out and grab a bite to eat.

Henceforth, Fridays at T-Junction are for the foodies.

From kitchen hacks to mouthwatering recipes and the latest news about new eateries , we’ve got you covered. Bon appetit!

Sabrina Fatma Ahmad Features Editor

INSIDE

Grab a quick bite: Here’s a delicious list of on-the-go items to satisfy those hungry tummies.

Flavours from a sibling: We take a taste test at Coentro.

Which made our top picks and those that are left to be desired on page 24.

22

playtime

Get to know what type of cricket fan you are

DT

22 T-JUNCTION

Playtime

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

Quiz

LISTOLOGY

Those who fall for the bat and ball n Rad Sharar Bin Kamal Cricket is life and love for the deshi masses, and as you all are well aware, it spawns numerous types of fans and supporters during the World Cup. How numerous, you ask? Well here’s the list, placed according to their “intensity”

Fan type You’ve read of them all, and it’s now time to figure out which one of these are you.

Take this quiz to find out what type of cricket fan you are 1. What’s your ideal way of enjoying a cricket match? a. Sun tan and umbrellas b. The front row Grandstand seat c. At home watching the TV feed d. Who’s playing again?

2. When a big match is going on and you’re busy a. You keep the radio playing in the background b. You check your phone for quick updates c. Catch up later after your work is done d. Don’t have time for this 3. Your country is playing today. What would you wear? a. The official jersey b. Wear a colour that matches my team’s jersey. c. Doesn’t matter. My Facebook status proves my love. d. The new shirt I bought 4. The first innings just ended. What do you do? a. Check wind conditions and pitch moisture online b. Watch the highlights c. Feel free to let out the wee d. Lol “Inning” sounds funny Mostly As You’re a fanatic! Cricket is your bae and your high on it.

Mostly Bs You’re an all-out fan. The game is given a big priority and your leisure.

Mostly Cs You’re an enthusiastic supporter.

You enjoy the sport, but knowing your limits.

Mostly Ds Cricket…not my thing. Not a big fan, really.

“The cricket god spoke to me”

Level of intensity: Overboard “Extreme” fails to define their dedication to the sport. They live and breathe cricket, and will demand every front row seats of the stadium, preferably dipped in national colours and shades. They come in more aggressive forms than the rest, not in blank arrogance, but by staying highly informed: ranks, percentages, probabilities, player forms and the names of their ex-wives, you name it.

“Dude, I meant the insect”

Level of intensity: Addict Obsessive and fanatical, these folks would rather watch replays of the match than go on a date with a Victoria’s Secret model; or might as well take the TV with them too.

They keep themselves adequately updated, and be warned; steer clear of arguments with these fellows. They know their sport, or will win it through sheer history lessons. Serious but otherwise harmless, feel no desire to poke these sleeping dragons.

“He’s hot, but he’s no Tamim Iqbal”

Level of intensity: Expert They would find the imminent need to provide verbal subtitles to the clearly insufficient official commentary. They know their game, and will prove it in every chance they get, regardless, to gently rub it in. No matter what the odds are, their explanations will eventually convince you to either give in or barge out; the tendency to prove their love comes in lethal doses.

“The kids are fine honey, they’re playing with Dexter”

Level of intensity: Love More subtle and less external with their love for the sport, these supporters will always motivate their team at heart and cheer till the last minute. But when the game is on, nothing else matters.

“Go baby go!”

Level of intensity: Hobby Cricket is an interest for them, no biggie though. They keep their priorities straight and will be humble with their opinions. They don’t want to cause any trouble; just here to have a good time and enjoy those brilliant sixes and catches. They relate and rely on historical facts and figures to impress, as they don’t prioritise their seconds on staying on top of recent happenings.

“I’ve looked forward for this match for

a while”

Level of intensity: Fan These are the neutral folks who are rather moved by the general buzz. Fans they may be, but they don’t obsess over every match of every league. Cricket is simply an enjoyable distraction for them. You’ll find many of these people more revolving around a specific team or player of interest.

“I wish I went to the stadium”

Level of intensity: Entertainment Oh they don’t have much idea of what’s going on, and would prefer to redirect the topics of more well-known subjects (Gayle is the Ronaldo of cricket man!). They read up on the score lines and that’s pretty much it.

“Yeah we can take selfies!”

Level of intensity: Hangout These are the cheerful fellows who enjoy

the stadium food and complain about the unhygienic seats more than the game itself. It serves as a hangout for social gathering, and not for personal interest.

“Might as well. She’s really into it, you know?”

Level of intensity: Everyone’s talking about it!

More forced to than anything, these people have no opinion of cricket. They’re brushed up due to the need to be accepted and seldom impress temporarily. They come as extremely annoying to those who actually respect the sport.

“Sorry, I just downloaded Fifty Shades of Grey”

Level of intensity: Meh Yeah, they hate it. What’s the point? No need to elaborate, is there?

T-JUNCTION 23

DT

Recipe

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

Brekkie in 5

Grab-and-go meals in the blink of an eye

n Khan N Moushumi Whether you’re running late for work or simply a lazy cook, these five breakfast options that you can make in five minutes or less, are brilliant as morning munchies or on the go.

Strawberry tortilla Time required: 3 minutes Ingredients: • 3 chapatis/rotis • 3tsp peanut butter • 2tsp honey • 3 strawberries, sliced

Mix peanut butter and honey in a bowl. Take a butter knife to evenly slather a thick layer of the mixture on the roti and top them off with sliced strawberries. Roll them into wraps and you’re done!

Hummus roti wrap Time required:5 minutes Ingredients: • 3 chapatis/rotis • 3tsp hummus • 2 cups sliced bell peppers • 2 cups sliced tomatoes • 2 cups sliced apples • 1 cup shredded carrots • ¼tsp olive oil • A pinch of salt

Grab a whole roti (chapati) and spoon some hummus on top. Toss in sliced bell peppers, tomatoes, apples and shredded carrots in a bowl and mix them with olive oil and a tiny pinch of salt. Make an even layer of the sliced fruits and veggies on the tortillas and roll them into wraps.

Cheesy egg scramble Time required: 4 minutes Ingredients: • 2 eggs, beaten • 3tsp shredded cheese • 3 cups sliced sausages • 2 cups sliced mushrooms • 1tsp oil In a pan heat oil for a few seconds and pour in the beaten eggs. Start scrambling and adding the rest of the ingredients one by one. Cook till firm and pack it up in a tiffin box with a bun. Hashtag happy tummy.

Waffle sandwich

Stuffed apples

Time required: 4 minutes

Ingredients: • 2 apples, halved • ½ cup peanuts, chopped • ½ cup almonds • ¼tsp cinnamon • ¼tsp cardamom • ¼tsp salt • 1tsp maple syrup • 1tsp vegetable oil

Ingredients: • 2 round waffles • 1 cup raisins • 2 bananas, sliced • 3tsp peanut butter • 1tsp honey Mix honey and peanut butter in a bowl.

Coat one side of each of the waffles with a thick layer of the mixture. Top one waffle with a layer of sliced bananas and make another layer with raisins. Cover it with the other waffle and press together. Munch away, what are you waiting for?

Time required: 5 minutes

Rejoice apple pie lovers. We bring you something equally mouthgasmic but way healthier – stuffed nutty apples. Heat oil in a pan for a few seconds and toss in the chopped peanuts, almonds, cinnamon and cardamom. Add a pinch of salt and saute

for one minute. Cut your apples in halves and scoop out the seeds. Stuff the scoopedout parts with the nuts and maple syrup and pat yourself on the back.

DT

24 T-JUNCTION

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

Tantalise

Coentro

Platter for two: 2 chicken skewers, 1 Pesto Crostini, single serving each of Peruvian chicken, sirloin steak, fried fish and sides such as the herb rice, Spanish rice, sauteed vegetables and steak sauce as well as tartar sauce. It comes with a drink as well as Cajeta rolls, all priced at Tk1,495 (inclusive of VAT)

A listing of the good, the bad and the absolutely phenomenal

n N Anita Amreen

Devour it

- A few favourites that deserve to be devoured time and again Churros Tk195 If there’s one dish that can both shock and satisfy your sweet tooth, it’s Cilantro’s churros. This sweet dish is a Spanish favourite made of long fried doughnut sticks that is later dipped into a bowl of warm chocolate sauce. Never before seen in Dhaka, and unusually addictive, think of fried doughnut sticks that just crumble to your touch, and then melt in your mouth in spasms of sweet delight. This is the ultimate dream of sweet dishes. An absolute must try.

Fish and chips Tk475 When it comes to Cilantro’s fish and chips you know they mean business. Their fishfilets are all flesh and tenderness, wrapped in a thick yet crispy golden crust. The chips are fat and crispy and they come with a lovely thick tartar sauce, another dish worthy of being doggybagged.

Peruvian chicken Tk595 If you’re looking for a chicken main course, this certainly is just it. It’s slightly on the sweeter end, with tender chicken skin wrapped around the softer insides.

This too comes with a choice of sides.

Recommendations include the Spanish rice and the sauteed veg.

Try it

- The ultimate middle ground for all things worthy of at least one tasting session Calamari fritos with tartar sauce Tk395 If you’re into calamari sides, you might just get infatuated with the calamari fritos. Fried to perfection, these chunky pieces go incredibly well when paired with their tartar sauce and the wedge of lemon.

Albeit slightly pricey, the quality of the dish is good enough to order, especially if you’re sharing the appetiser with two or even three.

Gambas Pil Pil (Prawn in olive oil) with italian bread Tk695 A sizzling hot, chilli -flavoured shrimp dish, the Gambas Pil Pil is essentially a

Cajeta rolls

platter of six garlic glazed prawns lying in a pool of hot olive oil. The beauty of this dish lies in its ability to give you a real kick of spices – garlic and chilli flavours are deeply infused in every fold of each of their tender fleshed shrimps. The crusty brown bread it comes with seems like the ideal addition, since you can use it to mop up some of that delicious oil! All in all, a killer, killer dish as far as taste is concerned, the only reason we don’t want to doggybag but try it is because of the serving size and its price.

Poutine with gravy Tk250 Although their poutine is not like the ones we’re used to (thin, American style fries drowning in meat sauce and cheese), you can still find reason to enjoy it. Their thick-cut fries are dowsed lightly with meat sauce and drizzled with cheese.

For Tk250, we think this rendition of the poutine seems fair.

Sirloin Steak Tk775 The sirloin steak is thick, and quite heavy on the palette but not because of the taste but more because of the quality of the meat. It comes with potato mash and any two sides from a choice of sauteed veggies, fries, Spanish rice, quail eggs and Cuban beans. It’s the rich sauce that uplifts the dish – it’s sweet, spicy and tangy all at once, giving each bite enough flavour to go for seconds.

Gambas Pil Pil

Churros

Spice quail eggs

Brave it - Dishes that often hit the spot and

Gulp it - beverages that refresh

Spice Quail Eggs Tk75 An uncommon side dish, the quail eggs can make you take one of two paths – you’ll either love it or hate it. If you cringe at the idea of regular boiled eggs, you certainly won’t like this quail counterpart, especially since it’s served on a bed of sweet caramelised onions. However if you’re one that easily braves exciting dishes, you’ll love their take on quail eggs.

Aunk King Tk120 The Aunk King is a tamarind drink that is lightly sweetened and is inherently refreshing. For both the price and taste, it’s definitely worth a try.

then don’t

Cajeta rolls Tk195 These cajeta rolls are light and unforgettably flavourful. Made with sweetened caramelised milk, these dreamy rolls are placed atop a mini pile of peach crumble. The rolls alone are easy to fall in love with, but perhaps the peach crumble is not everybody’s cup of tea.

Chicken wings with garlic butter sauce/ kickin’ hot sauce Tk495 Chicken wings are usually considered to be the holy grail of every menu. They need to be perfectly fried, they need to be crisp and they need to pack a hot punch or they’re just not wings. Cilantro’s wings are worlds apart from what we expected. They are regular fried wings with a garlic butter sauce dipping or a kickin’ hot sauce. While both the sauces are good on its own, they don’t really add much to the wings itself, which may seem like a disappointment to most of us.

Dirty gold Tk175 An olive flavoured drink, this too, is an amazing rendition of olive juice. Not too rich or too sweet, the Dirty Gold is made just right.

Berrytastic (Strawberry milkshake) Tk450 If there ever was a to-die-for thick, frothy strawberry milkshake then this is it. The ultimate king of strawberry shakes, this one’s so thick and so absolutely dense, one sip and you’ll be croaking from a sweet coma. The only downside (quite a large one at that) it the astronomical price.

Tk450 for a milkshake can hardly ever be justified, no matter how phenomenal the shake may be.

Areeb Tower, 48, Progoti Avenue, Baridhara, Dhaka-1212

PHOTOS: AYAN CHOUDHURY

If you have been a fan of Cilantro (or haven’t been), you certainly will be an admirer of its sibling Coentro. It’s the same romantic ambiance, the small glittering lights, yet with better taste. The menu is small but it has quite a few enormously, delicious dishes that will make you want to come back time and again. Read on to find out what to try, what to re-order and what to shy away from (unless, of course, you have the courage to face a new culinary challenge).

Australia coach Darren Lehmann made a journey of more than 3,000km to present his son, Jake, with his South Australia first-class cap. The morning after Australia had thrashed Afghanistan by 275 runs in the World Cup in Perth, Lehmann made the long journey to Adelaide. “It was a very memorable moment,” Lehmann told.

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TEAM SELECTION SURPRISES EVERYONE

28

25

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SUPER DAD

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

JAMAL RETAIN FED CUP GLORY

BAN v SCO SCOTLAND K. Coetzer c Soumya b Nasir C. MacLeod c Mahmudullah b Mortaza H. Gardiner c Soumya b Taskin M. Machan c and b Sabbir P. Mommsen c Soumya b Nasir R. Berrington c Mushfiqur b Taskin M. Cross c Sabbir b Taskin J Davey not out M. Haq c Soumya b Shakib A. Evans not out Extras (lb1, w5, nb1)

R B 156 134 11 11 19 32 35 50 39 38 26 16 20 14 4 3 1 3 0 0 7

Total (8 wkts, 50 overs)

318

Fall of wickets 1-13 (MacLeod), 2-38 (Gardiner), 3-116 (Machan), 4-257 (Mommsen), 5-269 (Coetzer), 6-308 (Berrington), 7-312 (Cross), 8-315 (Haq) Bowling Mortaza 8-0-60-1 (1nb, 1w); Shakib 10-0-46-1 (1w); Taskin 7-0-43-3 (2w); Rubel 8-0-60-0 (1w); Mahmudullah 5-0-29-0; Sabbir 7-0-47-1; Nasir 5-0-32-2;

BANGLADESH Tamim Iqbal lbw Davey Soumya Sarkar c Cross b Davey M. Mahmudullah b Wardlaw Mushfiqur Rahim c MacLeod b Evans Shakib Al Hasan not out Sabbir Rahman not out Extras (w8, nb1)

R B 95 100 2 5 62 62 60 42 52 41 42 40 9

Total (4 wkts, 48.1 overs)

322

Fall of wickets 1-5 (Soumya Sarkar), 2-144 (Mahmudullah), 3-201 (Tamim Iqbal), 4-247 (Mushfiqur Rahim) Bowling Wardlaw 9.1-0-75-1 (2w); Davey 10-0-68-2 (5w); Evans 10-1-67-1; Machan 7-0-45-0; Haq 10-0-490 (1nb, 1w); Berrington 2-0-18-0; Bangladesh won by six wickets

Team

POOL A P

W

L N/R Pts NRR

New Zealand

4

4

0

0

8 +3.589

Sri Lanka

4

3

1

0

6 +0.128

Australia

4

2

1

1

5 +1.804

Bangladesh

4

2

1

1

5 +0.182

England

4

1

3

0

2

-1.201

Afghanistan

4

1

3

0

2

-1.953

Scotland

4

0

4

0

0 -1.423

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal plays a shot during their Pool A World Cup match against Scotland at Saxton Park Oval in Nelson yesterday

Tamim arrives to the party Mazhar Uddin from Nelson

Scotland batsman Kyle Coetzer celebrates scoring a century against Bangladesh yesterday AFP

It has been a not so happy start for Tamim Iqbal in the first two matches of the World Cup as the critics said the dashing opener should be left out of the side. And ahead of the important game against Scotland, the Chittagong lad was unable to sleep well the previous night.

However, his sleepless night is very much in the past now as the southpaw hammered a brilliant 95, guiding Bangladesh to a six-wicket victory while chasing a competitive 318 yesterday.

The 25-year old was over the moon following the Tigers’ emphatic triumph. The opener though expressed some disappointment for missing out on his fifth ODI hundred.

With the aim of becoming the first centurion for Bangladesh in the World Cup, Tamim was heading in the right direction before he was trapped leg-before, only five shy of the magical figure.

“Before the World Cup, I set a target of becoming the first Bangladeshi to smash a century in the World Cup. I had the opportunity today (yesterday) but I could not make it in the end. I am disappointed for that. However, I am still hopeful that maybe in the coming matches I will be able to score one,” Tamim told the media yesterday.

The swashbuckling opener though did become the highest scorer for the Tigers in the World Cup, surpassing Mohammad Ashraful’s 87 against South Africa in 2007.

This is Bangladesh’s highest ever chase in the global showpiece event, bettering their previous best of 225 against England in the 2011 World Cup. Tamim informed that when Bangladesh set out for the mammoth target

AFP

of 319, head coach Chandika Hathurusingha had a simple message for them – be positive from the start.

“Coach instructed us to remain attacking from the word go. And, we have batted according to that plan. Not only me but Mahmudullah, Shakib al Hasan and Mushfiqur Rahim also batted with a plan. The easy win came only because we played as a team,” he said.

To reach the quarterfinals, the Tigers still need to beat England in their next game in Adelaide this Monday and Tamim is confident that they would be able to do it as the Tigers have beaten England before.

“If we play as a team then we can beat any top side in the world and today (yesterday) we played as Team Bangladesh and that is the reason we were able to win the match. Although England are a strong side, we are confident of winning against them,” Tamim added. l

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FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

TALKING POINTS Bangladesh’s batting lights up Saxton Oval For the first time, the top order delivers and makes it a comfortable run chase on a flat wicket, which turns out to be a bowler’s nightmare in the second session. Ireland chased 310 and beat the West Indies on the same ground.

Tamim Iqbal has come up with a resuscitated knock of 95 that set up the platform for the others to follow. Bangladesh’s batting stayed the course and like Sri Lanka against England, they delivered the goods in a crucial match in grand fashion.

Scotland fails to reverse the role In 1999, at Grange Cricket Ground in Edinburgh, it was Scotland that was responsible for giving Bangladesh its first World Cup victory. It had an opportunity to reverse the role at Saxton Oval and record its first World Cup win through a magnificent and controlled innings of 154 by Kyle Coetzer.

It was painfully denied by Bangladesh and Scotland has to wait for that elusive win for an uncertain period of time.

There was talk about dropping Tamin for this match. This opinion was also expressed by the Bangladesh Cricket Board President along with a few others. Those who decided to stick with him won the day for Bangladesh.

The selectors should not play around with the

As I mentioned before, this is a World Cup that is turning out to be quite a run fest. Already there have been three scores of 400 plus and several 300 plus totals. The drop-in pitches are flat and one cannot help but feel sorry for the bowlers. Against a quality bowling attack, teams with a decent batting plan are getting 250 plus. When the attack becomes ordinary runs come as if the floodgates have been opened up. On March 9th, in Adelaide, Bangladesh will see an England team that is likely to get to a score of 300 plus. The Bangladesh batters will have looked at this match at Saxton Oval and take inspiration from the fact that they have chased 318 and won. l

Team selection surprises everyone n Mazhar Uddin from Nelson It has been a holiday trip so far for Bangladesh’s two specialist spinners, Arafat Sunny and Taijul Islam, as the Tigers completed their fourth Pool A match in the ongoing 2015 ICC World Cup. The think-tank is yet to utilise the two leftarm spinners for unknown reasons with the Tigers surprisingly opting for eight batsmen in their playing XI against Scotland yesterday, despite being fully aware of the opposition’s perceived weakness against the slow bowlers.

Prior to the World Cup, the national selectors covered all bases while picking the final 15-member squad, containing four fast bowlers and three genuine spinners, including all-rounder Shakib al Hasan.

And it was widely assumed that the team

management will select two specialist spinners against the Scots. It was almost confirmed that Sunny would replace Mominul Haque.

But, both the Bangladeshi journalists and the supporters at Saxton Oval in Nelson were surprised to find out that the selection of Nasir Hossain was the only change yesterday.

Before the Bangladesh-Scotland clash, two matches were held at Saxton Oval and both of those encounters were high-scoring affairs.

Even skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza admitted a couple of days ago that the wickets at Saxton Oval are flat with very little assistance for the faster bowlers. And the decision of not picking an extra specialist spinner backfired horribly as Scotland posted 318/8, their third highest total in ODIs, after being asked to bat first.

Scotland opener Kyle Coetzer smashed a career-best 156 from 134 balls, featuring 17 boundaries and four sixes, while Matt Machan and captain Preston Mommsen provided val-

uable support as they flayed the Bangladesh bowlers all over the Saxton Oval.

All the three Bangladesh seamers proved to be expensive. Both Mashrafe and Rubel Hossain were hammered for 80 runs each from their eight overs while young paceman Taskin Ahmed gave away 43 runs from seven overs. Shakib was the standout bowler among the seven deployed by Mashrafe, conceding 46 runs from his quota of 10 overs.

Immediately realising the need for a spinner after taking the field, Mashrafe used parttime spinners like Nasir and Sabbir Rahman alongside Shakib and Mahmudullah.

Together, Nasir and Sabbir bowled 12 overs, conceded 79 runs and picked up three wickets, clearly indicating that Sunny could have played a vital role yesterday. It now remains to be seen what the team management has in store for the next Pool A match against England this Monday in Adelaide. l

319

The Bangladesh cricketers experienced a roller-coaster ride yesterday during their six-wicket victory against Associates Scotland at Saxton Oval. Taking the field after winning the toss, Mashrafe bin Mortaza and Co, other than being on the receiving end of a brutal hammering by centurion Kyle Coetzer, also had to contend with an injury to opener Anamul Haque.

Scotland skipper Preston Mommsen, facing the 31st over bowled by Mahmudullah, pulled a short ball to the deep square-leg boundary region where Anamul was lying in wait. While trying to stop a boundary, Anamul lost his balance and looked in immense pain. He was not even in the condition to throw the ball back to the wicket-keeper or the bowler.

The 22-year old was immediately rushed to the nearby hospital where he underwent a MRI scan. He did not come out to bat during Bangladesh’s chase.

More bad news emerged for the young opener as he was ruled out of the flagship event. Following the International Cricket Council’s seal of approval, the Bangladesh Cricket Board immediately flew in toporder batsman Imrul Kayes as Anamul’s replacement.

Mashrafe was also unable to avoid the trail of bad luck, or, to be precise, injury. The Narail Express was struggling to walk at the latter stages of Scotland’s innings and, as a result, did not bowl his remaining two overs.

However, there is nothing to worry about for the veteran fast bowler as he later informed that he only pulled his calf muscle and is expecting to be fit for the important match against England this Monday in Adelaide.

Then, it was Mahmudullah’s turn to feel the pain. Promoted to number three, the right-hander played a superb knock, a-runa-ball 62, before he was bowled by Iain Wardlaw. While being dismissed, the 29-year old received an unfortunate blow on his toe before the ball shattered the stumps.l

Those that stuck with Tamim are the ultimate winners

Runs galore in this World Cup

Runs is chased by Bangladesh was in fact their highest successful chase in ODIs. This is also the second-highest score in a successful chase in World Cup history.

95

n Mazhar Uddin from Nelson

The Bangladesh attack lacks penetration and time and again we have seen this happen. The fast bowlers’ pitch graph is a colorful polka dotted map spread all over the place. The entire team looked a tired lot with no enthusiasm.

They cannot rely on part time spinners like Nasir Hossain and Sabbir Rahman to fill the slot. Getting wickets in the slog overs is not credit worthy. There needs to be an injection of the extra spinner in Adelaide against England.

A hobbling Mashrafe was not a healthy sign as he has only three days to recover.

top five and allow it to settle. When a frontline batter is out of form, you cannot expect him to regain his form by keeping him out of the action.

Tamim needed to play this match like no other match and I am glad that he was there with Mahmudullah to provide the platform for Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib al Hasan to finish things off.

Runs scored by Tamim Iqbal, the most for any Bangladesh batsman in a World Cup game. The previous highest was Mohammad Ashraful’s 87 in Bangladesh’s win against South Africa during the 2007 World Cup.

139 4000

No pain, no gain

Mashrafe Mortaza and the others need to re-think their bowling plans

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

Bangladesh fans belt out their support during their World Cup 2015, Group A match against Scotland at Saxton Field in Nelson, New Zealand yesterday CRICINFO

Tamim became the second batsman to reach this 4000 runs mark during his innings of 95. The other to have gone past this milestone is Shakib Al Hasan.

The partnership between Tamim and Mahmudullah, the highest for Bangladesh in World Cups.

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FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

Gayle force keeps India on toes n AFP, Perth Defending champions India will look to continue their recent success against Chris Gayle when they clash with the West Indies in the World Cup at the WACA ground in Perth on Friday.

The explosive left-hander has not passed 50 in his last 10 one-day innings against India and not hit a century against them since 2006, but Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s men know that does not guarantee another cheap wicket.

Just last week, Gayle hammered a record World Cup score of 215 off 147 balls against Zimbabwe in Canberra, demolishing the bowling attack like only he or South Africa’s AB de Villiers can do.

De Villiers gave Gayle a taste of his own medicine a few days later in Sydney, smashing a glorious unbeaten 162 off 66 balls that drew warm applause even from the awestruck Jamaican.

Dhoni conceded it was tough to have a bowling plan or set fields for batsmen like Gayle and De Villiers.

“If the individual is hitting sixes, you can’t have fields for that,” the Indian captain said.

“There’s not much you can do. You certainly can’t have a fixed plan for something like that.”

India can draw comfort from the unpredictable game of the West Indies, where highs and lows mingle so frequently that is leaves even the most passionate Caribbean supporter exasperated.

In their first three matches of the ongoing World Cup, the West Indies posted 304-7 in losing to Ireland, 310-6 against Pakistan and 372-2 versus Zimbabwe in a grand show of their batting prowess.

But they crashed to 151 in their next game trying to chase South Africa’s 408-5 with leg-spinner Imran Tahir returning with five wickets.

In contrast, India have played consistently to record three consecutive wins, including a 76-run defeat of old foes Pakistan and a stunning 130-run win over the mighty South Africans.

A nine-wicket hammering of minnows United Arab Emirates at the WACA ground last week provided Dhoni’s team a chance to adjust to the hot weather in Perth and the challenges the hard pitch poses.

With six full points in the bag and matches in hand against the West Indies, Ireland and Zimbabwe, India will eye the top spot in Pool B to ensure they don’t face either of the

co-hosts, Australia and New Zealand, in the quarter-finals.

But the West Indies, who have two wins from four games and both Ireland and Pakistan breathing down their necks, must defeat India and the UAE in their last two matches to confirm a knock-out berth.

The West Indies have brought in attacking batsman Johnson Charles to replace the injured Darren Bravo, but former captain Darren Sammy said the key to his side’s success lay with the fast bowlers.

“Any fast bowler would be excited to bowl at the WACA as it is one of the quickest wickets in the world,” said Sammy, “But India are playing well and our quick bowlers can’t just come and blast the batsmen out.

“They have to put the ball in the right areas.”

It was on the same wicket that Australia piled up a record World Cup total of 417-6 against hapless Afghanistan on Wednesday, which should encourage both Indian and West Indies batsmen.

Sammy brushed aside injury worries for Gayle, who missed a few training sessions apparently resting a sore back.

“As far as I know, everybody is fit,” he said.

“We have a full squad to choose from. Gayle’s back has been same for the last three years.

Still, he continues to win matches for us.” l

West Indies cricketer Chris Gayle plays football in a training session in Perth yesterday AFP

Watson vows to fight for Aussie future n AFP, Perth

Zimbabwe cricketer Hamilton Masakadza takes a catch during a training session at the Bellerive Oval ground in Hobart yesterday ahead of their World Cup Pool B match against Ireland AFP

All-rounder Shane Watson refused to give up on his international career on Thursday after being dropped for Australia’s record-breaking 275-run World Cup win over Afghanistan.

The powerful right-hander’s dual ability with bat and ball has made him an integral part of the limited overs team for many years and he averages over 50 in World Cup cricket.

But he was dropped for Wednesday’s game at the WACA to make way for fellow all-rounder James Faulkner, who was returning from injury.

Whole squad firing and ready to step up: Southee n Reuters, Napier With unbeaten New Zealand having already qualified for the World Cup quarter-finals, attention is focussing on the side’s four players who have not appeared so far at the tournament.

Pace bowlers Mitchell McClenaghan and Kyle Mills, off-spinner Nathan McCullum and batsman Tom Latham have sat on the sidelines as coach Mike Hesson has kept faith with the same side who have rattled up four wins so far.

New Zealand face Afghanistan at Napier’s McLean Park on Sunday and local pundits have suggested it could be the ideal opportunity for the quartet to shake off any rustiness that could affect them if they are not called upon until the knockout phases.

None have played a competitive match in

almost a month.

Opening bowler Tim Southee, however, said the quartet had been training hard and allayed any fears they would not slot seamlessly into the well-oiled machine that Hesson and McCullum have constructed.

“They’ve been brilliant. They’re training the house down, they’re bowling exceptionally well in the nets and they’re offering a lot,” said Southee, who is the leading wicket taker in the tournament with 13.

“Their heads are still up and they’re wanting what’s best for the team and their attitude and work ethic away from the game has been outstanding. They’re working very hard behind the scenes and just banging the door down, waiting for their chance.

“I’m sure when they get their chance, they’ll grab it with both hands and if it comes

in a quarter-final or a semi-final then we know that they’re ready to go.”

Southee missed training on Wednesday with a fever but would take part in an optional session on Thursday, while captain McCullum had recovered from the nasty blow to his arm he received from Mitchell Johnson at Eden Park last Saturday.

McLean Park is the best batting surface in New Zealand and the short square boundaries put the balance of the match firmly in the batsmen’s favour.

Mills has said previously he is not keen on the short boundaries and flat wickets in places like Hamilton and Napier, while McClenaghan’s bounce off a length can be expensive square of the wicket if he gets it slightly wrong.

New Zealand finish their pool play action against Bangladesh in Hamilton on March 13.l

“I believe in myself and my own abilities.

If an opportunity comes along, I’ll be ready to go. I know I haven’t scored enough runs, so I’ve only got myself to blame. That’s the way it goes,” Watson said.

Australia captain Michael Clarke said Watson had not shown any disappointment during the match, even though Faulkner made just seven in the team’s World Cup record total of 417.

“I thought ‘Watto’ handled it really well,” said. “It’s obviously a tough decision for the selectors. He was fantastic around the group all day.”l

Kohli told to ‘respect team dignity’ n AFP, Perth Indian star Virat Kohli was ordered to “respect the dignity” of the team Thursday after he became involved in an unseemly row with a journalist tracking the defending champions’ World Cup campaign.

Kohli, angry at coverage of his private life in the Indian media, was accused of verbally abusing a reporter he mistakenly thought was the writer for another newspaper. The incident took place on Tuesday afternoon at the Murdoch Oval in Perth where India were training ahead of their Pool B match against the West Indies.

As soon as he wrapped up his net session, Kohli stormed to the sidelines and let off a volley of expletives at a horrified Indian reporter, eyewitnesses said. l

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FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

Sheikh Jamal DC players and officials celebrate with their Federation Cup trophy after beating Muktijoddha SKC 6-4 in a high-scoring final at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday

Jamal retain Fed Cup in miracle of BNS n Shishir Hoque Haitian forward Wedson Anselme slammed a sensational hattrick as Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club grafted an impressive comeback to retain the title of the Federation Cup, beating Muktijoddha Sangsad 6-4 in a high-scoring final at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

In-form winger Wedson netted his second treble of the tournament to enable the Premier League champions to overcome a 4-2 deficit. This is Sheikh Jamal’s second consecutive Federation Cup title.

The two sides met each other in the final of last year’s Federation Cup, which ended in an 1-0 win for Sheikh Jamal. But this time, the first half alone produced six goals as Muktijoddha took a surprising 4-2 lead. Among the

four goals scored by Muktijoddha in the first half, former national striker Enamul Haque was responsible for two of them.

However, it was Sheikh Jamal who took the lead with just five minutes into the game through Nigerian striker Emeka Darlington.

Emeka headed in a Sohel Rana cross and struck the back of the net.

Muktijoddha responded quickly and equalised just three minutes later, that too from a Yeamin Munna own goal. Sheikh Jamal goalkeeper Shahidul Alam Sohel failed to clear a Faisal Mahmud cross as Yeamin diverted the ball into his own net.

The delight of the All Reds did not last long as the Premier League champions again went ahead five minutes later. Wedson’s tap-in in front of an empty net found the back of the

goal following a lovely back-heel from Emeka.

Senegalese forward Camara Sarba restored parity at the half-hour mark after an exhibition of comical defending from Sheikh Jamal.

A long Enamul throw-in created a goal-mouth melee which ended with Camara placing home from the six-yard box.

Soon, Sheikh Jamal’s cause was dented further when Enamul’s glancing header off a Saikat pass found the back of the net.

Enamul stunned Sheikh Jamal again by scoring his second of the day only two minutes later. He placed home a Camara header after Faisal’s cross landed on the penalty area.

The best was yet to come as Jamal came out a completely different side after the breather to stage a breathtaking comeback with goals from Wedson in the space of seven minutes.

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

The Haitian forward rounded off the goalkeeper to reduce the marging in the 62nd minute before he dribbled past two defenders minutes later to slam home his second hat-trick in the season and more importantly equaliser in for Jamal.

Endurance was the biggest need for the players as the game rolled into extra time, which was dominated by the eventual champions. Emeka, the Nigerian striker used his pace and strength to bring his club the crucial lead in the 107th minute and followed it by an unselfish pass to Rubel Mia who sealed the fate of the match with ease in the 117th minute.

Wedson Anselme was adjudged the man of the final and player of the tournament for his remarkable performance throughout the tournament. l

Mamunul, Maruful skip celebration in fury n Raihan Mahmood The hat-trick Federation Cup title to Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club speak of their dominance, but the joy was marred by captain Mamunul Islam and coach Maruful Haque as the two were definitely not part of the celebration.

It was a tight match which saw the “favourites” in the encounter crawl back from a 2-4 scoreline at halftime to make it 4-4 at 90 minutes. With two more goals in the extra time, Jamal eventually beat Muktijoddha SKC 6-4, but the environment was not pleasant for the captain and coach.

It was reported that Jamal manager Anwarul Karim Helal chose to use abusive words during the thrilling encounter which was not well taken by the national captain Mamunul and Maruful.

The important duo, behind the success, skipped the presentation ceremony as Maruful left the arena silently while Mamunul did not go to received the champions cheque and trophy. Mamunul, who was seen kicking the water bucket at their dug out in anger after the win, was cooled down by his teammates before he stood beside the presentation ceremony podium but did not join the party.

However, Bangladesh’s most successful coach Maruful cleverly handled the incident he reasoned a family commitment for his premature departure from the venue.

“There is no problem with anything, I had an emergency (doctor’s appointment for family) so I had to get back early. Everything is alright, I am proud of my team who had the passion and commitment to retain the title” said Maruful over phone. l

Sheikh Jamal forward Wedson Anselme (R) celebrates scoring against Muktijoddha at BNS yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

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FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

Chelsea edge past West Ham to stay five clear over City n Reuters, London

NAT’L CRICKET LEAGUE

Rajshahi win in day of draws n Minhaz Uddin Khan

After a Champagne Sunday, leaders Chelsea got back to the bread and butter of churning out Premier League points with Eden Hazard’s header sealing a 1-0 victory at London rivals West Ham United on Wednesday.

Champions Manchester City, 2-0 winners over bottom club Leicester City, would have hoped Chelsea suffered a hangover from their League Cup final triumph over Tottenham Hotspur, but Jose Mourinho’s side are made of sterner stuff.

Hazard was left unmarked after 22 minutes to score the only goal of the game and steadfast Chelsea weathered a physical battering by the hosts to reach 63 points, five clear of City with a game in hand. David Silva and James Milner scored to keep City in touch, although Manuel Pellegrini’s side were unimpressive against a Leicester side who have now lost 16 of their last 22 league matches.

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho knows the value of grinding out victories as the season reaches the home straight and was effusive in his praise of his players.

Below the duel for the title, the teams chasing third and fourth spot all won.

Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez gave Arsenal a 2-1 win at Queens Park Rangers to keep them above Manchester United who beat Newcastle United 1-0 with an 89th-minute goal from Ashley Young after a terrible mistake by Newcastle keeper Tim Krul.l

EPL Liverpool

2-0

Rajshahi picked up their second win of the season after defeating Barisal on the final day of round six in the 16th National Cricket League yesterday. The other three matches of the round, however, ended in draws, largely due to rain and wet outfield.

Rajshahi v Barisal, BKSP 2

Three half-centuries guided Rajshahi to chase down their target of 353 against Barisal with four wickets remaining.

Rajshahi chased down the target riding on half-centuries from opener Myshukur Rahman, Tareq Khan and skipper Forhad Reza.

Myshukur provided the kickstart to the chase with 80 runs off 141 balls while Tareq and Forhad chipped in with 77 and 50 respectively.

Dhaka v Rangpur, SBNS

The game ended in a draw after Rajshahi, chasing 288, ended the final day on 100/1.

Dhaka earlier scored 259 in their second innings.

Chittagong v Sylhet, Fatullah

This game too ended in a draw but not before some interesting action in the middle.

Chittagong posted 332 in their first innings, riding on Iftekhar Sajjad’s unbeaten 126.

Later, Sylhet posted 88 for the loss of three wickets in the second innings. The draw meant the two sides are yet to win their first game of the season.

Burnley

Dhaka Metro v Khulna, BKSP 3

Henderson 29, Sturridge 51

Man City

2-0

Leicester

0-1

Man United

Silva 45, Milner 88

Newcastle

Young 89

1-2

QPR Austin 82

Arsenal Giroud 64, Sanchez 69

Stoke

2-0

Everton

3-2

Swansea

Moses 32, Diouf 84

Tottenham Chadli 7, Mason 51, Townsend 60

West Ham

Ki 19, Sigurdsson 89

0-1

Chelsea Hazard 22

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 1 11:45AM ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 India v West Indies

Star Sports 4 1:45AM La Liga 2014/15 Levante v Eibar

Ten Action 2:40PM A-League 2014/15 Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC 1:30AM French Ligue 1 2014/15 Toulouse FC v Olympic Marseille

Chittagong division batsman Iftefar Sazzad Rony celebrates his century during their NCL sixth round match against Sylhet division at Fatullah yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

PSG beat Monaco to reach Cup semi-finals n Reuters, Paris Goals from David Luiz and Edinson Cavani helped Paris St Germain reach the semi-finals of the French Cup with a 2-0 win over Ligue 1 rivals Monaco at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday.

Three days after the two teams played out a dull 0-0 league draw, they put on a much more entertaining spectacle.

PSG, however, never looked under threat and recorded a morale-boosting victory ahead of next week’s Champions League last16 return leg against Chelsea.

Centre back Luiz headed home from Ezequiel Lavezzi’s free kick in the third minute as PSG made the perfect start against Monaco, whose coach Leonardo Jardim had made seven changes from the team who played on Sunday. They doubled the lead seven minutes into the second half, with Marco Verratti setting up Cavani in the penalty area to beat Maarten Stekelenburg with a low shot.

PSG continued to dominate and Javier Pastore and Cavani both hit the woodwork.l

Khulna batted out the entire final day and bagged some batting points. Resuming on 29 for no loss in the second innings, Khulna declared on 331/8. Tushar Imran topped the innings with 71 runs. Dhaka Metro part-time spinner Shamsur Rahman picked up five wickets, his maiden five-for. l

Barca reach King’s Cup final n Reuters, Barcelona

Barcelona’s Neymar scored twice and Luis Suarez was also on target as they beat Villarreal 3-1 on Wednesday and 6-2 on aggregate to reach their fourth King’s Cup final in five years where they will face Athletic Bilbao.

Bilbao won 2-0 at Espanyol on Wednesday and 3-1 on aggregate, Aritz Aduriz and Xabier Etxeita scoring in the first half for Athletic to set up a repeat of the 2012 cup final which Barca won. It will Be Barca’s first final with

Luis Enrique at the helm but the coach is not getting carried away.l

COPA DEL REY 1-3

Villarreal

Barcelona

dos Santos 39

Neymar 3, 88, Suarez 73 Barcelona win 6-2 on aggregate

Espanyol

0-2

Athletic Bilbao

Aduriz 13, Etxeita 42 Athletic Bilbao win 3-1 on aggregate

Barcelona forward Neymar da Silva Santos Junior (R) celebrates his goal during the Copa del Rey football match against Villarreal at El Madrigal stadium in Villareal on Wednesday AFP

DT

30 DOWNTIME

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Gloomily ill-humoured (6) 6 Bricks-carrying trough (3) 9 Sun-dried brick (5) 10 Get on (4) 11 Send money (5) 12 Make brown (3) 13 Pick out (6) 15 Sibilate (4) 18 Copies (4) 21 Walk as an infant (6) 24 United (3) 25 Existing (5) 28 Present (4) 29 Saloon car (5) 30 Perform (3) 31 Governor (6)

DOWN 1 Month (5) 2 Lyric poem (3) 3 Frolics in lively manner (5) 4 Kimono sash (3) 5 Becomes firm (4) 6 Dislike intensely (4) 7 Wise utterance (6) 8 Impressions left by blow (4) 14 Meadow (3) 16 Seemingly mocked by fate (6) 17 Unhappy (3) 19 Company of lions (5) 20 Used up (5) 21 Roman garment (4) 22 Dexterous (4) 23 Comfort (4) 26 Limb (3) 27 Forefront (3)

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

You have one letter in the control grid to start you off. Enter it 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.

A B C D E FG H I J K L M N O P Q RST UVWXYZ

SUDOKU

CALVIN AND HOBBES

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

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

DT

SHOWTIME 31

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

Ice-cream begins

December Documentary n Showtime Desk

The controversial December 16 gang rape documentary India’s daughter has been aired in the UK and other parts of the world, after the initial ban in India. The British filmmaker Leslee Udwin created a tornado backlash from the Indian government, alleging that the film is an attempt to defame India. The documentary includes interviews with Jyoti Singh’s parents, defense lawyers, and one of the convicts. The documentary is available on YouTube to view. l

n Showtime Desk Noted TV, drama and film maker Redoan Rony has announced that he has begun working on his new film “Ice-cream.”

While Rony’s debut “Chorabali” boasted of a heavyweight cast, “Ice-cream” features new faces in lead roles. Three youths, namely Nazifa Tushi, Raj and Uday, have confirmed to take part in the contemporary love story.

Nazifa Tushi, in particular, came to the limelight after being awarded the place of first runner-up at the Lux-Channel i Superstar last year.

Rony said: “I want to do something with newcomers. Nazifa Tushi, Raj and Uday are very promising and are now being groomed to give their best in the film. They have the potential to lead the industry in the future.”

The “Chorabali” director created a buzz in the film industry through his previous action-packed film. “Chorabali” garnered major success both commercially and critically, winning the National Film Award in five categories in 2012. Now he will work with Ping Pong Entertainment, which will be producing his current project.

Although Rony previously announced that he was working on “Morichika,” this other project, his priority remains with “Icecream.” Currently the entire “Ice-cream” team set out for Saint Martin’s Island on March 5 and have plans to wrap up the shooting by mid-April. l

On the edge, over the borders

RANVEER SINGH @RanveerOfficial As for the injury, I’m fine. Mard ko Dard nahi hota.... aur badi badi filmon mein aisi chhoti chhoti baatein hoti rehti hain ;) #shithappens JACQUELINE FERNANDEZ @Jacquelinef143 Showing the girlies my new favourite gadget @scholIndia express pedi! #fabfeet and ready for my shoot!!

SHAH RUKH KHAN @iamsrk “The obstacle is the path.” Zen Proverb. Just felt a bit Zenlike as i drive thruogh the city of Delhi. (Not commenting on roads by the way!!)

WHAT TO WATCH TELEVISION TRANSPORTER 3 HBO, 11:41pm Cast: Jason Statham, Natalya Rudakova This time, Frank Martin is on board with the mission of delivering Valentina, the kidnapped daughter of a Ukranian government official.

DESPICABLE ME 2 Star Movies, 9:30pm Casts: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig Gru, truned into super-dad from super-bad however recruited by a team of officials and fight back with new gadgetry, cars, and more minion madness to stop lethal muscle.

PIC OF THE WEEK

n Raisa Rahim

Don’t call it a comeback, she’s been here for years. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan graces the latest cover of Vogue India.

CELEBS ON SOCIAL

The lady, popularly known by her poise, stunned the world with her hit international debut single “Exotic” featuring American rapper, Pitbull. This year, she has come back with yet another fascinating news for her fans.

Bollywood star and Miss World 2000, Priyanka Chopra, has signed a one year contract with ABC studio and will soon be working with the cast of ABC drama pilot “Quantico,” executive produced by Mark Gordon, Josh Safran and Nick Pepper.

Sources say that Priyanka Chopra has been a longtime fan of ABC shows.

In Quantico, Priyanka will be playing an intelligent FBI trainee by the name “Alex Weaver.” Soon after her character joins a group of young FBI recruits, who battle their way through training at the Quantico base in Virginia, her past is rejuvenated.

After her latest film, “Mary Kom,” which premiered at Toronto last fall, Priyanka Chopra has yet again challenged her creativity and hopes to do more in the future. l

THE HANGOVER WB, 12:36am Casts: Zach Galifianakis, Bradley Cooper After waking up from a bachelor party in Las Vegas, the bachelor got lost before his wedding and the left out two have to find out with no memory of the previous night and the bachelor missing.

FILMI FRIDAYS From this week onwards, Fridays are for indulging in your filmi fantasies.

From Bollywood gossip and reviews, to news about the movers and shakers in Dhallywood, as well as our independent filmmakers, we’ve got you covered. You get the chai, we’ll bring the masala!

DT

32 BACK PAGE

FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 2015

GP PLANS INSURANCE AND E-EDUCATION PAGE 15

TAMIM ARRIVES AT THE PARTY PAGE 25

ON THE EDGE, OVER THE BORDERS PAGE 31

Victims of a vicious cycle of politics Seventeen Nitor patients recovering from gunshot wounds inflicted by police claim innocence tivist. Police shot him in his knee before he n Adil Sakhawat was admitted to Nitor.

Innocent people are allegedly falling victim to police atrocities amid countrywide ongoing transport blockade and intermittent shutdowns.

As many as 17 people are now undergoing treatment in the prison cell of National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (Nitor) after being shot by law enforcers.

Law enforcers, however, said they arrested them on suspicion of their involvement in political violence.

Three of the inmates of the prison cell in Nitor declined to talk to the media as they were under constant police surveillance.

A young man from Lakshmipur claimed himself to be a betel leaf seller told the Dhaka Tribune that police filed one case against him after they had shot him.

He said he was scared to talk to journalists.

“They have filed three more cases against me as my fault was I talked to some journalists after coming here one month ago,” the frightened man told this reporter in hushed voice.

Another one who was also afraid of being identified indignantly said: “Your better ask police sitting here. If possible please mention me as a criminal in your newspaper.”

All the 17 people admitted to Nitor were shot in their knees and many of them are yet to be produced before court although they were arrested 20 to 25 days back.

Mehedy Hasan Faisal is a shopkeeper in Mymensingh. On February 11 when he went out of his home to buy some products for his shop he was detained by police and taken to Mymensingh highway.

Police blindfolded him and asked him to run away. As he denied he was shot in his

Victims of bullet injuries caused by police gunfire undergo treatment in the prison cell of the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation in the capital MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU knee. On February 12 his father was informed over phone that his son was admitted to Nitor in a critical condition.

Another Nitor inmate Sariful Islam said he was a bus driver’s assistant. On February 11 DB police detained him from Itkhola area.

He too was blindfolded and asked to run away and he was shot when he denied to do so. On February 12 his younger brother was informed by police that Sariful was admitted to Nitor.

Sariful’s brother Ariful told the Dhaka Tribune that Sariful is the only earning member of their family. Now they can not afford to pay his medical expense.

Jagannath University student Nayan

Bachar was found lying on 69 No bed of the hospital’s A/B Ward. He is a third-year student of Philosophy Department.

His mother Sikha Rani at first did not want to talk to this reporter fearing police reprisal.

After sometimes she stealthily came out of the Ward and talked to this reporter.

She said they were Hindus. On February 4 her son after giving a tuition came to Victoria Park area to board a bus to go to his mess about 8:30pm. At that time a bus was firebombed and police detained him suspecting him to be an arsonist.

Nayan repeatedly told police that he was a Hindu but police branded him as a Shibir ac-

Everyday Nayan’s treatment cost is around Tk5000. An injection worth Tk1150 is also needed for him. His mother wondered how she could manage her son’s treatment expense.

Foyej Ali, a businessman of Azampur area of the capital’s Dakkhinkhan, who is also undergoing treatment at Nitor claimed himself to be a supporter of Awami League. He too was shot in the knee.

Her wife Rehana Foyej said on January 12 morning Dakkhinkhan Police Station Sub-Inspector Joinal asked Foyej to go to police station. As he asked him why he should go to the police station Foyej was shot in his knee.”

SI Joinal had been demanding money from my husband before the shooting incident happened as “we were constructing a building in Azampur area”.

“When my husband refused to give the money police shot him and now my husband is shown arrested as BNP- Jaamat activist.”

When contacted Officer-in-Charge of Dakkhinkhan Police Station Shamim Or Rashid, said Foyej was attending a protest procession organised by BNP- Jamaat activists on that day.

“When we tried to disperse them they began to throw bricks at us. As police made an attempt to arrest him he tried to snatch the gun from SI Joinal and he was shot in his knee,” said the OC. Of the 17 admitted to Nitor three have already had their one leg amputated. Nine people claimed themselves to be innocent as they had never been involved in any politics.

An on-duty nurse of the A/B ward requesting anonymity said most of the patients would have to face some kinds of disability in future. l

Attacker slashes face of US ambassador n Reuters, Seoul

Mobile congress ends targeting 2020

US ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert underwent two-and-a-half hours of surgery after he was slashed in the face by a Korean nationalist in an attack yesterday at a forum to discuss Korean reunification in Seoul.

Doctors said Lippert, 42, was stable after “very successful” surgery that required 80 stitches in his face.

The assailant was caught and identified by police as 55-year-old Kim Ki-jong. In 2010, Kim tried to attack the Japanese ambassador to South Korea and was given a suspended jail term, according to police.

The attack was a protest against joint military exercises by South Korean and US troops, which Kim said interfered with reconciliation between North and South Korea. l

The 20th Mobile World Congress that drew record number of visitors this year, ended in Barcelona yesterday, targetting the year 2020 for deriving more developed services with 5G. The four-day telecom trade show began on Monday and saw over 87,000 visitors against last year’s 80,000.

This year’s GSM Association congress titled “The edge of innovation” showcased a good number of future generic services.

According to the GSMA, the plan now is to draw close to three billion 4G customers by 2020.

GSMA Director General Anne Bouverot and Telenor Group President Jon Fredrick Baksaas shared their plans in different forums during the congress.

Zahidul Islam, from n Muhammad Barcelona, Spain

Telenor has the lion share in Bangladesh’s largest mobile operator Grameenphone.

The organisers described the event as the most successful so far, with large number of

The number of 4G subscribers currently stands at 500m and will draw close to 3bn by 2020 new technological innovations demonstrated, numerous business deals signed and policy dialogues held.

For the first time in the congress’s history, Mark Zuckerberg, father of Facebook, attended a seminar alongside the global leaders of mobile operators and promised to join hands in going forward.

The debate centring the development of 5G mobile services getting new dimensions continued until the last day of the congress.

It began on the second day with vendors such as Nokia NSN, Huawei, Ericsson and KT Corporation creating the hip for 5G, but some operators such as Orange raised questions about the time frame.

They want more time to take the real benefits from the recently implemented 4G services.

According to GSMA, at present a total of 352 mobile operators from 124 countries have 4G or LTE services.

The number of 4G subscribers currently stands at 500 million and it will draw close to three billion by the year 2020. But most vendors are planning to introduce 5G by that time.

Next year, the mobile world congress will be held in the same city from February 22 to 26. l

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