11 March, 2015

SECOND EDITION

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015 | Falgun 27, 1421, Jamadiul Awal 19, 1436 | Regd No DA 6238, Vol 2, No 335 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages plus 8-page Treehouse | Price: Tk10

MANNA HOSPITALISED

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ACC TO SUE THREE SONALI BANK MEN

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3000MW PLANT IN MAHESHKHALI PAGE 32

Two Bangladeshis kidnapped in Libya n Tribune Report Fundamentalist Islamic State militants are believed to have kidnapped two Bangladeshis among the nine foreigners they took hostage in Libya on Friday.

The Foreign Ministry confirmed the identities of the Bangladeshis as Helal Uddin from Jamalpur and Mohammad Anowar Hossain from Noakhali.

A press release said Anowar was at first mistakenly identified as a Sudanese national with a similar name. However, his identification was later confirmed by a Bangladeshi

working at a neighbouring oil field.

Unidentified gunmen stormed the Al Ghani oil field near Sirte, about 700km south-east of the capital Tripoli, and kidnapped the nine people who were reportedly from Bangladesh, Philippines, Austria, Czech Republic, and Ghana.

The militants also beheaded eight guards, a Libyan military spokesperson said, adding that one oil worker died of a heart attack after seeing the grisly execution.

There are disputes about which Islamist group was behind the attack.

A Bangladesh Foreign Ministry official told

the Dhaka Tribune that it was still unclear which organisation was behind the attack as there are many such groups operating in Libya including the IS. “Nobody is yet to make any claim or demand for ransom,” he said.

The official said the manner of attack suggests that it was carried out by IS gunmen.

Another senior foreign ministry official said the government was ready to join efforts with other countries to resolve the situation.

The Austrian Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, claimed it was the Islamic State that was behind the Friday attack.

On the other hand, Value Added Oilfield Services (VAOS), the company which employed the foreigners, claimed ignorance about which group was responsible or where the hostages were taken.

As a precautionary measure, 21 Bangladeshis – from a nearby oil field – has been taken to safety, said a Foreign Ministry press release.

The government has also asked Bangladeshi nationals in Libya to remain vigilant and not to venture outdoors unnecessarily.

“We asked them to be cautious and stay  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Rubel: This World Cup itself was a challenge for me n Mazhar Uddin from Adelaide Rubel Hossain simply put the icing on the complete team effort on Monday as Bangladesh knocked out the inventor of cricket England from the World Cup to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in five editions. It was a pressure game no doubt and the stage was even difficult for the fast bowler Rubel who has been in the headlines for “personal reasons” and is only part of the Tigers World Cup squad because a local court granted him bail until the end of the tournament.

Hailing from Bagerhat, it was a huge relief for Rubel who proved his mettle to the country, the world and more importantly, himself. “This World Cup itself was a challenging one for me but after this performance I think everything will be great. Every player gave their effort and that was the reason we reached the quarterfinal,” said Rubel whilst heading towards the team bus at the airport yesterday.

The Bangladesh team celebrated their victory till late at night but still looked fresh  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

Murdered blogger Avijit Roy’s wife says she remembers the faces of the five assailants from the crime scene

FILE PHOTO

Can Bonna identify Avijit’s killers?

Islam Shaon and n Ashif Md Sanaul Islam Tipu At least five youths in jeans pants and T-shirts hacked writer-blogger Avijit Roy to death on Dhaka University campus. His wife, who was severely injured while trying to defend herself, also says she will be able to identify them.

In their mid-20s, the youths were

clean-shaven, Avijit’s wife Rafida Ahmed Bonna told her father-in-law Prof Ajay Roy over the phone recently.

Detectives earlier said two youths had carried out the pre-planned attack on Avijit on a footpath near the TSC intersection while a dozen others, suspected accomplices, tailed the couple as they left the book fair premises.

Meanwhile, a Dhaka court yesterday allowed two petitions by police detectives seek-

ing permission to hand over evidence, seized materials and samples collected from Dhaka Medical College to the FBI team assisting the Bangladeshi investigators since March 5.

A US citizen and bio-engineer by profession, Avijit was hacked to death and his wife Bonna critically injured when miscreants attacked them machetes on February 26 on their way back home from the Amar Ekushey  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

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Runaway Biman official held for gold smuggling n Munir Momtaj Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate yesterday detained a fugitive Biman Bangladesh Airlines employee, who officials said was involved in a gold haul smuggling at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on January 14.

Md Emranul Islam, who worked as a mechanic at the national flag carrier’s Engineering and Maintenance Department, was nabbed while wandering around the airport area around 5pm.

Following his detention, he was taken to the Customs Intelligence office in Moghbazar where its Director General Moinul Khan briefed reporters.

On January 14, officials seized 120 gold bars weighing 14 kilograms from the cargo area of a Biman flight which flew to Dhaka from Du-

bai. Wrapped in black clothes, the gold bars were found after a four-hour search.

Officials suspected the involvement of Biman staff in the incident as general passengers are not allowed to enter the cargo area.

They noticed that workers of shift B were on duty when the flight arrived.

But Emranul and another worker Osman Gani left the workplace when officials decided to conduct a search.

“We asked all the workers of shift B to appear before launching the operation but the two did not. Police searched the whole airport for them but to no avail. Also for the last two months, there was no trace of the two. Police filed a case with Airport police station, naming both of them and several others,” said Moinul at the briefing.

“Emranul was nabbed alone today but

there is no trace of Gani as yet,” he said.

The official said Emranul was also involved in the smuggling of 62kg gold via a Biman flight on February 2.

“He was directly involved in some other similar incidents. As for the January 14 gold haul smuggling, he worked in complicity with the owners of the gold and some corrupt Biman officials. If he is put on remand, we can obtain detailed information on his connection with some large gangs,” said Moinul.

According to him, detectives seized 870kg gold and nabbed 115 smugglers in the last 22 months.

“The detainees have revealed the names of many smugglers, several of whom are involved with Biman. We will arrest them soon,” added Moinul. l

NIZAMI APPEAL

SC again asks for concise statement by Mar 31

n UNB

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday again asked both the defence and prosecution lawyers to submit by March 31 the concise statement before it on the pending appeal filed by condemned war criminal Motiur Rahman Nizami against his death sentence.

A four-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha, extended the time as both the parties failed to comply with its earlier February 24 order in this regard.

Passing the order with a caution, the court said that if the parties fail to do so within the deadline the appeal will be deemed to be ready for hearing without any concise statement. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Two Bangladeshis kidnapped in Libya safe as the situation in Libya is very fluid,” said a senior official of the Foreign Ministry.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Libya Maj Gen Shahidul Haque is doing whatever possible to help the Bangladeshis, he said.

The Bangladesh Embassy in Tripoli is also

keeping an eye on the situation, the press release added.

The Libyan Foreign Ministry told the Bangladesh mission that they were trying their best to rescue the two Bangladeshis.

About 40,000 Bangladeshis currently re-

Can Bonna identify Avijit’s killers?

Book Fair. Bonna was flown to the USA last week for better treatment.

“I talked to her last night [Monday] over the phone. She said she noticed five youths during the attack and will be able to identify them later.

The youths had no beards,” he said quoting her.

Prof Roy, an Ekushey Padak winner and retired physics teacher of Dhaka University, filed a murder case against unidentified persons a day after the attack. He blamed the fanatics linked to Jamaat-e-Islami and other militant organisations for the killing.

Bonna told him that she had given a witness account to the police detectives before leaving Bangladesh and that she would give another detailed statement, if needed.

She alleged that the law enforcers, stationed nearby for book fair security, had not acted at the time of attack.

In a statement, Bonna said yesterday: “When we were attacked, the policemen on duty standing close by did not act. Now we demand that the Bangladesh government do everything

Today with Dhaka Tribune

possible to bring the murderers to justice.”

An inquiry team formed by the police has also found negligence on the part of those policemen stationed in the TSC (Teachers Students Centre) area.

Monirul Islam, head of the police detectives who are yet to identify the killers, said they were trying to arrest the culprits. “We think extremist militants killed Avijit as they did not like his write-ups.”

So far, the law enforcers have arrested Shafiur Rahman Farabi, who had threatened Avijit with death several times on social media. Currently on a 10-day remand, Farabi has confessed to making the threats but denied involvement in the murder. RAB said Farabi was involved with banned Islamist outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir and Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), which has claimed responsibility for the execution.

Another ABT leader Redwanul Azad Rana is the prime suspect in Avijit murder. Rana was also involved in the murder of blogger Ahmed Rajeeb Haider in 2013, detectives say.

After coming to Dhaka, the FBI team sat with the investigators and visited the crime scene. On Sunday, they went to the Criminal Investigation Department and talked to the forensic team who had collected evidence from the spot. The agents also inquired about the CID lab facilities.

Yesterday, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Bikash Kumar Saha approved two petitions filed

by DB (Detective Branch) Inspector Md Fazlur Rahman, also investigation officer of the case.

Rahman mentioned in the petitions that the FBI team wanted to examine the evidence that include Bonna’s finger which had been severed by in the attack, two machetes, a blood-stained shirt and a school bag that the assailants carried – all collected from the crime scene.

‘Join Us in a Demand for Justice’

Bonna in a statement through New York-based Centre for Inquiry yesterday asked the govern-

side in Libya, most of them in Tripoli and adjacent areas.

While the Islamic State continues to extend its influence over the Middle East, the Libyan IS affiliate now reportedly holds control over the eastern cities of Darna and Sirte, and has

ment to prevent terrorism in the country.

“I do not believe that simply catching the killers will be enough. I urge the government to address terrorism and stop a legal culture of impunity, where writers can be killed without the killers being brought to trial. I urge the world to recognise what has happened and join us in this demand for justice.”

“My husband, Avijit Roy, wrote about science and rationalism and critiqued religious fundamentalism. Because of this, he was murdered.

“The Dhaka University campus has historically been a space for progressive movements. It is also where Avijit grew up. Despite the death threat, we could not fathom that such a heinous crime could take place in such an area – a crime not only against a person, but against freedom of speech and humanity.”

Michael De Dora, CFI’s representative to the UN and a friend of Avijit, said: “We are deeply grateful that Bonna is recovering from her ordeal...We are still reeling from the loss of our friend Avijit, a fellow human rights advocate.

But it is clear from the tributes being paid to him around the world that the ideals he stood for – reason, compassion, and freedom of expression for all – will continue to inspire generations.”

Former BUET lecturer Avijit was the founder of Mukto-Mona blogsite, an online network of freethinkers of mainly Bangali and South Asian descent. He wrote over 600 blogs and 10 books and an e-book.

Before leaving the US for home, Avijit was a little worried about being attacked. But he did not stay away. Two of his books were launched in this year’s Book Fair. He became a target of radical Islamists first in 2008 following the publication of Obisshasher Dorshon (The Philosophy of Disbelief), but faced serious threats in 2013-14.

Avijit said after his book Bishwasher Virus (Bengali for The Virus of Faith) was released in 2014, it rose to the Book Fair’s bestseller list, but at the same time, “hit the cranial nerve of fundamentalists.” l

carried out several deadly suicide bombings across the country.

In February, the IS released a video showing 21 Egyptian Christians being beheaded in Libya. In retaliation, Cairo launched air strikes on Darna. l

Rubel: This World Cup itself was a challenge for me when they arrived for breakfast at Intercontinental hotel in Adelaide yesterday. There were no signs of fatigue at all and watching Tamim Iqbal it seemed he was granted a new life and rightly so. Tamim or Shakib al Hasan were seen having a relaxed attitude while they were getting on the bus at the airport as Bangladesh headed for Auckland at 11am.

Meanwhile, we, the traveling journalists, did not let Rubel go so easily as the 25-yearold emphasised, “I try to give my hundred percent whenever I get the opportunity and I was willing to do something for my team from the bottom of my heart and Allah has gifted me the day yesterday (Monday).

It was my dream to win a match and take five wickets in this World Cup and I think it was the day.”

The slinging action from the right-handed Rubel produced reverse swing as he rattled the stumps of Stuart Broad and James Anderson to land the emphatic 15-run win over England in the 49th over.

“The last over of the match will remain as the most memorable moment of my life. I was bowling to Stuart Broad who is basically a tail-ender, however, he bats well too and I was thinking if I could get his wicket the game will be in our favour. I prayed to Allah and I got the result. I was confident of bowling at a good line, like a good yorker,” he added.

Rubel spoke of the inspiration they gathered from the ever-loving cricket fans of Bangladesh and he also believes they are capable of beating their opponent in the quarter-final, who it looks like will be India.

“The love from the people of Bangladesh gives us the inspiration to do well.

We have reached the quarter-final and I think we are capable of making an upset in the last eight.”

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Another petrol bomb victim dies at CMCH n FM Mizanur Rahaman, Chittagong

Such jubilation is rarely seen in the lives of Bangladeshis, who otherwise are smothered with political violence and everyday struggle for survival. The historical win of the Tigers over England brought hundreds of youths out on the streets to celebrate and share the joy with others. The photo was taken in front of the Raju Sculpture in Dhaka University area yesterday RAJIB DHAR

Landmark victory sparks never-ending celebrations n Nure Alam Durjoy Even 40 hours after the historic World Cup victory against England to qualify for the knockouts, the cricket lovers in Bangladesh are celebrating.

The morning yesterday called for celebrations on another count: it was the first proper working day in many weeks because the BNP had relaxed its hartal for 12 hours because of the Tiger triumph.

In the morning, school students began their day by chanting “Bangladesh Bangladesh” atop their voices along with drum beats, wishing the Tigers all the best for the upcoming matches.

After school hours, students of the Viqarunnissa Noon School in Dhaka danced and rallied within their premises, celebrating one of the most famous victories in the history of Bangladesh cricket.

Elsewhere, thousands gathered centring the TSC roundabout on the Dhaka University campus as has happened every time there has been something to celebrate, especially from the sports world.

To add more colour to the festive atmosphere, people brought out several vibrant victory marches that travelled through the streets on the DU campus.

Earlier in the day, students from the different dormitories of the DU started gathering at TSC by bringing in their own processions.

They beat the drums loud and danced and rejoiced on the streets.

But there is no reason to think that the celebrations were exclusive to the youth; in fact, people from all ages joined the festivities yesterday, rejoicing in what could be a table-turner for Bangladesh cricket.

Rokon, who sells Bangladesh’s flags on the streets of Dhaka, had two reasons to be really happy on the day. Firstly because his sale had gone up manifold because virtually everyone needs a flag in their hands, otherwise their celebrations could not be complete. Needless to say, the second reason is the great victory.

“The celebration has been going on for hours here at the TSC. This victory has united the country and brought happiness for all,” said Rokon.

Throughout the day yesterday, there were tireless waving of flags, singing of the national anthem and victory marches attended by people in colourful attires all across the city. Some people got their bodies and cheeks painted in yellow to look like Bengal Tigers.

Apart from those who joined the central victory march ushered in by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the capital, people celebrated the victory all over the country.

The glorious days of 1971 seemed to have made a rare comeback yesterday, with people greeting each other with “Joy Bangla.”

Yesterday afternoon, a mother along with her two kids could be seen roaming around the Hatirjheel project on a rickshaw, holding and waving a flag.

Wishing not to be named for obvious reaons, the mother, who is a university teach-

er, told this correspondent: “This is great! It gives us great relief. We can finally cheer our hearts out. We have been suffocating in an air made thick and gloomy by months of political violence.”

“Cricket is our hope,” she said.

This correspondent caught up with a group of young men and women taking selfies at the Dhanmondi lake area. They were all wearing replicas of the Bangladesh cricket team’s world cup jersey and had national flags wrapped around their head like bandannas.

Nowsin Naj, a student of a private university in the city, said: “I have no words to express my happiness. It is the greatest victory of our lives.”

“Now our dream has changed. Now we want us to go as far as we can.”

Our Rajshahi correspondent reports that there were equally colourful and lively festivities on the the Rajshahi University campus as well. Not just the students but a big section of the teachers also joined a victory march brought out on the campus.

In Dhaka Awami League brought out a victory march near its party office in the Bangabandhu Avenue area. The BNP, who has been enforcing a nationwide transport blockade for more than two months, also brought out a brief victory march in front of the National Press Club in the city.

In Sunamganj district town, local freedom fighters celebrated the victory by holding a victory procession that marched through different roads in the town. l

Autorickshaw driver Saber was the only earning member of his six-member family having two children and wife, and his elderly parents. He became father of a baby girl, Samia, only 17 days back. The couple has a four-yearold son named Samir.

Saber was struggling to come out of poverty and remained optimistic that he would succeed, his family members say.

His father Tofail Ahmed was discharged from Chittagong Medical College Hospital on February 28. He suffered a heart attack recently.

But Saber, 28, himself was admitted to the CMCH on March 4 night as he sustained 42% burn injuries. Miscreants had hurled petrol bombs at his vehicle in Charia Madrasa area of Hathazari in Chittagong.

Fighting for life for the last six days, Saber succumbed to his injuries around 9am yesterday at the ICU of burn and plastic surgery unit, on-duty doctor Dr Mishma Islam told the Dhaka Tribune.

Saber and day labourer Ranjit Nath, 30, were critically injured in the bomb attack.

Ranjit suffered 80% burn injuries and died at the CMCH on March 6.

“My uncle used to work hard since he was the only breadwinner of the six-member family. But now he has gone beyond all sufferings,” Saber’s nephew Ashraful Alam Mamun told the Dhaka Tribune at the hospital.

Expressing concern over the fate of the children and other family members, Mamun said: “We are common people; we do not even understand politics. Now who will take charge of the family?”

Saber’s mother lost consciousness hearing about the demise of her son.

Sources at the burn unit said so far 27 persons had been admitted to the unit since the 20-party-led alliance’s blockade began enforcing blockade and hartal on January 6. Of them, three are undergoing treatment. l

No change in 14-party’s decision on political dialogue n Tribune Report The Awami League-led 14-party alliance will maintain its stand regarding the dialogue with the BNP-led 20-party alliance, said Health and Family Welfare Minister Mohammed Nasim in Dhaka yesterday.

“There will be no dialogue with razakars, killers and petrol bomb throwers. The next general elections will be held as per the schedule,” said Nasim, an AL presidium member.

Addressing a public rally organised by the 14-party alliance as chief guest, Nasim said no amount of conspiracies would benefit the BNP-Jamaat alliance.

The 14-party alliance organised the public rally “in protest of BNP-Jamaat combine’s nationwide political programmes since January 6. Split into four groups, the central leaders of the alliance joined the march in four areas on the first day of the three-day programme.

Speaking at another rally in Manikganj, Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury accused BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia of manslaughter and arson.l

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Girl’s sliced body recovered in capital n Tribune Report

Bangladesh Village Police Employees’ Union holds a human chain in front of the Jatiya Press Club in the capital yesterday demanding their inclusion in the national pay scale of the fourth-class govt employees RAJIB DHAR

Zubair murderer Raju surrenders, sent to jail n Tribune Report Rashedul Islam Raju, who was sentenced to death in absentia for the killing of Jahangirnagar University student Zubair Ahmed, has been sent to jail upon surrender.

Raju surrendered before the Speedy Trial Tribunal 4 through his lawyers around noon on Monday. Later Judge ABM Nizamul Haque sent him to jail, acting special public prosecutor of the tribunal Taslima Yasmin Dipa told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The tribunal on February 8 sentenced five activists of Bangladesh Chhatra League’s JU unit including Raju to death, awarded six others life-term imprisonment for the murder and acquitted two others.

Raju was also expelled from the universi-

ty for life. Being on bail, he remained absent from court appearance since January 23 last year. Later the tribunal cancelled his bail for threatening Zubair’s friends on the court premises. Raju was also named by two convicts in their confessional statements.

Honours final year student Zubair was beaten and stabbed indiscriminately on the campus by the convicts and their aides on January 8, 2012. He succumbed to his injuries the following day at a hospital.

According to the case, Raju and another death row convict Khandaker Ashikul Islam took Zubair to a place behind the science workshop when the victim came out of the exam hall.

After torturing him, Raju and another took Zubair to Enam Medical College Hospital at Savar and fled the scene. l

Savar gas pipeline crack yet to be fixed n Savar Correspondent The crack found in the gas pipeline on the Turag riverbed in Savar is yet to be fixed even though three days have passed since the identification of the fault.

Necessary cautionary steps have not also been taken to avert possible accidents. Thus, residents of the nearby areas have expressed grave concern and fear of an imminent accident.

The crack developed near the Bank town bridge on the Dhaka-Aricha highway when a sand-laden trawler hit the Titas gas supply line on Sunday in the afternoon. Since then, large volumes of gas have been bubbling out of the crack with immense pressure and the amount of gas supply from that line has been decreasing.

Yesterday, after an officer from the

Savar office of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company and police from Savar Model Police Station visited the incident site in the morning, an expert team was brought in from Gajipur in the afternoon. The expert team inspected the site but failed to fix the problem.

From the morning yesterday, workers of Titas have been trying to find the crack. Since the pipeline have not been fixed, all kinds of trawler movement through the area have been restricted. Also, different areas in Savar including Fulbaria, Kalinagar are facing gas supply crisis.

Manager of Titas gas office in Savar Sirajul Islam said: “The accident happened because the water level of the river went down and the trawler hit the pipeline. The incident site is being monitored closely to avert any disaster.” l

The sliced body of a girl was recovered from near Fakirapool water tank in the capital yesterday.

The identity of the victim could not be known immediately. The face was burnt by acid, police said.

Abdul Awal, sub-inspector of Matijhil police station, said they recovered body sliced into seven parts from a building in the area.

A part of the body’s leg was found on the roof of the building and other parts were found adjacent to the building, he said.

“We are searching the rest parts of the body,” he added.

Police suspect that miscreants rapped the girl before killing her. Later, they left the parts of the body in different places.

The body’s parts were sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital’s morgue for autopsy. l

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Manna hospitalised n Ashif Islam Shaon Detectives last night took Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, now on remand in a sedition case, to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for treatment as he complained of chest pain.

A team of Detective Branch of police admitted Manna to the emergency unit around 11:05pm. Following primary check-up, he was shifted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of the hospital.

Dr Tawsif, the indoor medical officer at the unit, said he had checked blood pressure of the former Awami League leader and suggested that his blood be examined.

“Decision on admitting him to the hospital will be taken once we get the test results,” he told the Dhaka Tribune last night.

On March 7, Manna was taken on 10-day fresh remand in the sedition case filed against him and BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka.

He was produced before the court on com-

pletion of his 10-day remand in another case filed for his alleged involvement in inciting the army to grab power.

On that day, Manna from the dock claimed that he had been tortured during interrogation at the DB headquarters. “I am being in-

‘Decision on admitting him to the hospital will be taken once we get the test results’ terrogated from 9am to 1:30am every day in police custody in the name of remand. On March 4, I needed four-hours of bed rest due to the torture. There is no physician inside the DB office on call...”

Manna also said: “I am afraid for my life...I might experience a cardiac arrest as I cannot tolerate the pressure. If necessary, please interrogate me at the jail gate.” l

BRTC’s burden of CNG-run buses going up n Shohel Mamun Some 41.81 per cent of CNG-run single-deck buses of Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) have gone out of services within only five years of bringing those into operation.

With the credit of Nordic Development Fund (NDF), the BRTC had bought 275 buses from China since 2010. Of those, more than 115 buses have gone out of services, though the expected longevity of the buses were 10-12 years.

Despite getting services from the vehicles, the state owned transport body has been bearing the burden of the loan’s payment, Tk 4 crore a year, to the NDF since 2011.

Of total Tk122.49 crore, the NDF provided Tk95 crore with the interest rate at 0.75 per cent and the rest amount of money provided by the govern-

ment, said BRTC Chairman Mizanur Rahman.

Sources at the BRTC said they have kept the non-functional buses parked at different depots in the capital. While, they had plied some buses irregularly because of high maintenance cost.

According a BRTC statement, the maintenance cost for the buses was Tk77 lakh against its total revenue only Tk80 lakh.

BRTC Director (Technical) Col Abdullahel Karim told the Dhaka Tribune that the maintenance works in the buses are going very slow due to lack necessary parts.

“We procured 10 per cent extra equipment while buying the buses from China. But all the equipment have been finished,” he said.

“We could not ply most of the CNG-run buses due to high maintenance cost,” he added. l

Though the Election Commission is yet to announce the election date of the split Dhaka City Corporation polls, large colourful billboards of nomination seekers can already be seen across the capital. The photos was taken at the capital’s Bijoy Nagar yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

2 arrested with 14 guns in capital n Tribune Report Police last night arrested two arms dealers from the capital’s South Keraniganj area and recovered 14 one-shooter guns from their possession.

On information, a team of police and detectives set up a check post on South Keraniganj Link Road of the Dhaka-Mawa Highway and made the arrests, OC Jamal Uddin Mir of South Keraniganj police said.

The arrestees are Mizanur Rahman, 30,

and Faruque, 32.

“During the arrest, there was a gunfight between the police and the arms dealers. Mizan was admitted to a hospital as he sustained bullet injuries,” the OC added.

Sub-Inspector of Dhaka district unit DB police Mizanur Rahman claimed that the duo had come to South Keraniganj to sell the arms.

Elite force Rapid Action Battalion on Sunday arrested three persons with large amount of explosives during separate drives in the capital. l

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

ACC to sue 3 Sonali Govt takes afforestation programme Bank officials on 6,538 hectares in coastal belt n UNB

n BSS

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) is set to file two cases against five people, including three officials of Sonali Bank, for allegedly swindling out over Tk26.5 crore from the bank.

The commission at its regular meeting yesterday decided to file the cases against them, ACC Public Relations Officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya said.

The cases will be filed against former deputy general mangers of Sonali Bank’s Narayanganj corporate branch Syed Ahmed Miji and Chowdhury Abdul Mannan, former principal officer of the same branch M Nuruzzaman, owner of M/s Siam Knit Wear Habibur Rahman and owner of the Taha Knit Concern Khandaker Harun Ur Rashid.

According to the probe report, Siam Knit Wear in collusion with the accused bank officials swindled out nearly Tk21.5 crore from Narayanganj corporate branch of Sonali Bank through 44 back-to-back LCs during February 2007 to October 2007.

Taha Knit Concern also embezzled over Tk5.2 crore from the same branch of Sonali Bank through 28 back-to-back LCs during January 2006 to September 2007. l

The government has undertaken a plan to bring 6,538 hectares of land and 621km from nine coastal districts under the social afforestation programme.

Environment and Forest Minister Anwar Hossain yesterday told Jatiya Sangsad that the aforementioned land would be brought under the social afforestation programme during the current financial year.

Youth electrocuted in Chittagong n Tribune Report A youth died after getting in contact with a high voltage wire, while pasting banner at a bill board in the city.

The deceased was identified as Titu, 28.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Pangkaj Barua of Chittagong Medical College Hospital police outpost said Titu had come in contact with the wire while he was pasting the banner at a bill board around 9:30am in Agrabad Badamtali intersection area.

Later, he was sent to CMCH where the on duty doctors declared him dead, said the ASI. l

Interdisciplinary scholar to head BUFT’s FDT n Tribune Report With the inclusion of interdisciplinary US scholar and researcher Anna Troupe as the head of the Department of Fashion and Technology, the BUFT has now grown much stronger in its efforts to reach global standards.

Troupe, based in the North Carolina State University in the USA, holds a MS degree in textile technology, specialising in product design.

Off late, she has been doing a research on the readymade garment sector in Bangladesh with special focus on comprehensive sustainability.

The BUFT accorded her a reception on March 8 on her joining the department as its head. Muzaffar U Siddique, chairman of BUFT board of trustees and Prof Dr Syed Masud Husain, vice chancellor of BUFT, were present at the reception among others. l

Replying to a question from treasury bench member Didarul Alam, he also said that the government has undertaken “Climate Resilient Participatory Afforestation and Reforestation Project” financed by Bangladesh Climate Change Resilient Fund to ensure afforestation in the coastal region.

Of the land, 2,624 hectares of land would be brought under mangrove gardening, 2,305 hectares for buffer zone garden, 135 hectares for enrichment

garden, 1,376 hectares for core zone garden, 98 hectares for non-mangrove garden, 304 kilometres for goalpata garden and 317 kilometres for strip garden, the minister said.

Anwar Hossain said that the social afforestation programme would contribute to the national economy, maintaining the balance in ecology, environment and biodiversity, and reducing risks of natural calamities and desertification. l

DT

NEWS 7

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Women’s care work still remains unvalued n Tribune Report

Women’s most of the work hours go unvalued as women work more hours in a day in terms of unpaid care work than men do, a study said.

The study found that men spend far less time in care work (1 hour) and more time in productive work (8 hours) compared to women (almost 6 hours in unpaid care work and 5 hours in productive work).

The study titled “Pattern of time use of adult women and men in rural North Bangladesh: 2013-2014”, carried out by ActionAid Bangladesh, was presented yesterday at a programme marking the Women’s Day held at

Dhaka University Senate hall.

The study was conducted in two districts – Lalmonirhat and Gaibandha – from November 2013 to October 2014.

Citing the difference of the regional scenario, it also said that women in Lalmonirhat spend on average 1.5 hours more time in care work and 0.7 hours on productive work, and 1.5 hours less time on leisure compared to women in Gaibandha.

Men in Lalmonirhat also spend more time in productive work (1 hour) compared to men in Gaibandha. However, sleep and rest time is similar for men and women.

“The findings indicate that the importance of women’s care work is very less in the fami-

lies or society,” said Simin Mahmud, the lead researcher of the study while addressing the programme.

“The unvalued care work of women should be recognised, reduced and distributed to their male counterpart for the sake of women empowerment,” she also said adding that women would get the chance to engage themselves in productive work if they could reduce the pressure of care work.

“The country’s Gross Domestic Product does not recognise the unvalued work of the society including women’s care work though it should,” said Shamsul Alam, former director of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) while addressing the programme. l

WEATHER

DRY WEATHER LIKELY WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11 TODAY SUN SETS 6:06PM

DHAKA

FORECAST FOR TODAY 32 33 33 33 33 33 34 33

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

Rival groups opened fire and blasted several crude bombs over submission of tender documents at Bidyut Bhaban in the capital’s Shahbagh yesterday. A youth was hurt in the clash.

Police said the incident took place around 11:30am, which was the last day for dropping tender for the extension work of the Tejgaon power sub-station and the Madartek sub-station costing Tk42 lakh and Tk31 lakh respec-

tively under the Dhaka Power Distribution Company.

People from Tanvir Group, Talukder Construction and Mahbub Alam Construction submitted their documents. But clashes broke out when some men from Madina Group showed up to drop the tender around 11am.

Several rounds of bullets were fired at the time. A bullet also hit the car of power division’s Additional Secretary Ahmad Kaikaus parked on the first floor of the building.

17 21 16 15 16 18 15 22

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

35.2ºC Rangamati

14.3ºC Srimangal

Source: Accuweather/UNB

Gunfight over tender submission at Bidyut Bhaban n Tribune Report

TOMORROW SUN RISES 6:11AM

During the clash two bombs were blasted in front of the vehicle pool at secretariat.

Mamun, 30, was wounded in the head while vandalising a vehicle on the Bidyut Bhaban premises.

He was admitted to Dhaka Medical College Hospital for primary treatment and was later taken to police custody.

Saidul Islam, officer in-charge of Shahbagh police station said they rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. l

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:58am 6:13am 12:09am 4:26pm 6:05pm 7:20pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

Francophone week to start tomorrow n Tribune Report A week long Francophone festival will begin tomorrow in Dhaka and Chittagong to celebrate French language and the International Organisation of La Francophonie.

The French ambassador to Bangladesh Aubert Sophie made the disclosure at a press conference in the capital’s Alliance Francaise yesterday morning. The theme of the event for 2015 is ‘le Francais, langue hospitaliere’ which means ‘French, a hospitable language.’

She said: “This year Francophone week in Bangladesh aims at celebrating the culture diversity of the Francophone community worldwide while promoting the shared values of ‘La Francophonie.’

“The seven Francophone diplomatic missions in Bangladesh along with Alliance Francaise are stepping up with several events throughout the week which include film screening, poetry, debates, magic performances, dance, gastronomy, French course etc,” she added.

The Canadian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Benoit Pierre Laramee said: “This festival is a celebration of the rich cultures and of the common values of its member nations for peace, democracy, human rights, sustainable development and solidarity that unite the members of La Francophonie.” Sophie made the announcement of the program while the ambassador of Arab Republic of Egypt Mahmoud Ezzat, deputy head of mission of Switzerland embassy Caroline Trautweiler and ambassador of Socialist Repulic of Viet Nam embassy Nguyen Quang Thuc were also present and delivered their speech at the program. l

French Ambassador to Bangladesh Aubert Sophie speaks at a press conference in Alliance Francaise yesterday morning

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

72 hrs given to remove OC of Boalia police station n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi Leaders of transport workers in Rajshahi issued threat with unidentified transport strike in western part of the country if the officer-incharge of Boalia police station Alamgir Hossain is not withdrawn within 72 hours for his alleged extortion and corruption.

Leaders issued the threat yesterday afternoon after a protest rally followed by a procession at Shiroil bus terminal in the city.

At the rally, transport workers’ leaders threaten that if the OC would not be withdrawn within 72 hours they would go on transport strike in western region for indefinite period.

Mahatab Ali, general secretary of Motor Workers’ Union said “on March 1, pro-hartal activists set two buses of Hanif Paribahan on fire. Police filed a case in this regard not specifying the name and number of the buses which is essential to get damages from government.” “When we asked for naming the buses and its number, OC Alamgir demanded Tk2 lakh as toll.”

“Even, the OC refused to file complain when we went to him for filing case but later police themselves filed a case in this regard accusing people as their wish,” Mahatab said.

Police however, intentionally made Abu Mostafa, Rajshahi bureau chief of daily Ju-

gantor as accused in the case, Mahatab added.

It is stated that Boalia police also named journalist Anu Mostafa in two other cases under explosive substance act and arson attack.

“Earlier, I reported about the alleged extortion and corruption of OC Alamgir and few others officials of Rajshahi Metropolitan Police, he named me in the cases just for revenge,” Anu said while talking to the Dhaka Tribune.

However, journalists’ leader of Rajshahi submitted a memorandum to Rajshahi district administrator addressing the state minister for home to withdraw the cases against journalist Anu Mostafa. l

DT

8 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Pit coal found in Kishoreganj riverbed n Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj Locals in Nilganj of Kishoreganj Sadar upazila are using a type of black soil found in the bed of the Narsunda River as fuel.

Masudul Hasan, associate professor of geography at Gurudayal Government College in Kishoreganj, identified the soil as pit coal.

He said the soil could be used for a range of other purposes, including organic fertiliser. “It could lead to better harvest if used as fertiliser.” The soil was found in almost two kilometres of the riverbed during the ongoing dredging.

Hundreds of men and women in Nilganj and some of the adjacent areas, including Maijkhapan, Betrahati, Hazirgal, Mahinanda and Khacharipara, collected and dried the soil in the sun.

They said the soil could easily be used as fuel for cooking while many sold the material to others after keeping some for their own use.

Marzia Akhter, who lives in Mahinanda, said she sold the soil at Tk400-500 per maund, which helped her make some additional cash for her family.

Ain Uddin, a tea seller in Nilganj, said he had found the soil to be better than firewood when used as fuel. “It burns better than firewood.”

Deputy Director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Kishoreganj Amitabh Das said the soil was meeting the local demand for fuel.

“It can be used as organic fertiliser and people can also sell it to earn some extra money,” he added. l

Locals in Nilganj of Kishoreganj Sadar upazila collect black soil from Narsunda River to use those as fuel

Madaripur farmers turning their back on betel n

Our Correspondent, Madaripur

Farmers in Madaripur are losing interest in growing betel for lack of financial assistance and not getting fair prices.

Nearly 5,000 families of the district’s betel growers are in financial hardship. Many betel farmers have switched to another crop and even changed their profession.

Many farmers who would grow betel in Shibchar now produce turmeric, eggplant, chilli, white radish, tomato, rice, jute and some other crops Increased prices of required materials has also caused farmers to stop growing betel in Madaripur, where it used to be widely grown in the seventies.

There were vast tracts of betel fields in Kalkini and Shibchar, and production was satisfactory till the eighties.

But from 1991 to 1996, production was low and fell significantly during the 1998 flood.

The farmers strove to start afresh the following year but could not make much stride because of the spiralling costs of production

materials that went up by around 200 times in the last four decades.

They also had to endure a range of adversities, including the 2007 Cyclone Sidr, that made it difficult for them to even survive.

Many farmers who would grow betel in Shibchar now produce turmeric, eggplant, chilli, white radish, tomato, rice, jute and some other crops.

Erfan Khan, who had a four-bigha betel field in Kalkini, said betel farmers get no support from the government.

“Betel is a lucrative produce but its production also involves many challenges,” he observed.

Quader and Majibur grow betel in Shibchar, and they said providing loans for a long term that come with low interests could make farmers interested in growing betel again.

“Betel farming is of course lucrative, which has convinced many farmers to stick to this crop despite a whole lot of challenges. Providing them with loans can now be a way to increase production again,” said Quader.

Abdur Razzak, deputy director of the Department of Agricultural Extension in Madaripur, said betel farming in the district is not as popular as it used to be.

“Betel is now grown in a number of areas in Kalkini and Shibchar. Farmers here are facing losses as betel coming from other districts is cheap but we will consider ways to assist them in the future,” he added. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

4 get life term for murder n Our Correspondent, Sirajganj A court yesterday in the district awarded life term to four people for killing a youth in 2009.

The convicts are Abdus Salam, 26, son of Hazrat Pramanik, Rakibul Islam, 28, son of Ayen Sarkar, Jewel Ahmed, 30, son of Sohrab Ali, and Abdul Jabbar,22, son of Yeasin Ali, of Shumadhyamarich village in Ullahpara upazila.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Fazle Khoda Najir handed down the verdict, acquitting two other accused of the case as allegations brought against

them were not proved.

The court also fined them Tk20,000 each.

They will have to serve six months more rigorous imprisonment in case they fail to pay the fine.

According to the prosecution, Hasmat Ali, a resident of the village, was slaughtered to death by the four people on December 10, 2009 over previous enmity.

Ainal Haque, father of Hasmat, filed a case with Ullahpara police station accusing six people in this connection the next day.

Later, police submitted the charge sheet against the six people. l

400 trees illegally axed; sold by UP chairman n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha Around 400 trees on both sides of the Basin Road under Kamadia Union in Gobindaganj upazila of the district were felled and sold off yesterday.

According to sources, Mosahed Chowdhury Bablu, the UP cahirman cut down the trees and sold it illegally with the help of Santosh Chandar, a local influential person, also the president of Basin Samity in the union.

Locals and the UP member Majidul Islam Putul said the chairman cut down the trees

and embezzled Tk4 lakh by selling it.

On information police went to the market in recovered 26 unsold eucalyptus trees from the spot.

When contacted, the chairman denied the allegation and said the trees were planted in 2006 by the authorities of the samity.

The samity men cut down the trees after discussing with the union parishad office, he said.

UNO Mamun-ul-Hassan said: “I have been informed the incident. Necessary steps will be taken after investigation.” l

DT

NEWS 9

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Small traders suffer the brunt of continuous blockade, hartals n Our Correspondent, Savar More than two months into the on-going blockade and hartal enforced by the BNP-led 20-party alliance, the situation seems to be getting worse for the small traders in Savar.

Lack of customers, shortage in raw materials supply and hike in the transportation fare have resulted in huge loss for these traders who operate with only a small capital.

Many businesses have been shut down due to the losses and many traders are also contemplating to close down.

The rapid growth of garments and other industries in Savar in the last few years has boosted the local economy. Many people have set up small shops to trade in ready-made garments and be self-reliant.

A visit to the multi-storey shopping malls in Savar bus stand area found many shops to be devoid of customers. And the shops that had a few customers were bound to sell products at a cheaper price.

Owner of Sinha Collection, a shop at the

City Centre shopping mall in the area, Sohel said previously he would sell products worth Tk15-20,000 a day. “But due to the blockade, I could not sell even Tk20,000 in the last two months,” he said.

“I have three employees in my shop. And it takes me about Tk40,000 per month to maintain the shop. In this situation, I am having to spend from my savings which is not much to begin with,” Sohel said with deep frustration.

The same sentiment was reiterated by other shop owners of the shopping complex.

Abdul Halim, a businessman in Savar New Market area said customers did not take risk to come for shopping due to the political violence.

Meanwhile, raw material trader Hafizur Rahman at Savar Bus Stand explained how difficult it was to bring materials from other parts of the country due to transport crisis.

“No truck owner is ready to operate their vehicles fearing arson attacks. Even if they agree, they ask for exorbitant fare. It is really

not possible for small businessmen like us to afford the high transportation cost and then not be able to sell products due to lack of customers.”

Another vegetable trader Sujon of Genda Bazar said his goods laden truck was set on fire by miscreants while coming from Bogra recently. “I am devastated. I do not know what to do now.”

If the situation continues, he said, traders like him and others would be forced to quit the business.

General Secretary of Nabinagar Bohumukhi Hawkers’ Samity, Patwari Hossain, said: “There are about 500 shops along the Dhaka-Aricha highway that sell garments products, vegetables and fruits. About 25 shops have already been closed down on the face of loss and many others are awaiting to meet the same fate.”

He urged a quick end to the political violence to save the business community and the lives of thousands of people who are dependent on them. l

Adivasi girl rapped n Our Correspondent, Khagrachari A 13-year old adivasi girl was rapped by a gang of miscreants at Nunchchari village under Dighinala upazila of Khagrachari on Monday night.

The victim, a student of class X at Babuchchara High School, was undergoing treatment at the Khagrachari Adhunik Sadar Hospital, police said.

Tighinala police station officer-in-charge M Shahadat Hossain Tito said they have arrested a man named M Shahriar Sohel, 29, on charge of his involvement in the incident.

A case was filed with the police station under the Prevention of Oppression Against Women and. Children Act 2000 in this connection, he said.

A tensed situation was prevailing in the area. Additional law enforcers have been deployed to avoid any untoward incident.

Quoting locals, police said the miscreants led by Shahriar intercepted the victim when she along with two brothers was going to attend a religious programme at Bon Bihar in the upazila on that night. Condemning the incident, Nomita Chakma, vice president of Chittagong Hill Tract Women Resources Network, demanded immediate arrested of and punishment to the culprits. l

bKash agent hacked to death n Our Correspondent, Gazipur Muggers killed a sales representative of bKash and snatched Tk2 lakh in Board Bazar area in the town yesterday.

Sources said the miscreants hacked Rabin Sarker,22, the sales representative, leaving him critically injured and snatched the money around 1.30am on the Dhaka-Mymensingh Road while he was returning his office in Chaya Bithi area after collecting money.

Hearing screams, locals rescued him and sent to local hospital where on duty doctors declared him dead.

Khandakar Rezaul Hassan, officer-incharge of Joydebpur police station confirmed the incident. l

Husband kills wife for dowry n Our Correspondent, Lakshmipur A woman was slaughtered by her husband for dowry in Kamalnagar upazila yesterday.

Police and family sources said Rasheda Akter Mukta,22, daughter of Tajul Islam of Rab Bazar area had been married off with Md Sumon at Balur Tek village under Burichang upazila of Comilla district five years back.

Quoting family members local Union Parishad member Md Mahin Uddin said, Sumon used to torture his wife Mukta for dowry after their marriage.

Sumon wanted Tk 30,000 to her few days ago. But she refused to give the money.

As a sequel to that incident, an altercation took place between Mukta and her husband.

At one stage, Sumon slaughtered Mukta and fled away.

Kamalnagar police station Officer-in-Charge Kabir Hossain confirmed the incident. l

Authorities of Rajshahi University bring out a procession on the campus yesterday celebrating the victory of Bangladesh against England in the World Cup Tournament 2015 AZAHAR UDDIN

Madhumati River losing navigability rapidly n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

The Madhumati River is losing its navigability rapidly due to excessive silt deposition on its bed since local influential people have set up tree branches and bamboos on both sides of the river in Gopalganj.

Local people river communication is seriously being disrupted as vessels often get stuck in the river. Around 50 passenger or goods vessels used to ply through the river every day two.

They fear that shoal may emerge on the riverbed if tree branches and bamboos set up

to net fish are not removed from the river immediately.

According to sources of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, after the inception of a 100MW power plant at Horidaspur in Gopalganj district town, the BIWTA had dredged 60 kilomtre areas of the river bed in 2012 to make river communication smooth.

Through the channel Padma, Meghna and Jamuna oil companies transport their furnace oil from Khulna to the district.

Samar Chakraborty, a resident of Jalirpar village in Moksudpur upazila, said people who were influential in the locality were net-

ting fish from the river through the methods.

Giasuddin Khan, owner of Rana Construction, said as branches and bamboos had been set up in many places of the river, water could not flow properly for these obstacles which was contributing to the deposition of silt.

Deputy Assistant Engineer of Water Development Board, Gopalganj told the Dhaka Tribune that they were aware of the matter.

He said: “The BIWTA will soon remove illegal structures from the river soon.

He also said it was emergency to increase the depth of water by four more feet along 60 kilometres. l

DT

10 WORLD

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Myanmar police beat students, journos, monks, detain about 100 n Reuters, Letpadan, Myanmar

Myanmar police beat students, monks and journalists with batons on Tuesday as they dispersed a protest against a proposed new education law after a standoff that lasted more than a week, a Reuters witness said.

About 100 people were detained.

Over 200 students and supporters have been protesting against an education bill they say stifles academic independence. They had planned to walk from the central city of Mandalay to the commercial hub of Yangon, but were blocked by police in Letpadan, about 140 km (90 miles) to the north of Yangon, earlier this month.

Police had said they would allow the students to continue their march on Tuesday, but that agreement fell apart. Riot police charged at the students and their supporters, chasing some into a monastery.

Both protesters and police used slingshots against each other, the witness said.

Yangon is the site of numerous student-led demonstrations, including those in 1988 that sparked a pro-democracy movement that spread throughout the country before being brutally suppressed by the military government.

A semi-civilian reformist government took power in 2011 after 49 years of military rule and its response to the current protests has been more muted.

The witness saw about 100 protesters locked in two police trucks after the police action, while others fled the town.

The Delegation of the European Union, which has been training the police in crowd

Police clash with student protesters during a protest in Letpadan yesterday management, condemned the crackdown and called for a formal investigation.

The British embassy in Myanmar also condemned the incident on its official Twitter feed.

The Interim Myanmar Press Council said it was filing a complaint, protesting “in the strongest terms against the arrest of reporters” and calling for their release, without saying how many journalists were detained.

Police and government spokesmen were not available for comment. The Information Ministry posted photos on its Facebook page showing student protesters tearing down police barricades and noted that the protesters removed them “with force.”

REUTERS

Student leaders rejected the suggestion that they had instigated the violence.

“It hurts my heart whenever they do this to us students, but for sure we will never use violence,” said Lin Htet Naing of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions.

Lin Htet Naing’s wife, a former political prisoner of the previous military regime, was among those arrested in Letpadan while he led a brief protest in Yangon on Tuesday.

About 100 protesters were met in the street in Yangon by a larger number of police who grabbed one protester and beat him. Police said they would release him if the protesters dispersed, which they did. l

Netanyahu says he sees worldwide effort to topple him

n Reuters, Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in broadcast remarks on Tuesday there was a “huge, worldwide effort” to ensure he loses next week’s closely contested election.

Army Radio, which aired what it said were comments he made on Monday to activists of his right-wing Likud party, interpreted them as referring to foreign funding for advocacy groups campaigning for a change of government in Israel.

Political parties in Israel are banned from accepting money directly from overseas donors during an election campaign. But such funding is allowed under Israeli law for non-profit organizations espousing political viewpoints, and U.S. consultants have advised Israeli candidates for years.

“It is a very tight race. Nothing is guaranteed because there is a huge, worldwide effort to topple the Likud government,” said Netanyahu, who received rousing applause in the U.S. Congress last week during a speech against a potential nuclear deal with Iran sought by the administration of President Barack Obama.

The visit came at the invitation of the Republican leadership of Congress, angering the White House and Democratic legislators.

Critics accused Netanyahu of intervening in U.S. politics, and the Republicans of trying to boost his re-election prospects.

Likud and the center-left Zionist Union are running neck-and-neck in opinion polls ahead of the March 17 ballot, with Netanyahu widely seen by political commentators as having a better chance of forming a governing coalition after the vote. l

CIA sought to hack Apple iPhones from earliest days

Infographic shows Pakistan has more nukes than India

n Reuters, Frankfurt

n Tribune Desk

CIA researchers have worked for nearly a decade to break the security protecting Apple phones and tablets, investigative news site The Intercept reported on Tuesday, citing documents obtained from NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden.

The report cites top-secret US documents that suggest US government researchers had created a version of XCode, Apple’s software application development tool, to create surveillance backdoors into programs distributed on Apple’s App Store.

The Intercept has in the past published a number of reports from documents released by whistleblower Snowden. The site’s editors include Glenn Greenwald, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his work in reporting on Snowden’s revelations, and by Oscar-winning documentary maker Laura Poitras.

It said the latest documents, which covered a period from 2006 to 2013, stop short of proving whether U.S. intelligence researchers had succeeded in breaking Apple’s encryption coding, which secures user data and communications.

Efforts to break into Apple products by government security researchers started as

early as 2006, a year before Apple introduced its first iPhone and continued through the launch of the iPad in 2010 and beyond, The Intercept said.

Breeching Apple security was part of a top-secret programme by the U.S. government, aided by British intelligence researchers, to hack “secure communications products, both foreign and domestic” including Google Android phones, it said.

Silicon Valley technology companies have in recent months sought to restore trust among consumers around the world that their products have not become tools for widespread government surveillance of citizens.

Last September, Apple strengthened encryption methods for data stored on iPhones, saying the changes meant the company no longer had any way to extract customer data on the devices, even if a government ordered it to with a search warrant. Silicon Valley rival Google Inc said shortly afterward that it also planned to increase the use of stronger encryption tools.

Both companies said the moves were aimed at protecting the privacy of users of their products and that this was partly a response to widescale US government spying on Internet users revealed by Snowden in 2013. l

Pakistan had about 120 atomic weapons, 10 more than India, in its nuclear arsenal last year, according to a new interactive infographic unveiled by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.

Designed by the Bulletin, founded in 1945

by University of Chicago scientists who had helped develop the first atomic weapons in the Manhattan Project, the infographic tracks the number and history of nuclear weapons in the nine nuclear weapon states.

The Nuclear Notebook Interactive Infographic provides a visual representation of the Bulletin’s famed Nuclear Notebook,

which since 1987 has tracked the number and type of the world’s nuclear arsenals.

Having reached a peak of over 65,000 in the late 1980s, the number of nuclear warheads has dropped significantly to a little over 10,000, but more countries now possess them, it shows.

According to the infographic, the United States and Russia both have about 5,000 weapons each.

France has 300, China 250, the United Kingdom 225 and Israel 80. North Korea has only conducted nuclear tests in 2006, 2009 and 2013. l

DT

WORLD 11

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Iran says GOP letter suggests US is not trustworthy

Sole witness of Delhi bus gang-rape calls BBC documentary fake

n Tribune Desk

n AP, Tehran Iran’s foreign minister said yesterday a letter from U.S. Republican lawmakers warning that any nuclear deal could be scrapped once President Barack Obama leaves office suggests the United States is “not trustworthy.”

“This kind of communication is unprecedented and undiplomatic,” Mohammed Javad Zarif was quoted as saying by a state-run TV website. “In fact it implies that the United States is not trustworthy,” he added.

Zarif linked the letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress last week, in which the Israeli leader argued against the emerging agreement. “A propaganda campaign has begun with Netanyahu’s speech before Congress and this is their second ploy,” Zarif said. “While there is still no agreement, a group is commenting on its nature.” l

A demonstrator holds a sign during a rally near the Israeli Consulate in New York on March 3

KP govt fines Qatari prince Rs80,000 for illegal falcon hunting

Nine new dwarf galaxies found orbiting Milky Way

A Qatari prince was fined 80,000 Pakistani rupees by the state government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistani after he was caught with three falcons in Dera Ismail Khan.

Gulf Arab royals taking over large swathes of territory in Pakistan to hunt the vulnerable species are not something new. Even the federal government issues special permits to members of royal families of the Gulf States to allow them to hunt the protected species, including houbara bustard.

Government for the first time has informed the permit holders that Pakistan will “observe a moratorium on hunting during the 2014-15 season to replenish houbara bustard stocks,” but conservationists keeping in view the power and influence of petrodollars are sceptical.

During the hunting season, royal families from Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia come to Balochistan’s Dalbandin, Chaghi and other areas for the purpose of hunting.

The royal family have cemented good ties with influential people in the areas for hunting houbara and other birds. l

n Tribune Desk

n Tribune desk

A team of astronomers from the University of Cambridge have identified nine new dwarf galaxies orbiting the Milky Way, the largest number ever discovered at once, according to a Cambridge statement. The new satellites were found in the southern hemisphere near the Large and Small Magellanic Cloud, the largest and most well-known dwarf galaxies in the Milky Way’s orbit.

“The discovery of so many satellites in such a small area of the sky was completely unexpected,” said Dr Sergey Koposov of Cambridge’s Institute of Astronomy, the study’s lead author. “I could not believe my eyes.”

The newly discovered objects are a billion times dimmer than the Milky Way, and a million times less massive. The closest is about 95,000 light years away, while the most distant is more than a million light years away.

According to the Cambridge team, three of the discovered objects are definite dwarf galaxies, while others could be either dwarf

REUTERS

galaxies or globular clusters - objects with similar visible properties to dwarf galaxies, but not held together with dark matter.

Dwarf galaxies are the smallest galaxy structures observed, the faintest of which contain just 5000 stars. The Milky Way, in contrast, contains hundreds of billions of stars.

Standard cosmological models of the universe predict the existence of hundreds of dwarf galaxies in orbit around the Milky Way, but their dimness and small size makes them incredibly difficult to find, even in our own “backyard.”

Since they contain up to 99 percent dark matter and just one percent observable matter, dwarf galaxies are ideal for testing whether existing dark matter models are correct.

Dark matter - which makes up 25% of all matter and energy in our universe - is invisible, and only makes its presence known through its gravitational pull.

“Dwarf satellites are the final frontier for testing our theories of dark matter,” said Dr Vasily Belokurov of the Institute of Astronomy, one of the study’s co-authors. l

US envoy released from Seoul hospital after knife attack n AFP, Seoul

The US ambassador to South Korea left hospital yesterday following treatment for a knife attack, saying the incident was “scary” but would not change his “open and friendly” approach to the job.

Mark Lippert, 42, underwent surgery to treat deep gashes to his cheek and hand after he was slashed by a knife-wielding nationalist at a breakfast function in central Seoul last Thursday.

Hospital officials said that after five days of treatment the US diplomat had now had all 80 stitches from his face removed and the pain in his left wrist had subsided.

“I feel pretty darn good, all things considered,” a smiling Lippert said before he was discharged, speaking to journalists with part of his face covered with clear adhesive bandages.

“It was obviously a scary incident but I am walking, talking, holding my baby, hugging my wife. So I just feel really good,” the new father said, adding he would get back to work

“as soon as possible.”

Lippert, whose popularity among South Koreans has only grown since the attack, expressed gratitude at the “outpouring of support” he and his family have received.

“We have made it our mission to be open and friendly. And that will not change,” he said.

“The bottom line is that this incident has only strengthened our love and affection for this country and our belief in the unbreakable bond that exists between the United States and the Republic of Korea.” l

Awindra Pandey – the sole witness of the Dec 2012 savage gang-rape of a 23-year-old physiotherapist in New Delhi — has called British filmmaker Leslee Udwin’s documentary “India’s Daughter” on the murder and assault “fake,” said a report published on IBN Live.

Pandey, who was a friend of the victim, has supported the central government’s decision to ban “India’s Daughter” which features a controversial interview with one of the convicts, Mukesh Singh.

According to the IBN Live report, he termed Udwin’s handling of the issue as insensitive.

“The documentary is unbalanced as the victim’s viewpoint is missing. The facts are hidden and the content is fake. Only Nirbhaya and I know what happened on that night and the documentary is far from the truth,” said Pandey who had fought with the rapists to save his friend, but was overpowered and beaten brutally.

Earlier last week, India obtained a court order banning the film, which included the interview with Singh, on the grounds that it risked fueling public anger. l

Report: Jihadi John apologises to family, but not for beheadings

n Agencies The Islamic State’s most notorious executioner “Jihadi John,” who has now been identified as Mohammed Emwazi, has apologised to his family for bringing shame on them, according to a report published in Sunday Times. Emwazi, however, expressed no regret for murdering western hostages, the report said.

Reports that Emwazi was born on their soil have stirred deep unease among Kuwaitis about the vulnerability of their country to wars in nearby Iraq and Syria in which some of their Arab allies have become combatants.

Emwazi expressed remorse for the “problems and trouble the revelation of his identity has caused”. He is believed to have sent his apology via a third party from Syria to his family members, who have been told by MPs of their country to publicly distance themselves from Emwazi.

Emwazi’s father, Jasem, who has fled to Kuwait, was reported to have called his son a “terrorist” and “dog” last week. Yet he appeared to have backtracked from these remarks, questioning whether his son was in fact “Jihadi John” as there is “no proof,” a report said.

The identification of Emwazi as the masked man wielding a knife over western hostages gives potential recruits a high profile personality with whom to identify and Kuwait’s role supporting the US-led fight against Islamic State only increases the appeal for those who feel alienated at home.

Meanwhile, two charities have stopped funding a rights group in contact with Emwazi before he left for Syria, UK charities regulator has said.

Rights group Cage describes its work as supporting people arrested or raided as a result of the “war on terror” following the 9/11 attacks in 2001. It worked with Emwazi for over two years and, when he was identified by the Washington Post as “Jihadi John” last month, its research director blamed British intelligence for radicalising him. l

DT

12 EDITORIAL

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Co-ordinate action to stop hostage takers

T

he government must give the highest priority to ensuring the safety of Helal Uddin and Mohammad Anowar Hossain, the Bangladeshi oil workers who have been abducted by IS affiliated militants in Libya.

We share the shock and concern of their families in learning that the kidnappers beheaded eight Libyan security guards before abducting them and several other foreign nationals on Friday. The abducted persons and murdered guards are all employees of the Austrian-owned oilfield management company VAOS. All available support must be given to help the Bangladeshi embassy locate the hostages and assist their families.

Bangladeshi authorities need to communicate closely with the governments of Austria, Czech Republic, Ghana, and the Philippines, all of whom have had citizens seized, in addition to working with the Libyan government.

The peril faced by the hostages is very high. In the last two months alone, IS militants in Libya have been responsible for killing large numbers of people and boasting about the barbaric beheadings of kidnapped Egyptian Christians.

The vicious violence and nihilistic nature of such groups is a danger to many countries in the Middle East. Libya’s own internationally recognised government was forced to relocate from Tripoli last summer following escalating violence by myriad armed groups and militias.

At the end of 2013, it was estimated there were 50,000 Bangladeshis working in Libya. Our government should support appropriate efforts by the international community to end the violence there, so no more people fall prey to hostage-taking.

Work with the international community to ensure safety of Bangladeshis in Libya

Free KEPZ from interference

W

e are concerned that the Korean Export Processing Zone (KEPZ) in Chittagong is being undermined by land-grabbers and that this is hampering investment at the site.

The government must act firmly to support the KEPZ in evicting the local influential people who have grabbed parts of its site. There is no excuse for the long delays by the district administration and police in helping KEPZ retrieve land which has been encroached and occupied by land-grabbers. The delays are deterring investors and holding back the zone from developing further.

Since 1999, the KEPZ has fully developed around a third of the 2,500 acre site. There are now 22 different factory buildings and industries supported by 24km of roads, employing many thousands of local workers.

Under the master-plan, the zone expects to be able to provide jobs to at least 100,000 local people when fully implemented. The next crucial stage of development, which plans to take employment levels over 50,000 within two years, is being put in jeopardy by the failure to sort out the land-grabbing problem.

Major manufacturers with factories at the site, such as Youngone, are unable to expand or invest further without legal settlement of land issues.

The government has not helped matters by raising speculation last year that it might transfer some of the yet-to-be developed land.

EPZs are a vital plank of national policies to attract investment and create industrial jobs. They must be supported in their efforts to expand free from bureaucratic interference and the activities of land-grabbers.

Protect EPZs from landgrabbers

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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Can the Jummas of Bangladesh speak?

February 17

Osmania The government’s actions in CHT are racist.

No worse, they are a) Stupid as they are undermining AL’s own achievement in getting an Accord, and b) Relying on people to be apathetic towards the rights of a non-Muslim community.

Shams Al-Majhi “AL’s own achievement in getting an Accord”

-- you can’t coast forever on 18-year-old achievements. AL’s record in the actual implementation of accord is less than zero.

Osmania Shams Al-Majhi: Oh, I agree with you absolutely. They’re not even pretending to be implementing it properly. BNP and CTG during 1/11 were just as bad of course. Its a horrible situation.

DT BARI scientist invents safeguard against petrol bomb attacks

February 21 Romel Ahmed Police-cordoned buses are attacked. This fact has proven who the arsons are. Casualties can be prevented only if police don’t do this.

Foreign Ministry issues corrective statement

February 20 Bak Karim Does Shahriar care? Nope … as long as he can serve his leader he knows nothing will touch him.

Romel Ahmed Public apology and suspension of the liar Shahriar Slam is appropriate.

Bak Karim Looks like Dipu Moni is still there to give her expert opinion!

Rahman Sadiqur Good job.

Maya urges Khaleda to shun violence February 21

Mohiuddin Ahmed Shoikat Why did they inspire the opposite to incite anarchy? We want peace among our two political parties. We are all Bangladeshi, lets love each other! Please come forward and save democracy and the right to vote of the common man.

‘Remove Khaleda’s office from diplomatic zone’ February 16

M Sirajullah Diplomatic zones are, as we understand, is for diplomatic missions who get special treatment in any country. It should be illegal to set-up residences or offices in that zone by anyone and any non-diplomatic organisations. Only offices should be allowed there. No political party or person should be allowed to have their offices in such zones.

We urge the government to look into it and kindly follow the rules. Nobody should be above the law.

The importance of climate change knowledge February 16

Fran Rametta If we don’t support scientific knowledge, then what other knowledge do we support -wishes, dreams, fantasies, whimsy, fairytales?

PM pitches Anisul Huq for Dhaka North mayoral race February 16

Murshidabadi Dalal FBCCI veteran Abdul Awal Mintoo was AL’s bussiness community favourite for that post in the last decade, before he became BNP’s favourite for that post. There are many powerful and well-known business community members from Beximco to Bashundhara to Jamuna to Transcom to Rangs who can pitch a candidate for that post.

To those leaders of the business community, Anisul Haque is no more than a peanut.

Besides, that the political wing of the AL with Maya, Saber Chowdhury, and others, will never accept Anisul Haque as a candidate.

DT

OPINION 13

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Between power and hallucination n MJ Akbar

P

Waltzing with destiny n Shayan S Khan

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ell of course, the whole secret is that it isn’t -- as much as some of the headline-writers around the world, drenched in the same ol’ hyperbole, would have you believe -- that much of a surprise, or shock, certainly. Followers of the Bangladesh team have long had their eye on this fixture, as our best bet to rattle the cage in this World Cup. I’ll do a tennis analogy. For Mashrafe’s men -- and that is a description harder won than Tigers -- while wins against Afghanistan and Scotland could count as holding serve, wins against the Test playing nations would count as breaking your opponent’s serve.

Going into the tournament, we knew we needed to break serve at least once to make the QFs. Looking at our options, there’s no doubt England were the ones we relished most. New Zealand were clearly out of that phase where we’d grown used to bullying them for a while.

Sri Lanka accord us a certain respect that ensures they hardly ever lose. Australia weren’t going to give us anything. England, we had even broken them before on that manic night in Chittagong four years ago. To borrow a phrase: We fancied our chances against ol’ Blighty.

Never mind that four years ago, even though the game against England was again our penultimate fixture of the group phase, it was too little too late. We’d already blown it against Ireland and the West Indies, definitive travesties in our cricketing lore.

Before even gathering destiny in our hands, twice we managed to drop it. This time around, having watched us impress with Lady Luck on the dancefloor, Destiny wanted to jive. One more time. And there was England, poor in one-day cricket, and out of form, out of sorts.

England, of the MCC and all that history.

Hopeless against spin, and led by an Irishman (as well as, must be said, this year outshone by the Irishmen!). Zadran and co. might hand it to them as well in their last game. But for us to depend on that would have been opportunism.

Fair play in sport. Yet nations traverse untold epochs along their journey in cricket.

Getting to the stage where you prove your destiny is safest in your own hands is the

cardinal signal that you’ve come of age.

And such sure hands they were, in Adelaide last night (ok Tamim, forget it). In the event, it was the fast, zippy triumvirate of Rubel, Taskin and the lion-hearted Mashrafe that made the difference. The way they fed off each other and believed in themselves, the way they celebrated each others’ wickets.

Mashrafe is by some way the leader of the pack, but with Rubel conjuring up thunderbolts, the captain kept building him up -- including the pointed emphasis in the post-match interview. The way Mushfiqur celebrated Mahmudullah’s hundred. What unencumbered joy one can share in at the apparent success of others!

Mushy’s the real beauty in this side, that brain of his constantly ticking. He knew the significance of Mahmudullah reaching that three-figure mark

Of course Mushfiqur had owned it too, by sending his number 4 (I later learned they’re brothers-in-law!) back just the previous delivery from a suicidal dash down the pitch after hitting it straight to mid-wicket.

Mushy’s the real beauty in this side, that brain of his constantly ticking. He knew the significance of Mahmudullah reaching that three-figure mark -- the first hundred by a Bangladeshi batsman in five World Cups.

He had played well enough for it, having arrived at the crease almost three hours ago with his team wobbling. He showed maturity and guile, enough gumption to charge down at a fast bowler, and then finding it dropped short, hook him for six. Giving it away at that point would have been a shame not worthy.

Epics don’t have the wrong ending. They are waltzes with destiny. l Shayan S Khan is Executive Editor of the Dhaka Courier, and teaches Media and Politics at JU.

ower without responsibility is about as close to political nirvana as you can get.

What could be more enchanting than pure escapism? Although one high-profile example seems to be hidden in plain view, the fact is that this is rare in a democracy like India’s. Politicians are in the business of seeking power, but they also know that the privilege of office comes attached with a sharp-edged metal string called accountability.

A second syndrome is more familiar. Some politicians abjure responsibility when they feel the proffered job is beneath their sense of themselves; that they are meant for a higher calling, and there is little point in taking life in a waiting room too seriously. This seems to be the case with Delhi’s truculent Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Delhi is below his dignity. In his eyes, a Delhi CM is nothing more than a glorified chairman of a municipality, and hence good enough for a deputy like Manish Sisodia, while the supreme leader rests his lungs and prepares himself for the only position worthy of self-esteem: As head of a potential coalition that will challenge NDA in the next general elections. Whoever questions this presumption must be shown the door.

Prashant Bhushan and Yogendra Yadav are the most senior colleagues of Kejriwal in the Aam Aadmi Party. Kejriwal was the proverbial first among equals only as long as this equation served Kejriwal’s strategic purpose.

That tolerance ended with victory in the Delhi Assembly elections.

But there is a more subtle point involved.

Bhushan and Yadav did more than add heft to collective leadership: They interfered with Kejriwal’s desire to project himself as the sole source as well as guardian of integrity. This, after all, is going to be the basis of Kejriwal’s claim for higher reward. As long as Bhushan and Yadav remain within the spotlight, he has to share the glory. Kejriwal began the process of downgrading competitive colleagues the moment he won the elections.

Bhushan and Yadav have raised queries that will not disappear from public discourse.

Their charge against Kejriwal is framed around autocracy as well as integrity. Kejriwal might have been able to live with the first, but not the second. When Bhushan and Yadav questioned the manner in which four cheques of Rs500,000 each were accepted by the party though they seemed dubious, if not blatantly fraudulent, in character, they were undermining the very foundation of Kejriwal’s claimed aura.

When they asked why Kejriwal had not disowned an MLA who distributed vast amounts of alcohol to woo voters, much in the style of a movie don, they were accusing Kejriwal of being just another politician ready to compromise. They opened the cupboard, and skeletons came tumbling out with unseemly hurry.

The temptation to condemn Bhushan and Yadav as conspirators is evident. The problem is that Prashant Bhushan is not, by temperament, a pirate, and so piracy or conspiracy is not quite in his nature. Nor does he seem anxious to replace Kejriwal.

All that he and Yadav want is that their party be run on the principles that have propelled it thus far, including collective leadership. If they had been conspirators, they would have tried to sabotage the Delhi results by raising such questions during the campaign.

Ironically, Kejriwal’s support within AAP comes only from the Delhi group. The irony is that Kejriwal will need the others for his lofty national ambitions.

Will this faze Kejriwal? Not immediately.

His next big step will probably be to resign as Chief Minister of Delhi when he thinks the time has come to swerve, and let Sisodia take over. Naturally, he will choose to do so over some claim of high principle. He needs to be careful, though.

The memory of self-promotional dramatics during his first spell as CM is now subdued, but it has not entirely vanished.

That is a lurking ghost which might reappear when he wants it least in the room.

When your brand is associated with mercury, you have to tread with greater care.

Mercury falls as easily as it rises. Kejriwal does not have any history of successful administration to use as a safety blanket. If he is exposed again, there will be no cover. When mature colleagues dissent, they do so with some aforethought. Once an accusation is made, it cannot be wished away into silence.

There is at least one instance of high drama leading to high success: When Vishwanath Pratap Singh became Prime Minister in 1989. He did not have much of a political party, although as a leader from Uttar Pradesh, his core realm was much stronger. But drama is not a glue that can hold a government together, as India realised by 1990. A quarter century later, the voter has also become far more demanding. There is no substitute for delivery. All else is hallucination. l MJ Akbar is an Indian journalist. He is the founder of The Sunday Guardian. This article was first published in The Sunday Guardian.

REUTERS

DT

14 OPINION

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

REUTERS

What it means to win n Toffael Rashid

E

ver since ex British minister Norman Tebbitt MP stated that immigrants in the UK who support their native countries rather than England in sport failed to be integrated enough into the United Kingdom test, England vs Bangladesh has posed for me a serious problem: I am a British citizen by birth and have proud, culturally passionate Bangladeshi parents.

And yet, every single time I have been posed this challenge down the years, I have sided with Bangladesh and this game was no different.

One could claim that victory against the coloniser is the sweetest of sporting experiences, and yet Bangladesh has beaten England in cricket three out of the last four matches. It’s a feeling I’ve gotten used to. But to beat England in a knock-out contest, to ensure qualification to the quarter-final whilst crashing England out of the tournament has to be Bangladesh’s greatest achievement in its short international cricket history.

This victory was equally important because it would challenge the perceptions of so many around the world. Because no matter what the previous perception was, right now, everybody in England must recognise they were inferior to Bangladesh at cricket. The knock on effect being, that as a nation, we are better than we were before.

As a British-Bangladeshi citizen, for once, I can pronounce the Bangladeshi part of that identity with both superiority as well as pride.

This victory was special for several reasons. Bangladesh has been recognised by international cricket as a talented team, hence the test status, but all too often the team is reckless, lacks concentration, and easily cracks under the faintest of pressures. It’s a caricature that is indicative of all Bangladeshis, and something I have noticed consistently in the 18 months I have lived and worked in my motherland.

Having lived all over the world, I genuinely believe that young Bangladeshis are as talented as young people in any other country. I’ve noticed that in business, advertising, music, art, and many other professions including cricket: In terms of raw talent, the potential is there.

However, for a complex set of reasons, young people do not fulfil that potential inside Bangladesh and many have to leave for Western nations to perform at their full capacity. But this time, a team of Bangladeshis trained and produced in Bangladesh convincingly beat England.

They were thoroughly tested – technically, tactically, and psychologically – and succeeded the thorough investigation. Most pleasing was that despite Tamim and Shakib failing with the bat, the middle order took responsibility and retained its concentration to rebuild the innings and post a significant score.

Normally, Bangladesh would have panicked in these situations and been all out for less than 200, and yet on this occasion, they had the mental strength

to post 275. During England’s innings, the bowlers were put under significant pressure and with less than 20 overs left, England were in the driving seat. And yet captain Mashrafe ensured his bowlers stayed focused and retained confidence.

If we can beat England at cricket, surely we can beat them at many other things too – education, business, human rights

In the last phase of the game when England required 24 from 16 balls, Bangladeshi bowlers would normally have cracked. But under such intense pressure, Rubel won the match for Bangladesh by retaining his nerve with some amazing stump-to-stump bowling.

Make no mistake – this victory is a seminal moment in Bangladesh’s cricket history. It demonstrates that in a huge match, without any freak circumstances, they have the ability and mental fortitude to beat teams

far better than them.

This victory bore evidence of the enormous progress Bangladesh has made as a nation since its bloody birth in 1971. Once upon a time, the arrogant Henry Kissinger referred to Bangladesh as “a basket case” and yet here we are, knocking out England in the cricket World Cup, beating tough humanitarian development targets set by the United Nations, its citizens winning awards like Nobel prizes, being the second largest exporter of garments in the world; a society being transformed by digital technology and urbanisation and consistently delivering GDP growth ahead of all its neighbour and competitor countries.

I’m really going to enjoy the Bangladeshi part of my identity for the next few days.

Bask in the reflected glory our cricketers provided every one of us. Because I believe their achievement is indicative of so many success stories within Bangladeshi society today.

Most of all, I hope that the citizens of this country inspire themselves with this victory.

That we identify the traits of discipline, consistency, and concentration and add that to the natural talents that so many possess.

If we can beat England at cricket, surely we can beat them at many other things too – education, business, human rights included. Let's make this victory inspire the nation onto the next stage. l Toffael Rashid is a global marketing professional.

Inflation up in Feb after 6 months due to supply chain disruption n Kayes Sohel Higher costs of both the food and nonfood items due to supply chain disruption pushed up inflation marginally in last month, ending its falling streak over the last six consecutive months, reveals official data.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, inflation rose slightly to 6.14% in February, which was 6.04% in January and highest since November last.

Analysts observed that uneven food and non-food prices in rural and urban areas caused due to the supply chain disruption, which has led to increase the inflation but it was not a matter of concern as yet.

“Slight rise in the inflation is not surprising but it (inflation) did not go up much high that could be a matter on concern,” said Mirza Azizul Islam, former finance adviser Mirza Azizul Islam.

The main driving force of the surge in inflation was uneven prices in different areas hit by the political violence, he said.

He, however, said, “Although this is not a matter of concern for us till now, if this trend continued, I think at the end of the fiscal year, the inflation will be ended up around 6%.”

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The country has been suffering from the renewed political unrest since January 5 this year centering the national polls.

Overall food inflation stood at 6.11% in February from 6.07% in January, according the BBS data. During the period, non-food inflation was also up 6.20% from 6.01%.

In urban area, inflation rate in February was 6.62%, which was 6.48% in January and in rural area, it rose to 5.89% from 5.81% during the period.

During the same period, in urban area, food inflation surged 7.02% from 6.69% but in rural areas, it dropped 5.72% from 5.79%.

“Higher food inflation in urban area and lower food inflation in rural areas clearly indicates the supply chain disruption of goods,” said Islam.

According to the monetary policy statement released in January, progress in bringing annual average CPI inflation down from 7.35% at the beginning of fiscal year 2015 to 6.5% by June 2015 is broadly satisfactory, with 6.99% level by close of the first half of fiscal year 2015.

The fiscal inflation target announced in the budget is 6.5%. l

19

Stocks mark modest gain

20

Alliance plans low-cost loans for RMG makers

85000 76250 Budget Revised Actual

58750 50000 41250 32500 23750 15000

FY07

FY08

FY09

FY10

FY11

FY12

FY13

FY14

FY15

ADP cut by 6.62% n Kayes Sohel

A 6.62% budgetary reduction has been made in the revised annual development spending for the current fiscal year with the allocation cutting to Tk75,000 crore from Tk80,315 crore.

Analysts say the revised target was traditionally ambitious and this huge reduction might bring negative impact on gross domestic product which was set at 7.3% in the fiscal.

Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal announced the revised ADP yesterday after a meeting of National Economic Council, the top economic policy-making body, at the NEC conference room yesterday.

“Planning Commission proposed a Tk72,000 crore as revised ADP from the original allocation. However, Prime Minister provided additional Tk3,000 crore. With this additional amount, the final revised ADP now stands at Tk75,000 crore,” he said.

Mustafa Kamal added that the Prime Minister had approved the additional allocation considering the demand of different ministries, which would come from the national exchequer.

Policy Research Institute executive director Ahsan H Mansur said: “This is a huge cut, which is 0.67% of total GDP. It might cast an adverse impact on the GDP growth.”

He said higher than expected revenue shortfall due to political hostilities might put pressure on the budget implementation.

Former finance adviser to caretaker government Mirza Azizul Islam, however, said it might have no real impact on the GDP, as “size does not matter.”

“But historically, it will be hard to implement as it was overambitious.”

Out of the total revised ADP, the government would provide Tk50,100 crore from its own exchequer and the remaining Tk24,900 crore would come as foreign aid.

In the original ADP, the fund allocations from the government’s own resources was Tk52,614 crore and from the foreign assistance it was Tk27,700 crore.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

FSIB restricted to offer cash dividend

IMF: Political unrest to affect long-term investment prospect n Tribune Report

ADP EXPENDITURE IN CRORE TAKA 67500

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DT

Business

15

Power division and ministries of LGRD, Water Resources, Defence, CHT Affairs, Education, Road Transport and Bridges, Health, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and Home got higher allocation.

According to the revised ADP, the transport sector bagged highest allocation of Tk17,041 crore as the government has given the highest priority in this sector.

It was followed by education with Tk8,662 crore, power sector Tk7,924 crore, rural development and rural institution Tk6,982 crore, infrastructure planning, water supply and housing sector Tk6,838 crore, and health, nutrition, population and family welfare Tk4,741 crore in the RADP. The government has also kept aside Tk1,099 crore as “block allocations” at the Tk75,000 crore revised ADP for financing the development works in the special requirement.

The revised ADP has included 1,204 projects where 1,014 are investment projects, 169 technical assistance project and 21 Japan Debt Cancellation Fund-supported projects. In the original ADP, the number of project was 1,047.

The development spending for upgrading living standard of the people stood at 38% in the first eight months ( July-February) of the current fiscal year.

In the first eight months of the fiscal the ADP spending marked 38% compared to 36% a year ago.

According to the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED), the government implementing agencies have spent only Tk30,898 crore out of original ADP of Tk80,315 crore. In the same period a year ago, it was 36% of the Tk65,872 crore.

“Many were skeptic about the ADP utlisation due to the current political turmoil. But the implementation status is excellent,” said the planning minister. l

International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said the resurgence of the political unrest since January this year will cast a negative impact on the country’s long-term investment prospect.

Although the country’s economy gathered momentum in the first half of the current fiscal year, the second half didn’t begin well with the political unrest taking a toll on the economy and hurting growth and long-term investment prospects, said visiting IMF Mission at a press conference yesterday.

“We hope the GDP growth will be 6.1% in the current fiscal year, but it depends on a stable political situation. Bad political situation is taking a toll on the economy,” said Rodrigo Cubero, head of visiting IMF Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme review team.

The release of the final two tranches of the ECF programme, worth around $280m, is now under the review of the IMF mission which will see if the conditions of the release of the fifth tranche have been met.

The team is considering impacts of the political unrest on the country’s economy, reduction of domestic fuel oil price and taking of another IMF credit.

Rodrigo Cubero, Deputy Division Chief of IMF in the Asia and Pacific Department, also said there was a direct impact on the country’s service, transportation, and agriculture sectors along with an indirect impact on several other sectors.

“We hope the GDP growth of the country will hover around 6% to 6.1% in the current fiscal year which definitely relies on political stability.” In his last budget speech, Finance Minister AMA Muhith announced the GDP growth would be 7.3%.

In the written speech, Rodriago said the inflation had eased with low food prices, but the market faced supply chain disruptions.

The external current account is expected to shift to a deficit on the heels of strong import growth and moderation in export while the foreign exchange reserves have continued to increase, he stated. l

DT

16 BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

China February consumer inflation rebounds n Reuters, Beijing The pace of Chinese inflation unexpectedly picked up in February, but producer prices continued to slide, underscoring the intense pressure on profit margins at Chinese companies and adding urgency to policymakers’ efforts to find new ways to support growth.

The producer price index (PPI) declined 4.8% in February, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday - the most negative reading posted since Oct 2009 - extending a long-running factory deflation cycle that began in 2012 to nearly three years.

Economists and policymakers worry that the risk of deflation is rising for the world’s second-largest economy, as drag from a property market downturn and widespread factory overcapacity is compounded by an uncertain global outlook and soft commodity prices.

China’s statistics bureau attributed the 1.4% rise in consumer prices to higher costs for vegetables and fruit, while the decline in PPI - which analysts had expected to come in at minus 4.3% - was blamed on sliding prices for global commodities, in particular energy, which have undermined profitability at China’s industrial heavyweights.

“February’s seasonal pick-up in food inflation will likely prove short-lived and we still expect inflation to fall back below 1% in coming months,” wrote Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics in Singapore. “Nonetheless, today’s inflation data suggest that downward

China’s international payments system ready, could launch by year-end n Reuters, Hong Kong A long-awaited China International Payment System (CIPS) that would facilitate international usage of the yuan is ready and may be launched as early as September or October, three sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters.

The system, which would be a worldwide payments superhighway for the yuan CHN= CNY=CFXS, will replace a patchwork of networks and allow hassle-free renminbi transactions, greatly boosting the internationalization of the Chinese currency.

“The CIPS is ready now and China has selected 20 banks to do the testing, among which 13 banks are Chinese banks and the rest are subsidiaries of foreign banks,” said a senior banking source who is involved in the matter.

“The official launch will be in September or October, depending on the results of the testings and preparation,” the source said.

A second source with direct knowledge of the matter said authorities are striving to launch the first phase of CIPS before December.

“It’s not a plan but we are trying our best to have the first phase (of CIPS) online before the end of this year,” said the source, who declined to be named because he is not authorized to speak to the media.

“If it’s all smooth, (the launch) will be in September or October. If there is a need for a bit more time, we are still confident about (rolling it out) before the year-end,” he said. l

A customer selects products at a supermarket in Shanghai pressure on broader prices has begun to ease.”

But some economists questioned the significance of the price rise, saying it was disappointing in the context of Lunar New Year, and noted there was no significant increase in the price of pork, which usually rises around the week-long festival.

Annual changes in China’s consumer prices will remain positive in the foreseeable future,

REUTERS

the Shanghai Securities News on Tuesday quoted vice central bank governor Yi Gang as saying, while economists note the structure of consumer inflation is changing, showing rising costs for services, clothing, healthcare and recreation instead of residential inflation, which slowed to 0.6%.

“We continue to expect inflation to remain relatively low and still see disinflationary pres-

NEWS IN BRIEF China inflation jumps but worries endure China’s consumer inflation rebounded in February from a more-than-five-year low, official data showed yesterday, but a plunge in factory gate prices added to persistent concerns about deflation in the world’s second-largest economy. The 1.4% increase in the consumer price index (CPI) compared with a gain of 0.8 percent in January, according to National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) figures. The result, which exceeded the median forecast for a 1% gain in a survey of analysts by Bloomberg News, came largely due to higher prices for food and services surrounding China’s annual Lunar New year holiday, which economists largely saw as a one-off. In contrast the producer price index (PPI) - a measure of costs for goods at the factory gate and a leading indicator of the trend for CPI - declined for the 36th straight month in February.

– AFP

Indian factory growth likely slowed in Jan, inflation to stay muted

Indian factory growth probably lost more momentum in January while inflation remained below the Reserve Bank of India’s target last month, bolstering chances of further interest rate cuts, a Reuters poll found. The median forecast from the survey of 24 economists showed annual growth in industrial output slowed to 0.65% in January from December’s 1.70%, its second straight month of easing. “We are still stuck in a bit of a rut of having got out of the bottom but still trying to meaningfully escape or hit a sustainable recovery.

We are looking at a muddle-through kind of scenario,” said Jyotinder Kaur, principal economist at HDFC Bank. In his first full-year budget on Feb. 28, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced several initiatives to boost India’s industrial sector, particularly infrastructure. However, none of those announcements will have any effect unless they are implemented. And that could be a tough task since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party does not hold a majority in the Rajya Sabha.

According to Kaur, key drivers of industrial production such as auto sales and exports foretell a disappointing outlook for industrial growth. Retail inflation was also probably subdued in February.

The poll median showed inflation edged up to 5.2% last month from January’s 5.11% on higher food prices. Predictions for wholesale prices turned more negative as oil prices remained low.

Having already sunk to a more than five-year low of -0.39% in January, the poll predicted a further decline to -0.7% last month.

– Reuters

Oil prices mixed in Asian trade Oil prices were mixed in Asia yesterday as dealers weighed a strengthening US dollar with ongoing geopolitical tensions in the crude-rich Middle East, analysts said. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate gained one cent to $50.01 while Brent eased eight cents to $58.45. Singapore’s United Overseas Bank said oil remained under pressure as a stronger US dollar was “offsetting geopolitical tensions and the threat of output cuts in Libya and Iraq”. The greenback has soared after Friday’s upbeat US jobs report for February boosted expectations for an early interest rate hike.

– AFP

sures in the economy,” wrote Nomura economists in a research note after the news. “To offset headwinds to economic growth, we expect monetary policy to be loosened further.”

The question is how long it will take for easing measures to take effect. The issue is becoming more pressing because unemployment, which has remained comfortably low even in the face of a weakening economy, is seen as coming under further pressure, the social security minister said on Tuesday.

Indeed, some economists suspect that many jobs are artificial, with factory workers being put on half-pay or no pay, or migrated to low-end service sector jobs in tourism by local officials to avoid social unrest from layoffs and the negative career consequences of high unemployment rates in their jurisdictions.

Chinese leaders announced last week an economic growth target of around 7% for this year, below the 7.5% goal in 2014.

The consumer price index target was set at around 3% for this year. Annual consumer inflation was 2% in 2014, well below the government’s target of 3.5%.

Chinese stock markets were down slightly after the news, dragged by financials, with the CSI300 index down 0.5% in morning trade. The yuan CNY=CFXS firmed slightly against the dollar to 6.2623. Combined January and February industrial output, retail sales and investment data will be released on Wednesday. All are expected to show slowing growth. Loan and money supply data will also be released this week. l

Apple debuts $17,000 watch, some waiting for killer app n Reuters, San Francisco Apple Inc launched its long-awaited watch on Monday, including yellow or rose gold models with sapphire faces costing up to $17,000, but some investors questioned whether Chief Executive Tim Cook’s first product would be a breakaway hit.

Apple’s first new device since Cook became CEO will be available for order on April 10 and in stores on April 24, including chic boutiques in Paris, London and Tokyo.

In a nod to both fashion and technology, Cook shared the stage with model Christy Turlington Burns, who used it to train for a marathon, and Apple engineers who showed how to send drawings, pictures and even heartbeats with the watch.

Apple shares barely budged, however. Investors and analysts agreed that Apple would sell millions to fans but questioned whether it had a “killer app” that would engage a broader audience. Apple in September gave a sneak peek of the watch which included many features shown on Monday.

Members of the style establishment, in Paris for shows from the glittering likes of Chanel, Givenchy and Hermes mostly said they saw the watch as a gadget, not this season’s must-have accessory.

The Edition price tag which is inexpensive compared with a Patek Philippe Nautilus at just over $42,000 on 11main.com, inspired plenty of jibes on social media, including many who questioned whether it would become outdated and compared the price to a car’s. l

DT

BUSINESS 17

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Spending € 1 trillion could prove tricky for ECB n Reuters, London Hoarders of euro zone debt could frustrate the European Central Bank’s plans to buy a trillion euros of mostly government bonds over the next 18 months, starting on Monday, to revive the bloc’s economy.

Seeking to soothe concerns the central bank might struggle to meet its 60bn euros a month spending target, ECB President Mario Draghi argued last week that sellers would be found among foreign investors that hold about half the region’s debt.

Overseas investors should be the most willing to sell as printing euros is likely to weaken the single currency, reducing the value of their holdings in their own currencies.

But, aware of the problems the ECB faces in finding domestic sellers, some see an advantage in holding onto their bonds. Their reluctance to sell could mean the scheme risks distorting segments of the sovereign borrowing markets.

Robin Marshall, director of fixed income at investment firm Smith & Williamson in London, says he is “in no hurry” to sell.

“Why would you sell if you are aware of these difficulties with domestic sellers? The prospects of squeezing more gain out of it will make you more reluctant to sell also.

“I’m not sure he’s got this right,” Marshall said, referring to Draghi.

With official interest rates forecast to rise in the United States and Britain in the next 12 months, overseas investors may also be wary of switching into those markets just as yields start to rise and bond prices to weaken.

Such hesitance could force the ECB to pay above-market prices for the bonds and push yields significantly lower, leading to market distortions.

Investors from within the euro zone who are holding onto their paper include banks, which use short-dated bonds as a liquidity buffer because these are the only assets for which regulators do not require cash to be set

OECD: Euro zone growth gaining pace, others stable n Reuters, Paris The euro zone is increasingly contributing to an improvement in global economic growth prospects, according to a forward-looking indicator the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development published on Monday.

The OECD said its leading indicator, designed to detect changes in economic prospects, showed “positive change in growth momentum in the euro area and stable growth momentum in most other major economies and the OECD area as a whole.”

The indicator, expressed as an index where 100 denotes the long-term average, rose to 100.7 for the euro zone as a whole from 100.6 in the preceding month’s report, and rose also for the OECD group of mostly wealthy economies, to 100.4 from 100.3.

The US reading was stable at 100.2 and for Japan it stayed at 99.8. In large non-OECD economies, the index rose to 99.1 in China from 99.0. It edged higher too in Brazil and India but fell in Russia to 99.3 from 99.5. l

New 20 Euro banknotes are presented at the Austrian national bank in Vienna aside as a precaution. Pension funds and insurers may choose to retain their long-dated bonds because regulators push them to hold assets that match their liabilities.

The ECB and national central banks of euro zone countries, together known as the Eurosystem, began buying bonds on Monday to start the long-awaited quantitative easing scheme.

Barclays strategists estimate the ECB’s programme will include 850bn euros of government bonds, compared with net debt issuance by national treasuries of 290bn euros this year. The Eurosystem is also buying smaller amounts of corporate debt, including asset

backed securities and covered bonds.

Hedge funds and other asset managers, especially those based abroad will naturally be more willing to sell. But they know they can drive a hard bargain.

Foreigners might hold half of the market but that is unlikely to be true for each individual bond, some of which may be mostly in the hands of euro zone-based investors.

The ECB could not immediately provide a geographical breakdown of euro zone bondholders.

As long as that uncertainty persists, the ECB will have to be very convincing in its bids for bonds.

REUTERS

“Different bonds have different sellers. It’s always a puzzle. I don’t think anybody has a clear clue on who exactly is going to be selling,” said Marchel Alexandrovich, European economist at Jefferies.

“It’s all guesswork ... and the ECB is in that situation as well. They might have to pay up.”

For instance, it is likely to be harder for the ECB to buy Italian and Spanish bonds than German and French paper.

Around two thirds of Italian and Spanish debt is held by domestic investors. The rest is held by non-residents, though that may include banks or pension funds based in the euro zone. l

Dollar hits 12-year peak vs euro, yen n Reuters, Sydney

The US dollar scored multi-year highs against the euro and yen in Asia yesterday amid starkly diverging outlooks for interest rates globally, while currencies from emerging markets came under mounting pressure from risk aversion.

The skittish mood spread to Asian stocks as MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan slipped 0.6 percent.

Driving the dollar was speculation the Federal Reserve would start lifting interest rates from mid-year, while central banks in the European Union and Japan were busy easing policy by buying billions in government bonds.

The European Central Bank began its trillion-euro bond buying campaign on Monday, nudging down yields in Germany and other core EU sovereigns.

Selling in the euro gathered pace through the Asian session as a break of $1.0822 triggered stop-loss offers and took it as deep as $1.0785, the lowest since September 2003.

Bears are now eyeing a major layer of chart support at $1.0762.

The dollar also broke higher on the yen to

reach 122.02, territory not visited since July 2007.

The prospect of rising U.S. yields threatened to attract funds from emerging markets, causing strains from Brazil to Turkey. The Brazilian real led the rout, having fallen for the sixth straight session on Monday.

Dairy is New Zealand’s biggest export earner and any hint of trouble for the industry hurts the currency The pressure spread through Asia with the South Korean won hitting its lowest since late August 2013 and the Singapore dollar its lowest since 2010.

The New Zealand dollar took a spill after police announced threats had been made to poison baby formula from the country’s milk producers. Dairy is New Zealand’s biggest export earner and any hint of trouble for the industry hurts the currency.

The kiwi slipped to $0.7293, having

touched a five-week low at one point.

The volatility in currencies overshadowed data from China that showed consumer prices topped expectations with an annual rise of 1.4% in February, although much of the pick up was caused by seasonal volatility in food prices.

Producer prices continued to slide, underscoring deepening weakness in the economy and intensifying pressure on policymakers to find new ways to support growth.

Shanghai shares eased 0.1%, though that merely unwound a little of the gain made on Monday.

Japan’s Nikkei initially firmed on the lower yen, only to fall 0.8% in late afternoon trade as the investor mood darkened.

European sharemarkets were expected to open softer, while the S&P 500 EMINI contract was off 0.2%.

Most commodities continued to struggle with the strength of the US dollar. Gold fell to a three-month low around $1,159.20 an ounce, while copper futures shed 0.9 percent.

Oil managed minor gains, with Brent crude up 6 cents to $58.59 a barrel, while US crude added 15 cents to $50.15. l

DT

18 BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

News, analysis and recent disclosures UNIQUEHRL: The Company has informed that they have signed an agreement with Standard Chartered Bank, Dhaka, Bangladesh (incorporated in England) for a foreign currency term loan facility of USD 35.00 million only for construction, interior and furnishing works of an International Five Star Chain Hotel (unit-2).

FIRSTSBANK: First Security Islami Bank Ltd has informed that the Board Meeting of the Bank will be held on 11 March 2015 at 5:00 pm for consideration, among others, Audited Financial Statements of the Bank for the year ended 31 December 2014.

BRACBANK: As per Regulation 30 of DSE Listing Regulations, the Company has informed that a meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on March 16, 2015 at 3:30 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

RELIANCINS: 15% cash and 15% stock, AGM: 30.04.2015, Record date: 19.03.2015.

UNITEDFIN: 5% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 23.04.2015, Record date: 18.03.2015.

LAFSURCEML: 5% final cash dividend (i.e. total 10% cash dividend for the year 2014 inclusive of 5% interim cash dividend which has already been paid), AGM: 11.06.2015, Record Date: 07.04.2015.

UNIONCAP: 10% stock, AGM: 31.03.2015, Record date: 16.03.2015.

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.

ALARABANK: 14% cash, AGM: 31.03.2015, Record Date: 15.03.2015.

PRIMEBANK: 15% cash, AGM: 30.03.2015, Record Date: 10.03.2015.

PUBALIBANK: 10% cash, AGM: 31.03.2015, Record Date: 10.03.2015.

SIBL: 18% cash, AGM: 30.03.2015, Record Date: 10.03.2015.

HEIDELBCEM: 380% cash, AGM: 15.04.2015, Record Date: 12.03.2015.

SINOBANGLA: 10% cash, AGM: 21.05.2015, Record Date: 19.03.2015.

BANKASIA: 5% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 31.03.2015, Record Date: 10.03.2015.

SINGERBD: 35% Cash & 25% Stock (Total 220% including Interim 160% paid), AGM 28.04.2015. Record Date 15 .03 2015.

Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

Company LafargeS Cement-Z Ifad Autos -N Eastern Cables-A Fareast Finance-Z Orion Infusions -A 7th ICB M F-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Golden Son -A CMC Kamal Tex. -A Legacy Footwear -A

Closing (% Change) 8.14 6.68 6.36 5.84 5.39 4.71 4.69 3.83 3.70 3.70

CSE GAINER Company

Closing (% Change)

Eastern Cables-A IFIC 1st MF-A LafargeS Cement-Z Ifad Autos -N Fareast Finance-Z Orion Infusions -A Rupali InsurA Berger Paints-A Aziz PipesZ BEXIMCO Ltd. -A

9.54 8.89 8.82 8.07 8.03 6.17 5.66 5.62 4.62 4.38

DSE LOSER Company IDLC Finance -A I P D C -A EXIM Bank 1 MF-A Prime Finance-A S. Alam CR Steel -A Rupali Bank - A SAIF Powertec-N SummitAlliancePort.-A National Tea -A Shasha Denims -N

Closing (% Change) -23.40 -11.31 -7.35 -5.33 -5.26 -4.06 -3.70 -3.40 -3.31 -3.13

CSE LOSER Company IDLC Finance -A I P D C -A Kay & Que (BD) -Z Asia Pasific Insu. -A Rupali Bank - A S. Alam CR Steel -A City G Insu.-A Eastland Insur -A Hakkani P& Paper -B Brac B.C. Bond-A

Closing (% Change) -22.08 -12.05 -9.85 -8.52 -7.52 -6.21 -5.45 -5.23 -5.12 -4.90

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

DSE key features March-10, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

DSE GAINER

Sector

2,552.11 56,678,400 79,907

Traded Issues

305

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

142

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

151

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

12

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,529.20

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.66

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 136.55 89.93 18.03 453.01 64.95 368.61 2.72 330.71 364.20 13.41 124.25 19.33 9.74 167.62 73.15 11.82 30.35 113.58 24.97 135.04 0.13

% change 5.35 3.52 0.71 17.75 2.55 14.44 0.11 12.96 14.27 0.53 4.87 0.76 0.38 6.57 2.87 0.46 1.19 4.45 0.98 5.29 0.01

Million Taka 19.73 8.38 1.00 49.95 4.65 26.38 34.73 23.60 0.87 7.32 0.95 1.56 22.78 6.04 0.42 2.06 13.26 5.65 26.40 0.01

Average (% Change) 5.11 4.11 4.82 5.61 6.39 6.95 3.54 3.76 2.34 5.56

Average (% Change) 8.13 8.89 5.20 4.59 7.08 6.59 5.67 5.62 4.62 3.48

Average (% Change) -22.00 -11.80 -7.35 -5.93 -2.58 0.69 -2.79 -2.05 -3.79 -2.20

Average (% Change) -20.75 -10.31 -9.85 -7.42 -7.52 -4.42 -5.27 -5.23 -4.92 -4.90

CSE

ClosingAvg. 118.72 64.02 124.29 14.49 42.98 90.91 33.38 40.88 16.62 25.43

ClosingAvg. 125.76 4.90 118.20 63.83 14.67 43.16 22.35 1537.78 20.40 33.27

ClosingAvg. 53.85 14.88 6.30 16.02 27.19 49.52 65.95 63.96 700.55 37.72

ClosingAvg. 54.42 14.88 11.90 16.10 46.70 27.44 15.63 29.00 24.18 950.00

% change 7.71 3.28 0.39 19.53 1.82 10.31 0.00 13.58 9.23 0.34 2.86 0.37 0.61 8.91 2.36 0.16 0.81 5.18 2.21 10.32 0.00

Closing 122.20 65.50 127.10 14.50 43.00 89.00 33.50 40.70 16.80 25.20

Closing 127.40 4.90 122.10 65.60 14.80 43.00 22.40 1537.80 20.40 33.40

Closing 52.70 14.90 6.30 16.00 27.00 49.60 65.00 62.50 700.00 37.20

Closing 53.30 14.60 11.90 16.10 46.70 27.20 15.60 29.00 24.10 950.00

Million Taka 156.28 98.31 19.04 502.96 69.61 394.99 2.72 365.44 387.80 14.27 131.58 20.28 11.30 190.40 79.19 12.24 32.41 126.83 30.62 161.44 0.14

DHIGH

DLOW

123.20 66.40 128.00 14.90 43.70 89.00 33.80 41.40 16.90 25.90

DHIGH 127.90 4.90 123.40 66.50 14.90 43.80 22.50 1540.00 20.40 33.80

DHIGH

114.00 60.60 120.60 13.70 41.00 88.90 32.10 39.50 16.30 24.50

DLOW 123.00 4.90 113.00 60.80 13.60 41.10 21.10 1530.00 20.40 32.20

DLOW

55.60 15.20 6.30 16.20 27.80 50.10 67.50 65.60 705.00 38.90

DHIGH

51.90 13.90 6.30 15.80 26.80 47.50 64.60 62.20 700.00 37.00

DLOW

57.00 15.00 11.90 16.10 46.70 27.80 15.70 29.00 24.20 950.00

Total

53.00 14.60 11.90 16.10 46.70 27.00 15.50 29.00 24.10 950.00

% change 5.57 3.50 0.68 17.91 2.48 14.07 0.10 13.02 13.81 0.51 4.69 0.72 0.40 6.78 2.82 0.44 1.15 4.52 1.09 5.75 0.00

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

Turnover in Million

Latest EPS

122.336 128.860 3.019 3.657 46.689 0.020 98.114 34.765 10.087 6.441

Turnover in Million

2.43 1.92 1.52 1.88 1.84 12.76 1.01 2.47 1.43 0.28

Latest EPS

0.264 0.013 18.246 9.301 0.405 2.424 0.003 0.028 0.001 20.819

Turnover in Million

48.9 33.3 81.8 7.7 23.4 7.1 33.0 16.6 11.6 90.8

Latest PE

1.52 0.68 2.43 1.92 1.88 1.84 2.52 49.25 -0.37 1.01

Latest EPS

23.765 0.603 0.013 8.928 4.531 0.108 44.109 75.466 0.510 105.252

Turnover in Million

Latest PE

82.7 7.2 48.6 33.2 7.8 23.5 8.9 31.2 -ve 32.9

Latest PE

4.95 1.31 0.56 1.59 1.56 2.04 2.50 0.78 -6.49 1.31

Latest EPS

1.210 0.077 0.001 0.008 0.016 0.641 0.095 0.002 0.031 0.010

10.9 11.4 11.3 10.1 17.4 24.3 26.4 82.0 -ve 28.8

Latest PE

4.95 1.31 -1.41 2.32 2.04 1.56 1.89 3.33 0.42 0.00

11.0 11.4 -ve 6.9 22.9 17.6 8.3 8.7 57.6 -

CSE key features March-10, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

255.74 6,956,972 13,228

Traded Issues

221

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

101

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

116

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,396.88

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

29.05

DT

BUSINESS 19

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Stocks mark modest gain n Tribune Report

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Shahjibazar Power-N Square Pharma -A Ifad Autos -N LafargeS Cement-Z Shasha Denims -N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Grameenphone-A SummitAlliancePort.-A Titas Gas TDCLA MJL BD Ltd.-A

Orion Infusions -A BD Building Systems -A SAIF Powertec-N WesternMarine -N

VolumeShares 633,388 515,930 2,012,689 1,030,428 2,790,318 2,939,557 239,704 1,179,918 771,400 388,850

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BEXIMCO Ltd. -A LafargeS Cement-Z Shasha Denims -N Shahjibazar Power-N GPH Ispat Ltd-A BD Submarine Cable-A WesternMarine -N Ifad Autos -N Square Pharma -A Singer BD -A

SummitAlliancePort.-A MJL BD Ltd.-A Agni Systems -A UNITED AIR-A Beximco Pharma -A

1,086,177 987,941 668,853 945,345

VolumeShares

625,839 154,358 458,007 61,988 305,693 88,221 215,188 145,726 23,943 27,160

69,550 31,677 121,646 428,778 57,733

Value in Million 148.26 133.09 128.86 122.34 105.25 98.11 78.75 75.47 57.34 46.88

46.69 45.14 44.11 41.53

Value in Million

20.82 18.25 17.23 14.37 12.85 11.56 9.44 9.30 6.17 5.92

4.42 3.83 3.80 3.53 3.29

% of TotalTurnover 5.81 5.21 5.05 4.79 4.12 3.84 3.09 2.96 2.25 1.84

1.83 1.77 1.73 1.63

% of TotalTurnover

8.14 7.13 6.74 5.62 5.03 4.52 3.69 3.64 2.41 2.32

1.73 1.50 1.49 1.38 1.29

ClosingP 237.60 258.10 65.50 122.20 37.20 33.50 328.70 62.50 74.00 120.10

43.00 46.10 65.00 43.40

ClosingP

Change % 2.95 -0.42 6.68 8.14 -3.13 4.69 0.58 -3.40 -0.13 -1.23

5.39 0.88 -3.70 -2.47

Change %

33.40 122.10 37.10 239.60 44.30 129.10 43.20 65.60 258.20 219.10

62.40 120.80 31.20 8.20 56.80

4.38 8.82 -3.13 2.13 1.61 -1.97 -3.14 8.07 -0.46 1.01

-3.55 -0.25 1.30 1.23 1.79

ClosingY 230.80 259.20 61.40 113.00 38.40 32.00 326.80 64.70 74.10 121.60

40.80 45.70 67.50 44.50

ClosingY

32.00 112.20 38.30 234.60 43.60 131.70 44.60 60.70 259.40 216.90

64.70 121.10 30.80 8.10 55.80

DHIGH 241.50 260.00 66.40 123.20 38.90 33.80 330.70 65.60 74.90 122.10

43.70 46.40 67.50 44.80

DLOW 221.00 256.90 60.60 114.00 37.00 32.10 327.60 62.20 73.70 119.50

41.00 45.00 64.60 43.20

DHIGH

DLOW

33.80 123.40 38.80 240.00 44.60 134.00 44.80 66.50 259.90 220.70

32.20 113.00 36.90 220.10 42.00 128.70 43.00 60.80 256.90 217.00

65.50 121.90 31.60 8.30 57.30

62.10 120.00 31.00 8.20 56.80

AvgPrice 234.07 257.95 64.02 118.72 37.72 33.38 328.53 63.96 74.33 120.57

42.98 45.69 65.95 43.94

4649.30292

(+) 0.50%

1729.90638

(+) 0.89%

14204.86520

(+) 0.40%

11711.78650

(-) 0.16%

8614.15860

(-) 0.05%

ANALYST

AvgPrice

33.27 118.20 37.63 231.88 42.04 131.01 43.85 63.83 257.85 218.10

63.56 120.77 31.23 8.24 56.99

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

Stocks posted modest gain yesterday, as concerns over the political strife subdued somewhat due to relaxation of shutdown on the day.

Most investors, however, still remained on the sidelines, pushing the trade volume down.

The benchmark index DSEX rose 23 points or 0.5% to close at 4,649, after ending extending its losing streak for the fourth straight session.

The Shariah Index DSES was up 10 points or 1% to 1,115. The comprising blue chips DS30 ended 15 points or 0.8% higher to 1,729.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, settled at 8,614, falling only 4 points.

The BNP-led alliance eased hartal yesterday for 12 hours on celebration of Bangladesh’s lift to the quarterfinals in the cricket World Cup tournament.

Trading activities still declined as turnover at the Dhaka Stock Exchange stood at Tk255 crore, down by more than 12% over the previous session.

Engineering sector dominated the trading, making up 17.8% of the total turnover.

Cement sector continued to shine rising more than 5.6%, led by heavyweight Lafarge Surma Cement that rallied 8%.

Food & allied, fuel & power, tannery, pharmaceuticals and telecommunications ended in the negative territory.

Financial stocks—banks and non-banking financial institutions— continued to make marginal falls.

But the market breadth remained negative as out of 304 issues traded, 137 declined, 110 advanced and 57 remained unchanged.

LankaBangla Securities said though the BNP-led alliance had relaxed its strike, indication of extension of the countrywide shutdown kept the market sentiment subdued with little impact on equity market.

IDLC Investments said majority of the investors nevertheless remained pessimistic, refraining from trading activities, keeping turnover at lower level.

Shahjibazar Power company continued to top turnover leaders with shares worth around Tk5 crore changing hands, followed by Square Pharmaceuticals, IFAD Autos, Lafarge Surma Cement Limited, Shasha Denim, Beximco Limited and Grameenphone. l

▲ ▲ ▲ ▼ ▼

The market breadth remained negative as out of 304 issues traded, 137 declined, 110 advanced and 57 remained unchanged

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Alliance plans low-cost loans for RMG makers The retailers’ platform aims to create a credit facility of $20-35m via five local banks n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi The Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, a platform of North-American retailers, has set a plan to create a credit facility of $20-35m to extend low-cost loans to its sourcing factories, especially the small and medium enterprises for remediation works.

The Alliance mentioned the plan in its 18-month report highlighting progress and improvement in factory safety since it was formed in 2013.

“Our goal is to create a credit facility of $20-35m via five local banks. The facility would be in US dollar denominated currency, enabling lower interest rates,” said Alliance in a statement on Monday.

“The aim of the plan is to encourage these banks to extend loans to Alliance factories, especially small and medium enterprises.”

The Alliance will provide technical assistance to the financing organisations on remediation progress and also cover administrative and startup costs and up to $2m in a first-loss guarantee, it added.

Four Alliance members have launched innovative supplier financing arrangements while the low-cost remediation loans have been issued to an initial group of suppliers.

According to Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), a factory needs about half a million US dollar to complete remediation works.

The Alliance said 10% of factories’ final inspection would be completed by July 9, 2015, while 100% would be done by July 2017.

“I am extremely proud of the efforts undertaken by the Alliance and member companies to improve the safety of RMG factories, ensuring every garment factory is inspected, every employee is trained and empowered, and remediation is undertaken by every factory owner,” said Ellen O Tauscher, Independ-

Women are working at an apparel factory in Dhaka ent Chair, Board of Directors of the Alliance in the statement. The retailers initiative also conducted follow-up remediation verification visits to 124 factories and finalised Corrective Action Plan (CAP) of 300 factories.

“We hold meeting with the factory owners and technical expertise to make clear about

RAJIB DHAR

the CAP and set ways how to remediate it,” M Rabin, Managing Director of Alliance told the Dhaka Tribune. The Alliance had completed inspection of 587 factories and 19 factories had been closed partially or fully following the inspection on fire, electrical and building safety.

The issue of finance for remediation works

FSIB restricted to offer cash dividend n Jebun Nesa Alo

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has asked the First Security Islami Bank (FSIB) not to offer cash dividend for the year 2014 because of its provision shortfall.

Bangladesh Bank sent a letter to the bank yesterday with an instruction for not announcing any cash dividend, according to BB sources.

On the other hand, the FSIB board of directors is scheduled to sit today to decide on the dividend issue for the year 2014, considering the audited financial statements of the bank.

A primary investigation of the central bank conducted over the quick report of the FSIB has found the provision shortfall of Tk15 crore at the year-end of 2014.

Of the shortfall amount, the bank maintained only Tk3 crore in December last year.

However, The bank has requested the central bank for an exemption from provisioning the

rest of the amount of 12 crore till the year 2015.

In response, Bangladesh Bank allowed the bank to maintain the shortfall in two phases

by June and September quarter this year. At the same time the bank has been asked not to provide any cash dividend to the shareholders.

Bank company act also does not allow cash dividend for a company that suffers from provision shortfall.

Earlier, at the bankers meeting held December last year, the top managers had demanded for allowing banks to offer cash dividend to the shareholders, which is now prohibited as a pre-condition of the exemption in provisioning.

The banks were given the provision facility, against the losses they incurred through investing in the capital market in 2010, on a condition that they won’t be able to declare cash dividends.

Meanwhile, First Security Islami Bank made a decision to announce 10% cash div-

idend for last year, as the company was not in a shortfall before the investigation by the central bank, said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank.

Though the maintained provision was Tk268 crore in the quick review report prepared by the bank, the investigation team of the central bank identified more accounts as classified, which caused the provision shortfall of the bank, he said.

The bank showed huge operating profit of Tk221 crore in the year 2014 but the net profit came down to only Tk67 crore due to more provisioning, he observed.

The bank had declared 10% cash dividend to the shareholders in the year 2013. It is running with paid up capital of Tk617 crore.

The non-performing loans of the bank stood at Tk340 crore at the end of December last year from Tk248 crore in the same period of the previous year, according to the Bangladesh Bank data. l

came after the inspection by the global retailers’ platform as it prescribed CAPs to make the RMG sector safe and compliant.

Safety issues in the RMG sector came under spotlight following the Rana Plaza factory building collapse, which killed 1,135 workers and injured over 2,500 people in April 2013. l

Swedish team in town to explore business prospects n UNB A Swedish trade delegation arrived here yesterday night on a three-day visit to explore business opportunities in prospective areas, including infrastructure and transport.

During the visit, the delegation will meet government representatives and various government agencies and boards, as well as private companies and institutions, according to Swedish Embassy in Dhaka.

The delegation members include Swedish companies covering the infrastructure and transport sectors. The delegation participants are ABB, Flir, Ericsson, Swedish Export Credits Guarantee Board (EKN), Hifab, Indpro, Scania, Swedish Export Credit Corporation (SEK), SEB, Sweden-Bangladesh Business Council (SBBC) and Volvo. l

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21

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

T-JUNCTION

My space PHOTO : BIGSTOCK

INSIDE Disconnect: There is such a stigma attached to mental illness in this country, that families with autistic children have the double challenge of dealing with their special needs, and shielding them from a society that alienates them.

Sweet haven: Soft, pastel shades create a calm, soothing atmosphere for your bedroom. Keep the lines simple, and reduce clutter to make this the one place where you can truly de-stress and recharge.

24

decor

Before you throw out all your fish teenroom

5 ways to add character to a room

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22 T-JUNCTION

Trial Room

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Living with autism It needs acceptance more than it needs a cure

If everyone was cut out for fitting into the same shoe size and had the ability to encode and decode messages the same way, we’d all be on the same page right now transcending religious, cultural and social blocks, wouldn’t we

n Khan N Moushumi Children on the autism spectrum often struggle with communicating with the world around them. Unlike our brains, different parts of theirs fail to work together as a team, and it affects how they think or function. Since 2013, 1 out of 55 children has been diagnosed with autism every year, yet it still remains as something that is largely misunderstood.

While many people may consider autism as a disorder, we beg to differ because it’s just a behavioural difference. Yes, people diagnosed with autism are less likely to exhibit social understanding, and may display clumsiness or even various forms of repetitive actions. But if everyone was cut out for fitting into the same shoe size

and had the ability to encode and decode messages the same way, we’d all be on the same page right now transcending religious, cultural and social blocks, wouldn’t we?

This week, we chat with a father, a brother and a protective mother who tell us what’s it like to have an autistic member in the family.

Birthday girl

Preface: Our daughter Alif* was diagnosed with autism at the age of three. We decided to go in for a diagnosis when we noticed that she had underdeveloped social skills and was having difficulties forming even the simplest words that other kids her age could easily nail.

Alif turned 11 last October. We arranged for a small party at home and invited our friends

and family over with their kids. Her mom dressed her up in a blue and yellow frock with tulip motifs on it and put her long curly hair in a braid. Her dress had pretty frills and she looked lovely. She got impatient waiting for all the guests to arrive, she wanted to cut the birthday cake right away. So to stall her, we made her open the birthday gifts.

She liked them all, but her favourite one was from her mother. It was a large pack of crayons with an accompanying white board.

And boy did she love them! She’s obsessed with drawing and colouring. Drawing on the walls, the cupboard or even on my laptop was part of her everyday routine, despite getting scolded at for it all the time.

She is loud and impatient. She comes off as rude sometimes, but she never means it.

Our friends and relatives know that. They are patient with her, allowing her space and time to collect her thoughts and say it, even when she’s awkwardly replying back with furrowed brows. She yells at people sometimes, especially when she feels she’s not being heard. I know underneath that tough shell, lies a very confused child, whose senses are out of sync, who continuously struggles to express her thoughts and feelings, who doesn’t see the world the way we do, and who just needs her parents and family to love her unconditionally.

Alif finally got to cut her birthday cake, with the biggest grin on her face. She clapped her hands together with the rest of us, as we sang and wished her a very happy birthday. It was a happy one indeed.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Backpacking

Preface: My elder brother Zoheb* was diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome at the age of two. Now almost 32, he’s 12 years older than me. My mother curses her luck for giving birth to an autistic child. She would often ask in her prayers “Why me god, what did I do wrong?”

She says she is really tired of taking care of him. She has gotten old now and it’s not easy to feed a full-grown man three meals a day, give him a bath or help him use the bathroom.

My father thinks she complains too much but I kind of understand where she’s coming from.

My family haven’t had a change of scenery in years. So last winter, we decided to board a bus and set out for our hometown that we haven’t visited in ages. It was just the four of us. Soon as the bus started moving I noticed Bhaiya seemed uncomfortable and a bit taken aback. Even the smallest changes in his schedule throw him off balance and this was practically ginormous for him – being out in public, that too in a moving vehicle that honks every two seconds. With the bus speeding through the highway, my brother started yelling and groaning. Banging his head on the window pane, he repeatedly asked us to stop the vehicle so that he could get off and go back home. “Bus thamao, bus thamao, ami bashae jabo, daat brush korbo.”

Annoyed gazes from the other passengers made it apparent how inconvenient it was being for them.

We talked Bhaiya out of it, calmed him down for a bit. But after 15 minutes or so, he spilled water all over himself and on a passenger seated in the front while taking a sip from a water bottle. The guy turned around, evidently irritated out of his wits, as the bus conductor interrupted and asked my father “Why on earth would you even consider travelling with a person who is so clumsy and annoying?” We didn’t know

what to say to that. It’s not like he did it on purpose or anything. We just sat there, patiently waiting for the ride to end.

The principal’s office

Preface: We found out that our son Rumman* had autism when he was two and a half years old. He loves food, hates cats. He’s 14 now and has been binge eating lately. He somewhat looks too big for his age and he goes to an integrated school where they have a separate curriculum for kids with autism.

I pick Rumman up from school every day, even if I have a bazillion other things on schedule to do and errands to run. I make sure I’m the first person he sees as soon as his classes are over. The moment he sees me waiting outside his school gate, he smiles and yells “Amma!” That smile is priceless.

Initially we had his nanny pick him up from school. But one afternoon she came home without Rumman and told me he was being detained. Even before I knew it, I was called to the principal’s office.

As I walked in, I was introduced to a boy named Irfan* and his parents. He seemed to be the same age as my son and was enrolled in the “regular” section of the school where normal kids would go. Rumman was sitting on a couch in the corner, impatiently twitching his face. He does that whenever he’s uncomfortable. And that is when I saw it - bruises on his left forearm and neck. Even before I could gather my thoughts and figure out what was going on, I was told by the school authority that Rumman apparently attacked Irfan with a sharp pencil when he called my son a “retard.” They said Rumman was aiming for his eyes and Irfan could have gone blind for life, had Rumman managed to hurt him with the tip of the pencil.

Apparently Irfan had to fight him off as an act of self defence.

His parents explained to me how they felt sorry for my child and that they completely understood his condition but it’s best if I home-school him because he is too aggressive to be out, among other kids. I sat there in the principal’s office in disbelief, baffled between what I was seeing and what they were saying – Irfan was spotless while my boy had bruises all over him.

I eventually ended up switching his school. Nobody should have to pity my kid, or kids alike. There’s nothing wrong with them. They are just different and

need special care that’s all. The only way general people can help the differently abled children is by accepting and understanding them. I know things could have been better had my son been normal, but they could have been worse too. I don’t mind investing every single ounce of my energy, time and affection to fight for his place in this world.

He deserves it just like any other kid. l *Certain names of characters have been changed in order to protect the privacy of individuals.

Nobody should have to pity my kid, or kids alike.

There’s nothing wrong with them. They are just different and need special care that’s all

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

decor

The aquarium art Before you throw out all your fish

Tucked In

teen room

5 ways to add character to a room Jazz up your walls without breaking the bank

n Sabrina Fatma Ahmad

n Adila Hoque Aquariums can serve as excellent art pieces, but like most works of art, they require careful maintenance. Also, unlike how most people think, aquariums can be set up almost anywhere in the house - the entrance hallway, under the staircase, in your bedroom, or even in the living room as the centre of attention.

At TMAG, we had a saying: “Your space, your way.” It’s a motto we’ve carried over to T-Junction. Teens have the unique challenge of limited budgets and boundless ideas. This week, we look at five ways to personalise your space without breaking the bank. Let’s play.

A little inspiration

Sometimes a few encouraging words really go a long way to inspire and motivate you.

You may even have a favourite saying that you treat as your motto. Why not turn this into a room feature? You can print out your favourite quotes on coloured paper, which you can then frame and hang on your wall.

Or have a chalkboard installation where you draw in a new thought of the week every day.

Or even get really crafty by making a quote wall made out of individual papier mache letters. None of these options cost a great deal, but look amazing when done.

Twinkle, twinkle

More teens these days are jumping aboard the fairy lights train, and it’s not hard to see why. They are a lovely, relatively cheaper

way to add ambience to a room. Whether you have a curtain of these lights hanging down behind your headboard, or a single string thrown over your study table, the end result is a festive atmosphere.

Photo wall

This one’s a staple of every teen movie. You can either get a corkboard and paste a collage of your favourite photos onto it and lean/ pin that against your wall, or just tape the photos directly onto the wall. The former might cost a little more, but will be easier to take off when you need to change the wall colours. You can further customise the wall by creating hand-made frames around the photos.

Repurposed trash You know all those old CDs you have lying around collecting dust? Why not break them up to make a mirrored wall mosaic? All you’ll need to pay for is glue. Old glass bottles can be cut open to make amazing light-shades.

Whether you’re lacking cash or rolling in the deep, the coolest rooms are the ones you’ve invested imagination in, and that doesn’t cost a thing.

room of the week We believe the newest idea is the bedroom aquarium, where the fish tank is embedded in your walls, or used as a headboard. Pretty cool, huh?

Other than maintain a healthy fish diet, and keeping the temperature and pH right, there is something you need to do twice a month. Cleaning. Yes, we all hate it. But a dirty aquarium? That doesn’t exactly serve the purpose of being the centre of attention now, does it?

It’s popcorn time

Subtle tones Eccentric wall art to compliment your lamp and curtains? Why not? Dimly lit and organised, we believe, is the way to go, Hence here’s our pick of the week.

Name: Zubaida Rana Rahman Area: Mohakhali DOHS, Dhaka Photo: Courtesy

Sri Lanka batsman Dinesh Chandimal has been ruled out of the rest of the World Cup due to a hamstring injury and replaced in the squad by Kusal Perera, organisers said on Tuesday.

Sport 26

BAN LOOMS OVER MASHRAFE AFTER OVERS FINE

28

INDIA SWEEP TO EASY WIN OVER IRELAND

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

OLD BOY WELBECK SINKS MAN UNITED IN FA CUP

Rubel rape claim dropped n AFP, Dhaka A Bangladeshi actress who filed a rape case against cricket star Rubel Hossain said Tuesday she was withdrawing the charges against the fast bowler, a day after his match-winning heroics at the World Cup. Naznin Akter Happy, 19, made the rape allegation earlier this year after claiming 25-year-old Rubel had reneged on a promise of marriage that he made while they were having an “intimate affair”.

The allegation had threatened to scupper Rubel’s chances of appearing in the World Cup after he was remanded in custody by a court in Dhaka.

But he was later granted bail until the end of the World Cup in view of “national interest” as he was a key member of Bangladesh’s team.

In the latest twist of a saga which has gripped the conservative Muslim-majority country, Happy said she had decided to forgive her former boyfriend who starred in a dramatic victory over England on Monday.

“I’ve forgiven him. I am not going to continue the case against him,” Happy told Channel 24 television on Tuesday.

“I am not going to give any testimony or evidence against (him). And if I don’t carry on with the case, then there is no case.”

Her move came hours after her lawyer, Debul Dey, said he would no longer represent Happy as he did not want to put Rubel under pressure while he was representing his country in Australia and New Zealand.

Rubel took four for 53 in the win over England in Adelaide, which enabled Bangladesh to qualify for the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time.

Although victims of alleged rapes are usually entitled to anonymity, police waived reporting restrictions after Happy told the Bangladeshi media that she would drop the allegations if Rubel agreed to marry her.

Rubel has consistently rejected the allegation of rape or claims that he had offered to marry Happy, instead accusing her of “blackmail”.

Happy became a household name for her debut movie “Kichu Asha Bhalobasa” (Some Hopes, Some Loves) which hit cinemas in 2013. l

Bangladesh pacer Rubel Hossain, hero of the England game, poses in fornt of a Lamborghini outside the team hotel in Adelaide yesterday.

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26 Sport

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

Ban looms over Bangladesh skipper after overs fine n AFP, Adelaide

Bangladesh Cricket Supporters’ Association (BCSA) arranged a victory rally to celebrate the incredible achievement of Bangladesh cricket team yesterday

Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza’s joy at his team’s World Cup defeat of England was cut short on Monday when he was threatened with a suspension for slow over-rates.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) said that Bangladesh were two overs short of their target in the thrilling 15-run victory at the Adelaide Oval which gave them a quarter-final place for the first time.

Mashrafe was fined 40 per cent of his match fee, while his players received 20 per cent fines.

“For a captain to be suspended, he must commit two minor over-rate offences or one serious over rate offence during the event,” said an ICC statement.

“Therefore, if Mashrafe is found guilty of one more minor over-rate offence during the World Cup while acting as captain, he will receive a one-match suspension during the event.”

Bangladesh face New Zealand in their last group game in Hamilton on Friday and are likely to play defending champions India in the quarter-finals.l

Dhaka continues to celebrate historic win n Minhaz Uddin Khan There have been a number of occasions when Dhaka witnessed great cricket celebrations.

But, the latest one, following the Tigers’ historic win against England, gave the country the dash of spontaneity it needed under blockades and strikes due to a political impasse.

Right after Bangladesh fast bowler Rubel Hossain picked up the final English at Adelaide Oval yesterday, the whole of Bangladesh went wild. Even the National Parliament – running a session at that point of time – erupted in joy after the Speaker announced the Tigers’ victory. Prime Minister Sheikh

Hasina announced grand plans to arrange a celebration rally the following day while the Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, Khaleda Zia, called off the day’s strike to allow the nation to celebrate. The opportunity was utilised by the Bangladesh Cricket Supporters Association, an organisation established to serve the interests of the supporters of Bangladesh cricket, as they brought out a victory rally to celebrate the incredible achievement.

The rally was led by Shoaib Ali, the man who paints his body like a Tiger, and included three horse carts, a band party and around 30 diehard Bangladesh supporters who visited

the prime locations of the capital city.

BCSA president Zunaid Paiker said, “We came up with the plan of a rally after the Prime Minister announced that they would arrange a rally. And, at the same time, we wanted to take advantage as the opposition party had relieved the ongoing strike.”

Zunaid further informed that the rally had another objective, “We wanted to boost up Shoaib. He was morally down for not getting the Australia visa so we wanted to cheer him up and told him to arrange the rally the way he wants.”

Shoaib, who is often seen in the galleries with his body painted like a Tiger, attends most

home matches and has also travelled to India, Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe over the last nine years following the Bangladesh cricket team.

Usually, he receives financial assistance from corporate houses, current and former players, board officials and a supporters group for his travel expenses. However, this time, he initially struggled to manage the funds. But once it was taken care of, the Australian visa became an issue.

It was understood that Shoaib, who works as a mechanic, does not have a sound financial background and this might have been a reason why his visa application was turned down. l

Adelaideans rooted for the Tigers n Mazhar Uddin from Adelaide Bangladesh cricket team, fresh from clinching their maiden quarterfinal berth in a World Cup, must have felt at home when they faced England at Adelaide Oval last Monday. Not only were there hundreds of Bangladeshi fans, the neutral Australian spectators who came to watch the game also cheered for the Tigers.

From the taxi driver to the lift operator at the stadium compound or the Aussie couple who went to watch the game, every single person in Adelaide seemed to support the free-spirited Bangladesh side.

Whoever I met on my way towards the ground or during the match at the stadium, the most common words I heard were, “We are supporting your team. Don’t worry, Bangladesh are going to win today. England can’t beat you guys. We want you to play the quarter-final.”

When I asked an Australian couple – Graeme and Michelle Jones – why they were

supporting Bangladesh, Graeme replied, “We have seen these guys play some wonderful cricket right from the start of the tournament.

The way the Bangladeshi boys batted against Scotland and chased down the big target, I realised this team have the ability to go a long way.”

Michelle on the other hand seemed to a big fan of young fast bowler Taskin Ahmed.

“I just love this boy Taskin. He looks like a baby. He is so young and talented, mark my words, this boy will become one of the best fast bowlers in the world some day,” she said.

They were not the only neutral fans who supported the Tigers. James Rodgers, a South African student residing in Brisbane, came all the way to Adelaide to support Bangladesh.

“Honestly, I only came here to support you guys as I wanted Bangladesh to beat the English side. This England team do not deserve to reach the quarter-finals in comparison to this enthusiastic Bangladesh team. Why shouldn’t I support this side?”

James said. l

The ecstatic Bangladesh fans at the Adelaide Oval during their World Cup game against England at Adelaide on Monday CRICINFO

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

India sweep to easy win over Ireland n Reuters, Hamilton India took apart a diligent but limited Ireland attack to sweep to an untroubled eight-wicket victory at Seddon Park on Tuesday which confirmed they will top Pool B in the cricket World Cup. After dismissing Ireland for 249 with an over to spare when their spinners established a stranglehold on the top-order batting, Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan played themselves in for a token couple of overs.

They then launched a full-blooded attack, alternating flowing drives with explosive pulls while also pushing around the ball for comfortable singles.

Dhawan was dropped on five when John Mooney failed to hold a fierce caught-andbowled chance. After scoring five further runs he was dropped again off the unlucky Mooney, this time at backward point when captain William Porterfield parried a stinging cut but was unable to hang on to the rebound.

Those were the only times the Irish bowlers looked like taking a wicket and the duo took the score to 174 when Sharma chopped medium pacer Stuart Thompson on to his stumps and was out for 64 from 66 balls.

With the Indian supporters making a tremendous din, Dhawan took a single to complete his eighth one-day century from 84 balls with five sixes but was then caught off the following ball he faced from Thompson.

Virat Kohli (44 not out) and Ajinkya Rahane (33 not out) took their team to victory with 13.1 overs to spare.l

IRE v IND IRELAND W. Porterfield c Yadav b Sharma P. Stirling c Rahane b Ashwin E. Joyce b Raina N. O’Brien c Yadav b Shami A. Balbirnie c Shami b Ashwin K. O’Brien c Dhoni b Shami G. Wilson c Rahana b Jadeja S. Thompson run out J. Mooney not out G. Dockrell c Dhoni b Yadav A. Cusack c Yadav b Shami Extras: (lb2, w9) Total: (all out; 49 overs)

Sri Lanka will look to tie up some loose ends ahead of the World Cup quarter-finals when the former champions take on winless minnows

Sri Lanka cricketer Seekkuge Prasanna (L) and Lasith Malinga (C) watched by teammate Thisara Perera plays football during a training session at the Bellerive Oval ground yesterday AFP

B 93 41 9 75 24 2 7 2 16 12 13

259

Fall of wickets 1-89 (Stirling), 2-92 (Joyce), 3-145 (Porterfield), 4-206 (Balbirnie), 5-208 (Kevin O’Brien), 6-222 (Wilson), 7-226 (Niall O’Brien), 8-227 (Thompson), 9-238 (Dockrell), 10-259 (Cusack) Bowling Yadav 4-0-34-1 (1w), Shami 9-0-41-3 (5w), Mohit Sharma 6-0-38-1 (3w), Jadeja 7-0-45-1, Ashwin 101-38-2, Raina 10-0-40-1, Rohit Sharma 3-0-21-0

Team

POOL B P

W

L N/R Pts NRR

India

5

5

0

0

10 +2.157

South Africa

5

3

2

0

6 +1.462

Pakistan

5

3

2

0

6 -0.194

Ireland

5

3

2

0

6

-1.014

West Indies

5

2

3

0

4

-0.511

Zimbabwe

5

1

4

0

2 -0.595

UAE

4

0

4

0

0

R B 64 66 100 85 44 42 33 28 19

Total: (for two wkts; 36.5 overs)

260

1-174 (Rohit), 2-190 (Dhawan) Bowling

-1.691

India’s Shikhar Dhawan hits a six against Ireland during their WC match in Hamilton yesterday REUTERS

Scotland in their last group match in Hobart on Wednesday.

The Islanders, who have won three of their five matches, will likely take third place in Pool A behind co-hosts New Zealand and Australia should they win at the at the Bellerive Oval.

Angelo Mathews’ side return to action just three days after going down to Australia by 64 runs in Sydney despite a heroic run chase led by remarkable veteran Kumar Sangakkara.

The 37-year-old left-hander smashed 104 to become the only batsman to score three successive centuries in a World Cup and is the leading run-scorer in this edition with 372 runs at an average of 124.

Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, 38, is fifth in the list with 291 runs, but former skipper Mahela Jayawardene’s lean patch on either side of a match-winning century against Afghanistan will be worrying.

Jayawardene, 37, fell for zero in the tournament opener against New Zealand, did not get to bat against Bangladesh and England, before being run out for 19 against Australia.

Sri Lanka will need the three senior pros to fire if they are to repeat their 1996 triumph after losing the last two World Cup finals in 2007 and 2011.

The batsmen have so far made up for a wayward bowling attack which has leaked runs in the final overs to allow rivals to plunder big totals.

New Zealand took 134 runs from the last 14 overs, England garnered 148 from 15 and Australia smashed 200 in the last 16 overs.

INDIA R. Sharma b Thompson S. Dhawan c Porterfield b Thompson V. Kohli not out A. Rahane not out Extras: (b4, lb2, w13) Fall of wickets

Injury-hit Sri Lanka seek Scottish balm n AFP, Hobart

R 67 42 2 75 24 1 6 2 12 6 11 11

“We have got to improve our bowling and fielding,” said Mathews. “If we can keep the opposition to 300, we can chase it down.”

Sri Lanka, who have already seen all-rounder Jeevan Mendis and batsman Dimuth Karunaratne depart from the tournament due to injuries, suffered another blow on Tuesday when Dinesh Chandimal was ruled out with a hamstring injury.

Chandimal retired hurt after making a 24-ball 52 against Australia and has been replaced by left-hand batsman Kusal Perera, who has played 41 one-day internationals and scored 839 runs with one century.

With a week to go before the quarter-finals, Sri Lanka may look to rest tired limbs and test their bench strength against Scotland, who are lying at the bottom of the group with five defeats from as many matches.

Sri Lanka have played the non-Test side just once in a one-day international, winning easily by 183 runs in Edinburgh in July 2011, and another one-sided game appears likely.

Statistics reveal the wide gulf between the two sides. The combined ODI appearance total of the entire Scotland squad is 332 -- 114 fewer matches than Jayawardene’s 446 ODIS, 70 below Sangakkara’s 402 and just 20 more than Dilshan’s 312.

Scotland have yet to win a match in three World Cups, and with the International Cricket Council planning to reduce the number of teams involved from 14 to 10 in 2019, Wednesday’s fixture could be their last in the showpiece event. l

Mooney 6-0-44-0 (4w), Cusack 8-0-43-0 (1w), Thompson 6-0-45-2 (8w), Dockrell 5-0-44-0, Stirling 5-0-36-0, K. O’Brien 6.5-0-42-0 Result: India won by eight wickets Man of the Match: Shikhar Dhawan

India may ban autographs on corruption fears n AFP, New Delhi India’s cricketers have been asked not to give autographs to fans during matches because of fears they will pass on illegal information to bookmakers, a newspaper report said Monday.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is under pressure to crack down on corruption following a series of betting and fixing scandals that rocked its Indian Premier League (IPL) tournament.

“We have asked cricketers not to give autographs” while the cricket body considers introducing an outright ban, BCCI official K.S. Madhavan told the Times of India.

The time-honoured tradition could be stopped at all matches organised by the BCCI including the highly popular IPL and the Champions League Twenty20, he said.

As the World Cup moves towards quarter-final showdowns in Australia and New Zealand, Madhavan said the BCCI was also trying to ban autograph signing during matches held overseas.

“It is a dangerous exercise and we are trying to push for a worldwide ban on this,” Madhavan, the BCCI’s senior investigating officer, told the newspaper.

“Through an autograph book, a bookie can exchange vital information with a player. For example, he can be asked to score a particular number of runs while batting.” l

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Bangladesh U-23 football team stretch during their first practice session at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Footballers begin preparations for AFC U23 Qualifiers n Raihan Mahmood

Bangladesh will be trying their best to finish at least second in Group E of the AFC Under-23 Qualifiers, scheduled to begin at Bangabandhu National Stadium from March 27. The 33-member preliminary camp underwent their first practice session at the big

bowl yesterday.

Hosts Bangladesh will take on Uzbekistan, Syria and India in Group E. Uzbekistan, ranked 71st in the Fifa rankings, are categorically the favourites but second slot will be up for grabs with Syria ranked at 150th, Bangladesh at 157th and India at 171st.

Uzbekistan will be the first team to arrive

in Dhaka on March 20, seven days before the kick-off. India and Syria are scheduled to arrive on March 25.

Meanwhile, the Dutch head coach of Bangladesh, Lodewijk de Kruif will arrive tomorrow to take the charge of the team. Assistant coach Saiful Bari Titu conducted the training session yesterday and will be in charge till De

Kruif returns. “We will be playing at home.

The conditions will be favouring us. Moreover, we have some experience in the team as a good number of players have played for the national side before. We are looking forward to giving our best,” said Titu yesterday. The 10 group champions and five best runners-up sides will qualify for the final round. l

FIVE GREAT BANGLADESH WINS

It should have been the mismatch of the 1999 World Cup. Instead, Bangladesh stunned the eventual runners-up Pakistan by 62 runs, a victory that paved the way to the side earning Test status

It might be tempting to call it one of the biggest upsets, but the manner in which Bangladesh pulled the rug from under India’s feet at Port-of-Spain at the 2007 World Cup came with a touch of the inevitable. It hastened India’s exit from the tournament and prompted a revamp of the World Cup format that was supposed to protect the top eight nations from crashing out early

It began with Andrew Symonds’ suspension for his ill-advised Cardiff bender that ended at 8am of the day of the match. Australia had bigger concerns later though as Mohammad Ashraful played the innings of his life and Aftab Ahmed delivered the coup de grace to one of the biggest upsets in cricketing history. Australia’s seeming invincibility was shattered before the great Ashes series of 2005

A dominant all-round performance from Shakib Al Hasan consigned New Zealand to a third straight defeat in 2010. It confirmed Bangladesh’s first ODI series win against top-flight opposition despite a valiant maiden hundred from Kane Williamson

As in 2015, Bangladesh trumped England in a thriller at the 2011 World Cup as well. England’s campaign had been a series of cliffhangers, but they couldn’t hang on against Bangladesh as a burst of hitting in the Powerplay from Shafiul Islam decided a tight low-scoring encounter in Chittagong

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JM Sen win big in Nat’l School Hockey n Shishir Hoque

Pogba strike sends Juventus 11 clear n AFP, Milan

JM Sen High School registered a convincing 7-1 victory over MA Bari High School in the First Security Islami Bank National School Hockey Championship 2015 at the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium yesterday.

In the day’s other matches, Moyezuddin High School outplayed BAF Shaheen School by 3-1, Police Line School, Faridpur edged past Richi High School 1-0 while Damkura Hat High School and Baitush Sharaf Jabbaria played out a 1-1 draw. l

French midfielder Paul Pogba struck late as Serie A leaders Juventus boosted their bid for a fourth consecutive title with a 1-0 win over Sassuolo that stretched their their lead over Roma to 11 points on Monday.

Juventus looked to be heading for their first scoreless draw at home this season after being frustrated by Sassuolo’s defensive tactics throughout an intense encounter in Turin. But Pogba saved the Italian champions’ blushes in the 82nd minute when he latched on to Simone Pepe’s perfect delivery to beat Andrea Consigli with a dipping half-volley inside the ‘keeper’s near post.

Juve’s 18th win of the campaign took their lead over misfiring Roma to 11 points with 12 games remaining. Roma, who suffered their eighth draw in nine games in Sunday’s stalemate at Chievo, now look out of the title race and with Lazio and Napoli only four points adrift, they will be concerned about their chances of holding on to the league’s second automatic Champions League spot.l

Bailey wouldn’t swap Starc for Steyn or Morkel n AFP, Hobart Dale Steyn? Morne Morkel? Well as far as George Bailey is concerned, right now Australia’s Mitchell Starc is more feared than either of the South Africa quicks.

Bailey, previously Australia’s one-day captain, has largely been reduced to the role of a spectator at this World Cup, with his only appearance coming in the team’s tournament opener against England before he was eased aside to let fit-again skipper Michael Clarke return to the team.

But he has been on hand while left-arm fast bowler Starc has taken 12 wickets at a miserly average of just over 10 apiece in four matches at the World Cup. Only the New Zealand pair of Trent Boult and Tim Southee have taken more wickets (13 each) and they’ve both played one match more than Starc.

Meanwhile Morkel has 11 wickets for the tournament and Steyn, surprisingly for a bowler of his class, a mere eight so far.

“I would say he’s more feared,” Bailey said Tuesday when asked if Starc was now in the same bracket as Steyn and Morkel. He’s got some really specific skills at the death that very few guys in the world are able to produce.

“That would be weighing on teams’ minds,” he added, with Starc’s stunning six for 28 against New Zealand almost setting up an improbable victory before Australia lost by one wicket in Auckland.

Bailey added that the 25-year-old Starc had the ability to staunch the flow of runs when sides were looking to ‘launch’ in the final 15 overs.

“Teams have basically been trying to get through to that batting power play, about the 35th over, with as many wickets in hand as they can, and then launch,” he said.l

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 1 9:30AM ICC Cricket World Cup Sri Lanka v Scotland UEFA Champions League

Ten Action 1:45AM Chelsea v PSG

Ten Sports 1:45AM Bayern Munich v Shakhtar

Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck (R) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Manchester United during their FA Cup quarter-final at Old Trafford in Manchester on Monday AFP

Old boy Welbeck sinks Man United in FA Cup n AFP, Manchester Danny Welbeck claimed revenge for his departure from Manchester United by scoring the winner as holders Arsenal reached the FA Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 away victory on Monday.

The Manchester-born United academy graduate, who joined the club at the age of eight, left in a £16 million ($24.2 million, 22.3 million euros) deal last September after being deemed surplus to requirements by new manager Louis van Gaal.

And he returned to haunt his former club as Arsenal claimed a first victory at Old Trafford since September 2006.

“Tonight I thought we played well and deserved to win the game,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side were drawn to face either Championship side Reading or third-tier Bradford City in the last four.

Southampton have most profitable youth academy, study finds n Reuters, Berne Southampton have the most profitable youth academy among the clubs in Europe’s socalled five big leagues, according to a study published on Monday.

The Swiss-based Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) said Southampton had generated 90.2 million euros ($97.94 million) from the transfer of players from their youth academy, including Adam Lallana, Luke Shaw and Calum Chambers, since July 2012. They were followed by Ligue 1 club Lille (76 million), La Liga pair Real Socieded (62.2 million) and Sevilla (51.5) and Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund (43.5). Real Madrid were sixth (43 million), Barcelona seventh (38.3 million) and Bayern Munich a modest twelfth (31.1 mllion). l

“We had to start without apprehension and play at a a high pace, and we did that well. Danny Welbeck, I believe, is just happy to score. He worked extremely hard today and deserved his goal.”

Welbeck pounced on a mistake by Antonio Valencia to score a 61st-minute winner after Wayne Rooney had cancelled out Nacho Monreal’s opener, and United’s evening ended in ignominy when Angel di Maria was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for manhandling referee Michael Oliver. United’s wait for FA Cup success will now stretch into a 12th year and their sole objective is now the race for Champions League qualification, in which they currently trail Arsenal by a point.

“I said in advance that (the top four) is a priority, but as a manager and as a player and club you want to win titles and now we cannot win a title,” said Van Gaal.l

PSG seek Champions League revenge at Chelsea n AFP, London Eleven months on from their last visit to Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge, Paris Saint-Germain return on Wednesday looking for confirmation of their place among the Champions League elite.

In last season’s quarter-finals, PSG came to London with a 3-1 lead from the first leg and with a huge 13-point advantage at the Ligue 1 summit, only to crash out after Demba Ba’s 87th-minute strike took Chelsea through on away goals.

This season, a round earlier, the tie is even more evenly-balanced at 1-1, and it is Chelsea who are dominating domestically, five points clear in the Premier League with a game in

hand, while in France, PSG trail Lyon by a point. But in contrast to last season’s London trip, PSG have Zlatan Ibrahimovic fit and in form, with the giant Swede having scored his third goal in four games and provided a de-

FIXTURES Bayern Munich Chelsea

v Shakhtar Donetsk v PSG

lightful assist for Javier Pastore in Saturday’s 4-1 defeat of Lens.

Laurent Blanc’s side have now gone 14 games without defeat in all competitions and despite their failure to recapture last season’s heights, they remain in contention for an unprecedented four-trophy haul. l

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30 DOWNTIME

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Faucet (3) 3 Handle (6) 8 Astonished (4) 9 Barrier (3) 10 Face (6) 11 Force (6) 14 Cast out (5) 17 Single stalk (5) 20 Shrewd (6) 24 Guarantee (6) 26 Groove (3) 27 Mountain lake (4) 28 Leave off (6) 29 timid (3)

DOWN 1 Soft powder (4) 2 Tree (4) 3 Shift (4) 4 Nimble (5) 5 Lessen (5) 6 Joke (3) 7 Upright (5) 12 Not at home (3) 13 Vegetable (3) 15 Protrude (3) 16 Domestic animal (3) 17 Stretch of turn (5) 18 Corrodes (5) 19 Unsightly growths (5) 21 Chair (4) 22 Rounded vases (4) 23 Whirlpool (4) 25 Prosecute (3)

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 16 represents G so fill G every time the figure 16 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

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

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2015

news

Dégradé gets Doha backing

n Showtime Desk The highly-anticipated Dégradé, Films du Tambour’s first feature-length film, was among the 29 international films selected to receive special mentoring by the Doha Film Institute at their inaugral Qumra event.

The film’s producers, Rani Massalha and Marie Legrand, as well as Rashid Abdehamed of Made In Palestine screened 15 minutes of the film at Qumra.

Dégradé, which was written and directed by twin brothers Arab and Tarzan Abou Nasser, is a dark comedy set in a beauty salon in the Gaza strip, where an assortment of women find themselves stuck after a gun battle breaks out in the streets between Hamas and a gangland family that has stolen a lioness from Gaza’s only zoo. The lion incident is actually based on real events, while the salon and its clientele are fictionalised.

The film, which is in its post-production stage in Paris, is slated to be released at a major film festival this year. Exact dates are yet to be released. l

CELEBS ON SOCIAL

NARGIS FAKHRI @NargisFakhri Morning coffee & Sketch. Haven’t done this in years!

Gona start with pencils then move to canvas and… https://instagram. com/p/0CekxflKm6/

screening

I Was Worth 50 Sheep today at EMK n Showtime Desk

Marking International Women Day, Edward M Kennedy (EMK) Centre in association with USAID Bangladesh and Women & Girls Lead Global (WGLG) will hold the screening of “I Was Worth 50 Sheep,” today at the EMK Centre in Dhanmondi at 6:00pm.

Directed by Nima Sarvestani, the award winning Afghanistan film is the tale of two sisters, Sabere and Farzane, and their struggle for human dignity and freedom in a war-torn country caught between ancient traditions and a modern world..

The screening will be followed by a discussion on “Girls’ Right to Education and Right to Decide when to Marry is Human Rights.”

The film has received the Best Documentary and the Best Feature Documentary Film awards at Amnesty International Human Rights Film Festival in Slovenia and Asia Pacific Screen Awards respectively. l

WHAT TO WATCH TELEVISION THE CONJURING HBO, 3:13pm Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston Based on a true story of a terrorized family by a dark presence in their farmhouse when two world famous paranormal investigators called upon to help them.

THE INTERNSHIP Star Movies, 4:41pm Cast: Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson, Rose Byrne After being torpedoed by the digital age, Nick Campbell and Billy McMahon find their way into intern-ship at Google, and compete with a group of young, tech-savvy geniuses.

LIFE OF PI Movies Now, 11am Cast: Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Ayush Tandon, Gautam Belur, Adil Hussain This is a story of belief and sequence of a young man who survives a disaster at sea and travelled the sea with a Bengal tiger.

The Cranes Are Flying at RCC n Showtime Desk

As a part of the weekly Russian Film Festival 2015, “The Cranes Are Flying,” a Soviet classic depicting World War II, will be screened at the auditorium of Russian Center of Science and Culture in the capital on March 13 at 11:00am.

Marking the 70th anniversary of Victory in Great Patriotic War of Russian People, the month-and-half-long festival has been arranged by the Russian Centre of Science and Culture in Dhaka which features nine Russian cinematic classics.

Directed by Soviet great Mikhail Kalatozov, the film is one of the landmarks of Soviet cinema which was instantly greeted as a revelation in the Soviet Union and became an international success, winning the Palme d’Or at Cannes.

The film follows Veronica who plans a rendezvous with her lover, Boris, at the bank of river, only for him to be drafted into World War II shortly thereafter. l

CONAN OBRIEN @ConanOBrien McDonald’s new CEO wants to change it into a “modern, progressive company” - so Burger King says it’s planning to transition to a democracy.

review

When it all breaks down n Abak Hussain The Belgium film The Broken Circle Breakdown is a tragic story of loss and the different ways people cope.

Directed by Felix Van Groeningen, it was nominated for the best foreign language film Oscar for 2012.

At the heart of the film is a love of bluegrass music, a quintessentially American genre. The central characters are a couple who play in a bluegrass band. Didier is Flemish, but he loves American culture. He idolises Bill Monroe. Elise is a tattoo artist. Just as free-spirited as Didier, they find soulmates in each other, and change each others’ lives.

When the non-committal Didier finally settles down and the couple have a child despite their fears, their hippy lifestyle gets a bit more serious. When their child is

diagnosed with an illness, they are forced to confront the reality of losing the most valuable thing in their lives.

The Broken Circle Breakdown is not a very easy film to watch. It is about loss and heartbreak and how artists alchemise their pain through their art. The evolution of the relationship between Didier and Elise doesn’t do anything on the nose. In scene after scene, we see a once happy couple spin out of control and tumble into a freefall of drugs and messy fights. Broken Circle is realistic in these scenes, you might see a bit of your own life here.

There is tragedy and pain here, as there is tremendous sympathy for the characters, but there is no moralising. Even when Elise goes out of control, or when Didier behaves immaturely, we see the characters as people – certainly not perfect, but flawed mortals who are doing the best they can. Nobody really prepares on you how to be a parent, you learn on the fly. And when tragedy strikes and things go against the natural order, the circle breaks down. Nobody tells you what do when that happens. Some pull through, some don’t. l

BETHANY MOTA @BethanyMota @lysmbethanymota: BETH FINALLY POSTED ON SNAPCHAT @BethanyMota YAYY!! it worked! Yes

WORLD CINEMA WEDNESDAYS On Wednesdays, we travel the world to see what the talented filmmakers are cooking up. We bring you international film festival coverage, foreign film reviews, and local screenings of foreign films. So hop on the magic carpet, and let us show you a whole new world.

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Over the precipice Joining the rest of the country in celebration, school children rejoice at the victory of Bangladesh over England. The photo was taken in front of Jatiya Press Club in the capital yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

3000MW LNG-fired plant in Maheshkhali n Aminur Rahman Rasel The Power Development Board has recommended that a 3000MW — Bangladesh’s largest — power plant worth Tk25,000 crore be set up at Maheshkhali in Cox’s Bazaar.

Originally proposed by Reliance Power, a subsidiary of the large Indian conglomerate owned by the Ambanis, the liquefied natural gas fired plant will be the first of its kind here.

None of the planned coal-based power plants exceed 1320MW. The Power Division sought the opinion of the Power Development Board (PDB) after Reliance placed the proposed in October, 2014.

“They wanted 180 acres on lease for 22 years. We discussed their proposal at our board meeting and will send our opinion to the Power Division tomorrow (Wednesday),” PDB Member (Company Affairs) Md. Shamsul Hassan Miah told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“The Power Division will take the final de-

cision in this regard,” he said. “They will build a 2250MW plant in the first phase and another 750MW will be added in the second phase.”

Reliance’s proposes that the plant be operated on a BOO (build-own-operate) scheme for 22 years selling each unit of power at Tk8.44. The plant itself is expected to take three years to build.

Reliance estimates that the full project would cost over $3 billion at about $1.04 million for every megawatt of production capacity.

Reliance is currently developing 13 power projects with a combined capacity of 28,200MW, which is one of the largest power generation portfolios in India.

The state-owned North-West Power Generation Co Ltd is planning a 750MW-850MW re-gasified LNG-based power plant in Khulna.

MPC-Bangla Power, a joint venture of Meiya Power Company and Trade Matrix Venture, will also build a 1,075MW LNG-based plant at Maheshkhali in Cox’s Bazar. l

Dates for postponed SSC examinations fixed n Tribune Report

Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and its equivalent examinations for March 3 and 4, which were suspended due to the ongoing nationwide general strikes, will be held on March 20 and 21 respectively.

Deputy Chief Information Officer Subadh Chandra Dhali said yesterday.

He said: “The SSC and equivalent exams

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This extract is the third in a series that will run until March 25, in which we reproduce Rehman Sobhan’s contemporaneous account of the events of that momentous month in Bangladeshi history. This was first published in Forum on March 6, 1971

n Rehman Sobhan Ever since Mr. Bhutto’s decision to boycott the assembly, confrontation has been in the air. The movement of anti -aircraft guns into strategic positions outside the airport a week ago had already generated consternation amidst the public that something was afoot.

There was a report that ex-Governor Ahsan cancelled his visit to Pindi at the last minute, but this was put at rest when he left the next day to attend the governor’s conference in Pindi. As a backdrop to this, Mr. Bhutto and President Yahya had held emergency discussions in Pindi. To crown it all came the abrupt dismissal of the cabinet.

Following the meeting of Martial Law administrators and governors, Lt. Gen Yakub, Governor Ahsan and Lt. Gen. Peerzada flew to Karachi, first for talks with Mr. Bhutto and then onward, for talks with Sheikh Mujib.

Whilst these three emissaries were in Karachi, news of Sheikh Mujib’s press conference giving his reactions to Mr. Bhutto’s political posture and underlining the dangerous implications of any further postponement of the National Assembly beyond March 3 came over the wires.

The statement broke a long and deliberate policy of restraint by the Sheikh on Bhutto’s histrionics and appears to have been inspired by concern that Bhutto’s intransigence may well have pressured the

president into postponement.

Following this statement, President Yahya’s emissaries appeared to have detoured back to Pindi for more consultations with Yahya. Ahsan and Yakub then flew into Dacca. Peerzada was also expected and some newsmen even went to the airport to meet him -- but he did not come at all.

In Dacca, it appears that Governor Ahsan indicated to Mujib, in his last and fateful meeting, the prospect of a possible postponement. Mujib warned him in no uncertain terms of the dangerous consequences of such a move.

In the meantime, the Awami League MNAs were in closed door session since February 27 to discuss the party’s constitutional draft. President Yahya had also flown to Karachi en route to Dacca.

West wing MNAs from Baluchistan, NWFP, Punjab and even the tribal areas were all on their way to Dacca for the National Assembly session, which on all counts, was scheduled for March 3.

On February 28, the emergency electrical generator was moved into place next to the president’s house indicating the imminent arrival of the president.

Incoming passengers from Karachi reported that President Yahya was booked to fly on the afternoon plane to Dacca. All security precautions had been made at Karachi Airport, passengers reported two hours in advance as customary when they have such august company.

But the president did not catch his flight and the plane flew without him into the conflagration which was spreading like wildfire throughout Bangla Desh. l

for March 3 and 4 will be held on March 20 and 21. Besides, Wednesday’s (today’s) Dakhil exam has been postponed.”

“We will fix new dates for March 8, 10, 11 SSC exams while exam for March 1 will be held on March 14.”

The BNP-led alliance has been observing the strike since February 1, protesting the “killings, mass arrests, and torture” of party activists, and the “restoration of democracy.” l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com