12 march, 2015 0

SECOND EDITION

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

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Falgun 28, 1421, Jamadiul Awal 20, 1436

SANTU LARMA VISIT SPURS UNREST PAGE 3

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 2, No 336

GOVT SEEKS HELP IN HOSTAGE CRISIS PAGE 4

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www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages | Price: Tk10

5 MITFORD STAFF MEMBERS TO DIE FOR MURDER PAGE 5

DCC polls stir up intentions Manna likely to run for mayor

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Ruling Awami League and the main opposition in parliament Jatiya Party have started preparations for Dhaka mayoral races even before the announcement of the election schedule.

Dhaka city polls were last held over a decade ago. The capital has since been divided into two city corporations – North and South.

Chittagong’s election was last held in 2010.

Awami League’s former organising secretary Mahmudur Rahman Manna, who fell out with the party in 2009, may contest the polls, however. An advisor to his civic platform Nagorik Oikya (Citizens’ Unity), SM Akram told media outlets yesterday that he believed although in jail, Manna would run.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, on February 16, directed the Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) Ministry to prepare for the polls.

The directive came when violence in blockade and strikes — enforced by the Awami League’s main political opposition BNP-led alliance — seemed to be headed for the worse, with scores dead and hundreds maimed. Most of those killed were victims of petrol-bomb arson on crowded buses and goods-laden trucks.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

Al Masum Molla and n Mohammad Mohammad Jamil Khan

Mayoral candidates make their intentions clear as billboards go up on the streets of Dhaka ahead of the city polls. Photo taken at Lakshmi Bazaar yesterday in Dhaka MEHEDI HASAN

Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna, who faces a sedition charge, is likely to run for mayor in the Dhaka City Corporation (north) election.

SM Akram, adviser to Nagorik Oikya, said he hoped that Manna would run the race because he had received a lot of responses when he launched campaign earlier.

However, Manna’s wife Meher Nigar said: “I do not do politics and I do not understand politics. It is the affair of his [Manna] party colleagues. We are concerned only about his health.”

Asked whether Manna or his party leaders talked about his candidature in the DCC polls, Meher Nigar said neither Manna nor his colleagues talked to her about it.

Akram said rumour was rife that Manna had been arrested just to keep him at bay from the polls. But I am making sure that it would not be possible to keep him away from  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Spin a web around Kiwi feet BNP’s underground n spokesman detained Mazhar Uddin from Australia

Bangladesh spin coach Ruwan Kalpage is counting on the spinners against the Tigers’ next Pool A match against New Zealand tomorrow.

After a net session, the former Lankan off-spinner, who has 73 wickets in 86 ODIs, said he believed the pitch in Hamilton might provide some benefits for the Tigers spinners.

Following an emphatic 15-run triumph against England that confirmed their quarter-final berth last Monday, the Bangladesh cricket team yesterday reached the windy city of Hamilton in New Zealand.

PAGE 2 Three suspected robbers lynched in Chittagong

Mashrafe bin Mortaza and his troops appeared relaxed at the airport before leaving for Hamilton.

Apart from skipper Mashrafe, ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, hero of the previous match Rubel Hossain and young fast bowler Taskin Ahmed, all the members of the Tigers’ squad underwent an optional training session yesterday.

“This World Cup has no help for the bowlers as the whole tournament so far has been dominated by the batsmen. But, as I have played in Hamilton before, from that experience I am sensing that the spinners might get  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

PAGE 7 Rajshahi cardiac hospital services in a shambles

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla The BNP has claimed that law enforcers picked up party’s Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed, facing a number of violence-related cases, from Uttara in Dhaka on Tuesday night.

When contacted yesterday, police and RAB officials refuted the allegation.

As party spokesperson, Salahuddin had been issuing press releases to announce hartal programmes from unknown places since the arrest of Joint Secretary General Ruhul Kabir Rizvi on January 31.

A press release signed by BNP Standing Committee member Nazrul Islam Khan last night claimed that around 20-30 law enforcers including members from police, DB and RAB had arrested Salahuddin from the house around 10pm on Tuesday.

PAGE 11 Indian court summons ex-PM Manmohan

“He has been out of reach since then. Until now, he has not been produced before the court,” the statement said.

Nazrul alleged that two other persons including a housemaid had also been picked up by the law enforcers at that time. “Few days ago, the caretaker of Salahuddin’s house and two of his drivers were arrested without warrant and produced before the court three days later,” the statement read.

Demanding immediate release of Salahuddin, Nazrul asked the government to stop abduction of the opposition leaders.

Masudur Rahman, the DMP deputy commissioner (media), said they did not arrest Salahuddin.

Mufti Mahmud Khan, director of RAB’s legal and media wing, said they had no idea about Salahuddin’s detention. l

PAGE 32 Avijit murder clues handed over to FBI

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Three alleged robbers Gazipur mayor sent to 52 houses, shops, lynched in Chittagong Dhaka for treatment gutted in 3 districts n FM Mizanur Rahaman, Chittagong n Our Correspondent, Gazipur n Tribune Report Three suspected robbers were beaten to death by an angry mob in Payndong union of Fatikchhari upazila in Chittagong last night.

One of the victims was identified as Osman, 42, the ring leader of the robbers’ gang known as Osman Group; the identities of others could not be ascertained immediately.

Mohammed Nazrul Islam, upazila nirbahi officer of Fatikchhari, confirmed the incident but did not say anything further.

When contacted, ASP AFM Nijam Uddin of Chittagong district police told the Dhaka Tribune that he was on the way to the spot.

Payndong Union Parishad’s Chairman AKM Sarwar Hossain said the Osman Group had committed robbery in the locality several times recently.

He said the robbers had stormed into an expatriate’s house in the area around 8pm yesterday. Sensing their presence, the villagers cordoned them off and gave them a good beating leaving the three dead on the spot. l

Arrested and jailed in an arson case last month, Gazipur City Corporation Mayor MA Mannan was taken to Dhaka yesterday for better treatment.

“He was sent to Dhaka Central Jail for better treatment around 5:15pm after we received his complaint of chest pain. From there, he will be taken to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University,” Faridur Reza Rubel, jailer of Dhaka Central Jail 1, Gazipur, said.

An adviser to the BNP chief, Mannan is also suffering from diabetes.

Detectives arrested Mannan on February 11 in a case filed over arson attack on a bus near Gazipur Palli Bidyut office on February 4 that left a number of passengers injured, Joydebpur police sources said.

Through court, Mannan was sent to Kashimpur High Security Jail the following day and then to Dhaka Central Jail 1 on February 18. l

At least 52 houses, shops and godowns were gutted in several fire incidents in Gaibandha, Sylhet and Savar yesterday.

Our Gaibandha correspondent says ten shops were gutted in at Paka Matha Bazar in Sadullahpur upazila.

Witnesses said the fire had originated from an electric short-circuit at a shop of the bazar around 2:30am. The affected shop owners claimed that losses could go up to Tk70 lakh.

Our Sylhet correspondent said a fire burnt down 10 houses of a shelter project at Ashampara in Jaintapur upazila of the district.

Senior station officer of Sylhet Fire Service Jabed Hossain M Tareque said the fire originated from an electric short circuit around 9pm, adding that losses can exceed Tk10 lakh.

Our Savar correspondent said a fire burnt down 32 godowns of jhut (garment rags) at Jamgara beside GSM Apparels in Ashulia.

The godown owners claimed the loss caused by the fire could go up to Tk2 crore. l

Workshop to enhance public-private relation begins in Copenhagen n Tribune Report The 8th Global Public Private Dialogue (PPD) workshop kicked off on Tuesday in Copenhagen where participants from different countries will exchange views on enhancing the relation between public and private sectors.

About 300 representatives of governments, private sectors, PPD coordination units and business forums from 50 countries are attending the event. They agree in supporting PPD practitioners on the ground.

Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD), the first PPD platform in Bangladesh, is one of the participants representing Bangladesh.

Asif Ibrahim, chairman of BUILD; Shaikh Yusuf Harun, Director General of Prime Minister’s Office; Masrur Riaz, Mohammad Lurfullah and Hosna Ferdous Sumi from International Finance Corporation comprised the delegation from Bangladesh. The workshop will end on March 14. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Manna likely to run for mayor the polls putting him behind bars,” he told the Dhaka Tribune over phone last night.

Akram, who lost in Narayanganj 5 by-poll as an independent candidate, said he did not talk to Manna about the polls but there was no reason for boycotting the election.

“I did not talk to Manna but the party leaders and activists spoke to him on different occasions; Manna told them that he was mentally sound but did not say anything about election,” he said.

Dhaka University teacher Prof Asif Nazrul yesterday at a meeting organised by Nagorik Oikya at Jatiya Press Club in the city demanded Manna’s immediate release.

Akram also spoke at the discussion.

Asif Nazrul blamed a section of media for spreading propaganda against Manna in a plot to arrest him.

Meanwhile, Mahmudur Rahman Manna was finally admitted to the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) based on the reports on his blood pressure and ECG. Manna was admitted to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of the hospital around 2:30am yesterday under the supervision of Prof Dr Wadud.

A six-member special medical board was formed to look after his health condition.

Earlier, a team of Detective Branch (DB) of police took Manna to DMCH around 11:05pm on Tuesday after he had complained of chest pain.

On March 7, Manna was taken on a 10-day

fresh remand in the sedition case filed against him and BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka.

He was produced before the court on completion of his 10-day remand in another case filed for his alleged involvement in inciting the army to grab power.

Addressing Manna’s condition, Monirul Islam, Joint commissioner of DB police, yesterday said Manna is now undergoing treatment at CCU under supervision of a sixmember medical board.

Manna will stay in the hospital for four to five days, he said quoting on-duty doctors.

When asked about the claims by Manna’s family members that Manna was subjected to torture during the remand Monirul denied the allegation.

“He had been suffering from high blood pressure before his arrest and Manna also mentioned it on the first day of his appearance before the court,” Monirul told reporters at the DMP media and community centre.

The DMCH medical board did not find any kind of injury marks on his body and even Manna himself did not say anything about torture, said Monirul.

Soon after his admission into the hospital, Manna’s wife Meher Nigar claimed that Manna had been psychically and mentally tortured resulting in his deteriorated health and admission into the hospital.

Earlier, Manna was arrested by Rapid Action Battalion on February 24 from in front of Star Kabab in the capital’s Dhanmondi. l

Spin a web around Kiwi feet some assistance from this pitch,” Kalpage told the media yesterday.

Besides the Bangladesh spinners, Kalpage also thinks that the fast bowlers will have a major part to play against the Black Caps.

The 45-year-old went on to praise the effort of the Bangladesh fast bowlers against England as they picked up eight of the 10 wickets to fall.

However, it will be anything but easy against the high-flying Kiwis, who are unbeaten so far from five matches.

New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, who is in scintillating touch with the bat, has every possibility of coming hard on the Bangladesh bowlers.

Kalpage said they were yet to make a plan for the hard-hitting batsman. l

DCC polls stir up intentions Within days, Hasina, also the Awami League President, endorsed mayoral candidates on behalf of her party.

Annisul Huq, a former president of the apex business body FBCCI and the garment exporters association BGMEA, a media personality, will run for mayor of Dhaka North. Sayeed Khokon, son of Dhaka’s first elected mayor late Mohammad Hanif, will run in Dhaka South.

Apart from them, two other Dhaka-based Awami League leaders — incumbent lawmakers Kamal Ahmed Majumder from Mirpur and Haji Mohammad Selim from Lalbagh — are also visibly intent to run in the Dhaka city polls.

Both have recently put up giant billboards on the streets of Dhaka although neither have begun to campaign for votes directly. However, the billboards have them committing to a clean and developed Dhaka.

On the other hand, some television stations have aired what is clearly publicity commercial of Annisul Huq. According to the election rules, candidates are barred from campaigning until the election schedules are announced.

The Election Commission has called a meeting of relevant officials and government agencies today to decide on a likely date. Announcement of an election schedule is expected to follow soon afterwards.

“I have got fantastic support from my colleagues. My supporters are bringing out small processions every day in my constituency to drum up support. The campaign will gain momentum once the schedules are announced,” Sayeed Kokhon told the Dhaka Tribune.

The other Awami League backed contestant, Annisul Huq, was more reserved. “I am new to politics. And I have not yet launched a full-fledged campaign. So, I cannot say what people are thinking. But I am making full preparations.”

On Sunday, Ershad’s Jatiya Party announced it would back Bahauddin Ahmed Babul for North and Saifuddin Ahmed Milon for South in Dhaka.

According to the laws, local government

elections, whether at the unions or the city corporations, must be “non-political,” meaning that the political parties cannot participate in the polls, nor is there any requirement for nominations.

No other political party, including the BNP or its allies, has shown any intent to participate, although in recent weeks the Election Commission has stepped up its initiatives for holding the elections.

Party insiders said the BNP is not thinking about contesting the polls now because it does not want to compromise the tempo of its ongoing anti-government campaign, which calls for the Awami League to step down leading to national elections.

Seeking anonymity, a BNP leader said the government plans to hold the polls to divert people’s attention from the opposition’s movement.

Dhaka’s last elected mayor was senior BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka, who overstayed his tenure — 2002 to 2011 — by four years before the city corporation was split into two.

The Dhaka city elections could not be held because of various legal complications arising out of demarcation of the two city corporations.

Although the main political opposition has dismissed the idea of contesting the polls, the party has happy memories of 2013 when BNP endorsed mayoral candidates swept city polls in Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet and Gazipur.

The EC on Tuesday sent a letter to all the ministries seeking lists of presiding officers, assistant presiding officers and polling officers along with first, second and third grade government officials and employees.

The Dhaka Tribune has obtained a copy of that letter, which states that the EC requires the list by March 16 so that it can prepare panels of election officers.

EC Secretary Md Sirajul Islam told reporters on Tuesday that preparations, including a revision to the voter list, are going on in full swing.

Seeking anonymity, a deputy secretary of the Finance Ministry told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that the EC has recently sought Tk45 crore for conducting the Dhaka city polls. l

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Clashes in Bandarban centring Santu Larma’s visit n

Jubo Dal arsonist describes attack in Hathazari

20 hurt as Bangali group clashes with PCJSS men amid hartal damaged his camera. those had Jamaat-e-Islami men as leaders. n Our Correspondent, Bandarban At noon, the picketers uprooted plates of a The new platform on Tuesday called 72-hour At least 20 people mostly members of indigenous group PCJSS were injured in series of clashes with the supporters of Jago Parbatyabashi – a newly formed platform, in Bandarban town yesterday amid hartal.

Of the injured, five were admitted to Bandarban Sadar Hospital. But two of them were later shifted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital as their condition deteriorated.

Police detained a picketer during the clashes. At noon, army, BGB personnel and additional police were deployed in the town to avoid further clashes.

Leaders of Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samity (PCJSS) blame district unit Awami League General Secretary Awami League General Secretary Kazi Mujibur Rahman and BNP-backed municipality Mayor Zabed Reza for instigating the attacks.

Jago Parbatyabashi emerged recently with members of both the Awami League and the BNP. The local AL leaders had no representation in the two other Bangali organisations including Parbatya Bangali Somo Odhikar Andolon since

general strike in the district in “protest against extortion, abduction and killings by PCJSS.” The hartal coincides with the visit of PCJSS President Jyotirindra Bodhipriya Larma alias Santu Larma, who is set to join the council programme of Pahari Chhatra Parishad, its students’ wing, at Farukpara of the town.

Due to the shutdown, no highway buses left the town while businesses and educational institutions remained closed.

Jago Parbatyabashi supporters were picketing in different areas of the town since morning. In the judge’s court area, the hartal supporters pelted bricks at a police vehicle. A picketer named Humayun was detained in this connection.

Clashes between PCJSS and Jago Parbatyabashi ensued in the morning when an indigenous youth named Mong Ting Marma, who works for an online news portal, took photos of the demonstrators in Traffic Mor area, police and locals said.

The picketers first assaulted him and later chased him to the Press Club office. They also

bridge in Swarnomondir area of Balaghata as the convoy carrying Santu Larma was entering the town. Later officials of roads and highways department came and repaired the bridge, and the PCJSS chief went to the Circuit House.

Following this, clashes spread from Balaghata to across the town resulting in the injuries of at least 15 PCJSS men.

OC Imtiaz Ahmed said they were patrolling the town since morning to tackle any untoward incident.

Jago Parbatyabashi Convenor Abidur Rahman claimed that they were peacefully observing hartal to protest against the criminal activities of PCJSS men.

Assistant Information and Publicity Secretary of PCJSS Sajib Chakma condemned the attacks on their men and demanded compensation for their treatment. He also demanded immediate arrest of the attackers.

PCJSS Bandarban unit General Secretary Keba Mong Marma claimed that AL leader Mujibur and Mayor Reza had instigated the attacks. l

Foreign nationals based in Dhaka join locals in lighting candles at Baridhara in the capital yesterday observing the fourth anniversary of the quake-tsunami disaster in Japan DHAKA TRIBUNE

New official to run graft inquiry against Odhikar n Adil Sakhawat The Anti-Corruption Commission has appointed a new official to run its investigation against human rights body Odhikar, in connection with the organisation’s alleged involvement in money laundering and financial irregularities.

On Tuesday, the ACC appointed its As-

sistant Director SM Rafiqul Islam as the new inquiry official, said an official of the commission.

The watchdog changed the previous probe official – Deputy Director Harunur Rashid – as his preoccupation with other important investigations for the ACC meant he could make only little progress in his inquiry against Odhikar, the official said.

The ACC began its probe against the human rights organisation in July 2013, investigating claims that Odhikar had received over Tk4.21 crore worth of foreign funds for four projects during the 2010-12 period.

On January 22 last year, the commission interrogated Odhikar Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan and Director ASM Nasiruddin Elan in connection with the graft allegations. l

Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

A detained Jubo Dal activist has reportedly described to the police how he and a group of arsonists attacked an autorickshaw in Hathazari on March 4 – causing the deaths of two people inside the vehicle.

Following his arrest from Hathazari on Tuesday night, Emran Hossain, 27, also provided a confessional statement yesterday before the court of Chittagong Judicial Magistrate Ishrat Jahan under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Police sources told the Dhaka Tribune that during initial interrogation, Emran also named Jasim – a Jubo Dal leader in Hathazari’s Burir Pukur Par area – as the person orchestrating the attack on behalf of other senior leaders of the BNP’s youth wing.

Emran claimed that as per Jasim’s instructions, he went to Napiter Pukur Par area in Charia union on the evening of March 4.

“When I reached there, I saw local Jubo Dal activists Kamal, Ahad, Jamshed, Rahim, Iqbal, Jahed, Arif, Saiful, Imran, Sabbir, Nur Islam and five to six others holding a meeting,” police sources quoted Emran as saying.

“At the meeting, Jasim told us that Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal central leaders ordered to torch vehicles by hurling petrol bombs.

“Four of us were given petrol bombs and the rest were holding sticks. From a bridge in the area, we targeted a goods-laden truck, but the petrol bombs missed it as the vehicle sped away. Later, we hit a CNG-run autorickshaw with petrol bombs.

“I saw two to three people in the vehicle shouting for help as they were engulfed in flames; I fled but I could not forgive myself for such a heinous job,” Emran said.

“I heard the news about the deaths of two burn victims [day labourer Ranjit Nath, 30, and autorickshaw driver Md Saber, 28] through media, while I visited the hospital when Saber died,” the detained Jubo Dal activist added.

The two victims received critical injuries in the attack on March 4; Ranjit died the following night and Saber died on March 10.

Chittagong district’s Additional Superintendent of Police (North) Mostafijur Rahman said: “There were 15 people present during the attack, while Emran mentioned 12 names. He told us he can identify the others if he sees them.”

The police official added that 19 people have so far been arrested in connection with the arson attack. l

Bullet-injured Jubo Dal activist dies n Our Correspondent, Lakshmipur A Jubo Dal activist who received bullet injury during a gun fight with police in Komolnagar area of Lakshmipur on March 2, died at National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedic Rehabilitation (Nitor) in the capital yesterday morning.

Amjad Hossain, cousin of Jubo Dal activist Arfi Hossain, said he had died around 8am.

After Arif was bullet injured during a gun fight with law enforces, he was taken to Lakhsmipur Sadar Hospital. Later, he was shifted to Nitor. l

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Govt to seek IOM, Red Cross Bangladeshi abductees’ help for Libya hostages families in deep anxiety n Shohel Mamun

The government has planned to ask International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Red Cross for help for the rescue of two Bangladeshis, who were abducted by Islamic State in Libya on March 6.

“We will seek their help in the search for the two Bangladeshi men. We will also ask for suggestions about what we should do in this situation,” said Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain while talking to reporters at his office yesterday.

He said letters would be sent to the two organisations in this regard soon.

Helal Uddin from Jamalpur and Mohammad Anowar Hossain from Noakhali are among the nine foreigners who were abducted by Islamic State militants from Al Ghani oil

field near Sirte, about 700km south-east of Libyan capital Tripoli.

The abductions have raised fear and concern among around 40,000 Bangladeshis currently living in Libya. Most of them reside in Tripoli and adjacent areas.

The Bangladesh embassy in Tripoli earlier wrote to the government, asking for a move to take back Bangladeshi migrants from Libya.

But Mosharraf said such a decision would spread a negative message among the migrants.

“Besides, no other country who has its nationals working in Libya has taken any such initiative,” he said.

“The Libyan Foreign Ministry has informed the Bangladesh mission in Tripoli that earnest efforts are underway to rescue the abductees,” added the expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment minister. l

n Tribune Report The families of two Bangladeshi men kidnapped by Islamic State in Libya said they were in grave concern over the safety of the abductees.

Helal Uddin from Jamalpur and Mohammad Anowar Hossain from Noakhali are among the nine foreigners who were abducted by Islamic State militants from Al Ghani oil field near Sirte, about 700km south-east of Libyan capital Tripoli, on March 6.

Helal’s wife Aleya Begum said she had repeatedly phoned her husband in Libya over the past few days but nobody picked up.

“On Tuesday, the phone was picked up twice in the morning but someone spoke in Arabic which I did not understand. The phone was then switched off till 9:27 this morning and the person on the other end said nothing when I called shortly after. Since then, the number remains unreachable,” she told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Helal, son of Amad Sheikh of Gojaria village under Adarbhita union, had been working in Libya for five years. The last time he came to Bangladesh to visit his family on a two-month holiday was in 2014.

Alyea said her husband is the sole breadwinner of the family and they all remain extremely worried about him since his abduction.

The couple has three daughters and two sons.

Alyea told the Dhaka Tribune that she had no idea what Islamic State was and why the group had kidnapped her husband.

“I call on the government to rescue my husband as early as possible,” she said.

Deputy Commissioner of Jamalpur, Md

Shahabuddin Khan, said the administration had constantly been in touch with the ministry and Helal’s family.

“We will help Helal’s family in all possible ways in this tough time,” he added.

Meanwhile, Anowar’s wife Marufa Khatun said she first came to know about her husband’s abduction after watching the news on television on Tuesday.

She said she had tried several times to reach her husband over phone but got no response.

Marufa then called Moinul Hossain, one of her husband’s friends who also lives in Libya, and he told her that Anowar had been taken hostage by Islamic State.

“I talked to Anowar at 11pm on March 5 and that was our last phone conversation,” she said.

Md Mahmud Iqbal, brother-in-law of Anowar, said he had contacted Foreign Ministry officials and also the Bangladesh ambassador to Libya, Maj Gen Shahidul Haque.

“The ambassador told me in an e-mail that officials were trying their best to rescue Anowar,” he added.

Abu Taher, one of Anowar’s neighbours, described the expat as a good man.

Thirty-eight-year-old Anowar earned a diploma degree from Chittagong Polytechnic Institute and worked in Saudi Arabia from 2001 to 2007.

He tied the knot in 2007 and went to Libya in 2010. In December 2011, he returned for over a month before flying back on February 11, 2012.

Anowar and Marufa have two children – Rahin, 7, and Raisha, 5.

Both the families have called on the government to rescue the two men. l

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Five Mitford staffs to die for murder n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

Five employees of Sir Salimullah Medical College and Hospital have been sentenced to death while three others given life-term imprisonment for the killing of son of their co-worker in 1999.

Judge Ruhul Amin of the Dhaka’s Fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s court pronounced the order yesterday.

The death row convicts are Dulal alias Alo, Bellal, Sharif Mahmud Hossain alias Panna, Amzad Hossain and Waliullah Khan alias Bulbul. They were also fined Tk10,000 each. Of them, Panna, Amzad and Bulbul were tried in absentia while the others appeared before the court during the delivery of the verdict.

All the lifers are absconding. They are Sumon alias Pagla Sumon, Salauddin alias Sujon and Jabed Miah. They were fined Tk10,000 each; in default, they would have to serve jail term of one year.

The court acquitted seven other accused as the allegations brought against them were not proved.

All the convicts were grade IV employees of Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital, better known as Mitford Hospital, in Old Dhaka.

Thirteen out of 18 prosecution witnesses gave deposition in the sensational murder case.

Four accused gave confessional statements.

According to the case, Khorshed Alam, 22, son of Siddiqur Rahman – the then president of grade IV employees’ association at the hospital, was stabbed to death by the convicts at a field behind the hospital on May 22, 1999. Khorshed was killed over previous enmity with his father centring leadership of the association.

Siddiqur filed the murder case with Kotwali police against 16 people the same day.

Sub-Inspector Md Azizul Haque, also investigation officer of the case, submitted charge sheet against the accused on January 10, 2000. l

44 Munshiganj SSC examinees worried of results n Our Correspondent, Munshiganj Forty-four students who appeared in the ongoing Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations are worried of their results as they took the exam of Physics in wrong question papers.

The students were mistakenly given the subject’s question papers for objective part of previous year’s syllabus instead of current syllabus at Louhajang Pilot High School exam centre (Louhajang centre 206) on February 27.

Authorities of the examination centre, however, informed the authorities concerned soon after the mistake was noticed.

On February 28, Jahirul Haque, secretary of the exam centre, wrote to the examination controller of Dhaka Education Board requesting to take necessary steps for evaluating the answers of the students by following the syllabus of 2014.

M Khalekujjaman, UNO of Louhajang, said he was informed about the matter and recommended to take necessary steps in the letter sent to the examination controller.

“The board authorities have assured us of taking necessary steps in this regards. We hope that results of the students will not be affected,” he said.

“It was a mistake of the authorities concerned, not of the students. Such mistakes can be happened at other examination centres in the country,” he added.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, many students among the 44, including Jakia Abedin and Salsabil Aktar, said they expected to get full marks in the objective part of the paper.

But the question papers of previous year’s syllabus badly affected their answers in the examination. l

BCL men suspended for harassing female journalist n DU Correspondent The authorities at Dhaka University have suspended four Bangladesh Chhatra League activists from the university for allegedly harassing a female journalist on Monday.

The public relations department of the university issued a press release in this regard yesterday evening.

The suspended students are sociology student Taslim Hasan Tuhin, criminology student Ali Abbas, peace and conflict studies student Kamrul Hasan Sumon and disaster management and vulnerability studies student Shahariar Nazim Shaon.

Four other students – philosophy students Bahauddin Radik and Shahariar Sonnet, Urdu student Addul Hakim Bakul, and banking and finance student Atikur Rahman – were sent a

show-cause notice by the vice-chancellor.

All eight are first-year students at the university and followers of Maksud Rana Mithu, president of Chhatra League’s Hazi Mohammad Mohsin Hall unit.

“A probe body will be formed soon to investigate this incident, and steps against the accused will be taken after the body submits the report,” said DU acting proctor M Amzad Ali. The assault took place during the celebration of Bangladesh’s win over England in a group match of the ICC World Cup 2015; Chhatra League activists of Mohsin Hall reportedly beat DU Journalists’ Association President Masum Billah and harassed the female journalist from the United News of Bangladesh (UNB).

The DU proctorial team reportedly detained two of the culprits on the spot and handed them over to police. l

Former health minister AFM Ruhal Haque leads a group of MPs, also physicians by training, to submit a memorandum urging Khaleda Zia to end her violent anti-government campaign DHAKA TRIBUNE

3 TV journos injured in BCL attack n FM Mizanur Rahaman, Chittagong Three journalists of two private television channels were injured after they were attacked by a group of Bangladesh Chhatra League men in Chittagong city’s Lal Dighi ground yesterday.

The injured journalists were Jamshedul Karim and Sajid Ahmed Sajib of private television Channel 24 and Runa Ansari of Asian TV. Witnesses said an altercation erupted between a group of Chhatra League men and Jamshed and Sajid when they stood to live-telecast a programme of Awami Leagueled 14-party alliance around 5:30pm.

The Roads and Bridge Minster Obaidul

Quader was delivering speech at the programme when the incident took place.

According to witnesses, the unruly Chhatra League men physically assaulted the duo and knocked them down to the ground. They also snatched the cell phone of Runa when she tried to resist the ruling party student wing men.

Chittagong Union of Journalists General Secretary Hasan Ferdaous told the Dhaka Tribune that they would boycott all news of AL-led 14-party alliance until the BCL men were arrested and expelled.

The journalist leader said: “Although the minister expressed sorrow for the untoward situation, we want expulsion of the BCL men and their immediate arrest.” l

DT

6 NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Six killed in road accidents n Our Correspondent, Savar At least six people were killed and 20 injured in separate road crashes in Ashulia yesterday.

The fatal incidents took place on the Abdullahpur-Baipail and Nabinagar-Kaliakoir highways.

Among the deceased, three were identified as Shafiqul Islam, 48, Abbas, 60 and Rafiqul Islam, 32 of Jamalpur area; they were all cattle traders.

Police and witnesses said a cattle-laden truck coming from Jamalpur collided head on with a truck on the Abdullahpur-Baipail highway. The three cattle traders died on the spot.

Two passengers of the truck were rescued and admitted to Savar’s Enam Medical College Hospital, where one of them later succumbed to his injuries.

Meanwhile, a bicyclist was run over by a truck on the same highway yesterday morning. The person, who could not be identified, died instantly.

On the early hours of Wednesday, two buses were involved in an accident while attempting to overtake each other near Baroipara bus stand on the Nabinagar-Kaliakoir highway.

Two passengers died when one of the buses turned turtle and 18 passengers were injured when the other bus fell into a roadside ditch.

Ashulia police station OC Mostafa Kamal said the bodies had been sent to Dhaka Medical College for post-mortem. He added that separate cases have been filed in this regard. l

Civil society members criticised for theorising n Tribune Report Criticising civil society members, Food Minister Qamrul Islam yesterday said the civilians were developing various theories at a time when the BNP-Jamaat alliance was burning innocent people to death.

All would have to remain alert against those talking about increasing the president’s power rather than about stopping BNP-Jamaat’s sabotage, he told the civilians.

The minister made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at a human chain and rally organised by Bangabandhu Sangskritik Jote in front of the capital’s National Press Club.

Speaking on BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s graft trial, Qamrul said implementation of the court’s arrest warrant against Khaleda was a matter of time and no concession would be given in this regard.

“Awami League would not sit for talks with any militant force [BNP-Jamaat] because an election is not their objective. Their aim is to protect the war criminals and save Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman from corruption cases. But, their efforts would never be successful,” the minister alleged. l

AL leader’s car attacked in Jessore, 5 hurt n Our Correspondent, Jessore Five persons were injured as a microbus carrying bodyguards of Awami League central leader Kazi Nabil Ahmed was attacked in Jessore yesterday evening.

Witnesses said miscreants attacked with iron rods and sticks as the vehicle was leaving Jessore’s Chitra Mor area after a rally of the 14-party alliance. The injured, including the driver, were given primary treatment.

Local Awami League leader Mohit Kumar Nath claimed the attack was planned by political rivals.

Jessore Kotwali police OC Sikdar Akkas Ali said appropriate steps would be taken against the perpetrators. l

Gold seized at Dhaka airport n Tribune Report Customs officials at Hazrat Shahajalal International Airport yesterday seized eight gold bars weighing 0.8kg and worth around Tk40 lakh - while those were being smuggled into the country on a Singapore Airlines flight. However,

no arrest was made.

Umme Nadia Akter, assistant director of customs intelligence at Dhaka airport, said they spotted the gold bars inside a video game console during scanning.

She said the console was in a parcel addressed to “Hridoy Electronics” of Dhaka’s Baitul Mokarram Market. l

Sharifa Islam dies n Tribune Report Sharifa Islam, wife of Sector Commanders Forum, Liberation War ‘71 Dhaka Committee Chairman SM Amirul Islam died on March 10 at 8:30pm in the capital.

The Sector Commanders Forum prays for the salvation of the departed soul and expresses deep condolence to the bereaved family. l

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Man kills sister-inlaw over nephew’s marriage n Our Correspondent, Chittagong A man allegedly killed his sister-in-law by slitting throat in Khulshi, Chittagong, yesterday because his nephew got married without his consent.

Yakub, 45, allegedly murdered his brother’s wife Gulzar Begum Ruma, 37, entering her house on the High Level Road.

“Ruma was preparing her daughter for school when Yakub entered and indiscriminately started stabbing Ruma,” said Golam Morshed, Ruma’s brother.

Ruma, wife of Mohammad Yunus and mother of three kids, was taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital where the on-duty doctor announced her dead. Yunus was not at home when the incident occurred and Ruma’s throat was found slit, said Sub-Inspector Jahirul Islam, in-charge of CMCH police outpost.

Golam Morshed told the Dhaka Tribune that Yakub and Yunus had been engaged in a dispute over a piece of land for long.

Yakub wanted to build a house on Yunus’s land which triggered the rivalry. The situation turned worse after Ruma and Yunus’s son Babar married his girlfriend recently.

“Although the family members accepted the marriage, Yakub threatened to kill everyone in the family if they accepted Babar and his wife,” said Chittagong Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Dipak Jyoti Khisah quoting Ruma’s family members.

Yakub was currently on the run while preparation for filing a case in this connection was going on. l

Services at Rajshahi cardiac hospital in a shambles n Nazim Mridha, Rajshahi

Rajshahi Cardiac Hospital, the only cardiac hospital serving patients of 23 districts of the western region of the country, is running as a hub of drug addicts, thieves and touts amid manifold irregularities.

A widespread allegation has come from the patients that they keep losing valuables as the premises turns into a den of thieves from afternoon.

The drug addicts openly take different drugs inside the hospital premises. The patients feel threatened, many a times the touts harass patients while availing different services, alleged a number of patients.

Contacted, Dr Monira Parvin, superintendent of the hospital, admitted the dominance of drug addicts, thieves and touts inside the hospital.

“The authorities cannot take any action as these goons are local,” she said.

Although, there are around 10 doctors and 100 nurses in the hospital, the doctors often remain absent.

Wishing to remain anonymous, a patient

suffering from tuberculosis told the Dhaka Tribune: “Doctors are available in the morning, but its quite tough to reach them in the afternoon and at night. Remaining absent has become a trend of doctors in this hospital.”

In this regard, Dr Monira said it was immaterial if the doctors remain present or not, as long as the patients are served with proper health care.

Doctors could not stay all the time because of lack of security and also there is no specific room allocated for the doctors of the hospital.

Although the hospital has a digital X-ray machine, because of lack of X-ray films the patients have to throng other diagnostic centres.

When any patient is admitted at the emergency, the doctors are called over phone by the nurses which increases sufferings for the patients. Doctors are hardly available when the condition of any patient deteriorates at night, alleged the patients admitted at the emergency.

Nurses take up the job of doctors in their absence, said many of the attendants of patients. l

RMG workers stage demo demanding arrears n Our Correspondent, Gazipur Workers of a garment factory in Gazipur yesterday observed work abstention and staged demonstration in front of the factory demanding payment of arrears.

The workers of Profusion Textile Mills Ltd begun to stage demonstration on the factory premises in Chakrabary Sarabo area in Gazipur town around 11:00am as the factory owners did not pay their due wages scheduled for payment.

Earlier, authorities of the factory assured of payment of the arrears for January and February by March 7, according the agitating workers.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, many workers said they were facing severe problem to maintain their families as they did not get any wages in the past two months.

Abdul Bari, an administrative officer of the factory, admitted of their failure to pay the wages and arrears to many of their employes.

The wages and arrears would be paid soon as per the decision of the factory’s owners, he said. More than 500 employes are working at the factory, he added.

Obaidur Rahman, assistant sub-inspector (intelligence) of industrial police in Gazipur, said they deployed additional forces in the factory area to avoid any untoward incident. l

WEATHER

DRY WEATHER LIKELY THURSDAY, MARCH 12 TODAY SUN SETS 6:06PM

DHAKA

TOMORROW SUN RISES 6:10AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY 32 32 34 34 34 34 34 33

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

18 20 17 16 17 18 16 22

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

34.8ºC Rangamati

11.1ºC Srimangal

Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

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

Despite rigorous campaigns and legal steps, pedestrians still tend to cross roads amid running vehicles instead of using the footbridge. The photo of Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue was taken from Bangla Motor area in the capital yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

Indefinite transport strike enforced in Rajshahi n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi Transport workers in Rajshahi called for an indefinite transport strike in Rajshahi district demanding the removal of the officers in-charge (OC) of Boalia and Shah Makhdum police stations.

They enforced the strike claiming that the OCs of these police stations in Rajshahi city were involved in extortion and had been harassing them.

Confirming the strike, Mahtab Ali, general secretary of Motor Workers’ Union yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune that the strike would

come into effect from 6am today and would continue until the OCs were removed.

The strike is sponsored under the banner of Rajshahi District Motor Malik-Shromik Oikya Parishad.

Earlier on Monday, transport workers’ leaders issued a 72-hr ultimatum to withdraw Alamgir Hossain and Mizanur Rahman, OCs of Boalia and Shah Makhdum police stations respectively.

“Since we got no response from Rajshahi Metropolitan Police (RMP) in this regard, we have decided to go on a strike,” Mahtab added.

According to the transport leaders, police

had been harassing the transport workers by arresting them and demanding extortion despite their effort to operate vehicles amid the countrywide hartal and blockade.

“Alamgir Hossain and Mizanur Rahman of Boalia and Shah Makhdum police stations are mostly involved in such malpractices,” Mahtab continued.

“On March 1, pro-hartal activists set two buses of Hanif Paribahan on fire. Police filed a case in this regard but did not mention any specific name or the bus number which is a prerequisite to get compensation from the government.” l

DT

8 SPECIAL

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

ENSURING WOMEN’S EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT

PHOTOS: MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Power and special functions of women UP members from reserved seats

SM Rezaul Karim, Director, Legal Advisor, BLAST

Section 96(B) of the Local Government (Union Parishad) Act, 1996, empowers the government to make “Rules” to determine the powers and special functions of the women members from the reserved seats. However, the government has not made that “Rules” yet. Now, we at BLAST with collaboration with DIAKONIA have prepared a draft “Rules” to send it to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development (LGRD) for its consideration. This draft “Rules” prepared by BLAST is a suggestion to the government on a due extension to the existing policy and not asking for new law.

On the other hand, there are some sectors where women members’ participation should have been made mandatory through this draft “Rules,” eg arbitration boards under the Muslim Family Law Ordinance 1961, union legal aid committees, etc. Judicial officers can also engage the women UP members from reserved seats in conducting local inquiry.

Dr Badiul Alam Mojumdar, Moderator, Country Director, Hunger Project

Empowerment of women is very important because women make up one half of the society. Therefore, if women are not empow-

ered and cannot contribute in the development of the society, we cannot prosper as a nation. We can empower women in many ways, eg by educating them, by ensuring good health for them, by creating job opportunities for them, so that they can contribute to the society.

However, I think political empowerment of women is vitally important because politically empowered women will be able to contribute not only to their self-development but also to the development the women community as a whole through playing an important role in the decision making process of various institutions of the state including Union Parisad. Political empowerment of women is, therefore, of utmost importance.

The reservation system that we have in place has some built-in limitations and we can not effectively ensure women’s empowerment with this system.

This reservation system symbolises women and, therefore, women members from reserved seats do not feel themselves as empowered. As a result, the number of women contestants in Union Parishad has decreased over the years. As an alternative, we can follow the rotation model of reservation for women. This rotation system has been followed in India and has been proved to be a successful model as the number of women contestants has increased in the village Panchayats of Indian states over the years.

Advocate Tajul Islam, Consultant, BLAST

This is a fact that women Union Parishad members from the reserved seats face obstacles in exercising their powers and functions conferred by the Local Government (Union Parishad) Act, 2009.

BLAST has prepared a draft “Rules” to address those issues and the draft has been prepared through consultation with the women UP members from the reserved seats. Let us look at the legal basis of the draft “Rules.” Section 96(B) of the Local Government (Union Parishad) Act, 2009 empowers the government to frame “Rules” to determine the powers and special functions of the women UP members from reserved seats. Additionally, Section 38(6) of the Local Government (Union Parishad) Act, 2009 says that the powers and functions of the ordinary members and members from the reserved seats shall be determined by “Rules” framed by the government.

The aim of drafting this “Rules” is to ensure that women members from the reserved seats participate equitably and actively along with other members in performing their functions at Union Parishad. With that end in view, we propose that the women UP members from reserved seats have the following powers and functions: l A women member elected from reserved seat to be given first preference while constituting the chairman panel as mentioned

in Section 33(1) of the Act.

l Chairman shall organise a meeting with the

l

l

l

l

l

women UP members from reserved seats once a month and keep them informed regarding the directions and notifications issued by the government.

At least one woman member from a combined ward shall be present in every meeting held with the chairman and the administration especially on matters related to Upazila Parishad and Zila Parishad.

One woman member form a combined ward shall be equated to three ordinary members in distributing the benefits of the social security programmes of the government.

Women members from the reserved seats shall preside over of at least one third of the standing committees of the Union Parishad except for the standing committee on disciplinary matters.

A provision has been included in an amendment in the Village Court Ordinance in 2013 that says one woman UP members shall have to be made a member of the village court in disposing of disputes involving women and minors. In line with this provision, we propose that a woman UP member from reserved seat be made a member of that village court in any dispute involving women and minors.

“Purchase committees” have to be constituted in Union level and at least one woman members shall be made member to that purchase committee.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

l Women members shall take part in social

movements to address various social problems, eg repression of women, trafficking in women and children, prohibition dowry, acid throwing and child marriage, etc. l A gender committee shall be constituted in each Union Parishad and that committee shall be headed by one woman member from reserved seat. l Women UP members from reserved seats shall perform other powers and functions endorsed by the ordinary laws and rules of Bangladesh equitably and without discrimination alongside the general members.

Khodeja Sultana, Country Manager, DIAKONIA Bangladesh

The draft “Rules” prepared

by BLAST is a commendable approach towards empowerment of women.

The provision of reserved seats for women in the Union Parishad was kept with a view to empowering women. But we all know that the women members from the reserved seats have been facing discriminations; one female member from the reserved seat represents three Wards. Although dignity is one of the most important aspect of empowerment, female UP members from the reserved seats are devoid of dignity. We have even failed to convey proper respect through the use of language.. We address female UP members using various terms, eg “mohila,” “sovapoti,” etc. The draft “Rules” that has been presented here also contains some shortcomings and contradictions. These issues have to be addressed through discussions.

We repeatedly say that women in UPs have no power which is not true – they have the ability to contest and get directly elected from one to three Wards. But at UPs, system and environment do not allow them to participate in full.

They are also asked to enhance their capacity to participate in full – but the same is not demanded from male members but they get better opportunity. Also asking them to work on their capacity, again devalue the female members.

Ummey Kulsum, Deputy Secretary, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs

If we say that women members from reserved seats, either in Union Parishad or in Parliament, are not empowered, we have to consider two things, first, how qualified are they to exert their powers, and second, the mentality of the people to whom they exert their powers.

In my opinion, if women members can prove their leadership quality, there will be no scope for others to ignore their opinion. If a woman UP member gets elected only by virtue of the votes given by the male members and not by dint of her own quality, naturally she will not have the inner strength to exert her power and others will get an opportunity to ignore her decisions. If she can prove herself before she gets elected, if she is keen on working and has the decision making power, if she has the mental strength and physical energy, she would make her own position by dint of her own quality. Otherwise, whatever power you give them through laws and policies, unless they have these qualities, I believe that you

will not be able to empower them.

In my personal experience, I have worked as a chief judicial magistrate and have seen that people respect those who are capable to exercise their authority. Similarly, those who does not care much and don’t know how to exercise their authority, they cannot be empowered. Our society is progressing in a faster pace and girls’ education rate has steadily increased. I have seen that the women who have high self-esteem and who are capable to perform their duties, would make their own position in the society and nobody could stop them. If competent women come and get elected in these three seats in the Union Parishad that government has reserved for women by dint of their own potential and not through family influence and political consideration, they surely will be able to prove their mettle.

Dr Zarina Rahman Khan, Professor, Department of Public Administration, Dhaka University

One issue that has already come up, how should we address the women UP members -- “nari” or “mohila?” We have to decide what term we shall use to address the women members. Because, the connotation that we get by the word “nari” is different from the connotation we get by the word “mohila.” The terms “Mohila” or “Bhodrolok” do give an inferior connotation. It is now well settled among the Bengali speaking population that the word “nari” shall be used in the formal context because this term encompasses all women, young and old, rich and poor.

done within the scope of the existing laws. If she could exert the authority that she already has, she could come elected as a general member in the next election. Another important thing is to consult with the women members who actually work in the Union Parishad to get the true picture. We have seen that in the first round of the Union Parishad elections, elected women members have suffered many obstacles including rape. Surprisingly, in the second round, the number of women contestants increased. However, in the third round, the number of women contestants declined.

The reason was that the women members could not exercise their power and functions satisfactorily, and hence became frustrated.

Selina Jahan Lita, Member of Parliament

I understand that the topic set for today’s round-table is on empowering women working in the grassroots level. I have also come from the grassroots as I was the elected Upazila vice-chairman for two terms and then I got an opportunity to become a member of parliament. After coming into power in 1996, the government introduced the process of women empowerment by giving them the opportunity to be elected in the Union Parishad through direct vote.

That has helped us progress a lot. It has been said that women are lagging behind; I don’t think this is entirely correct. To empower women, we have to change our mindset towards women. Education is an essential key for empowerment of women. If women are not educated and intelligent, they will never be able to establish their rights.

Political empowerment of women is vitally important because politically empowered women will be able to contribute not only to their self-development but also to the development the women community as a whole Many of us have reservation on the issue of reserving seats for women. However, reservation, which we also call ‘quota’, is needed to empower the backward section of the population. This reservation system has been in use in all sectors of Bangladesh government, eg bureaucracy, parliament, local government, etc. Nevertheless, we must bear in mind that reservation should not be for perpetuity. It is only up to a point where women or any backward section can reach an equal platform with the mainstream. This is important because, there are adverse effects of reservation system. It gives the members from reserved seats a sense of inferiority. They may feel, and sometimes they do feel uncomfortable to traverse outside the reserved opportunities. This may hinder the speedy empowerment process of any backward section of the population.

Reform is needed because the law has some limitations. For example, one women member in the reserved seat represents three wards, whereas men members from general seats represent only one ward. It is naturally difficult for a women member to serve a population three times higher than a population that a general member serves. At the same time, women members are not given any extra remuneration. Many things can also be

As Upazila vice chairman, I had to struggle to earn the respect that women members deserve. I fought against all the corruption that the representatives of my Upazila Parishad were doing. Consequently, they all went against me and I was all alone, but I did not give up. When I was first elected as a vice-chairman in the Upazila Parishad, there was no function assigned for the women vice-chairman. The other members did not use to invite me to the meetings and other affairs of the Parishad. Therefore, I had to find work for me. I started showing up in the meetings and delivered speeches. At one point, they started inviting me to those meetings. I also started to unite the women members of Union Parishad. I advised them not to go for petty personal gains and to make the best use of their power. Our prime minister has formed a “Women Development Forum” in every Upazila, which has a great potential.

Advocate Fazilatunnessa Bappy, Member of Parliament

I believe empowerment of women will be ensured when women could take part in the decision making

process and join in the mainstream of development.

We will enrich ourselves with the combination of the theoretical discussions we have here and our practical experience at the grassroots level.

According to the Global Gender Gap report, Bangladesh’s position in terms of women’s empowerment is seventh in the world. We have to keep in mind that laws and practices are two prerequisites of women’s empowerment. As a lawyer, I believe that we need laws and rules as safeguards and the respect for women is a matter of practice.

In most cases, women members usually come from influential families and, therefore, they cannot exert their power independently.

There are practical examples where women from the reserved seats actually prepared themselves in the first round and they came elected as general members in the subsequent rounds. In many occasions, I entrusted the women UP members with the responsibility to implement various projects and I realised that they performed very well.

A woman UP member who comes from a reserved seat has a larger constituency than that of a member from a general seat. Hence, they deserve greater respect than other members. I assure you that as a human being and as a woman, I will render my full support for the enactment of the “Rules” as this draft is for the empowerment of women representatives.

Towfiq Al Mannan, Coordinator, Gender and Social Justice division, Ain o Shalish Kendra

Women empowerment is a right of women. In Union Parishad we have not been able to properly empower the women representatives and that is why this “Rules” is very important.

Justice Md Awlad Ali, Hon’ble vice Chairman, Board of Trustees, BLAST

Our national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam had written that half of the great creations in this world have been done by men and the other half has been done by women. We make a lot of laws, but these laws are not being implemented properly. Had these laws been implemented properly, most of the problems would have been solved by now.

Article 27 of our constitution says that “all citizens are equal before the law” and Article 28 says that “the State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.” We always talk about constitution, but I am sorry to say that these articles of the constitution have not been implemented properly. The “Women Development Policy” also deals with political and administrative empowerment of women.

Our constitution adopted the terms “men and women” (in Bengali “nari o purush.”) in line with all the international conventions.

Therefore, I would request the initiators to use these terms accordingly. Bangladesh has progressed a lot in achieving gender equality. When we sit in the bench as judges, we become gender neutral. We do not make any discrimination between male and female advocates. We have to keep this spirit in all spheres of life. If we all sincerely strive, we would be able to attain equality between men and women. l

DT

10 WORLD

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

US official: More Russian tanks, equipment cross Ukraine border n Reuters, Washington Russian tanks and heavy military equipment have crossed the Ukrainian border in the last few days in breach of a European-brokered ceasefire agreed on Feb. 12, a senior US State Department official said on Tuesday.

The comments by US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe, Victoria Nuland, follow accusations by Ukraine and Western governments that Russia continues to send troops and weapons to support separatists in eastern Ukraine despite the Minsk ceasefire deal, a charge the Kremlin has denied.

Eastern Ukraine and Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Russia a year ago, was “suffering a reign of terror,” Nuland told a congressional hearing on Ukraine, adding that the White House was still considering whether to arm Ukraine’s military.

The last few days have seen new transfers of Russian tanks, armored vehicles, heavy artillery and rocket equipment over the border to the separatists, Nuland told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

She said “hundreds and hundreds” of Russian troops had been killed during the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

“In the coming days, days not weeks, we need to see a complete ceasefire,” Nuland said. “Pressure is going to have to increase if Minsk is not implemented.”

She said there was a “spirited” debate within the administration on whether to send arms to Ukraine.

Brian McKeon, the US principal deputy under secretary of defense, told lawmakers 11 Russian battalion tactical teams

Clinton slams Republican letter to Iran

n AFP

Former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Tuesday lashed out at Republican senators for sending a letter to Iran over ongoing nuclear talks, accusing them of attempting to either sabotage President Barack Obama or help Tehran.

Clinton, widely seen as the eventual frontrunner to lead the Democrats’ challenge in the 2016 presidential election, lambasted signatories who included several possible rivals in a future battle for the White House.

“One has to ask, what was the purpose of this letter?” Clinton told reporters during remarks at the United Nations in New York.

“Either these senators were trying to be helpful to the Iranians or harmful to the commander-in-chief in the midst of high stakes, international diplomacy.

“Either answer does discredit to the letters’ signatories,” added Clinton.

Clinton was speaking after 47 Senate Republicans made the unprecedented move of directly and publicly addressing Iran’s leaders in a bid to scupper talks between Western powers and the Islamic Republic over the country’s disputed nuclear program. Republicans warned in the letter that any deal agreed before Obama leaves office in 2017 is “nothing more than an executive agreement” that could be struck down by Congress later. l

An Abrams tank is seen during delivery in the port of Riga on Monday. The US delivered over 100 pieces of military equipment to vulnerable Nato-allied Baltic states Monday in a move designed to provide them with the ability to deter potential Russian threats AFP were in Russia’s Rostov region across the Ukrainian border.

The United States pledged $118m in non-lethal assistance to Ukraine but has delivered only about half of that, he said. “It’s a case of finding it in the stocks of the United States military, and in the case of some equipment we’re purchasing it off the production line.”

The Senate and House of Representatives unanimously passed legislation in December that authorized sending arms to Kiev.

Obama signed the measure into law but it

gave him leeway over whether or when to send the arms.

In a letter to US President Barack Obama on Monday, senators Bob Corker, a Republican from Tennessee and Robert Menendez, a Democrat from New Jersey, called on Obama to immediately submit a report to Congress on plans for providing arms to Ukraine.

The lawmakers said the report, required under the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, had been due on Feb. 15. It was unclear when the report would be submitted. l

House for sale in Indonesia with free wife n AFP An advert for a house in Indonesia has gone viral online after the woman selling it offered to throw in an unusual extra feature for free — herself for marriage.

The internet ad reads for the most part like a regular house listing, saying that the single-storey property has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a parking space and a fish pond.

But it also proposes to buyers a “rare offer” — “when you buy this house, you can ask the owner to marry you,” alongside a picture of Wina Lia, a 40-year-old widow and beauty salon owner, leaning against a car in front of the house.

The ad said that terms and conditions apply, and notes the offer is “for serious buyers and non-negotiable.” The house in Sleman, on the island of Java, is on the market for 999 million rupiah (about $75,000).

News of the offer quickly spread among internet users in social media-crazy Indonesia.

Boldies99, a user on popular online forum Kaskus, said Lia was “quite smart — even though the house will be sold, she will remain the owner.”

Lia told AFP she was “shocked at the reaction,”

US think-tank: No sign of imminent North Korea nuclear test

n AFP Recent satellite imagery shows no sign of North Korea preparing an imminent nuclear test, despite a rise in military tensions on the Korean peninsula, a US think-tank said yesterday.

North Korea has ramped up the volume on its bellicose rhetoric in recent weeks in response to the launch of annual South Korean-US joint military exercises.

Pyongyang’s condemnation of the drills has included veiled threats of a nuclear test, but the US-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University said satellite pictures offered no indication that any detonation was in the works.

While the North’s Punggye-ri nuclear site is “at a sufficient state of readiness to move forward with a test if ordered to do so... there are no signs of preparations,” the institute said in an analysis posted on its closely-followed 38 North website.

“As a result, the North is unlikely to conduct a nuclear or missile test over the next few months,” it added. l

Nemtsov suspect likely confessed ‘under torture’

n AFP, Moscow

A former Chechen police officer who admitted taking part in the murder of Russian opposition activist Boris Nemtsov “likely confessed under torture,” a member of the Kremlin’s human rights council told AFP yesterday.

Zaur Dadayev allegedly confessed and was charged but has now insisted to the council’s Andrei Babushkin that he is “innocent” and only made the admission under duress.

“There are reasons that lead us to believe Zaur Dadayev confessed under torture,” Babushkin told AFP after a visit to the suspect’s Moscow prison cell on Tuesday.

“We cannot confirm that he was tortured as we are not investigators but we did find numerous wounds on his body,” said Babushkin, who was swiftly rapped over the knuckles by investigators for meddling in their probe. l

Nut rage flight attendant sues Korean Air, former exec

n AP, SEOUL

Wina Lia, speaks to journalists at her house in Sleman yesterday AFP as she had been overwhelmed by journalists coming to interview her, and even the police in the conservative, Muslim-majority country had been asking questions.

The police “came to verify the news as they consider it as an improper advertisement. But I explained to them that it was not my idea,” she said.

The mother of two explained that she had asked a friend who was a property agent to help her find a buyer — and in the process a husband — but she had expected him to pass on the news to a limited number of people, not put an ad online. l

A flight attendant who says she was living her dream by working for Korean Air is now suing the airline and its infamous nut rage executive, claiming the bizarre onboard tantrum ruined her career.

Kim Do Hee, the flight attendant, is seeking compensation through a trial in New York city after she was verbally and physically attacked by Korean Air heiress Cho Hyun-ah, according to a statement yesterday by two American law firms, the Weinstein Law Firm and Kobre & Kim. Cho, a vice president overseeing cabin service at the time of the Dec. 5 incident, was enraged that Kim, 27, served her macadamia nuts in a bag, not on a dish.

After a heated confrontation with crew in the first class cabin, Cho ordered head flight attendant Park Chang-jin off the plane, forcing it to return to a gate at John F Kennedy International Airport. l

DT

WORLD 11

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Court summons India’s ex-PM Singh in coal corruption case n Reuters An Indian court summoned former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday over accusations of criminal conspiracy and corruption in the illegal award of a coal field, a blow for the Gandhi dynasty that ruled India until last year.

A special court under the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) ordered the 82-year-old Singh, billionaire Kumar Mangalam Birla and another official to appear on April 8, the court said in an order.

“I am upset, but this is a part of life,” a visibly distressed Singh told reporters in parliament, where he sits in the upper house. It is rare but not unknown for former Indian prime ministers to be called into court.

Known for his personal integrity and humble lifestyle, Singh has not been charged with any crime but is being investigated for criminal breach of trust, criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption, a prosecution lawyer said on condition of anonymity.

The CBI, India’s federal law enforcement agency, had earlier excluded Singh from the investigation. His Congress party called the summons a backlash against its opposition to economic reforms that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to push through parliament.

In the past, the Supreme Court has accused the CBI of acting on the wishes of the government.

Chinese Xinjiang Muslims fighting with IS

n BBC

Chinese Muslims from Xinjiang have fought alongside Islamic State militants, a top Chinese official says.

The comments came from Zhang Chunxian, party chief in Xinjiang, which is home to the Uighur Muslim minority group.

Zhang said some of the fighters had returned to Xinjiang “to participate in terrorist plots,” but gave no further details.

Xinjiang, in China’s far west, has seen a series of deadly attacks and clashes in recent years. l

Pakistan soldiers raid MQM’s Karachi headquarters

n BBC Security forces have raided the Karachi headquarters of Pakistan’s fourth biggest political party, detaining “hardcore criminals” and seizing arms.

Col Tahir Mahmood said troops acted on information that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) was hiding criminals.

Schools and businesses across the city closed down amid fears of a backlash.

The MQM, which has urged a national protest, has long been accused of using violence and intimidation to control Karachi - claims it denies.

At various times in its 30-year history, the MQM has been part of the national coalition. l

File photo shows former Indian prime minister Manmohan Singh looks on during the opening ceremony of the 12th Overseas Indian Conference, 2014, in New Delhi AFP

Parliamentary standoff

The summons coincided with a debate in the upper house on a bill to allow coal-field auctions. Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said the issue was a blot on Congress and called on the party to end its opposition to the bill.

“I hope reason will prevail,” Javadekar said. He denied any vendetta or political interference in the judicial process.

The maximum sentence for criminal breach of trust is life imprisonment. Singh said he was evaluating his legal options,

which include seeking a stay on the summons from a higher court.

The mild-mannered economist implemented 1990s free-market reforms that unshackled India from its socialist past. Recognisable in his trademark blue turban, glasses and beard, he played a prominent role managing the 2008 financial crisis.

His second term at the helm of a Congress-led coalition was mired in corruption scandals and accusations that party leader Sonia Gandhi called the shots, tarnishing his image. l

Saudi Arabia recalls its ambassador to Sweden n Agencies

Saudi Arabia has recalled its ambassador to Sweden after a diplomatic row between the two countries, Sweden’s foreign minstry has said.

“We have received information that Saudi Arabia has called its ambassador home,” Erik Boman, spokesman for Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom, said yesterday.

He said the reason given for the action was Sweden’s criticism of Saudi Arabia’s record on human rights and democracy.

Yesterday, Sweden said it would cancel a long-standing defence cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia.

Earlier this week Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom said she was barred from giving a speech to the Arab League in Cairo after protests from Saudi delegates. l

Netanyahu says sees ‘real danger’ of losing election n Reuters, Jerusalem Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday he saw “a real danger” he might lose next week’s closely contested election and asserted that there was a worldwide effort to ensure such an outcome.

In what Israeli media called an unannounced visit to a rally north of Tel Aviv, Netanyahu entreated supporters to make sure he defeats rival Isaac Herzog of the left-of-center Zionist Union party by casting ballots in the March 17 vote.

“It’s far from being certain, there’s a real

danger,” said the right-wing premier, who has been in office since 2009.

In footage of the event obtained by Reuters Television, Netanyahu said Herzog would seek to renew peace talks with Palestinians and negotiate about “dividing Jerusalem, giving back territory.” He was alluding to his rival’s promises to seek to revive negotiations that collapsed in April.

Israeli Army Radio earlier aired what it said were comments Netanyahu made on Monday to party activists in which he said “it is a very tight race. l

Dimapur lynching case: Nagaland govt report claims no rape

n Agencies The Union home ministry received report from Nagaland government claiming that the deceased, Syed Sarif Khan, did not rape sexual assault survivor and that the sex between him and the victim was consensual.

The accused paid Rs 5000 to the victim after two sexual encounters, the report says. The report says this conclusion is based on the statement of the deceased before he was lynched.

On March 5, a mob had stormed Dimapur Central Jail, dragged out rape accused Syed Sarif alias Farid Khan, paraded him naked and lynched him.

Earlier in the day, reacting to the incident, a division bench of the Gawhati high court on Tuesday issued notices to the Centre and the Nagaland government, and directed them to file a detailed report within two weeks. It directed the state government and Nagaland IG (prisons) to ensure adequate security of prisoners.

The court’s direction came following a PIL filed by one Rajeev Kalita who sought the transfer of the case to the CBI and compensation for the family of the man who was lynched. l

Report: Russia says has right to deploy nuclear weapons in Crimea

n Reuters Russia has the right to deploy nuclear arms in the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Ukraine last year, a Foreign Ministry official said yesterday, adding he knew of no plans to do so.

“I don’t know if there are nuclear weapons there now. I don’t know about any plans, but in principle Russia can do it,” said Mikhail Ulyanov, the head of the ministry’s department on arms control, was quoted as saying by Interfax news agency. l

Myanmar opposition demands inquiry into police clashes with students

n Reuters Myanmar’s opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) demanded an inquiry yesterday into clashes between police protesters in which students, monks and journalists were beaten with batons and more than 100 people were arrested.

The violence erupted on Tuesday in the town of Letpadan, about 140 km (90 miles) to the north of Yangon. Students protesting against a proposed education law were blocked from marching to Yangon and were forcibly dispersed after a standoff which lasted more than a week.

“An investigation commission should be organised and its statement should be made to the public very soon,” the NLD, headed by Noble Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi, said in a statement.

The government has not commented on the clashes but the state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper blamed protesters, saying they turned the sit-in protest to “violence between both sides.” l

DT

12 EDITORIAL

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Expanding railways the right way forward

W

e welcome the announcement made by the railways minister of plans to expand the rail network across all the country’s 64 districts.

Projects are already underway in eight of the 20 districts, including Bagerhat, Cox’s Bazar, Narail, and Satkhira, which are not already served by rail. With the opening of a new line from Tarakandi to Bangabandhu Bridge East Side and the closed Kalukhali-Bhatiapara and Pachuria-Faridpur rail lines due to be re-opened, there is a good prospect of this target being met.

However, the government still needs to be more ambitious. Railways are a vastly underused communications resource in Bangladesh, serving on average around 65 million passengers a year.

The most vital challenge is to modernise tracks and trains so that faster services can be introduced. A key advantage of developing railways is that they already cover much of the country, so useful improvements are more about upgrading tracks and trains than about finding land.

For a nation of our size, there is no reason, in principle, why an upgraded network would not allow all districts and corners of the land to be reached quickly. It offers an economically and environmentally efficient way to help the economy maximise the benefits of our high population density.

Better and newer railways would also facilitate decentralisation by encouraging more people to live outside of the capital, reducing pressure on Dhaka’s land area, .

Making railways faster and more attractive is an integral part of the infrastructure investment required to lift the economy to middle-income level.

Maximise the benefits by increasing average speeds and upgrading tracks

Stop sexual harassment on campus

W

e condemn the violent assault at Dhaka University which left Masum Billah, a journalist for the Daily Samakal and a fellow student colleague needing hospital treatment.

The journalists were attacked with bricks by BCL activists after they had protested the harassment and stalking of several female students who were celebrating Bangladesh’s World Cup victory over England at TSC on Monday evening.

Senior BCL DU unit officials have said stern action will be taken against the attackers if they are found guilty in the investigation being carried out by the university authorities.

What is most deplorable about this assault is that the attackers felt that they could get away with sexual harassment on campus in the first place.

It is highly concerning that more is not being done to combat sexual harassment within our leading public universities. A growing number of female students at DU over the past year have reported that the university is not taking clear action to respond to complaints about unwanted sexual attention and verbal coercion.

As a society, we need to act collectively to stigmatise and prevent sexual harassment, rather than tolerating it when it is a known factor raising dropout rates for female students.

It is the prevalence of archaic and discriminatory attitudes which allows some men to harass women and young girls with impunity, that makes it harder for society to deter and bring down more violent crimes against women.

University authorities need to be more pro-active in raising awareness to prevent sexual harassment instead of waiting for incidents to take place.

Be pro-active in combating the attitudes which enable harassment in the first place

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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Blasphemy lies in the eye of the beholder February 19

Abellard the Greek-lover Top-of-the-shelf stuff! Censorship is never a solution.

Momoaswan Isn’t it only followers of a religion who can blaspheme against it? You have to believe to profane. Non-followers can only insult.

Either way, agree with the article that that is up to them.

My Name is Khan Am I reading this in my dream? There are still sane minds among secular intellectuals.

SubhanAllah.

In the last 12 years of my observation of HT and watching them up close in three continents, this is the exact question that no one had asked so far. If we ban nonviolence, are we not opening the door for logi-boitha and patrol bombs?

It makes me sad to see innocent lives suffer, but apparently our minds are starting to open up in this shocking moment. May the Almighty bless us with realisation before its too late.

Iqbal Rahman People have a right to be offended by material which hurts them and to say it’s wrong.

But two wrongs do not make a right, and censorship is definitely wrong. sundar Banning books on the ground that its contents might offend the religious sentiment is bad. But I think the authorities that take the banning decision is less responsible than the believers of religion and their so-called “religious sentiments.” I have observed that those who get agitated at the slightest hint of debatable discussion, on matters relating to religion, are mostly intoxicated with obscure beliefs and ideas.

And in the name of saving religion, they can go to any extent, like what we are seeing with ISIS, Boko Haram, etc are doing in Middle East and Africa. To these sorts of religious people, a single idea of religious tenets is more valuable than millions of human lives.

As long as the believers of religions get themselves free of this sort of obscurantism and fanaticism, the authorities concerned have little option but to ban any book, article, or essay that carries the slightest potential of igniting the highly flammable sentiment of the so-called religious followers.

Once this sentiment gets a little more relaxed, the necessity of banning will automatically be lifted.

Can’t tell you my name The absurdity of the perception of “freedom

of speech” by these so-called erudite, Occident-educated writers makes me feel helpless sometimes. According to this piece, I have the right to express whatever I “think” is right.

Now, that is problematic because there are many things I can say which are outrageously wrong and morally disturbing (note that there are no strict definitions of these terms and therefore they are “open” to interpretation). I can practically say anything I want to say about anyone or anything. This will inevitably result in anarchy.

Fuadalee Can’t tell you my name: Don’t feel helpless, send them an op-ed to say what you think.

As this piece defends the right of someone to express support for Hizb-ut-Tahrir’s ‘’utopian” belief, they may be more liberal than you think.

Bleep Can’t tell you my name: Ridiculous and indeed puerile argument. The whole point is: Who decided what can be published and what not? You? The Pillion Ride of Your Life Can’t tell you my name: The very fact that you are able to express your discontent with this article testifies to how freedom of speech can indeed be a good thing.

Kmak “For the sake of argument, let us assume that the opinions of both the author and those who called to ban his book are correct.

Namely, that he wrote a scholarly work expressing personal opinions on the history of Islam and that the content offends the sentiments of, at least some, if not all Muslims.

The best response to calls, that the latter view, means it should be banned, is not to refer to the philosophy of the Enlightenment in defence of freedom of speech, or to call upon theological discursions about human free will, it is simply two words. So what?”

Ali Dashti wasn’t a scholar. His works weren’t scholarly. No one in academia takes his works seriously. That said, so what if some fundamentalists protested against it?

If believers shouldn’t have a problem with unbelievers publishing nasty stuff about their religion, why should unbelievers get agitated when some believers, instead of cowardly writing op-eds on the internet, actually take to the street to make their views known?

Also, are you going to be writing an article anytime soon on how pornography laws limit freedom of expression?

DT

OPINION 13

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Takes two to Teesta n Dwitiya Jawher Neethi

M

amata Banerjee visited Bangladesh on a three-day tour a few days ago.

Her entourage included Prosenjeet Chatterjee -- the famous actor who won’t quit despite old age. She was, of course, aware about the recent cocktail attacks in Bangladesh. This seemed like the best time to bring Chatterjee along.

Sushma and Mamata had exchanged notes before Mamata’s visit. Before she left for Dhaka, Mamata told the Indian State Assembly that she would not say anything about Teesta.

“Teesta” and “bilateral” were the two words that appeared everywhere. Mamata also added “historic.”

What came out of the Teesta deal, we do not know. But everyone looked happy and sang songs. The word Teesta was mentioned a lot too. But she kept her words to the State Assembly (not something that she does often) and stopped there -- just the word itself and nothing more.

During the interviews, the cameramen had a lot of trouble. Nobody could tell where Mamata was looking. She seemed deeply moved. We wondered why. But she was all praises about Bangladesh. So we were happy.

Mamata and Hasina seemed to get along really well. Mamata definitely got along with her better than when David Cameron visited Kolkata. With Cameron, when strange accents collided, nobody understood anything

and decided to avoid the embarrassment by agreeing to whatever proposals lay on the table. This had happened once before -- when Japan bombed Pearl Harbour.

Thanks to Modi, now there is too much pressure on politicians to be pleasant to foreigners. Even Mamata delivered! l Dwitiya Jawher Neethi works at the Dhaka Tribune.

Disability can’t hold us back n Jannatul Ferdous Ivy

G

ender mainstreaming was established as a major global strategy for the promotion of gender equality in the Beijing Platform for Action from the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995.

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) adopted a resolution on gender mainstreaming in 2001 to ensure gender perspectives are taken into account in all its work.

The Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was adopted by the United Nations on December 18, 1976 and was effective as an international treaty on September 3, 1981. The convention aims to promote women’s equal status and rights in the areas of domestic violence, reproductive rights, legal and political rights, among others.

Bangladesh signed the convention on 6th of November 1984.

To specify the rights issues of persons with disabilities, the Bangladesh parliament has passed the Persons with Disabilities Rights and Protection Act 2013 on October 9,2013. This act identified the rights of persons with disabilities as well as that women with disabilities have equal rights.

The achievement of greater equality of human rights and social justice is ignored

by ignoring the inclusion of women with disabilities in the practice of mainstreaming the gender equality process.

Education and skill development is the prerequisite to achieve the economic empowerment and social justice for any marginalised groups. The challenges of the education and skills development of women with disabilities of any groups and communities like in remote villages, coastal areas, char-lands, hilly areas are many times times more because of inadequate educational services, inaccessible vehicles to reach educational institutes, accessible infrastructure, poverty, and lack of consciousness about the need of education among girls with disabilities, etc.

The individual integrity and dedication of women with disabilities helps to achieve education and other skills by overcoming all challenges.

Women with disabilities have more patience, courage, and skills to manage challenges as they overcome all challenges of their own surroundings every day.

So, women with disabilities should be the “symbol of efficiency” all over the world.

This efficiency has not yet been appraised in most work places yet.

Various non-government and government organisations run various projects and programs to make people aware about the rights of persons with disabilities.

At the grassroots level and mass level, we see significant progress in the awareness about rights of people with disabilities, but the specific initiative of any individual organisational practice is too limited.

By getting ignored from the recruitment process, women with disabilities are being discriminated against in terms of the right to employment and economic empowerment.

The cost of education for a girl child with disability of developing countries is more than the cost of the education of a nondisabled girl or boy.

As a result, the number of higher educated women with disabilities is still less than men with disabilities. The recruitment of women with disabilities is also less than men with disabilities.

Among the employers of our country, good examples can be found in the corporate sector to recruit persons with disabilities.

Some corporate organisations like a few banks and RMG companies have inclusive human resource policies to recruit persons with disability and provide a disabilityfriendly environment.

These organisations are implementing it for their humanity as well as for a good reputation in the society and country.

Although the NGOs are the initiators for the awareness about rights of persons with disabilities, there are hardly NGOs in our country who have a disability and gender

policy.

As a result, women with disabilities are being ignored during the recruitment process even in human rights organisations in our country. From the website of the NGO affairs bureau of Bangladesh, we can see that we have 2,356 NGOs which receive foreign grants. If they would recruit one female and one male with disability in each organisation, then the employed number of persons with disabilities would be a remarkable example.

The implementation of a gender and disability policy is undeniably very important. There are many organisations where persons with disabilities, particularly women with disabilities, are recruited for indecent positions.

There are hardly any women with disabilities at managerial or senior positions.

The fair employee evaluation is also a crucial issue within the organisational inside practices. Good governance is expected within the organisation at first, then it is to be demanded from society.

Lack of accountability and good governance in an organisation are depriving women with disabilities from enjoying economic empowerment.

Gender policy and its implementation are essential to ensure equal rights of women in the workplace for an inclusive society. l Jannatul Ferdous Ivy is a disability activist.

DT

14 OPINION

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

BIGSTOCK

Exporting Bangladesh n Mamun Rashid

I

was looking at Bangladesh’s export numbers. While the country exported $15.57bn in fiscal 2009, it reached $30.18bn in fiscal 2014. RMG exports during the same period went from $12.35bn to $24.49bn.

Interestingly, our RMG exports to nontraditional markets increased from $850m to $3.6bn. Canada, Italy, Spain, France, the UK, Germany, and the US all became billiondollar export destinations for Bangladesh during this period.

Our leather and leather goods, jute and jute goods, and also, interestingly, home textiles exports saw an increase to either the billion dollar mark or something close to it, during this timeframe. It seems the country has been doubling its exports every six years.

Not bad, rather, quite encouraging. Despite natural disasters, man-made disasters, exchange rate fluctuations, and distressed markets in some of the destination countries, Bangladesh exports have held on.

Credit goes to subsequent governments -- they maintained their policy and fiscal supports to the exporting sectors, despite criticism from the media and the citizenry.

Duty drawback, bonded warehouses, income tax breaks, subsidies, expansion of export development fund (EDF) parameters, service at the ports, and deferred payment facilities for imports continued. Though equal, or close to

equal, facilities didn’t flow into sectors other than RMG, the overall incentive mechanisms, however, were maintained.

Bangladesh needs more exports to accelerate its poverty alleviation success. The BGMEA has set a target of $50bn by the 50th anniversary of the republic. If the “doubling in every six years” record is maintained, we should see leather and leather goods, jute and jute goods, and home textiles to double in exports by 2021 too -- closely followed by frozen foods, agriculture exports, IT outsourcing, and more importantly, pharmaceuticals exports.

We can possibly set the target at $60bn for 2021, if not more. Our kids are developing apps for global biggies, two of our pharmaceutical plants will soon be getting US FDA certifications, and more in the offing should make us more confident in our journey forward.

According to reports, our exports meet around 5% of the global $650bn per annum RMG needs. Through continuous investment in people, power, port, production, places, and most importantly, a congenial, or close to congenial, political environment, we could easily grab 8% of the global market shares and boost our RMG exports to $52bn by 2020.

But if we don’t, or can’t, make investments in the above mentioned “engines of growth,” we are highly likely to lose out to our competitors India, Vietnam, or even Pakistan.

Christmas sales in American stores from last year have told us our shares, or possible

shares, in the store racks is being increasingly gobbled up by India, Vietnam, and Pakistan.

USTR data also showed that, while the US’s imports from the world market grew by 2.5%, from Bangladesh, it reduced by 3.6% during the mentioned period, whereas imports from China grew by 4%, India 5.7%, and 14.6% from Vietnam. The July-December 2014 number tells us that, while Bangladesh exports to the rest of the world grew by 2.38%; Vietnam grew its exports by 4.47%, India by 9.96%, and Pakistan by almost 20%.

It seems the country has been doubling its exports every six years. Not bad, rather, quite encouraging

US buyers or sourcing agencies had to pay $828m in tariff to enter “made in Bangladesh” RMG products to the US in 2013.

We need to immediately sit with US decision-makers, including the USTR, to renegotiate a reduced tariff for Bangladesh RMG as

well as request for some consideration under the TICFA dialog.

The BGMEA and its president spotted it right: We need to improve productivity to increase and diversify our exports. While Vietnam produces RMG worth $17bn with its 1.3 million workers, Bangladesh produces $24.50bn worth of RMG with 4.4 million workers. Who’s more productive? Vietnam in this case.

Productivity is 77% in Bangladesh, 92% in India, 90% in Vietnam, and 88% in Pakistan.

Bangladeshi workers have seen their minimum wage growing from Tk1,662 in 2009 to Tk5,300 in 2014. It is almost close to India now; but look at India’s productivity.

To improve productivity, Bangladesh needs to train it’s workers, install more productive machines in the plants, and ensure a peaceful and productive environment. New machines need triple the investment of older, traditional machines. The entrepreneurs needs low interest rate support from the banks. The competing countries are seeing 5-7% interest rates, whereas a Bangladeshi entrepreneur, at an average, has to pay 10-14% interest rates on a blended basis. Beyond fiscal costs, the factories need to invest money on improving factory environments and also on worker safety. A “shift to quality” is required across all exporting sectors, not just RMG. l Mamun Rashid is a business professor and financial sector entrepreneur.

16

EU nears deal on $338bn plan to tackle drop in investment

17

Saudi seeks to minimise domestic impact of oil fall

20

DT

Business

15

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

No end in sight to VAT rate row

Unrest hits private credit growth Private sector lending tumbles again in January to 13.3% from 13.5% in the previous month as the country sinks into political chaos BB chief bemoans as BASIC’s sacked top brass still at large n Asif Showkat Kallol Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman has expressed dissatisfaction as BASIC Bank’s sacked top officials have not been arrested yet despite allegations of huge anomalies.

The bank’s ex-chairman Sheikh Abdul Hye Bacchu and managing director Kazi Faqurul Islam were removed from the posts over the allegations of involvement with the Tk4,500 crore loan scam.

“It’s very sad that the two have not been arrested yet. But they face allegations of direct involvement with the financial irregularities in the BASIC Bank,” Atiur Rahman lamented at a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance Ministry recently.

When contacted, Anti-corruption Commission Chairman M Badiuzzaman yesterday told Dhaka Tribune that they are investigating into the allegations against the bank’s former top brass.

“We are inquiring into the allegations, after which, cases will be filed. Then the issue of arrest will come,” he said.

On May 25 last year, the central bank removed Kazi Faqurul Islam on the charge of the irregularities.

On July 6, Sheikh Abdul Hye Bacchu stepped down after facing the allegations.

Last month, the central bank directed the management of the crisis-ridden bank to reduce the volume of non-performing loans through intensifying recovery derives.

The overall NPL of the bank rose to Tk6,148 crore as of September 30 last year from Tk1,863 crore a year ago, according to the central bank data.

Earlier, the central bank had found various irregularities in the BASIC Bank in giving out loans, which include no verification of customers’ credit worthiness, absence of know-your-customer procedures, and providing loans to defaulters.

Bangladesh Bank investigations found financial irregularities involving around Tk4,500 crore worth of loans in three branches of BASIC Bank, located in Gulshan, Dilkusha and Shantinagar in the capital. l

n Jebun Nesa Alo Private sector credit growth, which remained sluggish over the last two years, has tumbled once again in January after a little recovery for a while just in the previous month.

This is due to the ongoing political turmoil, bankers said.

The credit growth to private sector came back to 13.3% in the first month of 2015 from 13.5% in December last year, according to latest data of Bangladesh Bank.

The credit growth in December last year was close to the ceiling of 14% set in the monetary programme for the first half of the current fiscal year (July-December).

It was possible just because of the growing credit demand in the first half of the current fiscal year (2014-15) soon after the return of normalcy in the political situation.

The credit growth that achieved in January was far below from the ceiling of 15.2% set in the monetary program due to lack of credit demand in the banking sector since the country again plunged into a fresh spell of political violence from January 6.

The amount of the total credit to private sector stood at Tk5,41,900 crore in January.

On the other hand, banks cut their lending rate rapidly in January to boost the credit demand. The weighted average lending rate came down to 12.32% in January, which was four years’ below from 11.34% in 2010.

“Banks have cut the lending rate from an idea of massive investment from the surplus money that has created a burden for them,” said NCC Bank Managing Director Hafiz Ahmed.

He said banks were investing their surplus

money in government treasury bonds and call money markets, from which, they were getting interest at 7% to 8% only.

“If the banks could lend money even at 11% or 12%, which is now existing, would have been more profitable to them,” he observed.

“Under the circumstance, we all want highest use of our money,” he said.

“The lower lending rate is not significant compared to the inflation,” said Bangladesh Bank Chief Economist Biru Paksha Paul.

“Lending rates may go up and down based on inflation, which must be less than the lending rate to make the real interest rate (the lending rate minus inflation) a positive one,” he added.

A real interest rate of 3% or so is desirable in developing economies where real interest rates is higher than 3% will simply hinder the investment growth, he opined.

“Now inflation has come down and the lending rate should be close to 10%,” he observed.

Banking sector burdened with surplus money of over Tk1 lakh crore after fulfilling the requirement of minimum liquid asset as of December last year, according to the central bank data.

Bangladesh Bank, however, recently claimed through a statement that only Tk3,364 crore remained idle in the banking sector.

The surplus money that incurred after maintaining the statutory requirement remained invested in the government bills, which is profitable for banks, observed the central bank.

The Advance Deposit Ratio (ADR) in the banking sector remained almost same at 71.20% in January this year compared to 71.30% in the same period of the last year, according to the Bangladesh Bank data.

The credit growth of the four state-owned banks, though, improved significantly to 9% in January compared to the negative growth of 4.59% in the same period of last year. l

Proposal to import 100,000 tonne wheat okayed n Tribune Report The government will procure 100,000 tonnes of wheat from the international market at a cost of nearly Tk200 crore.

The cabinet committee on public purchase approved the food ministry proposal at a meeting yesterday presided over Finance Minister AMA Muhith.

Netherlands-based Glencore Grain will import the wheat to meet the local demand during the current fiscal year. Bangladesh will have to procure a total of 900,000 tonne wheat to meet the fiscal year’s demand of food.

M/S Imprex Ltd, local representative of Glencor Grain, will supply 50,000 tonne

at the rate of $244.50 a tonne and another 50,000 tonne at $261.25 rate, said Joint Secretary to Cabinet Division Mostafizur Rahman.

He said international tenders will be called for the procurement.

Besides, the meeting approved a public works ministry proposal on selecting a construction firm to build 10-storey building for the National Security Intelligence in the capital’s Shegunbagicha.

The Civil Engineers Ltd has been selected as the construction firm for the work,

which will implement the project at a cost of Tk56.62 crore. l

DT

16 BUSINESS

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

ECB’s ‘QE’ on track with day one purchases at 3.2bn euro n AFP, Frankfurt

European Economic and Financial Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici adjusts his glasses as he addresses a news conference at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels REUTERS

EU nears deal on $338bn plan to tackle drop in investment n Reuters, Brussels EU finance ministers agreed the details of a 315bn euro ($338bn) investment plan on Tuesday to help revive the European economy without piling up more debt, and now aim to get the first projects going by the end of the year.

EU lawmakers must now approve the fund.

“The plan is the answer we need to confront the main handicap of the European economy: the lack of investment,” said Pierre Moscovici, the EU economics commissioner, adding that investment had fallen by 15 to 20% since 2008.

The four-year plan fleshes out a call by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker to back riskier projects from airports to railways and to confront the fall in investment since the financial crisis.

Setting up the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) has been sensitive, with EU governments fearful of not having their

projects chosen from a list of almost 2,000 projects worth 1.3tn euros that countries put forward.

Some EU lawmakers are wary of favoritism toward western European countries over poorer, eastern European members.

Another problem has been that the Commission wanted countries to stump up money for the fund, insisting that it would not be included in debt and deficit calculations.

That idea flopped because countries had no guarantee that their projects would be chosen.

Instead, countries such as France, Spain and Germany said they would help fund projects in their country via national development banks, and Italy on Tuesday promised to contribute 8 billion euros to the Italian projects chosen, via its national promotional bank.

There are also doubts whether the plan will attract enough private money, however.

Juncker’s goal is to have 315bn euros of largely private new investment by providing 21bn

euros in capital and first-loss guarantees from the EU budget and the European Investment Bank.

Under the plan agreed by ministers, the plan will run for four years but will be reviewed after three years to see if it is working.

A steering board made up by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank will oversee the fund, while an eight-member investment committee will choose the projects.

The list submitted in December, which officials stress is not definitive, includes plans for housing regeneration in the Netherlands, a new port in Ireland and a 4.5bn euro fast rail connection between Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland.

Other ideas involve refueling stations for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in Germany, expanding broadband networks in Spain and making public buildings in France more energy-efficient. l

NEWS IN BRIEF McDonald’s Japan launches complaint app

McDonald’s Japan is to launch a new smartphone app for customer complaints as it looks to turn the page on a series of scares including the discovery of a human tooth in some fries. The move comes with in-country sales sliding, profits plunging and the burger giant’s reputation in Japan badly dented.

“We will introduce a new smartphone app customers can use to post their feelings, opinions and requests, aiming at strengthening our ability to listen to customers’ voices,” McDonald’s Japan Holdings, the parent company, said in a statement issued this week. The firm also said it was reviewing its procedures for dealing with suspected cases of product tampering and will draft new rules on communication with customers by next month. The chain came in for heavy media criticism for its handling of incidents over the past year in which unexpected objects were discovered in food. A human tooth was found in some french fries sold at an Osaka outlet last year, the firm admitted in January, although it said it did not know how the contamination had occurred.

McDonald’s said there were no employees missing a tooth at the outlet and it believed there was a very low possibility of contamination at the US factory that had shipped the chips. Two days later, a Japanese woman claimed to have discovered what was later identified as “dental material” in a McDonald’s hamburger from northernmost Hokkaido in September. – AFP, Tokyo

China consumer price change to stay positive in foreseeable future Annual changes in China’s consumer prices will remain positive in the foreseeable future, the Shanghai Securities News on Tuesday quoted vice central bank governor Yi Gang as saying. Yi said the authorities are watching price changes closely, although Japan and Europe face more serious deflationary pressures than China.

Data on Tuesday showed China’s annual consumer price inflation quickened to 1.4% in February from a five-year low in January. – Reuters, Beijing

The European Central Bank’s massive bond purchase programme, known as quantitative easing, or QE, got off to a good start with purchases at 3.2bn euros on the first day, a top ECB official said Tuesday.

ECB executive board member Benoit Coeure said that during Monday’s kick-off day for the programme, the ECB and the central banks of the 19 eurozone nations purchased a total 3.2bn euro in bonds.

That put the QE programme on track to attain its monthly goal of 60bn euros worth of buyback of public and private sector debt, he said at a seminar in Frankfurt.

The ECB’s QE scheme has already been used by the US Federal Reserve and the Bank of England to stimulate their economies.

But QE has been a long time coming on mainland Europe and is regarded as the ultimate weapon in the ECB’s vast anti-deflation armoury, the culmination of a long series of unprecedented measures to bring the eurozone’s flat-lining economic recovery back to life.

The ECB hopes that by buying bonds off investors they will invest the money elsewhere, thus boosting growth and preventing a dangerous cycle of falling prices from setting in. l

Gold stuck near 3-month low as dollar strength weighs n Reuters, Singapore Gold hovered near its lowest in over three months yesterday, hurt by consecutive losses in the last seven sessions as a robust dollar and expectations of higher US interest rates curbed appetite for the metal.

Spot gold had ticked up slightly to $1,162.85 an ounce by 0314 GMT, after dropping 4% in the seven sessions to Tuesday. The metal slumped to $1,155.60 in the previous session, its lowest since Dec 1.

Bullion has taken a hit from stronger-than-expected US nonfarm payrolls data on Friday that renewed expectations the Federal Reserve would begin to increase interest rates in June.

Higher rates could dent demand for assets that do not pay interest such as gold, and boost the dollar, which was trading at its highest in over 11 years against a basket of major currencies.

“The possibility of further dollar gains is weighing on gold but Asian demand is emerging and may lend support for prices,” said HSBC analyst James Steel.

A robust dollar tends to dent the yellow metal’s safe-haven appeal, while also making it more expensive for holders of other currencies.

However, the drop in gold to multi-month lows has attracted some bargain hunters in Asia, the top bullion consuming region.

In China, the metal was traded at a premium of about $5 an ounce more than the global benchmark, an indication of good buying interest. Sustained physical buying could provide a floor for falling gold prices.

Another factor that could support prices is further weakness in global equity markets that could boost safe-haven bids. l

DT

BUSINESS 17

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Saudi seeks to minimise domestic impact of oil fall n AFP, Riyadh Saudi Arabia is trying to minimise the impact of plunging oil prices on its economy, King Salman said Tuesday in a wide-ranging address which promised a more diversified economy.

“The low prices witnessed by the oil market are having an effect on the income of the kingdom. However, we are working towards minimising the impact on development,” Salman, 79, said in his first major speech since acceding to the throne on January 23.

Over the second half of last year the global price of crude oil dropped by about half, from above $100 a barrel.

Yet the kingdom in December announced a 2015 budget that included a slight rise in spending to $229.3bn with a projected fall in revenue to $190.7bn. Those numbers leave the country with its first budget deficit since 2011.

Saudi Arabia is the Arab world’s largest economy, and much of its spending is on health, education and social services as well as infrastructure.

Officials have said the kingdom’s reserves, estimated at $750bn, enable it to withstand the global crude price drop.

Saudi Arabia is the world’s biggest crude exporter and oil makes up about 90 percent of government revenue.

Salman told government officials and other dignitaries that the search for new deposits of oil, gas and other natural resources in Saudi Arabia would continue.

“High petrol prices during the past few years have had a positive effect on the economy of the kingdom, in the development of projects,” the king said.

But the plunge in oil prices has emphasised the need for economic alternatives, and Salman said the kingdom’s future economy “will be based on a number of foundations”, with a growing number of small and medium enterprises.

“The next few years will be full of important accomplishments aimed at emphasising the role of the industry and the service sectors in the national economy.”

Saudi new King Salman stands at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh

Continuity

Salman delivered his wide-ranging palace address in front of Crown Prince Moqren, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, provincial governors, the top cleric Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh, other religious leaders, the Shura Council which advises the monarch, military officers and citizens.

“I have committed myself to continuing the work on the immutable foundations on which this blessed country has stood since its unification,” he said, mentioning adherence to sharia Islamic law and preservation of unity and stability.

“We shall work continually towards the in-

Dollar pushes higher on US rate hike speculation n Reuters, Tokyo The dollar marched higher yesterday, supported by expectations for a mid-year US rate hike and diverging policy paths between the Fed and other major central banks.

The US currency’s unrelenting rise saw it jump against a string of global peers including the euro and yen, while it also advanced against emerging market currencies from the Indonesian rupiah to the Thai baht.

Upbeat US jobs data Friday has fanned speculation that the US central bank will follow through on an interest rate hike by June.

On Wednesday it jumped to 121.42 yen in Tokyo from 121.07 yen in US trade. It had hit a near eight-year high above 122 yen on Tuesday.

The embattled euro bought $1.0677 and

129.67 yen, against $1.0698 and 129.53 yen in New York, after the European Central Bank launched its monetary easing campaign this week in a bid to rescue the stumbling eurozone economy. The last time the euro fell below $1.07 line was in April 2003.

“It’s a stronger-US-dollar story,” Peter Dragicevich, a strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia, told Bloomberg News.

“The general theme of the stronger dollar and markets positioning and looking to the Fed to raise rates later this year continues to come through.”

The dollar has won support from the Fed’s moves to tighten policy as a string of central banks go in the opposite direction and ratchet up their stimulus, which tends to weaken their currencies. l

tegrated, balanced and comprehensive development in all regions of the kingdom,” added Salman, the latest in a line of ruling sons of King Abdul Aziz bin Saud, who founded Saudi Arabia in 1932. The conservative Sunni-majority kingdom has a Shiite minority which has complained of marginalisation.

Salman urged officials to “be attuned to the citizens”, and indicated that he wants the fight against corruption stepped up.

The kingdom’s foreign policy “is based on the teachings of our religion that call for peace and kindness”, Salman said, but “extremism and terrorism” will be fought at their roots in

AFP

cooperation with others.

“Defence of Arab and Islamic causes, and in the first place the right of the Palestinians to a state with Jerusalem as its capital, will remain at the top of Saudi Arabia’s demands,” Salman said. Analysts have expected the new king to maintain a steady course for the kingdom’s oil and foreign policy after his half-brother king Abdullah died aged about 90.

In September, Saudi Arabia joined air strikes as part of a United States-led coalition of Western and Arab nations bombing the Islamic State group extremists who have seized swathes of Iraq and Syria. l

Oil prices rebound in Asian trade n Reuters, Singapore Oil prices rebounded in Asia yesterday following steep losses in the previous session, but analysts said gains were capped by a strengthening US dollar and persistent concerns about a global supply glut.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) climbed 63 cents to $48.92 while Brent rose 46 cents to $56.85 in afternoon trade.

WTI tumbled $1.71 and Brent fell $2.14 on Tuesday as the greenback soared against other major currencies.

A stronger US dollar makes dollar-priced oil more expensive for buyers using weaker currencies, denting demand. Despite the gains Wednesday, oil prices are under pressure as dealers expect the latest official US stockpiles report Wednesday to be “bearish”, said Shailaja Nair, associate editorial editor at energy information provider Platts.

“This adds further to the global supply glut and ultimately will exert downward pressure to crude oil prices,” Nair told AFP. US crude reserves likely rose 4.75 million barrels in the week ended March 6, according to a survey by Bloomberg News. It added that total supplies likely soared to 444.4 million, the highest level since the Energy Information Administration started compiling weekly inventory data in 1982.

Crude prices lost about 60% of their value to about $40 between June and late January owing to an oversupply in world markets, a weak global economy and the strong dollar. Prices have since rebounded following a slowdown in US oil drilling activities, but analysts say volatility is likely to continue for some time.

The US Department of Energy’s market outlook report released Tuesday projected for this year “continuing large builds in US crude oil inventories, including at the Cushing, Oklahoma storage hub.” l

DT

18 BUSINESS

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

News, analysis and recent disclosures UCBL: United Commercial Bank Ltd. has further informed that the 32nd AGM of the company will be held on 31 March 2015 at 11:30 am at International Convention City (Rajodarshan, Hall No. 3). Bashundhara, Dhaka.

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.

LINDEBD: 110% final Cash (i.e. total 310% cash dividend for the year 2014 inclusive of 200% interim cash dividend which has already been paid), AGM 30.04.2015, Record Date 10.03.2015.

EBL: 20% cash dividend, AGM: 31.03.2015, Record Date: 11.03.2015.

IDLC: 10% cash and 25% stock dividend, AGM: 30.03.2015, Record Date: 09.03.2015.

SALAMCRST: 15% cash dividend, AGM: 28.03.2015, Record date: 09.03.2015.

IPDC: 5% cash and 10% stock dividend, AGM: 29.04.2015, Record Date: 09.03.2015, PRIMEFIN: 12.50% cash dividend, Date of AGM: 30.03.2015, Record Date: 09.03.2015.

MTB: 20% stock, EGM and AGM: 30.03.2015, Record date for EGM and AGM: 08.03.2015.

GLAXOSMITH: 420% cash, AGM: 23.04.2015, Record date: 12.03.2015.

Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

Company

Closing (% Change)

Northern Jute -Z Shasha Denims -N ACI Limited- A 8th ICB M F-A BATBCL -A DBH 1st MF-A EBL NRB M.F.-A 6th ICB M F-A Ambee Pharma -A Kohinoor Chem -A

9.18 5.38 3.73 3.08 2.83 2.27 2.27 1.91 1.83 1.81

CSE GAINER Company Rupali Life Insur.-B Prime Bank 1st MF-A Shasha Denims -N The Ibn SinaA Kay & Que (BD) -Z BATBCL -A ACI Limited- A Marico BD Ltd-A ACI Formulations-A MBL 1st M. F.-A

Closing (% Change) 7.29 6.82 5.39 5.37 5.04 4.07 3.73 3.07 2.84 2.44

DSE LOSER Company Bank Asia -A Social Islami. B-A Pubali Bank - A Prime Bank-A Shahjibazar Power-N Rupali Bank - A Asia Pasific Insu. -A Renwick Jajneswar-A Samata LeatheR -Z Standard Bank -A

Closing (% Change) -13.95 -10.00 -9.73 -9.73 -8.71 -8.06 -6.86 -5.26 -5.14 -5.08

CSE LOSER Company Samata LeatheR -Z Bank Asia -A Pubali Bank - A Nitol Insurance -A Shahjibazar Power-N CVO PetroChem RL-A Social Islami. B-A Paramount Insur-A GreenDeltaInsu -A Central Insur -A

Closing (% Change) -16.36 -11.24 -9.60 -9.45 -9.02 -8.74 -8.67 -8.67 -8.57 -7.27

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

DSE key features March-11, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

DSE GAINER

Sector

3,102.85 62,166,939 95,602

Traded Issues

309

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

56

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

252

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

1

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,504.73

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.36

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 215.83 99.97 27.97 441.96 81.84 585.81 3.30 411.72 451.37 7.43 116.12 17.78 12.17 236.17 59.08 25.10 28.35 173.17 16.57 95.52 0.04

% change 6.95 3.22 0.90 14.22 2.63 18.85 0.11 13.25 14.53 0.24 3.74 0.57 0.39 7.60 1.90 0.81 0.91 5.57 0.53 3.07 0.00

Million Taka 19.84 6.97 1.26 42.62 2.08 38.17 64.71 23.29 1.01 7.13 0.64 1.33 18.45 5.25 0.69 2.55 20.52 5.56 20.83 0.00

Average (% Change) 8.89 3.05 3.59 3.24 2.64 1.58 0.90 0.57 2.02 1.94

Average (% Change) 7.17 1.36 3.14 5.40 5.04 4.07 3.34 2.88 1.90 1.94

Average (% Change) -12.30 -10.66 -8.37 -9.76 -4.29 -4.40 -5.14 -3.25 -6.51 -3.33

Average (% Change) -16.36 -11.55 -6.85 -9.45 -3.45 -3.37 -4.33 -5.60 -8.56 -7.27

CSE

ClosingAvg. 207.44 38.87 435.53 67.00 3,076.82 4.49 4.47 58.60 292.18 337.63

ClosingAvg. 45.57 4.46 38.81 100.00 12.50 3070.00 434.65 1193.46 137.03 4.20

ClosingAvg. 14.98 13.50 23.22 16.73 224.02 47.34 16.62 228.91 16.36 11.33

ClosingAvg.

% change 7.01 2.46 0.45 15.07 0.74 13.49 0.00 22.87 8.23 0.36 2.52 0.23 0.47 6.52 1.86 0.24 0.90 7.25 1.96 7.36 0.00

18.40 14.94 22.99 23.00 223.87 446.33 14.59 13.66 55.53 20.40

Closing 208.20 39.20 436.80 66.90 3,089.10 4.50 4.50 58.80 288.90 337.20

Closing 45.60 4.70 39.10 100.00 12.50 3070.00 436.80 1195.60 137.60 4.20

Closing 14.80 13.50 23.20 16.70 216.90 45.60 16.30 225.20 16.60 11.20

Closing 18.40 15.00 22.60 23.00 218.00 217.20 13.70 13.70 55.50 20.40

Million Taka 235.66 106.94 29.23 484.58 83.92 623.98 3.30 476.43 474.67 8.43 123.26 18.42 13.50 254.62 64.33 25.79 30.90 193.68 22.12 116.35 0.04

DHIGH

DLOW

208.20 40.00 441.10 67.50 3,099.00 4.50 4.50 59.40 294.00 339.80

201.00 37.10 423.00 65.00 3,029.00 4.40 4.40 57.80 287.00 331.00

DHIGH

DLOW

46.00 4.70 39.80 100.00 12.50 3080.00 440.10 1198.00 138.00 4.20

43.10 4.30 36.80 100.00 12.50 3050.00 425.00 1190.00 135.00 4.20

DHIGH

DLOW

15.50 13.50 24.20 17.00 240.00 50.60 17.20 240.10 16.60 11.80

DHIGH

14.70 13.50 23.20 16.70 216.90 44.80 16.10 222.00 16.50 11.00

DLOW

19.00 15.00 23.50 23.00 240.00 240.00 14.90 13.70 58.50 20.40

Total

18.00 14.70 22.60 23.00 217.20 217.20 13.50 13.60 55.00 20.40

% change 6.95 3.15 0.86 14.29 2.48 18.41 0.10 14.05 14.00 0.25 3.64 0.54 0.40 7.51 1.90 0.76 0.91 5.71 0.65 3.43 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

1.818 240.637 132.919 0.268 9.492 0.327 0.114 0.580 5.945 0.498

Turnover in Million

0.96 1.31 9.65 9.10 104.70 0.32 0.64 11.74 4.68 10.10

Latest EPS

0.795 0.031 45.698 0.034 0.013 0.009 5.602 0.033 2.720 0.088

Turnover in Million

216.1 29.7 45.1 7.4 29.4 14.0 7.0 5.0 62.4 33.4

Latest PE

5.33 0.76 1.31 3.77 -1.41 104.70 9.65 48.72 3.27 0.12

Latest EPS

1.550 3.917 14.182 4.632 230.938 0.897 1.241 1.446 0.009 5.271

Turnover in Million

Latest PE

8.5 5.9 29.6 26.5 -ve 29.3 45.0 24.5 41.9 35.0

Latest PE

2.40 2.74 3.54 2.18 8.68 2.04 2.32 4.36 -0.46 1.52

Latest EPS

0.046 0.050 0.693 0.001 13.572 10.261 5.509 0.006 0.018 0.001

6.2 4.9 6.6 7.7 25.8 23.2 7.2 52.5 -ve 7.5

Latest PE

-0.46 2.40 3.54 2.79 8.68 8.56 2.74 1.13 2.96 2.96

-ve 6.2 6.5 8.2 25.8 52.1 5.3 12.1 18.8 6.9

CSE key features March-11, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

282.89 7,588,894 15,981

Traded Issues

234

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

41

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

186

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

7

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,376.69

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

28.81

DT

BUSINESS 19

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

DSEX slips to more than 6-month low n Tribune Report

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Shasha Denims -N Shahjibazar Power-N Ifad Autos -N LafargeS Cement-Z ACI Limited- A Grameenphone-A CVO PetroChem RL-A Square Pharma -A SummitAlliancePort.-A HeidelbergCement -A

Brac Bank -A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A MJL BD Ltd.-A GlaxoSK (BD) -A Titas Gas TDCLA

VolumeShares 6,191,499 1,030,888 2,572,362 1,225,556 305,190 366,647 227,850 334,901 1,388,859 150,228

Value in Million 240.64 230.94 164.78 152.84 132.92 121.36 102.25 86.51 84.32 75.64

% of TotalTurnover 7.74 7.43 5.30 4.92 4.28 3.91 3.29 2.78 2.71 2.43

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Shasha Denims -N BD Submarine Cable-A Shahjibazar Power-N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A LafargeS Cement-Z GPH Ispat Ltd-A CVO PetroChem RL-A Ifad Autos -N WesternMarine -N ACI Limited- A

Social Islami. B-A Salvo Chemicals-B MJL BD Ltd.-A National Feed-N Grameenphone-A

1,932,372 1,854,553 501,258 33,590 763,436

1,177,359 128,833 60,623 403,889 105,934 299,100 22,989 115,963 142,029 12,888

377,483 258,160 38,607 170,663 12,995

65.73 61.69 59.61 58.99 56.49

45.70 16.23 13.57 13.42 13.10 12.42 10.26 7.43 6.03 5.60

5.51 4.72 4.57 4.53 4.29

2.12 1.99 1.92 1.90 1.82

16.15 5.74 4.80 4.74 4.63 4.39 3.63 2.63 2.13 1.98

1.95 1.67 1.62 1.60 1.52

ClosingP 39.20 216.90 62.20 122.20 436.80 327.70 438.40 257.80 60.00 500.30

33.80 32.70 117.40 1752.10 74.40

ClosingP

Change % 5.38 -8.71 -5.04 0.00 3.73 -0.30 -5.01 -0.12 -4.00 -1.36

-0.88 -2.39 -2.25 -0.67 0.54

Change %

39.10 123.50 218.00 32.60 122.20 44.00 217.20 62.30 42.10 436.80

13.70 18.20 117.40 26.40 328.20

5.39 -4.34 -9.02 -2.40 0.08 -0.68 -8.74 -5.03 -2.55 3.73

-8.67 0.00 -2.81 -1.49 -0.33

ClosingY 37.20 237.60 65.50 122.20 421.10 328.70 461.50 258.10 62.50 507.20

34.10 33.50 120.10 1763.90 74.00

ClosingY

37.10 129.10 239.60 33.40 122.10 44.30 238.00 65.60 43.20 421.10

15.00 18.20 120.80 26.80 329.30

DHIGH 40.00 240.00 66.50 127.20 441.10 334.90 463.80 259.70 62.80 507.90

DLOW 37.10 216.90 61.40 120.00 423.00 327.00 435.00 257.00 59.50 494.90

34.20 34.00 122.70 1770.00 74.60

33.70 32.50 116.00 1731.00 73.60

DHIGH

DLOW

39.80 130.20 240.00 34.00 126.00 44.00 240.00 66.90 43.50 440.10

36.80 122.50 217.20 32.50 121.00 44.00 217.20 61.60 42.00 425.00

14.90 18.40 121.30 26.90 336.00

13.50 18.00 116.90 26.20 328.00

AvgPrice 38.87 224.02 64.06 124.71 435.53 330.99 448.74 258.31 60.71 503.51

34.02 33.26 118.91 1756.09 73.99

AvgPrice

38.81 125.96 223.87 33.23 123.71 41.52 446.33 64.10 42.43 434.65

14.59 18.29 118.46 26.56 329.99

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

4585.72540

(-) 1.37%

1716.54388

(-) 0.77%

14041.46840

(-) 1.15%

11570.04540

(-) 1.21%

8509.28630

(-) 1.22%

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

Stocks failed to sustain the previous day’s modest rally yesterday with the benchmark index DSEX slipping to more than six-month low.

Concerns over the prolonged political upheaval, which subdued somewhat due to relaxation of strike, intensified as 20-party alliance enforced strikes again along with its nonstop transport blockades.

The DSEX tumbled at more than 63 points or 1.4% to close at 4,585 – its lowest since September last year.

The Shariah Index DSES was down around 10 points or 0.9% to 1,105. The comprising blue chips DS30 fell 15 points or 0.8% to 1,716.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, settled at 8,509, declining 105 points.

However, strong selling pressure has helped turnover cross Tk300 crore after a week. Turnover at the Dhaka Stock Exchange was Tk310 crore, an increase of 21.6% over the previous session.

The market heavyweight banking stocks took the highest hit dropping 3%, followed by engineering 2%, power 1.9% and non-banking financial institutions 1.4%.

Cement broke its previous day’s biggest rally as it was down marginally. Imminent annual declaration of some manufacturing stocks enticed investors to take position with food & allied managing to soar 2.3%.

Share prices of more than 80% issues eroded as out of 308 issues traded, 234 declined, 43 advanced and 31 remained unchanged.

Lanka Bangla Securities said after single day pause, opposition party continued the nationwide strike which made investors worried about the market outlook.

IDLC Investments said impatience shredded the market, after previous day’s small gain. “Investors delivered a kneejerk reaction to the last session’s positive close, deciding to book the gain.”

Shasha Denims was the most traded stocks with shares worth Tk24 crore changing hands, followed by Shahjibazar Power Company that remained in the top position in previous two days. l

ANALYST

After single day pause, opposition party continued the nationwide strike which made investors worried about the market outlook

DT

20 BUSINESS

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

No end in sight to VAT rate row n Tribune Report Stalemate over the new VAT law continued between the government and the businessmen as both the sides are adamant on their respective positions.

“15% universal VAT rate will not be changed,” said Finance Minister AMA Muhith at a workshop on the new value added tax law in Dhaka yesterday.

According to him, if the businessmen keep the accounts of value addition of their products, there should be no problem regarding value added tax.

If the value addition of a product is Tk4, the VAT will be imposed only on that Tk4, not the whole price, he explained.

“But there is a scope to have a broader discussion about the matter before the upcoming budget, and the businessmen can place their demands and arguments by this time,” finance minister, however, said.

He claimed keeping a universal VAT rate is widely practised tradition around the world.

But Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Kazi Akram Uddin Ahmed said the business people would stick to their demand of multiple VAT rates. National Board of Revenue organised the workshop on the new VAT law to make businessmen aware and educate them about the law, presided over by NBR Chairman Md Nojibur Rahman.

“The government has decided to keep the 15% VAT rate just to please the International Monetary Fund (IMF),” alleged Kazi Akram.

He said although the government has enacted the law on the basis of the IMF recommendations, the law has to be implemented considering the interests of the government and the businesses. Suggesting training for the

Finance Minister AMA Muhith addresses a seminar on value added tax, organised by the NBR, in Dhaka yesterday businessmen on the subject, FBCCI chief said the business community as well as the VAT officials have to be aware about the new VAT law.

“VAT is the biggest source of revenue collection. But the business people do not have a clear idea about the VAT system.”

“I would ask the NBR to arrange seminars to educate the businessmen on it.”

Rupali Chowdhury, president of Foreign

Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), talked about the turnover ceiling for VAT in the SME sector. She said if the VAT rate remains high, it would be very tough for the small and medium enterprises to survive.

She urged the government to consider the issue for the sake of the SME sector.

In January a nine-member panel, headed by a former NBR member, put forward its

Tofail seeks support from G7 for fair RMG prices

BIAC-DCCI holds workshop on Commercial Mediation n Tribune Desk n UNB Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC) organised a workshop in the city yesterday in collaboration with Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) to create awareness about resolution of commercial disputes outside court system through mediation.

Attending the workshop held in DCCI Auditorium, BIAC Chairman Mahbubur Rahman observed: “For entrepreneurship in trade and investment to flourish, we require an enabling framework”.

One key requirement is quick and cost-effective methods to resolve commercial and investment disputes, he opined.

He also said, “BIAC has developed facilities and professionals who are highly qualified and trained by world renowned institutions”.

Representatives of different banks, legal chambers and business houses participated in the workshop.

The workshop was attended by Transcom Chairman Latifur Rahman, MCCI president Syed Nasim Manzur, Ex-Advisor to Caretaker Government Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, Ex-Attorney General Barrister Fida M Kamal and Pubali Bank CEO Helal Ahmed Chowdhury. l

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has called upon G7 countries to impress upon the global brands, retailers to uphold justice and fairness in determination of price towards RMG manufacturers within a sustainable global supply chain.

Addressing the G7 stakeholders’ consultation on developing sustainable global supply chain, the Commerce Minister elaborated the way the Bangladesh textiles and RMG industry grew over the decades complying with the range of international social and environmental standards, said a Commerce Ministry release yesterday.

He shared with the German leaders and G7 stakeholders present at the Consultation the host of policy, legislative, regulatory, administrative changes that the government has brought over the past two years in Bangladesh.

Stressing that those improvements could well form a template for replication elsewhere, he said immediately after the worst industrial accident in April 2013, the government, owners and workers in Bangladesh started collaborating with global actors in stabilising the industry that employ over four

million women and men in Bangladesh.

He assured G7 stakeholders of Bangladesh’s commitment to continuing with necessary changes, as was agreed within the ‘Bangladesh Sustainability Compact’.

Emphasising that many of the changes are unique compared to most other parts of the world, he assured the meeting that Bangladesh is fully compatible and safe to source manufactured goods for developed world markets.

The meeting was also addressed by the Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, the German Ministers for Labour and Economic Cooperation, Andrea Nahles and Gert Muller respectively.

All of them lauded Bangladesh’s commitment and sincerity in bringing changes without inhibition; and said that Bangladesh experiences in terms of improving workplace safety and well-being and industrial relations need to be replicated in many parts of the world. l Both the German and French Ministers informed the Consultation that developing standards for a sustainable global supply chain and decent work agenda would be a key deliverable for the G7 Summit this summer in Germany. l

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

recommendations on the VAT rate to Finance Minister AMA Muhith.

The panel suggested the revenue authority to impose multiple VAT rates, instead of the universal 15% in all areas.

It also recommended raising the ceiling of turnover for VAT to Tk36 lakh from Tk24 lakh to facilitate growth of small and cottage industries, especially in the rural areas. l

BUILD represents Bangladesh at global PPD workshop n Tribune Report The eighth Global Public Private Dialogue (PPD) workshop kicked off in Copenhagen on Tuesday where the participants from different countries will exchange their views on enhancing the relation between public and private sectors.

The five-day workshop gathers about 300 representatives from 50 countries from governments, private sectors, PPD coordination units and business forums.

They will share and exchange knowledge and agree in supporting PPD practitioners on the ground. Business Initiative Leading Development (BUILD), the first PPD platform in Bangladesh, is one of the practitioners representing Bangladesh at the workshop, said a press release yesterday.

BUILD Chairman Asif Ibrahim, Director General of Prime Minister’s Office Shaikh Yusuf Harun and Masrur Riaz, Mohammad Lurfullah and Hosna Ferdous Sumi from International Finance Corporation comprise the delegation.

The workshop will conclude on March 14.

BUILD mainly works as the bridge that connects the public and private sector to bring about reforms in business policies. l

DT

21

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

T-JUNCTION

Sturdy stake ILLUSTRATION : SHAZZAD

The right kind of wrong The history behind popular brands

Coca Cola

The household name of a drink was originally invented as an alternative to morphine addiction and a relief for headaches and anxiety.

Only two decades later, the recipe was refined and made fit to be marketed as one of the most popular soda it is today.

Play-Doh

A soap manufacturer invented the strange yet exciting clay a lot of us grew up molding was originally meant to serve the purpose of a “wallpaper cleaner” during the 1930’s. It wasn’t until 20 years later when said manufacturer’s son re-purposed the clay for the under- 5 crowd today.

Listerine

Today’s magical cure for bad breath was originally invented some 135 years ago as a surgical antiseptic and a cure for gonorrhea. Over the years it was marketed as a refreshing additive to cigarettes, a cure for the common cold, and as a dandruff treatment.

Yes, all that.

INSIDE

22 face it

Even if your worst nightmares come true, you’ll have something to learn from it.

24 chilly to humid

As the season changes, embrace the retro mood of spring with vibrant tones from Yellow.

DT

22 T-JUNCTION

Get back up!

Hot Topic

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying -Michael Jordan

n Zubaida Rana Rahman and Baizid Haque Joarder Failure is a friend (yes, a friend) that visits you from time to time. It is that type of a friend which gives you reality checks rather than sugarcoating all your “attempts” by saying “good job!” or “great effort.” If you were the student and failure was the teacher, there would be quite a few lessons he would want you to learn: Try harder There will always be people who are better than you, smarter than you, and maybe even more efficient than you. Does that mean you’ll just give up and let them bathe in glory? Of course not! Failure teaches you to get back up and be better; be the best that you want to be.

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger Kelly Clarkson marvelously sums up this point in her song but to elaborate, it takes courage and strength to overcome the devastation of failing. Be a warrior; be strong.

Never be overconfident Succeeding is great, amazing in fact. Failure teaches you to respect your achievements and be humble! It’s like sinking your teeth in a tiramisu doughnut after a work out and really appreciating the burst of flavour.

Undergo experience It is said that experience is the teacher of all things. Failure helps you gain experience and maybe next time you’ll get a visit from your friend success, instead!

Failure is not the opposite of success but rather, a prerequisite. The next time you feel like giving up, remember that these two friends always walk hand in hand.

They weren’t so great at first Famous people aren’t always famous for their success. None of them were successful at first. Failures come and go and endurance is key Steven Spielberg The man made us so many critically acclaimed blockbusters, many of which make him one of the greatest Hollywood directors of all time. However, his journey to success started out rocky.

He was rejected from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts not once, not twice, but thrice. He probably thought the phrase “third time’s the charm” was a load of you-know-what.

Stephen King The world’s best-selling horror author wasn’t appreciated at first. Publishers rejected his best-selling novel Carrie

30 times! He was ready to give up until his wife helped him push through and finally get it published. Now, the world knows it as a phenomenal success with two film adaptations too!

Oprah Winfrey No introductions needed for this remarkable lady but her story is almost unbelievable. She was fired from her first anchoring job because she was “unfit for TV” Tell that to the millions of viewers of the Oprah Winfrey Network. Yes, her very own network.

Walt Disney A name that remains forever embedded in history. His achievements weren’t always appreciated either. In fact, he was fired from a newspaper company for lacking creativity (How is that even possible?). Also, Mickey Mouse was rejected from MGM studios because they

believed a giant mouse on screen would frighten women. Revenge is sweet, one must say.

Michael Jordan The basketball legend wasn’t always considered a “legend.” He was cut from his high school varsity basketball team for being “too short.” Look at him now, coaches; look at him now.

The Beatles The band which still retains their success up until this day, was dropped by their first record label, Decca Recording Studios, because the producers thought “they have no future in show business” Evidently the joke’s on you, Decca.

The list goes on and on. Moral of the story: persevere.

T-JUNCTION 23

DT

Hot Topic

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

“Low points are by nature unpleasant.

The redeeming aspect is that one has no place to go but up, and can therefore take it as an opportunity to start a new and better phase in life.”

- Iresh Zaker, Actor and Executive Director of Asiatic 360

“Failure is something that happens in everyone’s one. Without it, you wouldn’t appreciate success. My struggle began when I initially showed interest about music and moving to Dhaka. My family did not support me one bit. I had to prove to them that I could do something here.

The hunger to succeed is what made me work hard and brought me where I am today. It sounds like a cliché but hard work pays off.”

- Fuad al Muqtadir, Singer, Composer and Producer

Learn and learn wisely We have 40 million reasons for failure, but not a single excuse -Rudyard Kipling

The fear of failure has been a part of our lives. Whether we like it or not, the constant pressure to do well (from parents, friends, teachers and so on) is a tramp. One may not see it, touch it but the fear itself is potent enough to mess your head up.

It makes you afraid that they might not excel while “doing what the heart wants” or trying something new and different.

But what makes failure so interesting? It is the fact that you learn (the harder way at times) from mistakes.

Not just the ones you make but also the ones made by people around you.

The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall -Ralph Waldo Emerson

How? Once you learn from mistakes, it helps you “read” the situation, understanding the different consequences of each of the options available. And when you are able to do that, you can be sure that you are making a better decision, at least a calculated one.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst If that, by any chance, doesn’t work out the way you want it to, you have all the more reason to try harder to achieve it as you now know another reason that doesn’t work out. That should count as progress in your books.

Kind of like what the famous inventor Mr Thomas A Edison said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

“Glass full” kinda guy.

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24 T-JUNCTION

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Ticket

Absolute Thai Absolute Thai is a restaurant that is dedicated to highlighting the authenticity of Thai cuisine to its customers. Chef Mr Padaje has years of experience and flew in to help Absolute Thai share the original flavours of Thai food and culture with Bangladesh. Absolute Thai opened its doors in Bangladesh on March 11, 2015.

Kurtis from

Barista, now in Banani Coffee lovers rejoice! Barista Lavazza has opened their first Banani outlet on Road 13A, Lakeshore, Banani. The signing formality took place earlier between Qazi Tareq Shams, managing director, Lakeshore and MohithUl Bari, associate director, Barista Lavazza. Actress Hasin Roushan and her friends and family were present at the event.

Yellow

Wondering what to get your hands on as the hot days roll in? Look no further, upgrade your fashion game with these kurtis from Yellow - without breaking the bank. These staples are available at all Yellow outlets, alternatively you can also buy them from online store Daraz. Log in to www.daraz.com.bd and shop away.

3rd Painting Exhibition at Radisson Blu The 3rd Painting Exhibition by Dhaka Art Centre is being organised at the Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden (RBDWG). Marking the International Women’s Day, and featuring dazzling art works by illustrious female artistes reflecting versatility and novelty, the exhibition kick-started on Match 8. The exhibition will continue till May 8 will feature eight artistes including Danish artist Kristen Fugal along with local counterparts Kuhu, Kanak Champa Chakma, Shulekha Choudhury, Farzana Islam Bobby, Afroza Jamil Kanka, Lisa and Fareha Zeba.

The theme, this year, is a diverse range of demonstrations showcasing figurative paintings, scenic landscapes, conspicuous flower art and many more.

Scotland’s Majid Haq has been thrown out of the WC for posting a racial tweet after being dropped from Wednesday’s match.

“Always tougher when your in the minority!! #colour #race” tweeted 32-year-old Haq.

Sport 27

DOMINANT SRI LANKA THRASH MINNOWS SCOTLAND

27

PROTEAS AIM FOR CONSISTENCY AGAINST EMIRATIS

28

25

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THROWN OUT!

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

REAL THRU’ DESPITE SCHALKE BRILLIANCE

Sanga makes it four in a row n Agencies Kumar Sangakkara’s incredible farewell to one-day international cricket has continued, the Sri Lankan great becoming the first man in ODI history to score centuries in four consecutive matches.

The 37-year old passed three figures against Scotland in Hobart today to complement his scores of 105 not out against Bangladesh, 117 not out against England and 104 against Australia from earlier in the tournament.

On Sunday, Sangakkara had become just the seventh man in history and the first in a World Cup to score three consecutive ODI centuries, and today he claimed the record for his own.

All four of his centuries have come at better than a run a ball.

Team

POOL A P

W L N/R Pts NRR

New Zealand (Q)5

5

0

0

10 +3.090

Sri Lanka (Q)

6

4

2

0

8 +0.371

Australia (Q)

5

3

1

1

7 +1.597

Bangladesh (Q) 5

3

1

1

7 +0.211

England

5

1

4

0

2 -1.001

Afghanistan

5

1

4

0

2

Scotland

5

0

5

0

0 -1.769

-1.881

The left-hander brought up his hundred against the Scots with a couple of runs to third man off the bowling of Kyle Coetzer.

He took 86 balls to reach the milestone and hit nine fours and three sixes.

He was eventually caught behind for 124 from 95 balls, with 13 fours and four sixes.

It is his 62 international century in an incredible career that is now in its 15th year.

The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman announced before the World Cup began that he would retire from ODI cricket at the end of the tournament.

While Sangakkara holds the record on his own, it’s worth noting that South Africa’s Herschelle Gibbs fell just three runs short of scoring four consecutive ODI hundreds back in 2002.

Gibbs finished unbeaten on 97 not out in South Africa’s successful run chase of 155 against Bangladesh, falling agonisingly short of joining Sangakkara on four hundreds in as many matches.

Not content with run-scoring records, he passed Adam Gilchrist’s record of 52 World Cup dismissals by taking the catch of a faint edge from Michael Leask.

By the end of the match he had taken 41 catches and 13 stumpings in World Cups.

Gilchrist took 45 catches and seven stumpings in 31 World Cup matches (Sangakkara was playing his 36th). He also became the first man to reach 500 one-day international dismissals as Sri Lanka eased to a comfortable victory over Scotland. l

Kiwis up against nemesis Rubel n Mazhar Uddin from Adelaide A little over four years ago, an on-song Bangladesh cricket team were leading 3-0 heading into the fifth and final ODI against a depleted New Zealand side in Mirpur. In their bid to register a series sweep, the Tigers received a jolt when they were skittled out for 174.

The Bangladesh bowlers, however, crafted a great comeback, holding back the Kiwis to 167/9 in 49 overs. With eight runs required from six balls, Rubel Hossain came on to bowl the final over but started in the worst manner possible. A waist high full toss that was rightly dispatched for a boundary by Kyle Mills.

Rubel, somehow, held his nerve and managed a dot ball in the second delivery of the 50th over.

However, what followed next was pure delirium.

The right-arm fast bowler unleashed an in-swinging yorker which shattered the stumps, giving Mills no chance as Bangladesh edged out the Black Caps by three runs. The Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, packed to the rafters, went berserk as the Tigers romped to a series sweep over the hapless Kiwis. Manof-the-match Rubel ended with bowling figures of 4/25 from 9.3 overs.

Fast forward three years. Bangladesh again entertained New Zealand at home in a bilateral series. In the first ODI, the Tigers posted a competitive 265 after being asked to bat first.

Rubel once again arrived as the nemesis of the Black Caps. The 25-year old wreaked through New Zealand’s batting, scalping 6/26

in 5.5 overs. To put the icing on the cake, he also registered an incredible hat-trick as Bangladesh cantered to a 43-run win.

Rubel clearly enjoyed playing against New Zealand. In the post-match press conference that followed the 43-run victory, an ecstatic Rubel was unable to stop laughing and said, “It is fun to play against them.”

Tomorrow, Rubel will be targeting one more commanding performance against his favourite opposition. The scenario though is completely different from the two aforementioned encounters.

The Kiwis will be playing at their own backyard and current form suggests that they, alongside India, are the best teams of the World Cup so far.

The Kiwis are unbeaten in five matches

and both their batting and bowling department are in superb form at the moment. New Zealand’s batting order, led by the swashbuckling Brendon McCullum, have got the better of each and every single challenge while their bowlers, most notably Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Daniel Vettori, have dismissed their opponents in all of their five matches.

A fit and firing Rubel, therefore, will be key to Bangladesh’s hopes tomorrow in their final Pool A match against the Kiwis. He, however, will not be short of confidence as he ran through England’s batting order in the previous match. And if his past performances against the Kiwis are anything to go by, Rubel, rather than shying away from the challenge, will actually be rubbing his hands in anticipation.l

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26 Sport

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Assured of a quarter-final berth, Bangladesh should play its heart out against the Kiwis Yousuf Rahman (Babu), former national cricketer, vice captain and first centurion writes from New York for Bangladesh fans all across the globe.

Bangladesh will have pleasant memories when they meet the Kiwis tomorrow, memories of winning two consecutive ODI series at home in which the “Black Caps” failed to register a win. Let no one have any misunderstanding about this fact. Regardless of where the series were played and irrespective of the conditions, Bangladesh deserves full credit for giving the Kiwis their first rendition of what has commonly been termed as “Bangla-wash.”

Bangladesh has hit the headlines in the world of cricket, never before as exponentially as now, with its recent win against England, a win that pummeled the nation into the quarter final stage of the world’s biggest cricketing event. So far, it has won two matches in this event that are of consequential importance. The first one was the victory against Scotland which came about after a successful run chase of 319, the highest for Bangladesh in an ODI and the second one against a superior England side that seems to have seen better days in cricket. These results are important because they indicate a pattern in this team’s resolve, which has been a rare occurrence in recent times.

HEAD TO HEAD

NEW ZEALAND 16

Wins

BANGLADESH 8

Seddon Park, Hamilton has been voted as one of the 20 best grounds for watching cricket. With its picturesque village green setting, grassy banks and lush green outfield, Seddon Park will become all the more colorful when the banks are filled with Bangladesh’s green and red colors. Added to this will be the “Black Caps” crowd and you have the perfect setting of an exciting encounter, both in the middle as well as in the grassy banks.

The Kiwis go into this match with a 100% win record and they are not going to allow any change to this record, however, I am sure they have followed the Bangladesh team’s performance closely, especially its win against England.

So, expect no quarter from them as Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori and the others will throw in everything they have at the Bangladesh batters. Both Southee and Boult have been bowling exceptionally well and have moved the ball around. Any lateral movement will be quite disconcerting for the Bangladesh batting line up. So far most of the bowling they faced, barring a handful, has been flat. If I am not mistaken the Hamilton pitch is also a “drop in” surface so batting should not be a nightmare of sorts. Vettori has been a key bowler for the Kiwis, coming into

the attack early and rampaging through the top order as he did to the Scots.

Bangladesh should get over the euphoria of its win over England as soon as possible.

That match is over and it is a thing of the past.

One only has to take the confidence from that match and carry it into the next one. The players and the coaching staff need to understand that they still have a match to go and that getting into the quarter-final is not the end of the road.

So far, the ride has been exhilarating with three significant wins. Every single member of the team must walk into the game with a belief that they can win; otherwise they will have lost the match before the first ball is bowled. After all, there is nothing to lose.

Bangladesh needs to continue where it left off in Adelaide. The bowlers must bowl in the same areas focusing in the “corridor of uncertainty” and force the Kiwi batters to make errors in their judgment.

Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill will attack from the very start. Bangladesh’s progress in the match will depend on how they are able to handle the McCullum onslaught, which if allowed to flourish, will take the match away from the start. I emphasise once again, “it is the bowlers that win matches!”

After the win against England that guaranteed Bangladesh’s entry into the quarter final stage, the whole country erupted with joy.

From the remotest village to the most urbanized city center, people from all walks of life paraded the streets, distributed sweets, beat the drums and made a lot of noise. Even rival political groups called in a peace treaty and allowed calm to prevail. Whatever the result of this match and the quarter-final match turns out to be, preparations are already in place for a luminous welcome upon the team’s return.

There will be no end to politicians, political parties, corporations, etc, that will be queuing up to honour the players and the staff.

Receptions and celebrations aside, the thought provoking question remains. Where does our cricket go after this accomplishment?

Realistically, this is not the first time Bangladesh has qualified for the quarter finals.

In 2007, Bangladesh beat India in the group stage that eliminated India, broke the heart of a billion people and brought about the financial loss for the hosts. Instead of having a format that called for a knockout stage, the event had the Super Eight stage in which the top two teams from each group qualified.

To top it off, Bangladesh went on to beat South Africa in the Super Eight stage. Eight years ago, the cricketing world witnessed the performance of a young spirited team that challenged the best in the business and, at times beat some of them. Unfortunately, instead of the progress that everyone was expecting, the team spiraled downhill in the years to follow. Once again, Bangladesh has come up with a performance that has made the headlines.

Will Bangladesh accept the need for an ever demanding change that will eventually give its cricket the boost that it needs to firmly establish itself as one of the big boys?

It all depends on the mindset and the knowledge of its administrators. l

Bangladesh batsman Mahmudullah prepares to face a delivery during a net session in Hamilton yesterday ahead of their final Pool A match against New Zealand tomorrow BCB

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Sport 27

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

SL v SCO SRI LANKA Thirimanne c Mommsen b Evans Dilshan c MacLeod b Davey Sangakkara c Cross b Davey Jayawardene c MacLeod b Davey Mathews c Coleman b Machan Perera c MacLeod b Taylor Thisara c Coleman b Berrington Prasanna c Coleman b Evans Kulasekara not out Malinga c Leask b Berrington Chameera not out Extras: (lb 3, w 10)

R 4 104 124 2 51 24 7 3 18 1 12 13

Total: (9 wickets; 50 overs)

363

4

Number of consecutive hundreds scored by Kumar Sangakkara, the first batsman to do so in ODI history. Six batsmen have previously scored hundreds in three successive ODIs.

B 21 99 95 6 21 13 11 5 17 3 9

1

Sangakkara is the only batsman to score four hundreds in a single World Cup. Mark Waugh, Matthew Hayden and Sourav Ganguly have scored three hundreds each in the World Cup, while no other batsman has scored more than two.

14

Wickets taken by Scotland’s Josh Davey in this World Cup, the most by a bowler so far. Trent Boult and Tim Southee are next on the list, with 13 wickets each.

22

Fall of wickets

Wides bowled by Davey, the most by any bowler in this edition. Mohammed Shami and Tendai Chatara have bowled 16 wides each.

1-21 (Thirimanne), 2-216 (Dilshan), 3-244 (Jayawardene), 4-244 (Sangakkara), 5-289 (Perera), 6-326 (Mathews), 7-328 (Thisara), 8-331 (Prasanna), 9-336 (Malinga) Bowling

195

Taylor 10-0-46-1, Evans 10-0-72-2, Davey 8-0-63-3, Berrington 6.1-0-31-2, Leask 7-0-63-0, Coetzer 4.5-0-39-0, Machan 4-0-46-1

SCOTLAND Coetzer c & b Malinga MacLeod b Kulasekara Machan lbw b Dilshan Mommsen c Thirimanne b Thisara Coleman c Thisara b Kulasekara Berrington c Kulasekara b Chameera Leask c Sangakkara b Kulasekara Cross c Sangakkara b Chameera Taylor c Thisara b Malinga Davey c Thirimanne b Chameera Evans not out Extras: (lb 2, w 6, nb 1)

R 0 11 19 60 70 29 2 7 3 4 1 9

Total: (all out; 43.1 overs)

215

B 2 21 31 75 74 22 7 10 6 7 5

Fall of wickets 1-0 (Coetzer), 2-26 (MacLeod), 3-44 (Machan), 4-162 (Mommsen), 5-189 (Coleman), 6-192 (Leask), 7-200 (Cross), 8-209 (Taylor,), 9-210 (Berrington), 10-215 (Davey) Bowling Malinga 9-0-29-2, Kulasekara 7-0-20-3, Thisara 7-0-41-1, Dilshan 5-0-15-1, Prasanna 8-0-57-0, Chameera 7.1-0-51-3 Sri Lanka won by 148 runs Man of the Match: Kumar Sangakkara

Ireland fury over ‘vicious personal attack’ on Mooney n AFP, Sydney The Zimbabwe and Ireland teams at the World Cup united Wednesday to condemn a newspaper article which mocked Irish all-rounder John Mooney’s battle with alcohol and depression.

Mooney took the boundary catch which eliminated the Africans from the World Cup in Hobart last Saturday. But his match-winning efforts were greeted in the Zimbabwe Herald under the headline: “Alcoholic dumps Zim out of WC”.

The 33-year-old Mooney has suffered from depression and battled alcohol abuse in the past and was forced to quit Ireland’s tour of the West Indies last year.

Zimbabwe batsman Brendan Taylor, who was the stand-in captain in Saturday’s game, issued an apology to Mooney on Wednesday.

“On behalf of the Zimbabwe cricket team, we just want to express our apologies to @ Irelandcricket and John Mooney for the unacceptable article,” tweeted Taylor, who made 121 in the game which his team lost by an agonising five runs.l

Sri Lanka opener Tillakaratne Dilshan, watched by Scotland wicket-keeper Matthew Cross, plays a shot at the Bellerive Oval during their 2015 Cricket World Cup Pool A match in Hobart yesterday AFP

Dominant Sri Lanka thrash minnows Scotland n Reuters, Hobart Kumar Sangakkara became the first batsman to hit four successive centuries in oneday internationals to help Sri Lanka wrap up their World Cup pool campaign with a 148run romp over Scotland at Bellerive Oval on Wednesday.

His team had already booked a place in the quarter-finals but Sangakkara’s insatiable appetite for runs continued unabated as he added 195 runs with Tillakaratne Dilshan (104) against Scotland’s limited bowling resources on a perfect batting track.

Down the order, captain Angelo Mathews

(51) clobbered six sixes in a 21-ball blitz in the frantic final phase of the innings when ropes were cleared and wickets tumbled regularly.

Freddie Coleman (70) and skipper Preston Mommsen (60) tried their best but Scotland simply lacked the batting firepower to chase down such a huge victory target and folded for 215 in the 44th over.

For Sri Lanka, who rose to second in Pool A with the win, Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Kulasekara justified their selection claiming three wickets apiece.

Earlier, Mathews won the toss and decided to bat first but Scotland did well to restrict Sri Lanka to 46-1 after 10 overs.l

Proteas aim for consistency against Emiratis n AFP, Wellington AB de Villiers wants consistency and commitment in South Africa’s final pool match against the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, aware the Proteas’ stop-start form cannot continue as the tournament’s knockout phase looms.

At their best, de Villiers’ men have looked like world beaters, becoming the first team in history to post successive one-day international totals of 400-plus in Pool B wins over the West Indies and Ireland.

But they have also been skittled out for 177 and 202 in losses to India and Pakistan respectively, reviving memories of the hated “chokers” tag that has haunted previous World Cup campaigns.

The Proteas were many pundits’ tip to lift a maiden World Cup this year but their inconsistency means bookmakers are now ranking them

behind co-hosts Australia and New Zealand.

With a quarter-final against a dangerous Sri Lanka appearing likely, the UAE match presents a final chance for some South African fine-tuning.

It also has the potential to provide crucial practice for seamer Vernon Philander, who has missed the past three games with a hamstring injury. De Villiers was at a loss to explain the Pakistan defeat and said he wanted to see an improvement against the UAE. The amateurs of the UAE, many of them Pakistani expatriates, are winless so far in the tournament and should not present a hurdle if South Africa are anywhere near their best.

The teams have met only once before, when South Africa posted a 169-run win at the 1996 World Cup. UAE’s best performance so far at this year’s tournament was a gutsy two-wicket loss to fellow non-Test nation Ireland and captain Mohammed Tauqir admitted he was wary of South Africa’s batting power. l

The second-wicket partnership between Tillakaratne Dilshan and Sangakkara, the third highest for Sri Lanka in World Cups. Sri Lanka’s top three second-wicket stands in World Cups have all come during the 2015 edition, including two partnerships of 200plus runs each.

1025

Runs scored by Sangakkara across all formats in 2015, the most by any batsman. He is the first player to score 1000-plus international runs in 2015. Kane Williamson is in second place with 900 runs.

5

Number of World Cup hundreds for Sangakkara. Sachin Tendulkar, with six hundreds, is the only batsman with more World Cup centuries. Ricky Ponting also has five hundreds in the tournament.

20

Number of deliveries Angelo Mathews took to reach his fifty - the fastest by a Sri Lanka batsman in World Cups and second-fastest for Sri Lanka in ODIs. Sanath Jayasuriya’s 17-ball fifty against Pakistan in 1996 is the fastest ODI fifty for Sri Lanka.

54

Number of dismissals for Sangakkara in World Cup matches, the most for any wicketkeeper. Adam Gilchrist has 52 dismissals while Brendon McCullum has 32.

148

Sri Lanka’s margin of victory in this game. This is Sri Lanka’s eighth World Cup win with a margin of 100-plus runs. This is also Scotland’s second-biggest loss in World Cups.

2038

Runs scored by Sangakkara in Australia, making him the third overseas batsman to score 2000-plus ODI runs in the country. The two other visiting batsmen to make 2000-plus runs in Australia are Desmond Haynes (3067) and Viv Richards (2769).

Put Moores in charge of kids, says Vaughan n Reuters, London England coach Peter Moores should be removed from his current position and put in charge of the “kids”, according to former captain Michael Vaughan. He believes Moores’ talents have been wasted.

“Moores was at his best working with the Lions (development team) many years ago,” Vaughan said in the Daily Telegraph.

“What is the best thing for English cricket going forward? I believe it is time to remover Peter Moores from his current position and put him in a job where he can have the biggest impact on English cricket.”l

DT

28 Sport

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Police Lines continue winning

Yuree on the cover of MAI n Raihan Mahmood

Police Lines, Faridpur continued their winning streak in the First Security Islami Bank National School Hockey Championship 2015 as they thrashed MA Bari High School 5-2 at the Maulana Bhashani Hockey Stadium yesterday. Moyezuddin High School also registered a victory of 4-2 over Damkura Hat High School in the day’s first match while in the other games, JM Sen High School defeated Richi High School 2-1 and Baitush Sharaf Jabbaria Academy beat BAF Shaheen School 2-1 MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Real thru’ despite Schalke brilliance n AFP, Paris

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring his second goal against Schalke during their round of 16 second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu last Tuesday REUTERS

UCL RESULTS

Real Madrid (ESP)

3-4

Schalke (GER)

Ronaldo 25, 45, Fuchs 20, Benzema 52 Huntelaar 40, 84, Sane 57 Real Madrid qualify 5-4 on aggregate

Porto (POR)

4-0

Brahimi 14, Herrera 47, Casemiro 56, Aboubakar 76 Porto qualify 5-1 on aggregate

Basel (SUI)

European Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo helped himself to one goalscoring record and equalled another as holders Real Madrid booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Ronaldo is now the all-time leading goalscorer in European competition after two goals in the upset 4-3 defeat against Schalke took his total to 78, surpassing the previous record held by another former Real stalwart, Raul.

But, perhaps more importantly for his intense rivalry with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Ronaldo equalled the Argentine’s Champions League record of 75.

And there was more than a touch of irony that the record-breaking goals should have come against Schalke, the club where Raul ended his playing days after being deemed surplus to requirements in Spain.

Real’s 2-0 win in the first leg in Gelsenkichen saw them squeeze into the last eight 5-4 on aggregate.

Dr. Mak Yuree, the man with the thunder shin, grabbed international attention again after appearing in the cover of Martial Art Illustrated, the leading martial art magazine of the world.

MAI will illustrate Yuree and Bhuththan, the ancient martial art of the sub-continent in the cover story of the April 2015 issue. The message of the upcoming issue is - “MAI features one of the world’s most unique martial artists, a foremost authority in the field of mind training, meditation, motivational speaking and art of self-defence. Dr. Yuree, is, The Superhuman”.

In 2013, Discovery Channel featured Dr. Yuree as one of the five super humans. A team of scientists finally confirmed his name after conducting scientific investigations of 60 world record holders from five continents and was eager to find out what exactly makes these five men so powerful and special.

During his research work, Dr. Yuree was contacted by Discovery Channel’s UK Office, who were doing a superhuman research project. Dr. Yuree, according to the scientific investigation of this programme, threw the strongest kick by a human being. It was found that Dr. Yuree has the unique ability to instantly attain alpha level of the brain, which enables him to recruit and engage 96 percent of his muscles to deliver the unbelievably powerful kick, which breaks three baseball bats in a bundle. According to the research carried out by Wayne University, USA, each baseball bat requires 740 pounds of pressure in order to be broken. l

Also through to the last eight are FC Porto, who advanced at the expense of Swiss club Basel, 5-1 on aggregate and 4-0 on the night.

Ronaldo scored twice for Real in the first half, his header in the 25th minute from a corner by Tony Kroos cancelling out an opener for the Germans by Christian Fuchs five minutes earlier.

That equalled Raul’s record of 77, and then, after Klaas Jan Huntelaar had restored Schalke’s lead, Ronaldo equalised for a second time with another header just before the break, with his 78th European goal in all.

Ronaldo, 30, who collected his third Ballon d’Or in January, just seems to go from strength to strength.

Last year he led Real Madrid to their 10th European Champions title, but their first in 12 years, smashing Messi’s record of 15 Champions League goals in a single season with 17 in just 11 appearances along the way.

This season, he has already netted 30 times in the league and eight times in the Champions League, matching Messi goal for goal. l

BFF secures German goalkeeping coach n Raihan Mahmood

Christian Sweichlerdob, the German goalkeeping coach will be arriving at the capital today to assist Dutch head coach Lodewijk de Kruif ahead of the AFC U-23 Qualifiers scheduled to kick-off at the Bangabandhu National Stadium from March 27.

Sweichlerdob will be the second foreign

goalkeeping coach for Bangladesh after Kees Kalk, who was also appointed as a part timer during the SAFF Championship 2013.

BFF president Kazi Salahuddin expressed concern over the Bangladesh goalkeeping in the recent international fixtures and asked Kruif to secure a coach for the position after which the services of Sweichlerdob was confirmed by the Dutch.

Bangladesh U-23 team began preparing for the four-nation tournament comprising Uzbekistan, Syria and India. Saiful Bari Titu is running the camp in absence of Kruif who also happens to be under temporary contract with the BFF. Bangladesh will play Syria on March 27, Uzbekistan on March 29 and India on March 31.l

DT

Sport 29

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

BRIEF SCORES Khulna v Chittagong Chittagong: 190 allout Khulna: 369 allout Chittagong: 155/9 (Tasamul 64, Mostafiqur 5/28, Razzak 3/67) Khulna won by an innings and 24 runs Dhaka division v Rajshahi Dhaka: 318 allout in 106 overs Rajshahi: 291 allout in 93.5 (Hamidul 68*, Maishukur 55, Mosharraf 4/94) Dhaka: 249/6 in 74 overs (Rakibul 84, Nadif 59*, Saqlain 3/84) Dhaka lead by 276 Runs Rangpur v Dhaka Metro Rangpur: 491 allout in 111.2 overs Metro: 437/9 in 95.1 overs (Mehedi 138, Mehrab jr 103, Shuvo 5/88) Rangpur: 248/7 in 58 overs (Liton 77, Naeem 51*, Marshall 2/14) Rangpur lead by 302 Runs Barisal v Sylhet Barisal: 167 allout in 65.2 overs Sylhet: 486/9 in 158 overs (Rajin 201*, Kapali 58, Enamul 50, Nasum 4/171) Barisal: 166/2 in 48 overs (Nafees 71, Shahin 55, Kapali 1/15) Barisal trail by 153 Runs Dhaka division batsman Rakibul Hasan plays through the on-side during their NCL match against Rajshahi in Fatullah yesterday

Last day of NCL promises excitement

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Can Rangpur spill water on Khulna’s party? n Minhaz Uddin Khan Khulna is on the verge of becoming the champions of the 16th National Cricket League after they dominated Chittagong to finish their seventh round game inside three days yesterday. With 120 points in their bag Khulna awaits the result of the match between Rangpur and Dhaka Metro as a defeat or draw for Rangpur, who has 96 points, will secure the title for the current table toppers.

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 1 7:00AM ICC Cricket World Cup South Africa v United Arab Emirates

BTV, Gazi TV, Maasranga Tv Star Sports 2, 4 7:00AM (Friday) ICC Cricket World Cup New Zealand v Bangladesh

Ten Action UEFA Europa League 12:00PM Wolfsburg v Inter Milan 2:00AM Fiorentina v Roma

Ten Sports UEFA Europa League 12:00PM Dnipro v Ajax 2:00AM Villarreal v Sevilla

Khulna v Chittagong, BKSP 3 Khulna outplayed the port city side to claim an innings and 24 runs victory as Chittagong failed to even cross the 179-run first innings lead by Khulna. The side rattled by Mostafizur Rahman’s five-for managed to score only 155 runs. Veteran spinner and Khulna skipper Abdur Razzak picked three wickets. Chittagong ended the season without a single win.

Dhaka v Rajshahi, Fatullah

Dhaka are leading the game by 276 runs.

The side have 96 points too, but head-to-head and run-rate equations pushed them out of the champions race. If Dhaka beats Rajshahi today while Rangpur loses their respective match, Dhaka will end as the runners-up.

Rangpur v Dhaka Metro, BKSP 2 Riding on Liton Kumar’s half century and Naeem Islam’s unbeaten 51, Rangpur ended the day with a lead of 302 runs. The last day today promises a lot as Rangpur must look to

Pakistan ready to take on big guns, says Misbah n Reuters, Karachi

Pakistan are ready to take on the big guns in the knockout stage of the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, their captain Misbahul-Haq said on Tuesday.

“I have told the players there are no more second chances for us in the remaining matches of the tournament and we go in for every match having burnt our boats and with a fearless attitude,” Misbah said.

Pakistan, with six points and a superior run-rate, play Ireland in their last group match on Sunday and are in a three-way race to qualify for the last eight along with with Ireland and West Indies.

“To win matches in a big tournament like the World Cup your bowling must fire and the good thing for us is that all four of our pace bowlers delivered in our last three games,” Misbah added.

Misbah, who has been in charge of the test side since late 2010 and the one-day team since mid-2011, said Pakistan’s focus was on beating Ireland in Adelaide.

“We are than ready to play either New Zealand or Australia in the quarter-finals and we are quietly confident now we can beat any team,” he said.

“I have told the players to be mentally prepared to play without fear and be ready to cope with the pressures of a knockout match,” he said.

Misbah, who has scored four half centuries in five World Cup matches, said the only area of concern for Pakistan remained the form of the middle-order batsmen.

“It is time for young players like Umar Akmal, Haris Sohail, Sohaib Maqsood to grab their opportunities in a big event like the World Cup and become household names in the world of cricket,” he said.l

declare early and bowl out their opponents in order to lift the title for the first time.

Barisal v Sylhet, SBNS Winless Barisal and Sylhet will look to at least en the season on a high note and the latter are well in way of putting further misery on their opponents. Rajin Saleh’s unbeaten 201 saw Sylhet declare on 486 and at stumps Barisal trailed by 153 runs with eight wickets intact in their second innings. l

NZ’s Williamson laid low by gastro n AFP, Hamilton New Zealand’s Kane Williamson missed training on Wednesday due to gastroenteritis but the team is confident the star batsman is not in danger of missing any matches at the World Cup. New Zealand face Bangladesh on Friday with both sides having already qualified for the quarter-finals.

Williamson, spinner Daniel Vettori and all-rounder Grant Elliott caught the bug after New Zealand’s last match against Afghanistan in Napier on Sunday.

Williamson was rested on Wednesday while Vettori and Elliott had recovered.

The 24-year-old Williamson is key to the co-hosts’ batting as he has scored 182 runs at 60.66 with a best of 57 against Sri Lanka in the opening match.

He hit an unbeaten 45 in the game against Australia, clinching the narrow one-wicket win in Auckland with a six. l

DT

30 DOWNTIME

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Cicatrix (4) 4 Tibetan priest (4) 8 Spirit (3) 9 Dash (4) 10 Work hard (4) 11 Out of sorts (5) 12 Dexterous (4) 14 Regret (3) 15 Small child (3) 17 Inferior horse (3) 19 Dry, of champagne (3) 21 Periods of time (4) 23 Reverse of a coin (5) 26 Labyrinth (4) 27 Culmination (4) 28 Precious stone (3) 29 Water grass (4) 30 Remaining (4)

DOWN 1 Planet (6) 2 Dry (4) 3 Sovereign (5) 4 Sheltered side (3) 5 Watchful (5) 6 Insane (3) 7 In whatever quantity (3) 11 Bullock (5) 13 Electrical items (5) 16 Natural gift (6) 18 Ingrained dirt (5) 20 Ship of the desert (5) 22 Identical (4) 23 Sailor (3) 24 Top airman (3) 25 Was ahead (3)

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 18 represents M so fill M every time the figure 18 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

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

Dhaka Int Theatre Fest begins today

THEATRE THURSDAYS On Thursdays, theatre takes centre stage on Showtime. We put you up front and close to where the stars are, and then take you behind the scenes to see how the magic happens. So kick back with your copy of our compact and let us put on a show for you

CELEBS ON SOCIAL

n Showtime Desk The 2nd Dhaka International Theatre Festival begins today through an inaugural ceremony at the Nandanmancha of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. Jointly organised

by International Theatre Institute, Bangladesh Centre and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the festival will effectively commence tomorrow with Aranyak Natyadal’s “Bhango Bango.”

Five visiting troupes are going to join 23 locals to perform in the ten-day-long festival while all the staging will take place at Shilpakala Academy’s three major stages: the National Theatre Hall, the Experimental

WHAT TO WATCH TELEVISION TRANSPORTER 2 Star Movies 9:30pm Cast: Jason Statham, Alessandro Gassman, Amber Valletta In the second edition of this action thriller, Mercenary Frank Martin is implicated for kidnapping the son of a very powerful US official.

TED Movies Now 5:15pm Cast:Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane Ted is a live, walking, talking teddy bear who came to life as a result of John’s childhood wish. In this comedy fantasy, Ted acts as the ultimate hindrance to both John’s life and his relationships.

SHERLOCK HOLMES WB 4:37pm Cast:Robert Downey Jr, Jude Law, Rachel McAdams, Mark Strong, Eddie Marsan Despite closing a case on occult magician Lord Blackwood, Sherlock and Dr Watson have to restart their search when Blackwood comes back from the dead and begins his killing spree.

Theatre Hall and the Studio Theatre Hall.

Nasir Uddin Yousuf, the president of ITI, Bangladesh Centre, has confirmed that two interactive discourses, “Theatre against Violence” and “Theatre: Art Incarnated,” will take place at the Seminar Room of National Theatre Hall on March 20 at 10:30am.

Besides, the organisers have taken initiatives to hold two different workshops on theatre and to publish a daily festival bulletin throughout the festival.

The festival’s most interesting and interactive part would be the “Meet the Director” session where audience will get the chance to quiz directors after every single staging. l

Le Roi de Lahore staged by the Chelsea Opera Group n Showtime Desk Le roi de Lahore or “The king of Lahore” is an opera in five acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Louis Gallet. Massenet was one of the more finer composers of the late 1800s who was well known for his operas, orchestral work and piano pieces.

The Le roi de Lahore was Massenet’s third extant opera and his first big break into Paris’ demanding opera scene back in 1877.

Ever since its Parisian premiere, there were follow-up productions in many countries across Europe.

On March 1, Simon Bainbridge, a leading British composer and former head of composition at the Royal Academy of Music, London, along with the Chelsea Opera Group brought the Le roi de Lahore back on stage for the very first time ever since the last London performance in 1880.

This luscious drama deserves a mention for being able to portray the master of Massenet’s craft so exquisitely. Both the cast and the Chelsea Opera Group were able to aptly represent this grand French opera model with conviction. Michael Spyre played Alim while Anush Hovhannisyan’s

spirited soprano gave Sita’s character just the right amount of striking brilliance.

Under conductor Renato Balsadonna, the orchestra made notable contributions to the show.

Massenet’s piece is based on a story from the Mahabharata where Alim, the King of Lahore is found battling Scindia, his very own minister. Their dangerous battle is all for the love of Alim’s priestess Sita. In a final scene Alim dies but it later revived

by God is a scene set in paradise. l

MIRANDA KERR @MirandaKerr Imperial Palace Tokyo https:// instagram.com/ p/0E8CSSEMBF/

BOMAN IRANI @bomanirani India doing well??? #CWC15

ELLEN DEGENERES @TheEllenShow I can’t believe the delivery guy ate spaghetti like Lady and the Tramp. I can’t get my delivery guy to remember napkins. #RepeatAfterMe

DT

32 BACK PAGE

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2015

IT TUMBLES AGAIN IN JANUARY PAGE 15

SANGA MAKES IT FOUR IN A ROW PAGE 25

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Over the precipice Biggan Andolon Moncho forms a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday demanding arrest of slain blogger-writer Avijit Roy SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Avijit murder evidence handed over to FBI n Mohammad Jamil Khan

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation, better known as FBI, has received the evidence collected in connection with blogger-writer Avijit Roy’s murder.

“The evidence has been handed over to FBI around 1pm today [Wednesday]. They will now be tested in the FBI’s laboratory in the US,” said Monirul Islam, chief of the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), the first party investigator of the murder.

Monirul also told reporters at DMP’s Media and Community Centre yesterday that a total of 13 items of evidence were formally handed over to the bureau.

Sources said the evidence include two machetes, one blood-stained shirt, papers, a jeans pant, an injection ampule marked “Rotex medica trittau,” two syringes, a tube of Savlon cream, four Ranitide pills, four Napa pills, a pack of surgical cotton, one black sunglass, one Matador ballpoint pen, pieces of Avijit’s nails, one long strand of hair and a black schoolbag.

On Tuesday, a Dhaka court ordered DB to get the evidence tested by the FBI for DNA traces. The order came in response to petitions filed by DB Inspector Fazlur Rahman, also investigation officer in the case.

“They [FBI] can collect the DNA samples from the evidence and match finger prints,” said Monirul. He also said the FBI agents will stay in Dhaka for a few more days.

Inquired why investigators are taking so much time to arrest the suspects, The DB boss said the fake Facebook accounts related to some of the suspects are making their task difficult.

Earlier, detectives made a list of 10 suspects on the basis of a statement given by Shafiur Rahman Farabi during interrogation and his Facebook posts.

Now DB is mainly trying to track down militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team’s leader Redwanul Azad Rana, also an accused in Ahmed Rajeeb Haider murder case. They got this name from Farabi as well, sources said.

Detectives have already conducted several raids around the country including Rana’s village home in Dagonbhuyan of Feni, but failed to find him.

On February 26, Bangladesh-born US citizen Avijit Roy was killed and his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya critically injured with sharp weapons by unidentified miscreants in Dhaka.

The expatriate engineer couple returned home a few days before the attack to attend the launching of Avijit’s two new books in the February book fair. l

D

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This extract is the fourth 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 At 1:05pm on March 1a statement was issued in the name of President Yahya, which, contrary to all precedent, was read by an announcer on Radio Pakistan. Half an hour after hearing of the postponement of the assembly sine die, crowds, aroused to spontaneous outrage, were converging from all parts of Dacca towards Hotel Purbani, where the AL MNA’s were in session.

Many had armed themselves with bamboos, iron rods, and even hockey sticks.

They were joined by the crowd at Dacca stadium who were watching the fag end of a boring cricket match. The moment the news came through, the play was suspended, shops were closed, and people, depending on their class and disposition, had either fled homewards or had armed themselves and headed for the Purbani.

At 2:30pm Mujib, flanked by his grim-faced high command, held a hurried press conference in which he declared that the postponement would not go unchallenged. He called a two day hartal on the 2nd for Dacca, and on the 3rd for the whole of Bangla Desh.

From Purbani the crowd converged on Paltan, where it was addressed by Tofail Ahmed and Mannan of Jatiyo Sramik League. The mood was militant and the crowd demanded action.

On March 2 they got it.

The hartal was of course total. Not even a bicycle could move in any corner of Dacca. On all the main roads barricades had been set up to obstruct movement of security forces. This provoked the first clash.

At Tejgaon, at the entrance of the Second Capital, the most formidable barricades had been set up by Tuesday morning. These were guarded by a highly militant populace.

The police from Tejgaon thana were asked

to remove the barricades but after taking a look at the menacing crowd went back to the thana, from where they refused to budge in spite of the exhortations of their officers.

After a while a detail of security forces appeared from the airport side. When they attempted to remove the barricades the crowd shouted slogans at them and they took up action stations. At that stage another security force came up in a jeep from the Second Capital.

On being confronted by the crowd, the force suddenly opened fire. Estimates indicate two dead and five injured, but there is no way of confirming the accuracy of this figure. Since then this has been a trouble spot and there was firing again that night when curfew had been imposed at 8pm.

In other areas of the city reports of clashes went on. In Jinnah Avenue goonda elements attempted to cash in on the situation and indulge in some free loot from putatively non-Bengali shops. The Awami League city chief rushed to the spot with volunteers and caught some looters with goods from Razzak, a local shirt shop. They were made to return the goods and soundly beaten.

In Nawabpur similar cases of looting occurred by local goondas and there were some communal clashes which seem to have been confined again to the local goondas.

Tension and militancy mounted throughout the day. The barricades, slogans and sounds of gunfire gave the city the air of a battlefield. In other parts of East Pakistan cities and towns had spontaneously come to a standstill. A strike by PIA employees had effectively cut East Pakistan off from the rest of the world.

The curfew imposed from 8pm therefore promised more clashes. By 9pm there were reports of crowds in the streets in many areas of Dacca. The chatter of gunfire could be heard throughout the night in many areas of the city. Next day’s toll indicated that in Medical College alone there were 35 dead and 113 injured, other casualties went to Mitford Hospital, or were placed in Iqbal Hall at Dacca University. 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