15 March, 2015

SECOND EDITION

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

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Between a rock and a hard place Analysts and people alike, everyone realises that the battling camps need to compromise

Surrender, Hasina tells Khaleda

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla With both the government and its political opposition sticking to their guns, any hopes of resolving the current crisis have been shot down.

The BNP-led alliance continues to enforce blockade and general strike calling for the ruling Awami League to step down and announce new election.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday brushed aside any possibility of a dialogue with Khaleda Zia’s BNP, reiterating her previous position of not engaging with someone whose hands “smelled of blood and burnt flesh.”

n Abu Hayat Mahmud

“We are in fact looking for the BNP leader as he is wanted in some cases,” the police chief added.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at a programme yesterday alleged that BNP chief Khaleda Zia might have asked Salahuddin to go deep underground.

Salahuddin’s wife Hasina Ahmed yesterday said they were passing days anxiously. “I want nothing but getting back my husband unhurt.

If he is accused, follow the legal course and produce him before the court,” she said.

Police yesterday filed a general dairy with Uttara police station over the disappearance of Salahuddin.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked her arch-rival BNP chief Khaleda Zia to surrender before the court where she is on trial for corruption. Or the government would execute the court’s warrant for her arrest, threatened Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League.

Hasina reiterated that there would be no dialogue with the BNP, which leads 20-party alliance.

“If Khaleda Zia does not surrender before the court, the government will be bound to act as per the court order. And the order will be implemented in time,” she said while addressing a discussion organised by Peshajibi Somonnay Parishad, a pro-Awami League platform of professionals, at Krishibid Institution, Bangladesh in Dhaka.

A special court on February 25 issued an arrest warrant against Khaleda for not showing for the hearings. The warrant, however, is yet to reach the police station concerned.

Khaleda last attended the trial proceedings on December 24, the day clashes broke out between police, supporters of the BNP and the Awami League in Bakshibazar near the special court.

Dismissing the possibility of dialogue with the BNP, the premier said there could not be any dialogue with those who kill common people in the name of a movement.

She alleged that the BNP-Jamaat alliance was desperate to make Bangladesh a failed state by burning people to death, destroying the economy and education system.

Hasina also said Khaleda’s movement had failed since the people did not respond to her call for ousting the government.

“We were able to oust her government in 1996 through movement as people were with us,” the premier said recalling Awami League’s movement that had forced Khaleda’s government to step down on March 30, 1996 after just about one month and a half in office.

Mentioning that the BNP chief wanted to go to power with the help of other forces, Hasina said: “Khaleda did not get any response from the North (meaning the military,

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

‘BNP believes if there is a fair election, it will go to power. The AL knows it will be anyone’s game’ BNP chief Khaleda Zia briefed the media on Friday, after almost two months, only to reiterate her resolve to continue with the anti-government campaign.

This campaign has seen rampant use of petrol bombs as a deterrent for vehicular movement leading to nearly 60 people being burnt to death and hundreds maimed for lifeå.

Political commentators and general people alike, everyone seems to realise that the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Govt still clueless about Salahuddin n Mohammad Jamil Khan

The government is yet to decide what to say before a High Court bench today as the law enforcement agencies have failed to trace BNP Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed, who remains missing since Tuesday night.

The authorities would wait until 10:30am today for the latest development regarding the whereabouts of the BNP leader, whoes family and the party claim, was picked up by people identifying themselves as detectives from a house in Uttara.

The High Court bench of Justice Quamrul Islam Siddiqui and Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore on Thursday asked the government and

PAGE 3 72-hour hartal called again

the law enforcers to explain why they should not be directed to find Salahuddin and bring him before it today. The order came following a petition filed by the wife of the BNP leader.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam on that day said the law enforcers had not arrested or picked up Salahuddin. “As Salahuddin was not in police custody, the court should not ask the government or the police to produce him before it,” he argued adding that Salahuddin might be hiding to embarrass the government.

Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque yesterday said the law enforcers had not arrested Salahuddin. He said the police had been in the dark about Salahuddin’s location even before his disappearance.

PAGE 5 Govt likely to extend payscale review body’s tenure

PAGE 6 23 BNP men sued for torching Barisal court

PAGE 10 Fifty dead in Myanmar ferry capsize

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SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

Manna alleges torture during DB interrogation n Mohammad Jamil Khan

Alleging that he had been tortured while in remand, Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna has asked not to be interrogated in the custody of the Detective Branch of police (DB), his family said yesterday.

Manna, who has been shown arrested in a sedition case, asked to be interrogated at the Jail gate instead, his family told the Dhaka Tribune.

Manna is currently undergoing treatment at the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) of Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) after falling sick on Tuesday on the fourth day of the second phase of a 10-day remand in DB custody.

DB Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam denied the allegation of torture, saying the DMCH medical board did not find any injury marks on his body.

Detective sources said once Manna’s health improves, they will appeal to the court

to interrogate him again.

Meher Nigar, Manna’s wife, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that Manna became sick during a remand session.

“He had been suffering from high blood pressure before his arrest and Manna mentioned it on the first day of his appearance before the court,” Monirul said.

DMCH cardiologists have found three blocks in his arteries.

“If the interrogation continues, his psychical condition will deteriorate further. Doctors have advised that he be provided with a healthier diet for his health to improve,” Meher said.

A relative of Manna’s wife, requesting not to be named, told the Dhaka Tribune that Manna’s psychical condition had improved.

“His blood pressure is under control but he is still having chest pains. Doctors have sent blood samples to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) for examina-

IGP: Khaleda to be arrested once warrant reaches police station n UNB

tion,” she added.

A close associate of Manna’s, who was at the hospital, yesterday said Manna doubted whether voters would be able to meaningfully exercise the franchise.

Manna feared that opposition party candidates might not be able to contest the polls because mass arrests were still being made, he said.

But Manna wants to participate in the polls after getting bail, Manna’s associate, who asked not to be named, said.

Manna told his relatives he did not say anything that went against the state or the army while speaking with BNP leader Sadeque Hossain Khoka on Viber.

He claimed he had asked Khoka to get the BNP off its violent path, his relatives said.

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

Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Hoque yesterday said BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will be arrested as soon as the arrest warrant to that end reaches the relevant police station.

“The warrant to arrest Khaleda Zia has not yet reached the police station. We aren’t arresting her showing respect to the court.

She’ll be arrested as soon as the arrest warrant reaches the police station,” he said.

The police boss said this while addressing a discussion titled “The contribution of police in Liberation War and its role in maintaining democracy and human rights” at Nawab Nabab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban on the Dhaka University campus.

About the missing of BNP Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed, he said: “Police know nothing about the whereabouts of Salhauddin. We were looking for him, but no law enforcement agency arrested him.”

He said there was an attempt in 2013 to break the morale of the forces, but it went in vain. l

including the home affairs. But she did not respond,” Hasina said.

“The election is illegal only in her eyes, but the whole world has accepted it.” Addressing Khaleda she asked, “Why should people pay for a wrong decision you had taken, why?”

“It is not easy to play with the fates of the people of Bangladesh. At least, I will not allow this as long as I am alive.”

The BNP-led alliance and some left-leaning parties boycotted the election terming it one-sided and partisan.

Regarding Khaleda’s claim on Friday that the law enforcers had arrested BNP Joint Sec-

retary General Salahuddin Ahmed, Hasina said actually the law enforcers were still looking for the BNP leader who had been issuing press statements from hideouts. Hasina said she suspected Khaleda Zia, might have herself told Salahuddin to go underground. “We are looking for him for arresting...we will arrest him whenever we find him because there are cases against him.”

Parishad President Justice AFM Mesbah Uddin Ahmed presided over the meeting while its Secretary General Prof Dr Kamrul Hasan Khan delivered the welcome speech. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Surrender, Hasina tells Khaleda as Dhaka Cantonment used to be to the north of Dhaka) or West (meaning diplomats) ...due to her militant character. No one supports burning people. She is now burning innocent people out of rage.”

Meanwhile, Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam said at a press conference yesterday Khaleda should first withdraw the non-stop blockade enforced since January 6.

He alleged that the campaign was not launched either for democracy or restoration of the caretaker government. “She wants to create a situation similar to what terrorist out-

fits like Islamic State are doing.”

In her speech, Hasina criticised Khaleda’s manners. “I went to give my condolences after the death of her son, but she did not let me to enter her office. Being a prime minister, I could have taken any step against her, but I did not.”

The premier said she had invited Khaleda to a dialogue before the January 5 election last year. “But she rejected it.”

“I tried a lot. I told her ‘let us participate in a free and fair election.’ I even asked for names of BNP leaders to be included in the interim government and promised ministries

Between a rock and a hard place parties need to compromise for the impasse to give way.

Having boycotted the last national elections, Khaleda and her allies saw themselves thrown out of parliament while the Awami League, virtually unopposed swept the polls and currently command an overwhelming majority in JS. After nearly a year of relative peace in politics when the BNP-led camp kept its movement limited within the scope of copybook democratic activities such as rallies and public relations, matters took a turn for the worse on the anniversary of the national polls when BNP was scheduled to observe the “death of democracy” at a rally.

On January 5, 2015, BNP chief Khaleda Zia was prevented by law enforcers from getting out of her Gulshan political office and join that rally.

The next day, the BNP enforced a non-stop countrywide transport blockade, later compounded with general strikes, which enter their 69th day today.

All this time, Khaleda had been holed up in that office, inside the diplomatic zone of Dhaka.

For the first week or so, she was kept in a virtual confinement with security forces barring her several times from coming out. From the middle of January, however, the authorities appeared to be desperate to get her out.

Security was relaxed but Khaleda never came out, saying she would stay put as long as her demands were not met.

The ruling Awami League has been saying since the outbreak of violence that it would not cave into terrorists’ demands. The opposition would have to stop violence and only then would the government consider the possibilities of a political dialogue.

In the meantime, there have been numerous attempts from Dhaka-based diplomats and civil society to mediate between the battling camps, but their calls were never heeded by either side.

Analysts say just a bit of will is enough for a thaw. But because both are alienated from the people, they are stuck and so are the people.

According to noted political scientist and researcher Raunaq Jahan, it has become a tradition that leaders have to be uncompromising.

“Both parties think that comprise is a kind of defeat. Since this has become a culture, nobody wants to give ground,” she said.

Political commentator Afsan Chowdhury said: “None is ready to move from their position. They have alienated themselves from the people. So, they are prioritising political agenda instead of people’s interests.”

He also said: “Both parties want to go to

power, that is the problem. BNP believes that if there is a fair election, it will go to power. The Awami League on the other hand knows that it will be anyone’s game if a fair election is held.”

General people, who have been bearing the brunt of the political stalemate, also believe that both parties need to make sacrifices.

Mostafa Ahmed, executive at a private company, has a family member who got badly burnt in a petrol bomb attack recently.

“A dialogue can happen any time. But if one of your dear ones get burnt, then you will wonder whether it will be logical to sit in a dialogue with those who are killing people,” Mostafa said.

There are also people who belong to an opposite stream of thought.

“The way BNP leaders are arrested in the country everyday, the prime minister needs to decide what she is going to do to curb violence.

We have seen her making all the decisions on her own,” said Mujibur Rahman, a businessman.

Political scientist Mizanur Rahman Shelley said the political parties were egoistic.

“If BNP says it will withdraw its action programmes and if the Awami League agrees to talks, then the problem will be solved just like that. So, the problem basically lies in the attitude of the political parties,” Shelley said. l

Govt still clueless about Salahuddin After visiting the spot, a house located in Uttara sector 3 where the BNP leader was staying, police said they had not found the allegations of Salahuddin’s wife to be true.

Iqbal Hossain, deputy commissioner Uttara division, told the Dhaka Tribune that they were looking for the tenant of the apartment, Iqbal Hasnat.

The security guard and locals told the police that the tenant had brought a guest on Saturday saying that he would stay there for a few days. “None could confirm that the guest was Salahuddin,” the official said.

A police officer of Uttara division quoted guard Akhterul Islam as saying that some five to six people had gone to the building around 10pm on Tuesday and left with the guest.

However, the guard earlier said four to five “armed people” identifying themselves as Detective Branch officials had picked up Salahuddin blindfolded from the house and that there were vehicles parked outside the three-storey building. l

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SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

Farabi now remanded in fresh case Detectives have not found any clue from Farabi in connection with blogger Avijit Roy murder Former Buet teacher Avijit, founder of Fair premises to identify criminals who had of blogger-architect Ahmed Rajeeb Haider in n Mohammad Jamil Khan 2013. A letter has been sent to the immigration Mukto-Mona blog, and his wife Rafida Ahmed been following Avijit and Bonya. They have A new case was filed yesterday against extremist Islamist Shafiur Rahman Farabi, detained for his alleged involvement in secular blogger Avijit Roy’s murder, under the Information and Communication Technology Act for issuing death threats on Facebook.

The case against Farabi was lodged with Ramna police for giving death threats to bloggers Avijit, Asif Mohiuddin and Parvez Alam, and the daily Bangladesh Protidin Editor Naeem Nizam on Facebook, deputy police commissioner Masudur Rahman said.

Fazlur Rahman, an inspector of DB, filed the case against Farabi, who was arrested by Rapid Action Battalion on March 2.

Meanwhile, police say they did not find any indication of Farabi’s involvement in Avijit murder, but confirm that he had threatened the blogger on Facebook several times and lauded the murder.

Prime suspect in Avijit murder, Redwanul Azad Rana, a leader of fanatic group Ansarullah Bangla Team, remains traceless. Police are conducting drives to arrest Rana, who is also accused of masterminding the murder

police and the BGB to bar Rana from leaving the country.

Prime Minister’s Adviser HT Imam has branded the policemen who were inactive during Avijit murder in TSC area as black sheep and demanded that they be put on trial Farabi, leader of banned Islamist outfit Hizb ut-Tahrir, is facing another case for threatening an imam with death for administering the funeral rites of Rajeeb. He also served six months in jail in 2013 but was released on bail.

On completion of his remand in Avijit murder case, Ramna police yesterday produced Farabi before the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Mostafizur Rahman seeking a 10-day remand in the ICT case.

Bonya were attacked by some unidentified assailants near TSC on Dhaka University campus on the night of February 26. Avijit died at the hospital after an hour while Bonya sustained critical injuries. She was later flown to the US. A DB official said during the interrogation, they had not found any significant clue or information from Farabi in connection with the murder.

Meanwhile, the police have decided to install CCTV cameras in TSC area of DU. Asaduzzaman Miah, the DMP commissioner, said they would bring the TSC, Central Shaheed Minar and Shahbagh intersection under CCTV surveillance to stop recurrence of such crimes.

Addressing a seminar on DU campus yesterday, the Dhaka police chief said they would be done installing cameras within this month.

Asaduzzaman said entry and exit points of the city and diplomatic zones had already been brought under the CCTV coverage. “It will help tackling crime and identifying criminals.”

Detectives have analysed about 17-18 hours of CCTV footage from the Amar Ekushey Book

already confirmed that Rana played a key role in launching attack on the couple.

DMP Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam, also the DB chief, said the visiting FBI team was working on Avijit’s murder case. The detectives have already handed over case-related evidence to the FBI for lab test in the USA. At a discussion on DU campus yesterday, Prime Minister’s Adviser HT Imam branded the policemen who were inactive as Avijit Roy was being hacked, as black sheep. He said they should be put on trial.

A probe committee formed to investigate the inaction of police personnel has found negligence of duty on the part of some officers.

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

72-hour hartal called again n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla The opposition alliance led by the BNP yesterday called another 72-hour nationwide hartal beginning today to press for fresh elections under a non-partisan interim government.

The BNP’s newly assigned spokesperson, Joint Secretary General Barkatullah Bulu, announced the three-day general strike a day after party chief Khaleda Zia said the alliance’s anti-government agitation would continue.

The party demanded the immediate release of Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed – claimed to be in custody by his family – who has been missing since Tuesday night.

The nationwide 72-hour hartal will come in to effect on top of the continuing indefinite transport blockade called by BNP chief Khaleda Zia. The BNP chief called the transport blockade on January 5 after she was prevented from attending a rally in Dhaka on the first anniversary of the general elections her party boycotted.

The blockade has been in force since January 6.

Her party has demanded an international investigation, under the supervision of the United Nations, into the sabotage, firebomb attacks, extra-judicial killings, abductions and killings allegedly committed during the BNP alliance’s blockade and strike programmes.

Countering a denial by the ruling party that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had said parliament would be dissolved if a consensus was reached over a poll-time government, Bulu said: “On December 19, 2013, Awami League President Sheikh Hasina made the comment at Ganabhaban. Khaleda Zia made a reference to that statement.” l

Firefighters extinguish flames at Bismillah Sanitary Mart that caught fire through a short circuit in Chowdhurypara, Malibagh in Dhaka yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

Fire breaks out at Motijheel building n Tribune Report

A devastating fire broke out at a building in the Dilkusha commercial district of the capital’s Motijheel area yesterday.

Although no casualties were reported in the blaze, a fire service official fell ill while on duty. Rafiqul Islam, assistant director of the Dhaka fire service, is undergoing treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Twelve fire fighting units rushed to the spot around 3:20pm and were still working

to extinguish the fire at 10pm yesterday, according to the Fire Service and Civil Defence control centre.

Witnesses and fire service sources said the fire broke out around 3pm at the Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company (BICFL) office located on the second floor of the seven storey Mia Amanullah Building. Ataur Rahman, duty officer of the fire service control room, said: “We have not got any casualty reports, but one of our officials was admitted to hospital.”

Thousands thronged the area as smoke bil-

lowed out of the building, enveloping nearby roads and footpaths.

Besides the BIFCL office, building tenants include Al-Arafah Islami Bank, Prime Finance and other commercial enterprises. Fire service officials said the building was full of documents making it difficult to douse the flames.

ATM Shakil Newaz Khan, operation and maintenance director of the fire service, said that because the building was full of smoke, it was taking time to douse the fire completely.

“But it is under control,” he said. l

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SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

Ashraf: Dialogue with BNP may take place if peace prevails n Tribune Report

Dialogue with the BNP may take place if peace prevails in the country, Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam yesterday said.

“If today, BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia holds back her terrorist group from committing terrorist acts and killing people, a congenial atmosphere will prevail in the country. Dialogue is possible in that peaceful situation,” he said at a press conference at the Awami League President’s office in the capital’s Dhanmondi neighbourhood.

The ruling AL organised the press conference to express its official response to the BNP chairperson’s press conference on Friday.

Ashraful said there would be no dialogue with the BNP if hostility and killing of people continues: “No country in the world holds

talks with militants. It will not take place in Bangladesh either. They [BNP-Jamaat] declared war, we will do the same.”

“The world has declared war on terrorists and we also believe in law and regulations,” he said.

He said BNP-Jamaat wants elections by killing people, keeping the government at bay. But said that will never be possible in Bangladesh.

“Time has come to uproot terrorists from the soil of Bangladesh. The Pakistani occupation force failed to be successful, this time Khaleda Zia will not succeed either,” he said.

“We are the elected government. The next election will take place as it was held earlier under the constitutional framework, no matter whether Khaleda Zia takes part in it or not,” he added.

Claiming that Khaleda Zia’s press confer-

Bus Rapid Transit fails deadline n Shohel Mamun Over two years into the project, the design for Bus Rapid Transit is yet to be finalised.

The project authority had fixed February 2015 as the deadline for completing detailed design of the bus lanes from Airport to Gazipur that would be used for the bus-based mass transit.

But the failure means that the project, which began in end 2012, will be delayed further.

However, the project authority has floated a tender for the BRT Gazipur depot recently.

BRT project director Afil Uddin told the Dhaka Tribune: “Although there is no detailed design, the tender floated for the Gazipur depot will not create any problems. We want to proceed quickly as two years have already passed without any visible progress.”

Earlier, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said: “The BRT project came across various problems. Hopefully, within June the final design will be complete. After that the tender for construction of BRT will be floated and work will begin by the year end.”

The BRT project is expected to improve connectivity along the Dhaka-Gazipur route. It is estimated that 140 buses will carry 40,000 passengers per hour. The new project hopes to cut down commuting time significantly. A trip from the airport to Joydebpur is expected to take 40 minutes at most once the mass rapid transit becomes operational.

The project is expected to cost about Tk2,040 crore. The Asian Development Bank, French Agency for Development – AFD, Global Environment Facility will fund Tk1,650.7 crore and the rest will be funded by Bangladesh government.

November 2017 is now the new deadline and operations will begin from December the same year. However, the completion date had been fixed for December 2016 at the beginning.

The project consists of 20km BRT corridor, six flyovers, four kilometres of elevated roads, 141 connecting roads, 12km of storm drains, eight-lane Tongi bridge, Gazipur bus depot, Joydebpur and Airport bus terminals. The six flyovers would be constructed at the airport crossing, Jasimuddin Road in Uttara, Konia, Boardbazar, Vogra, and Joydebpur in Gazipur.

The BRT project is being implemented by Roads and Highways Department, Bridge Authority, and Local Government Engineering Department.

According to the authorities, land acquisition for the project will be complete by the end of this year. A project official said the government has already completed the field survey, finalised the preliminary design, and also finalised the operational plan.

The fully state owned Dhaka Bus Rapid Transit Company Limited will run the rapid transit operations. l

ence was not an objective one, Ashraf said the BNP-Jamaat alliance killed 150 people during the blockade and hartals.

“The other name of Khaleda Zia’s hartal is killing people. No democratic movement has taken place in the world by killing people,” he said adding: “It is not a democratic movement. It is not even a movement to regain the caretaker system or to hold elections. The objective of BNP-Jamaat is to create an IS like situation in the country.”

Ashraful called upon the BNP chairperson to create an atmosphere for people to live a normal life by withdrawing the indefinite blockade and hartals.

The AL general secretary urged everybody to denounce terrorism and to unite against terrorism in the country. l

Ershad bemoans absence of democracy n UNB Jatiya Party (JaPa) Chairman HM Ershad yesterday said democracy is yet to be established in the country although he stepped down in 1990 for its sake.

“All political parties only talk about democracy but they’ve failed to establish it in the country till today,” he said while talking to reporters at his Palli Nibash residence at Darshana in the city.

“What type of democracy and movement is this where common people are being burned to death in the name of hartal and blockade?”

He also wondered how a party which talks about the politics of common people can kill them in arson attacks, saying: “Only God knows when they will get rid of this.”

Ershad reiterated his claim that the country’s people do not want to see two major parties – Awami League and BNP – in state power. l

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SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

Government likely to extend pay-scale review committee tenure n Asif Showkat Kallol The government may again extend the tenure of a secretarial committee tasked with reviewing the National Pay and Service Commission recommendations as it expires today.

The committee is likely to get one month more to submit its report to Finance Minister AMA Muhith. Earlier, its tenure was extended by one month on February 15.

According to a cabinet division official concerned, the committee is taking time to let the recommendations of Judicial Service Commission be executed first.

He said the National Pay Commission recommendations will not be implemented until

Judicial Service Commission is implemented.

“The secretarial committee will sit on March 16 to talk about review of the National Pay Commission recommendations,” the official added.

Besides, as the number of grades has been reduced to 16 from 20 in the salary structure, amendment to service rules is required, the official said. “For this reason also, time is needed.”

Finance Ministry sources said if the government followed the National Pay and Service Commission’s salaries and allowances revision proposals, expenditures would rise by 63.7%, requiring an additional Tk22,953 crore.

The Commission Chairman Mohamand

Farashuddin had earlier said financing the additional amount would not be a problem, if only 1% revenue growth could be ensured.

The six-member secretarial committee, led

by Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan, was formed a month ago.

The five other members of the committee are the finance secretary, secretary to the prime minister, public administration secretary, defence secretary, and housing and public works secretary.

In addition to reviewing the pay hike proposals for government employees, the committee is also looking after the recommended pay hikes for the armed forces.

The Commission submitted its proposals

to the finance minister on December 21 last year, recommending doubling the salaries, plots for group housing, and introducing bank loans for single-digit interest rates for public servants.

The highest salary of Tk1 lakh was recommended for the cabinet secretary and principal secretary to the prime minister; currently their basic monthly pay is Tk45,000.

The government plans to implement the hikes from July this year. The 8th National Pay and Services Commission was formed in November 2013.

Currently, there are over 832,000 government employees and around 500,000 pensioners in the country. l

Restaurant trader murdered in the capital n Mohammad Jamil Khan Police recovered the body of a restaurant trader from Banani foot over-bridge rail crossing area in the capital yesterday.

However, the wife of the deceased, Shamim Ahmed Bhuiyan, 45, claimed him a Jubo League activist who had been residing in Tejkunipara area of Tejgaon hailing from Gopalganj Sadar upazila.

“We recovered the body around 7am and sent it to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) morgue for autopsy, where his relatives recognised the body at noon,” says Banani police station SI Mostofa Kamal.

“During the recovery, his hands were tied up with ropes and there was cables around his neck,” Mostofa went on.

The victim’s wife Baby Akther said her husband used to stay with one Awami League leader named Shaikh Rasel from Gopalganj Sadar upazila and the leader ensures livelihood for his family.

On Friday evening, Shamim’s known persons, namely Rajib Babu, Dulal, Saiful and Rabiul, called him out of home over cell phone and since then he had been missing.

“My husband was trying to settle down a problem ensued in their (aforesaid persons) business and centring which, the murder may occurred,” Baby added.

Wishing not to be named, a police official from the police station told the Dhaka Tribune that basically the hotel owner of Dhaka Inn, Projapoti and Sheraton Inn hotels were running anti-social activities in their business and Shamim, who was also involved in the business partially, wanted to take control of those by using identity of the AL leader.

The killing might have happened following the conflict, the official continued.

When contacted, Banani police station OC Bhuiyan Mahbub Hossain said none arrest was made in this connection and they were investigating into the incident.

“We are analysing the Baby’s complaints and Shamim’s activities to track down the murderers,” the OC added. l

Hawkers who had illegally set up stalls inside the Suhrawardy Udyan are evicted by law enforcers yesterday, ahead of the Independence Day to be observed on March 26 MEHEDI HASAN

Snail’s pace in the relocation move of Hazaribagh tanneries n Munir Momtaj Despite the deadline of relocation was extended for several times, the shifting of industrial units of tanneries from Hazaribagh to Savar will not be completed by the June next year as the process is moving at snail’s pace.

Of total 155 industrial units which were allocated plots at Savar Tannery estate, only one unit has completed the construction work of its two storied building, said Md Abdus Sobhan, executive general secretary of Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba).

He was speaking at a press conference on “Actual development of tannery shifting and evaluation of Poribesh Bachao Andolon (Poba)” at Poba’s head office in the capital yesterday.

The construction work of first floors of eight industrial units are about to be completed, while 56 factories have only started the work, and 76 have made only their boundary walls, Abdus Sobhan said.

Meanwhile, 14 industrial units have not even fixed their boundaries, he said.

The country’s tannery industry produces on an average 100 tonnes of wastes everyday.

The amount, however, increases up to 200 tonnes a day during peak seasons, he added.

“Our water and environment are badly affected by the wastes of the tannery industry,” Abdus Sobhan said.

The government had taken taken a project titled “Hazaribagh Tannery Relocation Project (HTRP)” to shift the tanneries to a new and eco-friendly tannery estate at Harinbari

in Savar following a High Court verdict in 2001.

Beginning in 2002, the project was scheduled to be completed by 2005 at a cost of Tk 175.75 crore.

On October 8, 2007, the Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) had extended the time-frame and approved a Revised Development Project Proposal (RDPP). In the RDPP, it was proposed that the project would be completed at a cost of Tk545.36 crore by 2012.

The ECNEC, however, again extended the time-frame of implementation of the project to June 2016.

The Poba urged the government to take necessary step against owners of the industrial units who will fail to move in time. l

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Technology upgrade suggested for salinity intrusion prevention n Tribune Report To stop saline water intrusion in coastal areas, new technologies must replace the age-old ones, environmentalists opined at a seminar yesterday.

The acidic saltwater can be prevented from entering water bodies in coastal areas by building embankments. The flow needs to be stopped from spreading inwards in the low-lying areas, said Ghulam Rabbani, chairman of Climate Change Mitigation Foundation at the seminar titled “Sustainable Solutions to the Adverse Effects of Climate Change on Water Resource and Ecosystem.”

Although the natural functionality of climate change cannot be directed, the man-made factors raising temperature of the environment

can be controlled to a great extent, he added.

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA) and Sundor Jibon organised the seminar at Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday.

“Appropriate mathematical models are required to handle complex water-management issues, make hydrological analysis and measure the effectiveness of mitigation and adaptation projects,” said the BAPA chairman.

Vice-President of BAPA Professor M Firoze Ahmed said: “It is not the sole duty of the government to mitigate adverse effects of climate change. People need to be much more aware about preserving forests, wetlands and the overall biodiversity.”

Sirajul Islam Molla, chairman of Sundor Jibon, and Mihir Biswas, joint secretary, BAPA, attended the discussion among others. l

Students of National University and Eden College form a human chain in front of the Eden College in Dhaka yesterday demanding safety of students amid ongoing political violence DHAKA TRIBUNE

An appeal for help n Tribune Report

Md Jahirul Islam Milon, a garment staff, is suffering from bone marrow cancer since February 2006.

Son of a martyred freedom fighter, Milon consulted a number of doctors in the country and also in India who advised him for a longterm treatment. He sold all his belongings to meet the medical expenses but now he is facing a financial crisis.

Milon, father of two little sons and the lone bread earner of his family, is now unable to bear his treatment cost which is around Tk10,000 per day. The money he and his relatives borrowed for the treatment have left his

family heavily indebted.

If someone extends a helping hand he would go to India again and get the follow-up treatment.

Those who are able and willing can send the financial support to Jahirul Islam Milon, A/C – 16410135922, Dutch Bangla Bank Limited, Mirpur-1 or can contact him directly over phone at 01721078408. l

23 BNP men sued for torching court room in Barisal n Our Correspondent, Barisal Police have launched a case against 23 BNP activists including some senior local leaders on charge of arson attack on Barisal court room.

Kotwali police station SI Mojibor Rahman lodged the lawsuit with the police station on Friday night, said Shoibal Kanti Chowdhury, Barisal Metropolitan Police Commissioner.

Kotwali police station OC Shakhawat Hossain said SI Delwar Hossain was assigned to look into the case.

The accused include BNP’s Barisal unit President Ebaidul Huq Chan, Secretary (south) Abul Kalam Shahin, the city unit Swechhasebok Dal Joint Convener Mahbubur Rahman Pintu and the city unit JCD Joint Conveners Shohidul Islam Anis and Rofikul Islam Jony.

A five-member committee was also formed to probe the attack and was directed to submit its report within three working days.

Thursday’s attack on the room of Shahinur Begum, senior judicial magistrate for Wazirpur and Banaripara, destroyed all documents. l

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SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

Made for the moon n Syeda Samira Sadeque Bangladeshi success stories in the fields of recycling and robotics are rare.

Rare but not non-existent, as a few professors and students at BRAC University have recently shown.

Following a NASA challenge that the students and their mentor took up in 2011, an unlikely combination of recycled goods and robotics has taken Bangladesh all the way to the moon – or as close to the moon as possible for most humans: NASA’s Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.

“In 2011, the NASA Lunabotics Mining Competition [LMC] came up with a project with the agenda that after 2050, no living thing will travel to the moon. That’s when they announced the criteria for a robot that could fulfil this purpose,” says Sabbir Bin Azad, the leader of Chondrobot 3.

But it wasn’t a planned endeavour.

“It was kind of impulsive,” says Khairul Hassan, who is in charge of outreach for the Chondrobot team.

“Shibli Imtiaz, a student, registered for us.

Dr Khalilur Rahman, who eventually became our team’s adviser and provided immense support, was a bit hesitant at first,” he said.

“Then following discussions, and upon meeting the requirements, we decided that since we had registered, we should go for it,” he said.

Journey to the moon

And so they were off.

In 2011, when the team went for the first time with Chondrobot 1, they failed to meet all of the criteria including the robot’s weight limit of 80kg.

Shibli had become the leader of the Chondrobot 1 team.

“That was the first time people learned that Bangladesh was making robots at all,” says Sabbir.

The next year, in 2012, the robot named Chondrobot 2 – made in Bangladesh with recycled materials – came 12th in the entire competition and was first among Asian countries.

For a country that does not have a reputation for innovation in robotics, and for a university that does not even have a separate robotics department, this was a huge achievement.

‘You’ll often see news about drones being made in Bangladesh. But someone needs to commercialise these inventions and market them’ An achievement handmade with things from every corner of the country, from recycled wind shields to plastics.

“After we returned, our work was seen as the first major achievement in the fields of technology and robots. People realised that this was actually happening in Bangladesh,” says Sabbir, who looked after the electronics and hardware section of Chondrobot 3 during the third and last leg of Chondrobot’s journey to NASA. Upon their return, the group opened the BRAC University Robotics Club and Sabbir proudly says that many students seeking admission to the university cite Chondrobot as their motivation to apply.

Beyond the moon

They say if you shoot for the moon and miss, you will still be among the stars.

Chondrobot still has a long way to go be-

yond the distance it has travelled so far.

Today, while many of the Chondrobot members have graduated and are working in different fields, Sabbir says they are all still somehow involved with mechanics and robots.

This, along with the new students that join the Robotics Club at BRAC University every year, nurtures hope for a generation of Bangladeshis who can and will take forward robot science in the country – with or without recycled materials.

But challenges remain.

“You’ll often see news about drones being made in Bangladesh. But someone needs to commercialise these inventions and market them,” says Sabbir. “Otherwise, we see that there is a huge cost in making devices, but they are not marketed as products. We need government and private organisations to come forward and commercialise these products so that there is a purpose for these innovations.”

Khairul, who is from a marketing background and got involved with the project simply because he was taking a mandatory computer science class that all students at BRAC University have to take, said: “We’d never been prepared to enter a competition for something run by an entity as prestigious as NASA. We just didn’t know much about the elements needed for that. Our university does not even have a separate department for mechanics.”

Yet, despite these drawbacks, Chondrobot has taken Bangladesh far, reflecting the untapped potential in robotics for an entire generation.

A generation that, when properly nurtured, may be able to take us to the moon and beyond. l

WEATHER

DRY WEATHER LIKELY SUNDAY, MARCH 15 DHAKA TODAY SUN SETS 6:07PM

TOMORROW SUN RISES 6:07AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

35

24

Chittagong

32

23

Rajshahi

34

21

Rangpur

35

21

Khulna

35

21

Barisal

35

22

Sylhet

34

19

Cox’s Bazar

32

24

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

35.4ºC Rajshahi

14.4ºC Srimangal Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr

4:52am

Sunrise

6:07am

Zohr

12:08am

Asr

4:27pm

Magrib

6:07pm

Esha

7:23pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

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8 NEWS

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

BNP dissidents still in Chandpur elections n Our Correspondent, Chandpur More than a dozen former and present leaders of the BNP will be contesting the March 29 Chandpur municipality elections despite the party’s district unit boycotting it. Currently the main political opposition, BNP had boycotted the national elections of January 5, 2014, which saw them thrown out of parliament.

Top BNP leaders of the district, comprising 15 wards, warned that anyone acting in defiance of the boycott would be reprimanded but the contestants said they would still be running for mayor and councillor.

BNP’s district unit boycotted the elections after raising a number of allegations, including possible manipulation attempts and vote rigging. BNP-backed mayor and councillor

candidates later withdrew their nominations on the last day.

Those who quit the race are now demanding that actions be taken against the candidates who did not comply with the party’s official decision.

“They should be subjected to disciplinary measures,” said Chandpur district BNP Joint Convener Akhter Hossain Majhi who quit the mayoral race.

But former municipal chairman Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan, who is also a BNP leader and will be running for mayor, argued that undertaking development activities was more important than political considerations when it came to local government polls.

“Residents of the municipality love me and I love them,” he told the Dhaka Tribune. “Besides, this is not parliamentary election and

two more municipalities, including Natore, will go to the polls where BNP candidates will contest.”

Shafiqur claimed that it was the personal decision of the district BNP convener to boycott the elections, and that there were no such instructions from the central leaders.

“Choosing not to take part in the elections is like letting the Awami League to enjoy a walkover.”

Chandpur district BNP Joint Convener Mahbub Anwar Bablu told the Dhaka Tribune that those contesting the polls defying the official decision would not be backed by the party. “They will face actions as well.”

Sheikh Farid Ahmed, convener of the district unit, said anyone taking part in the elections would face action for breaching discipline.

On February 15, the fourth election schedules were announced. The last date for submitting nominations was February 26 while that for withdrawal was March 10.

A total of 165 candidates submitted nominations but 36 withdrew them later while six had their nominations cancelled.

One hundred and twenty-three candidates will now run for mayor and councillor. Of them, Shafiqur and Nasir Uddin Ahmed, the incumbent mayor, are mayoral candidates while there are 27 candidates for reserved positions for women and 94 for councillors.

Election symbols were allotted to candidates on March 11 who then organised campaigns to drum up support of the voters.

A total of 1,01,975 people, with 51,841 males and 50,134 females, in 15 wards will cast their votes. l

Int’l Bangla literature conference begins n Tribune Report A two day-long international conference on Bangla literature and literature of other languages in Bangladesh began at Rajshahi University (RU) yesterday.

Bangla Gobeshona Sangshad, Bangla department of Rajshahi University and Bangla Samity jointly organized the programme to promote Bangla language worldly with the slogan of ‘Boichitre Oikyer Anwesha’ (seeking unity in diversity), reports BSS. RU Vice-Chancellor Prof Muhammad Mizanuddin inaugurated the programme at senate building premises this morning around 10:00 am as the chief guest.

50 articles include Bangla literature; Bangladesh, Bangla literature; West Bengal, written history of Bangla literature; limitation and promotion Speakers at the inaugurate programme said that Bangla literature have huge importances considering its range, periods, practice involved communities among Bengali-speaking people living in all around the world.

This conference has given the opportunity for monitoring closely the works written in Bangla language and matching with the works written in other languages in Bengali-colony, speakers added.

Among others former RU VC Prof Abdul Khalek, RU pro-VC Prof Chowdhury Sarwar Jahan addressed as the special guest while Khandaker Farhad Hossain, president of Bangla Gobeshona Songshod and Dean of Arts faculty, presided over the programme.

Welcome speech, goals and objectives of the conference addressed by Prof Shafiqunnabi Samadi, vice-president of Bangla Gobeshona Songshod, while secretary general of the conference committee Prof PM Shafiqul Islam conducted the programme.

About 50 articles including Bangla literature; Bangladesh, Bangla literature; West Bengal, written history of Bangla literature; limitation and promotion, and Folk literature of Bangla will be presented. l

Teachers and students of Rajshahi College take part in the human chain in front of college yesterday as part of the national programme directed by National University demanded to withdraw hartal and blockade immediately to save education AZAHAR UDDIN

11 including cops injured in clash in Khagrachari n Our Correspondent, Khagrachari At least 11 people, including eight policemen, were injured in a clash over gambling between locals and the law enforcers in Kamalchhari of Khagrachari on Friday night.

The injured police officials are Khagrachari Sadar Circle Assistant Superintendent Sarwar Alam, Khagrachari Sadar OC Mizanur Rahman, Assistant Sub-Inspector Tarun Chakma, Sepoys Abul Kalam, Belal Hossain, Nazir Hossain, Rana Protap, and Md Arif, police said.

The identities of the other injured people, however, could not be ascertained.

ASP Sarwar Alam told the Dhaka Tribune

that they conducted a drive around 8:30pm in Kamalchhari Primary School on a tip-off that there was gambling going on at a local fair.

The gamblers pelted brick chips at the law enforcers sensing their presence, he said.

The attackers also vandalised the vehicle of OC Mizanur Rahman, he added.

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

Police filed a case against some unidentified people.

Locals said the fair was organised to observed the school’s 100th founding anniversary. l

Sramik League office torched in Savar n Our Correspondent, Savar Unidentified miscreants set fire to a local office of Jatiya Sramik League early yesterday, labour front of the ruling Awami League, in Rajphulbaria area of Savar.

The office was situated in Khattrapara Mahalla of Rajphulbaria.

Witness sources said a gang torched the office afire before dawn pouring petrol and left the spot promptly. Locals rushed to the spot and doused it before fire fighters arrived.

Khokan, general secretary of Rajphulbaria unit Sramik League, said he visited the spot.

“BNP’s Sramik Dal activists may be behind the arson attack,” he added.

When contacted, Savar Model police station OC Motaleb Miah said they visited the scene, but no arrest was made in this connection. l

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Shoemakers on the verge n Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj Shomakers of Kishoreganj are in despair. They might have to shut down the factories due to rising losses and debts said the shoe factory owners at a programme protesting the continuous blockade and general strikes.

They said the footwear industry in Kishoreganj — boasting 7,000 factories — was on the verge of collapse leaving the livelihoods of about 200,000 people involved in the business in jeopardy.

The owners said shoes were piling up as they could not be shipped out owing to the violent anti-government campaign, which falls on its 69th day today, calling for the ruling Awami League to step down and announce

new elections.

The labourers are going through severe financial hardship while the factory owners are overburdened with debts from NGOs and banks, they said at a human chain held recently.

The traders said around 90% of the factories in the region were run on loans. Unable to pay their installments for over two months, owners of those factories have become desperate.

Many have already shut down their businesses.

Bhairab Paduka, a well-known brand, like many others is also teetering on the verge.

This hardship of the shoemakers has trickled down to related businesses — packaging ma-

terial, shoe boxes, laces and so forth —as the political impasse continues.

The local business owners and labourers’ union said they were passing days amid much anxiety besides financial losses.

Hafiz Uddin and Abdul Malek, owners of two shoe factories, said they had incurred massive losses in the last two months.

President of the union, Abdul Latif, said: “The local footwear business was gradually moving towards a complete collapse. This is compounding the unemployment problem even further.”

Latif urged both the ruling Awami League and BNP to resolve the crisis and revive businesses, or they would undertake tougher movements, he threatened. l

NEWS IN BRIEF 15 held while crossing border illegally

Bangladesh border guards arrested 15 people while they were going to India illegally through Putkhali border yesterday morning. BGB-23 in-charge Shamsur Rahman said on a tip-off, a team of the border force launched a drive around 8am and arrested the 15, including six women and four children. However, those who were trying to traffic them out of the country fled the scene sensing the presence of the border guards.

– Our Correspondent, Jessore

39th death anniversary of Poet Jasimuddin observed The 39th death anniversary of Polli Kabi Jasimuddin (folk poet) was observed in the district yesterday. Faridpur district administration and Jasim Foundation jointly held a programme at the poet’s ancestral home in Gobindapur village on the outskirts of Faridpur town. A number of cultural and literary organizations placed floral wreaths at the grave of the poet adjacent to his ancestral home on the bank of Kumar River, which has dried up. A discussion presided by ADC general Abdur Rahsid was addressed by ADC (education) Anwarul Islam, president of Faridpur Shahitta Parishad M A Samad, president of Faridpur Shahitta Sangkritik Unnayan Sangtha Abul Foyaz Shah Newaz and son of the poet Dr Jamal Amwar.

– Our Correspondent, Faridpur

Son kills father over land A father was killed by his son at Rasulpur village under Niamatpur upazila of the district yesterday morning over land dispute. The victim was identified as Mafiz Uddin, 60. Niamatpur OC Obaidul Haque said son Abdur Rahim hit his father on the head over a family feud, leaving him critically injured. Mafiz was rushed to Rajshahi Medical College Hospital where he died of his injury. Police arrested Rahim and filed a case.

– Our Correspondent, Naogaon

Teacher found dead in school

Centre for Policy Dialogue holds a discussion yesterday in Tangail titled pre-budget dialouge-2015

Robbers loot Brahmanbaria bound bus passengers n Our Correspondent, Brahmanbaria Robbers looted passengers of a bus as it on Dhaka-Sylhet highway in Chhanpara area of Araihazar upazila in Narayanganj.

The miscreants also tortured the passengers and the bus driver and his assistants while carrying out the robbery on Friday night.

Rasel Mia, conductor of the bus, and some other passengers were injured.

With 36 passengers, the bus of Royal Paribahan left Kamlapur Bus Station in Dhaka for Brahmanbaria around 7pm.

Fazlul Haq, the bus driver, said some six robbers boarded the bus pretending as passengers. l

AZAHAR UDDIN

Pre-budget discussions in Tangail, Chuadanga n Tribune Report Centre for Policy Dialogue organised an event on pre-budget and district budget in Tangail yesterday.

At the dialogue around 50 participants from different professions shared their opinion. They expressed concern over the district budget satisfying the objectives as it did not effect any changes at the district.

The Tangail district budget was prepared two years in a row. District administration, treasury were not accounted for in the budget.

Neither did the budget reflect the needs of the local people that came up during the dialogue.

Professor Sekandar Hayat presided over

the pre-budget dialogue where Tangail District Council Administrator Fazlur Rahman Khan Faruk was the chief guest. CPD fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya moderated the dialogue.

In Chuadanga, a pre-budget discussion organised by Chuadanga district committee was held at the district’s press club auditorium.

The chief guest, Chuadanga District Council Administrator Mahfuzur Rahman Monju, said district budget is necessary for equality-based and regional development, development in agriculture, sports, etc.

The discussions was presided over by Chuadanga district committee president advocate Md Belal Hossain. l

A schoolteacher was killed in Puran Munsefi residential area of the district yesterday. The deceased was identified as Swapan Mia, 25, son of Torab Mia of Mashajan village. He was a part-time teacher of Presidency School and College. Sources said the teacher was found dead inside the school office. Sadar police OC Nazim Uddin said the incident came to light in the morning when the teachers and employees of the school opened the office and found Swapan’s body on the floor.

– Our Correspondent, Habiganj

Miscreants snatch 1 from custody Miscreants attacked the police and snatched away a person from their custody at Gochia village in Dirai upazila early yesterday injuring four policemen. Police said Dilal Hossain, 25, son of former UP member Ain Uddin of the village, was an accused in a case filed under the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act. Dirai OC Bayes Alam said a police team had arrested Dilal from his house in the early hours.

However, his relatives attacked the law enforcers and snatched Dilal while he was being taken to the police station, he said.

– Our Correspondent, Sunamganj

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About 50 dead as Myanmar ferry sinks in bad weather n Reuters About 50 people were believed to have drowned off Myanmar when a ferry sank in bad weather, government officials said yesterday, though residents said they believed more people on the overcrowded vessel had died.

The boat had 209 people on board when it ran into high seas late on Friday on a voyage from the coastal town of Taunggok to Sittwe, capital of the west coast state of Rakhine, officials said.

“Twenty bodies have been found while 27 are still missing. Rescue workers are looking for them,” Pyay Nyein, a senior official from the Inland Water Transport Department, told Reuters.

A Ministry of Transport official said the boat was swamped by huge waves and 167 people had been saved, though the missing were believed to be dead.

Residents in Taunggok, from where the boat embarked, said they believed the toll was higher as the ferry, which they identified as the government-owned Aung Tagun-3,

would have been crowded with many unregistered passengers.

“Normally, the number of tickets sold is not reliable when it comes to the number of passengers. That’s very common,” said a Taunggok merchant who declined to be identified.

“So the number of missing must be many more than 27. We understand the chances of finding them in this weather are very slim.”

Marine accidents are common in Myanmar where many people have to rely on small, crowded and old boats for transport. l

Pakistan again detains Mumbai attacks suspect

n AFP

The alleged mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai attacks was detained afresh for one month after a Pakistani court cancelled a detention order against him, his lawyer said yesterday.

It is the latest round in a tussle over Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, accused over the terror siege that left 166 dead, which has worsened already strained ties with India. Lakhvi was granted bail by an anti-terror court in December, infuriating New Delhi, but quickly slapped with a detention order under public order laws. The Islamabad High Court suspended that order, only for the Supreme Court to reinstate it in January.

On Friday the high court once again set aside the detention order, only for a new one to be issued hours later. l

Huge Pacific cyclone devastates Vanuatu, at least eight dead

n Reuters, Sydney

This handout photo taken and received on March 14, 2015 by UNICEF Pacific shows waves and scattered debris along the coast, caused by Cyclone Pam, in the Vanuatu capital of Port Vila AFP

China sends fighter jets to Myanmar border after bomb kills four n AFP China sent fighter jets to patrol its border with Myanmar after a bomb dropped by a Myanmar warplane killed four Chinese in southwestern Yunnan province, state media reported yesterday.

The bomb hit a sugarcane field in Lincang city on Friday, killing four workers and injuring nine others, China’s official news agency Xinhua said.

It came days after China warned of escalating violence near the border following a surge in ethnic conflict in the remote Kokang region in Myanmar’s northeastern Shan state.

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force on

Friday sent several fighter jets to “track, monitor, warn and chase away” Myanmar military planes flying close to China’s border, air force spokesman Shen Jinke was quoted by Xinhua as saying.

Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin summoned the Myanmar ambassador to Beijing, Thit Linn Ohn, on Friday night to protest against the deaths, the agency said.

Liu urged Myanmar to “thoroughly investigate” the case and “take immediate and effective measures to prevent recurrence of such incidents,” said Xinhua.

He called on the Myanmar authorities to “safeguard the security and stability in the border areas between China and

Myanmar,” the agency added.

China’s foreign ministry said earlier this week that a house in Yunnan had been hit by shelling from across the border in Myanmar, where the military are fighting rebel forces.

Last month, Myanmar declared a state of emergency in Kokang in response to the conflict, which began on February 9.

The unrest has virtually emptied the main Kokang town of Laukkai, the epicentre of the fighting, with streets in the once-bustling frontier community transformed into a battleground.

More than 30,000 people have fled from Myanmar into Yunnan province, according to Xinhua. l

One of the Pacific Ocean’s most powerful ever storms devastated the island nation of Vanuatu yesterday, tearing off roofs, uprooting trees and killing at least eight people with the toll set to rise, aid officials said.

The United Nations was preparing a major relief operation and Australia said it was ready to offer its neighbor whatever help it could.

With winds up to 340 kph (210 mph), Cyclone Pam left Vanuatu cut off, with little power, poor communications and a looming threat of hunger and thirst.

Unconfirmed reports said the number of dead could run into dozens but aid workers said it would be days or weeks before the full impact was known.

“It felt like the world was going to end,” Alice Clements, a spokeswoman for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), said from Vanuatu.

Tom Skirrow, country director for the Save the Children aid group, told Reuters that Vanuatu’s National Disaster Management Office had confirmed eight dead and 20 injured. He said he expected those figures to rise substantially.

Aid workers in Papua New Guinea said at least one person had been killed by the storm there. l

US, India concerned over 13-year jail sentence for Maldives’ ex-president

n Reuters

The United States, India and rights groups said yesterday they were troubled by the trial of former Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, who was sentenced to 13 years in prison after being found guilty of terrorism for ordering the arrest of a judge. The verdict on Friday was the latest chapter in three turbulent years in the Indian Ocean archipelago. Nasheed, the country’s first democratically elected leader, was ousted in disputed circumstances, narrowly defeated in a controversial election and then arrested last month under new charges of terrorism.

“The prosecution’s evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt that Nasheed ordered the chief judge’s arrest or forceful abduction and detention on Girifushi island,” Judge Abdulla Didi said in the court in the capital, Male. l

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Kerry says unclear whether interim Iran deal within reach n Reuters, Egypt On the eve of fresh talks with Iran, US Secretary of State John Kerry said it was unclear whether an interim agreement over its nuclear power program was within reach.

“I can’t tell you whether or not we can get a deal, whether we are close,” Kerry told a news conference yesterday in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, where he attended an Egyptian investment summit.

“The purpose of these negotiations is not just to get a deal, it is to get the right deal,” he added.

The United States and five other major powers – Britain, Germany, France, China and

Venezuela says opponent of Maduro commits suicide in jail

n Reuters, Caracas An opponent of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro committed suicide in jail, where he had been locked up on charges of fomenting street violence against the socialist government, the Interior Minister said on Friday.

An outraged Venezuelan opposition demanded details surrounding the death of commercial pilot Rodolfo Gonzalez, 64, who was imprisoned in April on accusations of seeking to overthrow the government via massive demonstrations. He had not yet been sentenced. “Rodolfo Gonzalez took his life by hanging himself,” said Interior Minister Gustavo Gonzalez. The state prosecutor’s office said it is investigating the death. l

Russia – will resume negotiations with Iran in Lausanne, Switzerland, from Sunday. They hope to clinch a framework agreement by the end of the month.

The two sides would then seek to negotiate by June 30 a final agreement to would curb Iran’s most sensitive nuclear activities for at least 10 years. In exchange, sanctions on the Islamic Republic would gradually end.

Kerry expressed concern again that a letter to Iran last week from Republican senators may have undermined the talks. The letter warned Iran that any deal made by President Barack Obama might last only as long as he remained in office – a highly unusual inter-

vention in US foreign policy-making.

Kerry said he would assure Iranian negotiators and Europeans allies during the upcoming talks that Congress did not have the authority to change the deal.

“As far as we’re concerned, Congress has no ability to change an executive agreement,” Kerry said, adding that “important gaps” still remained between the sides.

The letter followed a speech to Congress earlier this month by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who warned that Obama was negotiating a “bad deal” with Iran.

Republicans invited Netanyahu to speak about Iran without consulting the White House or Democrats. l

Nigerian troops discover Boko Haram ‘bomb factory’ n AFP, Abuja Nigeria’s military said on Friday that it had uncovered a Boko Haram bomb-making factory in the northeastern town of Buni Yadi after soldiers retook the town from the insurgents.

Islamist fighters captured the town in Yobe state in August last year as the group seized swathes of territory in the crisis-hit northeast.

The military announced that it had wrested back control last yesterday.

Defence spokesman Chris Olukolade said that search operations in the area led to the discovery of the bomb-making factory manufac-

turing improvised explosive devices or IEDs. “A large quantity of IEDs, including those commonly used by suicide bombers were recovered from the site,” he added in an emailed statement.

“The factory, which was located in a fertiliser company, has also converted some of the materials therein for production of all types of IEDs. “Troops are still evacuating the materials which include a large quantity of suicide bomber vests from the facility to their base.”

Boko Haram has increasingly used suicide attacks in its six-year campaign to create a hardline Islamic state in northeast Nigeria. l

Thousands evacuated in Chile as fire threatens port city Valparaiso

n Reuters Thousands of people were evacuated from around the Chilean port city of Valparaiso on Friday as a forest fire raged out of control, emergency service agency Onemi said.

Some 4,500 people were being evacuated from Valparaiso and neighboring Vina del Mar and a state of emergency had been declared, Onemi said. The fire was advancing rapidly, and the numbers being evacuated could rise to 16,000, depending on how the fire progressed, the interior ministry said.

Three firefighters were taken to hospital with injuries and one woman died of cardio-respiratory causes, it said. The fire had begun in a rubbish dump and had burnt some 260 hectares.

As night fell, firefighters were working to keep the flames from reaching populated areas of Valparaiso, a hilly city of mostly wooden houses that is part gritty low-income and part artistic retreat popular with tourists.

No homes had yet been affected, Onemi said.

Forest fires are common in Chile around March, and have been particularly savage this year after a hot, dry summer. In 2014, a fire in Valparaiso killed 15 people and consumed over 2,000 homes. l

Iraqi forces to recapture Tikrit ‘within 72 hours’

n Agencies

Iraqi forces besieging dozens of die-hard fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) in Tikrit will have liberated the city within three days, a spokesman said.

Karim al-Nuri, a top leader from the Badr militia and the spokesman of the volunteer Popular Mobilisation units, said yesterday it would take no more than “72 hours” to flush out holdout IS fighters.

The Popular Mobilisation units account for the bulk of the manpower involved in the two-week-old offensive to wrest back Tikrit, alongside army, police, militia and tribal forces.

The last IS fighters holed up in the city centre are “surrounded from all sides,” Nuri said.

Speaking to the AFP news agency from the outskirts of Tikrit, near the village of Awja, he said “their number is now 60 to 70.” l

Obama ‘committed’ to two-state solution for Israel, Palestinians

n AFP US President Barack Obama is “committed” to a two-state solution for Israel and Palestinians, Secretary of State John Kerry said yesterday on the stalled Middle East peace process.

“The position of the United States with respect to our long expressed hope, the Republicans and the Democrats alike (and) many presidents of the last 50 years or more, has always been for peace and President Obama remains committed to a two-state solution,” Kerry said at a news conference in Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh.

Kerry said that Obama was “hopeful that whatever choice people of Israel make... (they) will be able to move forward on those efforts.”

The top US diplomat said he would not like to comment more on the issue only a few days before an Israeli general election.

Final opinion polls have put Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rightwing Likud party four seats behind its centre-left rival the Zionist Union for Tuesday’s vote.

Palestinians are keen for a change from Netanyahu, hoping for a more suitable partner for future peace talks.

On Friday, Kerry held talks on the peace process with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and Jordan’s King Abdullah II. l

Sierra Leone vice president seeks asylum at US embassy

n Reuters

Smoke billows from the forest around Valparaiso, in Chile, on Friday as the fire threatens to reach the city’s port. Authorities have declared a red alert in the area AFP

Sierra Leone’s vice president, Samuel Sam-Sumana, has requested asylum at the US embassy in Freetown after soldiers surrounded his home, following his expulsion from the ruling All People’s Congress (APC) party this month.

A government spokesman was not immediately available for comment yesterday.

Sumana was expelled from President Ernest Bai Koroma’s APC party after an investigation accused him of creating his own rival political movement, leaving doubt over whether he could continue as vice president. l

DT

12 EDITORIAL

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

BNP misses chance to save SSC exams

W

e deplore the failure by Khaleda Zia to pay more attention to the massive disruption and damage being inflicted on education in the country.

The claims and counter-claims being made in response to BNP leader Khaleda Zia’s speech on Friday, are sadly predictable. After 10 weeks of violence caused by nationwide blockades and strikes, the arguments on all sides of the political deadlock are familiar to all.

New thinking is needed by both the government and the BNP alliance to bring about the positive steps and constructive dialogue which the country sorely needs to end the political crisis.

In a week in which the Secondary School Certificate examinations for March 3 and 4 have once again been postponed because of hartals and blockades, Khaleda Zia should have expressly addressed the issue of most concern to parents and schoolchildren across the nation.

Over1.5 million students are taking part in the SSC and equivalent exams this year. They face huge added stress as their teachers and schools struggle to function in an atmosphere where the risk of political violence costing further lives is too severe to fully guarantee keeping schools and exam centres open and safe for children.

There is no acceptable excuse for disrupting children’s education.

While both the BNP and government have a duty to pursue dialogue to end the dispute, the BNP needs to explain to the public why it it is persisting with a policy that is repeatedly disrupting important school exams.

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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Politics back to square one February 20

-- to whom no one knows, except them.

And thus, our politics returned to square one. Responsibility still rests with the govt to restore peace and stability in the country, crushing the insurgency totally, without any compromise whatsoever. And that remains the only choice for the nation to earn even a modicum of peace, stability, and progress.

There are no excuses for disrupting children’s education

Raise electricity prices to help sustainability

W

e welcome the announcement that the Indian based Reliance Group is planning to invest up to $3bn in four power plants in Bangladesh with a total capacity of 3000MW. Bangladesh needs reliable power supplies to support industrial growth, which will not be possible if energy supplies remain under-invested and unreliable. New funding and investment has to be encouraged.

Creating new jobs and raising living standards is an integral part of the steps Bangladesh has to take to build the increased resilience which our population needs to adapt to the negative consequences of climate change.

The government must make better use of market mechanisms to encourage sensible use of energy and to promote investment in renewable energy. Expensive subsidies which artificially keep prices of gas and electricity low should be scrapped.

Making consumers pay the proper market price for power by raising electricity prices is the best way to discourage waste and encourage companies to invest in sustainable energy supplies.

We should go further and support taxes on fossil fuels, graded according to their greenhouse emissions. This would directly stimulate investment towards cleaner fuel sources. In addition, revenues could be used to support useful renewable energy projects such as solar generating units for rural households.

Higher energy prices are a necessary means to attract the funds we need to secure investment in new power plants and fuel resources. They can help cut waste, improve reliability, and increase future sustainability.

Use market mechanisms to cut waste and promote investment in renewables

Molla A Latif Maybe the UN secretary general did not realise that the anti-liberation forces reinstalled by BNP founder Ziaur Rahman cannot be recognised as a political party to sit with, and so long as others are associated with them, they also constitute a part of it.

What they are doing now is completely an anti-state militancy, not in any way political activity. The responsibility lies with the govt to crush it by any means, sans sitting in dialog with them or engaging them constructively in long-term stability and development of the country as they do not belong to the country.

The EP, after having hectic parleys with many groups and individuals, lastly issued an advice -- “stop violence, resolve crisis”

Magnum092 Molla A Latif: Maybe you don’t realise that Awami League try their best to make Bangladesh heavily reliant on India by setting-up power plants there. 50-50 joint ventures with their government and are allowing Indian drones to fly over Bangladeshi skies in the name of “preservation of the Sundarbans.”

It was Hasina who used RAW to weaken the military so that they couldn’t throw her off power.

Molla A Latif Magnum092: If anyone can believe that Jamaat-e-Islami did not oppose an independent Bangladesh and did not collaborate with the Pakistan Army, well, it is easy for them to believe the above too. But the boots seems to be on the other feet, and the laces tied

DT Myanmar Air Force conquers Bangladesh in FB post!

February 25 Morshedul Haque Khan It was obviously a joke.

Zubair Ahmed Morshedul Haque Khan: It was on their official air force page. To soon for dismissal as a joke.

Briarose Marguerite Deirdre D’silva Myanmar needs to first give their Rohingyas their rightful citizenship.

Chowdhury Hysum Muhammad Neville Ha ha ha?

Nahin Mahfuz Seam They are dreaming!

Nafi Khan Hahahhah. Good God! They should quit thinking about conquering Bangladesh and get back to making sneakers and chutney.

Majedul Islam Nomaan Bangladesh is small, and we should increase our territory by conquering them ... lolzzzz

Killing a brand, building a brand

February 19 SMO Nawed A similar incident did take place with Cute when the Indian brand tried to buy out the Cute Perfumed Coco Oil. I believe it’s the opening batsmen strategy: Hit the best bowler out of the park, the rest will lose confidence. Big fish always play this card to emulate entry barriers of licensing, market threats, and gain distributor’s confidence.

Good thing local entrepreneurs had the guts to say “no” to the outsiders.

Barely Legal Alien “People become more ‘quality sensitive’ ...” -- I don’t think if this will ever become a possibility in a country where people think the definition of being a savvy consumer is to be an incessant haggler.

Double or quits February 19

Son Zoo That taxi thing sounds like it could be of real use here in Bangladesh.

DT

OPINION 13

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

Vertically integrated corruption n William Milam

BIGSTOCK

Diverting from the issue n Sushovon Dhar

N

o amount of mockery would have been more pronounced than the holding of the Tea and Tribal Festival at Banarhat, in the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal, under the “auspices” of the Backward Classes Welfare Department, Government of West Bengal.

The program held last month intended to “provide a platform to display tribal talents” said the official invitation. This charade is emblematic of the larger spoof that continues with around two million tea-plantation workers of India.

The venue, Banarhat Tea Garden playground, is located within 15km of the closed Red Bank, Dharanipur and Surendranagar Tea Estates that have been virtually shutdown since the last 12 years. These non-descript locations sometimes hit headlines when starvation and chronic malnutrition take the lives of the closed tea-garden workers and their family members.

The otherwise picturesque Dooars, at the foothills of the Himalayan West Bengal and Bhutan have turned into a veritable valley of death with tea garden workers suffering due to low wages, poor quality rations and inadequate medical facilities.

It is a shame and matter of utter disgust that the government, instead of bringing the real culprits to books, decides to organise a festival that makes fun of the dead. And not one or 10, but thousands of deaths due to malnutrition, starvation and undernourishment. Matters that could have otherwise been easily prevented.

According to a survey done on body mass index (BMI) by rights activist and doctor Binayak Sen and five other organisations, in the erstwhile closed Raipur tea garden in the same district “40% of its residents have a BMI lower than 18.5, indicative of being underweight, and 140 people in 539 examined had BMI lower than 14, a sign of malnourishment.”

The report points towards the dire living conditions in the closed tea gardens in West Bengal and exposes the sub-human conditions that people are compelled to endure.

Turning a deaf ear to such alarming developments, the Trinamool Government in the state - (in)famous for its ardent mela culture where millions of rupees are disbursed in extravagance -- tries to showcase its “talents” leaving the tribals and the tea-workers in a quandary.

Critics say that these melas or fairs are organised to conceal the failures of the government and also dish out money to local beneficiaries and contractors. Besides, these are great public propaganda exercises for a party in a desperate need to repair its tarnished image owing to unfulfilled expectations and widespread corruptions.

Though, the multiple scams, including Saradha ponzi scheme, has hit the govern-

ment so hard that its image seems beyond any repair. The party can only hope to stay in power with the opposition votes squarely shared between the CPI (M) and the BJP, as testified by the recent assembly and parliamentary by-polls in Krishnagunj and Bongaon respectively.

While workers reel under pathetic wages, currently Rs90-95 per day, the ministers of the government including the one in charge of labour, resort to falsehood about improving the lot of the labourers and the implementation of minimum wages in the sector.

This enclave economy has witnessed notorious collusions between the owners and the successive governments reducing the workers to penury, permanently. Even, in the face of a strong and unified resistance from workers, the government takes the mantle of dragging them into dubious wage deals that would see their hard won gains further eroded. Any Lady Macbeth to say: “Here’s the smell of the blood still. All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand.”

In a landmark judgment on Kamani Metals & Alloys Ltd vs Their Workmen, the Supreme Court of India on 24 January 1967 ruled that “a minimum wage which, in any event, must be paid, irrespective of the tent of profits, the financial condition of the establishment or the availability of workmen on lower wages.

This minimum wage is independent of the kind of industry and applies to all alike big or small. It sets the lowest limit below which wages cannot be allowed to sink in all humanity.” The government is resolute to connive with the tea-garden owners to violate every word and spirit of this opinion.

West Bengal is the only “owner's pride” in the country after the neighbouring Assam government, also notorious for gross violations of workers’ rights, issued necessary notifications towards the implementation of minimum wages, last month. Let us not forget that the health of the tea industry depends a great deal on the health of the workers as this is highly a labour intensive industry.

And the timing could not be better with the industry poised to witness tea prices climbing by 9% to an average of Rs200 ($3.2) per kg in 2015 as consumption rises in a recovering economy, according to McLeod Russel India, the world's biggest tea grower. ASSOCHAM, the oldest and a leading apex-body of the trade associations of India, projected the industry to achieve a turnover of Rs33,000 crore ($5.4 billion) by this year making plantation owners richer and leaving workers earning the lowest wage of all organised sectors in the country.

Surely, the government has to resort to such travesty to woo the plantation workers and the tribals. And, no wonder there is hardly any turnout of lesser mortals to witness such a farce. l Sushovan Dhar is an activist based in Kolkata.

I

was fascinated last week by the generational implications of a meeting held in the Wilson Centre on “Countering Extremism in Pakistan.” The meeting itself featured a small part of the youth bulge of Pakistan. Young Pakistanis who like the “millennials” in the US, generally see things differently and more positively, at least as to the possibilities of making a difference in improving the world.

The discussion caused me not only to envy the young for their optimistic belief that they can make things better, but to remember when Pakistan was a model developing country, when the South Koreans sent a team to Pakistan to find out how to build a system that produces sustainable growth, when development experts looked up to it.

What happened? Why did the Pakistan end up at the bottom of the developing country social index while Korea is well above it?

In my view, it is that the institutions that should form the bedrock platform for effective and impartial governance of a state and delivery of services, from law and order and justice to a sustainably thriving economy have been hollowed out and, in reality, have now almost rotted away.

Institutions are constraints that define the limits of political, economic, and social behaviour, according to North. They may be formal constraints (sets of rules) like a constitution or informal ones like custom, tradition, codes of conduct, etc.

Whether these constraints are effective depends in part on the strength of a state and its organisation. I have written in previous pieces that Pakistan is a weak state, and this is part of the explanation of why its institutions are weak.

Neither is it a model of organisation, in part because of the witch’s brew of nationalities, languages, and ethnic groups that make up the state. In addition, the rise in militancy and extremist violence has, to some extent, disoriented the state and its people.

This raises the question, however, of the causal relationship between a weak state and weak institutions. Did the weak state cause the institutions to be weak, or vice versa? The theory does not have a complete answer on this. I think the answer is probably that, in the long-run, defective institutions lead to weak states.

The work of Deron Acemoglu and James Robinson, which culminated in their 2012 book “Why Nations Fail,” which I have also mentioned in previous articles, is helpful on this, but not definitive. In their lexicon, defective institutions are “extractive” institutions -- in other words institutions which a state’s rulers and elite use to extract resources that accrue to governance -what economists call economic rents -- for themselves or to distribute to other vested interests that might pose a threat to these leaders and elites.

Many states with extractive institutions remain strong for a long time, eg the Roman Empire, modern day China, but sooner or

later the hollowing out of the institutions weakens the state, even helps destroy it. The Roman Empire became too weak to fend off the marauders coming from the east and hungry for more resources.

Most countries which threw off the yoke of colonialism inherited institutions built by their colonial rulers. Pakistan inherited institutions built by the British, though many of these would have been British makeovers of what would have been originally Mughal institutions.

Institutions built by colonial rulers are almost by definition extractive institutions.

Colonial rulers were there for a reason, and it was not to ensure that the resources of the colonized land were shared out fully with its inhabitants.

But in the context of a new state, these British built institutions, though extractive, were strong and resilient. The Pakistani civil service of those days was efficient and competent.

But whether by commission, or by omission, Pakistan’s institutions remained extractive. And slowly, but surely, these extractive institutions were weakened and hollowed out.

There are probably many parts to the explanation of how and why this happened.

But I think the explanation lies in the one kind of institution that will poison all the others, that is what I would term institutionalised corruption.

This is the one institution you hope not to see in a state’s system, because like a cancer, it grows fastest and ultimately kills the system. Like a cancer, if it is not eliminated early, in other words if it is tolerated either because it is seen as a minor problem (easier than raising taxes to pay better salaries for example), it soon takes over the system.

Corruption takes over the system because all involved accept it, and since all are involved, everyone is protected by those above, and those above are protected by those below.

A friend and I, discussing corruption in another South Asian country recently, decided that it should be termed vertically integrated corruption, as from top to bottom of an institution everybody protects everybody else.

Rebuilding the institutional structure of a state requires extirpating corruption. That does not mean just eliminating it when the other party is in power, but when any party is in power. It is a Herculean task that few parties are up to.

The tragedy is that the state has existed for almost 68 years without much effort to eradicate this cancer. Had it had the vision to begin the process 68 years ago, Pakistan’s institutions would now still be healthy, and perhaps working their way toward the inclusive (non-extractive) institutions that I believe to be the foundation of democracy, and well as the guarantor of sustainable prosperity. l William Milam is a Senior Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Centre in Washington DC and a former US diplomat who was Ambassador to Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Chief of Mission in Liberia. This article first appeared in The Friday Times.

DT

14 OPINION

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

BIGSTOCK

Pluralism, not binaries A response to Lipika Pelham

n Anjali Khan

I

n her op-ed in the New York Times (March 5, 2015), Lipika Pelham expresses concern about the state of secularism in Bangladesh in the wake of Avijit Roy’s murder. She sees worrying signs of Bangladesh’s regression from secularism in the threats against and/or attacks on writers such as Avijit Roy, Rajib Haider, Humayun Azad, and Taslima Nasrin.

For reasons that I struggled to articulate, the op-ed didn’t sit well with me, even though I too see secularism as indispensable for a just and pluralist society.

Perhaps I couldn’t digest the op-ed because of its juxtaposition of a secular past in which students could sit around and discuss atheism with an anti-secular present. This juxtaposition flattens context and complexity. Surely, even today, there are pockets where people can proclaim their atheism in Bangladesh and surely, even during Pelham’s student days 25 years ago, there were those who sought to silence outspoken writers such as Taslima Nasrin.

Violence is neither confined to battles between secularists and self-appointed defenders of religion nor is it the only mode of exchange between ideological adversaries.

There have been instances in which people have been attacked and threatened for reasons other than their religious views, as well as instances in which people have criticised religion without penalty.

A discussion about the stifling of leftist proponents of secularism in Bangladesh and the world, as well as the top-down processes that have also moulded secularism would have helped provide context to Pelham’s concerns. An op-ed is perhaps not the place for a review of history, but if we want to diagnose the current challenge properly, it is important to pay attention to how secularism’s status has varied over time and how it has reflected changing political interests and contexts.

Such an approach can help de-mystify both secularism and desecularisation and show how both operate alongside each other, reacting to each other, shaping and reshaping each other.

Secularism has had a turbulent trajectory in Bangladesh. It has not been static as an institution or as a concept. As in other countries, secularism has been inextricable from politics. The 1972 Constitution enshrined secularism as a founding principle of Bangladesh, but studies soon thereafter found that secularism as defined as the separation of religion from the public sphere had little resonance among those surveyed. This does not necessarily mean that people rejected pluralism or did not want to live peacefully with their neighbours of different faiths.

After independence, the persistence of laws and policies that disadvantaged religious and ethnic minorities in terms of property rights, provided lucrative opportunities to those who have sought to divide people to facilitate land-grabbing and gain access to resources. Human rights activists have been engaged in long-standing struggles for the reform of such policies that toil against pluralism.

After independence, various meanings and interpretations of secularism could also be found among elites. To some, it entailed the separation of religion and the state. To others, it meant religious pluralism. The insertion of secularism in the Constitution also sent important signals about the new country’s ideological orientation amidst regional and global politics in the context of the Cold War. It marked a clear break from the ostensibly religious rationale that had bound East Bengal to West Pakistan.

In the late 1970s, political expediency and economic pressures led to the omission of secularism from the Constitution as political leaders sought to bolster their religious credentials from domestic support and strengthen ties with oil-rich Gulf countries on the basis of religious identity. In 2011, the ruling party passed a constitutional amendment that restored secularism in the Constitution and made it unamendable.

Pelham’s op-ed touches on the political context when she mentions the government’s arrests of bloggers over allegations of hurting religious sentiments, but rather than focusing on such factors, she summons the religion vs secularism binary. I do not deny

that this binary is one that politicians, movements, and citizens also deploy, but those who want a pluralist society cannot afford to banish anyone who appears different to an anti-pluralist camp on suspicion.

During a trip to Sadarghat, when Pelham’s daughter asks her whether there are no women in Dhaka, Pelham looks around and realises there are women on the streets but they’re wearing black burqas or hijabs, rather than the colorful clothes she remembers from years past. To those unfamiliar with Bangladesh, Pelham’s personal observation about the transformation of one street may lend itself to generalisation.

In an attempt to do justice to the diversity of countless Bangladeshi streets, I could post pictures of women in various types of attire, from colourful burqas to monochrome salwar kameezes, battling strikes and the threat of petrol bombs to go to work and attend classes every day. Or I could direct people to the Facebook pages of the British and US embassies for photos that capture the diversity of Bangladesh more effectively. Pelham’s construction of the “non-secular other” and innuendos about people wearing particular types of clothing over-predicts anti-pluralist sentiment.

While ads addressing “True Muslim Women” clearly seek to restrict pluralism, wearing burqas and hijabs does not automatically translate into opposing secularism and/or pluralism. A lot of research has cautioned us against making assumptions about people’s attitudes based on their choice of attire. The relationship between clothing, religion, and attitudes towards pluralism is complicated and the implied suggestion that women in burqas and men in dishdashas signal the end of a secular Bangladesh ignores such complexity.

In expressing concern about secularism, Pelham pointed to a decline in tolerance and respect for other points of view. I don’t know if there has been a decline because I don’t know what the level of tolerance and respect has been over time.

I do know that there are many Bangladeshis who are fighting for pluralism and want to build a society in which people can

share and discuss their ideas about faith and politics without fear of violence. The harsh and tragic reality is that few people, whether religious or atheist, enjoy security and freedom from fear in the current context.

We don’t need any more “others.” We do not need simplistic binaries that set up religiosity and pluralism as mutually exclusive categories. Where the supporters of secularism and pluralism have constantly failed in Bangladesh among other places is building broad based support and solidarity for the respect of different viewpoints. We need allies and should have seen them in the voices that condemned Avijit’s killing. When Pelham mentions the powerful banners that declare, “If the Avijit Roys lose, Bangladesh loses,” she could have also mentioned the wide range of voices that expressed solidarity with Avijit and condemned his killers. Otherwise, the strength of intolerance is overstated and the potential for pluralism understated.

We desperately need pluralism -- political pluralism, religious pluralism, intellectual pluralism, and ideological pluralism.

Narrow-minded people, whether religious or secular, seek to create and reinforce differences among people. History has shown that political experiments that do not instrumentalise religion, if not paired with pluralism, can also lead to death and destruction as they did under Stalin and Mao Zedong. The issue isn’t whether ISIS has killed or will kill more and fewer people than Stalin or Mao; the issue is that emphasising religion as a static culprit across time and space generates faulty diagnoses and prognoses.

Pelham’s daughter’s apparent inability to “see” women in burqas is perhaps symbolic of our inability to “see” past the superficial and engage with the complicated. One of the great strengths of Avijit is that he recognised the humanity in those who were ostensibly different from him, such as the victims of the Chapel Hill shooting, and expressed solidarity across constructed boundaries in struggles for justice. That’s the approach that should inspire us and the approach that increases the odds of a pluralist Bangladesh. l Anjali Khan is an entrepreneur.

Experts oppose move to update telecom policy n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Amid criticism from experts, the government has taken an initiative to update the telecommunications policy in a way that will ensure people’s privacy, interests of the state and increase foreign direct investment.

Apart from disapproving of the move, experts have proposed a merging of the telecommunications policy with the information and communication technology policy.

They also said broadband, online and broadcast policies should be included in the telecom policy.

“We have a lot of specialised policies in this sector which is unnecessary. Also, those might overlap and lead to confusion over different issues,” Mostafa Jabbar, former president of Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS), told the Dhaka Tribune last week.

The National Telecommunications Policy was formulated in 1998 and has never been updated.

The telecom ministry has now decided to upgrade the policy in response to the demands raised by foreign investors over the last couple of years.

“Some of us have earlier tried to present our ideas to take the policy to a higher standard but this time, it is the bureaucrats who are making all the decisions,” said Jabbar.

However, leading mobile operator of the country Grameenphone has welcomed the initiative.

“We thank the government for this but our point is to prioritise the telecommunications policy over others. There could be several policies in place in the country’s communication and technology sector but the telecom policy should reign over others when a conflict arises, for example,” Mahmud Hossain, chief corporate affairs officer of Grameenphone, told the Dhaka Tribune.

The Posts and Telecommunications Division has invited opinions on the initiative by posting a notice on its website and anyone can send feedback via email to “info@ntd.gov.bd” until March 17.

“The poorly-drafted one-page notice containing both Bangla and English texts is very confusing and should be intended for anything but public consultation,” said LIRNEasia’s Senior Policy Fellow Abu Saeed Khan.

He also questioned its legitimacy, which bears no official seal and has been signed by a someone whose name is not clear.

“Moreover, broad opinions have been sought on a wide range of issues instead of being specific on the topics to be consulted.”

Saeed also thinks that the March 17 deadline for responding to this “so-called public consultation is utterly farcical.” l

16

UK to join Chinabacked Asian development bank

17

Dollar powers to fresh highs

20

DT

Business

15

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

98 of 166 missing workers in Rana Plaza disaster identified

Budget deficit likely to widen in next fiscal year Financing likely to come mostly from bank borrowing n Asif Showkat Kallol The next fiscal year’s budget is likely to face a deficit 26.74% higher than the current fiscal’s, according to latest official estimates.

If political unrest is extended, it will prevent investment and widen the budget deficit, Finance Division said.

The government plans over 75% of that deficit will be met by the bank borrowing and saving instruments as there could be a lack of external funds.

Interest payment of the next July-June fiscal year will also increase to Tk35,000 crore from the current fiscal’s Tk31,043 crore.

The estimates said the fiscal deficit might be enlarged by Tk16,404 crore due to the possible extra-budgetary spending.

The spending is said to result from lower revenue receipts if the country’s political crisis sees no end.

The deficit this fiscal is Tk61,346 crore and the next year it would be Tk77,750 crore.

Last week, the Finance Division officials discussed about the structure of the next budget with the visiting IMF mission.

The global lender has set next budget conditions that include, among others, limiting the budget deficit within 5% of the total GDP. At a press conference during the visit, the mission head Rodrigo Cubero said the resurgence of the political unrest would cast a negative impact on the country’s long-term investment prospect.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith is also concerned about the country’s investment prospect in the political unrest.

As the BNP-led opposition’s countrywide transport blockade and hartals continue, the Finance Division would evaluate the economic losses during the political instability.

According to the Board of Investment, only

A revenue collection of Tk1,25,000 crore this fiscal against the Tk1,49,720 crore target would be satisfactory one foreign direct investment and 12 local investment proposals were submitted in January this year for approval of the board.

“We are preparing the upcoming fiscal year’s budget with a deficit target of Tk77,000 crore. If the political situation worsens, more funds will be drawn from from the banking

Protest against move to privatise jute mill in Khulna n UNB Employees and workers of several state-owned jute mills formed a human chain on Khulna-Jessore highway in Fultala yesterday, protesting the government’s announcement to privatise Alim Jute Mills three months back.

CBAs and non-CBAs of the jute mills organised the hour-long human chain programme that stretched from Eastern Jute Mills to Afil Jute Mills.

The jute mill employees demanded that the government scrapped the move to hand over the Alim Jute Mills to the private sector. l

sector rather than the revenue board,” said an official of Finance Division.

He said a revenue collection of Tk1,25,000 crore this fiscal against the Tk1,49,720 crore target would be satisfactory for the Finance Division.

The next fiscal’s revenue earnings are estimated at Tk1,76,370 crore.

Finance Division will propose Tk2,91,600 crore as next budget at the fiscal coordination council meeting next week.

The sum would be 18.1% of the country’s GDP which is projected to grow at 7% in the upcoming year.

The estimated total earning during the 2015-16 is Tk2,13,910 crore. l

DT

16 BUSINESS

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

UK to join China-backed Asian development bank n Reuters, London Britain said it has sought to become a founding member of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), making it the first Western nation to embrace the China-backed institution, but the United States reacted frostily to the development.

The AIIB was launched in Beijing last year to spur investment in Asia in transportation, energy, telecommunications and other infrastructure. Analysts have said it could challenge the Western-dominated World Bank and Asian Development Bank.

However, Britain’s finance ministry said on Thursday that the AIIB could complement work already done in the region by those organizations.

Britain would meet other founding members this month to agree on the principles of the bank’s governance and accountability arrangements, the ministry said.

Finance minister George Osborne said joining the bank would boost the country’s push to foster business and investment ties with countries in the region, chief among them China.

“Joining the AIIB at the founding stage will create an unrivalled opportunity for the UK and Asia to invest and grow together,” he said in a statement.

Britain’s announcement was not welcomed in Washington.

A spokesman for the White House National Security Council said the United States had concerns about whether the AIIB would have sufficiently high standards on governance and environmental and social safeguards.

“It is important to note that countries that become prospective members of the AIIB will be responsible for the standards adopted in the articles of agreement and their implementation,” the spokesman said.

“This is the UK’s sovereign decision. We hope and expect that the UK will use its voice to push for adoption of high standards,” he said.

China’s Ministry of Finance said it welcomed Britain’s decision, and would consult with the AIIB’s existing founding members on

China’s Finance Minister Lou Jiwei (centre) signs a document, with the guests of the signing ceremony of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing REUTERS its proposed entry.

“If all goes well, the UK will become a founding member of the AIIB by the end of March,” it said in a statement on its website.

The articles of agreement of the AIIB, which will include its shareholding and lending strategy, will not be finalised until the end of 2015, Chinese officials have said.

Twenty one countries were represented at the announcement of the bank in October - Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, China, India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Laos, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, the Philippines, Qatar, Singapore, Sri Lanka,

Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Indonesia later said it would join, and China said earlier this year the number of founder members had risen to 26.

But Japan, Australia and South Korea, the other notable absentees in the region, have not yet announced any decision. Japan, China’s main regional rival, has the highest shareholding in the Asian Development Bank along with the United States, while Australian media said Washington put pressure on Canberra to stay out.

Vice Finance Minister Joo Hyung-hwan told reporters on Thursday that South Korea

was still in discussions with China and other countries about its possible participation.

Sources in the finance ministry said South Korea is undecided because its concerns about governance and operational transparency had not been addressed.

One source, who has direct knowledge of the discussions, said one of the concerns for South Korea was that the country would not be given sufficient representation in the bank.

“China is reported to be holding 50%,” the source said. “And if that’s the case, there’s a likelihood that Korea will end up being a minor member.” l

World Bank chief welcomes Gold demand in Asia picks up China-backed development bank due to lower prices n Reuters, Tokyo The president of the World Bank said on Friday he welcomed the setting up of the China-backed Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a day after Britain became the first Western nation to embrace the institution.

With US interest rates likely to rise later this year, capital flows to emerging markets and low-income countries will face greater challenges over time, Jim Yong Kim told a news conference.

“From the perspective simply of the need for more infrastructure spending, there’s no doubt that from our perspective, we welcome the entry of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank,” he said.

The AIIB was launched in Beijing last year and was seen as a rival to the Western-dominated World Bank and Asian Development Bank. The United States has questioned

whether it will have sufficiently high standards on governance and environmental and social safeguards.nKim’s remarks came after Britain said it has sought to become a founding member of the AIIB. “As the UK just announced today in their statement, they were very clear in saying that they were going to insist that the standards of any new bank that they are part of would be equal to the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank,” Kim said.

All of the multilateral development banks together contribute only about 5 to 10% of the overall annual spending in infrastructure, he added. The AIIB was launched in Beijing last year to spur investment in Asia in transportation, energy, telecommunications and other infrastructure.

China said earlier this year a total of 26 countries are founder members, mostly from Asia and the Middle East. l

n Reuters, Singapore Demand for gold picked up across Asia this week as bullion prices dropped to their lowest level in three months after the longest losing streak in more than 40 years, but caution still prevailed, traders said. Gold, trading at about $1,158 an ounce on Friday, touched $1,147.10 on Wednesday, the lowest since Dec 1. The metal fell for nine straight sessions to Thursday, the longest losing streak since 1973.

The lower prices attracted bargain-hunters across Asia, the top consuming region, although wariness over the price outlook kept a lid on purchases.

In top consumer India, premiums remained largely unchanged from last week’s levels at about $1.50 to $2.50 an ounce. “Demand has increased a little bit because of the drop in prices but there is no big rush,” said Bachhraj Bamalwa, director at the All India

Gems and Jewellery Trade Federation. “This is the last month of the financial year so there is some liquidity crunch in the market. That is quite seasonal, but that’s also curbing some purchases,” he said.

Indian demand could pick up pace next month with the onset of the wedding season.

The festival of Akshaya Tritaya, considered an auspicious time to buy gold, could also boost demand and imports in April, he said. In second-biggest consumer China, premiums on the Shanghai Gold Exchange, the platform over which all Chinese physical trades are conducted, was steady on last week’s levels at about $4-$5, though some noted that volumes had slowed recently. “For now physical demand is still about, but it is slowing, with turnover through the SGE gradually coming lower since Chinese New Year,” said Alex Thorndike, senior precious metals dealer at MKS Group. l

DT

BUSINESS 17

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

Weak euro to help European companies n Reuters, London The euro’s slide toward parity with the dollar will provide a much-needed boost for European companies this year and force US rivals to adapt their businesses or risk losing market share.

While currency hedging arrangements mean the benefits may not be seen straight away, the currency’s weakness has already cheered European chief executives by making their products cheaper overseas and lifting the value of dollar-based sales.

“We have been handicapped by the strength of the euro, but now it seems that the wind is turning and we intend to make the most of this very positive currency effect that will help us deliver a nice increase of our sales and our profits in 2015,” Jean-Paul Agon, CEO of French cosmetics group L’Oreal told investors last month.

A picture illustration shows Euro and US dollar banknotes in Sarajevo

REUTERS

Dollar powers to fresh highs n Reuters, New York

The dollar resumed its relentless surge higher Friday after a breather the prior day, hitting a 12-year high against the euro as traders awaited a key Federal Reserve meeting.

The dollar has been on a tear, lifted by expectations of a Fed hike of near-zero interest rates some time this year, a sharp contrast to a rash of rate cuts and stimulus by other central banks.

The euro has lost more than 13% of its value against the greenback so far this year. It encountered a particularly tough patch this week after the European Central Bank on Monday launched a 1.1tn euro bond-purchase program to try to revive growth in the 19-nation currency bloc.

The euro fetched less than $1.05 Friday,

falling at one point as low as $1.0466, its weakest level since January 2003.

“The big event everyone is waiting for is Wednesday’s announcement from the Federal Reserve at which policymakers may set the stage for an eventual rate hike,” said Joe Manimbo, an analyst at Western Union Business Solutions.

Stocks fell on Wall Street on concerns of the impact of higher rates and a stronger dollar on corporate profits. The S&P 500 was down for a third straight week, though it is just 3% below its record high set early this month.

“The stronger dollar, the continued hammering of the euro equals continued lower equity prices ahead of the Fed comments next week,” said Michael James, managing director of equity trading at Wedbush Securities in Los

Angeles. “We’ll know more of the Fed’s thinking on Wednesday but right now most people are expecting a rate hike to come in June and the equity markets not to be very receptive of that.”

Many analysts expect the Federal Open Market Committee, meeting Tuesday and Wednesday, will remove the “patient” language from its statement. Strong February jobs growth brought the unemployment rate down to 5.5%, its lowest level since May 2008 and near what the central bank considers full employment.

“The Fed is expected to alter its forward guidance language so as to allow the Committee the flexibility to raise interest rates sometime around the middle of this year, possibly as early as June,” Deutsche Bank said in a research note. l

Tokyo’s Nikkei index breaks 19,000 for first time in 15 years n AFP, Tokyo Tokyo’s Nikkei index on Friday ended above 19,000 points for the first time in 15 years as foreign investors pile into Japanese stocks, while factory robotics giant Fanuc surged after a pledge by its top executive to boost investor returns.

The benchmark Nikkei 225 at the Tokyo Stock Exchange advanced 1.39%, or 263.14 points, to 19,254.25, its best close since April 2000, while the Topix index of all first-section shares rose 0.89%, or 13.70 points, to 1,560.33.

“As the market performs even though the yen is fairly stable, it’ll become harder for foreign investors to ignore Japanese stocks,” said Mikio Kumada, a strategist at LGT Capital Partners.

“They’ll continue to pile in, helping drive the market higher.

Fanuc led the charge Friday, soaring

13.20% to 26,870.0 yen ($221). The spike came as Japan’s leading Nikkei business daily published an interview in which the firm’s boss said he was eyeing ways to boost shareholder returns, and said the company, long known for its secrecy, would set up an investor relations department.

That comes fewer than two months after US hedge fund Third Point said it had invested in Fanuc and planned to push for change, noting the firm was sitting on $8.5 billion in cash and had no debt.

Fanuc said its attempts to improve transparency were not related to Third Point, which is run by American billionaire Daniel Loeb.

Buying sentiment in Tokyo was also lifted by a surge on Wall Street, where the Dow jumped 1.47%, the S&P 500 added 1.26% and the Nasdaq rose 0.89%, while a weaker yen also supplied a boost.

In forex markets, the dollar bought 121.45 yen, up from 121.29 yen in New York.

The greenback’s ascent against the yen is generally good for major exporters as it makes them more competitive overseas and inflates the value of their repatriated profits.

Tokyo has also been winning support from an inflow of cash from foreign investors and Japan’s public pension fund - the world’s biggest - as it shifts more of its bond-heavy portfolio into stocks.

Analysts are tipping strong corporate earnings as Japan’s latest reporting season gets underway next month.

“There are lots of positive catalysts,” Tsuyoshi Shimizu, chief strategist at Mizuho Asset in Tokyo, told Bloomberg News.

“Companies will probably report a 20% increase in earnings in the next reporting season.” l

‘US companies exporting goods to Europe could face margin pressure from price adjustments or promotions in Europe’

Other companies predicting a tail wind from the around 20% drop in the value of the euro over the past six months to $1.06 on Friday include jet manufacturer Airbus, German car and truck maker Daimler and French engineering groups Schneider Electric and Alstom.

Some U.S companies also see positives from the weaker euro, including lower borrowing costs, better performance at European units which export, stronger demand from Euro zone-based customers and, for the leisure sector, increased travel into the continent.

However, most US groups that discussed the currency in recent weeks including Apple, Dupont, Priceline, Caterpillar and General Electric, have warned they may face headwinds in Europe and elsewhere, and some, including Xerox, have cut earnings guidance as a result.

These companies have said they are now looking to cut costs, increase the portion of inputs they source from inside the euro zone and adopt new pricing policies, to try and maintain market share and margins.

“US companies exporting goods to Europe could face margin pressure from price adjustments or promotions in Europe,” said James Targett, analyst at Berenberg.

With euro weakness likely to persist due to the European Central Bank’s quantitative easing program and a likely hike in US interest rates on the back of a stronger US economy, longer term planning is a must.

“You have to think about where your revenues are, where your manufacturing is and where you’re buying your raw materials from,” he added. l

DT

18 BUSINESS

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

News, analysis and recent disclosures UNITEDFIN: The Board of Directors has recommended 5% cash dividend and 10% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2014. Date of AGM: 23.04.2015, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: Dhaka Ladies Club, 4/A, Eskaton Garden Road, Dhaka-1000. Record date: 18.03.2015. The Company has also reported net profit after tax of Tk. 323.79 million, EPS of Tk. 2.31, NAV per share of Tk. 17.29 and NOCFPS of Tk. 6.15 for the year ended on December 31, 2014.

LAFSURCEML: The Board of Directors has recommended 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) for the year ended on December 31, 2014. Date of AGM: 11.06.2015, Time: 11:00 AM, Venue: RAOWA Convention Hall No. 1 (HELMET), VIP Road, Mohakhali, Dhaka-1206. Record Date: 07.04.2015. The Company has also reported consolidated income of Tk. 2,819.80 million, consolidated EPS of Tk. 2.43, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 11.41 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 3.07 for the year ended on December 31, 2014.

RELIANCINS: The Board of Directors has recommended 15% cash dividend and 15% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2014.

Date of AGM: 30.04.2015, Time: 11:00 AM, Venue: La-Vita Hall, Lake Shore Hotel, House No. 46, Road No. 41, Gulshan-2,

Dhaka-1212. Record date: 19.03.2015. The Company has also reported net profit after tax of Tk. 298.18 million, EPS of Tk. 4.99, NAV per share of Tk. 65.47 and NOCFPS of Tk. 5.29 for the year ended on December 31, 2014.

FIRSTSBANK: The Board of Directors has recommended 10% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2014. Date of AGM: 09.05.2015, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue of the AGM to be notified later. Record date: 02.04.2015. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 1.58, NAV per share of Tk. 20.29 and NOCFPS of Tk. 28.59 for the year ended on December 31, 2014.

Fixed Assets/Right/Investment: DBH: The Company has informed that it has completed the process for signing of purchasing a floor space measuring 3,200 sft. at the 7th floor of DR Tower, 65/2/2 Purana Paltan, Box Culvert Road, Dhaka-1000 at a total cost of Tk. 4,82,28,800.00 (excluding registration expenses).

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

Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

Closing (% change)

Company Anwar Galvanizing-B Northern Jute -Z Ifad Autos -N Eastern Cables-A Berger Paints-A ACI Limited- A 7th ICB M F-A LafargeS Cement-Z Desh Garments -A Modern Dyeing -Z

23.60 18.04 13.74 9.75 9.34 8.66 8.37 7.14 6.26 5.59

CSE GAINER Closing (% change)

Company Anwar Galvanizing-B Ifad Autos -N Prime Islami Life -A Eastern Cables-A ACI Limited- A PragatiLife Insu. -Z Sonargaon Tex -Z S.B. 1st M. F.-A Berger Paints-A LafargeS Cement-Z

20.00 13.58 11.79 10.86 9.00 8.39 8.00 6.58 6.45 6.36

DSE LOSER Company IDLC Finance -A MutualTrust Bank-A Social Islami. B-A Bank Asia -A Prime Bank-A Rupali Bank - A I P D C -A Shahjibazar Power-N Pubali Bank - A Dhaka Bank -A

Closing (% change) -28.21 -23.56 -23.27 -17.14 -15.51 -13.99 -12.94 -12.85 -12.50 -12.24

CSE LOSER Company IDLC Finance -A MutualTrust Bank-A Social Islami. B-A Samata LeatheR -Z Bank Asia -A Prime Bank-A Pubali Bank - A Prime Insur -A Central Insur -A CVO PetroChem RL-A

Closing (% change) -28.43 -24.49 -21.52 -16.36 -16.18 -15.34 -14.86 -14.14 -13.64 -13.15

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

DSE key features March 08-12, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

DSE GAINER

Sector

14,228.03 306,986,412 434,642

Traded Issues

318

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

76

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

237

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,493.61

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.23

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 1156.57 477.32 112.56 2292.76 1072.26 2008.79 14.31 1786.10 1827.48 53.70 674.27 82.79 54.90 788.11 315.66 80.84 170.10 677.99 90.20 490.87 0.44

% change 8.13 3.35 0.79 16.11 7.54 14.12 0.10 12.55 12.84 0.38 4.74 0.58 0.39 5.54 2.22 0.57 1.20 4.77 0.63 3.45 0.00

Million Taka 94.55 31.15 7.68 229.92 16.64 140.69 0.00 235.45 102.67 5.85 36.63 2.61 6.45 79.64 24.33 2.15 12.54 76.24 22.92 101.02 0.06

Average (% change) 20.30 18.81 14.80 8.74 8.82 6.74 7.36 9.92 5.16 5.59

Average (% change) 17.94 14.91 11.79 10.64 6.55 8.39 7.10 6.58 6.45 8.18

Average (% change) -27.84 -23.69 -23.07 -17.39 -15.88 -15.16 -14.18 -12.04 -11.81 -11.34

Average (% change) -27.39 -24.82 -21.68 -16.36 -16.91 -16.96 -13.19 -14.14 -13.64 -10.13

CSE

Closing average 40.71 225.73 62.14 129.27 1,617.28 448.28 88.00 123.32 88.06 85.00

Closing average 41.28 62.05 62.60 130.44 447.96 115.00 10.71 8.10 1580.94 122.61

Closing average 50.75 14.72 12.27 14.54 15.95 45.21 14.58 198.09 21.74 17.35

Closing average

% change 7.69 2.53 0.62 18.71 1.35 11.45 0.00 19.16 8.35 0.48 2.98 0.21 0.52 6.48 1.98 0.17 1.02 6.20 1.86 8.22 0.00

50.85 14.84 12.43 18.40 14.50 15.96 21.46 16.40 19.00 419.57

Weekly closing 41.90 226.40 62.10 130.60 1,623.50 454.10 88.00 124.60 88.30 85.00

Weekly closing 42.00 61.90 62.60 130.70 454.00 115.00 10.80 8.10 1580.90 123.80

Weekly closing 50.40 14.60 12.20 14.50 15.80 45.50 14.80 198.00 21.70 17.20

Weekly closing 50.10 14.80 12.40 18.40 14.50 16.00 21.20 16.40 19.00 198.20

Million Taka 1251.12 508.47 120.24 2522.68 1088.90 2149.48 14.31 2021.56 1930.15 59.55 710.90 85.41 61.35 867.75 339.99 83.00 182.64 754.23 113.12 591.88 0.49

Weekly high 42.50 226.40 66.50 131.00 1,649.00 455.70 89.00 127.20 89.60 85.00

Weekly high 42.80 66.90 63.00 133.00 455.90 115.00 10.80 8.10 1599.00 126.00

Weekly high

Weekly low 34.10 176.00 55.00 117.00 1,486.00 413.00 82.20 109.50 82.60 80.00

Weekly low 35.60 55.70 57.00 113.10 415.00 115.00 10.10 7.90 1456.00 107.00

Weekly low

70.00 15.40 15.80 17.60 18.90 51.90 17.20 250.00 26.00 19.60

Weekly high

49.90 14.50 12.20 14.40 15.80 44.70 13.50 198.00 21.00 17.10

Weekly low

69.50 16.00 15.70 19.00 17.40 18.60 25.30 16.40 20.40 253.00

Total

50.00 14.60 12.40 18.00 14.50 15.90 21.10 16.40 19.00 198.20

% change 8.09 3.29 0.78 16.32 7.04 13.91 0.09 13.08 12.49 0.39 4.60 0.55 0.40 5.61 2.20 0.54 1.18 4.88 0.73 3.83 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

66.221 4.191 690.684 9.111 23.372 451.522 0.072 592.238 30.659 0.091

Turnover in million

0.64 0.96 1.92 1.52 49.25 9.65 12.76 2.43 1.82 -0.50

Latest EPS

2.242 47.013 1.330 1.667 21.930 0.012 0.040 0.048 0.295 60.088

Turnover in million

0.64 1.92 4.95 1.52 9.65 2.38 -0.84 1.54 49.25 2.43

Latest EPS

179.406 9.413 205.052 9.572 11.484 1.642 2.728 719.807 87.088 4.426

Turnover in million

4.95 2.60 2.74 2.40 2.18 2.04 1.31 8.68 3.54 1.36

Latest EPS

4.167 0.119 13.576 0.046 0.389 0.566 4.897 0.000 0.001 18.844

4.95 2.60 2.74 -0.46 2.40 2.18 3.54 2.41 2.96 8.56

Latest PE 63.6 235.1 32.4 85.0 32.8 46.5 6.9 50.7 48.4 -ve

Latest PE 64.5 32.3 12.6 85.8 46.4 48.3 -ve 5.3 32.1 50.5

Latest PE 10.3 5.7 4.5 6.1 7.3 22.2 11.1 22.8 6.1 12.8

Latest PE 10.3 5.7 4.5 -ve 6.0 7.3 6.1 6.8 6.4 49.0

CSE key features March 08-12, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

1,229.18 33,572,036 70,996

Traded Issues

268

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

74

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

188

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

6

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,366.21

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

28.68

DT

BUSINESS 19

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

Deepening political strife continues to hunt investors DSEX slides for 4th straight weeks

n Tribune Report

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Shasha Denims -N Olympic Ind. -A Shahjibazar Power-N Ifad Autos -N LafargeS Cement-Z Grameenphone-A ACI Limited- A SummitAlliancePort.-A Square Pharma -A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A

MJL BD Ltd.-A WesternMarine -N CVO PetroChem RL-A SAIF Powertec-N BD Submarine Cable-A

Volume shares 20,233,377 3,451,745 3,104,379 11,169,727 4,993,204 1,438,283 1,033,885 6,581,246 1,549,859 8,642,963

2,093,479 5,705,721 541,239 3,647,802 1,589,125

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

MJL BD Ltd.-A ACI Limited- A Square Pharma -A SummitAlliancePort.-A CVO PetroChem RL-A

Volume shares 3,979,518 279,363 492,444 1,904,452 512,388 1,190,100 767,975 985,258 113,522 903,643

188,946 50,520 75,879 301,528 42,678

Value in million 776.55 748.89 719.81 690.68 592.24 472.75 451.52 410.36 400.41 283.45

250.73 248.85 240.82 240.76 205.24

Value in million 151.86 65.04 63.68 62.30 60.09 50.02 47.01 43.05 24.83 24.40

22.72 21.93 19.61 18.86 18.84

% of total turnover 5.46 5.26 5.06 4.85 4.16 3.32 3.17 2.88 2.81 1.99

1.76 1.75 1.69 1.69 1.44

% of total turnover 12.35 5.29 5.18 5.07 4.89 4.07 3.82 3.50 2.02 1.99

1.85 1.78 1.60 1.53 1.53

Weekly closing 38.70 215.10 198.00 62.10 124.60 325.10 454.10 57.70 258.10 32.10

118.90 42.00 420.30 63.20 125.70

Weekly closing 38.50 198.20 126.00 32.10 123.80 41.20 61.90 42.10 221.30 26.80

119.30 454.00 258.70 57.70 198.20

Price change 4.31 -0.83 -12.85 13.74 7.14 -0.91 8.66 -11.23 -0.04 1.90

Weekly opening 37.10 216.90 227.20 54.60 116.30 328.10 417.90 65.00 258.20 31.50

Weekly high 40.00 220.70 250.00 66.50 127.20 334.90 455.70 65.90 262.00 34.00

Price change 3.77 -13.07 -6.25 1.90 6.36 -2.14 13.58 0.72 0.96 0.75

Weekly opening 37.10 228.00 134.40 31.50 116.40 42.10 54.50 41.80 219.20 26.60

Weekly high 39.80 253.00 135.00 34.00 126.00 44.90 66.90 45.90 222.00 28.00

-2.94 0.24 -9.67 0.32 -6.40

-2.45 9.00 -0.12 -11.09 -13.15

122.50 41.90 465.30 63.00 134.30

122.30 416.50 259.00 64.90 228.20

123.30 46.30 469.00 69.00 135.40

123.40 455.90 261.00 65.80 253.00

Weekly low 36.20 214.00 198.00 55.00 109.50 324.50 413.00 57.30 256.90 31.40

116.00 41.80 403.00 62.60 122.70

Weekly low 36.00 198.20 122.50 31.30 107.00 41.20 55.70 41.70 216.00 26.20

116.90 415.00 256.90 57.10 198.20

Weekly average 39.24 216.94 198.09 62.14 123.32 326.58 448.28 58.22 257.98 32.32

118.07 42.12 417.30 63.31 126.28

Weekly average 39.10 208.93 126.32 32.27 122.61 41.20 62.05 42.22 220.49 26.76

118.64 447.96 258.61 58.08 419.57

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

4556.94248

(-) 2.31%

1714.41363

(-) 0.94%

13935.7393

(-) 2.75%

11457.9019

(-) 2.75%

8432.5629

(-) 2.77%

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

Stock markets extended their bearish spell for the fourth consecutive weeks, as political strife continued to intensify.

Most investors were on selling mood in fear of declining the market further in the past week that ended up on Thursday. As trading progressed in every sessions of the week, investors opted for selling off, led by mainly financial issues, according to analysts.

During the week, the benchmark index DSEX went below the psychological threshold of 4,600 mark, losing nearly 108 points or 2.4% to settle at 4,557.

The blue-chip index DS30 down 16 points or 1% to 1,714.

The Shariah index DSES declined over 7 points or 0.7% to 1,104. The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Categories Index, CSCX, plunged 231 points or 2.7% to 8,435.

Strong selling pressure helped trading activities edge higher in the week. The daily turnover for the week averaged Tk284 crore at the DSE, registering an increase of almost 6% over the previous week.

Investors’ attention was mostly focused on engineering and power - the sectors that accounted for 16% and 14% respectively of the week’s total turnover.

The market bell weather banking sector continued to lose its luster, tumbling 7.6% mainly because of cash dividend adjustment of some banks. Non-banking financial institutions, telecommunication and power also closed sharply lower.

However, cement sector continued to shine, surging 4.5%. Food and allied and pharmaceuticals also moved up.

“The main bourse of the country, DSE, experienced panic-sell last week as prolonged turmoil in political front made the investors hopeless about any near term stability in the country,” said Lanka Bangla Securities.

IDLC Investments said investors witnessed one of the worst weeks of the year. DSEX lost 108 points over the week, hitting six and half months low of 4,556.94, it said.

“Political turmoil remained the main nemesis of the equity market. As impact of the almost a quarter-long blockade on the economy started to surface in statistics and media reporting, investors got reacted frantically selling off shares in the economy.” l

ANALYST

The main bourse of the country, DSE, experienced panic-sell last week as prolonged turmoil in political front made the investors hopeless about any near term stability in the country

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98 of 166 missing workers in Rana Plaza disaster identified n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi The government has identified 98 missing ready-made garments workers who worked for five apparel factories housed at Rana Plaza which collapsed in April 2013, killing over 1,135 people.

However, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) hadearlier prepared a list, which claimed that 166 RMG workers were missing in the devastating building collapse.

Against the missing claim by BGMEA, the government has so far identified 98 RMG workers, who are still missing, through field-level verification involving the Deputy Commissioners of the 34 districts.

“The ministry has so far received identification of 98 missing workers from 34 districts while the rest of the districtsare yet to send

us their verification reports,” Faizur Rahman, joint secretary of Labour and Employment Ministry, told the Dhaka Tribune.

He also said: “We’ve already sent a list of 92 identified missing workers to the Prime Minster’s office (PMO), which will take necessary steps to compensate families of the ill-fated workers.”

The ministry had earlier sent a list of 166 workers missing since Rana Plaza collapse to the 48 Deputy Commissioners (DCs) for cross-checking purpose in their respective districts to confirm whether they are really missing or not.

“In most cases, the DCs were able to identify the missing workers excepting in Madaripur district where we had sent a list of three missing workers,” said a high ministry official on condition of anonymity.

Last year, a committee led by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Asso-

ciation (BGMEA) made a list of 166 missing workers, who worked for Rana Plaza. The missing list was prepared on the basis of information collecting from the victims’ family, trade unions and other related organisations.

Later on, the committee sent a list of 24 missing workers to the Labour and Employment Ministry for further verification as it could verify 135 claims as genuine.

Apart from that, the Rana Plaza Trust Fund sent the names of 7 other workers to the ministry for further verification.

Prime Minister Skeikh Hasina has so far compensated over Tk15.38 crore to 976 deceased victims’ family while Tk4.10 crore to 38 severely injured victims.

On April 24 in 2013, Rana Plaza, which housed five garment factories, a shopping complex at Savar collapsed killing 1,135 workers and injured over 2,500 workers. l

Speakers at a pre-budget discussion, organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue in Tangail yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

RAKUB seeks funds to comply with Basel II requirements n Asif Showkat Kallol State-owned specialized Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) has sought funds from the government for its recapitalisation to comply with Basel-II requirements, said officials.

Managing Director of the bank, Manjor Ahmed, sent a letter to the Bank and Financial Institutions Division Secretary M Aslam Alam last week, seeking funds for recapitalisation of the bank.

The letter, however, did not mention any specific amount in this regard.

RAKUB has a total capital shortfall of about Tk885 crore taking into account the provision of risk weighted assets and Bangladesh Bank directives regarding the wealth of the bank.

The bank should, however, needs to have a capital base of Tk400 crore, in accordance with the Basel requirement.

The current authorised capital of RAKUB amounts to Tk750 crore, paid-up capital Tk570 crore while the reserves stood at about Tk21crore as on June 30, 2014.

The letter also revealed that management of RAKUB on November 19, last year had placed a draft action plan for five years from 2014-2015 and 2018-2019 and automation plan of the specialised bank.

During the first six months of 2014-15 fiscal, the bank earned a profit of 0.73 crore while in same periods its classified loan stood at 32.24%. Besides catering to agricultural credit, RAKUB renders deposit-banking services through all the 376 branches. The headquarters of the bank is stationed at Rajshahi city, some 270 kilometer to the north of Dhaka.

“We have already received demand for more funds to meet the capital shortfall of spcialised banks including Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank,” banking secretary told the Dhaka Tribune.

After examining the requests, he said banking division would send them to the finance division for considering the request in the upcoming budget proposal for recapitalisation to meet their shortfall. l

CPD: District budget vital for ensuring local development

Amu for facilitating trade with north-east India

n Tribune Report

Increasing trade and business with the north-eastern states of India requires further development of infrastructure, with setting up a land port, said Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu according to an official release issued here yesterday.

He said Bangladesh is interested in working with India to develop road infrastructure and establish a land port on priority basis to help expedite trade and business between Dhaka and north-east India. While speaking at the inaugural session of the 10th North East Business Summit in the Indian capital of New Delhi, he also came up with the opinion that the two neighbouring countries, having a land border of 4,096 kilometres, would be better off by facilitating cross-border trade and investment.

He suggested using the regional platforms like SAARC, ASEAN and BIMSTEC to expand regional trade and business covering various sectors including green technology and green energy, transport, tourism and fisheries. l

Speakers at a pre-budget dialogue have termed the “District Budget” an important tool for ensuring local development, putting more focus on the participation by the local people in the budgetary process.

They made the obs ervation at a pre-budget dialogue titled “District Budget” organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at Bureau Bangladesh Auditorium in Tangail yesterday.

Attending the dialogue, the participants suggested for decentralisation of district budget, strengthening district council, improvement of infrastructural development including railways and highways communication, setting up cold storage to preserve locally produced agricultural products pineapple, building embankment for tackling growing river erosion, and establishing vocational training institute.

They also observed that the government should revise the methodology of formulat-

ing district budget and improve it as per the demands of the local people.

The discussion at the district level aimed at conveying demands of the local people and their reflections on district budget to the policymakers, said Professor MustafizurRahman, executive director of CPD. He hoped that the reflections from the grassroots level would also help CPD in generating ideas on how best the budget could be formulated. Policymakers must have close coordination with the district-level administration to drive effective development measures, said Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow of CPD, who moderated the programme.

The legal framework and function of the district council should be reviewed to ensure adequate implementation of the district budget, said Bhattacharya.

“In order to do this, structure of the local government needs to be strengthened to mobilise local funds.”

Bhattacharya also viewed that the district budget needs clear outline for revenue generation from district level and the government should make sure that tax and VAT are duly being paid locally.

The need for a local government financing commission is essential to ensure quality of public expenditures, which would determine appropriate financial allocation according to the local demands, he added.

Speaking as chief guest, FazlurRahman Khan Faruk, administrator of Tangail district council, also put emphasis on the importance of more focus on the district budget to address the needs of the local people.

He also felt that parliamentarians should place justified demands before the government for their respective constituencies.

While presenting his keynote paper, Towfiqul Islam Khan, research fellow of CPD, observed that Tangaildistrict excelled in reducing poverty in comparison to the national average. l

n BSS

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T-JUNCTION

Shundor-ella

Cinderella the movie has arrived at Star Cineplex, and we’ve all caught the fever Photo: Zia Uddin Model: Nusrat Srabony Makeup: Md Khairul Islam Editing: Shekhar Mondal

Stylin’ Sundays Start your week off in style with T-Junction’s Stylin’ Sundays.

Catch up with the movers and shakers in the fashion industry, check out the hottest new trends, and take advantage of our fashion-forward wardrobe and styling tutorials.

Nothing to wear? No problem.

We’ll have you looking your best in no time.

INSIDE

March madness

Pumped up kicks

As we count down to some major deshi festivals, this season is all about experimenting with bold prints and bright colours.

No outfit is complete without the right pair of kicks.

We’re all about that shoe fetish, but let’s get savvy on how to take care of your footwear. More inside.

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how to wear

Kurti by Yellow style session

Hot steps

24

in fashion

Slip these on wardrobe check

Culture and comfort

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News

a2i programme launches through Magnito Digital

n T-Junction desk Kabir Bin Anwar, project director of Access to Information (a2i) and director general, prime minister’s office and Riyad Husain, CEO of Magnito Digital, signed to make Magnito Digital the official digital marketing agency of Access to Information (a2i) Programme in

all digital platforms on March 12 at the Daily Star Centre.

The Access to Information (a2i) Programme is supported by the United Nations Development Programme and USAid, and will be active on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and other social media till February 2016.

Bangladesh on the catwalk

n T-Junction desk This summer, Rang brings all the colours of festivity. On Boishakh, Rang launches its outstanding collection of ornaments to rejoice the season of love, unity and rebirth. l

Communication expert, Hasan Benaul Islam and communication associate, Ershadul Hamid Pavel, were present on behalf of Access to Communication (a2i) Programme and Amer Khan, CMO, Munazer Chowdhury, director of productions and Arif Rahman, account manager were present on behalf of Magnito Digital Ltd. l

Veet ERA house rebranded

n T-Junction desk Designer Iftekar Rahman from Dhaka talks from Berlin Fashion Week, about what’s special about Bangladeshi design, the German market, and working conditions in Bangladesh’s Textile industry. Iftekhar Rahman’s designs are all eco -friendly and he has amazing colleagues like Afsana Serdousi by side to support him in carving his name around all corners of the world. He was lucky enough to have been invited to the Berlin University of Arts and the Weissensee Project to develop sustainable concepts for fashion and also to seek cooperation as well as build a strong bond between German and Bengali designers. He works as a designer at M & J Group, one of the leading Textile manufacturers in Bangladesh, for international brands such as H & M, GAP, Esprit and many others of the kind. Since his products are environmentally friendly, the process he uses to make them is very interesting. For example his leather products are tanned in rhubarb juice instead of using a toxic chromium mixture.

In an exchange project “Local International 2014” bi-national teams have been formed in the fall. Jointly developed German and Bengali Designers’ sustainable solutions, concepts, products or collections will be presented at Berlin Fashion Week in July this year.

Iftekhar Rahman and his colleagues observed a growing and confident fashion scene in their country, strongly influenced by the so-called fusion wear, mixed in the

Rang

n T-Junction desk

traditional couture with western style.

With the promotion of old craft techniques also the location of Bangladesh would be strengthened. l

With their “Veet Beautiful & Confident” campaign, Reckitt Benckiser’s (RB) Veet, the world’s most popular brand in cosmetics, celebrated International Women’s Day with about 500 successful women on March 8.

Veet encourages women to know what beauty feels like and provides different platforms to showcase their beauty and confidence. They emphasise on encouraging women to feel confident and comfortable. Veet distributed gift hampers at the campaign in order to acknowledge women and their contribution to the society as a whole. l

n T-Junction desk What began as a few separate Facebook pages advertising bespoke designs has now passed another proud milestone.

ERA House recently celebrated the re-launch of their physical outlet in Banani. The snazzy new boutique features clothing and accessories collections by Viola, Sparkling Emotions, and Suvastraa, as well as newcomers into the mix: Threads n Colours, Girls World, Siyaaka, Sunvi, and Thick Madam.

Era House is located at House 66, Road 10, Block D, Banani l

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Trending

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

howtowear

Kurti by Yellow

PURSE Tk7977 Nabila

EARRINGS Tk1200 Zinia’s Charms

Take this hot Spring favourite from day to night with a few quick switches

n T-Junction desk

JEANS Tk300 Doja

Evening

Daytime

Keep it casual with some denim capris (or roll up your regular jeans for that cropped pants look), and slip on some flirty, colourful strappy sandals. Finish the look with a bright bag.

Take your kurti out to party with a pair of fancy earrings. Swap the flats for some sexy black heels, and grab a clutch, and you’re good to go.

PANTS Tk1500 Tazrin & Nupur

BAG Tk800 Jutemart PALAZZO

SANDALS Tk572 La Mode

SHOES Tk2206 Doors

stylesession

Hot steps Putting your best foot wear forward

n Sabah Rahman Most women get excited when it comes to buying and owning a vast collection of shoes.

Only the smart few, however, know how to care for their precious footwear so they end up lasting longer while still looking new.

Storage

A whole lot of us are guilty of having a shoe zoo under our beds. This is always a bad idea, since you’re likely to forget all about a cute pair of sandals hidden in the masses that could have been the perfect match for that outfit you’re wearing. What’s even worse is what happens if you’re not taking each pair out every other day and giving them a good wipe down (No one has time for that)- dirt, mould and dust, that’s what happens. You may want to think about buying a shoe cabinet to

store those babies. Better yet, you can get a carpenter to make you one on the cheap. Just make sure it has doors.

Damage control

If your favourite pair gets busted up, you don’t have to necessarily throw them out.

There is hope in the form of a few killer leather stores at Gulshan-2 market. The geniuses that work at these establishments have brought many pairs back to life. New straps, buckles, replaced soles, you name it!

The big guns Leather

Polish them on the regular. There is clear polish available so all your colours are covered.

If you step in a puddle, stuff your shoes with a towel and let them dry naturally. Using a heat source can cause damage and shrinkage.

Suede

Suede shoes can be a tough one to deal with in our muggy weather conditions. If you’ve got to have that pair, make sure you get a suede brush along with a protective spray.

Hot tip

Stuff your close-toed shoes with paper to help retain their shapes. l

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Tailored

infashion

Slip these on Letting your toes breathe

n Mahmood Hossain As much as we’ll urge you to avoid wearing sandals, you’ll just feel too darn lazy to try any other closed-toed shoes. We don’t judge.

The truth is there isn’t anything wrong with wearing sandals. It’s how you wear them that says when you’ll be frowned upon or be given a pat on the back. You’re allowed to wear flip flops as they aren’t just restricted to pool side manners and taking out the trash.

However, flip flops are limited when it comes to variety of looks. Not to mention all those unflattering and neglected feet. Style note: wash your feet regularly. With that aside,

let’s focus on the more sophisticated sandals.

Yes, there is such a thing.

most, gentlemen, comfort. The same can be found on simple two-strapped sandals.

Not only are you walking with a comfortable strut, style will follow suit.

Which ones

How to

There are wonderfully made leather sandals with intricate stitching and simple designs.

These are of good quality too, so don’t feel you have to fork over an obscene amount on a pair of sandals. You’ll find a similar woven vamp and smooth footbed styled sandals that Dolce & Gabbana produce in one of the bigger showrooms like Bata or Aarong. It may not be the same quality or of the same fabric, but you’ll appreciate the workmanship in both design and feel. And that’s what matters

Talking about suits, don’t even think about it. The professional setting should be an obvious. Not unless you’re rocking an all linen suit at a swanky beach party. If you’re off to class, spending the weekend with family, or hopping off your work shoes into something more comfortable, these sandals should be your first choice. Casual trousers, a Henley shirt, and your weekend bag with these trusty and classy sandals, how much more can casual feel and look so damn cool? l

wardrobecheck

Culture and comfort Keep calm and fight the heat with ethnic wear

n Baizid Haque Joarder Missing winter already? As much as we hate to admit it, winter is long gone, along with the ever-so-short transitional weather.

Spring, for us, is like a trailer to the impending heat waves coming our way over the next few months. That makes one wonder, can

ethnic attire be a smart alternative for the heat?

The answer is, (drum roll) yes!

Think of it this way; ethnic wear has been a part of the Sub-continental wardrobe. It has been tried and tested over the years, and if you keep a few things in mind, not only will you feel comfy, but look sophisticated and trendy at the same time.

The Panjabi

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you come across the words “ethnic wear for men?” Yes, panjabis and the glorious comforts of cottone. Lighter shades of bright colours, pastel, knee-length panjabis are trending this season with the cut being a relatively slimmer fit but not as skinny.

Halkar upor gorgeous kaaj

As much as you need the attire to be summer-friendly, you need it to be trendy too.

Try avoiding the “jori-chumkis” and elaborate multicoloured designs. Plain panjabis with minimal designs are more than competent to help you pull off the regal look. If you want to make things a bit more interesting, opt for vertical stripes.

The local “khaddar” panjabi is an all time favourite as well. The texture and the lightweight of the material makes it a good option to wear even during the mid-day sun.

The Pajama

The classic white salwar is timeless. Apart from a few minor alterations in terms of fitting, it still remains in vogue and that too for a foreseeable future. For instance, narrowed salwars (on the ankles) look good with almost all types of panjabis. Save the churidars for the special occasions though.

Since we’re talking about regular day use, people have been quite comfortable with wearing chinos along with panjabis. Fusion can be a good thing, but make sure you don’t overdo it. Light coloured chinos with panjabis look good but it is strictly an informal attire.

Another very chic yet oh-so-comfortable option would be the Indo-Western polo-pants. Baggy from the waist to the knees and narrow from there till the ankles, these are usually donned with the formal Sherwanis, kurtas, Jodhpuri and Nehru coats; polo-pants can be worn with normal panjabis too. It may seem hard to pull off at first, but it won’t take you much time to succumb to the comfort it provides. Although it might be hard to find a proper one at the stores, explain the concept and your dorji mama would do the rest.

Koy goj laagbe?

When it comes to materials, breathable fabrics are the way to go. Cotton being the most popular choice, designers and fashion enthusiasts believe that it is perfect for

the Bangladeshi summers. Be careful of the “mixes” of cotton that sold widely. The cheaper “70%-30%” especially, since it feels as light as “100%” cotton but has about 30% of polyester meshed with it. l

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has said he is not worried over the stalled contract talks with Raheem Sterling. A few weeks ago Rodgers said an incredible offer of £100,000/week was made to the 20-year old

Sport 26

DHONI’S MIND IS ALL BANGLADESH NEED TO TACKLE

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SAD TAYLOR READY TO MOVE ON FROM ZIMBABWE

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STARC GLAD AS PLAN COMES TOGETHER

Young-gun Taskin wishes to be the match-winner n Mazhar Uddin from Melbourne The youngest member of the Bangladesh squad, Taskin Ahmed, also the second youngest among all the teams in the 2015 ICC World Cup, has had a terrific tournament so far claiming six wickets from five matches.

Prior to the start of the flagship event, it was widely anticipated that spin, Bangladesh’s strongest forte in the last few years, would play the major role for the Tigers but the fast bowlers have put their hands up and have done an admirable job, accounting for 19 of the 34 wickets taken in total by the Bangladesh bowlers.

One-third of the dependable triumvirate also comprising skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza (six wickets) and Rubel Hossain (seven wickets), Taskin has belied his tender age of 19 and has shown everyone what he is capable of. Relying on sheer pace and bounce, the youngster has impressed everyone with his control and consistency.

And as Bangladesh prepare to face neighbours India in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Cricket Ground this Thursday, Taskin will no doubt recall the sweet memories of his international debut last year as it was against the defending world champions against whom the youngster made his bow.

And what a dream debut it was for the baby-faced cricketer.

The right-arm fast bowler bagged a five-for as India were bundled out for just 105 in Mirpur. Although Bangladesh still lost the match having been dismissed for just 58, Taskin had announced his grand arrival in world cricket.

Looking forward to the World Cup, he had expressed his desire of trying to break through in the top 10 wicket-takers’ list. In his pursuit, he went wicket-less against New Zealand last Friday in Hamilton but still, he refused to be downtrodden.

“Although we lost the match, I think we played our best match against New Zealand.

We have gathered a lot of confidence from that game and I think it will help us to play well in the quarter-finals,” Taskin told the media yesterday.

“We will definitely go for a win and we will do whatever it takes to win this match and give our hundred percent against India.

“If I get the opportunity to play, I will definitely give my best and prove my worth by performing well for my country. I will try to be the match-winner.” l

Bangladesh all-rounder Shakib al Hasan enjoys lunch with his wife in Melbourne yesterday

COURTESY

Relaxed Tigers loosen up Mazhar Uddin from Melbourne Mashrafe bin Mortaza and his troop reached Melbourne yesterday morning ahead of their quarter-final clash against neighbours India, slated for this Thursday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Following their arrival, the Tigers spent their time relaxing as there was no practice session scheduled for yesterday.

They will begin training tomorrow at the MCG. Yesterday was a day of relaxation for the Bangladesh cricketers as most of them roamed around the beautiful city of Melbourne. Youngsters Soumya Sarkar and Taijul Islam seemed to be enjoying the most.

The duo were spotted at a shopping mall

buying sandals and slippers from the famous Oakley shop.

Left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny on the contrary just appeared elated to be meandering along the sidewalks of the city. Later, he too did some shopping for himself and his family.

Currently I am staying in Tarneit, a suburb which is around 32km from Melbourne’s Langham Hotel where the Bangladesh team are staying. Since I had no plans for the day, I decided to accompany Sunny on his shopping trip, provided he had no reservations.

When I reached the Langham Hotel, he was already there waiting for me. Both of us then made our way to the nearby shopping mall via the Yaara Yaara river.

By the time we reached the mall, we noticed that there was a sale at a perfume store.

Sunny grabbed at least 10-12 perfumes and said to the shopkeeper, “As I have come to Australia, many of my relatives are expecting

gifts from me. I think perfume is the best gift.”

Holding a Dolce and Gabbana perfume, Sunny said lightheartedly, “This one is for the home minister (indicating his wife).”

After all the shopping, we were both tired and hungry and decided to go to McDonald’s for refreshment. While eating, Sunny had the most nicest words to say about the man of the moment, Mahmudullah, during an informal conversation.

“He is the most humble and down-to-earth guy. Very hard working. Riyad have worked really hard for this World Cup and I have seen great hunger in him. At the same time, he is very disciplined and does not forget to pray five times a day,” said Sunny.

After the meal, Sunny had to return to the hotel. Although I would have liked to spend a bit more time with the left-arm spinner, I departed for Tarneit following a wonderful Saturday afternoon. l

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Dhoni’s mind is all Bangladesh need to tackle n Reazur Rahman Rohan Bangladesh’s performance in the ongoing World Cup has been nothing short of magnificent. The team that rode on poor lucks and dreary teamwork to the biggest cricketing event, stunned the big guns with their on-field exhibition as they qualified for the quarterfinals from Pool A by eliminating the gentlemen of the game – England.

Who would have thought Bangladesh will pick the mega event to turn around from a humiliating 2014 that continued its trail to the four warm-up matches in the build up to the World Cup. Bangladesh even lost to Ireland in the warm-ups that not only made the cricket pundits rule them out of any positive equation, but the fans who just wanted them to put up a fight in their defeats.

After one month of the World Cup now Bangladesh are a side only three wins away from lifting the greatest glory of the game.

The wish may sound crazy, but not unachievable for Mashrafe and his troop, who staged their fighting character right from their first game against Afghanistan.

However, at the moment Bangladesh’s “final” is on March 19 at the Melbourne Cricket Club against defending champions India who wrapped up the proceedings of Pool B by beating Zimbabwe yesterday.

The exited bunch of Bangladeshi cricketers made a gaffe of their debut at the MCG earlier, but their consistency apart from that group game against Sri Lanka earned them a second chance. One of the co-hosts of the 2011 World Cup, in which Bangladesh were convincingly beaten by India but that was only after the Tigers made their neighbors “bleed blue” back in 2007.

India are a more sound team no doubt, but they aren’t invincible. MS Dhoni and Ravi Shastri, the team director, are the men behind their triumph in the tournament so far. Their tactical moves saw them turn around from a win less three months in Australia before

the World Cup to make it six out of six in the group stages in the same country.

So it won’t be surprising if Bangladesh beat India to continue their fairy tale run, but in order to script the story further the Tigers must do their homework properly. Players of both teams are very familiar with each other and the only difference will be created by the strategical steps taken in the game. India have so far used three seamers in each game and all of them followed a simple plan – bowl at the body – which brought them majority of the success in his World Cup dominated by the willow.

The big grounds in Australia saw the bodyline bowling tactics by India work wonders and it was evident against top-class batsmen like Hashim Amla, Chris Gayle, Faf du Plessis and some more who found it tough to score from the short deliveries and eventually were held out in the deep trying to clear the ropes.

Bangladesh’s bowling has always been better compared to their batting, but the strength the latter unit is showing is making all the difference. The bowlers are at their prime and Chandika Hathurusingha must have noted India’s point of attack and there is no doubt the calm mentor will make his batters practice playing the short deliveries in the nets in the next few days. If Bangladesh tackles the short deliveries at the MCG, there is a good chance they will make Dhoni think harder than he anticipated. Dhoni is a cool and composed captain and he is never short of a plan, but at the same time he is also not unbeatable.

Apart from Sunil Gavaskar, all the great Indian pundits like Navjot Singh Sidhu, Akash Chopra, Deep Dasgupta and Sourav Ganguly feels Bangladesh stands no chance against their team at all. Australia, England and India are called the Big 3 of cricket. Luck (rain) saw Bangladesh claim a point from the first, never-say-die and planned action saw them beat England and if the Bengal Tigers continue their trend of killing “giants” then the pundits might as well will be looking for a hideout.l

Bangladesh batsmen must keep out the short deliveries from Indian bowlers in order to succeed

Windies’ Cup dream hinges on cyclone Pam n AFP, Napier The West Indies will have one eye on the skies and the other on the scoreboard as they seek to keep their World Cup campaign alive in a must-win clash with the United Arab Emirates on Sunday.

The two-time champions’ hopes of a quarter-final berth hinge on a convincing victory in Napier after a series of unconvincing performances in Pool B, including a shock loss to Ireland.

They currently lie fifth in the group and to advance must snatch fourth place off Pakistan or Ireland, who play each other on Sunday in Adelaide.

But a cyclone thousands of kilometres away in the South Pacific could blow away their chances if it brings heavy rainfall to New Zealand’s North Island by Sunday.

A washout would send Jason Holder’s men tumbling out of the tournament - they need two points from a victory, the solitary point awarded for a no-result will not be enough.

Forecasters say a cyclone-related downpour is due on Monday, although the New

Zealand weather is notoriously fickle and they warn rain is still possible on Sunday.

Team manager Richie Richardson was confident the weather gods would smile on the West Indies.

“It’ll be fine on Sunday,” the former batting great told the local Hawkes Bay Today newspaper.

“We have to play the game to give ourselves a chance so we want sunshine. We need two points badly and we need it big.”

Further complicating matters, the West Indies must soundly beat the UAE by 70 runs or more to ensure they have a better run rate than Pakistan and Ireland. Holder is also sweating on the fitness of key batsman Chris Gayle, who missed training on Wednesday as he struggled with a back injury.

The explosive left-hander has been in patchy form but showed how dangerous he can ben blasting a World Cup record 215 against Zimbabwe.

The fact that the West Indies’ qualification hopes are so tenuous is testament to the erratic form and pre-tournament bickering between players and management that has marred their campaign.

Certainly, UAE captain Mohammad Tauqir indicated that the intimidating mystique that once surrounded the men from the Caribbean had evaporated after their four-wicket loss to Ireland.

Tauqir vowed the UAE, winless at this year’s tournament, would be no pushovers in Napier after providing stubborn resistance against what he considered superior teams.l

West Indies need to beat UAE. A win will lift them to six points, and if Pakistan beat Ireland, West Indies will qualify as the fourth team. If Ireland beat Pakistan, though, the result margins will come into play.

In that case, if WI score 300 and win by 50 runs, and Ireland score 300 batting first, WI will have to hope that Pakistan fold for 273 or fewer, so that their NRR slips below WI. Similarly, if WI chase down a target of 251 in 40, they’ll want Ireland to chase a similar target in 45.5 or fewer overs.

If WI win by an even bigger margin - around 75 or more runs or by around 81 balls to spare - then their NRR will improve to such an extent that an Ireland win by any margin will suffice to push Pakistan out.

Pietersen could skip IPL to push England recall bid n Reuters, London England batsman Kevin Pietersen could push his bid for an international recall by missing the Indian Premier League in favour of playing English county cricket.

The 34-year-old, who won 104 Test and 136 one-day caps, has not played international cricket for 14 months after being sacked following England’s 5-0 Ashes whitewash in Australia.

Pietersen has signed for IPL side Hyderabad but incoming England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) chairman Colin Graves suggested this month that he could be recalled to the England set-up if he “scores a lot of runs” for a county.

England’s dismal showing at the World Cup, where they were knocked out in the group stage with two wins from six games, has led to calls for Pietersen’s return.

Pietersen does not have long to make his mind up, however, as the IPL starts on April 8, with the County Championship getting underway on April 12.l

DT

Sport 27

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

ZIM v IND

9

Number of batsmen who’ve made hundreds in successive innings in the World Cup. The others to achieve it are Mahmudullah, Kumar Sangakkara, Mark Waugh, Rahul Dravid, AB de Villiers, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Saeed Anwar.

5 433

The number of Zimbabwe batsmen who’ve scored World Cup hundreds.

Brendon Taylor’s aggregate in the tournament, the highest for a Zimbabwe batsman in any World Cup. The previous best was 367, by Neil Johnson in 1999.

288 71.50 70

India’s total, their highest when batting second in all World Cup games.

Runs scored by Taylor in his last 29 balls, including seven fours and five sixes. In his first 81 balls, he had made 68.

Runs conceded by Ashwin in his ten overs, the most he has ever conceded in an ODI.

India’s Suresh Raina plays a pull shot while batting against Zimbabwe during their World Cup Pool B match in Auckland yesterday AP

India extend unbeaten WC record n Reuters, Auckland

rocked the Indians by capturing the wickets of openers Rohit Sharma (16) and Shikhar Dhawan (4) in the same over. Ajinkya Rahane (19) played some handsome drives before he was run out trying to regain his crease after a misunderstanding with his partner Virat Kholi.

India were in trouble when Kholi was bowled around his legs for 38 trying to sweep off-spinner Sikandar Raza before Raina found his timing to hit Williams’s left-arm spin into the crowd from successive deliveries. l

World champions India extended their unbeaten record at the cricket World Cup on Saturday with a six-wicket victory over Zimbabwe in their final group match before a noisy crowd of predominantly Indian supporters.

Suresh Raina (110) and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni (85) combined in an unbeaten fifth wicket partnership of 196 at Eden Park to give their team a sixth successive victory

in the tournament.

The win had no influence on the group standings as India were assured of top place in Pool B regardless of the result while Zimbabwe had already been eliminated.

Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor was the day’s individual hero, celebrating his last international before taking up an English county contract by scoring 138 in his team’s 287 all out from 48.5 overs.

Opening bowler Tinashe Panyangara

Dhoni welcomes pressure placed on India

Sad Taylor ready to move on from Zimbabwe

n Reuters, Auckland

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni welcomed the pressure placed on his team by Zimbabwe in their final cricket World Cup group match at Eden Park on Saturday.

Zimbabwe captain Brendan Taylor’s 138 in his final game for his country helped set India a challenging 289 to win, a task made harder when the world champions lost four wickets before reaching the hundred mark.

“I think it couldn’t have been better,” Dhoni told a news conference.

“If it had been the last game of the league stage and you get an easy win you don’t get a lot out of that.

“What was good was that the spinners were put under pressure and we lost quick wickets initially and that put our middle order under pressure so we gained a lot out of it.”

Dhoni said Raina’s innings at number five had been crucial.

“More often than not you don’t get an opportunity (at five),” he said.

“You get to bat maybe after the 38th, 39th over and you have to slog it out and you don’t score too many runs. At the end of the day, when you get into the knockout you want to get runs under your belt.

“I would say it was a good game for us and all the batsmen were under pressure.” l

R B 7 16 2 8 9 22 138 110 50 57 27 41 28 15 10 13 6 6 1 2 0 3 9

Total (all out, 48.5 overs)

287

Fall of wickets 1-11 (Masakadza), 2-13 (Chibhabha), 3-33 (Mire), 4-126 (Williams), 5-235 (Taylor), 6-241 (Ervine), 7-276 (Raza), 8-285 (Panyangara), 9-286 (Chakbva), 10-287 (Chatara) Bowling Shami 9-2-48-3 (3w); Yadav 9.5-1-43-3 (2w); M Sharma 10-1-48-3 (1w); Ashwin 10-0-75-1 (1w); Jadeja 10-0-71-0;

Suresh Raina’s average in World Cup matches.

75

ZIMBABWE C. Chibhabha c Dhawan b Shami H. Masakadza c Dhoni b Yadav S. Mire c Dhoni b M Sharma B. Taylor c Dhawan b Shami S. Williams c and b Ashwin C. Ervine c and b M Sharma Sikander Raza b M Sharma R. Chakabva c Rohit b Yadav T. Panyangara c Yadav b Shami T. Mupariwa not out T. Chatara b Yadav Extras: (lb2, w7)

n AFP, Auckland Zimbabwe batsman Brendan Taylor says he will miss representing his country after playing his last one-day international against India in Auckland on Saturday but insisted life goes on.

Team

POOL B P

W

L N/R Pts NRR

India

6

6

0

0

South Africa

6

4

2

0

8 +1.707

Pakistan

5

3

2

0

6 -0.194

12 +1.827

Ireland

5

3

2

0

6

-1.014

West Indies

5

2

3

0

4

-0.511

Zimbabwe

6

1

5

0

2 -0.527

UAE

5

0

5

0

0

-1.961

The 29-year-old will play for Nottinghamshire in England on a three-year deal which will put his Zimbabwe career on hold -- and there is the possibility that he may never turn out for his country again.

Asked what he will miss, Taylor replied: “Not wearing the shirt. I think every international player is extremely proud of putting on his country’s shirt.

“I will miss my teammates and the camaraderie that we have, the good and bad times we go through. It’s been 11 years and I wouldn’t change it for anything. There have been special times through good and bad,” said Taylor, who smashed a brilliant 138 in his team’s 287 all out against India in their concluding World Cup Pool B match at Eden Park on Saturday.

Suresh Raina ruined Taylor’s farewell party with an unbeaten 110 as defending champions India overhauled their target with eight balls to spare for a six-wicket win.

“Definitely it’s a sense of sadness and sense of disappointment the way we have gone about this tournament,” said Taylor of a Zimbabwe side who won only one of their six games. Sad because I am leaving my teammates and leaving my home country for a number of years. That is always going to be difficult to comprehend but I think life goes on and you take different challenges and choices but it’s a positive one.”

Taylor hoped he matures into a better cricketer in England.

“It’s a positive decision that I have taken and I am looking forward to it being a good ride and hopefully I can have some decent successes there and try and become a good cricketer.”

Taylor scored 5,258 runs in 167 one-day internationals. He also played 23 Tests and 26 Twenty20 internationals for his country.l

INDIA R. Sharma c Raza b Panyangara S. Dhawan b Panyangara V. Kohli b Raza A. Rahane run out (S Raza/Taylor) S. Raina not out M. Dhoni not out Extras: (b1, lb2, nb1, w12)

R B 16 21 4 20 38 48 19 24 110 104 85 76 16

Total (4 wkts, 48.4 overs)

288

Fall of wickets 1-21 (Rohit), 2-21 (Dhawan), 3-71 (Rahane), 4-92 (Kohli) Bowling Panyangara 8.4-1-53-2 (2w); Chatara 10-1-590 (1nb, 6w); Mupariwa 10-0-61-0 (2w); Mire 5-0-29-0 (1w); Williams 5-0-31-0; Raza 8-0-37-1 (1w); Masakadza 2-0-15-0 (1w); Result: India won by six wickets

Zimbabwe’s Brendan Taylor is dismissed for 138 during their Pool B World Cup match against India at Eden Park in Auckland yesterday AFP

DT

28 Sport

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

Khulna accuse NCL champs Rangpur of match-fixing n Minhaz Uddin Khan Rangpur division’s celebration of winning their maiden National Cricket League title was marred by Khulna Divisional Sports Association (KDSA) who alleged Dhaka Metro of intentionally losing to Rangpur in the ultimate game that ended on Thursday. It was learnt, KDSA on Thursday last “verbally” complained to the Bangladesh Cricket Board tournament committee and will place a written complain with evidence today.

KDSA alleged Dhaka Metro of throwing the game away which enabled Rangpur to win with bonus points and as a result finish above Khulna in the points table. Khulna team manager Mostafizur Rahman informed that the written complain and evidence – a voice recording – will be couriered to the BCB tournament committee and disciplinary committee today.

“We were informed of such accusations over phone, but we have not yet received an official complain,” informed tournament committee chairman Akram Khan to the media.

Akram also informed that the board will also look into the report on the game by the match referee Shawkatur Rahman. The final round game between Rangpur and Metro saw the former set a target of 360 as Metro were all out in the last over of the day.

Before the last round, Khulna, Dhaka division and Rangpur shared the top spot with 96 points each. Khulna defeated Chittagong by the end of day 3 by an innings and 24 runs and earned 24 points to have a total 120 points.

Rangpur earned 25 points defeating Dhaka Metro and took their tally to 121 to lift the title. l

Obituary n Shishir Hoque Azizur Rahman Raju, former vice president of the Bangladesh Hockey Federation, passed away last Friday night due to a heart attack that was caused by breathing problems. He was 65.

Raju left behind his wife and only daughter. Raju was the executive member of Sonali Bank team where he played first division hockey in the 1970s.l

Bangladesh’s new goalkeeping coach Christian Schweichler (R) provides penalty practice for the goalkeepers at BNS yesterday

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

U23s brace for Singapore friendlies n Shishir Hoque Bangladesh Under-23 football team are likely to play two friendly matches in Singapore this week, ahead of the AFC U-23 Championship Qualifiers, scheduled to be held in Dhaka later this month.

Bangladesh’s Dutch head coach Lodewijk de Kruif, who arrived in Dhaka last Thursday, sat in a meeting with Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin yesterday. Following the meeting, BFF supremo confirmed the development.

“We are trying to play two friendly matches before the Qualifiers. We already proposed officially to Singapore to host the friendlies

and everything will be finalised in the next one or two days,” Salahuddin told the media yesterday.

“If everything goes well, the squad will fly to Singapore tomorrow and we are planning to play the first match this Wednesday,” he said.

After the meeting, De Kruif also spoke to the media and gave his views and observations regarding their Group E opponents – Uzbekistan, India and Syria - in the upcoming Qualifiers.

“Everything is possible in football. India are on the same level with us but Syria are a very strong team and they are currently training in Dubai. Uzbekistan are the best team in

Group E and they are the favourites too,” said De Kruif before adding, “The major problem of our team is that most of the players don’t get the chance to have enough playing time throughout most of the season. It is tough to put such a team in one row and keep them organised.”

Bangladesh’s new goalkeeping coach, Christian Schweichler, also spoke on the occasion. “The time is very short. I only watched three sessions and what I learned is that the goalkeepers have tactical problems.

They also need to work on positioning sense.

Fitness and skill are good but we need time to develop positioning sense,” said Schweichler.l

Tournament draw probably helped Pakistan: Misbah n Reuters

Pakistan batsman Umar Akmal does catching practice during training yesterday ahead of their 2015 World Cup Pool B match against Ireland at the Adelaide Oval AFP

The vagaries of the World Cup draw may have helped Pakistan rediscover their swagger at just the right time to push them to the brink of a quarter-final, according to captain Misbah ul-Haq. Pakistan face Ireland in a must-win clash in Adelaide on Sunday with the winner finishing third in Pool B. The loser of the match could still advance to a quarter-final against New Zealand in Wellington depending on the outcome of the West Indies-UAE game earlier in Napier.

The 1992 champions had been woeful in their first two matches and then limped to a tense 20-run victory over Zimbabwe before they accounted for a stubborn UAE side by

129 runs.

“We were playing against two tougher oppositions up front just at the start of the tournament and they played better cricket than us,” Misbah said of their successive losses to India and West Indies.

“Then after that we got, you could say, weaker sides, and we just got our momentum back and got our confidence back.

“When you are against tougher sides at the start sometimes (you) lose your confidence and momentum. But as we get back into a winning situation, the confidence and momentum is back.”

Misbah felt his trio of pace bowlers, Wahab Riaz, Sohail Khan and Mohammad Irfan had kept his side in the tournament.l

DT

Sport 29

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

208

Balls unused by Australia in their chase, their second-biggest win in the World Cup in terms of balls remaining. They had beaten Ireland with 226 balls left in a Super Eights match in 2007, which is their biggest win in the World Cup.

6

Times Starc has taken at least four wickets in his first ODI against a team. Scotland join a list that includes New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and Afghanistan.

16

Wickets for Starc in this World Cup - the most by any bowler so far. Starc’s 16 wickets have come at an average of just 8.50 apiece.

246

Balls the match lasted, the shortest game of this World Cup in terms of balls bowled.

9

Times Scotland have been bowled out for less than 200 in their 14 World Cup games including today.

2 15

Times that five Scotland batsmen have got ducks in an innings in this World Cup.

Wickets for Josh Davey in this World Cup - the most by a bowler from an Associate nation in World Cups.

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 1 9:30AM ICC Cricket World Cup Ireland v Pakistan

Star Sports 2 4:00AM ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies v UAE 10:00PM English Premier League Everton v Newcastle United 1:45AM Italian Serie A Inter Milan v Cesena

Star Sports 4 English Premier League 8:00PM Chelsea v Southampton 10:00PM Man United v Tottenham Hotspur 2:00AM Spanish La Liga Real Madrid v Levante

Ten Action 12:00AM A-League Sydney FC v Brisbane Roar French Ligue 1 7:00PM LOSC Lille v Stade Rennais 10:00PM Bordeaux v Paris Saint-Germain 1:00AM Nantes v Evian Thonon

Ten Sports 12:00AM ATP: BNP Paribas Open IW Round 2 Day 2

Australian cricketers congratulate teammate Mitchell Starc (4L) after the wicket of Scotland batsman Joshua Davey (unseen) at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart yesterday AFP

Starc glad as plan comes together n AFP, Hobart Australia’s Mitchell Starc looked forward to the knockout stages of the World Cup with confidence after taking four wickets in the co-hosts’ comfortable win over Scotland in their final Pool A match in Hobart

on Saturday.

Michael Clarke’s men were already through to the quarter-finals but there was no easing up from left-arm fast bowler Starc at Bellerive Oval.

The 25-year-old took four for 14 in just 4.4 overs as Scotland were shot out for 130 after Clarke won the toss.

That left Starc topping the tournament bowling charts with 16 wickets in five matches at a stunningly low average of 8.50 apiece.

“I’ve been working quite hard with Craig McDermott (Australia’s bowling coach) since the one-day series in Zimbabwe. I look forward to continue with (my form) through the back-end (of the World Cup),” said Starc.

“Yeah, the ball is coming out nicely, I can’t complain at all. Well, it’s coming out consistently, but more importantly we’re winning games and that’s all that matters,” the New South Wales paceman added.

Starc’s brilliant six for 28 almost rescued an improbable win for Australia over fellow co-hosts New Zealand at Auckland’s Eden Park in a match they eventually lost by just one wicket.

But since then it’s been a largely smooth ride into the quarter-finals for Clarke’s men, bidding to win Australia’s fifth World Cup title and first on home soil.

“As long as we’re winning games, confidence is going to be high, and especially going into the knockout stages, taking a bit of momentum,” said Starc.

“I think we’re all bowling quite well, we’re training well, so yeah, personally it’s just nice to see the ball coming out consistently. We’re working on different plans, whether it be in training or in the game, but it’s nice to see them coming off.”

Australia recalled fast bowler Pat Cummins for Saturday’s match, in place of spinner Xavier Doherty. Although Cummins took three wickets, his seven overs cost 42 runs. But Clarke said the match situation when Cummins was bowling had to be taken into account.

“He’s obviously had a little bit of a niggle there and he’s come back well,” said Clarke.

“He bowled quick, bowled really good balls, got three wickets, and he went for a couple of runs, but I think the writing was on the wall for them; they (Scotland) were seven down and chancing their arm.

“I don’t think he bowled badly at all. He bowled some really good balls that got hit for runs. He’s only going to get better. He’s only 21. He’s had a couple days off from bowling.

He’ll be better off for the run.”

Clarke, who missed a midweek training session to ‘manage’ his longstanding hamstring injury, then made a run-a-ball 47 after promoting himself up the order to open.

“I still felt a little bit rusty there with the bat,” said Clarke. “Mentally all the guys are switched on, and because they’re training so well that makes life a lot easier, it’s just today things worked out nicely.”

Australia will play as yet to be determined opponent in a quarter-final at the Adelaide Oval on Friday, March 20.l

Team

POOL A P

W L N/R Pts NRR

New Zealand

6

6

0

0

12 +2.564

Australia

6

4

1

1

9 +2.257

Sri Lanka

6

4

2

0

8 +0.371

Bangladesh

6

3

2

1

7 +0.136

England

6

2

4

0

4 -0.753

Afghanistan

6

1

5

0

2

Scotland

6

0

6

0

0 -2.218

-1.853

SCO v AUS SCOTLAND K. Coetzer c Smith b Starc C. MacLeod c Warner b Starc M. Machan c Faulkner b Cummins P. Mommsen c Starc b Watson F. Coleman c Clarke b Johnson R. Berrington c Warner b Maxwell M. Cross c Haddin b Cummins J. Davey b Starc R. Taylor c Haddin b Cummins M. Leask not out I. Wardlaw b Starc Extras (lb1, w8)

R 0 22 40 0 0 1 9 26 0 23 0 9

Total (all out, 25.4 overs)

130

B 11 19 35 2 7 6 20 35 6 11 2

Fall of wickets 1-8 (Coetzer), 2-36 (MacLeod), 3-37 (Mommsen), 4-50 (Coleman), 5-51 (Berrington), 6-78 (Machan), 7-79 (Cross), 8-95 (Taylor), 9-130 (Davey), 10-130 (Wardlaw) Bowling Starc 4.4-1-14-4 (1w); Cummins 7-1-42-3 (1w); Watson 3-0-18-1; Johnson 4-1-16-1 (1w); Maxwell 4-0-24-1 (1w); Faulkner 3-0-15-0 (1w); AUSTRALIA M. Clarke c Leask b Wardlaw A. Finch c Coleman b Taylor S. Watson c Cross b Davey J. Faulkner not out D. Warner not out Extras (lb2, w3)

R 47 20 24 16 21 5

Total (3 wkts, 15.2 overs)

133

B 47 10 23 6 6

Fall of wickets 1-30 (Finch), 2-88 (Watson), 3-92 (Clarke) Bowling Wardlaw 5-0-57-1 (1w); Taylor 5-0-29-1; Davey 5-1-38-1 (1w); 0.2-0-7-0 (1w) Result: Australia won by seven wickets

DT

30 DOWNTIME

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Jobs undertaken (5) 6 Anger (3) 7 Snares (5) 10 Thespian (5) 12 Put away (4) 13 Long lock (5) 15 Bound (4) 16 Distress call (3) 18 Observe (3) 20 Yield to low spirits (4) 22 Oriental (5) 23 Hairless (4) 25 Peruvian animal (5) 27 American elk (5) 28 Light blow (3) 29 Exploits (5)

DOWN 1 Ornamental coronets (6) 2 Curve (3) 3 Become established (6) 4 Brooks (7) 5 Liable (3) 8 Donkey (3) 9 Alone (4) 11 Metal-bearing rock (3) 14 Pampered (7) 16 Governing body (6) 17 Fragments (6) 19 Dutch cheese (4) 21 Close friend (3) 22 Fuss (3) 24 Depressed (3) 26 Insane (3)

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 2 represents W so fill W every time the figure 2 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

A B C D E FG H I J K L M N O P Q RST UVWXYZ

SUDOKU

CALVIN AND HOBBES

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

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

DT

SHOWTIME 31

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

“Cinderella” premieres at Star Cineplex

CELEBS ON SOCIAL ROBERT DOWNEY JR @RobertDowneyJr This one’s for my honey bunnies.

(Don’t forget to check out the NEW SHIRT this week at http://bit. ly/18t9njJ ) AMITABH BACHCHAN @SrBachchan T 1789 - In London for the unveiling of the Mahatma’s statue at Parliament Square. And to read from his works. In nerve trepidation !!

ELLEN DEGENERES @TheEllenShow How do you throw a party for Bruno Mars? You planet. #ClassicJokeFriday

WHAT TO WATCH

n Showtime Desk For the very first time, the live-action remake of Disney’s “Cinderella” premiered in Bangladesh at the same date as the US release.

The film was released on March 13 at the

Star Zone, level 8, Bashundhara City Mall.

Cinderella was theatrically accompanied by the short film “Frozen Fever.”

The American live-action fantasy film was directed by Kenneth Branagh, and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The film is

inspired by the fairy tale “Cinderella” by Charles Perrault, and the 1950s animated film of the same name. It stars Cate Blanchett as the evil stepmother Lady Tremaine and Lily James as Cinderella, respectively. l

Casting news MY NAME IS LE FOU, AND I LIKE WARM HUGS More news for Disney fans. Earlier this month, Disney announced cast members Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as the Beast/Prince and Luke Evans as Gaston for its upcoming live action remake of Beauty and the Beast.

Another cast member has been confirmed, and it’s Josh Gad in the role of Le Fou, villain Gaston’s bumbling sidekick.

Serious fans might recognise Gad as the voice of Olaf, the snowman from the global smash hit Frozen.

No release date has been announced yet for the film. Production is set to begin later this year.

PETER DINKLAGE AND NICOLA PELTZ IN TALKS FOR DEEP BLUE GOODBYES Peter Dinklage, star of Game of Thrones, and actor Nicola Peltz from Transformers: Age of Extinction, are in talks to join Christian Bale and Rosamund Pike in Deep Blue Goodbye, Fox’s film adaptation of John Macdonald’s mystery books.

The film stars Bale in the role of Travis McGee, an Afghan war vet on an adventurous quest to find some stolen sapphires. The new roles will see Dinklage as McGee’s sidekick, a mathematician who made a fortune thanks to an app. Peltz, is set to play the enigmatic woman who hires McGee to find the sapphires.

The project is directed by James Mangold, and is set to start filming in May. l

TELEVISION I, FRANKENSTEIN HBO, 9:30pm Cast: Aaron Eckhart, Bill Nighy, Miranda Otto Frankenstein’s creature gets himself involved in a centuries long war between two immortal clans.

RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES Star Movies, 1:45pm Cast: James Franco, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto The city goes through a havoc when a substance created for the brain to repair itself gives rise to an intelligent chimp FARAH KI DAWAT Colors TV 3/5, 8:30pm Cast: Farah Khan A show that takes the audience to a walk down the memory lane, featuring celebrities.

SUPERSTAR SUNDAYS Start your week in Hollywood with Superstar Sundays. From blockbuster breaking news, to celeb gossip, and critical reviews of Hollywood films, past and present, to red carpet reveals, we’ve got you covered. Kick back, relax, and enjoy the show.

DT

32 BACK PAGE

SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2015

VERTICALLY INTEGRATED CORRUPTION PAGE 13

BUDGET DEFICIT TO WIDEN BY 26% NEXT FISCAL PAGE 15

RELAXED TIGERS LOOSEN UP PAGE 25

Study: Alarming rise in poaching in Sundarbans TIGER Skin

2015 2014 2013 2012 2011

4 6 0 0 3

Meat

0 30kg 0 0 32kg

Skin

64 14 5

DEER

Meat 0

0

50kg 30kg 10kg

0

0

Researcher says the oil spill may have displaced wildlife, making them more vulnerable to poaching

n Abu Bakar Siddique In the last 14 months, security forces have seized the skins of at least 10 tigers and 81 spotted deer in the Sundarbans which hints at an alarming rise in poaching in the forests.

In the last two months alone, at least four tiger skins and 67 spotted deer skins were seized in the forest. These figures appear even more serious when told that not a single tiger skins and only five deer skins were seized in 2012 and 2013.

An independent study, based on media reports published from 2011 to February 2015, conducted an ecology and biodiversity researcher made the revelations.

According to a survey conducted in 2004 using the pug-mark method, there were 440 tigers in the Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans and 60-80 in the Indian part.

Currently, the Bangladesh government is conducting another survey to determine the population of tigers in the forests. The survey was commenced last year and its outcomes are expected in June.

But Forest Department officials, based on a rough analysis of data collected from the ongoing survey, suggest that there are not more than 130 tigers in the forest.

Forest Department statistics show that at least 52 tigers were killed in the last 16 years; of them, 24 by general people, 17 by poachers and 11 died of natural causes.

Terming the study findings normal, Yunus Ali, chief conservator of forests, told the Dhaka Tribune: “These figures do not mean that poaching has increased suddenly. Rather,

these incidents have come to the front because the government’s Wildlife Crime Control Unit has been very active.”

However, Monirul H Khan, professor of zoology at Jahangirnagar University, said that a large number of patrolling centres in the southwest of the forest, including Mandarbari and Holdibunia, were abandoned in the last few years. “That might be a cause of the rising poaching and killing of wildlife.”

The Wildlife Crime Control Unit was established in 2013 under a project titled “Strengthening Regional Co-operation for Wildlife Protection.”

“Wildlife killing has increased remarkably after the oil spill in the Sundarbans in December last year. The figures in the study suggest that wildlife population might have been displaced because of the spill, making them more vulnerable to poaching,” Pavel Partha, the independent researcher who conducted the study.

“However, the connection between the oil spill and poaching is yet to be established; it requires further investigation,” he said.

Dr Ishtiaq Uddin Ahmed, former chief conservator of forest, blamed poaching as the main reason behind the drastic fall in tiger population.

“We will be held responsible for the extinction of tigers in the wild,” said Ishtiaq who is currently working as the country representative of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Government statistics say the area of the Bangladesh part of the Sundarbans is 6,017 sq-km, which is 4.07% of the total land mass of the country and 40% of total forest land. l

M

A

R

C

H

1

9

7

1

Over the precipice

D

I

A

R

Y

This extract is the seventh 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 The military capability is being reinforced and an attempt may be made to enforce authority on the renegade administrators whose allegiance is now pledged to the people. Sheikh Mujib’s response to Yahya’s challenge in his rally on March 7 has set the stage for another showdown.

Despite considerable pressure from his rank and file, Mujib has however managed to keep the door open for an amicable solution to the crisis. The public mood wants much more than a mere dialogue which threatens to be frustrated by the LFO, reiterated once again as a challenge by President Yahya. Mujib has thus put his own leadership to the test in deferring the holocaust which must follow the inevitable confrontation with the reinforced hawks.

In this he had to balance the urge for compromise by the middle-class elements already feeling the pinch from the hartals and fearful of the chaos to corne, against the student-proletarian base which now dominates the mood on the streets.

His speech was thus less than what the militants demanded from the dais but was no craven capitulation either.

He succeeded in returning the challenge to President Yahya and placed the responsibility of genocide and national disintegration solely on those who wield power today.

His demand for an end to Martial Law, the withdrawal of troops and power to the people is no more than a request to come to terms with the de facto situation in Bangla Desh today. Killing, looting, and arson has stopped and the majority has shown itself fully capable of

coping with the situation. What exists of the administration is already being run by the Awami League, all officials willingly take orders from them to see that the province does not degenerate into chaos.

To attempt to reverse this situation by attempts to recapture the administration under Martial Law can only bring the province to a state of total collapse.

The capability of the regime therefore only extends to the point where they can shoot down unarmed civilians and impose a reign of terror. But they can never hope to get the economy and administration of this province functioning again without the people’s consent.

If they are therefore serious about their search for a viable solution to the nation’s future, the least they must do is to accept Sheikh Mujib’s terms. Whether this will be enough to convince the people that the nation can be held together will depend on whether the assembly will cede the minimum demands of the people or whether they are merely deferring a showdown.

As it stands, it is not certain if even Six-Points is saleable any longer in Bangla Desh. Mr. Bhutto is reported to have said he saw no difference between SixPoints and disintegration. He is now being given a practical demonstration that an entire new world lies beyond SixPoints and that the authors of Six-Points were ironically perhaps the last true integrationists left in Pakistan.

Today the nation can hang together only by the freely given consent of the people of Bangla Desh. The power of weapons is no more capable of ensuring the integrity of the country than it was in keeping India under the British or united.

Sheikh Mujib has recognised this point and risked his entire political life in buying time for a final answer. In this simple act he has shown that if the nation does break it will lie on the heads of those who pull the trigger. 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