19 March, 2015

SECOND EDITION

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

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Chaitra 4, 1421, Jamadiul Awal 26, 1436

DHAKA, CTG CITY POLLS APRIL 28 PAGE 3

Roaring Tigers face high-flying Indians Mashrafe bin Mortaza and his side have already created history by qualifying for the quarter-finals of a World Cup for the very first time in their history and they can further enhance their reputation today when they take on defending champions India at Melbourne Cricket Ground with a semi-final berth at stake.

The expectation of the cricket-mad Bangladeshi supporters has reached fever-pitch as the Tigers displayed superb cricket throughout the tournament but

Regd No DA 6238, Vol 2, No 342

DMCH TO DISCHARGE MANNA TODAY PAGE 4

Bangladesh bowling coach Heath Streak talks to captain Mashrafe Bin Mortaza yesterday during a training session ahead of their Cricket World Cup 2015 quarter-final match against India in Melbourne BCB

Uddin from n Mazhar Melbourne

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the fans are dreaming of bigger things.

The spirited Bangladeshi cricketers will have nothing to lose against India and are expected to take the field with their heads held high. Mahmudullah is in the form of his life right now while the reliable Mushfiqur Rahim and the world-class Shakib al Hasan do have the ability to surprise the opposition, no matter how formidable.

The high-flying Indians, in contrast, have no other option but to win which gives the pressure-free Tigers an added advantage today.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

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THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

India expresses concern over Ganga barrage project n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman India has expressed its concern over Ganga barrage mega project as it might cause backflow of water and siltation, Water Resources Minister Anisul Islam Mahmud said yesterday.

“Now we are trying to address the problems and we can easily resolve it,” he said at a workshop on Multi-Stakeholder Engagement on Water Resources Management in Bangladesh at a city hotel yesterday.

The programme was organised by Water Resources Planning Organistaion and 2030 Water Resources Group of the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

The minister said Bangladesh and India signed Ganges Water Sharing Treaty for 30

years and 18 years had already gone.

Bangladesh needs to complete the project as soon as possible to have sufficient positive impact of the project for both the countries so that at the time of next round of negotiation for Ganges treaty, it would be easier for Dhaka to convince New Delhi, the minister said.

Bangladesh and India share 54 common rivers. Ganges Barrage is a $4bn project and Bangladesh has sought Japanese assistance to implement the project.

Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali at a meeting with Indian Water Resources Minister Uma Bharati in September in new Delhi shared the documents of the barrage for their consideration.

About Teesta river, Anisul Islam Mahmud

said the water flow of this river is the lowest in the current year.

Bangladesh used to have 1500 to 1800 cusec of water flowing through the river but now it came down to only 300 cusec causing serious problems for farmers in the northern region, he said.

This is an indication of the fate of other common rivers, he said.

He hoped that India would keep its promise and sign the Teesta water sharing agreement with Bangladesh.

Bangladesh and India were supposed to sign Teesta water sharing agreement in 2011 but due to strong resistance from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, it could not have happened. l

73 crude bombs found in Jubo Dal leader’s house in Dhaka n Tribune Report Police recovered 73 crude bombs and a large number of bomb-making materials from a house in the capital’s Lalbagh on Tuesday night.

Two persons were also detained in this regard. They were identified as Badsha, 44, the caretaker of the house and guard Alam.

The ADC of Lalbagh police Abida Sultana said the bombs and the materials were recovered from the house of Md Newaz, the joint general secretary of the Juba Dal central committee.

The police, however, could not find Newaz.

“RAB 10 and Lalbagh police jointly conducted a drive at around 12am. All those materials were recovered from a third-floor flat of the seven-storey building,” she said.

The recovered materials included 2kg potassium, a large amount of splinters and other necessary equipment for bomb making.

“More than one thousand crude bombs could be made from the recovered bomb-making materials” she added. l

PM urges people to prevent BNP-Jamaat militancy n Tribune Report

Pedestrians lend their hands to a bus driver’s effort to move his bus that blockade supporters set on fire in the capital’s Nilkhet area yesterday during BNPenforced transport blockade programme MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Roaring Tigers face high-flying Indians Bangladesh have already played a match at the MCG against Sri Lanka in a Pool A encounter on February 26 and on that occasion, the Tigers dropped a few catches on their way to a 92-run defeat. At a huge venue like the MCG, the Tigers must sharpen their fielding effort against the Indians.

Today’s last-eight clash will be played at the same wicket that was used for the Bangladesh-Sri Lanka tie. As expected, the customary MCG wickets offer a lot of runs along with some aid for the spinners. However, weather forecast suggests that there will be a bit of rain later in the day. In the event of rain, the pitch might provide encouragement to the fast bowlers.

Skipper Mashrafe, who was rested in the final Pool A match against cohosts New Zealand last Friday, will return to the side in place of Taijul Islam – probably the only change in the Tigers’ line-up.

Current form might give the edge to the Indians but Bangladesh will head into today’s match with some sweet memories of beating their neighbours in the 2007 ICC World Cup along with the 2012 Asia Cup. Besides the obvious occasion of a World Cup quarter-final, today will also be a memorable day for Bangladesh as they are all set for their 300th ODI appearance. History indicates that the Tigers have a great time in their milestone games. In their 100th ODI on December 26, 2004, Bangladesh defeated India by 15 runs in a bilateral series while 50 ODIs later, the Tigers overcame the same opponents in the 2007 ICC World Cup. In order for the Tigers to be successful in their 300th ODI, the opening pair of Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes must fire today following a couple of disappointing performances in recent times.

Other than Bangladesh’s opening partnership, all the other batsmen have scored runs so the onus will once again be on the bowling department to deliver the goods against a strong Indian batting line-up.

Captain cool MS Dhoni leads a powerful batting order also comprising the likes of Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma, among others.

Surprisingly, India’s fast bowling department, considered one of their weakest links, has fared well as the trio of Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami have given their side early breakthroughs more often than not.

If the Tigers can continue their brand of fearless cricket, India are bound to crumble under pressure, presenting the Tigers a golden opportunity to seal a historic place in the last four of the flagship event. l

Terming the alliance of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami a platform for terrorists and militants, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has urged people from all walks of life to resist BNP-Jamaat’s political programmes which are killing innocent people.

Speaking at a discussion in the capital’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre yesterday, she also called BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia the queen of militancy and said there was no place for BNP-Jamaat’s terrorist and militant activities in Bangladesh.

“Khaleda’s only duty is to kill innocent people to create anarchy in the country; she aims to grab power at any cost. She is the queen of destruction … the queen of militancy. But I am warning her now: there will be no place for any terrorist and militancy,” the premier said. l

Shajahan: Khaleda wants power to escape graft cases n Our Correspondent, Lakshmipur BNP chief Khaleda Zia was keen on seizing power in order to save herself from the corruption cases against her, Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan has claimed.

Addressing a rally at Motirhat in Lakshmipur’s Komolnagar upazila yesterday, the minister added that the prime minister cannot be removed from office by violent acts such as burning people with petrol bombs.

“Khaleda is using petrol bombs to kill people with the help of Jamaat-e-Islami... Khaleda Zia has become restless to reach power,” the minister added.

Hinting at the BNP chairperson, Shajahan said: “Stop violence and hartal-blockade, or else there will be dangerous consequences. You will not even know what would happen.” l

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Dhaka, Chittagong city polls April 28 Law enforcers to start drives against listed criminals, illegal arms-holders today inals and recover illegal arms.

Though it is a non-political election, he 29, 2011. The last mayoral election in Chitn Munir Momtaj, Mohammad Jamil Khan ber Presently, the law enforcers are conductsaid: “We observed earlier that the political tagong held in 2010. and Abu Hayat Mahmud

Polls to the bifurcated Dhaka City Corporation and the Chittagong City Corporation would be held on April 28, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said yesterday.

The last date of submitting nomination papers is March 29 while the candidates would be able to withdraw candidature by April 9.

The returning officers would scrutinise the applications on April 1 and 2, the CEC said at a press conference at his office.

Election symbols would be allocated for valid mayoral candidates and councillor aspirants on April 10, he said adding that the EC would not use electric-voting machines.

The announcement came only two days after the police chief asked the EC to arrange polls within April. Meanwhile, the government has already announced that the Higher Secondary Certificate exams will begin on April 1.

The last election of the DCC was held in April 2002 in which the Awami League, then main opposition, did not participate. The Dhaka City Corporation was split on Novem-

Three returning officers have been appointed to conduct the polls. Of them, Regional Election Officer Mir Sarwar Morshed will oversee polls in Dhaka South City Corporation, Dhaka District Election Officer Md Shah Alam in Dhaka North City Corporation while Regional Election Officer Md Abdul Baten in Chittagong City Corporation.

The CEC requested the candidates to properly follow the election rules and regulations, and asked them to remove all kinds of campaign materials – billboards and posters – within 48 hours. “Otherwise, we will take legal action against them,” he warned.

The candidates would get certain time for publicity and they would have to stop the campaigns before the election.

He said they would declare April 28 a holiday in the election areas.

Urging voters to exercise their franchise, the CEC said: “We have introduced online messaging system this time, through which the voters will get information about their voting centres and serial numbers.”

parties support candidates.

“Blockade and hartals are political programmes on which we have no control. But we will take steps so that people can caste their votes without any obstacle. We have discussed security issues with the law enforcement agencies and they did not warn us about any possible adverse situation.”

About deploying army, he said the EC had not made any decision in this regard.

However, the law enforcers are set to launch special drives from today in the capital and the port city. The step is taken based on intelligence report that centring the polls, at least 750 criminals would gather in the two cities to foil the elections.

The law enforcers in Dhaka and Chittagong have already prepared lists of criminals.

Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, state minister of home affairs, said special drives would be conducted to hold the city corporation elections peacefully.

DMP Deputy Commissioner Masudur Rahman said the law enforcers would catch crim-

ing special operation to stop sabotage activities during the ongoing blockade and hartal programmes of the BNP-led 20-party alliance.

The BNP is yet to decide whether to back any candidate for the city corporation polls or not, said party insiders. The party is likely to make a decision on the matter only if the leaders can hold a meeting, a senior leader said seeking anonymity.

After the schedules were declared, the Awami League-backed candidates started removing campaign materials yesterday.

Dhaka north candidate Sayeed Khokon the Dhaka Tribune last night that they had already taken down billboards from Karwan Bazar intersection. “As the schedules have been declared, I will start door-to-door campaigns now.”

About multiple candidates from the Awami League, he said: “It is the party's high command who will make the decision.”

Former FBCCI president Annisul Huq, who has also been nominated by the prime minister, said he would start removing the campaign materials immediately.” l

Eight indicted in Rajeeb murder case, trial starts April 21 n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday framed charges against Mufti Jasim Uddin Rahmani, chief of militant group Ansarullah Bangla Team, and seven of his followers for the murder of secular blogger Ahmed Rajeeb Haider in 2013.

Judge Ruhul Amin of the Fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court passed the indictment order rejecting separate discharge petitions submitted by defence counsels.

After the indictment, the court fixed April 21 to start trial in the case.

Ansarullah is a Bangladeshi follower of al-Qaeda. Its chief Jasim was arrested on September 2, 2013. Markazul Uloom Al-Islamia Madrasa at Basila in Mohammadpur expelled Jasim from the post of chairman of the management committee after his arrest. Jasim

gave confessional statement before a magistrate mentioning that the students inspired by his sermons might have killed Rajeeb.

“Instigator” Jasim and his six followers – all expelled students of North South University, pleaded not guilty and demanded justice.

Another accused, also a former NSU student, is currently on the run.

The accused students are “planner” Redwanul Azad Rana (now fugitive), Faisal Bin Nayeem alias Dip, Maksudul Hassan alias Anik, Ehsan Reza Rumman, Nayeem Sikder alias Irad, Nafiz Imtiaz, Sadman Yasir Mahmud.

Of them, Rana is also a prime suspect in blogger Avijit Roy murder. The DMP recently announced Tk5 lakh bounty for helping police tracking and arresting Rana. Earlier the DB police sent letters to Immigration Police and the BGB to stop him fleeing the country. l

Wishing good luck ahead of Bangladesh’s tie against India today, Bangladesh Cricket Fan Unity - a fan platform - brings out a flag procession from Dhaka University’s TSC yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

No headway in secular writer Avijit Roy murder case n Mohammad Jamil Khan

Investigation into the gruesome murder of blogger and science writer Avijit Roy is yet to see any progress as investigators have not been able to identify the killers.

The investigators suspected involvement of Islami Chhatra Shibir leader and also the leader of Ansarullah Bangla Team Redwanul Azad Rana but they have failed to trace him even after declaring a bounty of Tk5 lakh.

Even they could not make any breakthrough after placing Shafiur Rahman Farabi, the prime suspect in the murder case, on remands twice each for 10 days.

Yesterday was the last day of Farabi’s 10day second-phase remand.

On February 26 night, former Buet teacher Avijit, founder of Mukto-Mona blog, and his wife Rafida Ahmed Bonya were attacked by some unidentified assailants near TSC on Dhaka University campus.

Avijit died at the hospital after an hour while Bonya sustained critical injuries. She was later flown to the US. Presently, the Detective Branch of police is investigating the murder with the US-based investigating agency FBI assisting it.

Members of both the investigation agencies have had a number of meetings but they have not been able to make any headway in the murder case.

A source in the DB police said a new member of FBI is about to join the team soon to as-

sist the team.

Detectives are hopeful of finding clue in their hunt for the criminals as the new member is an expert crime analyst.

The new member would not only able to help trace the killers but also the location of the suspected 10 Facebook users and the list of whom was prepared based on the information provided by Farabi, says a top of DB official, requesting anonymity.

The investigation has now been stalled, said another official adding that everything now depends now on the arrest of Rana. Once the arrest is made the mystery can very easily be unearthed, he added.

When contacted, Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of DB police, said they were holding

meetings with the FBI team as to how the killers could be traced.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Police Service Association yesterday in a press release said Avijit murder was an isolated event.

Bangladesh police is concerned about it and it is working hard to stop such incidents.

The press release also condemned the criticism of a section of civil society members and reports published in some national dailies slamming police personnel for their silent role during the attack on Avijit.

It said the criticisms had broken their morale as police had lot of other things to do.

Police officials are investigating the murder and the role of on-duty police officials with utmost priority. l

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DMCH to discharge Manna today n Mohammad Jamil Khan The Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) is likely to discharge Nagorik Oikya Convener Mahmudur Rahman Manna today as his physical condition has improved.

“Manna is now quite well, has no chest pain and his blood pressure is also under control,” said Prof Dr Abdul Wadud Chowdhury, chief of the DMCH Cardiology Department.

“We have presented his health report to the six-member medical board and as per the decision of the board we are going to discharge him tomorrow (today),” said Prof Wadud yesterday.

Since his admission Manna has been undergoing treatment at the Coronary Care Unit of the DMCH. Meanwhile, the Detective Branch (DB) of police appealed to the court concerned to take Manna into their custody again for interrogation soon after his release from the hospital.

Manna was arrested by RAB members on February 24 following a leaked conversation between Manna, BNP leader Sadeq Hossain Khoka and an unknown expatriate.

He was shown arrested in a case filed with Gulshan police station for instigating the Army to takeover power and placed on a remand for 10 days on February 25.

Later, on March 5, a separate sedition case was filed with Gulshan police against Manna and Khoka.

Manna was once again placed on remand on March 7. However, within three days of Manna’s second-phase remand, he got sick and was admitted to the DMCH on March 10.

Asked about it, Mahfuzul Islam, addition deputy commissioner of DB police, said: “We have appealed to the court to uphold its previous remand order.” l

Convicted ex-BAF man escapes from DMCH n Tribune Report A convicted former member of Bangladesh Air Force escaped from Dhaka Medical College Hospital while under supervision of jail guards.

The fugitive, Rezaul Karim, 26, was admitted at DMCH on February 9 where he was being treated at ward 701 of unit 3 at the DMCH. Rezaul took permission to use the washroom from the jail guard around 1.30pm yesterday and fled the hospital, said DMCH police camp acting in-charge Sentu Chandra Das. “Rezaul was sentenced to 11 years imprisonment in September 2014 for violating air force discipline,” said Farman Ali, Senior Jail Superintendent of Dhaka Central Jail.

Jail security guards Khitish Chandra and Jafar, who were in charge of guarding Rezaul, were suspended as they failed to carry out their duty, said the senior jail superintend. l

In this photo taken yesterday a solar lamp post stands tilted on Dhanmondi road 6 in the capital, posing risk of accidents to commuters

Bkash agent killed, Tk5 lakh snatched n Our Correspondent, Savar Unidentified assailants hacked a Bkash agent to death in Savar and took away Tk5 lakh early yesterday.

Kamruzzaman, 29, son of Sekandar Ali of Rajbari, was attacked near Savar municipality along with his manager, Roman, who has been hospitalised.

Police said Kamruzzaman operated his business at a market in Savar Bazar bus stand area.

The two men were returning home

around 12:30am when the attackers waylaid them and hacked them with sharp weapons before fleeing with the bag of money.

The injured were rushed to Enam Medical College and Hospital where doctors declared Kamruzzaman dead.

Savar Model police station OC Abdul Motaleb said the money could not be recovered and the attackers could not be nabbed either. He said Kamruzzaman’s wife Tania Sultana has lodged a case in this connection. l

Danish minister to host conference on RMG n Tribune Report The Danish embassy and Danish Trade and Development Cooperation Minister Mogens Jensen will host a high-level conference to mark the second anniversary of the Rana Plaza disaster today at 10am.

Some 200 guests representing both the governments, businesses, NGOs and labour associations are expected to attend the conference looking at the future of RMG sector in Bangladesh and beyond.

The conference at Hotel Westin in Dhaka will focus on the key lessons of the multi-stakeholder cooperation in the last two years. It will also look

into possibilities of how to use these lessons in not just RMG factories but also across industries.

Mogens said Bangladesh had come a long way since Rana Plaza. Along with the international community Bangladesh had set new standards and introduced new forms of cooperation, he said during his three-day visit in Bangladesh.

“There is still a way to go, but Bangladesh is already framing the future.”

The conference will also launch a new inter-governmental initiative to improve health and safety of workers.

This initiative will run for the next three to five years. l

SHEKHAR MONDAL

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Telcos asked to update subscriber info n Muhammad Zahidul Islam The telecom regulator has once again asked mobile phone operators to update their subscribers’ information properly, to help law enforcement agencies identify and trace the real users of phone SIMs. The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) sat in a meeting yesterday with the chief executive officers of mobile phone companies to discuss the issue and figure out a solution.

BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose chaired the meeting, while the CEOs from five private mo-

bile phone operators were present, along with other BTRC commissioners and senior officials.

“We found that law enforcement agencies were very concerned about the correct information of users and they have given us feedback about their findings – which are not satisfactory,” ATM Monirul Alam, commissioner of the spectrum division of BTRC, told the Dhaka Tribune after the meeting.

He said the operators have previously been repeatedly given directives about the security concerns, but this time the regulator would be tough on the issue.

Following requests from the law enforcement

agencies, the regulator last month asked the operators to update, and if necessary, re-register the customer information, BTRC sources said.

According to law enforcement agencies, around 80% of SIM information were incorrect; however, senior executives of different mobile operators claimed the figure could hardly be around 30%-40%.

In yesterday’s meeting, the BTRC chairman also asked the top officials of the operators to update the regulator about their progress on the issue. He also asked for more advertisements from the operators to motivate the users for updating their information.

“We may go for common advertisements soon for re-registering the customers’ information,” said one of the top officials who was present at the meeting.

“I can understand the reality; it will be simply impossible to update all the users’ information overnight. But I want to see that you people are trying to ensure our security,” a senior executive quoted Sunil Kanti Bose as telling the meeting.

However, operator sources said they face difficulty in verifying subscribers’ information as they do not have access to the national ID card database. l

Khaleda will be tried for arson deaths, warns Sheikh Selim n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj BNP chief Khaleda Zia will be tried for the deaths of every single arson victims, Gopalganj lawmaker Sheikh Fazlul Karim Selim has said.

Addressing a conference of the district’s community police force, he also blamed Khaleda for trying to establish a militant and ineffective country based on the ideals of Pakistan.

Sheikh Selim, a member of the Awami League Presidium, further accused the BNP chairperson of instructing anarchists to attack and kill police personnel.

Speaking as the chief guest of the programme held on the grounds of Gopalganj’s Bangabandhu Government University College, he pointed out that the police force was not the only ones who had the task of upholding law and order, but the citizens should also be included in community policing to achieve that goal.

The Gopalganj MP said the BNP chief failed in her repeated attempts at saving militants and war criminals. Khaleda thought that she would be able to reach power illegally by creating unrest in country, Sheikh Selim claimed. l

Shirin Sharmin speaks Two girls enjoy a sudden splash of rain yesterday afternoon as they cross the street at the TSC roundabout in Dhaka University about nutrition n Shadma Malik DHAKA-BHANGA RAIL LINK Parliament Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury has recorded a 29-second mobile voice message advocating nutrition to reach at least four crore mobile phone users as part of a Health Ministry initiative to raise public awareness through information technology.

The voice message was launched at an event organised by the health department yesterday at the Cirdap International Conference Centre in Dhaka.

The message will be sent out from a Teletalk number with information on nutrition. It will also touch upon malnutrition, especially for newborns, and raise awareness about the easy availability of tests and treatments.

A health official said the voice message initiative was one of the means of implementing many nutrition projects launched this year.

Bangladesh Unicef Representative Edouard Beigbeder, Teletalk Managing Director Gias Uddin Ahmed and Family Planning Director General Nur Hossain Talukder were present at the programme. l

MEHEDI HASAN

Cost rises by Tk4,000cr in five months n Shohel Mamun

A detailed project programme draft has recently been finalised for setting up rail link between Dhaka and Faridpur through the Padma Bridge, for an estimated Tk17,041 crore, sources at the Railways Ministry have said.

However, the cost is likely to raise eyebrows, as it is a significant rise from an earlier Tk12,814 crore estimate prepared only five months ago.

The draft for connecting Dhaka with Bhanga through railway comes despite the fact that the ministry is yet to find any funding for this project.

However, Railways Secretary Munsur Ali Sikder denied that the draft had been finalised.

“It can be confirmed that the cost has gone

up. But the detailed project programme is yet to be finalised. We are working with the Planning Commission to finalise it. The DPP will then be sent to the Ecnec for approval,” he told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Replying to a query on funding, the secretary said: “We are seeking funds for laying rail tracks. We sent letters to different organisations for loans or donations.”

Sources at the ministry, meanwhile, said the completed DPP draft would be sent to the Planning Commission as soon as a source of funding was confirmed.

The government is expected to sign a loan agreement with the Chinese government for this project, sources added.

A ministry official, seeking anonymity, said the estimated cost in the DPP draft had increased for a rise in land valuation on the

Dhaka-Mawa Highway.

However, the difference between land acquisition costs cited by the feasibility study report and the DPP draft is reportedly only Tk50 lakh; the feasibility study report put land acquisition cost at Tk3,639 crore and the DPP at Tk3,640.20 crore.

The government expects to inaugurate the much-awaited Padma Multipurpose Bridge by 2018.

In January 2011, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the design of the Padma Bridge that included rail tracks.

Sources said it would take 82.32km of rail tracks to run a train on the Padma Bridge – 44.32km to connect Dhaka to the bridge, 6.15km to span the bridge, and 31.85km from the bridge to Bhanga in Faridpur. l

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Indictment hearing of Fakhrul, 24 others on April 19 n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday adjourned indictment hearing of BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir and another 24 members of the party until April 19.

Metropolitan Magistrate Muhammad Anwar Sadat passed the order in response to a petition filed by defence counsel Syed Jaynul Abedin Mejbah.

The BNP men are on trial for obstructing law enforcement officials in the course of their duty. According to the case statement,

30 to 40 BNP men prevented the police from discharging their duties in front of Padma General Hospital on Sonargaon road in Kalabagan on December 12, 2012.

They also threw brick chips at police and pedestrians, leaving some injured at Fakhrul’s instigation of.

Sub-Inspector of Kalabagan police station Masud Karim later filed the lawsuit.

Sub-Inspector Md Asaduzzaman, investigating officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet before court against the 25 men on October 20 last year. l

Healthcare provider to address urban diabetes issues n Tribune Report Novo Nordisk, a global healthcare provider specialising in diabetes, is perhaps the first to address what it calls urban diabetes in Bangladesh.

The Denmark based company’s vice president Susanne Stormer told the press yesterday at Daily Star conference hall in Dhaka, that people who migrated to the cities for better economic opportunities were more likely to suffer from ill health.

“We would like to see economic growth, but if it comes at a cost to people’s health, it’s a dilemma. So we have started addressing

what we call ‘urban diabetes’, and I believe we are the first to try and tackle it,” she said.

Stormer presented the company’s plan for the next 100 years.

She said: “We enable people with chronic conditions to live healthier, longer and more productive lives with better treatment, more awareness and advocacy for earlier diagnosis and improved health outcomes.”

There were 5.9 million cases of diabetes in Bangladesh in 2014, according to International Diabetes Federation South-East Asia. It is expected to double in another 15 years, said Stormer. l

MUNA conference begins at CU today n CU Correspondent A three-day conference on Model United Nations Association (MUNA) will begin at Chittagong University (CU) today.

The CU Model United Nations Associations-2015 will be held the university’s BBA auditorium where CU Vice-Chancellor Prof Anwarul Azim Arif will be present as chief guest.

The theme of the programme is “Empowering Youth for Green Diplomacy.”

Organising Secretary Siraj Uddin announced the programme at a press conference at Chittagong Press Club yesterday.

A total of 240 students from different schools and colleges of Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Indonesia and Sri Lanka will

take part, he said.

The young delegates will present their proposals on various international issues before five committees at the programme.

They will also present drafts of proposals on international issues including climate change, save the environment movement, human rights and other issues, said CUMUNA President Shahriar Mottakin.

CU Pro-VC Prof Dr Iftekhar Uddin Chowdhury and UN Information Centre (UNIC) Officer-in-Charge Mohammed Moniruzzaman will attend the programme as special guest and the guest of honor respectively.

UNIC and UN Youth and Students Association of Bangladesh (UNYSAB) are strategic partners of the conference. l

Grant signed for meteorological radar upgrades n Tribune Desk The signing ceremony of grant assistance by the Government of Japan for meteorological radar systems improvement in Dhaka and Rangpur was held at Economic Relations Division of the Ministry of Finance yesterday.

Shiro Sadoshima, Ambassador of Japan to Bangladesh and Mohammad Mejbahuddin, Senior Secretary of ERD signed the Exchange of Notes for “The Project for Improvement of Meteorological Radar System in Dhaka and Rangpur” representing respective governments.

Since 1986, Japan has provided grant assistance to set up meteorological radar stations in Dhaka, Rangpur, Cox’s Bazar, Khepupar and Mouluvibazar. These five radar stations cover the entire country for weather forecast.

For this project the Government of Japan would provide up to JPY 24mn (approximately Tk1.5 crore) for the detailed design to upgrading radar stations in Dhaka and Rangpur installing modern S-Band Doppler radars.

With these modern radars, it would be possible to forecast the advent and the course of cyclones much earlier with greater accuracy. l

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16-HR RAID ON CHITTAGONG COLLEGE, MOHSIN COLLEGE

Firearms, ammo, explosives recovered n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong The police recovered nine firearms, a lot of ammunitions and bomb making materials from Chittagong Government College and Government Hazi Mohammad Mohsin College yesterday during a 16-hour raid.

Law enforcers also nabbed 80 activists of Chhatra Shibir, student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami, in possession of many Jihadi books from the Shibir-dominated colleges.

Tanvir Arafat, DB Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police (CMP) told the Dhaka Tribune that a DB team with the help of 200 policemen from Kotwali, Chawkbazar, Panchliash police stations and the CMP Lines continued the drive till 4pm starting from 12am.

“We have found an AK-22 rifle, a 303 rifle, three pistols, three single barrel guns, a two-barrel gun, five rocket flairs, 61 rounds of cartridges and 27 rounds of bullets buried behind a staff quarter of Chittagong College. At the same time, we nabbed 72 Shibir activists from the hostels,” he said.

“We have also recovered five machetes, several kilogrammes of gunpowder, several litres petrol, many small tin-pots, many bearing balls, splinters, pins and many other destructive materials from a drainage line near a dor-

WEATHER

DRY WEATHER LIKELY THURSDAY, MARCH 19 DHAKA TODAY SUN SETS 6:09PM

TOMORROW SUN RISES 6:04AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

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Chittagong

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Rajshahi

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Rangpur

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Khulna

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Barisal

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Sylhet

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Cox’s Bazar

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YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

35.6ºC Cox’s Bazar

15.5ºC Srimangal Source: Accuweather/UNB

Police recover nine firearms from staff quarter area and arrest 72 Shibir activists from student dorms in Chittagong yesterday mitory of Mohsin College after nabbing eight more Shibir men from a hideout on the college campus,” he went on. The ADC continued that being tipped-off they conducted the drive on all hostels, abandoned establishments and the hills on the premises of both colleges.

DB bomb disposal unit’s head Sontosh Kumar Chakma said about 200-300 crude bombs and petrol bombs could be made by the seized materials.

CMP Commissioner Adbul Jalil Mandol vis-

Fajr

4:50am

Sunrise

6:05am

Zohr

12:07am

Asr

4:28pm

Magrib

6:08pm

Esha

7:24pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

circle) Shah Mohammad Abdur Rouf said they kept the colleges and the entire area on watch as they had information that Jamaat-Shibir men had been preparing for subversive activities with arms, ammunition and explosives.

Following the drive, the Chittagong College authorities formed a six-member committee, led by chemistry department Professor Shaheda Islam, to look into the incident and it was asked to submit a report within three days, said its acting principal Jesmin Akhter. l

SCHOOLBOY SAYEED MURDER

RAB informant confesses to killing n Our Correspondent, Sylhet RAB Informant Ataur Rahman Geda confessed involvement in the killing of schoolboy Abu Sayeed.

Sub-Inspector Shah Mohammad Fazle Azim Patowari said during an interrogation Geda told police that he had taken part in the killing mission.

A Sylhet court on Monday placed Geda on a three-day remand in connection with the killing.

The court granted the remand after police produced him before the court with a 10-day remand prayer.

Police recovered the decomposed body of Abu Sayeed, a class IV student of a primary school, from constable Ebadur Rahman’s

house located in Kumarpara Jharnarpar residential area in Sylhet city on Saturday night.

Police detained constable Ebadur, district Olama League Secretary Abdur Rakib and Informant Geda Mia for their alleged involvement in the abduction and murder.

Sayeed’s father Abdul Matin also filed a case against six people, including three suspects detained, in connection with the murder.

Later on Sunday, constable Ebadur Rahman gave confessional statement before Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate Court, admitting his involvement in the abduction and killing.

While giving the statement, the constable told the court that nine-year-old Sayeed was abducted for ransom, but he was later killed as he could recognise Ebadur and Geda.

Principal confined in Barisal n Our Correspondent, Barisal

PRAYER TIMES

ited the spot, saying some teachers of the colleges were involved in turning the colleges into the den Shibir cadres. He said those teachers would face legal measures after investigation.

The commissioner said Jamaat-Shibir activists turned the premises into their cantonment with the support from the teachers.

Only Bangladesh Army has the capacity to handle such firearms, ammunition and explosives, he added.

CMP’s Assistant Commissioner (Kotwali

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Students of Barisal Nursing College (BNC) yesterday confined their principal to the office protesting a decision of turning their newly-built academic building into a female dormitory for the nearby Sher-E-Bangla Medical College (SBMC).

BNC Principal Aleya Begum over mobile phone admitted the incident, telling the local public works department took the decision to ease the accommodation crisis of the SBMC although her students also have been facing the same problem.

The confinement, started from 10am, remained continued while filing this report at

6:30pm. In the evening, the students hosted a press conference in favour of their demand.

Earlier, Hosneara Begum, additional district magistrate, and Dr Bhaskar Saha, principal of SBMC, rushed to the spot to break the confinement, but their effort was in vain as the agitating students denied to retreat as long as the withdrawal of the decision appears.

SBMC Principal Dr Bhaskar Saha said the PWD some days ago directed to vacate one of their female hostels declaring it risky to reside and ordered to use just two floors of the four-storied BNC building primarily as long as the ongoing construction works of a new hostel for the SBMC female students does not completed. l

Abdur Rakib on Tuesday told Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate Court that he and four others people hatched a plan at a restaurant in Zinda Bazar in Sylhet city on March 10 to kidnap schoolboy Abu Sayeed.

Sayeed was picked up from Rainagar while on his way to his uncle’s house on the night of March 10.

The abductors first demanded Tk5 lakh and then Tk2 lakh ransom. Later, Sayeed’s father Abdul Matin filed a general diary with Kotwali police station on March 11.

Meanwhile, local people also staged demonastration on the third consecutive day yesterday demanding exemplary punishment to the killers of Sayeed.

The Jhorna Tarun Sangho held a rally on the premises of Central Shaheed Minar. l

Son to die for killing mother n Our Correspondent, Sylhet A Sylhet court yesterday sentenced a man to death for killing his mother in 2009.

Judge M Moidul Islam of Sylhet District Sessions Judge’s Court passed the order against Foyjur Rahman, 22, son of Abdul Khaleque, a rickshaw-van puller of Panichhara village in Jaintapur Upazila of Sylhet.

The court also fined the convict Tk10,000 after hearing 11 witness.

According to the case details, Foyjur killed his mother Siddika Begum, 40, with a machete over a family dispute near their village on March 13 in 2009. l

DT

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Tarail residents for new bridge on Sunti River n Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

Locals in Tarail upazila have demanded a bridge with paved walkway on the Sunti River as the existing one has turned rickety after being repaired numerous times.

People of the upazila use the bridge to commute to several key destinations, including Dhaka, Mymensingh and Kishoreganj.

Constructed in 1986 with steel boards, the Bailey bridge connects two villages – Sachail and Sahilati. Different parts of it have been mended over the years, with the latest repair on March 12.

Roads and Highways Sub-assistant Engineer in Kishoreganj, Md Ziaul Haque, said on that day that cracks had appeared in some of the boards.

The decrepit boards have also caused frequent accidents. Md Moniruzzaman, incharge of Tarail Palli Bidyut substation, recently sustained serious injuries as one of his legs got stuck in a broken board one day when he was going back home.

The narrow bridge often causes tailbacks on both ends as more than one heavy vehicle cannot move on it simultaneously. Besides, the bridge shakes heavily when vehicles cross it, scaring passengers more often than not.

Abdul Jabbar, a truck driver, said he constantly remembers the almighty while driving on the bridge. “An accident may happen any time.”

Sadek Mia, who drives an easy bike, said the boards break every couple of days, making it risky to drive.

“It is not only frightening but I have also faced accidents a few times,” he said.

Md Shamsul Haque, a Sachail resident, said the bridge was no longer usable and a new one with a paved walkway should be built urgently.

Md Kamal Uddin Bhuiyan Kanchan, Tarail upazila parishad chairman, agreed, adding that delaying construction could lead to fatal accidents any time.

Executive Engineer of the Roads and Highways Department in Kishoreganj, Md Shafiqul Islam, said officials were working on a plan to build a new bridge but refused to be specific about when the construction would begin.

“Broken boards are repaired immediately to avoid accidents, and we hope to start building a new bridge soon,” he added. l

Suspected robber lynched in Gazipur n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

A man, suspected to be a robber, was allegedly lynched by a mob in Kashimpur area in the city yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Ashraf Ali,35, son of Ayub Ali of Pangashia village under Dumki upazila in Patuakhali.

SI Zakir Hossain of Joydebpur police station said a gang of robbers had entered the house of one Mithu Sarker in the area at night. On information, locals announced the incident through loudspeaker of the village mosque. The villagers caught Ashraf while other robbers managed to flee the scene after they were chased. Locals beat up him leaving critically injured.

Later, police rescued him and sent to Shahid Tajuddin Ahmad Medical College where on duty doctors declared him dead, said the SI. l

Baruni Snan begins in Panchagarh n Our Correspondent, Panchagarh “Baruni Snan,” (Baruni bath) an age-old religious event of Hindus began in Boalmari Baruni village yesterday in Boda upazila under Panchagarh district.

A large number of devotees thronged the Korotoa River bank to take a holy bath, a symbolic gesture believed to wash away sins.

Alongside the religious event, the Boalmari Baruni Ganga Temple Committee organised a seven-day fair at the venue. Over 200 stalls at the fair displayed handicrafts, pottery, handmade toys, and other household items.

Traders from Thakurgaon, Dinajpur and Nilphamari participated at the fair. Performance of puppeteers and circus teams added to the spirit of the event.

Local cultural groups and artistes are scheduled to perform everyday in the evening during the three-day event.

President of Boalmari Baruni Ganga Temple committee Dhoni Ram Chandra told the Dhaka Tribune: “Baruni Snan is an annual event that begins on the 13th of Bangla month Chaitra. Around four to five lakh devotees from different parts of the country take the holy dip in the river every year.”

However, this year the turnout of devotees was comparatively less due to the continuous transport blockade programme of BNP, said Dhoni. l

Two Hindu devotees offer prayers before taking the holy Baruni bath on the bank of the Korotoa River in Boalmari Baruni village in Boda upazila, Panchagarh yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Teachers demand national pay scale n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Teachers and employees of non-government educational institutions held a symbolic procession with padlocks in Barisal yesterday, demanding job nationalisation and unconditional inclusion in the new pay-scale.

Under the banner of the Jatiya Shikkhak Karmachari Front the procession started from City College campus.

Professor Mohsin ul Islam, divisional convener of the front, said if their demands were not met, they would lock their respective educational institutions with the padlocks that

they brought at the rally.

A number of leaders and activists of the front called upon the teachers of non-government schools, colleges and madrasas to stand united in order to press the demands.

The speakers at the demonstration claimed that the stance of government regarding teachers and employees of the government and non-government educational institutions was “discriminatory.”

Government had neither included the teachers and employees of non-government educational institutions in the new pay-scale, nor had declared separate pay-commission

for them, they said adding that the teachers and employees of government educational institutions would be automatically be included in the newly prepared pay-scale, like any other government service holder.

Demanding an unbiased education policy, they said their programme was not against the government but against the discrimination present in the system.

Their other demands included quick implementation of the National Education Policy 2010, increase in house rent, medical and festival allowances and fixing the retirement age of teachers at 65. l

Tk2 crore smuggled drug destroyed n Our Correspondent, Chapainawabganj A large of quantity of smuggled drugs including wine, phensidyl, heroin, hemp and yaba tablets worth about Tk2 crore was destroyed in BGB head quarters in Chapainawabganj yesterday. Sources said members of the law enforcers recovered the drug during several drives in last 10 months in frontier areas under the district. High officials of law enforcers including BGB commander Colonel Abu Zafar Sheikh and Superintendent of Police Al Mamun were present during the incident. l

DT

NEWS 9

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Arbitrator in Kishoreganj rape case sent to jail n Our Correspondent, Kishoreganj

A woman collects potatoes from Barind soil in Chhoyghati village of Godagari upazila under Rajshahi district yesterday

AZAHAR UDDIN

Ferry not fixed in 4 days, causes massive tailback in Bhola n Our Correspondent, Bhola

seen waiting on the Bhola side of the terminal and 50 on the Lakshmipur side.

The goods transporters said they are fearing the perishable goods including watermelons, potatoes might start rotting before they get a chance to cross the river. Many of them have been waiting for two days at the ferry terminal.

Ferry incharge Alam said they are getting engine parts for the ferry from Dhaka as it could not be found in the Lakshmipur workshop. He could not say for certain how long it might take for the parts to arrive. l

Travellers and traders are stuck in a severe queue-up at the Bhola-Lakshmipur ferry terminal as one of the ferries is still out of order four days later after it malfunctioned on Sunday night.

Hundreds of perishable-goods-carrying trucks are being held up four hours on both sides of the river, with only one ferry active at the terminal. The traders are concerned of their produce going bad before reaching the markets. The ferry incharge is unable to as-

certain when the ferry may be fixed.

This ferry terminal is very important for Bhola as it is the only direct convenient route connecting Bhola to the 21 districts in the south of Bangladesh.

Ferry in-charge Abu Alam Bhuiyan told this correspondent yesterday that the ferry Krishani malfunctioned while carrying over passengers and vehicles from Lakshmipur to Bhola on March 15 at night. Although one of the ferries, Kanakchapa, is still active, vehicles are forming long queues on both banks of the river.

Until yesterday evening, 39 vehicles were

Two hotel workers burnt to death n Our Correspondent, Lakshmipur

Gang confines and rapes widow for six days

Two hotel workers were burnt alive as a fire broke out at a restaurant near Ramganj upazila land office in the district early yesterday.

The victims were Chowdhury Miah, 42, son of Abdul Haque of Darbeshpur village of Ramganj upazila and Abdus Salam, 12, son of Shawpan Miah of Varail village in Shariatpur district.

The fire originated from a gas cylinder at the restaurant of one Nurul Islam near the land office around 3am and soon engulfed the adjacent shops, leaving the two dead as they were staying inside the hotel, said Rafikul Islam, station officer of Ramganj Fire Station.

On information, fire fighters rushed to the spot and doused the fire with the help of locals.

Police recovered the bodies and sent those to Sadar Hospital morgue.

Lokman Hossain, officer-in-charge of Ramganj police station confirmed the incident. l

n Our Correspondent, Bagerhat Police yesterday recovered a housewife who was gang raped and confined in a house for six days in Kumarkhali village of Rampal upazila, Bagerhat.

The gang abducted the woman, whose husband had died a few years ago, on Thursday and took her to a boat where they raped the woman repeatedly.

The criminals later took the housewife to a solitary house and confined her there so that local people could not sense their misdeeds.

Being informed by neighboring people, Talukder Nazmul Kabir, union parishad chairman, informed police about the matter. Then, police with the help of local people rescued the woman from the clutches of the rapists in the morning.

But sensing the presence of the law enforcers, the criminals made their way.

In the afternoon, the medical test of the victim, who has a 12-year-old daughter, was done. Brother-in-law of the victim filed a case with Rampal police station against four unidentified people under Children and Women Prevention act.

The victim while talking to journalists said: “I along with my brother-in-law went to Boro Sannasi Phultola village to take part in religious programme. When I went to toilet, the miscreants abducted me and took to a boat.

“Since then, I have remained confined in a house where the miscreants tortured me again and again.”

Local people alleged that some local goons under the shelter of a union parishad chairman Rafiqul Islam had been doing crime one after another. But, Rafiqul Islam said his local rivals were hatching conspiracy against him to tarnish his image. l

Anwara Khatun, the arbitrator who settled a rape case with money without notifying police in Kishoreganj Sadar upazila, has been arrested and sent to jail.

Police arrested her from her residence around 9pm on Tuesday, and presented her before Kishoreganj Court 1 yesterday, where Senior Judicial Magistrate Alaul Akbar ordered to send her to prison, said Saifur Rahman, OC of investigation at Sadar police station.

The accused confessed to having played the main arbitrator in settling the rape incident in exchange of money, the OC said.

The rape took place on Monday night in Sahera Mahmud Arif Government Primary School in Bogadia area of Sadar upazila. The victim is a Class V student, and the rapists are school night guard Rafiqul Islam and his accomplice Jalal Uddin. They were caught red-handed by the locals and given a good beating before Anwara interfered.

Sources said instead of notifying police of the rape, Anwara, who is the president of the school’s management committee, settled the case at her home along with some local influentials by imposing a fine of Tk30,000 on the rapists.

However, the money was gobbled up by the arbitrators, sources claimed.

When contacted, Anwara admitted to playing the role of arbitrator and said: “The girl’s (victim) character is not good, that is why we settled the matter with Tk30,000 to avoid legal complexities.”

But Kishoreganj Superintendent of Police Anwar Hossain said rape cases cannot be settled through arbitration. “We have to take legal action in this regard.”

He also said police were searching for the two rapists, who went into hiding after the incident.

Locals claimed Rafiqul, one of the rapists, have committed such heinous crime before, but the management committee has always covered for him. The victims did not file complained against him fearing social stigma. l

Two killed in gas cylinder blast n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj A balloon trader along with his assistant was killed while two others got seriously injured in gas cylinder blast at a fair in Urakandia under Kashiyani upazila of Gopalganj early yesterday.

Of the deceased, one was identified as Polash while the identity of the another could not be known.

Sub-Inspector of Ramdia police camp Kashiani Rathindranath Tarafdar said: “The gas cylinder went off around 7:30am with a big bang while they were pumping gas into the balloons at the fair of Matua community in the area, leaving one person dead on the spot and three critically injured.”

Of the injured one succumbed to his injures on way to Kashiani Upazila Health Complex.

Monirul Islam, officer-in-charge of Kashiyani police station, said the bodies were recovered and sent to Gopalganj General Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

The injured were admitted to local hospitals in critical condition, he added. l

DT

10 WORLD

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

In three-day push, Netanyahu draws right-wing votes and captures Israel

Russia stirs anger with South Ossetia ‘annexation’

n AFP

Russia yesterday signed a wide-ranging alliance with Georgia’s breakaway region of South Ossetia that will further cement its control over the territory despite fierce condemnation from the West.

President Vladimir Putin inked a deal in Moscow with South Ossetian leader Leonid Tibilov that officially makes Russia responsible for defending the self-declared republic, where the Kremlin has stationed thousands of troops since a war with Georgia there in 2008.

The signing of the controversial pact came as Russia marked one year to the day since Putin signed off on the annexation of Ukraine’s Black Sea republic of Crimea in a seismic shift slammed by Kiev and the West as an illegal land grab.

Putin hailed the “landmark” agreement after the signing ceremony in the Kremlin, saying it would bind Russia and South Ossetia even closer together.

“A joint defence and security zone will be created between our two countries, our customs agencies will be integrated and border crossings for our citizens will become open,” Putin said. l

Schoolboy’s design to grace new British £1 coin Benjamin Netanyahu places a note yesterday at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem following his party’s victory in Israel’s general election

n

Reuters

As the dust settles on a dramatic election, the immediate questions are how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu managed to stage such a fierce comeback, why the opposition fell short and what it means for Israel, the Palestinians and the world.

Four days before the vote, Netanyahu looked all but out for the count, with the last opinion polls giving the center-left Zionist Union a four-seat lead - enough not only to win but potentially to form a governing coalition.

Even Netanyahu, a veteran campaigner who has emerged victorious from three elections in the past, seemed to think his days were numbered, saying there was a “real danger” he would lose and calling on his rightwing base to turn out.

But in the final three days of campaign-

ing - and on the day of the vote itself - “Bibi” went on a tear, giving more interviews than he has given in years and making a series of right-wing pledges designed to attract nationalist voters.

Visiting the Har Homa settlement in the West Bank, a development he authorised when he was first prime minister in 1997, he promised to go on building Jewish homes on occupied land the Palestinians want for a state, and acknowledged the settlement was designed to cut Palestinians off from Jerusalem.

In an interview the same day he promised that if he were re-elected he would not allow the establishment of a Palestinian state, a statement that flew in the face of his own past commitments and decades of international efforts to find a two-state solution to the conflict.

AFP

At every opportunity he said his Likud party risked losing and sowed fears about what it would mean for Israelis’ security and the spread of militant Islam if the center-left were allowed to secure victory.

And on Tuesday - as the vote was underway - he railed against what he called “leftwing organisations” that he said were busing Arab-Israelis to the polls in an effort to bolster the center-left and oust him from office.

While to many Israelis his comments sounded like the rantings of someone facing defeat after six straight years in power, they were carefully calibrated to prod the rightand far-right vote and close the gap with the center-left.

“Seats changed hands within the right and center-left blocs but otherwise not much really changed,” said Gideon Rahat, a professor of political science at Hebrew University. l

n AFP

A design drawn by a schoolboy has been chosen to grace one side of Britain’s new 12-edged £1 coin when it is introduced in 2017, the government said yesterday.

David Pearce, 15, from Walsall in central England, received a surprise phone call from finance minister George Osborne this week to congratulate him on winning a competition launched by the Royal Mint.

Pearce beat 6,000 other applicants with his design incorporating a rose, leek, thistle and shamrock – symbolising the four countries of the United Kingdom – and a royal coronet.

“I spent a lot of time researching what coin designs looked like and what sort of designs would represent all parts of the UK before submitting my idea, and I honestly cannot believe I have won,” he said.

The £1 coin that has been in used for the past 30 years is being replaced with a 12-edged piece that officials say will be harder to fake. l

As nuclear deadline nears, fears Saudi may try to match Iran n AFP Fears that Shiite Iran will remain a potential nuclear threat under a mooted international deal have raised concerns that Sunni rival Saudi Arabia could seek its own atomic capability.

As the March 31 deadline for talks between Tehran and world powers approaches, an influential Saudi prince has suggested his country will respond in kind if a final deal leaves open the possibility of a nuclear Iran.

Saudi Prince Turki al-Faisal warned this month that a deal between Tehran and the so-called P5+1 powers (Britain, France, China, Russia, the United States plus Germany) could spark a nuclear race in the region.

“I’ve always said whatever comes out of these talks, we will want the same,” Prince Turki, the kingdom’s former intelligence chief

and ex-envoy to Washington, told the BBC. “So if Iran has the ability to enrich uranium to whatever level, it’s not just Saudi Arabia that’s going to ask for that.

“The whole world will be an open door to go that route without any inhibition, and that’s my main objection to this P5+1 process,” he said.

Negotiators are trying this week in Switzerland to reach a deal over Iran’s nuclear programme, which Tehran insists is peaceful but which world powers fear will give the Islamic republic a nuclear weapon.

Under a landmark November 2013 interim deal, Tehran stopped expanding its nuclear activities in return for minor relief from sanctions which have crippled its economy.

Tehran and the international group are still far apart on key issues including the future size of Iran’s capacity for uranium en-

richment, a process which can make nuclear fuel but also the ingredients for a bomb.

As the deadline nears, Washington appears to have abandoned demands that Iran completely dismantle its nuclear activities, raising fears in the Gulf, where Saudi Arabia has long vied with Iran for regional influence.

“There is a concern that Saudi Arabia and perhaps other states in the region may now seek similar capabilities” to Iran’s, said Mark Fitzpatrick, director of the non-proliferation and disarmament programme at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies.

“Seeing how costly this has been for Iran, however, I expect the kingdom will think twice about going down such a route.”

The oil-rich region is already looking to diversify its energy sources with nuclear power. The first of four reactors being built for the

United Arab Emirates by a South Korea-led consortium is to come online in 2017.

Saudi Arabia, the Arab world’s largest economy, this month signed a preliminary deal for technical and other nuclear cooperation with South Korea.

Still, experts said that even if Arab Gulf states develop atomic energy, they would be a long way from possessing nuclear weapons.

With most lacking technology for nuclear enrichment, if they wanted to quickly acquire weapons-grade material they would have to buy it, said Anthony Cordesman of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.

“Then the only way they could turn it into weapons, given their technology base, would be to have access to the weapons designs of a country like Pakistan,” he said. l

DT

WORLD 11

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Obama: Rise of ISIS linked to Iraq invasion n The Independent President Obama claims rise of ISIS is ‘unintended consequence’ of George W. Bush’s invasion in Iraq Barack Obama has placed the blame for the swift rise of ISIS at George W. Bush’s feet by suggesting its growth was an unintended consequence of the US invasion of Iraq.

The US President made the comments as he spoke with Vice News about a number of issues currently affecting America.

ISIS began its rapid and bloody advance across Iraq last year, taking over swathes of the country and territories in Syria, later declaring a ‘caliphate’ across areas under its control.

The extremist group has committed a number of atrocities in these areas, including mass beheadings, public executions and the kidnapping of women from minority groups who were sold into sexual slavery.

Obama said: “Two things: one is, ISIS is a direct outgrowth of al-Qaida in Iraq that grew out of our invasion. Which is an example of unintended consequences. Which is why we should generally aim before we shoot.

“We’ve got a 60 country coalition. We will slowly push back ISIS out of Iraq,” he continued, adding: “I’m confident that will happen.”

However, Obama voiced concerns about the “underlying problem of disaffected Sunnis,” particularly in areas such as Libya and Yemen.

Explaining reasons people in those regions

Iraqi policemen stand next to Islamic State (IS) group ammunition in the Al-Alam town, northeast of the Iraqi city of Tikrit, on March 17, 2015 after recapturing the town from IS fighters earlier in the month AFP may have for joining militant groups such as Isis, Obama said: “Where a young man who is growing up has no education and no prospects for the future, is looking around, and the one way that he can get validation, power, respect is if he’s a fighter. And this looks like the toughest gang around, so let

me affiliate with them.

“And now you’re giving me a religious rationale for doing this.”

Obama’s interview also touched on climate change, Iran, the economy and the debate surrounding the legalisation of cannabis - something he suggested young people

should be less focused on.

“Young people, I understand this is important to you, but you should be thinking about climate change, the economy, war and peace,” he said.

“Maybe way at the bottom you should be thinking about marijuana.” l

Lawyer for Pakistan doctor, who helped trace Osama, shot dead

n Agencies

The counsel for Dr Shakil Afridi, the jailed Pakistani doctor who had helped the CIA in tracking the al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden in Pakistan’s northwest, was shot dead in Peshawar on Tuesday evening.

Samiullah Afridi, Dr Afridi’s lawyer, had fled to UAE in December 2013 due to threat from militants but had been occasionally visiting Pakistan while keeping a low profile. He had only recently returned to Pakistan after having spent three months abroad. Officials at local police station said that unknown assailants gunned down Samiullah when he was traveling in his car on Warsak Road.

He was critically injured in the attack and later succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.

Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) faction Jundullah has taken responsibility of the attack. The Pakistani state, minority communities and minority Muslim sects — Shiias and Sufis — have so far been the group’s prime targets. l

At least seven foreigners killed in attack on Tunis museum

n AFP

At least seven foreigners and a Tunisian were killed yesterday when gunmen carried out a brazen daytime attack on a famed museum next to parliament in Tunis, officials said.

“A terrorist attack (targeted) the Bardo Museum,” ministry spokesman Mohamed Ali Aroui told reporters, adding that the assault was by “two or more terrorists armed with Kalashnikovs.”

“There are eight victims” including “seven foreigners,” Aroui said, adding that about 100 tourists had been inside the museum at the time of the attack.

“The majority of tourists were evacuated,” he said.

Aroui refused to confirm reports of a hostage taking inside the museum, but added “there is information according to which there are still tourists” in the building.

“Anti-terrorist units have entered the museum,” and the surrounding area had been cordoned off, he said. l

DT

12 EDITORIAL

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Government must act on abductions

I

t is deeply concerning that law enforcement agencies have not been able to trace BNP joint secretary general Salahuddin Ahmed who went missing on March 12.

High court proceedings seeking an order on the government to produce him before the court have now been adjourned until April 8.

This case is one of a growing number of enforced disappearances which have seen over 300 people from all walks of life become victim to abduction and kidnapping since 2007.

According to Ain O Salish Kendra, 88 people were victims of forced disappearances during 2014. Nearly half these people are still unaccounted for. Of the 46 people located, half were found dead and the remainder were produced or located in the custody of law enforcers.

It is a matter of grave concern for all citizens that so many abductions can take place in our country and there are allegations of kidnapping and violence being used for political purposes.

Any allegations of people being abducted into secret detention by law enforcers have to be fully investigated. Whether carried out for the purposes of extortion or other criminality, or to stifle political competition, there must be zero tolerance for all forms of kidnapping and abduction.

The state’s foremost duty is to protect all citizens. The government has to do more to bring as many victims as possible safely home to their families and to prevent future incidents.

Any persons or groups implicated in disappearances, must be held to account.

There must be zero tolerance and full investigations to prevent abductions

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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All are simply not equal February 22

Osmania Good article. The author poses pertinent, challenging questions, more please.

Fanatic Farabi threatened to kill Avijit

European support shows AIIB’s potential

W

e welcome Tuesday’s announcement by France and Germany that they intend to join the new Beijing based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

They follow the UK which was the first Western economy to apply for membership of AIIB. The new China-led institution which has the support of 22 Asian nations, including Bangladesh, aims to raise $100bn to fund rail, road, power, and other key infrastructure projects across Asia.

Its founding has been resisted by the United States which considers it a rival to the World Bank and IMF. With key EU nations now showing support for the AIIB, there is hope that other important economies such as Australia may give a boost to this new multilateral funding instritution.

With best estimates suggesting Bangladesh needs to invest $74bn in infrastructure to bring power grids, roads, and water supplies up to global standards, it is encouraging to see more support for the AIIB. Infrastructure investment in Bangladesh is presently only around 3% of GDP, a fraction of the proportion achieved by many other nations.

Investing in infrastructure is key to fulfilling the goal of becoming a middle-income country. Every little bit of additional resource created for infrastructure investments is welcome as a possible means of boosting the funding available to plug gaps in our infrastructure.

The involvement of more nations should also help ensure AIIB implements international best practices in procurement and safeguarding environmental and social standards.

We hope the new boost will pay dividends in increasing funding available for infrastructure investment in Bangladesh.

A welcome boost for funds available to plug infrastructure gap

February 28

sundar What the author says is indisputable. Ours is a totally fake society. Our character can be best defined by an anecdote: A Moulana was found giving lectures to a big gathering of “dharma pran” audience. Citing the holy scripts, he reminded the audience that, according to the teachings of Islam, they must not behave with anybody, even with their servants, how they themselves do not expect from them. And after the waj mahfil was over, he went back to his home and, having seen that his dinner had not been served on the table, he reprimanded his domestic help.

DT

Fresh hartal from tomorrow

February 21 hogachenn Don’t they just love turning an already bad situation to an even bigger one?

The river called Bangla Foysal Abdulla Can’t believe this guy is an ex-Notredamian!

Samar Almont There is a huge problem among Muslims.

Can you imagine a woman, who apparently did not listen to her father or husband, was whipped by a man in a village gathering?

How disgraceful.

And many normal, sane-looking and talking people would agree to that! They say that it’s based on religious text. What text are we reading! It doesn’t say that we need to use our minds. A man had the courage to write. If many of us did, would we all be killed? I doubt it. There would be more awareness. I hope.

February 21 riazo Where there is no Bangla word for a foreign one, it is natural for the foreign word or concept to creep in to the language. But when Bengalis use English words for which perfectly good Bangla ones exist (out of a sense of fashion, style, modernism, education, or just damn laziness), then that is preposterous.

The foreign Bengali speakers are absolutely correct about their observation.

No clear hopes for Teesta water share February 22

Black hole as massive as 12 billion suns found February 27

Mariam Ispahani This is the kind of news that excites me and reminds me how we are so insignificant in the bigger picture!

4-year-old girl raped by neighbour February 28

Babul Sarwar He serves a seven-day complete trial, and hanging till death in an open place.

Dr Ahsan Habib That will be the day, when India/Mamata gives Bangladesh her due share of the Teesta water.

I hear so many people on TV getting all emotional saying the two Bengals are the same, how the people love each other, and how we are one. Then why we are not getting water?

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OPINION 13

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Making the right changes n Mamun Rashid

T

he acquisition of Grindlays Bank by Standard Chartered Bank in 2001 obviously warranted some rearrangement of the leadership roles. Grindlays being a larger bank in Bangladesh, the CEO role went to the CEO of the acquired bank and head of corporate and institutional banking (CIB) to Standard Chartered. I was appointed the CIB head for the combined bank. I had a lesser number of years worth of experience as a CIB head.

However, Boston Consulting Group (BCG), supported by the KPMG Dhaka office, possibly put a lot of emphasis on my stints with both the banks, which included SCB systems, processes and platforms, especially the way corporate risk was being handled.

The incumbent CIB head, Mahmood Sattar, despite having a longer stint in the role, was offered the position of consumer banking head. He was dismayed and decided to explore career opportunities outside SCB. Mr Sattar was very near and dear to me. I called and spoke with the regional HR head requesting him to offer the CIB head role to Mr Sattar and put me in the consumer banking role -- a job I really wanted. Unfortunately, the decision was already made. I was saddened to see Mr Sattar leave.

However, when I look back, I really envy Mr Sattar for what he had done to drive change in the Bangladesh banking sector. He set the reforms parameters right: Centralisation of operations, selecting the right IT delivery platform, putting up right organisation structure, wholesale and retail banking, and most importantly, letting the branch work

as sales and service centres only. Though initially it raised a lot of confusion, criticism, resistance, and denial, it worked. It worked very well.

A dream team put in by Mr Sattar got this rolling. The board, initially having no clue, ultimately succumbed to the vision shared by the team. From the logo to the tagline (simple math), process guide, marketing ethos, selecting the right people for the right job, everything was done right. Asset and liabilities management, handling of the distressed asset, and trade processing, saw dynamic changes.

Though the market looked at the changes with a lot of doubt, the traditional CEOs were trying to personally vilify the change driver, ie Mr Sattar -- and they succeeded. His Eastern Bank (EBL) became a totally changed commercial bank in Bangladesh. His ability to go beyond the box worked well for the entire banking industry.

Many banks, if not all, in their board meetings today want to become another EBL. Mr Sattar moved on, passing the baton to his capable lieutenant Ali Reza Iftehkhar.

Change has become the name of the game in EBL now. They decided to experiment a lot to create customers, and more importantly, uphold shareholders’ pride.

I thought Mr Sattar was done for. Enviably, he bagged a lot of laurels. But he and his team put in another turbulent innings to streamline City Bank Limited -- a first generation distressed bank. The journey was very tough, with the old guards not subscribing to the change process. I can tell you that the team there did a good job.

BIGSTOCK

Though I am not yet sure whether their AMEX cards or GEM banking make enough money, they are creating a lot of “customer wows” day-in and day-out. More praiseworthy is that they have a bunch of satisfied and hard-working people who share the same vision, making constant “customer delight” as their main goal.

Change is the most important thing in the commercial world, and banking is no exception. Since the entire world is changing with new innovations, new styles, shifts in the clientele, changes in customer choices and lifestyle with new technology, and new solution-building -- if you are not changing,

you are going backwards. That is why we have seen the premature deaths of so many commercial institutions and corporate bodies.

However, change is always tough, and managing the actual process with the one destination model and holding the team together is the toughest. One has to sell the “need for change” internally, externally, and most importantly, with the regulators, and obtain their “buy-in.” Again, if you are not changing with the changing times, you are in the Dead Poets Society. l Mamun Rashid is a business professor and financial sector entrepreneur.

Population doom and gloom n Monica Islam

H

ead to any educational institution in Bangladesh, and you will find students scurrying for seats -- approximately 125 centres of higher learning in Bangladesh were entrusted with the matriculation of 885,070 high-school graduates in 2014 alone. The capital city Dhaka is home to about 15.9 million impoverished people, who -- owing to their poverty -- are prone to taking criminal measures to satisfy their basic needs.

The significance of a growing population cannot, and should not, be undermined. The United States boasts the highest nominal GDP in the world and holds the 10th position to have the highest GDP at purchasing power parity (PPP) per capita. Declining and ageing populations are major concerns for any country that wants to perform well on the economic frontier.

Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister of Singapore, notes in his article for Forbes Magazine: “To have babies is, of course, a personal decision, but for a nation’s population that decision carries considerable consequences.” In that same article, he delineates the situation of Singapore, a country that is witnessing a steady decline in its population.

He concludes with a list of measures taken

by Singapore’s government to encourage mothers to bear not one, not two, but “three

or four -- or more -- children.”

One cannot turn away from the fact that Pakistan, despite being the sixth most populous country in the world, is 46th among countries with the highest nominal GDP in the world and 135th among countries with the highest GDP at PPP per capita in the world, or that the Environmental Performance Index 2014 (produced by Yale University and Columbia University) places Bangladesh ninth among 178 countries with the worst air quality in the world.

Jubilant experts coin fancy theories, much to the dismay of an ordinary woman who cannot walk from points A to C without being elbowed by fellow pedestrians in overcrowded cities. However, the key is indeed in population management; not population.

The “replacement rate” (reproduction rate that keeps a population stable) for developed nations is 2.1. The United States is an exemplary nation that seems to have grasped and implemented the concept of population management thoroughly.

It has maintained its population close to the replacement rate at 2, and is therefore not ageing as fast as many other countries. It is disposed to become, in LK Yuan’s words: “The slowly ageing leader of a rapidly ageing world.”

Let us now turn our attention to India. Almost 66% of India’s population comprises of youths, making it the largest source of young

people in the world. The median age is 27, compared to 37 in the US and 46 in Japan.

The consequences of an ageing population will be slower and less dramatic in India, given its government invests in education and training of young people without any discrimination. India’s case illustrates the concept of “demographic dividend.”

Bangladesh presents a unique, paradoxical story.

On one hand, the median age in Bangladesh as of 2010 is 24 -- even lower than that of India.

Simply put, Bangladesh has a demographic advantage. This alone could make many leaders beam with joy at the prospect of witnessing youth-fuelled economic prosperity.

On the other hand, there are differing reports with regards to the country’s replacement rate. It is estimated at 2.45 as of 2014 by the CIA. The World Bank puts the rate of Bangladesh at 2.2 as of 2012. In either case, the rate is higher than desired for a nation that has still retained the LDC status since 1975 -- only four years into the country’s inception.

With such a backdrop, it is pragmatic for leaders in Bangladesh to advocate for a small family until the replacement rate becomes well-suited for a developing country.

Simultaneously, the leaders of this country -- which is the 14th most corrupt in the world as of 2014 (Transparency International, 2014) -- must invest in education, training, and infrastructure development to utilise the

demographic advantage to its fullest, so that there is room for everyone without the need for nudging.

Additionally, world leaders need to appeal for structured, gender-sensitive sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) education in the national curriculum. This is necessary to prevent a population mismanagement arising out of unwanted pregnancies and violation of SRHR. Young people who want to learn more about sexuality and intimacy often fall prey to unstructured sources, such as pornographic materials, which do not elucidate on rights, choices, and population implications.

Furthermore, world leaders need to recognise adoption as a plausible means of replacement migration/integration, and to remove social, legal, and religious barriers for infertile couples who want to adopt.

It is important for world leaders to chalk out population management strategies based on each country’s unique demography -- there is no one-size-fits-all prescription. The population of each country needs to be managed effectively to make the best use of human potential, before the population spirals out of control towards an unwanted direction -- be it declining, ageing, booming, or idling. Failing to do that, humans will die, not of plagues and wars, but of an uncontrolled population. l Monica Islam is a freelance contributor.

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14 OPINION

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

A breakthrough for the Sundarbans n Risalat Khan

I

somehow suspect climate change is the last thing on your mind when our political climate has changed to Dante’s Inferno in the last two months.

Unfortunately, the climate has been the same way, though you can replace the “months” with “centuries.” And if you are a rational enough person factoring scientific knowledge into your decision-making and priority-setting, you probably want to be paying attention.

The Category 5 Cyclone Pam just pummeled the tiny island nation of Vanuatu and its 250,000 odd population. About 90% of the capital’s infrastructure was damaged.

The president made an impassioned plea -- ironically from a disaster risk reduction conference -- and said: “We have lost years of development progress … help us rebuild everything.”

Consider the human casualty and misery of extreme events such as this -- which have already become more dangerous due to climate change and only getting worse faster and faster. In Vanuatu, over 100,000 people have been affected. During cyclone Sidr, more than 10,000 of our people were killed.

Does it really matter to the bereaving mother if her son died from a flash flood or a petrol bomb? Is it fair if we do not pay attention to those who we are condemning to death from rising seas and super storms while we reserve our attention solely to those killed from more visible causes?

Unfortunately, we are hard at work killing our best line of defense against those

impending disasters -- the Sundarbans. The mangroves act as a powerful natural shield that protects millions of our people who live close to the coastline.

The Rampal coal power plant has been widely criticised as spelling a death sentence for our treasured forest. But while many expected that the December oil spill would serve as the urgent wake-up call that it was, the government-sanctioned report assessing the spill went so far as to claim limited impacts without even collecting empirical data!

Thankfully, activists and advocates who have been protesting the Rampal coal plant from day-one can celebrate a small, but incredibly important, victory. Norway’s pension fund -- a major wealth fund with over $850bn -- just announced they are withdrawing over Tk400cr worth of investments from the Indian NTPC which is jointly setting up the Rampal plant.

The reason? Rampal.

The decision follows their Council on Ethics report which wrote: “There is an unaccept-

Out of the dirty coal ashes will rise the Sundarbans like a phoenix, and continue to live and protect like it has done for millennia

On the other hand, our resourceful local researchers carried out a much more extensive and scientific study and found concrete empirical evidence of drastic loss of microorganisms and larger life forms in spill-affected areas of the forest.

Rampal, and other major infrastructures close to the Sundarbans, only promises more man-made disasters -- all the while as they contribute to weaken our defense system against natural disasters made worse by climate change.

able risk that NTPC will contribute to severe environmental damage through the building and operation of the power plant at Rampal, including related transportation services.”

To put this decision in a perhaps more relatable context, imagine if Khaleda Zia suddenly said: “Our blockades and hartals are contributing to severe damage. I withdraw them fully because of this unacceptable risk.”

This is therefore a major moment and a well-earned victory for all the individuals of conscience who have spoken out, written,

and marched to ensure that the world knows about the destruction this project will cause.

Now the first domino has fallen. The strong statement by the Council on Ethics, and the major Norway fund’s momentous decision will strengthen the alliance of local and international activists gaining ground in getting other major international investors to withdraw as well.

About 70% of the $1.82bn that Rampal is estimated to cost, has to be borrowed from big financial institutions. Norway’s decision now establishes Rampal as not only just an environmentally devastating project, but a financially risky one as well.

Unfortunately, the government has already invested significantly into this project without a proper and internationally acceptable environmental impact assessment, showing utter disregard for important concerns brought to their attention from all sections of society.

But, as international pressure mounts to desert this project, it is not a question of whether, but when it will finally be abandoned. The more the government fails to see this, the more taxpayers’ money they will lose to protect a dying project.

Fortunately, out of the dirty coal ashes will rise the Sundarbans like a phoenix, and continue to live and protect like it has done for millennia. l Risalat Khan is a social activist and entrepreneur, and works as a Campaigner for Avaaz -- a 41-million person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world’s people shape global decision-making.

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IMF: Emerging markets must prepare for US rate hike

17

Asian business sentiment steady in Q1

19

Stocks continue to tumble as political strife festers

20

DT

Business

15

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Danish trade minister worried over political crisis

Telcos for rescheduling spectrum auction n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Mobile phone operators in the country will file two separate applications today, one to telecom regulator for rescheduling the spectrum auction, and another to finance minister for resolving the industry disputes over the upcoming 2G and 3G spectrum auction scheduled on April 30.

Senior executives of different mobile phone operators said this after a meeting with Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose.

“In the meeting we requested the chairman to make some delay for the upcoming

H&M to take aggressive buying approach for Bangladesh n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Global retailer H&M is going to pursue an aggressive approach to buy more readymade garments from Bangladesh.

“We have aggressive growth plan [for Bangladesh],” H&M Senior Executive Johan Stellansson told a workshop on multi-stakeholder engagement on water resources management in Bangladesh at a city hotel yesterday.

If Bangladesh wants to export $50 billion worth of readymade garment products by 2021, it needs aggressive implementation plan, he said. Private sector operators like H&M will play a facilitating role in this regard.

Later, Worldwide Fund for Nature official Laila Petrie made a presentation on behalf of H&M. She said the Water Act 2013 is a strong policy but it did not cover water pollution and drinking water provisions sufficiently.

She said interaction among institutions is one of the biggest challenges for implementing good water governance, and there is significant opportunity for improvement.

The penalties for non-compliance of the act are very low and there is significant potential in the delegation of monitoring powers to local public representatives to improve implementation.

Senior IFC official Bastiaan Mohrmann said people, economic growth and ecosystem are the main focus in Bangladesh.

He said he first came to Bangladesh in 1982 to work in a project and that time the main problem was too much water.

But now, it is occasionally heard that there is too much water and that is a big difference, he said. l

auction of 2G and 3G spectrum, but he refused to do that,” a chief executive officer of a mobile phone operator told the Dhaka Tribune last evening, seeking anonymity.

All CEOs from five private mobile phone operators were present in the meeting, where they placed the previous unresolved SIM replacement tax issue.

Before the first 3G spectrum auction in 2013, the telecom regulator and the Finance Ministry also assured the opertors of solving the issue but it still remains unresolved.

On March 1, parent companies of the four leading mobile operators of Bangladesh expressed their inability to participate in the

upcoming spectrum auction.

They sent a joint letter to Finance Minister AMA Muhith. The letter said the parent companies are interested in acquiring more spectrum for better services, but their investors are not.

As the unresolved issue was further placed in the meeting yesterday BTRC chairman once again requested the operators to write the finance minister about it.

“We are going to write a detail letter to the finance minister on Thursday,” said the CEO. The government is scheduled to auction the remaining spectrum of 1,800MHz for 2G service and 2,100MHz for 3G service on April 30 and could earn $648 million if all the spec-

trum blocks are sold at the base prices.

“Operators have lots of unresolved issues like SIM replacement tax and VAT issue and they are concerned about it. Before making any conclusive decision they need to be clear about it,” TIM Nurul Kabir, secretary general of Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) told the Dhaka Tribune.

Sources said except the lone state-owned mobile operator, Teletlak, all other operators are preparing for spectrum auction and March 29 is the last date for filing applications for participating in the bid.

Earlier in 2013, 3G spectrum auction was rescheduled for fourth time. l

First-ever global cotton summit in Dhaka n Tribune Report

A two-day international cotton summit will begin tomorrow at Radisson Hotel in Dhaka in a bid to improve relations between buyers and suppliers of the product.

Styled as “Global Cotton Summit Bangladesh -2015,” the event is first of its kind in the country, being organised jointly by Bangladesh Cotton Association (BCA) and Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA).

Textiles and Jute Minister Mohammad Imaj Uddin Pramanik is expected to inaugurate the summit, said the organisers at a press conference yesterday.

The organisers said the cotton suppliers and buyers had been engaged in disputes because of problems related to weight, quality and LC opening.

Such disputes led to the souring of relations between the parties.

The organisers hope the summit will help better the prevailing situation.

“Buyers make short-weight and quality claims against the supplied cotton while sellers complain about late LC opening. As huge sums of money are involved with all these allegations, the relation between them becomes worse,” said BTMA president Tapan Chowdhury.

Bangladesh is not a cotton growing country but has a spinning industry which has developed a lot, he said.

The country’s spinning mills have to import about 90% of its cotton demand, but the whole demand of yarns is met locally, Tapan said.

According to BTMA data, Bangladesh is the second largest cotton importing country and the import has seen a 65% growth in last one decade.

In the 2005, the import of cotton was 3m bale which rose to 5.5bn in 2014.

Bangladesh has set a target to earn $50bn from the textile and clothing sector.

“It is possible, but to achieve this target, we have to ensure uninterrupted supply

BCA and BTMA officials address a press conference yesterday, held to announce a two-day international cotton summit in Dhaka from tomorrow DHAKA TRIBUNE chain of fabrics and yarn,” BTMA president emphasised.

“Supply chain of cotton, the main raw material of fabrics, is also very important, and the summit will help in this regard,” he added.

In the summit, there will have 13 sessions on the subjects including Bangladesh spinning industry in next decade, global cotton outlook, Bangladesh economy in next 10 years, Indian cotton, new development, US cotton industry and supply chain marketing, impact of cotton quality on textile mills, efficiency- value vs price, cotton industry in Bangladesh: buyers and sellers perspective, cotton production in Bangladesh and its challenges, presentation on ICA rules, risk management, textile industry going green and cotton university and cotton leads.

Indian Cotton Association, African Cotton Association, Karachi Cotton Association and other leading cotton organisations along with global cotton shippers, traders and merchants will participate in the summit.

BTMA vice president Showkat Aziz Russel and BCA president Muhammad Ayub were also present at the press conference. l

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16 BUSINESS

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

IMF: Emerging markets must prepare for US rate hike n Reuters, Mumbai Emerging markets need to be prepared for the impact of a rise in US interest rates which could still surprise in both timing and pace, the head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, said on Tuesday.

In a speech in Mumbai, Lagarde warned that there could be a repeat of the so-called “taper tantrum” seen in 2013 when then Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke’s mere mention of trimming the Fed’s bond purchase programme was met with a global market selloff.

“The danger is that vulnerabilities that build up during a period of very accommodative monetary policy can unwind suddenly when such policy is reversed, creating substantial market volatility,” Lagarde said in the speech at the Reserve Bank of India.

“We already got a taste of it during the taper tantrum ... I am afraid this may not be a one-off episode. This is so, because the timing of interest rate lift-off and the pace of subsequent rate increases can still surprise markets.”

Advanced economies could help reduce the risk of market volatility by communicating policy intentions clearly. However, emerging markets that had tackled economic vulnerabilities had fared better when shockwaves hit in 2013, she said.

“In particular, higher GDP growth, stronger external current account positions, lower inflation and more liquid financial markets helped dampen market volatility,” Lagarde said, adding that a more resilient financial services sector would help. India was pursuing reforms that were “timely, but will also need to be pursued with the utmost speed”, she said.

Lagarde said central banks should also stand ready to act, with both liquidity support and targeted foreign exchange interventions.

She justified the right of major central banks to engage in unconventional monetary policies, saying they were not “supposed to

‘US credibility at risk if IMF reforms not approved’ n AFP, Washington

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde attends an extraordinary euro zone finance ministers meeting in Brussels REUTERS last forever.”

“They are of a temporary nature, and they were clearly intended by all those who articulated their vision about unconventional monetary policies to deal with specific issues and particular circumstances,” she said during a question-and-answer session after the speech.

Lagarde also described cooperation among central banks on their unconventional monetary policies as “solid and frequent so that there can be good anticipation, good preparation, by those who will be suffering or receiving the spillover effect.”

Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan, however, said cooperation between central banks globally required more action.

“My sense is appetite for global cooperation is smaller than one might wish,” he noted. “We hope that when push comes to shove cooperation would emerge.”

India has unexpectedly cut interest rates twice this year at unscheduled meetings. In a statement announcing its latest cut on March 4 the RBI said the possible spillover of volatility from international financial markets was a “significant risk”. l

NEWS IN BRIEF Japan’s trade deficit shrinks 47.3% on-year in February Japan’s trade deficit nearly halved year-on-year in February as lower oil prices helped reduce the cost of imports, official data showed yesterday, with analysts saying Tokyo could achieve a surplus soon. The monthly deficit came in at 424.6bn yen ($3.5bn), down 47.3% from a year ago and well below the median forecast of 1tn yen in a survey by the Nikkei business daily. Exports in the month rose 2.4% to 5.94tn yen, the sixth consecutive year-on-year increase, chiefly on higher shipments of automobiles, electronic parts and machine tools, the finance ministry said. Imports fell 3.6% to 6.36tn yen, the first decline in two months, as lower oil prices helped reduce energy bills for the resource-poor nation, it said. Lower costs of liquefied natural gas (LNG) also reduced Japan’s huge post-Fukushima energy bills. Japan’s LNG imports remained high as utilities are forced into thermal power generation, with the country’s entire fleet of nuclear reactors still offline, more than four years after the disaster at Fukushima. SMBC Nikko Securities said that Japan’s overall exports would expand further mainly thanks to strong demand in the US market. Shipments bound for the United States jumped 14.3% in value last month, the sixth straight year-on-year gain, the ministry said. Its exports to the European Union rose 1.9% but those to China plunged 17.3%, it said. “The trade balance may swing back into the black as early as March and (Japan) will then expand its trade surplus,” the Japanese securities firm said in a note. Hideaki Kikuchi, economist at Japan Research Institute, said Japan’s trade balance is likely to swing back into the black “at least temporarily.” “It’s still hard to predict if Japan can (stay in) the black for a long

period as its energy-related imports won’t decline easily,” Kikuchi said. He also added that the recent weak yen was also pushing up imports costs. – AFP, Tokyo

Oil prices extend losses in Asia Oil prices extended their losses in Asia yesterday to stay at six-year lows on expectations US crude stockpiles will rise further, in a market already awash with supplies, analysts said. US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for April delivery eased 80 cents to $42.66 in mid-morning trade, the lowest level since March 2009. Brent crude for May fell 20 cents to $53.31 a barrel.

“We expect the US stockpiles to increase further and this will exacerbate the market’s supply concerns,” said David Lennox, a resource analyst with Fat Prophets in Sydney. A Bloomberg News survey showed US crude stockpiles are expected to have increased by 3.3 million barrels to another record 452.2 million in the week ending March 13. The US Energy Information Administration will release the final figure later yesterday. US stockpiles have risen for nine weeks in a row, each time touching a record, helping push prices lower in a market already weighed down by a supply glut after the OPEC oil cartel decided last November to maintain elevated output levels. World oil prices have collapsed by about 60 percent since last June as supply outpaced demand.

Lennox said the gloomy market outlook will only shift if OPEC decides to slash output. “At the moment we are keeping our eyes on OPEC,” he said, referring to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries which is dominated

by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. “They have a meeting in June and we are hopeful they will decide to cut production,” he added. – AFP, Singapore

The credibility of the United States is at risk if Congress fails to approve International Monetary Fund quota and governance reforms, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew warned Tuesday.

“Critically, we are seeking Congressional approval of the IMF quota and governance reforms,” Lew told a hearing of the House of Representatives financial services committee, according to the prepared text.

“Our international credibility and influence are being threatened.”

For more than two years the US Congress has prevented the 2010 IMF reforms from taking effect.

The US is the only member country with veto power over major IMF decisions.

The reforms would give more weight to emerging-market powers, like China, and double the Fund’s permanent financial resources.

That impasse has raised the ire of China and other countries which would benefit from a power structure more representative of the current global economy.

The IMF reforms will help convince emerging economies to remain anchored in the multilateral system that the United States helped design and continues to lead “The proposed reforms will put the IMF’s finances on more stable footing over the long term, help modernize the IMF’s governance structure, and preserve America’s strong leadership role in shaping the institution,” Lew said.

“Our continued failure to approve the IMF quota and governance reforms is causing other countries, including some of our allies, to question our commitment to the IMF and other multilateral institutions that we worked to create and that advance important US and global economic and security interests.”

Lew noted that the reform delay was pushing emerging-market powers to create their own parallel multilateral financial institutions. The BRICS - Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa - announced their own development bank in 2014, and China recently led the launch of a separate institution, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

“The IMF reforms will help convince emerging economies to remain anchored in the multilateral system that the United States helped design and continues to lead,” Lew said.

The Obama administration’s proposed fiscal year 2016 budget includes the increase in the IMF financial commitment. l

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BUSINESS 17

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Asian business sentiment steady in Q1 n Reuters, Shanghai

Concern over a US interest rate hike kept sentiment in check at some of Asia’s biggest firms, as optimism about the outlook for business over the next six months was near steady in the first quarter, a Thomson Reuters/INSEAD survey showed.

The Thomson Reuters/INSEAD Asian Business Sentiment Index was 71 for the March quarter versus 72 three months earlier. A reading above 50 indicates an overall positive view.

Companies in India were the most upbeat for the fourth straight quarter, logging 97 on hopes that low inflation and aggressive interest rate cuts will boost the domestic economy.

Singapore firms registered the least positive outlook for the third consecutive quarter in anticipation of the first US rate hike in almost a decade, which could happen as early as June. Local banks are likely to match the hike, making mortgages expensive and pulling down demand for property.

“There is significant risk as people may have different interpretations of movements in interest rates in a way that can cause dramatic changes in financial markets,” said Antonio Fatas, a Singapore-based economics professor at INSEAD. China’s reading rose to 54 from 50, as businesses became more optimistic about their future amid central bank efforts to moderate the economic slowdown with looser monetary policy, including successive interest rate cuts since late last year.

Optimism slid the most in Australia where firms reported a score of 70 from 85 in the fourth quarter, as falling prices of commodities tempered sentiment in the resource-exporting nation.

The poll, by Thomson Reuters with global business and management school INSEAD, was conducted over the first two weeks of March. Of 111 respondents, 45% reported a positive outlook, 51% were neutral and 4% were negative.

Participating firms included Japanese beverage conglomerate Asahi Group Holdings Ltd, South Korean shipbuilder Hyundai Heavy Industries Co Ltd and Australian building materials maker James Hardie Industries PLC.

Mannequins are displayed at Fast Retailing’s new flagship Uniqlo store at Tokyo’s Ginza district

Rising rates, falling oil

Strong US jobs data has fanned expectations of a rate hike in the next few months. Low US rates had prompted investors to flood Asia with cheap, speculative funds that could be pulled out as the rates rise.

In developed economies such as Singapore, where a property boom is fuelling lending, the knock-on effect of a rise in local rates could make repayments expensive.

“The combination of really rapid lending growth and prospect of rising interest rates is quite worrying,” said Daniel Martin, senior Asia economist at Capital Economics.

Fear of a US hike is balanced somewhat by relief afforded by a drop in global oil prices, reducing energy costs across the board. Oversupply and limited storage capacity has left

the price of US crude at a six-year low.

“The fall in gasoline and energy prices means households have more money to spend, so it’s positive for real income,” Martin said.

Overall, the survey showed Asian firms consider global economic uncertainty as the biggest threat to their six-month business outlook, followed by rising costs and other risks such as regulatory change and increased competition.

Property tops, finance weak

companies in the property sector were the most positive in the survey with a reading of 88, a one-point increase from the previous poll. Retail and drugs followed with 82 and 81 respectively, from 83 and 70.

Financial institutions, dogged by regu-

German investor sentiment hits 13-month high n AFP, Frankfurt Investors in Germany are optimistic about the outlook for Europe’s biggest economy given the strength of domestic demand, but concerns about Greece and Ukraine could sour sentiment in future, data showed on Tuesday.

The widely watched investor confidence index calculated by the ZEW economic institute rose for fifth consecutive month to a 13-month high of 54.8 points in March, ZEW said in a statement.

“Economic sentiment in Germany remains at a high level. In particular, the continuing positive development of the domestic economy confirms the expectations of the experts,” said ZEW president Clemens Fuest.

“At the same time, limited progress is being made with regard to solving the Ukraine conflict and the sovereign debt crisis in Greece. This has a dampening effect on sentiment,” Fuest added.

The index fell short of analysts’ expectations for a more robust rise to 60 points.

For the survey, ZEW questions analysts and institutional investors about their current assessment of the economic situation in Germany, as well as their expectations for the coming months.

The sub-index measuring financial market players’ view of the current economic situation in Germany jumped by 9.6 points to 55.1 points in March, its highest level since July 2014.

“The March ZEW reading may have disappointed analysts’ high expectations. But optimism is still growing,” said BayernLB economist Stefan Kipar.

“It could also feed into hard economic data in the coming months,” Kipar said. But “momentum may remain moderate against the backdrop of uncertainty surrounding Greece and Ukraine,” he added.

Natixis economist Johannes Gareis felt the

Greek crisis “is steadily disappearing from the radar screen of German investors.”

This was reflected in the strong rise in the blue-chip DAX index which is now firmly above 12,000 points, driven by optimism about the European Central Bank’s ultra-expansive monetary policy, the expert argued.

“At this stage, there is no strong case for beginning to question the strength of Germany’s economic recovery,” he said.

Berenberg Bank economist Christian Schulz attributed the rise in the ZEW index to “the tailwinds of cheap oil, a weaker euro and lower funding costs for companies and households.”

However, the new Greek risk may be dampening optimism somewhat, he cautioned.

ING DiBa economist Carsten Brzeski felt that over the last two years, the ZEW index “has returned as an interesting and more reliable indicator for future economic growth.” l

REUTERS

latory uncertainty and a lingering hangover from the global financial crisis, were least positive with a score of 55, though that was an improvement from 50 in the previous two quarters.

A robust economic recovery and low interest rates are boosting business at finance houses in Taiwan such as Yuanta Investment Consulting, said the company’s chief economist, Aidan Wang. Yuanta plans to expand this year and anticipates an increase in hiring, Wang told Reuters.

Elsewhere, the picture was more subdued.

“Finance firms anywhere in the world are very weak,” said INSEAD’s Fatas. “It’s a combination of the financial crisis, a lack of confidence, and increased regulation which has made business very complex.” l

Chinese media: EU decisions to join AIIB a blow to US n AFP, Beijing Chinese state media took a victory lap yesterday, gloating over the decision of major European powers to join a Beijing-backed multinational lender that the United States perceives as a threat to the Washington-led World Bank.

“Welcome Germany! Welcome France!

Welcome Italy!” said a commentary in the official Xinhua news agency, describing the United States as “petulant and cynical”.

Berlin, Paris and Rome said in a joint statement Tuesday that they want “to become founding members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)”, after Britain last week announced ambitions to be the first major Western country to join - drawing a rare rebuke from close ally Washington. l

DT

18 BUSINESS

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

News, analysis and recent disclosures BRACBANK: The Board of Directors has recommended 20% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2014.

Date of AGM: 23.04.2015, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: BRAC-CDM, Savar, Dhaka. Record date: 30.03.2015. The Company has also reported consolidated profit after tax of Tk. 2,101.57 million, consolidated EPS of Tk. 3.13, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 27.19 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 14.77 for the year ended on December 31, 2014.

BERGERPBL: The Board of Directors has recommended 220% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2014. Date of AGM: 19.04.2015, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: International Convention City (Pushpoguscho, Hall No.-2), Bashundhara, Joarsahara, Dhaka. Record date: 30.03.2015.

The Company has also reported consolidated profit after tax of Tk. 1,151.03 million, consolidated EPS of Tk. 49.64, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 154.04 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 54.66 for the year ended on December 31, 2014 as against Tk. 899.80 million, Tk. 38.80, Tk. 126.41 and Tk. 45.32 respectively for the year ended on December 31, 2013.

LAFSURCEML: With reference to their earlier letters dated April 5, 8 and 22, 2014 on update on Lafarge Holcim merger in group level. The company has further informed that they have received the following communications from Lafage Group on the Lafarge Holcim

merger in Group level: Significant milestones in our merger of equals project with Holcim have already been achieved: the clearance from the majority of the competition authorities, the divestment to CRH and the appointment of the future members of the Executive committee of LafargeHolcim. However, the Board of Directors of Lafarge, chaired

by Bruno Lafont, received on March 15 a letter from Holcims Board which challenges some terms of the agreement initially concluded: financial terms and governance structure. Given the potential value creation of the proposed merger, the Board of Lafarge answered that it was ready to explore a possible adjustment of the exchange ratio, excluding any other subject. Company will keep informed as the situation evolves.

BRACSCBOND: BRAC Bank Ltd. has informed that the record date for Subordinated 25% Convertible Bonds of BRAC Bank Ltd. will be April 08, 2015 for payment of interest due on April 15, 2015. If the record date is on holiday, the previous trading day will be set as Record date.

BERGERPBL: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors of the Company has decided to subscribe 5,00,000 ordinary shares of Tk. 100.00 each totaling Tk. 50.00 million of the ordinary shares of wholly owned subsidiary Company Jenson & Nicholson (Bangladesh) Limited.

Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

Company Delta Brac HFCL-A Global Heavy Chemicals-N AB Bank - A Brac Bank -A ICB AMCL 2nd NRB -A Apex SpinningA Jamuna Bank -A Navana CNG-A SAIF Powertec-N Dutch Ban. Bnk- A

Closing (% Change) 4.05 3.60 3.40 3.31 2.86 2.64 2.52 2.50 2.38 2.32

CSE GAINER Company Sandhani Life -A Linde (BD) Ltd. -A ICB Sonali Bank 1 MF-A GreenDeltaInsu -A Nitol Insurance -A Dhaka Ins. Ltd.-A Trust Bank 1st MF-A Argon Denims Limited-A Intl. Leasing-B Shinepukur Cera-Z

Closing (% Change) 9.09 6.70 6.67 6.25 6.19 4.52 4.26 3.23 3.20 3.17

DSE LOSER Company Union Capital -A Global Insurance -A LafargeS Cement-Z Samata LeatheR -Z Hwa Well Textiles-A Al Arafa Islami B-A Stylecraft -A Aziz PipesZ First Lease- A Mercantile Insur -A

Closing (% Change) -9.09 -7.64 -7.15 -6.62 -6.62 -6.02 -5.90 -5.46 -5.19 -4.93

CSE LOSER Company Union Capital -A ISN Ltd. -Z Rahima Food -Z Sinobangla Indu.-A Standard Insurance-A Rupali Life Insur.-B LafargeS Cement-Z Northern G Insur-A Berger Paints-A Meghna Life Ins. -A

Closing (% Change) -11.70 -8.13 -7.64 -7.39 -7.08 -6.90 -6.88 -6.36 -6.03 -6.00

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

DSE key features March-18, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

DSE GAINER

Sector

3,133.48 62,890,174 71,792

Traded Issues

308

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

62

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

238

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

8

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,464.34

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

29.87

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 282.96 85.33 19.34 305.80 509.12 362.78 1.49 235.75 406.74 3.71 102.29 10.47 14.58 419.47 39.63 23.87 19.69 190.49 18.02 81.85 0.08

% change 9.03 2.72 0.62 9.76 16.25 11.58 0.05 7.52 12.98 0.12 3.26 0.33 0.47 13.39 1.26 0.76 0.63 6.08 0.58 2.61 0.00

Million Taka 18.85 4.35 0.80 39.39 2.79 19.15 27.06 15.24 0.90 6.87 0.17 0.55 39.74 4.13 0.59 0.35 16.40 3.07 21.78 0.00

Average (% Change) 2.61 1.70 1.83 0.30 (0.14) 1.89 0.08 0.98 (0.16) (1.88)

Average (% Change) 9.09 6.87 6.67 6.25 6.28 3.41 1.05 1.08 0.72 1.57

Average (% Change) -9.81 -8.13 -9.54 -4.73 -8.67 -6.02 -5.90 -5.04 -4.68 -6.69

Average (% Change) -12.37 -6.53 -7.29 -8.93 -7.20 -7.13 -8.26 -5.05 -6.03 -6.00

CSE

ClosingAvg. 76.67 37.04 23.91 33.46 7.12 69.63 12.03 52.33 63.80 76.70

ClosingAvg. 60.00 956.49 6.40 59.50 24.02 23.05 4.82 31.82 12.62 12.96

ClosingAvg. 15.72 13.33 108.80 14.29 29.51 12.50 846.00 17.51 14.66 13.25

ClosingAvg. 15.02 11.30 28.99 23.77 21.00 41.70 108.68 20.89 1,610.00 70.50

% change 8.49 1.96 0.36 17.73 1.25 8.62 0.00 12.18 6.86 0.40 3.09 0.08 0.25 17.89 1.86 0.26 0.16 7.38 1.38 9.80 0.00

Closing

DHIGH

77.10 37.40 24.30 34.30 7.20 70.00 12.20 53.30 64.60 79.40

Closing 60.00 955.00 6.40 59.50 24.00 23.10 4.90 32.00 12.90 13.00

Closing 16.00 13.30 110.30 14.10 29.60 12.50 846.00 17.30 14.60 13.50

Closing 15.10 11.30 29.00 23.80 21.00 41.80 109.70 20.60 1,610.00 70.50

Million Taka 301.81 89.68 20.14 345.19 511.90 381.93 1.49 262.80 421.98 4.61 109.16 10.64 15.13 459.21 43.76 24.46 20.05 206.89 21.10 103.63 0.09

DLOW

77.50 37.60 24.50 35.00 7.30 70.40 12.60 53.50 64.80 80.00

DHIGH

73.60 36.20 23.20 32.00 7.10 68.50 11.90 51.00 62.70 74.10

DLOW

60.00 957.40 6.40 59.50 24.20 24.00 4.90 32.00 12.90 13.00

DHIGH

60.00 955.00 6.40 59.50 24.00 22.10 4.70 31.60 12.40 12.10

DLOW

16.10 15.00 114.00 14.20 30.70 12.70 846.00 18.30 15.20 14.40

DHIGH 15.50 11.30 30.00 23.80 21.00 41.80 112.00 21.00 1,610.00 70.50

Total

14.50 13.00 107.00 14.10 28.80 12.30 846.00 16.50 14.50 12.80

DLOW 14.40 11.30 28.50 23.70 21.00 41.60 106.10 20.60 1,610.00 70.50

% change 8.99 2.67 0.60 10.29 15.26 11.38 0.04 7.83 12.58 0.14 3.25 0.32 0.45 13.68 1.30 0.73 0.60 6.17 0.63 3.09 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

4.082 1.391 20.772 49.744 0.042 3.743 0.606 8.637 30.123 2.782

Turnover in Million

4.26 2.43 4.13 3.13 0.96 2.28 0.84 3.53 2.50 11.03

Latest EPS

0.036 0.150 0.006 0.001 0.034 0.046 0.015 0.124 0.056 0.020

Turnover in Million

18.0 15.2 5.8 10.7 7.4 30.5 14.3 14.8 25.5 7.0

Latest PE

2.12 40.75 0.98 2.96 2.79 2.44 0.74 3.79 -0.09 0.39

Latest EPS

2.833 1.229 375.886 0.021 3.780 18.356 0.036 0.078 4.392 1.181

Turnover in Million

Latest PE

28.3 23.5 6.5 20.1 8.6 9.4 6.5 8.4 -ve 33.2

Latest PE

1.50 1.12 2.43 -0.46 2.66 2.20 44.44 -0.37 1.27 1.48

Latest EPS

0.261 0.001 0.090 0.051 0.005 0.042 36.419 0.015 0.016 0.002

10.5 11.9 44.8 -ve 11.1 5.7 19.0 -ve 11.5 9.0

Latest PE

1.50 0.13 -0.42 1.27 3.07 5.33 2.43 2.77 49.64 6.45

10.0 86.9 -ve 18.7 6.8 7.8 44.7 7.5 32.4 10.9

CSE key features March-18, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

222.16 6,088,063 10,535

Traded Issues

223

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

44

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

175

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,330.83

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

28.25

DT

BUSINESS 19

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Stocks continue to tumble as political strife festers n Tribune Report

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

Titas Gas TDCLA Brac Bank -A MJL BD Ltd.-A CVO PetroChem RL-A One Bank -A

VolumeShares 2,083,082 3,454,815 490,921 286,542 664,034 1,508,200 374,419 2,264,974 1,178,241 1,779,841

Value in Million 457.91 375.89 166.57 129.12 119.24 96.72 95.65 85.24 68.94 56.90

% of TotalTurnover 14.61 12.00 5.32 4.12 3.81 3.09 3.05 2.72 2.20 1.82

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company LafargeS Cement-Z GPH Ispat Ltd-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Shasha Denims -N Grameenphone-A Shahjibazar Power-N National Feed-N SummitAlliancePort.-A BD Submarine Cable-A Square Pharma -A

WesternMarine -N Ifad Autos -N National Bank - A ACI Limited- A MJL BD Ltd.-A

776,463 1,486,738 350,477 82,925 2,181,862

335,091 416,112 455,081 356,396 32,842 32,349 212,427 93,233 44,113 20,069

123,067 66,587 382,655 8,679 31,551

55.44 49.74 42.20 34.05 33.28

36.42 16.97 14.57 13.39 11.12 5.77 5.59 5.46 5.27 5.15

4.98 4.26 3.95 3.89 3.80

1.77 1.59 1.35 1.09 1.06

16.39 7.64 6.56 6.03 5.01 2.60 2.52 2.46 2.37 2.32

2.24 1.92 1.78 1.75 1.71

ClosingP 214.50 110.30 336.20 445.50 184.00 64.60 255.00 37.30 58.70 32.20

72.60 34.30 120.70 407.50 15.30

ClosingP

Change % -0.74 -7.15 -1.06 -2.58 -1.02 0.00 -0.82 -0.53 0.34 2.22

1.40 3.31 -0.25 -2.40 -0.65

Change %

109.70 42.90 32.20 37.20 336.10 187.00 26.30 58.60 118.90 256.10

40.30 64.50 10.50 446.60 120.20

-6.88 3.87 2.55 -0.80 -1.15 -1.58 -1.50 0.34 -2.78 -0.39

-2.18 0.47 0.00 -2.32 -0.74

ClosingY 216.10 118.80 339.80 457.30 185.90 64.60 257.10 37.50 58.50 31.50

71.60 33.20 121.00 417.50 15.40

ClosingY

117.80 41.30 31.40 37.50 340.00 190.00 26.70 58.40 122.30 257.10

41.20 64.20 10.50 457.20 121.10

DHIGH 220.00 114.00 344.50 458.10 194.00 65.50 258.80 38.20 59.50 32.40

74.00 35.00 122.80 422.00 15.40

DLOW 213.00 107.00 335.00 443.00 169.00 62.20 254.20 37.10 57.30 31.60

70.30 32.00 118.00 406.00 15.10

DHIGH

DLOW

112.00 43.40 32.30 38.00 345.00 191.50 26.70 59.30 122.00 258.00

106.10 41.00 31.60 37.10 333.40 170.90 25.90 57.70 118.40 255.00

41.50 65.40 10.60 456.00 123.00

40.00 62.50 10.20 441.30 118.80

AvgPrice 219.82 108.80 339.30 450.63 179.57 64.13 255.46 37.63 58.51 31.97

71.40 33.46 120.39 410.62 15.25

AvgPrice

108.68 40.78 32.03 37.56 338.66 178.42 26.30 58.56 119.58 256.59

40.43 64.00 10.33 448.09 120.50

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

4442.81544

(-) 0.79%

1675.11797

(-) 0.97%

13566.10130

(-) 1.10%

11208.29980

(-) 0.46%

8255.22630

(-) 0.76%

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

Stocks fell for the 6th straight session yesterday, as the country’s economic outlook remained weak with the prolonged political turmoil.

The market opened with free-fall in the morning, plunging around 90 points but the some modest buying on banking issues later helped it escape closing record-low in recent years.

After diving below 4400mark in early trading, the benchmark index DSEX settled at nearly 4443, losing 35 points or 0.8%. It was its almost eight months low since July 30 last year.

The Shariah Index DSES was down 16 points or 1.6% to 1,074. The comprising blue chips DS30 fell 16 points or 1% to 1,675.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, dropped 56 points to 8,255.

Strong selling pressure and some mild buying have increased the Dhaka Stock Exchange turnover that stood at Tk313 crore, an increase of over 8% compared to the previous session.

Cement stocks suffered most, led by Lafarge Surma

Cement that fell steeply more than 7.2% as the proposed merger between global Holcim and Lafarge hit debacle.

Almost all sectors, including food & allied, telecommunication, pharmaceutical, engineering and textile closed in the red.

The financial sectors turned around after more than a week with banks and non-banking financial institutions gaining marginally 0.2% each. Fuel & power inched higher.

Banking issues broke its eighth losing streak rising marginally backed by 20% dividend announcement of BRAC Bank that rallied 3.3%.

LankaBangla Securities said concern over the political impasse kept the market sentiment in check at local manufacturing firms ahead of corporate declaration.

However, it said, few banks treated the buying appetite of investors in last hours covering some losses of early morning.

Lafarge Surma Cement was the most traded stock with turnover worth Tk37.6 crore, followed by Grameenphone, ACI Limited, Shahjibazar Power Company and IFAD Autos. l

ANALYST

Concern over the political impasse kept the market sentiment in check at local manufacturing firms ahead of corporate declaration

DT

20 BUSINESS

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Danish trade minister frets over political crisis n Tribune Report Visiting Danish Minister for Trade and Development Mogens Jensen has expressed his grave concern over the ongoing political turmoil in Bangladesh.

“Everybody is concerned over the ongoing hartal and blockade enforced by the opposition political parties in Bangladesh,” Jensen told the reporters after a meeting with Finance Minister AMA Muhith held at the latter’s residence in the city yesterday.

The Danish minister said: “We have good faith in the current government and hope that it will negotiate with all the political parties to

find out an effective solution to the ongoing political turmoil.”

Discussing about the meeting agenda, Danish minister said: “We’ve discussed about the terms of a new economic development project for long time, which will be introduced in Bangladesh in between 2016 and 2021.”

“We’ve also discussed about the employment opportunities in the agriculture and energy sector and resilience in the country ‘s environment sector as well,” said Jensen.

Denmark, one of Bangladesh’s leading development partners, has now been working in water, sanitation, agriculture, human rights, and development sectors. Danish govern-

ment has so far invested a total of Tk600 crore in the country.

While talking to the reporters, Finance Minister AMA Muhith said, “A Danish firm had earlier invested in a tea garden at a time when Bangladesh just earned independence in 1971 and the Danish government has now invested in an airport sanitation works”.

He also hoped that the Danish government would try to invest in the country’s important sectors for future development.

Commenting on the current political turmoil, finance minister said, “Yes they (Danish delegation) are disturbed by the ongoing political turmoil.”

“What BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is doing nowis nothing but just a nonsense,” he said.

The Danish minister Mogens Jensen arrived in Dhaka yesterday on a three-day official visit. He will attend a high-level conference on readymade garment and visit Danida-backed projects in Bangladesh.

He will also meet key stakeholders in the garment industry, Danish companies, and the beneficiaries of Danish development assistance.It is his first visit to Bangladesh, which, however, coincides with BNP-led 20 parties’ ongoing nationwide blockade along with general strikes. l

Lafarge share prices plunge as Holcim rejects merger terms

Global Money Week 2015 observed

n Kayes Sohel

n Tribune Report

Share prices of Lafarge Surma Cement were pummeled yesterday, as a US$44bn deal between the two world’s largest cement makers to create giant cement firm is now in jeopardy.

At Dhaka Stock Exchange, Lafarge stocks fell steeply 7.2%, as the proposed merger between global Holcim and Lafarge hit a debacle, said IDLC Investments in its analysis.

Managing director of VIPB Asset Management Company Shahidul Islam said: “Investors reacted negatively to the news of cracking the deal, which is bad for both the companies.”

He also observed that the share prices of Lafarge in the local market had earlier moved up over the speculation of merger deal.

“Doubt over a possible deal is not only bad news for the investors but also the market, as

administrative and other duplication costs came down significantly.”

Lafarge Surma Cement in a statement said, “Holcim’s board challenges some terms of the agreement initially concluded: financial terms and governance structure.”

The deal faced an uncertainty after Swiss firm Holcim noted that its merger plan with French rival Lafarge could not go ahead in its present form.

The two firms had earlier agreed to merge in April, with Lafarge shareholders, receiving one Holcim share for each Lafarge share.

But since then, Holcim’s shares have outperformed those of Lafarge.

Holcim board pressed for the price and management structure to be changed from the original “marriage of equals”, on Monday, about nine months after the “merger of equals” was originally struck.

Switzerland-based Holcim said in a written statement it would seek changes in “the financial terms and governance structure” of the agreement with France-based Lafarge. It said specifically it wants to change the deal’s proposed one-for-one share-exchange ratio.

Lafarge, in its own statement on Monday said: “It is open to revising terms, including the proposed one-for-one share-exchange ratio.”

The company said it “remains committed” to completing the union. Under the terms of the agreement, Holcim would pay a breakup fee of $370m to Lafarge should the deal fall apart.

Negotiations over new deal terms started last week after Holcim’s board of directors and large shareholders privately decided they couldn’t support the transaction under the existing terms, according to news reports. l

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor hands over cheques yesterday to the successors of garment workers who died on duty while BGMEA President Md Atiqul Islam, its vice-presidents and directors are seen at the programme DHAKA TRIBUNE

The country yesterday observed Global Money Week 2015.

The week is an annual international money awareness celebration that takes place between March 9 and March 17 this year.

It engages children worldwide in learning how money works, including savings, creating livelihoods, gaining employment, and entrepreneurship.

The Ministry of Education, Bangladesh Bank, and a leading private sector institution Daffodil International University jointly organised the event at Senate Building of Dhaka University.

‘I believe this occasion will definitely create awareness and help the young generation to achieve financial independence’ Leading bankers, entrepreneurs and stakeholders attended the function.

The Global Money Week 2015 celebration began at a time when the government along with Bangladesh Bank is focusing on developing the future generation, said Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman.

“I believe this occasion will definitely create awareness and help the young generation to achieve financial independence,” he said in a speech through mobile phone.

“BB will continue its efforts to achieve a financially conscious literate society. We are now in a state where the government has given highest importance to develop the young generation.”

He said the central bank has taken a number of innovative ventures for development of new and young entrepreneurs in the country in line with the Vision 2021.

The Global Money Week is all about empowering young people and getting them involved to reshape finance and their own future.

However, Global Money Week aims to engage all parts of the community so there are ways to engage as a country, organisation and as an individual. l

DT

21

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Photo: Bigstock

INSIDE Counterbalancing feedback: Criticism or praise, find out how the brain responds to certain approaches.

T-JUNCTION

Crossroads of chaos

Totally splurgeworthy:

Multicoloured stripes or sparkly, sequinned details can be tricky. But we assure you our favourite picks from this online store won’t disappoint.

DT

22 T-JUNCTION

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Hot Topic

Praising criticism and criticising praise “People react to criticism in different ways, and my way is definitely to come out fighting.” - David Beckham

Implications of both @childhood Beginning with the benefits of praise, know that young children thrive on it. In their early stages, they require support and positive feedback to allow them to open up to opportunities and explore on their own. It is a point where a simple smile and “well done!” can go miles and effectively cut off all internal barriers to express themselves for the future. If done right and in the proper dose, this serves as a fuel for these little toddlers to open up their mind and take initiative without the fear of failure or consequences.

That’s where criticism comes in. At this stage, it is usually minimal, mostly exerted through body language and verbal communication (unless dad goes Bruce Lee on you). Punishment and limitations only make things worse at this stage, simply because it’s at this point where consistent comments can change their

whole perception due to their fragile and fresh minds. Kids just don’t listen, true. They make mistakes and learn the consequences for them. Thing is, it’s all about how that ramification reveals itself that makes all the difference. A common tool used by parents is fear, and it is effective, mind you! However, it destroys a child’s sense of self-importance and hinders their personal willingness to follow their interests; cause you know, you’re six years old and mom doesn’t like you following Kylie Jenner on Instagram. @teenage years At this stage, praise is inhumanely addictive, depending on its source. It serves as a major motivation in everything you try, even if it’s not something you should be doing. The pretty girl in class said she finds your pen-ink tattoos cute. “Oh yeah, I’ve gotta get a real one!” You can relate. Another aspect of this

comes in the manner of how you may receive that praise, interpreting it to be sarcasm and shooting your morale down by yourself. This occurs commonly after a prolonged period of childhood criticisms, for which a nice compliment either gives you wings or makes you suspicious of ulterior motives. By the way, nice hairstyle you got there.

Criticism at this stage is a no no. Pride is on the line here, and a single bullet of reproach can shatter it. Hence comes the term constructive criticism, which points out the scenario according to what matters to you and lets you figure out the problems. Brilliant, but difficult to pull off, for which some teenagers shy back in fear while others shamelessly proceed forward as a result. It matters here massively, for the numerous developing traits of socialism, discipline, behaviour, attitude, perspective, etc. depend on it as you grow and start to leave fairyland for the real world.

Maybe getting magnet ear studs is a good idea, dad said it’ll hurt and look like fungus; but I’m glad he didn’t say no.

He did.

Sharar Bin Kamal n Rad Baizid Haque Joarder It feels good when someone praises you for something. Period. It all adds up to your self-esteem as a feeling of success that in turn makes you act more independently, in a more responsible manner and encourage you to take up new challenges. But criticism is a tricky concept. Too much of negative criticism can also take a toll on someone’s selfesteem.

@young adulthood You’re all grown up here, but you still shed a river when someone makes fun of your favourite shirt. You have trouble getting over rejections and your nose bleeds when your crush says hi, or you storm into crowds confident and carefree. Tasks can be motivated through the anguishing thought of failure or by the expectation of recognition.

Take your pick. This becomes the part where you can choose how you take a compliment or a scold, as you’re big enough. But this era right here was carried forward by the previous two, shaping your personality, behaviour and attitude into their full forms.

It becomes tough to change yourself here, and that’s why it’s very important on how you manage your younger years.

T-JUNCTION 23

DT

Hot Topic

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Just how much

Just how much

As a culture, we tend to focus on the negatives and look over the positives. To prove it, go to a random Facebook account and judge that person. It takes mere seconds to find out what’s wrong with that person than finding something worth praising, as it’s easier and more fun. We see ourselves as perfect and our opinions to be correct, but have a hard time accepting anything that goes against us.

We should really start seeing the good in people, and develop the simple habit of an innocent praise. It helps one to start to see the world positively and identify, much more accurately, the good things from the bad. When’s the last time you let out that wonderful smile of yours to a random passerby? But yet, it is never healthy to scratch off the criticisms when they’re due.

There’s no point in being nice all the time and thanking your sister for gluing your FIFA’15 disk on her science project. Praise and criticism must be balanced, but with a little trick in hiding the criticism inside a praise. A compliment distracts attention away from flaws, at which time that flaw stated out would balance out one another, paying heed to both. An outright phrase on how your playlist is so 70s may hurt you, and create a veil on your complimentary features.

The informal ratio is one criticism to five praises, but that too varies from person to person. But remember that these remarks are to be all genuine, and not meant to deceive.

But seriously, the 70s were awesome! Try out the new remixes, you might love them.

Too much of anything is a bad thing, agreed? Well, so is too less for the topic at hand. Here’s what happens when either of these two sides slides off the bar at both ends. Try to relate them to your own experiences and preferences. Why? You can find out what drives you, a pat on the back or a sneer off a hater.

Too much praise to usual criticism Common symptoms include overconfidence, immunity to positive feedback and an internal desire to be taken seriously.

Too little praise to usual criticism Many interpret this for ignorance and misunderstanding. This creates two forms of attitudes; either cumulating a vicious desire for recognition or self-acceptance of defeat.

Too much criticism to usual praise When tied to a train line of consistent insults, the depressive route is famous. As always, a few tend to shake it off in the end and create a self-antidote for the poison bites. But this may also lead to ignorance

Live and let live. Enjoy and observe the positive things in life, but keeping the negatives hanging in the background. Praise genuinely, and criticise constructively, and that pimple will no longer be noticeable with that breath-taking smile.

Attitude towards it Take it like an ol’ sport There are all kinds of people in your life but your family and close friends are definitely on the lookout for your wellness. Some words may seem hurtful but if you can take criticism (both negative and positive ones), boy, you can go places!

From the good ones When you work hard for something, and you feel content with the results, you’d

love it if you are being praised for obvious reasons. It motivates you to try something new, as you now know that you too can be good at something, irrelevant of how small your accomplishment is. But the important thing to remember here is not to let all the praise get to your head. Being humble has it’s perks.

From the not-so-good ones Every good thing comes with its negative

counterpart. If one expects praise, they should also expect someone pointing out their shortcomings. The trick here too, is, not to let it get to your head. The more eyes you have on you scrutinising all your moves and actions, the more point of views will be thrown at you that you can learn a lot from.. Keep calm, be open about it and ask for opinions from your critics. If you think it is legit, work on it and you’ll have something better for the world to see.

and an unshakable habit of self-righteous thinking, which may transform into something real nasty - arrogance.

Too little criticism to usual praise This combination spawns something very special, the ability to welcome negative feedback. It grabs attention, as it comes in small doses, and may help seek self-development. On the other hand, it may catch one off-guard completely as it is not something he/she is used to, and may hurt.

DT

24 T-JUNCTION

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

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NEWS

Social Business Champ Social Business Youth Alliance (SBYA) Global has launched the second season of “Social Business Champ.” SBYA Global is a youth initiative operated with a view to engage the youth generation into social business scenario. Since its inception in 2013, SBYA Global has been working hard to promote social business ideology around the nation.

Social Business Champ is one of the signature ventures of SBYA Global. This is a social business plan competition, designed for university level students to showcase their entrepreneurial skills and creativity by generating solutions for pressing social problems in a corporate way - the social business way! SBYA

Global’s founder and ceo Shazeeb M Khairul Islam says that this competition ensures an experiential learning opportunity for the students that will help them generate sustainable business solutions to global pressing needs.

Social Business Champ 2014 featured 170 teams from 33 universities and the top three teams were awarded by noble laureate Professor Yunus during Social Business Day 2014. After the huge response last year, the SBYA Global is well prepared this year to host more teams with networking, mentorship and funding opportunities for the students. Any local

student can participate in this competition with a group of three members and they need to come up with an idea to tackle a social problem. Students need to enter this competition by May 20. After four rigorous rounds, the top three teams will be awarded in this year’s Social Business Day on May 28 at BICC. Students can apply through www. sbyaglobal.org/champ-2015.l

Andeem

20%

off

Pakistan could sensationally call up the world’s top rated ODI spinner Saeed Ajmal into their World Cup squad, but only if they win their QF against Australia on Friday.

Sport 27

DUMINY HATTRICK AS SOUTH AFRICA STORM INTO SEMIS

28

MAHELA, KUMAR RIDE INTO SWEET SUNSET

29

25

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STANDBY

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

ARSENAL WIN BUT BOW OUT, ATM HOLD NERVE

Super Shakib’s time to shine n Minhaz Uddin Khan The bar of expectation will be a bit higher for Shakib al Hasan compared to the rest of his teammates. Not because he is an integral part of the line-up, but especially because the game is against their biggest Asian rival India and it is the quarter-final of the 2015 ICC World Cup – the highest platform Bangladesh have ever reached.

Moreover, the all-rounder has spent three seasons with Indian Premier League giants Kolkata Knight Riders and is familiar with the majority of the Indian national players.

Shakib’s contribution today will be pivotal if Bangladesh are to become India’s nightmare once again.

Shakib’s performance in the group stage has been nothing more than decent as his willow produced 186 runs, including a highest of 63 against Afghanistan. His bowling also hasn’t been magical in the drop-in pitches but he did shine with four wickets in their brave effort against New Zealand in their last group game.

Mashrafe bin Mortaza, Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah have stood up in all the matches and it is high time Shakib fires on all cylinders while not winning a man of the match award till now should help his motiva-

tion factor.

With 4,163 runs, Shakib is the leading Bangladeshi run scorer in one-day internationals for Bangladesh. His left-arm spin saw him bag 189 ODI victims, the second highest in the country.

World’s No.1 all-rounder in Tests and T20Is, Shakib is undoubtedly one of the best cricketers Bangladesh have ever produced.

However, it is always believed that to be amongst the greats of the game one has to set the stage on fire on big occasions. It is the World Cup quarter-final and the 27-yearold Shakib’s biggest opportunity to show the world what he is made of. l

Raina urges India to be on guard n Mazhar Uddin from Melbourne India’s middle-order batsman Suresh Raina guarded against complacency yesterday in the pre-quarter-final press conference and said they would have to be at their best in all three departments in order to beat Bangladesh in the second last-eight clash today at Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“We just need to go there and express ourselves. You can’t take Bangladesh lightly. They have done well against India, especially in ICC tournaments, and we lost against them in 2007 [ICC World Cup]. At the same time, we lost to them again in [2012] Asia Cup,” Raina told a press conference previewing the second quarter-final.

“They have a big tournament in Bangladesh, BPL, so they know how to play one-day cricket now. So, tomorrow (today) we just need to go out there and express ourselves,” he said.

The left-hander praised Bangladesh’s fast bowling department and added that Shakib al Hasan’s spin will also be a challenge for their batsmen.

“They have three fast bowlers. They have Taskin [Ahmed]. He has bowled well. They have Rubel [Hossain] and Mashrafe Mortaza, and they all are experienced bowlers. Shakib has done really well in IPL, and he’s in the top 10 ICC all-rounders’ rankings,” said the 28year old cricketer from Uttar Pradesh.

“So, it’s important to look at yourself and be positive all the time. You can’t think about

them, what they have and what they do not have. We just need to play positive cricket tomorrow (today),” he added.

The four major Asian powerhouses – Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka – have all qualified for the quarter-finals and Raina believes it is a good achievement for the sub-continent teams.

“We want to congratulate them (Bangladesh). They have qualified for the quarter-fi-

nal and they’ve done well. Like I said, they are an important team,” he said.

“India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, all four of us from Asia, we have qualified for the World Cup quarter-finals. Earlier, everyone was talking about new rules, new balls and that we don’t have all-rounders who can play well in Australian and New Zealand conditions. So, I think it’s good to see that to be honest.” l

India batsman Virat Kohli (L) and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni share a light moment during a training session yesterday ahead of their quarter-final against Bangladesh in Melbourne today AFP

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26 Sport

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Will Bangladesh be inspired enough to destroy the hopes of a billion people for the second time?

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

There is no nation with so much power and influence in world cricket today like India. It not only has the financial strength but also has more than a billion people behind a pretty decent team that somehow needs to reach, at least the semi-final to ensure that the event does not end up in a financial disaster. Since the first World Cup in 1975 when it was known as the Prudential World Cup, India has been to the final three times, won it twice, first in 1983 and again in 2011 and have, barring once, never failed to qualify into the second phase of the tournament. Of all the nations the World Cup has seen over the years, the team that posed the least threat came out with its sharpened claws in 2007 and ripped India’s heart and soul apart. Bangladesh caught India napping on March 17 at the Queen’s Park Oval, Port of Spain and by the time the Indians could gather their wits, they were pushed into a quicksand of hopelessness. The Indian fans and tourists alike stayed on board their cruise liners anchored off the shores of Trinidad. It was the worst World Cup disaster for India and for the hosts, the West Indian Cricket Board.

Well, opportunity beckons Bangladesh again, only this time the stage and venue is larger than

ever before. It is the MCG, an overwhelming venue for Bangladesh, where it plays India for a place in the semi-final and utopia.

Bangladesh will have shelved the nail biting loss to the Kiwis and try to go back to the drawing board to sort out the basics. It needs to scrutinise the matches against India in which the day belonged to them and focus on the elements of those matches that worked in its favour. By the same token, the mistakes that were made in the matches it lost should also be reviewed and corrected. The one aspect that it will need to plan for is the mapping out of the huge playing area of the MCG, which may not be favourable to Bangladesh.

During the Kiwi match, Scott Styris, the former Kiwi all rounder, repeatedly reminded the viewers about the threat this Bangladesh squad posed to all teams stacked against them. The cricketing world witnessed how close it came to beating the Black Caps on March 13 at Seddon Park, Hamilton. Perhaps, with a bit of astute leadership, the outcome of that match would have been different.

India will come at Bangladesh with full strength and I am sure that is how Bangladesh will want it. We have seen its resolve to fight back from positions of despair and come back strong to win matches. The reliability and consistency of the middle order aided with some penetrative bowling has been the reason for its success. Its current form strongly suggests that this team has plenty to offer on center stage covering the major aspects of the game. All it needs is to ensure that those aspects come out strong tomorrow at the MCG. India has been beaten before and is beatable again. The Bangladesh unit needs to believe in this.

India has overcome one of its main weaknesses, its bowling unit, which many had termed as ordinary. Yet with this “ordinary unit”, it topped Pool B winning all its matches including two comprehensive wins against fancied South Africa and self-destructive Pakistan. Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav are bowling with pace and purpose and will initially pose some problems to Bangladesh’s top order batters. Ravichandran Ashwin has proved that he is an essential part of its bowling unit. The batting powerhouse of Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and the others has lit up the skies where they have played and nothing short

of 320 will be a par score for this unit, especially at the MCG with its flat wicket. Then, they have MS Dhoni who is a great finisher when it matters.

Needless to mention, the Bangladesh unit has an uphill task, however, it is an ODI and just like any other enthralling encounter, this too can be one for the record books. If India thinks that they will roll over this Bangladesh outfit, it is sadly mistaken. The “true wicket” at the MCG will allow batters with proper basics to get runs and both teams should be batting well with plenty of runs to accumulate. I once again repeat what I wrote many times before. “The bowlers will be the deciding factor between victory and defeat.”

Bangladesh’s primary concern is still at the top. The opening pair reminds me of thin ice; ready for a breakthrough at any time. Fortunately, the batters to follow have somehow found solid footing and managed to consistently resuscitate the team. On a good batting track, if the opening pair (whatever combination this may be) can stick it out with a decent run rate for a good 10 to 15 overs, Bangladesh is going to be in the hunt.

Recently, certain individuals have taken Bangladesh’s victory against England as an aberration and have made sarcastic jokes about the team’s recent success. This includes a former Indian Test cricketer with a dubious past.

Nothing would please the Bangladeshis more than to beat the Indians and make this turban clad Indian eat his own turban and perhaps, choke on it too.

The game of cricket is quite remarkable. It is the greatest leveler of man and those that believe in this tends to work harder than the others and eventually the game pays them back. The Indians are riding high having won all its matches without any significant opposition from any team in Pool B, although Zimbabwe put up a fighting total against them. This pattern is quite similar to that of New Zealand in Pool A, until it met the Bangladesh unit. A team which was on top of the world was suddenly brought down to its normal level by a team ranked fairly low in the ODI ladder. If the Indians sitting atop the mountain are not careful, it may face the same situation as the Kiwis, only this time, there won’t be a Bangladesh skipper mishandling his bowling unit to gift the game away. l

2ND QUARTER-FINAL Played: 28 Tied: 0 No result: 1

BANGLADESH 3

Wins

INDIA 24

At Melbourne Cricket Ground today (9:30AM)

Umpires

Ian Gould (ENG), Aleem Dar (PAK) TV umpire: Steve Davis (AUS) Match referee: Roshan Mahanama (SRI)

Weather forecast

Chance of showers.

Maximum temperature 31 Celsius.

Pitch report

Slow-paced pitch, likely to have runs - upwards of 300 - in first innings, so toss important with all losing teams in three previous World Cup matches at the MCG bowled out in the second innings and losing by big margins.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Shakib al Hasan (Bangladesh) Much rests on all-rounder Shakib with bat and ball if Bangladesh are to bring off the upset of the tournament and knock defending champions India out of the tournament.

Shakib, who is the first Bangladeshi cricketer to make 4,000 ODI runs, was recently deposed as the ICC’s top-ranked all-rounder by Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan.

He has scored two half-centuries in the World Cup and took four for 23 against New Zealand, highlighting his all-round capabilities.

Bangladesh-India rivalry expands its territory n Raihan Mahmood The second quarter-final of the 2015 ICC World Cup between Bangladesh and India not only remained confined in the sports arena, the rivalry has also expanded its territory to different sectors proving the depth of animosity of the two south Asian rivals.

Although there is no evidence, many people firmly believe that the result will be influenced by India as they are the defending champions and favourites. A news portal titled BD7news claimed in its facebook page that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

has apparently requested Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to ask her countrymen to lose the match. It was also alleged that Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza refused to obey the Premier’s order.

However, a few hours later the item was removed and there was no further link of the website. Maybe it was a silly joke after all.

In another incident, Bangladesh hacker group “Black Hat Hackers” invaded the website of Congress MP and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor and reminded the Indian cricket team of their history against Bangladesh in World Cups. India have a 24-3

win-loss record against Bangladesh across all competitions but a 1-1 record in World Cups.

The hackers also warned India to “watch their history”, pointing to India’s shocking loss against Bangladesh in the 2007 ICC World Cup, which eventually ousted them from the flagship event in the Caribbean. The hackers went on to talk about India’s loss to Bangladesh in the 2012 Asia Cup. The hackers targeted Tharoor after he tweeted “rooting for Bangladesh to beat England today in CWC 2015 since England would be more of a challenge to face in the Qfs” on the eve of the Bangladesh-England Pool A match.l

Virat Kohli (India) Looms as India’s key batsman and has enjoyed a solid World Cup with 107 in his first hit against Pakistan and no score below 33 in his other five knocks. Supremely confident player who refuses to back down to rivals’ sledging and was outstanding in the preceding four-Test series against Australia with an India record aggregate of 692 tuns at 86.50 with four centuries.

Kohli, seen as India’s natural heir to Sachin Tendlkar, hates losing and sees his role as playing a long innings to enable India’s power hitters to play with freedom late in the innings.

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THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Duminy hat-trick as South Africa storm into semis

SL v SA

n Reuters, Sydney All-rounder JP Duminy claimed a hat-trick as South Africa stormed into the World Cup semi-finals with a comprehensive nine-wicket victory over Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.

The victory in the last eight clash was South Africa’s first in a knockout match at a World Cup and earned them a date with New Zealand or West Indies in Auckland next week with a spot in the final up for grabs.

The Proteas will probably have to win the semi-final to finally bury their reputation as World Cup ‘chokers’ but they went some way to removing the tag with the rout of the 1996 champions, who they restricted to 133 runs off 37.2 overs. Under-fire opener Quinton de Kock led the way with an unbeaten 78 from 57 balls as the South Africans comfortably reached their target with 32 overs to spare.

After losing the toss and being sent into the field, South Africa’s highly rated but under-performing pace attack quickly removed both openers but it was spin-bowling that did the most damage to Sri Lanka’s cause.

Duminy took three for 29 and Imran Tahir four for 26, the pair combining to break the back of the Sri Lanka innings with four wickets at the cost of just two runs in three overs to reduce the islanders to 116-8.

The spell included the ninth World Cup hattrick, Duminy dismissing Angelo Mathews (19) with the final ball of the 33rd over and returning to send back Nuwan Kulasekara (1) and debutant Tharindu Kaushal (0) with the first two deliveries of the 35th. When Kumar Sangakkara was dismissed soon afterwards, Sri Lanka’s hopes of reaching a third successive World Cup final looked all but gone.l

9

Number of wickets by which South Africa won this game, their largest margin of victory against Sri Lanka. It was also the first instance of South Africa beating Sri Lanka by a margin of more than eight wickets.

7

Wickets taken by South Africa’s spinners, the most ever in an ODI for them. Imran Tahir took four wickets while JP Duminy took three. It was the fourth instance of South Africa’s spinners sharing seven wickets between themselves in an ODI.

15

Wickets taken by Tahir this World Cup, the third most by a South African bowler in a single edition of the World Cup. The only bowlers to take more wickets than him are Lance Klusner (17 in 1999) and Alan Donald (16 in 1999).

2

Players who have made their ODI debut in a World Cup knockout game. Wayne Larkins made his England debut during the semi-final of the 1979 World Cup, and Sri Lanka’s Tharindu Kaushal became the second player when he made his debut today.

0 1

Sixes hit during this match, the first such instance in this World Cup.

Knockout games that South Africa have won in World Cups; this is the first. The only other time they came close was during the 1999 World Cup semi-final when they famously tied against Australia.

SRI LANKA K. Perera c de Kock b Abbott T. Dilshan c du Plessis b Steyn K. Sangakkara c Miller b Morkel L. Thirimanne c and b Tahir M. Jayawardene c du Plessis b Tahir A. Mathews c du Plessis b Duminy T. Perera c Rossouw b Tahir N. Kulasekara c de Kock b Duminy T. Kaushal lbw b Duminy D. Chameera not out L. Malinga c Miller b Tahir Extras (b4, lb2, w7, nb2)

R 3 0 45 41 4 19 0 1 0 2 3 15

Total (all out, 37.2 overs)

133

B 10 7 96 48 16 32 3 2 1 5 6

Fall of wickets 1-3 (K Perera), 2-4 (Dilshan), 3-69 (Thirimanne), 4-81 (Jayawardene), 5-114 (Mathews), 6-115 (T Perera), 7-116 (Kulasekara), 8-116 (Kaushal), 9-127 (Sangakkara), 10-133 (Malinga) Bowling Steyn 7-2-18-1 (1w); Abbott 6-1-27-1 (1w); Morkel 7-1-27-1 (2nb, 2w); Duminy 9-1-29-3 (2w); Tahir 8.2-0-26-4 (1w);

SOUTH AFRICA H. Amla c Kulasekara b Malinga Q. de Kock not out F. du Plessis not out Extras (lb4, w12, nb3)

R 16 78 21 19

Total (1 wkt, 18 overs)

134

B 23 57 31

Fall of wickets 1-40 (Amla) Bowling Malinga 6-0-43-1 (2nb, 3w); Dilshan 2-0-10-0; Kulasekara 1-0-13-0; Kaushal 6-0-25-0; Chameera 2-0-29-0 (1nb, 8w); T Perera 1-0-10-0 (1w)

Result South Africa won by nine wickets

South African cricketers celebrate with teammate Jean Paul Duminy (C) after the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Tharindu Kaushal during their World Cup quarter-final match in Sydney yesterday AFP

‘Choke’ is on you: de Villiers n AFP, Sydney

South Africa captain AB de Villiers threw the tag of “chokers” back in the face of the team’s critics following their World Cup quarter-final rout of Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

The Proteas were in dominant form, triumphing by nine wickets at the Sydney Cricket Ground as they finally won a World Cup knockout match at the sixth time of asking.

“I think we liked being called chokers, so we’ll just keep that tag and move along as long as we keep winning,” said de Villiers.

“We didn’t come all this way just to make it to the semi-finals,” added the skipper, not required to bat on Wednesday after making a stunning 162 not out against the West Indies on his last SCG appearance during the pool stage.

South Africa’s victory over Sri Lanka was all but assured after they dismissed the 1996 champions and runners-up at the last two World Cups for just 133.

South Africa now face a semi-final in Auckland on March 24 against the winners of this Saturday’s match between New Zealand and the West Indies.

“It means a lot to us,” said de Villiers of South Africa’s victory.

“On the other side, it means absolutely

nothing. You’re going to have to start over again. We are committed to the fact that we’re not going to show any weakness.”

Reflecting on Wednesday’s display in the field, de Villiers said: “I wouldn’t say it’s the best, but definitely the most important performance in the most important game to date.

“The way Dale (Steyn) and Kyle (Abbott) started off and then Morne (Morkel) who followed with a lot of heat, and then obviously the two spinners. We just worked really well as a bowling unit.

“It’s never easy to play Sri Lanka, especially in World Cup games. They’re a tough team to beat, so I’m very chuffed with what we’ve achieved, and I’d like us to enjoy this victory tonight and move on tomorrow.”

Rounding off a perfect evening for South Africa, previously struggling 22-year-old opener Quinton de Kock - whose six previous innings at the World Cup had yielded just 53 runs - made 78 not out as the Proteas won with a huge 32 overs to spare.

“We all go through patches like he did in this tournament,” said de Villiers. “We’ve all been in dark spaces, and I think he has been in this tournament.

“A lot of credit goes to the selectors, to the coach (Russell Domingo), the guys who kept backing him. l

Australia call up Steve Waugh for words of wisdom n AFP, Adelaide Australia have called up former captain Steve Waugh for advice as they prepare for the World Cup quarter-final against Pakistan at the Adelaide Oval on Friday.

Waugh, 49, a veteran of four World Cups and part of the winning squad twice in 1987 and as captain in 1999, had a dinner meeting with the entire squad on Tuesday night and was also present at the nets on Wednesday.

“It was good to sit down over dinner with him and just chat about cricket and World Cups,” opening batsman Aaron Finch revealed.

“He’s obviously captained a winning one and played in another one as well. There are not many better-credentialed players to talk to about it. Guys just threw a few questioned at him.”

Finch, a hard-hitting opening batsman, said he sought out Waugh to discuss batting tactics following a lean trot after smashing 135 off 12 balls in the opening match against England. Since then he made 14, 4, 24, 20 in the four remaining games after the match against Bangladesh was washed out without a ball being bowled in Brisbane. l

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28 Sport

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

Mahela, Kumar ride into sweet sunset n AP, SYDNEY

MAHELA JAYAWARDENE Batsman

Born

: May 27, 1977, Colombo

ODI debut

: v Zim, Colombo, Jan. 24, 1998

ODI matches : 448 (2nd most) ODI runs

: 12,650 (5th)

ODI average

: 33.37

ODI centuries : 19 (13th) ODI 50s

: 77 (7th)

ODI high score : 144 vs. England, Leeds, 2011

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

Kumar Sangakkara is human after all as he rides into the sunset with his partner, Mahela Jayawardene

With four consecutive hundreds that made him a demi-god among Sri Lankans, Sangakkara saw his team painfully exit the World Cup leaving behind a host of cricket fans disappointed. Along with his partner of so many years, Jayawardene, the two will be remembered as one of the greatest pair to have not only played the game but also provide the leadership and the quality of cricket to Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan cricket has a lot of work to do and I feel sorry for Angelo Mathews who will have a very tough time for the next several months as Sri Lanka goes into a re-building mode.

South Africa break the jinx

Perhaps, South Africa’s two losses in the group stage was the tonic it required to give this team the jolt to galvanise its players’ individual strengths into one effective force. The “knockout phase” jinx has finally been broken and in the most emphatic manner. A statement has been made in the strongest of terms.

This could be one of the most lop-sided results in a World Cup quarter final and that too between two teams that have evenly matched each other since they started playing in 1992.

Kumar Sangakkara put up his hand to indicate he’d had enough.

One of the greatest players of his generation held Sri Lanka’s innings together for as long as he could, until his record run of four consecutive limited-overs international centuries was ended on 45 in a Cricket World Cup quarterfinal loss to South Africa on Wednesday.

The mild-mannered wicketkeeper-batsman was asked if, at 37, he’d consider changing his mind about retiring from ODIs. That’s when he showed his hand, with tape plastered over all four fingers and his thumb.

“It’s like the tape holding my fingers together,” he said, smiling. “I’ve got a lot more holding my body together.”

Fair call. He has played just about all of Sri Lanka’s ODIs in this millennium, making his debut in 2000 and finishing up with 404 caps and 14,234 runs — second only to Sachin Tendulkar — at an average of 42 per innings.

The way he finished made many wonder why he was retiring. He became the first batsman to score centuries in four consecutive ODIs — at the World Cup, to boot — to finish his career with 25 hundreds and 93 half centuries. On top of that, he took 402 catches and 99 stumpings. Asked how he’d like to be remembered, he replied: “Oh, if anyone can say that they’ve enjoyed playing against me and playing with me, I’ll be more than happy.”

Sangakkara will continue playing test cricket in the short-term, unlike his long-time teammate Mahela Jayawardene, who retired after the loss at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Jayawardene was out for 4 and, after Sri Lanka lost four wickets for two runs to slide to 116-8, Sangakkara was the penultimate

wicket to fall, caught on the boundary off Morne Morkel’s bowling as he tried to boost the total with boundaries. Sri Lanka was dismissed for 133, and South Africa needed just 18 overs to post its first ever win in a World Cup knockout match.

Jayawardene, who is also 37, started playing ODIs in 1998, and racked up 448, scoring 12,650 runs (fifth best alltime). Jayawardene captained Sri Lanka to the 2007 final, and Sangakkara led the side to the 2011 final. They batted together for a while on Wednesday, but couldn’t revive a big partnership of substance.

“It’s been a great privilege,” Sangakkara said of playing with Jayawardene.

“Mahela has been an exceptional player for Sri Lanka who’s scored a lot of runs. He’s made a hundred in a lot of victories, and he’s given a lot on and off the field to the country.

“I’m sure he’s going to be thoroughly disappointed today but, also, sometimes there is a bit of relief when your career ends. The high-pressure situations, the warmups, the ice baths, the recovery sessions, all of that, all repeated over 16, 17 years can get a bit much.

Time to look at other aspects of life.”

Sangakkara was content with his final flourish, and satisfied he gave everything he could.

“Retiring from cricket is not about form,” he said. “I’m sure I can play maybe a year or two more, but it’s time and place, and I feel that the time is now, and it’s right, and the World Cup with a four-year wait in between is the right occasion to do it.” Just like all good showmen, he said the game would go on without him. l

KUMAR SANGAKKARA Wicketkeeper batsman

Born : Oct. 27, 1977, Matale ODI debut : v Pak , Galle, July 5, 2000 ODI matches : 404 (4th) ODI runs : 14,234 (2nd) ODI average : 41.98 ODI centuries : 25 (4th) ODI 50s : 93 (2nd) ODI high score : 169 v SA, Colombo, 2013 ODI dismissals : 482 (1st)

TALKING POINTS SOUTH AFRICA v SRI LANKA

Sri Lanka pay the price for experimenting

Instead of sticking to a plan that has been working for them, Sri Lanka chose to re-invent the wheel. Its decision to open the innings with the inexperienced Kusal Perera and that too against one of the best pace

attacks in the world was the mistake of the match. Between Lahiru Thirimanne and Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sri Lanka had the ideal combination of an aggressor (Dilshan) and a cautious compiler (Thirimanne) so I am puzzled with the change.

The faith in Quinton de Kock pays off

Many, including Ian Chappell, thought South African selectors could have done better for this quarter final by playing someone else in place of De Kock who had failed in the six matches that he appeared in. It’s either their faith in his ability or the unwillingness of AB de Villiers to keep wickets that kept De Kock in the side. Whatever the reason may be, he shed the shackles of uncertainty and delivered at the right time for his country.

Spinning is an art which Imran Tahir displays with great skill and entertainment

The South Africans have had more faith in Imran Tahir than the Pakistanis. This Pakistani born leg spinner represented his mother country in a World Cup Under-19 championship in 1998 only to be subsequently ignored by Pakistan. Circumstances and his desire to play the game at the highest level gave him the opportunity to play for South Africa.

He has been the center of attack for them, particularly in the ODI format. A crucial part of South Africa’s bowling unit, Tahir came up good in the match. His match winning figures of 4 for 26 destroyed the Sri Lankan middle over leaving no chance of a late order batting surge. l

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THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

‘Shut up!’ Balotelli tells critics n AFP, London

Sabina slams four goals in Maldives n Raihan Mahmood

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli hit out at his detractors in an angry video published on his Instagram account late on Tuesday, telling them: “Shut up!”

Speaking directly to camera in the short clip, he says: “Do you know me? Did you ever talk to me, personally? Do you know what I’ve been through in my life? You just saw me play football on the pitch, so man, shut up!” An accompanying caption read: “For those with an easy judge (sic) without knowing s*** about others.

Good night #idowhatiwant-remember!”

Balotelli may have been responding to criticism of his performances since arriving at Anfield from AC Milan in a £16 million deal last August. l

Ace Bangladesh women’s football team forward Sabina Khatun slammed four goals in the 7-0 victory of Police Club against the Ministry of Environment and Energy in the Milo Women’s Futsal Fiesta in Maldives yesterday.

It was the second hattrick of the tournament. The other three goals were scored by Sanfa, Maain and Fazla. Sabina was chosen as the player of the match.

Sabina is the first ever Bangladeshi women footballer to play for a foreign club.l

Arsenal win but bow out, ATM hold nerve n AFP, Paris

Arsenal exited the Champions League on Tuesday despite winning their Champions League last 16 second leg clash 2-0 in Monaco but losing on the away goals rule after the tie finished 3-3 on aggregate.

A first-half goal by Olivier Giroud and then Aaron Ramsey 11 minutes from time gave the Gunners hope but desperate defending by Monaco saw them hold on to reach the quarter-finals in front of a for once packed stadium which included celebrities such as U2 frontman Bono.

The other game went right down to the wire but saw last season’s finalists Atletico Madrid scrape through 3-2 on penalties over German side Bayer Leverkusen -- Stefan Kiessling missing the penalty to settle the encounter.

The match had finished 1-1 on aggregate after Mario Suarez’ deflected first-half effort sufficed to give them a 1-0 win in the game itself.

Monaco emulated fellow Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain in eliminating a Premier League giant from this season’s competition

DAY’S WATCH

as PSG knocked out Chelsea also on away goals last week.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was gracious in defeat which ended for another season his ambition of winning the piece of silverware he most desires.

“We knew it would be very difficult to score that many goals,” said Wenger.

RESULTS Monaco (FRA)

0-2

Arsenal (ENG)

Giroud 36, Ramsey 79 Monaco win on away goals rule after tie finished 3-3 on aggregate

Atletico Madrid (ESP)

1-0

Leverkusen (GER)

Suarez 27 Atletico Madrid win 3-2 on penalties after tie finished 1-1 on aggregate.

“We weren’t realistic enough in our approach. It’s not a question of if we deserved to go through but of being realistic and we made too many errors in the first leg.

“At the end of the day, we paid for our performance in the first leg. Monaco were playing at home but didn’t have a shot on goal. We were very close but they surprised us in the

first match because subconsciously we were too sure of ourselves.

Atletico displayed all their traditional grittiness in the clash with Bayer which produced little of note apart from Suarez’ goal - which took a significant deflection off Omer Toprak - in open play.

His effort ended Atletico’s goal drought in the competition at just shy of two hours and was the first goal Bayer had conceded in six matches.

Toprak’s awful evening ended in suitably disappointing style as his was one of the three penalties Bayer failed to convert.

Fernando Torres stepped up to make it 3-2 for Atletico and poor Kiessling sent his penalty high over substitute goalkeeper Jan Oblak’s bar.

Oblak had been unexpectedly called upon midway through the first-half when Miguel Angel Moya suffered an injury.

“I am not a hero,” said the 22-year-old Slovenian. “We are all heroes. all of us who were here in the stadium this evening. To be honest it wasn’t difficult for me to come on and play with such an atmosphere in the stadium.”

Leverkusen midfielder Simone Rolfes believed his side should have committed more in search of an away goal. l

Walton-Independence Day Kabaddi begins today n Raihan Mahmood

BTV, Gazi TV, Maasranga TV Star Sports 1, 3 08:45AM ICC Cricket World Cup QF2: Bangladesh v India

Ten Action UEFA Europa League 12:00AM Roma v Fiorentina 2:00AM Sevilla v Villarreal

Ten Sports UEFA Europa League 12:00AM Dynamo Kyiv v Everton 2:00AM Inter Milan v Wolfsburg

Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak celebrates after winning the tie-breaker in their UCL round of 16 2nd leg against Bayer in Madrid on Tuesday REUTERS

Walton additional director FM Iqbal bin Anwar Dawn (2R) speaks in a press conference yesterday

The Walton-Ministry of Liberation Affairs Independence Day Kabaddi, involving seven teams, gets underway at the kabaddi stadium today.

The teams have been split into two groups with Bangladesh Army, defending champions Bangladesh Police, Bangladesh Air Force and Bangladesh Fire Service placed in Group A while Group B comprises Border Guard Bangladesh, Bangladesh Jail and Bangladesh Navy.

The top two sides from each group will progress to the semi-finals.

In a press conference held at the National Sports Council conference room yesterday, the additional director of Walton, FM Iqbal bin Anwar Dawn presented the event to the media. The chairman of the tournament committee and federation vice president Nizamuddin Chowdhury Parvez and member secretary ANM Mahfuz Khan were also present on the occasion. The final is billed to be held on March 30.l

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30 DOWNTIME

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Harry (6) 4 Mineral spring (3) 7 Acquire knowledge (5) 8 Whole (6) 11 Obtain (3) 12 Prescribed meals (4) 13 Low, strong cart (4) 15 Weapon (5) 16 Intrigue (5) 20 Copies (4) 23 Old stringed instrument (4) 24 Regret (3) 25 Combined (6) 26 Mistake (5) 27 Light blow (3) 28 Tempt (6)

DOWN 1 Pays attention (5) 2 Stir violently (7) 3 Snow vehicle (4) 4 Long, detailed story (4) 5 Hunted animal (4) 6 Insect (3) 9 Pinch (3) 10 Golf mound (3) 14 Practical person (7) 17 On the contrary (3) 18 Consumed (3) 19 Rock shelf (5) 20 Subtle emanation (4) 21 Saucy (4) 22 Certain (4) 24 Corded fabric (3)

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 7 represents T so fill T every time the figure 7 appears.

You have two letters in the control grid to start you off. Enter them in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters go in the missing squares.

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

As you get the letters, fill in the other squares with the same number in the main grid, and the control grid. Check off the list of alphabetical letters as you identify them.

A B C D E FG H I J K L M N O P Q RST UVWXYZ

SUDOKU

CALVIN AND HOBBES

How to solve: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no number repeating.

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

DT

SHOWTIME 31

THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2015

“Unpermitted Whisper” Azadeh’s environmental art inspired play set in a Tehrani taxi

n N Anita Amreen Azadeh Ganjeh’s “Unpermitted Whispers,” is a 35 minute long play that is performed in a Tehranian taxi, also known as “Rahi.” A special type of taxi, these Rahis crisscross around fixed, straight lined routes, picking and dropping people along the way at main intersections of the capital. As a more impersonal mode of transport than the minicabs that provide

door-to-door service, Rahis offer passengers anonymity and the freedom to be. These communal cabs are such, they’ve provided a whole new, hidden, secretly shared world where Tehranis can easily share stories, whispered yet uninhibited. People often overhear other’s stories and share their own too – for some Tehranis, this is an extension of other people’s private spheres that they feel comfortable stepping into for that short time.

Unpermitted Whispers takes place in one such situation, telling us the stories of three female passengers picked up by a male driver during different times along his route. The play opens to a scene where the audience eavesdrops to a typical Tehrani conversation where a bride expresses her interest to go to the theatre with her friends, but can’t seem to find a good enough excuse to use on her traditional husband and their family.

The second scene depicts another woman who lost both her brother and fiance in the national service. Finally, the third scene shows a veiled woman in search of her abusive husband who’s hospitalised.

Ganjeh’s is a scholar of Shakespeare who specialises in environmental art. The three lead characters in the play were also inspired by Shakespearean figures such as Othello’s Desdemona, Hamlet’s Ophelia and Katharina from The Taming of the Shrew.

The play was produced by Urban Art House, a collection of young professional artists who hail from different genres but are all devoted to Tehran’s urban culture. They spearhead the growth of experimental art in Tehran and have made quite an impact with this play. l

CELEBS ON SOCIAL

LINDSAY LOHAN @LINDSAYLOHAN #photography #queenofmayfair @pa5hlondon https:// instagram.com/ p/0WIWxcJc0I/

MAHESH BHATT @MAHESHNBHATT “Through our reading we can travel to other times & other places...it is a transcendent experience.”Louise DeSalvo

PARIS HILTON @PARISHILTON Good Morning NYC! Getting ready for a very busy day in the Big Apple! Wishing everyone a lovely day!

stagecraft

Three degree of stagecraft over Tragedy Palashbari A treat for theatre lovers

WHAT TO WATCH TELEVISION

n Tausif Sanzum Finance Minister AMA Muhit, inaugurated the 2nd Dhaka International film festival at Nandan Mancha on March 12. The event, which last took place in 2011, saw the likes of Asaduzzaman Noor, Ramendu Majumdar, Liaquat Ali Lucky, Debaprossad Debnath addressing the audience this year. The festival is organised by International Threatre Institute, Bangladesh Centre, in association with Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

The 10-day long festival features plays by troupes from India, China and Bangladesh, a daily portrait exhibition of world famous theatre icons at the National Theatre Hall’s lobby, and two dance dramas from China and Bangladesh. Some notable plays which you can still catch are Spartacus by Shopnodol on March 19, Draupadi by Kolakhetro Manipur, Golpo niye golpo o usha utsob by Dhaka Theatre on March 20, and Jamuna by Theatre Folks and Lady Macbeth by Arshi Theatre on March 21. l

n Hasan Mansoor Chatak Prachyanat’s latest production “Tragedy Palashbari” artistically depicted the trauma of the victims of Spectrum Garment’s workers. Displaying exemplary use of modern stagecraft Hashnat Ripon and Neel Kamrul, the two behind-the-stage personnels talk to the Dhaka Tribune about the artistic techniques employed by them.

Hashnat Ripon, with the help of Shasanka and Reza, has designed the set for the play keeping a minimalistic approach in mind. The scenes have a surrealistic touch, with the directors using garments machineries and merchandise as props.

The director has aptly displayed how garments workers are subject to incomprehensible labour, as they operate their machineries using giant thread rolls in unision. The most striking segment of the set-design is the symbolically rich, collapsed roof which later comes down over

the workers. As the play reveals, the caving roof serves as symbolic sign of the workers gradually succumbing to death. Not only is this a haunting sign of what is to happen – it’s also a frightening aspect of the stage that keeps the audience on edge.

In the lighting department, Ripon divides the whole play into two parts to do justice to his lighting techniques. He mostly used green and blue to depict the scenes prior to the collapse when the audience saw Taravan, the protagonist, recalling her vivid memories. As for the post-collapse acts, Hashnat uses yellow, red and orange as these colours connote damage.

Neel Kamrul has admitted that there was a minimum set of instruments used such as the flute and melodica. The production emphasises more on ambient sound which creates greater impact on the stage. For instance, to create rhythm, the sound of scissors and sewing machines have been used. l

THE INCREDIBLE HULK B

9:30pm, Star Movies Every time scientist Bruce Banner’s temper is lost, a monster emerges. On the run from the US government, he must find a cure to this curse before it’s too late.

Cast: Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth,

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – GHOST PROTOCOL B+

4:30pm, Zee Studio Cast: Tom Cruise, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg

AAHAT C-

11:30pm, Sony With the return of Aahat, viewers are once again promised an hour shrouded in mystery, horror and nailbiting fear.

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ARMS, EXPLOSIVES SEIZED IN 16-HR RAID PAGE 7

TELCOS FOR RESCHEDULING SPECTRUM AUCTION PAGE 15 M

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SUPER SHAKIB’S TIME TO SHINE PAGE 25 7

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From non-cooperation to People’s Raj This extract is part of 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 13, 1971 Mashrafe Bin Mortaza sends down a delivery during a training session yesterday ahead of their Cricket World Cup quarter-final match against India today AFP

Mashrafe expects high-scoring affair n Mazhar Uddin from Melbourne Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza is looking forward to an exciting match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground when they take on defending champions India in the second quarter-final of the World Cup today.

A lot of hard work, dedication and sweat have enabled the Tigers to emerge in the World Cup knock-outs for the first time. Reaching the quarter-final was the team’s initial target, so now the pressure is off them and they are going into their biggest match ever relaxed.

“Definitely, it is going to be a very exciting match for us...The boys are very relaxed. Hopefully they will give their best,” said Mashrafe at the

pre-match conference at the MCG yesterday.

The MCG has always produced high-scoring affairs and the captain of a spirited Bangladesh side, who have shown positive performances in the World Cup so far, expects another today.

The Narail Express admitted the threat the Indian batsmen possess: “We are playing on the same pitch [Bangladesh played against Sri Lanka in group phase], I think. It was totally flat on that day. I hope tomorrow [today] it will be a high-scoring match.

“We have to bowl well definitely. It is the biggest challenge to bowl to Indian batsmen. Also, I think Indian bowlers are doing pretty good. We have to bat well too as we did against New Zealand or England or any other side.” l

n Rehman Sobhan The movement has in effect released untold resources from within the people. Today, in law, there is no government in Bangladesh nor the sanctions which go with it.

The limited decisions and authority exercised by the Awami League are not enforceable in any court of law nor is there any effective machinery to put their decisions into effect.

If they pass a decree prohibiting private banks from remitting money out of Bangladesh or withdrawals for unauthorized purposes there is none to enforce it for them.

This extraordinary set up is thus predicated on the unstinted loyalty and co-operation of the common man with the people’s representatives. We have seen how in offices it is the clerks and lower division worker who act as custodians of the public interest.

Outside, in spite of some initial anarchy which found expression in loot and communal vandalism, normalcy has returned. Even the escaped convicts seem to be acting with patriotism and restraint. Police report an actual decline in the crime rate from normal times.

Today they collaborate with the green capped Awami League volunteers to police the towns not just against a recrudescence of violence but generally to ensure law and order.

In Gulshan and Dhanmondi, where middle-class nerves are particularly on edge, volunteers have been visiting houses and making their presence felt.

This is not to say that some peaceful nirvana has descended upon Bangla Desh either. It is reported that chemicals for explosives have been taken away from the Dacca University Laboratories and the PCSIR laboratories by armed bands. Sentries of VIPs have been overpowered and their weapons seized. The other face of the struggle is going on and one can be sure that in any future upsurge violence will not be one-sided.

Militancy is reflected in the spontaneous acts of resistance against the security forces. Their own press note reported that supplies to their base areas in Sylhet and Jessore were interrupted. It took 18 hours for a supply convoy to get from Khulna to Jessore because of cuts in the road by peasants.

In Chittagong, M. V. Swat, carrying the first reinforcements from West Pakistan, had been partially unloaded into wagons. But workers, taking their own initiative, suspended unloading and removed the becalmed wagons.

All this reflects the spontaneous response of workers, peasants, and the common man to what they feel is a struggle for survival. l

I’M MADE IN BANGLADESH: TODAY’S WINNERS STORY OF THE DAY I came to Dhaka four years ago when I started my university life. As days passed, I began to see sufferings of the children on Dhaka streets. Innocent kids on the streets often fall prey to child labour and illegal activities. With an intention to change their lives, I decided to give them the light of education. Though this journey does not seem easy, I will achieve my goal with the help of Almighty, my courage and knowledge, and people’s support. I know I can bring smiles in the faces of these children because I’m made in Bangladesh.

Story: Fatin Hasnath Fatin What’s your “I’m made in Bangladesh” story?

Send your submissions to my.tribe@dhakatribune.com See facebook.com/JoinDTribe for contest details

PHOTO OF THE DAY In her eyes you will see the firm believe, a confidence, faith and aspiration.

These emotions made us an independent nation in 1971.

The colourful face is a story of celebration.

That is why WE are made in Bangladesh Photo: Shamsuzxaman

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