10 April, 2015

SECOND EDITION

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

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Chaitra 27, 1421, Jamadius Sani 20, 1436 |

Regd No DA 6238, Vol 2, No 365 | www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages plus 24-page Weekend | Price: Tk10

TABITH STEPS UP AND INTO THE FRAY

PAGE 3

NY firm to help bring back Mujib killers n Asif Showkat Kallol The government is appointing a top New York-based law firm to fight the legal battle to bring back the fugitive killers of Bangabandhu and execute their death sentences.

Sources said the law firm will also work for the repatriation of the killers of the four national leaders.

The Dhaka Tribune has obtained a copy of a letter sent three days ago by the Ministry of Law to the ministries of finance and foreign affairs.

The letter says the Law Ministry has given permissions required for contracting Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates – Skadden in short – to help Bangladesh government fight the legal battle, especially for bringing those living in the USA and Canada.

Md Khademul Kayes, senior assistant secretary of the Law Ministry, wrote in the letter that his office now needed the Finance Division’s approval for paying Skadden’s fees.

The firm charges $50,000 in retainer payment and hourly fees of two of its lawyers – Gregory B Craig and Alex Haskell – $1,275 and

Six absconding killers of Bangabandhu

Khandaker Abdur Rashid

Shariful Haque Dalim

$700 respectively. The government will also have to bear the “out of pocket expenses,” among other expenditures, mentioned in a draft contract.

The letter does not specify any time period for the retainer payment but says the amount has to be deposited in an “interest bearing escrow account” by the end of April this year.

An escrow account is established with a bank to hold funds as an intermediary between two parties involved in a transaction.

SHMB Nur Chowdhury

Risaldar Moslehuddin Khan

The Law Ministry also asked the finance and foreign affairs ministries to discuss the modalities of making those payments so that Skadden’s appointment could be finalised.

Normally, to bring a foreign national tried and convicted in absentia to face sentence, the authorities would have to invoke whatever extradition agreements that may exist between the governments.

Where there is no extradition treaty, it is unclear what the basis would be to repatriate

25 dead as bus hits tree in Faridpur n

Our Correspondent, Faridpur

Twenty-five people, including five women and a child, died after the bus they were travelling by ploughed into a roadside tree in Bhanga upazila early yesterday.

The fatal accident, which took place at Purbasadaradi area on Dhaka-Barisal highway around 1:30am, claimed 19 lives on the scene while three succumbed to injuries at Bhanga Upazila Health Complex and another three at Faridpur Medical College Hospital.

Ten of the dead could be identified: Shafiqul Islam, supervisor of the bus who hailed from Gopalganj, Amena Begum, 50, of Patuakhali, her son Shahin, 27, daughter Amena Akhter, 15, Sohag, 32, Helal, 28, Rasel, 30, Shahana, 35, Rezaul Islam, 32, and Surja Begum, 40.

The accident also injured another 23 passengers of the bus of Sonartori Paribahan, 20 of whom were admitted to Faridpur Medical College Hospital. Of the 20, six were later sent to Dhaka for better treatment.

Md Hossain Sarder, officer-in-charge of  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

PAGE 4 ACC okays cases against Sohel Rana’s parents

AM Rashed Chowdhury

Abdul Mazed

convicts and carry out their death sentences in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh does not have extradition treaties with the USA, the UK and Canada. In the USA, death penalty is a recognised form of punishment in 32 of its 52 states and in their military jurisdiction. But Canada and the UK have abolished death penalty.

Founded in 1948, Skadden, with nearly 2,000 attorneys, is one of the largest, most  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

EXECUTION OF KAMARUZZAMAN

All eyes on the magistrate n Tribune Report

The wreckage of the bus lies in east Shodordi area under Bhanga upazila of Faridpur that crashed into a roadside tree after losing control and left 25 people dead and 23 others injured DHAKA TRIBUNE

PAGE 5 Oyasiqur’s killers remanded again, DB hunting for suspects

PAGE 10 Iran’s Khamenei says no guarantee of final nuclear deal

As of last night, no authorised officials could clarify how much time death row convict war criminal Muhammad Kamaruzzaman should be given to seek presidential mercy while contradictory and unclear statements came from the state minister for home affairs and the attorney general.

Earlier, the Appellate Division judges took two days to sign the judgement they gave on Monday upholding the death penalty of the Jamaat-e-Islami leader.

The jail authorities received the copy of the judgement on Wednesday and communicated it to the convict. On the other hand, Kamaruzzaman, a key al-Badr organiser during the 1971 Liberation War, on Wednesday and yesterday sought time to decide whether he would seek clemency or not.

State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan yesterday said: “Kamaruzzaman must  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

PAGE 32 PM for reducing electricity cost-price gap

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2 NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Seven candidates pull out of mayoral NY firm to help bring back Mujib killers race in Dhaka n Munir Momtaj On the last day of withdrawing nomination papers, seven candidates in Dhaka north and south pulled out of the mayoral race yesterday for the upcoming city polls.

Those from Dhaka north are Sarah Begum Kabari, former Awami League lawmaker and filmstar; Bobby Hajjaj, former special adviser to Jatiya Party chief HM Ershad; and Mostafa Kamal Azadi.

With their withdrawal, 16 candidates now remain in the mayoral race in the Dhaka North City Corporation elections on April 28.

In the south of the capital city, Abdus Salam, a senior BNP leader, Kazi Abul Bashar, Riaz Uddin Ahmed and Imtiaz Alam, leader of Islami Andolon Bangladesh, withdrew their nomination yesterday.

In this part of Dhaka, 20 candidates will now bid for the post of the mayor on April 28.

Kabari said: “I have decided to withdraw my nomination to show respect to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s decision and in the greater interest of the party.”

She also said that the prime minister had not given any direct order, rather she gave her a hint.

Mayoral aspirant Bobby Hajjaj’s brother Jubi Musa filed the request for his withdrawal. After his application was accepted by the Dhaka north’s returning office, Bobby talked to reporters at a conferene in Banani in the afternoon.

He said: “The Election Commission has failed to create a reliable field for the candidates.”

He claimed: “I was in pressure from a political parties. Those who supported me were also under pressure. Yesterday they expelled two of my supporters.” l

Embargo on vehicle movement for city corporation polls n Tribune Report The government has issued an embargo on vehicle movement during the Dhaka and Chittagong City Corporation elections.

A gazette notification published yesterday from Road Transport and Highways Division stated that movement of autorickshaw, taxi cab, micro bus, jeep, pick up, car, bus, truck and tempo will be restricted from April 27, 12am to April 28, 12am.

For motorcycles, the embargo will be effective from April 25, 12 am to April 29, 6am.

However, with permission of returning officers, the embargo may be relaxed for the mayor and councillor candidates and their agents, and local and foreign observers.

Apart from them, journalists, electoral officials, law enforcers, emergency services like ambulance, fire service, electricity, gas, water, postal and telecommunication vehicles will not fall under the restriction.

In addition, port and daily necessary goods transportation may be allowed by the appropriate authorities. l

prestigious and highest-grossing law firms in the world.

When contacted, Law Minister Anisul Huq told the Dhaka Tribune last night: “The New York-based law firm has already started working to bring back Bangabandhu’s killers … The Foreign Ministry has also confirmed the matter and we have signed a one-year contract.”

In 2009, the Supreme Court of Bangladesh upheld a High Court verdict that handed down death sentence to 12 for killing Bangab-

andhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family on August 15, 1975.

Five of them – Syed Farooq Rahman, Sultan Shahriar Rashid Khan, Bazlul Huda, AKM Mohiuddin Ahmed and Mohiuddin Ahmed – were executed in January 2010. Another fugitive convict Aziz Pasha died in Zimbabwe in 2001.

In June 2007, AKM Mohiuddin was extradited to Bangladesh from the United States, following a series of failed attempts by him to gain asylum or permanent residency there.

The six others – Khandaker Abdur Rashid, Shariful Haque Dalim, Nur Chowdhury, Rashed Chowdhury, Abdul Mazed and Moslehuddin Khan – have been absconding. Two of them are said to be living in the USA and Canada but the locations of the other four are not known.

Citing legal complications, the Canadian government has turned down several requests from Bangladesh regarding extraditing Nur Chowdhury. l

25 dead as bus hits tree in Faridpur Bhanga highway police station, said the Kuakata-bound bus which was travelling from Dhaka crashed into a big tree beside the road.

“The accident wrecked the bus while police and firefighters rushed to the scene,” he said.

Assistant Police Super of Faridpur, Belal Hossain, said the dead bodies were brought to the highway police station.

Deputy Director of Faridpur Fire Service, Khandaker Shamsuddoha, said passengers of the bus were sleeping and could not even try to save themselves.

The highway saw a two-hour traffic jam after the accident and the tailback eased when the bus was towed away.

Faridpur Deputy Commissioner Sardar Saraft Ali and Police Super Jamil Hasan visited the scene of the accident. Lawmaker of Faridpur 3 constituency, Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, visited the injured at the upazila health complex.

The deputy commissioner said each of the families of the dead was given Tk10,000 while the local authorities would pay for the treatment of the injured.

Contradictory accounts

Even though official investigation into the cause of the accident was ordered, the injured passengers and the bus staff gave conflicting accounts of what led to the incident.

Driver of the bus, Jakir Hossain, and the helper, Mintu Khan, claimed that some armed robbers who boarded the vehicle disguised as passengers took control of it as soon as it reached Bhanga.

They both were admitted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College and Hospital in Barisal.

Jakir said the bus left Gabtoli bus terminal after 8pm on Wednesday with 56 passengers on board.

“Some passengers held the driver at gunpoint and one of them tried to drive the bus but ended up hitting the tree,” said Mintu.

“The driver and I passed out after the accident. After regaining consciousness, we boarded a Barisal-bound transport and reached the hospital,” he added.

The on-duty doctor said their injuries were minor and they were out of danger.

But Police Super Jamil Hasan said he had talked to the injured passengers and they

told him that reckless driving had caused the accident.

Shakhawat Hossain, Barisal Kotwali police station officer-in-charge, said the driver and the helper were not arrested as no case was lodged against them.

“But they are under watch,” he said.

Probe committees formed

The Road Transport and Bridges Ministry and the local authorities in Faridpur formed two separate probe committees after the accident.

The five-member committee of the ministry comprises police, fire service officials and Bangladesh Road Transport Authority officials. It is headed by the district additional magistrate.

A ministry statement said the committee was asked to submit its report within seven working days.

Faridpur district administration, on the other hand, formed another three-member probe committee headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Abdur Rashid.

The committee has been instructed to submit a report within two days, said Deputy Commissioner Sardar Saraft Ali. l

All eyes on the magistrate seek mercy by today or he will be executed.

“The Dhaka district magistrate is on the way to meet the convict to ask him whether he will seek presidential clemency. The verdict will be executed if he does not want to seek mercy,” he told reporters yesterday afternoon.

The magistrate did not go to the Dhaka Central Jail, where the convict has been kept, until 10:30pm, Senior Jail Superintendent Farman Ali said. The mobile phone of the state minister was found switched off while the inspector general of prisons did not respond despite repeated attempts on his mobile phone.

Kamaruzzaman’s lawyers met him yesterday morning. A five-member team of lawyers spoke to the convict at the jail.

“Kamaruzzaman said he needed more time to decide on the clemency matter,” Shishir Manir, one of the counsels, said. “He will communicate his decision to the jail authorities within the reasonable time.”

On Monday, Kamaruzzaman’s family members met him at the jail hours after the Appellate Division rejected the review petition against his death sentence.

As per the jail code, a convict gets a week to seek presidential mercy after the jail authorities receive the death warrant and communicate it to him.

On this, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam

yesterday said Kamaruzzaman should not be given seven days to seek presidential mercy as the jail code is not applicable in war crimes cases.

He said the verdict would be executed as per the direction of the government in line with the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act of 1973.

“If he says he needs seven days, it is not reasonable. The ‘reasonable time’ should be around seven days [as mentioned in jail code],” the top law officer of the country told reporters at his office.

“If Kamaruzzaman seeks mercy, he cannot be executed until the president disposes of his mercy petition,” he added.

Kamaruzzaman is the second war crimes convict who filed a review petition with the top court. Another Jamaat leader Abdul Quader Molla was executed on December 12, 2013. He did not seek mercy.

EU follows UN, HRW

The European Union, which advocates for abolishing capital punishment, in a statement asked the Bangladesh government to commute all death sentences.

“After the confirmation by the Bangladeshi Supreme Court of the death sentence in the case of Muhammad Kamaruzzaman, the European Union reiterates its opposition to the use of capital punishment in all cases and un-

der all circumstances.”

Mentioning that capital punishment is not a deterrent against crime and makes miscarriages of justice irreversible, the EU said: “The EU has consistently called for its universal abolition.”

It suggested that the Bangladeshi authorities introduce a moratorium on executions as a first step towards definitive abolition of capital punishment.

On Wednesday, the UN Human Rights Office called the government to halt execution of Kamaruzzaman.

“The trial was reportedly rife with irregularities and did not meet international fair trial standards,” said Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. “The UN opposes the use of the death penalty, even in cases where stringent fair trial standards appear to have been met and even for the most serious international crimes.”

Criticising the trial of Kamaruzzaman, New York-based Human Rights Watch on Tuesday asked the Bangladesh government to suspend the execution and rather impose an immediate moratorium on the death penalty.

“Bangladesh’s war crimes trials have been plagued by persistent and credible allegations of fair trial violations that require impartial judicial review,” the organisation said in a statement. l

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FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Tabith steps up and into the fray n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla Tabith M Awal has received the nod from the BNP to replace his father Abdul Awal Mintoo as the party’s mayoral candidate in Dhaka north.

Former Dhaka University vice-chancellor Prof Dr Emajuddin Ahamed, also chief of a pro-BNP platform titled “Adarsha Dhaka Gorar Andolan,” announced around 10pm that BNP will back Tabith for the polls.

But his good news came at the expense of his father who was the party’s first choice.

Yesterday, the Supreme Court turned down Mintoo’s appeal against a High Court order that upheld the cancellation of his candidature by the Election Commission (EC).

Tabith’s nomination papers were collected and filed at the eleventh hour on March 29 as a backup option for his father, who is an adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. His immediate reaction was one of gratefulness to the BNP chief and the 20-party alliance. Around 11pm, Tabith went to meet

What happened with my father was unfortunate

Khaleda Zia at her residence Feroza in Gulshan with a flower bouquet.

In an exclusive interview last night, he told the Dhaka Tribune: “They have given me a great honour. Now I will try to win with people’s mandate and serve the city dwellers.”

Tabith said he would start campaigning as soon as the EC allots an election symbol. He would take a little more time to publish his manifesto.

The youngest mayoral candidate aged 36

said: “What happened with my father was unfortunate. I do not have the words to describe it. But I will make my father proud by fulfilling his thoughts and plans about Dhaka.”

Business magnate Abdul Awal Mintoo, a former president of the country’s apex trade body (FBCCI), was said to have harboured ambitions of becoming the mayor of Dhaka for more than a decade ago.

Mintoo is the chairman and Tabith deputy chief executive officer of their family business Multimode Group. He is associated with 17 business organisations and vice-president of Bangladesh Football Federation.

Tabith’s main competition is expected to be with ruling Awami League-backed candidate Annisul Huq, also a former president of FBCCI and much better known to the business and media circles.

“I am new in the fields of politics and business. This is my greatest advantage. The citizens will accept me as a fresh face. I am sure that I will get the blessings of the citizens because I am young. I will pledge to build the city

Mayoral election campaigns gain momentum n Tribune Report On the second day of her husband’s campaign, Mirza Abbas’ wife Afroza Abbas accused that law enforcers of harassing supporters.

Mirza Abbas is the BNP-backed mayoral candidate for Dhaka South City Corporation and a former mayor of Dhaka.

Arfoza began at Shantibagh Primary School along with leaders of BNP, Jubo Dal and Chhatra Dal. She made the allegations an hour into her campaign, at the Concord Twin Towers. Law enforcers have yet to comment.

The AL-backed candidate for Dhaka South, Sayeed Khokon, claimed he wants to serve the city as a son, not as a father-figure.

“My father, late Mohammad Hanif, was first elected mayor of Dhaka.

“He is not among us today. You all are my fathers, guardians. If you elect me as mayor, I’ll serve you as a son,” Khokon said on the campaign trail in the capital’s Dholaipar.

Dhaka North AL-backed candidate Annisul Huq penned an open letter to the city: “I want to give the city a more green, clean, healthy and liveable environment.” Annisul Huq will publish his manifesto tomorrow from his Nikunja office.

Dhaka North aspirant Zonayed Saki pledged to stress safety on his campaign.

BNP is yet to declare support for any candidate in Dhaka North.

CCC polls

AL-backed AJM Nasir Uddin’s door to door campaign was full throttle yesterday as he promised to ensure all civic amenities to port city residents.

On the other hand, BNP-backed candidate and outgoing Mayor M Manjur Alam is scheduled to start his door to door campaigning from the city’s Patenga area after the Jummah prayers.

Chittagong city unit BNP President Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury and BNP Vice Chairman Abdullah Al Noman were conducting separate campaigns in support of Manjur. l

of their dreams. I hope that the young voters will also give me that chance,” Tabith said.

After a one-and-half-hour meeting with Khaleda Zia last night, Adarsha Dhaka Gorar Andolan convener Prof Emajuddin said the pro-BNP banner will officially announce Tabith’s name in a press conference today.

They will also organise a meeting at the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh to formally introduce their candidate. BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia is likely to attend that programme.

Shawkat Mahmud, member secretary of the platform, told reporters: “We are confidently expecting that the BNP chairperson will take part in the campaign.”

According to party insiders, one group was strongly in favour of extending support to Bikalpadhara Bangladesh’s Mahi B Chowdhury, a former BNP lawmaker.

However, the party chief, after consulting with key alliance partners like Jamaat-e-Islami and Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), eventually decided to support Tabith. l

Mintoo out of polls race n Ashif Islam Shaon

Awami League-backed Annisul Huq busy canvassing at a garment factory yesterday for the Dhaka North City Corporation polls slated for April 28 DHAKA TRIBUNE

Kabari’s withdrawal a real boon to Annisul n Abu Hayat Mahmud

With Sara Begum Kabari pulling out of the race, Awami League has now one candidate in Annisul Huq to contest the polls in Dhaka north.

The ruling party this time has ensured a rebel-free state for both parts of Dhaka.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed party men to throw their weight behind former FBCCI president Annisul Huq and Sayeed Khokon - her choices for mayors.

She said if anyone violated the party decision he would have to face the music. Soon, Haji Salim and Ekhlas Uddin Mollah refrained from submitting their nomination forms.

However, another rebel candidate for Dhaka North former Awami League lawmaker and filmstar Kabari submitted her nomination form.

On April 8, Awami League published the names of its councillor hopefuls. The party however later changed its candidates for Ward 3 and Ward 11.

Kabari’s withdrawal from the fray gave Annisul a great deal of leverage.

Annisul is also enjoying the advantage of not having any strong opposition candidate after BNP’s Abdul Awal Mintoo lost his appeal in the Supreme Court.

Annisul Huq said: “I never think of benefitting from someone’s nomination cancellation.”

He will publish his manifesto tomorrow at his election office in Nikunja.

Sayeed Khokon, the Awami League-backed candidate in the south, wants to serve the city dwellers as a son, not as a father.

“My father late Mohammad Hanif was the first mayor of Dhaka who dedicated his life to the people and Awami League,” Khokon said while campaigning at Dholaipar.

Though the ruling party candidates started its polls campaign in full swing, BNP is yet to decide upon its candidate for the DNCC. However, BNP-backed mayoral candidate for the DSCC Mirza Abbas’s wife and his supporters have started the election campaign for Abbas who has remained in hideout since the BNP-led indefinite transport blockade started since January 03. l

After losing his appeal in the Supreme Court Appellate Division, Abdul Awal Mintoo, BNP’s first choice for the mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation, is now out of the fray.

The Appellate Division yesterday upheld the High Court order that rejected a writ petition filed by Mintoo challenging the cancellation of his nomination by the Election Commission.

A four-member bench led by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order. The cancellation will stay put following the order, Mintoo’s lawyer AKM Ehsanur Rahman said.

The Appellate Division passed “no order” on the appeal challenging the High Court order which on April 6 summarily dismissed his writ petition filed against the Dhaka divisional commissioner’s order.

Mintoo appealed to the apex court seeking its directives on the EC to accept his nomination and to allow him to contest in the polls.

On April 5, Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Zillar Rahman dismissed Mintoo’s appeal against the returning officer’s decision cancelling his nomination due to procedural flaws.

The High Court rejected the writ petition filed by Mintoo challenging the cancellation of his nomination. Later, he filed the appeal to the Supreme Court.

Mintoo’s candidacy was cancelled by the Election Commission on April 1, the first day of scrutiny. His appeal against that decision was rejected on Saturday.

DNCC Returning Officer Shah Alam said: “Mintoo’s nomination has been cancelled as the person who nominated him and the one who seconded his nomination are not the voters of the DNCC.” The certified copy of Mintoo’s nomination cancellation reads Abdur Razzaque, who supported Mintoo’s nomination, was a voter of Uttara 13 under Harirampur union, which is outside the DNCC area.

According to the city corporation election rules, the returning officer may disqualify a mayoral aspirant for a number of reasons.

Section 14 of the rules, that deals with the issue, spells out the reasons. l

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4 NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

ACC okays cases against Sohel Rana’s parents n Adil Sakhawat The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has approved filing of two cases against Rana Plaza owner Sohel Rana’s parents on charge of illegally accumulating wealth worth around Tk17 crore.

Rana’s father Abdul Khalek owned assets worth around Tk10.25 crore, while his mother Morzina owned wealth worth around Tk6.68 crore The decision came at the anti-graft body’s regular meeting at its headquarters in Segunbagicha, Dhaka yesterday, ACC Public Relations Officer Pranab Kumar Bhattacharya confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune.

He said the ACC found proof during a primary investigation that Rana’s father Abdul Khalek owned assets worth around Tk10.25 crore, while his mother Morzina owned wealth worth around Tk6.68 crore, both allegedly having acquired the fortune through illegal means.

ACC Deputy Director Mahbubul Alam, who is also investigating the accused, will file the cases soon, Pranab said.

Last week, the ACC also served a notice to Rana, who is in prison, to submit his wealth statement through his lawyer to the commission.

On April 28, 2013 the ACC formed a probe team with two of its officials to look into the illegal wealth gathered by Rana and his family members.

After running the probe for nearly two years, they finally found evidence against the accused.

An ACC official, seeking anonymity, told the Dhaka Tribune that in 10-12 years, Rana became owner of two high-rise commercial buildings in the capital – one is the collapsed Rana Plaza, the other is Rana Tower, both in Savar.

He also has a five-storey residential building in Savar and two-storey residential building in Jaymandap, Manikganj to his name, the official said.

In addition, Rana owns two brick fields named Rana Bricks and MAK bricks.

According to the probe team, Rana has 23 bank accounts along with five loan accounts with EXIM Bank Limited, National Bank Limited, Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited and Brac Bank Limited. Besides, he has a fixed deposit receipt (FDR) account worth Tk35 lakh.

Khalek, on the other hand, owns an oil factory, while there are three residential buildings in his three sisters’ names – all in Savar and acquired illegally, the ACC official told the Dhaka Tribune. l

Jubo Dal President Alal out of jail Correspondent, n Our Gazipur Jubo Dal President Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal was released on bail yesterday afternoon from Kashimpur Jail in Gazipur after he was arrested almost three months back on charges of conspiring sabotage.

Jailer Faridur Rahman Rubel of Kashimpur Jail said: “Syed Moazzem Hossain Alal’s release papers arrived at the jail at 9:15am. He was released at 12:30pm after the papers were reviewed.”

Police arrested Alal from his home in Lalmatia of the capital on December 27 last year and took him into remand in connection with an Awami League-BNP clash and attack on lawmaker Chhobi Biswas.

In addtion there are nine more cases filed against Alal with the capital’s Chawk Bazar, Shahbagh, Paltan, Motijheel, Shahjahanpur police stations and the special tribunal. He was released after a higher court granted him bail in all the cases. l

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FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Oyasiqur killers remanded again, DB hunting for suspects Sanaul Islam Tipu and n Md Mohammad Jamil Khan A Dhaka court yesterday placed two madrasa students, who confessed to the killing of blogger and online activist Oyasiqur Rahman alias Babu, on a three-day fresh remand in the case.

Metropolitan Magistrate Ataul Haque passed the order after DB Inspector Moshiur Rahman, also investigation officer of the case, produced the accused – Zikrullah and Ariful Islam – before the court seeking five-day remand.

Zikrullah is a student of Hathazari madrasa in Chittagong run by Hefazat-e-Islam. Arif was a former student of the same institution and now studying in Darul Ulum Madrasa in the capital’s Mirpur.

They were placed on an eight-day remand on March 31, a day after the murder.

Oyasiqur, 27, was hacked to death by three cleaver-wielding youths, including the two arrestees, at Begunbari of Tejgaon on his way to office.

Meanwhile, detectives say the duo gave information about eight-ten people involved in the murders of Oyasiqur and Mukto-Mona blog founder Avijit Roy, who was hacked to death allegedly by the members of radical Islamist group Ansarullah Bangla Team on February 26.

“We are now verifying the information and searching for the suspects,” DB chief Monirul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune adding that the names could be fake.

So far, the law enforcers have arrested Shafiur Rahman Farabi, leader of banned Islamist group Hizb ut-Tahrir, for instigating the attack on Avijit and his wife Rafida Ahmed

Bonya. The couple, both US citizens, came to Bangladesh to attend the Amar Ekushey Book Fair two weeks before being attacked.

The prime suspect in Avijit murder, Ansarullah leader Redwanul Azad Rana, already fled the country, detectives said earlier.

Moreover, there is no update of the lab test reports on evidence expected from the FBI, who are assisting the DB police in Avijit murder case.

No clue from Shahbagh suspects The detectives did not get any clue from the two teenagers about their presence with machetes at a procession by Gonojagoron Moncho at Shahbagh on Wednesday.

Shibli Noman, assistant commissioner of police’s Ramna division, said after the detention the duo had been interrogated at the DB headquarters until yesterday and later produced before court. l

RAB helping DB to trace Kaberi’s killer n Kamrul Hasan As detectives continue their search for the killer of college teacher Kaberi Biswas, they are now reportedly being assisted by RAB teams. However, little progress have been made so far.

Seeking anonymity, a source inside the DB told the Dhaka Tribune that several RAB teams were also working to try and locate Jahirul by tracking his mobile phone.

DMP Deputy Commissioner (media and public relations) SM Jahangir Alam Sarker said investigation was still ongoing into the murder of Kaberi, the wife of BRTA Deputy Director Sitangshu Shekhar Biswas.

The case was transferred from Mohammadpur police station to the Detective Branch on April 4, but the main suspect – KM Jahirul Islam Palash – is yet to be traced.

Kaberi Biswas was hacked to death during an attack on her family at their flat in Mohammadpur on March 30. l

Police: Jubo League leader Arif was killed for refusing to carry out illegal activity n Kamrul Hasan Jubo League leader Md Mollah Arif, who was gunned down in Khilgaon on Wednesday, was not murdered for political reasons but killed because he had refused to do something illegal demanded by his killers, the police have claimed.

Khilgaon police station Officer-in-Charge Mostafiz Bhuiyan said Arif’s death was surely not a political killing, rather an ordinary killing case. But the exact motive could only be figured out after proper investigation, he added.

The OC said no one has so far been arrested in connection with the killing.

Md Mollah Arif, joint secretary of Jubo League’s ward number 2 unit, was shot by some five to six people near Jorpukur Math area of North Goran yesterday evening.

He later died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 11:50pm, said Sentu Chandra Das, assistant sub-inspector of DMCH police outpost.

Before losing his consciousness at the hospital, Arif was able to mention the names of Shuvo, Mithu, Arif and Imran as perpetrators who had been among the five to six people who had shot him, ASI Sentu said.

When contacted, Khilgaon Sub-Inspector Fakhrul Islam said Arif – a cable operator in the area – had been shot while returning home on a rickshaw.

Asked about the names mentioned by Arif before his death, the SI said one of those suspects – Shuvo – might be same Shuvo who was the science and technology affairs secretary at Jubo league’s ward number 8 unit; however, further verification was needed to make sure the two were the same person, he added.

Meanwhile, Amena Begum, the mother of the deceased, has filed a murder case with the Khilgaon police station accusing seven persons. l

Counsels of war criminal and death row convict Mohammad Kamaruzzaman come out of the Dhaka Central Jail yesterday after discussing the prospects of presidential clemency for their client DHAKA TRIBUNE

HC extends stay on Barapukuria graft case n Tribune Report

The High Court yesterday extended the stay order by six months on the proceedings of Barapukuria coal mine graft case against BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. The bench of Justice Md Nuruzzaman and Justice Zafar Ahmed passed the order in response to a petition filed by Khaleda’s lawyer AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon.

In 2008, the High Court stayed the case proceedings, and in a ruling asked the govern-

ment and the Anti-Corruption Commission to explain why the case should not be dropped.

The court had extended the stay order on the case several times in the past. The latest six-month extension was ordered on September 2 last year.

The verdict on Khaleda’s petition that challenged the case’s legality was expected to be delivered on March 10 this year but was adjourned twice until March 15 and April 5.

On April 2, the BNP chairperson’s lawyers submitted a no-confidence petition to the

chief justice against the two judges – Justice Md Moinul Islam Chowdhury and Justice JBM Hassan – who were dealing with the case.

But the two judges sent the case documents to the chief justice for a decision, saying that Khaleda’s counsels did not co-operate with them.

Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha on Monday forwarded the documents to the bench of Justice Md Nuruzzaman and Justice Zafar Ahmed, which yesterday extended the stay order. l

DT

6 NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

DISAPPEARANCE OF SALAHUDDIN

HC to deliver order on April 15 n Ashif Islam Shaon The High Court yesterday fixed April 15 for delivering an order on a writ petition filed over the disappearance of BNP Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed.

The bench of Justice Quamrul Islam Siddiqui and Justice Gobinda Chandra Tagore fixed the date on yesterday afternoon. In response to a time petition on Wednesday, the same bench had fixed today for hearing.

During hearing, Salahuddin’s attorneys once again requested the court to form a judicial inquiry commission to find out who had picked him up.

One of Salahuddin’s counsels Moudud Ahmed, also a standing committee member of BNP, told the court on Wednesday that members of a certain law enforcement agency

had picked up Salahuddin. He also urged the court of make police’s Detective Branch (DB) a respondent of the petition.

Yesterday, he said private organisations might also be involved in whisking his client.

Once again claiming that Salahuddin was alive, Moudud said yesterday: “He is in the custody of a law enforcement agency. He is very much alive.”

On Wednesday, Moudud told reporters that he had learned from Salahuddin’s wife Hasina Ahmed that her husband was alive.

However, when reporters asked Hasina about this, she denied saying anything like that to Moudud.

BNP Joint Secretary General Salahuddin Ahmed – the party’s crisis-moment communicator – was allegedly picked up by lawmen on March 10 from the Uttara residence of a rela-

Rizvi’s bail petitions rejected n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka Court yesterday rejected three separate bail petitions submitted by BNP joint secretary general Ruhul Kabir Rizvi in three cases.

Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Kamrul Hossain Mollah passed the order following petitions filed by Rizvi’s counsel advocate Joynul Abedin Mejbah seeking bail for his client in the cases.

The defence sought bail of the BNP leader in three cases filed with Jatrabari and Mirpur

police stations on charges of vandalism and torching vehicles in the capital.

Earlier on January 31, law enforcers arrested Rizvi at a house in Baridhara in the capital in connection with recent violence in the city.

After arrest, Rizvi has been placed in a total of 28 days of remand in eight cases filed with Jatrabari, Badda, Mirpur and Mohammadpur police stations on charges of vandalism, arson attacks, and blasting cocktails in the city during the ongoing movement of the BNP-led alliance. l

DU professor receives Australian excellence award n DU Correspondent

India wants to simplify tourist visa process n UNB

Naadir Junaid, associate professor of the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism at Dhaka University, received ‘Australian Alumni Excellence Award 2015 for Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships’.

Dhaka University authorities disclosed the information in a press release on Wednesday.

Australian government confers this award on select graduates of Australian universities with a view to recognising their extraordinary accomplishments in their chosen fields.

Professor Junaid received the Award on April 7 at a programme organised by the Australian High Commission at Westin Hotel in Dhaka, said the release.

Professor AK Azad Chowdhury, chairman, University Grants Commission (UGC) was the chief guest of the ceremony while Greg Wilcock, Australian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, was present as the special guest.

Junaid was awarded three gold medals from Dhaka University for his outstanding academic achievements.

As a Commonwealth scholar, he earned a master’s degree from King’s College, University of London. As a recipient of an Australian Government Endeavour Postgraduate Award, he earned his PhD from University of New South Wales, Sydney, the release added. l

India wants to make tourist visa process easy, simple and transparent, and completely eliminate the difficulties facing by Bangladesh nationals, said Indian High Commissioner in Dhaka Pankaj Saran yesterday.

“Our idea is to make it easy, simple and transparent,” he said mentioning that tourist visa is the area where the problem lies.

Saran said they do not tolerate the role of any agents or unscrupulous elements as Indian visa is free of cost and the only charge that is in place is taken by the outsourcing agency – State Bank of India not the High Commission.

The diplomat said they are looking at multiple solutions, including a complete audit into technical system to see where the problem lies. And this audit has been completed.

The Indian High Commissioner said the on-arrival visa scheme was introduced last year and it is being unfolded at stages. “So, it has not yet reached all countries in the world.

When Bangladesh becomes part of the process, we’ll make a public announcement.”

Saran said they got a very positive feedback from the visa applicants related to treatment and business community. “We’re getting a very good feedback from the business community in Bangladesh,” he added. l

tive. On March 14, police filed a general dairy with the Uttara police station in this connection.

However, Khandker Mahbub Hossain, another counsel of Salahuddin, yesterday argued that personnel from RAB had picked up his client.

He said: “Three days before abducting the BNP leader, RAB personnel picked us his driver and personal secretary who knew his whereabouts. This proves that RAB men have picked him up.”

In reply, the presiding judge said: “According to your argument, as RAB picked up the driver and PS, they have also picked up Salahuddin. But, can’t it also be that when Salahuddin came to know that RAB had picked them up and were extracting information about him, he himself went elsewhere?”

Mahbub responded that a judicial probe can find out if anything like that had happened.

On March 12, after his wife filed a petition, the HC bench asked the government and the law enforcers to explain why they should not be directed to find Salahuddin and bring him before it.

Following the order, Dhaka Metropolitan Police, Special Branch of Police, Criminal Investigation Department, Rapid Action Battalion and the Police Headquarters submitted reports to the attorney general’s office on March 15. They said they had not picked him up and were trying to trace him.

Hasina has pleaded to the prime minister several times seeking her intervention in locating her husband who has been missing for more than a month now. l

DT

NEWS 7

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Three suspected robbers lynched in Meherpur n Our Correspondent, Meherpur

Three suspected robbers were beaten to death by a mob at Rajapur village in Sadar upazila early yesterday.

Additional Superintend of Police Ajbahar Ali Sheikh said: “A gang of robbers numbering 10-12 entered Rajapur village to commit robbery. Sensing the presence of the robbers, villagers chased them.

Hearing the news, the villagers surrounded the village.

The robbers blasted five crude bombs aiming at the villagers.

The villagers caught three of them – Faruk Hossain, 36, son of Abdur Razzak of Charshamnagar village Rafiq Hossain, 40, son Md Nazer and Sariful Islam, 40, son of Ayub Ali of Zuginda village in Gangni upazila – and beat them indiscriminately.

On information, police rescued the injured robbers and took them to the Meherpur Sadar Hospital where on-duty doctors declared them dead.

A pistol and one bullet were seized from the spot, police said.

A case was filed in this connection. l

WEATHER THUNDERSHOWER WITH RAIN

FRIDAY, APRIL 10 DHAKA TODAY SUN SETS 6:18PM

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:42AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

34

25

Chittagong

32

24

Rajshahi

37

22

Rangpur

34

21

Khulna

35

23

Barisal

34

24

Sylhet

31

20

Cox’s Bazar

32

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YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

36.0ºC Rajshahi

17.8ºC Sylhet Source: Accuweather/UNB

Like every year, Charukola students pass busy hours in making masks and sculptures to bring out during the Mongol Shobhajatra on Pahela Baishakh. The photo was taken yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Sudden diarrhea outbreak sends hundreds to hospital n Our Correspondent, Chapainawabganj A sudden outbreak of diarrhea in the Chapainawabganj municipality have put hundreds of patients in hospital, with the number increasing at an alarming rate.

The outbreak was caused by a bacteria in the water supply. On average 60 to 70 patients are being admitted daily at the Chapainawabganj Sadar Hospital where 450 people have already been treated in last one week.

With not enough room in the hospital wards, many patients are being treated in the corridors and balconies of the hospital. The limited number of hospital staff are severely struggling to keep up with the influx of patients.

Fajr

4:25am

Sunrise

5:41am

Jumma

12:00am

Asr

4:31pm

Magrib

6:18pm

Esha

7:35pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

sary steps will be taken once the final report of the water sample test comes out.”

The municipality authority is also issuing public announcements in the affected areas to use the supplied water carefully but is yet unable to provide an alternate water supply.

When contacted, the health department informed that a letter was issued in regard to the polluted water to the municipality authority with instructions to take necessary steps but Chapainawabganj municipality Executive Engineer Sadequl Islam said he did not get any such letter.

No medical teams have yet been formed to tackle the outbreak, aggravating the concern among locals. l

Inu: Khaleda changes her skin like snake n Our Correspondent, Narail

PRAYER TIMES

Resident physician of the sadar hospital Shafiqul Islam said: “Most of the patients with diarrhea are from ward number 13, 14 and 15.”

Although the number of diarrhea patients is increasing everyday, the physicians are saying there is no reason to panic.

Chapainawabganj Civil Surgeon Dr Md Alauddin said: “The diarrhea is being caused by bacterial infection through the water supply of the municipality. The poly flower bacteria was found in a water sample sent to ICDDRB in Dhaka.”

He said the health department issued a cautionary public announcement in the affected areas to use boiled water and stay away from stale food, and added: “Further neces-

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu yesterday said Chairperson of the BNP Khaleda Zia was yet to shun terrorism, she had only changed her strategy to get benefits from city corporations’ polls.

“When the city corporations election will finish, she will come in her own character and hatch conspiracy against the country with anti-liberation forces,” the minister said this while speaking as chief guest at the biennial conference of Narail Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) on the premises of district’s Shilpakola Acdemy.

The minister, who is also president of JSD, said Khaleda Zia was giving shelter to the terrorists, Razakars, war criminals and militants.

He said: “People of the country should remain watchful about the heinous acts of the anti-liberation forces and put up resistance against it.”

Inu said democracy of the country was not safe in the hand of Jamaat-BNP. They were killing innocent people in the name of Hartals and blockade.

“But Khaleda Zia did not seek apology for burning people to death.” he added.

Presided over by Narail district unit JSD President Hemayet Ullah Hiru, the pro-

gramme was addressed by General Secretary of JSD central Committee Nurul Ambia, Vice-President Rabiul Alam and Standing Committee Member Shirin Aktar, MP. Leaders of JSD, including Manjur Ahmed, Talukder Humayun Kabir, Saifuzzaman Badsha, Shafiuddin Molla, Rokanuzzaman, Abul Quashed, Advocate Abdus Salam Khan, Saiful Islam Tuhin and Jahar Hossain, also addressed the programme.

Later, the minister visited the house of Nuruzzaman Paplu, who was burnt to death, in an arson attack on a bus in Comilla on February 3, and talked to his family members in Jessore. l

DT

8 NEWS

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Non-wage cost projects riddled with irregularities n Our Correspondent, Khulna Under the non-wage cost project, a culvert was supposed to be constructed in front of Prabir Dhali’s house at Kamarkhola union under Dacop upazila in Khulna. Necessary materials were also bought in that regard.

But even after a year the culvert has still not been constructed and the materials kept in the open had begun to decay.

Despite spending the money, the project could not be implemented adding woes to people’s sufferings. Locals alleged that the former project manager embezzled the money from the project.

Md Nur Islam Gazi of Kamarkhola said Tk2 lakh 15,000 was allocated to build the culvert.

He alleged that many such works under the non-wage cost project in the area had not been

implemented. A bridge at Pankhali, culvert in Laudob and another culvert at Sutarkhali are facing the same fate. Former project manager of Dacop upazila Md Selim Khan said he was transferred eight months ago and was now working in Ashashuni.

“Sometimes projects are delayed because local parliament members place late proposals and budgets. Then there is the monsoon.

But this does not mean corruption.”

According to the district relief and rehabilitation office, non-wage cost projects are meant to benefit the extreme poor by providing them employment in local infrastructure development projects.

For Dacop upazila, a total of about Tk55 lakh was allotted in 2013-2014 fiscal year to implement 112 projects. According to the report submitted to the ministry, these projects

had been shown as fully implemented.

Under these projects rural infrastructure like roads repair, box-culvert construction, building embankments and developing other public places are done.

Overseen by the relief and rehabilitation ministry, these projects have pre-registered workers who get Tk200 each.

In 2013-2014 fiscal, 3082 workers were paid Tk2 crore 46 lakh 56,000 and in the second phase 3085 persons received a total of Tk2 crore 46 lakh 80,000. Satyajit Kumar Roy, chairman of Laudob union parisahd said the project to build a culvert in his area had not been finished in last one year.

“We do not know the current situation of the project. When the previous project manager was transferred, he did not handover the work properly to anyone.”

UP Chairman Sudeb Roy of Banishanta alleged that most of the construction materials used in the projects were of low quality.

“The former project manager Md Selim embezzled lots of money by not finishing the project and also using low quality materials.”

Reiterating the claims of others, Sutarkhali union member Aboni Baidya said the big culvert on the canal at 2no ward had also not been built.

Sources at district relief and rehabilitation office said in nine upazilas of Khulna, about Tk1 crore 32 lakh 3,025 was allocated in the first phase for 334 non-wage cost projects.

The amount was Tk1 crore 32 lakh 15,607 was set aside for the second phase.

Though the report to the ministry claimed hundred percent implementation of these projects, locals claimed many works were left unfinished. l

Man dies as hailstorm lashes Moulvibazar n Our Correspondent, Moulvibazar A man was killed and three others were wounded when a sudden hailstorm lashed many areas in Molvibazar yesterday.

Local sources said heavy rain coupled with hailstorm started in the morning while Monfor Ali, 47, of Sunataki village, and others were working in the field. They became seriously injured as hailstorms hit them.

Later, the injured were sent to Rajnagar Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared Monfor dead. Munshibazar UP chairman Satir Mian confirmed the incident. l

Live grenades found n Our Correspondent, Lalmonirhat Police recovered two Indian grenades in Patgram upazila under Lalmonirhat district yesterday. Sources said on information, the police conducted a drive at Katahaltali near Auliarhat frontier area. Later, they recovered two live grenades from an abandoned building.

Sub-Inspector of Patgram police station Ashraful Alam confirmed the incident. l

Driver burnt as bus torched in Joypurhat n Our Correspondent, Joypurhat A labourer was injured when a gang of 1012 miscreants set fire to a rod-laden truck in Panchbibi upazila, Joypurhat on late Wednesday night.

Locals as well as sources at Panchbibi police said the attackers threw petrol on the running truck and set it on fire around 11:15pm on the Chanpara-Nishchinta road in Panchbibi, severely injuring the victim, Shahidul Haque, who is from Bulupara area in Joypurhat municipality.

Notified about the incident, police arrived at the spot and put out the fire with the locals’ help.

Shahid was taken to Joypurhat District Hospital, but was later transferred to Shahid Ziaur Rahman Medical College Hospital in Bogra as his condition worsened, said Abu Hena Mustafa, OC of Panchbibi police station.

Police is preparing to file a case in this regard, the OC told the Dhaka Tribune. l

Farmers plough Boro paddy in the bed of the Gopla River in Moulvibazar sadar upazila. With the advent of dry season, most water bodies in the district have dried up. The photo was taken from near the Kagabola bridge under Kagabola union yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

People suffer as Gopalganj transport workers on strike n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj Protesting an assault on transport-workers in the issue of boarding passengers, and seeking a halt to illegal vehicles plying the route, Gopalganj district bus owners and workers are observing an indefinite strike on the Gopalganj-Tungipara route.

As the tense situation entered its second day yesterday, no bus left Gopalganj for Tungipara.

Passengers are suffering as a result, and have to make the trip on a rickshaw or a rickshaw-van.

Tensions erupted Tuesday night when Mahindra (a human hauler without registration or route permit that in this case moves between Tungipara and Khaleker bazaar, both upazilas of the district) operators assaulted bus-workers at the Patgati Bus stand of Tun-

gipara. The incident happened due to differences in the issue of attracting and boarding passengers. Seven bus workers were injured, and two buses and two Mahindras were vandalised in the fracas.

The district bus owners and worker union, on indefinite strike since Wednesday afternoon, is hell bent on observing the strike as long as the guilty are not punished and the illegal vehicles operating on the route are not taken off.

“Illegal vehicles have been operating on the Gopalganj-Tungipara route for quite a long time. This strike will go on until these vehicles are not taken off,” said Kamil Sarwar, the secretary general of the district bus-owners and workers union.

The officer in charge of the local police station is trying to resolve the conflict. l

Farmer stabbed to death in Narsingdi n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi A group of masked miscreants stabbed a farmer to death in Polash upazila, Narsingdi on Wednesday night.

When the victim Hakim Uddin Khan, 45, was chatting at a grocery store in Rampur Bazar around 11:30pm, there was no electricity in the market.

Locals said three to four masked miscreants all of a sudden arrived at the spot and indiscriminately stabbed Hakim, leaving him dead on the spot. Later, they flee the scene safely as locals could not dare to come in the help of the victim.

Hakim was the son of late Layes Uddin Khan of the area.

Being informed, police came to the spot.

Hakim’s body was sent to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital morgue, said Officer-in-Charge of Polash police station Abul Kalam Azad. l

DT

LONG FORM 9

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Dancing on the head of a pin n Tim Steel

T

hey’re off ! Parliament dissolved, and the campaign commences, starting with a symbolic journey by the prime minister to, presumably, tell Her Majesty, rather than request her to do so, that by law the House of Commons has been sent home. And, that there are, at present, no members of parliament since the official dissolution just after the preceding midnight. Of such symbolic acts the governance of Britain comprises, as it has done for centuries.

But this election looks set to be one of the least predictable for generations, not least because of the political fragmentation that reflects the prospects for geographical fragmentation.

A lifelong Labour Party supporter myself, one who worked with a number of leaders of the party over nearly half a century, my own dilemma, perhaps, reflects that fragmentation. Disenchanted with the leadership of the Labour Party, and the direction of its political thrust, looking around, I find myself sympathetic to the growing Green Party, but I am resolutely opposed to the fragmentation of Scottish Independence, endorsed by the Green Party. My opposition to that independence rests, in part, on the almost permanent internal civil wars that preceded the 1707 Act of Union.

My Labour support, however challenged, means that it would be difficult not to vote for the Labour candidate; I have tempted myself to abstain, but know that would not be possible. As an enthusiastic young Labour activist, I lost count of the number of doorstep encounters in which I attempted to persuade people, especially older people, who intended to abstain, that the fight, originally, to obtain true universal franchise should, at least, be rewarded with a vote. Perhaps, today, I better understand that emotion, but without the excuse of absence abroad where no postal vote could be made to work, I know that when the local games room at our community centre opens on May 7 as a polling station, I will have to attend. And resist the temptation to repeat what was written on a ballot paper when I, myself, stood for parliament in 1979: “I wouldn’t vote for any of this lot if they were the last alive!” As yet, like, I suspect, so many of us UK voters, I have yet to decide how to vote.

Interestingly, many years ago, research suggested that a significant proportion of voters only finally decided where to place their cross when actually in the voting booth.

Impulse shopping is a widely recognised phenomenon, but impulse voting!

The campaign has opened with a letter, on the front page of a leading Conservative newspaper, signed by 103 “business leaders”, including, as it happens, at least one who is a US citizen, and another with joint UK and Ivorian citizenship; both, like the rest, significant beneficiaries of the “favourable environment” for business. Tax avoiders, and major donors are also amongst these representatives of the leaders of over 5 million businesses. And, of course, within days, some of the signatories have disavowed their involvement. What the episode tells us, more than the complete predictability of

BIGSTOCK

the fact that business fat cats could be found who support the Conservatives, is that even ostensibly unbiased media are incapable of in depth examination of the real meaning of such stories.

Somehow, even the apparently neutral BBC has led news bulletins giving a great deal of publicity to this first salvo. The casual observer, however, might reasonably wonder just how much in love the business community is with the coalition, if this tiny, ramshackle representation of the genre is the best the Tories can do.

That business, however, certainly seems to have no great affection for Labour simply puts them in the same league as most voters.

Daunted, it seems, by the nasal tones of a self confessed nerd, who leads them, matched by another, not, perhaps, so much “champagne socialist” as bull voiced bully as economic spokesman. Neither of these, by record, or presence, inspires the same kind of, apparent, muted respect that the smooth tongued Rolls Royce salesman and public schoolboy of prime ministerial candidate, Cameron, or the loud assertiveness of the public bar frequenting second-hand car salesman of neofascist/nationalist UKIP leader, all of whom seem to leave all but the blindest of followers rather cold.

The nub of the policy campaigns, however, seem, at present at least, to be focussed on the economy, perceived as Conservative strength, and the National Health Service, perceived, naturally, as the Labour Party’s strength. UKIP’s assertive certainty that Britain would be better alone … no one seems to have pointed out that English nationalism is not likely to hold the Union together … is not so much a policy, of course, as a fantasy of recovering past glories. Watch out Commonwealth, there could yet be demands for reparation, not to mention, presumably, an

Idi Amin style repatriation of Asians.

Following the recent bizarre, nonconfrontational, “encounter” between Cameron and Milliband, which, by common consent, was “won” by Jeremy Paxman, the dominant interlocutor, we have now been treated a theatrical representation of the political fragmentation, with seven leaders, all of them presently having parliamentary representatives, from which, for no apparent reason, Northern Irish parties were excluded.

That exclusion, of course, may yet lead to the strange prospect of England, and this Irish rump, being what is left of the “United” Kingdom by the time politicians and voters have finished considering their own, immediate, interests, taking no particular thought for time beyond May 7.

Certainly, both Scotland and Wales may seek to rewrite history back to the 11th century; and we should not be surprised, either, to find the ancient kingdoms of England, such as Northumbria, reasserting both their own interests, and pointing to the irony that, in the IT age communication between London and its remoter regions seem less effective than it once was. The lingering effects of Harold Wilson’s decentralisation of government ministries in the 1960s and 70s, that unsurprisingly produced a burst of rail, air and road linkage development led by reluctant civil servants thus exiled from London, seem to have finally vanished; another potentially useful lesson for Bangladesh?

These, of course, are all lessons that Bangladesh might well study. If a “nation” united under one political leadership, in stages over five centuries, culminating in the 1707 Act of Union can be faced with a realistic prospect of breaking up, and fading, necessarily, into international obscurity, then, perhaps, so can any “nation.”

The flawed strategy of the Thatcher years of abandoning a manufacturing base in favour of services, unbalanced Britain in so many ways, socially, culturally, economically, politically, amongst them, seems, now, to be coming home to roost. But there is no evidence of any of the politicians lining up for votes in the upcoming election, having any other perspective than the immediate priority of obtaining the keys to Downing Street.

Just as in the worldwide financial markets, and, of course, driven by them, short termism has become unmovably entrenched in governance. And, for such minority parties as the various regional nationalists, working out how to maximise their opportunities to fragment the nation through power broking horse trading.

Perhaps the next four weeks may produce signs of realisation of these greater threats, but, meanwhile, politicians seeking votes seem to be dancing on short-term pin heads, debating the distribution of wealth, rather than its creation, and what measures might be taken to either share up the Union, or break it up, depending on point of view.

A bit like tipping rocks on eroding banks of the great rivers of Bangladesh, rather than planning the bunds for better protection in a longer term.

Winston Churchill once said of the USA: “They can be counted on to do the right thing, after they have tried everything else.”

We are hoping that some such still epitaph may be possible for the Union of the United Kingdom. l Tim Steel is a Communications and Marketing Consultant. His half century experience in politics includes speech writing, research, and consultancy to two Labour Party prime ministers and leaders of the opposition.

DT

10 WORLD

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Iran’s Khamenei says no guarantee of final nuclear deal n AFP, Tehran Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said yesterday that last week’s hard-won framework accord with world powers was no guarantee of a final nuclear deal and that much work remained.

And President Hassan Rouhani said the Islamic republic would not sign any final agreement unless “all economic sanctions are totally lifted on the same day.”

“What has been done so far does not guarantee an agreement, nor its contents, nor even that the negotiations will continue to the end,” said Khamenei, who has the final word on all matters of state, according to his official website.

After a week of gruelling last-ditch negotiations, Tehran and the six powers agreed on April 2 on the framework of a deal to be finalised by the end of June reining in Iran’s nuclear programme in return for the lifting of

international sanctions.

“Everything is in the detail, it may be that the other side, which is unfair, wants to limit our country in the details,” Khamenei said, in his first comments on the deal.

Playing down expectations of a deal after the interim accord – which sparked celebrations in the streets of Iranian cities – Khamenei said he had not taken any position until now as “there is nothing to take a stance on.” l

Erdogan: Islamic world risks ‘disintegration’

n AFP, Ankara The Islamic world is at risk of “disintegration” due to the current conflicts in the region between the Sunni and Shiite strands of the Muslim faith, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in comments published yesterday.

Erdogan, who is increasingly touting himself as a leader of the Muslim world, said he would take steps to calm the tensions by meeting Islamic leaders.

The Turkish president, a devout Sunni Muslim, made the comments in a closed briefing to Turkish reporters while returning on his visit to Shiite Iran earlier this week.

“At this moment the Islamic world is facing the risk of disintegration,” Erdogan was quoted as saying by Turkish dailies including Hurriyet and Sabah.

“Steps need to be taken quickly to thwart these attempts” to cause the disintegration, he added.

“You can have a different denomination (of Islam) but if you seek to impose one denomination on another you will break up the ummah (Islamic community),” he said.

Erdogan said international organisations including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should show they are sincere about halting the violence in flashpoints like Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Syria and Yemen. l

Lahore High Court orders Lakhvi’s release

n Agencies The Lahore High Court yesterday dismissed the detention orders of Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, one of the key accused in the 2008 Mumbai attacks case, and ordered his release.

The court was hearing a petition of Lakhvi challenging his fourth one-month detention ordered by the Okara DCO on March 14.

The Punjab government had previously maintained the stance that Lakhvi has been detained based on ‘sensitive information’ provided by intelligence agencies. Justice Anwarul Haq had directed the government’s counsel to submit records of the information to the court, which was also presented in the Islamabad High Court in the past based on which the IHC had ordered Lakhvi’s bail.

The court upheld the stance that if this sensitive information was reliable, the IHC would not have accepted Lakhvi’s bail. l

A Syrian man walks in a cemetery next to crater left following an alleged bombing by Islamic State (IS) group in Marea, northern Aleppo on Wednesday AFP

US, Russian war games rekindle Cold War tensions n AP, Estonia Russia is so close that the F-16 fighter pilots can see it on the horizon as they swoop down over a training range in Estonia in the biggest ever show of US air power in the Baltic countries.

The simulated bombs release smoke on impact, but the M-61 cannon fires live ammunition, rattling the aircraft with a deafening tremor and shattering targets on the ground.

The four-week drill is part of a string of non-stop exercises by US land, sea and air forces in Europe — from Estonia in the north to Bulgaria in the south — scaled up since last year to reassure nervous Nato allies after Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine. US and Russian forces are now essentially back in a Cold Warstyle standoff, flexing their muscles along Nato’s eastern flank.

The saber-rattling raises the specter that either side could misinterpret a move by the other, triggering a conflict between two powers with major nuclear arsenals despite a sharp reduction from the Cold War era.

“A dangerous game of military brinkmanship is now being played in Europe,” said Ian Kearns, director of the European Leadership Network, a London-based think-tank. “If one commander or one pilot makes a mistake or a bad decision in this situation, we may

have casualties and a high-stakes cycle of escalation that is difficult to stop.”

With memories of five decades of Soviet occupation still fresh, many in the Baltic countries find the presence of US forces a comfort rather than a risk.

In recent months, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have seen hundreds of US armored vehicles, tanks and helicopters arrive on their soil. With a combined population of just over 6 million, tiny armies and no combat aircraft or vehicles, the last time tanks rumbled through their streets was just over 20 years ago, when remnants of the Soviet army pulled out of the region.

The commander of Estonia’s tiny air force, Col. Jaak Tarien, described the roar of American F-16s taking off from Amari — a former Soviet air base — as “the sound of freedom.”

Normally based in Aviano, Italy, 14 fighter jets and about 300 personnel from the 510th Fighter Squadron are training together with the Estonians — but also the Swedish and Finnish air forces. Meanwhile, Spain’s air force is in charge of Nato’s rotating air patrols over the Baltic countries.

“A month-long air exercise with a full F-16 squadron and, at the same time, a Spanish detachment doing air policing; that is unprecedented in the Baltics,” said Tarien, who studied at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. l

Nearly half of European jihadists in Syria, Iraq are French

n AFP, Paris

Nearly half of European jihadists known to have travelled to territory held by the extremist Islamic State group are French, a report by the country’s upper house Senate revealed Wednesday.

Just over 1,430 French people have made their way to Iraq and Syria, representing 47% of jihadists from Europe that are known and accounted for, Senator Jean-Pierre Sueur, who spearheaded a parliamentary probe into jihadist networks, told reporters.

According to Sueur, French domestic intelligence services are currently monitoring more than 3,000 people suspected of being involved in one way or another in Syrian networks – a 24-percent increase since November last year.

Some 85 French nationals are thought to have died in IS-held zones while two are being held in Syria, the report said.

Of particular concern to intelligence services, some 200 have left to come back to France, prompting fears they may stage attacks mirroring the January 7-9 shooting spree that left 17 dead.

Sueur added that 152 Islamist radicals were currently in prison in France.

Authorities are worried about prison radicalisation and have unveiled a raft of measures to try and fight this, such as hiring an extra 60 Muslim chaplains on top of the 182 who already work in jails. l

DT

WORLD 11

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

China ahead of Modi: ‘Huge dispute’ with India over Arunachal ‘undeniable fact’

Houthis capture Ataq city despite Saudi-led air strikes

n Agencies

n Reuters

China said yesterday its “huge dispute” with India over Arunachal Pradesh is an “undeniable fact” even as it echoed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s views that the two countries should create favourable conditions for a mutually-acceptable settlement of the vexed boundary issue.

“There is a huge dispute in the eastern border of China-India border. This is undeniable fact,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said when asked about India’s decision to extend controversial the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Arunachal Pradesh.

“China always holds consistent and clear position on the China-India boundary question. The two sides should make joint efforts to maintain peace tranquility of the border area and create favourable conditions for the negotiation of the boundary question,” she said.

Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,126km border with China and 520km border with Myanmar. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet.

China calling the border issue a “huge dispute” and “undeniable fact” is seen as an attempt by Beijing to flag its stand on Arunachal Pradesh ahead of Modi’s expected visit to China next month.

The comments came as the top defence officials of the two countries are meeting in Beijing ahead of the Annual Defence Dialogue (ADD) scheduled for Friday.

Hua sounded positive while reacting to Modi’s remarks on the border issue made in an interview to an Indian newspaper and endorsed his views that maintaining peace at the border is important in order to create conditions to arrive at a mutually-acceptable solution. l

Houthi fighters, backed by supporters of former Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, have entered the provincial capital of the Shabwa province in eastern Yemen, despite intense Saudi-led air strikes against the group.

Residents said local tribal chiefs and security officials facilitated the entry of the Houthi forces to the city of Ataq yesterday, where they took control of the offices of the local government and security forces compounds.

It was the first time that the Houthis and their allies had entered the city, bringing them closer to the country’s most prized economic asset, the Belhaf natural gas facility and export terminal, on the Arabian Sea about 160 km to the southeast.

Saudi Arabia, backed by four Gulf Arab states and other regional Arab allies, has mounted two weeks of air strikes against the Houthis, who have since pushed south towards Aden, the stronghold of Saudi-backed Yemeni President Abd Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

The air campaign failed to stop the Houth-

is and soldiers loyal to Saleh entering central Aden, but the coalition says it has cut Houthi supply lines, destroyed weapons depots and pushed them back in some southern provinces around Aden.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) says at least 643 people have died and more than 2,200 have been injured in the conflict so far.

Tens of thousands of families have also been displaced and the WHO has warned that the situation in the Arabian Peninsula nation is critical.

In a speech yesterday in Tehran, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani called for an end to the air strikes in Yemen, saying countries in the region should work towards a political solution.

“A great nation like Yemen will not submit to bombing. Come, let us all think about ending war. Let us think about a ceasefire...Let us prepare to bring Yemenis to the negotiating table,” he said.

Saudi Arabia and its Gulf allies accuse Iran of arming the Houthi fighters but Iran denies the allegations. l

Modi thanks Sharif for evacuating Indian nationals n Agencies A group of 11 Indians, rescued by a Pakistani ship from Yemen, arrived to Pakistan on an Air Force plane on Wednesday, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi thanked his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif for

the humanitarian gesture.

“Service to humanity knows no borders.

Glad we helped many countries in evacuation from Yemen,” Mr Modi wrote on Twitter.

“The help India extended included help to our neighbours Bangladesh, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.” l

Chinese president to visit Pakistan this month: Foreign Office

n Agencies

The Foreign Office yesterday said that Chinese President Xi Jinping is to visit Pakistan in the middle of April.

During the weekly media briefing at the Foreign Office, spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said that the Chinese president will visit Pakistan this month. However, dates have yet not been finalised.

“Pakistan and China are strategic partners, while such high level exchanges are aimed at further strengthening and cementing the bilateral relations,” Aslam said.

Responding to another question regarding the situation in Yemen and the visit of the Iranian foreign minister to Pakistan, Aslam said that Pakistan is very clear on its stance, as it has already pledged to safeguard the territorial integrity of Saudi Arabia, and that Pakistan, along with Turkey has initiated diplomatic efforts for a peaceful resolution of the Yemen crisis.

She said Oman would also be engaged in the proposed dialogue process for peace in Yemen.

“There is complete consensus within Pakistan that in case of any threat to the holiest sites in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan will be the first country to come forward for their defense,” the spokesperson said.

She said Pakistan has repeatedly condemned the actions of non-state actors who overthrew the legitimate government of Yemen, which was recognised by the international community and the United Nations.

The spokesperson also said the US State department has notified congress about the proposed sale of military equipment to Pakistan, for which final clearance is expected soon. l

DT

12 EDITORIAL

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Guarantee election fair play

W

ith the formal start of campaigning for the city corporation polls now underway, it is welcome to see more pro-active steps being taken to uphold election rules.

The Chittagong Election Returning Office has identified areas where violations have occurred in the past and formed special teams to keep watch for abuses, among not just candidates and voters but also law enforcement.

In Dhaka, we have seen an executive magistrate fine several candidates for posting leaflets and conducting campaigns in advance of the official election period.

Special efforts have been made to ensure all those running for mayoral or councilor posts are fully aware of the electoral code of conduct, and to warn parties that anyone found violating the rules will risk arrest and enforcement under the code.

The decision by the AL-backed mayoral candidate in Chittagong to not address two meetings on Monday to avoid the risk of violating the electoral code of conduct, suggest these efforts are having some effect.

We hope the improved enforcement drive will not only help guarantee a level playing field for all candidates in the elections later this month, but that lessons will be learned to ensure better enforcement in the future.

This applies in particular to long running concerns about the impunity with which politically-connected individuals have been able to commandeer private billboards and public spaces for political advertising.

The Election Commission needs to become more effective in between election periods at setting, monitoring and enforcing fair regulations on all forms of party political campaigning.

The Election Commission needs to become more effective at setting, monitoring and enforcing fair regulations

Let Biman look after itself

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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A Bangladeshi’s million dollar gift to Berkeley March 27

WaliulHaqueKhondker My appeal to the money laundering millionaires of Bangladesh, please contribute such amounts to establish centres for Bangladesh Studies in different renowned institutions in North America and Canada. This will serve as a redemption of your sins to a great extent!

Ash C WaliulHaqueKhondker: I agree with you 100%. This should also include those privileged few who are making millions sitting abroad out of any deal for Bangladesh. This is the time to make a name for themselves too on the positive side.

WaliulHaqueKhondker Ash C: Agreed :) Cliff Vegas I’m a UCB alum ... makes me very proud

School headteacher assaulted over student caning

to see this kind of work. Thank you Mr Chowdhury.

Samih34 I am very proud that a Bangladeshi from Chittagong, Mr Subir Chowdhury’s $1m donation to University of California Berkeley has created the Chowdhury Centre for Bangladesh Studies -- perhaps the first of its kind. Godspeed!

DT

The great grilling March 28

March 29

W

e support the government’s move to upgrade Syedpur and Cox’s Bazar airports to international standards.

The prime minister rightly highlights that growing trade and economic links provide new possibilities for airlines to increase their revenues by improving cargo and passenger services.

However, we differ on her hope that the state owned Biman Bangladesh airlines is in a position to take advantage of such opportunities to move towards profitability. It is unlikely the purchase of a few new aircrafts will allow Biman to reopen domestic routes to Barisal and Sylhet, will enable it to overcome the mismanagement and poor service which sees it lagging behind other airlines.

It is more likely that this will just add to the Tk1,220cr Biman has accumulated over the last four years, as there is little evidence that its management is capable of reining in its heavy losses.

Putting Biman in the private sector is the only practical way to end Biman’s over-staffing and bring the reforms it needs to compete effectively.

Taxpayer money would be better spent on improving infrastructure.

Building better airports such as that promised for Cox’s Bazaar and expanding flight engineering, training and maintenance facilities is the sensible way forward to make the country an attractive hub for air travel.

Passengers are already well-served by better managed airlines. Allow Biman to compete or close freely. Focusing on improvements to civil aviation to attract more competitive and better quality airlines is a better use of government funds than supporting Biman with endless subsidies.

Passengers are already wellserved by better managed airlines.

Allow Biman to compete or close freely

Nazmul Khair Why beat the headmaster if the assistant teacher was the guilty person?

Iftikhar Hussain Well done.

Malcolm Arnold But some guardians claimed that Ali had previous records of beating students over trivial issues, and demanded that he be disciplined. He should never be allowed to come near kids ever again.

Wealth, trade, and Bangladesh March 28 Man From The Green Delta A great piece from Tim, as always. I cannot but think of a line from Herman Hesse’s Siddhartha: “Everything returns. And my heart jumps to think the transitory centre of prosperity Tim refers to may, one day, be returning home.”

Evil People Politics Loving that picture.

I’m Made in Bangladesh

March 27 WHK Bravo Zafar Sobhan, you nail it deep! Best wishes for the “I’m made in Bangladesh” project!

Dreampie WHK: How deep?

Richard Parker I recall someone telling me some time ago that Bangladesh is like a fully-loaded jumbo jet sitting on the tarmac, ready to take off.

Everything is in place except the short and dilapidated runway. It is an apt description.

That runway is statecraft, it’s rule of law, and finally, it’s polity. Fix the polity, establish rule of law, bring in predictability, and the sky would be the limit for Bangladesh.

Mahmudul Islam Refreshing

DT

OPINION 13

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Zonayed Saki: What could a leftist leader offer Bangladesh today? n Samia Huq

A

fter months of doom and gloom in the country, there is finally spring in the air -- literally and metaphorically. As city-dwellers witness the wonders of Boishakh, they are also soaking in the festive spirit abound in politics -- ushered through the upcoming mayor elections in Dhaka and Chittagong and the hoopla that accompanies it.

While it’s still early days for a conclusion on the participatory aspect of the upcoming elections, in fielding candidates in Dhaka, AL signals its grassroots strength in Dhaka South and its potential for progress and efficiency through a new face in Dhaka North.

There is less clarity around BNP’s candidacies given the Election Commission’s injunctions of and the subsequent court rulings that have taken the more established candidates out of the race. Political commentators don’t seem too worried, as they predict that sheer anti-incumbent sentiments will see the BNP through.

And so, the mayor election will function as a battleground reflecting national politics and aspirations of the people. It will encompass more than concerns about the city, its roads, the fate of street shops, hawkers and garbage disposal, but will mirror larger political concerns around democracy and governance.

Given this, predictions are that, true to established norms of how candidates are voted into office, wealth and organisational strength will have the most bearing on success. Such being the rules of the game, the big fight will be between the AL and BNP. But if national politics is to be mirrored and also moulded, is it not important to also look beyond the “big fight,” especially if money and muscle remain its principle constituting elements? What would looking at smaller fights allow us to gauge? And do the smaller fights engaging candidates outside the AL and BNP add currency to politics in a way that we should not even look upon them as small fights?

Let us look at the candidacy of Zonayed Saki. Brought to politics through the movement against General Ershad’s autocratic rule, Saki honed himself in the left. He became president of the Bangladesh Student Federation in 1998, is a key organiser and leader of the National Committee to protect oil, gas, mineral resources, power and ports and is joint convener of People’s Solidarity Movement (Gonoshonghoti Andolon).

His “left” platform is a concern to many.

The credibility of a leftist leader is questioned on various grounds such as their alleged inability to speak to capitalist demands and necessities, to religious sensibilities that are so important to a vast majority of Bangladeshis, to garner adequate resources for popular mobilisation and to build organisational strength.

Many leftist leaders themselves have bemoaned that a lack of resources is their major impediment to coming to power. Critics of the left argue that it is the “irrelevance” of their ideological positions that renders the left passé. Communism /socialism has seen

DHAKA TRIBUNE

its days, and has been proven as an ineffective mode of political and societal structuring.

But the leftist ideology that Saki brings to the fore is anything but irrelevant to the current context. He does not see businesses and the private sector as enemies, but as engines of growth for our economy that must be nurtured towards inclusive and sustainable growth and redistributive justice.

Remaining true to social and redistributive justice that lie at the heart of leftist beliefs, Saki’s position also reflects a pragmatism that contends with today’s world through negotiation and mutual accommodation. I find these mutations exciting for several reasons. First, they dislodge current fixed notions of “left versus religion,” “left as irrelevant to modern political and economic formations,” etc in a way

Saki’s erudition equips him with theory and ideas. But his involvement with real people and real issues for over two decades also allows him the insight to know how ideas must play out on the ground

He does not see religion as false, but as a matter of faith that holds the power to infuse the public space with the ethos of social justice and tolerance. Saki’s erudition equips him with theory and ideas. But his involvement with real people and real issues for over two decades also allows him the insight to know how ideas must play out on the ground.

Thus, Saki’s left platform involves many revisions.

that we may be reminded of earlier historical moments when Maulanas could be “RED” and when calls for redistributive justice galvanised movements for democratic rights.

Second, these mutations represent a certain elasticity that stretches the limits of a paradigm’s imagination and applicability without losing its core principles, in this case redistributive justice that will ensure economic and social and political rights.

Third, in doing so, they make change organic,

honest, possible and very relevant. Currently, it is these markers of change that the larger political sphere seems to be bereft of.

Saki’s entry into electoral politics is thus important and exciting on many levels. I do not know enough to comment on whether his resources will allow him to partake in the big fight. But what he offers by way of ideas, practices and the promise of change that his own political trajectory bears witness to signal that his presence in the upcoming polls represents anything but a small fight.

If democracy is to be meaningful in the coming years, we must welcome credible, rooted and honest politicians such as Saki.

For democracy to bear fruit, we must give space to voices that can not only carve out their own niche, but do so in a manner where they can impress upon more entrenched voices to sing a different tune.

For democracy to deliver, the public space has to be one of not only electing (by whatever means) and winning (also by any means), but also a place where deliberation is allowed to thrive and effect outcomes. I hope the upcoming elections will signal a better, efficient, deliberative political future for Bangladesh. l Samia Huq is Associate Professor of Anthropology, Department of Economics and Social Sciences, BRAC University. This article first appeared on AlalODulal.org.

DT

14 OPINION

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Who will be the King of the North? n Zafar Sobhan

G

ame on.

There are now 18 days before the Dhaka mayoral elections, and with yesterday being the last date for withdrawal of candidacies, the race can now begin in earnest.

However, one major omission from the final line-up is that of Abdul Awal Mintoo, who was slated to be the BNP-backed candidate for the mayoralty of Dhaka North, but whose nomination was cancelled by the Election Commission on what looks like the flimsiest of grounds.

Now it is true that according to the letter of the law that Mintoo’s nomination papers were flawed, and that it was within the discretion of the appellate authority to refuse to allow him to correct the error.

But, seriously.

Yes, it was a blunder on the part of Mintoo to not ensure that his nominator and seconder were registered voters in the mayoral election. So stipulated. But the fact remains that it was an honest mistake.

I mean, come on. Who knew that Uttara-13 was not technically a part of Dhaka city?

In fact, it is even worse than that. Mysteriously, some voters in Uttara-13 are considered part of the Dhaka electorate, and others are not.

Unfortunately for Mintoo, his nominator and seconder fall into the latter category, and the election law does not allow him to question the electoral roll, however silly or wrong its demarcations.

Anyone reading this can see how keeping him out of the race on these grounds was patently absurd. While the EC technically

had the authority to deny him the right to participate, there was no bar, either in the spirit or the letter of the law, to allowing him to correct the error and contest.

It seems to me that the EC should always err on the side of allowing fuller participation in an election, and that its petty and pettifogging decision to keep Mintoo out was both undemocratic and uncalled for. It certainly wasn’t the way to convince a skeptical public of its neutrality and independence.

was a major victory for the political process and the most positive and hopeful sign on the political horizon we had seen since the fiasco of January 5 last year.

Annisul Huq versus Mintoo would have been a superb contest between two well-respected heavyweights, both former heads of the FBCCI among other accomplishments and achievements, and would have offered voters a clear choice between AL and BNP. Whoever prevailed, the result would have

Annisul Huq versus Mintoo would have been a superb contest between two well-respected heavyweights, and would have offered voters a clear choice between AL and BNP

We were all looking forward to these elections as the opportunity to see what people had to say about the performance of the AL government since it returned to power in the one-sided January 5 elections a year ago. And Annisul Huq versus Mintoo in Dhaka North was supposed to be the marquee match-up.

In addition, it was hoped that the elections might be the first of many confidence-building measures that would help nudge the political process back on track and pull the nation back from the crisis of the past three months.

The BNP agreeing to participate by backing candidates in the April 28 mayoral races

been unambiguous, and would have told us a lot about the public’s state of mind. It would have provided an extraordinarily valuable lesson for both AL and BNP. Now, with the BNP being denied their first choice candidate, the results will be far less satisfactory, and will perhaps tell us far less than they might have.

Still, there is plenty to fight for. In the first place, Dhaka South and Chittagong both look likely to see highly competitive elections, with both sides being able to field their preferred candidates.

And it is not as though Dhaka North will necessarily be a cake-walk for Annis, even

without Mintoo.

In his absence, his son Tabith Awal, will be flying the flag, and most political commentators I have polled think well of him, and opine that he will give a good account of himself and has it in him to surprise the naysayers. He shouldn’t be underestimated.

Then there is Mahi B Chowdhury, the one candidate in the North with the proven ability to connect with the voters, and whose political gifts are apparent to anyone who has ever seen him on the stump or working a crowd. Even without major party backing, he can be a factor.

Perhaps the most interesting of all the candidates in the North is long-time political activist Zonayed Saki, who is running on a change ticket and hopes to appeal to voters weary of both AL and BNP. He is committed and charismatic and has put together a formidable political operation.

If the public really is fed up with the antics of both major parties and looking for an alternative, then now could be his moment.

The key is for all candidates to be able to campaign freely and without hindrance and for the voting on election day to be smooth and trouble-free. It remains to be seen whether the elections on April 28 pass muster or not, but with so much at stake and the government under such scrutiny to deliver, we have a real chance to get the political process back on track.

Let us hope that come April 28 that the EC delivers, and that come what may we have elections that are free, fair, and fully contested. It has been too long, and the Bangladeshi public wants to be heard. l Zafar Sobhan is the Editor, Dhaka Tribune.

16

India might consider white sugar export incentive

Spectrum auction may be rescheduled again

n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

The 2G and 3G spectrum auctions may be rescheduled once again as stakeholders found no positive outcome from yesterday’s meeting with the finance minister and two other regulators on SIM replacement tax issue.

According to the deferred schedule, April 16 is the last date for filling the application for two different band spectrum auctions. The bid was rescheduled on May 20.

The auctions scheduled on April 30 was changed following the mobile phone operators’ tough stance on finding solution to SIM replacement tax issue which included more than Tk2,000 crore.

A senior executive of a leading mobile phone operator said as there was no positive outcome from the meeting, it is obvious to reschedule the auction date.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith chaired the meeting which was attended by the National Board of Revenue Chairman Md Nojibur Rahman, Telecommunications division secretary Md Faizur Rahman Chowdhury, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose, Chief Executive Officers of Grameenphone, Banglalink, Robi and Airtel.

SIM replacement tax claim is a long-disputed issue of about Tk2,000 crore, which has remained unresolved over the past three years, and the mobile operators said without solving the issue they will not sit in the spectrum auction.

In 2012, NBR claimed Tk3,060 crore as SIM replacement tax, and before 3G spectrum auction, a committee was formed with members from NBR and BTRC and operators’ representatives that recommended around Tk600 crore as tax.

But after the auction, NBR claimed much higher than the Tk600 crore and fixed the amount of tax at Tk2,468.88 crore with interest and Tk2,048 crore without interest.

In yesterday’s meeting, the finance minister asked the mobile phone operators to pay replacement tax without interest which he also wrote in a letter addressed to the NBR in February.

Muhith also asked the operators to withdraw the case regarding the SIM replacement tax and go for spectrum auction, sources said.

“The minister gave us directive in the meeting and it was positive. We hope the industry can run smoothly,” Md Faizur Rahman Chowdhury, secretary to Telecommunications Division, told the Dhaka Tribune after the meeting.

But the operators said they haven’t found anything positive in the meeting. Even the government high-ups are creating problems about the issue, added the operators. l

17

IMF: Foreign bank subsidiaries good for stability

19

Stocks end flat for second straight day amid volatility

20

DT

Business

15

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Economists for poor’s access to productive assets

Government signs performance contracts with state banks n Asif Showkat Kallol The government has signed performance contracts with 14 state-owned banks and financial institutions to ensure accountability and transparency in the country’s financial sector.

Banking Division Secretary M Aslam Alam signed the performance contracts with chairmen, CEOs and managing directors of the banks and financial institutions.

The deals will remain effective till the end of fiscal year 2015-16.

Under the contracts, the performance of the chairmen, CEOs and managing directors will be under evaluation on the basis of total loans, classified loans, earnings from classified loans and capital adequacy ratio (Basel II).

Bank and Financial Institutions Division made the move to sign performance contract to avoid big financial mishap like Hall-Mark loan scam, said officials.

The banks include Sonali, Janata, Agrani, Rupali, BASIC, Bangladesh Development Bank, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, Bangladesh Krishi Bank, Probashi Kallyan Bank, Ansar and VDP Development Bank, Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation, Karmasangsthan Bank, Sadharan Bima Corporation and Jiban Bima Corporation.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith hopes the move will make some improvements in the balance sheets of the banks and financial institutions.

He said finance ministry had set up some performance criteria for the chairmen and managing directors bringing few reforms in the sector.

The performance contracts will not clash with MoU signed between Bangladesh Bank and financial institutions, said M Aslam Alam.

Sonali Bank

The performance of Sonali Bank has deteriorated mostly in terms of capital and provision.

The bank also faced a provision shortfall of Tk1,086 crore in September this year, which was zero in December last year.

It was due to hike in provision requirement along with the rising non-performing loans (NPL). The default loan rate of the bank rose to 37.65% in September from 34.53% in December.

Total loans of Sonali Bank were Tk28,934 crore at the end of 2014. The figures are estimated to be Tk30,500 crore at end of 2015 and Tk33,500 crore at the end of 2016.

The bank’s classified loan was Tk8,644 crore in 2014. It is estimated to be Tk6,600 crore in 2015 and Tk5,300 crore in 2016.

Earnings from classified loan were Tk739 crore in 2014. It is estimated to be Tk1500

Performance of Sonali Bank has deteriorated mostly in terms of capital and provision crore in 2015 and Tk1330 crore in 2016.

CAR was 12.24% in 2014. The estimates suggest the ratio would be 10% in 2015 and 10.60% in 2016.

Profit was Tk605 crore in 2014. The figure is estimated to be Tk500 crore in 2015 and Tk850 crore in 2016.

Agrani Bank

BASIC Bank

Janata Bank

The trouble-hit BASIC Bank incurred the highest ever loss of Tk2,686 crore in 2014 because of spillover effects of loan scams of the previous years.

The default loans of the bank rose to 53.32% or Tk6,310 crore at the end of 2014.

The bank’s total loans were Tk11,834 crore in 2014. It is estimated to be Tk13,500 crore in 2015 and Tk15,500 crore in 2016.

Classified loans were Tk6,310 crore in 2014.

The figures are estimated to be Tk4,500 crore in 2015 and Tk3,500 crore in 2016.

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www.dhakatribune.com

DHAKA TRIBUNE

The bank’s earnings from classified loans amounted to Tk502 crore in 2014 while it was estimated to be Tk900 crore in 2015 and Tk900 crore in 2016.

CAR was 10.10% in 2014. It may be 11% in 2015 and 11.50% in 2016.

Earnings from classified loans amounted to Tk734 crore in 2014 and it may be Tk750 crore in 2015 and Tk600 crore in 2016.

CAR was 10.30% in 2014 while it may be 10.50% in 2015 and 11% in 2016.

Rupali Bank

Earnings from classified loans were Tk125 crore in 2014. It may be Tk280 crore in 2015 and Tk230 crore in 2016.

CAR was 11.40% in 2014 and it may be 10.50% in 2015 and 11% in 2016. l

DT

16 BUSINESS

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Qatar population soars to record on World Cup projects n AFP, Doha

A vendor arranges a price tag over a sack filled with sugar at a wholesale vegetable market in Ahmedabad

India might consider white sugar export incentive n Reuters, New Delhi India might consider giving cash-strapped sugar companies an incentive to export white, or refined, sugar as long as mills agree to pay the dues they owe to millions of cane growers, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said on Wednesday.

Five straight years of surplus output has hammered local sugar prices, hitting mills’ financial health to an extent that they now owe more than $3bn to cane growers.

Paying off those arrears would help put money in the pockets of farmers who have suffered crop damage due to untimely rains and hail storms, and lost income as a result of falling world commodity prices.

“Farmers have been hit hard by unseasonal rains in the past few weeks. The payment cannot be better timed, as it will help tide them

over the crisis,” Paswan said.

On Wednesday Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to raise farmers’ compensation as part of efforts to calm rising anger against his government.

“The government is willing to consider the demand of the industry so that mills’ financials do not worsen but we need an assurance that cane arrears to farmers are cleared as early as possible,” Paswan told Reuters.

Mills also complain that higher government-set cane prices have destroyed their profit margins.

“We have to strike a balance to protect farmers’ interests and ensure that cane crushing remains viable for mills. I’ll separately talk to farmers and mills to ensure that,” Paswan said.

Sugar companies owe 192bn rupees ($3.1bn) to cane growers, with the top two

REUTERS

producing states of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh accounting for more than three-fifths of the total arrears.

India already gives a subsidy of 4,000 rupees ($64) a tonne for exports of raw sugar.

Trade Minister Nirmala Sitharaman last month agreed with mills that, despite the raw sugar export subsidy, overseas sales had become uneconomical due to record output in top producers Brazil, India and Thailand.

Output in India, the world’s biggest producer behind Brazil, is estimated at 26.5 million tonnes in 2014/15 against 24.4 million in the previous year, according to the food ministry.

Local consumption is estimated at about 24.8 million tonnes, and on Oct 1, when the new season began, mills’ carryover stocks from the previous year totalled 7.5 million tonnes. l

Qatar’s population reached a record 2.35 million in February, boosted by new foreign workers needed for the massive investment linked to the Gulf state hosting the 2022 football World Cup, figures showed Wednesday Just 10 years ago, less than one million people lived in Qatar, and the need for even more workers means the tiny country will break even this new record in the very near future, the Qatar National Bank said.

Put in context, growth from a year ago was a whopping 9.5%, according to figures contained in the QNB’s “Monthly Monitor.”

“Qatar’s rapid population growth is a result of the large influx of expatriate workers that are being hired to implement the infrastructure programme,” the bank said.

That was a reference to a $200bn (183.4bn euros) spending splurge by the energy-rich state ahead of the World Cup. The number of people living in Qatar is predicted to rise by seven percent by the end of 2015.

The government has made it clear it needs to recruit more people to fund its rapid expansion.

Earlier this year, a senior member of the royal family, Sheikh Nasser bin Abdulrahman bin Nasser al-Thani, said the number of workers would reach “2.5 million within three to five years”. l

Saudi oil output hits record high n AFP, Riyadh Saudi oil production reached 10.3 million barrels per day in March, Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi has said, a figure that is the highest on record.

“Average daily output hit 10.3 million bpd in March,” Naimi, cited by the official Saudi Press Agency, said Tuesday night.

That was up 450,000 bpd on February and comes at a time of increasing competition for market share and as oil prices continued to drop.

The highest previous record was registered in 1980, at 10.285 million bpd, according to the US Energy Information Administration.

Naimi expected the kingdom’s production to continue at around 10 million bpd and also expected crude prices to improve. l

Slow apps, low battery life limit appeal of Apple Watch n Reuters

Apple Inc’s “beautiful” and “stylish” smartwatch could make life easier for people on the move, reviewers say, but the gadget gets poor marks for battery life and slow-loading apps.

The watch, the first new product to be launched by Apple under Chief Executive Tim Cook, will hit stores on April 24.

“For now, the Apple Watch is for pioneers,” the Wall Street Journal’s Geoffrey Fowler wrote. “I won’t pay the $1,000 it would cost for the model I tested, only to see a significant improvement roll in before too long.”

Reviews published on Wednesday made much of the device’s relatively poor battery

life - up to 18 hours, according to Apple - and said its apps will need upgrades to load more quickly.

“There’s virtually nothing I can’t do faster or better with access to a laptop or a phone except perhaps check the time,” said Nilay Patel, who reviewed the watch for theverge. com.

Loading an app required the watch to pull tremendous amounts of data from iPhones, Patel said, adding that Apple had told him upcoming software updates would address performance issues.

“The maps app, surely the answer to wandering pedestrians’ dreams, is so slow it makes me want to pull out my paper Rand

McNally,” the Journal’s Fowler said.

Re/Code’s Lauren Goode said the watch’s battery life was not nearly as long-lasting as some other wearable devices. CNET’s Scott Stein said the battery’s recharge time was slow.

Paired with an iPhone, the watch allows users to check email, listen to music and make phone calls. It also tracks their health for instance by monitoring heartbeats.

But the software is “initially complex” and not suited to tech novices - unusual for an Apple device, said Farhad Manjoo, who reviewed the watch for the New York Times.

Apple is among several companies, including Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Sony

Corp, that hope to jumpstart a market for wearable devices.

The Apple Watch Sport will start at $349, while the high-end “Edition” will be priced from $10,000. “...If you can tolerate single-day battery life, half-baked apps and inevitable obsolescence, you can now wear the future on your wrist,” Fowler said.

Analysts at Societe Generale said they expected Apple to sell 8 million watches in 2015, contributing about 1.7% or $4bn to Apple’s total sales.

Apple shares, which were flat on Wednesday, have risen about 24% since Apple Watch was announced on Sept 9. l

DT

BUSINESS 17

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

IMF: Foreign bank subsidiaries good for stability n AFP, Washington International banks have slowed cross-border lending since the financial crisis, but their local affiliates are filling the gap in a positive sign for greater financial stability, the IMF said Wednesday.

The slowdown in cross-border lending since 2008, especially by European banks, has in part been replaced by a surge from Asian banks, the International Monetary Fund said in a new report.

But global banks are also lending more from their subsidiaries inside recipient or “host” countries.

And that is likely good for countries that are vulnerable to sharp swings in capital flows in economic downturns, the IMF said.

“Cross-border lending is a particularly volatile form of cross-border capital flows,” said Gaston Gelos of the IMF’s Monetary and Capital Markets Department.

“Around domestic crises, foreign-owned affiliates tend to reduce their credit less than domestic banks.”

The study suggests that countries on the receiving end of international capital flows would do well to encourage more local branches of foreign banks.

The study, from the IMF’s latest Global Financial Stability Report, addresses how economic crises can be exacerbated by sharp changes in lending policy by global banks.

In a domestic crisis, domestic banks will sharply tighten lending, constricting economic activity. The same happens with loans from outside the country, the IMF said.

But foreign bank branches within a country, the study says, cinch up their loan books less quickly and tightly, effectively taking a larger role in supporting growth.

Both cross-border lending and the number of international banks subsidiaries in recip-

The Pudong financial district in Shanghai and home to the new free-trade zone, where foreign banks can set up shop directly ient or “host” countries have declined since the 2008 crisis, the IMF noted.

Banks, especially those in Europe, have retrenched in order to strengthen their capital foundations and meet tougher requirements from regulators.

But the proportion of their global loan business from foreign subsidiaries has grown.

“Domestic credit is less affected during

German factory orders slip again in February n AFP, Berlin German industrial orders, a key measure of demand for goods in Europe’s top economy, fell again in February, the economy ministry said Wednesday, disappointing analysts who had hoped for a rebound.

Provisional official data showed a 0.9% month-on-month decline, following a sharp 2.6% drop in January, according to revised figures.

Analysts polled by financial services firm FactSet had pencilled in growth of 1.5% for February.

For the three-month period covering December, January and February, which economists say provides a more accurate picture, factory orders rose 0.5% compared to the previous three months.

However “momentum has slowed compared to the previous months, in particular in terms of orders from abroad. It is mainly orders from Germany providing the positive effect,” the economy said in a statement.

It added the number of bulk orders had declined compared to the end of 2014.

“But as a whole, the trend in German industry remains one of modest growth,” the ministry added, pointing to strong confidence indicators.

Christian Schulz of Berenberg bank in London said the data did “not pose a serious risk” to its forecast of 0.6% gross domestic product growth in Germany for the first quarter.

“German manufacturers benefit from the firming demand in the eurozone and the weak euro elsewhere, as well as the aggressive ECB easing and fading risks,” he said.

“But the strongest growth driver at the moment is domestic demand and especially cheap-oil-fuelled private consumption.”

Economist Carsten Brzeski of ING-DiBa called the data an “unexpected disappointment”.

“Compared with the start of last year, the industry is still treading water,” he said.

However the weak euro and brimming order books should provide a boost in the coming months.

“If past performances are any guide for the future, German exporters can start rubbing their hands,” he said. l

times of global stress in countries that are home to banks with large international operations,” the study said.

“A high reliance of subsidiaries on domestic deposits for their funding is also found to help stabilize lending during both domestic and global stress.”

The IMF stressed that host countries need to keep the doors open to cross-border loans.

REUTERS

However, it added, “foreign banks operating locally rather than through cross-border transactions tend to contract credit much less following domestic shocks in host countries.”

The report noted that the Europeans, especially French and Spanish banks, are leaders in operating subsidiaries in other countries, while Japanese banks, for example, engage more heavily in cross-border business. l

A Chinese win at IMF no one-way bet for yuan n Reuters, Shanghai Later this year the IMF might include the Chinese yuan in its official basket of reserve currencies, a political and economic triumph for Beijing in the teeth of US opposition, but slowing growth in China is likely to limit the impact of the victory.

Adding the yuan, or renminbi, to the dollar, euro, yen and pound in the Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket, as IMF head Christine Lagarde says is only a matter of time, should over time expand its role as a currency for international trade and investment and make the world’s central banks more likely to hold it in reserve.

That in turn should lower transaction costs, exchange risk and borrowing costs for China, already the world’s largest trading nation, and its companies.

Fresh from its success in drawing member countries to a new China-led development bank in the teeth of US opposition, Beijing would also enjoy another victory over Washington, which opposes early inclusion of the

yuan in the SDR and sees China as a nascent rival for influence over global financial architecture.

But rather than enjoying a rally in the yuan after months of softness, as some analysts have speculated, markets might find little has changed.

That is in part because the yuan is unlikely to receive an allocation in the SDR of more than the 10% individual share that the British pound and Japanese yen each have, perhaps amounting to just $31bn, says Chi Lo, economist at BNP Paribas in a research note.

It is also because Beijing, though it is under pressure to widen the yuan’s trading band and ease restrictions on cross-border capital flows to meet IMF tests for accessibility that it flunked last time it was under consideration, is unlikely to go too fast down the path of reform.

“A promotion of capital account reforms could mean capital outflows. I believe China will at least wait until its economic growth stabilises,” said Liu Dongliang, senior currency strategist at China Merchants Bank in Shanghai. l

DT

18 BUSINESS

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

DSE GAINER

News, analysis and recent disclosures DHAKABANK: The Board of Directors has recommended 14% cash dividend and 10% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2014. Date of AGM: 13.05.2015, Time: 3:00 PM, Venue: Bashundhara Convention Centre-02, Block-C, Umme Kulsum Road, Bashundhara R/A, Baridhara, Dhaka. Record date: 21.04.2015. The Company has also reported consolidated EPS of Tk. 3.69, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 22.82 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 2.26 for the year ended on December 31, 2014.

NITOLINS: The Board of Directors has recommended 15% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2014. Date of AGM: 09.06.2015, Time: 11:00 AM, Venue: Trust Milonayaton, Dhaka Cantonment, Dhaka. Record Date: 26.04.2015. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 3.61, NAV per share of Tk. 22.85 and NOCFPS of Tk. 4.02 for the year ended on December 31, 2014.

POPULARLIF: Credit Rating Information and Services Limited (CRISL) has announced the CPA (Claim Paying Ability) Rating of the Company as A+ along with a stable outlook in consideration of audited financials up to December 31, 2014 and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

NITOLINS: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors of the Company has decided to purchase an Office Space measuring approximately 1,345 sft. including common space Tk. 15,372.00 per sft., amounting to total Tk. 2,06,75,000.00 only situated at Rupayan Centre (5th

Floor), Suit B-5, 72, Mohakhali C/A, Dhaka-1212 for use of office premises of Branch Office subject to approval of Insurance Development & Regulatory Authority (IDRA).

CNATEX: The Company has informed that the Registered Office of the Company has been shifted from House 127 (2nd Floor), Road 10, Block C, Niketon, Gulshan-1, Dhaka-1212 to Plot 61, 62, 66, 67, 68, 72 & 73, BSCIC Industrial Estate (Extn.) Kalurghat, Chittagong. The Corporate Office of the Company remains at its previous address.

GOLDENSON: The Company has informed that the Registered Office of the Company has been shifted from suite 808, Palton Tower (8th Floor), 87 Purana Palton Lane, Dhaka-1000 to Khowaj Nagar, P.O. Ajimpara, P.S. Karnafully, Chittagong with effect from April 07, 2015.

IPO Subscription: Olympic Accessories Limited Subscription 19.04.2015 TO 23.04.2015, NRB UPTO 02.05.2015. Offer Price per share Tk. 10.00, Market Lot (Shares) 500.

Dividend/AGM SQUARETEXT: 20% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 16.06.2015, Record Date: 20.05.2015.

ILFSL: 5% cash, AGM: 07.05.2015, Record Date: 20.04.2015.

BDLAMPS: 20% cash, AGM: 05.05.2015, Record Date: 16.04.2015.

STANDBANKL: 15% stock, AGM: 14.05.2015, Record Date: 16.04.2015.

ARGONDENIM: 20% stock, AGM: 30.04.2015, Record date: 15.04.2015.

Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

Islami Ins.BD-A BD. Thai Alum -B Bangladesh Welding -Z Beach Hatchery -A Alltex Industries -Z Shinepukur Cera-Z Unique Hotel RL - A National Housing Fin.-B Imam Button -Z Bay Leasing.-A

Closing (% Change) 9.80 9.74 9.72 9.58 8.74 7.84 7.68 6.94 6.33 6.19

CSE GAINER Company Rupali Bank - A GreenDeltaInsu -A BD. Thai Alum -B Hwa Well Textiles-A Bangladesh Welding -Z Union Capital -A ICB Sonali Bank 1 MF-A Imam Button -Z Sonargaon Tex -Z Alltex Industries -Z

Closing (% Change) 9.95 9.88 9.73 9.64 9.49 9.45 9.09 8.75 8.24 7.69

DSE LOSER Company Eastland Insur -A Rupali InsurA Brac B.C. Bond-A ICB Sonali Bank 1 MF-A AMCL 2nd MF-A Nitol Insurance -A United Power-N Meghna PET Ind. -Z Prime Bank 1st MF-A Ifad Autos -N

Closing (% Change) -14.86 -14.21 -12.08 -7.69 -7.14 -7.03 -5.40 -5.17 -5.13 -5.11

CSE LOSER Company Eastland Insur -A Rupali InsurA Prime Islami Life -A Aziz PipesZ Padma Islami Life*-N Kay & Que (BD) -Z Midas Financing-Z Asia Insur. Ltd.-A Asia Pasific Insu. -A Rupali Life Insur.-B

Closing (% Change) -16.00 -10.00 -9.77 -9.76 -9.71 -9.60 -8.57 -8.18 -7.80 -7.80

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

DSE key features April 9, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

Company

Sector

3,676.88 69,917,748 101,391

Traded Issues

306

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

173

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

129

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,474.46

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

29.99

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 166.18 86.40 22.06 379.28 139.59 939.92 1.32 353.91 756.79 6.41 176.52 89.51 14.00 76.38 75.74 13.52 71.93 161.99 66.74 78.44 0.25

% change 4.52 2.35 0.60 10.32 3.80 25.56 0.04 9.63 20.58 0.17 4.80 2.43 0.38 2.08 2.06 0.37 1.96 4.41 1.82 2.13 0.01

Million Taka 11.37 4.74 1.41 31.85 10.64 113.75 41.04 41.24 0.25 9.12 0.40 1.33 14.79 7.44 1.92 1.93 17.98 14.27 12.16 0.19

Average (% Change) 10.53 12.14 12.49 14.17 8.95 6.19 12.03 (0.91) 6.07 6.82 Average (% Change) 9.21 9.97 11.05 6.29 10.11 8.90 7.53 8.84 8.45 10.09 Average (% Change) -14.65 -12.91 -12.08 -4.27 -7.09 -5.09 -2.31 -7.59 -1.80 0.23

Average (% Change) -11.43 -8.45 -9.86 -9.76 -4.34 -9.60 -8.76 -8.30 -9.34 -1.61

CSE

ClosingAvg. 16.80 32.97 15.76 18.05 21.92 10.81 53.18 21.88 8.39 23.81

ClosingAvg. 41.72 54.50 32.66 29.76 14.92 13.83 6.00 8.74 9.24 22.15

ClosingAvg. 21.14 16.46 1055.00 4.93 3.93 24.26 149.98 5.36 3.81 72.73

ClosingAvg.

% change 3.36 1.40 0.42 9.43 3.15 33.67 0.00 12.15 12.21 0.07 2.70 0.12 0.39 4.38 2.20 0.57 0.57 5.32 4.22 3.60 0.06

21.00 16.57 46.15 18.50 33.51 11.30 9.58 14.58 13.00 41.62

Closing

DHIGH

16.80 33.80 15.80 18.30 22.40 11.00 53.30 23.10 8.40 24.00

Closing

16.80 33.80 15.80 18.30 22.60 11.00 54.40 23.40 8.50 24.50

DHIGH

42.00 54.50 32.70 30.70 15.00 13.90 6.00 8.70 9.20 22.40

Closing 21.20 16.30 1055.00 4.80 3.90 23.80 145.30 5.50 3.70 70.60

Closing

16.80 31.00 15.00 16.60 20.40 10.30 51.00 21.10 8.20 22.70

DLOW

42.00 54.50 32.70 30.80 15.00 13.90 6.00 8.80 9.30 22.80

DHIGH 21.50 17.20 1055.00 5.40 4.20 27.00 158.00 5.50 4.00 75.40

DHIGH

21.00 16.20 46.20 18.50 31.60 11.30 9.60 14.60 13.00 39.00

Million Taka 177.55 91.14 23.48 411.13 150.23 1053.67 1.32 394.95 798.04 6.65 185.63 89.92 15.33 91.17 83.18 15.44 73.85 179.98 81.01 90.60 0.44

DLOW

38.50 54.50 30.50 28.90 14.70 13.60 6.00 8.70 9.00 21.10

DLOW 20.50 16.30 1055.00 4.70 3.80 23.10 143.50 5.40 3.70 69.20

DLOW

21.00 17.00 46.70 18.50 35.00 11.30 9.50 15.00 13.00 42.00

Total

21.00 16.20 46.10 18.50 31.60 11.30 10.00 14.40 13.00 39.00

% change 4.42 2.27 0.58 10.24 3.74 26.25 0.03 9.84 19.88 0.17 4.62 2.24 0.38 2.27 2.07 0.38 1.84 4.48 2.02 2.26 0.01

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

0.000 26.486 1.696 17.266 28.388 0.561 51.011 1.523 0.041 4.208

Turnover in Million

1.48 1.09 0.44 1.29 2.02 0.39 3.05 1.97 -1.48 2.28

Latest EPS

0.041 0.004 0.590 0.089 0.175 0.057 0.012 0.048 0.023 3.213

Turnover in Million

11.4 30.2 35.8 14.0 10.9 27.7 17.4 11.1 -ve 10.4

Latest PE

2.04 2.96 1.09 2.66 0.44 1.50 0.98 -1.48 -0.84 2.02

Latest EPS

1.366 0.609 0.005 0.607 1.286 0.370 456.864 0.015 0.484 159.315

Turnover in Million

Latest PE

20.5 18.4 30.0 11.2 33.9 9.2 6.1 -ve -ve 11.0

Latest PE

2.65 1.79 0.00 0.98 0.84 3.61 7.11 -0.44 0.76 1.92

Latest EPS

0.013 0.124 0.010 0.057 0.054 0.006 0.029 0.012 0.013 0.417

8.0 9.2 5.0 4.7 6.7 21.1 -ve 5.0 37.9

Latest PE

2.65 1.79 4.95 -0.37 1.10 -1.41 -3.24 2.17 2.32 5.33

7.9 9.3 9.3 -ve 30.5 -ve -ve 6.7 5.6 7.8

CSE key features April 9, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

337.82 7,775,641 16,905

Traded Issues

235

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

138

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

89

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

8

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,401.32

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

29.11

DT

BUSINESS 19

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Stocks end flat for second straight day amid volatility n Tribune Report

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company United Power-N Square Pharma -A ACI Limited- A MJL BD Ltd.-A Ifad Autos -N Grameenphone-A Shasha Denims -N SummitAlliancePort.-A Bata Shoe Ltd. -A SAIF Powertec-N

VolumeShares 3,046,207 906,718 368,424 1,297,717 2,190,450 366,846 2,929,747 1,668,108 66,309 1,288,498

Value in Million 456.86 240.24 209.65 165.44 159.32 128.95 121.16 86.77 86.22 85.22

% of TotalTurnover 12.43 6.53 5.70 4.50 4.33 3.51 3.30 2.36 2.34 2.32

231,443 392,906 417,149 1,631,791

72.07 63.64 63.14 56.52

1.96 1.73 1.72 1.54

Pharma Aids A Shahjibazar Power-N ACI Formulations-A Mozaffar H.Spinning-A CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company United Power-N Shasha Denims -N Ifad Autos -N BD Submarine Cable-A Square Pharma -A LafargeS Cement-Z MJL BD Ltd.-A ACI Limited- A UNITED AIR-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A

ACI Formulations-A aamra technologies-A Shahjibazar Power-N SAIF Powertec-N Bangas -A

VolumeShares

546,373 453,108 206,664 118,557 50,914 114,258 92,602 19,682 1,282,220 257,014

49,037 170,996 34,738 82,241 14,225

Value in Million

81.83 18.55 15.25 14.17 13.48 12.91 11.81 11.15 8.96 7.92

7.45 5.91 5.68 5.45 5.23

% of TotalTurnover

24.22 5.49 4.51 4.19 3.99 3.82 3.50 3.30 2.65 2.34

2.20 1.75 1.68 1.61 1.55

145.30 265.70 559.90 127.60 70.60 349.60 41.50 52.00 1316.60 66.00

Change % -5.40 1.41 -2.30 2.57 -5.11 -0.43 0.97 3.59 0.58 2.48

307.30 159.10 147.90 34.90

-2.29 -2.75 -4.33 2.95

ClosingP

ClosingP

Change %

144.90 40.90 70.70 116.70 264.70 113.00 127.40 558.20 6.90 30.40

147.90 34.00 159.00 66.10 368.20

-5.23 0.74 -5.10 -1.44 1.15 0.36 2.33 -3.17 -1.43 -0.98

-4.58 -1.73 -3.05 2.16 3.69

DHIGH

DLOW

153.60 262.00 573.10 124.40 74.40 351.10 41.10 50.20 1309.00 64.40

158.00 266.80 582.90 129.00 75.40 354.40 42.00 53.90 1329.00 67.00

143.50 263.00 556.70 125.10 69.20 348.70 40.60 50.30 1300.00 64.50

AvgPrice 149.98 264.96 569.05 127.49 72.73 351.51 41.36 52.02 1300.25 66.14

314.50 163.60 154.60 33.90

319.90 167.90 157.70 35.80

303.70 158.20 146.50 34.00

311.39 161.96 151.36 34.64

ClosingY

ClosingY

152.90 40.60 74.50 118.40 261.70 112.60 124.50 576.50 7.00 30.70

155.00 34.60 164.00 64.70 355.10

DHIGH

DLOW

157.00 41.70 75.00 122.00 266.00 114.00 129.40 582.00 7.10 31.40

142.70 40.00 70.00 116.00 262.10 111.50 125.50 555.00 6.80 30.20

155.00 35.80 169.90 67.00 370.60

147.00 33.90 158.00 64.80 362.00

AvgPrice

149.78 40.95 73.79 119.51 264.72 112.99 127.51 566.58 6.99 30.82

151.85 34.53 163.65 66.32 367.96

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

4345.89429

(-) 0.03%

1671.17367

(-) 0.02%

13308.93920

(-) 0.38%

11071.22910

(-) 0.27%

8090.85100

(-) 0.45%

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

Stocks finished flat for the second straight session with volatility yesterday, as investors were cautious due to fears of political crisis.

The market swung between positive and negative throughout the session, as the intra-day volatility was 38 points.

The benchmark index DSEX inched 1 point down to 4,345 after marginal rise in the previous session.

The Shariah Index DSES was marginally up 3 points or 0.3% to 1,065. The comprising blue chips DS30 saw fractional fall of 0.4 points to 1,671.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, settled at 8,090, losing 36 points.

United Power Generation and Distribution Company Limited in its fifth trading day fell 5.4%, after rising in the previous session.

The power generation company continued to top turnover leader for the fourth straight session. Its shares worth almost Tk45.7 crore changed hands, accounting for more than nearly 13% of the total turnover.

Turnover at the DSE remained relatively sluggish and stood at Tk370 crore, which is 1% lower over the previous session.

Cement sector registered the highest gain of almost 1%. Almost all the sectors, including banks, pharmaceuticals, energy, non-banking financial institutions and telecommunications ended flat.

‘The last day of the week saw another turbulent trading session’ IDLC Investments said cheaper price level of multiple scrips attracted opportunistic investors to the market. “However, their buying pressure seemed inadequate to make a difference in the broad market, resulting in closing flat.”

LankaBangla Securities said the last day of the week saw another turbulent trading session. All day long the market faced a lot of up and down movements, but at the end it closed about at the same point where it started, LankaBangla added. l

ANALYST

Cheaper price level of multiple scrips attracted opportunistic investors to the market

DT

20 BUSINESS

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Economists for poor’s access to productive assets, equal income opportunities n Tribune Report The governments should ensure the access of poor people to productive assets and make equal opportunities for income to achieve 7% GDP growth, said an eminent economist.

“Governments should have target to bring qualitative changes in the life of lower segment of population by 2021 for a sustainable growth,” economist Rehman Sobhan, chairman of Centre for Policy Dialogue, told the closing session of a two-day conference titled “Towards Sustained Eradication of Extreme Poverty in Bangladesh” in Dhaka yesterday.

“The finance minister should be able to deconstruct the sources of growth, not just

sectors as recognised by economists but specific categories of people and income levels that how are they contributing to the growth process.”

Sobhan said the government should not prioritise only the members of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) and the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI), but also recognise the small enterprises, farmers and microenterprises. “They all are actually contributing to growth.”

The conference was jointly organised by Bangladesh Bank and Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) at the NEC conference room of the Planning Commission.

Mashiur Rahman, Economic Affairs Ad-

viser to the Prime Minister attended the conference as chief guest while Atiur Rahman, Bangladesh Bank governor, was special guest.

The economists proposed a strategy to achieve zero extreme poverty - the extreme poverty eradication should be prioritised in the next five-year plan of the government.

They also proposed greater budget allocation for poverty eradication using the national social security strategy and social protection programmes.

Bangladesh Bank forecasts that poverty rate will come down to single digit by 2028, said Atiur Rahman.

He emphasised on expansion of CSR (corporate social responsibility) activities to reduce the poverty gap. l

Woman entrepreneurs to get increased access to finance

n Tribune Report

Every branch of banks and non-banking financial institutions will have to finance at least one woman entrepreneur every year.

At least three new women entrepreneurs, who did not take loans earlier from any bank or FI, will have to be found out by every bank branches from their operational areas, said a Bangladesh Bank circular issued yesterday with immediate effect.

Later, the selected entrepreneurs will be trained to build their capacity over business and banking activities, added the notice.

Of the three trained entrepreneurs, one will be provided with micro-credit.

Bangladesh Bank will consider providing facilities from its refinancing fund against the given credit. The success of the programme will be counted at CAMELS rating of the banks and financial institutions.

Banks and FIs will have to report about the progress of the programme on a quarterly basis to the women entrepreneur unit of Bangladesh Bank, said the circular. l

Aman Feed’s IPO approved n Tribune Report Aman Feed Limited has received green signal from the securities regulator to raise Tk72 crore from the stock market.

Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) approved the Aman Feed’s initial public offer aimed at expanding business, repaying loans, strengthening capital base and meeting IPO process expenditures, said the regulator in a statement yesterday.

Aman Feed will issue Tk2 crore ordinary shares valued Tk36 each, including premium of Tk26. The company’s earnings per share stood at Tk4.97 with net asset value Tk30.77, according to its financial statement as of June 30, 2014.

Meanwhile, the BSEC fined Fareast Stocks & Bonds Limited Tk15 lakh and Holy City Securities Tk7 lakh for breaching securities rules. l

Dhaka Bank recommends 24% dividend n Tribune Desk The Board of Directors of Dhaka Bank has recommended 24% dividend, including 14% cash dividend, for the year ending on December 31, 2014.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company will be held on May 13 at Bashundhara Convention Centre-02, Bashundhara residential area in the capital while the record date is April 21, according to the DSE website.

The Company has also reported consolidated earning per share (EPS) of Tk3.69, consolidated net assests value (NAV) per share of Tk22.82 and consolidated net operating cash flow per shares (NOCFPS) of Tk2.26 for the year. l

Staff respond to the visitors’ queries at Dhaka Travel Mart at Sonargaon Hotel yesterday. The three-day tourism fair will continue till tomorrow

RAJIB DHAR

Dhaka Travel Mart 2015 tourism fair begins n Tribune Report

Dhaka Travel Mart 2015, a three-day international tourism fair, kicked off at Sonargaon Hotel in the city yesterday.

Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon inaugurated the 12th edition of the event which has been being organised since 2002.

Fifty organisations including airlines, national tourism boards, hotels, resorts, tour operators and travel agents from home and abroad are taking part in the Tarvel Mart.

The participants are making discount offers and packages to attract visitors with the presentations of popular and exotic travel

destinations in Bangladesh and other countries.

Bangladesh Monitor, a travel publication, is organising the fair.

Offers are being made for the visits to Sundarbans, Rangamati, Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Nepal, Indonesia, India, Sri lanka and Bhutan.

Offers for the visits to the European tourist destinations like Switzerland and Paris are also available.

Rashed Khan Menon said Bangladesh is rich not only in historical and archeological sites but also in natural attractions like Sundarbans, the world’s biggest mangrove forest, and Cox’s Bazar, the gloablly largest sandy

beach.

He hoped the increasing number of tourists in Bangladesh would generate jobs for the unemployed youths.

The inaugural function was also addressed

by Bangladesh Monitor editor and chairman of the DTM-2015 organising committee Kazi Wahidul Alam, CEO of Bangladesh Tourism Board Akhteruz Zaman Khan Kabir, CEO and managing director of Biman Bangladesh Airlines Kyle Haywood and chairman of Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation Apurup Chowdhury.

The fair will remain open from 10am to 8pm everyday for the visitors. The entry fee is Tk25. l

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Photo: Raziul Haque/ Control N

T-JUNCTION

Absolute relaxation news

Dhaka Regency

Portraying of the culinary heritage of Bangladesh In celebration of the biggest Bangla festivity “Pohela Boishakh”, Dhaka Regency has arranged an array of opportunities to celebrate the Bengali New Year, portraying wide ranges of traditional Bangla food experiences throughout the celebration. Dhaka Regency aims to pamper the inhabitants of the Dhaka city with lip smacking Bangla food at its Grandiose Restaurant. The celebration will begin from 11:30 am to 10:30 pm on of April 14, highlighting extensive “deshi” lunch and dinner buffets of sumptuous delicacies, jhalmuri, fuchka and chatpati live station, live local music from renowned artists, fortune telling with mysterious parrots, henna, face painting, magic shows and many additional arrangements. Reservations are getting booked fast and can be reached easily at 01713332661.

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A Thai fix review

Absolute Thai - turning foodie heads and driving Thai purists mad

n N Anita Amreen There’s something about authentic Thai food that draws you into its labyrinth of flavours. One moment you’re bracing yourself for the heat, the next you’re sitting there panting away, breaking out into a sweat just looking at a vicious plate of seafood salad. It’s a constant cycle of falling deeper and deeper into their well of flavours – acidically tangy, ferociously hot and then the light buzz of sweetness. Every bite is so good that you think you’ve had enough, and just then you’re ready to get your next hit.

Just when we thought Dhaka had its fair share of Thai eateries – some good, some average and some just plain bad, in came Absolute Thai. Located on the second floor of a two storied building in Banani, you enter into this Thai haven after climbing a steep flight of swanky clear glass stairs that overlook an edgy water feature.

Once you’ve entered the place, you’ll be quite taken by just how charmingly unpretentious the place is. There are neatly aligned couches and chairs, comfortable upholstered seats in a deep shade of royal purple and simple tables that are replete with formal table settings. For those of us used to the likes of Luams and its boisterous, loud décor, this place will make you feel like you’re stepping into a deliciously relaxing spa.

The best way to enjoy meals here is to casually stroll in, find a cool corner spot, tuck yourself in all nice and cosy, unbutton your jeans, let your belly fall loose and let the Thai feasting begin. And that is exactly how we start to dig into our meals after having visited the place several times before. Their menus are precise and consist of a short listing of soups, salads, curries, stir fried items, seafood as well as dessert. During lunch hour, most dishes are served for one and prices are extremely reasonable. For dinner, the same menu is kept, but every dish serves three and there’s a steep hike in prices, but it’s still fit for modest budgets.

Without much ado, we began with the iconic Thai soup – the Tom Yum Koong priced at Tk240. Served on a neat square bowl, for a while we didn’t have the heart to dip our spoons into this perfectly plated soup. Deep in colour and rich looking, it had luscious bits of prawn sticking out of the pool of soup, all flesh and provocation.

However, as most good looking things go, it didn’t taste half as good as it looked. In fact, it seemed to be a disappointment of sorts since the soup lacked the balance of flavours a proper Tom Yum requires. While this alone may have had us in a particularly unforgiving mood, once we tried the Tom Kha Gai (chicken in coconut soup), a lot

of our beliefs in the world was restored.

Priced at Tk220, the sweet mix of complex flavours did everything for our palates that the Tom Yum couldn’t. It was so good that we wanted to completely forget that the Tom Yum ever existed – and that, is something that most Thai purists will never do, so imagine how perfect the soup must’ve been.

Once we were done lapping up the soup and the several bits of chunky chicken slices in it, we moved on to the salads. First came the Seafood Salad (priced at Tk530) and my God, did it make us just stop in our tracks and stare. This absolute beauty of a dish, was served in a mountain of greens and reds with big chunks of fish, squid and prawn. Just looking at it made us break into a sweat and one bite in, we kept going for more, unable to get enough of the playful mix of flavours. It’s mad spicy with strong accents of lemon and the breeziness of fresh seafood. It’s the kind of dish that will have Thai enthusiasts go wild.

We moved on to try the Appetiser Platter priced at Tk410 consisting of an assortment of fishcakes, spring rolls, prawn tempuras and wontons. The fishcakes were the best of the lot – light, fried well, spongy and went perfectly with the sweet chilli sauce.

The spring rolls came in as close second,

fighting for first place thanks to its crisp coating and soft veggie fillings.

The Thai feasting continued as we kicked off our main course with a Red Curry Chicken and a Green Curry Chicken (both priced at Tk535 each). These came in deep bowls and had the true aroma of Thai curries – they even looked deep and thick – just how we like them. The red curry was what really took the cake. From the very first bite to the last it was just bite after bite of rich loveliness with every flavour strong, but so put together. The red curry is probably one of their best curries, so much so that it even beats their green curry. The Sweet and Sour Chicken priced at Tk510 was a sweet diversion, with a light yet pungent sauce. A diabetic’s dream dish, this isn’t meant for just about everyone since not all of us are fans of the sharp sweetness this dish delivers. However, it still merited a couple of bites before we moved on to the more easily loveable Chicken with Basil Leaf priced at Tk475.

Although none of the dishes could meet the beauty of the red curry, they were still worthy of a try, especially if you got tired of the red curry after multiple tastings.

To round off all that rice and curry feels, we dived straight into the Pad Thai. Priced at Tk560, the devotion of the chef was seen in the neat little way he served his Pad Thai. There was no sugary sweetness or dry density of the noodle – it had just the right accent of underlying sweetness with a balanced combination of lemon and fish sauce. The only

downside of the dish is the inconsistency – some days you’ll get dry, chewy noodles, on other days you’ll get a fresh, moist mix.

Let’s just hope they make it right the next time you’re there. If not, you can always ask for it to be changed. If the management seems reluctant to comply, there’s always the good old Foodbank to post a mad rant on. Or, you can always order another tall glass of their ever so refreshing Thai Iced Tea (priced at Tk150) to help douse your miseries. Rest assured, there’s barely anything that their iced tea can’t make right so chug down while you can.

By the end of our elaborate meal and drink, we sat there with unbuttoned jeans and moistened brows, feeling like everything had fallen into place and the world was made right. Draining off the last bit of our absolutely phenomenal Thai Iced Tea, we let the cool spa like feels take over us and waited for the heat of the dishes to escape. It felt like the perfect ending to a rice-rich meal, one that makes you want to curl right up and take that much needed Bengali nap we all love to indulge in once we’ve fulfilled our rice and spice fantasies.

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FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Recommendations Soups: Tom Kha Gai (chicken in coconut soup) Salads: Seafood Salad (Yam Ta Lay), Glass Noodle Salad (Yam Woon Sen) Fish: Steam with Chili and Lemon Lime Sauce (Pha nueng Ma nao) Curries: Red Curry Chicken, Green Curry Chicken, Massaman Chicken Curry Noodle: Pad Thai Drinks: Thai Iced Tea (without milk) What to avoid: Tom Yum Koong, Prawn on toast Address: House 52, Road 12/A, Block H, Banani Ph: +880161-0500022 www.facebook.com/absolutethaibd *All prices are from the dinner menu with most dishes being served for three. The lunch time menu has altered prices with most dishes serving one.

Photos: Shahed Ibrahim Nahid and Raziul Haque/ Control N Overall rating: 4/5

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FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Listology news

Experience fashion like never before

LISTOLOGY

Stop at the red light n Raisa Rahim If you think it’s a good thing that the hartal spree is over, think again.

Let us welcome back the days of long, never-ending traffic and taking quick showers in your own sweat, while sitting in one. Below is a list of how people behave when stuck in traffic.

The self-tertainers These are usually the kind of people who probably have no worries in life. Perhaps they are never buried by the thought of making it to an interview or work on time. And then there are others who will always find something to occupy themselves when stuck in traffic. You will often find people taking selfies of them selves being stuck in traffic and sending them through social media to let them know she will be late, and then just throw those hands at the back and “chillax.” Some like to do their assignments, some like to listen to music, read a book or watch movies on their phones, while others simply take a nap (cause they can, even in the horrific noise and heat). Don’t you wish you were them?

Taking the yellow brick-road These are humble people who would just get out of their vehicles and do what a wise, not-lazy person would do, that is, walk! They don’t wait for the green light. They don’t wait for anything. You may often find these

Epyllion Group has started its footprint in the retail fashion industry of Bangladesh with its own life style brand, Sailor. With the theme, “Sailing Life”, the brand has launched on April 3, 2015, at North Court, Jamuna Future Park. At the same day, the first outlet was launched at Jamuna Future Park.

The second outlet of Sailor was launched at Rangs KB Square, Satmosjid Road, Dhanmondi with a grand opening ceremony.

This branch was launched in presence of the managing director, directors and the top officials of Epyllion Group, along with brand ambassador and supermodel Asif Azim.

To add more festive colors on this year’s Bangla New Year celebration, Sailor is coming with its mega offers. Customers can get up to 100% discount through scratch cards and win cards. This offer will be valid up to April 30. Moreover, purchasing products of minimum Tk5000 from Sailor, you will be honored to be the exclusive Sailor club member and will get 10% discount round the year. This offer will be applicable for first thousand customers. l

people carry an umbrella to protect themselves from the scorching sun or abrupt rain, and a water bottle because they are always on the go, prepared to walk the distance, and stop at nothing.

Bravo!

Genjam style Man, oh man. These are some crazy creatures; impatient and offensive! If a car over-takes them, they’ll swear at the other driver, if a little girl tries to wipe off their dusty car and ask for money, he’ll snap at the poor thing. And boy if anyone hits their car, this guy will come out with sweat dripping off of his angry face and tell you your sins. They will criticise the government, offend the drivers and the traffic police, but they will still choose to rot in the traffic. And when all is said and done, they will never move their backsides to walk, even if the place was a couple of blocks away.

Work-a-shift Now, these geeks know how to not waste their valuable time. They know their distance and will leave a task or two for them to finish up during the time they are stuck in traffic.

Their cars will smell like fresh coffee beans as they like to munch their way to work, while finishing up on their assignment or presentation. If one does an anatomy of their cars, it’ll look to have endeavored a bunch of files, papers, books, pens, and even a laptop or a tablet. l

ACI’s ‘Smart’ products to ‘Impact’ your household ACI Consumer Brands has launched two new product lines in the market: the lemon-scented washing powder “Smart” and “Impact” deodorant body spray, which comes in four different fragrances.

The Smart washing powder, which is available across the country as 500gm

packs at Tk32 per pack, boasts a foam booster and optical brightener which make for a bubbly wash, resulting in cleaner, brighter clothes without any colour fading or damage to the fabric.

The Impact deo spray line is the first of its kind, and is a locally produced deodorant spray line of international standards. Impact is available in four variants: Alive, Eclipse, Safari, and Voyage, all of which promise freshness throughout the day. A 250ml can of Impact costs only Tk250. l

English Premier League leaders Chelsea have bid for FC Tokyo’s Japanese international striker Yoshinori Muto, the J-League side said on Thursday

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HATHURUSINGHA RETURNS TO CAPITAL TODAY

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CHELSEA BOUND?

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

CR7 HITS 300 MARK, MESSI SCORES IN BARCA WIN

BRIEF SCORES Walton Central Zone v Islami Bank East Zone at SBNS

Islami Bank East Zone 218/8 in 50 overs Abul Hasan 51, Nazmul Milon 39, Liton Kumar 22, Taskin Ahmed 3/45, Elias Sunny 2/35

Walton Central Zone 120 all out in 37.3 Dhiman Ghosh 19, Mosharraf Hossain 16, Arafat Sunny 4/11, Abul Hasan 3/21 Result : Islami Bank East Zone won by 98 runs Man of the Match : Abul Hasan (IBEZ) BCB North Zone v Prime Bank South Zone at Fatullah

BCB North Zone 321/7 in 50 overs Naeem Islam 80, Mushfiqur Rahim 78, Sabbir Rumman 66, Mahmudul Hasan 48, Ziaur Rahman 2/35, Rubel Hossain 2/53

Prime Bank South Zone

A balance and follow through that will make any batsman proud. BCB North Zone’s Sabbir Rahman smacks straight down the ground for six during his 34-ball 66 against Prime Bank South Zone at Fatullah yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

233 all out in 44.1 overs Mashrafe Mortaza* 69, Shohag Gazi 39, Mithun 38, Taijul Islam 2/25, Sanjamul Islam 2/29, Result : BCB North Zone won by 88 runs Man of the Match : Mushfiqur Rahim (BCBNZ)

Hasan caps national call-up with all-round heroics n Mazhar Uddin

Islami Bank East Zone and BCB North Zone reached the final of the Bangladesh Cricket League one-dayers after registering wins over Walton Central Zone and Prime Bank South Zone respectively yesterday.

Abul Hasan capped his recent national callup for the forthcoming Pakistan ODIs with an all-round performance as his side, East Zone, posted a comfortable 98-run win over Central Zone at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

The 22-year old all-rounder scored the highest 51 off 53 balls with the help of three fours and a six to guide East Zone to 218/8 in 50 overs. Nazmul Milon was the second highest scorer with 39. Fast bowler Taskin Ahmed

picked up three wickets while Elias Sunny and Shuvagata Hom bagged two wickets each for Central Zone.

In reply, Central Zone faced the music as a pumped-up Abul came hard with the ball. He dismissed both the Central Zone openers and finished with figures of 3/21 from his seven overs. Left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny continued his good run, picking up four wickets as Central Zone were bundled out for just 120 in 37.3 overs.

Dhiman Ghosh was the highest scorer with 19 while the uncapped Rony Talukdar, who was also called up to face Pakistan, scored seven. In the other match in Fatullah, North Zone beat South Zone by 88 runs.

Batting first, North Zone posted a huge

321/7 in 50 overs with Naeem Islam scoring the highest 80 from 107 balls, including seven boundaries. Mushfiqur Rahim (78) and Sabbir Rahman (66) smashed quickfire half-centuries to enable their side to a big total.

South Zone skipper Mashrafe bin Mortaza, Rubel Hossain and Ziaur Rahman picked up two wickets each.

In pursuit of 322, South Zone were skittled out for 233 in 44.1 overs with Mashrafe blasting a blistering 44-ball 69.

Delwar Hossain, Forhad Reza, Taijul Islam and Sanjamul Islam scalped two wickets each for BCB North Zone.

The final will take place this Sunday at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. The match will begin at 1:30pm. l

Abul Hasan: 51 and 3/21

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Mohammedan annihilate Ctg Abahani n Raihan Mahmood Mohammedan SC enjoyed their best start to a professional league in recent years with a 5-0 thrashing of Chittagong Abahani in the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

The traditional black and whites, who’s biggest win ever dates back to 2010, a 7-0 victory against Arambagh, rode on the brace from Guinean forward Ismael Bangoura and a goal apiece from Towhidul Alam Sobuj, Masuk Mia Jony and Arup Baidya.

The opening half did not consist much threat from the eventual winners as Mohammedan appeared disorganised and almost conceded in the 25th minute. The port city’s forward Sumon Ali struck the sidepost from the six-yard box and lost the opportunity of piling more pressure on their Dhaka opponents.

It seemed Mohammedan players were given a “magic tonic” during the breather as they appeared more as a unit and dominated AbaPakistani cricketer Saeed Ajmal (2L) and teammates participate in a training camp for the upcoming Bangladesh cricket tour at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday AFP

Hathurusingha returns to capital today n Minhaz Uddin Khan National head coach Chandika Hathurusingha will reach Dhaka today following his 22day vacation after the 2015 ICC World Cup. However, none from the Bangladesh Cricket Board were able to confirm his arrival time at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.

Despite repeated queries, the media were kept in the dark as Hathurusingha is coming back to Bangladesh in accordance with his own travel plan. Many though are predicting that the BCB is being non-cooperative in order to avoid Hathurusingha’s on-arrival press conference.

Doubts have arisen due to the recent wrangle between the BCB and the former Sri Lankan cricketer.

It all started when the BCB announced the

final 15-man World Cup squad without including young leg-spinner Jubair Hossain despite Hathurusingha’s requests. Even after the World Cup, Hathurusingha complained that the Bangladesh World Cup squad was not a perfect one, perhaps alluding to Jubair’s absence.

His comments irked BCB’s cricket operations committee chairman Naimur Rahman, who slammed the former coach of Sydney Thunder a few days ago. Bangladesh’s first Test centurion, Naimur also claimed that Hathurusingha was solely trying to take the credit for Bangladesh’s success in the World Cup. Besides worries over the Hathurusingha issue, a new scare has emerged in the form of an injury threat to opener Tamim Iqbal.

The southpaw picked up an injury on his right knee while fielding during a match in the Bangladesh Cricket League one-dayers

last Tuesday. However, national team physiotherapist Baizidul Islam Khan informed Dhaka Tribune yesterday that there is nothing to worry over Tamim’s injury.

“So far, the injury looks to be very minor.

There is some swelling and pain on his right knee. We are hoping it will get better soon.

He is under conservative management and if it does not get better by (tomorrow), we will send him for medical scans,” said Baizid.

First felicitation programme

The District Sports Associations and Forum will felicitate the national cricketers today in Chittagong for their quarter-final appearance in the recently concluded World Cup. The national cricketers will reach the portcity today morning and attend a programme at MA Aziz Stadium in the afternoon. l

RESULTS Mohammedan

5-0

Ctg Abahani

Bangoura 59, 80 Sobuj 66, Jony 70, Arup 90+2

Brothers Union

0-0

Team BGMC

hani from the start of second half. Sobuj was just an inch away from netting the opener from a chip over onrushing Abahani goalkeeper Ershad, but Prodip Barua’s goalline clearance saved the scare just five minutes after re-start.

The resurgence eventually paid off as Mohammedan annihilated Abahani in the next 11 minutes by scoring three times. Bangoura’s cool headed finish in the 59th minute, Sobuj’s elegant strike in the 66th and Jony’s timely poke in the 70th minute left Abahani shattered.

The juggernaut continued with Bangoura making it 4-0 from a rebounder before he paved the way for Arup in the stoppage time with a neat square pass.

Later in the second match on the day, Brothers Union and Team BJMC played out a goalless draw. Both sides squander couple of simple chances to take the lead but some compact defending saw the teams share the points.l

Nafees Iqbal joins restaurant business with ‘Dum Phoonk’ n Minhaz Uddin Khan Several cricketers in the past have ventured into the restaurant business. The long list includes some famous names like Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. As far as the Bangladesh cricketers are concerned, former national captain Mohammad Ashraful, former national paceman Talha Jubair and a few others are running successful restaurant businesses.

The latest to join the lot is former national opener Nafees Iqbal.

Alongside four business partners, the right-handed batsman launched “Dum Phoonk” in Chittagong last Tuesday. Na-

fees informed Dhaka Tribune yesterday that his restaurant, located in Ispahani Circle, offers both Bangladesh and Indian cuisines.

The “Chittagong Platter” is a special item which serves traditional Mezban beef with Basmati rice.

“We have undertaken the best possible measures to ensure the best quality food to our guests. So, I should inform that the food comes a little late. However, I believe the ambience and the hospitality will make one unmindful of the time,” said Nafees.

When queried if he is choosing business over cricket, Nafees said, “Cricket will always be my first priority. It does not matter if I open three more restaurants.” l

Former national opener Nafees Iqbal hands over flowers to Chittagong mayoral candidate AJM Nasir Uddin yesterday during the inauguration of Dum Phoonk restaurant COURTESY

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QUICK BYTES Diplomat Cup Tennis begins today Diplomat Cup Tennis, involving diplomats and officials of a number of Dhaka-based embassies and high commissions, gets underway at National Tennis Complex today. Officials and ambassadors of the United States, Switzerland, Russia, Singapore, Nepal, Japan, India, Egypt, Denmark, Bhutan, Vietnam, Turkey, Pakistan and officials of the Bangladesh foreign ministry will participate in the tournament. The event is split into two two-day phases with the first phase beginning today. The final phase will take place on April 17th and 18th. Bangladesh Tennis Federation is organising the event with the support of the foreign ministry. State minister for foreign affairs, Abul Hasan Mohammed Ali, will inaugurate the tournament today as the chief guest.

–Raihan Mahmood

Women’s Premier League starts today The Dhaka Premier Division Women’s Cricket League 2014-15 season will kick off today through the match between defending champions Mohammedan Sporting Club and Orient Sporting Club at Dhanmondi Cricket Stadium.

Ansar & VDP will face Rupali Bank Krira Parishad at BKSP 4 in the other match of the day. A total of 12 teams divided into two groups will play each other once in the first round with each innings comprising 40 overs. The tournament will be played with the white ball. Mohammedan clinched the title last season, beating arch-rivals Abahani Limited by 77 runs in the final.

–Tribune Desk

Coutinho sends Liverpool into FA Cup semi-final Philippe Coutinho thumped home a second-half winner as Liverpool broke the resistance of Championship Blackburn Rovers to reach the FA Cup semi-finals with a gritty 1-0 replay victory on Wednesday. Brendan Rodgers’s side, who came into the game after back-to-back Premier League defeats that all but ended their hopes of a topfour finish, will face Aston Villa in the last four at Wembley. They came out on top at Ewood Park having dominated possession but struggled to break down the hosts who got men behind the ball and restricted Liverpool to very few sights of goal. The breakthrough came in the 70th minute when Coutinho exchanged passes with Jordan Henderson from a corner, drove into the box and drilled the ball low into the bottom corner.

–REUTERS

Varela gives stricken Parma shock win over Udinese Bottom-of-the-table Parma stunned Udinese 1-0 at home on Wednesday in a match which had been postponed in February because the financially stricken hosts could not afford to pay for stewards or security. Portugal forward Silvestre Varela scored the winner with his first goal for Parma, who were last month declared bankrupt and have been able to keep playing thanks to a special fund set up by the Italian federation. Parma, who have lost 20 of their 28 Serie A matches this season, stayed eight points adrift at the bottom of the table, although they have taken four points from their last two games in a mini-revival.

–REUTERS

England’s Stuart Broad lies on the pitch after sustaining an injury during their tour match aginst St Kitts & Nevis in Warner Park on Wednesday

REUTERS

Ex-ICC chief Mani fears for future n AFP, London Former ICC president Ehsan Mani on Wednesday expressed grave fears about cricket’s future, saying he is “more concerned about the health of the game today than I have ever been”.

Mani criticised the world governing body’s decision to reduce the 2019 World Cup to 10 teams and said that many of the game’s 10 Full Member nations faced serious challenges.

“A year has passed since the changes at the ICC,” Mani said at the launch of the new Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack at Lord’s, in reference to last year’s takeover at the ICC by the boards of England, India and Australia.

“I am more concerned about the health of

the game today than I have ever been. When I look around, five of the 10 Full countries are in desperate need of help.

“They are faced with two main challenges: one, not enough money; two, not enough quality cricket.”

The five teams referred to by Mani are Pakistan, the West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, and he expressed particular concern about the health of the West Indian game.

“It is desperately sad to see that some of the West Indian players prefer to play in the IPL (Indian Premier League) and other T20 leagues around the world rather than for West Indies,” he said.

Promoted Sarfraz vows new start n AFP, Lahore Pakistan’s fast-rising wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed vowed to take the new-look side to the next level after his elevation to the oneday and Twenty20 vice-captaincy.

Under new one-day captain Azhar Ali, Pakistan are hoping for a fresh start when they start their Bangladesh tour next week following the retirement of stalwarts Misbah-ul-Haq and Shahid Afridi from 50-over cricket.

“I take my appointment as vice-captain as a good opportunity and an honour,” Ahmed told reporters during training in Lahore.

“Azhar is a good friend of mine and together we will take the team forward.”

Ahmed was one of Pakistan’s key performers during their World Cup campaign, hitting an attractive 49 and equalling the one-day world record of six catches behind the stumps against South Africa in Auckland.

The 27-year-old then smashed Pakistan’s only World Cup hundred - against Ireland - to help them through to the quarter-finals, where they lost to eventual champions Australia.

Misbah and Afridi, who between them clocked up 560 ODIs, retired from the format after the World Cup, but Ahmed backed younger players to take their place.

Ahmed also said that Bangladesh will not be taken lightly.

“Bangladesh has been performing well,” said Ahmed of the opponents who shocked the higher ranked England to reach the quarter-final where they lost to India.

“They always play well at home so we will not take them lightly and give our best performance,” said Ahmed.

Pakistan will fly out on April 13 and play the first of three one-dayers in Dhaka on April 17. They also face Bangladesh in a Twenty20 and two Tests. l

“This is simply because of money. This problem must be addressed. It is the responsibility of the ICC to ensure that the priority for players should be to play for their country before anything else.

Mani expressed concerns over the futures of the Associate nations, who may not feature at the next World Cup if the two qualifying berths made available to teams outside the world’s top eight are taken by Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

He said the Associates needed more funding from the ICC and more opportunities to play against Full Member nations, adding that the World Cup “should be inclusive not exclusive”.l

Josh Hazlewood opts out of IPL n Cricinfo Australia and Mumbai Indians seamer Josh Hazlewood has pulled out of the IPL to keep himself fit and fresh for the West Indies tour and Ashes defence later this season.

Keeping in mind the lengthy IPL schedule, which clashes with the Australian players’ resting time, and a tight international schedule ahead, Cricket Australia has opted to place him in cotton wool.

“Josh’s workload has changed significantly since he first began attending the IPL,” Pat Howard, general manager of Team Performance, said. “The IPL is the players’ leave period and in Josh’s case it was deemed that not playing was the best use of that time in the lead up to a busy winter. “This was agreed to with the IPL following discussions at the end of the Test series.” l

DT

28 Sport

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

A combination picture of Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo (L) celebrating his goal with teammate Gareth Bale during their La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano in Vallecas on Wednesday

AFP

CR7 hits 300 mark, Messi scores in Barca win n AFP, Madrid Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 300th Real Madrid goal as the European champions remained four points adrift of La Liga leaders Barcelona with a 2-0 win at Rayo Vallecano

RONALDO’S 300 GOALS FOR REAL MADRID La Liga Champions League

214 60

Copa Del Rey

21

Super Coppa

3

Uefa Super Cup

2

on Wednesday.

Earlier, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez were on target as Barca eased past Almeria 4-0.

Barca took over half an hour to make the breakthrough, but Messi did so in style as he curled home his 44th goal of the season into the far corner.

Suarez made the game safe when he fired into the top corner 10 minutes after the break and bagged his second of the evening in stoppage time after Marc Bartra headed home the third from Xavi’s corner.

Madrid endured a much more uncomfortable evening in a capital derby at Rayo before Ronaldo and James Rodriguez struck midway through the second-half.

Rayo dominated the first period in terms of possession, but it was still Madrid who had

Pure love as Germany hammer Brazil again n

AFP, Berlin

Silvia Neid admitted she had fallen in love with her Germany team after romping to a 4-0 friendly win over Brazil in a pre-women’s World Cup friendly on Wednesday.

After the historic 7-1 thrashing Germany’s men’s team posted over Brazil in last year’s World Cup semi-finals, the German women matched their male counterparts by again putting the south Americans to the sword.

Striker Celia Sasic converted an early penalty, midfielders Simone Laudehr, Melanie Leupolz and Dzenifer Marozsan all netted in the rout in Fuerth, two months before the World Cup starts in Canada.

“I am already pretty much in love with my

team. What we planned, they perfectly implemented,” said Neid, who coached Germany to the 2007 World Cup title and will step down in 2016.

Germany’s women, who are ranked number one in the world, have one final warm-up game against Switzerland on May 18 before they fly to Canada when the World Cup starts on June 6.

The Germans are targeting a third World Cup title in Canada having been knocked out by eventual winners Japan in the quarter-finals of the 2011 finals on home soil.

Germany face Thailand, Ivory Coast and Norway in Group B while Brazil will take on Spain, South Korea and Costa Rica in Group E. l

the better chances as Rodriguez shot straight at Diego Cobeno when unmarked inside the area before Ronaldo headed over from the Colombian’s free-kick.

Madrid started much stronger after the break and were inches away from an opener when Gareth Bale’s header from Rodriguez’s cross looped just wide.

There was then a huge moment of controversy when Ronaldo was booked despite appearing to be clearly brought down by Antonio Amaya inside the area meaning he will miss Saturday’s visit of Eibar to the Santiago Bernabeu. The chances continued to come and go for Real as Benzema, Marcelo and Bale fired just off target in a matter of minutes, and the goal finally arrived when a fine run and cross from Dani Carvajal picked out Ronaldo

and he sealed his triple century of goals for Madrid in just 288 games.

Six minutes later it was 2-0 as Ronaldo turned provider this time for Rodriguez to curl home.l

LA LIGA Barcelona

4-0

Almeria

1-1

Cordoba

1-1

Celta Vigo

Messi 33, Bartra 75, Suarez 55, 90+3

Deportivo Florin 87-og

Granada

Florin 55

Ibanez 3

Rayo Vallecano

Bongonda 90+3

0-2

Real Madrid Ronaldo 67, Rodriguez 73

Ibra hattrick lifts PSG into final n Reuters, Paris A hat-trick from Zlatan Ibrahimovic helped Paris St Germain reach the French Cup final with a 4-1 home victory over St Etienne that kept them on course for an unprecedented domestic treble.

PSG are bidding to become the first French side to lift all three domestic trophies in a single season and will face Auxerre in the final at the Stade de France on May 30.

They take on Bastia in the League Cup final on Saturday and are top of the Ligue 1 table, one point ahead of Olympique Lyonnais, with seven games left.

Ibrahimovic completed his hat-trick for the eight-times winners with a powerful low strike in added time. The Sweden striker is now PSG’s second highest all-time scorer on 102 goals, behind former Portugal forward Pauleta.l

DT

Sport 29

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Bhutan leap 46 places in Fifa rankings, Belgium go third n Reuters Bhutan jumped 46 places from the foot of the FIFA rankings to 163rd on Thursday after recording their first ever World Cup qualifying victories.

The Himalayan nation beat Sri Lanka 1-0 in Colombo and 2-1 in Thimphu last month to advance to the second round of Asian qualifying and, after reaching their highest ranking, will be among the fourth seeds for Tuesday’s draw.

Anguilla replaced Bhutan as FIFA’s 209th and lowest ranked international side after losing 8-0 on aggregate to Nicaragua in the first round of CONCACAF World Cup qualifying last month.

At the top of the FIFA rankings, World Cup winners Germany remain first and Argentina second, but Belgium moved above Colombia into third. Brazil went fifth after they continued their resurgence under Dunga with a 3-1 friendly win in Paris against France and 1-0 success over Chile in London.

Top 10 rankings (last month’s position in parentheses) 1 (1) Germany 2 (2) Argentina 3 (4) Belgium 4 (3) Colombia 5 (6) Brazil 6 (5) Netherlands 7 (7) Portugal 8 (9) Uruguay 9 (12) Switzerland 10(11) Spain Asian seedings Top Seeds Iran (40) Japan (50) South Korea (57) Australia (63) UAE (68) Uzbekistan (73) China PR (82) Iraq (86) Second seeds Saudi Arabia (95) Oman (97) Qatar (99) Jordan (103) Bahrain (108) Vietnam (125) Syria (126)

Kuwait (127) Third seeds Afghanistan (135) Philippines (139) Palestine (140) Maldives (141) Thailand (142) Tajikistan (143) Lebanon (144) India (147) Fourth seeds East Timor (152) Kyrgyzstan (153) North Korea (157) Myanmar (158) Indonesia (159) Turkmenistan (159) Singapore (162) Bhutan (163) Fifth seeds Malaysia (164) Bangladesh (167) Hong Kong (167) Yemen (170) Guam (175) Laos (178) Cambodia (179) Taiwan (179)

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer saves a penalty shot by Leverkusen’s Josip Drmic (not seen) during penalty shoot-out in their German Cup (DFBPokal) quarter-final match in Leverkusen on Wednesday REUTERS

Holders Bayern to face Dortmund in German Cup semis n Reuters, Berlin

DFB POKAL

Holders Bayern Munich will host Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup semi-finals and third-tier Arminia Bielefeld will play VfL Wolfsburg.

This is the sixth year in a row that Bayern have reached the semi-finals.

Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was Bayern’s hero at Leverkusen’s BayArena after saving Swiss striker Josip Drmic’s first spotkick penalty to give Bayern the advantage.

Thomas Mueller, Robert Lewandowski, Xabi Alonso, Mario Goetze and finally Thiago Alcantara, who is just back from a year’s absence with injury, all then drilled home their

Arminia Bielefeld

1-1

M’gladbach

Junglas 26 Kruse 32-P Bielefeld go through after winning penalty shoot-out 5-4

Bayer Leverkusen

0-0

Bayern Munich

Bayern go through after winning penalty shoot-out 5-3

spot kicks to put Munich in the last four.

“No-one deserved to lose a game like that,” said Neuer.

“You could really see that no-one wanted to make a mistake. Of course, it’s a bitter result for Leverkusen, they really put a lot into it.”

In the semi-finals, Bayern will host Borus-

Napoli president threatens to send players to training camp

DAY’S WATCH Sony Six 8:30PM Indian Premier League 2015

n Reuters, Milan

Punjab v Rajasthan

Ten Action 5:45PM Australian-League 2014/15 Perth Glory v Sydney 12:30AM French Ligue 1 2014/15 SM Caen v AS Monaco

Star Sports 4 8:00AM, 12:00PM F1: China Grand Prix Practice Sessions

sia Dortmund with Wolfsburg home to third-division Arminia Bielefeld when the semi-finals are played on April 28 and 29.

“That’s ok for us, if you want to win the cup you need to beat the best teams, so it’s Dortmund for us,” said Bayern coach Pep Guardiola.

Earlier, minnows Bielefeld produced a classic German Cup upset by knocking out Bundesliga high-fliers Borussia Moenchengladbach as their quarter-final was also decided by a penalty shoot-out.

Lucien Favre’s Gladbach become the third Bundesliga side after Werder Bremen and Hertha Berlin to lose to Arminia on their march to the semi-finals.l

English cricketer Kevin Pietersen in all smiles during county side Surrey’s media day yesterday REUTERS

Napoli president Aurelio Di Laurentiis has threatened to send his players to a training camp “for an unlimited period of time” if they do not improve between now and the end of the season.

Di Laurentiis was furious after his team continued their recent slide by losing 1-0 at home to Lazio in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-final on Wednesday, going down 2-1 on aggregate.

The elimination came on top of a run of five Serie A matches without a win which has seen Napoli drop from third place to sixth. l

DT

30 DOWNTIME

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Containers (5) 4 Soft powder (4) 7 Fuss (3) 8 Mild explosion (3) 9 Lift up (5) 12 Slender support (4) 13 Wilfully disregards (6) 15 Pale (3) 16 Perform (3) 18 Fate (3) 19 Plant juice (3) 21 Musical performance (7) 24 Meditate (4) 26 Tantalise (5) 27 Opener (3) 28 Female swan (3) 29 Work hard (4) 30 Search (5)

DOWN 1 Hindu garment (4) 2 In leisurely manner (mus) (6) 3 Piece of money (4) 4 Throw (4) 5 Liable (3) 6 Heavenly body (5) 10 Female pig (3) 11 Efface (5) 14 Ordain (5) 17 Stops (6) 18 Restrict (5) 20 Filled pastry (3) 21 Stagger (4) 22 Ribbon (4) 23 Fasting period (4) 25 Snow runner (3)

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 13 represents A so fill A every time the figure 13 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

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

Chuye Dile Mon hits cinema today n Showtime Desk Chuye Dile Mon, a romantic film starring Arefin Shuvo and Zakia Bari Momo in lead, is all set to hit cinemas throughout the country. Shihab Shaheen’s directorial debut brings Shuvo and Momo as pair on big screen for the first time.

The film depicts relationship of two friends played by Momo and Shuvo who seem inwardly intimated to each other since childhood. But as they grow up, due to responsibilities and other issues, they start to fade apart. As the boy relocates to the biggest city seeking job and the girl stays back at the suburb, they come to realise they have feelings for each other.

The film also stars Iresh Zaker, Misha Sawdagor and Ali Raz in major roles, while Iresh will be seen playing an antagonist role.

Talking about the film Arefin Shuvo said, “Though I have frequently done action flicks, deep down inside I have soft corner for romantic types. Till today I have worked in quite a few films but honestly, I have never been satisfied compared to how I feel working in this film,” he added.

With intense location cinematography and a heavyweight cast, the film has surely earned the big release status of this year.

Presented by Fair & Lovely and produced

by Asiatic Ddhoni-Chitra Limited and Monforing Limited, the film garnered audience’s heed through bringing out an audio album of the film’s soundtracks earlier. l

Hera Pheri 3 Just yesterday, Abishek Bachchan tweeted out to the twitterverse that he’d begun shooting the squeal to the popular comedy franchise Hera Pheri. The new film will have John Abraham, who has replaced Akshay Kumar, while the likes of Paresh Rawal and Suniel Shetty will return to their original roles. Another fantastic addition to the film is comedic veteran Kader Khan, while Neeraj Vohra comes back to direct as he had done in the first sequel. This will be Abishek and John’s third time on-screen together, and the first two trips were blockbuster hits. We’ll see if third time is a bigger charm.

Bonsoir, French Riviera Bollywood’s hottest couple, Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif will be spotted at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. While Ranbir plans to stand by his new film Bombay Velvet, Katrina will be on her own course by promoting a brand she endorses. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor are also the ambassadors of the same brand, which will make quite the scene if all three of these gorgeous leading ladies grace the red carpet at Cannes.

Interesting fact: both Ranbir and Aishwarya will be sharing the same screen in Karan Johar’s Ae Dil Hai Mushkil in the near future.

TELEVISION

The Mummy Star Movies 4:26pm

B

An American archaeological dig at the ancient city of Hamunaptra accidentally awakens a Mummy.

Cast: Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides BHBO 12:12pm

Jack Sparrow and Barbossa embark on a quest to find the elusive fountain of youth, only to discover that Blackbeard and his daughter are after it too.

Cast: Johnny Depp, Penelope Cruz, Geoffrey Rush, Ian McShane

The Godfather Zee Studio 5:50pm

A+

The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his clandestine empire to his reluctant son.

Cast: Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caan, Robert Duvall

Bollywood roundup n Mahmood Hossain

WHAT TO WATCH

Three more The new Pakistani heartthrob in Bollywood, Fawad Khan is becoming a favourite with directors. He’s got three films lined up, starting with Karan Johar’s Kapoors and Sons. It’s also reported that he’s joined the cast of Reema Kagti’s Mr Chaalu. The director of Talaash has approached the new Khan on the block for a future film, starring oposite Priyanka Chopra. The role was initially for Saif Ali Khan, but unfortunately due to payment issues, Chote Nawab has opted out of the project. l

CELEBS ON SOCIAL

Salman Khan @BeingSalmanKhan

Here it is – mera naya Suzuki Gixxer SF. Can’t take my eyes off it... #SuzukiGixxerSF

Kevin Hart @ KevinHart4real

Go see “Get Hard” this week damn it!!! Let’s goooooo people #GetHard #NowPlaying

MadonnaVerified account @Madonna

@justinbieber Come and join me on stage when I’m on tour when we are in the same city and congrats on your new single.

DT

32 BACK PAGE

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015

PERFORMANCE CONTRACTS SIGNED WITH SOBs PAGE 15

ABUL HASAN SHOWS ALL-ROUND HEROICS

PAGE 25

CHUYE DILE MON HITS CINEMAS TODAY PAGE 31

PM for reducing electricity cost-price gap n Aminur Rahman Rasel Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked officials to adjust electricity prices to reduce the gap between the cost of production and the price of the utility.

During a presentation yesterday, the Power Development Board Chairman Md Shahinul Islam Khan said the production cost of electricity is higher than the price consumers are charged.

“The premier said this should not happen.

She asked that prices be adjusted to diminish the gap,” an official who was present at the meeting quoted the prime minister as saying.

Hasina visited the Power, Energy And Mineral Resources Ministry at the Bangladesh Secretariat yesterday for the second time during the Awami League’s second consecutive term in office.

The Prime Minister’s Power and Energy Adviser Dr Tawfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid, Power Division Secretary Monowarul Islam and Energy Division Secretary Abu Bakar Siddique were, among

others, present during the visit.

Hasina asked for Liquefied Petroleum Gas to be made available across the country at affordable prices within the next three years.

She said: “Seventy percent of households now have access to electricity. We will not need much time to deliver electricity to every household.”

But she directed officials not to approve new gas connections in residential areas.

Hasina issued 32 directives during her first visit to the ministry in her capacity as minister for power, energy and mineral resources on February 6, 2014. Of them, 19 were given to the Energy and Mineral Resources Division and 13 to the Power Division.

But a lack of coordination between the two divisions and their subordinate agencies stalled the implementation of the directives.

Yesterday, the prime minister asked for the unfinished tasks to be implemented.

She said twelve power plants were awaiting commissioning and work was under way to install large-scale coal-based power plants at Rampal and an Liquefied Natural Gas-based plant at Matarbari in Moheshkhali.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasised the use of solar energy especially in shoals, hilly areas and islands since they are well situated to harvest the renewable energy source.

She said: “Solar energy is a great asset for us and it is available for all time. The initial cost of solar energy is a little high but in the long run, it is worthwhile.”

Hasina said all 21 economic zones to be established in the country will have their own power plants and land will be given to private investors to construct power plants.

“Each zone will also have a water body and will be connected to the grid to facilitate power transmission. Gas will be provided to the plants from the nearest gas fields,” she said.

“Agricultural land and industrial land should not be used for power plants. Solar panels can be set up on school buildings and offices which function mostly during the day time,” she added.

Pointing to progress in the construction of the country’s first nuclear power plant, she also said steps were being taken to purchase 500MW of power from India, setting an example of regional cooperation in

the power sector.

The prime minister called for the proper operation of existing power plants and for the gradual replacement of older units to reduce consumption of gas and fuel. “It will enhance the efficiency of the power sector.”

Hasina asked officials to survey the country’s gas reserves and said more wells should be dug.

She laid emphasis on the fresh demarcation of gas blocks in the sea and the need to explore for new gas. “The sea is a vast place to explore for gas resources.”

“We will get oil from those wells. Steps should be taken to explore every natural resource,” she said.

Sheikh Hasina asked officials to divert a maximum amount of electricity to rural areas, saying the electrification of rural areas is crucial for developing small and medium enterprises.

“More electricity in the rural areas means more development for the country,” she said, calling for the strengthening of Palli Bidyut Samities, local associations under the umbrella of the Rural Electrification Board. l

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