E paper, monday, april 27, 2015

SECOND EDITION

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

EC FINALISES PREPARATIONS

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Baishakh 14, 1422, Rajab 7, 1436

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 16

LAST-MINUTE CAMPAIGNS WOO VOTERS PAGE 5

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www.dhakatribune.com | 36 pages | Price: Tk10

BANGLADESH NOT READY FOR THE BIG ONE PAGE 32

Cities enter polls amid blame-game

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia address separate press conferences in the capital yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

‘People won’t respond to her’ ‘Revolutionise silently’ n Tribune Desk Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the people of the country will not respond to the call of a “repressor and killer” like BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia any more.

“Nobody will respond to the call of a repressor and killer like her,” she said in an apparent counter of Khaleda’s call for casting votes for her party-backed candidates in the upcoming Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation polls.

“The way she had devastated public life, will people respond to her call anymore? The country’s people did not like her destructive activities,” she said referring to the recent activities during the BNP-Jamaat’s hartal and blockade programmes, reports the UNB.

Speaking at a press conference at her official residence Ganabhaban to brief about her recent Indonesia tour, Hasina questioned the logic to cast votes in favour of the BNPbacked mayoral and councilor candidates in the city polls.

“The way Khaleda Zia and her cadres burned people, the way she ordered doing so, who will cast their votes for them?”

The Prime Minister mentioned that anyone who has the sense of humanity and conscience will never cast hi or her votes for BNP or Jamaat or the 20-party alliance.

“Only those who don’t have humanity and conscience could be there beside BNP and Jamaat,” she added.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 3

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia has urged the people of Dhaka and Chittagong to take revenge by voting against the government’s “misdeeds and misrule” and thus usher in a silent revolution on April 28.

The former prime minister also called upon the voters to cast their votes early and to guard the polling centres so that nobody can change the result of the elections. At the same time, she wants voters to accept the results if the polls are fair and build resistance at every ward if they see rigging.

Addressing a press conference at her Gulshan office yesterday, Khaleda presented 33-point shopping list of reasons why people

should vote against what she said were the government’s misrule and misdeeds.

Khaleda, who usually speaks with a stone face at press conferences, appeared emotional yesterday, with her mood swinging from grief when talking about her sons and smiles when talking about a political reconciliation.

She began by expressing condolences to victims and the families of Saturday’s deadly earthquake in Nepal. The former opposition chief in parliament also condemned the assault on women during the Bangla new year celebrations on Dhaka University campus.

Towards the middle of her speech, Khaleda got extremely emotional and shed tears, which even many senior journalists present  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Aftershocks cause more terror as Nepal quake toll tops 2,500 n AFP Powerful aftershocks rocked Nepal Sunday, panicking survivors of a quake that killed more than 2,500 and triggering new avalanches at Everest base camp, as mass cremations were held in the devastated capital Kathmandu.

Terrified residents, many forced to camp out in the capital after Saturday’s 7.8-magnitude quake reduced buildings to rubble, were

PAGE 3 Khaleda not a city corporation voter in Dhaka

jolted by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock that compounded the worst disaster to hit the impoverished Himalayan nation in more than 80 years.

At overstretched hospitals, where medics were also treating patients in hastily erected tents, staff were forced to flee buildings for fear of further collapses.

“Electricity has been cut off, communication systems are congested and hospitals are crowded and are running out of room for stor-

PAGE 4 Quick rentals getting 70% subsidy

ing dead bodies,” Oxfam Australia chief executive Helen Szoke told AFP. Climbers reported that the aftershock caused more avalanches at Mount Everest, just after helicopters airlifted to safety those injured when a wall of snow hit base camp on Saturday, killing at least 18 people.

The deadliest disaster in Everest’s history comes almost exactly a year after an avalanche killed 16 sherpa guides, forcing the

PAGE 5 Manjur’s motorcade attacked

season to be cancelled, and as around 800 mountaineers were gathered at the start of the new season.

AFP’s Nepal bureau chief Ammu Kannampilly, who was on assignment at base camp, reported that six helicopters had managed to reach the mountain on Sunday after the weather improved.

A stunning image captured by the

PAGE 6 Female Jagannath University teacher assaulted

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

PAGE 32 Earthquake preparedness 101

DT

2 NEWS

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

Relief from Bangladesh reaches Kathmandu n Tribune Report

An aircraft of Biman Bangladesh Airlines reached Kathmandu yesterday afternoon with relief and aid teams following a directive of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladesh Air Force’s C-130 aircraft loaded with 10 tonnes of relief materials landed at Kathmandu, said a press release from the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) signed

by Assistant Director Reza-ul Karim.

The relief includes medicines, tents, dry

food, drinking water and blankets, the release read.

Six medical teams of the army were included in the aid team.

However, the release did not mention when the team will return home.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had earlier directed the authorities to send aid for Nepal after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck the Himalayan country on Saturday causing deaths of more than 2,200. Scores of buildings collapsed in the quake. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

‘Revolutionise silently’ at the conference cannot remember her doing ever before in public.

“You have seen how they [ruling party men] behaved with me. My husband Ziaur Rahman gave his life for the country. A few days ago, I lost my younger child [Arafat Rahman Koko].

My only surviving son [Tarique Rahman] is undergoing treatment after being tortured inhumanly.

“At this age [when I should have retired], I am trying to restore people’s right. Now you are my relatives. My all activities are centered around you. So, I give you the responsibility for giving fitting replies to the all the repressions inflicted upon me,” Khaleda said in a voice soaked in emotions.

Soon, however, she regained composure and came down hard on the ruling party for carrying out planned attacks to kill her.

She said that although she had come under attack repeated, none of the criminals had been identified or arrested as yet. “This proves that I was their target.”

The BNP chief explained why they are taking part in the city elections although only a month ago they were in the middle of a serious movement, looking to topple the government and make way for a national election under non-partisan arrangements.

“City polls are non-partisan in nature.

City polls give us the opportunity to hold party programmes even in small scales. The government has been barring us from holding any kind of programmes.”

She also said: “We are seeing these elections as a test for the ruling party, the Election Commission and the law enforcers.

This election is non-partisan. State power will not change through this. If the elections are not fair, then it will be proved again that a fair national election under this government is not possible.”

The former premier said that the government, the EC, the law enforcers and the heavily politicised administration have so far utterly failed in the test.

She also slammed the EC for taking a “deceptive” decision of keeping troops standby instead of deploying them during the polls.

“This proves again that they [EC] do not trust the army. It also proves that they see army as a barrier to the ruling party’s plan to rig votes.”

Khaleda was all smiles towards the end of the speech. Asking Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to leave her vanity, also reminding her that it would not always be her time.

“Let the city election be fair because it will not change power. You have done a lot of wrong things to cling to power.

“Now, being at state power is as dangerous as riding a tiger... Do not be scared. We are not as vengeful as you... Come back to the path of democracy and dialogue. We will find a safe exit route for you and will contest election in a level playing field. People will choose their representatives. Let us open that path,” said a smiling Khaleda addressing her long time rival. l

‘People won’t respond to her’ Terming Khaleda Zia slipshod, the Awami League chief said how she is now seeking votes in favour of BNP-backed Mayor candidate for Dhaka North, whose symbol is ‘Bus’, after burning thousands of buses during the countrywide blockade and hartal.

“Doesn’t she [Khaleda] have any shame?

How is she seeking votes for the Bus symbol, which she burned recently,” she questioned.

Hasina also said that the people of the country are not fools at all. “She [Khaleda] though that the people of the country are fools, and they will cast their votes in favour of BNPbacked candidates as she asking for.”

Hasina questioned further is it unique in the world the way Khaleda Zia burned people and vehicles? “I don’t know anybody saw such movement in the world history…it never happened in any country,” she said.

She termed it as a ‘heinous act’ the way she burned people to death alive. “The way she burned people to death, how she is now seeking votes,” she added.

The Prime Minister recalled the horrible days during the blockade and hartal time.

“What a hell-like situation she (Khaleda) created at that time in the name of blockade and hartal.”

She also questioned about the existence of the transport blockade at present. “I don’t know whether the blockade is continuing or not,” she said.

Hasina also questioned about the maturity of Khaleda Zia’s leadership. “What type of

leader is she who doesn’t know when to enforce a programme and when to withdraw it,” she said.

The Prime Minister regretted that the people of the country are so ill-fated to have a leader like Khaleda who is only efficient in killing people. “Whenever BNP came to power it made the lives of people miserable,” she said.

Replying to another question, Hasina said that the win and defeat are the part of elections. “If people cast their votes in favour of our support-blessed candidates then we’ll win, otherwise not.”

About today’s press conference of Khaleda Zia where she asked the people of the country to take revenge on the government with the city polls, the Prime Minister said: “Revenge on whom, if people take revenge for her 92 days’ destructive politics, then on whom they will take the revenge,” she added.

She trashed Khaleda’s remarks as irresponsible and full of double standard.

The Prime Minister claimed that Khaleda violated the code of election conduct by taking out processions with a large number of motor vehicles for election campaign through obstructing vehicle movement on the streets.

Responding the BNP chief’s claim that the government has already laid out its blueprint for the city corporation elections, she said that nobody knows better than her about election blueprint, and refereed to Magura, Mirpur, Dhaka-10 by-lections during the BNP rule and the voter-less elections on February 15, 1996. l

Aftershocks cause more terror as Nepal quake toll tops 2,500 agency’s South Asia photo chief Roberto Schmidt showed a massive cloud of snow and debris cascading onto base camp, burying scores of climbers and flattening tents.

“People being stretchered out as choppers land -- half a dozen this morning,” Kannampilly said in a text message. “Weather clear, some snowfall.”

see if we can find anyone.”

The fresh aftershocks forced Kathmandu airport to close for around an hour as air traffic controllers evacuated their centre.

Several flights had to be diverted in mid-air.

The country’s cellphone network was working only sporadically, while large parts of the capital were without electricity.

Aid pours in

Devastation in Kathmandu

Offers of help poured in from around the world, with dozens of nations or aid groups volunteering everything from sniffer dogs to an inflatable hospital. India dispatched 13 military aircraft to Nepal loaded with tonnes of food, blankets and other aid.

The Kathmandu-based National Emergency Operation Centre put the toll in Nepal at 2,430 while around 6,000 more people had been injured.

Officials in India said the toll there now stood at 67, while Chinese state media said 18 people had been killed in the Tibet region.

“We have deployed all our resources for search and rescues,” police spokesman Kamal Singh Bam told AFP. “Helicopters have been sent to remote areas. We are sifting through the rubble where buildings have collapsed to

AFP correspondents in Kathmandu reported that tremors were felt throughout the day, including one strong aftershock at dawn before the 6.7-magnitude follow-up quake that struck in the afternoon.

The historic nine-storey Dharahara tower, a major tourist attraction, was among the buildings brought down in Kathmandu Saturday.

Police said around 150 people were thought to have been in the tower at the time of the disaster, based on ticket sales.

“At least 30 dead bodies have been pulled out. We don’t have a number on the rescued but over 20 injured were helped out,” Bishwa Raj Pokharel, a local police official, told AFP. “We haven’t finished our work there, rescue work is still continuing. Right now, we

are not in a position to estimate how many might be trapped.”

As rescuers sifted through the huge mounds of rubble in the capital, some using bare hands, hospitals were overwhelmed with victims who suffered multiple fractures and trauma. Morgues were overflowing with bodies.

At the city’s oldest Bir Hospital, an AFP correspondent saw grieving relatives trying to swat away flies from around a dozen bodies placed on the floor of the morgue after storage space ran out.

The first mass cremations were held at the Pashupatinath district of Kathmandu, with the smoke from the funeral pyres wafting across a swathe of the city.

Samir Acharya, a doctor at Nepal’s Annapurna Neurological Hospital, said medics were working out of a tent set up in a parking lot to cope with the injured, while some patients were too scared to stay in the building.

‘I thought I was dead’ -

Experienced mountaineers said panic erupted on Saturday at Everest base camp, which has been severely damaged, while one

described the avalanche as “huge”.

“We have airlifted 52 from the base camp so far, 35 have been brought to Kathmandu,” said Tulsi Gautam of Nepal’s tourism department which issues permits to climb the world’s highest mountain.

“Those who are able are walking down.

Others are being airlifted.”

George Foulsham, a Singapore-based marine biologist, described the moment disaster struck.

“I was outside, saw a white 50-storey building of white come at me. I ran and it just flattened me,” he told AFP. “I tried to get up and it flattened me again.

I couldn’t breathe, I thought I was dead.

When I finally stood up, I couldn’t believe it passed me over and I was almost untouched.

“I saved for years to climb Everest. It feels like the mountain is saying it’s not meant to be climbed for now.”

Nepal and the rest of the Himalayas are particularly prone to earthquakes because of the collision of the Indian and Eurasia plates.

An 6.8 magnitude quake hit eastern Nepal in August 1988 killing 721 people, and a magnitude 8.1 quake killed 10,700 people in Nepal and India in 1934. l

DT

NEWS 3

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

EC finalises preparations for city polls Bakar Siddique in Dhaka and n Abu Tarek Mahmud from Chittagong Election materials including ballot papers have already reached the offices of the returning officers concerned, as the Election Commission finalises its preparations for the city corporation elections in Dhaka and Chittagong tomorrow.

Arrangements are already in place to send the election materials to the polling centres by today, before voters head to cast their ballots from 8am tomorrow; the elections will take place until 4pm tomorrow without any interval.

The mayoral and councillor candidates already wrapped up their election campaigns last midnight as per the election rules.

The government has declared a general holiday tomorrow in Dhaka North City Corporation, Dhaka South City Corporation and Chittagong City Corporation so that all voters can exercise their voting rights.

As part of the Election Commission arrangements, around 50,000 polling agents will perform their duties in the three city corporations on election day.

Four magistrates will be present at each of the 143 wards in three cities —57 in DSCC, 36 in DNCC and 41 in CCC – to conduct mobile courts until Wednesday.

The magistrates along with around 80,000 law enforcers including personnel from the police, RAB, BGB, Coast Guard and Ansar, will deal with the incidents of election violence through summary trials.

However, the army will stay inside the cantonment as the Election Commission retreated from its previous decision to deploy three battalions of the army in the three cities.

In DSCC, there are 1,870,753 voters who will cast their ballots at 889 polling stations; in DNCC, there are 2,345,374 voters who will vote at 1093 polling stations; in Chittagong, there are 1,813,449 voters who will exercise

their voting rights at 719 polling centres.

Preparations in Chittagong

CCC Election Returning Officer Md Abdul Baten said the necessary election materials have already arrived in the port city, adding that the materials would be distributed among 719 presiding officers today.

Thirty BGB platoons have already been deployed across Chittagong, while the police, Ansar and RAB forces would be deployed at the poll centres from today.

Each general poll centre and vulnerable poll centres would get 22 and 24 law enforcers respectively, including armed personnel.

Around 17,000 police and Ansar men would be deployed for security inside the polling centres in Chittagong, while the police, RAB and BGB would be deployed as striking forces outside the centres. The CMP have also set up round-the-clock check posts with CCTV monitoring in the port city’s entry points.

Besides, 140 executive magistrates and 10 judicial magistrates have been assigned for maintaining law and order situation during the polls across Chittagong city.

Fourteen vigilance teams, led by the assistant returning officers of the local EC office, are also monitoring all election activities.

Abdul Baten, the CCC returning officer, said the Election Commission would take help from law enforcement agencies to conduct raids at the city’s residential hotels, rest houses, guest houses and other areas to check for any outsiders staying in the city to disrupt the elections.

The EC would also secure the MA Aziz Stadium, the place where the results would be announced from, the returning officer added.

“We will take control the entire stadium area from today to set up a four-tier security system. None was allowed to move across the area on election day as well as 12 hours before and after the election date,” he said. l

Khaleda not a city corporation voter in Dhaka n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

Tabith Awal, Awami League-backed mayoral candidate of Dhaka North City Corporation, campaigns in Dhaka’s Eskaton area on the last day for campaigning for the polls yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Tabith alleges threats against party men n Tribune Report BNP-backed Dhaka north mayoral hopeful Tabith Awal during his yesterday’s campaign raised several allegations about arrest, threat and harassment against party activists.

“Awami League supporters and law enforcement officials have been threatening our aspirants and polling agents with arrest while the ruling party-backed candidates continue to violate electoral code of conduct,” he said.

“Attacks on our party activists as well as supporters have continued. Also, our polling agents have been constantly threatened. No

one can campaign fearlessly when the situation is so.

“Nevertheless, we hope the Election Commission will take care of these,” added Tabith.

The young aspirant passed a hectic day campaigning from morning to evening as yesterday marked the last day of campaigns for city corporation polls.

He started the campaign at Bashtala in Shahajadpur around 8:30am and later visited a number of areas, including Rampura, Malibagh, Moghbazar, Karwan Bazar, Farmgate, Khamarbari, Shyamoli, Kalyanpur and Mirpur 1 intersection.

In the afternoon, Tabith campaigned at Kazipara, Taltola, Mohakhali bus stand, Nikunja, Uttara, Banani kitchen market and Gulshan 1 intersection.

During the campaign, he said he was hopeful that elections would be free and fair.

“I believe the Election Commission will take all the steps necessary to ensure a free and fair election.”

Tabith claimed he had got people’s support everywhere he had gone to campaign.

“Despite attacks on our activists and also cases filed against them, I have stayed in the race,” he said while campaigning at Shyamoli. l

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia will not get the chance to cast her vote in the much-anticipated Dhaka city corporation polls to be held tomorrow.

“I am not a city corporation voter. I am listed under the Dhaka cantonment area, which is not a part of the city corporation,” she said responding to a query at a press conference in her Gulshan office yesterday.

Khaleda Zia used to live in a house at Sahed Moinul Road in the cantonment, from which she was evicted in 2010 following a a court verdict that cancelled the house’s allotment. Since then, she has been staying in a rented house in Gulshan 2.

The last time she cast her vote in an election was in 2008 general election, when she was a voter of the cantonment area. As her party boycotted the 2014 general election, she did not get to cast her vote.

Asked whether the countrywide transport blockade was still in effect, Khaleda said: “The blockade is not my programme, but of the 20-party alliance. As we have not been able to sit together, we have not been able to make a decision in this regard. But as you can see, the blockade programme is now inactive.”

Asked how her party would proceed in case her party-backed candidates were defeated in the city polls, Khaleda said: “Let the elections be held; we will decide our course of action after seeing the results.”

Regarding her violation of the electoral code of conduct by using a huge motorcade for campaign, as alleged by both the Election Commission and the ruling party leaders, Khaleda said: “There were only a few security vehicles and a vehicle for women. There were more media cars. How was the electoral code of conduct violated, then? The ministers have been throwing allegations, but the Election Commission is silent in this regard.”

On the allegation of a back-door negotiation to stop the movement, Khaleda said: “We have to resolve our own problems... Why do diplomats have to resolve our crisis? Why should foreigners interfere in our internal matters?” l

DT

4 NEWS

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

Quick rentals getting 70% subsidy disbursement n Asif Showkat Kallol For two months during last year, the government had to spend 70% of its total subsidy in the power sector for purchasing electricity from independent and quick rental power plants.

The government disbursed Tk1,297.49 crore to the Power Development Board for the months of October and November in 2014; of this amount, Tk932.24 crore was allotted for buying electricity from the quick rental plants.

The Finance Division issued a letter yesterday to Power Division Secretary Monowar Islam, granting the disbursement of the subsidy as a loan to the PDB – with a 3% interest rate along with a five-year grace period.

The Power Division will now have to pay the loan back in six-month instalments, meaning it would take 15 years to pay back the entire amount, according to the letter.

An official of the Finance Division said the government has loaned the PDB Tk5,000 crore in subsidy between July and November last year, with most of the amount earmarked for quick rental plants.

The government has already increased its power subsidy allocation to Tk9,000 crore from the Tk7,228 crore allocation set in the budget for the ongoing fiscal year, as the production of quick rental plants had increased during the time, said the official who request-

Extortion case filed against former APS to Mosharraf n Tribune Report An extortion case has been filed against Satayajit Mukharjee, former APS to Expatriate Welfare Minister Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain, with Paltan police station of Dhaka Metropolitan Police.

Managing Director of Technomedia Limited, Joshoda Jibon Debnath in a written complaint stated that on January 1 and January 8, Satayajit extorted a sum of Tk10 lakh in two instalments from him. He had earlier threatened the complainant that if he did not give him the money, he would stop his business.

Satayajit had gone to Joshoda’s Dhaka office located at the NSC Tower in Purana Paltan in person and demanded the money.

At that time, Satayajit was the assistant private secretary to the expatriates welfare and overseas employment minister and also the general secretary of Faridpur district unit of Bangladesh Chhatra League, Joshoda stated, reports the BSS. Joshoda said he could not refuse Satyajit at that time as he was the APS to a minister, but Satayajit was recently removed from his post by the minister on charge of extortion and corruption, which encouraged him to sue him. l

ed to stay anonymous.

For the next fiscal year, the amount of power subsidy however is expected to be less than Tk6,000 crore, he added.

Several meetings had been held between the Finance Division and the Power Division for reducing the cost of each unit of power purchased from rental plants, but the initiative fell apart because of interference from the politically influential people involved with the rental power business, the official said.

According to the PDB, average cost of every unit from furnace-oil-run rental power plant is Tk15.50, while the cost of each unit from diesel-run rental power plant is Tk19.50; for the PDB, the average cost of every unit of electricity generation is now Tk6.10. The PDB sells the power to consumers for a price of Tk5.75 to Tk6.5.

The Power Division claimed that it would be able to save Tk3,200 crore as it negotiated lower tariff while renewing the tenure of some 13 rental power plants having capacity to generate 877 megawatts of electricity.

Currently, the PDB purchases 1,420MW electricity from rental and quick rental power projects and 1,066MW from independent power plants.

Earlier, in the revised budget for the 201314 fiscal year, the government raised its subsidy allocation for rental power by Tk500 crore from the original allocation of Tk5,000 crore. l

School-goers struggle to walk along a dug-up road at Agargaon, Taltola area in Dhaka yesterday. Such dilapidated condition of the roads is one of the myriads of problems that besets the capital and lies as challenges for the new mayors SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

EWG finds several violations of the RAB chief criticises Khaleda electoral code of conduct n Shadma Malik The electoral code of conduct has been violated during the campaign of city corporation elections in Dhaka and Chittagong, according to the Election Working Group (EWG).

Presenting its findings during the campaign period of April 7-23, EWG Director Dr Md Abdul Alim said the violation occurred a significant amount of times, both by the mayoral and the councillor candidates in the three city corporations. The presentation took place at a press conference in the National Press Club in Dhaka yesterday.

According to the EWG’s observation, three major violations took place during the campaign period.

One of them was by Jatiya Party Chairman HM Ershad, who said he was above the electoral code of conduct. The Election Commission sent him a letter asking him to refrain from joining the campaign, but he ignored the request and actively participated in the campaign.

The second violation was the attack on BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia’s campaign motorcade on April 20 in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka. Around 150 activists of different wings of the Awami League vandalised the vehicles in Khaleda’s motorcade.

The third major violation was committed by

a member of Awami League’s advisory council, who said the Election Commission might ask for army deployment, but the government would deny its request.

To observe the electoral campaigns in Dhaka North, Dhaka South and Chittagong city corporations, the EWG appointed 67 long-term observers (LTO) – 18 in the DNCC, 28 in the DSCC and 21 in the CCC. Throughout the campaign, the LTOs also observed minor or small-scale violations made by the mayoral and councillor candidates.

For example, the electoral code of conduct clearly states that candidates are not to use party affiliation information during the campaign, but the mayoral candidates and councillor aspirants in all three city corporations used political identities for their campaigning purpose.

Also, the stipulated time for using microphones and loudspeakers was from 2pm to 9pm, but the candidates were found to be using loudspeakers outside of the allocated time for their campaign procedure.

The returning officers were also found to be a weak deterrent to rule-breaking by the candidates, despite the fact that they had the powers to cancel candidacies where appropriate.

The EWG director also said voters had expressed concern to EWG LTOs regarding their safety and security on the day of the election. l

n Kamrul Hasan

Rapid Action Battalion Director General Benazir Ahmed yesterday criticised BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia for seeking votes on behalf of her party-backed mayoral aspirants in Dhaka.

“Cases were filed over the attacks on Khaleda Zia’s motorcade. The culprits will be identified after investigation. But it is unexpected that a person like her campaigned for her party-nominated candidates violating electoral code.

“Such activities give wrong massage to people,” he told reporters at the RAB headquarters. He made the remark in response to a query about an armed Chhatra League activist who was present when Khaleda’s motorcade came under attack at Banglamotor last week.

“As many as 5,000 RAB personnel will be deployed in Dhaka and Chittagong during the election. There will be 268 patrol teams in 134 wards of the two cities,” the RAB chief said, adding that 134 motorcycle teams, 134 teams in plain clothes and 36 striking forces would be on the field.

The elite force will use GPRS-mounted vehicles, to be monitored by RAB headquarters, so that they can take prompt action.

Asked about army deployment, the RAB chief said that decision would be taken by the Election Commission. l

DT

NEWS 5

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

LAST-MINUTE CAMPAIGNS

Khokon, Annisul, Afroza woo voters

From left, Annisul Huq, Afroza Abbas, and Sayeed Khokon carry out last-minute campaigning in the capital yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s elections. Annisul and Khokon are running for the mayor’s office in Dhaka North and Dhaka South respectively, while Afroza has been campaigning for her husband Mirza Abbas in the south RAJIB DHAR/ MEHEDI HASAN/DHAKA TRIBUNE

n Tribune Report Three Dhaka city mayoral candidates of the Awami League and the BNP were busy campaigning in different areas as yesterday was the last day to conduct campaigns for city elections scheduled for tomorrow.

Awami League-backed mayoral aspirant Sayeed Khokon yesterday said he would accept the city corporation election result even if it showed his defeat.

Describing himself as a person who has a clean image, Khokon said he did not get involved in any business by abusing power even though the Awami League had taken office six years ago.

“So, there is no allegation against me.”

While campaigning in the capital’s Sayedabad, Khokon said he hoped the city dwellers would vote for him in the elections.

Local Awami League leaders joined the campaign.

The Dhaka South City Corporation mayor hopeful said he would work together with leaders of all parties for the city’s development and also for the peace of city dwellers.

After Sayedabad, Khokon went to Jatrabari and campaigned there, urging people to cast their ballots for him. He visited Wards 47, 49, 50, 53 and 54 under Dhaka South City Corporation.

“I have a right to request the city dwellers to vote for me because this is the city where I belong.”

In the evening, Khokon addressed a press conference at his election campaign office at Bangabandhu Avenue, where he once again urged voters to vote for him before officially closing the election campaign.

Another Awami League-backed mayoral candidate, Annisul Huq, said during his campaign that he has capability, experience, honesty and enthusiasm for work.

“I want to turn Dhaka into a modern city while you have a vote and just two days to make a final decision,” these were his last words during a press conference at a community centre in Ward 10 of Darus Salam.

“When you vote, you have to elect your mayor who is best capable of holding that position of a modern Dhaka. I will meet you Tuesday night if I win the elections. Otherwise, you will see me on Wednesday morning where I

will welcome the winner with garlands.”

The Dhaka north mayoral candidate also read out a letter which outlined his future plans for Dhaka city.

He also described how he would solve several problems step by step.

Annisul also displayed a model of future Dhaka featuring all the amenities of a modern city. He said he would implement the model if elected the mayor.

“I have carefully avoided the use of all kinds of politically vulgar words during campaigns and I want to do so in the future as well. I trust you and I hope you will not get confused.”

Annisul started his campaign at Mohakhali bus stand from where his motorcade visited all the wards under Dhaka North City Corporation.

Afroza to accept results, conditionally

Afroza Abbas, wife of BNP-backed Dhaka south mayoral candidate Mirza Abbas, yesterday promised to accept the election results if it is deemed free and fair by the people and the media.

She also urged newsmen and security forc-

Three women fighting male candidates for general CCC councillor seats n

Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Unlike the 2010 city elections that saw no women candidates running for a general councillor seat in Chittagong, this year – three women aspirants have shunned the seats reserved for women and are fighting to get elected a ward councillor in a general seat.

The three female candidates – Fatema Badsha from Ward 23, Rabeya Sultana from Ward 11 and Momtaz Begum from Ward 4 – said they chose to run against other male candidates in general seats as reserved female ward councillors were deprived of many powers, allotment and chances.

“Like the general ward councillor contestants, we [women candidates] also give many promises to the voters; but after winning as a councillor for a reserved seat, we do not get equal distribution of opportunities to carry out development works or to fulfil our electoral pledges. As a result, voters grow to distrust us.

So, this year we are contesting against the men for general ward councillor posts,” said Fatema.

“I have been involved with politics for a long time, and I have seen there is not enough equal rights for reserved female ward councillor under the present structure of the city corporation,” added Fatema, joint secretary of Jatiyatabadi Mohila Dal’s Central Committee.

For the annual development budget, the female councillors from reserved seats – who have to cover three wards – are allotted only half of what the general councillors in those three wards get in total, Fatema said.

Also pointing out the futility of reserved seats, Awami League-backed Rabeya said: “Reserved female ward councillor is like a showcase post without any power or opportunity.

“While such a ward councillor has to win after convincing the voters of three general wards, the general ward’s contestants have to convince only their respective area’s voters,” said Rabeya, claiming that the triple amount of work was an injustice to the candidates who ran in the women’s reserved seats.

While Fatema and Rabeya are running to

win equal opportunities as ward councillors, Momtaz – whose husband BNP leader Mahbubul Alam was the immediate-past councillor in her ward – said she was running in the general seat as part of a political strategy.

Mahbub is currently behind bars in a case, but Momtaz said: “The government intentionally implicated my husband in a false case, but the local voters will give an answer to it with their votes.”

CCC Election’s Returning Officer Md Abdul Baten said there are 41 general wards and 14 reserved female wards for the 70 lakh voters of the port city.

In the election, Fatema would fight against four male competitors, Rabeya three and Momtaz against five competitors, said EC sources.

Saying women empowerment was absent in the local government of the country’s second largest city, the three women contestants added they wanted to win in their respective seats to prove that women were more eligible than male candidates. l

es to act impartially during tomorrow’s election.

Afroza made the remarks while electioneering in the capital’s Paltan area after visiting the house of senior Supreme Court lawyer Rafiq-Ul Haque.

She hoped that her husband, now in hiding, would win the election if the voters are not barred from exercising their franchise freely. “The government will witness a silent revolution.”

On the last day of campaigns, Afroza also went to Shiddeswari, Arambagh, Motijheel, Fakirerpool, Dilkusha areas.

In Dilkusha, Afroza told reporters that the supporters of her husband had been harassed by ruling party activists since the first day of electioneering on April 9.

“But the Election Commission and the law enforcers never took any action against them,” she claimed.

Accusing the government of not granting the bail petition of Abbas, who is a former minister, Afroza said she had got huge response from the residents of Dhaka south.

She again demanded deployment of army with judicial power. l

Manjur’s motorcade attacked n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong The motorcade of the BNP-backed mayoral candidate in Chittagong was attacked yesterday allegedly by Awami League supporters in the city’s Polytechnic area.

On the final day of campaigning ahead of tomorrow’s city polls, miscreants swooped in on M Manjur Alam’s campaign motorcade as it was passing the area; BNP Vice-Chairman Abdullah Al Noman was accompanying the mayoral candidate at the time.

In a press brief following the incident, the BNP claimed that supporters of the Awami League and its associate bodies attacked the motorcade, injuring eight to ten of Manjur’s campaigners as well as vandalising several vehicles.

Khulshi police station Officer-in-Charge Sukanta Chakrabarty said he has heard about such an incident, but added that nobody has lodged any complaint with the police station.

The BNP had held a press conference where BNP’s Chittagong city unit President Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury blamed the ruling party for trying to repress Manjur’s campaign with the help of law enforcement agencies. l

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Female Jagannath teacher assaulted n Mohammad Jamil Khan Within a week of the horrifying sexual assault during Pohela Boishakh celebration at Dhaka University, a female teacher of Jagannath University (JnU) was assaulted allegedly by a leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League yesterday.

The teacher of public administration identified the attacker as Araz Miah, 22, joint secretary of the JnU unit Chhatra League and a student of Islamic history and culture of 2009-10 session.

Campus sources and witnesses also provided the same information.

The teacher told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that Araz had interrupted her near the sociology department on her way to her own department around 12:30pm.

As an altercation ensued, at one point she slapped Araz who had made indecent remarks at her. “Immediately after that, the Chhatra League leader assaulted me,” the teacher said.

The teacher later filed a complaint and a case with Kotowali police station.

When contacted, Dr Noor Mohammad, acting proctor of the university, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We immediately suspended the student temporarily from the university and

a three-member probe body with Dr Ali Nur as the chief has been formed to investigate the matter.

“The committee has been asked to submit its report in seven days. We also asked law enforcers to take necessary action as the victim has filed a criminal case with the police.”

A source said Araz is a close associate of JnU Chhatra League unit Secretary Sirajul Islam who helped Araz left the campus after the incident.

Asked about it, Sirajul however said Araz was a general student and “I do not even know him – why would I help him about it?”

Abul Hasan, officer-in-charge of Kotowali

Mahi attacked early Sunday morning n Kamrul Hasan

In another attack on non-Awami Leaguebacked mayoral candidates, Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh-backed candidate Mahi B Chowdhury’s car was attacked early yesterday morning by unidentified miscreants at Sat Rasta in the capital’s Tejgaon area.

Mahi, his wife Ashfah Haque Lopa and his chauffeur Shahid Mandol were injured in the attack, which took place on their way home after attending a television programme of the ATN News around 2:40am.

Mahi’s personal secretary Jahangir Chowdhury said Tejgaon Shilpanchal police refused to receive their complaints at night and asked them to come to the police station in the morning.

Tejgaon Shilpanchal police station Sub Inspector Nazrul Islam informed that the case was finally filed around 8:30pm.

Monirul Islam, joint commissioner of detective police, told the reporters that Mahi alleged that the same attackers who had attacked Bikalpadhara Bangladesh President AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury in 2004 were behind this attack.

“Mahi says BNP has been pressuring him not to contest the mayoral polls,” he said.

Mahi, now receiving treatment at United Hospital, said: “The miscreants broke glasses of my car and tried to pull me out of the car holding my hair, saying, ‘ Now we have fulfilled your

police station, told the Dhaka Tribune that they had started investigating the case filed by the JnU teacher.

Meanwhile, police are yet to take any action regarding the Pohela Boishakh assault and have failed to trace anyone responsible for those assaults.

Members of the Detective Branch of police are now investigating the incidents.

When contacted, DB Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune that they were receiving information over mobile phones about the Pohela Boishakh attackers, “but most of them are fake. However, we are trying our best to trace the responsible people.” l

North South University’s 18th convocation this year

n Tribune Report

Dhaka North mayor contender Mahi B Chowdhury gets treated at the United Hospital in the capital yesterday, following an attack on his car in Tejgaon, Dhaka DHAKA TRIBUNE desire to contest the election.’”

Claiming that the government failed to ensure security for candidates, Mahi reminded: “It is the government’s responsibility to ensure the safety of the aspirants.”

Apart from this attack, the motorcade of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia was attacked thrice in the last seven days while she attempted to canvas for her party-backed candidates.

BNP-backed Chittagong City Corporation

candidate M Manjur Alam and his supporters were also attacked yesterday afternoon, and councillor aspirant Sarwar Wadud Chowdhury and Nazmul Huda, a supporter of Habiba Chowdhury, were attacked on Saturday.

The ruling party leaders, however, claim that people aggrieved and angered by the deaths of more than 100 people who were killed during the BNP-led alliance’s anti-government movement since January could be behind these attacks. l

North South University (NSU) is going to hold its 18th convocation at its Convocation Plaza this year. As nominated by the NSU chancellor, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid will preside over the ceremony and confer degrees to 2,034 graduates.

Professor Randy Beutler, president of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, USA, will deliver the convocation speech.

Prof Amin Sarkar, PhD, vice-chancellor of the NSU, Benajir Ahmed, chairman of the NSU Board of Trustees, and other board members along with deans of four schools will take part in this degree awarding ceremony.

In this convocation, gold medals will be awarded in two categories: the Chancellor’s category and the Vice-Chancellor’s category.

Valedictorian Muneera Chowdhury with nine other gold medalists from the undergraduate and graduate programmes will receive the Chancellor’s and Vice Chancellor’s gold medals. This year, 1,483 and 551 students will be graduating from undergraduate and graduate programmes, respectively.

The ceremony will be telecasted live on Ekattor TV, Channel i and ATN Bangla.

A cultural programme will be held for the graduating students, followed by a convocation dinner. The programme will be telecasted live on SATV. l

Jihad murder accused gets bail Omera LPG and Omera Cylinders n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday granted bail to Abdus Salam, one of the charge-sheeted accused in a case filed over the death of Jihad who fell into an abandoned pipe on Shahjahanpur Railway Colony premises of the capital.

Metropolitan Magistrate Md Aminul Haque passed the order after a hearing on the bail petition filed by Salam’s lawyer in the case.

On March 8, Salam surrendered before a Dhaka magistrate court after the expiry of his four-week bail. The court sent him to jail rejecting his bail petition.

Police on April 7 submitted the charge sheet in the case accusing Salam, owner of contractor firm SR House that installed the deep tube-well, and Jahangir Alam, senior sub-assistant engineer of Bangladesh Railway

of negligence in performing their duties properly.

The body of Jihad was pulled put by a band of indomitable volunteers around 2:45pm on December 27 last year, around 15 minutes after the fire service called off a nearly 23-hour search in the 17-inch diameter abandoned shaft.

Dhaka Medical College Hospital doctors declared Jihad dead when he was taken to the hospital.

Jihad fell into the pipe, some 40 yards from his house, the previous day while playing with friends.

Victim’s father Nasir Fakir filed the murder case with Shahjahanpur police against Salam and Jahangir alleging that the incident was the result of negligence by the contractor and the railway officials concerned as they had not sealed the pipe. l

launched in Bangladesh n Tribune Report Omera LP Gas and Omera Cylinders have been officially launched in Bangladesh. State Minister of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid formally inaugurated the products as the chief guest at an event held in Radisson Blu Dhaka Water Garden on Wednesday.

Among others, Md Abubakar Siddique, secretary of Energy and Mineral Resources Division and chairman of OPL & OCL, and AM Badrudduja, chairman of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC), were present as special guests.

Considering the growing demand of customers, Omera Petroleum Limited (OPL) has started LPG venture in Bangladesh with utmost commitment of convenience of availability, functionality and safety.

To ensure uninterrupted distribution throughout the country, OPL has made robust investment for European Standards bottling and storage facilities in Mongla, Ghorashal, Bogura and Mirasharai with consolidated capacity of 100,000 metric tonnes.

To ensure state-of-the-art product quality, OPL has its own cylinder manufacturing factory named as Omera Cylinders Limited (OCL) in Habiganj. OCL maintains the highest international quality control standard DOT4BA 240 and DOT4BW 240 for its cylinders which is approved by the Explosive Bureau of the Government of Bangladesh.

The factory has a capacity of 500,000 cylinders’ production annually. The LPG cylinders will be available in three different sizes and two different colours. l

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MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

Ruling Awami League-backed mayoral candidate AJM Nasir Uddin, left, conducts last minute campaign for the Chittagong City Corporation polls at Kazir Dewri in the port city yesterday. Meanwhile, M Manjur Alam, right, backed by the BNP exchanges greetings with voters on the last day of the campaign at the city’s Chatteshwari area MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Father, son killed in motor blast n Our Correspondent, Kushtia A man and his son were killed as a motor exploded in Daulatpur upazila early yesterday.

The dead were identified as Malitha alias Hekmat Ali, 50, and his nine-year-old son Sohan.

Daulatpur police station ASI Rabiul Islam said, electric short circuit caused the blast of the motor of shallow machine around 11pm, leaving the duo dead on the spot. l

WEATHER

RAIN OR THUNDERSHOWER MONDAY, APRIL 27 DHAKA TODAY SUN SETS 6:25PM

TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:27AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY 29 32 29 28 21 30 30 30

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

20 23 21 22 22 22 21 23

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

32.8ºC Chittagong

19.2ºC Bogra Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr

4:08am

Sunrise

5:27am

Zohr

11:57am

Asr

4:37pm

Magrib

6:25pm

Esha

7:45pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

Manjur, Nasir neck and neck in CCC mayoral race n Ashif Islam Shaon

It’s anybody’s race, observers of the Chittagong City Corporation mayoral contest said yesterday, as Awami League-backed AJM Nasir and BNP-backed M Manjur Alam braced for a close finish.

With just a day to go before the election, there is no clear favourite for the port city race for top job.

The political calculus involved is complex – with several discrete but sizeable interest groups at play, each of which could easily swing the vote.

Experts said export processing zone and garment workers accounted for half a million votes, people connected to the port city’s many shrines and mausoleums represented some 400,000 votes and slum dwellers accounted for 300,000 votes. They said winning the hearts and minds of these voters was the way to victory for the contenders.

Manjur’s Orange will take on Nasir’s Elephant to woo some 1,813,449 voters.

In addition, national politics added another dimension to the city contest and loomed large as a factor in voters’ choices.

At his last press conference, Manjur’s chief election agent and the BNP city unit chief Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury said: “We

urge voters: If you do not want to see this government any longer, vote for us...Nobody stays in power forever.”

Campaigning for his party’s candidate, Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan on Saturday said: “The prime minister cares for Chittagong. If the people here want development, they need to vote for our candidate to strengthen her hand.”

Waterlogging is Chittagong city voters’ top concern. It was also a top electoral issue during the last city polls on June 17, 2010. Manju defeated his rival largely on this issue, poll watchers said.

Manju’s inability to sort the problem out during his 5-year tenure could work against him. A severe downpour ahead of polling day could easily swing the vote.

On the other hand, residents of the port city recall the rowdiness of Nasir’s followers, many of whom are well-known extortionists and criminals.

Close associates of the two candidates, asking not to be named, told the Dhaka Tribune that they both have vote banks who could swing the polls results.

Party insiders told the Dhaka Tribune that Manjur and his family have more than 30 small and medium charitable organisations which provide help with the campaign. Every

Ramadan, many poor people receive financial help from him. These beneficiaries form part of his vote bank.

Manjur’s main business concern is the Mostafa Hakim Group. The group of companies includes enterprises like Eagle Textiles and Taj Mahal Brand Cement, employing thousands of people who are also voters.

Jamaat and Shibir votes may also give him strength at the ballot box.

Manjur was elected councillor thrice from the Kattoli area. He has had nine spells as acting mayor of CCC. His camp claims that city corporation staff are loyal supporters.

Nasir’s popularity lies with educational institutions and sports organisations. Apart from the general public, he will get more than 50,000 votes from these sectors, his campaigners claimed.

His campaigners claim new voters, numbering around 73,850, will be his trump card at the polls. Some 217,000 voters from the Hindu and other communities will likely support him, they added.

Nasir is the Vice-President of Bangladesh Cricket Board. He is also President of Nasirabad Cooperative Housing Society where many people live. He also enjoys good relations with organisations connected with Chittagong port, his supporters said. l

KCC councillors boycott general meeting n Our Correspondent, Khulna

A general meeting of Khulna City Corporation (KCC) was suspended in progress yesterday after 34 ward councillors boycotted the meeting after presenting their three-point demand.

Sources said the councillors came to the 15th general meeting of the KCC, which took place at Shahid Altaf Auditorium in Khulna, 20 minutes after it started around 11:30am yesterday.

Out of 41 councillors, 34 attended the meeting to present their three-point demand to the mayor and left the meeting half an hour later, announcing that they would not attend the general meetings until their demands were met.

The demands are: recruitment of 10 drain workers in every ward, cancellation of Sub-Assistant Engineer Ajmal Hossain’s promotion to assistant engineer, and cancellation of ward secretaries’ appointments to different lucrative positions.

Speaking at a press briefing at the councillors’ rest room, Panel Mayor 1 Anisur Rahman Bizwas and Panel Mayor 2 Sheikh Hafizur Rahman said: “All our councillors agree with the demands, and none of them will attend the general meetings unless the demands are met.”

Ward 25 Councillor Ali Akbar Tipu said: “There is a lack of coordination between the mayor and the councillors, which creates an opportunity for corruption and hinders development work.”

“The mayor rarely listens to what we councillors have to say; he only has time for the government officers,” Ward 21 Councillor Shamsuzzaman Miah Swapan complained.

KCC Mayor Md Moniruzzaman Moni said he would discuss the demands with the councillors in a meeting today.

He also said the recruitment of drain workers, albeit difficulties due to an amendment of city corporation law in 2009, is in progress, and Sub-Assistant Engineer Ajmal Hossain is merely seeing to additional responsibilities of an assistant engineer; he has not been promoted to the designation.

About the ward secretaries, the mayor said new secretaries were appointed because many ward councillors did not want to work with the previous secretaries. l

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Bangasonahat port infrastructural problems bane for traders n Our Correspondent, Kurigram

Bangasonahat land port in Kurigram has been awaiting infrastructural overhaul after it was opened a year ago, putting traders in perennial troubles.

They continue to pay taxes to do business without having access to the facilities they need, with the government appearing to be indifferent to improving infrastructures.

Bangladeshi traders are allowed to import 10 types of products from India but can export any sort of product through the port, which provides easy and cost-effective connectivity with Assam, Nagaland, Tripura, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya.

The government in the last four months has earned Tk8 crore in revenue from local traders who imported only coal and rock.

Traders are importing coal and rock from India through the port located in Bhurungimari upazila since December last year, but the import and export of all the products permitted by governments of both countries has not yet begun.

Traders in the upazila say this has made them face losses.

Port workers meanwhile say they are forced to accept low wages as import and export activities are yet to begin in full swing.

They also say they are devoid of fair payments due to the lack of complete infrastructure.

Ataul, a porter, says the labour leaders recruiting more and more workers in exchange for their own benefits has aggravated the problem.

“There are now many workers who remain unemployed. As for me, I can load and unload goods from only two to three trucks a week,

earning a mere Tk400-500. This is impossible to run my family with this paltry sum.”

Shahin Ahmed, a local trader, says the lack of proper infrastructure has slowed down business to a greater extent.

“Another problem is that the Sonahat railway bridge, which connects the Dudhkumar River, is a risky route, which has caused business expenses to go up.”

Sarker Rakib Ahmed Jewel, president of the port’s C&F Agent, has called on the authorities to build the required infrastructures and to construct a new railway bridge.

Commissioner of Customs, Excise and VAT Commissionerate in Kurigram, Md Shakil Khandaker, said the authorities should focus on resolving the problems that traders are facing not only to increase revenue but to boost import and export as well. l

5 robbers arrested n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Police arrested five robbers from different areas of Uzirpur upazila of the district yesterday.

Sources said robbers took away a truck from Gutia area under Uzirpur upazila on 24 April.

A case was filed with Uzirpur police station in this connection.

On the basis of the case, police conducted raids in Gutia area under Uzirpur upazila and arrested four robbers from there.

They are Abdulla ,17, Md Swapan ,18, Md Milan ,19, and Md Rubel 19.

On the basis of their confessional statement, police arrested another robber Hasan Miah ,35, from Goalando market area along with the stolen truck.

Md Hasan Miah, son, of Yakub Ali, hails from Goalando area under Rajbari district. l

200 RMG workers fall sick after drinking water

n Our Correspondent, Gazipur Some 200 workers fell sick after drinking water at a garment factory in Ashulia area yesterday.

Sources said the workers fell sick as they drank water from the supply line of the factory in the morning.

Later, the ailing workers were admitted to Ganasastho Kendro Hospital. The production manager of the garment factory ATR Limited refused to make any comment to journalists. l

23 held while returning from India n Our Correspondent, Jessore

People hurriedly come out of offices and homes in panic and stand on the road in Alupatti area of Rajshahi after tremors were felt in the district and elsewhere again yesterday AZAHAR UDDIN

World Veterinary Day observed n Our Correspondent, Rajshahi

Teachers and students of Rajshahi University observed World Veterinary Day on the campus yesterday.

Over 150 teachers and students of animal husbandry and veterinary science department under the banner of ‘Veterinary Students Association’ brought out a colorful procession from in front of the administrative building of the university around 11am.

Vice Chancellor Prof Muhammad Mizanuddin inaugurated the function by releasing pigeons.

The theme of the day in this year is “Vector Borne Diseases with Genetic Potential” l

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh arrested 23 Bangladeshi nationals while entering the country through Putkhali border point yesterday morning, after going to India illegally.

The arrestees hailed from different areas of Narail, Faridpur and Khulna districts.

Putkhali BGB Battalion-23 camp commander Subedar Shafi Uddin Hawlader said on a tipoff, a team of the border force conducted a drive in Charer Math area in the morning and arrested eight women, three children and 12 men while they were trying to enter the Bangladesh territory during their return from India without valid documents. l

RMG owners urged to help Rana Plaza victims’ children n Our Correspondent, Gazipur Speakers at a programme in the district have slammed the ready-made garment owners for not playing due role for the sake of the children who lost their father or mother in the Rana Plaza disaster that claimed 1,135 lives on April 24, 2013.

The participants made the statement in an event titled “Sishu Conference” hosted by Sishu Palli Plus at Tengra village in Sreepur upazila yesterday, where the children who are being benefited from the organisation were present as well.

Speaker Md Saifur Rahman, Sreepur social welfare officer, said whereas the country’s RMG owners, who have become rich by dint of the labour of the workers, have remained indifferent to the suffering of the children, in this regard many foreigners including British national Rob Jenkinson have come forward with their helping hands.

Sishu Palli Plus Director Sayed Shamsul Alam Chowdhury who presided over the conference said a total of 147 children of the Rana Plaza victims are getting financial assistance every month.

A class-VIII student named Farzana Akter, hailing from Satvagia village in Shivchar upazila of Madaripur district, said she lost her mother in the deadly disaster and since then the organisation has been giving a donation of Tk3,500 to her and her brother each month.

The assistance has immensely helped them to keep continuation of their studies, she went on.

Sreepur Upazila Vice-Chairman Rafiquel Islam Mandal Bulbul and Telhati UP Chairman Abdul Baten, among others, were present in the event. l

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MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

Sunamganj maternity centre awaits upgrade for 64 years n Our Correspondent, Sunamganj

Infrastructural development has never been carried out at the Mother and Child Welfare Centre in Sunamganj since its establishment 64 years ago, heightening the sufferings of patients.

The number of patients has risen steadily over the years but there has been no upgrade of the facility in terms of manpower and patient beds.

There are some 35,600 pregnant women in the district at present and locals say the sixbed facility, located on the DS Road area and roofed over with corrugated iron, has to be modernised to ensure proper care for these

women.

Pregnant women and children from financially disadvantaged families mostly seek medical care at the facility, which currently serves 40 newborn babies in the outdoor section every day. Some 10-15 expectant mothers undergo procedures every month at the facility.

But patients have to face unavailability of hospital beds and many even stay on the floor during treatment.

The facility has two doctors and seven nurses but there is no intensive care unit to serve patients in need of the service.

Deputy Director of the Family Planning Department’s Sunamganj office, Md Mozam-

mel Haque, said a total of 98 mother and child welfare centres across the country had been upgraded except the one in Sunamganj.

He said three proposals for modernising the centre had been sent to the Health Ministry that include construction of a five-storey building on the same land with a facility of 20 beds.

“The ministry is processing the proposals.”

The president of Sunamganj District Sasthyagrahita Forum, Shergul Ahmed, said many families are insolvent to spend Tk15,000-20,000, which is a typical amount charged at private clinics or hospitals for child delivery.

Dr Jasim Uddin Khan, healthcare officer at the facility, said the authorities had been

urged for the last six years to upgrade it to a 20-bed centre but no step had yet been taken to implement the proposal.

Sunamganj Civil Surgeon, Md Abdul Hekim, emphasised the necessity of improving the facility.

He opined that doing so would help patients receive better services but could not say when necessary steps towards that would be taken.

Sunamganj 4 lawmaker, Pir Fazlur Rahman, told the Dhaka Tribune he had already talked to the health minister about upgrading the facility several times.

“I will try my best to bring the issue to the minister’s immediate attention.” l

AL leader shot dead n Our Correspondent, Cox’s Bazar A local Awami League (AL) leader, also a union parishad member, was shot dead by miscreants at Rangikhali in Teknaf upazila on early yesterday. The deceased was identified as Shafiq Ahmed,50, member of Nhilla union.

Kazi Matiul Islam, officer-in-charge of Teknaf police station said a group of miscreants opened fire on Shafiq in the area while he along with his friends was gathering at a tea stall in the area ,leaving him dead on the spot.

On information, police recovered the body and sent it to Cox’s Bazar Sadar Hospital morgue for autopsy.

Police also arrested a man named Abul Bashar,25, of the village, in connection with the killing. A case was filed in this connection. l

BCS Teachers’ Association, Comilla district unit form human chain yesterday in the town demanding punitive action against Bhandaria Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Commissioner (land) for their outrageous and arrogant conduct with Bhandaria Government College teacher Md Montaj Uddin during Higher Secondary Certificate examination on 9 April DHAKA TRIBUNE

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10 WORLD

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

Another crisis will hit Nepal capital today – sanitation

Report: Russian hackers read Obama emails

n AFP

Emails to and from President Barack Obama were read by Russian hackers last year in a breach of the White House’s unclassified computer system, New York Times said on Saturday.

Earlier this month, US officials admitted there was a cyber “event” late last year, but refused to confirm reports Russia was behind the attack.

However the incursion was “far more intrusive and worrisome” than publicly acknowledged, the newspaper said, citing senior American officials briefed on the investigation, and saying the hackers were presumed to be linked to — or even working for — Moscow.

The hackers, who also got into the State Department’s unclassified system, obtained access to the email archives of people inside the White House, and perhaps some outside, with whom Obama regularly communicated, Times said.

It was from those accounts that they reached emails that the president had sent and received, according to the officials. l

Harper Lee saves Mockingbird play from closure Nepalese resident Suresh Parihar plays with his 8-month-old daughter Sandhaya as he is treated for injuries sustained in an earthquake at a city hospital in Kathmandu yesterday AFP

n Joseph Nathan for Hindustan Times At 9pm, hours after the earthquake the tremors are still on, though they are getting milder compared to all afternoon.

Fear has gripped Kathmandu and people are all out in the streets and open areas for fear of another round major tremors. It is dark and chilly, with no power, rather total blackout, no piped gas supply and no water supply. The biggest worry in the city now is about the sanitation problem that is going to hit by tomorrow morning. Even the big hotels which have piped gas supply are without it.

American Embassy has called in all American citizens in Nepal and given them shelter inside the closed gates.

It was national day for the Dutch today and all had gathered at the Summit Hotel, by the pool side for the celebrations. Soon as the first tremors happened, the entire swimming pool water was out of the pool and swept off everybody around it. In fact this has happened with most of the pools in Kathmandu.

Surprisingly the new building have survived better than the old constructions and 200 to 300 year old temples have been reduced to the ground including the major tourist attraction the Durbar Square.

Bharatpur Medical College run by an Indian national has about 200 to 300 Indian medical students who have been evacuated and given shelter in camps. I was at the Golf course in Chitvan when the tremors first happened and the woods were swaying violently as we saw it from the golf course.

Everyone present remained in the middle of the course till about 4 pm and the animals in the woods hid inside all day.

With barely any connection with the world outside, Himalayan Times is bringing out a black bordered earthquake edition with only local news tomorrow and we are trying hard to put what we can together at the moment. l

HRW: Egypt’s trial of Mursi ‘badly flawed’ n Reuters

The trial of former Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, deposed by the army and sentenced to 20 years in jail, was “badly flawed” and appears to have been politically motivated, Human Rights Watch said on Sunday.

A court on April 21 convicted Mursi and 12 other Muslim Brotherhood members of violence, kidnapping and torture over the deaths of protesters in 2012. They were acquitted of murder, which carries the death sentence.

The rise to power of the Brotherhood, a decades-old Islamist movement, after the Arab Spring uprisings polarised Egypt’s population and led to months of unrest.

The army ousted Mursi in mid-2013 after mass protests against his rule. Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, army chief at the time, went on to win presidential elections last year.

Human Rights Watch said Mursi’s de-

tention without charge for more than three weeks after his removal from office violated Egyptian law, and it criticised the prosecution’s heavy reliance on the testimony of military and police officers.

“Whatever political responsibility (Mursi) may have, the prosecution didn’t establish his criminal guilt in this case,” the rights group said in a statement entitled “Egypt: (Mursi) Trial Badly Flawed.”

It also cited a spokesman for the defense team saying the lawyers were only allowed to visit Mursi once in November 2013. Another lawyer was cited as saying the defense did not call witnesses out of fear for their safety.

Reuters could not immediately reach a foreign ministry spokesman for comment on the report, but a government statement last week rejected criticism of the Mursi’s sentencing as “unacceptable interference in (Egypt’s) internal affairs, let alone disrespect of the rulings of the Egyptian judiciary.”

Mursi and his co-defendants deny the charges against them and are expected to appeal. Their case is part of a wider crackdown on the Brotherhood launched after the army overthrew the Islamist president.

Harsh rulings against thousands of Mursi supporters, including death sentences handed down in mass trials, have been widely condemned abroad, including by rights groups, the United States and the European Union.

HRW also said the authorities had not investigated the killings of Mursi supporters at the 2012 demonstrations, creating “an appearance that the case was politically motivated against the Brotherhood.”

Mursi faces charges in four other cases including leaking secrets to Qatar, conspiring with the Palestinian militant group Hamas to destabilise Egypt, and organising a jailbreak during the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak. l

n BBC

Author Harper Lee has started a non-profit company to produce a play of her iconic book To Kill a Mockingbird in her hometown of Monroeville, after a dispute was set to end the show.

Licensing firm Dramatic Publishing had not extended the performance rights for the production, so Lee stepped in with Mockingbird Company.

It will produce the play from 2016, giving proceeds to local communities.

Dramatic Publishing said on its Facebook page it was “thrilled.”

It added: “We are also happy to announce that the play will be performed by Mockingbird Players, who have acted this American classic so well for so long. We believe that this is the best way (from the stage) to celebrate Ms Lee’s masterpiece throughout the greater Monroeville area.” l

UN chief asks Indonesia not to execute drug convicts

n Agencies

Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary-general, has appealed to Indonesia to stop the planned executions of nine prisoners within days for drug-related crimes.

The nine - from Australia, Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana, the Philippines, and Indonesia - have been transported to the high-security prison island of Nusakambangan, where they are set to face a firing squad, despite mounting international criticism.

Indonesia has so far informed eight of the death row inmates, including two Australian members of the so-called “Bali Nine” group, and one Nigerian, that they will be executed in a matter of days, possibly as soon as Tuesday. l

DT

WORLD 11

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

Thousands march in Baltimore, US, to protest black man’s death n Reuters At least 2,000 people protesting the unexplained death of a black man while in police custody marched through downtown Baltimore on Saturday, pausing at one point to confront officers in front of Camden Yards, home of the Orioles baseball team.

In the biggest protest since 25-year-old Freddie Gray died on Sunday, two clusters of marchers chanting “shut it down” started out at different times before merging during the afternoon into a single wave headed toward City Hall.

Gray is the latest in a series of black men around the country who died under questionable circumstances during police encounters.

Their deaths have triggered an outcry in the United States over what many see as law enforcement’s unjustified use of force against African-Americans.

Last year, there were weeks of protests across the country following the shooting death of unarmed black teen Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, and the death of Eric Garner, in New York City who was placed in a chokehold during an attempted arrest.

Saturday’s protests came a day after Baltimore’s police commissioner conceded that police had failed to provide Gray with timely medical attention for a spinal injury he had suffered sometime after he was apprehended and put inside a transport van. Police have

A demonstrator puts on a Baltimore City Police hat taken from a destroyed police car while protesting the death Freddie Gray, an African American man who died of spinal cord injuries in police custody, in Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday AFP not explained how he sustained the injury.

He died a week after his arrest on April 12.

During the march, some of the demonstrators confronted about 50 police officers in front of the baseball stadium, where the Baltimore Orioles were due to play the Boston Red Sox at 7:05 p.m. There were no plans to

cancel or postpone the game.

The demonstrators pushed up against a wall of barricades and waved signs at officers, who stood silently in two lines. Some protesters kicked and dented police cars parked nearby but there was no forceful response by the officers. l

Philippines calls on ASEAN to urge China to halt land reclamation

n Reuters

The Philippines called on its Southeast Asian neighbors to unite in urging China to halt reclamation of land in the South China Sea, but the call failed to raise widespread support ahead of a regional summit.

China claims 90% of the South China Sea, which is believed to be rich in oil and gas. Its claims overlap with those of Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan.

Recent satellite images suggest China has made rapid progress in filling in land in contested territory in the Spratly islands and in building an airstrip suitable for military use and that it may be planning another.

In a speech to foreign ministers ahead of the official opening of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Philippine Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario did not name China directly but said its “northern neighbor” was quickly advancing with land reclamation.

“Is it not time for ASEAN to say to our northern neighbor that what it is doing is wrong and that the massive reclamations must be immediately stopped?”

Rosario asked.

The territorial dispute is seen as one of Asia’s hot spots, posing risks that it could result in conflict as countries aggressively stake their claims.

China has said the recent construction is meant to serve civilian purposes such as fishing and search and rescue. l

If Greece falls, no one wants their prints on the murder weapon n Reuters “We’re going bust.” “No, you’re not.” “You’re strangling us.” “No we’re not.” “You owe us for World War Two.” “We gave already.”

The game of chicken between Greece and its international creditors is turning into a vicious blame game as Athens lurches closer to bankruptcy with no cash-for-reform agreement in sight.

Europe’s political leaders and central bankers and Greek politicians agree on only one thing: if Greece goes down, they don’t want their fingerprints on the murder weapon.

If Athens runs out of cash and defaults in the coming weeks, as seems increasingly possible, no one wants to be accused of having pushed it over the edge or failed to try to save it.

Greece’s leftist government has already identified its culprit of choice - Germany, Europe’s main paymaster, accused of having inflicted toxic austerity policies on Greeks, causing a “humanitarian crisis.”

Euro zone governments are preparing the ground to blame the novice government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras for having blustered, obstructed, failed to meet commitments and evaded hard choices while Athens burned.

“We are doing everything we can to save Greece from itself, but in the end, it’s up to them,” is the message pouring out of Berlin, Brussels and IMF headquarters in Washington.

Tsipras and outspoken Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis tried at first to mount a co-

alition against Berlin, touring France, Italy, Britain, Brussels and media studios after their election. They found no allies outside the media.

Tsipras revived demands for reparations for the Nazi German occupation of Greece in 1941-44, which his government put at 279 billion euros ($303.5 billion) - more than its 240 billion euro bailout from the euro zone and the International Monetary Fund.

Berlin responded that it had already compensated victims and a 1990 agreement with the four victorious World War Two powers on German unification had put an end to war claims.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been careful to express goodwill and tried to build a relationship of trust with Tsipras while insisting Greece must meet its lenders’ reform conditions, which include fiercely resisted pension cuts and labor reforms.

“Everything must be done to prevent” Greece running out of money, she said after talks with Tsipras last week. “On the German side, we are prepared to provide all the support that is asked of us. But of course reforms must be done,” she added.

Investors briefly hoped her pledge might be a turning point, similar to European Central Bank President Mario Draghi’s 2012 vow to do “whatever it takes to preserve the euro.”

But Merkel’s comments could also be interpreted as an exercise in pre-emptive blame avoidance. Unlike Draghi, she did not say who should do everything to stop Greece going bust.

Her finance minister, Wolfgang Schaeuble,

is openly sceptical of whether Athens can avoid crashing out of the euro zone.

Angry euro zone finance ministers made clear they were far from a deal with Greece, rejected Varoufakis’ plea for early cash in return for partial reform and told him they would not even discuss longer-term funding and debt relief until Greece signed and implemented a full reform plan.

While Greece’s leaders insist Europe must heed and respect the democratic will of the Greek people, its creditors reply that they too have democratic mandates from their voters.

In Varoufakis’ narrative, euro zone countries did not lend all that money to save Greece in the first place but to protect their own banks, which had imprudently lent Athens billions.

Nonsense, say euro zone officials. Those banks took losses in 2012 when Greek debt to private bondholders was restructured.

Varoufakis has widened the circle of blame to the ECB, accusing it of “asphyxiating” Greece by starving its banks of liquidity and severely limiting their short-term lending to the government.

That prompted an indignant response from ECB President Mario Draghi, who told the European Parliament the central bank’s support for Greece amounted to some 110 billion euros, but it was barred by treaty from monetary funding of governments.

For weeks Greek officials have been telling their euro zone counterparts they have run out of money, only to find spare cash to make the next debt payment. “They have cried wolf so often that when they are really going bust,

no one will believe them,” one EU negotiator said on condition of anonymity.

Insiders say the ECB is determined that the central bank will not be the institution that pulls the plug. If it considers support for Greek banks is no longer tenable, it will seek a political decision by European Union governments.

“This is not something unelected central bankers should decide,” a source in the Eurosystem of central banks said.

European Commission President JeanClaude Juncker is eager to hold Tsipras’ hand until the last minute in the hope that he will impose an unpalatable economic reform deal on left-wingers in his Syriza party before it is too late.

For Juncker, one of the fathers of Europe’s single currency, the departure of a single member from the 19-nation euro zone would be a grievous blow to the bloc’s global standing and could set a dangerous precedent, encouraging investors to speculate against other member states in future crises.

Even if it stayed in the euro zone, a Greek default on other European governments or the ECB would be one of the most acrimonious moments in the history of the European Union.

Amid mutual recrimination over ruined Greek savers and cheated European taxpayers, some fear demonstrations by Greek pensioners or hospital patients and violence in Athens.

If it happens, there will be plenty of blame to go around, but no one to take responsibility. l

DT

12 EDITORIAL

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

Stop these disgraceful attacks on candidates

W

e are appalled by the vicious assault on Mahi B Chowdhury, the Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh-backed mayoral candidate for Dhaka North City Corporation.

The candidate’s car was attacked while he was returning home from a TV studio in the early hours of Sunday morning. Choudhury, his wife and driver were all injured in the incident and he suffered a serious injury to his eye.

It is unforgivable that anyone should be assaulted in this way. For a candidate to be targeted for attack so shortly after several recent incidents involving the motorcade of BNP chief, Khaleda Zia, shows a lamentable lapse in poll time security.

The government and Election Commission must act urgently to catch the culprits and completely stop all attempts to intimidate and harass candidates.

All citizens and politicians must be able to engage in campaigning free from fear and harassment.

It is incumbent on leaders and candidates in all political parties to unreservedly condemn these attacks and support the police in apprehending those responsible. The reported participation of AL supporters in obstructing the BNP chief’s vehicles is especially concerning and deserving of condemnation.

The ruling party has to ensure the law applies equally to all and that there will be no hiding place for any of its supporters found to be involved in these disgraceful actions.

All parties must work together with the Election Commission to guarantee the law will be upheld and the election can proceed fairly without further incidents.

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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Hijra heroines speak out on Oyasiqur murder April 6

for their courage.

Act urgently to catch the culprits

Talking about Dhaka’s problems

W

e welcome the enthusiastic participation of mayoral candidates for tomorrow’s Dhaka City Corporation elections in the Meet Dhaka series of television debates.

As it is the first time in over 20 years, that Dhaka is seeing a contested mayoral campaign, it is vital these elections see constructive debate about what needs to be done for the city, and brings forth better policies and management to move the city forward.

The televised debates are a positive sign of hope for the future. Making Dhaka better is a tall order, and debates on their own do not guarantee change.

Professionals from different areas must come together to tackle the issues of city planning, housing, sanitation, health, education, transportation, the environment, and disaster management.

Decentralisation is imperative to make Dhaka city more livable. The root of many of our problems is the overcrowded nature of our capital, and therefore geographically redistributing institutions and amenities of both city corporations is a sensible way to start tackling this issue.

These city corporation elections are a chance to move away from the partisan politics we see in our national elections and really focus on the things that need to be done on the ground level. The current crop of younger mayoral candidates and fresh faces has shown a willingness to come forward and talk openly about the key issues.

We hope the policy discussions have helped voters make up their minds and are an indicator of better things to come.

We hope the debates will help bring better policies

M Sirajullah These people should be awarded some kind of national award for their heroism.

The entire transgender people community should have a place in society and should not be treated as outcasts anymore. Our PM’s attention is solicited.

Dev Saha Kudos to these brave transgender people for nabbing these butchers. The law enforcement should reward these brave hearts

R_Chow If our police force had any courage they would capture a lot of criminals ... not only these two ... but that’s a different story!

Congratulations to Labonno and her companions for being so brave! Unfortunately, in our country they are not looked after ... we have so much to learn!

Khan If the transgender people can do a wonderful job, why can’t the police?

Seraphim Khan: Because the “genderless” aren’t necessarily weaker than the ones with a gender. Congrats on missing the entire point of the article.

R_Chow Seraphim: :)

DT Breaking the oath April 6

sundar It is heartening to see that at least one person in the medical profession has some sense of shame and guilt for his activities in the profession. So far, I have some knowledge of this profession, I can safely bet that they constitute a class completely devoid of any sense of shame, ethics, civility, decency, honesty, or any attributes befitting a human being. I find no difference between a doctor and a butcher. Money is the only thing they are concerned about.

Police seek Rubel’s exemption April 6 M Sirajullah I do not know the exact wording of this section of law. But in general, all over the world, rape is defined as sexual encounter with a child (below 18 years of age), adults without valid consent (forceful, fraud, and gang rapes). Sexual relations with adults with consent are not considered rape. Under this definition, thousands of rapes are committed in Bangladesh every day because of child marriages. That should be punished first. The child marriages should be seriously dealt with by life imprisonment of the man and the parents both.

Reward the brave bystanders April 7 Nasim Moloch Yes, this is something the government should be doing. But AL is deeply conflicted. Some want to hype up blogger killings abroad, some want to downplay them altogether, some want to help, others would rather make a deal with the Hefazat types. This is where a lack of principle gets you. Thank God for the transgender folks and other passersby for simply doing what is right. Good on them.

Iqbal Ahmedi Mourn Oyasiqur by honouring his helpers.

They couldn’t save him but they do show that our society has good citizens who make it worth defending.

Momoaswan Give them all medals. The shop assistant, the beggar, the transgender persons, and the passerby -- it doesn’t matter. What counts is they did something and showed more bravery than the cowards who groom and incite the brainwashed to kill.

Aid fall off not all bad news

April 6 Oppal Isn’t this what we want, to be self-reliant?

Not dependent on others?

DT

OPINION 13

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

How to attack the opposition n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

B

NP chief Khaleda Zia’s motorcade for her city polls campaign came under attack by a section of the ruling party front organisations such as Bangladesh Chhatra League, Jubo League, and others, according to media reports.

The common people, who welcomed the government’s city polls card as an escape route for the BNP-led alliance, the party that is largely responsible for the violent petrol-bomb politics which has been going on since January 6, have raised their collective eye brows at the attacks on a three-time premier. The role of the police has once again frustrated the citizenry as they did not take the appropriate measures to foil the attacks which took place in Karwan Bazar.

This near inertial role of the police must stop, and the BNP chief would have been given a chance to launch their electoral campaign, subjected to full compliance with the code of conduct. A sense of uneasy calm grips people, who are basically apprehensive of BNP would restarting its hartal-blockadepetrol-bomb brand of politics.

The BNP alleged that the attacks were aimed with the motive of killing Khaleda Zia, following some “provocative” comments Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made on her arch foe’s electoral campaign.

Personally, I do not think the attacks were perpetuated to kill Khaleda Zia. The attacks, with or without the AL leadership’s nod, were the acts of some over-enthusiastic lead-

ers of the front bodies, no doubt, mainly to please Sheikh Hasina. The attackers will use their photos which appear in the media and social media as leverage in the party rank and file. They would be thankful to the media for making them “netas.”

In case of a change of in government, many of the attackers would switch to the ruling party. In case of arrests, their party would put up posters demanding their release ... a fortune indeed.

A common scenario in Bangladesh, in every party, be it small or large: Some lower-level leaders instigate rival parties campaigning near their rallies, processions, or offices, either by throwing brickbats or hurling abusive words at the party leaders.

Thus, scuffles or acts of vandalism are frequent. The reality is people will always take the side of the victim, not the attacker; and in this particular situation, the people’s sympathy will go to the BNP and Khaleda Zia. It is hard to ascertain whether the AL leadership had instructed its ruffians to attack Khaleda Zia, but it will not be unfair to say that the ruling party wants the BNP chief to go back to its politics of violence, hartals, and blockades.

Khaleda Zia has been campaigning for the mayoral polls as if it is the general election, defying her bad health conditions, to reorganise her party leadership, and also to mend the mistakes she made after January 5 through her non-stop blockade and hartals.

The AL has branded BNP-Jamaat as militant organisations, both home and abroad, ex-

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

ploiting the sufferings of the victims of petrol bombings and the destruction caused during the blockade-hartal.

AL prefers Khaleda Zia the “jongi netri” to Khaleda Zia the political leader, and BNP’s return to its politics of violence would fetch a good amount of political mileage for the the ruling party, of course, at the cost of the economy and the people’s well-being. It is easier to tackle a “militant BNP” than a political BNP, since the AL’s popularity has dipped because of general anti-government sentiments.

The AL should let BNP continue its political programs, accepting the reality that BNP are possibly not in any position to dislodge Sheikh Hasina through a mass upsurge. The ballot is the only way forward. It will also help the ruling party to reorganise itself for the next polls, local and national -- the party that led our struggle for independence must not sponsor the petty acts of petty leaders. l Kamran Reza Chowdhury is a journalist.

Gallipoli from the shadow of imperialism n Towheed Feroze

F

or the last few days, Gallipoli, the seaside spot in Turkey where bloody war raged during WW1, has been featuring regularly in the international as well as the local media.

The common approach is irrespective of who took part in the war and which side lost or won; this should be a time to remember the dead from all sides and pray for peace.

The commemorations of the First Great War have gained momentum in recent times as the centenary of the global conflict is being observed almost everywhere, though one cannot but feel that in remembering the Great War and the times preceding it, there is a deliberate attempt to leave out the complex “unethical” machinations (on the part of leading nations) of the turn of the century that led to millions dying on the front without even realising the actual reason for the confrontation.

A very vague trigger presented is the killing of the Archduke Ferdinand, though the core reason for the war was nothing but imperial ambition. It was pure greed for power plus the desire to control the resources of other nations that resulted in worldwide war.

To be honest, the reasons for war still remain the same: Cutting out all the sociopolitical/moral rhetoric, the basic premise

for conflict even in 2015 revolves around economic issues -- sometimes direct but mostly, due to indirect connections leading to oil, gas, and other mineral reserves.

One other pivotal point is to expand the market which again is related to accumulation of more wealth for one, usually the winning side.

So when WW1 is being commemorated with relatives of those who fell in Gallipolli speaking in emotion filled voices about their forefathers dying while fighting, the unmistakable demon of imperialism comes out.

What were the soldiers fighting for? Were they engaged for a better world for all or were they simply serving one selfish set of nationalistic ideals?

The Great War would not have happened if almost all the major powers of the globe at the beginning of the 20th century were not ravenously competing to assert their superiority. I know nations not desiring to control others overtly or covertly is an impractical thought in any time period.

What is disturbing is how soldiers’ deaths on the field are being paid respect to with no clear denunciation of flagitious political maneouvering that sent and still send men to die.

Today, when the soldiers, the pawns on the field who fell in millions, are recalled in elaborate ceremonies, the countless flaws of

statesmen that have triggered wars over the centuries are never condemned in public.

Instead, an attempt is made to glorify the sacrifice.

Just days ago, when, at a major event held at Gallipoli, tribute was paid to the fallen men, with sermons invoked from the holy books underlining the call for peace, some who are inclined to scratch beyond such choreographed events possibly thought that these pre-planned programs were just aimed at subtle lionisation of colonial credo.

A few weeks ago, an international media house showed a documentary where veterans of the Korean War from both sides met at one of the conflict zones to recall a bloody engagement, involving not opposing countries but two distinct ideologies: Communism and capitalism.

That war from 1950 to 1953 ended with millions killed but without any conclusion.

In plain language: To assert the force of a political thought, scores lay dead.

Bluntly speaking, in 2015, the Korean War has little or no relevance, slipping from public knowledge, becoming the forgotten war.

Wars change the course of politics in the world; that is a fact. What it cannot do is provide solid justification for millions of deaths.

The irony is when young soldiers grow old and the wars they fought in become just a frayed page in history, having no impact

on current state of things, the stark division lines of the past fade, bringing veterans of opposing sides at preserved battlegrounds to get philosophical and unanimously say: All war is hell!

After all, when death is near, divisions appear irrelevant.

This has happened when wheelchair-using former military men of the Battle of Iwo Jima met.

Will I be wrong in stating that one day, perhaps years from now, enemies of other recent conflicts will also unite and utter the same lines?

It’s a custom to pay tribute to the dead, to pray and expect a better world; however, in this whole arrangement, there must be a section where leading world leaders should acknowledge that human society can only be better once greed for more power is under check.

Of course, I am being naive.

While the soldiers in perfect alignment walked to salute the large cenotaph remembering those killed in Gallipoli, Oscar Wilde’s witty cynicism came to mind: As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular. l Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.

DT

14 OPINION

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

BIGSTOCK

All done bar the voting n Shayan S Khan

W

ith only the visit to the polling booth now left, a look back on the campaign may reveal events over the 7-day stretch from April 14-21 to be most telling in our final reckoning. Provided the election does indeed prove credible in the end, the government should be prepared for a blowout. Especially if the vote falls along the same faultlines that characterise our national politics.

In this, the opposition BNP, or the candidates backed by them, have enjoyed an advantage to be sure, being able to field their half of Bangladesh politics’ two star performers for a limited but decisive spell of the campaign during which most people would have been making their minds up.

The government and its stooges were visibly unnerved by the response Begum Khaleda Zia received from normal people, the coverage she commanded in the media (that the PM especially disliked). The fight she has sustained is pretty remarkable for a woman of her age, at her stage of life. It goes woefully unrecognised in the discourse, whereas the other side is adept at composing psalms to its leader out of everyday events.

But the way the government’s apologists were seen first condemning as “a matter of principle,” the very serious attacks on Begum Zia from appallingly close range, before in the very next sentence condoning them based on

the hypothesis that disgruntled “commoners” were venting their anger, was as pathetic as it was disgraceful -- the height of intellectual dishonesty. And the people saw through it with their eyes closed.

The government may assume its elaboratelywrought shenanigans and false narratives manage to fool the people, but really all they do is insult our intelligence

It was pathetic because the perpetrators of the worst attacks -- that took place in Kawran Bazar on April 21 -- were identified by the media, and they were identified as members of Chhatra League. Their names and positions within the BCL’s labyrinthine structure were provided, beside close-up shots of their faces.

To take refuge in the fact that no-one was officially charged or arrested or even

acknowledged by the police is cowardly, not to mention idiotic, for that is one fact that is never going to change.

Get with the program -- the people’s faith in the police is lower than their sock’s roll.

Any argument premised upon the police having found nothing is simply not credible, because everyone knows the police in Bangladesh can never find anything. Except opposition activists and apparently would-be terrorists. After which, no-one else can find them.

Crouched on top of this leaky edifice you have the government’s hypothesis, their dodgy conjecture, and in some tellings wild speculation, that the people have taken up arms (as some of the attackers were carrying, again captured on film by credible photojournalists) against the BNP-Jamaat force.

We should like to believe those who govern us have slightly more faith in our civility. Or loud and clear, the government should know better than to judge the people by its own standards.

Whatever aspersions the people may harbour for all that happened while they were besieged by the BNP’s movement over the first three months of the year, no-one expects redress, if that, in any form or through any process except the legal one. No one, not even those who lost loved ones to petrol bombs, has advocated anything to the contrary. A secure, responsible government would suffer no qualms over condemning the

attacks on Khaleda Zia outright, minus any caveats.

But the AL’s dependence on its front organisations to maintain its current rule without a mandate from the people as a whole, makes it necessary for them to condone their barbarity, to which the government has no right to append the general public. That is what makes it downright disgraceful.

The same reasoning of course, explains why you won’t see those who were captured on film getting a cheap thrill out of sexually harassing a number of women in the midst of all the revelry on April 14 at the DU campus brought anywhere near justice. And why Moja Losss?, the irreverent social media campaigners, had to rein in their operations abruptly.

The government may assume its elaborately-wrought shenanigans and false narratives manage to fool the people, but really all they do is insult our intelligence -- a lesson likely to be dealt, at least in Dhaka and Chittagong, through the ballot. But will it be learnt? The prime minister, during her last press conference on Sunday, was visibly smarting from the public’s receptiveness to her great rival during the campaign. Come Tuesday night, she might be smarting harder still. l Shayan S Khan is executive editor of the Dhaka Courier, and senior editor at UNB.

16

Asian central banks to ease further

17

10 years later, YouTube is a hit but faces challenges

19

DSEX hits biggestsingle day fall in 21 months

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DT

Business

15

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

Stock stakeholders want amendment to income tax law

Remittance from Gulf countries rebounds n Jebun Nesa Alo Shedding the negative trend for more than a year, the remittance inflow to the country rebounded from the middle-eastern countries in the last nine months, thanks to the reopening of the manpower market for Bangladeshi workers in some of the Gulf nations after seven years.

The inflow of remittance rose by 7.6% in the first nine months of the current fiscal year where the country had experienced a fall of 13% in remittance earnings during the same period of the last fiscal year.

The country received remittance of US$6.68bn in July to March of the fiscal year 2014-15 from the gulf countries compared to $6.21bn in the same period of 2013-14, according to the Bangladesh Bank data.

The expatriates sent remittances worth $7.12bn in the first nine months of fiscal year 2012-13. After a long break, the Ministry of Labour of Saudi Arabia finally overturned the ban on the recruitment of Bangladeshi manpower in February, 2015.

The number of manpower export into the middle-eastern countries rose by 30% to 25,883 in February, just after lifting the restriction on Bangladeshi workers, compared to 19,928 in the same period of the last year.

The number of Bangladeshi workers to the middle-eastern countries is now gradually increasing with sending 31,443 migrants in March, an increase of 39% from 22,595 in the same month of the last year, according to the latest data of Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET).

Remittance, the lifeblood for the country’s foreign exchange reserve, had slowed down for more than a year due to the ban on recruiting Bangladesh workers by Saudi Arabia, the largest manpower destination.

The manpower export witnessed a downward trend in January this year with posting

10% negative growth.

Despite the ban on the recruitment of Bangladeshi workers in the middle-eastern countries, the country witnessed an increasing remittance inflow trend from other developed nations soon after restoration of political stability in Bangladesh, said a senior executive of Bangladesh Bank.

As a result, World Bank had ranked Bangladesh 7th position in the list of remittance recipient countries in the year 2013, he said.

During the fiscal year 2013-14, remittance accounted for 66% of the foreign reserve while it was almost 9 times of the current ac-

Japanese companies want relaxed IPO rules n Tribune Report Japanese companies have sought relaxed public issue rules to increase their investment in Bangladesh.

According to the existing initial public offering (IPO) rules, companies having minimum paid-up capital of Tk40 crore will have to be converted into public limited companies.

A Japanese delegation recently requested the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) to exempt foreign companies and foreign joint venture companies from the provision as they argued this will attract large scale foreign investment not only from Japan, but also from other countries.

The delegation, led by JBCCI President and JETRO Chief Representative Kei Kawano, met BSEC Chairman M Khairul Hossain, said Japan Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JBCCI) in a statement yesterday.

The meeting was told that large scale Japanese investments are expected to come to Bangladesh soon following the recent mutual visits of the two Prime Ministers of Bangladesh and Japan, the statement said.

There are around 9,000 Japanese companies in Thailand and around 3,000 Japanese companies in Indonesia and compared to

that, Bangladesh has only 223 Japanese companies.

“So, there is a huge potential of investment from large number of Japanese companies both in large and small scales.”

If the paid-up share capital exceeds Tk40 crore, it will have to be converted into a public limited company and if the paid-up share capital exceeds Tk50 crore, it will have to go for IPO The delegation pointed out that large Japanese companies that are already in Bangladesh or planning to invest in Bangladesh are facing problem with BSEC requirements, where it mentions that if the paid up share capital exceeds Tk10 crore, any company needs to get BSEC approval for raising capital.

If the paid-up share capital exceeds Tk40 crore, it will have to be converted into a public limited company and if the paid-up share capital exceeds Tk50 crore, it will have to go for IPO. In response to the proposal, the BSEC

chairman assured that any Japanese owned or Japanese joint venture company (of any form), which will apply to BSEC for waiver of conversion to public limited company, will be given permission within three business days.

In future, no Japanese company or Japanese joint venture company will have to be converted into a public limited company if paid up share capital exceeds Tk40 crore and the companies will not have to go for public if the paid up share capital exceeds Tk50 crore, said the statement quoting BSEC chairman.

But private limited companies need to take approval from BSEC when its paid up capital exceeds Tk10 crore since it is a requirement of the rules. l

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count balance in the same fiscal year.

According to the Bangladesh Bank data, the country received highest remittance worth $814m in March from the middle-eastern countries in last seven months.

The figure was 15% higher from $708.71m in the previous month and 5% higher from the same month of the last year.

Earlier, country received $829m remittance in July from the gulf countries.

The country received $2.44bn remittances in between July to March in the fiscal year 2014-15 from the key remittance sourcing country Saudi Arabia, 5% rise from $2.32bn in the same period of the last year.

The number of manpower export in the Saudi Arabia rose by 389% to 3,731 in last two months, after lifting the restriction on recruitment from Bangladesh, compared to 763 in the same months of the last year. The remittance from other than middle-eastern countries increased by 6.67% to $4.57bn in the first nine months of the current fiscal year compared to $4.28bn in the same period of the last fiscal year.

The country received a total of $11.25bn remittance in the nine months of the fiscal year 2014-15, which was 7% higher from $10.49bn in the same period of 2013-14, according to the central bank data. l

Banks closed tomorrow in Dhaka, Chittagong cities n Tribune Report All bank branches located in both Dhaka South and North City Corporation, plus Chittagong City Corporation areas have been asked to close down their business operations tomorrow to help voters exercise their franchise.

Bangladesh Bank issued a circular in this regard yesterday, asking the banks to close their branches in the city corporation areas.

The Election Commission has announced the schedule for the city corporation polls in Dhaka and Chittagong going to be held tomorrow. l

DT

16 BUSINESS

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

Asian central banks to ease further n Reuters, Bengaluru Emerging Asian central banks are expected to cut interest rates again in the coming months, but economists polled by Reuters are doubtful the moves will significantly boost growth or inflation.

The findings echo results from earlier this week in Reuters surveys of more than 250 economists in Europe and North America who also expect more easing.

But the polls there showed only modest upgrades to growth estimates and a still depressed outlook on inflation.

Twenty-seven central banks around the world have eased monetary policy in some manner or other so far this year.

The Reuters surveys across Asia, which bring the total number of forecasters polled above 300 globally this week, found nearly all central banks in the region, with a few exceptions such as New Zealand and South Korea, were set to ease policy again.

The People’s Bank of China will probably loosen policy most in the region and is expected to cut both of its two key interest rates by end-June and lower banks’ reserve requirement ratio again soon afterward.

The PBOC cut its benchmark lending rate by 25 basis points last month, followed by an aggressive one-percentage-point cut in banks’ reserve requirement ratio over the weekend.

The Reserve Bank of India, which has already cut rates twice outside regular meetings since January, will probably do so once more ahead of its June meeting and lower its benchmark repo rate again before the end of this year.

“There is growing realisation that demand-supportive and anti-deflationary measures need to be undertaken expeditiously, preferably in the first (half) of the year,” wrote Michael Spencer, Asia Pacific research head at Deutsche Bank. But whether those steps will work remain in doubt.

Median estimates for growth and inflation across all emerging Asian economies, and even Japan, have been downgraded from a survey three months ago.

That suggests further stimulus will proba-

Google launches its own mobile telephone service n AFP, New York

A clerk counts 100 Chinese yuan banknotes at a branch of China Merchants Bank in Hefei

Twenty-seven central banks around the world have eased monetary policy in some manner or other so far this year bly not work as well as policymakers and investors hope.

“In China, we maintain our view that there are rising risks of a mini-hard landing in 2015, as policy easing has not happened as quickly and aggressively as we had expected,” Spencer added in the note.

China’s gross domestic product is expected to expand at a steady 7% in the next four quarters, unchanged from where it is currently and implying growth will stay stuck at a sixyear low for a long time.

A mix of poor factory activity, rapidly cooling inflation, a weak property market and

REUTERS

uneven export demand has buffeted China’s economy.

Beijing has been pumping trillions of yuan into the banking system to re-engineer its economy, shifting to one led by consumption rather than exports and investment. But weak loan demand has dented those efforts.

Tokyo has had an even tougher battle. The Bank of Japan has been conducting some form of quantitative easing since the late 1990s with a short interruption, but on the whole that has done little to boost growth or lift inflation.

Economists surveyed expect Australia and South Korea to report slightly slower growth this year and next compared with the January poll. India’s economy is predicted to grow 7.4% this fiscal year and 7.8% next, but even that is based on expectations for two more rate cuts from the RBI this year.

The International Monetary Fund expects India’s growth rates to be the fastest for any economy in the world. l

Google said Wednesday it was launching its own US mobile wireless service, with considerable potential savings for customers using their devices at home and for international travel.

The service called Project Fi is only available by invitation for now, and only for the Google Nexus 6 smartphone.

The service will use Wi-Fi hotspots along with the US mobile networks of Sprint and T-Mobile, and also may be used in 120 countries without roaming charges.

It will be offered at a monthly cost of $20 for basic service plus $10 per month for each gigabyte of data used.

Customers will only pay for the data they use, unlike some carriers which offer packages.

“Project Fi enables us to work in close partnership with leading carriers, hardware makers, and all of you to push the boundaries of what’s possible,” a Google blog post said.

“By designing across hardware, software and connectivity, we can more fully explore new ways for people to connect and communicate.”

The service “automatically connects to more than a million free, open Wi-Fi hotspots we’ve verified as fast and reliable,” Google said.

“When you’re not on Wi-Fi, we move you between whichever of our partner networks is delivering the fastest speed, so you get 4G LTE in more places.”

Google said the connections will be encrypted and the phone number “lives in the cloud, so you can talk and text with your number on just about any phone, tablet or laptop.”

For global travel, Project Fi will enable low-cost calling in many countries, and data access at 3G speeds without additional charges. l

German business confidence hits 10-month high n AFP, Frankfurt

German business confidence rose to its highest level in 10 months in April, as recovery in Europe’s biggest economy continues apace, but optimism could soon begin to stall, the Ifo economic institute said Friday.

The Ifo institute’s closely watched business climate index rose to 108.6 points this month, its highest level since June 2014, the think tank said in a statement.

It was the sixth consecutive monthly increase and was better than analysts had been expecting.

“The upswing in the German economy continues,” said Ifo president Hans-Werner Sinn.

In particular, companies’ assessments of their current business situation “once again improved considerably,” Sinn said, but noted that “optimistic assessments of the business outlook were scaled back slightly.”

Ifo calculates its headline index on the basis of companies’ assessments of their current

business environment and the outlook for the next six months. The sub-index measuring current business rose to 113.9 points, also the highest level since June 2014.

But the outlook sub-index slipped slightly by 0.4 point to 103.5 points, the institute said.

Analysts said the slight decline in expectations was no cause for concern just yet.

“Despite the drop in expectations, there is no reason to ring the alarm bell,” said Natixis economist Johannes Gareis.

In fact, the increase in the assessment of the current situation “suggests that the German economy is still gaining momentum,” the expert said.

And further ahead, “we expect strong tailwinds from cheap oil, the low euro and low interest rates to drive the German economy forward,” Gareis said.

BayernLB economist Stefan Kipar also felt that the German economy had “got off to a good start in the second quarter. Further-

more, the outlook for the coming months is positive.”

Postbank economist Thilo Heidrich said the Ifo index “has been in a clear uptrend since November 2014” and attributed the slight softening of expectations component to uncertainty about Greece.

“Overall, the index points to a continuation of the current recovery. In view of the current favourable fundamentals, such as the low oil price, the weak euro and the positive situation on the labour market, we expect the German economy to continue to grow during the course of the year,” Heidrich said.

Unstoppable confidence?

For ING DiBa economist Carsten Brzeski “German business optimism seems to be unstoppable, paving the road for an excellent year of growth.”

The German economy “is in decent shape.

The first months of the year point to a good, though not excellent, growth performance in

the first quarter. And the next quarters should not be very different,” he added.

Domestic demand was strong, thanks to record high employment, rising wages, falling energy prices and booming consumer demand driven by record low interest rates, the expert said.

Just a day earlier, the GfK consumer confidence index rose to its highest level since October 2011, “confirming the picture of almost euphoric consumers,” Brzeski said.

Commerzbank economist Joerg Kraemer was more cautious, however. The Ifo index “can’t go much further now,” he said.

“Demand growth from the emerging markets has eased off substantially, for one thing, and German profit margins are coming under gradual pressure from the marked rise in unit labour costs. One should not become overoptimistic for Germany’s growth outlook,” Kraemer warned. Earlier this week, the government upgraded its growth forecasts for both this year and next year to 1.8%. l

DT

BUSINESS 17

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

10 years later, YouTube is a hit but faces challenges n AFP, Washington

A man uses his mobile phone in front of a screen showing a logo of Xiaomi at the launch ceremony of the Mi Note in Beijing

REUTERS

China’s smartphone makers bet on cricket, Bollywood to conquer India n Reuters, Mumbai China’s smartphone makers are drafting in cricket teams and Bollywood stars to conquer India, their largest overseas market and a key testing ground for their international expansion, as they try to rebrand as more than just sellers of cheap handsets.

Xiaomi Technology - the fast-growing No 3 global smartphone maker valued at $45bn after a December funding round - hosted its first global launch outside of China in New Delhi on Thursday, unveiling its feature-heavy Mi 4i model that supports six Indian languages at 12,999 rupees ($205).

“It speaks volumes to our focus on India, our intentions, and (is about) really putting our investment where we believe the future of the company is,” Hugo Barra, Xiaomi’s vice president of international operations, said.

And they are not alone. Manufacturers including Gionee, Huawei Technologies and Lenovo (0992.HK) are trying out new retail strategies, marketing plans and research for devices in India, as they look to push into new markets.

Huawei and Gionee, for instance, are sponsoring franchises in the Indian Premier League, a wildly popular cricket tournament, while Lenovo and Oppo have adverts featuring movie heartthrobs Ranbir Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan as they try to build brand appeal among ordinary Indians.

India is the world’s third-largest smartphone market, but with just one in 10 people using such handsets still has huge growth potential.

Chinese smartphone makers are in many cases unknown outside India’s larger cities, but they are beginning to win market share from better known rivals such as Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and even homegrown Micromax, which in the fourth quarter became the country’s leading handset supplier.

With growth saturating at home, companies from China and Taiwan have either entered or ramped up India operations over the past year. Six were among the top 20 smartphone vendors in the December quarter.

Based on shipments data tracked by research firm Canalys, the top five Chinese smartphone companies and Taiwan’s Asustek Computer Inc together accounted for 13% of shipments in the period.

Sales Plans

Fast growth and cut-throat competition has forced the new Chinese entrants to intensify their sales push, adapting plans previously tried out in China to suit local customers.

Xiaomi, a five-year-old company known as China’s Apple, entered India in July last year through a tie-up with online retailer Flipkart. It later partnered a leading electronics retail chain with a pan-India presence to boost its sales.

Arvind Vohra, head of Chinese manufac-

turer Gionee’s India operations said, he was focused on physical distribution, and would only then go online. Gionee sold 4 million devices and made almost $500m in sales in the year ended March.

“There was a huge challenge with the stigma attached to Chinese brands initially,” said Rushabh Doshi, a Singapore-based analyst at research firm Canalys.

“A lot of new vendors are testing out online retail first, trying to see if the brand is picking up in India and then ramping up their operations based on the feedback they get from the consumer base.”

Industry watchers say that now a focus on research and local production will help Chinese firms offer high-end features at low cost, positioning them well in a market that will grow at around 36 percent a year over the next five years, according to consulting firm Zinnov.

Gionee, which was among the first Chinese device makers to enter India, has 1,200 employees working on R&D and expects to set up a manufacturing base in India.

For Xiaomi, the research on the processor used in the Mi 4i was led by a team in Bengaluru. The company could also make the phone locally once it sets up a manufacturing presence here, Barra said. “(The Mi 4i) is not a Chinese design that is imported to India, this is a product that is designed with this market in mind,” he said. l

Ten years after its launch, YouTube has become a household name for online video but faces an array of rivals in the market and lingering questions about its business model.

The first video uploaded April 23, 2005 -- an 18-second clip of co-founder Jawed Karim at the San Diego Zoo -- offered little indication the service would become the leader in Internet video and a key part of the Google empire.

A decade later, YouTube has more than one billion users, with localized service in 75 countries and 61 languages.

Some 300 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute, and “every day people watch hundreds of millions of hours on YouTube and generate billions of views,” according to the YouTube statistics page.

Google is reserving its 10-year anniversary celebration for May 10, marking the day the site went public, a spokesman told AFP. But analysts and others were talking about the milestone.

“Everyone in the world knows YouTube, even my mom,” said Dan Rayburn, analyst at Frost and Sullivan who also writes a blog about streaming media.

YouTube played a key role in the Arab Spring uprisings and other political movements. It has faced bans in some countries, notably for the distribution of a film about Muhammad which offended some Muslims, and has faced criticism for being used to distribute unauthorized copyrighted content.

Seeking a business model Rayburn said that even though YouTube is immensely popular around the world, it is not clear if it has a real business model.

Google bought YouTube in 2006 for some $1.6 billion in stock -- raising eyebrows about what was then the Internet firm’s biggest acquisition -- and now generates considerable revenue, but also has high costs.

“Even today, Google will not say if YouTube is profitable,” Rayburn noted. “But 90 percent of analysts say it is not profitable.”

Rayburn said that even though YouTube popularized the idea of online video, the videos are mainly “user generated content” that does not attract revenue from users or advertisers.

“To stream premium content like films and television programs, people go to Netflix or Hulu or iTunes,” he said.

“YouTube has struggled to find its core business. The vast amount of content on it cannot be monetized.”

But a report by Morgan Stanley analyst Benjamin Swinburne earlier this year said YouTube is “a high-growth, valuable asset” for Google with tremendous potential.

The report said YouTube generated some $4.7bn in revenue in 2014, and that it can do even better by investing in premium content - such as the paid video channels it recently unveiled and other kinds of subscriptions.

“Given Google’s hefty resources, we have been surprised it has not been willing to invest more directly in premium content,” the report said.

The research firm Trefis says in a recent report that YouTube represents about three percent of the value of Google but that its importance is growing. l

DT

18 BUSINESS

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

News, analysis and recent disclosures CITYBANK: 15% cash and 5% stock dividend, AGM: 28.06.2015, Record Date: 10.05.2015. EPS of Tk. 2.66, NAV per share of Tk. 27.72.

CENTRALINS: 7% cash and 8% stock dividend, AGM: 23.06.2015, Record Date: 07.05.2015. EPS of Tk. 2.21, NAV per share of Tk. 22.91.

Unaudited Financials: ABBANK: (Q1 Un-audited): NPAT= Tk. 576.60 million with EPS of Tk. 1.08 ( Restated 0.97) as against Tk. 414.47 million and Tk. 0.78 (0.69) respectively. NLI1STMF: (Q3- Unaudited): NPAT= Tk. 68.95 million with Earnings per unit of Tk. 1.37 as against Tk. 51.13 million and Tk. 1.02 respectively. MATINSPINN: (Q3 Un-audited): NPAT= Tk. 301.65 million with EPS of Tk. 3.09 as against Tk. 226.42 million and Tk. 2.32 respectively.

Board Meeting: BAYLEASING on April 30, 2015 at 4:00 PM, RENATA on April 30, 2015 at 3:00 PM, MEGHNACEM on April 29, 2015 at 3:00 PM, MJLBD on April 29, 2015 at 7:00 PM, FASFIN on April 27, 2015 at 4:00 PM, RANFOUNDRY on April 27, 2015 at 3:00 PM, NFML on April 27, 2015 at 4:00 PM. APOLOISPAT: Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh Limited (CRAB) has announced the entity rating of the Company as BBB3 with a stable outlook based on audited financial statements up to June 30, 2014, management prepared report up to March 31, 2015 and bank liability position (March 28, 2015) and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

CITYBANK: The Board has also decided to increase the Authorized Capital of the Company from Tk. 1,000 crore to Tk. 1,500 crore and accordingly, amendments of Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company subject to obtaining approval of Bangladesh Bank and by shareholders as well as to comply the required compliances.

KEYACOSMET: The Company has further informed that the 18th AGM (pending AGM for the year 2014) of the Company will now be held on May 16, 2015 instead of June 12, 2015 at 10:30 AM at Factory Premises at Jarun, Konabari, Gazipur for the year ended June 30, 2014.CNW: Trading of the shares of Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills Limited will commence at DSE from April 27, 2015 under N category. DSE Trading Code for Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills Limited is BSRMLTD and DSE Company Code is 13238.

ACI: The Company has informed that they have entered into agreements whereby S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc., a Corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Wisconsin, USA has purchased the Brands in the categories of Insect Control, Air Care and Toilet Care Products on mutually beneficial terms at a price of Taka 250.54 crore and that Advanced Chemical Industries Limited will continue to be the Distributor of the Products for a period of 5 years.

APEXFOODS: The Company has informed that the Board of Directors of the Company has decided to sell the immovable property (land) measuring 10.22 acres in Mouza Kalampur, Chandora, Kaliakoir, Gazipur at the price of Tk. 15,43,22,000.00 to Apex Fashion Wear Limited.

Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

Company Keya Cosmetics -A ACI Formulations-A Apex Foods -A Kay & Que (BD) -Z R. N. Spinning-Z AB Bank 1st Mutual Fund-A DBH 1st MF-A Phoenix Fin. 1st MF-A 1st Janata Bank MF-A Social Islami. B-A

Closing (% Change) 9.43 9.03 8.51 4.46 4.19 4.00 2.70 2.50 2.44 2.24

CSE GAINER Company GreenDeltaInsu -A Keya Cosmetics -A R. N. Spinning-Z ACI Formulations-A Apex Foods -A Republic Insu.-A Prime Islami Life -A Aramit -A Reckitt Benckiser -A Social Islami. B-A

Closing (% Change) 10.00 10.00 9.26 8.34 5.75 5.73 4.65 4.17 2.27 2.24

DSE LOSER Company Popular Life Insu. -A Shasha Denims -N AB Bank - A Modern Dyeing -Z Rupali Bank - A BGIC -A EXIM Bank 1 MF-A Sonargaon Tex -Z BD Submarine Cable-A Phoenix Finance-A

Closing (% Change) -35.63 -12.76 -12.00 -9.57 -9.27 -9.15 -9.09 -8.94 -8.66 -8.19

CSE LOSER Company Popular Life Insu. -A Shasha Denims -N AB Bank - A Midas Financing-Z National Housing Fin.-B Imam Button -Z GQ Ball PenA BDCOM Online-A Premier Leasing-Z Rahima Food -Z

Closing (% Change) -23.24 -12.61 -11.06 -9.91 -9.79 -9.78 -9.74 -9.34 -9.20 -9.17

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

DSE key features April 26, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

DSE GAINER

Sector

3,415.21 71,343,923 91,471

Traded Issues

308

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

33

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

270

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,343.46

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

28.41

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 130.28 70.27 20.98 420.80 89.48 905.32 0.91 394.80 762.82 11.30 170.46 16.18 12.95 37.34 59.10 15.25 35.24 123.95 55.36 81.12 1.31

% change 3.81 2.06 0.61 12.32 2.62 26.51 0.03 11.56 22.34 0.33 4.99 0.47 0.38 1.09 1.73 0.45 1.03 3.63 1.62 2.38 0.04

Million Taka 10.47 5.46 1.01 47.88 3.66 92.08 50.25 41.41 6.57 7.71 0.37 2.41 5.99 4.27 0.75 1.42 19.28 11.26 16.33 0.00

Average (% Change) 7.41 7.51 5.44 14.03 2.10 1.00 3.50 3.54 1.46 3.38

Average (% Change) 0.34 7.73 8.50 6.49 5.75 5.73 4.65 4.17 2.27 1.41

Average (% Change) -35.84 -9.21 -12.23 -31.00 -8.95 -13.02 -9.09 -16.83 -13.48 -5.00

Average (% Change) -23.89 -9.29 -11.77 -9.91 -10.19 -7.90 -6.17 -9.23 -8.53 -8.12

CSE

ClosingAvg. 17.10 144.82 92.43 13.33 21.92 5.06 3.84 4.10 4.17 13.75

ClosingAvg. 44.15 17.42 23.37 143.16 92.00 16.60 45.00 275.00 1421.50 13.62

ClosingAvg. 93.26 39.03 17.66 69.00 37.33 12.83 6.00 11.17 118.38 16.14

ClosingAvg.

% change 3.19 1.66 0.31 14.57 1.11 28.02 0.00 15.29 12.60 2.00 2.35 0.11 0.73 1.82 1.30 0.23 0.43 5.87 3.43 4.97 0.00

110.00 38.76 17.62 10.00 17.97 8.39 80.93 23.30 7.94 20.03

Closing

DHIGH

17.40 144.90 94.40 11.70 22.40 5.20 3.80 4.10 4.20 13.70

Closing 48.40 17.60 23.60 142.90 92.00 16.60 45.00 275.00 1421.50 13.70

Closing

17.40 146.10 95.50 12.10 23.40 5.50 3.90 4.10 4.20 14.00

DHIGH 48.40 17.60 23.70 145.00 92.00 16.70 45.40 275.00 1422.00 13.80

DHIGH

92.50 38.30 17.60 69.00 37.20 12.90 6.00 11.20 114.90 15.70

Closing

16.10 138.50 88.00 11.00 20.80 4.60 3.70 4.00 4.10 13.40

DLOW 43.40 16.10 21.00 139.00 92.00 16.50 41.00 275.00 1420.00 13.20

DLOW

99.90 41.40 18.00 69.00 41.00 13.50 6.00 11.60 125.10 16.80

DHIGH

110.00 38.10 17.70 10.00 17.50 8.30 77.80 23.30 7.90 19.80

Million Taka 140.74 75.72 21.99 468.68 93.14 997.39 0.91 445.06 804.23 17.87 178.17 16.55 15.36 43.33 63.37 15.99 36.67 143.23 66.62 97.44 1.31

DLOW

92.40 37.10 17.50 69.00 37.00 12.80 6.00 11.10 114.00 15.50

DLOW

110.00 40.50 17.90 10.00 18.40 8.60 82.00 23.30 8.30 20.50

Total

110.00 37.30 16.80 10.00 17.50 8.30 77.80 23.30 7.90 19.70

% change 3.76 2.02 0.59 12.52 2.49 26.64 0.02 11.89 21.48 0.48 4.76 0.44 0.41 1.16 1.69 0.43 0.98 3.83 1.78 2.60 0.03

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

9.008 181.413 2.326 0.002 9.177 0.006 0.159 0.043 0.128 13.612

Turnover in Million

2.02 3.27 3.20 -1.41 2.19 0.68 -0.47 0.66 0.84 2.74

Latest EPS

0.006 1.634 7.642 12.223 0.009 0.002 0.203 0.054 0.026 1.103

Turnover in Million

8.5 44.3 28.9 -ve 10.0 7.4 -ve 6.2 5.0 5.0

Latest PE

2.96 2.02 2.19 3.27 3.20 2.56 4.95 14.12 42.33 2.74

Latest EPS

12.963 186.529 8.316 0.004 0.278 0.750 0.002 0.997 50.860 1.716

Turnover in Million

Latest PE

14.9 8.6 10.7 43.8 28.8 6.5 9.1 19.5 33.6 5.0

Latest PE

2.89 3.17 3.88 -0.50 2.04 1.31 0.56 -0.84 0.64 1.64

Latest EPS

0.033 5.899 1.522 0.020 0.169 0.056 0.085 0.031 0.164 0.100

32.3 12.3 4.6 -ve 18.3 9.8 10.7 -ve 185.0 9.8

Latest PE

2.89 3.17 3.88 -3.24 1.97 -1.48 2.21 1.68 0.08 -0.42

38.1 12.2 4.5 -ve 9.1 -ve 36.6 13.9 99.3 -ve

CSE key features April 26, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

328.58 8,595,884 14,557

Traded Issues

223

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

29

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

187

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

7

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,273.02

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.55

DT

BUSINESS 19

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

DSEX hits biggest-single day fall in 21 months n Tribune Report

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company United Power-N ACI Limited- A WesternMarine -N Shasha Denims -N ACI Formulations-A SAIF Powertec-N Khulna Power-A Ifad Autos -N Shahjibazar Power-N Grameenphone-A

MJL BD Ltd.-A Square Pharma -A Mozaffar H.Spinning-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A SummitAlliancePort.-A

VolumeShares 2,335,700 525,765 3,796,985 4,778,869 1,252,662 1,611,447 1,726,325 1,044,893 467,768 227,960

Value in Million 450.03 284.63 196.93 186.53 181.41 114.82 110.23 82.01 78.66 73.09

% of TotalTurnover 13.18 8.33 5.77 5.46 5.31 3.36 3.23 2.40 2.30 2.14

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company United Power-N Mozaffar H.Spinning-A Ifad Autos -N WesternMarine -N MJL BD Ltd.-A BD Submarine Cable-A ACI Formulations-A ACI Limited- A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A UNITED AIR-A

R. N. Spinning-Z Shasha Denims -N Grameenphone-A SAIF Powertec-N Shahjibazar Power-N

569,390 272,439 1,594,192 1,927,006 974,778

298,916 656,515 250,234 335,977 116,848 113,345 85,385 21,753 410,588 1,392,519

326,968 152,186 18,186 79,500 31,871

69.87 67.85 57.35 53.66 52.45

57.02 23.53 19.24 17.49 14.66 13.46 12.22 11.59 11.44 9.95

7.64 5.90 5.82 5.70 5.34

2.05 1.99 1.68 1.57 1.54

17.35 7.16 5.86 5.32 4.46 4.10 3.72 3.53 3.48 3.03

2.33 1.80 1.77 1.73 1.63

ClosingP 185.50 508.40 50.60 38.30 144.90 68.90 63.10 78.50 167.50 320.20

121.90 248.20 34.90 27.50 52.90

ClosingP

Change % -6.41 -3.84 0.00 -12.76 9.03 -6.39 -2.17 -1.26 1.33 -1.42

-2.71 -1.12 -4.38 -5.50 -2.04

Change %

183.70 34.80 78.00 50.60 121.90 114.40 142.90 507.80 27.40 7.10

23.60 38.10 319.40 68.30 167.10

-7.32 -3.33 -1.89 0.80 -2.87 -8.99 8.34 -3.26 -5.84 -5.33

9.26 -12.61 -1.27 -7.20 1.64

ClosingY 198.20 528.70 50.60 43.90 132.90 73.60 64.50 79.50 165.30 324.80

125.30 251.00 36.50 29.10 54.00

ClosingY

198.20 36.00 79.50 50.20 125.50 125.70 131.90 524.90 29.10 7.50

21.60 43.60 323.50 73.60 164.40

DHIGH 204.00 568.30 55.00 41.40 146.10 75.00 67.50 80.30 173.00 324.80

128.80 252.30 37.00 29.60 56.00

DLOW 181.50 500.00 50.00 37.10 138.50 67.00 62.70 77.50 164.00 318.20

121.20 247.00 34.00 27.10 52.40

DHIGH

DLOW

203.90 37.00 79.90 54.00 129.00 125.70 145.00 562.00 29.50 7.40

180.90 34.70 76.10 50.30 118.00 113.20 139.00 500.00 27.10 7.00

23.70 40.50 323.50 74.20 173.00

21.00 37.30 318.80 67.30 164.10

AvgPrice 192.68 541.36 51.86 39.03 144.82 71.25 63.85 78.49 168.15 320.62

122.71 249.04 35.97 27.85 53.81

AvgPrice

190.77 35.84 76.90 52.06 125.47 118.73 143.16 532.83 27.86 7.15

23.37 38.76 320.03 71.67 167.68

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

4094.47983

(-) 2.33%

1558.13262

(-) 2.17%

12600.4925

(-) 2.01%

10229.5234

(-) 2.06%

7648.0923

(-) 2.14%

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

Stocks saw steep fall yesterday with the benchmark index, DSEX, suffering biggest single-day fall for the first time in 21 months.

The stock market appeared to be largely reacting to the news of powerful earthquake that hit Nepal, along with the continued worry over the unsettled political unrest at home, analysts say. The DSEX closed at 4,097, tumbling almost 98 points or 2.4% - its lowest level since November 5, 2013 and largest single-day fall since August, 2013.

The Shariah Index DSES dropped 20 points or 2% to 1004.

The comprising blue chips DS30 was down 34 points to 1,621.

Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, closed at 7,648, losing 167 points.

During the session, all the sectors collapsed with non-banking financial institutions losing 4%, life insurance 3.6%, power 3%, banks 2.5% and pharmaceuticals 2.4%.

Telecommunication, cement and food & allied also lost more than 1% each. Some dealers said investors worried about what would happen if a major earthquake hit Bangladesh, accelerating sell-off in the market.

IDLC Investments said in the backdrop of catastrophic earthquake in neighboring country as well as heating up of local political frontier, market started in a demoralised tone.

It said fear of political chaos coupled with free falling index level made investors watch further downside, which ultimately created a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“Getting panicked in such complex situation, investors lashed out, as DSEX observed the biggest fall of the year.”

Lanka Bangla Securities, however, said the selling frenzy that started five days ago continued and the market took another hard hit.

“Investors were very cautious as they were pondering about which direction the market will take after the upcoming city corporation elections.”

Trading activities also witnessed lackluster as the DSE turnover stood at Tk340 crore, which was 9.6% lower over the previous session. l

ANALYST

Getting panicked in such complex situation, investors lashed out, as DSEX observed the biggest fall of the year

DT

20 BUSINESS

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

USAID announces programme to empower workers in Bangladesh n Tribune Report

The file photo shows the Dhaka Stock Exchange building’s entrance doors. DSE along with other organisations held a meeting with the income tax wing of the National of Board of Revenue in the city yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Stock market stakeholders want amendment to income tax law n Tribune Report Stock market stakeholders called for amending income tax law to remove complexities over deduction of tax at source on capital gains of companies and partnership firms.

Currently, custodian banks, merchant banks and financial institutions or trading Right Entitlement Certificate (TREC)-holder companies have to collect information by their own on deduction of tax at source on capital gains from companies and partnership firms through ascertaining profit of the companies.

However, TREC holding companies found it difficult to implement the provisions due to procedural complexities in existing trading practices of the companies and firms.

Representatives from Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC),

BSRM debuts at stock markets today n Tribune Report Share trading of Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills Limited (BSRM) begins today at the stock exchanges.

Its public offer was oversubscribed by more than 20 times. The company received Tk1,232.38 crore against its public offer of Tk61.25 crore.

The Chittagong-based steel maker raised the fund from public using the fixed price method by floating 1.75 crore ordinary shares of Tk35 each, including a premium of Tk25.

Alliance Financial Services will manage the initial public offering, the proceeds of which will be used for BSRM’s ongoing expansion and loan repayment.

The company’s earnings per share, as of December 2013, stood at Tk5.06 and net asset value per share Tk52.09.

BSRM Steels, a unit of BSRM, is already listed on the stock market. Yesterday at the Dhaka Stock Exchange, each BSRM Steels share fell 2.3% to Tk66.4 a share. l

Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), Association of Trading Right Entitlement Certificate (TREC) Holders and Central Depository Bangladesh Limited (CDBL) made the call at a meeting with the income tax wing of the National Board of Revenue in the city yesterday.

The income tax wing of the NBR organised the meeting to discuss its legal provisions on the deduction after it found lack of clarity over implementation of the tax on capital gains.

The NBR in FY2014-15 slapped 10% tax at source on capital gains that custodian banks, merchant banks, financial institutions or TREC-holder companies, but the tax collection remain unimplemented due to unavailability of actual information on net profit of the companies.

The DSE through a recent proposal filed before finance ministry said it is almost impossi-

ble to collect necessary information including realised gain and acquisition costs if linked accounts are maintained in different places.

Currently, about 9,791 companies have Beneficiary Owner’s (BO) account out of 3.2m total BO account holders. Of the number, many companies have more than one BO account with different houses.

“In most of the cases, the companies and the firms maintain either more than one BO account or linked accounts of the original one with different trading houses, which creates difficulties in information collection on realised gain and acquisition cost from different houses,” an official attending the meeting told the Dhaka Tribune.

As of FY2013-14, the companies have to pay capital gain tax at the time of submission of tax return at the year-end on the basis of their declared net profit and gain. l

Japanese firm exempted from VAT on remaking of Bangabandhu film n Tribune Report The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has exempted a Japanese firm from payment of value added tax on remaking of a digital film made on the struggle of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The board, with a special order, recently provided the exemption to the Japanese firm Goto. Inc. on remaking of the 30-minute large format digital film that will be projected at the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theater.

The Japanese company that develops different models of planetarium has been supplying and maintaining the technological equipment of the planetarium at the Novo Theater, officials said.

As per Prime Minister’s observation, the film, which was already developed by the Japanese firm, needed remaking, the NBR order reads.

Finance Division has allocated a total of

Tk4.92 crore for the remaking of the film, but it has not allocated any additional money for the VAT payment.

As the digital film will help young generation and visitors know about the life of Bangabandhu and is considered as an important document from the research perspective, the NBR is making the exemption as per section 14 (1Ka) of Value Added Tax Act 1991, the order signed by NBR first secretary Mohammad Faizur Rahman reads.

Section 14 (1A) of the act deals with giving exemptions to import of product or providing services to different international agreements, memorandums of understanding (MoUs), conventions etc as reciprocal basis.

Bangabandhu Novo Theater director general Arshad Hossain told Dhaka Tribune that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in September last year instructed the authorities to do some re-doing on the film that was prepared earlier by the Japanese firm. l

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced a three-year Worker Empowerment Program in Bangladesh to support labour rights, union organising and women’s empowerment in the ready-made garment sector.

The announcement coincides with the second anniversary of the April 24, 2013 Rana Plaza garment factory collapse in Dhaka that killed over 1,100 workers and injured over 2,500, said a statement of USAID released on Friday in its website.

“USAID Worker Empowerment Program demonstrates the United States’ vigilance in promoting fundamental labor rights, including workplace safety and health, so tragedies such as Rana Plaza can be prevented in the future,” said Jonathan Stivers, USAID assistant administrator for Asia.

“We have partnered with the government of Bangladesh, international donors, and the garment industry to empower workers by giving them a real voice in this vital sector and to reform labor laws consistent with international standards.”

The new Worker Empowerment Programme aims at strengthening the capacity of independent workers’ organisations by empowering the workers in these organisations, and particularly women workers, with the skills and support necessary to protect their rights, promote their interests and improve conditions in their workplace and community.

This program complements the existing Global Labour Programme that trains workers on labour laws, provides legal support to workers and assists workers in organising and registering new unions.

Since inception, this program has registered nearly 300 new labor unions in the ready-made garment industry, covering more than 65,000 workers.

The European Union and the United States, in close cooperation with the ILO, will remain closely engaged with the government of Bangladesh in the spirit of partnership to continue work together to ensure that economic growth and sustainable development go hand-in hand with workers’ safety and rights, read the statement.

Rana Plaza, an eight-storey building located at Savar that housed five RMG factories collapsed on April 24, 2013, killing over 1,135 workers and injuring over 2,500 people.

Following the factory disaster, the workers rights issues came under the spotlight and the global community including Bangladesh government and the sector people have taken steps to ensure workers’ rights in the workplace. l

DT

21

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

T-JUNCTION

Scent-sual Photo: Saudia Afrin

INSIDE

Developmental Disabilities Software collaborates with Smiling Children Special School Therap Services has agreed to collaborate with Smiling Children Special School (SCSS) by signing a MoU to help improve the quality of service that is provided to the students and their special needs.

Through signing this MoU, they’ll be able to maintain extensive documentation, all of which are currently recorded and maintained using a paper based system.

This collaboration is strictly a knowledge sharing arrangement;

there is no financial involvement.

SCSS staff will be able to maintain and update data using a software all in real time. The risk of losing or damaging paper forms is reduced when student records are securely stored on the web. The agreement will also help Therap gain practical knowledge of the intellectual disabilities and special needs industry. This will result in designing a better product suited to the needs of the industry.

22

school survival

Head start

23

make-up

Toss that ish!

24

pointers

Sweet slumber

DT

22 T-JUNCTION

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

Schoologistics

Head start school survival

nPragya Rahman April is here, which means time will soon fly and exams will be knocking on the door even before you know it. So if you start revising now, once the exams start you’ll be less stressed out, more prepared, all geared up and ready to ace all the toughest of questions like a boss.

Smarty-pants ways to study The best way to study is to not study for long hours at a stretch and not study overnight or pull all-nighters, as these make you absorb a great deal of information over a very short period of time and eventually your memory only remembers fragments of the information that you have learnt. It is wisest to study for 45 minutes, three to four times a day.

It is advisable to study in advance before a big test so that you can be prepared.

Procrastination is not an option for you right now, it’s a sin. Think of it like the death penalty right now!

This way, it will be easier for your memory to retain the information that you take in. Your concentration will not be disrupted as your brain will not be strained since it will not be working for hours over time. You will be working for the exact amount you need to and will get to have the desired amount of breaks. Studying is not just reading, it is trying to understand the material that is given to you. If you do not understand it when you read it first, try to break it down into parts. Often times talking to yourself and making yourself understand the material in a simpler manner may help.

Props Making notes on flash cards, spidergrams, venn diagrams, rewriting your notes in coloured pens using at least four to five different colours will surely make studying a lot more fun. This will help boost your memory and make your new notes look really cool. Pat yourself on the back once you’re done writing all your notes and

Photos: Bigstock

A comprehensive guide to ace your exams

when you take a look back at them, you’ll be proud of yourself. Your best friend during revision will be your highlighters and your post-it tabs and notes. Use your post-it tabs to mark specific parts in your book and make tiny notes with a pencil about the importance of that particular line, paragraph, page or quote. You can use your post-it note to make a more in depth analysis of the particular page you’ve chosen, especially if it’s a library book.

Helping hands The Internet is always there to lend you a hand with studies. However relying on the Internet for too much information

may land you in trouble if you don’t know which websites to look at. This is why you should always be in close contact with your teachers and tutors, if there’s anything that’s bothering you, please do not hesitate to ask them. Please remind yourself that it is their job and duty to help you out with anything that you may struggle with and if you’re already starting revision they will be more than happy to help. It may not even be a bad idea to form a study group with friends and share your revision ideas and exchange tips with them. So that at the end of the day you all get the best grades possible. Wishing you all well, good luck! l

news

Creating youth ambassadors to protect intellectual protection nSyeda Samira Sadeque “Do you ever take a rickshaw ride and jump off halfway without paying the rickshaw puller?” Thomas Dougherty, legal advisor at the US Embassy, asked the curious audience. They shook their head to his question.

“No? Why?” he continued. “Because that would be unfair. Someone’s put in a lot of hard work, and they’re not being compensated for it. And that is exactly what you’re doing when you’re downloading music for free.”

Dougherty was speaking at the Volunteer for Intellectual Property (VIP) Camp, which was organised by the Bangladesh Copyright & IP Forum (BCIPF).

They were celebrating World IP Day through this daylong camp on Saturday at the Social Sciences Faculty Building, Dhaka University.

“Although the World IP Day is on April 26, we decided to have our programme on Saturday as it is the weekend and more students would be available,” Barrister ABM Hamidul Misbah, founder of BCIPF, told the Dhaka Tribune.

Out of 400 students who applied, 100 people across Bangladesh were selected to participate in the programme.

Intellectual property is a topic that has become a rising issue, especially in recent years as the Internet has blurred the line

between public and private property. The VIP camp addressed various issues on the protection, rights and preservation of intellectual property, and aimed to educate the Bangladeshi youth on this subject matter.

“We keep hearing about copyright issues, but never quite understand,” said Maliha Binte Mohiuddin, a Dhaka University student participating in the camp. “I want to learn about it.”

“Currently, the biggest void about the discourse of IP in Bangladesh is the lack of awareness,” Misbah told the Dhaka Tribune.

“That is the weakness we are working on,” he said. “We are expecting these students to go out and spread this knowledge. We are building ambassadors.”

At the event, prominent individuals from different sections of society spoke and shared their knowledge of and experience with IP. Mosharraf Hossain, deputy secretary at Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Ahsan Habib, editor of Unmad, Abdullah Arif, professor at Daffodil International University, Minhaz Anwar, entrepreneur, musician Hamin Ahmed and Aminul Rajiv, photographer, were among those who spoke.

Hamin, from the band Miles, spoke of their band’s battle with Bollywood music director Anu Malik over a 2004 plagiarism of their song from a 1997 album, for a

Mahesh Bhatt movie.

“It was the first time a musical entity had sued a film company as big as Mahesh Bhatt,” he said, and went on to explain the importance of raising these issues no matter how big the players are in their fields.

“We had the desired result almost immediately,” he said, “which showed us that the law to address these issues could be there.”

Sabrina Arefin, another student from Dhaka University who was selected to participate in the camp, said she enjoyed Ahsan Habib’s session most.

“He presented on creative thinking, and I learned that whichever sector we are in, creative thinking can be done there. You don’t need to work only in the arts,” she said.

Among the presenters as well as the participants, the common inspiration seemed to be the youth of Bangladesh.

“We work a lot with the youth and young professionals who encounter IP issues, and promote awareness about these issues,” said Misbah. “We covered topics such as how IP can help economic growth, and can play a role in increasing employment.”

Maliha, who studies disaster management, voiced a similar opinion.

“If the youth can become concerned about this issue, we can definitely prevent piracy,” she said. “That’s why it’s important to mobilise the youth in this field.”

The event was supported and sponsored

by Bellissimo Premium Ice Cream, Department of Copyright, Design and Trademark, BASIS Students’ Forum, and the EMK Center. l

T-JUNCTION 23

DT

Tempt

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

make-up

Toss that ish!

Your guide to typical make-up lifespans

n Sabrina Fatma Ahmad Mascara 3-6 months Most experts say you should toss your wand after 3 months, but if you’ve really splurged on one, you can hang on to it as long as 6 months, provided you’re not breaking out into eye infections, and you never, ever share. At the first sign of a stye, drop that brush and go shopping.

Pro tip: If your mascara is starting to go goopy, screw it up tight, and dip the tube in warm water for a few minutes, to warm it up and liquefy.

Eyeliner 1-2 years

Sharpen your kohl pencil regularly, and keep the cap on when you’re not using it. If you find the liner has gotten hard, and snags against the delicate skin of your eyelids, try warming it up a bit before you use, for an intense colour. If that doesn’t improve on the hardness, throw it out.

Liquid liners should be replaced every 3 months since they are notoriously good at picking up germs.

Blushes and Bronzers 3-4 years The same principle as applied to eyeshadow powders and powder foundation, also applies for blushes and bronzers. Store in a cool, dry place, and clean your applicators.

Also, remember to close your compact the whole way before storing away.

Lip care 2-3 years Treat these babies right, and your lipstick, gloss and rouge will love you right back.

Remember to stay away from them when you have cold sores, unless you use a disposable applicator that you never doubledip. Typically, a lipstick that has gone hard should be tossed, but you can melt this down, pour into an old balm pot and re-use as tinted balm.

Nail polish 1-2 years Maximise the shelf life of your nail polish by screwing the cap on tightly after each use. If you see the product separating, it’s probably better to toss. And never, ever use nail polish when you’re suffering from a fungal infection.

Foundation 6 months – 1 year If you’re a cream user, opt for coverage that comes in a bottle with a pump.

Let’s face it, not everyone remembers to sanitise their hands before dipping a finger into a pot, and unless you’re meticulous about cleaning your brushes and sponges, it’s best to stick to a pump that minimises contact. Also, if the product starts to separate, toss it. For powder users, pay attention to the smell and colour of your compact, and – we cannot stress this enough – remember to clean your brushes.

Eyeshadow (powder) 2-4 years Considering our humid climate is a natural breeding ground for bacteria and fungus, store these in a cool, dry place. Clean the brushes regularly, and don’t use immediately after an eye infection. Your shadow palette will thank you, and so will your eyes.

Photos: Bigstock

Say goodbye to skin problems caused by make-up that’s past its expiry date. Here’s how long you can safely use these products.

DT

24 T-JUNCTION

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

Take Care

health

Put that plate down! nPareeza Shehnaaz Khan Yes, we’ve all heard that binge eating before bed is the worst thing you can do to your body if you’re working towards a more svelte silhouette. How many of us break that rule, though? You pause your favourite series on your laptop, saunter over to the fridge and boom! You catch a glimpse of the leftover chicken korma and polau from your khala’s house and can’t stop yourself from setting a heaping plate in your microwave. Put that plate down! Sure, you can snack before hitting the sheets, but watching what you gulp down is what will help you keep your weight in check. Let’s talk about the dos and don’ts of the late night munchies.

The bad boys Eating that wedge of sinful goodness called pizza can seem like a great idea at 2am. It’s easy - you’ll nuke it, inhale it and work it off the next day. Sadly, that’s not always the case. The real issue is that the grease and fat that junk food is made up of is going to put your digestive system in overdrive and make it really hard for you to get a good night’s rest. The same goes for double cheeseburgers, heavy pasta dishes and all the other carb-loaded goodies that just taste so good but do nothing positive for your body.

Eat this instead If you feel like you absolutely cannot do

The most important step is to be armed with a variety of healthy food for when you get the hankering to snack in the wee hours of the night. Otherwise, you'll just reach for whatever's there and we all know that's not always the best bet.

Photo: Bigstock

What not to eat before catching those z’s

without something less fulfilling, turn to whole grain bread. Layer a piece with mustard and a few spoons of tuna or a lean piece of meat. You can even add a bit of cheese as it’s actually good for you when eaten in moderation. You can even make a roll out of the red wheat “ata rooti” with local cheese and a few veggies to calm those cravings.

The instant squad Just because you’re lazy, don’t turn to that speedy cup of noodles in your cabinet to fill that belly. Noodles aside, most instant foods such as canned goods and ready-made meals are chock full of preservatives that will make you feel bloated to the point where you feel like a beached whale and set you up for a night of tossing and turning.

Eat this instead Make yourself a small bowl of puffed rice, doused with a bit of mustard oil. It’s filling and a more natural route to take.

The sweet nothings Ice cream, deshi sweets and sugar-laden cereals won’t do you any favours. Lay off that cake when the clock strikes 12. You definitely don’t need a sugar rush when you need to be getting some shut-eye.

Eat this instead Keep dried fruits like figs and raisins handy.

If the mere thought of that combination appalls you, a bit of peanut butter mixed with some good old dark chocolate will do the trick. l

pointers

Sweet slumber 5 tips to help get better shuteye together

nAmreen Rahaman If you’re not sleeping well with your beau, worry not. Sleep problems among couples are more widespread than you let yourself believe. Truth be told, sleeping with your partner isn’t always the rosiest experience.

You’re probably a late night owl, and he’s an early riser; or perhaps the both of you have your fair share of tossing, turning and even some blanket stealing. Either it’s too cold for you, or too hot for him, the pillows are too hard, the mattress too soft. The list is never ending. Read on to find how you can get a way around it so that the two of you can enjoy a good night’s shuteye.

Snoring If you’re a light sleeper and cannot tolerate snoring, ask your partner to try a few of these tricks.

• Studies show that sleeping on your side helps you snore less. If you find it uncomfortable for way too long, then it’s perhaps time to find a new mattress.

• Use mouth guards that will help open up the airway and reduce snoring.

• Avoid alcohol, caffeine and heavy meals two hours before going to bed.

• Keep your nasal passage clear.

Stolen covers If you want to avoid an argument over who stole the blankets, get two of them.

Although this may not sound like the ideal solution, once you get comfortable and open to the idea of two sheets, this is one trick that will help most with sleep issues.

Rising temperatures Sometimes partners have inverse temperature needs – while one of you enjoy sleeping with the A/C on, the other prefers a light fan and sheets to get through the night.

Again, using two sheets for each of you in bed can help you cope with both of your needs. If it gets too cold, you can always use the extra sheets, while your partner can shed his.

Space issues A study by Sleep to Live Institute used actigraphy to examine the effects of a larger and smaller mattress on a couple’s sleeping patterns. It was shown that couples who used a larger mattress/bed disturbed each other less during the night and were more comfortable. Remember the golden rule when it comes to beds, size does matter.

Photo: Bigstock

Mismatched sleep patterns Couples with alternate sleeping patterns must find a middle ground. You two can try to go to bed earlier in the evening, while the night owl may leave the bed later into the night to return again. If that doesn’t sit well with the two of you, one of you can go to bed earlier than your partner. However, this will only work if neither of you is a light sleeper and don’t mind a bit of sound during the night. l

Mick Schumacher Jnr enhanced the famous name on Sunday by claiming victory in only his third Formula Four race on his debut weekend in the sport

Sport 26

ASLAM CONFIDENT OF TURNAROUND IN LONGER-VERSION

27

ANSAR & VDP CLINCH PIONEER CROWN

(L-R) Imrul Kayes, Shakib al Hasan, Mominul Haque, Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim stretch during a training session in Khulna yesterday

29

25

DT

MAIDEN VICTORY

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

BAYERN WIN TO CLOSE IN ON BUNDESLIGA TITLE

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Tests will not be easy, says Shakib n Minhaz Uddin Khan from Khulna Ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan tagged Bangladesh as the favourites prior to the limited-over leg of the ongoing bilateral home series against Pakistan and his assertion proved to be absolutely correct as the Tigers swept the three-match ODI series and the lone Twenty20 international.

The world’s premier all-rounder in fiveday cricket and T20s, however, painted a realistic picture ahead of the first of two Tests against their subcontinent rival at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, slated for tomorrow.

“I do not think the Test series will be that easy. See, I have to be realistic. I do not think we should have a set target in Test matches.

Having said that, if we are able to maintain our confidence that we had gained from the ODI series then we might be able to put up some good competition,” Shakib told the media yesterday after their first practice session.

Shakib believes the home side’s bowling attack is superior to that of their opponents but said Pakistan boasted some experienced batsmen at their disposal.

“I think our bowling attack is better com-

pared to what they have at the moment. They might be experienced with the bat but the form our batsmen are in at the moment, I hope we will be able to put up a good show. If you compare the two sides, even our fielding is better. So, I hope all of our departments will perform,” added the ODI vice-captain.

Bangladesh have three uncapped players in their Test line-up – batsmen Liton Kumar Das and Soumya Sarkar and paceman Mohammad Shahid – and Shakib expressed his belief that the trio would be able to live upto the expectations of the fans.

“Soumya had a flying start to his ODI ca-

reer. I hope he will hold onto that in the Tests too, if he is given the opportunity. Liton had a very good season in the domestic circuit and deserves his place in the team. It will totally depend on the management to make them play or not but I believe he has the potential to perform for the team. And, I have played with Shahid in the Dhaka Premier Division Cricket League and has seen his potential first-hand. He is a young talent. Although the pacers in our country do not get much purchase from the wicket, I hope he will develop into a better player with proper guidance,” said Shakib.l

DT

26 Sport

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

Aslam confident of turnaround in longer-version n Minhaz Uddin Khan from Khulna Budding Pakistan opener Sami Aslam yesterday said the two Test matches will be a whole new-ball game compared to the limited-over leg of the series and believes they will give a much better account of themselves when they take on Bangladesh in the first five-dayer at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium tomorrow.

Ever since arriving in Bangladesh on April 13, the visitors have experienced a torrid time as they went down to morale-sapping defeats in the lone practice match followed by the three-match ODI series and solitary Twenty20 international. All the three departments of Pakistan – batting, bowling and fielding –

failed on several occasions in the face of some dominant performances from the home side.

Aslam though thinks five-day cricket will be totally different and said Pakistan would have the edge as they are the world’s fourth best Test side according to the International Cricket Council Test rankings. The left-handed batsman added that the arrival of experienced cricketers like Misbah-ul Haq and Younis Khan will boost the visitors, who are low on morale.

“Test is entirely different from ODI and T20 and I am pretty much confident that my team will do better. We are number four in this format and we have a strategy. Misbah and Younis have come into the side so we can win the series,” Aslam told the media.

Aslam is a former Pakistan Under-19 captain and has played a lot of cricket against Bangladesh in the age levels. The occasional right-arm medium-pacer was a part of the Pakistan U-19 team in the 2012 ICC U-19 World Cup in Australia. In the following edition two years later in the United Arab Emirates, he successfully captained the side to the final.

The 19-year old was duly rewarded for his impressive performances as he was selected in the starting XI for the third ODI against Bangladesh last Wednesday. And, the youngster did not disappoint as he made 45 off 50 balls and added 91 runs for the opening wicket alongside ODI captain Azhar Ali. “Playing international cricket in the U-19 level was good and the exposure helps you as you come into the top-level of international level. I am working hard and if given an opportunity, I am very much confident that I will play a vital role in the Test series,” said Aslam. l

MESSI LOOK-ALIKE?

Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah bowls in the nets under the watchful eyes of spin-bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed and head coach Waqar Younis in Khulna yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Decorated Khulna all ready for first Test n Hedait Hossain, Khulna

The south-western city of Khulna has worn a decorated look ahead of the first of two Test matches between Bangladesh and Pakistan at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium, slated for tomorrow. Different points of the city have been adorned with colours and lightings and all necessary steps have been taken to prevent any untoward incident. The arrival of the two teams last Saturday night took the excitement to a new level.

The Khulna-Jessore link road, Mujgunni,

Boara, Nurunnagar, Joragate, New Market, Shibbari, Dak Bangla Circle and several other intersections of the city have been decorated with posters and lightings.

The SANS, which last hosted a Test match Galleries Eastern Stand Western Stand Club House Int’l Stand Grand Stand

Ticket Prices Tk 20 Tk 50 Tk 75 Tk 100 Tk 300

in November last year, has been renovated.

The broken chairs in the stands have been replaced with new ones while the giant screen is in tip-top shape. The Manjural Islam Rana stand has also been upgraded.

“The venue is ready to host the Test match. Both the teams had their first practice sessions today (yesterday) and are pleased with the arrangements so far. Now we are waiting for the first ball of the five-day game to be bowled. We hope the 11,000 seats will be filled during the game,” said SANS venue manager Abdus Salam.

Tickets of the first Test match will go on sale from today. Two United Commercial Bank Limited branches - Helatola Road and Khan Jahan Ali Road - in the city of Khulna will distribute the tickets.

UCB vice president and chief of Khulna branch, Mohammad Moslehuddin, said, “We will start selling tickets from April 27 (today).

The interested ones can collect the tickets from the two dedicated branches. We have planned to sell at least 8,000 tickets from the two branches. One person will be able to buy a maximum of two tickets.” l

DT

Sport 27

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

Ansar & VDP clinch Pioneer crown n Shishir Hoque

QUICK BYTES Skipper Ramdin confident Holder will recover West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin said he was hopeful that all-rounder Jason Holder will be fit for the third and final Test against England in Barbados on Friday. Holder fell badly in his delivery stride, turning his left ankle, as West Indies slumped to a nine-wicket defeat to the tourists on Saturday. Although the promising Bajan was stretchered off the field, evidently in some pain, Ramdin said the initial analysis was that the injury was not as bad as it seemed.

–Reuters

Auckland land Oceania title Auckland City maintained their iron grip on the Oceania Champions League by winning their fifth consecutive title after edging Team Wellington 4-3 on penalties on Sunday to book another spot at the lucrative FIFA Club World Cup. Auckland looked to be cruising to a seventh continental crown when Portuguese forward Joao Moreira slipped a 14th minute penalty under Wellington goalkeeper Michael O’Keeffe to put the favourites ahead in Suva, Fiji.

–Reuters

Wu secures landmark win Wu Ashun became the first Chinese golfer to win a European Tour title on home soil by claiming his national open by one shot on Sunday after Englishman David Howell faltered on the last. Howell needed a birdie on the par-five 18th for victory but sent his lengthy first putt from off the green seven feet past the hole and his par attempt missed tamely on the low side to hand Wu the China Open title in front of a delighted gallery.

–Reuters

Watford promoted to EPL in dramatic style

Watford clinched promotion to the Premier League in dramatic fashion as their rivals slipped up in the final seconds on Saturday. Slavisa Jokanovic’s side had moved to the brink of reaching the topflight with a 2-0 win at Brighton earlier in the day.But fourth-placed Norwich conceded an equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Rotherham and third-placed Middlesbrough slumped to a 4-3 defeat at Fulham after conceding a last-minute goal.

–AFP

Westwood makes it an Indonesian hat-trick

Briton Lee Westwood made it an Indonesian Masters hat-trick by winning the Asian Tour title on Sunday but only after surviving a playoff with Thai Chapchai Nirat after blowing a five-shot lead. The former world number one, winner of the event on his two previous appearances in 2011 and 2012, could only muster a final round of one-over-par 73 and seven-under total of 281 after letting slip the healthy overnight advantage.

–Reuters

England pacer James Anderson (C) celebrates with captain Alastair Cook (L) after the dismissal of West Indies batsman Jason Holder during their final day of the second Test in Saint George’s on Saturday AFP

Bangladesh Ansar and VDP came from behind to seal the title of the Dhaka North and South City Corporation Pioneer Football League, beating Tangail Football Academy 3-2 in the final at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Jewel, who netted a total of 22 goals in the tournament, grabbed the winning goal to ensure Ansar’s title in their debut season.

Tangail, however, began the game brightly and dominated the first half but lost their concentration in the final half an hour as Ansar strode to victory.

Tangail striker Arif put his side ahead in the 53rd minute before Joy Chandra Barman doubled the lead just five minutes later.

Ansar forward Shamim Shahed reduced the arrears in the 66th minute from a freekick while midfielder Borhan brought parity 12 minutes from the final whistle, courtesy of a fine chipped finish over the onrushing goalkeeper.

The final laugh belonged to Ansar as striker Jewel secured victory in the 89th minute, leaving the hard-working Tangail boys in despair. Jewel was adjudged the player-of-thefinal for his winning goal and an assist.

Meanwhile in the day’s third-place deciding match, Fakirapool Surjo Tarun Sangha edged past Bangladesh Football Supporters Forum 1-0 and qualified for the third-tier along with the champions and runners-up side.l

Cook hails outstanding Anderson BRIEF SCORE England 1st Inninngs: 464 all out (Root 182*, Ballance 77, Cook 76, Trott 59, Bishoo 4-177) 2nd Innings: 144 for 1 (Ballance 81*, Cook 59*)

West Indies 1st Innings: 299 all out (Samuels 103, Broad 4-61) 2nd Innings: 307 (Brathwaite 116, Bravo 69, Anderson 4-43) England won by nine wickets

n Reuters, St George’s England captain Alastair Cook gave the credit for Saturday’s second-Test win over West Indies to James Anderson after the seam bowler’s blistering spell in the morning transformed the game.

A draw looked the likeliest outcome when play resumed on the fifth and final day but Anderson removed three West Indies batsmen with the second new ball, including Kraigg Brathwaite for 116, as his team claimed six wickets before lunch.

“The new ball was really crucial. It was all

about trying to put the ball in the right areas and credit Jimmy, what an outstanding spell that was,” said Cook who ended unbeaten on 59 as England reached their target of 143.

“I can’t fault the lads, it was a tough wicket to get any kind of result, slow and flat. To get 20 wickets the way we did was a great effort, down to attitude, character and a lot of skill,” he added after England went 1-0 up in the series.

“You can always improve on a performance but the lads were brilliant. The wickets have been slow and hard to force a result on but we’ve put in a lot of hard work and got our reward today.”l

Gladiators claim Citycell Basketball crown

n Shishir Hoque Dhaka Gladiators clinched the Citycell Federation Cup Basketball Championship 2015 following their 92-66 points victory over Dhumketu Club in the final at Dhanmondi Indoor Basketball Gymnasium yesterday.

Soyab continued his fine form in the tournament as he caged 23 points despite not being fully fit while Shadis netted 22 points.

Tarek scored highest 46 points for the losing side and was later adjudged the player of the final. The Dhumketu star caged a total of 110 points in the tournament.

The Gladiators defeated the same opponents in the group stage and victorious captain Shawon admitted that the win gave them confidence for the final.l

Dhaka Gladiators pose with the Citycell Federation Cup Basketball Championship 2015 trophy at Dhanmondi Indoor Basketball Gymnasium yesterday COURTESY

DT

28 Sport

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

Everton win leaves Man Utd feeling jittery League leaders Chelsea held by Arsenal n AFP, London

Manchester United’s Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea reacts after letting in an Everton goal during their EPL match at Goodison Park in Liverpool yesterday AFP

Arsenal missed the chance to halt Chelsea’s march towards the Premier League title with a disappointing 0-0 draw at home to the runaway leaders at The Emirates on Sunday.

In a London derby with few clear chances, Chelsea produced a typically organised display to frustrate the hosts and preserve their 10-point lead at the top with five games left.

Jose Mourinho’s side have 77 points and a win over Leicester City in midweek would leave them all but certain of their first league title since 2010. Second-placed Manchester City have 67, having played a game more, level with Arsenal in third.

While Chelsea strengthened their hold on first place, Manchester United’s top four aspirations suffered a setback as Louis van Gaal’s side were beaten 3-0 by clinical Everton.

First-half goals from James McCarthy and John Stones put the hosts in control and substitute Kevin Mirallas sealed victory late on to push Everton into the top half of the table for the first time this season.

Fourth-placed United enjoyed 65 percent of possession but lacked any real cutting edge with striker Radamel Falcao’s frustration complete when he had a well-taken effort dis-

Torino beat Juve for first time in 20 years n Reuters, Milan

Torino came from behind to beat Serie A leaders Juventus 2-1 in a pulsating derby on Sunday and prevail over their more glamorous neighbours for the first time in 20 years.

Juventus looked set to continue their 17-match unbeaten run in the fixture when Andrea Pirlo put the visitors ahead with a typically majestic free kick in the 35th minute.

But Matteo Darmian levelled for Torino on the stroke of halftime and Fabio Quagliarella scored the winner against his former club in the 57th minute, just after Pirlo had struck the post from another free kick.

However, second-placed Lazio failed to take advantage as they were held to a 1-1 draw at home to lowly Chievo, leaving them 14 points adrift of league leaders Juventus with only six games left.

Earlier on Saturday, Inter Milan’s Mauro Icardi scored with two minutes remaining to hand them a 2-1 win over AS Roma in Serie A on Saturday, while AC Milan’s slim hopes of playing in Europe next season were dented in a 2-1 defeat to Udinese.

Inter took a 15th-minute lead as Brazilian Hernanes was given too much space and drilled home a left-footed shot, but Roma levelled when Radja Nainggolan was teed up by Miralem

Pjanic to fire in 18 minutes after the restart.

With both sides looking for the winner in the closing stages, it was the home side that came out on top.

The result left second-place Roma on 58 points, level with Lazio, but crucially just five clear of Napoli in the battle to secure a topthree spot and a Champions League qualifying place.

In the day’s early kickoff, second-half goals

by Giampiero Pinzi and Emmanuel Badu handed Udinese victory over AC Milan.

Milan are 10th with 43 points and six games to go. Udinese are 12th with 38 points from 32 games. l

No Euro hangover as PSG hit Lille for six RESULTS

6-1

PSG Maxwell 1, Cavani 4, 73-P, Lavezzi 29, 44, 77

Bordeaux

1-1 2-1

Nice Bautheac 23

1-1

Regattin 23

Caen

Metz Sassi 27

Prcic 47, Konradsen 90

Toulouse

Lille Basa 59

Khazri 83

Rennes

n AFP, Paris

Nantes Bedoya 89

0-2

Guingamp Beauvue 50, Marveaux 66

Evian Sunu 43

1-2

Bastia Kamano 59, 86

Paris Saint-Germain quickly got back on track after their Champions League loss to Barcelona as Ezequiel Lavezzi netted a hat-trick in a resounding 6-1 win over Lille at the Parc des Princes on Saturday.

With leading scorer Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended, Maxwell opened the scoring inside the first minute, Edinson Cavani netted twice and Argentine forward Lavezzi got the first hat-trick of his Ligue 1 career to hand the capital club their biggest league win since April 2012.

The win moved them three points clear of Lyon at the top of the table before OL face Reims on Sunday.

With Lille having won six of their previous seven matches to move into contention for European qualification, this looked likely to be PSG’s toughest remaining fixture as they battle it out for the title with Lyon.

However, the northern club’s normally watertight defence crumbled as they fell to their biggest top-flight defeat since a 6-1 hammering at Monaco in April 1985.

But for PSG it was the perfect response after what was ultimately a rather meek Champions League quarter-final loss at the hands of a far superior Barcelona side.

“After the disappointment of our elimination we needed to focus on the league again, that was the aim of our preparation over the last three days,” said coach Laurent Blanc.l

allowed for offside.

United’s defeat, following last week’s loss to Chelsea, leaves them still a comfortable seven points above fifth-placed Liverpool although that gap could be sliced to four if the latter win their game in hand at Hull City on Tuesday.

RESULTS Everton

3-0

Manchester United

0-0

Chelsea

McCarthy 5, Stones 35, Mirallas 74

Arsenal

Everton made a mockery of the Premier League table as they beat Manchester United 3-0 in fine style at Goodison Park on Sunday – their third straight home win over the Red Devils in as many seasons. Had United won on Merseyside, they would have climbed into second place.

But this defeat, left Louis van Gaal’s side fourth in the table with four matches to play as goals from James McCarthy, John Stones and Kevin Mirallas saw Everton rise into 10th place.

Only the top three teams in the Premier League at the end of the season gain direct entry into the first round of the Champions League, with the side finishing fourth facing the unwanted prospect of a qualifying round. l

RESULTS Atalanta

2-2

Gomez 43, Denis 90+3

Genoa

3-1

Bertolacci 38, Perotti 45+3-P, Pavoletti 53

Lazio

1-1

Klose 45+1

Torino

Cesena Carbonero 69

Chievo Paloschi 76

2-1

Darmian 45, Quagliarella 57

Parma

Empoli Saponara 41, Maccarone 60

1-0

Juventus Pirlo 35

Palermo

Nocerino 22-P

Verona Juanito Gomez 30, Toni 63, 71

3-2

Sassuolo Moras 35-og, Floro Flores 89

DT

Sport 29

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

Lacklustre Bayern win to close in on title n Reuters, Berlin

Bayern Munich’s Bastian Schweinsteiger celebrates after scoring the all-important goal against Hertha Berlin during their Bundesliga match in Munich on Saturday REUTERS

Bayern Munich scraped past Hertha Berlin 1-0 on Saturday thanks to a late goal from Bastian Schweinsteiger and the Bundesliga title will belong to the Bavarians if VfL Wolfsburg fail to win on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola’s league leaders are 15 points clear with four matches left and will celebrate their third successive domestic crown if second-placed Wolfsburg cannot manage a victory at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday.

Guardiola rested several players who helped crush Porto 6-1 in midweek to advance to the Champions League semi-finals.

Treble-chasing Bayern had Schweinsteiger fit again and Spaniard Javi Martinez back on the bench for the first time since tearing knee ligaments last year but never hit top form against the battling Berliners.

A fine run from Mitchell Weiser ended with him cutting the ball back for Schweinsteiger to score the only goal 10 minutes from time.

Borussia Dortmund winger Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang converted an audacious penalty and set up another goal in a 2-0 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt that kept their Europa League hopes alive.

The Gabon international chipped a 24th-minute penalty down the middle of the goal as keeper Kevin Trapp dived too early.

Aubameyang then charged down the wing and crossed for Shinji Kagawa to score the second goal as Dortmund, last season’s runners-up, moved up to eighth on 39 points, three behind sixth-placed Augsburg.

The top six qualify for European competition, or the top seven if Bayern or Wolfsburg win the German Cup.l

RESULTS Borussia Dortmund

2-0

Eintracht Frankfurt

Aubameyang 24-P, Kagawa 32

Hanover 96

1-2

Stindl 24

VfB Stuttgart

2-2

Ginzcek 24, Harnik 27

Hamburg

3-2

Augsburg Bobadilla 25, Werner 69

1-1

Finne 83

Bayern Munich

Freiburg Petersen 58-P, 85

Olic 11, Lasogga 19, 71

Cologne

Hoffenheim Modeste 2, Schipplock 83

Bayer Leverkusen Brandt 60

1-0

Hertha Berlin

Schweinsteiger 80

Langerak to face Bayern in cup semi n AFP, Berlin

Kerber shocks Wozniacki in Stuttgart final

Chelsea dominate PFA team of the year n AFP, London

Australia goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak will face holders Bayern Munich for Borussia Dortmund in Tuesday’s mouth-watering German Cup semi-final with Germany international Roman Weidenfeller ruled out.

A pelvis injury to World Cup-winner Weidenfeller means Langerak will keep his place in Dortmund’s goal for the clash at Munich’s Allianz Arena having played in Saturday’s 2-0 league win at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.

The Munich showdown will be a repeat of both the 2012 and 2014 German Cup finals in Berlin when Dortmund routed Bayern 5-2 three years ago, when Langerak came off the bench early on after a Weidenfeller injury.

Pep Guardiola’s Bayern took revenge with a 2-0 extra-time victory in Berlin last year.l

n AFP, Stuttgart

Chelsea dominated the team of the year announced Sunday by Professional Footballers’ Association, with six players from the Premier League champions-elect in the side voted for by their fellow pros in England.

Jose Mourinho’s side, who face London rivals Arsenal later on Sunday, are well clear at the top of the table and on the brink of bringing the English title back to Stamford Bridge for the first time since 2010.

Eden Hazard, one of the nominees for the PFA’s player of the year award, was in midfield along with Chelsea team-mate Nemanja Matic, while star striker Diego Costa, who has scored 19 goals in the Premier League so far this season, was selected up front.

Blues captain John Terry and centre-back partner Gary Cahill were at the heart of the PFA team’s defence, with full-back Branislav Ivanovic also included.

Manchester United’s David de Gea was in goal for the PFA side, while the midfield also featured Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho and Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez.

Meanwhile Tottenham Hotspur and England rising star Harry Kane was chosen to partner Costa in attack. l

Germany’s Angelique Kerber extended her winning streak to 11 matches with a three-sets win over Caroline Wozniacki to win Stuttgart’s WTA tournament in Sunday’s final.

Having knocked out previous champion Maria Sharapova in the second round, Kerber recovered from losing the first set to earn a 3-6, 6-1, 7-5 victory over former world number one Wozniacki. Since winning the Charleston tournament a fortnight ago, Kerber carried her impressive form onto Stuttgart’s clay courts.

Her win over Sharapova was the first time the Russian had tasted defeat in Stuttgart in her fourth tournament here.

The first set of Sunday’s final was all Wozniacki, who broke Kerber in the fourth game then held her serve to take a 4-1 lead before the set was eventually served out.

The German rallied to control the second, blasting her way out to a 3-0 lead before breaking the former world number one in the sixth game for a 5-1 lead to serve out the set.

Both players traded breaks in the third before Wozniacki looked to be heading for her second tournament victory of 2015 at 5-3.

But Kerber made her shots count and with the Dane under immense pressure on the base line, Wozniacki was broken in the ninth and 11th games to give the German victory in just over two hours.l

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 2 Spanish La Liga 12:40 AM Valencia CF v Granada CF

Ten Action

PFA TEAM OF THE YEAR

Sky Bet Championship 12:45 AM Bournemouth v Bolton Wanderers

Sony Six Indian Premier League 8:30PM Punjab v Hyderabad

Angelique Kerber (L) and Caroline Wozniacki pose next to the winner’s prize, a Porsche 911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, after the final of the WTA Tennis Grand Prix in Stuttgart yesterday AFP

David de Gea (Manchester United); Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Branislav Ivanovic (Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea), Gary Cahill (Chelsea); Eden Hazard (Chelsea), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Nemanja Matic (Chelsea), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal); Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Diego Costa (Chelsea)

DT

30 DOWNTIME

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Believe (6) 5 School of whales (3) 7 Soak (3) 8 English river (6) 11 Do wrong (3) 12 Sends out (5) 14 Prophet (4) 16 Famous (5) 18 Not pretty (5) 20 Swelling (4) 21 Halts (5) 23 Decay (3) 24 Journeyed for pleasure (6) 27 Metal-bearing rock (3) 28 Corn spike (3) 29 Gage (6)

DOWN 1 Incision (3) 2 Period of time (3) 3 Negative quality (7) 4 Article (4) 5 Quickly (mus) (6) 6 Mock (6) 9 Part of a shoe (4) 10 Wrongdoing (3) 13 Shaving the head (7) 14 Scanty (6) 15 Christian festival (6) 17 Border (4) 19 Expressing negation (3) 22 Game of skull (4) 25 Colour (3) 26 Female deer (3)

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 15 represents V so fill V every time the figure 15 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

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU 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

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

new release

Dreek drops debut album

CELEBS ON SOCIAL

Because I’m happy

Actress Najnin Akter Happy had her time in the limelight and has now almost become a household name after the fiasco with Bangladeshi cricketer Rubel.

The recent consecutive earthquakes may literally have had us all shook up, but she had a different view on the matter, as you can see from what she posted on her Facebook page. In translation, it basically says, “Wow! There was an earthquake just now, I’m sure. I feel really good because I didn’t miss this one.”

We have no comments on this one as we’re speechless at the moment.

n Showtime Desk Hard rock band Dreek has enthralled audiences at gigs since their emergence in the Djuice Drockstars and have made their presence felt on the radio, as well as live TV shows numerous times, but the band’s first album finally came out last Friday.

The launch, which was held on April 24th, at the Russian Cultural Centre,

soundbytes

n Showtime Desk And the award goes to...

Pete Townshend from the classic band, The Who is all set to receive the 2015 Stevie Ray Vaughan Award. Townshend was chosen because of his support and dedication to the MusiCares MAP Fund’s addiction recovery programs. Bruce Springsteen will do the honours when it comes to presenting the award.

A parting gift

We already knew that Chris Martin of Coldplay and actress, Gweneth Paltrow had “consciously uncoupled” last March.

What many didn’t know however, is that their divorce is now final and Martin had quite the parting gift for Paltrow. He presented her with handwritten songs about her. These songs will be worth a whole lot in the future and Martin wanted his children and ex wife to have them. How sweet is that?

featured live performances from several leading bands of the country including Powersurge, Arbovirus, Mechanix and Radioactive. Hamin Ahmed, the president of BAMBA and the guitarist of Miles unveiled the album.

The album comprises a total of 9 tracks.

Three of these, “Tarunner Michile”, “Notun Alo” and “Golok Dhadhaye,” were released on Radio Foorti last year.

The songs of the album can be downloaded free of cost from www.dreek. co, while a collectors’ edition will be available at themallbd.com. The members of Dreek announced, a portion of the funds raised through album sales will be used as a donation for the welfare of autistic children. themallbd.com is the title sponsor of the album, while the album launch was partnered by Maker Events.l

Karan Johar @karanjohar Devastating visuals of destruction in Nepal....thoughts, prayers and all protective energies for this tragic loss of life......

Ed Sheeran @edsheeran Shaving makes me go from 24 to 12 real quick

Ellie Goulding @elliegoulding Nothing like a 3 mile night time speed run in LA’s Art District...

playlist

Turn it up n Showtime Desk

This week, we bring you Jamshed Chowdhury, the front man of Powersurge, a band that has rocked stages and delighted masses of metal fans. What we wanted to know was what the man who is also the PR Director at Qinetic Music is listening to in his free time.

1. Beat It-Michael Jackson The first ever English song that I ever heard, courtesy of my sister and yes, it had to be Michael Jackson.

2. November Rain-Guns n roses The lyrics, the whole composition and obviously that bold solo by Slash. Let’s not forget the video.

3. Master of Puppets-Metallica The whole concept behind the lyrics and the structuring of the song. Amazing and aggressive riff lines.

4. Under the bridge – Red hot chili peppers Amazing composition and lyrics. I could heavily attach with the lyrics.

5. And Justice for all- Metallica The song is one of the best metal songs that I’ve ever heard. The whole album is a master piece

WHAT TO WATCH TELEVISION

6. Iron Maiden-Fear Of the Dark The best chorus line ever. And its Maiden!

What’s unfair is that I only get to choose 10 songs.

7. Dead Embryonic Cells-Sepultura One of the best thrash metal songs of all time. I feel like breaking everything apart.

8. Odekha Shorgo-Artcell The first ever Bangla metal song that made me go nuts and makes me feel alive.

9. Oshamajik-Warfaze Best metal song from the Bangladeshi music industry 10. Ohom-The Watson Brothers The lyrics, tune and the soul of the song is something that made me fall in love with it from the word go. l

Bollywood Bang Bang B B4U Music 2:30pm Catch your favourite Bollywood stars like Akshay Kumar and Katrina Kaif in their hit music videos Vh1 Music Diaries B Vh1 3:30pm The one and only TV show about India’s international and independent music scene.

MTV Select B MTV 5:00pm A daily, phone-in music show, featuring all the latest music and celebrity guests.

DT

32 BACK PAGE

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2015

ALL DONE BAR THE VOTING PAGE 14

REMITTANCE FROM GULF COUNTRIES REBOUNDS PAGE 15

TESTS WILL NOT BE EASY, SAYS SHAKIB PAGE 25

Bangladesh not ready for the big one n Abu Bakar Siddique Bangladesh is neither ready for a major earthquake nor a major man-made disaster, disaster management expert Professor Mahbuba Nasreen told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“The public just does not know what to do in an emergency,” she said.

Saturday’s severe earthquake left at least three dead in three districts in Bangladesh, with one dying when a mud wall collapsed and two collapsing in panic during the tremor.

At its epicentre in neighbouring Nepal, the quake measured 7.8 on the Richter scale, according to the US Geological Survey.

Many more were injured while evacuating

their offices and houses in both the country’s cities and rural areas.

Professor Mahbuba said the deaths and injuries were mostly the result of panic and ignorance.

Causalities could be avoided if people were aware about what to do in the event of an earthquake, she added.

During earthquakes, people should remain calm and position themselves beneath beams and evacuate buildings or dwellings after the shock waves subside.

Besides not having adequate preparation, the country does not know how to reduce damages during natural disasters, she said.

Citing the Rana Plaza disaster of 2013, she said the government took several days to

complete the rescue operation and remove debris from the disaster site.

According to Bangladesh Meteorological Department records, the last major earthquake – with a magnitude of 8.5 on the Richter scale – hit the region in 1950. Its epicentre was in Assam, India.

In 1918, a major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 hit the region, which its epicentre in Srimangal, Bangladesh.

Professor Mahbuba said public awareness campaigns were needed to prepare the public to cope with such situations.

But she added that the government has included awareness-building lessons on earthquakes in primary schools since 2013.

The director general of the department of

disaster management, Dr Abdul Wajed, said the country has paid more attention to facing disasters than preventing them.

The government is improving its capacity to handle such disasters by procuring tools and equipment to run rescue operations.

It aims to make some 62,000 volunteers ready to work as rescuers. Some 24,000 volunteers have been trained so far.

Mandatory building codes are in place to avoid large-scale structural failures during such events, he added.

But Professor Mahbuba said procuring equipment is just part of the solution. Ensuring adequate roads and paths to operate rescue equipment, especially in crowded cities like Dhaka, is equally important. l

Earthquake preparedness 101 n Tribune Desk BEFORE l Identifying potential hazards ahead of time can l

l l l l

After another earthquake jolts Dhaka, a six-storey building of Wega Apparels Ltd (right) tilts to its left causing its workers to panic and rush out of the building yesterday RAJIB DHAR

l l

save lives.

Repair plaster cracks in ceilings and foundations.

Anchor overhead lighting fixtures and fans to the ceiling.

Place large or heavy objects on lower shelves.

Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky gas connections.

Identify interior columns and beams, which can serve as safe zones.

Keep a flashlight, a portable battery-operated radio and extra batteries on hand.

Hang emergency telephone numbers in a suitable place in your house.

In case family members are separated – because adults go to work and children go at school – select a well-known meeting place to reunite.

Business as usual at tremor-tilt towers, despite Rajuk ban

DURING

n Shohel Mamun

If indoors

Rajuk has identified several multi-storey buildings in the Bangshal and Banani areas of the capital which may have tilted as a result of Saturday’s tremor.

No casualties were reported, said Rajuk, but office workers forced to continue going to work in risky buildings, said they were anxious about their safety.

The Dhaka Tribune yesterday found a six-storey commercial building in Bangshal tilted to one side.

Bangshal police outpost In-Charge Abdul Kuddus said: “The building is tilting towards the adjoining building. The police evacuated and locked the building in the presence of Rajuk.”

Shah Alam Chawdhury, director of Rajuk Zone 5 who visited the building on Saturday, said the building was not authorised by Ra-

juk, adding that legal action would be taken.

Abdul Gafur, the owner of the building, declined to comment to the Dhaka Tribune.

Meanwhile, 24-storey Ahmed Tower and FR Tower, both on Banani’s Kamal Ataturk Avenue appear to have tilted towards each other.

Security guards Rafik and Azad of Ahmed Tower said officials of Rajuk, fire service and the police visited the buildings on Saturday.

They quoted Rajuk officials as saying that an examination is needed to determine whether the buildings have tilted.

Rajuk posted a notice on the side of the building banning the use of the building for three days; but the owners and tenants continue to use it flouting the ban.

SMHI Faruk, the owner of FR Tower, denied getting any notice from Rajuk, while Ahmed Tower owner Ahammadur Rahman refused to comment. l

l Be aware that some earthquakes are actually

foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur.

l Stay away from glass, windows and anything

that could fall. Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall.

l In that case, move to the nearest safe place. l Do not use the elevators.

If outdoors l Stay there. Move away from buildings, street

lights and utility wires.

If in a moving vehicle l Stop and stay in the vehicle. l Avoid under trees, overpasses and utility wires.

If trapped under debris l Do not light a match. Do not move about or kick

up dust.

l Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. l Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing. l Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as

a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

AFTER l Check yourself for injuries. After you have taken

care of yourself, help injured or trapped persons.

l Don’t try to move seriously injured people unless

they are in immediate danger of further injury.

l Clean up spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline or

other flammable liquids immediately.

l Open closet and cabinet doors cautiously. l Inspect your home for damage. If your home has experienced damage, get out. l

BIGSTOCK

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com