May 3, 2015

SECOND EDITION

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

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Boishakh 20, 1421, Rajab 13, 1436

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 21

UN: RELIEF GOODS FOR NEPAL HELD UP AT CUSTOMS PAGE 8

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Tigers top the world Tamim and Imrul rewrite record books with historic 312-run partnership n Minhaz Uddin Khan from Khulna Hopes were minute. The Tigers were staring at yet another innings defeat. Sensing the negative vibe, the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium crowd started growing thin with each passing day of the first Test between Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The hosts, in the meantime, were left frustrated, stranded and helpless heading into their second innings on the fourth and penultimate day’s play last Friday. The visitors had posted a gigantic 628-allout in their first innings to take a huge 296-run lead. The home side needed to survive most of the remaining five sessions to draw the Test, a commendable result given Bangladesh’s track-record against Pakistan. In eight previous Tests against their subcontinent rival, the Tigers had lost all of them.

Openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes began the recovery act. Considered one of Bangladesh’s most successful pairs in Test cricket, the opening-wicket stand bravely saw off three sessions and created a host of records on their way to a majestic 312-run association.

Riding on the openers’ exploits, the Tigers drew the five-dayer after being under the cosh for the majority of the Test match.

The cricketing fraternity watched in amazement as Tamim and Imrul made a mockery of the Pakistan bowlers. The likes of Wahab Riaz, Junaid Khan and Zulfiqar Babar were made to look pedestrian as the Bangladesh openers broke a record that had stood for 55 years.

In 1960, England duo Colin Cowdrey and Geoff Pullar had put on 290 runs for the opening wicket against South Africa in the second innings. Yesterday, Tamim and Imrul went past the record and registered the highest ever opening partnership in the second innings.

Another English opening pair were also left to curse their luck. In 2004, Marcus Trescothick and Andrew Strauss added 273 runs against South Africa to become the most successful left-handed opening pair in Tests. Tamim-Imrul’s 312-run stand broke that record too.

Ever since his international debut in 2007, Tamim batted with 13 different partners for the opening wicket. Imrul’s arrival changed all that. Now, not only does Bangladesh have a stable opening pair but they also boast one of their most prosperous partnerships in fiveday cricket.

The left-arm pair might mean business every time they go out to bat in the middle but Imrul informed that they take the mickey out of each other more often than not.

“We share a very funny relationship. Serious discussions are very rare among us. Most of the time you will notice Tamim taunting me for something or the other,” Imrul told the media after the end of the game.

“I do not know why but we work extremely well when we go to the middle. We have been playing with each other, especially in international level, for a while now. I know very well how Tamim deals with himself in the middle.

He does the same for me,” said Imrul. l

A hawk-eyed Tamim Iqbal fixes his gaze at an incoming ball and readies himself for another master stroke during his outstanding double century on the fifth day in the second innings of the first test match between Bangladesh and Pakistan in Khulna yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Bangladeshis believed to be among dead at Thai ‘migrant prison camp’ grave n Tribune Report A mass grave deep in the forests of Thailand on the Thai-Malay border, might be the last resting place of Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants seeking a better life.

A lone survivor of what was believed to be a prison camp for illegal migrants was found near the grave site is believed to be a Bangladeshi national, AFP reported.

Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand Sai-

PAGE 3 PM to inaugurate 6 power projects

da Muna Tasneem yesterday told the Dhaka Tribune the individual’s nationality had not been confirmed.

“We have to wait until Monday to get consular access to interview the survivor in order to determine his nationality. Thailand is observing a holiday until Sunday.

“The Thai authorities have confirmed to me that the survivor is now receiving treatment at a protection centre for illegal migrants and that he is out of danger,” she said.

PAGE 4 Khaleda-Sherman discuss city polls

Joy says ‘Joy Bangla’ is for all Bangladeshis n Tribune Report

Authorities in Thailand uncovered a mass grave in an abandoned jungle camp on Friday believed to contain the remains of migrants from Myanmar and Bangladesh, a grisly find in a region notorious for people-smuggling routes, AFP reported yesterday.

“There are 32 graves, four bodies have now been exhumed and are on their way...to hospital for an autopsy,” Sathit Thamsuwan, a rescue worker who was at the scene soon

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy yesterday said “Joy Bangla” is not only the slogan of the Awami League, it is the slogan of our Liberation War, it is the slogan of Bangladesh.

“Joy Bangla slogan indicates the victory for the people [of Bangladesh]. Bangladesh is moving forward. And it is the youths who will take Bangladesh further ahead. My Joy Bangla is building a Digital Bangladesh. We have been able to implement this vision very

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PAGE 6 May Day observed across the country

PAGE 7 Illegal logging rampant in Bandarban

PAGE 9 Dozens tried for mob killing of Afghan woman

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

PM: BNP-Jamaat probably plotted to kill people on polls day n UNB Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said BNP-Jamaat alliance might have had a plot to kill people during the city corporation elections as they did during their 92-day blockade and hartals.

She came up with the observations while exchanging greetings with Buddhist religious leaders and distinguished persons of the community on the occasion of the Buddha Purnima at her official residence Ganabhaban. The programme was arranged by Buddhists Religious Welfare Trust.

Hasina, also the Awami League president, said the BNP-Jamaat alliance could not materialise its evil design as the law-enforcement agencies were active and on sharp vigil alongside the mass people.

“Killing people is their (BNP-Jamaat) movement…all of a sudden they boycott the city corporation elections, they might have had some evil intentions, but could not materialise that as the mass people and law enforcement agencies were on sharp vigil,” she said.

The Awami League chief also alleged that the BNP might have planned to withdraw from the city corporation elections after killing some more people. “But they didn’t get the chance. There was a tremendous vigilance both by the mass people and law-enforcement agencies,” she said.

Hasina said the BNP-Jamaat alliance did the same thing during the city polls what they did in their anti-government movement.

She mentioned that the BNP-Jamaat alliance had announced to participate in the elections, but they were not there in the field.

“There was no their representative nor any agent. All of a sudden they boycotted the elections after a couple of hours of the beginning of the elections.”

The prime minister went on saying: “Such hatred and vengeance never bring welfare for people. We’re taking stern actions so that such killings and burning people never happen in the country again.”

Hasina said that BNP-Jamaat alliance never tolerates the welfare of people. “That’s why they kill people through arson attacks…what and how much perversion can make one to go for such killing people and playing with people’s fate in their movement.”

Religious Affairs Minister Principal Motiur Rahman, State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing, President of the CHT Buddha Bhikkhu Sangha Srimat Proggyananda Mahathero and Chairman of Bangladesh Buddha Krishti Prachar Sangha Srimat Shuddhananda Mahathero spoke on the occasion.

Vice Chairman of the Buddhists Religious Welfare Trust Sajal Kumar Talukdar delivered the welcome address.

Referring to arson attacks and vandalism carried out by BNP-Jamaat for long three months from January 5, the prime minister said they killed innocent bus drivers and helpers, students, working men and common citizens hurling petrol bombs. “Even, women and children were not spared.”

Hasina said the moment Bangladesh was getting recognised across the world as a development role model, BNP-Jamaat nexus launched the politics of destruction and burning people to death. Strong legal actions will be taken against those involved in such brutal killings and destructive acts,” she warned.

BNP-Jamaat activists also carried out destructive activities in Ramu of Cox’s Bazar and many religious establishments of the Buddhist Community were damaged by their attacks in 2012, she said.

Hasina also mentioned the killing of people during prayers inside mosques, demolishing temples and pagodas and torture on women by the BNP-Jamaat activities after the 2001 general election.

Greeting the Buddhist community on the eve of Buddha Purnima, the prime minister said her government has made equal rights of all religion clearer in the constitution through amending it during its 2009-2013 tenure. l

Khokon leads clean up drive in DSCC n Abu Hayat Mahmud Newly elected mayor of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC), Sayeed Khokon, yesterday took part in a drive to remove posters, banners, festoons and other campaign materials from various parts of the Old Dhaka.

Khokon, who is yet to be officially sworn in as the DSCC mayor, led the cleaning drive at Nazira Bazar, Alo Bazar, Siddik Bazar and other areas in the afternoon.

“Everyone should come forward willingly to build a clean and liveable Dhaka city. We all should work together,” Khokon said.

He also requested everybody, including the candidates of the city polls, to remove their campaign materials from every parts of the city.

Mayor-elect Sayeed Khokon was accompanied by newly elected councillor of Ward 30, Abdul Awal, and Awami League’s Joint General Secretary Khalid Hossain among others. l

Chief guest Sajeeb Wazed Joy with the winners of 2nd Bangla Youth Award at the Agricultural Institute auditorium BSS

Joy Bangla successfully in the last five or six years,” said Joy, also the son of the premier, reports BSS. Joy expressed the views while distributing “Joy Bangla Youth Award” among 30 young champions from different sectors.

The Centre for Research and Information (CRI) organised the function with a vision to scout out the young achievers across the country, unfold their untold success stories and untie them under one platform. The event was chaired by CRI Executive Director

Shabbir Bin Shams.

Joy said: “Today, the youths who have been awarded, will take Bangladesh forward and that will be the victory for Bangladesh.

I believe the youths will take Bangladesh ahead. Our planning is not limited up to 2021.

“Our plan, the pledge of the Awami League government, is that we will establish our country as a middle-income one by 2021; a country free of poverty and hunger.” l

Bangladeshis believed to be among dead after the site was found, told AFP, saying it was unclear how they had died.

“The bodies were all decayed,” he said, adding a single emaciated man from Bangladesh survived and was being treated at a hospital in nearby Padang Besar.

The discovery was made at a remote camp in Sadao district, in Songkhla province bordering Malaysia, and comes as Thailand’s junta cracks down on human trafficking following accusations that officials have been complicit in the trade.

The border area with Malaysia is notorious for its network of secret camps where smuggled migrants are held, usually against their will, until relatives pay up hefty ransoms.

National police chief General Somyot Poompanmoung described the site as a virtual “prison camp” where migrants were held in makeshift bamboo cells.

“There are 32 places that look like graves and whether there is one body or several bodies in those graves, we will we have to wait and see,” he said.

He said the smugglers were believed to have abandoned the sick man when they moved Rohingya migrants across the border into Malaysia two days ago.

Local media said the camp and its lone survivor were stumbled upon by villagers looking for mushrooms.

The hospital confirmed the Bangladeshi man had survived and said he was in stable condition.

A senior official from Sadao said exhumations had now stopped pending the arrival of forensic teams.

Dangerous crossings

Tens of thousands of migrants from Myanmar, mainly from the Rohingya Muslim minority but also increasingly from Bangladesh, make the dangerous sea crossing to southern Thailand, a well-worn trafficking route often on the way south to Malaysia and beyond.

Thousands of Rohingya – described by the UN as one of the world’s most persecuted mi-

norities – have fled deadly communal unrest in western Myanmar’s Rakhine state since 2012.

Chris Lewa, from the Arakan Project which monitors the smuggling routes, said survivors of the jungle camps often described horrific conditions as they waited for relatives to pay ransoms.

“If police find a camp and start digging you can bet they will find graves,” she told AFP. Last week UN Secretary General Ban Kimoon described the condition of such camps as “untenable,” adding that their existence should “remain a matter of profound concern for the international community.”

Thailand has been criticised in the past for pushing boatloads of Rohingya entering Thai waters back out to sea, and for holding migrants in overcrowded facilities.

The ruling junta says it has taken significant steps to combat trafficking since June, when the United States dumped Thailand to the bottom of its list of countries accused of failing to tackle modern-day slavery.

In January, Thai authorities confirmed more than a dozen government officials – including senior policemen and a navy officer – were being prosecuted for involvement or complicity in human trafficking.

Lewa said the junta’s crackdown had forced many Thai smugglers into hiding, reducing the numbers held in jungle camps in recent months.

But smugglers have simply switched tactics, she said, keeping desperate migrants in rickety boats at sea for endless weeks.

“We fear there may be thousands stuck at sea because they can’t disembark. The camps have effectively been transferred from the jungle to international waters,” she said.

Two weeks ago she interviewed a 15-yearold boy who had made it to Malaysia.

Rather than hold him in a Thai jungle camp, he was kept for six weeks on a boat, awaiting payment from his relatives.

“During his time at sea he said he saw at least 30 people die. They were thrown overboard,” she said. l

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Matarbari power plant gets Tk276.1 crore in revised budget n Asif Showkat Kallol The government has allocated Tk276.10 crore in the revised budget for the ongoing fiscal year for building the 1,200MW coal-fired Matarbari power plant, one of the “fast lane” projects.

An official of the Finance Division said that the project had been in the implementation phase when the main budget for FY2014-15 was placed. So, this time around, the fund has been allocated following a proposal from the Power Division.

The revised budget, including supplementary approvals and allocation demands, was published last week.

As per the Power Division’s proposal, capital expenditure will be Tk275.40 crore and revenue expenditure only Tk70 lakh.

The Matarbari plant in the Moheshkhali island in the Bay of Bengal is now getting more

attention in the government’s policymaking because of the plan to set up a deep sea port there.

An official of the Power Division said that the power plant is part of a plan to turn Moheshkhali into a power hub The total project cost is Tk36,000 crore. It is now being implemented by the newly-formed state-owned Coal-Power Generation Company Limited as a joint venture with Japan, Germany and Australia.

An official of the Power Division said that the power plant is part of a plan to turn Moheshkhali into a power hub.

The official also said that among three coal-based power plants on the cards, the Matarbari project is getting the top priority from the government. The other two projects are the 275MW plant at Barapukuria and the 1,320MW plant at Rampal.

Power Division Secretary Monowar Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune that starting this year, the government expects to wrap this project up by 2023. “A township will also be developed near the Matarbari power plant,” the secretary said.

In last August, the government approved the project for setting up a deep sea port for handling imported coal for the power plant.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) has already confirmed its financial support for the project and setting up a port at the location.

Jica is financing Tk29,000 crore and the remaining Tk7,000 crore will come from the

state coffer and a firm who will do the construction, a Power Division official said.

Another $1bn will be spent to set up a seaport with berthing facilities for large ships.

The port will be able to handle 80,000 tonnes of cargo. The project also includes laying a high-voltage 400 kilovolt (KV) power transmission line from Moheshkhali to Anwara, and construction of a road and two bridges from Chakaria up to the project site, the official said.

Some 1,500 acres of land have been acquired for implementing the project. The plant will use the Ultra Super Critical Technology that has a work efficiency of 41.99%.

The other fast lanes of the government are the Padma bridge, the Rampal thermal power plant, Rooppur nuclear power plant, metro rail, deep-sea port at Sonadia in Cox’s Bazar and constructing a liquefied natural gas terminal. l

Nasim: AL learned from the past city polls defeats n Abu Hayat Mahmud

Dhaka south mayor-elect Sayeed Khokon, along with supporters and city corporation staff, takes part in a clean-up drive, removing posters and banners put up during his election campaign at Old Dhaka yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

PM to inaugurate 6 power projects today n Aminur Rahman Rasel

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will formally inaugurate six power projects through video conference at her official residence Gano Bhaban today.

Of those, four plants have been built by independent power producers – 50.20MW furnace oil-based plant in Natore, 102MW in Narayanganj, 52.50MW in Munshiganj and gas-based 108MW in Narsingdi.

The plant in Natore has been operating since January 24 last year while the one in Narayanganj since June 9 of that year.

The plant in Narsingdi has been in production since July 16, 2014, and the one in Munshiganj since February 20 this year.

Another two projects include a high-voltage 400KV transmission line from

Meghnaghat to Aminbazar under stateowned Power Grid Company of Bangladesh Limited (PGCB) which has been operating since June 28 last year and a 132/33/11KV power substation in Lalbagh under sateowned Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) operating since May 29 of that year.

“The government has taken a range of initiatives to increase power generation, transmission and distribution capacity for electricity supply across the country,” State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Nasrul Hamid, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

The four plants will add 314.7MW electricity in the national grid.

PGCB has completed the installation of the 53km line from Meghnaghat to Aminba-

zar aimed at supplying uninterrupted power to the capital.

Meanwhile, the DPDC installed the substation in the city to improve power supply.

Besides, construction of some 13 more power plants will begin next year and the government has taken initiatives to introduce prepaid meters across the country with a view to reducing system loss and measuring demand.

Power generation reached 13,265MW, including captive generation, from 3,268MW in 2009 and the government has prioritised the development of the sector considering its importance in the overall development of the country.

The government has a target to generate 20,000MW electricity as part of the objective to supply power to all citizens within 2021. l

The Awami League-backed candidates have recently triumphed in city corporation elections in Dhaka and Chittagong because the party has learned from the mistakes that led to the losses in the 2013 city polls, Health Minister Mohammad Nasim has said.

Nasim, a member of Awami League’s presidium and spokesperson of the 14-party alliance, however, did not explain what the mistakes were.

Mohammad Nasim said this while talking to reporters after a meeting with the central leaders of the 14-party alliance at the Awami League president Sheikh Hasina’s Dhanmondi office.

BNP-backed candidates came up with a clean sweep in the city corporation elections in Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Sylhet and Gazipur in 2013. That very year, the Awami League-backed candidate lost to a rebel candidate in the Narayanganj city corporation polls.

Terming the Dhaka north, south and Chittagong city corporation polls free and fair, the health minister claimed that except for some sporadic incidents, there had been no major untoward incidents during the April 28 polls.

“The BNP boycotted the January 5 national polls in 2014. They joined the Dhaka and Chittagong city corporation polls. But rejected the polls midway raising allegations of rigging. This is not acceptable behaviour,” he said.

“If the polls were rigged, then how have they got such a large number of votes?” he posed a question.

When reminded that foreigners had called for investigation into the allegations of rigging, Nasim said: “It is their routine job. So, we are not worried about this.” l

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Khaleda, Sherman discuss city polls n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia on Friday discussed “vote fraud” with US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman and provided her with relevant documents.

The former three-time premier narrated how the Awami League had “manipulated” the polls during the meeting at her Gulshan residence, party leaders said.

Sherman went to Khaleda’s residence around 4:30pm and held a nearly 30-minute meeting before leaving Dhaka.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan said city polls and the latest political situation was discussed at the meeting.

“What happened in Bangladesh over the past several days centring the city corporation elections is certainly a matter of concern, both inside and for many outside the country as had been expressed by the US, the EU, the UN and even the UK; although a bit late,” he told the Dhaka Tribune.

Moyeen said: “We did not elaborate the absurdity of the elections since the local media had fully elaborated the incidents on the election day and later.”

The former minister also said: “Political, social and economic issues inside the country remains far from normal despite the fact that BNP had decided to take part in these elections leading to a de-escalation of the direct conflict between the government and the opposition.”

“On the issue of development partnership, it was pointed out that there cannot be any sustainable development without good governance. Besides, donors are accountable to tax payers in their own countries if the money they provide as aid or credit to other countries contributes to corruption or abuse.”

BNP chief’s advisers Reaz Rahman and Sabihuddin Ahmed, and US Ambassador Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat were also present at the meeting.

Asked about Sherman’s view on the city polls, Moyeen refused to make any comment.

Karachi-based freelance journalist Saba Imtiaz, left, speaks at a panel discussion on ‘Reporting Against Reason’ at Bengal Lights Literary Conclave organised by University of Liberal Arts at its Dhanmondi campus in the capital yesterday RAJIB DHAR

Bengal Lights Literary Conclave ends today n Tribune Desk The two-day international event “Bengal Lights Literary Conclave” at the main campus of University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB) will end today.

Organised by ULAB, the second such event explores the theme “Dissent, Reportage and Literature.”

This year’s event was attended by a distinguished panel of writers, journalists and publishers from four continents.

The six panel discussions over the two days were moderated by Zafar Sobhan, K Anis Ahmed, Githa Hariharan, Ahsan Akbar, Sudeep Chakravarty, Kazi Nabil Ahmed, and CP Heiser.

The discussion panelists included reporter and writer Femke Van Zeijl, Karachi based journalist Saba Imtiaz, Meike Ziervogel, William T Vollmann, Juan Tomas Avila Laurel, A lgoni Barett, Khademul Islam, David Shook, Salimullah Khan, Syeed Manzoorul Islam.

Poet Sadaf Saaz recited from her poetry collection “Sari Reams” and Juan Tomas Avila Laurel played the harmonica and recited his poems.

The closing ceremony will be presided over

by Kaiser Haq, director of Dhaka Translation Center.

Books by the panelists of the Literary Conclave will be available for purchase at the venue. The event is being webcast live at conclave.bengallights.com. l

Buddha Purnima today n UNB

Buddha Purnima, the biggest religious festival of the Buddhist community, will be observed in the country today.

Buddha Purnima is a festival that marks Gautam Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death.

It falls on the day of the full moon in May. On this day in 563 BC, Buddha was born as

Siddhartha Gautam in Kopilabostu at the foothill of the Himalayas. He attained supreme enlightenment at the age of 35 and finally departed into ‘nirvana’ at the age of 80 in 483 BC. Different Buddhist organisations have chalked out various programmes to celebrate the day. The day is a public holiday. The programmes include recitation of sacred verses from the Tripitak and breaking of fast by the monks. l

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SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

May Day observed across the country n Tribune Report

The historic May Day was observed across the country on Friday with a call for establishing just rights, dignity, honour, socio-economic and human rights of the working people.

In Rangpur, different political and labour organizations‚ particularly the labour wings of political parties and professional bodies organised programmes to highlight significance of the day, reports our correspondent.

The programmes included placing wreaths at the Shaheed Minars, hoisting of the national, labour, organisational flags and red flags, processions, serving improved diets to the workers, holding of discussion meetings,cultural and prize distribution functions.

Jatiya Sramik League, District Motor Sramik Union, Sammilito Garments’ Sramik Federation, Jatiya Bidyut Sramik League, BADC Sramik Karmochari League, Jatiya Rickshaw Van Sramik League, Rupali Bank Sramik League, Sonali Bank Sramik League, Uttara Bank Sramik League, Janata Bank Sramik League brought out colourful processions.

Truck and Tank Lorry Sramik League, Krishi-Farm Sramik Federation, District Dokan Karmochari Union, WDB Sramik League, Swarno Shilpi Samity, Electronic Sramik Union, Rang-Mistri Nirman Sramik Union, Auto Rickshaw Sramik Oikko Jyote, Restaurant Sramik and Workers’ Union observed the Day. Narayanganj correspondent said to mark the day, different workers group, trade unions, socio-cultural and professional organizations held rallies and processions.

A colorful rally was brought out under the auspices of directorate of Labpour Narayanganj in the morning.

Deputy commissioner Anisur Rahman Miah attended the rally as the chief guest, former BKMEA senior vice president Mohammed Hatem, and welfare secretary of Jatiya Sramik League Kawsar Ahmed Polash attended the rally as special guests.

The rally was followed by a huge numbers of workers of different mills and factories. The procession after parading different roads ended at Chashara Shahid Minar.

In the afternoon, the district unit of Bangladesh Trade Union Kendra, Garment Sramik Trade Union Kendra, Narayanganj district unit of Bangladesh Motor Jan Mechanic Federation and Bangladesh Textile Garments Sramik Federation brought out red flag rallies and processions in the city.

Narayanganj Sangskritik Jote held a musical soiree at Chashara Shahid Minar in the evening.

Netrakona correspondent reports the district administration organized the meeting marking the day. The deputy minister for youth and sports Arif Khan Joy adressed as chief guest at a discussion meeting on “significance of historic May day” at district Shilpakala Academy premises.

Chaired by additional deputy commissioner (general) Netrakona Dr Abdur Rahim, the meeting was addressed, among others, by police super Netrakona Jakir Hussain Khan, additional deputy commissioner (revenue) Netrakona Mohammad Yousuf Ali, public prosecutor of the district Advocate GM Khan Pathan Bimol, commander of district Muktijoddha sangsad Nurul Amin and district -level Awami league leaders including Nur Khan Mitu and Habibur Rahman Khan Rotan.

Later, a colourful rally paraded the main roads of the district town.

Large number of local people from all walks life including workers and leaders of different workers associations with colourful posters, placards and banners joined the rally.

The day was also observed in Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong , Jessore ,Comilla ,Dinajpur, Panchagarh, Thakurgaon, Lalmonirhat, Kurigram, Gaibandha, Nilphamari districts. l

Nine held while distributing leaflets protesting Rabindra University n Our Correspondent, Sirajganj

Police detained nine members of Al-Bayenat from Shahjadpur Upazila of the district yesterday while distributing leaflets protesting the government’s initiative to set up the ‘Rabindra University’ in

Shahzadpur upazila of Sirajganj.

The police detained them while distributing leaflets in the upazila headquarters in the afternoon protesting the government move to name the university after nobel laurate Rabindranath Tagore, said Shihab Uddin Khalifa, officer-in-

charge of Shahzadpur Police Station.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to lay foundation stone of the university on Tagore’s birthday on May 8.

On October 5, 2010, the prime minister declared to build a Rabindra University. l

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12 Malaysia-bound fortune seekers intercepted n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Police early yesterday intercepted 12 people at Chhanua area under Banshkhali upazila in Chittagong while they were awaiting to be shipped to Malaysia illegally.

However, no trafficker was nabbed in this connection.

The fortune seekers were identified as Saddam, 18, Sumon Mia, 18, Jaber, 18, Mohan Mia, 18, Rezaul Karim, 18, Md Yunus, 25, Hridoy, 18, Sharafat Mia, 18, Yiahia, 18, Yusuf, 20, Jahangir, 18, and Esharon Hossain, 19, said Banshkhali police station’s Officer in-Charge (OC) Swapan Kumar Majumder.

Acting on a tip-off, police conducted overnight drives at several residences in the area where the youths were gathered to be trafficked to Malaysia through the sea route on Friday midnight, he said.

A case was lodged with Banshkhali police station accusing 22 identified and 10-12 anonymous people under the Human Trafficking Act said the OC adding that the fortune seekers would be sent to their villages after verification.

According to a 2014 investigation report of Police Headquarters’ Anti-Human Trafficking Special Committee, about 4,500 people were rescued from Chittagong division in the last five years while about 15,000-20,000 people were trafficked to Thailand and Malaysia in the last one decade using the sea route. l

Illegal logging rampant in Bandarban’s reserved forests n Our Correspondent, Bandarban Wood smugglers are cutting down trees in Bandarban’s reserved forest areas on a grand scale, causing extensive damage to the tracts.

A section of dishonest forest officials of Bandarban Forest Division has been alleged to be working in connivance with smugglers.

From 1981 to 2012, thousands of acres of land in Bandarban Sadar, Ruma, Thanchi and Roangchhari were afforested under government plans that cost hundreds of crores of taka.

A variety of trees were planted in the areas but the tracts now give almost a deserted look. In some places, there are only signboards with the message “reserved forest area” but there is barely any tree.

Apart from the areas, afforestation plans were also implemented in a total of eight ranges in the district, including Tangkabati, Paindu and Kheyachalang, but illegal logging has all but cleared some of those.

Even Bangladesh Forest Department has no accurate data on the area of lands in Betchhara and Kasalang ranges that was afforested.

Locals in Balaghata said wood smugglers

fell trees in the forests in different areas and use Charuipara Road to transport logs by pushcarts but forest officials turn a blind eye to this.

Supriya Chakma, who lives in Balaghata, said forest officials receive bribes from wood smugglers and thus let the criminals get on with the illegal act.

Many locals claimed logs are sold to furniture traders.

Sirajul Islam, a member of Bandarban Wood Traders Association, denied the allegation of wood smuggling, saying that traders legally operate their businesses.

Sources said a handful of cases had been lodged with police against wood smugglers but bringing any of them to book is yet to happen. Forest officials have not even recovered illegal logs so far this year.

Divisional Forest Officer of Bandarban, Molla Rezaul Karim, told the Dhaka Tribune that there is no scope for illegal logging and wood smuggling in the district’s forests as the areas remain heavily guarded all the time.

He also denied that any forest official had connived in wood smuggling. l

RAIN OR THUNDERSHOWER

n Tribune Report

SUNDAY, MAY 3 DHAKA TOMORROW SUN RISES 5:23AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY 34 33 36 32 35 34 31 33

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

26 25 25 22 24 25 22 25

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

35.0ºC Rajshahi

21.2ºC Khepupara Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr

4:02am

Sunrise

5:23am

Zohr

11:56am

Asr

4:25pm

Magrib

6:28pm

Esha

7:49pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

A man was allegedly abducted in broad daylight by a group of plain-clothed men in a microbus on Friday morning.

The victim Abul Kalam Azad, 38, is an office assistant of Babuganj upazila Shishu Academy and son of Liakat Ali from Ghataker Char of the upazila. He was abducted from Fire Service Station crossing on Babuganj-Mohanganj road, about one kilometre from his home.

Mojammel Hossain, one of the witnesses said some tall unidentified men in casual tee-shirt and trousers approached Abul Kalam Azad while he was walking to Khanpura at around 9:30am.

The men were waiting near a white microbus with tinted glass and asked him to ride with them. When Azad denied, the miscreants dragged him inside the vehicle.

On hearing his hue and cry, local people rushed to rescue him but the plain-clothed men claimed themselves to be Rapid Action Battalion members and took off.

However, Lieutenant Colonel Farid Hossain, commanding officer of RAB-8, denied of any drive to arrest anyone in the area.

Abdul Matin Hawladar, chairman of Chandpasha union parishad, said Azad was a simple man and was never accused of any criminal activities as per his knowledge.

Faruk Hossain, younger brother of the victim, suspected that one of their cousins could be involved in the abduction over rivalry regarding properties. l

MGH Group donates Tk1 crore to liberation war museum fund

WEATHER

TODAY SUN SETS 6:28PM

Plain-clothed men abduct one in Babuganj n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Bangladesh Air Force brings back some Bangladeshis who were stranded in Nepal during the devastating earthquake. The photo was snapped yesterday at Bangabandhu Airbase at Kurmitola in the capital DHAKA TRIBUNE

NSU holds 18th convocation n Tribune Report

The 18th convocation of North South University was held at its own campus in the capital’s Bashundhara yesterday, says a press release.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid presided over the ceremony and conferred degrees to 2,034 graduates while Professor Randy L Beutler, president of Southwestern Oklahoma State University, delivered the convocation speech. Professor Dr AK Azad Chowdhury, chairman of University Grants Commission, was the special guest.

Graduating students, teachers, members of the Trustee Board and other dignitaries joined the convocation procession.

The education minister said the govern-

ment continued to make higher education its top priority.

“North South University continues to pave the way for students to gain access to higher education by awarding scholarships to the meritorious as well as the needy students.”

Professor Amin Sarkar, vice-chancellor of the university, said: “I could not be more pleased to present to the nation our 2015 class, 2,000 strong and largest groups graduated from the university. These young people are receiving their degrees in a variety of fields.” l

Multinational company MGH Group has donated Tk1 crore to the fund for constructing Bangladesh Liberation War Museum’s very own building.

Anis Ahmed, managing director of MGH Group, handed over the check for the donation to the authorities of the museum at a simple programme in the capital yesterday.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Nur, also one of the trustee’s of the museum, received the check on behalf of the authorities.

Among others, trustees, Ziauddin Tarique Ali, Mofidul Haque, Rabiul Hossain and MGH Group MD Anil Ahmed spoke at the programme.

Constructing the liberation war museum’s very own building is believed to be part of an initiative to take the glorious history to the generation next on a broader scale.

Several individual and institutional donours have already contributed to this fund responding to a fund-raiser call for the purpose. l

DT

8 WORLD

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

UN: Relief goods for Nepal quake victims held up at customs

Death toll from USled strike rises to 52 civilians in Syria n Reuters The death toll from an air strike by US-led forces on the northern Syrian province of Aleppo on Friday has risen to 52 including seven children, a group monitoring the conflict said yesterday.

US and Arab forces have been carrying out almost daily air raids against hardline Islamist militant groups in Syria such as Islamic State since last September, and US-led forces are also targeting the group in Iraq.

The British-based Observatory for Human Rights said the air raid on Friday had mistakenly struck civilians in a village on the eastern banks of the Euphrates River in Aleppo, killing members of at least six families.

The group said at least 13 people remain missing. The United States has previously said it takes reports of civilian casualties from the US-led strikes seriously and says it has a process to investigate each allegation. l

Military police from the British Royal Air Force (RAF) help to unload UK aid for Nepalese earthquake victims from an RAF C-17 aircaft after it landed in Kathmandu on April 29 AFP

n Reuters Some of the relief material for survivors of Nepal’s devastating earthquake was being held up at the country’s only international airport because of customs bottlenecks, the United Nations said yesterday, as the death toll from the disaster passed 6,600.

Nepal exempted tarpaulins and tents from import taxes on Friday, but UN Resident Representative Jamie McGoldrick told Reuters the government had to loosen customs restrictions further to deal with the increasing flow of relief material.

“They should not be using peacetime customs methodology,” he said. Material was piling up at the Kathmandu airport instead of being ferried out to victims, McGoldrick said.

There was no immediate response from the government but Finance Minister Ram

Sharan Mahat had appealed to international donors on Friday to send tents, tarpaulins and basic food supplies, saying some of the items received were of no use.

“We have received things like tuna fish and mayonnaise. What good are those things for us? We need grains, salt and sugar,” he told reporters.

US military aircraft and personnel were to arrive in Kathmandu yesterday to help in relief operations. One of their tasks would be to deal with the growing piles of aid material.

Brigadier General Paul Kennedy of the US Marine Corps told Reuters six military aircraft, including two helicopters, were to arrive, accompanied by 100 Marines and lifting equipment, under an agreement reached with Nepal’s government earlier in the week.

“What you don’t want to do is build up a mountain of supplies,” blocking space for

planes or more supplies, Kennedy said.

There were other bottlenecks besides customs. Nepali government officials have said efforts to step up the pace of delivery of relief material to remote areas were frustrated by a shortage of supply trucks and drivers, many of whom had returned to their villages to help their families.

“Our granaries are full and we have ample food stock, but we are not able to transport supplies at a faster pace,” said Shrimani Raj Khanal, a manager at the Nepal Food Corp.

Army helicopters have air-dropped instant noodles and biscuits to remote communities but people need rice and other ingredients to cook a proper meal, he said.

The government said the death toll from last Saturday’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake had reached 6,621, and that more than 14,000 people were injured. l

Air strikes kill civilians in Yemeni capital n Reuters Warplanes from a Saudi-led coalition struck a residential district of the Yemeni capital Sanaa overnight, killing eight to 10 civilians, residents said on Friday.

The Saba state news agency, controlled by the Houthi movement in charge of Sanaa, put the death toll in the Sawan district at 20 and said more than 50 people had been wounded. It said casualties included woman and children.

Warplanes also struck a military airbase near the capital.

The strikes came days after jets bombed the runway to stop an Iranian aid plane landing.

In the southern port city of Aden, clashes continued between Houthi fighters and local militiamen over the control of the main airport.

At least 27 civilians and fighters from both sides were killed in the fight for the airport and in the port district of Mualla on Friday. l

May Day mayhem n Tribune Desk

May Day witnessed a series of violent protests over a number of issues, around the world.

Police fired tear gas at demonstrators at the start of the Milan Expo. A range of leftwing protesters, from anti-globalisation and environmentalist activists to students and anti-austerity campaigners, took part.

Turkish police fired tear gas, water cannon and rubber pellets to stop May Day protesters, some armed with fire bombs, from defying Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and reaching Istanbul’s central Taksim square.

Erdogan warned last week he would not let labour unions march on Taksim.

Three bare-breasted women making Nazi salutes disrupted a May Day speech by French far-right leader Marine Le Pen as she accused her political rivals of failing to tackle immigration and radical Islam.

The women from the Femen activist group, with “Heil Le Pen” and “Stop Fascism” writ-

ten on their breasts, chanted slogans from the balcony of a five-star hotel room overlooking the stage, to boos from the crowd.

Crowds clashed with police during May Day marches in several US west coast cities, as officers responded with stun grenades and pepper spray. Demonstrators in Oakland, California, and several other cities, rallied against a series of police killings of unarmed black, local media reported.

At least three officers were injured, two seriously, and at least 16 people were arrested, Seattle’s police department said.

Angry protestors and relatives of South Korea’s ferry disaster victims clashed with riot police on Friday after they were blocked from marching toward the president’s office in Seoul.

Violence erupted when some 2,000 people, led by dozens of victims’ relatives wearing yellow jackets, tried to force their way through barricades set up by thousands of riot police. l

A protester looks at riot police during a May Day demonstration in Bogota, Colombia

AFP

DT

WORLD 9

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

Dozens tried for mob killing of Afghan woman that sparked outcry n Reuters Dozens of Afghan men including several policemen faced trial yesterday over the mob killing in Kabul of a 27-year-old woman accused of burning a Koran, a lynching that prompted unprecedented protests.

The trial, expected to last two days, was broadcast live on television.

A frenzied crowd beat and kicked the woman, named Farkhunda, to death on March

19 and set her body on fire as several police looked on near a shrine in central Kabul.

The attack was captured by mobile phone video and distributed online. Some of those arrested were tracked down after bragging about participating on social media.

One of the men on trial Saturday, identified only as Sharifullah, described his role in the attack.

“I kicked her once or twice but did not participate in the whole thing,” he testified.

File photo showing supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood shouting slogans at a 2014 demonstration in Amman, Jordan AFP

Jordan tension over Muslim Brotherhood rift n AFP, Amman Jordan’s authorisation of a breakaway wing of the Muslim Brotherhood has sent tensions soaring between the decades-old organisation and the government, accused of exploiting the rift to weaken the kingdom’s main opposition force.

In early March, the gov-

ernment gave its consent to the formation of the splinter Brotherhood group, led by a former head of the movement.

The offshoot aims to severe ties with the Brotherhood’s arm in Egypt, where hundreds of supporters have been killed and thousands detained since Islamist president Mohamed Morsi was ousted by the army in 2013. l

Maldives police arrest 192, opposition leader n Reuters Maldives police arrested 193 people including the leader of an opposition party after clashes broke out on Friday with protesters demanding the government free the Indian Ocean archipelago’s ex-president from prison.

Those arrested include Sheikh Imran Abdulla, a leader of the small but influential Islamic Adhaalath Party, as well as the chairperson of the main opposition party, the Maldivi-

an Democratic Party (MDP), a police official said yesterday.

The MDP is the party of Mohamed Nasheed, a former president who was jailed in March for ordering the arrest in 2012 of a judge in a trial that was slammed as deeply flawed by the international community.

The imprisonment of Nasheed, who became the Maldives first democratically elected president in 2008, has triggered daily protests in the popular honeymooners’ destination. l

“Others were asking for a match box, so I gave them my lighter.”

Some defending the killing as a defense of Islam, but many others were outraged at the viciousness of the attack even before an investigation showed that Farkhunda had been falsely accused of desecrating the holy book.

Several protests against violence against women sprung up in Kabul, including one in the last week that re-enacted the attack. l

Relief as police charged in Freddie Gray death n Reuters Baltimore residents cautiously celebrated news on Friday that six police officers involved in the arrest of Freddie Gray face criminal charges, a marked contrast to recent rioting over fraught relations between police and the African-American community.

Residents shouted with joy, embraced one another and honked car horns to hail the swift action by Baltimore city’s chief prosecutor to file charges in the death of Gray, a black man who suffered severe spinal injuries while in police custody. l

DT

10 ADVERTISEMENT

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

DT

EDITORIAL 11

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

Get tougher against human traffickers

A

mass grave containing the bodies of 30 people believed to be migrants from Bangladesh and Myanmar has been discovered at a trafficking camp in southern Thailand.

It is shocking that it takes discoveries such as this and the recent mass drownings of migrants heading to Europe to draw attention to the brutal nature of the global trade in people smuggling.

Traffickers prey on the vulnerability of the large numbers of people around the world who are forced or encouraged to leave their homes in search of a better livelihood. The huge scope for exploration and criminal neglect in this global trade means that unknown hundreds of people are believed to die or work in appalling conditions.

Many thousands of Bangladeshis are known to be enticed by traffickers each year by false promises of jobs in Malaysia, before being kidnapped into forced labour camps. While efforts by law enforcers have led to some 800 Bangladeshi migrant workers being rescued from slavery in Thailand in the past year, the scale of the challenge is growing.

The complicity of some Thai officials in assisting traffickers has led to Thailand being downgraded to the lowest tier of the US State Department’s Trafficking in Persons Report.

A stronger message needs to be sent by the Bangladeshi and Thai governments that there will be no tolerance shown to law enforcers who collude in the enslavement of Bangladeshi citizens.

Without tougher law enforcement, efforts to reduce illegal people smuggling by facilitating safe legal routes will not be sufficient to save human lives being endangered and exploited.

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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Who has the right to determine Bangladesh’s future?

April 9

have Jamaat’s politics in the country.

Send a stronger message to show zero tolerance to traffickers who prey on migrants

Keep orders flowing for nation’s shipbuilders

I

t is encouraging to see the Western Marine Shipyard company win a $61m order to build ten new cargo ships for the India-based Jindal Group.

The ships are part of the highest value contract with India won by a local shipbuilder. They will add to a growing list of export orders successfully delivered by Bangladeshi shipbuilders to customers from Germany and other parts of the world.

Given the synergies offered by our nation’s large ship-breaking and recycling industry, it makes sense to encourage the ship manufacturing industry to grow further.

The government should make more use of the levers it has available to support the growing efforts made by entrepreneurs to improve facilities and the nation’s capacity to build modern ships. The country needs such emerging manufacturing sectors to create higher value jobs and to grow and diversify our economy.

National plans to develop the blue economy, should include support to facilitate the land and anchorage area available for shipyards to help the sector to scale up and maximise its potential.

Another way the government can help to stimulate investment is by improving the enforcement of safety rules for the many thousands of aging and often unfit vessels plying our inland waterways. Requiring transport owners to modernise their fleets is needed anyway to improve river safety.

It can help to massively boost opportunities for local shipbuilders.

Increasing demand and providing more support to help shipbuilders is important to allow them to compete better globally and grow new export markets.

Country needs emerging manufacturing sectors to create higher value jobs and diversify our economy

Dev Saha Why ask this question when we’ve had other rulers/parties already pave the path of our future? BNP/Jamaat had their stint … just like Zia and Ershad had their footprints almost everywhere during the majority of Bangladesh’s existence. Why this whining?

It is not a secret that Awamis fought for independence while some others were involved with notorious activities including genocide and collaborating with the enemies. They may have changed a little bit but can we trust them?

Let’s say they are great now and ready to serve the country. In such a scenario, they should participate in the election and get the mandate of the people to determine our future. What would be the problem with that? riazo Dev Saha : No, we don’t want Jamaat’s politics in the country. They are a cancer on Bangla’s soil.

Dev Saha riazo: Whether you like it or not, there are footprints from all quarters after 43 years of the country’s existence. It would be better if Bangladesh takes an intelligent path to move forward rather than the rotten path of extremists who have already failed many countries around the world. God and religion do not feed people. riazo Dev Saha: Not sure what your point is. If God and religion do not feed people, then that is all the more reason why we cannot

Dev Saha riazo: The point is, it would be impossible to create a Bangladesh where the state would be totally separated from religion. We are not there yet as far as our mentality is concerned. I would not put the cart before the horse. Please navigate slowly, dear.

You have a point but you can’t just brush away our old habits. It takes time to go beyond religious hurdles. riazo Dev Saha : Errm. We had state and religion completely separated at birth in 1971. And we have regressed from that considerably, thanks to opportunist military dictators like Ziaur Rahman and Ershad. If we don’t talk about wishing to go back to 1971, then we will never succeed in that. In fact we may already have lost too much time.

Dev Saha riazo: The problem is that we did not have that kind of leadership from the get-go. The thugs were rehabilitated and patronised and results have obviously gone from bad to worse.

Can we go back to the ideas of 1971? I am not so sure at this point. The criminals who should have been prosecuted and imprisoned have become stronger and are challenging the very nature of the state.

Nevertheless, I like your enthusiasm for the ideals of 71. We should keep talking. riazo Dev Saha: Thank you. And I share some of your pessimism. But the point is the issue must constantly be raised as we are up against an unholy force. This is why I am so inspired by Ganajagaran Mancha (though I am not part of it).

Dev Saha riazo: Yes, never give up true human ideals.

Fight we should for a better Bangladesh!

DT Sustainable energy needs sustainable pricing April 11

Sceptick Cutting subsidies is the right thing to do.

Doubt Hasina means it though. Common sense in govt policy -- will believe it when I see it!

The missing link April 11

Imran Hussain Sadly, that part of this ancient land isn’t in Bangladesh anymore. This land itself is Bangladesh/Bengal. Northern and western Bengal are part of India right now.

DT

12 OPINION

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

Half-time n Tim Steel

I

f it is the case that voters, as consumers, need the personal identification of brand values and benefits, rather than simple, traditional “brand loyalty,” to stimulate “purchase” by voting, this election may well mark the end of government by deeply held beliefs and commitments.

The lack of maintenance of the brand values that so inspired traditional loyalties, together with a growing plethora of competitors, appears to have alienated all but the most diehard loyalists; many of whom appear to more need their loyalty, than to actually believe in it.

The traditional “noblesse oblige,” of conservatism, accepting the responsibilities for the “under classes,” as the quid pro quo for the rights they enjoy, that matched the reforming, caring fervour of socialism, appear to have both been disavowed by younger, professional politicians apparently unaware, or careless, of the vital importance of that brand loyalty that was built of traditional values.

Blair, of course, with New Labour, undertook a brilliant relaunch that seemed set to have garnered most, if not all, of the loyalty of traditionalists in the cause, only to over reach, and alienate the new generation as well as dubious traditional loyalists. The charisma of personality, for a time, seemed to reassure such doubters.

The Conservatives seem to have slowly emphasised selfishness and greed as an acceptable tradition; however, a degree of distaste appears to hover at its fringes amongst many of the loyalists.

The new brands, based on historic nationalism, or such new ideas as environmental concerns, obviously have an appeal to voters alienated from traditional loyalties, or younger people looking for something new, more modern, to believe in.

And, equally, where leaders of substance and status traditionally led the older brands, they have been replaced by a somewhat more anodyne generation of personality embodiment of the great causes they seek, and claim, to represent.

The “MBA” generation of self-made graduates with plenty of book learning, but limited real world experience, lacking real personality, despite the contrivance of publicists. This, of course, mirrors such leadership in both public and private sector organisations; from corporations such as the once giants, Unilever and BP, through publicly-financed behemoths from the UN itself, to major INGOs. Under these circumstances, uncertainty and disaffection, allied with perceptions of narrow self-interest and short-term loyalties, have changed the political game. Not, perhaps, in quite the same obviously disastrous way in which it has evidently changed in the USA, where it seems that hugely well-financed, often freaky non-entities are now readily elected to office in a completely dysfunctional Congress, but possibly even heading to that latter outcome in UK. The polls are unmoving, but it seems reasonable to recall that when Thatcher won her lengthy term of office in 1979, even the exit polls got it wrong. Subsequent research suggested that voters were embarrassed to

REUTERS

admit to voting for her.

Perhaps they are also keeping their counsel this time around. Or perhaps, as many commentators suggest, on the whole they find the options so unpalatable that they are resisting deciding anything.

Added to the uncertainty are the revelations that a new computerised voter registration system may have excluded millions of voters from the list of those entitled to vote; and conspiracy theorists will find grist to their suspicions if, like me, they find half the family voters left off the list, despite their having received letters assuring them they had been included.

On double-checking, they were not on the register; could their voting-record be known, and their exclusion deliberate? There are nations where such suspicions could well be justified, but surely not in the UK! Surely?

So, the unmoving polls lend credence to the prospect that one-party governance is a thing of the past. We are looking at some, potentially unholy coalitions in prospect.

The Conservatives propped up by the United Kingdom Independence Party is surely very unappealing, even to, at least, more liberal Tories.

And the Labour Party, with the Scottish National Party stalking it, is equally unappealing, at least, even in Scotland itself, to the Unionist majority.

To some, the prospect of a Liberal Democrat Party in coalition with the Conservatives seems so last year as to be implausible, especially in the light of the abuse Cameron and Clegg and their associates are heaping on each other as their erstwhile coalition partners.

Been there, done that, and, perhaps it worked, as Clegg consistently claims, as having ameliorated the worst excesses the Conservatives

would otherwise have inflicted on the nation.

Nevertheless, it seems unbelievable that no one would try to make a change.

So, with half the official four-week campaign passed, if the traditional half-time refreshment was being handed around to the players, the pieces of fresh orange must taste pretty sour. Goalless at the break, and no sign of any of the many attacks mounted from all sides having any real or noticeable effect.

All of which, of course, only matters to the rest of the world, including Bangladesh, insofar as it seems to mark another stage in the decline of a United Kingdom that has been, for at least half a millennium, a force to be reckoned with in at least half that world.

Foreign policy, in fact, has scarcely been mentioned, except in budgetary considerations. The fact that one of the few contributions that the UK might make to the world through its long tradition of the diplomacy in which the foreign office, left to its own devices, has been traditionally highly respected, has had its resources sadly diminished, seems to have occurred to nobody.

Membership of the UN Security Council seems to be taken as a right for what was once a world power; but the responsibilities that accompany such rights now seem undeliverable, diplomatically, as well as increasingly militarily. Whilst a 10% cut in the overseas aid budget might well double the budget for diplomatic activity, this may be regarded as another failure to appreciate the real, potential strengths of the diminishing UK. The evident contradiction at the heart of the Conservative campaign, in which Cameron strongly stated belief during the Scottish independence referendum last September: “The Union is a thousand times more impor-

tant to me than the question of membership of the European Union,” seems to grow, almost by the day. Both Cameron, and former prime minister, Sir John Major, are becoming ever more strident in their demonisation of the Scottish National Party.

Not a position designed to secure maintenance of the Union after the election, whoever wins; and failing to answer the question of how Cameron, if he is returned to office and carries out his promise of an “in or out” referendum on UK’s membership of EU, which produces a majority vote to exit, amongst English voters only, whilst Scottish, Welsh, and Northern Irish voters opt to remain within, can possibly hope to hold the Union together.

Bribes, it seems, and devout expressions of fiscal responsibility made by politicians evidently lacking in credibility, have so far failed to move the voters. Politics has become, largely an open market for any politician offering short term benefits. Perhaps, if that is what the voters want, that is democracy.

But voters need, maybe, to be reminded that old, decaying brands, and fly-by-night newcomers, can neither of them offer guarantees for consumer safety; someone needs to point out that they vote at their own risk, with no one to blame but themselves for unsatisfactory, even disastrous outcomes.

Maybe the ballot paper should offer a pause for thought, such as: “Ill considered voting could severely damage your standard of living.” l Tim Steel is a communications and marketing consultant. His half-century experience in politics includes speech-writing, research, and consultancy to two Labour Party prime ministers and leaders of the opposition.

DT

OPINION 13

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

A tactical withdrawal

by BNP n Nadeem Qadir

O

n the morning of April 28 -- the day of the three city corporation elections -- I went around some parts of Dhaka North. It was a festive atmosphere, but also calm with only posters reminding me that an election is underway in Bangladesh.

I sat at a tea stall and wondered if I had ever seen or covered an election so peaceful in a politically-charged country like Bangladesh.

I came home and told some of my friends it was like the US polls I saw in New York in 1984. There were posters only where voting took place.

As I followed the polls on TV, there were reports of scattered incidents of vote rigging and small-scale violence that also did not require the Border Guard Bangladesh to intervene. The police handled it well.

The telephone conversation of two BNP leaders going around the internet makes it clear that they had planned long before to use the polls as an opportunity to escape public wrath caused by the indefinite blockade and strikes. Although they never called off the blockades, it eventually waned.

The BNP and its 20-party alliance is now surviving on media coverage. If the media starts ignoring them, the alliance will fade away too.

Chittagong BNP candidate Manjur was seen casting his vote without any major leaders around him, and many think that his party mates accused him of backstabbing, and this made him quit politics altogether.

The BNP’s tactical policy was to use the polls in its favour before and after April 28.

Before the polls, they tried to create unrest in the country by using the blockades and strikes, and now, by withdrawing from the polls, they are trying to tell the world that

They had planned long before to use the polls as an opportunity to escape public wrath caused by the indefinite blockade

I told myself that the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidates in the race should be happy with the way the voting was taking place. You have to give a 20% grace and if 80% is fair, then that is a great improvement in terms of our local government elections.

One cannot expect a 100%, which does not even happen in the US or in India. And I would say we have done well, and next time we should do better.

Sometime after 12 noon, suddenly TV channels started airing news of BNP pulling out of Chittagong mayoral polls, while the other two candidates in Dhaka followed suit.

Dhaka Noth mayoral candidate Tabith Awal had said at 9am that he would win the way voting was taking place.

Judging from their faces, both BNP candidates were not very willing to withdraw from the race; but had to due to tactical plans hatched by the higher-ups in BNP, and Khaleda Zia.

fair elections are not possible under this government and thus its caretaker issue was correct.

The alliance did not react until midday April 29, and it seems they are wondering what to do as the tactical move has not brought about desired results. The voting was competitive, although turnout fell once they withdrew.

People in the urban areas in Bangladesh are not so eager to go out and vote, and given that it was a very hot day, the turnout was not as high as expected.

With the final results and the close fight that took place, it will be difficult for the BNP to sell its plan and go for fresh antigovernment action.

It has to learn a lot more from the ruling AL before hatching another such plan to unseat the government. l Nadeem Qadir, a senior journalist, is a UNCA Dag Hammarskjold Scholar in journalism.

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

DT

14 OPINION

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

And then, the letting go n SN Rasul

D

uring a conversation with one of my friends last week, the issue of Bangladesh as a secular nation came up. Calling Bangladesh a “Muslim country” in essence (not Islamic, mind you), he opined that since it was so, why stir the pot? Non-muslims shouldn’t criticise the primary religion of the region, and if they were of other faiths, or non-religious, they should just keep it to themselves.

It may come as no surprise that my friend was Muslim himself.

During another much more heated argument on social media regarding the Charlie Hebdo attack, I came upon another such individual who had similar sentiments.

According to him, Islam teaches peace, and Muslims should let others be and others should let Muslims be. Why try and offend?

Is this freedom of speech, to criticise what others hold so dearly? These cartoonists “didn’t need” to publish something they were fully aware would incite backlash. “But what about freedom of speech?” I argued.

His answer, echoing millions: Is this what freedom of speech means, to toy with the sentimentalities of the 1.57 billion Muslims that reside in the world?

In the same breath, the same people will be outraged at the oppression of minorities in the West. If one thing can be said, can’t we say everything else?

Perhaps not. Not everyone is a purist.

Perhaps this is lunacy. To quote Orwell: “Perhaps a lunatic was simply a minority of one.”

If one were to be able to say absolutely anything, racist, sexist, and homophobic statements wouldn’t be off limits. As Pope Francis rightly asks: “If a close friend insulted your mother, you might punch him, right?” I’m full of other people’s words these days.

Who knows what the Pandora’s Box of absolute freedom of speech would unleash?

People would perhaps be seen posting vulnerable pictures of others, there would be no watershed; who can dare portend what insanity would spew forth from the mouth and writings of us humans, who can’t control ourselves when given the freedom, who need strict rules in place to act humanely?

And in the West, this dilemma remains persistent, with left-wing liberalism dictating what freedom of speech constitutes.

Most recently, intersectional feminism has taken it by the haunches. The debacle regarding Dr Matt Taylor (a scientist and part

Why offend, indeed. Isn’t the right to offend one of the most sacred tenets an individual can have?

BIGSTOCK

It seems that the only people who are sensitive to criticism can be the majority. Till date, the amount of Muslims who have condemned the Charlie Hebdo attacks, and most recently the Avijit Roy and Oyasiqur murders, on the basis of freedom of speech, has been limited. The most I hear is: Of course, violence is never the answer, but ... why provoke?

This line of reasoning is akin to saying that spreading Islamic teachings is offensive to other non-Muslims. Even as I write these words, I am tip-toeing, aware of the precarious nature of the slope I walk on. I can already hear the voices of my family members and friends: “Just let it go, man.

Why bring this stuff up? Why offend?”

Why offend, indeed. Isn’t the right to offend one of the most sacred tenets an individual can have? Anything can be construed to be offensive. What will happen to free dialogue, expressions of alternative theories, art and literature, the smooth transition from thought process to spoken word?

of the team responsible for the monumental feat of landing on a comet nucleus) and his shirt, which showed scantily-clad women in various positions, is a clear example of how far this sort of political correctness can go.

According to an article on The Verge, written by what the internet calls Social Justice Warriors, entitled “I don’t care if you landed a spacecraft on a comet, your shirt is sexist and ostracising,” Taylor’s shirt was apparently so offensive that it would prevent future women from joining the scientific fields.

It is almost ridiculous to think that these are the same people who strive for women to feel comfortable in their own skin, working to give women the right to wear what they choose (completely covered or à la Matt Taylor’s shirt), and to act as they choose (celibate to promiscuous). It is tragic to witness the crumbling of a great mind at the insistence of a popular sentiment, in which his achievement is overshadowed by the pedantic complaints of a clue mob.

And in another case of feminist justice at work, a Rolling Stone article spoke of the gang rape of a certain “Jackie” by some Greek frat house members during a party at the University of Virginia. Backlash was brutal and inevitable. There were massive rallies and protests citing the presence of rape culture, of how women are devalued in society. Frat cultures were slandered, colleges were deemed sexist pools of cohabitation, statistics of 1 in 5 women being sexually assaulted (discredited and disproved for long before that) were yelled out of metaphorical rooftops.

It was later found out that the entirety of the article was a piece of fiction. There was no rape, no party, no members out for forced coitus. But by then, of course, it was too late.

The damage was done. Countless women’s cries may now fall on deaf ears, and the reputation of Phi Kappa Psi, the frat house, is in shambles.

But hey, freedom of speech, right?

Other issues of note in the West include: The banning of swastikas in Western Europe; equating pro-Palestine sentiments with anti-semitism; #GamerGate; the call for the

cancellation of the Colbert Report; among others.

It seems that what one says (and does) is constantly being dissected into what one can say, what one should say, and what one can’t say. This blatant lack of consciousness regarding these evident double standards is troubling. Just because we are allowed to say something doesn’t mean we should, does it?

Do we live in a world where a battle constantly rages between two apotheoses of self-righteousness, of false senses of conviction? Which does one choose: Self-awareness or self-deceit?

Also perhaps: These people have a point.

Live and let live. Pithy, succinct, and much easier to follow. Let it go. Cater to the majority, at no risk to oneself. Principles?

What are they? Truth? Is there such a thing?

Why attempt to turn one’s own world into a mess resembling a post-bombai morichh trip to the bathroom? Yes, keep your beliefs, but keep it to yourself.

But, but, but. What of my heretic pride? l SN Rasul works at the Dhaka Tribune.

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Shrinking liquidity exposes markets to crunch

17

ADB to maintain standards when cooperating with AIIB

19

DSEX posts worst week this year

Analysts: It’s high time to formulate subsidy policy

Centre for Policy Dialogue holds a seminar on ‘Efficiency and Distributional Equality of Subsidy in Bangladesh’ at a city hotel yesterday

n Tribune Report It is now high time for formulating a national subsidy policy to give benefits of the subsidies or cash incentives to the genuine people and ensure financial transparency in subsidy distribution mechanism, analysts say.

They viewed that the present subsidy system was not based on enough research, and influenced by political clout in many cases.

The analysts came up with the observation at a dialogue titled “Efficiency and Distributional Equality of Subsidy in Bangladesh” organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) at a city hotel yesterday.

Former Finance Adviser Mirza Azizul Islam noted that subsidy definition was necessary to bring transparency in its distribution as subsidy estimated in Bangladesh is just based on a gross estimation.

“Under the country’s existing subsidy regime, there is a lot of space for development in respect of transparency, efficiency and equality,” he said.

Islam explained that the government’s investment in shares and equities of the stateowned enterprises (SoEs) was seen as grant as it did not get any dividend for those entities.

“The government gives loan with lower interest rate at about 5% but this loan is never paid back by SoEs, which leads to increase debt service liability of the government. Such enterprises should be closed or divested.”

Professorial Fellow of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) M Asaduzzaman observed that proper study, in many cases, was not made before giving any subsidy.

“The government should pay due attention on the usage of subsidy by taking global context and intentional price movements into the account.”

On energy subsidy, he said solar power home system was a stellar example for its impressive expansion in recent years because of subsidy.

But he strongly criticised about energy subsidy on the quick rental power plant.

“Subsidy in quick rental power plant was supposed to give for temporary period but it has already taken quite a long time. Those, who are technologically inefficient in the world to produce power, is given subsidy thorough BPC to the big private business groups,” said Asaduzzaman.

In response, State Minister for Finance MA Mannan explained that the government had taken such decision for quick power generation in the context of the period when the country was struggling with acute

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Business

15

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

Barvida wants cutting import duty on hybrid cars

Monowara Hakim announces panel for FBCCI election n Tribune Report

DHAKA TRIBUNE

power shortage.

He further said the government primarily usage subsidy with an intention to reduce inequality and poverty.

“It cannot be withdrawn suddenly due to its contribution to and pervasiveness in the economy.”

CPD distinguished fellow Debapriya Bhattacharya said many hidden and non-transparent financial management was not yet clear.

“Rising about the political influence and in light of reality, economic structural changes and WTO trading system, a national subsidy policy is needed,” he viewed.

He also observed that with the recent fall of fertiliser and oil prices in the international market, the government could now pay attention to the existing subsidy management.

CPD visiting fellow Kaniz Siddique, in her study, discovered that whether subsidy as a policy tool was fiscally sustainable when used not only to address market failure and equity but also to mitigate government failures.

Focusing on subsidies in the export, food, national energy, power sectors and national agricultural policies in Bangladesh, her study found that subsidy was not a major macro instability and unsustainably threat as the government had been able to maintain a “comfortable and manageable” level of fiscal deficit.

For being of complex nature and a non-transparent fiscal instrument, she recommended for using subsidy as little as possible to ensure sustainability at macroeconomic level.

Sajjad Zohir, research director and head of treasury, Economic Research Group, said, “While estimating subsidy, market price, economic price or accounting price as a reference price on which the size of subsidy will depend are important.” l

FBCCI first vice president Monowara Hakim Ali has announced her panel to contest biennial election of the apex trade body.

The 32-member panel “Swadhinata Bebshayee Parishad” will face the race due on May 23 for the term 2015-17.

The panel picks half of the members from chambers and half from associations.

Monowara Hakim Ali, who will vie for presidency, made the announcement at a press conference yesterday.

Dewan Sultan Ahmed, a member of Laxmipur Chamber of Commerce and Industries, declared the panel’s 16 candidates from chambers.

Monowara said she would announce the remaining members from associations soon.

“If elected, we will work to boost economic growth and fulfill ‘Vision 2021’ announced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” she said.

She said they would also focus on creating jobs through industrial expansion and ensure more involvement of women in the economic activities.

‘We will work to boost economic growth and fulfill ‘Vision 2021’ announced by Prime Minister’ “Necessary initiatives will be taken so the women entrepreneurs can get bank loans with easy terms and export their products.”

The 16 members from chambers are Monowara Hakim Ali of Chittagong Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Abul Kashem Ahmed of Satkhira Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dewan Sultan Ahmed of Lakshmipur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bijoy Kumar Kejriwal of Kushtia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mohammad Kohinur Islam of Munshiganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tabarakul Tosaddek Hossain Khan Titu of Manikganj Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mohammad Masud of Sherpur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Hasin Ahmed of Sylhet Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Aminul Bari of Joypurhat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mohammad Hasanuzzaman of Narail Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Masud Parvez Khan of Comilla Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tanjil Ahmed of Brahmmanbaria Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Humayun Rashid Khan Pathan of Netrakona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Abul Wahed Sarkar from Nilphamari Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Anjuman Salauddin of Barisal Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Reza Shah Faruk of Rangamati Chamber of Commerce and Industry. l

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16 BUSINESS

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

Shrinking liquidity exposes markets to crunch n Reuters, London The calm on global financial markets masks a growing threat to their smooth functioning should shrinking liquidity morph into an outright crunch in response to a US interest rate rise or some other shock.

The price of German 10-year government bonds plunged this week, triggering the biggest rise in yield in over two years. Some analysts blamed the sell-off on a lack of liquidity, with Commerzbank going so far as to call it a “flash crash”.

There was no discernible market instability like a widening of bid/offer spreads, often a reliable sign of thinning liquidity. But there have been signs of potential dislocation in recent weeks - on one day in March the Bund bid-offer spread blew out to nearly 6 basis points, the widest in three years.

Analysis from GreySpark Partners shows that the average spread in high grade US corporate bonds since 2011 is around 12 basis points. In the five years before the global financial crisis, it was 7 basis points.

Liquidity is an amorphous concept and impossible to measure accurately. Its scarcity is only exposed in times of crisis. But everyone agrees it is shrinking, and this could dramatically push up the cost of trading, widen bidask spreads and make it harder for traders to close out positions.

As long as asset prices are rising, as most are thanks to super-easy global monetary policy, this isn’t a problem. But it will be if there is a sudden reversal and traders are forced to offload assets only to discover there are no buyers.

“This is a critical problem to the functioning of markets,” said Andy Hill, director of market practice and regulatory policy at the International Capital Market Association.

“Without secondary market liquidity, primary issuance will be impaired. We’re in a fragile state now,” he said, adding that lower rated corporate bonds, high yield debt and emerging markets are most vulnerable to a crunch.

The potential for a sudden freeze across a range of markets is a growing source of concern and debate among global policymakers and regulators.

They are trying to assess the impact on markets of regulatory changes that force

Traders make the phone call at the Shanghai Stock Exchange in Lujiazui Financial Area in Shanghai banks to hold more capital and less inventory on their books. Financial market participants say this is curbing banks’ trading and their ability to act as market-makers in many fixed income, currency and money markets.

Carry on shrinking

there’s an important difference between the sea of liquidity worth trillions of dollars provided by global central banks in recent years and the dwindling liquidity as measured by market trading. In some ways, they are two sides of the same coin.

The former is self-evident. As the Bank for International Settlements said in a recent report, global liquidity is “abundant”.

Central banks have printed $11tn since 2007, bringing central bank liquidity coursing through the global financial system to more than $16tn, according to Deutsche Bank. The European Central Bank is in the process of

Securex has recently signed an agreement with Jamuna Bank on availing direct cash loading facilities at all ATMs of the bank. MD of Securex, Farhan Quddus and the bank’s DMD, AKM Saifuddin Ahamed have signed the agreement

adding a further $1tn and China may act too.

But the latter, essentially a measure of the cost and ease of transacting a particular asset without prompting a huge swing in its price, is much less visible and harder to quantify.

This parallel trend of rising cash liquidity from central bank largesse and shrinking market liquidity was outlined in two recent investment bank reports.

In 2005 the US corporate credit asset universe was worth around $9tn, of which 5% was on dealers’ inventories. These assets are now worth around $12tn, of which less than 1% is on dealers’ inventories.

“Shrinking dealer balance sheets coupled with bond market growth have led to a significant worsening of fixed income liquidity, especially in corporate bonds,” Morgan Stanley said.

Primary dealers now hold only around $50bn of US corporate bonds on their books

REUTERS

compared with $300bn before the crisis, according to a study by Deutsche Bank.

In that time the total stock of outstanding bonds has more than doubled to $4.5tn from just under $2tn. Lower inventory means dealers will be less able to match wary buyers with panicked sellers and smooth out any market volatility.

Factoring in all markets - interest rates and repo, currencies, emerging markets and commodities, credit and equities - Morgan Stanley calculates that banks’ balance sheets shrank by around 20 percent last year and will shrink a further 10-15% over the next two years.

The most obvious shock to markets on the horizon is the US Federal Reserve’s rate hike.

When it comes, it will be the first rise in US interest rates since June 2006. Simply put, there are many traders who have no experience of the world’s most important interest rate going up. l

Star Ceramics Limited, a tiles and sanitary ware manufacturer of the country, has organised a monthlong exhibition of their products at SM Tower at Uttara, Dhaka. CEO Md. Moallimul Islam inaugurated the fair yesterday

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BUSINESS 17

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

ADB to maintain standards when cooperating with AIIB

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Takehiko Nakao speaks during a forum with members of Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) in Mandaluyong city REUTERS

n Reuters, Baku The Asian Development Bank (ADB) said yesterday that it was ready to work with the China-led Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) so long as standards were met, while also announcing changes to boost its own lending capacity by billions of dollars.

China has said 57 countries have signed up to become founding members of the AIIB, but so far the United States has chosen to remain outside the bank, seen as a rival to the US-dominated World Bank.

Giving reasons for not joining, the United States has cited what it called a lack of transparency, doubts about lending and environ-

mental safeguards, and concerns over Beijing’s influence.

Japan, which has a lead role in the ADB, has also cited a lack of transparency at the Beijing-based AIIB for not joining by a March 31 deadline, but has said that it would be desirable for the ADB to work with the AIIB. Addressing a media conference at the start of the multilateral lender’s annual meeting of its board of governors in Azerbaijan, ADB President Takehiko Nakao said the bank wanted to cooperate with AIIB, provided criteria were met.

“ADB is happy to cooperate, including co-financing, with the AIIB,” Nakao said in Baku. “With the AIIB, if we co-finance, we

will study how we do things, but I don’t have any intention to lower our standards.”

The four-day meeting comes amid much discussion of the future of global development architecture as more countries, including most shareholders of the ADB, commit to becoming founding members of the AIIB. On Friday, Nakao held an hour-long meeting with Liqun Jin, the secretary general of the AIIB’s interim secretariat. The pair agreed to work together in Asia, including jointly financing infrastructure projects and sharing information.

“We shared the importance of safeguard policies about the environmental and social protection,” Nakao said. l

China announces measures to boost creativity, jobs n AFP, Beijing China on Friday announced measures aimed at promoting innovation and job creation, state media said, as authorities seek to ensure that slowing economic growth doesn’t harm employment.

According to measures released by the State Council, which functions as China’s Cabinet, the government should broadly encourage entrepreneurship as well as startup enterprises to serve as a new engine for economic growth, the official Xinhua news agency said.

The announcement comes as China’s economic growth in 2014 registered its worst annual performance in nearly a quarter century, expanding 7.4 percent, while gross domestic product (GDP) decelerated further in the first quarter of this year from the previous three months.

Chinese authorities are tolerant of the slowdown, seen as a necessary element of their attempt to oversee a transformation of the economy in which consumer spending drives growth, a change that they and analysts envision as leading to more sustainable long-term expansion.

But they are sensitive to the potential impact on job growth, which is seen as a key element of social stability in the country with the world’s largest population.

A total of four measures call for governments at all levels of the country to place priority on creating jobs, increase employment through the encouragement of entrepreneurship and startups, help university graduates to secure employment or establish businesses, and offer improved government and training services, according to Xinhua.

“In order to encourage entrepreneurship and startups, governments at all levels were called on to speed up related reforms and refine policies to ensure fair treatment, favourable financial and tax conditions, and basic social safety benefits for startups,” Xinhua said.

The government said in March when releasing the first quarter GDP figure that China’s unemployment rate was “stable” at about 5.1% and that 3.2 million new urban jobs were created in the period.

Such a pace would put the country on course to best its annual target of more than 10 million new urban jobs. l

Euro steady on positive economic data n AFP, Tokyo

The euro held steady Friday after surging in New York on encouraging economic data in the eurozone, including a welcome pick-up in prices and stronger-than-expected growth in Spain.

With most major Asian markets closed for holidays, trading was thin in Tokyo where the euro bought $1.1206 and 134.10 yen compared with $1.1224 and 134.00 yen in New York.

However, the single currency is sharply higher than $1.1103 and 132.31 yen seen earlier Thursday in Tokyo.

“Players are buying back the euro due to some brighter economic indicators,” said Minori Uchida, head of Tokyo global markets re-

search at Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ. “But this does not mean a reverse of the trend. The euro is still subject to selling pressure.”

The single currency jumped after figures showed eurozone inflation at zero in April, the first time it has been out of negative territory in four months, while Spain’s economy grew in January-March at its fastest pace since 2007.

Euro-buying has also been supported by hopes Greece will be able to strike a bailout reform deal with its creditors that will help it avert a bailout and remain in the eurozone.

In other trading on Friday, the dollar rose to 119.66 yen, from 119.38 yen in New York.

Currency markets were largely unaffected by a series of economic indicators released

by the Japanese government early Friday, including inflation, household spending and unemployment, dealers said.

Japan’s core inflation picked up for the first time in 10 months in March, offering a sliver of hope for the Bank of Japan, which has been struggling to beat years of deflation.

Core inflation, excluding volatile fresh food prices, hit 2.2% in March, logging the positive reading since May 2014, the internal affairs ministry said.

However, stripping out the impact of a sales tax rise last year, the figure was a tepid 0.2%, well short of the central bank’s 2% target.

The unemployment rate edged down to 3.4% in March from 3.5% in February, but household spending fell nearly 11% as last

year’s levy hike continues to drag.

Analysts say policymakers will almost certainly be forced to expand the BoJ’s monetary easing scheme - which would tend to weaken the yen - in a bid to jack up prices and counter a downturn in the world’s number three economy.

The dollar was mixed against other Asia-Pacific currencies. It firmed to 1,078.54 South Korean won from 1,069.25 won on Thursday, to Tw$30.64 from Tw$30.62 and to 33.03 Thai baht from 32.76 baht.

The greenback also rose to 12,970.00 Indonesian rupiah from 12,923.90 rupiah while it weakened slightly to 44.59 Philippine pesos from 44.60 pesos and to 63.42 Indian rupees from 63.50 rupees. l

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18 BUSINESS

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 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.

EXIMBANK: 10% stock, AGM: 08.06.2015, Record Date: 10.05.2015.

EPS of Tk. 1.92, NAV per share of Tk. 17.90.

RANFOUNDRY: 22% cash dividend, AGM: 25.06.2015, Record Date: 14.05.2015. EPS of Tk. 3.20, NAV per share of Tk. 20.00.

PREMIERLEA: No dividend, AGM: 11.06.2015, Record Date: 20.05.2015. EPS of Tk. 0.07, NAV per share of Tk. 11.35.

BDFINANCE: 5% cash dividend, AGM: 29.06.2015, Record Date: 10.05.2015. EPS of Tk. 0.94, NAV per share of Tk. 14.49.

NFML: 10% stock dividend, AGM: 04.06.2015, Record Date: 12.05.2015.

EPS of Tk. 1.77, NAV per share of Tk. 14.41.

PHENIXINS: 20% cash dividend, AGM: 10.06.2015, Record date: 11.05.2015. EPS of Tk. 3.42, NAV per share of Tk. 32.63.

BXSYNTH: No dividend, AGM: 13.06.2015, Record Date: 21.05.2015.

EPS of Tk. -0.31, NAV per share of Tk. 24.72.

SONARBAINS: 6% cash and 6% stock dividend, AGM: 25.07.2015, Record Date: 19.05.2015. EPS of Tk. 1.65, NAV per share of Tk. 15.34.

PARAMOUNT: 10% stock dividend, AGM: 25.06.2015, Record Date: 11.05.2015. EPS of Tk. 1.47, NAV per share of Tk. 14.13.

SPCERAMICS: No dividend, AGM: 13.06.2015, Record Date: 21.05.2015.

EPS of Tk. -0.02, NAV per share of Tk. 29.02.

BEXIMCO: 15% stock dividend, AGM: 13.06.2015, Record Date: 21.05.2015. EPS of Tk. 1.06, NAV per share of Tk. 83.93.

GENNEXT: 15% stock dividend, AGM: 16.06.2015, Record Date: 11.05.2015. Weighted EPS of Tk. 1.76, Fully Diluted EPS of Tk. 1.54, NAV per share of Tk. 14.04.

BXPHARMA: 10% cash and 5% stock dividend, AGM: 13.06.2015, Record Date: 21.05.2015. EPS of Tk. 4.15, NAV per share of Tk. 56.87.

DHAKAINS: 8% cash and 7% stock dividend, AGM: 25.06.2015, Record Date: 13.05.2015. EPS of Tk. 1.84, NAV per share of Tk. 17.89.

ASIAPACINS: 10% cash dividend, AGM: 16.08.2015, Record Date: 30.06.2015. EPS of Tk. 1.50, NAV per share of Tk. 16.74.

FASFIN: 10% cash dividend, AGM: 30.05.2015, Record Date: 12.05.2015. EPS of Tk. 1.22, NAV per share of Tk. 14.54.

STANDARINS: 12% stock dividend, AGM: 16.06.2015, Record Date: 14.05.2015. EPS of Tk. 2.66, NAV per share of Tk. 17.15.

ACIFORMULA: 30% cash dividend, AGM: 11.06.2015, Record Date: 13.05.2015. Basic EPS of Tk. 4.14, NAV per share of Tk. 40.08.

REPUBLIC: 10% stock dividend, AGM: 16.06.2015, Record Date: 21.05.2015. EPS of Tk. 1.71, NAV per share of Tk. 13.98.

BATASHOE: 105% final cash dividend in addition to the 175% interim cash dividend declared and paid in December 2014 thus making a total 280% cash dividend, AGM: 25.06.2015, Record Date: 10.05.2015. EPS of Tk. 51.22, NAV per share of Tk. 187.94.

Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

Closing (% change)

Company ACI Formulations-A GeminiSeaFood-B Global Insurance -A Reckitt Benckiser -A Kay & Que (BD) -Z IFIL Islamic M.F.1-A BATBCL -A Monno Stafllers -A Sandhani Life -A Intl. Leasing-B

26.86 21.47 7.14 5.54 5.36 4.08 3.97 3.55 3.17 3.13

CSE GAINER Closing (% change)

Company ACI Formulations-A GreenDeltaInsu -A SonarBangla Insu. -A First Finance- A Paramount Insur-A BATBCL -A IBBLMPB-A Dhaka Ins. Ltd.-A Aramit -A Shahjibazar Power-N

28.05 10.00 8.57 6.67 6.61 4.73 4.73 4.47 4.17 4.01

DSE LOSER Company Rangpur Dairy-N Popular Life Insu. -A Sonargaon Tex -Z Shinepukur Cera-Z Beximco Syn.-Z Premier Leasing-Z Nitol Insurance -A Aziz PipesZ Atlas BD-A aamra technologies-A

Closing (% change) -42.47 -41.27 -30.08 -27.59 -26.73 -22.62 -21.28 -21.05 -19.56 -19.23

CSE LOSER Company Standard Insurance-A Rangpur Dairy-N Popular Life Insu. -A Sonargaon Tex -Z Premier Leasing-Z Shinepukur Cera-Z Beximco Syn.-Z Nitol Insurance -A MeghnaCement -A aamra technologies-A

Closing (% change) -45.35 -41.38 -37.19 -33.61 -25.29 -25.21 -24.00 -20.70 -19.87 -19.82

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

DSE key features April 26-30, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

DSE GAINER

Sector

13,634.18 302,439,943 390,191

Traded Issues

321

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

38

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

274

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

9

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,335.17

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

28.31

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 1008.46 292.38 73.60 2089.15 483.50 3446.80 4.02 1186.10 2725.10 35.56 504.28 73.46 98.67 240.01 217.48 58.31 130.97 460.21 182.20 309.74 14.19

% change 7.40 2.14 0.54 15.32 3.55 25.28 0.03 8.70 19.99 0.26 3.70 0.54 0.72 1.76 1.60 0.43 0.96 3.38 1.34 2.27 0.10

Million Taka 35.40 312.46 3.44 291.28 16.02 368.43 0.00 122.05 144.95 11.98 34.34 1.30 9.19 21.56 16.68 3.29 5.43 72.70 35.07 55.59 0.05

Average (% change) 21.69 21.24 7.30 1.56 (0.68) 2.83 3.33 3.84 3.46 2.34

Average (% change) 20.69 0.34 8.57 1.58 6.61 4.73 4.75 4.59 4.17 5.15

Average (% change) -40.34 -41.49 -35.15 -29.11 -25.52 -22.55 -22.21 -23.38 -19.25 -19.19

Average (% change) -45.35 -40.34 -37.73 -37.55 -27.30 -26.88 -24.90 -17.58 -19.85 -19.94

CSE

Closing average 163.92 249.08 13.52 1,404.78 11.61 5.08 3,098.83 280.58 49.40 13.14

Closing average 162.24 44.15 15.20 9.62 12.90 3037.25 908.18 18.70 275.00 172.72

Closing average 8.74 85.05 8.71 8.45 7.47 6.49 18.49 14.55 92.46 27.59

Closing average

% change 2.27 20.01 0.22 18.66 1.03 23.60 0.00 7.82 9.28 0.77 2.20 0.08 0.59 1.38 1.07 0.21 0.35 4.66 2.25 3.56 0.00

9.40 8.77 90.00 8.58 6.31 8.87 7.45 18.00 76.22 27.22

Weekly closing 168.60 251.80 13.50 1,464.30 11.80 5.10 3,111.60 280.30 48.80 13.20

Weekly closing 168.90 48.40 15.20 9.60 12.90 3037.30 908.00 18.70 275.00 171.00

Weekly closing

Weekly high 169.10 251.80 13.70 1,510.00 12.50 5.30 3,128.30 291.90 50.60 13.30

Weekly high 169.50 48.40 15.20 9.40 12.90 3108.00 920.00 18.90 275.00 178.00

Weekly high

8.40 84.40 8.60 8.40 7.40 6.50 18.50 15.00 91.70 27.30

Weekly closing

136.00 205.00 11.80 1,295.00 11.00 4.70 2,911.10 265.20 46.10 12.20

Weekly low 135.70 43.40 14.00 9.00 11.00 2900.00 827.00 17.20 275.00 164.10

Weekly low

14.60 99.90 12.60 12.30 10.50 8.70 22.30 18.90 112.00 34.20

Weekly high

9.40 8.50 90.00 8.10 6.50 8.90 7.60 18.00 76.20 27.10

Million Taka 1043.85 604.84 77.04 2380.43 499.52 3815.23 4.02 1308.15 2870.05 47.54 538.62 74.76 107.86 261.57 234.16 61.60 136.40 532.90 217.27 365.33 14.25

Weekly low

7.10 83.00 8.40 8.20 7.30 6.20 18.40 13.60 90.10 26.90

Weekly low

9.40 15.20 110.00 11.50 8.30 12.50 10.30 18.00 90.10 33.30

Total

9.40 8.40 90.00 8.00 5.90 8.70 7.10 18.00 70.00 27.00

% change 6.87 3.98 0.51 15.67 3.29 25.11 0.03 8.61 18.89 0.31 3.54 0.49 0.71 1.72 1.54 0.41 0.90 3.51 1.43 2.40 0.09

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

787.626 14.290 0.917 29.301 0.083 3.042 83.919 2.952 3.218 13.177

Turnover in million

6.80 -6.36 1.12 42.33 -1.41 1.04 104.70 1.17 2.12 0.74

Latest EPS

55.249 0.006 0.003 0.070 0.020 0.054 0.048 0.337 0.054 24.399

Turnover in million

24.1 -ve 12.1 33.2 -ve 4.9 29.6 239.8 23.3 17.8

Latest PE

6.80 2.96 1.65 0.63 1.47 104.70 0.00 1.84 14.12 8.44

Latest EPS

22.646 20.643 2.282 8.039 4.247 5.432 0.269 0.179 3.641 56.894

Turnover in million

Latest PE

23.9 14.9 9.2 15.3 8.8 29.0 10.2 19.5 20.5

Latest PE

1.11 2.89 -0.84 -0.02 -0.31 0.07 3.14 -0.37 -1.24 2.04

Latest EPS

0.002 3.312 0.091 0.465 0.418 0.496 1.062 0.002 0.193 6.056

7.9 29.4 -ve -ve -ve 92.7 5.9 -ve -ve 13.5

Latest PE

2.66 1.11 2.89 -0.84 0.07 -0.02 -0.31 3.14 6.71 2.04

3.5 7.9 31.1 -ve 90.1 -ve -ve 5.7 11.4 13.3

CSE key features April 26-30, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

1,561.21 54,128,156 66,583

Traded Issues

257

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

28

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

224

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,266.32

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

27.47

DT

BUSINESS 19

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

DSEX posts worst week this year n Tribune Report

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company United Power-N ACI Limited- A ACI Formulations-A BSRM Ltd. -N WesternMarine -N Shasha Denims -N MJL BD Ltd.-A Khulna Power-A Shahjibazar Power-N SAIF Powertec-N

Ifad Autos -N Square Pharma -A Grameenphone-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A BD Submarine Cable-A

Volume shares 8,709,256 1,770,087 5,104,918 9,597,318 8,993,956 10,018,118 3,126,137 5,725,921 1,878,635 4,565,660

3,816,886 1,093,865 830,211 7,913,356 1,652,208

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Intl. Leasing-B United Power-N BSRM Ltd. -N ACI Formulations-A BD Submarine Cable-A MJL BD Ltd.-A WesternMarine -N BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Mozaffar H.Spinning-A ACI Limited- A

UNITED AIR-A Ifad Autos -N Shahjibazar Power-N SAIF Powertec-N Khulna Power-A

Volume shares 24,113,536 1,236,897 2,327,446 360,991 447,274 410,562 951,793 1,589,168 1,059,510 65,270

3,942,873 357,977 142,590 345,622 364,238

Value in million 1640.77 945.62 787.63 687.56 443.85 388.72 387.10 361.74 322.52 318.67

301.20 271.44 268.98 212.30 191.23

Value in million 296.44 230.62 167.18 55.25 51.83 51.55 46.90 42.62 37.25 34.81

27.73 27.66 24.40 24.16 22.91

% of total turnover 12.03 6.94 5.78 5.04 3.26 2.85 2.84 2.65 2.37 2.34

2.21 1.99 1.97 1.56 1.40

% of total turnover 18.99 14.77 10.71 3.54 3.32 3.30 3.00 2.73 2.39 2.23

1.78 1.77 1.56 1.55 1.47

Weekly closing 182.30 534.00 168.60 59.90 45.60 37.60 122.60 61.30 170.10 68.60

78.40 246.00 323.70 26.40 113.30

Weekly closing 13.10 181.60 60.00 168.90 113.20 121.30 45.90 26.30 33.80 531.90

6.80 78.00 171.00 68.50 61.00

Price change -8.02 1.00 26.86 0.00 -9.88 -14.35 -2.15 -4.96 2.90 -6.79

Weekly opening 198.20 528.70 132.90 0.00 50.60 43.90 125.30 64.50 165.30 73.60

Weekly high 205.00 570.00 169.10 83.00 55.00 41.40 128.80 67.50 179.00 75.00

Price change 4.80 -8.38 0.00 28.05 -9.94 -3.35 -8.57 -9.62 -6.11 1.33

Weekly opening 12.50 198.20 0.00 131.90 125.70 125.50 50.20 29.10 36.00 524.90

Weekly high 13.10 203.90 82.00 169.50 125.70 130.00 54.00 29.50 37.00 570.00

-1.38 -1.99 -0.34 -9.28 -9.94

-9.33 -1.89 4.01 -6.93 -5.86

79.50 251.00 324.80 29.10 125.80

7.50 79.50 164.40 73.60 64.80

82.10 252.30 334.10 29.60 125.10

7.40 81.90 178.00 74.20 65.00

Weekly low 170.00 485.20 136.00 56.50 44.80 37.10 120.00 60.50 164.00 66.70

77.10 245.00 317.50 24.90 112.00

Weekly low 12.10 170.00 55.50 135.70 112.00 118.00 44.80 25.00 32.00 490.00

6.70 76.10 164.10 66.10 60.70

Weekly average 191.18 530.34 163.92 60.47 46.17 37.86 122.49 61.55 172.92 69.11

78.85 246.23 321.96 26.52 114.34

Weekly average 12.50 190.12 60.36 162.24 113.90 124.23 46.22 26.48 33.66 537.66

6.84 78.27 172.72 69.20 61.42

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

4047.28611

(-) 3.46%

1545.18780

(-) 2.99%

12453.0911

(-) 3.15%

10158.1655

(-) 2.74%

7557.4320

(-) 3.30%

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

In its biggest weekly loss this year, the DSE benchmark DSEX plunged 145 points due to all-round selling pressure in view of political situation after post-city corporation polls marred by irregularities.

The shares of IT, non-banking financial institutions, telecommunication, textile, pharmaceuticals and engineering sectors were the pacesetters in the decline.

In the past week that ended Thursday, the DSEX settled at 4,047, falling 3.5%, which is 18-month low.

The comprising blue chips DS30 index lost 47 points or 3% to 1,592.

The DSE Shariah Index was down 32 points or 3.2% to 992.

The trading was shortened in the past week due to general holiday on Tuesday due to three city corporation polls.

The market passed yet another gloomy week as investors remained concerned about the political outlook of the country after city corporation election, said Lanka Bangla Securities.

“Market is currently standing around its major psychological support level of 4,000. This week,

the broad index DSEX was eroded by 145 points. At this point of time, investors are remaining conscious about their trading activity.”

IDLC Investments said the week started against the backdrop of catastrophic earthquake in neighboring country as well as heating up of local political frontier.

In the past week that ended Thursday, the DSEX settled at 4,047, falling 3.5%, which is 18-month low “In such demoralising situation, the market failed to revive investors’ sentiment.

As city corporation election passed without any indication of sustainable political calm, investors remained pessimistic throughout the week.”

Trading activity plummeted to a level of Tk340 crore on average in the past week compared to previous week’s Tk470 crore.

Losses in Square Pharmaceuticals, Lafarge Surma Cement, Titas Gas and Grameenphone weighed on benchmark index. l

ANALYST

The week started against the backdrop of catastrophic earthquake in neighboring country as well as heating up of local political frontier

DT

20 BUSINESS

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

Barvida wants cutting import duty on hybrid cars n

Tribune Report

Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (Barvida) demanded the government reduce duty on the import of hybrid cars as they are “more ecofriendy than the traditional cars.”

“Hybrid cars are fuel-efficient and eco-friendly, but the problem is the high price, which keeps consumers from buying them. High import duty is the reason of higher prices,” said Barvida president MA Hamid Sharif.

The association made the demand at a pre-budget meeting yesterday with National Board of Revenue chairman Md Nojibur Rahman in the chair.

“If the government reduces import duty, prices of hybrid cars will come down,” said Hamid.

He said it would also reduce pressure on fuel and energy, especially gas, which could be used for the industrial production.

Barvida also recommended setting depreciation facilities at 25% for one-year old reconditioned cars, 35% for two-year old, 45% for three-year old, 50% for five-year old and 55% for more than five-year old.

It sought withdrawal of 30% supplementary tax on micro-bus import as it is used for carrying tourists, medical items and official and industrial purposes.

NBR also held meetings with some other organisations yesterday.

Bangladesh Cha Sangsad proposed imposing higher import duty on tea import for the sake of local producers.

“The production of tea increased by 187% to 200% and if the import of tea is allowed at lower duty, it would make it difficult for the sector to survive,” said president of Bangladesh Cha Sangsad Ardashir Kabir.

For the sake of local tea producers, the government should fix import duty at a rational level, he added.

Besides, Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners

Association urged the government to withdraw supplementary import duty on lubricants and grease.

“We urge the government to lower import duty to 5% from existing 10% on tyre import,” said Faruk Talukdar Sohel, president of the association.

Bangladesh Mobile Phone Business Association recommended imposing import duty of Tk100-150 per handset to avert smuggling.

“We have imported about 20m handsets last year, of which, 30% are imported through illegal channels. If the import duty is set 30%, smuggling can be prevented,” said the association’s president Mohammad Nizamuddin Jitu.

Bangladesh Mobile Phone Importers Association urged the government to bring down the import duty on mobile handsets to a rational level.

At present, the importers are paying 21.75% duty, which is not a rational rate, it said. l

Poultry firms seek incentive in upcoming budget n Tribune Report Poultry industry seeks incentives in the upcoming budget for reducing business cost and bosting production in the sector.

Leaders of Bangladesh Poultry Industries Association (BPIA) and Feed Industries Association raised the demand at the meeting with National Board of Revenue (NBR) on a pre-budget discussion held at the NBR headquarters.

Poultry firm owners placed their budget proposal for the new fiscal year 2015-16 at the meeting with NBR Chairman Nojibur Rahman in the chair.

Local poultry firms encounter difficulties to compete in the market as foreign investors are making their investment in the sector facing no restrictions, said MM Khan, general secretary of BPIA. He called for steps to bring foreign investors under more taxation in the best interest of local investors.

Khan requested the NBR to provide some more facilities with existing incentives in the new budget so that they can produce safe food and generate employment in the sector.

Earlier, the government declared tax holiday for the poultry sector till 2019 in the budget of fiscal year 2014-15 but no circular had so far been issued in this regard, said leaders.

They requested NBR to take necessary measures about it.

Currently, the poultry sector is enjoying tax holiday which will continue till June 30 this year.

Poultry firm owners also demanded exemption from 5% advance income tax on imported poultry feed. l

BGMEA sends aid for Nepal earthquake survivors n Tribune Report

FBCCI and Polish embassy in Dhaka held a joint business seminar in the city yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Oil off 2015 highs on record Iraq exports n Reuters, New York Oil prices eased off 2015 highs on Friday after Iraq said its crude oil exports hit a record in April, and on pressure from a stronger dollar.

Both Brent and US crude settled well above intraday lows, supported by data showing another slip in drilling rig activity and news of a shut gasoline-making unit in Venezuela.

Venezuela’s 645,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Amuay refinery has halted its catalytic cracking unit for maintenance, helping US RBOB gasoline RBc1 and ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) HOc1 futures post higher settlements on the first day of trading with June contracts in front-month position.

June Brent LCOc1 crude fell 32 cents to settle at $66.46 a barrel, after falling to $65.52 and

having earlier matched Thursday’s 2015 peak of $66.93. Brent jumped 21 percent in April.

US June crude CLc1 fell 48 cents to settle at $59.15, after hitting a 2015 high of $59.90 and recovering from a $58.32 intraday low. US crude futures gained 25 percent last month.

Trading volume was thinned as some major markets were closed for the May Day holiday.

Friday’s pullback was initially sparked by news that Iraq’s oil exports rose in April to a record 3.08 million bpd from 2.98 million bpd in March, which served as a reminder of ample supply in the market.

OPEC supply in April rose to its highest in more than two years at 31.04 million bpd, according to a Reuters survey.

“What is driving prices these days is less physical markets, which remain very weak, but

more expectations of future tightening,” said Amrita Sen, chief oil analyst at Energy Aspects.

Despite a sharp drop in US shale drilling in recent months, there have been few signs that a global supply glut is easing.

Oil services firm Baker Hughes Inc said on Friday that US drilling activity fell by 24 rigs, fewer than the 31 rigs idled last week.

“If markets don’t tighten as quickly as people are expecting, the sell-off can be large,” Sen said.

The US dollar index .DXY posted its best daily gain in a month, up from a two-month low on signs that the US economy may be stabilizing after a soft patch.

The stronger dollar helped pressure several dollar-denominated commodities, including oil. l

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has extended its gracious cooperation to Nepal earthquake survivors, besides expressing profound sympathy for the victims.

BGMEA President Atiqul Islam and Vice-President Shahidullah Azim yesterday handed over 200 cartoons with over 10,000 clothing products including shirts, pants, sweater, T-shirt, ladies pants and children dresses to the Nepal authority, a statement said yesterday.

The relief materials went to Nepal in a flight of Bangladesh Airforce on Friday.

“We have urged our members and other organisations to provide support as per their capacity to help earthquake survivors in Nepal,” said Azim.

“We will continue our efforts to help the survivors and the first phase consignment has been placed to the authority.”

Azim also said at present, the survivors need warm clothes, blanket, tents, plastic mats, drinking water, dry foods and medicine.

The death toll of the earthquake that struck Nepal on Saturday has crossed 6,000 while a great many are still unaccounted for as the rescue team is yet to reach the hilly areas. l

DT

21

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

PHOTO: Menka

The heat is on And you can beat it with some sweet, natural fabrics.

While classic white is a class on its own, there’s no reason why you can’t play with jewel tones like this beautiful emerald sari. Keep the silhouettes soft and flowy and the season of warmth will just be a breeze.

T-JUNCTION

Cool cottons

INSIDE

22 news

Two world class speakers share a piece of their minds

23

in fashion

Summer pants

24

wardrobe check

Cool it

DT

22 T-JUNCTION

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

News

The Sustainable Living Competition at ISD “The Sustainable Living Competition 2015” was orgqanised by Mifrah Khan, the founder of the co-curricular programme Steps to a Sustainable Future at International School Dhaka (ISD).

The competition was made in order to give students a platform to speak about the theme of sustainable living as well

Two world class speakers share a piece of their minds Enthusiastic listeners filled AIUB’s auditorium as Dr Formosa shared a

piece of his mind on Marketing.

On April 15, Dr Dan Formosa, Jury President, Product Design Cannes Lions, Design Thinker, New York and one of the featured speakers in Bangladesh Brand Forum Seminar

Rethinking Marketing were present at the event, delivering an hourlong lecture at the campus. The event contained an intellectual and interactive session with the audiences.

On Sunday, April 19, the university hosted yet another seminar with Hooi Den Huan, Director, Nanyang

Technopreneurship Center and Associate Professor of Nanyang Business School.

The seminar was thought to be a fruitful event for the audience and create a new paradigm for Marketing students, professionals and practitioners.

as start their own initiatives in this field. They had participants from ten different schools around Dhaka city including Viqarunessa Noon School and College, Sunbeams School, Chittagong Grammar School Dhaka, Scholastica School, International School Dhaka, Aga Khan School, International Turkish Hope School, Hurdco International School and Sir John Wilson School. The judges were Dr Monituzzaman, Tasmima Hossain, Rafi Bashar, Sultana Alam and Aditi Chowdhury. After hearing the brilliant speeches from all the participants, the judges had a tough time deciding the winner but alas, the winner of “Sustainable Living Competition 2015” was the representative from The Aga Khan School Dhaka. The winner recieved a grant of Tk50,000 from the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at ISD, which will be used in order TO help fund their future initiative. The event was sponsored by Magnito Digital, Monasa Learning Centre, PTA and ISD.

Another feather in his cup For two and a half years, Salman Kabir, the new Assistant Director of Marketing and PR of Sonargaon hotel, has been serving as the PR Manager of the five star hotel.

Recently, the man who proved himself in the designated role in the past years, has been promoted in the Sales and Marketing Department of Sonargaon.

Kabir has experience working with people in reputable organisations such as British American Tobacco Bangladesh and CREDOS Advertising, UK. In the last few years, the media spokesperson, together with the team, has represented Sonargaon hotel at all events and thus created a prestigious image for the marketing and communication department of the hotel.

The whole team of Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel joined together to celebrate Salman Kabir on his welldeserved promotion.

Gitanjali Jewellery on discount all of Boishakh Pohela Boishakh celebration continues with Gitanjali’s latest discount on all its gorgeous diamond jewellery. Gitanjali is offering up to 30% discount for its valued customers on necklace set, finger rings, ear rings, nose pin, platinum ring, diamond locket and much more.

The offer will last till the end of Boishakh month.

Contact: 028881759, 01678737707, Visit: www.gitanjalijewellersbd.com

T-JUNCTION 23

DT

Trending

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

in fashion

Summer pants The hottest pants of the season

n Sabrina Fatma Ahmad With the season’s big cultural events done and dusted, it’s time to look forward to a few months of bright sun and breezy summer trends. If you’re looking to update your trouser wardrobe with some trending new buys, here are the five summer pants you should be shopping for: Urban Chinos If you’re following brunch with some office work, you want to go for slouchy, slim-fit chinos. We’ve seen close approximations online from O Code and Vittate (available via Daraz.com.bd), but your best, most summer-friendly bet is to buy some linen and have it tailor made. A versatile garment, this looks great whether paired with a menswear shirt and softened with feminine accessories, or taken into the deshi route with one of the Pride Girls or Taaga kurtis.

Graphic prints Printed trousers have been in for a while now,

and this year, when it starts getting really warm, think outside the box and look for softer fabrics, such as linen, or even silk for that luxe feel, as an alternative to your basic denim. The slim-fit cigarette pants will the go-to silhouette for this look. Pair these with graphic tees, drapey off-the shoulder tops, or even blouson dresses for a fun twist.

Gaucho pants A low-rent version of these pants are already widely available in the market, ambitiously advertised as “short palazzos” or “palazzo-capris”. Smartex has a few half-decent ones too. If you want to take these babies out to a more upscale event than your grocery run, however, consider going to a suiting tailor and having a trouser style pair made, complete with the middle pleat, belt hooks and all.

For this silhouette, it’s best to have a structured top to match. T-shirts work best, but in the interests of modesty, you may consider a cropped jacket, or go the opposite route

with an oversized blazer.

Draped pants We’ve seen a bunch of these in the Urban Truth outlets, and we cannot get enough.

The slouchy cut, the adjustable drawstring waists, and the elastic ankles make them the perfect fusion of sporty and casual. If you want to turn heads this season, grab something in a fresh hue, like mint.

Denim in distress You can’t have a list of pants and not have at least one denim item on it. While trousers are flaring out into bell-bottoms and palazzos, skinny jeans continue to thrive in the realm of casual wear. In fact, the hippie revolution on the catwalks have taken the chill to another level with ripped knees and heavy distressing. We’re guessing this isn’t a look your Mom will digest without resistance, so take it slow and opt for a light wash in favour of the busker look. l

style session

Whites, camera, action!

Three tips if you’re going to wear white

n Sabah Rahman The coming summer has us all salivating about strutting our stuff in crisp clothing in light shades, white being our favourite. It’s simple while elegant, suits everybody and there’s always that feeling you’re off to a

fresh start when you’ve dressed up in white.

A few sneaky hitches can and will ruin the breezy look you’re trying to create. We’re here to help you deal with the top three.

Underneath it all When it comes to pulling off a brilliant white outfit, there are way too many people that muck up the overall effect by wearing the wrong undergarments. Sounds easy enoughyou wear white underneath white, right?

Wrong! Very, very wrong. White underwear shows right through light shades of clothing.

Let’s not even get started on a lacy white number worn under a basic white shirt. What you need to execute this look flawlessly is flesh-toned knickers. Not just any basic, run of the mill nude hues, mind you. If your skin tone resembles chocolate and you step out in light beige skivvies under a white ensemble, the result will be as bad as going for that lacy, white bra. Make sure the colour looks as if it’s blending in with your skin and you’re good to go.

Shoe savvy Let’s face it, not a whole lot of folk can pull of white kicks. While a pristine pair of white trainers can be appealing, clunky, strappy numbers that don’t do

your legs any favours can be an eyesore.

Someone’s going to call the fashion police on you and it’s not going to be pleasant. A common mistake many make is convincing themselves that a white outfit demands to be matched with white footwear. That’s never the case. The best thing about wearing white is that you can pick any colour your heart desires when it comes to shoes. Why not go for brights?

Not so mellow yellow You know you’ve spotted someone in what could’ve been a killer white tee, only to be put off by the yellowed pits when

they wave goodbye. You yourself could be harbouring a few of these culprits in the back of your closet thinking you’ll deal with it some other time. Don’t sweat it, literally. There are ways to deal with these pesky stains. The key is to wash your shirt right after taking it off to prevent the stain from setting. Use a bit of baking soda combined with your detergent to give an added kick. If that doesn’t work or you want to salvage a white garment that you think is beyond repair, let the professionals handle it before dousing it in bleach and risk tears and breakage. l

DT

24 T-JUNCTION

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

in style

Tailored

What rules?

Bring on the white and the prints this summer n Mahmood Hossain If you’ve heard that it’s a fashionable sin to wear white after Labour Day, you have been lied to. There is no written law to what colour you can wear. Although there are the unwritten rules of what you should and shouldn’t wear to a funeral or wedding. The hotter it gets the more effort you’ll have to put when it comes to lightening things up in your wardrobe.

The best way to go on about the warmer months is to have a solid balance between the colours you wish to wear. In fact, it’s not necessary that you have to wear loud colours during the summer. But to liven things up, wearing solid white with a selection of printed trousers is a good way to go turn the style switch on to a different level.

1.

You can accomplish both. You can still sport something completely white with, let’s say, navy trousers with smaller prints. It’s the ideal contrast regarding a summer look. However, in the beginning stages you want to ease into this cool new look. Choose either a pair of printed trousers or an all-white casual shirt with lighter shade trousers. Jeans are always an acceptable choice.

2. For certain occasions, it’s perfectly fine to wear an all white suit. Just make sure

wardrobe check

Cool it!

Knowing your summerfriendly fabrics right

n Baizid Haque Joarder As much as we love summer, there are bits of it which we’d like to avoid. Like the time when you arrived at a meeting, drenched in your “glorious” sweat. Or the time when you raised your hand in class only to be followed by the matinee show of “The Great Yellow Sweatpatch” under your armpits. Yes, it’s gross to a level where no amount of cologne can hide.

But there’s hope. All you have to do to steer clear of such fashion disasters is by knowing your fabrics right. We at T-Junction have that list, ready at your disposal.

Cotton If breathable fabrics were a crown, cotton has to be the crown jewel. And being from a tropical country, no one can argue that it’s hard to imagine summer without it. Cotton is definitely one of the most airiest fabrics out there, retaining no heat whatsoever. It absorbs and evaporates moisture from your skin, leaving you cool and calm, on a harsh sunny day.

Maybe you have to iron the creases before you leave your house but, cotton is a dream come true!

Linen Just like cotton, linen has made a mark on being breathable, comfortable and for its faculty to soak up moisture. And because of virtues like these, most fashion brands have understood its popularity, and hence, they have entire lines made of it. Yes, linen tends to crease fast but the comfort it provides, surely makes up for the hassle of ironing.

Madras Madras is essentially the result when Scottish tartans meet India, modified with their own colour and chequered patterns. Named after the city Chennai’s former name, Madras is a light-weight material with breathable and air circulating qualities.

Might as well add it to your list.

Khaddar Commonly known as khadi, this hand-woven, airy fabric comes straight out of our heritage.

A by-product of the famous muslin and tant, khaddar has been around since the time of Marco Polo. Even the famous traveller was impressed by the fabric’s attributes, terming it “as fine a spider’s web.”

We might not have the best quality of muslin around to wear to work, but we can surely fallback on the comforts of khaddar.

With that being said, mixed fabrics have crowded the clothing stores in Dhaka. And if you cannot resist them (despite the horrendous outcomes), you might want to keep them for the cooler times, only. l

3.

4.

5.

6.

it’s made up of light cotton or better yet a 100% linen suit. It defeats the entire purpose of sporting an all-white look if you’re walking around like you’ve gained several pounds overnight. In other words, you have no business looking like Kingpin from Daredevil.

Printed trousers aren’t for the amateurs, sorry to say. You’ve got to have plenty of confidence and a dash of suavity to pull something off like this. The safest way to don the printed bottoms is to find a shirt in a similar, lighter shade that of your trousers. Don’t for the kicks either.

Whether they are sneakers or loafers, they must compliment your printed pieces. Make sure they aren’t wild looking themselves. Remember to always create a balance in your look.

The statement piece here are those head-turning printed trousers.

Do “match” your shirts to your shoes.

While you may not feel too brave to taking on a white shirt on white trousers, don’t shy away from taking white shoes as a comfortable companion to your white shirt or blazer. And if they are canvas sneakers or sude loafers, even better!

Choose wisely. When we say printed trousers, it means there’s an array of

designs to play around with. You’ve got micro-dots, windowpane, camo, checks, floral prints and so on. Don’t feel that you’ve only been restricted to polka-dots.

7. Sports can play a huge role on your overall look as well. The sporty aesthetics of a white polo or shirt makes the outfit even more welcoming and relaxed. Whether you’re hitting up the links for a few holes or meeting up with the fellas for a few cool drinks, a white polo is your go-to item in the closet.

8. Both white clothes and prints will have you standout no matter what, so try avoiding flashy accessories. On the other hand, shades are more than welcomed, be it a gold or silver frame.

9. Floral prints and of similar fashion can come in all different sizes, most of them you’ll see today are on the smaller side because it’s more flattering. There’s more of a disciplined cut and silhouette to the new crop of trousers, which means they look as if they were tailored just for you.

10. And unless you’re playing sports or exercising, don’t give it a second thought on wearing white socks.

You should already be aware of this, gentlemen. If you want to go all white, stay away from white socks. l

The wife of former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand has died following a short battle with cancer, he announced on Saturday

Sport 26

TURNING POINT IN BANGLADESH CRICKET: COACH

27

MISBAH PRAISES TIGERS, OPENING STAND

29

25

DT

REST IN PIECE

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

SUAREZ HAT-TRICK AS BARCA ROUT CORDOBA

Record-savvy Tigers draw first Test n Minhaz Uddin Khan from Khulna A brilliant record opening stand between Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes saw Bangladesh shy away from an innings defeat before bouncing back hard in the first Test against Pakistan to end the game in a draw yesterday. Pakistan, having posted a mammoth 628 in the first innings, had taken all the momentum away from the hosts. A big defeat was looming when the two openers stood tall against the odds as cruised the team into the game.

The occasion was the first when Bangladesh were not defeated against Pakistan in nine Tests that they played against each other. Bangladesh who came into the series boosted with wins from the shooter formats bagged yet another gem. There is no doubt Pakistan, the number fourth Test side in the ICC rankings, will still be the favourites

SCORECARD, DAY 5 BANGLADESH 1ST INNINGS 332 (Imrul Kayes 51, Mominul Haque 80, Mohammad Mahmudullah 49, Wahab Riaz 3-55, Yasir Shah 3-86, Mohammad Hafeez 2-47).

PAKISTAN 1ST INNINGS 628 (Mohammad Hafeez 224, Azhar Ali 83, Misbah-ul Haq 59, Asad Shafiq 83, Sarfraz Ahmed 82; Taijul Islam 6-163).

R

B

Tamim Iqbal st Sarfraz b Hafeez Imrul Kayes c sub (Azam) b Zulfiqar Mominul Haque b Junaid Mahmudullah lbw b Junaid Shakib al Hasan not out Mushfiqur Rahim lbw b Hafeez Soumya Sarkar c Hafeez b Asad Shuvagata Hom not out Extras (lb4, w2, nb3)

BANGLADESH 2ND INNINGS

206 150 21 40 76 0 33 20 9

278 240 51 71 104 5 45 25

Total (for six wickets, 136 overs)

555

Fall of wickets 1-312 (Imrul), 2-345 (Mominul), 3-399 (Tamim), 4-463 (Mahmudullah), 5-464 (Rahim), 6-524 (Soumya).

Bowling Junaid 21-5-88-2 (3nb, 1w), Zulfiqar 32-1-125-1, Hafeez 20-0-82-2, Wahab 20-3-75-0 (1w), Yasir 30-2-123-0, Azhar 6-1-26-0, Asad 7-0-32-1.

Result: Match drawn M-O-M: Tamim Iqbal

when they lock horns with the Tigers in the second Test at Mirpur, but will be under severe pressure.

Tamim and Imrul had already posted 273 runs in the two sessions they batted on day four picking records coming in their way. The duo however didn’t stop their rather passed the 300-run mark when they resumed their partnership on the final at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium. In the process they had put on more milestones which included breaking a 55-year old record. They had put Pakistan in a miserable state given that even a day ago the side had no pressure having posted a match winning lead.

Imrul complimented Tamim the 75.4 overs that they spent in the middle together. He fell to Zunfiqar Babar after scoring 150 but by then he had already done the job for his side and in the process registered the world’s biggest opening partnership. Tamim and Imrul posted 312, highest opening partnership in the second innings in Test cricket history and a record broken after 55-years. Earlier former England opener Colin Cowdrey and Geoff Puller had the feat to their name.

Imrul’s departure didn’t stop Tamim. His intentions rather looked to have become rock solid as he helped his side resurge in the Test which was no way near to their control. And in the process he got his reward – register the highest Test score - 206 - by a Bangladesh batsman in the format. Previously Bangladesh Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim had hold the feat scoring maiden 200 as a Bangladesh batsman, against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2013.

Bangladesh was reeling on 399 when Tamim was sent back to the dressing room by Mohammad Hafeez. But Bangladesh already had the lead needed, 103 runs. Hafeez was the first one to congratulate on his feat which was both serene and audacious to the cricket lovers. Imrul innings was no less vital. Later an unbeaten 76 by allrounder Shakib Al Hasan and Shuvagata Hom’s 20 not out meant Bangladesh had met its target which was survive the last five sessions of the game for a draw.

After 136 overs and Bangladesh on 555 runs for six with 259 runs lead, the umpires asked Pakistan skipper Misbah Ul Haq if they would like a mutual draw as the remaining 30 minutes or so will never fetch a results. Shakib agreed to that and had the glorious walk back to the dressing room with Hom collecting appreciation from the opponents on way.

The draw in Khulna is yet another feather to the hat for Bangladesh who have showed signs of improvement in all formats in the recent time. l

The Bangladesh players and staffs welcome back the openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes after their record stand at the end of the 4th day’s play of their 1st Test match against Pakistan on Friday MI MANIK

HIGHEST OPENING PARTNERSHIPS IN SECOND INNINGS IN TEST Partners Imrul, Tamim (Ban) Cowdrey, Pullar (Eng) Strauss, Trescothick (Eng) Greenidge, Haynes (WI) Hayden, Langer (Aus)

Runs Inns Opp Ground Year 312 3 Pak Khulna 2015 290 3 SA The Oval 1960 273 3 SA Durban 2004 250* 4 Aus Georgetown 1984 242 3 WI St John’s 2003

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26 Sport

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

Turning point in Bangladesh cricket: Hathurusingha n Minhaz Uddin Khan from Khulna Tigers head coach Chandika Hathurusingha believes the drawn first Test against Pakistan at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium is truly “a turning point in Bangladesh cricket”. The home side were on the brink of yet another innings defeat but openers Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes rose to the occasion in some style as they registered their maiden draw against Pakistan in nine Test matches.

“This game should be a turning point for Bangladesh cricket. It is history which has international recognition. A hell of a job done out there,” Hathurusingha told the media at the post-Test conference yesterday.

Trailing by 296 runs in the first innings, Tamim and Imrul dominated the opposition bowlers en route to their magnificent 312-run association. Consequently, the Tigers managed a 259-run lead.

“I never thought we will bounce back in such a manner. Pakistan’s bowling attack is one of the best in this condition and the pressure of the game situation was huge. It is re-

ally brilliant as to how the batters operated.

It’s a huge achievement,” said the former Sri Lankan international.

Bangladesh Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim echoed the same sentiment to that of his coach, saying the result is no less than a win for them.

“We dominated the latter part of the game, gave them no chance, snatched the momentum away and as a result, the game ended in a draw. According to me, this draw is more of a win, to be honest,” said Mushfiq.

Tamim blasted 206 to become Bangladesh’s highest individual scorer in Tests, surpassing Mushfiq’s 200 against Sri Lanka in Galle two years ago. Despite seeing his record broken, the wicketkeeper-batsman said he was elated with Tamim’s feat.

“I am really happy for him. He was going through a tough time. We helped him and tried to keep him motivated but to be honest he was the one who helped himself. He deserves all the credit. I was the first one to congratulate him when he came back to the dressing room. I always knew my record will be broken,” said Mushfiq. l

HIGHEST PARTNERSHIPS IN TEST FOR BD

TAMIM IQBAL 206

Partners Tamim, Imrul Ashraful, Mushfiq Shamsur, Imrul Tamim, Imrul Tamim, Zunaed

Runs 312 267 232 224 200

Wkt 1st 5th 2nd 1st 2nd

Opp Pak SL SL Zim Ind

Ground Khulna Galle Chittagong Chittagong Dhaka

Year 2015 2013 2014 2014 2010

IMRUL KAYES 150

PLAYS OF THE DAY

BANGLADESH v PAKISTAN, 1ST TEST, DAY 5, KHULNA FALUDA MAGIC!

Faluda, a popular cold beverage in the country, is said to be the secret behind the successes of Tamim Iqbal and Taijul Islam.

Following a disappointing outing on the third day of the ongoing first Test, Tamim, Taijul, Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim went for dinner at a local restaurant. That night, it was Mushfiq’s idea to order faluda as one of the dessert items. The quartet cracked jokes, saying the beverage might bring more luck to the team. The cricketers thoroughly enjoyed the cold, sumptuous drink and the rest, as they say, is history.

The very next day, Taijul initiated a batting collapse and registered his third five-wicket haul in six Tests while Tamim and fellow opener Imrul Kayes added a record-breaking association. In the process, Tamim bagged his seventh Test hundred to become the highest centurion for Bangladesh in five-day cricket.

MOMINUL’S FIRST TEST SIX

Diminutive Bangladesh batsman Mominul is admired for his astonishing Test average of 61.85. His consistency in the format is unquestionable. However, given the short nature of his physique and for someone who barely hits over-boundaries, the shortest member of the Tigers dressing room is lovingly called “Mini”.

Until yesterday, he had only one international six to his name, hammered in 2012 in an ODI against the West Indies in Khulna. Coincidentally, he also smashed his maiden six in five-day cricket at the same venue yesterday when he sent the ball flying over the long-on ropes off Zulfiqar Babar. This was Mominul’s first Test six in 13 Tests and 25 innings.

ASAD SHAFIQ’S TEST BOWLING DEBUT

The Pakistan bowlers were frustrated. None

of the plans were working against the Bangladesh batsmen, who were crashing and bashing the opposition all over the park. Finding no other way to stifle the scoring rate, visiting skipper Misbah-ul Haq handed the ball over to middle-order batsman and occasional leg-break bowler Shafiq in the 113th over of Bangladesh’s second innings. Shafiq had previously bowled in ODIs but this was the first instance of him rolling his arms in Tests. He bowled seven overs, conceded 32 runs and picked up the wicket of Soumya Sarkar.

HIDE-AND-SEEK

When the Tigers chose to take first strike, the Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium was packed to its rafters. Later when Pakistan were in command having posted a mammoth total in their first innings, the crowd was barely visible in the stadium. But, the scenario changed

drastically as the Tigers openers Tamim and Imrul stitched together a record partnership to change the momentum of the game. The SANS was again bubbling in joy.

Thousands were seen gathering outside the stadium prior to the fifth and final day’s play yesterday. There were no tickets available but the fans were hardly bothered as they were desperate to catch a glimpse of the game.

And so, finding no other way to get inside the stadium, many were seen climbing the walls and into the galleries and stands. The look on the faces of the security personnel was that of agitation as they did not know what to do.

Later, the security staff chased some of them down although a few managed to evade the attention of the authorities. While some of the escapees were hiding behind the seats, the others immersed themselves into the crowd.

– MINHAZ UDDIN KHAN

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Sport 27

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

TEST RECORDS FOR BANGLADESH BEST INDIVIDUAL SCORES Player

Runs Opp Ground Year

Tamim

206

Pak

Khulna

2015

Mushfiqur

200

SL

Galle

2013

Ashraful

190

SL

Galle

2013

Mominul

181

NZ

Ctg

2013

Ashraful

158*

Ind

Ctg

2004

Tamim

151

Ind

Dhaka

2010

Imrul Kayes

150

Pak

Khulna

2015

Misbah praises Tigers, opening stand n Mazhar Uddin Pakistan Test skipper Misbah-ul Haq credited Bangladesh for clawing back and drawing the first of two Test matches at Sheikh Abu Naser Stadium in Khulna yesterday.

Despite being behind by 296 runs in the first innings, the Tigers came back strong and posted 555/6 in their second innings to bring an end to the five-day game. Bangladesh managed a lead of 259 runs before the umpires drew the stumps to signal the conclusion of the first Test.

“Our bowlers had bowled really well and did their bit. But, when you get outclassed by your opponent, you can only give credit to them. From the situation we were in with a lead of nearly 300, usually, we would expect to win but an incredible opening stand by their batsmen took away our chance,” Misbah told the media after the end of the fifth and final day’s play.

Throughout the entirety of the first Test, the Decision Review System came into question a few times but Misbah refused to delve into the issue, saying, “The International Cricket Council is developing the system all the time. And I am sure, something will formulate regarding the best use of the system.

But, there is no point for me to comment on the current state of it. It should be looked after by the concerned authority.”l

MOST HUNDREDS 100 Player

M

R

HS

Ave

7

Tamim

38 2974 206 40.18

6

Ashraful

61

2737

190 24.00

4

Mominul

13

1299

181

61.85

3

Imrul Kayes 20 1069

150

26.72

3

Shakib

38 2630 144

39.25

3

Mushfiqur

44 2543 200 33.02

3

Bashar

50 3026

113

30.87

HIGHEST TOTALS Score Overs Inns Opp Ground Year 638

196.0

2

SL

Galle

2013

556

148.3

2

WI

Dhaka

2012

555/6 136.0

3

Pak

Khulna 2015

503

153.4

1

Zim

Ctg

2014

501

148.5

2

NZ

Ctg

2013

Bangladesh invited to Pomis Cup n Raihan Mahmood Bangladesh football team have been invited to the Pomis Cup, an international football tournament in Maldives. Bangladesh Football Federation general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag confirmed the development yesterday.

Maldives Football Association has been organising the tournament with the participation of club teams from various countries but from the next edition onwards, scheduled to be held in November, only the national sides will take part.

“We are interested to play in the event.

However, we have to tag it along with our World Cup qualifiers,” said Shohag.

Pomis Cup (President of Maldives Invitational Soccer) was kicked off 1987 in a bid to promote the standard of local football in Maldives. This is the only international football club tournament held in Maldives. Due to various reasons, Football Association of Maldives (FAM) was not able to stage the tournament in the years of 2002 & 2004 to 2014. From 2016 onward, there will be four Maldivian teams (top four teams of Dhivehi Premier League) to participate the tournament along with two foreign teams. l

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal (C) talks with Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq during the post-match presentation ceremony in Khulna yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Brothers draw with Jamal, Muktis held by Rahmatganj n Raihan Mahmood Brothers Union continued to be the “nemesis” of Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club as the Oranje outfit held the defending champions in a goalless draw in the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Sheikh Jamal came into the match on the back of wins in all of their first six matches in the top-flight but Brothers were also flying high with two credible victories against Mohammedan and Muktijoddha before losing 1-0 against Abahani in their last encounter.

The charges of Syed Naeemuddin concentrated on their defence from the very beginning and allowed very little space to Emeka Darlington, Wedson Anselme and Landing Darboe. The first half had barely any action.

After resumption, Brothers goalkeeper Roghu stretched to his full-limit to punch away

Wedson’s cracking right-footer. Three minutes later, Sheikh Jamal custodian Hemel did the same to fist away a volley from Brothers midfielder Shariful to safety. Luck, however, was not in favour of Sheikh Jamal as Wedson’s solo effort enabled him to go past the defence but his right-footer hit the Brothers cross-piece.

RESULTS Sheikh Jamal

0-0

Rahmatganj

1-1

Mannaf Rabbi 90+

Brothers Union Mukitijoddha Enamul 69)

Sheikh Jamal have 19 points from seven matches while Brothers have 11 from the same number of outings.

In the other match of the day at the same venue, Rahmatganj’s young forward Mannaf Rabbi scored a stoppage-time equaliser against Mukitijoddha in a 1-1 draw. Muktijoddha skipper Enamul notched his seventh league goal in the 69th minute but Rabbi’s late equaliser spoiled Muktijoddha’s party.l

Central-East BCL tie finely-poised n Mazhar Uddin Walton Central Zone led Islami Bank East Zone by 90 runs ahead of the fourth and final day’s play in the Bangladesh Cricket League at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong.

Replying to Central’s 179-allout in the first innings, East took a 125-run lead after managing 304-allout on the third and penultimate day’s play yesterday.

In reply, Central scored 215/5 in their second innings before the umpires removed the bails signalling the end of the day’s proceedings. l

BRIEF SCORE, DAY 3 Walton Central Zone 179/10 and 215/5 (Raqibul Hasan 65, Shamsur Rahman 41, Abul Hasan 2/53)

Islami Bank East Zone 304/10 (Alok Kapali 67, Tasamul Haque 60 Elias Sunny 7/124)

DT

28 Sport

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal is congratulated by Pakistan’s Mohammad Hafeez after the former gets out scoring a double hundred on the 5th day in Khulna yesterday. Hafeez also slams a double ton in the first innings MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Pakistan’s Wahab Riaz and Bangladesh batsman Shakib Al Hasan were seen pointing fingers and firing verbal volleys at each other during the 118th over of the first Test match on Saturday which ended in a draw. Muhammad Hafeez bowled the last ball of the 117th over to Soumya Sarkar for a single as the ball rolled to the short leg position where Azhar Ali ran in and collided with Soumya.

The umpire Nigel Llong had to calm Azhar down as he was appealing for obstructing the field. Meanwhile, Wahab and Shakib were involved in a word fight and Misbah had to jump in to save the day. Misbah was later seen talking to the umpire Ranmore Matinesz in order to ease the tension MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

BANGLADESH 887, TAMIM 231 Tests against Pakistan that Bangladesh had managed to draw before this one. Bangladesh had played eight Tests against them and had lost all of them.

0

The previous highest scored by a Bangladesh batsman in Tests: Mushfiqur Rahim had hit 200 against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2013. Tamim Iqbal’s 206 is now the highest and only the second double-hundred by a Bangladesh batsman in Tests. Tamim’s 231 runs in this match are also the most scored by a Bangladesh batsman in a Test. Mohammad Ashraful’s 212 runs in the Galle Test were the previous-highest.

200

Minutes batted in this Test by Tamim both innings put together - the fourth-longest any Bangladesh batsman has batted in a Test since this information is available. The longest vigil at the crease was by Mohammad Ashraful, who batted for 580 minutes in the Galle Test in 2013.

556

Deliveries faced by Tamim and

454 Imrul Kayes during their record

stand - the third-highest by an opening pair against Pakistan in a Test innings. This stand was broken only seven short of the 461 balls faced by the partnership between Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag in Lahore in 2006. Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya had faced 686 deliveries

against Pakistan in Kandy in 2000 which are the most faced by any opening pair against Pakistan.

Triple-century stands in the second innings by an opening pair before this match. Tamim and Imrul have broken a record that stood for over 50 years, for the highest second-innings opening partnership in Tests. Colin Cowdrey and Geoff Pullar had added 290 in the second innings against South Africa in 1960.

0

Triple-century partnerships in the second innings against Pakistan before the one between Tamim and Imrul in this Test. The highest any pair had added for any wicket against Pakistan before this Test was the unbeaten 277 by Andy Flower and Murray Goodwin for the fifth wicket in Bulawayo in 1999.

0

The last time before this Test

1960 that both openers had scored

150-plus in their team’s second innings.

Geoff Pullar and Colin Cowdrey had scored 175 and 155 respectively against South Africa in the Oval Test in 1960. Tamim and Imrul are only the second pair to do it.

The highest first-innings deficit overcome by an opening stand before this Test. England’s opening stand had wiped off the 264-run lead taken by South Africa in the 1960 Oval Test against

164

South Africa. This was bettered by Bangladesh’s first wicket in this Test, which added 16 runs more than the 296-run lead taken

by Pakistan.

Number of times before this Test that openers from both sides had made a double-hundred each in a Test.

Mohammad Hafeez’s and Tamim’s double-hundred mean that this is the first such instance in Test history.

0

Runs scored by Imrul in four

520 matches since his comeback in

the second Test against Sri Lanka last year; In 16 Tests before that he had scored only 549 runs at an average of 17.14, including just one half-century in 32 innings. Since the Test against Sri Lanka though, he has made three centuries and one fifty in eight innings at an average of 65.00. His 150 in Bangladesh’s second innings is his highest Test score.

Bangladesh’s highest second-innings total before this match, which was against Sri Lanka in the fourth innings of the Dhaka Test in 2008. Bangladesh’s total of 555 for 6 is also the first time any team has scored 500-plus against Pakistan in the second innings. The previous-highest against Pakistan in the second innings was the 483 made by Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi in 2011.

413

822

The most runs Bangladesh had

scored in a Test before this one was in the Chittagong Test against Zimbabwe last year.

Bangladesh scored 887 runs in this Test and lost 16 wickets. Their average of 55.43 runs per wicket in this Test is the second-highest for them. They had averaged 64.36 against Sri Lanka in the Galle Test in 2013, which is their highest. Bangladesh’s 887 runs in this Test are also the third-most conceded by Pakistan in any Test. They had conceded 910 runs to India in Bangalore in 2007, which are the most conceded by them in a Test.

Number of times a team that had scored 600 or more in the first innings had ended up with a deficit 200 or more in the second before Pakistan in this Test. The last time this happened, Bangladesh were on the receiving end, against Sri Lanka in Galle in 2013. On that occasion, Bangladesh, who had scored 638 in their first innings, ended up with a deficit of 267 runs by the time the match was called off.

The highest such deficit though happened in the Faisalabad Test in 2006 when India conceded a lead of 467 runs after scoring 603 in their first innings.

5

Runs scored totally by openers

676 from both the teams in this

match, the fifth-highest ever in Tests. In the Edgbaston Test in 2003, England and South Africa openers together scored 811 runs, which is the most in Test history.

–CRICINFO

DT

Sport 29

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

Suarez hat-trick as Barca rout Cordoba n AFP, Madrid Luis Suarez scored his first hat-trick for Barcelona as the Catalan giants crushed Cordoba 8-0 on Saturday to take another step towards La Liga title.

Cordoba, who haven’t won since January, held out for 42 minutes, but a four-goal blitz in 11 minutes either side of half-time ended their return to the top flight after just one season.

Ivan Rakitic smashed home the opener in style before Suarez added the second with the final touch of the first-half.

Lionel Messi, Suarez and Gerard Pique all then headed home before Messi had the simplest of finishes to roll in his 40th league goal of the season to move one ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo at the league’s top goalscorer.

Messi then allowed Neymar to convert from the penalty spot before Suarez completed his hat-trick two minutes from time.

Victory takes Barca five points clear of Real Madrid, who face a tough trip to Sevilla later on Saturday. Cordoba could yet be handed a reprieve from relegation should Almeria lose their appeal against the deduction of three points for unpaid transfer fees, or Elche face sanctions for overdue debts to the tax authorities. l

DAY’S WATCH Sony Six Indian Premier League 4:30PM Punjab v Mumbai 8:30PM Rajasthan v Delhi

Ten Sports 2:30PM Moto GP 2015 Race: Gran Premio Bwin De Espana

Ten Cricket 8:00PM England Tour of West Indies 3rd Test, Day 3

Star Sports 1 Italian Serie A 4:30PM Roma v Genoa 06:30PM Atalanta v Lazio

Barcelona forward Luis Suarez (R) celebrates his goal with teammates during the Spanish league match against Cordoba in Cordoba yesterday

Drogba can’t wait for Sunday n Reuters, London Veteran striker Didier Drogba is expecting a “crazy” Stamford Bridge atmosphere when Chelsea attempt to clinch the Premier League title for the first time in five years with a win at home to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The 37-year-old former Ivory Coast international is dreaming of an avalanche of goals against London rivals Palace, just like 2010 when Chelsea wrapped up the championship with an 8-0 home drubbing of Wigan Athletic.

“I remember when we had to play Wigan

to win the title, the atmosphere was crazy,” Drogba told the club’s in-house television channel. “I think Sunday is going to be the same and I hope we are going to score a lot of goals for the fans.

“It’s a derby as well. Crystal Palace are going to come and show what they can do and try to disturb us but really I think Sunday has to be a blue day.”

Drogba was on the bench for much of this season until top scorer Diego Costa suffered a hamstring injury in a 3-2 victory at Hull City on March 22 and since then the Ivorian has featured regularly in the starting lineup.l

n Raihan Mahmood Josephites defeated Notre Dame 58-40 in a crucial tie of the Noushir Hasan Basketball

Tournament, organised by St. Joseph Higher Secondary School in the honour of Noushir Hasan, the forgotten basketball hero of the country, yesterday.

Napoli v Milan

Star Sports 2 Spanish La Liga 4:00PM Espanyol v Rayo Vallecano 9:00PM Getafe CF v Granada CF 11:00PM Valencia v Eibar 1:00AM Malaga v Elche

Star Sports 4 English Premier League 7:00PM

Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester City

Wenger accuses Jose of lacking respect n Reuters, London Arsene Wenger hit back at Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho’s thinly-veiled criticism of his Arsenal record on Friday, accusing his old adversary of a lack of respect. Arsenal fans chanted “boring, boring Chelsea” after Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Mourinho’s men at the Emirates, a result that virtually sealed the Premier League title for Chelsea. The Portuguese responded by saying “boring is not winning the title for 11 years”, referring to Wenger’s failure to finish top with his north London club since 2004.l

Josephites seal Noushir Hasan Basketball

12:45AM

Chelsea v Crystal Palace 9:30PM

AFP

Brother Robi, the principal of St. Joseph School, Rashed Maqsood, the president of St. Joseph Old Boys Foundation and others in the inauguration ceremony at the school premises on Friday COURTESY

The eight-day event started at the school premises last Friday.

A total of 10 schools - St. Joseph (red), Delhi Public School, Sunnydale, Baridhara Scholar’s Institution, Dhanmondi Tutorial, St. Joseph (blue), SFX Green Herald International School, Summerfield International School, Bangladesh International School and Scholastica School - are participating in the junior category while St. Joseph Higher Secondary School, Notre Dame College, Bangladesh International School, Dhaka Residential Model College, Dhanmondi Tutorial, Dhaka Commerce College, Summerfield International School and Aga Khan School took part in the senior category.

Olympic Industries was the title sponsor of the event while Ispahani was the co-sponsor.

Noushir, who was a first-batch graduate student of the school in 1963, played for the East Pakistan basketball team and was also a first-choice player of the Pakistan team before the liberation war. Currently living in the United States, the basketball hero is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka this Friday.l

DT

30 DOWNTIME

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Greek letter (4) 5. Indian monetary unit (5) 9. Exact satisfaction for (6) 10. Possess (3) 11. Fasting period (4) 12. Lost colour (5) 14. Conduct to seats (5) 16. Sly (4) 19. Comfort (4) 21. Vapour (5) 24. Altruistic love (5) 27. Valley (4) 29. Decay (3) 30. Pokes gently (6) 31. Paces (5) 32. Look for (4)

DOWN

1 Fragrant ointment (4) 2 Day before (3) 3 Time of holding (6) 4 Insects (4) 5 Arbitrator (7) 6 Peas covering (3) 7 Female sheep (3) 8 Enrich with a gift (5) 13 Curve (3) 15 Hurries (7) 17 Respect paid (6) 18 Heavenly bodies (5) 20 Serpent (3) 22 Says further (4) 23 Furniture item (4) 25 Obtained (3) 26 Consumed (3) 28 Sheltered side (3)

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 13 represents P so fill P every time the figure 13 appears.

You have one letter in the control grid to start you off. Enter it in the appropriate squares in the main grid, then use your knowledge of words to work out which letters go in the missing squares.

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

As you get the letters, fill in the other squares with the same number in the main grid, and the control grid. Check off the list of alphabetical letters as you identify them.

A B C D E FG H I J K L M N O P Q RST UVWXYZ

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

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

Under construction to open at SIFF

CELEBS ON SOCIAL

Robert Downey Jr @RobertDowneyJr Happy trails to you, until we meet again ... Thanx for a great tour ... #avengers #ageofultron…

Hugh Jackman @ RealHughJackman THIS Guy!!!! I don’t even want to think about how many years ago that head shot was taken.…

n Showtime Desk Bangladeshi film Under Construction will be having its world premiere at America’s topranked Seattle International Film Festival, the largest and most highly-attended event of its kind in the United States. The 25-day Seattle International Film Festival has been a huge success for enticing a larger number of attendees each year, featuring more than 400 films from all over the world, as well as attracting hundreds of directors, actors and industry professionals; presenting awards for Best New Director, Best Documentary, Best New American Film and the Golden Space Needle Audience Award.

The festival’s artistic director, Carl Spence, and the director of programming, Beth Barrett, jointly extended their invitation to Under Construction by Rubaiyat Hossain as an official selection, and selected the film for their main competition The New Directors Showcase that includes only 12 films of current trends from all over the world, representing the freshest and most exciting perspectives in global cinema.

In the invitation letter they have stated, “We are very happy to inform you that Under Construction has been selected to be in competition at the 2015 Seattle International Film Festival. ‘The New Directors Showcase’ is one of the most eagerly awaited programs in the festival, and represents films that our programmers feel are among the best of the fest. It is a juried competition featuring a selection of international directors who are clearly emerging as major talents. Each of these films is chosen on the basis of its original conception, striking style and overall excellence.”

Debut directors who had their recognition at Seattle International Film Festival includes many important names such as Ridley Scott, Gus Van Sant, Danny Boyle, Niki Caro and Richared Linklater.

Former Golden Space Needle Award winners are Richard Linklater’s Boyhood, Niki Caro’s Whale Rider, Tom Tyker’s Run Lola Run, Fons Rademakers’s The Assault, Ang Lee’s Wedding Banquet, Lars von Trier’s Kingdom, Lasse Hallström’s My Life as a Dog, Yang Zhang’s Shower and Doris

Dörrie’s Cherry Blossoms among others.

Writer and director of Under Construction Rubaiyat Hossain has been invited to attend the 41st edition of the festival this year and the closing ceremony on June 7, as well as to meet the audience prior to her film’s screenings on June 6 and 7 at SIFF Cinema Uptown.

Rubaiyat Hossain’s 2nd feature film Under Construction is about a woman struggling to find herself in the sprawl of urban Bangladesh, where actress Roya reconstructs Rakta Karabi or Red Oleanders,

by Rabindranath Tagore for modern times, reclaiming her agency in the process.

The casting of the film includes Shahana Goswami, Mita Chowdhury, Rikita Nandini, Rahul Bose, Shahadat Hossain in major roles. Shayan Chowdhury Ornob has composed the background score and music while Sahana Bajpaie sang tomay gaan shonabo by Rabindranath Tagore. The film has been produced by Khona Talkies.

Under Construction will be theatrically released in Bangladesh on July 31 of this year.l

I can now officially say I am from Delhi...been in the Capitol more than Mumbai last couple of months...#indiatraveller

WHAT TO WATCH Bengal Cinematheque aims to present the films and ideas of cinema’s greatest auteurs, at the highest quality, to build a community of emerging film-makers, writers and programmers in Bangladesh.

Arranged in quarterly cycles, each set of screenings will present selected works by two rare and unusual film-makers.

The first cycle of this series will present features by Terrence Malick (USA) and Michelangelo Antonioni Italy).

Limited seating. Free entry. Doors close at 6:30 p.m.

Sorry, not sorry

L’Eclisse (Antonioni) 2 May 2015, 6:30pm, Saturday (1962, 126 mins, black and white) A couple break up in a tense, art-filled modernist apartment. Later she meets another man who feels more alive. She releases Dionysian urges using African masks. Gradually, despite effort, the couple realise that there is nothing there— that they can not see each other. It ends like the sea.

n Farhana Shahnaz The recent scandal that has kept the tabloids and the gossip scene abuzz is Chris Evans and Jeremy Renner’s objectionable character-shaming comments about Black Widow played by Scarlet Johanssen.

They even poked fun at people who wear prosthetics which further fueled the controversy. Although intended to be jocular, their statements angered fans following which the duo decided to issue an apology to Entertainment Weekly justifying themselves. We don’t however know if the “apology” quite qualifies as an apology.

Evans explained that on being asked about the rumour that the Black Widow wanted to be in a relationship with both Captain America and Hawkeye, they answered in an immature and offensive

Arjun Kapoor @arjunk26

way that stirred up all the controversy.

Evans mentioned that the fans had every reason to be offended and he offered his sincere apologies. Renner justified himself by saying he didn’t mean to hurt the sentiments of the female fans and the differently-abled with his his joke about a fictional character. He mostly blamed his tight promotion schedule and his exhaustion for his blunder. Renner, you can

do better than that! Evans gets a thumbs up for at least admitting his mistake.

Avengers: Age of Ultron staring Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johannson has been released worldwide. The movie is a sequel to The Avengers (2012) and is based on the Marvel Comics superhero team, the Avengers and garnering a lot of positive reviews worldwide. l

The Thin Red Line (Malick) 3 May 2015, 6:30pm, Sunday (1998, 171 mins, colour) American soldiers are fighting the second World War in the lushness of the Pacific.

A soldier is more interested in the glory of nature and the nebulous spirit of the world. Those around him die amongst bombs and bloodletting. He faces death in the midst of a quiet, determined, ecstasy.

DT

32 BACK PAGE

SUNDAY, MAY 3, 2015

MAY DAY MAYHEM

PAGE 8

A TACTICAL WITHDRAWAL

BY BNP PAGE 13

UNDER CONSTRUCTION TO OPEN AT SIFF PAGE 31

Farakka under fire in India Nine Indian citizens move an environment court seeking over Rs3,000 crore in annual compensation for the devastation caused by the barrage n Abu Bakar Siddique The Farraka barrage has caused devastation, not only in Bangladesh, but also in India, according to a writ petition filed at the end of last year.

The plight of Bangladeshi farmers who lived in the basin areas and suffered dislocation by the drying up of the river, is well known.

But in late December 2014, nine Indian citizens – including fishermen and environmentalists – filed a writ petition with the National Green Tribunal of India against different government agencies, claiming annual compensation for the economic and geological damage caused inside India, including that caused

by Farakka.

The tribunal heard and accepted the petition on January 16 this year, one of the petitioners told the Dhaka Tribune.

According to the petition, a copy of which is available with the Dhaka Tribune, the applicants are residents of Kakdwip, Kolkata, Uttarakhand, South Malda, Bihar, Murshidabad and Allahabad.

The petition says that, among other authorities, the Farakka barrage project is liable for environmental losses of Rs3,226 crore, annually.

This is the first ever litigation of this magnitude on the Farakka barrage issue in either of the two countries.

FARAKKA

BNP Standing Committee member ASM Hannan Shah yesterday demanded that the April 28 city corporation election results be scrapped and fresh polls be held.

Terming the election farcical, he said it had revealed the true nature of the government.

“The city corporation polls were a manifestation of what actually happened during the tenth general elections on January 5 last year.

We urge the Election Commission to cancel election results and arrange fresh voting,” he told reporters after laying wreaths at BNP founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave to mark the founding anniversary of Sramik Dal. The BNP boycotted the city corporation elections in Dhaka and Chittagong alleging massive electoral fraud.

Hannan said the people of the country and the international community witnessed how the city polls had been rigged.

“Many countries have already expressed their reactions over the polls.”

The BNP leader said his party had silently protested against the polls and hence did not react heavily.

“We think we did the right thing as ours is a responsible political party.

“The election results should be invalidated. Otherwise people will respond in their own way one day,” he said.

Hannan said the BNP’s next course of action would be announced later.

“People have to wait to see what the BNP is going to do next.” l

Duchess Kate gives birth to daughter n Reuters

The petition

The trans-boundary Ganges flows through India and Bangladesh. The 2,525km river rises in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of north India into Bangladesh.

The petition says that half a billion people – nearly one-tenth of the world’s population – live in the Ganges River basin and depend on the river directly and indirectly for a livelihood.

The applicants submit that the construction of hydro-engineering structures such as dams, barrages and embankments have greatly hampered the livelihoods of a large number of people including pilgrims, poor people living on Ganges banks and fishing communities.

Citing a February 2014 report of the Kolkata-based Central Inland Fisheries Research Institute (CIFRI), the petitioners say the fishing potential of the lower reaches of the river is estimated at almost 200kg per hectare per year, whereas the actual yield is 30kg.

This means that barely 15% of the production potential can now be harvested because the rivers are degraded.

The writ petition also says that dams have become a major impediment in ensuring continuous freshwater flow in rivers. As a result, the habitat requirements of fishes in the rivers for feeding, migration, spawning and growth

BNP leader demands fresh city elections n Tribune Desk

have been irreparably altered.

The construction of the Farakka barrage in 1975 at the head of the Bhagirathi and Padma tributaries of the Ganges, some 470km from the mouth of the river, has not affected fishing of Ilish, a popular fish in both Bangladesh and West Bengal, in the tidal stretch of the delta.

However, the barrage has nearly eliminated the riverine fishery upstream the main stream of the Ganges.

Bangladesh’s woes

Experts on trans-boundary rivers say Bangladesh is caught on the wrong side of an “if” that appears in a bilateral water-sharing treaty.

A key point in the 1996 water-sharing

agreement says that “if there is water,” then India and Bangladesh will alternatively receive 35,000 cubic litres of water per second (cusec) over 10-day periods from March 11 and May 10 every year.

However, data from the Joint River Commission (JRC) shows that Bangladesh, a lower riparian country, has often been deprived of the projected volume of water during lean periods.

For example, Bangladesh received the guaranteed volume in 2014, but the flows in 2008, 2009 and 2011 have been less.

Environmental lawyer and activist Syeda Rizwana Hasan said: “If India, an upper riparian of the Ganges, has faced difficulties, then the fate of Bangladesh as the lower riparian of Farakka is easily understandable.”l

Duchess of Cambridge, the wife of Prince William, gave birth to a daughter yesterday, the couple’s Kensington Palace residence announced.

The baby, their second child, weighed 8 lbs 3 oz and William was present at the birth, it said in a Twitter statement.

“Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well,” the palace added.

She gave birth at 8:34am (1:34pm Bangladesh time), some 2.5 hours after having been admitted in the early stages of labour to the private Lindo wing of St Mary’s Hospital, West London, the palace said.

Both families of the couple had been informed, it said, including the new baby’s great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth, her grandfather Prince Charles and William’s brother Prince Harry.

A ceremonial town crier announced the birth of the new baby, who will be fourth in line to the throne after Charles, William and her older brother George.

No name for the newborn has yet been announced. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207. Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com