14 July, 2015

SECOND EDITION

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

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A LURE TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE PAGE 5

Ashar 29, 1422, Ramadan 26, 1436

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 92

FROM SHOPPING MALLS TO THE WEB PAGE 15

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TRAIN SCHEDULE LIKELY TO COLLAPSE IN THE EID RUSH PAGE 32

Six new inclusions likely in the cabinet today n Abu Hayat Mahmud and Sohel Mamun Six new ministers are likely to be inducted into the cabinet today, sources in the Cabinet Division and the ruling Awami League said.

The new faces are former commerce minister and Gopalganj 1 lawmaker Faruk Khan, former foreign affairs minister and Chandpur 3 lawmaker Dipu Moni, Nurul Islam, Tarana Halim, Awami League Organising Secretary Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury and AFM Bahauddin Nasim.

According to Nurul Islam, the oath-taking ceremony will be held at the Prime Minister’s Office this evening.

“I have received a phone call from the Cabinet Division in the evening,” Nurul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune around 9pm last night.

When contacted, Faruk Khan said: “I have heard about it but I am yet to receive a phone call from the Cabinet Division.”

As the Dhaka Tribune contacted Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury over phone, he said he was not sure of his induction into the cabinet.

Rumours of induction of new faces spread yesterday following a one-to-one meeting between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan after the cabinet meeting.

Asked about the rumours, Mosharraf told  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

www.dhakatribune.com | 32 pages | Price: Tk10

Faruk Khan

Dipu Moni

Nurul Islam

Tarana Halim

Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury

AFM Bahauddin Nasim

One of Rajon’s killers caught in Jeddah Shakhawat and Mohammad n Adil Serajul Islam from Sylhet Bangladeshi expatriates living in Jeddah yesterday informed embassy officials that one of the suspects in the brutal beating to death of a Sylheti boy was hiding in the Saudi Arabian city, leading to his capture.

Kamrul Islam, one of the four accused for killing 13-year-old Rajon in Sylhet five days ago, was caught and handed over to local police by Bangladeshi embassy officials and expatriates in Jeddah.

Mokammel Hossain, Bangladesh’s labour counsellor in Jeddah, along with two other officials and several expatriates, got hold of Kamrul and handed him over to Saudi police around 8pm yesterday.

During initial questioning, Kamrul Islam admitted to his role in the boy’s killing, the labour counsellor told the Dhaka Tribune.

But it could not be immediately known when and how the alleged killer went to the Saudi Arabian capital. Bangladesh authorities imposed a ban on his leaving the country after his involvement with the barbaric killing came to the surface.

Earlier, Shahriar Alam, Bangladesh’s state minister for foreign affairs who is now in Saudi Arabia to attend the funeral of Prince Saud Al-Faisal, requested Bangladeshi expatriates and instructed embassy officials to be on  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Greece faces tough conditions under deal with euro zone n Agencies Euro zone leaders made Greece surrender much of its sovereignty to outside supervision yesterday in return for agreeing to talks on an 86 billion euro bailout to keep the near-bankrupt country in the single currency.

The terms imposed by international lenders led by Germany in all-night talks at an emergency summit obliged leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to abandon promises of ending austerity.

“Clearly the Europe of austerity has won,” Greece’s Reform Minister George Katrougalos said. “Either we are going to accept these dra-

PAGE 3 Govt to publicise lower middle-income status

conian measures or it is the sudden death of our economy through the continuation of the closure of the banks.”

The Iskra website, which echoes the views of Tsipras’s chief party opponent, the eurosceptic Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis, did not pull its punches.

Greece would become a “debt colony” in a “German-supervised EU,” the hardline leftist outlet said.

Tsipras, the 40-year-old former Communist who stormed to power in January with promises to halt austerity, has the unenviable task of enacting what critics have called the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

PAGE 4 Culture of impunity, negligence blamed for Rajon’s killing

PAGE 5 DB impersonators on the prowl

PAGE 7 Chittagong highways under IP camera surveillance

PAGE 9 Saudi led airstrikes kill 21 in Yemen

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2 NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

Speaker sends letter to CEC over Latif’s JS membership n UNB

Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury yesterday sent a letter to Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad over the parliament membership dispute of former Awami League minister Abdul Latif Siddique, who was stripped of his primary membership in the party.

“The letter sent by the Speaker reached the Commission around 3:30pm,” CEC personal secretary Mazharul Islam told UNB without elaborating.

The Election Commission had started examining various laws regarding Latif’s dis-

pute even before the Speaker’s letter reached the CEC’s office on Monday, said EC officials.

In line with article 66 (4) of the Constitution and the Members of Parliament (Determination of Dispute) Act 1980, the Election Commission shall now hear and determine the dispute as well as shall inform its final decision to the Speaker within the next 120 days.

As per the Constitution, the EC’s decision on the dispute shall be final.

The commission will ask the parties concerned to submit statements in writing, if any, on the dispute before hearing it, according to the law.

After hearing and determining the dis-

pute, the commission will inform its decision to the Speaker within 120 days of the receipt of statement of the Speaker.

Asked about the Commission’s next course of action, Election Commissioner Shah Nawaz told UNB that he would not say anything about it before seeing the content of the letter.

On July 7, the ruling AL informed the Speaker that Abdul Latif Siddique was expelled from the party’s primary membership through sending a letter eight months after the party axed Latif’s primary membership.

Siddique was dropped from the Cabinet on October 12 last and axed his party’s presidium

post and primary membership on October 24 last amid waves of criticisms following his derogatory remarks on hajj and Tabligh Jamaat in the USA last year.

Earlier on September 28, 2014, former Posts and Telecommunications Minister Abdul Latif Siddique made the disparaging remarks hurting the religious sentiment at a views-exchange meeting with expatriates from Tangail in New York.

He was in jail for several months after being sued in a number of cases in Bangladesh for hurting the religious sentiment of Muslims.

The former AL leader was released from Dhaka Central jail on bail on June 29. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Greece faces tough conditions under deal most “humiliating” of Greece’s three bailouts since 2010.

With around a fifth of his radical left Syriza party likely to oppose him, Tsipras will probably need to rely on pro-European opposition lawmakers to push through measures.

If the summit on Greece’s third bailout had failed, Athens would have been staring into an economic abyss with its banks on the brink of collapse and the prospect of having to print a parallel currency and exit the euro.

Greece however aims to reopen its banks on Thursday, bankers said. Facing a wave of withdrawals, the banks closed two weeks ago.

“The agreement was laborious, but it has been concluded. There is no Grexit,” European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker told a news conference after 17 hours of bargaining.

Greece won conditional agreement to receive a possible 86 billion euros ($95 billion) over three years. As part of the deal, euro zone finance ministers discussed yesterday how to keep Greece financed during the time it will need to agree a bailout, officials said.

Athens must meet a tight timetable for enacting unpopular reforms of value added tax, pensions, budget cuts, bankruptcy rules and

an EU banking law that could be used to make big depositors take losses.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she could recommend “with full confidence” that the Bundestag authorise the opening of loan negotiations once the Greek parliament has approved the entire program and passed the first laws.

Even after Greece and its European partners reached a deal on a third aid programme, it must still be approved by eight different national parliaments. And the German Bundestag will even get to vote on it twice.

Tsipras returned to Athens on Monday and was expected to meet aides and coalition partners. Facing a Wednesday deadline, he can put all the required measures in one parliamentary bill.

In Greece, relief was mixed with anger at Germany, with many referring to the deal as a pyrrhic victory.

Tsipras accepted a compromise on German-led demands for the sequestration of Greek state assets worth 50 billion euros – including recapitalized banks – in a trust fund beyond government reach, to be sold off primarily to pay down debt.

In a gesture to Greece, some 12.5 billion eu-

ros of the proceeds would go to investment in Greece, Merkel said.

The Greek leader had to drop his opposition to a full role for the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in the next bailout, which Merkel had insisted on to win parliamentary backing in Berlin.

Six sweeping measures including spending cuts, tax hikes and pension reforms must be enacted by Wednesday night and the entire package endorsed by Greece’s parliament before talks can start.

Tsipras was subjected to a 17-hour browbeating by leaders furious that he had spurned their previous bailout offer on more favourable terms in June and held a referendum last week to reject it.

Even if this week’s rescue succeeds, EU diplomats question whether Greece will stay the course on a three-year programme.

Euro zone finance ministers were tasked with finding sources of immediate bridge funding for Greece to prevent it defaulting on a key payment to the ECB next Monday.

Greece needs 7 billion euros by July 20 when it must make a bond redemption to the ECB and 12 billion euros by mid-August when another ECB payment falls due. l

the look out for Kamrul. When contacted over the phone, Mokammel told the Dhaka Tribune: “Since there are no cases filed against Kamrul in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah police will not keep him in their custody. But we have already taken steps to send Kamrul back. He can be arrested once he lands in Bangladesh.”

Bangladesh does not have an extradition treaty with Saudi Arabia. As a result, the government might only request the Saudi authorities to put the criminal on board a Bangladesh-bound aircraft. But the Saudi authorities will not take responsibility if he lands elsewhere and flees.

het city around 7:30am on July 8.

Two of the tormentors, Muhit Alam and his cousin Ismail Hossain Abullus, have been arrested so far. A Sylhet court placed Muhit on five-day remand yesterday in the case filed over the murder.

A 28-minute video, recorded on a mobile phone camera, shows that the victim was tied to a pole in front of a workshop near the Dhaka-Sunamganj highway and had been tortured by five to six men.

Police later went to the spot, took Muhit into custody and recovered Rajon’s body from inside a microbus. The body was identified by Rajon’s family at the police station on Wednesday night.

The video surfaced on social media websites on Sunday, four days after the incident.

Soon the video went viral and hundreds of thousands of people condemned the barbaric incident on social media, especially Facebook and Twitter.

A murder case was filed by Jalalabad police in which Rajon’s father later became a plaintiff.

Muhit was listed as the prime accused in the case and his brother Kamrul Islam, 24, their accomplice Ali Haider, 34, and guard Moyna

Miah, 45, were also charged with murder.

While talking to reporters in his office yesterday, Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, state minister for home affairs, said that the murder was a tragic and pathetic incident. “One of the killers has already been taken on remand and another one arrested. The other responsible people will be brought to book soon,” he said.

One of Rajon’s killers caught in Jeddah

Autopsy

Ill-fated Sheikh Samiul Alam Rajon died from a brain hemorrhage, an autopsy report concluded yesterday, five days after he had been beaten to death.

Akhtar Hossain, OC of the Jalalabad police station in Sylhet, said they had got the autopsy report yesterday afternoon.

A total of 64 injury marks were spotted on Rajon’s body, the OC said quoting the report.

Rajon was tortured to death by a group of people at Kumargaon on the outskirts of Syl-

Protests

Meanwhile, the residents of 22 villages in Sylhet issued a 12-hour ultimatum for the arrest of all the killers, otherwise they said they would go for a mass movement.

Our Sylhet correspondent reports that the ultimatum came after a two-hour meeting held at Rajon’s homestead in Bade Ali village.

Hundreds of people from 22 neighbouring villages joined the meeting.

Reportedly, Jalalabad OC Akhtar Hossain also joined that meeting and assured Rajon’s family and neighbours that the killers would be arrested as soon as possible.

He later told reporters that police had been conducting drives to round up the accused who are still at large and had gone into hiding after the incident. l

Six new inclusions journalists after the meetings: “You will be informed if something like that happens.”

Seeking anonymity, a senior leader of the Awami League told the Dhaka Tribune that changes would come in five ministries – the Food and Disaster Management and Relief Ministry, the Home Affairs Ministry, the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry, and the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry.

The prime minister might dismiss Disaster Management and Relief Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhury Maya for corruption scandal and Food Minister Quamrul Islam for importing sub-standard wheat from Brazil, the ruling party leader said.

There was a rumour that Social Welfare Minister Syed Mohsin Ali might be dropped from the cabinet.

A minister may be added to the Ministry of Home Affairs and a state minister to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.

The Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry may also see a new minister as its Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain has already been burdened with the additional responsibility of the LGRD Ministry following the removal of Syed Ashraful Islam.

Syed Ashraf, who was relieved of his duty as the LGRD minister last week, skipped the regular cabinet meeting yesterday.

The Awami League general secretary had attended the previous meeting held on July 6.

Yesterday’s meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was held at the Prime Minister’s Office in the morning.

Emerging out of the meeting, Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told journalists that Syed Ashraf did not attend the meeting.

When asked whether Syed Ashraf was invited to the meeting the cabinet secretary said: “He did not attend today’s meeting that does not mean he will remain absent in future.”

On July 7, Sheikh Hasina removed Syed Ashraful Islam from the LGRD Ministry and made him a minister without portfolio.

Later, the prime minister handed over the charge of the LGRD Ministry to Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Khandker Mosharraf Hossain as an additional duty.

Syed Ashraf, son of first acting president of Bangladesh Syed Nazrul Islam in 1971, was appointed as the LGRD minister twice in 2009 and 2014.

Ashraf’s car has not carried the national flag since his removal from the cabinet. l

DT

NEWS 3

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

Govt to publicise lower middle-income status n Asif Showkat Kallol To showcase Bangladesh’s graduation to lower middle-income status, the government will arrange special publicity programmes at home and abroad before and during the UN General Assembly in September.

On Thursday, Md Nurul Islam, director of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), wrote to the secretaries of the Finance and Economic Relations divisions, and Planning and Foreign ministries to take necessary measures.

A letter was also sent to the officials of the Access to Information (A2i) project, based in the PMO. According to that letter, the government

will hold a festival around Bangladesh in September, highlighting the last 40 years’ economic and social achievements.

The Foreign Ministry will arrange special publicity outside the United Nations premises in New York, USA when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will be attending the General Assembly inside the UN headquarters.

The PMO will finalise the activities in a meeting on Thursday to be presided over by the PM’s Principal Secretary Abul Kalam Azad.

Finance Division officials said these programmes will be arranged to get international media coverage for Bangladesh’s graduation to the lower middle-income status.

“If needed, Tk5-10 crore funds will be pro-

vided from the budget, although the PMO has enough money to arrange such programmes,” one of the officials said.

However, AB Mirza Azizul Islam, adviser to a former caretaker government, sees this as a political move.

“Publicity in Now York during the UN General Assembly will not bring any fruits because the UN has it own ways for classifying a country as lower middle-income,” he said.

The UN’s parameters are per capita income, income vulnerability and human assets, but Bangladesh has only achieved the income vulnerability target in the World Bank’s assessment, he said.

Last week, Finance Minister AMA Muhith

said that Bangladesh would have to wait three more years to get the same recognition from the UN. “Until then, we will have to do with the facilities that low-income countries get from the UN,” the minister said.

On July 1, the World Bank in a posting on its website said that it had revised the income classification of the world’s economies based on its Atlas Method calculations. Four countries – Bangladesh, Kenya, Myanmar and Tajikistan – graduated from low-income to the lower middle-income category.

According to data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics on May 14, per capita income of Bangladesh rose from $1,190 to $1,314. l

55 dope gang members held during Ramadan n Kamrul Hasan At least 55 dope gang members have been arrested on charge of looting the belongings of the commoners in the capital during particularly Ramadan, say senior DB official.

During the arrests, DB police also recovered huge quantity of medicine and equipment used for doping people to snatch their valuables.

DMP Joint Commissioner Md Monirul Islam confirmed the news, telling they had adopted some measures to prevent dope gang, hijackers and robbers through taking lesson from the previous year.

Sources at the DB office said the arrested were from 15 different dope gangs that became active ahead of Ramadan and Eid although all members of those remained out of trace.

Of them, 44 were awarded with different period of jail ranging from six months to several years by mobile court while 10 were produced before Dhaka Court.

Monirul Islam also said the dope gang members staying in jail would not be able to come out before Eid because of their move though laws regarding doping allows bail.

They made the arrests with mobile court so that the miscreants could not be freed easily and the law enforcement agencies could get a relief from multiple chase after them, the DB chief continued.

He went on that they were trying to best to arrest the other members of the gangs. l

Demanding their hard-earned due wages and Eid bonuses, workers of Swan Garments stage a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Cabinet meeting okays draft nuclear power law Hayat Mahmud and n Abu Aminur Rahman Rasel

The cabinet yesterday approved the draft Nuclear Power Plant Ordinance, 2015 in order to ensure the proper establishment and operation of the country’s nuclear power plants, including the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant.

The draft law was approved at the weekly cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

After the meeting, Cabinet Secretary M Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told reporters that the cabinet gave final approval to the draft Nuclear Power Plant Ordinance, 2015 under which a public limited company, Nuclear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Ltd, would be constituted for the commercial op-

eration of the nuclear plants.

Musharraf said the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission (BAEC) under the Ministry of Science and Technology would own the company.

Bangladesh plans to produce 1,000MW of electricity by 2021 and another 1,000MW by 2022 from the Rooppur plant. The plant’s tenure is 60 years with the option to extend it by another 20 years.

Musharraf said the Ministry of Science and Technology placed the proposal as an ordinance since parliament is not currently in session.

The president is expected to promulgate the ordinance shortly, the cabinet secretary said, adding that it would later be transformed into an act by passing the correspond-

ing bill in parliament.

He said the draft proposal was first placed before the cabinet as a bill on May 4.

Musharraf said the ordinance would ensure transparency, accountability and better management in the process of setting up nuclear power plants since International Atomic Energy Agency guidelines are followed in the ordinance.

He said the proposed company will have a board with the secretary for science and technology as its chairman and the chairman of the BAEC as its director. The board will have a minimum of seven and maximum of 12 directors who will be appointed by the government.

Musharraf said the previous project director of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project will be the first managing director of Nu-

clear Power Plant Company Bangladesh Ltd. He said the Rooppur project would be implemented with financial and technical support from the Russian government.

The initial project duration is from March 2013 to June 2017. The plant is scheduled to go into operation by 2021 involving Tk5,087.81cr, including project aid of Tk4,000cr from the Russian government.

The cabinet also approved four other draft laws: the Civil Servant Act, 2015, National Disaster Management Act, 2015, Army (Amendment) Act, 2015 and Air Force (Amendment) Act, 2015.

Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhit, Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu and Agricultural Minister Matia Chowdhury were among those present at the meeting. l

DT

4 NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

Culture of impunity, police’s negligence blamed for Rajon’s killing n Mohammad Jamil Khan

The killing of Sheikh Samiul Alam Rajon was not an isolated incident, but a part of a brutal process where the killers are never brought to justice, which happen due to the negligence of police authorities, speakers said at a press conference in the capital yesterday.

If the people of the country do not raise their voices in protest of such crimes, the senseless killing will continue, they said.

The press conference was organised demanding justice for Rajon by seven national and international NGOs under the banner of Child Rights Advocacy Coalition, held at National Press Club.

Among the attendees were Action Aid Bangladesh Country Director Farah Kabir, Bangladesh Shishu Adhikar Forum (BSAF) Executive Director AS Mahmood, Citizens for Good Governance Secretary Badiul Alam Majumder, legal expert Dr Shahdeen Malik, and other eminent personalities.

Child Rights Advocacy Coalition in Bangladesh holds a press conference at the Jatiya Press Club yesterday, demanding exemplary punishment to the murderers of Rajon MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU Rajon, 13, was brutally beaten by a group of men in Kumargaon, Sylhet and died from his injuries on July 8. The killers recorded the entire torture session and uploaded the video to the internet.

Speaking at the conference, Farah Kabir said a basic indicator of a civilised society is the protection of children.

Urging the government to ensure justice for Rajon, she said: “The killers should be tak-

‘Without election, there is no democracy’ n Tribune Report

Democracy fails when free election and the freedom of expression is absent in a society, and where a culture of impunity and monopolised practice of power exists, speakers said at a discussion yesterday.

Forward thinking is the key to achieving the vision of a prosperous Bangladesh, and it is the young generation who must come up with the ideas to achieve that, they further said.

Titled “Democracy, tolerant politics and modern state,” the discussion was organised by civil society platform Citizens’ Open Forum in the capital’s Dhanmondi area yesterday evening.

BCS taxation association gets new president, secretary n Tribune Report Md Abdur Razzaque, member of the NBR, and Md Alamgir Hossain, director of Central Intelligence Cell, were elected president and secretary general of Bangladesh Civil Service (Taxation) Association for the next two years.

Their Annual General Meeting and executive council election in the city recently.

Tax Commissioners Sanjit Kumar Biswas, Md Sultan Mahmud and Md Meftah Uddin Khan were made vice-presidents of the body.

Other office-bearers are NBR’s Deputy Tax Commissioner Md Jehad Uddin, Joint Commissioners Fazley Ahad Kaiser, Shabbir Ahmed, Al Mamun, Md Sarwar Hossain Chowdhury and Syed Zakir Hossain; Deputy Tax Commissioners Masuma Khatun and Md Shafiul Azam; Joint Commissioner Nurul Amin; and Assistant Commissioners Md Golam Kibria, Monalisa Shahrin Shushmita and Md Farukul Islam. l

Speaking at the event, Dhaka University’s Professor Asif Nazrul said: “Election is the soul of democracy. It ensures a minimum level of accountability. The government becomes less accountable in the absence of election, eventually turning into a fascist form.”

“We have reached such an extreme level that we can hardly tolerate opposing thoughts,” said Chowdhury AA Quaseed of Jukto Front. “The word ‘power’ should be replaced with the word ‘responsibility’.”

Zonayed Saki, coordinator of Gonosonghoti Andolon, said both the Awami League and the BNP-Jamaat coalition had tried to monopolise power.

“Their (political parties) inner-party prac-

tices of centralised and monopolised power reflect the whole scenario of political culture here.”

“We should think that the young generation does not support the existing politicians, regardless of their political identity,” said Tabith Awal, BNP-backed mayoral candidate of the recent Dhaka North City Corporation election. “We should work together for change to happen.”

Shireen Haq, founder member of Naripakkha, Alamgir Sikdar Ratan, representative of Jatiya Party, Dr Zafrullah Chowdhury of Gonoshasthaya Kendra, and Fida Haq of Poriborton Chai were present at the discussion, among others. l

Jaago founder among Asia 21 young leaders n Tribune Report Jaago Foundation founder Korvi Rakshand has been selected among 2015 Asia 21 Young Leader by the US-based Asia Society.

The organisation confirmed that the selection was based on the candidates’ proven service and abilities.

Korvi, along with 32 leaders from 22 countries, are youth leaders for the class of 2015, and represent the Asian private, public and non-profit sectors.

Jaago, a Bangladeshi civil organisation, caters to the educational needs of 1,800 underprivileged children across Bangladesh through 13 free schools. It is a pioneer of online schooling and is the biggest youth platform in Bangladesh with over 17,000 registered volunteers.

Asia 21 Young Leaders, presently in its 10th year, have more than 800 young leaders across 30 nations. The Asia Society's primary

focus is a thriving Asia through its powerful network of Asia 21 alumni working around the clock for a more progressive tomorrow.

Asia Society aims to help empower these under-40 young leaders to take up greater initiatives and surpass challenges in their respective fields in Asia.

Acknowledged for their commendable work in development, Bangladeshi nationals Tamara Hasan Abed, Ejaj Ahmed, Nazim Farhan Chowdhury, Shabanaz Rashid Diya and a few others are members of the prestigious Asia 21 alumni.

The 2015 class and Asia 21 alumni will gather at a special 10th anniversary Asia 21 Summit in Hong Kong, on December 1-4, 2015.

The summit will celebrate the achievements made in this decade, explore innovative ways to leverage the Asia 21 network for greater impact, and form special Asia 21 task forces to address critical issues facing the region. l

en to speedy trial and given exemplary punishment.”

She also urged the authorities concerned to remove the video from the internet.

Dr Shahdeen Malik said: “The killers’ enjoyment of the brutality is astounding. In the video, they keep inquiring whether the torture is being filmed properly … Such degradation of values is found only in a spoiled society.”

Badiul Alam said: ‘This incident proves that we have degraded to beasts … Such criminal incidents are happening due to the culture of impunity.”

AS Mahmood, asked the law enforcers to be sincere while investigating the case and submit a charge sheet without loopholes so that the criminals cannot get away.

Meanwhile, BSAF Chairman Emranul Haque Chowdhury in a press statement condemned the killing of Rajon and demanded exemplary punishment of the killers. l

22 Bangladeshi cattlemen detained in India n Our Correspondent, Naogaon Indian police on Sunday detained 22 Bangladeshi cattlemen who entered the country through Hapania border in Naogaon’s Sapahar upazila.

Quoting the detainees, 14 BGB Commanding Officer Lt Col Rafiqul Hasan said around 50 cattlemen from different villages of the upazila accompanied some cattle traders to India on Saturday night.

“Early on Sunday morning, they all returned to Bangladesh with cattle but the 22 cattlemen could not because of careful vigilance of India’s Border Security Force along the border.

“They went back to Pakuahat area and were planning to go into hiding but were detained by police on charges of illegal entry in the evening,” he said.

The detained cattlemen were sent to Malda district prison, said Hapania 14 BGB Camp Commander Naik Subedar Mofazzal Hossain.

He said the BGB had nothing to do to secure the release of the detainees as they were held by Indian police.

“We could have taken steps if they had been detained by the BSF,” he said.

Lt Col Rafiqul said the Home Ministry had been informed of the detention of the 22 cattlemen. l

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NEWS 5

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

A lure too good to be true HUMAN TRAFFICKING n Abid Azad back from Cox’s Bazar Nirmol Tonchonga, a 20-year-old day labourer from Ukhiya of Cox’s Bazar, had no idea what fate had in store for him when he decided to try his luck as an illegal migrant in Malaysia.

Along with hundreds of illegal migration seekers who were also looking to earn enough in Malaysia for a better living back home, Nirmol wants to forget how he spent those one and a half years of his life.

For days, he was stacked like caged animals and ate just once a day in the belly of a human trafficking ship and endured inhuman torture in Thai forest camps.

Ironically, he never made it to Malaysia, and when he finally returned to his Cox’s Bazar home, he was less of a human being. Nonstop torture in the Thai forest camps left him with a crippled leg and a traumatised mind.

“I never imagined that I would have to stay two and a half months in a camp in Thailand, get to eat and drink only twice a day and spend 10 excruciatingly long months in jail in a foreign country,” Nirmol said while talking to this correspondent at his uncle’s homestead in Ukhiya.

As a day labourer, he earned Tk250 a day.

On days nobody hired him, he had no income.

“Juhur Ahamed, a local businessman, told me that I could earn more if I went to Malaysia. Jhum cultivation was not an option anymore. So, that seemed the only way we could change our fate. So, I decided to give in to the lure,” Nirmol said.

Juhur told Nirmol it would take only Tk2.5 lakh and he would be walking on Malaysian soil within seven days.

The voyage

Juhur sent Nirmol and his friend Uthiya Fu to a safe house at Shah Porir Dwip in Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar where they, along with two other men, spent the night.

The next day, a man named Ismail in his 40s, took the four of them to the edge of the Bay where another 250 people were waiting to embark a small ship. They were told that the ship would reach Malaysia in just seven days.

“We took enough food and water to survive seven days. But none of us took any extra attires.

In two days, my water exhausted,” Nirmol said.

They were kept in the belly of the ship.

There was no window, only a small door. The place was so suffocating that Nirmol had a constant headache. They were allowed to come on to the top deck only after sunset.

By the fifth day, all of them ran out of their

Nirmol Tonchonga food reserves. A team of five to six people, including the boatmen, was in charge of the boat. They gave the victims rice and mashed potato once a day. They would be beaten up mercilessly for wanting more.

Life in the Thai camp

It took them 14 days to reach Thailand. Nirmol thought they had reached Malaysia but soon

DB impersonators on the prowl n Kamrul Hasan

Detectives will soon be asking the Home Ministry to come up with appropriate measures that would prevent criminals from impersonating DB officials and from using utilities similar to those used by the DB forces.

The Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police will also request the ministry to formulate new laws or modify existing policies to protect the reputation of the DB. “We will place a proposal to the Home Ministry for modifying the existing policy that allows civilians to purchase dresses and utilities similar to those used by the DB police; if necessary, we will urge them to constitute laws in this regard,” DB Joint Commissioner Md Monirul Islam told reporters following the arrest of three such DB impersonators.

The latest arrests on Sunday were made in a string of drives over the past two months that saw law enforcers detaining around 25 DB impersonators.

As more and more criminals are donning the dresses of detectives, the incidents are serving as precedents for criminals to establish further lawlessness in the country, said Ziaur Rahman, chairman of Dhaka University’s criminology department. Such incidents are also breaking the people’s trust of law enforcers, he added.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, Monirul said the DB has plans of setting up one-stop service centres that would let victims register crimes either by physically appearing at the centres or through phone calls; any complaint will be verified and followed up later by police officials.

As a word of caution to the public, the DB chief urged all to demand identification whenever anyone approached them claiming to be a DB official. Anyone without a DB uniform jacket or ID card is not an actual Detec-

Three people, who collected tolls by impersonating DB officials, are presented at the DMP media centre yesterday following their arrest from the city’s Elephant Road on Sunday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU tive Branch member, he warned.

According to existing rules, all DB officials must wear a uniform jacket and carry identification during any drive.

Monirul also alleged other law enforcement agencies of picking up people in the name of the DB police and showing them arrested later on. Claiming that such detainments harmed the image of the DB police, Monirul said they would urge the Home Ministry to coordinate among the agencies to avoid such incidents.

Replying to a query, he added that there are plans to put visible logos on the vehicles that carry DB officials so that no one else can pose as detectives.

Three DB impersonators held

Three men – Abu Bakar Siddique, Abul Hossain and Sharif Hossain – were arrested from

the city’s Elephant Road on Sunday night as they were impersonating DB officials.

A DB team made the arrests when a group of seven criminals – all posing as DB officials – were trying to snatch Tk20 lakh from local traders named Md Kamal Hossain, Md Bojlur Rahman and Md Abdul Latif. Four of the culprits, however, managed to flee the scene with the snatched money.

The DB team, which was in the area at the time, moved in to make the arrests after noticing the suspicious activities of the gang. A pair of handcuffs, a police radio transmitter, and a microbus used for the crime were also recovered from the scene.

DB chief Monirul said the arrested criminals had been involved with the racket for around three years and had been previously arrested by the DB police. l

realised the truth. They were taken to a camp in a deep forest.

For two and a half months, they lived in small tents, each of which accommodated 12-15 people, and were given food and water twice a day.

“Around 10 to 12 people kept a close watch on us. Six of them were Thai I guess. The rest were either Bangladeshis or Rohingyas. They looked the same but spoke different languages.”

Nirmol saw three people die of illness and starvation at the camp. The corpses were taken deeper into the jungle.

After about a month, the traffickers told Nirmol to call his brother Mangal and ask for a Tk2.5 lakh ransom.

Mangal told this reporter: “We arranged Tk2.5 lakh by selling our land and homestead and gave it to Juhur. But whenever we asked him when we would get Nirmol back, Juhur told us to wait.”

In the meantime, Nirmol had fell severely ill and one day he got unconscious.

“When I came to, I found myself in a jail.

But there was nobody I knew. I did not know the language either. After staying there for 10 months, I was taken to a hospital where I got treatment and finally started moving my legs.

All this time, I was crippled.”

Nirmol finally came back to Bangladesh on September 9, 2014, with help from the International Organisation for Migration. l

DMP boss: Over 1,000 criminals arrested in last one month n Mohammad Jamil Khan Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Chief Asaduzzaman Miah yesterday said police had arrested over a thousand seasonal criminals in the last one month.

The criminals include fake DB police, fake RAB personnel, dope gang members, muggers, snatchers, extortionists and robbers,” the DMP commissioner said.

The drive is still on to arrest other criminals and recover illegal arms.

Asaduzzaman said this at a clothes distribution programme among poor people ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr in front of the High Court Mazar Gate.

Asaduzzaman Miah said criminal activities ahead of Eid rise and law enforcers very often find it difficult to tackle crimes as the number of criminals goes up at this time of the year.

He, however, claimed that the rate of crimes had come down significantly in recent time.

“We hope we would be able to curb crimes more efficiently in a short span of time..”

There is no society without crime. The rate is much higher in developed countries, he said.

While commenting on the deaths of 27 people in Mymensingh at a house during zakat distribution he said it is mandatory to ensure security before zakat is distributed.

People should inform police before distribution of zakat but If anything happens like that in future police will take immediate action.

Among others, Shaikh Maruf Hasan, additional commissioner (crime), Golam Faruk, additional commissioner (traffic), Bonoz Kumar Mazumder, joint commissioner (traffic) and Muntasirul Islam, deputy commissioner of media and public relation, were present at the programme. l

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6 NEWS

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

Authorities keep mum over hill cutting n Our Correspondent, Bandarban Local administrations there have allegedly been turning a blind eye to the overt illegal activities of Jamaat-blessed Naikkangchhari upazila chairman Tofail Ahmed for long.

The chairman is also a local leader of Jamaat-e-Islami, who is main accused in the cases launched for sensational arson attacks on the Buddhist temples and houses in Ramu of Cox’s Bazar in September 29, 2012.

It was learnt that Tofail has recently started cutting hill in Puratan Bus Station area of the upazila town to erect building without any permission from the department of environment authorities. The cutting remained continued for one month by an excavator.

Consequently, local people apprehended of destroying ecological balance there or possible hillslide during the ongoing rainy season.

On the other hand, the authorities surprisingly are yet to take any action in this regard.

Besides, the pro-Jamaat chairman grabbed a piece of land of local telephone exchange authorities.

Naikkhangchhari Telephone Exchange InCharge Didarul Alam admitted the land grabbing and said: “The local UNO has not take any action against the chairman despite my complaints over the issue.”

Sources at the UNO office said they forwarded a letter to the DC stating the malpractice of Tofail.

Eid brings no joy for sugarcane growers n Our correspondent, Magura Magura sugarcane growers are apprehending that they would not be able to enjoy the up comming Eid-ul-Fitr with families as mill authorities are yet to pay their dues.

Six sugarcane farmers of Shrikunthi village under Magura sadar upazila, nine of Chandpur viilage, 11 of Ghoramara village and 22 farmers of Shatrijitpur village under Magura sadar upazila supplied sugarcane to Modhukhali Sugar Mill last year. But mills authority is yet to pay their outstanding bill of Tk13 lakh.

Since then, farmers have been demanding their dues, but all of their efforts have turned futile. The mill authorities recently promised that they would pay dues before Eid, but it seems that they would not keep their promise as the Eid is within four days.

Taher Sheikh, a farmer of Shrikunthi vil-

lage, said: “I supplied sugarcane to Modhukhali Sugar Mill about one year back.

But mill authorities are yet to pay my bill of Tk10,000. Finally, they assured me that they would give my money before Eid. But the

I supplied sugarcane to Modhukhali Sugar Mill about one year back. But mill authorities are yet to pay my bill of Tk10,000 commitment has not come true. In this situation how will I celebrate Eid?” Abu Taleb, another farmer of Chandpur village, his two kids were waiting for Eid dresses.

He said: “I thought that I would purchase

Teen girl raped after being drugged with sleeping pills n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Two criminals raped a teenaged girl after drugging her with sleeping pills at Beltoil village in Sreepur upazila of the district yesterday.

The father of the girl said Mozammel Haque,28, son of Abdul Majid of Beltoil village and Alam, 28, of son of Abdul Hamid of Bartopa village took her daughter in the jungle nearby their house and made her unconscious by doping sleeping pills. Later, they raped her brutally during the night.

In the morning, locals rescued the girl in critical condition and sent her to local clinic.

Around10pm, the father went to Sreepur police station to file a case in this connection.

“Inspector Jahidul Islam forced me not file a case in connection with the incident,” he said.

When contacted, Jahidul said that the girl had a relation of affairs with one of the persons.

Later, Asaduzzaman, officer-in-charge of the police station, filed a case when local journalists informed him about the incident. l

3 ‘robbers’ lynched in Barisal n Our Correspondent, Barisal

Three alleged robbers were beaten to death by a mob at Baherchar in Hizla, Barisal in the early hours of yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Miraz Molla, Harun Bepari of Khulna and Hanif Sardar of Hizla upazila.

Golam Sarwar, officer-in-charge of Hizla police station, said local people caught three robbers around 3am while they were allegedly taking preparation to commit robbery at the village.

Sensing their presence, villagers caught them and then gave them a good beating, leaving the three dead on the spot. Police recovered five sharp weapons and the bodies from the spot in the morning.

The lynched victims were members of dacoit gang ‘Yusuf Sardar Bahini’, said Khalilur Rahman, chairman Barojalia union parishad, adding that Yusuf Sardar was also lynched by a mob on May 17. l

their dresses with the money paid by mill authorities. But non-payment of bill has shattered my dream.”

Badrul Haider, farmer of Chandpur village, said imported sugar has flooded the market.

Due to low price customers are preffering imported sugar rather than native sugar. On the other hand indigenous sugar is lying unsold in mill godowns.

“Consequently, mill authority is failing to pay our bill. But government is unwilling to impose ban on sugar import,” he said.

Shimul Mollah, a trader of Magura town, acknowledged that customers were preferring to buy imported sugar because of its low price.

Assistant Manager of Modhukhali Sugar Mills Rezaul Islam said sugarcane farmers in Magura were suffering due to non-payment of bills.

He said as sugar was lying unsold in godown, authorities have no way to pay the bills. l

In this regard, Tofail Ahmed denied both allegations hurled against him. On the contrary, he termed the hill a piece of plane land.

When asked, Naikkangchhari Upazila Nirbahi Officer SM Shahedul Islam acknowledged to have no permission for the hill cutting, saying he would soon take steps against the misdeed after visiting the spot.

Bandarban Deputy Commissioner Md Mizanul Hoque Chowdhury assured of taking quick necessary action over the issue. l

CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver killed

n Our Correspondent, Habiganj Miscreants strangulated a CNG-run auto-rickshaw driver to death in Dhulikhal area of the district yesterday.

The deceased was identified as Kaosar Mian,35, son of Jabbar Ali of Chunarughat upazila.

According to sources, the miscreants strangulated Kaosar in the morning do death and left the scene snatching the vehicle.

Later, police recovered the vehicle from Srimangal and arrested five people in connection with the murder.

The body of the deceased was sent to Habiganj Sadar Hospital.

Md Nazimuddin, officer-in-charge of Habiganj Model police station, confirmed the incident. l

DT

NEWS 7

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

12 business establishments fined, two sealed off n Tribune Report

Mobile courts of Chittagong District Administration, Rapid Action Battalion, Bangladesh Standard and Testing Institute and Directorate of Environment yesterday fined 12 business establishments with Tk365,000 and sealed off two factories for violating the existence rules and laws.

Executive Magistrates of Chittagong District Administration Md Anisul Islam, Asraful Alam, Tahmilur Rahman and Habibul Hasan led the mobile courts in city’s Asadganj, Rahmatganj and Riajuddin Bazar areas.

Magistrate Anisul Islam said the mobile court sealed off Modern Poly Factory and Talha Enterprise in Asadganj area in the city while the court also fined eight different business establishments with Tk255,000 for manufacturing adulterated foods and illegally setting up tannery violating rules and regulations.

The court fined—JS Traders with Tk50,000, Alif Trading with Tk50,000 Talha enterprise with Tk30,000 and Royal enterprise with Tk 40,000.

The court also fined four plastic manufacturing companies with Tk85,000 for manufacturing plastic products illegally. l

Ctg highways under IP camera surveillance n Tribune Report Chittagong district police administration has taken an initiative to bring the highways under the surveillance of internet protocol (IP) digital cameras with a view to checking criminal activities and traffic congestions.

A total of 32 IP cameras have been installed at 16 points of Dhaka-Chittagong Highway, Chittagong-Hathazari-Fatickchari Road and Keranirhat, Amirabad and Adhunagar points under Satkania upazila of Chittagong-Cox’s Bazar Highway, police sources said.

The IP cameras are directly monitored by the high police officials on their mobile phone screens while field-level police take immedi-

ate actions after being directed about traffic congestions or other criminal offences during the Eid-rush of homebound people on the roads, sources added.

Sources also said earlier police had to remain standby at all the points of the highway, however, now they would just rush to the spot when traffic congestion or any other incident took place. Superintendent of Police AKM Hafiz Akhtar said: “High police officials have directly been controlling traffic seeing the footage on their mobile phone, which have already proved fruitful.” “A part from easing traffic congestion, it will also reduce criminal offences like robbery, mugging or other subversive activities,” the SP said. l

WEATHER

RAIN LIKELY

DHAKA TODAY

TOMORROW

SUN SETS 6:49PM

SUN RISES 5:20AM 35

27

Chittagong

33

27

Rajshahi

32

27

Rangpur

35

27

Khulna

32

26

Barisal

34

28

Sylhet

32

25

Cox’s Bazar

31

27

Rangamati Source: Accuweather/UNB

Detective branch of police arrested five robbers from Iskaton area of capital yesterday

PRAYER TIMES 3:55am 5:20am 12:05am 4:44pm 6:49pm 8:15pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

MEHEDI HASAN

Seven hijackers held n

Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

A Chittagong court yesterday granted five-day remand of Mehedi Alam who was arrested for importing liquid cocaine under the guise of sun flower oil.

Chittagong Metropolitan Police Additional Deputy Commissioner (Prosecution) Kazi Muttaki Ibn Minan told Dhaka Tribune that the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Farid Alam passed the five-day remand order of Mehedi around 3pm.

DB police arrested Mehedi from the Agrabad area on Sunday evening. Mehedi is an official of a security company and the cousin of another arrestee Golam Mostafa Sohel in the cocaine haul case.

The same court also sent three other arrestees real estate company official Mostafa Kamal, Khan Jahan Ali’s official Golam Mostafa Sohel and Mondol Group’s Commercial Executive Atiqur Rahman to jail after rejecting their bail prayer.

On June 6, Directorate of Customs Intelligence and Investigation sealed the container in Chittagong Port after being informed by police that it was suspected to be carrying 2,140kg liquid cocaine under the guise of sun flower oil.

On June 27, a laboratory test in Dhaka found existence of cocaine in a drum numbered 96 out of 107 in the container.

On June 28, police lodged a drug trafficking case with Bandar police station in this regard and CMP DB was charged with the investigation. l

Hanging body of a house wife was recovered from her residence at Pattanivanga village under Hizla upazila of Barisal.

On receiving information, police recovered the body of Morsheda Begum, 26, mother of two children and wife of autorickshaw driver Shamim Molla of the area, from the spot.

The body was sent to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital for autopsy. A case was filed with police station in this connection.

Police said although family members were claiming that she had committed suicide over family feud, they would confirm about the reason behind the after post-mortem. l

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

Sayedpur

n Our Correspondent, Chittagong

n Our Correspondent, Barisal

FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

25.8ºC

Another arrestee put on 5-day remand

Housewife found dead in Hizla

TUESDAY, JULY 14

37.4ºC

LIQUID COCAINE HAUL

Tribune Report

Members of Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested seven alleged hijackers in different areas of the capital on Sunday night.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) Joint Commissioner of DB Monirul Islam said at a press briefing in DMP’s media centre yesterday that police arrested Toufiqul Islam alias Ronti, Md Alam Bhandari,Saiful Islam Munna, Meer Md Masum, Md Rasel, Md Sadek Fakir and Md Yusuf.

Among them, two were involved in car lifting at Capital’s Tejgaon area few days ago.

Ronti and Alam were arrested for their alleged involvement in lifting a private car after firing on it’s owner at capital’s Tejgaon industrial area around 3am on June 24.

In a drive, a team of police led by ASP Md Shariful Alam and Tarek, arrested five suspected hijackers from in front Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital around 10:30pm.

Separate cases were filed in connection with these incidents. l

Youth crushed under wheels of train n CU Correspondent

An unidentified youth was crushed under the wheels of a train in Kadamtali area in the city yesterday morning.

Himanshu Das Rana, officer-in-Charge (OC) of Government Railway Police outpost at Chittagong Railway Station said locals found the body of the youth, aged about 25 to 30 near Lane No 7, in front of Signal Kebin around 10:30am.

Later, police recovered the body and sent it Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) morgue for autopsy, said the OC. A case was filed in this connection. l

DT

8 WORLD

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

Iraq launches Anbar assault to oust Islamic State n Reuters, Baghdad Iraqi troops and Shi’ite Muslim militia forces attacked Islamic State fighters on several fronts in the country’s largest province yesterday, saying the battle to drive the hardline militants out of Anbar was under way.

A spokesman for the joint operations command said the offensive, which began at dawn, brought together the army, mainly Shi’ite Hashid Shaabi militias, special forces, police and local Sunni Muslim tribal fighters.

Military sources in Anbar said they met fierce resistance from the insurgents, who deployed five suicide car bombs and fired rockets to repel their advance on the city of Falluja, about 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad.

There were also reports of fighting around the provincial capital Ramadi, captured by Islamic State two months ago.

Islamic State’s capture of Ramadi two months ago marked the biggest defeat for the Baghdad government since the militants swept through the north of the country last June and declared a caliphate in parts of Syria and Iraq.

Until Ramadi’s fall, Iraqi troops and Hashid Shaabi forces, backed by US-led air strikes, had been pushing Islamic State back, recapturing the eastern province of Diyala and former leader Saddam Hussein’s home town of Tikrit, with the target of retaking Mosul.

Although Ramadi remains the strategic target, military sources and Shi’ite militia leaders have said the initial focus will be on

Pope offers rare ‘mea culpa’ about neglect of middle class n Reuters, Aboard The Papal Plane

Falluja, which fell to IS 18 months ago.

A US-led coalition of Western and Arab air forces has been bombing Islamic State positions across Iraq, supporting Baghdad’s ground forces and its poorly equipped air force.

Iraq has sought to redress its own lack of air power by purchasing F-16 fighter jets from the United States, but deliveries of the 36 aircraft were delayed because of security concerns after the Islamic State offensive last summer.

Yesterday, a first batch of four F-16s landed at Balad air base north of Baghdad, an Iraqi air force officer said.

It was not clear whether the planes would take an immediate role in the operations in Anbar. l

Pope Francis acknowledged yesterday he had neglected problems of the middle class and said he was willing to have a dialogue with Americans who disagree with his criticism of capitalism.

Francis was speaking to reporters on the papal plane returning from a gruelling 8-day trip to Ecuador, Bolivia and Paraguay.

During the hour-long conversation, Francis, who has made defence of the poor a major plank of his papacy, was asked why he had hardly ever spoken about the problems of the “working, tax-paying” middle class.

He offered a rare papal mea culpa, thanking the reporter for his “good correction.”

“You’re right. It’s an error of mine not to think about this,” he said. l

Suicide attack at checkpoint in Nigeria’s Maiduguri n AFP, Kano

Members of Iraq’s Shi’ite paramilitaries launch a rocket towards Islamic State militants near Falluja, Anbar province, Iraq on July 12

REUTERS

A suicide bomber hit a military checkpoint on the outskirts of the Nigerian city of Maiduguri yesterday, in the latest in a string of attacks blamed on Boko Haram Islamists.

The blast happened at about 12:10 pm (1110 GMT) at the Jimtilo checkpoint, as passengers arriving in Maiduguri were being screened, two civilian vigilantes told AFP. “There have been casualties but we’re still working to confirm the numbers,” said Babakura Kolo, who is part of the militia assisting the military against the insurgents.

On Saturday, two people were killed in Maiduguri when two suicide bombers in a motorised rickshaw targeted a busy bus station.

Just over an hour later, a man disguised as a woman and wearing a full-face veil blew himself up at a crowded market in Chad’s capital, N’Djamena, killing 15 people.

Maiduguri, where the group was founded in 2002, has been repeatedly targeted and since Muhammadu Buhari became president on May 29, nearly 570 people have been killed in Nigeria alone. l

France hunts armed robbers Malaysian police looking for after hostage scare near Paris those behind leaked documents n AFP, Villeneuve-la-Garenne French police yesterday were hunting armed robbers who escaped after holding up a store in a shopping mall near Paris, prompting special forces to intervene and seal off the area.

The three men – one of whom was thought to be an employee of the shop – burst into the Primark store in Villeneuve-la-Garenne early yesterday.

An employee first alerted her boyfriend to the hold-up at around 7am (0500 GMT) in a text message saying they had been taken hostage by two armed men, a source said.

The area around the Qwartz mall was shut down, all traffic stopped and other stores in

the vicinity closed up as special forces rushed to the scene.

The mall was promptly evacuated but according to police, 18 employees had remained inside – some were told to stay put by the gunmen and others had managed to hide on their own.

They “were evacuated around 10:30 am,” police said. Police realised after searching the premises that the men had escaped.

France is still on high alert after recent attacks by Islamist extemists and some 7,000 soldiers are deployed around the country to help police in countering any further attack.

But so far police have indicated yesterday’s attack was a common armed robbery. l

n AFP, Kuala Lumpur Malaysian police said yesterday a special task force set up to probe reported transfers involving a state investment fund to Prime Minister Najib Razak is now itself under investigation to see if its members leaked classified information.

The Wall Street Journal reported on July 3 that investigators had discovered nearly $700 million had moved through government agencies, banks and companies linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) before ending up in Najib’s personal accounts.

The report created a storm of controversy in Malaysia with the prime minister dismiss-

ing the WSJ report as “political sabotage” and threatening possible legal action, while 1MDB denied any wrongdoing, saying it had not transferred any funds to the premier.

Police chief Khalid Abu Bakar yesterday said that after the publication of the report, on July 8, the Attorney-General instructed the police to launch an investigation into “the criminal act of leaking classified documents to foreign nationals.”

“These criminal acts are very serious and raise national security implications,” said the police chief in a statement.

The task force is made up of the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the Attorney-General and Malaysia’s central bank. l

DT

WORLD 9

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

Kerry doesn’t view Russia as existential threat n Reuters, Washington

US Secretary of State John Kerry does not agree with the Marine Corps general nominated to be America’s next top uniformed commander that Russia poses an existential threat to the United States, a spokesman said on Friday.

On Thursday, Marine General Joseph Dunford told lawmakers weighing his nomination to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff that Russia presented the greatest threat to US national security.

“If you want to talk about a nation that could pose an existential threat to the United States, I’d have to point to Russia,” Dunford said. “And if you look at their behavior, it’s nothing short of alarming.”

US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Kerry did not share the assess-

ment, even though Russia’s actions in Ukraine posed regional security challenges.

“The secretary doesn’t agree with the assessment that Russia is an existential threat to the United States, nor China, quite frankly,” Toner told a regular news briefing when asked about Dunford’s remarks.

“You know, these are major powers with whom we engage and cooperate on a number of issues, despite any disagreements we may have with them,” he said. “Certainly we have disagreements with Russia and its activities within the region, but we don’t view it as an existential threat.”

Dunford included China, whose rapidly expanding military has alarmed Pentagon officials, second in his list of top US security concerns, as well as North Korea and the threat from Islamic State militants.

Toner said Kerry did consider the rapid

growth of groups like Islamic State, particularly in ungoverned spaces, an existential threat.

Dunford added his voice to those Pentagon officials who have supported providing lethal arms to Ukraine to help it defend itself from Russia-backed separatists, a step that President Barack Obama has so far resisted.

White House spokesman Josh Earnest said on Thursday that the administration was mindful of Russia’s destabilizing activity but Dunford’s comment reflected “his own view and doesn’t necessarily reflect the ... consensus analysis of the president’s national security team.”

US Defense Secretary Ash Carter has said he was inclined to provide defensive arms to Ukraine, but has qualified this position by saying that economic sanctions should be the primary focus for exerting pressure on Moscow. l

Italian marines’ Indian murder case may go to arbitration n Reuters, New Delhi

A case in which two Italian marines are accused of killing two Indian fisherman could now be heard before an international court, offering a possible way out of a three-year impasse that has blighted bilateral relations.

India’s highest court yesterday heard a plea from Italy challenging India’s jurisdiction in the murder case and ordered the Indian government to report back by August 26.

An Indian government lawyer told the Supreme Court that India would participate in arbitration proceedings foreseen under a UN convention, but argue that India should still have jurisdiction.

Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone have been in legal limbo since their arrest by India in connection with the fatal incident off the coast of southern India in February 2012. l

Cinema legend Miyazaki joins anti-militarisation protests n Reuters, Tokyo

Japan cannot use military strength to counter China, Hayao Miyazaki, famed director of the Oscar-winning film “Spirited Away,” said yesterday, as he joined a chorus of protest against a change in Japan’s security policy.

Miyazaki, 74, has long spoken out against war and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s desire for measures allowing broader use of Japan’s military, particularly in his final film, “The Wind Rises,” which earned him accusations of being a traitor.

Abe’s rush to push through changes to Japan’s pacifist constitution, arguing that China’s growing strength needs to be countered, was “exactly the opposite” of what he should do, Miyazaki told a rare news conference.

“It is impossible to stop China’s power through military strength,” the famously reclusive master of animated fantasy said at his suburban Tokyo studio. “They need to think of a different way. That’s why our pacifist constitution was created.”

“The Wind Rises,” which marked Miyazaki’s 2013 retirement from full-length animated films, told the story of Jiro Horikoshi, the man who designed Japan’s feared “Zero” fighter.

The film, and an essay criticising “people who mess around with our constitution,” earned him unprecedented criticism and thousands of internet comments, ranging from disappointment at his foray into politics to those who branded him a traitor.

Miyazaki said Japanese had lost their sense of history and few understood the import of the constitution.

“The years of war were a terrible experience for Japan, with some 3 million people losing their lives,” added Miyazaki, whom some see as Japan’s answer to Walt Disney.

“Older people can’t forget that. For them, the pacifist constitution was like a ray of light.” l

A girl cries after her father was killed by a Saudi-led air strike in Yemen’s capital Sanaa yesterday. Saudi-led air raids killed 21 civilians in Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Monday morning, relatives of the victims and medics told Reuters, two days after the start of a United Nations-brokered humanitarian truce that Riyadh does not recognise REUTERS

Saudi-led airstrikes kill 21 in Yemen two days into UN truce rejected by Riyadh n Reuters, Sanaa Saudi-led air raids killed 21 civilians in Yemen’s capital Sanaa yesterday morning, relatives of the victims and medics told Reuters, two days after the start of a United Nations-brokered humanitarian truce that Riyadh does not recognise.

“Three missiles targeted the neighbourhood, destroying 15 houses and killing 21 people and wounding 45 others,” said a resident.

A Saudi-led Arab coalition has been bombing the Houthi militia and army forces loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh since March 26, aiming to push them back from southern and central areas and restore the country’s exiled government.

The Houthis, who are allied to Riyadh’s

main regional rival Iran, advanced from their northern stronghold a year ago, capturing the capital Sanaa in September and then pushing south early this year, prompting the Saudi-led airstrikes.

More than 3,000 people have been killed in the fighting and air strikes so far, amplifying an existing humanitarian crisis, but the Houthis and Saleh’s forces remain embedded across the populated Western side of the country.

The United Nations brokered a pause in the fighting on Friday to allow humanitarian aid to be delivered, but the Saudi-led coalition said it had not been asked by Yemen’s exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, in whose name it is acting, to stop its raids.

Brigadier-General Ahmed al-Asiri, the

spokesman of the coalition, was reported by al Sharq al Awsat newspaper as saying there would be no truce because Houthis were not committed to a ceasefire.

There have also been reports of fighting in breach of the pause conditions in Aden, Marib and Taiz, the main theatres of battle between local resistance movements, tribes, Islamist militants and the Houthis and Saleh’s forces.

A Houthi leader, Saleh al-Samad, described the continued Saudi raids as presenting “a clear challenge to the international community ... to stop this aggression.”

A United Nations Security Council resolution in April demanded the Houthis and Saleh’s forces quit areas they have captured, release prisoners and surrender weapons taken from army units that have been overrun. l

DT

10 WORLD

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

Romanian PM charged with tax evasion and money laundering n Reuters, Bucharest Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta was charged with forgery and serving as an accessory to tax evasion and money laundering yesterday, further tarnishing the image of the ex-communist state as it struggles to shake off a reputation for corruption.

Prosecutors said they had named the 42-year-old prime minister as a defendant in a five-week long criminal investigation, and temporarily seized control of his property. He denies wrongdoing and says the case is politically motivated.

Financial markets shrugged off the development, which for now stops short of a formal indictment that would send the case to trial.

But it represents a new setback for Romania’s efforts to clean up its murky politics, business and the judiciary under pressure from the European Union, which it joined in 2007 together with southern neighbour Bulgaria.

Romania’s reputation for corruption has deterred foreign investment, and even its anti-graft efforts have had the unintended effect of slowing decision-making and delaying important contracts.

Ponta said on Sunday he was stepping down as leader of his leftist PSD party until the investigation was completed, but has made clear he will not resign as prime minister despite June 5 calls from President Klaus Iohannis for him to quit.

Asked about Ponta at a joint news conference with Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy in Madrid, Iohannis said: “I stick to the

comments I made, I will have an institutional relation with the prime minister.”

The investigation began on June 5 and focuses on Ponta’s activities as a lawyer from 2007-2009.

“Prosecutors ordered a stepping-up of the penal action against the defendant Ponta, a lawyer at the time of the deeds ... on charges of forgery of documents - 17 counts - accessory to tax evasion... and money laundering,” the DNA anti-corruption prosecutors said in a statement.

PM on crutches

Romanian television showed Ponta, who returned to Bucharest last week after nearly a month in Turkey for knee surgery, leaving the DNA headquarters on crutches and later in the day entering the party’s headquarters for his allies meeting.

The meeting yielded further support for Ponta, as expected.

“Our plan is to get together in the coalition government until the 2016 parliament election,” said leader Calin Tariceanu from junior ally, the liberal grouping ALDE. “We back Ponta as prime minister in the coalition,” said another ally, deputy premier Gabriel Oprea of the leftist UNPR. Ponta has so far withstood intense political pressure from the opposition and from Iohannis, a centrist rival who defeated him in last November’s presidential election. Protected by a comfortable majority in parliament, he has survived three opposition censure motions, most recently last month. l

DT

EDITORIAL 11

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

INSIDE

How many roads must a city lay down?

Congestion is part of the price for living in a successful, densely populated mega-city PAGE 12

Plugging into development BIGSTOCK

Digital tools can empower even the poorest by bringing them into the feedback dialogue PAGE 13

Punish Rajon’s twisted murderers

America’s guilty conscience The sums wasted in the two wars amount to trillions of dollars, which had pushed the US to its worst economic depression since the Second World War PAGE 14

Be heard Write to Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email letters.dt@ dhakatribune.com

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W

e are shocked by the vicious murder of Sheikh Samiul Alam Rajon, the 13-year-old boy, who was tied to a pole and tortured to death by a group of men in Kumargon, Sylhet.

It is difficult to imagine the anguish his family must be enduring as the nation learns of the 28 minute video of his barbaric torture which was filmed and uploaded by his killers.

The video contains harrowing footage of the horrific beating and torture Rajon was subjected to by a group of five or six individuals, before he succumbed to his injuries.

Some comfort can be taken from the fact that the prime accused has been placed on a five-day remand by the Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate. It is fortuitous that he was detained last week after being caught red-handed trying to dump Rajon’s body.

Now that a murder case has been formally filed, the police must ensure the immediate apprehension and arrest of all the accused’s accomplices.

The damning evidence that the tormentors have provided of themselves brutally laughing and jeering as they tortured their victim, can be used to quickly bring them to justice.

Nothing can excuse or explain why they brazenly boasted about their sickening depravity. But everyone knows that no one should be allowed to get away with murder.

Rajon’s killers must be held to account and punished to the full extent of the law.

Ensure all the killers are held to account and punished to the full extent of the law

DT

12 OPINION

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

How many roads must a city lay down? n Niaz Alam

U

rban legends tend to lie at two extremes.

The most common rely on a compelling comic or horror element. Thomas Pynchon used one of these myths in his novels to spin tales of alligators prowling the sewers of Manhattan. He drew on an air of believability surrounding the idea that people might keep baby alligators as pets and later flush them down toilets when they grew too big. The popularity of this tale says a lot about New Yorkers’ self-image.

At the other end of the spectrum are memes that flourish because they seem to have some basis in fact.

To some extent, congestion is part of the price for living in a successful, densely populated mega-city

How do Dhaka’s roads compare to London’s?

It is commonplace for experts writing about congestion in Dhaka to trot out the statistic that a well-planned city should have 25% of its surface area taken up by roads, but Dhaka barely manages c.7.5%. Plausible enough at first glance, but one can’t help but question how stating this helps to solve Dhaka’s traffic crisis.

More to the point, it is not true.

Cities obviously all have different ages and grow at different rates, so it is fatuous to argue or believe that there is an “officially” correct surface area.

The popularity of this factoid among city planners appears to stem from 19th century Paris after Baron Haussmann’s famed transformations to its medieval street plan under Napoleon III. Similar estimates for imperial Vienna and Barcelona added to the 25% myth, but they are where the truth ends and the legend begins.

North American cities with their ample land area have long devoted far greater proportions of their land mass to streets and highways. They account for nearly 65% of space in Houston for instance, while the city of Los Angles had the luxury of parcelling out enough land in 1925 for 7 million people, some 50 years before its population actually reached that level.

On the other hand, older cities elsewhere make do with far less than the fabled 25%.

Aerial surveys of London, for example, suggest that 8.5% of its surface area is devoted to roads with perhaps a similar proportion given to pavements and car parks.

Bear in mind that this is for the 1,572 square kilometres of its whole metropolitan area, which also devotes over a third of land

to parks and green space.

Central London itself has to manage with only a fraction of this number. Most of its roads are also narrower and bendier than Dhaka’s main thoroughfares and newer residential areas.

When the Victorians sought to emulate Haussmann’s efforts in London, they found it prohibitively expensive to demolish entire neighbourhoods to build wide roads. This is also the reason why London’s several major railway stations haphazardly ring its centre, because they had come to a stop where landowners could not be bought off. It is also why they were not connected by rail until London pioneered the idea of underground railway systems in 1863.

Subsequent developments and an ever expanding commuter belt mean that hundreds of thousands of people can and do travel to work in London from far and wide.

The 104.6km separating it from Cambridge, for instance, are served by over 50 trains a day, depositing passengers in central London within an hour each way.

Extensive underground and local railway networks allow most people to depend on them for speedy and predictable journey times across and within the city.

None of this stops Londoners complaining about their commutes however. Even though they fare better than the minority who choose to or have to drive through its middle by car during the work day. Average daytime road traffic speeds in central London were 14.5km an hour in 2014, a figure barely changed since horse drawn days.

During crush hour, even wide arterial roads and motorways are not immune from

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

slow speeds. It is only thanks to London’s many public transport-only traffic lanes that buses and taxis can move with some frequency.

This is worth keeping in mind when seeking solutions to Dhaka’s traffic problems.

On the whole though, London is a good example of the wise dictum of Enrique Peñalosa, the former mayor of Bogota, who said that “an advanced city is not a place where the poor move about in cars, rather it’s where even the rich use public transportation.”

This is clearly the goal that Dhaka’s residents should be demanding of its mayors.

But that is easier said than done. Dhaka is the place where archaeological custodians, completely misunderstanding the lyrics of Big Yellow Taxi, decided that Lalbagh fort, one of the city’s oldest and most attractive large historical landmarks, was the right place to demolish a wall and put up a VIP car park.

Optimism dictates that eventually electoral arithmetic will force politicians to get their priorities right, and gain popularity by making public transport work better.

After all, most people don’t own or have access to private cars, however much media coverage and the jams outside your window may give a different impression. Getting car owners on board will follow naturally once standards are improved and traffic starts moving more smoothly.

I say smoothly, rather than speedily, because to some extent, congestion is part of the price for living in a successful, densely populated mega-city. Take Hong Kong, which benefits from every conceivable public transport advantage. Its roads are still full of cars.

Making all bus and car journeys far more comfortable, reliable, safer, and free from the anti-social drivers who blare horns at all hours of the day and night, is just as important in reducing stress as cutting travel times.

Of course, citizens must also make sure the Metro Rail project does not stop at just one line, but heralds the start of modern mass transit.

By all means, car owners should demand a faster inter-city highway network so Dhakadwellers could safely drive to Cox’s Bazar within six hours.

More quickly and more cheaply, reviving waterways and canals to link back circular river routes would go some way to invigorating Dhaka’s overlooked riverfronts.

And surely every city resident would agree that decentralisation of commerce and industry, and building satellite towns connected by fast new railroads would go a long way to easing pressure on the centre, by giving Dhaka’s geographically constrained land area a bigger footprint, just as commuter trains do in Paris and London.

In fact, given Bangladesh’s small land area, faster trains and national highways would flip congestion complaints on their head by turning high population density into a positive strength.

But private car owners do not have a right to expect a cross-town journey to take less than 45 minutes. Not at peak times. And not when there are 15 million people about.

That really is an urban legend. l Niaz Alam has worked on ethical business issues since 1992 and is a former vice-chair of War on Want.

He is Chief Editorial Writer at the Dhaka Tribune.

DT

OPINION 13

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

Plugging into development

Development and technology go hand in hand

n Shazia Omar

B

angladesh is surprisingly on the forefront of innovation when it comes to mobile and digital solutions to problems. With the Digital Bangladesh campaign, the efforts of the ICT ministry and A2I have resulted in a huge burst of activity among tech start-ups and mobile-solution providers. Union Information Service Centres are making online registration for various services possible. Many citizen support services have been digitised. Not only in the public sector do we see these changes, but also in the development sector.

Many leading donor agencies and development organisations are seizing opportunities to use technology to increase the efficiency of service delivery, enhance targeted responses to meet individual needs, improve monitoring and evaluation of impact, optimise field-force workflow, and provide evidence to policy-makers. Grameen Kalyan is using mobiles to connect marginalised people in remote areas with doctors.

Population Council is using mobile video games to educate and raise awareness among the poor. Water Aid is using GPS technology to keep track of deep tube-wells. The Government of Bangladesh’s multi-donor social transfer program, Shiree, is using mobile-based platform to track asset-transfers to 250,000 extremely poor households and smartphone apps to help manage the workflow of field officers.

Mobile-based banking -- identified by the Gates Foundation as one of the top five innovations likely to make the eradication of extreme poverty possible -- is being used to deliver money to victims of disasters by Plan Bangladesh and Oxfam. CLP experimented with mobile money-transfers to financially include people living in the chars. These innovations are drawing global attention and can be scaled up locally.

What is important is not so much the technology, the value of which is by now well

BIGSTOCK

proven, but the effectiveness with which it is applied to enhance and, in some cases, transform, the management of pro-poor development processes.

Management is key. Managers who are unable to innovate -- or worse, unscrupulous managers who are only interested in personal rewards -- may abuse new technology. One lesson from implementing ICT solutions is that it takes time to overcome entrenched resistance to change, for managers to start seeing new technology not as a threat but as an opportunity. Proper incentives need to be in place to encourage organisations to adopt new approaches.

problems. Transfer programs that suffer from leakages can use more robust data systems to increase transparency. Money flow and invoicing can be made digital for greater clarity. Without the proper tracking of financial flows, effective budgeting is not possible.

Enrolment and targeting systems can benefit from the creation of a digital database which may also serve as a baseline survey.

This database then exists for future ongoing or periodic studies without requiring a repetition of the initial baseline legwork.

Management systems and ICT must be as simple as possible, given the program requirements, and appropriately tailored to

Digital tools can empower even the poorest by bringing them into the feedback dialogue. This gives clients of the programs the scope to steer their own growth and lodge grievances if necessary

Gathering data is a lengthy process, and often the data which NGOs receive is out of date.

Meanwhile, most NGOs have large forces of field officers who are dealing with beneficiaries all the time, but they convey their data to their supervisors in an anecdotal way.

We are not maximising data gathered from the field-level for decision-making.

Monitored data needs to be fed back to management and decision-makers in time to be useful, and not be outdated. Dynamic data at the fingertips is now a reality easily achievable with the help of mobile-based monitoring platforms.

Beneficiary verification and registration is another challenge that leads to accountability

the country’s existing capacity constraints.

Adding ICT to programs which are already in implementation can sometimes be expensive. It is more efficient to design projects with ICT at the core of the design to reduce costs, save time, create learning loops, and achieve better results.

Digital tools can empower even the poorest by bringing them into the feedback dialogue. This gives clients of the programs the scope to steer their own growth and lodge grievances if necessary. Genderdisaggregated data can help ensure that women also experience the benefits of economic growth and development programs equally. For best results, managers need to

know what is working and what is not, in real-time.

Impact measurement is another challenge that is often not adequately addressed by programs -- both NGO and GO. The multi-dimensional and dynamic nature of poverty means that simply measuring income is not only challenging but also insufficient. Again, innovative tools and indicators can help solve the problem. This is also necessary when tracking the specific needs of special populations, such as adolescent girls, or pregnant mothers, or skill-less youths, for example.

To make decisions, we need information.

This information needs to be accessible, in a format that responds to our questions, and be made actionable in order to tell us what to do. Monitoring implementation and outcomes helps generate timely lessons for improved impact and communication to the public and policy-makers.

Data and analysis can also help identify the challenges and opportunities associated with different contexts and intended beneficiary groups; support cost-benefit analysis that enables policy-makers to make more informed comparisons between cash-transfer design options (and with investments in other sectors); deepen understanding of the political economy of cash transfers; track whether and under what circumstances transfer-delivery supports access to and use of financial services, etc.

With the current infrastructure for IT as strong as it is in Bangladesh, development practitioners and government players are well-positioned to explore innovative ways of managing data.

Bangladesh has been a pioneer and a leader in many areas of poverty reduction -- here is another space where we can lead the way.

Let’s be creative and see what sort of exciting solutions we can create. l Shazia Omar is an activist for the extreme poor and Head of ProgressTracker at mPower Social.

DT

14 OPINION

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

America’s guilty conscience

Can the Clintons and the Bushes justify the money they earn post-presidency?

n M Serajul Islam

O

f the four living former US presidents -- Jimmy Carter, the elder and the younger Bush, and Bill Clinton -- Clinton and George W Bush are now multi-millionaires. And the money they have earned after leaving the White House, and continue to earn, comes from lecturing about their times as president, writing books on their White House years, or participating in fund-raising events for politicians and lobbyists.

The wives of President Clinton and President George W Bush are also in their own right, minting millions from doing what their husbands are doing. Hillary Clinton, of course, is in a class by herself, for she is not just a former first lady; she is also a former senator, a former secretary of state, and now a presidential candidate, one most likely to make it to the White House herself.

The love for money among the top political leadership in the United States was exposed once more by former president George W Bush, with his wife Laura Bush in accompaniment.

In news that made national headlines, it was revealed that the former president had charged a fee of $100,000 from the “Helping a Hero” charity that works to raise funds for the welfare of veterans who have been grievously wounded in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

It was further revealed that Laura Bush had charged $50,000 to be present at an event of the Texas-based charity “Hope for Heroes” that, too, works to help US veterans.

In the case of the president, the fund-raisers had also spent $20,000 to charter an aircraft for his travel to Houston for the event.

The news that the president had charged such a big amount for the fund-raising of veterans of the Afghan and Iraq wars caused an uproar nationwide, and in particular, among the veterans, a group extremely wellrespected in the country.

In the wake of such an uproar, the sponsors of the president’s event defended themselves and the president by stating that the normal charge to get Bush to take part in an event such as the one he attended in Houston was $250,000. The sponsors further added that it was out of the president’s compassion for the veterans that he had reduced his fee by $150,000, that it was an act of magnanimity on his part.

The sponsors further justified the fee they paid the president by stating that they got value for the money they paid the president by the amount they raised from the event.

They credited the president for it and further stated that the money raised would go to the welfare of the veterans.

That was a very shoddy way to defend President Bush on an extremely sensitive matter where issues of morality and conscience are deeply embedded. The veterans themselves underlined the issues of morality and conscience and they did so in a manner that was one of anger and contempt.

A former Marine, who lost both his hands in Fallujah, Afghanistan, said of Bush pocketing $100,000 to speak to raise funds for veterans: “For him to be paid to raise money for veterans that were wounded

creating the Taliban and al-Qaeda to serve its own interests in the late 70s and 80s to fight the Soviet interference and invasion, and then invaded Afghanistan in 2001 to fight the same forces that it put there in the first place.

In recent times, the decision of Bush to take the US to wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are being seen by average Americans as major wrong decisions taken based on deliberately flawed intelligence. And the errors become almost unforgivable given the fact that the decisions of Bush and his neo-con advisers have cost mind-boggling losses, in human and financial terms.

For the US, the sums wasted in the two wars amount to trillions of dollars, which had pushed the US to its worst economic depression since the Second World War, out of which it is just coming out. The US also lost over 6,000 men and women in uniform in the two wars.

As for the “collateral damage,” between Afghanistan and Iraq, nearly half a million innocent Iraqi and Afghan men, women, and children have been killed by the decision of “President War” to invade Afghanistan and Iraq.

It would appear that in the world’s oldest democracy -- the leaders they choose, who make it their right to judge the rest of the world insensitively on issues of ethics and morality themselves -- lack the primary ingredient to make such a judgment, namely, a clear conscience. Most former US REUTERS

The sums wasted in the two wars amount to trillions of dollars, which had pushed the US to its worst economic depression since the Second World War

in combat under his orders, I don’t think that’s right.” Many veterans who spoke in the media agreed that it was immoral and unethical for Bush to charge money for veterans who now are in need of help because they were put in harm’s way by his direct orders.

The issue of Bush and his wife charging such huge sums for welfare of those who were harmed because of his directives becomes even more untenable as now more and more Americans are openly speaking out against Bush’s decision to take the US to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In case of Iraq, it is now an accepted fact that Bush and his neo-con advisers took the US to war there on fraudulent and manufactured intelligence. In a recent TV interview, the current Chief of Army Staff General Odierno said the problem the US was facing with ISIS was the outcome of Bush’s decision in 2003 to resolve a political problem militarily.

And on the Afghan war, Hillary Clinton, in a TV interview last year, blamed the US for

presidents have faced public criticism for their enormous speaking fees.

Clinton, who has so far raised over $100m from speaking engagements, faces criticism every time on whether it is ethical and moral for him to raise money from being a former president. And Hillary Clinton is also being grilled for the millions she makes in the footsteps of her husband, that many now argue weaken her and the Democratic party’s claim that they represent America’s middle class.

Nevertheless, after George W Bush came under fire, Clinton’s office claimed that he never charged a fee for speaking to raise money for veterans. The same statement was given out on behalf of the senior Bush.

It seems that George W Bush has a lot more to answer for himself, and more importantly, on the issue of conscience. So does the US for spreading so much misery in the rest of the world, in particular in the Muslim countries. l M Serajul Islam is a retired Ambassador.

16

Global inflation pressures still mild, China still the worry

17

Key global development summit to open in Ethiopia

19

Stocks remain firm for 5th session

THE CHANGING TRENDS OF EID SHOPPING

From malls to the web n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

With more and more people getting access to internet-powered devices, the Eid tradition of heading out for hours of window shopping is being replaced by consumers now choosing to buy products from the comfortable confines of their homes, thanks to the wonderful realm of e-commerce.

The ever-worsening traffic congestion situation has also lent a boost to online shopping portals as consumers are finding the organised webpages more convenient than the chaos of traffic tailbacks formed around the popular shopping malls.

“Last year, we [online entrepreneurs] bagged around Tk35 crore during Ramadan sale while this year we expect the sale to rise to Tk45 crore,” said said Shameem Ahsan, president of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS).

The sale of products, especially fashion items, has gone up by 50% on the occasion of Eid as creative and innovative designs were being displayed online, he added.

E-shopping is becoming more popular because of the increased use of smartphones, laptops and tablet computers, said Shameem, also the chief executive officer of Akhoni.com Ltd. “Because of Dhaka’s traffic congestion, online shopping has experienced a boost ahead of Eid, as people want to save time and avoid traffic jam,” he added.

With the change in shopping trends more evident than before, online entrepreneurs are relying on aggressive marketing campaigns to attract consumers, especially the young generation and university students through

E-COMMERCE OF BANGLADESH r Sales rise by 50% ahead of Eid r Pre-Eid sale Tk35 crore last year r Expected sale Tk45 crore this year r Over 500 entrepreneurs r Market size Tk200 crore r Around 10 lakh consumers r 10% annual growth r Over 4.88 crore internet users FACTORS BEHIND RISE OF SALES r Better access to internet-powered devices r Long tailbacks on city streets r VAT-free sale r Aggressive marketing r Easy to choose from display at websites social media platforms like Facebook.

According to sector insiders, the market’s main target demographics are tech-savvy young people and housewives.

“Our target groups are university students and young people and we offer products with latest designs from home and abroad,” Kawser Choudhury Rasel, director of online portal wearhubbd.com, told the Dhaka Tribune.

“We received huge response from the buyers this year compared to the previous year’s Eid, while most consumers are from welloff families living in the capital,” said Razib Ahmed, president of e-Commerce Associa-

tion of Bangladesh (e-CAB).

He also urged the government to improve the existing postal service infrastructure, especially in the rural areas, as courier services in the country were expensive and unable to deliver products everywhere.

E-commerce is an emerging sector that requires government policy framework, he said.

The country’s online shopping portals now offer a wide variety of products covering clothes, gift items, gadgets, groceries, foods, home appliances, jewellery, books etc.

The local shoppers have the choice of paying in cash on delivery, or pay through debit or credit cards, or use mobile banking, or bKash services; international shoppers through Paypal or Payza.

Consumer feedbacks

Mousumi Ahmed, a private company employee who prefers to shop online, told the Dhaka Tribune that she does not get the time to go out shopping, while long traffic jams only add to her woes.

However, she pointed out that in order to retain the trust of customers, entrepreneurs must keep the online product prices competitive with the marketplaces to ensure that their clientele returned to buy from their portals.

Tahmina Jessy, a private university student who also shops online, said: “It is easy to choose products online as a lot of them are showcased [on the pages].”

The online stores offer consumers the chance to recheck the quality and design of the products as many times as they want before finally making their pick, she said, adding that it would be difficult to do so at shopping malls. l

Export target likely to be $32.8bn in FY16 n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

The government may set the current fiscal year’s export target at $32.8bn with a 5.13% growth amid economic slowdown in destination countries.

The target in the FY2014-15 was $32.2bn and Bangladesh earned $31.19bn with 3.35% growth from the previous fiscal.

“As per the EPB recommendation, $32.8bn will be the export target for the fiscal year 2015-16 with 5.13% growth,” said a commerce ministry source preferring anonymity.

Export Promotion Bureau has prepared related papers on the basis of last year’s data and sent them to commerce ministry for consideration. The documents were prepared to present at a meeting which was due yesterday at the city’s EPB office. But the meeting,

which was supposed to be chaired by Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed, was postponed because of cabinet meeting. The commerce ministry official said the growth target for woven sector would be set at 6.53%, knitwear 4.94%, leather 5% and plastic 11%.

He said agriculture products and frozen foods export would, however, see negative growth target.

Centre for Policy Dialogue executive director Mustafizur Rahman said the government should set export target considering global economic situation, demand, local production capacity, new development in global market, recent trade agreements, free trade agreement and supply chain situation.

“We should take competitors’ targets and their achievement process into account while fixing our target,” he said.

He suggested the government and the authorities concerned focus on exploring new export destinations. In the last fiscal, Bangladesh’s export earning was over 6% short of the target.

Political unrest, devaluation of euro against US dollar, weak global demand and reform measures in the country’s garment industry were identified as reasons behind the failure.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh’s readymade garment exports displayed the poorest performance in six years with 4.1% rise in the just-concluded fiscal year while the country’s overall export growth also slumped to 13-year low. l

20

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Business

15

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

NBR to avoid double auditing on VAT paying firms

Cash incentives for exports cut n Tribune Report

The government has cut cash incentives for five export items for the fiscal year 2015-16.

Bangladesh Bank announced the subsidies and cash incentives for 14 export items through a circular issued yesterday.

The cash incentive for textiles reduced from 5% to 4% while it came down from 15% to 5% for bone dust, from 15% to 12.50% for leather products, from 10% to 7.5% for jute products and from 7.5% to for jute yarn.

The small and medium garment factories would get 4% and the apparel sector 4% of additional cash subsidy instead of bond and duty drawback facilities.

Exporters will get 3% cash incentives for exporting new products and exploring new market outside USA, Canada and EU. The export subsidies and cash incentives will be eligible for the exports shipped between July 1 this year and June 30, 2016. l

Vietnamese firm gets VAT automation job n Tribune Report The government is going to appoint a Vietnamese IT firm to implement a project under value added tax online project to raise revenue earning.

Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase is set to approve the proposal from Vietnamese firm FPT Information System Corporation.

The project works include establishment, operation and maintenance of integrated VAT administration system (IVAS) through delivery of commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) software, hardware, networking and support services. The works will start after Eid-ul-fitr.

Three foreign firms participated in the tender process. They are FPT Information Systems, Canada’s Sogema Group and Chinese firm Haier and Asino Corporation.

After evaluation, the tender evaluation committee recommended the proposal of FPT Information System. The project is Tk260.94 crore. l

DT

16 BUSINESS

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

Global inflation pressures still mild, China still the worry n Reuters, London Global inflation appears tamer than many had thought it would be by now, still held back by a modest outlook for economic growth, meaning central banks look likely to leave rates lower for longer - or even ease policy further.

With a few exceptions such as Brazil, many major economies are still generating low or no consumer price inflation but instead higher asset prices, particularly stocks, and in many countries, a renewed pickup in house price inflation.

For those watching the world economy, China, not Greece, has for a while remained the number one concern. The panic by the Chinese authorities last week as they went through tool after tool to halt the stock market’s fall after a massive boom suggests serious concern about damage to a slowing economy that is generating just 1.4% inflation.

While growth is only expected to slow to 6.9 percent from 7.0 percent in the official data due this week, many suspect there is a much sharper economic slowdown. The recent sharp fall in oil prices reflects that view.

That said, Chinese citizens have much greater exposure to the housing market than to stocks and for now, the authorities appear to have successfully engineered a stock market rebound.

higher wage deals.

While some large investment banks remain upbeat about prospects for US growth in coming months, forecasting a much stronger second half for the world’s largest economy has become boilerplate since the financial crisis began to ease.

Yellen in congress

People are reflected in a board displaying stock indices in Tokyo But for the economy, the growth momentum is still headed the other way. Jeremy Lawson, chief economist at Standard Life Investments, writes that “the long-term glide path is still down and most of the risks remain to the downside”.

“Slow growth and moderating inflation explains why many emerging economies have

REUTERS

been loosening monetary policy in recent months ... (but) there is a danger in taking things too far.”

The inflation outlook for the United States also remains remarkably tame, particularly given how quickly the unemployment rate has fallen but still with no convincing evidence that has translated into significantly

Federal Reserve policymakers were clear in minutes of the June policy meeting that they had a close eye on economic growth abroad, particularly in China and other emerging markets.

Traders and investors in financial markets, who already had pushed to September from June expectations for the first US interest rate rise in nearly a decade, are now talking about December or even not until 2016.

Testimony from Fed chief Janet Yellen to Congress on Wednesday and Thursday could provide more clarity on how close the Federal Open Market Committee is to raising rates from a record low of 0-0.25%, but few expect strong signals.

“We still believe the FOMC majority is anxious to lift policy off the zero bound when the opportunity arises, preferably before yearend,” wrote economists at Credit Suisse who have changed their forecast to just one hike this year. l

Political sweetener: Japan PM Abe to get branded honey n AFP, Tokyo Step aside Abe-nomics, the Shinzo Abe brandwagon is rolling on ... into honey, after the Japanese prime minister’s wife decided to establish a beehive at their official residence.

First lady Akie Abe wants hives enough for up to 10,000 Japanese honeybees, right in the centre of Tokyo, and intends to harvest “Abebrand” honey later this year, reports and an NGO said.

Mrs Abe, who frequently speaks out on environmental and social issues, apparently took her inspiration on apiculture from her

American opposite number, Michelle Obama, who has bees at the White House.

The Ginza Honey Bee Project, a non-profit organisation that keeps honey bees in the Japanese capital, told AFP they will offer a helping hand to Mrs Abe in how she should care for her stripey charges.

The Abes visited Washington in April this year, where the two first ladies compared notes on the global decline in the number of bees.

Bees are vital to the life-cycle of many plants, including a lot of crops grown for human consumption, because of their role in pollination. l

AB Bank Limited has recently hosted an Iftar Mahfil for journalists and related media personnel. The bank’s director, BB Shaha Roy among other high officials was present on the occasion

Mercantile Bank Limited has recently signed a discount partnership agreement with Grand Sultan Tea Resort Golf. The bank’s DMD, Mati-Ul-Hasan and Md Sayedul Islam Bhuiyan (Romel), head of sales and marketing of Grand Sultan Tea Resort & Golf signed the agreement

A job portal for fresh graduates, bd-internships.com was recently launched at a hotel in Dhaka. Joint Secretary at Ministry of Education, Aminul Islam Khan was present at the launching ceremony

DT

BUSINESS 17

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

Key global development summit to open in Ethiopia n AFP, Addis Ababa World leaders are meeting in Ethiopia’s capital from later yesterday for a development financing summit presented as crucial for United Nations efforts to end global poverty and manage climate change by 2030.

The objective of the five days of talks, the third summit of its kind after talks in Monterrey in 2002 and Doha in 2008, is ambitious: laying out the ground rules for a fairer world of inclusive, low-carbon growth.

Concretely, that means deciding how to fill a colossal annual investment gap in key sustainable development sectors for developing nations - estimated at up to $2.5tn annually according to the UN’s trade and development body UNCTAD. This in turn will enable the world body to push ahead with its 2015-2030 Sustainable Development Goals, which are due to be formally adopted in New York in October. There are 17 in all, ranging from ending poverty to providing universal access to sustainable energy.

The choice of Ethiopia as summit host highlights the importance of the issue for Africa, a continent which counts 33 out of the world’s 49 least developed countries.

Despite concerns over its record on democracy and human rights, the country - gripped by an appalling famine 30 years ago but now one of the world’s fastest growing economies - is seen as something as a model for development, having brought millions out of poverty and having invested heavily in infrastructure and key public services.

Tax evasion

But preparatory talks in New York have so far failed to yield an agreement on a common summit outcome, with rich nations - many of which are embroiled in their own financing woes and reluctant to up their aid budgets - pushing for greater private sector involve-

A general view shows an overpass of an electrical light rail transit system under construction in Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa REUTERS ment and for emerging economies like China, Brazil and India to share the burden.

“Many donors are questioning who should receive development aid. They tell middle income countries ‘you’re wealthy, you can raise your own money, let’s focus on poor countries’,” explained Gail Hurley, a policy specialist with the United Nations Development Programme.

With much left to resolve during the summit, Oxfam policy advisor Claire Godfrey said success was far from guaranteed.

“What we don’t want to see is platitudes and promises,” she said.

“Any agreement that favours rich governments and commercial interests isn’t worth the paper it is printed on. The talks so far have seen governments ‘sitting on their hands’ and waiting for others to make the first move.”

The summit should nevertheless reaffirm the objective for rich nations to allocate 0.7 percent of their wealth to development aid

for the poorest countries, something that has been rarely respected.

One of the main sticking points is the creation of an international tax organisation within the United Nations to fight against tax evasion by multinationals.

International tax rules that allow large companies to avoid tax end up costing developing countries $100bn every year, according to Oxfam. Rich countries, however, want decisions about international taxation frameworks to remain in the hands of the OECD and G20, where they control the agenda.

“To take decision-making on taxation away from the OECD is not only a question of principle,” said Lucie Watrinet of CCFD-Terre Solidaire, a French development NGO. “The measures proposed by the OECD regarding tax evasion hardly ever take into account the concerns of developing countries, and even put them at a disadvantage.” l

Oil prices fall as Iran nuclear deal seems likely n Reuters, Singapore Oil prices fell yesterday as Iran and six world powers were close to nailing down a nuclear deal, but high Chinese crude import figures prevented prices from tumbling further.

The potential of Iran soon adding to global oil oversupply and the demand side weakening over China and Europe led several analysts to say that crude would fall further.

Iran and six world powers were on the brink of finding a nuclear deal that would bring sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on Tehran’s nuclear program.

US crude prices were down around 90 cents at $51.83 a barrel at 0226 GMT. Front-month Brent crude futures fell around a dollar to $57.74 a barrel on the back of an expectation that a deal with Iran would lead to an easing of sanctions against Tehran and to higher crude exports.

Chinese customs data showing that its crude imports in the first half of the year were up 7.5% compared with the same time in 2014 prevented prices from falling further despite analysts saying this was more down to stockpiling of strategic reserves than a real rise in demand.

Investors were also watching whether China’s stock markets can stabilize after a barrage of government support sparked a bounce in its key CSI300 stock index.

The Greek debt crisis continued as political leaders argued late into the night at an emergency summit, so far without result.

With oversupply ongoing and abundant economic risk, the International Energy Agency (IEA) and several banks said they had lowered their oil price forecasts.

“The bottom of the market may still be ahead,” the IEA said in its monthly report.

Commerzbank said that a return of Iranian supplies could add to current oversupply of 1.5 to 2 million barrels per day and that “a fall below $55 per barrel in Brent and below $50 per barrel in WTI (U.S. crude) is therefore conceivable”. l

Rich and American? Australia wants you n Reuters, Sydney Flush with the success of a millionaire visa programme to attract wealthy Chinese, Australia is now promising citizenship to rich Americans who are willing to bring their cash and entrepreneurial talent Down Under.

But there’s a rather large catch: participants in the invitation-only Premium Investment Visa scheme will need to invest A$15m ($11.57m) for the privilege of becoming an Aussie.

Launched earlier this month but not widely publicised, the scheme’s investment requirements easily top the existing twoyear-old Significant Investor Visa (SIV) programme, which asks for a A$5m commitment and has been especially popular with Chinese migrants.

Investment advisors who have been briefed on the plan by government officials expressed doubts about the wisdom of targeting Americans, with several telling Reuters the more obvious place to start was Austral-

ia’s Asian neighbours.

After all, why would a successful US entrepreneur want to invest a large chunk of cash in Australia - a country very similar to the United States, just further away from everything - in exchange for a passport that carries few additional benefits to their own?

“The US has some problems that Australia doesn’t have. It’s got a lot more racial crimes, it’s got a lot more gun-related crimes, but I don’t think that is going to drive a whole bunch of ultra-rich Americans out of their country,” said Bill Fuggle, a partner at law firm Baker & McKenzie who advises wealthy Chinese migrating to Australia.

The programme, which does not have any residency requirement, allows would-be migrants to invest pretty much anywhere except housing. In comparison, Significant Investor Visa holders must put at least 40% of their A$5m investments in risky small-cap and venture capital funds, and be an Australian resident for 40 days a year for four years.

Not about money

The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) revealed for the first time that the programme would begin in the United States, Australia’s top two-way investment market, before expanding to other major investment markets such as the United Kingdom.

Despite the hefty investment requirement, officials say it’s not about the money. It’s about attracting the best and brightest entrepreneurial talent from around the globe, and from America in particular.

“The United States ... is a natural place to target the kinds of entrepreneurial skills and talents we need to cultivate further in Australia,” Austrade told Reuters in an email.

US “innovators” would help to build links between Australians and “entrepreneurial hubs” such as Silicon Valley, Los Angeles and Boston, it added.

“Australia has long been a place of innovative ideas, research and development, but has often lacked the capital, depth of entrepre-

neurial talent or scale to commercialise our ideas successfully,” Austrade said.

Australia’s national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), boasts inventions such as WiFi, high-nutrient grains and a new way of making plastics that is already the basis of more than 200 patents. But it often struggles to bring its ideas to market due to a lack of venture capital.

For the fourth consecutive year, Australia made the Top 10 global destinations for foreign direct investment in 2014, according to the UN Conference on Trade and Development. It ranked 8th, one ahead of the UK, and is one of only four developed countries in the Top 10.

Tax experts said that while there were no major tax advantages for Americans in Australia, the depreciating Aussie dollar and the country’s proximity to emerging markets like Indonesia and China could help to attract US talent. l

DT

18 BUSINESS

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

News, analysis and recent disclosures APOLOISPAT: The Company has informed that their Board of Directors has taken decision, among others, to purchase 110.50 Decimal Land at Shrimmrail, Siddhirgonj, Narayangonj, adjacent to the factory of the Company for further expansion for producing horizontal product. The value of the land is TK. 7.18 crore.

BDWELDING: The Company will be placed in B category from existing Z category with effect from July 13, 2015 as the Company has reported disbursement of 5% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2014.

Dividend/AGM FAREASTLIF: 35% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 16.08.2015, Record Date: 23.07.2015.

STYLECRAFT: 60% cash, AGM: 27.08.2015, Record Date: 30.07.2015.

BIFC: No dividend, AGM: 03.09.2015, Record Date: 23.07.2015.

SANDHANINS: 22% stock, AGM: 01.09.2015, Record Date: 12.08.2015.

PRIMELIFE: 15% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 31.08.2015, Record Date: 14.07.2015.

UTTARAFIN: 20% cash and 10% stock, AGM: 29.07.2015, Record date: 08.07.2015.

NATLIFEINS: 45% cash , AGM: 09.08.2015, Record Date: 30.06.2015.

RUPALILIFE: 10% stock, AGM: 10.08.2015, Record Date: 09.07.2015.

ASIAINS: 10% cash, AGM: 11.07.2015, Record Date: 23.06.2015.

MEGHNALIFE: The Board of Directors has recommended 13% cash dividend and 20% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2014.

Date of AGM: 27.08.2015, Time: 10:30 AM, Venue: Muktijoddha Smrity Auditorium, Institution of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh 160/A, Kakrail VIP Road, Dhaka.

Record Date: 30.07.2015.

SUMITPOWER: (H/Y Un-audited): Consolidated Profit after tax (excluding non controlling interest) from Jan’15-June’15 was Tk. 1,563.43 m. with Consolidated EPS of Tk. 2.02 as against Tk. 1,203.95 m. and Tk. 1.67 respectively for the same period of the previous year. Whereas Consolidated Profit after tax (excluding non controlling interest) from April’15-June’15 was Tk. 868.87 m. with Consolidated EPS of Tk. 1.12 as against Tk. 696.99 m. and Tk. 0.97 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

SPPCL: (H/Y Un-audited): Profit after tax from Jan’15-June’15 was Tk. 430.17 million with EPS of Tk. 2.83 as against Tk. 344.23 million and Tk. 2.26 respectively for the same period of the previous year. Whereas Profit after tax from April’15-June’15 was Tk. 203.18 million with EPS of Tk. 1.34 as against Tk. 183.90 million and Tk. 1.21 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

ISLAMIINS: The Company has informed that it has credited the bonus shares for the year ended on December 31, 2014 to the respective shareholders’ BO Accounts on July 08, 2015.

Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

Company AramitCementA Bangladesh Welding -Z EXIM Bank 1 MF-A MBL 1st M. F.-A AIBL 1st Is. M. F.-A Savar Refractories-Z Monno Ceramic -B Hakkani P& Paper -B Saiham Cotton-A Popular Life 1st M.F.-A

Closing (% Change) 9.86 9.64 9.62 9.09 8.33 7.86 7.82 7.11 6.73 6.12

CSE GAINER Company AramitCementA ICB AMCL 2nd NRB -A Bangladesh Welding -Z Hakkani P& Paper -B MBL 1st M. F.-A EXIM Bank 1 MF-A AIBL 1st Is. M. F.-A Popular Life 1st M.F.-A National Life I -A 1st ICB M F -A

Closing (% Change) 9.86 9.86 9.55 9.53 9.52 9.09 8.33 8.16 7.49 6.15

DSE LOSER Company BD Fixed Income MF-A Olympic Accessories -N Jute SpinnersA ACI Limited- A Imam Button -Z PrimeFin. 1st MF-A National Feed-A AsianTigerSandhani GF-A R. N. Spinning-Z Midas Financing-Z

Closing (% Change) -8.86 -7.14 -6.80 -5.02 -4.50 -4.10 -4.08 -3.49 -3.16 -3.10

CSE LOSER Company PragatiLife Insu. -Z Rangpur Foundry -A Prime Insur -A Olympic Accessories -N ACI Limited- A Samata LeatheR -Z ISN Ltd. -Z Fine Foods A Apex Footwear-A Mithun Knitting -A

Closing (% Change) -9.49 -9.28 -9.03 -7.26 -5.67 -5.26 -5.10 -4.90 -4.58 -3.72

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

DSE key features July 13, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

DSE GAINER

Sector

4,943.29 117,188,881 106,683

Traded Issues

322

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

160

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

153

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

9

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,634.90

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

31.94

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 154.70 161.82 96.67 621.26 102.77 830.21 3.45 334.36 1364.78 16.75 60.25 16.37 174.82 272.77 24.31 15.70 76.15 270.26 135.93 209.22 0.75

% change 3.13 3.27 1.96 12.57 2.08 16.79 0.07 6.76 27.61 0.34 1.22 0.33 3.54 5.52 0.49 0.32 1.54 5.47 2.75 4.23 0.02

Million Taka 10.74 13.48 2.91 61.63 3.82 63.26 27.32 66.08 4.06 5.02 1.19 9.60 32.14 5.11 0.95 4.52 19.96 13.76 25.18 0.00

Average (% Change) 9.51 8.60 9.62 9.34 6.88 7.00 7.98 3.55 7.99 4.52

Average (% Change) 8.67 5.92 9.28 4.34 9.52 9.09 7.71 6.82 7.47 6.15

Average (% Change) -7.81 -6.23 -7.43 -1.20 -3.47 -1.66 -5.41 0.48 -3.63 -2.34

Average (% Change) -7.10 -9.44 -11.37 -5.91 -1.86 -4.10 -5.49 -4.90 -3.54 -3.76

CSE

ClosingAvg. 37.78 21.59 5.70 4.80 5.13 53.50 33.30 51.09 22.16 5.09

ClosingAvg. 37.49 7.52 21.79 50.49 4.60 6.00 5.17 5.17 183.80 1139.00

ClosingAvg. 7.32 59.19 48.00 626.96 10.56 11.82 23.95 8.36 24.67 12.53

ClosingAvg.

% change 2.90 3.64 0.78 16.63 1.03 17.06 0.00 7.37 17.82 1.09 1.35 0.32 2.59 8.67 1.38 0.26 1.22 5.38 3.71 6.79 0.00

74.40 90.70 13.10 59.35 629.68 27.34 9.30 9.70 355.50 72.47

Closing

DHIGH

37.90 21.60 5.70 4.80 5.20 53.50 33.10 51.20 22.20 5.20

Closing 37.90 7.80 21.80 51.70 4.60 6.00 5.20 5.30 183.80 1139.00

Closing 7.20 57.20 48.00 607.00 10.60 11.70 23.50 8.30 24.50 12.50

Closing 72.50 90.90 13.10 57.50 607.10 27.00 9.30 9.70 356.00 72.50

Million Taka 165.43 175.31 99.57 682.89 106.59 893.46 3.45 361.69 1430.86 20.81 65.26 17.56 184.42 304.90 29.42 16.64 80.67 290.22 149.69 234.41 0.75

DLOW

37.90 21.60 5.70 4.80 5.20 53.50 33.70 52.00 22.80 5.20

DHIGH

35.70 20.50 5.70 4.60 5.00 53.50 31.00 47.40 21.00 4.80

DLOW

37.90 7.80 21.80 51.90 4.60 6.00 5.20 5.30 183.80 1139.00

DHIGH

35.90 7.30 20.80 44.20 4.60 6.00 5.00 4.80 183.80 1139.00

DLOW

7.50 62.80 48.00 665.00 10.90 12.10 24.90 8.60 25.60 12.60

DHIGH

7.20 56.50 48.00 603.20 10.30 11.70 23.30 8.20 24.10 12.50

DLOW

75.00 91.00 13.10 62.80 679.00 28.00 9.30 9.70 356.00 72.60

Total

72.50 90.30 13.10 56.60 604.90 27.00 9.30 9.70 355.00 72.40

% change 3.11 3.30 1.87 12.85 2.01 16.81 0.06 6.81 26.93 0.39 1.23 0.33 3.47 5.74 0.55 0.31 1.52 5.46 2.82 4.41 0.01

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

Turnover in Million

Latest EPS

27.901 28.139 0.031 13.713 8.638 0.000 3.545 7.460 79.132 9.668

Turnover in Million

0.72 -0.40 0.56 5.08 4.76 -0.64 0.16 0.29 1.43 0.63

Latest EPS

10.309 0.023 4.272 3.231 0.319 0.006 0.280 0.451 0.000 0.023

Turnover in Million

52.5 -ve 10.2 0.9 1.1 -ve 208.1 176.2 15.5 8.1

Latest PE

0.72 0.87 -0.40 0.29 5.08 0.56 4.76 0.63 12.46 39.55

Latest EPS

0.045 154.866 0.005 567.884 0.098 2.110 28.916 1.523 7.580 0.501

Turnover in Million

Latest PE

52.1 8.6 -ve 174.1 0.9 10.7 1.1 8.2 14.8 28.8

Latest PE

0.51 1.41 -31.68 120.56 -1.21 0.40 1.61 0.60 0.44 -1.55

Latest EPS

0.049 0.054 0.001 28.494 20.405 0.041 0.001 0.010 0.021 0.074

14.4 42.0 -ve 5.2 -ve 29.6 14.9 13.9 56.1 -ve

Latest PE

2.38 3.12 1.12 1.41 120.56 -0.05 0.16 -0.27 -37.80 3.63

31.3 29.1 11.7 42.1 5.2 -ve 58.1 -ve -ve 20.0

CSE key features July 13, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

370.71 10,309,489 15,416

Traded Issues

248

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

121

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

122

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

5

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,542.68

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.82

DT

BUSINESS 19

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

Stocks remain firm for 5th session n Tribune Report

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company ACI Limited- A Grameenphone-A RAK Ceramics-A Khulna Power-A LafargeS Cement-A Olympic Accessories -N Beximco Pharma -A UNITED AIR-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A ACI Formulations-A

DESCO Ltd. -A AFC AgroBiotech-A Ifad Autos -N Active Fine Chem.-A Renata Ltd. -A

VolumeShares 905,769 719,788 2,074,610 2,118,164 1,378,738 2,616,206 1,964,692 11,216,035 3,206,454 518,311

Value in Million 567.88 249.88 160.62 159.68 155.24 154.87 131.26 120.67 110.27 108.89

% of TotalTurnover 11.49 5.06 3.25 3.23 3.14 3.13 2.66 2.44 2.23 2.20

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Olympic Accessories -N ACI Limited- A United Power-N LafargeS Cement-A Grameenphone-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A UNITED AIR-A AramitCementA Khulna Power-A Beximco Pharma -A

RAK Ceramics-A Active Fine Chem.-A Summit Power -A FAR Chemical-N BSRM Ltd. -N

1,480,576 1,444,114 945,149 1,516,752 86,086

480,113 32,405 120,921 162,642 51,526 464,314 1,234,147 274,957 121,357 132,854

110,299 109,018 164,852 141,057 80,572

104.63 94.54 93.87 93.70 87.75

28.49 20.40 18.96 18.34 17.82 15.91 13.30 10.31 9.15 8.89

8.53 6.74 6.73 6.59 5.65

2.12 1.91 1.90 1.90 1.78

7.69 5.50 5.11 4.95 4.81 4.29 3.59 2.78 2.47 2.40

2.30 1.82 1.82 1.78 1.52

ClosingP 607.00 347.70 77.00 76.20 112.80 57.20 66.90 10.70 34.10 212.00

71.70 65.70 99.50 62.10 1048.30

ClosingP

Change % -5.02 1.05 2.80 1.06 1.90 -7.14 -0.59 -2.73 -1.45 -1.94

4.22 0.00 -0.50 1.64 3.68

Change %

57.50 607.10 156.70 113.10 347.20 34.10 10.70 37.90 76.20 67.00

77.00 61.90 41.00 46.20 70.20

-7.26 -5.67 2.22 1.62 1.08 -1.45 -1.83 9.86 1.46 -0.89

3.36 1.48 0.99 -1.07 -1.27

ClosingY 639.10 344.10 74.90 75.40 110.70 61.60 67.30 11.00 34.60 216.20

68.80 65.70 100.00 61.10 1011.10

ClosingY

62.00 643.60 153.30 111.30 343.50 34.60 10.90 34.50 75.10 67.60

74.50 61.00 40.60 46.70 71.10

DHIGH 665.00 349.80 78.60 77.30 114.00 62.80 68.00 11.10 35.10 217.90

72.10 66.60 101.30 62.60 1054.00

DLOW 603.20 342.00 74.70 73.90 110.40 56.50 65.80 10.60 33.90 205.10

68.80 65.00 97.70 61.00 1008.0

DHIGH

DLOW

62.80 679.00 158.70 114.00 349.50 35.00 11.00 37.90 77.00 68.00

56.60 604.90 154.00 110.70 342.60 34.00 10.70 35.90 73.90 66.00

78.30 62.50 41.30 47.60 71.10

72.00 60.10 40.20 45.60 69.60

AvgPrice 626.96 347.16 77.42 75.39 112.60 59.19 66.81 10.76 34.39 210.09

70.67 65.47 99.31 61.78 1019.29

AvgPrice

59.35 629.68 156.76 112.75 345.89 34.27 10.78 37.49 75.41 66.91

77.32 61.79 40.85 46.73 70.15

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

11720.03030

(+) 0.30%

1815.00664

(+) 0.21%

14241.62970

(+) 0.27%

11720.03030

(+) 0.03%

8670.12010

(+) 0.29%

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

Stocks edged higher for the fifth consecutive session amid continued volatility yesterday with remaining one trading day just before going for long Eid holiday from tomorrow.

The rally was led by mainly cement, power and telecommunication issues ahead of corporate deceleration.

The benchmark of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, DSEX, was over 13 points or 0.3% up to close at 4,628.

The Shariah index, DSES, rose almost 6 points or 0.5% to 1,142. The blue chip comprising index DS30 gained nearly 4 points or 0.3% to 1,815. The Chittagong Stock Exchange was up 24 points to settle at 8,670.

Cement sector posted the highest gain of 2.8% on merger news of the world’s two giant cement maker Lafarge and Holcim.

Power sector also made robust performance rising 1.8%, following reports of promising growth in earnings, whereas some manufacturing stocks also advanced on hope of positive earnings declaration.

Tannery sector rose 1.3%, telecommunication 1%, and food and allied 0.6%. Pharmaceuticals, engineering and non-banking financial institutions were down on profit booking. Banks ended marginally higher.

Trading activities, however, declined to Tk494 crore, down almost 11% over the previous session.

Gainers took a lead over the losers remained exactly same as out of 310 issues traded, 163 advanced, 115 declined and 43 remained unchanged.

Lanka Bangla Securities said the gaining streak continued, trumping partial cash out by investors before the Eid occasion.

Especially, expectations on corporate declarations of the companies with accounting year ending in June played a vital role in shaping market movement, it said.

IDLC Investments said stocks remain mostly firmed amid encouraging earning season in market.

It said index stepped down in early trading as sellers came to book profit before Eid holiday. However, the strong gain in last hour followed through the uptrend set in previous sessions, it said. l

ANALYST

Index stepped down in early trading as sellers came to book profit before Eid holiday

DT

20 BUSINESS

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

NBR to avoid double auditing on VAT paying firms Authority prepared charter of functions for VAT audit, intelligence department

n Syed Samiul Basher Anik The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has taken up an initiative to coordinate its auditing activities with the commissionerates concerned and the VAT audit intelligence and investigation department to avoid double auditing on VAT collecting firms.

The NBR on July 7 published an official order to effect charter of functions for its VAT audit intelligence and investigation directorate which is responsible for conducting audit and intelligence activities on the VAT collection companies to counter VAT evasion.

The order was signed by NBR member (VAT audit and intelligence) Abu Faisal M Shahriar Molla with effect from July 1.

The department will prepare a list for auditing firms and send the list to the commissionerates so that the latter can prepare work plan separately to avoid double auditing, according to the charter.

The department will conduct intelligence activities to collect information on irregularities committed by VAT registered companies, cottage firms and turnover listed companies.

After collection of intelligence information, the department will send the information to the commissionerates seeking necessary actions in this regard, the charter said, adding that the department will also have to conduct legal activities to ensure compliance in overall VAT collection system.

According to the new charter, the department can audit any firms anytime based on intelligence information or order from the director general of VAT intelligence department.

The audit and intelligence department will conduct three monthly audit activities and inform the commissionerates by 15 of every July, October, January and April so that the latter need not audit the firms twice.

After having the audit lists, work plan would be prepared so that double auditing can be avoided.

Following investigation, the department will recommend for necessary action on tax evasion and irregularities.

The charter also made the audit and intelligence department responsible for sending a monthly intelligence report to NBR headquarters, and serve recommendations to all commissionerates and NBR headquarters to counter tax evasion.

Based on the information collected, the department will also send recommendations to NBR for taking legal reforms. It was also made responsible for sending three monthly and year wise report to the NBR headquarter.NBR to avoid double auditing on VAT paying firms.

Earlier at a briefing, NBR chairman Nojibur Rahman said the board has targeted 55% revenue with its VAT wing within shortest time by exploring its potentiality.

It is widely alleged that many businesses

collect vat from customers, but do not deposit the money into government revenue, sources said.

Usually, the department carries out audit as part of its regular review on random basis and identifies the tax evasion activities.

According to the charter, the department will select companies based on statistics, manual and documents prepared by NBR and will conduct auditing on them when required.

The department will also prepare a category wise information storage system for companies registered or eligible for registration, and companies at risk on vat collection to conduct risk management activities.

Expressing frustration over low number of VAT returns submitted by business houses, finance minister AMA Muhith on Sunday said: “Only 60,000 business firms currently submit VAT returns although the number of eligible companies should be at least 3-6 lakh.”

NBR officials said that a good number of private companies have been evading VAT (value added tax) despite making huge profits.

Currently, the VAT audit intelligence and investigation department cannot work extensively on tax-related irregularities, and VAT evasion due to lack of manpower, officials said adding that coordinated efforts between the commissionerates and the department can help increase collection of VAT from different companies. l

NBR to keep customs houses open on July 17 n Tribune Report The National Board of Revenue (NBR) has decided to keep its customs houses open on Friday to facilitate export-import activities, particularly the country’s ready-made garment sector.

The board came up with the decision in response to a request made by Bangladesh Garment Manufacturer and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

The customhouses are-Dhaka Custom House, Chittagong Custom House, Benapole Custom House, and Inland Container Depot (ICD) at Kamapalpur in Dhaka.

The NBR usually keeps all its customhouses open on the day before Eid every year to meet the request of BGMEA. l

Amjad Khan Chowdhury’s janaza at military museum n Tribune Report The namaz-e-janaza of major general (retd) Amjad Khan Chowdhury, chief executive officer of PRAN-RFL Group, will be held at 2:15pm on July 15 on the Military Museum ground at Bijoy Sarani, Dhaka, after Zohr prayer.

The funeral location has been changed due to an unavoidable reason, said a press release.

Earlier, it was declared that the janaza would be held at the city’s Army Stadium.

He will be buried at the military graveyard at Banani after the funeral.

Amjad Khan Chowdhury passed away on July 8 at a US hospital. l

BB DG Abul Quasem’s term to be extended n Tribune Report

The government has decided to extend the tenure of Bangladesh Bank’s deputy governor Abul Quasem as his four-year term expired on July 7.

Bank and Financial Institutions Division sources said a summary of the extension decision had already been placed before Finance Minister AMA Muhith for approval.

Abul Quasem was appointed as the deputy governor on July 07, 2011.

He served as executive director from September 12, 2005 to July 06, 2011.

His tenure may be extended further as he is still a few years away from retirement age of 67 years, according to sources.

Later, the three deputy governors including the first female one in Bangladesh Bank’s history were appointed on January 23, 2012 by the central bank for three years.

They include Abu Hena Mohd Razee Hassan, Shitangshu Kumar Sur Chowdhury and Nazneen Sultana.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bank sources said three executive directors of the central bank were making extensive efforts to be appointed as its deputy managing director.

Three executive directors in line are Md Ahsan Ullah, M Mahfuzur Rahman and SM Moniruzzaman. l

A large amount of mangoes get rotten in storage as the traders could not come to buy due to heavy rainfal in Rajshahi recently. While some of the rotten mangoes are seen abandoned in a roadside ditch in Puthia upazila yesterday, traders say such incident has put them under a huge loss AZAHAR UDDIN

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Photos: Bigstock

T-JUNCTION

Phantomised

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TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

INSIDE

22 News

Urban Truth opens 70th showroom

23 Gaming

Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain

24 Tech

The magic number 10

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22 T-JUNCTION

News

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

Eid carnival buffet at Amari Dhaka

Amaya is a signature restaurant with luxurious selections of Asian varieties that showcases authentic Chinese, Thai, Japanese and Indian cuisines. This Eid, Amari is delighted to offer a superb buffet dinner deal with Amaya food gallery. It has instigated to offer signature delicacies with many more tantalising gourmets at only Tk1,999.

With four live stations, the fresh food can resurrect the taste of originality every time.

This special festival offer is valid for the second and third day of Eid only.

Apart from the carnival buffet dinner, Amari has a special room package to offer, valid from July 16 to July 19. The

guestrooms are starting from 29sq meters with the view from the terrace. Each room is furnished with complimentary Wi-Fi, marble bathrooms and a window sitting area to admire the panoramic view of the Dhaka only at Tk9,999.

The package also includes a free upgrade to the deluxe lake view room with the complimentary use of the gym facilities and swimming pool with 20 percent off on F&B consumptions.

This package is only applicable for Bangladeshi nationals and ex-patriots residing in Bangladesh. l

Urban Truth opens 70th showroom Pride Limited will be formally opening their 70th showroom in Jamuna Future Park on Friday, July 10 at 8:30pm.

Urban Truth, Pride Group’s youthbased fashion brand will also be opening on the same premise. UT’s summer 2015 collection will be launching with modern European trends in summer clothing, accessories, scarves and handbags.

Pride Limited recently launched their new line “Pride Girls” and their latest Eid-ul-Fitr collection will be available

as well. Pride Girls has had a fantastic reception with Pride’s trendy prints including one piece tunics, leggings, scarves and palazzos. Pride Girls is also launching their accessories collection during the event.

The showroom is at level 1, block B, store 23-25 at Jamuna Future Park.

Intex introduces Bangladesh’s first ‘high powered’ phone Intex Technologies launched its high powered Aqua Power+ handset, and the feature-rich phone comes with a 5-inch IPS HD display and a smooth touch on the screen. It runs on Android OS 5.0 Lollipop, and is loaded with a 1.3Ghz, quad core processor, 2GB RAM and a Mediatek chipset.

Despite having a heavy 4000mAh battery, the phone is still very slim and the battery assures endurance and longevity. The user is provided with a

talk time of up to 20 hours along with a standby time of 500 hours.

For the amateur clickers and selfie lovers, the handset comes with a 13MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera to click crisp selfies on various modes. The light weight device also supports 3G and is available for Tk11,990.

Intex Aqua Power+ is available in four premium colors including white, black, champagne and silver. It also comes with a smart flip cover for free.

Lux’s gold winners 10 lucky winners from Chittagong won gold lockets following their participation in Lux’s “Khuje nin shonar locket” competition.

The lucky winners are, Nazia Rob (Chittagong), Priya Chakma (Khagrachhori),

Nurul Mostofa (Chittagong), Md Ali Hossain (Bandarbon), Md Ziaul Haque (Chittagong), Md Anis Uddin (Chittagong), Shagor Ghosh (Chittagong), Ripon Pal (Chittagong), Lokman Sarwar (Cox’s Bazar) and Mahbub Alam (Chittagong). l

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Gaming

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preview

Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain Better than before

n Chisty Rahim Following the extensive success of the first phase of Metal Gear Solid 5: Ground Zero or commonly known as MGS 5, the second phase of the game is coming out this year, named Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom Pain. The story is preceded by MGS 5: Ground Zero, which was a brief introductory chapter released in 2014.

The game is characterised as an open world, action-adventure stealth experience developed by Kojima Productions and directed, designed, co-produced and cowritten by Hideo Kojima.

It is expected to be out for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One. The Phantom Pain establishes in the fallout of the events of Ground Zero and

the destruction of Militaries Sans Frontiers or often called MSF, after Big Boss falls into a coma. Nine years later, he awakes and helps lead a new mercenary group called Diamond Dogs. Adopting the codename Venom Snake, his pursuits lead him to Afghanistan during the Soviet war, to track down the men responsible for the MSF destruction. Down the path, he familiarises his former rival Ocelot and encounters a unit of warriors robbed of their past, present and future. While he and Kazuhira “Kaz” Miller are initially driven to revenge, snake gradually realises that there is a plot by the Cipher Organization to develop a weapon with the probable capacity to excel even the Metal Gear System.

In the game, players will take the role of Punished “Venom” Snake, also known as Big Boss, which is his alias. The game

is intelligently designed and allows you to explore throughout the map, which is not restricted to any zones. Unlike the previous MGS 5, the players can tour themselves into the various parts of the map. One can use different means of travel in their journey. The game offers a cars, tanks, planes, helicopters or even a horses for their diverse expeditions. It also offers a few more new features, for example, healing your injuries by holding down the action button. However, after every mission you are given a rank. But the ultimate use of this rank is still unknown.

Moreover, to provide the players with some actual tenderness of the real time set in 1984, the soundtracks are mostly picked up from 80s music.

Snake can craft support items using materials picked upon in his journey.

During a mission with a partner, relationship grows, which enables more extensive commands to them. During the time of need, friendly helicopters and commandos can be called out for attacking the enemy force. But you have to choose wisely as the computer’s AI is at an advanced level. They will eventually

take out the helicopter and the commandos if you are not careful enough. The commandos can also be used for scouting a target area. The enemy will improve in terms of situational awareness. If one keeps on using a similar tactic to take out the enemy soldiers, then the enemies will eventually use counter tactics to overcome you. Snake can also call on Al companions for assistance, including Quiet, a female soldier.

The character Quiet has been a subject of controversy. Kojima has stated that he directed The Phantom Pain’s art director to make some of the game’s character “more erotic” in order to promote cosplay and figurine sales. He stated that he misspoke and that “sexy” would have been the better word to use.

The game also developed its stealth feature quite well, allowing the players to pass their enemies quietly.

MGS 5: The Phantom Pain is one of the most anticipated games of the year and the expectations of the gamers are also quite high. It is likely to create a huge impact on the gamers, and is a must to try for all MGS fans. l

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TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

Tech

The magic number 10 Here’s what to expect from the latest Windows update for your PC

n Mahmood Hossain The past couple of updates in the Windows operating system hasn’t had the fanfare one would expect. Unless, of course, you’re an Apple hater. This time around, Windows 10 looks to be the best version Microsoft has ever produced. You might have questions on key features and facts for the new OS update to your PCs so we’ve got you some answers.

When and how much?

The new Windows 10 update will be available from July 29, and it will remain free for one year for those who are currently running Windows 7 and Windows 8.1. If you happen to be running a much earlier version of Windows, and haven’t updated within that free period, you can purchase Windows 10 Home for $119 USD. Windows 10 Pro will be $199 USD. Microsoft have also stated, those with Windows 7 or 8 should reserve their free copy of Windows 10. When reserved, you’ll be given a notification when the update is ready to be installed. They will also give you the option to schedule your installation at your convenience.

And the apps?

A pretty cool deal by Microsoft is that they want you to download an app that can be used across all devices connected to your account. Buying an app through the Windows Store once can allow a user to access the universal app on all Windows devices. It’s a bit similar to the Apple OS Eco-system.

What about those “Modern” apps?

Some people found it quite painful to view and use those full-screen touch apps on their desktops. First introduced in Windows 8, also known as the Metro design, will now be optional. And we’re sure you’ll rejoice gaining that old school Start button placed at the bottom corner.

Existing Modern apps will work perfectly fine when you decide to update. When you’re on your tablet, it’ll revert back to

the touch-friendly app. When you decide to hop back onto your desktop or laptop, they’ll convert into a normal windowed app that you can drag around all you want.

The old Start menu is back?

Even Apple users will agree, bringing back the old Start menu is the best way to go on about things. No more full-screen Start screen. Phew. However, you will be able to experience the Live Tiles from the Windows 8 aesthetics. These little suckers will make themselves appear in that familiar pop-up column of shortcuts through the Start menu. Don’t forget the ability to customise either. In addition to the significant changes, you can completely get rid of the full screen start menu altogether.

But what about the actual performance?

Microsoft has boosted up Snap, the function that lets you quickly arrange apps side by side. Now, there is a new quadrant layout that lets you split your display to view four different apps at once. The same can go for the improved, multiple virtual desktops. This falls along the same lines as the Mac OS, which means you’ll be able to concentrate on work in one desktop, then slide into the screen dedicated to all of your social media and casual content.

Microsoft’s Cortana virtual assistant has also made the jump from mobile to desktop. With voice recognition, you’ll be able to verbally command your PC. From checking the weather or finding directions, Cortana will allow you to

navigate with ease. It will also allow you to send emails and messages along the way.

Its integration with the new Microsoft Edge (Windows new web browser) offers many new features from browsing to supporting extensions.

Will my machine be able to handle Windows 10?

Specs, as you know, are very important.

If your computer has been successfully running Windows 7 or 8.1, you’re pretty much safe. Although the minimum requirements for Windows 10 are as follows: 1GHz processor, at least 1GB of RAM and 16GB of hard drive space. Yes, it’s that simple. You can always check the Windows 10 specifications site just to make things easier. l

news

Ekhanei.com brings innovative Ramadan social media contest Ekhanei.com, one of the leading online classifieds in Bangladesh, has come up with an innovative social media contest during the month of Ramadan. Targeted their large fan base, along with the general public, the contest is based around Ekhanei.com’s three popular TVC characters: Protik, Yashna and Hatem.

Throughout the month of Ramadan, six contest posts have been posted on Ekhanei. com’s Facebook page, where their TVC characters asked people to suggest the best

deals on products that each of them want for Eid. People browsed through Ekhanei. com to find the best deal and commented on the contest posts with the product link, and stated the reasons of their choices. People with the best answers won attractive prizes.

The campaign has received a huge response and very good engagement with the users. Ekhanei will bring more of such campaigns in the future as Well. l

Chelsea on Monday announced the signing of Bosnian international goalkeeper Asmir Begovic from Stoke City. He has agreed a 4-year deal, with Chelsea paying Stoke an undisclosed fee.

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ROSSOUW FINED FOR TAMIM BARGE

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TAINTED IPL TEAMS TO RECEIVE PUNISHMENT

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MAJOR SIGNING

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

CAN FEDERER RULE WIMBLEDON AGAIN?

(L-R) Bangladesh’s Anamul Haque, Sabbir Rahman, Rubel Hossain and Shakib al Hasan pose for a selfie at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka before taking the flight to Chittagong yesterday

COURTESY

Tigers, Proteas reach port city for series decider n Minhaz Uddin Khan Bangladesh and South Africa cricketers have reached Chittagong yesterday where they will take on each other in the one-day international series decider tomorrow. After clinching the two-match Twenty20 international series, the visitors dismantled the home side’s confidence in the first one-dayer before the Tigers

roared back with an equal effect to keep the series alive on Sunday.

The match at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium (ZACS) tomorrow will also mean the return of international cricket to Chittagong after around eight months. The last time Bangladesh played in the port city was an ODI against Zimbabwe in November 2014 which the home side won.

A lucky ground where they have fruitful results in the past, Bangladesh will be keen to stretch the record and in the process claim their third bilateral one-day series trophy in three months.

Meanwhile, the fact that the win on Sunday sealed Bangladesh’s appearance in the eight-team Champions Trophy in 2017 will ease the pressure off the Tigers.

Gong back to his home town, Tamim Iqbal will surely be looking forward to get some runs under his belt ahead of the first Test between the sides that will be played at the same venue from July 21.

Mahmudullah’s composure in the middle and Soumya Sarkar making his knock count also restored the stability in the batting line-up. l

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26 Sport

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

Mahmudullah returns, Mustafizur gets Test call n Tribune Desk Mahmudullah made a return to the Bangladesh Test squad having recovered from a finger injury while 19-year old left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman also made his way in the 14-member team for the first Test against South Africa in Chittagong on July 21.

Mustafizur made his international debut in the three-match series against two-time world champions India in June and his 13 wickets meant Bangladesh won their first series against their neighbours. Mustafizur stunned the top Indian batsmen with his control and change of pace, winning the man-ofthe-series award, and on Sunday it was the South Africans who found themselves on the receiving end in their second ODI. He took 3-38 as South Africa were bundled out for 162, their lowest score against the hosts. Bangladesh went on to thrash the tourists by seven wickets and level the series at 1-1. Mustafizur, who has 28 wickets from 10 first-class matches, replaced Abul Hasan from the previous Tigers Test squad that played India last month.

28-year old all-rounder Mahmudullah’s return was inevitable while for Mustafizur it was a reward for his consistency, said Bangladesh Cricket Board chief selector Faruk Ahmed.

“He (Mustafizur) has shown already what he is capable of and possibly he has been the brightest find for us in recent times,” Faruk said. “He has also been playing all versions of cricket this season including four day games and we are confident that he will adjust quickly to the demands of test cricket.”

Meanwhile, Mahmudullah’s inclusion left no room for Shuvagata Hom. “Obviously his return adds depth in the batting order and some vital experience,” Faruk added.

The selectors also named an unchanged Bangladesh team for the third and final ODI against South Africa in Chittagong tomorrow. l

Test squad

Mustafizur Rahman heads out of team hotel yesterday

Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Liton Kumar Das, Mominul Hoque, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Soumya Sarker, Nasir Hossain, Taijul Islam, Zubaer Hossain, Rubel Hossain, Mohammad Shahid, Mustafizur Rahman.

India suspends domestic player for fixing approach

Table toppers Jamal take on BJMC n Tribune Report

n Reuters Rossouw fined for Tamim barge n Tribune Desk South African batsman Rilee Rossouw has been fined 50 percent of his match fee for a code of conduct breach during the second one-day international against Bangladesh, the International Cricket Council said yesterday.

25 -year old Rossouw was found to have been involved in a shoulder barge with Bangladesh’s opening batsman Tamim Iqbal, who was walking back after being dismissed during Sunday’s second international at the Shere-Bangla National Stadium. The home side won the game by seven wickets to level the three-match series 1-1.

Rossouw pleaded guilty over charges of “inappropriate and deliberate physical contact” laid by match referee David Boon and he accepted the penalty, the ICC said in a statement.

“Rilee was very mature in discussions relating to the charge,” Boon was quoted as saying in the statement. “He felt it was inappropriate, but not deliberate, an explanation to which I agree.

“However, there is no place for any form of physical contact in our game and such actions should be punished,” he said. However, the amount Rossouw has to pay was not made known.

The series decider will be played in Chittagong’s Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium tomorrow. l

The Indian cricket board suspended Mumbai batsman Hiken Shah with immediate effect on Monday for offering money to a player to influence a game in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL).

Shah, who does not play in IPL, made the approach to his unidentified first-class cricket team mate who represents Rajasthan Royals in the lucrative Twenty20 league, the Indian board (BCCI) said in a statement.

The player, identified by local media as Mumbai leg-spinner Pravin Tambe, reported the approach to his team, who forwarded the case to BCCI’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit.

Shah’s long-term fate will now be decided by the board’s disciplinary committee.

“His involvement in any form of cricket affiliated with the BCCI stands suspended till the time the disciplinary committee of the BCCI passes appropriate orders,” the board said.

Shah, 30, has played 37 first-class matches for Mumbai, averaging over 42 with six hundreds.

“BCCI has zero tolerance for corruption in

Bangladesh Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim protests the recent case where a child was abused to death in Sylhet. This picture was posted on Mushfiqur’s official facebook page yesterday

the game of cricket,” board president Jagmohan Dalmiya said.

“We have and we will take swift action against such incidents to set a precedent and control the menace of corruption in the game.”

Rajasthan is not alien to the threat of spot-fixing after former India paceman S. Sreesanth and two other cricketers from the team were arrested in 2013 on suspicion of taking money to concede a fixed number of runs.

Sreesanth, who denied any wrongdoing, was subsequently banned for life by the BCCI. l

Dropping points in today’s Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League game against Team BJMC can prove costly for title holders and table toppers Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club. With four points separating the top two sides, three points will be a major booster in Jamal’s title charge before they face off second placed Sheikh Russel KC in the next round.

Russel have played 14 matches, one less than Jamal, and they will be praying for a result in favour of BJMC who, however, are not at their best of forms. Since the beginning of the second phase BJMC won one and lost three of the four games played and slipped to seventh place in the league with just 12 points.

Meanwhile, the Dhanmondi giants are in prime form having scored 20 goals in the four second phase matches and another demolition might just be on the cards.

Mohammedan SC lost their footing midway through the league as they dropped four points in the previous two fixtures. With seven more rounds to play in the league it can be easily predicted, unless there are any major interception, that the league is a twohorse race with Sheikh Jamal an edge ahead of Sheikh Russel. l

LEAGUE TABLE 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Teams Sk Jamal Sk Russel MSC Abahani Brothers Muktijoddha BJMC Rahmatganj Feni Soccer Ctg Abahani Farashganj

P 14 13 14 14 14 14 14 13 13 14 13

W 10 9 8 8 7 6 3 2 2 1 0

D 3 2 3 3 4 3 3 5 3 4 5

L 1 2 3 3 3 5 8 6 8 9 8

GD 27 13 15 13 9 -1 -6 -7 -16 -22 -25

Pts 33 29 27 27 25 21 12 11 9 7 5

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Sport 27

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

QUICK BYTES Rodgers confirms Sterling move, plays down rift Liverpool’s Martin Skrtel (L), Brendan Rodgers (C), and Jordan Henderson pose in the Thai traditional ‘wai’ pose for photographers shortly upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. The English Premier League’s team is in Bangkok to play against the Thailand All Star team today.

Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers confirmed Monday his team plans to sell Raheem Sterling to a rival club as he played down reports of an acrimonious rift over the restless England forward. British media say Sterling will go to Manchester City in a deal worth over the £49 million ($76 million, 68 million euro) -- a record breaking figure for a transfer within the English Premier League.

AFP

Zenit win Russian Super Cup in shootout Zenit St Petersburg won the Russian Super Cup by beating Lokomotiv Moscow 4-2 on penalties after Sunday’s game had finished locked at 1-1 following extra time. Domenico Criscito scored the decisive penalty for Zenit, who lifted the trophy a third time after their 2008 and 2011 wins.

Reuters

NZ launch appeal over Olympic expulsion New Zealand Football (NZF) have launched an appeal over the decision to expel them from the Oceania Football Confederation’s Olympic qualifying final for fielding an ineligible player.

New Zealand’s under-23 side were expelled just hours before Sunday’s final against Fiji, who went on to beat Vanuatu to advance as Oceania’s representative at next year’s Rio Games.

Reuters

Man United close on Schneiderlin, eye Gaitan Manchester United’s transfer splurge looked set to intensify on Sunday following media reports that Southampton’s France midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin had undergone a medical with the Old Trafford club. There was no confirmation from United, who agreed to sign Bayern Munich’s Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger and Italy’s Torino right back Matteo Darmian this weekend.

Reuters

Mexico rue missed opportunities in draw with Guatemala Mexico squandered numerous opportunities to advance to the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals when they drew 0-0 with Guatemala on Sunday, while Trinidad and Tobago did make the last eight with a 2-0 win over Cuba. The top two teams from each of the three groups advance along with the top two-third place teams overall.

Reuters

Rayudu out of Zimbabwe series with injury In-form batsman Ambati Rayudu has been ruled out of the remainder of India’s tour of Zimbabwe with a muscle injury, the country’s cricket board (BCCI) said on Monday. Rayudu, 29, scored an unbeaten 124 in the first one-day international against Zimbabwe and followed it up with a 41 in the second match, during which he sustained the injury.

Reuters

AP

Tainted IPL teams to receive punishment Tuesday n AFP

Two teams from cricket’s Indian Premier League could be banned from the glitzy Twenty20 tournament when a Supreme Court-appointed panel hands down its sentence Tuesday on a corruption scandal.

Officials from the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and the Rajasthan Royals have already been found guilty of betting on matches and their respective teams now face heavy sanctions after an inquiry that also tainted International Cricket Council supremo Narayanaswami Srinivasan.

An outright ban on the two former champions would be a devastating blow to what is only an eight-team tournament, and observers say former chief justice Rajendra Mal Lodha, who heads the three-man panel, is more likely to announce heavy fines.

Lodha was appointed head of the sentencing panel in January after the Supreme Court had found Royals’ co-owner Raj Kundra and

CSK’s Gurunath Meiyappan guilty of betting on the outcome of matches in 2013.

The court had rejected the claims of Meiyappan, who had previously been described as team principal, that he was merely an enthusiast.

The court also ruled at the same time that Srinivasan, who is Meiyappan’s father-in-law, would be banned from holding any post in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), where he served as the president for three years from 2011.

The outcome could have major financial consequences for some of cricket’s biggest names as CSK are captained by India’s ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni while Australia’s star batsman Steve Smith is at the helm of the Rajastan Royals. The Royals are coached

by Indian great Rahul Dravid.

Cricket circles are abuzz with speculation that the two teams will be suspended, but leading sports writer Ayaz Memon predicted that the franchises would get away with heavy fines. l

Australia optimistic on Starc n Reuters Paceman Mitchell Starc took pain-killing injections for his strained ankle to bowl through Australia’s opening Ashes defeat in Cardiff but is confident he will be fit for the second match at Lord’s, captain Michael Clarke has said.

Starc, named player of the tournament at this year’s World Cup, played through the pain in Australia’s 169-run loss after straining his right ankle, finishing with seven wickets and batting in the fourth and final innings.

Team physio Alex Kountouris said the ankle had “improved significantly”, while Clarke was also hopeful the left-armer could recover in time for the second test starting on Thursday.

“Starcy obviously had some ankle pain

and had an injection to bowl in the second innings, but the positive again was the fact that he was able to bowl and do what was needed for the team,” Clarke told Melbourne radio station Triple M. “He batted as well in the second innings and ran between the wickets fine.

“Spending a bit of time with the Australian physio today, he’s confident that, although it’s a short turnaround before the second test, there’s been a lot of positives come out of the last couple of days since he was cortisoned, and things are going really well there.”

Should Starc fail to prove his fitness, Australia have Peter Siddle or Pat Cummins in reserve.

England named an unchanged 13-man squad for Lord’s. l

SA Games in 2016 January n Tribune Report The much-delayed 12th South Asian Games will be held on January 10 to 20 in Guwahati and Shillong, informed Indian Olympic Association to Bangladesh Olympic Association yesterday.

The previous schedule for the multi-sporting event was December 10-20 this year but was postponed last week after most of the participants showed discontent about the date and wanted for more preparation time.

“We would have enough time for the preparation if the Games is held in March.

There was also a proposal from Bangladesh to delay the event in the fate-deciding meeting of the event. But the Indian officials decided to hold it in January,” said Ashikur Rahman Miku, chairman of BOA training and development committee.

BOA is also likely to reduce the number disciplines Bangladesh will take part in. Among the 23 disciplines offered in SA Games, Bangladesh might not participate in Judo and Usho due to their lack of activities in the local arena. l

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TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

Djokovic hungry for more after chewing on Wimbledon turf again n Reuters In the era of Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal, it is easy to downplay the achievements of Novak Djokovic until you glance at the names he left in his wake by claiming a ninth major title and third Wimbledon crown on Sunday.

Andre Agassi, Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl, Fred Perry and Ken Rosewall -- names that trip off the tongue like a Who’s Who of undisputed greats -- all sit behind the Serb on tennis’s honours board of grand slam champions.

Yet for so much of his career he has been mentioned in a second breath after the virtues of Federer and Nadal have been extolled.

It is only now, as Federer’s ageing legs begin to creek and Nadal’s battered body lets him down, that Djokovic is getting the recognition that his incredible talents deserve. His largely dominant 7-6(1) 6-7(10) 6-4 6-3 victory over Federer showed that his current stranglehold on the men’s game is tight and at 28 years old. l

Player Majors won after becoming a father Jimmy Connors (U.S.) Wimbledon (1982), US Open (1982, 1983) Pat Cash (Australia) Wimbledon (1987) Andres Gomez (Ecuador) French Open (1990) Boris Becker (Germany) Australian Open 1996 Petr Korda (Czech) Australian Open 1998 Yevgeny Kafelnikov (Russia) Australian Open 1999 Albert Costa (Spain) French Open 2002 Andre Agassi (U.S.) Australian Open 2003 Roger Federer (Switzerland) Australian Open 2010, Wimbledon 2012 Novak Djokovic (Serbia) Australian Open 2015, Wimbledon 2015

Wimbledon Men’s and Women’s singles champions Novak Djokovic (R) and Serena Williams dance on stage at the Champions Dinner in central London

AFP

Federer left wondering if he can conquer Wimbledon again

Hamilton misses final over dress code hitch n Reuters

n Reuters

Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton broke Wimbledon’s Royal Box dress code and missed watching Novak Djokovic beat Roger Federer in the men’s singles final on Sunday. Hamilton, who was photographed wearing a bright floral shirt and a hat, but no jacket or tie, was not allowed to take his place on Centre Court.

“Due to an unfortunate misunderstanding regarding dress code, Lewis is very disappointed to have missed the men’s final,” Hamilton’s spokesperson said in a statement.

A Wimbledon spokesman said the club does not comment on guests, but confirmed the Royal Box dress code which demands gentlemen wear a jacket, tie and formal shoes.Among the invited guests for the showpiece match were stars from TV and film, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Kate Winslet, Bradley Cooper and Hugh Grant.l

When Roger Federer saw Novak Djokovic sharing a victory embrace with wife Jelena in the corridor leading to the men’s locker room at Wimbledon, the Swiss must have wondered if he will ever himself get a chance to experience such a moment again.

Mirka Federer cut a forlorn figure on Centre Court as she held up her phone to take pictures of her husband holding aloft the silver runners-up plate after he had been beaten in the

WIMBLEDON 2015

The Final (Two hours 56 minutes)

Djokovic 13 1 95/145 (66%) 70/95 (74%) 30/50 (60%) 20/34 (59%) 4/10 48/141 (34%) 46 16 148

Aces Double Faults First serves in First serve points won Second serve points won Net points won Break points won Receiving points won Winners Unforced errors Total points won

Federer 14 3 94/141 (67%) 70/94 (74%) 23/47 (49%) 42/58 (72%) 1/7 45/145 (31%) 58 35 138

final for the second year running by the Serb.

It was a memento neither she nor her husband wanted to take home, especially since Federer had come into the final having beaten Andy Murray in three elegantly brutal sets – a display that left many of the sport’s greats drooling.

Two days after a performance which many rated among Federer’s top five ever, he came within two sets of winning a much-wanted record eighth Wimbledon title.

But it was not to be for the 17-times grand slam champion who had been broken just once in 90 service games at this year’s tournament before Sunday’s showdown.

“I still think I had a great tournament,” Federer told reporters after his 10th appearance in a Wimbledon final ended in a 7-6(1) 6-7(10) 6-4 6-3 defeat.

“You can have good tournaments without winning, as well, at the end. I still won six matches, lost one. The ratio still remains very good.

“But of course you sort of walk away empty-handed. For me a finalist trophy is not the same. Everybody knows that.”

Aged 33 and 338 days, Federer had been bidding to become the oldest Wimbledon champion in the professional era.

On paper at least, it looked like it could have been an even contest as Federer led 2019 in their overall head-to-head record. l

DT

Sport 29

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

Real to give Casillas official send-off after criticism

Boca Juniors go top as they prepare to unveil Tevez

Real Madrid have decided to give departing goalkeeper and captain Iker Casillas an official send-off later on Monday following criticism over the low-key nature of his tearful farewell news conference on Sunday.

Casillas, who is leaving his boyhood club after 16 seasons in the first team to join Porto, appeared alone at the Bernabeu press room and choked up several times as he read out a statement thanking the club for “giving me everything”.

The contrast with his close friend and former Spain team mate Xavi Hernandez was telling and prompted widespread criticism in the Spanish media that Real had not treated their club legend with sufficient respect.

Xavi, 35, left Barcelona for Qatari side Al Sadd at the end of last season and was given a series of rousing send-offs by fans, officials and team mates at the Nou Camp surrounded by family and friends and a glittering array of trophies.

Real president Florentino Perez and Casillas will appear on the VIP tribune at the Bernabeu at 1100 GMT, Real said in a statement on their website (www.realmadrid.com). They did not say whether fans would be allowed into the stadium.

Casillas spoke on Sunday after Spanish daily newspaper El Mundo published an interview with his parents in which they said their son had been forced out of the club by Perez.

Casillas had been the victim of an orchestrated campaign of “vilification” in recent years which eventually prompted his decision to quit, they said. l

Boca Juniors are top of the Argentine league championship as they prepare to unveil Carlos Tevez for his second spell at the club on Monday.

A goal from striker Sebastian Palacios after half an hour gave Boca a 1-0 win at Sarmiento on Sunday, lifting them into first place a point ahead of San Lorenzo and three in front of River Plate.

Tevez, back home in Buenos Aires after a decade in Europe, missed the resumption of the championship because he is on holiday after playing for Argentina at the Copa America.

He will be officially presented to the media later on Monday and is expected to make his comeback in next weekend’s home match against Quilmes at La Bombonera.

“I’ve got a nice little mess,” said Boca coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena as he contemplated the prospect of finding a place for Tevez in his team among a number of strikers in good form.

“They all want to play but I’m the one who takes the decisions and these will always be for the good of the team,” he told reporters.

San Lorenzo drew 1-1 at Union and River were also held 1-1 by Temperley at El Monumental as they rested first choice players for Tuesday’s first leg of their Libertadores Cup semi-final against Guarani of Paraguay.

Sunday was also a good day for former Argentina defender Gabriel Heinze who made his coaching debut with Godoy Cruz in a 3-0 home win over Crucero del Norte in Mendoza.

Another coach Mauricio Pellegrino began his tenure at Independiente with a 3-1 home victory over Olimpo. l

n Reuters

n Reuters

New York City FC forward David Villa (7) celebrates after scoring a first half goal against Toronto FC at Yankee Stadium on Sunday. NYCFC and Toronto FC played to a 4-4 draw AFP

Australia apologises for putting Tomic in ‘Hall of Shame’ n Reuters Tennis Australia has apologised for a ‘clerical error’ in a media release that said estranged local player Bernard Tomic was playing in a ‘Hall of Shame’ event against compatriot John-Patrick Smith.

The media release said Tomic, who was dumped from Australia’s Davis Cup team after a rant against officials, was playing Smith in the ‘Hall of Shame Tennis Championships’, causing a stir on social media networks.

“Tennis Australia sincerely apologises for the typo in the daily results service today,” the govern-

ing body said in a statement.

“This has now been corrected and we wish both Bernard Tomic and JP Smith all the best in the Hall

of Fame Championships in Newport,” TA said in a statement.

“This unfortunate error has been widely circulated on social media and there is some discussion as to how such a mistake could occur.

“We have a very upset staff member who made a simple clerical error.

“There was no malicious intent.”

TA’s relationship with Australia’s top-ranked player Tomic has long been frosty but it reached a new low at Wimbledon where the world number 26 accused officials of lacking respect for him and failing to support him and his sister Sara, who plays

mostly lower-tier ITF events.

Tomic also teed off at two-time grand slam champion Pat Rafter, a former Davis Cup captain and now TA’s high performance director, describing him as a “good actor” and a TA stooge.

Tomic’s father John said the family was considering legal actions and claimed his son had been threatened by TA. “Bernard has already been punished by his non-selection for the upcoming Davis Cup tie,” Tomic senior told Fairfax Media in a statement, which was published by the Sydney Morning Herald. l

DAY’S WATCH Ten Cricket 1:00PM India Tour of Zimbabwe 2015 3rd ODI

Star Sports 1 11:30PM Natwest T20 Blast Yorkshire v Worcestershire

Ten Sports 7:30PM Tour de France 2015 Day 10

DOUBLE DELIGHT Leander Paes of India and Martina Hingis of Switzerland celebrate after winning their Mixed Doubles Final match against Timea Babos of Hungary and Alexander Peya of Austria at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on Sunday REUTERS

DT

30 DOWNTIME

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Oxlike (6) 6 Ship’s record (3) 9 Worship (5) 10 Dreadful (4) 11 Fresher (5) 12 Homo Sapiens (3) 13 Narcotic (6) 15 Soothe (4) 18 Separate (4) 21 Lessened (6) 24 Shake tail (3) 25 Divert (5) 28 Afresh (4) 29 Scolds (5) 30 Acceptance (3) 31 Calm (6)

DOWN 1 Hackneyed (5) 2 Lyric poem (3) 3 Speech sound (5) 4 Anger (3) 5 Roman emperor (4) 6 Peru’s capital (4) 7 Public speaker (6) 8 Inherited character unit (4) 14 Little devil (3) 16 Suave (6) 17 Fate (3) 19 Sharp (5) 20 This group (5) 21 Absent (4) 22 Matures (4) 23 Venture (4) 26 Spoil (3) 27 Japanese monetary unit (3)

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 14 represents G so fill G every time the figure 14 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

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

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU How to solve: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no number repeating.

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

DT

SHOWTIME 31

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

New drama serial Housewives on air

CELEBS ON SOCIAL

Dwayne Johnson @ TheRock Best part of my job guys. And much mahalo to the amazing work you all do at Shriners.

Kim Kardashian @ West KimKardashian Ok I’m done! LOL

n Showtime Desk The housewives residing in a city full of diversity like Dhaka sometimes have to accept drastic changes in their lives, and a new TV drama serial Housewives depicts the lives and struggles of several housewives in the city.

Written by Tazin Khan and Nazakat Khan

WHAT TO WATCH

and directed by Akram Khan, the drama serial cast a bunch of celebrated actors including Dipa Khandakar, Munira Yousuf Memi, Tanvin Sweety, Tomalika Karmakar, Chadni, Farah Ruma, Elora Gowhar, Rokeya Prachi and Arman Parvez Murad.

The story chronicles several housewives who gather for a meeting at Colonel Bhabi’s residence on a regular basis. The

host housewife leads an affluent life, possesses political power, and throws such parties. Initially started with the story of six housewives, the serial consequently includes other characters and their riveting story.

Premiered on July 12, the drama serial is scheduled to air every Sunday to Wednesday on Maasranga TV at 8:40pm. l

Longitude Latitude, 6th edition

Ellie Goulding @ elliegoulding They were for students from low income families below 42k. Anyway what I’m sayin is, they’ve just been scrapped in the new budget.

Jatra Biroti Bulletin

Wanted Star Movies 4:40 pm A frustrated office worker learns that he is the son of a professional assassin, and that he shares his father’s superhuman killing abilities.

Cast: James McAvoy, Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, Common, Thomas Kretschmann Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Zstudio 9:00 pm Video game adventuress Lara Croft comes to life in a movie where she races against time and villains to recover powerful ancient artifacts.

Cast: Angelina Jolie, Jon Voight, Iain Glen, Noah Taylor, Daniel Craig The Exorcism of Emily Rose WB 11:06 pm A lawyer takes on a negligent homicide case involving a priest who performed an exorcism on a young girl.

Cast: Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, Jennifer Carpenter, Campbell Scott, Colm Feore

Longitude Latitude is a periodical art event that moves to a different venue each time. The core philosophy of this exhibition is “any space is a good space to interact with art.” Shehzad Chowdhury, the curator of the event, along with his team of organisers have been continuing their efforts for this event since their first exhibition in 2003.

Longitude Latitude launched it’s 6th edition in partnership with Bay Developments in Banani on Saturday, July 4. The four month long art event had already started with photographer Abir Abdullah’s solo exhibition entitled “Knee

Deep,” which will continue until July 13.

The gallery will be open everyday from 2-9pm.

There will be series of several different exhibitions as well by different artists during these four months under Longitude Latitude, and the event will run till October. They plan to have performances, art exhibitions and musical events the next four months in this venue. A group of international and local artists are prepared to showcase their talents.

For further assistance: info.longitude. latitude@gmail.com, 880 1793 266 855 l

Thursday, July 16 “Bhaab” featuring Shorif Sadhu and his crew. Tk500.

Friday, July 17 Open mic, a line-up created by audience’s participation. Tk300. *Electro/Acoustic may or may not happen depending on the appearance of the moon. **Tea and Phuckha included in the ticket price.

Jatra 60 Kemal Ataturk Ave, Banani, Dhaka.

DT

32 BACK PAGE

TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2015

NBR TO AVOID DOUBLE AUDITING ON VAT PAYING FIRMS PAGE 20

TIGERS, PROTEAS REACH PORT CITY

PAGE 25

LONGITUDE LATITUDE, 6TH EDITION PAGE 31

Train schedule likely to collapse during Eid rush n Shohel Mamun Authorities at Bangladesh Railway are fearing a collapse in the train schedule as the Eid rush reaches its peak, due to faulty and overused locomotives.

The problem is going to be worse for people travelling to the western zone, which covers districts such as Rangpur, Dinajpur, Lalmonirhat, Khulna and Rajshahi, because most of the train services there are run by unfit locomotives.

“The locomotives went out of date years ago; they run really slow and it takes more time than before to prepare them for a trip,” a Railway official told the Dhaka Tribune.

Around 67 trains depart from Kamalapur Railway Station every day, among which 28 are inter-city trains. Among them, eight trains are allotted for the western zone, and the rest are for the eastern zone.

As the Eid rush picks up, the trains will be carrying as many as 50,000 passengers every day, who are likely to face from an hour to as many as 10 hours of delay in departure.

Yesterday, the scheduled Khulna-bound Sundarban Express and Lalmonirhat-bound Lalmoni Express were delayed by more than an hour before they left Kamalapur, said Nripen Chandra Saha, station master at the railway station.

“We are, indeed, facing some obstacles in maintaining the Eid train schedule, but we are working to reduce the travellers’ sufferings,” said Amzad Hossain, director general of Bangladesh Railway.

“This problem will not persist next year as the government is going to get 150 locomotives from Indonesia and India.”

Meanwhile Railways Minister Mazibul Hoque claimed the previous BNP-Jamaat government was responsible for the sorry state of the train services. “It is the Awami League government that is taking several steps to improve the railways, such as purchasing new locomotives.”

Bangladesh Railway started selling advance tickets for Eid travellers on Thursday. The sales ended yesterday. 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