July 15, 2015

SECOND EDITION

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015 |

Ashar 30, 1422, Ramadan 27, 1436

MYANMAR NAVY FINDS 102 MIGRANTS ON ISLAND PAGE 3

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 93

BACK IN ONE PIECE FROM NEVERLAND PAGE 5

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NEW HORIZONS SPEEDS PAST PLUTO PAGE 32

Rajon’s father: Policemen let Kamrul flee for bribe n Our Correspondent, Sylhet Father of Rajon, the teen who was beaten to death in Sylhet last week, has blamed two officials of Jalalabad police station for taking bribes to help one of the suspects – Kamrul Islam – to flee to Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, police have arrested Moyna Mia, one of the accused in the killing case, in the Sylhet city and closed Jalalabad police station Sub-Inspector Aminul Islam for misbehaving

with Rajon’s father and helping Kamrul flee.

Rahmant Ullah, an ADC of the Sylhet Metropolitan Police, told the Dhaka Tribune that SI Aminul had been instructed to report to the deputy police commissioner’s office.

He also said that Moyna Mia, a security guard by profession, had been arrested in the Tukerbazar area of the Sylhet city around 10pm yesterday.

However, according to local sources, he was in hiding at a relative’s house in Pirpur,

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a neighbouring village to his home in Kumargaon. After yesterday’s Taraweeh prayers, some villagers got hold of him and handed him over to police.

At that time, an angry mob reportedly tried to beat up Moyna, but police stopped them and took him to the Jalalabad police station.

When this report was being filed around 11pm yesterday, a big crowd had gathered in front of the police station.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

Kendrio Khelaghar Ashor forms a human chain in front of the National Press Club yesterday in protest to the murder of teenage boy Sheikh Samiul Alam Rajon in Sylhet MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Tigers on the verge of making history, again n Minhaz Uddin Khan Hosts Bangladesh have never been closer than they are right now to an ODI series win against South Africa. The two sides have faced each other in three ODI series in the past with the Proteas winning them all convincingly.

Today however, the energetic Tigers have a golden opportunity to change all that as they stand on the threshold of a third straight series victory, and first against South Africa, when the third and final ODI of the series takes place at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. The Tigers have been flying high in recent times following their triumphs over sub-continent powerhouses Pakistan and India and they can go one better today by overcoming the formidable Proteas.

On paper, the visitors are the slight favourites, given the 15 wins in their last 17 ODIs against the home side but the spirited Tigers will take a lot of heart from their comprehensive seven-wicket success in the second ODI on Sunday.

The first two ODIs of the series at Sher-eBangla National Stadium in Mirpur followed an identical pattern. The team batting first were skittled out for a below-par total and the side chasing reached the destination with utomost ease. The slow and low SBNS decks were a concern for both the sides at one stage but there will be no such problems in Chittagong. The ZACS wicket is expected to be flat and conducive for stroke-making.

The highest total at ZACS belongs to Sri Lanka, who scored 309 against Bangladesh in  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Cabinet gets three new faces, World leaders voice relief two made full ministers at Iran nuclear deal Mamun and n Shohel Abu Hayat Mahmud Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday inducted three new faces into the cabinet with two ministers elevated to the rank of full minister.

In the first major reshuffle State Minister for Home Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and State Minister for Science and Technology Yafes Osman were sworn in as ministers of the cabinet.

Of the three new faces, Chittagong Awa-

mi League leader and a 2008 lawmaker from Chittagong Nurul Islam BSC took oath as minister for the Ministry of Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment.

Noted TV actress Tarana Halim made her way into the cabinet as State Minister for Post and Telecommunication.

Lalmonirhat MP Md Nuruzzaman Ahmed got the portfolio of State Minister for the Food Ministry.

Moreover, the Cabinet Division and the ruling Awami League sources told the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

n AFP World leaders hailed yesterday’s Iran nuclear deal, with Barack Obama envisioning a “new direction” and Vladimir Putin voicing a global “huge sigh of relief” – though Israel criticised it as a “historic mistake.”

Major international powers who thrashed out the agreement with Tehran said they hoped Iran would build on the opportunity to come in from the cold.

However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted he remained ready to order

military action against Iranian nuclear sites.

US President Obama said the agreement offered a chance to reset vexed relations with Tehran.

“Every pathway to a nuclear weapon is cut off,” he said.

“This deal offers an opportunity to move in a new direction. We should seize it.”

But US House Speaker John Boehner, a Republican, said the agreement would “embolden” Tehran and likely “fuel a nuclear arms race.”  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

DT

2 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Fakhrul freed on bail after six months n Tribune Report BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was freed on bail yesterday after six months of his arrest.

Fakhrul came out of the prison cell of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) hospital after iftar yesterday.

Soon, he was admitted to the United Hospital for better treatment, said Syrul Kabir Khan, an official of BNP Chairperson’s press wing.

The Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice SK Sinha upheld a High Court order for his bail in three cases.

Sorbottom Chakma, deputy jailor at Dhaka Central Jail, came to the hospital around 6:30pm with the release order, Sayrul said.

Fakhrul said: “I am sick. I have been having cardiac problems. I thank the Almightyß.”

The BNP leader said: “I will serve the people of my country after returning from abroad.”

Some BNP leaders and activists welcomed the acting secretary general in BSMMU while Fakhrul’s wife Rahat Ara Begum was present.

Fakhrul’s mother Fatema Amin was also admitted to the United Hospital. l

Iran nuclear deal Sealed in Vienna after a 13-year stand-off, the deal was reached between Tehran and the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany.

Russia’s President Putin hailed the deal as a “firm choice for stability and cooperation.”

“The world has breathed a huge sigh of relief,” he said.

The Vienna agreement is aimed at ensuring Iran does not obtain a nuclear bomb, in return opening up Tehran’s sanctions-stricken economy, thereby potentially ending decades of bad blood with the West.l

Cabinet gets three new faces, two made full ministers Dhaka Tribune that another reshuffle may take place in the cabinet in which some ministers will be dropped.

The reshuffle in the cabinet came around one year and six months after Sheikh Hasina formed a 49-member cabinet on January 12 following the January 5 national election.

With yesterday’s shake-up, the number of cabinet members stood at 52.

President Abdul Hamid administered the swearing-in of the new ministers and state ministers at Bangabhaban yesterday evening.

Cabinet Secretary Muhammad Musharraf Hossain moderated the ceremony.

“I have got more responsibility as minister for the Home Affairs,” said Assaduzzaman Khan Kamal at his office before he took the oath.

He also thanked Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for his elevation to the full cabinet rank yesterday.

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 who will now

President Abdul Hamid administering the oath taking ceremony of new ministers at Bangabhaban yesterday BSS be replaced by Nurul Islam BSC. Last year the then science and information technology minister Abdul Latif Siddique lost his cabinet portfolio when the prime minister removed him for his controversial remarks on religion. Over the past few days rumour had been flying around that there would be big changes in the cabinet. However, the existing

ministers or state ministers did not lose their portfolios in the reshuffle.

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, a ruling party leader said. l

Tigers on the verge of making history, again 2006. In the recent past, the Tigers posted 281 against Zimbabwe last November so there is every indication that the ZACS will favour run-making.

Under such circumstances, the majority of the Bangladesh batsmen, who have been silent thus far in the ongoing bilateral home series, will be expected to step up to the fore.

Soumya Sarkar and Mahmudullah’s record partnership in the second ODI should be the benchmark for the other batsmen, especially opener and local lad Tamim Iqbal.

Tamim is yet to make his bat speak in the series, having managed scores of nought and five in the first two ODIs. Given that the southpaw will be backed up by his family and

home crowd, Tamim will not be short of inspiration. That Tamim has scored the most runs at ZACS among the Bangladesh batsmen – 391 runs – should boost him a great deal.

The Tigers are most likely to follow the theory of not messing with the winning combination but the only surprise might come in the shape of Anamul Haque in place of Liton Kumar Das. The visitors on the other hand will look to defend their honour and maintain their unbeaten series record against Bangladesh.

The Proteas’ senior members of the batting department will be expected to lead from the front while their bowlers, who have been impressive, will be hoping to repeat their potent displays with the leather.

The match will begin at 3pm and GTV, Star Sports 1, 3 and HD 1 will telecast the game live.

Bangladesh (probable):

Tamim Iqbal, Soumya Sarkar, Anamul Haque/ Liton Kumar Das, Mahmudullah, Mushfiqur Rahim (WK), Shakib al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Nasir Hossain, Mashrafe bin Mortaza (C), Rubel Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman

South Africa (probable):

Hashim Amla (C), Quinton de Kock (WK), Francois du Plessis, Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, Jean Paul Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, Chris Morris, Kyle Abbott/Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir. l

Rajon’s father: Policemen let Kamrul flee for bribe The bribery

Sheikh Azizur Rahman, the father, said when he went to file a case for the murder of his son, Kamrul’s family offered him Tk5 lakh to settle the issue without pursuing any legal action.

Azizur added that when he first went to Jalalabad police station around 10pm last Wednesday, he found OC (investigation) Alamgir Hossain and SI Aminul Islam holding a private meeting with the accused.

He claimed that the men reached an agreement on allowing Kamrul to flee abroad and letting the already arrested Muhit Alam walk free.

When Rajon’s relatives tried to enter the OC’s room, SI Aminul behaved rudely with them and forced them out of the station, Azizur added.

However, locals laid siege to the police station to force the police to keep Muhit in custody; Kamrul, on the other hand, escaped detention by fleeing to Saudi Arabia.

The Dhaka Tribune tried to contact Alamgir – also the investigation officer of the case – and Aminul, but found their mobile phones switched off.

When asked, the station’s Officer-in-

Charge Akhtar Hossain said he was not aware of any secret dealings as he was away at the time to testify in a case in Chittagong.

Sylhet Metropolitan Police ADC (media) Rahmat Ullah said they have been notified about how a suspect was allowed to flee with the help of the police and how the Jalalabad police had misbehaved with Rajon’s family.

A three-member probe committee, led

by SMP Additional Commissioner SM Rokon Uddin, has been formed to look into the allegations and told to submit their report within three days, he added.

Sheikh Samiul Alam Rajon, 13, was tortured to death by a group of men at Kumargaon on the outskirts of Sylhet city around 7:30am last Wednesday.

A 28-minute video, recorded on a mobile phone camera and later uploaded to social media platforms, showed the victim tied to a pole in front of a workshop. From the video, it seemed there were five to six men who took part in the barbaric torture.

Two detained witnesses – Azmat Ullah and Firoze Ali – submitted confessional statements before the court of Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate Shahedul Karim yesterday. The

magistrate later sent the men to jail.

Controversies and protests

Meanwhile, there have been controversies surrounding Jalalabad police’s quick filing of a murder case, in which the initial plaintiff SI Aminul mentioned that an unidentified person had been beaten to death on July 8 while trying to steal a van.

Locals claimed that the case was filed in haste in order to protect the culprits behind the gruesome act, by mentioning the victim – Rajon – as a thief.

On the other hand, sources said the police had turned away Rajon’s family when they went to the station to file a case with named defendants, while the two police officials in question also berated Rajon’s father by calling him “the father of a thief.”

However, the next day, Rajon’s father was made the case plaintiff and his statement was recorded by the police as a supplement to the original FIR. In the murder case, Muhit was listed as the prime accused, while his brother Kamrul Islam, 24, and their accomplices Ali Haider, 34, and guard Moyna Miah, 45, were charged

with murder as well.

Locals continued their demonstrations yesterday, demanding justice for the death of Rajon. A rally was staged in the city’s Temukhi Point in the afternoon, where speakers also demanded that the police officials concerned be closed for their negligence.

Protests were also held in the capital, where different organisations demonstrated in front of the National Press Club to demand justice for Rajon’s brutal murder.

Kendrio Khelaghar Ashor formed a human chain there demanding that the killers of Rajon be tried under a special tribunal.

Other children’s rights platforms including Shishuder Jonnyo Foundation as well as several left-leaning organisations also formed human chains on similar demands.

In a different development, Rajon’s father Sheikh Azizur was admitted to the CCU of Osmani Medical College Hospital yesterday after he started feeling chest pains.

The registrar of the medical college, Dr Rezaul Islam Monayem, told the Dhaka Tribune that ECG reports of Azizur were normal so far, but doctors are still keeping him under constant observation.l

DT

NEWS 3

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

Myanmar navy finds 102 stranded Bangladesh migrants on island n Reuters Myanmar’s navy has discovered more than 100 Bangladeshi migrants stranded for nearly a month on a southern island, state media said yesterday, following a regional migrant crisis in which people smugglers abandoned thousands at sea.

It was the first major rescue reported by Myanmar since May, when its navy found a boat packed with more than 700 migrants in the Andaman Sea at the height of Southeast Asia’s migrant boat crisis.

The crisis blew up after a crackdown by Thailand on trafficking camps along its border with Malaysia made conditions too risky for people smugglers to land their human cargo, so they simply set them adrift.

The state-run Global New Light of Myanmar said the most recent group of 102 migrants was found late in June, after spending

nearly a month on the island in Taninthayi, the southernmost region of Myanmar bordering Thailand.

The migrants, all men, were rescued between June 30 and July 12 and hailed from neighbouring Bangladesh, the paper said.

They had been left on the island in early June.

“The navy is searching the areas and the victims will be sent back to their home country,” it added, but gave no details of where the men were being held.

Officials at the Bangladesh embassy in Yangon said the Myanmar government had not contacted them about the migrants.

“We have just received the news from the media,” Tareque Mohammed, the deputy chief of mission, told Reuters. “We have received no confirmation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”

The military-owned Myawaddy newspaper said officials in Myanmar found a man on June

30 around two miles off the coast of Saung Gauk Island, prompting a search of the island early in July, which led to the discovery of the rest.

It said the men had left Bangladesh after being persuaded they could earn more abroad and that those who refused were forced aboard a vessel.

They were among the thousands, many Bangladeshi or Muslim Rohingya from Myanmar, who ended up in dangerously crowded boats run by people-traffickers, heading for other southeast Asian countries.

Previously, Myanmar has said nearly all the migrants were Bangladeshis seeking better economic prospects, rather than Rohingya, a group who complain of severe discrimination and mistreatment at home.

Most of the castaways landed in Indonesia, Malaysia and Myanmar, their passengers sick and thirsty. At least 1,200 remained adrift, the United Nations said in a report on June 16. l

With a few days left before Eid, people overload a speedboat on the Mawa-Keurakandi river route yesterday, taking life risks

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Razakar leader Forkan’s verdict tomorrow n Tribune Report The International Crimes Tribunal 2 is set to deliver verdict in the war crimes case against razakar leader Forkan Mallik from Mirzaganj of Patuakhali tomorrow.

The three-member tribunal headed by its Chairman Justice Obaidul Hassan set the date yesterday, nearly a month after the end of argument sessions.

The 63-year-old razakar commander is facing five charges of crimes against humanity he had committed during the 1971 Liberation War in Mirzaganj upazila. The charges include murder, rape, abduction and forced conversion.

The case was kept for verdict on June 14.

Fourteen prosecution witnesses testified at the tribunal while four gave depositions in favour of the accused. He was indicted on December 18 last year.

According to the first charge, razakars led

by Forkan and the Pakistani Army members held Hafiz Uddin Khalifa and Awami League leader Abdul Kader Jomader on August 12, 1971. They were kept confined and later killed.

The same day, the collaborators held Dr Debendra Nath Sarker from his house and shot him dead. Forkan bayoneted Bibha Rani Nath to death when she attempted to save her husband.

Forkan is also charged with forceful conversion of Ramani Kundu, Shyam Sundar Kundu and Sunil Kundu – three brothers from Subidkhali Bazar under Mirzaganj – on August 15 at a razakar camp.

On August 17, Forkan and his accomplices held Golapi Rani Saha from the house of Ram Krishna Saha at Subidkhali and raped her at a place named Jugibari. The razakars then abandoned the woman in unconscious condition near her house. She died the following day.

Forkan and his associates in the razakar force raped two women after abduction from the house of Lalit Karmakar at Subidkhali on August 20. The victims were left in front of the house the next day. The family was later forced to leave the village for India.

The accused shot dead Hatem Ali at Kakarbunia and detained his daughter Aleya Begum on August 22. She was raped repeatedly at Patuakhali Circuit House. Forkan, his cohorts and the Pakistani Army also killed Sanad Jumar Halder and Elemuddin the same day. l

ACC scrutinising Brazil wheat reports, fresh writ filed n Tribune Report

The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday said it would make a decision over whether to launch an inquiry regarding the alleged corruption in importing wheat from Brazil after scrutinising the findings of different government agencies.

“Some government agencies are now conducting investigation into alleged corruption in importing the substandard wheat. We will scrutinise their findings and then decide on launching an inquiry into the matter,” said ACC Director General M Samsul Arifin told reporters during its monthly press briefing.

He said the ACC would also follow the directives of the High Court.

On July 9, the Supreme Court stayed a High Court verdict that had directed the government to take back the wheat from consumers if they want to return the grain. The High

Court also asked the government not to force anyone to consume the wheat.

The Food Ministry imported 2.5 lakh tonnes of wheat from Brazil for FY 2014-15 at a cost of Tk400 crore.

Asked why the ACC did not sue former post and telecommunication minister Abdul Latif Siddiqui even after approving filing of the case against him on allegation of misappropriation of government property, Director Belal Ahmed said: “We are reviewing the matter.”

The reporters then asked him why the commission had not reviewed the matter beforehand, Belal avoided a direct answer and said: “It is matter of the commission.”

On money laundering, the DG said the commission was waiting for some information from the financial intelligence unit of Bangladesh Bank.

“The ACC is yet to make any decision regarding the alleged loan fraud and employ-

ment corruption of the managing director of Agrani Bank. The commission is now scrutinising the matter,” Arifin said.

He added that from January to June this year, the commission has received 4,329 complaints. During this time, the commission approved 182 cases and 282 charge sheets after completing investigation.

Petitioner files fresh writ

Dhaka Judge’s Court lawyer Pavel Mia has again filed a writ petition with the Supreme Court seeking directives upon the government to examine the much-talked wheat at a “neutral laboratory.”

The petition filed yesterday also sought the apex court’s directive to form a committee by the court to collect samples for the laboratory test.

The Supreme Court chamber judge will hear the petition on July 21.

Pavel Mia filed the first writ petition on the matter with the High Court last month. He also sought the ACC’s inquiry into the import process.

“We want the wheat to be tested in a neutral laboratory which is beyond the control of the government. There are such laboratories in the country,” petitioner’s lawyer Shanjid Siddique said.

Following the first writ petition, the High Court on July 8 directed the government not to compel any person, any organisation or department to accept the wheat. It also asked the government to take the wheat back if anyone do not want to keep that.

Chamber Judge of the Appellate Division Justice Hasan Foez Siddique stayed the order in response to a petition filed by the government. The judge also sent the petition to the Appellate Division’s full bench for hearing on July 26. This means the stay order will be in effect until the petition is disposed of. l

DT

4 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

High Court orders Tangail MP and brother to surrender

Court grants remand of sodium cyclamate importer

n Ashif Islam Shaon

A court in Chittagong yesterday ordered 10day remand of a person for importing 1,000kg contraband Sodium Cyclamate.

The court of Metropolitan Magistrate Farid Alam passed the order granting a prayer prayer of Bandar police Sub-Inspector Sanjoy Kumar Sinha, also the investigation officer. Of the case.

Accused Omar Faruk, 27, was held in the capital by customs intelligence officials and handed over to Bandar police on Monday night.

The case was lodged under section 25(B) of the Special Powers Act 1974 and the Customs Acts 156 (9) since import of the ingredient is banned in the country. Businessmen import this item under different names to dodge the port officials. l

The High Court has ordered Tangail 3 Awami League lawmaker Amanur Rahman Khan Rana and his brother Shahidur Rahman Khan to surrender before a lower couxrt in a murder case yesterday.

The accused will get two weeks to surrender, and law enforcers will not harass or arrest them during this period, the court said in its order. Shahidur Rahman is the mayor of Tangail Municipal Corporation.

The HC vacation bench of Justice Farid Ahmed and Justice Mohammad Ullah gave the order following a hearing of a petition filed jointly by the two brothers seeking an-

ticipatory bail in the case.

The hearing was held on Sunday and Monday. The court passed the order in presence of the two brothers.

The state counsels said they will go to the upper court against the HC order.

The victim, Faruk Ahmed, was killed by unknown gunmen in front of his residence in College Para on Jan 18, 2013. His wife, Nahar Ahmed, filed a case with Tangail Model Police Station three days later, but she did not name anyone.

After filing the case, the plaintiff told reporters at a press conference that they had learned that Amanur, Shahidur and their two brothers were behind the murder.

The two other brothers are Jahidur Rahman Khan Kankan, chief of Tangail Chamber of Commerce, and Sanyat Khan Bappa is a central leader of the ruling AL’s student wing.

Police arrested two accused, Anisul Islam and Mohammad Ali, following the murder and they gave a confessional statement before the trial court under Section 164. They named Amanur and Shahidur as the planners of the murder.

After the High Court order, Deputy Attorney General Md Bashirullah told reporters: “The court did not grant them anticipatory bail. But after the order, they will enjoy a kind of anticipatory bail. We will challenge the High Court order.” l

n FM Mizanur Rahaman, Chittagong

Cable trader murdered in Jatrabari n Kamrul Hasan A cable businessman was shot dead early yesterday in front of his house in Dhaka’s Jatrabari.

The deceased was Mujibur Rahman, 55, from Gopalganj.

He was allegedly shot in front of his house around 3am when he was returning home. He was the owner of Aziz Cable in Old Dhaka.

Relatives said Mujibur lived on the first floor of a five-storey building in Kazirgaon of Jatrabari. He used to come back home just before sehri. Unidentified criminals shot him and fled leaving him seriously injured. As he did not return home by 4am, his wife came out and found him in front of the building. His brother Saidul Islam took him to a local hospital and later he was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

Police said he had bullet injuries on his neck and back. His wife Shahida Rahman said criminals tied up the guard of the building before they killed him. She said Mujibor had filed a GD over an altercation with Khokon, son of one Alam of Juraine and his girl friend. l

DANDY DYEING LOAN DEFAULT

Framing of issues on August 30 n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Dhaka court yesterday fixed August 30 for framing of issues and submission of written statement of defendants in the Dandy Dyeing loan default case. Dhaka Artha Rin Adalat Judge Fatema Ferdous passed the order when BNP chief Khaleda Zia’s counsel Masud Ahmed Talukder submitted a written statement on behalf of her in response to a summon.

The written statement says that the company took a Tk15.64 crore loan and duly repaid Tk17.5 crore. The bank filed the case against illegally, so the case should be dismissed.

Khaleda’s Special Assistant Mahbub Al Amin made an affidavit on her behalf and filed petition to reject the case. “Arafat Rahman Koko was not involved with the said company and he was not involved with this loan so the case should the rejected.” l

The alleys of popular shopping hub New Market gets abuzz with a massive crowd who take iftar sitting in a makeshift arrangement yesterday

Police make coordinated efforts for smooth passage of travellers n Kamrul Hasan Police have adopted a two-tier security measure since yesterday evening ahead of Eid to ensure that the homebound travellers face least hassle.

The regular police of each jurisdiction are to check illegal ticket sales at the terminals and the traffic police will check if buses are stopping outside designated stoppages.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Asaduzzaman Miah told this to reporters while inspecting security measures at the Gabtoli bus stand yesterday afternoon.

He said the crime cell of the police station will be on duty during the festival to tackle dope gangs, extortionists, hijackers. Plain clothes police would also be deployed during

the time, he added.

The commissioner said, of the 13 exit points police are most vigilant on the four main exit points like Gabtoli, Babu Bazar, Sayedabad and Abdullahpur.

He said: “We may not be able to ensure ‘supersonic’ movement of vehicles but we can assure that the vehicles will be on the move, even if slowly.”

According to the police official no vehicles would be allowed to park on the road beyond Kallyanpur to Gabtoli except at the bus stoppages and added that the bus owners also assured him about the matter.

However, upon a visit to Kallyanpur yesterday after 9pm, it was seen that numerous inter-district buses parked haphazardly along the road were causing massive traffic congestion. l

RAJIB DHAR

Court: Include sections of Special Powers Act in cocaine haul case

n FM Mizanur Rahaman, Chittagong

A Chittagong court ordered for including sections of the Special Powers Act 1974 in the country’s biggest cocaine haul, believed to be smuggled from Uruguay, last month.

The order was given by Chittagong Metropolitan Magistrate Farid Alam yesterday in response to a plea filed by the investigation officer on July 9. After the haul at Chittagong Port, the case was filed with Bandar police under the Narcotics Control Act. Public Prosecutor Md Fakhrudduin Chowdhury said: “As the cocaine was smuggled into the country violating the existing rules and regulations of customs, we appealed to the court to include the sections of the Special Powers Act that covers smuggling.”

A total five persons have so far been arrested in the case. l

DT

NEWS 5

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

Back in one piece from neverland n Abid Azad back from Cox’s Bazar There have been numerous reports on how Bangladeshi victims have escaped the captivity of human traffickers or how they have been rescued by law enforcers or rights bodies.

But there are also instances, though rare, of traffickers returning people alive upon payment of certain amounts of ransom.

Before becoming a victim of human trafficking, the story of Md Raihan, an 18-yearold lad from Cox’s Bazar, was pretty much the same as any other who fell into the lure of a “neverland” called Malaysia.

Raihan’s inspiration was his cousin Nazrul, who went to Malaysia illegally and changed the fate of his family by sending money back home.

He could not have set out on the perilous journey just like that. Inevitably, he fell into the trap laid by a broker named Hamid.

Many brokers would take lakhs of taka from illegal migration seekers before sending them off. There are also brokers, like Hamid, who would tempt simpletons, like Raihan, by telling them that they would have to pay only after they start earning in Malaysia.

“So, we [Raihan and his 20-year-old cousin Shamsu] decided to follow Nazrul’s suit. We did not tell our families that we were going to Malaysia. One night, when everyone fell asleep, we sneaked out and went to a quiet village in the remote island of Moheshkhali which was surrounded by a jungle,” said Raihan while talking to this reporter in a house in the Cox’s Bazar town recently.

As soon as they had arrived at the village around 9pm, they were captured and locked inside an earthen cottage with a thatched roof. There were 28 more people inside that cottage and they were kept under constant watch by armed guards.

“The gang had female members too. But they were mostly cooks.”

There were many more such cottages in the village and they are all used for the same purpose.

Around one in the morning, they were taken to a fishing boat and stacked inside a cold storage used for keeping fish. A total of 10 men, all armed, were in charge of the boat.

After two days and one night, the boat reached Shita Pahar and they were shifted to a cargo boat, where 300 more people were held hostage at gunpoint.

The traffickers tied a black ribbon to the wrists of Raihan and some others. There were also people with green, red and blue ribbons.

He does not know what the different colours stand for.

From Bangladesh to Thailand

They were kept at Shita Pahar for 20 days and every day more people were brought in. Finally, when the number climbed to 600, they decided to move. Around a hundred were women and 15-20 were children, all from Myanmar.

“One day, suddenly the traffickers started stuffing us back inside the fish storage because a team of the Myanmar Navy was approaching. After four hours of negotiation, the traffickers reached a Tk15 lakh deal with the navy guys. Two days later, we started for Malaysia.”

Six days and six nights later, they arrived at the edge of a jungle in Thailand. Small fishing boats took them from the cargo boat, 20 at a time, and dropped them in the middle of a shallow river. They had to walk through throat-high water to reach land.

In the evening, they were stuffed inside small black covered vans, 20 at a time again.

There was no room to move and they were not allowed to make any noises.

The vans travelled for 12 hours in the dark.

Sometimes police would stop them on the way and the drivers would say they were carrying fish.

“Finally, we reached a hilly area around dawn. Then we had to walk eight hours to reach the top of the hill, which was much taller than any hills in Bangladesh. It was the

Hazi took the 25 of them to a place on the Malaysian border. They walked from 5pm to 5am to reach that place.

From Malaysia to Bangladesh

Finally, they were stuffed in three small black sedan cars, seven in each, and taken across the border into a house inside the Malaysian territory.

“I did not know after how many days we got to take a bath. They gave us food but took away all our belongings and gave us half-

PM: Don’t allow overloaded vehicles on highways n Tribune Report

Stressing the importance of maintaining the roads network, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has asked authorities to not allow overloaded vehicles on the highways.

She gave the directive while inaugurated two highways, a road and a bridge through videoconferencing from Gonobhobon, reports UNB. The projects include a 16km road upgraded to a four-lane highway in Rangpur city; 10.5km Birulia-Ashulia highway and the Birulia Bridge; and the Thanchi-Alikadam road in Bandarban built at a height of about 3,500 feet.

She said steps had been taken to upgrade other highways, including the Dhaka-Mymensingh, to four-lane.

While talking to the deputy commissioner of Bandarban, the PM thanked the Bangladesh Army for their sincere efforts in building the Thanchi-Alikadam Highway in one of the remotest parts of the country.

‘If they had not burned buses, destroyed train compartments and damaged tracks, people would have been able to travel more conveniently’

Trafficking victim Raihan, who returned from Malaysia recently, poses for a photograph inside a fishing boat - the same kind used for shipping them off ABID AZAD rainy season and walking all the way to the hilltop was a difficult task. Many slipped and got injured.

“All this time, we were given very little food and water. Whenever we cried of hunger and thirst, we were beaten mercilessly.”

Buying and selling

The hostages were divided into two groups – one who could meet their ransom demand and others who could not.

“There are separate buyers for the women.

They never buy any man. These buyers sell the women to brokers.”

They set a Tk1.8 lakh ransom for each of the hostages, who were expected to ask their relatives back home to arrange the money and pay it to the agents of these traffickers. They would beat those up mercilessly whose families could not arrange the money within three days.

Three days later, Raihan and his cousin Shamsu were sold to a man named Hazi for 6,000 Malaysian ringgit (Tk1.22 lakh) each. Some were sold for as little as 2,000-3,000 ringgit.

“I saw that at least 30 people were killed and buried at the hilltop.”

pants to put on. Then they called us one by one and asked whether our families had arranged the ransom.

“They learned that the family of one of the victims, Russel, had managed the money and deposited it into an account of the Sonali Bank in Bangladesh. But a little later they talked to someone over phone in Bangladesh and learned that their agents had not got the money. Right away, one of them hit Russel hard in the head. He started bleeding profusely and soon fell unconscious.”

Raihan telephoned his family but he was told that they would need a few more days to arrange the money. That meant more torture.

Finally, three days later, his family arranged Tk3.6 lakh for him and his cousin and they were released. Then they went to their cousin Nazrul’s place.

A few days later, Raihan contacted a man named Hossain, who he knew was the main broker. Raihan then managed a job and saved 2,000 Malaysian ringgit to finally come back home.

He met another Bangladeshi broker in Malaysia and that man eventually made the arrangements for Raihan’s homecoming. l

Speaking to the Rangpur DC office, the PM said that Rangpur had long been neglected but her government had upgraded it into a Divisional headquarter and implemented various development programmes to ensure socio-economic uplift of the poverty and Monga-affected people.

The Roads and Highways Department implemented the Rangpur Divisional City Road upgradation at a cost of Tk126.58 crore and the Birulia-Ashulia road and Brulia Bridge construction projects at a cost of about Tk50 crore.

The Engineering Department of the Bangladesh Army implemented 33km-18ft Thanchi-Alikadam road at a cost of Tk117.54 crore.

State Minister for Chittagong Hill Tracts Bir Bahadur Ushaising joined the videoconferencing from Bandarban, State Minister for LGRD Mashiur Rahman Ranga and Mayor of Rangpur City Corporation Sharfuddin Ahmed Jhantu from Rangpur. Members of Parliament Ilias Uddin Mollah and M Enamur Rahman joined the videoconferencing from Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s office.

Sheikh Hasina yesterday also inaugurated a newly built state-of-the-art passenger ship, MV Madhumati, and two ferries of the Bangladesh Inlad Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), also through video conferencing from her residence.

“If they [BNP-Jamaat alliance] had not burned the buses, destroyed railway compartments and damaged the railway tracks, people might have been able to go to their homes more conveniently,” she said.

The new 75.5m by 12.5m MV Madhumati is capable of accommodating 750 passengers, and has been built at a cost of Tk26.58 crore by the Western Marine Shipyard.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan and lawmaker Kazi Firoz Rahid also spoke on the occasion by joining the videoconferencing at the Sadarghat launch terminal in Dhaka. l

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6 NEWS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

Controversial persons recruited in JU administration n JU Correspondent Amid protests, the Jahangirnagar University authorities have appointed six controversial persons to different offices on ad hoc basis allegedly violating rules.

JU Teachers’ Association (JUTA) has been protesting the recruitment decision terming it illegal and immoral since the authorities did not publish job circular regarding the posts.

After taking office in March last year, Incumbent VC Prof Dr Farzana Islam came under severe criticisms for recruiting teachers flouting rules. Her predecessor Prof Shariff Enamul Kabir recruited more than 200 teachers in three years mostly under political consideration.

Sources say Chhatra League Vice-President Razib Chakrabarty got appointment as an administrative officer in education section, Vice-President Sayed Jinnah as security officer, Organising Secretary Faisal Hossain Dipu as administrative officer at the JU central library and

Mass Education Affairs Secretary Sohel Rana as administrative officer at the proctor office.

Razib is accused of taking Tk2 lakh from an admission seeker under freedom fighter quota in 2013 while Chhatra League had suspended Dipu over a factional clash.

Dipu also launched an attack on the teachers who were demonstrating against former vice-chancellor Prof Anwar Hossain on October 9, 2013. He also beat up the canteen owner at Mir Mosharraf Hossain Hall.

Some 35 teachers of different departments and institutes met the VC on Sunday night and requested her not to recruit Dipu, source said.

On the other hand, Rana is accused in an attempt to murder case. Rana along with his fellow Chhatra League men at Maulana Bhashani Hall launched an attack with rod, pipe and sharp weapons on the members of a rival group on November 23 last year. Father of a victim filed the case against Rana and others with Ashulia police.

The authorities also appointed Tasnima

Khandaker as career guidance officer at the students’ welfare and advising centre while Md Abu Hanif as administrative officer at the exam controller’s office. Tasnima is the wife of VC’s Personal Secretary Md Sanwar Hossain while Hanif is the son of Senior Sorter of VC office Md Siddikur Rahman. Sources say Siddikur was promoted to this post by the blessings of the VC. Teachers and students of the university expressed anger and frustration over the appointments claiming that the authorities had been excessing nepotism.

General Secretary of the platform Prof Mafruhi Sattar told the Dhaka Tribune: “The authorities have appointed some four controversial Chhatra League leaders and two close relatives of selective officers in the university.

These recruitments are the clear violation of the university’s law.”

Pro-VC Prof Abul Hossain told reporters that it was the VC who had made the appointments on ad hoc basis. l

Lightning kills 3

n Our Correspondent, Sunamganj At least three fishermen were killed in lightning strike in Kaliakota Haor area under Derai upazila of the district yesterday.

The deceased were identified as Mizan Mia,32, son of Nohan Ali of Fafinagar village, Mokaim Mian, 27, son of Abdul Kadir and Abdulla, 18, son of Firoz Ali of Sadipur village.

Bayes Alam, officer-in-charge of Derai police station, said lightning struck the fishermen while they were catching fish in the haor. l

Youth lynched n Our Correspondent, Savar An alleged thief was beaten to death by a mob in DEPZ area in Ashulia yesterday morning.

But identity of the youth could not be ascertained immediately.

Local sources said the youth had gone to the area to steal electricity lines. Sensing his presence, local people caught him and gave him a good beating. On information, police rushed to the spot and rescued him in a critical state. He was taken to Enam Medical College Hospital where on duty doctor declared him dead. l

9 die in road accidents n Tribune Report At least nine people were killed in separate road accidents in Sirajganj and Manikganj yesterday.

In Sirajganj, five people have been killed and 10 others injured in a head-on collision between a bus and a CNG-run auto-rickshaw in Boalia area under Ullapara upazila. The identities of the deceased could not be ascertained yet.

Ullapara OC AZM Tajul Huda said: “Five of the died on the spot in the accident that took place around 8:30am.

In Manikganj, four people were killed and eight others injured in a road accident at Jagir area on the Dhaka-Aricha highway in Sadar upazila earlymorning.

The deceased were Tagdir Mollah, 70, son of late Nasir Mollah of Kalagasi village under Lohagara upazila in Narail district, Rasel Mollah, 35, son of Zakir Mollah of Ratulgolpara village under Kashiani upazila in Gopalganj, Taslim Mollah, 35, son of Anu Mollah of Gopinathpur village under Harirampur upazila and Rabbi, 17, son of Akkas resident of Joynagar village under Sadar upazila in Manikganj district. l

Woman gives birth to 6 babies n Our Correspondent, Sylhet

Hasna Begum, 26, a woman from Rajaganj under Kanaighat upazila gave birth to six kids at Sylhet M A G Osmani Medical College Hospital yesterday.

MA Salam, assistant director of the hospital, said Hasna Begum, wife of Jamaluddin was admitted to the hospital in the morning for normal delivery.

She gave to six kids around 10am, he said.

Of the kids, four are male and two are female. “Hasna has also a three-year-old daughter,” said Salam.

Hospital sources said three kids died around 8pm and another three were born with low birth weights. l

A mobile court led by Magistrate Sarwar Alam examines sweets at a factory in Doyaganj, Dhaka yesterday. Later, the mobile court fined the factory with Tk80,000 for making sweets in an unhygienic environment MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Brisk business of smuggled Indian phones n Our Correspondent, Chapainawabganj

A gang of illicit businessmen are smuggling in stolen Indian mobile phones right under the noses of law enforcement agencies in Shibganj and Kansat of Chapainawabganj.

These handsets, which retail for Tk30,000 to Tk50,000, are being sold for only Tk1015,000. Thus people from nearby districts like Natore, Ishwardi, Rajshahi are tumbling in to buy these mobile phones everyday. Law enforcement agencies attempted to stop the business a few times but to no avail.

It was learned that the stores Ma Telecom,

Khajababa Telecom, Sony Telecom of Shibganj; KS Telecom in Kansat, and Molla Gallery Telecom in Binodpur are involved in this illegal phone business for a long time now.

These stores are selling the latest Samsung flagship phones for Tk52,000, which retail for almost Tk80,000. As such many mobile phone models are being sold at almost half the retail prices.

Although Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) arrested several phone smugglers at different times, they managed to secure bail and started over the illegal business. Besides, according to some sources, these stolen phones are

also being sold secretly from some houses in Monakosha and Khasehat areas. They are even delivered to the buyers at times.

BGB 9 Commander Lt Col Abu Jafar said they are always vigilant in preventing smuggling of the phones. Experts however said a task force has become necessary to curb the smuggling.

Meanwhile, the sellers are ripping off customers by not providing battery and chargers with these phones; and at times are selling old refurbished phones. According to some sources, if a user of such a mobile phone enters India, that person may be arrested if the stolen phones are tracked down. l

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NEWS 7

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

Medicine worth Tk4 crore seized at Dhaka Airport n Kamrul Hasan

Customs intelligence officials seized 138kg unauthorised medicine from the freight unit of Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on Monday.

The medicine used for treating cancer illegally entered the country from Argentina on June 8 through flight no TK 712 of Turkish Airlines without the approval of Directorate General of Drug Administration of Bangladesh.

The market value of the medicine is estimated Tk4 crore. As the medicine were kept in open air for a month their quality was under question, said Customs Intelligence and Investigation Department (CIID) Assistant Director Shagufta Mahjabin.

She said without experts’ opinions she could not confirm if the medicine were fake.

The medicine were brought to the country under the name of Mizan Trade International, however, the owner of the company claimed that they did not import such medicine, she said.

Mizan Trade International had given a written document claiming that they did not import the medicine. Legal action will be taken after investigation, AD Shagufta said. l

WEATHER

RAIN OR THUNDERSHOWERS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15 DHAKA TODAY

TOMORROW

SUN SETS 6:49PM

SUN RISES 5:20AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

33

27

Chittagong

33

27

Rajshahi

34

27

Rangpur

31

26

Khulna

31

27

Barisal

34

28

Sylhet

29

25

Cox’s Bazar

31

27

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

37.0ºC

25.9ºC

Jessore

Sylhet Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

3:55am 5:20am 12:05am 4:45pm 6:49pm 8:14pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

Another case of child abuse goes viral on social networking sites n Tribune Report Corporal punishment against two girls at an orphanage run by Social Welfare Directorate in Barisal has caused uproar among the public after its footage went viral on social networking sites.

Although the incident took place on July 4, the district administration became aware of it after the footage went viral.

The footage uploaded on Facebook shows Md Dulal, health assistant at the institution, is indiscriminately beating two girls as they try to flee from the shelter home.

Yesterday, Deputy Commissioner Dr Gazi Saifuzzaman went to the orphanage and asked officials concerned to take stern action against the people responsible for the abuse after a proper investigation.

According to orphanage sources, Akhi, 9,

daughter of Taslima Begum of Tajkati village, Sadar upazila, and Dalia, 10, daughter of Bilkis Begum of Bhuterdia, Babuganj upazila have been living in the home for a few months.

Both are students of class III at a local primary school.

Bilkis Begum had come to the orphanage to meet with her daughter. Then, Dalia wanted to leave with her mother, but authorities had not given her permission to leave the home. Later, Akhi and Dalia were seen at a mobile phone shop at Sagardi Bazar. Afterward, the orphanage authorities forcefully brought them back, said the sources.

Then, Health Assistant of the orphanage Md Dulal beat them indiscriminately, leaving them critically injured.

A student of class IIII who preferred to be unnamed told the Dhaka Tribune that almost

all the girls were tortured by orphanage staff over trivial matters. After the incident on July 4, residents of the shelter home have been asked to keep their mouths shut by the authorities, she added.

Md Dulal said he lightly beat the girls so they would not dare to go out of the orphanage.

He, however, said: “I am health assistant of the centre. I am not entrusted with guarding the girls, so why should I beat them severely?

It was only for their well being.”

Ismat Ara, in-charge of the orphanage, said she was not aware of the corporal punishment. She said Dulal was asked to bring the girl back from Sagardi as there was a shortage of staff in the institution.

Deputy Commissioner Saifuzzaman said a probe committee would be formed to investigate the matter. l

10 held with counterfeit currencies n Kamrul Hasan

Law enforcers said counterfeiters have been targeting mall shops in the capital to distribute their counterfeit money.

Although 25 such counterfeiters have been arrested by law enforcement agencies, business owners are not out of danger.

According to the law enforcers, some 15 such gangs are active in the city.

On Monday night, police and RAB arrested

10 such criminals while the latter were carrying out monetary transactions.

Law enforcers also recovered Tk4.25 lakh counterfeit money from their possession.

A DB team of the DMP East Division arrested seven suspected members of the gang from Mahanagar Nattyamoncha area under Paltan police station on Monday night.

The arrestees are Alauddin, Yunus Miah, Altaf Hossain, Ronju, Badal Hossain, Milton Sheikh and Yusuf Ali Hawlader.

These arrestees during interrogation confessed their long-time involvement in the crime. The team also recovered Tk2.78 lakh from their possession.

In a press briefing at DMP media centre, DMP DB Deputy Commissioner (East) Md Mahbub Alam said these 15 money counterfeit gangs have been active in the city ahead of Eid. Police have already arrested some of them, and attempts to arrest other counterfeiters will continue, he added. l

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8 WORLD

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

Ford Foundation funding dries up as Modi clamps down on NGOs n Reuters, New Delhi

A leading global charity has frozen $4 million in funding to India, squeezing aid to the poor, after a clampdown by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on donors deemed to be meddling in domestic politics that has raised concern in Washington.

The government restrictions on the USbased Ford Foundation relate to a $250,000 grant to a vocal Modi critic, but a top official at the charity said the fallout has hit projects that fight child marriage, provide clean water in slums and feed pregnant women.

“We don’t want to move ahead until the time we are clear about the rules and nothing we do is viewed as illegal,” the official said, requesting anonymity as he did not want to jeopardise talks with the government.

The Ford Foundation has donated more than $500 million to India since opening its first overseas office in Delhi in 1952. Its headquarters in New York did not respond to requests for comment about the decision to hold back funds.

India has toughened rules governing charities, and this year the government cancelled the registration of nearly 9,000 groups for failing to declare details of overseas donations.

Modi’s government has accused foreign charities of trying to hamper industrial projects on social and environmental grounds, and he has criticised what he called “five-star activists.”

Greenpeace India is among those affected, with bank accounts frozen and travel restrictions on some workers after it campaigned

against issues including coal mining and nuclear power, areas Modi sees as key to economic growth.

Under a proposed law, foreign-funded NGOs face more regulatory hurdles and must agree their work will not be “detrimental to the national interest.” Activists say the term is not clearly defined, leaving it open to abuse.

Amid the crackdown, the home ministry put the $12.5 billion Ford Foundation on a watch list this year over funding it gave to activist Teesta Setalvad in 2009.

At the time she was pursuing legal cases against Modi, accusing him of failing to stop anti-Muslim rioting that killed at least 1,000 people when he was chief minister of Gujarat.

Modi denies the charges and was exonerated in an Indian Supreme Court inquiry in 2012.

Yesterday, federal investigators raided

Setalvad’s home after filing a criminal case against her last week for allegedly misusing the Ford Foundation grant. She could not be reached for comment yesterday.

BK Prasad, the official overseeing the home ministry’s new approach, told Reuters the government had no intention of forcing NGOs to close.

US Ambassador Richard Verma has said the United States was in dialogue with India on the matter, and he warned that the tougher approach may have a “chilling effect” on civil society and democratic traditions.

There are signs that may be happening already. At a meeting in New Delhi a week ago, the Ford Foundation told groups it funds to avoid words like “governance,” “advocacy” or “human rights” in reports and proposals, said a person who attended. l

Thai defamation trial opens over trafficking report n AFP, Bangkok

Fire and smoke rise from the Aden oil refinery following a reported shelling attack by Shiite Houthi rebels in the embattled southern Yemeni city of Aden on Monday. Clashes have intensified in Aden, where rebels have besieged many areas controlled by southern fighters loyal to exiled President Abedrabbo Mansour Hadi and known as the Popular Resistance AFP

Kuwait charges 29 over suicide bombing of Shiite mosque n AFP, Kuwait City Kuwait charged 29 people yesterday over the suicide bombing of a Shiite mosque last month, claimed by the Islamic State group, that killed 26 people and wounded more than 200.

The attack, carried out by a Saudi, was the worst in Kuwait’s history.

Those charged included seven Kuwaitis, five Saudis, three Pakistanis, 13 stateless people known as bidoons, and another person at large, the prosecution said, cited by the offi-

cial KUNA news agency.

Ot them, 24 are detained in Kuwait and the remaining five will be tried in absentia.

Among the latter are two Saudi brothers who allegedly transported the explosives to Kuwait and are being held in Saudi Arabia.

The prosecution charged two of the suspects with premeditated murder and attempted murder.

Two others were charged with training in the use of explosives, nine with assisting in committing the crime and the rest with knowing of

the attack without informing the authorities.

An IS-affiliated group calling itself Najd Province claimed the bombing and also said it carried out suicide attacks at two Shiite mosques in Saudi Arabia in May. IS considers Shiites to be heretics and has targeted them across the region.

On Monday, the Kuwaiti cabinet decided to set up a permanent committee to “fight against all forms of terrorism... and extremism,” and it will coordinate among various bodies in a bid to ensure security. l

Two journalists, including an Australian editor, went on trial in Thailand yesterday over a report they published implicating the navy in human trafficking, as the United Nations urged the junta-ruled nation to drop the case.

The trial comes after the region’s grim people-smuggling trade was dramatically highlighted in May when thousands of migrants were abandoned at sea and in foetid jungle camps by traffickers following a Thai crackdown, a crisis that eventually forced Southeast Asian governments to respond.

The charges against Alan Morison and his Thai colleague Chutima Sidasathian, of the Phuketwan news website, relate to a July 2013 article quoting an investigation by the Reuters news agency which said some Thai navy members were involved in trafficking Rohingya Muslims fleeing Myanmar.

The pair could face up to two years in jail for criminal defamation and five years for breaching the Computer Crimes Act if they are found guilty.

The trial at Phuket Provincial Court began with a testimony from RN Pallop Komlotok, a navy captain, who confirmed he filed the defamation case on behalf of the navy, Siriwan Vongkietpaisan, a lawyer for the accused, told AFP. “He also confirmed that the Phuketwan quotes were lifted from Reuters article,” she said.

Reuters has not been charged over its reporting – part of a series honoured with a Pulitzer Prize last year – and rights groups have accused the navy of trying to muzzle the smaller Phuket-based English-language media outlet.

Speaking to AFP ahead of the trial, Morison said: “We do not understand why the military government has not withdrawn the case.

“The initial pursuits against Reuters were dropped. We quote exactly the same paragraph... (They are pursuing us) for only one paragraph reproduced word-to-word from Reuters.”

A verdict is expected within 30 days. l

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

Greece needs debt relief far beyond EU plans n Reuters Greece will need far bigger debt relief than euro zone partners have been prepared to envisage so far due to the devastation of its economy and banks in the last two weeks, a confidential study by the International Monetary Fund seen by Reuters shows.

The updated debt sustainability analysis (DSA) was sent to euro zone governments late on Monday, hours after Athens and its 18 partners agreed in principle to open negotiations on a third bailout program of up to 86 billion euros in return for tougher austerity measures and structural reforms.

“The dramatic deterioration in debt sustainability points to the need for debt relief on a scale that would need to go well beyond what has been under consideration to date and what has been proposed by the ESM,” the IMF said, referring to the European Stability Mechanism bailout fund.

European countries would have to give Greece a 30-year grace period on servicing all its European debt, including new loans, and a very dramatic maturity extension, or else make explicit annual fiscal transfers to the Greek budget or accept “deep upfront haircuts” on their loans to Athens, the report said.

It was leaked as German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble disclosed that some members of the Berlin government thought Greece would have been better off taking “time-out” from the euro zone rather than receiving another giant bailout.

IMF managing-director Christine Lagarde attended weekend talks among euro zone finance ministers and government leaders that agreed on a roadmap for a new bailout. An EU source said the new debt sustainability figures were given to euro zone finance ministers on Saturday and were known by the leaders before they concluded Monday’s deal with Athens.

The IMF study said the closure of Greek banks and imposition of capital controls on June 29 was “extracting a heavy toll on the banking system and the economy, leading to

a further significant deterioration in debt sustainability relative to what was projected in our recently published DSA.” European members of the IMF’s executive board tried in vain to stop the publication of that earlier study on July 2 just three days before a Greek referendum that rejected earlier bailout terms, sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his former finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, seized on the IMF study as vindicating their argument that the proposed bailout was unsustainable and that Greece was right to demand debt relief.

The latest IMF study said Greek debt would now peak at close to 200 percent of economic output in the next two years, compared to a previously forecast high of 177 percent.

Even by 2022, the debt would stand at 170 percent of gross domestic product, compared to an estimate of 142 percent issued just two weeks ago. Gross financing needs would rise to above the 15 percent of GDP threshold deemed safe and continue rising in the long term, the updated IMF study said.

Moreover, the latest projections “remain subject to considerable downside risk,” meaning that euro zone countries might have to provide even more exceptional financing.

In the laconic technocratic language of IMF officialdom, the report noted that few countries had ever managed to sustain for several decades the primary budget surplus of 3.5 percent of GDP expected of Greece. As soon as Athens had swung into a small surplus before debt service last year, the government had failed to resist political pressure to ease the target, it noted.

The IMF study also appeared to challenge the assumption by some European officials that Greece will be able to meet some of its financing needs from the markets in 2018.

“Borrowing at anything but AAA rates in the near term will bring about an unsustainable debt dynamic for the next several decades,” it said. l

Israel must adapt to Iran deal despite tough talk n AFP, Jerusalem Israel has vehemently opposed a nuclear deal with Iran and repeatedly threatened strikes against the Islamic republic, but it must now learn to live with the accord accepted by the world’s major powers, analysts say.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu evoked frightening scenarios during the months the deal was being negotiated, arguing the agreement would not block Iran’s path to nuclear weapons.

Yesterday, he called it “a historic mistake for the world” and again hinted at military force.

But Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States have reached an accord they say is aimed at sharply curbing Iran’s nuclear programme.

Analysts point out that even if Iran manages to circumvent the deal and eventually develop nuclear weapons, it would face severe consequences if it were to seek to target Israel.

Apart from its powerful allies in the West, Israel is believed to be the only country in the Middle East with atomic bombs, although it has never confirmed its nuclear military capacity. l

Alphajets from the French Air Force Patrouille de France in the formation of a Croix de Lorraine cross and releasing trails of red, white and blue smoke, colours of the French national flag, fly over the ChampsElysees avenue during the traditional Bastille day military parade in Paris, France yesterday REUTERS

Iraq pounds IS near Ramadi n AFP, Baghdad

Iraq’s army and allied paramilitaries attacked Islamic State group positions around Ramadi yesterday in their latest push to recapture the Anbar capital from the jihadists, commanders said.

The authorities announced a major offensive to “liberate Anbar” on Monday, hours after the US-led coalition launched a record number of air strikes near Ramadi.

Ramadi is the capital of Anbar, a vast Sun-

ni province which is largely under IS control.

It is traversed by the Euphrates and stretches from the borders with Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia to the outskirts of Baghdad.

The government had to call in the Hashed, an umbrella organisation whose main components are Tehran-backed Shiite militias, to supplement its own underperforming forces.

The US-led coalition said it had carried out 29 air strikes against IS targets in the Ramadi region on Sunday. l

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10 WORLD

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

World on way to ‘generation free of AIDS’ n AFP, Addis Ababa UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said yesterday the world was headed for a “generation free of AIDS,” after UNAIDS reported a 35-percent drop in new HIV infections from 15 years ago.

The positive news was also coupled with calls for more funding, with the objective of eliminating the virus by 2030. The United Nations also warned that continuing stigmatisation of sex workers, drug users and homosexuals were barriers to progress.

“The world has delivered. We have

achieved and exceeded the goals regarding AIDS. We have 15 million people on HIV treatment,” Ban said in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, where he is attending a global development summit.

“We are on the way to a generation free of AIDS,” Ban said. “The world has delivered on halting and reversing the AIDS epidemic.

Now we must commit to ending the AIDS epidemic.”

According to the UNAIDS report released yesterday in Geneva, there have been remarkable strides since the advent in 1996 of anti-retroviral drugs, which suppress the hu-

A protester wearing a fox mask speaks with a police officer at an antifox hunting rally in London yesterday. The British government was forced into a dramatic climbdown after its plans to relax a ban on fox hunting was according to a government source halted by the decision of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and its 56 MPs to block the change.

The vote by lawmakers to amend the rules, set for today, would be postponed AFP

Russia rules it can reject European rights court rulings n AFP, Moscow Russia’s Constitutional Court yesterday ruled its national laws should take precedence over decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.

Rights lawyers warned the new ruling essentially gives Russia the right to ignore the judgements of the Strasbourg-based court if they do not suit it.

Legal experts also said the ruling could provide Russia with a pretext not to implement a 2014 decision by the court to award shareholders of the now-defunct oil company Yukos 1.9 billion euros ($2.09 billion) in compensation.

The Russian court ruled its Constitution trumps the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which upholds the European Convention on Human Rights.

Russia joined the Council of Europe in 1996.

Since then the European Court has been flooded with cases from Russia, with rights advocates accusing the country of violating human rights and breaching the European Convention.

The ruling comes amid Russia’s increasing isolation from the West and confrontation with Washington and Brussels which have imposed sanctions over the Ukraine crisis. l

man immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Though not a cure, the therapy creates a virtuous circle. The less the virus is in circulation, the less likely it is that people become infected.

Although new HIV infections declined to two million in 2014 against 3.1 million 14 years ago and the number of new infections has noticeably decreased or remained stagnant, UNAIDS warned spending had plateaued.

“After a decade of unprecedented growth, financing for the AIDS response has levelled off. At the same time, the world now has com-

pelling evidence that people with HIV benefit by accessing anti-retroviral therapy as early as possible,” it said.

Sub-Saharan Africa remains the region worst hit by AIDS with 25.8 million people living with HIV. Last year, there were 1.4 million new HIV infections – a 39 percent drop from 2000.

Asia is a distant second with five million cases but there has been a recrudescence of new infections.

Last year there were 340,000 new HIV infections and China, Indonesia and India accounted for 78 percent of them. l

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EDITORIAL 11

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

INSIDE

They keep getting away When lack of accountability or punishment becomes the norm, even the puny guys at the periphery get emboldened, and many more Rajons get killed PAGE 12

May the ghost of Rajon haunt us forever

BIGSTOCK

We don’t take to the streets, we don’t worry about it constantly -- the best we do is become keyboard heroes, updating statuses like: ‘This is an outrage!’

PAGE 13

End lawlessness to attract investment and grow jobs at home

E Dear Felani We will miss you and we will be crying for you silently. You are our sister, you are our daughter, and you are Bangladeshi

PAGE 14

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arlier this month, the World Bank confirmed that Bangladesh is on the road to middle-income status as Gross National Income per capita has officially hit $1,314 a year, which is within the lower middle-income country bracket.

However, this does not change the reality that the lives and aspirations of tens of millions of our citizens are constrained daily by poverty.

If this was not the case, human traffickers would not be able to prey on so many Bangladeshis. Poverty is what motivates so many to risk their lives and board dangerous and illegal boats to Malaysia and beyond.

For all the nation’s progress in advancing social indicators, Bangladesh has, and for the foreseeable future, will, still have huge numbers of underemployed people living on the margins.

To change this picture around, the country needs more investment in factories and power stations to create jobs and raise living standards.

Unfortunately, corruption and extortion hinder and plague businesses of all sizes.

The Bangladesh Hawkers’ Federation has reported that daily toll collections by extortionists during Ramadan are extracting over Tk9.3cr a day from small stall-holders across Dhaka.

Large companies are not secure either, as mastaans frequently disrupt and threaten businesses to extort money.

Protection from corrupt officials and political leaders allows such criminals to operate with impunity, and mastaans can often force any factory or business to be shut down.

Such lawlessness can only deter investment from growing at the rate the poor need.

The government must act to root out extortionists at all levels if we wish to attract and grow more investment.

Only by securing rule of law can we hope to create more high-value jobs at home and enable more citizens to benefit from economic growth.

Root out extortionists at all levels to enable more citizens to benefit from growth

DT

12 OPINION

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

They keep getting away

Murderers should never walk free

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When lack of accountability or punishment becomes the norm, even the puny guys at the periphery get emboldened, and many more Rajons get killed

n Mohammad Zaman “It is the practice of our justice to condemn some as a warning to others. To condemn them because they have done wrong is stupidity, as Plato says; for what is done cannot be undone.

But they are condemned so that they may not do the same wrong again, or so that others may avoid the example of their wrongdoing.”

-- Montaigne

I

n a nation-state, only the government is entrusted with the authority to use force against an individual in order to safeguard and preserve the constitutionally endowed rights of the citizenry at large.

This is the solemn “social contract” upon which rests the very existence of a modern nation-state. When the government reneges on its duty of upholding the constitutionallymandated laws and regulations, anarchy, “a war of every man against every man,” ensues.

The Leviathan of Thomas Hobbes crumbles down like Humpty Dumpty. Having said that, I shall return to Limon, and in

sequence, to Rajon.

Limon was an innocent citizen who was terribly wronged by an officer of the republic.

Officers can go rogue, and there are laws to curb those rogue and rotten elements. But in the case of Limon, the government, violating its solemn duty to protect and preserve the rights of a citizen, instead opted to be the rogue element.

In Narayanganj-7, the officers of the republic went rogue. The nature of the crime was such that the outcry was too loud. After vacillating a while, the government decided to take action.

The number one culprit is still at large.

Some implicated officers of the republic, as per media reports, still wield enormous power. Well, things still are in process, and the nation waits.

Biswajit was killed brutally by thugs of the ruling party while the officers of the republic watched. It is a crime of omission on the part of the government.

Avijit was hacked to death and his wife was maimed, supposedly by some antigovernment extremist outfit.

However, the government hierarchy decided to go slow and an unofficial official closely allied to the “all-powerful” prime minister placed a damper on proper investigation and prosecution.

This case is possibly destined to be in limbo forever.

And this brings us full circle to Rajon. A few vicious citizens took the matter into their own hands and murdered him in brio, and even had the audacity to record footage to “let the world see.”

In the case of Limon, the government’s culpability cannot be denied. In the subsequent examples, the government’s

culpability, in general perspective, gradually decreases to the point of zero in the case of Rajon. But is it so?

I asked a very learned Facebook friend of mine the following question: “Is there a subliminal link between Khaleda’s indifference to fire-bombing or Hasina’s tacit support of Limon and the brutal killing of Rajon for the garden-variety commoner?” His answer was: “There is, in fact.”

He then proceeded to give a philosophical/ psychological explanation of such behaviour.

I, however, would like to view the whole thing from a different perspective -- law and order.

As Montaigne says: “They are condemned so that they may not do the same wrong again, or so that others may avoid the example of their wrongdoing.”

Thus, proper enforcement of law and punishment of individuals for wrongdoing is essential for the determent of future wrongdoings.

I am afraid to say that differential law enforcement has become a norm in Bangladesh.

When an officer of the republic or a functionary of the ruling party (irrespective of party affiliation) commits a punishable crime, the wrath of the law hardly touches them. Ruling party members, even the tinier members of myriad outfits, wield significant power on local law-enforcement agencies.

And that is no good.

When lack of accountability or punishment becomes the norm, even the puny guys at the periphery get emboldened, and many more Rajons get killed. l Mohammad Zaman is a physician and occasional writer.

DT

OPINION 13

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

May the ghost of Rajon haunt us forever n Nibir Mostafa Khan

A

13-year-old boy was recently tied to a pole and beaten to death by some “people” in Sylhet. Additionally, these people recorded the whole incident on video for an unbelievable 28 minutes, and put it on social media, so that “the world can watch.”

The lad had only been accused of theft.

Whatever happened to “innocent until proven guilty”? And even if he had been proven guilty, beating him to death is never an option. There is very little to be said about the incident itself, and writing an opinion piece on the topic is useless, because everyone will have the same outlook regarding the matter.

But since I am an overly optimistic person, I have not stated the last sentence without a shred of a doubt. So, the question remains: Why am I writing on a topic that I myself have claimed is not worth putting effort into?

First and foremost, I am writing this to get this horrific incident out of my system.

Secondly, I am trying to delve into the psyche of the nation as a whole, using this poor boy’s fate as a tool. This piece will be hard to stomach, I promise you that. (I admit that the word “tool” is a bit brutal, but since that’s what we’re doing these days, let’s roll with it).

Like every other human being, I am sad, infuriated, and agitated with what has happened, but I am not shocked or surprised.

The reason being, that we, as Bangladeshis, apply an “if it moves, kill it” policy when it comes to animals and birds. This time, it was a little boy who fell victim to the same mentality, but for slightly different reasons, probably something along the lines of “we have a chance to torture, so why not”?

Most of us say: “It makes my blood boil with rage, the perpetrators should be stoned to death. I am very sorry that this incident took place.” Or something along those lines.

But we only say that we are sorry because we don’t act on this feeling. We don’t take to

The death of Rajon is a stain on our conscience

We don’t take to the streets, we don’t worry about it constantly -- the best we do is become keyboard heroes, updating statuses like: ‘This is an outrage!’

the streets, we don’t worry about it constantly -- the best we do is become keyboard heroes, posting statuses like: “This is an outrage! I condemn this act. Justice should prevail and someone should do something about it.” But nobody is willing to be this “somebody,” myself included.

Let’s face it, our feelings have been numbed

down a lot, and all of us realise that this occurrence has not moved us as much as it should have, though none of us is willing to admit it. This de-sensitising of our being or existence makes us less sensitive to sadism, violence, or downright savagery. It can be attributed to the movies we watch, the things we read, etc.

BIGSTOCK

To make a temporary shift in the topic and to lighten the mood a bit, I will talk about movies. How many of you cried while watching Titanic, Schindler’s List, or Monpura? I bet many of you did. Those were sad movies. But movies nonetheless.

But how many of you wiped away a tear for the untimely passing of Rajon? Or Biswajit? Remember Biswajit? The young man who was hacked to death in broad daylight? Remember his parents, who were forced to watch the video of the killing over and over again, since we kept airing it on TV? This is where we stand. We cry at movies, but not at real life horrors. We murdered our conscience with much less torture or pain than what Rajon was subjected to, because we didn’t even seem notice it happening. If I may resort to a quote from another movie: Danny Archer, in the movie Blood Diamond, says about Africa: “God left this place a long time ago.” I’m afraid this has become true for

Bangladesh.

I think it’s fair to say that demanding justice for such an event is worthless. There is no “just” punishment for the crime that was committed. Divine, social, lawful, whatever the brand of justice you want to serve, no matter what we do to those heinous creatures, we will not get the boy back, or be able to forgive ourselves.

In the end, we will embrace the fact that we are part of the problem, and then immediately go back to enjoying our Eids, the Tigers winning, our “all you can eat” iftar buffets. It will be in our conscious efforts to not fret about the episode too much. As a final thought, if I’m allowed the privilege to address Rajon, I’d like to say: “Please do not rest in peace. Instead, haunt our nation’s conscience back into a living state again. We deserve to be haunted.” l Nibir Mostafa Khan is an intern at Bangladesh Enterprise Institute.

DT

14 OPINION

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

Border or death-trap?

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Dear Felani n Mohammed Anowarul Azim

H We will miss you and we will be crying for you silently. You are our sister, you are our daughter, and you are Bangladeshi

umanity, honesty, dignity, human rights, justice, security, friendship, bilateral relationships -- we talk about all of these things all the time, but things were very different for you, Felani.

Felani, your killer has been released, and roams free of any accusation for the second time, after it was apparently proven that he was not guilty, and did not kill you.

The world was stunned, and we were left speechless, because you and your family were denied justice for a second time.

And the honourable court and jury declared Amiya Ghosh not guilty.

Felani, there is no price to be paid for the spilling of your blood and the crushing of your dreams, and the dreams your family had for you.

We don’t care whether or not you and your parents got justice because you are poor, you were not highly educated, you were not the daughter of a rich man, and you were not from a powerful country.

Felani, we are so sorry that we could not help you and your family, but we can only pray to the Almighty so that you may rest in peace hereafter.

Your killer was not human; he doesn’t even understand what a human being is. We are extremely regretful that we could not give you real justice, but remember, history has proven that no blood is shed in vain.

To see such educated people ensuring you that if you like, you can appeal to the higher court, I cannot help but laugh. Pardon me for asking, but do you think the Indian higher court was made by Bangladesh, that a Bangladeshi victim will get any actual justice there?

They are basically tying up your hands and telling you to swim. This is nothing short of ridiculous.

Dear Felani, one very interesting thing I want to mention is how the world is inspired by the name Malala Yousafzai, a teenage Pakistani school-girl who received a bullet in her head from terrorists. We did a lot for her, and the world could not stop talking about her.

Many countries around the world stood beside her as though she was a citizen of the world, and finally, she was given the recognition of a most prestigious award -- the Nobel Prize for peace. And of course, we are proud.

But unfortunately, dear Felani, you were met with a much worse fate than Malala.

Felani, your picture is seen the world over, and I do not mean to say that no one felt sorry. On the contrary, I am sure that there are many people all over the world who felt a lot of regret and shame at what became of you.

Your killer was an animal, and to whom can we ask for justice when an animal hurts us? We can just cry to the Almighty.

Felani, the blood and tears of your parents will never go in vain. Dear Felani, we will miss you and we will be crying for you silently.

You are our sister, you are our daughter, and you are Bangladeshi. Your picture shocked and outraged us, but we don’t expect those in power to place any value upon your life, and on the tears of your family members.

Who knows, maybe today or tomorrow there will be another Felani who can take revenge on the coward on your behalf?

May you rest in peace, and may Allah reward you Jannat-ul-Ferdous. At the end of it all, we have failed to do anything for you.

We are sorry, Felani. l Mohammed Anowarul Azim is Food and Beverage Manager at AEEA.

16

Iran deal would add to oil glut

17

OPEC sees more balanced oil market

19

Stocks finish positive ahead of long-closure to celebrate Eid

20

DT

Business

15

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

HBFC to get public fund of Tk500cr

IMF term tough, govt not to take last ECF part n Asif Showkat Kallol The government has decided not to receive the remaining two tranches of $280m under IMF’s Extended Credit Facility programme as it thinks the lender’s condition is tough and against state norms.

Against the ECF, the lender tagged a condition that the government would conduct an audit on financial transaction of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation by an international audit firm and make an international standard balance sheet for the BPC. “We have decided not to take two tranches of ECF loan as Bangladesh would not accept a harsh condition of appointing an international auditor for the BPC,” Finance Minister AMA Muhith told Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“It would not go with norm of the state to hire an international auditor. Besides, I think

our audit firm is capable enough to conduct the audit,” he added.

Muhith said the government, however, had already fulfilled the ECF pledge to reform value added tax law.

But when asked about Bangladesh Bank’s audit by an international firm, finance minister said: “It’s a different matter in case of the central bank.”

A Finance Division official, however, lent support to the IMF’s condition.

“BPC’s yearly transaction is Tk50,000 crore. So, it will be good for the organisation to make an international standard balance sheet and run audit by an international firm,” he said asking not to be named.

He said: “It is frustrating that the country’s lone fuel oil importer BPC has never prepared a standard balance sheet in last 45 years. Allegations are also there that public funds have

been misappropriated when BPC bought fuel oil from abroad.”

As international oil prices decline to a fiveyear low, the BPC has managed to earn a profit for the first time in 14 years. The corporation is also expected to earn a healthy profit in last fiscal year.

Finance Division sources said the decision regarding release of the two instalments are likely to be placed before the IMF board on July 22.

IMF executive director Rakesh Mohan recently sent a letter to AMA Muhith requesting updates on execution of the two reform pledges and progress made to meet the conditions.

Rakesh Mohan also requested information on passage of the VAT law in parliament and audit of the BPC. Finance minister replied that he had asked the authorities concerned to report him about the latest development on VAT law which was

passed in the parliament recently.

Finance adviser to last caretaker government Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam found no reason behind rejecting the ECF tranches on the excuse of conditions.

“The decision not to take last two ECF tranches is not logical. Rather, an audit to BPC by an international firm will be goof for the country’s lone oil importer,” he said.

The IMF delayed the sixth of the seven-part tranches for the $1bn loan in November last year after the government failed to meet two of its relevant conditions -- related to the VAT law and audit of BPC. On April 12, 2012, the IMF board decided three-year arrangement loan to Bangladesh under its ECF programme to help the country overcome its macroeconomic pressures. The ECF carries zero per cent rate of interest and the loan is to be repaid within 10 years. l

Grameenphone’s earnings rise marginally in first half The board declared interim dividend at a rate of 80% of face value n Tribune Report

Clients queue for transaction at Sonali Bank’s local office in the city’s Motijheel. The clients are sparse before this Eid-ul-fitr unlike previous years’ heavy turnout due to rise in online banking RAJIB DHAR

Banks asked to keep ATM services functioning n Tribune Report

Bangladesh Bank has asked the banks to continue with the ATM services during the Eid vacation.

The banks have been advised to keep the ATM (automated teller machine) and POS (point of sale) network open continuously as well as to ensure the cash supply during the vacation, said a circular Bangladesh Bank is-

sued yesterday.

Clients make most of the financial transactions through ATM, POS and e-Payment Gateways during the vacation as the bank branches remain close, said the circular.

The central bank instructed the banks to facilitate card base transactions with ensuring clients’ interest and continuous transaction facilities.

Banks will have to attach notices in front of the closed or deactivate ATM booths. l

Grameenphone Ltd has reported earnings of Tk51.5 bn in the first half of 2015, up 0.7% from the same period last year, according to a statement yesterday.

The Board of Directors has declared 80% interim cash dividend for the year 2015 out of the provisional net profit of the company for the half year ended on June 30 this year and retained earnings up to December 31, 2014.

This dividend represents 103% of the after tax profit for the half year ended on June 30, 2015. The record date for the interim dividend has set on July 29, 2015.

During this first half of 2015, GP acquired 1.6 million new subscriptions, taking the year-end subscription base to 53.1 million. This constitutes 7.9% subscription growth (YoY) with SIM market share of 41.9% (as of May).

Data subscriber now stands at 13.4m with encouraging growth in terms of volume.

“We experienced marginal growth from last year with initial setback from intense price competition and political turmoil during 1st quarter of 2105. As hinted last time, we

are actually observing gradual recovery from end of 1st quarter with our simplification initiatives in improving usability experience and network superiority,” said Rajeev Sethi, CEO of GP. He added: “I am happy to announce that the GP board declared interim dividend at a rate of 80% of face value. It reflects GP’s commitment towards creating value for its shareholders.”

“We managed to secure profitable growth amidst the muted top line performance during the period. We are hopeful that our focus on granular level approach towards operations will add more value to the business going forward,” said Dilip Pal, CFO of GP. l

DT

16 BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

Iran deal would add to oil glut n Reuters, Singapore Any nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers loosening sanctions against Tehran could flood an oversupplied oil market with more fuel, yet sectors like cement and steel would see a rise in demand as the country works to revitalise its economy.

Officials involved in ongoing negotiations said on Sunday they were close to a deal that would bring sanctions relief in exchange for curbs to Tehran’s atomic programme, although no agreement was expected before Monday.

Analysts have focused largely on oil in determining the impact on international commodities markets if sanctions are lifted. The timing of any lifting of the measures that have cut Iran’s crude exports as well as a United Nations Security Council arms embargo and ban on its ballistic missile programme have been among the major sticking points on reaching a deal.

But even with a diplomatic agreement this week it would take time for Iran to start exporting large amounts of crude again as the sanctions on exports would first need to be formally lifted and Iran’s crumbling oil infrastructure modernised.

“They can add about 200,000 bpd, which is not a significant volume,” said Nick Sharma, managing director at research & consulting firm IHS, estimating that it would take at least 18 months for Iran to add another million bpd to exports.

Japan’s government-affiliated Institute of Energy Economics said that if there was a deal Iran’s oil output might rise by 700,000800,000 barrels bpd by the second half of 2016.

Iran, a member of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has

Slowing China, supply gluts limit upside for commodities in Q3 n Reuters, London A slowdown in China, a strong dollar and high inventories will limit the upside for commodity price performance in coming months, although leading fund managers still see pockets of value in areas such as refined oil products.

The bearish cocktail could choke off resurgent investor interest in commodities. Net inflows topped $7.8bn in the first half of the year, Barclays data showed, the highest in four years.

Commodity price performance has also been relatively strong, with the S&P GSCI, a well-followed commodity index, up almost 9% in the second quarter.

But fund managers have generally failed to replicate this performance, with the average actively managed fund in the Lipper Global Commodity sector only just scraping into positive territory, up 0.57%.

Those managers who did outperform in the second quarter became wary going into the third quarter, as a sell off in the Chinese stock market hammered commodities in early July [ID:nL8N0ZN02O], and the Greek debt crisis boosted the dollar. l

US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) holds a meeting with Iran’s Foreign Minister Javad Zarif (right) over Iran’s nuclear program in Lausanne some of the world’s biggest oil reserves. It exported almost 3 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude at its peak, before Western sanctions over its alleged ambitions to build a nuclear bomb saw shipments collapse to about a million bpd over the last 2-1/2 years.

A modest increase in available supplies would still add to an estimated 2.6 million barrels of crude being produced each day in excess

of daily global demand, threatening to overwhelm on and off-shore storage capacities.

Analysts say a further swell in spot supplies will drag prices back to or below levels seen during the peak of the global financial crisis of 2008/2009.

Iran needs cement, steel and food

While Iran’s oil potential is already largely

REUTERS

priced into the market, analysts say other sectors such as cement, steel and agriculture commodities would also be affected.

“After years of neglect, should sanctions fall away, then their oil exports will be able to fund an infrastructure development plan that will need steel, power and cement,” said Ian Claxton, managing director of Thai ship owner Thoresen Shipping. l

An effort to rediscover Bangladesh Clinton outlines n Tribune Report Bangladesh is a land of diversity and freshness.

River have always had a significant role to play in the emergence of historical civilisations.

The 3,000-year-old civilisation in Bengal has over 700 unique wildlife species, more than 100 dialects, and cuisine with a fusion of over 50 origins, enormous waterway and wetlands which are just a few of the attractions.

Still, Bangladesh is not always the first choice tourist destination.

In mid-2013, Offroad Bangladesh decided

to build the first online crowd source-based platform to promote Bangladesh as a prime global destination. This platform had the biggest collection of information on Bangladesh including images and writeups.

Offroad Bangladesh (ORB) team believes it is the perfect web portal for tourists willing to know about the travel and tourism of Bangladesh and get updated with recent activities.

Places, cultures, festivals, history, archeology, wildlife, rivers, religious structures, lifestyle – this portal contains a comprehensive portrait of Bangladesh. l

Citycell has recently partnered with Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and The Rotary Club of Dhaka North for helping disadvantaged community to celebrate Eid. Food items were distributed among the students of Solmaid Community School before Eid-ul-Fitr, said a press release. CEO of Citycell, Mehboob Chowdhury and executive director of FICCI, Jamil Osman were present on the occasion

economic vision n AFP, New York

Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton promised Monday to raise incomes of hardworking Americans and rein in Wall Street excesses in the first major policy address of her 2016 campaign.

The 67-year-old former first lady, senator and secretary of state spent nearly an hour outlining a three-pronged strategy to boost growth, as unemployment continues to languish above five percent.

The speech, her second in New York City in the past month, comes at a time of surging support for her Democratic challenger on the left, Senator Bernie Sanders, and his populist message against inequality.

“The defining economic challenge of our time is clear, we must raise incomes for hard-working Americans,” Clinton told a hand-picked audience at The New School in Manhattan’s chic Greenwich Village.

“Inequality is a drag on our entire economy so this is the problem we need to tackle,” she said.

Clinton’s choice of location - a liberal arts college with annual fees of around $60,000 embodied the financial hurdle that millions of middle-class parents face in educating their offspring.

But she barely mentioned college debt. l

DT

BUSINESS 17

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

Oil falls further in Asia with Iran deal close n AFP, Singapore

Oil prices tumbled further in Asia yesterday on signs of an imminent deal between Iran and western powers that would allow Iranian crude to flow back into the already saturated global market.

A strong US currency has also made the dollar-priced commodity more expensive, denting demand, analysts said.

US benchmark West Texas Intermediate for August delivery fell 46 cents to $51.74 and Brent crude for August eased 32 cents to $57.53 in late morning Asian trade.

‘This is probably the biggest issue for the week for the oil market’

The OPEC logo is seen at OPEC’s headquarters during a meeting of OPEC oil ministers in Vienna

REUTERS

OPEC sees more balanced oil market n Reuters, London The oil market should be more balanced next year as China and the developing world use more oil while supply of fuel from North American shale grows more slowly, OPEC said on Monday.

In its monthly report, the 12-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries said it expected world oil demand to increase by 1.34 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2016, up from growth of 1.28 million bpd this year.

World oil demand growth should outpace any increase in oil supply from non-OPEC sources and ultra-light oils such as condensate, increasing consumption of OPEC crude, it said.

“This would imply an improvement towards a more balanced market,” OPEC’s inhouse economists said in the report.

OPEC has increased production sharply

over the last year as its most powerful member, Saudi Arabia, and other core producers in the Middle East Gulf attempt to build market share, leading to higher inventories worldwide.

OPEC said Saudi Arabia reported that it pumped 10.56 million bpd last month, up 231,000 bpd from May. According to industry data, that would be a record high.

Higher OPEC production has been a major factor behind a collapse in oil prices, which are now around half their levels of a year ago.

Benchmark Brent crude traded around $58.70 a barrel at 1230 GMT on Monday, down from a peak above $115 in June 2014.

Lower prices have squeezed high-cost oil producers and brought a sharp fall in the number of oil exploration rigs in operation, particularly across North America.

OPEC said supply of oil from non-OPEC producers was expected to grow by only 300,000 bpd in 2016, down sharply from

growth of 860,000 bpd this year.

U.S. oil output, which has seen rapid increases over the last five years thanks to the development of huge shale resources by “fracking”, is expected to log much more modest supply growth in 2016.

“Total U.S. liquids production is expected to grow by 330,000 bpd, just one third of the growth of 930,000 bpd expected this year,” it said.

That should mean more demand for OPEC oil next year.

OPEC said it expected demand for its own crude to rise by 860,000 bpd in 2016 to 30.07 million bpd. But it cut its estimate of demand for its crude this year by 100,000 bpd to 29.21 million bpd.

The group said it estimated, based on figures from secondary sources, that its own collective crude output rose by 283,000 bpd to 31.38 million bpd in June, led by Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Nigeria. l

“It seems that a deal is already in the final stages of being signed,” said Daniel Ang, an investment analyst with Phillip Futures in Singapore, referring to long-running talks between Iran and major western powers in Vienna.

“This is probably the biggest issue for the week for the oil market,” he told AFP. The intense negotiations in the Austrian capital ran into the early hours yesterday as signs emerged that an agreement is close.

Foreign ministers of the six powers were expected to hold a potentially final meeting yesterday morning ahead of a planned announcement that would bring to a close an 18-day push to strike an accord.

The agreement seeks to curb what the west suspects are Iranian attempts to build a nuclear bomb and lead to a lifting of punishing economic sanctions, which have choked Tehran’s oil exports.

Analysts say that a return of Iranian crude to the market will worsen the current oversupply and further depress prices.

Adding to downward pressure, the dollar strengthened in Asian trade against the yen and euro after Greece reached a new bailout deal to keep it in the eurozone, making it easier for the US Federal Reserve to begin lifting interest rates.

The central bank had been concerned about announcing a hike while there was the possibility of a Greek euro exit, which would hit the global economy. l

YouTube still growing strong despite competition n AFP, Aspen

Google-owned YouTube is seeing “accelerating” growth despite competition from Facebook and others in video, YouTube chief executive Susan Wojcicki said Monday.

Wojcicki said she is pleased with the growth in people watching videos on the service, and that YouTube still stands apart even though Facebook claims to have more video views.

“We have an amazing base, we have over a billion users,” she told the Fortune Brainstorm Tech conference.

“Our watch time year on year is growing over 50% ...It is still accelerating.”

Wojcicki said there is also a qualitative difference between watching video on Facebook

compared with YouTube.

“Facebook views are different. They are in a feed. They are auto play,” she said.

“Our users are actually clicking. We want our users engaged. We want them not just channel surfing. We want them to say I saw that video, I cared about that video. I commented on it.”

Wojcicki said it is not a surprise that Facebook and others are getting into online video because it is “a huge market” and especially strong among young people.

“The younger generation is migrating a lot more to online video,” she said.

“Facebook and Twitter have all recognized this is a big opportunity are coming into the market.

Additionally, she said for many young au-

diences, the top stars “come from YouTube, they don’t come from Hollywood.”

Wojcicki declined to comment on YouTube revenues -- the subject of much speculation among analysts - but said “we are seeing really good growth.”

Mobile, mobile and mobile

Asked about her three top priorities, she said they were “mobile, mobile and mobile,” and said the company was working to make the experience better for people watching on smartphones and tablets.

Wojcicki also said YouTube will make a public launch of its subscription music service later this year after beta testing.

She said this will have some advantages over rival services from Apple, Spotify and

others because of the large YouTube catalog and the video.

“We have videos (with the music) and it’s really magical to see that,” she said. “And we have user-generated clips and all the covers” of major songs.

YouTube last year launched a test version of its Music Key service, and Wojcicki said the public launch will be later this year.

In the new service, which will launch later this year, she said, “users can see the music (videos) ad-free, they can hear the music offline,” and also keep music playing while they do other tasks on their mobile devices.

Wojcicki said YouTube is open to other acquisitions in music to make its service better.

“Anything that helps us move faster,” she told the conference in Aspen, Colorado. l

DT

18 BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

News, analysis and recent disclousres BSRMLTD: (H/Y Un-audited): Net Profit after tax from Jan’15June’15 was Tk. 185.19 million with EPS of Tk. 1.08 as against Tk. 31.87 million and Tk. 0.20 respectively for the same period of the previous year. Whereas Net Profit/(Loss) after tax from April’15-June’15 was Tk. 155.73 million with EPS of Tk. 0.88 as against Tk. (8.70) million and Tk. (0.05) respectively for the same period of the previous year.

BSRMSTEEL: (H/Y Un-audited): Consolidated Net Profit after tax (excluding non controlling interest) from Jan’15-June’15 was Tk. 1,054.43 m. with Consolidated EPS of Tk. 3.09 as against Tk. 817.53 m. and Tk. 2.39 respectively for the same period of the previous year. Whereas Consolidated Net Profit after tax (excluding non controlling interest) from April’15-June’15 was Tk. 751.37 m. with Consolidated EPS of Tk. 2.20 as against Tk. 414.40 m. and Tk. 1.21 respectively for the same period of the previous year.

SONARBAINS: Alpha Credit Rating Limited (AlphaRating) has rated the Company as ‘A’ in the long term and ‘AR-2’ in the short term along with a Stable outlook based on audited financial statement of the Company up to December 31, 2014 and relevant qualitative information up to July 12, 2015.

SHASHADNIM: Credit Rating Agency of Bangladesh Limited (CRAB) has announced the entity rating (surveillance) of the Company as ‘A1’ with a Stable outlook based on audited financial statements up to December

31, 2014, bank liability position as on May 31, 2015 and other relevant quantitative as well as qualitative information up to the date of rating declaration.

EXCH: (Repeat): The trading and official activities of Dhaka Stock Exchange Ltd. will remain closed from July 15, 2015 to July 20, 2015 for holidays of “Eid-ulFitr”. Trading and official activities of Dhaka Stock Exchange Ltd. will resume to its previous time schedule from July 21, 2015 (after Eid-ul-Fitr holidays) which is as follows: Trading hours: 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM and Office hours: 9:30 AM to 5:30 PM. RENATA: The Company has requested the concerned shareholders to collect their cash dividend warrants for the year 2014 from the share department of the Company’s Corporate Headquarters at Plot No. 1, Milk Vita Road, Section-7, Mirpur, Dhaka-1216 from July 14, 2015 to July 23, 2015 during office hour. The Company has further informed that if the Dividend warrants are not collected within the mentioned period, it will be dispatched to the address of the respective shareholders through post/ courier service.

Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

Company BSRM Ltd. -N Modern Dyeing -Z EXIM Bank 1 MF-A EBL NRB M.F.-A BSRM Steels-A ICB AMCL 1st NRB -A Shahjibazar Power-N Argon Denims Limited-A Ifad Autos -N Continental Insur. -A

MEGHNALIFE: 13% cash and 20% stock, AGM: 27.08.2015, Record Date: 30.07.2015.

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.

Closing (% Change) 9.89 7.41 7.02 6.52 6.33 5.80 5.79 5.56 5.33 5.11

CSE GAINER Company BSRM Ltd. -N H.R. Textile -A Rahima Food -Z BSRM Steels-A Shahjibazar Power-N Hwa Well Textiles-A The Ibn SinaA Ifad Autos -N Envoy Textiles Ltd-N Rupali Bank - A

Closing (% Change) 9.97 8.64 8.62 8.12 7.86 7.38 6.01 5.97 5.74 5.17

DSE LOSER Company Monno Ceramic -B Savar Refractories-Z BD Fixed Income MF-A Hakkani P& Paper -B AIBL 1st Is. M. F.-A Golden Harvest Agro-N Samata LeatheR -Z Reliance Insur -A ACI Limited- A AramitCementA

Closing (% Change) -7.55 -7.10 -6.94 -6.05 -5.77 -5.35 -5.31 -4.98 -4.22 -3.69

CSE LOSER

Dividend/AGM

Company Midas Financing-Z Dhaka Ins. Ltd.-A LR Global BD MF1-A Hakkani P& Paper -B Islami Ins.BD-A 7th ICB M F-A Prime Bank 1st MF-A AIBL 1st Is. M. F.-A Monno Ceramic -B Golden Harvest Agro-N

Closing (% Change) -9.23 -8.99 -8.70 -7.35 -6.67 -6.25 -6.00 -5.77 -5.71 -5.63

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

DSE key features July 14, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

DSE GAINER

Sector

5,206.57 117,396,674 109,223

Traded Issues

318

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

194

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

121

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

3

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,646.36

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

32.08

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 247.42 128.54 69.70 938.28 132.70 1090.33 2.52 291.89 1193.18 11.14 88.62 11.01 96.64 255.62 27.36 31.21 41.98 178.83 122.01 246.89 0.71

% change 4.75 2.47 1.34 18.02 2.55 20.94 0.05 5.61 22.92 0.21 1.70 0.21 1.86 4.91 0.53 0.60 0.81 3.43 2.34 4.74 0.01

Million Taka 9.96 11.42 2.66 106.52 5.74 95.42 22.81 58.71 1.53 9.21 0.68 3.75 29.30 2.90 0.91 1.90 14.62 21.70 24.99 0.00

Average (% Change) 7.95 6.49 7.72 4.75 7.06 6.00 6.14 4.52 4.32 3.23

Average (% Change) 7.87 8.64 8.62 8.33 7.44 7.38 5.99 4.91 5.95 5.17

Average (% Change) -7.18 -8.82 -9.70 -4.54 -1.95 -5.15 -2.69 -2.50 -6.63 0.79

Average (% Change) -9.62 -1.26 -9.48 -4.54 -6.79 -6.25 -6.00 -2.13 -6.08 -4.85

CSE

ClosingAvg. 75.54 71.00 6.14 4.85 79.18 21.92 168.65 26.36 103.60 14.07

ClosingAvg. 75.67 23.90 37.80 79.61 170.08 34.90 90.00 104.02 49.82 42.70

ClosingAvg. 30.91 48.78 6.61 48.77 5.03 28.72 30.35 43.33 585.37 38.08

ClosingAvg.

% change 2.35 2.69 0.63 25.08 1.35 22.47 0.00 5.37 13.82 0.36 2.17 0.16 0.88 6.90 0.68 0.22 0.45 3.44 5.11 5.88 0.00

11.75 17.21 4.20 48.20 14.00 90.00 4.70 5.06 31.35 28.84

Closing 76.70 71.00 6.10 4.90 79.00 21.90 169.80 26.60 104.80 14.40

Closing 77.20 23.90 37.80 79.90 171.50 34.90 90.00 104.70 49.70 42.70

Closing 30.60 49.70 6.70 48.10 4.90 28.30 30.30 42.00 581.40 36.50

Closing

DHIGH 76.70 71.00 6.20 5.00 81.60 22.00 173.50 26.90 106.20 14.60

DHIGH

70.00 71.00 6.00 4.70 76.00 21.60 162.00 25.10 100.00 13.60

DLOW

77.20 23.90 37.80 80.90 174.00 34.90 90.00 106.00 50.40 42.70

DHIGH

70.00 23.90 37.80 76.80 165.00 34.90 90.00 101.90 48.00 42.70

DLOW

32.90 55.90 7.20 50.30 5.30 30.90 32.80 42.10 606.50 41.50

DHIGH

11.80 17.20 4.20 47.90 14.00 90.00 4.70 4.90 31.40 28.50

Million Taka 257.38 139.96 72.36 1044.80 138.44 1185.76 2.52 314.70 1251.89 12.67 97.83 11.69 100.39 284.91 30.26 32.12 43.88 193.45 143.70 271.88 0.71

DLOW

30.00 49.00 6.50 47.70 4.90 27.80 30.00 41.60 574.50 35.00

DLOW

11.80 17.40 4.20 50.50 14.00 90.00 4.70 5.10 33.30 29.40

Total

11.70 17.10 4.20 47.60 14.00 90.00 4.70 4.80 31.00 28.30

% change 4.57 2.49 1.28 18.55 2.46 21.06 0.04 5.59 22.23 0.22 1.74 0.21 1.78 5.06 0.54 0.57 0.78 3.44 2.55 4.83 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

192.557 0.001 0.232 0.025 80.569 0.446 106.782 27.252 159.041 1.917

Turnover in Million

2.16 0.76 0.56 0.61 6.18 2.61 8.44 2.16 2.60 2.84

Latest EPS

39.098 0.007 0.000 8.711 5.018 0.009 0.034 6.788 0.153 0.001

Turnover in Million

35.0 93.4 11.0 8.0 12.8 8.4 20.0 12.2 39.8 5.0

Latest PE

2.16 0.86 -0.47 6.18 8.44 2.32 4.36 2.60 4.84 5.84

Latest EPS

1.515 0.010 0.048 3.934 2.442 44.243 0.291 0.013 433.729 15.707

Turnover in Million

Latest PE

35.0 27.8 -ve 12.9 20.2 15.0 20.6 40.0 10.3 7.3

Latest PE

0.16 -0.64 0.51 0.29 4.76 1.32 -0.05 5.12 120.56 0.72

Latest EPS

0.000 0.007 0.009 0.838 0.010 0.001 0.009 0.190 0.095 0.823

193.2 -ve 13.0 168.2 1.1 21.8 -ve 8.5 4.9 52.9

Latest PE

-1.55 1.76 0.40 0.29 1.32 9.73 0.75 4.76 0.16 1.32

-ve 9.8 10.5 166.2 10.6 9.2 6.3 1.1 195.9 21.8

CSE key features July 14, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

424.74 11,003,175 15,778

Traded Issues

237

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

137

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

96

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,553.09

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

30.95

DT

BUSINESS 19

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

Stocks finish positive ahead of long-closure to celebrate Eid n Tribune Report

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company ACI Limited- A Khulna Power-A BSRM Ltd. -N Beximco Pharma -A Ifad Autos -N United Power-N LafargeS Cement-A Grameenphone-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A MJL BD Ltd.-A

Square Pharma -A AFC AgroBiotech-A Active Fine Chem.-A Shahjibazar Power-N Olympic Accessories -N

VolumeShares 740,954 2,815,117 2,548,912 2,461,544 1,535,098 976,050 1,379,782 443,898 4,239,241 1,256,550

Value in Million 433.73 219.14 192.56 164.37 159.04 157.78 157.65 152.62 144.01 138.67

% of TotalTurnover 8.33 4.21 3.70 3.16 3.05 3.03 3.03 2.93 2.77 2.66

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

478,109 1,789,888 1,864,701 633,163 1,825,362

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BSRM Ltd. -N Khulna Power-A Olympic Accessories -N LafargeS Cement-A UNITED AIR-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A United Power-N ACI Limited- A Summit Power -A MJL BD Ltd.-A

Grameenphone-A Square Pharma -A BSRM Steels-A Beximco Pharma -A Active Fine Chem.-A

516,720 363,303 408,974 178,678 1,790,974 550,020 109,109 26,304 330,950 95,176

29,095 35,429 109,426 114,248 115,719

123.48 117.91 116.69 106.78 104.43

39.10 28.72 23.54 20.47 19.14 18.67 17.62 15.44 13.73 10.49

10.01 9.16 8.71 7.62 7.24

2.37 2.26 2.24 2.05 2.01

9.21 6.76 5.54 4.82 4.51 4.40 4.15 3.63 3.23 2.47

2.36 2.16 2.05 1.79 1.71

ClosingP 581.40 77.90 76.70 66.50 104.80 161.90 114.50 342.20 34.00 110.30

258.20 66.10 62.80 169.80 57.80

ClosingP

Change % -4.22 2.23 9.89 -0.60 5.33 3.38 1.51 -1.58 -0.29 2.51

-0.08 0.61 1.13 5.79 1.05

Change %

77.20 78.20 58.20 114.40 10.70 34.00 161.70 583.90 41.40 109.90

342.40 258.20 79.90 66.60 62.60

9.97 2.62 1.22 1.15 0.00 -0.29 3.19 -3.82 0.98 3.00

-1.38 -0.15 8.12 -0.60 1.13

ClosingY 607.00 76.20 69.80 66.90 99.50 156.60 112.80 347.70 34.10 107.60

258.40 65.70 62.10 160.50 57.20

ClosingY

70.20 76.20 57.50 113.10 10.70 34.10 156.70 607.10 41.00 106.70

347.20 258.60 73.90 67.00 61.90

DHIGH 606.50 79.10 76.70 67.60 106.20 164.00 115.00 347.80 34.50 112.80

260.00 66.90 63.50 173.50 58.70

DHIGH

77.20 79.50 58.70 115.20 10.90 34.50 163.90 600.00 41.90 112.00

346.90 260.00 80.90 67.50 63.40

DLOW 574.50 76.70 70.00 66.10 100.00 157.00 112.90 340.60 33.70 107.70

257.20 65.00 61.70 162.00 55.00

DLOW

70.00 77.00 55.20 112.00 10.50 33.60 157.50 572.70 40.70 107.60

340.60 257.50 76.80 66.00 61.70

AvgPrice 585.37 77.84 75.54 66.78 103.60 161.65 114.25 343.81 33.97 110.36

258.26 65.88 62.58 168.65 57.21

AvgPrice

75.67 79.04 57.56 114.57 10.69 33.95 161.45 586.82 41.49 110.19

343.91 258.42 79.61 66.68 62.59

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

11728.03610

(+) 0.59%

1820.88044

(+) 0.32%

14312.76500

(+) 0.50%

11728.03610

(+) 0.07%

8713.72240

(+) 0.50%

▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

Stocks finished positive with volatility yesterday ahead of going on long Eid holiday from today. The trading at the bourses will resume on July 21 after the Eid vacation.

With the rally, stocks gained for the sixth session in a row as corporate earnings that started to pour in the market attracted some investors.

The benchmark of Dhaka Stock Exchange, DSEX, rose over 27 points or 0.6% up to close at 4,656.

The Shariah index, DSES, gained marginally 5 points or 0.5% to 1,147.

The blue chip comprising index, DS30, rose almost 5 points or 0.4% to 1,820.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange was up 44 points to close at 8,714.

The turnover crossed Tk500 crore-mark again on the prime bourse and amounted to Tk520 crore, which was 5% higher than the previous session.

“Stocks cheered on the last trading day before Eid holiday as earning news continued to enchant investors,” said Lanka Bangla Securities.

It said the market participation increased as the buyers marched up to take position on stocks that showed up growth in earnings.

“Investors’ positive expectation on post-Eid market move assisted the pre-Eid six sessions to remain positive,” said IDLC Investments.

Naturally, the June-end half-early and yearly earning expectations kept investors vibrant in last few sessions as they were completely focused on fundamentally sound issues, it said.

All major sectors ended higher, where bank, cement, textiles and power gained 1.8%, 0.5%, 0.7% and 1.7% respectively while tannery and telecommunications were down by 0.6% and 1.5% respectively.

The gainers took a strong lead over the losers as out of 317 issues traded, 197 advanced, 85 declined and 35 remained unchanged on the DSE. ACI was the day’s top turnover leader for the four consecutive sessions with shares worth Tk43.4 crore changing hands followed by KPCL, BSRM, IFAD Autos and United Power. l

ANALYST

Investors’ positive expectation on postEid market move assisted the pre-Eid six sessions to remain positive

DT

20 BUSINESS

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

HBFC to get public fund of Tk500cr n Asif Showkat Kallol The capital-starved Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation (BHBFC) will get Tk500 crore from the current fiscal year budget allocation for continuation of its housing loan programme across the country, official sources said.

“We have decided to provide a loan of Tk500 crore to Bangladesh House Building Finance Corporation in three installments,” Finance Minister AMA Muhith said yesterday.

The decision came at the meeting on refinancing of House Building Finance Corporation at the finance division auditorium.

Presided over by the finance minister,

the meeting was, among others, attended

by BHBFC Chair Shaikh Aminuddin Ahmed and Managing Director Md Nurul Alam Talukder.

Muhith said the state-run corporation will take up reform programme to enhance its client facilities along with turning the corporation into a new specialised bank.

“The House Building Finance Corporation will increase its loan interest to 13% from existing 12% in line with the private sector,” he said, adding that the interest rate on house building loan is lower in rural areas than that in urban areas.

A meeting source said the corporation failed to disburse any new housing loans over

DSEX and DS30 reshuffled n Tribune Report

the last one year due to capital shortage and so it sought fund from the bank and financial institutions division several times.

According the proposal, it will provide loans from the new financing amount for the clients living outside of Dhaka and Chittagong metropolitan areas.

The loan amount will range from Tk45 lakh to Tk25 lakh in divisional cities and rural areas, according to the proposal.

From its Tk500-crore fund, 75% loan will be provided on easy terms while the rest will follow the market condition, revealed the proposal.

The state-run corporation has targeted the disbursement of Tk400 crore loan for 2015-

16 fiscal year while in the same period it will provide Tk543.89 crore to the government exchequer as income tax and debenture expenditure.

It provides house-building loans in the capital Dhaka and Chittagong city at 12% interest rate while it is only 10% for other cities.

The primary source of BHBFC fund is the paid-up capital contributed by the government.

Its authorised capital is Tk110 crore, and during this fiscal year the total paid-up capital also stands at Tk110 crore.

The Finance Division provided the corporation with Tk300-crore loan in four installments during 2009 to 2013. l

SPCL can trade in main market n Tribune Report

The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) has rearranged its broad and blue chip indices with effect from July 21 as part of its semi-annual rebalancing of the indices.

In accordance with DSE Bangladesh Index Methodology, designed by S&P Dow Jones Indices, DSEX and DS30 have been reconstituted, said a DSE statement yesterday.

Two new companies, Shasha Denims and Bangladesh Steel Re-Rolling Mills have met all criteria of quarterly IPO addition and qualified as eligible constituents of DSEX. In addition, two companies – Orion Pharma and RAK Ceramics – are being added to the DS30 index.

On the other hand, two existing constituents of DS30 Index – Lanka Bangla Finance Limited and Keya Cosmetics Limited – are be-

ing dropped from DS30 Index as they didn’t comply with the requirements to retain their membership.

DSEX reflects around 97% and DS30 around 51% of the total equity market capitalisation. Criteria for inclusion in DSEX, a company must have a float –adjusted market capitalisation above Tk100m and for DS30, a company must have a float-adjusted market capitalisation above Tk500m.

At each semi-annual rebalancing, if a current index constituent falls below Tk5m but is no less than Tk3m, the stock remains in the index provided it also meets the other eligibility criteria.

In addition, all eligible stocks for the DSE indices are required to trade at least half of normal trading days each month for the three months prior to the rebalancing reference date. l

BGMEA: 97% member factories pay wages for June

Chevron clarifies position on sacked workers

Walton sees robust sales in Ramadan

n Aminur Rahman Rasel

n Tribune Report

n Ibrahim Hossain Ovi

Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association claimed that 97% of its members had paid wages to the workers for the month of June and 69% of them given festival bonus.

However, the union leaders said more than 200 factories were yet to make the June payments while 350 factories didn’t give any festival bonus.

On July 2, State Minister for Labour and Employment Md Mujibul Haque Chunnu asked the garment manufacturers to pay June wages by 10th July and festival bonus by 14th July.

BGMEA launched a close monitoring to learn about the capacity of its members, especially small and medium ones, to pay wages and festival allowance before Eid-ul-fitr celebration.

“Based on the information from the intelligence agencies, we have monitored 1,316 small and medium RMG factories, which may face problems in paying wages and festival bonus,” BGMEA vice president Shahidullah Azim told the Dhaka Tribune.

He said of them 1,314 factories or 97% had paid wages for the month of June, while 69% paid festival allowance. l

Chevron Bangladesh Ltd yesterday issued a statement clarifying its position on the termination of 48 employees connected to its Bibiyana operations.

The company said the ground transportation requirements at the Bibiyana Gas Plant had been reduced, leading to a decrease in the number of vehicles and drivers required to run operations.

The company said it had recently completed an extensive drilling campaign and the expansion of the plant.

The 48 terminated employees of Chevron Bangladesh, the country’s largest gas producing company, worked as drivers under service contractor Property Care Services Bangladesh (Pvt) Limited.

Chevron sent a copy of its statement to the Dhaka Tribune. The company claimed it was not aware of a legally registered union by the name of “Chevron Bangladesh Blocks 13, 14 Ltd Workers Employee Union.”

The statement said: “The workers are employees of the service contractor that has a miscellaneous services contract with Chevron.”

Shahjibazar Power Company Limited (SPCL) has been brought back to the main market from spot market after more than eight months, securities regulator BSEC said in a statement yesterday.

But the issue remained as non-marginable securities as like as before, the statement said.

The small-cap power generation company that had never fell for nearly four months from the day when it debuted.

The downfall of the company’s share price comes a day after the BSEC put a number of trading restrictions on it, aiming to restrain the abnormal price hike without any fundamental reason.

Before witnessing forcible correction, it rose more than 1,200% on its offer value of Tk25 a share since its debut on July 15 last.

Following formation of the probe panel,

It continued: “They have never been employees of Chevron. They are and have always been employees of the service provider, who is a contractor providing miscellaneous services to Chevron.

The drivers are not employees of Chevron “The drivers are not employees of Chevron.

Please direct inquiries regarding the employment of the drivers to their employer.”

“Chevron complies with all applicable rules and regulations. Accordingly, Chevron respects the rights of employees to form or join trade unions and takes no action to obstruct the exercise of those rights. The current service provider offered employment to the drivers and they willingly accepted to become employees of the current service provider,” the statement said.

Chevron Bangladesh entities are subsidiaries of US-based Chevron Corporation, one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. It produces natural gas from the three fields – Bibiyana, Jalalabad and Moulvibazar in north-eastern Bangladesh. l

Dhaka Stock Exchange on August 11 suspended share trading of Shahjibazar for an indefinite period, but on October 20, allowed it to resume share trading following completion of probe by the Commission.

The BSEC probe team found that the company inflated its net profit to Tk28.6 crore from its original profit of Tk16.9 crore in its financial statement for nine months (July 2013-March 2014).

For the offence, the regulator fined the company’s five directors and managing director Tk55 lakh. According to market sources, share prices of Shahjibazar gained without break despite many irregularities just on the basis of rumour that the price of the scrip would increase further.

On November 9 last, the commission started probing into unusual rise in share prices of SPCL for the second time within a span of more than three months. l

Walton, the local manufacturers of electronics products like television, refrigerator, mobile and home appliances has experienced about 45% growth in sales of fridges during Ramadan compared to the month of Ramadan last year.

“The sales of Walton products especially refrigerator witnessed robust growth beyond the expectation during this Ramadan,” said Emdadul Haque Sarkar, marketing head and executive director of Walton Group.

“We set a target of selling 1.20 lakh units of refrigerators in the month of Ramadan. But before the end of Ramadan, we sold out 1.47 lakh pieces, he said in a statement yesterday.

The overall growth in the sales of Walton products in this Ramadan is 45% to 52% compared to the last Ramadan, he said.

In addition, the announcement of selling Walton brand LED (Light Emitting Diode) televisions at CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) prices in the beginning of Ramadan also resulted in crossing the sales target of LED TV in Ramadan, he added.

The offer of selling Walton brand products at maximum three years installment facility also pushed the company’s sales up, he observed. l

DT

21

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

Photo: Sumi Mahmud

news

Taskin Ahmed new brand ambassador of BRAC bank BRAC Bank Limited has appointed the young talented national team cricketer Taskin Ahmed as its brand ambassador. An agreement to this effect was signed between BRAC Bank and Taskin Ahmed on July 6, 2015 at BRAC bank head office in Dhaka.

Zara Jabeen Mahbub, head of communication and service quality, BRAC Bank, and Taskin Ahmed signed the agreement in presence of Syed Mahbubur Rahman, managing

director and CEO, and Mohammad Mamdudur Rashid, deputy managing director, BRAC Bank.

Syed Mahbubur Rahman said, “Taskin is a symbol of youth, talent and promise of Bangladesh. He is the pride of our nation. We are proud to have partnered with the ‘speed icon’.

With the partnership, we believe we will be able play a role in realising his true potential. As a Bangladeshi bank, BRAC bank stands for realising the potentials of Bangladeshi people”.

T-JUNCTION

Be prepared

INSIDE

22

Trial Room

The ultimate Eid checklist

24 news

Special Eid weekend package at Hotel Sarina

DT

22 T-JUNCTION

Trial Room

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

The ultimate Eid checklist

From handy kitchen hacks to taking care of pesky little children to dealing with sudden wardrobe emergencies, this Eid - we’ve got you covered T-junction team

From woe to woah!

Fashion fixes

n Sabrina Fatma Ahmad A wardrobe emergency can happen at any time, and to the best of us. Here are three hacks to make sure you sail through your sartorial SOS without a hitch.

you’re running the hot water; the steam will take care of the worst wrinkles.

Stain alive Use baby powder to soak up the excess grease from curry splashes. You can always

Ahem hem Got a loose hem falling down?

Double-sided tape is your best friend. Actually, any tape should do the trick. They’ll keep your seams together until you can get your hands on some needle and thread.

The alternative: A tape dispenser might get clunky to carry around, but you can always pack a few safety pins in your mini clutch just in case.

Comfort and cared for n Mahmood Hossain Can you smell it? All those dawats in the horizon, house hopping after every hour, and the food coma that is surely to follow can seem like a daunting task. However, that’s only a significant part of the festivities.

We tend to shove aside the trivial notion of dealing with people. Yes, they are friends and family, who would you rather spend the holidays with, right? But sometimes those friends and family members can be a huge pain in the you know what.

Now that Ramadan is over, you won’t feel as guilty as you should during the three-day span of Eid. You know what that means.

Avoiding certain individuals, entertaining rugrats, and looking for the best escape route from dishing out salami. In order to do all that, you’ll have to tap into your diplomatic skills to smooth things out when encountering third parties.

Mo money, mo problems Receiving cash from the older adults seems like it was a lifetime ago. Now, you’re the targeted sacrifice to the gods, and they will milk you dry. The best thing to do is be completely absent from gatherings with children. But if you’re caught, there’s a neat little trick. A thousand bucks won’t throw you into bankruptcy like 50 Cent. Too soon?

Break that Tk1,000 into Tk100 notes. You can now distribute each 100 note to a total of 10 kids. To sell this little con, ah, we mean money managing strategy, you have to make sure you do it in front of the entire clan. This gives the audience the illusion of you being effortlessly generous. Bill Gates, eat your heart out.

A wrinkle in time If your outfit is getting a little creased and there’s no time to take it off and iron it, use your hair iron to smooth out the wrinkle.

The alternative: If you have enough time for a shower before you leave, but not enough to iron your outfit, hang it in the bathroom as

treat the stain with vinegar later. Cold water and a little rubbing can take care of tea stains.

The alternative: Carry some baby wipes. They can help reduce most stains. l

The playpen Those darn kids just won’t go away, will they? It’s bad enough you have to contribute to the Young Generation Foundation every Eid. What’s worse is herding these lost and chaotic sheep from Hades into a controlled environment. So what exactly can you do?

Keep them away from the steroids, as in anything sugary, for one. Second, get the

eldest kid of the bunch, and make him or her the supervisor in a single room. Finally, bribe them with chocolates. “If you guys play nice, I’ll hand you some candy.” Right before they leave your home that is. Turn on the telly, switch it to Cartoon Network, and watch those zombies behave.

Who invited you?

Like children, you’ll have to play nice, whether you like it or not. There will be family or family friends you’ll be hoping to avoid. Whether you’re the host or the guest, this is the simplest procedure you can ever go through. First come, first serve. You’ll have to bite your tongue and approach the annoying individual first. Before you reach out for the hand or greeting gesture, make sure you have yourself a shill. In the con world, a shill is a confederate of the con artist who may act like a friend or peer to the victim. In other words, keep your conversation incredibly short, and lay the victim off to someone else.

“It’s good to see you, hope everything is alright? Oh, hey isn’t that…” and you excuse yourself to meet someone more desirable. l

T-JUNCTION 23

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Trial Room

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

The home and kitchen conundrum

Your medicine cabinet

n N Anita Amreen

You might get a sudden pain in the stomach or your back may suddenly hurt like hell.

Anything is possible during Eid or any other holiday. Would you like to ruin the happiness and festivities over these nagging issues?

Clearly not.

Over this period of time, pain can be caused by overworking yourself right before the festivities begin - a pretty common problem. Burning out your mind and body is no rare occurrence.

Festivals also mean unlimited food intake. While there’s nothing wrong with enjoying the Eid specials, it may not be as fun if you’re caught with a bad case of food poisoning.

As the entertaining season begins with Eid right around the corner, there’s so much to do in and around the house, we often end up with one less fork or not enough space in the fridge.

Look through your home and kitchen checklist to make sure you’re feeling ahead of schedule and ready for the festivities once the countdown to Eid begins.

The home cleaning checklist

Air fresheners As you’re kicking up a storm in the kitchen, you can’t help but leave a trail of curry stench once you’re done. When your meals are prepared and the kitchen cleaned, close your kitchen door, air out the windows and spray a good amount of air freshener to refresh the kitchen and remove any signs of that rancid odour.

The kitchen checklist Stock up on essentials Other than kitchen essentials, you must make sure you have stocked up on cleaning essentials such as paper napkins, tissue boxes and dish washing liquids. Also keep a few wet wipes and a small spray jar of cleaning liquid handy for emergency spills as and when they occur.

Re-assess the bathrooms With so many guests coming in on Eid day, you will need to ensure that you have a clean and well stocked bathroom. Take stock of handwash, hand towels, paper napkins, toilet paper and air freshener. Always keep a few extra in stock so you don’t have to make a frenzied run to the mall for fresh hand towels or that extra roll of toilet paper.

Make plans for overnight guests If you’re going to have relatives and/or friends staying the night, there’s quite a bit of planning to do. Begin with a general dustwipe-vacuum routine and then check and replace bed linen. It’s a good time to stock up the closet with extra towels and soap.

Remove unnecessary clutter and freshen up the guest set (toileteries and linen).

Clean and launder Wipe down surfaces that are prone to getting dirty, oil-wipe furniture and thoroughly vacuum your carpets. Pay special attention to ceilings, fans and wiring - these are usually neglected when cleaning. Wash and iron old bedsheets, curtains and tableware so they’re fresh and clean by D day.

Assess the china Take a look at your dishes and serving platters. Have you got enough of the right kind? To make things easy, get them out of storage and use sticky notes to identify which one will be used for what. As for silverware and glasses, start getting them washed and set out so there’s less to do on Eid day.

Charge those batteries In the frenzy that precedes Eid, we often forget to charge our batteries. Charge the batteries on your video camera, recording device, tablets and cameras well before Eid. Don’t forget to charge your rechargeable lamps, it will come handy just in case there’s an unexpected power outage.

Kickstart kitchen cleaning There’s nothing more bothersome than a dirty kitchen, especially when you’ve got an elaborate Eid dinner to plan and execute.

Cleaning your kitchen begins with your fridge. Toss out leftovers, defrost the deep freezer and wipe down counters to make space for all the items you will be cooking up in the next few days. Tidy up other countertops and shelves, also making sure you thoroughly clean the cabinets, stovetops and sink.

Do a cabinet inventory Check to see what you’ve got and what you’ll need. First list out your meal plan and then check to see what you’re missing.

Do you have all the dry spices in hand? Are there enough coffee mugs? Do you have the right pan for the biryani you’re planning to make? Add names to the list to avoid stress by making sure you have all your necessary utensils handy.

Stock your pantry Shop for all non perishable items a week before Eid. Toss out old jars and get your shelves in order so it’s easier for you to find what you need once you get down to cooking. All spices, dry food items and masalas should be unpacked, labeled and neatly stocked. Stocking up on dry goods will save precious time later.

Tackle the make-ahead dishes first To lessen the load on Eid day, begin working on marinade mixes and grinded items. Try to cook in advance, especially for dishes that require a lot of prep time. Some dishes, especially baking items, can be cooked in advance and frozen until they’re required later. l

n Saudia Afrin

• Don’t forget to keep Antacids to alleviate indigestion and heartburn • Inflammation of the skin? Get Hydrocortisone cream. For minor scrapes, cuts and burns you’ll need antiseptic cream • Bank on Insulin or other important medicine before the vacation, if you have a patient of diabetic or heart disease l

Here is a list of immediately effective medicine to keep handy • For easing pain, there’s Paracetamol • For muscular aches and sprains buy Antiinflammatory painkillers. It is equally helpful for period pain • To reduce symptoms of hay fever and other allergies take Antihistamines

The Eid rush n Chisty Rahim Running around like a buffoon on the first Eid day won’t do you any good. If you are stubbornly keen on being present at all the family gatherings as well as the hangouts with friends on the first day of Eid, we understand where you’re coming from. Keep calm and take a few deep breaths afterwards. Even if you’re not able to make it to all of them, you can however, make it to most of them. Here’s how.

Relax! It’s a three day event Eid lasts for three days, which means school/ office holidays do too. Even though the spirit gradually fades with each passing day, you can always utilise the free time and pay all your friends and family a visit. Label the different functions you have been invited to as the “must-gos”, “maybes” and the “willthink-about-its.”

Don’t schedule more than two functions on each day. That should help you with the exhaustion at the end of the run.

Allot the times with exactitude Time flies without a warning! Keep in mind that you can always allot the amount of time you’re going to spend at each visit. It’s best

to leave the evenings for friends and the mornings and nights for family. For those who have strict return-to-home-by-dusk instruction from their family, this is a much preferred choice.

Family comes first Family does come first. So it’s important to be present at the family gatherings. More importantly, you do not want to miss out on the salamis, because the more people you “salam” the more “salami” you get. Unless, of course, you’re the one giving out the salami. l

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24 T-JUNCTION

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

news

Okapia’s fresh new smart phone arrivals Okapia is fast emerging as one of the top brands in Bangladesh’s smartphone market.

After a string of new models of varying configurations, Okapia is now, once again, all set to reveal its latest models for the average consumer.

Inspire For the selfie generation, Okapia’s Inspire is the perfect package that prides itself as the selfie master. It boasts an 8-megapixel front camera and a 13-megapixel rear camera complete with an auto-focus flash light and face beautification. At only Tk11,990, this android is a Lollipop!

Ultima Ultima is a smartphone with a stylish design and comes with a mirrored glass finish on both sides. This 16GB android is a KitKat version armed with ‘smart-awake’, smart display and OTG. This entire package of goodies can be owned at a tidy sum of Tk10,990.

Air Air is a good looking Android with an amazing set of features that include smart wake and hot knot. With a fabulous 5-megapixel front and 8-megapixel back camera, this piece of style can be purchased at a mere Tk9,990.

Matrix True to its name, Matrix is a model packed with an incredible set of features. To begin with, it has the amazing High Speed Air Gesture, smart wake and wireless display, all wrapped up in a full steel backed body with an Android KitKat inside. This can be had at an affordable Tk7,990.

InfinityX Sometimes technology solves a practical problem in life that can free up hours of quality time for your activities and leisure with loved ones. Infinity is one such model from Okapia. It boasts a 5000mAh battery that seems to never run out on you. It can also double as a power bank! And you can purchase this at only Tk8,990.

Magic Pro After the runaway success of Magic, if you still want to feel the magic of Okapia’s Magic Pro, you’ve first got to know how awesome this set at Tk6,490 can be. This smart phone has a quad-core that boasts a 5-inch display, a 5-megapixel camera with auto focus and flash light.

Each amazing model comes with a free flip cover or back cover. l

Special Eid Weekend Package at Hotel Sarina

If you need to hit refresh after Ramadan and enjoy the Eid weekend in grand fashion, Hotel Sarina – one of the leading business hotels – offers the Special Eid Weekend Package for local citizens and expatriates residing in Bangladesh. The package includes, couple (02) accommodation only at

The Masters with the Advertising Secrets at North South University

Tk9,999, all inclusive in Super Deluxe or Premium Room. Guests will also enjoy complimentary, buffet breakfast, fruit basket on arrival, 25% discount in all restaurants, access to the swimming pool, gym, steam and sauna. The package is valid from July 16 to July 25, 2015.

For more details: +88 01730020307 l

In today’s competitive world, where brands have the enormous challenge to create a unique position in the mind of consumers, carefully created advertising can genuinely leverage a brand. But the questions marketers need to ask themselves is, is promotion only to boost sales or to create a positioning for the product? How to attain the strategic sweet spot where advertising meets the needs of a client? How the creative ideas are born? What is the logical framework from conception to execution of an advert? In an aim to enlighten the future business leaders of Bangladesh on these issues, North South University Student Support and Engagement Committee organised a seminar entitled NECESSITY. IDEATION. EXECUTION. Learn advertising secrets from the masters as part of a marketing course, known as Promotional Management, offered by the Department of Marketing & International Business.

The course coordinator and lecturer, Omar Nasif Abdullah, in the School of Business and Economics of North South University was the key individual behind planning, facilitating and hosting the event. The main idea of the event was to create an opportunity for the students to learn about the client-agency relationship, and operational process through interacting with the industry icons from both ends.

The event started with the exhibition of print adverts that the students created. The print adverts were all fixated on stretching the brand Polar Ice-cream, which is a pioneer ice-cream brand in Bangladesh,

owned by Dhaka Ice-cream Industries Limited. Both the guests looked around all the adverts and made their comments, questions, and appreciation for the efforts students have portrayed.

The entire audience enjoyed the seminar and expressed their gratitude to the organisers. A student named Sabir Mahmud said, “This seminar is one of the most informative seminars I have ever attended and that too with these masterminds!”

The seminar was powered by The Marketing Club of North South University.

Around 150 students and 10 faculty members attended the seminar. l

AC Milan’s Italian international striker Stephan El Shaarawy has been loaned to AS Monaco for a season with an option to buy, the French Ligue 1 club said on Monday

Sport 26

PROTEAS NOT AFRAID OF CHALLENGE: TAHIR

AUSSIES TURNED DOWN BEER WITH ENGLAND

27

25

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DOUBLE SWOOP SENDS MESSAGE TO TITLE RIVALS

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Bangladesh’s Shakib al Hasan yesterday takes a look at the pitch at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium that will be used in the third and final one-day international of their series against South Africa in Chittagong today MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Great opportunity for Bangladesh: Shakib n Mazhar Uddin M a v e r i c k Bangladesh allrounder Shakib al Hasan believes a series win against South Africa will dwarf their recent achievements against subcontinent rivals Pakistan and India.

The Tigers came back strong in the second and penultimate ODI last Sunday at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur and levelled the series heading into today’s decider at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong and Shakib thinks a series victory against the Proteas will overshadow all of their recent successes.

“Obviously, it (series win) will be

bigger than the series wins over India and Pakistan. Previously, we never beat South Africa so to win the series will be a big achievement for us,” Shakib told the media at ZACS yesterday.

“We need to play well in all the three departments of the game if we want to win the match. There is no competition between spin, pace or the batsmen as we need to give our best in all these departments,” he said.

The ZACS has been a lucky ground for the Tigers and it was not lost on Shakib. In their last seven ODIs in the port-city, Bangladesh have won six matches, including wins against Zimbabwe, the West Indies, the Netherlands and England and the Magura cricketer is of the opinion that home advantage will very much favour the Tigers.

“For us, every game is important and we always look to win in every single match but sometimes we fail and sometimes we win. As this is the series-deciding match so obviously it’s an important game for us. And, we have not lost at our home ground for quite some

time now. I think it’s a great opportunity for us to seal the series.

“But, I am not saying this match is the biggest one for us. Rather, I would say this is a great opportunity for Bangladesh,” he said. l

TOP FIVE WICKET TAKERS AT ZACS

TOP FIVE RUN SCORERS AT ZACS

Name

M

W

Best Bowling

Name

M

R

H

Ave

Shakib al Hasan

13

27

4/16

Tamim Iqbal

12

391

95

35.54

Abdur Razzak

11

21

3/21

Shakib al Hasan

13

239

101

23.90

Mashrafe

7

14

3/34

Mushfiqur Rahim 12

205

65

29.28

Mahmudullah

8

9

3/4

Brendan Taylor

5

180

118

45.00

Arafat Sunny

2

6

4/29

Imrul Kayes

6

175

73

35.00

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26 Sport

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

Haddin mystery ahead of Lord’s Test n Reuters, London Mystery surrounded Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin two days before the start of the second Test against England at Lord’s.

Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reported that Haddin did not train with the team on Tuesday and was expected to miss the match for “personal reasons.”

The newspaper said Peter Nevill would make his Test debut as Haddin’s replacement.

Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle, however, said the 37-year-old Haddin was still in line to play.

Proteas not afraid of challenge, says Tahir n Minhaz Uddin Khan A lot will be at stake when Bangladesh take on South Africa in the third and final ODI at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong today. The Proteas have never lost a series against the Tigers and have only tasted defeats twice in 17 ODIs. All that may change today but South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir yesterday informed that the visitors are not losing sleep over a potential series defeat and said they are fully prepared for the challenge of the series decider.

“We are not worried about it (losing) at all.

If they play well, they are going to win it, but we are a team that never step back from any challenge. So, we are really looking forward to this challenge [today],” Tahir told the prematch press conference previewing today’s decider at ZACS. “All is going well in our camp. We are very happy people. But obviously, when we get to the ground we always challenge for position, we always fight. Like I said, we never look back. We have got a good group of people.

Look, we are going to give our best. We are not worried about what happened in the last game or the game before. We are just looking forward to [today’s] game,” he said.

Tahir added that their experience of playing in the port-city in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 will be of great help in the series-decider.

The Proteas played four group-stage matches at ZACS and won three of them. l

Sydney’s Daily Telegraph reported that Haddin did not train with the team on Tuesday and was expected to miss the match for personal reasons “He’s fine,” Siddle told a news conference.

“Just had an easy day today. It’s been a long few months already that we’ve been away. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was out there for sure at the weekend.”

Cricket Australia could not be reached for comment. Haddin had a poor game in Cardiff, dropping England centurion Joe Root on nought and failing twice with the bat.

Australia left-arm pace bowler Mitchell Starc is expected to be fit despite struggling with an ankle injury.

The 25-year-old Starc, who took seven wickets in the first Test in Cardiff which England won by 169 runs, has been battling an ankle problem.

“Starcy got through well today, bowled out in the middle off the long run, both ends, he’s feeling good,” said Siddle who did not play in the Cardiff Test. “I guess it’s just a waiting game at the moment for myself. Everyone’s fit at the moment which is nice.” l

South African leg-spinner Imran Tahir bowls in the nets during their practice session at Chittagong’s ZACS yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Sk Jamal rout BJMC n Shishir Hoque

Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club moved seven points clear at the top of the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League after comprehensively beating Team BJMC 4-1 defeat at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Midfielder Sohel Rana’s first goal of the season gave Sheikh Jamal an early lead that was canceled out by Samson Illiasu before foreign attacking trio Landing Darboe, Emeka Darlington and Wedson Anselme netted one apiece to see the reigning champions stroll to their third consecutive victory.

Jamal are on 36 points from 15 matches and will face second-placed Sheikh Russel KC in the upcoming round. Meanwhile, for BJMC it was their fourth defeat in five second phase matches as they remained at seventh place with 12 points.

It took Sheikh Jamal only four minutes to open the scoring in front of only 19 spectators in the gallery. The midfielder slotted home past BJMC goalkeeper Ariful Islam into the far post following a one-to-one between Emeka and Wedson.

Eleta Kingsley tried his luck from the top of the box in the 13th minute that went inches over the crossbar before Emeka’s header from the six-yard box was tipped over by Ariful in the 28th minute.

Skipper Samson Illiasu put things on level terms in the 39th minute with a lovely solo effort. The Nigerian midfielder broke into the penalty area skipping past Didar and Yeasin before cutting inside substitute Jamal goalkeeper Maksudur Rahman to hit the back of the net.

Jamal appeared stronger in the second-half and piled more pressure and should have taken the lead inside five minutes of resumption but the crossbar came to BJMC’s rescue by denying Rana’s second strike, a powerful volley.

However, Landing Darboe restored the lead at the hour mark when the tall Gambian midfielder fired past Ariful from just outside the box following a neat pass from Wedson before setting up the next goal for Emeka eight minutes later.

Wedson went top of the scorers list after skipping past BJMC defenders, rounding off the custodian for a calm finish, his 15th of the season. l

(L-R) South Africa’s Ryan McLaren, Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell and Aaron Phangiso spent some time with the local Chittagong kids, who are suffering from cancer, yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

QUICK BYTES Arshavin joins Kuban Krasnodar Former Russia captain Andrei Arshavin has signed a one-year deal with Kuban Krasnodar as a free agent, the Russian Premier League club said on their website (www.fckuban.ru) on Monday. The 34-year-old midfielder, whose Zenit St Petersburg contract ended last month, scored 17 goals in 74 internationals. He played most of his career at Zenit before moving to English side Arsenal in 2009, where he netted 23 times in 105 games. He rejoined Zenit in June 2013, after a short loan spell back at the club the previous season.

–Reuters

Leicester hire Ranieri as new manager Leicester City sprang a major surprise by hiring former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri as their new manager on Monday. Ranieri makes his shock return to the English top-flight after emerging as the preferred choice of the club’s Thai owners to replace the sacked Nigel Pearson.

–AFP

Ronaldinho signs for Fluminense Brazilian former world player of the year Ronaldinho has returned home to sign for Rio de Janeiro club Fluminense. A picture of the 35-year-old wearing the distinctive maroon and green striped shirt of ‘Flu’ was posted on the club’s Twitter account over the weekend as he agreed to team up with fellow former Brazilian international Fred.

–AFP

Russia sack Capello Russian’s Football Union (RFU) on Tuesday dismissed Fabio Capello as national team head coach, ending the Italian’s three years in charge after a string of disappointing results. “The Russian Football Union and the head coach of the national team, Fabio Capello, have mutually agreed to terminate his employment contract,” the union said in a statement.

–AFP

Tottenham goalkeeper Lloris suffers broken wrist Tottenham Hotspur’s France international goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is doubtful for the start of the Premier League season after fracturing his wrist. The north London club said on Monday that the 28-year-old player “will continue to work alongside the first team squad to build up his fitness in a bid to be ready for the start of the season.

–Reuters

Australia’s Steven Smith (L), Michael Clarke and Shane Watson (R) are seen in a training session at Lord’s yesterday

Defeated Australia turned down post-match beer with England n Reuters, London A sore and defeated Australia turned down an invitation from England to share a postmatch beer after the tourists’ humbling loss in the first Ashes Test in Cardiff, paceman James Anderson said.

Captain Alastair Cook was rebuffed by Australia skipper Clarke after England’s 169run win on Saturday, though the match was played in good spirit.

Anderson said England and New Zealand had shared a drink after each hard-fought match of their drawn Test series earlier in the summer and Cook had wanted to continue the ritual with Clarke’s team.

“It was Cooky’s idea and he went and asked them after the game,” Anderson told British media. We were all happy to do it. I don’t know why they didn’t come in. Maybe they wanted to carry on doing things their way. You’ll have to ask them. It’s their prerogative.

“We had a beer with the New Zealand team after both Tests and we found it an enjoyable thing to do after a hard Test.

“It didn’t matter whether we won or lost, we did it and it’s something we want to carry on doing.”

Win, lose or draw, Australia and England once shared a drink after the final day’s play of each Test but Ricky Ponting put paid to the tradition after his team lost the 2005 series.

The hard-bitten Tasmanian felt his players may have lost their competitive edge by being too friendly with their opponents and since, the teams have generally held off mixing with each other until the end of a series.

In contrast to the tetchy 2013/14 series in Australia, where the hosts won 5-0 and both teams engaged in some heated exchanges out in the middle, the Cardiff Test passed without incident.

“The spirit was different from our point of view because we weren’t fussed about trying to start any battles,” Anderson said.

“We were really focused on what we were going to do and when you rack up runs generally the opposition are quiet whoever you’re playing against.” l

Faulkner banned over drink-driving charge n AFP, London

US held by Panama, Haiti through to Gold Cup QF The United States recovered from a poor first half and earned a 1-1 draw against Panama on Monday that kept the Central Americans from clinching an automatic spot in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals. In a physical, testy, battle at Sporting Park in Kansas City, the Americans overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit when Michael Bradley slotted home from close range in the 54th minute.

–Reuters

REUTERS

Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed became BRAC Bank Limited’s brand ambassador on July 6. Zara Jabeen Mahbub, head of communication and service quality, BRAC Bank, Syed Mahbubur Rahman, managing director and CEO, and Mohammad Mamdudur Rashid, deputy managing director, were present during the agreement signing ceremony COURTESY

World Cup winner James Faulkner will miss Australia’s limited overs matches againt England and Ireland after Cricket Australia (CA) banned the all-rounder for drink-driving.

The 25-year-old faces a court hearing in Manchester next week after being charged with drink-driving by Greater Manchester Police while playing for English county side Lancashire. CA said Faulkner had been punished for “conduct that is unbecoming of a representative and that is or could be harmful to the interests of cricket”.

His suspension covers the matches against Ireland on August 27, and England on August 31, September 3 and September 5.l

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

Xavi slams Real over Casillas exit n Reuters, Madrid Former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Xavi has hit out at Real Madrid for failing to give departing captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas the send-off he deserved before his switch to Porto.

A tearful Casillas appeared alone in the Bernabeu stadium press room on Sunday and the 34-year-old choked up several times as he read a farewell statement that brought to an end 16 seasons in the Real first team.

A wave of criticism followed, with Casillas’s parents also saying in a newspaper interview their son had been forced out of the club by president Florentino Perez.

Real responded by organising an official presentation with Perez and Casillas at the Bernabeu on Monday, when hundreds of fans who turned up in sweltering heat chanted for the president to quit and gave Casillas a rousing ovation.

The contrast between Sunday’s surreal appearance and the send-off Barca gave his close friend Xavi was telling.

A product of Barca’s academy, Xavi, 35, joined Qatari side Al Sadd at the end of last season and fans, officials and team mates paid homage to him at a packed Nou Camp

stadium where the midfielder was surrounded by family and friends.

Xavi wrote in Spanish daily La Vanguardia on Tuesday that Casillas had not changed since they first met at the Under-17 World Cup in Egypt in 1997 and that he remained “a good person”.

“That’s why it leaves a bad taste what is happening with him now,” Xavi wrote.

“In recent years, I have seen that he is not enjoying himself like before.

“He even seems bitter and I think everyone in this country (Spain) should think about this.

“It cannot be that maturing Spanish athletes are not shown sufficient respect, that people neglect to value everything they have done for their sport and instead focus on their defects, sometimes with malicious intent.”

Xavi drew a comparison with Juventus and Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon, who he said still appeared to be enjoying himself in goal at the age of 37.

“I look at Iker and I have the feeling that lately he is playing under pressure, as if he has to prove what a great keeper he is in every match, without the joy he always had.

“Now he is going to Porto and I am sure he will be welcomed as a hero. Away from here they will appreciate him more.” l

Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid controls the ball during a training session ahead of the International Champions Cup football tournament in Melbourne yesterday AFP

Double swoop sends message to rivals n AFP, London

Boca Juniors unveil returning idol Tevez n Reuters, Buenos Aires Carlos Tevez was officially unveiled on Monday as a Boca Juniors player in a 6.5 million euros transfer from Juventus.

Thousands of fans of the popular club from the port district of La Boca packed La Bombonera stadium to welcome Tevez home from a decade abroad the day after the team went top of the Argentine league championship.

“My heart’s exploding with happiness!

Thanks for braving the cold and waiting for me. I’m already back home,” Tevez said on his Twitter feed.

Juventus, the last of Tevez’s overseas clubs that began at Corinthians in Brazil in 2005 and included English sides West Ham United, Manchester United and Manchester City, revealed the terms of the deal on their website (www.juventus.com).

“I’m returning in my prime, really that’s now. At 26 or 27 I was fatter than anyone. I feel better than ever, physically and mentally.” l

Manchester United have thrown down the gauntlet to their Premier League title rivals after making a dramatic double swoop for Bastian Schweinsteiger and Morgan Schneiderlin on Monday.

United manager Louis van Gaal had made improving his team’s midfield a key component of his transfer window strategy and the Dutchman can now cross that job off his to-do list after a frenetic 24 hours at Old Trafford.

German World Cup winner Schweinsteiger, who played under van Gaal for two years at Bayern Munich, agreed a three-year contract after United tied up a reported £14.4 million deal to sign him from the Bundesliga giants.

And France international Schneiderlin signed from Southampton for a fee in the re-

Bastian Schweinsteiger

gion of £25 million after agreeing a four-year contract, with the option of a further oneyear extension.

United’s midfield duo are expected to jet out immediately to join their team-mates, including fellow new boys Memphis Depay and Matteo Darmian, for the club’s pre-season tour of the United States.

They could make their first appearances in a United shirt against Mexican side Club America in Seattle on July 17.

And there was more good news for United as Spanish goalkeeper David de Gea was confirmed among their travelling party for their US tour, seemingly ruling out any imminent move to Real Madrid.

Van Gaal claimed last season that there wasn’t much of a quality gap between United and champions Chelsea, who finished 17

Morgan Schneiderlin

points ahead of the Old Trafford outfit, and he will hope his £80 million spending spree is the springboard for a serious title challenge.

Schweinsteiger, 30, made 500 appearances for Bayern and won eight Bundesliga titles, as well as making 111 appearances for his country culminating in their successful 2014 World Cup campaign.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Bayern Munich, it has been an incredible journey and I didn’t take the decision to leave lightly. Manchester United is the only club that I would have left Munich for,” he said.

“I feel ready for this new and exciting challenge in what I regard as the most competitive league in the world and I am looking forward to working with Louis van Gaal again.”

Van Gaal added: “Bastian is, of course, no stranger to me. I worked with him during my time at Bayern Munich and I am truly delighted he is joining Manchester United.

“His record speaks for itself; he has won every honour at club level and was a major part of the successful Germany World Cup-winning team last summer.”

Confirmation of Schneiderlin’s arrival followed shortly after that of Schweinsteiger.

The 25-year-old, who had also been attracting interest from Arsenal and Liverpool, impressed in a fine season for Southampton last season and said he had no doubts about his future once he realised United were showing an interest.

“Once I learned that United were interested in signing me, it was a very easy decision to make. I have enjoyed seven very happy years with Southampton and it’s a club that will always be in my heart,” Schneiderlin said. l

DT

Sport 29

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

IPL turmoil as Chennai Super Kings, Rajasthan Royals banned in betting scandal n AFP, New Delhi Cricket’s Indian Premier League was thrown into turmoil Tuesday when a Supreme Court-appointed panel suspended two of the eight teams after officials were found guilty of illegally betting on matches.

Chennai Super Kings, led by India’s oneday international captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, and Rajasthan Royals, skippered by star Australian batsman Steve Smith, had been hoping to escape with heavy fines.

But a tribunal led by former chief justice Rajendra Mal Lodha announced they would be banned from the next two editions of the annual six-week tournament to protect “the integrity of the game.”

Gurunath Meiyappan -- the son-in-law of Narayanaswami Srinivasan, the Chennai franchise owner and the current boss of the International Cricket Council -- was banned for life from cricket-related activities.

A similar punishment was handed down to Raj Kundra, co-owner of the Rajasthan team and husband of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty.

“Their conduct has affected the image of the game, the players and others associated with the tournament,” Lodha told reporters while revealing his three-member panel’s verdict in the capital New Delhi.

Asked about the financial losses of players from the two teams, Lodha said: “We did not consider financial losses to players and teams. That is not significant. The integrity of

DAY’S WATCH Gazi Tv, Star Sports 1, 3, Star Sports HD1 2:50 PM South Africa Tour of Bangladesh 3rd ODI

Star Sports 1 12:30 AM Natwest T20 Blast Lancashire v Nottinghamshire

Star Sports 4

File photo of Rajasthan Royals’ co-owner Raj Kundra (R) and Chennai Super Kings’ official Gurunath Meiyappan who have been suspended for life from any cricketing activity by the Supreme Court in connection with IPL scam AP the game is what matters.”

The outcome could have major financial consequences for the glitzy Twenty20 league which draws some of the biggest names in world cricket and raises questions over the future of the two franchises which are both former champions.

It was not immediately clear whether the two franchises can be sold, thus allowing the cricketers to continue to be part of the IPL. There was also no immediate reaction from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“Huge injury has been caused to the image of cricket which is a passion for millions of people,” Lodha said.

“They (Meiyappan and and Kundra) have brought the game to disrepute.

“The purity of the game has been affected.

Fans feel cheated and doubts abound if the IPL is clean.”

Lodha was appointed head of the sentencing panel in January after the Supreme Court had found Kundra and Meiyappan guilty of betting on the outcome of matches in 2013.

India complete Zim sweep n Reuters, Harare A maiden century from Kedar Jadhav helped India complete a clean-sweep of the threematch one-day International series in Zimbabwe with an 83-run victory at Harare Sports Club yesterday.

Sent in to bat, India made a cautious start before Jadhav blazed an unbeaten 105 from 87 balls to propel the tourists to 276 for five in

their 50 overs.

The home side lost wickets at regular intervals and were bowled out for 193 in the 43rd over.

Harbhajan Singh, returning to ODI cricket in this series for the first time in four years, bowled tidily again for two for 35 from his 10.

The teams will begin a two-match Twenty20 series on Friday at the same venue.l

8:30 AM International Champions Cup San Jose v Club America 3:50 PM Barclays Asia Tour Everton v Stoke City 6:20 PM Arsenal v Singapore Select XI

Ten Sports 7:30PM Tour de France 2015 Day 11

Ten Cricket 2:45 PM Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka 2nd ODI

INDvZIM INDIA R A. Rahane c Utseya b Madziva 15 M. Vijay c Mutumbami b Madziva 13 R. Uthappa c Chigumbura b Masakadza 31 M. Tiwary c and b Utseya 10 M. Pandey c Sikandar Raza b Chibhabha 71 K. Jadhav not out 105 S. Binny not out 18 Extras (1b, 1lb, 10w, 1nb) 13 Total (5 wkts, 50 overs)

B 22 21 44 33 86 87 8

276

Bowling Tiripano 8-0-46-0, Madziva 9-0-59-2, Chibhabha 8-0-55-1, Masakadza 10-0-31-1, Utseya 10-0-41-1, Cremer 5-0-42-0.

ZIMBABWE H. Masakadza lbw b Sharma C. Chibhabha c Jadhav b Binny R. Chakabva b Patel E. Chigumbura lbw b Vijay R. Mutumbami lbw b Binny Sikandar Raza b Harbhajan Singh M. Waller c Rahane b Binny G. Cremer c Rahane b Harbhajan Singh P. Utseya c Uthappa b Sharma D. Tiripano not out N. Madziva st Uthappa b Patel Extras (10w, 1nb)

R 7 82 27 10 22 13 5 0 0 13 3 11

Total (all out, 42.4 overs)

193

B 24 109 43 14 24 10 8 1 2 13 9

Bowling

Sony Six 3:50 AM Caribbean Premier League T20 G Amazon Warriors v Jamaica Tallawahs

“Meiyappan was an integral part of the team,” said Lodha. “By regularly placing bets he acted in gross violations of the rules of the game. He suffered a loss of 60,000,00 rupees ($94,560) in bets.”

The hugely popular Chennai Super Kings are the most successful team in the IPL, having won the tournament in 2010 and 2011.

They finished runners-up in 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2015.

Rajasthan Royals won the inaugural event in 2008 under the captaincy of Australian spin legend Shane Warne, but have failed to make the final since then.

The 2013 IPL season was mired in controversy after police launched legal proceedings against several officials and three Rajasthan Royals players, including former Test fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, for illegal betting and spot-fixing.

The IPL, which is broadcast around the world, is hugely popular in India with its mix of sport and showbiz, with a number of teams fronted by big Bollywood names.

But it has been continuously dogged by corruption allegations and on Monday Hiken Shah, a first-class player from Mumbai, was suspended over an approach he made to an unnamed team-mate before this year’s tournament in April-May. International news organisations including Agence France-Presse have suspended on-field coverage of matches hosted by the BCCI since 2012 after the board imposed restrictions on picture agencies.l

India batsman Kedar Jadhav bats as Zimbabwe wicket keeper Richmond Mutumbami looks on in the third and final one-day international at Harare Sports Club yesterday AFP

Kumar 6-1-12-0, Sharma 7-0-33-2, Binny 10-1-553, Harbhajan Singh 10-0-35-2, Patel 6.4-0-39-2, Vijay 3-0-19-1.

India won by 83 runs, win three-match series 3-0

DT

30 DOWNTIME

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Former Iranian leader (4) 4 Thong (5) 8 Ripe (6) 9 Innermost being (4) 11 Insect (5) 12 Drug-yielding plant (4) 14 Land measure (3) 15 Fascinate (6) 19 Landed property (6) 21 And not (3) 22 Wicked (4) 24 Metal casting (5) 27 Article (4) 29 Reluctant (6) 30 Burdened (5) 31 First man (4)

DOWN 1 Distress call (3) 2 Talisman (6) 3 Circle of light (4) 4 Result of addition (3) 5 Court examination (5) 6 Blushing (3) 7 Like better (6) 10 Rowing implements (4) 13 Consume (3) 14 Antenna (6) 16 Sheltered side (3) 17 Combined (6) 18 Acting part (4) 20 Over (5) 23 Passport endorsement (4) 25 Cattle-driving goad (3) 26 Perfect score (3) 28 Silence (3)

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 14 represents Y so fill Y 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

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

Amber Records hattrick

CELEBS ON SOCIAL

Taylor Swift @ taylorswift13 Woah. #1989TourEastRutherford night 2 Ryan Seacrest @ RyanSeacrest Jennifer Lopez @ JLo Gotta love Miami! Brunch with a view.

n Showtime Desk Amber Records, a musical label initiated by 360 degree musical content, in association with Dhaka FM 90.4, has released three albums this Eid. The albums includes Lokayata from the band Arup Rahee and Leela, a self-titled debut album of Reshmi O Mati and a rock album Upahaar by Soumitra Chakraborty and Sirajum Monir.

On July 13, the signing and launch ceremony took place at the Dhaka FM 90.4 office, while the programme was presided by the CEO of Amber Records, M Aminul Hakim.

In the event, Maqsoodul Haque, the director of operations of Dhaka FM 90.4, Anisuzzaman Anis, the technical director of Dhaka FM 90.4, Barrister Hamidul Mishbah, the legal counsel for Amber Records, Arup

Rahee, Reshmi, and Masum from the band Reshmi O Mati, Soumitra Chakraborty, Sirajum Monir and other distinguished guests were also present.

M Aminul Hakim mentioned in his speech that Amber Records is set to look after the interest of the artists and their work. The company has plans to involve more artists and release quality albums by the end of the year. l

The Flash reprisal survives 90s single season curse

n Mithul Roy Yet another superhero and comic world inspired TV series hits the screens to capture the yet uninitiated youth who missed the glory days of the original comic books. And this time, it’s the story of The Flash, a hero who has received little screen space compared to his counterparts, Batman and Superman. Sure, we saw glimpses of The Flash in the enthralling animated Justice League movies of the 90s and the disaster of a show the 90s Flash was (cancelled after 1 season of costly filming). But he now gets his own successful TV show, which is soon to air a second season.

For those unfamiliar with the red and yellow suited superhero, Barry Allen aka The Flash’s story begins when he witnesses his mother’s murder and watches his father falsely accused and prosecuted.

He is taken in by Detective West and grows up to become a forensic scientist.

In an effort to uncover the truth about his his mother’s murder, he comes across Harrison Wells’ particle accelerator. When the accelerator causes an explosion, Allen is struck by lightning, and enters a coma for nine months. When he wakes up, he discovers that he has the ability to move at superhuman speeds and soon finds out that he is not the only meta-human created in

the wake of the explosion.

Loyal Flash fans (yes, those of you who could give even Sheldon Cooper a run for his money) may find it distasteful to find Glee’s Grant Gustin cast as Barry, and argue that the show does not retain the seriousness and suspense any fictional crusader deserves.

However, others may find the light hearted humour a refreshing change from other comic-based films and TV shows that are all completely devoid of humour. The producers here, nevertheless, pay homage to the original Flash by casting the original’s star, John Wesley Shipp, as Barry’s father. Barry’s love interest, Iris (Candice Patton), and her father (Jesse Martin), who just so happens to be a police detective are also recurring characters in the story. Flash and Iris’ relationship is sloppy to say the least, as the character Iris is poorly written and devoid of the maturity the original comic demands.

Producers Greg Berlanti and Andrew Kreisberg have adhered pretty closely to Flash lore with a plot that isn’t exactly space science and is quite predictable in several places. Even so, the show has navigated the dangerous waters of costly production and has another season in the bag. Season two focuses on Flash’s stardom, which he feels is undeserved as it was Reverse Flash (considered by Flash purists as the Real Flash) who finally defeated Wells, not him.

The show is predicted to take a brooding turn so it is worth watching whether The Flash falls back to superhero stereotypes or carves out its own path.l

saying hi to my friends at @ todayshow and @ KellyandMichael tmrw morn. Need to see this @ KellyRipa blue hair in person

WHAT TO WATCH Johnny English Star Movies 12:57pm Cast: Rowan Atkinson, John Malkovich, Natalie Imbruglia, Tasha de Vasconcelos, Ben Miller After a sudden attack on the MI5, Johnny English, Britain’s most confident yet unintelligent spy, becomes Britain’s only spy.

Inception HBO 11:25pm Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Marion Cotillard, Ellen Page A thief who steals corporate secrets through use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a CEO. A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) WB 7:47pm Cast: Jackie Earle Haley, Rooney Mara, Kyle Gallner The spectre of a dead child rapist haunts the children of the parents who murdered him, stalking and killing them in their dreams.

DT

32 BACK PAGE

WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2015

HBFC TO GET PUBLIC FUND OF TK500CR PAGE 20

SHAKIB: GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR BANGLADESH PAGE 25

AMBER RECORDS HATTRICK PAGE 31

Ticket touts hide behind online classified sites Samiul Basher Anik and n Syed Mohammad Jamil Khan As Eid-ul-Fitr draws nearer, ticket touts are flying under the radars of law enforcement agencies by finding a safe haven in online websites for classifieds.

Lax monitoring of the most popular classifieds portals have allowed profit-hungry touts to flood the websites with posts, mostly offering rail tickets of convenient dates.

As a result, tickets from all modes of transport – albeit at astonishingly jacked up rates – are now just a click away from those who are desperate to reach their village homes in time for Eid. Railway officials said hand-to-hand ticket touting has become a risky job in recent years because of constant surveillance by the police and RAB forces. However, it has now forced culprits to take their business online – where there is less chance of getting caught.

Although the official selling of rail tickets ended on Monday, tickets for many routes could still be bought from the online portals as of 3pm yesterday.

During a quick browse through classifieds

in Bikroy.com, a popular online e-commerce portal, the Dhaka Tribune found 34 advertisements by ticket touts posted at the site.

Similar advertisements were also found on another popular classifieds portal – Clickbd. com.

Although the classifieds were posted by individual users, sources told the Dhaka Tribune that several syndicates were active in ticket resale during the two Eid festivals.

Officials said ticket touts buy the bulk of tickets reserved under the quota for online customers. Although each account can purchase only four tickets from the railway website, touts create several accounts to purchase tickets, a railway official said.

Outrageous asking prices

Take the example of Sharif, a Bikroy.com user from Gulshan who claimed to have train tickets of different routes.

He posted advertisements offering two Dhaka-Comilla rail tickets for July 15, two Dhaka-Jessore tickets for July 15 at the cost of Tk1,000, two Dhaka-Chittagong tickets for July 17 for Tk700, and four AC compartment Dhaka-Chittagong tickets for July 15 for

MEN 2013

WOMEN 2013

68.8

71.2

2009

2009

66.1

68.7

n Kayes Sohel The average life expectancy in Bangladesh has gone up by around three years, from 67.2 years in 2009 to 70.4 years in 2013, according to a Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics study.

Released yesterday, the study, on Sample Vital Registration System, revealed that the female population is living longer than the males, as life expectancy of females has increased from 68.7 years to 71.2 years, whereas for males it has increased from 66.1 years to 68.8 years.

The World Health Organisation defines life expectancy as the average number of years a person is expected to live on the basis of the current mortality rates and prevalent healthcare facilities in a population.

In 1980, the average life expectancy in Bangladesh was around 48 years in 1980, which steadily climbed to around 60 years in 1990, 65 in 2000 and 67.7 in 2010.

IMPROVEMENT IN OTHER HEALTH INDICATORS per 1,000 people

2009 Literacy rate (per 100) 56.7 Birth rate 19.4 Mortality rate 5.8 Maternal mortality ratio 2.59 Infant mortality 39 Under-5 child death rate 50 Marriage rate 13.2 66 Dependency ratio (per 100)

Monitoring against ticket touts

Although such practice was going on in a wide scale, law enforcers are continuing their

crackdown against the culprits.

On Sunday, the police arrested two people from Kamalapur in connection with ticket touting through Bikroy.com.

Regular surveillance is maintained near the rail stations, said Government Railway Police (West) Superintendent Nazrul Islam, adding: “We have already arrested three such people and a case was filed against them for reselling of train tickets online.”

Railway Minister Mujibul Haque said the government was firm about bringing the ticket touts to justice.

The Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Nirapotta Bahini (RNB) officials remain posted at all railway counters to combat any irregularities, the minister said, adding that online ticket sales also remained under monitoring.

Bikroy.com Director (marketing) Misha Ali told the Dhaka Tribune their fraud management team scrutinises thousands of advertisements posted on the site everyday.

“However, some disproportionate advertisements might have been published because of the increased volume of advertisements posted centring Eid,” he said. l

New Horizons speeds past Pluto

Life expectancy up by 3 years LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH

Tk4,000.

In another post, a user named Md Joy from Dhaka’s Tejgaon was asking Tk1,800 for three Dhaka-Chittagong Turna Express tickets for July 14; the original price is Tk1,020.

When contacted by the Dhaka Tribune, Joy said he would not be able to bring down his asking rate as he himself had to pay extra to acquire the tickets. He, however, refused to disclose where he had bought the tickets from.

Another user named Md Tauhidul Islam from Chittagong’s Agrabad posted a classified asking Tk1,500 for a single Mohanagar Godhuli Express ticket from the port city to the capital for July 16. The original cost for a single ticket is only Tk340.

Kibria from Malibagh was offering to sell two non-AC seats in Subarna Express for July 17 for Tk1,600; the original fare is only Tk750.

When contacted over the phone, Kibria said he had bought the tickets from touts and was looking to resale those as he did not need the tickets any more.

2013 57.2 19 5.3 1.97 31 41 13 58

Source: BBS

“Increasing access to healthcare facility, immunisation, nutrition and overall economic development are the prime reason for increased life expectancy,” said Dr Md Munirul Islam, a scientist with the Centre for Nutrition and Food Security at the ICDDRB. However, nutrition supply has yet to make a breakthrough as its rate of improvement is much slower than expected, he said.

The overall health indicators have also shown significant improvement across the country over the past few years. Infant mortality ratio has come down to 31 per 1,000 live births in 2013 from 39 in 2009.

Maternal mortality ratio has also declined to 1.97 per 1,000 live births in 2013 from 2.59 in 2009, according to the study, the under-five child mortality rate dropped to 41 per 1,000 live births in 2013 from 50 per 1,000 live births in 2009. l

n BBC Nasa’s New Horizons spacecraft has made the first visit to Pluto, speeding past at 14km per second.

Earlier, the space agency released the most detailed picture yet as it hurtled towards the dwarf planet on Tuesday.

The probe was set to grab more pictures and other data as it passed 12,500km from Pluto at 11:50 GMT. Controllers got a last health status report before the robotic craft turned its antenna away from the Earth to concentrate on its target.

There will be a long, anxious wait for everyone involved with the mission before the spacecraft calls home again, because the signal will be coming from almost five billion kilometres away.

New Horizons’ flyby of 2,370km-wide Pluto is a key moment in the history of space exploration.

“We have completed the initial reconnaissance of the Solar System, an endeavour started under President Kennedy more than 50 years ago and continuing to today under President Obama,” said the mission’s chief scientist Alan Stern.

“It is really historic what the US has done, and the New Horizons team is really proud to have been able to run that anchor leg and make this accomplishment.”

It marks the fact that every body in that system – from Mercury through to Pluto – will have been visited at least once by a space probe.

“This is true exploration … that view is just the first of many rewards the team will get. Pluto is an extraordinarily complex and interesting world,” said John Grunsfeld, Nasa’s science chief.

Dr Stern said: “This is clearly a world where geology and atmosphere – climatology – play a role. Pluto has strong atmospheric cycles, it snows on the surface, these snows sublimate – go back into the atmosphere – every 248-year orbit.”

The probe will investigate not only Pluto but also its five moons: Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra.

The mission team will not celebrate until New Horizons contacts Earth again, which is scheduled to happen at 00:53 GMT today.

This communication will contain only engineering information on the status of the probe, but controllers should be able to tell very quickly whether the flyby sequence worked properly or not.

On Monday, the New Horizons team announced a new, more precise measurement of Pluto’s diameter at 2,370km. The probe sees the girth of Charon to be very similar to earlier estimates, at 1,208km. l

AFP

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