July 30, 2015

SECOND EDITION

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

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Shraban 15, 1422, Shawwal 13, 1436

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 105

WORKING WITH MILITANTS MUHITH FRETS ABOUT IS A ONE-WAY ROAD PAGE 4 BASIC BANK LIQUIDITY

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

7 DECADES OF ECONOMIC EXCLUSION PAGE 32

End of the line for SQC FILE PHOTO

n Ashif Islam Shaon

criminal had committed “horrendous atrocities” on unarmed civilians in Chittagong in collaboration with the Pakistan occupation army and razakars with an aim to annihilate the Hindu community that “trembled the collective conscience of mankind.”

The parliamentary affairs adviser to BNP chief Khaleda Zia during her tenure as the prime minister in 2001-06, Salauddin appealed against the tribunal judgement on October 29, 2013 seeking acquittal.

After the final verdict yesterday, Salauddin claimed himself innocent.

His lawyer and family members said that they were not satisfied with the apex court’s decision and that they would seek review to get “justice.”

“Our lawyers will brief you about the verdict. The only thing I will say is that a review plea will be filed. My father is innocent,” said the convict’s son Humam Quader Chowdhury.

Humman is a prime accused in a case filed for leaking a part of the draft verdict from the tribunal’s computer in 2013.

The war criminal’s counsel Khandaker Mahbub Hossain, sitting beside Humam at a press conference, said: “You know that Salauddin Quader Chowdhury was elected from his area a number of times since 1979, the area

The country’s Apex court has confirmed death for notorious war criminal Salauddin Quader Chowdhury for committing crimes against humanity and genocide against the Hindus and freedom fighters in Chittagong during the 1971 Liberation War. Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha pronounced the verdict yesterday morning upholding the death sentence given to the former minister by a war crimes tribunal two years ago on four charges of genocide and killing.

Salahuddin was acquitted on one charge, for the murder of Satish Chandra Palit, in which he had been given a 20-year jail. His jail sentences on four other charges were upheld by the four-member Appellate Division bench.

On October 1, 2013, the International Crimes Tribunal 1 found the former BNP lawmaker guilty of nine of the 23 charges and sentenced him to death on four, 20 years in jail on three and five years in jail on two other charges.

The three other judges of the SC bench are Justice Nazmun Ara Sultana, Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain and Justice Hasan Foez Siddique.

Salauddin, 66, is the first BNP leader to get death for atrocities during the war. He is the second former minister after Jamaate-Islami’s Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujahid whose death sentence was also upheld by the top court.

Anxiety among Hindus in Raozan does not end

BNP disappointed but won’t protest

‘He was very much present in Bangladesh’

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

n Tribune Report

The residents of Hindu-dominated Kundeshwari and Jogotmollopara areas under Raozan upazila in Chittagong, where death row convict Salauddin Quader Chowdhury carried out genocide in 1971, were fearing reprisal even after the verdict yesterday.

Amid full-proof security blanket, most of the doors were kept closed from inside while the locals did not want to talk to the media.

Local Awami League leaders and Gonojagoron Moncho activists brought out processions and distributed sweetmeats after the verdict. However, the top leaders of local BNP did not want to make any comment over the verdict.

In only its second reaction since war crimes trials began in 2011, the BNP yesterday expressed disappointment after a Supreme Court verdict upheld it’s policymaker Salauddin Quader Chowdhury’s death penalty.

“The Appellate Division verdict disappointed and surprised us and also made us sad. BNP believes that Salauddin Quader Chowdhury is a victim of political vengeance.

Like his lawyers, we believe that he was denied justice,” Asaduzzaman Ripon, the acting spokesperson of the party, told reporters in a briefing at the Nayapaltan office yesterday.

Ripon also said: “We [BNP] are really aggrieved and shocked with the Appellate Division’s verdict.”

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PAGE 3 Janakantha editor, writer summoned

PAGE 5 Report: 4m children in Bangladesh out of school

Son of former Convention Muslim League leader Fazlul Quader Chowdhury, charismatic Salahuddin hails from Gohira area of Raozan in Chittagong. They used their Goods Hill residence as a torture camp during the war.

The tribunal had observed that the war

In the morning, the apex court settled an appeal by Salauddin by upholding the death sentences handed down to him by a war crimes tribunal for his 1971 war-time crimes.

There was no word when one of their former ministers Abdul Alim, who died in jail, was given lifetime imprisonment for war crimes. Neither did the party ever say anything when several senior leaders of its key political ally Jamaat-e-Islami had been punished for their 1971 crimes.

The first time the party responded to a war crimes trial verdict was in October 2013 when the International Crimes Tribunal 1 decided that Salauddin – an Ershad-era minister and a standing committee member of the BNP – will have to die.

PAGE 9 Activists hang from US bridge to block Shell Oil ship

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

War criminal Salauddin Quader Chowdhury claimed at the International Crimes Tribunal that he had been in erstwhile West Pakistan during March 29, 1971–April 20, 1974 to dismiss all the charges brought against him by the prosecution. The three defence witnesses echoed him.

However, the tribunal in its verdict on October 1, 2013 mentioned that the defence had “miserably failed to prove its plea by documentary evidence that the accused stayed in West Pakistan during whole period of the Liberation War of Bangladesh.”

Despite this, Salauddin’s counsel Khandaker Mahbub Hossain mentioned about the

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PAGE 32 ‘Her condition to worsen if blood gets infected’

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THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Anxiety Son of Convention Muslim League leader Fazlul Quader Chowdhury, Salauddin used to live in Gohira area of Raozan in 1971. All the members of his family were against Bangladesh’s struggle for independence.

Salauddin was elected as lawmaker from Raozan-Rangunia constituency for several times after the independence. Their Goods Hill residence in Gani Bakery Road area of the port city had been used to torture the freedom fighters.

Pradip Kumar Das, OC of Raozan police, said there was no untoward incident in the area. But he could not understand why the residents were in anxiety. “No incident of violence or attacks was reported when the tribunal sentenced Salauddin to death in 2013,” he said.

Prosecution witness Prafulla Ranjan Singha, son of Nutan Chandra Singha who had been killed by Salauddin, said justice has been served through the verdict.

Raozan upazila Awami League President Shafiqul Islam Chowdhury said anti-British fighter Masterda Surya Sen’s Raozan has been freed from stigma by this verdict.

Gonojagoron Moncho in Chittagong, several organisations of freedom fighters and pro-liberation forces brought out rejoice processions in the city in favour of the verdict.

Prosecution witness Mohammad Salimullah, who had been tortured at the Goods Hill, demanded that the house be taken over by the government and made a museum for the future generation “so that they can learn the history of the country and the betrayers.”

He also thinks the government should confiscate all the properties of Salauddin’s family. l

‘He was very much present in Bangladesh’ same information at the Supreme Court to seek acquittal of his client.

Salauddin testified at the tribunal as the first defence witness. He also placed two relatives and a schoolfriend. But the defence did not produce any travel or residential documents to show the date of the so-called visit.

On the other hand, the investigation officer submitted a paper clipping of the daily Pakistan dated September 29, 1971 that says the son of Fazlul Quader sustained severe injury and the driver killed when miscreants attacked his car. He was provided treatment in hospital.

Then deputy inspector general of Special Branch in East Pakistan in a fortnightly report of political situation, prepared on October 2, also mentioned about the injury of Salauddin on September 29 due to the attack by freedom fighters.

The prosecution also produced a doctor who had been on duty at Chittagong Medical College Hospital in 1971. Dr AKM Shafiullah, then assistant registrar at Surgical Unit 1, testified that Salauddin had been treated at the hospital for his leg injury.

Moreover, 14 prosecution witnesses submitted at the tribunal that they had seen Sa-

BNP disappointed but won’t protest After that verdict, Salauddin’s attorney Khandaker Mahbub Hossain – also an adviser to BNP chief Khaleda Zia – said that if voted to power, his party would try those involved in the trial. For this, however, Mahbub was show-caused by the tribunal and later exonerated with warning.

Asked whether they would announce any programme protesting the verdict, Ripon yesterday said: “We hope that the verdict will be reviewed... We are expecting justice from the court. As there is a scope for filing a review, we are hoping that he will get justice.

So, there is no question of enforcing any programme right now.”

Two years ago, however, the BNP organised a rally at the Suhrawardy Uddyan in Dhaka and enforced a hartal in Chittagong protesting the tribunal verdict.

lauddin accompanied by the Pakistan Army and razakars at different villages of the locality and at Goods Hill.

The convict had left Bangladesh in September 1971 and returned to the country in 1974 after the death of his father in jail, the tribunal concluded.

Moreover, a Dainik Bangla report published on January 8, 1972 said: “Hundreds of students were tortured at Goods Hill and on July 17, 1971, student leader Faruq was killed by Salauddin Quader. From March 26 until December 16, there was always a platoon the occupation army deployed in the Goods Hill.” l

“Although Salauddin repeatedly claimed that he was not in the country during the war, his claims and evidences were not taken into account. Our party thinks that the trial lacks legal transparency. We hope that the verdict does not end up being termed a ‘judicial killing’ in the future,” Ripon said at the briefing yesterday.

He, however, also said that the BNP has always respected the judiciary and expected fair justice.

“He [Salahuddin] is a popular figure and an eminent politician of the country. People of his constituency voted to elect him their lawmaker six times. In his long political career, he did politics for the welfare of the country and its people. He was vocal for the country’s independence and sovereignty,” the BNP spokesperson said.

The Supreme Court yesterday upheld the verdict of the tribunal that found the BNP leader guilty of killing Nutan Chandra Sinha, committing a genocide at a Hindu settlement and abducting and killing an Awami League leader and his son in Chittagong in 1971.

Ripon said that the BNP’s position on the trial of crimes against humanity is clear; they are in favour of the trial but they also want it to be of international standards and free from political bias.

Asked whether Salauddin’s party membership will be scrapped, Ripon said: “As the issue is sub-judice, we have not yet given this a thought. We expect justice from the higher court and hope that the court will give a judgement going beyond political influence.” l

Seven people, including Salauddin’s wife Farhat Quader Chowdhury and son, his lawyer and manager were sued for their alleged involvement in leaking the draft verdict before its pronouncement in 2013. The Cyber Tribunal of Dhaka is set to hold the indictment hearing on September 20. Salahuddin’s family had spent a lot of money to leak the verdict with an aim to make the court controversial.

during the appeal hearing.

The convict had left Bangladesh in September 1971 after sustaining injuries in an attack by the freedom fighters and returned to the country in 1974 after the death of his father in jail, the tribunal said. Then he started politics and became lawmaker from Muslim League, Jatiya Party, NDP and BNP.

End of the line for SQC where he participated in Pakistani atrocities.

“How could a person, who barbarically treated people of his area in connivance of the Pakistani Army and killed them, be repeatedly elected to the national parliament from the same area?”

He said they would file the review plea after getting a copy of the full verdict. “We hope that the capital punishment will be ‘done away with’ when the review plea is heard.”

Khandaker Mahbub is one of the advisers to the BNP chief. He was a prosecutor during the trial of collaborators in 1972. In 2013, he was warned by the tribunal for his comments on the trial procedure and threatening to try those related to the trial once the BNP comes to power.

The BNP yesterday expressed disappointment over the verdict. At a press conference, party’s acting spokesperson Asaduzzaman Ripon said: “The Appellate Division verdict disappointed and surprised us and also made us sad. The BNP believes that Salauddin Quader Chowdhury is a victim of political vengeance. Like his lawyers, we believe that he was denied justice.”

On the other hand, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam yesterday said he was content with the verdict.

“The government will initiate the process of execution after receiving the full verdict...Our expectation is fulfilled with the verdict,” he told reporters adding that there was no scope of changing the death sentence during review.

Tribunal prosecutor Tureen Afroz said: “The verdict has proved that a lawmaker can be punished if he turns into a lawbreaker.”

Salauddin behaved audaciously at the tribunal many times during the trial and as-

serted that he had been a lawmaker. On many occasions, he passed derogatory comments on different issues including the trial process, the country’s judiciary and the Liberation War, Tureen said.

“It was was difficult to produce witnesses against him since they were afraid of the war criminal,” the prosecutor said.

Gonojagoron Moncho welcomed the verdict and demanded quick execution. Led by its spokesperson Imran H Sarker, the activists had been observing sit-in at Shahbagh every afternoon since July 24 demanding capital punishment for the war criminal.

The ruling Awami League too expressed satisfaction over the verdict. From a press conference in the capital, party’s Joint General Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanak said the judgement proved that there is rule of law in the country. The government would continue the trial of war criminals despite efforts by the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami to foil it, he added.

Security was beefed up in the capital and Chittagong ahead of the verdict. Despite this, the locals from Raozan refrained from talking to the media in fear of reprisal.

However, local Awami League supporters and activists of the Gonojagoron Moncho brought out victory processions and distributed sweets among people.

Salauddin was arrested in Banani of the capital on December 16, 2010. He was shown arrested on December 19 following a warrant issued by the tribunal. He was indicted on April 4, 2012 on 23 charges.

He was also sued on sodomy charges in March 2013 when he was at the Kashimpur High Security Jail.

The final verdict

The Appellate Division bench upheld death sentences for Salauddin on each of the four charges – killing of Nutan Chandra Singha, killing and atrocities on Hindu population in Banik Para of Sultanpur village in Raozan, killing around 70 people at Unosottor Para, and torturing and killing of Awami League leader Mozaffar Ahmed and his son Sheikh Alamgir.

The court also upheld his 20-year jail term given on charges of acts of genocide at Madhya Gohira Hindu Para and acts of genocide, persecution and deportation at Jogotmollo Para.

His five years of prison – handed down for abducting, confining and torturing three people at Chittagong Cantonment, and torturing Salehuddin at Good’s Hill – was upheld by the apex court.

Salauddin was acquitted of 14 other charges.

As many as 41 people testified against the BNP policymaker while four, including the convict, defended the charges at the tribunal. In his testimony, the convict refuted all the charges claiming that he had been in Pakistan from March 29, 1971 to April 20, 1974, and three other defence witnesses echoed him. Although the tribunal had dismissed the information, his counsel reiterated the claim

What’s next?

As per law, the Appellate Division bench will now publish the full verdict and send it to the tribunal for issuing a death warrant. Upon getting the warrant, jail authorities will read it out to the convict.

The defence will be able to file a review petition within 15 days from the publication of the full verdict. Once it is disposed of and the death sentence is upheld, the convict will have the opportunity to seek president’s mercy.

If Salauddin is denied mercy or he declines to appeal for his life, the government will execute the tribunal verdict by hanging him from the neck.

‘I am innocent’

Salauddin showed strong nerves after hearing about the verdict on radio and through the jail officials, Jailer Md Faridur Rahman Reza said, reports our correspondent.

“I am innocent. I am a victim of political vengeance. I have been framed,” Farhad quoted the convict as saying.

“He will file a review petition against the judgement and hoped that it will stand...‘I did politics for the country, the people...I am not unimportant. May be some people are angered by remarks and I have been harassed’.” l

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THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Janakantha editor, writer summoned n Ashif Islam Shaon The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has issued a rule against the Daily Janakantha for publishing an article raising question about the judges’ role in war criminal Salauddin Quader Chowdhury’s trial.

A four-member bench headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha issued the rule on its own volition yesterday morning, after upholding the death penalty of Salauddin handed down by a war tribunal in 2013.

The apex court asked the article writer, Swadesh Roy, and the Bangla newspaper’s Editor Atikullah Khan Masud to appear before it on August 3.

On July 16, the newspaper published an article titled “Activity of SQ Chy’s family: Less

chances to escape” where the writer stated that the family members of the war criminal had met one of the judges dealing with the case of Salauddin.

At a press briefing yesterday, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam said the top court had summoned the duo to hear their explanation. They have to explain why contempt of court proceedings should not be brought against them for publishing the article.

He said the write up questioned the image and magistracy of the judiciary and created disappointment among the people. “The court considered it as contemptuous,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Appellate Division bench also asked the attorney general to collect particulars of Gonojagoron Moncho Spokesper-

son Imran H Sarker.

Asked about the reason, Mahbubey said: “Imran made various comments about the war crimes trials in several times. That is why the court sought detail information about him.”

The court would ask Imran to explain his comments, and concerns over the war crimes cases and the tribunal verdicts after the particulars are submitted.

Imran, convener Blogger and Online Activist Network, had launched the Shahbagh movement on February 5, 2013 to demand capital punishment for all war criminals, and ban on Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir. The movement gained huge public support in many districts of the country as well as abroad. l

Gonojagoron Moncho demands quick execution of SQ Chy verdict n DU Correspondent Welcoming the verdict, Gonojagoron Moncho yesterday demanded the immediate execution of the verdict against Chittagong’s wartime terror, Salauddin Quader Chowdhury.

After the immediate reaction, Moncho spokesperson Imran H Sarker expressed satisfaction with the Appellate Division of Supreme Court verdict upholding the death sentence of SQ Chowdhury.

He said: “We cancelled the victory procession to show respect to the court, as it directed not to express any reaction after the verdict.”

He added that Moncho would hold mass sit-ins every Friday around 4pm to demand the immediate execution of the Salauddin and Mujahid verdicts.

Earlier, while Moncho leaders and activists had tried to bring out the rally, police interrupted them, leading Moncho to cancel the rally.

The activists had started a sit-in from Friday at Shahbagh intersection calling on the court to uphold the death penalty of BNP leader Salauddin for crimes against humanity during the 1971 Liberation War. On October 1, 2013, the International Crimes Tribunal 1 had sentenced him to death for wartime offences. l

TIME SCALE AND SELECTION GRADE

Non-officer public servants to meet Muhith today n Tribune Report Gonojagoron Moncho activists at a gathering show the victory sign in the capital's Shahbagh yesterday after the Appellate Division upheld the death sentence of BNP leader Salauddin Quader Chowdhury for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War in 1971 SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

ICAO: Replace handwritten passport with MRP

n Tribune Report

A high-profile government meeting yesterday has resolved to call on Bangladeshi citizens staying abroad to collect their Machine Readable Passports (MRP) by November 24, 2015.

According to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) directives, all Bangladeshi citizens must re-issue their passports within the stipulated time, replacing their handwritten passports.

The meeting, chaired by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Rashed Khan Menon, held at the secretariat made this request. Abul Kalam Azad, principle secretary of the Prime Minister’s Office, Khurshed Alam Chowdhury, secretary of the Civil Aviation Ministry, and senior Foreign Ministry officials were also present at the meeting. Those who do not carry the MRP after November 24 will no longer be able to travel abroad. l

Bangladesh might request ICAO to extend MRP deadline n Adil Sakhawat Bangladesh could request International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) to extend the November 24 deadline for having machine-readable passports, Director General of the Department of Immigration and Passports NM Zeaul Alam told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

He said it might not be possible to provide MRPs for all Bangladeshi expatriates before the deadline as some were planning to return to Bangladesh before that date using their hand-written passports.”

The ICAO has set the November 24 deadline, which means none will be allowed to travel abroad without MRPs after that date.

The deadline makes MRPs mandatory for all nationals, including Bangladeshis.

“Some expats do not understand the importance of getting MRPs and also the consequences of not having that even though we took initiatives to inform all Bangladeshi expats that having MRPs is a must,” Zeaul said.

The government launched the MRP project on April 1, 2010. To date, the Department of Immigration and Passports has printed and delivered 11.2 million MRPs to Bangladeshis.

Till April, the number was 10.5 millions.

Zeaul reiterated the importance of collecting MRPs for Bangladeshi expats who are still using hand-written passports, and called on all to get MRPs before the deadline.

According to the Expatriates’ Welfare and Overseas Employment Ministry, 2 million Bangladeshi expatriates are still using hand-written passports. l

Several organisations of public servants will meet Finance Minister AMA Muhith today and place their demand for retaining the provisions for time scale and selection grade in the new play scale.

The government is almost decided to execute the new pay structure excluding time scale and selection grade as these provisions as there is a shortage of posts.

The National Pay and Services Commission recommended dropping these provisions as they create scope for corruption and discrimination.

Three days ago, the finance minister said a report on the eighth pay scale will be placed before the regular cabinet meeting next week.

General Secretary of the Bangladesh Secretariat Administrative/Personal Officers Association, Md Abdul Mannaf, told Dhaka Tribune: “We will place our demand for retaining the two provisions – time scale and selection grade – in the new pay scale.”

General Secretary of the Bangladesh Sachibalaya Karmakarta Karmachari Okkaya Prishad, Mohammad Zakaria Hassan, told Dhaka Tribune: ”We have decided to meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to press our demand for continuing two provisions.”

He also said that there was no use of the meeting the finance minister because he had already announced dropping the these provisions. l

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THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Working with militants is a one-way road n Mohammad Jamil Khan Working with militant outfits is a one-way road and if anyone tries to come back to normal life, they are headed for only one destiny – death.

This is what detective police have learned from the eight JMB militants – including the banned outfit’s acting chief Abu Talha alias Fahim alias Pakhi – who had been arrested in Dhaka’s Uttara and remanded on Tuesday.

The JMB men have started giving information but everything is at the primary stage and more time would be needed to get clear aspects, said Mahfuzul Islam, additional deputy

commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch (DB).

“We are hopeful about solving many mysteries soon,” the ADC told the Dhaka Tribune.

Detectives suspect that Pakhi – son of JMB chief Maulana Saidur Rahman, now in Kashimpur Jail – and his associates have killed a man named Fazle Rabby, 30, who wanted to give up militancy, in the Saghata area of Gaibandha district.

The Dhaka Tribune yesterday contacted Rafiqul Islam, OC of the Saghata police station.

Rabby was a member of the Jama’atul Mu-

jahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and a close associate of their executed leader Siddiqur Rahman alias Bangla Bhai. He had a conflict with another faction of the outfit and was probably killed because of that, the OC said.

“Investigation is under way and we have already arrested a man named Enamul in this connection,” he also said.

According to Gaibandha police, Rabby secured bail in 2007 after being in jail for a long time. He came to Dhaka after that and started living a normal life by taking a job for a private company. He hardly ever went to his village home, but was killed when he paid a rare visit during this Eid-ul-Fitr.

2 more testify in blogger Rajeeb murder case n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka court yesterday recorded depositions of two more prosecution witnesses in a case filed over the murder of blogger Ahmed Rajeeb Haider.

Judge Sayeed Ahmed of the Dhaka’s Speedy Trial Tribunal 3 recorded depositions of prosecution witnesses Jakir Hossain and Jahirul Islam, and fixed August 5 for next hearing in the case.

Earlier, Rajeeb’s father Dr Nazimuddin, his

younger brother Newaz Mortaja Haider, and cousin Kazi Galibul Islam gave depositions.

On May 11, Judge Ruhul Amin of Fourth Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court shifted the case to Speedy Trial Tribunal 3 following a decision made by the Ministry of Home Affairs for its quick disposal.

On May 21, the court indicted the chief of banned militant outfit Ansarullah Bangla Team, Mufti Jasim Uddin Rahmani, and seven students of North South University (NSU) Redwanul Azad Rana, Md Faisal Bin Nayem

alias Dweep, Maksudul Hasan alias Anik, Md Ehsan Reza alias Rumman, Nayem Sikdar alias Iraj, Nafis Imtiaz and Sadman Yasir Mahmud.

Of them, Rana, who was mentioned in the charge sheet as the planner of the murder, is on the run, while the seven accused were produced before court by the jail authorities on the day.

On January 28, last year, DB inspector Nibaran Chandra Barman submitted a charge sheet before court against the eight accused. l

Uni student arrested for hacking women's facebook accounts and blackmail n Kamrul Hasan A university student was arrested yesterday by the Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police for his alleged involvement in hacking facebook accounts of women and blackmailing them.

The accused Mahmudul Hasan, fourth semester student of Computer Science and Engineering in East-West University, was arrested from Merul Badda area of the capital.

Police also siezed his desktop computer and a mobile phone.

Police said he hacked some hundred facebook accounts and victimised many women and girls. He generally hacked the accounts using online phishing, key-logger applications and social engineering.

DMP DB Joint Commissioner (JC) Md Monirul Islam said Mahmud was arrested after a victim filed a complaint against him a few days ago.

He mostly targeted women whose husbands live abroad and proposed them to establish intimate relationship with him. If they denied he first blackmail them and, if that failed, he posted obscene information regarding those women, the JC added.

He said Mahmudul confessed to blackmailing many women into a relationship with him.

However, Mahmudul denied the allegation of hacking that many facebook accounts and said he had hacked a facebook account out of curiosity but none before that.

“I only hacked the ID to know whether I could hack an account or not,” said Mahmudul. l

Sources said that Rabby stopped maintaining contacts with JMB after his release and started working as a police informant. JMB operatives and informers started keeping an eye on Rabby on suspicion that fed police with information on JMB chief Saidur Rahman and his associates.

Pakhi said custody that he believes Rabby tipped off detectives leading to the arrest of his father Saidur in Dhaka in 2010. Detectives suspect that Pakhi and his cohorts planned the murder of Rabby to avenge his father’s arrest.

Yesterday was the first day of the three-day remand for Pakhi and his seven associates. l

DCs authorised to resolve border disputes locally: FM n UNB Amid the growing connectivity with big neighbour India, the government is now thinking of giving an authority to the deputy commissioners (DCs) so that they can resolve border-related local problems along the Bangladesh-India frontier locally.

“It’s good for us to resolve the local issues locally along the border. It’s a good proposal, and we’ll look into it,” Foreign Minister AH Mahmood Ali told reporters at the Secretariat after attending the DCs’ Conference.

He said they discussed various issues and listened to proposals and questions from the DCs and will work together to address the issues.

Mentioning multidimensional connectivity with India, including road, railway and border haat, the Foreign Minister also said the government wants to see similar initiatives from the Indian side.

“We want to work in a greater coordinated way in the coming days,” he said adding that it will be good for Bangladesh if local problems are resolved locally.

The Foreign Minister also said they also discussed Rohingya issue with the DCs. l

Prison van carrying 18 JMB men faces blowout n Tribune Report

Detective Branch officials present Mahmudul Hasan, arrested from the capital's Merul Badda area on allegation of hacking an account on social networking site Facebook, at the DMP media centre yesterday MEHEDI HASAN

A prison van carrying 18 Jama’atul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) members faced an accident near Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport area in the capital yesterday.

But there was no casualty, said police.

“The 18 JMB members were produced before a Dhaka court in a case and were being taken to Kashimpur jail in Gazipur when the accident took place,” said Kamal Hossain, officer-in-charge of Airport police station.

Sub-Inspector of the police station Sumon Kumar Chowdhury said a tyre of the van blew out around 3pm, causing the vehicle to skid to the footpath near Balaka Bhaban.

Another prison van was sent to the scene from Gazipur and it transported the militants to prison.

Police said the accident occurred when the van tried to overtake a car. l

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THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

70 Feni villages under water as flood situation worsens n Our Correspondent, Feni

Some 70 villages in six upazilas of Feni have been inundated in heavy rains and onrush of hill water over the past few days, leaving more than 0.3 million people marooned.

Fifteen of the villages are in Fulgazi and Parshuram upazilas while 21 are in Feni Sadar upazila.

The villages were submerged after water in two rivers – Muhuri and Kuhua – flew at the danger level, leaving the river dams partially damaged. Apart from acute waterlogging, floods led to losses of crores of taka.

Several villages in the district remain without power as electricity lines were damaged.

Families in the flood-affected areas are struggling with cooking food.

Road communications with the district town were heavily disrupted as some roads had been waterlogged while most were submerged.

In Daganbhuiyan upazila, students are bearing the brunt of floods as most of the school playgrounds remain waterlogged. Those institutions thus remain unofficially closed.

Houses and roads in 13 villages in Songazi upazila, located near the bank of the Feni River, and five in Chhagalnaiya have gone under water.

In four wards of Feni municipal area, drainage problems have aggravated waterlogging.

Feni 2 lawmaker Nizam Uddin Hazari has distributed relief goods among 3,000 floodhit families in Sharshadi and Panchgachhiya unions under Feni Sadar upazila.

He said adequate relief materials were available to be doled out among flood victims. l

Chhatra Dal president placed on 8-day remand n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu Two courts in Dhaka have granted eight days of remand for Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal President Rajib Ahsan for questioning in four violence cases.

Police sought to place Rajib in remand for 40 days yesterday for the cases, filed with Shahbagh, Motijheel and Paltan police stations on charges of attack on Awami League lawmaker Chhabi Biswas in December and vandalism and arson during the BNP-led 20-party alliance’s anti-government movement in the capital in January.

Hearing the remand plea, Metropolitan Magistrate Shamsul Arefin granted six days of remand in three cases – two filed with Paltan and one with Motijheel police station – for vandalism.

Later, Metropolitan Magistrate Tareq Moinul Islam Bhuiyan granted two more days of remand in a case filed with Shahbagh police station for an attack on Chhabi Biswas.

Rajib’s counsel Md Sanaullah Miah filed separate bail petitions before the courts, but the courts rejected the pleas.

Rajib was arrested with five of his associates in Patuakhali on July 19, allegedly with yaba tablets in his possession. l

Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies and Unicef Bangladesh launch three policy briefs on child marriage, child labour and out-of-school children at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

Report: Over 4m children out of school in Bangladesh n Tribune Report

More than four million children are out of school which is 23% of the total number of children aged six to 10 years in Bangladesh, according to Unicef.

Of them, two million have never gone to school, 1.9 million got delayed admission and 0.4 million have dropped out.

Out-of-school children were found in almost all the districts, with the highest concentration in Bandarban, Sunamganj, Bhola, Netrokona and Cox’s Bazar and the lowest in Jhalokati, Barguna, Pirojpur, Feni and Jessore.

Children engaged in labour in Bangladesh are mainly employed in agriculture, industry and service sectors.

Of the one million children aged 10-14 years engaged in labour, the services and agriculture sectors employ the highest 407,000 (41%) and 390,000 (39%), respectively.

Industry employed about 202,000 (20%) children, nearly half of the services sector.

The prevalence of child marriage continues to be very high with over half of the women

aged between 20 and 24 years getting married before their 18th birthday and one in five marrying before 15, according to Unicef, MICS, 2013.

In this backdrop, the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) and Unicef Bangladesh yesterday launched three policy briefs on child marriage, child labour and out-ofschool children in Dhaka yesterday.

The policy briefs made a number of recommendations including monitoring and increasing education and social protection budgets; improving and extending a social protection system that is sensitive to family poverty and the needs of children; and ensuring all girls attend school and complete secondary education.

Progress for children in Bangladesh is often being delayed because of the interlink between out-of-school children, child marriage and child labour along with particular disparities pertaining to those areas, the policy briefs highlighted.

Speaking at the event, Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal underscored the need

for addressing the issues at the macro level and said: “We must launch a massive awareness programme across the country to eliminate the problems.”

About child marriage, he said that the benchmark for marriage in the country would not be below 18 years.

State Minister for Women and Children Affairs Meher Afroze Chumki said the government’s final decision is that women cannot be married before 18.

Executive director of the Campaign for Popular Education (CAMPE), Rasheda K Choudhury, urged the government to transfer the issue of the education of the physically challenged children to the Ministry of Education from the Ministry of Social Welfare.

Unicef Bangladesh Representative Edouard Beigbeder said: “We must ensure that we are able to maximise the benefits of all the investments that the country has made in improving the lives of children in their first decade, and put in place policies and programmes to continue improving their wellbeing in the second decade of life.” l

DB rescues abductee, arrests two n Tribune Report An abducted man was rescued and two people behind the abduction were arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of police yesterday.

The rescued is Tarek Miah, 22, son of Jibon Miah of Brahmanbaria. The arrestees are Tarek’s cousin Masud Rana and his associate Firoz Ahmed.

Tarek’s father had accumulated Tk10 lakh

to send Tarek to France for higher education.

His cousin Masud came to know about the money and then planned the abduction to get that money.

On July 25, when Tarek came to Dhaka to go to France, Masud called Tarek and asked to join him at the Hatirjheel area.

On July 26, Tarek came to Hatirjheel area to meet Masud. Masud abducted Tarek from the spot with the help of his associates Al

Amin, Mishu, Hatkata Rabbi, Selim, Kanon and Kamrul Islam. Then they took him to a garage at Mirerbag and beat him up.

Later, they demanded Tk10 lakh from Jibon Miah over the phone as ransom.

Assistant Commissioner of DB (South) Ruhul Amin said after receiving a complaint from Tarek’s father, police started investigation and rescued Tarek. Police also arrested Masud and Firoz from the garage. l

DT

6 NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Mango research centre Miscreants in police uniform abduct two businessmen needs planning n Our Correspondent, Chapainawabganj

The country’s one and only Regional Horticulture Research Station (RHRS) in Chapainawabganj, dedicated for research of mangoes, is not yet up to the standard it was envisioned to be 30 years after its establishment.

According to the authority, the RHRS does not have the necessary manpower, advanced laboratory facilities; it needs proper planning and initiative to become a proper research station.

The 110-bigha RHRS has hundred of varities of mango trees for research. But the researchers claim that lack of better facilities and manpower are hindering development.

After Bangladesh’s liberation, production of mango was falling for various reasons. To save the mango production from infestation of insects, in 1985 the Mango Research Centre was set up in the mango capital Chapainawabganj. Later it was renamed to RHRS in 1990.

The RHRS did not only save mango production from infestation, it also developed eight new classes of mango. Of these, four were distributed in 2009.

According to RHRS sources, the station is supposed to have 19 researchers but currently there are only eight. And one of them is currently dispatched elsewhere. The other research station personnel are comprised of 15 workers, 27 labours, and 10 Ansars for security. It also has living quarters for the officers and staff, but many are unused. There are three research labs, but all are traditional.

Researchers of the station opined that Bangladesh is missing out on mango exports because of lack of research facilities. They

said the new classes of mangoes are in great demand, but without a tissue culture laboratory seedlings cannot be developed and distributed.

On the other hand, lack of a molecular laboratory has resulted in no success in DNA and hybrid identification. The research centre has a team of researchers with doctorate degrees who are motivated and willing to discover something new. But they claim lack of facilities are hindering everything.

The station is supposed to have 19 researchers but currently there are only eight. And one of them is currently dispatched elsewhere On top of that, traditional facilities mean everything takes a long time and it is difficult to maintain quality standards, said the station’s Senior Research Officer Ashraful Alam.

He said: “We are far behind the developed world. Being a poor country we do not have a lot of the facilities.”

However, the station’s Chied Scientific Officer Dr Md Shafiqul Islam claimed the RHRS, despite its drawbacks, have played a very good assisting role in the development of mango production.

He said the RHRS would be able to contribute better if the station was given the appropriate manpower and facilities it needs. l

Killing of schoolgirl after rape protested n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj Teachers, students and staffs of Digangarh High School in the district yesterday protested the killing of Rikta Khanam, a student of the school, after rape.

They brought out a precession demanding exemplary punishment to the culprits who brutally killed the girl.

The procession rounded the streets in the town and later formed a human chain.

Among others, Shamsul Alam Siddiqi, headmaster of the school, Mahmudul Hasan, member of the managing committee, SM Emdadul Haque, Abul Kashem and Sadia Akter spoke on the occasion.

The seventh-grade girl of the school was killed allegedly after rape at Saradi village under Muksudpur upazila.

Rikta’s uncle Kaiyum Sheikh said she left her maternal grandfather’s residence for home on Monday morning but did not reach home.

Later, locals found Rikta’s body at the abandoned house of one Mojid Mia at Saradi village at noon.

Being informed, police recovered the body at night.

Sindiaghat police outpost Sub-inspector Gias Uddin said they found evidence of rape on the spot.

Four persons were detained for interrogation in this connection, he said. l

Youth electrocuted in Ctg n Our Correspondent, Chittagong

A youth was electrocuted at his residence in Patiya upazila under Chittagong district yesterday.

Sajib Hossain, 28, suffered a strong electric shock while fixing an electric ceiling fan

at his house located in Kolgao area at 12noon yesterday.

He was taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital where the doctors declared him dead.

Sajib, son of Hazrat Miya, hailed from Padiya area, Kushtia, said Nayek Hamidur Rahman of CMCH police outpost. l

n Our Correspondent, Gazipur

Miscreants in Gazipur abducted two businessmen in police uniform yesterday.

Sources said the criminals abducted grocery traders Makbul Hossain, 35, and Nasir Uddin, 37, of Bagher Bazar around 11am while they were returning after withdrawing Tk5 lakh from Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd at Maona Chowrasta branch under Sreepur upazila.

The miscreants, in number seven, reached

the spot by a microbus in DB police uniform.

The took the traders in the microbus and left the place.

Locals found the duo in the Bhawal forest in unconcious state and informed police.

Amir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Gazipur DB police said he had been informed the incident.

He denied the involvment of DB police with the incident.

The miscreants also robbed the money before leaving them in the forest. l

DT

NEWS 7

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Committee formed to ease waterlogging n Tribune Report

A three-member committee has been formed with experts and professionals from Institute of Architects Bangladesh (IAB), Dhaka Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) and Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) to solve the waterlogging problem of the capital.

The committee was formed following a meeting held between DSCC Mayor Sayeed Khokon and experts from the three bodies at Dhaka Nagar Bhaban yesterday.

The DSCC mayor held the meeting with experts to find out possible ways to solve the waterlogging issue.

To find out the reasons behind waterlogging and chalk out their possible solutions, the experts formed the committee with IAB President Dr Abu Sayed, Dhaka Wasa Engineer Md Abul Kashem and DSCC Chief Engineer Md Habibur Rahman. The committee is due to submit its report within a month, said a press release.

Khokon said the problems of the city can be solved if architects, urban planners, and engineers work together. DSCC Chief Executive Officer Md Ansar Ali Khan was present at the meeting, among others. l

WEATHER THUNDERSHOWER WITH RAIN

THURSDAY, JULY 30 DHAKA TODAY

TOMORROW

SUN SETS 6:43PM

SUN RISES 5:27AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY Dhaka

30

25

Chittagong

30

25

Rajshahi

33

25

Rangpur

35

27

Khulna

28

24

Barisal

27

25

Sylhet

31

25

Cox’s Bazar

28

27

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

37.9ºC

23.5ºC

Bogra

Rangamati Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:05am 5:27am 12:05am 4:45pm 6:43pm 8:06pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

Annisul announces Tk1,600cr DNCC budget for FY16 n Aby Hayat Mahmud Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has proposed a Tk1,601.95 crore budget for the 2015-16 fiscal year.

The budget is almost double the size of the revised budget for the previous fiscal year, which was Tk803.19 crore, while the proposed budget for FY2014-15 was Tk2,041.87 crore.

The first DNCC mayor, Annisul Huq, made the announcement at Uttara Community Centre in the capital yesterday afternoon.

The corporation’s Chief Executive Officer BM Enamul Haque and senior officials also attended the function.

During his announcement, Annisul said: “This year, the budget will be financed by an expected Tk476 crore development assistance from the government, private sectors, public private partnerships and foreign finance.

“The DNCC expects to raise the remaining amount from holding taxes and rent.”

Tk1,144.01 crore of the allocation will be spent on development.

DNCC expects to raise Tk882.15 crore from revenue while the revenue expenditure will be Tk310.15 crore.

Apart from this, DNCC expects to earn taxes and revenue from sources including hold-

Dhaka North City Corporation Mayor Annisul Huq speaks at a press briefing in Uttara Community Centre yesterday on revised budget plan for 201415 fiscal year and financial budget plan for 2015-16 MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

ings, trade licences, advertisements, rickshaw licences, markets and community centres.

The allocations will be spent on the maintenance and development of roads, drains,

Protest against VC starts again at SUST n Our Correspondent, Sylhet A section of teachers of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) under the banner of ‘Mohan Muktijuddher Chetonay Udbuddho Shikshokbrindo’ yesterday started agitation again demanding removal of Vice-Chancellor Dr Aminul Haque for his alleged irregularities.

The agitating teachers brought out a procession from teachers’ canteen in the afternoon that paraded main points of the campus.

Later, a rally held in front of the VC building where protesters said they would continue their agitation programmes until the vice chancellor quit.

Convenor of the forum Dr Syed Shamsul Alam, General Secretary of Shikhak Samity Dr Abdul Goni, Professor Yasmin Haque and Professor Anwarul Islam addressed the gathering.

Terming the vice-chancellor incompetent, they said the authorities concerned should appoint a competent vice-chancellor as soon as possible to save academic lives of thousands of students. However, classes and examinations were held according to schedules.

Former general secretary of Shikhak Samity Faruk Uddin told the Dhaka Tribune that they were continuing peaceful agitations against the vice-chancellor and also waiting for decision of Education Minister Nurul Is-

lam Nahid.

Campus sources said Vice-Chancellor Aminul Haque started doing office after a meeting with him and education minister on Sunday.

On April 23, Vice-Chancellor Prof Aminul Haque Bhuiyan went on a two-month leave amid protest in the university in demand of his resignation. The decision was taken in a syndicate meeting.

The tension was erupted on April 13 when 19 teachers from the physics department and geography and environment department of the university went to hold a talk with the VC over space allocation between the departments on April 13.

Prof Dr Syed Badiuzzaman Faruque, head of the physics department, and Prof Dr Sharif Md Sharafuddin, head of the geography and environment science department, resigned on the same day following an altercation with the VC. On April 20, thirty-five teachers resigned from different administrative posts demanding removal of university vice-chancellor.

The teachers include Institute of Information Technology Director Prof Dr Muhammad Jafar Iqbal, Centre for Excellence Director Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, Public Administration Department Head Prof Dr Abdul Awal Biswas, Students Guidance and Council Director Prof Dr Anwarul Islam and acting proctor Emdadul Haque. l

footpaths, hospitals, markets, bus terminals, public toilets and libraries, among others.

The rest of the budget will be for the city corporation’s environmental development, health sector, construction of staff quarters, community centres and housing facilities for cleaners and other employees.

“We have already started our five-year mission. This budget will be spent on implementing our election manifesto to make Dhaka a green and clean city,” Annisul said.

The mayor urged the councillors to discover all of the problems in their specific area or ward, which would be helpful in getting the government’s financial support for the development sector.

Meanwhile, while speaking with journalists, Mayor Annisul Huq said the present tenure is his first and last respective post in Dhaka North City Corporation.

“I have no interest in joining the race of the next city polls,” he said.

He, however, did not mention the reason, but just said the sector was not suitable for him.

Annisul was elected mayor as the ruling Awami League-backed candidate in the city polls held on April 28. Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina selected Annisul as the mayoral candidate. l

CNG theft gang held n CU Correspondent

Members of Detective Branch (DB) of police arrested three members of CNG theft gang in the city yesterday.

The arrested are Mohammed Manju, 24, Ranjit Biswas, 29 and Abdul Awal Farhad,22.

They were arrested in a CNG-lifting case that lodged with Bakalia police station on July 24, said Sub-Inspector (SI) Santash Kumar Chakma of DB police.

They lifted the CNG from Kolpolok residential area of Bakalia on the day and took Tk1 lakh from its owner as ransom.

“The police arrested them from Sholoshahar area while they were waiting to withdraw cash through BKash”, said the SI. They had been committing crime in the different parts in the city introducing them as passenger or driver since a long, the SI added. l

Man held with yaba n Tribune Report

The Department of Narcotics Control (DNC) arrested a man with 4,000 yaba tablets in Pahartali area, Chittagong yesterday morning.

The arrested, Abdur Rashid Chunnu, 32, is from Kadurkhil in Boalkhali upazila in Chittagong, sources said.

DNC’s Chittagong Metropolitan Superintendent Chowdhury Imrul Hasan said a team of the DNC raided Pahartali following a tip-off and found Chunnu in the Textile Mills area around 11:30am.

Upon searching him, the DNC officials found the yaba, worth Tk20 lakh in his possession. l

DT

8 WORLD

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

8 charged with 500 abuse offences against Australian girl n AFP, Perth

An Emergencies Ministry member walks at the site of a Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 plane crash near the settlement of Grabovo in the Donetsk region, in this July 17, 2014 file photo. MH17 was shot down on July 17, 2014 with 298 passengers on board REUTERS

Putin says opposes MH17 tribunal ahead of UN vote n Reuters, Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin said yesterday he opposed the creation of an international tribunal to prosecute those who shot down a Malaysian airliner over eastern Ukraine, hours before a UN vote on such a proposal.

Putin’s comment was the latest to indicate Russia may block moves at the United Nations, co-sponsored by the Netherlands, to set up a UN-backed tribunal into the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in July 2014.

Kiev and many Western countries accuse pro-Russian separatists in east Ukraine of shooting down the plane with a Russian-made missile, charges Moscow denies.

All 298 people on board, the majority of them Dutch, were killed and the Netherlands

is leading an international investigation into the incident.

“The Russian president confirmed the unchanging position that it is inexpedient to create such a judicial body,” the Kremlin said in a statement following a phone call between Putin and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

The Dutch, along with Malaysia, Australia and most Western countries, are pushing for the tribunal, which they say would have the authority to investigate impartially and demand the extradition of suspects, whichever country might be harbouring them.

Russia has said setting up a tribunal before investigations are complete would risk further politicizing the incident. Putin also regretted that Russia’s own draft resolution, which demands justice for the victims but

does not establish a tribunal, did not win the UN Security Council’s backing.

The Netherlands said in a statement that it believed a tribunal would be the best way of achieving impartial justice.

“In order to avoid the risk of politicizing justice, it is best to set up the tribunal before deciding what the circumstances of the crash were,” the Dutch government said.

The downing of the plane triggered a new round of Western economic sanctions against Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, and deepened the worst stand-off between Moscow and the West since the Cold War ended.

More than 6,500 people have been killed in more than 15 months of fighting in east Ukraine between the rebels and forces loyal to Kiev. l

Amnesty decries Israel Black Friday war crimes n AFP, Jerusalem An analysis of an Israeli assault in the Gaza Strip following the capture of one of its soldiers during last year’s war in the Palestinian territory shows “strong evidence” of war crimes, Amnesty International said yesterday.

The London-based rights group called for those responsible for the alleged offences to be prosecuted as it published a detailed analysis of the Israeli military operation using eyewitness accounts, satellite imagery, photos and videos.

“There is strong evidence that Israeli forces committed war crimes in their relentless and massive bombardment of residential areas of Rafah in order to foil the capture of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, displaying a shocking disregard

for civilian lives,” Philip Luther, director of the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Amnesty International, said in a statement.

The incidents addressed in the report centred on August 1, 2014, which has become known as “Black Friday,” when Goldin was captured shortly after a ceasefire was announced. He was later declared dead.

In response, the military was said to have implemented the so-called Hannibal Directive – a controversial procedure which allows for an intensive military response to secure the rescue of a captured soldier.

Israel bombed the city of Rafah and the surrounding area in the southern Gaza Strip near the border with Egypt. According to Amnesty, at least 135 civilians were killed in the

air and ground assault.

Civilians had begun to return home due to the ceasefire announcement, Amnesty said.

“Massive and prolonged bombardment began without warning while masses of people were on the streets, and many of them, especially those in vehicles, became targets,” Amnesty said.

“Eyewitness accounts described horrifying scenes of chaos and panic as an inferno of fire from F-16 jets, drones, helicopters and artillery rained down on the streets, striking civilians on foot or in cars, as well as ambulances and other vehicles evacuating the wounded.”

Some 2,251 Palestinians, including more than 500 children,ß were killed during the last Gaza war. l

Eight men have been charged with hundreds of child sex offences against a 13-year-old girl in Australia, including her father whom police alleged yesterday organised the horrific abuse over two years.

The paedophile ring was smashed last week when detectives in Western Australia arrested the men, aged between 35 and 47, after a tip-off from the public.

They face a total of 503 charges, including sexual penetration of a child under 13, stupefying the girl potentially with drugs or alcohol, sexual servitude, indecently recording abuse and distributing child exploitation material.

As an example of the nature of the alleged offences, police said one man alone was in possession of 200,000 videos and four million images, although they were not only of the Perth teenager. Around 150 pictures and videos were of the girl.

Detective Superintendent Glenn Feeney said: “The victim is now a 13-year-old child.

At the time of the offences alleged she was between the ages of 11 and 13.”

The girl’s father was among those charged.

Another of the men charged is reportedly an evangelical preacher. l

Netanyahu okays 300 new settler homes in West Bank n AFP, Jerusalem

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved yesterday the “immediate” construction of 300 settler homes in the occupied West Bank as his government came under pressure from right-wing Jewish groups.

A senior Palestine Liberation Organisation official denounced the plans to build new homes as “war crimes” and accused Israel of sabotaging peace efforts.

West Bank settlements are major impediments to peace negotiations with the Palestinians, who see the land as part of a future independent state, and Western nations have called on Israel to halt such projects.

The decision comes amid already strained relations between Israel and the United States, particularly over the recent nuclear deal with Iran, but Netanyahu is also under pressure to hold on to his one-seat majority in parliament.

The approval came after the Israeli High Court upheld earlier yesterday a demolition order for two structures being built illegally in Beit El. The planned demolition had drawn protests from settler groups, who clashed with police at the site on Tuesday and yesterday.

Netanyahu had said he opposed the demolition, which began yesterday.

Right-wing members of his government also spoke out strongly against the demolition, and Education Minister Naftali Bennett addressed protesters at the site.

On yesterday, he immediately hailed the decision announced by Netanyahu’s office.

“This decision is a Zionist response,” Bennett, of the right-wing Jewish Home party, said in a statement. “This is the way in which we will build our country.” l

DT

WORLD 9

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Activists hang from US bridge to block Shell Oil ship n AFP, Washington

A woman holds her malnourished daughter at a hospital in Yemen's capital Sanaa on Tuesday. The war in Yemen has killed more than 3,500 people. UN children's agency UNICEF says the death toll includes 365 children REUTERS

Saudi-led warplanes bomb Houthi bastion in north Yemen n Reuters, Sanaa/Aden Saudi-led warplanes bombed targets in Yemen’s northerly Saada province, a bastion of Iranian-allied Houthi forces, local officials said yesterday, and a UN official accused both sides in the conflict of failing to respect international law.

Jets from a Saudi-led coalition also attacked Houthi-held locations in the south including the town of Dhalea and al-Anad air base, Yemen’s largest, which lies in a strategic position commanding the approaches to the major southern port of Aden.

The Arab coalition, allied with southern secessionist forces, retook much of Aden last week in the first ground victory of their offen-

sive to end Houthi control over much of Yemen and restore exiled President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi.

There was no immediate word on casualties from the latest bombing raids. Coalition forces have said Houthi forces based in Saada, near the Saudi-Yemeni border, have periodically shelled targets in southern Saudi Arabia during the conflict.

In the central city of Taiz, 10 Houthi fighters and five soldiers from forces loyal to Hadi’s Saudi-based government were killed in clashes, residents and a local official said.

In New York, United Nations aid chief Stephen O’Brien said none of the warring parties in Yemen had observed a humanitarian pause in fighting intended to allow in emergency

aid amid severe shortages of fuel, food and medicine.

A ceasefire called by the coalition to start on Sunday evening crumbled almost immediately, posing problems for relief organisations seeking to expand aid deliveries.

Yemen relies on imports, but a near-total blockade led by Saudi Arabia has slowed shipments to the Arabian Peninsula country to a trickle. The Arab coalition is inspecting shipments in an effort to thwart any arms deliveries to the Houthis.

The World Health Organization said this week that according to data from health facilities in Yemen, 3,984 people had been killed and 19,347 had been injured between March 19 and July 19. l

Thirteen environmental activists rappelled off a bridge yesterday in Portland, dangling from ropes to get in the way of a Shell Oil ship headed for Alaska on a drilling expedition, Greenpeace said.

The activists are hanging from the St Johns Bridge in Oregon’s main city to prevent the departure of the MSV Fennica, a Shell icebreaker that was in town for repairs.

They are “prepared to stay in Shell’s way as long as possible,” the environmental group said in a statement.

TV footage showed the activists dangling from the bridge in hammock-like devices above the water. A similar number of colleagues in kayaks are in the water below, also trying to keep the Shell vessel from leaving.

The 116-meter (380-foot) Fennica was due to leave yesterday to join the rest of a fleet of Shell ships in the Aleutian islands, which spread west from Alaska.

The protests follow authorisation given to Shell by President Barack Obama in May to drill for oil in the Arctic, a decision which infuriated environmental groups. l

India’s top court refuses to stay Memon execution n AFP, New Delhi

India’s top court yesterday rejected a lastditch plea by a convicted bomb plotter, clearing the way for his execution.

Yakub Memon had petitioned the Supreme Court to halt his hanging, scheduled to take place on Thursday morning, on the basis that his death warrant had been issued before all legal avenues to appeal were exhausted.

He was convicted of plotting a series of coordinated bomb attacks in Mumbai in 1993 that killed 257 people.

Memon and two of his brothers were convicted in 2006 by a specially-designated court using controversial anti-terror legislation that was introduced after the 1993 bomb blasts and is no longer on the statute books. l

Tsipras threatens Turkey launches heaviest air strikes yet on PKK hardliners with snap n Reuters, Istanbul vote over reforms n AFP, Athens

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras yesterday said he would hold early elections if hardliners in his party continued to resist an unpopular new bailout deal that promised debt relief.

He said under the terms of the EU-IMF agreement signed on July 12, Greece after November could expect a reduction of its huge public debt in addition to up to 86 billion euros ($95 billion) in funds, following a first assessment of reforms.

Tsipras faces strong resistance from a sizeable faction of his leftist Syriza party that rejects the new bailout as contrary to the government’s anti-austerity promises. l

Turkish jets launched their heaviest assault on Kurdish militants in northern Iraq overnight since air strikes began last week, hours after President Tayyip Erdogan said a peace process had become impossible.

The strikes hit Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) targets including shelters, depots and caves in six areas, a statement from Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu’s office said. A senior official told Reuters it was the biggest assault since the campaign started.

Iraq condemned the air strikes as a “dangerous escalation and an assault on Iraqi sovereignty.”

Turkey launched near-simultaneous strikes against PKK camps in Iraq and Islamic State fighters in Syria last Friday, in what

Davutoglu has called a “synchronised fight against terror.”

Engaging in conflicts on two fronts is a high-risk strategy for the NATO member, leaving it exposed to the threat of reprisals by jihadists and Kurdish militants. Germany warned yesterday about possible attacks on Istanbul’s underground rail network and bus stops.

Turkey has also opened its air bases to the US-led coalition against Islamic State, joining the front-line in the battle against the jihadists after years of reluctance. NATO gave Turkey full political support on Tuesday.

But Turkey’s assaults on the PKK have so far been much heavier than its strikes against Islamic State, fuelling suspicions that its real agenda is keeping Kurdish political and territorial ambitions in check, something the gov-

ernment denies.

Of the 1,302 people arrested in what officials have described as a “full-fledged battle against terrorist groups” in recent days, 847 are accused of links to the PKK and just 137 to Islamic State, government spokesman Bulent Arinc said.

Turkey has also made clear that its operations against Islamic State in Syria will not include air cover for Syrian Kurdish fighters also battling the jihadists.

The chairman of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition HDP party, Selahattin Demirtas, whose lawmakers Erdogan wants to see prosecuted for alleged links to the PKK, called for an immediate halt to violence on both sides.

“We have to establish democratic pressure that will help silence the guns immediately.

We are ready to work with all politicians who want to achieve this,” he told reporters. l

DT

10 WORLD

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Two men due in court for killing Cecil the lion n AFP, Hwange Two men were due to appear in a Zimbabwean court on poaching charges yesterday after a wealthy American dentist killed a beloved lion just outside a national park, sparking criticism around the world.

Cecil the lion, a popular attraction among international visitors to Hwange National Park, was lured beyond the reserve’s boundaries by bait and killed earlier this month.

The hunter was identified as Walter Palmer, a dentist and experienced trophy hunter from Minnesota, who allegedly paid $50,000 for the hunt.

Professional Zimbabwean hunter Theo Bronkhorst and local landowner Honest Ndlovu will appear in court in Hwange town yesterday to face poaching charges. The two were seen at the court venue waiting for the hearing.

Palmer issued a statement on Tuesday that suggested he had left Zimbabwe weeks ago.

“I have not been contacted by authorities in Zimbabwe or in the US about this situation, but will assist them in any inquiries they may have,” he said, without revealing his whereabouts.

Palmer, who shot Cecil with a powerful bow and arrow, said he had “relied on the expertise of my local professional guides to ensure a legal hunt.”

“I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practise responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion,” he said.

“I had no idea that the lion I took was a known, local favourite, was collared and part of a study until the end of the hunt.”

Vitriolic anger

Amid a fierce outpouring of anger, radical US animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) called for Palmer to be hanged.

“He needs to be extradited, charged, and, preferably, hanged,” Ingrid Newkirk, president of PETA US, said in a statement.

The Zimbabwe Conservation Task Force charity said Palmer and Bronkhorst had gone out at night with a spotlight and tied a dead animal to their vehicle to lure Cecil into range.

It alleged Palmer’s first shot did not kill the lion, which was eventually shot dead 40 hours later.

Cecil, aged about 13, was said by safari operators to be an “iconic” animal who was recognised by many visitors to Hwange due to his distinctive black mane.

The tracking collar was part of a University of Oxford research programme.

Palmer is well-known in US hunting circles as an expert shot with his bow and arrow, and has travelled across the world in pursuit of leopards, buffalo, rhino, elk and other large mammals.

A makeshift memorial formed outside his shuttered office as people outraged by the story dropped off stuffed animals and flowers.

Emmanuel Fundira, president of the Safari Operators Association of Zimbabwe, described Cecil as “almost semi-domesticated.”

Some hunting of lions and other large animals is legal in countries such as South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe, where permits are issued allowing hunters to kill certain beasts that are beyond breeding age.

It is outlawed, however, in Zimbabwe’s national parks. l

DT

EDITORIAL 11

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

INSIDE

Eidonomics How many people give Zakat? How many people receive fitra in Bangladesh, and what is the total amount? What is the size of the ‘tip economy’?

PAGE 12

Very important person The officer-in-charge blows a long whistle to end this surreal scene and gives the green signal to all, and the crowd goes back to its usual chaos as if in relief at having passed the VIP like a kidney stone PAGE 13

Colour still divides us They say beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, but when the beholder is a Bangladeshi, beauty is almost always synonymous with fairness PAGE 14

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BIGSTOCK

EC must account for missing women voters

I

t is highly concerning that the 2013 update of the national voter list recorded 291,000 fewer female voters than males.

Women slightly outnumber men in the adult population and there were 1.74% more women than men on the voter list prepared in 2008.

We hope the three-phase updating process begun by the Election Commission this week can help rectify and eliminate any inaccurate gender-gap and guarantee a fully accurate voter list.

The combination of door-to-door data collection and crossmatching with NID and other official records should make it easier for the EC to identify and address anomalies in its database.

Greater efforts should be made to raise public awareness of the importance of voter registration through civic education campaigns to help make sure nobody misses out. This is particularly important given the EC’s decision to begin registering future voters currently aged 15-17.

At the same time, the EC also needs to address the broader concerns of citizens groups to improve accountability of its procedures. Bringing in a mechanism for more independent verification of its records would be a welcome step in this regard.

To address the gender-gap, the EC should put special effort into rechecking voter lists for all localities showing a significant disparity between male and female voters.

This is vital to help root out fraud and ensure all citizens are properly able to vote in elections. It is also important to help authorities identify areas and groups where records are not being kept properly, as these citizens may be missing out on vital support from social safety net initiatives.

Getting records accurate, verified, and up-to-date is imperative to prevent future anomalies.

Scrutinise discrepancies to ensure all citizens are able to vote

DT

12 OPINION

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

For many, Eid means shopping

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Eidonomics n Mamun Rashid

E

xactly how much money changed hands during Eid-ul-Fitr? A reporter friend of mine, quoting an FBCCI leader, told me it would be a minimum of Tk136,000cr. A newspaper report referring to money circulation data from Bangladesh Bank mentioned the number Tk112,000cr. We, at Brac Business School, did a brief review of the Eid-ul-Fitr spending in 2011. The preliminary numbers came out to be Tk55,000cr.

A representative from the association of Bangladesh fashion-wear producers mentioned, during a television interview, that they were expecting at least $2bn, or Tk15,000cr, worth of sales of locally produced apparel during Eid. A Tour Operators’ Association of Bangladesh representative, while speaking to a local newspaper, mentioned how the number of domestic and international travellers was increasing fast on account of Eid holidays. This year, the number was expected to be 300,000 international travellers and almost as many, if not more, domestic travellers.

Bangladesh Bus Owners’ Association projected the number of people travelling to their home-towns to be more than 8 million.

Bangladesh Railways, marine launches, government and private airlines, and even trucks and CNG four-wheelers claimed to have carried around 3 to 4 million passengers.

Our brief survey didn’t include any home-going travellers, international and domestic tourism expenses, and the Zakat money which had been distributed. It only included iftar and sehri expenses, Eid

shopping -- which mostly comprised of saris, salwar-kameezes, panjabis, shirts and pants, shoes, electronics, cell phones, and other fashion items, as well as Eid day food expenses. This year, newspapers reported an excess of 5,000 in sales of cars during the entire month of Ramadan and Eid. How many people fast in Bangladesh?

How many people have iftar? How many people have sehri? What is the per capita purchase of saris, panjabis, shirts, pants, shoes, sandals, jewellery, and cosmetics?

How many people give Zakat? How many people receive fitra in Bangladesh, and what is the total amount? What is the size of the ‘tip economy’?

How much does one need in order to travel to their village home and back? How much does one need to go to Kolkata and come back after three days staying in a reasonably-priced hotel? How much does one need for an 18-day tour of Europe, or a one-week tour of Bali or Bangkok or Penang? How much does it take to buy an expensive TV or

a 12cft refrigerator?

How much does one need to buy a Toyota Corolla? How many people give Zakat? How many people receive fitra in Bangladesh, and what is the total amount? What is the size of the “tip economy”?

You don’t need to guess anymore, our media friends carried a lot of reports on these statistics. One might ask: “Who believes the media?” You can do your own calculations. I’ll bet that your numbers will cross Tk100,000cr, indicating a large increase in disposable incomes in Bangladesh.

The other side of this story is, of course, one about “festival economics” -- Bangladeshis are seizing every festival as an opportunity to take a break and have some fun. Every Bangladeshi these days looks forward to Eid sales and taking a vacation. Even in rural Bangladesh, we get to see so many marriages taking place just after Eid. It has already become “dhormo jar jar, utsob shobaar,” (religion is for individuals, festival is for everyone). Is this sustainable? Of course it is. Eid spending is increasing each year. Even the dull real estate or capital market scenario cannot stop people from spending.

Yes, there are unnecessary price hikes in iftar materials. While at Satkhira, one can have iftar for Tk10, at the Westin in Dhaka they can easily take more than Tk5,000 out of your pockets. The number of hotels and restaurants offering sehri is increasing every year. We see so many “sehri mehfils” being hosted by telcos and multinational companies, who are turning every occasion into a marketing opportunity.

Speaking of “gifts,” it’s always a pleasure to buy gifts for others -- buying stuff for your

parents, your siblings, your in-laws, and then include your aunts, uncles, friends, and neighbours. Where does the money come from? We don’t know. What about the tips?

All of a sudden you discover that your driver, the lift operator in your office, the ATM booth security personnel, the trolley boy at the airport, the bus-counter rep, the bus helper, the cleaners in your apartment, the receptionist at the hospital, hotel, and every other place with a foyer, everyone is staring at you, all of a sudden super pro-active about serving you.

Don’t be fooled, it’s all for the tip.

Then you start counting: It becomes more than Tk2,000 for each one of us to give out in tips to the smiling, seemingly happy people around us. And you are happy too. Police bosses appear on TV screens and reassure us all of safe movement, safe travels, and safety in offering prayers on Eid day.

Their traffic sergeant friends took away at least Tk1,000cr from various cars, buses, and trucks in city centres, roundabouts, or busy market places. You had to pay for parking wrong, having an outdated driver’s license, or having an expired insurance date. You smile with a little dismay, and they smile too.

Many received bonuses, many received Zakats, fitra, or tips, and some received special gifts or “upri” (excess income). Everyone is happy, and more than Tk100,000cr changed hands. There was a happy governor, a happy finance minister, and a happy prime minister.

Only 300 lives were lost in a country of 160 million in various road accidents during that period. But that’s a small number, isn’t it? l Mamun Rashid is a business professor and financial sector entrepreneur.

DT

OPINION 13

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Very important person

Is there a better way to deal with this traffic gridlock?

The officer-in-charge blows a long whistle to end this surreal scene and gives the green signal to all, and the crowd goes back to its usual chaos as if in relief at having passed the VIP like a kidney stone

n SM Shahrukh

I

t is an important cross-section on the VIP road. It’s early evening, and it’s been raining all day, but it has stopped now. A few umbrellas are still unfurled, some people are not yet convinced that the downpour has totally stopped.

A VIP is about to give the name of the road its vindication -- he or she will travel on it to reach a destination. An august occasion awaits the big honcho, surely. The junction has roads going to the east and the west.

They do not hold the VIP status, rickshaws ply on them. All movements, mechanical and human, are rescinded for the time being -- man and machine and a few stray dogs wait; they are made to wait by over-eager policemen.

A man in a light blue safari chain smokes inside the air-conditioned car. He has an appointment in half an hour. His driver is trying hard not to cough -- he has a choking feeling. An office clerk removes the umbrella away from his head to check if raindrops would still hit his head, the drops accumulated on his umbrella slide along and drop on the freshly pressed highly starched shirt of a young man waiting to go to Bashundhara mall for an evening of feasting his eyes, maybe even get a phone number. He grimaces and curses under his breath as he

notices the dark wet spots on his immaculate shirt.

A young girl, returning from her garment factory job, thinks of all the chores still remaining before she can get some sleep.

The methamphetamine addict waits with tremors all over his body -- he is eyeing the dealer standing on the other side, a meeting would please them both; in different ways, though.

A drunk is rigorously chewing paan to kill the odour before he goes home. A jobless man waits to cross to the other side just for the heck of it.

A school-boy pants under the heavy load of books. An old man wants to go to his friend’s place to loan some money for the umpteenth time. Two young lovers sit on a motorbike, she gently rests her head on his shoulders.

A little boy is selling peanuts from a wicker basket. Hoodlums sip tea and smoke cigarettes as they plan their next extortion bid. A beggar is mightily pissed at the nonmovement of cars -- he needs new cars to come, they bring new gullible benefactors searching for a shortcut to heaven.

The rickshaw-puller is anxious, as he has just given a bribe to the policeman to let him cross over to the other side using the VIP road. He fears the officer-in-charge would move him to another spot.

He sweats in the cool evening air. His passengers are a newlywed couple. They are too busy groping each other under the hood of the rickshaw -- the mundane does not exist for them.

The policeman, richer by a full Tk5 note, is mightily annoyed at all this sudden activity. He would much rather chit chat with Sokhina, the bhapa pitha seller.

The bus driver, with his human-hauler choc-a-bloc full is having a smoke while reminiscing about his carefree days in the village. Flooded paddy fields during the rains catch his fancy; the city is dead for the time being.

The people inside the bus are breathing each other’s body odour, maybe getting some oxygen in the mix of sweat, cheap perfume, and ator. The helper is taking a breather, sitting at the tea-stall nearby, smoking a cigarette, leering at the woman wearing a wet sari while slurping condensed milksweetened tea from a chipped cup.

A group of boys masked in mud from head to toe after a football game in the rain would like nothing better than to take a meagre bath at the community tap. A young man stands with a book; he is trying hard to read a poem in the insufficient streetlight. Another waits to go to the level crossing to jump under the train.

The sirens deafen the crowd, lights glare, several cars whoosh by. The VIP is busy reading a paper resting on the lap, never taking a look at the city in suspension. The officer-in-charge blows a long whistle to end this surreal scene and gives the green signal to all, and the crowd goes back to its usual chaos as if in relief at having passed the VIP like a kidney stone. l SM Shahrukh is a freelance contributor.

DT

14 OPINION

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Racism has absolutely no place in a sports arena

Colour still divides us n Nibir Mostafa Khan

T They say beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, but when the beholder is a Bangladeshi, beauty is almost always synonymous with fairness

he British left us with many things when they exited this part of the world: A railway system, three different countries, and a severe case of a nationwide inferiority complex -- in terms of everything -- but especially in terms of complexion or skin tone.

They say beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, but when the beholder is a Bangladeshi, “beauty” is almost always synonymous with fairness. The extensive roots of the “colourist” principles in our society are alarming, yet it is not given enough attention due to bigger and more complex problems that are present in the community.

It has reached a point where it is not a noticeable national phenomenon anymore, but it has gone across borders and has given Bangladeshis the ill reputation of being racist.

The incident in question took place at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium: A few rowdy fans made racist remarks towards South African cricketers on two separate occasions, forcing match referee Chris Broad to threaten to stop and abandon the match.

A few of the perpetrators were caught, with two of them being minors. Unfortunately, catching the offenders does not solve the

problem. We, as a society, should ask ourselves how and why such backward thoughts are instilled within the minds of children.

When you think about it, it’s not that surprising at all. From the moment we are born, we Bangladeshis are labeled into three categories: Forsha (fair skin), shamla (brownish skin), and kaalo (dark skin).

Everyone is happy if the child is forsha, and even if you are dark-skinned, no one will say it out loud, because they think they will offend the parents.

But they let go of their muzzles when the child becomes a grown-up, to the point where he or she is taught that being darkskinned is unfortunate, and how it will be a great hassle to get them married since no one likes dark skin.

And the media is not helping at all in this case. The majority of our celebrities are fair, and those who are not are made to look that way using make up in order to appeal to viewers. Some of our advertisements are as bad as the products they try to sell. Fairness creams -- why on Earth would someone need such a product?

Some of these commercials claim that if one doesn’t have fair skin, one will not be able to accomplish anything in their lives, be it getting a job, or winning a competition or a sporting event. Fairness products have a

huge market in our sub-continent alone.

Thinking rationally, one would come to the conclusion that the biggest buyers of such a miraculous product would be Africans, but that’s not the case. African people are proud of their skin colour and do not want to change that.

Shadeism has its roots in the outmoded caste system. Long ago, people from higher castes didn’t have to work in the sun like those from lower castes, which meant that the idea of fairness symbolising wealth would become common, and the desire to be fair would seep into the communities not “blessed” with it. Also, as per the nature of Bangladeshis, almost anything “bideshi” is considered to be better.

It is high time we addressed this issue, and it’s important that we start with the children. Academic books could contain specific chapters addressing this issue. The media could start being more open about this social problem and work towards rectifying it.

Lastly, I would like to apologise to the South African cricket team on behalf of Bangladesh, because we are all just as guilty as the offenders. I hope we see no further incidents like this in the future. l Nibir Mostafa Khan is an intern at the Bangladesh Enterprise Institute.

16

Why it’s a bad idea for China to prop up its stock market

17

Britain’s economy bounces back

19

Stocks edge lower after modest rally

Muhith frets about BASIC Bank’s huge cash deficit n Asif Showkat Kallol Finance Minister AMA Muhith expressed his concerns over mammoth cash deficit of BASIC Bank as the crisis kept the state-owned lender from doing business with other financial institutions.

“Cash deficit in BASIC now totals around Tk3,600 crore, which should be eased to run business with other banks,” he made a note on the bank’s summary audit report. He added the bank possessed enough wealth to operate business.

Muhith, however, said the bank showed a good performance in recovery of loans and readjustment of default loans.

A finance division official said the bank would not receive Tk2,000 crore to meet its capital shortfall soon, which might come at the end of December this year.

Finance minister agreed to provide the sum from budget allocation against the bank’s demand of Tk5,000 crore.

The audit report, which was conducted on 2010-14 data, recommended reducing operating cost and lending to small and medium enterprises.

It also asked for departmental actions against staff and officials involved with the irregularities and maintain strict policy in approving new loans.

It said the classified loans and advances of the bank was Tk8,108 crore at the end of 2014.

Of that amount, Bangladesh Bank gave permission to BASIC Bank to keep Tk2,999 crore as block assets.

Finance Minister AMA Muhith BASIC Bank put a provision of Tk430.64 crore against classified loans while the total possible provision was Tk2,363.77 crore.

The bank’s former management showed Tk312.61 crore as income of the bank though it was supposed to be kept as interest suspend of classified loans and advances.

The bank did not put any provision on the purchase of branch spaces at Tk91.98 crore.

The audit found actual capital shortfall is Tk3,609.13 crore. Of the amount, necessary capital is Tk923.64 crore against reserve negative capital of Tk2,685.49 crore.

The bank’s risk-based assets against necessary capital was 29.08% at the end of 2014 while the rate of commercial banks is usually 10%.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

The report mentioned 13 irregularities - big and small - which included approving loans beyond the limit and without collateral and also increasing grace periods.

Besides, the instalments of repayment were reduced without consent of the respective branch which provided the loan and clients took several loans showing same single asset as collateral in all cases.

The bank authorities also did not make it sure that the loans were being utilised properly in the announced activities.

“I had a discussion with the BASIC board of directors which already identified those involved with the 2012 big loan scam and the defaulters,” finance minister said. l

CAAB wants withdrawal of non-tax revenue n Tribune Report The Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) has requested the government for withdrawing non-tax revenue from its earnings.

To settle its longstanding dispute over the unpaid tax with the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the CAAB officials have come up with the fresh demand for the withdrawal of non-tax revenue.

The aviation regulatory body has recently sent a request to finance ministry soon after it had agreed to pay tax on its income to NBR. The revenue board and the CAAB were in dispute over paying tax since financial year 2011-2012 after the NBR demanded Tk44 crore as income tax to CAAB. The total demand

stood at Tk186 crore as of FY 2014-2015.

The civil aviation authority was, however, was declining to pay the tax, claiming it a non-taxable entity.

It is quite impossible for CAAB to pay nontax revenue and corporate tax simultaneously to the government exchequer after payment of different costs including staff salaries, repairs and maintenance costs, and development expenditures, said the CAAB officials while explaining the reason for seeking exemption of payment of NTR. During a meeting held on June 29, both parties have decided to recommend the government to waive aviation regulator from paying non-tax revenue.

The meeting was held at the civil aviation and tourism ministry.

Civil Aviation Minister Rashed Khan Menon, Secretary Khorshed Alam Chowdhury, NBR Chairman Md Nojibur Rahman, CAAB member (finance) Mizanur Rahman, among others, attended the meeting.

The aviation regulator has already paid over Tk45 crore income taxes for the fiscal year 2014-2015 to the NBR. It has also paid Tk55 crore as non-tax revenue to the government in the same fiscal year.

Meanwhile, the government has set a target of getting Tk100 crore income tax in the current fiscal year from the CAAB. l

20

DT

Business

15

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

IamSME of Bangladesh kicks off to help SMEs

Heidi Berg: Hot prospect for Mobile Financial Services in Bangladesh n Tribune Report

Bangladesh has a huge prospect for mobile financial services (MFS) as a vast segment of people remains unbanked here, said Heidi Berg, director of Telenor’s strategic FS projects.

“Access to formal financial services at an affordable cost especially for the poor is a tough task. Considering this aspect, MFS can play a vital role in reaching the services to the rural areas,” she said, while talking to journalists in a city hotel yesterday.

Some 2.5 billion people do not have access to financial services, though, 1.7bn of them have mobile phones, Heidi Berg said.

It is a large scope to reach those people financial services, added the Telenor official.

Mobile account usage in African country’s like Kenya is 97%, Tanzania 72%, Uganda 70% whereas in Bangladesh it is only 5%.

The total value of monthly transactions in Bangladesh made through mobile phones stood at Tk11,104 crore in February, according to a study by USAID. Praising the figure, Heidi said undoubtedly it is a good sign, but those are either sending or receiving money through agents, not through their own accounts.

“Traditionally banks are not interested in MFS. But bkash, an MFS company in Bangladesh, is doing well because it has emerged as a separate organisation and is more focused on its job responsibility.”

Despite impressive growth gains in capital base, income, returns on equity and other areas, the financial sector remains lagging behind due to lack of mobile financial services, she added.

According to the draft MFS guideline of Bangladesh Bank, each MFS platform will require a paid-up equity capital of TK1bn.

According to Heidi, Bangladesh need a contemporary MFS guideline for rapid countrywide expansion of mobile phone networks in Bangladesh. l

DT

16 BUSINESS

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Why it’s a bad idea for China to prop up its stock market

A man is seen in front of a board showing a graph of stock prices at a brokerage office in Beijing, China REUTERS

n John Foley China’s pledges to prop up the stock market are unwise. It didn’t have to be this way – if only the country’s authorities had been able to resist the lure of inflating asset prices.

That’s a challenge few governments have met.

After the benchmark Shanghai Composite

index fell 8.5% on July 27, the main stock regulator announced it would continue to support the market. Such twitchiness is astonishing. Dark talk of “malicious shorting” adds to the air of a government on the back foot.

This is the high price of being a free rider.

For most of the past three decades, financial markets in China were something to be

controlled, or selectively employed to aid the real economy. That displeased foreign banks and investors, but basically kept things stable. Companies funded themselves from profits or bank loans. Equity typically made up less than 5% of new financing in any given month.

But the siren song of rising asset prices has proved hard to resist. Politicians sat by over the past five years while the property market blew up into a bubble that still hasn’t fully deflated, basking in the resulting wealth effect.

The more recent run-up in stocks is in some ways worse. House prices are hard to gauge definitively, but everyone can read the unambiguous symbol of a plunging bourse.

There is still plenty more the government can do to fight the slide in stocks, which have now slipped by a third in less than a month, from cutting interest rates to mandating share buybacks for state-owned companies. But short of announcing an open-ended direct purchase of shares in the market, all options are likely to have diminishing returns.

In fact, the real damage was done when Beijing’s mandarins ruled out the sensible course of action: using tighter rules on trading and leverage to cool an ascending stock market. That makes them no more foolish and vain than many Western officials. But by perpetuating the fiction that they were behind the market’s rise, China’s planners have ended up slaves to its decline. l John Foley is a Reuters Breakingviews columnist.

The article was initially published at Reuters.

Amazon wants air space for delivery drones

Rollercoaster China stock market has more room to drop n AFP, Shanghai

Fasten your seat belts investors: China’s volatile stocks still have room to drop, but analysts say keeping the rollercoaster on the tracks will depend on how the government manages its eventual exit from the market.

An 8.48% plunge on Monday - the biggest in eight years - renewed fears about the government’s management and the health of the underlying economy, in which growth has already slowed to levels unseen since the global financial crisis.

In moves widely criticised as anti-market, the government has intervened by barring some investors from selling, setting up a war chest to buy stocks and threatening to arrest those who engage in short-selling - a bet prices will go lower.

But after an exuberant, government-engineered 150% rise over the 12 months to midJune when the market peaked, and a 29% correction between then and Tuesday, analysts said prices can go still lower.

“A big rebound seems unlikely now,” Zhang Gang, an analyst from Central China Securities, told AFP. He expects the Shanghai market to test support at 3,500 points and then at 3,200. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index was down 0.21% at 3,655.27 by the break Wednesday.

“The (government) measures are generally on the right path, but it takes time for the market to recognise it,” Zhang said. “After the risk is resolved, the market will perform better next year.”

The key will be how the government manages divestment of its newly acquired stock holdings without spooking tens of millions of “mom and pop” investors, the main force in China’s markets who trade on rumour and speculation.

Worries the government is preparing to exit the market, despite repeated denials including the latest on Monday, was the trigger for the biggest fall since February 2007. l

n AFP, Sam Francisco

San Francisco, United States | AFP | Wednesday 7/29/2015 - 01:00 GMT | 448 words Online retail colossus Amazon wants to carve out a special zone of the sky to shuttle commercial drones that would deliver goods to its customers.

Amazon Prime Air project vice president Gur Kimchi used a NASA convention in California on Tuesday to fly the idea of dedicating separate air zones for commercial drones.

Kimchi proposed setting commercial drone zones between 200 and 400 feet (61 and 122 meters) above the ground, with a nofly buffer of 100 feet above to keep them safely apart from other aircraft.

Less sophisticated drones, such as those used by hobbyists, could be given air space below that used by the faster, more sensor-equipped commercial models.

“Amazon believes the safest and most efficient model for sUAS (small Unmanned Aerial Systems) with mixed equipage and capabilities is in segregated airspace with a defined structure for operations below 500 feet,” said a written portion of the Amazon Prime Air presentation. l

Jamuna Bank Limited has recently held its half-yearly business conference for the on-going year at a hotel in Dhaka. The bank’s chairperson, Md Sirajul Islam Varosha was present at the conference as chief guest

SM Abu Mohsin

Sohela Hossain

Abu Mohsin becomes chairperson of NCC Bank n Tribune Business Desk

NRB Commercial Bank Limited has recently opened its 31st branch KDA Avenue in Khulna. The bank’s chairperson, Engineer Farasath Ali has inaugurated the branch

NCC Bank Ltd has recently elected its directors SM Abu Mohsin as the bank’s chairperson while Sohela Hossain as its vice chairperson.

SM Abu Mohsin is the director of Central Hospital Ltd. He is also associated with many other business entities, social and educational organizations.

Sohela Hossain is a renowned educationist, social worker and researcher. She is also the director of Mir Akter Hossain Ltd, Mir Cement Ltd, Mir Concrete Ltd and Mir Real Estate Ltd. l

DT

BUSINESS 17

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Britain’s economy bounces back, despite currency hit to exporters n Reuters, London British economic growth got back on track in the second quarter but the strength of the pound hurt manufacturers, putting the Bank of England in a tricky spot as it gets closer to raising interest rates.

The economy grew by 0.7% in the three months to June, the Office for National Statistics said on Tuesday, in line with forecasts and above the long-run average. It followed an unexpected slowdown to 0.4% in the first three months of 2015.

But the figures showed an increased reliance on domestic demand, with business and financial services powering ahead, while factory output suffered a rare quarterly fall.

“Sterling strength has clearly been a key driver behind the re-emergence of the twospeed economy, making life more difficult for export-focused UK manufacturers,” Investec economist Victoria Clarke said.

Oil and gas output had one of its biggest leaps in a generation, after a tax cut for the sector in March.

Sterling rose almost a cent against the dollar GBP= as traders bet that the data kept the BoE on track for a rate rise early next year.

Last year Britain recorded its fastest growth in eight years and BoE Governor Mark Carney said this month that the decision on when to raise interest rates from their record low 0.5 percent would come into focus around the end of the year.

Economists expect a minority of policymakers to vote to raise rates as soon as next week’s BoE meeting, encouraged by signs of stronger wage growth and an economy close to full capacity.

But other policymakers have said sterling strength is likely to keep a lid on prices, reducing the need for higher rates, leaving Carney with a difficult balancing act when he presents the BoE’s latest economic forecasts.

“A hawkish slant ... aimed at preparing markets for normalization, would likely make matters worse for externally focused UK man-

China to keep buying stocks in bid to quell market panic n AFP, Beijing China will unleash more funds to stabilise its sharemarket, state media reported on Monday, after Shanghai stocks saw their biggest daily fall for more than eight years.

State-backed China Securities Finance Corporation will continue to buy stocks, Xinhua reported, citing a spokesman for the China Securities Regulatory Commission Zhang Xiaojun.

The move was made to dispel “rumors that the national margin trading service provider has backed off from stabilizing the stock market,” Xinhua said.

Chinese shares slumped more than eight percent on Monday, their biggest fall in a single session since February 2007, after weak economic data revived fears about the health of the world’s second-largest economy. l

An elevated view shows the financial district of the City of London ufacturers, potentially driving sterling higher still,” Clarke said.

Per-capita output back to peak

The ONS said that in the year to June, British economic output rose by 2.6%, and output per head finally returned to around its precrisis level.

The preliminary data covered the run-up to a national election which delivered a shock outright victory to Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservative Party.

Tuesday’s figures underscored how Britain’s dominant services sector is driving growth. Output in services, which make up more than three quarters of the economy, was up 0.7 percent on the quarter after a 0.4% rise in the first three months of 2015.

Domestic demand is likely to stay strong,

REUTERS

with households bolstered by higher wages and temporarily low inflation, and signs that firms are investing more as the recovery matures.

But demand from the euro zone has remained weak. On Monday an industry survey pointed to the weakest outlook for exporters in nearly four years.

The ONS figures on Tuesday showed factory output dropped by 0.3%, its first quarterly fall in over two years.

But overall industrial output rose by 1%, the biggest increase since late 2010, helped by a 7.8% quarterly rise in the component which includes oil and gas extraction, the largest jump since 1989.

Construction was flat on the quarter, recovering from a fall in the previous quarter.

Official data continues to remain weaker than more robust private-sector surveys. l

UAE hikes petrol prices 24%, cuts diesel 29% n AFP, Abu Dhabi The United Arab Emirates will hike the retail price of petrol by 24% but prices will still be low by international standards, a government committee announced on Tuesday.

From Saturday, the price per litre of gasoline at the pump will be 2.14 dirhams (58 US cents/53 euro cents).

However, diesel prices will be cut by 29% to 2.05 dirhams. The committee said the prices would be adjusted each month.

The UAE, one of the world’s leading petroleum producers, decided last week to end subsidies on fuel, a move that is expected to save billions of dollars a year. Fuel prices in the federation are already the highest of any of the six Gulf Arab states but still among the lowest in the world because of the heavy subsidy.

Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei said last week the decision was “in line with international economic trends to liberalise markets and boost competitiveness”.

He said it would also cut fuel consumption and encourage greater use of environmentally friendly transport alternatives such as electric cars.

In 2013, the transport sector was responsible for 22% of harmful emissions in the UAE, the minister said.

Like in other Gulf states, the UAE’s revenues have been hit hard by the sharp drop in crude prices since last year.

The IMF has forecast that the UAE will post a budget deficit this year - its first since 2009 of 2.3% of Gross Domestic Product, or around $9bn. In January, Kuwait began selling diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel at market price but left heavy subsidies in place on petrol and electricity.

Bahrain and Oman, which are already posting budget shortfalls, have also said they plan to cut subsidies, especially on fuel.

OPEC kingpin Saudi Arabia, whose energy subsidies bill is estimated by the IMF at $108bn this year, is not planning any cuts. Petrol prices in the kingdom are the cheapest in the Gulf and among the lowest in the world. l

Sri Lanka ties with Google for Internet beamed from balloons n AFP, Colombo Sri Lanka teamed up on Tuesday with Google to bring high-speed Internet access to the island using balloons, aiming to become the first country in the region with complete coverage.

Foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera said officials signed an agreement with Google in the capital Colombo to launch the helium-filled, high-tech balloons above the Indian Ocean island in coming months.

Google announced Project Loon in 2013 aimed at delivering Internet connections to remote or rural areas worldwide using gear floating from thousands of the balloons.

“The entire Sri Lankan island – every village from (southern) Dondra to (northern) Point Pedro – will be covered with affordable

high speed Internet using Google Loon’s balloon technology,” said Samaraweera, who is also IT minister.

Officials said local Internet service providers will have access to the balloons, reducing their operational costs.

Muhunthan Canagey, head of local authority the Information and Communication Technology Agency, said he expected Google to have finished sending up the balloons by next March.

“Service providers will be able to access higher speeds and improve the quality of their existing service once the balloon project is up and running,” Canagey told AFP. “We can also expect prices to come down,” he said after he signed the agreement with Michael Cassidy, a Google vice president.

The balloons, once in the stratosphere, will be twice as high as commercial airliners and barely visible to the naked eye, Google has said.

Google plans to keep the balloons aloft in the stratosphere for 100 days, transmitting Internet signals to the ground, and with their movements guided by an algorithmic formula. Tests were carried out in New Zealand in 2013.

Official figures show there are 2.8 million mobile Internet connections and 606,000 fixed line Internet subscribers among Sri Lanka’s more than 20 million population.

Sri Lanka became the first country in South Asia to introduce mobile phones in 1989 and the first to roll out a 3G network in 2004. It was also the first in the region to unveil a 4G network two years ago. l

DT

18 BUSINESS

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

News, analysis and recent disclousres NAVANACNG: The Board of Directors has recommended 15% cash dividend for general shareholders (excluding Sponsors) for the year ended on March 31, 2015. The Sponsors shareholders hold 2,92,30,041 shares out of total 6,85,28,592 shares of the Company and general shareholders will get cash dividend of Tk. 5,89,47,826.50.

Date of AGM: 16.09.2015, Time: 10:30 AM, Venue: Bashundhara Convention Centre-2, Baridhara, Dhaka. Record Date: 18.08.2015. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 3.54, NAV per share of Tk. 30.19 and NOCFPS of Tk. 1.82 for the year ended on March 31, 2015.

SUNLIFEINS: The Board of Directors has recommended 6% stock dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2014.

Date of AGM: 15.09.2015, Time: 10:00 AM, Venue: Trust Milonayaton, 545, Old Airport Road, Tejgaon, Dhaka-1206.

Record Date: 18.08.2015.

MERCANBANK: (HY): EPS Tk. 0.50/ Tk. 0.58, NAV per share was Tk. 17.91 June 15/ Tk. 18.34 December 14.

PIONEERINS (HY): EPS Tk. 1.72/ Tk. 2.00. NAV per share was Tk. 22.39 June15/ Tk. 21.06 December 14.

CONTININS: (HY): EPS Tk. 1.51/ Tk. 1.55. NAV per share was Tk. 18.02 June 15/ Tk. 17.51 December 14.

DHAKAINS: (HY): EPS Tk. 1.00/ Tk. 1.21. NAV per share was Tk. 16.97 June15/Tk. 16.72 December 14.

ILFSL: (HY): EPS Tk. -0.36/ Tk. -0.39. NAV per share was Tk.

11.74 June 15/ Tk.11.48 June 14.

AMBEEPHA: (HY): EPS Tk. 1.72/ Tk. 1.59. NAV per share was Tk. 25.93 June 15/ Tk. 24.21 December 14.

NTC: (HY): EPS Tk.-12.53 / Tk. -13.84. NAV per share was Tk. 111.64 June 15/ Tk. 126.20 December 14.

IFIC: (HY): EPS Tk. 1.68 /Tk. 1.77. NAV per share was Tk. 25.18 June 15 / Tk. 27.18 December 14.

MJLBD (HY): EPS Tk. 1.72 / Tk. 2.19. NAV per share was Tk. 32.74 June 15/ Tk. 31.26 Dec 14.

IBNSINA: (HY): EPS Tk. 2.41 / Tk. 1.68. NAV per share was Tk. 26.89 June 15/ Tk. 29.40 June 14.

UCBL (HY): EPS Tk. 2.07/ Tk. 1.93 NAV per share was Tk. 23.67 June 15/ Tk. 24.62 June 14.

NITOLINS: (HY): EPS Tk. 1.52 /Tk. 1.45, NAV per share was Tk. 22.87 June 15/ Tk. 20.80 June 14.

KARNAPHULI: (HY): EPS Tk. 0.63 /Tk. 0.66. NAV per share was Tk. 20.63 June 15/ Tk. 19.95 Dec 14.

ABBANK: (HY): Consolidated EPS Tk. 1.41 /Tk. 1.35. NAV per share was Tk. 34.56 June 15/ Tk. 30.05 June 14.

SINGERBD (HY): EPS Tk. 0.96 /Tk. 2.51 . NAV per share was Tk. 18.10 June 15/ Tk. 19.91 Dec 14.

PUBALIBANK: (HY): EPS Tk. 1.42 /Tk. 1.86. NAV per share was Tk. 25.57 June 15/ Tk. 23.51 June 14.

NHFIL: (HY): EPS Tk. 1.12 /Tk. 0.94. NAV per share was Tk. 13.74 June 15/ Tk. 14.12 Dec 14.

MERCINS: (HY): EPS Tk. 0.98 / Tk. 1.00. NAV per share was Tk. 16.19 June 15/ Tk. 16.15 Dec 14.

Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

Company Apex Foods -A ISN Ltd. -Z National Housing Fin.-B Zaheen Spinning -N Rahim Textile -A National Polymer -A Prime Textile -A Shampur Sugar -Z AIBL 1st Is. M. F.-A Popular Life 1st M.F.-A

Closing (% Change) 9.87 9.82 9.79 8.80 6.88 6.85 6.47 6.35 6.25 5.56

CSE GAINER Company Apex Foods -A ISN Ltd. -Z National Housing Fin.-B Zaheen Spinning -N Kohinoor Chem -A National Life I -A BD Fixed Income MF-A Bangladesh Lamps -A Popular Life 1st M.F.-A Anwar Galvanizing-B

Closing (% Change) 9.99 9.82 9.52 9.27 8.53 8.51 5.77 5.76 5.66 5.57

DSE LOSER Company First Finance- A Savar Refractories-Z Rupali Bank - A AsianTigerSandhani GF-A Standard Ceramic -A Renata Ltd. -A Phoenix Finance-A ICB Islamic Bank-Z GSP Finance-A Monno Ceramic -B

Closing (% Change) -7.86 -7.01 -6.85 -5.26 -4.86 -4.75 -4.39 -4.35 -4.32 -4.20

CSE LOSER Company Linde (BD) Ltd. -A Continental Insur. -A Dhaka Bank -A Imam Button -Z SonarBangla Insu. -A S.B. 1st M. F.-A First Finance- A Popular Life Insu. -A Padma Islami Life*-N AramitCementA

Closing (% Change) -6.50 -5.63 -5.13 -4.85 -4.85 -4.40 -4.35 -4.15 -4.15 -3.99

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

DSE key features July 29, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

DSE GAINER

Sector

6,302.38 182,103,872 141,189

Traded Issues

317

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

169

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

144

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

4

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,704.51

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

32.78

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 367.48 420.12 134.83 1004.16 233.63 1035.42 7.58 779.61 1121.69 20.73 102.42 34.43 123.84 295.87 48.19 27.29 65.68 24.63 171.74 282.97 0.06

% change 5.83 6.67 2.14 15.93 3.71 16.43 0.12 12.37 17.80 0.33 1.63 0.55 1.96 4.69 0.76 0.43 1.04 0.39 2.72 4.49 0.00

Million Taka 21.45 28.55 6.43 110.38 10.10 70.15 74.27 73.67 2.09 8.60 0.73 4.96 33.16 6.46 1.10 4.27 3.45 20.56 36.32 0.02

Average (% Change) 8.08 10.51 10.15 7.32 6.57 7.35 5.40 5.44 7.53 5.02

Average (% Change) 9.69 9.82 9.39 7.06 8.53 8.51 5.29 8.11 3.65 5.37

Average (% Change) -3.08 3.09 -7.28 -3.07 0.81 -4.75 0.25 2.04 -0.81 -2.27

Average (% Change) -3.88 -5.69 -4.23 -2.59 -4.30 -3.44 -4.04 -5.34 -4.28 -1.03

CSE

ClosingAvg. 117.56 12.30 25.73 26.53 257.40 99.20 17.97 6.78 5.14 5.65

ClosingAvg. 116.51 12.30 25.29 26.38 369.00 189.90 10.95 161.49 5.40 44.95

ClosingAvg. 13.21 50.00 46.47 9.16 46.19 1214.25 20.10 4.51 13.41 31.91

ClosingAvg. 1,153.43 15.09 18.56 9.79 15.79 8.70 13.07 78.57 30.00 36.42

% change 4.15 5.53 1.24 21.36 1.95 13.58 0.00 14.37 14.26 0.40 1.66 0.14 0.96 6.42 1.25 0.21 0.83 0.67 3.98 7.03 0.00

Closing 120.20 12.30 25.80 27.20 262.40 99.80 18.10 6.70 5.10 5.70

Closing 116.70 12.30 25.30 27.10 369.00 189.90 11.00 158.00 5.60 45.50

Closing 12.90 45.10 46.20 9.00 45.00 1199.00 19.60 4.40 13.30 31.90

Closing 1,150.00 15.10 18.50 9.80 15.70 8.70 13.20 78.60 30.00 36.10

Million Taka 388.93 448.67 141.26 1114.53 243.73 1105.57 7.58 853.88 1195.36 22.82 111.02 35.17 128.79 329.03 54.64 28.38 69.95 28.08 192.30 319.29 0.07

DHIGH

DLOW

120.30 12.30 25.80 27.40 265.00 102.00 18.40 6.90 5.20 5.80

DHIGH

109.50 12.00 25.10 25.00 248.00 93.40 17.20 6.50 4.90 5.40

DLOW

116.70 12.30 25.40 27.20 369.00 189.90 11.00 164.30 5.70 45.60

DHIGH

114.90 12.30 25.00 25.50 369.00 189.90 9.90 151.00 5.20 43.00

DLOW

13.80 45.10 48.00 9.60 49.00 1270.00 20.90 4.70 13.90 33.20

DHIGH 1,160.30 16.00 18.60 10.00 16.00 8.70 13.20 80.00 30.00 37.50

Total

12.80 45.00 46.00 8.90 44.50 1184.00 19.50 4.30 13.10 30.70

DLOW 1,150.00 15.00 18.50 9.70 15.70 8.70 13.00 78.00 30.00 36.00

% change 5.70 6.58 2.07 16.34 3.57 16.21 0.11 12.52 17.53 0.33 1.63 0.52 1.89 4.83 0.80 0.42 1.03 0.41 2.82 4.68 0.00

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

35.488 5.297 11.114 37.344 6.910 70.603 12.105 0.016 2.786 13.572

Turnover in Million

0.36 0.16 2.24 1.18 9.67 3.36 0.99 -69.41 4.76 0.63

Latest EPS

0.348 0.176 0.450 1.847 0.002 0.003 0.003 0.992 1.812 0.216

Turnover in Million

326.6 76.9 11.5 22.5 26.6 29.5 18.2 -ve 1.1 9.0

Latest PE

0.36 0.16 2.24 1.18 8.25 12.46 0.51 4.32 0.63 0.68

Latest EPS

12.783 0.005 1.805 4.117 4.152 53.467 4.606 2.009 7.957 1.424

Turnover in Million

Latest PE

323.6 76.9 11.3 22.4 44.7 15.2 21.5 37.4 8.6 66.1

Latest PE

1.60 -0.64 5.84 0.60 0.49 38.92 2.96 -0.28 0.84 0.16

Latest EPS

0.017 0.032 0.035 0.098 0.003 0.014 0.167 0.055 0.045 0.797

8.3 -ve 8.0 15.3 94.3 31.2 6.8 -ve 16.0 199.4

Latest PE

32.00 3.02 3.16 -1.21 1.52 1.54 1.60 2.89 1.10 0.72

36.0 5.0 5.9 -ve 10.4 5.6 8.2 27.2 27.3 50.6

CSE key features July 29, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

516.69 17,203,573 20,784

Traded Issues

256

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

139

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

114

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

3

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,602.37

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

31.54

DT

BUSINESS 19

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Stocks edge lower after modest rally n Tribune Report

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Beximco Pharma -A Square Pharma -A Khulna Power-A LafargeS Cement-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A MJL BD Ltd.-A UNITED AIR-A FAR Chemical-N People`s Leasing-A

Shasha Denims -N Olympic Accessories -N Ifad Autos -N Shahjibazar Power-N United Power-N

VolumeShares 3,791,082 927,837 3,313,370 1,902,376 5,105,550 12,030,581 1,491,833 13,361,197 2,824,246 8,126,472

Value in Million 261.32 254.46 252.96 234.84 174.79 169.18 165.04 146.95 145.58 145.02

% of TotalTurnover 4.15 4.04 4.01 3.73 2.77 2.68 2.62 2.33 2.31 2.30

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Familytex (BD) Ltd.-A Olympic Accessories -N LafargeS Cement-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A BSRM Ltd. -A Beximco Pharma -A UNITED AIR-A United Power-N Square Pharma -A Khulna Power-A

MJL BD Ltd.-A People`s Leasing-A Keya Cosmetics -A Shahjibazar Power-N Singer BD -A

3,171,937 2,136,320 1,253,638 605,572 690,143

2,690,591 499,994 247,348 746,185 252,656 325,969 1,633,781 102,317 45,690 157,482

98,387 594,864 462,869 44,326 49,490

139.91 138.24 130.63 114.32 114.10

37.72 32.30 30.34 25.58 24.09 22.47 17.98 16.93 12.52 12.01

10.91 10.55 9.16 8.38 8.32

2.22 2.19 2.07 1.81 1.81

7.30 6.25 5.87 4.95 4.66 4.35 3.48 3.28 2.42 2.32

2.11 2.04 1.77 1.62 1.61

ClosingP 68.30 274.30 75.90 123.30 33.80 14.10 109.80 10.80 51.20 17.70

43.50 64.50 104.60 186.70 165.70

ClosingP

Change % 0.59 0.18 -1.94 -0.56 -0.59 3.68 -0.36 -0.92 -1.35 -0.56

-0.46 1.90 2.15 -1.79 -0.84

Change %

14.00 64.30 122.30 33.80 94.40 68.40 10.80 165.10 273.30 75.90

109.60 17.60 19.80 186.90 168.00

2.94 1.90 -0.97 -0.29 -1.36 0.74 -0.92 -1.02 -0.07 -1.81

-0.09 -0.56 2.59 -1.99 -2.67

ClosingY 67.90 273.80 77.40 124.00 34.00 13.60 110.20 10.90 51.90 17.80

43.70 63.30 102.40 190.10 167.10

ClosingY

13.60 63.10 123.50 33.90 95.70 67.90 10.90 166.80 273.50 77.30

109.70 17.70 19.30 190.70 172.60

DHIGH 70.10 276.00 78.00 125.50 34.60 14.60 113.00 11.20 52.50 18.30

44.60 65.90 105.00 192.70 169.00

DHIGH

14.50 65.80 125.00 34.70 98.00 70.10 11.30 170.00 277.00 77.90

112.70 18.00 20.00 192.80 171.00

DLOW 67.60 271.80 75.50 122.00 33.70 13.60 108.40 10.70 50.70 17.60

43.20 63.20 102.70 186.00 163.10

DLOW

13.60 63.30 121.50 33.70 93.20 67.70 10.80 163.20 272.00 75.70

108.80 17.40 19.20 186.00 166.00

AvgPrice 68.93 274.25 76.35 123.45 34.24 14.06 110.63 11.00 51.55 17.85

44.11 64.71 104.20 188.78 165.33

AvgPrice

14.02 64.60 122.66 34.28 95.35 68.93 11.01 165.49 273.92 76.27

110.88 17.74 19.78 189.04 168.10

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

12139.67450

(-) 0.40%

1869.55965

(-) 0.51%

14652.67320

(-) 0.44%

12139.67450

(-) 0.31%

8921.18960

(-) 0.46%

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

Stocks were back in the red yesterday as turnover fell fast with investors being cautious just before monetary policy announcement which is due today.

The market moved between positive and negative in early trading but marginal profit booking has sent the market to the negative territory.

The benchmark of the Dhaka Stock Exchange, DSEX, slumped 19 points or 0.5% to close at 4,777.

The Shariah index, DSES, inched down about 5 points or 0.5% to 1,184. The blue chip comprising index DS30 fell 9 points or 0.6% to 1,869.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange lost 41 points to settle at 8,921.

The DSE turnover was strong as it stood at Tk630 crore, which is 12.5% lower than the previous session’s value. All the large cap sectors closed lower. Power lost highest 1% in the session, followed by pharmaceuticals 0.9%, cement 0.7%.

In the financial sectors, banks and non-banking financial institutions moved down 0.7% and 0.4% respectively.

Both food and allied, and telecommunication closed

flat in the red. Textile was the only sector that moved ahead by 1.6%.

LankaBangla Securities said market is moving back and forth with adhesion in recent time.

It said after hitting the day’s high at 4,809-mark in early trading, index took moderate loss at the end amid lack of direction. Index is struggling to break the 4,800 resistance level.

“Prime driver of investor concern is centered on the slow economic data.”

IDLC Investments said market shied away from 4,800 points psychological level as investors remained uncertain on whether the market has gathered enough strength to reach higher levels.

It said although earning figures were impressive for multiple large caps, their price remained unresponsive as they had already rallied significantly.

It said the central bank is scheduled to announce monetary policy today for first half of the fiscal year 2015-16.

“All eyes are now fixed on the central bank for the much anticipated monetary stimulus to the country’s economy to make a jump start,” IDLC said. l

ANALYST

Market shied away from 4,800 points psychological level as investors remained uncertain on whether the market has gathered enough strength to reach higher levels

DT

20 BUSINESS

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

IamSME of Bangladesh kicks off to help SMEs n Tribune Report

Integrated Association of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises of Bangladesh was launched yesterday in the capital with an aim to provide small and medium-size enterprises with proper guidelines, business plans and easy loans.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman inaugurated the new organisation – IamSMEofBangladesh – in Radisson Blue Water Garden Hotel as the chief guest while Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran and European Union Ambassador Pierre Mayaudon were present as special guests.

The BB governor also launched the new website (http://iamsmeofbangladesh.com/) for this newly established organisation.

In his address, Atiur said: “IamSMEofBangladesh would be able to bring meaningful changes to the lives of MSME entrepreneurs in Bangladesh. This is possible because our closest neighbour India plays a pro-active role in IamSMEofIndia.”

“This will turn out to be another milestone in our joint-campaign for developing SMEs in the region.”

Indian High Commissioner Pankaj Saran said: “The journey is not just of Bangladesh, but together. Both countries are very similar and we are not tools to each other, we have to move together.”

“SME provides opportunities to young entrepreneurs,” he added.

While addressing the programme, EU Ambassador in Dhaka Pierre Mayaudon said SME

BEPZA exports post 11% growth in FY15 n Tribune Report

The country’s export earnings by the enterprises under Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA) have registered a 10.65% growth to US$6.11bn in the just concluded fiscal year.

The figure is 7.25% or $413.5m higher than that of the target of $5.7bn set for the FY2014-15.

In the FY2013-14, Bangladesh earned $6.11bn exporting products, which were produced in factories located at the country eight EPZs, which is 10.65% higher than the previous year’s earnings of $5.53bn.

“The working atmosphere in the EPZs area are very much favorable due to the onestop service facilities, which provides all export-related services within six hours, which help boost export earnings,” Nazma Binte Alamgir, general manager of BEPZA, told the Dhaka Tribune.

The productivity of workers of the EPZs factories are higher than the outside factories as the get more facilities including transportation, daycare for children, lunch and meals for over time dues, she said.

On the other hand, EPZs are free from any kinds of problems like political and labour unrest, load shedding that the outside factories are facing, she added. l

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman inaugurates the new organisation – IamSMEofBangladesh – in Radisson Blue Water Garden Hotel in the capital yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU may help reducing illegal migration as job opportunities are open for the country’s young entrepreneurs.

Rajiv Chawla, chairman of IamSMEIndia, Sukamal Sinha Chowdhury, advisor of IamSMEofBangladesh, Hossain Khaled, president of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce, SK Sur Chowdhury, deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank, and Dr Toufic Ahmad Choudhury, director general of BIBM, among others, ad-

dressed the ceremony.

IamSMEofBangladesh will get direct and indirect cooperation of Bangladesh Bank, Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management and many other SME organisations.

The SME programme on its second day will be held in Bangladesh Bank Training Academy at Mirpur followed by sector-wise knowledge sharing gathering and a grand women night at Hotel Westin on the third day. l

Tofail asks DCs to identify one export product from each district n Tribune Report

Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed has asked the deputy commissioners (DCs) to identify one potential product from their respective districts for expanding the country’s export basket.

The minister came up with the directive at a meeting with the DCs on the second day of a 3-day DC Conference 2015 held atthe secretariat in city yesterday.

“We’ve emphasised on the increase of export volume as well as products diversification,”Tofail Ahmed told the reporters after the meeting.

On the basis of one district, one product, the DCs were directed to identify at least one exportable product to the export basket, said Ahmed.

He said, “Rules of Formalin Control Act 2013 will be formulated soon, so the DCs will be able to play more effective role in controlling the use of formalin in fruits and fishes.”

“We’ve also formed Consumers Rights Protection Committees in districts and upazilalevel with the help of the DCs to ensure supply of contamination free products,” said Tofail.

Industry Minister Amir Hossain Amu said: “During the meeting, the DCs have also sought government direction for allocating plots properly to the entrepreneurs that are remain unused in several districts.”

“It is still under government consideration and an initiatives would be taken soon to allocate those plots,” said Amir Hossain while responding to the plea. “Initiatives will also be taken to reduce the prices of jute sack-bag to encourage its usage while tax will be imposed on poly-woven bags to discourage it,” said the industry minister. l

Citi: GDP growth hinges on rising investment, political stability n Tribune Report Bangladesh economic growth in the current fiscal year hinges on some factors, including boosting investment and durable political stability, says Citibank NA Bangladesh.

In its economic update on Bangladesh released yesterday, the Citibank said the government has set 7% GDP growth target for FY16, the attainment of which hinges on the increase in the investment to GDP ratio by another 2-2.5 percentage points from its current level of 26%.

The measures from the government to boost investment through developing economic zones and ports, bringing in necessary policy and regulation changes and recent announcement to merge the Privatisation Commission and the Board of Investment are all steps in this direction, the analysis said.

However, it said, ensuring durable political stability, trade liberalisation and efficient implementation of energy and communication infrastructure investments remain the preconditions for Bangladesh’s accelerated, inclusive, and sustainable growth.

On the target of containing inflation within 6.2% in the current fiscal, the Citi said do-

mestic production of rice and prices of fuel in the international market will be key determinants of whether the inflation target can be achieved.

“Furthermore, the new pay-scale for government workers, which is expected to be announced in the coming months, may also put upward pressure on prices,” it said.

Moderate prices of essential items in the domestic market and lower international oil prices helped in reducing the inflation rate considerably in FY 15.

The country’s 12-month average inflation came down to 6.4% in FY15 from 7.35% in FY 14, thus beating the inflation target.

The analysis said trade deficit in 11 months of the past financial year widened to $9.46bn from $6.18bn in the same period of the previous fiscal as import payments far exceeded export receipts. In the previous fiscal, the trade deficit was $7bn.

About exports that rose 3.35% year-onyear to $31.2bn in FY15 from $30.19bn in FY14, the analysis said exports have been riding on the slow lane for majority of FY15 period as the exports of garments, which make up for the lion’s share of Bangladesh export earnings showed limited growth.

Exporters also faced added difficulties in Euro zone, which accounts for close to 60% of the country’s export earnings, as EU growth remained sluggish and Euro depreciated by over 20% against the Bangladesh Taka, hurting price competitiveness.

For the fiscal year of FY16, the Export Promotion Bureau has set a target of $33.5bn in exports.

“To achieve the export target for the upcoming years, the primary challenge lies in export diversification strategy both geographically and in terms of concentration.

Steps are necessary to enhance regional trade with South Asian and ASEAN countries,” said Citi.

“Moreover, the export basket needs to be broadened where the pharmaceutical industry and software exports have the potential to take up the baton from the garment industry.”

It said the payment of import bills for fuel shrank due to slump in price in the international market.

“As per the central bank reports, the capital machinery and raw materials made up most of the rise in imports, which also implies that investments are on the rise and an expansion of production capacity in the near term.” l

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INSIDE

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BANMUN 2015 kicked off The largest Model United Nations conference for the high-school students of the country, the Bangladesh Model United Nations (BANMUN) 2015, started off on July 29 in Adamjee Cantonment College, Dhaka. United Nations Youth and Students Organisation of Bangladesh are organising the conference with UNIC Dhaka as the strategic partner. This year, the theme of the conference is “Role of Youth in Community Development.�

The conference started with a grand opening ceremony in the presence of the state minister of

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Photo: Bigstock

foreign affairs, Md Shahriar Alam (MP), as the chief guests while Nahim Razzaq (MP) and the principal of Adamjee Cantonment College, Brigadier Tameem Ahmed Chowdhury, were the guests of honour. The officer-in-charge of United Nations Information Centre Dhaka Md Moniruzzaman and the president of UNYSAB Mohammad Mamun Mia also attended the opening ceremony as guests.

Md Shahriar Alam inaugurated the conference and praised the initiative of UNYSAB as a timely one. The state minister also said that the Ministry

Hot Topic

Buy one, get one free of Foreign Affairs is working with UNYSAB to recognise the organisation as the youth partner of the ministry.

The opening ceremony was followed by plenary and committee session. With the participation of 560 students from around a hundred institutions, BANMUN 2015 has become the largest MUN conference of the country. The participants are gathered as delegates from different countries under ten committees and are debating on different agendas. l

24 DIY

Keeping it in the loop news

French Ambassador addresses a local workshop for climate change

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Hot Topic

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Buy one, get one free “Free samples” you don’t want with your groceries

“Free samples” you don’t want with your groceries

Photos: Bigstock

n N Anita Amreen Making her way through Karwan Bazar’s packed kitchen market, Rahima Khan pushes herself through the crowds in front of a packed vegetable stall. Crowded with aggressive morning shoppers, some reaches for the ripe stack of tomatoes, while others loudly bargain for the price of a cauliflower. As the general early morning feuds between seller and buyer ensue, Rahima shouts for half a kilo of potatoes from a corner. Carefully discarding the dented pieces, she pays for her purchase and stuffs her plastic bag into a basket

filled with her week’s groceries. Two large shopping bags in tow, she makes her way back home, pleased with the day’s bargains. For over seven years now, this has been Rahima’s weekly grocery shopping routine.

For many women just like Rahima, grocery shopping in Bangladesh is a ritual, one that many men and women take great pride in. From housewives to working fathers, many believe in making sure that they’re the ones who choose what goes on and behind the dinner table spread.

Despite the rising popularity of delivery services, many hold on to the tradition

of making the trip to kitchen markets to ensure the freshest produce and the best bargains.

While it can be a tiring, arduous task to make it to local kitchen markets to find the freshest produce, some enjoy the simple pleasures of hand-picking their vegetables as well as their poultry items.

Not only do they build a rapport with some of the traditional traders, they also have a growing belief in their produce, relying on the comfort of old faces when buying particular types of meat and fish.

“I used to shop from Karwan Bazar when I lived near that area. Ever since

moving to Banani, I’ve started shopping from Gulshan Bazar. I usually prefer Karwan Bazar since I know the shops and know exactly where to find the best freshest Rui and Ilish,” says Jamal Azim, 36-year-old trader.

Despite the rise of local shopping malls such as Agora and Nandan, the popularity of kitchen markets remains steadfast amd undeterred. Trust has been cited as one of the top reasons behind people choosing to shop on their own.

“I don’t trust the produce available at shopping malls. The vegetables are usually days old and I know it’s not fresh.

Especially the meat and fish items that are refrigerated look stale and never have the taste or freshness of poultry items brought from regular bazars,” stated Ayesha Begum, a mother of two who regularly shops from Mohammadpur Bazar.

The question remains, despite the measures taken to ensure that every meal that makes it to the table is one that is carefully monitored - from picking out the right cut of meat to cooking it - do these measures really help ensure healthy meals? A study titled “Consumption of unsafe foods: heavy metal, mineral and trace element contamination,” conducted

by Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) found that at least one or more toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, arsenic, lead, mercury, antimony and even aluminum was found in 5 out of 16 food groups. From fine rice to lentils, to fishes like Ilish and Rui, the study found that Gulshan, Karwan Bazar and Hazaribargh kitchen markets sold produce with alarming levels of lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury.

M Rafiqul Islam, professor of soil science at BAU who led the study conducted in late 2012, mentioned that it doesn’t matter whether the food was purchased from upscale markets such as Gulshan’s kitchen market or others, contamination had no clear pattern and was widespread. Ripe bananas, beef, mutton, fish and potatoes from Karwan Bazar had high levels of lead present while mercury was found in fine rice, fish and mutton from Hazaribagh kitchen market.

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THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

The average Bangladeshi household purchases: 2kg rice 1 packet puffed rice 1/2kg lentil 1kg liquid milk 2kg fish 2kg chicken 2kg potatoes An assortment of vegetables

They’ve just successfully paid Tk3,000 for poisoning their family with: Cadmium 0.685mg Arsenic 2.859mg Lead 2.102mg Mercury 0.242mg

Taking average prices, that’s approximately

Every carefully packed grocery bag is a hot bed of toxic metals, waiting to be ingested. The research stated that all households are now at dire risk of violating the FAO/WHO(2010) “Zero” provisional tolerable weekly intake for arsenic and lead in particular.

Lead:

A cumulative toxicant that affects several body systems and is especially harmful for children. According to the WHO lead exposure leads to 600,000 new cases of children with intellectual disabilities every year. It also leads to 143,000 deaths per year. As of now, there is no level of lead exposures that is considered safe.

• Young children can suffer permanent adverse health effects, especially effecting the development of the brain and nervous system.

• For adults, there is increased risk of high blood pressure and kidney damage.

• Lead is distributed to the brain, kidneys, liver and bones. This is remobilised in the blood during pregnancy, posing serious threats to the fetus.

• High levels of exposure may lead

Tk3,000

if not Market comes with These poisonous metals found more, especially if it’s a serving of 0.832mg in regular grocery items such as a family of four or of lead. If this is not fine and coarse rice, liquid milk, more. alarming enough, mutton, puffed rice and lentil how about an innocent have strong cumulative effects on packet of liquid milk for several parts of the body. Arsenic your child? That’s 0.013mg contamination, in particular, was found of arsenic poisoning that will particularly in Ilish, Rui and prawns. In directly hamper your child’s cardiovascular other words, the carefully chosen groceries health, permanently stunting his growth. families are routinely purchasing can no Everyday, lead poisoning is taking children longer be deemed safe just because they one step closer to permanent damage to have been handpicked or was purchased the nervous system. Mercury found in the from a trader they trust. consumption of fish such as Rui and Ilish One kilo of fine rice from Gulshan to attacks on the brain and nervous system, leading to coma, convulsion and even death.

Arsenic

As a natural part of the earth’s crust, arsenic is found in air, water and land. In it’s basic inorganic form, it is extremely toxic. Usually found in groundwater, long term exposure may lead to cancer, skin lesions, cardiovascular disease, neurotoxicity and even diabetes. Other sources of exposure include fish, shellfish, poultry, seafood as well as tobacco.

• Long term effects include skin, lung and bladder cancer.

• It also leads to neurotoxicity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

• Immediate symptoms of acute arsenic poisoning include vomitting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain.

,

Mercury

Mercury is one of the top ten chemical of major public health concern, as cited

by WHO. One can be exposed to this toxic chemical through consumption of fish, shellfish, especially fishes such as prawn, rui and elish. In some cases even vegetables such as potatoes, puffed rice and fine rice had mercury.

• It’s toxic to the central and preipheral nervous system.

• It may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.

• Neurological and behavioural disorders can be observed after ingestion.

• Symptoms include insomnia, tremors, memory loss, headaches and even cognitive and motor dysfunction.

can lead to serious neurological disorders as well as lead to cognitive and motor dysfunction. Cadmium found in rice, lentil and potatoes may lead to the kidney stones and eventually even contribute to osteoporosis and painful bone structure.

This study has brought to light a whole new side of toxic poisoning that’s occurring everyday, in every single household, right under our very nose. At the rate at which metal poisoning is progressing, expecting the agriculture industry to provide safe meat or vegetables can only be considered to be a far-fetched, distant dream.

Cadmium

Cadmium is classified as a human carcinogen that exerts toxic effects on the kidney, the skeletal system as well as the respiratory system. It’s mainly found in food and drinking water, rice (fine, coarse and puffed), prawn, ilish and potatoes.

• One of the main target organs for cadmium is the kidney. The accumulation of cadmium may lead to kidney stones and increased excretion of lower weight proteins in the urine.

• Disturbances in calcium metabolism may lied to osteoporosis, painful bone structure and kidney dysfunction.

• Long term consumption of cadmium can contribute to the development of lung cancer. * All statistics and data have been taken from WHO

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Ticket

diy

Keeping it in the loop n Mithul Roy Forget the times when embroidery hoops were only synonymous with grandmas, because now they are a quirky, fun and most importantly an inexpensive way to breathe in a little life to a suffocated space. As flexible as they come, there are countless ways to use these hoops as decor items, specially if you were never really into knitting, much less embroidery.

First, you’ll need to make the basic hoop.

Get to work: 1. First, select your fabric. If you want to stitch a letter or your name onto it, line out with a pencil before you stitch it in.

2. Next, use a cloth iron to carefully iron out the fabrics, making sure you take out all the creases.

3. Place the hoop over your desired fabric and carefully cut out a square slightly bigger than your hoop.

4. Now stretch the fabric over the hoop and tighten. Place your twister hoop over the fabric and tighten the screw over it to secure it in place. Tug at the fabric to make sure it is tight.

5. Once you are sure it is tight enough, turn it over and trim off the excess fabric.

6. Finally, take your assortment of hoops and hang them on the wall of your choice, whether it is over your headboard or in your living room.

7. You can also hand them up with string (using larger hoops is recommended) to create a semi see-through partition.

8. You can also use the hoops as a convenient way of showcasing your jewellery (makes getting ready much less tedious) by adding a few pins to the hoops and hanging your earrings and bracelets by the pins.

9. If you’re all about efficiency, a great way to utilize your embroidery hoops is to use it as a bulletin board. You can use burlap sacks or any thick and sturdy material of your choice. Pin your daily anecdotes and to do lists to the hoop to make for a convenient and beautiful planner. l

Things you will need: • Wooden embroidery hoops of various sizes • Colorful fabric or embroidered cloth or doilies • Scissors • Iron

news

French Ambassador addresses a local workshop for climate change H E Philippe Zeller, French Ambassador at large for Climate Change Negotiations for Asia and Oceania addressed a workshop on “People’s Perception on Climate Change Impacts in Bangladesh: Expectations from Paris Climate Negotiation.” H E Sophie Aubert, Ambassador of France to Bangladesh, hosted this event at the Residence of France in Gulshan.

The purpose of this event was to discuss the expectations of the global climate change summit to be held in Paris, France in December 2015. More than 200 countries will take part in the climate negotiations aimed at reducing carbon emissions. This year, the

conference aims to achieve a legally binding and universal agreement on climate, with the aim of keeping global warming below 2°C. “Climate impact and constraints can be seen as disasters, and they are. At a worldwide level, we have to live, produce value and assess differently, in order to build a sustainable world for the next generations,” says Sophie Aubert.

“We hope to reach a global alliance for climate in Paris. We now prefer not to only speak about climate change, but climate disruption because it encompasses all the exceptional situations we are facing around the world,” addressed Philippe Zeller. l

Miguel Herrera, Mexico’s football team coach, was fired on Tuesday, a day after he allegedly punched a reporter who had criticised his team’s performance in the recent Copa America and Gold Cup

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I ENJOY KEEPING MORE THAN BATTING: MUSHFIQ

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SHEIKH JAMAL CAN WIN THE LEAGUE TODAY

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VIDAL COMPLETES $44M MOVE FROM JUVE TO BAYERN

Amla looking for eight in a row n Mazhar Uddin

(L-R) Mohammad Shahid, Rubel Hossain, Shakib al Hasan, Mustafizur Rahman and Soumya Sarkar listen to pace bowling coach Heath Streak during Bangladesh’s training session at the SBNS yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

All’s well that ends well n Minhaz Uddin Khan Bangladesh will be looking to end their longest season on a high when they face South Africa in the second and final Test at Sher-eBangla National Stadium, starting today at 9:30am. All possible efforts are expected to be made by the Tigers for a positive result against the world’s number one Test outfit as the month-long bilateral series draws to a closure through the series decider.

Bangladesh are likely to head into the deciding Test with the same XI that played the Chittagong five-dayer. Test captain Mushfiqur Rahim had included four bowlers, excluding maverick all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, for the

first Test and his decision paid rich dividends as the Proteas were skittled out for under 250 in the first innings. So the Tigers team management is unlikely to tinker with the combination in the Dhaka Test.

Led be young sensation Mustafizur Rahman and workhorse Mohammad Shahid, the Bangladesh attack is expected to be more sharper in Mirpur, which has a lot more bite in it compared to the wicket at Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong. The pitch at the home of cricket has mostly been under covers in the last couple of days so it will be hard to judge as to whether it will be conducive for stroke-making or for wicket-taking but history indicates that it will offer more pace and bounce than what was on offer in the port city.

Not unlike the bowling department, the Tigers’ batting order has also been pleasing

with Tamim Iqbal, Mahmudullah, Liton Kumar Das and Shakib leading the way with substantial knocks. Mushfiq, without a fifty in his last 10 innings, however, has struggled in recent times and it will be expected that the diminutive batsman comes good in the Dhaka Test.

As far as the visitors are concerned, their batsmen are not being able to stick at the middle and it will be a slight concern, especially among the senior players. In the first Test, only Temba Bavuma managed a half-century so the tourists will be eyeing a much better display with the willow.

Rain however, could play spoilsport yet again with weather forecasts suggesting showers throughout the five days of the Test match.

GTV, BTV and Star Sports 4 will telecast the Test live. l

South Africa Test skipper Hashim Amla yesterday expressed hope that they would be able to continue their recent run of good form in the sub-continent when the second and final Test against Bangladesh gets underway today at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium.

The Proteas have a good record in the sub-continent, winning three of their last seven series with the remaining four ending all-square. With the visitors yet to taste a series defeat in their last seven attempts, Amla hoped that they would make it eight in a row but did guard against caution.

“We have a good record in the sub-continent. Even on wickets that don’t bounce too much, we have managed to do quite well. If the wickets offer a little bit to our seamers, it will be great and if it doesn’t, playing Test cricket in the sub-continent is hard work, especially with the weather being hot as we have seen,” Amla told the pre-Test press conference previewing the series-decider.

The 32-year old, who is enjoying a smooth run as the South African Test captain having won three series in as many attempts prior to the Bangladesh series, drew the positives from the Chittagong five-dayer which concluded in a disappointing draw due to persistent rain.

“It’s a must-win game. I don’t think there is any knockout in Test cricket as yet. Certainly we are here to win. We started well in the first two sessions of the last match. It was a kind of a drifter in the two days after,” said Amla before adding, “But everyone is excited for this Test. We managed to get a few training sessions although there was rain around. And thankfully the weather looks very good at the moment. Hopefully if we can get full five days. It’s up to us to give our best as we can.”

Amla, leading his nation in their first Test series in nearly seven months, was very much hopeful that they would sign off with a win to complete their month-long tour.

“We came to Bangladesh hoping to win as many games as we can. Obviously with the first Test match being put off, it gave a lot of emphasis to this Test match. Hopefully if we can play good cricket we will be in a position to win the Test match,” he said. l

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I enjoy keeping more than batting: Mushfiq n Mazhar Uddin

Is the South African fast bowling attack a threat for Bangladesh?

Following a good show in the recently concluded first Test in Chittagong, a confident Bangladesh team will encounter the formidable South African side in the second and final five-dayer at Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, starting from today.

And according to Tigers captain Mushfiqur Rahim, Bangladesh have the ability to clinch the two-Test series against the side ranked number one in the world, if the home side can play better cricket throughout all five days of the game.

The 26-year old wicketkeeper-batsman had a brief conversation with the media during the pre-Test press conference yesterday where he informed that he enjoys keeping more than batting, and stated that he never thought of quitting his role as a stumper.

Their pace attack is one of the best in the world and is obviously a big threat for us.

Facing their fast bowling attack will be a big challenge. But we played pretty well in the last Test, which should give us some confidence in overcoming the hurdle. Though we cannot expect things to come easy from the number one Test team in the world, we do have the ability to confront the challenge. All we need to do is to keep the processes right and apply those on the field.

Your recent batting performance was not up to the mark, having failed to reach fifty in your last 10 innings. Have you set any personal goal this time around?

What is your aim as a captain on the eve of the Test match?

We have to play better cricket throughout all five days of the match. It’s not like we can win the game in the first day, as it’s a five-day game and we have to play good cricket every single day. It’s a huge challenge for us, but at the same time it’s also a huge opportunity for us, because to win against the number one Test side would be a huge thing for Bangladesh. We dominated almost every session against South Africa in the previous Test, and our bowling unit has the ability to take 20 wickets. If we can do that, you know what the result could be; Bangladesh can win the Test series 1-0.

Will the performance from the Chittagong Test boost the side?

Obviously the performance in the last Test will give us a lot of confidence, reminding us

Bangladesh Test skipper Mushfiqur Rahim points out a crack on the wicket to national selection panel members Habibul Bashar (L), Minhajul Abedin (C) and Tigers coach Chandika Hathurusingha at SBNS yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK that we have the ability to play much better.

It’s a big chance for us to change our record in the longer-version of cricket. We played better cricket in all the three departments in the first Test but there will be more bounce in this pitch compared to Chittagong. This is going to be our last game of the season, and everyone is looking forward to giving their best.

Are you satisfied with the way the players are performing?

There’s always a hunger to do well and it’s important to stretch the good time to a longer

period as all the cricketers cannot play well every time. The young players are doing good, along with the experienced cricketers like Tamim [Iqbal] and Mahmudullah, who have been playing well for Bangladesh for a long time now. In Test cricket, a single player will not play well each time, and our target is to play a long innings, no matter who gets the opportunity. Against Pakistan, Tamim scored a double hundred and Imrul [Kayes] also scored 150 runs, and even though it did not happen in the last Test, I am hopeful that we can repeat such performances in the next game.

Everyone has their own goal and every batsman and bowler wants to contribute to the side. Not being able to perform in the last few matches is obviously disappointing for me. However, my team has been playing well and that gives me some relief. I hope that I will be able to contribute to the team, and if I get the opportunity I will try to stretch my innings into a big one which will be helpful for my side.

What are your plans on wicket-keeping?

So far, I will not be keeping in the next game but I will try to return behind the wickets very soon, since my first job is wicket-keeping. I am yet to recover from my right ring finger injury but I hope that I will be able to keep wickets again soon. Nobody wants to quit his job and there’s no chance of me quitting wicketkeeping as I enjoy it more than my batting.

However, if the team combination requires something different, then it’s another case. l

Shakib, Steyn eye contrasting 400s n Minhaz Uddin Khan The month-long South Africa tour of Bangladesh will conclude with the visitors facing hosts Bangladesh in the second and final Test, beginning at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium today. While both sides will want to finish on a positive note, there will be two particular players who will be eyeing a bit more. Bangladesh ace all-rounder Shakib al Hasan, and veteran South Africa pacer Dale Steyn will be looking to achieve their individual milestones in the game.

Shakib is seven wickets away from bagging 400 wickets in all formats of cricket.

Being able to bag seven scalps in this match would make the occasion even bigger as it would also make him only the sixth cricket-

er in history to have taken 400 international wickets alongside scoring 8000 international runs. The left-arm all-rounder had passed the 8000-run mark after scoring 47 in the Chittagong Test, taking his tally to a total of 8013.

Fans of the most celebrated Bangladesh cricketer will be on their toes, hoping for Shakib to reach the achievement. Furthermore, just three wickets in the game will see Shakib reach 150 Test wickets. The 28-year-old Bangladesh ODI vice-captain tops the Bangladeshi bowlers list with 147 Test wickets from 41 matches (68 innings).

Shakib made his Test debut in 2007 in Chittagong against India. He, however, had to wait three matches before getting his maiden Test wicket.

Meanwhile, the Proteas’ Steyn-gun is

BOWLERS WITH 400 TEST WICKETS Kapil Dev (India) Richard Hadlee (NZ) Shaun Pollock (SA) Harbhajan Singh (India) Wasim Akram (Pak) James Anderson (Eng) Curtly Ambrose (WI)

Match/Innings 131/227 86/150 108/202 102/188 104/181 106/199 98/179

Wickets 434 431 421 416 414 406 405

BBM 11/146 15/123 10/149 15/217 11/110 11/71 11/84

5/10 23/2 36/9 16/1 25/5 25/5 17/2 22/3

ready to fire. The speedster will also be desperate to try and grab the one wicket which will take him into the 400 Test wickets club.

If he reaches the milestone, Steyn will become only the 13th bowler in history to reach the mark, and only the second South African bowler, after all-rounder Shaun Pollock.

Steyn needed four wickets to reach the mark ahead of the Chittagong Test last week. Though he had eyed reaching the milestone in that match, he had fallen one wicket short. In the rain-affected game which ended in a draw, Bangladesh could only bat the first innings, in which Steyn picked up three late wickets. His colleague, pacer Morne Morkel, had previously said all necessary support will be given to Steyn regarding that one glorious wicket. l

Leading all-rounder Shakib al Hasan poses for a selfie alongside South Africa speedster Dale Steyn during a dinner party at the former’s restaurant in Dhaka recently TWITTER

CRICKETERS WITH 8000 INTERNATIONAL RUNS AND 400 WICKETS Test (Run/Wkts)

ODI (Run/Wkts)

T20I (Run/Wkts)

Total (Run/Wkts)

Kallis (SA)

13289/292

11579/273

666/12

25534/577

Jayasuriya (SL)

6973/273

13430/323

629/19

21031/440

Afridi (PAK)

1716/48

8064/395

1165/82

10945/525

Kapil (India)

5248/434

3783/25

N/A

9031/687

Cairns (NZ)

3320/218

4950/201

3/1

8273/420

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THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

QUICK BYTES Salahuddin, Nabil named in AFC committees Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin has been nominated as the member of the development committee of Asian Football Confederation yesterday. BFF vice-president and chairman of national team management committee Kazi Nabil Ahmed was named as a member of AFC’s Futsal and Beach soccer committee while other vice-president Tabith Awal became the new member of AFC’s Media and Communications committee.

BFF’s women wing deputy chairman Mahfuza Akter Kiron has also been re-nominated as the member of the executive committee of Asia’s football governing body. The duty of the new committees will last till 2019.

–TRIBUNE REPORT

Free agent Diaby joins Marseille Injury-plagued French international midfielder Abou Diaby, released by Arsenal at the end of last season, has joined Marseille, the Ligue 1 club announced. Diaby, 29, joined Arsenal from Auxerre in 2006, but his appearances were severely limited by a succession of injuries.

Capped 16 times by France, he is still regarded as a hugely talented player, even though he only made two appearances for Arsenal over the past two seasons.

–AFP

Expats Rizwan, Akmal to undergo trial today n Shishir Hoque The two expatriate footballers, Rizwan Ahmed and Mohammad Ali Akmal, are extremely confident ahead of their trial today.

The Welsh-based duo arrived in Dhaka yesterday afternoon.

Both born in Wales, this is Akmal’s second visit to Bangladesh while it will be Rizwan’s fourth visit. The duo will undergo the trial under the supervision of Bangladesh assistant coach Saiful Bari Titu.

“I’m looking forward to see how the trial goes [today],” said Akmal, who played as a right wing-back for Welsh Football League Division Two outfit Dinas Powys. He continued, “Basically, I tried for the Welsh Under-19 boys’ club and I managed to get in. I was the only Bengali to get the chance. In the last two years, I managed two caps for Wales.”

Rizwan, on the other hand, played for Dinas Powys’ first-team as a left wing-back and is excited to prove his worth. “I’m excited to prove my worth in a different country. We played in England and in Wales but never played in our home country. It’s a challenge.

I believe I have got the skill and ability,” said Rizwan, who earlier moved to England to undergo a trial for a couple of English clubs.

Rizwan’s favourite Bangladeshi players are Jamal Bhuiyan and Mamunul Islam but he was inspired most by his club team mate Atif Basir. “One player who plays for Dinas Powys and he also plays for Pakistan as well. Atif Basir. I talked with him and he also wanted to play for Bangladesh but didn’t have enough contact. I’m confident with the ability and skill I have but the weather is my main issue.

Let’s see how I adapt,” added the 19-year-old yesterday. l

Sk Jamal can win the league today n Shishir Hoque Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club will retain the bragging rights of the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League title if they can beat Mohammedan SC at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 6:30pm today.

The reigning champions are now eight points ahead of second-placed Mohammedan with 42 points from 17 matches and today’s victory will ensure their third premier league title in the cabinet with two games in hand.

Sheikh Jamal have been sensational this season beginning it with an aim to win every trophy. They scored 53 goals in 17 matches and their three foreign attacking trio – Haitian winger Wedson Anselme, Nigerian striker Emeka Darlington and Gambian midfielder Landing Darboe – have been in amazing form as they scored 43 goals combined, which is more than any other club in the league. Emeka and Wedson are also the highest scorers with 16 goals each. l

Norwich swoop for Hull winger Brady Norwich have signed Republic of Ireland winger Robbie Brady from Hull, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday. Brady agreed a three-year contract with the newly-promoted Canaries to make a quick return to the English top-flight two months after being relegated with Hull. The 23-year-old is reported to have cost Norwich £7 million ($10.9 million) and becomes manager Alex Neil’s third pre-season signing following the arrivals of Graham Dorrans and Youssouf Mulumbu.

–AFP

Southampton land QPR’s Caulker on loan Southampton have signed QPR’s England defender Steven Caulker on loan for the forthcoming season, the Premier League club confirmed on Wednesday. Saints’ manager Ronald Koeman made his move for Caulker to fill the void in his defence left by Toby Alderweireld’s move to Tottenham and a serious knee injury sustained by Florin Gardos. Caulker, who made his only England appearance in 2012, cost Southampton a “substantial undisclosed loan fee”, but it is believed the deal is not with a view to a permanent transfer to St Mary’s.

–AFP

West Brom sign Hull defender Chester West Bromwich Albion signed Hull City defender James Chester in a deal worth up to £8 million, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday. Wales international Chester, a product of Manchester United’s youth academy, agreed a four-year contract at The Hawthorns after completing a medical earlier in the week.

–AFP

Wales-based Bangladeshi expatriates Mohammad Ali Akmal (C) and Rizwan Ahmed address the media at the BFF House yesterday. The duo arrived in the capital yesterday afternoon ahead of their today’s trial COURTESY

Muktis win at last, Abahani out of title contention n Shishir Hoque Muktijoddha registered their first victory in the second phase of the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League as they edged past Abahani 1-0 at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

A second-half goal from veteran striker Enamul Haque was enough for the All Reds to earn their first second-phase win but it hardly improved their position in the points table as they remained sixth with 25 points from 18 matches.

The Sky Blues however, have been ruled out of title contention as they were stuck at fourth with 31 points from 17 matches, 11 less than runaway league leaders Sheikh Jamal.

Meanwhile in the day’s other match at the same venue, Team BJMC climbed to seventh after beating Rahmatganj 3-1. Team BJMC have 15 points from 16 matches. l

Cricket Australia unaware of Nazmul’s wish n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan might have hinted of trying to include a one-day international series during world champions Australia’s brief visit to Bangladesh this September, but till date, Cricket Australia is not aware of the president’s wish.

Australia are currently involved in the five-match Ashes series in England following which they will lock horns in a five-match ODI series that will end on September 13. The Aussies are expected to arrive in Bangladesh on September 30 for a two-Test series.

Bangladesh have no ODIs scheduled for the next seven months and it is disappointing from every point of view, given the upward movement Bangladesh have enjoyed from the beginning of this year.

But hope sparkled among the cricket fraternity when Nazmul, talking to a private satellite channel in Dhaka on Tuesday, said BCB

has a very good relationship with CA and he believes “They will not say no if there is any chance for them to play an ODI series.”

However, sources revealed yesterday that the BCB cricket operations committee was still uninformed of the issue as there has been no formal request made to CA to include an ODI series.

The source said, BCB chief executive officer Nizamuddin Chowdhury might be the person looking after the matter, but when contacted, Nizamuddin said he was unaware of Nazmul’s statement in the media.

“I am still not sure what the president had said to the media. I need to talk to him first and only then can I make a comment on this,” said Nizamuddin to Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Bangladesh played 23 ODIs in the last one year among which they have won 15, including four back-to-back series wins at home against Zimbabwe, Pakistan, India and South Africa. l

DT

28 Sport

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Mourinho targets Benitez over wife’s messy remark n Reuters, London

Barcelona’s Luis Suarez (L) vies with Chelsea’s Kenedy during their International Champions Cup match in Landover, Maryland, on Tuesday

AFP

Champions sore but ready to defend crowns n AFP, Washington Reigning English Premier League champions Chelsea and reigning European kings Barcelona exited Tuesday’s friendly showdown injured but intensely motivated as they return to Europe to defend their crowns.

Chelsea captured the International Champions Cup victory 4-2 on penalty kicks after the teams were deadlocked 2-2 after regular time thanks to Chelsea defender Gary Cahill’s header in the 85th minute.

In the shootout, Alan Halilovic put Barca down with a shot off the crossbar to open the second round. In the third, Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois denied Gerard Pique and Chelsea’s Ramires and Loic Remy scored after that to settle the outcome.

“The penalties mean nothing for us and I think they mean nothing for Barcelona,” said Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho. “This was not about win or lose. They were playing and training the same as us. It was not a tactical game. It was two teams looking for intensity.”

They found intensity in each other in the training match before 78,914 at the home of the NFL Washington Redskins, so much so that both sides are nursing injuries with the

RESULTS Chelsea

2-2

Barcelona

Hazard 10, Cahill 85 Suarez 52, Ramirez 66 (Chelsea win 4-2 on penalties)

Club America

0-0

Benfica

(Benfica win 4-3 on penalties)

start of a new season fast approaching.

Chelsea’s Eden Hazard opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Luis Suarez and Sandro Ramirez answered for Barcelona in the 52nd and 66th minutes respectively and Cahill nodded in a header as he took a blow in the face from substitute Barcelona goalkeeper Jordi Masip.

No one wanted to see injuries but Mourinho has hamstring fears for striker Diego Costa and a possible broken nose for Cahill.

Barcelona, coming off an unprecedented second European treble of La Liga and the Copa del Rey plus the Champions League, was without five players, including standouts Lionel Messi and Neymar, who took part in Copa America last month.

“We’ve shown an acceptable level on the field,” Enrique said. l

Zico pushes FIFA president candidacy n AFP, Rio de Janeiro

Vidal completes $44 million move from Juve to Bayern

Brazilian football legend Zico said he has formally asked the Brazilian Football Federation to put forward his candidacy to replace Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.

However 62-year-old Zico, who has previously conceded he lacked support from Brazil’s footballing top brass, said he is ready to try another approach if he fails to get the CBF’s backing.

“The first option is this. I am Brazilian, I gave my services to the Brazilian team for 10 years,” Zico told Globo Esporte sports news site.

“I sent a letter to the president (of the CBF)... laying out the reasons for my candidacy and now I’m just waiting for his reply,” he said. l

n Reuters, Berlin Chile midfielder Arturo Vidal has completed his transfer from Juventus to Bayern Munich by signing a four-year contract with the Bundesliga champions.

No fee was disclosed but media reports put it at 40 million euros ($44.23 million).

“I wanted to take another big step forward in my career,” the 28-year-old Vidal told the Bavarian club’s website on Tuesday.

“I want to keep developing as a player and win important trophies like the Champions League. I think the best opportunity to do so is with Bayern.”

Vidal was a member of the Juventus team beaten 3-1 by Barcelona in last month’s Champions League final at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

He becomes Bayern’s second major signing of the transfer window after Brazilian midfielder Douglas Costa joined from Shakhtar Donetsk at the start of July.

Bayern have also sold Germany playmaker Bastian Schweinsteiger to Manchester United.

Vidal is no stranger to the Bundesliga having played for Bayer Leverkusen for four seasons until 2011.

“I’m thrilled about playing in the Bundesliga again and obviously hope to win it this time,” Vidal said.l

Jose Mourinho has launched a stinging attack on Real Madrid manager Rafael Benitez after the Spaniard’s wife teased the Chelsea boss by saying her husband was always having to tidy up messes left by the Portuguese.

Montserrat Seara triggered the attack after Spanish newspaper La Region published her light-hearted remark following Benitez’s appointment at the Bernabeu last month, the third time he has joined a club previously managed by his rival.

Mourinho was clearly not amused and speaking to reporters after Chelsea beat European champions Barcelona on penalties in a Washington friendly, he delivered a withering straight-faced response.

“The lady is a bit confused,” he said after the match that ended in a 2-2 draw. “I am not laughing...

“Her husband went to Chelsea to replace Roberto Di Matteo and he went to Real Madrid and replaced Carlo Ancelotti.

“The only club where her husband replaced me was at Inter Milan where, in six months, he destroyed the best team in Europe at the time.

“For her also to think about me, and to speak about me, I think she needs to occupy her time.

“And if she takes care of her husband’s diet, she will have less time to speak about me.”

Benitez was hired by Inter Milan in 2010 after Mourinho had led an aging team to a European and domestic treble before leaving for Real Madrid. The Spaniard was dismissed after six months, with the club down in seventh place in Serie A. The Spaniard also managed Chelsea on an interim basis, succeeding Roberto Di Matteo in 2012, five years after Mourinho’s first spell ended, when the Italian was sacked six months after winning the Champions League.

His spouse’s comments appear to have rekindled a bitter feud between the two men that dates back to his time in charge at Liverpool, when he clashed with Mourinho several times between 2005 and 2007.

Defending Premier League champions Chelsea begin their domestic campaign on Sunday when they meet last season’s FA Cup winners Arsenal in the Community Shield at Wembley. l

DT

Sport 29

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Anderson takes six as Australia skittled for 136

Monaco win against Young Boys n AFP, Paris Layvin Kurzawa starred as last season’s Champions League quarter-finalists Monaco took a big step towards the play-off round of this season’s Champions League on Tuesday with a 3-1 win away at Swiss side Young Boys in their third qualifying round first leg clash.

The 22-year-old French defender blocked a goalbound effort by Japanese striker Yuya Kubo on the line in the 62nd minute and then two minutes later scored at the other end with a sublime volley, from Fabinho’s cross, to set Monaco on their way.

This sparked a crazy flurry where the three other goals came in the next 11 minutes.

They doubled their lead through Argentinian Guido Carillo, who had come on only a minute before for another new recruit 21-year-old Portuguese forward Ivan Cavaleiro, as he headed home from playmaker Joao Moutinho’s 72nd minute freekick.

Young Boys - whose former PSG striker Guillaume Hoarau should have done better with two free headers - briefly got back into the match as veteran midfielder Raphael Nuzolo reduced the deficit with 16 minutes remaining. l

n Reuters, Birmingham England paceman James Anderson ripped shellshocked Australia to shreds with six wickets to bowl the tourists out for a paltry 136 on the first day of the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston on Wednesday.

Anderson took six for 47 and fellow quicks Stuart Broad and Steven Finn, on his Test return after a two-year absence, two apiece as rejuvenated England put their heavy second Test defeat at Lord’s firmly behind them.

Only plucky opener Chris Rogers, passed fit after suffering dizzy spells at Lord’s, offered resistance with a half-century for Australia who failed to cope with the seam and swing-friendly conditions after winning the toss and batting first.

Rogers was eighth man out for 52, lbw to Broad, and Anderson fittingly took the final wicket when Nathan Lyon played on as Australia were dismissed in just 36.4 overs.

Anderson, who went wicketless in London where Australia squared the series with a 405run victory after losing the opener in Cardiff, took four wickets in 19 balls after lunch.

His quickfire burst started when he had Adam Voges caught behind for 16. Mitchell Marsh (0) also nicked a swinging delivery to Jos Buttler and then Peter Nevill’s bad misjudgement saw him bowled for two without offering a shot.

England’s leading wicket-taker in Tests then bagged his 18th five-wicket haul when Mitchell Johnson (3) sliced to Ben Stokes at fifth slip.

Australia lost three wickets in a rain-interupted morning with Finn taking the scalps of Steve Smith (7) and skipper Michael Clarke (10). l

Australia First Innings 136 all out (Rodgers 52; Anderson 6-47, Finn 2-38)

DAY’S WATCH Gazi TV, BTV, Star Sports 4 9:30AM South Africa Tour of Bangladesh 2nd Test, Day 1

Star Sports 1 4:00PM Australia Tour of England (Ashes) 3rd Test, Day 2

Star Sports 8:30PM Pro Kabaddi League Patna v Hyderabad

Star Sports 4 6:00PM International Champions Cup AC Milan v Real Madrid

Ten Cricket 7:30PM Pakistan Tour of Sri Lanka 1st T20

Ten Action 3:30PM ATP World Tour 500 Bet At Home Round of 16

RESULTS

Monaco’s Croatian goalkeeper Danijel Subasic deflects a ball during their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round first leg match against Young Boys on Tuesday in Bern AFP

Platini in for Fifa presidency n Reuters, Berne UEFA president Michel Platini ended weeks of uncertainty on Wednesday when he announced that he would stand for the presidency of FIFA in place of outgoing Sepp Blatter.

The former French international, who has been UEFA president since 2007 and a FIFA executive committee member since 2002, said he wanted to “to give FIFA back the dignity and the position it deserves.”

Platini, who played in three World Cups for France and led them to the European championship title in 1984, said he had written to the 209 member associations of FIFA, who each hold one vote in the presidential election, to inform them of his decision.

“This was a very personal, carefully considered decision, one in which I weighed up the future of football alongside my own future,” he said in the letter, according to a statement published on the UEFA website (www.uefa.org).

“I was also guided by the esteem, support and encouragement that many of you have shown me.”

“There are times in life when you have to take your destiny into your own hands.”

Blatter was re-elected for a fifth term as president on May 29, but four days later said he would lay down his mandate amid the worst crisis in FIFA’s history. Blatter will remain as president until the election on Feb. 26.

Once seen as a Blatter protege, Platini has recently become a leading critic of the 79-yearold Swiss. He urged Blatter not to stand in May and said the series of recent scandals involving FIFA turned his stomach. However, he has repeatedly said he enjoys his UEFA role and would be reluctant to give it up.l

CSKA Moscow (RUS)

2-2

Sparta Prague (CZE)

Milsami Orhei (MDA)

0-2

Skenderbeu (ALB)

Midtjylland (DEN)

1-2

APOEL (CYP)

Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR)

1-2

Viktoria Pilsen (CZE)

Panathinaikos (GRE)

2-1

Club Brugge (BEL)

Fenerbahce (TUR)

0-0

Donetsk (UKR)

Young Boys (SUI)

1-3

Monaco (FRA)

Videoton (HUN)

1-1

BATE (BLR)

Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)

1-1

Molde (NOR)

Hadlee pays tribute to ‘magnificent’ Rice n AFP, Wellington New Zealand legend Richard Hadlee paid a moving tribute to former Nottinghamshire team mate Clive Rice on Wednesday, describing the South African as one of the greatest cricketers never to have played a Test match.

Hadlee said it was sad that Rice, who died of cancer on Tuesday aged 66, never had the chance to play Test cricket because South Africa’s apartheid ban coincided with his prime playing years.

“Whether it be Test cricket, whether it be one-day cricket, I can sit here and comfortably say that he would have competed with the best,” Hadlee told Radio Sport.

Hadlee and Rice played together at English county Nottinghamshire for 10 years from 1978, forming a formidable all-round partnership that helped claim two County Championships in 1981 and 1987.

In an era when many of the world’s best players were involved in county cricket, Hadlee said Rice’s talents shone through because he had a point to prove over the Test ban.l

DT

30 DOWNTIME

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Buy back (6) 4 Drink slowly (3) 7 Worship (5) 8 Not present (6) 11 Devoted follower (3) 12 Fruit (4) 13 Scrutinise (4) 15 Saloon car (5) 16 Token of membership (5) 20 Lose colour (4) 23 Fierce animal (4) 24 Headwear (3) 25 Whets (6) 27 Precious stone (3) 28 Turn aside abruptly (6)

DOWN 1 Harvests (5) 2 Gem (7) 3 Floor coverings (4) 4 Furniture item (4) 5 Country (4) 6 Female swan (3) 9 Insect (3) 10 Unhappy (3) 14 Communion cup (7) 17 Clamour (3) 18 Deity (3) 19 Result from (5) 20 Reputation (4) 21 Minute particle (4) 22 Incites (4) 24 Ugly old woman (3)

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 19 represents P so fill P every time the figure 19 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

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

BD Hip Hop Fest to be held today

‘Jalaler Golpo’

CELEBS ON SOCIAL

tops at AVANCA International Film Festival

Shane Warne @ShaneWarne If England lost Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad they’d be in big trouble.

Australia are quite lucky, if they...

Hrithik Roshan @iHrithik Become your own hero. Says it all. @ hrxbrand RT @samahmedbombay: Become your own hero. #HRX @iHrithik

n Showtime Desk A complete hip hop festival titled “BD Hip Hop Fest 2015” will be held today at the International Basundhara Convention City in the capital.

Starting from 2pm, the festival is scheduled to run for ten hours featuring musical performances, fashion shows, beatboxing, fire spinning and so on, all of which being organised by Rendezvous Private Ltd. On this occasion, a press conference was held where Ashinul Kabir Rajon, the director of the festival, shared details of the event.

Hip hop talents from the country including Bangla Mentalz, Uptown Lokolz, Bishal Karim, Xefer Rahman to name a few, are being gathered under one roof for the occasion. l

n Showtime Desk The 19th edition of AVANCA International Film Festival in Portugal came to a close with the Best Film prize in the competition section was awarded to a Bangladeashi film “Jalaler Golpo.”

Directed by Abu Shahed Emon, the full-length feature chronicles a rootless boy who struggles to become a man of proper standing in society. The Best Actor award was also attributed to the film as Mosharraf Karim grabbed the honour.

Around hundred and twenty films from over a hundred countries were screened

at the festival, which was held from July 22 to 26. Apart from “Jalaler Galpo,” three films including “After War Before War” from Czech Republic, “Bereave” from USA and “The Distance” from Spain won special mentions, while Irina Demikh of Czech Republic won the best actress award.

Starring Mosharraf Karim, Moushumi Hamid, Touqir Ahmed and Shormi Mala, the film also received Asian Cinema Fund at the 19th Busan Film festival earlier and premiered as the first Bangladeshi film at the festival’s New Currents section.

At home, the film is yet to be released, although it has already recieved a censor

Ricky Gervais @rickygervais Left this lazy little twonk sunbathing while I go to work.

WHAT TO WATCH

How to Get Away with Murder n Mithul Roy If you haven’t heard of it, How to Get Away with Murder is another workplace drama with Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal masterminds Peter Nowalk and Shonda Rhimes behind it. The show is said to be a fantastic one with it’s pilot episode promising to be captivating and gripping to the highest degree.

The show centres around a fictional Ivy League Middleton University where Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) is the teacher of a course called Criminal Law 100, or as she prefers to call it, how to get away with murder. A seemingly unforgiving and strict teacher, she selects five students from the top tier of her class to help her out in her law practices as she is also a prominent criminal defense attorney. The Keating five are envied by their classmates and none of them can stand each other as well, and compete fiercely for the trophy Annalise promises to award the top performer of the class. The show starts with the flashback of a bonfire event where all the students are enjoying a party except for four of the Keating five’s Wes Gibbons (Alfred Enoch, who you may remember as Harry Potter’s

Dean Thomas), Michaela Pratt (Naomi King), Laurel Castillo (Karla Souza) and Connor Walsh (Jack Falahee), who are all panicking and trying to figure out how to cover up a murder they just committed. The fifth member is Asher Millstone, and they work closely with Annalise’s employees Frank Delfino and Bonnie Winterbottom.

As the show progresses, we learn about the murder of Lila Stangard, a campus student believed to have been killed by either Rebecca, Griffin or Annalise’s own husband Sam. As Annalise takes on defending Rebecca by her favourite student Wes’ request, she discovers things about her husband that pushes her to reveal the many shades of her character.

Oscar nominated Viola Davis delivers a

stunning performance as usual.

Just as you begin to get bored with the repetitive flashbacks, there are twists and turns that will have you gripping onto your chair. The show struggles to balance the case of each episode with the general plot of the climax regarding Sam’s death. However, the dialogue in the show is marvellous to the point where it will make you wish you could confront people as well as the characters do. The flashbacks and revelations do seem a little dragged on and the mystery soon begins to fade as it builds up on more than it answers, which is something the show’s creators must be wary of to prevent it from turning into another Pretty Little Liars.

Nevertheless, the refreshing and engrossing How to Get Away with Murder is a must watch that has even been renewed for a second season. If nothing else, tune in to catch Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden portray Annalise’s sister-in-law and Oscar nominee Cicely Tyson as Annalise’s mother.

You will surely be left with an unforgettable performance, one which is now rare for a TV show. Dealing in betrayal and secrets, this show is a cautionary tale of how little we know about the people we love. l

Mission Impossible II ZStudio 4:30pm A secret agent is sent to Sydney to find and destroy a genetically modified disease called the “Chimera.”

Cast: Tom Cruise, Richard Roxburgh, Dougray Scott, Thandie Newton, Ving Rhames The Hangover WB 7:12pm Three buddies wake up from a bachelor party in Las Vegas, with no memory of the previous night and the bachelor missing.

They make their way around the city in order to find their friend before his wedding.

Cast: Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Zach Galifianakis, Heather Graham, Justin Bartha, Jeffrey Tambor The Conjuring HBO 9:00pm Paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren work to help a family terrorised by a dark presence in their farmhouse.

Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Ron Livingston, Lili Taylor, Shanley Caswell, Hayley McFarland

DT

32 BACK PAGE

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

IAMSME OF BANGLADESH KICKS OFF TO HELP SMES PAGE 20

ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS WELL PAGE 25

HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER PAGE 31

7 decades of economic exclusion in exclaves Long ignored and neglected, exclave residents are in the spotlight as they make choices about their livelihood, identity and future. The fifth part of this report looks at some of the difficulties and challenges exclave residents have faced over the years Nesa Alo with n Jebun Sazzadur Rahman Sazzad, Our Correspondent, Panchagarh Caught between two states and served by neither, exclave residents have spent nearly seven decades beyond the reach of basic financial services, being denied the opportunity even to open a simple bank account.

Almost entirely dependent on agriculture for their livelihoods, exclave residents have nevertheless never been able to get farm loans from either Bangladeshi or Indian financial institutions.

“We have zero access to banks and financial institutions. Even NGOs cannot help us because they require proof of national identity to serve their clients,” said Abdul Hamid, a resident of Kothajini, an Indian exclave in

Bangladesh’s Panchagarh district.

He said exclave dwellers had effectively been barred from credit for the last 68 years.

“As a result, nobody seriously considers starting a business. We have few alternatives to labouring in the fields. Many young people are out of work but because they are exclave inhabitants, they cannot raise the capital to start a business,” said Hamid, 35, who too is unemployed.

Mokbul Hossen, 36, did manage to start a poultry farm a year ago with Tk1 lakh of his own money. But he could not keep the farm running without credit support.

The cost of doing business is higher in the exclaves due to a lack of communication and power infrastructure.

For Hossen, the risk of putting his own money up to start a business did not pay off

because he had no access to credit to see his venture through lean times.

“I have no bank account. Banks do not allow us to open accounts,” Hossen said.

Although it is possible to open bank accounts using fake addresses in Bangladesh, even this is of little benefit because assets in the exclave are not given value.

“We do not have paperwork proving ownership of our land in the exclaves so we cannot use it as assets or as collateral for mortgages and loans,” said Hossen.

Tojammel Hossen, 58, a resident of the nearby Dahala Khagrabari exclave, complained that exclave residents were not even able to deposit their income in a savings account to earn a little interest.

Tojammel, who is also the vice president of the Exclave Citizen Committee, said the

BULLET-HIT NEWBORN

‘Her condition to worsen if blood gets infected’ n Kamrul Hasan Doctors at the paediatric department of Dhaka Medication College and Hospital (DMCH) said the condition of the child might deteriorate if her blood got infected.

A blood report yesterday revealed a low count of the White Blood Cell (WBC), which is responsible for fighting off blood infection.

“Given how fragile the child is, a low count of WBC can result in blood infection if she is not properly taken care of,” said Dr Kaniz Hasina of the paediatric department.

Doctors have already changed the treatment course to battle the new concern. “We have administered a different antibiotic course and it will continue until she improves,” she added.

While the four-day-old child which was bullet-hit in mother’s womb continues to suffer, her family grapples with securing money for her treatment.

Magura district Superintendent of Police AKM Ehsan Ullah has been carrying out the treatment cost of the child at the paediatric department of Dhaka Medical College Hospital.

“But once we leave the hospital, everyone will forget the incident and we will be left to deal with our child. But who’s responsibility is it that she is suffering?” said the infant’s father Bachchu Bhuiyan who seemed to be at his wit’s end.

In the meantime, the child went through a three-hour long operation at 11am yesterday.

“A bullet was hit just beside her lungs and we needed to ensure that the bullet did not cause any damage,” said Dr Nazia.

rules governing loan approvals effectively barred exclave residents from agricultural credit. “Even NGOs do not dare provide financial support to us because we cannot show deeds and titles to our land in the exclaves.”

Bangladeshi mobile financial service, bKash, does operate in the Indian exclaves but all of the accounts were opened using fake Bangladeshi addresses.

“I opened a bKash account using a fake address,” said Hamidar Rahman Sarkar, a resident of Kothajini. “There is no other way to open an account.”

He said many Indian exclave residents had acquired Bangladeshi national identity cards using fake addresses in order to get access to various amenities and services, including mobile banking. l

Deep depression turns into cyclone Komen n UNB

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

But as there was no sign of damage, the doctors decided to carry out the operation to mend the injuries she sustained due to the bullet.

Commenting on the child’s condition, Dr Nazia said her improvement could have been faster if the child could be breast-fed. “Since the child is not getting breast milk, her recovery has been slow. But the mother is not being able to travel because of her condition.”

The child’s father Bachchu Bhuiyan, quoting doctor Dr Shafiur Rahman of Magura General Hospital, said doctors forbade the mother to travel given she just had a surgery.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Labhlu, the child’s maternal uncle, said: “It is very unfortunate that none of the Awami League leaders came to visit the baby since her admission three days ago. They should visit as it was the result of their internal clash.”

“The initial expenses were carried out by others but we don’t know how to continue the long-term treatment,” he added.

On the other hand, police could not yet arrest any accused in the case filed by the infant’s uncle Rubel Bhuiyan on July 25.

The newborn received bullet injuries when her eight-month pregnant mother, Nazma Khatun, was shot in the abdomen during an attack by a Magura Jubo League faction on the extended family of another rival faction Thursday afternoon.

Both the baby and the mother survived the two-hour caesarean operation at Magura General Hospital.

Later on early Sunday, the newborn was rushed to DMCH for better treatment. A nine-member medical board was also formed for the baby. l

The deep depression over the Northeast Bay and adjoining Bangladesh coast moved slightly north-northeastwards over the same area and intensified into cyclonic storm ‘Komen’ last night.

The maritime ports of Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar have been advised to lower local warning signal number four but instead hoist danger signal no seven.

The coastal districts of Cox’s Bazar, Chittagong, Noakhali, Lakshmipur, Feni, Chandpur, Bhola and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal number seven.

The maritime ports of Mongla and Paira have been advised to lower local warning signal number four but instead hoist danger signal no five.

The coastal districts of Barguna, Patuakhali, Barisal Pirojpur, Jhalakati, Bagerhat, Khulna and Satkhira, and their offshore islands and chars will come under danger signal no five.

The cyclonic storm centred at 9pm yesterday about 110 kilometres southwest of Chittagong port, 105 kilometres west-northwest of Cox’s Bazar port, 170 kilometres southeast of Mongla port and 85 kilometres southeast of Paira port, said a Met Office special bulletin.

It said the storm is likely to move in a northerly direction and may cross Bangladesh between Barisal-Chittagong coast by this afternoon. Under its influence, squally weather continued over the North Bay and maritime ports. l

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