24 Aug, 2015

SECOND EDITION

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

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Bhadro 9, 1422, Zilqad 8, 1436

BOLT STILL THE FASTEST MAN ON PLANET PAGE 27

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Regd No DA 6238, Vol 3, No 130

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

SANGA THE LEGEND MAKES THE LAST WALK PAGE 29

Lawyers confess to depositing money, deny militancy links Farzana, Bapon, Liton tell court they only returned fees taken in advance According to court sources, the lawyers n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong said they had received different amounts on

One-time salary bump for veteran officials under new pay scale n Tribune Report Instead of time scale and selection grade, the new pay scale for public servants will introduce provisions for awarding a big one-time salary raise for veteran government officials, Finance Minister AMA Muhith has said.

“We will make some revisions to time scale and selection grade before implementing the new pay scale,” the minister told reporters after meeting with outgoing IMF Executive Director Dr Rakesh Mohan and UK State minister for International Development Desmond Swayne at his secretariat office.

“We will prepare a big hike of pay scale for the civil servants who have spent a lot of years in government services,” he said in response to concerns by civil servants who feared that the exclusion of time scale and selection grade would deny them salary increases.

Muhith added that the new pay scale will be officially announced before he leaves for the USA in September.

“Implementation of the pay scale is big  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

PAGE 3 Government to challenge Sayedee’s sentence

Shakila Farzana

Sanaul Islam Tipu and n Md Kamrul Hasan

various ocassions from Hefazat-e-Islam leaders to fight for the bail of some of their arrested leaders.

After the High Court rejected their clients’ bail petitions, the three lawyers returned the advance payments by depositing money into three bank accounts belonging to a man named Moniruzzaman Masud alias Don. The accounts were in Dutch Bangla Bank, Sonali Bank and Exim Bank.

Shakila, Bapon and Liton were later sent to jail after the court finished recording their statements in the morning.

Assistant Public Prosecutor Bikash Ranjan Dey said the lawyers had indirectly confessed funding Shahid Hamza Brigade (SHB). They deposited the money to the accounts belong

A case was filed yesterday against four people, including three RAB officials, on charges of abducting and killing Chhatra League’s Hazaribagh unit president Arju Mia. The four are RAB 2 Commanding Officer Colonel Masud Rana, Deputy Assistant Director Shahidur Rahman, Inspector Wahid and RAB informant Ratan. Several unnamed persons were also listed as accused in the case.

Arju was the prime accused in a case filed over the brutal beating of 17-year-old Raja on theft allegations in Hazaribagh, who succumbed to his injuries on August 17.

The Chhatra League leader died on August 18 in what RAB said was a gun battle.

Arju’s brother Masud Rana filed the case with Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, mentioning five people as witnesses.

After the case was filed, Metropolitan Magistrate Shahriar Mahmud Adnan said an order

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

 PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

Muhith hints at cutting oil prices by Sept TREND OF CRUDE OIL PRICE GLOBALLY AGAINST BPC SUBSIDY BPC (BDT Cr)

FY12 Actual

FY13 Actual

FY14 Actual

FY15 Revised

8,550

13,558

7,350

600

16000 14000 12000 10000 8000 6000 4000 2000 0

140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0

OIL

Jul y-1 Sep 2 -1 No 2 v-1 2 Jan 13 Ma r-1 Ma 3 y-1 3 Jul -13 Sep -1 No 3 v-1 3 Jan -14 Ma r-1 Ma 4 y-1 4 Jul -14 Sep -1 No 4 v-1 4 Jan -15 Ma r-1 Ma 5 y-1 5 Jul -15

The three lawyers, held for financing militancy, have confessed to depositing money into a bank account linked to Shahid Hamza Brigade, but claimed they were only returning an advocacy fee they had taken in advance.

Yesterday, Supreme Court practitioners Barrister Shakila Farzana, daughter of former BNP whip Sayed Wahidul Alam, Dhaka judge’s court lawyer Mahfuz Chowdhury Bapon, and Md Hasanuzzaman Liton gave confessional statements under the penal code before a Chittagong court, said sources.

Senior Judicial Magistrate Sajjad Hossain recorded the statements of the three lawyers, shown arrest in an explosives case filed with the Banshkhali police station on February 21 after a training centre of the militant group had been busted.

3 RAB members sued over BCL leader Arju killing

BDT Cr (Left side axis)

n Tribune Report Finance Minister AMA Muhith has hinted at revising oil prices at retail level within a month in line with the prices in the global market.

“First I will sit with the Energy and Power

PAGE 4 Khaleda’s pleas in Barapukuria case rejected

Oil Price in USD/barrel (Right Side Axis)

Division, which has already prepared the papers for revising oil prices. Then, I will meet the Energy Commission to set the price,” he told reporter at the secretariat yesterday.

“I have to settle the matter before going to New York in September.”

The price of oil has been plunging in the

PAGE 5 Latif says he will voluntarily resign as MP

international market since the middle of last year, reaching levels last seen during the depths of the 2009 recession amid weak global demand and rising output.

Oil price fell from $115 per barrel in June 2014 to around $45 per barrel till date. Opec’s benchmark prices for crude oil have fallen by about 50% since the organisation declined to cut production at a 2014 meeting in Vienna, Austria.

However, the retail consumers in Bangladesh have yet to be benefitted from the slumping oil prices as the government is still to adjust domestic prices with global trends.

The International Energy Agency said in its oil market report that the global demand has been softening at a remarkable pace as the European and Chinese economies falter.

Professor of economics at Dhaka University MA Taslim had earlier said falling oil prices is a boon for Bangladesh.

“Usually, lower oil prices help reduce the cost of living by lowering transport costs and bringing down inflation. Lower oil prices also pass through directly into lower fuel costs and retail electricity prices,” he said.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

PAGE 32 Govt concerned about smuggling of local onions to India

DT

2 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Last Badda shootout victim dies at DMCH n Kamrul Hasan Another victim of the August 13 shootout in the capital’s Badda area died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital last night, taking the death toll to four.

The deceased, Abdus Salam, was a ward-level leader of Jubo League in Badda.

He had been undergoing treatment at the hospital since he was injured in the attack, which took place at the Water Pump area, in front of Al Sami Hospital, at Madhya Badda.

Inspector Mozammel Haque, incharge of police out-post at the DMCH, confirmed Salam’s death.

The attack also fatally injured an activist of the Awami League, an activist of the Swechchhasebak League and a commoner.

Investigators later confirmed that Mahabubur Rahman Gama, leader of Swechchhasebak League’s Dhaka South unit, was the main target of the attack, and the three others were caught in the line of fire.

The Awami League activist, Shamsuddin Molla, a union-level leader, and the commoner, Feroz Ahmed Manik, manager at a private hospital, died on the spot, while Gama succumbed to his injuries the next day at United Hospital.

Gama’s father Matiur Rahman filed a murder case with Badda police station on August 15, but the Detective Branch took over the case later that day.

The detectives have arrested the mastermind of the attack, Faruk Milon who is a ward-level leader of Jubo League, and a man named Nur Mohammad who carried out the shooting. Nur Mohammad confessed to committing the murders before the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Six others were also made accused in the case, who are on the run. l

Editors’ Council demands repeal of ICT act’s Section 57 n Tribune Report The Editors’ Council has called for revocation of Section 57 (1) and (2) of the Information and Communication Technology Act. During a meeting of the body at The Daily Star Centre in the capital yesterday, the speakers criticised the misuse of Section 57 of the act, saying that it bars free journalism.

They also condemned the arrest and harassment of journalist Probir Sikdar, saying that it was a matter of grave concern.

The meeting broadly discussed the National Online Media Policy 2015, the overall situation of the media and contempt of court, said a press release.

The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam, also the general secretary of the Editors’ Council, Treasurer and Manabzamin Editor Matiur Rahman Chowdhury, Prothom Alo Editor Matiur Rahman, News Today Editor Riazuddin Ahmed, Bhorer Kagoj Editor Shamol Dotto, Kaler Kantho Editor Imdadul Haq Milon, Bangladesh Protidin Editor Nayeem Nizam, Naya Diganta Editor Alamgir Mohiuddin, Ittefaq’s acting editor Tasmima Hossain, Independent Editor M Shamsur Rahman, Jugantor’s acting editor Saiful Alam, Bonikbarta Editor Dewan Hanif Mahmud and Dhaka Tribune Editor Zafar Sobhan attended the meeting. l

DMP official: Preserve passenger footage during Eid n Kamrul Hasan A senior Dhaka Metropolitan Police official has urged the district bus owners to video the passengers and preserve the footages during the upcoming Eid to ensure proper security for the home goers.

The official also said the hawkers in the bus stoppages could be restricted on the need as many of the dope gang members stay there in disguise during the onrush.

DMP Additional Commissioner (Crime and

Operations) Sheikh Mohammad Maruf Hasan made the call at a discussion in Bangladesh Bus-Truck Owners Association (BBTOA) office in Gabtoli Bus terminal yesterday afternoon.

He said: “Before starting journey from the capital, every district bus authorities should video the passengers and should preserve the footages.”

The criminals particularly dope gang target common people during the Eid holidays to loot their belongings and that is why police and public should work in a union to prevent

the crime, Maruf Hasan continued.

The commissioner went on that many of the arrested criminals have already come out on bail and it would be very difficult for them to handle the seasonal crimes without any help of people if the gangs become active during the Eid vacation.

DMP (Mirpur zone) Deputy Commissioner Kaiyumuzzaman, Bangladesh Road Transport Labour Federation Vice-President Mofijul islma and BBTOA Chairman Faruk talukdar Sohel were also present there among others. l

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

3 RAB members sued over BCL leader Arju killing on whether the court would take cognisance of the charges against the RAB members would be given on August 25.

In the case statement, Masud claimed that he had to file the case with the court as Hazaribagh police refused to take the complaint.

But Hazaribagh police station Officer-inCharge Alimuzzaman Ali said no one came to police to file any case.

The plaintiff described Arju as an innocent and brilliant student leader in the case statement.

He mentioned that Arju was kidnapped by the accused RAB officials the day Raja died as part of a plan to kill the young student leader.

Arju’s mother Joytunnesa earlier told the Dhaka Tribune that Arju and his friends beat up Raja after suspecting the boy of stealing mobile phone and laptop.

She said Raja’s death was caused by Arju’s friends who along with Arju beat the minor boy up.

RAB arrested Arju after a complaint was lodged by Raja’s sister Reshma Akhter following the death of the minor boy while the shootout took place when the RAB team headed to Baroikhal area to arrest Arju’s associates.

“Some miscreants attacked the RAB team to snatch Arju around 3:30am, and Arju sustained bullet injuries while trying to escape,” RAB Assistant Director Major Maksud said.

“If someone thinks that Arju’s death was a premeditated murder, he can file a case. But RAB officials know what happened on that night and they are not afraid of any lawsuit.”

Arju’s death caused anger among local Awami League, Jubo League and Chhatra League leaders.

On August 19, Awami League’s Hazaribagh unit leaders and Arju’s family claimed at a press conference that there was no shootout and RAB made up the story.

Hazaribagh unit General Secretary Sadeque Hamid Saju told the conference that Hazaribagh is a BNP stronghold and a quarter paid a large sum of money to have Arju killed as part of steps to hinder the area’s development since last elections.

He claimed that Raja was killed in a mob beating.

Local lawmaker Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh also termed Arju’s death a killing.

After Arju’s death, Raja’s family said they were living in fear of attack by Arju’s family. l

Muhith hints at cutting oil prices by Sept But since the government is the lone oil importer, consumers’ benefit depends on lowering petroleum prices in the domestic market, he said.

While talking to the Dhaka Tribune recently, finance adviser to a former caretaker government AB Mirza Azizul Islam suggested adjusting prices of petroleum products on a quarterly basis.

“Then again, it is a common phenomena in our country that if the price of anything gos up, we comply, but when prices go down, we do not reduce. This actually results in the needs for subsidy,” the economist said.

Countries such India and Pakistan have already cut fuel oil prices to pass the benefit on to their consumers.

According to the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, the country imports around 5.4 million tonnes – one barrel equals 0.13 tonnes – of fuel oil annually, including over 1.3 million tonnes of crude oil for the country’s lone refinery – Eastern Refinery Ltd in Chittagong.

Currently, Bangladesh has the capacity to store up to 1.162 million tonnes of oil. The government plans to enhance the capacity to 1.3 million tonnes by 2016. l

Lawyers confess to depositing money, deny militancy links ing to Don, who is a leader of the SHB and has no connections with Hefazat.

“They are senior lawyers. They talked technically and did not confess directly,” the state lawyer was quoted as saying by court sources.

Defence counsel Abdus Sattar alleged that RAB had violated rules by not allowing them to talk to their clients before they were taken to the court.

“After recording the statements, we moved a bail plea, which the court rejected,” he said.

They had also applied for division for the arrestees in jail but the court ordered the authorities to take measures according to the jail code.

The three lawyers were nabbed by RAB in Dhaka on the night of August 18. Each of them were placed in four-day remands, on the completion of which they were taken to the court yesterday.

RAB yesterday a prayed for a further fiveday remand for the trio by showing them ar-

rested in another case filed with the Hathazari police station in connection with the February 19 busting of SBH’s theoretical training centre Al Madrasatul Abu Bakar.

Chittagong district Public Prosecutor Abul Hashem told the Dhaka Tribune that the hearing on showing them arrested in the other case and the second remand prayer was likely to be held today.

According to RAB, SHB – modelled in line with Syria-based international militant group Mujahidin – was formed in November 2013 by 20 former members of the Islami Chhatra Shibir, student wing of Jamaat-e-Islami.

Thereafter, the elite force arrested 29 members of the group but their top leader, whose name could not be known, is on the run. Those 29 included the chiefs of the outfit’s five sub-wings – three army, one media and one dawa.

During separate drives from February to June, RAB siezed 25 sophisticated local and

foreign-made arms including eight AK 22 rifles, 4,443 rounds of bullet, 76 powerful bombs, 150kg explosives, 30 types of bomb-making materials good enough for making 2,000 bombs, and a large number of documents from the possession and based on the information given by the arrested militants. l

One-time salary and has complex issues due to the pay scale SRO [statutory regulatory orders], but it will be completed before I leave Dhaka on September 22.”

However, the new pay scale would be placed before the cabinet this month, he added.

“We will send the summary of the new pay scale to the prime minister for revision, which will take one week before it can be placed before the cabinet for approval,” the minister said. l

DT

NEWS 3

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Govt to challenge Sayedee’s sentence n Tribune Report

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam yesterday said that the government would move a review petition with the Appellate Division seeking death sentence for convicted war criminal and Jamaat-e-Islami leader Delawar Hossain Sayedee.

“The state will file a review petition against the sentence [of Sayedee] after getting the full judgement,” Mahbubey told reporters at his office. He hoped that the court would overturn the previous verdict and hand down capital punishment.

The International Crimes Tribunal 1 had sentenced Sayedee to death on February 28, 2013 for his complicity in crimes against humanity against the Hindus and freedom fighters in Pirojpur during the 1971 Liberation War. But in the appeal case verdict, the top court on September 17 commuted his punishment to imprisonment until death. The court is yet to release its full verdict.

After the appeal case judgement, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, several ministers and war trial campaigners had expressed frustration over the sentence.

On the other hand, the Jamaat members conducted massive attacks on the law enforcers, ruling party supporters and Hindus in many districts across the country in 2013 in protest against the tribunal verdict killing dozens of people and destroying state properties.

Mahbubey, the top law officer of the country, also said that the full verdict in Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid’s case would be published soon. The apex court gave its judgement upholding the tribunal’s death sentence on June 16.

Upon getting the full text of the judge-

ment, the government will start process for executing the death row convict.

The war criminal, who had acted as the chief of al-Badr force, can seek a review of the sentence once the full judgement is released.

He can also seek presidential mercy admitting his crimes.

The full verdict in the case of convicted war criminal Salauddin Quader Chowdhury is also pending with the top court.

So far, the government has executed the death sentences of top war criminals and Jamaat leaders Abdul Quader Molla and Mohammad Kamaruzzaman. l

Charge sheet submitted in Garo woman gang rape case n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) yesterday submitted a charge sheet against two alleged rapists in connection with the gang rape of an indigenous woman inside a moving microbus in the capital.

The two accused are Ashraf Khan alias Tushar and Jahidul Islam Lavlu.

Azmila Nasren Chowdhury, assistant superintendent of police of RAB and also the investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet to the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) court.

“The charge sheet will be produced before the magistrate on August 25 in order to take the next course of action,” said Sub-Inspector Md Jahaingir Hossain, the general recording officer of CMM court.

The official also said the rape allegations against the two accused were found to be true during the investigation. 12 people were made prosecution witnesses in the charge sheet in the case.

According to the case documents, the victim worked as a salesperson for a clothing outlet at Jamuna Future Park in the capital.

On the night of May 21, she was dragged onto a microbus outside the shopping mall and raped in the running vehicle.

After the rape, the 21-year-old was dumped from the microbus at Jashimuddin intersection in Uttara.

A day after the incident, a case was filed with Batara Police Station where the victim mentioned that five people had “gang raped” her for over an hour that night.

On May 27, RAB arrested Jahidul Islam Lavlu at Gulshan 1 and Tushar from Patuakhali’s Kuakata in connection with the incident. RAB also recovered the microbus, which was used during the incident, from Banani.

On May 28, the two arrestees were placed on 10-day remand by a Dhaka court in the case. Later, they gave a confessional statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), confessing to the heinous crime.

Three people, including a security guard of one of the arrestees, gave statements before the magistrates under section 22 of the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000 in connection with the incident.

The three are Mahbub Hossain, security guard at Tushar’s home, Nurul Alam, and Khokon Sardar. l

Just like most other areas in the city, this road in Chankharpool of Old Dhaka goes under water after a decent downpour yesterday, thanks to the poor drainage system, which hardly functions during monsoon RAJIB DHAR

August 21 attack: BNP denies PM’s accusation n Tribune Report

BNP yesterday refuted prime minister’s claim that Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman were involved in the August 21 grenade attack.

The party’s International Affairs Secretary Asaduzzaman Ripon said it was very painful and also a cause of concern.

“We want to tell the prime minister that a quarter may be trying to mislead her by giving such false information. Our party does not believe in the politics of killing,” he told a press briefing at the Nayapaltan office.

Ripon said the case was still under trial and such comments from the head of the government might influence proceedings.

“We also want to see the real masterminds of the heinous attack brought to book through judicial inquiry and fair probe.”

The BNP leader said it would be painful to

accept if it was revealed that the attack was aimed at eradicating political opponents.

He urged the government to stop throwing allegations and counter-allegations. “But that does not mean criminals should be spared.”

Ripon also announced a one-day programme to mark the party’s 37th founding anniversary on September 1.

As part of the programme, national and party flags will be hoisted at BNP’s Nayapaltan office, wreaths will be placed at party founder Ziaur Rahman’s grave and a discussion will be held at Institution of Diploma Engineers.

Ripon said the BNP had decided to observe the party’s founding anniversary this year in spite of the severe political crisis the country was in.

“We will also hold two discussions on September 3 and 12 marking the release of Tarique and Khaleda from prison respectively.” l

IGP: Situation now under control n Kamrul Hasan In the face of massive criticism, the police chief yesterday said that gunfights take place only when law enforcers face life threats.

“When a gunfight takes place, it does not end with the death of a certain person. The police personnel involved in the incident have to face enquiry,” Inspector General of Police AKM Shahidul Haque said while speaking at a programme in Dhaka.

The IGP also claimed that the current situation was under control.

Sometimes criminals use the name of a political parties to gain personal benefits. “Such criminals have no parties. We will ensure zero-tolerance if they create trouble for the mass,” Shahidul said.

The event titled “Intelligence Analysis for Tiger Range Countries” was organised to share ideas on wildlife trafficking and tiger conservation. l

DT

4 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Graft case against Moudud stayed n Tribune Report

The Supreme Court has stayed a graft case against BNP leader Moudud Ahmed until August 30. A four-member bench of the Appellate Division headed by Chief Justice Surendra Kumar Sinha passed the order yesterday asking Moudud to file a leave to appeal petition.

The BNP leader placed a petition with the SC on June 28 seeking a stay on a HC order that cleared the way for a lower court to run the land-related corruption case against him.

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) launched the case in December 2013 against Moudud and his brother Monjur Ahmed on charges of grabbing public land worth over Tk300 crore in Gulshan.

In September 2014, a Dhaka court took cognizance of the charge. In June, the HC rejected a petition filed by Moudud challenging the legality of the lower court to run the lawsuit. l

Shawkat Mahmud shown arrested in eight more lawsuits n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu Journalist leader Shawkat Mahmud yesterday was shown arrested in eight new cases filed with Paltan and Motijheel police stations over arson attacks and attempted murder early this year.

Dhaka’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court passed the order in response to petitions filed by Paltan and Motijheel police.

The investigating officers of the cases also submitted petitions seeking a total of 80-day remand to interrogate Shawkat, also an adviser to BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia. Sub-Inspector Aminur Rahman, general recording officer of the court, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday

Khaleda’s pleas in Barapukuria case rejected n Tribune Report The High Court yesterday rejected two petitions moved by BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia seeking submission of lower court records and the Anti-Corruption Commission’s final report in the Barapukuria coal mine graft case.

The bench of Justice Md Nuruzzaman and Justice Abdur Rob gave the order. The two petitions were submitted during the hearing on another plea filed by former prime minister Khaleda asking for the case to be scrapped.

After the reject order, the court set August 30 for hearing on the other petition.

In 2008, the High Court stayed the case proceedings, and in a rule asked the government and the ACC to explain why the case should not be dropped.

The court had extended the stay order several times in the past. The latest six-month extension was ordered on April 10.

The ACC filed the case with Shahbagh police on February 26, 2008 against Khaleda and 10 of her former cabinet colleagues including Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, Motiur Rahman Nizami and Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mujahid for causing a loss of Tk159 crore to the government exchequer by awarding a contract to run the operations of Barapukuria Coal Mining Company to a Chinese company, abusing power.

Charge sheet in the case was submitted on October 5, 2008. l

The Guardian reporter to share experience in Dhaka n Tribune Report Shalailah Medhora, a current affairs reporter for The Guardian, will share her experience with her colleagues in Bangladesh on Wednesday in the capital.

The International Republican Institute (IRI) has invited Medhora, who has experience with investigative journalism in both print and electronic media.

The session will start at 9:30am at the The Daily Star Centre.

For more than 30 years IRI has been helping to strengthen democracy through workshops by volunteer experts from all over the world on multi-party political systems, democratic governance practices, women’s empowerment, civil society development, youth leadership, strengthening electoral processes and public opinion research. l

that the court of Magistrate Shahriar Mahmud Adnan would hear the remand pleas today.

Court sources said five of the eight lawsuits were filed by police against Shawkat and others in January and February this year for vandalising and setting a bus alight in the capital.

The three other cases were lodged against the accused with Motijheel police station.

Detectives arrested Shawkat, who heads a faction of Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists, in front of Samurai Convention Centre in the capital’s Panthapath on August 18.

He went to the convention centre to attend a press conference of Adorsho Dhaka Andolon, a platform of pro-BNP professionals. l

Ivy Rahman’s 11th death anniv today n Tribune Report

Today is the 11th death anniversary of Ivy Rahman, former women affairs secretary of the ruling Awami League and wife of late president Zillur Rahman.

On this day in 2004, Ivy Rahman died at the Combined Military Hospital after getting critically injured in the August 21 grenade attack.

To mark the day AL and its associate bodies have chalked out different programmes.

Around 10am, activists will place wreaths at Ivy’s grave in Banani graveyard, followed by a Milad Mahfil and special prayers, said an AL press release yesterday.

Ivy Rahman’s family will host a Milad and Doa Mahfil at Ivy Concord Tower at Gulshan 2 after Asr prayers. l

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NEWS 5

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

TIB: Land sector heavily corrupt n Nure Alam Durjoy

The Bangladesh chapter of international corruption watchdog Transparency International has detected massive corruption at every stage of land management by the administration.

A recent study by the organisation reveals that livelihood of the ordinary people, social welfare and safety are interrupted due to lack of political will and coordination among the related agencies, long backlog of pending cases, shortage of budget and manpower, and lack of accountability.

Land officials and staff at the offices take bribes ranging from Tk100-Tk20 lakh for survey and ledger transfer, mutation of name, registration, land development tax, collecting documents, provision of agro-land management, market management and leasing system, and land-related cases.

The qualitative research titled “Land Management and Services: Challenges of Good Governance and Solutions” was conducted

by Waheed Alam, Nihar Ranjan Roy and Nazmul Huda Mina of TIB’s research and policy wing between October 2014 and July this

year. The research team, however, did not cover the three hilly districts and land of the indigenous communities in the plains.

Frustrated with the current status, the land minister and the state minister recently vowed to uproot corruption from the land offices. The government has also instructed the offices of the deputy commissioners across the country to check corruption.

KEY FINDINGS About 8,800 positions are vacant Mismanagement of existing manpower Lack of accountability Shortage of logistics, technology, transport Decreasing budget allotment The TIB study shows that the land surveyors usually take bribes forcibly at the time of survey. Moreover, in absence of the land owner, the surveyors tend to label the land as government land while political figures and influential people interrupt survey process in some cases.

The officials concerned prepare docu-

ments of Khas (government) land, vested property, fallow land and court of wards in favour of the influential persons in exchange for bribes, according to the findings.

Service seekers face harassment at the time of mutation process. The Tehsil offices determine the package of mutation process for money. Land registration process is also corrupt, the study says.

Excessive taxes are collected from the land owners by violating guidelines while the recording officials take extra fees from them.

Mouza map and record of rights are given on bribe by the settlement offices. In some cases, the records are destroyed by the land grabbers with the help of upazila land offices, the study finds.

TIB says that the government lands meant for agriculture are allotted not for the needy people but the local dominants. Political leaders, union parishad chairmen and members influence the allotment system largely.

During the study, the TIB officials also found corruption and irregularities in local market management.

There are 1.8m land-related cases pending

with the county’s different courts. Many lawyers are not skilled enough to deal with the cases, the study says.

In every stage of the land cases, court officials concerned take bribes from both the complainants and the defendants. Most of the lawyers secure adjournment in the cases in exchange for bribes, causing harassment to the clients.

The TIB has placed 12-point recommendations to change the scenario that include building a vibrant department to steer the administration and management structure of the Land Ministry, long-term working plan for digitalisation of the land sector and increasing budget.

At the press conference, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said that land management system was more corrupt than any other sector.

“There are many difficulties in this sector.

Those involved in corruption and irregularities are trying to maintain the present scenario in a greater extent. Scopes for fraudulent activities are created systematically under the influence of political power,” he added. l

Sacked Latif says he will voluntarily resign as MP n Abu Hayat Mahmud

Sitting under an advertisement banner in rain was clearly exciting for this little boy, who was caught on camera giggling with his mother under the polythene sheet in the capital’s Suhrawardy Udyan. The mother-son due managed the shelter during the bout of rain yesterday SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Man killed in Dhaka gunfight n Kamrul Hasan A man was killed in what police said a gun battle between them and robbers at south Keraniganj in the capital early yesterday.

The deceased, Md Yusuf, 35, hailed from Bigha village in Dhaka’s Dohar.

Two others – Ismail and Sohrab – were arrested while fleeing the scene. Police claimed that the trio were members of an inter-district robbery gang. Ismail hails from Matwali village in Shariatpur while 30-year-old Sohrab’s village home is in Madaripur.

South Keraniganj OC Monirul Islam said that the gunfight had taken place in Par Gendaria’s Shatpakhi area around 1:45am.

“A team of police raided the spot on a tip-

off that a gang of 9-10 robbers were preparing to commit a robbery, but the criminals fired at the police team, triggering a gun battle.

“Yusuf sustained bullet injuries when shots were fired from both sides. Doctors pronounced him dead after he was taken to Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital around 3am,” the OC said. All the three were facing several cases filed over murder and robbery.

Monirul said that locals had arrived on the spot after hearing gunshots and helped the police capture Ismail and Sohrab. A pistol, two rounds of bullets and some local weapons were recovered from their possessions.

He claimed that five police members had been injured in the shootout and given first aid at a hospital. l

Sacked Awami League leader and former minister Abdul Latif Siddique has said he would voluntarily resign as a member of parliament.

“I will resign from my parliamentary post as my leader [Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina] wants so…and there is no controversy over the matter,” Latif told journalists yesterday after an Election Commission hearing over the legitimacy of his parliamentary membership.

“This is my decision. There is no need to hold a hearing on this,” he said.

The former minister said he would send his resignation letter to Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury immediately.

The 15-minute-long hearing was held in the presence of Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad, the four commissioners, the EC secretary and the commission’s legal wing secretary at the EC office in the capital.

Following Latif Siddique’s decision to step down, the commission adjourned its hearing for two weeks.

“Mr Siddique has expressed his desire to resign as a member of parliament. However, the Election Commission’s next proceedings will be held in accordance with the law,” CEC Rakibuddin said.

Meanwhile, Awami League lawyers told reporters after the hearing that there are complications surrounding Latif’s resignation as a letter had previously been sent to the speaker after his expulsion from the party.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court upheld a High Court order that rejected a petition by Latif challenging the EC’s jurisdiction to carry out the hearing.

A four-member bench headed by Chief Justice SK Sinha passed a “no order” on the petition filed by the sacked minister on August 20, after the High Court rejected his petition allowing the EC to hear the dispute.

Following his controversial remarks made in September last year on hajj, Tabligh and the premier’s son, dozens of cases were filed against him for hurting religious sentiment.

He was sacked from the cabinet on October 12 and also lost his party membership. l

DT

6 NEWS

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Relief still scarce in flood affected areas n Tribune Report People living in the northern parts of country are not only suffering from the ongoing flood, but also scarcity of relief materials.

With the rise of water level in the Teesta, Dhorola and Brahmaputra and Jamuna Rivers, flood situations have worsened in Kurigram, Gainbandha, Nilphamari and Rangpur districts.

In Kurigram, thousands of people of 53 unions have taken shelter in cyclone centres and on embankments, but the flood victims are not happy with relief. Many people are facing acute crisis of pure drinking water and foods.

Atia Khatun, a resident of Farazipara area, Kurigram Sadar upazila, said: “As flood water has intruded into my house, I have taken shelter on road with children and cattle. But in the last three days, nobody has come to help us. I am almost starving with my family.”

Manik Mia, a resident of Morarchar area under Chilmari upazila, said: “We need dried foods to survive in the situation.”

Sufia Begum, a resident of Pachgachi village, said she had to go on nearby bazar wading through waist deep water to buy food as she was yet to get any relief.

Chairman of Pachgachi union parishad Amir Hossain said 80% houses of his union were submerged by flood water. He did not get any kind of assistance from any government and non-government agency.

However, Deputy Commissioner of Kurigram had allocated 80 tonnes of rice for flood victim which would be sent to them soon.

In Gaibandha, two hundreds families have rendered homeless as erosion has turned serious in the locality.

A total of 50,000 people at 31 unions in the district have left marooned by flood water.

Tayejuddin, a resident of Lalchamar area under Sundor upazila, said he along with his family members were facing scarcity of foods and pure drinking water.

“Safe sanitation is a now critial problem for us,” he said.

Ataur Rahman Sarkar Ata, chairman of Ghuridoh union parishad, said he was yet to get any relief from the government.

He said: “I have contacted with district administration to provide relief in the locality.”

Abdul Hai Milton, upazila nirbahi officer, said a total of 12 flood shelter centres had been opened in the upazila to help flood affected people.

Md Abdul Awal, Saghata upazila nirbahi office, said they were making list to help flood affected people. l

Seven killed in road accidents n Tribune Report

At least seven people were killed in road accidents in Barisal, Rajbari and Bagerhat districts yesterday.

Our Barisal correspondent said three people including a highway police constable were killed and six others injured as a passenger bus rammed into a battery-run three wheeler on the Barisal-Dhaka Highway near near Gournadi Bus Station.

The victims were Zahid Hossain, 35, constable of Gournadi Highway police station, Siraj Sardar, 56, a local businessman and Shahjada Sharif, 44,local leader of Krishak Dal. Alauddin Milon, officer-incharge of Gournadi police station, said on information, police recovered the bodies and those to Barisal Sher-e-Bangla

Medical College and Hospital.

In Bagerhat, a motorcyclist was killed in an accident at Puran Bazar in the town, reported our correspondent.

Deceased, Hasan Hawolader Babu,28, was the son of Kashem Hawolader at Kachua upazila in the district.

Locals said the accident took the place when Hasan’s motorcycle hit a roadside tree, leaving him critically injured while he tried to save an old pedestrian who was crossing the road.

Hasan died after he was sent to hospital.

According to UNB reports, in Rajbari, three people were killed and 30 others injured in a head-on collision between two buses in Kanalghat area of Goalondo upazila.

The deceased included two bus drivers. l

DT

NEWS 7

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Shimulia-Kawrakandi ferry services come to a halt Four Ro-Ro ferries have remained out of operation for two weeks n Our Correspondent, Munshiganj Ferry services on the Shimulia-Kawrakandi has remained suspended for the last four days due to navigability crisis in the Padma River.

As four Ro-Ro ferries have remained out of operation for two weeks, 14 medium and small ferries were transporting goods and passengers.

But operations of medium and small ferries are halted sometimes due to navigability crisis and strong current in the mighty River Padma, much to cause sufferings for people who depend on the route for their travel.

As a result, hundreds of vehicles got stuck on both sides of the river, leads to traffic confession in three kilometres area on the Dhaka-Mawa Highway near Shimulia ghat in Munshiganj.

Local sources said a good number of underwater shoals had emerged in the channels of the ferry routes between Mawa and Kawrakandi due to irregular dredging.

Sources at the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority said as depth of the river near Louhajong point had deceased, ferry operation could not be conducted on the route which was called the Gateway to southern

THUNDERSHOWER WITH RAIN

MONDAY, AUGUST 24 DHAKA TODAY

TOMORROW

SUN SETS 6:24PM

SUN RISES 5:37AM

FORECAST FOR TODAY 34 32 32 31 33 33 32 31

27 26 26 26 26 26 26 27

YESTERDAY’S HIGH AND LOW

35.6ºC

24.5ºC

Jessore

Sayedpur & Dinajpur Source: Accuweather/UNB

PRAYER TIMES Fajr Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

Goods-laden vehicles remain stranded on the Dhaka-Mawa Highway as ferry services on the MawaKawrakandi ferry terminal has remained suspended for the last four days due to navigability crisis in the Padma River DHAKA TRIBUNE would be solved within a very short time.

Mohammad Shahdat, sergeant in the Dhaka-Mawa Highway outpost, said vehicular movement on the road was thin as transport bound for southern parts of the country had changed route. Drivers were using Daulatdia-Paturia route instead of this route.

“We have requested drivers to use Daulatdia-Paturia route so that they will not have to suffer during travel.” He said some goods-laden trucks were waiting to cross the river at Shimulia point. Yunus Ali, sub-inspector of Mawa outpost, said most of vehicles had turned back seeing disruption of ferry service. l

Work abstention over pay scale continues

WEATHER

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

part of Bangladesh.

Shekhar Chandra, deputy manager of the BIWTA, Shimulia ghat told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday afternoon that ferry services on the route had remained totally suspended since yesterday morning while only a ferry plied the river route on Saturday night.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) officials said they would try to resume the ferry operations during high tides.

He said: “the depth of the river near Shimulia ferry ghat is less than five feet and the depth is not sufficient even for plying of Ro Ro ferry.”

BIWTA’s Executive Engineer (Dredging) Md Sultan Uddin Khan said four BIWTA dredgers had been working since last month at the turning point.

“But the channel’s opening fills up very fast with the silt because of strong current.”

SM Jahangir Alam, deputy manager of the BIWTA, Shimulia ghat, said the dredging machines could not cut silt properly due to strong current in the river.

He said they were going to sit a meeting with Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan to find out a way to solve the crisis. But he could not express hope that the navigability crisis

4:16am 5:36am 12:01am 4:34pm 6:25pm 7:55pm SourceL IslamicFinder.org

n Tribune Report

The teachers of different public universities across the country observed a three-hour work abstention programme called by Federation of Bangladesh University Teachers’ Association (FBUTA) yesterday.

The teachers of state-owned Khulna University (KU) observed a three-hour work abstention programme demanding independent pay scale for them.

Source said KU Teachers’ Samity announced the event and the teachers took position in Odoimma Bangla statue area on the campus around 10am and stayed there for

three hours.

The organisation’s President Dr Ahmed Ahsanuzzaman presided over the programme while its Vice-President prof Dr Sordar Shafiqul Islam, General Secretary Prof Dr Md Sarwan Jahan also addressed it among others.

Barisal University (BU) teachers abstained from academic activities and observed a sitin strike protesting degradation as claimed by them in the proposed 8th pay scale and demanding a separate pay scale.

Above 100 teachers joined the event held on BU permanent campus from 10am expressing solidarity with the movement of the FBUTA.

Black Day observed at Dhaka University n

DU Correspondent

Teachers and students of Dhaka University yesterday observed Black Day in memory of the attack on the university’s teachers, students and officials by the military forces in 2007.

A discussion was also held at the Teachers and Student Center (TSC) around 11:30am.

Professor AAMS Arefin Siddique, vice-chancellor of the university, addressed the event as chief guest.

Speaking at the discussion, Arefin said the forces who had assassinated Bangabandhu and his family in 1975, as well as killed the four leaders of the nation, wanted to try it again in 2007 to undermine the country’s largest democratic institution.

He demanded punishment to the people who were responsible for the attack.

The discussion was attended among others by Professor Dr Mohammad Kamal Uddin, Professor Dr Farid Uddin Ahmed, Professor Anwar Hossain, Professor Mahbuba Nasreen.

In August 2007, a violent clash between some DU students and members of Bangladesh Army took place centring a football match, where the military members severely beat up the students. Following the clash, the army arrested four teachers and eight students of the university.

The attack sparked huge protest by the students against the army across the country.

The university observes the Black Day every year on August 23. l

Abdul Qaium, secretary BU Teachers Association, said teachers of all the 37 public universities in the country had decided to boycott classes for three hours every Sunday this month to press home their demand.

“We refrain from taking classes but examinations remain out of purview of the programme,” Abdul Qaium added.

The other demands of the public universities are – fixing same salary and allowance for senior professors equal to senior secretaries and same salary for professors and secretaries; upgrade their status the warrant of precedence, provision of cars and other allowances for them like the bureaucrats. l

Journalists come under attack n Our Correspondent, Gopalganj

At least four journalists were injured in an attack at Kotaipara in the district yesterday while they were performing their duty.

They are Mizanur Rahman Bulu, president of Kotalipara Press Club, HSM Mehedi Hasnat, local correspondent of the Daily Jugantar, Ratan Sen Kangkon, correspondent of the Daily Samokal and Gouranga Lal Das, correspondent of the Daily Ittefaq.

Mizanur Rahman said miscreants attacked the journalists, leaving them critically injured while they went to Purba Ramshil village to cover a report on a clash between two rival groups in the village, centering a road which was under construction. The miscreants also snatched away cameras from them. Later, they damaged it.

The injured journalists were admitted to Kotalipara Health Complex. l

DT

8 WORLD

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Survey: Nearly all India’s Muslim women reject ‘triple talaq’, polygamy Reuters Foundation, New n Thomson Delhi More than 90% of Muslim women surveyed in India want the “triple talaq” divorce ritual and polygamy abolished from family civil law in the country, a recent study, conducted by a women’s rights organisation, found.

The Bharatiya Muslim Mahila Andolan (BMMA) said its survey also showed that three quarters of interviewees wanted a ban on child marriage, indicating a need for reforms in the Muslim personal law which governs family-related issues in India.

Activists say the current law discriminates against women and are calling for a well-defined Muslim law that criminalises polygamy, unilateral divorce, child custody and marriage.

“An overwhelming number of women demand reforms in Muslim personal law as is prevalent in India today,” said a statement from the BMMA. “They want an elaborate codified law based on the Qur’anic justice framework to cover matters such as age of marriage, divorce procedures, polygamy, maintenance and custody of children.”

Muslims are India’s largest religious minority, making up more than 13% of the country’s 1.2bn population.

The literacy rate for Muslim women is just 50% compared to nearly 68% for Muslim men, and below the national average for women of 53%, said the report.

Only one in 100 Muslim women are graduates, while an average of 37% of Indian women overall have had a tertiary education, it added.

The BMMA said that while there was an urgent need to improve Muslim women’s access to healthcare, education and employment, it was also essential to address their “legal marginalisation.”

The study, which surveyed 4,710 Muslim married women across 10 Indian states, found nearly 92% of respondents said a Muslim man should not be allowed to have another wife during the first marriage.

It also found that more than 88% of women interviewed wanted the legal divorce method to be the “talaq-e-ahsan” method – a practice spread over a period of 90 days and involving negotiation.

Many women surveyed had experienced triple talaq, under which a Muslim man can repeat the word “talaq” three times to divorce his wife.

The survey said some respondents were divorced orally, others by letters from their husbands, and some over the phone or by SMS. More than 78% had no say in the decision. l

India-Pakistan peace talks collapse n Reuters, New Delhi/Islamabad The collapse of planned peace talks between India and Pakistan hours before they were to start on Sunday has raised questions about the arch-rivals’ willingness to overcome mutual mistrust, built since their separation almost seven decades ago.

This is the second time the nuclear-armed neighbours have cancelled talks since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in May last year, with both sides choosing to engage in a war of words ahead of the planned two-day meeting of their top security advisers.

Since Modi and his Pakistani counterpart, Nawaz Sharif, agreed on the talks in Russia last month, ceasefire violations across the countries’ border have increased. Analysts fear they may escalate. “(What it means is more) mutual accusations, acrimony, more provocations,” said Siddharth Varadarajan, a political analyst and former editor of the Hindu newspaper in India.

“In other words, contribution of the pattern we have seen in the past few weeks.”

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since becoming independent nations in 1947, two of them over the Himalayan region of Kashmir, which both claim in full but rule in part.

New Delhi has for years accused Pakistan of backing separatist Muslim rebels in India’s part of Kashmir. Pakistan denies the allegations and blames India for fomenting unrest inside Pakistan.

In the freshly-cancelled talks, India want-

ed to only discuss terrorism-related issues and objected to Pakistan’s intentions of meeting separatists from Kashmir. Pakistan wanted a wider agenda.

Pakistani National Defence University professor Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema told the country’s Express Tribune newspaper calling off the talks was not good for regional peace, and that Kashmir will always be on the agenda of any India-Pakistan talks.

Aakar Patel, a long-time Modi observer and the new head of Amnesty International in India, said New Delhi’s position had been weakened.

“How will not talking solve this?” he wrote in the Times of India. “If we are serious about getting something out of them, we have to engage with them.”

Pakistan’s decision to pull out followed Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj’s ultimatum to stick to a terrorism-related agenda.

India called Pakistan’s decision “unfortunate.” Swaraj said on Saturday Sharif was under domestic pressure to pull out.

In August last year, India called off planned meetings between the countries’ foreign secretaries as Pakistan wanted to meet with Kashmiri leaders - as has been the practice that is now opposed by the Indian government led by nationalist Modi.

The prospects of the long-awaited talks had been clouded in recent weeks by a series of militant attacks and border skirmishes.

Swaraj said there had been 91 ceasefire violations since the meeting between Modi and Sharif in Ufa in Russia. l

Korean peninsula on alert amid talks n Reuters, Seoul Top aides to the leaders of North and South Korea negotiated into the evening on Sunday after talking through the previous night to try to ease tensions involving an exchange of artillery fire that brought the peninsula to the brink of armed conflict.

The long meeting at the Panmunjom truce village inside the Demilitarised Zone began on Saturday evening, shortly after North Korea’s deadline for Seoul to halt anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts or face military action.

It broke up before dawn on Sunday and

restarted in the afternoon with the rivals on high military alert. The North had deployed twice the usual artillery strength at the border and had more than 50 submarines away from base, the South’s defence ministry said.

South Korea, also on high alert, said it had no plans to halt the propaganda broadcasts that triggered the latest standoff.

The envoys discussed ways to resolve tension and improve ties, South Korea’s presidential Blue House said in a brief statement early on Sunday.

Sunday’s talks were open-ended, with the South’s Blue House expected to announce the results after they conclude. l

DT

WORLD 9

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Thousands of migrants cross Macedonia, Serbia heading for EU n AFP, Presevo, Serbia Thousands of migrants, most of them Syrian refugees, were marching through Macedonia and Serbia on Sunday in a bid to reach the EU after being stranded for days on the Greek border.

The mass movement came after Macedonia police on Saturday reopened the country’s southern frontier, enabling thousands to travel north towards Serbia from which they seek to enter the European Union (EU).

The border was opened after dramatic scenes on Saturday in which hundreds of refugees forced their way through the barbed wire fences, many carrying small children, as police hurled stun grenades to try and stop them.

Macedonia had on Thursday declared a state of emergency and sealed off its southern border in a bid to halt the influx, leaving thousands stranded in no-man’s land.

But on Saturday night, it lifted the restrictions.

By mid-Sunday, more than 6,000 refugees and migrants had crossed into Serbia where eight huge UN refugee agency tents were set up in the border village of Miratovac, providing food and shelter from the chilly weather, .

“We have worked all night to admit them.

There is a flow of people who keep coming,” Amet Alimi, president of Presevo Red Cross, said.

They were then being bussed to the nearby town of Presevo where police handed out documents and helped them take buses to the

border with Hungary, an EU member state.

In Gevgelija on Macedonia’s southern border with Greece refugees and migrants keep coming in groups of few hundreds at a time.

Macedonian police had previously said they would only admit “a limited number” of people but they were not making any attempt to stop those crossing.

Late on Saturday, more than 1,500 people who had been stranded in no-man’s land for three days were allowed to cross into Macedonia. They then headed for Macedonia’s northern border with Serbia, travelling the 180km journey in buses, taxis and trains.

Until this weekend, more than 42,000 people, including more than 7,000 children, entered Macedonia from Greece since midJune, the government in Skopje said. l

A group of Syrian refugees gather around an open fire as a storm is approaching at a field at the Greek-Macedonian border

French train gunman identified as Islamist militant

REUTERS

Germany vows to fight xenophobia after attacks on refugee home n Reuters, Berlin

Germany’s interior minister led calls on Sunday for a crackdown on right wing militants and racists after a second night of scuffles between protesters and police outside a refugee shelter in the eastern German town of Heidenau.

Just one day after 31 police officers were hurt in violent protests against the asylum seekers, a Reuters photographer on Saturday night saw some 200 mostly drunk militants in Heidenau throwing fireworks and bottles at police.

Some shouted “Heil Hitler.”

As Europe struggles with an influx of migrants fleeing war in countries such as Syria and Iraq, German politicians are worried about the financial and social effects on their country, the EU’s biggest recipient of refugees.

Germany, which has relatively liberal asylum laws, expects the number of refugees to quadruple this year to 800,000, almost 1% of the population. Chancellor Angela Merkel says the issue is a bigger problem for Europe than Greece’s debt crisis.

Interior Minster Thomas de Maiziere has described the situation as a big challenge and condemned attacks on refugees.

“At the same time as a we see a wave of people wanting to help, we have a rise in hate, insults and violence against asylum seekers.

That is obscene and unworthy of our country,” de Maiziere told Bild am Sonntag newspaper.

“Anyone who acts like that faces the full force of the law.”

Justice Minister Heiko Maas responded to the Heidenau riot by saying there was zero tolerance for xenophobia or racism.

Many politicians have warned about a rise in hostility towards foreigners and, in the first half of the year alone, some 150 arson or other attacks were recorded on refugee shelters. l

FRENCH TRAIN SHOOTING

‘Wrong place, right people’

n Reuters, Paris/Madrid

n Reuters, Lille/Los Angeles

Fingerprint evidence shows that the gunman overpowered by passengers on a train in France is a Morrocan known to European authorities as a suspected Islamist militant, according to a source familiar with the case.

French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve told reporters the gunman appeared to be a 26-year-old Moroccan who had been “identified by the Spanish authorities to French intelligence services in February 2014 because of his connections to the radical Islamist movement.”

Cazeneuve did not give a name, but the source named him as Ayoub el Khazzani and said he was believed to have flown from Berlin to Istanbul on May 10 this year. Turkey is a preferred flight destination for would-be jihadists heading for Syria. A French newspaper said the suspect may have had connections to a group involved in a suspected Islamist shooting in Belgium in January. l

A day ago he was just another tourist on a train. On Saturday, US Airman First Class Spencer Stone was treated for knife wounds in a hospital in France and applauded by world leaders for foiling what officials called an attempted terrorist attack.

Stone was touring Europe with two friends he grew up with in California. The three men in their 20s helped overpower a Kalashnikov-toting suspected Islamist militant on a high speed train heading for Paris from Amsterdam.

Among the other heroes of the night-time drama was a Frenchman on his way to the toilet who first tried to tackle the assailant as he entered the carriage, and a 62-year-old Briton who still had blood spattered over his shirt as he spoke to journalists on Friday night.

Spencer Stone

REUTERS

But it may have been Stone, 23, who took the biggest risk. Stone’s height of at least 6ft 2in and Jujitsu martial art and American football background probably helped him, a relative said.

“He was the first one to jump on him, he’s the one who got cut up ... none of us are in-

jured but Spencer took a few injuries and he just had no fear,” 23-year-old student Anthony Sadler said.

“That’s our friend so once we saw him go we had to go and join him ... We couldn’t have just left everybody (to) die like that. It was a crazy situation,” said Sadler, a student at Sacramento State University.

Stone was treated for cuts and left the hospital on Saturday with his left arm bandaged and in a sling.

The US and French presidents Barack Obama and Francois Hollande commended Stone and his friends.

The third member of the group, 22-yearold National Guardsman Alek Skarlatos, said the vacation was partly to celebrate his return from a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

“We’re still trying to wrap our heads around it, but we’re proud of him,” Anthony Sadler’s father, also named Anthony, said. l

DT

10 ADVERTISEMENT

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

DT

EDITORIAL 11

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

INSIDE

Closets are for clothes, not people One’s sexual identity is perhaps one of the most personal aspects of one’s being, yet somehow, we are constantly under pressure from society to define it

BIGSTOCK

PAGE 12

A turning-point in IndoPak relations Talking to Pakistan is always like walking on glass; you never know when it is going to crack. It is safer to hope for the best and expect the worst; and don’t place any bets

PAGE 13

Lessons from the roads The public do not trust the law to take firm actions against criminals, so they want to do the work themselves.

Wonder what the masses will do if, one day, a political leader who has done something gravely unjust, or has made a reckless remark, finds himself among the common people

PAGE 14

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

Send us your Op-Ed articles:

opinion.dt@dhakatribune. com www.dhakatribune.com Join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook. com/DhakaTribune

Make public appointments on merit, not connections

O

fficials in state-owned energy companies are expressing concern about a large number of appointments to the boards of publiclyheld power and energy companies being made to individuals on the basis of their connections to the ruling party.

Thirteen out of 18 people who have recently been appointed to the boards of companies under the Power and Energy Ministry, are former BCL or Mahila Awami League leaders, and at least three of the others are reported to have political connections to decision-makers in the ministry.

None of these new directors has direct experience or claims expertise in the power or energy sectors, even though their posts are normally held by experts.

While there is no legal bar on their recruitment, it is concerning that some managing directors at these firms have reported pressure to recruit people preferred by the new director-appointees and to provide tenders to pre-selected parties.

No board directors, whether politically appointed or not, have a right to abuse their position.

Directors must put the interests of the companies which they govern first. It is clearly wrong for a director to put personal or political factors ahead of the interest of their companies.

The government should reform the process for making public board appointments to guard against such abuses.

Appointments should be made on merit to the best person available for a position, not on the basis of political connections.

Procedures should be overhauled to ensure that all appointments are made fairly and transparently. Vacancies should be publicly advertised and impartial panels appointed to judge candidates on their individual merits.

Independent processes or an ombudsman should also be made available to hear any complaints about poor governance or abuse of authority by directors. Transparency, merit, and fairness should be the over-riding priorities at all stages.

Ensure public appointments are made fairly, transparently, and on merit

DT

12 OPINION

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Closets are for clothes, not people We need to stop seeing LGBT people as being different from us

Straight people don't have monopoly over love and marriage

BIGSTOCK

erwise, in countries across the world these terms are used.

Interestingly enough, however, there is no pressure upon straight individuals to openly declare their sexuality to the world or “come out” as straight. So, then, why the double standards? This, in my opinion, is rooted in the aforementioned theory, the need for dominance of a larger group over smaller groups.

This phenomenon is interesting, as it highlights the fact that all people who are not heterosexual males or females are categorised under the umbrella acronym of LGBTI/ LGBTQ. This goes on to create the same “us” against “them” dynamic, which, in this case, would mean categorising all minorities into one category.

Whilst the struggles to gain equality for all sexual minorities in these situations are similar -- that is to say, that all sexual minorities are discriminated against for not being “heterosexual males or females” -- the personal struggles of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, and intersex people are very different. However, society factors all of these people into one category: “The others,” a category that requires declaration.

In countries that appoint basic human rights to its citizens, there is no legal obligation to declare one’s sexuality. However, there is substantial amount of social pressure to “come out of the closet.” Alejandro, a friend of mine, explains this from a unique angle: “Everyone always asks when you realised you were gay like it is some defining moment. I ask them, when did you realise you were straight? I think it’s hard to entirely come out anyway. In my job, I travel to different countries and there’s always a presumption I’m straight. Sometimes, I have to keep to that presumption, due to the culture of the country.

In other cases, there’s then that awkward moment where the other person realises, so sometimes it kind of feels that you have an

n Maliha Chowdhury

T

he phrases “out of the closet” or “closeted” are popular terminologies that refer to homosexual or bisexual people who have openly declared their sexuality and or who are in denial or have not declared their sexuality, respectively. Many people, myself included, are guilty of using these terms while referring to a person’s sexuality.

In hindsight, this seems harmless, bordering on innocent, but when you really think about it, what does it really amount to? The answer to that would be the consistent need of society to categorise people into boxes.

Henri Tajfel, a British social psychologist, suggested that groups exist in order to strengthen the self-esteem, sense of belonging, and pride of a person.

Similarly, picking out and alienating any other group in an attempt to somewhat assert dominance over them is a behaviour adopted in order to create an in-group and an outgroup. In layman’s terms, it creates an “us

One’s sexual identity is perhaps one of the most personal aspects of one’s being, yet somehow, we are constantly under pressure from society to define it. This is especially true if one considers themselves not 'straight'

versus them” dynamic. This could very well explain the consistent need for human beings to socially categorise others.

One’s sexual identity is perhaps one of the most personal aspects of one’s being, yet somehow, we are constantly under pressure from society to define it. This is especially true if one considers themselves not “straight.” Be it the most “socially advanced” of countries that offer all citizens equal rights, such as the Nordic countries or oth-

initial coming out and then do it again most days to people.”

Like Alejandro, a huge proportion of LGBT people are asked when they “came out of the closet.” This baffles me, mostly because Narnia is not real. People do not come out of closets; clothes, shoes, and whatever else you want store inside it, do. And what does this amount to anyway? Why is it such a big deal? Unless, you would like to have sex with the person and they think you are other-

wise inclined, why does it matter if you are blue, red, purple, or any other colour of the rainbow? Who is pushing their own (straight) agenda now?

Personally, I would not identify myself as LGBTI, but that does not mean I have never been attracted to someone else of the same sex, or that I have never wondered what it would be like to be a man. It’s because I find sexuality to be fluid, at least for myself, and I certainly would not like to be labelled as anything in particular.

This was no easy conclusion to come to. I had years of self-reflection and worry that I might be “not normal” to deal with given my Bangladeshi background. Not surprisingly, a large proportion of young people face this kind of dilemma.

In fact, this worrying is much worse for many who later go on to identify as LGBT and feel the need to “come out.” As a dear friend of mine eloquently put it: “Coming out is never a singular experience, from first acceptance, to the best friend, then to work, and onwards; it is a continuous process throughout your entire life with each new person and experience triggering a new coming out event and the floods of emotions and worries that come with that.”

The issue I have with the whole thing is not at all the fact that one should not declare their sexuality; it’s the fact that there is so much negativity surrounding it. Many young people, including so many of my friends, were scared to tell their parents because they felt guilty.

A Bangladeshi LGBTI friend of mine shared his coming out experience with me.

He said: “Coming out to my mum was a very scary thought, coming from a religious background.

Despite knowing my mother was fairly liberal, it was daunting to think how much she would be willing to accept. I knew that she didn’t have much contact with LGBT issues, that her family had a background of male dominance and strong opinions on heterosexuality, and that she was a firm believer in Islamic laws and rules that have been taught to her.”

He was lucky, though; his mother’s love for him transcended those of socio-cultural misgivings and barriers. Yes, I used the word “lucky,” because, sadly enough, the right to love someone openly and freely is heavily conditioned in the world we live in.

Another close friend of mine once said to me: “Hopefully, in the future, the whole concept of coming out will actually become unnecessary. In a world where homosexuals can adopt and get married in all corners of the universe, it won’t so much be a case of “coming out,” because, hopefully, we won’t be viewed as 'the others,' and instead, will be looked upon as what we are -- your sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, and, most importantly, human beings, just like everyone else.” This is so simple, so precise and so very true. Then why do we complicate it? l Maliha Chowdhury is a freelance contributor.

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OPINION 13

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

A turning-point in Indo-Pak relations India and Pakistan’s NSAs need to revive dialogue to clear hurdles

n MJ Akbar

T

he India-Pakistan dialogue has been comatose ever since it suffered a severe stroke at Agra in 2001; will it sink into deeper relapse in 2015? The diagnosis has not changed.

Agra collapsed because Pakistan would not accept terrorism as a central problem, largely because to do so would be selfincriminating. Its equivocation is evident in the threat that always accompanies any dispute over the agenda: Talk about Kashmir, or else!

We are hearing the same language today: Sartaj Aziz told a press conference in Pakistan that if India did not discuss Kashmir, it would soon realise what the consequences would be. In other words, the tap of violence is controlled by Islamabad, and it can be turned on or off at its command.

To an extent this is a game of “chicken” -- let’s see who buckles first. But a “chicken run” can also have suicidal consequences.

You can always fall off the cliff.

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s problem is a familiar trope of his country’s hydra-headed approach towards India. The analogy bears attention. Hydra, in Greek mythology, was a water serpent with a

In his attempts to appease Hydra, Sartaj Aziz, Nawaz Sharif’s NSA, slipped into distortion when he asserted that Kashmir was mentioned on the agenda drawn up at Ufa for his discussions with India’s NSA Ajit Doval.

There is no mention of Kashmir in the text of the Ufa joint statement. Pakistan now says that if all issues connected to terrorism are on the table, then Kashmir is implicitly there. Statements are not formulated to cover the implicit; every word is used and fought over, because it has an explicit connotation.

If Kashmir is not mentioned, then it is not there.

There is some confusion over the precise meaning of “talks” in the context of India and Pakistan. Both sides are committed to what is known as a “composite” dialogue, and this indeed covers all issues, including Kashmir.

The Narendra Modi government has never shied away from this commitment.

But the Ajit Doval-Sartaj Aziz meeting is not part of a composite dialogue, but a by-product of a conversation between Modi and Sharif on the sidelines of an international conference, with a specific subject of high concern: Terrorism. Delhi holds that Kashmir is a dispute between India and Pakistan,

Talking to Pakistan is always like walking on glass; you never know when it is going to crack. It is safer to hope for the best and expect the worst; and don’t place any bets

Kashmir is still the dividing issue between India and Pakistan unique propensity. Each time you cut its head off, two more appeared. Hercules found the solution. The hero burnt the serpent’s neck after cutting the head.

There is no Hercules around capable of such a feat because the serpent sups milk supplied by powerful sections of Pakistan’s army and sleeps in the sanctuary offered by the vast infrastructure of terrorist groups that conduct war by other means against India.

When Nawaz Sharif, in an earlier incarnation, sought, sincerely, to improve relations through the Lahore summit with Atal Behari Vajpayee, Kargil followed.

The far less dramatic understanding at Ufa provoked the same lobby into stepping up cross-border terrorism and ceasefire violations.

without reference to any third party, whether the third party be a foreign country or elements that do not consider themselves Indian.

The meeting between NSAs was designed to try and clear hurdles that block resumption of the composite dialogue.

If Pakistan is honest about confronting terrorism, then it surely cannot send a signal of support to secessionists who promote or condone terrorism.

An in-your-face policy is deliberately inflammatory, and hardly conducive to preparing public opinion for larger tasks ahead. Would Pakistan applaud if the Indian NSA or the foreign secretary insisted on meeting Baloch separatists prior to talks in Islamabad?

Talking to Pakistan is always like walking on glass; you never know when it is going to crack. It is safer to hope for the best and expect the worst; and don’t place any bets. Perhaps this may not be the best time to mention an inconvenient truth, but Islamabad has accepted this position of the Modi government before -- on the day the prime minister took his oath of office.

This is an anxious swivel-point in relations between India and Pakistan. We have rather lost sight of an important fact: At Ufa, Sharif invited Narendra Modi to visit Pakistan for the Saarc conference next year, and our prime minister accepted. If that visit does take place, it could mark a very high point in the history of Saarc.

The meeting between NSAs would have

REUTERS

been the first step on that difficult ladder.

Each rung would have had to be negotiated with care.

India will provide hard evidence on terrorists nurtured within Pakistan, including about a kingpin, Dawood Ibrahim. If Pakistan acts, it will assuage not only India’s concerns, but also those of the United States, which has been the Pakistan army’s most consistent fund manager.

There will be many ways to slip between now and 2016, but to fall off the first rung is equivalent to sending a gilt-edged invitation to misfortune. l MJ Akbar is an Indian journalist. He is the founder of The Sunday Guardian. This article was first published in The Sunday Guardian.

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14 OPINION

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Lessons from the roads A lot can be learned on the streets of Dhaka

n Towheed Feroze

F

rom inside a car, or any other vehicle, Dhaka, most of the time, is a stagnant city caught in slow-moving, interminably long traffic. When somebody is in such a situation, there is only one thought in mind: To get home or to the desired destination as fast as possible. No wonder there is never a smiling face inside a vehicle. In the cars, the mood is sombre, in buses, the look is that of tired resignation, with the only happy people being the ones who are walking.

Walking is a treat in itself, as it allows one the feeling of liberty -- surely a rare state of mind in this stifling metropolis. Sorry, but I have to say this: Seeing lines of cars clogged on the roads while I am free on foot triggers a feeling of perverse relief. But there is another upside to walking too, since a little attention to the activities surrounding you can open up the life among the masses. On my way to the university campus almost every day of the week from Elephant Road, I come across all sorts of situations.

Despite heavy traffic on the roads, most garment-selling shops on Elephant Road are empty. The mannequins stare out on the streets with looks of desolation. It’s not that the items sold here are too expensive. The problem is, designer clothing items with minor defects, almost invisible to the eye, are sold at one-tenth the cost at the Dhaka College market just a few hundred yards away.

While the latter is always bustling with buyers, most local branded shops just a few hundred yards away are desperate for customers. This indicates that buyers only head for the upmarket stores during major festivals or before a wedding.

As I walk, I notice that Dhaka people love eggs. They simply cannot do without this high protein, low cost food. While fast food in Bangladesh usually involves a few hundred taka, the quick bite for the working class is within Tk20.

Must say, in comparison, the egg-based food is better. The egg business is rather recent, flourishing in the last decade or so.

Way back in the past, boiled eggs sprinkled with beet lobon or pepper were only available during winter. Now this is a round the year operation -- duck eggs are especially popular, half-boiled and a little wobbly, the trick is to put some salt on top and gulp it down in one go. “It provides instant energy,” a tailor who works long hours sewing clothes at the Gawsia Market tells me.

Just opposite Dhaka College, almost hidden from public view, is the Galaxy Bar and Restaurant. Most people will never notice it but it’s there, providing much needed libation to those who need to see a few stars after work. Some go inside, others just buy what they want and go to a place where they can relax in peace. True to its name, inside it’s like the clash of galaxies. The mood around the place is naturally a little different. The stream of people walking suddenly gets a break here, the mood is slightly dodgy, the

There’s a story hiding in every street

NASHIRUL ISLAM

The public do not trust the law to take firm actions against criminals, so they want to do the work themselves. Wonder what the masses will do if, one day, a political leader who has done something gravely unjust, or has made a reckless remark, finds himself among the common people

looks a little shifty, and the tone unusually low. Listen carefully and pick up the right words: “Two cans of Tiger, a bottle of Jorina (Tsarina Vodka).”

Near Nilkhet, the book stalls on the pavements are open till late, though business is not brisk. Reading is not a preferred pastime anymore, one seller tells me. Sometimes, in sheer desperation, book sellers cajole known faces to buy something. Interestingly, the most sold book is the IELTS manual by Cambridge. A testament to the never-dying ambition of the young to go abroad. Once, leftist manuals sold like hot cakes, now such books gather dust, hardly getting picked up.

The hammer and sickle don’t ignite much ardour anymore. Pirated copies of the latest best-sellers are sometimes in demand.

A decade ago, this area remained vibrant till midnight, since Balaka Cinema Hall had the night show starting from 9pm. With the number of cinemas-goers dwindling, that show has been stopped, a stark reminder

that the culture of going to a hall after work is a dying habit. In front of the hall, cigarette stalls still sell exotic brands: Camel, Winston, Salem, Silk Cut, etc. They also sell smoking pipes plus tobacco.

On Tuesdays, the weekly holiday in this area, pavements are occupied by mountebanks selling so-called “traditional medicine” aimed at turning 70-year-olds into relentless love-making machines. Some are ointments while others are bizarre concoctions of rare natural ingredients. In order to add authenticity to their spiel, writhing live leeches are kept in small bowls. Their tag line: Leech extract gives you the erection of Priapus.

Aphrodisiacs always attract people, their eyes glisten as the seller talks at length about wild passion between the sheets. These people haven’t heard of Viagra yet.

Not far away is the place to make seals and stamps. These guys are always in demand.

Just name the seal you want to make and it’s done in a few hours. Their best customers

are people who are expatriates. Don’t think I need to elaborate. The other day, they were selling off a horde of unclaimed seals with “revenue department” written on them.

A week ago, while walking, I heard a motorbike coming at top speed, followed by another guy on a second bike, pointing at the first one, shouting “thief, thief.” In a second, the first bike took a turn near the medical first college gate, with the second bike in hot pursuit.

By the time I reached the medical college gate, there was a large gathering -- the bike thieves were stopped by the people on the street and taken within the medical premises by local honchos. I heard someone saying: “Don’t inform the police yet!” The law will be informed after a beating because, if criminals are handed over to the men in uniform, they usually get out by paying bribes or exploiting legal loopholes. Someone came and told me: “The thieves are already bleeding profusely!”

Another told me how the last bike thief that got caught here was lynched.

Sitting by the medical intersection with a cup of raw tea from the nearby stalls, I started to have mixed feelings about the whole episode, and couldn't help but accept that vigilante justice is on the rise. The lesson: The public do not trust the law to take firm actions against criminals, so they want to do the work themselves. Wonder what the masses will do if, one day, a political leader who has done something gravely unjust, or has made a reckless remark, finds himself among the common people. l Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.

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Emerging economies let currencies slide to stay competitive

17

China’s slowing economy: What’s wrong?

19

Stocks open week on backfoot

20

Samiul Basher Anik and n Syed Mohammad Jamil Khan

Padma Bridge construction is in progress made the decision in reply to the request made by Bhutan for supply of the big rock stone for construction in Padma Bridge. Earlier, Bhutan supplied boulder stone in construction of Bangabandhu Bridge in Jamuna River.

Burimari Land Port C&F Agents Association President Ruhul Amin Babul last week

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

told the Dhaka Tribune that importers could use the port for import of the product using the duty-free benefit.

Some importers has already started processing of boulder stone import from neighboring Bhutan after he tax authorities waived the duty on the import of boulder stone, he added. l

CSE capital market fair to begin October 8 n Tribune Report

A two-day Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) capital market fair will begin on October 8 in the port city of Chittagong.

The fifth CSE fair is expected to enable the investors to get in touch with the renowned capital market experts, said a CSE press statement released yesterday.

Stock brokers and dealers, merchant banks, asset management companies, listed companies like banks, non-banking financial institutions, insurance companies, mutual funds will participate in the fair.

Other product and service-oriented companies of textile and clothing, pharmaceuticals and chemical, food and allied products,

cement, engineering, leather and footwear, papers and printing, oil and fuel, ICT and telecommunications sectors will also take part in the show.

During the fair, investors will be able to interact with the officials of the listed companies.

They will also know more about their products and services, progress of business activates and its future expansion programme, update on latest financial information, corporate governance, AGM dates etc.

Investors can also avail the chance of having interaction with the stock brokers and dealers about their services such as opening BO account, fundamental investing knowhow like P/E ratio, dividend yield, EPS, internet

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Nasrul: Adequate energy, investment needed to meet 2030 power sector goals

First boulder consignment reaches for Padma bridge construction The first-ever consignment of boulder stone, to be used in the construction of Padma Multipurpose Bridge has reached in Bangladesh recently.

Bangladesh Foundry and Engineering Works Limited imported around 228 tonnes of black boulder stone from Jharkhand in India through Hili Land Port in Dinajpur.

The product reached in Bangladesh on Wednesday and is now stored at Panama Link Port in Dinajpur, Hili Land Custom Station Assistant Commissioner Saifur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

“The product will be released within a day or two after necessary verifications,” he added.

The product exported by Kolkata-based M/S Krishna Traders will be used for river protection works during the Padma Bridge construction, said officials concerned.

The construction of the Padma Bridge will require around 70 lakh tonnes of big-sized hard rock in the next four years.

Among them, state-owned Maddhapara Granite Mining Company Ltd in Dinajpur is set to provide around 30% of the total requirement.

The government has signed an agreement with the China Major Bridge Engineering Company (CMBEC) for the construction of around 6.15km main part of the bridge. Another Chinese firm Sinohydro Corporation Limited was appointed for river training work.

Earlier on June 24, the government has provided duty-free access to Bhutan for importing of boulder stone.

The National Board of Revenue (NBR)

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Business

15

trading services, broker’s workstation etc.

On the sideline of the fair, a series of seminars on different topics like introduction of exchange traded fund (ETF) in Bangladesh, stock market and its role in the national economy and corporate governance and its importance in the listed company.

CSE will arrange a raffle draw every evening of the fair.

CSE had earlier organised its 1st capital market fair in Chittagong in 2005, 2nd one in Sylhet in 2007, 3rd one in Chittagong in 2009 while 4th one in Dhaka in 2014. l

Muhith: Negotiations for new policy support loan from IMF in October n Tribune Report Finance Minister AMA Muhith said the government would start negotiations with International Monetary Fund for the new policy support loan during the World Bank-IMF yearly board meeting in October in Lima, Peru’s capital.

He also hoped the sixth instalment amounting to $140m of the existing Extended Credit Facility loan would be released in September. “An ECF review team will visit Dhaka soon before the release,” Muhith told journalists yesterday after a meeting with the outgoing IMF executive director and UK state minister for international development.

He said the amount of new policy support loan would not be less the current ECF loan amount which is $1bn.

He said the last and seventh tranche of the ECF fund would be released at the end of October after meeting two conditions tagged with it – amendment to the VAT law and audit of Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation by an international fund.

“Amendment to VAT law now awaits passage into Parliament, which may be done by mid-September while audit of BPC can also be conducted by this time,” finance minister said.

About Bangladesh’s middle income status, he said the UN Committee for Developing Planning would sit in 2018 when Bangladesh became a middle income nation. “However, we will continue to receive facilities for a least development country up to next three year from 2018.”

Muhith said Bangladesh had already received commercial loans from France, China and Japan and planned to borrow from USA for the country’s satellite project.

Last week, the Economic Relations Division sent a letter to Finance Division requesting to prepare a proposal for another interest-free ECF credit from IMF. The negations for more ECF funds are also likely to be held during the October World Bank-IMF yearly board meeting. l

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16 BUSINESS

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

China’s slowing economy: What’s wrong? n AFP, Shanghai Global stocks have been hit hard over concerns for the Chinese economy, with a gauge of the country’s manufacturing activity on Friday providing the latest sign of a slowdown in the world’s second-largest economy.

Although China, a major engine of global growth, has been slowing for some time, financial markets in China and elsewhere have tumbled.

Here are a series of answers to key questions on the subject.

Why are financial markets so gloomy about the chinese economy?

China’s economy expanded 7.4% last year, its weakest since 1990, and has slowed further

this year, growing 7% in each of the first two quarters.

It is a far faster growth rate than most other major countries, but a surprise currency devaluation last week raised suspicion that the economy is worse than officials have revealed. Coming on the heels of a stock market rout in June and July has added to the gloom.

China second quarter gross domestic product (GDP) figure exactly met the government’s full-year target of “around” seven percent, leading some analysts to question the announcement, which came after several weak indicators. China has long faced accusations that the government massages economic figures during times of slowdown.

Chinese province’s debt crisis exposes economic fault line n Reuters, Beijing A mini debt crisis in northern China is exposing cracks in a financial pillar of the country’s economic revival plan: the $430bn loan-guarantee industry.

China has a heavy corporate debt burden and its economy is slowing, putting borrowers under strain, but many lenders take comfort from the fact that their loans are insured against default through the nation’s almost 8,000 guarantee companies.

A third of these are state-backed companies that stand behind more than 60% of China’s guaranteed loans. They exist to facilitate finance for smaller businesses - China’s job-creators - but a crisis unfolding in northern Hebei province shows that their ability to meet those guarantees is in doubt.

In Hebei, a gritty region of steel mills and factories close to the capital Beijing, one such company is technically insolvent, a fate likely shared by other guarantee firms as the world’s second-largest economy rapidly loses momentum.

Hebei Financing Investment Guarantee Group has sold too many guarantees, too cheaply, on loans that have now gone sour.

“The domestic financing guarantee model is a very bad one,” said Hebei Financing general manager Ma Guobin.

Companies such as Hebei Financing are obliged to sell guarantees to borrowers at low rates of interest to underpin finance for smaller businesses, which can struggle to obtain funds at viable interest rates without a guarantee.

“The industry is also immature and has many problems and shortcomings. On many things we don’t have a choice,” Ma added.

Hebei Financing has guaranteed loans to more than 1,000 borrowers, including manufacturers that are bearing the brunt of the slowdown.

Many of these borrowers are in danger of default, presenting Hebei Financial with the prospect of having to pay out 32bn yuan ($5bn) in loan guarantees, which would wipe out its registered capital of 4.2bn yuan.

Given the company is unable to meet all its guarantees, lenders face large losses unless they can persuade the Hebei government to intervene and bail them out.

Eleven of them recently petitioned the

provincial government to stand behind Hebei Financing’s guarantees, and the government has formed a special committee to try and resolve the crisis.

“If there weren’t guarantees provided

by Hebei Financing Investment Guarantee Group, investors would not have agreed to lend to those companies,” the petitioners wrote in a letter to the province’s Communist Party secretary and the governor.

The letter, reviewed by Reuters, was written by 10 trust firms and one fund manager, which raised funds from the public before on-lending them. If the guarantees are not honoured, they may default in turn on returns pledged to their own investors.

To ratchet up the pressure on the Hebei government, the letter urged it to act in order to “prevent the crisis from triggering a public panic”.

Attempts to contact the Hebei government were unsuccessful. The Hebei State-Owned Assets Supervisions and Administration Commission, which oversees Hebei Financing, declined to comment.

Tip of an iceberg?

“We see a lot of these companies in China, and we worry about the underlying fundamentals,” said Sally Yim, senior credit officer with Moody’s Investors Service in Hong Kong.

“You are bound to see more of these defaults, or troubles from these type of small guarantee companies,” she added.

Yim doubted this would pose a major risk to the financial system. China has $3.65 trillion in foreign reserves and could deal comfortably with several crises on the scale of Hebei.

However, a loss of investor confidence in the overall guarantee industry could be harder to contain.

If lenders suspect local governments will not bail out guarantee companies in times of trouble, the broader economy becomes the loser as businesses are starved of finance.

“This is unbelievable,” said an executive of a trust company that was one of the signatories to the petition. She declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

“Who would dare to believe in the guarantee industry in the future? What’s the point of having this industry?” she added. l

Why is slowing growth such a problem domestically?

Experts say China’s ruling Communist Party needs to deliver improved living standards, lifting more people out of poverty and satisfying the growing middle class, in exchange for acceptance of its rule. The government also needs to maintain a minimum level of economic growth, which some analysts put at seven percent, in order to create jobs for millions of people and prevent social unrest.

Why is slowing growth a problem internationally?

With Europe’s economy weak and the US preparing for lift-off, the world has looked to China’s thirst for raw materials to keep its economy humming. With more than 1.3 billion

potential consumers, the country is also a big market for manufactured goods such as cars.

Any weakness in demand could be keenly felt by producers.

Is the panic justified?

Analysts are mixed on the question. Weaker manufacturing activity could be partly a reflection of a September 3 holiday to mark the end of World War II, which has caused production halts, and last week’s explosions at the port city of Tianjin - a major centre for industry.

“The multi-year low in the PMI (purchasing managers’ index) confirms that the economy is still not on a solid footing and (we) look for a flat growth profile in H2, with continued downside risks,” Barclays Bank said in a research note. l

CORPORATE NEWS

Zinser GmbH has recently held an event called Customer Appreciation Day at a hotel in Dhaka. Senior sales manager for Zinser GmbH, Gerd Moch was present at the event

NRB Commercial Bank Limited has recently opened its 32nd branch at Raozan in Chittagong. ABM Fazlul Karim Chowdhury, MP and chairperson of parliamentary standing committee at railway ministry, has inaugurated the branch. The bank’s chairperson, Engineer Farasath Ali was present at the occasion among others

Walton has recently opened its new exclusive showroom named Nahar Electronics at Bhanga in Faridpur.

The company’s brand ambassador and film actor, Ilias Kanchan inaugurated the showroom

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BUSINESS 17

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Investments heat up online news sector n AFP, Washington

A money changer counts US dollar bills, with Turkish lira banknotes in the background, at an currency exchange office in central Istanbul, Turkey

REUTERS

Emerging economies let currencies slide to stay competitive n AFP, London The world’s emerging economies are allowing their currencies to slide in a quest to remain competitive, following China’s devaluation of the yuan and the dollar’s strength in anticipation of US rate hikes.

The currencies of emerging nations in Asia have especially suffered in recent weeks from market speculation that the US Federal Reserve will lift interest rates this year - possibly as soon as September.

According to Societe Generale analyst Kit Juckes, those countries “fear a resumption of significant capital outflows if the Fed does raise rates next month, as well as fear of further (yuan) weakness and concern about the sluggish pace of global growth” - all of which are strengthening the dollar, euro and yen.

Other factors, including slumping prices of oil and natural gas - exports that many emerging economies rely on heavily - are also pulling currencies lower or prompting governments to let their value drop.

On Thursday, Kazakhstan decided to cease intervention to support the Central Asian nation’s tenge currency, and allowed it to float freely to cope with the plunging price of oil its primary export.

The result was an historic 23% drop in value to 257 tenge to the dollar.

The objective of that move, says CMC Markets analyst Jasper Lawler, was to allow Kazakh goods to become more competitive with less expensive foreign imports.

“The government and central bank decided to let (the tenge) free float in order to compete with the declining currencies of its two biggest trading partners; Russia and China,” explains Lawler.

This month’s surprise devaluations of the Chinese yuan - also known as the renminbi - by the country’s central bank was similarly viewed by many observers as an effort to reverse the recent slump in exports amid accumulating signs of an economic slowdown.

‘The government and central bank decided to let (the tenge) free float in order to compete with the declining currencies of its two biggest trading partners; Russia and China’ In response to China’s currency cut, Vietnam widened the spread its central bank allows the dong to trade, provoking a fall to its lowest ever level of 22.41 against the dollar.

In doing so, say forex experts, Vietnam effectively devalued the dong for the third time this year.

In Russia, under pressure since 2014 from falling oil prices and the effects of Western sanctions over the Ukraine conflict, the ruble resumed its decline against the dollar this week.

The ruble’s slump as Russia’s economy sank into recession has had serious consequences for the country’s neighbours - figuring as a major factor in Kazakhstan’s devaluation.

Political factors at play

Such weakening of currencies has been rife

across the world’s emerging economies, with Lawler pointing to this week’s plunge of the South African rand and Indonesian rupee to historic lows against the dollar as examples.

But if Indonesia’s currency dip is due largely to depressed prices for commodities it exports, Juckes says the slide of the Brazilian real and Turkish lira extend beyond pure economics.

Brazil, he notes, is facing an enormous corruption scandal as well as flatlining growth, while the drop of Turkey’s lira was caused by growing security concerns and increasing political instability.

“It is the weakness of sentiment in (emerging market forex) which is striking - oil and China’s slowdown are the main factors, but the Thai baht is weaker after a deadly bomb blast, the Brazilian real’s woes are as much political as economic,” says Juckes.

Adding to that febrility is the resurgent dollar being lifted by expectations of looming US interest rate hikes.

When it comes, that move will make returns on greenback investments more lucrative than foreign alternatives - an eventuality already motivating speculators to take such positions while they are still affordable.

But even if worries over China’s growth and halting economic activity elsewhere convince US policy makers to postpone a rate hike beyond the anticipated September period, the Fed will almost certainly be the world’s first major central bank to begin tightening its monetary policy.

And that, Juckes notes, should motivate investors to exit emerging economies they poured excess liquidity into during the Fed’s policy of keeping credit cheap in order to stimulate the world’s biggest economy. l

Suddenly the online news business is red-hot.

Money is flowing into digital news ventures at an unprecedented pace, as investors anticipate an accelerating shift away from traditional media, and new ways to generate revenue from news.

BuzzFeed made news this past week with a $200m capital injection from Comcast’s NBCUniversal, and with the announcement of a joint venture with Yahoo Japan for Japanese readers.

Earlier this month, Vox Media also secured $200m from NBCU as the startup seeks to ramp up its news websites including Vox. com, The Verge, Re/code and Bleacher Report.

Vox and BuzzFeed joined the club of “unicorns,” or venture-funded startups worth at least $1bn, a group which also includes Vice Media, which unveiled a $500m funding round last year.

The flood of capital to the sector suggests confidence in the ability of digital media to connect with readers - especially younger audiences which eschew traditional media - and generate profits, say analysts.

“Right now it’s an arms race. These are companies growing quickly and they have to grow quickly,” said Ken Doctor, a media analyst with the research firm Outsell.

Doctor said a key for these organization is capturing the attention of “millennials,” or young adults born after 1980 who rarely subscribe to print publications or cable television, and who get most of their content online.

“Marketers have discovered the millennial generation as they get more earning power,” he told AFP. Interestingly, much of the money flowing into these organizations is coming from traditional media, seeking fresh ways to deal with a transition to digital news.

The Murdoch family’s 21st Century Fox is an investor in Vice Media, for example, while Time Warner has invested in the online news site Mashable.

“It’s as much a hedge as anything else,” Doctor said.

“It’s a lot of money but not a bank-breaking amount.”

‘Digital eats everything’

The analyst added that big media groups which saw troubles for print a decade ago are now waking up to digital disruption of television.

With consumers slowly moving away from cable TV bundles, “you can see the fault lines,” Doctor said. “Digital eats everything, and television is not immune.”

The more successful media startups have found ways to connect and use technology better than legacy firms, say some analysts.

“BuzzFeed and Vox and other high-profile startups make the claim they are not just content companies, they are tech companies,” says Nikki Usher Layser, a journalism professor at George Washington University specializing in digital media.

This means “using data science to understand how information is spreading” and being shared, she said, to better adapt news feeds and enable advertisers to reach specific segments of readers. l

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18 BUSINESS

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

News, analysis and recent disclosures ATLASBANG: The Company has informed that it has signed an agreement of Distribution and Technical Assistance for one year with Chongqing Zongshen Group Import/Export Corporation on August 11, 2015. As per agreement, 10,000 units motorcycle will be imported, assembled and marketed and its Import value will be around $ 6.50 million. Atlas Bangladesh Limited will now market various designed Motor cycles of European technology.

GP: The Company has informed that it has completed the disbursement of interim Cash Dividend for 2015 on August 12, 2015 through BEFTN System.

BSC: Bangladesh Shipping Corporation Limited has informed that a proposal for purchasing about a 9 years old Double Hulled Oil Tanker has been approved in the Cabinet Committee meeting on Government Purchase on 19.08.2015. The purchase value of the Oil Tanker having capacity of 15,857 DWT is Tk. 156.11 crore.

SALVOCHEM: he Company has informed that it has credited the bonus shares for the year ended on December 31, 2014 to the respective shareholders’ BO Accounts on August 19, 2015.

Dividend/AGM APEXTANRY: 45% cash, AGM: 04.10.2015, Record date: 09.09.2015. GRAMEENS2: 10% cash 15% Unit Dividend, Record date: 07.09.2015.

GRAMEEN1: 82% Unit Dividend, Record date: 07.09.15.

GREENDELMF: 4.50% Cash Dividend. Record date:

06.09.2015.

ABB1STMF: 15% Unit Dividend.

Record date: 07.09.2015.

EBLNRBMF: 6% Unit Dividend.

Record date: 07.09.2015.

PHPMF1: 7.50% Unit Dividend Record date: 07.09.2015.

POPULAR1MF: 12% Unit Dividend. Record date: 07.09.2015.

FBFIF: 9% Unit dividend.

Record date: 03.09.2015.

TRUSTB1MF: 8% Unit dividend. Record date: 03.09.2015.

EBL1STMF: 7% Unit Dividend Record date: 03.09.2015. EXIM1STMF: 8% Unit Dividend.

Record date: 03.09.2015.

IFIC1STMF: 10% Unit dividend.

Record date: 03.09.2015 1JANATAMF: 12% Unit dividend.

Record date: 03.09.2015 RELIANCE1: 11% cash dividend.

Record date: 06.09.2015.

AIMS1STMF: 175% Unit Dividend. Record date: 07.09.2015 DBH1STMF: 4% Cash Dividend.

Record date: 06.09.2015.

ICBSONALI1: 10% cash dividend, Record Date: 02.09.2015.

IFILISLMF1: 10% cash dividend, Record Date: 02.09.2015. ICB3RDNRB: 5% cash dividend, Record Date: 02.09.2015. EPU= Tk. 0.51, NAV per unit of Tk. 7.58.

PF1STMF: 5% cash dividend, Record Date: 02.09.2015.

PRIME1ICBA: 7% cash dividend, Record Date: 02.09.2015.

ICBEPMF1S1: 7.5% cash dividend, Record Date: 02.09.2015.

ICBAMCL2ND: 5% cash dividend, Record Date: 02.09.2015.

ICB2NDNRB: 10% cash dividend, Record Date: 02.09.2015.

EPU= Tk. 0.87, NAV per unit of Tk. 10.99.

Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

Company Imam Button -Z Daffodil Computers -Z Jute SpinnersA Aziz PipesZ ICB Islamic Bank-Z Tallu Spinning -Z Meghna Con. Milk -B In Tech Online -A Bank Asia -A 4th ICB M F-A

Closing (% Change) 6.67 6.37 5.89 5.26 4.55 4.32 4.17 4.10 4.08 4.06

CSE GAINER Company ISN Ltd. -Z MBL 1st M. F.-A Dutch Ban. Bnk- A Daffodil Computers -Z Provati Insur.-A Mercantile Bank -A Bank Asia -A Aziz PipesZ Republic Insu.-A 8th ICB M F-A

Closing (% Change) 9.18 9.09 7.30 6.37 5.84 4.85 4.79 4.48 4.23 4.00

DSE LOSER Company Savar Refractories-Z Zeal Bangla Sugar -Z Kay & Que (BD) -Z PragatiLife Insu. -Z Monno Ceramic -B Shasha Denims -N 1st ICB M F -A ICB -A National Polymer -A Hakkani P& Paper -B

Closing (% Change) -6.18 -5.97 -5.51 -5.10 -4.72 -4.46 -4.15 -4.00 -3.97 -3.93

CSE LOSER Company Monno Ceramic -B EBL NRB M.F.-A Apex SpinningA Sandhani Life -A Shasha Denims -N Eastern InsurA H.R. Textile -A LR Global BD MF1-A Bangladesh Welding -B ICB -A

Closing (% Change) -7.97 -6.12 -5.84 -4.76 -4.70 -4.56 -4.53 -4.44 -4.26 -4.12

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

DSE key features August 23, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka)

DSE GAINER

Sector

4,677.33 127,228,029 111,683

Traded Issues

318

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

133

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

176

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

9

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,709.07

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

32.84

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 740.44 161.66 90.74 691.94 243.03 714.86 9.16 499.66 681.01 7.66 121.16 140.48 36.01 201.14 40.75 21.70 37.49 82.16 57.69 98.55 0.03

% change 15.83 3.46 1.94 14.79 5.20 15.28 0.20 10.68 14.56 0.16 2.59 3.00 0.77 4.30 0.87 0.46 0.80 1.76 1.23 2.11 0.00

Million Taka 54.31 10.49 2.67 52.01 11.64 60.70 25.81 37.39 1.12 7.04 5.20 3.51 13.84 4.00 0.86 2.00 7.19 14.50 13.48 0.00

Average (% Change) 6.69 6.25 3.07 3.54 5.08 5.66 2.91 3.92 0.48 4.27

Average (% Change) 6.20 9.09 7.30 5.98 5.37 3.98 3.63 4.63 4.01 4.00

Average (% Change) -6.18 -10.45 -6.18 -4.86 -2.27 -2.85 -4.65 -4.04 -4.87 -2.89

Average (% Change) -4.71 -5.92 -7.38 -4.81 -3.65 -4.56 -1.97 -3.54 -4.26 -3.46

CSE

ClosingAvg. 11.16 16.65 60.50 21.64 4.55 19.42 7.43 12.71 14.77 228.57

ClosingAvg. 10.28 4.80 100.00 16.65 14.51 10.72 15.13 21.00 14.77 62.40

ClosingAvg. 44.00 6.00 12.00 94.03 41.84 43.35 1584.76 140.71 107.42 44.71

ClosingAvg.

% change 16.57 3.20 0.82 15.87 3.55 18.52 0.00 7.88 11.41 0.34 2.15 1.59 1.07 4.22 1.22 0.26 0.61 2.19 4.42 4.11 0.00

40.65 4.61 83.85 39.98 43.04 23.00 25.36 4.36 22.69 141.09

Closing 11.20 16.70 61.10 22.00 4.60 19.30 7.50 12.70 15.30 228.20

Closing 10.70 4.80 100.00 16.70 14.50 10.80 15.30 21.00 14.80 62.40

Closing 44.00 6.30 12.00 93.10 40.40 42.80 1596.70 139.20 106.40 44.00

Closing 40.40 4.60 83.90 40.00 42.60 23.00 25.30 4.30 22.50 139.60

Million Taka 794.74 172.15 93.41 743.95 254.68 775.56 9.16 525.48 718.40 8.77 128.20 145.67 39.53 214.98 44.75 22.56 39.49 89.36 72.19 112.03 0.03

DHIGH

DLOW

11.50 17.00 63.40 22.40 4.70 20.00 7.60 12.90 15.60 232.00

DHIGH

10.70 15.80 57.10 20.70 4.20 18.80 7.20 12.30 14.50 220.00

DLOW

10.70 4.80 100.00 16.90 15.00 10.90 15.40 21.00 14.80 62.40

DHIGH 44.00 6.70 12.00 96.00 42.90 44.50 1665.80 146.00 112.00 46.50

DHIGH

10.20 4.80 100.00 16.30 13.40 10.40 14.80 21.00 14.40 62.40

DLOW 44.00 6.10 12.00 93.00 38.60 42.60 1565.50 138.10 106.00 42.20

DLOW

44.50 5.30 85.00 40.20 43.60 23.00 25.60 4.90 23.50 143.00

Total

39.70 4.60 83.10 39.90 42.30 23.00 25.00 4.30 22.30 139.00

% change 15.88 3.44 1.87 14.86 5.09 15.50 0.18 10.50 14.35 0.18 2.56 2.91 0.79 4.30 0.89 0.45 0.79 1.79 1.44 2.24 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

0.131 7.503 0.252 0.632 3.089 8.851 0.276 3.674 11.472 0.240

Turnover in Million

-1.21 0.80 -31.68 -2.12 -0.28 -0.21 -4.49 -0.68 1.74 36.29

Latest EPS

0.006 0.000 0.001 1.470 0.042 2.916 0.428 0.011 0.016 0.020

Turnover in Million

-ve 20.8 -ve -ve -ve -ve -ve -ve 8.5 6.3

Latest PE

-0.20 5.08 11.16 0.80 1.56 1.00 1.74 -2.12 2.18 17.26

Latest EPS

0.002 0.009 0.001 0.425 4.913 57.051 0.832 30.563 8.744 4.167

Turnover in Million

Latest PE

-ve 0.9 9.0 20.8 9.3 10.7 8.7 -ve 6.8 3.6

Latest PE

-0.64 -45.17 -0.24 2.38 0.16 5.24 142.00 3.49 3.36 0.29

Latest EPS

0.748 0.012 0.298 0.012 2.242 0.001 0.036 0.029 0.927 0.800

-ve -ve -ve 39.5 261.5 8.3 11.2 40.3 32.0 154.2

Latest PE

0.16 0.43 2.52 2.16 5.24 2.76 0.85 0.40 -0.80 3.49

254.1 10.7 33.3 18.5 8.2 8.3 29.8 10.9 -ve 40.4

CSE key features August 23, 2015 Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract

327.76 10,573,224 15,426

Traded Issues

249

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis)

106

Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis)

137

Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis)

6

Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.)

2,616.30

Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

31.71

DT

BUSINESS 19

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Stocks open week on backfoot n Tribune Report

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Shahjibazar Power-N FAR Chemical-N LafargeS Cement-A City Bank - A Square Pharma -A BD Building Systems -A Baraka Power-A Islami Bank BD - A Apex Tannery -A United Power-N

Ifad Autos -N Ratanpur Steel -N Al-Haj Textile -A Trust Bank-A C & A Textile -N

VolumeShares 1,288,252 2,930,162 1,292,575 6,551,065 521,016 2,031,090 3,138,850 3,426,701 636,721 634,559

Value in Million 257.79 162.15 148.18 131.58 128.09 108.78 106.36 103.23 100.65 100.39

% of TotalTurnover 5.51 3.47 3.17 2.81 2.74 2.33 2.27 2.21 2.15 2.15

VolumeShares

Value in Million

% of TotalTurnover

CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Shahjibazar Power-N United Power-N LafargeS Cement-A UNITED AIR-A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A City Bank - A Square Pharma -A UCBL - A BSRM Ltd. -A Olympic Accessories -N

Islami Bank BD - A WesternMarine -N BD Building Systems -A People`s Leasing-A First Security Bank-A

793,811 1,175,800 541,779 3,048,791 3,170,553

116,962 90,975 97,843 933,095 270,307 413,056 31,789 324,728 59,378 111,952

193,453 125,810 95,396 282,271 493,226

82.33 77.58 74.03 66.02 63.70

23.45 14.36 11.20 9.86 8.60 8.33 7.80 7.16 7.11 6.77

5.82 5.63 5.10 4.71 4.66

1.76 1.66 1.58 1.41 1.36

7.15 4.38 3.42 3.01 2.62 2.54 2.38 2.18 2.17 2.07

1.77 1.72 1.56 1.44 1.42

ClosingP 199.00 54.90 114.30 19.80 246.20 52.70 34.00 30.10 156.30 157.10

103.20 65.10 132.80 21.60 19.90

ClosingP

Change % 2.47 -0.90 -1.72 1.02 -0.40 -0.57 0.59 -0.99 -3.28 -0.25

-0.77 -2.98 -3.70 1.89 -2.45

Change %

199.00 156.80 114.20 10.50 31.60 20.00 245.50 21.90 118.20 60.20

29.90 44.40 53.00 16.80 9.40

2.16 -0.25 -1.47 -0.94 -0.94 2.56 -0.61 1.39 -1.99 -0.66

-0.99 -0.45 0.00 0.60 2.17

ClosingY 194.20 55.40 116.30 19.60 247.20 53.00 33.80 30.40 161.60 157.50

104.00 67.10 137.90 21.20 20.40

ClosingY

194.80 157.20 115.90 10.60 31.90 19.50 247.00 21.60 120.60 60.60

30.20 44.60 53.00 16.70 9.20

DHIGH 203.70 58.00 116.00 20.50 248.00 54.40 34.40 30.70 163.70 159.70

104.80 68.00 142.00 22.00 20.70

DLOW 195.90 54.10 113.50 19.60 243.50 52.40 33.50 29.90 155.00 156.50

102.60 64.80 130.20 21.00 19.70

DHIGH

DLOW

204.70 159.70 115.70 10.70 32.30 20.50 248.00 22.30 122.00 61.30

196.00 156.30 114.00 10.50 31.50 19.80 244.10 21.90 116.50 60.00

30.50 45.30 54.50 17.00 9.60

29.70 44.30 52.80 16.40 9.20

AvgPrice 200.11 55.34 114.64 20.08 245.84 53.56 33.89 30.12 158.07 158.20

103.71 65.98 136.64 21.65 20.09

AvgPrice

200.47 157.88 114.46 10.56 31.80 20.17 245.33 22.03 119.74 60.46

30.06 44.75 53.47 16.70 9.46

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

4831.71520

(-) 0.17%

1844.23037

(-) 0.36%

14815.2147

(-) 0.06%

12508.6712

(-) 0.05%

9021.6053

(-) 0.06%

▼ ▼ ▼ ▼ ▼

Stocks edged lower amid high volatility yesterday, snapping up three-day winning streak.

The market moved into the red and green heavily in the morning but later profit booking mostly on low cap stocks wiped off early gains.

The Dhaka Stock Exchange benchmark index, DSEX, inched more than 8 points or 0.2% down to close at 4,831, hitting highest 4,862 in the first session and lowest 4,827 in the final session.

The Shariah index, DSES, gained marginally almost 5 points or 0.5% to 1,185. The blue chip comprising index DS30 settled at 1,844, rising slightly, nearly 7 points or 0.4%. The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index CSCX was down 6 points to 9,021.

Losers outpaced gainers as out of 317 issues traded, 95 advanced, 181 declined and 41 remained unchanged Trading activities declined sharply as DSE turnover stood at over Tk467 crore, down 22% over the previous session’s Tk597 crore.

Banking sector took the center of the stage, making up almost 16% of the total

turnover. The sector rose 0.7%, advancing to the second position among the sectors in terms of market capitalisation.

Telecommunication continued to gain with a rally of 1.1%. Food and allied went marginally up.

Most profit booking took place on non-banking financial institutions sector that slumped 2.3%, followed by cement 1.3%, pharmaceuticals and power closed the session flat.

IDLC Investments said in continuation of recent rhythm in the bourse, market closed flat, despite promising start of the session. As investors remained largely divided on the coming trend of the market, sideways move persisted with some sector and scrips play, it said.

Lanka Bangla Securities said market showed strength in early trading as banking stocks were rolling up gradually. However, profit taking in last hour following three days of continual rise in index inched down the market.

Shahjibazar Power Company Limited was the most traded stocks with shares worth almost Tk26 crore changing hands. l

ANALYST

Market showed strength in early trading as banking stocks were rolling up gradually. However, profit taking in last hour following three days of continual rise in index inched down the market

DT

20 BUSINESS

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Nasrul: Adequate energy, investment needed to meet 2030 power sector goals n Tribune Report State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said ensuring supply of primary energy and investment is the main challenge to generate electricity in line with the Master Plan 2030.

“The main challenge to achieve development goals in energy sector is to ensure supply of primary energy at an affordable price and making investment as much as necessary,” he said while speaking at a round-table discussion as chief guest at the capital’s CIRDAP auditorium yesterday.

Nasrul Hamid said the government investment could not reach the target alone, and so it also required private investment. Besides, the government is designing an investment road-map up to 2021, he added.

A fortnightly magazine Energy and Power organised the discussion on “Energy Challenge-2030.”

“We are ready to face the challenges taking multifarious efforts from exploration of local

resources to import of electricity and gas or LNG to meet energy requirements,” Nasrul said.

“Making appropriate policies and concerted efforts will enable the energy and power sector to achieve the targets of the Power Sector Master Plan 2030.”

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Professor M Tamim said the gas production in Bangladesh would fall in next 3-4 years.

“Gas will be available in the wells, but low pressure will lead to drop in production,” he explained.

The discussion was moderated by Energy and Power Editor Mollah Amzad Hossain.

Energy and Power Contributing Editor Engineer Khandakar Abdus Saleque, Power Cell DG Mohammad Hossain, energy expert Dr Mushfiqur Rahman, DU Prof Badrul Imam, BUET Prof Ijaz Hossain, Power Development Board Chief Engineer Mohammad Mizanur Rahman and DCCI Senior Vice-President Humayun Rashid, among others, also participated in the discussion. l

Simtex IPO subscription postponed n Tribune Report Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) has postponed the Initial Public Offering (IPO) subscription of Simtex Industries Limited, which is scheduled to begin today.

“IPO subscription of Simtex Industries has been postponed due to unavoidable circumstances,” Md Saifur Rahman, an executive director of the BSEC, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

As asked, he, however, declined to make any further comment on the reason behind.

On June last, the securities regulator approved the IPO proposal of Simtex Industries to raise its fund worth Tk60 crore from the stock market for the company’s capital

investments, repayment of bank loans, business expansion and meeting the IPO cost proceedings.

As per the approval, the company is supposed to offload 3 crore ordinary shares at an offer price of Tk20, including a premium of Tk10.

The company’s earning per share (EPS) is Tk3.33 and net asset value (NAV) Tk19.60, according its financial statement for the year ended on June 30, 2014.

AFC Capital Ltd and Imperial Capital Ltd are the issue managers of Simtex Industries’ IPO. Simtex Industries is one of the biggest providers of sewing thread and yarn dyeing in Bangladesh.

The company commenced its commercial operation from its Savar plant in 2009, according to the company’s website. l

Walton to expand production for boosting export n Tribune Report Walton, the country’s local electronics brand, is going to expand its production capacity for enhancing its export volume in the international market as a Bangladesh’s premium brand.

“As part of a new expectation, the company has undertaken initiatives for setting up new production units, manufacturing new models of products, establishing international standard testing labs to ensure highest quality of the produced goods,” said a press release issued yesterday.

The release said: “The Walton has put more emphasis on production enhancement of all kind of products to cater to the growing demands at home and abroad, which would also help reduce production cost.”

“We’ve launched our activities targeting the

potential markets of America, Europe, Oman, Bahrain, Yemen and some other South African countries,” said Roqibul Islam Rakib, senior assistant director of International Marketing Department of Walton, in the statement.

To grab the global market of electronics brand, Walton already has set up a new factory unit for manufacturing non-frost refrigerators, which has started experimental production in the new unit, he said.

In addition, Walton is also setting up a German technology- based ultra-modern compressor factory in its Walton Hi-Tech Industries Ltd at Chandra in Gazipur.

With the combination of cutting-edge technology and state-of-the art machinery, the new unit will manufacture four million world-class compressors annually. Of which, 2.5 million will be exported. l

Fortnightly magazine Energy & Power hosts a round-table on ‘Energy Challenge - 2030’ in CIRDAP auditorium in the city yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

DT

21

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Illustration: Bigstock

T-JUNCTION

Like two peas in a pod news

INSIDE

Pre-book Helio S1 and get exciting gifts

22

Edison Group, along with Grameenphone, is going to launch their first 4G supported premium handset called the Helio S1. Customers can pre-book Helio S1 from Symphony Smart PlugIn, Symphony exclusive priority outlets and Grameenphone centres from August 18 to 25.

Each of the first 1,000 pre-bookers will get a flashlight enabled selfie-stick for free and a free

data offer from Grameenphone. They would have to pay Tk3,000 in advance to pre-book the handset from any one of the above aforementioned outlets. The rest of the money would have to be paid at the end of the pre-booking period to claim the handset and gifts.

school survival

Ageing well

23

beauty

Mac Prep + Prime Base Visage

24 health

Headache fact sheet

DT

22 T-JUNCTION

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Schoologistics

Ageing well school survival

With the little ones:

On the flip-side to the situation explained above, it would be unfair to ask your junior friends to do things for you just because.

The aim is to make them feel like they are on the same level as you, and understand s/he also has his/her own reputation to maintain.

Hence, act accordingly. It is advisable that you know that if a word of mouth spreads of you taking unfair orunethical advantage, it would probably lead to that whole junior classes having a bad impression of you.

HUMOUR With the big ones:

How to set an impression with seniors and juniors alike

Friends come in all shapes and sizes, you don’t have to be of the same age. At school, you may find a large imbalance on your friend list on that regard, and only a few know that similar behaviour with both troops will only lead to war. Here’s how you can be with them both, keeping your integrity intact.

RESPECT With the big ones:

The word carries a lot of weight to them, specially from you as you will always be seen as a minority. In school, every differentiable factor is thought of as either an advantage or disadvantage to make any party feel superior. No matter how close you may be to

them, you will still be a class below, but don’t worry, that won’t change how they act with you if they respect you, but that’s only if you do so as well. Now the idea of respect may be hazy at that age, but be careful about how you behave with them when their friends are around. Talk to them on an equal ground, knowing and showing that you know fullwell you’re junior to them, and let them take charge when they wish to. That factor alone cancels out all target-able differences and leave you as an equal.

With the little ones:

You should know when they are crossing lines or taking advantage of you. Hence, keep them at a distance, just a bit, so you may retain your superiority and respect when in front of their friends. But one thing which would flood their morale is not considering or calling them a “little brother/sister.” It gives the vibe that you like them just for who they are, despite age differences.

FAVOURS With the big ones:

Photos: Bigstock

n Rad Sharar Bin Kamal

Photos: Bigstock

You may seem bound to act when a boro bhai from school asks for a favour, but always retain your self-importance in these situations. If it is something you are uncomfortable with doing, politely say no to the situation and if required, explain how it may not be possible for you. If you are still pushed to do so, maybe keeping ties with someone like that isn’t worth your time at all.

This one may be tricky, but keep a leash on the humour before it becomes an insult to your seniors, especially in front of their friends. Laugh along. Add a subtle fuel to the fire, but only understanding your relationship and situation well. A second impression implying that you would rather make yourself look better by putting your friend down might not be well received.

With the big ones:

Even though the final limit on impulsive humour may be more with your juniors, it would still be advisable to watch what you say. A sting is still a sting, and there is always a number of those who will react. Try to laugh with them, not at them, and all shall be well.

PERSONALITY With all:

This would eventually be the test factor to see if you are compatible with both ages, be it bigger or smaller than you. Your personality must be consistent, and that reflects directly on your behaviour. If you are entirely different with each party, it means you are not being real and changing yourself to be liked by both, which we’re afraid, will eventually get you busted. If you wish to test this, hang-out with both at the same time.

Bottom line is, be yourself and you will get the best of both worlds.

However, the third world in this scenario consists of equally aged peers. A simple fact – if you don’t have much friends in your own class, unless you dropped or skipped a grade, it wouldn’t be advisable to go chilling with your juniors or seniors which, in both cases, will leave you looking like a minority. l

T-JUNCTION 23

DT

Tempt

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

beauty

Mac Prep + Prime Base Visage All about priming

n Anita Amreen The Mac Prep + Prime Base Visage is marketed as a lightweight gel-lotion that is meant to even out your skin, remove any signs of redness while also giving you a radiant glow. In other words, it’s basically a primer, and a primer is to make-up what lingerie is to your figure – it’s meant to lay the basic foundation of your overall look to conceal, smoothen and hold things in place.

With the advent of face primers, make-up fanatics are usually more inclined towards investing in a high end primer such as the Smashbox Photofinish (priced at Tk4,000+) or even Benefit’s Porefessional, with Mac’s Prep + Prime not garnering as much positive reviews as the brand name usually does.

Beautifully packaged (much like any other Mac product), the Prep + Prime comes in a dispenser bottle. One pump is more than enough to cover your face, with the application being smooth and creamy, settling into the skin within minutes.

Interestingly, the primer isn’t clear, but rather a semi-thick white cream that leaves a glittery finish on your skin.

While this may seem alarming, once you’ve put your foundation on, the glittery bits are gone. Foundation goes on even smoother, and any additional touches to your face made easier since the primer allows more mobility to each product you put on your face. If you’re using contouring powders or creams, it blends seamlessly once the primer is used underneath.

news

5th Bangladesh Fashion Carnival

A five-day international exhibition of branded clothing and fashion products will begin on August 26 at Emmanuelle’s Banquet Hall at Gulshan 1. Over 45 companies from home and abroad are participating in this exhibition titled “5th Bangladesh Fashion Carnival 2015,” which will run till August 30.

Redcarpet365 Ltd and Freelancerz, an event management firm, will be organising the event.

Ahmed Imtiaz, a representative of the organisers, said the exhibition would be targeted to the huge Eid-ul-Adha crowd.

Referring to the most important features of the carnival, he added, “it would create an opportunity for both local and foreign participants to display their latest products before potential buyers, resulting in business transactions worth millions.”

He also said this exhibition will encourage local manufacturers and producers to export their goods to foreign markets, giving a big boost to the country’s export earnings.

Dhaka Tribune is the print media partner for this event, while Radio Aamar 88.4fm is the radio partner and BD24Live.com is the online partner. l

Foundation also lasts longer and has a more seamless, airbrushed finish. The only disappointment with this is that while it is good, there are better primers within the same price range. When compared to the Smashbox Photofinish primer, both primers are infinitely different, with Smashbox beating Mac at its own game. As far as longevity, smoothness and finish are concerned, Smashbox comes out as a 10/10, while Mac a measly 8/10 compared to it.

While it’s a good product nevertheless, it will not inspire a second purchase, especially if you’ve tried Smashbox or Professional. l

Amari Dhaka’s pizza promotion

Amari Dhaka calls on the appetite of pizza lovers with an unlimited offer at Cascade Lounge. The offer includes different delicious flavours of pizza with one free soft drink each, at Tk999 net per person. Cascade Lounge, lobby lounge of Amari Dhaka, is holding this amazing pizza promotion and their Chef Krisna’s creations of pizza margherita, pizza hawaiian, pizza vegetarian, pizza lamb kofta, on crust pizza and a full show kitchen will be sure to delight. This promotion will continue until further notifications.

For more information, go to facebook. com/AmariDhaka l

DT

24 T-JUNCTION

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Take Care

health

Headache fact sheet n Amreen Rahman

that gets worse over the days.

Headaches are one of the top-most common maladies, one that leaves you grasping your head, refusing to leave you be despite your efforts. While it is difficult to pinpoint exactly what kind of headache you’re having based on where the pain is located, it is possible to shortlist the probable causes that may have led to the ache. Usually, there are several symptoms and disorders that come under the umbrella of headaches. In other words, to accurately diagnose your headache, you need to know the type, the location and the cause of pain as well as the age of the patient. Today we’ve dissected the meaning of headaches that are located in the different areas of your head.

Ice-pick headaches are characterised by a sharp, stabbing pain that is momentary, disappearing within 30 seconds or so.

Despite how momentary these headaches are, they are just as alarming if not treated right. Doctors still haven’t figured out an exact cause behind these aches, but did find that 2% of the population suffer from it, with the onset age being 47 years.

Types of headaches Cluster headaches are ones where pain is limited to one side, with the headache recurring over the course of a few weeks. The exact cause is unknown but it’s usually the result of abnormalities in the hypothalamus.

Dissimilar to migraines and tension headaches, they aren’t triggered by food, hormonal changes or stress. Usually once a cluster headache begins, it can be worsened with the consumption of alcohol. Seek emergency care if you have headaches with fever, nausea, vomiting, a sudden severe pain unlike any other or even a headache

Cervicogenic headaches are essentially secondary headaches that are caused by another illness or physical ailment the patient is suffering from. It is also known as one of the most unusual kinds of headaches since the pain really isn’t in the head, but is perceived that way! While there are many reasons behind this, it is most commonly because of a neck disorder or lesion.

Migraine is an extremely intense, painful headache that is preceded or accompanied by warning signs. These signs include flashes of light, tingling arms and legs, vomiting, blind spots and increased sensitivity to light and sound. The pain can last for hours or even continue for days.

Tension headaches are milder than migraines, caused by muscle contractions in the head and neck. It can be triggered by anything from food, different kinds

Photos: Bigstock

Finding out what your headache is trying to tell you

of activities or may even be the result of spending too much time staring at computer screens or driving.

What does the location of your headache mean?

Temples (both sides of your head) Headaches that are focused on the temples or around the side of the head are usually tension headaches, ice-pick headaches or cervicogenic headaches.

Front of your head Headaches in the front of the head can be a result of tension, eye strain, dehydration or even a serious migraine. l

Behind your head Again, headaches at the back of the head are also the result of dehydration, cervicogenics and tension.

Limited to one side of your head If you’re feeling an ache on one side, then you’re suffering from a migraine or a cluster headache.

Centre/top of your head An ache that is focused on the centre or on top of your forehead is usually the result of either tension, ice-pick, cough, exertion or even coital action.

Didier Drogba made a tame MLS debut for Montreal Impact in their 1-0 home loss to Philadelphia Union on Saturday. He entered the game in the 59th minute to a standing ovation from the Montreal crowd

Sport 26

‘WE SHOULD ENSURE THE U16S DO NOT PERISH’

27

BOLT WINS WORLD 100 METRES TITLE

29

25

DT

LOSING START

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

SANGAKKARA SIGNS OFF WITH 18 IN LAST KNOCK

FEELS LIKE TEEN-SPIRIT

The Bangladesh cricketers slide through the waterlogged Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium outfield during their training camp yesterday

Law returns n Mazhar Uddin

Former Bangladesh coach Stuart Law who has recently been appointed as the technical adviser of the Bangladesh Under-19 team will reach Dhaka tonight.

The former Australian batsman, who becomes the first senior team coach to return to Bangladesh on a different role, will work with the young Tigers till the ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh next year.

“Stuart Law is expected to reach Dhaka tomorrow (today) at 10.40 pm by Singapore Airlines,” said Abu Imam Kawsar the manager of the BCB game development yesterday.

The 46-year old will breakdown the work during his four months (16 weeks) stint. Law’s first phase will stretch from August 2 to September 18 and the remaining phases will be completed from October 26 to November 20 and from January 4 until the conclusion of the U-19 World Cup on February 14, 2016. l

MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

Four-member security team ready to visit Pakistan

BCB prefers Lahore for the women’s tour matches, informs Nizamuddin a four-member delegation,” BCB CEO issue and only after assessing the security n Mazhar Uddin Nizamuddin Chowdhury informed the media situation, the board is going to take a final Despite several acts of terrorism in Pakistan recently, the Bangladesh Cricket Board is still hopeful over the national women’s tour of the terror-stricken country.

The BCB is apparently keen on sending a fourmember delegation to assess the security situation in Pakistan.

“The chief security consultant of the BCB, along with three government officials, will visit Karachi and Lahore.

However, I cannot disclose the names at the moment but we are thinking about sending

yesterday.

Cricket’s governing body in the country however, is unwilling to play any matches in Karachi.

“We have already informed Pakistan about sending our security team. Whenever they finalise the tour dates, we will send the security team. Pakistan have requested us to play in Karachi but we are preferring Lahore,” he added.

According to Nizamuddin, the BCB is giving utmost importance to the security

decision on the tour. At the same time, the BCB will also be in touch with the Bangladesh Embassy in Pakistan.

The Bangladesh women are expected to play three ODIs and a Twenty20 international in the tour, scheduled to begin on August 31 this year and end on September 11.

Before that though, Salma Khatun and her troop will take on South Africa in a home series, scheduled for next month. Bangladesh will play five ODIs and three T20Is against their South African counterparts. l

DT

26 Sport

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

‘We should ensure the U16s do not perish’ n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Bangladesh football captain Mamunul Islam gets the young Tigers in one frame during the felicitation programme arranged for the Saff U-16 champions yesterday MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

The Bangladesh Under-16 football team, who recently lifted the 2015 Saff Under-16 Championship title for the first time following their penalty shootout win over India in the final, will undergo a four-year skill development camp under the supervision of the Bangladesh Football Federation. The young footballers will be provided all kinds of support in order to bring out the best of their ability, assured BFF president Kazi Salahuddin in yesterday’s felicitation programme at the Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club ground.

“These young booters have ended the country’s long wait by winning the Saff Championship. They have gifted the country with joy and an occasion to celebrate. I do not have enough words to congratulate them. The only thing I would like to say is that the BFF has taken the initiative to prepare these young footballers for the future. They will undergo a four-year camp, starting very soon. The BFF will be responsible for their lodging, food and daily allowance,” Salahuddin told the media during the felicitation ceremony.

Salahuddin further informed that the camp will be held in the BFF Academy in Sylhet right after the conclusion of the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship qualifiers next month. Hosts Bangladesh will entertain Group D rivals Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the qualifiers, spanning from September 16-20.

“The young footballers will be taken to the Sylhet academy right after the AFC qualifiers. We hope that we would be able to provide them state-of-the-art training facilities. I hope these players will not only shine in the country but also hold Bangladesh’s flag high in the international circuit,” said Salauddin.

Bangladesh U-16 captain and midfielder Mohammad Shawon was ecstatic and humbled with the felicitation programme.

“These type of programmes make us realise that the football arena of the country expects a lot more from us. I believe the footballers of this U-16 team would be able to go miles, provided we get proper facilities and training,” said Shawon.

Bangladesh U-16 head coach Syed Golam Jilani on the other hand said it is quite important for the BFF to keep the young footballers motivated for further success.

“We should make sure that they do not perish from the game. That should be the responsibility of the football federation and others concerned. We have enough talent in the team and our job should be to groom them for the upcoming days,” said Jilani.

DBL Group awarded Tk10,000 to each player and official of the triumphant U-16 team while top-flight champions Sheikh Jamal presented crests. Sheikh Jamal president Manjur Kader and BFF vice president Abdus Salam Murshedi were present among others in the programme. l

'Difference between Bangladesh and Australia is like the gap between earth and sky' n Shishir Hoque Bangladesh football team began their training camp at BFF House yesterday ahead of the upcoming 2018 Fifa World Cup second round away qualifiers against Asian champions Australia and Jordan. The camp was conducted under the supervision of Dutch head coach Lodewijk de Kruif.

The only absentee of the camp was veteran defender and Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club captain Nasir Uddin Chowdhury, who is suffering from fever. Abahani forward Aminur Rahman Sajib was included in the camp in place of Nasir.

The Sheikh Russel KC players were the first ones to arrive at the federation house for reporting. Slowly, the rest of the squad arrived to the camp along with the coaching staff. National captain Mamunul Islam, accompanied by defender Rayhan Hasan, uttered words of confidence while facing the media and pledged to give their best in the upcoming qualifiers.

“Everyone knows the position of Australia in world football. They are the number one team in Asia and regularly compete in the World Cup. The difference between them and us is vast, much like the gap between the earth and the sky,” said Mamunul before adding, “We will try to enjoy the game against them and have to perform above our level. We all have to give more than hundred

percent and gain confidence before the next game (against Jordan).”

According to Mamunul, the fact that they have been training together for the best part of two years would stand them in good stead.

“Most of the players were involved in the league games and we, the national players, have been playing together for two years. The understanding is here so it will not be a big

problem,” added the talismanic midfielder.

De Kruif on the other hand said the Australia match will give his charges some much-needed experience.

“Australia are a very strong team. We will play in a fantastic stadium, in fantastic circumstances and against a fantastic team.”

Bangladesh will leave here for Malaysia this Wednesday for a Fifa international friendly,

scheduled to be held this Saturday. The Tigers will fly straight to Australia following the Malaysia friendly in Kuala Lumpur. The Australia-Bangladesh tie is slated for September 3 in Perth. A week later, Jordan will host the Tigers.

In their first two qualifiers at home last June, Bangladesh suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Kyrgyzstan before being held to a 1-1 draw by Tajikistan. l

Bangladesh football team jog during the first day of their training camp at the BFF headquarter yesterday ahead of the 2018 Fifa World Cup second round away qualifiers against Asian champions Australia and Jordan in September MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

DT

Sport 27

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

QUICK BYTES Djokovic eyes history in final against Federer World number one Novak Djokovic will be aiming for a slice of ATP history on Sunday when he takes on six-time champion Roger Federer in the ATP Cincinnati Masters final. Djokovic battled back to beat Ukrainian qualifier Alexandr Dolgopolov 4-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 on Saturday to set up his 41st career meeting with Federer - who dispatched last week’s Montreal winner Andy Murray 6-4, 7-6 (8/6).

–AFP

Liverpool out to make statement at Arsenal Emboldened by back-to-back victories, Liverpool visit longstanding rivals Arsenal on Monday looking to score points in the early-season battle for position in the Premier League.

Liverpool lost 4-1 on their last trip to the Emirates Stadium in April as their challenge for a Champions League place faded, with Brendan Rodgers’s side taking just eight points from a possible 27 in the run-in.

–AFP

Rennes hand Lyon defeat, draw for Monaco Olympique Lyonnais were on the receiving end of a surprise Ligue 1 defeat as they lost 2-1 at home to Stade Rennes on Saturday. Pedro Henrique capitalised on careless control from new boy Mapou Yanga Mbiwa to open the scoring for Rennes after seven minutes, snatching possession before beating Anthony Lopes with a fine right-foot effort.

–REUTERS

Serena recovers to reach another Cincinnati final World number one Serena Williams came from a break down in the opening set to produce a patchy 6-4, 6-3 win Saturday over Elina Svitolina to reach the WTA final in Cincinnati. The top seed was far from efficient in the semi-final, appearing to lose her way on some shots, before squeezing through for a chance at a second consecutive Cincinnati title.

–AFP

Ten-man Bayern sneak late win after early shock A 90th-minute Robert Lewandowski goal saw ten-man league leaders Bayern Munich earn a dramatic 2-1 win at Hoffenheim on Saturday despite conceding the joint fastest goal in Bundesliga history. The Poland striker sealed the champions’ comeback after Germany Under-21 striker Kevin Volland had opened the scoring with nice seconds gone, darting onto David Alaba’s loose pass and drilling his shot home at the Rhein-Neckar-Arena.

–AFP

Unconvincing Atletico make winning La Liga start Atletico Madrid got their La Liga campaign up and running in less than convincing fashion when Antoine Griezmann’s deflected free kick secured an edgy 1-0 win at home to promoted Las Palmas on Saturday.

–REUTERS

Bolt wins world 100 metres title nReuters, Beijing

Jamaican Usain Bolt won the 100 metres title at the world athletics championships in Beijing on Sunday, crossing the line in 9.79 seconds to reassert his status as the fastest man on the planet.

American Justin Gatlin, the form sprinter of the last two years, finished second in 9.80 to take silver, while Andre de Grasse of Canada and American Trayvon Bromell crossed the line together in third place in a time of 9.92.

Bolt, the reigning Olympic champion has now not been beaten in the 100m or 200m in six major global championships going back to 2007, although he was disqualified from the shorter race at the Deagu world championships in 2011.

The 29-year-old will go for successive world championship sprint sweeps in Beijing, the site of his breakthrough triumph at the 2008 Olympics, with the 200 metres final scheduled for Thursday. l

Brave Bangladesh take on Nepal n Shishir Hoque A confident Bangladesh Under-19 football side will face hosts Nepal today in their second and final match of Group A in the 2015 Saff U-19 Championship at ANFA Complex in Lalitpur. The match will kick off at 3:45pm (Bangladesh standard time).

Both the home side and the tourists have already confirmed their berth in the semi-finals after beating Bhutan 3-1 and 2-0 respectively. The winner of today’s tie will emerge as the group champions and avoid the Group B champions in the last four.

Title favourites India are likely to top the group after they defeated Afghanistan 2-0 in their group-stage game yesterday.

When the junior Tigers take the field today, they will be relying on their attacking trio of Mannaf Rabby, Mohammad Ibrahim and Rohit Sarkar to deliver the goods. Mannaf and Rohit were on the scoresheet against Bhutan while Ibrahim exhibited brief moments of brilliance.

The visitors though will need to be wary of the high altitude and opposition captain Bimal Gharti Magar, who netted a hat-trick against Bhutan.l

Win for Ennis-Hill as rival self-destructs n AFP, Beijing Olympic champion Jessica Ennis-Hill completed a fairytale comeback by winning her second world heptathlon title on Sunday following an astonishing meltdown by fellow Briton Katarina Johnson-Thompson.

Ennis-Hill, returning to the sport after giving birth last year and battling a series of niggling injuries, was all but giftwrapped the gold medal in Beijing after Johnson-Thompson failed to post a mark in the long jump.l

Champions Sheikh Jamal earn Blatter’s praise Club president vows to retain existing players “I am proud of my team and my players. n Minhaz Uddin Khan They have enhanced the reputation of BangTop-tier football champions Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club, who claimed the title of the Manyavar Bangladesh Premier League 201415 season by a convincing margin of nine points, have already turned their attention to next season. The Dhanmondi-based club, who also clinched the season-opening Federation Cup, have retained their entire squad for the upcoming season.

Sheikh Jamal, boasting 13 national representatives in their squad, maintained their early-season form in the 2016 AFC Cup play-offs qualifiers earlier this month where they emerged as the unbeaten group champions.

And club president Manjur Kader promised there would be no let-up from their part as they bid to clinch a hat-trick of top-flight championships in the forthcoming season.

ladesh, both at home and abroad. I would like to thank and congratulate the coach (Joseph Afusi) and the team management for their effort in continuing the side’s success. I would also like to say I will try my best to keep the team intact for the next season. I do not want to break a winning team,” Manjur told the media during the Bangladesh Under-16 football team’s felicitation programme at the Sheikh Jamal ground yesterday.

Sheikh Jamal manager Anwarul Karim Helal informed that the process of holding on to the best footballers for next season has already been initiated.

“We have already started discussions with the players. I believe no other club in the country are fluent or smart enough, when compared to Sheikh Jamal. I believe none of our players would leave us,” said Helal.

Bangladesh captain and talismanic Sheikh Jamal midfielder Mamunul Islam on the other hand said no other club in the country have training facilities as good as theirs.

“The players here are always upbeat and ready to give hundred percent in the field.

That is the main reason behind Sheikh Jamal’s success I think. I hope the club will continue maintaining good relations with the players in the coming days,” said Mamunul.

In the felicitation ceremony, Bangladesh Football Federation president Kazi Salahuddin handed over a letter, sent by embattled Fifa president Joseph Blatter, to Kader. In the letter, the outgoing Fifa supremo congratulated Sheikh Jamal for winning the Bangladesh Premier League this season. BFF senior vice president Abdus Salam Murshedi also acknowledged Sheikh Jamal’s title-winning campaign on behalf of football’s regulatory body in the country. l

DT

28

Ascent Cup 2015

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

ROAD TO GLORY

PRE-QF’S

GEMCON 12 METRONET 0 ASCENT 3 STERLING 1

QF’S

GEMCON 4 ASCENT 2

COMFIT 5 SECUREX 3

FINAL

SF1

SF2

GEMCON 2 BANDO 0

BANDO 4 COMFIT 2

BEXIMCO 5 SAJEEB 2

SAJEEB 6 BONGO 3

GROUPS

QF’S

GEMCON 6 BEXIMCO 0

BEXIMCO 3 ASUTEX 0

PRE-QF’S

BANDO 6 BANGLA CAT 3

COMFIT 3 ANCHOR 1 SECUREX 1 ACCENTURE 0 BANGLACAT 5 RUNNER 4 BANDO 10 CENTROTEX 0

A

C

E

G

I

K

M

Gemcon Group Green Delta Mutual Trust Bank

Beximco Pharma Metlife Energy Pac

Ascent Group Le Meridien Beximco Textile

Qubee Edge Consulting Sajeeb Group

Rahimafrooze Bongo IMDhaka.com

BATB Sterling Group Spellbound

Chevron Brac Bank Asutex

B

D

F

H

J

L

N

Bando Design Dhaka Tribune Bitopi

HRC Anchor Exim Bay Development

Securex Adcomm FAS Finance

Asiatic General Electric Runner Group

Accenture Kazi Farms Bangla CAT

Bengal Blueberry bKash Comfit Composite

IPDC Swiss Contact Centro Tex Metronet

Gemcon Group players, officials and supporters celebrate retaining their Ascent Cup glory on Saturday

Bando Design’s Rajib receives the best goalkeeper award from Qubee’s head of corporate sales Mesbaur Rahman

Bando Design’s Imranur Rahman receives the Highest Goal Scorer award from Hyundai Motors marketing head Imran Khan

Beximco Pharma’s Masudur Rahman was awarded a motorbike by Sajeeb Group for becoming the Most Valuable Player

Team Bando Design pose with their runners-up trophy

BFF vice-president Tabith Awal hands over the Plate championship title to Green Delta Insurance PHOTOS: MAINOOR ISLAM MANIK

The CEOs Exhibition match just before the final on Saturday was one of the glittering highlights of the nine-day tournament

DT

Sport 29

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Sangakkara signs off with 18 in last Test knock

INDvSL, DAY 4 INDIA 1ST INNINGS 393 (L. Rahul 108, V. Kohli 78, R. Sharma 79, W. Saha 56, D. Prasad 2-84, A. Mathews 2-24, D. Chameera 2-72, R. Herath 4-81) SRI LANKA 1ST INNINGS 306 (K. Silva 51, L. Thirimanne 62, A. Mathews 102, A. Mishra 4-43)

n AFP, Colombo

Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara was dismissed for 18 in his final international innings, ending a remarkable 15-year career during the second Test against India in Colombo on Sunday.

A full house of around 7,000 was in attendance at the P. Sara Oval to watch the fifth-highest run-getter in Test history play for the last time as Sri Lanka chased a tough victory target of 413.

Sangakkara did not have to wait long in the dressing room after the hosts lost opener Kaushal Silva in the third over, tapping a full toss from Ravichandran Ashwin to the short mid-wicket fielder.

The crowd applauded warmly as Sangakkara was welcomed to the crease by two guards of honour - one formed by young children with raised bats near the boundary and another by Indian fielders. The left-hander began by flicking the first ball from Ashwin for two runs and then clipped seamer Ishant Sharma off his pads for his first boundary.

Sangakkara hit two more fours, but fell to Ashwin for the fourth time in as many innings in the series when he edged a catch to Murali Vijay off the 18th ball he faced.

The Indian fielders shook hands with Sangakkara as he walked off for one last time to a standing ovation from the crowd.

“Thank you for all the love,” Sangakkara wrote on his twitter feed @KumarSanga2 soon after play ended. “Been my privilege to play for my country and in front of all the fans.”

Sangakkara finished with 12,400 runs from 134 Tests at an average of 57.40. He scored 38 centuries, including a best of 319 against Bangladesh in Chittagong last year.l

RESULTS

2-3

West Brom Morrison 35, 59

On Saturday Crystal Palace

2-1

Dann 71, Sako 87

Leicester

1-1 1-1

Noble 48-P, Kouyate 53, Maiga 82

Stoke Diouf 11

1-1

Defoe 62

West Ham

Tottenham Alli 81

Martin 28

Sunderland

Aston Villa Souare 77-og

Mahrez 82

Norwich

Chelsea Pedro 20, Costa 30, Azpilicueta 42

Swansea Gomis 45+3

3-4

Bournemouth Wilson 11, 28, 79-P, Pugh 66

481 (S Smith 143, D Warner 85, A Voges 76, M Starc 58; S Finn 3-90, M Ali 3-102, B Stokes 3-133)

England 149 (M Johnson 3-21, M Marsh 3-30) and 286 (A Cook 85, P Siddle 4-35) Result: Australia won by an innings and 46 runs Series: England win five-match series 3-2

R

B

82 133 126 243 10 19 34 55 17 19 13 21 19 21 10 26 4 7 8

Total (for 8 wkts declared, 91 overs)

325

Fall of wickets 1-3 (Rahul), 2-143 (Vijay), 3-171 (Kohli), 4-256 (R. Sharma), 5-262 (Rahane), 6-283 (Binny), 7-311 (Ashwin), 8-318 (Mishra).

Bowling Prasad 15-0-43-4 (nb1), Herath 29-4-96-0, Chameera 14-0-63-0 (w3), Mathews 2-1-1-0, Kaushal 31-1-118-4.

SRI LANKA 2ND INNINGS K. Silva c Binny b Ashwin D. Karunaratne not out K. Sangakkara c Vijay b Ashwin A. Mathews not out Extras: (lb4, nb1)

R 1 25 18 23 5

Total (for two wickets, 21 overs)

72

B 9 62 18 38

Fall of wickets 1-8 (Silva), 2-33 (Sangakkara).

Bowling Ashwin 10-5-27-2, Yadav 2-0-10-0, I. Sharma 4-0-18-0 (nb1), Mishra 5-1-13-0 Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara waves his bat at fans as he walks off the field after his dismissal during the fourth day of their second Test against India in Colombo yesterday REUTERS

Sri Lanka need 341 runs more with eight wickets in hand

Terry-fied Chelsea survive Albion scare n Reuters, London Pedro scored a debut goal as champions Chelsea got their stuttering Premier League campaign off the ground with an entertaining 3-2 victory against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Sunday.

Chelsea - who had taken one point from their opening two matches - were indebted to Thibaut Courtois who saved James Morrison’s early penalty before Pedro, signed this week from Barcelona, poked home in the 20th minute.

Diego Costa converted Pedro’s shot in the 30th minute, Morrison atoned for his earlier

penalty miss to pull a goal back five minutes later before Cesar Azpilicueta restored Chelsea’s two-goal cushion in the 42nd minute.

John Terry, who was substituted for the first time ever under Jose Mourinho during last week’s loss to Manchester City, was dismissed for bringing down Salomon Rondon and though Morrison added his second, Chelsea held on to register their first victory of the season.

Later on Sunday Manchester City take their 100 percent record to Goodison Park to face Everton while Southampton visit promoted Watford.

Meanwhile, promoted Bournemouth announced their arrival in the top flight with a

Australia win fifth Test, England take Ashes 3-2 Australia

INDIA 2ND INNINGS (overnight 70-1) M. Vijay lbw b Kaushal A. Rahane c Chandimal b Kaushal V. Kohli lbw b Kaushal R. Sharma c Mubarak b Kaushal S. Binny c Thirimanne b Prasad W. Saha not out R. Ashwin c Chandimal b Prasad A. Mishra c Mubarak b Prasad U. Yadav not out Extras (lb4, w3, nb1)

n AFP, London Australia beat England by an innings and 46 runs to win the fifth and final Ashes Test on the fourth day at The Oval on Sunday.

England, made to follow-on, were bowled out for 286 in their second innings after initially being skittled out for 149 in reply to Australia’s first innings 481, which featured captain-elect Steven Smith’s 143. However, England - who had already regained the Ash-

es - won the five-match series 3-2.

This match saw Australia captain Michael Clarke and opening batsman Chris Rogers, who will now both retire from international cricket, bow out of the Test arena as winners.

Made to follow-on, England saw captain Alastair Cook make a gutsy 85 in more than five-and-a-half hours before he fell late on Saturday’s third day. Victoria paceman Siddle finished with fine innings figures of four for 35 in 24.4 overs -- including 12 maidens. l

bang after Callum Wilson’s hat-trick sealed their first-ever Premier League victory in a 4-3 success at West Ham United on Saturday.

Tottenham Hotspur ended Leicester City’s perfect start under new manager Claudio Ranieri with a 1-1 draw after the impressive Riyad Mahrez cancelled out Dele Alli’s first Spurs goal.

Crystal Palace’s Bakary Sako snatched a late winner as they beat Aston Villa 2-1, while Stoke City, who handed record signing Swiss Xherdan Shaqiri his league debut, drew 1-1 at Norwich City with Russell Martin equalising for the home side after Mame Biram Diouf headed the visitors in front.l

DAY’S WATCH Star Sports 4 12:45 AM Barclays Premier League Arsenal v Liverpool

Sony Six 10:30 AM India Tour of Sri Lanka 2nd Test Day 5

DT

30 DOWNTIME

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Thin biscuit (5) 4 Deity (3) 6 Singing voice (4) 8 Small fish (5) 9 Acting part (4) 11 Worshipped image (4) 12 Oozes (5) 15 Dogma (5) 18 Have on (4) 20 Part of the eye (4) 21 Pulsate (5) 22 Table-shaped hill (4) 23 Fuel (3) 24 Vegetables (5)

DOWN 1 Insects (5) 2 Ridiculous sham (5) 3 Scolds (5) 4 Virtuous (4) 5 Affair of honour (4) 7 Hackneyed (5) 10 Fondness (4) 13 Continuously (4) 14 Money bag (5) 15 Whole sum (5) 16 Norwegian (5) 17 Musical instruments (5) 18 Organ of flight (4) 19 Goals (4)

CODE-CRACKER How to solve: Each number in our CODECRACKER grid represents a different letter of the alphabet. For example, today 21 represents P so fill P every time the figure 21 appears.

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

Some letters of the alphabet may not be used.

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

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

CALVIN AND HOBBES

SUDOKU How to solve: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 – 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no number repeating.

PEANUTS

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS CODE-CRACKER

CROSSWORD

DILBERT

SUDOKU

DT

SHOWTIME 31

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

Shusmita Anis’s album in Kolkata n Showtime Desk

“Shishirer Sporshe Gatha,” an album of Nazrul Sangeet by singer Shusmita Anis, was launched in Kolkata on August 18.

Shusmita Anis, the niece of legendary Nazrul artiste Feroza Begum, dedicated the album to the loving memory of her aunt.

A number of distinguished guests including Kazi Nazrul Islam’s daughter-inlaw Kollyani Kazi, grand daughter Anindita Kazi, singer Nirmola Misra, Arindom Kazi, Soikat Mitra, Mansi Mukhopadhay and Sushmita Goshami attended the event held at Kolkata Press Club.

The album, featuring 10 Nazrul songs and music composed by Ibrar Tipu, was earlier launched in Dhaka under the banner of New Music Paradigm Company.

Shusmita looks forward to popularise Nazrul Sangeet amongst the masses, especially the youth.l

New kid in the block n Showtime Desk Amid Hossain Chowdhury was one of the top contestants of “Bangladeshi Idol.” Growing up, Amid was surrounded by great musicians as his father was involved in the music industry. His passion and pursuit of making music and penchant for being a performer started from a young age as well. As a solo artist, Amid is currently in the process of releasing new singles. His performance during “Radio Shadhin presents Bongo Open Mic” in association with Dhaka Tribune, captures the singer/ songwriter’s great talent and gives his viewers a chance to listen in on his singles, as well as mash-ups and medleys of various artists from Adele

Rita Ora @RitaOra

FIRST LOOK at the #BODYONME music video on @Vevo right now!!

Sofia Vergara @SofiaVergara

to Bappa Mazumder. Catch his performance this Thursday on Open Mic, exclusively on demand, only on www.bongobd.com. l

Halt to music piracy n Kazi Samir Zahedi

Singles round-up n Showtime Desk Instead of full albums, many musicians are now opting for singles to entertain their listeners. Here, we picked two of the newest singles released this August and coincidentally, both are instrumental.

Shrine by Oni Hassan The former guitarist of Warfaze, released a surprising instrumental piece called “Shrine” just day before his birthday on July 31. It is available worldwide appearing on several music platforms including iTunes, Amazon and Spotify.

Shams Mansoor Ghani, Oni’s colleague back in the Warfaze days, backed him up on the keys while Sultan Rafsan Khan played bass for the track.

Initial responses to the instrumental have been overwhelming to the point that the 31 year old musician came up with an announcement of releasing an entire instrumental album in future.

Cream & Sugar Under the Coffee Cloud

by Bassbaba Sumon and Mahaan Fahim Another instrumental track came out this month, a brilliant effort by the young musician, Mahaan Fahim and the veteran “Bassbaba” Sumon. This terrific single was written by Sumon and performed by the duo.

The video was released on YouTube recently, and it sure looks good. l

There was a time, even till the mid 2000’s when a new album launch of a favourite musician meant a CD or a cassette purchase. During Eid, Pohela Boishakh or Valentine ’s Day, a flock of albums would get released and the stack of those albums bought were in heaps in everyone’s room.

But the scenario over the last decade or so has changed drastically. Due to the widespread availability of free music on the internet, the trend of buying CD or cassettes started diminishing. Instances of record label fraud also added to the reason of artistes not getting paid their due royalties.

This caused artistes even to release their albums on the internet for free.

Due to death of the cassette/CD culture and the birth of widespread piracy, it has become equally difficult for artists to get duly compensated for all their hard work.

As a result, the industry has been on a downtrend for quite a while. Telecom operator Grameenphone has recently taken initiatives to break this hopeless trend and give artists the respect they deserve.

Grameenphone launched a new digital

CELEBS ON SOCIAL

music platform named “GP Music” which is expected to revolutionise the Bangladeshi music industry and stop piracy at its core.

GP Music, which will host thousands of Bangla songs – a rich collection of both classic hits and exclusive new releases aiming to help music lovers and musicians bring back the glory of the pre-piracy era.

GP Music will encourage true music lovers to pay for original music as it will be very user-friendly, extremely light on their pockets and most importantly, it will exclusively host new releases by the most popular and legendary musicians. Songs are available at prices as low as Tk5/song download and Tk40/album download.

Notable releases in GP music till date are – Azam Khan’s golden collections, Ayub Bachchu’s solo album Jiboner Golpo, Miles’s Protichchobi, Mila’s Uncensored, Topu’s Dekha Hobe Boley, Mehreen’s Seven, Asif Iqbal’s mixed double albums Cholo Ontoheen and Ami Chuye Dilei, Feedback’s Ekhon, Kanak Chapa’s Padma Pukur, Tausif’s Ayojon, Enamul Karim Nirjhor’s mixed album Ek Nirjhorer Gaan, Shuvro Deb’s golden collections and Alauddin Ali’s golden collections. l

Saturday night fun dinner in Malibu with friends

Victoria Beckham @victoriabeckham

Amazing signature, glowing facial today with Louise Deschamps x Glowing in the LA sunshine x x vb @DrLancerRx

WHAT TO WATCH The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey HBO 11:15am

A reluctant hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, sets out to the Lonely Mountain with a spirited group of dwarves to reclaim their mountain home – and the gold within it – from the dragon Smaug.

Cast: Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage

Balika Vadhu – Kacchi Umar Ke Pakke Rishte Colors 08:30pm

Balika Vadhu, is an Indian television drama series that traces the life journey of Anandi and Jagdish.

Cast: Aasiya Kazi, Rajeshwari Sachdev, Shashank Vyas

Chronicle Star Movies 08:00pm

Whilst attending a party, three high school friends gain superpowers after making an incredible discovery underground.

Soon, though, they find their lives spinning out of control and their bond tested as they embrace their darker sides.

Cast: Dane DeHaan, Alex Russell, Michael B Jordan l

DT

32 BACK PAGE

MONDAY, AUGUST 24, 2015

FIRST PADMA BRIDGE BOULDER CONSIGNMENT HERE PAGE 15

FOUR-MEMBER SECURITY TEAM READY TO VISIT PAKISTAN PAGE 25

Govt concerned about local onions getting smuggled to India n Asif Showkat Kallol The government is concerned that the current crisis of onion in India may spark a hoarding spree among local traders to smuggle out locally grown onions to the neighbouring country.

Officials at the Ministry of Commerce said they suspected that the local traders might be looking to take advantage of the crisis in India and make windfall profit by smuggling local onions since its production cost here is less than its current price in India.

The Border Guard Bangladesh has already been alerted to look out for smuggling activities along the border and prevent local onions from being smuggled out of the country, the ministry officials said.

India is experiencing a record hike in onion price since the recent events of heavy rainfall and flood caused heavy damage to the coun-

try’s onion production.

Aiming to tackle the crisis in the local market, the Indian government increased the minimum export price (MEP) of onion to $700 per tonne from $450 on Thursday to curb the export.

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune yesterday, Commerce Secretary Hedayetullah Al Mamoon said the ministry had been monitoring the market to prevent hoarding since the Indian MEP came into effect.

He also met with the local onion traders, the same day as the Indian MEP was imposed, and warned them of dire consequences in case of supply shortage, he said.

The price hike in India has caused an increase of onion price in Bangladesh as well, despite the country being sufficiently stocked; onions were sold at Tk80 per kg yesterday, sources said.

Bangladesh has produced around 1.93 million tonnes of onion this year, which largely covers the country’s annual demand of around 2.2 million tonnes. Letters of credit until July to import 345,000 tonnes of onion from India have been settled, and letters of credit for 385,000 tonnes more are awaiting settlement.

Last year, the government imported around 550,000 tonnes of onion from India.

The last time onion price leaped out of control in Bangladesh was in 2013; onions were sold at Tk110 per kg in December that year for similar reasons as now.

The ministry is further concerned that local traders may also hoard onions in anticipation of making extra money ahead of Eid-ulAzha next month.

“This may further increase the price in local market, so we are closely monitoring the situation,” an official said. l

Malaysia finds mass graves of 24 suspected human trafficking victims n Reuters, Kuala Lumpur Malaysian authorities have found mass graves containing the remains of more than 20 people believed to be human trafficking victims near the border with Thailand, police said on Sunday.

The heavily forested Thai-Malay border has been a transit point for smugglers bringing people to Southeast Asia by boat from Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The migrants are often held for ransom in squalid detention camps and according to some accounts face torture and starvation.

Police uncovered 24 bodies on Saturday in the Bukit Wang Burma area near the Malaysian border with Thailand, close to where authorities in May had found hundreds of bodies in illegal detention camps.

“Following on from the operation in which we found ... bodies of illegal immigrants, 24 more bodies have been found and dug up,” police said in a statement, adding that the remains had been handed over to medical experts.

It was not immediately clear if the bodies discovered were those of Rohingya, a minority ethnic group in Myanmar, whose members have fled widespread persecution in that country.

A crackdown by Thai authorities in May drove traffickers to abandon thousands of migrants on rickety, overcrowded boats in Southeast Asian waters, triggering a regional humanitarian crisis that saw them land in Malaysia and Indonesia after being rescued by fishermen. l

An elderly couple cross the flooded Chandanbaisha old embankment area yesterday with their sole possession, two goats, on a makeshift banana raft. Life has turned miserable in Bogra’s Sariakandi as the upazila is inundated with water from the overflowing Jamuna River FOCUS BANGLA

NEW KID IN THE BLOCK PAGE 31

Government urged to move against Indian river linking project n Abu Bakar Siddique Civil society members yesterday expressed their concerns about India’s initiative to implement its river linking project that will divert water from trans-boundary rivers to its dry areas, causing serious damage to the ecology of lower riparian countries.

At a programme in the National Press Club, the speakers urged the government to hold discussions with India – an upper riparian country – to convince them against going ahead with the river linking project.

Bangladesh should also move to the UN with the issue if discussions failed to produce any positive result, speakers told the programme organised by International Farakka Committee.

If the project is implemented by the Indian government, water flow in trans-boundary rivers like Ganges, Brahmaputra and Teesta will experience a remarkable reduction during lean period, and the agriculture, ecology and biodiversity of the lower regions will eventually be destroyed, said M Enamul Haq, former DG of Haor and Wetland Development Board.

The river linking project was planned in 2005, but had to be put on hold because of sharp criticism from different quarters.

But last year, the Indian government finally initiated the first phase of the project by moving to link its Ken and Betwa rivers, while recent Indian media reports revealed plans to implement another portion of the project: the Manas-Sankosh-Teesta-Ganges link.

Enamul Haq blamed the Indian government for not consulting Bangladesh on the river linking issue before initiating the process.

He said India’s project work on Ganges river was also a violation of the Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, which says the two countries must share information on the rivers, he said.

Dr SI Khan, a former environment and water expert for the UN, said if the proposed project on Brahmaputra and Ganges is implemented, other areas will also face the same fate as the draught and salinity being caused by the Farakka barrage. l

Flood situation deteriorates in north n Abu Bakar Siddique The flood situation in the north and northeast parts of the country has deteriorated and experts fear that it may not improve in the next 72 hours.

The Brahmaputra-Jamuna and Ganges-Padma river systems are in rising trend, which is likely to continue for the next three days, according to a bulletin by the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre issued yesterday.

However, the water flow in the Surma-Kushiyara river systems are in falling trend and it may improve further in the next 48 hours.

The bulletin said the flood may get worse

in Kurigram, Jamalpur, Bogra, Gaibandha, Sirajganj, Faridpur, Shariatpur, Rajbari and Munshiganj districts.

But it is likely to improve in Sylhet, Sunamganj, Sherpur and Netrokona districts and remain steady in Satkhira.

As of yesterday, the Dharla, Jamuneswari, Brahmaputra, Jamuna, Atrai, Dhaleswari, Kobadak, Surma, Kushiyara, Old Surma and Kangsha Rivers are still flowing above danger level.

However, Arifuzzaman Bhuiyan, duty officer at the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre, said the situation would gradually improve as the floodwater is likely to start re-

ceding today.

The flood was caused by heavy monsoon rain that occurred for the past few days in the northern part of the country as well as some areas in India’s Assam and Meghalaya states, according to Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

Vast areas surrounding the Brahmaputra, Padma and Surma-Kushiyara Rivers were inundated due to the rain, cause huge agricultural damages.

The met department predicted more heavy rainfall, but the weather is already improving in the affected areas and the sky is clearing up, sources said yesterday. l

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