August 13, 2013

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Shraban 29, 1420 Shawwal 5, 1434 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 141

Special

Business

7

Road safety: Getting out of the nightmare

WB to provide $100m to upgrade state banks’ tech infrastructure

International

8

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013 | www.dhakatribune.com

Pakistan accuses India of killing civilian in Kashmir

16 pages plus 16-page T-Mag tabloid | Price: Tk10

‘Bureaucracy too making upazila dysfunctional’

No irregularity in billboard campaign: PM n Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee

Officials skip standing committee meetings chaired by elected representatives become meaningless as officials do not n Kamran Reza Chowdhury even turn up at the meetings.

A baseline study on upazila governance projects has found that undue intervention by MPs is not the only reason behind ineffective upazila parishads and pointed out that bureaucratic control over the departments was equally to blame.

The Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies research pointed out that executive officers of the upazilas form as many committees as they want comprising of public servants. These committees are put in charge of executing development works, bypassing the elected upazila council, which is supposed to execute the decisions on development works.

Headed by the elected chairman, the upazila council is comprised of the vice chairmen, the chairmen of all union councils under the upazila and heads of the 17 government departments. The public servants have no voting rights.

Similarly, 17 supervisory standing committees, headed by the elected vice chairmen of the upazila councils, have

Every upazila council has standing committees on each of the 17 government departments placed under the local government body. The upazila vice chairmen, one female and one male, head the standing committees that report to the upazila council.

“In most of the cases, the local MP makes the major decisions in the upazila parishad meetings, going beyond their advisory role, which creates tensions between upazila representatives and the local MP. In some cases, UNOs [Upazila Nirbahi Officers] dominate,” says the study, which will be presented to the government next week.

The report says standing committees on line departments headed by the upazila women vice chairs are not active because these departments are run by the departmental committees headed by the UNOs. The study suggested that the departmental committees be brought under the upazila council to ensure  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

Billboards at the Ruposhi Bangla intersection came back to their original state yesterday, advertising products of different companies, bottom; the hoardings were covered with posters a few days before Eid, top, flaunting successes of the government. SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

All mobile operators now in 3G race n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Grameenphone finally joined four other private mobile phone operators in the race of auction for 3G (third generation) spectrum licence without any precondition.

But no new operator from abroad has applied though the telecom regulator kept an option in the guideline for new operator and extended the deadline for four times.

“At the evening a Korean operator sent a letter to BTRC expressing their interests and requested them to reschedule the procedure. But we have no way to change it,” Sunil Kanti Bose, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission told the Dhaka Tribune after the expiry of the deadline yesterday.

BTRC chairman is very optimistic about a fair competition even without any new entrant. “With all the existing operators applying, now we can see the ice has started melting and operators have confidence in us.”

The largest operator GP was in dilemma about joining the much-hyped 3G auction after a government-sponsored commission recommended

suspension of GP licence pointing out some procedural flaws.

The BTRC chairman said Grameenphone board Chairman Sigve Brekke told him that they “are very happy with the government incentive.”

He said, “Grameenphone board chairman informed me that they already got guarantee about their licence from the government.”

With the GP joining, the regulator has now got all the six operators to pick three of them for 3G operation.

All the five private operators – GrameenPhone, Banglalink, Robi, Airtel and Citycell – filed applications for 3G licences on the last day of submission yesterday.

The state-owned operator Teletalk submitted its application on July 27.

The private operators waited until the last day for hectic parleys with the regulator and authorities concerned to get some of their demands met.

Sources said the authorities of those mobile phone companies submitted the applications at around 4:50pm to AKM Shahiduzzaman, director general Legal and Licensing of BTRC few minutes before the deadline expired.

But submitting applications does

Appeal for Ghulam Azam’s death penalty filed n Nazmus Sakib

“We are very thankful to all the government officials for their continuous and concerted efforts during the entire process for resolving all the issues,” said Ziad Shatara, CEO of Banglalink, hoping for positive outcomes so that his company can confirm its participation in the auction.

After scrutinizing the applications, BTRC will publish the names of eligible firms on August 18. Consultation on auction procedure will be held on August 19 and earnest money will have to be deposited by August 26.

The government yesterday appealed to the apex court to ban Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party for its anti-liberation role since 1971.

The plea sought the Appellate Division’s order referring to the recent judgement of International Crimes Tribunal in the case against former Jamaat chief Ghulam Azam where the party was observed as a “criminal organisation.”

It was said in the appeal that the court had the power to ban Jamaat by exercising constitutional mandate, mentioned in Article 104, to ensure “complete justice.”

The call for ban was enclosed in the appeal the government filed seeking death penalty for Ghulam Azam who on July 15 was handed down 90 years’ jail term, which it terms “inadequate sentence.”

Syed Mabubar Rahman filed the appeal with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court around 3pm.

On August 1, the High Court declared the registration of Jamaat with

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not mean the end of their parleys.

“Lots of issues are still left unresolved; we expect to get those resolved before August 26,” Mahmud Hossain, Chief corporate officer of Grameenphone told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.

Zakiul Islam, senior director of legal and regulatory department of Banglalink, Mahmudur Rahaman from Robi, Ashraful H. Chowdery from Airtel and Sharif Shah Jamal Raz from Citycell were present at that time.

P16 TELETALK PLANS E3N

News

4 The lack of strict law enforcement often lets off reckless drivers causing accidents on roads and highways and claiming lives, experts said.

No real punishment is meted out to the offenders who are always at large , thus leading to the rise in the number of deaths caused by road accidents.

International

9 Attempts to bring stability to Myanmar’s strategic

The High Court yesterday stayed a lower court’s remand order for Odhikar Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan, asking the authorities not to put him on further remand on the basis of a general diary.

The court also asked the authorities concerned to send Adil to prison immediately, saying the investigation officer might interrogate him at jail gate.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

northwest Rakhine State could be unraveling after police opened fire on Rohingya Muslims for the third time in two months, reviving tensions in a region beset by religious violence last year.

Op-Ed

11 If one must try to be a little more specific in characterising the nature of the negligence education received, the qualifying adjective which would be most appropriate in describing the government’s measures in different eras in the field of education is “insincere.” Muhammad Eusha questions whether education is a privilege or basic right.

Entertainment

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Government seeks ban on Jamaat n Nazmus Sakib

INSIDE

HC stays Adilur’s remand n Nazmus Sakib

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reportedly said yesterday billboards portraying government’s achievements were set up around the capital maintaining the required procedures and by taking prior permission from their owners.

Sources in the regular cabinet meeting held at the secretariat said, she told them that they had a week’s permission for the billboards and that work has already started to take them down.

This is the first time, the prime minister spoke about the billboards, which went up on the night of August 2, and reportedly said the government would be bearing the costs.

The government along with the ruling Awami League faced harsh criticism for allegedly setting up the billboards boasting the government’s achievements without prior permission from owners. In face of the criticism, both the party and the government denied responsibility of the initiative.

Hasina also reportedly urged her cabinet members to highlight the successes of their ministries through billboards and told them to not centre the campaign in the capital and take it to district and upazila-levels.

Shipping Minister Shajahan Khan and State Minister for Housing and Public Works Abdul Mannan Khan opposed the government decision to take

12 After the untimely departure of Tareque, Catherine, with an oath to release and finish all his unpublished and unfinished projects, is carrying the legacy of her beloved husband.

The government yesterday lodged an appeal against the International Crimes Tribunal verdict, which sentenced the former Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami chief Ghulam Azam to “only 90 years in prison” for masterminding crimes against humanity, genocide and other offences during the 1971 Liberation War. Terming the jail sentence as inadequate, the appeal sought the Jamaat kingpin’s death penalty. Syed Mabubar Rahman, filed the appeal with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court around 3pm. Ban on Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party for its anti-liberation stance was also sought in the appeal.

On July 15, the International Crimes Tribunal 1, headed by Justice ATM Fazle Kabir, found Azam guilty of all the five charges of war crimes – conspiracy, planning, incitement, complicity and not to prevent murder.

Although the tribunal said the former Jamaat chief deserved capital punishment, it gave him “90 years in pris-

on” considering Ghulam Azam’s age and long ailment. He was 91 years old at the time of the verdict.

According to the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973, the aggrieved party has to file an appeal within 30 days from the pronouncement of the judgement.

Following the appeal, Additional Attorney General and Chief Coordinator of the war crimes prosecution team, MK Rahman said at a press briefing that the appeal has been filed under the amended International Crimes (Tribunal) Act, which cleared the way for the government to appeal against inadequate punishment given by the war crimes tribunal to a convict.

In the government’s appeal, it was said, the tribunal had acted beyond the law by considering the age and sickness of the convicted Jamaat leader as the law requires punishment be given considering ones gravity of offences.

On August 5, Azam filed an appeal against the verdict with the Appellate Division seeking acquittal.  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Awami League starts removing publicity posters from billboards n Mohammad Jamil Khan The ruling Awami League has started removing publicity posters highlighting the successes of the incumbent government that recently covered the city’s billboards.

Visiting different parts of the capital yesterday, this correspondent found that billboards at Moghbazar already were cleared, while posters were being removed from Mirpur, Ruposhi Bangla Hotel intersection and Motijheel areas. Most of the empty hoardings were found displaying “for rent” signs seeking advertisements.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina reportedly told a cabinet meeting yesterday that her party had a week’s permission to use the billboards and work has underway to remove the posters.

However, the party’s move, which was made ahead of the next election campaign, hit billboard owners hard as businesses who had rented the advertising spaces cancelled their contracts.

Most of the owners said they faced huge losses as the companies refused to honour the contracts as their adver-

tisements were removed during the lucrative Eid season.

“This is not a new practice. After the government won the maritime boundary dispute with Myanmar a few years ago, we faced the same problem. Chhatra League, Jubo League and even Krishak League (AL affiliates) grabbed many billboards at that time,” a billboard owner said, seeking anonymity.

He also said billboards were occupied in the past by party activists on commemorative dates like August 15, 17 and 21.

“Political activists and leaders never think about how much money is involved in this business. They do not know the amount we have to pay every day for renting a billboard,” said a businessman, also requesting anonymity.

According to unofficial counts, there are around 3,000 billboards in the capital.

Some are owned by the Dhaka City Corporation, while others belong to private individuals or companies. For renting a billboard sized 6 by 12 metres, a company generally has to pay around Tk600,000 a year. There are larger billboards at convenient locations around the city that cost around Tk1.5m a year to rent. l

Govt defends Adilur’s arrest n Tribune Report

Civic leaders demand Adilur’s release

The government yesterday through a press note, defended the arrest of Adilur Rahman Khan, secretary of human rights watchdog Odhikar as legal.

“Adilur Rahman Khan has been arrested on charges of violation of Bangladesh’s existing laws,” the home ministry said in a press note signed by Additional Secretary Kamal Uddin Ahmed.

The government also sent an aide memoir to Washington, describing its position regarding Adilur’s arrest.

The US embassy in Dhaka contacted the foreign ministry while authorities in Washington communicated with Bangladesh embassy there to know about the issue, an official at the foreign ministry told the Dhaka Tribune.

“They inquired to know the nature of the charges brought against him,” the official said.

Adilur Rahman was arrested by police from in front of his Gulshan residence in the late evening on Saturday in connection to a general dairy filed against him under the Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006.

“We also provided an aide memoir to Washington and the US embassy in Dhaka,” the official said.

In almost identical diction, both in the press note and the aide memoir, the government said, Odhikar published a false and fabricated report, which claimed 61 people died during a police drive against Hefazat-e-Islam activists in and around the Shapla Chattar area in Motijheel on May 5. The memoir claimed that no one was killed during the operation.

“There was no incident of death during this operation since the law enforcement agencies refrained from using any lethal weapons,” it said.

The media, particularly, mainstream print and electronic media published and disseminated investigative and objective reports on the whole incident, it added.

The offences allegedly committed

by Adilur Rahman under the ICT Act, 2006 are non-cognisable in nature, but are non-bailable and subject to arrest without warrant.

“The act of disseminating such false and fabricated information through the internet with an ulterior motive of creating religious violence amounted to committing the offences under Article 57(1) and (2) of the ICT Act, 2006,” the memoir said.

n Tribune Report

Odikhar turns into a BNP-JammatHefazat’s political wing: Inu

Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu yesterday said Odikhar has turned into a political wing of BNP- Jammat-Hefajat Islami in the guise of neutrality.

Speaking at a press conference held at the Press Information Department yesterday afternoon, he said Odikhar report on Shapla intersection incident that took place on May 5 last was completely baseless, fabricated and politically motivated, saying the report published as a part of BNP- Jammat- Hefajat Islami’s political plan and technique, according to BSS. He said this explaining government’s stand on so-called investigative report titled “Rally of Hefazat Islam, Bangladesh and Human Rights Violation published by Odikhar on June 10 last”. l

Several prominent human rights activists, academicians, law practitioners, and cultural activists, alongside local and foreign organisations demanded immediate release of leading human rights activist Adilur Rahman Khan yesterday.

They said in a joint statement: “Such action of the government beholds its disregard towards human rights and freedom of expression; it has showed such disposition prior to the upcoming national parliamentary elections.”

Hameeda Hossain, Khushi Kabir, Sultana Kamal, Shaheen Anam, Shireen Huq, Sara Hossain, Salma Ali, Md Iftekharuzaman, Meghna Guhathakurta, Dina Siddiqi, Zafrullah Chowdhury, Shahidul Alam, Lubna Marium issued the statement among others.

Secretary of a rightwing human rights organisation Odhikar, Adilur Rahman Khan was arrested on Saturday night near his Gulshan residence.

He was with his family when he was arrested without a warrant by ten law enforcers in plainclothes.

The European Union in a statement said the EU diplomatic missions to Bangladesh have been closely monitoring the case of Adilur Rahman.

“We have conveyed our detailed concerns about the detention of Mr Adilur Rahman Khan to the relevant authorities in Bangladesh. It is essential that no harm comes to him,” the statement said.

They also urged the authorities to follow due procedure at all stages of the legal proceedings against him, and ensure befitting treatment to the activist.

The member countries of EU consider that the civil society and human rights activists have significant roles to play in strengthening protection of human rights in a country.

Activists of several human rights platforms form a human chain on High Court premises yesterday, protesting arrest of Odhikar Secretary Adilur Rahman Khan

“We are familiar with Mr Adilur Rahman Khan and Odhikar's activities against human rights abuses in Bangladesh,” it read.

Respect for human rights and democratic principles, as laid down in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights, underpins the domestic and international policies of Bangladesh and the EU, and constitutes an essential element of the relations, the statement added.

New York-based Human Rights Watch said Bangladeshi authorities should immediately release prominent rights activist Adilur.

HRW also suggested Bangladesh’s donors to press the government to release Khan and end the harassment of human rights defenders and other critics of the government.

It also called for Khan to have regular access to counsel while in custody.

“The arrest of Adil Khan appears to be an attempt to silence one of the most vocal critics of the government prior to the national genarl elections,” said Brad Adams, executive director of Human Rights Watch's Asia Division.

“Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should publicly and personally ensure that Khan does not suffer any abuse while in detention,” He added.

During an hour-long raid at Odhikar’s office on Sunday night the Detective Branch (DB) of Poilce members siezed the computers, contents of communications and other documents there.

Earlier in the day, a Dhaka court placed Adilur Rahman Khan, on a fiveday remand in a case filed against him under the Information and Communication Technology Act 2006. The charges include distorting information in an Odhikar report about the number of deaths during the operation conducted by law enforcement agencies in the early hours of May 6 to disperse the Hefazat-e-Islam activists from Motijheel. l

100 injured in AL-BNP clash in Narsingdi n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi At least 100 people including eight women were injured in a clash between supporters of Awami League-BNP from four villages – Haripur, Gopinathpur, Birgaon and Darigaon – under Nilokhya union in Raipura upazila of the district yesterday over supremacy in the locality.

According to police and witnesses, around 8am, Sudhan Mia who is a supporter of Jaj Mia, a local AL leader, went to Natun Bazar of Darigaon village but was beaten up by a rival group who were supporters of BNP in the area.

After the incident, Jaj Mia along with almost 500 supporters attacked the houses of BNP leader Abdur Rahim and his men. Later, a clash broke out as Abdur Rahim and his men resisted the attacks and was locked in a chase and counter-chase, resulting in a seven-hour long

altercation between the two rival groups.

The clash left at least 100 people injured including eight women from both groups. Almost 80 of the injured were admitted to private clinics in Bhairab and Dhaka to avoid police harassment and only 18 persons were admitted to Narsingdi Sadar Hospital.

Regarding the incident, local UP Chairman Abdul Haque Sarker said two rival groups led by AL and BNP leaders were involved in the long clash for supremacy in the locality.

He said such rivalry had killed around five persons and has injured over 2,000 in about eight years.

Police sources said they went to the spot on information and brought the situation under control. Additional police were also deployed in the locality to control any further untoward situation, the sources added. l

NASHIRUL ISLAM

Bureaucracy too making upazila  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

transparency and accountability of the bureaucrats.

“The UNOs form as many departmental committees as they want and head all of them. In one case, the UNO formed 81 department committees to implement some decisions,” said Prof Tofail Ahmed, who had been associated with the study.

He said the UNO in most of the cases could not hold meetings of the committees he headed. “So, we have rec-

ommended that the government place many duties under the upazila council.”

He said the supervisory standing committees were too ineffective.

“As the council itself is ineffective, so are the standing committees,” said Harunur Rashid Howlader, the president of a faction of the upazila chairmen.

“The bureaucrats are hugely responsible for making the council meaningless,” he said.

HC stays Adilur’s remand  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

A High Court vacation bench of Justices Borhanuddin and Kashifa Hossain yesterday passed the order following a petition lodged by Adilur. The petition challenged the legality of the remand order of the lower court.

The High Court also issued a rule asking why the remand order against the Odhikar secretary should not be quashed. The District Commissioner of Dhaka and Ashraful Islam, an inspector of Detective and Crime Information Department (North) of the Dhaka Met-

Government seeks

ropolitan Police have to respond to the rule within two weeks.

AJ Mohammad Ali argued on behalf of petitioner while the state counsel Additional Attorney General MK Rahman opposed it.

Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Amit Kumar Dey on Sunday sent Adilur for a five-day police remand.

On Saturday night, plainclothes policemen arrested Adilur from near his Gulshan residence under section 54 of the Code of Criminal Procedure as a suspect. l

All mobile operators now in 3G race  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

State-owned mobile operator Teletalk does not have the 3G licence yet, but it has been running 3G services on a trial basis since October 14, 2012 and so far around 150,000 subscribers are using the service. Meanwhile, a statutory regulatory order of the revenue department issued Sunday reduced the 3G spectrum VAT to be paid by mobile phone operators from 7.5% to 5%.

The BTRC guideline had first proposed a 15% VAT on 3G spectrum, which Finance Minister AMA Muhith reduced to 7.5% in March. But the operators have been against that as well.

The operators met with the NBR chairman on Sunday to discuss revenue sharing and SIM replacement tax issues. Last Monday, the revenue collector exempted the operators from 15%

VAT on revenue sharing only for 3G, but the operators had been demanding the exemption for 2G as well.

According to the guidelines, the BTRC will award three licences to bid winners from the five existing operators and a new one. If no new entity is found, the licences will be given to the existing operators. A 3G licence remains valid for 15 years. The BTRC will offer a 5MHz slot for spectrum in 2100 band; the floor price of 1MHz spectrum has been fixed at $20m.

The earnest money for 3G is also $20m, which will have to be deposited

by August 18.

According to the guidelines, 60% of the total price of spectrum assignment has to be paid for in the first installment within 60 days of the auction and the remaining 40% by the next 180 days. l

Change Timeline of 3G auction procedure First declared 3rd 1st change 2nd change date change

Category

4th change

Application submission

12 May

12 June

10 July

01 August

12 August

Publishing eligible firm

20 May

20 June

18 July

05 August

18 August

24 June

29 June

12 August

19 August

Consultation procedure

auction

Earnest money deposit

30 May

04 July

04 August 19 August

26 August

Acceptance or rejection

05 June

11 July

14 August 25 August

01 Sept

Auction

24 June

31 July

2 Sept

2 Sept

08 Sept

No irregularity in billboard  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

down the billboards in the meeting.

They reportedly proposed keeping them on until the end of the government’s tenure, a proposal that was scrapped by the prime minister.

She, however, told them that they could campaign the successes of their ministries through billboards, but only after maintaining proper procedures.

Howlader said the departmental officers did not bother about the elected chairmen or the council because they were accountable only to the UNO. “The standing committees on each of the departments cannot hold meetings as the officers do not turn up. Why should they come?,” Iqbal Mahmud Sabuj, the chairman of the Sreepur upazila of Gazipur, said.

“They can hurl abusive words and assault if they want. We have no work,” said Sabuj. l

A senior cabinet member requesting anonymity said the prime minister also joked about the criticism regarding the billboards.

He quoted her as saying, “People would not have normally read the billboards.

Thanks to the criticism, they read the contents and learned about the government’s achievements.” l

 PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

the Election Commission as a political party illegal.

The government on February 17 amended the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973 clearing the way to try organisations, like Jamaat, for war crimes.

The tribunal said: “We are led to observe that Jamaat-e-Islami as a political party under the leadership of the accused Prof Ghulam Azam intentionally functioned as a ‘criminal organisation’ especially during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971.”

Article 104 of the Constitution says: “The Appellate Division shall have the power to issue such directions, orders, decrees or writs as may be necessary for doing ‘complete justice’ in any cause or matter pending before it, including orders for the purpose of securing the attendance of any person or the discovery or production of any document.”

Additional Attorney General and Chief Coordinator of the tribunal’s prosecution team MK Rahman told reporters that Jamaat had always been against Bangladesh’s Liberation War. They moved to the apex court seeking a ban on the party as the tribunal had observed it as a “criminal organisation,” he said.

The tribunal in its judgement said: “Under the leadership of accused Prof Ghulam Azam, almost all the members of Jamaat-e-Islami along with its subordinate organs actively opposed the very birth of Bangladesh in 1971.

“There is no proof before the nation that those who played an anti-liberation role in 1971 have ever changed their attitude towards liberation war by expressing repentance or by showing respect to the departed souls of 3m martyrs.” l

Appeal for Ghulam  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

The hearing on the appeals against the verdict will begin after the conclusion of the hearing on the appeals filed by Delawar Hossain Sayedee and Mohammad Kamaruzzaman.

Both Sayedee and Kamaruzzaman were handed death sentences by the tribunal for committing crimes against humanity during the Liberation War. A five-member bench of the Appellate Division, led by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain, fixed September 17 to start the appeal hearing on the Sayedee case. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

3

Tough law to curb migration fraud in the works Cabinet approves work plan to get the country out of LDC list by 2021 n Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee The cabinet yesterday nodded the Overseas Employment and Migrant Workers Bill 2013 in a bid to contain migration fraud by keeping provision for up to 10 years in prison and a Tk 500,000 fine for violations of immigration laws.

Cabinet Secretary Mosharraf Hossain Bhuiyan told journalists in a briefing that the meeting led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina approved the proposed law to ensure transparency and accountability of recruiting agencies and preserve the rights and interests of migrant workers. He added that the new law would replace the existing Immigration Ordinance 1982 to check forgery, deception and illegal practices in the recruitment process. The ordinance only had punitive provision of a year in prison and up to Tk5,000 in fines.

Under the new bill, offenders would face up to a seven year prison term and be fined up to Tk300,000 for forging migration documents including demand letters, visas and work permits.

In case of falsely advertising for recruitment, the bill proposes the same punitive measures. The proposed law also allows victims to take recruitment agencies to court over such fraudulent activities.

The cabinet also approved a work plan calling to adopt short, medium and long term plans to alleviate the country out of the list of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) by 2021. The decision came based on the Istanbul Programme of Action adopted in the Fourth UN Conference on LDCs. Mosharraf said Bangladesh’s per capita income is currently $923 and needs to reach $1,190 to change its status. l

People disembark from a launch at the Sadarghat terminal in the capital yesterday after spending Eid holidays in their village homes

NASHIRUL ISLAM

Prosecution placed ‘false story’ against Salauddin Quader Chowdhury: Defence

Tribunal defers deposition against Mobarak

n Udisa Islam

The deposition of prosecution witness against war crimes suspect Mobarak Hossain yesterday was deferred until August 20 since the war crimes tribunal was busy with another case.

The International Crimes Tribunal 1, was scheduled to record deposition of the seventh witness yesterday against the expelled Brahmanbaria Awami League leader.

However, the tribunal was hearing the case against Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury from morning and just

The defence counsel for BNP lawmaker Salauddin Quader Chowdhury yesterday reiterated his claim that the prosecution staged a drama before the tribunal on “false ground.”

“They placed false story against my client and also accuses Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury to harass him as a political person,” Ahsanul Haque told the International Crimes Tribunal 1 on the fifth day of argument session.

Yesterday was the last day for the defence’s closing argument. Before the lunch break, the defence pleaded for one more day as they could not conclude the arguments. They were conducting argument on charge 2.

The accused is facing 23 charges of crimes against humanity he had committed in Raozan and Rangunia of Chittagong during the Liberation War. However, Salahuddin Quader claimed in his deposition that the charges were false as he had been in Pakistan from March 29, 1971 to April 20, 1974.

Tribunal Chairman Justice ATM Fa-

zle Kabir told them: “You have got till 4:30pm today [yesterday]. Think how you will be able to finish the session.”

After 4:30pm, the defence again pleaded for time extension. Ahsanul Haque said: “We are now at the stage of evidence and charges. We need some more days to complete the argument.”

The tribunal told: “You just have entered the facts. But the last couple of days you were beyond the fact.”

This time the accused requested the tribunal for extension saying that the tribunal did not have any case in the next two days due to the shutdown by a political party, Jamaat-e-Islami. Then the tribunal adjourned the session till today.

The defence in their argument said for charge 1, the prosecution was supposed to place Subal, Pramila Bishwas, Nirmal Chandra Sharma and Siru Bangalee. But they did not produce Pramila. Subal in his deposition did not name Salauddin Quader, Ahsanul said.

Another witness Nirmal is a lawyer.

“He is a beneficiary advocate as he was appointed as an assistant public

prosecutor during this term.” Nirmal said what he had heard from his uncle Damu. “When we crossed Nirmal, he said Damu is died. But the defence placed an affidavit that says Damu is still alive and he claimed he did not even know anything about the incident that Nirmal told.”

The defence also argued on Siru Bangalee’s deposition and cross examination. Ahsanul mentioned him as a “star witness” who had been arrested by the Pakistan army during the 1971 Liberation War and by the Indian Army by after the war. “He is also a hearsay witness. He had heard about the killings in Jagatmalla Para in Gohira from one captain Karim. “But the prosecution did not clarify who this captain Karim was.”

In his argument, the defence counsel said: “We want to stay in domestic law, not the international one because the charges are also domestic. Though the prosecution placed many international examples to prove the charges, hearsay witness is not acceptable to prove any case. He also pronounced an

example that said the “only exception to accept hearsay witness is when it is in extra judicial confession.”

Ahsanul also argued on the camera trial of 17th prosecution witness, Umme Habiba Sultana. The counsel termed her “liar” and a “double star witness.”

“She told the tribunal that when her husband and father-in-law were abducted when they were on their own vehicle which was a Toyota starlet. But that brand was introduced in 1973 and they had no car of their own.”

The pointed at other contradictions of the witnesses too. Prosecution witness 28 Paritosh Kumar Palit claimed that he was an eye witness. “But during testimony, he said he never saw Salahuddin Quader before 1971.”

This time the defence counsel told the tribunal that the prosecution dealt with a “false case with the help of some false witnesses.”

Four people including Salahuddin Quader himself testified for the accused while 41 prosecution witnesses gave their deposition at the tribunal. l

Government is to blame for any unconstitutional regime: Fakhrul n Mohammad Al-Masum Molla

Activists of Islami Chhatra Shibir bring out a procession in Dayaganj area in the city yesterday

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

Sporadic violence before hartal n Kailash Sarkar

A 36-hour nationwide shutdown called

by Jamaat-e-Islami, whose registration has been ruled void by the High Court, begins today at 6am. The eve of the hartal was marked by sporadic violence in the capital.

Jamaat and its student wing Shibir brought out several processions in the city and crude bombs were exploded.

Law enforcers have beefed up security in Dhaka, with special security measures and the deployment of 12,500 additional enforcers from police and Rab. Activists of Jamaat- and Shibir clashed with law enforcers in Mirpur, Pallabi and Moghbazar where police fired teargas canisters and blank shots to disperse them.

Police so far has arrested eight people, including five in Pallabi, one in Motijheel and two in Khilgaon.

Jamaat-Shibir activists also explod-

ed crude bombs at Azimpur, Dholaipar, Armanitola, Fakirerpool, Khilgaon, Jatrabari, Jurain and some other places.

Eyewitnesses said in most cases the Jamaat-Shibir men brought out brisk processions and fled the scene before the law enforcers rushed to the spot and they exploded crude bombs to create panic among commuters and locals.

In Mirpur, Jamaat-Shibir men exploded at least six crude bombs when they brought out a procession at Section 10 at around 3:30pm.

Abdul Latif, officer-in-charge of Pallabi police station, said police fired some blank shots when some people tried to snatch the detainees.

Motijheel Police arrested one of the Shibir activist when some Jamaat-Shibir men brought out a procession near Fakirerpool kitchen market at around 1pm.

Apart from the additional police and Rab deployment, 12 mobile courts and

Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) troops have also been deployed to support law enforcers.

“We have created a security plan to ensure smooth return for the people who left Dhaka on Eid,” DMP Joint Commissioner Monirul Islam said.

“Both uniformed and plainclothes policemen would remain deployed in the city. Check posts have been set up at different strategic points, key installations, terminals and stations and busy other places,” Monirul said.

“The mobile courts will remain vigilant for instant punishment for those who will violate laws and create anarchy,” he added.

Sources at DMP said around 10,000 additional forces would remain deployed in the capital during the hartal.

Wing Commander ATM Habibur Rahman, director of the Legal and Media Wing of Rab, said around 2,500 additional Rab members have been deployed in and around the capital. l

The main opposition BNP yesterday said the government would have to take the responsibility if any unconstitutional force assumed office.

The opposition’s remark came just a day after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina had urged people to stay alert so that no such force could capture state power.

BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said: “We do not know why the prime minister is repeatedly speaking about any unconstitutional force taking power.

“It is this government that has to shoulder the responsibility if such force grabs power.”

Fakhrul was speaking to reporters after he along with new Gazipur City Corporation Mayor MA Mannan had placed wreaths at the grave of party founder Ziaur Rahman.

Fakhrul said the present prime minister had assumed office through an election held under a non-partisan caretaker government. Three more elections had been held in a free and fair manner under such administrations. “But now the government is not paying any heed to people’s demand.”

He warned that the opposition would wage a tough movement to materialise its demand for non-partisan interim government if the present government stuck to its stand of holding the next polls under its arrangement.

Expressing grievances over the arrest of rights activist Adilur Rahman, Fakhrul said: “Sending a rights activist on police remand is an expression of this government’s undemocratic attitude.” l

n Udisa Islam

before lunch Prosecutor Shahidur Rahman pleaded for rescheduling the deposition. He added that the witness, an elderly person, was kept waiting.

The tribunal then set the new date.

Earlier, the sixth prosecution witness gave deposition at the tribunal on July 16.

A Jamaat-e-Islami leader during the 1971 Liberation War, Mobarak is facing five charges of crimes against humanity including killing of 33 people in Akhaura, torturing Ashuranjan Deb at a razakar camp, as well as abductions and killings in the Shyampur areas. l

ICT 1 defers order on SQ Chy counsel’s contempt n Udisa Islam The war crimes tribunal yesterday deferred the date of passing order on a contempt issue against barrister Fakhrul Islam, a defence counsel for alleged war criminal Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, till September 28.

On January 14, the reconstituted tribunal 1 show-caused Fakhrul to explain why contempt proceedings should not be drawn against him for seeking explanation from the two members of the tribunal whether they were privy to alleged Skype controversy.

In the order, the tribunal noted that the petition had been filed intentionally to create negative image in public mind about the tribunal’s proceedings.

Earlier on December 30 last year, the defence counsel for Salahuddin Quader

filed the petition.

Fakhrul on June 5 told the tribunal that after seeking pardon “there is no provision to punish someone in a contempt accusation in High Court and Appealed Division.”

That day the tribunal 1 set yesterday for the order.

Though, on Monday Fakhrul appeared before the tribunal in the beginning of the day’s proceedings, the tribunal deferred the date.

On December 11 last year, the first chairman of the tribunal 1, Justice M Nizamul Huq, resigned after her Skype and email communication with a Brussels-based Bangladeshi expatriate legal expert were published in media. After the leak, Justice Nizamul reigned while the government reconstituted both the tribunals. l

Felani murder trial begins today in India n Tribune Desk The trial of killing Bangladeshi girl Felani begins today at a special court of Border Security Force in Cooch Behar of India, the first ever trial of any BSF member for border killing.

The 15-year-old girl, who used to work as a domestic help in New Delhi, was shot dead by a BSF constable on January 7, 2011 when she was entering Bangladesh with her father over the barbed-wire fences along Anantapur border point in Kurigram.

Felani’s father Nurul Islam, uncle

Abdul Hanif and BGB 45 Battalion Commanding Officer Lt Col Ziaul Haque Khaled will go to India on August 19 to give their depositions. Kurigram public prosecutor Abraham Lincoln will be there as the lawyer.

After an investigation, the BSF headquarters formed the special court and charged Constable Amiya Ghosh who shot Felani.

Felani was returning to Bangladesh along with her father to get married She was shot dead while crossing over the fence. Later, her body was left hanging from the fence for several hours. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Lax enforcement of law lets off reckless drivers At least 9 people killed in road accidents daily Prof Tanvir Hassan, director of ARI, membered. n Mohammad Jamil Khan He recalled one such tragic accident told the Dhaka Tribune the rampant The lack of strict law enforcement often lets off reckless drivers causing accidents on roads and highways and claiming lives, experts said.

No real punishment is meted out to the offenders who are always at large, thus leading to the rise in the number of deaths caused by road accidents, they observed.

Data from the Accident Research institute (ARI) of Buet shows that on an average 10 people were killed in road accidents every day in 2008, seven in 2009, six in 2010 and seven in 2011.

But the death toll rose to nine in the year of 2012, the ARI said, adding that it had prepared the report based on police records.

According to the research institute, the number of road accidents was 2,467 in 2011 while it was 2,437 in 2010, 2,802 in 2009 and 3,656 in 2008.

Sources in police headquarters also mentioned that around 2,500 people were killed on an average every year due to road accidents.

Experts attributed the reasons to the blatant violation of traffic rules and unenforced law related to traffic.

road accidents could not be stopped unless traffic rules were enforced strictly.

It was barely heard that a killer driver was meted out exemplary punishment, he added.

Asked about the road accident statistics, he said the actual figure was twice the number that surfaced as most road accidents often went unnoticed.

“Police or third party negotiate the matter shortly after the accidents and people rarely go for any action against the offenders,” Prof Tanvir added.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Asaduzzaman Miah said the number of road accidents took place during festivals as some transport workers tried to cash in on the situation.

“They drive recklessly overloading their vehicles with passengers, he said, adding that we are taking action against the offenders and trying our best to avoid such practice.”

Some reckless driving not only took life but also reminded us of many tragic road accidents, the police official re-

on July, 2011 in which 44 schoolchildren died after their vehicle skidded off the road and into a pond.

The 44 fell victim to the reckless driving, he said.

Only a month after this tragedy, Bangladesh lost two brilliant citizens, filmmaker Tareq Masud and journalist Mishuk Munier, who lost their lives in another road accident in August.

About road accident, Prof Hasib Mohammed Ahsan, former director of ARI, told the Dhaka Tribune drives at high speed with overload, wanton lane-shifting and tailgating are major reasons for road accidents.

Moreover, most of the drivers of passenger vehicles and goods carriers did not have any academic or formal training on driving, he said, adding that poverty was significantly shaping their attitude towards driving.

“Apart from unskilled drivers, inadequacy of driving schools and lack of repairs to old roads and awareness among the pedestrians are also reasons for road accidents,” Prof Ahsan said.

He called for strict enforcement of traffic law to mitigate road accidents. l

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

MP Rony faces two more cases n Our Correspondent, Barisal Golam Maula Rony, Awami League lawmaker from Patuakhali 3, and his associates known as “Bhaiya bahini” (brother’s gang) have been sued for their alleged involvement in extortion, attempted murder and vandalism in Galachipa upazila in the district.

Local AL leaders lodged two cases against them with Galachipa police station on Sunday. They claimed to have been attacked by disguised miscreants after lodging the cases.

Two journalists – reporter Imtiaz Momin Sony and cameraman Mohsin Mukul – of private television channel Independent were attacked at Rony’s office on Topkhana Road on July 20 when they went to interview the MP for an investigative television programme “Talash.”

Rony was arrested on July 25 following the incident.

Officer-in-Charge SM Ziaul Haque of Galachipa police station said upazila Awami League unit Organising Secretary Md Shamsuzzaman Likhon lodged a case against 42 people, including the incarcerated MP and 16 associates in his infamous Bhaiya Bahini.

He said Rony led his cadres in assaulting people, vandalising shops and looting while attacking a rally of Panpatti union’s Awami League unit on

August 17, 2010. The rally was organised to observe the National Mourning Day and to demand the trial of war criminals.

The other case was filed by Md Badrul Islam Khan, a resident of the upazila’s Dakua union, who alleged that Rony along with his brother-in-law Mokbul Khan and others had been trying to extort Tk500,000 from him and later attacked him on March 25 after he denied to pay.

“They snatched Tk36,700 and three mobile phones from me while Rony kept pointing his pistol at my chest,” claimed the plaintiff.

A total of 29 people have been accused in the case, 11 of them by names.

Local AL unit’s Adviser Md Shahjahan along with Secretary Golam Mustafa Titu, and Vice-President Santosh Dev were injured in an attack by masked muggers when they were on their way home from a meeting regarding preparations for observing the upcoming national mourning day.

They suspect the attackers were from Rony’s gang and lodged a case in this connection with Galachipa police station.

A case was filed against Rony and 14 others with a court in Patuakhali on Sunday in connection with their alleged involvement in embezzling Tk790m from development projects in the area. l

Terrorist killed in Chuadanga ‘shootout’ An alleged terrorist was killed in a “shootout” with police at Chandpur village in Damurhuda upazila earlier yesterday.

The deceased Billal Hossain, 39, of the village, was a local terrorist ringleader and a listed criminal within the district.

The miscreants fired several shots targeting the law enforcers which triggered a gunfight that went on for half an hour until the criminals retreated

WEATHER

Temperature unlikely to change n UNB Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Rajshahi, Rangpur, Dhaka, Khulna, Barisal, Chittagong and Sylhet divisions until 6pm today.

Moderately heavy falls are also likely at places over the country, Met Office said.

The sun sets in the capital at 6:34pm today and rises at 5:34am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 34.5 degree Celsius was recorded yesterday at Chuadanga and lowest 24.5 degrees at Rangamati.

Highest and lowest temperature recorded in some major cities yesterday were: City

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

31.0 30.3 32.8 33.0 31.8 30.2 30.0 32.4

26.3 26.0 25.8 26.4 24.8 28.8 25.2 25.5

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:13am 5:32am 12:04pm 3:30pm 6:34pm 7:55pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Police yesterday lodged a case over the death of a female engineer who succumbed to an injury she received from stones being hurled by a gang of young thugs while she was travelling in a train bound for Dhaka Saturday night.

Sources said Prity Das and her husband, along with two other relatives, were returning to Dhaka

by Turna Nishita train Saturday night after spending Eid holidays in Chittagong.

As the train reached Bhatiari, the group of thugs started chucking stones at the locomotive when one broke through a windowpane and hit Prity on the back of her head.

Government Railway Police (GRP) picked up a person for primary interrogation from Bhatiari of Sitakunda upazila where the incident occurred, said Mohammed Shahid Ullah, officer-in-charge of GRP Outpost in Chittagong Railway Station

n UNB

Police said a patrol team from the Darshana police camp gave chase to a group of miscreants when they were seen gathering on a field in the area at around 4am.

The miscreants fired several shots targeting the law enforcers which triggered a gunfight that went on for half an hour until the criminals retreated.

Police later found bullet-ridden body of Billal lying on the spot.

They also recovered two pistols, two bombs and several rounds of bullet, along with the body.

He was accused in six cases, including murder, extortion and robbery. l

One held in female engineer killing case

The city corporation authority demolishes illegal structures and shops on footpaths in Chankharpool area yesterday

College principal sued for corruption

One gets life term in Netrakona n Our Correspondent, Netrakona

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

A Netrakona court yesterday sentenced a man to life imprisonment and fined him Tk50,000, default to five years added imprisonment on the grounds of killing a man.

Netrakona Additional District and Session Judge Mohammad Abdul Hamid handed down the verdict to Abdus Sattar from Ruli Haripur village under Kendua upazila in the district.

The case statement described that on December 29, 2000 the convicted killed a man named Tamizuddin from the same village due to previous enmity.

Tamizuddin’s wife Rabeya Akter filed a murder case with Kendua police station accusing Abdus Satter. Police, after investigation submitted charge sheet to the court against Abdus Satter.

The Judge, after examining the witnesses and evidence found the accused guilty and handed down the verdict. l

A case was lodged with a Chittagong court against the principal of Islamia University College in the port city yesterday charged with corruption.

Md Asif Alvi, a BSS second year student and a member of the college’s Chhatra-Chhatri Sangram Parishad, lodged the case before the court of Chittagong Session Judge SM Mujibur Rahman accusing the principal Md Rezaul Kabir, court sources said.

According to court sources, the court took the case into cognisance and ordered Md Moniruzzaman, Deputy Commissioner of the Detective Branch of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, to investigate the issue and submit a report by September 15.

Alvi, plaintiff of the case, said the principal embezzled massive amounts

of money in the last 23 years, since 1990. “He illegally takes an amount from students every year and he misappropriated a huge amount of money during the construction of the college building,” he added.

Placing various allegations against Rezaul, students of the college under the banner of Chhatra-Chhatri Sangram Parishad, allegedly supported

by Bangladesh Chhatra League, had been staging demonstrations since last month demanding his resignation, college sources said. However, the principal was previously assaulted several times by agitated students while BCL men assaulted him at the Teachers’ Council meeting recently. After the incident, the principal lodged a case with a Chittagong court on August 7 against some BCL men and general students of the college. l

NASHIRUL ISLAM

Power outage hits Bhola n Anisur Rahman Swapan, Barisal

Power outages have taken over the river isolated coastal district of Bhola since Saturday night, affecting at least 2m people.

Hospitals and factories are in crisis due to the lack of power.

Ice factories in the region are facing the worst of it, as it has become very difficult for them to preserve hilsa during the peak season. People took to the streets across the region to protest the disruption in power supply.

They formed a human chain, held a rally and procession on Sunday across the district, demanding that immediate steps be taken to restore electricity.

Power supply was disrupted after Bhola’s 34.5MW gas-fired power plant, installed by India’s Alstom Company came to a halt following a technical glitch, said Bhola Rental Power Plant Manager Hafizur Rahman.

He said they contacted the Alstom Company, which assured them that

Now fish fry gets smuggled Primary school teachers n yet to get salary Our Correspondent, Jessore

Fry (juvenile fish) has recently entered the long list of items being smuggled to India from bordering areas in Jessore.

Fish enclosures have been developed along the Ichhamati River for gathering and storing juvenile fish after purchasing them from Chansra in Jessore, the largest fry market in the southwestern region. The enclosures were apparently dug to bypass BGB drives. Smugglers carry fries of different species of fish from Chansra every day under the pretence of releasing them in fish enclosures in Daulatpur,

Putkhaliand and other areas, but are later smuggled, sources said.

Subedar Alauddin at Putkhali BGB camp said smugglers do not use Putkhali border but might use Daulatpur for such purposes. Meanwhile, Jahid Hossain, General Secretary of Jessore’s Fish Growers’ Association said, in Bangladesh Ruhi fry are being sold at Tk2,500 per kg whereas it is sold at Tk3,500 in India. “Katla fries are priced Tk2,900 per kg in Jessore, but they are sold at Tk3,800 per kg in India,” he added.

BGB officials said they had recently seized fries worth Tk4m at the time of smuggling. l

n

Our Correspondent, Feni

At least 600 MPO-listed teachers of government primary schools in Feni have yet to receive their salaries and Eid bonus.

According to sources from the district education office, teachers of around 144 government primary schools have not received their dues for the month of July and festival allowance for Eid-u-Fitr.

Earlier on August 1, the ministry of

The train was later halted in case of emergency and Prity was taken to Sitakunda Upazila Health Complex. She was later shifted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital as her condition deteriorated but she succumbed to her injury.

Bangladesh Railway (East) authorities formed a three-member probe committee over the incident.

Government Railway Police (GRP) picked up a person for primary interrogation from Bhatiari of Sitakunda upazila where the incident occurred, said Mohammed Shahid Ullah, officerin-charge of GRP Outpost in Chittagong Railway Station.

As no family members have lodged any cases over the incident, police lodged a case with the outpost with no name mentioned in it, he said.

Md Tafazzal Hossain, general manager of Bangladesh Railway (East) said the three-member probe committee was asked to submit a report within seven days. l

education sent allocation papers to all upazila education offices along with bills to banks.

However, teachers had to return empty handed from banks the day before Eid as there was no endorsement for the allocation papers and bills.

Mohiuddin Khanderkar, joint secretary general of ‘Beshorkari Prathomik Shikkak Samity’ said the teachers could not buy new dresses for their family members due to a shortage of money. It ruined their Eid plans, he added. l

they would send an expert by Tuesday to identify faults in the generator.

The power plant also stopped functioning last February, and it took two months to repair.

On the other hand, the submarine cable on Kalabadar-Tetulia River also stopped working since last month due to a mechanical failure. Making it impossible to draw power from the national grid, said Abdul Majed, executive engineer, West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZPDCO) at Bhola.

Steps are yet to be taken to locate fault in the five-kilometre-long BholaPatuakhali and seven-kilometre-long Barisal-Bhola submarine cable lines.

WZPDCO residential Engineer Mohammed Ali said it was not possible to draw power from the national grid because of the fault in the Bhola-Patuakhali submarine cable lines.

Even the 2MW generator in Bhola Power House has also been out of order for a long time, he added.l

Four jewellery shops gutted

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Four jewellery shops were gutted at Kachari Road under Hathazari upazila in Chittagong yesterday.

Kupan Bishwash, an operator of Fire Service and Civil Defence Headquarters in Chittagong, said a short circuit started the fire, which soon engulfed adjacent areas at around 5:30am.

It took the firefighting unit an hour to douse the blaze, he added.

The fire service officials were able to recover Tk150,000 worth of valuables whereas valuables worth around Tk300,000 were lost. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Special

5

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Road safety: Getting out of the nightmare

On this day Tareque Masud was tragically killed in a road accident. Much hue and cry followed the incident to make the roads safer, but all of that failed to affect the eventual state of play. The unchanged scenario reaffirms that the only way we can ensure road safety is by following discipline and the existing rules of the road

W n S M Ilias

e have experienced the dire consequences of countless fires, buildings and bridge collapses, resulting in a drastic number of casualties and damage. After each incident, various inquiry committees were formed and reports were submitted. As a population, we are eager to know: What are the recommendations for safety measures and what remedial action will be taken against lack of safety?

Unfortunately, the incident reports and plans for precaution were not made public. This indicates that the importance of safety continues to be ignored and neglected, even after so many deadly incidents.

As Bangladeshis, we tend to instantly find faults and failures, and speak of precautions and remedial action when an accident occurs. Our questions turn to the authorities concerned: What are the lessons learnt from past incidents? What remedial action is being taken? What preventive measures are to be taken in terms of the safety and security of human lives, in order to prevent and avoid further incidents in the future? The word “safety” is

At times, it has been observed that the whole flyover is packed and overloaded with a huge number of vehicles stuck in traffic. It is dangerous for such a heavy load of vehicles to remain on the flyover for long durations, because the weight results in silent structural damage that accumulates over the years to result in a collapse.

Before anything tragic happens, now is the time to start respecting the local laws and instructions on flyovers.

Law enforcement authorities should impose their authority to monitor, check and control the vehicles crossing flyovers in order to ensure the safety of human lives and prevent damage to the flyovers.

Rules of the road The rules of the road are not obeyed by drivers, thus creating chaos and confusion. In many cases, self-made traffic jams are formed due to disobeying of the traffic laws. Having visited many countries and driven in multiple cultural environments, I am familiar with road discipline in most parts of the world. In fact, these places have more vehicles than our country, but they strictly and sincerely follow the

A country’s development and civility is judged by its road discipline, road conditions, status of taxi cabs, public transportation, etc. In Bangladesh, there is no road discipline or control, the condition of roads are terrible and public transport is seriously lacking

now the only question at every workplace and in every mind.

When incidents like the Savar tragedy, Tazreen and Tung Hai fires happen, it is common for all concentration to be focused on the accident itself, without dealing with the lapses that caused the accident or giving priority to preventive measures to avoid similar incidents in the future. In reality, no action or implementation is observed on a large scale regarding safety issues. The reluctance to practice safety means things will move in the same way until another such incident occurs and people feel threatened, as before.

The following is information on safety issues that can be useful to the public.

Flyovers and bridges The risk of flyovers and bridges collapsing is a constant threat to our lives. There are rules, regulations and instructions on which vehicles are allowed to ply on bridges, but no one follow those rules. The law enforcers do not check or bother to control those who are breaking the rules either.

There are instructions that heavy and overloaded vehicles, like buses, trucks/lorries, trailers, etc cannot ply on flyovers for safety reasons. They should use the underpass instead, but these instructions are ignored even by law enforcement officers, who do not punish violators.

A “restriction bar” was placed, many times, on the Mohakhali flyover to restrict the crossing of heavy and overloaded vehicles, but it was removed every time for unknown reasons. The law enforcement authorities have been seen to be reluctant to impose their authority when it comes to this matter. Basically, the people breaking the law are being able to manage the law enforcers, rather than vice versa!

rules of the road for their own safety.

The violators are uncompromisingly taken to task by the law enforcement authorities.

The following procedures are followed in most other countries: • Violation of a road signal, breaking lanes, driving over the speed limit, parking in a no-parking zone, driving without a licence, or not having legal vehicle/fitness documents will result in the enforcing authority making a remark on the violator’s licence book.

• If the violator is detected with three offence remarks on his licence book for the above-mentioned violations, his/her licence is detained for one year, and he/ she will be sent to jail for a month.

Above all, Western countries learn from the beginning of life to respect the rules of the road, thus their rate of accidents is much lower than in Bangladesh, and the general masses are safer on the streets.

All drivers obey the traffic signals, and vehicles move strictly in one lane.

Now, let’s compare the roads of Western countries to a few road scenarios in Bangladesh: In Bangladesh, drivers have a habit of ignoring traffic signals. Even the traffic police do not follow the actual traffic signals, which allows drivers to break the rules freely. In most cases, I have observed the traffic police allowing the vehicles to move during a “red” signal and stopping them during a “green” signal. Thus, the new generation is really confused about traffic signals and is becoming habituated to the wrong system. Foreigners are also surprised to see our odd system.

As there is no habit of driving in one lane, people indiscriminately break the rules and constantly switch

lanes to create traffic jams. Many do not even check before swerving to the right or left, and so drivers are always in tension about whether they are going to be hit, and this stress is a serious health hazard.

Though there are pedestrian overpasses, their usage is negligible.

Most of the people cross the road indiscriminately and put their lives in danger. While laws exist to fine them for jaywalking, the traffic police are silent observers of these violators and allow them to cross the streets dangerously all the time.

No discipline is maintained on the road by drivers, as the law enforcers do not check and take appropriate action against them. The police only check the validity of car documents and driving licences, and are reluctant to check other matters. The duty of the traffic police is to motivate people and spread awareness about safety issues through various day to day campaigns and programmes.

Many public transportation vehicles are driving on the roads without taillights, faded or nonexistent number plates and very shabby body structures. They pass right in front of law enforcers, who do not check them or take them off the road. The question is: How are they allowed to ply on the road? How did they get a fitness approval from Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA)? Why does the traffic sergeant/police not stop them and take disciplinary action against them or mark them un-roadworthy?

Vehicles are parked indiscriminately on the sides of roads, which causes even more traffic.

A country’s development and civility is judged by its road discipline, road conditions, status of taxi cabs, public transportation, etc. In Bangladesh, there is no road discipline or control, the condition of roads are terrible and public transport is seriously lacking.

The situation is so poor that it is quite embarrassing for Bangladeshis.

The following actions should be taken by the law enforcement authorities for the greater good of the nation and to ensure safe roads for all: Vehicles must move according to actual red and green traffic signals.

Drivers must be made aware of traffic signals and must be forced to respect the system of traffic laws. The traffic police must strictly act according to the actual traffic signals and make it a habit to stop on red and move on green. During rush hour, the timing of the signal may be increased for more vehicles to pass along, as is done in other countries.

The practice of driving in one lane must be introduced immediately and turned into a habit. Implementation must be controlled and monitored seriously by law enforcers. This will help everyone drive tension-free, remain at peace and enjoy driving. Violators will be checked, fined and marked on their licence book for breaking the traffic law. Initially, it will take time to get habituated to the system, but we have to start. In the course of time, the order will be followed as was the case with seatbelts. Now 95% of drivers use seatbelts to ensure safety.

Licence books should be introduced where all offences are to be recorded.

To do so, the law enforcers have to be more sincere in discharging their duties and responsibilities without compromise.

All unfit and shabby vehicles must be checked and appropriate action must be taken to mark them “OFF ROAD” until they are actually fit for the road. Offences should be recorded on the driver’s licence book.

People should be motivated, taught and habituated to use the foot overpass for their safety. Those who violate it should be fined as per rules.

Vehicles should be restricted from

DHAKA TRIBUNE

parking in non-parking zones to reduce road congestion. Those who violate the restriction should be fined.

Traffic police, along with social workers, may start campaigning for safe roads and motivate people to obey the rules of the road for their own benefit and safety.

Bangladesh Road Transport Authority People feel uncomfortable to go to the BRTA to obtain a fitness approval for vehicles. The system is really troublesome and time-consuming. Even after waiting all day in a long queue, you cannot be sure you’ll get the fitness done that day. In other words, you may waste the whole day waiting and be forced to go again the next day.

To make matters worse, unfit and misshapen vehicles are cleared and marked as fit when they should actually be illegal to drive.

BRTA performs a vital role, as they form the foundation for ensuring road safety. If they are reluctant and

a limited number of vehicles, as per a BRTA time frame, may be called in on designated days to process vehicular fitness. This simplifies the process and avoids crowds and congestion in that particular zone.

Only actually fit vehicles must be cleared. There must be no compromise with fitness. The defaulted vehicle should be marked “unfit” and “off road” and allowed to come again for the fitness process after the defect is rectified.

The BRTA are the responsible inspecting authorities and must be more sincere and dedicated in discharging their duties. Any failure on their part will make them responsible and answerable to all.

When a tourist visits a country, the development of that country is judged first by its airport/border entry arrangements, road conditions, the status of public transport, road discipline and systems. Thus, to improve the condition of the roads is to influence the first impressions about the level of develop-

It is not possible for the law enforcers to force and habituate everyone to the system. We all have to extend our cooperation and join the effort

not sincere with fitness tests, they are responsible for placing dangerous vehicles on the road and ignoring the safety of people.

The following few steps may be adopted by the BRTA in order to smoothen the fitness process: An online system, like the army has for giving cantonment entry passes, may be introduced. All drivers can apply online for the fitness test. Then,

ment in the country and the civilisation.

To establish road discipline and help the city develop, rules of the road must sincerely be followed by all, and the law enforcement authorities must enforce them seriously.

It is our responsibility to make our country presentable to all by rectifying the faulty systems and bad habits that presently exist. It is not possible for the law enforcers to force and

habituate everyone to the system. We all have to extend our cooperation and join the effort.

Let’s start from today and slowly make it a habit to obey the rules of the road and make the streets safe for all.

We believe a system is needed to make people moderate and disciplined in life, and we need to improve on our road management system.

Law enforcers are the only authorities who deal with the rules of the road, but they are reluctant to do their jobs, thus people are forgetting the correct laws that they learn at driving institutions and are indulging in the bad habits of driving.

Let’s make a slogan: “Obey the law, save a life.” I’m sure today or tomorrow we will be following the right track towards discipline in road management, but we need to be determined and work hard to reach our goal of road safety. l Commander S M Ilias, BN (Retd) is a former Navy officer.

6

Share

DHAKA TRIBUNE

DSE Broad Index: 3916.83 ⇑ 0.64% Turnover: 1622.96 M.Tk ⇑ 24.58%, PE: 12.20

Turnover 1,769.96 MTk. ⇓ 23.50%

Monday, 12 August, 2013

TUESDAY, AUGUST 13, 2013

MarketCap. 1,895.59 BTk. ⇑ 0.51%

CSE All Share Index: 12155 ⇑ 0.55% Turnover: 147.00 M Tk. ⇓ 9.10%, PE: 12.10

August 12, 2013 Sectotal Index: BANK: 33,565.80 ⇓ 0.09% NBFI: 19,482.71 ⇑ 1.77% INVS: 5,119.78 ⇓ 2.02% ENGG: 5,948.27 ⇑ 2.22% FOOD: 7,281.66 ⇑ 2.55% F&P: 10,634.40 ⇑ 0.25% TEXT: 2,823.34 ⇑ 0.44% PHAR: 16,398.70 ⇑ 0.28% PAPR: 798.18 ⇑ 0.44% SERV: 3,050.12 ⇑ 0.68% LEAT: 4,362.76 ⇓ 1.59% CERA: 471.61 ⇓ 0.21% CMNT: 4,169.05 ⇑ 2.09% INFO: 6,724.61 ⇑ 0.17% GINS: 9,093.64 ⇑ 1.32% LINS: 94,188.18 ⇓ 0.04% TELC: 1,380.40 ⇑ 1.15% MISC: 6,112.34 ⇑ 0.34% CompanyCode | EPS | BV | Volume Traded (Share) DSE/CSE: ClosePrice ⇓/⇑ Chn % | Avg.Price | Hi / Lo BANK ABBANK | 2.95 | 32.60 | Vol. 111942 D: 24.70 ⇑ 0.41% | 24.58 | 27.00 / 23.00 C: 25.00 ⇑ 2.04% | 24.58 | 25.00 / 23.00 CITYBANK | 1.15 | 25.97 | Vol. 368552 D: 17.20 ⇑ 2.99% | 17.01 | 18.20 / 15.90 C: 17.10 ⇑ 1.18% | 17.17 | 18.00 / 16.70 IFIC | 1.10 | 18.34 | Vol. 631862 D: 21.90 ⇑ 0.92% | 22.07 | 23.00 / 20.50 C: 21.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 22.02 | 22.50 / 21.50 ISLAMIBANK | 3.78 | 27.16 | Vol. 150065 D: 36.00 ⇓ 0.55% | 35.93 | 36.50 / 35.00 C: 35.80 ⇓ 1.38% | 35.96 | 37.00 / 35.00 NBL | 1.05 | 15.76 | Vol. 1230689 D: 11.90 ⇑ 0.85% | 11.88 | 12.10 / 10.90 C: 11.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 11.93 | 12.00 / 11.70 PUBALIBANK | 1.92 | 21.18 | Vol. 140700 D: 30.10 ⇓ 1.63% | 30.38 | 32.00 / 28.50 C: 30.60 ⇓ 1.61% | 30.61 | 31.00 / 29.00 RUPALIBANK | 6.70 | 64.27 | Vol. 21340 D: 61.00 ⇑ 2.52% | 60.29 | 63.00 / 60.00 UCBL | 1.90 | 21.72 | Vol. 1389770 D: 18.50 ⇑ 1.09% | 18.41 | 18.60 / 16.50 C: 18.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 18.31 | 18.60 / 18.10 UTTARABANK | 3.42 | 26.97 | Vol. 170958 D: 25.20 ⇑ 0.40% | 25.11 | 26.00 / 24.00 C: 25.10 ⇓ 0.40% | 25.16 | 25.40 / 25.00 ICBIBANK | -1.60 | -13.03 | Vol. 22000 D: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.05 | 6.20 / 5.90 EBL | 3.91 | 28.22 | Vol. 30200 D: 25.90 ⇓ 1.89% | 25.99 | 26.30 / 25.80 C: 26.20 ⇓ 1.13% | 26.44 | 28.60 / 25.60 ALARABANK | 2.03 | 14.91 | Vol. 96526 D: 14.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 14.86 | 15.10 / 13.40 C: 14.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 14.75 | 14.90 / 14.70 PRIMEBANK | 2.89 | 22.40 | Vol. 74910 D: 21.10 ⇑ 0.48% | 21.14 | 21.30 / 19.00 C: 20.50 ⇑ 0.49% | 20.38 | 20.50 / 19.00 SOUTHEASTB | 1.89 | 22.66 | Vol. 262606 D: 16.30 ⇑ 0.62% | 16.23 | 17.60 / 14.80 C: 16.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.39 | 16.50 / 16.00 DHAKABANK | 1.46 | 18.08 | Vol. 146215 D: 20.70 ⇑ 1.97% | 20.62 | 20.80 / 18.50 C: 20.40 ⇑ 2.51% | 20.45 | 20.80 / 19.20 NCCBANK | 1.90 | 15.88 | Vol. 448021 D: 12.20 ⇑ 1.67% | 12.07 | 13.00 / 11.00 C: 12.30 ⇑ 0.82% | 12.33 | 12.40 / 12.00 SIBL | 2.05 | 14.47 | Vol. 428130 D: 12.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 12.45 | 12.50 / 11.30 C: 12.50 ⇓ 1.57% | 12.50 | 12.70 / 12.30 DUTCHBANGL | 11.57 | 54.27 | Vol. 13000 D: 98.40 ⇑ 0.10% | 98.40 | 100.0 / 98.00 C: 104.0 ⇑ 0.39% | 104.00 | 104.0 / 104.0 MTBL | 1.17 | 17.27 | Vol. 78340 D: 14.20 ⇓ 2.07% | 14.30 | 14.40 / 13.10 STANDBANKL | 2.33 | 14.41 | Vol. 197803 D: 13.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.52 | 13.70 / 13.00 C: 13.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.64 | 13.80 / 13.50 ONEBANKLTD | 2.35 | 15.34 | Vol. 945031 D: 14.90 ⇓ 1.32% | 15.06 | 15.50 / 13.60 C: 15.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 15.19 | 16.00 / 14.00 BANKASIA | 1.35 | 20.80 | Vol. 62112 D: 18.20 ⇑ 0.55% | 18.20 | 18.50 / 17.00 C: 18.10 ⇑ 0.56% | 18.10 | 18.10 / 18.10 MERCANBANK | 2.07 | 16.59 | Vol. 283580 D: 12.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 12.08 | 12.50 / 11.00 C: 12.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 11.98 | 12.00 / 11.50 EXIMBANK | 1.80 | 14.31 | Vol. 271633 D: 12.20 ⇑ 1.67% | 12.18 | 12.40 / 11.40 C: 12.30 ⇑ 1.65% | 12.12 | 12.30 / 11.90 JAMUNABANK | 2.47 | 18.56 | Vol. 106858 D: 13.90 ⇓ 0.71% | 13.93 | 14.00 / 13.00 C: 14.30 ⇑ 1.42% | 14.27 | 14.40 / 14.00 BRACBANK | 1.51 | 24.87 | Vol. 109351 D: 28.80 ⇓ 2.04% | 29.07 | 29.40 / 26.50 C: 29.50 ⇓ 1.34% | 28.60 | 29.50 / 28.80 SHAHJABANK | 2.61 | 14.47 | Vol. 356167 D: 14.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 14.57 | 15.20 / 13.30 C: 14.90 ⇑ 1.36% | 14.72 | 14.90 / 14.30 PREMIERBAN | 1.18 | 13.95 | Vol. 383484 D: 10.40 ⇑ 1.96% | 10.35 | 10.50 / 9.20 C: 10.30 ⇑ 0.98% | 10.29 | 10.40 / 10.10 TRUSTBANK | 0.50 | 18.00 | Vol. 23930 D: 17.60 ⇓ 1.12% | 17.60 | 19.00 / 16.10 C: 17.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.50 | 17.40 / 17.40 FIRSTSBANK | 1.85 | 13.89 | Vol. 78276 D: 12.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 12.39 | 12.60 / 11.50 C: 12.50 ⇑ 1.63% | 12.41 | 12.60 / 11.80 NON BANKING F I IDLC | 4.43 | 29.18 | Vol. 198350 D: 57.20 ⇑ 2.88% | 56.60 | 57.50 / 53.00 C: 57.50 ⇑ 4.74% | 57.45 | 57.50 / 57.00 ULC | 1.80 | 14.90 | Vol. 12208 D: 26.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 26.62 | 28.00 / 26.00 UTTARAFIN | 7.16 | 41.54 | Vol. 36534 D: 74.80 ⇓ 0.13% | 74.82 | 75.50 / 67.50 C: 73.40 ⇓ 0.54% | 73.39 | 75.90 / 73.20 MIDASFIN | -1.99 | 10.05 | Vol. 5000 D: 29.10 ⇓ 1.36% | 29.20 | 29.30 / 29.00 FLEASEINT | 2.34 | 13.93 | Vol. 110562 D: 24.30 ⇑ 0.41% | 24.19 | 24.90 / 23.90 C: 25.00 ⇓ 3.85% | 24.96 | 25.40 / 24.10 PLFSL | 1.37 | 17.48 | Vol. 167288 D: 23.00 ⇑ 0.44% | 22.97 | 24.00 / 20.80 C: 23.20 ⇓ 0.43% | 23.15 | 23.40 / 22.90 PRIMEFIN | 0.87 | 17.88 | Vol. 108789 D: 24.90 ⇑ 0.40% | 24.87 | 25.30 / 23.00 C: 25.10 ⇑ 0.40% | 24.98 | 25.30 / 24.60 PREMIERLEA | 0.10 | 11.37 | Vol. 97975 D: 10.90 ⇑ 3.81% | 10.83 | 11.00 / 9.50 C: 10.70 ⇓ 1.83% | 10.64 | 10.80 / 10.20 ISLAMICFIN | 1.03 | 15.48 | Vol. 159282 D: 15.10 ⇓ 0.66% | 15.21 | 15.60 / 13.70 C: 15.40 ⇑ 3.36% | 15.35 | 15.40 / 15.30 LANKABAFIN | 1.61 | 31.07 | Vol. 257867 D: 50.00 ⇑ 6.84% | 48.41 | 50.50 / 43.00 C: 50.10 ⇑ 6.60% | 48.58 | 50.60 / 47.00 BIFC | 0.15 | 18.58 | Vol. 25700 D: 13.10 ⇑ 3.15% | 13.10 | 13.90 / 12.70 C: 13.50 ⇑ 4.65% | 13.50 | 13.50 / 13.50 IPDC | 1.23 | 19.43 | Vol. 13440 D: 16.00 ⇓ 1.23% | 16.07 | 16.40 / 15.00 C: 16.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.20 | 16.20 / 16.20 UNIONCAP | 0.54 | 17.85 | Vol. 74172 D: 27.20 ⇓ 1.45% | 27.26 | 27.60 / 24.90 C: 29.90 ⇑ 5.28% | 29.90 | 29.90 / 29.90 BDFINANCE | 0.57 | 14.77 | Vol. 44004 D: 17.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 17.48 | 17.70 / 16.50 C: 17.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 17.53 | 17.80 / 16.00 ILFSL | 0.35 | 12.19 | Vol. 87520 D: 12.30 ⇑ 2.50% | 12.22 | 12.50 / 11.90 C: 12.40 ⇑ 0.81% | 12.39 | 12.50 / 12.30 PHOENIXFIN | 2.46 | 19.39 | Vol. 37354 D: 31.30 ⇑ 3.64% | 31.11 | 31.80 / 27.50 FASFIN | 0.19 | 13.56 | Vol. 183903 D: 13.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.32 | 13.50 / 12.90 C: 13.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.34 | 13.50 / 12.50 DBH | 3.40 | 16.80 | Vol. 13950 D: 61.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 61.93 | 65.00 / 60.00 C: 60.00 ⇓ 1.64% | 60.00 | 60.00 / 60.00

Vol.

TO M. Tk.

% of TTL

Avg. P

BD Submarine Cable-A

606442

182.24

10.30

300.51

Olympic Ind. -A

586217

136.49

7.71

232.83

Meghna Petroleum -A Padma Oil Co. -A

330926 220893

89.08 74.84

5.03 4.23

269.2 338.78

Jamuna Oil -A

255160

57.74

3.26

226.29

Combined Turnover Leader

NHFIL | 0.57 | 12.70 | Vol. 62005 D: 27.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 27.71 | 28.30 / 27.00 BAYLEASING | 0.72 | 25.55 | Vol. 75660 D: 28.90 ⇑ 2.12% | 28.68 | 29.00 / 25.70 C: 28.40 ⇑ 1.43% | 28.40 | 28.40 / 28.40 ICB | 109.65 | 595.98 | Vol. 2875 D: 1815 ⇑ 0.07% | 1806 | 1825 / 1790 C: 1849 ⇑ 4.15% | 1849 | 1849 / 1849 GSPFINANCE | 1.63 | 22.23 | Vol. 33525 D: 23.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 23.84 | 24.00 / 23.00 INVESTMENT 1STICB | 64.70 | 137.05 | Vol. 300 D: 886.5 ⇓ 0.38% | 886.67 | 888.0 / 885.0 2NDICB | 33.02 | 76.34 | Vol. 1750 D: 322.7 ⇓ 5.67% | 322.86 | 323.0 / 320.0 6THICB | 10.58 | 26.73 | Vol. 27100 D: 73.30 ⇓ 1.35% | 73.06 | 73.80 / 72.80 8THICB | 12.33 | 29.54 | Vol. 17500 D: 75.20 ⇓ 2.08% | 75.31 | 76.80 / 75.00 1STBSRS | 14.43 | 161.88 | Vol. 5000 D: 100.0 ⇑ 2.25% | 100.00 | 101.0 / 99.00 AIMS1STMF | 2.27 | 15.70 | Vol. 142000 D: 45.90 ⇓ 1.71% | 45.92 | 46.60 / 45.60 C: 47.10 ⇓ 0.84% | 46.28 | 47.20 / 45.30 ICBAMCL1ST | 7.14 | 48.54 | Vol. 483000 D: 60.20 ⇑ 11.90% | 58.02 | 63.00 / 55.00 ICBISLAMIC | 2.21 | 26.81 | Vol. 83500 D: 20.80 ⇓ 3.70% | 20.16 | 21.80 / 18.80 GRAMEEN1 | 6.26 | 33.23 | Vol. 60500 D: 50.10 ⇑ 0.20% | 49.55 | 50.50 / 48.50 C: 50.00 ⇑ 0.20% | 50.00 | 50.00 / 50.00 ICB1STNRB | 4.06 | 35.31 | Vol. 41500 D: 27.80 ⇓ 8.85% | 27.61 | 28.50 / 27.20 ICB2NDNRB | 2.49 | 16.24 | Vol. 810000 D: 12.00 ⇓ 12.41% | 12.00 | 12.20 / 11.80 C: 12.60 ⇓ 7.35% | 12.64 | 12.70 / 12.50 GRAMEENS2 | 2.17 | 16.41 | Vol. 248000 D: 17.80 ⇓ 1.66% | 17.85 | 18.00 / 17.70 C: 17.80 ⇓ 1.11% | 17.94 | 19.10 / 17.70 1STPRIMFMF | 0.64 | 11.63 | Vol. 167000 D: 16.90 ⇓ 2.31% | 16.80 | 17.10 / 16.50 C: 16.60 ⇓ 4.05% | 16.53 | 16.60 / 16.50 EBL1STMF | 0.99 | 12.62 | Vol. 144000 D: 8.20 ⇓ 2.38% | 8.29 | 8.40 / 8.20 C: 8.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.27 | 8.30 / 8.20 ICBAMCL2ND | 0.60 | 12.12 | Vol. 57000 D: 5.50 ⇓ 12.70% | 5.54 | 5.70 / 5.40 C: 5.50 ⇓ 19.12% | 5.50 | 5.50 / 5.50 ICBEPMF1S1 | 0.52 | 11.32 | Vol. 576000 D: 5.50 ⇓ 12.70% | 5.53 | 5.70 / 5.40 C: 5.70 ⇓ 14.93% | 5.59 | 5.70 / 5.50 TRUSTB1MF | 0.61 | 11.65 | Vol. 455500 D: 8.40 ⇓ 3.45% | 8.52 | 8.70 / 8.40 C: 8.50 ⇓ 3.41% | 8.50 | 8.70 / 8.40 PRIME1ICBA | 0.42 | 11.18 | Vol. 151500 D: 5.30 ⇓ 13.11% | 5.51 | 5.90 / 5.30 C: 5.50 ⇓ 11.29% | 5.53 | 5.60 / 5.50 DBH1STMF | -1.12 | 10.15 | Vol. 108000 D: 5.70 ⇓ 1.72% | 5.69 | 5.80 / 5.60 C: 5.90 ⇑ 1.72% | 5.76 | 5.90 / 5.70 IFIC1STMF | 0.47 | 11.88 | Vol. 70000 D: 7.60 ⇓ 1.30% | 7.69 | 7.80 / 7.50 C: 7.70 ⇓ 2.53% | 7.68 | 7.70 / 7.60 PF1STMF | 0.51 | 11.11 | Vol. 321500 D: 5.40 ⇓ 6.90% | 5.37 | 5.50 / 5.30 C: 5.30 ⇓ 7.02% | 5.50 | 5.70 / 5.30 ICB3RDNRB | 0.00 | 10.60 | Vol. 474000 D: 5.30 ⇓ 7.02% | 5.23 | 5.50 / 5.10 C: 5.40 ⇓ 10.00% | 5.38 | 5.40 / 5.30 1JANATAMF | -1.23 | 10.68 | Vol. 83500 D: 6.00 ⇓ 3.23% | 6.04 | 6.10 / 6.00 C: 6.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.16 | 6.20 / 6.10 GREENDELMF | -0.82 | 9.72 | Vol. 124500 D: 5.30 ⇓ 3.64% | 5.39 | 5.50 / 5.30 C: 5.40 ⇓ 3.57% | 5.52 | 5.60 / 5.30 POPULAR1MF | -0.47 | 11.38 | Vol. 430000 D: 6.20 ⇓ 4.62% | 6.23 | 6.30 / 6.10 C: 6.30 ⇓ 4.55% | 6.27 | 6.40 / 6.20 IFILISLMF1 | 0.00 | 10.45 | Vol. 584000 D: 4.90 ⇓ 5.77% | 4.89 | 5.00 / 4.80 C: 5.00 ⇓ 5.66% | 4.99 | 5.00 / 4.90 PHPMF1 | -0.67 | 10.92 | Vol. 337000 D: 5.80 ⇓ 3.33% | 5.86 | 6.00 / 5.80 C: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.95 | 6.00 / 5.80 AIBL1STIMF | -0.07 | 9.25 | Vol. 8500 D: 6.60 ⇓ 1.49% | 6.75 | 6.80 / 6.60 C: 6.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.50 | 6.50 / 6.50 MBL1STMF | -0.16 | 9.08 | Vol. 68000 D: 6.10 ⇓ 6.15% | 6.19 | 6.30 / 6.10 C: 6.00 ⇓ 7.69% | 6.03 | 6.10 / 6.00 SEBL1STMF | 1.48 | 11.86 | Vol. 751000 D: 9.90 ⇓ 2.94% | 9.90 | 10.00 / 9.70 C: 9.90 ⇓ 1.98% | 9.96 | 9.90 / 10.00 EBLNRBMF | 0.22 | 10.88 | Vol. 5500 D: 8.40 ⇑ 7.69% | 8.40 | 8.40 / 8.40 RELIANCE1 | 0.35 | 11.36 | Vol. 271500 D: 10.50 ⇓ 3.67% | 10.56 | 10.70 / 10.40 C: 10.50 ⇓ 7.08% | 10.50 | 10.50 / 10.50 ABB1STMF | 0.46 | 10.63 | Vol. 11000 D: 8.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.55 | 8.70 / 8.40 NLI1STMF | 0.71 | 10.33 | Vol. 532500 D: 11.10 ⇓ 4.31% | 11.02 | 11.60 / 10.70 C: 11.00 ⇓ 3.51% | 11.96 | 12.00 / 11.00 NCCBLMF1 | 0.00 | 10.48 | Vol. 13500 D: 8.90 ⇓ 3.26% | 8.96 | 9.00 / 8.80 ICBSONALI1 | 0.00 | 10.39 | Vol. 118000 D: 7.50 ⇓ 2.60% | 7.54 | 7.60 / 7.50 C: 7.50 ⇓ 3.85% | 7.56 | 7.70 / 7.50 EXIM1STMF | 0.00 | 10.91 | Vol. 6000 D: 8.00 ⇑ 1.27% | 8.00 | 8.60 / 7.90

DSE Loser

C%

A%

CP

60.20

Prime Bank 1st MF-A

-13.11

-10.26

5.30

-12.89

5.50

DSE Gainer

C%

A%

CP

ICB AMCL 1st M F-A

11.90

9.66

Renwick Jajneswar-A

9.52

10.17

155.30

AMCL 2nd MF-A

-12.70

CVO PetroChem RL-A

8.73

7.23

463.50

ICB Emp. PMF-A

-12.70

-14.13

5.50

Apex Tannery-A

8.60

7.58

97.20

ICB AMCL 2nd NRB-A

-12.41

-11.44

12.00

EBL NRB M.F.-A

7.69

7.69

8.40

Savar Refractories-Z

-9.18

-9.19

56.40

ENGINEERING AFTABAUTO | 4.29 | 52.65 | Vol. 246388 D: 109.8 ⇑ 3.49% | 108.15 | 110.4 / 96.00 C: 110.4 ⇑ 3.86% | 108.53 | 112.0 / 105.0 AZIZPIPES | 0.39 | -42.04 | Vol. 1250 D: 15.10 ⇓ 1.31% | 15.20 | 15.90 / 15.00 OLYMPIC | 5.94 | 14.91 | Vol. 586217 D: 237.7 ⇑ 4.39% | 232.87 | 239.0 / 218.0 C: 238.1 ⇑ 4.52% | 232.26 | 239.9 / 225.0 BDLAMPS | -5.31 | 37.07 | Vol. 2755 D: 129.0 ⇑ 2.46% | 128.66 | 133.5 / 120.0 C: 132.0 ⇑ 9.45% | 130.00 | 132.0 / 128.0 ECABLES | 2.04 | 18.87 | Vol. 2000 D: 56.50 ⇓ 3.58% | 56.25 | 57.00 / 56.00 C: 55.20 ⇓ 0.36% | 55.23 | 57.70 / 55.00 MONNOSTAF | 5.31 | 44.78 | Vol. 50 D: 185.0 ⇑ 4.34% | 185.00 | 185.0 / 185.0 SINGERBD | 9.99 | 45.74 | Vol. 72150 D: 186.5 ⇑ 0.54% | 186.22 | 188.5 / 184.0 C: 187.4 ⇑ 1.08% | 187.64 | 190.0 / 186.0 ATLASBANG | 11.98 | 207.70 | Vol. 5366 D: 179.3 ⇑ 1.19% | 178.83 | 180.0 / 161.0 BDAUTOCA | 0.25 | 6.23 | Vol. 7480 D: 22.00 ⇑ 3.29% | 22.01 | 22.50 / 21.50 QSMDRYCELL | 1.65 | 58.49 | Vol. 25100 D: 34.20 ⇑ 0.88% | 34.07 | 34.50 / 31.00 RENWICKJA | 5.62 | -90.00 | Vol. 10300 D: 155.3 ⇑ 9.52% | 153.50 | 155.9 / 147.0 NTLTUBES | -2.52 | 312.10 | Vol. 35108 D: 63.90 ⇑ 5.97% | 62.65 | 64.30 / 59.50 BDTHAI | 0.43 | 39.35 | Vol. 39743 D: 19.90 ⇑ 1.53% | 19.89 | 20.10 / 19.00 C: 20.40 ⇑ 2.00% | 20.37 | 20.40 / 18.00 ANWARGALV | 0.51 | 8.08 | Vol. 2000 D: 14.60 ⇑ 5.04% | 14.60 | 14.60 / 14.60 KAY&QUE | -3.89 | 6.03 | Vol. 5070 D: 13.30 ⇑ 2.31% | 13.39 | 13.40 / 12.50 SALAMCRST | 3.31 | 20.00 | Vol. 78940 D: 38.20 ⇑ 1.06% | 37.94 | 38.60 / 35.00 C: 37.10 ⇓ 3.13% | 37.13 | 37.50 / 36.70 GOLDENSON | 3.70 | 28.70 | Vol. 121537 D: 38.80 ⇑ 0.52% | 38.79 | 39.50 / 35.00 C: 39.00 ⇑ 0.78% | 38.02 | 39.00 / 35.00 BSRMSTEEL | 3.06 | 19.53 | Vol. 98045 D: 69.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 69.78 | 70.60 / 64.00 C: 70.00 ⇑ 0.57% | 69.63 | 70.00 / 66.50 NAVANACNG | 4.09 | 27.04 | Vol. 88863 D: 69.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 69.83 | 71.90 / 65.00 C: 70.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 70.43 | 70.90 / 69.10 DESHBANDHU | 1.16 | 12.02 | Vol. 79500 D: 19.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 19.52 | 19.60 / 19.40 C: 19.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 19.36 | 20.00 / 19.00 GPHISPAT | 2.94 | 14.51 | Vol. 14300 D: 48.40 ⇑ 0.41% | 48.61 | 49.70 / 47.00

RDFOOD | 0.91 | 16.84 | Vol. 79600 D: 19.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 19.85 | 20.00 / 19.60 C: 20.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 19.91 | 20.40 / 19.60 GHAIL | 1.01 | 22.08 | Vol. 89760 D: 42.30 ⇑ 1.20% | 42.09 | 42.70 / 38.00 C: 42.30 ⇑ 0.71% | 41.87 | 42.90 / 41.40

SQUARETEXT | 4.32 | 31.82 | Vol. 16832 D: 87.10 ⇑ 0.11% | 87.42 | 90.90 / 82.10 C: 86.30 ⇓ 0.12% | 86.30 | 86.30 / 86.30 FAMILYTEX | 3.72 | 14.68 | Vol. 1418000 D: 28.40 ⇓ 7.19% | 27.76 | 28.70 / 27.60 C: 28.40 ⇓ 7.49% | 27.84 | 28.70 / 27.70

FUEL & POWER LINDEBD | 31.71 | 144.00 | Vol. 9700 D: 598.7 ⇑ 1.18% | 597.53 | 602.0 / 590.0 PADMAOIL | 16.38 | 43.67 | Vol. 220893 D: 342.5 ⇑ 0.15% | 338.60 | 345.0 / 330.0 C: 343.2 ⇑ 0.88% | 340.38 | 345.0 / 330.0 BDWELDING | 0.33 | 16.82 | Vol. 32606 D: 17.40 ⇑ 1.16% | 17.37 | 17.60 / 15.50 C: 17.60 ⇑ 3.53% | 17.56 | 17.60 / 17.50 SUMITPOWER | 3.17 | 19.26 | Vol. 84476 D: 35.50 ⇑ 0.85% | 35.45 | 38.00 / 33.00 C: 35.50 ⇑ 1.14% | 36.26 | 36.70 / 35.30 DESCO | 2.80 | 35.25 | Vol. 57330 D: 79.60 ⇑ 0.38% | 79.07 | 79.90 / 72.00 C: 78.80 ⇓ 0.63% | 78.95 | 79.70 / 78.00 POWERGRID | 2.56 | 48.08 | Vol. 16165 D: 55.10 ⇓ 0.36% | 55.13 | 55.50 / 50.00 JAMUNAOIL | 22.78 | 50.24 | Vol. 255160 D: 228.2 ⇑ 0.53% | 226.28 | 230.4 / 215.0 C: 228.1 ⇓ 0.22% | 226.36 | 229.0 / 223.0 MPETROLEUM | 16.98 | 40.41 | Vol. 330926 D: 272.4 ⇑ 1.26% | 269.23 | 274.9 / 250.0 C: 271.3 ⇑ 1.19% | 268.73 | 274.0 / 262.1 TITASGAS | 9.01 | 36.56 | Vol. 454822 D: 83.70 ⇑ 0.72% | 83.64 | 84.50 / 75.00 C: 83.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 83.32 | 84.50 / 82.60 KPCL | 4.73 | 15.86 | Vol. 93561 D: 51.60 ⇑ 0.58% | 51.59 | 52.10 / 47.00 C: 52.20 ⇑ 0.58% | 51.29 | 53.50 / 51.00 BEDL | 1.57 | 17.89 | Vol. 284117 D: 33.20 ⇑ 0.30% | 33.07 | 33.50 / 30.00 C: 33.30 ⇓ 0.30% | 33.22 | 33.50 / 32.90 MJLBD | 2.73 | 30.24 | Vol. 48698 D: 71.40 ⇑ 0.99% | 70.66 | 71.50 / 65.00 C: 70.30 ⇓ 1.40% | 69.70 | 70.90 / 70.00 GBBPOWER | 1.86 | 22.63 | Vol. 253245 D: 25.10 ⇓ 0.79% | 24.89 | 25.50 / 22.90 C: 25.90 ⇑ 1.97% | 25.36 | 25.90 / 24.00 SPPCL | 3.81 | 23.34 | Vol. 370180 D: 56.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 56.69 | 57.40 / 51.00 C: 56.90 ⇑ 0.35% | 56.73 | 57.60 / 53.60

PHARMACEUTICAL & CHEMICAL AMBEEPHA | 3.94 | 26.15 | Vol. 1100 D: 245.9 ⇓ 1.24% | 246.32 | 249.4 / 243.0 C: 248.3 ⇑ 0.93% | 248.33 | 249.0 / 248.0 BXPHARMA | 3.77 | 52.55 | Vol. 40144 D: 45.70 ⇑ 0.22% | 45.50 | 46.00 / 41.10 C: 45.30 ⇓ 0.22% | 45.39 | 45.80 / 45.00 GLAXOSMITH | 20.25 | 123.32 | Vol. 7450 D: 872.7 ⇑ 3.91% | 847.92 | 887.0 / 802.0 ACI | -5.82 | 126.42 | Vol. 4742 D: 143.3 ⇓ 1.10% | 144.31 | 146.9 / 140.0 C: 148.0 ⇑ 2.07% | 147.78 | 148.0 / 145.0 RENATA | 33.57 | 138.83 | Vol. 4950 D: 656.4 ⇓ 2.34% | 654.34 | 664.0 / 650.0 RECKITTBEN | 27.16 | 78.89 | Vol. 1050 D: 719.6 ⇑ 3.33% | 720.00 | 740.0 / 700.0 C: 709.0 ⇑ 7.42% | 709.00 | 709.0 / 709.0 PHARMAID | 5.06 | 26.30 | Vol. 24850 D: 176.7 ⇑ 4.37% | 173.84 | 178.0 / 167.0 KOHINOOR | 9.52 | 10.49 | Vol. 65 D: 368.0 ⇑ 0.00% | 340.00 | 340.0 / 340.0 IBNSINA | 3.44 | 34.02 | Vol. 10030 D: 82.00 ⇓ 1.44% | 82.09 | 83.00 / 80.00 ORIONINFU | 8.72 | 1.73 | Vol. 8000 D: 39.80 ⇑ 1.79% | 39.74 | 40.20 / 39.10 C: 42.90 ⇑ 4.63% | 42.90 | 42.90 / 42.90 SQURPHARMA | 9.01 | 50.83 | Vol. 210496 D: 219.0 ⇓ 0.09% | 218.18 | 222.0 / 202.0 C: 217.8 ⇓ 0.27% | 217.94 | 220.0 / 215.0 KEYACOSMET | 3.19 | 19.99 | Vol. 230189 D: 28.00 ⇑ 0.36% | 27.94 | 29.10 / 25.20 C: 28.10 ⇑ 0.72% | 28.08 | 28.30 / 27.90 ORIONPHARM | 5.02 | 68.68 | Vol. 226360 D: 63.90 ⇑ 0.47% | 63.71 | 65.00 / 57.30 C: 63.90 ⇑ 0.47% | 63.63 | 64.20 / 59.00 JMISMDL | 1.12 | 12.83 | Vol. 91500 D: 86.70 ⇑ 4.08% | 86.63 | 89.20 / 84.00 C: 87.60 ⇑ 5.04% | 87.21 | 89.00 / 84.00

JUTE JUTESPINN | 2.06 | 17.42 | Vol. 250 D: 69.80 ⇓ 1.41% | 68.00 | 72.90 / 69.00 SONALIANSH | 5.54 | 218.80 | Vol. 6750 D: 122.5 ⇓ 0.16% | 121.78 | 124.0 / 120.0

PAPER & PACKAGING HAKKANIPUL | 0.64 | 11.02 | Vol. 500 D: 15.60 ⇓ 2.50% | 15.60 | 15.60 / 15.60 SERVICE SAPORTL | 1.23 | 38.39 | Vol. 60011 D: 24.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 24.82 | 25.40 / 22.90 C: 24.60 ⇓ 0.81% | 24.54 | 24.90 / 23.80 EHL | 2.87 | 18.48 | Vol. 95827 D: 46.20 ⇑ 1.32% | 45.91 | 48.00 / 44.50 C: 46.50 ⇑ 1.53% | 46.41 | 46.50 / 45.00 LEATHER APEXTANRY | 6.57 | 69.38 | Vol. 103900 D: 97.20 ⇑ 8.60% | 96.12 | 99.90 / 90.40 C: 99.10 ⇑ 11.72% | 95.38 | 99.90 / 93.70 BATASHOE | 49.12 | 135.53 | Vol. 4860 D: 619.7 ⇑ 1.31% | 618.72 | 620.8 / 611.7 APEXADELFT | 23.01 | 203.26 | Vol. 16600 D: 298.8 ⇑ 2.75% | 297.38 | 301.8 / 287.0 C: 296.0 ⇓ 8.36% | 296.00 | 296.0 / 296.0 LEGACYFOOT | 0.63 | 17.19 | Vol. 9108 D: 13.50 ⇑ 3.05% | 13.50 | 13.80 / 12.50

BENGALWTL | 2.42 | 20.72 | Vol. 51600 D: 42.20 ⇓ 0.24% | 42.22 | 42.40 / 41.70 C: 42.20 ⇑ 1.44% | 42.15 | 42.60 / 41.50 NPOLYMAR | 2.01 | 324.37 | Vol. 3106 D: 40.30 ⇑ 0.50% | 40.33 | 41.00 / 39.40 FOOD & ALLIED APEXFOODS | 2.54 | 90.81 | Vol. 6950 D: 70.30 ⇓ 0.28% | 69.78 | 71.10 / 67.60 C: 75.00 ⇑ 8.70% | 75.00 | 75.00 / 75.00 BANGAS | 7.20 | 50.27 | Vol. 37716 D: 520.7 ⇓ 1.14% | 520.66 | 527.9 / 510.0 C: 521.1 ⇓ 1.36% | 518.25 | 529.5 / 511.0 BATBC | 65.69 | 117.22 | Vol. 6450 D: 1395 ⇑ 1.21% | 1397 | 1420 / 1391 GEMINISEA | 10.88 | 9.69 | Vol. 100 D: 132.0 ⇑ 1.15% | 132.00 | 132.0 / 132.0 NTC | 29.88 | 110.05 | Vol. 650 D: 838.4 ⇑ 0.68% | 838.46 | 842.0 / 825.0 CVOPRL | 2.66 | 13.28 | Vol. 75450 D: 463.5 ⇑ 8.73% | 454.91 | 463.6 / 428.5 C: 453.8 ⇑ 8.05% | 453.75 | 456.7 / 450.0 AMCL(PRAN) | 6.53 | 53.37 | Vol. 22800 D: 174.0 ⇑ 2.41% | 171.73 | 174.7 / 166.5 C: 175.6 ⇑ 3.29% | 177.03 | 180.0 / 175.5 RAHIMAFOOD | 0.62 | 4.46 | Vol. 13500 D: 15.10 ⇑ 1.34% | 15.19 | 15.30 / 15.10 FUWANGFOOD | 1.26 | 12.37 | Vol. 114052 D: 23.20 ⇑ 0.43% | 23.08 | 23.90 / 21.80 C: 23.00 ⇓ 0.43% | 23.00 | 23.00 / 23.00 MEGHNAPET | -0.58 | -1.02 | Vol. 1000 D: 5.40 ⇓ 6.90% | 5.00 | 5.50 / 5.40 MEGCONMILK | -6.68 | -16.22 | Vol. 2000 D: 6.90 ⇓ 2.82% | 7.00 | 7.00 / 6.90 BEACHHATCH | 1.01 | 12.48 | Vol. 44575 D: 16.20 ⇓ 1.22% | 16.29 | 18.00 / 14.90 FINEFOODS | -0.11 | 10.58 | Vol. 5000 D: 16.30 ⇑ 0.62% | 16.40 | 16.50 / 16.00

TEXTILE AL-HAJTEX | 1.35 | 15.64 | Vol. 11250 D: 53.90 ⇓ 0.92% | 53.78 | 55.00 / 53.10 RAHIMTEXT | 0.51 | 73.88 | Vol. 25 D: 192.3 ⇑ 0.00% | 200.00 | 189.0 / 185.0 SAIHAMTEX | 2.75 | 29.50 | Vol. 138500 D: 30.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 30.01 | 30.10 / 29.70 C: 30.20 ⇑ 0.33% | 30.04 | 30.20 / 30.00 DULAMIACOT | -8.46 | -27.78 | Vol. 1600 D: 8.10 ⇑ 1.25% | 8.13 | 8.30 / 8.00 TALLUSPIN | 2.56 | 12.06 | Vol. 421046 D: 33.90 ⇑ 1.80% | 33.51 | 34.10 / 31.50 C: 33.70 ⇑ 0.90% | 33.76 | 34.30 / 32.00 APEXSPINN | 2.01 | 49.32 | Vol. 1800 D: 56.90 ⇑ 2.34% | 56.67 | 58.90 / 55.60 MITHUNKNIT | 4.54 | 30.39 | Vol. 51880 D: 83.60 ⇑ 1.83% | 83.49 | 84.40 / 78.00 C: 83.00 ⇑ 0.24% | 83.00 | 83.00 / 83.00 DELTASPINN | 3.06 | 18.12 | Vol. 110600 D: 31.70 ⇑ 0.63% | 31.48 | 31.90 / 31.00 C: 32.00 ⇑ 1.91% | 31.92 | 32.00 / 31.50 SONARGAON | 0.27 | 34.50 | Vol. 30180 D: 13.30 ⇑ 2.31% | 13.32 | 13.50 / 12.00 PRIMETEX | 1.01 | 63.54 | Vol. 126000 D: 23.40 ⇑ 5.41% | 23.19 | 23.60 / 22.70 C: 23.20 ⇑ 5.45% | 23.08 | 23.50 / 23.00 ALLTEX | -0.11 | 23.81 | Vol. 7000 D: 7.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.40 | 7.50 / 7.20 C: 7.50 ⇓ 3.85% | 7.50 | 7.60 / 7.40 ANLIMAYARN | 1.19 | 11.01 | Vol. 180300 D: 30.70 ⇑ 6.23% | 30.12 | 31.40 / 28.60 C: 29.90 ⇑ 9.93% | 29.85 | 29.90 / 29.00 HRTEX | 2.08 | 14.92 | Vol. 27000 D: 25.30 ⇑ 0.40% | 25.30 | 25.40 / 25.00 CMCKAMAL | 1.37 | 19.31 | Vol. 264396 D: 24.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 24.80 | 25.50 / 23.00 SAFKOSPINN | 0.95 | 21.78 | Vol. 26040 D: 16.90 ⇑ 0.60% | 16.90 | 17.50 / 15.30 C: 16.50 ⇓ 2.94% | 16.58 | 18.00 / 16.50

CERAMIC MONNOCERA | 0.71 | 96.33 | Vol. 5000 D: 25.20 ⇓ 2.33% | 25.20 | 25.20 / 25.20 FUWANGCER | 1.43 | 13.25 | Vol. 25050 D: 17.80 ⇑ 1.71% | 17.82 | 18.00 / 16.50 C: 17.50 ⇑ 1.16% | 17.56 | 17.60 / 17.50 SPCERAMICS | 0.62 | 30.92 | Vol. 102244 D: 15.60 ⇑ 1.96% | 15.49 | 16.00 / 14.30 C: 15.60 ⇑ 1.30% | 15.51 | 15.70 / 15.10 RAKCERAMIC | 1.98 | 16.76 | Vol. 36806 D: 50.10 ⇑ 0.60% | 50.09 | 54.50 / 45.00 C: 49.90 ⇓ 0.99% | 49.38 | 50.50 / 49.30 CEMENT CONFIDCEM | 6.23 | 90.76 | Vol. 93880 D: 125.4 ⇑ 0.64% | 125.26 | 127.5 / 122.5 C: 125.6 ⇑ 0.88% | 124.95 | 127.0 / 122.2 MEGHNACEM | 6.28 | 33.81 | Vol. 17400 D: 117.9 ⇑ 0.26% | 115.95 | 118.4 / 112.0 C: 115.0 ⇓ 1.37% | 115.00 | 115.0 / 115.0 ARAMITCEM | 3.03 | 14.65 | Vol. 7500 D: 67.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 67.20 | 67.90 / 66.30 LAFSURCEML | 1.60 | 7.22 | Vol. 208000 D: 31.80 ⇓ 0.31% | 31.92 | 32.00 / 31.80 C: 32.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 31.88 | 32.20 / 31.50 PREMIERCEM | 3.59 | 22.92 | Vol. 131800 D: 123.0 ⇑ 5.76% | 120.77 | 123.9 / 116.0 C: 124.0 ⇑ 7.27% | 122.94 | 124.0 / 120.0 IT IINDUSTRIES ISNLTD | 0.28 | 17.31 | Vol. 2500 D: 13.20 ⇑ 1.54% | 13.20 | 13.30 / 13.20 BDCOM | 1.00 | 14.91 | Vol. 41050 D: 20.40 ⇑ 2.51% | 20.34 | 20.60 / 18.00 INTECH | 0.94 | 10.08 | Vol. 39310 D: 13.10 ⇑ 1.55% | 13.00 | 13.20 / 12.00 C: 13.20 ⇑ 1.54% | 13.23 | 13.50 / 13.00 AGNISYSL | 1.07 | 25.52 | Vol. 65502 D: 21.30 ⇓ 0.47% | 21.49 | 22.00 / 20.50 C: 21.30 ⇓ 1.39% | 21.30 | 21.50 / 21.00

DAFODILCOM | 1.12 | 11.14 | Vol. 69045 D: 16.20 ⇑ 1.25% | 16.15 | 16.50 / 15.00 C: 16.60 ⇑ 1.84% | 16.45 | 16.80 / 15.80 AAMRATECH | 1.17 | 20.44 | Vol. 218200 D: 36.90 ⇑ 1.10% | 36.84 | 37.10 / 32.90 C: 36.70 ⇑ 0.55% | 37.03 | 38.00 / 36.00 GENERAL INSURANCE BGIC | 1.65 | 20.33 | Vol. 38199 D: 29.20 ⇑ 0.69% | 29.10 | 29.30 / 27.00 C: 29.00 ⇓ 1.02% | 29.08 | 29.10 / 29.00 GREENDELT | 4.05 | 64.44 | Vol. 24225 D: 103.0 ⇑ 0.68% | 102.79 | 106.0 / 93.00 C: 108.9 ⇑ 8.90% | 108.90 | 108.9 / 108.9 UNITEDINS | 2.47 | 21.04 | Vol. 5000 D: 50.50 ⇓ 0.79% | 50.60 | 51.00 / 49.90 PEOPLESINS | 2.05 | 20.72 | Vol. 3329 D: 26.80 ⇓ 0.74% | 27.04 | 27.30 / 24.50 EASTERNINS | 2.22 | 35.88 | Vol. 830 D: 36.20 ⇓ 1.90% | 36.12 | 36.20 / 34.00 JANATAINS | 7.84 | 170.69 | Vol. 1900 D: 215.5 ⇓ 0.23% | 215.33 | 219.5 / 203.0 C: 225.0 ⇓ 1.45% | 225.00 | 225.0 / 225.0 PHENIXINS | 2.70 | 20.96 | Vol. 169 D: 39.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 41.42 | 40.00 / 38.00 EASTLAND | 4.06 | 23.29 | Vol. 28660 D: 46.50 ⇑ 1.31% | 46.46 | 46.90 / 41.40 CENTRALINS | 1.54 | 19.04 | Vol. 3072 D: 28.60 ⇑ 1.06% | 28.63 | 29.00 / 26.90 KARNAPHULI | 1.56 | 19.42 | Vol. 9620 D: 22.40 ⇑ 3.23% | 22.35 | 22.50 / 20.00 RUPALIINS | 2.76 | 23.38 | Vol. 16316 D: 32.60 ⇑ 1.24% | 32.30 | 32.80 / 30.00 FEDERALINS | 1.10 | 10.98 | Vol. 34955 D: 22.20 ⇑ 0.45% | 21.96 | 22.50 / 20.00 C: 21.80 ⇓ 3.54% | 21.54 | 22.80 / 21.20 RELIANCINS | 3.93 | 61.52 | Vol. 50 D: 70.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 68.00 | 68.00 / 68.00 PURABIGEN | 1.05 | 18.71 | Vol. 50250 D: 20.70 ⇓ 0.48% | 20.66 | 20.90 / 20.00 PRAGATIINS | 2.01 | 50.30 | Vol. 800 D: 55.20 ⇓ 1.60% | 55.00 | 56.00 / 55.00 PRIMEINSUR | 2.14 | 14.14 | Vol. 18623 D: 26.30 ⇑ 1.54% | 26.42 | 26.90 / 25.00 PIONEERINS | 3.11 | 23.84 | Vol. 8720 D: 73.10 ⇑ 2.52% | 73.17 | 76.90 / 70.00 MERCINS | 1.53 | 14.50 | Vol. 58500 D: 26.10 ⇓ 0.76% | 26.05 | 26.50 / 25.70 AGRANINS | 1.73 | 14.39 | Vol. 2802 D: 22.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 22.57 | 23.10 / 20.70 GLOBALINS | 1.09 | 11.78 | Vol. 3442 D: 29.60 ⇑ 4.23% | 29.34 | 29.80 / 27.60 NITOLINS | 2.59 | 15.41 | Vol. 3810 D: 32.00 ⇓ 2.74% | 32.02 | 33.50 / 31.50 ASIAPACINS | 1.84 | 13.76 | Vol. 31000 D: 26.30 ⇑ 0.77% | 26.32 | 26.50 / 26.20 SONARBAINS | 1.68 | 13.38 | Vol. 15687 D: 23.00 ⇑ 1.77% | 22.99 | 23.50 / 21.80 C: 21.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 21.74 | 21.60 / 21.60 PARAMOUNT | 1.26 | 13.19 | Vol. 9850 D: 20.40 ⇓ 0.97% | 20.42 | 21.50 / 20.00 C: 20.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 18.20 | 20.20 / 20.20 CITYGENINS | 1.65 | 14.26 | Vol. 37961 D: 24.30 ⇓ 0.82% | 24.27 | 24.50 / 23.00 C: 24.70 ⇓ 0.40% | 24.70 | 24.70 / 24.70 CONTININS | 1.41 | 15.68 | Vol. 19500 D: 28.10 ⇓ 0.71% | 28.15 | 28.70 / 27.80 TAKAFULINS | 2.19 | 15.17 | Vol. 15380 D: 28.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 28.91 | 29.00 / 28.00 LIFE INSURANCE NATLIFEINS | 12.34 | 80.99 | Vol. 9965 D: 241.0 ⇓ 1.39% | 240.95 | 244.4 / 230.0 C: 230.0 ⇑ 0.35% | 230.00 | 230.0 / 230.0 DELTALIFE | 38.53 | 189.40 | Vol. 3350 D: 4553 ⇑ 3.85% | 4368 | 4570 / 4210 SANDHANINS | 2.39 | 28.22 | Vol. 12547 D: 67.50 ⇓ 0.15% | 67.12 | 68.50 / 61.00 C: 66.90 ⇓ 1.62% | 66.90 | 66.90 / 66.90 POPULARLIF | 3.70 | 715.41 | Vol. 1500 D: 139.5 ⇓ 3.66% | 139.33 | 140.0 / 139.3 FAREASTLIF | 9.21 | 60.79 | Vol. 9588 D: 106.2 ⇓ 0.93% | 106.17 | 107.0 / 103.0 MEGHNALIFE | 10.82 | 48.87 | Vol. 9250 D: 90.30 ⇓ 0.44% | 90.22 | 90.90 / 88.80 C: 89.80 ⇓ 0.22% | 89.82 | 90.00 / 89.10 PRAGATILIF | 0.60 | 30.15 | Vol. 1000 D: 92.50 ⇓ 0.54% | 93.00 | 92.80 / 92.20 PRIMELIFE | 5.51 | 27.10 | Vol. 513 D: 91.10 ⇓ 3.09% | 91.97 | 91.30 / 90.80 RUPALILIFE | 3.75 | 31.25 | Vol. 1570 D: 87.60 ⇓ 2.45% | 87.23 | 88.10 / 85.00 PADMALIFE | 1.63 | 25.76 | Vol. 55500 D: 55.40 ⇓ 1.77% | 55.53 | 56.50 / 55.00 SUNLIFEINS | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 23500 D: 45.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 45.86 | 46.40 / 45.10 C: 45.50 ⇓ 0.44% | 45.67 | 46.00 / 45.50 TELECOM GP | 12.96 | 26.26 | Vol. 255327 D: 177.9 ⇓ 0.56% | 178.12 | 179.2 / 165.0 C: 178.4 ⇓ 0.39% | 178.45 | 179.8 / 177.0 BSCCL | 7.14 | 23.70 | Vol. 606442 D: 305.8 ⇑ 4.26% | 300.54 | 307.0 / 268.0 C: 305.6 ⇑ 4.41% | 299.95 | 308.0 / 289.3 TRAVEL & LEISURE UNITEDAIR | 1.60 | 15.12 | Vol. 1847142 D: 19.90 ⇑ 0.51% | 19.86 | 20.00 / 18.00 C: 19.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 19.87 | 20.00 / 18.00 UNIQUEHRL | 4.02 | 86.29 | Vol. 511795 D: 90.40 ⇑ 1.80% | 89.45 | 91.40 / 80.00 C: 90.00 ⇑ 2.04% | 88.79 | 91.00 / 86.00 MISCELLANEOUS ARAMIT | 16.07 | 99.93 | Vol. 550 D: 218.0 ⇑ 2.83% | 218.00 | 218.0 / 218.0 BSC | 1.77 | 565.82 | Vol. 97085 D: 524.8 ⇑ 3.25% | 516.37 | 529.0 / 502.0 C: 524.5 ⇑ 2.88% | 517.23 | 528.0 / 505.0 GQBALLPEN | 6.55 | 250.45 | Vol. 37322 D: 138.8 ⇑ 0.73% | 137.81 | 141.3 / 125.0 C: 137.9 ⇓ 0.86% | 138.13 | 140.0 / 137.0 USMANIAGL | 0.50 | 26.03 | Vol. 13108 D: 114.7 ⇑ 2.14% | 113.85 | 114.9 / 105.0 C: 110.0 ⇑ 0.55% | 110.00 | 110.0 / 110.0 SAVAREFR | 0.23 | 12.32 | Vol. 6100 D: 56.40 ⇓ 9.18% | 56.39 | 56.50 / 56.40 BEXIMCO | 3.24 | 86.74 | Vol. 763006 D: 33.80 ⇓ 0.88% | 33.80 | 35.10 / 31.00 C: 33.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 33.87 | 36.00 / 32.00 SINOBANGLA | 1.75 | 21.01 | Vol. 28000 D: 18.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 19.00 | 19.00 / 18.90 MIRACLEIND | 0.14 | 14.90 | Vol. 11000 D: 11.40 ⇓ 0.87% | 11.47 | 11.60 / 11.40 C: 11.50 ⇑ 1.77% | 11.49 | 11.50 / 11.40 BOND IBBLPBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 170 D: 945.0 ⇑ 0.21% | 947.06 | 960.0 / 940.0 ACIZCBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 4 D: 840.0 ⇑ 0.00% | 840.00 | 840.0 / 840.0 BRACSCBOND | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 30 D: 1050 ⇓ 1.87% | 1067 | 1051 / 1050

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Job cut fear grips Dutch-Bangla Bank staff n Jebun Nesa Alo Job cut fear spread among the officers and employees of Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited as the private commercial bank has already dismissed more than 30 officers in last 4 months.

Some more employees remain in the hit list.

Bangladesh Bank has inquired about the retrenchment move last month after getting complaints filed by some of the officers.

In response, the bank replied they fired the officers as per their own rules, a senior executive of the central bank told Dhaka Tribune yesterday. “The bank has the authority to sack its employees.”

Bangladesh Bank did not make any comment about the pruning move, but observing the situation considering possible adverse impact on the whole banking sector.

Sources said the bank management has decided to either increase its profit by 20% profit or cut cost by 30%. The job cut measure is to bring a balance between the profit and cost.

A Dutch-Bangla Bank officer, who has been sacked recently, said on condition of anonymity that he served the bank for 3 years as cash officer. He was sacked in July without showing any cause.

Asked about the move, DBBL Managing Director K. Shamshi Tabrez refused to comment.

DR Toufic A Chowdhury, Professor and Director of Center for Post Graduate Studies (CPGS) said, banks can appoint or dismiss their staff following their respective human resources policy and it is only their own issue. “But, a massive job cut at a time could create fear.” l

Business

WB to provide $100m to upgrade state banks’ tech infrastructure n Asif Showkat Kallol The World Bank has expressed the interest to provide US$100m to help upgrade technological infrastructure of the state-owned commercial banks – Sonali, Janata and Agrani.

The fund is likely to be provided as budget support for the current fiscal year and finalised immediately after a visit of the bank’s vice president for South Asia Philip Harran to Dhaka in October, said a senior official of banking division of the finance ministry.

The development emerged at a meeting between the banking division and a World Bank mission on financial sector monitoring last week. The budget support for the banking and other sectors were also discussed at the meeting.

The mission pointed out the lack of technological infrastructure to support online banking by the state-owned commercial banks, official sources said.

“We sought technological support from the World Bank as the stateowned commercial banks lack online banking technology,” Banking Division Secretary Dr M Aslam Alam told the Dhaka Tribune.

He said the financial support by the World Bank might come in the form of budget support or direct support.

Most of the businesses of the stateowned banks have taken away by the private commercial banks, he pointed out.

The secretary also cautioned about the World Bank’s tough conditions of the development project and said it is not easy to execute the conditions of the development project.

A Bangladesh Bank executive said

A man walking by the entrance of Sonali Bank. The state-owned bank having largest branch coverage (1206) across the country has very poor infrastructure for online banking RAJIB DHAR the market share of the state-owned commercial banks is declining despite prescriptions by the central bank on strengthening their operations, partic-

Banks restricted from spending beyond 30% of paid up capital on land, floor space n Tribune Report Bangladesh Bank has imposed a restriction on banks, having book value of properties already exceeding 30% of paid up capital, to purchase immovable properties like land and floor space.

According to a circular issued yesterday these group of banks would not be allowed to buy properties unless they increase paid up capital. The restriction takes immediate effect.

A banker and economic analyst Mamun Rashid said the banks have a tendency to buy-sell properties, which is not their main business. “This trend cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.”

Bangladesh Bank initiative would help prevent these activities, prompting the banks to focus on their main business of deposit collection and providing loans to the productive sectors, he said, urging the central bank to enforce the restriction.

Earlier in January 2010, Bangladesh Bank had asked the scheduled banks to take permission before any purchase or sell of immovable properties to prevent the tendency of unnecessary purchase or sell.

On July 30, 2013, the central bank

issued a circular imposing restrictions on purchase of any land, floor space or taking lease of space for ten years and more than that for any purposes other than the use of their own by the head offices.

It directed the banks that they could only purchase a floor or take a space on lease for the use of its branch within the area of the city corporation.

The central bank also received allegations of corruption in the purchase of land by a number of banks. In many cases, owners are selling low quality lands or lands with legal complications to banks at higher prices If a bank wants to purchase land, building, floor space and acquire their lease, it will have to get prior permission of the central bank, the circular said.

BB sources said some banks have been purchasing land or permanent structures without any logical ground or need, which is a violation of the Bank Company Act. The central bank also received allegations of corruption in the purchase

of land by a number of banks. In many cases, owners are selling low quality lands or lands with legal complications to banks at higher prices, the sources said.

BB officials said giving loans for buying lands is on the rise. The land price has been on a steep rise as a sequel to a growing propensity by institutions like banks to buy land and their increased demand for it.

Because of the flow of money to such unproductive sectors, it is having an adverse impact on the country’s economy.

The sources said the amount of bank loans for purchasing land has been increasing every year.

However, the amount of loans for land purchases is, in real sense, much higher than what is shown in the books of accounts of banks because of a diversion of a substantial amount of credits, sanctioned for other purposes, to making land-related deals.

A high official of a bank admitted that many borrowers take loans from banks and buy land.

In one or two years, the price of the land increases because of its scarcity and the borrowers then sell the land at a higher price. l

7

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Stocks edge higher amid poor turnover n Tribune Report Stocks edged higher amid low turnover yesterday, first trading day after six-day Eid vacation.

The market witnessed selling pressure in the early hours but started to see a modest buying pressure from mid-session till end.

The DSEX ended at 3,916 with a slight gain of 25 points or 0.6%. The blue chip index DS30 rose 13 points or 0.9% to 1,482. The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, gained 53 points to 7,722.

The trading activities remained sluggish as the total DSE turnover stood at Tk1.7b, down 24.6% over the previous session and lowest in last three months since May 6.

Surrounding phenomenon regarding political warm-up solely inked trading session, said IDLC Investment in its daily market analysis.

It said investors’ positioning in fundamentally lucrative scrips after midsession was sufficient to put the bourse in the flat region.

Being the maiden session after Eidul-Fitr, investors’ participation was very sluggish, it said.

“Apparently, overall scenario was indicating investors’ watchful tendency over future directions and political dimensions,” it added.

Out of 272 issues traded, 164 gained, 86 declined and 22 remained unchanged.

It was followed by Olympic Industries, Meghna Petrolium, Padma Oil, Jamuna Oil, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, Unique Hotel and Resorts, and Square Pharmaceuticals.

Ten close ended funds made their dividend declarations on the day. Seven of them featured in the top ten losers chart. The mutual fund sector was also down 2.2%. l

ularly in rural areas through boosting loan recovery drives.

According to the central bank data in 2011, the state-owned commercial

banks held 27.8% of the total industry assets as against 28.5% in 2010 while PCBs share rose to 60% in 2011 from 58.8% in 2010. l

Working group formed for smooth implementation of budget n Tribune Report

Japan firms see more than double quarterly profits: brokerage

A separate working group has been formed to supervise the process of implementation of the budget for the current fiscal year.

The finance division formed the group as the government paid more attention to implement the budget from the beginning of fiscal 2013-14.

“The group will ensure maximum possible achievements and scrutinise as well as approve the circulars related to the projects under Annual Development Programmes,” said a senior official of the finance division.

He said the group would help avert facing any embarrassing situation at end of the fiscal year for poor implementation of the budget.

The finance division issued a circular on the 10-member group yesterday, with additional secretary of finance division (Budget and Treasury and Credit Management) as the chairman.

Other members would represent from finance division, planning commission, National Board of Revenue and internal resources division. l

n AFP, Tokyo Major Japanese firms wrapped up the latest earnings season on a high note, more than doubling their net profit in the three months to June, a new report showed Monday.

Brokerage SMBC Nikko Securities said its review of company financial results showed combined net profits surged about 112% from the April-June quarter a year earlier, while operating profit jumped 33% among some of Japan Inc.’s biggest names.

A pick-up in consumer spending and a sharp decline in the yen, which makes exporters such as Toyota and Sony more competitive overseas, were behind the booster profits, the company said.

“The profit gains were mainly due to a positive effect of the weak yen,” said SMBC Nikko Securities analyst Kayoko Ota. “Recovering domestic demand and steady growth in North America were also major factors.”

Ota also said the good times were likely to last with many firms upping their fiscal full-year to March profit and

sales forecasts. “They’re expected to stay on course to recovery,” she added.

The SMBC report, which looked at nearly 500 companies on Tokyo’s broadbased Topix index, found that manufacturers saw the biggest rises in profit.

Toyota’s earnings almost doubled to a record $5.64bn in the quarter, with the firm on track to produce over 10 million vehicles worldwide this year, it said.

The world’s biggest automaker has ramped up its bid to tap emerging markets while key US demand has also been on the upswing, helping Toyota book ever-increasing profits over the last year.

The Camry and Corolla maker, like rivals Honda and Nissan, benefited from a slump in the Japanese currency since late last year as it inflates the value of income earned overseas when it is converted back into yen.

The cheaper yen also helped Toshiba swing back to profitability in the quarter, while Japan’s top three banks booked gains as a surge in the stock market boosted their trading businesses and investment holdings. l

India industrial output tipped to fall, raising stakes for rupee n Reuters, New Delhi India is expected on Monday to report a second straight contraction in industrial production in June, underscoring the challenge for policymakers to stabilize the battered rupee without hurting economic revival.

A Reuters poll of 20 economists predicts output at factories, mines and utilities shrank an annual 1.2%, after unexpectedly falling 1.6% in May. The consumer price index for July is also due to be released on Monday.

Retail inflation was 9.87% in June, and high food prices are expected to keep it elevated.

“Industrial activity is not picking up. Investment activity is stagnant,” said N.R. Bhanumurthy, a professor at the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy.

Growth in Asia’s third-largest economy has been stuck below 5% for the past two quarters and analysts have been scaling back expectations for the current year as measures to support the rupee have pushed up credit costs.

Last month, the central bank engineered an increase in money-market interest rates in an effort to give investors in short-term rupee debt an incentive to keep their money in India.

“The recent monetary tightening

and uncertain global capital market environment could mean growth stays low for at least two more quarters,” Morgan Stanley said in a note last week.

“Meanwhile, a weak growth trend lasting for 4-5 quarters would increase the risk of a vicious cycle building, whereby the economy becomes vulnerable and the risk increases of GDP growth sliding to 3.5-4%,” it said.

The rupee has lost around 12% to the dollar since the start of May after the US Federal Reserve said it would begin scaling back stimulus measures. The Fed’s comments have raised concerns that foreign investors will retreat from vulnerable emerging markets such as India and return to higher yields available in the US Treasury market.

The rupee hit a record low of 61.80 to the dollar on Tuesday, dragged down by a record high current account deficit of 4.8% of GDP in the last fiscal year.

The central bank unveiled further measures on Thursday to drain cash from the financial system by auctioning government cash management bills weekly.

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram is expected soon to announce steps to encourage inflows, which could include raising money from Indians abroad and clamping down on non-essential import items. l

Labourers work inside an aluminium smelting factory in Mumbai. India’s industrial output expanded for the first time in three months in January, an early sign that Asia’s third largest economy may have turned a corner but it likely won’t prevent the central bank from easing monetary policy further REUTERS

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Yemen’s al-Qaeda leader says will free prisoners n Reuters, Dubai The leader of al-Qaeda’s Yemen-based wing, Nasser al-Wuhayshi, said he would free jailed Islamist militants soon, days after the United States shut missions across the Middle East because of the threat of an attack, possibly from Yemen.

Wuhayshi did not say in his Internet statement how he would free those jailed, but al-Qaeda militants staged at least two prison breaks last month.

Intercepted communication between Wuhayshi and Ayman al-Zawahri, who replaced Osama bin Laden as head of al-Qaeda, was part of intelligence that prompted the United States to close 19 US embassies and send some staff in Yemen home. Washington has also stepped up drone strikes targeting militants in Yemen.

“We ask God to make us a cause for unlocking your incarceration and relieving your agony,” Wuhayshi, head of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), said in the statement seen

An Indian BSF soldier opens a gate at the border with Pakistan in Suchetgarh, southwest of Jammu, in this January 2010 photo. Pakistan accused Indian troops of firing shells across the disputed border in Kashmir on Monday after last week’s killing of Indian soldiers set off a wave of skirmishes between the two nuclear-armed rivals AP

Pakistan accuses India of killing civilian in Kashmir n AFP, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan Pakistan accused India on Monday of killing a civilian with “unprovoked firing” in Kashmir in the latest in a series of recent clashes in the disputed Himalayan region.

Tensions have flared again in the heavily militarised Kashmir valley with the nuclear-armed neighbours accusing each other of cross-border firing.

The latest incident took place when “Indian troops resorted to unprovoked firing in the wee hours Monday” in three areas along the de facto border known as the Line of Control (LoC), a military official said.

“Pakistani troops effectively responded to Indian firing,” he said, adding that one civilian was killed “due to unprovoked Indian shelling.”

The prime minister of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, led a 400-strong protest march to the UN observer mission in Muzaffarabad to demand action to restore peace.

“It is responsibility of the UN observer mission to keep peace in Kashmir,” he told protesters.

“They should fulfil their responsibility by playing a role to stop shelling from India and restore calm in the valley.”

Indian Defence Minister A K Antony on Thursday hinted at stronger military action along the LoC after Delhi accused Pakistan’s army of involvement in a deadly overnight ambush that killed five Indian soldiers last Monday.

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif tried to ease tensions with India by urging both sides to work swiftly to shore up a 10-year ceasefire threatened by the recent attacks.

On Sunday, Pakistan accused India of firing on border posts in Kashmir and neighbouring Punjab province.

The picturesque Himalayan territory of Kashmir is divided between India and Pakistan by the UN-monitored

LoC, but is claimed in full by both countries.

A deadly flare-up along the LoC in January brought peace talks to a halt.

They had only just resumed after a three-year hiatus sparked by the 2008 attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people. India blamed Pakistani militants for the attack.

More than a dozen armed groups have been fighting Indian forces since 1989, demanding independence for Kashmir or its merger with Pakistan.

India and Pakistan have fought three wars since their independence from Britain in 1947, two of them over Kashmir. l

EU urges Israel, Palestinians to avoid action undermining talks n AFP, Brussels

Israel names Palestinian prisoners to be freed before peace talks

‘Go hang’ Zimbabwe’s Mugabe tells defeated foe n AFP, Harare

The EU on Monday urged Israelis and Palestinians to avoid any actions that could undermine the resumption of peace talks after a three-year negotiating impasse.

The spokesman for European Union foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton warned that fresh Israeli approvals for settlements in the West Bank announced on Sunday threatened to render peace talks with Palestinians “impossible.”

“Israeli settlements in the West Bank are illegal under international law and threaten to make a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict impossible,” Michael Mann told a regular news briefing.

In a statement, Ashton’s office welcomed the resumption of peace negotiations in Jerusalem.

At the same time, “the European Union urges all parties to refrain from actions which could undermine the negotiation process and the prospects of peace.”

Israel on Sunday announced tenders for the construction of 793 housing units in annexed east Jerusalem and 394 elsewhere in the West Bank.

Media reports have suggested that the announcement was meant to appease Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners, who oppose the release of Palestinian prisoners.

In a parallel announcement on Sunday, Israel said it will release 26 veteran Palestinian prisoners, likely before the talks begin in Jerusalem on Wednesday.

The 26 constitute the first batch of a total of 104 long-term Palestinian and Israeli Arab prisoners to be freed in four stages, depending on progress in the talks.

Mann stressed that both Israel and the Palestinians need to show a “sustained willingness to engage in good faith” if the latest talks are to produce “tangible and timely progress.” l

n Reuters, Jerusalem

Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe on Monday said those upset by his disputed landslide election victory could “go hang.”

The 89-year-old vowed never to let go of his victory as his opponent Morgan Tsvangirai lodged a petition in court challenging the election outcome.

“Those who were hurt by defeat can go hang if they so wish,” Mugabe told thousands at a rally to honour heroes of the country’s liberation wars.

“Never will we go back on our victory,” he said in his first public address since the July 31-vote.

Mugabe was declared the winner with 61% of the ballots, against Tsvangirai’s 34 %.

He insisted that the Zimbabwean people’s choice in government was clear.

“We are delivering democracy on a platter. We say take it or leave it, but the people have delivered democracy,” he said.

Tsvangirai meanwhile vowed to expose “glaring evidence of the stolen vote” through a court bid.

His lawyers on Friday filed a petition at the Constitutional Court challenging the poll, which extended Mugabe’s 33year rule by another five years.

“All I can see is a nation in mourning over the audacity of so few to steal from so many,” he said in a statement.

But “the thief left so much evidence at the scene of crime as we shall expose in the people’s petition that we filed last week.”

The elections were to end a shaky power-sharing government formed

by Mugabe and Tsvangirai to avoid a tip into conflict in the aftermath of a bloody run-off election in 2008.

Tsvangirai’s defeat has relegated his Movement for Democratic Change back to the opposition benches.

Local observers have called the polls flawed and Western powers have raised serious doubts over the vote.

However, regional organisations the African Union and Southern African Development Community were less critical. l

Israel on Monday named 26 Palestinian prisoners to be freed this week under a deal enabling US-backed peace talks to resume, although Palestinians said these had been undermined by newly announced plans to expand Israeli settlements.

Some Israelis reacted angrily to the scheduled release on Tuesday or Wednesday of the long-term Palestinian prisoners.

“Shame on the government and shame on the prime minister and his supporters,” Zvia Dahan, whose father, Moshe Becker, was killed while tending his orange grove in Israel in 1994, wrote on Facebook. One of Becker’s three killers is to be freed.

The 26 prisoners are the first of a total of 104 Israel has decided in principle to free as part of an agreement reached after intensive shuttle diplomacy by US Secretary of State John Kerry to renew talks for Palestinian statehood.

Israel sweetened the deal for farright members of its governing coalition on Sunday by announcing plans to build 1,187 new dwellings for Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank and parts of the territory it annexed to Jerusalem after the 1967 Middle East war.

Most world powers regard all the settlements as illegal and Palestinians say the enclaves could deny them a viable and contiguous state.

“The international community must stand with this peace process and must stand shoulder to shoulder with us and hold Israel accountable for its continuing settlement activities,” said Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat.

“Those who do these things are determined to undermine the peace negotiations, are determined to force people like us to leave the negotiating table,” Erekat said.

Mark Regev, a spokesman for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, dismissed the criticism, saying the new construction would take place in ar-

eas Israel intends to keep in any future peace agreement. “This in no way changes the final map of peace. It changes nothing,” Regev said.

Some 500,000 Israeli settlers live in the West Bank and East Jerusalem amid 2.5 million Palestinians. Israel withdrew in 2005 from the Gaza Strip, which is now governed by Hamas Islamists opposed to permanent co-existence with the Jewish state.

Peace negotiations were suspended three years ago in a dispute over continued settlement building. They reconvened in Washington on July 30, with a second round due in Jerusalem on Wednesday and later in the West Bank.

Few expect the talks to resolve core issues that have defied solution for decades, such as borders, the future of settlements, the status of Jerusalem and the plight of Palestinian refugees scattered around the region.

Washington, which exerted strong pressure on Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to return to negotiations, has set a nine-month target for a deal.

With neighbouring Egypt and Syria in upheaval and with Israel facing the threat of a nuclear Iran, Netanyahu decided he could ill afford to alienate the United States and led his pro-settlement government into the talks.

The decision to free the 26 prisoners, regarded as heroes by Palestinians and jailed as murderers by Israel between 1985 and 1994, was made late on Sunday.

A list of the prisoners, along with the names of the people they were convicted of killing, was published by Israel’s Prisons Service as part of a process in which opponents of their release have 48 hours to appeal to the High Court.

Based on past decisions, the court is widely expected not to intervene.

Fourteen of the prisoners going free will be deported or sent to the Gaza Strip, and 12 to the West Bank. Two of the prisoners would have served out their sentences in another six months, and six others over the next three years. l

on Monday on a website used by Islamists.

“Your brothers are pounding the walls of injustice and the thrones of oppression. These walls and thrones are coming down every day and victory is but one step. Victory is one hour of perseverance,” said Wuhayshi, a former aide to bin Laden who broke out of a prison in Yemen in 2006.

The authenticity of the statement could not immediately be verified.

The United States regards AQAP, formed by the merger of the Yemeni and Saudi branches of al-Qaeda, as one of the most dangerous militant groups in the Middle East.

Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for simultaneous raids on two Iraqi prisons, setting more than 500 inmates free in July.

On July 27, more than 1,000 inmates broke out of a prison on the outskirts of Benghazi in Libya, following what an official said was an attack on the facility. It was not clear who was behind the assault. l

Al-Qaeda claims Eid bombings in Iraq, warns of more n Reuters, Baghdad Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for a series of bombings in Iraq which killed dozens of people during Eid ul-Fitr and warned the government to stop arresting suspected militants or face more violence.

The Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil), formed earlier this year through a merger of al-Qaeda’s affiliates in Syria and Iraq, said on jihadist forums it was behind the attacks across Baghdad and southern provinces on Saturday.

“The Islamic State deployed some of its security efforts in Baghdad and the southern province and other places to deliver a quick message,” Isil said, according to the SITE Monitoring group, which tracks jihadist websites.

Bombs ripped through markets, shopping streets and parks late on Saturday as Iraqi families were out celebrating Eid ul-Fitr, the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Nearly 80 people were killed and scores

wounded, police and medical sources said.

On Monday, there was no respite from the violence. A roadside bomb close to a school killed two people and wounded 11, including children, in the town of Muqdadiya, 80km northeast of Baghdad, police said. It was not immediately clear who was behind the attack.

It has been one of the deadliest Ramadan holidays in years in Iraq, where Sunni Islamist militants are waging an insurgency against the Shi’ite-led government.

Isil, which has also claimed responsibility for jail breaks in Iraq last month in which hundreds of convicts escaped, said a government campaign to arrest suspects and ramp up security in the capital had only made things worse.

“They will pay a high price for what they did, and they will not be secure day or night during Eid or other times,” the ISIL statement said according to the SITE translation. l

Mourners unload the coffin of an Iraqi woman who was killed along with her husband in a car bomb attack during their honeymoon, her family said, during the funeral in the Shiite holy city of Najaf on Sunday AP

WORLD WATCH Police hurt in North Ireland sectarian violence

Police fired plastic bullets and water cannons at rioters in the heart of Belfast on Friday after police were pelted by missiles for the second successive night in the latest bout of Northern Ireland’s sporadic sectarian violence. Bricks, bottles and fireworks rained down on riot police when they moved in to try to clear the city’s main thoroughfare – Royal Avenue – to enable a parade by the nationalist side of the community.

Police said two officers were injured.

Eight were hurt the previous night when a crowd threw paint bombs, bottles and masonry at police.

Typhoon batters Philippines; 23 fishermen missing

A powerful typhoon struck the northern Philippines on Monday, toppling power lines and dumping heavy rains across mountains, cities and food-growing plains, leaving at least 23 fishermen missing. Typhoon Utor, described as the strongest typhoon globally so far this year, slammed ashore in mountainous eastern Aurora province with sustained winds of 175kph and gusts of up to 210kph. About 1,000 residents in the central Bicol region spent the night in shelters while the Aurora province was without power, the national disaster agency said.

Family of murdered Briton seeks compensation in China

The family of a British citizen murdered in China, in one of the nation’s biggest political scandals in decades, is seeking compensation from his convicted killer, the wife of former top politician Bo Xilai, a source close to the victim’s widow said.

Bo’s wife, GuKailai, was sentenced last year to life in jail for the poisoning of British businessman Neil Heywood in a case that also led to a corruption probe into Bo, once a candidate for China’s top leadership team. It is customary for a murderer to be ordered to pay court-sanctioned compensation to the victim’s family.

Cambodia opposition rejects official election results

Cambodia’s main opposition party on Monday rejected official results showing the ruling party of Prime Minister Hun Sen won last month’s election, and called on the international community not to recognise the result. Kem Sokha, the deputy head of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), told reporters his party would not accept the result because its allegations of widespread fraud had not been addressed.

The National Election Committee – a state body seen as dominated by the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) – announced earlier on Monday that the CPP had won a majority of votes in 19 out of Cambodia’s 24 provinces.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

9

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Fresh Myanmar clashes signal growing Muslim desperation Activist says Rohingya blames police for beatings, extortion, ‘inhuman’ treatment Apartheid-like policies have segreRohingya blamed the police for man rights. n Reuters gated Buddhists from Muslims, many beatings, extortion and other “inhuThe violence near Sittwe follows Attempts to bring stability to Myanmar’s strategic northwest Rakhine State could be unraveling after police opened fire on Rohingya Muslims for the third time in two months, reviving tensions in a region beset by religious violence last year.

Villages outside the state capital Sittwe remain volatile after a dispute over custody of a dead Rohingya quickly escalated into a day of clashes on Friday in which police raked Rohingya crowds with gunfire, according to witnesses.

The violence underscores the growing Rohingya desperation in the face of an increasingly unsparing police response.

At least two people were killed and more than a dozen injured, locals said.

The renewed tensions come despite government efforts to bring calm to Rakhine State, after two eruptions of communal violence with ethnic Rakhine Buddhists last year killed at least 192 people and left 140,000 homeless, mostly Rohingya.

The battered corpse of the fisherman washed ashore at Ohntawgyi village after Friday morning prayers, triggering a day of clashes in which police raked crowds of Rohingya with gunfire.

A military intelligence source in Sittwe put the toll at one dead and nine injured, while the state-run New Light of Myanmar newspaper said only three people had suffered “minor injuries.”

Activists blamed the clashes on restrictive measures imposed after last year’s violence in the Buddhist-majority country.

of whom fester in primitive camps for internally displaced people (IDPs) with little hope of resettlement.

A Reuters photographer and video journalist who visited the area said the situation remained tense as Tomas Ojea Quintana, UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, arrived in Sittwe on Monday.

The clashes heap pressure on President Thein Sein as he struggles to contain nationwide religious violence since taking power in March 2011 after nearly 50 years of military dictatorship.

Strategic region

Rakhine State is one of Myanmar’s poorest regions, but in the reform era it is emerging as one of its most strategic.

In Sittwe’s harbor, India is funding a $214m port, river and road network that will carve a trade route into India’s landlocked northeast. From Kyaukphyu, a city 105km southeast of Sittwe, gas and oil pipelines stretch to China’s energy-hungry northwest. Both projects capitalise on Myanmar’s growing importance at Asia’s crossroads.

“Rumors of extensive mineral wealth in Rakhine State would add or perhaps are now adding fuel to the existing ethnic tensions,” said the Harvard Ash Center in a July 2013 report.

Aung Win, a well-known Rohingya activist who visited the troubled area on Sunday, blamed the unrest on deteriorating relations between the displaced Rohingya and police.

man” treatment, he said. “People have no trust in the police anymore,” he said. “They want the police out of their areas and the military there instead.”

The IDPs also demand the release of Rohingya leaders detained since late April after violent protests at a camp near Sittwe over a government resettlement plan.

The plan required the stateless Rohingya to identify themselves as “Bengali,” a term Rohingya reject. The government says they are Muslim migrants from Bangladesh and denies them citizenship. Many Rohingya say their families have lived in Rakhine for generations.

‘Growing desperation’

As tempers rose on Friday, Rohingya villagers and IDPs burned down a police outpost in Ohntawgyi and erected a nearby roadblock, witnesses said.

Police fired rubber bullets, tear gas and live rounds. The IDPs fought with sticks and catapults.

Chris Lewa of the Rohingya advocacy group Arakan Project sees the latest violence as an attempt to resist oppressive measures common in northern Rakhine State, a Rohingya-majority region of three townships bordering Bangladesh.

In two townships, Buthidaung and Maungdaw, the state government recently announced the enforcement of a two-child limit on Rohingya families, one of several measures that the United Nations has called a violation of hu-

Hungarian top Nazi war crimes suspect, 98, dies n AFP, Budapest

Afghan President to visit Pakistan to discuss Taliban

A 98-year-old Hungarian who topped the dwindling list of surviving Nazi war crimes suspects has died in hospital while awaiting trial for allegedly sending 12,000 Jews to the death camps.

Laszlo Csatari “died on Saturday morning. He had been treated for medical issues for some time but contracted pneumonia, from which he died,” his lawyer Gabor Horvath said Monday.

Csatari was alleged to have been a senior police officer actively involved in the deportations from the Jewish ghetto in Kassa, now known as Kosice in present-day Slovakia, during World War II. After being sentenced to death in absentia by a Czechoslovakian court in 1948 he made it to Canada where he lived and worked as an art dealer before being stripped of his citizenship in the 1990s.

He returned to Hungary, where he lived undisturbed for some 15 years until prosecutors began investigating his case in late 2011, which put him at the top of its list of surviving alleged Nazi war criminals. l

Afghan President Hamid Karzai will travel to Pakistan this month in the hope of breathing life into moribund peace process with the Taliban and mending a frayed relationship between the neighbors, Afghan officials said on Monday.

The role of Pakistan is seen as critical to efforts to get the Afghan Taliban to sit down to talks about ending the 12-year war as most foreign troops prepare to pull out of Afghanistan by the end of next year.

Peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban in the capital of the Gulf State of Qatar, Doha, were announced in June only to be canceled following Karzai’s anger over the Taliban displaying a banner and a flag, harking back to their repressive rule over Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001.

“I can confirm that President Karzai is travelling to Pakistan later this month,” Afghanistan’s ambassador to Islamabad, Omer Daudzai, told Reuters.

n Reuters, Kabul

The trip will be Karzai’s first visit to Pakistan since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was elected.

Many had hoped Sharif’s election would lead to a reset in the relationship. Those hopes were dashed after Afghanistan’s Foreign Ministry accused Pakistan of having raised the idea of power-sharing between the Kabul government and the Taliban. Pakistan denied the accusation.

Karzai has made 19 trips to Pakistan since coming to power in 2002, and has come away with many promises, but few results.

Afghanistan has long accused Pakistan of playing a double game regarding the Taliban, with some Afghan officials saying their neighbor makes public pronouncements about peace but allows elements of its military and intelligence complex to play a spoiling role.

Karzai will visit Pakistan from August 26 - 28. The leadership of the High Peace Council, the body created by Karzai in 2010 to broker peace with the Taliban, will also attend, a spokesman said. l

two other recent instants of fatal police gunfire in Rakhine.

On June 4, three Rohingya women were shot dead by police in Mrauk-U township, said UN envoy Ojea Quintana who arrived in Myanmar on Sunday. In June, he called it “the latest shocking example of how law enforcement officials operate with complete impunity” in Rakhine.

Then, on June 27, two IDPs were killed and six wounded when security forces opened fire on a crowd outside a military post in Pauktaw township, according to the UNHCR.

Villages outside the state capital Sittwe remain volatile after a dispute over custody of a dead Rohingya quickly escalated into a day of clashes on Friday in which police raked Rohingya crowds with gunfire Rakhine State government spokesman Win Myaing blamed the Rohingya for Friday’s violence, which he said was timed to coincide with the UN envoy’s visit.

“They want to show to the international community the Rakhine State government is neglecting them,” he told Reuters.

Ojea Quintina was met in Sittwe by Rakhine Buddhist protesters wearing T-shirts reading “Get Out” and carrying signs labeling him a “Bengali Lobbyist.” l

Rouhani defends cabinet choices as Iran parliament starts debate n Reuters, Dubai President Hassan Rouhani said on Monday he had chosen a cabinet to overcome Iran’s economic crisis and diplomatic isolation as parliament began debating whether to approve his proposed ministers.

Rouhani, a relatively moderate, mid-ranking cleric, took office on August 3 after winning a landslide in the June 14 presidential election over more conservative rivals.

He had promised to combat high inflation and unemployment, pursue a more “constructive” foreign policy and allow greater social freedoms than his hardline predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Rouhani, who won the support of centrist and reformist voters but who also has close ties to conservative insiders, said he had chosen a cabinet from across Iran’s factions on the basis of their experience rather than their political loyalties. l

A SYRIAN’S EID IN JORDAN

A Sri Lankan police commando walks by a vandalised Mosque in Colombo

Following Buddhist unrest Sri Lanka Muslims close mosque n AFP, Colombo Sri Lanka’s Muslim leaders closed down a new mosque in Colombo on Monday after attacks by a Buddhist mob revived simmering religious tensions and sparked US concern.

The Sri Lanka Muslim Council said it had agreed to shut its mosque at Grandpass and move to an older place of worship which the government had earlier earmarked for demolition as part of the capital’s development.

“We have a compromise deal worked out last night,” Council president N M Ameen told AFP. Buddhist-led mobs vandalised the new mosque, including pelting stones at the building on Saturday, wounding at least four people. Sporadic clashes also erupted on Sunday despite a heavy police presence in the neighbourhood.

The violence comes after Buddhist hardliners attacked several Muslim-run businesses outside Colombo in March, one of a series of incidents targeting the minority group.

The US embassy in Colombo has expressed concern at the latest violence and urged authorities to prosecute those responsible.

The US, which in March initiated a UN Human Rights Council resolution against Sri Lanka over alleged war crimes against Tamil Tiger rebels in

May 2009, also urged Colombo to ensure religious freedom.

Seventy percent of Sri Lanka’s 20-million-strong population are Buddhists, while Muslims are the second-largest religious group, making up just under 10%.

Buddhists had objected to the setting up of the new mosque near a Buddhist temple even though it was built to replace the older mosque earmarked for demolition in line with city works.

A night curfew was lifted at dawn on Monday, a police spokesman said, adding that the situation was calm and no fresh incidents had been reported since the government announced the mosque’s closure on Sunday night.

The government held lengthy talks with Muslim and Buddhist leaders on Sunday and announced what Technology Minister Champika Ranawaka described as a “just solution” acceptable to all sides. “Through a just solution, we have now peacefully solved the issue,” the minister said.

As part of the deal, Buddhists agreed to cut down a Banyan tree, a key Buddhist symbol, that had overshadowed the old mosque and had originally prevented its expansion, residents said.

Hundreds of police, including elite Special Task Force commandos, guarded the area on Monday as workers used power tools to bring down the tree, also located in the Grandpass area. l

Norway PM turns taxi driver to find out ‘what people think’ n AFP

A child takes a picture of herself with a mobile phone at an Eid al-Fitr party for Syrian and Iraqi refugee children injured during violence in their countries organised by the French humanitarian aid organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) in Amman REUTERS

AP

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg revealed Sunday that he has gone undercover as a taxi driver for an afternoon, in a bid to find out voters’ real concerns.

“It’s important for me to hear what people really think. If there’s one place where people say what they think, it’s in the taxi,” he said in a video posted on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

The video was released while campaigning was in full swing for the September 9 general election, which Stoltenberg’s ruling centre-left coalition appears likely to lose, according to the latest opinion polls.

Stoltenberg wore an Oslo Taxi uniform – complete with a badge – one afternoon in June and picked up passengers in a black Mercedes in the Norwegian capital.

A hidden camera fitted in the cab recorded reactions from the passengers, including one who remarked: “From this angle, you really look like the prime minister.”

An elderly woman who also recognised Stoltenberg urged him to do something about the salaries of corporate bosses, complaining that “they should not make millions like that.” From the backseat of the cab, voters discussed issues ranging from education to oil policy.

Beyond revelations from the clients, Stoltenberg himself had one to give away, admitting to a passenger that he had not driven in eight years. “I think it is going rather well,” the young female passenger

replied, adding: “At least I am alive.”

Another female passenger was less impressed after Stoltenberg suddenly slammed on the brakes.

“This driving is not exactly the best I have seen,” she said, laughing, adding: “I am not satisfied with this driving.”

Asked by tabloid Verdens Gang if he would like to be a taxi driver if he lost the elections, Stoltenberg said: “I think that the country and Norwegian taxi passengers are better served if I were a prime minister and not a taxi driver.”

According to the tabloid, the passengers did not have to pay for their journeys.

The Labour leader has steered the Norwegian economy – buoyed by the country’s oil wealth – through the 2008 financial crisis virtually unscathed.

But his party, which took office in 2005, has seen support slide as it is viewed as having been in power for too long.

It has also faced harsh criticism for the authorities’ lack of preparedness ahead of Anders Behring Breivik’s Oslo bombing and island shooting rampage in 2011 that left 77 people dead.

An opinion poll published Monday showed the government garnering just 41% support, while the opposition Conservative party and its three allies had almost 53% of voter sympathies. Stoltenberg did however win over at least one voter with his cruise around town.

While alighting from the taxi, an elderly male passenger told him: “This has been nice... I will vote Labour Party.” l

10 DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

A call for justice

T

hat the arrest of Adilur Rahman, the Secretary of Odhikar, was carried out under questionable circumstances is highly alarming, to say the least.

First off, the human rights activist was arrested without a warrant, and his home and the Odhikar office in Gulshan office were searched. On top of that, he was not allowed to speak to a lawyer until his hearing on Sunday, and then, at the hearing, denied bail without showing that he was a flight risk.

Not to mention, when Odhikar tried to lodge a General Diary with the police, in response to the arrest, the officer-in-charge refused to file it. And, yesterday, the High Court stayed his five-day remand.

Adilur’s arrest was based on the ICT Act, with the claim being that he falsely reported information about human rights abuses carried If the government out by government forces during wants to disprove the May 5 and 6 Hefazat movement the allegations in Dhaka.There is much debate against it, trying to about the actual number of deaths silence its critics but neither the government nor the is not the best human rights organisations have way to handle the supported their claims with actual situation evidence.

It seems that the real motivation behind Adilur’s arrest is an effort by the government to suppress any information that would lead to negative publicity in the pre-election period.

As is well known, the government has a poor track record when it comes to allowing dissenting voices. If the government wants to disprove the allegations against it, trying to silence its critics is not the best way to handle the situation.

The government needs to end its blatant campaign of fear against human rights activists and follow a just course of action. Concrete evidence also needs to be produced by all parties to ensure that the truth finally comes to light.

Transparent code essential for police sponsorship

T

he issue of clearer regulations on private sponsorship of the police has been recently raised and this is a welcome initiative.

The police have become increasingly reliant on donations for anything from umbrellas and road signs to pickup vans and motorcycles. This is especially apparent in the Dhaka Metropolitan Police area where sponsored police signage and equipment are widespread.

In the absence of adequate public funding, support from the business community has been The government necessary to the functioning of should increase law enforcement bodies. Howevfunding to our er, it is essential that a clear code law enforcement of ethics be put in place to ensure bodies to reduce that the funds are used ethically their reliance on and responsibly. private funding In fact, questions have been for necessary raised about the implications of equipment and such private sponsorship for poproper facilities lice neutrality and ethics by civil society organisations Transparency International Bangladesh and Ain O Salish Kendra.

A code of ethics should allow for the option of monitoring and ruling out donations from organisations accused of antisocial or unethical activities, which may bring the police into disrepute. Equally, it should also be made clear that donors should not expect to be able to purchase undue influence and individual officers should not be allowed to personally benefit.

Given the importance of law and order to the functioning of our democracy, the severe neglect and lack of funding for our police force is truly shocking.

The government should increase funding to our law enforcement bodies to reduce their reliance on private funding for necessary equipment and proper facilities. In addition, it should enact clear, transparent rules to make private sponsorship of the police more accountable.

CODE-CRACKER

facebook.com/DhakaTribune

Electric rickshaws – the bad?

August 10

This refers to an article on electric rickshaws, titled “The good, the bad and the ugly” in the weekly publication of a local English daily on August 4. If electric rickshaws are charging their batteries by utilising an illegal low tension (LT) electrical connection, then they are cheating PDB, which is a punishable crime!

However, about overloading the system, these rickshaw batteries are usually charged, say, between 9pm to 7am next morning, while the electric rickshaws ply throughout the day. During the hours from around 9pm up to say 7am next morning, when the batteries are charged, power demand is quite low, as most lighting load is off. In some areas in Bangladesh, the demand even goes down by 60 percent. The maximum demand for power is between 6pm to 10pm, when our PDB power is on full load.

Technically, charging the battery, just by tapping from the LT 415V grid supply is just not possible, as our power supply is AC (alternating current) while to charge the battery, one needs DC (direct current). For charging you connect an inverter-cum-voltage regulator to the AC LT supply, as batteries are usually charged at 6 or 12 Volt DC. So it is not possible to just tap into the overhead wire to charge your battery.

Regarding damage to transformers, I would be grateful if the writer could outline it. Practically, this is not possible to do so easily. It’s frankly easier said than done. One can overload the transformer by putting extra and excessive load on the LT side, but these all have overload relays, that immediately puts the transformer off line. I would request the writer to please know the facts before putting it out publicly.

Engr SA Mansoor Dhaka

dhakatribune.com

Orphans of Choto Moni Nibash waiting for their Eid dresses August 9

Happy Eid for all Moslems in Bangladesh.

Taqabalallahu minna wa minkum syiamana wa syiamakoom.

Ingin Kembali Bermimpi Sending my love to these flowers!

Ata Shaheen Every single child here is so beautiful!!!

Happy Sharmin Nahar

Community teacher August 11

A traumatising night August 7 An appealing psychology is to put the others [those who are contributing to his/her source of depression] through a guilt trip.

Little is known about what the soul itself goes through after committing this very act.

Syed Rakib Al Hasan Unfortunately the final quote indicates the author’s limited understanding of depression. For a depressed person, unable to think rationally due to his/her mental illness, committing suicide can seem like the best way to help the family.

In this instance, possibly the family’s shame at a failure to achieve the results expected as a result of years of financial investment.

Such suicides are not uncommon in cultures which provide too much emphasis on examinations as the only gateway to success in life and that fail to provide adequate psychological support to young people during their critical years of development.

Understanding mother

Where is Choto Moni Nibas?

Very often we find that only one or two teachers have been working in many government primary schools, though schools have four or more teaching positions open. Teaching positions have been temporarily vacant due to some teachers taking training in the PTI for a year and half; earlier it was one year. Many classes have more than 40 students, which is not suitable for teachers for quality teaching.

Thus, I would like to request the government to prepare community teachers with the help of NGOs to serve in these schools temporarily.

Md Tofazzel Hossain Kushtia

Faika Tabassum Can you put up their address? And contacts?

Nazmul Khair

Rising menace of ATM card forgery August 7

And now the bank accounts of Gen Pop are unsafe in BD as well! Dear God! Where will we go?

Arif Islam This is scary!!!

Be Heard

Rafiqul Haque

Write to us at: Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath Sukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email us at: letters@dhakatribune.com Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion@dhakatribune.com Visit our website: www.dhakatribune.com Come join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune

Free legal services for the poor August 8 Very good step. Appreciated.

Abdur Rashid

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

SUDOKU

How to solve Sudoku: 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.

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS

7 8

5 6

4

7 1 8 7 3 9 5 3 4 2 6 1 5 6 5 8 3 7 8 1 2 6 3 7

Sudoku

2 8 7 5 9 3 6 1 4

6 4 5 7 2 1 3 9 8

3 1 9 6 8 4 7 2 5

Code-cracker

7 9 8 1 5 6 4 3 2

4 2 6 3 7 9 8 5 1

5 3 1 8 4 2 9 6 7

1 7 3 2 6 8 5 4 9

8 6 4 9 1 5 2 7 3

9 5 2 4 3 7 1 8 6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

11

Gitmo: Force-fed ‘torture’ or humane treatment? n Chantal Valery

O

ne Yemeni prisoner at Guantanamo Bay says it is an agonising, cruel punishment that he would not wish on anyone.

US federal Judge Gladys Kessler describes it as a “painful, humiliating and degrading process.”

But for staff at the controversial US military jail, the criticisms of feeding by tubes - force-feeding or enteral feeding depending on where you stand - are overblown.

A six-month mass hunger strike by detainees at Guantanamo this year has forced prison authorities to repeatedly resort to the practice to prevent inmates starving to death.

But while it has been decried by a legion of rights groups as inhumane, Guantanamo officials insist it is merely “uncomfortable.”

In an arranged tour last week, journalists were given a glimpse of the protocols governing feeding by tube.

“We preserve human life on solid legal and ethical grounds,” referring to “enteral feeding” rather than “force-feeding.”

“Most of them are compliant ... it’s a process designed to be pain free,” Durand added, rejecting judge Kessler’s characterisation of the practice.

“It’s not the dramatic thing you might have seen with the musician’s video,” Durand said, dismissing a recent video by rapper Mos Def in which he pretended he was being force-fed by tubes in violent, disturbing terms.

There is, though, a vast gulf between the official line expressed by Guantanamo officials and testimony by individuals who have experienced the technique.

“There was agony in my chest, throat and stomach,” detainee Samir Naji al-Hasan Moqbel told the New York Times. “I had never experienced such pain before. I would not wish this cruel punishment upon anyone.”

There is, though, a vast gulf between the official line expressed

by Guantanamo officials and testimony by individuals who have experienced the technique Education is the path to greater equity

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Education: Privilege or basic right?

T

n Muhammad Eusha he developmental problems of Bangladesh have a perplexing and paradoxical characteristic in the sense that they are, collectively, extremely simple and extraordinarily complex at the same time.

From a macroscopic perspective, be as incredulous as you wish, all the national problems of this country could be summarised in a single not-toocomplex sentence. Lack of education and absence of unity, combined with depravity, have demoted us from the position of being regarded as one of the most prosperous lands before the period of the British Raj to that of one of the poorest countries in today’s world.

While such a sententious description of our plight is very much plausible, the enigmatic aspect of the issue, however, is that the spheres of trouble, metaphorically speaking, seem to overlap each other.

Consider, for example, the fact that poverty in our country is a problem that has relational implications both from the phenomenon of practice of despicable immorality of the rich and powerful, and the inability to ensure that efficient and modernised methods of educating the public are developed and employed. It is the second of the two this humble article shall try to discuss in brief.

Education never received adequate attention in our country. It has been a

deplorably neglected sector right from the birth of the nation. If one must try to be a little more specific in characterising the nature of the negligence it received, the qualifying adjective which would be most appropriate in describing the government’s measures in different eras in the field of education is “insincere.” In other words, a conspicuous lack of urgency and dedication has been felt.

The shabby buildings, the dilapidated benches and desks, depressingly colourless walls and the morose countenance of the school yards tell you that if there is money in Bangladesh, it is at least not spent in developing schools.

The second of the two major problems in the sector of education is that the policies are insufferably inefficient, purposeless, and weak.

Education promotes equality and denounces barbaric acts of repression and exploitation

Comparatively less important sectors in terms of priority have been allowed a lot more assistance, for reasons that are closely related to championing the causes of the rich while assuming intentional blindness to those of the poor.

The sector of education suffered in two ways. The very first is related to a natural dearth of money; the flow of cash was never enough. So when you visit the so called “computer lab” of a school in a remote village, you see there is but a single desktop kept carefully out of reach of the hapless students in a room accessible only to some privileged ones.

Only in recent times there have been some efforts, though not particularly commendable, to show concern about how antiquated our educational policies have been for long and that they need immediate modification.

A much-ignored property of these weak policies is their weakness in addressing the problem of feebleness of reach; indeed, such a shamefully high rate of illiteracy reeks of insincerity.

The policy makers do not seem to appreciate how important it is to promote education for all and everyone and not just for the middle class and the rich.

As long as the farmers, labourers, rickshaw-pullers, CNG auto-rickshaw drivers and ready-made garment industry workers remain uneducated and uncouth, they would remain vulnerable to oppression and exploitation of those enjoying the fruits of their hard labour. The poor mentioned here suffers at the hands of the upper class in ways that are not beyond the knowledge of the wise reader.

Apart from some sporadic bursts of outrage, there is no systematic and calculated defiance from the oppressed and the exploited. This is the case because they lack education and suffer from an inherent sense of inferiority.

They have learned to believe that poverty is a curse with which they were born – not only is this a fact that they must live with day in and day out but that things are unlikely to ever change for them.

Education promotes equality and denounces barbaric acts of repression and exploitation. So a very important part of the plan to attack poverty is related to educating the people so that they can find their positions and claim their rights.

One of many positive influences true education has on a society is the promotion of harmony, progress and equality in distribution of wealth and opportunities. Any sincere government thus should be concerned with giving education its due importance. l Muhammad Eusha is a freelance contributor.

Has the Shahbagh spring failed? n Swadesh Roy

N

ow that the BNP alliance with the active backing of Islamic fundamentalist parties has secured victory in five city corporation elections, the question must be asked has the Shahbagh spring failed?

For some, the answer is that “It was not a spring.” Their argument is that, if this was a spring of the youth, why are the people not with them now?

Senior politicians even blame Shahbagh for encouraging fundamentalists in the country.

It is only human for depression to follow elation. So, after the spring of Shahbagh and the rise of fundamentalists and the depression that has followed for many is natural. It does not mean that the whole society is following the fundamentalists. To understand this, we need to examine the catalyst for the character of the spring of Shahbagh.

We can say that the people who gathered in Shahbagh were patriots.

They were mostly young, educated and idealistic. They gathered peacefully, at the calling of nothing other than the demands of their hearts.

Thousands of people gathered non-violently to demand capital punishment for a notorious war criminal.

Like a bud turning into a flower, their demands expanded. They raised their voices that the politics of the country should be run more in the spirit of the freedom struggle. They made clear that the trials of war criminals are

a historical necessity for taking the nation forward, away from its dark birth towards the spirit of justice and freedom. Shabagh’s demands were at their core a reflection of our freedom struggle.

However, it is true now that the youth who gathered in Shahbagh and elsewhere are not in the street and some have been smeared by forces calling them “atheist.” This factor played a role in the city corporation polls.

This suggests fundamentalists will be a key player not only in the next election but also in future policy-making, while the youth of Shahbagh take a back seat. That is why it may seem that the Shahbagh spring has failed.

It is only human for depression to follow elation

It is one side of the coin, but there is another view also.

We should remember the folk tale about the demon who came out from the sea and mountain when the brave prince found the weapon that would cause the death of the demon. The Shahbagh spring represents the work of the brave prince of the old folk story. It highlighted fundamentalists in this country as a key problem. Not

only did their predecessors try to prevent the freedom of our nation, but they also helped create the atmosphere which allowed notorious army officers to kill liberation heroes.

They have actively sought and obtained help from countries who were against our freedom struggle.

Since 1975, after the killing of our national heroes, they have strengthened their place in society and politics. We achieved a limited democracy in 1990; I describe it as limited because people got only the right to change a government in elections but not the right to establish the spirit of freedom in every place of the state.

Until we can establish such a right, the promise of democracy will not be fulfilled. So, since 1990 we have seen all parties, governments and oppositions co-operating with or helping the forces of fundamentalism.

With the Shahbagh spring boldly identifying fundamentalists as opposing our democracy, development and progress as a society, it was maybe to be expected that existing fundamentalists would come out to fight the Shahbagh youth. Opportunistic politicians have either joined with them or tried to placate them.

But their present rise does not mean that the spring of Shahbagh has failed. Rather, the success of Shahbagh is that they have managed to bring dark forces into the light. More people have come to know what kind of forces they are up against and have learned about their ultimate goals.

Shafi’s notorious comments regarding women are enough to illustrate the true goals of fundamentalism.

People now face the dilemma of politicians who cooperate with them and others who are afraid to challenge them.

On the other hand, we should remember that if you light a candle it gives light.

Shahbagh has lit the candle for us and light will always defeat the dark.

Reporters were shown where hunger-strikers are restrained before a tube delivering essential nutrients is inserted into their body for “feeding.”

“For enteral feeding, the first thing we do is offer the person a regular meal,” said a hospital medic given the alias “Leonato.”

“They refuse that, we now offer a nutritional supplement to drink themselves. They refuse that, then they’re taken by the guards to the enteral feed chair and restrained. We measure the correct length of the tube, they’re offered either a (anesthetic) gel or olive oil. The feed lasts 30-35 minutes.”

One of Leonato’s colleagues, identified only as “Froth,” says the procedure is “a quick process.”

“The most irritation is when it passes back to your throat,” he said. “It’s a quick in-and-out process. You do feel it, but it’s not painful.”

Four other detainees refer to the practice as “torture,” and have called in vain for an end to the practice.

The senior medical officer at Guantanamo however insists feeding by tube is done to “preserve life.”

“It’s not something that we take lightly,” he explains, saying the procedures at Guantanamo are similar to those used in US federal prisons.

The doctor, who withheld his name, had treated the majority of the 106 prisoners from a total population of 166 who had been on hunger strike at the peak this year.

No fewer than 137 medical personnel work at the prison, including 37 drafted in as reinforcements after the hunger strike began.

The doctor admits he sometimes fears for the life of some patients.

“I have (feared for them) because of prolonged hunger-striking,” he said.

The procedures at Guantanamo are similar to those used in US federal prisons

Another colleague agreed. “It just feels uncomfortable.”

No journalist was allowed to view an inmate being fed by tube. The sessions are typically conducted twice a day on the 38 detainees who are on the enteral feeding list, out of the 53 who remain on hunger strike.

For the past six months, men scooped up in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks in 2001, and held in Guantanamo without trial for a decade, have been protesting their continued incarceration at the facility.

“Obviously if the men were not eating for six months none of them would be alive,” says Guantanamo’s head of public affairs Captain Robert Durand.

“We’d had quite a few taken to the hospital ... We’ve resuscitated them.”

While none of the hunger-striking detainees has ever been declared to be in “danger” the doctor refused to rule out the possibility of a sudden death from hunger-striking, citing “longterm risks.”

The trigger for nasal feeding comes when an inmate loses 15% of his bodyweight after 21 days of consecutive fasting while exhibiting signs of malnourishment.

At that point inmates are fed by tube either willingly or by force. l This article was first published by AFP.

Until we can establish such a right, the promise of democracy will not be fulfilled

It is always dark before a storm ends.

One can argue that the spring of Egypt’s Tahrir Square was temporarily halted by the rise of Morsi. But the flower of the spring in Egypt has blossomed again. So shall the flower of Shahbagh.

The Shahbagh spirit is the light at the heart of Bangladesh and can never be destroyed. Timid politicians need to rethink working with those that rally against the light. l Swadesh Roy is executive editor of the daily Janakantha.

Is force feeding at Guantanamo torture?

AP

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Catherine walks down the memory lane Remembering Tareque Masud and his accomplishments

n Shadma Malik

The works of the dynamic duo Tareque and Catherine Masud made a significant impact to the scene of cinema in Bangladesh. Throughout Tareque’s journey as a filmmaker, Catherine, as his life partner, truly shared all his dreams, philosophy, goals and above all worked with him in all his projects as a soul mate.

After the untimely departure of Tareque, Catherine, with an oath to release and finish all his unpublished and unfinished projects, is carrying the legacy of her beloved husband. Dhaka Tribune caught up with the multifaceted persona marking the occasion of the second death anniversary of Tareque Masud, one of the most dominating figures of independent film arena of the country:

n Entertainment Desk

Tell us about this year’s programs to commemorate Tareque Masud?

We are having a memorial programme at Tareque’s hometown Faridpur today. Faridpur was a significant reference in his films and all his creation was inspired by the area.

On August 18, a day long programme will be held at the Shawkat Osman Hall of Central Public Library. The day will be observed by exhibiting Tareque’s film and screening of “Death Trapped,” a documentary by Munjurul Haque about road safety.

Have you started working on ‘Kagojer Phul,’ the last unfinished feature film project of Tareque?

We are primarily working on to collect and publish all the unrevealed works of Tareque. This is a big task since Tareque was a multitalented person. Besides working for films, he also used to write articles, plays, songs, rhymes and many more. After completing all the projects in our hands, we will be working on “Kagojer Phul” which needs full-time attention.

What projects are placed on your table currently?

We are working to digitize Tareque’s very first documentary “Adam Surat -The Inner Strength” that depicts a close picture of the life of legendary artist SM Sultan. We are also adding more footages to the film from the previous rush prints and some newly taken interviews of a few prominent cultural personalities. Tareque started the film in 1982

and completed the venture after seven years. At that time, making films was a big challenge since financial support and technological advancement were inadequate. Moreover, the film involves a lot of emotional values as Tareque was very close to SM Sultan. Sultan’s simple lifestyle, his affection to the peasants of his village and his love for the rich heritage of our culture made a strong impact on Tareque’s life. We have a target to release it on December 6 which is Tareque Masud’s birthday. We are also working on his unfinished documentary on “Hajrahati,” a village in Faridpur.

What is the next publication of Tareque Masud?

After launching of the books “Cholochitro Jatra” and “Life and Dream” last year, our next publication is the “Tareque Masud’s Chitro, Natyo O Gaanguli.” The book is about Tareque’s screen plays and the songs collected in the book are written by Tareque.

Last year a CD compiling songs written by Tareque Masud was launched. Since Tareque never disclosed himself as a lyricist in his lifetime, what is the story behind publishing his songs after his death?

Tareque told me once that he wanted to release his songs.

He died, but I did not. It was my responsibility to expand his creations to the people and acknowledge his talents.

Did he possess any more hidden traits?

During his childhood, Tareque use to write rhymes. His rhymes were about folk culture and rural areas. Those reflect his artistic soul and his aspirations to some aspect.

Also, he was an appreciator of art and design, and used to get involved in art direction. Tareque was a very humble and down-to-earth person, he never claimed himself as a multitalented person, which he actually was. l

Originally from a humble background, the celebrated personality late Tareque Masud was born in Nurpur Village of Faridpur District in Bangladesh. His early education in a madrassa was in upheaval during Liberation War and after the independence of the country, he entered general education, completing his HSC from Adamjee Cantonment College and eventually graduating from Dhaka University with a degree in History.

From his university days, the multitalented Tareque was involved in the film society movement.

His 1995 feature length documentary on the ‘71 Liberation War, “Muktir Gaan (Song of Freedom)” brought record audiences and became a cult classic. He also made many other films on the war, including “Muktir Kotha (Words of Freedom, 1999),” “Narir Kotha (Women and War, 2000)” and “Naroshundor (The Barbershop, 2009).” In 2002, he completed his feature film “Matir Moina (The Clay Bird),” which was based on his childhood experience in the madrassa. The film won the Critics’ Prize at the Cannes Film Festival, was the first Bangladeshi film to compete in the Oscars, and was released in many countries around the world.

In addition to his filmmaking work, he was also a pioneer of the independent film movement in Bangladesh. Tareque was a founding member of the Short Film

Forum, the leading platform for independent filmmakers. In 1988, he organized the country’s first International Short and Documentary Film Festival, which is held on a biannual basis to this day. He was also known as the “Cinema Feriwalla” for the way in which he showed his films, touring remote towns and villages throughout the country with his mobile projection unit.

Masud died on August 13, 2011 in a tragic road accident while returning from work on location for his upcoming feature film “Kagojer Phul (The Paper Flower),” on the 1947 partition of Bengal. Also killed in the accident was his longtime cinematographer and friend Mishuk Munier, along with three other colleagues.

Catherine Masud and four others survived the accident. l

Eid special 4th day TV plays ‘Boloban Jamai’ airs on ATN

One episode drama “Boloban Jamai” written and directed

by Mubashwera Khanam and Saidul Anam Tutul will be telecasted on ATN Bangla on the 5th day of Eid at 7:45 pm.

Mir Sabbir, Nadia, Amirul Haque Chowdhury, Wahida Mallik Jolly, S M Mohsin, Naz, Nesar and Noman acted in this drama.

Makhan Sarkar had to join his office just after two days of his marriage as the chief of Zilla Office. At the time of his marriage ceremony, his in-laws and relatives made fun of him because he was very fat at that time. After the unfortunate taunts and embarrassing events, Sarker started exercising in hope of achieving a manly figure. With that feat accomplished, he goes to visit his wife, but instead getting love as he had hoped for, he barely manages to get away with his life intact.

Pixar announces cast for upcoming movies n Entertainment Desk The equivalent of Disney’s Comic-Con brought new revelations about the plots for the upcoming movies, which feature a dinosaur keeping a toddler human as a pet, a journey inside the workings of the human mind, and a return to the ocean for a sequel to a Pixar classic.

Disney animation czar John Lasseter also showed off footage from the films, and presided over a parade of voice talent.

Among the biggest news was that Pixar’s “Finding Nemo” sequel — “Finding Dory” — would feature Eugene Levy and Diane Keaton as the par-

“Opekkha” is an adaptation of Bonophul, directed by Ashraful Chanchal. Anisur Rahman Milon, Eshita and many more have acted in the drama. Rafiqul Haque recived a letter addressed to babu bhai, he is shocked and surprised after receiving the letter. The drama will be aired on Banglavision tonight at 11:55pm

ents of Ellen DeGeneres’ forgetful fish, while “Modern Family‘s” Ty Burrell will voice a beluga named Bailey.

Pixar’s 2014 film “The Good Dinosaur” is about a world where dinosaurs never went extinct will feature an Apatosaurus family who work as farmers tilling fields to grow tree crops to feed their herbivore brethren.

Poppa and Momma will be voiced

by John Lithgow and Frances McDormand, while Bill Hader voices the older brother Forrest.

Neil Patrick Harris and Judy Greer will play middle-sibling dinosaurs Cliff and Ivy, and the lead character — baby brother Arlo — will be performed by

Raising Hope’s Lucas Neff.

Pixar showed off the first footage, tracking a humongous potato-like asteroid as it hurdles through deep space on a collision course with Earth 65 million years ago, and Misses.

A few prehistoric dinosaurs munching on some midnight snacks look up to see a blue bolt shoot across the sky and disappear.

Director Bob Peterson (a veteran story artist with the company, and the voice of Dug the Dog from Up and growling Roz from Monsters Inc) oversees the film with co-director Pete Sohn (who voiced mama’s boy Squishy in Monsters University.) l

Prakash Jha impressed with Kareena’s professionalism n Entertainment Desk

‘Tipu Sultaner Hati’ airs on ETV

“Tipu Sultaner Hati,” directed by Himu Akram will be aired at 10pm tonight. Rifat Chowdhury, Faruk Ahmed, Safiul Azam Pintu, Disha and Shimanto have acted along with Zahid Hasan in this drama. The plot of the drama revolves in a village where Tipu Sultan, lives an ordinary life. Whenever someone calls him by his name, it makes him quite angry.

He prefers to be called Nawab Tipu Sultan and whatever he dresses himself in, he never forgets to put on his crown.

Alas! He seriously fulfills his wish and rides an elephant for his marriage ceremony. The story takes turn when the bride escapes the marriage ceremony and Tipu Sultan takes off his Kingly attire.

‘Anandojatra’ airs on Maasranga

“Anandojatra” directed by Ashraful Chanchal will be telecasted at 7:40pm. Abul Hayat, Sadia Islam Mou and many more have acted in the drama. A man named Sarwar Sayed died normally and his soul that was yet to depart thinks that he will be remembered for his good deeds. After a while, it seems to him that everyone is too busy with their lives to be paying much attention to the deeds of a deceased person.

Nobody remembers anything except for some people who cried for him.

Kareena Kapoor is quite the professional, even on holiday. Recently, while she was in Detroit, she rented out a studio just to re-dub one line for Prakash Jha’s Satyagraha, before it was sent for screening to the Censor Board.

“The film went for Censor certification on Thursday, and just before that, we found that one of her dialogues had gotten corrupted,” says Jha. Knowing that the actor was travelling, Jha asked her to record the line on her phone and email it to him.

But Kareena, knowing the quality of that clip wouldn’t be satisfactory, preferred otherwise. “Her dedication and professionalism has surprised me.

As soon as she reached Detroit, she found a studio herself and recorded the line before she checked into her hotel. This was amazing on her part,” says the director.

Did you know?

David Houghton of Zimbabwe was the only cricketer to score a century on debut as captain. He scored 121 off 322 balls with 15 fours against India at Harare in 1992-93

Sport

n AFP, Montreal

n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Rafael Nadal celabrates his victory on Milos Raonic during their final match at the Uniprix Stadium during the ATP Rogers Cup in Montreal, Canada on Sunday AFP

Former Aussie quick to run in election n AFP, Sydney Former Australian Test cricketer Nathan Bracken Monday said he will stand in next month’s national elections, where he will be joined by a one-time A-League football coach.

The lanky pace bowler will run as an independent in the New South Wales seat of Dobell north of Sydney which is currently held by Craig Thomson, a disgraced former Labor party member accused of misusing trade union credit cards to pay for prostitutes.

“I will be running as an independent for the seat of Dobell for the election and Lawrie McKinna will run in Robertson as an independent,” Bracken, who played five Tests and 116 one-day internationals, tweeted Monday.

McKinna, the local mayor of Gosford in New South Wales, is a former footballer who has coached Australian A-League side Central Coast Mariners

Tridents v Warriors Barbados Tridents tasted their first defeat in the Caribbean Premier League when Guyana Amazon Warriors earned a convincing 27-run win in Port-ofSpain yesterday.

Opting to bat first Warriors had a slow start, but Martin Guptill and Mohammad Hafeez built a solid platform with a 98-run partnership with Guptill being particularly harsh on the bowlers with four fours and as many sixes.

Guyana looked for a score well past 150, but a fight back from the Tridents bolwers restricted them to 149-9. Rayad Emrit got rid of Guptill and James Franklin in the 18th over before the two new batsmen - Ramnaresh Sarwan and Christopher Barnwell - were dismissed by left-arm spinner Shakib al Hasan in the very next over. Guyana registered last 13 runs for the expense of seven wickets.

The target proved too much for the Barbados side as they lost regular wickets to some tight bowling from the opponent spinners. Barbados lost five wickets for 15 runs in the middle overs which virtually ended their chase in the 14th. Shoaib Malik top-scored with 48 and fell in the penultimate over as Tridents were bowled out for 122 runs.

14 Schalke held in six-goal thriller as newboys shine

14 Rooney would be mad to leave, says Vidic

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Medal-hunter Bolt still in legendary quest

ICC corruption report out today

Nadal routs Raonic to lift third Canadian title Fourth seed Rafael Nadal needed just 68 minutes to deliver a body blow to Canada’s biggest tennis week, routing Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-2 to capture the ATP Montreal Masters on Sunday.

The Spaniard then made it clear that he is planning to carry on next week to the final major tune-up prior to the US Open, the combined ATP-WTA Cincinnati event. “We’ll see tomorrow, but I’m fine. I was able to recover well, I felt good physically today,” said Nadal who made quick work of Raonic, who now becomes the first Canadian to be ranked in the top 10 on the ATP Tour.

Nadal won his 25th Masters 1000 title and lifted his eighth trophy of the season to run his career title total to 58.

Nadal feels ready to go for another title in Cincinnati which began on Sunday. He looked smooth on the court Sunday, giving no indication that his chronic knee problems are a current worry.

He says his focus is now on Montreal and he will not be thinking ahead to the August 26 start of the US Open in New York. Nadal remains undefeated this season on the hardcourts after winning the Indian Wells title in March. He also won in Canada in 2005 and 2008.

Raonic, who was held to just four aces in the final, fell short in his bid to become the first Canadian to win the title since 1958.

“Rafa really gave me a clinic today,” said a deflated Raonic, who has broken new ground all week in the sport for Canada. “This was the most important moment of my career so far. l

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

The Bangladesh national football team will play a practice match against a Select XI comprising local and foreign players at the Bangabandhu National Stadium at 5:00pm today.

Bangladesh are scheduled to leave for the Saff tournament on August 24 and have been short of match practice ahead of the championships. Pakistan canceled its tour to Bangladesh and the national side were unable to play Thailand on a recent tour. Instead, Bangladesh played a match against Osotasapa - the fifth ranked side from the Thailand Premier League – and one against the Thai U-19 team.

Bangladesh will play two further matches against today’s opposition on August 20 and 23. Bangladesh’s group round rivals – India, Nepal and Pakistan – are also preparing for

the tournament. All India Football Federation confirmed an International Friendly for their national team against Tajikistan tomorrow at the 20 Years of Independence Stadium in Khujand.

Pakistan, coached by George Kottan, is touring Thailand and the Football Association of Thailand announced the schedule for the trip. Pakistan will face Thailand U-23 – the reigning SEA Games champions – tomorrow. Next day they will face the Thai U-19, before taking on Thailand on August 18.

Nepal team has completed their Bahrain tour and camped in Manama for eleven days. During their camp in Bahrain, Nepal played a friendly match against Bahrain Olympic team on August 8 and were defeated 3-0. After completing the 11 day camp in Bahrain today, Nepal is scheduled to fly to Kuwait where they will play Al Rifa cub tomorrow. Nepal will head home

Shakib’s bat goes quiet n Reazur Rahman Rohan The world’s leading all-rounder Shakib al Hasan has been going through a rough patch. That is if you only take his batting into consideration, as the Bangladeshi has been having a terrible time with the bat recently. He has consistently failed with the bat while moving from strength to strength with the ball in hand.

The 26-year-old former captain is rated as the number one all-rounder in one-day internationals while he steps in at number two and three respectively for Tests and Twenty20 international.

His ranking belies the fact that his batting has fallen away dramatically so much so that in the recent Caribbean Premier League (CPL) after he took the second best T20 bowling figures ever he was quoted as saying, “I’m desperate to score some runs for the team. If you told me I could take five wickets or score a hundred, I would take the hundred any day. I am more satisfied getting runs than wickets. I am an allrounder but I always prefer batting. I always prefer scoring runs more than my bowling so I am more desperate than anyone else right now I guess”.

I tried my level best to cooperate with the investigation. Now if they takes into consideration, I think my punishment should come down to two or three years The top order batsman himself is expecting a five-year ban from cricket but is hopeful that the cooperation he has shown with investigators might lead to a lighter sentence.

“I tried my level best to cooperate with the investigation. Now if they takes into consideration, I think my punishment should come down to two or three years,” Ashraful told the media yesterday.

Ashraful who is now 29-year old expects to return to the competitive cricket after serving the punishment.

“I will be 32 after three years. I

Warm-up troubles continue for national booters n Raihan Mahmood

and Chinese clubs.

Bracken, 35, who is suing Cricket Australia reportedly for failing to adequately deal with a knee injury which ended his career, said he wanted to focus on local issues such as unemployment.

Bracken played in 116 one-day internationals for Australia, taking 174 wickets at an average of 24.36. He also featured in five Tests, taking 12 wickets at 42.08. l

The fixing scandal in Bangladesh cricket is set to reach a critical stage as a five-member ICC team led by the organization’s CEO Dave Richardson submits the final report to the Bangladesh Cricket Board today.

With little on-field activity, cricket in Bangladesh has been in a restless state for the last four months with suspicions of fixing practices having taken place at both the domestic and international levels. Names of many organizers and cricketers both local and foreign - were linked to the scandal and matters became more intense still after Bangladesh’s first global star, Mohammed Ashraful admitted to being involved in the darker side of the game.

According to media reports, Ashraful also disclosed a number of names to ICC investigators who he claims were also involved in fixing.

This shook the roots of the cricket and it was the highest authority of cricket, ICC, who were took the situation in hand. Several visits to visit Dhaka were made by ICC investigators and it took more than 100 days to reach the end of the string.

The five-member ICC team led ICC CEO Dave Richardson reached Dhaka with the investigation report

yesterday evening and will sit with BCB president Nazmul Hasan and other high-ups soon. The visitors will share their findings and make recommendations to the BCB. The board will later form a tribunal to deal with the matter.

Suspended cricketer Ashraful, who confessed to wrong doing, will certainly be punished and it is rumoured that many others are also likely to face suspensions.

Earlier in March, Shakib missed Bangladesh’s tour of Sri Lanka with a shin-bone injury, but he joined the national fold in Zimbabwe afterwards. He didn’t bowl in the first two Tests, and had a quiet ODI series, but showed his true colours in the two T20 Internationals scoring 105 runs and claiming six wickets.

Recent T20s

Mat Inn FLT20 10 10 CPL 5 5 Total 15 15

No 1 0 1

Runs 146 22 168

Avg 18.25 4.4 12.0

The Tigers had no more international duty which made Shakib a favourite in the world of franchisee cricket leagues.

He flew to England to play for Leicestershire Foxes in the Friends Life T20 before travelling to play for the Barbados Tridents in the Caribbean Premier League, but so far Shakib is yet to come good with the bat.

In England after 10 matches he left with a meager total of 146 runs at an average of just over 18. What one can’t read into statistics is his deer-in-theheadlights batting seems to follow one maxim, hit out or get out. Suffice to

say aside from one middling innings of 43 not out, he was all at sea in English conditions.

Warmer climes with less swing than early season England should have suited his natural game, but clearly the monkey is still on his back. With scores of five, one, one, 12 and three his batting seems to have taken a backseat to his stellar bowling which seemingly papers over the cracks of his all-rounder status.

The Tridents are the leading team in the CPL with four wins out of five, their only loss coming yesterday to Guyana Amazon Warriors. Shakib was planted in the middle-order of the team that consists of players like Kieron Pollard, Shoiab Malik and Umar Akmal, but his average of 4.4 in the competition certainly does not speak of his ability but a lack of form and application.

Shakib must work out an approach to his batting and with almost half of the CPL still to play, it’s a great chance for him to return to form. If not then the coaching staff in Bangladesh should be on alert. He’ll probably need all the help he can get to reclaim his form, turn off from the T20 mindset and remember how to build and graft an innings again. l

on August 25.

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) is still trying to arrange a match before the departure of the team.

“We are trying to communicate with Malaysia. Let’s see what happens as the time is very short,” said Abu Naeem Shohag, the general secretary of BFF. Meanwhile Dutch head coach Lodewijk de Kruif is scheduled to arrive in Dhaka early today and BFF will desperately seek his direction for the final touches before their departure to Nepal.

Bangladesh national football team has been undergoing through an extensive coaching under a four pronged Dutch coaching staff with Lodewijk de Kruif as the head coach, Rene Koster assistant coach, Kees Kalk as the goalkeeping coach and Muhammet Yamali as the fitness coach. l

believe it won’t be the end as there are many cricketers who played and are still playing with that age.

(Sanath) Jayasuria did, Sachin (Tendulkar) is still playing,” said the former Bangladesh captain.

However the result could be harsher for the right handed batsman. The last time that the BCB took action in such a case was against international umpire Nadir Shah.

In a sting operation, Nadir expressed his willingness to give biased decisions in exchange for money and the Bangladeshi umpire was banned from cricket for 10 years.

All started when ICC anticorruption found a couple of games in the second edition of Bangladesh Premier League fishy. Investigations were made but it was mainly Ashraful admitting to wrong doing and revealing other names that led to the situation getting as big as it has.

BCB acting CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury said to the media a tribunal is already being formed to study the case and recommend findings to the Board who will later decide the punishments of the convicted. It was further learnt that the convicted will be able to appeal to the head of the tribunal. If not convinced, further appeal can be made to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Switzerland. l

Maruf flies to UK for Uefa license n Raihan Mahmood

AKM Maruful Haque, who coached Bangladesh Premier League side Sheikh Russell Krira Chakra to a treble last season, flew to London on Sunday to attend the second part of his Uefa license preparatory course.

Maruf successfully completed the Uefa A-license preparatory course in London in November last year and now he is looking forward to attain the second step. However, he would be travelling to London twice further to attain the license. “In the first part my result was quite satisfactory and I have seen the syllabus of the second part and it is also not very hard. I have every hope that I will attain the Uefa A- license in the near future,” said Maruf. Maruf may try a stint with a semi-professional team of USA after completing his ten-day Uefa formalities. The modest coach however declined to disclose the details. “It’s just earning an experience, nothing more than that, as I have time I will sign the deal with Russell after my return,” said Maruf. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Schalke held in six-goal thriller n AFP, Berlin

Schalke 04 and Hamburg shared the points in a 3-3 thriller on Sunday as new signings grabbed the limelight on the opening weekend of the Bundesliga season.

Schalke’s new-signing Adam Szalai scored the Royal Blues’ crucial third goal to share the points with Hamburg while Gabon forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang marked his Dortmund debut with a hat-trick.

Mainz’s Shinji Okazaki of Japan and Leverkusen’s South Korea star Son HeungMin both also scored on their respective debuts. Schalke took the lead at home to Hamburg when Holland striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar struck after just 84 seconds before compatriot Rafael van der Vaart netted a 12th-minute penalty to level.

Results

Mainz 05

3-2

Schalke 04

3-3

N. Mueller 14, 78, Okazaki 65 Huntelaar 2, 45+2, Szalai 72

VfB Stuttgart

Ibisevic 16, Harnik 82

Hamburg

van der Vaart 12-pen, Beister 24, Sobiech 49

Striker Maximilian Beister produced a bullet header on 24 minutes to put Hamburg in front before Huntelaar levelled right at the end of the first half.

Ex-Dortmund defender Lasse Sobiech then headed the hosts ahead just after half-time before Hungary’s Szalai, who joined Schalke from Mainz in the summer, pounced on a mistake by Hamburg goalkeeper Rene Adler on 72 minutes for a share of the points. Okazaki netted in Mainz 05’s 3-2 home win over his ex-club VfB Stuttgart -- who he left last month.

Mainz picked up three points when Germany midfielder Nicolai Mueller netted goals either side of Okazaki’s 65thminute strike. l

Schalke 04's Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (2R) celebrates a goal against Hamburg SV during the German first division Bundesliga match in Gelsenkirchen on Sunday

Rooney would be mad to leave, says Vidic n AFP, London Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic has told unsettled striker Wayne Rooney he would be mad to leave Old Trafford.

Rooney’s future was the cause of more drama as the David Moyes era at United officially got underway with a 2-0 win over Wigan in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.

The England striker has made it clear he wants to quit United after growing unhappy with his diminished role last season and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho is determined to lure him to Stamford Bridge.

United have so far rejected two bids from Chelsea and Moyes cut an agitated figure on Sunday as he responded to questions about Rooney’s future by defiantly insisting the star isn’t for sale.

Moyes claims Rooney’s absence from his pre-season plans has been due to a shoulder injury, but the forward was deemed fit enough to be called into the

England squad for Wednesday’s friendly against Scotland.

Despite Rooney’s apparent desire to leave, Serbian international Vidic is convinced the best option for his troubled team-mate would be to stay with the Premier League champions.

“I believe Man United is the biggest club in the world and I think there’s no point to go anywhere else,” Vidic said.

“There’s so much speculation, so much talk about whether he’ll leave or stay.

“I have to say the last four years I was in that position as well. People were talking about me leaving the club.

“I’m still here and I’m enjoying playing for this club. Nothing has changed.”

Rooney was said to be unhappy after Moyes last month suggested Robin van Persie, who scored both goals in the win over FA Cup holders Wigan, was his number one strike option.

However, Vidic sees no reason why Rooney and van Persie can’t flourish in the same team if the former Everton

striker decides to stay.

“Definitely. No question about that,” Vidic added.

“They’re both top forwards and so many rumours over the years, players coming, players leaving. This is part of the show.”

After Alex Ferguson’s glorious reign came to an end last season, there is an air of uncertainty surrounding United at the start of Moyes’ spell in charge.

And Vidic acknowledges the pressure is on both the manager and players to prove the club can still be successful without Ferguson.

“This year people question us even more because Sir Alex left,” he said.

“We know how good he is and how many trophies he won for the club but we want to prove we can win the trophies again. “I think it’s a test for everyone. People are questioning if we can still be the champions.

“The players have really trained well.

They want to prove themselves and win trophies. I see their hunger.” l

That’s another trophy for Sir Alex: Moyes

Marseille off to winning start

n Reuters, London

Helped by a brace from former Lille man Dimitri Payet, nine-times champions Marseille won their opening match of the French league season on Sunday, scoring a 3-1 away success at Guingamp.

Pierre-Andre Gignac netted the opener after just two minutes for the 2010 champions with a rebound after an Andre Ayew effort was saved.

Payet doubled the advantage for the 1993 European Cup winners just two minutes later after good work from Ayew down the left before making it 3-0 after just a quarter of an hour.

Malian international striker Mustapha Yatabare pulled one back with 16 minutes remaining after Marseille keeper Steve Mandanda had first saved a penalty from the same player seven minutes after the restart, but Marseille were good value for the three points.

Earlier Sunday, Brazilian striker Brandao struck the only goal to ensure a 1-0 win for Saint Etienne and spoil Fabrizio Ravanelli’s debut as Ajaccio coach. l

David Moyes was not claiming too much credit after collecting his first piece of silverware as Manchester United manager in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.

United beat Wigan Athletic 2-0 in the season curtain-raiser to give Moyes a successful start in his bid to fill the huge boots of Alex Ferguson who stood down in May after leading United to 38 trophies in 26 years at Old Trafford.

“I class that as another piece of silverware for Sir Alex,” Moyes told a news conference.

“I was in charge of the team today but it’s a reward for winning the Premier League under Sir Alex last season and I won’t take too much credit for it.”

Robin van Persie scored both United goals against Championship side Wigan who upset Manchester City in the FA Cup final last season to earn their place in the Community Shield.

The Dutch striker opened the scoring with a superb long-range header, continuing the prolific form he showed

United boss loses cool over Rooney exit reports

Keeper Rogerio misses penalty in Sao Paulo defeat

Manchester United manager David Moyes lost his patience after being questioned about unsettled striker Wayne Rooney following his side’s victory over Wigan Athletic in the Community Shield on Sunday.

Rooney is reportedly unhappy at Old Trafford and has been the subject of two unsuccessful bids from Chelsea during the close season.

He was left out of the squad due to a shoulder injury at Wembley, where Robin van Persie’s brace gave United a 2-0 win, but Moyes said media reports about his training programme have been inaccurate.

Rooney trained with United’s reserves this week after hurting his shoulder in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Real Betis, but Moyes said that was at Rooney’s request, rather than as a form of punishment.

“Wayne has trained, and some of you might not like hearing this, but I didn’t fall out with Wayne,” Moyes told reporters during a terse post-game press conference.

“Some of you wrote untruths. Wayne trained with the reserves because it was his asking. He couldn’t have (physical) contact, he had a shoulder injury.

“In case you don’t know, we used him as a floating player, which means he doesn’t play for either team, he plays between either team.” l

Sao Paulo goalkeeper Rogerio Ceni missed a second-half penalty as his team lost 2-1 at Portuguesa and extended their winless run in the Brazilian championship to 10 matches.

The 40-year-old, scorer of more than 100 goals in his career from free kicks and penalties, saw his effort saved by opposite number Lauro, who himself scored with a stoppage time header in a 1-1 draw with Flamengo on Wednesday.

Shortly afterwards, Diogo scored his second goal of the game to give Portuguesa the points in Sunday’s match, leaving six-time champions Sao Paulo floundering in 19th in the 20-team table.

Diogo had given Portuguesa a first half lead, firing in from a rebound after a previous shot was cleared off the line, before Lucas Evangelista levelled for Sao Paulo with an individual goal at the start of the second half.

Hernane scored twice, including a cheeky backheeled effort, as former Brazil coach Mano Menezes’s Flamengo came from behind to beat Fluminense 3-2 in their “Fla-Flu” derby at the Maracana. Elias was also on target for Flamengo while Rafael Sobis scored both goals for defending champions Fluminense, who are a modest 14th.

Corinthians' Alexandre Pato converted a second-half penalty to sink Vitoria while Dunga’s Internacional twice came from behind to hold Atletico Paranaense. l

n AFP, London

REUTERS

in netting 30 goals in his first season at United.

“It was a great header, a brilliantly guided header,” Moyes said. “He’s (Van Persie) been very easy to work with, very receptive and helpful.”

Moyes recognised the importance of keeping Van Persie fit to spearhead United’s bid to retain the Premier League title but remained adamant that his club did not want to sell Wayne Rooney.

The forward missed the Wigan match due to a shoulder injury but will join up with the England squad for Wednesday’s friendly against Scotland.

“We don’t want to sell Wayne,” Moyes said in a terse response to suggestions that Rooney wanted to join Chelsea and had been forced to train with the reserves.

“I have not fallen out with Wayne and the reason he trained with the reserves was because he wanted to because he wasn’t allowed any contact.”

Moyes remains hopeful of adding to United’s squad after a frustrating summer in the transfer market. l

n AFP, Paris

n Reuters

England's Wayne Rooney (L) and assistant coach Gary Neville laugh during a training session, ahead of their international friendly match against Scotland on Wednesday, at the St George's Park training complex near Burton Upon Trent, yesterday REUTERS

Technology would have ended 1966 goal row n AFP, London Former England striker Geoff Hurst on Monday backed the introduction of goal-line technology in the Premier League -- and said it would have prevented controversy in the 1966 World Cup final.

Hurst, now 71, scored a hat-trick in the final that England won 4-2 against West Germany at Wembley but his second, awarded after bouncing down off the crossbar, has been the source of nearly 50 years of debate about whether it crossed the line.

Goal-line technology was used for the first time in Sunday’s Charity Shield match that Premier League champions Manchester United won 2-0 against FA Cup holders Wigan and

is set to be rolled out when the league starts this weekend.

“If we had this system 50 years ago, it would have shown quite clearly the ball (in the 1966 World Cup final) was at least a foot over the line,” said Hurst.

“Germany have been arguing the toss ever since but I will never tire of talking about it. They can’t take it away now anyway. It is in the book.

“But I certainly welcome the move.”

The technology has been trialled at international tournaments and comes after a series of high-profile incidents in which goals have been ruled out despite replays showing the ball crossed the line.

Hurst said the move was inevitable because of the high financial stakes in the modern game. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Medal-hunter Bolt still in legendary quest

Quick Bytes

KFA presents balls to BFF Korea Football Association (KFA) will provide Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) with 150 Nassau soccer balls in an effort improve football in Bangladesh. Nassau is a top rated company specializing in sporting goods. The Korean football federation sent a letter to the BFF informing them about the football equipment assistance. BFF general secretary Abu Nayeem Shohag expressed gratitude to KFA and said they will receive the products soon.

“We thank and accept their assistance.

It’s a good stride and we appreciate that. We will make the good use of their supports for the development of football in the country. We are also looking forward to expanding our relationship with Korean football in future,” said the BFF general secretary.

- SH

n AFP, Moscow

No sooner did Usain Bolt happily pocket the 100m world gold than his focus was promptly switched to snagging two more golds in his never-dying quest to become a “real legend” of modern day track and field.

Bolt’s blistering, world record-setting performances at the Berlin worlds in 2009 followed treble gold at the Beijing Olympics.

A blip in the Daegu worlds in 2011 saw him lose his 100m crown to teammate Yohan Blake after a false-start disqualification, but he rebounded for two more golds there before sealing a unique double treble at last year’s London Olympics.

100m final (wind: 0.3 m/s)

Serena races to eighth title of year in Toronto World number one Serena Williams made it look easy Sunday, routing Sorana Cirstea 6-2, 6-0 to win the WTA title in Toronto and signal her readiness for a US Open title bid. Williams needed just 61 minutes to capture her eighth title of 2013 and the 54th of her career, which moved her past Monica Seles into sole possession of ninth on the WTA career list in the Open Era. But she said the lopsided win belied the difficulty of winning any title. “No tournament is ever easy, especially being in the position I am in,” Williams said. “The tournament starts and they expect you to win. The tournament is like, ‘Well, you’re going to be in the final. After your semi-final I want you to do this, and you have to do this and this.... “Who knows if I’ll even make it to the semi-finals? It’s a lot of pressure and it’s not easy.”

–AFP

Isinbayeva looks to fire up home crowd Russian athletics icon Yelena Isinbayeva can spark the world athletics championships into life on Tuesday by winning her third women’s pole vault world title and probably bow out in dreamlike fashion.The 31-year-old two-time Olympic champion - who has revolutionised her event as Ukrainian legend Sergey Bubka did the men’s pole vault in the 1980’s and 1990’s - said in July she would retire after the championships in Moscow. While the mischievous former gymnast suggested after qualifying on Sunday she might not after all, the likelihood is that victory at the Luzhniki Stadium, where she won her first meaningful title, will be sufficient to get her to call time on her career.

–AFP

Dates set for West Indies’ tour of NZ New Zealand Cricket (NZC) on Monday released details of a West Indies tour at year’s end, but said the schedule for a planned visit by India is still being thrashed out. The West Indies will play three Tests, five one-dayers and two T20s during their first visit to New Zealand for five years in December and January, NZC said. However, chief executive David White said he was still awaiting details of the India tour, which represents a potential money spinner for New Zealand Cricket. “I have to admit discussions with the Board of Cricket Control for India have taken longer than we hoped but we should be able to announce the tour schedule in the next few weeks,” he said. Under the ICC’s Future Tours Programme, New Zealand is supposed to host India for three Tests, five onedayers and one T20 in February and March next year. India is reportedly keen to trim the New Zealand tour so it can participate in the Asia Cup, which begins in late February.

–AFP

1. Usain Bolt (JAM) 9.77 2. Justin Gatlin (USA) 9.85 3. Nesta Carter (JAM) 9.95 4. Kemar Bailey-Cole (JAM) 9.98 5. Nickel Ashmeade (JAM) 9.98 6. Mike Rodgers (USA) 10.04 7. Christophe Lemaitre (FRA) 10.06 8. James Dasaolu (GBR) 10.21

Usain Bolt of Jamaica (C) crosses the finish line to win the men's 100 metres final next to Justin Gatlin (R) of the US during the IAAF World Athletics Championships at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on Sunday REUTERS

Bolt regains world 100m title in emphatic style n AFP, Moscow Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt lifted track and field out of the doping doldrums as he reclaimed his world 100m title in emphatic style on Sunday.

Bolt clocked a season’s best 9.77 seconds in heavy rain at the Luzhniki Stadium, with American Justin Gatlin claiming silver in 9.85sec and Nesta Carter, also of Jamaica, taking bronze in 9.95sec.

Athletics’ credibility had again been called to account in recent weeks, notably after American sprint rival Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell tested positive for drugs.

Once again it was Bolt, the powerfully-built 26-year-old world record holder in both the 100 and 200m, who came to the rescue, at least in the short term.

The sole blot on the Jamaican’s copybook since winning treble gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics was a false start two years ago in the Daegu worlds that saw now-injured teammate Yohan Blake take the blue riband title.

“I am happy but I wanted to do better,” said Bolt. “My legs were sore after the semi-finals, I don’t know why, but the world record wasn’t on so I came out just to win.

“Back in Jamaica, they do not expect less than that from me. They always ex-

pect me to dominate.”

The race itself was “classic” Bolt in front of a Luzhniki Stadium that was far from being a sell-out in stormy weather.

Modestly, but safely, out of the blocks, Bolt’s head and shoulders remained low as he drove into the opening metres.

While his reaction time might have been slower than all but one other in the field, he soon reeled in the opposition.

Come the 50 metre mark and Bolt pushed his huge frame through his renowed transition phase, head coming up and long legs pumping, teeth gritted and eyes on the big screen beyond the finish line.

He moved past Gatlin on his left and had a brief look over at Carter on his right before putting on the after-burners.

Gatlin was left ruing his own poor run-in to the line.

“The last 30 metres I kind of got long in my legs, I didn’t execute well,” said the 2004 Olympic champion and 2005 double world sprint champion who bounced back from a four-year doping ban to claim Olympic bronze in London.

“What I’ve been working on is to attack the track, I went out there to compete in the last half of the race instead of running a technical race and that’s why I got silver instead of the gold. l

Bolt made no bones about his primary intention in the Russian capital: win back the 100m title.

And he did so in emphatic style, clocking a season’s best 9.77 seconds in heavy rain at the Luzhniki Stadium late Sunday, with American Justin Gatlin claiming silver in 9.85sec and Nesta Carter, also of Jamaica, taking bronze in 9.95sec.

Jamaicans also finished fourth and fifth, respectively Kemar Bailey-Cole and Nickel Ashmeade (both in 9.98sec), with American Mike Rodgers in sixth (10.04), Frenchman Christophe Lemaitre seventh (10.06) and Briton James Dasaolu last in 10.21.

“I feel a little tired, I need some rest,” said Bolt. “I continue to work on my aim to become a legend by collecting gold medals and athlete of the year titles.

“And the 200m and 4x100m relay are yet to come,” he added, with round one and semi-finals of the 200m on Friday and final on Saturday, followed by the championship-ending 4x100m relay 24 hours later.

Bolt said there was no added pressure to perform going into the race. l

Dhawan hits 248 as India A win run fest n AFP, Pretoria

Opener Shikhar Dhawan struck 248 runs Monday as India A made 433-3 to win a 50-over match against South Africa A. His huge total at cool, sunny LC de Villiers Oval in Pretoria came off 150 balls and was spiced with 30 fours and seven sixes.

It was the second highest one-day score, falling 20 runs short of the 268 scored by Ali Brown of Surrey against Glamorgan 11 years ago.

Indian Virender Sehwag holds the official one-day international run record with 219 against the West Indies two years ago.

A 194-minute spell at the crease for

Dhawan ended when he was caught by wicketkeeper Dane Vilas off the bowling of Juan ‘Rusty’ Theron.

Score summary India A 433-3 (50 overs) (S. Dhawan 248, C. Pujara 109 no, M. Vijay 40) South Africa A 394 (48.4 overs) (V. van Jaarsveld 108, R. Hendricks 106, J. Ontong 49; I. Pandey 4-76, J. Unadkat 2-79) India A won by 39 runs India A won by 39 runs after Reeza Hendricks and Vaughn van Jaarsveld centuries lifted South Africa to 394 all out after 48.4 overs.

The 27-year-old left-hander scored 187 on his Test debut for India last March against Australia in Mohali.

He passed the 100-run mark in that Test off 85 balls -- the quickest ton by an Indian in a first Test appearance. Not content to wreak havoc with the bat against South Africa A, he also captured the wicket of Justing Ontong, who was out one run short of his half-century.

Cheteshwar Pujara was another batsman to torment the South Africans, coming in at No. 3 to hit an unbeaten 109 off 97 balls, including eight fours.

Opener Murali Vijay, contributed 40 off 37 balls as India made the most of winning the toss with his 51-minute stand including seven fours. l

Zia's good show n

Day’s Watch Star Cricket 4:00pm The Ashes LIVE Test 4 Day 5 Ten Sports 8:45pm IAAF World Championships Day 4 LIVE Sony Six 6.00am CPLT20 LIVE Antigua Hawksbills v Barbados Tridents

15

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Jason Dufner of the United States and his wife Amanda pose with the Wanamaker Trophy on the 18th green after his two-stroke victory at the 95th PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York on Sunday AFP

Shishir Hoque

Bangladeshi Grandmaster Ziaur Rahman crashed out of the Fide World Cup Chess Championship 2013 despite putting a good show against former world champion Boris Gelfand in the 2nd game of the opening round in Tromso, Norway yesterday.

Zia was fighting till the end of his second match as the timng was extended and was heading towards a draw till filing of this report.

Earlier in the opening day of the tournament, on Sunday in Tromso, Ziaur Rahman lost his first game of the first round to the former Soviet Union and current Israeli Grandmaster Gelfand.

The second game of the first round was a must win game for Zia in order to go through to the 2nd round but Gelfand produced a defensive display to earn a draw that was enough for him to move to the next round.

Yesterday, country’s second Grandmaster Zia played with white pieces.

The three and half hour long eventually finished as draw. Boris Gelfand seemingly played for a draw as he took a defensive approach although the game.

Earlier in the first game of the first round, Zia, rated 2470, played with black pieces against 11 number top rated player in the World Chess Federation August 2013 rating list. Gelfand’s Fide rating is 2764. Zia continued his game taking Ragozin Defense of Queen’s Gambit and lost at 63 moves. l

Australia's Ryan Harris (C) celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England's Matt Prior during their fourth Ashes test cricket match at the Riverside cricket ground, Chester-Le-Street, northern England yesterday REUTERS

Harris, Warner put Aussies on course for victory n Reuters

David Warner counter-punched with real panache to put Australia on course for victory on the fourth day of the fourth Ashes test against England in County Durham on Monday.

The tourists, chasing 299 for victory, were 120 for one at tea with the irrepressible Warner 57 not out and Usman Khawaja unbeaten on six.

Chris Rogers (49) was the only wicket to fall, the first-innings centurion edging a turning delivery from Graeme Swann low to Jonathan Trott at first slip with the total on 109.

Rogers played the tortoise to fellow left-hander Warner’s hare during their century partnership.

Warner, suspended for punching England batsman Joe Root in a Birmingham bar during the Champions Trophy tournament in June, carried the attack to the home team with a series of crunching strokes. Warner reached his half-century with a well-timed square cut off Bresnan.

Earlier, fiery paceman Ryan Harris (7117) produced the best figures of his test career to bowl England out for 330.

In-form Ian Bell resumed on his overnight score of 105 and quickly took his run tally for the series to 500 before Harris bowled him for 113 with an inswinger that stayed low.

Prior followed one ball later for a gold-

en duck after another perfect inswinger from Harris deflected off his elbow and on to the stumps.

The Australian paceman then removed Broad for 13 with a vicious bouncer that the all-rounder gloved to Steve Smith in the gully. l

At Tea

England 1st Innings 238 (A Cook 51) Australia 1st Innings 270 (C Rogers 110, S Watson 68; S Broad 5-71) England 2nd Innings (overnight: 234-5) I Bell b Harris 113 J Bairstow c Haddin b Lyon 28 T Bresnan c and b Harris 45 M Prior b Harris 0 S Broad c Smith b Harris 13 G Swann not out 30 J Anderson c Haddin b Lyon 0 Extras (b4, lb5, w1) 10 Total (all out, 95.1 overs)

330

Bowling: Harris 28-2-117-7; Bird 20.3-667-0; Watson 6.3-1-22-0; Siddle 17-4-59-0 (1w); Lyon 22.1-3-55-3; Australia 2nd Innings (target: 299) C Rogers c Trott b Swann 49 D Warner not out 57 U Khawaja not out 6 Extras (b6, lb2) 8 Total (1 wkt, 33 overs, 137 mins)

120

Fall of wickets: 1-109 (Rogers) Bowling: Anderson 8-0-28-0; Broad 9-228-0; Bresnan 7-1-23-0; Swann 9-4-33-1; Australia need 179 runs to win.

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

No reform of public university admission system

Magura jute growers deprived of Eid joy

n Our Correspondent, Magura At least 60 thousand of Magura’s jute growers have been deprived from the joys of Eid as they could not extract the fiber from jute due to a lack of rainfall.

Farmers said jute plants that had been cut off for the last couple of weeks were still kept on lands and getting dried because they could not be moved to a place for decomposition due to the shortage of water. Abu Ishak, a jute grower from the village of Norihati in Magura’s sadar upazilla, said he had plans to do his Eid shopping after he had sold all his jute but they never came to be as he is still waiting for rainwater to rot the green jute.

Another famer Roish Mollah, from the village of Parla, said he had cultivated jute in 5 bighas of land, which is approximately 0.67 hectares of land, where he had invested over Tk25,000, and was expecting a handsome profit from his investment. Roish added that he did not do any Eid shopping as he could not get the green jute to rot due to the shortage of water.

Rotting green jute on time is a precondition for extracting quality fiber, but due to poor rainfall water bodies are drying up and as a result farmers are apprehending massive losses.

Mokhlesur Rahman, deputy director of Agriculture Extension Department of Magura, said a total of 30,550 hectares of land was allocated for the cultivation of jute in the district this year with an output target of 385,000 thousand bails of jute.

The target has been achieved but he has been apprehending loses as farmers have been facing severe problems in getting green jute to rot due to the shortage of water. l

Recommendations of University Grants Commission go unheeded mission tests in many universities to n Mushfique Wadud secure a seat for higher study.

The government is yet to take any steps to reform admission system for public universities in the last three years despite the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) recommendations.

In its 2010 annual report, the commission urged modifying the enrolment process terming it too expensive, coaching-dependent and questionable. It has long been advocating for a cluster system to hold admission tests for enroling freshers in the public universities.

Under the recommended system, admission tests of the same type of universities will be conducted centrally with the aspirants having to take admission test only once.

UGC sources said the process was in limbo mainly in the face of opposition by some public universities. Sources said the oppositon was because it would stop universities’ income from admission tests. There are also allegations that a section of teachers are involved in the coaching business and oppose reforms to the admission system.

UGC Chair AK Azad Chowdhury told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that they discussed the cluster system with all vice-chancellors of public universities, but failed to come up to a concensus on introduction of the system. He, however, said Shahjalal Science and Technology University and Jessore Science and Technology University introduced the cluster system on a pilot basis.

The present admission system for the universities make students dependent on coaching centres as they come across different types of question patterns in the admission tests as in HSC. The ongoing system also compels a student to vie for admission separately for every subjects, and in many cases, the admission seekers take 20 to 30 ad-

It is also a hassle for admission seekers to travel across the country to attend admission tests of public universities.

Given the coaching fee Tk10,000 and cost of admission forms that vary from Tk400 to Tk500, it becomes quite difficult for poor students to bear the cost and attend admission tests in all universities.

Bishwajit Adhikari who failed to enrol in a public university last year told the Dhaka Tribune he spent a total of Tk80,000 on housing, tuition, food and other admission-related purposes. “Despite a lot of effort, I failed to get a seat in a public university and then got admitted to a college under National University.”

“In the present admission system, every student has to take six to seven admission tests and depend on coaching centres during this time”, the UGC report said, adding that this affects the students’ creativity.

Former director of Dhaka University’s Institute of Education Research, Siddiqur Rahman said the admission process should be reformed. “Students of poor families face harassment for the system, and ultimately fail to enrol.”

He, however, suggested announcement of any reform before the HSC examinations, not suddenly.

Dhaka University Teachers’ Association General Secretary Mamun Ahmed, on a talk show on Ekattor TV, said he believed top-ranking universities might not opt for a cluster system as they want to pick the best students and that university authorities should be independently allowed to decide on which enrolment system to follow.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique told the Dhaka Tribune if the ministry took any decision on the reform of admission system, they would consider it. l

Chinese medical ship due on August 19

n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman

Despite good jute harvest this season, farmers are unsure of their fate due to the lack of rainfall which is needed to wet the crop. Soaking the plant in stagnant water is essential for fibre extraction. The photo was taken in Sherpur on August 9 RAJIB DHAR

Teletalk plans 3G expansion n Muhammad Zahidul Islam

Teletalk, the only state owned mobile operator in the country is preparing to expand its 3G services in the grater districts as the private operators are set to hit the market following a spectrum auction scheduled to be held on September 8 this year.

According to officials, it has taken up a project titled “Expansion of 3G Network (E3N)”at an estimated cost of $40m in foreign and local funds.

They have also prepared a Preliminary Development Project Proforma (PDPP) already, where Teletalk plans to reach these districts within the next year.

“We are finalising the project proposal for expansion of 3G services in the grater districts. Within a short time we will send the proposal to the Post and Telecommunications ministry,” Md Muzibur Rahaman managing director of Teltalk told the Dhaka Tribune recently.

He said, the ministry will scrutinise the proposal and forward it to the Eco-

nomic Relation Division (ERD). Lastly, it depends on the ERD as they have to search the foreign funds. Muzibur Rahaman admitted the process might waste time, but they have no other way.

“Government may not give any money for this project, so we need to wait for

‘We are finalising the project proposal for expansion of 3G services in the grater districts.

Within a short time we will send the proposal to the ministry’ the foreign loan. But now Teletalk is in an excellent position, so donors might be interested to give us loan,” he said.

The state owned operator started its 3G services after receiving a $211m in foreign supplier’s credit from China and Tk4.24bn in local bank loans.

Authorities said, they are now planning for the rest of the fifteen grater districts, along with Gopalganj, as the parliamentary standing committee on

Post and Telecommunications ministry recommended them to deploy their 3G networks up to upzila level.

However, Teletalk officials said, they do not have enough money to bring upazilas under 3G network at once and will need some time.

Meanwhile, Telecom Secretary and chairman of Teletalk’s board of directors, Md Abubakar Siddique, told the Dhaka Tribune: “If the government wants Teletalk to flourish with it 3G services, it has to provide funds. But there is no decision yet.”

Teletalk’s 3G services have been in operation since October 14 last year, and brought Narayangan, Gazipur, Chittagong and Sylhet under its coverage.

It’s also preparing to launch its services in Cox’s Bazar within the next few days.

Meanwhile, for the private operators, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission is preparing a spectrum auction on September 8 this year, to grant 3G licenses for a period of 15 years. l

Chinese medical ship – Peace Ark – is scheduled to arrive in Bangladesh on August 19 for an eight-day trip to improve bilateral relations.

“The purpose of the visit is to provide free medical services to the local people and conduct academic exchanges with Bangladesh’s military hospitals,” Senior Colonel Zhang Wei, defence attaché of Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh stated at a press briefing at the embassy.

This is the second time Peace Ark would be visiting Bangladesh and would be stationed in China where it last visited in November 2010.

The floating hospital treated 3,212 patients last time and this time it will be able to provide treatment for 300 people daily, Zhang said.

“The patients who were treated last time will have a chance to be re-examined by the ship’s medical staff.”

The attaché said, last time, a dying pregnant woman was saved by the Chinese medical team. “After conducting an emergency operation, the woman safely gave birth to a baby girl. Sergeant Hossain, the girl’s father named the baby, “Chin,” who is now three years old.”

The ship has 102 medical service crews comprised of 46 doctors, of which 15 have PhD degrees. It has seven medical offices, eight nurse’s rooms, eight operation theatres and 300 beds and can accommodate 40 major surgeries a day – about as many as a large hospital in Beijing. l

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