August 14, 2013

Special

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We could have unleashed anarchy: Ahmad Shafi

Shraban 30, 1420 Shawwal 6, 1434 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 142

Business

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Muhith to take stock of big credit scams

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14, 2013 | www.dhakatribune.com

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International

44 gunned down in Nigeria mosque

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More questions added to BPL saga n Minhaz Uddin Khan

Tk4bn government land up for grabs A government-owned land of around 19.06 acres located in Roopnagar in the capital’s Mirpur area has been left open for misappropriation, scams and illegal construction.

The property, identified in official records as RS Dag number 2074, has an approximate price of Tk3.81bn. Several land grabbers have already sold different portions of the land as their own property and some others are still trying to sell the land, including, allegedly, the chairman of ATN Bangla. Some portions of the land have even been sold several times. Unofficially, the price of per decimal land in that area is about Tk2m.

According the land office, RS Dag number 2074 is situated at Digun Mouja of Pallabi, Mirpur, beside the Botan-

pnagar housing project occupies 16.85 acres of land, 2.08 acres of land is vested property belonging to Dhaka WASA and a 13 decimal land has been given to Eastern Housing, a private developer.

However, the Roopnagar housing project in fact controls only a small portion of the land it has been allocated, with the rest controlled by various grabbers. Md Jahid Hasan, executive engineer of the housing project, acknowledged the fact and told the Dhaka tribune that they still have not occupied the entire land acquired for the project.

ATN Bangla Chairman Mahfuzur Rahman allegedly grabbed a 2.31 acre portion of the land, mainly on the Roopnagar canal, and later filled up the

Vandalism, arrests mark first day of Jamaat’s hartal n Tribune Report

Jamaat collecting ‘special funds’

The first day of 48-hour nationwide hartal enforced by the opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami was marked by stray incidents of vandalism, bomb blasts, clashes and arrests across the country yesterday.

Some 15 vehicles, 16 houses and four shops were damaged, 48 crude bombs blasted and 70 people injured across the country, according to UNB. The law enforcers also arrested over 60 Jamaat-Shibir men during the first day hartal.

The party activists torched and vandalised around 12 vehicles across the country throughout the day.

Besides, they set off 27 cocktails till 4pm yesterday from 6am, according to  PAGE 2 COLUMN 1

INSIDE News

4 Bangladesh has recently seen an increase in mob violence, resulting in 12 deaths on average each month. A lack of trust in law enforcement agencies and a weak criminal justice system are cited as the reasons for people taking law in their own hands.

International

9 India’s army accused Pakistan on Tuesday of firing across the de facto border that divides Kashmir, in the latest confrontation fuelling tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals.

Op-Ed

11 The US State Department’s decision to close its mission in Dhaka, along with another 22 of its missions in other countries due to an al-Qaeda terror attack plan came as a surprise to many Bangladeshi citizens.

n Manik Miazee Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir are collecting special funds, aside from regular donations, from the party’s supporters and also the general public to bear the expenses of party activities.

The party is collecting the money in the name of providing treatment to the party activists who were allegedly injured during clashes with police, to carry the cost of legal processes for the release of party men now in jail, and saving the senior Jamaat leaders who are facing war crimes charges at the International Crimes Tribunal.

In recent years, the party has spent large sums on these causes. It is alleged

The Roopnagar canal was wide and flowing in 2007, top left. But grabbers started encroaching upon the water body by filling it, top right, in 2009; now in 2013, the canal has become a narrow strip filled with hyacinth, bottom, due to the grabbing SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

that Jamaat has recently initiated the innovative scheme to recover the money it has spent over the past four years.

While collecting such donations, the party is not providing the donors with any receipt or documentation, party sources confirmed.

Party leaders say the tradition of fund collection is a continuous process which has been occurring from the day the party was established. Every month party supporters donate a fixed amount of money for party activities.

It is referred to as depositing Yanat in Baitul-Mal. Jamaat’s Rokon – the top-level organisers – donate at least 5% from their monthly income each month, and in emergency situations they donate their  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

Adilur’s remand order cancelled n Kailash Sarkar Soon after getting the copy of a High Court (HC) directive staying remand order against Adilur Rahman Khan, general secretary of the human rights body Odhikar, a Dhaka court on Tuesday instructed authorities concerned to send Adilur to jail.

Masudur Rahman, a deputy commissioner of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) told the Dhaka Tribune that Ashraful Islam Khan, an inspector of detective branch of police, who was also the investigative officer of the case filed against Adilur, placed the HC order before the chief metropolitan magistrate’s court around 3:30pm.

Earlier on Tuesday noon, the HC di-

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Forex reserve hits record $16bn n Kayes Sohel and Jebun Nesa Alo

Roopnagar Canal in city is almost choked, some portions of the encroached land changed hands through fake documents ical Garden, and consists of 19.06 acres n Abu Bakar Siddique of land. Of this, the government’s Roo-

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It had been hoped, if not expected, that the press conference held by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board yesterday regarding fixing allegations from the second edition of the Bangladesh Premier League would clear up matters after a comprehensive investigation that lasted more than a 100 days.

Anti-climactically, all it did was raise some eyebrows, trigger speculation and increase suspicion in cricketing circles.

A five member ICC team, comprising the “high-ups” of the organization arrived in Dhaka for the event a couple of days ago. It was the ICC’s Acsu who had been called in to investigate certain suspicious games from the BPL, so it was appropriate for the ICC to be present at the press conference.

rective staying the remand order previously handed down by a lower court reached police officials.

Complying with the HC order, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mostafa Shariar Khan cancelled the previously passed remand order asking authorities concerned to send Adilur to jail, added Masud.

The HC order, however, said Adilur could be interrogated at the jail gate, if necessary.

Plainclothes police arrested Adilur Rahman Khan from near his Gulshan residence on Saturday night for releasing an “unsubstantiated” report by Odhikar on the crackdown on Hefazat-e-Islam men at city’s Shapla Chattar  PAGE 2 COLUMN 6

Bangladesh’s foreign exchange reserve yesterday crossed $16bn for the first time in the country’s history piggybacking on double-digit export growth, strong remittance flow and falling import payments.

The volume increase pushed Bangladesh into becoming the second highest foreign currency reserve holder in South Asia, after India.

“A combination of many factors helped us achieve this,” Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune pointing out that fall in food imports due to higher agricultural output, stable exchange rate and double-digit export growth all played a role.

“Bangladeshi expatriates are turning more to regular banking system to remit their earnings as the payment system has improved.”  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

EC rejects 20 applications for party registration Investigation into field-level activities of seven parties this week

n Mohammad Zakaria The Election Commission (EC) has rejected registration appeals of 20 aspirant political parties for their failure to fulfil the conditions laid down by the commission.

It also decided to run investigations into the field-level activities of another seven parties. The investigations would begin this week.

Sources said, a total of 43 aspirant parties had so far applied to the commission for party registration after a mass circular had been issued in this regard in October, 2012. Of them, only three managed to either get the registration or come nearer to getting one.

The rest of the parties – 40 in total – were requested to submit necessary papers and meet all requirements in order to be eligible for registration.

At a commission meeting held last week, the EC decided to reject 20 appeals deeming the applicants “ineligible” for registration and also decided to check field-level eligibility of another seven.

Moreover, the applications of 13 parties were cancelled as they failed to come up with necessary documents to back up their eligibility claim.

So far, the commission has grant-

ed party registration to only one party – Bangladesh Muslim League (BML) – following a High Court directive in this regard.

Investigation into the field-level activities of Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) and Bangladesh Sangskritik MuktiJote has almost finished, the reports of which would be presented at a full-commission meeting soon.

If found “satisfactory”, they would be given registration, EC officials said.

The 20 parties whose appeals were rejected include: Bangladesh Jalali Party, Bangladesh People’s Democratic Party, Bangladesh Awami Party (NAP Bhashani), Bangladesh Jatiya League, Muktijoddha Communism Democratic Party, Bangladesh Jatiya Dal, Gono-Odhikar Party, Bangladesh Probashi Dal, Gonotantrik Islamic Movement, Mukto Rajnoitik Andolon, Jatiya Muktijoddha Gonotantrik Oikya Front, Bangladesh Islamic Party, Jomiyot-e Ulamaye Islam and Nezami Islamic Party, Public Party, Matribhumi Dal, Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal, Bangladesh Samyabadi Dal, Bangladesh Red Star Party, Bangladesh Labour Party and Krishak Sramik Party.

The seven parties that face investigations are: Bangladesh People’s League, Bangladesh New Sangsad

Edexcel A level results tomorrow n Tribune Report Results for Edexcel Advance Level (A level) examinations for May/June 2013 session will be available tomorrow.

The result for international GCSE for May/June 2013 session will be available on August 22, according to British Council Bangladesh.

Students can visit British Council Bangladesh’s website to get the result. The results can also be accessed through mobile phone using the following steps –

Type GCE <space> RESULT <space> type your 4 digit Candidate number <space> type your UCI number and send the SMS to 7464.

The results of Cambridge International Examinations for May/June session were available from 2pm yesterday.

Bangladeshi students who took the O level and A level examinations for May /June 2013 session had to face problems as there were several strikes called by the oppositions. On some occasions, students had to take examinations at night to avoid strikes. l

League, Bangladesh Gonoseba Andolon, Bangladesh Gono-Odhikar Dal, Bangladesh Liberal Democratic Party Bangladesh, Bangladesh Anjuman Al Islah and Bangladesh Gonoshakti Dal. According to section 90(B) of the Representation of People’s Order (RPO), for getting EC registration an aspirant party must have a central committee, committees in at least 21 districts and 100 upazilas and at least 200 members in each of these committees.

In 2008, the EC made registration mandatory for all political parties willing to participate in the then general elections. At that time, a total of 117 parties applied and 38 managed to get registration.

On 23 October 2013, the EC issued a mass circular about fulfilling preliminary conditions for parties willing to apply. The main opposition BNP has since urged the commissioners to reject the appeal of BNF which, it alleged, had been formed with the assistance of special intelligence agencies.

BNP also accused the aspirant party, which is now in line for getting party registration, of using its logo, portrait of its late founder and his 19-point charter to “gain political leverage.” l

Tk4bn government land up for grabs  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

canal with sand. The land is now under the possession of a developer firm named Hasan & Associates.

Mahfuz refused to talk to the Dhaka Tribune when he was contacted at his office.

His adviser Mir Mohammad Motaher Hasan told the Dhaka Tribune that Mahfuz never owned any property in that area. Mahfuz has been trying to sell the grabbed portion of the land, a land broker named Khalilur Rahman, who claimed that he works on his behalf, told this correspondent, who was pretending to be a customer. “He will sell the land for the price of Tk200m with the condition of that the buyer

More questions added to BPL saga  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

At the media briefing, it was revealed that nine individuals have been charged with various offences that are alleged to have been committed under the BCB’s Anti-Corruption Code during the second edition of BPL and the nine individuals had been sent letters detailing the charges against them.

However, the names of those charged were withheld.

Both the ICC and BCB emphasised the importance of recognising that all those charged remain innocent until proved guilty and thus the identities were not disclosed. And this is the point which is being considered to have made the situation worse. Wild guesses are now being made. Who are the nine individuals? Who are the cricketers or the officials involved

with the dark side?

Suspended national cricketer Mohammed Ashraful topped the list since he has confessed to wrong doings in his very first hearing with the Acsu and to the media.

Two of the franchisee owners have also confirmed receiving the charge letters, but who the other six people are is anyone’s guess.

With the ICC and BCB determined to maintain silent on the matter, wild guesses were being made as to the identities of the accused, resulting in extreme discomfort for many an innocent party.

A young cricketer, who is currently attending a training camp, told the Dhaka Tribune on condition of anonymity his experience in the aftermath.

officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

At least 10 policemen were injured at Rajnagar in Meherpur while 10 others injured at Garadora in Gangni in the same district as pro-hartal elements attacked the cops during the hartal hours.

However, there was no report of major violent clashes or casualties except some sporadic incidents across the country, sources added.

In the capital, there were incidents of chase and counter-chase between police and hartal supporters as Jamaat-Shibir men brought out processions in the city’s Jatrabari, Kalyanpur, Gulshan, Dhalpur, Azimpur and Gendaria areas.

Witnesses said around a dozen crude bombs were exploded in different parts of the capital during the hartal that began at 6am.

Police arrested two pickets from Azimpur area around 8:50am.

Meanwhile, five suspected Islami Chhatra Shibir men were sentenced to six months’ imprisonment by mobile courts for picketing in the city.

Elsewhere in the city, pickets were hardly seen as additional security personnel, comprised of police and Rab, were deployed at all the key points and intersections to avert any untoward incident during the Islamist party’s shutdown.

Rickshaws and auto-rickshaws outnumbered the motorised vehicles

on the city streets. The movement of commuters was less as many people failed to return to their workplaces from their village homes due to the shutdown just after the Eid. The incidents of bomb blasts were also reported from outside the capital.

In Chittagong, hartal passed off almost peacefully with some stray incidents in the port city and the district.

Pickets blasted at least five cocktails in Halishahar and Kajir Dewri area in the morning attempting to create panic among people, police said.

Outside the city, the hartal supporters vandalised a private car at Sitakunda while the driver of the vehicle, Jashim Uddin, was inured due to the vandalism, said Samiul Islam, OC of Sitakunda police station.

Anti-hartal supporters were also seen in different points in the city.

Additional police, Rab and Border Guard Bangladesh personnel were deployed at both the port city and the district to evade any untoward situation.

In the port city, presence of vehicles on the city roads was thin in the morning but it increased gradually over the day.

Train services functioned undisrupted; however, no buses plied across the inter-district routes.

Most of the shopping malls remained closed during the hartal hours while activities of Chittagong port were normal.

In Meherpur, at least 50 people including an officer-in-charge and 25 other police personnel were injured

has to take possession of the land from the present encroacher Hasan & Associates,” he said. However, the regional land office in Mirpur cancelled his mutation on July 03 last year. The mutation case number of Mahfuzur Rahman was 1634/10-11.

Mahmudul Hasan, managing director of Hasan & Associates, claimed that he had bought the land from a lawyer whose name he could not remember and it was under his possession. This correspondent found one advocate, Abdur Rahman, who was also trying to sell a part of the same land. He claimed that he had 40 decimals of land (0.39 acre) now occupied by Hasan & Associates. “I want to sell my portion for

Tk20m, but Hasan & Associates has grabbed it and the buyer has to take possession by himself,” he said.

Like Mahfuz and Hasan & Associates many others are involved in grabbing the government land. Shahidul Islam, Assistant Land Commissioner of Mohammadpur Circle, told the Dhaka Tribune that several lawsuits were going on the ownership of this particular location.

Some of these lawsuits are against the government, claiming it had not acquired the land through due process, he added. Upon visiting the place, this correspondent found several shanties erected in parts of the land. Locals said influential people in the area have created this slum to rent out to low-income people. l

Jamaat collecting ‘special funds’ “I was watching the press conference live on television. Once it ended, I started receiving calls. There were journalists, cricketers and many others who called and answered the same question – did I receive the letter from ICC. “I was shocked and nervous and could hardly understand what was happening. But two to three hours from then things started cooling down and later I received calls which ensured me I was being mistaken,” he said.

This was just one incident among many that might have happened and the authorities were well aware of it.

“I know you all will get to know the names even if we don’t disclose them at the moment,” was one of the comments of the BCB president Nazmul Hasan in the press meet. l

Vandalism, arrests mark Jamaat’s 1st day hartal  PAGE 1 COLUMN 1

Members of Moviana Film Society light candles in front of the portraits of late film director Tarek Masud and renowned journalist Mishuk Muneir, killed in a road accident on August 13 two years back, on the National Museum premises yesterday MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

as Jamat-Shibir activists clashed with cops at several points in the district Tuesday morning, according to our correspondent.

The clash occurred at Garadob under Gangni upazila while police were trying to clear the road.

Police, however, arrested two shibir activists from the spot.

BGB had also been deployed at Meherpur.

Police said at least 10 policemen were injured as Jamat-Shibir activists hurled bricks at them during clash at Rajnagar of the district.

In Rajshahi, activists of Jamaat-e-Islami took out whirlwind processions, torched truck and exploded cocktails in the early hours of Tuesday, according to our correspondent.

The Jamaat-Shibir called the 48hour strike in protest against the cancellation of the party registration.

The strike passed loosely and peacefully in Barisal amid stray incidents, according to our correspondent.

Sporadic incidents of violence were also reported from across the districts of Laxmipur, Gaibandha, Chapainawabganj, Pirojpur, Khulna, Sylhet, Natore, Satkhira, Bogra Chuadanga, and Jhenidah.

Hours after the High Court declared illegal its registration as a political party, Jamaat on August 1 called the 48hour countrywide hartal for August 12 and 13.

Later, it deferred the general strike to August 13 and 14. l

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full salary to the party fund. Some of the well-off Rokons donate money equal to two or three months’ income.

As part of the tradition, Rokons donate one month salary every three years.

Party supporters and others who return from abroad, especially Saudi Arab and the Middle East, are allegedly being targeted for special donations.

People from outside the party, called well-wishers, are usually asked to donate money for buying Qur’ans.

There are no specific figures on how much money is collected from the well-wishers. Party sources said reports on collections are provided in the party’s monthly meetings.

Former Chhatra Shibir leader and Jamaat’s Rokon from Mirpur, Mizanur Rahman, said the activists always support the party whenever it needs them. “We always support our party

in emergency situations. We are now donating money following the trend,” he added.

Aminul Islam Mukul, president of one of the units at Maghbazar, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Earlier, we donated money for the purchase of land or establishments and treatment of injured party workers. Now, we are donating money for conducting regular party activities during the Eid.” Syed Abdullah Md Taher, a central working committee member of the party and former MP, told the Dhaka Tribune: “We collect money on a regular basis. This process is validated by the party constitution. It does not have any connection with bribery.”

He said the party activists and well-wishers donate money willingly to the party fund. “Our organisation runs its activities with the money,” he added. l

Samina made deputy high commissioner in Mumbai

n Tribune Report

The government has appointed Samina Naz, a director general of foreign ministry, as the first deputy high commissioner of Bangladesh in Mumbai.

The Deputy High Commission will have consular jurisdiction over the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Goa and Union territories of Puducherry and Daman and Diu. The decision to open a new Deputy High Commission in Mumbai is in pursuance of the agreement reached between the prime ministers of Bangladesh and India, said a press release of the Indian high Commission. l

Adilur’s remand  PAGE 1 COLUMN 3

in the early hours of May 6 this year.

Earlier, on Sunday, a court granted a five-day remand for Adilur Rahman Khan in the case filed under section 57 (1) and (2) of the ICT Act, which is punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to 10 years and with a fine up to Tk 1 crore.

Geneva-based UN High Commissioner for Human Rights yesterday expressed concern over the arrest of Adilur Rahman and urged the Government of Bangladesh to secure his immediate release.

His arrest might be linked to his work as human rights defender, it said.

In a statement, UN body also requested Bangladesh government to guarantee his physical and psychological integrity. l

Forex reserve hits record $16bn  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

Pointing out that the $16.03bn reserve is enough to meet five and a half months of the country’s import payment, he said, “We are in a much more comfortable economic situation than neighbouring India where the exchange rate is falling.”

He pointed to Pakistan, which holds the third largest reserve in South Asia, “Our reserve is $6bn more than them and their economy is one and a half times bigger than Bangladesh.”

The central bank chief pointed out that the achievement would also boost confidence of foreign investors and earn the country a positive rating from global rating agencies like Moody’s and S&P’s.

When asked if the reserve can positively impact Padma Bridge financing, Atiur said, “If the government provides fund, we can convert it into dollar easily.”

Exports grew 24% to $3bn in July due to higher demand for garment items at competitive prices, according to the Export Promotion Bureau. Central bank records show in the first 11 months of the last fiscal, overall import bill payments posted a negative growth of more than 9% to $29.48bn from $32.42bn a year earlier.

“Over the last several months, the reserve broke one record after another, which have both negative and positive aspects,” said Mirza Azizul Islam, ex-finance adviser of the last

caretaker government.

“Rising foreign exchange reserve will help keep the exchange rate stabilise,” he said. “However, falling import of capital machineries and raw materials over the same period is not good news for the economy. As it will impede industrialisation, making the economy slow down.”

Central bank data showed that there was negative growth of more than 3% in settlement of Letters of Credits (LC) for industrial raw materials and 14.23% for

capital machinery during the period.

In the last three months, local currency remained stable at around Tk77 against US dollar. In the first 10 months (July-April) of the last financial year, expatriates remitted $12.30bn, an increase of 15.89% from the same period last year.

The highest ever amount of remittance, $144bn, was received in Bangladesh in the just-ended 2012-13 fiscal year, which is 12% more than the fiscal before that. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

3

BTRC may consider more 3G licences n Muhammad Zahidul Islam Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission may consider awarding more licences for 3G mobile services if all the 40MHz spectrums over 2,100 band are not sold in the upcoming auction on September 8.

“Spectrums are very costly resources and there is no way to leave them unused,” BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose told the Dhaka Tribune on Monday.

“The International Telecommunication Union also recommends not keeping this type of resource unutilised,” he said after five mobile phone operators had submitted applications for 3G licences.

The BTRC will auction 40MHz of spectrum over 2110-2150 bands for downlink. Another 40MHz will be allocated over 1920-1960 bands for uplink.

The regulator already allocated 10MHz in 2150-2160 bands to the state-owned Teletalk for downlink and another 10MHz in 1960-1970 bands for uplink.

Apart from that of the Teletalk, the BTRC will award four more 3G licences for 15 years.

The BTRC chairman said they were trying to make the auction competitive and they were optimistic all spectrums put up for auction would be sold.

“If we cannot sell all the spectrums, only then we will think about the next steps,” he said.

The government recently changed the International Long Distance Telecommunication Services Policy and awarded dozens of licences to a few politically backed companies. At the same time, the BTRC recommended changing the Wi-Max guideline to award two more licences.

Sunil Kanti Bose said the government could change any guideline anytime and allocate any spectrum to anyone. “The government can either call a fresh auction or assign spectrums to any operator.”

The watchdog boss informed the Dhaka Tribune that they were also scrutinising legal options to see if spectrums of closed PSTN operators could be allocated to other operators.

“I am for maximum utilisation of spectrums.”

In reply to a question, Sunil said: “After the auction we will allow the winning operators to take advantage of technological neutrality immediately so they can offer better services for minimum expenses.”

The BTRC first attempted to make a guideline for 3G in 2008 and initially wanted to hold an auction on January 19, 2009.

Sunil acknowledged that they were late in introducing 3G services in the country because of some taxation issues, but not much. “I am not sure if the market was prepared back in 2008. Affordability might also be a concern then.

“We improved a lot in the past two years and connectivity is also available now…Maybe it is the perfect time to deploy 3G services in the country,” he added.

The BTRC is offering a 5MHz slot in 2100 band for 3G services. The floor price of 1MHz spectrum has been fixed at $20m. An operator can take up to three slots.

According to the guideline, 60% of the total price of allocated spectrum has to be paid in the first instalment within 60 days of the auction and the remaining 40% by the next 180 days. l

MP Rony’s bail rejected again n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

Prosecution failed to prepare case against SQ Chy properly: Defence

My uncle identified Mueen while abducted: Witness

A Dhaka court yesterday rejected ruling party lawmaker Golam Maula Rony’s bail petition in an attempt-to-murder case.

Acting judge of Dhaka Metropolitan Session’s Court Md Akhtaruzzaman rejected the petition, the second one Rony filed so far.

On July 25, Metropolitan Magistrate SM Ashiqur Rahman ordered Rony jail after rejecting his petition. Police produced him at the court in the case filed for assaulting two TV journalists on July 20 in his office.

Defence lawyer Abdullah Al Mansur Ripon in the hearing yesterday argued that Rony was an MP, who had taken bail before, did not misuse the bail conditions and the charges were bailable.

Ripon told reporters they would go to the High Court against the order.

Rony was arrested on July 24 after a Dhaka court the same day issued an arrest warrant. Yunus Ali, assistant manager at Independent Television, on July 21 filed the case accusing Rony and 20-25 unnamed people. The following day Yunus filed a general diary with the same police station alleging that Rony and his people had threatened him and demanded that he withdrew the case.

On the other hand, Rony filed a case with Shahbagh police station on July 20 accusing Independent Televison Chairman Salman F Rahman and three others of attacking him, threatening him with death and trying to extort money from him. Later on July 30, police after an investigation said the allegation of Rony was false and suggested action against the MP. Rony is now in Kashimpur jail. l

n Udisa Islam

n Udisa Islam

Defence lawyer Ahsanul Haque for war crimes suspect Salauddin Quader Chowdhury yesterday claimed that the prosecution failed to prepare case, for which, there were many inconsistencies in the depositions of witnesses.

After the defence’s arguments for the sixth day, the International Crimes Tribunal 1 adjourned the proceedings till today when the defence would get one hour to finish the arguments.

On July 24, the tribunal stopped deposition of defence witnesses as the defence repeatedly failed to produce their fifth and last witness. It set July 28 to July 30 for the prosecution to place their arguments, and July 31 to August 5 for the defence.

But the prosecution took one more day to complete the arguments. So the tribunal gave privilege to defence to end their arguments by August 6. But after that, defence counsel Ahsanul Haque said the defence must be given eight sessions since the prosecution had got eight sessions too.

Earlier, 41 witnesses testified against Salahuddin Quader, a six-time lawmaker from Chittagong. He is facing 23 charges of crimes against humanity he allegedly committed in 1971 in Raozan and Rangunia. He is the son of Convention Muslim League leader Fazlul Quader Chowdhury.

Three defence witnesses and Salahuddin Quader himself gave deposition in the case claiming that he had been in Pakistan since March 29, 1971 to April 20, 1974.

The view of a Mohakhali bus terminal during the first day of nationwide shutdown called by Jamaat-e-Islami

After yesterday’s session, Salahuddin Quader requested for a half-day session. He told: “My humble submission is if you give us one half-day session for summing up the whole session.” However, his counsel sought one hour for summing up the arguments.

The accused said: “This is not a matter of ego; this is about my life. What will be the harm if you accept my plea?”

The tribunal chairman then discussed with the two other members and allowed the defence one more hour. The tribunal also told the prosecution to be prepared to begin their conclusion.

During the arguments on charge 3 concerning the murder of Nutan Chandra Singha, the defence yesterday said prosecution witness Gouranga Singha told in his deposition that he had seen a Pakistan army van at Kundeshwari while talking to Nutan, the owner of Kundeshwari Oushodhalaya. But later he said he did not see how many vans entered Kundeshwari on that day.

The defence also pointed at the inconsistencies in the statements of prosecution witnesses Siru Bangalee and Gopal. Lawyer Ahsanul said when one Bibhuti told Siru Bangalee that Salauddin Quader had ordered some Pakistan soldiers to kill Nutan, Gopal told the tribunal that during the murder, the accused said: “Father ordered to kill Nutan Singha.”

At that time, tribunal Chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir asked the defence counsel whether he was mentioning it as a contradiction. Ahsanul Huq answered: “When two different people tell different things about one incident,

Cross-examination of Alim deferred n Udisa Islam The tribunal dealing with crimes against humanity yesterday again deferred cross-examination of the investigation officer in the case against former BNP state minister Abdul Alim.

Upon a prosecution plea, the International Crimes Tribunal 2 led by Justice Obaidul Hassan set August 19 to question IO ZM Altafur Rahman, who made his deposition on July 24-25. The defence cross examined him for three days.

Seeking an adjournment, the prosecution cited sickness of the IO. Prosecutor Mokhlesur Rahman said Altafur fell sick after visiting his village home in Thakurgaon on August 7.

He is the 35th and the last prosecution witness in the case. Alim was present at the dock.

Chairman of Joypurhat district Peace Committee during the war, Alim is facing 17 charges of crimes against humanity. He was arrested on March 27, 2011, and has been on conditional bail since March 31 last year. l

then it must be mentioned as a contradiction.”

He also claimed that Gopal, who is an eye witness in the Nutan Chandra murder, told the tribunal about one Brajahari with whom he had been hiding in Kundeshwari during the killing.

But according to Profulla Chandra Singha, the son of Nutan Chandra, told the tribunal that the rooms of the house were locked. “Then how could Gopal hide there with Brajahari.” He also questioned about the identity of Brajahari saying that nobody said about his relation with Kundeshwari.

Barrister Fakhrul Islam, another defence counsel, told the tribunal that every defence witness, in their statement, mentioned they had met Salauddin Quader in Karachi during May-August 1971.

To prove the claim, Fakhrul placed documents that showed the accused had appeared in BA examination in August 1971 at Lahore University in political science department. He also placed academic certificates of his SSC, HSC and Dhaka University admission form to prove that Salahuddin Quader had lived in Dhaka and never gone to those places where the crimes took place.

Salauddin Quader often demands himself as a “self-educated” person.

Fakhrul also mentioned about the cross-examination of the accused by the prosecution, who asked Salauddin Quader whether he had returned to Bangladesh in 1974 illegally. By saying so, the defence lawyer claimed that the prosecution had accepted the accused had left the country on March 29, 1971 and returned in 1974. l

ACC challenges Jasmine’s bail n Nazmus Sakib

Activists of Ganajagaran Manchha take out a procession in the capital on Tuesday denouncing the shutdwon called by Jamaat-e-Islami DHAKA TRIBUNE

The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday filed a petition with the High Court challenging the legality of the bail granted by a Dhaka court to Hall-Mark Group Chairman Jasmine Islam in a money laundering case.

On August 4, a lower court passed the conditional bail order which Jasmine accepted.

ACC Counsel Khurshid Alam Khan told the Dhaka Tribune that a petition was filed, and 10 more petitions will be filed today in the other cases challenging the lower court’s bail order.

The ACC lodged 11 cases with Ramna police station accusing Jasmine, the wife of Hall-Mark Managing Director Tanvir Mahmud, for allegedly withdrawing more than Tk30bn from Sonali Bank.

On Monday, Jasmine lodged a petition with the High Court challenging the bail condition of paying Tk1bn every month. The bench, however, did not pay heed to the prayer. l

Iftekhar Haider Chowdhury, nephew of martyred intellectual Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury, yesterday told the International Crimes Tribunal 2 how his uncle had been abducted on December 14, 1971.

He said while the men had been taking the victim away “my father scratched off the mask of one of them.

My uncle [Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury] then identified Chowdhury Mueen and asked him, ‘are you Mueen?’ Then the person replied, ‘yes sir, I was your student once upon a time.’”

Martyred Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury was a professor at the Bangla department of Dhaka University. He was a gold medallist student and got a masters’ degree from Visva-Bharati University.

‘My family went to many killing grounds including those in Rayerbazar and Mohammadpur, but they did not find my uncle’s body’ After his deposition at the International Crimes Tribunal 2, defence counsel Abdus Shukur Khan began his cross-examination. Later, Justice Obaidul Hassan adjourned the proceedings for the day till today for further questioning.

The witness said he was just seven years’ old then but as they stayed at the same house, he witnesses the incident.

In his deposition the witness said: “Channel 4, a UK television channel, made a documentary named ‘War Crimes File’ where my mother Doly Chowdhury gave an interview. She said at the time of abduction of my uncle she and other members of the family could identify Chowdhury Mueen Uddin.”

As an exhibit, the prosecution yesterday displayed the documentary at the tribunal.

The witness claimed that after the liberation, “daily Purbadesh published a report on crimes of Mueen Uddin and Ashrafuzzaman, I saw it then.”

Mueen Uddin had been working at the newspaper during the 1971 Liberation War. As per the prosecution, he

NASHIRUL ISLAM

was the “operation-in-chief” of para militia force al-Badr, which is accused of abduction, torture and assassination of intellectuals, and Ashrafuzzaman Khan was the “chief executor.”

The tribunal jointly indicted the accused in 11 counts of crimes against humanity. The charges include killing of 18 intellectuals, of whom nine were Dhaka University teachers, six journalists and three doctors.

The witness said: “On December 14, 1971, an armed group of al-Badr men came to our house Shantibagh. When they knocked at the door, my father Lutful Haider Chowdhury opened it.

Five to six armed persons asked him, ‘where is Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury.’

They were all masked. When my father denied to tell them about my uncle, they entered the house forcefully.

Then my uncle came forward and said ‘I am Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury.’ After that they took him away saying that he would be back after interrogation.”

He continued that after the liberation on December 16, Luful Haider and another uncle went out in search of his uncle, but failed. At that time, the families of Munier Chowdhury, Dr Alim Chowdhury, Shahidullah Kaiser, Anwar Pasha and Rashedul Hasan were also searching for the bodies. “My family went to many killing grounds including those in Rayerbazar and Mohammadpur, but they did not find my uncle’s body.”

Prosecutor Shahidur Rahman told the tribunal that the elder son of Mofazzal Haider Chowdhury, Taslim Sumon Haider Chowdhury, was listed as a witness in this case.

But he died at 2011 while the wife of the intellectual died at 1990. As Taslim gave statement to the investigation officer, the prosecution placed it before the tribunal under Section 19 (2) of the International Crimes (Tribunals) Act 1973.

The trial is underway in absentia since the accused did not appear at the tribunal.

Since the duo did not respond to the tribunal’s order, it appointed lawyers Abdus Shukur Khan and Salma Hye. The prosecution submitted formal charges against the accused on April 25. l

4

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Mob violence kills at least 650 in last four and a half years In most cases, innocent people fall victim to thoughtless mob attacks n Mohammad Jamil Khan In the past few years, Bangladesh has seen an increase in mob violence, resulting in 12 deaths on an average each month.

Lack of trust in law enforcement agencies and a weak criminal justice system are cited as the reasons for people taking law into their own hands and publicly lynching those involved or suspected in crimes like robbery or child lifting.

In most cases, innocent people fall victim to thoughtless mob attacks as callous participants never verify the allegations or listen to the appeals of the prey.

Studies conducted by the human rights organisation “Odhikar” and Centre for Media Research and Studies show that an alarming number of 650 people have been killed in mob violence, during the last four and half years, averaging in 12 deaths per month.

Of them, 127 people were killed in 2009, 174 in 2010, 161 in 2011, 126 in 2012 and 61 in the first six months of the current year.

In the most recent example of mob violence, three persons, suspected of

being involved in a robbery were killed at Kapasia upazila, Gazipur on July 12.

The mob violence is not justified at all times and in some instances, the violence is allegedly used as a smokescreen to settle past scores. For example, on May 16 this year, three youths— all from Rangpur – were beaten to death at Yarpur’s Diakhali area in Ashulia, for alleged armed robbery.

Bakul Mia, uncle of one of the victims, Sumon, told the Ashulia police that his nephew was working at a garment factory in the area and his murder was pre-mediated.

However, Badrul Alam, officer-incharge of Ashulia police station justified the mob violence and told the Dhaka Tribune: “Those three youths were dacoits and were killed by a mob.”

Sometimes innocent young people fall victim to the senseless mob violence, like the six students who were beaten to death and another one injured by a mob in Bardeshi village, Aminbazar, Savar on July 18, 2011.

During the course of investigations, it was learnt that all of them were college students and one of them was a merit student.

According to observers, the rising incidence of mob violence is due to

the fact that at times, it seems to be the only way for people to vent their frustrations.

When the Dhaka Tribune asked the common people as to why they chose violence over peaceful protests, 95% of them said the authorities concerned did not respond to peaceful demonstrations.

Prof Dr Azizul Islam of Dhaka University’s psychology department, told the Dhaka Tribune: “Peaceful protests are usually ignored in this country. Those who participate in street violence know that there is hardly any scope for them to get justice. So their vengeance comes out in a different form.”

He added: “Smashing the window of a car is not a reflection of social breakdown, but a symptom of social breakdown.” Prof Aziz stressed that change should be brought about with a push towards an “equal and just society.”

Otherwise, he added, social inequality would continue to grow, and so would social disorder.

“With waves of protests sweeping the globe over voting rights, labour disputes and discontent with economic trends, Bangladesh is hardly immune to them,” experts said.

Advocate Alina Khan, executive director of the Bangladesh Society for the Enforcement of Human Rights, told the Dhaka Tribune that mob violence was the outcome of the dismal state of the law and order situation in the country. The authorities concerned need to tackle the situation through proper initiatives, she added.

People are taking law into their hands, which shows their lack of confidence in the country’s administration and judicial system, said Secretary Adilur Rahman of “Odhikar”. It was regrettable that extra-judicial killings had become a norm in our society, he said.

Hassan Mahmood Khandker, inspector general of police (IGP), said: “Mob violence does not mean that there is no law and order in the country.” He added that perpetrators of road rage seemed to have forgotten that harming innocent people was also injustice.

“What we need is awareness among the general people about the evils of such incidents,” he said.

Prof Borhanuddin Khan of the Department of Law, University of Dhaka, told the Dhaka Tribune: “It is a question of mental attitude and we need to create awareness among the general people.” l

Multipurpose education a must for rapid progress: PM n UNB Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said multipurpose education is a must for rapid progress of the country, when the members of Standing Committee of Bangladesh University Council came to visit at her office, yesterday.

She emphasised the need for education, terming it as the main tool for poverty alleviation.

After the meeting, PM’s press secretary Abul Kalam Azad briefed reporters.

Hasina mentioned that her government was implementing various steps for further development of education as no nation could achieve its desired goals without education.

She said, “Awami League in its previous tenure from 1996 to 2001 had taken initiatives to set up 12 science and technology universities in the country.”

“But the BNP-Jamaat alliance government shelved the project out of political vengeance when it had assumed office in 2001,” she added.

After returning to power, Hasina said, the present government had launched 12 universities. She said her previous government for the first time allocated Tk 120m for research purposes. “After returning to power this time, the present government raised the allocation to conduct research in various sectors,” she said.

The prime minister said her government was providing “free textbooks up

to secondary level and stipends to over 11.9m students”, and had introduced a locally managed midday meal in schools to keep in-check the dropout of students as well as to reduce the burden of their parents.

In order to help the poor and meritorious students continue their education, the government constituted the Prime Minister’s Education Trust Fund with Tk 1,000 as seed money.

She also mentioned that the present government was setting up multimedia classrooms and providing internet facilities to educational institutions across the country for improving the quality of education. The premier urged the teachers to maintain a congenial atmosphere on the campus. “It’s your responsibility to groom the students as future leaders of the nation. And the university is for all,” she said.

In response to some demands of the teachers, Sheikh Hasina suggested them to raise funds through alumni associations for the development of respective universities.

She asked them to take part in the development of the country through paying income tax regularly.

In this connection, she said all the ministers and lawmakers except the president are now paying income tax.

Hasina also highlighted her government’s “tremendous successes” in the fields of agriculture, economy, health, ICT and social safety net programmes. l

Housewife beaten to death over dowry n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi

Launch, pontoon damaged at Barisal port n Our Correspondent, Barisal

A pregnant housewife was beaten to death for dowry by her husband and inlaws at Nilokhiya village under Belabo upazila yesterday night.

The deceased Iti Begum, 21, daughter of Islam Mia of Sarrabad village, married one Saiful Islam of the same upazila about a year ago.

Although Islam Mia gave a dowry of Tk100,000 to his son-in-law as per the demand, Saiful demanded Tk100,000 more in the name of business about a month ago. Saiful and his mother used to torture Iti for money. A few days back, Iti was sent to her father’s house to bring the amount of money. On the day of incident, the housewife returned to her husband’s house without money which infuriated Saiful and his relatives.

The in-laws started beating Iti and at one stage they poured pesticide into her mouth. Locals came to Iti’s rescue hearing her cry for help. She was rushed to Narsingdi Zila Hospital where attending doctors declared her dead.

Belabo police arrived at the spot and recovered the body to send it to the hospital morgue for autopsy after which the doctors said Iti was six months pregnant. l

A triple-decker launch and the pontoon of the Barisal port were damaged early yesterday in a collision.

The passengers on the launch and the port authorities, while recounting the incident said MV Suravi-8, plying on the Barisal-Dhaka route hit the backside of the MV Tipu-7, which was already berthed at the port. , Fortunately, only around 8-10 people sustained minor injuries with no major casualty reported till now, deputy director of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) and Barisal Port Officer Md Shahidullah said, adding that MV Tipu 7 and the pontoon sustained damages following the collision.

Meanwhile, Abdur Razzak, master of MV Tipu 7, lodged a complaint with the Barisal river port authority, claiming that his vessel had sustained damages worth Tk1m and losses in repairing costs, loss of revenue from trips and other costs would amount to Tk10m.

He also claimed that his vessel was berthed at the place designated to it by the port authority, when MV Suravi 8, which was trying to change its berthing place, hit it.

Denying such an allegation, Kamal Hossain, master of MV Suravi 8, claimed that MV Tipu 7 was berthed horizontally, instead of vertically, encroaching on the berthing space for other vessels. l

Commuters were compelled to avail train for the lack of inter-district bus service during a nationwide strike enforced by Bangladesh Jamaat Islami yesterday . The photo was taken from Kamalapur Railway Station RAJIB DHAR

LIMON’S CASE AGAINST RAB Awami League Temperature likely factions clash in Jessore to rise men. Later a court order compelled the Our Correspondent. Barisal Our Correspondent, Jessore n n police station to register the case on n UNB, Dhaka Two factions of the local unit of Awa- Hearing on the revision petition lodged April 10, 2011.

WEATHER

Hearing on revision petition deferred

Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty wind is likely to occur at many places over Dhaka, Chittagong, Barisal and Sylhet divisions and at a few places over Khulna, Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions in 24 hours till 6pm today. Moderately heavy falls are also likely at places over the country, Met Office said. Day and night temperature may rise slightly over the country.

The sun sets in the capital today at 6:33pm and rises tomorrow at 5:34am.

Country’s highest temperature 34.5 degree Celsius was recorded yesterday at Jessore, Syedpur and Chuadanga, and lowest 24.6 degrees at Sylhet. Highest and lowest temperature and humidity recorded in some major cities and towns yesterday were: City

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

32.8 29.0 34.4 33.5 34.4 32.0 32.2 30.7

26.2 26.0 26.2 26.4 26.5 26.0 24.6 26.5

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

4:13am 5:32am 12:03pm 4:39pm 6:33pm 7:53pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

mi League clashed over establishing supremacy in Putkhali area, which is known as a smuggling gateway, at Benapole in Jessore yesterday.

Locals said supporters of the two factions— one led by Fakir Ahmad and another led by Siraj—exchanged scores of gunshots, hurled several crude bombs and chased down members from the opposing factions, throughout the night.

Residents of the Putkhali village under Benapole said they could not sleep during the night as they were disturbed by the rival factions that started fighting in the early hours of yesterday morning and continued clashing till late morning. l

by Henoara Begum, mother of Limon Hossain, against six Rab personnel accused of maiming her son deferred for the third time on Tuesday.

Limon, a college student who used to work in a brick kiln to bear his educational expenses was allegedly maimed by Rab as they shot him in the leg at Jamaddarhat in Rajapur Upazila of Jhalakathi on March 23, 2011 about a fortnight before his HSC examination.

Henoara Begum at first tried to file an attempt-to-murder case against the elite force with the Rajapur Police Station after the incident.

But the Rajapur Police Station refused to accept the case against Rab

However, police on August 14, 2012 secretly filed the final report on the case lodged by Henoara claiming that they found no evidence and witnesses against Rab. Then complainant of the case and mother of Limon filed no confidence (naraji) against the final report of police on August 30, 2012.

The Jhalokati Senior Judicial Magistrate on February 13, 2013 rejected the no confidence (naraji) prayer.

The prayer for revision was lodged with the Jhalakathi District and Sessions Judge’s Court against the rejection of the Naraji.

Jhalakathi District Public Prosecutor

Golam Rasul Mannan submitted a time petition saying that the prosecution was not prepared for the hearing.

Shahidullah Baqaul, the district and sessions judge, fixed September 8, 2013 for the next hearing on the revision petition.

The Rab on March 23, 2011 filed two cases with the Rajapur Police Station; seven others under the arms act, and one for obstructing the work of law enforcers, attempting to murder and injuring Rab personnel.

Limon’s left leg was amputated from the thigh on March 27 at the Dhaka National Institute for Traumatolgy and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) Hospital as the tissues were totally damaged due to excessive bleeding caused by delay in treatment after the shooting. l

New VC of Nazrul University appointed

n Tribune Report

Former chairman of Chittagong University English department Prof Mohitul-Alam was appointed as the new vice chancellor of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University (JKKNIU).

Education Secretary Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury yesterday told the reporters that the ministry issued an order on this. Prof Mohit would be the VC of JKKNIU for the next four years. Before the appointment, Prof Mohit has been working as dean of arts faculty and head of English department at University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh. The vice chancellor post of JKKNIU was vacant on June 16 because pf the death of then VC Prof Khondakar Ashraf Hossain. l

Rana Bahini terrorises several villages in Narsingdi n Our Correspondent, Narsingdi Several thousand people of Atia, Kartetail, Khilpara and Gagra villages in Narsingdi’s Polash upazila brought out processions yesterday demanding arrest of wanted criminal Masud Rana and his gang members.

Over 5,000 demonstrators later gathered for a rally on the grounds of the Atia mosque.

Talking to members of the Narsingdi Press Club who visited the area yesterday, many affected villagers said several cases were filed with police stations at Polash and Narsingdi Sadar against Rana and

his associates. The charges against them included extortion, robbery, arms possession, rape and harassment.

The victims also submitted petitions to the superintendent of police in Narsingdi demanding punishment of the culprits.

Narsingdi SP Khandaker Muhid Uddin said he had ordered Polash police to arrest Rana immediately.

Shahdat Hossain, officer-in-charge of Polash police station, said Rana was a wanted criminal, and he was accused in more than a dozen cases filed over the past one year.

“But whenever we raided his known hangouts, he managed to flee,” Shahdat

said.

However, local people claimed that the law enforcers were not apprehending Rana as he reportedly enjoyed the patronage of local ruling party activists and police protection.

They alleged that Rana, who comes from Kartetail village, was sheltered by Polash Jubo League president Javed Mia. But Javed denied the allegation, saying Rana was a follower of Iqbal, former vice president of the Awami League’s youth wing. Iqbal could not be reached for comment.

Over 20,000 people of Atia, Kartetail, Khilpara and Gagra villages have become

victims of rampant extortion, robbery, snatching, land-grabbing and assault by members of Rana’s gang, known as “Rana Bahini”.

Residents in these areas were patrolling their homes at night, fearing attacks by the Rana Bahini, while around 5,000 villagers have sought shelter in Polash, Narsingdi and Dhaka to escape the gang’s wrath. The local people also complained that instead of taking any action against the criminals, police advised them to settle their “problems” with Rana and his gang amicably.

Mintu Mia of Atia said Rana and his men attacked his house after he refused

to pay them protection money. “They demanded Tk50,000, But when I refused to pay up, they entered my home, damaged furniture and looted cash and gold worth about Tk200,000 on August 5,” he said.

Abdur Razzak, imam of a local mosque, told the journalists that Rana and his men had allegedly raped about 50 women and young girls.

The imam said many parents had sent away their young daughters to relatives’ homes in other places for their safety.

Several villagers also said female workers at the factory of Pran Foods were victims of assaults and rapes by Rana and his men. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Special

5

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

We could have unleashed anarchy across the country: Ahmad Shafi Dhaka Tribune talks to Ahmad Shafi, the leader of Hefazat-e-Islam, in an exclusive interview

Hefazat activists came together in a massive gathering at the capital’s Motijheel on May 5 in support of the 13-point demand. A large number of law enforcers were deployed later that night to disperse the activists who were staging a sit-in after daylong violence in and around downtown Motijheel SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN/DHAKA TRIBUNE

Reza Chowdhury, Tusher Hayat, Md Nashirul Islam n Kamran and Manik Miazee

J

ournalists in Chittagong alerted us to the lurking danger of meeting Shah Ahmed Shafi.

Undaunted by the warning, we pressed ahead as we planned to take an interview of the Hefazat-e-Islam ameer who lived in the Al-Jamiatul Ahliah Darul Uloom Moinul Islam Madrasa in Hathazari.

They cautioned us that the Qwami Madrasa students seriously injured a journalist in 2004 as he went to take a snapshot of the entrance of the madrasa on Khagrachhari-Hathazari road.

We reached the madrasa gate at around 12 o’clock. With the reference to Munir Ahmad, the press secretary to Ahmad Shafi, we could enter the madrasa’s rectangular premises fortified by four-storey buildings all around with some more under-construction small structures dotting the premises.

Munir Ahmad took us to the room of Ahmad Shafi on the first floor of a building instructing us not to question him, much to our frustration.

Munir said we could only bid him salam and seek blessings from him.

As we stepped into the room we found Shah Ahmad Shafi sitting on a chair with a table in front. Clad in a white vest and traditional lungi the Hefazat chief took our salam with a careless look at us.

It was obvious from his look that he did not like us as we were sporting trousers and shirt. He was looking downward.

Shafi’s Press Secretary Munir introduced us to him who came back from Saudi Arabia the previous day (July 19). It was the press secretary who initiated the discourse telling us: “Huzur is very sick and unable to talk to us.”

Munir told us that Shafi was vexed as hundreds of journalists flock to the madrasa every day to meet him.

We thought he would not allow us to proceed with a long discussion. We made them feel comfortable and at one stage Munir told us that he would talk on behalf of Moulana Shafi.

MA: The government proposed to appoint Huzur as the chairman of the Qwami Commission. Huzur tagged five preconditions. He then held a press conference and withdrew his support as the government was resorting to cheating.

DT: We waited for long to see you…

MA: Huzur is listening to you.

Munir Ahmad butted into half way through the sentence: “Huzur is very sick; he is not in a position to talk to you. He had addressed scores of programmes in Saudi Arabia, Jeddah, Riyadh, and Mecca-Medina. Wherever he went people poured in to see him; the expatriates there wanted him to stay back but he returned for his oldage complications.”

DT: We think the Hefazat-e-Islam is a non-political platform. But the May 5 Dhaka siege programme raised some political questions about the Hefazat. Some political demands were introduced from the Hefazat.

For instance, issuing a deadline to the government for formulating blasphemy law…

DT: What happened to the proposed Qawmi Madrasa board and the university?

Munir Ahmad (MA): “We have no relation with it (board). The university is state owned. Shafi was made the DG of the government commission on Qwami Madrasa.”

DT: Was Shafi made its chairman?

DT: You (Hefazat-e-Islam) are on one side and people are on the other end.

We the media are in between. What do you think of it?

MA: “You will convey our message to people.”

DT: People have some positive ideas about you (Hefazat-e-Islam)…

MA: Yes, it has been proved. People’s response to 13-point demand of the Hefazat, floated only two months back without any organisational structure, is unprecedented. This was not possible for any political parties to hold rallies in four to five districts and make the long march and Dhaka siege a success. It was possible only because of Hefazat-e-Islam’s non-political stance.

Hefazat’s power originates from Iman (faith) and Akidah (certain belief).

Hefazat has neither any political ambition nor fascination for power; we are clear about it. Huzur says we are least bothered about who is going to power.

Whoever is in power, they must not hurt people’s Iman and Akidah.

At this stage of the conversation Ahmad Shafi stepped in.

Shafi: Nothing will happen if the government accepts Hefazat demands.

DT: We have seen the Hefazat activists campaigning against the Awami League-backed candidates and working in favour of other candidates in the city corporation polls like a political front…

Shafi: Haven’t you noticed it was phoney Hefazat? You have seen fake Hefazat. If there is a fake, there is a genuine too.

DT: Police carried out an operation on May 6. You said scores of people were killed. The government has asked for the list of the people killed in the operation as proof, but…

Shafi: You are learned persons; you tell me why we should publish the list. The government has killed people and it is the government that should provide the figure.

Is there any instance in the world where people were attacked while in prayer or in sleep? The Prophet (SM) went to the country of Kafirs (unbelievers), but refrained from attacking them at night. He encircled the Kafirs’ villages equipped with swords and urged them to yield to Islam. When they declined to concede defeat they came under attack after Fazr prayer (in dawn).

‘We are not out to dislodge Hasina. We have no such agenda. We are not of the view that Hasina goes and someone else comes.

We are a non-political front’

ment to constitute an impartial judicial commission. What is the problem with the judicial commission? Where is the barrier? Our people in Bangladesh… they cut trees? You tell me if Hefazat activists have chopped down trees.

They had (Hefazat men) nothing excepting chira (flattened rice), muri (puffed rice), and water…and prayer beads.

DT: Why did the peaceful programme suddenly turn violent?

Shafi: We organised the long march programme on April 6. Have we vandalised a single car? Was there any arson attack at any place? Please tell me – investigate it … Our blockade programme started at 6am and ended at 9am on May 5. Before that nothing unpleasant happened.

MA: The gathering was supposed to end at 6pm. You think, a gathering of 1.5 million to 2 million people …

Shafi: How much time they need for exit.

DT: This is ok, but …

Shafi: We were being killed in the street … how can we allow them to leave the venue? If the government allowed us at night, I would go …

I returned after going one and a half miles. Police took me back to Lalbagh Madrasa. No light was there; shooting was going on … I decided to go to the spot at Fazr prayer and return after offering prayers.

At this stage he again lost his temper and said in a baritone voice: “Why do you disturb me for this? What is the point of vexing me? We are oppressed … tell me.”

us that they would consider the rest gradually …

MA then intervened: This would suffice.

Shafi: Then nothing would have happened. We do not want anything; we have urged them to accept the words of Allah and his Prophet (SM).

They are not accepting … killing us.

We will endure torture … we will not fight back. We are not out to dislodge Hasina. We have no such agenda. We are not of the view that Hasina goes and someone else comes. We are a non-political front … we will place the same demand to whoever comes in Hasina’s place.

MA: We have put our faith in Allah.

We are seeking justice from Him for the May 5 incident.

Shafi: We have sought justice from Allah. We have not turned to anyone for justice … we could have done so. We could have unleashed anarchy across the country.

MA: It was not a big deal to us. We have people’s support, you know. We could have brought the country to a standstill.

Shafi: We did not go that way and will not do so. We do not want power … do you know who liberated this country (undivided India)?

MA: The Alems (religious leaders) have done it; the Alems had their

Ahmad Shafi then paused and offered a prayer for Allah’s blessing upon the DT journalists so that they could write in favour of Islam. However, he refused to be photographed after the interview. He then authorised MA to answer the rest of the DT questions.

MA then took the DT team to another room.

Ahmed Shafi in a press conference in April

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU/DHAKA TRIBUNE

DT: Shafi denied the involvement of the Hefazat men in the city corporation polls. But we have seen them campaigning against the Awami League-backed candidates in all five city corporation polls. If they were fake Hefazat men, why did you not issue a statement against the use of Hefazat card?

MA: City corporation polls are local polls. Some Hefazat activists might have worked for some local interests … We had no central instruction for this.

He refused to talk after the Juhr prayer call.

“Negative consequences of the crackdown on the Hefazat activists are already visible,” Munir said with a lopsided smile without naming the Awami League, which conceded defeat in the five city corporation polls, before bidding us good-bye. l

DT: Our question is ...

Shafi: You don’t need to say anything.

Why have you come here? Who has sent you here?

DT: Shafi is authority here. If he speaks something positive we can inform the people in the same light.

MA: Some of the government activities have gone against Iman, Akidah and Islam. Our opposition to them has been interpreted as our opposition to the government. The government is promoting the atheists and the Shahbaghi.

Some political parties are against the government. We do not have a single political issue in our 13-point demand. If the government accepts our demands, the Hefazat will keep mum and call off its programmes.

As this correspondent was about to ask another question Shafi’s temper flared: “I cannot talk anymore. I am sick.”

MA: The government cut off power before the genocide. Why did the government feel the need for cleaning the streets at dawn?

Shafi: Can you tell me what the necessity of washing the roads was?

MA: So, the government must make public the number of people killed.

Huzur has protested the burning of the Holy Quran. The prime minister said those who burnt the Quran would be hunted down through examining the video footage. None has been arrested so far. I am repeatedly asking the government to form an inquiry committee. Why don’t they do it?

The DT correspondents again tried to put a question to him but Shafi snapped: “Don’t talk tall.”

Shafi: Why was no probe body formed?

MA: Huzur always urged the govern-

He then went on to repeat if the correspondents went there to meet him on their own or whether the government had sent them there to extract information from him.

The DT correspondent said it was not what he was thinking.

Shafi then insisted if the government had sent the correspondents to get his views: “Many people come.

You have to tell me who has sent you here?”

DT: This is our newspaper’s decision to talk to you.

Shafi: We have already communicated our views through newspapers. I am 90 years old. You are like my grandsons … I have been on to the streets for what I believe … I will not say anything … we are not craving for power; we are not for putting someone in power. We do not need to overthrow someone from power. We have been with the madrasa … the government has said nothing. It could have accepted only one of our demands. If they assured

contribution to the anti-British movements …

Shafi: The Deobandhis have done it.

Then the Hindustan and Pakistan came into being. Bangladesh was born after the Hindustan-Pakistan. You go through the history to know the contribution of the Alems.

MA: Still the Alems are the most vocal against the Indian threat or other threats. Are you clear about Huzur’s position?

DT: We want to get your opinion about the trial of Jamaat leader Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed and …

Shafi: We have no comment on this issue. We have no political stance … we have not made any political slogans.

We will not talk politically. Our position is clear: we are a non-political (front) … You take part in the Iftar.

6

DHAKA TRIBUNE

DSE Broad Index: 3979.35 ⇑ 1.60% Turnover: 3232.13 M.Tk ⇑ 99.15%, PE: 12.42

Turnover

Business

3,471.96 MTk . ⇑ 96.16%

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Monday, 12 August, 2013 MarketCap. 1,924.87 BTk. ⇑ 1.54%

CSE All Share Index: 12372 ⇑ 1.78% Turnover: 239.83 M Tk. ⇑ 63.15%, PE: 12.29

August 13, 2013 Sectotal Index: BANK: 33,909.06 ⇑ 1.02% NBFI: 19,822.68 ⇑ 1.75% INVS: 5,089.47 ⇓ 0.59% ENGG: 6,083.83 ⇑ 2.28% FOOD: 7,498.59 ⇑ 2.98% F&P: 10,965.18 ⇑ 3.11% TEXT: 2,889.95 ⇑ 2.36% PHAR: 16,620.77 ⇑ 1.35% PAPR: 773.39 ⇓ 3.11% SERV: 3,174.24 ⇑ 4.07% LEAT: 4,485.36 ⇑ 2.81% CERA: 481.34 ⇑ 2.06% CMNT: 4,197.54 ⇑ 0.68% INFO: 6,822.94 ⇑ 1.46% GINS: 9,130.92 ⇑ 0.41% LINS: 100,879.22 ⇑ 7.10% TELC: 1,386.55 ⇑ 0.45% MISC: 6,174.60 ⇑ 1.02% CompanyCode | EPS | BV | Volume Traded (Share) DSE/CSE: ClosePrice ⇓/⇑ Chn % | Avg.Price | Hi / Lo BANK ABBANK | 2.95 | 32.60 | Vol. 189844 D: 25.30 ⇑ 2.43% | 25.11 | 27.00 / 22.50 C: 25.40 ⇑ 1.60% | 25.31 | 25.50 / 24.00 CITYBANK | 1.15 | 25.97 | Vol. 389801 D: 17.70 ⇑ 2.91% | 17.65 | 18.50 / 16.00 C: 17.80 ⇑ 4.09% | 17.72 | 17.80 / 17.60 IFIC | 1.10 | 18.34 | Vol. 632654 D: 21.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 22.05 | 23.00 / 19.80 C: 22.20 ⇑ 1.37% | 22.16 | 22.50 / 21.80 ISLAMIBANK | 3.78 | 27.16 | Vol. 145920 D: 36.10 ⇑ 0.28% | 36.07 | 37.00 / 33.00 C: 35.90 ⇑ 0.28% | 35.94 | 36.20 / 35.00 NBL | 1.05 | 15.76 | Vol. 1127982 D: 11.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 11.96 | 12.60 / 11.00 C: 12.00 ⇑ 0.84% | 11.98 | 12.10 / 11.90 PUBALIBANK | 1.92 | 21.18 | Vol. 151940 D: 30.00 ⇓ 0.33% | 30.17 | 31.00 / 27.20 C: 30.50 ⇓ 0.33% | 30.20 | 30.90 / 29.80 RUPALIBANK | 6.70 | 64.27 | Vol. 9212 D: 60.10 ⇓ 1.48% | 60.47 | 62.00 / 58.00 C: 61.00 ⇑ 1.33% | 60.17 | 61.00 / 60.00 UCBL | 1.90 | 21.72 | Vol. 1746441 D: 19.00 ⇑ 2.70% | 18.97 | 20.00 / 17.50 C: 18.90 ⇑ 3.85% | 18.86 | 19.00 / 18.20 UTTARABANK | 3.42 | 26.97 | Vol. 151112 D: 25.70 ⇑ 1.98% | 25.53 | 25.90 / 23.60 C: 25.70 ⇑ 2.39% | 25.53 | 25.90 / 24.50 ICBIBANK | -1.60 | -13.03 | Vol. 100000 D: 6.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.09 | 6.20 / 6.00 EBL | 3.91 | 28.22 | Vol. 1400723 D: 26.20 ⇑ 1.16% | 26.95 | 27.00 / 24.00 C: 26.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 26.41 | 26.50 / 26.20 ALARABANK | 2.03 | 14.91 | Vol. 467912 D: 15.00 ⇑ 1.35% | 14.97 | 15.10 / 14.00 C: 15.00 ⇑ 1.35% | 14.99 | 15.00 / 14.50 PRIMEBANK | 2.89 | 22.40 | Vol. 1633657 D: 21.50 ⇑ 1.90% | 21.50 | 22.70 / 19.00 C: 21.20 ⇑ 3.41% | 20.87 | 21.20 / 20.60 SOUTHEASTB | 1.89 | 22.66 | Vol. 239751 D: 16.40 ⇑ 0.61% | 16.48 | 16.60 / 15.00 C: 16.50 ⇑ 1.23% | 16.47 | 17.00 / 16.00 DHAKABANK | 1.46 | 18.08 | Vol. 136402 D: 20.80 ⇑ 0.48% | 20.91 | 21.10 / 19.50 C: 20.70 ⇑ 1.47% | 20.53 | 20.70 / 20.00 NCCBANK | 1.90 | 15.88 | Vol. 598049 D: 12.40 ⇑ 1.64% | 12.41 | 12.60 / 11.00 C: 12.50 ⇑ 1.63% | 12.51 | 12.60 / 12.40 SIBL | 2.05 | 14.47 | Vol. 345248 D: 12.60 ⇑ 0.80% | 12.57 | 13.00 / 11.30 C: 12.70 ⇑ 1.60% | 12.50 | 12.70 / 11.50 DUTCHBANGL | 11.57 | 54.27 | Vol. 16000 D: 99.70 ⇑ 1.32% | 99.73 | 101.8 / 98.10 C: 104.4 ⇑ 0.38% | 103.85 | 105.0 / 102.9 MTBL | 1.17 | 17.27 | Vol. 14010 D: 14.70 ⇑ 3.52% | 14.71 | 14.90 / 14.00 STANDBANKL | 2.33 | 14.41 | Vol. 233667 D: 13.60 ⇑ 0.74% | 13.58 | 14.00 / 12.30 C: 13.90 ⇑ 0.72% | 13.53 | 14.00 / 12.80 ONEBANKLTD | 2.35 | 15.34 | Vol. 1107360 D: 15.40 ⇑ 3.36% | 15.23 | 16.00 / 13.80 C: 15.50 ⇑ 3.33% | 15.37 | 16.00 / 14.00 BANKASIA | 1.35 | 20.80 | Vol. 431886 D: 18.50 ⇑ 1.65% | 18.59 | 18.60 / 17.00 MERCANBANK | 2.07 | 16.59 | Vol. 563493 D: 12.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 11.99 | 12.50 / 11.00 C: 12.10 ⇑ 0.83% | 11.99 | 12.10 / 11.00 EXIMBANK | 1.80 | 14.31 | Vol. 708611 D: 12.10 ⇓ 0.82% | 12.15 | 13.10 / 11.00 C: 12.20 ⇓ 0.81% | 12.13 | 12.30 / 12.00 JAMUNABANK | 2.47 | 18.56 | Vol. 187754 D: 14.00 ⇑ 0.72% | 13.99 | 14.20 / 13.00 C: 14.40 ⇑ 0.70% | 14.09 | 14.40 / 13.80 BRACBANK | 1.51 | 24.87 | Vol. 205124 D: 28.90 ⇑ 0.35% | 29.10 | 29.50 / 26.00 C: 28.90 ⇓ 2.03% | 28.85 | 29.00 / 28.70 SHAHJABANK | 2.61 | 14.47 | Vol. 248967 D: 14.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 14.89 | 15.10 / 13.50 C: 15.00 ⇑ 0.67% | 14.85 | 15.00 / 14.40 PREMIERBAN | 1.18 | 13.95 | Vol. 353207 D: 10.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 10.38 | 11.00 / 9.40 C: 10.40 ⇑ 0.97% | 10.42 | 10.50 / 10.00 TRUSTBANK | 0.50 | 18.00 | Vol. 42494 D: 18.00 ⇑ 2.27% | 17.95 | 18.20 / 15.90 C: 17.50 ⇑ 0.57% | 17.55 | 17.50 / 17.50 FIRSTSBANK | 1.85 | 13.89 | Vol. 155171 D: 12.40 ⇑ 0.81% | 12.47 | 13.00 / 11.30 C: 12.60 ⇑ 0.80% | 12.50 | 12.70 / 12.00 NON BANKING F I IDLC | 4.43 | 29.18 | Vol. 340952 D: 60.00 ⇑ 4.90% | 58.46 | 60.80 / 52.00 C: 59.80 ⇑ 4.00% | 59.00 | 60.00 / 57.60 ULC | 1.80 | 14.90 | Vol. 63991 D: 27.60 ⇑ 2.99% | 27.44 | 27.90 / 24.60 UTTARAFIN | 7.16 | 41.54 | Vol. 40342 D: 75.90 ⇑ 1.47% | 74.93 | 79.00 / 67.40 C: 74.50 ⇑ 1.50% | 74.61 | 75.30 / 74.30 MIDASFIN | -1.99 | 10.05 | Vol. 6466 D: 31.90 ⇑ 9.62% | 31.86 | 32.00 / 28.00 FLEASEINT | 2.34 | 13.93 | Vol. 101050 D: 24.70 ⇑ 1.65% | 24.77 | 25.00 / 23.90 C: 24.70 ⇓ 1.20% | 24.76 | 24.90 / 24.60 PLFSL | 1.37 | 17.48 | Vol. 255709 D: 23.60 ⇑ 2.61% | 23.44 | 25.10 / 21.00 C: 23.50 ⇑ 1.29% | 23.61 | 24.00 / 23.00 PRIMEFIN | 0.87 | 17.88 | Vol. 167004 D: 26.10 ⇑ 4.82% | 25.84 | 26.40 / 22.50 C: 26.20 ⇑ 4.38% | 25.97 | 26.30 / 25.50 PREMIERLEA | 0.10 | 11.37 | Vol. 161680 D: 10.80 ⇓ 0.92% | 10.89 | 11.10 / 10.00 C: 10.50 ⇓ 1.87% | 10.57 | 10.70 / 10.50 ISLAMICFIN | 1.03 | 15.48 | Vol. 779962 D: 15.00 ⇓ 0.66% | 15.09 | 15.50 / 13.90 C: 15.10 ⇓ 1.95% | 15.30 | 15.50 / 15.00 LANKABAFIN | 1.61 | 31.07 | Vol. 513505 D: 49.80 ⇓ 0.40% | 50.05 | 53.00 / 45.00 C: 50.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 50.47 | 51.00 / 49.70 BIFC | 0.15 | 18.58 | Vol. 30034 D: 13.30 ⇑ 1.53% | 13.25 | 13.60 / 12.00 IPDC | 1.23 | 19.43 | Vol. 21500 D: 16.20 ⇑ 1.25% | 16.26 | 16.60 / 16.10 C: 16.60 ⇑ 2.47% | 16.55 | 17.00 / 16.00 UNIONCAP | 0.54 | 17.85 | Vol. 25379 D: 28.10 ⇑ 3.31% | 28.06 | 28.40 / 24.50 C: 29.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 28.00 | 29.90 / 29.90 BDFINANCE | 0.57 | 14.77 | Vol. 56905 D: 17.90 ⇑ 2.29% | 17.83 | 18.50 / 16.00 C: 17.70 ⇑ 0.57% | 17.74 | 17.90 / 17.00 ILFSL | 0.35 | 12.19 | Vol. 204000 D: 12.60 ⇑ 2.44% | 12.56 | 12.80 / 12.40 C: 12.70 ⇑ 2.42% | 12.54 | 12.70 / 12.50 PHOENIXFIN | 2.46 | 19.39 | Vol. 98100 D: 32.20 ⇑ 2.88% | 32.00 | 32.50 / 28.20 C: 32.00 ⇑ 3.23% | 32.20 | 32.40 / 32.00 FASFIN | 0.19 | 13.56 | Vol. 249360 D: 13.60 ⇑ 2.26% | 13.62 | 13.90 / 12.00 C: 13.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.66 | 13.90 / 13.50 DBH | 3.40 | 16.80 | Vol. 41175 D: 64.10 ⇑ 3.55% | 64.19 | 64.90 / 56.00

Combined Turnover Leader Padma Oil Co. -A Meghna Petroleum -A BD Submarine Cable-A Olympic Ind. -A Square Pharma -A

Vol.

TO M. Tk.

% of TTL

Avg. P

822108

295.86

8.52

359.88

848905

237.06

6.83

279.26

DSE Loser

C%

A%

CP

50.80

Samata Leather-Z

-4.42

-2.91

10.80

10.55

170.40

Grameen M F One-A

-3.79

-1.51

48.20

9.62

9.11

31.90

Prime Bank 1st MF-A

-3.77

-5.99

5.10

DSE Gainer

C%

A%

CP

Eastern Housing-A

9.96

7.06

Renwick Jajneswar-A

9.72

Midas Financing-Z

758160 891357

234.93 210.60

6.77 6.07

309.87 236.26

Familytex (BD) Ltd.-N

8.80

6.63

30.90

Standard Insurance-A

-2.40

-2.34

36.60

564882

124.74

3.59

220.82

Navana CNG-A

8.73

5.34

76.00

Mercantile Insur-A

-2.30

-1.19

25.50

NHFIL | 0.57 | 12.70 | Vol. 280025 D: 29.40 ⇑ 5.76% | 29.13 | 30.40 / 27.90 C: 28.90 ⇑ 3.58% | 29.13 | 30.00 / 28.90 BAYLEASING | 0.72 | 25.55 | Vol. 130444 D: 30.00 ⇑ 3.81% | 29.88 | 30.20 / 28.00 C: 29.90 ⇑ 5.28% | 29.95 | 30.10 / 29.70 ICB | 109.65 | 595.98 | Vol. 6719 D: 1863 ⇑ 2.62% | 1864 | 1885 / 1830 C: 1850 ⇑ 0.05% | 1850 | 1850 / 1850 GSPFINANCE | 1.63 | 22.23 | Vol. 47035 D: 24.30 ⇑ 2.10% | 24.33 | 25.00 / 22.00 C: 25.00 ⇑ 6.38% | 25.00 | 25.00 / 25.00 INVESTMENT 1STICB | 64.70 | 137.05 | Vol. 100 D: 893.2 ⇑ 0.76% | 890.00 | 900.0 / 886.5 2NDICB | 33.02 | 76.34 | Vol. 250 D: 323.8 ⇑ 0.34% | 324.00 | 325.0 / 323.0 3RDICB | 24.83 | 58.91 | Vol. 1250 D: 217.5 ⇓ 1.14% | 217.60 | 225.0 / 212.5 4THICB | 23.40 | 58.63 | Vol. 1100 D: 214.9 ⇑ 8.26% | 214.55 | 216.0 / 214.8 ENGINEERING AFTABAUTO | 4.29 | 52.65 | Vol. 590727 D: 115.7 ⇑ 5.37% | 113.90 | 120.0 / 99.00 C: 115.8 ⇑ 4.89% | 113.97 | 116.9 / 111.0 AZIZPIPES | 0.39 | -42.04 | Vol. 3300 D: 15.60 ⇑ 3.31% | 15.76 | 15.70 / 15.30 OLYMPIC | 5.94 | 14.91 | Vol. 891357 D: 236.5 ⇓ 0.50% | 236.25 | 241.0 / 218.0 C: 236.0 ⇓ 0.88% | 236.73 | 243.5 / 233.0 BDLAMPS | -5.31 | 37.07 | Vol. 22350 D: 140.2 ⇑ 8.68% | 139.06 | 140.9 / 134.9 C: 138.8 ⇑ 5.15% | 138.80 | 138.8 / 138.8 ECABLES | 2.04 | 18.87 | Vol. 5800 D: 58.90 ⇑ 4.25% | 58.57 | 59.00 / 57.80 C: 58.00 ⇑ 5.07% | 58.00 | 58.00 / 58.00 SINGERBD | 9.99 | 45.74 | Vol. 144237 D: 195.7 ⇑ 4.93% | 192.84 | 197.0 / 186.5 C: 195.2 ⇑ 4.16% | 192.67 | 197.0 / 190.0 ATLASBANG | 11.98 | 207.70 | Vol. 10724 D: 183.3 ⇑ 2.23% | 182.11 | 184.0 / 162.0 BDAUTOCA | 0.25 | 6.23 | Vol. 6800 D: 22.20 ⇑ 0.91% | 22.21 | 22.50 / 22.00 QSMDRYCELL | 1.65 | 58.49 | Vol. 78400 D: 34.90 ⇑ 2.05% | 34.79 | 35.30 / 33.00 C: 34.30 ⇑ 2.69% | 34.68 | 35.50 / 34.30 RENWICKJA | 5.62 | -90.00 | Vol. 28650 D: 170.4 ⇑ 9.72% | 169.70 | 170.8 / 158.5 NTLTUBES | -2.52 | 312.10 | Vol. 44300 D: 67.50 ⇑ 5.63% | 66.39 | 68.00 / 65.00 BDTHAI | 0.43 | 39.35 | Vol. 129737 D: 19.80 ⇓ 0.50% | 20.02 | 21.00 / 18.00 C: 20.30 ⇓ 0.49% | 20.41 | 20.60 / 20.10 ANWARGALV | 0.51 | 8.08 | Vol. 17000 D: 14.40 ⇓ 1.37% | 14.41 | 14.50 / 14.30 KAY&QUE | -3.89 | 6.03 | Vol. 8000 D: 13.40 ⇑ 0.75% | 13.50 | 14.00 / 13.10 RANFOUNDRY | 2.84 | 18.62 | Vol. 58000 D: 63.00 ⇑ 0.16% | 62.97 | 63.30 / 61.70 SALAMCRST | 3.31 | 20.00 | Vol. 135810 D: 39.00 ⇑ 2.09% | 38.91 | 39.50 / 35.00 C: 39.00 ⇑ 5.12% | 39.11 | 39.50 / 38.10 GOLDENSON | 3.70 | 28.70 | Vol. 160139 D: 39.20 ⇑ 1.03% | 39.15 | 40.00 / 35.50 C: 39.80 ⇑ 2.05% | 39.42 | 40.00 / 39.00 BSRMSTEEL | 3.06 | 19.53 | Vol. 123571 D: 71.20 ⇑ 2.15% | 71.00 | 72.00 / 65.00 C: 71.60 ⇑ 2.29% | 71.30 | 71.80 / 70.70 NAVANACNG | 4.09 | 27.04 | Vol. 284734 D: 76.00 ⇑ 8.73% | 73.56 | 76.60 / 69.00 C: 76.10 ⇑ 8.71% | 74.26 | 76.90 / 72.10 DESHBANDHU | 1.16 | 12.02 | Vol. 127788 D: 20.00 ⇑ 2.56% | 20.06 | 20.20 / 18.10 C: 20.20 ⇑ 2.54% | 20.45 | 21.00 / 20.00 GPHISPAT | 2.94 | 14.51 | Vol. 59700 D: 49.10 ⇑ 1.45% | 48.92 | 49.80 / 48.00 C: 50.00 ⇑ 0.40% | 50.49 | 53.00 / 49.20 BENGALWTL | 2.42 | 20.72 | Vol. 109800 D: 43.50 ⇑ 3.08% | 43.22 | 43.70 / 42.20 C: 43.40 ⇑ 2.84% | 43.15 | 43.50 / 42.80 NPOLYMAR | 2.01 | 324.37 | Vol. 49269 D: 41.00 ⇑ 1.74% | 40.91 | 41.20 / 39.00 C: 40.90 ⇑ 1.24% | 40.91 | 41.00 / 40.60 FOOD & ALLIED APEXFOODS | 2.54 | 90.81 | Vol. 16500 D: 74.00 ⇑ 5.26% | 72.97 | 74.40 / 71.90 BANGAS | 7.20 | 50.27 | Vol. 62350 D: 531.4 ⇑ 2.05% | 525.96 | 537.0 / 518.1 C: 540.1 ⇑ 3.65% | 529.28 | 541.0 / 520.0 BATBC | 65.69 | 117.22 | Vol. 8650 D: 1386 ⇓ 0.66% | 1376 | 1410 / 1350 GEMINISEA | 10.88 | 9.69 | Vol. 1000 D: 136.9 ⇑ 3.71% | 137.00 | 140.0 / 133.0 NTC | 29.88 | 110.05 | Vol. 1050 D: 841.3 ⇑ 0.35% | 840.95 | 849.5 / 836.0 ZEALBANGLA | -23.01 | -193.09 | Vol. 4400 D: 8.00 ⇑ 3.90% | 7.95 | 8.00 / 7.90 CVOPRL | 2.66 | 13.28 | Vol. 63400 D: 481.9 ⇑ 3.97% | 485.69 | 495.0 / 427.0 C: 481.5 ⇑ 6.10% | 487.38 | 491.3 / 470.0 AMCL(PRAN) | 6.53 | 53.37 | Vol. 65080 D: 179.5 ⇑ 3.16% | 178.95 | 181.0 / 171.2 C: 179.0 ⇑ 1.94% | 178.98 | 183.0 / 176.0 RAHIMAFOOD | 0.62 | 4.46 | Vol. 8000 D: 15.20 ⇑ 0.66% | 15.33 | 15.40 / 15.10 C: 15.40 ⇑ 7.69% | 15.37 | 15.40 / 15.30

FUWANGFOOD | 1.26 | 12.37 | Vol. 254939 D: 23.80 ⇑ 2.59% | 23.55 | 24.00 / 21.00 C: 23.70 ⇑ 3.04% | 23.70 | 23.90 / 23.50 MEGHNAPET | -0.58 | -1.02 | Vol. 5500 D: 5.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.40 | 5.40 / 5.40 MEGCONMILK | -6.68 | -16.22 | Vol. 9000 D: 6.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.89 | 7.00 / 6.90 BEACHHATCH | 1.01 | 12.48 | Vol. 64528 D: 16.50 ⇑ 1.85% | 16.45 | 17.80 / 14.80 C: 16.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.26 | 16.50 / 16.50 FINEFOODS | -0.11 | 10.58 | Vol. 21500 D: 16.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.37 | 16.70 / 16.20 RDFOOD | 0.91 | 16.84 | Vol. 604237 D: 19.80 ⇓ 0.50% | 19.64 | 21.00 / 18.00 C: 19.90 ⇓ 0.50% | 20.08 | 20.50 / 19.70 GHAIL | 1.01 | 22.08 | Vol. 597200 D: 43.70 ⇑ 3.31% | 43.47 | 44.20 / 39.00 C: 44.00 ⇑ 4.02% | 43.70 | 44.20 / 40.20 FUEL & POWER LINDEBD | 31.71 | 144.00 | Vol. 6200 D: 600.1 ⇑ 0.23% | 603.39 | 610.0 / 597.2 PADMAOIL | 16.38 | 43.67 | Vol. 822108 D: 364.4 ⇑ 6.39% | 359.94 | 365.3 / 335.0 C: 363.6 ⇑ 5.94% | 358.81 | 365.9 / 345.3 BDWELDING | 0.33 | 16.82 | Vol. 65802 D: 17.60 ⇑ 1.15% | 17.56 | 17.90 / 15.90 C: 17.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 17.68 | 17.90 / 17.00 SUMITPOWER | 3.17 | 19.26 | Vol. 288523 D: 36.10 ⇑ 1.69% | 36.05 | 38.00 / 32.00 C: 36.10 ⇑ 1.69% | 35.99 | 36.20 / 34.00 DESCO | 2.80 | 35.25 | Vol. 166145 D: 80.70 ⇑ 1.38% | 80.77 | 81.20 / 75.00 C: 80.00 ⇑ 1.52% | 79.99 | 80.10 / 79.80 POWERGRID | 2.56 | 48.08 | Vol. 20826 D: 56.10 ⇑ 1.81% | 56.04 | 56.70 / 51.00 C: 56.10 ⇑ 3.31% | 56.05 | 59.60 / 55.00 JAMUNAOIL | 22.78 | 50.24 | Vol. 508136 D: 239.2 ⇑ 4.82% | 237.65 | 240.4 / 220.0 C: 238.3 ⇑ 4.47% | 237.30 | 240.0 / 232.0 MPETROLEUM | 16.98 | 40.41 | Vol. 848905 D: 279.2 ⇑ 2.50% | 279.26 | 283.0 / 260.0 C: 278.9 ⇑ 2.80% | 279.06 | 283.0 / 275.0 TITASGAS | 9.01 | 36.56 | Vol. 631631 D: 86.30 ⇑ 3.11% | 85.70 | 92.00 / 75.40 C: 86.20 ⇑ 3.48% | 85.12 | 86.50 / 84.20 KPCL | 4.73 | 15.86 | Vol. 89740 D: 52.20 ⇑ 1.16% | 52.12 | 52.50 / 49.00 C: 52.40 ⇑ 0.38% | 52.20 | 52.50 / 52.00 BEDL | 1.57 | 17.89 | Vol. 642120 D: 34.30 ⇑ 3.31% | 33.92 | 35.00 / 30.00 C: 34.40 ⇑ 3.30% | 34.20 | 34.50 / 33.50

MJLBD | 2.73 | 30.24 | Vol. 50699 D: 72.80 ⇑ 1.96% | 72.44 | 73.20 / 65.00 C: 72.10 ⇑ 2.56% | 71.84 | 72.50 / 70.00 GBBPOWER | 1.86 | 22.63 | Vol. 246469 D: 25.60 ⇑ 1.99% | 25.59 | 26.50 / 23.00 C: 25.40 ⇓ 1.93% | 25.45 | 26.00 / 25.30 SPPCL | 3.81 | 23.34 | Vol. 661940 D: 58.70 ⇑ 3.71% | 58.30 | 59.00 / 54.00 C: 58.80 ⇑ 3.34% | 58.18 | 59.10 / 57.20 JUTE JUTESPINN | 2.06 | 17.42 | Vol. 950 D: 72.90 ⇑ 4.44% | 72.63 | 74.40 / 72.00 SONALIANSH | 5.54 | 218.80 | Vol. 11650 D: 126.4 ⇑ 3.18% | 126.18 | 128.0 / 122.8 TEXTILE AL-HAJTEX | 1.35 | 15.64 | Vol. 5716 D: 55.60 ⇑ 3.15% | 55.42 | 55.80 / 50.00 RAHIMTEXT | 0.51 | 73.88 | Vol. 500 D: 194.5 ⇑ 1.14% | 194.00 | 199.9 / 192.2 SAIHAMTEX | 2.75 | 29.50 | Vol. 189200 D: 30.60 ⇑ 2.00% | 30.64 | 31.00 / 30.10 C: 30.60 ⇑ 1.32% | 30.79 | 31.00 / 30.50 MODERNDYE | 1.09 | 12.93 | Vol. 250 D: 65.60 ⇑ 0.92% | 64.00 | 66.00 / 64.50 DSHGARME | 0.72 | 12.00 | Vol. 4800 D: 27.10 ⇑ 2.26% | 27.29 | 27.80 / 26.50 DULAMIACOT | -8.46 | -27.78 | Vol. 4600 D: 8.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 8.26 | 8.20 / 8.00 TALLUSPIN | 2.56 | 12.06 | Vol. 1427280 D: 35.40 ⇑ 4.42% | 34.94 | 35.90 / 31.00 C: 35.30 ⇑ 4.75% | 34.88 | 35.50 / 33.50 APEXSPINN | 2.01 | 49.32 | Vol. 4000 D: 59.00 ⇑ 3.69% | 59.00 | 59.80 / 57.20 MITHUNKNIT | 4.54 | 30.39 | Vol. 100024 D: 84.90 ⇑ 1.56% | 84.80 | 85.20 / 78.00 C: 82.80 ⇓ 0.24% | 82.84 | 85.00 / 82.20 DELTASPINN | 3.06 | 18.12 | Vol. 144800 D: 32.30 ⇑ 1.89% | 32.09 | 32.50 / 30.20 C: 32.20 ⇑ 0.63% | 32.07 | 32.70 / 31.80

SONARGAON | 0.27 | 34.50 | Vol. 23337 D: 13.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.37 | 13.50 / 12.50 PRIMETEX | 1.01 | 63.54 | Vol. 656000 D: 24.60 ⇑ 5.13% | 24.49 | 25.20 / 23.60 C: 25.00 ⇑ 7.76% | 24.22 | 25.50 / 21.70 ALLTEX | -0.11 | 23.81 | Vol. 77000 D: 7.40 ⇑ 1.37% | 7.47 | 7.50 / 7.40 C: 7.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.50 | 7.50 / 7.50 ANLIMAYARN | 1.19 | 11.01 | Vol. 171500 D: 30.10 ⇓ 1.95% | 30.31 | 31.20 / 29.80 C: 29.50 ⇓ 1.34% | 29.50 | 29.50 / 29.50 HRTEX | 2.08 | 14.92 | Vol. 79632 D: 26.00 ⇑ 2.77% | 26.00 | 26.30 / 25.30 C: 26.60 ⇑ 9.92% | 26.55 | 26.60 / 26.50 CMCKAMAL | 1.37 | 19.31 | Vol. 511125 D: 25.60 ⇑ 2.81% | 25.47 | 25.80 / 22.50 SAFKOSPINN | 0.95 | 21.78 | Vol. 52837 D: 17.60 ⇑ 4.14% | 17.44 | 17.90 / 16.20 C: 17.50 ⇑ 6.06% | 17.08 | 17.50 / 16.80 SQUARETEXT | 4.32 | 31.82 | Vol. 87567 D: 87.50 ⇑ 0.46% | 87.26 | 88.00 / 85.00 C: 86.70 ⇑ 0.46% | 86.70 | 86.70 / 86.70 METROSPIN | -1.00 | 19.59 | Vol. 65857 D: 14.50 ⇑ 1.40% | 14.55 | 14.60 / 14.40 C: 14.40 ⇓ 0.69% | 14.40 | 14.70 / 14.20 MAKSONSPIN | 0.16 | 20.55 | Vol. 473828 D: 13.40 ⇑ 0.75% | 13.41 | 13.50 / 12.00 C: 13.40 ⇑ 1.52% | 13.37 | 13.60 / 13.00 DACCADYE | 1.21 | 31.13 | Vol. 152859 D: 27.30 ⇑ 3.80% | 27.00 | 27.50 / 25.00 C: 26.90 ⇑ 3.86% | 26.86 | 26.90 / 26.80 RNSPIN | 2.80 | 16.58 | Vol. 2075599 D: 26.30 ⇑ 0.38% | 26.31 | 26.60 / 24.00 C: 26.30 ⇓ 0.38% | 26.31 | 26.50 / 26.10 BXSYNTH | 0.93 | 25.42 | Vol. 223249 D: 14.40 ⇓ 0.69% | 14.49 | 15.00 / 13.20 C: 14.60 ⇓ 0.68% | 14.64 | 14.80 / 14.00 MALEKSPIN | -1.44 | 46.87 | Vol. 1027440 D: 27.50 ⇑ 3.77% | 27.03 | 27.80 / 23.90 C: 27.60 ⇑ 3.76% | 27.14 | 27.90 / 26.80 ZAHINTEX | 1.91 | 35.25 | Vol. 121200 D: 31.70 ⇑ 1.28% | 31.66 | 32.50 / 30.80 SAIHAMCOT | 2.48 | 22.87 | Vol. 858750 D: 28.40 ⇑ 4.41% | 28.14 | 28.60 / 27.50 C: 28.60 ⇑ 4.76% | 28.31 | 30.00 / 27.80 GENNEXT | 1.68 | 15.15 | Vol. 1214147 D: 21.70 ⇑ 4.33% | 21.54 | 22.00 / 19.00 C: 21.50 ⇑ 3.37% | 21.31 | 21.80 / 20.90 ENVOYTEX | 3.26 | 39.26 | Vol. 329200 D: 51.20 ⇑ 2.81% | 51.01 | 52.00 / 44.90 C: 51.00 ⇑ 3.87% | 50.84 | 51.20 / 50.40

ARGONDENIM | 1.89 | 38.86 | Vol. 2941920 D: 39.90 ⇑ 5.00% | 39.20 | 40.10 / 34.20 C: 39.90 ⇑ 5.84% | 38.98 | 40.00 / 37.80 FAMILYTEX | 3.72 | 14.68 | Vol. 470500 D: 30.90 ⇑ 8.80% | 29.60 | 31.20 / 28.40 C: 30.50 ⇑ 7.39% | 29.92 | 31.10 / 28.60 Pharmaceutical & Chemical AMBEEPHA | 3.94 | 26.15 | Vol. 3759 D: 251.3 ⇑ 2.20% | 252.16 | 259.0 / 249.1 C: 249.0 ⇑ 0.28% | 248.14 | 249.0 / 242.0 BXPHARMA | 3.77 | 52.55 | Vol. 81303 D: 46.10 ⇑ 0.88% | 46.00 | 47.00 / 42.00 C: 46.10 ⇑ 1.77% | 45.99 | 46.40 / 45.40 GLAXOSMITH | 20.25 | 123.32 | Vol. 4600 D: 882.8 ⇑ 1.16% | 893.26 | 909.0 / 865.1 ACI | -5.82 | 126.42 | Vol. 6221 D: 147.2 ⇑ 2.72% | 146.92 | 147.9 / 129.0 RENATA | 33.57 | 138.83 | Vol. 6587 D: 658.1 ⇑ 0.26% | 660.09 | 681.0 / 650.0 RECKITTBEN | 27.16 | 78.89 | Vol. 1150 D: 747.9 ⇑ 3.93% | 747.83 | 760.0 / 740.0 PHARMAID | 5.06 | 26.30 | Vol. 40550 D: 185.5 ⇑ 4.98% | 183.77 | 186.6 / 178.0 KOHINOOR | 9.52 | 10.49 | Vol. 4500 D: 362.1 ⇓ 1.60% | 362.22 | 364.0 / 359.0 IBNSINA | 3.44 | 34.02 | Vol. 2730 D: 83.00 ⇑ 1.22% | 82.93 | 83.50 / 79.90 LIBRAINFU | 4.64 | 1565.37 | Vol. 400 D: 233.4 ⇑ 2.82% | 232.50 | 233.9 / 233.0 ORIONINFU | 8.72 | 1.73 | Vol. 44000 D: 42.00 ⇑ 5.53% | 41.44 | 42.20 / 40.30 C: 42.00 ⇓ 2.10% | 42.00 | 42.00 / 42.00 SQURPHARMA | 9.01 | 50.83 | Vol. 564882 D: 221.3 ⇑ 1.05% | 220.84 | 222.1 / 200.0 C: 221.2 ⇑ 1.56% | 220.52 | 221.9 / 219.5 KEYACOSMET | 3.19 | 19.99 | Vol. 385073 D: 28.50 ⇑ 1.79% | 28.43 | 28.70 / 25.20 C: 28.40 ⇑ 1.07% | 28.44 | 28.60 / 28.30 BERGERPBL | 32.46 | 100.20 | Vol. 1600 D: 793.3 ⇓ 1.15% | 796.25 | 825.0 / 786.2

ACIFORMULA | 3.33 | 38.08 | Vol. 8025 D: 69.80 ⇑ 2.35% | 69.50 | 70.50 / 69.00 C: 69.00 ⇑ 0.73% | 69.00 | 69.00 / 69.00 MARICO | 27.53 | 62.47 | Vol. 24700 D: 628.4 ⇓ 2.09% | 639.19 | 647.0 / 623.5 C: 630.0 ⇓ 1.87% | 639.33 | 648.0 / 630.0 BEACONPHAR | 0.33 | 11.97 | Vol. 196350 D: 14.30 ⇑ 0.70% | 14.31 | 14.50 / 13.00 C: 14.40 ⇓ 0.69% | 14.36 | 15.20 / 14.20 ACTIVEFINE | 3.23 | 13.89 | Vol. 510310 D: 86.70 ⇑ 3.21% | 85.93 | 87.00 / 80.00 C: 86.80 ⇑ 2.84% | 85.93 | 86.90 / 85.00 SALVOCHEM | 0.68 | 10.57 | Vol. 160084 D: 18.30 ⇑ 1.67% | 18.41 | 19.00 / 16.20 C: 18.40 ⇑ 2.22% | 18.50 | 18.70 / 18.30 GHCL | 2.14 | 57.31 | Vol. 53750 D: 43.50 ⇑ 1.40% | 43.46 | 43.80 / 43.00 C: 43.20 ⇑ 1.65% | 42.98 | 43.50 / 42.50 ORIONPHARM | 5.02 | 68.68 | Vol. 463920 D: 64.90 ⇑ 1.56% | 65.07 | 65.80 / 58.00 C: 65.10 ⇑ 1.88% | 64.91 | 65.90 / 64.00 JMISMDL | 1.12 | 12.83 | Vol. 108000 D: 89.60 ⇑ 3.34% | 90.19 | 92.00 / 88.00 C: 88.90 ⇑ 1.48% | 89.23 | 91.00 / 87.60 PAPER & PACKAGING HAKKANIPUL | 0.64 | 11.02 | Vol. 2500 D: 16.40 ⇑ 5.13% | 16.67 | 16.50 / 16.40 C: 17.10 ⇓ 9.52% | 17.10 | 17.10 / 17.10 SERVICE SAPORTL | 1.23 | 38.39 | Vol. 68190 D: 25.60 ⇑ 3.23% | 25.70 | 26.00 / 23.00 C: 25.70 ⇑ 4.47% | 25.58 | 25.90 / 25.20 EHL | 2.87 | 18.48 | Vol. 307240 D: 50.80 ⇑ 9.96% | 49.15 | 50.80 / 44.00 C: 51.10 ⇑ 9.89% | 50.03 | 51.10 / 47.00 LEATHER APEXTANRY | 6.57 | 69.38 | Vol. 109750 D: 98.00 ⇑ 0.82% | 97.75 | 99.50 / 96.10 C: 97.70 ⇓ 1.41% | 98.04 | 99.50 / 97.20 BATASHOE | 49.12 | 135.53 | Vol. 5500 D: 618.6 ⇓ 0.18% | 619.27 | 623.1 / 615.3 APEXADELFT | 23.01 | 203.26 | Vol. 27400 D: 300.4 ⇑ 0.54% | 301.63 | 311.9 / 298.2 C: 321.0 ⇑ 8.45% | 321.00 | 321.0 / 321.0 SAMATALETH | -0.07 | 12.08 | Vol. 1000 D: 10.80 ⇓ 4.42% | 11.00 | 10.90 / 10.70 LEGACYFOOT | 0.63 | 17.19 | Vol. 12530 D: 13.60 ⇑ 0.74% | 13.65 | 13.70 / 13.00 CERAMIC MONNOCERA | 0.71 | 96.33 | Vol. 3280 D: 26.40 ⇑ 4.76% | 26.45 | 26.80 / 25.50 FUWANGCER | 1.43 | 13.25 | Vol. 150069 D: 18.00 ⇑ 1.12% | 18.16 | 18.60 / 17.00 C: 18.30 ⇑ 4.57% | 18.24 | 18.50 / 18.10 SPCERAMICS | 0.62 | 30.92 | Vol. 169685 D: 15.40 ⇓ 1.28% | 15.52 | 16.30 / 14.50 C: 15.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 15.63 | 16.10 / 15.50 RAKCERAMIC | 1.98 | 16.76 | Vol. 59067 D: 51.80 ⇑ 3.39% | 51.64 | 52.00 / 45.50 C: 51.00 ⇑ 2.20% | 50.97 | 51.00 / 45.00 CEMENT HEIDELBCEM | 22.85 | 111.50 | Vol. 15150 D: 323.2 ⇑ 0.91% | 324.59 | 332.0 / 315.0 C: 320.2 ⇑ 0.06% | 321.75 | 329.0 / 318.1 CONFIDCEM | 6.23 | 90.76 | Vol. 315786 D: 131.1 ⇑ 4.55% | 129.17 | 132.0 / 120.0 C: 130.5 ⇑ 3.90% | 128.99 | 131.7 / 127.6 MEGHNACEM | 6.28 | 33.81 | Vol. 52600 D: 120.8 ⇑ 2.46% | 118.92 | 122.9 / 117.0 C: 119.8 ⇑ 4.17% | 119.26 | 121.5 / 118.0 ARAMITCEM | 3.03 | 14.65 | Vol. 34840 D: 69.40 ⇑ 3.27% | 69.41 | 70.80 / 65.00 LAFSURCEML | 1.60 | 7.22 | Vol. 324500 D: 31.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 31.88 | 32.00 / 31.70 C: 31.70 ⇓ 1.55% | 31.76 | 32.00 / 31.60 MICEMENT | 4.14 | 40.00 | Vol. 150549 D: 92.50 ⇑ 3.12% | 91.45 | 92.80 / 83.00 C: 92.20 ⇑ 3.02% | 91.59 | 92.60 / 90.00 PREMIERCEM | 3.59 | 22.92 | Vol. 690200 D: 128.7 ⇑ 4.63% | 126.74 | 130.7 / 122.9 C: 128.4 ⇑ 3.55% | 127.70 | 130.0 / 126.0 IT IINDUSTRIES ISNLTD | 0.28 | 17.31 | Vol. 2090 D: 13.30 ⇑ 0.76% | 13.29 | 13.30 / 13.20 C: 13.40 ⇑ 8.94% | 13.35 | 13.40 / 13.30 BDCOM | 1.00 | 14.91 | Vol. 42203 D: 20.60 ⇑ 0.98% | 20.64 | 20.90 / 18.40 C: 20.70 ⇑ 1.47% | 20.65 | 20.90 / 20.50 INTECH | 0.94 | 10.08 | Vol. 38730 D: 13.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.17 | 13.30 / 12.10 C: 13.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.23 | 13.30 / 13.20 AGNISYSL | 1.07 | 25.52 | Vol. 65215 D: 21.60 ⇑ 1.41% | 21.60 | 21.80 / 19.90 C: 21.60 ⇑ 1.41% | 21.60 | 21.60 / 21.60 DAFODILCOM | 1.12 | 11.14 | Vol. 191000 D: 16.10 ⇓ 0.62% | 16.18 | 16.60 / 16.00 C: 16.10 ⇓ 3.01% | 16.18 | 16.30 / 16.10 AAMRATECH | 1.17 | 20.44 | Vol. 391300 D: 37.80 ⇑ 2.44% | 37.86 | 38.30 / 36.90 C: 37.90 ⇑ 3.27% | 37.81 | 38.10 / 37.10 GENERAL INSURANCE BGIC | 1.65 | 20.33 | Vol. 38025 D: 29.60 ⇑ 1.37% | 29.34 | 30.00 / 26.80 C: 29.60 ⇑ 2.07% | 29.48 | 29.80 / 29.30

GREENDELT | 4.05 | 64.44 | Vol. 38424 D: 102.4 ⇓ 0.58% | 104.15 | 110.0 / 98.50 UNITEDINS | 2.47 | 21.04 | Vol. 16105 D: 50.90 ⇑ 0.79% | 50.87 | 51.20 / 48.00 PEOPLESINS | 2.05 | 20.72 | Vol. 50735 D: 26.40 ⇓ 1.49% | 26.63 | 27.10 / 25.00 C: 26.90 ⇑ 1.51% | 26.87 | 26.90 / 26.80 EASTERNINS | 2.22 | 35.88 | Vol. 15822 D: 37.20 ⇑ 2.76% | 37.22 | 38.20 / 36.60 JANATAINS | 7.84 | 170.69 | Vol. 2184 D: 220.8 ⇑ 2.44% | 220.93 | 222.0 / 210.0 C: 228.0 ⇑ 1.33% | 228.00 | 228.0 / 228.0 PHENIXINS | 2.70 | 20.96 | Vol. 21512 D: 39.60 ⇓ 0.75% | 39.75 | 40.80 / 38.00 EASTLAND | 4.06 | 23.29 | Vol. 45737 D: 46.00 ⇓ 1.08% | 45.86 | 49.00 / 42.00 C: 45.10 ⇑ 2.50% | 44.95 | 45.10 / 44.50 CENTRALINS | 1.54 | 19.04 | Vol. 3600 D: 28.80 ⇑ 0.70% | 28.89 | 29.20 / 28.50 KARNAPHULI | 1.56 | 19.42 | Vol. 52040 D: 22.60 ⇑ 0.89% | 22.69 | 22.70 / 22.00 RUPALIINS | 2.76 | 23.38 | Vol. 61860 D: 32.40 ⇓ 0.61% | 32.51 | 32.90 / 29.60 FEDERALINS | 1.10 | 10.98 | Vol. 58861 D: 22.30 ⇑ 0.45% | 22.33 | 23.00 / 21.50 C: 22.70 ⇑ 4.13% | 22.57 | 22.80 / 21.80 RELIANCINS | 3.93 | 61.52 | Vol. 9000 D: 74.70 ⇑ 5.51% | 74.78 | 77.00 / 72.00 PURABIGEN | 1.05 | 18.71 | Vol. 117480 D: 20.60 ⇓ 0.48% | 20.58 | 22.70 / 20.30 PRAGATIINS | 2.01 | 50.30 | Vol. 7725 D: 57.80 ⇑ 4.71% | 57.77 | 58.70 / 52.00 PRIMEINSUR | 2.14 | 14.14 | Vol. 36250 D: 26.50 ⇑ 0.76% | 26.62 | 27.00 / 26.40 PIONEERINS | 3.11 | 23.84 | Vol. 66236 D: 72.80 ⇓ 0.41% | 73.45 | 75.10 / 67.00 MERCINS | 1.53 | 14.50 | Vol. 102978 D: 25.50 ⇓ 2.30% | 25.74 | 26.50 / 23.60 C: 26.00 ⇓ 0.38% | 26.00 | 26.00 / 26.00 AGRANINS | 1.73 | 14.39 | Vol. 46554 D: 22.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 22.98 | 23.30 / 22.00 GLOBALINS | 1.09 | 11.78 | Vol. 11917 D: 29.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 29.62 | 30.00 / 28.00 NITOLINS | 2.59 | 15.41 | Vol. 6000 D: 32.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 32.00 | 32.10 / 32.00 ASIAPACINS | 1.84 | 13.76 | Vol. 70500 D: 26.40 ⇑ 0.38% | 26.40 | 26.80 / 26.10 SONARBAINS | 1.68 | 13.38 | Vol. 15790 D: 22.80 ⇓ 0.87% | 22.80 | 23.20 / 21.50 PARAMOUNT | 1.26 | 13.19 | Vol. 10056 D: 21.50 ⇑ 5.39% | 21.48 | 21.90 / 20.00 CITYGENINS | 1.65 | 14.26 | Vol. 48604 D: 24.60 ⇑ 1.23% | 24.57 | 25.00 / 23.00 C: 24.50 ⇓ 0.81% | 24.95 | 25.00 / 24.50 CONTININS | 1.41 | 15.68 | Vol. 7700 D: 28.30 ⇑ 0.71% | 28.36 | 29.00 / 27.00 TAKAFULINS | 2.19 | 15.17 | Vol. 6729 D: 29.80 ⇑ 3.11% | 29.51 | 30.90 / 27.00 C: 27.20 ⇓ 8.42% | 27.36 | 30.00 / 27.20 STANDARINS | 2.58 | 13.99 | Vol. 19759 D: 36.60 ⇓ 2.40% | 36.66 | 38.00 / 36.20 NORTHRNINS | 1.77 | 11.15 | Vol. 101780 D: 46.30 ⇓ 0.86% | 46.38 | 47.00 / 44.00 REPUBLIC | 2.14 | 12.42 | Vol. 49056 D: 53.10 ⇑ 2.91% | 52.76 | 54.20 / 48.00 ASIAINS | 1.56 | 17.34 | Vol. 71539 D: 25.90 ⇑ 1.97% | 25.95 | 26.20 / 23.00 C: 25.80 ⇓ 0.77% | 25.78 | 26.50 / 25.30 ISLAMIINS | 1.29 | 11.96 | Vol. 1620 D: 26.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 25.93 | 26.00 / 25.00 PROVATIINS | 1.90 | 14.30 | Vol. 8572 D: 25.40 ⇑ 0.79% | 25.43 | 25.90 / 23.00 DHAKAINS | 2.84 | 18.02 | Vol. 16000 D: 39.90 ⇑ 0.50% | 39.93 | 40.90 / 39.30 C: 40.00 ⇓ 1.23% | 40.00 | 40.00 / 40.00 LIFE INSURANCE NATLIFEINS | 12.34 | 80.99 | Vol. 3863 D: 242.5 ⇑ 0.62% | 241.88 | 250.0 / 230.0 C: 244.0 ⇑ 6.09% | 241.50 | 244.0 / 235.0 DELTALIFE | 38.53 | 189.40 | Vol. 13100 D: 4741 ⇑ 4.12% | 4740 | 4741 / 4728 C: 4740 ⇓ 7.37% | 4745 | 4750 / 4740 SANDHANINS | 2.39 | 28.22 | Vol. 11426 D: 68.90 ⇑ 2.07% | 68.53 | 71.00 / 61.00 POPULARLIF | 3.70 | 715.41 | Vol. 2000 D: 144.4 ⇑ 3.51% | 144.50 | 146.0 / 143.9 FAREASTLIF | 9.21 | 60.79 | Vol. 18438 D: 107.9 ⇑ 1.60% | 107.57 | 109.1 / 98.00 C: 107.9 ⇑ 4.25% | 107.90 | 107.9 / 107.9 MEGHNALIFE | 10.82 | 48.87 | Vol. 24150 D: 90.10 ⇓ 0.22% | 90.23 | 91.40 / 89.90 C: 90.50 ⇑ 0.78% | 90.49 | 90.50 / 90.20 PROGRESLIF | 2.30 | 31.45 | Vol. 3160 D: 97.00 ⇓ 1.02% | 96.75 | 97.20 / 92.00 PRAGATILIF | 0.60 | 30.15 | Vol. 44500 D: 92.30 ⇓ 0.22% | 92.58 | 93.00 / 92.10 TELECOM GP | 12.96 | 26.26 | Vol. 455911 D: 179.1 ⇑ 0.67% | 180.52 | 182.9 / 165.0 C: 179.3 ⇑ 0.50% | 180.93 | 183.5 / 179.0 BSCCL | 7.14 | 23.70 | Vol. 758160 D: 306.6 ⇑ 0.26% | 309.91 | 314.2 / 280.0 C: 306.6 ⇑ 0.33% | 309.22 | 314.9 / 290.5 TRAVEL & LEISURE UNITEDAIR | 1.60 | 15.12 | Vol. 4063213 D: 20.40 ⇑ 2.51% | 20.28 | 20.60 / 18.00 C: 20.40 ⇑ 2.51% | 20.23 | 20.50 / 20.00 UNIQUEHRL | 4.02 | 86.29 | Vol. 704283 D: 94.50 ⇑ 4.54% | 93.67 | 95.40 / 85.00 C: 94.60 ⇑ 5.11% | 93.46 | 95.40 / 91.00 MISCELLANEOUS ARAMIT | 16.07 | 99.93 | Vol. 6650 D: 228.4 ⇑ 4.77% | 222.27 | 233.8 / 216.0 C: 205.0 ⇑ 0.00% | 205.00 | 205.0 / 205.0 BSC | 1.77 | 565.82 | Vol. 136145 D: 542.8 ⇑ 3.43% | 542.04 | 550.0 / 528.5 C: 543.5 ⇑ 3.62% | 542.52 | 550.5 / 530.0 GQBALLPEN | 6.55 | 250.45 | Vol. 77334 D: 141.9 ⇑ 2.23% | 142.01 | 145.0 / 127.0 C: 142.1 ⇑ 3.05% | 141.93 | 143.8 / 141.0 USMANIAGL | 0.50 | 26.03 | Vol. 48210 D: 120.7 ⇑ 5.23% | 120.71 | 123.6 / 116.1 C: 120.5 ⇑ 9.55% | 120.50 | 121.0 / 118.0 SAVAREFR | 0.23 | 12.32 | Vol. 4000 D: 56.70 ⇑ 0.53% | 56.70 | 56.70 / 56.70 BEXIMCO | 3.24 | 86.74 | Vol. 673131 D: 34.10 ⇑ 0.89% | 34.17 | 37.00 / 30.50 C: 34.20 ⇑ 0.88% | 34.15 | 34.50 / 33.70 SINOBANGLA | 1.75 | 21.01 | Vol. 26000 D: 18.80 ⇓ 0.53% | 18.86 | 19.00 / 18.70 C: 18.50 ⇓ 2.12% | 18.50 | 18.50 / 18.50 MIRACLEIND | 0.14 | 14.90 | Vol. 22164 D: 11.60 ⇑ 1.75% | 11.69 | 11.80 / 10.40 BOND IBBLPBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 20 D: 943.0 ⇓ 0.21% | 950.00 | 945.0 / 940.0 ACIZCBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 4 D: 831.5 ⇓ 1.01% | 750.00 | 833.0 / 830.0

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

7

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Transit eats into cement exports to North-East India n Kayes Sohel Indian cement manufacturer Star Cement is eyeing to export at least 50,000 tonnes of clinker to Bangladesh every month.

Having no source of cement clinker in the country, Bangladesh is one of the largest importers of clinker and limestone in the world by importing annually an estimated 10m to 15m tonnes from India, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and China. Clinker is the major raw material for manufacturing cement.

Because of raw materials shortage, local cement industries are producing more than 15m tonnes of cement every year, much lower than their total capacity of 22m tonnes, according to the Industries Ministry. Annual demand for cement in Bangladesh is around 15m tonnes.

On Saturday, the Star Cement dispatched its first barge of clinker here via riverine route. With this, the company also achieved the feat of being the first cement manufacturing company of India to export clinker to Bangladesh via waterway.

Jyoti Swaroop Agarwal, president (sales and marketing) of Star Cement,

said in the recent past a series of bilateral discussion between both the Indian and Bangladesh governments had paved the way to utilise the potential river route, which according to him was cost effective, according to an Indian newspaper.

Exporting clinker to Bangladesh via river route would give an edge to Star Cement to encounter the stiff competition it was likely to face from manufacturers of South-East Asian countries, said Agarwal.

South-East Asian countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Korea, presently meet around 99% of the total clinker requirement of Bangladesh.

As a pilot project, Star Cement had started clinker export to Bangladesh last year via roadway, however as that proved not to be cost effective; the company had to switch to river route now. “We believe that this mode of logistics will definitely be commercially more viable than ever,” Agarwal said.

He said Star Cement had already tied up with many leading cement manufacturers of Bangladesh to meet their clinker requirements over a long term and many more such deals were in the pipeline. The company has chosen a

port in Karimganj, in south Assam, to export clinkers to Dhaka.

Bangladesh has 123 cement industries at present of which only 64 are fully functional.

World’s largest cement companies, including Lafarge (France), Heidelberg Cement (Germany), Holcim (Switzerland) and Cemex (Mexico), operate in the country.

However, their combined market share is less than one-third of the total market, which is dominated by local companies.

“We are dependent on imported clinker but have a surplus capacity of production,” said Jahangir Alam, chairman of MI Cement Factory that makes the Crown brand.

He said Bangladesh’s cement export is fully destined to the northeastern states of India, but due to allowing transit to India, the demand for Bangladeshi cement fell in those states.

Availing transit facility, India is now being able to shift cement at lower costs to the “Seven Sister States” of northeastern India through Bangladesh, he said. The shipment cost is lower compared to importing from Bangladesh, he added. l

Push carts remain idle beside the Babu Bazaar Bridge in Dhaka due to the ongoing 48-hour hartal, disrupting commodity supplies from the wholesale market NASHIRUL ISLAM

Muhith to take stock of Stocks ignore hartal, Eid hangover n big credit scams Tribune Report

n

Stocks rallied with improvement in turnover yesterday, shrugging off political uncertainty and poor earnings result.

The market witnessed modest buying pressure mostly from institutions, helping indices close higher. The trading floors of the broker houses, however, yet to get life because of ongoing 48-hour strike and holiday hangover.

The benchmark DSEX index rose 63 points or 1.6% to 3,979, extending the gaining streak for the third straight session. The blue chip index DS30 was up 26 points or 1.8% to 1,508.

The Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE) Selective Categories Index, CSCX, closed at 7,845 with a rise of 132 points.

“Stronger price performance by top traded companies helped pull the market up further. Ongoing

Asif Showkat Kallol

Finance Minister AMA Muhith is scheduled to hold meetings with the state-owned commercial banks on Sunday next to review the present status of the big credit scams took place recently.

It is for the first time the minister is going to meet the chairmen and managing directors of the banks at the ministry after three big banking industry scandals involving Hall-mark, Bismillah Group and Basic Bank.

Muhith is expected to review the financial status of the banks too to understand the damages caused by the credit scams, said a senior official of the Banking and Financial Institutions Division.

“He will ask for detail account of the activities along with the status of the large-scale scams.”

The official said a recent World Bank Mission expressed concern about the financial status of the banks, which the meeting would also discuss.

“We’re looking into the issues,” Banking Division Secretary Dr Aslam Alam told the Dhaka Tribune about the concern the World Bank Mission expressed last week.

He said the state-owned commercial banks need recapitalisation to become competitive with the private banks.

In early July, an IMF mission expressed concern over the financial condition of six state-owned banks for their failure in mitigating credit scams that plunged them into severe financial risks.

“Why have state owned commercial banks given loan to the persons that they failed to recover,” it observed.

The banks include Sonali , Janata ,

Central Pharma debuts in stock market today n Tribune Report

Share trading of Central Pharmaceuticals Limited (CPL) begins at the stock exchanges today.

It will be the 24th company in pharmaceuticals and chemicals sector listed in Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and 19th in Chittagong Stock Exchange (CSE), officials said.

CPL floated 14m ordinary shares of Tk10 each to raise Tk140m from the public.

Earlier on March 27, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) approved the IPO (initial public offering) proposal of the company.

The money mobilised through IPO was utilised to pay off bank loans and to meet the IPO expenses, according to the company prospectus.

The company’s earnings per share (EPS) Tk1.21 and net asset value (NAV) is Tk11.28, according to its financial statement as of June 30, 2012.

Janata Capital and Investment Limited acted as the issue manager to the initial public offering of the Central Pharmaceuticals Limited. l

Agrani , Rupali , BASIC and Bangladesh Development Bank.

Sources in the banking division said a rough estimate of embezzlement of the money and forgeries of loan amounted to around Tk87bn for the three big scams.

In the first quarter of 2013, the four state-owned commercial banks, which account for almost half of the banking sector’s total loan defaults, have managed to recover only 16% of their year’s target from their top 20 defaulters , according to Bangladesh Bank .

The central bank report disclosed top 50 defaulters – 18 are of Sonali Bank and this year, the Hall-mark Group, which swindled Tk26bn from Sonali Bank is tipped to top the list. l

political uncertainty seems to affect the investors very little,” said Lanka Bangla Securities in its daily market analysis.

The trading activities increased but still remained poor as the total market turnover stood at Tk3.2bn, which was

‘Stronger price performance by top traded companies helped pull the market up further. Ongoing political uncertainty seems to affect the investors very little’ almost double the value of previous session’s three-month low.

Gainers outpaced losers as out of 286 issues traded, 228 gained, 36 declined and 22 remained unchanged.

“Lucrative prices pumped up demand throughout the session and turned market dimension. Resultantly, the bourse retained its position in green

zone for the third consecutive session with the addition of 62.52 points,” said IDLC Investment.

Despite a 99.15% rise in turnover, activity maintained lethargic trend as Q2 declarations passed by and investors were observing political situations ahead of imminent national election, it said.

All the sectors ended in green.

Among the major sectors, power gained the most with 2.90%, followed

by NBFIs which closed 2.60% higher.

Banks and pharmaceuticals rose 0.88% and 0.86% respectively.

Padma Oil, a state-owned oil distribution company, was the most traded stock with shares worth Tk281m changing hands.

It was followed by Meghna Petroleum, Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Ltd, Olympic Industries, Square Pharmaceuticals, Jamuna Oil, Argon Denim and Premier Cement. l

DCCI urges Nigeria to import our products n Tribune Business Desk Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) yesterday urged Nigeria to import Bangladesh products, reports UNB. The products include particularly ceramics, chemical products, leather goods, footwear, light engineering and plastic products, ocean-going vessels, pharmaceuticals and cement.

DCCI president M Sabur Khan made the request when Nigerian High Commissioner to Bangladesh stationed in Delhi Ndubuisi V Amaku met him at the DCCI office.

During the meeting, Sabur Khan mentioned that Nigeria established diplomatic relation with Bangladesh

soon after its independence.

The bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Nigeria was only about $14m in fiscal 2012-13, he said, adding that the present level of bilateral trade is far from satisfactory and still remains at a very low level.

The DCCI president invited the Nigerian entrepreneurs to invest in Bangladesh and make joint ventures in the tourism sector.

He informed the Nigerian High Commissioner that the DCCI has established ‘Help Desk’ to facilitate trade and business activities.

Ambassador Ndubuisi V Amaku said the Nigerian government has taken a lot of initiatives to smoothen trade and commerce.

He urged the Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to invest in agriculture, foodprocessing, pharmaceuticals, medical equipments, ICT and education sectors of Nigeria.

Amaku stressed exchanging business delegation and also close contact at the business-to-business and government-to-government level.

Defence Adviser of Nigerian High Commission Capt (NN) OB Daji, Admin Attaché Rotimi O Simoyan, DCCI senior vice president Nessar Maksud Khan, vice president Absar Karim Chowdhury and directors KMN Manjurul Hoque, Abul Hossain, M Abu Hurairah, Alhaj Abdus Salam and Shoaib Choudhury were, among others, present in the meeting. l

Hotel Hilton’s ceremony held by Premier Group n Tribune Business Desk Premier Group of Company organised a ceremony for the establishment of the hotel Hilton Dhaka on August 7.

Home Minister MK Alamgir, Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Faruk Khan, US Ambassador Dan W Mozena, and Deputy High Commissioner of India Sandeep Chakravorty were present at the ceremony. l

Radio Foorti launches a reward programme n Tribune Business Desk Radio Foorti has launched “Foortibaaj Reward Programme” to keep the entertainment lovers filled with exciting privileges, gifts, vouchers and many more, all year round.

These are coupled with the Foortibaaj Activation where there are many fun games at some of the prime shopping malls of Dhaka.

The registered Foortibaaj will be entitled to these privileges. The registration can be done by means of SMS or through the Facebook fan page of Radia Foorti. l

NRB Global Bank Ltd appoints MD n Tribune Business Desk Md Abdul Quddus has been appointed as Managing Director (MD) of NRB Global Bank Ltd. Previously he was DMD in First Security Islami Bank Ltd since 2008. l

China set to become world’s biggest net oil importer n AFP, Beijing China is set to overtake the United States as the world’s largest net oil importer from October, according to US figures, due to a combination of rising Chinese demand and increased US production.

Next year, China’s net oil imports will exceed those of the United States on an annual basis and the gap between them will continue to widen, the

US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said.

China is already the biggest energy user in the world and the secondlargest oil consumer after the United States.

The shift has been driven by steady growth in Chinese demand, increased oil production in the United States, and stagnant or weakening demand in the US market, the EIA said in a report.

A graph on the EIA’s website shows

China’s net imports steadily rising, with those of the US falling at a faster rate, and says the crossover point comes in two months’ time.

Growing petroleum production in the US has been largely driven by the increasing use of sometimes controversial hydraulic fracturing, known as fracking.

The technique uses huge amounts of pressurised water mixed with chemicals to crack open rock and release oil and natural gas, making the exploitation of vast shale hydrocarbon reserves economically viable.

It is changing the world’s energy market but it has been banned in other countries such as France due to environmental concerns.

US annual oil output is expected to rise 28% between 2011 and 2014 to nearly 13 million barrels per day, while Chinese production is forecast to grow by six percent over the period, and will stand at just a third of US production in 2014, the EIA said.

Meanwhile, China’s liquid fuel use will increase 13% over the period to more than 11 million barrels per day while US demand hovers close to 18.7

million barrels per day.

That is below the United States’ peak consumption level of 20.8 million barrels per day in 2005, the EIA added. l

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Two suspected militants killed in Yemen drone strike n Reuters, Aden, Yemen At least two suspected Islamist militants were killed in a drone missile strike in Yemen’s southern Shabwa province, the latest in a surge since Washington warned of possible attacks by al-Qaeda in the region.

At least 37 people have been killed in just over two weeks in a campaign targeting insurgents linked to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), described

by US officials as the most dangerous branch of the global jihadi network.

That campaign has been stepped up after intercepted communication between AQAP leader, Nasser al-Wuhayshi and Ayman al-Zawahri, head of al-Qaeda, along with other intelligence

prompted Washington to close 19 US embassies this month.

“The car was completely obliterated and the two men inside it were killed,” a local official said, adding the strike happened late on Monday. He gave no further details.

Yemen is one of a handful of countries where Washington acknowledges using drones, although it does not comment publicly on the practice.

Security in Yemen is of regional and global importance.

AQAP has previously plotted unsuccessfully to attack international airliners and is seen in Washington as a potential threat to Yemen’s neighbor Saudi Arabia, the world’s top oil exporter, and Red Sea oil tankers. l

Hackers attack exiled Tibet government website n AFP, New Delhi Nigerian Muslims walk past an uncompleted mosque in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Suspected Islamic militants wearing army fatigues gunned down 44 people praying at a mosque in northeast Nigeria, while another 12 civilians died in an apparently simultaneous attack AP

44 gunned down in Nigeria mosque

Journalists receive video featuring Boko Haram leader gloating over recent attacks, threatening more, and saying his group now strong enough to go after the US of emergency, came as journalists re- mosque were hospitalised with gun- “strength and firepower has surpassed n AP, Maiduguri, Nigeria ceived a video featuring Boko Haram shot wounds, said a security guard that of Nigeria. ... We can now comSuspected Islamic militants wearing army fatigues gunned down 44 people praying at a mosque in northeast Nigeria, while another 12 civilians died in an apparently simultaneous attack, security agents said Monday.

Sunday’s attacks were the latest in a slew of violence blamed on religious extremists in this West African oil producer, where the radical Boko Haram group, which wants to oust the government and impose Islamic law, poses the greatest security threat in years.

It was not immediately clear why the Islamic Boko Haram would have killed worshipping Muslims, but the group has in the past attacked mosques whose clerics have spoken out against religious extremism. Boko Haram also has attacked Christians outside churches and teachers and schoolchildren, as well as government and military targets.

Since 2010, the militants have been blamed for the killings of more than 1,700 people, according to a count conducted by The Associated Press.

The news about Sunday’s violence in Borno state, one of three in the northeast under a military state

leader Abubakar Shekau, who gloats over recent attacks, threatens more, and even says his group is now strong enough to go after the United States.

The mosque slayings occurred Sunday morning in Konduga town, 35km outside Maiduguri, the capital of Nigeria’s Borno state.

A state security service agent and Usman Musa, a member of a civilian militia that works with the military, said Monday they counted the bodies at the mosque after the attack. Musa said four members of his group — known as the Civilian Joint Task Force —also were killed when they reached Konduga and encountered “fierce resistance from heavily armed terrorists.”

Musa and the security service agent said the attackers wore military camouflage uniforms used by the Nigerian army, which they may have acquired in one of their attacks on military bases.

On their way back from Konduga, the security forces came upon the scene of another attack at Ngom village, five kilometres outside Maiduguri, where Musa said he counted 12 bodies of civilians.

Twenty-six worshippers at the

at the emergency ward of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. He and the state security agent both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to give information to reporters.

Nigeria declared a state of emergency in much of the northeast on May 14 to fight the onslaught after Boko Haram fighters took over several northeastern towns and villages in this nation of more than 160 million people, which is divided almost equally between the predominantly Muslim north and the mainly Christian south.

In the video received by journalists Monday, Shekau brushes off any gains asserted by the security forces.

“You soldiers have claimed that you are powerful, that we have been defeated, that we are mad people,” Shekau says, speaking in the local Hausa language. “But how can a mad man successfully coordinate recent attacks in Gamboru, in Malam Fatori, slaughter people in Biu, kill in Gwoza and in Bama, where soldiers fled under our heavy fire power?

“We have killed countless soldiers and we are going to kill more.”

He further insists the extremists’

fortably confront the United States of America.” Shekau also said Nigeria’s military is “lying to the world” about its casualties. “They lied that they have killed our members, but we are the ones that have killed the soldiers.”

He apparently was referring to August 4 attacks on a military base at Malam Fatori and a police outpost in Bama, both near the border with Cameroon. Joint Task Force spokesman Lt Col Sagir Musa told reporters 32 extremists, two soldiers and one police officer were killed. But when the Borno state governor called on the head of the task force to commiserate, Maj Gen Jah Ewansiah told him in front of reporters that they lost 12 soldiers and seven policemen.

Nigeria’s military regularly lowballs casualty figures of civilians and military.

Under orders from the military, cellphone and Internet service has been cut in Borno, making communications difficult. The military says the extremists were using cellphones to coordinate attacks. But some government officials argue that the lack of communication prevents civilians from informing them of suspicious movements and getting help when they are attacked. l

Snowden spilled secrets to ‘fearless’ journalists n AFP, Washington

Israel army shoots down rocket near Egypt border n AP, Jerusalem

US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden said in an interview released Tuesday he chose to divulge details of a vast US surveillance effort to journalists who reported “fearlessly” on controversial subjects.

Snowden, in the interview released

by The New York Times, said he chose documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras and Guardian reporter Glenn Greenwald because they were not cowed by the US government.

“After 9/11, many of the most important news outlets in America abdicated their role as a check to power – the journalistic responsibility to challenge the excesses of government – for fear of being seen as unpatriotic and punished in the market during a period of heightened nationalism,” Snowden was quoted as saying in an encrypted conversation with journalist Peter Maass for the Times Sunday magazine.

“Laura and Glenn are among the few who reported fearlessly on controversial topics throughout this period, even in the face of withering personal criticism, and resulted in Laura specifically becoming targeted by the very programs involved in the recent disclosures.”

He said Poitras “demonstrated the courage, personal experience and skill needed to handle what is probably the most dangerous assignment any journalist can be given – reporting on the secret misdeeds of the most powerful government in the world – making her an obvious choice,” adding that Poitras “was more suspicious of me than I was of her, and I’m famously paranoid.” l

The Israeli military shot down a rocket launched toward a Red Sea resort town near the border with Egypt on Tuesday, the army said.

It was the first time Israel’s Iron Dome missile defence system successfully intercepted a rocket attack on the resort of Eilat, the military said. The incident came after days of heightened tension along the Egypt-Israel border.

The army said the rocket was intercepted early Tuesday and that there were no injuries. It didn’t provide more details and declined to comment on the origins of the projectile.

An al-Qaeda-inspired militant group based in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, Ansar Jerusalem, claimed responsibility for launching the rocket in an email to The Associated Press.

The little known group is hostile to both Israel and Egypt and was behind an attack in August 2011 near Eilat that killed eight people.

In Cairo, Egypt’s state MENA news agency quoted an unnamed security official as saying authorities could not confirm that the rocket was launched from Sinai. The report said Egyptian forces were investigating.

Most Iron Dome batteries have been deployed along Israel’s border with Gaza, and the missile defence system intercepted rockets during Israel’s fighting with Gaza militants in 2012.

Other batteries have been placed on Israel’s border with Lebanon.

Last Thursday, Israel briefly closed the Eilat airport in response to unspecified security warnings. l

A supporter of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi draws graffiti on a makeshift barrier built to demarcate their sit-in area around Raba’ al-Adawya mosque REUTERS

Clashes break out in Cairo between pro-and anti-Morsi factions n

Reuters, Cairo

Clashes broke out in central Cairo on Tuesday when supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi came under attack as they marched to the Interior Ministry, a Reuters reporter said.

Supporters of the new military-installed government hurled stones at the marchers and threw bottles at them from balconies. Police then fired tear gas at the pro-Morsi protesters.

A few thousand pro-Morsi protesters were taking part in the march when the

trouble erupted. Local residents taunted them, calling them terrorists and saying they were not welcome. They then began throwing stones at them.

The Morsi supporters responded by also hurling rocks.

Women and children marchers fled the scene in panic. Two men wielding machetes were seen chasing marchers.

The protesters are calling for the reinstatement of Morsi, who was overthrown by the military on July 3 and is now being held at undisclosed location. l

Hackers have attacked the Tibetan government-in-exile’s Chinese-language website with an unidentified virus, making the portal inaccessible, an official spokesman said Tuesday.

“Our office cannot access the website and we are trying to figure out what kind of virus is responsible for the problem,” Tashi Phuntsok, spokesman for the exiled government based in the north Indian town of Dharamshala, told AFP. Tibet.net is the official site of the exiled government, whose spiritual head is the Dalai Lama. It covers the parliament, cabinet, administrative departments, and public offices.

Hackers have taken down the English, Tibetan and Chinese versions of the website several times in the past, according to Phuntsok.

“We are a prominent target for attacks by Chinese hackers,” he said.

He could not confirm when the

hackers had struck or if spying software had been installed on the computers and laptops of users trying to log on to the website.

Kurt Baumgartner, a researcher at Kaspersky Lab, a global manufacturer of antivirus software based in Moscow, detected the attack late Tuesday and said the website had been “strategically compromised” as a result.

Tenzin Taklha, the Dalai Lama’s spokesman, has said that the 78-yearold spiritual leader’s official website www.dalailama.com continued to function normally.

The Dalai Lama fled Tibet following a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. He later founded the government in exile in Dharamshala after being offered refuge by India.

China vilifies the Dalai Lama as a “separatist” who incites violence in Tibet, while the Dalai Lama insists his sole focus is a peaceful campaign for greater autonomy for his homeland. l

Exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama poses for a picture with the students of a Tibetan school after inaugurating its auditorium in Indian state of Karnataka REUTERS

WORLD WATCH US judge changing baby’s name ‘Messiah’ draws reaction

A Tennessee judge’s decision to change a baby’s first name from Messiah to Martin is drawing strong reactions from people who believe the judge overstepped her powers and those who think parents’ creativity should have some limits. Thousands of people have commented online about the judge’s order since WBIR-TV published its story over the weekend. Many of them said Child Support Magistrate Lu Ann Ballew went too far, but not all.

“I agree 100% that we only have one messiah and that’s Jesus Christ,” said Edith Wood, a resident of Cocke County in eastern Tennessee, where the boy lives.

Japan city votes to destroy tsunami ship landmark

A stranded fishing boat that became a symbol of the devastation of Japan’s 2011 tsunami has long divided a north-eastern coastal city — between those who wanted to keep it as a monument of survival and those who wanted a painful reminder gone. Last week, the city announced it would be torn down after a heated debate and citywide vote. The soul-searching over the ship highlights how the aftermath of the tsunami disaster continues to torment Japan two years later. The 330 metric ton Kyotokumaru was swept by the towering tsunami from the city’s dock.

Guests saved as US resort building falls into sinkhole

Dozens of guests at a Florida resort near Walt Disney World were safely evacuated in the middle of the night on Monday when a large sinkhole opened on the property, swallowing a three-story

building. “I was hearing popping noises and I was hearing people screaming and glass breaking. The building actually twisted and separated,” Summer Bay Resort security guard Richard Shanley said. “It was like something from a movie.” A spokesman for the Lake County Fire Department said there were no injuries in the collapse and that resort staff responded quickly to the first signs of danger.

Rwanda opposition party to sit out vote after late registration

Rwanda’s Democratic Green Party said on Monday it will sit out September’s parliamentary election after the electoral commission took three years to register it, finally doing so just days before the deadline. Analysts said President Paul Kagame had a well-documented record of blocking, threatening or infiltrating rival parties to stifle even nascent political opposition, and that the belated registration of the Democratic Green Party could hardly be seen as a real opening of the democratic space.

Most other parties were allied to Kagame’s Rwandan Patriotic Front, which held four in five parliamentary seats.

UK bars trash cans from tracking people with Wi-Fi

Officials demanded Monday that an advertising firm stop using a network of high-tech trash cans to track people walking through London’s financial district. The Renew ad firm has been using technology embedded in the hulking receptacles to measure the Wi-Fi signals emitted by smartphones, and suggested that it would apply the concept of “cookies” — tracking files that follow internet users across the Web — to the physical world.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

9

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

United Nations chief urges legal drone use in Pakistan during visit n AFP, Islamabad

Indian policemen stand guard on the street during a curfew following riots in Jammu

India accuses Pakistan of latest firing in Kashmir n AFP, Srinagar India’s army accused Pakistan on Tuesday of firing across the de facto border that divides Kashmir, in the latest confrontation fuelling tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals.

The army said Pakistani soldiers had violated the ceasefire overnight along the heavily militarised Line of Control (LoC) in the disputed Himalayan region.

It said in a statement that Pakistani soldiers started firing at Indian posts in Mendhar district late on Monday and

about an hour later in the Balakot area of Poonch sector, with the firing continuing until about 6am.

“Pakistani soldiers used small arms, machine guns and mortars. We gave a calibrated response,” an army officer said separately, on condition of anonymity.

Tensions have flared in the Kashmir valley since the ambush and killing last week of five Indian soldiers in the Poonch sector, which India blamed on the Pakistani army.

The ambush sparked a series of cross-border skirmishes which

REUTERS

the rival neighbours blamed on each other.

Last week’s ambush was the deadliest such incident along the LoC since the two countries agreed to a ceasefire in 2003. Pakistan denied its soldiers were involved in the attack.

Indian Defence Minister A K Antony last week hinted at stronger military action along the LoC in the wake of the ambush. In comments on Monday, Antony said: “The armed forces have the freedom to respond to a developing situation there (along the LoC) appropriately.” l

Fighting kills 18 Syria rebels in Hama n AFP, Beirut

At least 18 Syrian rebels and a child were killed in violence in the central province of Hama Tuesday, a monitoring group said.

In the north, a prominent Aleppo-based activist went missing, and the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it feared the jihadist Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) was behind his disappearance.

Near Morek in Hama province, “the number of opposition fighters killed

(early Tuesday) has risen to 18,” said the Britain-based Observatory.

They were killed in clashes and army shelling on their positions and ammunition stockpiles, the group added.

Meanwhile, in the Sahel al-Ghab area of Hama, a 10-year-old child was killed in army shelling, said the Observatory.

The deaths come amid a major rebel escalation in eastern Hama, which is strategically located in the heart of Syria and links several flashpoint areas to each other.

Activists say several rebel groups

have joined forces in recent weeks to fight two simultaneous battles in the area.

Hama is adjacent to Homs, the centre of whose provincial capital remains under rebel control, weeks after the army reclaimed control of the strategic Khaldiyeh district.

In northern Syria, news broke of the disappearance of an anti-Assad activist known for his chants at weekly protests in the city of Aleppo. “It is likely he is being held by ISIS,” said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman. l

UN chief Ban Ki-moon waded into the controversy surrounding US drone strikes during a visit to Pakistan Tuesday, insisting they must operate within international law.

The CIA has carried out hundreds of missile strikes on suspected militants in northwest Pakistan since 2004 and the campaign is a major thorn in relations with the US. Washington views the strikes as an important tool in the fight against al-Qaeda and Taliban militants, but Islamabad condemns them as a violation of sovereignty and international law.

Ban addressed the controversial weapons in a speech at the National University of Science and Technology in Islamabad, where he opened a new building.

“As I have often and consistently said, the use of armed drones like any other weapon should be subject to long-standing international law, including international humanitarian law,” he said to applause from an audience mostly made up of soldiers.

“This is a very clear position of the United Nations. Every effort should be made to avoid mistakes and civilian casualties.”

The United States insists the drone strikes are legal and in May President Barack Obama laid out strict guidelines for their use.

Britain’s Bureau of Investigative Journalism says the US has carried out nearly 400 drone strikes in Pakistan

A 10-minute drive from where negotiators will sit down on Wednesday to resume long-stalled Middle East peace talks, Israeli bulldozers are busy reshaping land that Palestinians want for their future state, Reuters reported.

Settler homes are popping up across East Jerusalem and major roads are being built to burgeoning Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. Israel has just approved plans for 3,100 new homes on the territory it seized in the 1967 Middle East war.

The non-stop building on the land that is at the heart of the conflict raises serious doubts about whether the latest round of US-brokered talks can result in a deal to create an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel.

“The two-state solution by now is unobtainable,” Reuters quoted Dani Dayan,

a former chairman of the settler movement, as saying. Dayan further argued that any accord palatable to the Palestinians would involve removing so many settlers that it would be impossible to enact.

US Secretary of State John Kerry, the driving force behind the resumption of talks following a three-year hiatus, agrees it is a major problem, but says there is time for a final push.

Israel has rejected criticism of its construction plans, saying the new homes would be erected in settlements within blocs it intends to keep in any future peace deal with the Palestinians.

The settler numbers are imposing. In 2010, when the Palestinians quit negotiations over settlement building, some 311,110 Israelis were living in the West Bank. Today, according to Israel’s Army Radio, this has surged to 367,000.

Adding in East Jerusalem, then the

number of Israelis living beyond the 1967 lines rises to nearly 600,000. Few, if any, would willingly quit their homes as part of a peace deal.

However, according to a report by AFP, a senior Palestinian official warned on Tuesday, on the eve of the scheduled resumption of the fragile process, that middle east peace talks could “collapse” due to continuing Israeli settlement expansion.

“Settlement expansion goes against the US administration’s pledges and threatens to cause the negotiations’ collapse,” AFP quoted Yasser Abed Rabbo as saying.

After an initial round of meetings in Washington at the end of last month, the real discussions start on Wednesday, with Israeli Justice Minister Tzipi Livni facing Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat in Jerusalem’s King David Hotel.

The negotiations will be moderated by US envoy Martin Indyk, with the next en-

Syria opposition proposes transition roadmap n AFP, Beirut Syrian opposition activists, including National Coalition members, have drawn up a transitional roadmap including a call for national reconciliation and justice for “all of Syria’s victims,” a statement said Tuesday.

The roadmap is to be presented in full on Wednesday, in the presence of National Coalition chief Ahmad Jarba, but has not been officially endorsed by the key opposition group.

“National reconciliation will be achieved through a long transitional justice process in which justice is assured for all of Syria’s victims,” said the statement.

It comes amid reports of abuses carried out by both regime forces and rebels in Syria’s conflict.

While the country’s uprising began with peaceful anti-government demonstrations in March 2011, it has turned into a bloody war that has left more than 100,000 people dead.

Both sides have been accused of summary executions, sectarian killings and torture.

The proposals also call for restructuring Syrian security forces to uproot “corrupt officials.”

“All armed groups will be disarmed, demobilised and reintegrated into Syrian society,” it adds.

It lays out plans for the country’s political system after the fall of the Syrian regime, calling for a “hybrid presidential/ parliamentary system.”

And it proposes using the country’s 1950 constitution as the basis for a new charter, with an elected constitutional assembly mandated to decide on modifications.

The 1950 constitution was the first in Syria to be drafted by a constituent assembly, but has subsequently been replaced.

It gave the legislature more power than the executive, and states that the head of state must be a Muslim.

The group behind the proposal, Syrian Expert House, includes some 300 activists, lawyers and members of the National Coalition and Syrian National Council.

Defected government officials and rebel commanders also participated in the drafting process, the group said.

More than 200 pages spell out in often minute detail a plan for how best to manage a transition in the event the regime of President Bashar al-Assad falls.

It argues for war crimes tribunals to be held in Syria with international experts

providing advice, and pledges that trials will cover all those accused of abuses.

“The goal is not to target a specific religious group,” the document says, adding “there is no place for the policies of revenge or retaliation.”

“Even members of the armed opposition must be held accountable, and their trials should be conducted according to international standards to avoid any challenges to these trials’ legitimacy,” it adds.

The document is unlikely to sit well with the most extreme of Syria’s rebels, jihadists with the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Nusra Front and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The groups have made clear their goal is for a greater Islamic nation, and that a pluralistic democracy is not on the table.

The roadmap could even incur the anger of more moderate Islamists, including the Muslim Brotherhood organisation, with its proposal that election laws exclude parties “founded on a religious, racial or doctrinal basis.”

It is being released as fighting continues in Syria, with fierce battles in eastern Deir Ezzor and coastal Latakia, the latter Assad’s home province.

International efforts to organise a conference on a political solution to the conflict have stalled. l

against what it called “unprovoked shelling” which killed one civilian.

India’s army accused Pakistan on Tuesday of firing across the border in Kashmir overnight, but did not report any casualties.

Despite the Kashmir tensions, the UN said Ban’s visit would focus on education efforts and he is due to meet students later on Tuesday.

Nearly half of all children in Pakistan and almost three quarters of young girls are not enrolled in primary school, according to UN and government statistics. l

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (R) smiles as he stands beside Sartaj Aziz, foreign affairs adviser to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Islamabad REUTERS

Indian MPs behaving like anarchists: speaker n AFP, New Delhi A furious speaker of India’s upper house of parliament accused lawmakers Tuesday of behaving like a “federation of anarchists” after more unruly behaviour which has paralysed decision-making in recent years.

The current parliament, which was elected in 2009, is on course to be one of the least productive in post-independence Indian history with shouting, jeering and protests frequently forcing adjournments.

Peace talks resume under cloud of Israeli construction n Agencies

since 2004, killing up to 3,500 people, including hundreds of civilians.

Ban arrived in Islamabad for a twoday visit amid high tensions between Pakistan and India over the disputed territory of Kashmir.

He will meet Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif for talks as Pakistan and India trade accusations over clashes along the Line of Control, the de facto border monitored by UN observers that divides the disputed Himalayan territory.

Islamabad on Monday summoned India’s deputy ambassador to protest

counter already penciled in for later this month in the West Bank city of Jericho.

Bowing to a Palestinian condition to get the talks going, and eager not to antagonise an anxious Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has agreed to the staggered release of 104 Palestinian prisoners, many convicted of murder.

The first 26 are due to go free early on Wednesday, and political analysts say the recent splurge of settlement moves was a bid by Netanyahu to placate his legion of supporters who reject the so-called twostate solution.

But the sheer quantity of planned new homes has stunned outsiders and led the Palestinians to issue a clear warning. “If the Israeli government believes that every week they’re going to cross a red line by settlement activity ... what they’re advertising is the unsustainability of the negotiations,” Erekat said on Sunday. l

US should hold confidential direct talks with Iran: think tank n Reuters, Dubai The United States should hold confidential direct talks with Iran over its nuclear programme but the West should not expect Iran’s moderate new president to offer major concessions, a prominent think-tank said on Tuesday.

To try to give the talks a chance, however, Washington and other world powers should hold off imposing new sanctions on Iran, the International Crisis Group (ICG) said in a report.

The United States and other powers suspect the Islamic Republic is covertly seeking a nuclear arms capability.

Israel has threatened military action to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear bombs. Iran says it seeks only civilian nuclear energy.

The Islamic Republic and six world powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, collectively dubbed the P5+1 - have held several rounds of talks but have yet to even approach a breakthrough. l

The latest session, which began on August 5, has also been severely disrupted with the government unable to pass any major legislation ahead of elections next year due to protests from opposition parties.

“Every single rule in the rule book, every single etiquette is being violated in this house!” the exasperated speaker of the upper house, Hamid Ansari, shouted above the din on Tuesday.

“If the honourable members wish this house to become a federation of anarchists then it is a different matter,

because there is no order!”

His outburst led to criticism from the main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the government, both of which asked him to retract the remark, but it gained sympathy among many on Twitter.

“This is not the way to raise things,” BJP leader Arun Jaitley said afterwards, accusing Ansari of over-reacting.

“To describe the whole house as a federation of anarchists may not be fair and I urge you to reconsider it,” he said. l

Rise in attacks on women in Afghanistan n Reuters, Kabul/Ghazni Taliban fighters have kidnapped a female parliamentarian who was travelling by car through Afghanistan’s central Ghazni province with her children, a local police commander said on Tuesday, the latest in a string of high-profile, violent attacks on women.

Successive, often deadly assaults on women working in state institutions are fuelling concern that hard-won women’s rights promoted by the United States and its allies are eroding as international forces prepare to withdraw next year.

Fariba Ahmadi Kakar’s three daughters were later released, the police commander said, but her kidnappers were demanding four Taliban prisoners in exchange for the parliamentarian.

Kakar, a member of the lower house, was the second female parliamentarian to be attacked in Ghazni in less than a week.

Her husband denied the attack had taken place, saying she was travelling abroad, but the Kakar tribe’s elder, Samad Khan, said attempts were under way to reach an agreement with the Taliban.

Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said he did not know who staged the attack. “We are still investigating,” he said.

Under the Taliban’s 1996-2001 rule, women were obliged to wear the headto-toe covering burqa, allowed only limited schooling and prevented from leaving home unaccompanied.

Restoring the right to work and

education has been a cornerstone of the Western-backed government of President Hamid Karzai, but patriarchal attitudes have remained entrenched.

Survivors of attacks often say their only hope is to leave Afghanistan, still one of the worst places in the world to be born female.

“I need to go outside the country for my treatment and for my security,” said Muzhgan Masoomi, a former government worker stabbed 14 times last year.

Kakar’s abduction follows the shooting last week of female senator Rooh Gul, police said. The senator and her husband survived, but their eight-year old daughter was killed along with the driver.

Last month, the most senior policewoman in southern Helmand province, Lieutenant Islam Bibi, was shot dead on her way to work in the provincial capital Lashkar Gah. Bibi, touted as a rising star of the Afghan National Police, said she received death threats even from within her own family.

Concerns have also been raised about a rise in Taliban-style edicts in some regions not overturned by the government.

In June, clerics in a region of Baghlan province, north of Kabul, barred women from leaving home without a male chaperone and shut down beauty parlors.

In the same month, female parliamentarians discovered that conservative male members had removed a legal provision that women make up a quarter of all provincial elected officials. l

An Afghan woman holds her child as she walks on the outskirts of Kabul

REUTERS

10 DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Road safety is everyone’s responsibility

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he second anniversary of the untimely death of Tareque Masud, the much-loved film director, in a road accident has renewed calls to look at traffic safety.

Unfortunately, safety is always a timely issue. Over 50 people died in transport accidents over the Eid holiday alone and at least 9 people a day are killed on average on the nation’s roads.

A myriad of reasons are behind the high rate of road accidents in Bangladesh. These include poorly designed, constructed and maintained roads, inadequate laws to address the perpetrators and a culture of callous disregard for personal safety.

Public authorities need to step up enforcement of safety laws for drivers, passengers and pedestrians.

Better road safety Stricter enforcement of existing depends on a rules for buses, cars and trucks is multi-faceted needed to stamp out prevalent poor driving practices which exacerbate approach that congestion and are often the cause of includes more accidents. comprehensive However, laws are also needed laws, better to address some of the real culprits enforcement of who are not held accountable under laws and raising current laws. For example, owners public awareness of poorly maintained or over-filled on precautions vehicles are just as much to blame that can be taken for accidents as the drivers who are often coerced to drive these vehicles.

Not only should these callous owners be held accountable, but mandatory insurance schemes should be also implemented to compensate victims of accidents.

Experience from other countries shows that public education can also drastically improve public attitudes towards practices such as riding without seatbelts and drink driving.

Better road safety depends on a multi-faceted approach that includes more comprehensive laws, better enforcement of laws and raising public awareness on precautions that can be taken.

Safety is a shared responsibility for all road users.

Restore indigenous land rights

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ights group Amnesty International has called for the restoration of land rights of the indigenous people in CHT. Given that land related disputes are one of the root causes of ongoing unrest in the region, it is about time that the government addressed this issue.

Amnesty has claimed that about 90,000 people of ethnic minority communities remain internally displaced in CHT. Disputes around Given that land land rights also fuels tension with related disputes Bangali settlers which frequently are one of the root leads to violence. causes of ongoing In fact, news stories on violent unrest in the region, clashes in CHT have dominated the it is about time that news media in recent months and the government the CHT peace process seems to be addressed this issue in serious jeopardy.

While some laws and mechanisms exist on the books to address the issue of land disputes they are poorly implemented.

Amnesty has claimed that the CHT Land Commission, the body charged with resolving land disputes, routinely neglects the indigenous people in its decision-making process and it is perceived to be an organisation that disproportionately favours the ethnic Bangalis. The land commission lacks appropriate resources to carry out its duties as well.

Bangladesh is also currently not fulfilling its obligations under international legal instruments, such the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the International Labour Organisation Convention on Indigenous and Tribal Peoples, to which it is a signatory.

Urgent action is now needed from the government to not only ensure that we uphold our international legal obligations, but, more importantly, to restore peace and stability in the CHT region by resolving the issue of land rights.

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.

Floating power plant!

August 10

A very interesting write up, published in a local daily on August 6, could be a viable solution for purchasing power plants available with short lead time. It could be a better solution than rental power plants, and a quick solution for putting it up, from ground up, to power on the grid. As we know, a new power plant usually takes between 4 to 6 years at least. In this case, a sea-going power ship could take only one year. The price given was Euro 1.2m per MW capacity. These novel and innovative powerships can be liquid or gas-fueled, and their floating liquid fuel can be pumped directly to the powership’s fuel tanks, which we should go for.

These can easily be located in the vicinity of Chittagong or Chalna ports, and are available in capacities ranging between 135MW to around 200MW. The biggest advantage is that no land is needed, and the lead time from order to delivery can be less than 9 months, with power on the grid within 12 months. The builder, as stated, usually takes around six months to build these powerships.

I am not aware how it compares with the cost per MW of equivalent-sized, land-based power plants, starting from getting land, building, and all infrastructure and fuel facilities, plant import and transport to site, and then installation and commissioning of the plant.

In this case, for a powership, it takes around nine months as stated by the builder, and includes fuel storage and all manning accommodations too.

Our concerned officials must seriously study this option. May be, in the long run, it could be cheaper than rental or new land power plants of the same capacity, including transformers and switchgear, which can be built on the deck of the powerships.

Engr SA Mansoor Dhaka

dhakatribune.com

What is the simple truth?

August 7

Absolutely and simply beautiful. I do not mean to trivialise the serious and careful consideration of the human condition, nor do I lightly set aside the complex socio-cultural and political framework of your essay, but there is such beauty in the words laid next to each other. The truth of which you speak capably and clearly shines through.

The remedy proposed for a truthfilled, heart-led life also applies to every human space but perhaps most needed in places where persons cannot live in their truth.

Perhaps more importantly, in places where persons are not yet able to divine their truth, in their moments of self encounter, in their realisations of beauty. max collins

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Shifting away from Boro August 7

I really liked this piece. The problem of food security would have been long solved had we decided to consume more of other types of cereals.

Like you pointed out, this will be difficult as switching staple food is not an easy social task. After all, there is a reason why we have the old saying, “Machhe bhate Bangali.”

Shafin Fattah

Be Heard 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

Adil’s arrest, remand condemned August 12

Efadul Huq What are the charges, do we know?

Banglar Babaji He looks like a typical “right wing” sympathiser.

Lisa Haque He is not a right wing sympathiser! He was arrested at night on the night of Eid, therefore the punjabi.

HC stays remand on Odhikar’s Adilur Rahman August 12

Whoever is behind Odhikar please elaborate, so that we can also know. The people of this country should know the facts behind the botched arrest of the secretary of Odhikar.

Why was he arrested?

Syed Ziad Rahman All Adil tried to do was practise his freedom of speech in our beloved country. Well, thanks to the authorities, now he knows his limitations!

Tunazzina Iqbal Sahaly

Odhikar office raided August 11

This is truly sad and shameful. For God’s sake, Odhikar is an organisation working towards giving people fair human rights.

And the one who does that work was taken away, for what? Doing his job right?

Mariha Q Chowdhury

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

CODE-CRACKER

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facebook.com/DhakaTribune

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTIONS Sudoku

7 8 4 5 1 9 6 3 2

1 3 2 7 8 6 5 4 9

5 9 6 2 4 3 8 7 1

Code-Cracker

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Op-Ed

DHAKA TRIBUNE

11

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Am I not old now? n Abdul Matin

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The US consular mission, Dhaka. The facility remained closed on August 4 following a security threat

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Bangladesh: Terror threat for the US?

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n Ekram Kabir

he US State Department’s decision to close its mission in Dhaka, along with another 22 of its missions in other countries due to an al-Qaeda terror attack plan came as a surprise to many Bangladeshi citizens.

Yes, America may have a reason to worry and take precautions on the information the CIA had about the attacks, but branding Bangladesh a potential-terrorist haven was unwelcome.

Although the US embassy in Dhaka was kept closed for just a day, Bangladesh’s image was tarnished globally

by Washington’s decision.

This has led Bangladeshis to think that the US was equating this country with Iraq, Libya, Algeria, Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen, and Egypt, and the thought was quite embarrassing for all Bangladeshis in the backdrop where the US envoy, Dan W Mozena, roams around the country freely.

Given that he is the most visible foreign envoy, whose movement is completely unhindered in the country, Bangladeshis didn’t expect to be compared to the other countries on the list that are more prone to terror attacks.

What happens in those areas has never happened here. Bangladesh doesn’t have a visible presence of al-Qaeda. In other countries on the “at risk” list, cars explode, hotels are bombed,

people die in cinema halls and shopping malls. Can anyone think of any such incident of terrorism in this country?

Having said that we must also confess that there was a time when Bangladesh fell prey to Islamist militancy. Terrorist organisations such as Jamiat-ul-Mujahedin, Lashkar-e-Toiyba did try to turn Bangladesh into a terror haven.

There was a time when Islamist militants serially exploded bombs in 63 districts of the country on the same day. All this happened in this country as, reportedly, a foreign spy agency wanted to make Bangladesh unstable.

Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami is also believed to have links with international terror organisations.

After all, this is one of the countries from which some people did go to Afghanistan, Iraq as well as Palestine in order to fight against, what they said, are anti-Islamic forces in those countries.

These people had become radicals when they returned and tried to organise radical forces across the country. However, they weren’t very successful, and were easily contained.

Presently, Bangladesh doesn’t have the threat of the kind of terrorism that USA and its allies are fighting against. What Bangladesh has now is an extreme form of violence due to its internal political environment.

These two countries have done quite a lot of work to prevent terrorism in Bangladesh and in South Asia

But the terrorising didn’t last very long. Bangladesh fought them back and successfully rooted out the terror elements. The militant kingpins have also been executed.

However, to America’s mind, that may not mean that terror threats or the presence of transnational terror elements have been successfully eliminated.

The conflicts that emanate from local power-mongering politics can be extremely dangerous; and yes, that may be reason enough to issue an international travel alert.

Risks of the physical insecurity of all Bangladeshis are exceptionally high as extortion, arson and incidents of abduction are commonplace.

However, these have no connection

with transnational terror groups. The local political groups are responsible for these types of acts of terror.

Coming back to the issue of embassy closures, the Obama administration was criticised as “overreacting” on terror attacks, but the US President seemed quite determined to make sure that they don’t have another Benghazi.

Americans should proceed with vacations in a “prudent way,” Obama said.

A country has all the rights to ensure national security if there’s any possibility of a terror attack. This is precisely what the US did by closing the embassies in 22 places. However, according to news reports in Bangladeshi media, they hadn’t informed the government here.

This was surprising. Dhaka is one of Washington’s partners in its war on terror. These two countries have done quite a lot of work to prevent terrorism in Bangladesh and in South Asia.

The US has even helped Bangladesh to formulate its counter-terrorism act.

Therefore, keeping Dhaka uninformed about the embassy closure can raise questions.

Having said that, we must reiterate that the kind of terrorism the US fears isn’t the reality in Bangladesh.

The Bangladeshi people deserve to know whether their country is a terror threat for America. l The author is Executive Editor of Natunbarta.

young boy once asked his grandfather, “Dadu (Grandpa), at what age does one become old?”

The grandfather replied, “There is no age limit for being old. As you grow old, a time comes when you no longer understand what the young generation says and they do not understand what you say. That is the time you become old.”

I heard this story years ago from a Bangladesh born professor settled in the US. In fact, he himself had put the question to his grandfather when he was a little boy. The professor must be retired by now, and I have not met him recently.

I do not know if he is still young or has become old. I do, however, remember his story every time the editor of Dhaka Tribune requests an article for the young readers of this newspaper. I wonder whether the young generation will understand what I write for them?

Rabindranath Tagore was young all his life even though he died in 1941 at the age of 80. He had no problem communicating with young people of all ages. His novels, poems, stories and songs are admired by young and old alike.

I still wonder how in the poem “Year 1400,” written more than one hundred years ago, he manages to convey with love and delight the early spring morning, the fragrance of a flower, the melody of a song and the crimson colours around him, to the young readers of today.

Everyone is not Tagore. We can’t all communicate with the young like he did. When we advise them “early to bed and early to rise,” they practice late to bed and late to rise ... while we listen to the romantic melodies of yesterday, they listen to the pop songs

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akistan-based militants are preparing to take on India across the subcontinent once Western troops leave Afghanistan next year, several sources say, raising the risk of a dramatic spike in tensions between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan.

Intelligence sources in India believe that a botched suicide bombing of an Indian consulate in Afghanistan, which was followed within days, last week, by a lethal cross-border ambush on Indian soldiers in disputed Kashmir, suggest that the new campaign by Islamic militants may already be underway.

Members of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the Pakistani group blamed for the 2008 commando-style raid on Mumbai that killed 166 people, told Reuters they were preparing to take the fight to India once again, this time across the region.

And a US counter-terrorism official, referring to the attack in Afghanistan, said “LeT has long pursued Indian targets, so it would be natural for the group to plot against them in its own backyard.”

Given the quiet backing - or at least blind eye - that many militant groups enjoy from Pakistan’s shadowy intelligence services, tensions from a new militant campaign are bound to spill over. Adding to the volatility, the two nations’ armies are trading mortar and gunfire across the heavily militarised frontier that divides Kashmir, and accusing each other of killing troops.

Hindu-majority India and Islamic Pakistan have fought three wars since independence in 1947 and came close to a fourth in 1999. The tension now

brewing may not escalate into open hostilities, but it could thwart efforts to forge a lasting peace and open trade between two countries that make up a quarter of the world’s population.

“With the Americans leaving Afghanistan, the restraint on the Pakistani security/jihadist establishment is going too,” said a former top official

Anti-Indian sentiment in Kashmir provides fertile ground for reviving the militancy that roiled the region through the 1990s at India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), the external intelligence arm.

“We are concerned about 2014 in either scenario. If the jihadists (Islamist militants) claim success in Afghanistan, they could turn their attention to us. Equally, if they fail, they will attack in wrath.”

But Pakistan, which has a border with India to the East and with Afghanistan to the West, has concerns of its own.

It sees India’s expansive diplomacy in Afghanistan as a ploy to disrupt it from the rear as it battles its own deadly Islamist militancy and separatist forces.

Vying for influence in a post-2014 Afghanistan, it worries about India’s assistance to the Afghan army, heightening a sense of encirclement.

“I’m shocked by these allegations.

Pakistan has its own insurgency to deal with. It has no appetite for confrontations abroad,” said a Pakistani foreign ministry official referring to the Indian charges of stirring trouble in Afghanistan and on the Kashmir border.

“If anything, we are looking at our mistakes from the past very critically.

These accusations are baseless. India needs to act with more maturity and avoid this sort of propaganda.”

Both US Vice-President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry spoke during visits to India recently of the need for New Delhi and Islamabad to resume their stalled peace process as the region heads into a period of uncertainty.

Full-scale jihad

At the core of that uncertainty is the pullback of militants from Afghanistan as US forces head home.

Hafiz Sayeed, founder of the LeT, has left no doubt thatIndia’s side of Kashmir will become a target, telling an Indian weekly recently: “Full-scale armed jihad (holy war) will begin soon in Kashmir after American forces withdraw from Afghanistan.”

The retreat of Soviet forces from Afghanistan in 1989 brought a wave of guerrillas into Kashmir to fight India’s rule there.

This time the additional risk will be the rivalry between India and Pakistan over Afghanistan itself, one that threatens to become as toxic as the 60-year dispute in Kashmir. The LeT has said it is fighting Indian forces in Afghanistan as well.

A senior LeT source in Pakistan told Reuters: “It is correct that the LeT cooperates with the Afghan Taliban (insurgents) when there is a question of attacking Indian interests.”

Tensions between India and Pakistan escalated last week after five Indian soldiers were killed close to the de facto border in Kashmir. India says Pakistani Special Forces joined

militants to ambush a night patrol, a charge Pakistan denies.

Just days earlier, three men drove an explosives-laden car towards India’s consulate in the Afghan city of Jalalabad, near the border with Pakistan. The blast missed its target and killed nine civilians, six of them young Islamic scholars in a mosque.

It is too early to say conclusively who was behind these and other attacks, but Indian and Afghan officials see in them the handiwork of the LeT and its allies. Such groups have doubled their attempts to cross into Indian-controlled Kashmir this year, according to Indian defence ministry statistics.

The result has been the first increase in Kashmir militant violence since a 2003 ceasefire on the border, which led to a decline in attacks, partly because Pakistan and the jihadist groups were preoccupied with Afghanistan during this time.

In the first eight months of this year, 103 casualties in militant-related violence were recorded in Indian Kashmir, compared to 57 in the same period of 2012, according to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, a think tank.

$10m bounty

LeT was founded in 1990 in eastern Afghanistan by Sayeed, a Pakistani Islamic scholar whom India accuses of masterminding the rampage in Mumbai. The United States placed a $10m bounty on his head for his alleged role in the attack, but he remains a free man in Pakistan, where he preached to thousands last week.

Although the group has global ambitions, LeT’s primary aim is to end India’s rule in Muslim-majority Kashmir.

India and Pakistan each control a part

Everyone is not Tagore. We can’t all communicate with the young like he did

Young kids look at me with amusement.

When I ask them to stop shouting, they scream. When I ask them to scream, they say, “Are you nuts?”

They find faults with everything I do. My dress is lousy. My English is funny and my accent silly. If I try to sing an old tune, they roll their eyes and laugh loudly. If I write a poem, the young say it is yucky! If I tell a story, it can become funky. If I write an essay, it becomes junky! What can I write for the young readers? Am I not old now? l Abdul Matin is a former chief engineer of Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission.

A man for all ages: Tagore’s appeal transcends age barriers

As Afghan endgame looms, IndiaPakistan rivalry intensifies n Frank Jack Daniel, Sanjeev Miglani

of today. We envy them for earning one hundred times more than what we earned when we were young. They envy us for spending one hundred times less for anything we bought when we were young.

We used to write letters to friends and relatives and wait days for a reply.

They tweet to friends and get instant replies. While we were thrilled by the adventures of Robinson Crusoe, they get lost in the world of Harry Potter. We had to find and struggle through encyclopedias to find out facts; they can google far more information straight away.

Things are so different these days.

Boys and girls are shepherded to coaching centres whilst we played on open fields. We had to sit close to a noisy radio set to get the latest score at the Oval, they can watch the game live on TV. We walked miles to visit friends and relations, they need a car or a rickshaw to cross the street.

This time the additional risk will be the rivalry between India and Pakistan over Afghanistan itself

WIKI COMMONS

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Today’s Eid special TV shows

ON TV

n Entertainment Desk ‘Deyaler Upor Achhe Akash’ airs on Banglavision

MOVIES

“Deyaler Upor Achhe Akash” directed by Nuzhat Alvy Ahmed will air at 8:10pm today. Sajal, Aupi Karim and many more have acted in the drama.

It’s a story about a writer. In recent times, the writer in focus faces writer’s block and is unable to write anything. While he was facing this dilemma and suffering with frustration, a beautiful lady comes to him with the request of writing her biography.

3:40pm Fox Movies Premium Skyfall

5:40pm Zee Studio

Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

6:20pm WB

Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire

7:00pm Star Movies John Carter

‘Fine Jamai’ airs on Channel i

7:00pm Fox Movies Premium

“Fine Jamai” directed by Robin Khan will air at 7:50pm today. Amin Khan, Bindu, Farukh Ahmed and many more have acted in the drama. It’s a comedy drama where Bodiul stands in front of his in-laws house and asks them to return his estranged wife. With hindsight, he refuses to leave the spot and swears that he will remain in position until his demands are met with positivity or will wait here till death makes him leave. After a few days however, a rumour is heard across the village that someone poisoned him.

Big Daddy

7:20pm HBO

Man On A Ledge

9:30pm HBO

Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol

9:30pm WB

‘Trump Card’ airs on RTV

“Trump Card,” a thriller based action telefilm depicting the rule of underworld will be aired on RTV tonight at 11:45pm. Written and directed by Mizanur Rahman Aryan, the telefilm features Shatabdi Wadud, Bidya Sinha Meem, Nisho, Monira Mithu and Piyal in the lead roles.

Shatabdi Wadud is seen as an underworld don in the story. His activity has been taken care of by his assistant played by Nisho. All of a sudden Nisho gets attacked by some terrorists and an autistic girl rescues him. Nisho falls for the girl but his dreams become shattered while Bidya Sinha Mim in the role of an underworld terrorist. The story takes a twis at this point. The action packed telefilm also feaures songs by Limon and Lalon band.

Transformers: Revenge Of The Fall

11:00pm Zee Studio The Rock

12:00am Star Movies Colombiana

COMEDY 9:30pm FX

The Simpsons

‘Khyati’ airs on ETV

11:30pm Colors

“Khyati” directed by Mizanur Rahman Lablu will air at 10pm today. Anisur Rahman Milon, Bidya Sinha Saha Mim and many more acted in the drama. Everyone wants to be popular and it is a common dream shared by people from all walks of life. In the play “Khyati,” the character played by the popular soap actor Anisur Rahman Milon wants to be popular and takes up wrong methods to achieve his dreams. His wife, acted by Bidya Sinha Saha Mim tries to dissuade him from making the wrong decision.

Mrs Pammi Pyarelal

1:30pm Comedy Central Up All Night

3:30pm Star World Glee

5:30pm Z Cafe

Just For Laughs

7:30pm Sony SAB

Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashma

8:30pm Big CBS Love Rules Of Engagement

‘Jamai Dhora’ airs on Maasranga

“Jamai Dhora” directed by Sanjay Barua will air at 10:30pm today.

Amin Khan, Mehazabean, Sohan Khan and many more have acted in the drama. The love story presents Kona and Kabir who are in love with each other. Kona’s mother has a dream about her daughter’s marriage. Her cousin Evan comes to visit the country from USA and he also wants to marry Kona. But Kona does not love her cousin and wants to marry her boy friend. Hence the story takes a twist.

‘Jasmine o Tar Ek Guchchho Phul’ on NTV

Written and directed by Sagor Jahan, telefilm “Jasmine o Tar Ek Guchcoho Phul” features Opi Karim, Intekhab Dinar, Ahona, Sabiha Jahan, Harun, Ripon and others.

The story is about a popular actress named Mississippi. Mississippi lives alone in an apartment in Dhaka. The actress often sees a small girl following her in her dreams. At one point, she realises where ever she goes the small girl follows her but no one else sees the girl. Mississippi gets traumatised about the incident and shares it with her friend Shurjo who is a poet. He supports her and counsels her with a psychiatrist. But, she still sees the small girl. She becomes mentally lost and finally, Missisippi faces the small girl in reality. The telefilm will be aired today at 2:35pm on NTV.

10:30pm Comedy Central Hot In Cleveland

DRAMA 9:05am Banglavision

Arman Bhai er Honeymooney

12:30pm Star Gold Hogi Pyar Ki Jeet

12:30pm Zee Cinema Judaai

2:45pm Star Gold Tere Sang

3:30pm Zee Café

Iftee showcases ‘Shahabuddin: The Painter, The Fighter’

Lea Michele dedicates award to Cory n Monteith

n Entertainment Desk

Actress Lea Michele, in her first public appearance since the death of her boyfriend and cast mate Cory Monteith, dedicated her Teen Choice Award on Sunday in Los Angeles to the actor who died of an accidental drug and alcohol overdose last month.

With tears in her eyes and her hand on her chest, Michele, 26, thanked fans for the best actress in a TV comedy award for her role as Rachel Berry in the musical series “Glee” and for their support in dealing with Monteith’s death.

“He was very special to me and we were very lucky to witness his incredible talent, his handsome smile and beautiful heart,” she told the audience at the Gibson Amphitheatre.

Monteith, 31, was found dead in a Vancouver hotel room on July 13. The actor, who played high school athlete turned glee club singer Finn Hudson in the Fox musical comedy, had struggled with substance abuse and was in rehab in April. His death forced Fox to push back the start of the show’s fifth season, which will address Monteith’s death, by a week to September 26. l

Afrose Jahan Chaity

A portrait photography exhibition “Shahabuddin: The Painter, The Fighter” by Iftekhar Wahid Iftee will end today at the Zainul Art Gallery of the Fine Arts

Department of Dhaka University. The photographs present some unique moments from the daily life of the famed artist of country, Shahabuddin Ahmed.

The display was inaugurated by Shahabuddin Ahmed on August 8. The exhibition is the outcome

Visitors at the exhibition

IFTEKHAR WAHID IFTEE

of a seven-year project of Iftee with the aim to document personal moments of the great artist.

Portrait based photographer Iftekhar Wahid Iftee, by following the footsteps of his idol famous photographer Nasir Ali Mamun, has shown intelligence and commendable aesthetic sense in capturing the displayed photographs. “Photographs are history itself. It’s hard to find portraits of the people who work dedicatedly for our country and consequently become legends. So I came up with the idea to capture Salauddin Ahmed with my camera since I believe he is already considered as a legendary artist to many.”

Iftee shares with the Dhaka Tribune.

The photographer had shown his liberty in his own language by presenting a photo story of life of Shahabuddin who is on e of the rare painters whose name and works have crossed the national boundary long before, and entered the international domain.

In the photographs, Shahabuddin has been captured in various moods at many locations. Compositions of some of the photographs are brilliant which shows the real face of the person behind his grand artworks. Shahabuddin’s artistic self, his passion and expressions have been vividly captured through the lens of Iftee.

The genius of Shahabuddin is known to the world, but this exhibition tells some stories about the creator of those exquisite canvasses.

Iftee is also planning to publish a book on Shahabuddin very soon. On the other hand, he is preparing for his next exhibition on living legend philosopher Sardar Fazlul Karim. l

Lost

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Six animated summer films: What worked and what didn’t n Entertainment Desk When it comes to computer-animated children’s films this summer, there has been no shortage of choices when it comes to going to the movie theaters. The genre once seemed like a sure thing to bring in audiences, but as we’ve seen this summer, there now exists the possibility for the genre to become overly saturated.

But even with all the talk of over-saturation in the children’s film market, it’s still been a summer of extremes. On one hand, Universal’s “Despicable Me 2” and Disney’s “Monsters University” have steam-rolled the competition. “Despicable Me 2” even led NBCUniversal CEO Steve Burke to say that the film would “end up being the single most profitable film in the 100 year history of Universal Studios.”

Other films haven’t been so lucky.

DreamWorks Animation’s “Turbo” and

recently released “The Smurfs 2,” coming from Sony have both found themselves underperforming. “Planes,” which also came from Disney and just opened this past weekend, seems likely to fall somewhere in the middle.

So in a crowded summer for computer-animated children’s fare, what separated the winners from the losers? Here’s a list of the six major animated releases this summer and some reasons why they might have performed the way they did.

At the top of the list is Universal’s “Despicable Me 2,” which currently stands at $338 million domestically and $725 million worldwide. While the film is second in total worldwide gross this summer to Disney’s “Iron Man 3,” the much smaller budget of the animated film puts it firmly at the top of the list when it comes to return on investment. Being the “single most profitable film in the 100 year history

of Universal Studios” is no small feat for a studio that once released Jaws in 1975.

So how did this film perform so well?

One explanation is likely the fact that it’s a sequel to a popular animated film. The timing of the film’s release also worked out extremely well — coming out only two weeks after “Monsters University,” the film could have suffered from that film’s success, but instead seemed to piggyback off of it. “Despicable Me 2” then had a solid two-week lead on the next animated film’s release — DreamWorks Animation’s “Turbo.” So the film found itself in good position early in the summer before the market started to get overly saturated.

There’s also something to be said about the fact that the film was good — it currently holds a 75 percent “Fresh” rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and, despite what executives sometimes seem to think, kids do notice that stuff. l

9:30am NDTV Good Times Yogasutra

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Did you know?

Reading forward Adam Le Fondre, who netted eight times as a sub last season (201213), scored the most substitute goals in one premier league season

Sport

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

14 Italy, Argentina renew rivalry after 12-year gap

14 EPL set for goal-line technology

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

15 Flower hails Cook’s tactical nous

Who are the nine? n Mazhar Uddin The match fixing scandal from the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2013 season saw another twist as the ICC and Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) jointly held a press conference yesterday at a hotel, where the CEO of ICC revealed that there are a total of nine individuals accused of being involved in fixing.

However, the names of the accused were withheld and this has created plenty of speculation in the cricketing community as to who the persons might be.

One person is Mohammed Ashraful, who earlier confessed to his involvement and was suspended by the BCB until the investigation was completed.

Ashraful met the ICC officials yesterday at the hotel and talked with them.

“I have met with them as I am giving them support regarding the match fixing scandals from the very beginning and now it’s up to them to decide what punishment they are going to give,” he said.

It had been expected that the ICC would disclose the names of the accused. CEO Dave Richardson explained, “Under the Bangladesh Cricket Board’s anti corruption code

unfortunately we can’t disclose the names until the whole disciplinary process is completed. As the investigation process is still going on we don’t want to disclose any names as they might not be found guilty.”

However the CEO informed that nine of them have been charged with various offenses, “Nine individuals have been charged with various offences that are alleged to have been committed under the BCB’s anti corruption code during the 2013 Bangladesh Premier League,” added Richardson.

Among the names that are speculated to be on the list are a few current and some national team discards.

Anamul Hoque, who played for the Dhaka Gladiators, is being said to be on the list.

Others being talked about are fast bowler Mahbubul Alam Robin and left arm spinner Mosharraf Hossain Rubel who played for Dhaka Gladiators and the wicket keeper batsman of Khulna Royal Bengals Mithun Ali. There are also some former national cricketers such as Mohammed Rafique and Sanwar Hossain, who were also part of the support staff of the Dhaka Gladiators team. Shihab Chowdhury, the managing director of the Gladia-

tors is likely on the list and the owner of the franchise, Selim Chowdhury confirmed that he had received a letter from the ICC about his involvement.

“Yes I have received a letter from the ICC today (yesterday) but I don’t think the ICC has any right to issue any charges against us as the other match fixing scandals earlier happened in other countries. The related boards can take the decision, but not the ICC,” argued Selim. He added that he was innocent of any wrong doing and if needed, would take legal action to prove it.

Richardson did not answer the question of whether there were any foreign names on the list. “At the moment I can’t say as it’s not in the code and I don’t want to add any more speculations,” said Richardson.

However, it was heard that the coach of Dhaka Gladiators, Ian Pont, was also involved and received the letter from the ICC and another foreigner, Darren Stevens, is possibly on the list.

BCB president Nazmul Hasan said that a tribunal would be formed in the next two or three days and it is likely that speculation as to who is under investigation will continue until the board finally chooses to reveal what they know. l

ICC CEO Dave Richardson (R) and BCB president Najmul Hassan leave the Hotel Radisson premises after concluding the press conference regarding the BPL match fixing yesterday MUMIT M./DHAKA TRIBUNE

National booters’ Nine including Ash to face charges n rusty win in practice match Tribune Desk

n Raihan Mahmood Bangladesh national football team registered a rusty 2-1 win over a BFF XI in a practice match at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.

Two penalties – one in each half - earned the Saff Championship bound national team a victory that was watched by only a few hundred spectators. Apart from the quality of the passing, there was little difference between the teams and there was hardly any evidence that the over a month long training camp had improved the side.

After the match, head coach Lodewijk de Kruif, his assistant Rene Koster and even the captain Mamunul Islam declined to face the press. May be frustration took over Lodewijk who arrived yesterday. He was seen talking in a heated way with the players during the interval.

The national team went ahead in the 8th minute off a penalty when forward Toklis Ahmed was brought down in the penalty box by BFF XI goalkeeper Sultan Ahmed Shakil and winger Zahid Hossain stepped up to send the ball home with Shakil going the wrong way.

However Aminur Rahman Shajib, the substitute forward of the BFF XI restored the parity in the 24th minute with an angular shot after skipper Monaem Khan Raju paved the way for him with a precise through pass.

The goal visibly inspired the BFF XI and they initiated a series of attacks in the next few minutes. Among them, Sobuj Kumar Biswas’s curving effort off a cut back of Shajib missed the far post by a few inches.

The national team’s best effort of the first half came in the 41st minute after Wahed Ahmed stormed past the defence to set Tokils free. Toklis turned around and set Zahid Hasan Emily free, whose grounder missed the sidepost from the top of the box.

The national team continued their ball possession but failed to go past the BFF XI defence that comprised two Nigerians, Gerrad and Yves. It was Yves who paved the way for the national team’s second penalty.

Speedy winger Mobarak sneaked through the left flank and was moving dangerously ahead before a clumsy tackle of Yves saw him grounded in the middle of the box. It was the turn of defender Waly Faisal, who coolly hit the roof of the net from the spot. l

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board announced yesterday that following a comprehensive investigation carried out by the ICC’s Anti-Corruption and Security Unit (Acsu), nine individuals have been charged with various offences that are alleged to have been breached the BCB’s Anti-Corruption Code during the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) 2013.

The charges relate to an alleged conspiracy within the Dhaka Gladiators franchise to engage in match-fixing and spot-fixing during the BPL 2013, as well as failures by individuals to report approaches made to them to be involved in the conspiracy.

Charge letters detailing the allegations have been issued to the relevant individuals today. But the ICC and BCB emphasised the importance of recognizing that all those charged remain innocent until proved guilty. Moreover, in accordance with the BCB’s AntiCorruption Code, their identities will not be disclosed until the conclusion of the disciplinary proceedings that have now been instituted against them.

Of the nine individuals, seven have been charged for fixing-related offences, with two others charged for failing to comply with their obligation to report corrupt approaches that were made to them. Those facing the more serious fixing-related charges have been provisionally suspended and are

immediately barred from participating in all cricket activities organised or recognised by the BCB, the ICC or of the ICC’s Member associations, pending resolution of the disciplinary proceedings brought against them.

All those charged now have 14 days

Mohammad Ashraful, the under investigation cricketer, waits for his transport at the Hotel Radisson after meeting with ICC officials yesterday COURTESY to indicate whether they wish to plead guilty or to defend themselves against the charges brought against them in a full hearing, which would take place before an Anti-Corruption Tribunal convened in accordance with the processes set out in Article 5 of the BCB’s Anti-Corruption Code.

Those who plead guilty, or who deny the charges but are later found guilty by an Anti-Corruption Tribunal, would be subject to the sanctions man-

BD to play Malaysia U-23 on August 23 n Raihan Mahmood

Bangladesh’s Omar Faruk Babu (R) fights for the ball against BFF XI in a practice match at the BNS yesterday

MUMIT M./DHAKA TRIBUNE

dated in Article 6 of the BCB’s Anti-Corruption Code, which include the impositions of a suspension of: (a) between five years up and up to a lifetime for the fixing offences; and (b) between one to five years for any failure to report a corrupt approach.

Bangladesh national football team will start their Saff Championship campaign virtually from August 20 when they fly to Malaysia to play a practice match against Malaysia U-23 on August 23 at Kuala Lumpur.

Haunted by the lack of match practice against quality teams, Bangladesh Football Federation convinced the Malaysian U-23 team to play the practice match, the last one before landing in Nepal. Bangladesh will fly direct to Kathmandu, the Nepali capital on August 24. The Saff Championship kicksoff on August 31 with Bangladesh playing Nepal on the opening day.

Meanwhile German based midfielder Reasat Khaton’s arrival depends upon the consent of head coach Lodewijk de Kruif. Reasat returned to Germany before Eid and will join the team only if de Kruif thinks he is required. l

ICC Chief Executive David Richardson, paid tribute to the work of the ACSU: “During its investigation, the Acsu interviewed a large number of people who were involved in BPL 2013 and collected significant evidence from a number of sources that has culminated in the charges that have been brought today.

“The continuing fight against corruption in cricket is not only the responsibility of the authorities like the

ICC and the BCB, but it is increasingly the personal responsibility also of all players and support personnel (including team owners, administrators, officials and representatives). They must work closely with the authorities and comply with their reporting responsibilities at all times, so that the integrity of the sport can be protected for the greater good.”

The BCB President Nazmul Hassan reiterated that the BCB is committed to protecting the integrity and reputation of the sport in Bangladesh and emphasised his desire that anyone found guilty of breaching the BCB’s Anti-Corruption Code should be severely dealt with in accordance with the sanctioning principles set out in the Code.

“As the custodians of the sport in Bangladesh, it is the responsibility of the BCB to protect its integrity for all those who engage in any way with the sport of cricket, whether players, spectators, broadcasters, sponsors or otherwise.

The BCB is committed to a zero-tolerance approach towards corruption in the sport and has demonstrated its resolve to deal robustly with such matters by engaging the services of the ICC and Acsu.

“The BCB is committed to doing everything possible to defend it from the very small group of people who are willing to compromise the values of the overwhelming majority for personal greed and, in so doing, bring disgrace upon themselves and their associates, as well as tarnishing the image of the game,” said Nazmul. l

Michael Jackson to play alongside John Lennon, Mahatma Gandhi! n Reuters Michael Jackson will join forces with John Lennon and Mahatma Gandhi after signing for Brazilian Serie B club Atletico Goianiense, the club said in a statement.

The 25-year-old’s real name is Carlos Adriano Sousa Cruz but he is usually known by his nickname which he earned for his eccentric goal celebration where he imitates the late American pop star’s dance.

Also known as Adriano Michael Jackson, he will line up alongside defender John Lennon, who was baptised John Lennon Silva Santos, and Mahatma, full name Mahatma Gandhi Heber Pio, at the midtable side.

The squad also includes a player known as Rafael Gladiador (Gladiator).

Brazilian footballers can be known either by their Christian names, surnames, nicknames or a combination of all three,

Carlos Adriano Sousa Cruz is usually known by Michael Jackson often leading to exotic results.

A forward named Alain Delon, named after the French actor, is regarded as one of the most successful players to have represented Vitoria, while a Michel Platini, namesake of the former France captain and current UEFA president, plays in midfield for Bulgaria’s Ludgorets Razgrad.

Another Michael Jackson, real name Marileia dos Santos, once played for the Brazilian women’s team, taking part in two World Cups and an Olympic Games. l

14

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Pope torn over who to support for Italy-Argentina friendly

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Key Friendlies Sweden Portugal Germany Italy Poland Switzerland Wales Belgium England Ecuador

n AFP, Vatican City

v v v v v v v v v v

Norway Netherlands Paraguay Argentina Denmark Brazil Ireland France Scotland Spain

Pope Francis joked with Italy and Argentina players on the eve of a friendly football match in Rome on Tuesday, saying he was torn over who to support.

“It’s going to be difficult for me, it’s lucky it’s a friendly match!

And let’s make sure it is one,” the Argentine pontiff said in a private meeting, which journalists listened to over the speakers in the Vatican’s press room.

The players, along with Italian coach Cesare Prandelli and Argentine coach Alejandro Sabella, met the 76-year-old at the Vatican before Wednesday’s game at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

The pontiff, a lifelong fan of Argen-

You, dear players, are very popular. People follow your example, off the pitch as well as on. You have a social responsibility tine club San Lorenzo, called on the teams to make sure they used their popularity to give a good example to their fans.

“You, dear players, are very popular. People follow your example, off the pitch as well as on. You have a social responsibility,” he said.

Among those present was AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli, who is often in the headlines for his behaviour on and off the pitch.

The players presented Francis with a personalised shirt from each team with his name on it, as well as a silver vase from the Argentinians and an olive tree from the Italians.

“Please pray for me, so that I too, on the ‘pitch’ God has placed me on, can play an honest and courageous game for the good of everyone,” the pope said at the end of the meeting. l

Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain (L) relaxes alongside teammate Lionel Messi during a football training session at Olympic stadium in Rome on Monday. Messi will miss Argentina's friendly against Italy today in honour of Pope Francis, who will receive the two squads at the Vatican on the eve of the match REUTERS

Italy, Argentina renew rivalry after 12-year gap Messi to miss friendly due to muscle pain complain about the August date, n Retures which is played before many domestic Italy forward Pablo Osvaldo could face the country of his birth in today’s friendly against Argentina as the two old rivals meet for the first time in 12 years.

World Cup hosts Brazil will attempt to keep the momentum going after their Confederations Cup win in June as they visit Switzerland in another of the nearly 50 friendlies being played on the first international date of the season.

There are several neighbourly clashes with England meeting Scotland at Wembley, Belgium hosting France in Brussels and Sweden entertaining Norway in Stockholm.

Other teams will be travelling much further, including world and European champions Spain, who face an exhausting round trip to steamy Guayaquil to play Ecuador, and Uruguay, who travel half way around the world to visit Japan.

Uruguay’s trip will at least give striker Luis Suarez a break from his troubles at Liverpool, where he has been told he must apologise to his team mates before he will be welcomed back into the squad following a failed bid to move away.

Victor Genes will make his debut as Paraguay’s fourth coach in only two years as the South Americans visit Germany in Kaiserslautern.

The former under-20 coach replaced Gerardo Pelusso who quit in June after a 2-1 home defeat to Chile kept the 2010 World Cup quarter-finalists bottom of the South American qualifying group for the 2014 finals in Brazil.

Beleaguered Mexico coach Jose Manuel de la Torre badly needs a win against Ivory Coast in New York following his side’s disappointing CONCACAF Gold Cup exit against Panama while the United States, who won the tournament, visit Bosnia in Sarajevo.

European clubs frequently

leagues have kicked off, and KarlHeinz Rummenigge, president of the European Clubs’ Association, once described the games as “nonsense matches.”

Rummenigge is Bayern Munich’s CEO and is hardly likely to be pleased that two of his club’s players, Thiago Alcantara and Javi Martinez, have been included in an experimental Spanish squad for the trip to South America.

Italy’s meeting with Argentina in Rome is the pick of the crop.

The two teams met in four successive World Cups between 1978 and 1990, the last of those games ending in a heart-breaking semi-final defeat for hosts Italy with a Diego Maradona-inspired Argentina winning on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Their only meeting since then was Argentina’s 2-1 win in Rome in 2001 when Osvaldo was still a teenager living in Buenos Aires.

Osvaldo, who has scored three goals in eight appearances, has been recalled

by Italy for the match, having previously fallen foul of coach Cesare Prandelli’s code of ethics.

The 27-year-old was dropped from the Confederations Cup squad after getting into a public row with AS Roma interim coach Aurelio Andreazzoli during the Italian Cup final against Lazio in May. Born in Buenos Aires, Osvaldo was raised at Huracan where he made his professional debut and moved to Italy as a 20-year-old to join Atalanta.

He qualified to play for Italy through his great grandfather and became the latest in the long line of oriundi, as foreign-born national team players are known, when he made his debut in 2011. l

EPL set for goal-line technology England have identity n AFP, London At some point during the 2013-14 Premier League season, football history will be made when technology is used to settle a contentious goal-line decision for the first time.

The system has already been deployed at last year’s FIFA Club World Cup in Japan and this year’s Confederations Cup in Brazil, but both tournaments passed off without any controversial goal-mouth incidents.

That is almost certain to change when the first of this season’s 380 Premier League games kick off on Saturday, after the English top flight became the first national championship to sanction the use of the technology.

Its arrival will mark the biggest change in the English game since the back-pass rule was introduced in 1992, preventing goalkeepers from picking up passes from team-mates and slowing the game down.

British-based firm Hawk-Eye was chosen over German company GoalControl to supply the ground-breaking technology at a meeting of Premier League club chairmen in April.

During the close season, ball-track-

ing cameras have been installed at all 20 Premier League grounds, from Old Trafford, home of reigning champions Manchester United, to newly-promoted Hull City’s KC Stadium.

Hawk-Eye’s system uses 14 elevated cameras (seven per goal) to track the

movement of the ball around the pitch, with computer software scrutinising data from the cameras to detect whether or not the ball has crossed one of the two goal-lines.

When a goal is scored, a signal will be sent to the match officials’ wristwatches within a second.

Hawk-Eye, which provides similar technology for use in cricket and tennis, says the system is “millimetre accurate”. Former head of Premier League referees Keith Hackett calls it a

“brilliant system”.

Spectators will be unaware if a goal has been awarded until the referee signals, but Hawk-Eye replays will be displayed on in-stadium video screens, where available, and shown to fans watching on television.

The Premier League has long been an advocate of the technology, having conducted initial tests with Hawk-Eye as long ago as 2006.

However, it was not until world governing body FIFA reconsidered its opposition to the concept in July 2012, after nine months of testing, that the path was cleared for it to be introduced.

England manager Roy Hodgson says the system will eliminate the “gross injustices” that occur when officials fail to notice that the ball has crossed the goal-line during matches.

One memorable example occurred at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, when England midfielder Frank Lampard was denied a goal in his side’s last-16 loss to Germany despite his shot clearly bouncing behind the line after hitting the crossbar.

In the Premier League, at least, such incidents should now be a thing of the past. l

crisis, says Ferdinand n AFP, London

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand claims that the current national side have lost their identity and has called for an overhaul of the national coaching strategy.

The Manchester United centre-back, 34, played at three World Cups but never went beyond the quarter-finals, and he believes the reason England are continually eclipsed by teams like Spain and Italy is because they have no coherent playing style.

“What is our identity?” said Ferdinand, who retired from international football in May. “I’ve said that on Twitter I don’t know how many times and people come back and say, ‘What are you talking about?’ But what is our identity?

“We started to see something when Glenn Hoddle was in charge (19961999), a bit of an identity then, freeflowing football, and you would say we were starting to get an idea of the pattern of what he wanted to implement in the team.

“Since then I don’t think we’ve actu-

ally really seen an identity, where you could say, ‘That’s an England team’, where you look at the under-21s and go, ‘That’s an England team’.”

He added: “You could put an under-16 lad into the senior Spanish team or Italian team. He might not have the attributes in terms of physique and speed to be able to deal with it but positionally I’m sure he’d know what to do because that’s what they’re taught, day in, day out.

“I just don’t think you see that connection between our (senior) team and the under-21s, or the under-17s and the under-20s team and the senior team, and I think that doesn’t bode well for the England team.”

England won the World Cup on home soil in 1966 but since then they have reached the semi-finals of a major tournament on just two occasions -- at the 1990 World Cup and the 1996 European Championship.

Ahead of the friendly with Scotland on Wednesday, Ferdinand says England must be prepared to sacrifice short-term success in favour of a more long-term approach. l

Bollywood actor John Abraham and former Indian football team captain Baichung Bhutia during a IMG-Reliance training camp in Mumbai yesterday AP

Downing leaves Liverpool for West Ham

Zagreb fans involved in three racist incidents

n AFP, London

n Reuters, Berne

West Ham United on Tuesday announced the signing of England international winger Stewart Downing from Premier League rivals Liverpool for an undisclosed fee.

Downing, 29, has signed a four-year contract with the east London club and follows striker Andy Carroll in moving from Liverpool to Upton Park.

“I’m very excited. It’s a great opportunity for me being here, it’s a great club and I’m really excited to get going,” Downing told the club’s official website.

“I’m ready and I’m fit for the first game against Cardiff City (on Saturday).

I’ve played a decent few games for Liverpool in pre-season, so there will be no problems on that front.”

The left-footed wide player becomes West Ham manager Sam Allardyce’s fifth new signing of the close season, after Carroll, Rat, Adrian and Whitehead. l

Supporters of Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb were involved in three episodes of discriminatory and racist behaviour in July, the European supporters’ group FARE said yesterday.

Fans of Hungarian club Gyor were reported over anti-Semitic behaviour when their team faced Israeli opposition, while Honved supporters, also from Hungary, repeatedly targeted a Cameroonian player with monkey chants in another game, FARE said.

FARE said that a total of 14 incidents of “racism, xenophobia, extreme nationalism or homophobia”, almost all involving Eastern European fans, were reported to them through eye-witness or media accounts.

“This list is only likely to reflect a proportion of the incidents that occurred,” it said, adding that the incidents at matches in European club competition

Portugal's players - forward Cristiano Ronaldo (2L), defender Fabio Coentrao (2R), defender Pepe (C) - and head coach Paulo Bento (R) practice during a training session at the Jamor Stadium in Oeiras in the Lisbon periphery yesterday. Portugal will play a friendly football match against Netherlands today AFP

had been reported to UEFA. Dinamo Zagreb fan group ‘the Bad Blue Boys’ were reported over “homophobic and racist” chanting during a domestic match against Osijek, a Champions League qualifier against Fola Esch and another against Sheriff Tiraspol.

Some of the chanting targeted club director Zdravko Mamic and the Croatian Football Federation, FARE said.

UEFA later fined the club 25,000 euros ($33,200) and ordered a partial closure of the east stand for their next European match following the incident against Luxemburg’s Fola.

Gyor fans “targeted the opposition players and supporters with anti-Semitic chants” at their Champions League qualifier at home to Maccabi Tel Aviv on July 17, FARE reported.

The Europa League match the following day between Serbia’s Vojvodina and Honved was marred by behaviour of the visiting Hungarian fans. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Quick Bytes

Score Card England 1st Innings 238 (A Cook 51; N Lyon 4-42) Australia 1st Innings 270 (C Rogers 110, S Watson 68; S Broad 5-71) England 2nd Innings (overnight: 234-5) A Cook c Haddin b Harris 22 J Root b Harris 2 J Trott c Haddin b Harris 23 K Pietersen c Rogers b Lyon 44 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

Zia out of tournament

Ziaur Rahman confirmed his exit from the Fide World Cup Chess Championship 2013 after earning a draw against Israeli Grandmaster Boris Gelfand in the second game of the 1st round in Tromso, Norway on Monday. The Bangladeshi Grandmaster needed to win the game in order to remain in the tourney, but his brave display led to a draw and saw him fail to qualify for the 2nd round. Zia played with black pieces against the Israeli, who is rated 2773 in Fide rankings (11). It took Gelfand 103 moves to obtain the draw which he needed move to the second round as he had previously won the first game of the same round. With the draw, Zia (rating 2470) increased his rating by 2. Zia is expected to return home today.

- SH

Bowling Harris 28-2-117-7; Bird 20.3-6-67-0; 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 c Prior b Bresnan 71 U Khawaja lbw b Swann 21 M Clarke b Broad 21 S Smith b Broad 2 S Watson lbw b Bresnan 2 B Haddin lbw b Broad 4 P Siddle c Anderson b Broad 23 R Harris lbw b Broad 11 N Lyon b Broad 8 J Bird not out 1 Extras (b6, lb5) 11 Total (all out, 68.3 overs) 224

Monaco points deduction overturned An appeals committee at the French Football Federation (FFF) yesterday cancelled a two-point deduction imposed on Monaco but upheld a ruling to play one match behind closed doors. The FFF said it had overturned the points deduction given after a Ligue 2 match against Le Mans on May 17, when fans set off flares and invaded the pitch. One fan also attacked the referee in the incident, which came after Monaco secured promotion back to the top flight. Monaco had said they should be treated like any other club, criticising the sanction — which also includes a suspended one point deduction — as unduly harsh and disproportionate. Monaco opened their Ligue 1 account on Saturday with a 2-0 win against Bordeaux.

– AFP

West Brom sign Vydra on season-long loan

West Bromwich Albion have signed Czech striker Matej Vydra on a seasonlong loan from Udinese, the Premier League club announced yesterday.

Vydra spent last season on loan at Watford, where he scored 22 goals and was named Championship Player of the Year. “He had a really good year with Watford and we believe he’s got the qualities to score goals at a higher level. Hopefully, he’ll show that this year with us,” West Brom manager Steve Clarke told the club’s official website (www.wba.co.uk). “We had Matej watched throughout last season. As well as some excellent scouting reports, we had some really good feedback from within Watford about Matej as both a player and person.

– Reuters

Arsenal flop Chamakh joins Palace Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh ended his disappointing three-year spell at Arsenal on Monday after joining newly-promoted Crystal Palace.

Chamakh, 29, signed a one-year contract with Ian Holloway’s team and is likely to make his debut against Tottenham at Selhurst Park on Sunday.

“Crystal Palace are delighted to confirm the signing of Morocco international striker Marouane Chamakh on a one-year deal,” a statement on the club’s website confirmed. “The former Arsenal forward has joined the Eagles on a permanent deal after competing a medical in SE25, and will wear the number 29 shirt.”

– AFP

Stosur slams Kuznetsova in Cincinnati opener

Samantha Stosur continued the rehabilitation of her hardcourt game with a 6-1, 7-5 first-round defeat of fellow Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova at the Cincinnati WTA and ATP Masters on Monday. Stosur, who won the US Open in 2011, had seen a dip in form that dropped her out of the top 10 in the WTA world rankings.

The 29-year-old, who also finished runner-up in 2010 at the French Open, had fallen in the third rounds of both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

– AFP

England's Stuart Broad celebrates after taking the last wicket to win the fourth Ashes cricket Test match against Australia at the Durham cricket ground in Durham, north-east England, on Monday. England won the fourth Test by 74 runs with more than a day to spare to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series AP

Broad bowls England to Ashes series win n AFP, Chester-Le-Street Stuart Broad bowled England to a stunning 74-run fourth Test win over Australia with more than a day to spare as they took an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the fivematch Ashes series.

Australia, set 299 to win on Monday’s fourth day at Chester-le-Street, were well-placed at 168 for two but slumped to 224 all out as paceman Broad took six wickets for 50 runs for a Test-best match haul of 11 for 121.

The victory meant England, who had already retained the Ashes, had won

three successive Test series against Australia for the first time since the 1950s.

Australia, looking for their first win in eight Tests, lost five wickets for 13 runs as 168 for two was transformed into 181 for seven.

Man-of-the-match Broad, who had taken five first-innings wickets, enjoyed a purple patch of six wickets for 20 runs in 45 balls, with Tim Bresnan taking two for eight in 24. At tea, Australia were 120 for one before nine wickets fell in a sensational final session.

“I was glad I could contribute,” said Broad at the presentation ceremony.

“The wicket suited my style of bowling and I found a slightly fuller length,” added Broad, the son of Ashes-winning former England batsman Chris.

England captain Alastair Cook was stunned by the turn of events.

“At tea we still had a lot of wickets to get. I didn’t expect us to be stood here at 8pm (1900GMT) having won the Ashes.”

A bowler who can blow hot and cold, Broad at his best is as tough to face as anyone currently in world cricket and Cook added: “Stuart Broad was incredible — he bowled some jaffas (unplayable deliveries) out there. l

Bowling Anderson 16-1-73-0; Broad 18.3-3-50-6; Bresnan 13-2-36-2; Swann 18-6-53-2; Root 3-2-1-0; Result: England won by 74 runs Man-of-the-match: Stuart Broad (ENG) Series: England lead five-match series 3-0

Australia media slam ‘shameful’ batting collapse n AFP, Sydney Australia’s media yesterday labelled as “humiliating” the dramatic batting collapse that cost the country’s cricketers a chance to win the fourth Ashes Test against England.

Set 299 to win on Monday’s fourth day at Chester-le-Street in Durham, Australia were well-placed at 168 for two but crashed to 224 all out, with paceman Stuart Broad ripping through the middle order on his way to taking six wickets for 50.

“No-one does shameful collapses quite like Australia and Michael Clarke’s side conjured up one to remember, or rather to forget, at Durham to hand the Ashes series to England,” said The Aus-

tralian’s cricket writer Wayne Smith.

“Not since it was beaten in 1953, 1955 and 1956 has Australia lost three Ashes series in succession but rarely, with so much on the line and with victory so clearly in sight, has a team succumbed so meekly.” Australia were scenting victory after a solid century opening stand between David Warner and fellow lefthander Chris Rogers but Rogers was out for 49 and his partner (71) was the third batsmen dismissed as eight wickets fell for just 56 runs.

“Australia had already conceded the Ashes but a humiliating batting collapse at Durham has rubbed salt into their wounds,” said the Sydney Morning Herald’s Chris Barrett. l

Murray says US Open defence a new challenge

Flower hails Cook’s tactical nous

n AFP, Cincinnati

Andy Flower said on Tuesday that England captain Alastair Cook deserved credit for his tactics after leading the side to an Ashes series win over Australia, despite criticism of his field placings and declarations.

Cook has enjoyed some notable triumphs as England captain since taking over from his now retired former opening partner Andrew Strauss, including a series win in India last year and now steering the side to an unbeatable 3-0 lead over Australia with a Test to spare.

The 28-year-old Cook has, however, been criticised by former players, notably Australia greats Ian Chappell and Shane Warne, for being an excessively cautious captain when it comes to declarations and for a lack of imagination in his field placings.

The Essex left-hander’s style has

Andy Murray admitted Monday he doesn’t know how he’ll perform in his US Open title defence, but he hopes a solid showing in Cincinnati this week will help him prepare.

The world number two from Scotland, who ended Britain’s 77-year wait for a Wimbledon men’s champion last month, said that despite winning two Grand Slams he faces a new challenge when defending the American title.

“A lot of the pressure comes from yourself, how much you want to keep doing and how much you want to keep working,” Murray said.

“I hope there’s still pressure there and I hope there’s still some expectation. There will be nerves and stuff.

“It’s going to be a new experience for

me, though, at the US Open. I’ve never defended a Grand Slam title before, and hopefully I’ll deal with that OK.” The US Open begins on August 26.

Murray meanwhile has another practice day in Cincinnati as he waits to face Mikhail Youzhny or Ernests Gulbis --the Latvian who beat him last week in the second round of the Montreal Masters.

In first-round matches of the combined WTA and ATP Masters tournament in Cincinnati on Monday, German Philipp Kohlschreiber defeated former finalist Mardy Fish to set up a Tuesday night second-round match with fivetime champion Roger Federer.

Federer, who will be playing on hardcourts for the first time since March, said he is over the back injury which bothered him on clay last month and is ready to bid for another Cincinnati crown. l

n AFP, Chester-Le-Street

been contrasted unfavourably with the bold approach of Australia captain Michael Clarke.

England paceman Stuart Broad inevitably hogged most of Tuesday’s headlines after a stunning spell of six wickets for 20 runs in 45 balls on Mon-

day saw him to Test-best match figures of 11 for 121.

But England coach Flower highlighted Cook’s role in bringing back Tim Bresnan on Monday’s fourth after-

noon, with the Yorkshire seamer taking the key wicket of well-set opener David Warner soon afterwards.

“It was nice being part of that afternoon session where Broad and Cook turned things around for us,” said Flower.

“Cook’s captaincy has been excellent: strong in the dressing room and out in the field.

“He made some decisions that turned the game... bringing on Bresnan, who got Warner straight away.

“He’s been maligned in some areas, I’ve heard. I’m not sure what is said off the field but we judge ourselves by our own standards,” the former Zimbabwe batsman added.

“As a Test captain he is still a young man but he has led the side brilliantly.

He’s a strong leader and he’s made some really good decisions in this Test series.” l

India gears up for new million-dollar event n AFP, New Delhi

Day’s Watch Ten Sports 8:45pm IAAF World Championships Day 5 LIVE 2:00pm ATP 1000 Masters 2013 LIVE Western & Southern Open ESPN 8:20pm 2013 Indian Badminton League LIVE Krrish Delhi Smashers v Pune Pistons

15

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

India's Jwala Gutta of Delhi Smashers (L), India's Saina Nehwal of Hyderabad Hotshots (2L), Germany's Mark Zweibler of Mumbai Masters (C), Denmark's Carsten Mogensen of Banga Beats (2R) and India's Ashwini Ponappa of Pune Pistons (R) pose with the IBL Trophy during a press conference in New Delhi yesterday AFP

Badminton takes a leap into the unknown on Wednesday, when a new franchise-based team event with innovative rules aimed at drawing bigger crowds opens in India.

The million-dollar Indian Badminton League (IBL), trumpeted as the sport’s richest event, will be played over a fortnight between six city teams, using a more attacking style of play designed to excite the fans. But the event has suffered several blows even before the first shuttle has been hit, with Malaysian superstar Lee Chong Wei, the league’s top draw and the world number one, under an injury cloud.

The standard two-point gap to win a game has been abandoned in favour of a

race to 21 points for the first two games and 11 points for the decider, if needed.

There will also be a minute’s commercial break after the seventh and 14th points in the first two games and after the sixth point in the decider.

“The IBL is definitely the best thing to happen to Indian badminton,” Indian great Prakash Padukone said.

“Badminton has not seen this kind of money before,” the former All-England champion said. “It will add to the popularity of the sport, besides bringing in more money for the players. A lot would, however, depend on the success of the inaugural event.”

The success of popular franchisedbased T20 competitions around the world have also inspired copy-cat events in hockey, golf, football and tennis. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Delay doubles tannery relocation cost Ecnec approves Tk22.04bn ‘Ashrayan 2’ project aiming to alleviate poverty through providing houses n Tribune Report The government yesterday approved the second revised proposal for relocating hazardous tanneries from the capital’s Hazaribagh to Savar, increasing the original project cost by nearly 98%.

The approval of the project “Tannery Industrial Estate, Dhaka (2nd revised)” came at the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council’s (Ecnec) meeting with its Chairperson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The project cost now stands at Tk10.79bn, a sharp increase from the first revised project proposal worth more than Tk5.5bn taken in October 2007.

“The project will ensure the establishment of industrial plots with adequate infrastructural facilities at the Savar tannery industrial park for private entrepreneurs. Hazaribagh tanneries will be relocated there,” Planning Division Secretary Bhuiyan Shafiqul Islam said after the meeting.

Modern central effluent treatm ent plants and dumping yards will be established at the park to ensure quality waste management. The park will create nearly 100,000 direct jobs.

The tannery relocation project was one of the nine development projects costing Tk108.9bn approved at the meeting.

“Of the total outlay, Tk56.58bn will come from the national exchequer while the remaining Tk5.3bn will come from project assistance,” said Shafiqul.

The revised “Ashrayan 2” project aiming to alleviate poverty through providing residential facilities and jobs for landless people also got the nod from Ecnec.

The project cost stands at Tk22.04bn, up by more than 88% from the first revised project cost of Tk11.69bn.

Under the project, some 36,000 more landless families will be rehabilitated. Multi-storeyed buildings will be

A worker nails small pieces of leather at Hazaribagh to dry them in the sun. The processed leather will be used to make wallets and shoes

MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU

quent project called “Abasan” implemented between July 2002 and December 2010.

The first revised project had the period of July 2010 to June 2014. Till date, 14,000 families have been rehabilitated against the target of 50,000 families. l

ties. Houseless land owners would be provided with houses on their lands.

At the same time, the beneficiaries will be provided with training and loan facilities for self-employment.

The construction of multi-storeyed buildings for the rehabilitation of the fam-

ilies who were affected by land acquisition process in expanding the Cox’s Bazar Airport project has also been included in this project.

The Ashrayan 2 project is based on the success of a project called “Ashrayan” taken in 1997 and a subse-

Varun Gandhi supports Teesta deal, LBA

EC postpones 10 municipality polls n Mohammad Zakaria

Scientists grow human heart tissue

n Triune Desk

The Election Commission (EC) yesterday, at an emergency commission meeting, postponed the upcoming 10 municipality elections upon the instruction of the local government and rural development (LGRD) ministry. The LGRD ministry had so far sent three letters to the EC to postpone the elections.

The municipalities to which elections were postponed include Noahata of Rajshahi, Dupchacia of Bogra and Shripur of Gazipur. On July 31, the EC set September 8 as the scheduled date for elections at these municipalities.

The EC was also supposed to announce the poll schedules of Fulbaria of Mymensingh, Chandpur Dhakkhin, Golapganj of Sylhet, Sitakundo of Chittagong municipalities this week.

Earlier, the LRGD ministry requested the EC to postpone the elections to the Chuadhanga Sadar, Shariatpur Sadar and Manikganj Sadar municipalities citing the same reason.

On August 7, the LGRD ministry in a letter signed by Deputy Secretary of the LRGD Rehana Yesmin asked the EC to postpone the elections on the ground that the ministry would re-demarcate the wards. l

n AFP, Paris

Varun Gandhi, a member of Lok Sabha, India’s lower house of parliament, from the opposition BJP party, has come out strongly in support of the Land Boundary Agreement (LBA) and the proposed Teesta water-sharing deal with Bangladesh that Manmohan Singh’s government had to back off from.

The land treaty, signed in 1974 between the two neighbours, needs to be ratified by India through a constitutional amendment. But the process has been stalled for almost four decades.

India’s Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government is ready to introduce an amendment bill in parliament, but it does not have the required majority to pass it without BJP support.

On the other hand, the BJP top brass does not appear willing to allow the bill to pass, primarily due to major reservations by the party’s unit in Assam.

Varun Gandhi, however, expressed support for the LBA and Teesta deals, bdnews24.com reports quoting his article published in The Times of India newspaper yesterday.

Varun is the only child of Indira

constructed for landless people along with specially designed houses for small ethnic groups.

Besides, multi-storeyed buildings will be constructed at the divisional headquarters, city corporations, district towns, upazilas and municipali-

Gandhi’s younger son, Sanjay. His cousin, Rahul Gandhi is the general secretary of the Congress party.

In his article, Varun echoes Sinha, reflecting deep divisions within the BJP on the contentious issues.

“Despite being birthed through Indian midwifery, Bangladesh’s growing anti-India Islamic tilt and illegal migration to our northeast remain irritants. With a pro-India government coming to power, we squandered an opportunity to improve relations,” Varun says in his article.

Without commenting on his party’s opposition to the LBA, he continues: “Instead of operationalising the Land Boundary Protocol, dating back to the 1974 Mujib-Indira Land Boundary Agreement which resolves 6.4km of undemarcated border, and building trust, we resorted to legal hokum.

“We need to ink the Teesta water-sharing treaty, which gives Bangladesh 25% of its waters despite 40% of the river flowing through it, as well as finalise a strategic transit pact regulating access to our northeast,” he adds.

Many would imagine his dig at “legal hokum” is aimed at his own partymen, who strongly oppose the LBA. l

Scientists said Tuesday they had used stem cells to grow human heart tissue that contracted spontaneously in a petri dish – marking progress in the quest to manufacture transplant organs.

A team from the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, used induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells generated from human skin cells to create precursor heart cells called MCPs. iPS cells are mature human cells “reprogrammed” into a versatile, primitive state from which they can be prompted to develop into any kind of cell of the body.

The primitive heart cells created in this way were attached to a mouse heart “scaffold” from which the researchers had removed all mouse heart cells, they wrote in the journal Nature Communications.

The scaffold is a network of non-living tissue composed of proteins and carbohydrates to which cells adhere and grow on.

Placed on the 3D scaffold, the precursor cells grew and developed into heart muscle, and after 20 days of

blood supply the reconstructed mouse organ “began contracting again at the rate of 40 to 50 beats per minute,” said a University of Pittsburgh statement.

“It is still far from making a whole human heart,” added senior researcher Lei Yang.

Ways have to be found to make the heart contract strongly enough to pump blood effectively and to rebuild the heart’s electrical conduction system.

“However, we provide a novel resource of cells – iPS cell-derived MCPs – for future heart tissue engineering,” Yang told AFP by email.

“We hope our study would be used in the future to replace a piece of tissue damaged by a heart attack, or perhaps an entire organ, in patients with heart disease.”

According to the World Health Organisation, an estimated 17m people die of cardiovascular ailments every year, most of them from heart disease.

Due to a shortage of donor organs, “end-stage heart failure is irreversible,” said the study.

More than half of patients with heart disease do not benefit from drugs. l

Wildlife project stuck in red tape n Abu Bakar Siddique

The implementation of the project on Strengthening Regional Co-operation for Wildlife Protection goes on at snail’s pace due to bureaucratic complexity.

Two years have elapsed since the government undertook the $36m worth five-year project on July 1, 2011, but only a few components of the development programme have been completed.

Establishing a wildlife centre, which will facilitate training and research on wildlife is one of the major components of the project. Moreover, the WB-funded project was taken to improve the regional cooperation on wildlife protection among the South Asian countries of Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Bhutan.

However, the forest minister, the forest department officials and World Bank are in an argument over selecting the location of the centre.

Minister Hasan Mahmud desires Rangunia of Chittagong district as the location while the forest officials and the global lender wants the Botanical Garden in Dhaka and Gazipur respectively.

The difference of opinion to select the location was a bar to implementing the project properly, said a forest official source.

The minister, however, denied the allegation, saying they had already decided to set up the wildlife centre in Chittagong in consultation with the World Bank.

“As the Chittagong region including Chittagong Hill Tracts contains 11% of the total forest of Bangladesh and Bangladesh Forest Research Institute is also located in the region, we have decided to establish the wildlife centre there, he added while talking to the Dhaka tribune.

Just one year after the project started, following an objection from the World Bank, the ministry replaced its first project director Tapan Kumar Dey, conservator of forest (wildlife), with Aparup Chowdhury, additional secretary to the ministry as the project director.

Tapan was allegedly involved in wildlife trafficking, according to the news published by different media on June 2012.

Chief Conservator of Forest Yunus Ali said the project had established a Wildlife Crime Control Unit which was another component of the project.

Under this particular wing, only a database of wildlife criminals and a hotline had so far been prepared.

Apparently, establishing the crime control unit is the only visible work that has been done by the authorities, said Prof Monirul H Khan of Zoology Department of Jahangirnagar University.

Regarding the slow pace of implementing the project, Aparup Chowdhury, incumbent project director, said they had already broken the bureaucratic red tape.

He claimed that the project was implemented properly. l

Corrigendum Dhaka Tribune on August 13 ran a report titled “Chinese medical ship due on August 19,” where it was wrongly mentioned in that the ship “would be stationed in China.” Actually, the ship will anchor at Patenga beach in Chittagong from August 19 to 27.

Indigenous languages facing negligence, risk of extinction n Muktasree Chakma Sathi The government is yet to take concrete measures to preserve the country’s endangered languages, especially those spoken by the indigenous people, and protect the rights of linguistic minorities.

The problem persists despite the fact that there is a government institution with the particular responsibility to take care of endangered and near-extinct languages. The International Mother Language Institute (IMLI) was launched on March 15, 2001 and the label “international” meant that its area of work and research would include languages and linguistic heritages of other countries as well.

According to sources, other than the Bangalees, there are at least 45 groups of people indigenous to the country, with an approximate number of 30 languages spoken. Experts say many of these languages have no standard written forms, meaning the history, tradition, wisdom and knowledge of these communities

are passed on orally. The lack of preservation initiatives may expedite the process of their extinction, but equally importantly – as pointed out by Sanjeeb Drong, general secretary of Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum – would also stand opposed to the linguistic rights enshrined within the constitution.

The Article 23(a) of the constitution says: “The state shall take steps to protect and develop the unique local culture and tradition of the tribes, minor races, ethnic sects and communities.”

Sanjeeb said: “The government is denying indigenous children their right to have a primary education in their own (mother) languages – a right also stressed upon in the National Education Policy of 2010.”

Shourav Sikder, a professor of linguistics at the University of Dhaka, told the Dhaka Tribune that the 30 or so languages that exist in the country have been in practice for centuries among the indigenous communities. “The number of these peoples would be over 1.6 million, according to the 2011 pop-

ulation survey. I think the government should take strong measures to protect indigenous languages, or else we may have to risk losing them at some point or another soon,” he said.

He further said a lack of government initiatives sometimes affects adversely school enrolments of the indigenous children. “While the overall school enrolment in the country is 97-99%, according to a survey conducted by the UNDP, enrolment of indigenous children is only 67%.”

“The reason behind this is obvious: these children are not feeling comfortable in schools due to language barriers.” Rights activist Tandra Chakma, referring to another survey on primary education in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, conducted by Manusher Jonno Foundation, said a significant number of these enrolees leave early from education. “They drop out of school almost as quickly as they enrol,” she said.

Director General of IMLI Jinat Imtiaz Ali, however, told the Dhaka Tribune that they would soon launch an eth-

no-linguistic survey that would pave the way for providing education in indigenous languages. “The survey is intended to find the exact number of languages available in the country and their current condition. Once we are through with that, we will take measures that would help appropriately preserve these languages.”

“Usually, an ethno-linguistic survey takes 10-15 years to finish, but in our case, it will take less. However, we are currently considering launching a oneyear pilot project at a cost of Tk40m.

Based on its findings, we will revive near-extinct languages and develop grammar for languages that don’t have one – to be used in textbooks and literature,” Ali added.

The ruling party in its election manifesto had pledged to ensure the cultural and linguistic rights of indigenous people. The Chittagong Hill Tracts Peace Accord, signed by the same party in 1997, also highlighted the importance of protection and preservation of languages. l

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