September 30, 2013

Ashwin 15, 1420 Zilkad 23, 1434 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 189

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013 | www.dhakatribune.com | SECOND EDITION

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Money buys licence for drugstores Mitford traders, drug administration, association trade blames for irregularities

n Moniruzzaman Uzzal The medicine market near the Mitford Hospital has been pushed into a degraded state by a group of unscrupulous profiteering traders, who have flooded the market with fake, adulterated, substandard, smuggled, expired, and banned medicines.

FACT 2,300 stores licensed by drug administration Officials receiving monthly fees from illegal traders Those close to drug samity leaders make fake medicine A drive by a mobile court on Saturday revealed the deplorable practices, with three truckloads of medicines worth over Tk50m being seized from the market. The magistrate of the mobile court also arrested 103 people and filed 74 cases.

Among the arrestees, 83 were let go

after they had given undertakings to the police in addition to fines of over Tk10.25m. Eighteen other traders were handed one year’s imprisonment each after they had been found guilty of serious offences, while two more received 10 days’ jail.

Sources said there were over 2,300 wholesale and retail medicine stores around Mitford although the number was just a couple of hundred two decades back. All of these stores secured valid licences from the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA), amid allegations that unscrupulous officials at the DGDA had provided the licences to a large number of stores for illegal fees.

Meanwhile, medicine traders yesterday brought out processions and blocked the road near Mitford, terming Saturday’s drive on drug stores “medieval barbarity.” They vandalised the office of Bangladesh Chemist and Druggist Samity (BCDS), alleging its leaders of not standing beside the traders  PAGE 2 COLUMN 2

BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia addresses a rally held to drum up support in favour of the party’s demand for election under a non-partisan government at Khulna yesterday BNP

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the UN Headquarters yesterday BSS

Khaleda seeks support Hasina apprises Ban of of military, civil admins Bangladesh election Al-Masum Molla n Mohammad from Khulna BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia yesterday sought cooperation of the members of the civil administration, military, police and Ansar-VDP to “save the country and democracy.”

“We want to wait until October 25 to see whether you [prime minister] place a bill on caretaker government in parliament. If you do not pass any bill by then, we will announce our next course of action,” she said while addressing a

public rally in the Khulna Circuit House ground.

Several thousand people, including party leaders, activists and supporters, joined the rally, which was held as part of Khaleda’s countrywide public meetings to drum up support in favour of the party’s demand for election under a non-partisan government.

Calling upon the civil administration not to oppress and torture people, Khaleda said: “We will continue the movement as elections under the  PAGE 2 COLUMN 5

n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that the election process in Bangladesh got off to a good start.

The meeting was held at 2:20am (Bangladesh standard time) on Sunday at the UN headquarters in New York.

Both of them also had about a 10-minute one-to-one meeting soon after the formal meeting.

“The prime minister told Ban Kimoon that her party started the elec-

tion camping in full swing and so did BNP,” Bangladesh Permanent Representative to UN AK Abdul Momen told the Dhaka Tribune over telephone.

The prime minister told the UN chief that she wanted to hold free, fair and credible election and it would be conducted the same way it is done in all civilised countries, Momen quoted Hasina as saying.

“She also asked the secretary general to send election observers during the election period.”  PAGE 2 COLUMN 4

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, September 30, 2013

‘Mueen was merely a Chhatra Sangha supporter’ n Muktasree Chakma Sathi The defence yesterday claimed that fugitive war crimes suspect Chowdhury Mueen Uddin in 1971 had supported the ideology of Jamaat-e-Islami’s then student wing Islami Chhatra Sangha, but was not its leader.

State-appointed defence counsel Salma Hye also argued that the prosecution and the investigation team had failed to prove her client’s “effective involvement” in politics during the 1971 Liberation War.

‘I tried to find his [Mueen’s] relatives at his native village in Feni. I made announcement in newspapers but nobody came forward. That is why I failed to present any defence witness’ While placing the closing arguments in the case against Mueen at the International Crimes Tribunal 2, the counsel said there was no evidence which could prove Mueen’s involvement in anti-liberation activities. “He was a reporter in a well-famed newspaper called daily Purbadesh back then. He used to be busy with his journalism.”

Earlier, she told the tribunal of Justice Obaidul Hasan, Justice Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Shahinur Islam that despite repeated attempts, she had failed to gather any witness for her client.

“I tried to find his [Mueen’s] relatives at his native village in Feni. I made announcement in newspapers but nobody came forward. That is why I failed to present any defence witness,” Salma said.

Fugitive accused Mueen and Ashraf were indicted jointly in 11 counts of crimes against humanity. According to the prosecution, Mueen was al-Badr’s “operation-in-charge” while Ashraf the “chief executor” during the war. Para militia force al-Badr was formed with the members of Chhatra Sangha.

The defence counsel also argued that there was no documentary evidence published before December 16, 1971 against Mueen implicating him with the al-Badr force.

Referring to the recent interviews of the accused broadcasted in BBC and Al-Jazeera channels, Salma said: “Mueen believed in the sovereignty of Pakistan but he did not play any role in favour of his beliefs.”

The tribunal set today for further procedure of the case. l

Agitated medicine traders vandalise and lay seize to the Mitford Market Association office yesterday after a Mobile court on Saturday confiscated expired medicines and fined the traders of the medicine market (Story on Page 1) DHAKA TRIBUNE

Do not release Bt brinjal: HC Secys asked to finish work by Oct 24 n Tribune Report

The High Court yesterday directed the government not to release genetically modified crop Bt brinjal without assessing possible health risks.

The bench of Justice Mirza Hussain Haider and Justice Khurshid Alam Sarkar passed the order in response to a writ petition lodged by Shakiul Millat Murshed, executive director of an NGO. Shahidul Islam, petitioner’s lawyer, confirmed to the Dhaka Tribune about the order. In the ruling, the court asked the government to explain why taking initiative without assessment should not be declared illegal, he said.

The court ordered Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI), agriculture secretary and health secretary to submit a progress report by three months after conducting an independent research focusing on the health safety issues in line with the GM food standard set by Codex Alimentarius Commission, an organisation founded by the FAO and the WHO. Earlier on September 23, another High Court bench rejected two petitions that challenged the government move.

BARI claimed that the Bt varieties would reduce the use of pesticides remarkably as they are resistant to the most common brinjal pest. l

Illegal medicine worth Tk25m seized at airport n Kailash Sarkar Imported substandard medicines worth Tk25m were seized from the cargo village of Hajarat Shahjalal International Airport yesterday, during a joint drive by customs intelligence and drugs administrations personnel.

The medicines, imported in three separate caches from China, lacked the proper documents and were of substandard quality, said Moinul khan, DG of the Directorate of Customs Intelligence & Investigation.

Indictment order against Khokon Razakar deferred n Tribune Report The war crimes tribunal yesterday deferred the indictment order of absconding Faridpur BNP leader Zahid Hossain, alias Khokon Razakar, to October 9 in a war crimes case.

Earlier, the prosecution placed arguments on 11 charges out of 13 pressed against him at the International Crimes Tribunal 1. Yesterday was set to give an order on the indictment.

The sitting mayor of Nagarkanda municipality in Faridpur, Khokon is also the Nagarkanda BNP vice-president. l

‘Shafi instigated RMG unrest’ n Tribune Report Hefazat-e-Islam chief Shah Ahmed Shafi was one of the instigators of the recent unrest in the country’s readymade garment sector, Labour Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju has claimed.

He said the continued spate of industrial unrest was the work of quarters that wanted to destabilise the country’s law and order situation.

“The government is investigating into the matter and taking appropriate actions against those who are behind the unrest,” he told reporters after a meeting with RMG factory owners yesterday.

Raju said he had requested the owners to clear all outstanding wages and bonuses before Eid-ul-Azha. l

“Our drives would continue from tomorrow (Monday) at the cargo village where many more caches of such medicines are awaiting release.

“A total of 1,644 caches of substandard medicines and surgical instruments worth Tk940m have been imported and released by the authorities of the Customs and the International Container Depot (ICD) in the last 18 months through Dhaka and Chittagong airports and Kamalapur ICD,” Moinul also said.

The importers of the seized medicines were yet to be identified, he added. l

n Mohosinul Karim

The secretaries have been asked to complete their pending work by October 24 – before the tenure of the incumbent government expires.

The pending works mostly include implementation preparation of laws as per cabinet decisions.

The directives were given at a meeting held yesterday with Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Musharraf Hossain

Death-row convict acquitted n Tribune Report

Germany seeks reforms in RMG sector

The High Court yesterday acquitted one death-row convict as well as two lifer in the case of killing Ibrahim Kamal, a government official, in the capital’s Eskaton in 2004.

In addition, the court sentenced another death row convict to life term in prison.

The bench of Justice AKM Asaduzzaman and Justice Shahidul Karim delivered the verdict after hearing the appeal of the accused and references of the death sentence confirmation of the lower court.

In 2008, Dhaka Speedy Trial Tribunal gave death penalty to Shahidul and Abdur Rashid Budu, and sentenced Md Shahid and Md Zasim life term imprisonment. l

n Tribune Report Reforms in the readymade garments (RMG) sector are necessary to improve the image and perception of Bangladesh internationally, according to German Ambassador Albrecht Conze.

Conze made the observation on Saturday at a discussion meeting, organised by the Bangladesh Institute for Labour Studies (BILS) and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES), a German foundation.

The envoy reminded the participants that suspension of GSP (generalised system of preferences) privileges in Europe was still a real threat to the country’s RMG sector, and the European Union trade commissioner was

Money buys licence for drugstores Hasina apprises  PAGE 1 COLUMN 2

during the drive. The five-hour demonstration hampered patients’ access to Mitford hospital.

The agitated traders claimed that legal medicines had been seized during the drive, along with the fake and substandard ones. They also protested the ill-treatment towards the arrestees, adding that no list of seizure had been prepared following the drive. Montu Miah, who has been in the medicine business for over 30 years, said it was an insult to be put in handcuffs after selling lifesaving medicines for so long.

Deputy Secretary of BCDS Monir Hossain raised questions as to why the drive had not been carried out against those who supplied the medicine to the drug stores.

He further said the BCDS would meet with the DGDA director general to recover any legal medicine that was seized during the drive. A section was trying to instigate protests among the traders, heclaimed.

Medicine traders in the area told the Dhaka Tribune that only a small number of people were involved in the trade of illegal medicines. These traders paid monthly fees to the DGDA, the BCDS and the police to keep their businesses running, they alleged.

Claiming that the medicine trade in the area was undergoing a vacuum of leadership, the traders said the BCDS did not have an election in 20 years, with incumbent BCDS President Sadequr Rahman holding his office since 1987.

Some senior medicine traders, seeking anonymity, blamed the BCDS of pa-

Prime Minister in a meeting that was held on September 2.

The pending issues will be addressed according to the government’s priority, the source said. Secretaries will maintain regular communications with the cabinet for progress reports.

The secretaries were asked to file a report on the execution of the cabinet decisions by September 30. The government will prepare their success portfolio based on this report. l

Bhuiyan in the chair.

Additional cabinet secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed confirmed the updates to the Dhaka Tribune after the meeting.

He said most of the cabinet decisions have already been implemented, but some top priority issues remained pending.

Sources inside the cabinet division told the Dhaka Tribune that the secretaries were given the deadline of October 24 in line with hints given by the

tronising the makers of fake and adulterated medicines. They also slammed DGDA officials for allowing illegal drug makers to supply products to the market in exchange for monthly fees.

A senior official at the DGDA, preferring not to be named, said the Mitford medicine market, in the guise of a wholesale market, had become an “illegal fortification” of fake, substandard, banned and expired medicines. Only 100 of the 2,300 stores were wholesalers, the official said.

Officers-in-charge of Sutrapur and Kotwali police stations said the general traders were not in good terms with the BCDS leaders, who failed to play a leadership role on Saturday.

BCDS Vice-President Abdul Hai and its Dhaka Mahanagar unit President Solaiman Hossain said the drug administration had not informed them about the drive, unlike other occasions. Urging traders to go for organised demonstrations, the leaders also called for preparing a list of traders with legal documents, whose medicines were seized during the drive.They also blamed the DGDA for allowing fake and adulterated medicines in the market.

Sources at the DGDA said Saturday’s drive seized medicines made by IndoBangla, National Drug, Star Pharma, Spark and Save Pharma – which are among the list of 20 banned companies prepared by the parliamentary committee on health ministry. A large amount of medicines meant to be samples for physicians were also recovered. Seized medicines also included banned sex drugs and banned medicines imported from India. l

Ban of Bangladesh election  PAGE 1 COLUMN 6

When asked, Momen said the prime minister did not tell the secretary general that the election would be scrapped if its credibility was questioned.

The UN had neither any plan to mediate between the rival political parties nor it showed any interest in sending UN Assistant Secretary General Oscar Fernandez Taranco to Bangladesh to do so, he said.

Oscar Fernandez was present at the meeting but there was no such indication about his visit to Dhaka, he added.

He, however, said: “But I don’t know what they discussed during the one-toone meeting.”

The secretary general told the prime minister that the UN would deploy one more Bangladesh battalion for its peacekeeping mission, Momen said “We wanted to provide two more battalions but Ban said now UN would deploy only one,” he said adding that the battalion would be deployed soon.

A battalion is a military unit with 300 to 1,200 soldiers that usually consists of two to seven companies and is commanded by either a lieutenant colonel or a colonel.

About 8,000 Bangladeshi peacekeepers are working in different conflict-torn regions across the world to restore peace and stability in those countries and have earned fame for the country.

Hasina left the country on September 22 on an eight-day official visit to attend the UNGA session that started on September 17 in New York. l

monitoring the situation closely.

Conze outlined six key challenges facing the RMG industry, including coordination between various initiatives, separating local and foreign issues, working through upcoming political transitions, strengthening trade unionism and creating awareness in the sector.

The meeting was chaired by BILS Vice Chairman Md Mojibur Rahman Bhuiyan, and moderated by its secretary general Nazrul Islam Khan. Labour Secreatry Mikail Shipar, ILO Director Srinibas Reddy, BGMEA Vice President Md Shahidullah Azim, BKMEA Director Mansoor Ahmed and IndustriALL Bangladesh Director Roy Ramesh Chandra also participated in the discussion. l

AL-backed panel wins DU Senate polls

n DU Correspondent

Awami League-backed Ganatantrik Oikka Parishad won a landslide victory in the Dhaka University registered graduates senate committee elections.

Ganatantrik Oikka Parishad bagged 18 seats in contrary to opposition BNP-endorsed Jatiyatabadi Parishad’s seven seats. Pro-VC Shahid Akthar Hossain announced the result around 6:30pm yesterday.

The elected candidates from the Ganatantrik Oikya Parishad includes M Farid Uddin, Manjurul Ahsan Bulbul, Mohammad Forashuddin, AKM Golam Rabbani, Ashim Sarkar, SM Bahalul Maznun, Mahfuza Khanam, M Iqbal Arsenal, SM Imamul Haque, Md Azizur Rahman, Nargis Jahan Banu, Muhammad Abdus Samad, AHM Enamul Haque Chowdhury Khashru, Md Abdul Bari, Md Sharfuddin Ahmed, Ramendhu Krishna Majumdar, Md Shamsul Haque Bhuiyan and ABM Badruddoja.

On the contrary, successful candidates of Jatiyatabadi Parishad were AFM Yousuf Haider, Md Abdul Alim Patwary, Abdul Aziz, Umme Kulsum Rowjatur Romman, Md Morshed Hasan Khan, Mahfuz Ullah and Nasir Uddin Ahmed Ashim.

The polls, for 25 positions of registered graduates, were held through Saturday at university campus in three centers.

Dhaka University senate committee consists of 105 positions, among which, 25 are elected from registered graduate students. l

Khaleda seeks support of military  PAGE 1 COLUMN 4

current government cannot be free and fair. “The way we are receiving people’s support, we seek similar cooperation of the civil, military, police and Ansar-VDP administrations for the protection of the country and democracy, development of the country and its wellbeing.”

The BNP chief urged the government to stop its move to build a coalbased power plant at Rampal as it would destroy the Sundarbans.

“We need electricity and power plants. But we will not allow anyone to build plants at Rampal...because it will destroy the Sundarbans,” she said.

Expressing solidarity with the ongoing movement of the National Committee to Protect Oil-Gas, Mineral Resources, Power and Ports, she said: “We are with you. We are ready to work with you in the greater interest of the country.”

During the BNP government’s rule in 2006, law enforcers opened fire on protesters of the same committee agitating at Phulbari of Dinajpur against the open-pit coal mining project of Asia Energy, killing three people.

This is for the first time that Khaleda has spoken on the Rampal project initiated in 2010. On September 5, BNP Standing Committee member Abdul Moyeen Khan said they would scrap the project if voted to power while acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir during the Seven Wonders campaigns for the Sundarbans in 2011 asked the government to drop the project plan.

Branding the Election Commission as worthless, spineless and subservient, Khaleda yesterday alleged that fair election was not possible under this

commission as it had “partisan” people.

She also said: “There are massive anomalies in the voter list. How will those, who cannot prepare a flawless voter list, hold a fair election?”

The BNP chief once again said they would not allow holding of any election under the party government.

In her nearly 50-minute speech, Khaleda harshly criticised the government for its “failure” to run the state, for corruption, misrule, misdeeds and repressive acts. Issuing a note of warning, she said people across the country had awoken against the government.

“No one will be able to face the rage of people if they take to the street.”

The opposition leader lambasted a ruling party MP for threatening government officials with sending them home if they did not obey the government’s orders. She said: “The government has realised that it will not be able to do anything by rigging vote...We want to tell the government that it is not the government officials but you will be sent back home as your time is over.”

Criticising the shipping minister, Khaleda said: “The government has planned to destroy the garment industry of the country. Why does the shipping minister talk about the sector?

The government is planning to close the industry here and start operations in another country.”

The BNP chief alleged that the government was humiliating respected persons like Muhammad Yunus. “You [government] will not be respected if you do not respect others…Grameen Bank should be given back to him [Yunus], otherwise the bank will be bankrupted like other state-run banks,” she said. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

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Business

Grameenphone steps into 3G broadband

News News

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Monday, September 30, 2013

The one-man chapel at Armanitola in city

International

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Bomb blast kills 39, wounds 70 in Pakistan

Polytechnic students go on the rampage

Rampal power plant challenged in High Court

Scores of vehicles vandalised, hundreds injured during demo

n Nazmus Sakib

n Tribune Report Students of different polytechnic institutes yesterday went on the rampage across the capital and different districts in protest against their professional inequalities with the BSc engineers holding bachelor degrees.

The agitating students vandalised scores of vehicles and clashed with police while staging their demonstrations.

The polytechnic students took to the streets demanding amendment to the 2008 government gazette which termed diploma engineers “supervisor” rather than engineers.

Clashes between the lawmen and the students across the country left several hundreds injured.

Hundreds of students from different polytechnic institutes came to Dhaka boycotting their classes and exams.

Instead of sitting for exams supposed to be held yesterday, the students took part in the agitation in Tejgaon, Mirpur, Dhanmonndi and New Market areas like elsewhere in the country.

During their protest they put blockade on roads disrupting traffic movement and causing severe traffic jam and sufferings to people.

Police fired rubber bullets, lobbed teargas canisters and charged batons to disperse the unruly students. Dhaka Polytechnic students in Tejgaon Industrial area staged demonstration in two phases at 11am and at 1pm ransacking different buildings of the institute.

They were locked into clashes when police tried to remove them from the roads for traffic movement.

Biplab Sarkar, deputy commissioner of Tejgaon division, said a section of the demonstrators turned the situation violent as they carried out vandalism and attack on the police forcing the lawmen to go into action.

“Police fired rubber bullets, teargas canisters and charged batons to take control of the situation,” the deputy commissioner said.

Zakir Hossain Sagar, convener of Bangladesh Polytechnic Students’ Association, claimed that those who created violence did not belong to their organisation.

Polytechnic students launch vandalism in the city’s Dhanmondi area yesterday

DHAKA TRIBUNE

A writ petition has been lodged with the High Court seeking a direction to stop the construction of Rampal power plant near the Sundarbans mangrove forest.

The petition urged the court to direct the government to form a committee that includes national and international experts for giving a report assessing the impacts of the proposed power plants on the environment and the lives of the common people of the surrounding area, and sought a stay order on the activities of the project till the committee issues a final report.

Supreme Court lawyer Manzill Murshid yesterday filed the petition on behalf of four lawyers, including Asaduzzaman Siddiquee and Aklas Uddin Bhuiyan.

Murshid said the bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Jafar Ahmed would hear the matter today.

He told the Dhaka Tribune: “two writ petitions on the Rampal plant were lodged mentioning that the project had not any clearance from the department of environment. At present the clearance has been given. In our petition we asked the court to give the order to form a committee comprising of international and national experts in this sector.”

The petition urged the High Court to direct the government to take necessary steps to protect the Sundarbans from damages to the ecosystem and the local environment. It also asked the court to order the government to set up the power plant in any environment friendly area as advised by the committee.

The department of environment in early August approved the Environment Impact Assessment, prepared by CEGIS for the Power Development Board, which the campaigners rejected as flawed.

Indian state-owned National Thermal Power Company (NTPC) will build and operate the plant, planned on 1,834 acre land on the bank of Pashur River near the Sundarbans.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is likely to inaugurate the plant’s construction work on October 22. l

belonging to Upazila Nirbahi Officer and documents of a land office.

Polytechnic students said they were facing discrimination in government jobs.

Convener of Bangladesh Polytechnic Student Council, Zakir Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune that in 2008 gazette notification by the Housing and Public Works Ministry, the diploma engineers were termed “supervisor” which was a degradation of their social status.

“Despite pledges by the government

high-ups, an amendment to the gazette notification is yet to be made,” he said.

Zakir added that polytechnic students were also facing discrimination during internship and job in government sectors.

BSc engineering students get Tk11,000 while polytechnic students only Tk500 during internship.

At the entry level of government job, diploma engineers get Tk8,000 as salary whereas BSc engineers Tk11,000, he said.

The convener warned that they would march towards secretariat on October 1 to

press home their demand.

In Chittagong, students of different vocational institutions including Chittagong Polytechnic Institute were also alleged to have vandalised at least 20 vehicles.

In Comilla, the students blocked the Comilla Kotbari highway and clashed with police when the lawmen tried to disperse them.

The whole area turned into a battlefield. At least, 20 people including 10 lawmen were injured in the incident. l

Tea with Khaleda, no problem: Hasina

Stay order sought on contempt law verdict n Nazmus Sakib

EC officials, not DCs, should be made returning officers: TIB

“A vested quarter is trying to mislead and divert our movement,” he said.

In Dhanmondi, a section of unruly students went berserk vandalising several vehicles on both sides of Road 27.

Mirpur Polytechnic students barricaded roads forcing transport movement to be suspended for one hour from 12:00pm while traffic movement on Dhaka-Aricha highway also came to a standstill when Savar Polytechnic students blocked roads during their agitation.

In Comilla, students set fire to a car

n UNB, New York

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said she does not have any problem to have tea with BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia though, she alleges, the opposition leader along with her sons and cabinet members had tried to kill her through grenade attacks on August 21, 2004.

“I like tea and I’ve no problem to have tea with Khaleda Zia… we’ve always been flexible for the welfare of the country’s people although the opposition leader, her sons and cabinet members tried to kill me through grenade attack on August 21, 2004,” she said replying to a question at a press conference at Bangladesh Permanent Mission at the United Nations Saturday afternoon (local time).

Urging Khaleda Zia to part with the war criminals and stands in favour of their trial, the Prime Minister on the opposition leader to come to parliament and discuss how she wants the next general election to take place.

“Please come (Khaleda Zia) to parliament and discuss issues. We’ve proved that free, fair and neutral elections are possible, and we want credible polls.

Make it clear how you want the election to be held?” she said.

Alleging that the BNP chairperson had created a crisis in the country to save the war criminals, Hasina said, “If the opposition leader leaves her association with the war criminals and stands in favour of the trial, then there would be no crisis in the country.”

Hasina said Khaleda Zia as a leader of the opposition should join parliament session and there is nothing to invite her. “But, I’ll urge her to join parliament and want her to clearly say what see wants.”

Asked whether she see any crisis before the next election, the Prime Minister replied in the negative and criticised the so-called civil society members, including former bureaucrats, for foreseeing a crisis.

“There has been a set of people who had always tried to create crisis so that their importance increases…if there’s any abnormal situation then their im-

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina speaks at a press conference in New York yesterday portance gets enhanced,” she said adding, “You’re maligning Awami League and me, and by doing that those who will take over power will be the protectors of the war criminals.”

Reaffirming her commitment that the next general election would be held in a free, fair and neutral manner, Hasina said, “We would get seats the way people would cast their votes for us and I can guarantee that the next general election would be held in a free, fair and neutral manner. Some 5,777 elections at different tiers took place during the present government and no one could write a single negative word in this regard.”

Citing that the AL-backed candidates in the five city corporation polls could not win despite their massive development activities, she urged people to vote not with the expectation of immediate reward but with the hope of sustainable progress.

Hasina said that if all, including the political parties, concentrate on the next parliamentary polls following the constitution then there would be an understanding.

BSS

The Prime Minister said that Bangladesh never witnessed peaceful handover of power except the previous Awami League government during its 1996-2001 tenure. “Apart from this, every time there was unconstitutional way of power handover.”

Asked when the verdicts of the war crimes cases will be executed, Hasina said that the matter is not up to her.

“Our judiciary is totally independent… the verdicts would be executed Inshallah. The law will take its own course and there’s nothing to put pressure in this regard.”

About the long march in protest against the proposed Rampal coal-fired power plant project, the Prime Minister said the project would not harm the environment, especially in the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest.

She also termed the long-march as politically motivated as its main aim is to deter the establishment of the power plant.

Foreign Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Bangladesh permanent representative to the UN AK Abdul Momen were, among others, present at the briefing. l

The Appellate Division on October 3 is expected to hear a government petition that sought stay order on the High Court verdict revoking the Contempt of Courts Act 2013.

Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, the chamber judge of the apex court, yesterday sent the matter to the full bench for settlement.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam told reporters that the plea would be heard by the full bench as the matter involved substantial issues related to the constitution.

The government will file an appeal for cancellation of the High Court verdict after it gets the full text of the judgement.

On September 26, the High Court bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain scrapped the law, saying it contradicted the constitution as it curtailed the court’s authority and protected only journalists and public servants disregarding other citizens. l

Destiny’s Shirin to surrender n Nazmus Sakib The chamber judge of the Appellate Division yesterday ordered Shirin Akter, an executive member of the Destiny Multipurpose Cooperative Society, to surrender before the Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court.

Considering a plea filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission, Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain passed the order by staying her eight-week bail that was granted by the High Court. Khurshid Alam Khan pleaded for the ACC, while AAM Aminuddin contended for Shirin in the hearing.

Earlier on September 22, the High Court granted the bail to the destiny official in a scam case filed by the ACC with the Kalabagan police station. l

n Tribune Report Transparency International Bangladesh has recommended that the Election Commission officials should be appointed as returning officers to make the EC efficient and effective, and to conduct national and local level elections in a fair and credible way.

At present, deputy commissioners work as returning officers to conduct elections.

The organization made the recommendation at a press briefing yesterday at the capital’s Brac Centre Inn, held to disclose the summary of the research report on “Effective Election Commission- progress, challenges and the solution.”

TIB Senior Programme Manager Shahajada M Akram presented the report summary, while others present at the press briefing included TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman, TIB Trustee Board Member M Hafizuddin, and TIB Deputy Executive Director Sumaiya Khayer.

The TIB observed that if the election was held under the parliament, the influence of the existing lawmakers, controversial reshuffles in the administration, deputy commissioners working as returning officers, control of law and order situation during election, use of muscle power and black money – would

remain the challenges in ensuring a level playing field.

The TIB urged reforms in election law to remove its limitations and called for the strict enforcement of the existing law to ensure a free, fair, credible and participatory election.

A 13-point recommendation by the TIB also included using EC’s own manpower to conduct national election, making it mandatory for recruitment and promotion of cabinet division, home ministry, public administration ministry, local government ministry during election time, making necessary amendment in the election law in line with the amended constitution in terms of appointment of Chief Election Commissioner and other commissioners, and making the election more technology based.

The report also put emphasis on political parties’ submission of annual financial report, voter list, numbers of revised constitutional seats, information on election related cases, monitoring and evaluation report of projects implemented by EC, and the overall budget and annual financial statement of election commission.

The report also urged political parties to disclose financial statement of parliament members and their parties, to practice proper democratic culture and ensure non-partisan local government. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, September 30, 2013

Indictment order against Khokon Razakar deferred n Tribune Report

TK390M CORRUPTION

Alamgir Kabir dodges quizzing n Tribune Report

Former state minister for housing and public works Alamgir Kabir has chosen to ignore the Anti-Corruption Commission notice that asked him to appear before commission yesterday for quizzing on his alleged involvement in incurring the government a loss of Tk390m while in office.

Commission’s Assistant Director Jatan Kumar Ray on September 23 served a notice to the former state minister asking him to appear at the commission headquarters at Segunbagicha on September 29, but the former state minister did not appear before the commission saying he was ill and requested that the interview be rescheduled to Wednesday, an ACC official said.

The official said with the consent of the former state minister, the ministry officials in August 2006 allocated a piece of land to an association named Dhaka Journalist’s Cooperative Society at a price much lower than the prevailing rates.

By misusing his power, the minister allocated the land and created a loss of over Tk390m for the government, the official said quoting documents on the allegation. l

AMINBAZAR SIX MURDERS

Deposition of first witness deferred again n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

A Dhaka court yesterday deferred for the third time the deposition of first prosecution witness in connection with the killing of six students in Aminbazaar on a Shab-e-Barat night two years ago.

Earlier, the proceedings were deferred twice since there was no judge at the Second Additional District and Sessions Judge’s Court, which on July 8 had framed charges against 60 people.

Yesrterday was set for recording testimony of the first prosecution witness Md Anowar Hossain. But the deposition was deferred until October 30 as one accused did not appear before the court. l

Mustafa Kamal gets secretary status n Tribune Report Additional Foreign Secretary Mustafa Kamal has been promoted to secretary status at the foreign ministry. The government issued an order in this effect on September 15.

He will discharge the responsibilities of bilateral, consular and training wings of the foreign ministry from now onwards.

A career diplomat, Kamal, was inducted in the foreign ministry in the late 80s and held ambassadorial post in three countries: Oman, South Korea and Thailand. l

WEATHER

The war crimes tribunal yesterday deferred the indictment order of absconding Faridpur BNP leader Zahid Hossain, alias Khokon Razakar, to October 9 in a war crimes case.

Earlier, the prosecution placed arguments on 11 charges out of 13 pressed against him at the International Crimes Tribunal 1. Yesterday was set to give an order on the indictment.

The sitting mayor of Nagarkanda municipality in Faridpur, Khokon is also the Nagarkanda BNP vice-president. l

‘Shafi instigated RMG unrest’ n Tribune Report

A section of the city’s Mirpur Road in gridlock after polytechnic students stage a blockade programme near Lalmatia yesterday

BDR CARNAGE CASE

Death penalty sought for 850 people n Ashif Islam Shaon Prosecutors of the BDR carnage case yesterday sought capital punishment for all of the accused for plotting and carrying out the looting of arsenal, torture and murders during the February 25-26 rebellion inside the Pilkhana headquarters.

“Through verbal and documentary evidences we have been able to prove the charges against the 850 persons accused in the charge sheet, including 823 BDR jawans, one Ansar member and 23 civilians beyond any shadow of doubt and in the interest of justice, we pray for capital punishment,” Chief Public Prosecutor Anisul Huq told the Additional Metropolitan Sessions Judge’s Court 3 yesterday at the end of the prosecution’s arguments.

The prosecutor said the BDR mutiny, in which 57 senior and mid-ranking army officers, including the then BDR chief Maj Gen Shakil Ahmed, were killed besides 17 others, was not a result of old spite against the army command, rather there were ulterior motives.

“If there were none, they would not have killed the family members of the army officials working in deputation there. They would not kill the doctors

of BDR Hospital, against whom they did not have any complaints, or the guests, who came to visit the officials’ families and did not know what was happening around that day,” he said.

After the prosecution’s argument, defence counsels sought time from the court. Court fixed October 2 to hear their arguments.

During the argument, Anisul said, according to BDR Act 1972, if any member of Bangladesh Rifles (BDR), which is now BGB, has any objection to anything they can raise it to their superior command but not to any person outside the force.

But some BDR men met political persons like Awami League leader Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh, presidium member Sheikh Fazlul Karim and placed their demands including 100% ration, promotion and sending jawans to UN missions before the last parliamentary election.

After the present government came to the power, they resorted to the conspiracy. They tried to meet the home minister.

The rebels rented a house near Pilkhana to hold meetings two-andhalf months before the mutiny, they contacted a private TV channel report-

AL allies do not want one-sided polls n Partha Pratim Bhattacharjee The ruling 14-party alliance yesterday said there was no doubt that the next parliamentary polls would be held in line with the constitution and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would continue in her post during the election.

Referring to article 57 (3) of the constitution, which stipulates that the prime minister will hold his/her office until a successor takes over, Awami League leader Mohammad Nasim categorically said “there is no doubt” that Hasina would stay in office during the polls.

The spokesperson of the ruling alliance, however, said the alliance did not want any one-sided election – it rather wanted a free and fair one participated by all political parties.

Nasim was speaking to reporters after a meeting of the Awami League’s alliance partners at Hasina’s Dhanmondi office. He chaired the meeting.

At a discussion on Saturday, he had, however, said the Awami League would go to polls alone if the main opposition BNP did not participate in it.

The Awami League Presidium member urged the BNP to place its proposal, if any, on the structure of the pollstime administration in parliament.

Yesterday’s meeting congratulated the prime minister on receiving the South-South Award for her govern-

ment’s achievement in poverty alleviation.

The meeting was attended by 14-party leaders Sharif Nurul Ambia of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD), Haji Abdus Samad of Gono Azadi League, Ahmod Hossain and Mrinal Kanti Das of the Awami League, among others.

At another programme, Awami League Joint General Secretary Mahabub-Ul-Alam Hanif yesterday alleged that the BNP was threatening with movement only to take extra benefits in the elections.

“The BNP is making preparations for the election. At the same time, it is threatening to go for a movement only to take extra benefits in the polls,” he said at an extended meeting of the City Awami League at the party’s central office on Bangabandhu Avenue.

Hanif said the Khulna rally of the BNP was rather an electoral rally. “The party has been holding such rallies one after another to participate in the upcoming national polls.”

Criticising those who said there was a crisis in the country, he said: “There is no crisis in the country. They just want to fish in troubled waters.”

Hanif also urged the BNP to place its proposal in parliament, saying if its proposal was logical, the government was ready to discuss it. “A respectable solution could come this way,” he said.l

Prospective AL candidate foils Court rejects bail for maid Sumi a party leader’s programme MURDER OF SB INSPECTOR, WIFE

Slight fall in temperature likely n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu A Dhaka juvenile court yesterday refused bail to housemaid Khadiza Khatun Sumi UNB n in connection with the killing of a Special Light to moderate rain or thundershowers accompanied by temporary gusty or squally wind is likely to occur at most places over Khulna, Barisal and Chittagong divisions and at many places over Dhaka, Rajshahi,Rangpur and Sylhet divisions until 6pm today.

Moderately heavy to heavy falls were also likely at places over the country, Met Office said. Day and night temperature may fall slightly over the country.

The sun sets in the capital at 5:47pm today and rises at 5:50am tomorrow.

Country’s highest temperature 32.5 degree Celsius was recorded at Rangamati and lowest 23.2 degrees at Dinajpur yesterday. Highest and lowest temperatures recorded in some major cities yesterday were: City

High

Low

Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Cox’s Bazar

30.1 30.3 28.3 28.2 30.2 29.0 30.3 30.0

26.6 25.9 25.6 23.7 25.0 25.0 24.5 25.5

Branch officer and his wife at their residence in the capital last month.

Muhammad Anwar Sadat, a magistrate of Dhaka Juvenile Delinquent Trial Court, passed the order after hearing a bail prayer by Sumi’s lawyer. The court also ordered the girl to be detained at a juvenile correctional facility at Konabari, Gazipur. Defense counsel Fahmida Akhter Rinky told the Dhaka Tribune that she would petition a higher court for Sumi’s bail.

Sumi’s mother, Saleha Begum, her father, Nuru Miah, and her brother were present in court during the hearing.

Sumi burst into tears after seeing her parents and her younger brother for the first time since her detention on August 17.

On September 19, three human rights organisations, including Bangladesh Mohila Ainjibi Samity and Ain o Salish Kendra filed petitions before the court seeking bail for Sumi. The two organisations also sought an order for transferring Sumi to their respective safe homes after her bail.

On August 16, Special Branch Inspector Mahfuzur Rahman and his wife, Swapna Rahman, were found murdered in their Chamelibagh flat. The next day, the couple’s teenage daughter, Oishee, along with Sumi surrendered at the Paltan police station. Detective police also arrested Oishee’s boyfriend, Mizanur Rahman Rony, the same day. l

4:35am 5:49am 11:49pm 4:07pm 5:47pm 7:02pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

n Our Correspondent, Feni Supporters of a prospective Awami League candidate allegedly launched an attack on a programme of another AL nomination aspirant on Saturday night, leaving 15 people injured.

Eye-witnesses said followers of Fulgazi upazila unit Awami League President Ekramul Haque Ekram allegedly carried out vandalism torched vehicles during a programme of National Life Insurance at Rajeshpur Bazar area under Parshuram upazila.

Ekram’s rival Mostafizur Rahman Dulal, who is seeking AL candidacy from Feni 1 constituency, is the director of the insurance company.

The injured were rushed to Porshuram

Health Complex and Feni Sadar Hospital.

The attackers set fire to three vehicles and vandalised two others that belonged to the insurance company, locals said.

Mostafiz filed a lawsuit with the Parshuram police station yesterday morning in this connection.

When contacted, Ekramul Haque denied his involvement in the attack. He, however, said the party activists became furious as local Awami League leaders were not invited at the programme.

Officer-in-Charge of Porshuram police station Ali Arshad confirmed the incident, and said they detained one person for his suspected involvement in the attack.

“The police have visited the spot and the situation is now calm in the area,” he added. l

Arrest warrant against Ramna OC in dowry case n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu

PRAYER TIMES Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha

er to telecast the allegations, printed leaflets containing their demands. The leaflets were spread inside of Pilkhana four days before the mutiny.

All these prove that they were plotting conspiracy for a long time, Anisul Huq said. He said during the mutiny the BDR jawans committed personal crimes and collective crimes.

“The defence counsels can argue that 20-25 rebels were involved in the killing. But we must ask why hundreds of jawans were carrying arms. The rest could have disarmed the miscreants, but they did not. Because they were all involved,” he said.

“Nobody goes to Darbar Hall with arms. It is a tradition. But they did.

They broke into the armoury before the Darbal began, as it was pre-planned,” he said.

“This shows that if anyone says the mutiny was a result of spite, that is wrong,” he said.

Prosecutor Mosharraf Hossain Kajol during the hearing argued that it would not have been possible for the rebelling jawans to search and kill every army officer, search every house and torture family members and bury the dead bodies in mass graves if everyone was not involved directly or indirectly. l

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Hefazat-e-Islam chief Shah Ahmed Shafi was one of the instigators of the recent unrest in the country’s readymade garment sector, Labour Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju has claimed.

He said the continued spate of industrial unrest was the work of quarters that wanted to destabilise the country’s law and order situation.

“The government is investigating into the matter and taking appropriate actions against those who are behind the unrest,” he told reporters after a meeting with RMG factory owners yesterday.

Raju said he had requested the owners to clear all outstanding wages and bonuses before Eid-ul-Azha. l

Secondary Education Quality and Access Enhancement Project Project Director and Joint Secretary Md Shahid Bakhtiar Alam and Managing Director of MIDAS Dr Ishtiaque Zaman signs an MoU at MIDAS Centre on Thursday DHAKA TRIBUNE

A Dhaka tribunal yesterday gave an order for issuing an arrest warrant against a city police officer in connection with a dowry case filed by his wife.

Md Sadikul Islam Talukder, a judge of the Women and Children Repression (Prevention) Tribunal-1, passed the order for the warrant against the accused, AK Saidul Haque Bhuiyan, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Ramna police station.

Fahmida Akter stood for the petitioner, Marium Akter Moushumi, who filed the dowry case against Saidul on July 31.

However, a judicial inquiry held after the filing of the case found no evidence of dowry demands.

The tribunal issued the warrant order yesterday after taking the case into cognizance as the plaintiff filed a petition rejecting the inquiry report.

In her complaint, Marium said she married the accused on January 28, 2011, and they have a two-year-old daughter, Zariat Azrin Nazia.

After marriage, Saidul began demanding Tk2m from Marium to buy a private car. When Marium refused to give him the money, Saidul severely beat her up on July 17. l

Yunus addresses End Poverty Concert in NY n Tribune Report

Nobel Laureate Prof Yunus urged a gathering of 50,000 youth to create a world without poverty, without unemployment and without any need for people to live on state charity at a concert in New York Saturday.

The Global Citizens Movement, which organized the festival, also met with Prof Yunus and are planning to include his proposals for an international minimum wage for garment workers and ‘happy workers tag’ as part of their global campaign to end extreme poverty.

The Global Citizen Festival this year, which began at 5 pm and continued late into the evening, had performances by super stars of the music world including Bono, Stevie Wonder, Kings of Leon, Alicia Keys and John Mayer among many others.

The gathering was also addressed by the Secretary General of the United Nations Ban Ki Moon and Jim Kim, President of the World Bank. l

Education

Road to York Raisa Choudhury talks to Dhaka Tribune about her journey to York University in Toronto, Canada and how she got there. York University is a public research university. It is Ontario’s second-largest graduate school and Canada’s third-largest university n Samira Mostafa Where did you study when you were in Bangladesh? What were your subjects for O’levels and A’levels?

I started my schooling in Bangladesh International Tutorial, and my subjects for O’levels were Math B, Pure Math, Bengali, English, Economics, Physics and Art, followed by my A’levels with Economics, Maths and Physics.

When did you first decide that you wanted to study abroad?

I first started to seriously consider studying abroad in 2008, during my first semester at North South University where I had already started my classes.

What was your first step toward this decision?

I looked into programmes that integrated well with my current major at North South University, Economics. I wanted to explore and experience beyond the classroom environment of Dhaka; hence I started to look for opportunities accordingly.

What was your next step?

The key factor was to find a school with a well-designed programme that would allow me to transfer my credits and graduate on time without compromising the quality of my degree.

Who and what helped you in this process?

The York University website and the OUAC were of great help. Apart from that my friends who already lived in Canada provided me with all the additional help I needed: living costs, lifestyle etc.

What was required from your current school for the process of applying?

Since I was a transfer student I had a lot of requirements in terms of paperwork.

I had to provide proof of my current enrollment, transcripts, detailed course outlines for every course I had completed at NSU, and recommendation letters from professors at NSU.

You were already admitted at a university here, did you still have to submit any other results of standardised tests?

Yes, I took the IELTS in order to show my English proficiency, which is compulsory.

Interesting geographical facts!

Japan has more than 3,900 islands!

The world’s largest delta is the GangesBrahmaputra which lies partly in Bangladesh and partly in India.

Only 1% of the Caribbean Islands are inhabited by people.

Himalayas are the rulers of peaks, because of the total 25 highest peaks 19 are in the Himalayas.

The last eruption of the volcano Mount Fuji in Japan was in 1707.

To find the largest ports in the world you would have to go to Rotterdam, Singapore, Kobe, New York and New Orleans.

The seven most populous nations of the world are the Chinese (Han), Hindustanis, Americans, Bengali, Russian, Brazilian and Japanese.

There are no rivers In Saudi Arabia.

The coldest capital in the world is Ulan Bator, in Mongolia.

Red Sea is the warmest sea in the world.

How did you find out about your current school?

I spoke to my friends and family residing in Canada, and there had been other transfer students who applied to York the same time as I did. It helped me in gathering more practical information.

Tell us a little more about the application process.

It is more or less pretty simple. The application is done through the OUAC website which lets you apply to more than one school. The university website allows you to create your own student file where you can update and upload all the required paperwork.

Every applicant is assigned with a temporary ID. All original hard copy documents requested by the university need to be sealed and mailed to the university directly.

All payments can be done online without much hassle as well.

WHowever, since a lot of paperwork is involved one must start early enough to meet the deadline. Also it gives you time to rectify anything in case something else or more is needed in the long run.

How did your school respond to your application?

I received a letter of acceptance couriered to my home address.

What did you have to do next when your application was accepted?

I had to let the university know I had chosen to go there, as well fulfill the enrollment by depositing the required amount, which is all done online.

Did you apply for financial aid?

I did not apply for financial aid. However there are TA positions available at York for students who are interested.

Tell us a little about the fees and expenses at York?

Expenses include but are not limited to course fees, enrollment fees, residence and extra curriculum fees, food, health insurance.

What are some courses they offer and what did you opt for?

I was enrolled in the School of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies and I graduated with a BA Honors in Economics. A detailed list of courses is available on the York University website.

Can you tell us a little about your dorm life, how did you adjust, what was the process of applying for a dorm seat?

Residence life has been a once in a lifetime experience for me. It allowed me to push my boundaries and see boundless possibilities. I made new friends, enjoyed rich discussion sessions, learnt about other cultures; in fact I even volunteered to mentor new international students coming into York under York International’s mentor-buddy programme.

I was also a part of the York spirit team for open houses held for prospective students and their parents. As long as one has an open mind, I would say it is easy to adjust to the life here.

When York accepts you for an undergrad programme they guarantee you a spot at their residence as long as you fill out the online application and make the deposit on time.

Going to York University has been a wonderful experience. It has given me confidence to believe in myself and to pursue my dreams. It has given me the courage to set higher goals for myself and the knowledge to achieve those goals.

Living abroad can be difficult, true, but had I not done it, I would have always questioned my capabilities. As of now, the sky is the limit. l

Ensuring educational equality Dhaka Tribune talks with Maliha Ahsan about her Fellowship with Teach For Bangladesh and her plan to fix the country’s education system to ensure quality education for all Teach For Bangladesh (TFB) is an organisation with an ambitious and radical new idea to solve one of the oldest and most entrenched injustices in our country: educational disparity. The opportunity for children in Bangladesh to access quality education is largely determined by the socio-economic conditions of their birth.

Although our education system is making steady advances, the disparity persists. TFB believes that to change this there is a necessity for bold new leadership across the social, economic, political and cultural spheres. The organisation seeks “to build a movement of diverse and capable leaders across all sectors of society who share an understanding of education inequity and a commitment to ending it.”

In pursuit of this mission, Teach For Bangladesh is enlisting the most talented and passionate of Bangladeshi young adults, graduating from diverse disciplines in universities at home and abroad, to a two-year leadership development Fellowship, during which they teach full-time in low-income schools.

Teach For Bangladesh received over five hundred applications for their inaugural Fellowship batch this year. The top seventeen have been selected from various national and international universities. These Fellows will undergo six weeks of intensive pre-service training starting this November and then be placed in low-income government and NGO schools across Dhaka to teach.

During the two years of their commitment, they will work to bridge the gap in their respective classrooms and put their students on an improved life trajectory. After the Fellowship, they will continue to impact educational inequity at a systemic level as leaders in the fields of social entrepreneurship, policy-making, healthcare, engineering, business, development, and of course, education.

Teach For Bangladesh Fellows join a global movement of young leaders from around the world who have joined programmes like Teach For India, Teach For Pakistan, Teach For Nepal, and Teach For Malaysia. Currently there are 29 countries, which have adopted and adapted the model that was pioneered with immense success over 20 years ago in the United States by Teach For America and in the United Kingdom by Teach First.

This week, we talk with Maliha Ahsan who has been chosen among Teach For Bangladesh’s inaugural batch of 17 Fellows.

Tell us a little about your education background.

Sabirul Islam motivates young entrepreneurs at DIU

I have completed both my O Levels and A Levels from Sunbeams School. After that, I did my BBA from BRAC University, with a Major in Finance. I have recently completed my internship at Airtel Bangladesh.

n Tasnuva Amin Nova

When did you first notice a disparity in our education system; have you always wanted to do something about it?

Sabirul Islam, a British entrepreneur of Bangladeshi origin and renowned motivational speaker, spoke at “Motivational Workshop for Creating 2000+ Entrepreneurs” organised at Daffodil International University’s (DIU) auditorium on September 23. The event was organised with joint collaboration of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and Junior Chamber International (JCI).

At the age of 23, the young entrepreneur has spoken at more than 750 events worldwide and written several books about youth entrepreneurship. His bestselling book titled “The World at Your Feet” and innovative board game, aimed to educate kids on financial literacy, is now popular in many countries across

the world. Sabirul is the founder of Inspire 1Million, a campaign through which he wants to inspire at least 1 million entrepreneurs worldwide, his visit to Bangladesh being part of the campaign.

Sabirul inspired the attendants at the event about entrepreneurship. He said: “Having connections with the right people in your network is the key to success. Self-value is also very important to become successful. It took three years for me to come to Bangladesh and I am glad that it took so long; otherwise I would not come across the wonderful people at JCI and DCCI. “I plan to introduce my board game in the schools of Bangladesh, which are already used by more than 600 schools in the UK and other countries too. The game uses real life business examples to

teach students about entrepreneurship.”

Being an entrepreneur at the age of 14, Sabirul had to overcome the obstacles of having no experience. He states: “Everything had to be done through trial and error but that’s the beauty of it. 14 was a great age to start.”

Also present at the event was Chairman of Daffodil Group and President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) Md Sabur Khan, Vice Chancellor of Daffodil International University Professor M Lutfar Rahman and National President of Junior Chamber International and Managing Director of Advanced ERP (BD) Ltd. Mostafizur Rahman Sohel.

At the event, Md Sabur Khan officially announced September 23-29 as the “Entrepreneurship Week” for Bangladesh. l

The American Center announces 2014 Fulbright visiting scholarship programme The deadline for Fulbright Visiting Scholar Program 2014 has been announced by The American Center as November 17, 2013. Fulbright Visiting Scholar awards are offered to senior Bangladeshi university faculty members and researchers at think-tanks and relevant non-governmental organisations to conduct research and teach in the United States.

Successful candidates will be awarded six-to-nine months research grants beginning in September 2014 and in some cases semester-long lecture grants may also be available. The American Center seeks proposals on a wide range of topics in education (particularly those focused on university administration), the social sciences, the humanities, environmental science, agricultural science, and the arts.

The programme is intended for highly motivated scholars with advanced degrees (PhD or professional equivalent) who propose to conduct research and teach in the fields of their specialisation. Candidates must have excellent English language skills to function professionally in an American university setting.

Interested applicants have to submit their applications online. All relevant documents in support of the application, including three reference letters, confirmed letters of invitation, correspondence from US institutions, curriculum vitae, and passport copies for the scholar and all accompanying dependents, should be uploaded electronically through the application webpage.

Please visit https://apply.embark. com/student/fulbright/scholars where

the application is available. A copy of the announcement and complete instructions are also available at http:// dhaka.usembassy.gov/educational_cultural_exchanges.html. Applicants must read instructions thoroughly before completing the application form.

Applicants should submit a detailed and carefully written research proposal that can be completed during the grant period. The programme is highly competitive, and the selection committee places great emphasis on the proposal.

To apply for the lecturing grant, prospective candidates must have extensive teaching experience.

Grant benefits for the Visiting Scholar programme include related expenses, a stipend, and the cost of the grantee’s roundtrip air tickets. The grant also includes a monthly allowance for one. l

5

Monday, September 30, 2013

COURTESY

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Since I was in middle school, if our housemaid or bua had a child staying with us, my mother made sure that I spent time every day teaching the child. As I grew older, I realised that their curriculum and methods were not designed to “educate” them; they were merely memorising from the books.

When I tried to use more interactive ways to teach them, they refused to learn, as it was not the way their teacher did it in class. I was shocked and still am, because these children are being deprived of quality education, which ultimately affects the way they shape their future. I had always longed for a platform where I would be given the opportunity to try to change that.

Please share a little bit about TFB that you have come to experience till now.

My first big exposure to TFB was at its launching event in May, 2013, where I had the privilege to meet the founder of Teach For America, Ms Wendy Kopp. Getting to hear firsthand about Ms Kopp’s journey of transforming a college thesis project into a global movement, which is now operating in over twenty-seven countries, was beyond inspiring. The three-step selection process, welcome events and other discussion sessions were great experiences, and they reinforced my decision to be a part of this global movement of leaders to change lives.

What led you towards TFB as opposed to the conventional options?

There is a quote by Dhirubhai Ambani which goes: “If you don’t build your dream, someone will hire you to help build theirs.” This one line has changed the way I see my future. I believe that Allah sent me to this world with a perfect set of circumstances, not to get

trapped in earning only the superficial benefits that the conventional options promise, but rather to make it my duty to pass on my blessings to the community. TFB would be my starting point.

The TFB Fellowship programme is one that is highly selective, in your opinion, which of your achievements and roles set you apart from your peers?

Starting from high-school till my four years in college, I had always been active in community service, in organisations like ASHIC, ASF, and House of Volunteers-BRAC University, all of which has made me more sensitive to the problems and needs of our country. Overall, my vision for myself and TFB’s vision for the country was a perfect match, which stood out during the selection process.

Do you plan to remain in the Education sector following the completion of your two-year Fellowship or do you plan on bringing the professional development and training you receive to another field?

My family is full of teachers, from both my mother’s and father’s side. I see my parents pass on knowledge to their students every day with passion. In my opinion, teaching is one of the most rewarding and noble professions one can have. I definitely want to remain in the Education sector after the two-year fellowship.

Where do you see yourself two years from now, at the end of your Fellowship?

At the end of the Fellowship, I not only want to have changed my students’ lives, but also change myself as a person, to be more humble, strongerwilled about contributing in developing Bangladesh, and more thankful to Allah, for every little blessing that He has showered on me.

What is your dream for the children of Bangladesh?

Every child of Bangladesh should be encouraged to dream to be what they want to be; there should not be any boundaries. For these dreams to turn to reality is my dream for the children of Bangladesh. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, September 30, 2013

The one-man chapel at Armanitola in city n Abu Hayat Mahmud The Armenian Church, built in the capital’s Armanitola for the Armenian Orthodox communities who lived there for centuries, has turned into a de facto one-man chapel after the rest of Armenians left the country down the generations.

The church was built in 1781 under the aegis of the Armenian Apostolic Church, widely believed to be the world’s oldest national church, and is now an archaeological site under the jurisdiction of the government’s department of architecture.

With only one left to take care of it, known by his anglicised name of Michael Joseph Martin, the church is rarely visited these days and closed most of the time. Religious services are few and far between.

Martin – who settled in the country in 1942 following in the footsteps of his father and is apparently the last in a long line of Armenian settlers – looks after the church and the adjoining graveyard where about 400 of his countrymen are buried, including his wife.

He lives alone in an enormous mansion in the church grounds and occasionally visits his daughters in Canada.

When this correspondent met him recently, Martin, now in his seventies, couldn’t confirm the name of his successor after his death, although in an interview with AFP in early 2009, he expected that one of his three daughters would come and “keep our presence here alive.”

“Or, perhaps other Armenians will come here from somewhere else,” AFP

quoted him saying, as “God wouldn’t leave” such a place “unprotected” and “uncared for.”

Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, several local people also said either one of the said daughters of Martin or other Armenians might come and take charge of the historic prayer house.

Visiting the Armanitola Street in Old Dhaka where the church is located, this correspondent found a metal lock on the arched gate restricting entrance of outsiders, with no sign of any church activity or anyone living inside.

One needs to take special permission to enter the area, according to Abul Kalam, who resides in the neighbourhood. “The church holds only occasional services and prayers on important Christian dates, conducted by a priest from a nearby seminary.”

There are a five-storey shopping mall named Armenian Plaza and three grocery shops, as well as a two-storey residential building, supposedly located within the church area, although Martin denied they had anything to do with the church.

According to sources, the Armenian presence in Bangladesh dates back to sometime in the 17th century when they started moving to South Asian countries for business purposes.

They first started trading in Kolkata and Delhi of India and later expanded their business in Dhaka and other cities, mainly importing spices, stones, muslin clothes, silks and the likes.

Building churches was an important part of the Armenian settlement and they built one wherever they

The recently taken photograph shows no religious activities or anyone presence in the Armenian Church as the church is rarely visited these days and closed most of the time SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN went. The church in Dhaka was built in Armanitola, then a popular commercial hub, during the rule of

Mughal emperor Akbar.

One of the highlights of the church was a clock tower erected on its

western side, which could be seen from as far afield as Narayanganj.

However, it was damaged in the

Banani footbridge to get escalator Barisal district administration n Tazlina Zamila Khan The government has planned to install an escalator to ascend the footbridge being constructed in Banani in a bid to facilitate crossing.

“We have a plan to complete the construction of the Banani footbridge within November 30 and install an escalator with it,” said Brig Gen Md Abul Khair, chief engineer of Dhaka North City Corporation.

The bridge will have the moving staircase on its one side and stairs on the other.

People can use the escalator for going up while they have to walk down the stairs along the other side.

The bridge is being constructed as part of Clean Air and Sustainable Environment Project which started in June 2009.

World Bank has been funding the Tk320bn project.

Md Mofizur Rahman Khan, executive engineer of the project under the Dhaka South City Corporation, said: “We are importing two escalators from

Malaysia, each costing Tk75,40,000.”

MAQ International was awarded the contract to construct the footbridge in Banani.

People can use the escalator for going up while they have to walk down the stairs along the other side. The bridge is being constructed as part of Clean Air and Sustainable Environment Project which started in June 2009 Engineer Mofizur added that there was a plan to construct another footbridge with escalator for people under Dhaka South City Corporation.

Asking about the purpose of setting up an escalator with the footbridge, he said, “We notice that people are unwilling to use the overpass. There are many footbridges in Dhaka, but only a few people use them.”

The official added that the purpose of attaching an escalator to the footbridge was to encourage people to

use footbridge.

Moreover, it would reduce the risk of accidents while crossing and old people would also benefit from the overpass, he said.

Hearing that a moving staircase will be installed with the Banani overpass, Shahin Sultana expressed her joy.

She said, “I have a problem in my leg and I can’t go up the stairs. So, it will be good for me if an escalator is installed with the footbridge.”

But some pedestrians alleged that most footbridges in the city were occupied by hawkers and drug addicts for which people were reluctant to using those.

A university student Bayazid Islam said attaching an escalator to the overpass was not enough, maintenance of the overpass was a must.

After building the footbridge, pedestrians and drug addicts would occupy this, Afroza Akhter, another passerby, vented her frustration.

She added that people were unwilling to use the footbridge after evening in fear of mugging. l

33 illegal establishments evicted a few others submitting prayers for n Our Correspondent, Barisal lease or lodging cases tried to prevent Barisal district administration yesterday operated an eviction drive in port road area of the city and evicted 33 illegal establishments and recovered 40 decimal valuable public land worth TK85m.

Ashrafur Rahman, assistant commissioner (Land), said despite issuing several notices to them since 2010, the land grabbers did not withdraw from the public land.

He said illegal land grabbers occupied about 4 acres of public land after a shoal developed in the then Barisal river port area.

More than 100 small establishments like shops, workshops and small factories were constructed on the grabbed public land.

Operating drives in different times, the district administration succeeded in evicting most illegal occupants, but

the eviction procedure, the assistant commissioner said.

More than 100 small establishments like shops, workshops and small factories were constructed on the grabbed public land Law enforcement agencies, fire service units, land and administration officials helped run the eviction drive peacefully.

Shohrab Hossain, one of the evicted land grabbers, said if the government took step to do any development works, they would have nothing to say.

“But if the land is leased out to others taking a bribe, we will wage strong movement against that,” he added. l

Four-day long cultural festival begins at JU n JU Correspondent A four-day cultural festival began on Jahangirnagar University (JU) campus yesterday.

Jalshiri, a well-known cultural organisation, has organised the programme to celebrate its 11th anniversary. The programme was kicked off with a colourful rally where hundreds of cultural activists of the university walked together.

Prof Anwar Hossain, vice chancellor of the university, inaugurated the festival.

Four cultural organisations of the university— Jalshiri, JU Theater (auditorium), JU Theater (TSC) and reciting organisation Dhoni— are scheduled to participate and perform at the programme, said Partha Protim Mazumder, the presidential member of Jalshiri. Jalsiri staged a drama named Bhashan on the university’s amphitheatre ‘Selim Al Deen Muktamoncho’ Yesterday.

Organisers of the festival said another drama Bou will be staged today, while play Joiboti Konnar Mon is scheduled to be staged tomorrow. l

Teachers’ strike continues at JU

3 sued for workers’ electrocution in Chittagong n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong Three persons were sued yesterday for negligence over the deaths of three fertiliser workers who died from electrocution in the city on Saturday.

A relative of one of the victims brought the charges against the three individuals, including an unnamed physician who was on duty when the incident occurred, the workers’ contractor in the fertiliser factory they worked and one of his agents.

The contractor was identified as Abdur Razzak but the names of his coaccused couldn’t be confirmed.

On Saturday, Md Shahabuddin, 21, Md Maruf, 20, and Owaise Nur, 40, working at the packing and bagging division of Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) Fertiliser Company Limited, were electrocuted to death.

Another worker also sustained electric shock injuries during the time but survived luckily.

The case was filed around 11:30pm yesterday, said the investigation officer of Karnaphuli police station Uttam Chandra Deb. Police would look into the complaint and find out the other two accused who the plaintiff failed to mention, he added.

The four victims came in contact with a bagging belt connected to power while working with the machine, although, Uttam said, disconnecting power connection while working was necessary. l

recovers land worth Tk85m

earthquake of 1897 and subsequently replaced by a smaller tower with no clock. l

n JU Correspondent

Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman inaugurating the expanded daycare centre at the central bank yesterday FOCUS BANGLA

Banks advised to open daycare centres n Tribune Report Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman advised banks to open day care centre so that female employees can work without worrying about their children.

“Currently hundreds of women are working in the banking sector, but most of the banks do not have daycare centres despite having enough capacity to establish it,’’ said governor while inaugurating the expanded daycare centre at the central bank yesterday.

He said, many women gave up their

jobs only because they could not find any place like a day care centre for looking after their children during duty hours.

The central bank opened a day care centre in 2006 with a capacity of taking care of 34 children. The expansion would accommodate an additional 30 children as well as offer more comfort and entertainment with new games, bigger television, and attractive wallpaintings besides various educational tools, especially designed for children.

A non-government organisation runs the day care centre. l

A section of teachers of Jahangirnagar University observed strike for the second consecutive day yesterday, demanding the removal of the JU’s vice-chancellor.

Following the early declaration of General Teachers’ Forum, the agitating teachers boycotted classes and examinations while few teachers, who are against the forum’s agitation, took classes.

On the other hand, few departments including the English, Bangla, Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering departments took examination of different student batches.

General Teachers’ Forum Convener Prof Md Hanif Ali told the Dhaka

Tribune: “If VC Prof Anwar Hossain does not resign from his post within tomorrow [today], the forum would compel him to leave the VC’s post by launching tougher movements against him.”

Earlier in September, the education ministry had convinced the teachers to postpone their ongoing movement for 15 working days and formed a probe committee to investigate into the allegations brought against Prof Anwar Hossain.

The probe committee was supposed to publish its report within September 24 but it extended the time for investigation till yesterday. DU Professor Muhibur Rahman, the chief of the committee, expects that the report would be submitted by today.

However, the protesting teachers thought they had provided all evidences of their allegations against the VC and that there was no need for the extension of time for investigation.

Social Science faculty Dean Prof Amir Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune: “We submitted two audio records of Prof Anwar Hossain to the education ministry which states his given orders to Chhatra League and is sufficient enough to prove his guilt.”

Contacted, JU VC Prof Anwar Hossain said: “Teachers are supposed to stay at the classrooms but unfortunately they are not doing so which is very much shocking and unexpected.”

“Their strike during the investigation is also irrational,” JU VC added. l

JU wins national debate competition n JU Correspondent Debaters from Jahangirnagar University (JU) have won the five-day long National Debate Competition 2013 held at the JU, defeating debaters from Dhaka University (DU) in the final round of the contest.

The JU Debate Organisation (JUDO) defeated DU Debating Society (DUDS) on the university level, at the JU’s amphitheater Muktamoncho on Saturday evening, with the topic of the debate being “The communality will never eclipse us”.

Shawkat Ali, deputy speaker of national parliament, was present as the chief guest at the concluding and prize

giving ceremony, where he handed trophies to the winners.

Terming the youth of a country as the most valuable asset, Deputy Speaker Shawkat Ali urged the youth to take part in the development of Bangladesh as it was the duty of the young generation to take the country forward.

JU Pro Vice-Chancellor (education) Prof Dr MA Matin and Prof ATM Atikur Rahman, a history department teacher and the moderator of JUDO, were also present at the ceremony as special guests.

The debate competition was held in three separate segments – Inter-University Debate Competition, Inter-College

Debate Competition and Inter-School Debate Competition.

Saint Gregory High School became the champion in the school level contest and Jirabo Cantonment Public School was the runners up, while Government Science College won in college level contest while Saint Joseph College was the runners up.

Over 200 schools, colleges and universities joined the competition to uphold the ideals of the Liberation War to the young generation and to establish a militant free, non-communal and a rationalist society. The programme was patronised by the Ministry of Liberation War Affairs. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Lawmaker, his wife injured in accident in Tangail n Our Correspondent, Tangail The incumbent lawmaker of Bogra-1 constituency Abdul Mannan and his wife were injured in a road accident at the Kalihati upazila of Tangail yesterday morning.

Confirming the incident, the officer-in-charge of Bangabandhu Setu Highway police station, Hares Ali, said it occurred when a private car carrying the couple and a truck collided headon near the Analiabari area under Kalihati on the Dhaka-Bangabandhu Setu Highway.

The crash left the lawmaker, his wife Sayeda Mannan Shilpi, president of the Sariakandi unit of Bangladesh Mohila Awami League and their driver Mahfuz injured, he added.

The injured were first taken to the Tangail General Hospital before doctors referred them to Dhaka where they were admitted to Apollo Hospital.

Mannan’s condition was stable but his wife was not still out of danger. l

Nation

Transport business in Rangpur under syndicate’s command n Our Correspondent, Rangpur

In an apparent attempt to protect their monopoly on the streets, transport operators in the northern districts formed a syndicate that introduced new regulations to make sure that new vehicles stay off the road.

The syndicate working under the cover of “Bus-Minibus Owners’ Association” issued an edict that effectively prevented prospective entrepreneurs of 16 northern districts from purchasing new buses, thus maintaining their dominance over the transport business properly.

The edict which remains in force throughout northern Bangladesh except for Bogra categorically states that “Individuals willing to invest in the transport business can only operate new buses if no vehicles owned by the association members ply on the route.”

Members of the association are the only people allowed to operate their vehicles on any route and this has made the association membership even more appealing.

However, the aspirants often find it difficult to obtain the membership as according to the rules, the purchase of a bus that belongs to a member is the only way for others to become a member.

Businessman Shahjahan Babu of Rangpur who keeps close contact with Rangpur Motor Owners’ Association to purchase a vehicle from one of its members said: “I am waiting for the day when any of the association members would consider his vehicle too wornout to ply and decide to sell that.”

Shahjahan said he intended to buy the ramshackle vehicle even if it would cost him a fortune because this would help him obtain the association membership.

The competition among the prospective entrepreneurs to get hold of run-down vehicles hiked up their prices manifold.

“The system of awarding membership to those who purchased association members’ vehicles has increased the demand for vehicles to such a level that prices of these

vehicles and the brand-new ones are now almost the same,” Kurigram Motor Owners’ Association member Anup Biswas said.

The syndicate’s attempt to monopolise the vehicular operation plunged the transport sector in a state of anarchy.

Rusty and worn-out public buses that clog the streets due to the nonavailability of new vehicles have become a source of perpetual agony for the commuters.

As the rundown buses take too much time to reach destination, passengers often times prefer to board long-distance buses to travel short distance, which also infuriates the owners’ syndicate.

Many commuters, talking to the Dhaka Tribune, alleged that the hired goons of the transport owners sometimes block different district routes of Nilfamari, Rangpur, Kurigram and Lalmonirhat, and raid longdistance buses.

The goons drag the passengers out of the vehicles they have boarded to

travel short-distances and force them to ride the local buses, they said.

North Bengal Transport Owners’ Association President Bebi Islam said the associations restrict others to operating their passenger vehicles only to prevent their overflow on the routes.

In reply to a question why 30-35 years old vehicles are still plying on the North Bengal routes, he said: It was because the government didn’t formulate any law banning their movement.

“Let the government frame a law in this regard and we will make sure that no such unfit vehicles ply across the district routes,” he said.

Rangpur Deputy Inspector General Iqbal Hasan said he didn’t receive any complaint that the owners’ associations barred others from operating vehicles on the streets.

“Imposing a ban on the mobility of others’ vehicles is illegal. If any bus owner has valid licence and route permit, we would assist him so that he can operate his vehicle freely,” he said. l

Palm oil tree cultivation comes to be futile n Our Correspondent, Gaibandha Over 1,200 farmers, who have cultivated palm oil trees on their land, are incurring huge financial loss as they cannot sell palm fruits for lack of buyers.

Palm fruits produced in the trees are being damaged for not harvesting it timely. In some orchards, the insects are eating the ripen fruits randomly as the growers have given up taking care the plants totally for not selling it in the markets.

During the regime of army-backed caretaker government in 2008, over 1,200 farmers of the district planted about 30,000 palm oil trees on their arable land and at the surrounding areas of homesteads being encouraged by the officials of some NGOs including, Green Bangladesh (GB) and Palli Unnayan Sangstha.

In Sadullapur upazila, the severity of palm oil tree farming is higher than other upazilas as more than 350 farmers planted about 10,000 saplings of the variety, said Upazila Agriculture Officer Obaidur Rahman Mondal.

The officials of the NGOs motivated the farmers saying that if any farmer cultivated only two or three palm oil trees, the demand of edible oil in six/seven members family would be fulfilled and they would not require buying soyabean from the market at higher prices.

Then the officials also told the farmers that if anyone cultivate 100 saplings of the variety for commercial purpose, they would be able to earn Tk540,000 after

four years against the cost of Tk50,000.

Being satisfied by the lucrative words of the NGO officials, the farmers of the district bought saplings of palm oil trees from them in cash, planted those and started to nurture the palm oil trees carefully instead of farming other high value crops with the hopes of getting good return from it.

In course of time, the trees have fruited well at the middle time of 2013. To see the fruits in the trees, the farmers are happy and dream to earn profit which will change their lots and socio-economic condition gradually.

M Shahadat Hossain, palm oil tree cultivator at Chhaigari village under Sadullapur upazila, said he had purchased 35 saplings of palm oil trees at Tk10, 000 from GB and planted it on one bigha of land at the end of 2008.

The NGO officials then pledged farmers that they would buy palm fruits after its harvet, he said, adding that after repeated attempts they could not be reached as their mobile phone set was switched off. Another palm trees cultivator Abdur Rashid said he was also in problem with the palm fruit like Shahadat and other farmers as he cannot utilise the palm fruit for not having oil manufacturing machines and customers.

Deputy Commissioner Dr Quazi Anwarul Haque told the correspondent that he was aware of this matter and had taken an initiative to create a market linkage for the growers so that they could make profit by selling their produce to the customers. l

Students of Bogra Polytechnic Institute vandalised vehicles demanding immediate change in gazette that identifies diploma professionals as supervisors, not engineers FOCUS BANGLA

105MW Noapara power plant on the edge of closure

A 29-year-old person was crushed under the wheels of a passenger train near Barhatta Bazar at the Barhatta upazila of Netrakona yesterday morning.

He was identified as Mizanur Rahman of Ashma village of the same upazila.

Officer-in-Charge of Barhatta police station Sultan Ahmed said the accident occurred when a Mymensingh-bound train coming from Mohanganj ran over the victim around 7am.

Upon information, a railway police team arrived on the spot and sent the body to the Netrakona General Hospital for post-mortem examination. l

Furnace oil crisis has put the 105MW power plant of Quantum Power System Ltd located at Noapara in Jessore industrial area on the verge of closure.

The plant has been adding only 6MW power to the national grid daily over the last one year.

Authority of the plant, however, claimed that they added 10-12MW electricity per day.

Sources said not only the crisis of furnace oil but also old machinery and equipment are also responsible for the shortfall in the electricity production.

Many mills and factories in the industrial area are about to shut their production because of the frequent power outage, report UNB. Otobi Ltd set up Quantum Power System Ltd at Taltola in Noapara in 2010 with 105MW production capacity.

Since the inception of the plant, it has so far supplied highest 35MW to 40MW power daily to the national grid.

In the last one year, its production has come down to 6-7MW a day.

Manager of Otobi Ltd Kabir Ahmed said they could not produce targeted electricity for lack of supply of furnace oil.

Only one engine out of nine engines of the plant went out of order, hampering production gravely, he said, adding although the plant was targeted for producing 105MW power, it now produces 10-15MW daily.

On the other hand, United Group’s 40MW Khaja Khanjahan Ali Power Plant started production on May 12, 2011, has been shut down frequently.

Oil consumption in the plant for per day is 200 to 250 tonnes.

Jessore Palli Bidyut Samity-2 zonal office Deputy Managing Director Shajahan Kabir said the electricity demand in the peak hours in Noapara and Narail is 43MW, but they are getting only 25MW. l

NEWS IN BRIEF Motorcyclist killed in Rajbari road accident

Lightning strike kills man in Satkhira

A motorcyclist was killed and his two co-riders were critically injured in a road accident on the Daulatdia-Kushtia Highway in Gandhimari area of Kalukhali upazila on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Sohagh and the injured were Jony and Sajb. All of them are residents of Kushtia housing area. Abdul Mannan Forazi, officer-in-charge of Gandhimara highway police station, said when a truck hit a motorcycle carrying the three on the DaulatdiaKushtia highway, leaving Sohagh dead on the spot. Police detained the truck.

However, the trucker managed to flee the scene. UNB

A man was killed being hit by a thunder bolt at Bholanathpur village in Ashashuni upazila on Saturday noon. The deceased was identified as Shahamat Mollah, 35, a day labourer and son of late Shahbaj Mollah of the village. Locals said Shahamat was hit by a thunder bolt while he was working in a shrimp enclosure in Bholanathpur beel (water body), killing him on the spot. UNB

2,415 kg hilsa seized in Satkhira

Members of Border Guard Bangladesh in a drive seized 2,415 kilograms of

Middlemen control Aus prices in Magura n Our Correspondent, Magura A syndicate of middlemen have allegedly been manipulating the price of Aus paddy in local markets of Magura, leaving farmers to face losses.

With this year’s Aus paddy harvest close to completion, farmers in the district have expressed concerns about being deprived of fair prices because of the syndicate.

The Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) in Magura informed that a total of 5,350 hectares of land was brought under Aus cultivation in the district this year, with an output target of 5,120 tonnes of rice.

Rezaul Mreedha, a farmer of Katakhali village under Magura sadar upazila, said farmers were facing losses as Aush paddy was being sold in the local market at Tk450 to Tk480 per maund (equivalent to 37.32kg), while the production cost was about Tk550 per maund.

Abdush Salam, another farmer from Akshi village in the upzila, said the syndicate of middlemen was dominating the Aus market to cash in more money. The syndicate was exploiting the Aus growers by giving them low prices, he alleged.

Kala Chand, a farmer from Aralia village, said the farmers would receive fair price if the government purchased paddy from the farmers.

Dasharat Kumar Day, a trader who stocks paddy in Notun Bazar area of Magura town, however, denied allegations that a syndicate had been formed, and claimed that prices were low because there was an adequate supply of Aus paddy.

Mokhlesur Rahaman, deputy director of Magura DAE, admitted that the price of Aus paddy in the market was not satisfactory at present. l

‘Smuggler’ shot dead by BGB n UNB

One crushed under train in Netrakona n Our Correspondent, Netrakona

n Tribune Report

7

Monday, September 30, 2013

hilsa fish worth Tk1.3m from a truck at Bankal Bridge in sadar upazila of the district yesterday morning. Major Imam Ahsan, deputy commander of Satkhira BGB battalion-38, said acting on a tip-off, a BGB patrol team, led by Nayek Subeder Fayez, conducted a drive in the area and seized the truck at about 6am. UNB

Speedy truck kills woman in Sirajganj

A woman was crushed under the wheels of a speeding truck in Talgasi bus stand area of Shahjadpur upazila on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Selina Begum Jyotsna, 40, wife of Jamal Hossain of Jagannathpur village in the

upazila. Sub-inspector of Hatikumrul highway police station Durul Huda said a Pabna-bound goods-laden truck coming in a high speed from Bogra ran over Selina while she was crossing the road at about 4pm, leaving her dead on the spot. UNB

Housewife found dead in Mymensingh

The body of a housewife was found at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital on Saturday. The victim was identified as Sanjida Haque, wife of a transport worker, Shamsul Haque, of Burapir Mazar Road area. Police said Sanjida went out of the house on Friday noon and remained missing since then. UNB

An alleged smuggler was shot to death by members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) on Daulatpur upazila border in Kushtia yesterday.

The deceased was Samirul Islam, 27, from Jamalpur village of the upazila.

Subedar Shakhawat Hossain, company commander of Mohishakundi camp BGB, said a group of smugglers hurled crude bombs at BGB members when a patrol team of them challenged the smugglers while they were gathering in Gorarpara playground around 1:30am.

BGB members also in retaliation fired three rounds of gunshots, killing Samirul on the spot while other smugglers managed to flee the scene.

Later, the BGB recovered 290 bottles of Indian Phensidyl syrup from the spot. l

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Gunmen kill at least 50 in attack on Nigerian college n AFP, Kano At least 50 students were killed when Boko Haram gunmen on Sunday stormed a college dormitory in Nigeria’s conflict-scarred northeast, firing on students as they slept, the military told AFP, in the latest such attack blamed on the Islamist insurgents.

The early morning assault targeted the College of Agriculture in the town of Gujba in Yobe state, area military spokesman Lazarus Eli said.

It was carried out by “Boko Haram terrorists who went into the school and opened fire on students,” while they were sleeping, he added.

A police source, who requested anonymity, told AFP that initial reports indicated the death toll could be high but he was not prepared to discuss figures.

Gujba is roughly 30km from the state capital of Damaturu.

Yobe has seen a series of brutal attacks targeting students in recent

months, all blamed on Boko Haram.

The worst occurred in July in the town of Mamudo, where the Islamists threw explosives and sprayed gunfire into dormitories in the middle of the night, killing 41 students.

The name Boko Haram means ‘Western education is forbidden’ and the group has repeatedly attacked schools, universities and colleges during its four-year insurgency.

The military has described the spate of recent school attacks as a sign of desperation by the Islamists, claiming they only have the capacity to hit soft targets.

The defence ministry has said that an offensive launched against Boko Haram in mid-May has decimated the group and scattered their fighters across remote parts of the northeast.

While many of the recent attacks have occurred in more remote areas, often targeting defenceless civilians, the unchecked killing has cast doubt on the success of the military’s campaign.

The northeast remains under a state of emergency imposed on May 14.

Scores have been killed this month, including in the northeastern town of Benisheik in Borno state, where at least 142 people were slaughtered by presumed Boko Haram fighters who came disguised as soldiers, set up checkpoints and fired on motorists and bystanders.

Some of the recent violence has targeted vigilante groups which have formed to help the military.

Boko Haram has said it is fighting to create an Islamic state in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north, but the group is believed to made up of different factions with varying aims.

A toll earlier this year said the conflict is estimated to have cost more than 3,600 lives, including killings by the security forces. The current figure is likely much higher.

Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and top oil producer. l

Monday, September 30, 2013

Bomb blast kills 39, wounds 70 in Peshawar, Pakistan n Reuters, Peshawar A bomb blast in the northwestern Pakistan city of Peshawar killed 39 people and wounded 70 on Sunday, a week after a bombing at a church in the frontier city killed scores, police and hospital authorities said.

Islamist violence has been on the rise in Pakistan in recent months, undermining Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s efforts to tame the insurgency by launching peace talks with the Taliban.

Sunday’s blast was outside a police station in Peshawar in an area crowded with shops and families. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

The casualties were confirmed by police and by Arshad Javed, a doctor at Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar.

It follows an attack by a Taliban faction on Peshawar’s Anglican church last Sunday that killed more than 80 people, the deadliest attack on Christians in predominantly Muslim Pakistan.

Pakistani run away from the site of a blast shortly after a car explosion in Peshawar The Taliban have repeatedly rejected Pakistan’s constitution and have called for the full implementation of Islamic law and for war with India.

Sharif is due to meet Indian counter-

AP

part Manmohan Singh on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly later on Sunday, only hours after Singh described Pakistan as the “epicentre of terrorism in our region.” l

Terrorists used new tactic to spare some Muslims n AP

Syrian children play in the family house yard as heavy shelling sparks out between troops loyal to president Bashar Assad and opposition fighters in the neighbouring village of Kafr Nabuda in the Idlib province countryside AP

Italy FM: Integrate Muslims n AP, New York Italy’s foreign minister says integrating immigrants is the only way to stem the radicalisation of young Muslims in Europe.

Germany has said some 220 people from across Europe went to Syria to fight last year. Authorities worry about terrorism at home once the fighters return.

Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino says integrating immigrants is a challenge in her country, where the

first black Cabinet minister has faced racist taunts since being appointed in April.

Bonino spoke to The Associated Press on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly earlier in the week.

Italy is one of Europe’s main entry points for immigrants. Its tiny island of Lampedusa is closer to Africa than to Italy.

Bonino says, “If anybody has a miracle solution, please call me.” l

WORLD WATCH School calls to complain that dead son skips class

The father of a teen who drowned during a class trip in June has been repeatedly contacted by school administrators complaining his dead son is skipping school, he said. Jonas Pierre said staff at Prospect Heights’ International High School call to complain about 16-year-old Jean Fritz’s abysmal attendance record. Jean Fritz Pierre drowned taking a swim in Hessian Lake during a field trip to Bear Mountain on June 24. The father said he was outraged over a report, released this week, that cleared the DOE and its employees of wrongdoing in the boy’s death. The report said Pierre and a friend separated from classmates and snuck off for a dip in the lake despite repeated warning from chaperones about not going into the water.

Half of British pilots admit to falling asleep in cockpit

More than half of British airline pilots say they have fallen asleep in the cockpit, a survey said, ahead of an EU vote on flying hours which a pilots’ association said could compromise flight safety. Pilot exhaustion grabbed the headlines this week when a newspaper reported two pilots on a British long-haul flight fell asleep in the cockpit, leaving the packed jet travelling unsupervised on autopilot. The survey, released by BALPA, came ahead of a vote in the European Parliament on Monday on new rules which could replace British regulations.

Ukrainian woman dies during ‘lovemaking on railway tracks’

A Ukrainian couple’s inability to rein in their passion for each other ended in tragedy when a woman was killed by a locomotive and her partner had his legs torn off during pre-dawn love-making on a railway track, police said Sunday.

The accident took place in the southeastern Ukrainian region of Zaporizhia early Saturday. “Returning from our friends’, my girlfriend and I could not overcome our passionate nature and wanted to feel a sense of thrill near a railway track,” a police statement quoted the 41-year-old man as saying.

A police spokesman said that the pair was believed to have been drunk. The woman died on the spot while the man was hospitalised with his legs torn off below the knee. Police did not release the names of the victims, saying it had opened a criminal probe over the safety violation.

Ex-Chile spy chief kills self before jail transfer

A Chilean military official says the country’s former spy chief committed suicide shortly before he was to be transferred from a luxury prison for dictatorship-era military officials to a lockup with fewer benefits. Army Lt Col Claudio Rojas said retired Gen Odladier Mena shot himself in the head Saturday in a stairwell outside of his home in Chile’s capital. Mena had taken advantage of prison benefits that allowed him to visit his home.

The turbaned gunmen who infiltrated Nairobi’s Westgate mall arrived with a set of religious trivia questions: As terrified civilians hid in toilet stalls, behind mannequins, in ventilation shafts and underneath food court tables, the assailants began a high-stakes game of 20 Questions to separate Muslims from those they consider infidels.

A 14-year-old boy saved himself by jumping off the mall’s roof, after learning from friends inside that they were quizzed on names of the Prophet Muhammad’s relatives. A Jewish man scribbled a Quranic scripture on his hand to memorize, after hearing the terrorists were asking captives to recite specific verses. Numerous survivors described how the attackers from al-Shabab, a Somali cell which recently joined al-Qaeda, shot people who failed to provide the correct answers.

Their chilling accounts, combined with internal al-Shabab documents discovered earlier this year mark the final notch in a transformation within the

global terror network, which began to rethink its approach after its setbacks in Iraq. Al-Qaeda has since realised that the indiscriminate killing of Muslims is a strategic liability, and hopes instead to create a schism between Muslims and everyone else, whom they consider “kuffar,” or apostates.

“What this shows is al-Qaeda’s acknowledgment that the huge masses of Muslims they have killed is an enormous PR problem within the audience they are trying to reach,” said Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, director of the Centre for the Study of Terrorist Radicalization. “This is a problem they had documented and noticed going back to at least Iraq. And now we see al-Qaeda groups are really taking efforts to address it.”

The evolution of al-Shabab is reflected in a set of three documents believed to be written by the terrorist group, and found in northern Mali earlier this year.

They include the minutes of a conference of 85 Islamic scholars, held in December 2011 in Somalia, as well as a summary of fatwas they issued last year after acceptance into the al-Qaeda fold. l

Scattered fighting in southern Philippine city n AFP, Manila, Philippines

Two-state solution in Israel’s interest: Livni

Syrian school hit in air strike: 12 dead n Reuters, Beirut

n AFP, Washington

Philippine troops hunted the remnants of a Muslim rebel group in the key southern city of Zamboanga on Sunday, with residents hearing gunfire a day after the military declared an end to its three-week campaign.

The army Saturday announced that police were taking over from troops to clear sections of the city, a vital regional trading centre, of Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) stragglers.

However, just minutes after the military said the threat to Zamboanga was over, soldiers killed three MNLF fighters in a clash that also left six troops wounded.

“What happened was not organised resistance. These are stragglers trying to escape capture,” Lieutenant-Colonel Ramon Zagala told AFP Sunday, adding that only a handful of rebels remained.

“The mission is completed. We have already neutralised the threat to Zamboanga City.”

In Manila, President Benigno Aquino’s communications secretary Ramon Carandang also warned of the danger of stragglers, saying: “It’s not completely over yet.”

Fighters swarmed into the city’s neighbourhoods 20 days ago, taking hostages and triggering weeks of violence as they sought to derail peace talks between the government and a rival guerrilla rebel faction.

More than 10,000 homes were razed to the ground, forcing over 100,000 people – around a tenth of the city’s population – to flee.

The latest clash put the toll at 189 MNLF fighters killed, with 292 captured or surrendering, while 23 soldiers and police and 12 civilians had also been slain.

A total of 195 civilian hostages were rescued, and authorities believe there are no more still in the hands of the gunmen, said Zagala.

The military said Nur Misuari, who founded the MNLF in the early 1970s, had sent hundreds of armed followers led by his top lieutenant, Habier Malik, to Zamboanga.l

Justice Minister Tzipi Livni, who heads the Israeli team in peace talks with the Palestinians, said late Saturday in Washington that a two-state solution was in her country’s best interest.

“The only way to keep Israeli values as a democratic state is by adopting the idea of two states for two people,” one for Israelis and the other for Palestinians, Livni said at a conference held by J Street, a leftist pro-Israel lobbying group.

“The words Israel and peace are not in contradiction, they must live together,” she said. Yet “so do two other words: peace and security.”

“We live in a tough neighborhood, and even after a peace agreement is reached it will be and remain a tough neighborhood.”

At least twelve people, most of them students, were killed in an air strike that hit a secondary school in the rebel-held Syrian city of Raqqa on Sunday, activists said.

Raqqa in northeastern Syria has been under the control of insurgents fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad since March but the city remains subject to regular aerial bombardment by government forces.

Opposition activists based in Raqqa, a city of around 250,000 people, published a list of 13 names they said were victims of the strike on the school and said there were more than 30 others wounded.

The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a monitoring group with a network of sources across the country, said the death toll was at least nine. l

Israel, Livni added, is not the only country that sees “the grave threat” coming from Iran or from radical fundamentalist Islam in the region.

“We have common interests with other Islamic and Arab states,” she said.

These countries “feel like us that these are threats,” but “feel they cannot express this shared interest because we have this ongoing existing conflict between us and the Palestinians,” Livni said.

Peace talks between Palestinians and Israelis were officially re-launched in July.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas on Thursday, speaking before the UN General Assembly, demanded that any peace deal with Israel be permanent, calling new US-brokered talks a “last chance.” l

Bahrain jails 50 Shiites up to 15 years n AFP, Dubai A Bahraini court on Sunday sentenced 50 Shiites to up to 15 years in jail, including a prominent Iraqi cleric, for forming a clandestine opposition group, a judicial source said.

Sixteen defendants were handed 15-year terms, while four others were jailed for 10 years and the other 30 sentenced to five years behind bars, the source said.

The defendants, including Iraqi cleric Hadi al-Mudaressi who was sentenced in absentia, were charged with forming the “February 14 Revolution Youth Coalition,” which Bahraini authorities accuse of terrorism.

The group has been the main driving force behind a Shiite-led uprising that began in 2011 to demand more rights from the ruling Sunni dynasty.

Several defendants were sentenced in absentia, including Saeed al-Shahabi, a key London-based Bahraini opposition figure who faces an earlier life sentence for his role in the 2011 uprising.

The interior ministry in June named

A Bahraini anti-government protester, wearing a mask and national flag-style hat 11 suspects who were arrested in the case, in addition to 13 people who live abroad. Authorities said at the time that they were still hunting down others.

The defendants are accused of forming an illegal group opposing the political system and “training elements to commit violence and vandalism” in addition to “attacking security men,”

AP

according to the charge sheet.

“Terrorism was among the means used,” by the group which also had “contact with a foreign state,” it said, apparently referring to Iran.

Bahrain’s Shiites, mainly in response to calls by the February 14 Coalition, continue to demonstrate in their villages, frequently clashing with police. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

India building collapse toll reaches 60 n AP, Mumbai

A supporter holds a cut-out photograph of India’s opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Narendra Modi

Narendra Modi pledges clean government n AFP, New Delhi India’s main opposition leader, Hindu hardliner Narendra Modi, on Sunday vowed a corruption-free government and a tough stand against rival Pakistan if his party wins elections next year.

Modi described Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as weak and his government as riddled with corruption, as tens of thousands of supporters screamed the opposition leader’s name at a rally in a park just outside New Delhi.

“The coalition (government) is now addicted to corruption and instead of finding solutions to end the culture of graft, it stops functioning,” Modi told the crowd, many waving party flags

and wearing Modi face masks.

“India needs a dream team and not a dirty team in 2014 and people must decide that during the elections,” he said in a speech lasting just over an hour.

The rally was Modi’s first in the capital since he was elected the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) prime ministerial candidate for national elections next year.

The rally helped launched the BJP’s campaign for the Delhi assembly elections, to be held later this year and seen as a dry run for the national polls.

The BJP is seeking to overthrow the Congress-led coalition government, which has been embroiled in a string of graft scandals and is desperate to boost sluggish growth, after almost a decade

AP

in power.

Modi branded premier Singh as too weak to raise the issue of attacks on Indian soil, which India blames on Pakistani-based militants, during his first talks with his Pakistani counterpart later on Sunday.

Singh will sit down on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who has called for improved ties between the nuclear-armed neighbours since he was elected in May. “Today the prime minister meets Nawaz Sharif but the country doubts whether the prime minister has the courage to discuss the issue of terrorism unleashed on us by Pakistan,” Modi said. l

Israel says it has caught alleged Iranian spy n AP, Jerusalem

Bombs kill 4 in capital of Iraq Kurdish region

Israel’s domestic security service says it has arrested a Belgian citizen of Iranian origin who it claims has admitted he was sent to Israel to spy for Iran.

A statement by the Shin Bet says Ali Mansouri, who entered Israel under the name Alex Mans, was sent by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard’s elite Quds Force to set up business ties in Israel as a front for spying.

The Shin Bet said Mansouri made three visits to Israel since 2012 in the guise of a windows and roofing salesman. The Shin Bet said Mansouri was caught with photographs he took of the US Embassy in Tel Aviv.

The Shin Bet said Sunday it arrested Mansouri three weeks ago at the airport.

A lawyer for Mansouri could not immediately be contacted. l

Bombings killed four people in the capital of Iraq’s autonomous Kurdish region Sunday, officials said, a rare attack on an area usually spared violence plaguing the rest of the country.

Nozad Hadi, the governor of Arbil province, told AFP that four members of the Kurdish asayesh security service were killed.

A high-ranking security official said four car bombs had exploded near the asayesh headquarters in Arbil, while another said the first blast was a suicide car bomb, while an explosives-rigged ambulance was detonated when people gathered at the scene.

An AFP journalist heard three blasts in Arbil, and heavy gunfire. Smoke could be seen rising in the air, as ambulances raced to the scene.

n AFP, Arbil

While much of Iraq is plagued by near-daily violence that kills hundreds of people each month, the three-province Kurdistan region in the country’s north has largely been spared the deadly unrest.

Sunday’s blasts were the first to hit Arbil since May 2007, when a truck bomb exploded near the same asayesh headquarters, killing 14 people and wounding more than 80.

Iraqi security analyst Ali al-Haidari told AFP that he believes the Arbil blasts were linked to fighting between jihadists and Kurds across the border in Syria.

“The attack is linked to the differences between the Kurds and Al-Nusra Front,” Haidari said, referring to a jihadist group that operates in Syria.

“Today’s attack is Al-Nusra Front’s revenge against the Kurds inside Kurdistan,” he said. l

More than 30 still missing from sunk Australia-bound refugee boat n Reuters, Jakarta More than 30 people were still missing two days after a boat carrying asylum seekers to Australia sank off the Indonesian coast, killing 22 people including seven children, Indonesian security officials said on Sunday.

The latest disaster to strike refugees using Indonesia’s southern coast to try to make the perilous crossing suggests Australia’s tough new immigration rules may not be enough to deter asylum seekers.

It will also cast a shadow over a visit to Jakarta on Monday by Australia’s new conservative prime minister Tony Abbott, whose tough stance on immigration was at the heart of his election campaign.

Indonesian police said there was a total of 80 people on the boat, of whom 25 were rescued. That leaves up to 33 people still missing.

“We found the boat broken and destroyed,” Indonesia’s counter-terrorism agency, which went to the scene of the sinking with police, said via a text message.

“The illegal immigrants were from four countries (including) Syria, Jordan and Yemen.” On Saturday, police said some of the passengers had also been

from Lebanon.

About 400 boats carrying asylum seekers have arrived in Australia over the past 12 months and about 45,000 asylum seekers have arrived since late 2007, when the former Labour government relaxed border policies, eventually tightening them again in the face of a voter backlash.

Police said on Saturday the boat was headed for Australia’s Indian Ocean

territory of Christmas Island, a frequent destination for refugee boats from Indonesia and a favoured route for people-smugglers.

The steady flow of refugee boats is a hot political issue in Australia, polarizing voters and stoking tension with neighbours like Indonesia and Sri Lanka over hardline border security policies that have been criticised by the United Nations. l

The search for survivors at the site of a collapsed apartment building ended Sunday in India’s financial capital of Mumbai with a final death toll of 60 people, an emergency response official said.

Rescuers managed to save 33 people from the building’s wreckage in the two-day search. By Sunday morning, all 93 people listed as missing had been accounted for and the search was called off, said Alok Awasthi, local commander of the National Disaster Response Force.

The five-story building that collapsed Friday was the third deadly cave-in of a Mumbai structure in six months. The cause is under investigation.

High demand for housing around India’s crowded cities combined with lax inspections often result in contractors cutting corners by using substandard materials or adding unauthorised floors.

On Saturday, emergency workers laboured for six hours to free the last survivor, a 50-year-old man who was trapped for more than 30

hours with his leg crushed by part of a wall. Rescuers lifted up the slab of cement using a specialised compressed air-pressure bag, and the man was rushed to a hospital in the afternoon.

“We were able to save him, but he may lose his leg,” Awasthi said.

The building, which housed workers for Mumbai’s municipal government, was constructed in 1980, Awasthi said, adding they still did not know what caused it to fall down.

But local residents complained of substandard materials and corruption as the root causes of such disasters.

Some neighbours said they even feared about the safety of their own buildings.

“We can’t know that tomorrow it won’t be our turn,” said Anupama Shivalkar, who lives in a nearby apartment block.

Two other buildings have fallen down in Mumbai this year.

In April, at least 72 people died when an illegally constructed building fell. Two months later, a three-story structure collapsed, killing at least 10 people, including five children.l

India helicopter crash kills 5 n AFP, Mumbai A privately-operated helicopter crashed in western India on Sunday, killing all five people on board, a police officer said.

The officer said the helicopter crashed in a remote part of Maharashtra state some time after leaving the financial hub of Mumbai.

“All the five occupants of the helicopter are dead,” the police duty officer said by telephone from Thane district.

The helicopter crashed in Thane while en route to another district called

9

Monday, September 30, 2013

Aurangabad, the officer said.

The Press Trust of India news agency said the helicopter crashed after coming into contact with power cables.

No further details of the accident were immediately known.

“Our entire police team is at the site which is 18 kilometres (11 miles) from the police station and we are also awaiting details of the accident,” the duty officer added.

The Hindustan Times newspaper’s online edition said two pilots and three passengers were on board. l

Top Saudi cleric says women who drive risk damaging their ovaries!

n Reuters, Riyadh

One of Saudi Arabia’s top conservative clerics has said women who drive risk damaging their ovaries and bearing children with clinical problems, countering activists who are trying to end the Islamic kingdom’s male-only driving rules.

A campaign calling for women to defy the ban in a protest drive on Oct. 26 has spread rapidly online over the past week and gained support from some prominent women activists. On Sunday the campaign’s website was blocked inside the kingdom.

As one of the 21 members of the Senior Council of Scholars, Sheikh Saleh al-Lohaidan can write fatwas, or religious edicts, advise the government and has a large following among other influential conservatives.

His comments have in the past played into debates in Saudi society and he has been a vocal opponent of tentative reforms to increase freedoms for women by King Abdullah, who sacked him as head of a top judiciary council in 2009.

In an interview published on Friday on the website sabq.org, he said women aiming to overturn the ban on driving should put “reason ahead of their hearts, emotions and passions.”

Although the council does not set Saudi policy, which is ultimately decided by King Abdullah, it can slow government action in a country where the ruling al-Saud family derives much of its legitimacy from the clerical elite.

It is unclear whether Lohaidan’s strong endorsement of the ban is shared by other members of the council, but his comments demonstrate how entrenched the opposition is to women driving among some conservative Saudis.

“If a woman drives a car, not out of pure necessity, that could have negative physiological impacts as functional and physiological medical studies show that it automatically affects the ovaries and pushes the pelvis upwards,” he told Sabq. l

A supporter of Iranian Rouhani, holds a local newspaper with a headline that reads, "historic call from a return flight," upon his arrival from the US near the Mehrabad airport in Tehran AP

Shoe thrown as Rouhani returns home n AFP, Tehran A shoe was thrown at Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s motorcade as he arrived home to a mixed reception after his historic call with US President Barack Obama.

Iranian newspapers hailed the first contact with a US president in more than three decades as the ending of a long taboo.

The Etemad newspaper carried a front-page photomontage of Rouhani and Obama side by side, with a banner headline reading: “Historic contact on way home.”

But Rouhani’s 15-minute conversation with the leader of a country long derided as the “Great Satan” was too much for some hardliners.

Nearly 60 gathered outside Tehran’s

Mehrabad Airport on Saturday, chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” as his motorcade passed.

They were outnumbered by 200 to 300 supporters of the president chanting “Thank you Rouhani,” who were separated from the protesters by police.

The shoe was thrown as Rouhani stood up through the sunroof of his car to acknowledge the crowd. It failed to hit its target.

There have been no diplomatic relations between Tehran and Washington since radical students took hostages at the US embassy in the aftermath of the 1979 revolution.

Dubbed the “den of spies” by the regime, the old embassy site is the scene of annual commemorations which have been the focal point for hardline anti-US sentiment.

Rouhani told reporters at the airport the call had been Obama’s initiative.

“I was informed President Obama wanted to speak to me for a few minutes,” his office quoted him as saying.

Iranian media later reported that Rouhani had brought home a 2,700-year-old Persian artefact – a silver chalice in the shape of a winged Griffin – given to him as a “special gift” to the Iranian people.

The artefact depicting the mythical eagle-headed lion, worth an estimated one million dollars, was seized by US customs officials from a smuggler in 2003.

Iranian newspapers crowed that Rouhani had caught the world’s media off guard by taking Obama’s call after coverage of his keenly awaited visit to the United Nations in New York had focused on the lack of a face-to-face meeting.l

Iran: More needed than Obama call for full ties n AP, Tehran

Body bags in West Java containing the bodies of asylum seekers who were killed when their boat sank off the Indonesian coast on Friday REUTERS

Iran sought Sunday to calm hard-line worries over groundbreaking exchanges with Washington, saying a single phone conversation between the American and Iran presidents is not a sign that relations with will be quickly restored.

The comments by Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appeared tailored to address Iranian factions, including the powerful Revolutionary Guard, that have grown uneasy over fast-paced outreach last week between the White House and President

Hassan Rouhani, which was capped by a 15-minute call with President Barack Obama.

“Definitely, a history of high tensions between Tehran and Washington will not go back to normal relations due to a phone call, meeting or negotiation,” Araghchi was quoted by the semi-official Far news agency as saying.

Rouhani seeks to restart stalled talks over its nuclear program in the hopes of easing US-led sanctions. Iran, however, has not clarified what concessions it is willing to make with its nuclear program in exchange.

Araghchi also reiterated statements by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who said he no longer opposes direct talks with Washington but is not optimistic about the potential outcome. Khamenei appears to have given Rouhani authority to handle the nuclear talks with world powers, scheduled to resume in Geneva in two weeks, and seek possible broader contacts with the Obama administration.

“We never trust America 100 percent,” said Araghchi. “And, in the future, we will remain on the same path. We will never trust them 100 percent.”l

10 DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial

Monday, September 30, 2013

Letters to

www.dhakatribune.com

the Editor

LETTER OF THE DAY

Full privatisation is the best way forward for Biman

B

iman Bangladesh Airlines is asking the government for $50m to stem an urgent cash crisis. This is not the first time the state airline has asked for such funds and there is little reason to believe it will be the last.

Unaudited figures suggest losses have fallen from $75m in 2011 to $25m. However, this reduction needs to be offset against the new call for $50m and a background of increasing debts.

Taxpayer funds Biman formally became a saved from stopping public limited company in 2007 subsidies to Biman under a plan intended to see 49% will be better spent of its shares offered to the public. in supporting the The sale of this minority stake expansion of pilot is yet to transpire. Moreover, training and flight efforts to reduce losses have engineering and largely been due to cuts in maintenance facilities capacity which have seen Biman in the country continue to lose passenger share and underuse the potential of its valuable routes.

It is apparent that despite the efforts of its new managing director, Biman in its current state is not able to compete with other airlines.

The government should fully privatise Biman to reduce this chronic loss of taxpayers’ money. There is no benefit to the public in subsidising a national carrier when passengers are better served by other airlines. Whilst the projected growth in air travel to and from Bangladesh means Biman may have the potential to become sustainably profitable, there is little prospect of this happening without the discipline of full private ownership.

Taxpayer funds saved from stopping subsidies to Biman will be better spent in supporting the expansion of pilot training and flight engineering and maintenance facilities in the country in order to build locally available human and technical resources and to make the country an attractive hub for air travel.

Do not melt the people’s money

M

ore than 3,000 tonnes of sugar are melting in the warehouse at Rangpur Sugar Mills, Gaibandha. Valued at more than Tk160m, this is a significant loss for any single production facility.

The reason for such a large stockpile of unsold sugar is the selling price of sugar in the commodities market that is in fact lower than the production The government price in the mill. should contemplate In an open market, fluctuation letting the market of price is a reality and, in such dictate the price a case, the rudimentary practice of sugar and not is to sell the sugar at the market producing any sugar price in a drive to minimise by itself at all possible losses.

Why the mill is sitting on its stockpile without doing anything is difficult to understand; nonaction or hoarding is unlikely to increase the sugar-selling price or increase the shelf life of the sugar.

However, the Rangpur Sugar Mills, owned by Bangladesh Sugar and Food Industries Corporation, can afford to let the yield melt in stock because the loss will be borne, not by them, but by the public.

As a pro-business newspaper, we advocate best practices and professionalism for all parts of the business sector and we expect that the state-owned factories to be run in the best interests of the people.

Shutting down or at least privatising such at-loss ventures is highly advisable to curb public spending.

The government should contemplate letting the market dictate the price of sugar and not producing any sugar by itself at all.

CROSSWORD

September 25

An interesting back page news item was published a little while back. It heralds the possibility of our first explorations of outer space, beyond our solar system! The voyage of the “Voyager” to outer space.

Interestingly, though, we have not pursued any inter-planetary travel, nor landed on any planets. Till date, our moon is the only other place that we have stepped on. Have we intentionally jumped the gun, or is there nothing more interesting to explore in our solar system?

Maybe, we are putting the cart before the horse or do we expect to find better prospects in the unknown infinity of outer space? It is indeed a history-making adventure.

In my mind, many questions arise. To begin with, will the speed of Voyager increase, as it goes beyond the influence of the earth’s and the solar systems gravitational pull, and the frictional resistance of the stratosphere? Hopefully it has the equipment to record, and possibly transmit these information.

May I appeal to you, that you publish a weekly by-line on the feedback from the Voyager, and any other news related to this epic journey? This will be far more welcome for a change, from the usual political muck that fills the pages of our dailies.

Engr SA Mansoor

DOWN 2 Concretion of nacre (5) 3 Curve (3) 4 Game of chance (7) 6 Vegetables (4) 7 Electrical unit (6) 8 Fastener (3) 9 Raw hide (4) 15 Obliteration (7) 17 Make certain (6) 19 Company of lions (5) 20 Exploit (4) 22 Swarm (4) 23 Excavate (3) 25 Pinch (3)

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Gender equality and how Islam sees it September 25

FY Putting my disagreement with your argument as a whole aside for a moment, I just want to focus on your point about the under-representation of women in the maths and sciences: Another study shows that women are equally able to excel in these fields, but are under-represented as a result of gender-discriminatory attitudes in the education system. In other words, it’s teachers who share your belief that women are not supposed to be mathematicians or scientists (or who so naively believe that women in general simply do not wish to pursue these fields) that have perpetuated this under-representation.

WaliulHaqueKhondker Everywhere in the holy Qur’an people are addressed as “People” (Naas in Arabic) in all respects of guidance, which obviously means men and women combined. Besides this, there are many eloquent verses of the Quran that point to the sexes as equal before God. For example: “Believing men and believing women are supporters and protectors of each other, they enjoin goodness and forbid evil; They establish prayer and give charity; They obey Allah and His Messenger.

Allah will shower mercy upon them. Truly, God is Mighty, Wise.” (Quran, 9:71) Then to dispel misconception about dominance of men in religious matters, the following compre-

hensive verse was revealed: “Truly, those who submit, men and women, those who have faith, men and women, those who are devout, men and women, those who are true, men and women, those who show patience, men and women, those who humble themselves, men and women, those who give in charity, men and women, those who fast, men and women, those who guard their chastity, men and women, those who remember God often, men and women: for them has God prepared forgiveness and great reward!” (Quran, 33:35) We may hence conclude that men and women are equal in the eyes of Allah (SWT). joshua WaliulHaqueKhondker: Allah declares men and women equal in terms of how their actions and deeds would be judged. Ibadah of a man is not superior to that of a woman. The verses you quoted do not reflect that women and men are considered equal in terms of responsibilities and rights. However, it is pleasing to note you take interest in Islam.

WaliulHaqueKhondker Joshua: As a Muslim, I’m duty bound to take “Interest” in Islam. :) RW Don’t hide behind your religion to justify the subjugation of half the population. I once heard an

explanation (from a Muslim woman) of wearing burqas as this: “If you had a diamond you would keep it covered in public.” This is not what a loving, equal society says. This is what an abusive society says to justify inequality.

Muhammad Ahmad Eusha RW: As the writer of this piece, I must defend myself.

I will mention here the summarised pointsWhat is the definition of this “subjugation?” The only thing Islam takes away from women is that they would not be able to flaunt their physical beauty anymore, they would not be able to flirt around anymore and they must do their primary duties at home (which suit them the best as has been clearly discussed in my piece) before they show their capacity outside. That is really all. So my wife should not neglect her child in pursuing a career because I really cannot be the mother. A mother has great and very distinct psychological effects on a child which a father can never emulate. Just being around produces profound effects and this is indispensible.

You talk about equality. The world knew no equality before the time of the prophet (S). It is HE who introduced unquestionable equality in society. It is really pathetic to hear about equality from people who have learned their lesson from the West. Do you know how women used to be treated in Greece and Rome back then? Do you know that Europeans later learned chivalry from the Saracens?

CALVIN AND HOBBES

PEANUTS

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Monday, September 30, 2013

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Obama-Rouhani phone conversation looks to détente but not docility

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n Towheed Feroze

t’s a season for thaws. The Russians are finally seeing eye to eye with the West over the chemical weapons issue in Syria and Iran, the long standing irritant to the US has a leader willing to play ball instead of adopting the “intransigent till death” attitude.

Hasan Rouhani, the soft spoken Iranian leader, has had a phone conversation with Obama and we hear that the US president hung up with a “Khoda hafez.” Choreographed or not,

this is exactly what the world needed to hear at a time when tensions are flaring up everywhere.

Once there is a dialogue, no matter how informal and stage-managed, a platform is created.

Just to go back in history, IranianUS ties were broken in 1979, after a revolution toppled the Shah’s prowestern puppet regime and the US embassy was stormed by a radical faction of students.

American citizens were taken hostage, some escaped but a few were kept in Iran.

Deshi determination on icy frontiers n Kausar Shahab

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hat is it about immigrant women from the desh refusing to don winter appropriate footwear? Its pretty much a cliché, but one that used to rake my mind until about last year, when I had an analysis session with a friend following a particularly precipitous winter day. We were both blinking away tears by the time we were done.

Granita, sorbet, Sno Cone – leaning against cars, watching in amusement as kids skid and slip their way to classes – these are some names we come up with for various kinds of snow and ice that makes life miserable for a good 3-4 months.

Miraculously, they held up throughout the winter. It was only shortly before spring that rigor mortis set in the shoes, not her. Mercifully. They crinkled and stiffened from all the salt. Those, we decided, were the pickled mummies, preserved to be excavated intact ages into the future; a testament to a temperate climate voyager’s journey in harsh climates.

On the second year, it was a pair of backless sneakers. That was also the year the lady in question had acquired her driver’s license. I remember two things in retrospect. It was a particularly snowy winter, with knee high snow on the side walks, and her elder child had started school.

Those were the ‘gangsta’ shoes without the attitude. There are only a few things sadder than that. One of them being sagging tattoos

Like the Eskimo, who have over 90 names for frozen water, this took some deliberation and argument. Despite our differences of opinions, we agree that one must get to know snow and ice on a deeply personal, contact level to arrive at a pet name basis.

What better way to make acquaintance with them than feel them permeate through your socks? And what better way to ensure this than buy end of season shoes on sale in various big box stores?

The reason of our analyses is a lady we both know. She is a fellow deshi, and a parent at the school. Every year, she gets a little more enterprising, she walks a little further, takes on a little more. We have known her for several years, and have yet to see her in winter appropriate footwear.

The first year, she wore a pair of fake suede pumps with what looked like cardboard soles. Everyone speculated it must have been like walking around with dish towels wrapped around the feet.

While the preschooler scampered over frozen ground like an Arctic fox, the infant travelled in various portable devices: car seat, stroller, baby sling, car seat in the stroller, etc. Getting the car seat in and out of the car meant the mother had to stand precariously planted in the snow, fixing and affixing various harnesses and straps.

I didn’t know whether to look away then, or look away when she ignored the sneering looks of glam squad mummies. I mean the sneakers were iridescent blue, and chunky. Neither in a good way. Those were the “gangsta” shoes without the attitude. There are only a few things sadder than that.

One of them being sagging tattoos.

The third pair was ballet flats. I had seen them at my least favourite conscience-free retailer. Priced regularly at $6, on sale for two, costing maybe $0.05 each. What was saved on labour, was further endorsed in poor quality. Papier mache soles, fleshly hued and gelatin glued. I feared for

their integrity, and the safety of the wearer, every time it neared the freezing mark.

She took to wearing them with thick socks during winter, pirouetting and leaping across wet stretches and icy patches with feline grace. With any other shoes, the effects would have been unnecessarily sad. They were the Bolshoi flats.

The fourth were a pair of Dr Scholls. They didn’t seize up with fluctuating temperatures, and were good while they lasted. And last they did for a long time. She wore them long enough for the baby to outgrow his stroller, and the little girls to outgrow Hanna Montana phase, and for Miley Cyrus to grow into an existential crises. Then they were just as good as the cardboard ones, unable to keep out the elements. Cracked and busted, they looked suicidal.

They were the been-here-done-that traders.

This fall, she brought weight loss shoes. You know the kind – tipping platforms, designed to keep the wearer moving in search of balance. When Environment Canada announced its hunch about a real winter, someone hinted to her maybe this was the year she needed Arctic worthy shoes.

She held her ground about buying shoes on sale. Her point being what goes on sale is not a choice, but each step afterwards is. She said “a shoe is only a shoe.”

But a shoe is not quite a shoe. Like everything else, it has a history and a story. Typically, it is a curated or documented one around a culture or motion picture. And then, there is an unsung, invisible one. Like everything else, it’s a deeply personal statement, and not always in fashion or style.

Case in point, I have seen her over the last few months simulate skiing and hydroplane on various layers of spongy, icy, semi solid waters. More sure–footed than ever before. Her shoe prints go further and deeper in the school park than high-end snow boots prints. l Kausar Shahab is a freelance contributor.

In 1981, the hostages were released after prolonged negotiations with the Carter administration, and only then Iranians held on to hostages until the exact moment when Carter left and the Reagan administration assumed office.

Despite the breakdown of diplomatic relations including an arms embargo and public condemnation of Iran, the Reagan government was soon found to be selling weapons secretly to the country.

Later, implicated officials said that they had done this to bring back the detained Americans. Whatever the case, links never became normal.

Today, the West may feel threatened that a nuclear armed Iran will make the region volatile plus inspire other nations to pursue the same objective, but a look at the IranWest stand-off shows that the blame historically, mainly, lies on the latter.

In 1953, a CIA-UK backed plot overthrew a democratically elected government in Iran by supporting a coup in what is known as Operation Ajax. The country’s elected head Mohammad Mosaddegh had wanted to nationalise the oil industry, which peeved the British. The US provided backing because at the height of the cold war, it wanted to limit the number of nations wanting to get out of the control of western nations fearing that they would flirt with Communism.

Mosaddegh never flaunted leftist philosophies but the West did not take any chances. Remember, this was 1953, eight years after the world had seen WW2 bring down Hitler and the Axis powers.

Surprisingly, while the allies vociferously celebrated the downfall of a dictator and maniac at the end of the Second World War, their imperial policy of controlling nations possessing resources remained intact.

In fact, when Mossaddegh first came to power, the then PM, Clement Attlee, opted for economic sanctions rejecting calls for military action.

However, after he left power, the plans were reinstated and it is now an established fact that CIA and MI6 worked together to depose the elected Iranian government.

Just as reference, the British also intervened militarily in 1956 when Egypt nationalised the Suez Canal.

France, the nation which once launched a revolution with the lofty slogan: “equality, fraternity and liberty” sided with her neighbour, although on that occasion, the US administration was not so accommodating in the light of Nasser’s popularity.

need to be prepared to say that we were misinformed.

Now, marked improvement of diplomatic ties and probably state level visits should not mean that Iran will be willing to look at global issues from an American angle.

That is the last thing the world needs. After all, most US interpretations of global matters in recent times have been proved wrong.

Choreographed or not, this is exactly what the world needed to hear at a time when tensions are flaring up everywhere.

Once there is a dialogue, no matter how informal and stage managed, a platform is created

What an irony that these states now talk of the need for transparent transition of powers in other countries through democratic processes.

But then, 1956 is long way back and foreign policies have become more benevolent and the world needs to look forward, right? We certainly hope so!

Coming back to the opening of the door for dialogue, Iran needs to put its economy back on track with an easing of the sanctions that have been piled on her over the years, but in return, she will have to open all her nuclear facilities for close inspection.

For argument’s sake, what if the so far held line by Iran that all her nuclear experiments are for peaceful purposes is proved true?

Will the West then apologise for creating a false layer of doom? In Iraq, no weapons of mass destruction were found and no matter how tactful the western leaders try to be in justifying the military intervention, the bottom line remains: it was a military adventure triggered by falsehood.

Therefore, weapons inspectors

So, why try to align with explanations that are peppered with follies?

Iran may or may not have nuclear weapons ambitions but she needs to maintain herself as a potent powerhouse of conventional weapons simply because a power balance is essential.

Meanwhile, when the West harps on the need to compel Iran to give up nuclear weapons ambitions, they must also be fair when they present the history of frosty relations to a new generation of global events watchers.

Most accounts start from 1979 with the embassy siege and never go back to the fifties when the main culprit or, in clear terms the enemy of democracy, was actually the West.

Saying sorry can clear all the historical indignation and create a new premise for a better tomorrow.

Believing in that, how about a US apology to Bangladesh for not supporting the liberation movement in 1971? l Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.

Amended PSC to aid drill bids n Hasan Kamrul

T

he cabinet has approved the revised model Production Sharing Contract (PSC) on September 3.

To explore oil and gas in the deep sea areas of the Bay of Bengal, Petrobangla at first invited tenders in December last year.

Until April this year, bidding response was poor. Only two companies submitted bids separately.

However, in a call for re-tender from April to July this year, Bangladesh also received a poor response; only one international company submitted a bid for a single shallow water block on the closing day of submission.

IOCs stipulated for increasing the gas price, giving tax incentives (tax holiday for 5 years), banning export options to third parties etc during a pre-bidding meeting with high officials of the government of Bangladesh, but Petrobangla didn’t respond because of secrecy. Ultimately bidding didn’t serve the purpose.

To ensure more participation in the next tender, the government has already updated the model PSC and discarded some previous provisions.

The civil society has criticised the elimination of provisions; they said it went against the interest of the country.

In the first amendment, 2008, high sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) rate was settled at $180 per tonne, on-shore 75%, shallow and western 93%, deep-shore 100% and cost of gas was $4.5 per 1,000 cubic foot.

However, a re-amendment in 2002, considered HSFO rate at $200 per tonne, onshore, shallow and western shore was similar to 2008 but deep shore rose up to 110% and cost, per thousand cubic foot gas, rose up-to $5.

In 2012, in the 3rd amendment, HSFO rate has been fixed at $200 per tonne, onshore 75%, western 93%, shallow offshore 100%, and deep offshore 130%, gas price has also been increased to $6.5 per 1000 cubic foot.

In the first two amendments, there was no provision for increasing the annual gas price, but the latest amendment allows IOCs to increase the annual price at 2% per thousand unit of gas.

Legally, a contracting company is now awarded for increasing 2% annual gas price after starting production.

The past amendments had no exemption facility on corporate taxes but recent alterations allow exemption on corporate tax.

Petrobangla, in the past amendments, did not allow the gas to be sold to third parties. But this option has been wiped out recently; a contracting company is now entitled to sell 50% of its share to third parties in the country without hindrance.

In the yesteryear’s, a contracting company was given at best 50% cost recovery per year which now has risen up-to 70%.

Added to that, the contracting company will not have to pay wheeling charge for gas, from offshore to onshore, through the pipeline to be constructed under the cost recovery arrangement.

Through recent changes in the PSC, the government hopes that potential IOCs would be interested to take part the next bidding. From whom, experienced and capable companies can easily be sorted out, as well as have a more pragmatic comparison with the neighbouring country.

To ensure more participation in the next tender, the government has already updated the model PSC and discarded some previous provisions

A few have asked that Bapex strengthens itself to take part in the offshore exploration. Bapex is not capable enough due to overall shortage of expertise, experience, funds, and heavy rigs compatible for working in deep sea areas. $25m, for instance, would be necessary to do a single onshore well, whereas this amount would be four times higher ($100m) in the deep-sea areas.

Now, the PSC looks pretty good.

The writer hopes it would be able to grab potential IOCs this time. l Hasan Kamrul is a geologist who can be reached via hkgeologist@gmail.com.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment

Paintings by prominent and promising artists on display

Artworks of Qayyum Chowdhury, left, and AKM Abdus Sattar

n Afrose Jahan Chaity Dazzling paintings by a number of prominent and promising artists are on display in a group painting exhibition

by Aangina— an association of artists, craftsmen and designers—at the Dhaka

TODAY IN DHAKA Exhibition

I am

By Gautam Chakraborty Time: 1:00am – 7:30pm Galleri Kaya House 20, Road 16, Sector 04, Uttara Unity of Souls Time: 10am – 8pm Athena Gallery of Fine Arts A Heights, Cha-72/1/D, Progati Shoroni Photography and Video Clips Exhibition On Noted Actress Sarah Begum Kabori Time: 10:00am – 7:30pm National Museum, Shahbag

Theatre

Dhabomaan Dhaka Theatre Time: 7pm National Theatre Hall Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Half Akhrai Udichi Time: 7pm Experimental Hall Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy

Film

Despicable Me 2 3D Oz The Great and Powerful Nishwartha Bhalobasa Jurassic Park in 3D Star Cineplex, Bashundhara City

Art Centre. The show began on September 27 and will continue till October 3.

Artworks by eminent artists like late Quamrul Hasan, late Imdad Hossain, Qayyum Chowdhury, Abdul Muqtadir, Muhammad Idris and Golam Sarwar enrich the show. On the other hand, a

bunch of promising artists have also utilised the platform to proof their talent. Altogether, the exhibition is a good demonstration of the contemporary art in Bangladesh.

The ongoing group art exhibition is exemplary for its selection of works.

Through the exhibits of a total of 57 paintings, it showcases scenic beauty of the nature of Bangladesh, the social reality, people, cultural elements and more.

The artists have depicted their artistic self with acrylic, oil, dry point, water colour, poster colour, mixed media and many more in realistic, semi realistic and abstract styles.

In Qayyum Chowdhury’s three paintings, the simplicity and harmonious life of rural Bangladesh have been portrayed with his signature strokes. A happy moment has been captured in late Imdad Hossain’s painting where two fishes are swimming in the water and the golden background represents joy.

Kalam Akhand used vibrant acrylic colour on canvas in his painting “Comb,” that depicts a common demonstration of womanhood through an image of a lady combing her long black hair. The use of dazzling colours and extensive brush strokes are the prime characteristics in his works.

Among the participants, Sabiha Akter is one of the expressionist artists. In shades of brown, blue and red colours, her artwork titled “Insearch of Peace,” shows the artist’s urge for peace which is a far cry in the contemporary world.

The exhibition was inaugurated by US Ambassador Den W Mozena while famed artist Shahabuddin Ahmed was present as special guest. l

Monday, September 30, 2013

Nrityanchal urges to protect and promote folk dance of Bangladesh n Afrose Jahan Chaity Nrityanchal, one of the most prominent dance organisations of the country, organised a seminar on practice of Bangladeshi folk dance and its continuation. The event took place at the seminar room of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on September 28 where an elaborated discussion was held on contemporary dance scenario in Bangladesh and the practice and prospect of our folk dance.

Celebrated dance artist and director of Nrityanchal, Shamim Ara Nipa took

Shamim Ara Nipa, director of Nrityanchal, has been researching on folk dance of Bangladesh for a few years

the initiative to arrange the seminar and presented the key note paper which is an output of her ongoing research project that involves study into the roots of rural folk dance in seven divisions of Bangladesh. She, along with the support of Nrityanchal, is trying to document the original dance styles of different forms of folk dance. “In the dance productions produced for urban audience, we don’t portray the original styles of different kinds of folk dances. We modify it and then present before a wider urban audience to keep city-based Bangladeshis in touch with their cultural heritage,” said the dance exponent at the seminar.

Regarding Nrityanchal’s current project, Nipa stated: “We tried to pick our traditional folk dance forms as it is. Work has already begun on Nrityanchal’s project named ‘Practice of Bangladeshi folk dance and its continuation.’”

While talking about protecting the folk dance forms and promoting their roots, she said: “I am still working hard to collect the backgrounds of different dance forms. It is necessary for the genres of traditional Bangladeshi folk dance to become well accepted among the dance enthusiasts all over the world.”

“We need to take steps to bring out our dance heritage into the limelight. We are trying to popularise the folk genres like jari, lathi, dhamail, bratachari and more. We are trying our level best to reach our goal.” l

Eastern University stages Manoj Mitra’s Kenaram Becharam today n Shadma malik Iconic playwright Manoj Mitra’s “Kenaram Becharam” will be staged at Nat Mandal, University of Dhaka, today at 5pm.

This play is the sixth production by the drama and theatre forum of Eastern University as part of their extracurriculum. Dhaka Tribune is the media partner of this production.

Mitra’s focus on family values and ties influenced me a lot. Through this drama I want to point out that everyone has a role to play in a family and should be in their rightful place Khairul Bashar, the student who directed it, considers Mitra as his inspiration. “Mitra’s multidimensional talents and his way of storytelling are quite remarkable and I am enthralled by his scripts,” says Bashar.

“Kenaram Becharam” portrays the typical structure and social dilemmas of a Hindu lower-middle class family.

Becharam Chaterjee is a simple man who is not acknowledged by his peers and never gets due respect

Big B rubbishes Ash-Abhi’s comeback with Happy Anniversary n Entertainment Desk Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan rubbished reports about his son Abhishek and daughter-in-law Aishwarya coming together for producer Gaurang Doshi’s “Happy Anniversary.” “I haven’t seen this news. I think it must be a rumour.”

Rumours have been rife about Aishwarya Rai Bachchan making her comeback with “Happy Anniversary” but hubby Abhishek Bachchan has also dismissed such speculations.

As per recent reports, Aishwarya had consented to star in Prahlad Kakkar’s “Happy Anniversary,” in which she will be casted opposite hubby Abhishek. Earlier “Happy Anniversary” producer Gaurang Doshi had remarked that the film was to be a comeback project for Aishwarya Rai Bachchan after giving birth to daughter Aradhya.

But the actor revealed at a recent event in Kolkata that the reported film is still under consideration and no final decision has been taken yet.

“We have not read the script, nothing has been finalised,” the 37-year-old actor said. l

Students of Eastern University rehearse for Kenaram Becharam from his family.

One day, Becharam leaves home in disgust. Right after his departure, his materialistic family starts fighting over his property based on the assumption that he is not coming back.

Nagen Panja is a professional who makes a living out of finding and returning lost persons and is not above a little chicanery. Drawn towards the reward money promised on finding Becharam, Nagen tries to pass off a vagabond Kenaram as Becharam using his

SYED LATIF HOSSAIN

skills of persuasion and double dealing.

He even manages to get the police and the local politician out of his way.

Becharam’s daughter and daughter in law, along with the latter’s mother, a barrister, are convinced that it is in their interest to accept the impostor as the real Becharam. Only Sridhar, the domestic help, remains faithful to his old master. Nagen is almost successful when the original Becharam returns.

This hilarious comedy is a satire portraying the attrition of values and

family ties in modern society. The end, however, leaves a ray of hope when principles and allegiance reunite the family and Nagen moves on to his next venture.

The director, Khairul, further states: “Mitra’s focus on family values and ties influenced me a lot. Through this drama I want to point out that everyone has a role to play in a family and should be in their rightful place. Due respect should be given to a person who holds a certain position in a family. Also, I wanted to highlight the fact that the weak and weary are always suppressed in our society.”

“Since the story portrays the hardships of an elderly person, we used dull colours to make the ambience gloomy. We have received support from Prachyanat, especially in sound composition.”

Nazla Satmi, the coordinator and founder of the forum and senior lecturer of the English department at Eastern University, said: “Theatre is a creative activity. It enables a student to express their talent on a larger platform. Theatrical performance would take hesitation out of an individual and students have the opportunity to showcase their hidden talents by performing on stage.”

The entire cast of the play is comprised of students from Eastern University. l

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Did you know?

Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar was the first batsman to score 10,000 runs in Test cricket in March 1987. Only eleven players have achieved the feat in the history of the game as of 2013

Sport

14 Costa ruins Bale home debut

DHAKA TRIBUNE

14 Pogba seals Turin derby win for Juve

15 Venus accepts Murray’s challenge

The candidates of the Combined Panel for the upcoming BCB election pose for photograph in the panel revealing ceremony at a city hotel yesterday

Nazmul reveals election panel n Mazhar Uddin Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president Nazmul Hasan announced his 14 member panel from category 2 for the much awaited BCB election at a hotel yesterday.

Under the banner of Combined Panel, Nazmul Hasan named Enayet Hossain Siraj, Mahbubul Anam, Ahmed Sajjadul Alam Bobby, Afzalur Rahman Sinha, Jalal Younus, Ahmed Iqbal Hasan, Ismail Haider Mallick, Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan, Gazi Golam Mortuza Pappa, Shawkat Aziz Russell, Nazib Ahmed, Nazmul Karim Tinku, Hanif Bhuiyan and Tanjil Chowdhury.

The 14 member panel was introduced from the category 2. Twelve of the 14 will have to be elected into office. Three additional directors, from all three categories, will be selected by the National Sports Council (NSC) – out of a total of 26 directors from across all three categories. Nazmul went on to hint that he may be nominated by the NSC direct-

ly when queried on the matter.

The directors will be nominated by three category of voters. District and Divisions with 70 voters will elect ten directors clubs, 58 voters from the Clubs will select 12 directors and a third section

Panel Contestant Club Afzalur Rahman Sinha Surjotorun Mahbubul Anam Mohammedan Ahmed Sajjadul Alam Sheikh Russel Enayet Hossain Siraj Azad Sporting Ahmed Iqbal Hasan Young Pegasus Jalal Yunus Rayer Bazar Lokman Hossain Bhuiyan Mohammedan Ismail Haider Mollick Brothers Union Gazi Golam Mortuza Gazi Tank Tanzil Chowdhury Prime Bank Nazmul Karim Tinku Kalabagan KC Najib Ahmed Sheikh Jamal Hanif Bhuiyan Rapid Foundation Sowkat Aziz Rasel Sheikh Jamal

will use their 45 votes to elect one director, while the NSC will handpick the remaining three.

Nazmul Hasan has been the president of the ad-hoc committee since October 17, 2012 and it has been one of his major goals to oversee the election and after almost 11 months, he is on the verge of completing that goal.

“I had expected about 30 or so clubs to support me and I am happy to see 42 have come out today. This makes me confident,” said Nazmul.

One of the candidate for the director’s post and the panel member of Sommilito porishod Ahmed Sajjadul Alam Bobby was the anchor of the programme, while veteran politician Mozaffar Hossain Poltu, chairman of Abahani Ltd Salman F. Rahman and five former captains of Bangladesh Gazi Ashraf Hossain Lipu, Faruque Ahmed, Khaled Mahmud, Akram Khan and Naimur Rahman were also present at the programme.

Nazmul Hasan, who was earlier challenged to a debate by Saber Hossain

BCB ELECTION

Objections under microscope n Raihan Mahmood The election commission of Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) discussed objections over 16 voters till late night yesterday and will come out with the final voters list today.

There were objections about the councillorship of Naimur Rahman Durjoy of Manikganj, Monjur Kader of Munshiganj, Akram Khan of Chittagong Division, Imtiaz Ahmed Shamsul Huda Kislu of Rajshahi Division, Sheikh Sohel of Khulna Division, Nuruddin Nayon of Laxmipur, Saiful Islam of Khulna, Ashrafuzzaman Pintu of Narail, Ahmed Sajjadul Alam Bobby of Sheikh Russell and Jalal Yunus of Rayer Bazar Athletic Club. Moreover Mirpur Boys, Sonar Bangla, Hillol Juba Sangha and North Ben-

gal Cricket Academy lodged complaints about not maintaining the third division cricket league tables properly.

Former president of BCB and the councilor of Baridhara Dazzlers Saber Hossain Chowdhury though did not lodge any complaints over the councillorships, but submitted a letter about the anomalies of the election procedure.

Saber said he has tried to focus upon some basic points. “I have mentioned a number of basic issues to consider. The upcoming election of the Bangladesh Cricket Board is going to take place under the light of a verdict of the Appellate Division. I have asked the members of the election commission whether they have any copy of the verdict with them. When a verdict of the High Court is disbursed, you can’t take further steps without a

certified copy of the verdict,” he claimed.

Saber said the publication of the voters list should be postponed. “It was framed by the cricket board and that is not the constitutional way, BCB is prohibited from performing any election activities, the election commission should cover all the procedures. This voters list doesn’t have any legal authenticity, it should be called off,” said Saber. Saber also said the time frame of 13 days for the BCB election was insufficient.

Barrister Sarwar Hossain Payel represented the plaintiffs in the election commission. “We have focused upon many anomalies in the election process. The EC did not possess a certified verdict of the Appellate Division. We want a transparent and democratic environment in the BCB election process,” said the lawyer. l

Chowdhury, said that he is still prepared to meet with his potential rival but wanted Saber to clarify what the agenda of the dialogue would be. “I have no problem sitting with him but I wanted to know the agenda of the dialogue as he earlier invited me to sit but did not mention the agenda of the meeting,” said Nazmul.

He went on to add that there might be two different types of discussions with Saber, depending on what Saber decided to do. “Two types of dialogue might be done with him. If he takes part in the election, there will be one kind of agenda and if he doesn’t, it’ll be different, but I’m still ready to talk with him,” said the president.

Nazmul went on to indirectly criticize Saber by saying those who engaged in mudslinging and hampered the image of the country should not enter the BCB election. He also dismissed allegations that votes had been bought for the election.

The final voter list will be announced today and then the submitting nomination papers commence. The election is scheduled to take place on October 10.l

MUMIT M

Shakib set to return against Khelaghar today n Mazhar Uddin Shakib al Hasan will play his first match in the Walton Dhaka Premier Cricket League when Kalabagan Krira Chakra take on Khelaghar Samaj Kallayan Samity at BKSP-3 in their fifth match in the league today.

The all-rounder sustained a thumb injury at the inaugural Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in West Indies, which has kept him out of the tournament so far.

Kalabagan surprisingly recruited him in the Dhaka League players transfer.

With Shakib as the centerpiece, Kalabagan formed a team that has the potential to upset any team in the league. However, with the star all-rounder missing the

n Raihan Mahmood

FM Mehdi Hasan Parag of Access Group beat GM Ziaur Rahman of Dhaka Mohammedan in the 8th round game of the Berger Paints 39th National ‘A’ Chess Championship- held at the Media Centre of Bangladesh Olympic Association.

Yesterday. Zia played with white pieces to started English opening, Parag got attacking position and won against Zia at 50 moves. Zia lost his lead in the points table and now GM Abdulla Al-Rakib of Duronto Rajshahi is solely lead in the position table with 6.5 points. Zia, GM Enamul Hossain Razib of Duronto Rajshahi and IM Minhazuddin Ahmed Sagar of Bangladesh Ansar are sharing in 2nd position with 6 points each. Rakib beat FM Mohammad Javed., Razib beat Shafiq Ahmed of Golden Chess Club.

Sagar drew with reigning champion GM Niaz Murshed of Dhaka Mohammedan. l

Shakib attends a training session at BCB Academy ground, Mirpur yesterday

Kaler Kantho lift media cricket title

n Fazley Rabbi Moon

n Raihan Mahmood

Bangladesh golfer Siddikur Rahman carded yet another equal par 71 to finish the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open at a joint 27th place while Japanese young gun Masahiro Kawamura outclassed Korean rivals to win his first career victory at the Ibaraki Country Club yesterday.

Starting the final day on 33rd, the 29-year-old got two birdies along with same number of bogeys to make his four-day total of three-over-par 287 in the $1.48m showpiece event.

Siddikur scored equal par 71s in the opening two rounds and then made a three-over-par 74 in the third round on Saturday.

The 2010 Brunei Open winner, who recently qualified for the upcoming ISPS HANDAWorld Cup in November, earned $10,200 (approximately) after finishing

Kaler Kantho lifted the Pran-Frooto

first four matches with his injury, Kalabagan has only been able to secure one win in their first four matches.

While Shakib will be back for action, doctors advised him to avoid undue risk given that the home series against New Zealand was just around the corner.

While all eyes will be fixed on Shakib, Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium will hold a big match between Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club and Abahani Limited. Despite the two teams’ big reputations, both have been in tatters in this year’s event, with Jamal in 4th position and Abahani in 7th. In the day’s other match, Brothers Union will take on Kalabagan Cricket Academy at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah. l

Parag upsets Zia

Siddikur finishes 27th another frustrating Asian tour event.

Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Kawamura overturned a two-shot deficit with a battling four-under-par 67 to claim a one-shot win over Park, who returned with a 70, at the Y150 million (approximately $1.48 million) event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.

Yang, an Asian Tour honorary member and Asia’s first male Major champion, almost won another title in Japan since 2006 before a triple bogey on 11 dashed his title hopes at the Ibaraki Country Club.

He settled for third place after returning with a 69 while Liang Wenchong (68) of China, the 2007 Asian Tour Order of Merit winner, Brad Kennedy (70) of Australia and Akio Sadakata (71) of Japan finished a further two shots back in tied fourth. l

13

Monday, September 30, 2013

BSJA Media Cup Cricket after beating Channel 9 in the final by three wickets at the hockey stadium yesterday.

Kaler Kantho cricket team celebrate their Pran-Frooto BSJA Media Cup Cricket title yesterday MUMIT M

Batting first, Channel 9 did not produce the required firepower to counter the efficient Kaler Kantho bowlers and posted 62 for five with Mahfuz and Badhon scoring 10 and 20 respectively, while Atik of Kaler Kantho bagged two wickets for five runs. Chasing the target of 63, Kaler Kantho were ruthless as Jamal Hossain and Biplob Chakrabarty played hurricane knocks to remain unbeaten on 26 and 22 respectively and the target was reached with a full three overs to spare. Jamal was adjudged as the man of the final.

Earlier Kaler Kantho(71/2) beat Rising BD.com (70/4) in the first semi-final while Channel 9 (121/3) ousted Samakal (93/0) by two wickets in the second.

Former national cricket skippers Naimur Rahman Durjoy, Khaled Mahmud Shujon and Pran-RFL Group COO Anisur Rahman distributed the prizes. l

Kausar and Prity win double crowns n Raihan Mahmood Kausar Ali and Afrana Islam Prity of Bangladesh capped off a brilliant day by winning the double crown of the Asian 14-Under Tennis event at the National Tennis Complex yesterday.

Kausar beat compatriot Rubel Hossain 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 to win the singles and later partnered with Rubel to beat Shahibzada Md. Ali and Ifranul Haque of Pakistan to win the doubles match. Afrana Islam Prity outplayed Rebeka Sultana to clinch the singles title and had Shah Safina Laxmi as her partner to beat Rebeka Sultana and Suma Khanom to win the doubles title. Md. Ali Din, the vice president of Bangladesh Tennis Federation, distributed the prizes to the winners as the chief guest. BTF general secretary Abdur Rahman was also present on the occasion. l

14

Sport

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Monday, September 30, 2013

Messi out for up to three weeks

Match Results Valencia

1-0

Almeria

0-2

Real Sociedad

1-1

Real Madrid

0-1

Jonas 37

Griezmann 66

Rayo Vallecano Barcelona

Messi 21, Adriano 56

Sevilla

Jairo 18 Diego Costa 11

Atletico Madrid's Brazilian forward Diego Costa celebrates his goal against Real Madrid during their Spanish La Liga match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain on Saturday

Costa ruins Bale home debut Barca set club record with win over Almeria n Reuters, Madrid Atletico Madrid ended a run of 23 league derbies without a win when Diego Costa struck early to clinch a 1-0 victory over city rivals Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Saturday.

Following up their 2-1 King’s Cup final victory after extra time at the same venue in May, Atletico proved they had finally shaken off their inferiority complex with another gritty La Liga performance.

Brazilian striker Costa took his tally for the season to eight league goals when he broke away to score in the

11th minute, and Atletico could have avoided a nervy finale by putting away some of the clear chances they created.

Diego Simeone’s side joined Barcelona at the top of the table with a maximum 21 points from seven games but are second on goal difference. Real stayed third with 16 points.

For Real coach Carlo Ancelotti it was a severe setback to be left five points behind the top two while still in September, and the Italian was self-critical.

Earlier, Barca created a club record start to a league campaign with a 2-0 victory at promoted Almeria.

World Player of the Year Lionel Messi struck the opener after 21 min-

utes with a wonderful solo effort but was forced to leave the pitch soon after with a hamstring problem.

“Lionel has a little muscle problem in his right leg, something he did while scoring his goal,” Barca coach Gerardo Martino told a news conference. “Until they do the tests we won’t know anything more.”

After a shaky spell just before halftime, Barca doubled their lead when Cesc Fabregas squared for Adriano to slide in and divert the ball into the corner to continue the home team’s winless start to the season.

Valencia continued to recover from their poor start to the season with a

n AFP, Florence Juventus continued to dominate neighbours Torino on Sunday by winning a niggly derby 1-0 with a Paul Pogba goal after resting playmaker

Juventus' French midfielder Paul Labile Pogba (C) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the Serie A match against Torino at the Olimpico stadium yesterday AFP

PSG sink Toulouse to move top n AFP, Paris

French champions Paris Saint-Germain maintained their unbeaten start to the season as they ground out a 2-0 victory over Toulouse on Saturday to provisionally move top of Ligue 1.

Teenage defender Marquinhos netted his first goal in the French top flight four minutes prior to half-time at the Parc des Princes before Edinson Cavani converted a late penalty to send PSG a point clear of Monaco, who travel to Reims on Sunday, at the summit.

“Match after match, I’m getting more confident,” said Marquinhos, who only made his Ligue 1 debut last weekend after joining from Roma in the summer.

AP

World Player of the Year Lionel Messi has been ruled out for up to three weeks by a thigh injury he suffered in Barcelona’s 2-0 win over Almeria on Saturday.

The Argentine had put the Catalans in front with a sublime left-footed strike from 20 yards, but had to be replaced soon after and will now definitely miss Barca’s Champions League trip to Celtic in midweek as well as Saturday’s home game against Valladolid.

“The tests carried out this morning have confirmed a small muscle injury in his right thigh,” said a statement on the club’s website.

“The approximated time out is two to three weeks, and therefore he will miss the meetings this week against Celtic and Valladolid.”

Luckily for the Spanish champions, following next weekend’s match there is a two-week break from club duties due to international commitments and Messi is expected to be fit for the trip to Osasuna on October 19.

Argentina manager Alejandro Sabella has called up his captain for his side’s remaining World Cup qualifiers, however with La Albiceleste having already secured their place in next year’s finals, it seems likely that Messi will miss the meetings with Uruguay and Peru.

Messi has been plagued by muscular problems since the end of last season.

The 26-year-old suffered a hamstring injury in Barca’s Champions League quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain in April and despite briefly returning to action, he never truly recovered from the problem. l

Ramsey stars as Arsenal go clear with Swansea win n AFP, Swansea

Aaron Ramsey scored for the fourth game in a row as Arsenal went two points clear at the top of the Premier League following a 2-1 win away to

Match Result Swansea Davies 82

1-2

Arsenal

Gnabry 58, Ramsey 62

Swansea on Saturday.

Second-half goals from teenage midfielder Serge Gnabry and Ramsey put the Gunners on top at the Liberty Stadium before Swansea’s Ben Davies pulled one back eight minutes from time.

But Arsene Wenger’s table-toppers

held on to secure their fifth straight league win since an opening day defeat

by Aston Villa.

Arsenal started the day on top of the table but only ahead of north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on goal difference alone.

However, with Spurs held to a 1-1 draw by Chelsea earlier in the day, Arsenal kicked-off in south Wales knowing victory would give them a clear lead at the head of English football’s top-flight.

Ramsey, who previously played for Swansea’s bitter Welsh rivals Cardiff, was at the heart of most of Arsenal’s early work but it took the Gunners a while to trouble a Swans’ back four led

by Chico Flores.l

Pogba seals Turin derby win for Juve

Moyes needs response after worst United start in 24 years n Reuters If David Moyes wondered how difficult it would be to replace Alex Ferguson at Manchester United then the scale of the task was brought home by a stinging Premier League defeat to West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

The United manager put a brave face on their third loss in their opening six games but must now rebuild morale on the back of their worst start in 24 years.

“You’re always going to have bad results in football, it is how you deal with them,” he told the BBC after the shock 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford.

“We will move on and look forward to the next one. There are lots of games here and you get ready for the next one.

I’m concerned after the game but only because we didn’t play well." l

1-0 home win over basement side Rayo Vallecano.

Brazilian striker Jonas pounced on an error in the Rayo defence to net the only goal after 37 minutes, earning Miroslav Djukic’s team a third consecutive victory that put them sixth with 12 points.

Real Sociedad are ninth with seven points after a 1-1 draw at home to Sevilla.

Antoine Griezmann levelled for Sociedad in the 66th minute to cancel out a great finish from Jairo in the 18th.

The Basques have now gone six games in La Liga and the Champions League without a win.l

n AFP, Madrid

Atletico Madrid

“I’ve scored twice in 10 days which I had never done before professionally,” added the Brazilian, having also netted in PSG’s Champions League opener at Olympiakos a fortnight ago.

“I’m very happy. I hope that it continues. In any case it allowed us to get the victory, which is what we had been looking for above all.”

With an eye on PSG’s midweek Champions League tie against Benfica, Laurent Blanc chose to rotate his squad as he made seven changes to the team that beat Valenciennes 1-0 on Wednesday.

Goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu was called into action early on as he dived to his left to claw away a header from Toulouse midfielder Etienne Didot, who was fortunate not to concede a penalty on the halfhour after handling from a corner.l

Match Results Lorient

0-2

Paris SG

2-0

Evian TG

1-1

Marquinhos 41, Cavani 79-pen Berigaud 25

Nice

0-0 1-0

Saint-Etienne

2-2

Sochaux

2-0

Lyon Cvitanich 48 Tabanou 27, Diomande 57

Bakambu 12, Carlao 18

Marseille

Valbuena 58, A Ayew 90+1

Toulouse

Bordeaux

Diabate 69

Lille Guingamp Bastia

Bruno 85, Modesto 90+5

Valenciennes

Andrea Pirlo.

The Serie A champions completed their ninth match against Torino without conceding a goal, a run stretching back to 2002, and extended their unbeaten run in the fixture to 13.

Inter Milan lost ground on the leaders when they conceded a late goal to draw 1-1 away to homeless Cagliari, Catania beat Chievo 2-0 to clock up their first win of the season and basement club Sassuolo hit back to draw 2-2 with Lazio.

The only goal of the Turin derby came in the 54th minute when Carlos Tevez headed against the crossbar from a corner and Frenchman Pogba reacted quickly to bury the rebound for the visitors, amid suspicions of offside.

Juventus remained unbeaten this season with 16 points from six games, level with Napoli. AS Roma, who began the weekend in top spot with 15 points,

Match Results Torino

0-1

Juventus

Catania

2-0

Chievo

Cagliari

1-1

Inter Milan

Atalanta

2-0

Udinese

Verona

2-1

Sassuolo

2-2

Plasil 22, Castro 54 Nianggolan 83 Denis 45+1, 63 Iturbe 40, Jorginho 74-pen Schelotto 55, Floro Flores 76

Pogba 54

Icardi 75

Livorno

Rinaudo 45+1

Lazio

Dias 50, Candreva 54

were at home to Bologna later on Sunday (1845 GMT). Inter are fourth with 14.

Juventus coach Antonio Conte has made it clear he will rotate the squad

this season and, having rested goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon one week ago, it was 34-year-old Pirlo’s turn on Sunday.

The match was predictably intense, with numerous untidy clashes in midfield and few scoring chances.

Inter went ahead when Argentine forward Mauro Icardi nodded in Yuto Nagatomo’s cross in the 75th minute only for Radja Nainggolan to equalise for Cagliari with a deflected shot with two minutes left. Goals from Jaroslav Plasil and Lucas Castro gave Catania their first win of the season and two goals from German Denis propelled Atalanta to a 2-0 win over Udinese.

Andre Dias and Antonio Candreva scored in a four-minute spell early in the second half to put Lazio ahead at Sassuolo. However, Ezequiel Schelotto replied immediately and Antonio Floro Flores equalised in the 76th minute from a free kick. Sassuolo, making their top flight debut, have still to win a match but have drawn their last two games after starting with four straight defeats. l

Guardiola demands Bayern improve for City clash n AFP, Berlin Pep Guardiola has insisted his Bayern Munich side must improve ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League clash at Manchester City after stuttering to a 1-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg.

Despite enjoying their customary 70 percent ball possession at Allianz Arena, Bayern needed just over an hour to break down the Wolves defence on Saturday to stay second in the Bundesliga.

Manchester City warmed-up for the visit of the European champions with a 3-2 defeat at Aston Villa to leave Pellegrini’s side fifth in the Premier League, but Guardiola said Bayern must tighten up.l

Russia's national beach soccer team celebrates winning the final match of the 2013 Fifa beach soccer World Cup against Spain yesterday on the French Polynesian island of Tahiti AFP

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

15

Monday, September 30, 2013

Quick Bytes

Scholastica InterSchool Basketball held The Scholastica Inter-School Basketball Tournament comprising eight other schools was held from 26-29 of this month at the Red Court of the Scholastica Senior Campus. The participating schools were Bangladesh International Tutorial (BIT), St Francis Xavier’s Girls High School, Green Herald International School, Greendale International School, Sunnydale School, Pledge Harbor School & Sports Academy, Sunbeams, Playpen and Scholastica.Sunbeams Girls’ team won against Scholastica Girls’ team and became the champion while in the boy’s event, Greenherald Boys’ won the title after beating Scholastica Boys’ in a neck to neck fight in the final. The chief guest Sister Renu Maria Palma, Headmistress of St Francis Xavier Girls High School accompanied by Scholastica Principal, Brig Gen (Retd) Kaiser Ahmed awarded the trophies and medals to the players.

- FRM

BKSP swimming champs again A total of 11 new national marks were set in the three day Bashundhara 29th National Age Level Swimming at the Mirpur Swimming Complex. As expected, BKSP clinched the title with 58 golds, 44 silvers and 29 bronze medals. Bangladesh Ansar finished second with 15 golds, 19 silver and 15 bronzes. BKSP’s Zahidul Islam and Titu MIah won 11 golds each, Nayan Ali grabbed six golds and Rasheda Khatun clinches six gold. The president of Bangladesh Swimming Federation, Vice Admiral M. Farid Habib distributed the prizes as the chief guest. Advisor to the Bashundhara Group Lt. Col. (Rtd) Khandokar Abdul Wahid was also present as a special guest.

– RM

BJMC clinch women’s handball title BJMC overwhelmed Rangamati 27-4 to win the Walton Invitational National Women’s Handball title at the Shahid (Capt) M. Monsur Ali National Handball Stadium yesterday. The winners led the first half 20-3. Shirina – who was named player-of-the-match, scored seven goals and Rozina five for the eventual champions. For the runners-up, Shilpi netted two goals. Earlier Dhaka outplayed Dinajpiur 17-9 in the third place decider on the back of eight goals from Bilkis and six from Sultana. Information minister Hasanul Haque Inu distributed the prizes as the chief guest. F.M. Iqbal bin Anwar Dawn, the additional director of Walton, handball federation president Nurul Fazal Bulbul and general secretary Asaduzzaman Kohinoor were also present on the occasion.

– RM

Sousa seals first ATP win for Portugal Unheralded Joao Sousa completed a fairytale run at the Malaysian Open on Sunday when he beat France’s Julien Benneteau 2-6 7-5 6-4 in the final to become the first Portuguese to win an ATP Tour title. The 24-year-old, ranked 77th in the world, fell flat on his back in delight after claiming victory on the indoor hard court when Benneteau missed with a backhand down the line on his second matchpoint. Sousa beat top seed and world number four David Ferrer in the last eight and then fourth seed Juergen Melzer of Austria in the semi-finals to reach his first final at the $875,500-event inKuala Lumpur.

Dressed in black with his cap back to front, the young Portuguese righthander struggled with his serve in the opening set as the experienced Benneteau broke twice to wrap it up 6-2. The duo were on serve in the second before Sousa was forced to save a matchpoint at 5-4 down before holding and then snatching the crucial break to take the set 7-5 and force a decider. The young Portuguese broke again in Benneteau’s opening service game of the third set and he held firm, saving four break points to close out the set 6-4 and claim the breakthrough win.

– Reuters

Day’s Watch Star Cricket 2013 CLT20 LIVE 4:20pm Titans v Trinidad & Tobago 8:20pm 2013 CLT20 LIVE Brisbane Heat v Sunrisers Hyderabad Star Sports 12:40am Italian Serie A 2013/14 LIVE Fiorentina v Parma ESPN 12:50am Barclays Premier League LIVE Everton v Newcastle United

Greek actress Ino Menegaki acting as the high priestess holds the Olympic Flame at the Temple of Hera yesterday during the lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia the sanctuary where the Olympic Games were born in 776 BC The Olympic flame was lit in Ancient Olympia in Greece, in a solemn ceremony filled with mystery and tradition that signals the final countdown to the start of this year's winter Games in Sochi, Russia AFP

Kipsang breaks marathon world record in Berlin n AFP, Berlin Kenya’s Wilson Kipsang broke the marathon world record in Berlin on Sunday in a new official best time of 2hs 3 mins and 23 seconds.

Kispang, 31, shaved 15 seconds off the previous world record set by compatriot Patrick Makau, who ran 2:03.38 over 42.195 kilometres (26.2miles) in the German capital two years ago.

Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge, who won the Hamburg marathon in April on his debut over the distance, finished second in a personal best time of 2:04.05 with compatriot Geoffrey Kipsang third with 2:06.26.

This is the ninth time a world record has been set in Berlin and five men’s world records have been set here in the last decade alone.

Makau was missing in the German capital having withdrawn a fortnight ago with a knee injury.

The women’s race was won by Kenya’s Florence Kiplagat, the 2011 winner in Berlin, in an unofficial time of 2hrs 21mins 13secs, six minutes off Paula Radcliffe’s world record set ten years ago in London.

Germany’s Irina Mikitenko finished third to break the world masters record for the over 40s, in a time of 2:24.54.

Having trained specifically to break the world record in Berlin, Kipsang, the Olympic bronze medallist, broke away from the leading pack in the final 10 kilometres and ran his own race.

The elite group had been on world record pace up until the 29km, but

Kenya's Wilson Kipsang poses with his new world record time after winning the 40th edition of the Berlin Marathon in Berlin, Germany yesterday AFP

Srinivasan re-elected as BCCI chief n

AFP, New Delhi

India’s embattled cricket chief N. Srinivasan won a third term in office Sunday even though a Supreme Court order bars him from taking charge immediately due to a corruption scandal.

The 68-year-old cement tycoon, one of the most powerful men in world cricket, was elected unopposed for another year at the annual meeting of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in Chennai.

when the tempo dropped, Kipsang took matters into his own hands and was three seconds under the necessary pace in the final two kilometres.

Having run a previous personal best in 2011 when he went within Makau’s previous world record in Frankfurt, Kipsang added the Berlin title to his CV having won the London marathon in 2012. l

“Mr. N. Srinivasan was unanimously elected as President of the BCCI for the year 2013-14,” a statement from the cricket board said, without elaborating. It only detailed the names of office-bearers and members of various committees.

The Supreme Court had on Friday barred Srinivasan from taking charge until it has ruled on a petition against him over a spot-fixing scandal in the Indian Premier League (IPL), a popular Twenty20 event.l

Venus accepts Murray’s five set challenge for women n AFP, Tokyo Former world number one Venus Williams has said she would have no issues with playing five sets at grand slam tournaments after Andy Murray’s recent call for equal match lengths in men’s and women’s tennis.

“Sure, not a problem,” the 33-yearold American told AFP at the just-ended Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo, where she reached the semi-finals. “If we have to play best-of-three, we play best-ofthree. If it’s best-of-five that’s fine too.

Either way it’s not a problem.”

German Angelique Kerber echoed the seven-times grand slam singles champion’s sentiments, saying: “I think we are fit and strong enough to play five sets.”

However, Czech Petra Kvitova appeared less than thrilled at the prospect.

“I don’t know if I’m prepared for bestof-five matches,” the 2011 Wimbledon champion said on Saturday after beating Kerber in the Tokyo final.

“The top 50 are getting so much better and that’s why matches are so close now,” added the 23-year-old, after a tour-high 32nd three-set match of the season. “I’d need to work more on stamina and do more running to be able to play best-of-five.”

Murray suggested in a New York Times interview that either the men should drop to three sets or women should play over five in order to justify equal pay.

The women’s WTA tour chief Stacey Allaster Tuesday responded by telling AFP her players were “ready and willing” to play five sets at the four major tournaments. Debate over equal playing time has increased now that women are paid the same as men at the slams.

But the WTA pointed out that the grand slam tournaments would first have to request that the women play longer matches. l

Li, Williams and Radwanska through n AFP, Beijing

Li Na said she was enjoying her most consistent season ever after she won her first match at the China Open Sunday, joining top seed Serena Williams in the second round.

The Chinese star opened her bid for her biggest title on home soil in stunning fashion by winning every game in the first set against Daniela Hantuchova, much to the enjoyment of her fans at Beijing’s National Tennis Centre.

But the world number five had to overcome a late surge from her Slovakian opponent which sent jitters through

the home crowd.

Hantuchova did not get on the scoreboard until the hour mark, with the 2011 French Open singles champion cruising at 4-0 in the second set and seemingly in command.

The 30-year-old, who has beaten Li four times in their previous six meetings, then staged an impressive comeback until Li regained her composure to close in on victory. The Chinese star has faced scrutiny in the past for seemingly breaking down in matches. She blamed herself for losing her US Open semi-final match this month after being overwhelmed by the occasion.

But the 31-year-old said her only problem in Beijing could be that she was too relaxed this year, following a strong season which has also brought a seventh career title, her second Australian Open final and a strong run at Wimbledon.

“I think I had a pretty good match until I was 4-0 up in the second set, and then I thought ‘OK, maybe I should relax a little’,” Li said.

Li has twice reached the semi-finals at the prestigious Beijing event without being able to go all the way. She has won twice in China, in Shenzhen this year and in Guangzhou in 2004.l

Resurgent Nadal says will be “tough” to become No 1

Raonic beats Berdych to Bangkok title

n AFP, Beijing

Canadian Milos Raonic used his thumping serve to ace his way to victory over top seed Tomas Berdych Sunday, with a 7-6 (7/4), 6-3 win at the Thailand Open.

Third seed Raonic took full advantage of his big serve to beat his Czech opponent, firing 18 aces -- his last to set up a pair of match points.

After winning the first set in a tiebreaker, the Canadian tightened his grip in the second to earn the fifth title of his career, converting his first match point with a down-the-line winner after 77 minutes.l

Rafael Nadal said it will be “very tough” to seize Novak Djokovic’s crown as the top ranked men’s tennis player, paying tribute to his “unbelievable” opponent at the China Open Sunday.

The world number two can unseat Djokovic from the top spot with a good performance in Beijing, but the Serb will go into the tournament with confidence he can retain the title he won last year.

Djokovic is unbeaten in three visits to the China Open, following up wins in 2009 and 2010 with victory over Jo-Wil-

fried Tsonga in last year’s final. Spaniard Nadal has been in fine form since coming back from injury earlier this year, and defeated Djokovic at this month’s US Open final. But the 2004 champion in Beijing says overcoming Djokovic is no easy feat.

The men’s tournament at the dual WTA and ATP was still at the qualifying stage on Sunday.

Djokovic is the top seed in Beijing, ahead of number two Nadal.

The reigning champion will play Czech Lukas Rosol, who is ranked 46th in the world, in his opening game, while Nadal will face a qualifier.l

n AFP, Bangkok

Thai Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya (R) presents the winner's trophy to Milos Raonic after the men's singles final at the Thailand Open in Bangkok yesterday REUTERS

16

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Monday, September 30, 2013

Multiple diseases attack Aduri

Bangladesh to award Pakistani politicians for 1971 role n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman Bangladesh is going to honour another batch of 60 foreigners, including Pakistani politicians Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan and Khan Abdul Wali Khan, for their contributions to the 1971 Liberation War. It will be the seventh round of conferring honours on the country’s “foreign friends”.

Former Indian President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed and former Prime Minister Gulzarilal Nanda will get the “Bangladesh Liberation War Honour”, while 58 others will be bestowed with the “Friends of Liberation War Honour”.

Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will present the awards to the honourees or their representatives tomorrow at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

In earlier phases, former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was awarded the “Bangladesh Freedom Honour”, 13 received the “Bangladesh Liberation War Honour”, while 264 got the “Friends of Liberation War Honour”.

Sonia Gandhi received the award on behalf of Indira Gandhi in the first round in July 2011, while the sixth round was held in March this year. l

Swachip doctors harass Dab member n Moniruzzaman Uzzal A senior associate professor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University was allegedly harassed yesterday by doctors of Shadhinota Chikitshak Parisad (Swachip), in the presence of the university’s vice-chancellor, leading to cancellation of a viva for two professor posts of radiology department.

Sources said an interview board of BSMMU, presided by its VC Pran Gopal Datta, sat yesterday to interview candidates for the post of professors in different departments.

Associate Professor Dr Nazrul Islam and Dr Sadrul of Radiology Department, who are known as members of BNP-backed organisation Doctors Association of Bangladesh (Dab), had applied for the professor post, they said.

During Dr Nazrul’s viva exam, a group of Awami League-backed Swachip doctors requested the viva board not to promote Dr Nazrul for his alleged involvement in the vandalism of Bangabandhu’s mural in 2006, a charge he was cleared off by a probe committee at the time.

Later, Dr Nazrul was allegedly physically harassed and forced out of the room.

Prof Dr Sayedur Rahman, registrar of the BSMMU, told the Dhaka Tribune that both interviews were cancelled to prevent untoward situation. l

n Mohammad Jamil Khan

Tourist spot Jaflong in Sylhet is losing attraction because of unplanned stone and sand collection from Piyain River. The photo was taken recently

Law banning war criminals’ Youth beaten to death for ‘breaking’ car glass candidature to be tabled n Mohammad Jamil Khan

n Kamran Reza Chowdhury The government is set to table a law aimed at stripping the convicted war criminals of their right to contest in the general elections as the last session of parliament resumes today after a 10day recess.

Law minister Shafique Ahmed is scheduled to table the Representation of the People (amendment) Bill-2013, which is the parent law for the parliamentary polls, according to the order of the day for September 30.

On September 16, the minister tabled the Voters’ Roll (second amendment) Bill-2013 to drop the convicted war criminals from the voters’ list amid absence of the main opposition BNP. All of the war crimes convicts and most of the accused are leaders of Bangladesh Jaamat-e-Islami, an opposition ally.

The BNP-Jamaat MPs are also likely to boycott the initiation of the second law against criminals convicted in the International Crimes Tribunal Act-1973.

The parliament’s business schedule stipulates that the chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on law ministry will present the watchdog’s recommendation to pass the voters’

roll amendment bill today.

The two laws are set to be enacted in parliament’s current session which will end on October 24, the de facto last day of the Awami League-led ninth Jatiya Sangsad, Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury told the Dhaka Tribune.

The war crimes tribunal has already convicted six war criminals, all from the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh. They are: Abul Kamal Azad (Bachhu Razakar), Ghulam Azam, Ali Ahsan Mohammad Mojaheed, Delawar Hossain Sayeedee, Abdul Quader Mollah and M Kamaruzzaman.

All of them will lose their voting and candidature rights after the passage of the two proposed laws.

More opposition leaders are awaiting trial for the alleged war crimes.

Jamaat’s Motiur Rahman Nizami and AKM Yusuf and BNP’s Salauddin Quader Chowdhury and Abdul Alim are facing trial.

The constitution also contains a provision that prevents war criminals from getting these rights.

On September 16, the cabinet approved the draft of the Representation of the People’s Order-1972 raising the amount of deposit for vying in the polls to Tk20,000 from the previous

Tk10,000.

The proposed RPO also increased the ceiling on electoral expenses to Tk2.5m from Tk1.5m, excepting the chiefs of the political parties for their country-wide tours.

It also raised the limits of donation by individuals and institutions to some candidates. According to the proposed law, a person can donate up to Tk2.5m, which is Tk1m at present.

Similarly, the new law will allow an institution to donate Tk5m — Tk2.5m more than the present provision.

Four more bills to be placed According to the order of the day, State Minister for Science and Technology Yeafesh Osman will table the Bangladesh Council of Science and Industrial Bill-2013, mainly to rescind the existing Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Ordinance, 1978 promulgated by Ziaur Rahman.

Food Minister Abdur Razzaq will table the Safe Food Bill-2013 and Commerce Minister GM Quader will initiate the Multi-Level Marketing Regulation Bill-2013.

All of the bills are set to be enacted in the current session of Jatiya Sangsad. l

Uttam untraced, family forgotten too n Kamran Reza Chowdhury

Rita Barua, the wife of Uttam Barua whose Facebook account had been distorted to post a fake photo insulting the holy Quran, has even sold off her crockery items one after another to feed her only son Aditya Barua who is only three and a half years old as its father remained traceless since the last year’s attacks on the Buddhists in Ramu of Cox’s Bazar.

The economic hardship forced her to leave the rented house the family lived in and take shelter at her fatherin-law’s house near the brunt down Lal Ching Temple. The couple rented the house as Uttam’s parents were not happy with the marriage, relatives said.

Rita, who used to work at a local computer shop after completing the SSC examinations, had to come to the father-in-law’s house to save the child.

The lone bread earner of the family, Uttam’s father Uddatya Barua, works in Chittagong and sends around Tk2,000 per month, forcing the four-member family live half-fed.

Rita, her mother-in-law and sisterin-law have ostracised themselves inside around the 300sq-ft wooden and humid house fearing any reprisal of the incident for which Uttam was not guilty of.

Her son only goes out of the house and plays with the local children.

“Give me money, I will go to the shop,” Aditya told his mother crying in a Chittagong dialect.

“He is hungry, [so] he is looking for money,” Rita told the Dhaka Tribune reporter who visited her houses on

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

Aduri, an 11-year-old-girl, recovered in a critical condition by a police official from a dustbin of the capital is now suffering from multiple diseases and needs counselling along with treatment, says her attending doctors.

The members of the Dhaka Medical College Hospital medical board have so far done 13 medical examination to provide her specialised treatment.

Dr Bilkis Akter, coordinator of the specialised department and a member of the medical board, said the computed tomography scan (CT scan) report says Aduri has a fracture in her skull but it has no effect on her brain.

Her blood test report has a haemoglobin level of only 5.7 while the minimum requirement is 11.5 to 16, she said adding that the ultra-sonogram report shows her stomach swollen with water with an enlarged liver.

Aduri has urinary bladder infection and she needs high-protein foods, says Dr Bilkis.

She said Aduri should undergo treatment for more than six-months.

Shamima Begum, deputy commissioner of woman support and investigation department of Dhaka Metropolitan police, said they were investigating the incident and on the lookout for the three other accused. l

September 25.

“How can I give him money?” she said mentioning that the affected Buddhists families in Hitupi area had not got any government assistance, unlike people of the other places in Ramu.

The only furniture they have in the front room are two plastic stools and a statue of Lord Buddha.

Flanked by her mother-in-law Madhu Barua, who was soaking her eyes, Rita said his father-in-law was considering coming back to Ramu as his health had been in fragile condition.

“We do not know what will happen then,” she said. “We do not know how to guarantee the next meal for my son. We have been fighting for meals every day.”

The house of Rita’s father in Maddhya Merongloya was burnt down on

September 29, making her parents angry with Uttam for the incident.

“We cannot go out. He [Uttam] is traceless; we do not know whether he is dead or alive,” Rita said adding that she had got no feedback from the government in response to her letter to the prime minister for Uttam’s trace.

The angry mob attacked the Barua families on September 29 and vandalised the houses of the Buddhists, but speared those owned by the Muslims.

Uttam’s mother Madhu Barua told the Dhaka Tribune that her next door Muslim neighbour Masud Rana had saved their houses, otherwise it would have been flattened that night. The attackers knocked down its boundary wall only.

Soon after the attack, Rita left Ramu

with her son Aditya. She used to work as a domestic help in a family in Chittagong for two months concealing her identity.

As the situation calmed, she returned to Ramu and managed a job at a computer shop with a salary of Tk2,000 per month. But she had to quit the job as the employer had deprived her of the salaries for months.

“I do not know what will happen to my son. He jumps in the night screaming for his father who used to bring toys and food.

“He demands battery-run toys,” said Rita.

Uttam used to work at a computer shop as an assistant to a deed writer.

After the incident, police arrested Uttam’s mother, his maternal aunt and her three year old child, and put them in jail. They were later released.

The family has not filed any general diary (GD) seeking Uttam’s whereabouts.

“We filed a GD seeking security as our neighbours used to hurl abusive blaming Uttam for the attacks,” she said.

The government report has blamed Uttam for tagging a photo showing a foot on the holy Quran in his Facebook account. The allegation was later proved to be untrue.

“We know nothing about Facebook or internet, but have been paying the price for a crime we have not even heard before,” said Madhu Barua.

“My son can never commit crime of this sort,” said Uttam’s mother rejecting the government probe that identified her son as the number one accused. l

Law enforcers yesterday arrested 10 people in the city’s Maghbazar area allegedly for killing a youth as he broke the glass of a private car accidently.

The arrestees are Mohammad Hasan, Ashfaque Ahmed Khayer alias Chhoton, Arif Hossain, Jobair Hossain, Jakir Hossain, Mohammad Sujon, Sagar Hossain, Mohammad Amin, Foysal Ahmed and Kamruzzaman Ruman.

They are officials and staff of film production company Jaz Multimedia.

Police placed them before a Dhaka court seeking 10 days’ remand. The court granted police one day to question the accused. They were arrested in a murder case filed with Ramna police station by the victim’s family.

Victim Munna was beaten to death on the basement of SK Tower in Maghbazar rail crossing area.

Kazi Shariful Islam, sub-inspector of Ramna police station and investigation officer of the case, told the Dhaka Tribune that during the incident, Munna was alone and if he had tried to snatch the car, the accused were supposed to call the police, rather than attacking him identifying as a snatcher.

He said the home district of Munna and the first attackers was same. “We will be clear about the motive of the

killing after investigation,” he added.

Munna, an official of the accounts department of Unique Group in Panthapath, resided with his parents and wife in 212/5/A of Ulan Road in West Rampura. His father HM Khorshed Alam was a teacher of Kabi Nazrul College and formerly Jagannath College.

Munna was buried at the Azimpur graveyard last evening.

Quoting an eye witness, the case says because of his illness, Munna suddenly fell down on a private car (Dhaka Metro Ga 23-6779) breaking a window of the car in front of SK Tower. Noticing the incident, security guard of the tower Hasan along with the 10 other accused started beating Munna with sticks.

Later, they took Munna to the basement, tied his hands and legs with rope and beat up severely leaving him dead on the spot. On information, Thakur Lal Malo, sub-inspector of Ramna police station, recovered the body and sent it to Dhaka Medical College Hospital around 11pm on Saturday.

Biplob Howlader, eyewitness of the incident, told the Dhaka Tribune that the accused had beaten up Munna identifying himself as a snatcher. But during the time, Munna shouted denying the allegation and requested for his release. But the attackers had not stopped until he died. l

Five more coal power projects get approval n Aminur Rahman Rasel The government has approved installation of five more coal-fired power projects by local private sector entrepreneurs having a combined capacity to generate 2,087MW of electricity.

The cabinet committee on public purchase approved the proposals yesterday.

The government will purchase power from these plants at Tk6-7 per unit.

Of the plants, to be constructed under build-own-operate (BOO) basis, three would be built by Orion Group having a combined capacity of 1,199MW while the others (888MW) by

S Alam Group.

Orion Group will construct two of its plants in Dhaka and the other in Chittagong. The two plants of S Alam Group will be constructed in Chittagong and Barisal.

Meanwhile, the cabinet committee also endorsed a proposal to appoint a Russian contractor firm to complete the first phase of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant Project. The contractor will complete the work at a cost of $265m.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is supposed to inaugurate the groundwork of the 2,000MW plant in Pabna on October 2. l

Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed at Romask Limited, 184, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1215. Editorial, News & Commercial Office: FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath, Shukrabad, Dhaka 1207.

Phone: 9132093-94, Advertising: 9132155, Circulation: 9132282, Fax: News-9132192, e-mail: news@dhakatribune.com, info@dhakatribune.com, Website: www.dhakatribune.com

B2 Ministries to get

medium-term strategic business plan

B3 Investors losing appetite for stocks

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

Business www.dhakatribune.com/business

Grameenphone steps into 3G broadband Commercial operation likely before Eid-ul-Azha n Muhammad Zahidul Islam The mobile phone operator Grameenphone yesterday formally embarked on providing third generation broadband service initially to its employees and some selected customers under soft operation system.

According to GP sources, the commercial launch of 3G is likely before Eid-ul-Azha, with bringing Dhaka and Chittagong cities under the network by October.

At a function at the capital’s GP House yesterday, Post and Telecommunications Minister Sahara Khatun inaugurated the Grameenphone’s 3G service.

The Norwegian ambassador to Bangladesh Ragne Birte Lund, telecommunication secretary Md Abubakar Siddique and acting chairman of BTRC Abdus Samad, Grameenphone Board chairman Sigve Brekke, Telenor Group CEO Jon Fredrik Baksaas, Grameenphone CEO Vivek Sood were also present on the occasion.

Sahara Khatun attended a video call while formally inaugurating the service. Grameenphone has been on test operation for last two weeks. As the regulator has not approved package approvals yet, the operator avoided mentioning any date for commercial launching.

However, the officials termed the yesterday’s launch as the beginning of rolling out

Minister Sahara Khatun inaugurates Grameenphone’s 3G yesterday the service nationwide.

Grameenphone CEO Vivek Sood said the operator which is the market leader in Bangladesh is expected to bring Dhaka and Chittagong cities under 3G network by October.

He added that the other divisional cities and Narayanganj and Gazipur cities will be provided with the service by the end of the year while all 64 districts will be covered by March next year.

NASHIRUL ISLAM

In Dhaka, the priority areas to launch the service first include Uttara, Gulshan, Dhanmondi and Kalabagan.

Fredrik Baksaas told the Dhaka Tribune that the Grameenphone is going to expand 3G network to at least 2,000 BTS by March 2014.

It has a total of 12,000 BTS across the country.

In her speech, Sahara Khatun congratulated the Grameenphone to bring the service promptly.

“Hopefully, GP can cover the whole country with 3G network within a short time.”

She hoped 3G will bring about a revolution in the country’s ICT sector which is fraught with a huge potential and will expedite the people’s economic progress.

Fredrik Baksaas said: “I know the expectation for 3G is very high in Bangladesh. And with 3G, Grameenphone is taking an important step in its mission to help the country move ahead by providing the opportunities of internet access for all Bangladeshis.”

Tanveer Mohammad, chief technology officer of Grameenphone, said they have already installed 3G networks in 25 BTS while equipment for other 250 BTS have reached.

According to him, by November they will be able to cover 70% areas of Dhaka and 50% of Chittagong.

Grameenphone acquired 10 MHz of 3G broadband spectrum at $210m in an auction held early this month.

The spectrum, which is a part of the 2100 MHz-band, will enable the roll-out of a nationwide network with enhanced capacity up to 3.9G and instant mobile internet access for all customers.

On Wednesday last, Banglalink launched 3G service while Robi stepped into it on Saturday last. The remaining announcement of Airtel is expected to be made soon. l

Zero-tariff access of Bangladeshi goods to China may be increased to 97% n Tribune Business Desk China is considering to widen zero-tariff access of Bangladeshi products to its market as bilateral trade between the two partners growing rapidly in the recent years.

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Li Jun spoke of the trade concession his country is planning to help further boost Bangladesh export to China at a function in Dhaka yesterday, marking China’s founding anniversary.

“We’re working to increase the zero-tariff treatment for Bangladesh goods from the existing 65% to 97%,” he said. The bilateral trade volume reached $4.2bn, an increase of over 30% compared to the corresponding period of last year.

The envoy gave the update days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in New York on Tuesday assured Bangladesh of increasing the duty-free access of Bangladeshi products to its market up to 95%.

“China will continue to exert more efforts in pushing forward our all-dimensional bilateral cooperation,” Jun said.

He called upon all Bangladeshi friends to

continue to join hands with China and make unremitting endeavours for the wellbeing of the two peoples, for the prosperity of the two countries, and for the peace and development of the world.

“Currently, our economic and trade cooperation is facing unprecedented opportunities. As China transforms and upgrades its economic structure, Bangladesh is also implementing the policies of Vision 2021 and Digital Bangladesh. The two countries will illuminate each other and constitute positive interaction to achieve common development.”

Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury, Industries Minister Dilip Barua, Information Minister Hasanul Huq Inu, Cultural Affairs Minister Abul Kalam Azad, Communist Party of Bangladesh President Muzahidul Islam Selim, among others, spoke at the function.

Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Dr Gowher Rizvi, News Today Editor Reazuddin Ahmed, columnist Syed Abul Maksud and political leaders were also present.

Matia sought Chinese support in water management, rainwater harvesting and its efficient utilisation, and joint ventures in manufacturing farm machinery, including

water management equipment, reports UNB. She said China could help Bangladesh through exchange of researchers, scientists and knowledge sharing apart from providing modern technological support for the modernisation of the country’s agriculture sector and boosting its productivity.

“We consider China as our trusted development partner. We hope China would be our best partner in agricultural cooperation,” Matia said. The Agriculture Minister also expressed her hope that China will assist Bang-

ladesh in weather forecasting and building rubber dams for sustainable agriculture.

Dilip Barua said sitting in between two emerging economic blocks — Asean on the east and Saarc — on the west, Bangladesh holds great potential for itself as well as its neighbours.

“We also aim to rebuild a sense of community among the historic neighbors…the railway and road link from Chittagong to Kunming and deep-sea port in Sonadia Island have thus become a compelling necessity,” he added. l

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

Ministries to get medium-term strategic business plan n Asif Showkat Kallol The government will introduce medium-term strategic business plan (MTSBP) for five line ministries and divisions.

The plan involves three ministries - agriculture, social welfare and education and two divisions - power and local government, said official sources.

However, a World Bank report found lack of ownership among the government agencies taken under the existing Medium-Term Budgetary Framework (MTBF).

MTBF was launched eight years back to help build capacity of different ministries.

A senior Finance Division official said the medium-term strategic business plan will be introduced with a clear mission and realistic vision based on functions, core values, strategic objectives and budgetary policies.

He added the progress towards introduction of MTSBP was reviewed at a recent

meeting of Finance Division.

According to finance division sources, questions have been raised if the budget allocation for the ministries and divisions under the MTBF will be properly used. Demand for independent review of the programme has also been made to ensure having real fruits of the project.

However, former adviser to a caretaker government Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam is doubtful whether the project would be successful as political influence is present.

“Earlier, MTBF programme has become unsuccessful because of political influence and administrative weakness of the ministries and divisions,” he said.

Dr Islam pointed out that the works of many development begin in the middle of fiscal year, which increase implementation cost.

The MTSBP for the ministry of agriculture has already been piloted and the final draft has also been endorsed by the inter-ministe-

rial technical committee in June.

The committee headed by the additional secretary of the finance divisioncomprises senior officials of the planning commission and the line ministries and divisions.

The MTSBP is awaiting to be considered by the budget management committee (BMC) of the ministry of agriculture.

The MTSBP of the ministry of agriculture will be finalised and published on receiving approval by the BMC. About the failure of such project, the World Bank report suggested the ownership and engagement by the line ministries should be developed through open discussion, enforcing internal controls and gradual relaxation of centralised controls.

Further, a fresh attempt should also be made to bridge the coordination gap between the Finance Division and the Planning Commission, the global lender report recommended. l

Rosatom chief to join Liberty Fashion blasts factory closing NPP groundbreaking the factory. Then, the production eventually Tribune Report suspended. ceremony at Rooppur nThe owner of Liberty Fashion Wears Ltd became Following the publishing of MCS report, alleged that the buyers had “unethically Mozammel Huq told the Dhaka tribune that n Tribune Business Desk and irrationally” closed production on the he demanded the BGMEA appoint experts The head of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and the country’s former premier Sergei Kiriyenko is set to join the groundbreaking ceremony of Bangladesh’s first ever nuclear power plant at Rooppur on October 2.

General Director of Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom Sergei Kiriyenko is heading a high ranking Russian delegation,” a Russian embassy spokesman told BSS. He said this would be the first ever visit of such a high-profile dignitary from Moscow to Bangladesh in decades while the former Russian premier would also join several other programmes other than the foundation laying ceremony at the project site at Rooppur at northwestern Pabna.

Kiriyenko a prominent Russian statesman and politician who served as the country’s prime minister in 1998 under President Boris Yeltsin and since 2005 he has been serving Russia’s federal nuclear agency Rosatom.

Officials said the high profile Russian leader would join Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in laying the foundation stone of the power plant on October 2.

The groundbreaking ceremony is being held two years after Dhaka signed a crucial framework agreement with Moscow on Russian cooperation for the country’s maiden nuclear plant by 2017-18 at a cost of $1.5bn to $2bn.

Bangladesh signed an initial deal with Russian state-owned nuclear agency Rosatom in November 2011 to build a nuclear plant with two 1,000 megawatt reactors at a cost of up to $2bn each in view of its present reserves of natural gas. During Sheikh Hasina’s Moscow visit in January this year, the two countries signed an agreement under which Russia is to provide a separate $500m loan to Bangladesh to help build the plant. l

ground of having inadequate fire safety arrangements.

“They (the buyers) forcibly closed the production of the factory violating all ethics,” alleged Mozammel Huq, chairman and managing director of Liberty Fashion at a press conference in Dhaka yesterday.

He said: “The MCS report said the building would collapse within 60 hours, but it still stands on its foundation.”

According to him, the buyer even did not follow the existing rules of Bangladesh government and the guidelines of safety accord.

Liberty Fashion owner said the report of the Midway Consultancy Services (MCS) is “unfounded and fabricated”, which the company has prepared to be “benefited financially.”

After Rana Plaza incidence in April, the Tesco had appointed the engineering firm MCS to assess the structural design of the building.

MCS made a report on visual observation and assumption, identifying the building with “Red” mark.

The report mentioned the building unsafe with regard to having adequate fire safety measures and recommended BGMEA, ILO, Labour Ministry, RAJUK and the Department of Fire Service and Civil Defense shut down

from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET).

At the press briefing, the Liberty Fashion chairman requested the Tesco chairman to consider the matter with importance as there are 5,000 workers’ living is involved.

BGMEA president Atiqul Islam said: “We talked to the Accord over the issue, but could not reach any solution.”

He feared such kind of decisions could lead the country’s RMG sector to facing a critical situation. “The buyers should be more careful while dealing with such issue.”

Zahir Al Maun, general manager of Liberty Fashion, said after the Tesco’s decision, other buyers of Europe are making orders for products. He said around 75% of the company’s products are bought by the EU buyers.

In its inspection report, the BGMEA stated: “As per visual engineering judgment, the Liberty Fashion building is safe for operating garment activities.”

Another report by the BUET experts said: “From the visual inspection, no sign of disaster was observed in any of the structures of the building.” However, the BUET experts made some recommendations to make the factory compliant. l

IDLC Finance holds anti-money laundering workshop n Tribune Business Desk IDLC Finance Limited organised a daylong workshop on “Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Regulations” for its employees recently.

Bangladesh Bank’s executive director M Mahfuzur Rahman inaugurated the workshop in Dhaka, said a press release.

The workshop was conducted by the Mohammad Mahbub Alam joint director of the central bank’s Financial Intelligence Unit, and its deputy director Md Masud Rana.

The workshop was aimed at educating the audience regarding the Money Laundering Prevention Act, the Anti-Terrorism Act, consequences of non-compliance, provided guidance on how to prevent and detect money laundering and terror financing.

Among others, branch managers, mid-level executives and IDLC’s capital market units participated at the workshop. l

Kenny Rogers Roasters brings black pepper chicken n Tribune Business Desk Kenny Rogers Roasters Bangladesh lunched its latest product “Black Pepper Chicken” on September 27 in Dhaka.

Capita Food and Beverage chairman Mukarram Husain Khan, director Mahira Husain Khan, the famous fashion designer Mahin Khan and singer Alif were present on the occasion in the launching of the product, said a press release. l

Kaspersky Lab exposes ‘Icefog’ n Tribune Business Desk Kaspersky Lab recently started to expose a new cyber-espionage titled “Icefog” that focuses on supply chain attacks.

Icefog targets “weak point” – supply chain, and demonstrates security risks in it, when global corporations outsource their contracts, said a press release. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

Investors losing appetite for stocks n Kayes Sohel The investors are increasingly losing their appetite for stocks due to rising tension in the political front in the run up to the upcoming national election.

Trading activities declined by more than 40% in the last one month, indicating that investors preferred to stay sidelines. According to Dhaka Stock Exchange data, turnover value stood at Tk3.3bn yesterday, a sharpest fall from Tk5.5bn a month ago.

A broker, who preferred not to be named, advised his clients to stay on the sidelines until the dust on the political front settles down. “Over the past decades the country has caught on the habit of political upheavals. But I have seen nothing of this kind where no one is certain about tomorrow.”

‘Respondents want to focus more on mid-term and long-term investment strategy rather than short-term strategy. A higher proportion of respondents 43% would pursue mid-term investment strategy this year’ Amount of fund withdrawal is higher than that of deposit in the broker houses. An executive of a brokerage firm, on condition of anonymity, said Tk5m was cashed out against a deposit of Tk1.6m on Thursday last.

“This is just because of latest political developments,” said Mahmood Osman Imam, an analyst and professor at Dhaka University. As long as the political tension eases, the market might remain volatile, he added.

Research analysts have stopped issuing ‘outlook’ notes on the market. Commenting on the market, a stock broker firm wrote in its report recently: “Some stocks are fundamentally sound and ripe for picking while some are overvalued.” But the analysts added: “… and we would say no more!”

Political tension stems from the disagreements between the two key political parties due to the abolition of the caretaker government system.

According to Lanka Bangla capital market research survey, 49% participants expressed their concern about local political instability and ranked it as the biggest risk to local capi-

India has allowed domestic companies to list and raise capital overseas without first being listed on local exchanges, the finance ministry said on Friday, in the latest of a series of steps to boost capital inflows.

Policymakers have stepped up efforts in recent months to attract foreign investment as Asia’s third-largest economy faces a current account deficit of around $70bn this fiscal year.

The rupee fell as much as 20% this year to a record low on August 28.

While the latest move is not expected to trigger a rush of overseas listings, bankers said it would be welcomed by companies in the information technology sector and those

DSEX slips below 4,000-mark after seven weeks n Tribune Report

A man walks past by the premises of Dhaka Stock Exchange tal market in 2013.

A total of 49 participants from 42 institutions participated in this survey. The survey says, additionally, a higher proportion of respondents (29%) believe lack of investors’ confidence pose risk to local capital market in this year.

“Respondents want to focus more on midterm and long-term investment strategy rather than short-term strategy. A higher proportion of respondents 43% would pursue mid-term investment strategy this year,” it said.

Interestingly, 29% respondents would still want to pursue long-term investment strategy in 2013 same as like 2012.

Some 39% respondents strongly believe stock market will react to one-way movement to earnings performance of listed companies in 2013 and 31% respondents believe that political developments will drive the stock market to one-way movement, according to the survey.

Amidst the bearish sentiment, the stock market remained flat over the past six months with low cap companies’ shares dominating the rally and large cap companies losing their shine.

Abnormal rise of low cap companies have

RAJIB DHAR

prompted regulator to bring them under its scanner. According to Dhaka Stock Exchange data, stock prices of junk-rated companies have jumped on average by between 50% and 29% between July 10 and August 4 without any fundamental reason.

A total of 12 companies gained in between 100% and 244% during the period, three companies rose more than 90% and 14 firms more than 50%, the DSE data showed.

Market sources said manipulators are on the prowl in the stock market in these days as some players are trying to fish out of the troubled water. Yesterday, the benchmark DSEX went down below 4000-mark after one and a half month.

The volume of the market remained at more than 80m shares – a decrease from more than 90m five months ago – indicating that a bearish mood dominated the market as investors felt jittery over the political upheaval in the coming days.

The market has seen some amount of quick profit booking with sales gathering momentum. “Given the kind of low participation that we are witnessing now, I don’t think there will be great moves on the higher side,” said Moin Al Kasem, a fund manager. l

India makes listing abroad easier for its companies n Reuters, New Delhi

3

backed by private equity firms.

“What we will see is an increase in level of conversations over the next few months but if you ask me whether we will see seven listings in the U.S. in the next one year or so, the answer is no,” said a banker at a large European bank in Mumbai.

Many unlisted mid-sized firms that would be candidates to list abroad would find it hard to meet regulatory requirements and cost structures for overseas markets, two bankers said.

But some companies, especially in the export-driven information technology sector, are expected to explore listing opportunities in the United States or London in coming months, they said.

Big IT exporters, including Infosys and

Wipro, are already listed both in India and in the United States.

Some private equity investors, who have been unable to exit their investments partly due to poor domestic market sentiment, may also explore overseas listing of their portfolio companies, bankers said.

The concession on listing abroad will be allowed as a pilot for two years, after which the finance ministry will review its impact, the ministry said in a statement.

Companies listing abroad can use the funds raised only to repay outstanding foreign debt or for overseas operations including acquisIions, the finance ministry said. If the funds are not used for these purposes, they will have to be remitted to India within 15 days of being raised. l

Stocks dropped in volatile trade yesterday with the benchmark index, DSEX, slipping below 4,000-mark after nearly seven weeks.

The market rallied in the morning but was short lived as investors profit taking attitude surfaced to halt the momentum.

Most of the trading was based on short term contracts causing high volatility and wide price swings.

After rising more than 15 points in first session, the benchmark index shed 45 points or 1.2% to 3,969, its lowest since August 13 this year after ending flat in the previous session.

Mutual funds shined on the day as most of mutual funds were trading below their respective net asset value (NAV). As a result, eight mutual funds appeared in the list of top ten gainers with increased turnover. Thirty six out of 42 listed funds gained.

Trading activities remained sluggish as the turnover value was Tk3.4bn, slightly increase of more than 9% from earlier session.

Lanka Bangla Securities in its daily market analysis said the tenure of current government nears ending with no significant progress concerning imminent election. Stock market has continued to generate negative return and has closed below the psychological 4,000 level, it said.

Frequent scrip wise swings, with 101 out of 291 traded scrips posting more than 4% change of their respective price amid back and forth volatile situations aided market sentiment to retract severely.

Most of the trading was based on short term contracts which are keeping volatility high and price swings wide, said Zenith Investment.

All the major sectors posted losses except banks, life insurance and cement which remained flat. Engineering and textile were the big losers as the two sectors went down by 2% each.

Other major sectors, including pharmaceuticals, non-banking financial institutions and power performed negatively. The gainers outpaced losers as out of 271 issues traded, 177 advanced, 97 declined and 17 remained unchanged in the prime bourse.

The volatility of the market only reflects that the market is still confused giving no clear indication of the future scenario, said Zenith Investments.

ICB AMCL First Mutual Fund has been delisted with effect from yesterday. The fund is the first closed ended fund that completed its ten-year tenure in the exchange.

Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Ltd topped in terms of turnover value, followed by CMC Kamal, Argon Denim, JMI Syringe and Medical Devices Ltd, Continental Insurance and Generation Next. l

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

China central bank to keep policy steady, push reforms n Reuters, Beijing A woman walks past the headquarters of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank, in Beijing REUTERS China’s central bank said yesterday that it would keep policy steady with timely fine-tuning to cope with economic uncertainties while forging ahead with yuan and interest rate reforms.

China’s economic performance and inflation remained stable but there would be “difficulties and challenges” ahead, the People’s Bank of China said in a statement after a regular meeting of its monetary policy committee.

While maintaining prudent monetary policy, the central bank will make pre-emptive and timely policy fine-tuning to help stabilize economic growth, it said.

The central bank also pledged to push forward market-oriented interest rate reforms and improve the currency regime while keeping the yuan exchange rate basically stable.

Beijing has stepped up efforts to head off a sharp economic slowdown by quickening railway investment and public housing construction and introducing measures to help smaller companies.

Recent economic data has shown some of the impact of those policies, with factory output in August hitting a 17-month high and retail sales growing at their fastest pace this year. l

A woman walks past the headquarters of the People’s Bank of China (PBOC), the central bank, in Beijing

India, China for early conclusion of IMF quota reforms n BSS Facing economic slowdown, India and China have held dialogue on structural reforms and agreed to intensify cooperation with other BRICS nations to push for reforms in international institutions for implementation of the commitment to implement IMF Quota and Governance Reforms.

“China and India called for greater international coordination on economic policies, particularly in the implementation of policy measures adopted by the G20 to boost growth and employment for promoting strong, sustainable and balanced growth of the world economy,” a joint statement issued at the end of sixth Financial Dialogue between the two countries said.

The annual dialogue which started since 2005 to exchange views on bilateral and international economic and financial issues was held here September 25-26 ahead of Prime Minister,Manmohan Singh’s proposed visit here next month.

The two countries agreed to intensify cooperation with other BRICS, (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) member countries towards tangible results on the initiatives on BRICS Development Bank and Contingency Reserve Arrangement in the next BRICS summit, it said.

“Both sides are committed to pushing forward reforms in the international financial institutions and urge other countries to

fulfil their commitment of implementing the 2010 IMF Quota and Governance Reform expeditiously and to complete the next general quota review by January 2014,” it said.

Both sides recognised that global economic recovery was still fragile with downside risks remaining high and volatility in financial markets has also intensified, the joint statement said.

“With growth picking up in advanced economies, there is a need for them to collaborate with Emerging Market Economies (EMEs) on the pace and timing of recalibration of their unconventional monetary policies and strengthen communication with the market to avoid negative spill-overs.

“As a group, the EMEs have continued to grow but the pace of growth has slowed in several countries,” it said.

The two sides held in-depth discussions on new challenges facing the global economy, macro-economic situations and policies in China and India, progress on structural reforms in both countries, cooperation under multilateral frame works as well as bilateral financial cooperation, it said.

The Indian side told their Chinese counterparts, India’s economic fundamentals remain strong notwithstanding the persistence of global economic meltdown.

“India has adopted bold macro-economic and fiscal management policies that seek to attain the twin objectives of inclusive development and high, sustained economic

growth,” it said.

This year’s budget besides renewing government’s commitment towards fiscal responsibility also incorporated a slew of measures aimed at boosting investments, controlling inflation, creating high quality infrastructure and ensuring comprehensive social security for the poor, it said.

“The government is continuously undertaking initiative to improve the performance of the manufacturing sector.

“In a recent review of this, the government has also liberalised several sectoral caps in FDI,” the joint statement said.

“Several monetary measures have already been taken by the Reserve Bank of India.

The effects of persistent economic reforms undertaken in the last year have started to manifest and the full effect will eventually be seen in the overall GDP growth. India remains committed towards strengthening and deepening its reform process,” it said.

For its part China which is currently in the process deepening reforms to halt the slowdown said overall economic situation in the country is stable and has the foundations to sustain sound development as new progress has been made in structural adjustment.

The fiscal policy has focused on adjusting the expenditure structure, reducing administrative spending, supporting structural adjustment and improvement of people’s well-being, and providing tax incentives to small and micro enterprises. l

REUTERS

Japan leader gambles on sales tax hike n AFP, Tokyo

Japanese premier Shinzo Abe’s long-awaited decision this week on whether to hike sales taxes is a major political gamble that proved career-ending for his predecessors, analysts say.

Since sweeping December elections on a ticket to kickstart the world’s third-largest economy, the prime minister launched an unprecedented policy blitz - dubbed Abenomics – which appears to be taking hold as the economy expands while the stock market roars.

Abe underscored that early success with an upbeat speech to the New York Stock Exchange last week, calling for investors to get on board with his bid to regain Japan’s onetime economic glory.

“Japan, as the third-largest economic powerhouse on the planet, will be back in full force again,” he promised.

But his decision on hiking the tax levy, seen as crucial to chopping Japan’s massive national debt, threatens not only to sink Abe’s growth plans; it could also dim his popularity with voters.

‘Biggest political decision’ Few, however, see the 59-year-old as having much choice, given the size of the country’s national debt, proportionately the worst in the rich world at more than twice the size of the economy.

The International Monetary Fund, among others, have been calling on Tokyo to fix its books, after debt agencies cut their ratings on Japan’s credit. l

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

5

China’s new trade zone opens in Shanghai as officials add details to reform plans n Reuters, Shanghai China opened a new free trade zone yesterday in Shanghai, in what has been hailed as potentially the boldest reform move in decades, unveiling fresh details of plans to liberalize regulations governing finance, investment and trade in the zone.

The Shanghai FTZ, which covers an area of nearly 29 square kilometres on the eastern outskirts of the commercial hub, was approved by China’s State Council, or cabinet, in July.

State-run Xinhua news agency quoted Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng as saying that the creating FTZ was a crucial decision made in the new era of China’s reform and opening-up.

“It follows the tendency of global economic developments and reflects a more active strategy of opening-up,” Gao said at the launch ceremony.

The State Council said on Friday it would open up its largely sheltered services sector to foreign competition in the zone and use it as a testbed for bold financial reforms, including a convertible yuan and liberalized interest rates.

Economists consider both areas key levers for restructuring the world’s second-largest economy and putting it on a more sustainable growth path.

Some Chinese and foreign firms have already moved to set up subsidiaries in the zone. A total of 25 companies so far have been approved to set up operations in a variety of sectors, alongside 11 financial institutions, most of which are domestic banks but

Container trucks drive past the container area at the Yangshan Deep Water Port, part of the newly announced Shanghai Free Trade Zone, south of Shanghai REUTERS including the mainland subsidiaries of Citibank and DBS. Some have trumpeted the FTZ, which integrates three existing zones, as comparable to Deng Xiaoping’s creation of a similar zone in Shenzhen in 1978. Many credited that move as being crucial to China’s economy opening up to foreign trade and investment.

Skeptics, however, point to a similar scheme launched near Shenzhen, in Qianhai, last year, but that has so far failed to live up to expectations. Qianhai was presented as place for radical experimentation with China’s

capital account. Analysts and economists say that the plans for Shanghai, at least, are more specific and ambitious.

For example, one major planned change officials described on Sunday will be in the regulations governing how foreign and Chinese individuals can invest across borders.

Previously foreign and Chinese investors were only allowed to invest across the border by buying into funds regulated through either the Qualified Foreign Institutional Investor (QFII) program or the Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor (QDII) program,

both of which are restricted by quotas.

But Dai Haibo, deputy director of the zone administrative committee, said on Sunday that this requirement would be waived for foreign and Chinese individuals within the zone, who will be allowed to invest funds directly for the first time. He did not say whether they would also be subject to a quota.

He also said that foreign banks in the zone would be allowed to issue bonds in the domestic market. Officials also said that China will develop an international oil futures trading platform in the zone and encourage foreign participation, part of attempts to upgrade commodities markets and hedge risk in the world’s largest energy consumer.

Regulations of Chinese and foreign banks will also be eased, said Liao Min, head of the Shanghai branch of the China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC), adding the CBRC will adjust loan-to-deposit ratios and other regulatory requirements for banks in the zone.

He said that the government will consider easing regulatory requirements for foreign banks when they apply to upgrade representative offices to full-fledged branches in the zone, and it will accelerate the application process for foreign banks applying for yuan settlement licenses.

Both functions are key for foreign banks seeking to do business in China, and the slow pace of approval has been the subject of frequent complaints from foreign bankers.

He added that China will allow domestic and foreign banks to engage in cross-border business including cross-border investment banking services. l

Line, WeChat: Asian social networks move to conquer Europe

China, the global auto industry’s best hope n AFP, Shenzhen

n AFP, Paris

At a time when Indian, Russian and Brazilian car markets are stumbling, China remains the major growth engine for the global automotive industry, analysts say.

“For many years it’s been the Bric nations (Brazil, Russia, India and China) which have accounted for the growth of global sales, taking over from the more mature markets,” explains Carlos da Silva, an analyst at IHS Automotive.

Global automobile sales should still grow by three percent this year, according to the Paris-based International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA), a trade body representing car manufacturers.

But not all four Bric countries are expected to see their car markets grow at the same rate. Some are already declining.

Sales of new cars in Russia, for instance, are expected to fall by around seven percent this year to 2.7 million vehicles, predicts IHS Automotive.

In India - hit by a triple whammy of high interest rates, a sharp economic slowdown and rising fuel costs - car sales are expected to contract for the second year in a row after a decade of uninterrupted growth. l

Move aside Facebook and Skype. Asian social networks, already hugely popular on their continent, have set their sights on Europe where they could prove stiff competition for their US rivals.

China’s WeChat and Japan’s Line, which let users make free calls, send instant messages and post funny short videos and photos, take attributes from Facebook, Skype and messenging application WhatsApp and roll them all together.

This week, Line executives travelled to France and Italy for a public relations offensive aimed at raising awareness of the mobile app, which already counts some 230 million users around the world including 47 million in Japan alone. The social network has already taken root in other parts of Europe.

In Spain, for instance, Line has forged heavyweight partnerships with football clubs FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, brands such as Coca-Cola or tennis star Rafael Nadal.

FC Barcelona, for instance, has a home page on the app where it posts photos that

has already drawn more than 8.2 million friends. Line even has a permanent office in Spain, where it counts some 15 million users already. A French version of the mobile app, meanwhile, is to be launched before the end of the year.

One of the main selling points for Line, which was launched at the beginning of 2011, is its “stickers” - funny, cartoon-like figures that express emotions in a way deemed far more original and fun than traditional emoticons.

On WeChat, users can post figures that move about dancing, blowing kisses or punching the air. Both social networks also supply a selection of “stickers” that users have to pay for.

“We’re betting a lot on this new form of communication with stickers,” Sunny Kim, assistant director general of Line Europe and America, told AFP on a trip to Paris.

This part of the business represents 30% of Line’s overall turnover and in July alone, users bought eight million euros ($10.8m) worth of stickers.

The company makes the rest of its money on the sale of games integrated in the mobile

app (50%) and from partnerships and products on the side.

Line’s logo is green with a conversation bubble inside, and looks remarkably similar to the icon of WeChat, which began in January 2011.

Already translated into 19 languages, the social network has 500 million users, including 100 million outside of China, and plans to launch in France towards the end of the year.

While Line has Real Madrid, WeChat has enrolled the help of Argentinian football star Lionel Messi, who has become ambassador of the brand and has filmed a commercial for the social network. But WeChat - which belongs to China’s web giant Tencent - is also banking on the huge Chinese diaspora to expand.

“The French of Chinese origin or the Canadians of Chinese origin, for instance, are the bridge between China and the rest of the world,” said Renaud Edouard-Baraud, who heads up an Asia consulting branch of the BNP-Paribas bank and advises WeChat.

Many brands keen to tap into the giant China market also have a presence on WeChat. l

6

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DHAKA TRIBUNE

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

DSE Broad Index: 3968.79 ⇓ 1.11%, Turnover: 3321.67 M.Tk ⇑ 9.60%, PE: 12.54 Turnover 3,627.33 MTk . ⇑ 9.83% September 29, 2013 MarketCap. 1,936.98 BTk. ⇓ 0.91% CSE All Share Index: 12241 ⇓ 1.38%, Turnover: 305.66 M Tk. ⇑ 12.55%, PE: 12.26 Combined Turnover Leader CMC Kamal Tex. -A

23755162 2622180

663.34

13548138

610.45

UNITED AIR-A

BANK ABBANK | 2.95 | 32.60 | Vol. 201077 D: 23.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 23.46 | 25.00 / 21.00 C: 23.10 ⇑ 0.43% | 23.35 | 24.20 / 23.10 CITYBANK | 1.15 | 25.97 | Vol. 343669 D: 15.50 ⇓ 0.64% | 15.63 | 16.20 / 14.20 C: 15.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 15.61 | 15.90 / 15.50 IFIC | 1.10 | 18.34 | Vol. 120398 D: 19.60 ⇓ 1.01% | 19.81 | 20.40 / 18.80 C: 19.70 ⇓ 1.01% | 19.83 | 20.00 / 19.60 ISLAMIBANK | 3.78 | 27.16 | Vol. 280951 D: 36.30 ⇑ 0.28% | 36.14 | 37.00 / 33.00 C: 35.90 ⇓ 0.28% | 35.87 | 36.00 / 35.70 NBL | 1.05 | 15.76 | Vol. 1258913 D: 10.70 ⇓ 1.83% | 10.84 | 11.00 / 10.00 C: 10.80 ⇓ 0.92% | 10.86 | 11.00 / 10.70 PUBALIBANK | 1.92 | 21.18 | Vol. 148799 D: 31.20 ⇓ 0.64% | 30.90 | 32.00 / 29.00 C: 30.50 ⇓ 0.33% | 30.32 | 30.50 / 30.10 RUPALIBANK | 6.70 | 64.27 | Vol. 9835 D: 58.50 ⇓ 0.34% | 58.77 | 60.30 / 57.50 UCBL | 1.90 | 21.72 | Vol. 949207 D: 17.10 ⇓ 2.29% | 17.25 | 17.80 / 16.00 C: 17.00 ⇓ 1.73% | 17.23 | 17.50 / 17.00 UTTARABANK | 3.42 | 26.97 | Vol. 197948 D: 25.20 ⇓ 0.40% | 25.35 | 25.70 / 24.00 C: 25.10 ⇓ 1.18% | 25.12 | 25.50 / 24.00 ICBIBANK | -1.60 | -13.03 | Vol. 111500 D: 5.80 ⇓ 1.69% | 5.85 | 6.00 / 5.80 EBL | 3.91 | 28.22 | Vol. 40800 D: 26.10 ⇑ 0.38% | 26.14 | 26.20 / 25.60 C: 25.90 ⇑ 0.78% | 25.90 | 25.90 / 25.90 ALARABANK | 2.03 | 14.91 | Vol. 235496 D: 13.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.93 | 14.10 / 13.00 C: 13.80 ⇓ 2.13% | 13.82 | 14.20 / 13.70 PRIMEBANK | 2.89 | 22.40 | Vol. 195184 D: 17.60 ⇑ 0.57% | 17.69 | 17.90 / 15.80 C: 17.90 ⇑ 2.87% | 17.87 | 18.00 / 17.80 SOUTHEASTB | 1.89 | 22.66 | Vol. 321270 D: 14.90 ⇓ 1.32% | 15.01 | 15.30 / 13.90 C: 14.80 ⇓ 1.33% | 14.92 | 15.50 / 14.80 DHAKABANK | 1.46 | 18.08 | Vol. 30093 D: 17.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 17.61 | 18.10 / 16.00 C: 17.90 ⇑ 1.70% | 17.82 | 17.90 / 16.90 NCCBANK | 1.90 | 15.88 | Vol. 293241 D: 11.20 ⇓ 1.75% | 11.28 | 12.00 / 10.50 C: 11.20 ⇓ 2.61% | 11.26 | 11.50 / 11.20 SIBL | 2.05 | 14.47 | Vol. 335728 D: 11.10 ⇓ 0.89% | 11.18 | 11.50 / 10.10 C: 11.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 11.20 | 11.30 / 11.00 DUTCHBANGL | 11.57 | 54.27 | Vol. 23540 D: 92.10 ⇓ 0.65% | 92.12 | 94.00 / 90.00 MTBL | 1.17 | 17.27 | Vol. 42540 D: 14.20 ⇓ 3.40% | 14.28 | 14.50 / 14.00 STANDBANKL | 2.33 | 14.41 | Vol. 410691 D: 12.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 12.88 | 13.00 / 11.50 C: 12.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 12.75 | 13.00 / 12.60 ONEBANKLTD | 2.35 | 15.34 | Vol. 280386 D: 14.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 14.18 | 15.00 / 12.80 C: 14.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 14.25 | 14.70 / 14.10 BANKASIA | 1.35 | 20.80 | Vol. 324906 D: 19.40 ⇑ 0.52% | 19.45 | 19.50 / 17.50 C: 19.00 ⇑ 0.00% | 19.00 | 19.00 / 19.00 MERCANBANK | 2.07 | 16.59 | Vol. 432694 D: 11.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 11.62 | 12.00 / 10.60 C: 11.50 ⇓ 0.86% | 11.49 | 11.60 / 11.00 EXIMBANK | 1.80 | 14.31 | Vol. 703399 D: 10.80 ⇓ 0.92% | 10.85 | 11.10 / 9.90 C: 10.90 ⇓ 0.91% | 10.93 | 11.50 / 9.90 JAMUNABANK | 2.47 | 18.56 | Vol. 71055 D: 13.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 13.35 | 13.50 / 12.20 C: 13.30 ⇑ 1.53% | 13.11 | 13.30 / 13.00 BRACBANK | 1.51 | 24.87 | Vol. 175027 D: 27.30 ⇓ 1.80% | 27.46 | 27.90 / 26.00 C: 26.80 ⇓ 2.19% | 26.92 | 27.20 / 26.80 SHAHJABANK | 2.61 | 14.47 | Vol. 168417 D: 13.60 ⇓ 0.73% | 13.56 | 13.90 / 12.90 C: 13.50 ⇓ 0.74% | 13.51 | 13.60 / 13.50 PREMIERBAN | 1.18 | 13.95 | Vol. 316869 D: 9.40 ⇓ 1.05% | 9.46 | 10.00 / 8.80 C: 9.60 ⇑ 1.05% | 9.64 | 9.80 / 9.50

TO M. Tk.

BD Submarine Cable-A Tallu Spinning -A Generation Next Fashions-A

CompanyCode | EPS | BV | Volume Traded (Share) DSE/CSE: ClosePrice ⇓/⇑ Chn % | Avg.Price | Hi / Lo

Vol.

22576200 26813552

825.60

537.79 496.92

% of TTL 3.74 3.01

Avg. P 34.75 252.97

2.77

45.06

2.44

23.82

2.25

TRUSTBANK | 0.50 | 18.00 | Vol. 24135 D: 16.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 16.66 | 17.00 / 15.00 FIRSTSBANK | 1.85 | 13.89 | Vol. 233277 D: 11.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 11.29 | 11.50 / 10.50 C: 11.30 ⇑ 0.89% | 11.29 | 11.40 / 11.10 NON BANKING F I IDLC | 4.43 | 29.18 | Vol. 147415 D: 59.60 ⇓ 1.97% | 60.10 | 61.00 / 58.00 C: 59.80 ⇓ 2.13% | 60.11 | 60.90 / 59.50 ULC | 1.80 | 14.90 | Vol. 91945 D: 26.90 ⇓ 1.47% | 27.14 | 28.00 / 25.00 UTTARAFIN | 7.16 | 41.54 | Vol. 90686 D: 76.30 ⇓ 0.52% | 77.20 | 80.00 / 70.00 C: 76.60 ⇓ 0.52% | 76.95 | 78.00 / 76.60 MIDASFIN | 0.16 | 10.21 | Vol. 12500 D: 28.90 ⇓ 3.67% | 28.96 | 30.00 / 28.00 FLEASEINT | 2.34 | 13.93 | Vol. 403334 D: 24.30 ⇓ 4.71% | 24.79 | 28.00 / 24.00 C: 24.40 ⇓ 4.69% | 24.66 | 25.20 / 24.40 PLFSL | 1.37 | 17.48 | Vol. 502192 D: 22.90 ⇓ 3.38% | 23.26 | 24.00 / 21.50 C: 23.10 ⇓ 2.53% | 23.32 | 24.20 / 22.90 PRIMEFIN | 0.87 | 17.88 | Vol. 208760 D: 24.00 ⇓ 2.04% | 24.31 | 24.90 / 23.90 C: 24.10 ⇓ 2.82% | 24.27 | 24.60 / 24.00 PREMIERLEA | 0.10 | 11.37 | Vol. 270400 D: 10.50 ⇓ 4.55% | 10.71 | 10.90 / 10.50 C: 10.60 ⇓ 4.50% | 10.87 | 11.00 / 10.50 ISLAMICFIN | 1.03 | 15.48 | Vol. 546034 D: 15.70 ⇓ 2.48% | 16.01 | 16.60 / 14.80 C: 15.70 ⇓ 3.68% | 16.04 | 17.20 / 15.60 LANKABAFIN | 1.61 | 31.07 | Vol. 1651365 D: 57.40 ⇓ 6.36% | 58.21 | 61.00 / 55.20 C: 57.00 ⇓ 8.06% | 60.31 | 61.00 / 56.70 BIFC | 0.15 | 18.58 | Vol. 391700 D: 17.50 ⇑ 4.17% | 17.84 | 18.30 / 15.50 C: 17.50 ⇑ 1.74% | 18.12 | 18.90 / 17.40 IPDC | 1.23 | 19.43 | Vol. 325522 D: 18.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 19.05 | 19.90 / 18.10 C: 19.00 ⇑ 2.15% | 18.91 | 19.50 / 18.40 DBH | 4.47 | 21.27 | Vol. 102344 D: 61.40 ⇑ 0.49% | 61.68 | 62.70 / 60.00 C: 61.30 ⇓ 2.23% | 61.32 | 61.50 / 61.20 NHFIL | 0.57 | 12.70 | Vol. 276000 D: 29.00 ⇓ 3.97% | 29.66 | 30.60 / 28.80 C: 29.00 ⇓ 5.23% | 29.24 | 29.80 / 28.80 BAYLEASING | 0.72 | 25.55 | Vol. 73134 D: 27.70 ⇓ 1.07% | 27.75 | 28.10 / 25.50 C: 27.80 ⇓ 1.07% | 27.86 | 28.00 / 27.70 ICB | 109.65 | 769.98 | Vol. 3800 D: 1994 ⇓ 3.82% | 2021 | 2115 / 1989 C: 2125 ⇑ 1.58% | 2125 | 2125 / 2125 GSPFINANCE | 1.63 | 22.23 | Vol. 98835 D: 25.20 ⇓ 1.95% | 25.60 | 26.30 / 23.20 C: 25.90 ⇓ 1.15% | 25.65 | 25.90 / 25.40 FAREASTFIN | 0.68 | 13.64 | Vol. 2685000 D: 17.80 ⇓ 5.32% | 18.22 | 19.20 / 17.70 C: 17.90 ⇓ 5.79% | 18.22 | 19.20 / 17.80 INVESTMENT 2NDICB | 44.10 | 253.11 | Vol. 100 D: 264.9 ⇓ 0.41% | 260.00 | 265.0 / 264.9 3RDICB | 26.16 | 235.16 | Vol. 900 D: 174.0 ⇓ 1.08% | 174.44 | 176.0 / 170.2 4THICB | 29.24 | 229.24 | Vol. 1900 D: 168.4 ⇓ 0.82% | 168.42 | 170.0 / 165.0 6THICB | 10.99 | 60.14 | Vol. 4200 D: 46.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 45.95 | 46.70 / 45.50 8THICB | 12.47 | 70.07 | Vol. 22000 D: 51.30 ⇑ 2.40% | 51.00 | 52.40 / 49.70 1STBSRS | 14.43 | 161.88 | Vol. 127000 D: 100.9 ⇑ 9.67% | 98.11 | 101.2 / 93.60 C: 104.3 ⇑ 9.91% | 101.30 | 99.50 / 104.0 AIMS1STMF | 3.02 | 15.70 | Vol. 333750 D: 39.70 ⇓ 1.73% | 40.35 | 41.60 / 39.50 C: 40.00 ⇓ 0.50% | 40.15 | 40.50 / 39.60 ICBAMCL1ST | 7.14 | 48.54 | Vol. 80000 D: 33.10 ⇓ 0.90% | 34.23 | 35.50 / 32.90 C: 33.50 ⇑ 2.13% | 33.50 | 33.50 / 33.50 ICBISLAMIC | 2.21 | 26.81 | Vol. 33000 D: 17.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 17.55 | 17.90 / 17.40

18.53

DSE Loser

DSE Gainer

C%

A%

CP

Northern Jute-Z

59.49

59.49

31.10

Rahima Food -A

50.16

36.05

46.70

Hakkani P& Paper-B

26.71

27.64

40.80

Peoples Insur-A

23.79

23.66

33.30

In Tech Online-A

23.56

15.10

21.50

GRAMEEN1 | 6.26 | 33.23 | Vol. 473000 D: 45.00 ⇓ 2.60% | 46.15 | 49.90 / 44.70 C: 45.50 ⇑ 0.00% | 45.60 | 45.80 / 45.40 ICB1STNRB | 4.06 | 35.31 | Vol. 7500 D: 24.20 ⇑ 2.98% | 24.27 | 25.00 / 23.80 ICB2NDNRB | 2.49 | 16.24 | Vol. 158500 D: 9.40 ⇓ 1.05% | 9.42 | 9.60 / 9.30 C: 9.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 9.33 | 9.50 / 9.30 GRAMEENS2 | 2.17 | 16.41 | Vol. 667800 D: 16.20 ⇓ 0.61% | 16.47 | 16.80 / 15.50 C: 16.20 ⇓ 1.82% | 16.48 | 16.80 / 16.20 1STPRIMFMF | 0.64 | 11.63 | Vol. 1051000 D: 20.90 ⇑ 3.47% | 21.60 | 22.10 / 20.40 C: 20.90 ⇑ 3.98% | 21.67 | 22.10 / 19.50 EBL1STMF | 0.55 | 12.62 | Vol. 254644 D: 6.50 ⇓ 1.52% | 6.59 | 6.80 / 6.00 C: 6.50 ⇓ 2.99% | 6.68 | 6.80 / 6.50 ICBAMCL2ND | 0.60 | 12.12 | Vol. 43000 D: 5.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.45 | 5.60 / 5.40 C: 5.30 ⇓ 3.64% | 5.30 | 5.30 / 5.30 ICBEPMF1S1 | 0.52 | 11.32 | Vol. 79500 D: 5.60 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.69 | 5.80 / 5.60 C: 5.70 ⇓ 1.72% | 5.65 | 5.70 / 5.60 TRUSTB1MF | 0.75 | 11.65 | Vol. 861021 D: 7.10 ⇓ 1.39% | 7.28 | 7.60 / 6.50 C: 7.10 ⇓ 1.39% | 7.29 | 7.50 / 7.00 PRIME1ICBA | 0.42 | 11.18 | Vol. 129500 D: 5.10 ⇓ 1.92% | 5.17 | 5.30 / 5.10 C: 5.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.21 | 5.30 / 5.10 DBH1STMF | -1.12 | 10.15 | Vol. 339500 D: 5.40 ⇓ 1.82% | 5.48 | 5.50 / 5.40 C: 5.30 ⇓ 1.85% | 5.32 | 5.40 / 5.30 IFIC1STMF | 0.83 | 11.88 | Vol. 392716 D: 6.30 ⇓ 1.56% | 6.36 | 6.50 / 6.20 C: 6.30 ⇓ 1.56% | 6.31 | 6.40 / 6.30 PF1STMF | 0.51 | 11.11 | Vol. 280500 D: 5.10 ⇓ 1.92% | 5.15 | 5.30 / 5.10 C: 5.20 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.17 | 5.20 / 5.10 ICB3RDNRB | 0.00 | 10.60 | Vol. 326500 D: 5.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.14 | 5.20 / 5.10 C: 5.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.03 | 5.10 / 5.00 1JANATAMF | 0.78 | 10.68 | Vol. 189500 D: 5.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.72 | 5.80 / 5.70 C: 5.80 ⇑ 1.75% | 5.72 | 5.80 / 5.70 GREENDELMF | -0.82 | 9.72 | Vol. 150000 D: 5.10 ⇓ 1.92% | 5.14 | 5.30 / 5.10 C: 5.00 ⇓ 3.85% | 5.07 | 5.10 / 5.00 POPULAR1MF | 0.77 | 11.38 | Vol. 332571 D: 5.80 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.85 | 6.00 / 5.50 C: 5.80 ⇓ 1.69% | 5.83 | 5.90 / 5.80 IFILISLMF1 | 0.00 | 10.45 | Vol. 366000 D: 5.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.19 | 5.20 / 5.10 C: 5.10 ⇓ 1.92% | 5.10 | 5.20 / 5.10 PHPMF1 | 0.63 | 10.92 | Vol. 537000 D: 5.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 5.42 | 5.50 / 5.40 C: 5.40 ⇓ 1.82% | 5.43 | 5.50 / 5.40 AIBL1STIMF | -0.07 | 9.25 | Vol. 16000 D: 6.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.50 | 6.40 / 6.30 C: 6.10 ⇓ 4.69% | 6.15 | 6.30 / 6.10 MBL1STMF | -0.16 | 9.08 | Vol. 243000 D: 6.20 ⇑ 1.64% | 6.22 | 6.30 / 6.00 C: 6.10 ⇑ 3.39% | 6.08 | 6.10 / 6.00 SEBL1STMF | 0.94 | 11.85 | Vol. 698150 D: 7.70 ⇓ 1.28% | 7.87 | 8.10 / 7.50 C: 7.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.80 | 8.00 / 7.70 EBLNRBMF | 1.07 | 10.88 | Vol. 8000 D: 7.40 ⇑ 2.78% | 7.50 | 7.60 / 7.00 RELIANCE1 | 0.95 | 10.33 | Vol. 445400 D: 8.00 ⇑ 1.27% | 8.11 | 8.30 / 8.00 C: 8.00 ⇑ 1.27% | 8.00 | 8.00 / 8.00 LRGLOBMF1 | 0.50 | 10.82 | Vol. 24000 D: 6.60 ⇓ 2.94% | 6.63 | 6.80 / 6.50 ABB1STMF | 0.92 | 10.63 | Vol. 33500 D: 6.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 6.91 | 7.00 / 6.90 C: 6.80 ⇓ 32.67% | 6.80 | 6.80 / 6.80 NLI1STMF | 1.17 | 12.22 | Vol. 752750 D: 8.00 ⇓ 1.23% | 8.20 | 8.50 / 7.30 C: 8.20 ⇓ 1.20% | 8.13 | 8.30 / 8.10 FBFIF | 1.30 | 10.27 | Vol. 6000 D: 8.80 ⇑ 3.53% | 8.91 | 8.90 / 8.70 C: 7.90 ⇓ 1.25% | 7.90 | 7.90 / 7.90 NCCBLMF1 | 1.16 | 10.48 | Vol. 3500 D: 8.40 ⇑ 5.00% | 8.29 | 8.50 / 8.00

Modern Dyeing-B ICB AMCL 1st M F-A Kohinoor Chem-A Savar Refractories-Z Fareast Finance-N

C%

A%

CP

-26.81

-28.67

111.10

-26.35

-25.41

24.60

-20.32

-20.39

410.20

-17.81

-20.55

78.00

-14.36

-11.67

16.10

ICBSONALI1 | 0.00 | 10.39 | Vol. 271500 D: 6.40 ⇑ 1.59% | 6.40 | 6.50 / 6.30 C: 6.30 ⇓ 1.56% | 6.30 | 6.40 / 6.20 EXIM1STMF | 0.00 | 10.91 | Vol. 5000 D: 6.90 ⇑ 0.00% | 7.00 | 7.00 / 6.80 ENGINEERING AFTABAUTO | 4.29 | 52.65 | Vol. 645334 D: 112.5 ⇓ 2.77% | 113.50 | 121.0 / 108.0 C: 112.8 ⇓ 2.67% | 113.98 | 117.5 / 112.1 AZIZPIPES | 0.39 | -42.04 | Vol. 900 D: 17.60 ⇓ 2.76% | 17.78 | 18.50 / 17.10 OLYMPIC | 5.94 | 14.91 | Vol. 183055 D: 223.0 ⇓ 2.79% | 224.70 | 231.9 / 217.0 C: 221.7 ⇓ 3.36% | 224.79 | 227.0 / 221.2 BDLAMPS | -5.31 | 37.07 | Vol. 34050 D: 158.9 ⇓ 5.25% | 160.45 | 170.0 / 157.0 C: 159.0 ⇓ 4.50% | 159.73 | 164.0 / 157.1 ECABLES | 2.04 | 18.87 | Vol. 11700 D: 79.70 ⇓ 2.45% | 79.91 | 86.00 / 79.10 C: 80.00 ⇓ 1.23% | 80.00 | 80.00 / 80.00 MONNOSTAF | 5.31 | 44.78 | Vol. 11700 D: 451.0 ⇑ 8.10% | 450.00 | 453.7 / 434.3 SINGERBD | 9.99 | 45.74 | Vol. 202909 D: 213.5 ⇓ 3.87% | 216.61 | 226.0 / 210.0 C: 214.0 ⇓ 2.86% | 215.33 | 221.0 / 213.0 ATLASBANG | 11.98 | 207.70 | Vol. 15578 D: 184.5 ⇓ 2.84% | 186.16 | 189.0 / 184.1 BDAUTOCA | 0.25 | 6.23 | Vol. 127064 D: 51.00 ⇑ 9.91% | 49.80 | 51.00 / 43.00 QSMDRYCELL | 1.65 | 58.49 | Vol. 474115 D: 35.00 ⇓ 8.38% | 36.05 | 38.10 / 34.40 C: 35.40 ⇓ 7.09% | 36.23 | 37.10 / 35.00 RENWICKJA | 5.62 | -90.00 | Vol. 14100 D: 178.8 ⇓ 0.72% | 179.15 | 186.6 / 178.0 NTLTUBES | -2.52 | 312.10 | Vol. 53560 D: 81.10 ⇑ 0.00% | 82.17 | 84.20 / 77.00 BDTHAI | 0.43 | 39.35 | Vol. 1038384 D: 31.40 ⇑ 3.29% | 31.38 | 32.50 / 28.00 C: 31.40 ⇑ 2.61% | 31.25 | 32.10 / 30.50 SALAMCRST | 3.31 | 20.00 | Vol. 214020 D: 41.70 ⇓ 1.65% | 42.00 | 42.80 / 38.30 C: 41.40 ⇓ 2.59% | 41.67 | 42.50 / 41.30 GOLDENSON | 3.70 | 28.70 | Vol. 242901 D: 42.50 ⇓ 2.75% | 42.97 | 43.80 / 40.00 C: 42.40 ⇓ 2.97% | 42.80 | 43.20 / 42.20 BSRMSTEEL | 3.06 | 19.53 | Vol. 178994 D: 70.30 ⇓ 2.09% | 70.77 | 71.80 / 68.00 C: 70.50 ⇓ 1.54% | 70.51 | 71.10 / 70.20 NAVANACNG | 4.09 | 27.04 | Vol. 148962 D: 68.30 ⇓ 3.12% | 68.99 | 71.30 / 64.00 C: 68.40 ⇓ 3.25% | 68.88 | 69.80 / 68.10 DESHBANDHU | 1.16 | 12.02 | Vol. 821504 D: 24.00 ⇓ 2.04% | 24.78 | 25.90 / 22.10 C: 24.10 ⇓ 2.03% | 24.71 | 25.90 / 23.80 GPHISPAT | 2.11 | 15.27 | Vol. 205000 D: 42.60 ⇓ 1.84% | 42.94 | 43.30 / 42.50 C: 43.00 ⇓ 2.05% | 42.40 | 43.00 / 42.10 BENGALWTL | 2.42 | 20.72 | Vol. 203200 D: 44.10 ⇓ 3.50% | 44.83 | 46.00 / 44.00 C: 44.00 ⇓ 2.87% | 44.42 | 45.50 / 43.40 NPOLYMAR | 2.01 | 324.37 | Vol. 213052 D: 63.00 ⇓ 5.12% | 64.27 | 67.80 / 62.30 C: 63.40 ⇓ 4.37% | 64.60 | 68.00 / 63.00 FOOD & ALLIED APEXFOODS | 2.54 | 90.81 | Vol. 63500 D: 103.2 ⇓ 3.64% | 106.02 | 110.0 / 101.3 C: 102.6 ⇓ 4.74% | 107.53 | 110.0 / 101.0 BANGAS | 7.20 | 50.27 | Vol. 158188 D: 504.4 ⇑ 6.28% | 497.48 | 510.0 / 440.0 C: 504.3 ⇑ 7.62% | 496.13 | 506.0 / 485.0 BATBC | 65.69 | 117.22 | Vol. 2550 D: 1443 ⇓ 1.05% | 1446 | 1456 / 1435 C: 1500 ⇑ 0.00% | 1500 | 1500 / 1500 GEMINISEA | 10.88 | 9.69 | Vol. 2000 D: 235.3 ⇓ 4.08% | 234.50 | 240.0 / 232.7 NTC | 29.88 | 110.05 | Vol. 1300 D: 812.6 ⇓ 1.78% | 813.08 | 818.0 / 805.1 ZEALBANGLA | -23.01 | -193.09 | Vol. 2000 D: 8.60 ⇑ 2.38% | 8.50 | 8.90 / 8.50 CVOPRL | 2.66 | 13.28 | Vol. 55680 D: 816.5 ⇑ 2.01% | 806.36 | 823.9 / 790.0 C: 801.3 ⇓ 0.15% | 799.29 | 805.0 / 800.0

AMCL(PRAN) | 6.53 | 53.37 | Vol. 139805 D: 279.8 ⇓ 5.25% | 285.14 | 300.0 / 275.6 C: 281.0 ⇓ 5.70% | 285.24 | 295.0 / 275.0 RAHIMAFOOD | 0.62 | 4.46 | Vol. 678000 D: 34.20 ⇑ 9.97% | 34.05 | 34.20 / 32.00 C: 33.80 ⇑ 9.74% | 33.71 | 33.80 / 31.90 FUWANGFOOD | 1.26 | 12.37 | Vol. 602074 D: 26.80 ⇓ 0.74% | 27.18 | 28.00 / 26.00 C: 26.70 ⇓ 1.48% | 27.01 | 27.70 / 26.60 MEGHNAPET | -0.58 | -1.02 | Vol. 8500 D: 6.20 ⇓ 7.46% | 6.24 | 6.50 / 6.10 MEGCONMILK | -6.68 | -16.22 | Vol. 45500 D: 8.10 ⇓ 7.95% | 8.24 | 8.80 / 8.00 BEACHHATCH | 1.01 | 12.48 | Vol. 907829 D: 24.20 ⇓ 0.41% | 24.93 | 25.60 / 21.90 C: 24.40 ⇑ 0.83% | 24.80 | 25.80 / 24.00 FINEFOODS | -0.11 | 10.58 | Vol. 308580 D: 25.10 ⇑ 2.45% | 25.57 | 26.60 / 23.00 C: 25.50 ⇑ 4.51% | 25.97 | 26.70 / 25.00 RDFOOD | 0.91 | 16.84 | Vol. 934799 D: 23.80 ⇓ 1.24% | 24.08 | 24.90 / 22.00 C: 23.80 ⇓ 1.24% | 24.13 | 24.70 / 23.60 GHAIL | 1.01 | 22.08 | Vol. 275040 D: 44.40 ⇓ 1.55% | 44.56 | 45.40 / 40.60 C: 44.70 ⇓ 1.11% | 44.63 | 44.90 / 40.70 FUEL & POWER LINDEBD | 31.71 | 144.00 | Vol. 12450 D: 715.4 ⇓ 1.69% | 716.71 | 726.0 / 710.7 PADMAOIL | 16.38 | 43.67 | Vol. 207795 D: 344.6 ⇓ 2.96% | 347.88 | 355.0 / 340.0 C: 343.1 ⇓ 3.00% | 345.55 | 354.1 / 342.0 EASTRNLUB | 6.32 | 68.68 | Vol. 850 D: 403.5 ⇓ 0.15% | 403.53 | 417.0 / 387.2 BDWELDING | 0.33 | 16.82 | Vol. 821469 D: 25.30 ⇑ 0.00% | 25.63 | 27.00 / 22.80 C: 25.20 ⇑ 0.80% | 25.88 | 26.60 / 24.60 SUMITPOWER | 3.17 | 19.26 | Vol. 404417 D: 33.00 ⇓ 2.37% | 33.27 | 34.00 / 30.50 C: 33.30 ⇓ 2.35% | 33.52 | 34.40 / 33.10 DESCO | 2.80 | 35.25 | Vol. 101038 D: 76.70 ⇓ 1.67% | 77.31 | 81.00 / 72.00 C: 76.80 ⇓ 0.90% | 76.91 | 77.00 / 76.20 POWERGRID | 2.56 | 48.08 | Vol. 33050 D: 54.90 ⇓ 2.31% | 55.15 | 56.00 / 54.70 JAMUNAOIL | 22.78 | 50.24 | Vol. 296540 D: 232.6 ⇓ 2.47% | 235.01 | 239.9 / 222.0 C: 232.1 ⇓ 1.82% | 234.20 | 238.0 / 231.2 MPETROLEUM | 16.98 | 40.41 | Vol. 318252 D: 269.1 ⇓ 2.57% | 271.47 | 300.0 / 253.0 C: 270.0 ⇓ 1.60% | 271.31 | 279.5 / 267.3 TITASGAS | 9.01 | 36.56 | Vol. 481812 D: 82.60 ⇓ 1.31% | 82.80 | 84.80 / 75.40 C: 82.70 ⇓ 0.96% | 82.59 | 82.70 / 77.00 KPCL | 4.73 | 15.86 | Vol. 136678 D: 48.50 ⇓ 2.02% | 48.86 | 50.00 / 44.60 C: 48.70 ⇓ 1.42% | 48.76 | 49.60 / 48.50 BEDL | 1.48 | 19.43 | Vol. 1700794 D: 32.60 ⇓ 3.55% | 31.84 | 33.00 / 26.00 C: 32.20 ⇓ 5.01% | 31.87 | 33.50 / 31.00 MJLBD | 2.73 | 30.24 | Vol. 69499 D: 71.70 ⇓ 0.55% | 71.74 | 72.40 / 65.00 C: 70.40 ⇓ 1.95% | 70.60 | 71.30 / 69.10 GBBPOWER | 1.86 | 22.63 | Vol. 355064 D: 27.00 ⇓ 2.88% | 27.37 | 28.30 / 25.10 C: 27.00 ⇓ 2.17% | 27.05 | 28.00 / 25.00 SPPCL | 3.81 | 23.34 | Vol. 555260 D: 55.90 ⇓ 2.78% | 56.41 | 60.00 / 52.00 C: 56.00 ⇓ 2.10% | 56.38 | 57.00 / 56.00 JUTE JUTESPINN | 2.06 | 17.42 | Vol. 10200 D: 135.3 ⇓ 4.79% | 137.35 | 149.5 / 131.0 NORTHERN | -13.80 | -6.19 | Vol. 200 D: 21.40 ⇑ 9.74% | 21.40 | 21.40 / 21.40 SONALIANSH | 5.54 | 218.80 | Vol. 26550 D: 163.3 ⇑ 0.80% | 160.64 | 166.9 / 155.5 TEXTILE AL-HAJTEX | 1.35 | 15.64 | Vol. 482929 D: 110.0 ⇓ 0.45% | 108.71 | 112.0 / 100.0 STYLECRAFT | 20.00 | 287.30 | Vol. 400 D: 1045 ⇓ 5.64% | 1045 | 1060 / 1040

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MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

7

September 29, 2013 Sectotal Index: BANK: 31,575.32 ⇓ 0.59% NBFI: 19,712.20 ⇓ 1.70% INVS: 4,764.16 ⇑ 2.47% ENGG: 5,894.29 ⇓ 2.91% FOOD: 10,029.41 ⇓ 1.22% F&P: 10,272.92 ⇓ 1.25% TEXT: 3,143.16 ⇓ 2.62% PHAR: 16,969.34 ⇓ 1.83% PAPR: 1,156.99 ⇓ 7.33% SERV: 2,974.78 ⇓ 2.57% LEAT: 5,380.70 ⇓ 1.40% CERA: 508.80 ⇓ 2.85% CMNT: 4,399.20 ⇓ 2.25% INFO: 7,932.35 ⇓ 4.76% GINS: 9,826.32 ⇓ 0.47% LINS: 110,069.86 ⇓ 1.95% TELC: 1,345.73 ⇑ 0.36% MISC: 6,207.44 ⇓ 1.42% RAHIMTEXT | 0.51 | 73.88 | Vol. 8450 D: 285.4 ⇓ 4.83% | 285.33 | 300.0 / 281.2 SAIHAMTEX | 2.75 | 29.50 | Vol. 1521400 D: 33.00 ⇑ 2.17% | 33.01 | 33.60 / 32.20 C: 33.00 ⇑ 1.85% | 33.03 | 33.40 / 32.40 MODERNDYE | 0.91 | 10.37 | Vol. 11300 D: 160.9 ⇑ 5.99% | 160.53 | 166.8 / 137.8 DSHGARME | 0.72 | 12.00 | Vol. 50500 D: 92.40 ⇑ 10.00% | 91.78 | 92.40 / 89.00 DULAMIACOT | -8.46 | -27.78 | Vol. 6700 D: 9.20 ⇓ 1.08% | 9.25 | 10.00 / 9.00 TALLUSPIN | 2.56 | 12.06 | Vol. 4631020 D: 45.30 ⇑ 4.62% | 45.12 | 46.00 / 40.00 C: 45.40 ⇑ 6.57% | 45.19 | 46.10 / 43.80 APEXSPINN | 2.01 | 49.32 | Vol. 18600 D: 88.60 ⇓ 0.45% | 88.17 | 90.00 / 87.00 MITHUNKNIT | 4.54 | 30.39 | Vol. 298272 D: 117.3 ⇑ 3.08% | 117.27 | 119.5 / 104.0 C: 116.8 ⇑ 3.27% | 116.84 | 119.8 / 115.0 DELTASPINN | 3.06 | 18.12 | Vol. 744200 D: 36.70 ⇑ 0.82% | 37.12 | 37.80 / 35.00 C: 36.90 ⇑ 0.82% | 36.99 | 38.00 / 35.20 SONARGAON | 0.27 | 34.50 | Vol. 675526 D: 24.00 ⇑ 9.59% | 23.85 | 24.00 / 20.00 C: 23.30 ⇑ 9.91% | 23.27 | 23.30 / 21.50 PRIMETEX | 1.01 | 63.54 | Vol. 2210500 D: 29.80 ⇑ 9.96% | 29.58 | 29.80 / 27.80 C: 30.00 ⇑ 9.89% | 29.89 | 30.00 / 28.90 ALLTEX | -0.11 | 23.81 | Vol. 86500 D: 8.60 ⇓ 1.15% | 8.67 | 8.90 / 8.60 C: 8.80 ⇓ 2.22% | 8.88 | 9.00 / 8.70 ANLIMAYARN | 1.19 | 11.01 | Vol. 176000 D: 37.30 ⇓ 1.84% | 37.68 | 38.90 / 36.60 C: 36.90 ⇓ 0.27% | 36.70 | 36.90 / 36.50 HRTEX | 2.08 | 14.92 | Vol. 739100 D: 40.80 ⇑ 6.25% | 40.29 | 41.50 / 38.00 C: 40.30 ⇑ 6.05% | 39.75 | 41.00 / 38.50 CMCKAMAL | 1.37 | 19.31 | Vol. 4450542 D: 36.80 ⇑ 7.29% | 36.26 | 37.70 / 31.20 SAFKOSPINN | 0.95 | 21.78 | Vol. 1410978 D: 29.40 ⇑ 9.70% | 28.75 | 29.40 / 25.40 C: 29.50 ⇑ 7.66% | 28.75 | 29.50 / 28.20 SQUARETEXT | 4.32 | 31.82 | Vol. 99308 D: 92.30 ⇓ 0.97% | 92.62 | 94.00 / 88.00 C: 91.70 ⇓ 1.29% | 92.25 | 93.20 / 91.10 METROSPIN | -1.00 | 19.59 | Vol. 777350 D: 19.10 ⇓ 3.54% | 19.74 | 20.50 / 18.50 C: 19.20 ⇓ 2.54% | 19.75 | 20.40 / 19.00 MAKSONSPIN | 0.16 | 20.55 | Vol. 3714255 D: 17.60 ⇓ 2.22% | 18.08 | 18.70 / 16.40 C: 17.80 ⇓ 1.66% | 18.02 | 18.70 / 17.50 DACCADYE | 1.21 | 31.13 | Vol. 592940 D: 28.90 ⇓ 0.69% | 29.21 | 29.60 / 26.50 C: 28.80 ⇓ 2.70% | 28.99 | 29.50 / 28.50 RNSPIN | 2.80 | 16.58 | Vol. 3525228 D: 32.00 ⇑ 1.91% | 32.08 | 32.90 / 29.00 C: 32.00 ⇑ 1.91% | 32.04 | 32.70 / 31.40 BXSYNTH | 0.93 | 25.42 | Vol. 847850 D: 17.60 ⇓ 2.22% | 18.08 | 18.80 / 16.50 C: 17.60 ⇓ 3.30% | 18.06 | 18.80 / 17.40 MALEKSPIN | -1.44 | 46.87 | Vol. 1554755 D: 27.00 ⇓ 1.82% | 27.54 | 28.20 / 25.00 C: 27.10 ⇓ 0.73% | 27.49 | 28.20 / 26.80 ZAHINTEX | 1.91 | 35.25 | Vol. 700700 D: 31.40 ⇑ 3.29% | 31.59 | 32.00 / 30.50 C: 31.50 ⇑ 1.61% | 31.72 | 32.10 / 29.60 SAIHAMCOT | 1.92 | 23.62 | Vol. 2635750 D: 27.20 ⇓ 7.48% | 28.07 | 29.40 / 26.90 C: 27.20 ⇓ 7.48% | 28.07 | 29.10 / 27.00 GENNEXT | 1.68 | 15.15 | Vol. 2007860 D: 22.20 ⇓ 1.33% | 22.40 | 22.80 / 20.30 C: 22.20 ⇓ 1.33% | 22.29 | 22.80 / 22.00 ENVOYTEX | 3.26 | 39.26 | Vol. 545720 D: 53.00 ⇓ 0.38% | 53.45 | 54.60 / 47.90 C: 53.00 ⇓ 0.19% | 53.18 | 53.90 / 52.60 ARGONDENIM | 1.89 | 38.86 | Vol. 418260 D: 36.70 ⇓ 1.61% | 36.84 | 37.70 / 33.60 C: 36.60 ⇓ 1.35% | 36.92 | 37.30 / 36.50 FAMILYTEX | 3.72 | 14.68 | Vol. 455500 D: 35.90 ⇓ 1.64% | 36.40 | 37.90 / 35.90 C: 35.70 ⇓ 1.65% | 36.03 | 37.30 / 34.00 PHARMACEUTICAL & CHEMICAL AMBEEPHA | 3.94 | 26.15 | Vol. 13300 D: 283.3 ⇓ 3.67% | 289.27 | 301.0 / 280.2 C: 292.7 ⇓ 0.27% | 289.92 | 296.0 / 287.0

DAFODILCOM | 1.12 | 11.14 | Vol. 865665 D: 20.10 ⇑ 1.01% | 20.49 | 21.20 / 18.00 C: 20.30 ⇑ 2.01% | 20.44 | 21.00 / 19.20 AAMRATECH | 1.17 | 20.44 | Vol. 1359700 D: 38.20 ⇓ 5.21% | 38.66 | 40.40 / 36.30 C: 38.10 ⇓ 5.69% | 38.77 | 39.80 / 38.00

BXPHARMA | 3.77 | 52.55 | Vol. 146958 D: 47.40 ⇓ 1.04% | 47.70 | 50.00 / 43.20 C: 47.60 ⇓ 0.63% | 47.61 | 48.90 / 47.00 GLAXOSMITH | 20.25 | 123.32 | Vol. 1450 D: 1010 ⇓ 3.43% | 1010 | 1022 / 1002 ACI | -5.82 | 126.42 | Vol. 22676 D: 171.7 ⇓ 2.99% | 173.46 | 180.0 / 160.0 C: 170.8 ⇓ 2.95% | 173.89 | 182.8 / 170.0 RENATA | 33.57 | 138.83 | Vol. 12802 D: 778.0 ⇓ 3.39% | 790.78 | 808.9 / 770.0 RECKITTBEN | 27.16 | 78.89 | Vol. 500 D: 878.4 ⇓ 2.26% | 878.00 | 890.0 / 860.0 PHARMAID | 5.06 | 26.30 | Vol. 53150 D: 212.2 ⇓ 2.62% | 214.94 | 220.0 / 208.0 IBNSINA | 3.44 | 34.02 | Vol. 223650 D: 124.3 ⇓ 5.40% | 126.27 | 135.0 / 123.5 C: 124.7 ⇓ 6.24% | 126.88 | 132.2 / 123.1 LIBRAINFU | 4.64 | 1565.37 | Vol. 8000 D: 542.2 ⇓ 6.71% | 553.38 | 590.0 / 538.0 ORIONINFU | 8.72 | 1.73 | Vol. 249200 D: 47.70 ⇓ 2.85% | 48.38 | 50.00 / 47.40 C: 47.60 ⇓ 3.05% | 48.37 | 48.90 / 47.60 SQURPHARMA | 6.93 | 37.18 | Vol. 283644 D: 172.0 ⇓ 1.26% | 172.63 | 175.0 / 171.9 C: 172.1 ⇓ 1.09% | 172.39 | 174.0 / 172.0 IMAMBUTTON | -1.68 | 5.67 | Vol. 45500 D: 7.90 ⇓ 8.14% | 8.02 | 8.70 / 7.80 C: 9.20 ⇓ 7.07% | 9.15 | 9.20 / 9.10 BERGERPBL | 32.46 | 100.20 | Vol. 2050 D: 824.3 ⇓ 2.29% | 830.24 | 842.0 / 816.0 ACIFORMULA | 3.33 | 38.08 | Vol. 68494 D: 81.50 ⇓ 2.28% | 82.61 | 85.00 / 80.00 C: 81.50 ⇓ 1.33% | 81.79 | 84.00 / 80.10 MARICO | 27.53 | 62.47 | Vol. 21500 D: 841.3 ⇓ 1.97% | 854.07 | 880.0 / 837.0 C: 847.0 ⇓ 1.40% | 847.00 | 847.0 / 847.0 BEACONPHAR | 0.33 | 11.97 | Vol. 177800 D: 14.70 ⇓ 0.68% | 14.72 | 14.90 / 13.50 C: 14.60 ⇓ 2.01% | 14.74 | 14.90 / 14.60 ACTIVEFINE | 3.23 | 13.89 | Vol. 606572 D: 93.50 ⇓ 1.37% | 94.15 | 97.00 / 86.00 C: 93.00 ⇓ 2.11% | 93.16 | 95.00 / 92.60 SALVOCHEM | 0.68 | 10.57 | Vol. 820549 D: 23.20 ⇓ 3.33% | 23.56 | 24.60 / 21.90 C: 23.70 ⇓ 2.07% | 23.73 | 24.10 / 23.20 GHCL | 2.14 | 57.31 | Vol. 90500 D: 46.90 ⇓ 0.85% | 47.27 | 48.40 / 46.70 C: 46.30 ⇓ 1.49% | 46.93 | 48.00 / 46.10 ORIONPHARM | 5.02 | 68.68 | Vol. 637560 D: 63.80 ⇓ 1.54% | 64.12 | 65.40 / 58.40 C: 63.90 ⇓ 1.54% | 64.26 | 65.20 / 63.80 JMISMDL | 1.12 | 12.83 | Vol. 192500 D: 296.2 ⇑ 8.74% | 292.99 | 296.2 / 275.0 C: 289.0 ⇑ 8.12% | 289.03 | 290.6 / 284.0 CENTRALPHL | 0.61 | 10.99 | Vol. 1668000 D: 37.20 ⇑ 1.64% | 37.88 | 39.00 / 37.00 C: 36.90 ⇑ 0.54% | 37.57 | 38.90 / 36.40 PAPER & PACKAGING HAKKANIPUL | 0.64 | 11.02 | Vol. 189000 D: 35.30 ⇑ 9.63% | 34.94 | 35.40 / 32.00 C: 35.70 ⇑ 9.85% | 34.85 | 35.70 / 33.40 SERVICE SAMORITA | 2.31 | 17.25 | Vol. 51800 D: 107.6 ⇓ 7.64% | 111.22 | 117.0 / 106.2 C: 110.0 ⇓ 8.33% | 110.00 | 110.0 / 110.0 SAPORTL | 1.23 | 38.39 | Vol. 334633 D: 27.10 ⇓ 3.56% | 27.33 | 29.00 / 27.00 C: 27.10 ⇓ 4.24% | 27.47 | 28.00 / 27.10

EHL | 2.87 | 18.48 | Vol. 773884 D: 59.60 ⇓ 5.70% | 61.25 | 64.70 / 58.00 C: 59.40 ⇓ 4.81% | 61.20 | 64.30 / 59.00 LEATHER APEXTANRY | 6.57 | 69.38 | Vol. 230900 D: 136.6 ⇓ 5.14% | 139.01 | 145.0 / 135.6 C: 136.2 ⇓ 4.69% | 138.46 | 141.1 / 135.0 BATASHOE | 49.12 | 135.53 | Vol. 13244 D: 769.4 ⇓ 0.34% | 769.38 | 781.9 / 730.0 C: 769.0 ⇑ 2.25% | 769.00 | 779.0 / 764.0 APEXADELFT | 23.01 | 203.26 | Vol. 87200 D: 392.1 ⇓ 2.56% | 394.31 | 408.0 / 390.0 C: 388.3 ⇓ 3.17% | 387.50 | 388.5 / 386.0 LEGACYFOOT | 0.63 | 17.19 | Vol. 310544 D: 42.30 ⇑ 9.87% | 41.95 | 42.30 / 34.70 C: 44.70 ⇑ 9.83% | 44.66 | 44.70 / 44.10 CERAMIC MONNOCERA | 0.71 | 96.33 | Vol. 175228 D: 42.40 ⇑ 9.56% | 41.89 | 42.50 / 39.00 C: 41.80 ⇑ 6.91% | 41.84 | 43.00 / 40.10 STANCERAM | 1.07 | 15.97 | Vol. 32070 D: 41.10 ⇑ 8.44% | 40.82 | 41.60 / 37.90 C: 39.10 ⇓ 9.70% | 39.13 | 39.20 / 39.00 FUWANGCER | 1.43 | 13.25 | Vol. 889486 D: 22.10 ⇓ 1.78% | 22.66 | 23.40 / 20.30 C: 22.10 ⇓ 1.78% | 22.52 | 23.20 / 22.00 SPCERAMICS | 0.62 | 30.92 | Vol. 338928 D: 18.10 ⇓ 3.21% | 18.41 | 19.20 / 17.00 C: 18.20 ⇓ 3.19% | 18.42 | 19.40 / 17.00 RAKCERAMIC | 1.98 | 16.76 | Vol. 158604 D: 54.60 ⇓ 1.27% | 54.97 | 56.00 / 49.80 C: 54.30 ⇓ 1.45% | 54.57 | 55.20 / 53.50 CEMENT HEIDELBCEM | 22.85 | 111.50 | Vol. 187180 D: 410.9 ⇓ 4.66% | 417.06 | 433.8 / 409.0 C: 411.8 ⇓ 3.92% | 417.73 | 424.0 / 408.0 CONFIDCEM | 6.23 | 90.76 | Vol. 260895 D: 126.7 ⇓ 3.36% | 128.02 | 134.0 / 123.5 C: 127.0 ⇓ 3.13% | 128.37 | 131.9 / 126.1 MEGHNACEM | 6.28 | 33.81 | Vol. 79200 D: 154.9 ⇓ 2.70% | 155.63 | 160.8 / 153.2 C: 154.5 ⇓ 1.97% | 154.66 | 157.0 / 153.5 ARAMITCEM | 3.03 | 14.65 | Vol. 143015 D: 80.70 ⇓ 4.83% | 82.60 | 85.80 / 80.00 C: 81.50 ⇓ 3.44% | 81.53 | 81.60 / 81.50 LAFSURCEML | 1.60 | 7.22 | Vol. 920000 D: 33.70 ⇓ 1.75% | 33.92 | 34.40 / 33.70 C: 33.80 ⇓ 1.74% | 34.00 | 34.40 / 33.80 MICEMENT | 4.14 | 40.00 | Vol. 265190 D: 93.10 ⇓ 0.11% | 92.89 | 102.0 / 85.00 C: 92.60 ⇑ 0.33% | 92.31 | 93.00 / 91.60 PREMIERCEM | 3.59 | 22.92 | Vol. 156800 D: 110.5 ⇓ 3.32% | 111.65 | 115.0 / 110.0 C: 110.5 ⇓ 4.25% | 112.08 | 117.0 / 108.6 IT IINDUSTRIES ISNLTD | 0.28 | 17.31 | Vol. 459012 D: 24.20 ⇑ 10.00% | 24.10 | 24.20 / 21.00 C: 24.70 ⇑ 9.78% | 24.68 | 24.70 / 23.00 BDCOM | 1.00 | 14.91 | Vol. 1131863 D: 27.10 ⇑ 1.88% | 27.44 | 28.30 / 24.00 C: 27.00 ⇑ 1.12% | 27.19 | 28.30 / 26.50 INTECH | 0.94 | 10.08 | Vol. 820810 D: 19.10 ⇑ 9.77% | 18.99 | 19.10 / 15.80 C: 19.20 ⇑ 9.71% | 19.12 | 19.20 / 18.60 AGNISYSL | 1.07 | 25.52 | Vol. 590032 D: 25.30 ⇓ 0.39% | 26.09 | 26.80 / 23.80 C: 25.40 ⇑ 0.00% | 25.61 | 26.00 / 25.20

GENERAL INSURANCE BGIC | 1.65 | 20.33 | Vol. 40638 D: 29.00 ⇓ 0.68% | 29.18 | 30.20 / 27.70 C: 28.90 ⇓ 0.69% | 29.05 | 29.50 / 28.90 GREENDELT | 4.05 | 64.44 | Vol. 45146 D: 102.2 ⇓ 3.04% | 104.00 | 107.4 / 95.00 UNITEDINS | 2.47 | 21.04 | Vol. 17627 D: 48.30 ⇑ 5.00% | 47.82 | 48.50 / 45.00 PEOPLESINS | 2.05 | 20.72 | Vol. 26850 D: 26.50 ⇓ 1.49% | 26.63 | 27.10 / 24.50 EASTERNINS | 2.22 | 35.88 | Vol. 14400 D: 38.60 ⇓ 1.78% | 38.71 | 39.00 / 38.50 C: 37.70 ⇓ 9.59% | 37.70 | 37.70 / 37.70 JANATAINS | 7.84 | 170.69 | Vol. 19643 D: 265.5 ⇑ 2.51% | 264.08 | 272.0 / 250.0 C: 268.8 ⇑ 0.37% | 262.88 | 269.0 / 260.0 PHENIXINS | 2.70 | 20.96 | Vol. 24462 D: 39.90 ⇓ 1.48% | 40.28 | 42.70 / 39.80 C: 39.00 ⇑ 1.30% | 39.00 | 39.00 / 39.00 EASTLAND | 4.06 | 23.29 | Vol. 103677 D: 47.30 ⇓ 1.46% | 47.61 | 48.50 / 43.20 C: 46.30 ⇓ 2.73% | 46.23 | 46.30 / 46.20 CENTRALINS | 1.54 | 19.04 | Vol. 17290 D: 27.70 ⇓ 1.77% | 27.91 | 28.20 / 27.00 C: 27.70 ⇓ 2.81% | 27.70 | 27.70 / 27.70 KARNAPHULI | 1.56 | 19.42 | Vol. 61180 D: 22.60 ⇓ 3.00% | 22.88 | 23.30 / 22.50 RUPALIINS | 2.76 | 23.38 | Vol. 91500 D: 32.50 ⇓ 2.11% | 32.60 | 33.50 / 31.00 C: 32.40 ⇓ 4.14% | 32.37 | 32.50 / 32.00 RELIANCINS | 3.93 | 61.52 | Vol. 8027 D: 73.80 ⇓ 0.27% | 73.86 | 74.00 / 70.00 PURABIGEN | 1.05 | 18.71 | Vol. 153200 D: 21.30 ⇓ 0.93% | 21.59 | 23.10 / 21.20 PRAGATIINS | 2.01 | 50.30 | Vol. 16600 D: 58.70 ⇓ 1.34% | 58.98 | 60.10 / 58.20 PRIMEINSUR | 2.14 | 14.14 | Vol. 43819 D: 30.90 ⇓ 4.33% | 31.32 | 32.20 / 30.70 C: 34.50 ⇑ 1.47% | 34.50 | 34.50 / 34.50 PIONEERINS | 3.11 | 23.84 | Vol. 113700 D: 69.60 ⇓ 3.33% | 70.28 | 74.00 / 67.00 NITOLINS | 2.59 | 15.41 | Vol. 11648 D: 33.70 ⇓ 2.88% | 33.82 | 34.10 / 33.00 ASIAPACINS | 1.84 | 13.76 | Vol. 20500 D: 28.30 ⇓ 2.08% | 28.31 | 28.80 / 28.00 C: 27.60 ⇓ 3.50% | 27.60 | 27.70 / 27.50 SONARBAINS | 1.68 | 13.38 | Vol. 59381 D: 23.90 ⇓ 1.24% | 24.00 | 24.60 / 21.90 PARAMOUNT | 1.26 | 13.19 | Vol. 130000 D: 23.90 ⇓ 1.24% | 23.79 | 24.40 / 23.40 C: 23.30 ⇓ 3.32% | 23.53 | 24.00 / 23.30 CITYGENINS | 1.65 | 14.26 | Vol. 80840 D: 26.00 ⇓ 1.52% | 26.24 | 26.80 / 25.30 C: 26.10 ⇓ 1.14% | 26.05 | 26.30 / 26.00 CONTININS | 1.41 | 15.68 | Vol. 41477 D: 32.40 ⇓ 3.86% | 32.94 | 36.40 / 31.00 C: 32.10 ⇓ 2.73% | 31.97 | 32.10 / 32.00 TAKAFULINS | 2.19 | 15.17 | Vol. 59565 D: 37.70 ⇓ 3.08% | 39.13 | 42.00 / 37.00 C: 37.40 ⇓ 3.11% | 39.45 | 41.50 / 37.20 STANDARINS | 2.58 | 13.99 | Vol. 13645 D: 38.00 ⇓ 4.52% | 38.03 | 39.30 / 37.00 NORTHRNINS | 1.77 | 11.15 | Vol. 116829 D: 42.80 ⇓ 2.51% | 42.78 | 44.00 / 39.60 C: 42.50 ⇓ 3.63% | 42.50 | 43.00 / 42.00 REPUBLIC | 2.14 | 12.42 | Vol. 97561 D: 50.50 ⇓ 1.56% | 50.93 | 52.00 / 50.30 C: 50.00 ⇓ 2.72% | 49.97 | 50.00 / 49.00 ASIAINS | 1.56 | 17.34 | Vol. 124369 D: 26.80 ⇓ 2.19% | 26.93 | 28.00 / 25.50 C: 26.80 ⇓ 2.90% | 26.90 | 27.10 / 26.80 ISLAMIINS | 1.29 | 11.96 | Vol. 5478 D: 30.20 ⇓ 3.82% | 30.12 | 31.00 / 28.30 PROVATIINS | 1.90 | 14.30 | Vol. 50443 D: 26.70 ⇓ 3.61% | 26.95 | 30.30 / 25.00 C: 28.00 ⇓ 1.06% | 27.58 | 28.00 / 25.50 DHAKAINS | 2.84 | 18.02 | Vol. 61425 D: 38.40 ⇓ 4.48% | 38.74 | 40.00 / 36.20 C: 38.20 ⇓ 6.14% | 38.15 | 38.50 / 38.00

LIFE INSURANCE NATLIFEINS | 12.34 | 80.99 | Vol. 10000 D: 247.6 ⇓ 1.94% | 250.16 | 252.5 / 245.0 C: 238.0 ⇑ 2.10% | 239.91 | 246.0 / 238.0 DELTALIFE | 38.53 | 189.40 | Vol. 6935 D: 6063 ⇑ 0.45% | 6096 | 6260 / 6012 C: 6110 ⇑ 1.75% | 6110 | 6110 / 6110 SANDHANINS | 2.39 | 28.22 | Vol. 27895 D: 70.30 ⇓ 1.26% | 70.51 | 72.30 / 70.10 C: 70.10 ⇓ 0.28% | 69.46 | 70.10 / 69.20 POPULARLIF | 3.70 | 715.41 | Vol. 14329 D: 166.5 ⇓ 0.12% | 166.35 | 168.0 / 160.0 FAREASTLIF | 9.21 | 60.79 | Vol. 80205 D: 95.30 ⇓ 1.45% | 95.88 | 105.0 / 95.00 C: 91.50 ⇓ 7.58% | 93.10 | 96.10 / 91.00 MEGHNALIFE | 10.82 | 48.87 | Vol. 43650 D: 101.2 ⇓ 3.07% | 102.20 | 104.2 / 100.1 C: 100.1 ⇓ 3.29% | 100.02 | 100.1 / 100.0 PROGRESLIF | 2.30 | 31.45 | Vol. 8000 D: 94.90 ⇓ 2.27% | 94.88 | 95.20 / 94.40 PRAGATILIF | 0.60 | 30.15 | Vol. 62500 D: 116.7 ⇓ 5.12% | 121.55 | 125.8 / 114.3 PRIMELIFE | 5.51 | 27.10 | Vol. 50360 D: 96.80 ⇑ 2.76% | 96.51 | 97.80 / 92.00 RUPALILIFE | 3.75 | 31.25 | Vol. 15000 D: 97.80 ⇓ 0.71% | 98.20 | 98.90 / 97.20 PADMALIFE | 1.63 | 25.76 | Vol. 59000 D: 60.90 ⇑ 2.01% | 60.69 | 61.40 / 60.00 C: 61.40 ⇑ 2.68% | 61.18 | 61.50 / 60.00 SUNLIFEINS | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 245550 D: 53.00 ⇓ 3.11% | 53.92 | 57.00 / 49.30 C: 53.90 ⇓ 2.00% | 53.92 | 54.10 / 53.50 TELECOM GP | 12.96 | 26.26 | Vol. 452400 D: 190.5 ⇓ 2.36% | 192.10 | 196.5 / 190.0 C: 191.1 ⇓ 1.85% | 192.07 | 197.9 / 190.5 BSCCL | 6.69 | 30.34 | Vol. 714220 D: 258.2 ⇓ 0.77% | 260.13 | 265.0 / 245.0 C: 258.1 ⇓ 0.15% | 259.73 | 267.0 / 256.5 TRAVEL & LEISURE UNITEDAIR | 1.10 | 12.87 | Vol. 5583083 D: 19.10 ⇓ 1.55% | 19.25 | 19.70 / 17.90 C: 19.10 ⇓ 1.55% | 19.27 | 19.70 / 19.00 UNIQUEHRL | 4.02 | 86.29 | Vol. 415790 D: 86.80 ⇓ 1.92% | 87.45 | 89.80 / 79.70 C: 86.70 ⇓ 1.70% | 87.16 | 89.00 / 86.10 MISCELLANEOUS ARAMIT | 16.07 | 99.93 | Vol. 14550 D: 317.6 ⇓ 1.21% | 320.69 | 344.0 / 315.0 C: 301.1 ⇓ 8.31% | 301.10 | 301.1 / 301.1 BSC | 1.77 | 565.82 | Vol. 127120 D: 579.8 ⇓ 4.17% | 589.30 | 610.0 / 577.0 C: 579.8 ⇓ 3.77% | 587.78 | 603.8 / 577.0 GQBALLPEN | 6.55 | 250.45 | Vol. 164710 D: 158.8 ⇓ 3.35% | 159.64 | 167.0 / 154.9 C: 158.9 ⇓ 2.81% | 160.05 | 169.0 / 157.1 USMANIAGL | 0.50 | 26.03 | Vol. 150290 D: 163.2 ⇓ 5.23% | 165.74 | 173.1 / 160.0 C: 162.4 ⇓ 6.18% | 167.19 | 173.0 / 161.2 SAVAREFR | 0.23 | 12.32 | Vol. 1700 D: 86.40 ⇓ 8.96% | 86.47 | 87.00 / 85.50 BEXIMCO | 3.24 | 86.74 | Vol. 1161422 D: 32.20 ⇓ 1.23% | 32.39 | 33.50 / 29.40 C: 32.30 ⇓ 0.92% | 32.41 | 33.00 / 32.20 SINOBANGLA | 1.75 | 21.01 | Vol. 239500 D: 23.70 ⇑ 0.00% | 24.17 | 25.50 / 23.50 C: 23.60 ⇓ 0.84% | 23.69 | 24.50 / 22.30 MIRACLEIND | 0.14 | 14.90 | Vol. 286300 D: 19.30 ⇑ 2.12% | 19.55 | 20.30 / 17.50 C: 19.80 ⇑ 4.76% | 19.76 | 20.30 / 19.20 BOND IBBLPBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 100 D: 954.5 ⇓ 0.05% | 950.00 | 960.0 / 950.3 ACIZCBOND | 0.00 | 1000.00 | Vol. 62 D: 870.5 ⇑ 0.06% | 862.07 | 879.0 / 870.0 C: 856.0 ⇓ 0.17% | 856.00 | 856.0 / 856.0 BRACSCBOND | 0.00 | 0.00 | Vol. 50 D: 1100 ⇑ 0.00% | 1100 | 1100 / 1100

8

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2013

‘Service excellence is of more value to us than dissatisfied customers’ Mahmudul Hasan Sohag, a resourceful and visionary entrepreneur with an undying thirst for knowledge, shares his tales of Rokomari.com with Mehrab Al Islam Tell us about your career.

It started while I was an undergrad student in Buet. I was always enterprising. Be it business or social work I was very much involved. Coming from a village, my partner and classmate Liton and I had to struggle to earn a living while study at the same time.

As a solution, we started with just Tk12000, under the name Onnorokom; it has been 12 years since.

Tell us how you came up with the idea of online business, Rokomari.

We have been thinking about e-commerce for quite some time now. Considering the traffic and the hustle, e-commerce seemed a solution to bypass the congestion during shopping.

One and half years ago, we initiated our new venture Rokomari.com. The initial idea of selling books were to make them available all around the country, especially in remote areas and catering the reading habit. Reading not only increases knowledge, it inspires creativity, purity, moral building, critical thinking, imagination, and vision.

Amazon and Wikipedia have heavily influenced us; they were the pioneers of the idea.

Designation: Chairman, OnnoRokom Group Education: Electrical & Electronic Engineering, BUET

Interests: Reading, Watching documentaries

‘In the beginning, one should consider starting out small and being localised or regional, analyse estimated expenditures and returns, be optimistic, understand the consumer psychology, and most importantly, make the most of the available human capital’

What are the added benefits of subscribing to Rokomari?

With cash on delivery system, there is little need for added benefits. Any customer can cancel an order after receiving the book, if he or she finds the item not up to his satisfaction.

As for discounts, we offer quite a few around the year, to commemorate specific events like Bhasha Dibosh, Pohela Boishakh, and the birth and death anniversaries of various writers.

The review section is also gaining popularity these days as you actually read what other people thought about the book.

About opportunities of online shopping in Bangladesh.

There is huge market potential for online shopping and e-commerce in Bangladesh.

It’s only natural that a static object will initially require a lot of energy to gain momentum. E-commerce still requires that nourishment from it’s respective media’s popularising the idea as sought to be useful and promote worthy to gain momentum.

However, after the initial stages repetitive orders do come from most of the customers and the business flows.

What are the biggest challenges of online business in Bangladesh? How do one need to prepare for starting one?

Creating awareness, I would say, is the biggest challenge. Then comes delivery on time.

Though there are many online payment systems and positive government interventions, they are yet to gain people’s trust.

Where do you see rokomari.com 5 years from now?

The primary goal for us is totally satisfying all our customers. We are not high in number, nevertheless service excellence is of more value to us than a pool of dissatisfied customers.

What’s next for rokomari.com? Any plan for expansion?

We have recently enlisted music and other CD/DVD’s to our product list and we are interested in diversifying our catalogue.

Rather than creating a need, we would like to stick to our theme of catering to needs.

Perhaps burning needs like medical or agroproducts might be our cup of tea. Nothings decided yet however.

Any favourite quote for our readers?

“Falling down is not defeat, defeat is when someone refuses to get up.” – Chinese proverb.

What’s next in your career?

Working with education. Already we have initiated a program at a Mirpur 11 slum, where we help a local school there. With the vision of introducing alternative education, we eagerly provide logistic, idea and financial support to the schools. l

India’s growth to improve in second half: Manmohan Singh n BSS Asserting that the fundamentals of the Indian economy are strong, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said GDP will improve in the second half of fiscal 2013-14 and that the government is commitment to get back to a sustainable growth rate of 8-9%.

Addressing investors here, Singh said the government willcontain the fiscal deficit at 4.8 per cent of GDP and work towards achieving the medium-term objective of reducing the current account deficit (CAD) to 2.5% of GDP.

“The results of our efforts will be visible in the second half of the year. We expect stronger growth in 2013-14 than in 2012-13. The second half of the year should see a distinct turnaround, partly because of the good monsoon and partly because of the steps we have taken,” he said.

The Indian economy grew at a four-year low of 4.4% in the April-June quarter. In 2012-13, it clocked a decade low level of growth at 5%.

“It is a fact that our growth rate has slowed down. We grew at an average of about 8% for a decade. Last year, our growth rate dipped to 5%.

To some extent, this reflects the slowdown in the

global economy and in all emerging markets,” Singh said. The government, he said, is committed to getting India back to a sustainable growth path of 8-9%. “The fundamentals of the Indian economy remain strong ... Our forex reserves stand at over $270bn and are more than sufficient to meet India’s external financing requirements,” Singh said.

In order to promote growth, India has taken a host of initiatives, including formation of the Cabinet Committee on Investment to expedite approvals for large infrastructure projects.

It relaxed foreign direct investment (FDI) norms in various sectors, including retail, telecom

and aviation.

“FDI limits have been increased in several sectors and restrictions in the banking sector have been eased. The policy regarding FDI in defence has been clarified to indicate that FDI beyond 26% can also be considered on merit,” he said.

Singh said the government will endeavour to meet the budgetary fiscal deficit target of 4.8% of GDP. For the current fiscal, the CAD target is 3.7% of GDP or $70bn. “We will make every effort to maintain a macro-economic framework friendly to foreign capital inflows to enable orderly financing of the CAD,” he said. l