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SECOND EDITION
n Kailash Sarkar
Police are publicising photos of Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh leaders Salehin and Boma Mizan, as the law enforcement and intelligence agencies failed to recapture them three days after their daring escape from police custody. Police think the freed JMB leaders are part of a bigger plan to reorganise the banned militant outfit and launch more violence nationwide. Jalal Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury, assistant inspector general of police (AIG Media), yesterday said computer-generated mug-shots of the JMB leaders had been created for publicity so that anybody spotting them could inform the authorities. The police headquarters had announced a bounty of Tk5 lakh for the capture of any of the two JMB leaders. Three top JMB leaders death-row
Computer-generated mugshots of JMB operatives Salauddin Salehin, top left, and Zahidul Islam, bottom left, that police released yesterday so people could identify and inform the authorities convicts Salauddin Salehin and Rakib Hasan alias Hafez Mahmud alias Rasel, and Saidul Islam alias BomaMizan, who was serving a life sentence were hijacked from a prison van by fellow JMB men on February 23 while the three were being transferred to a Mymensingh jail from Gazipur. A policeman was killed in the incident. Rakib was recaptured within six hours of the incident and killed in a gunfight with the law enforcers early Monday. Police arrested three more JMB operatives, including the driver of one of the microbuses used in the hijacking, and the drivers wife. The police claimed to have seized nine firearms, around 50 bullets, eight magazines and two microbuses. They also claimed to have retrieved a list of JMB members detained in different jails and details of their families
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fraudsters Mohammad Noman and M Enamul Kazi from the capital by tracking their mobile phone numbers. The two arrestees confessed to the officials of the ACC that there were two more people in their group with one Mithu being the mastermind. ACC Deputy Director Lutfor Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that they had seized fake appointment letters with monogram and seals of the ACC, two passports, Tk46, 032, three mobile seam cards, two debit cards and some other stuff from the two. ACC officials also said some groups across the country are active in swindling money from people by using the names and reputation of the anti-graft body. Earlier, in July last year the commission received reports that a group of people using name of its former chairman Ghulam Rahman was extorting money from people by threatening them with graft charges. The group also opened bank accounts to commit the crime, officials said. The commission has found that swindlers are extorting money from innocent people through fake SIM cards, bank accounts and now through bKash account. ACC Deputy Director Pranab Kumer Bhattacharjee said whenever they receive such allegations they conduct
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BNP Jamaat rifts surface AL could convince a few rebels ahead of 2nd phase polls n
Emran Hossain Shaikh Al-Masum Molla n Mohammad and Manik Miazee
The ties between Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP see to be dwindling in recent times, the after the right wing Islamist party blamed the leaders of its alliance partner for obstructing campaigns before todays second phase of the upazila elections. Jamaat has also been reportedly reluctant to comprise with BNP In many of those 12 upazilas, the Jamaat-backed contenders challenged and defeated BNP leaders. Although the central leaders of both the parties have claimed that such local differences will not hamper mutual relations, rifts have been gradually surfacing in many areas, especially after the first phase of the polls. Reportedly, for tomorrows second phase of the polls in which a total of 117 upazilas around the country are voting, understanding between the parties has been only on papers. Around 28 Jamaat-backed candidates are vying for the chairman posts in the 117 upazilas. In the first phase, Jamaat candidates ran for 28 upazila parishads, out of which they came out winners in 12. In the second phase, BNP ranks are supporting local Jamaat-backed chairman contenders in only five upazilas. Jamaat insiders said considering the results in the first phase, the party believed that it would clinch more seats in this phase.
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The Awami League has achieved a little success in choosing one candidate for each upazila in tomorrows elections as in many places it is still facing difficulty handling rebel candidates backed by local lawmakers and some party men. A number of Awami League leaders said they had been successful in convincing a few rebel candidates in several upazilas for tomorrows elections to step down from the race as it was not possible for them to withdraw candidature now.
They said organisational action had been taken against the rebel candidates who had not agreed to withdraw from the polls. A number of Awami League leaders were expelled from the party for not abiding by party decision. A meeting of Awami League leaders last night decided to expel the rebel candidates and their followers and issue show-cause notices to lawmakers and district-level leaders concerned if they extended support to any such candidates. The meeting held at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban was attended by party
Presidium member and coordinator for conducting upazila parishad elections Obaidul Quader, Joint Secretary Jahangir Kabir Nanok and seven divisional organising secretaries. Sources said the meeting had discussed probable causes behind the party-backed candidates defeat in the first phase upazila polls and fixed the strategy for the next phases. An organising secretary told the Dhaka Tribune that the meeting had decided to issue show-cause notices to a few party MPs, including
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INSIDE
News
3 A senior minister and an AL Presidium member allege that some Dhaka-based diplomats are backing Islamist militants though in public they speak against militancy. 5 Every year in Bangladesh, over 93,000 babies die during childbirth or within 24 hours of being born, as nearly 20 lakh women have to give birth without a trained birth attendant.
Nation
6 The BNP Jamaat leaders and activists reportedly campaigned for an Awami League-backed chairman candidate in Kotalipara upazila.
Op-Ed
11 The crisis in Ukraine is apparently coming to a closure with the Ukraine parliament dismissing its president and the president reportedly gone to hiding.
Entertainment
12 A photography exhibition documenting the Rohingyas titled The Disowned and the Denied by acclaimed photographer Saiful Huq Omi is being showcased at the Dhaka Art Center from February 24 to 26.
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UPAZILA POLLS SECOND PHASE
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Indigenous people demand security of their lives from lawmaker Kujendralal Tripura in Khagrachhari yesterday
Focus Bangla
from a laptop of driver Zakaria Himel after the arrest of his wife Swapna Begum from their Gazipur house. Another detained JMB man was identified as Anwar Hossain Rasel. Police are interrogating Zakaria and Anwar in Tangail in remand. Gazipur police and Detective Branch of police are interrogating Swapna. Hasibul Alam, acting superintendent of police of Tangail district, told the Dhaka Tribune: The JMB operatives have disclosed that they were assigned to reorganise their banned organisation at any cost. Those found obstructing their ways would be killed. Quoting Zakaria, the acting SP said: The mission of the JMB is to reorganise the banned outfit through massive destructive activities, and
freeing of the three JMB leaders was part of that mission. Asked about the sources of the money used to purchase several microbuses and huge firearms, he said they were trying to extract information on the sources of their money, as well as their patronisers. Officials of two committees formed to probe the incident of snatching the JMB men yesterday visited the spot and talked to a number of witnesses. They also interrogated officials of jails in Gazipur where the JMB leaders had been detained. JMB leaders had allegedly used their own mobile phones inside jails to communicate with others in the outfit and masterminded the escape plan, while a section of Gazipur police is suspected to be involved in the escape. l
he served during the poll-time government. Mahmud Ali was not available for his comment. His Assistant Personal Secretary Gopal Chandra said he heard about Mahmud Alis inclusion in the cabinet. He may take oath on Wednesday [today]. A source close to lawmaker from Narshingdi Sadar constituency Nazrul Islam Hiru said the MP received a phone call from the cabinet division confirming his appointment as minister. Meanwhile, the cabinet division sources said former home minister
and Awami League law maker Rafiqul Islam, Jatiya Party presidium member GM Kader, also brother of HM Ershadand Secretary General of Jatiya Party ABM Ruhul Amin Hawlader may also take oath as new ministers. Of them, GM Kader may get his ministry on technocrat quota as per the desire of JP Chairman HM Ershad. When contacted, none of them confirmed that they had received any call or message from the cabinet division. Hawlader told the Dhaka Tribune that he would take decision after consulting with the party chairman if he receives any message in this regard. l
drives and try to bring the frauds under law. Earlier, we have received such allegations and we were able to trace the group and filed cases against them and the legal process is underway, he said. Since these people use unregistered SIM cards, it is quite tough to bring them under law, but the ACC is doing its best to bring them book, the official added. If anyone receives such phone calls or threats he/she should immediately bring the matter to the notice of the anti-graft body or inform the nearest
police station, he suggested. The commission on September 23 last year detained a fraud named Papia Akhter Poppy who demanded huge money from a businessman with the promise of acquitting him of charges of acquiring illegal wealth if the bribe is given. On information when the fraud came before the ACC head office the commission officials detained her and handed over her to the Ramna Police Station. On July 7, 2012, the Rapid Action Battalion arrested Ziaur Rahman and Md Israfil from capitals Rampura fol-
lowing an allegation that he took money promising people to acquit them of graft charges identifying themselves as ACC chairman Golam Rahman and his assistant private secretary. ACC Chairman M Bodiuzzaman told the Dhaka Tribune that people should not believe in such threats or phone calls since there is no provision of contacting with the accused over phone. We have asked our officials not to communicate with any of the accused or with those against whom allegations are under inquiry, the chairman said that there is no provision in the anti-graft bodys act to communicate
with the accused over phone. If any official needs to contact with the accused he/she has to serve a written notice to the permanent address of the person against whom allegations are under inquiry, he added. Since ordinary people are unaware of the legal provision, they believe in the statements made by cheats and easily fall victim to fraudulence, the chairman added. He, however, said whenever the commission receives such allegation it takes the matters seriously and immediately take effective measures.
Rezaul Karim Hira and Nurul Islam Sijon, for backing rebel candidates in the first phase polls. The Awami League issued a press release yesterday, declaring the expulsion of Naogaon Badalgachhi upazila units organisational secretary Eskander Mirza Bachchu and treasurer Shamsul Alam Khan; Manikganj Sadar upazila units president Jalal Uddin Ahmed and women secretary Saleha Islam; Mymensingh Sadar upazila units Afaz Sarker and Foysur Rahman Fakir; and Noakhali Sonaimuri upazila units Ruhul Amin. We have taken several strategies to ensure one candidate in each upazila and in some cases we have got success, Khalid Mahmud, organisation secretary of the partys central committee and coordinator for upazila polls in Rangpur division, said. Issuing a note of warning, he said if anyone did not follow party instruction, they would face organisational action. The ruling party has 57 such rebel candidates in 42 of 116 upazilas in the second phase of elections to be held tomorrow. The party has been able to convince several of them, but it did not reveal the names of those candidates
until yesterday. HazraDelwar Hossain had withdrawn from the race in Kochua upazila of Bagerhat, declaring his support for the party-backed candidate, SM Mahfuzur Rahman, said Sheikh KamruzzamanTuku, general secretary of Bagerhat district unit Awami League. Earlier, the party had convinced Sheikh Ahmad Ali to step down from the race in Fakirhat upazila in the district, he told the Dhaka Tribune. The Awami League had also been able to manage Saidur Rahman in Manikganj Sadar upazila through discussions in favour of Yusuf Ali, said district committee Secretary GaziKamrul Huda. He said they had also expelled two party men inthe upazila for not stepping down from the election. Naogaon district Awami League Secretary Abdul Malek said they had expelled all rebel candidates and their supporters in Atrai and Badalgachhi upazilas as per party instructions. Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury, organisation secretary of the partys central committee, said they were taking all possible measures to ensure victory of candidates chosen by the party although the party had many limitations to interfere in the local body election. l
Hefazat, Islamic scholars and the 19-party alliance, he said. Sources at Hathazari said the Hefazat leaders initially submitted nominations for both chairman and vice chairman posts, but withdrew candidacy for the chairman post following an understanding with the 19-party alliance. Hefazat leader Munir bagged 54,018 votes, while his nearest contender Akhter Hossain of ruling Awami League got only 18,601 votes for the vice-chairman post. Following the win at Hathazari, activists of Hefazat have now engaged in all-out efforts to secure the vice-chairman post in Patiya in the poll sched-
uled for tomorrow. Local sources said Hefazat central leaders, including its Secretary General Junaid Babunagari, have been working hard to pave the way for the victory of Anwar Hossain Rabbani in Patiya upazila. Sources also said Babunagari visited Patiya more than once in recent times, but chose to keep his activities limited to only briefing the local leaders on their course of action instead of taking part in public campaigning. According to local sources, the Patiya Madrasa - which has nearly five thousand students - has a strong influence in the area as a Hefazat stronghold, similar to the influence that Al-jamiatul Ahlia Darul Ulum Muinul
Islam (Hathazari madrasa) has at Hathazari. Hefazat leaders and activists as well as Islamic scholars have been working around the clock to secure a win in Patiya, Rabbani told the Dhaka Tribune, adding that he was confident of his victory, as voter response has been positive. The local BNP has also extended support to me, he claimed, but added that there were two rebel candidates of the party. Azizul Hoque Islamabadi, organising secretary of Hefazat, said they had not backed any candidate officially. However, a leader of the organisation won the vice-chairman post in Hathazari with a huge margin, which was a
victory for countrys Islamic scholars, he added. It is also a message to the government, Azizul said, adding that the leaders and activists of the organisation were highly inspired by the victory. Another leader of Hefazat said those who thought that Hefazat had been crippled after the crackdown in Dhakas Shapla Chattar would realise their mistake with the victory of the vice-chairman post in Hathazari. We are confident about winning the vice-chairman post of Patiya upazila too, he added. However, Hefazat Chief Ahmad Shafi claimed that the platform has not set any candidate for the upazila polls in a statement on Sunday. l
In two out of the three upazilas in Lalmonirhat that are voting in this phase, Jamaat contenders are challenging BNP-backed candidates. Shamsul Haque, nayeeb-e-ameer of Pathgram upazila unit Jamaat, said the BNP had refused to entertain their demands for leaving two seats for them in the district. That is why we are backing our candidates to contest the polls [in those two upazilas], Shamsul said. BNP used Jamaat only for movement but do not want to share power. So why should we compromise with them? he said. However, Hafizur Rahman Babla, general secretary of district unit BNP,
snubbed out the allegations saying Jamaat had not placed any demand. BNP and Jamaat are contesting the polls independently. In Natore, district unit Jamat leaders held a press conference yesterday claiming that their leaders and activists were barred from campaigning. According to a press release, on February 22, a meeting of the 19-party alliance leaders was held at the residence of Rajshahi Mayor Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul. In that meeting, local BNP leader Mizanur Rhaman Minu, also the regional election coordinator, assured Jamaat of backing Jamaat leader Yunus Ali as the candidate for Natore sadar upazila.
However, Natore district unit BNP President Ruhul Quddus Dulu did not follow the assurance given by the coordinator and instead asked Jamaat to support the BNP candidate in the upazila, the release said. When contacted, Dulu claimed that BNP acting secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir had said Dulus decision would be final in the upazila. In Kustia, elections will be held in three upazilas. Jamaat-backed contender Abdu Gafur will be contesting in the Mirpur upazila. Gafur said: I was the upazila chairman. So I am the fittest contender. I have repeatedly urged the BNP for compromise but they did not respond. We are very unhappy with BNPs un-
compromising attitude. However, BNP-backed candidate Abdul Haque said: We are organisationally sronger than Jamaat here. Jamaats popularity has slumped over the war crime issue. We have already won two chairmanship in the first phase of elections and will win here too. So why should we compromise? Nurul Islam Bulbul, a central leader of Jamaat, told the Dhaka Tribune: We are contesting the upazila parishad elections in alliance with the BNP. But there are rebel BNP candidates in some of the upazila who are creating problems for voters. He also accused some of the BNP candidates of following the 19-party central commands instructions. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
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BERC skips open meeting on power tariff to save time n Aminur Rahman Rasel
The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) has allegedly violated the law by fixing the date of a public hearing on retail electricity tariff proposal, without holding an open meeting. The hearing is supposed to be held during March 4-6 as per proposals submitted by five state-owned electricity distribution companies to raise retail power tariff rates, ranging between 8.59% and 23.50% per unit (each kilowatt-hour). However, BERC Chairman AR Khan had recently said: The final decision on their proposals would be made after holding an open meeting and a public hearing, They received fresh proposals from the distribution companies last week. When asked about the issue yesterday, the BERC chairman said the open meeting has been skipped to save time. Professor Samsul Alam, adviser to the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday that skipping the open meeting would be a breach of the law. It is a serious violation of law. According to the BERC act, they are bound to hold the open meeting, he said. After receiving proposals, the BERC normally holds an open meeting with the stakeholders to decide if they would approve the proposal or not. After that, they hold a public hearing to decide whether to bring changes on tariff. The Rural Electrification Board (REB) proposed a 12.58% hike; the West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited 8.59%; the Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO) 15.90%; the Dhaka Power Distribution Company Limited (DPDC) 23.50%; and the Power Development Board (PDB) proposed a 15.50% raise. They urged the BERC to make the proposed rate effective from March 1. The hearing for the PDB and West Zone Company would be held on March 4, for DPDC and DESCO on March 5, while hearing for REB would be held on March 6. Officials of the companies said they were seeking the increase in power tariff in order to prevent the companies from suffering huge losses. The BERC last increased the retail price of electricity by 15% from Tk5 to Tk5.75 per unit on September 20, 2012. l
The defense yesterday sought acquittal of death row war criminal Delawar Hossain Sayedee claiming that he was not present at Pirozpur during the Liberation War in 1971. Defense counsel SM Shahjahan claimed that Sayedee was in Jessore before the start of the war. But the plea of alibi was not considered in the verdict of the International Crimes Tribunal, he said. After the defenses argument, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam started arguing on behalf of the state relating to the charge of looting at Parerhat in Pirozpur. The defense earlier raised question about the tribunal decision to accept as depositions 15 witness statements given to the investigating officer. AG said the witnesses could not come to the tribunal as they were intimidated. The five-member bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain, will resume hearing today on the war crimes appeal case. Shahjahan told the Dhaka Tribune that they had completed the arguments on the facts yesterday and would rebut the states arguments if necessary. Chief defense counsel Abdur Razzaq, now out of the country, is expected to argue on legal points, he said. The International Crimes Tribunal handed down death penalty to Sayedee on February 28 last year. On March 28, the Jamaat leader lodged an appeal with the apex court seeking acquittal. The government also registered an appeal to specify the punishment in all the six charges that were proved at the tribunal.
As this is the time of cultivating Aman paddy a farmer is busy with irrigating his field. The photo was taken yesterday from Godagari of Rajshahi
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Alims Appeal
The same court yesterday ordered war criminal Abdul Alim to lodge concise statement by March 11. A concise statement includes the arguments relied upon for a case. On November 7, Alim lodged an appeal with the Appellate Division challenging the tribunal verdict that had sentenced him to imprisonment until death. l
Bhadralok Warriors
Bengal in the Great Waris the final panel of Alliance Franaises two-day conference titled War & Colonies, taking place at Senate Hall, University of Dhaka, today from 2:20-5:30pm. Four scholars from Bangladesh and India will present their papers, followed by a debate chaired by Professor Imtiaz Ahmed of the University of Dhaka. In effect these are lost histories, panelist Sqn Ldr (retd) Rana Chhina of USI Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research in New Delhi told the Dhaka Tribune. Because it is part of colonial history, after we became independent, we did not want to talk about it. India played a significant role in both world wars. In WWII, the Indian army, of 2.5 million men, was the largest volunteer army in history of human conflict. In WWI we sent 1.4 million men. Ranas panel Bhadralok Warriors: The Bengali Military Experience in the First World War, is the first talk of the panel, and looks at the role played in
Conference to present scholarship on Bengals colonial heritage the war by the Bengali elite, who had n Rumana Habib applied political pressure on the British
to be allowed to participate. The British by then were very firmly entrenched in the martial races theory, which believed that only certain classes of people were warlike and competent to become soldiers. Rana explains. The one class they were very sure they didnt want as soldiers were Bengalis, because they had a very high level of political consciousness, and of course because of the 1857 uprising. About presenting this topic to a Dhaka audience, Rana commented: Bangladesh itself is living proof, if proof was required, that the entire British myth of the non-martial Bengali was rubbish. Bengali volunteers served in the 49th Bengali Regiment, and with distinction in other arenas, which are explored in the subsequent panel discussions. The second talk is Captain Kalyan Kumar Mukhopadhyay, A Bengali Officer in Mesopotamia. Dr Kaushik Roy from Jadavpur University in Kolkata will present a translation and commen-
lice guards and whisked away the three convicted activists of Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh at Signboard Amirabari area on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway while they were being taken to Mymensingh from Kashimpur Jail in Gazipur on Sunday morning. The three-member committee formed by the home ministry visited the place yesterday around noon, said Muklesur Rahman, sub-inspector of Trishal police station. l
Indian soldiers working on the construction site of a British airfield in Nancy, France, February 1918 ECPAD tary on the only available biographyof an officer in the specialized Bengali Indian Medical Service unit on a floating riverboat hospital, compiled from letters he sent home from the front.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Female immigrants to Hong Kong hold a press conference at the Dhaka Reporters Unity yesterday
Six remanded for killing Jubo League man n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong
A Chittagong court yesterday granted a two-day remand for six Jubo League men accused in the murder case of Humayun Kabir Murad, also a member of Jubo Leagues Chittagong unit. Metropolitan Magistrate Judge Syed Mashfiqul Islam passed the order yesterday after the investigation officer of the case sought a five-day remand, said court sources. The six accused are Jubo League Central Committee member Ali Hossain, and activists Khokon Chandra Tati, Ziaul (alias Sohag), Md Masum, Md Suman and Saiful. Murad, 35, son of SM Shahnewaz, resident of Railway Colony in the Tiger Pass area of the port city, was hacked to death by rival group members in the citys Ambagan area on October 28 last year. A case was lodged against 11 individuals with Khulshi police station in this connection on October 29. Through primary investigations, police found that Murad was killed over previous enmity regarding a bill board business and extortion in the area. l
WEATHER
DHAKA TRIBUNE
PRAYER TIMES
Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha 5:08am 6:23am 12:12am 4:22pm 5:59pm 7:15pm
Source: IslamicFinder.org
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Report: 93,000 babies die each year Cross-examination because of absence of trained midwives of plaintiff Prakash
HIMU MURDER CASE
n Moniruzzaman Uzzal
Every year in Bangladesh, over 93,000 babies die during childbirth or within 24 hours of being born, only because nearly 20 lakh women have to give birth without the presence of a trained birth attendant. The findings were revealed yesterday in a report titled Ending Newborn Deaths, prepared by childrens aid agency Save the Children. According to the report, half of the first-day deaths and stillbirths around the world including Bangladesh could be prevented if the mother and baby had free healthcare and a skilled midwife. Globally, 2.2 million children die each year during childbirth or within the first day of life; and 40 million women around the world receive no healthcare support to deliver their babies.
Dr Arefin Amal Islam, deputy director (newborn health) of Save the children, told the Dhaka Tribune that thousands of babies especially newborns died each year in the country, despite Bangladesh being able to reduce maternal mortality by 40% in the last decade. He said according to Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey 2011, the death rate of under-five children (per 1,000 live birth) in Bangladesh was 53. Among the total number of child death, 75% children died within one week, including 50% who died within 24 hours of their birth. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Save the Children and other organisations have taken necessary initiatives to stop newborn deaths (day 1 to 28 days), in a bid to reduce the under-five children death rate. Bangladesh has set a target to reduce child death from 53 (per 1,000 live
birth) to 20 within 2035. To achieve the target, four necessary interventions have been introduced, which include applying chlorhexidine antiseptic after cutting the umbilical cord, providing corticosteroids to women who would give preterm birth, ensuring kangaroo mother care (to keep underweight baby at mothers lap like kangaroo) and making antibiotics more easily available at union-level. The health ministry has reportedly been preparing four separate guidelines in this regard. In a press release yesterday, Michael McGrath, country director for Save the Children in Bangladesh, said: The first moments of a childs life are the most dangerous, yet too many mothers give birth without any skilled help. It is criminal that many of these 93,000 deaths annually in Bangladesh could be averted simply by having
someone around to make sure the birth took place safely and knew what to do in a crisis, he added. Bangladesh has made impressive progress on child mortality in recent years and was on track to achieve its United Nations Millennium Development Goal target of reducing child mortality by two-thirds by 2015. Despite impressive progress in child health, one in 35 children are still dying during childbirth or in its first day of life. Ending all preventable newborn deaths will require concerted effort in strengthening the overall health system to ensure that the poor do not have to pay for high quality health services that they need, said McGrath. Asked about the new research Dr Arefin said the findings of the research have come out through various studies that were done in Bangladesh on child death. l
continues
n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong
The first prosecution witness in the Himu murder case, Prakash Das Asit, was cross-examined by the defence counsel before a Chittagong court yesterday. Khorshed Alam Chowdhury, counsel for the accused, Zahidul Islam Shaon, cross-examined the plaintiff before Chittagong Metropolitan Sessions Judge SM Mojibur Rahman in the presence of three of the five indicted in the case. Later, the case proceedings were adjourned until today. Among the accused, Shah Selim Tipu, Shahadat Hossain Shaju and Zahidul Islam Shaon appeared before court, while Junaid Ahmed Riad and
Mahbub Ali Khan Danny are on the run. Himdri Majumder Himu, 18, an A level student of Summerfield School and College, was allegedly pushed off the roof of a four-story building in Panchlaish Residential Area on April 27, 2012. His friends who are accused of his murder allegedly set ferocious German Doberman dogs upon him. Himu succumbed to his injuries 26 days later in Dhaka. A case was lodged with Panchlaish police station accusing the five in this regard. The court, after four times deferring the case, framed charges against the five accused on February 3, while the charge sheet of the case was submitted before the court on September 30, 2012. l
Students of the JU hold a cultural programme on the campus yesterday as a part of their on-going movement to recover halls grabbed by influential quarters
Youth on the run gets death sentence for killing aunt and cousin n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong
A Chittagong court yesterday sentenced a youth to death and fined him Tk10,000 for the murder of his aunt and cousin. The same court also sentenced him to a life term on charges of hacking another girl during the incident, court sources said. Judge of the Speedy Trial Tribunal in Chittagong, Reza Tareque Ahmed, passed the verdict against convict Amir Hossain, 25, in absentia. He is on the run after taking bail from the High Court. According to the case documents, Amir hacked Nilufar Begum and her daughter Smriti at their residence in Gaosia union in Swandip on July 7, 2011 after Nilufar refused to lend him Tk3,000. l
Opposition party candidates criticised the government, making allegations of corruption, lawlessness, and a politicised administration
According to sources, there are a total seven candidates- two for chairperson, two for male vice chairman and 3 for female vice chairperson. The candidates are vying for votes from 131,383 voters who will cast their ballots at 66 voting centres with 376 polling booths. The fight will be between BNP and Awami League (AL) backed candidates. On Monday, the candidates were very busy campaigning for votes from the voters. In the campaign, both local and national issues were given priority. When they talked on local issues, candidates gave priority to development of the upazila, including the expansion of communication, education, health, and sanitation facilities. The ruling party candidates also stressed the importance of the role of pro-liberation forces, as well as highlighting development activities carried out under the present government and
Chhatra League men jailed for attempting to snatch tender box n Our Correspondent, Satkhira
A mobile court sentenced two Chhatra League leaders imprisonment yesterday in connection with an attempt of snatching away tender box. The leaders were identified as Munnaf Hossain Shimpu, nephew of former MP Engineer Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and Fazlur Rahman, son of Abul Hossain of Kholishkhali village. Police said they tried to snatch away a tender box of Bazar (local market) lease at 11am yesterday from the Patkelghata land office. Then, officials and staffs of the land office captured Shimpu and Fazlur and handed over to police. Afterwards, a mobile court gave them six months jail. l
Students of Eden Girls College hold a protest rally in the city yesterday, demanding measures to upgrade the college as a university
SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Nation
Local sources said Kotalipara municipal BNP leader Oliar Rahman, elder brother of district Chhatra Shibir President Rubel Howlader, had remained absconding for long as he was accused in several cases. Recently, he was found campaigning for AL candidate Howlader, which local people are considering as harmful for local politics. Moreover, people of Hindu community expressed their anxiety as Jamaat men were still remain in politics in the name of campaign. Besides, Kotalipara upazila BNP General Secretary Abul Bashar Howlader and other BNP leaders and activists were also campaigning for ALbacked Hawlader. Mujibur Rahman Hawlader refuted the allegation saying his opponent candidate brought false allegations against him.
The BNP Jamaat is not working for me. Oliar Howalder is not working for me either, he said. Hemayet Uddin Bir Bikram, who is an influential leader at the upazila, apprehended that although Hawladerwas a good person but he could be defeated in the election as his image had been tarnished by Jamaat men at his campaign rally. There is also an allegation that some candidates are violating electoral code of conduct, but the authorities concerned keep mum for mysterious reason. Some candidates are using digital signboards and banners for poll campaigning, which is directly prohibited by the Election Commission. Asked about it, Hawlader acknowledged the violation of electoral code of conduct.
Other candidates are campaigning by using vehicles. But I have not personally violated electoral code of conduct. My supporters might have violated it, said Hawlader. Kotalipara Upazila Executive Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Md Mikail said, no one has made complaints against it. We will take action if we get allegations. Meanwhile, vice chairman candidate in Gopalganj Tasvirul Huda Babu was attacked during his poll campaigning. Police and local sources said perpetrators had attacked Babus activist Hurmut Biswas on Monday night at Char Suktail village of Sadar upazila. The attackers vandalised two vehicles in which five people sustained injuries. Later, police took the situation under control. l
A protest rally was held in Rangpur city yesterday, demanding fair prices of potatoes
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Date: 23-02-2014
Sealed tenders are hereby invited from enlisted contractors of LGED as dened in the tender documents for the under mentioned works as per terms and conditions stated below: List of Work Sl. Package Name of Works Tender Time for Price of No No. Security Completion tender (Tk) (month) document (Tk.) 1 PD/PRP(Infra)/ Imp. Of Char Ubuti Munshi Nur Moham- 1,37,000/9 month 2,000/Laxmipur/W-01 mad Road & Hazi Abdul Hoque Road (Ch. 00-1200m), ID No-451434004 under 17 No Bhabanigonj UP under Sadar Upazila, Dist. Laxmipur. 2 PD/PRP(Infra)/ Imp. Of Yousufpur Govt. Pry. School to 1,06,000/9 month 1,000/Laxmipur/W-02 Hazirpul Road (Ch. 00-1000m), ID No451435028 under Sadar Upazila, Dist. Laxmipur. 1 Name of Project PRP (Infra) 2 Source of Fund GOB 3 Procurement Method Open Tender Method (OTM) 4 Date, Time and place of Date: 09-03-2014 Time 11.00 AM. pre-tender Meeting Place: Ofce of the undersigned 5 Last date, time and places Date: 23-03-2014 Time 5.00 PM. of Selling tender documents Place: (1) Ofce of the Project Director, PRP(Infa), LGED, 62 west Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207. (2) Ofce of the undersigned (3) Ofce of the Deputy Commissioner, District: Laxmipur. (4) Ofce of the Superintendent of Police, District: Laxmipur. (5) Ofce of the Executive Engineer, LGED, Noakhali. (6) Ofce of the Upazila Engineer, LGED, Sadar, District: Laxmipur. 6 Last date, time and places Date: 24-03-2014 Time 12.00 AM. of receiving tender Place: (1) Ofce of the undersigned (2) Ofce of the Deputy Commissioner, District : Laxmipur. (3) Ofce of the Superintendent of Police, District: Laxmipur. (4) Ofce of the Upazila Engineer, LGED, Sadar, District: Laxmipur. 7 Date, time and place of Date: 24-03-2014 Time 3.00 PM. opening of tender Place: Ofce of the undersigned 8 Tender shall be valid for a period of ninety (90) days after tender opening and must be accompanied by the Tender Security specied above. Interested Tenderer may obtain further information from the ofce of the undersigned and purchase the Tender Documents in cash/treasury chalan/bank draft from the places mentioned above. The Tenderer or their authorized representatives are allowed to attend the opening of Tenders. The authority reserves the right to accept or reject any or all the tenders without assigning any reasons whatsoever. This invitation for tender is available at the website www.lged.gov.bd (Forkan Ahmed Khan) Executive Engineer LGED, Laxmipur.
GC-17/14 (3"3)
GC-18/14 (10"4)
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Long Form
n Shazia Omar
s a woman and a mother, nothing seems more ghastly and utterly avoidable to me than child marriage. I read the statistics, same as all of you, but the words didnt quite hit home till I met Reena*. She came to me to ask for help. I work at a livelihoods programme that builds human capacity to help people climb out of extreme poverty. As such, it isnt unusual for someone to approach me for support. What was unusual was her age. She was a sprightly sixteen-year-old; a bright-eyed, beauty from Mymensingh. With a pleading smile, she asked if I could find her a job. I scolded her and said she should be in school. Its the lack of skills that lead to low
husbands passed away, abandoned or divorced them. School stipends for girls have helped improve the statistics, but in reality, most of these girls are still without any marketable skills. I asked her why she dropped out so young, was it an illness of a bread-earning parent, or a flood perhaps that pushed them into poverty? She said, she was married off at 10. Why, I asked, appalled. She explained that she had two brothers at the time, one who was eight and one who was one. Rakib, her eight-year-old brother, was a key earning member of the family. He sold cigarettes and tea on the roadside while their father worked at a nearby rice mill and their mother took care of the baby and the home. Shortly after Eid one year, Rakib and two of his friends decided to take a bus to a Desperation of parents is one major reason behind child marriages He never returned. They put an ad in the papers, informed the local police station and searched for months, with no luck. Reenas grief-stricken mother collapsed emotionally and psychologically, and is still not normal. At this point in the story, my eyes started watering. The fear of losing a child is one Im sure all parents can relate to. The horrible reality of losing a child is one I wish upon no one! Unable to afford to feed the family on only his income, Reenas father decided she would be safer and better looked after with someone else. A village friend had frequently expressed her interest in Reena for her son, Harun, so an agreement was made. With a dowry of 10,000 taka, Reena would marry the son, who was already 22, and her mother-in-law (Amma) would raise her as if she were her own daughter. The first year was alright. Reena missed her parents, her baby brother and her lost brother, but she got along well with Amma and with her sisterin-law (Bhabi) who was several years older. Harun, and Haruns older brother (Bhabis husband) were daily labourers and they hardly interacted with the girls. When I asked Reena to describe Harun to me, she said he was hairy and frightening and he never smiled. She called him Chacha, (uncle), and tried to stay clear of him. Over the years, Ammas affection became sterner and more demanding. Reena ate more food than Amma had expected and so Reenas father was asked to contribute to the family costs. The dowry, Amma reasoned, had been too small. Reena was made to wash clothes, fetch water, cook and help with other household chores. Only 11, she would watch other children playing and walking to school, but that was not her life. Still, she says, Bhabi had a little boy (Babu) whom she loved very much and the two of them would play together when she had completed her chores, so life was tolerable. Then one day, a year later, Reena was chopping vegetables, when she noticed a pool of blood by her foot. She screamed and cried and yanked off her shalwar, thinking perhaps a leech had attached itself to her thigh. Amma realised what had happened and asked Bhabi to show her how to prepare a cotton pad for herself using an old sari. Reena didnt have any old saris and neither did Bhabi, so her grumbling mother-in-law tore off a piece from one of her tattered discards. Bhabi explained to Reena that bleeding happened to girls when they hit womanhood and she must prepare her own pads henceforth because no one had time to prepare them for her. Reenas parents had never spoken to her about menstruation or puberty and so the bleeding, the cramps, the angry mother-in-law and impatient bhabi were all a bit much to bear. Reena went to bed early, feeling distraught. Reena used to sleep between Amma and Babu in one room of their mud hut, while bhabi and her husband slept in the other. Harun used to sleep on the floor in front of the door. As Reena waited for her motherin-law to come to bed, she wondered what her little lost brother was up to, somewhere else in the world, under the same sky That night, Amma and Babu never came to bed. Instead, shortly after dinner, Harun crawled into bed. Reena was confused and scared. When Harun began pulling off her clothes and touching her, she started screaming to Amma to save her. To her, Harun was a hairy monster who was now hurting her. Harun slapped her a few times and told her to shut up, but she kept crying. She was loud, so Harun then pushed a pillow over her face to muffle her cries. She could hardly breathe. He then raped her. With the pillow on her face. And once it was done, he turned his back to her, and snored. Reena bled and cried and bled and cried all night long and as she told me her story, I too wept and wept and wept. But what good are our tears? With the early rays of dawn, Reena snuck out of her home and got on the next bus out of town. She took the bus straight to Dhaka, where her aunt lived in a slum. Luckily, she had her aunts number. She made it to her aunts house in a bleeding mess and swore to never return to Harun again. Her parents came to know of the situation and tried to calm her down. Her mother-in-law told Harun off for being impatient. He could have been a little more gentle she explained. But the damage was done. Reena was psychologically traumatised and had no interest in returning to her husband. Instead, she found work in Dhaka, as a maid, for a few months, till her belly started to balloon. As it turned out, Reena had a daughter, whom she named Akhi. Akhi is now five years old (and looked after by Reenas half-mad mother). Reena, 16, is still a maid. What can we do for Reena? And for her vulnerable daughter? And for the millions of other precious darling girls who are going to be married off this year alone? 65% of our girls are married off before the age of 18. 35% before the age of 15. These statistics are horrific. The law is clear. 1929 Child Marriage Restraint Act says no marriage before 18 (girls) or 21 (boys). However, it is an ancient law that has not been updated, nor is it enforced. If the law is broken, or the fine (Tk1000) is paid, then nothing is done. Once married, even if to an underaged girl, sexual intercourse without consent is not considered a punishable offense. Let us explore why child marriage is still a predominant practice in Bangladesh despite the numerous efforts to fight it. Firstly, sheer poverty disables families from providing for their daughters. In desperation, parents may marry off their girls. The lack of security for young girls in villages is another reason parents cite for marrying their daughters off young. Mothers of sons also seem to think younger girls are more malleable i.e. easier to oppress. As such, younger girls are easier to marry off, and cheaper, to boot. Dowries for younger girls need not be as high as for older girls, especially if the man she is marrying is disabled! Furthermore, womens lack of ability to demand rights in any legal framework also points to the failures of the state to protect its poorest, most marginalised citizens. None of the religions have done much to protect girls from this travesty either. PLAN and ICDDRBs survey last year points to a lack of education as a strong factor associated with Bangladeshs high levels of child marriage. Furthermore, marriage under the age of 18 also deprives girls of their right to education.
REUTERS
The lack of security for young girls in villages is another reason parents cite for marrying their daughters off young
wage employment for our women, I explained. She said she had dropped out of school when she was ten. This is not uncommon. Among our beneficiaries, only 5.8% of women have studied beyond grade 5 according to our baseline survey (shiree CMS 1 Phase 1), while 88% of female household heads received no schooling and are now sole breadwinners after their
nearby movie hall to celebrate, with the little bit of cash they had stashed away. The two boys, who were older than Rakib, returned that night, without him. They said they had lost him at the movie hall, which was crowded due to the holidays, and they assumed he would make his way back home alone.
The saving grace is that social norms can be changed. Already, our statistics are better than what they were ten years ago
Many girls drop out of school after entering wedlock. Another adverse effect of child marriage is early pregnancy and childbirth. These can have detrimental and long-term health effects on girls whose bodies are not developed enough to give birth, and also increase health risks to the newborn. Bleak as this sounds, the saving grace is that social norms can be changed. Already, our statistics are better than what they were ten years ago. Several villages have managed to abolish the practice of child marriage altogether and youth groups such as the Wedding Busters have taken charge of the fate of their girls, giving them more agency. With further efforts on this front, larger budget allocations for the empowerment and education of girls, better law enforcement for womens safety in villages, and greater outreach of birth and marriage registrations, we can hope for improvements. In the mean time, we must hang our heads in shame, as innocent girls are married off and raped every day. Shazia Omar is Head of Advocacy at shiree. She can be reached at shazia@shiree.org. *All names have been changed for this article.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
World
A promising future
During former prime minister Beblawis tenure, the state cracked down hard on Mursis Muslim Brotherhood and rights groups criticised other moves to curb dissent, including a law imposing tough penalties on people who protest illegally. Beblawis government received billions of dollars in aid from Gulf states
Iran a threat not just to Israel, says Merkel UN rights envoy points to apartheid
n Reuters
Germany views Iran as a potential threat not just to Israel, but also to European countries, Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Tuesday at a joint news conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But she stopped short of endorsing her hosts demand that Tehran give up all sensitive nuclear projects under any negotiated deal with world powers, and reiterated Berlins opposition to Israeli settlements on occupied land where the Palestinians seek statehood. Germany is Israels most important ally in Europe, where the Netanyahu government frets it is losing support given troubled peace talks with the Palestinians. That makes Merkels views a bellwether of European sentiment on Middle East issues. The German chancellor visited Jerusalem with her cabinet to mark almost 50 years of bilateral ties with Israel, which was founded in part as a haven for survivors of the Holocaust. We see the threat not just as a
in Palestinian areas
n Reuters, Geneva
Israels policies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip appear to amount to apartheid due to its systematic oppression of the Palestinian people and de facto expropriation of their land, a United Nationsinvestigator said in a report. Richard Falk, UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, said that Palestinian rights are being violated by Israels prolonged occupation of Palestinian territory and ethnic cleansing of East Jerusalem. Gaza, despite the disengagement of Israel in 2005, remains occupied under an unlawful Israeli blockade that controls borders, airspace and coastal waters, and especially hurts farmers and fishermen, he said. The humanitarian situation in the Hamasruled enclave is dire amid fuel shortages, he added. UN member states should consider
German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks after being awarded the Presidential Medal of Distinction in Jerusalem February 25 REUTERS threat for the state of Israel but as a general threat for Europe as well, she said of a potential Iranian bomb, adding that Germany would pursue international talks with Tehran on its nuclear activities. The diplomacy was kick-started with an interim deal in November, which Netanyahu blasted as an historic mistake for easing sanctions on Iran while leaving its infrastructure for enriching uranium and potentially producing plutonium. Iran says its nuclear projects are for peaceful needs. l
imposing a ban on imports of produce from Jewish settlements in the West Bank, Falk said in his final report to the UN Human Rights Council after serving six years in the independent post. In a section entitled acts potentially amounting to segregation and apartheid, he analysed Israeli policies, including continuing excessive use of force by Israeli security forces and unlawful killings that he said are part of acts carried out in order to maintain dominance over Palestinians. Palestinians in the West Bank are subject to military laws, while Jewish settlers face a civil law system, he said. Israel also violates their rights to work and education, freedoms of movement and residence, and of expression and assembly, he said. Ten years ago the UNs International Court of Justice ruled that Israels separation wall inside the West Bank is illegal, he noted. Israel says it is a secu-
rity barrier. It seems incontestable that Israeli measures do divide the population of the Occupied Palestinian Territory along racial lines, create separate reserves for Palestinians and expropriate their land, Falk wrote in his 22-page report. The combined effect of the measures designed to ensure security for Israeli citizens, to facilitate and expand settlements, and, it would appear, to annex land is hafrada (the Hebrew word for separation), discrimination and systematic oppression of, and domination over, the Palestinian people. There was no immediate reaction from Israel, which boycotted the council it accuses of bias for 19 months, returning in October 2013. The Jewish state left after accusing the forum of bias when it set up a fact-finding mission on the settlements. l
Algerian opposition Turkish PM says tapes of parties urge election boycott talk with son a fabrication applause from the public gallery. n Reuters, Algiers n Reuters, Ankara Growing political uncertainty around
Three Algerian opposition parties have called for a boycott of elections in April after the government announced President Abdelaziz Bouteflika would run for a fourth term to extend his 15 years in power. Bouteflika, the independence veteran and Washington ally, has rarely appeared in public since a stroke sent him to aParishospital last year, but the government said the 76-year-old will run again in the April 17 vote. Almost assured of re-election, Bouteflika has support of the powerful ruling National Liberation Front (FLN) party and is seen by loyalists as the man who delivered them peace and stability after a civil war with Islamists in the 1990s. The opposition RCD movement, IslamistMSP partyand Ennahda party say polls will not be fair with Bouteflika running. l Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused political rivals of shameless fabrication of a telephone tap of him telling his son to dispose of large sums of money on the day police raided houses in a graft inquiry into his government. In a dramatic session of parliament after posting of the 11-minute audio tape on YouTube, Erdogan said his political enemies had penetrated encrypted state communications. He did not name the opponents but made it clear he was talking of a network run by former ally, Islamic clericFethullah Gulen. Supporters of Erdogan, locked in a power struggle with Gulen whom he accuses of contriving a graft scandal to topple him, shouted Tayyip, we came here to die with you, stand tall, dont bow and time is on our side. The people dont believe these lies, Erdogan called back to loud cheers and
the government and its reaction to the tapes, which Reuters could not authenticate, hit Turkish assets amid broader weakness in emerging markets. Opinion polls taken before Mondays posting show Erdogans popularity little affected by the corruption scandal which broke on Dec. 17 with the detention of businessmen close to him and three ministers sons. Mondays tape will prove a further test of that resilience ahead of March local elections. Erdogan took over a country in 2002 riven by political factionalism and mired in economic crisis. In 11 years, presenting the generally welcome face of a strong leader, he united a large spectrum of political forces, fired the economy, drove economic reforms and tamed a military that had toppled four governments in the second half of the 20th century. l
A woman lights a candle to pay her respects to fallen anti-Yanukovich protesters in central Lviv February 24
REUTERS
DHAKA TRIBUNE
World
BJP ready to Lalu denies split, walks to apologise for assembly with 9 rebel MLAs mistakes: Rajnath fold even though a visibly shaken RJD n Tribune Desk chief claimed there was no crack withto Muslims Lalu Prasad Yadav, a former Indian in his party. We are all united. We are trying to federal minister and chief of Rashtrin Tribune Desk ya Janata Dal, on Tuesday marched bring others who did not turn up on
Reaching out to Muslims ahead of Lok Sabha elections,BJPon Tuesday asked the community to give it a chance and not go by the propaganda spread by Congress while promising to stand for equality and apologise for any mistake or shortcoming in the past, Times of India reports. Please note that whenever, wherever if there has been any mistake and shortcoming on our part, I assure you that we will apologise to you by bowing our heads, said BJP Chief Rajnath Singh while addressing a gathering of Muslims here. Singh said BJP was not against Muslims and the community should not go by the propaganda against it. He asked them to vote for BJP this time for the sake of the nation. l with nine of the 13 rebel MLAs to the state assembly and later to Raj Bhawan in a bid to show his party was still intact. The RJD chief paraded the rebel MLAs before the secretary of the state assembly, Phool Jha, and submitted two letters signed by the nine MLAs, who said they were with the RJD. Later, Prasad along with his party MLAs marched to the governors house to submit a memorandum seeking recall of the notification issued by the assembly secretariat giving recognition to 13 MLAs as a separate group. Earlier in the day, four of the dissident MLAs led by former party chief whip Samrat Choudhary did not turn up at the legislature party meeting, indicating they were still out of the RJD
board, Prasad said, trying to put up a brave front. In total, 16 MLAs including nine rebels attended the RJDLP meeting, which started almost one- and- a -half hour from the scheduled time of the meeting at 12noon . There is, however, an element of uncertainty as whether the MLAs having returned to party fold would be treated as RJD MLAs or considered a part of a separate group, as per the notification issued by the assembly secretariat. Admittedly, the RJD chief was all fire and brimstone against the speaker Uday Narayan Choudhary accusing him of acting in a partisan manner by giving recognition to the separate group of MLAs in violation of the anti-defection law. l
Sri Lankan air force personnel work on a new runway in northern region of Kilinochchi on January 30, 2013, the former stronghold of Tamil Tiger rebels who were defeated by security forces in May 2009 AFP
Norlizan, 40, (R), walks as she carries water containers in Balakong, outside Kuala Lumpur on February 25
AFP
cused opposition demonstrators of trying to incite the military to seize power, in a country which has seen 18 successful or attempted coups since 1932, but so far the army has remained largely above the fray. Thailand has been bitterly divided since a bloodless coup by the military in 2006 ousted Yinglucks elder brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, as prime minister, unleashing years of political instability. The latest unrest is the deadliest since more than 90 people died during protests by pro-Thaksin Red Shirts in 2010 that sparked street clashes and a bloody military crackdown. Concerns are mounting that the Red Shirts could return to the streets of Bangkok to defend the government, bringing the risk of clashes between rival protesters. Gunfire rang out early Tuesday near a rally camp in a Bangkok park occupied by demonstrators. Two people were slightly wounded, officials said. A rally spokesman said that gunmen had attacked the camp but it was not possible to verify his account. The Red Shirts, mainly drawn from the rural north and northeastern provinces, have held back from demonstrations in the capital since November when several people died after clashes broke out near one of their rallies at a stadium in Bangkok. They have stepped up their rhetoric in recent days as Yingluck comes under growing pressure. The Reds will stage rallies over the coming weekends in the northeast as a show of strength, he added. Yingluck has been summoned by an anti-corruption panel to hear neglect of duty charges on Thursday that could lead to her removal from office, although it is unclear if she will personally attend the hearing. The opposition says the Shinawatra family and its allies, who have won every election for more than a decade, have fostered widespread corruption and used taxpayers money to buy the loyalty of rural voters. l
10
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Editorial
LETTER OF THE DAY
Letters to
the Editor
tudents and teachers of Jagannath University had been waging a movement for the past several weeks demanding the recovery of Tibbet Hall. The hall had been grabbed illegally and was being turned into a shopping centre. Violent clashes in and around the Jagannath University campus resulted in 100 people, including 25 police officers, and many teachers and students injured. The clashes saw students removing police barricades, hurling brick chips at police, engaging in chases and counter chases, while police retaliated by firing rubber bullets and releasing teargas, as well as charging at students with batons. While it is regrettable that the students took their protests to such a degree that the safety of the public was endangered, we condemn the overblown response by the police. Students and teachers have the right to protest the illegal grabbing of the residence hall. The police should not have resorted to the usage of bullets of any sort, or teargas, to deal with the situation. It was their insensitive retaliatory measures that resulted in such a high number of casualties in the incident. If the students indeed have legitimate grievances, which would be the case if their hall was unethically taken away from them, then the government should address the problem in a constructive manner to satisfy the students. A brutal and violent police response to dampen student concerns will not bring about desirable results.
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ACROSS 1 Be cautious (6) 6 Offer (3) 9 Vestment (5) 10 Fruit (4) 11 Governs (5) 12 Monkey (3) 13 Tantalised (6) 15 Direction (4) 18 English river (4) 21 Plan (6) 24 Garden tool (3) 25 Get up (5) 28 Above (4) 29 Glossy fabric (5) 30 Marry (3) 31 Feel sorry for (6) DOWN 1 Freight boat (5) 2 Flightless bird (3) 3 Cajolery (5) 4 Top card (3) 5 Remainder (4) 6 Prejudice (4) 7 Obstruct (6) 8 Achievement (4) 14 Liable (3) 16 Recess (6) 17 Neckwear (3) 19 Select group (5) 20 Perfume (5) 21 Exhibit (4) 22 Pay attention (4) 23 Comfort (4) 26 Sharp blow (3)
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How to solve Sudoku: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no numberrepeating.
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27 Wrongdoing (3)
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Op-Ed
11
n Ziauddin Choudhury
he crisis in Ukraine is apparently coming to a closure with the Ukraine parliament dismissing its president and the president reportedly gone to hiding. In a dramatic turn of events, the man who was holding his country under an iron grip and refused to yield to popular demands turning guns against his people instead is now being sought for trial. For weeks, Ukraine a former component of the mighty Soviet Union was on the verge of a meltdown. Street protests that started in November over a trade pact that was to be agreed with the European Union have swelled into something much bigger. The agreement would have brought Ukraine closer to other European countries, opened up trade and employment opportunities for the Ukrainians. Majority of the Ukrainians favoured this pact. Initially the countrys president had insisted that he was intent on signing the agreement, but then he dithered. He dithered because Ukraines great neighbour Russia opposed such agreement. It threatened its much smaller neighbour with sanctions and other dire consequences such as steep prices for gas that Ukraine imports from Russia.
As a result, the eastern European country fell in the midst of a wave of anti-government protests, the likes of which it hasnt seen in 10 years. Ironically, the protests that rocked this country called the Orange Revolution were targeted against the same president from November 2004 to January 2005 immediately after the presidential election. The elections were claimed to be fraudulent, and marred by massive corruption and voter intimidation. Nationwide, the democratic revolution was highlighted by a series of acts of civil disobedience, sit-ins, and general strikes organised by the opposition movement. The protests ended after the Supreme Court intervened and ordered a revote and the presidents opponent was declared the real winner. In a dramatic turnaround some six years later in 2010, Yanukovych would be reelected president. History is repeating itself, but this time the protests are for something bigger. There is something eerily familiar between what is happening now in Ukraine and the events that occurred last year in Bangladesh. The riots and mayhems happening in Kiev now and those in Dhaka last year may differ in scalethere have been over 100 deaths in Kiev already, but deaths in Dhaka were fewerbut in terms of political objectives , protest tactics, and general
The street protests in Kiev are dj vu for Bangladeshis behaves the same way in other countries. Clashes between protesters and law enforcing agencies in many countries have drawn similar violent results. But there is another odd similarity among the actors in the two countries that are thousands of miles apart. The political opposition in Bangladesh was agitating for elections under a neutral care taker government the way the previous elections were held. The government changed that provision after the ruling party came in power. The opposition protested as it was afraid elections under the government in power would be massively manipulated. The Ukrainian opposition protest also started on a single demand that the country make a pact with European Union. The Ukrainian president had assured his country that the pact would be made, but he reneged on it later. Things get complicated thereon. This is where foreign interests make intrusion in both countries. A major reason why the Ukrainian president postponed signing the pact with EU was Russian threat to increase gas prices and other sanctions. But as the protesters took to the streets and the fights between them and law enforcing agencies grew on a horrendous scale the European Union started giving stern messages to Ukrainian government to stop the repression or face sanctions from the Union. While the Ukrainian government is caught between a rock and hard place, the masses in Ukraine face an uncertain future from the deadlock. A flash back to our own political crisis last year. While the opposition staged protest after protest and brought the urban areas to a standstill pursuing their demands, the government dug its heel and turned a deaf ear to the protests. Day after day the masses suffered from shutdown of markets, transports, and closure of business and industry. Foreign negotiators arrived in the scene to make the parties seek a solution to the crisis, but to no avail as the negotiators themselves showed their biases to one party or another. Our big neighbor wanted a solution that would please the ruling party, while others proffered a solution that would please the other side. The result was what we witnessed in January. Ukraine is no Bangladesh, neither Bangladesh is Ukraine. But people in both countries have similar aspirations, hopes, and rights to choose. The Ukrainians fought for their rights to choose some ten years ago without intimidation and vote fraud, and they won. This time they are fighting their government to join in a trade pact with a group of countries that they think will bring better future for their country. However, later they extended their fight to bring about changes in a system that stifles democratic rights and freedom. They would like changes that would create some distance between their country and Mother Russia. For now it seems people of Ukraine have succeeded.
AFP
Ukraine is no Bangladesh, neither Bangladesh is Ukraine. But people in both countries have similar aspirations, hopes, and rights to choose
Russia would instead like Ukraine and its other neighbours to join an alternative common economic zone. Under pressure, the Ukrainian president made a volte face, and stopped further talks with the EU, but people who favored a closer tie with EU came out on the streets and protests took the form of riots. The protests took a wider turn days later to a demand that the president loosen his grip on power and the constitution be changed. In the years that the current President Yanokovych came to power he had made the presidents office more powerful and more authoritarian.
unrest they have close similarities. In Ukraine the opposition is relentless and it is pursuing every which way it can to bring down the government, particularly the current president. They have occupied the main square of the city called Maidan, and are carrying out attacks on law enforcing agencies, buildings, and other property public or private. Molotov cocktails are flying like Frisbees in a park, stones are hurled at Police, and Police are retaliating sometimes with fire and other times with riot repelling equipment. For those in Bangladesh it is kind of a dj vu. We can argue that a riotous crowd
In Bangladesh the changes did not happen the way the opposition wanted it. In part because the people in whose name the opposition fought the battles were largely missing from these fights. In most cases they became victims and not participants. The cause perhaps did not create much vibration among people. But the danger is that failure of the opposition to stir up the people may create a false sense of confidence in the ruling party. It may lead to further authoritarian activism in the government, and greater leaning toward one great power. This may cause again a popular unrest of the Ukrainian scale. Our leaders should take heed from the Ukraine example, and not be lulled to sleep with complacency because the opposition was unable to stir up the masses last time. The next time the masses may rise on their own. l Ziauddin Choudhury worked in the higher civil service of Bangladesh early in his career, and later for the World Bank in the USA.
What was the reason behind pulling the Bangladeshi war of independence into the whole love triangle smash-up?
Should our history and culture not be strong enough to withstand a fourth rate work?
This industry has rarely been interested in depicting the social realities of even India. In Bollywoods products, in movie after movie ad infinitum, people spontaneously break out into song and dance in luxurious houses and in backdrops that switch from Europe to North America to the idyllic hills of New Zealand. So, if it has so little interest in getting present-day India right, why should we expect Bollywood to give a damn about the history of Bangladesh? Bangladeshis have, for a very long time, made these unrealistic and god-awful movies the staples of our culture. Our collective consciousness is flooded with the tacky fantasies
The brouhaha has prompted YRF to offer a statement on their blog - an effort to appease their Bangladeshi brethren. While the statement reads like an apology we would like to apologise if any disrespect or hurt has been caused - the rest of it clearly shows that YRF just doesnt get it. The basic nature of the YRF response can be summarised in this way: the whole story of the film is a work of fiction, so we dont see what the problem is - why this kolaveri? As with most YRF productions,of coursethe storyline about two idiot goons in love with the same cabaret dancer, with trains and bombs and guns is fictional. Why, you still ask? Well, in a fit of rage, one goon shoots the other, only misses, and the bullet hits the said cabaret dancer; oh the tragedy, but wait - shesurvives!Don't get me wrong - Im as big of a sucker for YRFs melodramatics as the next person. But when a narration in-
India. His name was Mountbatten, but his friends called him Lou. One day, in 1947, he got tired of trying to impress the regal English ways upon the Indians, and left. You have to sympathise with him, because the Indians had begun to vandalise the English language to such an extent that the plural of the
12
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Entertainment
ber of new arrivals of refugees in Bangladesh, where they also faced human rights challenges. I faced several risks and obstacles, including the states threat and at some point, risking my life in critical situations. The photographer turned human rights activist said: I am trying to demonstrate to the world that the Rohingya problem is not only confined to a handful of societies. It is the duty of the rest of the world as responsible global citizens to find a place for these unfortunate displaced individuals. At present, thirty thousand Rohingyas are living in the refugee camps. It is reported that another half a million of them are living in unbearable conditions outside the camps, mainly in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. The Rohingyas are now a displaced minority and are spread across India, Pakistan, Australia, Malaysia, the UK and EU, and in many other countries of the Middle East. l
Many children are born and bought up in the camps. But they are born as citizens of nowhere! They are neither Bangladeshi nor Burmese SAIFUL HUQ OMI
TODAY IN DHAKA
Film
47 Ronin (3D), Aakash Koto Dure, Thor: The Dark World 3D, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in 3D, Frozen in 3D, Shunte Ki Pao, Agnee Time: 10am - 10pm Star Cineplex, Bashundhara City Jibondhuli Bangladesh Film Institute, Kalabagan
Exhibition
Duet Art Exhibition By Hashem Khan and Mohammad Iqbal Time: 12pm 8pm Gallery Twenty One, 751 Satmasjid Road
Pejgi By Shattik Natya SampradayWhen Time: 6:30pm 9:00pm National Theatre Hall Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Shegunbagicha
An eight-day Sultan Mela honouring world famous artist SM Sultan was inaugurated at the Sultan Mancha on the premises of Narail Government Victoria College yesterday. Local cultural groups, in association with the Sultan Foundation and district administration, have organised the fair. The Mela will continue until March 4. Sultan Padak will be awarded on the concluding day. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor attended the inauguration ceremony as chief guest while Narail-2 constituencys MP Sheikh Hafizur Rahman, Superintendent of
Police Monir Hossen, Government Victoria Colleges Principal Professor Sheikh Anwar Hossen, Sultan Foundation Member Secretary Ashiqur Rahman Miku and District Lawyer Association President Sohrab Hossain Biswas were present as special guests. Sultan Foundation President A Gaffar Khan chaired the inauguration session. A series of colourful events will be featured. These include an art exhibition and competition, a volleyball competition, ox fighting, and traditional games kabadi, lathikhela, kusti, Ha du du, cock fight, dariabandha, ekka dokka, bouchi, and danguli. A seminar on Sultans life and works and various cultural programmes will
also be held during the fair. A total of 100 stalls offering traditional textile and cottage industry products are set up at the venue. Legendary artist Sultan won Ekushey Padak in 1982, Bangladesh Charu Shilpi Sangsad Award in 1986 and Swadhinata Padak in 1993. He was declared the Man of Asia in 1982 by Cambridge University. Sultan died on 10 October, 1994 and was buried in the yard of his own house at Masumdia village in Narail. His very simple but highly philosophic artworks mostly about nature and the people of Bangladesh later became one of the prime sources of inspiration for the new generation of painters. l
Sport
DHAKA TRIBUNE
13
0 1 8
DAYS TO GO
15 Wolff aims
PROBABLE XI
Bangladesh
Shamsur Rahman, Imrul Kayes/Anamul Haque (wk), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim (capt), Naeem Islam, Nasir Hossain, Ziaur Rahman/Arafat Sunny, Sohag Gazi, Mashrafe bin Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Rubel Hossain
India
Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (capt), Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane/ Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Varun Aaron
Form guide
(last five matches, most recent first) Bangladesh LLLWW India LLTLL Shamsur Rahman, who made 96 against New Zealand at the same ground last time, will carry the baton at the top while the return of Imrul Kayes, who has been in excellent form off-late, is also a big boost to the side as Anamul Haque had a quiet time with the bat against Sri Lanka. However, until yesterday it was not sure whether Mushfiqur Rahim will be keeping wickets, which also keeps Anamul in the hunt of a place in the playing XI. With Mominul Haque and Mushfiq at three and four, Naeem Islam will
Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga celebrates after taking the final wicket of Pakistan during their first ODI in Asia Cup at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah yesterday MUMIT M
come in at five followed by Nasir Hossain. Though Abdur Razzak is back from injury, left-arm spinner Arafat Sunny, who enjoyed an impressive debut series against Sri Lanka, might still be playing in Shakibs absence. All-rounder Ziaur Rahman who replaced Mahmudullah has a very slim chance of making it in the XI as the Tigers should opt for off-spinner Sohag Gazi given his track record in Fatullah while Mashrafe bin Mortaza and Rubel Hossain will be sharing the new ball up front. Mashrafe has now played in 50 Bangladesh wins in which he has averaged 18.84 with the ball, but in the three previous wins against India, his performance has been better, averaging 14.75 per wicket. Meanwhile, the Indian camp will be led by Virat Kohli and this is the first time the stand out batsman will be captain in a major tournament. Often called as Indias future captain, it will be a big test for Kohli in the absence of their captain cool Dhoni, as the team also contains many new faces. The batting of the visitors will rely heavily on Shekhar Dhawan, Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rohit Sharma. Hard-hitting batsman Stuart Binny will be the one to watch if he gets a nod in the game today while fast bowlers Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shami Ahmed, the future of Indian bowling, will also be out to prove their capability in these conditions. Both sides will be hoping to mark their appearance with a win while new challenges in front of both captains only guarantees a cracking game for cricket lovers. l
It is not clearly mentioned in our job description that we are bound to consult someone while making a 15-man squad
Akram thinks Mushfiqur is might have been upset due to Bangladeshs recent poor run on the field, after having been reasonably good over the previous 18 months. This might also be a reason for the misunderstandings to happen. During my time as a chief selector, there was no provision for the selectors to select the team along with the captain. Similarly, the captain doesnt have to take the
14
Zidanes son to try out for Under-19s
Zinedine Zidanes son Enzo has won the chance to be selected for the French Under-19 squad, a potential first step along the path of his father, who rose to international fame winning the World Cup with his country in 1998. The Real Madrid youth midfielder, who will be 19 on March 24, will take part in trials and medical tests early next month, a list of players on the French Football Federation website showed on Monday. The elder Zidane, 41, is widely seen as one of the worlds footballing greats. Reuters
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
Benfica's Rodrigo Lima (R) shoots near Vitoria Guimaraes' goalkeeper Douglas Jesus during their Portuguese Premier League match at Luz stadium in Lisbon on Monday
REUTERS
10 times better Bale aims rare Real win in Germany 'Chelsea than Galatasaray
Real Madrid are targeting a rare win in Germany when they take on Schalke 04 in Wednesdays Champions League last 16, first-leg clash, the Spanish giants Gareth Bale says. Having scored 20 goals in the group stages, Madrid are looking to improve on their dreadful away record in Germany as they take on Schalke for the first time. We know the Champions League is a big competition with all the best teams in it, so we know it is going to be difficult, said the 24-year-old Wales winger. I think we are ready, we believe we can win every game so well go over there and hopefully come back with the win. The Spanish league leaders are unbeaten in 26 games in all competitions, dating back to last October, and are clear favourites against the Royal Blues of Gelsenkirchen, who are fourth in the Bundesliga. But Madrid have prevailed just once in 24 previous away matches against German opposition, losing 17 times, including a 4-1 drubbing at Borussia Dortmund in last seasons semi-final first leg when Robert Lewandowski hit all four goals. That said, Schalkes form this season has been erratic and they have won only five of their last 11 home encounters against Spanish opponents, suffering four defeats. Madrid will be able to call on the firepower of Ballon dOr winner Cristiano Ronaldo, who returns from a three-game ban. The injury doubts are left-backs Marcelo and Fabio Coentrao as neither played in the 3-0 win against Elche on Saturday, so Alvaro Arbeloa could deputise if neither are fit. Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos are also expected to return after being suspended and rested respectively at the weekend. Schalke were denied a fifth straight league win when they were held to a goalless draw at home to Mainz on Friday. There was good news, though, for Schalke as Arsenal-target Julian Draxler came off the bench to make his return after two months out with a foot injury. As a young boy you dream about facing teams like Real Madrid so were all really up for it, said the 20-year-old. Im happy to be back out on the pitch, but I think Im still some way off my best form. That was the first lengthy lay-off of my career, so Im a bit impatient, but I know I need more time. Teenager Leon Goretzka has said the hosts are looking for an upset at the Veltins Arena. Were looking forward to the highlight in the Champions League, said the 19-year-old. Well do everything in our power to cause an upset. Goalkeeper Ralf Faehrmann has said Schalke are relishing the role of underdogs. Sometimes we find it easier when we dont really have to take the game to our opponents, he said. We need to stay compact and wait for our chances. You always get a chance in a match and when we do we need to take it. We arent favourites, of course, but we hope to take advantage of our underdog role to spring a surprise. Coach Jens Keller, who hopes to have captain and centre-back Benedikt Hoewedes fit, has said Schalke will not be intimidated by star-studded Real. We want to pull off a small miracle. Were not just going out there to swap shirts with Reals stars, said Keller defiantly, referring to Bayer Leverkusens drubbing by Reals Spanish rivals Barcelona at the same stage in the competition two years ago. l Didier Drogba has said former club Chelsea are 10 times better than his current side, Galatasaray, ahead of the teams Champions League meeting in Istanbul on Wednesday. Are Chelsea better than Galatasaray? Yes, they are 10 times better, the Galatasaray striker, now 35, told the BBC on the eve of the last 16 clash. If I play it is to win. It will be tough but Juve were better than us, so anything can happen. If theres a one percent chance of us winning. Ill believe it. Drogba spent eight years at Chelsea, scoring 157 goals in 342 games and won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, two League Cups and also scored the winning penalty against Bayern Munich in the 2012 Champions League final -- his final kick in a Blues shirt. You dont stay eight years in a place you dont like, especially in football -it is very emotional. I love Chelsea but I play for Galatasaray now and I will give everything for them. When youre happy at a club, you want to stay forever, said Drogba who joined Chelsea from Marseille for 24 million ($40m, 29m euros) in July 2004. But sometimes you cant do everything you want to do. I am proud of what I achieved. Asked about the possibility of working again with Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, the Ivory Coast forward said: They say in French avec des si. Rome ne sest pas construite en un jour (there are lots of ifs. Rome wasnt built in a day). It is only if and if and if. We are not there yet. And he insisted he was happy working under current boss Roberto Mancini, the former Manchester City manager. Theyre very different, two different personalities but with the same mentality. They want to win, they want to win trophies. They are winners. l
Hull City midfielder Robert Koren (R) vies for the ball against Brighton and Hove Albion's Irish defender Stephen Ward during their English FA Cup fifth round replay match at the KC Stadium, north-east England, on Monday AFP
and expressed surprise that the case had blown up so quickly. Barca members, or socios, who own the Catalan club, had no reason to be concerned, he told a news conference after a board meeting on Monday. It is very strange, he said. Everything is going very fast and we do not know why. The Barca members should be satisfied with what we have explained, it is the truth. The exact amount transferred to the public coffers was 13,550,830.56 euros, Barca said on their website (www. fcbarcelona.es), meaning the club have now paid just short of 100 million euros to secure the players services. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
15
U 19 reach Plate finals
Bangladesh rode on fifties from Mosaddek Hossain and Joyraz Sheikh to beat Zimbabwe by 72 runs in the semi-final and reach the Plate Championship final in the ICC Under-19 World Cup yesterday. They will face New Zealand, who beat UAE by five wickets, in the final at Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi on Thursday. Mossadek scored a 66-ball 83 with six fours and a six while Joyraz hit five fours in an 89-ball 58 as Bangladesh scored 265 for six in 50 overs. Zimbabwe, in its run-chase, was restricted to 193 for nine with Luke Jongwe scoring 50. Bangladesh has previously won the Plate title in 1998, 2004 and 2010. l
Sri Lanka K. Perera c Akmal b Gul L. Thirimanne b Ajmal K. Sangakkara c Shehzad b Gul M. Jayawardene b Afridi A. Mathews not out T. Perera c Shehzad b Afridi C. de Silva run out D. Chandimal not out Extras: (b4, lb6, w8) Total (for six wickets, 50 overs)
SCORECARD, SL v Pak
14 102 67 13 55 6 2 19 18 296
Fall of wickets 1 28, 2 189, 3 204, 4 224, 5 245, 6 251 Bowling Hafeez 9 0 54 0, Gul 8 0 38 2 (w3), Junaid 9 0 61 0 (w2), Bhatti 4 0 27 0, Ajmal 10 0 50 1, Afridi 10 0 56 2 (w3) Pakistan Sharjeel Khan c Mathews b Lakmal 26 Ahmed Shehzad b de Silva 28 Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Mathews 18 Maqsood c de Silva b Senanayake 17 Misbah c Senanayake b Malinga 73 Umar Akmal c Sangakkara b Lakmal 74 Shahid Afridi c Chandimal b Malinga 4 Bilawal Bhatti b Malinga 18 Umar Gul c de Silva b Malinga 2 Saeed Ajmal lbw b Malinga 10 Junaid Khan not out 1 Extras: (lb3, w10) 13 Total (all out, 48.5 overs) 284 Fall of wickets 1 28, 2 77, 3 83, 4 121, 5 242, 6 252, 7 254, 8 262, 9 281, 10 284 Bowling Malinga 9.5 0 52 5 (w1), Lakmal 9 165 2, Senanayake 9 0 47 1, de Silva 10 1 56 1 (w8), T. Perera 6 0 36 0, Mathews 5 1 25 1 (w1) Sri Lanka won by 12 runs
BRIEF SCORE
Bangladesh 265 6, 50 overs Mosaddek Hossain 83 not out, Joyraz Sheik 58, Litton Das 47, Shadman Islam 34; Patrick Mambo 2 55 Zimbabwe 193 9, 50 overs Luke Jongwe 50, Malcolm Lake 38, Deven Bell 30 not out; Mehedy Hasan 3 43, Mustafizur Rahman 2 19, Nihaduzzaman 2 23
Sri Lanka opener Lahiru Thirimanne attempts a scoop during his century against Pakistan in the first Asia Cup ODI at Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah yesterday
MUMIT M
QUICK BYTES
A South African judge ruled Tuesday that most of Oscar Pistoriuss trial for the 2013 murder of his girlfriend can be broadcast live, but not the Paralympians own testimony. Judge Dunstan Mlambo said cameras would be allowed to obtain a video and audio recording of opening arguments, the evidence of state witnesses, closing arguments and the verdict and sentencing. But cameras will not be allowed to film Pistorius, witnesses for the defence, or anyone else who objects to appearing on camera, he added. A live audio broadcast will be allowed throughout the trial, which is due to open on Monday. With the full glare of the worlds media bearing down upon him, the 27-year-old South African sprinter will appear in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria to hear one charge of murder and three firearms charges. AFP
DAYS WATCH
Channel 9 & Star Sports 1 2:00PM Arise Asia Cup Bangladesh v India Sony Six NBA 2013 14 6:30AM Atlanta v Chicago 9:00AM Sacramento v Houston Star Sports 4 4:00PM AFC Champions League Jeonbuk Hyundai v Yokohama Marinos Ten Action 1:00AM UEFA Champions League, R16 Leg1 Galatasaray v Chelsea Ten Sports 1:00AM UEFA Champions League, R16 Leg1 FC Schalke 04 v Real Madrid
heim will help in the quest to join the likes of world champion Sebastien Vettel and Fernando Alonso on a race-day grid. Ive driven the car at Silverstone (in a test) last year so I have a bit of experience with the track, and Hockenheim I know well from my time in German touring cars, said Wolff.
COURTESY
16
ZUBAIR MURDER CASE
DHAKA TRIBUNE
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BJP bashes Bangladesh
n Sheikh ShahariarZaman
The Bharatiya Janata Party continues to bash Bangladesh over its claim of illegal immigrants from the country to Northeast India. BJP national spokesperson and a lawmaker Shri Prakash Javadekar issued a press statement yesterday before Rahul Gandhis visit to northeast India. The BJP resolution taken at the national council meeting of the party last month blamed that massive Bangladeshi infiltration was the main reason behind recurring violence in Assam. The BJP firmly believes that Congress collusion in massive Bangladeshi infiltration is the root cause of recurring violence in Assam. l
134
n Ahmed Zayeef
To get a taste of world literature in our mother language, a good number of buyers are opting for translated books this year at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair. To cater to their demands, a few publications have brought in translations of world famous literary pieces. Like in previous years, Ongkur Prokashoni, Oitijjho Prokashoni, Ittadi Prokashoni, University Press Limited, and Ador Publishers are leading in this field. However, the publishers said although the demand for translated books was high among people of different ages, they could not publish many books because of a lack of good translators. According to the coordination and public relation department of the Bangla Academy, 20 new translated books have hit the fair this year, among which 38 were published for the first time. However, while strolling through different stalls, a greater number of newly published translated pieces were seen. I like well-translated books, the translator must be someone I have heard about before, as in, a well-known one. Otherwise, the translation of a good book will be ambiguous and the tone of the actual piece would be tarnished, said Farhana Shishir, a visitor. Most of the translations are up to the
mark but a few are below the standard, she said. Nabil Ahmed, a student of Bangla department of Dhaka University, said: As a student of literature I have always loved foreign literature. Translated books give me the chance to enjoy literary works of foreign languages. Besides English, the publishers should also try bring in translations of books written in other languages, like, French, German, Mandarin and Persian, he said Ongkur Prokashoni has published a total of 14 translated biographies of legends including Nelson Mandela, Mahathir bin Mohamad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Abul Kalam Azad, Samuel Phillips Huntington, and Simon Jonathan Sebag Montefiore. Md Koli, a sales executive at the stall, said: People are mostly buying translated novels and autobiographies. Oitijjho Prokashoni has published six translated books of Samuel Barkle Baket, Perl S Bak and Michel Morpergo. Osman Goni, publisher of Agami Prokashoni, said: If anyone wants to publish translated books he must take permission from the author. Many times that is not possible. That is why a lot of translated pieces do not pour in every year. Most of the translated books that are published are pirated, he said. A total of 134 new books were published on the 25th day of the fair yesterday including Ramendu Majumdars Theatre Borsho-4 from Nalonda, Alfred Khokons Attogitir Goddovongi and Parvez Alims Shahbager Rashtroprokolpo from Shuddhoshhor, and Korobi Mujibs Duronto Ronju from Ador Prokasoni. A total of 25 new books were unveiled at Nazrul Mancha on the Bangla Academy premises. l
Family members of the victims who had died in the 2009 BDR mutiny hold a human chain in front of the National Press Club on Tuesday morning MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU
Lack of political will, frequent changes in management, and poor funding strategy have slowed down any progress on the project
According to the agreement, the investor company will loan $300million for the project. The government will provide around 43.4 acres of land on lease. The company will pay the government Tk6.944million as lease money, which would be increased by 20 percent in every five years. The power stations will produce 10MW power in the first 18 months. The production will then be raised to 30MW by the second year, 50MW by the third year and finally produce 100MW the next year. The Dhaka Power Distribution Company and Dhaka Electric Supply Company will purchase the produced electricity atTk8.75 per unit. The power stations would also produce around nine million tonnes of organic fertilisers annually as supplementary product. The investment of the company will be transferred based on Build, Own, Operate and Transfermethod within 20 years of the beginning of the projects operation. l
Editor: Zafar Sobhan, Published and Printed by Kazi Anis Ahmed on behalf of 2A Media Limited at Dainik Shakaler Khabar Publications Limited, 153/7, Tejgaon Industrial Area, Dhaka-1208. 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
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B4 Billionaire boom
Bank subsidiaries come under capital market exposure limit n Tribune Report
Subsidiaries of banks have been brought under the capital market exposure limit through a circular Bangladesh Bank issued yesterday. The restriction was imposed in a manner their investment will now be calculated with their parent banking companies. Earlier, the banking companies individually could invest 25% of their equity capital. But, the investment by their subsidiaries will, with immediate effect, now be calculated as the total investment in the capital market. Bangladesh Bank in a circular issued yesterday clarified that the total investment limit will be up to 50% of a sum of consolidated paid up capital, balance in share premium account, statutory reserve and retained earnings. The amounts should be based on the latest audited financial statements as the central bank clarified issues related to individual and aggregate limits of investment in shares by banks. There was no investment restriction until yesterday on the subsidiaries of the banks that had allegedly contributed to destabilise the capital market, said a senior Bangladesh Bank official. The components now be considered in computing the investment would exclude the inter-company transactions, but include subscription by subsidiaries of the bank to any fund intended to invest in capital market; market value of all types of shares, debentures, corporate bonds, mutual funds; margin loan (outstanding) provided to the customers by the subsidiaries of the bank; and bridge loans provided to companies by subsidiaries of the bank against expected equity flows. The central bank said the banks having investment above the limit shall have to bring it down gradually within July 21, 2016. It also directed the banks to submit their stock investment statements to the central bank within 10 days from the last working day of every month. l
The government is also reluctant to offload shares of state owned enterprises in the stock market in excuse of unstable stock market
Finance Minister AMA Muhith, banking secretary M Aslam Alam, BSEC chairman professor M Khairul Hossain and other officials is expected to attend the meeting at the Prime Ministers Office. Since stock market debacle in late 2010, the government is making efforts to bring back investor confidence from the brink. Since then, the market is going through volatility as it still bears nightmare of stock crash. The government is also reluctant to offload shares of state owned enterprises in the stock market in excuse of unstable stock market. The benchmark index of Dhaka Stock Exchange rose 11% from January 5 to February 25 this year. Earlier, the government decided to extend by one more year term the appointment of the present chairman and four BSEC commissioners, as their three-year term will end between May and July this year. Finance minister AMA Muhith said performance of BSEC chairman Prof M Khairul Hossain and four members has so far been good as we saw the countrys two bourses more or less stable during their time. l
desh Bank issued show cause notice to 15 banks as they had increased their investment during September to December period of 2013. Capital market investment of 11 banks still remained above 91% of their equity, eight of them went even beyond 100%. The central bank has found that some banks have adjusted credit to the subsidiary companies through extending the limit or providing new loans being failed to recover interest from them on given loans, which is too outrageous and contrary of banking rules, according to the report. Though we did not segment the time duration of three years for reducing the investment, the banks have been asked to cut their exposure gradually, said Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor SK Sur Chowdhury.
If they cut their investment at a time after three years, then capital market might face a freefall, he said. So, banks should be careful in share market investment to avoid the repetition of the debacle occurred in late 2010, he added. As soon as the then Awami Leagueled government assumed power in 2009, the stock market showed a bullish trend and many banks invested beyond their limits. But after a price debacle in 2011, the banks huge exposure came under criticism from various quarters. Maximum banks are waiting for opportunity to come out from share market through taking profit, said a senior executive of a private bank. They have still three years in hand as Bangladesh Bank did not segment the time duration for limiting the ex-
posure. So, banks are not bound to cut their investment at a time or gradually, he said. The share market witnessed a boom in 2009-10 period due to over exposure of the banks. Maximum bank had investment above their 10% limit of liabilities. But when the central bank tightened their supervision on share market exposure of banks in 2010, the share market fell into a complete disaster. To revive the share market authorities including Dhaka Stock Exchange, Chittagong Stock Exchange, Securities Exchange Commission and Finance Ministry called upon the banks to re-invest. But Bangladesh Bank so far remained strict about the reinvestment and rather directed the banks to comply with the investment limit. l
IPP deal with Russia likely to be inked soon HC: 8 Pubali Bank
n Sheikh Shahariar Zaman
Dhaka and Moscow may soon sign Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement as the two countries have decided to expedite the process of negotiation. A five-member delegation led by a joint secretary of Industries Ministry, Afroza Khan, is scheduled to leave Dhaka on March 2 to conclude negotiation for striking the deal. Bangladeshs foreign ministry sources said Russia wanted to speed up the process as its business interests in Bangladesh had increased. We have been negotiating with Russia to sign the agreement since 1999. In middle of last year, Moscow showed interest to conclude it as soon as possible, said a foreign ministry official in Dhaka. This is the first time we are going to have face-to-face negotiation, and we want to conclude it this time, the official said. Russia sent its first draft of IPP agreement in 1999 and then the two countries exchanged several drafts over the last 15 years. ences over the environmental issue, compensation to victims of related accidents and civil disturbance etc. Both the nations will now try to reduce the gap, said the official. Bangladeshi laws do not allow any project which could pollute environment to a level hazardous to public health. Russia wants softening of the law. But we told them it is not possible and Bangladesh will follow its laws in all international deals, said the official. Bangladesh wants to include a compensation provision in the IPP agreement under which the Russian authorities will have to pay compensations to the victims of any accidents and hazards to be in the Russian plants. Bangladesh also wants to drop a compensation provision under which the Russian companies can claim demurrage for civil disturbances like in hartals or shutdowns. l
directorship illegal
n Nazmus Sakib
The High Court yesterday annulled the posts of eight Pubali Bank directors including its chairman as they failed to hold 2% shares of the bank during their election on August 21 last year. They are Hafiz Ahmed Majumder (chairman), Muhammad Faizur Rahman, Ahmed Shafi Choudhury, Fahim Ahmed Faruk Chowdhury, Muhammed Kabiruzzaman Yaqub, Rumana Sharif, Suraiya Rahman and Azizur Rahman. The bench of Justice Md Rezaul Hasan delivered the ruling after rejecting the directors petition which had challenged the decision of banks election commission. The election commission declared them disqualified as contestants for directorship as they didnt hold 2% shares. Mohammad Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury, the lawyer of the eight directors who were nominated from the general shareholders, told the Dhaka Tribune that the HC observed in the verdict that only the independent director and nominee director would be kept immune from the minimum share-holding requirement. Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC), by issuing two notifications on November 22 and December 7 of 2011, made it obligatory that every director must have 2% shares. It said the shares should be acquired within six months of the directive. Later on February 12, 2012, the BSEC clarified that the director nominated
B3 COLUMN 4
n Tribune Report
Russia wants softening of the law. But we told them it is not possible and Bangladesh will follow its laws in all international deals
Besides, Dhaka and Moscow signed an agreement last year to set up a nuclear power plant while Russian energy company Gazprom has been working with Bangladeshs state-owned oil company Petrobangla for the last couple of years. The countries have some differ-
Bangladesh is studying on Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Myanmar to enhance bilateral trade and commerce between the two countries, commerce minister Tofail Ahmed told the parliament yesterday. The decision about the prospect of signing PTA between the countries was taken in the Joint Trade Commission meeting in the Myanmar capital on January 14-15, he said replying to a question from treasury bench member Moazzem Hossain Ratan. Bangladesh Tariff Commission is working on the issue, he said, adding that there is a bright prospect to boost bilateral trade between Bangladesh and Myanmar. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
B3 COLUMN 4
WhatsApp voice service a threat for Telcos, fears Telenor Efforts initiated to lift Russian
Zahidul Islam n Muhammad from Barcelona, Spain
Telenor President Jon Fredrick Baksaas has termed the mobile phone application WhatsApps move to launch a free voice service through cellular network as an enormous threat for the telecom companies especially for mobile operators. Addressing a press conference organised by the Telenor Group, Baksaas, however, yesterday, said, I welcome WhatsApp move but it would be an enormous threat for us. There should be a way to figure this out but time will say how that will be happened, He was replying to a quarry raised by a Bangladeshi reporter at the press conference. Baksas is also the president of Telenor group, which has lions share in Bangladeshs largest mobile phone operator Grameenphone. Recently, Facebook has bought WhatsApp with a cost of US$19bn, which became the talk of the GSMA Mobile World Congress 2014, being held in the capital city of Spain. The WhatsApp, a massaging application free for the cell phone users, which is already being used by 450m users across the globe, is also going to provide this free voice call service through the mobile network within the second quarter of the current year. The WhatsApp chief executive officer Jan Koum on Monday declared that his company would launch the free voice service by the second quarter of the current year at a Mobile World Congress seminar. Regarding the introduction of the application (WhatsApp) with huge money, Baksaas said, The people would crush us if we bought the WhatsApp but you have already heard more about it from Mark Zukarbarg who tried to explain his ground the other day, although it had raised more questions in the peoples mind. The father of the Facebook Zukarbarg on Monday at the GSMA Congress declared that his company had just bought WhatsApp in line with a vision to make basic internet services free for all. On the other hand, the Telenor boss said, My company has been working to establish a global network through the internet to empower the society. We are moving ahead with a good pace and what we are saying about empowering societies through mobile network is happening in Bangladesh right now, categorically said Baksaas. higher dividend than the profit, he said, Bangladesh is a great example of how mobile operators are creating, transforming and building telecom connectivity and Grameenphone is the major part of that. Being a listed company, Grameenphone and its sister concern GPIT directly engage in lots of government activities, so there has been no fear about the market of Bangladesh, he also added. Earlier, Grameenphone has recommended distributing 28.6% higher dividend than the net profit the company earned in 2013. It was reported that an after tax profit of over Tk14.70bn in the year, about 16% down from the previous year, but recommended dividend of Tk18.91bn, according to financial disclosure. In 2012, Grameenphone made Tk17.50bn profit and distributed cash dividend of Tk18.9bn while the figure was Tk18.89bn profit and cash dividend Tk27.68bn in 2011. In the year 2010, Grameenphone made a profit worth TK10.71bn and distributed Tk16.20bn as cash dividend among the shareholders. l
ferent countries annually, among which shrimp is around 50,000 metric ton, he said.
I welcome WhatsApp move but it would be an enormous threat for us. There should be a way to figure this out but time will say how that will be happened
In this regard, he also clarified that the Telenor through its Bangladeshi outfit Grameenphone is helping to build the digital Bangladesh. We are not concern on how the Bangladeshi government is shaping up its entry point for the mobile operators as long as we share the same vision of empowering people with the internet, he added. Replying to a question asked by the Dhaka Tribune correspondent on the
Bangladesh will write to Russia by this week requesting to reconsider its standard regarding the amount of bacteria
The country exported a total of 7,651MT shrimps to the Russian Federation in nearly four years since a deal was signed between Dhaka and Moscow in December, 2009. Bangladesh will write to Russia by this week requesting to reconsider its standard regarding the amount of bacteria, said fisheries minister. A technical team of the Bangladeshi government will also go to Moscow to convince Russia, he said, adding that a Russian team would also be invited for inspection of the standards of Bangladeshi shrimps. The minister informed that Russia however resumed importing shrimps from Bagerhat Sea Foods (a company in Bangladesh) from 6th of this month. l
B2
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Stock
DSE GAINERS Company
Closing (% change) 9.90 9.72 8.65 7.48 7.18 7.02 6.88 6.73 6.17 6.10
Apex SpinningA Shampur Sugar -Z Eastern Lubricants -A Apex Footwear-A Marico BD Ltd-A Rangpur Foundry -A Apex Tannery -A Meghna Con. Milk -B Dulamia CottonZ Prime Bank-A CSE GAINERS Company Apex SpinningA Samata LeatheR -Z Rangpur Foundry -A National Life I -A Apex Footwear-A Reckitt Benckiser -A Apex Tannery -A Marico BD Ltd-A Prime Bank-A Summit Purbanchol Power-N
Average (% change) 8.68 9.72 11.04 5.69 5.69 6.29 5.31 6.67 7.50 2.86 Average (% change) 9.96 10.00 9.23 4.07 7.48 6.67 5.52 5.83 4.39 4.62
Closing average 82.77 7.90 385.32 550.39 917.45 109.48 180.35 11.20 8.60 25.20
Closing 84.40 7.90 385.60 556.40 933.40 109.70 183.30 11.10 8.60 26.10
Daily high 84.40 7.90 385.90 556.50 933.40 112.00 185.50 11.40 8.60 26.70
Daily low 78.60 7.90 380.00 500.00 880.00 104.30 173.50 10.80 8.60 22.50
Turnover in million 7.333 0.001 1.811 212.285 15.826 32.900 130.556 0.812 0.017 20.406
Latest EPS 1.85 -50.84 6.02 28.27 46.53 3.03 4.86 -4.58 -4.02 0.56
Latest PE 44.7 -ve 64.0 19.5 19.7 36.1 37.1 -ve -ve 45.0
Closing (% change) 10.00 10.00 8.94 8.21 7.49 6.67 6.15 5.83 5.76 5.58
Closing average 83.57 25.30 109.99 368.99 555.69 960.00 181.34 926.00 25.45 71.60
Closing 83.60 25.30 109.70 369.00 555.70 960.00 183.00 926.00 25.70 71.90
Daily high 83.60 25.30 110.70 369.90 555.70 960.00 185.30 93 7.50 26.40 72.50
Daily low 83.10 25.30 109.00 368.50 555.60 960.00 175.00 900.00 24.30 68.00
Turnover in million 0.251 0.051 0.935 0.240 1.556 0.048 15.342 0.463 0.242 6.842
Latest EPS 1.85 -0.04 3.03 12.46 28.27 28.52 4.86 46.53 0.56 5.35
Latest PE 45.2 -ve 36.3 29.6 19.7 33.7 37.3 19.9 45.4 13.4
28.01
TUE THU
25-Feb
MON 24-Feb
TUE
(+) 0.11% (+) 0.18% (+) 0.20% (+) 0.01% (+) 0.10% (+) 0.08%
Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis) Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis) Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis) Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.) Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)
AB Bank - A
-3.46
Average (% change) -8.66 -2.71 -3.91 -7.63 -4.04 -1.11 -1.02 -2.76 -2.05
Closing average 9.70 29.85 135.34 61.63 19.00 22.24 20.38 114.85 315.47
Closing 9.70 29.00 134.30 61.10 19.00 21.90 20.10 113.10 310.70
Daily high 9.70 31.30 142.00 65.90 19.50 22.80 20.90 118.80 327.20
Daily low 9.70 27.90 132.20 60.00 18.80 21.80 19.00 110.00 305.00
Turnover in million 0.015 42.075 6.104 12.141 0.171 3.960 3.735 27.432 5.710
Latest EPS 1.03 0.75 0.88 -1.00 -0.89 0.22 0.46 2.26 11.56
Latest PE 9.4 39.8 153.8 -ve -ve 101.1 44.3 50.8 27.3
Engg_Index
DSE BroadIndex
-1.83
31.08
30.70
34.00
28.80
41.250
1.65
18.8
CSE LOSERS Company Imam Button -Z Prime Finance-A AMCL 2nd MF A Rahima Food -Z IDLC Finance -A Metro Spinning -A Bangladesh Lamps -A Continental Insur. -A BDCOM Online-A Closing (% change) -7.53 -6.45 -5.26 -4.69 -4.62 -4.12 -3.58 -3.55 -3.29
Rupali InsurA
-3.16
Average (% change) -7.33 -1.85 -2.79 -5.86 -2.82 -3.97 -3.53 -1.71 -3.27
Closing average 8.60 30.20 7.32 62.32 79.87 18.61 140.01 30.47 32.26
Closing 8.60 29.00 7.20 61.00 78.50 18.60 140.00 29.90 32.30
Daily high 8.70 31.30 7.50 65.00 81.40 19.20 140.10 31.60 32.60
Daily low 8.50 28.90 7.20 60.90 77.00 18.50 140.00 29.90 32.20
Turnover in million 0.017 11.659 0.051 0.343 6.492 0.164 0.049 0.091 0.305
Latest EPS -2.58 0.75 0.88 -1.00 4.16 0.88 -0.77 2.35 1.70
Latest PE -ve 40.3 8.3 -ve 19.2 21.1 -ve 13.0 19.0
DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company Olympic Ind. -A Grameenphone-A Apex Footwear-A BSC A Meghna Petroleum -A BD Submarine Cable-A
Delta Life Insu. -A
-3.74
36.58
36.80
37.10
36.40
0.580
2.59
14.1
ANALYST
Market ended flat over cautious mood of investors in last hour of the trading session. Pressure on the index came from cashing in large cap stocks
DSE Million Taka 463.40 355.76 119.61 593.65 499.74 597.47 6.28 357.72 583.81 0.58 28.17 355.25 19.78 267.73 44.37 79.12 322.55 387.14 62.31 280.11 0.49
% change 8.54 6.56 2.20 10.94 9.21 11.01 0.12 6.59 10.76 0.01 0.52 6.55 0.36 4.94 0.82 1.46 5.95 7.14 1.15 5.16 0.01
Million Taka 47.09 40.31 6.74 51.59 34.46 31.52 27.95 52.22 0.26 1.55 18.95 3.25 14.53 8.72 2.36 11.76 70.98 7.33 56.57 0.04
CSE
% change 9.65 8.26 1.38 10.57 7.06 6.46 0.00 5.73 10.70 0.05 0.32 3.88 0.67 2.98 1.79 0.48 2.41 14.54 1.50 11.59 0.01
Million Taka 510.49 396.07 126.35 645.23 534.20 628.99 6.28 385.67 636.04 0.84 29.72 374.21 23.03 282.25 53.09 81.48 334.31 458.12 69.64 336.68 0.53
Total
% change 8.63 6.70 2.14 10.91 9.03 10.64 0.11 6.52 10.76 0.01 0.50 6.33 0.39 4.77 0.90 1.38 5.65 7.75 1.18 5.69 0.01
Jamuna Oil -A ConfidenceCement A LankaBangla Fin. -A UCBL - A IDLC Finance -A HeidelbergCement -A Summit Purbanchol Power-N BD Building Systems -A Navana CNG A Orion Infusions -A
CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BSC A
Volume shares 1,459,942 1,039,500 385,700 324,360 685,788 760,189 587,700 502,783 556,566 723,900
468,520 641,555 1,180,058 2,949,909 1,047,696 183,320 1,058,740 843,450 803,384 1,174,300
Value in million 317.88 219.44 212.29 208.36 195.54 167.70 158.28 132.29 131.52 130.56
108.55 95.25 85.68 85.10 84.08 81.12 75.51 60.90 56.90 54.01
% of total turnover 5.86 4.05 3.91 3.84 3.60 3.09 2.92 2.44 2.42 2.41
2.00 1.76 1.58 1.57 1.55 1.50 1.39 1.12 1.05 1.00
Daily closing 217.50 212.50 556.40 627.00 286.70 217.60 267.30 261.10 235.60 183.30
231.20 149.10 71.90 28.80 79.00 439.80 71.80 71.60 71.10 44.80
Price change 1.78 2.21 7.48 -0.08 1.59 -0.96 0.38 -0.76 -1.67 6.88
0.04 3.25 -2.71 1.05 -2.23 1.50 5.59 -0.69 2.75 1.36
Daily opening 213.70 207.90 517.70 627.50 282.20 219.70 266.30 263.10 239.60 171.50
231.10 144.40 73.90 28.50 80.80 433.30 68.00 72.10 69.20 44.20
236.00 150.00 74.10 29.10 87.00 446.80 72.20 73.20 75.00 46.50
Daily high
Daily high 220.40 214.20 556.50 663.25 300.00 224.80 273.00 266.80 241.50 185.50
211.00 139.00 67.00 26.00 73.00 430.00 61.20 66.00 64.00 44.20
Daily low
Daily low 196.00 207.80 500.00 622.00 270.00 200.50 266.60 250.00 225.00 173.50
Daily average 217.73 211.10 550.39 642.37 285.13 220.61 269.32 263.12 236.31 180.35
231.68 148.46 72.61 28.85 80.25 442.50 71.32 72.21 70.82 45.99
Volume shares
Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net
BD Submarine Cable-A Grameenphone-A Square Pharma -A Apex Tannery -A Olympic Ind. -A Beach Hatchery -A Prime Finance-A UCBL - A LankaBangla Fin. -A Delta Life Insu. -A Appollo Ispat CL -N AFC AgroBiotech-N Singer BD -A aamra technologies-A JMI Syringes MDL A BEXIMCO Ltd. -A Summit Purbanchol Power-N Aftab Auto.-A National Bank - B
72,635 186,500 140,400 59,825 84,600 58,000 416,500 386,050 392,796 142,000 35,950 288,800 123,000 33,275 189,410 34,000 225,379 95,560 73,693 511,045
Value in million
46.33 41.31 29.66 15.73 15.34 12.67 12.49 11.66 11.31 10.28 9.72 9.00 8.27 7.87 7.71 7.59 7.47 6.84 6.84 6.69
% of total turnover
9.51 8.48 6.09 3.23 3.15 2.60 2.56 2.39 2.32 2.11 2.00 1.85 1.70 1.61 1.58 1.56 1.53 1.40 1.40 1.37
Daily closing
624.30 217.90 210.80 261.70 183.00 217.80 29.60 29.00 28.90 71.70 268.50 31.00 66.50 236.00 40.20 220.50 33.00 71.90 92.40 13.00
Price change
-0.67 -0.82 1.69 -0.61 6.15 2.06 -1.66 -6.45 1.76 -2.58 0.52 -0.64 -0.75 -1.58 0.50 0.78 -0.90 5.58 1.09 -1.52
Daily opening
628.50 219.70 207.30 263.30 172.40 213.40 30.10 31.00 28.40 73.60 267.10 31.20 67.00 239.80 40.00 218.80 33.30 68.10 91.40 13.20
659.00 225.80 214.00 266.00 185.30 221.00 30.80 31.30 29.00 73.20 274.50 31.60 69.30 243.00 41.20 228.00 33.60 72.50 93.70 13.40
616.00 217.00 207.50 260.20 175.00 215.00 29.30 28.90 28.60 71.50 267.00 30.80 66.30 232.90 40.10 220.00 32.90 68.00 92.00 13.00
Daily average
637.89 221.52 211.27 262.91 181.34 218.45 29.99 30.20 28.80 72.38 270.43 31.15 67.25 236.49 40.69 223.37 33.15 71.60 92.79 13.09
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
n
AFP, Tokyo
B3
LRGB open-end fund approved n Tribune Report
An open-end mutual fund has got green signal from securities regulator to begin its operation. The commission approved the prospectus of LRGB Unit Fund, an openend fund, said Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission in a statement yesterday. The fund size is of Tk10 crore and its offer value Tk10 each unit. Of the amount, Tk9 crore has been kept for investors and Tk1 crore for sponsor. An open-end mutual fund is a fund that continuously sells new shares (units) and buys already issued shares at the market price. It is called open because its size fluctuates as shares are bought and sold every business day. LR Global Bangladesh is acting as fund manger of the mutual fund. l
Buffett: Dont bet the farm; keep Dollar static ahead investments simple, diversified of US data
n
Reuters
Berkshire Hathaway chairman Warren Buffett, known for his folksy straightforward communication style, turned to farming to recommend his winning strategy for investors to follow. In an excerpt of his annual letter to shareholders published online by Fortune on Monday, Buffett used a 1986 purchase of a farm located 50 miles north of Omaha to support his case about simple, diversified and low-cost investing. He had bought the farm because he could weigh how much the property would yield in corn and soybeans against its operating costs - and not to speculate on the value of the land or to sell it as soon as prices rose. Now, 28 years later, the farm has tripled its earnings and is worth five times or more what I paid, Buffett wrote in his annual letter to shareholders, adding that he has visited the property only twice. So ignore the chatter, keep your costs minimal, and invest in stocks as you would in a farm. Buffetts advice reflected, as well, his bias toward holding assets for the long term. Rather than a constant flux of buying and selling, Buffett said investors should treat daily price changes as background noise, to be ignored in pursuit of a greater objective. The goal of the nonprofessional should not be to pick winners - neither The dollar was flat in Asia on yesterday as investors waited on fresh US data for clues on how the worlds biggest economy is faring. The greenback was at 102.54 yen in Tokyo afternoon trade, compared with 102.48 yen in New York Monday afternoon. The euro bought $1.3732 and 140.85 yen against $1.3734 and 140.76 yen, supported by a solid business sentiment survey in Germany and stable eurozone inflation figures. The dollar will likely be stuck in a tight range of 102.00-103.00 yen during Asian trading on Tuesday, said a senior dealer at a major Japanese trust bank. Some dollar buying is expected from Japanese importers, but I dont feel any momentum going on, he told Dow Jones Newswires. Investors were waiting for further cues on the US economic recovery, following sub-zero winter temperatures in many parts of the country that skewed data at the start of the year. February consumer confidence figures are due out later in the global day, followed by durable goods orders on Thursday and an updated estimate for fourth-quarter economic growth on Friday. Weve seen some weak data recently. Any good figures would be taken positively, giving the dollar a tailwind, the Japanese bank dealer said. The upheaval in Ukraine did not appear to have much impact on the major currencies. The dollar was slightly lower against other Asia-Pacific currencies. The greenback slipped to 11,627 Indonesian rupiah from 11,706 rupiah the previous day, to 62.02 Indian rupees from 62.10 rupees, and to Sg$1.2622 from Sg$1.2672. It also sank to 32.50 Thai baht from 32.58 baht and to 1,070.77 South Korean won from 1,076.25 won. It bought 44.60 Philippine pesos against 44.63 pesos. The Australian dollar rose to 90.29 US cents from 89.64 cents, while the Chinese yuan fetched 16.75 yen against 16.77 yen. l
he nor his helpers can do that - but should rather be to own a cross section of businesses that in aggregate are bound to do well, he wrote. For nonprofessionals, such as momand-pop investors saving for retirement, Buffett recommended a lowcost S&P 500 index fund, particularly highlighting Vanguards. That mutual fund has a net expense ratio of 0.17%. Buffett - ranked the worlds fourthrichest person by Forbes magazine, with a fortune of $53.5bn - also dismissed much of the market- and economy-watching that informs daily price fluctuations and, often, future price speculation.
Forming macro opinions or listening to the macro or market predictions of others is a waste of time, wrote the man dubbed the Oracle of Omaha because of his performance in the markets. Investors should instead focus on the future productivity of assets, rather than speculating on price movements, which Buffett said that he was unable to do successfully. Games are won by players who focus on the playing field - not by those whose eyes are glued to the scoreboard. Berkshire Hathaway is expected to report its 2013 earnings on Saturday. l
HSBC and ICC jointly launch ICC Knowledge Centre n Tribune Business Desk
The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) in Bangladesh and International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh have jointly launched a trade knowledge and network building platform titled ICC Knowledge Centre. The launching was complemented by a MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) signing ceremony between HSBC and ICC, said a press release. The Knowledge Centre will provide the trade professionals of Bangladesh with an access to online resources, insights and trade related articles, researches and up to date trade information. Commenting on the launch of the knowledge centre, James Emmett, HSBCs global head of trade and receivables finance said: Bangladeshs trade outlook is very positive and it is therefore crucial to provide exporters with the means to develop their knowledge of global trade practices. l
China Erzhong Group (Deyang) Heavy Industries Co, a loss-making manufacturer of equipment for the steel and power industries, faces higher borrowing costs after a wholesale restructuring, said Huang Guozhan, an executive at the companys board secretarys office. The Sichuan-based firm, which expects to report a 2013 loss of 3.15bn yuan ($516.5m) and may see its shares suspended, held debt of 11.4bn yuan in September, according to stock market filings. In July, Chinas State-Owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission ordered China Erzhong, together with its parent company, to merge with China National Machinery Industry Corp, another Beijing-controlled enterprise group. A management reshuffle followed, while a proposed 1.9bn yuan asset sale was cancelled. Accumulated losses may drive up the cost of the companys loans, Huang said, should banks cut the companys ratings. Tight credit growth and higher borrowing costs will make it a tough year, said Stephen Green, head of China research at Standard Chartered Bank.
five listed companies under Sinotrans & CSC Holdings Ltd, another central government company, has been selling ships and borrowing money from its parent after its 4.9bn yuan investment in new vessels turned sour. The dry bulk goods shipper, which is in bankruptcy restructuring, has been sued for loan repayment by five banks, including China Merchants Bank Co and China Minsheng Banking Corp. It also faces lawsuits by the leasing arm of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China and China Petroleum and Chemical Corp for unpaid bills. Other state-backed firms, including China Cosco Holdings and Angang Steel, have returned to nominal profitability by turning to their corporate parents to sell assets.
Over-invested?
Asset sales
Chinas massive holding companies, power producers and construction materials firms are among the most highly levered in the worlds second-largest economy, with each sector reporting twice as much debt as equity at end-September, Thomson Reuters data show. Leverage in freight and logistics services reached 85% in September, forcing a wave of asset sales. Changjiang Shipping Group Phoenix Co, one of
Exacerbating Chinas corporate troubles has been the questionable use of 4tn yuan in stimulus that Beijing pumped into the economy following the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008, explained Lee of Standard & Poors. Many companies invested heavily into competitive and low-return projects because funding was readily available, he said. These investments arent doing well and are making little contribution to profitability. Although leverage at Chinas midsized and large companies started to decline in the second half of last year, building down debt positions will be difficult, said Merrill Lynch analyst David Cui. The beast grew so fast you cant control it easily now. A sense of urgency will develop only if there is significant disturbance to the financial system. l
plansto attend the third Bimstec (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) summit scheduled for March 4 in Myanmar. During the Prime Ministers visit, various bilateral issues, including expansion of trade and commerce, will be discussed with the Myanmar authorities, he said. Responding to a supplementary question, the commerce minister replied that the first meeting between Bangladesh and the United States under Trade and Investment Cooperation Framework Agreement (TICFA) is scheduled to be held in Dhaka on April 7 this year. A US delegation is expected to arrive in Dhaka on April 6 to join this meeting, he said, adding that a number of tradeinvestment related issues, including duty and quota free market access to
the USA, are expected to be discussed in the meeting. He said the process of setting up Bangladesh-China-IndiaMyanmar (BCIM) Economic Corridor is at the final stage. Once its set up, trade volume will increase significantly. On Ticfa issue, Tofail said the government will discuss with the US about the duty-free-quota-free (DFQF) access in the US market during the first meeting of Ticfa to be held here in April. He said many countries including the USA are yet to implement their pledges regarding DFQF market access for the least developed countries (LDCs). On the restoration of GSP, the Commerce Minister reiterated that Bangladesh will get back the trade facilities in the US market if politics is not mixed up with the process. l
from the general shareholders, independent director and nominee director need not to have that minimum shares. Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Pubali Bank was scheduled to be held on August 21 of last year for election of the directors. But the election commission of the bank on August 14 of the previous year held the eight ineligible persons for directorship as they lacked the required 2% shares. Later on August 20, they filed the petition under the Companies Act, 1994 questioning the decision of the election commission. The High Court on the same day stayed the election commissions deci-
sion and wanted to know why the decision should not be declared illegal. The eight were elected directors on August 21 last year. After holding hearing on the rule, the HC yesterday gave the judgment. Reshad Imam, lawyer of the Pubali Bank, told the Dhaka Tribune: All the eight directors now have the 2% shares. They can be elected again through another AGM. The High Court made the post of eight directors vacant as they had not attained the required share. He said an appeal would be lodged against the HC verdict since the vacancy might create complexities in the activities of the bank. l
BASIC Bank Limited and Bangladesh Rating Agency Ltd (BDRAL) recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU). Kazi Faqurul Islam, the banks managing director and Saikat Poddar, managing director of BDRAL seen exchanging MoU documents
Bank Asia has donated Tk4.8 lakh financial assistance to the family of Major (late) Md Humayun Kabir Sarker who was killed in BDR carnage at Pilkhana in 2009. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, in presence of A Rouf Chowdhury, the banks chairperson handed over the cheque to the widowed at a function held at the Prime Ministers Office yesterday
Al-Arafah Islami Bank Training and Research Academy arranged a week-long training course on Banking Laws and Practices last Sunday. The banks managing director Md Habibur Rahman inaugurated the course as chief guest
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over cheques to five army officer families held at a ceremony at the Prime Ministers Office in the city yesterday. National Bank Limited shared responsibilities of financial support for five families affected by BDR carnage of 2009 amounting Tk40,000 per month for each family totaling two crore and forty lakh taka in ten years
$64
Warren Buffett
Source Citizenship
B4
60
AFP, Beijing n50
Amancio Ortega
$62
Back Page
4
Carlos Slim Helu & family
$60
10
Countries with most billionaires By citizenship US 481 China 358 Russia 103 Britain 77 India 70 Germany 66 Switzerland 56 Brazil 48 Japan 43 France 37
Source: Hurun Global Rich List
Total wealth:
ployers. But inclusion on a Hurun rich list can be a mixed blessing for wealthy Chinese, intensifying public and government scrutiny of them and their companies. Some have subsequently been investigated or imprisoned, among them Huang Guangyu, who was proclaimed Chinas highest net worth individual three times, most recently in 2008. Huang was jailed for 14 years in 2010 for illegal business operations, insider trading and corporate bribery. Businessmen dont really want to be on the list, Hoogewerf admitted, but said they were becoming more willing to talk about their wealth as they expand their activities overseas. The worlds dollar billionaires had a total wealth of $6.9tn, more than Japans entire GDP, the report said. Gates replaced Slim, chairman of mobile phone carrier America Movil, as the globes wealthiest individual with his net worth rising 26% to $68bn as of January 17, it said. US investment guru Warren Buffett and Amancio Ortega, founder of Spanish textile giant Inditex, which owns global fashion brand Zara, ranked second and third on the Hurun Global Rich List 2014, with assets of $64bn and $62bn respectively, it showed. Slim and his family took fourth spot, after their wealth fell nine percent year-on-year to $60bn due to currency and share price movements, the report said. Slim remained the worlds richest person with assets of $73bn on the 2013 ranking by US-based Forbes magazine, followed by Gates on $67bn. It listed a total of 1,342 billionaires. l
A mobile device coupled to a toothbrush is presented at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. The Mobile World Congress runs from the 24 to 27 February where participants and visitors alike can attend conferences, network, discover cutting-edge products and technologies at among the 1,700 exhibitors as well as seek industry opportunities and make deals AFP
n AFP, Beijing
Campaigns against distracted driving have gained significant traction in the United States. In 2012, over 3,000 people died due to crashes where texting or other activities were in play, according to Distraction.gov, a US government web site devoted to the issue. Delaware state Rep. Joseph Miro was one of the primary sponsors of a bill that banned texting while driving, and he also introduced legislation targeting Google Glass. So far, no states have passed Google Glass restrictions. Im not against Google or Google Glass. It may have a place in society, said Miro, a Republican. My issue is that while you are driving, you should have nothing that is going to impede the concentration of the driver. According to Miro, a Google representative lobbied against the bill by forwarding a news article about the San Diego court case, as an attempt to show that the courts are taking a dim view towards prosecutions. His bill passed committee and could receive a floor vote this spring, Miro said. Googles position is at odds with groups like the Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council, which in a letter last year said it supported restrictions on drivers use of headsets such as Google Glass, believing it will lead to more accidents, causing more spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries. Google advises people engaged in Glass field tests to abide by state laws that limit use of mobile devices while driving. Above all, even when youre following the law, dont hurt yourself or others by failing to pay attention to the road, the company said in guidance posted online. l
Business networking site LinkedIn has launched a Chinese version, attempting to tap the huge market while navigating a strict censorship regime that has seen other foreign social media giants banned. China has the worlds largest online community with more than 618 million users. But its so-called Great Firewall blocks any online forums or content deemed sensitive, and it has barred access to Facebook and Twitter for several years. Foreign tech giants must abide by strict rules to operate in the country. While the Chinese version of LinkedIn allows users to post public comments, unlike its English-language counterpart it does not currently allow group discussions. LinkedIn pledged to be limited and open about its compliance. As a condition for operating in the country, the government of China imposes censorship requirements on Internet platforms, CEO Jeff Weiner said in a statement on its website on Sunday. Weiner promised that government restrictions on content will be implemented only when and to the extent required and that it will be transparent about how it conducts business in China. LinkedIn strongly supports freedom of expression and fundamentally disagrees with government censorship. At the same time, we also believe that LinkedIns absence in China would deny Chinese professionals a means to connect with others on our global platform, he said. l
As a condition for operating in the country, the government of China imposes censorship requirements on Internet platforms,
Its English-language version has been available in China for more than a decade, where it has attracted four million users, the statement said. British-based technology site theregister.co.uk was dismissive, saying: In a nutshell, Weiner and co. decided a censored LinkedIn would still be more beneficial for Chinas business professional than no LinkedIn at all. Or rather, that the prospect of 100m+ extra users was too good an opportunity to turn down because of trifling matter like freedom of expression online. Foreign tech giants have faced challenges in navigating Chinas strict Internet controls, which are used to block expressions of discontent or other content that might undermine the control of the ruling Communist Party. Yahoo elicited criticism in 2005 for allegedly giving the government de-
tails leading to the email account of a journalist who was later sentenced to 10 years jail. Google halted its mainland China search engine service in 2010 after deciding it would no longer censor results. Facebook and Twitter were banned after they were used by protesters in the Middle East and North Africa to organise uprisings starting in late 2010 that overthrew longstanding regimes, in what became known as the Arab Spring. Microsofts Bing search engine came under scrutiny earlier this month following reports that Chinese-language searches for topics deemed politically sensitive by Beijing returned drastically different results to English-language searches - both inside and outside China. Bing has denied censoring its Chinese-language search results outside China. Domestic social media networks thrive in the country but face strict controls. Searches for sensitive terms are routinely blocked and offending posts are deleted. Chinas Supreme Court ruled that month that Internet users could face three years in jail if slanderous information spread online was viewed more than 5,000 times or forwarded more than 500 times. Chinas online population - defined as those who have used the Internet at least once in the past six months - is the largest in the world, having risen by 53 million in 2013 alone, according to the China Internet Network Information Centre. l