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Poush 9, 1420 Safar 19, 1435 Regd. No. DA 6238 Vol 1 No 269
Bangladesh Army vehicles escort goods-laden transports on the Dhaka-Chittagong highway yesterday
DHAKA TRIBUNE
P3 AL REQUEST TO EC
affidavit in the ninth parliamentary election said he had passed only Class VIII while this time he claimed he is pursuing BBA programme. And in the biography of MP
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INSIDE
Business
B1 The government has planned to defer the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) 2014 by 10 days due to the political turmoil and violence.
News
Nation
6 Despite many reports published in different media, including the Dhaka Tribune on December 12, a group of land grabbers have been continuing construction of a kitchen market on a canal in Nathullabad area in Barisal city.
Entertainment
12 Young Bangladeshi filmmaker Kamar Ahmad Simon has won The Asian Pitch held in Singapore last week.
The charge sheet accused the owners of erecting the factory building in an unplanned way that eventually led to the disaster
The other seven accused are: admin officer Dulal, security in-charge Anisur Rahman, security supervisor Al-Amin, store in-charges Hamidul Islam Lavlu and Al-Amin, loader Shamim Mia and security guard Rana. All these seven have been arrested, but only Anisur Rahman is now in jail. The rest have all secured bail from the High Court and a judges courts. Inspector Khan said the prosecution had filed for producing a total of 111 witnesses in the case. Earlier, December 31 was fixed by the court for hearing to take the charge sheet in cognisance.
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Fuel oil tankers line up at Matuail in the capital as they are escorted for smooth supply during the opposition's blockade
FOCUS BANGLA
Diplomatic efforts
Reportedly, the BNP has also been trying to keep the foreign missions in the loop about how controversial the upcoming 10th parliamentary elections were. The party is also maintaining contacts with India over the current political situation. The European Union has already said they would not send any observer to the January 5 elections. Senior leaders of the party have already held a series of meetings with the diplomats, portraying to them the latest political scenario and explaining their positions. Yesterday, two BNP leaders held a meeting with some diplomats at a city hotel. BNP Vice-Chairman Shamsher Mobin Chowdhury and adviser to the BNP Chairperson Sabihuddin Ahmed were present at the meeting with UK High Commissioner Robert Gibson, Canadian High Commissioner Heather Cruden, Dutch Ambassador Gerben Sjoerd de Jong, Australian High Commissioner Greg Wilcock and South Korean Ambassador Lee Yun-young were present in the meeting. A senior leader said the party high command considered the meetings successful. l
22 ex-ministers
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Some seven people including the family members and two disciples were kept as hostages hands tied and faces zipped with cellulose tape in another room at that time. According to the case statement, Lutfors daughter Shamsunnahar had untied herself and cried out. She then freed Monirs father-in-law Golam Mostafa, Manjuruls brother-in-law Anwar and another unknown disciple. But within minutes, Mostafa and the unknown disciple ran out of the house.
ing that they could not complete their mission as they could not kill Abdullah, said Deputy Commissioner Jahangir Hossain Matubbar of the Detective Branch (east). We are carrying out investigation focusing on the militant links as well as the controversial religious practices of Lutfor, he said adding that they were verifying whether there was any other issue like personal enmity.
DB detains two
to the house he was interested to entertain them. One of the killers was wearing a blazer and all of them were wearing jeans. They had long daggers and Chinese knives with them. Shahida told the DB officials that the killers had been asking for Abdullah. They also claimed to have been ordered to kill six people, but said none of you will be spared if you make noise, she said quoting a killer.
also came under attack several times. Earlier, Lutfor had long beard while residing at Bibirbagicha of Demra in 2007, but trimmed it later.
Other deceased
Killers repented
According to the police, the killers expressed disappointment as they could not kill Abdullah. During the incident, they were searching for him and asked the captives his whereabouts. The killers had left the house say-
DB sources said they detained Mostafa and disciple Shahida Khatun, 54, who was among the hostages. DC Jahangir, however, did not admit the detention. Quoting captive eyewitnesses, the sources said the killers had been known to one of the deceased Shaheen, a disciple, as after the killers had come
Hailing from Bhorua village under Bhuapur in Tangail, Lutfor passed SSC in 1975 and HSC in 1977 from Pingna High School and College in Jamalpur. He had come to Dhaka in 1997. He is facing several cases filed against him with Shahbagh, Sutrapur and Demra police stations for his activities. He
The other victims are Lutfors elder son Monir, 40, who was an official of the Sadarghat branch of City Bank; and disciples Manjurul Alam, Mujibur Rahman, 25, Russel Bhuiyan, 20, and Md Shaheen, 25. Manju, son of Khalil Sheikh of Brammangati in Sirajganj, was Lutfors principal disciple. His brother Abdul Mumin said Manju and his wife Asma had been staying at Lutfors house for the last two years along with their child aged three and a half years. Shaheen, son of Kauser Ahmed, hailed from Badarpur village under Lalmohan upazila in Bhola. His father said
Shaheen had been engaged in trading vegetables with him at Jatrabari. But four years ago, he became a follower of Lutfor and left the business. His uncle Mafidul Islam said they could not take Shaheen back despite repeated attempts in the last two years. Another victim Mujibul is the son of Fazlul Huq from Gazipur. His wife Rabeya said Mujibul had worked at a garment factory. On Thursday, he had gone to Savar to visit her and returned to Dhaka. Russel, son of Tofazzal Islam Bhuiyan of Comilla, was a student of textile engineering at BGMEA Institute of Fashion Technology. His uncle Zakir Hossain said they had no idea about Russels links with Lutfor. The bodies were sent to Sir Salimullah Medical College morgue early yesterday for autopsy. l
Osman, Ahad Ali Sarkar, Md Shahjahan Miah, Abdul Mannan Khan, Jahangir Kabir Nanak, Muhammad Enamul Huq, Mozibur Rahman Fakir, Mahabubur Rahaman Talukdar, Omor Faruk Chowdhury, Md Abdul Hyee and Meher Afroze Chumki. However, the DPA authorities are not planning to serve them any notice to quit the houses. Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu, in accordance of his wish, has recently been allocated an official residence in the Hare Road by the DPA. None of the other ministers of the polls-time government, however, expressed their willingness to get a residence. Public Works Secretary Dr Khondakar Showkat Hossain said: Some ministers and state ministers have already handed over their houses. Some others are leaving and the rest are taking preparation to leave the houses. We hope they will leave their houses shortly. When asked whether the ministry has any plan to serve a notice in this regard, the secretary said: I think it would not be necessary to serve notices. They will leave willingly. Dr Ashraful Islam, director of the DPA under the housing and public works ministry, said: Only a few ministers and state ministers have handed over their official residences to the DPA. We will wait until they intend to hand those over themselves. We hope they will do it shortly, he added. If they do not leave within the expected time they will have to pay for overstay. According to the DPA, former ministers Afsarul Amin, Abdur Razzaque and Abdul Latif Bishwas and former state ministers Mostafizur Rahman and Motaher Hossain have already left their houses. l
Habibul Islam, officer-in-charge of Sirajganj police station, told the Dhaka Tribune that the injured driver Ataur was also undergoing treatment at the sadar hospital as the crude bomb attack burned his hands. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina spoke on television, calling to bring out vehicles for work; then why is she not coming and saving us? asked Shumi, sister of Majedul. In an angered voice, she said there were demons around us who carried out such destructive activities following the two female leaders order. Shumi said Majedul had come out from home after quarrelling with his wife Ashrafun, as there was no food at home. The family members would also
not be able to come to the capital to see Majedul as they lacked the necessary money, she said. Last night, when the police officials informed me about the incident, I ran over to sadar hospital. My brother was telling me they set fire on me by pouring petrol. Do you have something to eat? I havent eaten anything, please feed me. Shumi later bought some food and fed both the injured men at the hospital. Meanwhile, Md Shahjahan, another burn victim was also admitted at the hospital yesterday and was undergoing treatment at the ICU with 31% of his body burnt along with respiratory damages. The victim was reportedly returning
to his home at Noyahati in Mymensingh on an auto-rickshaw on Saturday evening, when pickets hurled petrol bombs at the vehicles near Ahmedpur area. However, Hamidul Islam, OC of Gouripur police station in Mymensingh, claimed that no auto-rickshaw was set on fire in the area, adding that other passengers of the same vehicle were unharmed. A probe was being carried out, the OC said. Partha Shankar Pal, residential surgeon at the DMCH, said the condition of Shahjahan was too critical because of the damaged respiratory system, while the other two victims were kept at the observation ward and would be shifted to specialised ward as per their conditions. l
The Mohakhali bus-terminal workers association said around 95 buses had left the terminal yesterday and reached their destinations without facing any problems. Asked if the army was providing support to vehicular movement, InterServices Public Relations Director Shahinur Islam told the Dhaka Tribune: The winter exercise [of the army] is going on. Vehicles also move during the exercise and the troops are providing support if roads are not clear. The people are getting its benefit. l
Tazreen fire
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RAJIB DHAR
prepared by the parliament he said he had strong command over English, Bangla and Hindi languages. Earlier I did not collect my certificates in 2008. But now I am doing a BBA, Md Aslamul Hoque told the Dhaka Tribune. But interestingly he could not recall where he was doing his BBA from. Aslam also made silly mistakes in the spelling of his mothers name in the affidavit submitted to the EC. In 2008 he spelt his mothers name as Feroza Hoque which was later changed to Reroza Haze. LGRD Minister and Awami League General Secretary Syed Ashraful Islam provided three different information on his educational qualifications in three different documents. A few days back in his affidavit to the EC he said he passed only the sec-
ondary level. But in the declaration of the ninth general election he claimed to be a graduate saying he was about to collect his certificates. But in his biography prepared by parliament Syed Ashraful Islam, elected from Kishorganj-1 constituency, said he obtained Masters of Arts Degree. He provided the same information in the parliamentary document in 2005. Nasrin Jahan Ratna, a lawmaker of the ninth parliament and wife of ABM Ruhul Amin Howlader, who has been declared elected unopposed in the 10th parliament in her affidavit said she was self-educated. But earlier in her life sketch prepared by parliament she claimed she passed SSC examination. Earlier, Khaleda Zia, leader of the opposition, for the first time declared
herself to be self-educated during the election in 2008. But later in the document of parliament she claimed she studied in Dinajpur High School and Surendra Nath College in Dinajpur. Death penalty awarded war criminal Salah Uddin Quader Chowdhury before the ninth general elections said he had no education. After that the detained MP claimed in the parliamentary document that he was a graduate from Panjab University, Pakistan, in Political Science. Salah Uddin Quader, the six-time elected member of the parliament, also obtained post graduate degree under London University. In both affidavits before the ninth and tenth parliamentary elections Whip Noor-E Alam Chowdhury Liton (Madaripur-1) mentioned he had passed Higher Secondary Certificate
(HSC) examination. But in the book of introduction to lawmakers of the ninth parliament Liton declared that he obtained his Bachelor Degree (Accounting) in 1986 from Bazlul Haque College in his own town. Shamsul Hoque Chowdhury from Chittagong -11 constituency in both affidavits submitted to the EC before the ninth and tenth parliament said he passed HSC examination but in the book published by parliament he was mentioned a man with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree. AKM Rahmatullah in his affidavit declared he had passed HSC but later he claimed he was a graduate. Parliamentarian Shamsur Rahman Sherif in his affidavits in 2008 and 2014 said he had a Matriculation degree. But in the parliamentary document he
mentioned he passed BA from Pabna Edward College in 1962. When contacted he only said: I cant manage the certificate as I obtained the degree half a century ago. May be it was destroyed during the Liberation War. When we stepped in politics we never thought that a certificate would really matter. So I have never tried to collect it. The Election Commission amended the Representation of the People Order (RPO) before the ninth parliamentary election where they had introduced aspirants educational qualifications with other information. If one provides any incorrect or wrong information his/her candidature will be cancelled, a high official of the EC told the Dhaka Tribune. l
On November 24 last year, the devastating fire at the factory of Tazreen Fashions in Nischintapur of Ashulia near Dhaka, claimed 111 lives and left another 104 workers injured, the charge sheet said. The charge sheet also said at 7pm on November 24, 2012, the workers of the factory tried to run out after the fire alarm started ringing. But they could not go past the main gate of the factory because it was locked. The security guards on duty told the workers that the alarm was a part of a fire drill. The report also accused the owners of erecting the factory building in an unplanned way that eventually led to the disaster. There was no emergency exit in the building. The fire at Tazreen factory raised a wave of concern throughout the national and international community over factory building standards in Bangladesh. On April 24 this year, the multi-storied Rana Plaza, located in Savar near Dhaka, caved in killing over a thousand garment workers and injuring more two and a half thousand. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
3
between states, the BNP leader said. Hasina on Saturday said Khaleda did not feel good with the victory of Bangalees and for this she was remaining silent about the resolution adopted on December 16. It might have grieved her to speak against Pakistan. War criminal Quader Molla was handed life imprisonment on February 5, triggering a countrywide protest and the formation of the Ganajagaran Mancha. The government later amended the International Crimes Tribunal acts (1973) that paved the way for an appeal against the Molla verdict. The Supreme Court handed the war criminal death sentence upon the International Crimes Tribunal appeal. Molla, scheduled to be executed on December 10, applied to file a review petition hours before his hanging. On December 12, the Supreme Court dismissed his application. About the prime ministers statement that the BNP should cut off relations with the Jamaat-e-Islami, Nazrul said: Is it the government that should decide which party to remain in politics and which not? People will take the decision. Asked whether BNP would tone down its ongoing protest because of Hefazat-e-Islams rally on December 24, Nazrul said: Hefazat-e-Islam is not a political party. It is an organisation. There has yet to be any decision on whether to let up blockade or not. l
MK Alamgir told the CEC that reports had been published in the media on the affidavits in the past few days. He said if it was not mandatory, the commission should stop publishing the affidavits
The party also extended its offer to cooperate with the Election Commission in this regard. After the meeting, Muhiuddin Khan Alamgir told reporters that more candidates were contesting in the 10th parliamentary elections compared to the ninth. A total of 12 political parties are contesting in this election. There is no reason to say the election is not acceptable, if a party, which has less
told reporters after the meeting at the EC secretariat. A total of 1,567 candidates contested in the ninth parliamentary election held in 2008, according to the EC. In the 10th parliamentary elections, 540 candidates are contesting the polls. In the history of parliamentary elections in the country, this is the lowest number of candidates contesting in any general elections. Of the contestants, 154 are already set to be elected uncontested. The elections would be held only in 146 constituencies. On behalf of Awami League and the committee, we have expressed our determination to assist the commission to hold the election peacefully, Alamgir said. Responding to a question about foreign observers, he said foreign observers not praising the polls could not be a reason for the election to be unacceptable. l
People recover some of the goods that went under water after an overloaded trawler sank in the Buriganga River at Sadarghat in the capital yesterday. Traders are forced to use the waterway to transport goods as the roads are unsafe during blockades SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN
Five-day remand for Chhatra Dal acting president n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu
A Dhaka Court yesterday granted fiveday remand for Chhatra Dal acting president Fazlul Karim Chowdhury Abed in connection with violence, arson attack, vandalism and assaulting the law enforcers. Metropolitan Magistrate Anwar Sadat passed the order after Inspector Md Serajul Islam of Detective Branch of Police filed 10-day remand prayer. On the other hand, defence counsel Zainul Abdin Mesbah filed bail petition with remand rejection prayer. In his remand prayer, the DB inspector said they needed to quiz the accused to find out the motive of crimes. After the hearing, the court rejected the bail plea and passed the order. DB police arrested Abed along with another Chhatra Dal leader in the capitals Science Laboratory on December 21. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
People gather to buy rice from a TCB Open Market Sale (OMS) outlet set up on a truck yesterday in the capitals Lalbagh
SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN
Ongoing violence Weather to remain crimes against humanity unchanged n UNB n Tribune Report
WEATHER
Weather is likely to remain dry with temporary partly cloudy sky over the country. Having chances of light rain or drizzle at one or two places over Rajshahi, Dhaka and Sylhet divisions and the regions of Jessore and Kushtia until 6pm today. Moderate to thick fog might occur at places over the river basins and light to moderate fog elsewhere over the country during midnight till morning, Met Office said. Night and day temperatures may remain nearly unchanged over the country. The sun sets in the capital at 5:18pm today and rises at 6:38am tomorrow. Countrys highest temperature 28.5 degree Celsius was recorded at Coxs Bazar and lowest 10.2 degrees at Dinajpur yesterday. Highest and lowest temperatures recorded in some major cities yesterday were: City Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Coxs Bazar High 25.0 25.2 25.3 24.8 28.0 27.5 25.5 28.5 Low 16.3 16.0 13.7 12.0 16.6 15.6 13.2 15.5 Barrister Amir-Ul Islam yesterday termed the ongoing violence crimes against humanity. Bangladesh had to build ties with Pakistani people so that 195 military personnel listed as war criminals could be prosecuted, the member of the constitution framing committee said at a roundtable. He said the resolution passed by the Pakistan parliament condemning the execution of Abdul Quader Molla justified the war crimes trial and recognised genocides carried in 1971. l
PRAYER TIMES
Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha 5:16am 6:37am 11:57am 3:42pm 5:18pm 6:38pm
Source: IslamicFinder.org
PM Sheikh Hasina formally hands over Metis M 1 anti-tank guided missiles to the Infantry Regiment of Bangladesh Army at Dhaka Cantonment yesterday PMO
DHAKA TRIBUNE
News
Rice price draws mixed reactions City schools risk having late starts next year from farmers and millers n
Mushque Wadud
Millers are worried they might fail to meet governments procurement target
nearly 200,000 metric tonnes, according to Rafiqul Hasan, deputy director of the Department of Agriculture Extension. The government had fixed a target of producing over 1.28 crore metric tonnes. T Aman is the second highest food grain in the country in terms of production after Boro, which recorded a production of over 1.87 crore metric tonnes last season.
Small-scale farmers, who hold the key to meeting the countrys rocketing food needs, are happy with the surge in price and have already started preparing for the next cultivation season
However, the high price of rice has led many farmers to resort to hoarding in the hope of getting still better prices at a later point of time. Many farmers are hoarding their produce with the expectation that the price will go up further within a short time, said Masud Chowdhury, a farmer of Thakurgaon, who admitted to storing his stock of rice produced on an
eight-acre farm. What motivated the hoarders further was the assurance of getting seeds, fertilisers and other resources on credit as they prepare to cultivate Boro in the coming season. But the millers, procuring rice for the government so that it can build up a stock of its own, say they are being affected by both the current trends of pricing as well as the hoarding. It is astonishing that there is not enough rice to buy despite a bumper production. An artificial crisis is being created by the hoarders, said Towfiqul Islam Babu, president of Naogaon Rice Mill Owners Association. If the existing trends continue for another month, we will have to face huge losses since most of the millers have been purchasing rice on loan. The government on November 27 fixed a target of procuring 200,000 tons of T Aman for its own stock at Tk30 for each kilogramme of rice. The decision was based on estimates that farmers would get fair prices against their production cost of Tk25.42 per kg. However, the millers maintain that the price fixed is not in proportion to
the rising market trends. The production cost of rice has risen and so has the price at the market, said Towfiqul Islam Babu, urging the government to provide millers with an incentive of Tk4 against each kilogramme of rice. In this regard, Quazi Shahabuddin, former director general of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), told the Dhaka Tribune that the current price would go down once there was a steady supply of rice. Until that happens, argues Nirod Baran Saha, president of Naogaon Rice Wholesalers Association, most of the suppliers will have to continue procuring rice at a loss in order to retain their supply license. Some suppliers may discontinue supply but there will be some who may supply imported rice, which will be unethical and against the law, he said. According to Mahabub Hossain, executive director of Brac, it is important that the millers have their due profits but it is more important to save the farmers first. Otherwise, they may switch their attention to cultivating other crops. l
Several schools in the capital are likely to fail to start class in the first week of the new academic year because of pending examinations. Normally, textbooks are distributed on the first or second of the new year and classes begin following the distribution. But this year, academics say, there might be an exception as schedules of year-end exams and admission tests were heavily disrupted by the consecutive shutdowns and blockades of past weeks. Several schoolteachers said the problem would not be over with the completion of exams only, since they would need additional time to evaluate answer scripts and prepare result-sheets. Schools may have to face further delay because of the general elections slated for January 5, they added. According to sources, Viqarunnisa Noon School and College, which has a track record for timely completion of exams and admission tests, is headed for a sure delay with its annual exams yet to be over. But the school management is hopeful of finishing all exams by this week and publishing the results on December 31, although teachers and guard-
ians have expressed scepticism about such a possibility. When contacted, the schools principal Manjua Ara Begum said the management was trying to complete all exams as soon as possible but shutdowns remained a constant irritant.
Several schoolteachers said the problem would not be over with the completion of exams only, since they would need additional time to evaluate answer scripts and prepare result-sheets
We had been conducting exams only on Friday these past weeks. The management of Government Laboratory School said it would announce the results of its students on December 29, but several teachers said 30% of the scripts were yet to be checked. The school is expecting to start class on the second day of the new year. On the other hand, Monipur School and College has reportedly finished its examinations but is yet to get admissions over and done with. Basirul Islam, president of Bangladesh Teachers Association, told the Dhaka Tribune that a good number of schools in the capital could not complete their annual examinations and would fail to start classes in time. l
Tomato traders stack sacks filled with tomato on roadside fields as they are unable to transport them anywhere because of the continuous blockade. The photo was taken yesterday from Rajshahis Kakonhat area DHAKA TRIBUNE
Teachers of Pabna Science and Technology University form a human in the district town yesterday, demanding appoinment of vice-chancellor DHAKA TRIBUNE
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Nation
Land grabbers have set up makeshift shops on a canal at Nathullabad in Barisal city
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Production at Thakurgaon Sugar Mill suspended for indefinite period n Tribune Report
Production in Thakurgaon Sugar Mill has been suspended for an indefinite period for disruption in sugarcane supply. Authority of the mill said that they had been compelled to shut down the mill as they were not getting sufficient supply of sugercane because of frequent blockade programmes enforced by the BNP-led 18-party alliance. Police escort nine people sentenced to life-term imprisonment for killing a man
DHAKA TRIBUNE
NEWS IN BRIEF
Cotton mill gutted in Khulna fire
A cotton mill was gutted in a devastating fire at Bejerdanga area in Fultala upazila yesterday morning. However, no casualty was reported in the incident. Fire service sources said the fire had originated from electric short circuit in the cotton mill owned by former union parishad chairman Sheikh Robiul Islam and soon engulfed the mill at about 7:50am. On information, four firefighting units from Khulna and Nayapara fire stations rushed to the spot and controlled the flames around 10pm. The extent of loss from the fire could not be known immediately. Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of police visited the spot after the incident. UNB AKM Mohsin Khan said being tipped off, they recovered eight crude bombs from Chartha area and six bombs from Taltola area in an abandoned condition. UNB
Sugarcane growers and the mill authorities urged the local unit of BNP to keep sugarcanecarrying vehicles out of the purview of blockade, but it fell on deaf ears
The mill authorities announced yesterday morning that they would not accept sugercane from farmers until further notice. Production in the mill came to a complete halt for lack of sugarcane on Saturday night. Managing Director of the mill SM Abdul Aziz said they could not collect adequate sugarcane due to the blockade which led to the suspension of cane crushing on Saturday night. He, however, said the mill will resume production once the sugarcane supply gets normal, reports UNB. Earlier, sugarcane crushing that began in the mill on December 13 also remained halted on December 17-19 due to blockade. Meanwhile, sugarcane growers and the mill authorities urged the local unit of BNP to keep sugarcane-carrying vehicles out of the purview of blockade, but it fell on deaf ears. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Long Form
n Ali Riaz
olitical parties participate in elections to win, and surely they aspire to win big. Any political party would hope that the election provides a mandate to implement its agenda. The larger the scale of the victory, the better it is for the winner. In the parliamentary system of governance, usually victory means securing an absolute majority of seats in the legislature. Occasionally plurality or relative majority (that is the number of seats for the party receiving the greatest number but less than half of the seats) may be enough in getting to power. In some cases parties may have to be satisfied with sharing power but prefer to gain an absolute majority which party leaders view as the vindication of their leadership. But do parties like to have a super majority that is a two-thirds majority - in the legislature? Is supermajority helpful for democracy? Is a two-thirds majority in a parliamentary system of government a blessing for the country or a curse? As it is now evident that, if the election scheduled on January 5, 2014 is held, the Awami League-led coalition will have more than two-thirds of seats in the 10th parliament of Bangladesh, these questions warrant closer attention. This will be the third consecutive parliament in Bangladesh where a party or a coalition will have the supermajority. It is worth exploring whether the experience of Bangladesh is different from that of other countries in South Asia. Between 1971 and 2011, four South Asian countries namely Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, have held 35 parliamentary elections. All of them, except Sri Lanka after 1978, follow the Westminster style parliamentary system which is based on the First Past The Post (FPTP) system. The FPTP system allows a candidate to win when she/he secures relatively more votes than her/his opponent in a single constituency. A party can thereby secure a majority of parliamentary seats without securing the majority of popular votes. Among these 35 elections, Bangladesh had nine elections, India had eleven, Pakistan had eight and Sri Lanka had seven elections. Of these, 11 elections had delivered a supermajority to a ruling party or a coalition. Save one exception, these countries have experienced tumultuous times under the supermajority, faced serious political instability, experienced erosion of civil liberties.
Rahman was elected president by the parliament. Despite some weaknesses, the constitution, framed by the Constituent Assembly (1972) dominated by the AL in the previous year, ensured fundamental rights to the citizens. But two amendments to the constitutions, the Second and the Fourth, essentially took away these rights. The Fourth Amendment made the judiciary subservient to the executive. The AL rule came to an end through a brutal coup on August 15, 1975 leading to coups and counter-coups until the end of the year. The 1979 election, which delivered 69% of seats to the then ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), established under the aegis of the military government led by Ziaur Rahman, was manipulated from the outset with an objective to legitimise the actions of the military rulers after the brutal coup of August 15, 1975. The Fifth Amendment changed the nature and course of the Bangladeshi state forever. The amendment also indemnified those who killed the founder President Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family, and the leaders of the liberation war. The 1988 election, held under another military ruler, was boycotted by major political parties namely the AL and the BNP, and delivered 83.67% of seats to the Jatiya Party (JP) led by then military ruler HM Ershad. The legitimacy of the election is questionable, to say the least. But the ruling party went ahead with another amendment of the constitution the Eighth Amendment making Islam the state religion. Despite popular opposition and a commitment by the opposition to repeal it, it has become a permanent feature of the Bangladeshi constitution. The epitome of the supermajority in parliament by a single party was achieved in February 1996 through a sham election boycotted by all parties and with a small voter turnout. The election held under the BNP regime led by Khaleda Zia constituted a parliament with 100% BNP members,
constitutional changes under pressure from the opposition, one can hardly discount the 2001 and 2008 election results as such. The 2001 elections, one of the fairest elections held in Bangladesh, delivered 70.67% seats to the BNP-led 4-party coalition which included the Islamists. The five-year rule of the BNP regime is marked by the rise of Islamist militancy, but most importantly its
court declared Indira Gandhis election null and void and unseated her from her parliamentary membership. The court also banned her from contesting any election for an additional six years. During the nineteen months of the emergency, elections for the parliament and state governments were postponed. The INC garnered the second supermajority in 1984 largely a sympathy vote following the assassination of
It is worth noting that parliaments with a supermajority held under civilian regimes have resorted to constitutional manipulation as much as the military rulers did
effort at constitutional manipulation through the Fourteenth Amendment which increased the retirement age of the chief justice to ensure that the CTG is headed by a BNP sympathiser. The instability that it engendered led to the deferral of elections for two years, and the installation of a military-backed CTG. The 2008 election, after a two year hiatus, with more than 85% turnout, delivered an unprecedented result of 81% of seats to the ALled coalition headed by Sheikh Hasina. Within three years, the parliament amended the constitutional proviso of holding elections under a non-partisan caretaker government. The experience of all parliaments with a supermajority has been the amendment of the constitution which has influenced the quality of governance and the electoral system. It is worth noting that parliaments with a supermajority held under civilian regimes have resorted to constitutional manipulation as much as the military rulers did. In the past four decades India experienced the rule of a supermajority twice, both by the Indian National Congress (INC). The 1971 election provided the Indira Gandhi-led INC 67.95% of seats in the parliament. This supermajority enabled the ruling party to pass the 24th Amendment to the constitution. The genesis of the amendment lay with the battle with the judiciary. The Supreme Court, in a verdict stated that parliament has no power to amend the parts of the constitution relating to fundamental rights. Declaring fundamental rights transcendental in nature, the court opined that parliament cannot abridge or take away any fundamental rights. Subsequently, the ruling party introduced and passed amendments to Article 368 and Article 13 enabling parliament to suspend fundamental rights. The amendments, made in 1971, were viewed by many as overreach by the incumbent. This amendment was instrumental in the declaration of the state of emergency on June 26, 1975, suspending civil liberties and elections. The declaration came soon after a
Indira Gandhi (October 31, 1984). The INC secured 75.8% of seats under the leadership of Rajiv Gandhi. While his tenure (1984-89) was marred by large scale corruption scandals, particularly the allegation that he received kickbacks from a Swedish arms company in the 1986 weapons buying deal, there were no extra-constitutional measures implemented to further his political power. The criticisms of Rajiv Gandhi, for ineffective leadership, should be tempered by the acknowledgement that he is the only leader in South Asia who has not abused his supermajority in the past four decades. Pakistans history of supermajority parliaments, in 1977 and 1997, ended with the demise of civilian government. The 1977 elections, the first since the country lost its eastern wing (as Bangladesh emerged as an independent country in 1971), was a mark of its step towards democracy. The incumbent Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) led by Zulfiqur Ali Bhutto, who ruled the country from 1972 allegedly manipulated the elections to secure an absolute majority. The 77.5% of seats in the parliament provided credence to the allegation and helped the opposition to intensify the street agitations on the one hand while the government adopted a heavy-handed policy to curb the opposition. Capitalising on public agitation, the military intervened and Pakistan fell into a long spell of military rule. The military rule continued until the suspicious death of the then President Zia ul Huq in a plane crash on August 17, 1988. In the 1997 election, the Pakistan Muslim League (PML) under the leadership of Newaz Sharif emerged as the winner, one seat shy of the supermajority. But soon it managed to get the support to ensure a two-thirds majority. Subsequently the parliament adopted the Thirteenth Amendment of the constitution which stripped the president of the power to dismiss the government and made his power to appoint military service chiefs and provincial governors contingent on the advice of the prime minister. While many viewed these changes
as corrective measures for balancing power between the PM and the president it also made the PM virtually unaccountable. With the Fourteenth Amendment, called the anti-defection clause, elected members were prohibited from floor crossing or voting against party lines. Arguing that it will stop horse-trading and provide stability to the government, it also became impossible to dissent with the party, particularly the PM. The arbitrary power assumed by the PM through these changes was revealed when the Newaz Sharif government became engaged in a protracted dispute with the judiciary, culminating in the storming of the Supreme Court by ruling party loyalists in November 1997. The PM was also alleged to have engineered the dismissal of the chief justice and the resignation of President Farook Leghari in December 1997. All in all, Pakistani politics became embroiled in a battle between the legislature and the judiciary. As the PM attempted to remove the chief of the army, Pakistan experienced another coup in 1999. The election of 1977 in Sri Lanka dealt the United National Party (UNP) and its leader JR Jayewardene a resounding victory with 83.33% of parliamentary seats. The former ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) secured only 4.76% of seats. The ruling party amended the 1972 constitution through the Second Amendment in 1977 which created the powerful executive presidency.
The election results, including the ones participated in by well-organised competing parties, show that a South Asian electorate has never voted a party or a coalition to secure two-thirds majority. That is, in a fair election no political party has secured 66% or above popular votes (in this account we have excluded two Bangladeshi elections 1988 and February 1996. In both instances, there were no viable alternatives for electorates to choose from. Notably voter turnout was low in these two elections). The only exception to this is the 1973 election. But that too was fraught with widespread rigging and electoral manipulation. In Bangladesh, ruling AL garnered 73% popular votes, in 2001 the BNP-led alliance secured 46.62% of popular votes, in 2008 the AL-led alliance received 57% of popular votes. In India, only 43.68% popular votes were bagged by the ruling INC 1971 election (percentage of their seats was 67.95); in 1984 the share of popular vote was 49.01% (75.8% seats). Pakistan Peoples Party had 60.1% of popular votes in 1977 (77.5% seats), and PMLs share of popular votes was 45.9% in 1997. In similar vein, with only 50.92% of popular votes, UNP in Sri Lanka secured 83.33% of seats. These results reflect a deep-seated problem with the FPTP system. The system has allowed and will continue to allow a party to claim for a supermajority when the electorate have not provided an express mandate.
Recurrence of such kind of results, particularly in such short interval, is bound to have long-lasting effects on the institutions, political psyche and political culture
Is a two-third majority in a parliamentary system of government a blessing for the country or a curse?
And during the periods under supermajority rule drastic constitutional changes have been made with significant consequences. Bangladeshs brush with the supermajority began with its first election in 1973. The Awami League (AL) led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman secured 97.67% of seats in the parliament. This provided the party with the opportunity to change the constitution to the extent that the country ended up with a one-party system within less than two years, the parliament extended its own tenure and Sheikh Mujibur
had the shortest tenure in the history of the country. Yet, its single legislative action has remained a source of contention among the political parties to date. The Thirteenth Amendment, as many are aware, introduced the caretaker system during the elections but it was not done in consultation with the electorate. While one can exclude these three elections as anomalies, for the results of two elections were outcomes of the machinations of the military rulers to earn legitimacy and one was to make
Jayewardene assumed the presidency on February 4, 1978. Then a new constitution was framed which removed the FPTP system. But through subsequent amendments the tenure of the parliament was extended until 1989 (the Fourth Amendment in 1982), weakened the judiciary, and extended the immunity of the president (via Fourteenth Amendment in 1988). Overall a different political landscape and system of governance emerged out of the parliament that remained effective between 1977 and 1989. Overall, the supermajority in parliament has accorded enormous powers to the ruling parties and its leaders in South Asia in the past four decades which have been used to change constitutions and strengthen the executive power of the prime minister (or the president, in case of Sri Lanka). The only exception is India in 1984. One can argue that many of these elections were held fairly and these parties have been elected by popular votes. Therefore, these should be seen as expressions of the popular will. But close scrutiny of these results reveal otherwise.
One can draw a tentative conclusion from these experiences which will be akin to what Chris Addock, in his study of Guatemala, Colombia and Algeria, mentioned: The presence of [a] functioning electoral system does not automatically ensure the existence of true democracy or rule out the possibility of authoritarian structures or practices. The survey also shows that among the South Asian countries Bangladesh has experienced the phenomenon more than any other country in the past four decades. The discrepancy between the popular votes and the parliamentary seats allowing a party to operate with almost no checks has been detrimental to democracy, in Bangladesh and elsewhere. But recurrence of such kind of results, particularly in such short interval, is bound to have long-lasting effects on the institutions, political psyche and political culture. l Ali Riaz is Professor and Chair of the Department of Politics and Government at Illinois State University, USA.
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AFRICA
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
n AFP, Khartoum
Soldiers in Juba join battle in a bid to end fighting that threatens to drag the worlds newest country into an ethnic civil war
REUTERS
A Sudanese court on Sunday acquitted award-winning journalist Faisal Mohammed Salih of publishing lies in a column he wrote about an activists allegation of rape in custody. A member of Sudans security bureau charged Salih under the criminal code, alleging he had lied and insulted the state in a 2011 column. Salih could have been jailed for up to six months if convicted but Judge Esmat Suliman threw out the charge. The journalist did not publish lies and did not insult the state, Suliman ruled. A lot of media published about this case. Salih could not be immediately reached for comment. In his article, Salih had called for a serious investigation into the activists allegation that she was raped in detention. Last year, a judge also acquitted Salih after security agents charged him following comments he made about President Omar al-Bashir. Salih, who also teaches journalism and advocates for press freedom, said it was inappropriate for Bashir to call South Sudans government an insect. In October, Salih travelled to Washington to receive the Peter Mackler Award for Courageous and Ethical Journalism. The annual prize is named for the late Agence France-Presse reporter and editor Peter Mackler. Sudan ranks near the bottom, at 170 out of 179, in the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 2013 World Press Freedom Index. l
IN OTHER NEWS
Gay Icon Nesting Dolls Sent to the Kremlin for Christmas
Who wouldnt love a set of traditional Russian nesting dolls painted to look like famous gay icons? Probably not anybody working at the Kremlin. But officials there will still receive the novelty gift as a Christmas present this year meant to stick two fingers up at homophobia in Russia. For its holiday campaign titled, #To Russia with Love, UK-based creative agency Mother London commissioned seven sets of the matryoshka dolls, each painted to look like a openly-gay celebrity, such as Elton John and Stephen Fry. One set of the dolls will be sent to the Kremlin, and another to the Russian Consulate in London. The rest of the dolls are being auctioned off on eBay to raise money for Kaleidoscope Trust, a human rights organization dedicated to promoting LGBT equality worldwide. began when Williams began to feel faint on his way to the dentist. He tried to hold me up, an emotional Williams told The Associated Press from his hospital bed, his voice breaking at times. Witnesses said Orlando began barking frantically and tried to stop Williams from falling from the platform. Matthew Martin told the New York Post that Orlando jumped down and tried to rouse Williams even as a train approached. He was kissing him, trying to get him to move, Martin said. Witnesses called for help and the trains motorman slowed his approach as Williams and Orlando lay in the trench between the rails. The dog saved my life, Williams said.
EUROPE
Gallant guide dog Orlando was just doing his duty. The black Lab bravely leapt onto the tracks at a Manhattan subway platform Tuesday after his blind owner lost consciousness and tumbled in front of an oncoming train. Cecil Williams, 61, and Orlando both escaped serious injury when the train passed over top of them a miraculous end to a harrowing ordeal that
A protest in Brazil against a decades-old ban on topless sunbathing has failed to attract more than a dozen women. Instead, hundreds of photographers and men turned up for the event on Rio de Janeiros Ipanema beach. More than 2,000 women had said they would take their tops off on the beach on Saturday morning to call for the law to be scrapped. Organisers say most women probably felt too intimidated to join the protest. Protesters say Brazilian legislation, which defines beach topless as an obscene act, is anachronistic and hypocritical. They argue that nudity is tolerated during the annual carnival parade in Rio.
Former Russian oil tycoon and Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky holds a photograph of him running that was handed by a photographer after a press conference at the Wall Museum at Checkpoint Charlie AFP non-political reasoning you would probably have to accept the postulate that people who arent completely adequate work in the special services, he said, according to the news agency Interfax. l
MIDDLE EAST
n Reuters, Ankara
Turkish authorities have removed another 25 police chiefs from their posts, media reported, widening a crackdown on the force since it launched a corruption investigation that Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has called a dirty operation against his rule. Erdogan accused international groups and dark alliances on Saturday of encouraging the graft investigations and signaled the purge of people behind it would continue. The furore has roiled markets and exposed deep rifts between Erdogan and his former ally Fethullah Gulen, a US-based Islamic preacher who wields influence in the police and judiciary. l
DHAKA TRIBUNE
International
9
Cambodian protesters demand Hun Sens exit n Reuters
Tens of thousands of Cambodian opposition party supporters have staged demonstrations demanding new elections, or the resignation of Prime Minister Hun Sen. The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), an alliance of opposition groups, vowed on Sunday to hold protests every day until the prime minister steps down or calls for a new election. They urged Hun Sen to follow the lead of Thailand Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who last week dissolved parliament and called for snap elections. Opposition party leaders Sam Rainsy and his deputy Kem Sokha joined the protests, waving to supporters, which the opposition CNRP claimed numbered up to 500,000. I want Hun Sen out because he sold our Khmer land, our nation, our logs and other things, Som Chanthy a factory worker said. Another protester accused the prime minister of being corrupt, helping neighbouring Vietnam instead of Cambodia. Hun Sen, facing his biggest political challenge in two decades, has ignored the oppositions demands for an investigation into last Julys elections, and forged ahead with forming a government and parliament. l
ASIA
Tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators massed at sites around Thailands capital on Sunday in a bid to topple Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra before an uncertain February election the main opposition party will boycott REUTERS ment cable television station. Suthep has earned a reputation for overstated rhetoric during fiery nightly speeches, where he has told police and civil servants to report to him, promised to retire to the beach and issued deadlines to army leaders to meet him to discuss ousting Yingluck. Yingluck and Thaksin remain hugely popular in the north and northeast, but Sutheps movement is backed by a powerful minority - Bangkoks middle class, bureaucrats, conservative elites and top army generals. Thaksins mainly working-class supporters see him as a benevolent billionaire committed to raising their living standards, but his enemies call him an authoritarian crony capitalist who exploited the poor and abused his power by helping wealthy business friends and family. The protests enjoy big support from Bangkok and though the size of the crowd often dwindles, Suthep has managed to mobilize more than 100,000 on some marches. The Election Commission on Friday ruled out postponing the vote having earlier said it was concerned the polls could be marred by violence. The politicized military, which has staged 18 coups since 1932, some successful, some failed, insists it is neutral, but many Thais suspect the allegiance of the generals, who removed Thaksin in a 2006 coup, is with the anti-government camp. The Democrats boycotted an election called during similar protests in 2006, when Thaksin tried to renew his mandate. His party won in a landslide, but the result was annulled on a technicality and he was later overthrown in a coup. l
India anti-graft crusader hints at forming Delhi government n AFP, New Delhi
Indias anti-corruption crusader Arvind Kejriwal vowed Sunday to clean up dirty politics in a fiery speech suggesting that his party will team up with the Congress party to form a state government in Delhi. Kejriwal, a former civil servant turned politician, has been under pressure to form a government with support from a major party since the stunning performance of his Aam Aadmi (Common Man) Party in the December 4 state election. The party won 28 of the 70 seats, trouncing Congress which previously ruled the state but took only eight seats and depriving the biggest winner the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 31 of an overall majority. But Kejriwal has been wary of accepting support from either the nationally ruling Congress or the main national opposition BJP, after voters flocked to him because they were disillusioned with mainstream politics and angry at rampant corruption. l
n AP, Tehran
n AP, Tokyo
Japans Emperor Akihito surprised the nation last month when palace officials announced plans for his funeral. His wishes for a relatively modest one and the act of planning ahead were widely seen as a good example in this rapidly aging country. Akihito, who turns 80 on Monday, is still active, making an official visit to India in November with his wife, the 79-year-old Empress Michiko. But concerns have grown since he had heart bypass surgery nearly two years ago on top of prostate cancer earlier. After an expert panel discussion for more than a year, the palace announced that Akihito would be cremated, and his remains placed in a mausoleum smaller than those of his predecessors, with Michiko by his side at the Imperial compound in western Tokyo. Akihitos cremation breaks a 400-year burial custom of the worlds oldest monarchy, as he wishes to trim cost, space and burden on the people, officials said. The revelation of the couples lifeend plans was well received in the worlds fastest-graying nation, where 20 years from now one in three people will be senior citizens. l
Irans foreign minister Sunday urged the world powers to avoid troublemaking issues as expert-level talks continue over its contested nuclear program. Mohammad Javad Zarif made the comment in a joint news conference with Italian Foreign Minister Emma Bonino. He also expressed hope the talks will conclude sooner or later, though he said the current expert-level talks in Geneva are slowly moving forward. All parties should avoid addressing issues that could be troublemaking, Zarif said. He did not elaborate. Also Sunday, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state television from Geneva that the talks have faced trouble. He said there are incorrect interpretations in settling a protocol to implement the deal. He suggested there might need to be a pause in the talks. l
n AFP, Mazar-I-Sharif
Japan factory ship Nisshin Maru whaling a mother and calf in 2012
WIKI
Germanys first female defence minister visited troops in Afghanistan on Sunday and appealed for President Hamid Karzai to sign a troubled deal to allow some foreign forces to stay in the country after 2014. Ursula von der Leyen, who was appointed a week ago, made an unannounced two-day trip to the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif to meet German soldiers in the NATO coalition that is now withdrawing from Afghanistan. The US and other coalition members are pushing Karzai to sign a long-delayed deal with Washington to enable several thousand troops to remain in Afghanistan to train the local security forces and target Al-Qaeda remnants. l
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www.dhakatribune.com
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Editorial
LETTER OF THE DAY
December 20
Letters to
the Editor
year. Delwar Hossain, the managing director of Tazreen Fashions, is among 13 people charged for manslaughter and negligence under the Code of Criminal Conduct. In addition to the 112 people killed in the devastating fire The arrests a helpful that swept through the factory step in ongoing moves on November 24 2012, over 200 towards winning back workers suffered burn injuries. confidence in the RMG Reports point to improper sector maintenance and violation of the building code and many workers indicated that the factory exits were locked, preventing them from escaping when the fire broke out. We welcome the filing of charges in this case which can now be decided on by the legal system. It is reassuring to see that the gears of justice have finally begun to move. Six of the thirteen accused are currently on the run so it is important to ensure that they too are brought before the legal process. Progress in the Tazreen factory fire case is not only crucial towards providing long-overdue justice for the victims of the incident, it can also demonstrate to international buyers that meaningful progress can be made in the sector to protect the rights of the workers. In light of the considerable challenges the garment industry is currently facing, these arrests represent a helpful step in ongoing moves towards winning back confidence in the health of the sector.
Write to us at: Dhaka Tribune FR Tower, 8/C Panthapath Sukrabad, Dhaka-1207 Email us at: letters@dhakatribune.com Send us your Op-Ed articles: opinion@dhakatribune.com Visit our website: www.dhakatribune.com Come join our Facebook community: https://www.facebook.com/DhakaTribune
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CODE CRACKER
YESTERDAYS SOLUTIONS
Crossword
Sudoku
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Op-Ed
11
requires Pakistan to make an effort too.So far we have not seen any attempt by Pakistan to make amends as a state. It is evident from the statements by Pakistani politicians in the past week that they continue to be insensitive and indifferent about our pain and suffering during the Liberation War. Pakistani civil society leaders have apologised for the atrocities in 1971, while I have many Pakistani friends who have privately and publicly expressed sympathy and apologised for the atrocities committed by the Pakistani occupation forces and their local collaborators.Sadly the same cannot be said of the Pakistani state or political elite.
Pakistan and us
T
n Sajib Arman
o be honest, I was never a big fan of Pakistan (or anything Pakistani) from a young age. I had politely returned a kabli set (the Pakistani-style punjabi) I had received as a gift for Eid it was not possible for me to bear the sight, let alone consider wearing an outfit that represented the Pakistanis and their local collaborators. As a matter of principle, I have always refused to drink a certain juice originally imported from Pakistan and now a Pakistan-Bangladesh joint venture. I have told many shopkeepers that self-respecting Bangladeshis cannot drink a Pakistani juice. I have also found it revolting to see a handful of shameless Bangladeshis flying the Pakistani flag during cricket matches what an insult to our history and founding fathers. Anyone who knows me would tell you this is quite uncharacteristic of me I am a patriotic Bangladeshi, but not a jingoist. In fact, I consider myself more of a global citizen than only Bangladeshi/Bengali/Muslim. Not only that, I envision a Southasia (as opposed to South Asia) of the future, when countries can come together in a spirit of collaboration and cooperation. Maybe the day will come when we will compare regional, economic, and social development rates. However, none of this will be possible until we get closure for 1971. Bangladeshis of my generation will continue to remain hostile, negative and antagonistic towards Pakistanis until and unless Pakistan offers a formal apology to Bangladesh for atrocities amounting to ethnic cleansing, compensates Bangladesh for its deprivation during the East Pakistan era and losses during the occupation period, justice is served for the crimes against humanity committed during the Liberation war, and correct history is taught to the next generation of Pakistanis. Bangladeshis are willing to start afresh in the spirit of regional collaboration between Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and other countries, but this
Bangladeshis of my generation will continue to remain hostile, negative and antagonistic towards Pakistanis until and unless Pakistan offers a formal apology
No solution in sight
DHAKA TRIBUNE
n Shaqur Rahman
ower politics is political action characterised by exercise of power, especially of physical force, by a political group as a means of coercion in the attainment of its objectives. Like many political terms with aggressive undertones, the term came from the Germanswho were determined to set out to develop the archetypes in un-subtlety in political actionsin their not too distant past. In Bangladesh too, the main political parties have been engaging in naked power politics since the dawn of the new democratic era in 1991, but it has reached hitherto unknown depths of depravity this time around. In the everyday violent melee of power politics, it is sometimes easy to lose sight of the strategies behind the tactics. With some presumption, it is not hard to divide the broad strategies behind the two warring factions. Basically, the AL government is pursuing a two-pronged strategy. Its preferred strategy is to get BNP to participate in an election managed and supervised by AL so that the next AL government gets the stamp of legitimacy from domestic constituents and international partners. Failing that, ALs second option is to try to paint Jamaat as a full-fledged terrorist organisation internationally, with BNP as its patron-accomplice, and manage the low level insurgency by BNP and Jamaat indefinitely while sitting snugly at the throne of state power. BNPs strategy is singular. It is going by the tested and proved way to pry
open the governments grip on power by preparing the ground for a third party to intervene. BNP is incapable of creating that scenario on its own, and that is why Jamaat is so indispensable to them now. Few would doubt that if BNP could achieve the goal of power politics without the help of Jamaat, it would discard Jamaat in an instant like a used tissue paper.
of this current round of confrontation. BNP wants a free and fair election an election that most neutral observers agree the BNP will easily win. The AL recognises that as well, which is why it is determined to hold the election under its own terms denying the people their voice. This foundational subtext of power politics is not because of any inherent
The main political parties have been engaging in naked power politics since the dawn of the new democratic era in 1991, but it has reached hitherto unknown depths of depravity this time around
In pursuing this strategy, BNP is again following the manual of tactics to create maximum destabilisation by interrupting regular life in the country. But this year, the BNP-led opposition has upped the ante. The lives of general people are not only being interrupted, but they are even being targeted. The series of vehicles burning with people inside has aroused universal disgust and apprehension of this dastardly deed becoming a regular part of Bangladeshi politics. The ruling Awami League on the other hand is using state power in an unprecedented crushing of the opposition. Entire ranks of senior leaders have been rounded up and all mass political activity has been clamped upon. In scenes reminiscing brutal foreign occupation, law enforcement agencies are using lethal force without restraint. In the daily barrage of atrocities and excesses of the political power players, it is easy to lose sight of the root cause virtue of either party. This situation is essentially the reverse of what was in place in 1996 and 2006, the only difference being that this time opinion polls and local elections have repeatedly underscored this fact on the ground. The AL government is aware of the original sin of its position, and that is why it is throwing around a host of allegations about BNP to obfuscate the issue. BNP doesnt want elections, it wants to free war-criminals. BNP does not want to respect the rule of law as enshrined in the constitution recently amended by AL to uphold democracy. BNP wants to install a religious theocracy. BNP is colluding with hostile foreign entities. BNP wants to reverse the great developmental achievements of the AL government. BNP is joined at the hip with Jamaat, a terrorist organisation. Terror tactics cannot be allowed to succeed. Terrorism is the biggest threat facing the country. And so on. Every time I hear this litany of com-
plaints from AL leaders and apologists, I am reminded of the worlds most contentious issue, the Israel-Palestine conflict. The global community broadly recognises the fundamental injustice at the heart of the Israel-Palestine conflict an occupying power appropriating land from a native people and denying them the freedom to choose their own destiny. Again to obfuscate the core injustice, apologists of Israeli Lebensraum employ a myriad of complaints against the Palestinians. They say that Israel doesnt have a reliable partner in Palestine for a peaceful settlement. Palestinians do not want peace. Palestinian authority is deeply in cahoots with religious absolutists and terrorists. Palestinians use heinous terror tactics. Palestinians are backed by foreign entities determined to annihilate Israel. Palestinians are living far better under Israeli occupation than their counterparts living in Arab absolutist regimes. Israel is an oasis of civilisation and progress in the midst of a sea of barbarism. Sound familiar? And all the while Israel is busy changing the facts on the ground so that a peaceful settlement becomes all but impossible. Just like the Israel-Palestine issue, the current political problem in Bangladesh is complex and there is no easy solution that will satisfy all parties. But this should not mask the simple injustice lying at the heart of the issue. The controversy about the means used in political confrontation should not mask the cause of the conflict. l Shafiqur Rahman is pursuing his PhD in Business in the USA and blogs regularly atalalodulal.org.
Of course we need to move forward, but playboy-turned-(born again) Islamist politicians like Imran Khan are an impediment for us in gaining closure for the past. Imran Khans statement does not come as a surprise because it falls in the same pattern of pandering to religious extremism in the guise of a third-party alternative. Other politicians are also adding insult to injury by making deplorable statements attacking Bangladesh. I hope the next generation of Pakistanis will make an effort to learn their history and make amends there is no reason why they need to carry the baggage of the past by defending Bangladeshi anti-liberation forces. Pakistanis need to come to terms with their history, instead of being in denial, if they want a healthy relationship with us. Its as simple as that.Godspeed Southasia! l Sajib Arman is a political and security analyst.
AFP
(docile and illiterate) audiences; some adopt radical measures like going around with mud smeared all over the body and performing simple conjuring tricks which involves taking a piece of small rock from a curious listener to turn it into a raisin. What Lutfar Rahman did to mesmerise a few hundred people is unknown, but its on record that his followers paid him a regular amount. And they got receipts in return! Solid accountancy never fails. Not surprisingly, this is where all holy men fall on the same platform whatever the operating style, at one point of the game there is a monetary transaction. Either its done directly or the amount is collected by some trusted cohorts, because obviously, being a holy man, the hujur (lord) cannot deal in something so material and unrefined. For good reason this trade now has many branches, going into astrology and treatment of human problems with stones. Right in this city there are quite a few people who have given the rather hoary trade of the pir a new flashy appearance. These people dress smart, talk smoothly, have nicely maintained offices, and use religious references in their dialogue. The main objective is to part a
person from his/her money, though in no way will there be an attempt to demean a major religious faith. The strategy is to earn someones trust by showing total reliance on religion. Having problems getting married?
The stories of miracles are either opaque or propagated by a set of paid actors. However, one must give the devil his due. These people have one great talent the force of persuasion
A lover has jilted you? Your boss is a nightmare? Caught in a legal wrangling with relatives over property? No problem is beyond solution. And of course, results are guaranteed! In the desperation of the moment, many of us do not realise that most problems in life eventually lose their intensity. Over time, we become resigned to them or learn to live with them, while in between, some people get rich. Well, let the recent killing be a warning: some also end up murdered. l Towheed Feroze is a journalist currently working in the development sector.
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DHAKA TRIBUNE
Entertainment
Swapnadal pays tribute to Khaled Khan n Entertainment Desk
In expressing homage to the late eminent cultural personality Khaled Khan, theatre troupe Swapnadal will stage Rabindranath Tagores Chitrangada at the Studio Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on December 25. Tagores play revolves around the princess of Monipur Chitrangada who has been brought up like a prince and is trained in all the techniques of war. One day, she meets legendary hero Arjun while he is visiting Manipur. Seeing him in action, Chitrangada falls in love with him. But Arjun refuses her. Being refused, Chitrangada, who is also called Kurupa in the story, approaches the god of love Madan and begs for beauty. Pleased with her prayer, the god of love blesses her with a new formation, granting her a beautiful appearance as Shurupa for a year so that she can impress Arjun. Chitrangada upholds the fact that the beauty of soul and spiritual strength are eternal human qualities rather than external beauty, through the symbolic portrayal of some legends of the epic Mahabharata. Swapnadals production, directed by Zahid Repon, is full of dialogue in verse with Tagore songs from the dance drama version of Chitrangada. l
SADIA MARIUM
n Punny Kabir
Young Bangladeshi filmmaker Kamar Ahmad Simon has won The Asian Pitch held in Singapore last week. Kamars name was declared on the website along with two others: Da Jung Jang from Taiwan and Chaitali Mukherjee from India. The Asian Pitchs mission is to uncover compelling human interest stories and to discover new and hidden talent in Asia. Out of 164 submitted proposals, 11 filmmakers were invited to present their ideas in Singapore and from there the three best projects were declared winners for 2013. An aspiring director Simon told the Dhaka Tribune: The title of the film has not been finalised yet. However, like my previous film Shunte Ki Pao!, this one will also narrate stories of our ordinary people. While talking about the style of the narration, Si-
mon said: I am trying to establish my own style of storytelling as you saw in Shunte Ki Pao! Which neither followed the fundamental style of documentary nor had any scripted story-like fiction. I believe reality is stranger than fiction if it can be portrayed with authenticity and creativity. Early this year Kamars first film Shunte Ki Pao! (Are You Listening!) won the Grand Prix in the main international competition as the best feature of the 35th Cinema du Reel held in Paris and the Jury Award in Film South Asia 2013. Simon said, due to the current political unrest in the country, they had postponed their plan to screen the film countrywide, like eminent filmmaker late Tareque Masud and his team screened Runway. But today or tomorrow we will definitely do it since we made the film for the people of Bangladesh. l
TODAY IN DHAKA
Exhibition
City of Rhythm Second phase of Kazi Salahuddin Ahmed Time: 12 8pm Shilpangan, House 7, Road 13 (New) Dhanmondi Eternal Japan By Monzurul Huq Time: 12 8pm Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts House 42, Road 16 (New) / 27 (old) Sheikh Kamal Sarani, Dhanmondi
Music
Open mic & jam session Time: 7:30pm 9:30pm Kozmo, Banani
A scene from Gobrachor Popular soap actors, such as, Mir Sabbir, Tamalika Karmaker, Wahida Mallick Joly, Brindaban Das, Mosharraf Karim, Saju Khadem and many more acted in the drama series. l
Theatre
Popular actor Tisha plays the role of a terrorist in an upcoming drama serial Bijli directed by Sumon Anwar. Here Tisha plays the role of Bijli who is the daughter of a smuggler and also follows the path of her father. The serial features the clash between two underground troupes. The drama includes Raunak Hassan, Jyotika Jyoti, Sabbir Ahmed and many others in different roles.
ON TV
MOVIE
7:30pmHBO
Wrath of the Titans
DRAMA
8:00pm Star Plus
Saraswatica Uttaran
COMEDY
2:30pm Z Cafe
Malibu Country
MIXED
10:30am Travel XP
The Nordic Quest
10:30pm Colors
8:30pm AXN
n Entertainment Desk
Yash Raj Films action thriller Dhoom 3 opened with a roaring $9.54 million worldwide total on its first day. The motorbike-heavy picture clocked up $6.1 million in India and a further $3.44 million in the rest of the world, according to company sources. That total included $1.28 million from the Gulf and Middle East, which YRF claims is a record, and $1.1 from North America, which also would be a record for a Bollywood film. The film plays on 236 screens in North America and with close to $4,500 per screen average on Friday is comfortably the best performing film in the top ten. In Pakistan, where authorities have recently tried to crimp Indian films, Dhoom 3 scored $210,000, which YRF says is the highest first day ever for any film. In Australia it took $172,00, some $100,000 higher than previous record holder Jab Tak Hai Jaan. In the UK it managed a more moderate estimated $400,000. Aamir Khan starrer action thriller is the highest ever grossing collection, beating both holiday and non-holiday releases, in Bollywood. Though the stars of the film were not seen hopping from one TV show to another to promote their latest offering, they tried other innovative marketing strategies like launching an extensive range of merchandise and dolls. l
Singer Shakiras first single from her upcoming album will be released in January next year. The title of the track and the album are currently unknown. The album, which is her first under Sony label RCA, is set for an early 2014 release. The 36-year-old had earlier mentioned that the new recording, her first since 2010s Sale el Sol, is dedicated to Spanish soccer player Gerard Pique, her partner and the father of her son Milan. Recently, Shakira confirmed on Twitter that she shot a video for the song with director Joseph Kahn. I just finished the video for my first single with director Joseph Kahn, she tweeted.l
Sport
DHAKA TRIBUNE
13
0 8 3
DAYS TO GO
14 Five-star Bayern win Club World Cup 15 Swann calls time on England career
Bangladesh Cricket Board officials and players of UCB BCB XI and Abahani Ltd stand during the inauguration of the Amber Victory Day Twenty20 at the Sylhet Divisional Stadium yesterday
COURTESY
BRIEF SCORE
Abahani: 139/8 in 20 overs Aftab 33, Sohrawardi 31, Delwar 4/18 UCB BCB XI: 140/4 in 20 overs Mithun 67*, Tamim 43, Shuvashis 2/24
UCB BCB won by six wickets
ever stood strong and put on 32 for the second wicket with Mizanur Rahman. UCB BCB pacer Delwar Hossain dismissed Mizan for a run-a-ball 18 and two balls later removed Abahani skip-
per Mushfiqur Rahim for a duck. Delwar struck again in his next over as well as he sent Mahmudullah back for another duck.The 28-year old pacemans fourth wicket was that of Aftab for a 26-ball 33 (six fours). With six wickets down, it was left to Sohrawardi Shuvo (31 off 29 balls) and Ziaur Rahman (20 off 19 balls) to take Abahani to a respectable total of 139/8. Delwar returned figures of 4/18 while Al Amin and Muktar Ali took a wicket each for UCB BCB XI. Earlier, Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan inaugurated the 10-day tournament. Sylhet city mayor Ariiful Haque Chowdhury, BCB acting CEO Nizamuddin Chowdhury were also present at the opening ceremony. l
Mithun Ali
BRIEF SCORE
Prime Bank: 126/7 in 20 overs Anamul 35, Saykat 25, Elias 3/26 MSC: 130/5 in 19 overs Jahurul 65*, Sharif 22*, Taihul 2/23
MSC won by five wickets
MUMIT M
team, Muktijoddha are also playing very well. I only have five days to get my team prepared for the league, so the situation is difficult for me. I need to work more on technical and tactical sides, said the Iranian coach who after leaving Abahani, worked as a Fifa instructor in Afghanistan, Malaysia, Pakistan and his own country Iran. Tomorrow we will do aerobic training where I can get an idea about my players capability and ability. As the league is a three phase league, the first phase will be a preparation period for me as well as build up time. But we will fight to get maximum points from the nine matches in the first phase, he added. Abahani won the title the season Ali Akbar left them in 2011. The previous season he won the Federation Cup title with the four-time league champions. Ali Akbar admitted that those two titles were good for him and he would be very happy if I can do it again. A coach-less Abahani side were outplayed by Sheikh Jamal DC in the semifinal of the recently concluded Federation Cup. Parmoslemi said he needed to mentally boost up his players for the league after the defeat. The Iranian went on to admit, It would have been better for me if I had come here early so that I could understand my team in a better way. l
having scored 22 off 23 balls to put the finishing touches on the chase. Taijul Isam picked up two wickets for Prime Bank, while paceman Robiul Islam and spinner Sohag Gazi took one each. Earlier, Prime Bank won the toss and opted to bat. Alok Kapali captained the
SCORE CARD
INDIA, FIRST INNINGS, 280 SOUTH AFRICA, FIRST INNINGS, 244 INDIA, SECOND INNINGS, 421
SOUTH AFRICA, SECOND INNINGS A. Petersen b Mohammed Shami 76 G. Smith run out (Rahane) 44 H. Amla b Mohammed Shami 4 F. du Plessis run out (Rahane) 134 J. Kallis lbw b Zaheer Khan 34 A. de Villiers b I. Sharma 103 J. Duminy b Shami 5 V. Philander not out 25 D. Steyn not out 6 Extras (b2, lb7, nb2, w8) 19 Total (7 wkts, 136 overs) 450 Fall of wickets 1 108 (Smith), 2 118 (Amla), 3 143 (Petersen), 4 197 (Kallis), 5 402 (De Villiers), 6 407 (Duminy), 7 442 (Du Plessis) Bowling Zaheer Khan 34 1 135 1 (1w), I. Sharma 294 91 1 (2nb, 1w), Mohammed Shami 28 5107 3 (1w), Ashwin 36 5 83 0 (1w), Vijay 1 0 3 0, Dhoni 2 0 4 0, Kohli 6 0 18 0 Result Match drawn
14
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
Bayern Munich celebrate their victory after winning their 2013 Fifa Club World Cup final against Raja Casablanca in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh, on Saturday
AFP
RESULTS
Southampton
Lallana 13, Lambert 60
23 12
Tottenham
Swansea City
Oviedo 70-og
Everton
In the late game, England midfielder Ross Barkley scored a brilliant 84th-minute free-kick to earn Everton a 2-1 win at Swansea City that propelled his side into the Champions League places.l
RESULTS
Espanyol
Sergio Garcia 5 P, Stuani 37, 70, Sanchez 68
42 25
Valladolid
Getafe
Barcelona
Saturday
Villarreal
Perbet 88 P
12 01 32 13
Sevilla
Almeria Levante
Azeez 4
Granada
Piti 37
Real Sociedad
RESULTS
Juventus' Paul Pogba (C) hits an aerial ball during the Italian Serie A match against Atalanta at Atleti Azzurri d'Italia stadium in Bergamo yesterday REUTERS Bologna
Diamanti 57
10 14 41 40 11 01 41
Genoa Juventus
Atalanta
Moralez 15
Verona
Lazio
Roma
Catania
Sampdoria
Lucarelli 64
Parma
Sassuolo Torino
Fiorentina
Rossi 82
BRIEF SCORE
Pakistan 326 for 5 Hafeez 140*, Shehzad 81 Sri Lanka 213 Dilshan 59, Gul 3 19 Pakistan won by 113 runs
Thereau 9
Chievo
On Saturday
Livorno
Siligardi 32
12 11
Udinese
Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas (L) celebrates his goal against Getafe with teammates Pedro (C) and Iniesta during their La Liga match at Coliseum Alfonso Perez stadium yesterday REUTERS
Cagliari
Nene 9
Napoli
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Sport
15
QUICK BYTES
Graeme Swann arrives for his retirement press conference in Melbourne yesterday
CAREER AT A GLANCE
Mat Inns Balls Runs Wkts BBI Tests ODIs T20Is 60 79 39 76 38 3809 2888 104 5/28 810 859 51 3/13 BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10w 17 1 0 3 0 0 109 15349 7642 255 6/65 10/132 29.96 2.98 60.1 14 5/28 27.76 4.54 36.6 3 3/13 16.84 6.36 15.8 0
Leicester boss Nigel Pearson conceded he was a relieved man as the Foxes got their Championship promotion push back on track with a crucial 1 0 win at QPR. Pearsons team had taken just one point from a possible nine and were in danger of falling adrift in the race for automatic promotion to the Premier League. But that poor run came to an end at Loftus Road on Saturday with Jamie Vardys fine first-half strike securing a 1 0 win that shattered QPRs unbeaten home record and moved Leicester level on points with their second placed hosts. We did well and it was needed, Pearson said. Results havent gone the way that we would have liked of late. AFP
They have had some good opening partnerships for us, which we didnt get in England, the former batsman said. The 150 they put on in Perth, when we had a lead but we needed to start well... hes (Rogers) contributed. Some of those runs came off the bowling of Swann, who had struggled to replicate his Ashes successes of past in the opening three matches of the current series before announcing his shock retirement. His departure follows that of number three batsman Jonathan Trott, who returned home after the first test defeat with a stress-related illness. Lehmann did not want his side to become distracted by the crisis in the England camp. l
SCORE CARD
WEST INDIES 1ST INNINGS 367 S. Chanderpaul 122 not out, D. Ramdin 107, K. Brathwaite 45; T. Southee 4 79, C. Anderson 3 47 NEW ZEALAND 1ST INNINGS 349 R. Taylor 131, K. Williamson 58; S. Narine 6 91. D. Sammy 2 69 WEST INDIES 2ND INNINGS 103 Sammy 24; Boult 4 23, Southee 3 12 NEW ZEALAND 2ND INNINGS (overnight 0 6) P. Fulton c & b Sammy 10 H. Rutherford not out 48 K. Williamson b Permaul 56 R. Taylor not out 2 Extras: (b7, nb 1) 8 Total: (2 wickets, 40.4 overs) 124
New Zealand players celebrate series win over the West Indies after day four of their third cricket Test at the Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday AFP
Bundesliga coaches Jens Keller of Schalke and Hanovers Mirko Slomka face an uncertain start to 2014 with their respective clubs set to decide their futures over the winter break. Keller, 43, and Slomka, 46, find themselves in the uncomfortable position of knowing their futures are being discussed. Both have fallen a long way short of their clubs pre-season objections as the league breaks for winter on Sunday. Hanover, 13th, are already ten points off a targeted top six spot to claim a European place next season after suffering their eighthstraight away defeat on Saturday. AFP
Fall of wickets 1 33 (Fulton), 2 116 (Williamson) Bowling Best 7 3 22 0, Narine 16 6 39 0, Sammy 9 3 21 1 (1nb), V. Permaul 7 129 1, Deonarine 1.4 0 6 0 RESULT New Zealand won by eight wickets Series: New Zealand 2 0
drome. A week after showing great spirit to hold Lyon in their first Ligue 1 match since sporting director Jose Anigo was asked to replace the sacked Elie Baup in the dugout, OM were rescued by two goals a minute apart in the second half in a game played on a poor pitch. The hosts had looked the more likely side in the first half but were denied by a combination of poor finishing and good goalkeeping from Cedric Carrasso. And it was Bordeaux who seized the lead 11 minutes before the interval when Brazilian forward Jussie - again standing in for top scorer Cheick Dia-
DAYS WATCH
Ten Golf 9: 00AM The Royal Trophy 2013 Day 4 Star Sports 4 1: 45AM English Premier League Arsenal v Chelsea
Deputy President of Coca-Cola India & SWA Venkatesh Kini (L), Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar (2L), Fifa WC 2014 Ambassador Alberto Torres (2R) and former India cricket captain Sourav Ganguly speak to media during the Fifa WC Trophy Tour in Kolkata yesterday AFP
16
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Back Page
n Moniruzzaman Uzzal
Around 200 medical officers of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) would soon be promoted to junior consultants, after members of the BSMMU syndicate gave their primary approval to the move. However, sources said the decision made during a meeting on Friday was not unanimous. Many syndicate members reportedly opined against the move, but the syndicate was compelled to approve the proposal, allegedly because of a few influential doctors leaders. Seeking anonymity, several syndicate members told the Dhaka Tribune that the approval was not a healthy decision for the university. They said the huge number of medical officers was not a big burden for the BSMMU, as it was not an ordinary hospital. Another source claimed that only the medical officers who had already completed their post-graduations would be given promotion. It has been learnt that the BSMMU currently had more than 800 medical officers, most of whom had no work to do. Moreover the university also had around 1,000 daily-basis employees. Despite having more than a sufficient number of medical officers, the authorities reportedly appointed 38 new medical officers recently almost all of them on political consideration ignoring the recruitment rules. Political influence allegedly also played a part in the authoritys ad hoc appointment of 140 daily-basis employees.
The BSMMU also recently recruited 200 nurses out of 3,000 who applied for the posts amid allegations that most appointments were made on political consideration. Several doctor leaders of the BSMMU have reportedly been trying to gain popularity by ensuring appointments or promotions. It has been learnt that a single leader had provided ad hoc appointment to around 40 daily-basis employees. Seeking anonymity, several senior officials admitted that political pressure had been increasing day by day at the BSMMU, with the authority having no other choice but to accept recommendations. Several departmental heads told the Dhaka Tribune that medical officers were being appointed and given posting at their departments without their concern. No work could be offered to medical officers, as the residency course students who were more competent worked closely with the patients on the limited number of beds, they said. There are allegations that several groups of the ruling party-backed Swadhinata Chikitshyak Parishad have interfered in the selection process. Swachips BSMMU unit President Professor Sharfuddin Ahmed told the Dhaka Tribune: We made some requests. But sweeping allegations about the selection process are not true. Prof Dr Ruhal Amin, Pro-VC (education) of BSMMU, however claimed that all recruitment and promotion decision were made in accordance with the rules. The appointments of medical officers were given as the university needed the recruitment, he claimed. l
Activists of the BNP-led 18-party alliance dig a portion of a road to disrupt communication in Gaibandha, protesting arrest of its leaders and activists
FOCUS BANGLA
Cold to intensify
n Tribune Report
The country may face severe cold at the beginning of January as strong cold waves are expected to sweep through its most parts of the country during the period, according to a meteorologist. Met Office sources said intensity of cold has increased as minimum temperature has fallen slightly, reports BSS. The weather might start cooling down at the end of December as mild to moderate cold waves may sweep northern, north-eastern and central parts of the country during the period, they added. 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
Business
Minister asks BTRC to Bankers see it tough sans BB intervention realise outstanding Central bank sits today to devise an incentive plan bills soon n
MEETING CASH DEMAND FOR BUSINESS
Jebun Nesa Alo
The countrys banks are facing difficulties to meet the businessmens demands for low cost finance as a contingency measure to help overcome the setback in business due to the prolonged political crisis. The bankers also expressed concern that the non-performing loans (NPL) would be increased by the end of the year. Businessmen are demanding loan facilities from the banks to recover the losses as they could not pay timely as their business activities are now almost suspended. Bangladesh Bank, however, has announced providing some incentives and relaxing conditions on loans, considering the consequences of the situation. Bangladesh Bank holds a meeting with the commercial banks and businessmen today to decide how the special incentive could be given to the businessmen badly affected by the political unrest. Due to the political unrest, both the banks as well as the businessmen are suffering. So, who will take the benefit and how much it would be have to be decided, Bangladesh Bank Executive Director M Mahfuzur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune. Pubali Bank Managing Director Helal Ahmed Chowdhury said keeping the non-performing loans (NPL) under control is the big challenge for the banks at the end of the year, as transports do not move and production being hampered. Under this circumstance, the banks will face pressure to meet the demand of businessmen. Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) demanded low cost loans to pay wages for next four months as they were facing fund shortage due to failure of shipment caused by the political unrest. Of their other demands, garments and backward linkage industry should not be classified in next two years from Q4 of 2013. They also appealed to block the term loan, project loan, loan against trustee receipt, Murabah Post Import (MPI) and installment without any interest for next two years. The demands of the apparel sector are negative for the growth of banking sector, Prime Bank Managing Director Ehsan Khasru said. They demanded interest block, rearranging loan instalments for two years, labor wages for four months. The demands may be justified, but banks are not capable to fulfill them. He said the banks major responsibility is to pay depositors a certain percentage of interest as we already committed. We all are demanding for one side of businessmen, but nobody is talking about depositors interest. He said the affected businessmen could get support under the bailout process, but the banks are not capable enough to give the support as every bank operates marginally. So, we have to think who is going to give the bailout programme. The central bank might give us instruction, but where the money is going to come from, he said. This question is unresolved yet. We need a solution, said Ehsan Khasru. We do not need of that high forex reserve of $18bn. This reserve can be used for bailout package, said the senior banker, recommending that the central bank could release the reserve as compensation package by taking consent of the government instead of putting pressure on the banks. The central bank can refinance the affected businessmen at lower rate by using the package, he said. Bangladesh Bank already announced cutting interest on loans taken from the export development fund and allowing the member manufacturer-exporters of Leather Goods & Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) and Bangladesh Ceramic Wares Manufacturers Association (BCWMA) to take EDF finance for bulk imports against estimated requirements for up to one year, based on their export performance over the preceding year. It asked the scheduled banks to offer some privileges for the small and medium enterprise sector hit by political unrest. The central bank also provided $25m loan to fire-ravaged Standard Group from EDF with 1% interest for helping its business to revive. l
NBR requests finance ministry to lower tax revenue target in revised budget n Tribune Report
In the face of the ongoing political unrest, the National Board of Revenue has requested the finance ministry to lower the NBRs revenue target in the revised budget for the current fiscal year, a senior tax official said. The NBR official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the frequent shutdowns and blockades enforced by the opposition have been adversely affecting the countrys business sector, particularly import and export businesses. As a result, businesses were unable to pay due taxes, which would largely hamper revenue earnings. This fiscal, a target was set to collect about Tk136,000 crore, but the unabated political turmoil has made the target almost impossible to achieve. During the July-November period, revenue collection fell Tk6,000 crore short of target, according to provisional data. Since the government is working on preparing the revised budget for FY2013-14, the NBR has requested the finance ministry to give the revenue issue high importance, the official said. We will request the finance ministry to set the revised target at Tk125,000 crore from the existing Tk136,000 crore, the official said. Earlier, NBR Chairman Md Ghulam Hussain told the Dhaka Tribune that revenue collection in July-November was Tk5,000 crore less than the target. The political situation has also impacted other revenue sectors. The NBR had to extend the income tax return deadline thrice due to poor response from businesses and individual taxpayers. Meanwhile, the E TIN project is also far from reaching its target. Only 9.5lakh people had registered for E TIN until last week, whereas there are some 17lakh valid taxpayers in the country. l
A summary on the delayed start if the annual event will be forwarded to the Prime Minister today
Earlier, nearly 100 domestic and foreign participants have threatened not to participate in the DITF -2014 unless it is deferred beyond the general election. Small businessmen have also decided to stop construction of pavilions and stalls for the month-long fair if there is no immediate announcement to defer the event. The ministry sources suggest a large number of domestic and foreign participants of the DITF last week submitted applications to Commerce Secretary Mahbub Ahmed in this regard. Small businessmen who participate in the DITF expressed concern that they might lose money if the event starts before the election. The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the organiser of the event has constituted a 20-member team for supervising progress of the DITF-2014. The bureau could not complete allocation of pavilions and stalls to the participants until yesterday. The event is being held to display exportable items of Bangladesh to visitors from home and abroad. On the other hand, the overseas participants would have the opportunity to display their products to consumers of Bangladesh, where domestic market of consumer goods is gradually expanding. l
Newly appointed Post and Telecommunication Minister Rashed Khan Menon lambasted the regulator at a meeting with the officials, forewarning them to collect the money for the national exchequer. In October, BTRC sent a statement to the post and telecommunication ministry apprising of the outstanding bills, which sources believe would cross Tk3,000 crore by now. You need to be tough to collect the thousands of crores of taka remained outstanding, Menon told the officials of the regulator, expressing his dissatisfaction. I will give you all the support even if there is any pressure from any corner of the government. Menon learned about the outstanding bills from newspaper reports that some of the IGWs doesnt share their revenues in accordance with the guideline. He requested the regulator to suspend some of the IGWs licences,
which would be an example for other operators. According to the guideline, IGWs earn $.03 for every minute of incoming international calls and they have to share 51.75% of it with the regulator. In response to the ministers warning, BTRC Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose said they would show zero tolerance in collecting the revenue from the IGWs and, at the same time, they would take some legal actions. BTRC could not collect Tk613 crore from only six IGW operators, most of them are politically powerful and the total outstanding amount of IGWs revenue sharing stood at Tk1,115 crore so far, sources say. An amount of Tk146.5 crore remained unpaid in the name of Vision Tel Ltd, previously owned by a former ministers daughter. Ratul Telecom Limited, an IGW of Ex-LGRD State Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanaks wife and daughter owes Tk96.5 crore. Kay Telecommunications Limited a company of ruling party leader Shamim Osman from Narayanganj only paid Tk9 crore and their outstanding remains at Tk91.5 crore. Telex Limiteds outstanding Tk92.5cr while two other IGWs Bestec Telecom Limited and Apple GlobalTel Com Ltds outstanding respectively Tk127.5 crore and Tk58.5 crore. At the meeting, Telecom Secretary Md Abubakar Siddique questioned about BTRCs monitoring system. Now the illegal termination system spread out to district and upzila headquarters. You people must think about it. The minister warned BTRC to take necessary action and said: You are claiming the scenario is developing, but whenever I got any call from abroad I find it from local numbers. He said: I found this sector is already going to be unstable. We need to take care the people who are the real businessmen putting their money and labor into it. He asked for monitoring the blogs, protect open sources SMS and regulate the proper bandwidth uses. The BTRC chairman said abusing blogs, SMS and facebook is a current phenomenon and they are aware of it. Were taking up projects and you will see the results within a week, he assured the minister. l
STOCKS
DSEX DS30 CSEX
CURRENCIES
Average selling rates to public in BDT Rupali Bank Sonali Bank SELL BUY SELL BUY USD 77.4 78.4 79 80 EURO INR SAR
B2
Stocks rally after 5-day fall
n Tribune Report
Stocks rallied yesterday on buying spree, ending a five-day losing streak. The market opened positive in the morning and the momentum scaled up till close, driven by textile sector that rose more than 2%.
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Stock
DSE GAINERS Company
Closing (% change) 9.79 9.71 9.71 9.57 9.38 9.26 9.12 8.47 8.47 7.69
As government intensifies efforts to keep law and order, investors hope for a reduction in political volatility and thus some improvement in short term business outlook. This created an impetus for the investors to move in
The benchmark DSEX index ended at 4,288 with a rise of 44 points or 1%. The DS30 Index comprising blue chips was up nearly 13 points or 1% to 1,480. The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, rose 89 points to 8,429. The Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) saw higher trading with a turnover of Tk7oo crore, which was 49.5% higher over the previous session and highest in the last six sessions. As government intensifies efforts to keep law and order, investors hope for a reduction in political volatility and thus some improvement in short term business outlook. This created an impetus for
the investors to move in, said IDLC Investment. The positivity was widely perceived, resulting in a towering surge of 49% in turnover, it said. Lanka Bangla Securities said while frequent country wide shut down and blockade has broken down the industrial operation with slow growth in credit and financial sector, market reacted positively amid unrest ahead of parliamentary election. Among the major triggers, the news on the IOSCOs approval of up-gradation of BSECs category to A from existing B might have turned on the market direction forward, it said. Activities were still extremely consolidated to a handful of stocks, especially from textile sector. The sector captured 34% of total turnover and spurred significant return due to investors expectation regarding government incentive to the sector. Top gaining sector was non-banking financial institutions that gained 2%, while top loser was life insurance that shed almost 1%. But low cap companies shined on the day, rising 1.85%. Gainers took a strong lead over the losers as out of 274 issues traded, 169 advanced, 89 declined and 26 remained unchanged. RN Spinning was the most traded stocks with shares worth Tk55.2 crore changing hands. It was followed by Generation Next Fashion, Tallu Spinning, Golden Son, CMC Kamal, Paramount Textile, Argon Denim, Delta Life Insurance and Lanka Bangla Finance. l
Rahima Food -Z Tallu Spinning -A Bay Leasing.-A Miracle Industries -B GSP Finance-A R. N. Spinning-A Sinobangla Indu.-A United Leasing - A Bank Asia -A Meghna Con. Milk -B CSE GAINERS Company Bay Leasing.-A R. N. Spinning-A GSP Finance-A Sinobangla Indu.-A Tallu Spinning -A Miracle Industries -B I P D C -A S. Alam CR Steel -A Deshbandhu Polymer-A Malek Spinning-A
Average (% change) 7.42 9.24 7.26 7.44 8.94 8.16 13.26 6.51 6.81 7.55
Closing average 80.32 41.28 33.10 20.22 31.07 39.37 33.32 31.25 20.22 8.40
Closing 81.90 41.80 33.90 20.60 31.50 40.10 33.50 32.00 20.50 8.40
Daily high 82.00 41.90 33.90 20.60 31.60 40.30 33.70 32.20 20.70 8.50
Daily low 67.50 38.10 29.00 18.50 26.00 34.00 31.70 27.50 17.20 7.80
Yearly high 92.9 47.1 43.7 23.5 39.0 44.0 33.7 41.2 23.0 10.3
Yearly low 13.0 17.5 22.5 10.4 20.0 22.6 17.8 22.2 14.5 6.5
Turnover in million 24.188 276.711 68.435 22.139 43.537 552.433 36.106 39.772 31.951 0.315
Closing (% change) 10.00 9.84 9.82 9.71 9.66 9.57 8.06 7.36 6.94 6.81
Average (% change) 7.89 8.45 9.08 13.44 9.59 8.76 9.29 6.77 7.99 6.00
Closing average 33.36 39.39 30.88 33.43 41.71 20.37 20.00 53.44 26.23 29.50
Closing 34.10 40.20 31.30 33.90 42.00 20.60 20.10 54.00 26.20 29.80
Daily high 34.10 40.20 31.30 33.90 42.10 20.60 20.40 55.00 26.60 30.30
Daily low 30.60 37.00 28.70 32.60 38.70 19.00 18.80 51.60 25.00 28.30
Yearly high 43.5 42.7 37.0 33.9 47.9 23.9 22.2 55.0 28.0 32.7
Yearly low 23.0 23.1 22.0 16.5 18.5 11.0 14.6 33.0 15.4 15.4
Turnover in million 9.042 90.626 3.357 9.428 43.282 3.066 1.090 8.123 10.771 9.486
to 23,26,222.50 cubic meter/month for enhancement of the production capacity of the Company.
Dividend/AGM
(+) 1.04% (+) 0.94% (+) 1.06% (+) 0.76% (+) 1.13%
Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis) Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.) Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)
Closing 22.00 757.40 57.10 36.60 44.30 84.00 5.70 41.80 20.90 32.50
Daily high 22.20 757.40 63.70 39.70 48.80 90.00 5.90 45.70 22.10 34.30
Daily low 22.00 757.40 55.90 36.10 44.00 83.00 5.60 41.20 20.20 31.00
Yearly high 27.5 943.7 72.0 43.5 51.1 111.0 7.8 46.0 25.0 38.3
Yearly low 10.7 87.0 44.0 15.6 12.4 46.0 4.9 25.0 14.3 17.4
Turnover in million 0.275 12.270 161.445 1.282 9.626 5.622 2.980 88.297 0.393 24.683
Average (% change) -11.11 -7.50 -2.05 -4.28 -1.07 -3.71 -1.37 3.19 -3.08 -1.72
Closing average 22.00 757.40 59.33 37.16 45.19 85.57 5.78 43.63 21.07 33.23
Closing 22.00 757.40 57.10 36.60 44.30 84.00 5.70 41.80 20.90 32.50
Daily high 22.20 757.40 63.70 39.70 48.80 90.00 5.90 45.70 22.10 34.30
Daily low 22.00 757.40 55.90 36.10 44.00 83.00 5.60 41.20 20.20 31.00
Yearly high 27.5 943.7 72.0 43.5 51.1 111.0 7.8 46.0 25.0 38.3
Yearly low 10.7 87.0 44.0 15.6 12.4 46.0 4.9 25.0 14.3 17.4
Turnover in million 0.275 12.270 161.445 1.282 9.626 5.622 2.980 88.297 0.393 24.683
ANALYST
BSECs becoming A category regulator coupled with investors hope for a less volatile political situation contributed to pull up stock prices
DESHBANDHU: 5% Stock, AGM: 29.12.2013, RD: 29.10.2013. AAMRATECH: 5% Cash & 10% Stock, AGM: 22.12.2013, RD: 07.11.2013. TITASGAS: 35% Cash, AGM: 24.12.2013, RD: 05.11.2013. RAHIMTEXT: 25% Stock, AGM: 24.12.2013, RD: 12.11.2013. FUWANGCER: 10% Stock, AGM: 26.12.2013, RD: 13.11.2013. MALEKSPIN: 10% Cash, AGM: 24.12.2013, RD: 13.11.2013. USMANIAGL: 11% Cash & 10% Stock, AGM: 27.12.2013, RD: 07.11.2013. MICEMENT: 40% Cash, AGM: 24.12.2013, RD: 10.11.2013. DESCO: 10% Cash & 15% Stock, AGM: 04.01.2014, RD: 05.11.2013. LIBRAINFU: 20% Cash, AGM: 26.12.2013, RD: 12.11.2013. BDCOM: 10% Stock, AGM: 25.12.2013, RD: 17.11.2013. FUWANGFOOD: 10% Stock, AGM: 26.12.2013, RD: 20.11.2013. ANLIMAYARN: 10% Cash, AGM: 24.12.2013, RD: 10.11.2013. MIRACLEIND: 5% Stock, AGM: 21.12.2013, RD: 19.11.2013. OLYMPIC: 10% Cash and 50% Stock, EGM and AGM: 26.12.2013, RD: 21.11.2013. ZAHINTEX: 5% Cash, 15% Stock, AGM: 26.12.2013, RD: 07.11.2013. METROSPIN: 10% Stock, AGM: 30.12.2013, RD: 17.11.2013. IMAMBUTTON: No dividend, AGM: 21.12.2013, RD: 11.11.2013. AGNISYSL: 10% Stock, AGM: 24.12.2013, RD: 13.11.2013. CVOPRL: 10% Stock, AGM: 15.12.2013, RD: 18.11.2013. SAVAREFR: No dividend, AGM: 30.01.2014, RD: 19.12.2013. ANWARGALV: 7% Case for general shareholders, AGM: 13.01.2014, RD: 11.11.2013. BDAUTOCA: No dividend, AGM: 24.12.2013, RD: 13.11.2013. PRIMETEX: 10% Cash, AGM: 28.12.2013, RD: 12.11.2013. DAFODILCOM: No dividend, AGM: 30.12.2013, RD: 21.11.2013.
NORTHERN: No dividend, AGM: 22.12.2013, RD: 09.12.2013. HAKKANIPUL: 5% Cash, AGM: 30.12.2013, RD: 13.11.2013. SAMATALETH: No dividend, AGM: 24.12.2013, RD: 25.11.2013. MONNOCERA: 5% Cash, AGM: 26.12.2013, RD: 13.11.2013. SAMORITA: 30% Stock, AGM: 06.03.2014, RD: 25.11.2013. STANCERAM: 10% Cash, AGM: 26.12.2013, RD: 19.11.2013. MPETROLEUM: 70% Cash & 20% Stock, AGM: 17.01.2014, RD: 28.11.2013. DELTASPINN: 10% Cash, AGM: 28.12.2013. RD: 21.11.2013. POWERGRID: 15% Cash, AGM: 18.01.2014, Time: 10:00 AM. RD: 01.12.2013. PADMAOIL: 90% Cash, 10% Stock, AGM: 15.02.2014, RD: 23.12.2013. EASTRNLUB: 30% Cash, AGM: 25.01.2014, RD: 04.12.2013. PHARMAID: 15% Cash, AGM: 26.12.2013, RD: 04.12.2013. ORIONINFU: 12% Cash, AGM: 17.12.2013, RD: 25.11.2013. KOHINOOR: 25% Stock, AGM: 17.12.2013, RD: 25.11.2013. DACCADYE: 10% Stock, AGM: 24.12.2013, RD: 28.11.2013. ENVOYTEX: 17% Cash and 3% Stock, AGM: 20.12.2013, RD: 28.11.2013. EPS of Tk. 3.19, NAV per share of Tk. 39.00. RAHIMAFOOD: 10% Cash to the shareholders other than the Sponsor shareholders, Directors and Deposed Directors, AGM: 26.12.2013, RD: 28.11.2013. EPS of Tk. 0.52, NAV per share of Tk. 4.45. ATLASBANG: 50% Cash, AGM: 28.12.2013, RD: 01.12.2013. EPS of Tk. 9.14, NAV per share of Tk. 222.05. JAMUNAOIL: 90% Cash & 10% Stock, AGM: 25.01.2014, RD: 04.12.2013. GEMINISEA: No dividend, AGM: 30.12.2013, RD: 04.12.2013. AFTABAUTO: 8% Cash & 12% Stock, AGM: 23.12.2013, RD: 05.12.2013. PTL: 12% Stock, AGM: 30.12.2013, RD: 12.12.2013. SONALIANSH: 10% cash for only public shareholders, AGM: 24.12.2013, RD: 12.12.2013. ECABLES: 10% cash, AGM: 01.03.2014, RD: 29.12.2013.
DSE Million Taka 429.17 599.23 254.37 810.57 320.16 387.26 3.05 2452.49 527.46 1.28 39.29 125.77 50.91 190.86 131.92 126.77 243.67 132.87 104.51 168.82 0.40
% change 6.04 8.44 3.58 11.42 4.51 5.45 0.04 34.54 7.43 0.02 0.55 1.77 0.72 2.69 1.86 1.79 3.43 1.87 1.47 2.38 0.01
Million Taka 52.17 75.87 29.22 87.65 55.76 41.77 293.91 51.31 0.05 4.23 10.82 5.88 13.23 34.60 5.06 15.65 7.66 12.95 27.51 0.00
CSE
% change 6.32 9.19 3.54 10.62 6.76 5.06 0.00 35.61 6.22 0.01 0.51 1.31 0.71 1.60 4.19 0.61 1.90 0.93 1.57 3.33 0.00
Million Taka 481.35 675.10 283.59 898.22 375.92 429.03 3.05 2746.41 578.77 1.33 43.52 136.60 56.79 204.10 166.52 131.83 259.31 140.54 117.46 196.34 0.40
Total
% change 6.07 8.52 3.58 11.33 4.74 5.41 0.04 34.65 7.30 0.02 0.55 1.72 0.72 2.57 2.10 1.66 3.27 1.77 1.48 2.48 0.01
Company R. N. Spinning-A Generation Next-A Tallu Spinning -A Golden Son -A CMC Kamal Tex. -A Paramount Textile Ltd.-N Argon Denims Limited-A Delta Life Insu. -A LankaBangla Fin. -A Envoy Textiles Ltd-N CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company R. N. Spinning-A Tallu Spinning -A Generation Next-A Paramount Textile Ltd.-N Golden Son -A Beach Hatchery -A BDCOM Online-A LankaBangla Fin. -A Grameen1:Scheme2 -A Bengal Windsor-N
Volume shares 14,032,743 8,919,960 6,702,973 4,430,507 4,688,345 2,721,000 1,576,420 570,800 2,256,781 2,438,610 Volume shares 2,300,953 1,037,700 906,660 564,250 412,075 553,434 552,082 247,195 816,000 246,000
Value in million 552.43 357.48 276.71 275.86 165.64 161.45 154.99 152.72 150.03 143.61 Value in million 90.63 43.28 36.47 33.85 25.66 19.23 17.28 16.40 16.10 16.00
% of total turnover 7.78 5.03 3.90 3.88 2.33 2.27 2.18 2.15 2.11 2.02 % of total turnover 10.98 5.24 4.42 4.10 3.11 2.33 2.09 1.99 1.95 1.94
Daily closing 40.10 39.30 41.80 61.20 35.30 57.10 98.20 264.30 66.70 58.80 Daily closing 40.20 42.00 39.40 57.70 61.60 33.60 32.60 66.40 19.40 62.20
Price change 9.26 1.03 9.71 0.49 6.01 -7.15 -1.50 -2.22 3.25 2.08 Price change 9.84 9.66 0.77 -6.03 0.98 -2.89 4.15 2.95 3.74 -2.05
Daily opening 36.70 38.90 38.10 60.90 33.30 61.50 99.70 270.30 64.60 57.60 Daily opening 36.60 38.30 39.10 61.40 61.00 34.60 31.30 64.50 18.70 63.50
Daily high 40.30 41.00 41.90 65.00 36.40 63.70 100.80 273.80 67.50 59.60 Daily high 40.20 42.10 41.00 63.60 64.60 36.50 34.00 67.60 20.00 68.50
Daily low 34.00 36.00 38.10 55.00 31.90 55.90 90.00 262.10 58.50 52.20 Daily low 37.00 38.70 39.00 56.20 61.00 33.40 30.60 65.50 19.20 62.00
Daily average 39.37 40.08 41.28 62.26 35.33 59.33 98.32 267.55 66.48 58.89 Daily average 39.39 41.71 40.22 59.99 62.27 34.74 31.30 66.35 19.73 65.05
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
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
B3
S&P downgrades EU debt, Commission hits back n AFP, Brussels
The Standard and Poors ratings agency slapped a credit downgrade on the European Union, blaming threats to cohesion including Britains role in curtailing budgets and holding a membership referendum. But Brussels shrugged off the agencys decision to slash its long-term debt rating by one notch from AAA to AA+, saying the grounds cited were questionable. French President Francois Hollande said he found it strange that the S&P was even issuing ratings on the EU which has very little borrowings. S&P made the cut while EU leaders were holding a summit marking a big political step forward with an agreement on a banking union intended eventually to ring-fence failing banks from bringing down an entire economy as happened in Ireland. The ensuing crisis forced the bloc to step in with billions in funds to bail out entire economies, putting national budgets under constraints and exposing an endemic debt problem in some countries such as France and Italy. Explaining its decision, the agency said: In our view, EU budgetary negotiations have become more contentious signaling what we consider to be rising risks to the support of the EU from some member states. The downgrade reflects our view of the overall weaker creditworthiness of the EUs member states. We believe the financial profile of the EU has deteriorated, and that cohesion among EU members has lessened. But Brussels said the EUs credit-worthiness should be assessed on its own merit as the blocs budget benefits from a special treaty status and runs neither a deficit nor debt. l
The troubles being faced by the RMG sector took place in the second quarter and the impact of this disruption would be seen in February onward
war-ul-Alam Chowdhury Parvez said. It is not the real reflection of exports. Look at the export earnings of October and it was only 3% up, he added. Export earnings will see negative growth in December-January period as the countrys export-import supply chain has collapsed due to political deadlock, said Parvez. Following the demands of apparel makers, the government has provided security through deploying police on the highways to facilitate shipments of RMG products. The government set $30.5bn export target for the current fiscal, which is around 13% higher than the last fiscals earning of $27.01bn.
Meanwhile, the countrys export earnings rose to US$12bn in July-November period of the current fiscal year, which is 18% higher compared to US$10.13bn of the same period last year. Bangladesh exported knitwear products worth US$4.9bn while fetching US$4.75bn by exporting woven products, which is 20.48% and 21% higher respectively compared to the same period last year. The export earnings from jute and jute goods including raw jute, jute yarn and twine, jute sacks and bags and others posted a negative growth by 20% to $332.40m in July-November against $414.45m during the same period last year. In July-November frozen foods export earnings went up by 37% to $325m from $238m in the same period of last fiscal year. Leather export grew by 49.57% to $194.39m in July-November of the FY14 from $130m of last years value, followed by footwear up 37% to $238.18m and leather products, which went up by 24.34% to $78m.
The agricultural products that include tea, vegetables, and tobacco, cut flower and foliage, fruits, spices and dry food fetched $229.48m posting a 13.43% growth. Specialised textiles sector marked 0.67% rise to $49.51m, while home textile fetched $298 m with 3.79% negative growth. Export earnings showed continuous growth due to our price competitiveness, said Shubhashis Bose, EPB vice chairman. We can offer products at reasonable price while others cannot provide the products at same prices. Bose said the supply chain strength is another reason behind the growth as we have strong workforce with cheaper labour cost. The countrys export earnings would have increased by at least 35% to 40% if there was no political turmoil, said BGMEA vice president Reaz Bin Mahmood. We have to spend time to see the impact of present political unrest as most of the buyers held up orders due to the escalating political deadlock. l
In October, the court has stayed the commissions order issued on January 14 for a period of six months
Yesterday, its stock prices closed at Tk40.1 each before rising as high as Tk40.3 and falling as low as Tk37. The companys face value is Tk10 each. According to its third quarterly unaudited statement, the textile companys profit stood at Tk40.8 crore, a sharp increase of 174% from profit it made in the same period a year earlier. In the first nine months of this calendar year, its net profit was Tk111.3
ments to the BSEC inquiry committee. Then, the regulator directed RN Spinning to decrease rights offer issue to Tk1.2bn from Tk2.78bn. In October, the court has stayed the commissions order issued on January
14 for a period of six months. The High Court (HC) has issued a rule upon the securities regulator to show cause as to why the reduction of rights offer by RN Spinning should not be declared unlawful. l
Agricultural Marketing Company Ltd AMCL (PRAN) held its 28th Annual General Meeting (AGM) recently. AMCL declared 31% dividend to its shareholders for the year 2012 2013 at the AGM. Chairman Lt Col Mahtabuddin Ahmed (Retd), Managing Director Maj Gen Amjad Khan Chowdhury (Retd), Deputy Managing Director Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, Director Sabiha Amjad, Independent Director M A Mannan, Director (Finance) Uzma Chowdhury, Executive Director Md Eleash Mridha, Chief Financial Officer Choudhury Atiur Rasul, Director (Marketing) Kamruzzaman Kamal and Company Secretary Muhammad Aminur Rahman attended the AGM
The 22nd Annual General Meeting of Mithun Knitting and Dyeing (CEPZ) Limited was held recently. The meeting was presided over by the Director Md Atiqul Haque. Among others Managing Dirctor Md Mahbub-Ul Haque, Executive Director and Company Secretary S M Shahid-ul-Arafin were also present in the meeting.
B4
DHAKA TRIBUNE
Business
How do you see the recent labour unrest and sabotage in factories?
as the countrys economy. If you look at the pattern of unrest in the apparel industry,you can see it occurs in a certain area. Some (people) are trying to fish in troubled water to
Will Bangladesh lose its competitiveness after implementation of the new wage board for workers?
Some buyers recently mailed me. They said there was nothing a buyer could do to protect his business from acts of terrorism, sabotage and political instability, other than reevaluating the risk factors of the production order to assess the practices in place, take out a world map and review it country by country, and most probably, redistribute the business
It is also true that we have been getting negative international attention since the Tazreen fire, Rana Plaza building collapse and Standard Group arson incidents, and it has just scaled up beyond tolerance. Everybody needs to know that most of the manufacturers are having extreme difficulties with paying the increased wages, as most of the brands have not been agreeing to pay the upcharge. Who will bail the sector? The government? The buyers? The banks?
n Kayes Sohel
The countrys economy feels the pinch of political unrest as businesses transport and all other aspects of daily life almost grind to a halt due to long spells of anti-government strikes and blockades. For the $20bn-apparel industry, which employs more than 44 lakh people and accounts for nearly 80% of the countrys total exports, the situation becomes worse as it is a fully export-oriented industry. In the present situation, Md Atiqul Islam, president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh (BGMEA), talks about the state of the readymade garments industry and a possible way out in an exclusive interview with Dhaka Tribune.
Buyers will not come to Bangladesh as they cannot wait for long. Then, factories will be closed down workers will become unemployed. Entrepreneurs will go bankrupt. Large number of unemployment means social unrest. The nation will slip into crisis.
ruin our industry. Some NGOs are instigating the innocent workers to serve someones interest. The government should take this into account seriously and immediately, and save us as well
Of course, it will lose competitiveness. Production costs will rise by up to 40%, which might force 30% of factories to shut down. Buyers are reluctant to cut down on costs.
If you take a look at our recent activities, you will understand this. We have taken to the street. We will do business and politicians will do politics. Why should we form human chains? Why should we be on the streets? Our requests and appeals have gone unheeded. This is very concerning for the nation. Politicians should bear in mind that if the economy collapses,
The bottom line is that political stability is a prerequisite for putting everything on track. Political unrest, strikes and the lack of ease in doing business are major concerns for entrepreneurs and buyers. If the supply chain is disrupted, pressure mounts every day. It is high time for our politics to be cleaned up this has become urgent for now and the future. The government, the opposition parties, suppliers and buyers must work together to realise the potential of Bangladeshs RMG market. Infrastructure constraint, including transportation and energy supply, is the single largest bottleneck hampering our garments industry. This issue will become even more important in the future, since buyers want to source more fashionable products with shorter lead times. l
What is the impact of the ongoing spell of political unrest on the RMG industry?
No doubt the situation is serious. Unhealthy politics has made healthy factories sick. It means people will become jobless. The spinal cord of the RMG sector is about to break as it has already been hit hard by labour unrest, fire incidents and sabotages. It is now facing order cancellations and rising transport costs, which have skyrocketed by more than 30% due to expensive air shipment. Exporters are failing to meet the lead time due to transport problems. To rub salt to our wounds, some buyers are even imposing penalties in case of delayed shipments, and cutting prices of products by demanding discounts. Many factories have stopped production as they are unable to bring imported raw materials from Chittagong port, and many exporters cannot afford shipment by air. Small factory owners and newcomers will face bankruptcy if they fail to deliver goods and pay bank interests on time. Also, the cost of production increased around five-folds in some cases during the blockades. Investment is at stake. Moreover, the taka has become stronger against the US dollar, making business costlier. So, we are falling from the frying pan into the fire.
Facebook CEO Sheryl Sandberg attends the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos
REUTERS