Falgun 12, 1420 Rabius Saani 23, 1435 Regd. No.

DA 6238 Vol 1 No 332

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com SECOND EDITION

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3 JMB men snatched from police

Hours after the cinematic snatching one of them arrested in the bordering areas of Tangail
n Tribune Report
In a cinematic operation, members of banned Islamist outfit Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh killed a policeman and snatched three of their top detained operatives from a prison van in Trishal of Mymensingh on the Dhaka-Tangail Highway yesterday. However, hours later, one of those three JMB operatives was picked up from the bordering areas of Shafipur in Tangail district. Police also detained three other suspected JMB men also from Shafipur in connection with the rare prisoner snatching incident. Around 10:15am yesterday, convicted prisoners Salauddin alias Salehin alias Sajeeb, Rakib Hasan alias Russel and Zahidul Islam alias Mizan alias Boma Mizan (the English for Boma is explosives) were being taken to a Mymensingh court from different jails in Gazipurs Kashimpur. Salauddin and Rakib, who were both members of JMBs highest policymaking body Majlish-e-Sura, are death row convicts in cases filed in connection with the 2006 bomb blasts in a Mymensingh cinema hall. Mizan has been given various jail terms of up to 50 years in connection with different bomb blast cases. When the prison van carrying the trio reached the Signboard area in Trishal, a truck blocked the way of the van on the highway. Soon after, three microbuses converged on the van. Witnesses said the men inside the microbuses started firing and hurling bombs at the van which killed one of the police constables, injured two other and an assistant sub inspector, who were inside the van. The JMB men then snatched the keys from a critically wounded constable, who later died in hospital, opened the prison cell and fled the scene with their leaders. several teams of police and intelligence agencies had been working on the field to arrest the two other absconding convicts and those involved with the sensational snatching. The DIG also said Border Guard Bangladesh and immigration authorities have been put on high alert so that none of the absconding JMB operatives and their associates could flee the country. The prisons around the country, especially those where JMB and Jamaat men have been kept, were also put on red alert. The Dhaka Range of police have meanwhile announced bounties of Tk2 lakh on the two JMB leaders on the run. The home ministry and police have formed two separate committees to probe into the incident.

Four accused in Zubair murder case escape from dock

n Md Sanaul Islam Tipu
The four accused in the Zubair murder case escaped yesterday from the dock shortly after a Dhaka court cancelled their bail and ordered that they be sent to prison. The escapees are Khandaker Ashikul Islam, alias Ashik, Khan Mohammad Rais, Ishtiaq Mehbub Arup and Mahabub Akram all are students of Jahangirnagar University and Chhatra League activists. Earlier, they obtained a conditional bail from the High Court. Speedy Trial Tribunal 4 Judge ABM Nizamul Haque recorded 12th prosecution witness Humayun Kabir, then sub-inspector of Gulshan police station, who conducted the inquest report of the victim, gave deposition and was cross-examined by the defence counsel. In addition to the four, the court also issued arrest warrants for the two other accused, who were not presented before the court yesterday, and set February 27 for the prosecution witness.

Police have announced bounties of Tk2 lakh on each of the two JMB men on the run
Around 4pm, police captured Rakib and three other suspects from Shafipur area in Tangail. The three other men are Zakaria, Raihan and Russel. Police also recovered a revolver, two bombs, four mobile phone sets and a microbus from Zakarias possession. Injured constable Atiqur Rahman died on the way to hospital. The other injured constables were Md Sohel Rana and Sabuj Miah. SI Habibur Rahman also sustained bullet wounds in the attack. Sohel and Habib are currently undergoing treatment at the Mymensingh Medical College Hospital. Mahfujul Huq Nuruzzaman, deputy inspector general of Dhaka Range, said

Witness account

Claiming himself to be a witness, Md Shahjahan, a member of the local Ameerbaru Union Parishad, said: I heard of the sounds of several explosions and gunshots. Then I saw the microbuses cordoning off the van from both front and back sides. Around 15 of the criminals were with firing from their pistols. Some of them shot at the policemen [inside the van] snatched the keys from them, he said. Shahjahan said he immediately reported the incident to Firoj Talukder,
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The six were alleged to have threatened Zubairs friends who came to observe the trial and assaulted them on January 19

Red alert along Bangladesh border

n Rabiul Islam
The government has issued a red alert all along the countrys border areas to prevent three convicted Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) militants, who were forcibly freed from police custody by assailants in Mymensingh yesterday, from crossing the border with their associates. A four-member committee was formed to investigate the incident. The militants, including two death row convicts, were broken out after assailants attacked a prison van in Trisal upazila, Mymensingh, earlier yesterday. Sources said the three militants Salauddin Salehin, Jahidul Islam (Boma Mizan) and Rakibul were being brought to Mymensingh under police escort from Kashimpur jail to be produced before court. When they reached Trishal, unidentified terrorists attacked the police van and made
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They played key roles in JMBs rise

n Julkar Ali Manik
The three detained militants, who were snatched from a prison van yesterday by their followers, played key roles in the growth and terror operations of banned Islamist outfits Jamaatul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) and Jagrata Muslim Janata Bangladesh (JMJB). Of the three, Salahiddin alias Salehin and Mohammad Rakib Hasan Russell alias Hafez Mahmud featured in the seven-member Majlis-e-Shura the highest policymaking body of JMB. All five of the other policymakers of the party, including Abdur Rahman and Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai, have been executed on charges of militancy. Mizanur Rahman Mizanalias Boma Mizan, who also escaped yesterday, was an explosives expert of the outfit. Law enforcers held Hafez Mahmud on February 28, 2006, from near the Baitul Mukarram Mosque in the capital. Salahuddin was picked up on April 26, 2006, from Chittagong. Following several years of hunting down, Boma Mizan was captured on May 14, 2009, from the capitals Mirpur area. Hafez Mahmud went to Afghanistan to take part in fights with the militants. Until his arrest, he had been working as the JMB divisional commander of Khulna. Salahuddin, meanwhile, was responsible for looking after the outfitsfunctions and operations in the Sylhet-Mymensingh region. Boma Mizan, who came to the law enforcers radar after JMB conducted the countrywide serial bomb blasts on August 17, 2005. Notorious militant leaders Abdur Rahman and Siddiqul Islam alias Bangla Bhai, who were executed in 2007 for killing two judges, were the top leaders of both JMB and JMJB. Both the groups were outlawed after the serial blasts. According to the intelligence unit of RAB, Mizanhe had long been working
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Police inspect the prison van after it was ambushed by JMB operatives to snatch three convicted JMB men, on the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway yesterday DHAKA TRIBUNE

It asked the authorities concerned to send the arrest warrants to Ashulia and local police stations of the accused. The tribunal cancelled their bail under section 497 (5) of CrPC. The six accused were alleged to have threatened Zubairs friends who came to observe the trial procedure at the court and assaulted them physically on January 19. On the day, one of Zubairs friends Nazmul Islam filed a general diary with Kotwali police station accusing the six. According to the general diary, the attackers including Khandaker Ashikul Islam Ashik threatened Nazmul with saying: You are conducting your movement very well, but remember if we are not hanged, a further murder will take place. On January 23, Public Prosecutor SM Rafiqul Islam applied for cancellation of the bail granted to the six. Two other accused Rashedul Islam and Jahidul Islam of the murder case have been absent from their court appearance since January 23, said Defence counsel Jakir Hossain Mollah. The counsel said the duo might have fled the country. On January 27 police submitted the investigation report to the court in connection with the GD filed by Nazmul, a student of Jahangirnagar University.
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INSIDE
Business
B1 Bangladesh Bank has imposed restrictions on the major shareholders of banking companies to ensure proper utilisation of fund of the banking companies and gain confidence of the depositors.

Indigenous populace under peril of violence

n Muktasree Chakma Sathi
Recent findings of Kapaeeng Foundation, a human rights organisation, indicates that the indigenous population of the country are struggling to survive in the face of land grabbing and other forms of violence and intimidation. It said compared to last two years, incidents of violence against the indigenous population, particularly those related to land grabbing, have increased alarmingly. According to the findings, at least 10 communal attacks- six in Chittagong Hill Tracts (including EPZ) and four in the plain land- took place in which houses and properties of at least 346 families- 275 from CHT and 71 from plainland- were destroyed and looted. In the same year, at least 47 houses including one from the plainland were set on fire. Around 2000 people of CHT had to flee to the no mans land at the India- Bangladesh border. Last year, 66 families were attacked in the plainland and in last five years at least 200 families fled to India from North Bengal region falling victims of land grabbing, false cases and intimidation. The statistics show, during the last year, 3792 acres of land were grabbed only in the CHT area while 103 bighas of land in the plain land. The land grabbers include mostly Bengali settlers (who were politically settled in 1975 by the government order), high profile political figures from the government and also top brass of some multinational companies. Of the total areas grabbed in CHT, 3717 acres of lands were grabbed mainly by outside private parties and influential people including former Forest and Environment Ministers wife Noor Fatema and 75 acres were grabbed by the government. Indigenous families from the northwest region of the country had lost their traditional lands as the administration listed them as Khas (state-owned) land, although, as a signatory of the ILO Convention no 107 on Indigenous and Tribal Populations, the state is not permitted to do so, said the findings. The report also pointed out that a total of 26 families were evicted while 1062 families were under threat of eviction. According to the organisation, at least 11 indigenous people including four women- three from CHT and eight from plainland- were killed in 2013. A total of 67 indigenous women and
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One killed in gunfight with police

n Our correspondent, Satkhira
One person was killed in a gunfight with police on Saturday in the Pakhimara village of Padmapukur union in Satkhira. The deceased Ashraf Ali hailed from Kurikahania village. Shaymnagar police station Officerin-Charge Sagir Mia told the Dhaka Tribune: Being tipped off, police rushed to the place where some robbers were planning to rob. Sensing our presence, the robbers opened fire, triggering the clash with the law enforcers. Later, police rescued 48-year-old Asraf and sent him to Shaymnagar Helath Complex where on duty doctors pronounced him dead. Police also claimed that Ashraf was accused in a number of cases. Superintendent of Police Asraful Islam, who also took part in the gunfight, said: Two police constables Salimullah and Milon were injured in the gunfight. l

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News

3 A section of students led by ruling Awami Leagues student front Chhatra League of the capitals Jagannath University locked into an hours-long clash with police in the areas adjacent to the university campus yesterday, leaving some 200 people, including 25 policemen, injured.

www.aaanancebd.com

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Justice M Enayetur Rahim new ICT 1 chairman n Tribune Report
Justice M Enayetur Rahim, a High Court judge, has been appointed as the new chairman of the International Crimes Tribunal 1. The courts proceedings had been on a halt since its former chairman Justice ATM Fazle Kabir retired on December 31 last year. The prosecution expressed content on Rahims appointment, as the ICT 1 is currently dealing with five cases including the one of Jamaat chief Motiur Rahman Nizami, whose verdict is in line. They said the new chairman might face challenges as the tribunal has to decide on hearing of arguments in Nizamis case. Justice Rahim has passed many important orders including cancellation of the registration of Jamaate-Islami. He was appointed as an additional judge to the High Court during the Awami Leagues previous term in June in 2009, and was made permanent on June 6, 2011. Heading a three member HC bench comprising Justice M Moazzam Husain and Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque, he cancelled the registration of the Jamaat as a political party in August last year. Recently Justice Rahim asked the Director General of RAB to roll on the much-talked Sagar-Runi murder case and get the investigation officer to come up with all updates by March 5. Born in 1960, Justice Rahim obtained Masters in Mass Communication and Journalism and LLB degree from Dhaka University. He became a High Court lawyer in 1989. Rahim was listed as an Appellate Division lawyer in 2002 and was elected as Secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association in 2005. The government appointed him as an additional attorney general on January 29, 2009, while he was an elected member of the Bangladesh Bar Council. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, February 24, 2014

Government to challenge HC order opening flight options for Hajj n Mohosinul Karim
The government will challenge the High Court order allowing pilgrims to choose any airline while going to perform Hajj in Saudi Arabia, said Religious Affairs Minister Matiur Rahman yesterday. The government would appeal after obtaining the copies of the full verdict, he said while briefing reporters over a meeting recently held with Saudi Arabian Hajj authorities. Last year on April 24, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism decided that only Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Saudi Airlines would carry the entire Hajj pilgrims. Abdul Kabir Khan, proprietor of Al Mahmud Travels and General Secretary of Hajj Agencies Association of Bangladesh (HAAB) and Rezaul Islam, a pilgrim, jointly filed a writ petition against the government decision, on July 29 the same year. The petition stated that there was no need for creating such a monopoly in the country. In response to the petition, on Thursday the High Court opened scope for pilgrims to choose from a wider option of carriers. The minister said no talk was held with the Saudi Arabian authority regarding allowing third carriers for transporting the pilgrims to Saudi Arabia from Bangladesh. According to the agreements, Biman will carry around 50% of the pilgrims while Saudi Arabian Airlines would carry the rest, said the minister. He said the HAAB leaders provided some misinformation in a press conference held on Saturday which contradicts to the decisions made in the agreements earlier signed between the two countries. This year a total of 101,758 Bangladeshi pilgrims would be allowed to perform hajj, however, the HAAB officials mentioned the number as 101,000 in the conference. Also they claimed that the guarantee deposit charged upon every pilgrim was 250 Saudi Arabian Riyal, whereas, it was fixed 50 Saudi Arabian Riyal, he said. l

Clockwise from top left: Bullet holes are seen on the windscreen of the prison van after it was attacked by JMB operatives to snatch three convicted JMB men l The microbus used by the JMB operatives during the attack l Two injured policemen of Trishal in Mymensingh, injured in the JMB prison van attack, received treatment at a hospital, one of them later died at hospital DHAKA TRIBUNE FOCUS BANGLA BANGLAR CHOKH

Bangladesh envoy to Kenya attacked

n UNB
Some masked criminals attacked Bangladesh High Commissioner to Kenya M Wahidur Rahman at his residence in Karen area in Nairobi on Saturday night. Though the Bangladeshi envoy and his family members were unhurt, they were psychologically traumatised, Shameem Ahsan, the director general of the External Publicity Wing at the Foreign Ministry told the UNB over phone yesterday. He said the high commissioner was robbed of cash and other electronic items. Police have taken up the matter and investigation in this regard is on, said Shameem. However, the Kenyan media reports claimed that the high commissioner was slightly injured during the incident that occurred around 10pm (Kenyan Time) on Saturday. Nairobi Criminal Investigation Department boss Nicholas Kamwende told the Kenyan media that a house help and guards who were on duty at that time were held for interrogation. The thugs were reported to have stolen KES170,000 (around BDT153,286), a television set and other items from the high commissioners residence, according to the Kenyan police. Kamwende said the guards would be interrogated on how the gang of six entered the residence penetrating the tight security without their knowledge. Police expressed concern over the increased rate of burglaries taking place in Karen area after Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo was attacked at his home last week. l

20 shops gutted n Our Correspondent, Chandpur

At least 20 shops were gutted in fire in Habiganj Bazar area of Chandpur district yesterday. According to sources, the fire originated from a kerosine drum in Modila Oil shop and engulfed the adjacent area soon leaving 20 shops burnt to ashes. On information, firefighters went to the spot and doused the fire after one hour of frantic effort. The shop owners claimed that the loss caused by the fire could go up to Tk 3 crore. l

Osmani Medical College Hospital tops public hospitals

n Moniruzzaman Uzzal
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) yesterday announced the winners of the Health Ministers National Awards 2014. Sylhets MAG Osmani Medical College Hospital won the first place in the tertiary hospital category, while Faridpur Medical College Hospital and Dhaka Medical College and Hospital became joint runners-up. In the district hospital category, the 250-bed Pabna General Hospital came first, while the 250-bed Kustia General Hospital was runner-up. The Pabna civil surgeon office topped the civil surgeon category, followed by the Munshiganj civil surgeon office. The awards were given for outstanding performances in the health sector under a health system strengthening through a systematic approach initiative, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation. Health Minister Mohammed Nasim presented trophies to the winners at the Cirdap auditorium in the capital. State Minister for Health Zahid Malek, DGHS Director Khondoker Md Sefayetullah and Health Secretary MM Niazuddin were also present. Several senior-level teams selected the seven winners after visiting 85 tertiary hospitals, civil surgeon offices and district hospitals in December for assessment, said Abul Kalam Azad, additional director (planning and development). Besides, 42 more awards were given separately to 14 district hospitals, 14 upazila health complexes and 14 civil surgeons. The district sadar hospital winners are Pirojpur, Rangamati, Narshingdi, Kushtia, Pabna, Panchagarh and Moulvibazar. The runners-up are Bhola, Laxmipur, Munshiganj, Meherpur, Joypurhat, Thakurgaon and Hobiganj. Among the upazila health complexes, Uzirpur in Barisal, Boalkhali in Chittagong, Keraniganj in Dhaka, Shamnagar in Shatkhira, Ishwardi in Pabna, Pirgonj in Rangpur and Borolekha in Sylhet came on top. The runners-up were Gouronadi in Barisal, Anwara in Chittagong, Goalondo in Rajbari, Chowgacha in Jessore, Shatia in Pabna, Baliadangi in Thakurgaon and Srimongol in Sylhet. l

Indigenous
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children- 53 from CHT and 14 from plainland-were subjected to violence. Of them, 15 indigenous women and children-12 from CHT and three from plainland- were raped. The report mentioned that 69% of the women victims were minor while 89% of the perpetrators were Bengali settlers- 7% of indigenous origin and 4% from security forces. l

Red alert
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Four accused in Zubair murder case escape from dock

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In the report, investigation officer Md Rafiqul Islam, sub-inspector of Kotwali police station, mentioned that he found the allegations against the six were true. On February 6, the court issued show cause notice to the six accused asking why their bail should not be cancelled since they threatened the victims friends and disobeyed the bail condition. On February 12, the defence coun-

sels on behalf of the four escapees accused of murder submitted written apologies to the court for their action. About the incident of escaping from the court, Public Prosecutor SM Rafiqul Islam told the Dhaka Tribune the court police hardly took any steps to increase police presence on the court premises yesterday. No police were deployed on the court premises, so when the accused heard the bail cancellation order, they

ran away from there, he added. Asked about the escape, Deputy Inspector General SM Mahfuzul Haque Nuruzzaman of Dhaka range told the Dhaka Tribune the four escapees were not under police custody. The court did not inform police they would be presented before the court yesterday, he added. Zubairs brother Abdullaha-Al-Mamun said he was afraid because the accused had escaped from the court.

He said it proved that the accused were cold-blooded murderers and that was why they could run out of the court in broad daylight. On September 8, 2013, the court framed charges against a total of 13 university students accused in the Zubair murder case. According to the case statement, honours final year student Zubair Ahmed of JU English Department succumbed to his injuries on January 9, 2012.

Zubair was severely beaten on the campus by activists of a rival faction of Chhatra League, the pro-Awami League students wing. JU Deputy Registrar Hamidur Rahman filed the case with Ashulia police station. On April 8, 2012, Meer Shain Shah Pervez, the then sub-inspector and also investigation officer of the case, submitted the charge sheet accusing 13 students. l

They played key roles in JMBs rise

PAGE 1 COLUMN 5

3 JMB men snatched from police

combat left leaning extremists. JMB kept on operating as a militant and terrorist organization until the 90s. Abdur Rahman, Bangla Bhai and many of their leaders and operatives claimed that they were involved with the politics of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir. They said they left the party after Jamaat formed the alliance with BNP because they could not stay under a womans leadership. In 2006, Abdur Rahman confessed to interrogators that he had given the orders for bomb blasts in three cinema halls in Mymensingh in December 2002. Before that, another detained JMB operative Moinul Islam Ranga told a court that Salahuddin had led the attacks. According to the 2010 report of the International Crisis Group: Other ICS [Islami Chhatra Shibir] men turned to JMB, including former shura leaders Hafez Mahmud and Salahuddin alias Salehin, citing similar reasons. The report said Hafez Mahmud had undergone 12 months of training with an unknown militant organisation in India in 1997. As a founder policymaker of JMB, Hafez recruited and trained up manyoperatives. l
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as an explosives expert for JMB. Boma Mizan, who was a student of the Dhaka Polytechnic Institute, used to get literature about making bombs and handmade grenades from JMBs IT [Information Technology] boss Emranul Haque alias Rajib, a Buet graduate. Mizan joined JMB as a full-timer in 2001 and soon became a close aide to militant kingpins Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai.He told press after his arrest that he had never exploded bombs; he rather trained others to make bombs and grenades. Some of those who interrogated Mizan in custody, told this reporter that Mizan and some other JMB and JMJB operatives took training from the Rohingya Solidarity Organisation (RSO), an insurgent group based in the Arakan state of Myanmar. Mizan told the interrogators that JMB maintained close links with RSO. He and some other JMB operatives received training from the RSO arms experts in a camp near the Myanmar border in 2002. Harkat-ul-Jihad-al Islami (Huji) Bangladesh, another outlawed Islamist outfit comprising Afghan war veterans of Bangladeshi origin, also had strong

ties with the RSO. According to what Mizan told the interrogators, RSO had conducted arms training in camps in the remote hills of Chittagong. During encounters with some former Huji men, this correspondent learnt that in the late 1980s and 1990s, many Huji operatives took training from the Rohingya rebels. They said the RSO men trained the Huji operatives in makeshift camps set up inside the deep forests of Chittagong Hill Tracts. They also said RSO helped Huji with weapons and also with funds. The Rohingya group had extensive supplies of arms, and for funds it would count on a number of Muslim-majority countries, especially those in the Middle East. This correspondent interviewed Abdur Rahman and Bangla Bhai in May 2004 in Rajshahi when they were carrying out terrorist acts under the cover of JMJB. Salahuddin alias Salehin was also present with the two kingpins. They said their ultimate goal was to establish Shariah law through Jihad. These operatives of JMB launched their operation in Rajshahi region with the help of the administration during the then BNP Jamaat led alliance government and claimed the aim was to

OC of Trishal police station. The criminals then sped north with the JMB men. Constable Sabuj Miah, driver of the van, said: A truck at first obstructed the van. Simultaneously, criminals riding a white microbus opened fire. Within a short time, they left the scene along with the JMB men. He also said the criminals shot at Constable Atiq to snatch keys from his possession for unlocking the handcuffs. Jail officials in Kashimpur said all the three convicts were fettered before they being taken out of the jails around 8am. Abdur Razzak, senior superintendent of the High Security Jail in Gazipur, said: Rakib was detained at the High Security Jail, Salehin at Kashimpur 1 and Mizan at Kashimpur 2 jail. Injured Constable Sohel said there were 25-30 criminals.

upazila in Narayanganj district. He was a student of the Dhaka University of Science and Technology in Gazipur. Arrested in 2006 for conducting militant activities, Salehin he had been living in the Kashimpur 1 jail since 2010. He is also a charge-sheeted accused in the case filed in connection with the 2004 attack on late Professor Humayun Azad.

Rakib HASAN (35)

Accused in at least 30 cases in connection with militancy, another JMB majlish-e-sura member Rakib Hasan alias Rasel, 35, was a resident of the Bongshibel village under Melandaha upazila in Jamalpur district. He was given death sentence in the Mymensingh cinema hall explosions case, and lifetime and 14 years jail terms two other cases.

Boma Mizan (35)

Salehin (38)

According to police and jail officials, JMB Majlish-e-Sura member Salehin had 42 cases filed against him. Of those, he was handed down death penalty in three cases, including one for explosions at a cinema hall in Mymensingh in 2006. He was orginally from the Bandar

Boma Mizan, accused in 19 cases, was a resident of the Shekhervita village under Jamalpur Sadar upazila. He was given 30 years jail for the Mymensingh cinema hall explosions, 20 years for illegal possession of explosives, lifetime jail in another case. He was arrested in the capitals Mirpur in 2008 in a nightlong drive by RAB and police. l

off with the prisoners. A policeman died in the attack. State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Khan told the Dhaka Tribune: We have issued a red alert so that they cannot flee to neighbouring countries and have also sought the assistance of the Indian Border Security Force in this regard. The state minister also held a meeting with Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) Director General Maj Gen Aziz Ahmed, Inspector General of Prison Brig Gen Syed Iftekhar Uddin, Director General Immigration and Passport Abdul Mabud at the secretariat in this regard. He said BGB, Rapid Action Battalion, Police and intelligence agencies were kept on high alert to recapture the militants. In reply to a question about why just three police officers were escorting such high profile militants, the state minister said: We will take action if we find laxity on the part of the jail authorities. We are making it a priority to arrest the culprits, Asaduzzaman Khan said, adding that orders had been issued to ramp up security measures in all jails across the country. We will be able to arrest the militants within a short time, he mentioned, with hope. Following the incident, the home ministry formed a four-member committee headed by Additional Secretary (police) Nazimuddin Chowdhury and including Dhaka Range Deputy Inspector General (DIG) SM Mahfuzul Haque Nuruzzaman, Tipu Sultan of DIG Prison Headquarters and Deputy Secretary Khairul Kobir Menon. The committee has been asked to submit the investigation report in three working days. Joint Secretary Mohammad Iftekharul Islam Khan confirmed this to the Dhaka Tribune. The committee would assess whether risk factors and adequate security measures were taken into consideration in transporting the prisoners. It will also try to discover the reason behind the incident and find persons responsible. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

News

Monday, February 24, 2014

JnU students-police clash leaves 200 injured

Students blame independent Haji Selim lawmaker for grabbing universitys Tibbet Hall
n Mohammad Jamil Khan
A section of students led by ruling Awami Leagues student front Chhatra League of the capitals Jagannath University locked into an hours-long clash with police in the areas adjacent to the university campus yesterday, leaving some 200 people, including 25 policemen, injured. Around 8:00 in the morning, a group of students locked the main entrance of the university in Lokhkhibazar in old Dhaka and started demonstrating, demanding immediate recovery of Tibbet Hall one of the dormitories of the universities. The land of the dorm located in the nearby Islampur area has remained under the grab of Haji Selim, an Awami League leader, who became a lawmaker in last months 10th parliamentary poll by running as an independent candidate from Lalbagh, another old Dhaka constituency. Haji Selim MP has established a commercial complex named Gulshanara City by demolishing the building of the Tibbet Hall. When the students started heading towards Islampur around 10:30am, police blocked the students in the Banglabazar area. As students started pelting bricks at police and police retaliated with several rounds of rubber bullets, tear gas canisters, sound grenades and batons, the entire locality turned into a battlefield. Vehicular movement in the area remained stalled for a few hours. Normalcy in the area did not return until 4pm. Among those injured were two teachers: Nasiruddin Ahmed, chairman of the English Department, and Abul Kalam Azad, lecturer of the Microbiology Department. Other hurt in the clash include Shariful Islam, president of JnU unit Chhatra League, Sirajul Islam, secretary of JnU Chhatra League, and a number of other activists of the organisation. JnU Proctor Asoke Kumar Saha said: The students have been demonstrating peacefully for a week. But today, there were some misunderstanding between law enforcers and students. But we have successfully settled down the issue through talks. Protesting the police attack on students, the university teachers association issued a press statement announcing an agitation programme on the campus for Monday. Police have no right to attack or open fire inside an historical educational institute without prior permission. This is totally illogical. The police attack on peacefully demo turned the situation violent, said Sarkar Ali Akkas, president of JnU Teacherss Association. The association issued a 24-hour ultimatum to the authorities concerned to withdraw the deputy commissioner of police of Lalbagh Division and the OC of the Kotwali police station. The university unit Chhatra League has meanwhile expressed solidarity with the teachers scheduled agitation programme. In rebuttal, Harun-ur-Rashid, deputy commissioner of Lalbagh police, claimed that police went on action only after students started being unruly, attacking on buses and trying to break into the market (Gulshanara City). He also claimed that more than 25 policemen sustained injuries when the students attacked on them. JnU Vice-Chancellor Mizanur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune that an emergency meeting of the university syndicate been convened to decide on the next course of action and forming a committee to probe into the matter.

Students of Jagannath University lock into a clash with police in front of the universitys main gate, at the capitals Lokhkhibazar yesterday itals Lalbagh area, slammed the Chhatra League for staging violence around the country, especially the skirmishes on the Rajshahi University campus. The very next day, the JnU unit Chhatra League started an agitation programme on the campus demanding immediate recovery of the Tibbet Hall now under the possession of Haji Selim. University sources said it was this very Chhatra League that forcefully prevented general students at least three times in the past from starting a movement demanding recovery of all the dormitories of the university. Haji Selim, after having failed to get nomination from the Awami League, ran as an independent candidate for the January 5 poll and defeated Awami League nominee Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin to become the MP of Lalbagh area. Selim had been an Awami League lawmaker from the same area once before in the 7th parliament. The Jagannath College in the capitals Lokhkhibazar area was promoted to the status of a university in 2006. At that time, it was registered experimentally as the only non-residential public

RAJIB DHAR

The Background Story

On Tuesday, February 11, Haji Seilim, former Awami League lawmaker and currently an independent MP from the cap-

university in the country. The college had a total of 12 dormitories for the students, including the Tibbet Hall, which had not been under its control since 1988. When it was turned into a university, the word was that all those 12 dorms would be recovered and gradually made into residential halls. The authorities so far have managed to bring back only three of those dorms. l

Ershad: Govt to stay for five years

n Our correspondent Kurigram

The present government will stay for five years and 5 January election was acceptable. Jaitya Party Chairman HM Ershad yesterday told this to reporters at the Kurigram Circuit House. Responding a question he said: We have no demands to mid-term election. If the government thinks, the schedule can be announced. Now we are well for playing the role as opposition in the parliament, he said. In regards to the upazila election he said: It was not a party election and we are not worried about the upazila polls. l

EU expresses concern over extrajudicial killings, civil rights

n Tribune Report
A delegation of European Union yesterday expressed concern over the extrajudicial killings and capital punishment in the country, urging the government to stop the killings and cancel the provision of death penalties. The EU delegation led by William Hanna also urged the government to give more space to civil society members to express their views during a meeting with Law Minister Anisul Haque. Swedish Ambassador in Dhaka Anneli Lindahl Kenny and French Ambassador Michel Trinquier were also among the delegation. After the meeting, the law minister told the media: The EU delegation expressed their concern on three issues and requested the government to take steps in this regard. They made the requests citing the issues of BDR carnage, ICT trial and the verdict of 10-truck arms haul case. Anisul said: The government does not support any extrajudicial killing as we want to ensure the rule of law in the country. We have already asked the authorities concerned to give information on the recently raised allegations on the issue. On the issue of death penalty, the minister said the provision of death penalty was included into the international crimes tribunals act. He said: There will be no compromise with criminals against humanity. The government and the prosecution will demand death penalty according to the law, but it will be decided by the court whether they will consider it or not. We have nothing to say. But, we can consider EUs request for enacting a new law in the future as most of the countries are now against the death penalty, he added. Addressing EU concern on civil society rights, the minister said civil society members were now enjoying more space to express their views. They are not being interfered regarding anything but if any issue arises that needs to be intervened it would be done. After meeting with the minister, William Hanna said, We are happy to see that participatory upazila parishad polls are being held in the country. We believe the environment for dialogue for holding a free and fair national election will be created through this and we want it to be held shortly. l

Shahid Commissioner on four-day remand

n Tribune Report
A Dhaka court yesterday placed Saidur Rahman Shahid alias Shahid Commissioner on a four-day remand in a case filed over the murder of Kunda union Chairman Atikullah Chowdhury of Keranigonj. Senior Judicial Magistrate Toybul Hassan passed the order yesterday. On February 16, Keraniganj police station Sub-Inspector and Investigation Officer of the case Afzal Hossain prayed for a 10-day police remand of the accused before the court. Meanwhile, Defense Lawyer Shahadat Hossain filed a bail petition and pleaded for the rejection of the remand. The SI said in the remand prayer, Shahid Commissioners involvement was found with Atikul Chowdhurys murder after investigating the case. So he needs to quiz him on remand and find out the clue of the murder. Saidur Rahman Chowdhury, son of Atikullah Chowdhury, had filed a murder case with Keraniganj police station regarding the killing on December 12 last year against unknown accused. At least seven suspects have been arrested so far in this murder case, said the general registration section the court. On February 4, Rapid Action Battalion personnel arrested Shahid Commissioner who had been awarded with death penalty for a murder from his Gandaria residence around 3am. A Dhaka court earlier granted a fiveday remand on Shahid Commissioner in connection with an arms case. The elite force members also seized three foreign-made pistols, three magazines and 62 rounds of ammunition from his possession. Later, RAB inspector filed an arms case against Shahid with Gandaria police station. l

WEATHER

Dry weather likely n UNB

Rain or thundershower is likely to occur at one or two places over Rangpur and Rajshahi divisions and the regions of Kushtia and weather may remain mainly dry with partly cloudy sky elsewhere over the country until 6pm today. Night temperature might remain nearly unchanged and day temperature might fall by 1-3 degree Celsius over the country, Met Office said. The sun sets in the capital at 5:58pm today and rises at 6:25am tomorrow. Countrys highest temperature 31.2 degree Celsius was recorded in Sitakunda and lowest 11.4 degrees in Srimangal yesterday. Highest and lowest temperatures recorded in some major cities yesterday were: City Dhaka Chittagong Rajshahi Rangpur Khulna Barisal Sylhet Coxs Bazar High 28.5 29.1 26.8 26.7 28.5 29.0 28.3 31.0 Low 17.5 15.4 16.6 18.0 17.3 15.3 13.7 16.5

Women MP polls on March 29

n Mohammad Zakaria
The Election Commission yesterday announced that the polls for reserved women seats would be held on March 29. The last date of filing nomination paper is March 4, the nomination papers would be scrutinised on March 6, while the last day of withdrawing nomination paper is March 12, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad said at a press conference. The EC appointed the joint secretary of the commission as returning officer, Deputy Secretary Mihir Sarwar Morshed as assistant returning officer, senior assistant secretaries Farhad Hossain and Shah Alam as poling officers in the polls. The commission has also published the voter list of 297 Members of Parliament as per the law. In the polls, the Awami League led alliance will get 41 seats, opposition Jatiya Party will get six and independent alliance will get three seats. EC officials said the reserved seats were distributed among the parties or alliances in proportion to the total seats won in the general elections. Out of 300 constituencies, Awami League got 231 seats, Jatiya Party (Ershad) 34, Workers Party got six, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (Inu) got five, Tariqat Federation got two, Jatiya Party (Manju) got two, Bangladesh Nationalist Front (BNF) got a single seat and independent got 16 seats. Meanwhile, the CEC said the Tangail 8, which fell vacant because of the death of Awami League lawmaker Shahkat Momen Shahjahan, by-polls would be held on March 29. The gazette of Jessore 1 and 2 constituencies is yet to be published due to some legal complications. l

Tortured freedom fighter seeks justice

n Udisa Islam
New prosecution witness in the trial against Mir Kashem Ali yesterday sought justice in court, saying he was tortured by the accused during the Liberation War. Eskender Alam Chowdhury, a 66-year-old freedom fighter from Chittagong, told the International Crime Tribunal 2 that the accused had tortured him at an alBadr camp inside a hotel in Chittagong city. Eskender claimed that Kashem and his gang detained and brutally beat him up at Dalim Hotel, known as an alBadr torture cell, adding that he was freed on Victory Day by some local people. So far, the prosecution has produced seven other witnesses. At a hearing on Wednesday, witness number six, Mridul Kumar Dey from Hazari Lane, described the forced deportation of at least 250 families. He said most of them had left for India, while the rest went into hiding within Bangladesh. Kashem, who is facing 14 charges for committing crimes against humanity, was produced before the tribunal during Eskenders deposition. Eskender, who was a ground engineer with the Pakistan Air Force when war broke out, fled from his base in Mouripur, Lahore and joined the Liberation War in November 1971. I was captured by the Pakistani army and their followers on November 29 and taken to Dalim Hotel along with my other detained comrades. There, Mir Kashem Ali and one Khan beat me nearly to death to get information about my comrades, he said. They tried to force me to disclose information about my co-fighters. But having failed, they became more ferocious, he continued. I, along with my fellows [detainees] were freed on December 16, 1971 by the local people. Eskender said after being released, they learned from the people that the country had become independent. He ended his deposition before the two-member tribunal seeking justice. Defence counsel Mizanul Islam then cross-examined him for some time. The tribunal adjourned the hearing until today. The trial against Mir Kashem Ali, a Jamaat-e-Islami executive council member, began on November 18. In an opening statement, prosecutors Sultan Mahmud and Ridia Sultana declared that there was enough evidence against Kashem to try him for war crimes. l

WAR CRIMES TRIAL

China invites president to attend CICA

n Tribune Report
China has invited President Abdul Hamid to attend the fourth summit meeting of Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) to be held in Shanghai in May. Chinese Ambassador to Dhaka Li Jun handed over the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping to State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam yesterday. Bangladesh is currently holding an observer status in the CICA, a multinational forum for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia. During a meeting with the Chinese ambassador, the foreign ministry officials discussed about holding a bilateral visit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to China, said an official of the ministry. We floated the idea of the bilateral visit as there are some major development issues pending for couple of years, he said. Out of the pending issues, deep sea port, China export processing zone, tunnel under Karnaphuli River, Bangabandhu satellite, Ganges barrage and Bangladesh-China friendship exhibition centre are very important for Bangladesh. l

PRAYER TIMES
Fajar Sunrise Zohr Asr Magrib Esha 5:09am 6:24am 12:12am 4:21pm 5:59pm 7:14pm

Source: IslamicFinder.org

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Two Chhatra League leaders accused of abducting college girl

Faulty construction blamed for building collapses

n Abu Hayat Mahmud
Building experts yesterday blamed faulty or weak construction, negligence of the building code and lack of repairs for the collapse of many buildings in Bangladesh, including in the capital Dhaka, even without the influence of an earthquake or any other natural disaster. Professional engineers and building experts made the observation while addressing a workshop, titled Retrofitting of vulnerable buildings and quality construction of buildings for safer cities, in the capital yesterday. The experts also underlined the need to follow the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) strictly to make all establishments earthquakeresistant, as such negligence have made many high-rise buildings in the capital vulnerable to natural disasters. The daylong workshop was organised by a project, jointly arranged in cooperation with Public Works Department (PWD) with technical support from Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), for capacity development on natural disaster resistant techniques of construction and retrofitting for public buildings (CNCRP). During the workshop, which marked the third-year completion of the CNCRP project, engineers shared their work knowledge and experiences while preparing an inventory list of 3,000 public buildings, practicing various seismic assessment methods, and improving building construction quality. Fumio Kaneko, team leader of Jica study team, used a slide presentation to the CNCRP project. By December 2013, some 300 garment factories applied from BGMEA and BKMEA for retrofitting after a detailed evaluation. Earlier, Jica signed a memorandum of understanding of Tk1 MoU with Bangladesh Bank, BGMEA, BKMEA and PWD in this regard. Under the agreement, the officials said the PWD has conducted preliminary seismic assessment and will conduct in-depth assessment and start the retrofitting works for RMG factories based on the BNBC. The CNCRP project, which upholds the use of retrofitting technologies, started in March 2012 and will be completed in February 2015. The project has been implemented in Dhaka, Sylhet and Chittagong. Public Works Minister Engineer Mosharraf Hossain inaugurated workshop as chief guest, while Disaster Management Minister Mofazzal Hossain Chowdhary Maya was special guest. During the inauguration, Mosharraf said: In the present situation, especially after collapse of Rana Plaza, the CNCP project has become vital for our country. By applying the retrofitting technology, it will be possible to reduce the venerability of old establishments in Dkaka. Housing and Public Works Secretary M Golam Rabbani, Japan Ambassador to Bangladesh Shiro Sadoshima and Jica Chief Representative here Mikio Hataeda also spoke on occasion. I would like to stress that the BNBC is the only standard of Bangladesh for construction of the building. Therefore, all stakeholders should follow the BNBC to ensure building safety. said Hataeda. l

n Our Correspondent, Manikganj

inform the workshop that the collapsed multi storey buildings in and around Dhaka, such as Rana Plaza, Begunbari Building, Phoenix Garments, Spectrum Building, Shankhari Bazar Building, had mainly collapsed due to faulty and weak foundation structure. According to earthquake hazard and risk assessments made during 2006 to 2009 by Comprehensive Disaster Management Programme (CDMP) of

the ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, an earthquake of 7.5 magnitude near Dhaka may collapse some 72,000 buildings and greatly damaged around 1,58,000, as the BNBC was not followed strictly. The assessment also concluded that an earthquake of such magnitude might also cause a significant damage to various facilities, marking a 25% loss in the annual national budget.

The presentation also informed that reinforced concrete (RC) structures in Bangladesh are 3 to 5 times more vulnerable than of Japan and USA. To overcome such risks, the PWD has already begun to update the BNBC and also adopted a four-year CNCRF plan with technical support from Jica. Already, many ready-made garments (RMG) factories have begun retrofitting its vulnerable buildings under

Two Chhatra League leaders were accused of abducting a college girl in Manikganj sadar upazila yesterday evening. An abduction case was filed with Manikganj sadar police station against the two local leaders including two other individuals by the victims father. The accused were district Chhatra League Organising Secretary Sabbirul Islam alias Sony and district municipal Chhatra League General Secretary Md Liakat Ali. Sony was arrested in connection with the case however he claimed that he was not involved with the abduction. According to the case statement, Liakat was accused of kidnapping the girl and Sony for complicity in the abduction. Police and family sources said Liakat used to tease the third-year college girl. He once misbehaved with the girl a month back which was later settled locally. Quoting a friend of the abducted girl, the victims father said her daughter had left home for tuitions on Saturday morning around 7am. Liakat, Sony and two more persons kidnapped her from Gangadharpatti area of the upazila around 7:15am. Assistant Sub-Inspector Rahmat Ali of the sadar police station said: Though the arrestee denied his involvement with the abduction in the primary interrogation, we are still investigating into the matter. Drives are being conducted to rescue the abducted girl. l

Stone lifting resumes at hard rock mine n Our Correspondent, Dinajpur

Granite stone lifting from the hard rock mine at Maddhapara area in Parbatipur upazila under Dinajpur has resumed under new ownership yesterday after a long three-month break. Germania-Trest Consortium (GTC), a joint venture company comprising of Bangladesh-based Germania Corporation Limited and Belarus-based JSC Trest Shakhtos Petsstroy got the contact. Around 189 mine workers joined the company on January 20 to lift stones. North Korean company South South Cooperation Corporation (NAMNAM) started developing the mine under a suppliers credit contract in 1994. According to market price, the mining authorities sell boulder rocks (larger than 250mm) at $20 per tonne and crushed rock (60mm to 20mm & 5mm-20mm) at $23-$26 per tonne respectively. Earlier on September 2, the GTC signed a contract of Tk1,400 crores with Petro Bangla. Managing Director of the MGMCL, Sayed Abul Fazal Nazmul Ahsan Hayder said: Earlier on last Thursday, we handed over the responsibility to the company according to the contract. General Manager of Germania Corporation Limited Jeved Siddique said: Most of the 189 workers worked at the mine under blue star. More 140 workers will be recruited on second phase in March. The hard rock mine at Maddhapara of Parbatipur in Dinajpur district was discovered by Geological Survey of Bangladesh (GSB) in 1974 at a depth of 136 metres. l

ACC interrogates former minister Mahbubur Rahman

n Tribune Reports
The Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday said it was not facing any pressure from the government with its inquiry into the wealth of the lawmakers of the ruling party. There is no pressure on the anti graft body with inquiry into the lawmakers of the ruling party. If we have faced any pressure, we would not have summoned and interrogate the lawmakers, ACC Commissioner M Shahabuddin Chuppu told reporters. He also said the commission was inquiring against the lawmakers, against whom allegations were surfaced. Addressing the reporters following the questioning of former state minister for water resources Mahbubur Rahman Talukder by the ACC on charges of accumulation of wealth illegally, the commissioner made the comments. An ACC team interrogated the Awami League leader from 11am-2:30pm at the ACC headquarters, ACC Public Relations Officer Pranab Kumer Bhattachajee said. The ACC on January 22 assigned Deputy Director Khairul Huda to investigate allegations against Mahbubur Rahman. The investigation officer has already visited several government offices in Patuakhali to gather information on the assets of the lawmaker, his wife Preeti Rahman, and their children. According to a wealth statement submitted to the Election Commission ahead of January 5 polls, Mahbubur Rahman owned Tk5.25 crore in immovable property, which was shown as Tk36.33 lakh in 2008. l

GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF BANGLADESH

Ofce of the Executive Engineer, RHD Road Division,Rajshahi. Telephone No.0721-812215

INVITATION FOR TENDERS(IFT)

Tender Notice No: 06-RRD/2013-2014 Eng.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Ministry/Division Agency Procuring Entity Name Procuring Entity Code Procuring Entity District Procurement method Budget and Source of Funds Invitation Tender Reference No. Tender Publication Date Project/Programme Name Project/Programme code(if Applicable) Tender Package No. Tender Package Name. Ministry of Communications. Roads & Highways Department. Executive Engineer,RHD,Road Division,Rajshahi. 5041 Rajshahi. Open Tendering Method (OTM) GOB 804 dated 23/02/2014 Eng. 23/02/2014 Eng. 4936-Periodic maintenance. As per Package list. As per Package list.

Education lacks governance

n Tribune Report
The education system of Bangladesh has governance issues and the situation is even worse in private secondary schools. The statement was made by economist Wahiduddin Mahmud at a public lecture organised jointly by UK based International Growth Centre and Brac Universitys Institute of Governance Studies (IGS) at the capitals Brac Centre yesterday. Wahiduddin said: Our education system suffers from serious governance problems, especially the private secondary schools run by private boards although mostly funded by the government, are perhaps the worst victims. He claimed the boards of private secondary schools often had members who were not even school graduates. Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in achieving universal primary education. Unfortunately, we cannot say much about quality of education in the absence of any systematic competency tests, he added. Brac University VC Ainun Nishat echoed the speakers concern and said ensuring quality in education was the main challenge for Bangladesh now. l

Name & Address of the ofce(s) A) Primary Location: - Selling Tender Document (Princi- Ofce of the Executive Engineer,RHD,Road Division, Rajshahi. pal) - Selling Tender Document (Others) B) Secondary Location: a) Ofce of the Divisional Commissioner,Rajshahi. b) Executive Engineer,RHD,Road Division,Naogaon/Nawabgonj. c) Sub-Divisional Engineer,RHD,Road Sub-Division-I/II,Rajshahi/1st Line Mechanical workshop Sub-Division,Rajshahi. A) Primary Location: 1. Ofce of the Executive Engineer,RHD,Road Division, Rajshahi. B) Secondary Location: 1. Ofce of the Divisional Commissioner,Rajshahi. Ofce of the Executive Engineer,RHD,Road Division, Rajshahi. Tender/Tenderers reprensentatives are allowed to attend at the time of Opening. On 19/03/2014 Eng.Up to Ofce hours. On 20/03/2014 Eng At 12.00 noon. On 20/03/2014 Eng At 3.00 P.M.

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Name and address of the Ofce(s) -Receiving Tender Document -Opening Tender Document

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Pro-AL teachers win top posts n CU Correspondent

The pro-Awami League teachers yellow panel won five executive committee posts in the Chittagong University Teachers Association (CUTA) election yesterday. According to the universitys election commission sources, Professor Benu Kumar Dey of Chemistry Department achieved 381 votes and was elected as president of CUTA, defeating Harun ur Rashid of BNP Jamaat-backed teachers white panel who received 227 votes. Bangabandhu Adarsha Bastabayen Parishad took part the election independently led by Professor Gazi Saleh Uddin Ahmed who received 91 votes. Securing 451 votes, Md Rashed-un-Nabi of Institute of Marine Science and Fisheries was elected as vice-president. His opposition from the white panel, Mohammed Saiful Islam, got 227 votes. Mustafizur Rahman of Political Science was elected as the general secretary winning with 458 votes. l

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Tender Last Selling Date Tender Closing Date and Time Tender Opening Date and Time Eligibility of Tenderer:(a) All tenderers regardless of whether enlisted or not enlisted with the Employer fulll requirement stated in the TDS may submit Tenders provided that they are otherwise qualied. (b) Eligibility of tenderers in respect of legal technical and nancial capacity will be as stated in Tender Data Sheet(TDS). Tender Document Price: As per Package List Brief Description of Works: (As per Package List). Package Identication of package with Location Tender Doc- Tender Secu- Completion No ument Price rity Amount Time days (Tk) (TK) 06-RRD/2013- Protective work by Brick Masonry toe wall at 8th Tk.1000/Tk.35,000/60 days 2014 (Package (P) km.of Rajshahi-Nawhata-Chowmashia Road No.01) under RHD,Road Division, Rajshahi during the year 2013-2014 Eng. Procuring Entity Detail: Name of Ofcial Inviting Tender Md.Monges Salim Designation of Ofcial inviting Tender Executive Engineer,RHD,(A.C) Address of Ofcial Inviting Tender Executive Engineer,RHD,(A.C)Road Division,Rajshahi. Contract details of Ofcial Inviting Tel: No. 0721-812215 Tender Special Instruction (a) The Procuring entity reserves the right to accept or reject any or all Tender without assigning any reason whatsover and is not bound to accept the lowest tender. (b) All other terms & Conditions as stated in the Public Procurement Act-2006/Public Procurement Regulation-2008 and its amendments will remain valid. (c) If the Arithmetical Errors between quoted unit price and total summarized price variation exceed 2% then tender automatical rejected. Note: This Tender Notice will also be seen at RHD website www.rhd.gov.bd Sub-Asstt. Engineer,RHD, Road Division,Rajshahi. Asstt. Engineer,RHD,(C.C.) Road Division,Rajshahi. Md.Monges Salim Executive Engineer,RHD,(A.C) Road Division,Rajshahi.

GC 16/14 (12x4)

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Monday, February 24, 2014

Fortress of solitude

RAJIB DHAR

n Naeem Mohaiemen
man wakes up in an unfamiliar city. It is hot, sweaty, yet it was only seven in the morning. Curse this infernal heat! Cycle bells, footsteps, and strange sounds seep in. The guide arrives, it is time. The man is blindfolded, and the two set

out in a car. You may think something bad is about to happen, but his host wants him to have a full sensory (deprivation) experience before the big moment. This at least is the story I heard later, who knows if it is apocryphal. Soon, they are standing on the grand lawn. Wet dew seeps through his sneakers. The guide, a senior (old-

It is very hard to understand why a government would want to keep people from enjoying their nationality around their parliament building in this desperately needed green and open space

Access to the grounds surrounding the parliament building have been restricted increasingly over the years SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

er) Bengali architect, takes the blindfold off. Blinking into the sunlight, the visitor stares at a monument, rising out of a moat of perpendicular canals. He stares for a long moment. Slowly, quietly, he begins to cry. The visitor is Nathaniel Kahn, and the building is the Shangshad Bhaban centerpiece of Louis Kahns National Capital Complex in Dhaka. The intense preparation for this moment of communion has happened behind the scenes. The story of the blindfold came out in a later interview: I said, look I want to see this thing the right way. I dont want to see it in an accidental way. The viewer who came to the film, My Architect, in 2003 met Louis Kahn through his extraordinarily physical sculptures, as chased by his unclaimed, unofficial son. Sunlight streaming through the Kimbell Museum roof, the geometry of Exeters library, unfinished designs for a Holocaust memorial, and then, the dewy mornings that surround the Shangshad Bhaban. All of this was rendered with a quiet, unblinking precision. One of Kahns stated missions was to instill the monumentality and mystery of the classics into architecture, replacing the cold functionality of the steel-and-glass era. A reversal of the presumed inevitable, continuous, practical impulses embedded in arcitecture studies. In his structures, the materials were simple, often limited to brick and concrete. In his quest for spirituality, he would engage the raw material itself in the dialogue. The interplay of light with material was the base element that could create a changing building one that moved forward with time,

and through a vantage point. I knew that when I was in Dhaka, the film was over, said Nathaniel. Inside the Shangshad Bhaban, Nathaniel had projected ghost traces of his unclaimed father into cavernous spaces. Even in the midst of the brutal war of 1971, Louis Kahn continued to work on this project. When the war was on, everybody said stop working, because we dont know whats going to happen; we dont know if there is going to be a government after this, and youre not being paid. Kahns response was: When there is peace again, they will need this building. When I first reviewed My Architect in 2003, I wrote: Not only is it home to Bangladeshs Parliament, its central, vast green grounds act as an oasis in the middle of a poorly planned, congested, third-world megacity. Speaking of its multiple uses, Nathaniel said: Everybody has a story about meeting a friend on the plaza, playing a game on the lawn, being a child on the lawn, walking around the Crescent Lake, exploring the area that the streets go past the hostels. But Nathaniel was extraordinarily lucky with the timing of his film. A few years later and he would have filmed his finale in a lonely fortress, empty of people, life, or energy (isnt it appropriate that the party in opposition always boycotts sessions). His last low-angle shot wouldve taken in a wire fence, past the legs of guards, sentries, paramilitary, and police. Security barriers would be everywhere. Guards, guns, security. Security, security, security the treacly, unctuous word spanning the last decade, squeezing life out of everything. There would be no civilians witin a single frame of that film finale, certainly not the exuberant Dhaka morning walkers club (one of whom mistakes Kahn for Farakkan, leader of Americas Nation of Islam). Since 2006, the building has been dying, fatally surrounded by fences. The cage of national security panic, the only framing device left for Kahn. In 2008, a group of German architects came to visit Dhaka. Armed with university letters, ministry permissions, and VIP phone calls, they were allowed access to the inside grounds. I called up one member and asked if my friend could join them. She has never been inside, you see. I dont think we can manage that, they have taken photocopies of everyones passport. But shes Bengali! It seems the officials didnt care. My Bengali friend stayed behind. Later, they met us for dinner. We, who could only imagine the interior, had to depend on these visitors for a

second-hand look. Wide-eyed stories of soaring beauty. But also sadness at a crumbling interior, absence of light, eerie stillness, sleeping cleaners, the smell of cat excrement. 2014. The more things change, the more they do not. Another group of visitors, this time international artists, critics, and curators. Another tour of Shangshad Bhaban had been arranged. This time a photographer friend wanted to join. He had never been inside the Shangshad Bhaban in his whole life. How is that possible I asked, and he replied that there are no tours of Shangshad Bhaban any more. Remember, Naeem, he said, you are older. Actually, now that he mentioned it, the tour I received was in the 1980s. I cannot describe that time to you. Thousands of people thronging the Shangshad Bhaban grounds. Those who have not seen it, will not be able to imagine that open-hearted, generous, democratic city could be Dhaka. That was before the new normal. I mentioned my friends wish to the organisers, and they ruefully told me that copies of passports had to

not here. Your city is dying, finally. This week came the controversy about the wall being erected that will mar Kahns original design (what has not already been marred by the hideous apartment complex across the street, and the mushrooming annexes all around). NO wall ON Kahn went the slogan yesterday, and a group assembled for silent protest on Manik Mia Avenue. German architect Dorothee Riedle wrote to me in an email: I started to wonder what this security fuss is all about. What can be the reason for sealing off the building for the last few years? Maybe I am too foreign to understand? It is very hard to understand why a government would want to keep people from enjoying their nationality around their parliament building in this desperately needed green and open space. It deprives the building and what it stands for off much of its qualities. Writing all this I started to wonder how easy it would be to get access to the German Reichstag. According to their webpage, it is really easy. It is possible to take part in guided tours through

In the 80s thousands of people thronged the Shangshad Bhaban grounds. Those who have not seen it, will not be able to imagine that openhearted, generous, democratic city could be Dhaka

be submitted to the authorities two weeks earlier. Two weeks! To receive clearance to visit our own Shangshad In 2008, it had taken two days. Even that had seemed too much. What exactly is it that they do with all that time? Or is temporality a mechanism for demonstrating: we are serious. Has it really come to this? The only way I can enter the Shangshad is to come with foreign friends? The rest of you, go home. Wanting to take a morning walk, do adda (hangout) with old friends, eat chinabadam (peanuts), hold hands with your partner, take in the fresh air, gaze into the open space, the vision of stone, the beginning of life. Not now,

the house daily, to apply for a visitors seat for the hearings etc. In My Architect, a young boy stares up at the Shangshad Bhaban, and is reflected onto the water. He expresses the sense of wonder we drink in at journeys end. Someone, somewhere has choked the joy out of that scene. In the name of security. And now, walls will go up. Its quite complete. Sealing off a cenotaph, killing a living building. l Naeem Mohaiemen (naeem.mohaiemen@ gmail.com) is a writer, PhD student, and visual artist. His Penn Station kills me (2007) is a project about Louis Kahn, in collaboration with Gensler+Gutierrez.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Feature

Monday, February 24, 2014

7
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
SENATE HALL, DHAKA UNIVERSITY
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25 The Impact of the Great War on the Colonies (Part 1)
l 10:40am Confronting WWI:

War & Colonies

These clips of five photos from the exhibtion showcase the human element. To read history is one thing, but to see the human faces, you cannot help but feel a connection
ECPAD COLLECTION GARROS ALLIANCE FRANAISE DE DHAKA

A photography exhibition and two-day conference on colonial troops in WWI

Tagore, Gandhi, MN Roy and the anti-colonial resistance in India (Dr Imtiaz Ahmed, University of Dhaka) l 11:40am Indian reactions to WWI (Dr Mushirul Hasan, National Archives of India) l 12:00pm Algerians and WWI (Dr Gilbert Meynier, University of Lorraine) l 12:20pm DEBATE

The Impact of the Great War on the Colonies (Part 2)

l 2:20pm Ireland and WWI: the

Lentente formidable: Rediscovering Bengals role in WWI

n
Rumana Habib
The First World War marked the turning point in the relationship between European colonialists and their subjects. Colonial troops fought side-byside with the French and the British, which led to both a sense of camaraderie during the war, and a sense of betrayal afterwards. Feelings of nationalism turned into the drive for independence, Olivier Litvine, director of the Alliance Franaise de Dhaka, told the Dhaka Tribune in a recent interview. To examine this complicated history, Litvine is organising War & Colonies, an exhibition of 35 rare photographs of colonial involvement in the war, along with a two-day conference where historians from around the world will gather to share their research, and debate some still-controversial issues on identity and nationhood. There were many broken promises, Litvine said, notably of Britains promise of self-rule for India in exchange for their participation. One million Indian troops volunteered and served overseas during WWI, and of these, 74,187 Indian soldiers died and more than 67,000 were wounded. But self-rule was still denied to them. The event, launching tomorrow, is part of an international commemoration of the centennial of WWI. This is the largest centennial programme outside of France, where they are organising more than 1000 events in 2014. Dhaka Tribune interviewed Olivier Litvine about this event, which he spent two years putting together. found them too effeminate, and did not regarded as a martial people. Of course Bangalis were among the leaders of the 1875 sepoy mutiny so the British didnt trust them. France brought in colonial soliders because, in purely demographic terms, we were losing against Germany. The population of France is not very big. In fact there was a book written in 1910 Not many people know this, but the Grand Mosque of Paris was built in honour of the Muslim troops who fought in WWI. What was the relationship between colonial and European soldiers? I think there was mutual respect. The officers appreciated the bravery of their troops. And the soldiers white, brown autonomy for Algeria and India. Was that the beginning of the end for colonialism? Yes, and ironically, 1920 was also the height of colonialism for France and Britain, since the victorious allies divided Germanys colonies among themselves. But people learned that they could not trust the colonial power anymore, who had just used and dropped them like a discarded garment. It hurt their sense of pride, and they could not look upon these white masters as benevolent anymore.

search for a modern identity narrative (Philip Orr, Independent Scholar, Belfast) 2:50pm The impact of WWI on law and national sovereignty (Dr Samuel Berthet, Shiv Nadar University, India) 3:50pm The first world wars implications of Labour Migration between and from Colonies: The Case of the Indian Sub-Continent (Dr Syeda Rozana Rashid, University of Dhaka) 4:20pm The environmental impact of WWI: Afro-Asian experiences (Dr Iftekar Iqbal, University of Dhaka) 4:40pm DEBATE

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26 The Uses of the Colonies: From Propaganda to Memory

l 10:20am A war of illusions: Ger-

What do you think people viewers will respond to most?

The human element in the photographs is quite striking. To read about history is one thing, but to see their faces, their human faces, you cannot help but feel a connection. If I were a teacher, I would ask my students to pick out one and try to imagine what life was like for them.

What are you expecting from the conference?

How did soldiers from Bengal end up fighting for the French side, being under British rule at the time?

The British didnt want to use Bangalis in their army because they said they

Sikh soldiers with French Colonels Bartoli in Pas-de-Calais, Northern France, 1915
ECPAD COLLECTION GARROS ALLIANCE FRANAISE DE DHAKA

EXHIBITION SCHEDULE
February 25 - March 8
Alliance Francaise de Dhaka, 26 Mirpur Road, Dhanmondi

March 11 18

Liberation War Museum, 5 Segun Bagicha Viewable online at: warandcolonies.com

called La Force Noire about the importance of colonial troops. France used colonial soldiers as shock troops and elite units, especially the Moroccans. Not a single African soldier fought for the British side within Europe. Not so with France, as you can see from the pictures. Indian labour units were brought in to man the munitions factories. They built the Nancy airfields, which still stand today.

and black realised they were all equally scared. It helped humanise them to one another. It materialised the notion of the entire. Propaganda postcards were very popular in France at the time, and I have one that says something to the effect of: The brave Indian soldiers have come to save us. But the war also undermined the white man, who had proved his barbarianism. He broke his promise of more

As for the debate I hope there is going to be some controversy, and not everyone will agree. Academics love to argue, in a polite and civilised way, of course. This is one hundred years old so there is no real axe to grind. But for example, Gandhi, a symbol of peace, was a strong supporter of the war. What does that mean? I was amazed at how enthusiatic the speaker were about coming to Dhaka for the event. They are curious to experience the city for themselves. It also speaks, I think, to the high quality of the programme. Why is this exhibition important for Bangladeshis? Its important for people to know their own history. In Bangladesh we celebrate 1971, but of course this cultures history is much older than that. With everything else that happened WWII, Indian independence, partition WWI gets overlooked. We wanted to bring it back to the collective memory. l

man attempts to revolutionise the colonial world during WWI (Dr Kris Manjapra, Tufts University) 10:40am Between France and Germany: North African muslims as soldiers and prisoners in WWI 11:40am The presence of colonial troops in French war museums (Dr Frdric Rousseau, University of Montpellier) 12:00pm The rediscovered war German historiography and warfare in the colonies (Dr Rainer Bendick, Abendgymnasium Sophie Scholl, Osnabrck) 12:20pm DEBATE

Bengal in the Great War

l 2:20pm Bhadralok warriors: The

Bengali military experience in WWI (Sqn Ldr Rana Chhina, USI Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research, New Delhi) 2:50pm Captain Kalyan Kumar Mukhopadhyay, A Bengali officer in Mesopotamia (Dr Kaushik Roy. Jadavpur University, Kolkata) 3:40pm Bengali volunteers of Chandannagar in the French army (Lt Col Muhammad Lutful Haq, Advisor Research and Archives, Prothom Alo) 4:20pm From war-front to the front of national liberation: The impact of WWI on Kazi Nazrul Islam Mofidul Hoque, Liberation War Museum, Dhaka) 4:40pm DEBATE

Le Bangla Francophonie
Tracing the history of French colonialism and amity in Bengal and powerful ruler, had little use for BritSiraj was uncomfortable with the n Zeeshan Khan ish mercenaries, but collected money strong European presence on his terriIts a little known fact that the French once had a large, successful trading operation here in Bengal. They established their city Chandernagore (Chandannagar) in 1673, a full 17 years before the British built Calcutta (Kolkata) further to the south. Chandernagore rapidly became an important city and, after paying 40,000 rupees to Mughal Emperor Aurungzeb in 1688, it obtained permission to conduct duty free trade in Bengal, Bihar and Orissa. It overtook the Dutch city of Cinsura (Hooghly-Chinsura) and British Calcutta to become the most important European city on the delta. But Mughal authority was on the wane, and new political configurations were imposing themselves on South Asia, particularly in Bengal. Departing from their policy of political non-interference, by the 18th century European traders were trying their hands at empire-building. They began fighting proxy wars with each other through alliances with competing Indian princes, and offering themselves as security against invaders. Alivardi Khan, Bengals independent from them to fund his own war against the Marathas in exchange for letting the British fortify their positions in his land. The British and the French then carried their rivalry into the Carnatic Wars, with each backing rival candidates for the throne of Hyderabad. The Governor-General of the French East India Company, Joseph Dupleix, used the modern, well-disciplined French army to intervene in the quarrel, securing commercial and territorial favours in return for assistance. The British employed Maratha warlords and British East India Company troops, headed by the infamous Robert Clive. The French won a series of battles quite comfortably (under the command of the Marquis de Bussy, who went on to fight in the American War of Independence). But the British managed to reverse their fortunes and succeeded in installing Muhammad Ali, their man in the Deccan, on the throne. This was the beginning of the British ascendancy in India, which came at the expense of the French. tory, and sought to strip the British of the favoured-nation trade status they had enjoyed since 1717, courtesy of a Mughal edict. Naturally the French saw an ally in Siraj and encouraged him to attack Calcutta, following a British refusal to scale down their militarisation in Bengal. With munitions and financial support from the French, Siraj-ud-Daula, successfully attacked and captured Calcutta, effectively establishing his authority over Britains nascent colonial project. But this was short lived. Robert Clive recaptured Calcutta, then set his eyes on French Chandernagore. He made sure Siraj wouldnt come to the assistance of the French by poisoning the nawabs mind into believing the French meant to do him harm in the long run. Clive then proceeded to destroy Chandernagore, putting the French, who had been counting on the nawabs support, out of the game altogether.

On the occasion of Frances National Day, Indian troops march past the Petit Palais Museum in Paris on July 14, 1916
ECPAD COLLECTION GARROS ALLIANCE FRANAISE DE DHAKA

A tale of two East India Companies

Alliance in the Battle of Polashi

Siraj-ud-Daula, the last king of Bengal

Alivardi Khan died in 1756 and was succeeded by his grandson Siraj-ud-Daula.

The infuriated Siraj-ud-Daula declared war on the British, but Clive had fostered a relationship with Sirajs jealous uncle, Mir Zafar, who betrayed him on

the battlefield, giving Clive a calamitous victory over Bengal. The French, even after being let down by Siraj-ud-Daula earlier, fought alongside him against the British at the 1757 Battle of Polashi (Plassey) The nawabs army included a detachment of about 50 French artillerymen, capable of field manoeuvres, and led by de St Frais; while a French infantry detachment, under Jean Law was also on its way to join them. It was the French, in fact, who fired the first shot of the battle and fought valiantly throughout it, often with no support, as the nawabs soldiers either betrayed them or deserted the field. The French later backed Hyder Ali of Mysore and his son Tipu Sultan,

but were unable to hold off any longer against the British, who went from strength to strength, conquering one Indian kingdom after another until they were the only remaining power in the land. Indian kings could at best hope to be vassals, while the French were confined to Pondicherry, which like all their other possessions, including Chandernagore (returned to the French in 1816) was little more than a vassal too.

WWI and Quit India

The British maintained their empire by using local Indian forces. During the First World War, the Entente nations also relied heavily on Indian troops, and many victories in Iraq and East Africa were won almost entirely by Indians.

In December 1915, 26 young men from Chandernagore enlisted in the French Army, and were assigned to artillery units in France, Morocco and Tunisia. More than a hundred years after the French fought for a nawab of Bengal, Bangalis fought for France, and were commemorated for their valour in battle. One of them was also awarded the Croix de Guerre. The British went back on their promise of greater political autonomy, or Home Rule, for India in exchange for Indian participation during the war. This lead to the Quit India movement and demands for full independence, which was finally achieved in 1947, exactly 190 years after Siraj-ud-Daula and his French allies were defeated in Bengal. l

8
n Reuters, United Nations
The UN Security Council achieved rare unity to act on Syrias civil war on Saturday when Russia and China supported adoption of a resolution to boost aid access in Syria that threatens to take further steps in the case of non-compliance. Russia, supported by China, has shielded its ally Syria on the Security Council during the three-year-long war. They had previously vetoed three resolutions that would have condemned Syrias government and threatened it with possible sanctions.

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International

Monday, February 24, 2014

Security Council approves Syria aid access resolution

cause many Russian considerations were borne in mind and as a result the document took on a balanced nature. The initial text was weakened during negotiations with references to the International Criminal Court and targeted sanctions removed. But other contentious points including a demand for an end to barrel bombs, a demand for cross-border access and the naming of besieged areas were included. This resolution goes further than we have been able to get in three years, US Ambassador Samantha Power told reporters. But a resolution is just words, it is implementation that matters and thats what were starting measuring right now. The resolution asks UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to report to the council in 30 days on implementation and expresses its intent to take further steps in the case of non-compliance. Diplomats say Russia is unlikely to agree to any action if Syrias government was found to be in non-compliance. But several Western envoys expressed a strong intent to push for Security Council action if the resolution is ignored. The United Nations says 9.3 million people need help - nearly half the population - and that well over 100,000 people have been killed. The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has said that more than 136,000 have been killed since a revolt against President Bashar al-Assad began in March 2011. This resolution should not have been necessary. Humanitarian assistance is not something to be negoti-

Saudi seeking Pakistan arms for Syrian rebels n AFP, Dubai

Saudi Arabia is in talks with Pakistan to provide anti-aircraft and anti-tank rockets to Syrian rebels to try to tip the balance in the war to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad, a Saudi source said Sunday. The United States has long opposed arming the rebels with such weapons, fearing they might end up in the hands of extremists, but Syrian opposition figures say the failure of Geneva peace talks seems to have led Washington to soften its opposition. Pakistan makes its own version of Chinese shoulder-launched anti-aircraft missiles, known as Anza, and anti-tank rockets both of which Riyadh is trying to get for the rebels, said the source, who is close to Saudi decision-makers, requesting anonymity. The source pointed to a visit to Riyadh earlier this month by Pakistans army chief of staff, General Raheel Sharif, who met Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz. Prince Salman himself last week led a large delegation to Pakistan, shortly after Saudis chief diplomat Prince Saud al-Faisal visited the kingdoms key ally. Jordan will be providing facilities to store the weapons before they are delivered to rebels within Syria, the same source said. AFP could not obtain confirmation from officials in Saudi, Pakistan or Jordan. The head of the Syrian opposition, Ahmad Jarba, promised during a flying visit to northern Syria last week that powerful arms will be arriving soon. l

All parties, in particular the Syrian authorities, promptly allow rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access for UN humanitarian agencies
Lithuanian UN Ambassador Raimonda Murmokaite, president of the 15-member council for February, described the unanimous approval of the resolution, drafted by Australia, Jordan and Luxembourg, as a moment of hope for Syrias people. Russias UN Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told the council after the vote that Moscow supported the move be-

People walk in a street where building are damaged on February 21 on the key rebel-held bastion of Yabrud north of Damascus ated; it is something to be allowed by virtue of international law, Ban told the council after the vote. Profoundly shocking to me is that both sides are besieging civilians as a tactic of war, the UN Secretary-General added. The resolution demands that all parties, in particular the Syrian authorities, promptly allow rapid, safe and unhindered humanitarian access for UN humanitarian agencies ... including across conflict lines and across borders. It also demands all parties cease all attacks against civilians, as well as the indiscriminate employment of weapons in populated areas, including shelling and aerial bombardment, such as the use of barrel bombs, and methods of warfare ... to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering. Syrias UN Ambassador Bashar Jaafari said the Damascus government

AFP

has continued to work day and night in order to fulfil all of the humanitarian needs of its citizens. The Syrian government bears the largest share of the humanitarian assistance distributed in Syria, it has covered 75 percent of this assistance, whereas U.N. organizations and other international organization operating in Syria have covered only 25%, Jaafari told the council. l

UK tells Russia to stop Venezuela deaths rise as unrest intervention in Ukraine claims student and biker
n Reuters
Britain warned Russia on Sunday against intervening in Ukraines complex crisis, saying London wanted to contribute to an international economic programme aimed at shoring up the desperately difficult situation of the Ukrainian economy. In comments that may anger Moscow, British Foreign Secretary William Hague said his government was in regular contact with the Russian government to try to persuade it that closer ties between Ukraine and the European Union should not worry it. If theres an economic package, it will be important thatRussiadoesnt do anything to undermine that economic package and is working in cooperation and support of it, Hague told BBC TV. When asked if he was worried that Russia might send in the tanks to defend the interests of Russian-speakers in eastern Ukraine, Hague warned against what he called external duress or Russian intervention. It would really not be in the interests of Russia to do any such thing. We have to keep up the communication with Russia as we are doing ... so that the people of Ukraine can choose their own way forward. There are many dangers and uncertainties. Ukraines parliament voted to remove President Viktor Yanukovich on Saturday after three months of street protests, while his arch-rival Yulia Tymoshenko hailed opposition demonstrators as heroes in an emotional speech in Kiev after she was released from jail. The crisis began as protests against Yanukovichs decision to abandon a trade agreement with the European Union in favour of closer ties with Russia, which promised to lend Ukraine $15 billion. Ukraine needs the money foreign investment inflows fell by almost half last year, to a net $2.86 billion from $4.13 billion in 2012. Britain has so far assumed a lower profile on Ukraine than countries such as Germany and Poland, though Prime Minister David Cameron spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin last Thursday about the situation there and Hague said hed be talking to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Monday. Hague said the priority was to persuade Moscow that the fate of Ukraine - a country that was part of the Soviet Union and has been within Russias sphere of influence for decades - was not what he called a zero-sum game and that closer ties with the EU were not a bad thing. Its in the interests of the people of Ukraine to be able to trade more freely with the EU. Its the interests of the people of Russia for that to happen as well. While all this has been happening, the Ukrainian economy is in a desperately difficult situation, Hague said. And they need an economic programme that the rest of us, through the International Monetary Fund and other institutions, can support so that they can stave of an even more serious economic situation. l

n Reuters, Caracas
A female student and a young supermarket worker were the latest fatalities from Venezuelas political unrest as the death toll from 10 days of violence rose on Saturday to at least eight. Both sides are mourning supporters killed in the worst turmoil since President Nicolas Maduro narrowly won an election in April 2013 to replace the late socialist leader Hugo Chavez. The government blames fascist groups seeking a coup like the one that briefly ousted Chavez 12 years ago, while the opposition is accusing troops and pro-Maduro militants of attacking peaceful demonstrators. Opposition officials and local media in central Carabobo state said a 23-yearold student, Geraldine Moreno, died in

hospital on Saturday after being shot in the face with rubber bullets as security forces broke up a protest there on February 19. They told us there was nothing more they could do, Morenos distraught mother, Rosa Orozco, told a local paper. Officials in the capital Caracas said a 29-year-old man, Santiago Enrique Pedroza, was killed late on Friday when he rode his motorcycle into a cable strung across a main road in the eastern, middle-class neighbourhood of Horizonte. Anti-government protesters have repeatedly blocked streets in the area with trash, which they sometimes set on fire. Police and National Guard troops have often used teargas to scatter demonstrators before clearing away the obstacles.

He was on his way home, he couldnt see the cable because of the darkness, and it slit his throat, Interior Minister Miguel Rodriguez Torres told state television. This was a young, hard-working man who had nothing to do with the insanity unleashed by these fascist right-wing murderers, Torres said. Five people have died from gunshot wounds, beginning on February 12 when two opposition supporters and a pro-government loyalist were shot after a peaceful opposition protest in central Caracas degenerated into running battles between riot police and hooded demonstrators. Two other people were shot dead at protests around the country in the following days, and a sixth was run over by a car during a melee. l

Italys new PM takes to Twitter on first day n AFP, Rome

Matteo Renzi took to Twitter on his governments first day on Sunday to respond to questions from followers in a sign of changing times under Italys youngest-ever prime minister. The 39-year-old Renzi, who was sworn in on Saturday and faces confidence votes in parliament this week, promised a surprise on the digital economy and said he would try to cut taxes. This is my strongest responsibility: an Italy of opportunity, not rent-seeking, he told one follower who asked him not to disappoint the young people of your age ... you have given hope to. Renzi is a web-savvy politician who has promised rapid reforms to get the economy moving after two years of recession that have raised unemployment to record highs. He has 850,000 followers on a Twitter account that on Sunday still referred to him as mayor of Florence and general secretary of the PD the ruling centre-left Democratic Party. Renzi said he was at home with close aide Graziano Delrio, another former mayor of Reggio Emilia in central Italywho holds the key post of secretary of state in the new cabinet. Renzi has maintained a very public presence on Twitter during his rise to power, often responding personally to queries. As journalists waited impatiently for him to formally accept the nomination from President Giorgio Napolitano on Friday, Renzi tweeted: Im coming, Im coming. l

Mexico captures no 1 drug kingpin

n Reuters, Mazatlan
Mexicos most wanted man, drug cartel kingpin Joaquin Shorty Guzman, was captured on Saturday with help from US agencies in a major victory for the government in a long, grisly war. Guzman, known as El Chapo (Shorty) in Spanish, has long run Mexicos infamous Sinaloa Cartel and over the past decade he emerged as one of the worlds most powerful organized crime bosses, even making it onto Forbes list of billionaires. He was caught in his native northwestern state of Sinaloa in an early morning operation without a shot being fired, Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam said. Guzmans cartel has smuggled billions of dollars worth of cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamines into the United States, and fought vicious turf wars with other Mexican gangs. He pioneered the use of sophisticated underground tunnels to smuggle drug shipments across the border and also became a major narcotics exporter to Europe and Asia in recent years. Nearly 80,000 people have been killed in the last seven years with much of the violence in western and northern regions. Many of the victims are tortured and beheaded and their bodies dumped in a public place or in mass graves. The violence has ravaged border cities and even beach resorts such as Acapulco. Guzman, 56, was captured in a predawn raid on a seaside condominium in the northwestern tourist resort and fishing and shrimp-processing center of Mazatlan, around 135 miles from Guzmans suspected base in Culiacan. l

Ukraine speaker given presidential powers, opposition leader freed

n Agencies
Ukraines parliament has voted to temporarily hand over the duties of president to the speaker of the assembly, Oleksander Turchinov, who told deputies to agree on the formation of a national unity government by Tuesday. This is a priority task, Turchinov said in parliament. He said discussions on the new government should begin immediately, one day after the chamber voted to oust President Viktor Yanukovich and two days after an agreement was reached with Yanukovich on the need to form a national unity government. The legitimacy of Sundays vote is unclear. Yanukovich has said that a flurry of parliament decisions in recent days are illega and that the parliament is now illegitimate. The Verhovna Rada voted overwhelmingly to temporarily hand the presidents powers to Turchinov, a close ally of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, the presidents main foe who was freed on February 22. Parliament also voted to oust the foreign minister and was told by the countrys acting prosecutor that and order had been given to detain the former incomes minister and the former prosecutor-general. The whereabouts of Yanukovich remained unclear on Sunday, a day after he left the capital and rival Tymoshenko was freed from prison and returned to Kiev to address a massive, adoring crowd. Ukrainian news agencies, citing the deputy head of the State Border Service, reported that a chartered airplane with Yanukovich onboard was denied permission to take off from Donetsk, a city in eastern Ukraine that is the presidents base of support. The centre of Kiev, meanwhile, was calm as the sun came up Sunday, the Associated Press news agency reported, after a day that saw a stunning reversal of fortune in Ukraines political crisis. The political crisis in the nation of 46 million, strategically important for Europe, Russia and the United States, has changed with blinding speed repeatedly in the past week. First there were signs that tensions were easing, followed by horrifying violence and then a deal signed under Western pressure that aimed to resolve the conflict but left the unity of the country in question. Former prime minister Tymoshenko was both sad and excited as she spoke to a crowd of about 50,000 on Kievs Independence Square, where a sprawling protest tent camp was set up in December. Addressing her supporters, she praised protesters who were killed this week in clashes with police that included sniper fire and entreating the living to keep the camp going. The Health Ministry on Saturday said the death toll in clashes between protesters and police that included sniper attacks had reached 82. The presidents authority in Kiev appeared to be eroding by the hour. He spoke on television in Kharkiv, the heartland of his base of support and ironically the same city where Tymoshenko was imprisoned. l

Newly freed Ukrainian opposition icon Yulia Tymoshenko speaks at Independence Square on February 22, moments after parliament voted to hold early presidential elections in May. You are heroes, you are the best of Ukraine, she told the 50,000-strong crowd AFP

DHAKA TRIBUNE

International
Rahul: BJP has no vision n Agencies
Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday, saying the BJP can create communal divide for the sake of power. Addressing a rally in Uttarakhand capital Dehradun, Gandhi also accused the BJP of stalling six anti-graft legislations in Parliament. He stressed the issue of corruption in BJP-ruled states and lambasted BJPs prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi for his bhashan (lectures) on development. I talk about development, and not about my achievements, Gandhi said, taking a dig at Modi, the Gujarat chief minister. Tribals, women, small businessmen, among others, have ushered in development in Gujarat, the Congress vice-president said, without naming his political rival. He also said the saffron party did not have the vision to rule the country. Reiterating the claims made in his recent speeches, Gandhi said the BJP had turned a blind eye to corruption in states such as Karnataka (under BS Yeddyurappas rule), Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Gujarat. Asserting that the Congress was committed to the fight against corruption, Gandhi said his party had paved way for Right to Information and lokpal. When was lokayaukta implemented in Gujarat? ... only after courts intervention. They (BJP leaders) have only one slogan: Congress ko mita dijiye (wipe out the Congress), Gandhi said, underlining that the opposition party has no vision. He also said the BJP was bothered about nothing but power. They can do anything for power. They can trigger tension between two communities.l

Monday, February 24, 2014

Modi widens lead, BJP may win half the seats in key state: Poll
n Reuters, New Delhi
Opposition leader Narendra Modi has widened his lead as candidate to becomeIndias prime minister and his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party is likely to emerge as the single largest party in coming elections, according to a new opinion poll. The BJP also picked up support in Uttar Pradesh and is set to get half the seats in the heartland state which sends the largest number of lawmakers to parliament, according to the ABP News-Nielsen poll forecast, published on Saturday. The results present a challenge to Rahul Gandhi, the fourth generation member of the long-ruling Nehru-Gandhi dynasty, who is leading the ruling Congress party-led coalition in national polls due by May. About 57% of respondents in the survey, conducted in February, picked Modi as their favourite candidate for prime minister, four points more than in the agencys January survey. Gandhi trailed with a rating of 18%, though he picked up three%age points from January. The poll predicted the BJP and its allies would win 236 of 543 seats at stake in parliaments lower house, while the Congress and its allies would drop to double-digits. More than 800 million people are eligible to vote in the worlds largest democratic exercise to choose a new government. India, Asias third largest economy, is growing at its slowest clip in a decade, choking off employment opportunities for thousands of young people who join the workforce each month. To rule, a party needs the support of 272 lawmakers. The BJP, even with the biggest number of seats, will have to seek out coalition partners if the polls predictions are correct. In Uttar Pradesh, which accounts for 80 seats, the BJP was estimated to win 40, up five from the January poll. The Congress party was expected to win seven seats, a drop of one from last months forecast. More than 29,000 people across the country were interviewed for the poll. Local opinion polls have had a mixed record in the past, given the countrys huge and diverse electorate. Gandhi has struggled to draw support for the Congress party, which is mired by corruption scandals and policy paralysis. He has seemed distant at times, unsure of how to stop the slide in the 129-year-old partys fortunes. Compared with the relatively untested Gandhi, Modi has years of experience as the chief minister of the western state of Gujarat, where he has built a reputation as an efficient, business-savvy administrator. But charges that Modi was complicit in riots in Gujarat that killed at least 1,000 people, most of them Muslims, have cast a shadow over his ambitions for the top job. Critics accuse him of not having done enough to stop the violence, allegations he has strenuously denied and have never been proven. l

Congress activists burning the effigy of Arvind Kejriwal

WIKI

Congress launches campaign against AAP

n Agencies
On a day when Arvind Kejriwal launched the Aam Admi Partys Lok Sabha campaign in Rohtak, the Delhi Congress began its pol khol campaign against his 49-days in government from assembly constituency in Delhi. Apparently inspired by Kejriwals success with theatrics, Congress leaders burnt his effigy and unleashed a poster campaign with comic portrayals of Kejriwal with captions such as My way or the Highway, He came, he saw, he ran way. Accusing Kejriwal of betraying the people of Delhi, senior Congress leader Haroon Yusuf defended his partys decision to vote against the introduction of the Delhi Jan Lokpal Bill. Using the pretence of Delhi Jan Lokpal bill, Kejriwal was out to tear down the Constitution, said Yusuf, addressing Congress workers who had gathered in in impressive numbers at Connaught Place, in Kejriwals assembly constituency, for the launch of the pol khol campaign. Delhi Pradhesh Congress chief Arvinder Singh Lovely, who launched the campaign, said Kejriwal, had misled and deceived Delhis residents. Taking potshots at BJPs prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Lovely said,The country is already troubled by one liar, now another has arrived. Characterising Kejriwal as a serial quitter, Lovely said, First, he left his government job, then he left Anna Hazare, now he has left Delhi. We are now worried, hell leave the country next. AICC general secretary Shakeel Ahmed, who was also present, said, Kejriwal had made Delhi a sacrificial lamb at the altar of his national ambitions. l

Afghan Taliban kill 20 soldiers, suspend prisoner swap Government-Taliban talks falter over Shariah law demand attempt US National Consortium for the Study ternal security policy, all those in atn Tribune Desk

n Reuters, Asadabad

The Afghan Taliban killed 20 soldiers in an assault on Sunday in a remote mountainous region, the Afghan government said, and six soldiers were missing after the militants most deadly assault on the security forces in months. Also on Sunday, in a possible blow to US efforts to foster peace talks to end the long Afghan conflict, a Taliban spokesman said the group had suspended its efforts to arrange a possible exchange of Taliban and US prisoners due to the complexity of the situation in Afghanistan. It was not immediately clear whether the attack in the eastern province of Kunar was related to the suspension of talks on a prisoner swap. In response to the killings in Kunar, a mountainous region bordering Pakistan that has long been a stronghold of Taliban, al Qaeda, and other militants, President Hamid Karzai put off a trip to Sri Lanka. The Afghan president is saddened by this tragic incident, and therefore he postponed todays official trip to Sri Lanka, Karzais office said in a statement. Karzais office said 20 soldiers were killed in the attack and six were missing. The government sent reinforcements to the area where the predawn attack took place, in Kunars Ghaziabad. l

Pakistan the most terror-hit nation Two dead in Bangkok blast as fears mount over political violence
As peace talks with the taliban appears to bear no fruit, Pakistan has labelled itself as the most terror hit nation in the world. Pakistan is the country most affected by terrorism in the world after Iraq, but if the severity of the incidents is considered, it even surpasses the Middle Eastern nation, according to a policy document on internal national security. According to reports published in the Pakistani newspaper Dawn, the draft of National Internal Security Policy (NISP) 2013-2018, currently being fine-tuned by Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan before presentation to the cabinet, describes the scenario as dangerous, posing an existential threat to the integrity and sovereignty of the state. From 2001 to 2013, there were 13,721 incidents in Pakistan which is marginally less than Iraq. From 2001 to 2005, there were 523 terrorist incidents in Pakistan but from 2007 to November 2013, the total number of incidents has risen to 13,198. Similarly, the number of suicide bombings between 2001 and 2007 stood at 15 only, but from 2007 to November last year, suicide attacks jumped to 358 the highest anywhere in the world. According to data released by the of Terrorism and Responses for Terrorism (Start), Pakistan led the chart with 1,404 terrorist attacks in 2012, surpassing Iraq (1,271). Even Afghanistan was behind Pakistan at number three with 1,023 incidents. More than one-third (33%) of those attacks occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, followed by Balochistan (23pc), Fata (19.6pc) and Sindh (18pc), Start noted. Ironically however, authoritative sources have revealed to Dawn that while KP has been the hardest hit, the interior ministry never asked it to join formal consultation while formulating the national internal security policy. We were asked to give our input, but were never invited to formal discussions, an official said. The national internal security policy document says from 2001 to November 2013, 48,994 people were killed in the country including 5,272 personnel of the law-enforcement agencies, a large number of them 17,642 having been killed in just three years from 2011 to 2013 including 2,114 personnel of the law-enforcement agencies. So far the interior minister has offered only snippets of the 86-page document which largely remains shrouded in secrecy. So much so that according to sources privy to deliberations on what is being billed as the countrys first intendance were asked to return its copy within 24 hours of receiving it.

Pakistan-Taliban peace talks falter over Shariah law demand

n AFP, Bangkok
An explosion in a busy Bangkok shopping district killed two people and injured 22 on Sunday, a day after a young girl died and dozens were hurt in an attack on a protest rally. The Sunday afternoon blast occurred during an anti-government rally in an area popular with tourists for its street stalls, hotels and proximity to one of the biggest shopping malls in Thailands capital. Police could not immediately confirm the cause. Blood was splattered on the pavement as soldiers and police sealed off the area, an AFP photographer saw. Thailand has seen months of anti-government rallies aimed at ousting Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatras embattled administration. The protests have been marred by sporadic gun and grenade attacks mainly in Bangkok by unknown attackers. On Saturday a five-year-old girl died and 30 were injured including another girl when gunmen sprayed bullets at a anti-government rally in the Khao Saming district of Trat province, 300 kilometres (185 miles) east of the capital. Thailand has been bitterly split since a military coup ousted Yinglucks

Meanwhile, reuters has reported that the Pakistani Taliban had told the government there was no chance of peace in the country unless Pakistan changed its political and legal system, and officially embraced Islamic law. The government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif wants to find a negotiated settlement to years of fighting with the militants but talks broke down this month after a string of attacks. In a rare face-to-face meeting with journalists on Friday in an undisclosed location in Waziristan, a lawless region on the Afghan border, main Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid said there was still hope negotiations might resume. Despite recent bombings in North Waziristan and killing of our 74 men by the security forces during the peace talks, we are still serious about the talks, he said, wearing an AK-47 bandolier across his chest. If talks are to be held it would be only under Sharia (Islamic law). We have made this clear to the government committee. We are fighting for the enforcement of Sharia and we are holding talks for the same purpose. l

brother Thaksin Shinawatra as prime minister in 2006. The current unrest is the worst since Thaksin-allied Red Shirt protests against a Democrat-led government in 2010 sparked clashes and a bloody military crackdown that left more than 90 people dead. In recent months 19 people have died and hundreds more have been injured, fuelling fears of a spiral of unrest. Red Shirt leaders met Sunday in Nakhon Ratchasima, the gateway to the Shinawatra-supporting northeast, to discuss ways to bolster Yinglucks crisis-hit administration. Prominent leader Nattawut Saikuar warned the group was now in a real fight but refused to elaborate on its plans. Thailand has been riven by deep political and social divisions since Thaksins ousting. Some analysts say the seemingly intractable crisis could lead to protracted violence or a form of wider civil conflict. The political divide broadly pits the Thaksin-allied rural north and northeast against anti-government protesters who represent the Bangkok-centred establishment as well as many southerners. l

Pakistan air strikes on militant hideouts kill at least 18

FELLING FATHERS

n AFP, Peshawar
Pakistani fighter jets on Sunday launched air strikes on militant hideouts in the northwest, killing at least 18 people, according to officials, in the latest retaliation for attacks by the militants that have derailed peace talks. The strikes made on militant hideouts in the Tirah valley of the Khyber tribal district were the third in the series of raids by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) since February 20. They follow the execution of 23 Pakistan soldiers by the Taliban last week, which cast doubts over dialogue initiated by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on January 29. Terrorists hideouts were targeted through air strikes in Tirah valley in Khyber early morning on Sunday. IED (Improvised Explosive Devices) making factories and huge quantity of explosive material were destroyed, said a senior security official in Islamabad. Another security official on the ground in Khyber told AFP that at least 18 militants were killed and two hideouts were destroyed. l

Protestors march for press freedom in Hong Kong

n AFP, Hong Kong
Protestors took to Hong Kong streets on Sunday to march for press freedom, in a demonstration organised by journalists as fears grow that free expression is being compromised. Organisers estimated 6,000 participated in the march though police said the figure was 1,600 many wore blue ribbons as a symbol advocating free expression in the media. There have been mounting concerns that China seeks to tighten control over the semi-autonomous region and rein in the press. Headlines have been edited, interviews were barred, and columnists were fired. Some see these as commercial decisions or even labour disputes. But we have to see this from the context of tightening control on media in Hong Kong, Shirley Yam, vice-chairwoman of the Hong Kong Journalists Association, told AFP at the rally. Protesters chanted slogans such as Free the people. Free Hong Kong. No censorship, as they marched through the streets before arriving at the district of Admiralty where the citys government headquarters are situated. This month, two international organisations expressed concerns over the status of press freedom in Hong Kong. The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said media freedom in Hong Kong was currently at a low point, citing self-censorship among reporters, financial and physical threats against the media and legislative steps that could hinder investigative reporting. Paris-based Reporters Without Borders said Hong Kongs media independence is now in jeopardy as China flexes its muscles to stifle critical coverage. Under a deal between London and Beijing leading to the citys handover in 1997, freedom of the press, among other rights, should be preserved for at least 50 years. l

This Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan photo on February 22 shows Tsai Ding-gui, chairman of the Alliance of Referendum for Taiwan, standing behind a bronze statue of Sun Yat-sen that was pulled down by dozens of activists at a park in Tainan, southern Taiwan. A radical Taiwanese independence group said on February 23, they had pulled down a statue of the founding father of the nationalist republic who fled from the Chinese mainland to the island more than six decades ago AFP

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www.dhakatribune.com

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Editorial
LETTER OF THE DAY

Monday, February 24, 2014

Letters to

the Editor

Sangsad Bhaban should be open to people

e are highly concerned that the Secretariat is proceeding with its plan to fence in the Sangsad Bhaban complex with 9-foot-high iron fences. These barriers are unsightly and have rightly been condemned by architects and civic groups. Security has been used as an excuse to justify the new fences, but this is ill-conceived as they will not add any protection to that which can be provided by well-trained security officials and surveillance equipment. Existing fences around the complex already detract from the aesthetic elegance of Louis Kahns world-renowned design. The new barriers only further compromise the publics ability to appreciate and view the National Assembly. They are a physical manifestation of a regrettable attitude among some parts of the bureaucracy and political leadership which sees Parliament and its members as being remote from the people. Not only is this undemocratic, but it is a form of vandalism to the architects master plan which conceived the entire South Plaza as being dedicated for contact between the people and parliament. Members of parliament should call on the speaker to not only rethink unwarranted architectural changes to the countrys most important building, but to symbolically return parliament to the people. Sangsad Bhaban should strive to be more open to the people it represents. Parliaments throughout the world maintain security whilst having readily available tours and viewing galleries for constituents and ordinary members of the public. There is no excuse for Bangladesh to be any different.

An unknown inter-state express!

February 20 Kamran Chowdhurys interesting and factual report and photograph from Rajbari, published in your back page on February 17, was quite possibly not known to many of your readers before, I am sure! Actually, very few, except devotees of the Peer of Midnapore (India), know about this annual special Indo-Bangladesh train! Or that it has been running since 1903, except during the Indo-Pak War in 1965 and the Bangladesh war of independence in 1971. Despite all the long-drawn bureaucratic hassles, and the ever familiar red tape of objections and solutions, this pilgrim train from Rajbari in Bangladesh to Midnapore in India has smoothly performed its yearly round-trip journey without any hitch or any objections being raised by either country. Possibly the only real sign of the mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries! SA Mansoor

Final embrace: Rana Plaza image wins a World Press Photo Award
February 16 Sheikh Jinat Mahmid No words can describe this photo! Swapan Biswas This photo is so very sad. It perfectly sets this mood.

The new fences will not add any protection to that, which can be provided by well-trained security officials and surveillance equipment

Intellectual attacks on Islam

February 16 Omar Shehab Isnt the use of the word attack by Muhammad Eusha sophomoric itself? People had and will always keep interpreting the sacred texts in the light of their intellectual endeavour. They have the civil right and intellectual incentives to do this. They also have the right to disagree with the whole world as long as they are not violating academic, intellectual and professional honor codes. The author must admit the right of others to disagree and disprove what s/he believes or agrees upon. As long as nobody is imposing anything on the author, the mere expression of ideas and interpretation cannot be termed as an attack. The process of intellectual exchanges has a very long history in human civilisation and nobody considers diversity in opinion and views as an attack on one another. Writing a different interpretation (the quality doesnt matter, everyone can improve over time) cannot be termed as attack. There is a phrase called difference in opinion for this. Muhammad Eusha Omar Shehab: Your reaction is not unique. Many others have already expressed the same opinion that everyone should be free to express their opinion. There is, however, a subtle mistake in your assertion. I will soon write a long piece on this subject. I request you to be patient until then. Thank you. Omar Shehab Muhammad Eusha: I would love to know about my subtle mistake. nds Having such a little and weak argument in stock, how can one dare to defend Islam which he or she thinks is under intellectual attack? For instance, the author argues the rational of distinguishing between men and women because they are not equal in terms of capacity, specialisation, mental, physical, and psychological tendencies. Can it be an argument to distinguish between men and women in respect of their human and social status? Dont such differences exist between individuals belonging in the same sex, like among men themselves? Is not a male farmer different in terms of mental and intellectual capacity from a male scientist? Does it not amount to supporting a caste system in Islam as Hinduism does? Why should the women have to be kept distinguished from men for purification? Does it mean that women are a sort of contaminating germ in society for which a safe distance be maintained between men and women? Does it not sound like the arguments put forward by the Hefazat leader? Such distorted interpretations of Islamic values can only come from a distorted mentality, not from any sensible person let alone from an Islamic scholar. If the society gets dominated by such narrow and shallow-minded scholars Islam will really be in danger. Muhammad Eusha nds: Wow! I am surprised at the immaturity of your statements! I am openly inviting you to have a conversation with me. Skype? Phone? Just let me know. I will respond to your questions, even though I am not a scholar. But to answer your questions, Eusha is enough. As Ali (R) once said: Your intelligence is measured by the questions you ask. Javeed Ahsan Excellent article, Eusha! Keep writing.

Cycling for recycling: Bangladeshi bikers take their cause to US

February 17 Loved this story! Awesome encouraging and motivating! Always recycle please! Mariam Ispahani

Be Heard
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Indigenous women need justice

olitical considerations are standing in the way of justice being delivered to indigenous women who have been victims of violence. It is regrettable that political decisions such as maintaining peace during upazila level elections are taking priority over the basic duties of the police to investigate violent crime. On February 15, the dead body of Sabita Chakma was recovered in Khagrachhari. Police were yet to make any arrests in connection with the murder of the 33-yearold indigenous woman, fearing an escalation of tension between Paharis and Bangalis. She had been raped and killed while gathering grass for her cattle. Shamefully, Khagrachhari police has admitted that arresting any suspect took a backseat to their duties, as the ongoing election was their priority. As such, they were sitting on the case, delaying justice. This is not the first time inaction has been seen in part of the police for violence against the indigenous police are yet to arrest the perpetrator or a rape and murder in the same area from 2011. This goes to highlight the appalling state of affairs concerning indigenous rights. Rather than chalking them off as cases of mere bureaucratic inefficiency, this exposes a system of oppression and denial of minority rights. The system needs to be changed soon, as violence against minorities cannot be allowed to go on unabated. Reform in the police force in the Hill Tracts must be made to take stern actions against the perpetrators of these crimes.

CALVIN AND HOBBES

Violence against minorities cannot be allowed to go on unabated. Reform in the police force in the Hill Tracts must be made to take stern action against perpetrators

PEANUTS

CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1 12 dozen (5) 4 Large deer (3) 6 Muslim leader (4) 8 Decree (5) 9 Dreadful (4) 11 Spoken (4) 12 Paces (5) 15 Slowly (mus) (5) 18 Hindu garment (4) 20 Dry (4) 21 Imposing (5) 22 Festive occasion (4) 23 Small drink (3) 24 Steps vertical face (5) DOWN 1 Conjecture (5) 2 Sheeplike (5) 3 Locations (5) 4 Eastern ruler (4) 5 Part of a yacht (4) 7 Sun-dried brick (5) 10 Deeply engrossed (4) 13 Lacerate (4) 14 Company of lions (5) 15 Light beer (5) 16 Approaches (5) 17 Command (5) 18 Preservative (4)

SUDOKU

YESTERDAYS SOLUTIONS
Crossword

19 Fissure (4)

How to solve Sudoku: Fill in the blank spaces with the numbers 1 9. Every row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain all nine digits with no numberrepeating.

Sudoku

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Op-Ed

Monday, February 24, 2014

11

Lethal malfeasance
W
n Dan Morrison
ho is responsible when the trunks of government officials cars are stuffed with bank notes while public hospitals are short on lifesaving supplies? In Malawi, a landlocked southern African state where more than half the population lives on a dollar a day, blame has fallen on the reformer: President Joyce Banda. Malawi is reeling from a $50 million corruption scandal that has seen Ms Bandas budget director shot in the face (he survived) and her justice minister charged with attempted murder (hes out on bail). Cashgate, as the affair is called, is dwarfed in size by the corruption of earlier administrations: Government investigators believe $500 million in donor money was lost to graft during the eight-year reign of Ms Bandas predecessor, but the scam stands out for its brazenness and its violence. It also stands out for the presidents willingness to jail her own officials for their alleged involvement: 68 people have been arrested since the looting was discovered in September, Ms Banda said in an interview with a group of foreign journalists, myself among them, at her official residence on December 13. The president is eager to convince Malawians that she is uniquely placed to battle her countrys ills. But more than a year and a half into her tenure it looks like the system she talks of reforming may be her downfall. Ms Banda became president in April 2012 after the incumbent, Binguwa Mutharika, died of a heart attack. In the eyes of Western governments, she was a dream successor: Focused on health and development, untainted by corruption. The daughter of a musician in the Malawi police band, Ms Banda started a private girls school and a charitable foundation before entering government as minister for gender and community services in 2004 and then serving as foreign minister. Mr Mutharika used to rage against imperialists and persecute gays, and Malawis GDP dropped by nearly 15% during his second term. But Ms Banda, who was elected vice president in 2009, talked of bringing down maternal mortality and improving education. She was embraced by President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton. Then came Cashgate. A coterie of officials, senior bureaucrats and businessmen allegedly stole from the public treasury using a computerised system that allowed them to erase all record of the theft. Unlike past corruption, which typically involved over-invoicing and kickbacks, this was direct theft from government accounts. Soon Malawis treasury felt a chill: Donor states started withholding aid, which makes up 40% of the countrys budget. Nothing seizes attention like a senior official with a bullet wound. But in Malawi, political graft is just one facet of a broken administration: Corruption is both a product and a driver of poor governance; the looser the system, the easier it is to steal from it. According to two individuals familiar with the backdrop to Cashgate, Malawis finance ministry had not attempted to balance the national cheque-book for more than two years before the scandal was uncovered. Penalties for corruption have traditionally been low, while the pressure on bureaucrats to profit illicitly has been intense. In a 2002 paper, the anthropologist Gerhard Anders described a stifling culture of corruption: Many civil servants I have talked to emphasised the choking atmosphere of distrust, social control and strength of the unofficial code of conduct in the governments offices.

In Malawi, corruption is both a product and a driver of poor governance

Still on the other side of an orthodox livelihood?

BIGSTOCK

Mavericks with the camera

n Towheed Feroze

n a time when the conventional image of the father meant a rather serious-looking, taciturn man heading out to work in the morning and coming back in the evening to solemnly lead the family gathering, to inquire about the academic status of the children and the result of the relentless (often fruitless) job-search of his younger brother or the live-in brother-in-law, finding a man going around with a camera to document life was a bit difficult to digest. The person in question was sometimes seen crouching behind bushes, smoking quietly, waiting with his camera for a natural shot. The world wondered, as the man contentedly pondered over the next click of the button. This could be any shot a street urchin playing with a coconut shell, a garbage collector leisurely picking up the waste or a wintertime seller of date juice, enjoying an interlude with a hand-rolled smoke. Manzoor Alam Beg (MA Beg) was a photographer during a time when any profession out of the ordinary was frowned upon. He was one of the first who dared to go to the other side of convention in search of something new, something which did not have security plus insipidity written all over it. They do say: Risks pay in the end. As the photo institute BEGART celebrates fifty years of training camera crusaders with Imtiaz Alam Beg, son of Manzoor Alam Beg, at the helm, the rather rocky evolution of photography in Bangladesh comes to mind. Photography is a recognised field today, though still resting on the other side of orthodox livelihoods. However, the field has given much to Bangla-

desh, including global recognition. Today, someone who wants to pursue adventure and adrenaline by keeping freedom of work at the centre of living can easily do so. But that was certainly not the case in the post-liberation period, when most were apprehensive of deviating from the tested path. The other day at BEGART, when a bunch of veteran photographers had converged, the struggles of the 70s were fondly remembered.

photographers like Akash, Andrew Biraj, Gorjan, and others win accolades abroad, aspiring photographers feel that there is also fame and earning to be made by choosing a different career path. Just to recall a real life experience, when I was working as a press officer for the British government in Bangladesh, Marie Claire, the renowned cosmopolitan magazine, sent a reporter to do an exclusive on forced marriage among British Bangladeshis, touching

Since the days when most people looked at photography and thought what a waste of time, society has transformed a lot

That was a time when photography meant working for a newspaper to take shots of everyday events. Very few wanted to reserve a special part of the day to go in pursuit of artistic images. However, those who dared formed the pioneers of the industry that is now diversified into categories such as human life, weddings, glamour, film, and the changing faces of society. In the decade after liberation, MA Beg and others won several international awards, though at that time the whole industry was so alien to society that these achievements never got the publicity they deserved. Today almost all of us know TIME magazines 20 most poignant images of 2013 contain a profoundly distressing, yet piercingly touching, photo from the Savar Rana Plaza tragedy. Similarly, when contemporary

also on the preventive measures taken by the British government. The photographer picked for the assignment was Akash a testament to where his talents have gained acknowledgement. While several photography fraternities have flourished in the country, BEGART always inevitably stands as the forerunner, now celebrating fifty eventful years. So, apart from photography, what else will it focus on? I asked Imtiaz Alam Beg. BEGART is not just about photography anymore, we have decided to turn the institute into a platform from where fine arts, be it film, literature or documentaries, will be highlighted, replied Imti, who has carved a name for himself within the world of photography as a worthy lamp-bearer for

an illustrious father. This is going to be a melting pot for novelty all off-beat ideas are welcome, eccentricities are not summarily dismissed as madness but probed into for signs of enterprise, adds Insaan, a self-taught photographer. Just being at BEGART, this writer could feel the heady aroma of aestheticism the music system played jazz, the walls featured images of Greta Garbo and Humphrey Bogart, one side had a large stack of vinyl records, Jim Morrison covered an entire wall, while dim lights elevated the hauntingly addictive ambiance. Amidst all this, young photographers argued about light and shadow, often rejoicing in the excitement of serendipitous findings. This was a different world of course earning a living from a career of passion took prime attention, but living was not wrapped by a set of primordial (read unrefined) rules; instead, finer senses of existence were delicately included. Since the days when most people looked at photography and thought what a waste of time, society has transformed a lot, though mainstream recognition is still somewhat distant. Wait a bit, perhaps, attaining the universal nod was never the mission after all if one can be a cultured renegade and also carry on with life, why choose to fall into a trap? Long, long ago, Manzoor Alam Beg, supported by a few talented individuals, decided to click society as a social outsider, and that mission goes on today with thousands of young people deciding to choose a different shutter speed for their life paths. l Towheed Feroze is a journalist working in the development sector.

Ms Banda alluded to this in a November interview with The Daily Telegraph: For every one I have arrested, she said of government crooks, I have lost a whole village of votes. In the public health sector, despite years of looting, Malawi only recently began work on a modern inventorycontrol system. In February the health minister admitted that Malawis central medical stores held only 5% of the drugs they were supposed to stock. Grace Chiudzu, chief of obstetrics at Kamuzu Central Hospital in the capital, recited a list of shortages to me during a visit last month. Im missing gloves; Im missing amoxicillin; Im missing augmentin; Im missing pethedine, she said. It is the system. The week before, she had watched a young woman die for want of a blood transfusion following complications from childbirth. For this, Dr Chiudzu blamed not corruption but an over-centralised state: The hospital is barred from buying supplies itself, yet the health ministry, which holds all the procurement power, is unable to meet needs. Ms Banda appeared to agree that poor governance was as lethal as corruption. Its not about Cashgate, she said during our December interview, referring to the underfunded health sector. Its about us, as a nation, getting our priorities right. A general election is scheduled for May. Ms Bandas prospects are undermined by high inflation, a currency devaluation that has halved the value of Malawians paychecks, and the stores of cash the biggest opposition party has at its disposal. And, of course, Cashgate occurred on Ms Bandas watch: Arrests and prosecutions notwithstanding, the scandal belongs to her. Ms Banda appears to be steeling herself for a noble defeat. All the ills of these 50 years that have drawn Malawians backward must be stopped, she told my colleagues and me. Whatever comes my way, I dont care. l Dan Morrison is a journalist and the author of The Black Nile. This article was originally published in the International New York Times.

A cause for concern?

U
n M Abdul Latif Mondal
nofficial results show that in the first phase of the polls held on February 19 in 97 upazila parishads (UPs), the BNP-backed candidates won 44 chairman posts against 34 by the AL-supported candidates. This means BNP-supported candidates got 45% of the chairman posts in the first phase of the UP polls. Jamaat-e-Islami, a key ally of the BNP-led alliance, won 12 chairman posts. So, 59% of the chairman posts in 97 UPs have gone to the followers of the ruling ALs arch rivals. The BNP-backed candidates also won more vice-chairman posts than those backed by the AL. They won 72 of 192 vice-chairman posts, including those reserved for women. The AL-backed favourites secured 63 vice-chairman posts while candidates supported by the Jamaat won 30 vice-chairman posts. This means that the supporters of the BNP-led alliance won 53% of the vice-chairman posts in the first phase of the UP polls. BNP, which boycotted the January 5 10th national election, decided to participate in the fourth UP polls, taking into consideration certain factors. Firstly, the upazila is one of the local bodies. The national and localbody elections are quite different in nature. Change in regime comes through the national election, which does not happen in local-body polls. Secondly, by joining the UP polls, BNP wanted to invigorate its frustrated grassroots-level leaders and activists, and re-establish its influence on local politics. Thirdly, successes in the five city corporation polls held last year, and the peoples low response to the January 5 election convinced the party high-ups that the BNP-backed candidates had a strong possibility to win the polls in most UPs, given there was no electionengineering. Finally, BNP took the UP election as a challenge. The party leaders believed that the voters would express their anger created over a farcical, lopsided general election through casting their ballots in favour of BNPsupported candidates. Their possible overwhelming success would mount pressure on the government to hold a fresh general election. BNPs decision to participate in the UP polls angered the ruling AL. The prime minister said that Khaleda Zia missed the national train and now catches the upazila train. While speaking at a function in the capital, the industries minister asked the BNP to explain why they were taking part in the UP polls under Sheikh Hasina, when they boycotted the 10th national election in protest of her heading the interim administration. He called the BNPs joining the UP polls a new conspiracy. Some other AL leaders termed the BNPs joining the UP election a political defeat for Khaleda. Questions may arise as to why the AL leaders were so worried about the BNPs participation in the ongoing UP polls. We dont have to look too far for the answers. The non-participation of BNP in the 10th general elections gave the AL-led alliance an easy victory. The AL alone got more than twothirds of the seats in parliament. The AL leaders hoped that BNPs boycott of the UP polls would lead to similar results. But things did not go according to their wishes this time. In the absence of an elected zila parishad (district council), the UP is now the most important tier in the rural local government system. The government may face a serious challenge in implementing its programs, both developmental and non-developmental, at the upazila level, if the majority of the posts of chairman and vice-chairman in the UPs go to candidates supported by the BNP and Jamaat. As the most important tier in the rural local government system, the upazila acts as the communication bridge between the central and grassroots leaders of the political parties. If the trend set up in the first phase of polls continues, and the AL-backed candidates fail to secure majority posts of chairman and vicechairman in the UPs, it may adversely affect the organisational work of the AL at the grassroots level. According to the Upazila Parishad Act passed during the period of the immediate past AL-led grand alliance government, the local MP is the advisor to the UP. In fact, he has the last say in all matters of the UP. If the majority posts of chairman go to BNP Jamaat-supported candidates, it will (a) worsen the relations between the MPs and the chairmen, and (b) take the movement for abolishing the advisory role of the MPs in the UPs to a new height, and the government may not have any alternative but to accept their demand. The victory of BNP Jamaatsupported candidates in the UP polls will mean unpopularity for the ruling AL at the grassroots level. Recent online polls conducted by some dailies on the basis of the results of the first phase of the polls seem to lend support in that direction. If so, this may prove costly for the ruling AL in the next general election.

The victory of BNP Jamaat-supported candidates in the UP polls will mean unpopularity for the ruling AL at the grassroots level

All this makes it clear as to why the AL was worried regarding the decision of BNP to participate in the fourth UP polls. Although the results of the UP polls have so far not gone the way AL would have expected, the party has something to be cheerful about. The AL thinks that, irrespective of the poll results, BNPs participation in this election is a major victory for the government. It will be a real achievement if the atmosphere created in this UP poll can lead to an 11th general election at an earlier date. l M Abdul Latif Mondal is a former government secretary.

12

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Entertainment
n Entertainment Desk
The Seventh International Film Festival organised by Childrens Film Society will begin on March 1, informed the organisers at a press conference on Saturday at the seminar room of the Public Library. It was declared that the weeklong festival will feature about 150 films made by child directors from 35 countries. The festival will be held simultaneously in the seven divisional cities of the country. Shawkat Osman Auditorium Public Library, Alliance Francaise De Dhaka, Russian Cultural Centre and Daffodil University will be the venues

Monday, February 24, 2014

Nirab to romance Richi on silver screen

n Afrose Jahan Chaity
Popular TV actor Richi Solaiman and Dhallywood star Nirab Hossain are going to debut as a pair on the big screen for the first time. Nirob Prem, an upcoming movie of director Shahnewaz Kakoli will feature the duo together and give the audience a fresh new chemistry to enjoy on the silver screen. Richi will play the lead female role in the film opposite to Nirab, who has won the hearts of many through his convincing acting skills. About the role, Richi said: Like every other actor, it was my long cherished dream to appear on big screen. Finally, I have managed to organise my schedule accordingly. I am very happy to sign up for the film as it has a wonderful script that really brings out the depth of its main characters. I hope that the audience will like the on-screen chemistry. The talented actor also said: The character is very simple but different. I simply loved playing the role. About his role, Nirab Hossain told the Dhaka Tribune: I am happy for the opportunity to work with someone as talented and humble as Richi. I really like the storyline and hope that the audience will accept and enjoy the movie. It is a mis-matched love story. It portrays a relationship between a couple where the woman is older than the man. This is not a usual development in our society, it further stretches into including the fact that the woman is from a village, whereas the man is from the city. Director Shahnewaz Kakoli said: Work on Nirob Prem is yet to start as I am on the brink of completing my film titled Nodijon. After this, I will first complete the unfinished script of Nirob Prem and set a date for the shooting to commence. l

Intl Children Film Festival to begin on March 1

of the festival in Dhaka City. There will be five sectionsCotemporary World Cinema for Children, World Classics, Competitive Section featuring local films, Flashback presenting selected films from previous festival and Bangladesh Panoroma. The festival will also present a daylong seminar on March 6 at the Public Library. The press conference was attended by Festival Director and noted filmmaker Morshedul Islam, Festival Advisor Dr Yasmeen Haque and President and General Secretary of the Childrens Film Society respectively Dr Muhammed Zafar Iqbal and Munira Morshed Munni. l

Bohe Kaal Nirobodhi exhibit at Zainul Gallery

n Hasan Mansoor Chatak
A group art exhibition titled Bohe Kaal Nirobodhi is being showcased from February 22 to February 28 at the Zainul Gallery of Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Dhaka. The exhibition is an initiative by Mohsin Hall Art Group. It is an art community formed by present and former students of Haji Muhammad Mohsin Hall. The exhibiton was inaugurated by AAMS Arefin Siddique, vice chancellor of the University of Dhaka. Professor Syed Abul Barq Alvi, Dean of the Fine Arts Institute was also present at the inauguration session. This is the second art exhibition by the Mohsin Hall Arts Group. It is a combined effort by fine arts and non-fine arts students, which depicts the diversity between art apprentices and common artists. The exhibit is a real stunner and for art enthusiasts, it is a real treat as it encompasses a display of mixed medium of art including paintings, sculptures, graphic designs and photographs. It is an attractive ensemble of thirty three different contemporary artworks. The diversity and vividness of the pieces are enough to keep the art critics rave about this unique exhibition for quite some time. The artworks have originality and the various mediums illustrated the diverse facet of Bengal and her people. Experimental works are also displayed in the exhibition to test their acceptance.
l

Sunidhi lends voice to Tarkata n Entertainment Desk

One of the divas of Bollywoods playback scenario, Sunidhi Chauhan has lent her voice to Dhallywoods upcoming movie Tarkata. Directed by M M Kamal Raz, the movie features Arefin Shuvo, Moushumi and Bidya Sinha Saha Meem in the lead roles. Sunidhis song in the movie is titled Bondhon, with lyrics by Kabir Bakul and music direction by Arfin Rumey. On his recent trip to Mumbai, director M M Kamal Raz completed the recording of the song. About Sunidhis playback in the film, Kamal Raz said: Sunidhi Chauhan is an amazing singer and equally beautiful. I always wanted her to sing for my film. Finally, my wish is fulfilled and she is also very happy to sing for Tarkata. The music direction and composition of the song caught her interest, she said that she really liked its musical arrangement. Another talent to add in Sunidhis list of accomplishments is that, she has recorded songs in many languages including Oriya, Punjabi, Marathi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Assamese and Nepali, which made her a leading singer in India and across the world. l

TODAY IN DHAKA
Film
Jibon Dhuli By Tanvir Mokammel Time: 3pm 11pm, Shawkat Osman Auditorium Public Library 47 Ronin (3D), Aakash Koto Dure, Thor: The Dark World 3D, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug in 3D, Frozen in 3D, Shunte Ki Pao, Agnee Time: 10am - 10pm Star Cineplex, Bashundhara City

Exhibition

Duet Art Exhibition By Hashem Khan and Mohammad Iqbal Time: 12pm 8pm, Gallery Twenty One, 751 Satmasjid Road

Afghan Whigs unleash new music n Entertainment Desk

Acclaimed American rock band Afghan Whigs have released the first single off of their recently announced post-reunion album Do to the Beast, titled Algiers. This is the Ohio bands seventh studio effort, its first in 16 years and is set to be released by Sub Pop on April 14. After nearly 15 years together Afghan Whigs called it quits back in 2001, with frontman Greg Dulli indulging in a myriad of side-projects in between. The most notable of his collaborative effort is with ex-Screaming Trees singer Mark Lanegan The Gutter Twins. The band reunited in 2012 for a row of shows while rumours of new material and an album circulated the internet. The video for Algiers premiered on label Sub Pops YouTube channel on February 18, showing a behatted Dulli in the role of a mystery rogue roaming an old west setting in a stretch limo, strangely appropriate for the songs slow burning guitar with a hint of spaghetti western trappings in the vein of Ennio Morricone. l

Jennifer Lopez heading for TV

n Entertainment Desk
Jennifer Lopez has just signed on to star and executive produce Shades of Blue, a new television drama set to air in 2015 on NBC. This will mark her first television acting role in over 20 years. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Lopez will portray a single mother and cop hired by the FBI to work undercover in its anti-corruption task force. Lopezs reputation for having a green thumb has made this television venture, which will also be executive produced by Ryan Seacrest, a straight to series order that will begin filming in 2015. This will also be Ryan Seacrests first venture into scripted television. Lopez is beginning to build a reputation as the Spanish Ryan Seacrest. She is a singer, dancer, actor, producer, designer, and judge for American Idol. The 44-year-old Latina began her career as a dancer on the Wayans brothers sketch comedy show In Living Color. She catapulted to fame when she received the role of Selena Quintanilla, the famous Tejano artist who was murdered in 1995 at the age of 23 in Texas by the president of her fan club. Her casting created controversy when Selena fans up roared and demanded a recast due to the casting of a Nuyorican to portray a Tejano singer. Through the criticism Hollywood stayed by her side and they proved they made the correct decision when the film premiered. Lopez was praised for her portrayal, her movements, accent, and mannerisms were perfected to the point where film critic Roger Ebert called it a star making performance. Her success was proven once again in 2001 by being the first artist in history to simultaneously have a number one film, The Wedding Planner, and a number one album, J.Lo. l

Watch out for drama series Bhalobashar Chatushkon on NTV tonight at 9.45pm. Directed by Shihab Shahin, the drama features Apurbo, Momo, Shahriar Shubho, Tania, Moutushi, Shaju Khadem and many more in the lead roles. One of the many perks of the drama series is that, Apurbo and Momo has lent voice in the title song written by Anwar Hossain Ador, with music direction by Sajid Sarker. The popular on-screen duo has entertained the audience of small screen successfully with their superb chemistry in many tele-films and dramas

Heroes return to television as Heroes Reborn

n Entertainment Desk
Popular super hero themed TV series Heroes will return under the title Heroes Reborn. NBC has announced that its looking to jump on the superhero TV show bandwagon by reviving Heroes for a 13-episode event series which is described as a stand-alone story from original creator Tim Kring and will air on the network in 2015. Jennifer Salke, NBCs entertainment president said: Shows with that kind of resonance dont come around often and we thought it was time for another installment. Were thrilled that visionary creator Tim Kring was as excited about jumping back into this show as we were and we look forward to all the new textures and layers Tim plans to add to his original concept. Heroes was a huge success when it premiered back in 2006, averaging close to 15 million viewers for its first season. However, the show struggled to maintain the same level of quality with its subsequent seasons, coming under criticism from critics and fans alike, and was cancelled in 2010. The new miniseries will face plenty of competition in the superhero stakes, with Marvels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC, Arrow (and potentially The Flash and Hourman) on The CW, a Gotham pilot in the works at Fox, and NBC also developing a series based on Constantine. l

ON TV
MOVIES
6:10pm Zee Studio
Melancholia

DRAMA
3:00pm HBO
Argo

MISC
12:30pm AXN 10:30pm TLC
Taste off So You Think You Can Dance?

7:00pm Fox Movies Premium

The Place Beyond the Pines

5:30pm Star Plus

Veera

Did you know?

Daniel Sturridge is only the second player in PL history (after R van Nistelrooy, twice) to score in 8+ games in a row

Sport
Lanka to be honest but hope we will be able to move on from the past games and make a new start, said Mushfiq. The absence of two senior players Tamim Iqbal (neck injury) and allrounder Shakib al Hasan (serving suspension and will miss first two matches) will affect the teams strategy, said Mushfiq before adding, however, it also meant they have little to lose and thus the pressure will be less on them. The 25-year-old also added that along with head coach Shane Jurgensen and other senior members of the team have requested the Bangladesh Cricket Board president Nazmul Hasan to reduce Shakibs suspension. Shakib after found guilty by the BCB for breaching the Code of Conduct was suspended for three ODIs and fined Tk300000. Shakib have already endured a game by not playing the last ODI against Sri Lanka. We spoke to Papon bhai (Nazmul Hasan) and have informed him that we respect the boards decision and that one should be punished for such ill behavior in the dressing room. But we requested him to reduce the punishment for the sake of the Bangladesh team and reconsider the decision if there is any scope. The first two games in the Asia Cup are important for us and it will be good for the team to have his (Shakib) service, informed Mushfiq. l

Monday, February 24, 2014

DHAKA TRIBUNE

13

0 2 0
DAYS TO GO

14 Liverpool in

the Premier League hunt

15 Fiery Steyn

leads Proteas to crushing win

Tigers skipper urges unity

Bangladesh spent a horrible last month losing in all formats in their home series against Sri Lanka and as expected it piled a huge pressure on the Tigers with the Asia Cup beginning from tomorrow. Hosts skipper Mushfiqur Rahim admitted the fact and said they look forward to bounce back in the Asia Cup, where they finished runner-up last time, from their misery. We will have to right the mistakes from the Sri Lanka series. The first thing we will have to do is play as a team and to perform for the team. We look forward to perform the way we did in last two years where we never played to win rather we played to be consistent and that got us the victories, said Mushfiq to the media during a press conference held at the team hotel yesterday. The wicketkeeper-batsman further added that if they keep performing in the same way they might even lose to Afghanistan, who plays very less international cricket. They [Afghanistan] are a big challenge for us. Though they dont play as much international was we do but are a very good side. There are few good players in the team who played in the Dhaka Premier League last season and we know of their abilities. It will be tough for us to win against them if we play the way we did in the three ODIs against Sri

Dejected Mushfiq warned for outburst

Mushfiqur Rahim was surprised at the selectors announcing the squad without informing him and said that the selectors should have consulted him before making the move at the official press conference yesterday. Mushfiq burst out when the question was asked whether he was happy with the squad or not. Its tough to say if I am happy or not as we have to play whatever squad we have been given but yes the selectors should have informed me before announcing the squad. At least they should have consulted with me and from that point of view, I was shocked, he said. The dejected 25year old went on, I had no idea who was out of the squad and who is in, I think as a captain I should know whats the team and at least get that respect from them but I dont know why they did that. But I would like to wish all the best for the cricketers who got into the squad and we have to give our hunMUMIT M

Afghanistan denied practice matches in India

Despite the Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) had the major backing of the BCCI for the participation in the Asia Cup this year, the team was denied the permission to play a few practice matches in India ahead of the tournament, it is learnt here. This was confirmed by Dr. Noor Mohammad Murad, the CEO of Afghanistan Cricket. Speaking exclusively over his mobile from Kabul, he said, We made number of requests to the Indian cricket board to allow our boys to play few matches in India, preferably in Mumbai before the Asia Cup. However, our repeated requests yielded no results and we had to look at some other venues in Sri Lanka. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had initially threatened to boycott the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) whose president is Indias N. Srinivasan, included the Afghanistan teams first ever participation. Our team played few matches in Hambantota before flying out to Dubai from where the team was scheduled to leave for Bangladesh, the CEO added. We seek BCCI support for our teams future. We have also requested the Indian cricket board to suggest a few names for coaching positions. At present, we have hired the services of Umesh Patwal as batting coach for the Asia Cup. Umesh Patwal is one of the Directors of Indias Global Cricket School. l

dred percent with them. However, Mushfiq added that this was the first time he has not been informed by the selectors and he was expecting that the selectors will inform him before the Asia Cup squad, It has never happened, this was the first time and I was expecting a call from him (Faruk Ahmed, the chief selector) before announcing the Asia Cup squad at least not for my opinion but just for my information. The wicket-keeper/captain went on to back his players, saying that every team goes through difficult times and it was important for senior management to back the players at such times. Mushfiq went on to say that the whole thing might have been the result of a gap in communication and suggested that if everyone sat down and discussed such matters more often, these problems could be avoided. Referring to Faruk, he said, We dont have a good comfort level earlier, thats not true as he returned after some time as a chief selector there might be some difference in our mentalities and at the same time, there might be some miscommunications between us. I think we need to talk more to solve these things as I said I was not informed even before announcing the best eleven earlier, which is shocking. Later on, it was learnt that Mushfiq had been warned for making inappropriate comments publicly, by the BCB. l

Kohli eyes title

Virat Kohli, who will be leading India for the first time in a major tournament, rated Bangladesh as a dangerous opponent and said they will be taking them seriously when they meet in the Asia Cup. The 25-year-old, who has often been called as Indias future captain, was named India captain after regular skipper MS Dhoni was ruled out of the tournament with a thumb injury. They (Bangladesh) have always been a very dangerous side in the ODIs, they can upset any opposition on a given day, said Kohli at the arrival press conference at their hotel yesterday. They have got quite a lot of streetsmart cricketers. They know their conditions, know where to bowl, the spinners especially, and will be difficult to get away. We have that in mind, but its more about focusing on your plans. They do have players where they can take the game away from you from situations when you feel that they cannot do it. They have surprised us quite a few times in the past, and we will surely be taking every game the equal way, he said. Kohli praised Dhonis leadership for Indias consistent performance in the one-day format and said, Him (Dhoni) not being there is a big change for us. But I am sure these guys will be eagerly

Salahuddin set to remain Saff president

Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) President Kazi Salahuddin is set to retain his post as South Asian Football Federation (Saff ) president for the next four years after no one from the other seven Saarc nations submitted nomination form by the deadline. The decision will likely be announced at the annual Congress of Saff, which is scheduled to be held in Dhaka on March 5. The deadline day to submit the nomination forms was on February 18 and it was learnt that no contender stood up to challenge Salahuddin for the presidency. Salahuddin, the Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) president, was elected Saff president as an unopposed candidate in 2009 and his four-year tenure came to an end last September. Meanwhile, four contenders from Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Pakistan submitted their forms for the vice presidents post, where only three would be elected. Salahuddin took charge of Saff on October 3, 2009. During his tenure, he has arranged Womens Saff and U-16 Saff Championship for the first time. l

Misbah expects tough challenge in Asia Cup

Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul-Haq believes Asia Cup will not be an easy tournament as all teams are favourite to clinch the title. The defending champions arrived on Saturday evening and they will feature in the opening game against Sri Lanka at Fatullah tomorrow. I think all the teams have the ability to become the champion of the tournament. And with the World Twenty20 in less than a months time, it is important for all the sides to perform well, said Misbah to the media during the arrival press conference held at the team hotel yesterday. The combination of veterans and newcomers have led Pakistan to success lately and Misbah hopes they keep their basics right in order to retain their title. Misbah led Pakistan to Asia Cup victory in the previous edition in 2012 in Bangladesh. The [Pakistan] team is in good shape. Cricket is a confidence game and we have been playing well in the last three-four months. We have to do our basics right to have a good chance, said Misbah. Bangladesh gave Pakistan, who won by two runs, a run for their money the last time they met in the final of the tournament in 2012 and despite the

St Gregorys and Sunnydale win school handball

St. Gregorys High School retained the title of the boys Mini Handball title while Sunnydale emerged as the champions in the girls section after winning their respective finals yesterday. At the M Mansur Ali National Handball Stadium yesterday, Gregorys defeated Dhaka Residential Model School 23-15 to clinch the title. The champions led the first half 10-7. Diganta of Gregorys was adjudged the player of the tournament. BAF Shaheen School outplayed Sunnydale by 20-13 in the third-place deciding match. Meanwhile in the girls final, Sunnydale beat Scholastica by 4-2 to lift the Mini Handball title for a record third time. Scholastica have been the runners-up in the last four editions of the tournament. In the third place decider match, Green Herald earned a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Viqarunnisa Noon School. Nurul Fazal Bulbul, the president of Bangladesh Handball Federation distributed the prizes as the chief guest. Federation general secretary Asaduzzaman Kohinoor, tournament committee chairman Farhana Haque, secretary Lazul Karim Kasturi and coordinator Selim Mia Babu were also present. l

waiting to grab their opportunities. India, despite winning two out of three matches last time, could not make it to the final having lost to Bangladesh. They arrived this time on the back of a poor away series in New Zealand but Kohli thinks they were unfortunate last time and also said, Like how you have a bad series after a few good series you can change it around in this case as well. You need one good performance from the boys and the momentum is suddenly with you. Having asked the importance of their match against archrivals Pakistan, Kohli, who smashed a brilliant century last time against the opponents, said, We take every game the same way and the aim is to win the tournament eventually and not just one odd game and make sure the people are happy. Thats not the case. We will like to go all the way and win the tournament. l

hosts performing below par in their recent home series against Sri Lanka, Misbah said, Bangladesh is a tough opponent at home. They defeated India and Sri Lanka and after a very close competition lost in the final game against us. I believe we will have to play our best cricket to defeat them. The 50-over World Cup next year the 39-year-old thought this is their opportunity to groom the upcoming players for the big event. I think it is good for the team that there is a chance to improve as a group. Somewhere there is a knockout stage in these tournaments, so the competition level is there. You prepare yourself as a team so I think this is good preparation before the 2015 World Cup. These tournaments have their own importance, said the Pakistan captain. l

Ousseni Zongo to play for MSC

Ousseni Zongo, the former Burkina Faso international midfielder but currently a Portuguese passport holder, will sign for Dhaka Mohammedan Sporting Club Ltd in the mid-season transfer window. The attacking midfielder who played for Malta Premier League side Naxaar Lions arrived at the capital on Saturday. The 29-year-old hoped to serve the traditional Black and White outfit with distinction. I dont have much idea about this part of the world but I have heard that Mohammedan is a traditional crowd puller, said Zongo who carries the experience of playing for Anderlecht in Belgium. He also played in Austria and Portugal. I came here upon the communication with the Portuguese coach Rui Jose Capela Batista said Zongo. l

BBS Cables boost Muktis

Muktijoddha Sangsad Krira Chakra welcomed BBS Cables as their sponsors, the first of its kind in the history of the club since its inception, at the BFF House yesterday. The former premier division champions declared BBS Cables, who previously were connected with Dhaka Gladiators and Khulna Royal Bengals in the Bangladesh Premier League cricket, as their sponsors and the company announced that they had entered the football arena with long term ambitions. The declaration added a new dimension to the local football arena as very few clubs introduce their sponsors officially and most of them are yet to have any. BBS Cables, who claimed to be the have the most ultra-tech producer of electric cables in the country, hoped Muktijoddha would continue their good run in the Bangladesh Premier League. Lt. Col. (rtd) Nazrul Islam, Bir Pratik, the chairman of the Muktijoddha team said the team is boosted with the arrival of BBS Cables. They are credible sponsors and their logo will inspire us to show the best, he said. Eng. Abu Noman Hawladar, the MD of BBS Cables, said they looked forward to a superb Muktijoddha showing in the BPL. The name Muktijoddha attracted us, I hope the spirit will also be reflected in the field as Muktojoddha move forward, we will remain tagged with the club, said Noman. Muktijoddha coach Shafikul Islam Manik, manager Abdus Sattar, former national captain and goalkeeper Aminul Haque, captain Maruf Ahmed, Nigerian defender Eleta Benjamin and BFF general secretary Abu Naeem Shohag were also present on the occasion. l

Pakistan players enjoy a snack break during their practice session at the Sahara-BCB National Academy ground yesterday

MUMIT M

14
Hundreds of arrests in Brazil
Brazilian police fired tear gas and arrested hundreds on Saturday as they dispersed a crowd in Sao Paulo that violently protested expenditures for the World Cup tournament. About 1,000 protesters took to the streets in what was initially a peaceful expression of anger over the $11 billion (eight billion euros) Brazil is spending to host the Cup, the worlds premier football event. Protesters then went on a rampage, smashing bank windows and setting up roadblocks with garbage set on fire. AFP

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Monday, February 24, 2014

Nadal survives to reach Rio final

World number one Rafael Nadal survived two match points in a three-set victory over fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar on Saturday to reach the final of the Rio Open tennis tournament. Nadal reached his third final in three ATP tournaments this year with a 2 6, 6 3, 7 6 (12/10) triumph, but the determined Andujar, seeded eighth, made him work until the bitter end. After a late exchange of breaks in the third set sent the match to a tiebreaker, it was Nadal who had the first chance to put the match away, at 6 5 in the decider. AFP

Ali gloves fetch $860,500 at auction

The gloves Muhammad Ali wore when he beat Sonny Liston to win his first heavyweight world title fetched $836,500 at Auction on Saturday, almost 50 years to the day after the fight. The gloves were part of Heritage Auctions Sports Platinum Night Auction, and the price was posted on their website. The buyer was not identified. The gloves were used by the young fighter from Louisville, Kentucky, then named Cassius Clay, to launch a legendary boxing career that made him a global sport icon. AFP

Gerrard could play at Euro 2016

n AFP, London
England manager Roy Hodgson has not given up hope of persuading captain Steven Gerrard to lead the team in their quest to qualify for the 2016 European Championship. Gerrard, 33, will captain England at this years World Cup in Brazil, which begins in June, and has declared that he will consider his international future after the tournament. The Liverpool midfielder will be 36 by the time Euro 2016 starts in France, but Hodgson has not ruled out the possibility that he will still be turning out in the colours of his country. I dont know that he necessarily couldnt, absolutely, Hodgson said. Hes 34 in May, so hell be getting on for 36 (when the tournament starts). I think a lot will depend on him and how he feels. It will depend upon how hes playing. At the moment theres been no slowing down in his play, but who knows what the future will bring? I dont have a strong feeling about that, one way or another. Time will tell, basically. Gerrard has impressed in a holding role for Liverpool in recent weeks, with Jordan Henderson and Philippe Coutinho playing slightly in advance of him as part of a three-man midfield. He has adopted a similar role on occasion for England, but Hodgson does not believe that playing in an apparently less labour-intensive position will necessarily increase his longevity as a player. l

Liverpool in the hunt

n
AFP, London
Liverpool tightened their grip on fourth place in the Premier League after Daniel Sturridge and Jordan Henderson each scored twice in a jittery 4-3 win over Swansea City on Sunday. Swansea hit back to level from 2-0 and 3-2 down at Anfield, before Henderson finally killed off their resistance in the 74th minute to take Liverpool back to within four points of leaders Chelsea. It was a 10th consecutive home league win for Liverpool and gave Brendan Rodgerss side a provisional six-point lead over fifth-place Tottenham Hotspur, who visit Norwich City later on Sunday. Liverpool needed less than three minutes to take the lead, with Sturridge collecting Raheem Sterlings pass and rounding Swansea goalkeeper Michel Vorm to score after Angel Rangel had lost possession in midfield. Sturridge has now scored in eight consecutive Premier League games and he set up his sides second goal in the 20th minute with a lay-off that was curled home by Henderson. Two goals in four minutes brought Swansea level, however, with former Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey smashing home via the crossbar before Wilfried Bony headed home via a deflection off Martin Skrtel. Sturridge restored Liverpools lead in the 36th minute, converting a cross from Luis Suarez with his head, but Bony equalised from the penalty spot early in the second half after he had been pulled back by Skrtel. In the days other game, Loic Remy marked his return to the Newcastle United team after suspension by smashing home an injury-time winner in a 1-0 victory over Aston Villa. The French striker collected a deflected effort by Luuk de Jong and beat Villa goalkeeper Brad Guzan in the 92nd minute to give Newcastle a first home win in five league games after a run of four straight defeats. On Saturday, Wayne Rooney guided Manchester United into the Premier Leagues top six for the first time since November with a goal in a 2-0 win at Crystal Palace on Saturday. l

'No friendship with Drogba for 90 minutes'

n Reuters, London
Chelsea will find it strange to be up against their Champions League-winning hero Didier Drogba in Wednesdays clash with Galatasaray, said manager Jose Mourinho. While the London clubs players and backroom staff will maintain their friendship with the Ivorian before and after the match, they will be fierce rivals during the 90 minutes of the last16 first leg tie in Istanbul. Its a strange feeling but we know him well and if you know him well you know that for him there are no friends during the game, Mourinho told reporters after a late John Terry goal secured a 1-0 win for the Premier League leaders over Everton on Saturday. For us just before the game we will be big friends and have big respect for a real legend of the club. During the game we will have a job to do. He has his nature and that nature is to want to win. Drogba is Chelseas record European scorer with 34 goals in 69 games. He bagged nine goals in nine domestic and European finals and his sizeable contribution to the clubs recent history is apparent from the number of posters of him still dotted around Stamford Bridge. Drogba moved to Chelsea in 2004, Mourinhos first season, and stayed after the Portuguese left in 2007, his goals against Bayer Leverkusen, Valencia, Napoli and in the semi-final against Barcelona helping them into the 2012 CL final. l

RESULTS

Liverpool

Sturridge 3, 36, Henderson 20, 74

4 3 1 0 0 2

Swansea City

Shelvey 23, Bony 27, 47 P

Newcastle
Remy 90+2

Aston Villa Man United

Liverpool's English striker Daniel Sturridge (C) beats Swansea City's Dutch goalkeeper Michel Vorm (L) to score the opening goal during their English Premier League football match at Anfield in Liverpool, northwest England yesterday AFP

Crystal Palace

Van Persie 62-p, Rooney 68

QUALIFYING DRAW
GROUP A
Netherlands, Czech Republic, Turkey, Latvia, Iceland, Kazakhstan

Euro 2016 draw produces Ibra restores PSG lead ultimate David, Goliath clash n
Reuters

RESULTS
Toulouse
Wissam 44, 72

2 4

GROUP B
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Belgium, Israel, Wales, Cyprus, Andorra

n AFP, Nice
International football newboys Gibraltar were handed a dream draw in the Euro 2016 qualifiers on Sunday, as the continents leading sides avoided any stern tests. Tiny Gibraltar, who played their first official friendly after being accepted as a UEFA member in November last year, were drawn in Group D in their first major competition. There they will take on the might of Germany, who will be bidding to qualify for a 12th consecutive European Championship finals. The British Overseas Territory were also drawn with Scotland, as well as the Republic of Ireland and Poland in what looks set to be an unforgiving section, but elsewhere Europes leading powers were largely spared. Englands toughest game in Group E should come against Switzerland, while two-time defending European champions Spain will get their toughest matches against Ukraine and Slovakia in Group C. However, the draw in Nice was a little less kind on the Netherlands, who must come up against the Czech Republic and Turkey in Group A, and Italy, who will tackle Croatia in Group H. Euro 2016, which will be held in France, will see 24 nations advance to

GROUP C
Spain, Ukraine, Slovakia, Belarus, Macedonia, Luxembourg

GROUP D
Germany, Ireland, Poland, Scotland, Georgia, Gibraltar

GROUP E
England, Switzerland, Slovenia, Estonia, Lithuania, San Marino

GROUP F
Greece, Hungary, Romania, Finland, Northern Ireland, Faroe Islands

GROUP G
Russia, Sweden, Austria, Montenegro, Moldova, Liechtenstein

GROUP H
Italy, Croatia, Norway, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Malta

GROUP I
complete the group but their results will not count) The top two teams in each group will qualify for the finals in France along with the best third-placed side, The remaining eight third-placed teams will play off in November 2015 for the final four berths. (Euro 2016 Championship will be held in France from June 10 July 10, 2016)

Portugal, Denmark, Serbia, Armenia, Albania (Hosts France, already qualified, will

the finals for the first time in the history of the European Championship. Only eight nations participated in the finals when France last hosted the competition in 1984, before the number of finalists was increased to 16 in 1996. The decision to increase the number of finalists has been criticised by many who believe the quality of football on offer come the tournament itself will be diluted as a result. However, the format means it seems almost certain that all Europes leading nations will be there along with the French, who qualify automatically as hosts. The top two teams in each of the nine groups will advance to the finals along with the best third-placed side, while the remaining third-placed nations will play off for four more berths. There are eight groups of six teams as well as one - Group I - that contains five nations. However, France are also allocated to that group and will play friendly matches against those teams, for which no points will be awarded. The first qualifiers will be played on September 7 and the campaign will see matches spread over six days, from Thursday to Tuesday, during every international break in a format that UEFA have championed as the Week of Football. The finals themselves will run from June 10 to July 10, 2016. l

A hat-trick from Zlatan Ibrahimovic earned Paris St Germain a 4-2 win at battling Toulouse on Sunday, restoring the champions five-point lead at the top of Ligue 1. Monaco had cut the gap to two points with a 3-2 win over Stade de Reims on Friday but a swivelling Ezequiel Lavezza goal among Ibrahimovics three ensured Laurent Blancs side earned all three points from their trip south. Ibrahimovic put the champions in front from the penalty spot in the 32nd

minute after Serbian defender Uros Spajic had brought down Argentine forward Lavezzi in the area. But the Parisians were shocked just before halftime when an Etienne Didot cross found Toulouses Wissam Ben Yedder and the striker thumped a volley into the top of the net. Lavezzi restored PSGs lead from an Ibrahimovic pass 11 minutes into the second half, taking the ball with his back to goal and spinning before whipping it home. Ibrahimovic got his second, flicking on a Yohan Cabaye free kick in the 69th minute to make it 3-1.l

Ibrahimovic 32, 68, 89, Lavezzi 56

PSG

Marseille
Gignac 82

1 0 0 2 2 1 1 0 2 0 2 2

Lorient Saint-Etienne Evian TG

Bastia Bordeaux

Brandao 33, Harek 90-og Berigaud 73

Faubert 52, Saivet 82

Guingamp

Yatabare 90+4

Nice Ajaccio Sochaux

Montpellier

Mounier 55, Cabella 90+4

Valenciennes
Waris 51-p, 86

Corchia 54, Marange 88

Hamburg destroy Dortmund

n AFP, Berlin
Borussia Dortmund suffered a shock 3-0 league defeat at Bundesliga strugglers Hamburg on Saturday, just three days before their Champions League last-16 clash away to Zenit St Petersburg. Jurgen Klopps Dortmund got the worst possible result ahead of their trip to Russia for Tuesdays first-leg clash while Hamburg recorded their first league win since November in Mirko Slomkas first match in charge as coach. Hamburg are in danger of being relegated from the Bundesliga for the first time in their history and sacked coach Bert van Marwijk last Saturday after only 143 days in charge in the wake of their 4-2 drubbing at bottom side Eintracht Braunschweig. His successor Slomka signed a twoyear deal on Monday and enjoyed a winning debut as his side broke their eight-match losing streak, including a club record seven league matches. That is just one of 13 games and we wont stop working, said Slomka. We didnt quite deserve to win by that margin, but we did well in defence and the team can be proud of the points.l

Sociedad stun Barcelona

n AFP, Madrid
Real Madrid moved three points clear at the top of La Liga as Barcelona suffered their second league defeat in four games with a 3-1 reverse away to Real Sociedad on Saturday. Barcelona had come into the game on a high after beating Manchester City in their much-anticipated Champions League tie on Tuesday, but went behind when Alex Song turned Sergio Canales cross into his own net. Lionel Messi restored parity almost instantly with a clinical left-footed finish. However, two goals in the opening 15 minutes of the second-half from Antoine Griezmann and David Zurutuza handed Sociedad a deserved victory. We didnt feel comfortable and we didnt have possession, which is our strength. That allowed then to create chances, Barca defender Gerard Pique told Spanish TV station Canal Plus. Now we have a week to rest and reflect on why things didt go well. It is not worrying, we just have to continue onto the next game. Barca boss Gerardo Martino had made six changes from the side that started in Manchester as Neymar made his first start in a month. After a slow start from the visitors, Pedro came close to opening the scoring when he sliced Andres Iniestas pass just wide. It was Sociedad who struck first, though, as Song bundled the ball into his own net under pressure from Gorka Elustondo. The lead lasted only three minutes as Messi fired home his seventh goal in his last five games with an unerring finish from the edge of the area. Sociedad should have been back in front before half-time when Carlos Vela pounced on an error from Gerard Pique,

Real Sociedad's teammates celebrate their third goal as FC Barcelona's goalkeeper Victor Valdes, back left, laments, during their Spanish League match, at Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian, Spain on Saturday AP

RESULTS
Real Madrid
Illarramendi 34, Bale 71, Isco 80

3 0 1 1 3 1

Elche

RESULTS
Mgladbach
Herrmann 4, Jantschke 18 Boka 45

2 2 1 2 2 1 2 4

Roberto Firmino 57, Salihovic 82 P

Hoffenheim

VfB Stuttgart Nuremberg

Kiyotake 46, Pekhart 47

Kobiashvili 5, Wagner 87

Hertha Berlin

Braunschweig

Kumbela 34

Freiburg

Schmid 17, Mehmedi 73

Werner 7, Verhaegh 78, Halil Altintop 85, Hahn 90+4

Augsburg

Hamburg

Jiracek 10, Lasogga 58, Calhanoglu 90+1

3 0 3 1

Dortmund

VfL Wolfsburg

Dost 13, Gustavo 58, Rodriguez 73-p

Leverkusen

Sam 45

but the Mexican wastefully blasted over the bar with just Victor Valdes to beat. Barca were dealt a blow at half-time when coach Gerardo Martino was sent to the stands for the second half after taking his protests towards the officials too far as they headed down the tunnel. And the Catalans defence also seemed to completely lose their composure at the start of the second-half as Sociedad opened them up at will. Vela raced onto a long ball in behind the Barca defence to square for Griezmann to register his 15th league goal of the season on 54 minutes. Five minutes later it was 3-1 as this time Zurutuza burst through a pedestrian defensive line to turn home Griezmanns cross from the right. Cesc Fabregas replaced the struggling Song and Alexis Sanchez was also introduced as Barca went in search of a way back into the game. Yet, it was Sociedad who should have added to their lead when Vela

Celta Vigo
Rafinha 59

Lafita 21

Getafe

Real Sociedad

Song 32-og, Griezmann 54, Zurutuza 59

Barcelona

Messi 35

Almeria

0 0

Malaga

struck the base of the post nine minutes from time. Victory moves Sociedad to within a point of Athletic Bilbao in the fourth Champions League place, while Barca could end the weekend in third should Atletico Madrid avoid defeat away to Osasuna on Sunday. There were no such worries for Real Madrid as goals from Asier Illarramendi and Isco either side of Bales stunner handed them a 15th win in 16 games in all competitions. Madrid were once again without the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo as he completed a three-game ban after having a final appeal rejected on Saturday morning. l

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Sport

Monday, February 24, 2014

15

SCORECARD, DAY 4
South Africa, first innings, 423 Australia, first innings, 246 South Africa, second innings (overnight 192 4) H Amla not out Q de Kock c Clarke b Lyon J Duminy not out Extras (b2, lb6) Total (5 wkts dec, 64 overs)

127 34 18 8 270

Bowling Johnson 15 1 51 2, Harris 13 1 74 0, Lyon 17 2 48 1, Siddle 19 2 89 2 Australia, second innings C Rogers run out (sub - Petersen) 107 D Warner lbw b Duminy 66 A Doolan c Smith b Morkel 5 S Marsh lbw b Philander 0 M. Clarke c Du Plessis b Steyn 1 S. Smith lbw b Steyn 0 B. Haddin b Steyn 1 M. Johnson lbw b Philander 6 R Harris lbw b Steyn 6 P Siddle not out 3 N Lyon lbw b Elgar 0 Extras (b2, lb17, w2) 21 Total (73.4 overs) 216 Bowling Steyn 20 5 55 4, Philander 17 3 39 2, Morkel 15 6 46 1, Duminy 14 3 33 1, Elgar 7.4 0 24 1 Result South Africa won by 231 runs Series The three-match series is tied at 1 1
South Africa's Dale Steyn reacts after cleaning up Australia's Brad Haddin (L) during their second Test at St George's Park yesterday AFP

Fiery Steyn leads Proteas to crushing win

Dale Steyn produced a ferocious spell of fast bowling to inspire South Africa to a crushing 231-run victory over Australia in fading light on day four of the second test on Sunday. With rain predicted for Monday, Steyn charged in and took four wickets, including the key scalp of Australia captain Michael Clarke, as the tourists lost 10 wickets for 90 runs having looked comfortable at 126 without loss chasing a record 448 for victory. Only opener Chris Rogers showed any real resistance with a fine 107, this third ton in four tests, as he shared a century opening stand with David Warner (66), but for the remainder it was a procession as none of the other batsmen reached double figures. The result left the three-match series level at 1-1 with the third test starting in Cape Town on Saturday. After JP Duminy had removed Warner and Morne Morkel grabbed the wicket of Alex Doolan (five), Shaun Marsh picked up a pair in the match and now has six ducks in his last 11 test innings. He was lbw to Vernon Philander. Then began the Steyn onslaught as Clarke (one) was brilliantly caught by Faf du Plessis at second slip and Steve Smith trapped lbw first ball. That wicket showed evidence of reverse swing and Steyn produced more as he clattered into the middle stump of Brad Haddin (one) for the second time in the match. Mitchell Johnson was the fourth lbw victim of the innings when he was struck on the pads by Philander. Ryan Harris (six) was also trapped in front of his stumps but the key moment came when, with just seven minutes remaining in the days play, Rogers was run out trying to take a quick single to substitute fielder Alviro Peterson. Nathan Lyon (zero) was the final wicket to fall, lbw to Dean Elgar and although replays showed he had hit the ball, Australia had used up their reviews. South Africa earlier declared their second innings on 270 for five as Hashim Amla plundered an unbeaten 127, his 21st test century to move joint third on South Africas all-time list with Gary Kirsten, still behind Graeme Smith (27) and Jacques Kallis (45). l

QUICK BYTES

Forster proud as punch to set new record

Fraser Forster said he was delighted to set a new Scottish top flight record for clean sheets in Celtics 2 0 win over Hearts at Tynecastle on Saturday. The English goalkeeper kept a clean sheet for the 13th consecutive game to break Bobby Clarks 43-year-old record that he had set while playing for Aberdeen in 1971. Forster hasnt conceded a goal in 1,215 minutes of Scottish Premiership action since Niall McGinn scored against him for Aberdeen back in November last year. The keeper had already broken a 92-year-old club record for clean sheets but revealed he hasnt been paying much attention to his achievements. I am delighted. Its obviously been talked about a lot over the last week so its nice to get there in the end and keep a clean sheet, Forster said. AFP

Milan sink Samp as Inter Venus wins first title in 16 months confirm draw king status
Adel Taarabt and Adil Rami scored either side of half-time to secure a precious 2-0 win for AC Milan away to 10man Sampdoria on Sunday and keep the struggling Serie A giants resurgence on track. Milan, who replaced former coach Massimiliano Allegri with Clarence Seedorf following a 4-3 defeat by Sassuolo in early January, have now lost only once in the league under the 37-year-old Dutchman. Milans second win on the trot, following a 3-1 reverse to Napoli two weeks ago, was all the sweeter for the red and black half of Milan as city rivals Inter were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Cagliari at the San Siro. It was the Nerazzurris 10th draw this season, a largely unenvied feat shared only by Cagliari. Elsewhere, Antonio Di Natale scored a 71st minute penalty to secure a share of the points for Udinese in a 1-1 draw with visiting Atalanta, who opened the scoring through Davide Brivio in the 24th minute. Verona moved back to within sight of the Europa League places with a cagey 3-2 win away to Livorno, while Chievo claimed a deserved 2-0 home win over fellow strugglers Catania.

RESULTS
Livorno
Paulinho 72, Greco 73

2 3 2 0 1 1 0 2 1 1 0 1

Jankovic 33, Romulo 43, Toni 45+1

Verona

Venus Williams, the seven times former Grand Slam champion, won the WTA Dubai Oopen on Saturday to silence some of the doubters who said she could never make a significant come-back at the age of 33. Williams produced a magnificent performance by outplaying the tournaments sensation, Alise Cornet, 6-3, 6-0 to earn her a first title in 16 months.

Williams only gained entry into the Dubai Open with a wild card after falling outside the top 40, yet completed five fine wins. In doing so she avenged the defeat which the French player had inflicted on her sister Serena Williams in the semifinals, captured her first Premier level title since 2010, and ensured she would climb back into the worlds top 30. Williams face was afterwards wreathed with enormous smiles, while

Cornet twice dissolved into tears during the match, aware from an early stage that she was unlikely to find a way to halt one of the games most formidable attacker two nights in a row. Its great to be back, Williams said, referring to her capture of the Dubai title four years ago. I was expecting to be playing Serena, but Alize played an amazing game in the semis, so congratulations on that. l

Chievo

Thereau 37 P, Rigoni 68

Catania Cagliari

Inter Milan
Rolando 51

Pinilla 40 P Taarabt 12, Rami 58

Sochi Games to close

Sochis $50 billion Olympics close Sunday with Russia hailing a Games closely wrapped up in the image of President Vladimir Putin and the country seizing first place in the medals table. Russia guaranteed top spot after a clean sweep of the mens 50km cross country race thanks to Alexander Legkov, Maxim Vylegzhanin and Ilia Chernousov. With just ice hockey and bobsleigh finals to come, Russia is now certain, with 12 golds and a total of 32 medals, to top the medals table ahead of Norway. Russia were also looking good for the four-man bob after Alexander Zubkov maintained his slender overnight lead over Latvia with just the fourth and final run to come. International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach added to Russias feelgood factor by describing the 2014 Games as great, saying the response from the athletes was overwhelmingly positive. These were excellent Games that may lead to the reversal of some criticism of the Russian organisers that preceded the Olympics, Bach added at a news conference. l

Sampdoria Udinese

AC Milan

Anderson eyes second Delray Beach ATP title

Former champion Kevin Anderson of South Africa booked a return to the Delray Beach ATP final Saturday, where hell face Croatias Marin Cilic for the crown. Fourth seeded Anderson defeated US qualifier Steve Johnson 6-2, 6-4 in a battle between two players who enjoyed standout careers in the US university ranks. l

Di Natale 71 P

Atalanta

Brivio 24

Loves triple-double lifts Timberwolves

Kevin Love posted the first triple-double of his career on Saturday, scoring 37 points with 12 rebounds and 10 assists to lead Minnesota to a 121 104 NBA victory over Utah. Love made six of his 10 attempts from three-point range as he followed up a 42-point, 16-rebound performance in a win against Indiana on Wednesday. Ricky Rubio added 15 points and seven assists, and Chase Budinger and Corey Brewer scored 13 apiece for the Timberwolves, who notched their third straight victory. Enes Kanter led Utah with a career-high 25 points, but it wasnt enough to prevent the Jazz from enduring a third straight defeat. A 10 2 scoring run in the first quarter lifted Minnesota to a lead they never relinquished. Loves jumper capped the rally for a 14 9 lead midway through the period. Utah managed to pull even three times in the second quarter, but the Timberwolves took the lead for good on Rubios layup with 3:32 remaining in the first half. AFP

Saturday
Bologna
Nainggolan 37

AS Roma

Leaders Juventus host Torino in the city derby later Sunday looking to restore their nine-point lead over second-placed Roma, who beat Bologna 1-0 away on Saturday, although the Giallorossi still have a game in hand.l

DAYS WATCH
Sony Six 8:00AM NBA 2013 14 Portland v Minnesota Ten Cricket 02:30PM South Africa v Australia 2nd Test, Day 5 Star Sports HD2 2:00PM U 19 World Cup 1st Semi-Final England v Pakistan Italian Serie A 12:00AM Parma v Fiorentina 2:00AM Napoli v Genoa Star Sports HD1 3:00AM La Liga Espanyol v Villarreal
Muktijoddha SKS players and coach Manik display the BBS Cables logo on their jersey during the sponsorship signing ceremony at the BFF House yesterday COURTESY Walton executive director Zahid Hasan speaks in the press conference of inter-district volleyball at the NSC conference room yesterday MUMIT M

Walton Inter-District Volleyball starts tomorrow

The Walton Smart TV Inter District Volleyball, in which 44 districts will participate across seven venues in the country, starts tomorrow. Bangladesh Volleyball Federation looked forward to find new talents at the meet, the final round of which will be held in Dhaka at the end of April. The tournament will start at Naogaon tomorrow and will conclude at Barisal on March 11. The other venues are Habiganj, Narail, Panchgarh, Gazipur and Coxs Bazar. The sponsors, Walton provided a purse of Tk600,000 for the smooth running of the meet. Meanwhile, Adv. Fazle Rabbi Babul, the secretary of the organising committee, while presenting the meet to the press in a briefing held at the BNS conference room said they are planning to hold an international meet with India, Nepal and Sri Lanka on the occasion of independence. S.M. Zahid Hasan, the executive director and A.F.M. Iqbal bin Anwar Dawn, the additional director were also present on the occasion. l

St. Gregorys School, who won the boys title of the Milkman Mini Handball poses with the title at the handball stadium yesterday

COURTESY

16
WB SURVEY REPORT

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Back Page

Monday, February 24, 2014

56% major medical equipment still remains unused

n Moniruzzaman Uzzal
More than 50% of the major medical equipment have remained unused in the different public hospitals, reveals a world bank survey. Iffat Mahmud, a World Bank official revealed the survey report at a view-exchange meeting. Health Minister Mohammed Nasim, health secretary, state health minister, and director general of health services were present at the meeting. The view-exchange meeting was held at the CIRDAP auditorium, Dhaka yesterday. Iffat said the survey was administered on Health and Nutrition Population Sector Programme of the health ministry (2006-2011) . During the period the health ministry bought major medical equipment, instrument, furniture and minor equipment and accessories at a cost of $111 million through Central Medicine Store Depot. According to the survey report, only 44% of the equipment was properly used and 10% was installed. 80% are lying idle in the stores of different health institutes while 14% was found in the hospital ledger. Iffat said a team of Netherlands ran the survey in 50 hospitals in Dhaka, Khulna and Sylhet divisions with the help of the health ministry. They looked into the procurement process of medical equipment. According to the survey report there is no trained engineer for highly medical equipment. Most of the engineers do not have enough budget for repair of air-condition and refrigerator. They have even no vehicles to use. The survey team suggested that the government should open a medical technology department under the health ministry, form a national policy for health care technology management and regulation for using medical device. As a chief guest of the programme, Health Minister Mohammed Nasim urged the civil surgeon to be more responsible to ensure quality service to the patients. He said: You are the leader of a district, so the failure and success of health sector mostly depend on you. He said he would do as much as he could to meet their demand. The civil surgeons told the meeting about their problems such as delay in promotion, scarcity of vehicles, manpower crisis an inadequate budget. They demanded a coordinator in the health ministry and health directorate to whom they can put forward their complaints and seek solution. l

Bashundhara gets dredging project n Asif Showkat Kallol

The shipping ministry has given its consent for selecting the Bashundhara Dredging Company Ltd as the only responsive bidder for dredging 24 water routes in the southern part of the country, official sources said. A proposal by the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) for dredging the Barisal-JhalakathiBarguna-Patharghata water route under the Capital Dredging of River System in Bangladesh (first revised) project was given the go ahead after re-examination by the BIWTC and the shipping ministry, a ministry official said. The shipping ministry had submitted the proposal for approval to the cabinet committee on public purchase in October. But the committee rejected the proposal and sought clarifications on five points, including whether the national competitive bidding process was followed. The shipping ministry official said the queries, made by committee head Finance Minister AMA Muhith, have been answered and the revised proposal would likely be placed at the next meeting of the purchase committee. According to the shipping ministry, an advertisement for tender was placed in newspapers and posted on the BIWTC website for some time under the Public Procurement Regulation to make the bid more competitive. Bashundhara Dredging was selected as the responsive firm, quoting Tk96.26 crore for dredging 38lakh cubic metres. Shipping Secretary Syed Monjurul Islam said Bashundhara Dredging came out responsive in the normal tender process. l

RAJIB DHAR

Book fair, an avenue of opportunity for new writers

new books published
AMAR EKUSHEY BOOK FAIR 2014

82

Security beefed up in Ctg central jail

n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong
The security measures were tightened in Chittagong central jail and adjoining areas from yesterday morning after the death row convicts of JMB were whisked off a prison van throwing bomb on it at Trisal upazila of Mymensingh. Md Sagir Miah, senior jail super of Chittagong central jail, said additional guards were deployed in every point of the jail compound to evade any kind of untoward incident. A monitoring team, led by Jailer Rafiqul Kader, was formed to monitor the security measures, he said. He also said there were a total of 5,183 prisoners in the prison as of yesterday while 30 of them were awarded death penalty. Of the 30, four convicts were JMB men, he added. The 15 JMB prisoners were followers of Jahidur Rahman Suman, alias Boma (bomb) Mizan, one of the three who were whisked off from police van yesterday morning, said jail sources. Boma Mizan was an accused in 11 cases which were under trial in Chittagong court, added the jail super. Banaz Kumar Majumder, additional commissioner (crime and prevention) of Chittagong Metropolitan Police, told the Dhaka Tribune additional forces were deployed in the adjoining areas of the jail and they were kept on high alert to contain any kind of unwanted occurrence. l

n Ahmed Zayeef
Amar Ekushe Book Fair is not only a long-awaiting festival for the book lovers but also a birthplace for young writers. Each year the fair opens an avenue of opportunity for new writers to introduce their literary works to book lovers. The newcomers in the literary arena wait throughout the year for this historic event to publish their new titles. But most of them have to struggle hard and woo the publishers to get their blessings. Book fair creates a link between writers and publisher. Here new writers get

together almost every day. They discuss their works, thereby developing a strong bond between them, said Pias Majid, whose book Kobita Jiboni was published by Onnesha Prokashoni this year. He said: Most young writers start making their career through writing in little magazines. Lots of little magazines open stalls here to mark the fair where young writers assemble with their new writings. Kingkor Ahsan, another young writer whose two new books were published this year told the Dhaka tribune, If we finish our script in the middle of the year we will not have any chance to publish our books because most publishers do not want to publish them till the fair starts. Kingkor thinks those who want to make their appearance as writers like him have a very little scope because of domination of the established and popular writers. Popular and reputed writers on an average publish eight to ten books in each fair. New writers like us are always lost in

the crowd of writers, he said. Apart from all these obstacles, the new writers converge on the Little Magazine Chottor called Bahera Tala at the fair with renewed energy and enthusiasm hoping for the fortune to smile upon them. A total of 82 new books were published yesterday on the twenty third day of the fair, including Tushar Abdullas Kobitar Doirgho, Ahsan Habibs Honon and Shamsujjaman Khans Muktobudhdhi, Dhormoniropekhkhota O Shomokal. A total of 13 new books were unveiled at Nazrul Manch on Bangla Academy premises. A discussion titled Abdul Hafij: folklorer jonoprantorer vetore was held at the fair where Selina Hossain delivered her keynote speech. Presided over by Shamsujjaman Khan, director general, Bangla Academy, the discussion was attended, among others, by Tosikul Islam Raja, Shahida Khatun and Mostofa Torikul Ahsan. l

Supreme Court EC worried over cancelled votes, directs awareness campaign resumes Sayedee n Mohammad Zakaria appeal case
n Tribune Report
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court yesterday resumed the hearing on war criminal Delawar Hossain Sayedees appeal against his death sentence, handed down to him by the International Crimes Tribunal, after nine days. The five-member bench of the apex court, headed by Chief Justice Md Muzammel Hossain, heard the defences arguments in connection to the testimonies of prosecution witness. At the days hearing, SM Shahjahan, the defence counsel, argued that Sayedee was not involved in raping Shefali Ghush, wife of Madhusudan Garami, a prosecution witness of the case. Madhusudan, in his testimony, did not implicate the Jamaat leader for single time in the rape, he added. The defence counsel further said Shefali had filed the rape complaint against Delawar Sikder, who was killed after the liberation war. Attorney General Mahbubey Alam represented the government in the case yesterday. On February 13, the top court adjourned the case to February 23. The International Crimes Tribunal 1 handed down death sentence to Sayedee on February 28 last year. Later, Sayedee filed an appeal with the top court seeking acquittal on March 28. The government also lodged an appeal to specify the punishment in all the six charges that were proved at the tribunal. l Expressing concerns over the large number of cancelled votes in the first phase of the upazila poll, the Election Commission yesterday directed grassroot officials to hold mass campaigns to make voters aware of proper vote casting methods, before the second phase of the upazila polls begins on February 27. In line with the direction, the commission also dispatched around 12 lakhs posters, describing proper ways of casting votes, to be put on display at every polling booth in the upcoming phase. Election Commissioner Mohammad Abu Hafiz told the Dhaka Tribune that the commission has discussed the issue at a meeting to find out ways to decrease the rate of such cancelled votes. The commission is also planning to adopt long-term campaigns to cut down the number of cancelled votes. If these campaigns are not introduced for ongoing upazila poll, it will be applied in the other upcoming elections, he added. The commission has also asked authorities concerned to hold such mass awareness campaigns for the voters. Meanwhile, a senior official of the EC has told the Dhaka Tribune that the commission has also asked the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission to send SMSs to voters on the proper way of casting votes. In the first phase of polls in 97 upazilas, 4.56% or 461,383 votes were cancelled due to various reasons. In the last upazila polls, held in 2009, the percentage of cancelled votes in these 97 upazilas was 3.65%. When asked about the reason behind the huge number of cancelled votes, the official said it was due to maximum number of symbols in the ballot paper. Suppose, there were two candidates contesting in an upazila, but there were 10 election symbols on the ballot papers. Many voters marked the

wrong symbols, he added. Talking to the Dhaka Tribune, former election commissioner M Sakhawat Hossain said a proper investigation should be conducted to find out why such a huge number of votes were cancelled. There should be investigation into technical issues, such as proper information for voters, quality of the ink used in the stamp and the seal and the spacing between symbols in ballot papers, among others, he said. l

Police urged to act neutrally

n Tribune Report
Women and indigenous rights activists have called upon the police to handle the murder case of Sabita Chakma in an unbiased manner and immediately arrest the alleged. chari on February 15, but police are yet to arrest anyone, fearing a rise in tension between Paharis and Bangalees. Earlier Khagrachhari Superintendent of Police M Mizanur Rahman told the Dhaka Tribune: The upazila parishad election was our first priority. Arresting someone could have raised Bangalee-Pahari tensions. So, we are taking our time. Rights activist Shipra Bose said the government could not deny its failure in ensuring justice. Not only in the Chittagong Hill Tracts but rapes are taking place all across the country. However, particularly in CHT, the administration often neglects duty and the government also does not make them accountable and active. Bijoy Ketan Chakma, convener of the Manabendra Narayan Larma Memorial Foundation urged the government to raise awareness among the law enforcement agencies particularly those based in CHT. If they act in a ethnic way, peace cannot be restored here. They should differentiate between criminal and innocent not between Bangalee and Pahari, he said. Actionaid Bangladesh, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Bangladesh Mahila Parishad, Kapaeeng Foundation, Bangladesh Indigenous Peoples Forum, Hill Womens Federation and Parbatya Chattagram Jana Samhati Samiti participated in the human chain formed in protest of the killing. l

SABITA CHAKMA MURDER CASE

If they act in a ethnic way, peace cannot be restored here. They should differentiate between criminal and innocent not between Bangalee and Pahari
Women activists form a humanchain at the capitals Shahbagh yesterday, demanding an end to the repression and violence against indiginous women DHAKA TRIBUNE In the first information report, the Khagrachari Police did not mention names of the accused although Sabitas husband Dev Ratan had mentioned names, claimed the activists at a human chain formed in front of the National Museum in the capital yesterday. Rights activist Khushi Kabir said: It is frustrating to see the state acting in a communal manner. One vested quarter is trying to influence the case and save the criminals. That is why police did not record the names mentioned by Sabitas husband. Thirty-year-old Sabita Chakmas dead body was recovered from Kamal-

Do not screen Gunday in present form

n Tribune Report
Bangladesh has urged Indian authorities to take immediate actions to stop the screening of Indian film Gunday in its present form as it contains distortion of historical facts. The matter has already been taken up officially with the Indian authorities and strong protest has been conveyed to the Indian side, said a press release of the foreign ministry. The government of Bangladesh has also expressed its disappointment about the clearance of the film by the Central Board of Film Certification, Government of India, the press release added. The ministry and the high commission of Bangladesh in New Delhi have been working on ascertaining the veracity of the reported derogatory remarks and distortion of historical facts in the film since it came to the notice of the ministry as soon as the film was released, the statement 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

Continue to the Business section...

Business

B3 Records show Fed on

edge during darkest days

B4 Apple promises fix very

soon for Macs with failed encryption
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 www.dhakatribune.com/business

Directors' loan from banks made difficult

n Tribune Report
Bangladesh Bank has imposed restrictions on the major shareholders of banking companies to ensure proper utilisation of fund of the banking companies and gain confidence of the depositors. They will have to take board approval before taking financial facilities over Tk1 crore and let the central bank know about the privilege. The facilities might come in terms of loans and advances, guarantees and other financial facilities, according to a circular Bangladesh Bank issued yesterday to comply with the amendments (up to 2013) to the Bank Company Act 1991. The circular takes immediate effect. The major shareholders would be the individuals or companies having more than 5% stake in the bank. The limit of financial facilities would be calculated with having the facilities to be enjoyed by the spouse or organisation having his or her own interest. According to the circular, the loan or its part and net income interest should not be exempted, and in case of exemption, it should get prior approval from the central bank. It also asked the bank-related persons to get prior approval by majority members of the respective bank boards for taking financial facilities from the banks. The representative directors will have to take prior approval or guarantee from the respective board or similar authorities to get loans and advances or any other financial facilities from the bank. The loan amount will have to be considered based on the amount of paid up capital of the shareholder institutions, and it should not be more than 50% of the paid up capital. Loan or other financial facilities cannot be provided to independent directors or persons and institutions having relation with the independent directors. A bank will not perform any transaction with the bank-related persons that would be easier than with the person not related to the bank. All financial transactions with a bank-related person or in favour of his interest should be done through prior approval by the majority members of the bank board of directors. Bangladesh Bank also imposed a restriction on the directors of banking companies not to borrow more than 50% of their respective paid up capital in the bank. In case, a directors loan amount is more than 50%, it should be immediately raised to the bank board and informed the central bank. The additional facilities being enjoyed by any director should be repaid within the stipulated time to be fixed by Bangladesh Bank. The additional amount cannot be renewed or its tenure be extended under no circumstance. l

PROMOTING SAFETY FIRST

Tea import to face 20% supplementary duty

n Tribune Report
National Board of Revenue has decided to reintroduce 20% supplementary duty on the import of tea. The duty was scrapped in the current fiscals budget, but the authorities are now taking steps to reinstate the duty after the demand of Bangladesh Tea Association (BTA). Ministry of Commerce recommended the reinstatement, said an NBR official. With the bringing back of supplementary duty, the total import duty of tea will be 81%. BTA recently made the demand to the commerce ministry and the NBR for the protection of local product discouraging import. It placed eight-point proposals to the commerce ministry and revenue body. According to the local producers, they are being deprived of fair prices as almost half the total tea remain unsold in the auctions. They think this is because of supply of imported tea in the local market. Supplementary duty cut was helping the tea importers bring substandard product from foreign sources, beating the local industry, they said. BTA demands also include cash incentive, allocation of Tk120 crore as workers welfare loan for next five years, cut of bank interest rate for local production and development of the sector and uninterrupted power and gas supplies to the gardens. The domestic demand has risen, but the local production could still meet that demand, said BTA. NBR has already prepared a proposal in this regard and will be sent soon to the finance minister for approval, said an official. According to the BTA statistics, Bangladesh locally produce 6.40 lakh kilogram of tea against the demand of 5.6 lakh kg. l

SYED ZAKIR HOSSAIN

A stall at the International Trade Expo on Building and Fire Safety at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. The two-day event began yesterday

Tofail: Import of RMG fire safety equipment to be duty-free

n Tribune Report
Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed said the government would make the import of fire and building safety materials duty-free for the readymade garment sector. He made the announcement while speaking at the inaugural function of two-day International Trade Expo on Building and Fire Safety at Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka yesterday. I can assure you, the government will take the responsibility so that you can import duty-free equipment for fire and building safety for the RMG sector, the minister said. He also urged the Accord to appoint from the Bangladeshi engineers to inspect factories. We have engineers of international class. Some of them are working in the developed countries. Talking about the retrofitting ad remediation of factories, Tofail Ahmed said: Its not a matter of today or tomorrow. It will take time. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, senior Partner at ELEVATE Global Ltd and chair of the Expo Organising Committee Ian Spaulding, president of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) Atiqul Islam, executive director of Alliance M Rabin and secretary of IndustriAll Bangladesh Council Romesh Roy. C&A Foundation in association with BGMEA, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association, the Alliance and Accord for Bangladesh Workers Safety and International Finance Corporation is organising the event. A total of 52 stalls will display products at the show first of its kind in the country, aimed at making RMG factory owners aware about the latest fire, building and electrical safety equipment. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam blamed the retailers for not paying more for the products, which is also responsible for the lack of workers safety in the factories. On the fire safety, Ian Spaulding emphasised the use of quality products. When you install fire doors, sprinkler systems and lights, make sure that they are right products and certified. He said some of the factories had to re-install fire safety equipment as they were not certified. We want to minimise such cases. So, choose the right products, he said urging the factory owners to join the events designed to make them aware of the fire and building safety. M Rabin laid stress on the installation of proper fire doors instead of collapsible fire doors. We cannot change the mind-set of the security guards. When people in factories were dying in fire, the security guards kept the door locked, making the escape impossible. I would therefore suggest proper fire doors, not the collapsible doors, said M Rabin. He said around 74% of the countrys factories were constructed before the making of the Bangladesh National Building Code (BNBC) 2006. The buildings lack some safety measures as there are three types of buildings - shared, converted and purpose-made. BGMEA president Atiqul Islam alleged that buyers were withdrawing orders from the factories operated in the shared buildings. Do not withdraw orders and do not make workers jobless, he urged the buyers, seeking financial support from the global retailers for remediation of factories and removing faults found during inspection. IndustriAll Bangladesh Council secretary Romesh Roy also called on the Accord signatories not to withdraw orders from any factory until the inspection is over. I will publish the names of the buyers if they continue to withdraw orders from the factories housed in shared buildings, said Roy. He suggested forming a RMG Foundation to compensate the Rana Plaza victims. Romesh Roy demanded the retailers increase prices of products as the factory owners had increased wages. l

System to protect intellectual property launched

n Tribune Report
The Department of Patents, Designs and Trademarks (DPDT) has introduced a new method called Property Automated System to protect intellectual property. The newly developed system will provide quick services to the patents, designs and trademark registrations in industrial and service sectors. With technical support from International Finance Corporation (IFC), the DPDT has developed the automated system using the software of The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), which would help check piracy of products. Launching the new system in the capital yesterday Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu said: As intellectual property has become much important to the entire world, we have invested more in this sector to enhance competitiveness and also to build a technology and knowledge-based society in the country. Among the South-east Asian countries, Bangladesh is leading from the front in terms of intellectual aptitude and creativities, said the minister. He said a good number of Bangladeshis were brightening the countrys image in abroad making innovations and doing research works. Industries Secretary Mohammad Moinuddin Abdullah attended the function programme as special guest with DPDT registrar Jamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury in the chair. Mustafa Jabbar, president of Bangladesh Computer Samity, presented the keynote paper. l

World Mobile Congress begins today in Spain

Zahidul Islam, from n Muhammad Barcelona, Spain
A four-day Mobile World Congress 2014, the largest mobile industry exhibition, kicks off today in Barcelona, Spain amid huge festivity and enthusiasm. Prominent executives of mobile operators, device manufacturers, technology providers, vendors and content owners from across the globe will meet in the conference which will continue till Thursday. GSM Association (GSMA) has been organising the annual gala event for the four consecutive years. Hundreds of global GSMA mobile operators, experts and analysts, ministers and high officials from different countries have already flocked together in the beautiful capital city of Spain to attend the feast. Visionary keynotes and panel discussions feature in the event where some 1,700 exhibitors will participate with the cutting-edge products and technologies. A Bangladeshi delegation led by Telecommunication and ICT Minister Abdul Latif Siddique is attending the conference. Post and Telecommunication Division Secretary Md Abubakar Siddique is also in the delegation, among other officials. ICT Division Secretary Md Nazrul Islam Khan and Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Sunil Kanti Bose will participate in two different sessions as panelists. A good number of senior executives of different mobile operators from Bangladesh will attend the conference. Grameenphones chief executive officer Vivek Sood already reached the conference city. Grameenphones parent company Telenors CEO and President Jon Fedrik Baksaas, also the president of GSMA, will attend a session as panelist. The World Mobile Congress is noted for the meeting of a long list of top industry executives from both inside and outside the mobile phone sector. Mark Zuckerburg, founder and CEO of Facebook, and the bosses of Google, IBM, twitter and WhatsApp will be among the high-profile attendees. l

Oman Air to provide more facilities n Tarek Mahmud, Chittagong

Oman Air, which is the national flag carrier of Oman, plans to increase its flights and to introduce larger aircrafts on Chittagong- Muscat route to cope with the increased number of passengers. The airliner will also further expedite its e-ticketing, boarding and checking system for the passengers, said Ashraful Kabir, country manager of Oman Air in Bangladesh. He was briefing the travel agents and tour operators at a restaurant in the city on Saturday night. As most of the Bangladeshi expatriates in Oman are from Chittagong, we were running a flight in this route for five days in a week since 2007 but we have introduced a every-day flight in 2010, amid huge demand, he said. A Bowing 737-new generation aircraft is now running on this route everyday, which can carry up to 156 passengers. Apart from Chittagong-Muscat route, the airliner also serves facilities to the passengers who travel to 41 destinations of Middle East and Europe, he added. The briefing was attended, among others, by Major (retd.) Syed Mahmud Hasan, managing director of GAS of Oman Air, Abu Taher and Md Jamal Uddin, President and Secretary of ATAB, and Pintu Bhattacharjee, sales manager of Oman Air. l

Plastic fair ends with hope to raise export

n Mohammad Atiqur Rahman
The 9th Bangladesh International Plastics, Packaging and Printing Industrial Fair-IPF, 2014 concluded yesterday with a hope to increase export of the sector. Before concluding the four-day fair, entrepreneurs have sought governments assistance to help further develop the industry, which has also been badly affected due to the GSP withdrawal by the US administration. The fair, which began on February 20 at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC), drew a huge turnout of visitors on the last day yesterday. Most of the visitors gathered at the local companies stalls to buy plastic materials. In addition, children were found delighted with wide range of plastic toys showcased in the fair. Although the plastic materials were not sold at a discount rate from the beginning of the fair, the prices were a bit less during the last day, said Zisan, a visitor who came with his mother yesterday. He had also visited the fair the day before yesterday. Another visitor Shamima Afsar has expressed her frustration as she could not find any product with discount. I have come to buy plastic materials for my homestead and I am to opt for the local companies as there is no other options for me, she added. As the fair was intended for exhibition purpose only, we did not encourage sales giving discounts, said Nasir Uddin Ahmed, Manager (DPL IS) of PRAN RFL Group. He, however, said, the sale rose up to Tk. one lakh on the last day. Tauhidul Islam, Manager (Institute Sales) of PARTEX Plastics echoed same with Ahmed about the exhibition as he said, We have sold products worth Tk.80,000 in the fair, mostly in the last day . Six-participating companies, three local and three international companies, were awarded during the closing ceremony. We have come to attend the fair for the first time. We have explored ample opportunities here in Bangladesh to promote our business, said Nishit Patel, one of the Directors of Exzakta Meccanica Ltd, while talking to the Dhaka Tribune. Exzakta Meccanica Ltd, a weaving machines manufacturer, which has its local agent (CAT Engineering Ltd), has obtained the second prize in the international category. There were more than 300 stalls, booths and pavilions in the fair of 16 countries including Bangladesh. Speaking as chief guest, commerce minister Tofail Ahmed said, As the USA had imposed 16 conditions to regain Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), we would be able to fulfill all these by March and the government would send the final report to the USA by April 15. l

Children choosing plastic toys at a stall at the International Plastic Fair in Dhaka yesterday

NASHIRUL ISLAM

B2

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Stock
DSE GAINERS Company

Monday, February 24, 2014

Stocks close red on profit booking

n Tribune Report
Stocks ended lower in volatile trade yesterday, as profit booking wiped off early gains. After rising around 15 points in the morning, the benchmark DSEX index lost 34 points or 0.8% to end at 4,727. It rallied in the previous two consecutive sessions. Shariah-based DSES index was down 10 points or 1% to 985.The blue-chip comprising DS30 index ended at 1,667 with a drop of 20 points or 1%. The Chittagong Stock Exchange Selective Category Index, CSCX, shed 68 points to close at 9,273. The total market turnover stood at Tk420 crore, which was 5.8% higher over the previous session. Despite depressed sentiment, corporate declarations made some strong ripples across the bourse. Notably, 5% cash and 25% stock dividends, and one rights share against two declarations of IDLC Finance pumped up non-banking financial institution sector that accounted for more than 13% of the total turnover, bringing it on top of others. IDLC featured second in the turnover list and topped the gainers chart with a rise of more than 12%. Rally in BATBC share prices helped food and allied sector post the highest gain of the session. All other sectors edged lower with telecommunications shedding over 2%, power 1.6%, banks and pharmaceuticals 1% each. Index retreated as investors stuck to profit booking on stocks, said Lanka Bangla Securities in its market analysis. It said buyers were mostly in gutless posture which led steep tumble in index. Market has wilted slightly as there were no specific triggers for investors amid slowing growth in economy and lukewarm domestic earnings reports. IDLC Investment said opening session of the week saw a break in the gaining streak. As session went offbeat over certain stocks in the large and mid cap segment, shed offs were strong in these segments. It said while indices were on down track, turnover was in up track crossing Tk4,00 crore after lying below this level throughout the last week. Most traded stocks were Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, IDLC Finance, Singer BD, Meghna Petroleum, Bangladesh Submarine Cable Company Ltd, Olympic Industries, Square Pharmaceuticals, Lanka Bangla Finance and Generation Next. l

DSE key features February 23, 2014

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract Traded Issues Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis) Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis) Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis) Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.) Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)
4,230.35 79,733,821 99,282 290 94 189 7 2,288.40 27.74

Closing (% change) 12.57 9.91 7.45 6.95 6.58 5.75 5.73 5.19 5.18 4.07

IDLC Finance -A Al-Haj Textile -A BSC A Singer BD -A Renwick Jajneswar-A Stylecraft -A Reckitt Benckiser -A Beacon Pharma Ltd.-Z Popular Life Insu. -A National Tubes -A CSE GAINERS Company IDLC Finance -A Singer BD -A Imam Button -Z BSC A Prime Islami Life -A Mithun Knitting -A ICB -A Beacon Pharma Ltd.-Z Orion Infusions -A Berger Paints-A

Average (% change) 12.78 7.76 6.81 3.95 4.58 5.76 5.29 1.47 3.28 4.57 Average (% change) 14.13 5.96 7.91 6.64 5.18 3.23 4.71 1.71 3.42 2.87

Closing average 79.50 98.73 580.50 231.83 176.86 1,052.86 958.18 13.79 278.07 114.12

Closing 80.60 100.90 584.00 236.90 179.90 1,052.70 958.40 14.20 284.30 115.00

Daily high 81.10 100.90 584.25 238.00 181.80 1,058.00 968.00 14.40 292.90 118.00

Daily low 67.00 91.80 563.00 210.00 167.70 1,030.00 945.00 12.20 261.00 103.00

Turnover in million 268.549 24.822 357.220 162.560 9.966 0.737 0.527 13.086 40.501 46.486

Latest EPS 4.16 2.06 24.00 9.35 5.32 47.83 28.52 0.04 17.00 2.26

Latest PE 19.1 47.9 24.2 24.8 33.2 22.0 33.6 344.8 16.4 50.5

Closing (% change) 14.50 8.19 8.14 7.48 5.72 4.69 4.54 4.44 3.67 3.45

Closing average 80.20 235.11 9.28 580.40 116.37 84.80 1680.00 13.70 45.03 895.00

Closing 82.10 239.00 9.30 585.00 116.50 84.80 1680.00 14.10 45.20 900.00

Daily high 83.90 240.10 9.40 585.00 117.00 86.00 1680.00 14.30 45.80 900.00

Daily low 75.00 223.00 9.20 565.25 116.00 84.00 1680.00 13.50 44.00 890.00

Turnover in million 24.678 20.366 0.084 85.803 0.024 1.335 0.084 2.021 3.260 0.090

Latest EPS 4.16 9.35 -2.58 24.00 4.95 2.42 40.46 0.04 1.78 41.85

Latest PE 19.3 25.1 -ve 24.2 23.5 35.0 41.5 342.5 25.3 21.4

CSE key features February 23, 2014

Turnover (Million Taka) Turnover (Volume) Number of Contract Traded Issues
473.89 8,967,777 16,315 228 72 152 3 2,183.58 26.47

News from trade server

BATBC : As per Regulation 30 of DSE Listing Regulations, the Company has informed that a meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on February 26, 2014 at 4:00 PM to consider, among others, audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended on December 31, 2013. IDLC: There will be no price limit on the trading of the shares of the Company today (23.02.2014) following its corporate declaration. IDLC: (Continuation of news of IDLC): The Company has also reported consolidated net profit of Tk. 669.47 million, consolidated EPS of Tk. 4.16, consolidated NAV per share of Tk. 33.33 and consolidated NOCFPS of Tk. 12.12 for the year ended on December 31, 2013 as against Tk. 712.82 million, Tk. 4.43, Tk. 29.17 and Tk. 2.65 respectively for the year ended on December 31, 2012. Another record date for entitlement of the proposed rights shares to be notified later after obtaining approval from BSEC.(end) GLAXOSMITH: There will be no price limit on the trading of the shares of the Company today (23.02.2014) following its corporate declaration. GLAXOSMITH: The Board of Directors has recommended 300% cash dividend for the year ended on December 31, 2013. Date of AGM: 24.04.2014, Time: 11:00 AM, Venue: Hotel Agrabad, Chittagong. Record date: 12.03.2014. The Company has also reported EPS of Tk. 45.35, NAV per share of Tk. 153.67 and NOCFPS of Tk. 82.22 for the year ended on December 31, 2013. KEYACOSMET: Keya Knit Composite Ltd., one of the Corporate Sponsors/Directors of the Company, has further reported that it has completed its sale of 22,75,000 shares of the Company at prevailing market price through Stock Exchange as announced earlier. PRIMEFIN: As per Regulation 30 of DSE Listing Regulations, the Company has informed that a meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on February 27, 2014 at 3:00 PM to consider, among others, audited financial statements of the Company for the year ended on December 31, 2013. BSC: (H/Y): In connection with their earlier news (news disseminated by DSE on February 19, 2014), the Company has further informed that profit/(loss) after tax is Tk. 148.41 million with EPS of Tk. 10.90 for the period of 3 months (Oct13 to Dec13) ended on 31.12.2013 as against Tk. (74.88) million with EPS of Tk. (9.05) for the same period of the previous year.

Daily capital market highlights

DSE Broad Index : DSE Shariah Index : DSE - 30 Index : CSE All Share Index: CSE - 30 Index : CSE Selected Index :
DSE LOSERS Company H.R. Textile -A Kay & Que (BD) -Z Miracle Industries -B AFC AgroBiotech-N Legacy Footwear -A Savar Refractories-Z ICB AMCL 1st NRB -A BDCOM Online-A Padma Islami Life*-N Closing (% change) -8.74 -6.00 -5.70 -4.70 -4.64 -4.24 -4.14 -4.05 -4.04

4727.44095 985.14420 1667.22724 14659.46880 12337.19960 9273.66240

(-) 0.71% (-) 1.02% (-) 1.23% (-) 0.70% (-) 0.84% (-) 0.73%

Issue Gain (Avg. Price Basis) Issue Loss (Avg. Price Basis) Unchanged Issue (Avg. Price Basis) Market Capital Equity (Billion. Tk.) Market Capital Equity (Billion US$)

Shampur Sugar -Z
CSE LOSERS Company

-3.95

Average (% change) -7.46 -6.65 -1.92 -0.65 -1.80 -4.00 -4.00 -2.38 -2.18

Closing average 35.97 18.67 21.96 70.76 37.67 64.00 27.84 34.00 88.94

Closing 35.50 18.80 21.50 69.00 37.00 63.20 27.80 33.20 87.80

Daily high 38.00 20.00 22.80 73.80 38.70 63.50 28.00 35.50 90.80

Daily low 35.30 18.30 21.00 68.10 37.00 63.10 27.80 31.20 82.50

Turnover in million 7.300 0.028 3.135 82.263 3.541 0.032 0.877 6.924 8.551

Latest EPS 1.56 -0.89 0.22 1.53 0.36 0.60 4.74 1.70 1.10

Latest PE 23.1 -ve 99.8 46.2 104.6 106.7 5.9 20.0 80.9

-3.95

7.30

7.30

7.30

7.30

0.002

-50.84

-ve

Closing (% change) -7.25 -6.76 -6.45 -5.68 -4.81 -4.11 -3.65 -3.33 -3.26

H.R. Textile -A Rangpur Foundry -A Aramit -A Miracle Industries -B AFC AgroBiotech-N ACI ZERO Bond-A Standard Ceramic -A ICB AMCL3rd NRB MF A Sun Life Insurance-N

Provati Insur.-A

-3.25

Average (% change) -6.39 -6.76 -6.46 -4.05 -1.06 -3.78 -3.67 -1.18 -2.91

Closing average 35.75 100.70 329.25 21.79 70.64 886.83 37.00 5.84 71.13

Closing 35.80 100.70 329.30 21.60 69.20 887.00 37.00 5.80 71.20

Daily high 35.80 99.50 330.00 21.90 73.60 920.00 37.00 5.90 71.20

Daily low 35.70 101.00 328.00 21.40 68.50 870.00 37.00 5.80 71.10

Turnover in million 0.036 0.252 0.066 0.381 11.620 0.005 0.019 0.123 0.107

Latest EPS 1.56 3.03 11.53 0.22 1.53 0.00 1.06 0.42 0.00

Latest PE 22.9 33.2 28.6 99.0 46.2 34.9 13.9 -

DSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BSC A IDLC Finance -A Singer BD -A Meghna Petroleum -A BD Submarine Cable-A Olympic Ind. -A
Square Pharma -A

-1.87

29.98

29.80

30.20

29.30

0.075

2.24

13.4

ANALYST

Market has wilted slightly as there were no specific triggers for investors amid slowing growth in economy and lukewarm domestic earnings reports

SECTORAL TURNOVER SUMMARY

Sector Bank NBFI Investment Engineering Food & Allied Fuel & Power Jute Textile Pharma & Chemical Paper & Packaging Service Leather Ceramic Cement Information Technology General Insurance Life Insurance Telecom Travel & Leisure Miscellaneous Debenture

DSE Million Taka 336.47 556.64 120.13 479.75 221.30 419.88 1.10 404.58 478.62 0.96 29.62 41.69 15.21 200.59 49.56 56.24 153.21 230.57 39.27 394.47 0.50

% change 7.95 13.16 2.84 11.34 5.23 9.93 0.03 9.56 11.31 0.02 0.70 0.99 0.36 4.74 1.17 1.33 3.62 5.45 0.93 9.32 0.01

Million Taka 46.61 52.77 4.71 48.22 20.95 24.26 30.52 44.64 0.51 3.17 2.40 2.30 17.78 11.53 3.26 8.07 52.85 7.95 92.14 0.04

CSE

% change 9.82 11.12 0.99 10.16 4.41 5.11 0.00 6.43 9.40 0.11 0.67 0.50 0.48 3.75 2.43 0.69 1.70 11.13 1.67 19.41 0.01

Million Taka 383.08 609.40 124.84 527.97 242.25 444.13 1.10 435.09 523.26 1.47 32.80 44.09 17.51 218.37 61.08 59.49 161.28 283.43 47.22 486.61 0.55

Total

% change 8.14 12.95 2.65 11.22 5.15 9.44 0.02 9.25 11.12 0.03 0.70 0.94 0.37 4.64 1.30 1.26 3.43 6.02 1.00 10.34 0.01

LafargeS Cement-Z AFC AgroBiotech-N Padma Oil Co. -A Jamuna Oil -A Beximco Pharma -A Southeast Bank-A Delta Life Insu. -A ConfidenceCement A National Tubes -A National Bank - B
CSE TURNOVER LEADERS Company BSC A

LankaBangla Fin. -A G Next Fashions-A Grameenphone-A

Volume shares 615,365 3,378,185 701,190 517,968 626,455 634,006 475,643 1,450,424 3,385,740 470,550

2,135,000 1,162,500 165,310 233,223 1,034,155 2,275,481 190,350 351,078 407,336 3,217,311

Value in million 357.22 268.55 162.56 145.32 134.76 129.82 121.73 105.42 101.85 95.81

88.34 82.26 54.45 53.53 53.05 52.88 50.84 50.35 46.49 42.90

% of total turnover 8.44 6.35 3.84 3.44 3.19 3.07 2.88 2.49 2.41 2.26

2.09 1.94 1.29 1.27 1.25 1.25 1.20 1.19 1.10 1.01

Daily closing 584.00 80.60 236.90 279.70 213.50 205.10 255.00 71.60 30.00 203.40

41.30 69.00 327.90 229.10 51.10 23.00 266.00 143.90 115.00 13.30

Price change 7.45 12.57 6.95 -1.06 -1.93 -1.11 -1.51 -0.83 -2.60 -2.35

-0.24 -4.70 -1.91 -1.21 -1.35 -2.54 -1.63 -0.90 4.07 1.53

Daily opening 543.50 71.60 221.50 282.70 217.70 207.40 258.90 72.20 30.80 208.30

41.40 72.40 334.30 231.90 51.80 23.60 270.40 145.20 110.50 13.10

42.80 73.80 335.00 240.00 52.10 23.80 271.70 155.00 118.00 14.00
Daily high

Daily high 584.25 81.10 238.00 290.00 229.00 209.00 261.00 78.00 31.10 205.00

40.50 68.10 327.20 220.00 48.00 21.50 265.60 135.00 103.00 12.00
Daily low

Daily low 563.00 67.00 210.00 258.00 202.00 193.00 236.50 67.00 28.00 195.50

Daily average 580.50 79.50 231.83 280.55 215.12 204.76 255.93 72.68 30.08 203.61

41.38 70.76 329.38 229.54 51.30 23.24 267.07 143.43 114.12 13.33

Volume shares

Prepared exclusively for Dhaka Tribune by Business Information Automation Service Line (BIASL), on the basis of information collected from daily stock quotations and audited reports of the listed companies. High level of caution has been taken to collect and present the above information and data. The publisher will not take any responsibility if any body uses this information and data for his/her investment decision. For any query please email to biasl@bol-online.com or call 01552153562 or go to www.biasl.net

BD Submarine Cable-A IDLC Finance -A Singer BD -A Grameenphone-A LankaBangla Fin. -A LafargeS Cement-Z AFC AgroBiotech-N UCBL - A Square Pharma -A G Next Fashions-A Appollo Ispat CL -N National Bank - B Olympic Ind. -A aamra technologies-A UNITED AIR A BD Building Systems -A Prime Finance-A Padma Oil Co. -A Active Fine Chem.-A

147,835 161,530 307,719 86,624 89,000 170,003 297,000 164,500 345,438 35,649 297,720 267,000 603,000 38,500 171,175 362,887 79,800 190,250 14,420 50,000

Value in million

85.80 34.81 24.68 20.37 18.04 12.29 12.22 11.62 9.74 9.16 8.94 8.51 8.03 7.90 6.92 5.71 5.68 5.52 4.75 4.74

% of total turnover

18.11 7.35 5.21 4.30 3.81 2.59 2.58 2.45 2.06 1.93 1.89 1.80 1.69 1.67 1.46 1.21 1.20 1.16 1.00 1.00

Daily closing

585.00 214.00 82.10 239.00 202.50 71.60 41.10 69.20 28.00 255.30 30.00 31.60 13.30 205.20 40.00 15.70 70.90 29.00 328.20 94.30

Price change

7.48 -1.65 14.50 8.19 -2.46 -1.65 -0.72 -4.81 -2.10 -1.43 -2.91 -0.94 0.76 -1.20 -2.91 -1.26 -1.80 2.11 -1.29 0.43

Daily opening

544.30 217.60 71.70 220.90 207.60 72.80 41.40 72.70 28.60 259.00 30.90 31.90 13.20 207.70 41.20 15.90 72.20 28.40 332.50 93.90

585.00 218.00 83.90 240.10 204.80 73.40 42.20 73.60 29.40 262.00 30.70 32.40 13.70 213.00 42.00 15.90 73.40 29.60 333.00 96.00

565.25 212.10 75.00 223.00 201.00 71.10 40.50 68.50 27.70 255.00 29.80 31.50 13.00 202.50 39.60 15.60 70.50 28.80 327.20 93.50

Daily average

580.40 215.49 80.20 235.11 202.75 72.29 41.13 70.64 28.19 256.89 30.04 31.87 13.32 205.08 40.41 15.74 71.20 29.01 329.44 94.73

DHAKA TRIBUNE

Business
14 areas of cooperation including trade and investment, technology, energy, transport and communication, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, cultural cooperation, environment and disaster management, public health, poverty alleviation, counter- terrorism and transnational crime and climate change.

Monday, February 24, 2014

B3
Dollar mostly higher despite weak US home sales data n AFP, New York
The dollar slipped against the euro but gained against other major currencies Friday as investors appeared to shrug off another disappointing report on the US housing market. The euro traded at $1.3734 around 2300 GMT, up from $1.3721 late Thursday. The dollar rose to 102.49 yen from 102.30 yen. The euro also advanced against the Japanese currency, to 141.00 yen from 140.36 yen. The euro continued to firm against the greenback after Moodys raised Spains investment-grade credit rating a notch, citing the countrys progress in structural reforms to put the ailing economy on a more sustainable growth track. The latest in a series of weak indicators on the US housing market was largely chalked up to severe winter weather in large parts of the country. According to the National Association of Realtors, sales of existing, or previously occupied, homes tumbled 5.1% in January. l

Matin Spinning IPO oversubscribed Seven times n Tribune Report

The IPO (Initial public offering) of Matin Spinning Mills Ltd has been oversubscribed by almost seven times on offer. The lottery draw will be held on February 27. Investors ordered shares worth over Tk832 crore against the offer of Tk126 crore, according to the Chittagong Stock Exchange. The company issued 3.41 crore ordinary shares of Tk37, including premium of Tk27. IPO proceeds will be used to expand its business and to meet expenses of IPO process. Matin Spinning Mills, an exportoriented cotton spinning mill from DBL Group, started commercial operation in October 2006. The companys earnings per share stood at Tk3.43 and net asset value of Tk35.73, according to its financial statement as of June 30, 2013. IDLC Investment is serving as the issue manager. The subscription started from January 26, and ended on January 30 for general investors and February 8 for non-resident Bangladeshis. l

BIMSTEC meet next week amid high hope to refresh cooperation

n Tribune Business Desk
The third summit of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) scheduled early next month is seen with high hope for refreshing regional cooperation. Myanmar is holding the summit in its capital city, Nay Pyi Taw on March 1-4, which is being held after a six-year break. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will lead the Bangladesh delegation to the Summit, reports BSS. The seven-nation regional bloc for multi-level cooperation could not organise the third summit in the past six years for various reasons including election and scheduling issues. The second summit was held in New Delhi, India in 2008 after four years of the first one in Bangkok, Thailand in 2004. Established in 1997 in the capital city of Thailand, the regional bloc identified have been finalised are energy, agriculture and tourism. The other MoU to be inked will enable setting up of the groups secretariat in Bangladesh and a Weather and Climate Centre in New Delh, India. The Bangladesh government in March, 2013 approved the proposal of singing of the MoU for establishment and it will use the names of member states in alphabetical order for the next secretaries general. The theme of the 3rd BIMSTEC Summit is Partnership for Harmony and Prosperity which could serve as modus operandi in accelerating the economic growth and social progress in the sub- region through joint endeavours in a spirit of equality and partnership. Besides the MoUs, agreement on a Cultural Industries Commission to be set up in Thimpu, Kathmandu would be discussed at the summit. There will also have discussions on strengthening of cooperation among media of the seven countries, which would help foster the regional cooperation further. Heads of state and government are expected to have bi- lateral meeting on the sideline of the summit. Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Thailand are the members of the group. l

Many MoUs in sectors like energy, agriculture and tourism, are expected to be signed at the summit
At the third meeting, heads of state and government will focus on achieving visible headway in the priority areas by establishing bi-lateral and multi-lateral cooperation. According to the BIMSTEC secretariat, a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) is expected to be signed at the summit. Among the sectors to be covered by the MoUs that of a permanent secretariat of BIMSTEC in Dhaka and has already allocated a building in the capitals Gulshan area for an interim headquarter for the secretariat. The government would provide office premises for the secretariat for five years and bear all maintenance expenditures of the office. The first secretary general of the organisation will come from Sri Lanka,

Records show Fed on edge during darkest days

n Reuters
Federal Reserve policymakers, in a tense meeting on one of the darkest days of the financial crisis, worried Lehman Brothers failure would wreak havoc on a teetering financial system but feared cutting interest rates might prove an over-reaction. At a meeting the day after the investment bank filed for bankruptcy, Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke flatly told colleagues he was philosophically torn about how the US central bank should respond, if at all, to the turmoil set off by Lehmans collapse. The revelation came in transcripts of the Feds 2008 policy deliberations released on Friday. The 1,865 pages throw light on a debate over whether to loosen monetary policy to battle a crisis that was fast engulfing global financial markets. In a year that saw the United States and most of the developed world sink deep into a brutal recession whose scars still linger, US central bankers wrestled with how to respond to panicked markets and economic data that sent mixed signals. At the time, some officials thought the maelstrom would be resolved quickly, and many were wringing their hands over a run-up in inflation and hesitant to come to the aid of the economy. At the September 16 meeting, Bernanke struggled to weigh the moral hazard of ad hoc decisions to help failing banks against the possibility of very severe consequences for the financial system and, therefore, for the economy of not taking action. Frankly, I am decidedly confused and very muddled about this, he said. I think it is very difficult to make strong, bright lines given that we dont have a structure that has been well communicated and well established for how to deal with these conditions. In the end, the Fed stood pat. Within a month, however, it had entered full crisis-fighting mode, and by the end of an 8.3% rate in the fourth quarter of 2008. The unemployment rate soared to 10% the following year. While the recovery has been erratic, growth has been strong enough and the jobless rate has fallen enough to prompt the Fed to start to unwind its extraordinary stimulus. But in 2008, the crisis in the US subprime mortgage market and in overleveraged Wall Street banks quickly cascaded around the world, sparking investor panic. On September 16, tension was thick as the debate over the course of monetary policy turned to the issue of whether the Fed and the US Treasury were right to let Lehman fail. Im seriously interested in knowing what you ... think is the appropriate stage, if any, at which fiscal intervention becomes necessary, Bernanke asked Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker. Lackers response: let failing banks fail and leave it to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to pick up the pieces. We have a legislated program of fiscal intervention - deposit insurance - and the boundaries around that are very clear, Lacker said. Kansas City Fed President Tom Hoenig, who is now vice chairman of the FDIC, concurred, and argued that easing policy to cushion the blow would merely compound the problem. Rosengren, who like Lacker remains a Fed policy maker, countered that it was too soon to know whether letting Lehman collapse was the right thing to do. Given that the Treasury didnt want to put money in, what happened was that we had no choice. But we took a calculated bet ... We did what we had to do, but I hope we will find a way to not get into this position again. In the end, only two of the five US investment firms, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, survived the financial crisis - and only because of an unpopular taxpayer-funded bailout. The AIG bailout, which totaled $182bn, also drew public scorn.

THE 2008 US ECONOMIC CRISIS

Bright side of life

US Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke participates in a discussion at the Brookings Institution in Washington in this January
REUTERS

the year it had cut rates to near zero and launched the first of its several controversial bond-buying programs. On September 16, the day the Fed Board authorised a $85bn loan to prevent the bankruptcy of insurer American International Group, policymakers were torn: inflation was running high, but signs of economic weakness were everywhere. People in the tony suburbs across the bay from San Francisco were even deferring cosmetic surgery, joked then San Francisco Fed chief Janet Yellen, who succeeded Bernanke at the Feds helm earlier this month. Most of all, officials felt largely unable to gauge the likely fallout so soon

after Lehmans bankruptcy, which turned out to be the beginning of a market sell-off that would cut the value of US stocks almost in half. Boston Fed President Eric Rosengren was one of the few who seemed certain of the fallout. This is already a historic week, and the week has just begun, he said, predicting firms would dump risky assets with a vengeance. He was the only official to call for a rate cut; others wanted to wait and see. Money doesnt talk; it swears, the Dallas Feds Richard Fisher said, quoting Bob Dylan. When you swear, you get emotional. If you blaspheme, you lose control. I think the main thing we

must do in this policy decision today is not to lose control, to show a steady hand. Bernanke, likewise, cautioned against rash action. We should be very certain about that change before we undertake it because I would be concerned, for example, about the implications for the dollar, commodity prices, and the like, Bernanke told the group as he summed up the discussion. So it is a step we should take only if we are very confident that is the direction in which we want to go.

Letting Lehman fail

As the worst recession in decades deepened, the US economy shrank at

Tension was also high in the lead up to JPMorgans buyout of investment bank Bear Stearns in March, a deal guaranteed by the Fed. On an unscheduled January 9 conference call, Bernanke began the meeting by saying he thought rates needed to come down, but it would be appropriate to wait until a meeting at months end. Yellen said she could support a halfpoint rate cut in the near future, but said she preferred to cut rates by a quarter-point immediately. By the January 21 meeting, Bernanke struck a much more urgent tone in advocating a rate-cut of three-quarters of a point, which the Fed carried out. At this point we are facing potentially a broad-based crisis, he said. We have to try to get it under control. At a meeting a week later, some policymakers tried to look at positive signs, but Fed Governor Frederic Mishkin said those efforts reminded him of the Monty Python film that ends with characters that are being crucified, singing, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. After an April interest rate cut of a small quarter-point to 2%, things looked less dire. Indeed, the transcripts show top Fed officials thought their work was largely done. At a meeting in June, Yellen said she could see the Fed raising rates before year-end. The market turmoil that followed the collapse of Lehman upended those expectations. I should say that this comes as a surprise to me, Bernanke said during an October 7 call to line up support for a half-point cut. I very much expected that we could stay at 2% for a long time, and then when the economy began to recover, we could begin to normalize interest rates. l

Rocket Internet, world's largest Internet incubator recently held a press conference on its business operations in the country

Singer Dealers Night was held at Dhaka on Feb 19. Managing director and CEO of Singer Bangladesh Limited and vice president of Singer Asia Limited, AM Hamim Rahmatullah inaugurated the event

Dan W Mozena, Ambassador of the United States of America to Bangladesh on Thursday inaugurated WW Tower in the capital, amid a stellar presence of some of the countrys top business leaders, corporate chiefs and members of parliament

Melonades becomes the first Google Partner in Bangladesh

Gigabyte launched 5 new models of motherboard in a press conference held on Saturday. Regional manager of Gigabytes Asia Pacific region Alan Szu and General Manager of Smart Technologies (BD) Ltd Zafor Ahmed unveiled those 5 new models at a press conference Bank Asia has provided higher studies scholarship to 14 meritorious students from Ashulia, Tongi, Savar of Dhaka and Konabari of Gazipur district on Saturday. The bank's deputy managing director, Ms Humaira Azam handed over the scholarship money to the students at a function held at a local restaurant of Konabari Melonades, a digital media agency becomes the first Google partner in Bangladesh. The Google authority confirmed Melonades as its partner in Bangladesh through releasing Melonades profile in Google partners spectrum. Google also proffered the prestigious trade mark Blue Badge for Melonades. Melonades is a sister concern of Top of Mind, Bangladeshs leading AOR agency. l

B4

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Monday, February 24, 2014

G20 aspires to faster economic growth

n Reuters
The worlds top economies have embraced a goal of generating more than $2tn in additional output over five years while creating tens of millions of new jobs, signaling optimism that the worst of crisis-era austerity was behind them. The final communiqu from the two-day meeting of Group 20 finance ministers and central bankers in Sydney said they would take concrete action to increase investment and employment, among other reforms. The group accounts for around 85% of the global economy. We will develop ambitious but realistic policies with the aim to lift our collective GDP by more than 2% above the trajectory implied by current policies over the coming 5 years, the G20 statement said. Australian Treasurer Joe Hockey, who hosted the meeting, sold the plan as a new day for cooperation in the G20. aim was to come up with the goal now, then have each country develop an action plan and a growth strategy for delivery at a November summit of G20 leaders in Brisbane. Each country will bring its own plan for economic growth, said Hockey. Each country has to do the heavy lifting. Agreeing on any goal is a step forward for the group that has failed in the past to agree on fiscal and current account targets. And it was a sea change from recent meetings where the debate was still on where their focus should lie: on growth or budget austerity. Financial markets had been wary of the possibility of friction between advanced and emerging economies, but nothing suggested the meeting would cause ripples on Monday. The text of the communiqu indicates that the standard US line that what is good for the core of the world economy is good for all seems to have won out, said Huw McKay, a senior economist at Westpac, noting there was nothing that could be taken as inflammatory about recent volatility in markets.

'We want to add over $2tn more in economic activity and tens of millions of new jobs'

Yellen mindful on tapering

We are putting a number to it for the first time - putting a real number to what we are trying to achieve, Hockey told a news conference. We want to add over $2tn more in economic activity and tens of millions of new jobs. The targeted acceleration would boost global output by more than the worlds eighth largest economy Russia produces in a year. The deal was also something of a feather in the cap of Hockey, who spearheaded the push for growth in the face of some skepticism, notably from Germany. What growth rates can be achieved is a result of a very complicated process, Germanys Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said after the meeting. The results of this process cannot be guaranteed by politicians. Australia is acting as president of the G20 this year, following Russia in 2013 and ahead of Turkey next year. While shifting the focus to reforms that would lift and sustain global growth in years to come the group acknowledged that monetary policy would need to remain accommodative in many advanced economies and should normalize in due course. The growth plan borrows wholesale from an IMF paper prepared for the Sydney meeting, which estimated that structural reforms would raise world economic output by about 0.5% per year over the next five years, boosting global output by $2.25tn. The IMF has forecast global growth of 3.75% for this year and 4% in 2015. As yet there was no road map on how nations intend to get there or repercussions if they never arrive. The

There was a nod to concerns by emerging nations that the Federal Reserve consider the impact of its policy tapering, which has led to bouts of capital flight from some of the more vulnerable markets. All our central banks maintain their commitment that monetary policy settings will continue to be carefully calibrated and clearly communicated, in the context of ongoing exchange of information and being mindful of impacts on the global economy, the communiqu read. There was never much expectation the Fed would consider actually slowing the pace of tapering, but its emerging peers had at least hoped for more cooperation on policy. Hockey said there had been honest discussions among members on the impact of tapering and that newly installed Fed Chair Janet Yellen was hugely impressive when dealing with them. The G20 also stated that it deeply regrets that progress on giving emerging nations more say in the International Monetary Fund had stalled. Major emerging powers including India, China, Brazil and Russia, have long lobbied for increased voting power in the IMF to reflect their growing share of the world economy, but the changes agreed in 2010 have been blocked by the US Congress. The G20 urged the United States to ratify the reforms before the next meeting of policy makers in April. The group is also progressing with plans to make sure multinational companies pay their fair share, said US Treasury Secretary Jack Lew. Big budget deficits and revelations that companies such as Apple and Google use structures that lawmakers have labeled contrived to avoid billions of dollars in taxes, have led to growing calls to close corporate tax loopholes. The companies say they follow the existing tax rules. l

CEO of Pyrum Innovations presents a bottle of oil extracted from used tires at the headquarters of the company in Dillingen, western Germany. The company uses the thermolysis process to dismantle organic substances (respectively rubber and plastic wastes) under oxygen shortage and recycle them into new products AFP

Apple promises fix very soon for Macs with failed encryption
n Reuters
Apple Inc said on Saturday it would issue a software update very soon to cut off the ability of spies and hackers to grab email, financial information and other sensitive data from Mac computers. Confirming researchers findings late Friday that a major security flaw in iPhones and iPads also appears in notebook and desktop machines running Mac OS X, Apple spokeswoman Trudy Muller told Reuters: We are aware of this issue and already have a software fix that will be released very soon. Apple released a fix Friday afternoon for the mobile devices running iOS, and most will update automatically. Once that fix came out, experts dissected it and saw the same fundamental issue in the operating system for Apples mainstream computers. That started a race, as intelligence agencies and criminals will try to write programs that take advantage of the flaw on Macs before Apple pushes out the fix for them. The flaw is so odd in retrospect that researchers faulted Apple for inadequate testing and some speculated that it had been introduced deliberately, either by a rogue engineer or a spy. Former intelligence operatives said that the best back doors often look like mistakes. Muller declined to address the theories. Its as bad as you could imagine, thats all I can say, said Johns Hopkins University cryptography professor Matthew Green. Adam Langley, who deals with similar programming issues as a Google engineer, wrote on his personal blog that the flaw might not have shown up without elaborate testing. I believe that its just a mistake and I feel very bad for whomever might have slipped, he wrote. The problem lies in the way the software recognizes the digital certificates used by banking sites, Googles Gmail service, Facebook and others to establish encrypted connections. A single line in the program and an omitted bracket meant that those certificates were not authenticated at all, so that hackers can impersonate the website being sought and capture all the electronic traffic before passing it along to the real site. In addition to intercepting data, hackers could insert malicious web links in real emails, winning full control of the target computer. The intruders do need to have access to the victims network, either through a relationship with the telecom carrier or through a WiFi wireless setup common in public places. Industry veterans warned users to avoid unsecured WiFi until the software patch is available and installed. The bug has been present for months, according to researchers who tested earlier versions of Apples software. No one had publicly reported it before, which means that any knowledge of it was tightly held and that there is a chance it hadnt been used. But documents leaked by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden showed agents boasting that they could break into any iPhone, and that hadnt been public knowledge either. Apple did not say when or how it learned about the flaw in the way iOS and Mac OS handle sessions in what are known as secure sockets layer or transport layer security. Those are shown to users by the website prefix https and the symbol of a padlock. The issue is a fundamental bug in Apples SSL implementation, said Dmitri Alperovitch, chief technology officer at security firm CrowdStrike Inc. l

Win Small, Dream Big

Sounds oxymoronic, right? Let me explain
n Ivdad Ahmed Khan Mojlish
I still remember a nail-biting cricket encounter between India and Pakistan that I had watched several years back. Batting first, India piled up close to 350, leaving Pakistan to score at around seven an over. Although the game wired down to the last ball, and Pakistan eventually won, the magic of the nail-biting finish didnt strike me as much as did something else the manner in which Pakistan approached the run chase. Loaded with nimble strokes, occasional boundaries, and tons of singles/twos, their innings exemplified the beauty of winning small. Instead of attempting to bludgeon every ball out of the park, the batsmen seemed content reaching certain milestones with respect to the number of overs bowled. In the end, a seemingly uphill height was overcome not with might, but with art; an art that embodies and appreciates the accomplishment of shorter goals, leading to the fulfillment of bigger dreams. Popularized by the phenomenal business bestseller author, Jim Collins, among other luminaries, the concept of small wins came into limelight fairly recently, even though the sources of real-life applications could be traced back to periods that are long gone. I am a firm believer in the notion of small wins. No matter how unattainable a task might seem, I first try to break it down into sub-components, set small aims, allocate a certain time frame, and then go about trying to solve it. By doing so, I feel more motivated and less fatigued to get over with the task. Often times we tend to get overwhelmed by the magnitude of tasks that are presented in front of us on a daily basis. But if we could give shape to our mental make-up with a take one at a time stance, the odds of accomplishing get significantly higher. Perhaps, theres no one better than author, Daniel Coyle, to have framed the power of small wins more beautifully. In his blog, he writes, The best performers and teachers Ive seen dont get caught up in seeking big breakthrough moments. Instead, they hunt the little breakthroughs the small, seemingly insignificant progressions that create steady daily progress. In short, they love baby steps. In the same vein, the book The Progress Principle studies the undeniable connection between successful people and win small attitude. The benefits are manifold: you stay grounded; you develop a clear focus about the world around you; you enjoy the present versus getting bogged down by future ambiguities; and finally, you learn to avoid unhealthy shortcuts. In short, what the small win attitude does is make you more jovial, healthy, and confident. To best make use of this belief, Ill end with a few suggestions. First, if you are in the habit of carrying a notebook around, then theres nothing like it. Writing tasks down as they come makes you more organized and helps you to monitor progress at the end of each day. Second, if you are struggling to cross a certain hurdle such as finishing a book make it a point to pick a certain number of pages that youd perfect each day. It could be setting a target of reading say 25 pages per day. With the passage of time, you will get confident to take incremental steps in beefing up intensity, and before you even know, you will find that you have come a long way. And finally, never forget to celebrate these small wins. Every time you run past a milestone, or leap over an obstacle, make sure to pat yourself on the back, flash a brilliant smile, and thank the Almighty. Congratulations, youre now one step closer to achieving your big, audacious dream! l The writer is the managing director at LightCastle Partners. The article was originally published in the LightCastle blog

Samsung launches new smart watch, Gear 2

n AFP, Barcelona
Samsung launched Sunday a new smart watch, the Gear 2, after a first version won over few critics, adding new features and ditching Googles Android in favour of its own operating system. The South Korean electronics giant revealed the new watch in an unexpected announcement on the eve of the February 24-27 Mobile World Conference in Barcelona, Spain. Samsung is unveiling on Monday its new flagship smartphone, almost certainly the Galaxy S5, and it had been expected to show off the new watch at the same time. The watch, available in two models - the Gear 2 and the Gear 2 Neo, which has no camera - will be powered by the Tizen operating system developed by Samsung with various partners to break free of the Android dominance. The Gear 2, available worldwide from April, has a 1.63-inch screen, a 2.0 megapixel camera that can take high definition video, a heart rate sensor and pedometer, audio that can work with a Bluetooth headphone, remote control for devices such as televisions, and an alert system for incoming text messages and emails. The wrist strap comes in black, orange and brown. l

DILBERT